{"user_id": "8842281e1d1347389f2ab93d60773d4d", "book_id": "18245960", "review_id": "dfdbb7b0eb5a7e4c26d59a937e2e5feb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a special book. It started slow for about the first third, then in the middle third it started to get interesting, then the last third blew my mind. This is what I love about good science fiction - it pushes your thinking about where things can go. \n It is a 2015 Hugo winner, and translated from its original Chinese, which made it interesting in just a different way from most things I've read. For instance the intermixing of Chinese revolutionary history - how they kept accusing people of being \"reactionaries\", etc. \n It is a book about science, and aliens. The science described in the book is impressive - its a book grounded in physics and pretty accurate as far as I could tell. Though when it got to folding protons into 8 dimensions I think he was just making stuff up - interesting to think about though. \n But what would happen if our SETI stations received a message - if we found someone was out there - and the person monitoring and answering the signal on our side was disillusioned? That part of the book was a bit dark - I would like to think human reaction to discovering alien civilization that is hostile would be more like Enders Game where we would band together. \n I did like how the book unveiled the Trisolaran culture through the game. It was a smart way to build empathy with them and also understand what they've gone through across so many centuries. And who know a 3 body problem was an unsolvable math problem? But I still don't get who made the game - maybe that will come in the next book. \n I loved this quote: \n \"In the long history of scientific progress, how many protons have been smashed apart in accelerators by physicists? How many neutrons and electrons? Probably no fewer than a hundred million. Every collision was probably the end of the civilizations and intelligences in a microcosmos. In fact, even in nature, the destruction of universes must be happening at every second--for example, through the decay of neutrons. Also, a high-energy cosmic ray entering the atmosphere may destroy thousands of such miniature universes....\"", "date_added": "Sun Jul 30 07:44:10 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 30 00:00:26 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Aug 26 12:05:52 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Aug 15 13:23:18 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 28, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8842281e1d1347389f2ab93d60773d4d", "book_id": "5577844", "review_id": "52c8ac49496c153e4a97161e36b2db55", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A beautiful story. Neil Gaiman is truly a unique storyteller. I did a combo of reading and listening to this story, and Neil is great at reading as well. I got interested in this book after seeing the movie, which I really enjoyed. The book is similar - maybe a bit more poetic - but I think the plot in the movie is a bit improved (not much, but a bit). \n I imagine this book came about because Neil read the below poem that he includes in the beginning, and then he invented a plot around it. The result is the book reads like a epic poem - it's creative, magical, and really, just right. \n Go and catch a falling star, \n Get with child a mandrake root, \n Tell me where all past years are, \n Or who cleft the devil's foot, \n Teach me to hear mermaids singing, \n Or to keep off envy's stinging, \n And find \n What wind \n Serves to advance an honest mind. \n If thou be'st born to strange sights, \n Things invisible to see, \n Ride ten thousand days and nights, \n Till age snow white hairs on thee, \n Thou, when thou return'st, wilt tell me, \n All strange wonders that befell thee, \n And swear, \n No where \n Lives a woman true, and fair. \n If thou find'st one, let me know, \n Such a pilgrimage were sweet; \n Yet do not, I would not go, \n Though at next door we might meet; \n Though she were true, when you met her, \n And last, till you write your letter, \n Yet she \n Will be \n False, ere I come, to two, or three. \n And here is my new favorite quote: \"Have been unavoidably detained by the world. Expect us when you see us.\"", "date_added": "Wed Sep 24 09:29:29 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 01 00:31:56 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8842281e1d1347389f2ab93d60773d4d", "book_id": "17315048", "review_id": "885c772fb033b041f42d57cef5be0a43", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Mark Watney is a steely-eyed missile man. A man's man. A badass mechanical engineer botanist astronaut who is stranded on Mars during a Nasa mission gone wrong, and left to fend for himself. I listened to this on audio on a roadtrip, and it flew by - what a fun story. Not surprised at all it's being made into a movie directed by Ridley Scott starring Matt Damon. Also pretty amazing is that it was self-published. \n There were two great things about this book: the humor and the science. The science appealed to the mechanical engineer in me - Watney is a bit like McGyver except he knows a lot more about chemistry and botany. I didn't double-check all the science, but loved the descriptions of all the math: calorie calculations, creating water, etc. Just fun stuff. \n But the humor was top notch. Weir does a great job portraying a stranded man trying to remain upbeat by talking to himself in log entries. And the excellent audio narrator only made it better. \n \"I started the day with some nothin' tea. Nothin' tea is easy to make. First, get some hot water, then add nothin'.\" \n \"Yes, of course duct tape works in a near-vacuum. Duct tape works anywhere. Duct tape is magic and should be worshiped.\" \n \"Live Another Sol would be an awesome name for a James Bond movie.\" \n In the end, a well told story of survival against the odds. And one of belief - I liked the CNN Mark Watney watch - you could totally imagine how into this story the media would get. We humans love a good surviving against the odds story.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 05 09:30:53 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 22 11:33:10 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 25, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "8842281e1d1347389f2ab93d60773d4d", "book_id": "13453029", "review_id": "46a6e1a14e8afc82d221fec0a2bd3dd0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A fun fast paced book that sucks you in right away and doesn't let go. The remnants of humanity live in a 150 story silo below the earth and can't leave as the outside is now toxic. This is a bit of an odd thing to have happened, but it gives us a nice palette to think about things. \n Everything is rationed, including how many children you can have. People self-identify by their profession and where in the silo they live: farmers and mechanics in the lowers, IT in the mids, and professional class in the uppers. The working class wear color coded uniforms to easily distinguish them. \n The book was a lot about control. How to control a contained civilization, and give them hope (eg a live feed of the outside) and yet keep them in harmony and doing their functions. Strange mechanisms of control were built all over the silo: communication was oddly limited given the IT resources they have - many messages had to be delivered by courier as emails cost valuable money to send. Most strange of all - there is no elevator, which forces anyone wanting to travel the length of the silo to spend 2-3 days on the journey. \n The cleaning ritual was a strange bit of culture. Upon reflection, I can see why it was necessary. If people never go outside, uncertainty of it still being bad would creep in, and people would need to try it. As perhaps happened in Silo 17. \n I really liked the unraveling of Bernard, and how he went from repulsive/annoying, to understandable once you understood his role and responsibility. His role is to eliminate any doubt in the delicate balance of the silo. Opening the book up with the doubt of Holston was brilliant as it sucked you in immediately. \n I liked Juliet too - she was the right combo of being determined to do right, and having brains and grit.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 04 11:12:22 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 26 11:43:28 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8842281e1d1347389f2ab93d60773d4d", "book_id": "13239822", "review_id": "a582bfa8efd69d453a5a21a678046b36", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book has a great premise, and is full of some beautifully written prose. It's about a hacker during the Arab Spring, helping people get around the firewalls that the State erected to control its population. Alif falls in love, finds an ancient book, gets into trouble with State, enlists the help of an unseen, magical world full of creatures call Jinn, and combats evil. The story flowed well, and was a fast, fun read. \n I would have given it a higher rating, but I'm a computer programmer, and for a book that is about hacking the descriptions of Alif coding felt like I was watching one of those movies where they used a bunch of made-up visuals that have nothing to do with hacking. The prose around the hacking was so oddly descriptive you didn't know what to make of it. For instance, when Alif is hacking into State's intranet, it is described as: \n \"The Hand roused. It lumbered to its feet, reeking of ionized air and dry metallic bones, revealing a level of functionality Alif had not detected. He reeled backward, recalibrating. Breaching the confines of the State intranet, the Hand began to attack the base of Alif's tower, slicing away layers of code through a mirroring protocol of a kind Alif had never seen before.\" \n I didn't know a computer program could \"reek of ionized air\" - and can't conceive of how a mirroring protocol (if there is such a thing) could ever be used to \"slice away layers of code\". \n I wanted so hard for the bit about quantum computing and encoding the ancient story into code to make sense. But it just didn't. And that was the heart of the story - that the ancient text contained an all-powerful computer algorithm. I also had trouble buying the Alif & Dina relationship - the characters just felt shallow to me.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 02 16:04:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 22 11:32:20 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8842281e1d1347389f2ab93d60773d4d", "book_id": "62291", "review_id": "e23965adda7ce7e7e415a1339e169065", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Loved it. The epic saga continues. The poor Starks are torn apart, but yet are surprisingly resilient. In fact, pretty much every major character is in danger of dying and some even do. It's a bit tough to read, as you really wanted The King In The North to succeed. And Dany is fast becoming an interesting part of the plot that has yet to intermix with the rest of the characters. \n I'll be starting the next one soon. These books are like crack.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 12 12:57:07 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 22 11:47:02 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Tue Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8842281e1d1347389f2ab93d60773d4d", "book_id": "41804", "review_id": "2bcbe2300fe1801197f9bfe1f1c883ba", "rating": 5, "review_text": "As an engineer I couldn't help but love this book. It's full of logic games! The 3 rules of robotics are a very rich medium for lots of fun puzzles, and I very much enjoyed reading them. I think the book originally came out in serial form, as it was broken down into short stories or capers. Kind of reminded me of Sherlock Holmes - another favorite of mine. \n Examining robots also gave a canvas for defining what it is to be human. I loved the robot religion story. Robots with a superiority complexes - but thank goodness for that first law or it would be a Terminator-style story. \n According to Asimov's predictions, in 2009 the robot revolution should be in full swing. But I don't see a lot of robots around. Anyone have a good prediction on where we are with robots? When will we have pet robots and robot laborers?", "date_added": "Wed Mar 25 10:56:59 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 14 18:23:50 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Wed Apr 08 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 12, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8842281e1d1347389f2ab93d60773d4d", "book_id": "136251", "review_id": "132eab4c9a3724493204cc083e0e2ecc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved every minute. So sad there isn't another! \n I thought JK really made Harry an even stronger archetypal hero - almost in a Paul Maud'Dib from Dune kind of way. He's fighting the ultimate evil, he's brave and takes risks, and believes in himself and doesn't give up despite many hardships. I think JK really did a phenomenal job, as I bet every kid who reads this will have a little bit of hero/Gryffindor in them. \n The epilogue was lame though. I would have rather seen a '3 months later' epilogue than a '19 years later' one.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 22 10:38:27 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 22 11:46:18 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "8842281e1d1347389f2ab93d60773d4d", "book_id": "142296", "review_id": "400f536181a8ccf3a0f6b37d3fec14eb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed every second of this book. I haven't read a time travel book in a long time, but loved this one, as the descriptions of London in 1812 were very rich. I loved how Lord Byron and other famous poets were running around, and the descriptions of all the beggars were fascinating. Add in some ancient Egyptian magic and you've got a great book! \n Random sidenote: It's interesting to think that back then poets were the rockstars of the age, as the only form of mass-media was newspapers, so those who mastered the written word could be broadcast much further than any musician or actor. How times have changed!", "date_added": "Sun Oct 19 13:52:40 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 22 11:46:14 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Dec 10 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8842281e1d1347389f2ab93d60773d4d", "book_id": "76620", "review_id": "9206654986a733bd753753aa0c882813", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I read this after hearing from a few people that it was among their all-time favorites. I was almost put off when I saw it was a story about rabbits, originally written as a tale by a father to his children - but I'm glad I wasn't. \n I found the folk tales about El-ahrairah to be very impressive. The author clearly had a vivid imagination to create so much of the rabbits culture and history. But I think this book was worth reading as it's really a story about survival, leadership, and human nature. \n Oh and Fiver rocks. And BigWig is the man.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 02 17:03:40 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 14 12:30:43 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 30, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8842281e1d1347389f2ab93d60773d4d", "book_id": "34497", "review_id": "43828b41e8099f892cfee80a8244684a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This should be 3.5 stars. I really enjoyed it, but found it all kind of random and leading nowhere. That being said, it was very imaginative and entertaining. Hrun the Barbarian was one of my favorites, as was anything the Luggage did.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 03 16:42:44 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 27 07:55:24 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8842281e1d1347389f2ab93d60773d4d", "book_id": "14497", "review_id": "b8e08587ce1592d69548d0f644cb9893", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Just finished this and have to say I really enjoyed it. I was kind of worried the plot wasn't going anywhere for much of it, but the writing was really good and drew me in. \n For much of the book I thought the main character (Richard) was too weak of a character for me to like much, but I liked how he grew in confidence towards the end. I think anytime one undertake's an adventure or a journey like that you grow so much. You have to get out there and fail a few times to have the confidence to know how to succeed! \n I also have to say I loved Mister Croup and Mister Vandemar. Their dialogue and interaction was hilarious. It really reminded me of Mister Wint and Mister Kidd from James Bond's Diamonds are Forever.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 27 17:53:06 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 22 11:46:03 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8842281e1d1347389f2ab93d60773d4d", "book_id": "77566", "review_id": "cedb8b21ea6ad95b05fa3868e05488e6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Seven amazing stories. Each one you think can't possibly top the last, and then it does. We never really get to understand what is up with the Time Tombs - guess I have to keep reading. But the strength of each of these stories is worth it. One of the best books I've read in a while.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 12 16:37:16 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 22 11:46:03 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Oct 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Sep 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8842281e1d1347389f2ab93d60773d4d", "book_id": "897461", "review_id": "91e06a861712ad5a654f7c9829423049", "rating": 5, "review_text": "An epic book - loved it, and wish I had found it before now. It does start a bit slow, but then really picks up. It's the story of a young man in 1905ish who graduates from Harvard and then is sent by his rich uncle to be the consul to the made up country of Islandia, which is closed to trade with the outside world. \n Islandia is described so clearly you could almost believe it wasn't a made up country. You can feel it's beauty, it's pureness, and it's culure, coming through the pages. \n Many of us went through idealistic phases in our 20's, and John Lang is no exception. He is trying to decide what will make him happy: Islandia, or a life in New York as a businessman. He is also searching for love, and seems to have a crush on every Islandian woman he meets! \n Wright does an amazing job of describing what the Islandian culture is like. They are largely farmers: they work in the field all day, and their land provides what they need to eat and money to buy the rest. They don't have to work super hard, and have plenty of time for leisure. Their society closed and smaller, so people are very decent to each other. There aren't very many towns or central social hubs, so socializing is often accomplished by staying as a guest in someones farm house as you are traveling through the country, and you can do that totally unannounced. \n Islandia is a utopia of sorts - they believe that progress in their culture will not lead to improving their lives. It is an interesting question - does technological progress actually end up making our lives better? Technology is supposed to improve the quality of our lives. We have better medicines, cleaner cities, we can communicate instantly around the world, and travel on cars and trains and planes. \n But we lack the notion of a \"home\" that spans across generations or even multiple family units. Cousins and uncles and grandparents are only seen several times a year during family parties and holidays. In a sense, our society has shifted from being family centric to friend centric, as friends are the people we hang out with socially in the cities, where most of us live. This gives us often a richer variety of people and ideas to interact with, but the the connections are often not as close, and that is sad.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 06 20:42:04 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 22 11:46:00 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Wed Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8842281e1d1347389f2ab93d60773d4d", "book_id": "18122", "review_id": "9a8c81912b6bf7f4091323a8093a94c8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I absolutely loved the first book, but didn't think the series finished as strong as I would have liked. \n Too many plot holes and things that didn't make sense. Maybe it was because it's supposed to be a children's book, but I didn't like things like how the harpies were so easily convince to change sides, how God's #2 is easily tricked by a little flirting, how Lyra & Will can suddenly easily lose their Daemons, and how two kids making love can save the universe. \n On the other hand the book did make you think, and I suppose religious ideas are probably best challenged in a children's book :) I did like the Dante's Inferno-esque description of the world of the dead, and Pullman's description of angels and their roles was brilliant. Also, the descriptions of how things evolved differently in different worlds was very interesting - particularly the Mulefa's world and the descriptions of the Gallivespians. I'm usually not a tragedy fan, but I did think Lyra & Will being separated at the end was a romantic and appropriate ending.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 26 17:21:26 -0800 2007", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 22 11:45:55 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8842281e1d1347389f2ab93d60773d4d", "book_id": "119322", "review_id": "111b958d9d8b5132be5e0c63399d1839", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved every second, and didn't want it to end, so I had to find a book store and buy the next two! Its a Harry Potter reading level and similar type fantasy story, but sometimes thats what you need on a long flight to NYC for the holidays! \n I think as a child we all daydreamed about alternate worlds, so I love how thats the basis for the book. Thinking about all the permutations of how things could turn out differently is kinda fun :) I think if I had a Daemon I would hope she'd settle on being a lynx.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 10 21:02:24 -0800 2007", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 22 11:45:52 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8842281e1d1347389f2ab93d60773d4d", "book_id": "52357", "review_id": "cd8f2fdfc17234b555ac662601f0e777", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I would hate to have to see the movie without having read it first...", "date_added": "Tue Sep 25 01:10:09 -0700 2007", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 22 11:35:19 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8842281e1d1347389f2ab93d60773d4d", "book_id": "1022863", "review_id": "36aa8e00ce8032cba6afd6094550feae", "rating": 5, "review_text": "When people ask me what my favorite book is, Dune is always my answer. Words cannot even do justice to what an epic tale this is. We learn about spirituality, human nature, politics, religion, and the making of a hero. \n I loved the spiritual aspects of the book the best. The philosophies and practices and Pranu Bindu training of the Bene Gesserit that Paul learns and builds upon. The Bene Gesserit believe in a training regiment that results in a superior human being - one with every sense as refined as possible. This means a focus on learning, on controlling emotion, on controlling your body. \n My absolute favorite quote from Dune is the Bene Gesserit litany against fear: \n \"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.\" \n The litany is meant to be recited when you are in a moment of fear, and as I first read Dune 20 years ago, I've employed it many times. After Paul employs it when he is fighting Jamis, the affect on him is described as \"a cool bath washing over him. He felt muscles untie themselves, become poised and ready.\" I have read a lot about people who perform at high levels - whether it be in athletics or business, and success is all about getting into that zen state where you have a clear, focused mind. Fear is the biggest thing that can cloud one's mind - usually fear of failure, but there are other forms too. While this Litany won't always eliminate it, I've felt it to be useful to recognize the fear and call it out for what it is. \n There is also a focus in the book on being able to read people by paying attention to the minutia. In many crucial scenes we see Paul and Jessica and others employing this skill, using not only their eyes, but reading the tone of what a person says, what their body language or actions say, and more. Imagine the poker player I could be if I learned these skills! \n \"If you rely only on your eyes, your other senses weaken.\" \n It's interesting to me that so many science fiction novels contemplate a future with AI (aka post-singularity). In Dune, the Butlerian Jihad was the human rebellion to rid itself of AI or \"thinking machines\". They are now banned, and in their place we have Mentats, who are humans with processing powers far greater than any thinking machine. It's unclear to the software engineer in me how exactly that could be without some sort of physical manipulation (insertion of massive amounts of transistors, for instance), but the affect is pretty cool, we get Spock-esque beings who analyze everything extremely logically, and are great at political planning \"feints within feints within feints\". \n There was a lot in the book about leadership. It started with Paul first learning about it from his Father, and also from the Bene Gesserit. This quote stood out to me: \n \"She asked me to tell her what it is to rule,\" Paul said. \"And I said that one commands. And she said I had some unlearning to do.\" She hit a mark there right enough, Hawat thought. He nodded for Paul to continue. \"She said a ruler must learn to persuade and not to compel. She said he must lay the best coffee hearth to attract the finest men.\" \n Later as he grows into a leader himself, Paul learns that the most essential ingredient to be a leader is to lead people to a worthy goal. \n \"It was another of the essential ingredients that she felt her son needed: people with a goal. Such people would be easy to imbue with fervor and fanaticism. They could be wielded like a sword to win back Paul's place for him.\" \n Much has been made in modern reviews of Dune of the fact that it's clearly a statement about oil and the Middle East. The book even admits the Fremen are of Sunni descent, and many words they use (Jinn, Jihad, etc) are Arabic. I'm not sure I understand all the undertones, but one thing that was clear was about control of the worlds most precious commodity: \"The people who can destroy a thing, they control it.\" I hope we are closing in on the end of the days when oil controls so much, but we aren't there yet. In the meantime, we had best beware of any future Harkonnen's.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 29 11:45:04 -0700 2006", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 25 14:15:32 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 68, "n_comments": 14}
{"user_id": "8842281e1d1347389f2ab93d60773d4d", "book_id": "6", "review_id": "d9f27b90095cd32ba1ec2a604e705e66", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the best harry potter book so far, followed closely by book 6.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 29 11:20:10 -0700 2006", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 22 11:44:11 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "8842281e1d1347389f2ab93d60773d4d", "book_id": "2", "review_id": "85073a6ebd880836667f4414c8523012", "rating": 5, "review_text": "After the first read, this book is the worst one in the Harry Potter series. Characters are not as likeable as they are in the other books. However, I recently reread it (after reading book 6), and found it to be a very good read.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 29 11:20:05 -0700 2006", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 22 11:44:09 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "72fb0d0087d28c832f15776b0d936598", "book_id": "15706923", "review_id": "6a870a66f732183b60214d57fa553093", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Ehhhhhh. \n Really nothing to rave about. It was not poorly written in terms of style or technical aspects. The story was not particularly interesting and I feel it is a bit overdone. It does not stand out from other vampire fiction to me. The \"romance\" happened far too quickly, in my opinion. I would expect vampires who have lived so long to be a little harder to get in the sack, but... Even for a short story, it was short. \n I feel like the author is capable of more. I would like to see a longer story from her. :)", "date_added": "Fri Nov 08 20:14:53 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 08 20:16:50 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72fb0d0087d28c832f15776b0d936598", "book_id": "7840190", "review_id": "f73a70f64564d4a8f4cfb2d2e9d5836f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Enjoyable read! I liked that Connie is not a typical cold-hearted, sexy, perfect, genius, vampire hunter. She's like a real person with flaws and weaknesses and fears. \n I really enjoyed the style of writing. I'm not usually a big fan of first person perspective, but I feel the author used a great balance of dialogue, descriptive text, and the character's \"voice\" really shone through without being too colloquial. \n Vampire fiction is a tricky subject these days as it's becoming so common, but I feel like this book was unique enough to stand out. I can't wait to read more!", "date_added": "Fri Nov 08 19:57:47 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 08 20:01:41 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72fb0d0087d28c832f15776b0d936598", "book_id": "18306845", "review_id": "d4d57fb58be64655b0374ed864a7be40", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Keeping in mind I'm someone who has watched movies such as Martyrs and can watch/read crime scene details while keeping a straight head... \n This book was far too disturbing. Basically it felt like the authors wrote these stories merely for shock value. It included things like graphic cannibalism, sexually gratifying murder, pedophila, and extreme perversion all around. Particularly the stories by \"B.C Lawson\" disturbed me and made me wonder if he is actually a perverted serial killer. And who wants their work of fiction to create that worry... \n There were a few stories that stood out from the rest as actually quite well-written. As it's a collection, I can't paint all authors included with the same brush. But I feel it's almost unfortunate for those few authors who have talent and didn't just spew out filth to be included with the rest.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 30 11:00:12 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 30 11:06:45 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72fb0d0087d28c832f15776b0d936598", "book_id": "9577969", "review_id": "8c3b9a195db8930c2a05ae1c63033db8", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I have to be honest, not a fan of this book. It was not that the writing was poor, but it really did feel like a ploy to force religion down my throat. It's set up like a horror novella, but ends up feeling like a sermon. It felt very rushed to me. I did like the main character and feel there is potential, but I feel the author needs to explore either genre more fully; either religious fiction OR horror. Or, find a way to successfully cross over that fans of either genre would both enjoy.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 30 10:55:58 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 30 10:58:18 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f8a89075dc6de14857561522e729f82c", "book_id": "10782699", "review_id": "972ce1267de0213e3032c685386890e6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I never thought I would enjoy a zombie books with a mix of romance. Amy wrote a beautiful book that is fast paced with a smooth transaction that leaves the reader not wanting to put the book down. This is not a \"eat brains\" type of zombie series. It is more about the lives of people who became undead and how they now live their lives with a mix of love. I wish I would have read this book much sooner, than waiting for over a year after adding the series to my ever growing book list.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 30 21:32:34 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri May 02 09:20:56 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Apr 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "13206828", "review_id": "1d5b64fe0408bb5e1824d14631ccb5ee", "rating": 5, "review_text": "LET'S JUST SAY I AM SO THANKFUL I HAVE THE NEXT BOOK BESIDE ME", "date_added": "Sat Sep 23 08:39:21 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 30 11:30:46 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 28 16:51:17 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Sep 24 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "13206900", "review_id": "9de8dc1b8fa869233251e2a6eb783552", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I can't believe it's over dY~C/", "date_added": "Sat Sep 23 08:39:03 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 07 18:02:29 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "13206760", "review_id": "1fc0c08b3224b734b51996989ce52344", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I didn't know if I would enjoy the book being so focussed on new characters, but MAN it was done so well", "date_added": "Wed Sep 20 04:51:35 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 30 11:30:43 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Sep 24 14:08:38 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "29275562", "review_id": "69539632d9918511b948fa18c87d48a4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I liked it much more than the first one to be honest. And the ending had me emotional - when I didn't think I would be. Pretty good book :)", "date_added": "Sat Aug 26 20:20:14 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 30 11:31:47 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "25174926", "review_id": "5b3aac1958a1db10b48da6e6e529ec7f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Such a good end and wrap-up to such a loved series. I waited for four years for this book. I was not disappointed. And I may seriously never get tired of Gabriel", "date_added": "Sat Nov 26 13:55:37 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 30 11:30:56 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "3227063", "review_id": "624e11e52283ad514e3d16d197949233", "rating": 4, "review_text": "WELL THAT WAS AN INTERESTING EPILOGUE", "date_added": "Mon Dec 14 19:44:45 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 10 14:14:10 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 10 14:14:10 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "25174916", "review_id": "066fdaff37947953750a8b1407afe48f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Okay so can I just say I finished this book in two weekdays, while working and being a full time engineering student. that's how much it gripped me \n So good. And I ship it so much. But also.... More paranormal Focus again please... It feels like it's kinda getting lost(decision wise... Was any progress actually made?) \n Also REALLY glad it didn't end on a cliffhanger. It was a nice end :) hopefully it can last me another year \n All I know is - please get me the next book. And quick", "date_added": "Mon Sep 07 20:10:28 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 30 11:31:37 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Nov 24 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "2802316", "review_id": "c4c2068c9e87c2f9f51cabb5c09163ee", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I literally cannot deal with my heart right now", "date_added": "Sun Apr 26 11:20:17 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 16 18:55:00 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "15747422", "review_id": "83dbad99ee78d0c40ab49c7ff55fec97", "rating": 3, "review_text": "That ending... I thought there would be another chapter, not the end of the book!", "date_added": "Mon Dec 22 11:13:10 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 15 19:39:32 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Dec 25 16:31:54 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Dec 22 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "23006161", "review_id": "6ab630bacdb2452c062bc814256bc2f9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "ARGH. \n Literally. I thought this would be the book where it would F.I.N.A.L.L.Y. happen but nope! \n I'm gonna to punch a wall. A brick wall. With lots of bricks. \n This book kinda overplayed the whole triangle. And Gabriel... I get Armstrong is making subtle moves with him as it is his character but really 3 books?!? I was happy with it lasting one, even two, but three is kinda pushing it. \n But man I'm instead to see how see plays the next two books I just wish I didn't have to wait for them D: \n BUT MY SHIPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP", "date_added": "Mon Dec 08 16:42:30 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 15 19:38:05 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Sep 06 19:57:05 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "9462815", "review_id": "a99a5a35d2592795791ebe3e49c57b99", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Wow I lost it on the last page. Yay for happy crying", "date_added": "Sat Nov 08 08:59:14 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 16 18:54:40 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Nov 10 12:46:36 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "18398797", "review_id": "ee2da3f18a9d036cd1b67d182daf9072", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Gabriel. I mean I love the way this story is. No love at first sight, slow, but stringing us along in the romance department, and a strong female lead who can be stupid at times, but is still pretty great. \n But Gabriel. If you don't like anything else about this series read it for Gabriel. He's my favourite character by far, and just the way he's developed and the more you learn about him... ugh. \n (I'M ROOTING FOR THIS ROMANCE AND I SHALL NEVER STOP, but I love the fact it's been 2 books and is still slowly developing; its so different than so many other books coming out lately) \n But seriously.. Next book please (I couldibihg barely survive a weeks wait for visions how can I last a year for the next?)", "date_added": "Tue Aug 19 11:03:41 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 15 19:38:47 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "17331295", "review_id": "899ba09ca35a6447324d64be3a5fcf5a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It really should've ended with more.. Action. That's all I'm saying", "date_added": "Fri Aug 08 20:22:21 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 28 14:57:23 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Aug 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "13188676", "review_id": "540daa321648be66f867791b5a1aa85f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I CANT EVEN EXPRESS MY EMOTIONS OH GEEZ I LOVE THE ENDING IM CRYING OH WARNER", "date_added": "Tue Feb 04 19:05:36 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 17 16:46:11 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Feb 07 22:22:17 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "13623150", "review_id": "70ebc0d4940def9bbaa54c029bb2b8a0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh Warner...", "date_added": "Tue Feb 04 11:17:42 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 04 18:47:15 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "13104080", "review_id": "528000001d6705f260ac8c7a58327018", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Warner. I need more Warner this second. That's all.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 04 11:16:40 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 07 12:17:31 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Feb 07 12:17:31 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Feb 06 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "13508069", "review_id": "5b12c5a78b6c7d41c601555bbf8a088f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I just... I can't. I completely can't. \n Those last 10 pages I was bawling. Bawling my eyes out. Let's just say I got the pages wet... But Kaylee went through hell, literal hell, and she FINALLY got her happy ending and I cannot be happier. \n Kaylee and Tod... and Nash... and everyone... You dang well deserve your happy ending.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 05 10:58:13 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 09 14:37:21 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jan 09 14:37:21 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "8803932", "review_id": "21c41d209d0e13c55a73c5208f11f952", "rating": 5, "review_text": "When I read that ending I was crying, then shaking, then screaming, failing, in shock, I'm more shock, and then I died a death of extreme happiness... I can't believe that all happened and In what, less than 5 pages? \n I'm still shaking.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 04 17:14:18 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 04 18:24:10 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "11454587", "review_id": "b3881c3c1c9e0993e5d4f14971d914ac", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sigh. Archer. I love you so much.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 02 18:31:04 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 03 17:12:05 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "8428064", "review_id": "e7f30678c2914943337b694c79139361", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I can't.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 30 23:45:41 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 16 18:49:59 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "10429045", "review_id": "642d0b0449fb10ab6832364aae7b65f9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was really good! Like, it went by super fast and before I knew it I was at the last 10 pages already... I literally wasn't bored for a minute. \n Only thing that bugged me was there was a lot of metaphors that drove me crazy something like JUST SAY WHAT YOURE TRYING TO SAY. \n But it was amazing... I love Adam and I don't want to love Warner but I definitely feel like it's gonna happen... \n Be warned, you'll pretty much want to read this is one sitting", "date_added": "Sun Mar 10 22:30:31 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 04 11:28:01 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Feb 04 11:28:01 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "15861491", "review_id": "6902b0e48c7e0e2c622dbacf9f598d2e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Can I just say... Those last like 20 pages were full of twists and turns like I'm still not sure what just happened...", "date_added": "Mon Feb 11 14:15:29 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 30 20:05:09 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "15745371", "review_id": "f02fa7174c65a1c43d52e16b8d244cc8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "OMG. SO. I totally thought taken at dusk was the end.... THEN WHISPERS AT MOONRISE APPEARED. AND OMG I JUST FINISHED IT AND I LEARN, THERES A FIFTH, CHOSEN AT NIGHTFALL. \n FINALE. OMG I CANT BELIEVE THE SERIES IS GONNA END.... THIS BOOK BETTER BE A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. \n And is it just me or is she brunette now? \n And Kylie... PICK LUCAS. OR DEREK.... I LOVE LUCAS BUT DEREKS PROBABLY BETTER.. \n ...Brunett better be in this book or I will cry. Literally. \n APRIL 30TH COME FASTERRRRRRRRRRRRR.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 27 02:30:06 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 20 16:22:11 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jun 09 14:00:16 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "7791997", "review_id": "c9a66d31a94b44c73ba67a88870d5e45", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book is amazing...... Its so confusing at times but trust me, so worth the read :)", "date_added": "Mon Oct 01 16:01:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 16 18:59:24 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "11563110", "review_id": "3a0875329475be058a7e6603ae11dc08", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Still a sucker for romance", "date_added": "Mon Sep 17 13:41:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 30 11:35:51 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "5287473", "review_id": "036b9c7000bb1048147381721a660ba8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I recommend this to everyone. \n No seriously \n Go read it \n Now", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 13:06:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 25 17:01:24 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 7}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "6581511", "review_id": "45caf2d13f9c4ad4dbcf929a4242d8a9", "rating": 2, "review_text": "AHHHHH ENDING WAS SO UNEXPECTED D: for me at least.... :) basically durning whole book i was on the edge of my seat, just wondering what would happen next! i think its the best out of the series :)", "date_added": "Mon Jun 04 19:50:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 03 12:04:01 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jun 11 16:31:16 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "11864728", "review_id": "30ac79a151c1544ab7fdb1cc2dcf27de", "rating": 5, "review_text": "OMG..... i loved darkest powers... felt it ended to soon \n then i heard bout the darkness rising, and heard something bout chloe and friends being in it.... \n so i read the gathering..... and got majorly disappointed. \n then, the day the calling came out i read it.... IT WAS WAY BETTER. AND OMG THE ENDING. THE ENDING. I WAS JUST DYING WHEN I WAS READING BOUT THE REFERENCES TO CHLOE AND THEM.... \n I CANT WAIT A YEAR. \n CHloe and Derek <3 i missed u Dx \n All i know is...... the day it comes out im gonna buy it ASAP and stay up all night reading... especially considering it comes out right before my birthday! <3 \n i think im gonna just cy and curl up into a ball when its over tho D:", "date_added": "Mon Jun 04 19:49:01 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 20 15:20:50 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "2998814", "review_id": "5d7049d54bfd0d138529f3c70e5ef482", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Well... i found this book mostly really boring. \n i found that i liked the romance in the beginning...then i found it getting kinda old, how thats ALL she'll think about. Also, i found there was barely any action in this book... i dont get the obsession some people have with this book xD Nothing interesting appened till the last 50 pages and then it ended before w barely knew anything xD \n I give it like 2.5 stars... :) Also, if you read this book i say get the next one too... i guess im interested enough to read the next to find out what happens :)", "date_added": "Mon Jun 04 19:46:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 16 18:51:53 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "13416236", "review_id": "9d373d0e4a80bc974562ed6e672dbf7f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "OMG I CANT. \n LETS JUST SAY..... \n I \n HATE \n CLIFFHANGERS. \n AND KYLIE... WHY!?!? THE BOOKS WILL NEVER BE AS GOOD ANYMORE!! I THINK.......... I HOPE IM WRONG.... \n AND LUCAS.. I CANT.. \n I don't know why but i love him more than Derek.... BUT LUCAS NOW I JUST WANNA PUNCH YOUR FACE OUT. LIKE DO THAT THEN JUST LEAVE AND NOT SAY GOODBYE? ARGH. EMOTIONS. \n ANYWAYS... this book was so good compared to the other books... I felt the beginnning was kinda slow... but as you got reading and so many new thing that you didn't expect were thrown at you.... YOU GET SO INTO IT. \n THE ENDING I LITERALLY CRIED. CRIED. \n AND FINALLY.... let just say i LOVE burnett! we're talking fav character here!!", "date_added": "Mon Jun 04 19:40:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 20 15:22:51 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "10863148", "review_id": "f8f57c14551a636c345b104512dec35f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Seriouly sad this is the last book :( but i cant wait <3 i LOVE kelley armstrong's books, shes so talented :) kinda sad the last book froms Savannah's view, but oh well:)", "date_added": "Mon Jun 04 19:17:30 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 20 15:23:28 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "10799881", "review_id": "8e1ec3460ce09ab05bee519165073874", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Soooo good and NOT a disappointment from the first book! but it makes u want to read the next one SOOOO bad ;) AMAZING :)", "date_added": "Mon Jun 04 19:08:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 16 18:59:23 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "11765920", "review_id": "f98b9fbfe3ba2daf35ec1960d25056a8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Well... first off Kelley Armstrong is my FAVOURITE AUTHOR EVER.... ALLL her books are AMAZING.. especially DP and WOTOW \n Secondly.... this book was too... how do I put it? happy endingyish... I mean the ending, cmon, after everything, THAT?!?! Gosh.. \n Third.. I never liked DR too too much but I was really excited for the rising, for chloe and cuz I liked the series, I don't know. But this book honestly wasn't too good... I didn't like the cabals and how they were (WOTOW so much better), the choices (like wut?), and just the ending! \n Fourth, DEREK AND CHLOE WERE COMPLETELY THE BEST PART... but how do I put this.. they seemed really different from DP and I mean I kinda get it but it kinda ruined it for me... \n So.. this book was good, and as much as I want more... more would ruin the whole storyline for me... I think this one was just on the edge:) \n OH AND I LOVED THE CONNECTIONS TO WOTOW, AT EVERYONE I WAS JUMPING UP AND DOWN", "date_added": "Mon Jun 04 19:07:46 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed May 15 19:30:53 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012515e5802b2e0f42915118c90fa04b", "book_id": "2800905", "review_id": "5de55db61bf97442ffe5b53ee65e2068", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I read this book almost 3 years ago and it's still my favourite book ever. Ever. \n I re-read it time and time again and fall in love every time.... Derek please let me marry you. \n I seriously recommend this book, it's different, amazing, and the series will take you on a journey. \n Kelley Armstrong is a genius, and if you've read the Women of the Otherworld series you'll notice subtle links between the two that get bigger as the series progresses, setting the 3 series (Including Darkest Rising) in the same universe, which makes it a more enjoyable and wonderful experience to fans of Kelley Armstrong's work..... \n Ignore my rambling and seriously pick up this book. \n You won't regret it", "date_added": "Mon Jun 04 19:05:23 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 04 18:57:42 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f4d16ea4ac59af59d257631398af39f4", "book_id": "7304203", "review_id": "300503e2045dfa99d989ea91f79045d2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I can't help but squeal with amazement after reading this series. It was dangerously sexy, thrilling, and pure fun. It made me (and still tempts me) to catch a plane to Dublin and study abroad. So. so. amazing.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 08 21:42:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 01 19:27:03 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f4d16ea4ac59af59d257631398af39f4", "book_id": "9918133", "review_id": "3755a2cc215e155fdf77a0a98782e723", "rating": 2, "review_text": "*CONTAINS SPOILERS* \n I would probably rate this book 1.5 stars out of 5 JUST because of its intense and creepy ass ending. I really did not enjoy how slow this book was until the last 80 pages or so. Amazingly, I got through it after putting this book down several times. \n I've got to admit, I was drawn by the cover. It sounded pretty interesting, but I should've read a couple of pages in before renting it out at the library (glad I didn't pay for this book) because I totally did not know it was set in a high school setting. Blah! I hate those kinds of settings, but that's just my preference. \n As for the plot... Sheesh! Was it really necessary for things to turn out like they did? I was shocked.. What kind of karma is that?! Hell, it really was unfair. I felt that it was a bit.. no, not even.. WAY too cruel for consequences. \n The main character, Em, was pretty relatable which I liked a lot. She wasn't annoying; thank god! The other characters, not-so-likeable. They were quite bland when it came to being a complex character. Chase was just, wow, amazingly arrogant and totally irresponsible. A complete jerk who wouldn't be liable for any of his actions and swathed by the words or beauty of a Fury. Ergh, he had no backbone and I hated that. I enjoyed how Em turned out at the ending of the story and what she went through was PRETTY dang creepy. As I said, I loved the end but I definitely hated having to wait 300 pages until the story got interesting. \n *END RANT* :L", "date_added": "Tue Aug 07 22:54:38 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 08 23:19:09 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f4d16ea4ac59af59d257631398af39f4", "book_id": "13480769", "review_id": "fb2c724469c28fa50dd02716502fe8bc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amazing!! Higginson is now one of my most admired authors. Her extraordinary and captivating imagination portrayed in this book rendered me speechless and at awe. I was a bit hesitant to read this series, but after reading the first book of the series I fell in love with it. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed by reading this series. It was an incredibly written series that was well tied with explanations and beautiful details of the settings. The main characters were dymamic and complex which made the series highly interesting. Purely magical.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 06 15:41:44 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 06 15:52:43 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jul 06 15:52:43 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f4d16ea4ac59af59d257631398af39f4", "book_id": "8755776", "review_id": "a72520c7d55631c92d1248f2b45b2421", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was pretty excited for this one but unfortunately... I was pretty disappointed. \n The only part of the book that was interesting for me was the last 100 pages (Nook eBook edition); but that's just me. There were a lot of things going on but it wasn't as intensely mind-blowing like the other books in this series. Unlike the other books in this series (where I was hooked from the beginning to the end) I was struggling to actually finish this book until I reached those last 100 pages. I will admit that I enjoyed how she ended this book and I loved how she made readers think hard about Sebastian and his truthful plans. Besides that, I don't think I gained any new insight to any of the characters besides Simon's way of thinking when it comes to relationships. \n I simply \"liked\" this book, rather than \"loved\" it and it pains me to say it because I love this series. Either way, I still love this series and will read the next :)", "date_added": "Mon Jun 04 19:09:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 12 16:18:54 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01ec1a320ffded6b2dd47833f2c8e4fb", "book_id": "34853896", "review_id": "fde7e3e91c35ce9d5194153e2cad0731", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"You smile like the devil,\" Mona said. \n \"The devil doesn't smile,\" he said. \"The devil smirks.\" \n STUNNING!! Ms. Reisz proves once again she is the Queen of erotica. The story and characters are all richly drawn and unforgettable. Mona Lisa St. James made a promise to her mother that she would do anything at all to save their art gallery. But the gallery is in financial trouble and she must sell it. And soon. \n But then a handsome Englishman arrives and makes her an irresistible offer. He will save her gallery. But she must agree to be his for one year. \n \"You were meant to do this,\" he said softly. \"You'll see.\" \n \"Why me?\" she asked. \"Millions of women in this country, millions in yours...why me?\" \n \"Millions of paintings in this world. Only one Mona Lisa. Billions of women in this world. Only one you, Mona Lisa St. James.\" \n And so begins the most erotic and sensual adventures Mona has ever had. A sexual awakening of sorts, Mona and the mysterious Malcolm shares his most erotic and depraved fantasies. Yet each and every encounter is sexy and beautiful and simply stunning!! Malcolm is judgement-free and slowly begins to understand her true nature and what life has in store for her. \n I can't even begin to describe how incredibly sensual and hot the scenes between Mona and Malcolm are. Each of their encounters is a wild and delightful fantasy, interwoven with mythology, history and lush eroticism. \n \"Is this all a dream?\" That's the only thing that makes any sense. \n \"You aren't dreaming,\" he said, and she knew that was true. She was awake and had been every time they had met. \"But if you were a dream, would you want to wake up?\" he asked. \n A good question. A fair question. A hard question, but one she answered easily. \n \"Never.\" \n I absolutely loved the conclusion to this gorgeous story. It was surprising and thrilling and completely satisfying! I fell in love with the rakish Malcolm. This book is unlike anything I've ever read. Tiffany Reisz writes with sensuality and skill. 'The Red' is a must-read for all erotic romance lovers!! \n \"Do anything you must, but keep me forever.\" \n (With many thanks to the author for a review copy.)", "date_added": "Fri Apr 14 22:21:41 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 16 09:04:24 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jul 12 16:30:30 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 21, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01ec1a320ffded6b2dd47833f2c8e4fb", "book_id": "34947450", "review_id": "c3a04a9c538d0f885138af71d0ce9475", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 - 5 GORGEOUS STARS \n \"No rules. Live out loud. Find the sunshine.\" \n Simply stunning!! Emma Scott writes THE most lyrical and gorgeous fiction. Nik and Fiona have a permanent place in my heart! \n Called a contemporary romance \"with paranormal elements,\" I found this book to be incredibly moving and very, very touching. I would not exactly characterize the story as paranormal but more the tale of a deeply empathetic man who is simply searching for love and acceptance. And please don't be put off by this being the second book in a series. I have not read the first book and I absolutely fell in love with these characters and the plot. This book is a total standalone! \n Nik and Fiona are both lost and simply wishing for a better life. For Nik, he only wants to silence the cacophony of sounds and colors he sees and for Fiona, it is the hope of a new life in Costa Rica. And when they meet, it is pure magic. \n \"But it wasn't what was wrong with me, anymore. It was what was right. The girl exuded a calm that danced along my skin, and when I inhaled, it was like breathing in the scent of something delicious but far away. The thrumming life all around me grew quiet. For the first time, I felt close to peace, and I wanted more.\" \n What begins as a one-night stand with zero expectations for the future turns into a burning hot love and a deep, unbreakable connection. Emma Scott's love scenes are beautiful and SEXY and a joy to read! \n \"Nikolai Alexei,\" she whispered and cupped my cheeks to look at me in the dimness. \"Who are you?\" \n There are very important messages in this book as well as some very gritty and heartbreaking scenes. But ultimately the message is one of hope and acceptance and unconditional love. Once again, I won't soon forget the characters created by Emma Scott. A must-read! \n \"Love and hope,\" she said. \"That's life to me.\" \n (ARC provided by the author in return for an honest review.)", "date_added": "Fri Mar 10 14:12:38 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 17 04:19:19 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jun 12 16:12:21 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jun 08 11:10:56 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 16, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01ec1a320ffded6b2dd47833f2c8e4fb", "book_id": "30853358", "review_id": "df88cbef0006a011814742c5a82cb97f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 - 5 Stars!! \n \"It's always the ones who are the quietest who often have the greatest things to say. And yes, I think we'll be friends.\" \n Simple, beautiful and unforgettable, 'Wolfsong' was one of the most gripping books I've read all year. Never in a million years did I think I would love a book about werewolves with a little fantasy sprinkled in but this book and this writing is just gorgeous. If you want to take a chance an read something that is a little outside your comfort zone, read this book!! I will never forget the great Ox and the entire Bennett family. \n A story about love, devotion, loyalty, friendship and family, 'Wolfsong' was also one of the most stunning love stories I've ever read. Ox, a kind, lovely soul, lives in a small town and lives a very quiet life with his mother. Until he meets Joe, and then his whole world is turned upside down. \n \"Words. Words were my enemy. How to say that here was where I felt the safest. Here was where I felt most at home. Here was where I wouldn't be judged. I wasn't a fucking retard here. I wasn't a waste of space or time. I wanted to say so much, too much, and found I couldn't really say anything at all.\" \n I highlighted so much of this epic story that my entire review could be made of quotes from this extraordinary book! Every character, every scene felt necessary and breathtaking. The bonds between Ox, Joe and the Bennett family seemed unbreakable and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see where this amazing author would take, me. This book is quite a journey and I loved every single minute. \n \"It was not a gradual thing. Wait. That was a lie. I didn't know it was a gradual thing. But it must have been. It had to have been. Because it's the only thing that explained the cosmic explosion that was the feeling of want and need and mine mine mine. The force of it was ridiculous. It had to have been there. For a long time.\" \n Fantasy books are usually not my thing but this book completely grabbed me from the first page. I felt as if I knew each of these characters. I wanted to wrap my arms around Ox and give him a big hug. These characters literally came to life before my eyes! I became entranced by the Oregon setting and the Bennett clan. I only wanted Ox and Joe to have their happy ending because they both deserved it so, so much. \n \"I would do anything to make you happy because no one had ever smelled like you did. It was candy canes and pinecones. It was epic and awesome. And it was home. You smelled like my home, Ox.\" \n I don't want to go into detail about the plot because it was surprising and thrilling. Take a chance on 'Wolfsong' and read this book! It was simply glorious. Definitely one of those books that would make a fantastic movie. \n \"It's easy to get lost, Ox, because the world is a wide and scary place. And every now and then, you just have to be reminded of the way home.\"", "date_added": "Fri Dec 16 15:37:36 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 29 07:05:21 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 12, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01ec1a320ffded6b2dd47833f2c8e4fb", "book_id": "32027348", "review_id": "31955639c84959473e0d62d663824e27", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 - 4 Stars \n I ADORE Renee Carlino and I think that all of her other books are beautifully written. 'Not in This Life' is one my top favorite books! 'Lucian Divine' did not have the depth that I expect from this writer's work. There was plenty of \"tell\" but not enough show. This lack of detail led to me not really feeling the bond between the main characters. \n Without spoiling the plot, there are just too many open questions in this book. The ending felt rushed. There are elements of romance, sex and even humor here, but I never \"felt\" the love between Evey and Lucian. I like that the author wrote a story that is certainly different and unexpected. Some readers may enjoy this type of book, but it was just not for me. I loved the Epilogue and the ending for these characters was perfect. Definitely try this one and judge for yourself! \n (ARC provided in return for an honest review.)", "date_added": "Wed Sep 14 08:56:22 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 09 23:13:40 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 08 14:18:24 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 16, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01ec1a320ffded6b2dd47833f2c8e4fb", "book_id": "32615117", "review_id": "9d796d76a77c5e5b239ef5383b829e23", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 Stars! \n Sensual, powerful, romantic and very sexy. I don't read much PNR but Sylvain Reynard is an exception. Very bittersweet to see the series end! Full review to follow.", "date_added": "Thu May 12 06:43:22 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 29 14:55:15 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Nov 29 14:55:15 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Nov 23 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01ec1a320ffded6b2dd47833f2c8e4fb", "book_id": "25476303", "review_id": "553ebc63aaad5809a992a73258ec5b62", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The Shadow is a lush, passionate and complex story, filled with romance, art, history and suspense. I am not a huge fan of paranormal stories but I make an exception for Sylvain Reynard's books. I LOVE the Gabriel's Redemption series and Professor Gabriel Emerson makes an appearance here. What more could you ask for? \n William and Raven are reunited in this story but William is battling forces who are trying to sabotage him. He has finally found the love of his life and he wants nothing more than to worship Raven forever. \n \"I will never have your nobility of spirit, or your protective nature, but as long as I have your love, I can be content.\" \n William will stop at nothing to protect Raven from both other vampires and from those who scheme to drive them apart. There is lots of action and mystery, written in the style that is completely unique to Sylvain Reynard. This is a very sensual and passionate book, and even if you do not usually read paranormal romance, you will love this story. The streets of Florence seem to come alive! \n We also learn about William's early life and the tragic story of how he lost his first love. Raven is completely trusting of him and along with the intrigue, there is also a little humor here, too. \n \"You're giving me a toothache.\" \n He pulled back. \"How is that possible?\" \n She laughed. \"It's a figure of speech. It means you're being too sweet. Say something awful.\" \n William's expression changed and he brought his lips to her ear. \"I want to take you back to the house, so I can spread you on my bed and do all kinds of wicked things to you.\" \n I can't wait to see what happens next! The Shadow is a beautifully written book and my favorite in the Florentine Series so far. Lush, lyrical, passionate and very intense. The outtakes are absolutely fantastic. Don't miss it!! \n (ARC provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.)", "date_added": "Wed Oct 28 00:18:30 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 01 22:50:07 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 23, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01ec1a320ffded6b2dd47833f2c8e4fb", "book_id": "23300367", "review_id": "c3a6842c6c01d310a01c026f23f232f1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "do not read much paranormal romance but I highly recommend this book! The characters and the story won me over. Mitch and Frederick are twins and both alpha wolves. Mitch stayed in their area, even after his brother found a mate and even though he accepted that he would forever be alone. \n Frederick and Simon meet by chance and once again, Cardeno C.'s incredibly loving, warm and sweet style took over to give these two the full life they had both been missing. \n Blue Mountain is a fairly short story, but is a wonderful, sweet addition to the author's work. Although Simon and Frederick are only really together towards the end of the story, the story and the characters really mesh perfectly together and I loved the direction the story took. I absolutely adored the narrator of this audiobook, even though I liked him best as the voice for Frederick and Mitch. I would like to hear Sean Crisden again as the narrator in future audiobooks. I highly recommend this story and the audio book for any reader of the m/m genre, even those new to the shapeshifter genre. Thank you, Cardeno C. for broadening my reading horizons once again! \n (A complimentary copy of the audiobook was provided in exchange for an honest review.)", "date_added": "Sun Jan 18 08:18:05 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 18 08:44:07 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01ec1a320ffded6b2dd47833f2c8e4fb", "book_id": "22843247", "review_id": "6ad4d9c1f655f6adc049441884fe2177", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The Prince, Sylvain Reynard's novella, is darkly sexy, fascinating, and highly addictive. The author's writing is completely hypnotic and very powerful. The story is a wonderful introduction into the new Florentine Series, and features the stunning Professor Gabriel Emerson and his beloved Julianne. However, we meet a whole new set of characters in this very sexy, paranormal romance. I absolutely fell in love with the story! \n The Prince is ruthless, cunning, and powerful. But what mysteries is the Prince hiding? And what secrets will he uncover? I can't wait to find out in The Raven. This story can be devoured in one sitting, and will leave you wanting more. The setting is broody and mysterious, and the bridge between the Gabriel Trilogy and the Florentine series is simply brilliant. I have sorely missed Sylvain Reynard and I anxiously await the The Raven! \n (ARC provided by the author in return for an honest review.)", "date_added": "Wed Sep 10 18:40:01 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 17 17:20:53 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 12, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01ec1a320ffded6b2dd47833f2c8e4fb", "book_id": "20530499", "review_id": "eaaaff12aa9423cf56151a8709d74eb8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 stars!! Kitty Thomas is my go-to author for dark erotica so I was excited to read her new release. Blood Mate is a FAIRY TALE, not really an erotic romance in any way, and is another intense story from Kitty Thomas. I don't normally read this genre of books but I absolutely loved the writing and the characters and am so glad I had the opportunity to read this book. \n August is a very powerful vampire who is cursed to forever take human victims on order to ensure his own survival. He was a good man in his former life and he desperately wants to break his curse. To do this, he must find his \"blood mate\", a woman whom he cannot \"enthrall\" or control via her mind, and who will stay with him throughout eternity. \n August finds Nicole, who is actually very happily married. Through a series of twists and turns, August creates a situation where Nicole will become his blood mate, but she doesn't give in so easily, and is a very strong and feisty heroine. August is torn by his actions but he absolutely must ensure his own survival. \n Only Kitty Thomas could create a cast of strong characters like those in Blood Lust and an fantastically creative story that will keep you guessing until the very end. \n If you want to step outside your usual genre of books, I highly recommend this dark and sensual tale. You will not be disappointed. \n (ARC provided by the author in return for an honest review.)", "date_added": "Fri Jan 31 10:07:23 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 09 14:21:08 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01ec1a320ffded6b2dd47833f2c8e4fb", "book_id": "18965316", "review_id": "714e2939cb02b7be528057f16dddad23", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A lush, sensual, erotic and suspenseful story that is at once poignant and dangerous. Another must-read from.SR and easily one of my top reads of 2015!! \n To say that I was ecstatic to read this book is an understatement. \n The Raven has everything I love about Sylvain Reynard's writing and more. Lyrical, erotic, sensual and mysterious, The Raven begins another addictive series with the introduction of Raven and the Prince. This book is a must-read!! \n Professor Emerson and his wife do appear here, but Raven and the Prince are themselves insanely fascinating. Even if you are not a huge fan of paranormal stories, this book is a must read for the thrilling story and lush, intensely sexual scenes. We are introduced to the Prince, leader of the City of Florence, who is at once cold and calculating but beautiful in his own right. He cannot stay away from Raven and feels compelled to help her again and again. He sees in her virtue and goodness, and she awakens long-dormant feelings that he never believed he could have, even at his own peril. \n \"I'm afraid that trouble is not what you do. Trouble is what you are.\" \n Raven is an unlikely heroine and I fell in love with her! She is damaged goods, inside and out, and her painful history is hinted at and then ultimately explained. She is an extremely sympathetic character and I cannot wait to read more about her in the next book. The Prince, too, is surprised at his attraction to her; might she lead him to redemption and true love? \n \"In many ways, we are the most perfect match. We see each other as we are, but neither of us views the other as broken.\" \n I am not articulate enough to adequately describe the virtues of this book! Part art history lesson, part paranormal romance, part erotica, it is a must read for all fans of Gabriel's Inferno - and even for those readers new to the series. This book can be read as a standalone but is best understood after having read the GI series. The Raven is engrossing, suspenseful, sexy and and yes, humorous. Do not miss this book! And while it has a a fabulous conclusion, there is much, much more to come for these characters and I cannot wait for more!! \n Favorite quote: \n \"You are my greatest virtue and my deepest vice.\"", "date_added": "Wed Nov 27 17:10:46 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 04 19:37:36 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 20, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "01ec1a320ffded6b2dd47833f2c8e4fb", "book_id": "18102827", "review_id": "b8a0ab496bcb1627ab4979466d1d64bd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I don't usually read a lot of paranormal books so King Hall was a little something different for me! This is a magical, imaginative story that follows Lily, a young prodigy who is suddenly forced to become a leader along with three other friends. Lily is a \"hybrid\", which is very dangerous in the mystical world created by Scarlett Dawn. The action-packed story follows young Lily as she experiences loss, self-doubt and many epic challenges on her path to becoming the leader she is meant to be. \n The author has created some great supporting characters in Ezra, Jack and Pearl. I especially enjoyed reading about the relationship and strong connection between Lily and Ezra, the sexy Vampire. There is lots of talk about sex and sexual tension in this book, but nothing too explicit. \n King Hall ends with a cliffhanger, but it is the kind of ending that leaves you ready for the next installment in this story! This book was a very different read, and I recommend it for anyone interested in stories about magical, mystical worlds. \n I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 19 08:58:59 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 23 20:36:26 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01ec1a320ffded6b2dd47833f2c8e4fb", "book_id": "16159713", "review_id": "f10d844499f0814b2ada131e83af1188", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"I love her, more than anyone should love anything. The kind of love that either fills you up or eats away at you. I love her at my own risk. I love her dangerously.\" \n I call this book \"The One Where Karina Halle Rips Your Heart Out and Stuffs It Down Your Throat.\" In AWMCTL, we feel every drop of Dex's anguish about his feelings for Perry. It is told from Dex's POV and because this is a spoiler-free review, let's just say that the author really knows how to wring every drop of honesty and truth from her characters. \n \"Shut the fuck up, man. Get over it. Shape up or ship out. Don't think I wasn't yelling those things in my head. But when the fuck did my head and heart get along anyway? They were mortal enemies now, sworn to rip each other to shreds.\" \n But since this part of the EIT series after all, there is still plenty of action to go around. When Dex is abruptly summoned by Little Fifteen aka Ada to help Perry, he doesn't hesitate to jump right back into the fray to save Perry from mortal danger. \n \"You're my light in all this madness, Perry,\" I whispered, knowing she couldn't hear me. \n Obviously, I can't wait to see where the author takes Dex and Perry in Come Alive (Book 7), to be released on June 23, 2013!And With Madness Comes the LightKarina Halle", "date_added": "Wed May 15 11:11:22 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 14 21:08:28 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01ec1a320ffded6b2dd47833f2c8e4fb", "book_id": "11729060", "review_id": "ad865724a66d5fe0f62bc869621a5f5d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm hooked! Can't wait to read rest of series. And I LOVE DEX!", "date_added": "Tue May 07 05:14:35 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 06 14:16:56 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jun 06 14:16:56 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01ec1a320ffded6b2dd47833f2c8e4fb", "book_id": "17608224", "review_id": "89fca4283e9e51cf3cb011ce0b654817", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 Fantastical Stars!! \n \"What makes a hero is the one that's left standing when the others are dead. Or the one that gave his life so the others could live. That's a fuckin' hero.\" \n Midnight Soul is the conclusion of the Fantasyland series with Noctorno (Noc) Hawthorne and Franka Drakkar, who was truly evil in the previous books in this series. But in trademark Kristen Ashley style, Franka's true side is shown and all of her secrets are revealed. She has endured terrible abuse for years to protect her brother and his family which she has hidden from everyone around her. \n Not and Franka begin a very slow-burn romance that at first begins as a friendship and partnership. Kristen Ashley expertly weaves fantasy, paranormal and reality with touches of comedy and as always, a beautiful and enduring romance. The scenes of Franka and others from her world being introduced to the modern world are funny and thought-provoking and always entertaining. \n Noc sees the real Franka and his love transforms her. I always tell friends who don't usually read fantasy that Kristen Ashley's books are magical and engrossing and Midnight Soul is no exception. The journey that Franka takes is filled with forgiveness and redemption and yes, a swoony Alpha who will stop at nothing to protect Franka and her loved ones. \n Midnight Soul is an imaginative and sexy conclusion to the Fantasyland series. It is filled with unforgettable characters and as always, a magnificent Epilogue! \n \"You don't have a midnight soul, Frannie. Your soul is so bright, I look too close, I'd be blinded.\" \n (ARC provided by the author in return for an honest review.)", "date_added": "Thu Mar 28 07:42:43 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 13 22:49:25 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "01ec1a320ffded6b2dd47833f2c8e4fb", "book_id": "17346804", "review_id": "02c7cf152e53e22edff3d781eff5d203", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Kristen Ashley is my favorite author. Her books make my heart pound, get my pulse racing, make me cry, make me laugh and wrap me, always, in a cocoon of family, friendship and love. Could you ask anything more from a writer? And Wild And Free, the third installment in the Three Series, does all of that, and much, much more. \n Wild and Free contains some of the rawest, animalistic, sensual and gorgeous love scenes I have ever read. Abel and Lilah, destined to be mates for life, need to be able to draw you in to their characters and their fated mating for this to be a believable story. And boy, do they ever! Just when I think Ms. Ashley could not possibly create a more Alpha male than she already has, she writes Abel, who is a hybrid and who mates like nobody's business!! \n This book contains everything you could possibly hope for in a paranormal romance. There is incredible, heart-stopping action, hot sex, other-wordly beings, super-hot sex, wolves, vampires and heart-pounding sex! I absolutely loved Abel and his story broke my heart. Lilah is a kick-ass heroine, brave, uninhibited, sexual. loyal and loving. These two together just might save the world. \n I could not put this book down and was literally swooning at every page. Even if you are not a big fan of paranormal romance, and I do not read a lot of them, Wild And Free is a MUST-READ. This book is truly Kristen Ashley at her finest. She is not afraid to pull the punches and make sacrifices when they work for the story. And for that, I love her. Be prepared to be wowed. Wild And Free has loads of unexpected twists and turns and it is a vital addition to your KA library!! \n (*ARC provided by the author, with thanks, for an honest review.)", "date_added": "Mon Feb 25 17:49:21 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 04 08:00:13 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Dec 22 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 14, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01ec1a320ffded6b2dd47833f2c8e4fb", "book_id": "12390650", "review_id": "61d30c3ab16571ee9bfa9296e3237a78", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Never in a million years did I think I would love a book about a parallel world with elves, kings, magic...but this is Kristen Ashley, after all, so I fell in love with this book!! I was enthralled by this story and felt transported to this world that Ms. Ashley created. In search of an epic adventure, Finnie trades places with her \"twin\" who lives in a parallel universe. Immediately she is swept off to marry the king in an arranged marriage. He then leaves her alone in the middle of the woods and so begins this epic tale that had me swooning at every word. \n Frey Drakkar is uber-sexy, controlling and at first, non-communicative. But slowly these two develop a bond that is beautiful and lasting and quite magical. I am not a huge reader of fantasy but this book is quite simply unforgettable. The characters came alive for me and the story is amazing. Even if you are not a fan of this genre, read this book!! Wildest Dreams is everything I love about Kristen Ashley.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 28 12:02:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 30 22:01:40 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b3636a043e5c99fa27ac897ccfa1151", "book_id": "9369720", "review_id": "6f8905f397463a0c5a58d516612f1311", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Groan, eye roll, page turn, repeat. \n Just kidding when I said this was better than Twilight. The writing in this book makes Stephenie Meyer comparable to Hemingway.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 15 21:04:56 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 20 09:20:48 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b3636a043e5c99fa27ac897ccfa1151", "book_id": "7740152", "review_id": "acef15128c3afc11081b8647b43a6862", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I am so tired of YA books where the female character is weak and conflicted and the love interest is chiseled, gorgeous, and borderline abusive. Disappointing.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 01 10:47:10 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 20 09:24:51 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Feb 14 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b3636a043e5c99fa27ac897ccfa1151", "book_id": "6487308", "review_id": "5edd924e243392f7789ddd11ded7851d", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Well...it's way better than Twilight, but that's not really saying much. Unfortunately, I can't NOT read a sequel- so book 2, here I come.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 01 10:44:09 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 01 10:46:40 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Feb 01 10:46:40 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b3636a043e5c99fa27ac897ccfa1151", "book_id": "15848274", "review_id": "74f24d96af9be9c5363e77c5cb4391ce", "rating": 1, "review_text": "....um.... I blame Kristen.", "date_added": "Wed May 28 07:47:36 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 28 07:48:01 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "4b3636a043e5c99fa27ac897ccfa1151", "book_id": "428263", "review_id": "73ee970fcf6b3226da30aa20e0abeedb", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It's like a horrible car accident that I can't stop staring at. Make it go away.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 19 21:48:06 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 22 13:36:07 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Mon Dec 19 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Mon Dec 19 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b3636a043e5c99fa27ac897ccfa1151", "book_id": "49041", "review_id": "3c36435e6d4d993cb8bd5b47adf8d6eb", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Ugh. Why am I putting myself through this?", "date_added": "Wed Dec 07 09:23:19 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 22 13:31:18 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Thu Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Fri Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b3636a043e5c99fa27ac897ccfa1151", "book_id": "27003", "review_id": "7e379016ff5a4bb428a097045f73d6ca", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It was totally campy and fun. Exactly what I needed. I mean how can you not enjoy a book with characters named Jack Schitt and Braxton Hicks?", "date_added": "Fri Jun 03 21:49:51 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 23 09:24:40 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jun 09 22:03:03 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Fri Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b3636a043e5c99fa27ac897ccfa1151", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "7b8b381dade8f398b88b0ab8c9ec697e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "If I was 15, I would have LOVED this. It wasn't terrible, in fact, it was the perfect quick read for a rainy weekend. I'm going to give the second book a chance.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 11 11:22:16 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 13 08:47:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Nov 21 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Thu Nov 17 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "903d4b859e86a1dd6d7640849cc7067c", "book_id": "6282915", "review_id": "b3fe302e86562af12af5bd77e660465c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It's been at least 10 years since reading an Anne Rice novel, and I'm reminded why I've read more of her books than any other author. I feel at times the plot seemed slow in this book, but when I finished it, I felt like the undertones of the book said more than the story itself. It's not necessarily the events that happen, but the reactions and emotions to them. It's getting to know the mind of the characters. That's why I like Anne Rice.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 15 12:09:23 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 28 13:00:25 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jun 28 13:00:25 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "903d4b859e86a1dd6d7640849cc7067c", "book_id": "140082", "review_id": "0730bc484d0a2a0a0fa073c40dcefe67", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Considerably better than book #2 (Dead in Dallas), still hoping it'll get better.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 22 07:00:52 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 22 07:02:25 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "903d4b859e86a1dd6d7640849cc7067c", "book_id": "110494", "review_id": "992df40030d8bc3aa69c9b5aed8d8f5d", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I'm wondering if my love for the show has skewed my appreciation of the books. But in my opinion, simply the structure of this book was dismal. The book begins with the set up of the Maenad plot, only to drop it and cut to Dallas, for that to end abruptly and then back to the Maenad where we haven't had any plot development and then the book is over. Neither plots are tied to each other in any way, and most the characters and relationships seem completely devoid of actual emotion. And this may be harsh, but I think there was more character development in Twilight.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 04 07:47:16 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 19 10:45:12 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "afc070543f19028dc7e7f084a0079f72", "book_id": "18131", "review_id": "947ee61d4b08710748b6ddf5a9af92f2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A tremendous book. Missed this when I was a young girl. Love the spiritual path of this book woven into a science fiction novel. A very quick read for an adult. A profound read for the young.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 29 10:34:03 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 16 09:36:56 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dc3763cdb9b2cae805882878eebb6a32", "book_id": "15813776", "review_id": "95f7b872ad96e0586a2cdd82f275d0b4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Witches Bureau of Investigation is the first of two books by Richard Capwell in the series the first one at least, featuring young Nate and Herman Howe. Richard Capwell has self-published 10 books including \"The Domain of Dragons\" series of fourbooks from what I can tell based on goodreads.com. As stated in the intro book blurb at the top of this review. Young Nate and Herman Howe accidentally (or was it?) run into literally, Mrs. Weatherby outside a coffee shop spilling her latte everywhere. Through the boys chivalry, Mrs Weatherby hands the boys her business card that reads that she is the retired Director of the Witches Bureau of Investigation, tells them if they ever need anything to call on her then drives away. It just so happens the boys mother has been missing for six months under mysterious circumstances, at least to those who knew Mrs. Howe. The police have closed the case, tying her disappearance to a man who embezzled some money from the company they both worked for during her vacation and her having an affair and running away with him. The boys don't believe this for a second, neither does their father who tirelessly looks for her and takes care of the boys with the help of his mother. \n After discussing it together that evening while trying to do research on the WBI, the boys decide to call Mrs. Weatherby. They meet up the next morning and soon begins the adventure the boys could never have imagined. The boys, Mrs. Weatherby, her Chauffeur Beauchamp illicit help from other former WBI investigators to help find the boys mother. All along the way, the boys have to hide what is going on from their father, deal with a very nasty neighbor lady who is always watching them like a hawk and Mrs. Weatherby's daughter is trying to have her put in a nursing home and have her declared incompetent so she can get at Mrs. Weatherby's money. The team find them selves in for more than they bargained for as it looks like there maybe corruption at the WBI, some very powerful missing magic artifacts, at least one rogue witch and no one is sure who they can trust. \n Capwell does a formidable job with light romp of a story that shows he can create a depth of character, tell a story and leave the reader wanting more. The Witches Bureau of Investigation was extremely well written in the sense that you feel like you got to know a lot about the characters in a very short time. The book itself is only 179 pages long. The description and the dialogue was all very unique for each character. The story plot while yet a bit predictable was still very entertaining and a few twists and turns kept me guessing all along the way. \n I have to admit, I was surprised by how much I liked this book. It was very well written in terms of characterization, pace, action and humor. Capwell did a great job of bringing the characters to life in this light weight novel of paranormal adventure. It is written so people of any age can enjoy it and feel like the got not only an easy read, but a very good one at that. One of the other things I loved was the editing was very good in my opinion. So often with self-published works, the editing is not done very well and that can make the book very hard to read or at least enjoy. \n So in conclusion, Witches Bureau of Investigation is a recommended read for those that love a bit of fun, humor, action, paranormal and wit in the books. The only issue I have is, it could have been a bit deeper and a bit more mystery to it if it had been a longer book. But that is a small issue considering what came out of it. \n Club Fantasci Scoring (Based on scale of 10): \n Cover Artwork: 8 Editing: 9 Re-readability: 7 \n Club Fantasci Overall Score: 8 \n I am giving Witches Bureau of Investigation 4 out of 5 stars because it was a solid read full of characters, action, humor and a solid plot but also because it was a bit short. It might have been five other wise. \n This book is Club Fantasci Certified! \n Club Fantasci Certified \n Author Website: None available \n Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richard.capw... \n Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/RichardCapwell \n Author Google+: None available \n Author Goodreads Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... \n Note: A review copy of this book was not provided to me. \n If you like what we bring, please join us on Goodreads.com here: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/... \n Club Fantasci on Facebook: www.facebook.com/clubfantasci \n Club Fantasci on Twitter: www.twitter.com/clubfantasci \n Club Fantasci on Google+: Club Fantasci", "date_added": "Tue Jul 29 17:04:23 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 18 08:10:27 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jul 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dc3763cdb9b2cae805882878eebb6a32", "book_id": "13446443", "review_id": "c1045c29498fbf3a098219e238140379", "rating": 3, "review_text": "\"Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea\" written by author J. L. Murray is the first in a series based on the fictional character of Niki Slobodian. J. L. Murray is a full-time writer with additional series credits to her resume such as the \"After The Fire\" series and Jenny Undead. The Niki Slobodian Series consists of five novels at this time and I have only read the first book so please take this into account with this review. \n In the book \"Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea\" we find our main character Niki Slobodian out of work, struggling to pay her bills and taking care of her god mother \"Sofi\" who is in the hospital with cancer and finding herself on \"The Registry\" for the last year with no hope of getting off and not allowing her to work because she is an \"abnormal.\" She somehow finds a bar called the \"Deep Blue Sea\" and walks in only to be approached by a gentleman named \"Sam\" who seemed to know everything about her, makes her a job offer and a large payment for her services. Niki of course takes the offer out of necessity and ends up on some unknown super secret police squad that deals with supernatural threats. Niki sets out to solve this case and get her life back on track hopefully for good. Partnered with a wizard named \"Gage\" that doesn't really understand how he knows what to do, she has to deal with a police chief that wants her head, a mayor that mysteriously keeps popping up in all the wrong places, a former boyfriend and police offer assigned to help her and having to face her estranged father who is in prison as being the first abnormal ever convicted. \n This book was a bit of a cliche' for me. A down on their luck character facing insurmountable odds. A mysterious character (Sam) who just happens to be super powerful and influential that can do what no one else can. A dark brooding partner we never really learn that much about. A powerful father who abandoned his daughter and Niki can't stand only to find out the truth later and so on and so on. There wasn't much here that wasn't completely predictable and absolutely zero twists and turns in this book. \n A few of the major issues for me was the complete lack of any ability to say anything other than \"I said,\" \"she said,\" or \"he said\" to end a characters statement. Not one \"... remarked\" or \"... agreed' or anything other than \"...said.\" That got to be very annoying and probably my biggest gripe in the book. The use of salt in this book was another huge cliche' right out of any \"Dresden Files\" book or \"Supernatural\" episode. While it wasn't a major issue, it just didn't seem very creative to me and was a very easy fall back. The ease of which the major big bad was finished off especially since he was invulnerable or un-killable. To be offed that easy by two complete novices with something as routine and wrote as the weapon was a very weak ending. I can't imagine in all the years of the human race the people fighting the supernatural, not one \"experienced\" person tried this on a major creature to figure it out. \n The book is very short and shallow as far as any real depth of character. There isn't a whole lot of development in it. Niki herself only reflects on herself or doubts for about one paragraph, the rest of the time she is the typical strong female lead character who is quick-witted, smart, sarcastic and bad ass that we have all become way to used to. \n J.L. Murray gives us a book that is more of an action movie like the Transformers except nowhere near as long. There is plenty of action. It moves at a good pace actually. The story in spite of my criticism doesn't ever seem out of line or not believable, it's just not different enough to really shake it's self from all the other paranormal action adventures out there. If this book were longer, with better character development, a bit more editing and a hair more creativity, I would have really liked it. That being said, it is still better than many I have tried to read lately. \n The author has talent and I am sure gets better as the series goes on. The book was good enough for me to want to read the next in line to see if the character develops any and find out if \"Sam\" is who I think he is. It's a decent effort and I can see a lot of potential for this author in the future. \n I am giving \"Between The Devil And The Blue See\" 3 out of 5 stars because the book was action packed enough to keep my interest. There weren't any boring parts or things that got lost or muddy in it. A little lacking on development and a lack of constructive editing as well as the short length are all that held this back. \n Note: A review copy of this book was not provided to me. \n The original review was posted here: http://clubfantasci.com/devil-deep-bl... \n Club Fantasci on Facebook: www.facebook.clubfantasci \n Club Fantasci on Twitter: www.twitter.com/clubfantasci \n Club Fantasci on Google+: Club Fantasci", "date_added": "Mon Jul 28 16:45:17 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 28 18:29:29 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dc3763cdb9b2cae805882878eebb6a32", "book_id": "4268273", "review_id": "b2b5e4f09ebc7597f8531b50641f7e0e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was pretty happy with this book in general as it was a fun read and fairly engaging. It did remind me of another book series from another author but only in the comedic sense. The characters were all real defined and interesting and in some ways the support characters were stronger and more memorable than the main character. \n Main character Gerald Dunwoody is a wizard of the 3rd level and seemingly incapable of any real magic or holding a job. He tramples through life until he answers an ad for a court wizard out of necessity. Desperate for work, he forgets to ask the important questions and accepts the position out of hand not realizing his life was about to change forever. Accompanied by his companion Reg, a female talking bird with a history and support from his genius wizard friend Monk Markham, Gerald finds himself in a political situation like no other. \n Karen Miller writing as K.E. Mills does a good job of creating a believable world and comical but yet serious situation to create her series in that keeps the readers nose in the book and wondering what is coming next. With a limited setting, Miller does what most authors don't which is to tell a real story about characters, growth and companionship. My only real complaints are the lack any real sense of time period and a twist that seemed fore shadowed but led a different direction. It's hard to imagine what the world looks like except for a couple points in the book in which Miller gets a bit more detailed. \n All in all it is a good book with solid character development and a story that compels you to keep reading to find out what happens. A solid 3 1/2 stars out of 5 for me as it is a light read. It is definitely worth the read and following up with the other books in the series.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 03 16:31:18 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 25 20:55:50 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dc3763cdb9b2cae805882878eebb6a32", "book_id": "13626269", "review_id": "99817b51926b7d4372af226375e5fcb0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"Shadows of the Realm\" for me was a good book and kept me enraptured enough to not want to put it down. It's also the first novel I have read fully on my iPad which is saying something as I much prefer the feel of a book in my hand and all other novels on my iPad have remained unread. \n This is author Dionne Lister's first novel and it is a good first book. It did keep me engaged and wondering what would happen next and it was fairly original which can be hard in a fantasy novel. I don't remember any other fantasy novel that I have read channeling \"magic\" from other dimensions or have a \"GPS\" ability to read where characters are located throughout the world based on their body signature. \n There was decent character development, a good plot although I wasn't totally sure of the big picture and a good pace through out the book. What I did like about this book was it didn't feel like I had read it before in some other novel. I didn't get any real sense of I know what is coming next or typical character traits that all \"heroes\" tend to have. Dionne did a great job of giving us something fresh and a feeling of something unique. It is an easy read and you don't get lost in time changes and so much detail that if you don't stay on top of your reading, you forget important parts. \n My only knocks are not enough political intrigue within the nobility, a quick and unexplained disappearance that I am sure will make itself known in later novels and I don't get enough sense of dread of the consequences if the party fails to accomplish it's mission which we never really find out about it's purpose in this first novel. I guess that could be interpreted as a good way to bring the reader back for the following books. \n All in all a good first novel and I am planning on reading the follow up as the story is pretty solid and the author kept it intriguing enough in general to enjoy the adventure.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 12 19:57:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 28 13:12:54 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "dc3763cdb9b2cae805882878eebb6a32", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "d0c52cf6e71c539d1d9488dce590051a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - a Review by David Lowry \n When my book club Club Fantasci chose its first \"Book of the Month,\" we had quite the list to go through and pick from. For some reason after discovering this book at a local mom & pop bookstore, it really stuck out to me. The premise was very intriguing, the colors brought to mind what I thought would be a sinister plot and for some reason it kept bringing the movie \"Something Wicked This Way Comes\" to my mind (a favorite from childhood) also a very popular novel by Ray Bradbury from 1962. \n What I got out of the novel was not what I expected. Although I loved the premise of the book, the book itself didn't stand up to what it could have been. Author Erin Morgenstern did turn out a good book for her first novel without a doubt. It has plenty of imagination and creativity. What I felt was missing was any real bond to the characters or any real attachment to the outcome of the love story because that is essential what \"The Night Circus\" is, a love story. \n It starts off with two young children Celia and Marco who are unwittingly looked into a life or death challenge that goes on for their entire life. They know nothing about it, how it works, whom it's against or when it ends. They just exist and are in a combat of sorts against each other until into their adult hood they start to figure out who their opponents are and the stakes if the challenge is lost. \n Along the way, a cast of characters again that you develop no attachment to pepper the story with little bits of their involvement here and there. Two characters die and you don't really even know or care who they are although they are at least partially integral to the circus itself. The story jumps back and forth in time with nothing but a tiny sub-script line at the top of each chapter to let you know of the time shifts and if you are like me and extremely busy, it becomes very hard to keep that all in order as when I am able to read, I read in spurts and very rarely for hours at a time. \n As Celia and Marco grow up and figure out they are pitted against each other in this challenge they had no choice in participating in, they fall in love and of course they have to figure out a way to be together upon discovering that the only way to win the challenge is to be the last to survive. It's a challenge of endurance, who can last the longest before finally giving up because they can't bear it anymore emotionally. \n I won't give away the ending but let's just say it ends very quickly and very anti-climatically. I ended the book thinking to myself how completely unsatisfying it was to read. I do love the premise, I love the potential, but I don't feel it was reached here. Erin Morgenstern is a talented writer; I think her ability to describe detail is very good. Her imagination is fantastic. I just think this story was a bit rushed and the ending was not thought out well to me. There was not enough character development to care about the outcome and the switching between first and second person was a bit off-putting. \n All in all I would give it about three out of 5 stars. I would read another book by the author, but admittedly it would probably be after getting through all my other ones first.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 12 06:05:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 31 20:53:16 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dc3763cdb9b2cae805882878eebb6a32", "book_id": "47212", "review_id": "cca5cb0e3e46d54ef4cb2d2d57121427", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"My name is Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden. Conjure it at your own risk. I am a wizard. I work out of an office in downtown Chicago. As far as I know, I am the only openly practicing professional wizard in the country.\" \n \"Storm Front\" is the first in a series of 15 books (so far) called \"The Dresden Files\" based on the wizard Harry Dresden in this urban fantasy setting by author Jim Butcher. I admit I have come to this series a bit late as I have known about it for awhile both by recommendation and the TV series called \"The Dresden Files\" (which I loved by the way) and its untimely demise in 2008-09. This series of books is wildly popular enough to have spawned of a TV series as well as an RPG Game. This game is really what pushed me into the novels as I had recently been asked to review the game for a website. After reading through a good portion of both core manuals, I knew I need to read the books as the manuals were cool enough on their own and brought me into a whole new exciting world. I had already purchased the first to two books of the series awhile back and just hadn't gotten around to reading them yet. I am glad I finally did and disappointed I hadn't read them earlier. \n In \"Storm Front,\" Harry is brought in to help consult on a double homicide case with mysterious circumstances, as he is often asked to do with the Special Investigations team of the Chicago Police Department. Detective Karrin Murphy heads this team that brings Harry in to ask his \"advice\" on things out of the ordinary. One of the two deaths have a mob tie to it seemingly and the other death is a bit more puzzling. \n Quickly after leaving the scene of the crime, Harry is confronted by the mob and asked to avoid helping in this case, which of course, Harry declines as he smells something is not quite right with this situation and, well, he needs the money as you can imagine, wizards aren't on everyone's first call list for solving problems. \n Harry gets back to his office for another appointment and finds himself involved in a missing persons case. Unbeknownst to Harry, both cases are of course tied together and things get rough very quickly. Soon Harry is being roughed up by strangers, attacked by a giant scorpion, an known wizard Harry calls Vic \"Shadowman\" is attempting to kill Harry at every possible opportunity, while trying to avoid the mob as well as attempting to help Detective Murphy as much as possible even though he is not able to be completely honest with Murphy as per the rules of the White Council, a type of governing body for wizards unknown to the public. Harry has a Warden of the White Council on his tail all the time it seems who is just gunning to get Harry killed because he doesn't trust Harry and things he works in the \"Black.\" That being black magic of course. Harry's not being able to be honest with the police also lands Harry in hot water to add to his troubles. \n The thing about \"Storm Front\" is it is completely fun! The narration in which the story is told left me chuckling many times. I love a book that has a sense of humor to it. The character of Harry Dresden is one that many people can relate to and it just draws you in. Harry is one of the best at what he does; yet he struggles to make a living. He tries to do the best he can, help as many as he can and yet, things are always going against him. I am sure many of us understand how hard it is to be very good at something, but not make a great living at it. I know that Detective Murphy is a main stay in the series and I am sure her character will be much more fleshed out in the later books as obviously there is a special relationship between her and Harry. \n Butcher does a great job of telling a fun, exciting story that compels you to keep reading. The world is completely imaginable and the tension is just enough to make you want more. Of course I will read the other books in the series as so far \"Strom Front\" has done an amazing job of detailing a world of magic, mystery and danger with a touch of humor and making it completely fun. \n If you love urban fantasy or fantasy books of any kind, I highly recommend \"Strom Front\" to you. You don't want to pass this one up! \n I am giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. \n You can find out more about Jim Butcher and his books here: www.jim-butcher.com \n This review is posted at: http://clubfantasci.wordpress.com/201...", "date_added": "Thu Jul 12 06:04:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 16 00:51:35 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun May 26 16:58:44 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue May 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dc3763cdb9b2cae805882878eebb6a32", "book_id": "3227063", "review_id": "e2434d0a3f0ee2d6e313ee6a30993ee8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Growing up in the nastiest alleys and streets of Cenaria dreaming every minute of better life is how Azoth lives. Day by day wishing for the \"wetboy\" Durzo Blint to apprentice him so Azoth can escape this dreadful life of fear of being beat up everyday if you don't pay your share of the dues and also to take care of his best friends Jarl and Doll Girl. \n It's a dark journey for this young boy to have the weight of so much on his shoulders, watching after Doll Girl whom he feels responsible for and leading a group of rag tag homeless kids against people in his own guild let alone all the others trying to take over their territory. Azoth must destroy his enemy, provide a better life for Doll Girl and somehow get the lands deadliest assassin Durzo Blint to notice him and be willing to apprentice him. And that's all before he reaches his teen years. \n \"The Way of Shadows\" is a rich full book of the life of Azoth later to be named Kylar and his journey to becoming a \"wetboy\" so he can escape reality. The plot twists are many and the character development is really strong. The relationship between Azoth and Durzo is a special one fraught with love, appreciation, jealousy and master/apprentice dynamics. Durzo becomes like a father to Azoth and trains him to become the best \"wetboy\" around. Azoth struggles with the solitary life of an assassin and his love for Doll Girl whom he must abandon to keep her from danger but also provides for her in secret. Sacrificing his life to make sure she has one. It's a love story. \n The characters in Azoth/Kylar's life are very well defined and you develop feelings for them. From his best friend Jarl from the life he left behind to Logan the Prince and soon to be King whom Kylar at this point befriends out of necessity. The double life Kylar must live between lower noble to assassin provides plenty of intrigue and a cast of characters that add a lot of flavor to the book especially Momma K. \n You have all the great things that go in a good fantasy book in \"The Way of Shadows\" and very little of anything negative. I don't want to give anything away in this review but suffice it to say it's a must read fantasy book. For Brent Weeks first novel this is a very strong effort and I can't wait to get to the other two books in the series. \n Find out more about Brent Weeks at www.brentweeks.com", "date_added": "Wed Jul 11 20:12:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 29 12:11:44 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dc3763cdb9b2cae805882878eebb6a32", "book_id": "42899", "review_id": "aaba9c7b7dec842d6cea04ba2b9a837f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"Dark Lover\" is the first in the series of 11 books about The Black Dagger Brotherhood by author J. R. Ward. In the Caldwell, NY of all places the last true pure-blood vampire \"Wrath\" the Blind King has encamped himself and his brotherhood of five other vampires in a half hearted attempt to preserve their race in a turf war with their slayers the \"lessers\". The Blind King wants nothing to do with his heritage and doesn't see himself as strong enough to take up his mantle and lead his race in order to survive. His brotherhood stay faithful in hopes that one day The Blind King will realize his destiny and lead their race into the future so they can prosper again. \n The Blind King finds himself suddenly thrust into protecting the daughter Beth Randall of a slain brotherhood member only to find out that Beth is soon to undergo the change and become a vampire herself. Being completely detached from his emotional senses in order to avoid his calling Wrath starts to come to the realization that he is falling in love and understands that he might have something to live for and protect. Fighting against his desires, instincts, calling and his enemies, Wrath finally is forced to grow \"up\" and face his destiny. \n With a possible assassination attempt on his life from one of the brotherhood, an angry female vampire that feels tossed aside and an angry brother of the female vampire, Wrath's battle come on all fronts. The Blind Kings life jumps from the comfortable solitude of hunt and kill to emotional turmoil, demands from a higher being and learning to trust those around him in a hurry. \n Dark Lover is full of cliches such as the tall, muscle bound, sexy, incredibly attractive male character to the hot damsel in distress that he falls in love with and bodies and sex organs that are way beyond the norm and that feed the it's only hot and sexy if beyond perfect stereotype. While the time frame in which all this happens is extraordinarily fast, the action, the passion and the characters work for the most part once you get past the cliches which are there because the author knows they work. \n If you are going to read a book that has that standard comfortable format in which the reader knows basically what to expect, than this book is not a bad read at all. There are variations on the vampire theme so it's not a traditional vampire but is that a good or bad thing? That is for you to decide as your read a story of love, lust, action and accepting your heritage. \n You can find out more about J. R. Ward here: www.jrward.com \n This review was originally posted here: http://clubfantasci.wordpress.com/201...", "date_added": "Wed Jul 11 19:35:23 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 11 08:24:07 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dc3763cdb9b2cae805882878eebb6a32", "book_id": "476692", "review_id": "3e6565f19edddea3f74c8302a37189fc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Book Review \"Born of Night\" by Sherriliyn Kenyon - David Lowry \n Author Sherrilyn Kenyon needs no introduction, as she has been a best selling author for quite awhile now. In her first book of the \"The League\" series, \"Born of Night\" is a strong opening for what should be a fun group of books to follow. Main character Nykyrian Quikiades is a ruthless assassin that has chosen to lead a group of fellow assassins carrying out contracts and always looking over their shoulder as Nykyrian has turned his back on The League that at one time he was the Command Assassin of. \n Nykyrian rescues the kidnapped Princess Kiara and he and his band of assassins try to keep her out of harms way, facing desperate parents, numerous assassination attempts all while Nykyrian has to come to terms with his tortured past, inability to let any close and his growing feelings for a Princess he has to protect. Princess Kiara is struggling with her unhappy life of expectation in a career that is emotionally draining. Having to learn how to keep her strength up when she is being hunted for reasons she doesn't understand and having a terrifying group of people around her for protection is almost too much to bear. \n While Nykyrian is the typical, unbeatable, extremely good looking main character, the depth of character that is revealed in him is impressive. Kiara although a bit whiney and who wouldn't be going from a palace to targeted for death, goes through her emotional roller coaster we all go through when your solid rock is destabilized in favor of a sudden harsh and terrifying reality is imposed on your life. The self-discovery process that both go through is well thought out and implemented here. \n I think it's fairly obvious that the message here is about not judging a person necessarily by what you see or what little you know of them. Life's circumstances often shape a personality into something that is completely defensive while the real person is dying to get out of their shell. \n \"Born of Night\" has good pacing, exciting action and great character development. 4 out of 5 stars for me. \n See more book reviews at www.clubfantasci.wordpress.com", "date_added": "Mon Jul 02 15:42:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 07 15:37:05 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "15783514", "review_id": "2127339cc93901ac0f27e24f93cd939b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Neil Gaiman fans won't be disappointed. As a middle aged man recounts what may OR may not have happened exactly as he remembers while a small boy living in the country.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 24 10:49:24 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 24 10:54:27 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "20702025", "review_id": "54585a880762a614e8cfaf7414e60a7f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "For the teen groups for sure although nothing explicit definitely higher content. I liked Em as a strong female role. I was happy it 'ended' and didn't leave you hanging for a sequel.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 10 05:45:02 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 10 05:47:57 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "18367581", "review_id": "de486c069386c9ed31075a684268b7da", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I had to ponder what I wanted to say about this book for a while. \n I don't think it needed to be written as one novel and found the alternating chapters somewhat annoying. Afterworlds (Lizzies story) would make a fine novel capturing both the male and female YA audience. Even though the main character is female we have the terrorists, FBI, creepy patchwork man and Rama to hold the male audience captive. Afterworlds (Darcys story) looses the male audience and becomes a romantic romp of a young naive writer....bla bla bla", "date_added": "Tue Sep 16 05:37:59 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 16 05:44:30 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "20708810", "review_id": "7fb5b7658c9010a3a02b4fcd76de7008", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Rich girl, poor girl Russian folklore - I really liked it!", "date_added": "Mon Sep 08 05:42:31 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 08 05:43:24 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "20578940", "review_id": "71457fded23e16385cc16cb1b8e99a48", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Percy Jackson meets Harry Potter", "date_added": "Mon Sep 08 05:41:30 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 08 05:42:12 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "16061340", "review_id": "bec570b457c01edced572cdb9d186c0c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the perfect recommendation for fans of Percy Jackson wanting more!", "date_added": "Wed Aug 06 20:11:06 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 06 20:12:11 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "11408298", "review_id": "da0c18d2dd6fa85e56f3874bef959c62", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book and will recommend for sure in the upcoming paperback release. I felt somewhat disappointed at the end as if a little something was missing...", "date_added": "Wed Aug 06 20:08:22 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 06 20:10:15 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "18405537", "review_id": "6753e659c0acfa3f665a7d331c81cdef", "rating": 4, "review_text": "AAWWWWW E SSS OOOOMMMM EEEE!! \n Great read aloud read quietly just read!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 04 19:44:04 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 04 19:46:14 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "13642528", "review_id": "e858d11d8c1d2cd278386e52dc9aceb7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What a great read! Barnaby is literally cut-off and sent afloat to make his own way in the world for being 'different' in a very normal family. To what end no-one knows. Barnaby has great adventures and meets some interesting characters in his desperate attempts to get back home and to the family that set him adrift. Barnaby believes in family and helps others along the way to see it's true meaning.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 21 07:31:27 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 21 07:38:01 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "18049017", "review_id": "cf28f6df5b86d1e8ee3a97b1220cdffb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I have loved Brandon's Fablehaven series and even more so the Beyonders trilogy. I have to say I was somewhat disappointed in Sky Raiders. I felt although there was lots of action and adventure there was too much dialog of self doubt and questions of friendship. The characters are well developed and I'm sure the sequel will move a little more smoothly.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 16 09:06:19 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 16 09:14:59 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "17349055", "review_id": "7aa4ea3fd182ca340b15f97dddf613fc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Hmmmm, that's what I did exactly when I knew I had to start typing. I've read other reviews, I've read the book and I think I am still digesting////Oscar is Oscar was it great - hmmm - was it good - yes - was it an easy read - not so much - was there way too many references to 'being different' - yes - did anyone else see a Pinocchio character at mid-point - I'm sure - did I like it - yes who will like it - the stick with it kids - sorry most likely girls! My thoughts.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 29 19:49:34 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 29 19:55:32 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Nov 29 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "17465470", "review_id": "1c950084a419e045f156ffae157b68f6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "AArrggghhh!! I have to say once we got to \"the story' it was good but really - why did we have to go beyond Lost Stories - renamed #11 when it came out is paperback????? It was a fabulous wrap-up and as a book seller, I tell all readers - \"it is a must\" !! Now............ \n As, I'm sure all Will/Halt fans did - we read them all - so much re-hashing from about book 8 onwards is/was really annoying. Let good story ride on itself and lie when done!", "date_added": "Mon Nov 11 16:55:21 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 11 17:01:14 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "17847127", "review_id": "233aa8edf04d70770891f5c7f7790990", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What a great little adventure!! Such a quick read as you will want to find out every step of the way how Olivia and Milo are doing. A must for all!", "date_added": "Mon Oct 21 10:39:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 21 10:43:44 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "18393324", "review_id": "75d2f8656362d964ccdc4fb4362abad5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I did like it .......BUT......what happened to the mouse - he gets a title heading and yet plays such a small part -you don't even care??? His memoirs at the back are far more interesting. \n Awesome illustrations and great 'look' sure to be a hit with the kids.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 06 17:27:36 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 10 16:35:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Oct 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "17349203", "review_id": "a61487f17ce581e835367869a2cfce9e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "HHHMMMM............just a fanciful fun read - a one sitting deal", "date_added": "Mon Sep 30 16:47:50 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 30 16:48:45 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "17244430", "review_id": "34793c9043795ab078978fd7b171a21d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Good grade 4 -6 read a little reminiscent of Pullman's Golden Compass ?? \n #1 of many, I'm sure! Thanks Brandon for the autographed copy !!", "date_added": "Wed Sep 18 09:26:19 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 30 16:58:17 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Sep 30 16:58:17 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "13513080", "review_id": "17819dfa8522714b701ba0acf7063cfb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Again, superbly done - this time it is the extended tale of Jack and Jill. \n Not for the feint of heart, but for those who are not afraid of the 'truth' \n P.S. you are warned throughout of possible mention of 'horrors' and scary things to come as well as given apology for those that slipped out - all of which make it a much more fun/scary read - can't wait for # 3 !!", "date_added": "Tue Sep 03 19:29:30 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 03 19:35:21 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "17347389", "review_id": "2c03ecee856489b44eb80381c4cef988", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Amazingly dark and brooding, you are once again thrust into the Raven Boys \n quest.........it felt as though I was 'somewhere else' every-time I opened the pages. Maggie has done a great job of moving her characters forth and letting us see more........how long do we have to wait for #3 ????", "date_added": "Tue Sep 03 19:25:53 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 03 19:29:12 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "16074339", "review_id": "4f4371f0f6d47418da462e36f3406c4f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Wow.......a very fast read, because you don't want to stop! \n Again Kathi magically intertwines many different lives into the same story. \n Not only is it a great read aloud potential but you have the layered \n struggles of all of the characters who through very different methods are all striving for the same goal - save the swamp!! \n A must for all!", "date_added": "Tue Sep 03 19:17:35 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 03 19:25:30 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "13555073", "review_id": "5e19ae50c9c5e389cf9cc9f558e63735", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Lockwood and Co. is a must for those looking for a good 'fright'. The team of 'ghost catchers' must face their biggest challenge ever to save the company from bankruptcy. Not for the feint of heart. \n Stroud does great job in what's sure to be a successful series! Releases in September.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 03 11:02:59 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 03 11:06:53 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "13546433", "review_id": "070f89c41d96f866cda2c907f5148cbf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Power of Poppy Pendle was a great little read. Poor Poppy wants to follow her dream of becoming a baker and not the dreams of her parents to become a witch(for which she has amazing talent) When Poppy finally explodes and goes over to the 'dark side', it is the love and perseverance of her friends that show her the way back......", "date_added": "Sun Jul 28 08:33:59 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 28 08:38:58 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "3218719", "review_id": "b72a8cb739d3fba1cccc6edb0d0f7020", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Most important book in this series is book \"11\" - the Lost Stories - if you've gone the distance then it is an absolute must !!", "date_added": "Thu Jul 04 08:28:37 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 04 08:29:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "11974615", "review_id": "42f3b69917b5230aab890c6681705864", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great tale of Hansel and Gretel, starting with their Grandfather....in true 'Grimm' fashion it is not for the faint of heart (as the author reminds you throughout) Loved the way all of our classic favourites where wound together to create one fantastic story!!!", "date_added": "Thu Jul 04 08:21:31 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 04 08:24:10 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "16030663", "review_id": "8895355c98a2f8191e208deaf1eb3730", "rating": 5, "review_text": "only just started and loving it !!! \n OMG - so well done, reminiscent of Book Thief/Graveryard Book and every fairytale combined!! \n Characters were well done, especially jacob grimm - the ghost - \n LOVED IT!!!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 05 18:15:46 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 09 19:23:23 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "15944406", "review_id": "41dfd967c2cf0eabb47adcc4447fbf2f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really liked it. Growing up, friendship, adventure story. \n I liked that the kids actually have parents/guardians that they have to \n deal with. They get hungry and have to use the washrooms on their quest. \n Nicely done with the spooky factor at just the right level.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 03 11:54:44 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 03 11:58:25 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jun 03 11:58:25 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "13380221", "review_id": "75d160cb4c888a9ba04b11080f8e2ecc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "page 185 and not loving it - based on other reviews it can only get better, let's cross our fingers \n Welllll, it had highs and lows, some very graphic and 'scary' plots - not for the faint of heart - \n written a bit like a movie - dah, look who wrote it. \n I did not love it.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 22 19:30:49 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 26 16:04:51 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Apr 26 16:04:51 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Apr 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "8621462", "review_id": "033d126545938cf18d5a76f6560b2d83", "rating": 4, "review_text": "AWESOME", "date_added": "Sun Apr 14 19:23:08 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 14 19:23:25 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "16248123", "review_id": "470bd79578a968a4a4315031342aa1af", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I was waffling between 4 -5 stars and then I said to myself - \"it was great and you loved it all\" \n so 5 it is ! \n Another fun-filled adventure with the Princes Charming's and their \"Princesses\" thoroughly enjoyable!!", "date_added": "Fri Apr 12 13:58:26 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue May 07 18:42:05 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "7823592", "review_id": "cc4427252355993ce2339fd0496b7c06", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Still waiting to see if there will be a follow-up???", "date_added": "Tue Mar 19 11:00:07 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 19 11:00:34 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "60400", "review_id": "4228670aba2e5056eead1c6f54ac3a54", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Read all 11 books - Lost Stories is an absolute must for fans ! \n A little too much 're-telling' in the later 1/2 of the series but still one of my highest rated series.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 19 10:53:58 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 19 10:54:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "11254850", "review_id": "0597f0344c3899476c6febd732fd5cea", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was my favorite of the trilogy !!!", "date_added": "Tue Mar 19 10:52:26 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 19 10:53:23 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "10576365", "review_id": "96cd2ce246d0b49565cff63946d3d4bb", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Bit of a slog, but I got through...........has a good story line just didn't do it for me.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 17 13:28:48 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 17 13:30:10 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Mar 17 13:30:10 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "15801381", "review_id": "0d5ca1e101243a16cb60eb967fcd9555", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I enjoyed it as I am a fan, however, I thought it was a bit to drawn out...my favourite was book 2.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 12 18:51:49 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 12 18:53:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Mar 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "13146312", "review_id": "75e24f37187a475d92b2eebe8cc2aee4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "not bad -", "date_added": "Sat Jan 26 19:28:15 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 26 19:29:11 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "9464855", "review_id": "3c7f6194909762384cf6098c025b8f17", "rating": 3, "review_text": "this was a cool story, loved the main character - Jack", "date_added": "Sat Jan 05 17:57:10 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 05 17:57:49 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "13455485", "review_id": "817b3157884549bc61bbe67ff5fabaf1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "loved the dark and twisted, 'not your typical dragon tale' \n really good", "date_added": "Sat Jan 05 17:52:57 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 05 17:54:18 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "688191", "review_id": "5537712a1b4e7c102977e883479bb051", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Read this years ago - I really liked it, but was a hard sell. Crosses the line between Junior/teen for creepy content.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 05 17:43:46 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 27 19:36:04 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "11593977", "review_id": "bd439900c86b3b2b225d665082de7a8f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "good story, action, adventure", "date_added": "Sat Jan 05 17:28:46 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 05 17:29:26 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "12954620", "review_id": "3176c751699f8e757739b72b4df89ab3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Read a great ARC !! Great plot development and characters. \n Twisting 3 Kingdoms together in this great adventure due to be released in December and definite must for all lovers of medieval but also just a good page turner !!", "date_added": "Mon Sep 17 08:09:01 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 17 08:10:49 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "13449693", "review_id": "60cefbf397736682cf07038cfb548b27", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Took a bit of getting into, but then took off ! \n Definitely a teen read. Due to be a series but doesn't leave you hanging, which is always good considering you have to wait about 12 months for the next.......", "date_added": "Mon Sep 17 07:56:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 17 07:58:35 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Sep 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "287861", "review_id": "daf07f0673e1cbb55344126180c81c5c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Good steampunk story. Makes me want to read #2", "date_added": "Fri Jun 22 06:45:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 23 08:19:35 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jun 23 08:19:35 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "12969560", "review_id": "9b5369c6c3d39f8922e13d59ee6e4ba6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A fun and exciting adventure featuring all of your favourite \"Princes Charming\" and their Princesses. \n Engaging the reader as part of the tale and including 'Disney' type mini illustrations. \n I really enjoyed it!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 07:31:05 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 05 07:33:11 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b2e5fe9fd353fecf3eeebb4850b88d3", "book_id": "12432220", "review_id": "017ff5c94608125e149aa74304874d9b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was very pleased at the level of intrigue and maturity. \n Would definitely recommend for all lovers of medival/knights/castles.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 04 20:02:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 04 20:06:40 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bafc2d50014200cda7cb2b6acd60cd73", "book_id": "6315584", "review_id": "72f1229aba5a88f9e72f0dcdc007dd22", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I've never really liked Spider-Man. I am, however, a huge fan of the Dresden Files. Jim Butcher is clever and sarcastic and probably the perfect choice to pen a superhero novel. I really enjoyed this book!", "date_added": "Wed Aug 10 06:06:48 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 12 08:49:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Aug 12 08:49:54 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bafc2d50014200cda7cb2b6acd60cd73", "book_id": "29056083", "review_id": "951b4469923ee3fc2e43a0554643aead", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a play/script so it's not really something I can compare to the other books because it lacks all the description. As an English major who has read many a Shakespeare play, this is not a problem for me at all but it may turn some people off. Shame. \n The story takes place when Harry and the others are grown, of course and it actually centers around 1 of Harry's children (and Draco's child). The first few pages are weird because it's cycling quickly through a time period. I bet it looks really cool on stage but just reading it, you really have to use your imagination. \n It's interesting to see Harry and the others as adults and to see what kind of people they've become. I saw someone say they aren't acting the way they did in the novels. Right, they're no longer children. They are adults with children of their own. This is what happens when you grow up, hopefully you're not acting like an 11-17 year old in your 40s. Not everyone is in it, of course, because it's really mostly about the 2 kids (and Harry to a degree). My only real \"criticism\", if you'd call it that, is the use of some modern slang and references to modern things that were missing from the books that helped to make them fairly timeless. It's not a huge deal but it threw me off a little because there was a complete lack of that sort of thing in the original books. I won't post any spoilers so I don't want to talk too much about the plot but they do make use of a trope that is probably overdone. It fits in fine and ties in with a possibility that was already established in the books. It really does not actually retcon anything if you read the whole thing. You have to read the whole thing... \n I find the fact that Draco's kid is called Scorpius insanely funny because of Farscape. It ties in with the books really well and makes references to many events that happened in them, showing and explaining some, I assume, for the sake of an audience that may not have read the books. This isn't all that different to what happens in a series of books when the author goes back and explains things from a previous book for those who may not have read the previous books. \n One of the big issues within the play (I hope no one sees this as a spoiler, I don't believe it to be one) is what it's like to be the child of Harry Potter. And also, I suppose, Draco Malfoy. In Harry's case, that's a very tall shadow to stand in. \n Honestly, even though this wasn't a novel, it was like getting to see an old friend and catch up and it made me SO happy. Except for the parts where I cried, those parts made me sad. I loved it. I highly recommend it to any fan. I can see, though, that for anyone who either was unaware that this is a play or who can't get into reading a play, that they may not like it and that is really too bad because it was excellent. I've always been rather partial to Draco. This made me even more so.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 31 06:53:57 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 04 11:21:15 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bafc2d50014200cda7cb2b6acd60cd73", "book_id": "9542292", "review_id": "b076c96884b9b608cd9ac0133253a313", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Book 2. I didn't like it as well as book 1. That doesn't mean I didn't like it. I did. It stayed consistent to the rules previously set up while expanding them to give us some new information and while I thought, at first, oh no, not more rules, it actually turned out to be just fine! \n I'm going to try to review this without giving away any part of the plot. Again, XXX sex scenes. We've got that covered here. \n My biggest criticism would be the repetitiveness. I feel like one event could have been left out of the book entirely, it became one too many of the same thing with Jin as the target. The other thing that threw me, and it's a small thing, is that we have characters in Egypt with typical Egyptian first names and Israeli last names. It made no sense to me and I found it really threw me off. It was only 2 characters but it was enough for me to shake my head and say no, this naming makes no sense and I'm guessing the author just doesn't know enough about the Middle East when it came to using Arab first names and Jewish last names. That's OK. It wasn't a huge deal but it didn't jar me when I came to their names. \n I felt like maybe the book jumped the shark a little bit but then I found that I didn't care and the author managed to provide sufficient explanation, within the rules established, that it just didn't matter. Again, I found myself enjoying the book. \n I think much of what I said about the first book is true of this as well and feel free to check my review of that one to see what I mean. Ultimately, I enjoyed the first book better but I still enjoyed this book. If I could give it 3.5 stars, I would. \n Also, Domin has actually become my favourite character. I've gone ahead and bought the third book and started to read it so obviously the author has managed to capture me and I'm not easily captured! We'll see if she holds me through the full series! \n Again, this is a light read but probably not something you want to read in public, you weirdo! It isn't Shakespeare, it isn't high literature, but it is an enjoyable story with some action and some twists and turns. Make sure you read the books in order if you decide to check out the series as she does a solid job of setting out the foundation. Also, without giving anything away, kudos to the author for her portrayal of Jin's father/pack and the consistency with which it is done. Not every character needs to be redeemed. Ahem, I've said too much. Go and read for yourself.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 24 19:50:46 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 26 08:44:18 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bafc2d50014200cda7cb2b6acd60cd73", "book_id": "7129023", "review_id": "bd28cfb4895467e26dfbc76ded93c466", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Some facts. I love MM genre. I love supernatural and urban fantasy. I do not love mm supernatural because most of the time the books just flat out suck. I've tried to find good ones but usually they're just really stupid. So, with that in mind, I was wary of attempting the genre of mm supernatural again but did it anyway. \n This book wasn't quite what I expected in neither a good nor a bad way. I was expecting something and got something else so that was interesting. First, the rules, there's even a glossary. This turned me off. It's too much work, I thought, but oddly enough it wasn't. I found myself grasping the rules of this world quickly and easily. They're good because they keep characters acting in a consistent manner which is really important in the supernatural genre. Someone complained there were too many. I actually did not find this to be the case and I also found that the author was very good about not hammering us over the head with the rules. They were woven into the story quite well. \n This book has XXX sex scenes. This is why we are here, no? Of course it is. They did not disappoint. \n I found, much to my great surprise, that I cared about the characters and what was happening to them. I even shed a tear and while I admit that I'm extremely emotional, this was still unexpected as this genre has, historically, turned me off. Is this Shakespeare? No, of course not. This is light reading for summer and that is exactly what I wanted. Do you want to read this on a beach in front of people? Probably not! HA! \n It reminds me very much of the yaoi manga genre and if you're unfamiliar with the genre this part of the review will make no sense. In all ways, Jin is a classic uke. That is both good and bad. Ukes can be pretty annoying and their girlishness and insistence that they're men dammit can grow tiresome. Jin has his moments. Logan is pretty much classic seme, both enamored with and frustrated with his uke. But we all love a seme. The story itself, uke in peril, repeatedly, is also very classic yaoi. Where it differs, however, is that Jin doesn't necessarily need to be saved, he does a good job of saving himself and his seme. So that was a nice change. \n I was also quite fond of the secondary characters and found that I just enjoyed the story for what it was. I'd found it on a list of \"jealous mates\" and actually think it's pretty light for that category so I'll admit I expected everyone to be a little rougher, a little more demanding and that's where the surprise came in, it wasn't what I expected but I enjoyed it all the same. Again, this isn't Shakespeare. This isn't the last great American novel. This is just sexy mm supernatural stuff and I feel like the rules and the fact that the author follows them really adds to the pleasure of this novel. I didn't want to stop reading and immediately bought the next book in the series! \n So if you're looking for light reading that you may want to do alone rather than in a public space and you enjoy supernatural and panthers and the classic yaoi story, check it out!", "date_added": "Sun Jul 24 16:51:38 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 26 08:32:25 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bafc2d50014200cda7cb2b6acd60cd73", "book_id": "23213849", "review_id": "1445c1355ed2299d9f0da8c1cc61ea62", "rating": 3, "review_text": "While I enjoyed the book, Stark took WAY too much shit from Julia and Candy for my liking. I know Stark takes a lot of shit in general but this was different. Their constant ragging on him and putting him down got to be too much. It's one thing when bad guys show him no respect but it's quite another when it's coming from his friends. \n I won't post spoilers but I don't really like one of the major changes that has happened to Stark. This book left me with some mixed feelings.", "date_added": "Mon May 30 16:36:27 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 08 07:54:31 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bafc2d50014200cda7cb2b6acd60cd73", "book_id": "6294062", "review_id": "0ea3badee91773f1e6c4a4436b653f19", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Well! I'd seen some mediocre reviews and wasn't sure if I wanted to read this book or not. I'm so glad I ignored them. No idea what people had a problem with but this was GOOD. This elicited a cry of \"HOLY FUCK\" from me while I was reading and that's a rare thing. \n If you pick this up expecting it to be a copy of the Cal Leandros series, I guess you will be disappointed though Zeke and Griffin do share some similarities with Cal and Niko but only on the surface. They are very much different characters and this book is not centered around them but rather Trixa. \n I have a thing with female protagonists. They often put me off, with Charlaine Harris' books being the exception (all her books). So I was wary. I didn't need to be. Trixa is what I want from a female protagonist. She is STRONG and she stands on her own two feet. Also, I love that this is set in the same world as Cal Leandros. Every time Robin was mentioned, I giggled. \n You won't find a spoiler here. It's enough to say that this was very enjoyable and I'm looking forward to the next book. I truly hope that Rob Thurman continues to write her books because I'd really hate to have to track her down and go all Misery on her. If you enjoy strong women protagonists and the supernatural then give this a read. If you're a cranky pants then give it a miss and let the rest of us enjoy it!", "date_added": "Sun Mar 27 17:09:07 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 25 12:21:13 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Apr 25 12:21:13 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bafc2d50014200cda7cb2b6acd60cd73", "book_id": "29427369", "review_id": "51c374ec629afc171cb14a48521f6022", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Cold Case - Jim Butcher ***** \n Molly takes on her first real case as Winter Lady. This story takes place after Skin Game (book 15). I wasn't thrilled when I found out the Dresden Files story was going to be about Molly but this story gave me a whole new appreciation for her character. I don't want to give anything away so I'll just say that it keeps the tone of the Dresden Files novels and gives us a glimpse into some of the inner workings of the Sidhe. \n Sleepover - Seanan McGuire **** \n I was completely unfamiliar with this author. Loved the story. The main character reminded me a bit of Trixa from Rob Thurman's Trickster series. Some sass and strength and a lot of humanity in a non-human. Great, quick read. \n If Wishes Were - Tanya Huff **** \n Vampire PI/cop story set in Toronto. I couldn't help but think of that wonderful old Canadian TV show, Forever Knight. Clever story, witty and with a likeable main character. This was another author I was unfamiliar with. I thought it was going to go off in a direction I wouldn't enjoy when I discovered the antagonist but I was pleasantly surprised. \n Solus - Anton Strout ***** \n Another author I was unfamiliar with, this story reminded me a bit of All Seeing Eye by Rob Thurman and the Felix Castor series by Mike Carey. Set in New York City, police investigate supernatural happenings and I would love to read more about these characters. It was a bit of a slow build for me and I wasn't sure how I'd like this story and by the end, I loved it. \n Peacock in Hell - Kat Richardson *** \n This felt like I'd been dropped into the middle of a novel and there it was a bit hard to follow at first. I feel like there was a lot left unexplained. Since I'm not familiar with this author, I don't know if these characters are part of a bigger story that would make this short one make more sense but as a stand-alone story, it was OK, if a bit confusing. \n Eye of Newt - Kevin J Anderson *** \n This was well written and funny but not at all my cup of tea. It was written as more of a farce with over-the-top everything. Fans of the Nightside series by Simon R. Green may enjoy this though I prefer Nightside to this story. \n What Dwells Within - Lucy A Snyder *** \n There was way too much unexplained stuff going on in this story. The main character also seemed to be able to do everything. Too much of a deux ex machina for my liking. That said, the writing itself was solid and I'm sure it would appeal to some. \n Hunter, Healer - Jim C Hines **** \n I really liked this story. If it weren't for the incredible vulgarity of one of the characters I'd give it 5 stars. I have no problem with some vulgarity but this was excessive and over the top. I assume it was meant to be funny but it seemed low-brow and childish and detracted from an otherwise solid and affecting story. \n Baggage - Erik Scott de Bie **** \n This one was great. Tough girl(s). Demons. I would definitely like to read more about the characters in this story. I liked that the main character had power but wasn't invincible either. Also, the story explained itself and didn't leave me with information overload or a lot of blanks to fill in like a couple of previous stories have done. \n Sales Force - Kristine Kathryn Rusch *** \n Magic and grief. It was a good story but the characters didn't really grab me. \n Impossible Monsters - Rob Thurman ***** \n This story is part of the Cal Leandros series which I cannot possibly recommend enough. Buy it. Read it. Cal is part monster, part human and all sarcasm. This story takes place sometime after book 10. This story was excellent and I enjoyed getting to read about Cal again. This story was also the most brutal of the bunch as only Cal can be. Just because you're a monster doesn't mean you can't do some good.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 19 21:00:34 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 07 12:11:20 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 07 12:11:20 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bafc2d50014200cda7cb2b6acd60cd73", "book_id": "19366810", "review_id": "d2cb78ffbabd9c78620e75f10a8dcc29", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I've seen reviews for this book that complain about Robin. One actually suggested there was too much Robin. This is wrong. Just ask him. He'll tell you. Seriously, how you can be a fan of this series and not love Robin and want Robin 24/7 is beyond me. To each his own but if you love Robin, then trust me, you'll love this book. We get to see much more of Robin (ahem, not like that) and a side of him we hadn't seen so far. \n I admit when I first started the novel, I got a little confused because Robin rambles sometimes but I found that his rambling became more coherent and it was really only the first \"Robin\" chapter that had me trying to get my brain to catch up to what he was saying. \n As has been the case for the last several books, there were many tears on my part. This was just GOOD. Really good. In fact, the more I think back on it, the more I love it. The worst part about it is currently there's only 1 more novel left for me to read and then what will I do? \n I've been listening to the audiobooks after reading the novels. The person doing the reading of the first book wasn't that good but if you're a fan of the books, I highly recommend listening to the audiobooks. The person MacLeod Andrews is phenomenal at it. I didn't think I'd like any audiobooks other than the Dresden Files which are read by James Marsters but after Nightlife, the audiobooks for this series are FANTASTIC. I haven't listened to the audiobook for Downfall yet as I only just finished the book this evening however I look forward to it.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 07 17:40:20 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 14 17:41:36 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bafc2d50014200cda7cb2b6acd60cd73", "book_id": "155421", "review_id": "8d90977bef7f60534abc3ffbd3ced98a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I read this in part because Felicia Day liked it and in part because I was looking for something to fill the void left by finishing The Dresden Files. I liked this. I probably would have given it 3.5 stars rather than 4 but since you can give half ratings I went up to 4. \n It was very noir, in a lot of ways. I think that what people who didn't like this book, didn't like, was that aspect of noir that's a bit corny but those of us who like the genre secretly love. Someone mentioned he kept referring to \"the Nightside\" over and over and I found this amusing the same way I'd find it amusing if he said that a dame walked into his office. It reads a little like Sin City, in that way. \n It's definitely not the same caliber as Dresden Files but it read so quickly and I enjoyed the world the author created so I will definitely be continuing with the series for now.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 03 21:16:31 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 05 09:07:46 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Mar 05 09:07:46 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Mar 03 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bafc2d50014200cda7cb2b6acd60cd73", "book_id": "5973243", "review_id": "f5202d6170bd2bf915ad92571cc9dcf0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"It is the most beautiful nightmare I have ever seen.\"", "date_added": "Fri Jul 10 18:58:03 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 15 13:03:02 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Aug 15 13:03:02 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bafc2d50014200cda7cb2b6acd60cd73", "book_id": "140079", "review_id": "a043384836876aa6e525196d22256a7f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Quinn. That's really all that needs to be said.", "date_added": "Fri May 15 22:15:16 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon May 18 09:45:56 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon May 18 09:45:56 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat May 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bafc2d50014200cda7cb2b6acd60cd73", "book_id": "15783514", "review_id": "135ac35d9d480b83179c5556513a360a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is easily one of the best books I have ever read. I want to say more about it but after having just finished I find that I need time to absorb it.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 28 11:47:56 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 28 11:49:50 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jul 28 11:49:50 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bafc2d50014200cda7cb2b6acd60cd73", "book_id": "13094398", "review_id": "1b8888aa0587871d2a29ff70689e9e13", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Zombies... I really don't like zombies. That said, I no longer hate Elizabeth.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 04 09:28:00 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 04 09:28:59 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bafc2d50014200cda7cb2b6acd60cd73", "book_id": "13526176", "review_id": "68267ebf90e2da0d96a3d6aefb5b8ac7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This wasn't my favourite Black Butler book. I was getting really tired of the Sherlock Holmes-y storyline and I'm glad it was finally put to rest in this book. I'm not sure what my opinion is on the story that began in the second half of this book. \n I'm still a fan but this definitely wasn't the best. \n I did notice that Sebastian seemed to look different. It wasn't bad just that he looked a bit different and I got to the end where there's an author note saying that the author is continually trying to approve upon Sebastian so it made sense that he didn't quite look the same. I definitely enjoyed the art in this book.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 15 13:28:38 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 15 13:32:17 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Nov 15 13:32:17 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Tue Nov 13 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bafc2d50014200cda7cb2b6acd60cd73", "book_id": "13187904", "review_id": "3a3fbc2545097c4b314f493dd0e242bc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Well this one left me bawling like an idiot. A proper review will come when I've calmed down. I am glad there will be a part three. I am also afraid of it.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 27 23:24:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 27 23:26:02 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bafc2d50014200cda7cb2b6acd60cd73", "book_id": "8577678", "review_id": "ef12725915501594178668f3d3514c79", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was ok. I liked it as a horror type story though it did pull a lot of the usual horror story tricks. Possessed houses are always fun and I actually found myself getting a little creeped out in some parts so that was fun. \n This was on a list of non-con and I don't feel it belongs there. In fact though this was in some kind of \"erotica\" list it really does not fall into that category. There are some sex scenes but they are incredibly brief and incredibly minor. The main character is a gay man so that in itself provides a little twist to the usual pairings. \n One thing that made me crazy though was how much the main character cried. Seriously. Stop crying! It put me off and I found I had a very hard time relating to him. Between that and his stupidity (some might say naivety but I think he just wasn't so bright) he was kind of hard to like. \n I think the horror could have been fleshed out more as well but on the whole I enjoyed this as a light little read that I started and finished in one day.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 17 08:04:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 17 08:09:55 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4fe16e3bcbbce3f8801ac6924217fd3b", "book_id": "20519003", "review_id": "730c8a2d5bc92b4645daa8b2fd807eac", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A much improved entry into the Jhereg series.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 06 11:57:56 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 06 11:59:07 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4fe16e3bcbbce3f8801ac6924217fd3b", "book_id": "24876258", "review_id": "36f458b8d93558d1119f71a6148d39e2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The swashbuckling story of the AMS Predator and her crew is some of the most rollicking military fiction currently in print. A new strange world of where the population lives in insect-infested, earth-deprived sky-scraper tall spires. \n The battles are glorious and fun, filled with tension and quite enjoyable.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 19 09:23:48 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 19 11:57:09 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Apr 19 11:57:09 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4fe16e3bcbbce3f8801ac6924217fd3b", "book_id": "60211", "review_id": "39c75852de61bbb0270dfe74dae1927e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "For years people have been asking me about Mr Wolfe's Shadow of the Torturer, assuming I had read it and that I enjoyed it. I liked the prose - as I do with all of the author's works which i have read. \n My challenge was that the protangonist is about as exciting as paint primer. His few willful actions were like pulling teeth to me and the rest of the characters seemed grossly hollow and base in their actions. Plus the world lore is beautifull and painfully deep... but the reader is exposed to it like paper cuts and mosquito bites in long fables told to others. Highly frustrating to my reading preferences: give me meat, let me sink my teeth into it.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 11 14:35:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 11 14:43:43 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4fe16e3bcbbce3f8801ac6924217fd3b", "book_id": "10572", "review_id": "9332f9fb30d6b3c777bbb2433d1f7d4d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Sorcery begins to kick off.. but the drama is getting high and I don't know if I'll be able to tolerate for long.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 19 08:38:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 22 05:39:06 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Apr 22 05:39:06 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Apr 19 08:38:45 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4fe16e3bcbbce3f8801ac6924217fd3b", "book_id": "13496", "review_id": "b6e3a2c1c866694b4b6435606dcfab9f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm reading this before I watch the TV show, simply because translations to other mediums can cause issues. I found this first book to be slow and plodding, with one particular character horribly annoying (Sansa - the less said is better). It's amazing that nearly all men are horndogs and all women, except two, are whores - however, it doesn't suck. Martin does make that fact tolerable. \n I do recommend this for Knights-n-Sorcery lovers, even though the sorcery portions truly don't start until the end of the book.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 09 06:55:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 19 08:38:14 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Apr 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4fe16e3bcbbce3f8801ac6924217fd3b", "book_id": "8058301", "review_id": "ccf0a810a8063d1b17a18b42c75f3519", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n It seems to me that Changes has left it's mark on the series and this is the end of Harry Dresden Chicago Wizard investigator, and the start of a new series Harry Dresden Superpowered Wizard. We'll see.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 30 07:07:02 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 30 07:09:29 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sat Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3ca7375dba942a760e53b726c472a7dd", "book_id": "2974811", "review_id": "b1ae6910b3fb307884d19b92e2958a7b", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This book was not bad. 3.5 stars. I liked the characters and the story but it all just felt rushed toward the end. There is so much time taken to establish the characters and the background. The retelling of Beauty and the Beast doesn't start until about half way through and by that time I was thinking ok, when are we going to get the actual story started. I just wish that Belle's return to the Beast and their marriage could have been expanded. It would have been nice to get to know Gaspard as a person rather than just as the Beast. But overall, a nice little story.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 07 13:19:02 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 07 13:19:02 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3ca7375dba942a760e53b726c472a7dd", "book_id": "11947156", "review_id": "04cba61ce938cefb78763ca2d1f0a17f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This could have been a good book. I think that the idea was there but the grammar was just so bad and the dialogue between the girls was so fake. Normal teenagers don't talk like that. I was disappointed because I thought was going to be a great read and it wasn't.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 06 19:34:10 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 06 19:37:27 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3ca7375dba942a760e53b726c472a7dd", "book_id": "13129966", "review_id": "06f2c4a8a967e72d134f5d7ed06e9a89", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I think this book had a good plot but I feel like it was much too rushed. Even though lots of characters fall for each other in really short periods of time, Lily and Jake went from knowing nothing about each other to being the most important ant things in each other's lives. It just felt really unnatural. The problem Jake has with his hunters is just thrown into the mix. It was awkward. I think this book would have a lot better if there was more detail throughout.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 05 17:09:42 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 05 17:16:14 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "12944651", "review_id": "5fe8207ddc9b604aaeb14adf125d190b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I wanted to like this book, but I didn't. \n I saw the third book in the Miriam Black series on the \"NEW\" shelf at the library, and it had an endorsement blurb from one of my favorite horror writers, Lauren Beukes. But I couldn't start with the third, so I checked out all three books, and returned all three of them the following week, having only read this first. I will not finish the series. \n It's an interesting premise that is written by a man who is trying to write a hard-boiled manic pixie dream girl, and it's so annoying. Miriam is the girl who eats like a pig and never gains weight; she smokes; she loves sex; she can kick someone's ass in a fight. But it's all so obviously written through a male gaze and it never rings true and is occasionally offensive. Example: Wendig writes a \"sex\" scene that begins with Miriam resisting, and saying no even though she doesn't really mean \"no.\" Wow. Really, Chuck Wendig? You did that? Yes. He did. And then Miriam jokes the next morning to Ashley, her (male) partner, that he pretty much raped her. And, well, he did. So, that was shit to read. \n After that scene, I checked out. It didn't get worse from there, but it certainly didn't get better. If nothing else, this book solidified my feeling that I'm over and done with reading books by straight white men, at least for a good long while. I tried this because of the Beaukes blurb, but I shouldn't have. Instead, I'll just read more Beukes.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 27 06:14:44 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 27 06:35:09 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "26228034", "review_id": "30be5469624cd7f96ea4dc668a68988e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is a series that I'm definitely reading for the story and not the writing, which is frequently corny and amateurish. But Jemisin has created a compelling world and has put together a well paced action fantasy. I'll read the third/final book when it comes out, but I don't know if I'll pursue her other series.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 07 10:18:49 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 07 10:25:28 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jul 07 10:25:28 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "567724", "review_id": "0e5efaab02d050030ee56389c12731fd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "In 2003 a friend recommended this book to me and I started it; but for whatever reason, I couldn't get into it. I might have been expecting something else, or I might have been in the wrong mood for it. When I heard that it was getting turned into a t.v. series, and when that t.v. series was getting some positive buzz, I decided to give it another show. I'm glad I did. \n Gaiman presents a big story, but he tells it in an intimate, quiet sort of way, and that's perfect for his protagonist's personality and journey. Shadow is appealing. He faces a lot and takes it all with a kind of stoicism that I really liked. The cast of characters surrounding him is wide, fascinating, and Gaiman has them walk a cool line between mythology and the reality of the world he's created. \n I'll absolutely read Anansi Boys and any other stories from this world, and I'll give the t.v. series a shot, though I now have very high expectations.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 05 17:51:09 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 05 20:29:37 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "19161852", "review_id": "d7624af9b60e60253e1a9ccf8f106b48", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I heard an interview with Jemisin on the Nerdette podcast and recommended it for my book club: the book club babes liked it and so did I. \n I don't read a lot of fantasy, but this was worth the journey. Jemisin has created a fascinating world that is supernatural and eerily easy to imagine. She doesn't over-explain the world or the characters to the reader, which I appreciate, but she moves the story forward with the understanding that, because it's all so new, we need a steady pace. I loved what she did with point-of-view and narrative, though I'm wondering how she'll play with these in the books that follow this one in the series. \n The only reason this isn't five stars is that some of Jemisin's writing -- some dialogue, especially -- is clunky. I'm not sure if it's Jemisin or a hallmark of the genre, but there were some passages of inner monologue and exposition that made me roll my eyes. But those are few, and the story makes up for it.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 16 20:17:41 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue May 09 06:52:59 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "25996024", "review_id": "99ee11e9fbb1eedca2dcf7ae6859e858", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A fast-moving, fun read with a strong female character who wears boots and kicks ass. It was a nice bit of brain candy fantasy, and I'll certainly follow this up with the second in the series.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 22 09:14:40 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 27 08:59:46 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Mar 25 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "23512999", "review_id": "a6f4af88bdbdf5018fb27628d21e96ff", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I always enjoy Stephen King's short fiction, and this collection doesn't disappoint. \n No, it's not perfect: some of the stories are gimmicky and some endings feel forced. But there are more than a few terrific ones in here (\"Blockade Billy,\" \"A Death,\" \"Ur,\" \"Obits,\" and \"Summer Thunder\" are stand-outs), and they're all 100% King stories. \n King introduces each story with a bit of background or inspiration. Although it was interesting to read (I always enjoy reading about King's writing process), I'd have preferred to get them after the stories and have gotten the stories straight, or 'pure' without the context first. If any other readers sense that they'd feel the same, I'd recommend skipping the intros and then going back to them later.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 19 20:26:39 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 01 09:21:29 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Mar 12 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "16065665", "review_id": "0528e8997c5015aab3fb98961ae8f9af", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Although Joe Hill dedicated this novel to his mother, it's really just a big fat wonderful ode to his father. \n Everything that King does wonderfully -- storytelling, plotting, pacing -- Hill gets right, and so much more. This book is carefully and perfectly paced, and Hill's characterization (of every character) is thoughtful and consistent. It feels folksy and New England-y like Stephen King's best work, but it never feels like it needs an editor (which I feel some of King's later work really does...). Hill has poured so much care and attention into this book; and I guess it doesn't really matter who it is or should be dedicated to. It's just a great story. \n Kate Mulgrew does an excellent narration, too. She is pure Americana, rough and raspy, and a great hero and even better villain. Also, the audiobook has a really nice afterword by Hill himself, where he talks about the writing of this book and about audiobooks, and he gives some audio recommendations.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 19 11:02:44 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 29 19:20:43 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Dec 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "23363928", "review_id": "7e276c40e33a7ffaa6adb46dc0a145c0", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Hawkins is a bad writer. His dialogue made me cringe and yell at the book. And not in a good way. It. Is. So. Bad. Like, the worst. It's as though he poured in everything he thought he knew about noir, hard-boiled, bad-ass dialogue. But none of it works; it's just forced and awkward. His overall style is juvenile and inconsistent, and I didn't care about his characters. \n The story, on the other hand, is the reason I finished the book. The premise is interesting enough, although the last fifty (or one hundred) pages didn't justify the hours of reading I put into this. \n The \"Mount Char\" of the title is explained like this: oh, remember that random anecdote our character recounted in the middle of the book? That's relevant now and is why this place is called \"Mount Char.\" Jesus. \n And the explanation comes just as the book is ending, and by that time, I'd forgotten that I didn't know why it was called \"Mount Char,\" and I really didn't give a shit. \n I'd like to unfollow whoever tweeted out her recommendation about this book, but I can't remember who it was. I do not recommend it, unless you love bad dialogue and bad writing. Then read it. And laugh, laugh, laugh.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 16 18:34:32 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 01 09:23:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "12656643", "review_id": "4dcbb198137e4bc333a2d5ad4e6d059b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the third Lauren Beukes book I've consumed in as many months, and it's a good one. \n Beukes puts us in the middle of a South African ghetto for this book, and, just as she did with Detroit (Broken Monsters) and Chicago (The Shining Girls), she gives us a rich and specific atmosphere that enhances the tension of her story and grounds her already well-written characters. \n Zinzi December (yeah, her name is amazing) is one of many South Africans who are saddled with an animal after they've been found guilty of a crime. It's a sort of modern day hairshirt: visible to everyone else and a constant, living stigma for your sin. \n Zinzi has a sloth and wears him around her shoulders. But he's not just an animal; Beukes writes him as a fully formed character, and he and Zinzi are not just co-habitating through the story, but co-dependent. Beukes, as she's listing academic papers written about the \"zoo\" phenomenon, gives a nod to Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy and the daemons the children in that series have as companions. Since this was one of the first things I thought of when I started Beukes's book, I was so happy she did this. \n The plot of Zoo City is fast and interesting; the characters are sympathetic and well drawn; the protagonist is a strong female person of color; and the action and magic of the world are exciting and unique. The narrator of this audiobook, Justine Eyre, is terrific. Her accent is fluid and so much fun to listen to. She's also narrated The Historians, which has been on my to-read list for a while, so it might be time I gave that one a listen.", "date_added": "Sun May 10 08:01:51 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 12 17:14:47 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun May 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "4443319", "review_id": "069900ebca11f32f47a1214cfdf5c9e6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a terrific collection, full of stories that are sometimes terrifying, sometimes whimsical, and always well written. \n Hill does a lot of exploration of the father-son relationship, which I just love given who his own father is. Short fiction is a genre Hill shines in -- he knows what short fiction should be, and he clearly loves to write it. I'll read his other stories first before coming back to his novels.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 05 17:12:48 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 05 13:06:53 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "17315048", "review_id": "7736532f45f45781895bb4bc9ccf7fe8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I've been telling everyone about this book for the last week (which is about how long it took me to read/listen to it). \n It's SO MUCH FUN. \n It's a geek's perfect adventure story, full of math and science problem solving, space travel, and disco-bashing. \n Is it high literature? Absolutely not. But is it a fast-moving thinking reader's adventure? It sure as shit is. \n I wouldn't normally give a book like this a five-star rating--a book with a couple of big problem areas (frequently corny dialogue in the form of Watney's first person log entries; some point-of-view liberties taken by Weir)--but it's just SO MUCH FUN. \n The corny dialogue is much easier to deal with in the audiobook medium. The narrator, R.C. Bray, embodies this stranded astronaut using the log entries as his only conversation with the outside world. Bray also does a good job with an international cast of characters, although I could have done without the Mexican-American accent for Martinez and the vaguely Chinese accent for Ng--these felt totally unnecessary and walk a fine line between character-specific and racist. \n But as a whole package, Weir's got an exciting story, great sense of pace, and a terrific grasp of the science. And it's SO MUCH FUN.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 06 06:42:06 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 06 09:23:25 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "22015258", "review_id": "4de5f2442376dca5198206e320289371", "rating": 4, "review_text": "**spoilers about characters** \n Among the things that I like about Paul Cornell's supernatural police-procedural (aside from the fact that it's a supernatural police-procedural) are these: \n 1. The team of four police officers are honest with each other \n Why is this important? Because it's refreshing that a book of any kind has so many characters who are truthful about their pasts and about who they are. They were up-front, trusted each other, and then got down to the business of fighting witchy crime. That's cool. \n 2. There was no sexual tension among any of the main characters \n The four protagonists are near to siblings by the end of the book, and it was so nice that there was no \"will they, or won't they?\" dilly-dallying around. They just got down to the business of fighting creepy crime. Again, super cool. \n 3. The main characters were diverse \n This applied not only to their skin color--two of the men are black--but also to sexual orientation. The only romantic relationship, aside from Quill's marriage, is between Sefton and Joe. It was nice to have a central romance between two gay men. It was so normal that Sefton was able to be with Joe in a healthy new relationship and then get down to the business of fighting supernatural crime. Totally cool. \n Damian Lynch does a great job of narrating this. I'm looking forward to Cornell's next book about this group.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 11 13:43:16 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 18 11:57:20 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "17204978", "review_id": "0c5dd6373e1a9ea969cb422cee97e9ba", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was on a Flavorwire list of books you won't be assigned in high school, so I decided to check it out. \n And it's interesting. It's not quite what I expected, but I'm glad I read it. The story merges a post-apocalyptic future with a Caribbean voodoo context, and the characters are multi-generational and well written. The dialect wasn't fun to read, but I'm glad I listened to it rather than read it because the narrator, Peter Jay Fernandez, did a much better job than I ever could have done in my head. \n I plan to recommend it to my creative writing students, who love this genre but don't have much experience drawing characters and integrating conflict and the world they've created.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 17 19:31:27 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 07 16:09:52 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "1067325", "review_id": "e1277d8f30974054e0559058e86268e1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book is a sophisticated and complex finale to a rich and well developed page-turner of a series. It's easy to see why the story has sparked so much controversy, but it's such a worthy read for young people and adults alike. \n The audiobooks were read by Pullman himself, doing the omniscient narrator (a perfect example of that narrative point of view that I'll give to my students) and a full cast of characters, all of whom were great. There was a different reader for Will in this book, and the actor's voice was quite a bit deeper than the actor's voice in The Subtle Knife. It threw me off a bit at the beginning, but I got used to it quickly enough. Just make sure you have all of them downloaded, because as soon as you finish one, you'll want to start the next ASAP.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 17 14:33:32 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 21 11:16:47 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "12683905", "review_id": "bb9f47a36ff299b453a0be0dd0110b4b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm so glad I finally read this, and I can't wait to read the next two in the triology. Pullman's wonderful fantasy gives us a terrific young female protagonist, Lyra, who I wish I'd had to look up to as a literary role model when I was a kid. She's fearless and smart, and a bit of a liar, but she's not at all guilty about that, which I kind of love. \n Pullman creates a world rich with adventure, magic, and danger; it's the world every young reader should dive into again and again (and it's also the kind of world that would set conservative folks on edge, which is why this series makes the list of ALA's banned & challenged books [and that gives me yet another reason to love it!]). \n Pullman also narrates this audiobook, along with a full cast of characters. They're all terrific and the variety of voices gives additional substance to an already good book. I have a feeling that the next book will get us deeper into the religious aspect of \"dust\" and the forces trying to destroy it. And I just can't wait.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 17 07:33:41 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 23 12:04:00 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Mar 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "15737884", "review_id": "e0aa7cfded7f56de25d7eb950c3f4d78", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I haven't has as visceral an experience with an audiobook since I listened to Scott Smith's The Ruins. I spent the first half of this book getting to know a dozen likable, eclectic characters and the second half yelling at the car radio and gripping the steering wheel like it was a cut glass doorknob and I was swinging into space. \n The story works on a few different levels, and they're pretty much all successful. The characters living in the Kavach building (or at least the ones we're introduced to; I don't agree with Clines's decision to add more names of residents we haven't met. Why not just limit it to those playing a role in the story?), are relatable and layered in mysteries of their own. The Kavach building is certainly a mystery to be solved, but I had no clue as to what was waiting for me on the other side of room 14. Clines's story is a bit of House of Leaves, a dash of hard science fiction, and just enough fantasy (the squales, good god, the squales) to scare the pants off of me. \n I scanned a review that was likening it to Lost, and while I loved the first couple seasons of that show, I think it would be a disservice to compare 14 to something that wasn't well thought through. Clines has a nice complexity without being overly contrived, and it's clear from the beginning that he knows exactly where he is (and you are) going, even if you don't have a clue. It's his ride, and I loved being on it. \n The narrator, Ray Porter, was great. He worried me during the first ten minutes--I thought he might a little too Hollywood. But he was actually perfect and did great voices for a variety of characters, some with accents. \n Read this and have a damn good time.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 06 19:52:59 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 15 19:43:14 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Wed Dec 05 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "10005168", "review_id": "fc666a6ecd7e445877ad587915226432", "rating": 3, "review_text": "(This is only a review of Something Wicked This Way Comes. Please add one half star.) \n Bradbury's tale of adolescence and aging, curiosity and fear is poetic and frightening, frequently at the same time. Will and Jim, two teenagers, are fascinated when a circus rolls into their small town, so they creep out to investigate it before opening day. And they make an awful discovery that sets the story in motion. \n As they uncover more mysteries and more grotesque characters, the boys are always walking a fine line between bravery and fear. Their relationship is so pure and perfect and reminds me very much of the young men Stephen King sometimes writes (I'm thinking specifically of \"The Body\"). Bradbury captures them, and what they represent, perfectly. \n The more developed relationship, though, is between Will and his father, who is the janitor of the town's library (of course there's a library; it's Bradbury, after all). Will eventually comes to depend on him more and their father-son bond thickens over the course of the story. I do wish that Bradbury had not left Jim and Will's friendship on the wayside, because it was so nicely started. I also felt that the hopelessness of youth--especially the frequently ignored youth--could have been further exploited to raise the tension and anxiety in the story. \n But it's a creepy tale and perfect to get some of those pre-Halloween heebie jeebies.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 28 18:39:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 04 18:57:35 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "6619051", "review_id": "5c3b3820af3c7b86b8ab0fb92b2fb77b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This installment was a great end to the series. The way Collins considers and details the social and political world she has created made this a series not just for kids, but for adults, too. This is a story about growing up, but it's also a story about power, battle, and compromise, which are topics not always done so interestingly in young adult or children's literature. \n Collins never talks down to her audience, but she never talks above them, either. It's amazing how she is able to make war and betrayal so relevant to her twelve year old protagonist, and it's due in large part to the complete and complex world she's created. \n And without spoiling anything, I can say that although I'd hoped for another kind of ending, I knew how unrealistic my hopes were and I think Collins finished the book--and the series--perfectly. This really is a great adventure for all readers.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 18 19:42:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 11 09:11:25 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Nov 06 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Thu Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "6619012", "review_id": "54353402c0bef82644cf6f057712e094", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Because of the abrupt ending and an unfinished story obviously contingent upon the final book, it's hard to review this one by itself. \n There are some new and interesting characters, the start of another dangerous adventure, and Gregor continues to exhibit bravery and maturity beyond his years. Boots is getting a bit more irritating with age (or with her inability to understand the seriousness of...well, of anything), but it's not a sticking point. \n I have the last book cued up on my iPhone and will start it first thing in the morning. There will be a much longer review once I've finished the series.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 14 14:07:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 15 19:40:07 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "2261214", "review_id": "dbc6c3dd544ef193acd65e1f51ff8c61", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I read about this book in an article on the NPR website about \"100 Best Ever Teen Novels.\" I was looking for something to read with my 17-year old mentee, who is into manga and anime, and likes books in the fantasy genre. So, instead of going with something tried and true that I knew was good, I thought we could try something I hadn't read and that she might like. Hey, NPR endorsed it, so it's got to be good, right? \n Wrong. \n My mentee, Angelica, liked it because the young protagonist, Clary, is brave and smart. And yes, she is, but I felt at times that she was a little too smart, especially when she was trading flirty barbs with Jace, the hero of Clare's story. Jace and Clary are in a constant back-and-forth of precocious verbal jabs. They \"hate\" each other at first, but of course it's obvious to the reader that they will, eventually, end up in each others' arms. \n In addition to having a problem with two teenagers having unrealistic \"witty\" banter at every turn of the page, I also have a problem with the pacing with which Clare has laid out the world of her story. I felt rushed into the history, and it all felt a little too complex: the weapons, the other-worldly names for everything, the people involved...It just felt like too much, too quickly. I'd have preferred that she sprinkle the more complex elements of the magic and the fantasy throughout her almost 500 page first book, and perhaps stretch it into a series of four if she needed more room. Instead, Clare relegates her characters to reciting paragraphs of clunky dialogue exposition whenever we need a dose of history or plot catch-up. \n Now, it's better than Twilight--no doubt, by a long shot--and Clare definitely has talent as a writer. Her literary and artistic allusions were interesting, even if they were years beyond her intended audience. You might read it and like it more than I did, or you might not. But if you'd like to give it a try, I've got the whole series in a box set that I'll give you. For free.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 01 18:44:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 22 04:16:06 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Nov 21 09:26:58 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Wed Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "6619002", "review_id": "5e3015d830ce3e9ad190fb27057ee1cb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Collins has produced another solid book about Gregor, his friends down in the Underland, and his family. The adventure this time opens up more about his family and introduces more Underland characters. And Gregor is growing up: literally, by having his twelfth birthday, and figuratively by taking on more responsibility, having much more at stake, and seeing more of his comrades-in-arms die fighting. \n I am thrilled that there are two more of these books, and I'll be listening to them as soon as I can.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 16 18:47:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 30 18:53:39 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "6618969", "review_id": "7d6bef0e9e95568e5a8aca09f5acd35d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I started this just hours after I finished the first, and as soon as I get on the train tomorrow, I'll be starting the third. \n The story builds perfectly upon Gregor the Overlander and the characters--well developed over the course of the first book--develop and grow seamlessly over this second installment. The action is even better in this book, and Gregor comes into his own. Collins has written created a sympathetic boy who is a do-gooder but not a goody-two-shoes. \n I really appreciate, too, Gregor's family. Although the Underland world is rich and fantastic, the real world of a lower class family struggling to make ends meet is realistic and relatable. \n And I've got to add something that I forgot to mention in my GTO review: because of this series, I've never before hated cockroaches less than I do now. In fact, they're almost okay. \n Narrator Paul Boehmer is solid again, although his Ripred sounded off from the first book. Luckily, the rat isn't in this book much, but I hope Boehmer gets back to that original Ripred voice for the next one.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 13 19:37:51 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 13 19:59:19 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Sep 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "6618954", "review_id": "baf556695883d93ec491ea34a7906b1f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was the perfect book to listen to while commuting. The story is terrific, the action is exciting, and the characters are interesting, specific, and likeable. It's pretty violent for a children's book, but it's never gratuitous and, because of the fantastic nature of the Underland world, it goes down pretty easily (who wouldn't want to see an evil 10-foot rat get schooled by an 11-year old kid from New York?) \n I was worried at first about Boots's dialogue getting overly adorable. It's got to be nearly impossible to do a two-year old voice without being too repetitive or too saccharine cute. But Collins hit the mark with her tone and the narrator, Paul Boehmer, nailed it home.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 03 07:45:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 13 19:35:53 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "13626884", "review_id": "95a5f8c2e4a46f23d8dc515b9cfbae13", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Before reading this, I'd only read on book by Butler (Kindred, in high school), and this one sounded so interesting; I was especially intrigued when I learned that this was the last book she wrote before she passed away. But I was disappointed and, overall, pretty creeped out. Actually, not \"pretty\" creeped out. Really. Really creeped out. \n And here's why: \n The main character, Shori (called Rene at the start of the book before she learns who she is) is a fifty-something year old vampire creature who *looks* like an eleven year old girl. And the first character she gets involved with is a hairy twenty-three year old guy. And they get involved. It's beyond uncomfortable. I paused the audiobook after the first hour and realized that I'd been grimacing for twenty miles of my commute. My face hurt. \n Now, Butler explains this relationship and others through an original twist on the vampire myth, the effects of vampire venom, and unconventional physical aging, but the fact is that this character looks like a child and throughout the book she's having sex with human adult characters in addition to feeding off of them in a highly sexualized way. \n After I got over that (but let me be frank: I never got over it; in fact, I'm grimacing right now just thinking about it) I tried to get into the actual story. Butler brings up important and interesting themes of race, fear of the \"other,\" family, community, and mortality. Interesting themes yes, but the story itself couldn't keep my attention. The plot was slow, there were about two dozen more characters than were necessary (and none of them were well developed, just described in detail by Butler), and the courtroom drama aspect during the last portion of the book was dull as dishwater. And it wasn't supposed to be. \n Nothing in this story felt immediate or relevant. Maybe it was the style, the fact that the characters and the communities they lived in were so removed from \"normal\" human society, or the narrator (Tracey Leigh) who had to read about fifty character voices, some of them with accents, and forty-eight of them awkward. And I'm sure a lot of people really liked this book. I just wasn't one of them.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 29 09:17:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 20 18:44:19 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "12606483", "review_id": "a5d86f176fb8efa6ab7708bf718849e5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a magnificent book. Celia herself says it best when she's talking about the circus and calls it a wonder, a comfort, and a mystery. Morgenstern creates an atmosphere so rich that it almost seems to hover in the air as you read it, wafting scents of caramel apples and chocolate covered popcorn. In fact, it's easy to forget that this is an actual work of fiction that has been written by a real person, since it is so tangible and, really, a story of a story (which will make sense if you read it). The characters are wonderful, the story is both a mystery and a history of a group of people--a family in most every way--and it makes me wish that all of it were real (or almost all of it...). This book will make everyone a reveur. \n If you're considering reading this (and you should), definitely consider listening to the audiobook. Jim Dale has the perfect voice for this book--he's got that sound that makes you feel as though you're curled up on the couch by a fire, wrapped in cozy blanket, while your favorite uncle tells you a really great story. Dale also doesn't muck it up by reading Bailey, a Massachusetts native, with an American accent. This will definitely be an audiobook I come back to again and again (in fact I finished it with ten minutes left on my commute to work, so I just started it again).", "date_added": "Thu Sep 29 16:59:10 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 02 19:09:58 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Tue Nov 29 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Sun Nov 20 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "7125342", "review_id": "9d7473c5b28b7148ef1a35a7865d1c82", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I have been \"reading\" this book for about a month, and I put \"reading\" in quotes because I can barely get through a few pages at a time before I get anxious and angry and toss it back down on the table. I have decided, finally, to give this one up. And here's why. \n It's not good. \n I tried--really hard--to like it. I wanted to like it. During my sporadic reading of the first one hundred awful pages, I continually flipped to the back cover to scan the great blurbs from Junot Diaz (who I think really is a talented writer!), The New Yorker, The Chicago Tribune, and more. I kept saying to myself, \"Self, you must be wrong; keep reading and you'll get to the good stuff.\" But the good stuff never came. \n Now, Grossman can write some really nice prose. He's got some lovely metaphors and interesting imagery. But he simply cannot tell a story with any immediacy or importance. The first half of the book (and the only half I'll be reading) summarized any and all conflict and left me thinking, \"okay, when is the story going to start?\" But it never does after 221 pages. It's beyond boring. A \"Beast\" comes to the school and puts the entire college in a state of suspended animation and kills a student; and it gets about three pages. I kept having to go back and re-read lines and paragraphs to make sure that it had actually happened. It ends up feeling just as important as the numerous scenes of students drinking wine, and that's an odd effect. And maybe that's Grossman's point--in adolescence, everything is boring? I don't know. But it's bad storytelling and really frustrating to read. \n And his characters are wholly, unequivocally unlikable. They're not given enough development--and I'm including the protagonist, Quentin, in this pile of dullards--so they turn out flat and meaningless. I don't get their motivation and at the end of the day, I just don't care. Am I supposed to feel this same ennui that Quentin feels about...everything? Even his magic? I don't know. If so, bravo, Grossman. You've successfully made me not care. \n And now, we come to the magic. Um, it's magic. Ma. Gic. It should be cool. There should be whole passages, pages, chapters devoted to it. It should be visceral. It should be amazing and awesome. It is none of these things. The book could have taken place at the University of Minnesota and it wouldn't have mattered. More ennui. More boredom. More summary. Although we do get shape-shifting fox sex. Yes, you read that correctly, and it's beyond creepy. Losing your virginity is awkward and weird enough; did Grossman have to make it fox sex? \n I'm confident that I'm in the minority with my opinions of this book, and I'm okay with that. Maybe I'm too old to appreciate it. Maybe I'm not smart enough or cool enough. I'm okay with that, too. And if you want to make a case for it, be my guest, I'll listen. But I will not be finishing this book. And that decision, after 30 days of waffling and trying, makes me happy.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 07 06:53:40 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 08 08:14:33 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Fri Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Tue Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 9}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "9912994", "review_id": "0a02b03f2f949fbaeb92778bc8e83062", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I like what Palahniuk's done with Hell. He creates a landscape--From the Sea of Insects and the Dandruff Desert to the Great Ocean of Wasted Sperm and the Swamp of Partial-birth Abortions--that is rich with human waste of all kinds. But though I liked his wasteland I think he spent too much time developing the imagery of giant black flies swarming over piles of dirty popcorn balls and candy corns and doing the historical research to fill his world with proper demons and the damned, and not enough time developing his main characters. \n I liked Madison, certainly, but she felt a bit flat and not really believable, and the only other character who showed much of a spark was Archer. The others started out interesting and then didn't have too much to do, so they just kind of hung around as plot forwarders for Maddy's arc. Which, truth be told, felt rushed and more a result of Palahniuk's idea than of her own personality or motivations. \n And I think that's my main problem with the last couple of Palahniuk's books. Although I always appreciate and enjoy what he does with narrative voice and how he imagines new and wonderful (sometimes wonderfully grotesque and horrific) narrative landscapes--and Damned is no exception--I feel that he has a great idea and writes that idea into a novel as quickly as his little fingers can type. And then, other than some embellishments and edits, it's finished. Now, I don't know if that's really his process, but it's books like this one, Pygmy, and Tell All that give this impression. I wish he'd given me another hundred pages in the middle of this book to really follow Maddy's character change. \n And (THIS MIGHT BE CONSIDERED A SPOILER), I find it a cop-out to finish your novel with \"To Be Continued...\" Really? Really. \n So read it because it's Palahniuk and the play on Blume's classic YA novel is fun. Enjoy the Hell he's created and Madison's snarky self. But don't expect too much more than that.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 03 07:59:40 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 06 07:15:31 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Thu Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "11267557", "review_id": "1b7a54f88750ff0c010e954bb484d5ac", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a terrific read/listen. The story was tight, tense, interesting, and Stephen Kingesque without being a rip-off. I very much liked the main characters and never questioned how they acted and reacted in such a bizarre situation, which is impressive. The narration by John Lee was excellent and exactly what narration should be. It only took about 6 hours to listen to, so I'm imagining that reading it outright would only take one good night. And it'd be worth it to stay up past your bedtime to get it finished.", "date_added": "Sun May 01 16:22:37 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon May 09 07:44:57 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Thu May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Tue May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "44537", "review_id": "6fa96413523480bdf6152768df4ef48a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The idea behind redoing traditional fairy tales with a more realistic sensibility is a good one, and the emphasis on the female characters was interesting. \"Feminist\" literature doesn't really do it for me, though, and maybe this ultimately failed for me because it felt so much like it was trying so hard to be this type of work. The writing was on average just okay--quite good in parts but overly metaphoric in most others--the framing of the pieces felt forced, and the character development was too quick resulting in unsympathetic and largely unrelatable protagonists, due probably to the shortness of the pieces. A handful of the tales were really good, but the majority weren't and I think it would have been more successful if Donoghue had taken on fewer tales with more character development. This would have, in addition to making them more interesting, truly redefined the fairy tale genre.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 10 07:57:50 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 12 09:43:41 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sat Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Wed Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "6981805", "review_id": "35f53e7781764f651903d4dfd455e8cd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n First, an important note about the audiobook: I knew I was in a bit of trouble when the starting credits announced that the book was \"performed\" (not \"narrated,\" not \"read\") by Fred Berman. And true to the \"performance,\" Berman was frequently a bit of a ham. It made some of Hill's cheesier dialogue even cheesier. But I got used to rolling my eyes and by the end of it I was okay with the reading. \n Now, I'd had this on my to-read shelf for a bit but inched it up once I found out from the Neil Gaiman interview with Stephen King (a really nice interview) that Hill is King's son. I think that even if I'd not known that I would have noticed the similarities in their styles, especially the way both writers overuse pop culture references (mostly musical) and the aforementioned cheesy dialogue. But I can't say that I didn't enjoy it, and don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of King. But he's not a perfect writer and neither is his son. But Hill has written a supernatural mystery crossed with a revenge story, and both are pretty successful. \n My biggest beef is with the reason Lee Tourneau is impervious to Ig's horns at the start. The reason Hill gives is that Merrin's cross, which eventually becomes something Ig, himself, uses to hide his horns from others, has a kind of magic. But it would have been so much more interesting if Hill had gone with the more simple, logical, and real explanation: Lee doesn't react to the horns because Lee has no guilt. He's a textbook sociopath, free of a conscience. The devil's horns can't elicit something that is simply nonexistent. I think that in this setting and in this story a sociopath makes a really interesting character (and one I'd have liked explored just a bit further). But Hill didn't use the sociopathy for its obvious implications, and that disappointed me. \n I also could have done without the \"treehouse of the mind.\" It felt a bit unnecessary, needlessly complicated. But Hill's take on and exploration of the devil and evil is original and interesting, so I was okay with some of my minor issues.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 21 09:06:35 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 16 16:04:24 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jul 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "2337265", "review_id": "ec863233f7510a5f61a4a8168fabbe89", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a lovely children's book, and I'll probably buy a physical copy to re-read it. And all of the kids I know are getting a copy, too. Gaiman certainly doesn't shy away from the idea of violence and death, but he deals with it so poetically that it's completely appropriate. It's a book about growing up, about family, about love, and about loss. He's able to take important themes and write about them using well developed and interesting characters. The diction and style is age-appropriate but never, ever dumbed down or pandering. And Gaiman reads this himself, doing a wonderful job--his voice is soothing and pleasant to listen to, and he has a terrific grasp of character voice inflection (of the utmost importance for audiobooks). He had my crying at the end while I sat in the parking lot of school (a total \"driveway moment\") before I had to go in for a faculty workshop. Thanks a lot, Neil.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 22 07:33:21 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 15 07:48:32 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Thu Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "5929664", "review_id": "36f3134e8acf05cde8f14c9b49e88312", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm so glad I stuck with this book. About fifty pages in, I was ready to give it up; Angie W., who recommended it and lent me her copy, felt I should stick with it. She was right that the first pages make it feel as though you've jumped into a sequel without much of an explanation of who the characters are and what sort of a world they're living in. But once Moon's case started (or, rather, once he was interested enough to start trying to solve it), that didn't much matter--in fact, it actually enhanced the overall odd feel of the book. I'm still unsure whether or not I understood the book in its entirety, and I'm still thinking about it. It's a fun, fantastical \"mystery\" full of oddball characters: a bearded lady, a time-traveling ugly man who may or may not have founded London, two assassins dressed like overgrown prep-school drop-outs, a human fly, and, of course, the titular side kick, the Somnambulist. Curious. That's a good word for it. Curious.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 30 17:21:14 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 22 07:30:44 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Thu Dec 17 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "136251", "review_id": "3cb26b59aa0e326547902e5fac27b03e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I miss Harry Potter. And Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, Hagrid, Neville, Neville's grandmother, and even Snape. After reading through all seven in a few months (I know it's taken people mere days to get through all seven books), I miss them. I'm seriously considering starting the series all over again. I now totally get the obsession. It's an investment and even though they're not the greatest books of all time, all of those characters become part of your literary family. And it's really sad to see their story finished. I think I'll give it a few months and pick them up again.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 22 20:17:35 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 05 09:14:20 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "49852", "review_id": "54a28364f39863a0399f4003a11cb7d2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n This was a terrific installment in the series, and I'm worried because the next one is the last. And it doesn't take place at Hogwarts. And Dumbledore is dead. And Harry broke up with Ginny. And Ron and Hermione haven't snogged yet, but they had damn well better, and soon. It was a terribly emotional book, and a really enjoyable one. They grow up so fast, don't they? Rowling did another great job of capturing the sentiment of youth, confusion, and teenage infatuation. I won't start the last book until tomorrow, but I'll add it tomorrow night after work.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 12 13:56:07 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 05 09:13:54 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "77522", "review_id": "cadd82bb7eb799753467899dc0ccb92a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Harry is such a perfect teenager in this book! He's whiny and self-important, snapping at everyone else, and thinking that 'no one understands meeeeeeeee!\" Jeesh. So at times it was difficult to read because of the wanting to smack him upside the head, but that's really quite a testament to Rowling's knowledge of her own characters and her understanding of how people (especially adolescents) can change. \n Another reason this was a difficult read was that I don't like change. And there's change all over this book. Yes, it starts on Pivet Drive and all that, but Hagrid is missing from a huge portion of the book, and then he's secretive with Harry, Ron and 'Hermy' for the rest. Dumbledore is ousted as headmaster for a while, Harry gets kissed by Cho, and Cho is all crying all over the place. It's awkward and difficult and horrifying. Just like a teenager's life should be.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 23 14:37:27 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 05 09:13:33 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "49130", "review_id": "4530e914527ceb7f15e42ebb78583c86", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is my favorite so far of the four, but my friend Angie told me that five is her personal favorite and I've just started reading it, so I might change my mind. The action and drama is terrific without being too much. I'm really enjoying seeing the kids grow up and act their age (whiney though it may sometimes be), and I'm so happy that I decided to give the series another shot and finish it up.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 17 07:00:08 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 06 07:35:50 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "121121", "review_id": "e7af104669ebc16d1b0100a6f52103da", "rating": 3, "review_text": "If I could give this an extra half star, I would. \n I read this and the second book when they first came out, but that was going on ten years now (whoa) and I didn't really remember them. Because of the attention the latest film adaptation is getting, I've decided to read through the series (it might take me a while since I'm waiting for used copies and school starts in 2 weeks...) and I'm really looking forward to it, especially after finishing this one. I found that I enjoyed it more than I did the first time--I'm not sure why, but the further chronological distance from my own time at school might have something to do with it. The whimsey is terrific, and I just love hearing about all of the candy. My husband and I watched the movie last night (which I'd never seen) and I loved inwardly comparing the two (I tried not to say too much aloud, though, since those \"in the book they did it this way...\" people drive me noodles). \n I started #2 last night and should be finished with it soon.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 04 12:13:57 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon May 25 04:35:07 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "4907587", "review_id": "f52f43aa22670d7791f00a92c2650ec3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is one fine vampire novel. But it's so much more than that because of the way Lindqvist treats his characters and the way he navigates the narrative. Although there are two central protagonists--Oskar and Eli (and one could make an argument for Hakan as a third)--Lindqvist treats the baker's dozen or so minor characters (and the dozen or so more really minor characters) with just as much care. There are no bad guys; there are no throwaway characters. There are angry children from broken homes trying to hold on to some particle of a remembered happiness, even if it's only a secondhand remembrance; there are boys trying to navigate school and the castes that come with any lunchroom, classroom, field-trip, or after school activity; there are lonely adults seeking out like-minded souls in hopes of making their days and nights less isolated; there is even a squirrel looking for a nut who is a minor (very minor) character for about a page. \n But because of the omniscient narrative Lindqvist uses, the reader gets insight into each and every one of the characters and feels at least at bit of sympathy, and sometimes empathy, for each, even if their actions are unfortunate, mistaken, misunderstood, or just plain despicable. And Lindqvist's ability to create this effect ultimately shows that he is both interested in and has the ability to observe, understand, and explain human behavior. So although this is, technically, a vampire novel, it's a great character study and commentary about adolescence, nostalgia, human nature, suburban living, and the ability to do violence.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 04 11:53:07 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed May 20 11:11:23 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jul 29 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sat Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "1656001", "review_id": "4b336408782cbe1954a53b28f86c67cb", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I've listened to over three hours of this audio book, and I'm at the point where I'm only enjoying it because the narrator, Kate Reading, has a great reading voice. Other than that, I just don't care. There are sort of aliens, souls without bodies, 'seekers,' 'healers,' and other things about which I couldn't give a flying fig. There's the mediocre writing of the Twilight series books without the tension or action. I'm going to abandon this and have absolutely no guilty feeling about it (although I'm slightly irritated b/c I spent two audible credits on it). Tonight on the train, I turned it off and opted to listen to my stand-by David Sedaris, Live at Carnegie Hall, even though I've listened to it at least five times. But at least Sedaris is reliably entertaining. I've even created an entire shelf inspired by the Meyer book! So, read it at your own peril. Or, simply at your own guaranteed boredom.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 03 20:16:10 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 16 21:06:30 -0800 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "1162543", "review_id": "c039c2b22c8b26dd517bdc2b41528cb5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n This final book in the series, though without the dose of climactic action of the others, was quite satisfying by the end. It took me much longer than the others to read, and I think it's because of the lack of action. The tension, though, wasn't lacking, and the end of this installment certainly left a wide open possibility for the next book. I'll just be happy to read about the imminent love affair between Nessie and Jacob. I can't wait!", "date_added": "Sun Dec 14 12:58:19 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 03 20:12:46 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "428263", "review_id": "d7b0d7f9bf769ccd06ca056e79e514c3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n This was a great follow up to the second in the series, and just as tense and page-turny. I loved the vampire-werewolf alliance, and the epilogue was interesting. My literary crush on Jacob Black has grown hugely, and I'm fearful that our heroine won't end up with him. Actually, I'd bet she doesn't, and I've got some ideas about who he'll \"imprint\" upon (if that's the correct usage?). I'm off this afternoon to get the final book in the series, and I've got super high expectations.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 14 12:58:01 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 06 08:25:03 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Tue Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "49041", "review_id": "a84cd375b839176fc0a8e75315f06bbb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this sequel to Twilight--more than the first actually. The absence of Edward's constant perfection was a nice change, and I developed a huge literary crush on Jacob Black. Bella's heartbreak through the first section was easy to identify with as a female reader who lived though many a high school and college crushes herself (not vampire crushes, mind you, but they felt pretty major at the time...). The developing relationship between Jake and Bella was just as tense and enjoyable as the action. I'm on my way this afternoon to buy the third book, and the fourth probably, just to be prepared since I burned through this one in about three days.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 14 12:57:20 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 02 07:57:35 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "af63965d0525f31a8fa8ad1ac6a78ff6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It's a tense story with an easily relatable heroine and a lush setting. The vampire myth is re-imagined, which keeps it fresh. My only problem with it is that I was more than a little tired by the end of the book (a rather thick book at that) of Edward being described as perfect, angelic, gorgeous, perfect, god-like, perfect, beautiful, and so on and so forth. I know the point had to be driven home, but it was almost exhausting.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 14 12:57:12 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 31 08:44:34 -0800 2008", "read_at": "Fri Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "33458", "review_id": "94e8ca234bfb9670450ff888d46a54ce", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It's a fun, quick read, reminiscent of Tom Robbins (which I think is a common comparison made), though the dialogue is a little stiff and a bit predictable. I'm sure to read more of Moore, though, and am still listening to 'Fluke' (will hopefully finish it over the new year when we drive up to Wisconsin!).", "date_added": "Mon Nov 03 20:07:26 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 17 20:06:42 -0800 2008", "read_at": "Tue Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "33456", "review_id": "edcf75e695acebc0d6b5a249156b5170", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Totally fun, funny, sweet, and sad (in a silly way). I've already started Fluke and know that I'm going to be a big, big fan of Moore. He's whimsical and funny like Tom Robbins, but can really ramp up the tension for bits of thriller popped in among the hell-hounds and squirrel people. Read it and you'll know exactly what I mean.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 09 19:17:31 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 23 17:57:13 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Thu Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "70825", "review_id": "56fdbf8bb7a376852ac7cb0cac4317ab", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I adore this story. I love stories that take place on submarines, so this is right up my alley. It's also an honest-to-goodness adventure and a helluva lot of fun to read.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 03 15:26:38 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 30 21:01:28 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "52357", "review_id": "997eaeb5d08659a2e92281be4ed58b74", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the only translation that should be read, especially by non-scholars. It's so easy to read and allows all of the blood (\"wound-slurry\" couldn't BE a better kenning!), monsters, heroics, and hubris to come shining through. Just a perfect epic.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 30 13:46:56 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 05 09:17:12 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "547094", "review_id": "b9c33c3b9dda6d46278157bd5a8023d9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "T. and I listened to this on the train from Madrid to Barcelona. It's an eerie and excellent short book. It's quiet and creepy. From what I've heard about the most recent film adaptation (and Omega Man, the Charles Heston adaptation), it's neither and makes drastic changes to the story (none of which sounded good). It could be made into a good movie, but it's very much in our protagonist's head, so again, it might not.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 24 17:21:03 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 24 17:23:57 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "10611", "review_id": "dcb8d2736cef1f20d3bae97a8343d4e7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Really one of my favorite books. This is a fairy tale he wrote for his teenage daughter. It's fairy-tale enough for kids, but bloody enough for us fans. Flagg is just eeeeevil. And every once in a while, when I'm doing something alone-ish (like scratching my nose, hitching up my pants...) I wonder if someone's watching through one of the pictures on the wall.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 24 17:14:06 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 24 17:16:20 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "11590", "review_id": "404c22b4501710d97631776cddd0a1fe", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Vampires!", "date_added": "Mon Mar 24 17:12:40 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 24 17:12:50 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "11597", "review_id": "0fc4c085c49a8b1928227007ca601bf5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I like this one so much because it's a book about a writer, which King does so well.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 24 16:59:33 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 24 16:59:59 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "43615", "review_id": "deb1003ece44bcfbea48337931483184", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I never finished this series, but loved the first three.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 24 16:46:59 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 24 16:47:14 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0ef32090550901ead25cb0ea21c4d36b", "book_id": "7082", "review_id": "c1290ff87fa70c1a0ac372472cd2d06d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This audiobook was read by the same guy who read Under the Banner of Heaven. Although I'd heard him read before, it took me a while to get in tune with his doing multiple characters. Once I got into it, though, I think he did a really nice job. His monotone fit the story of androids, bounty-hunters, and electric animals. In a post World War III Earth, most inhabitants have emigrated to Mars, androids escape from the red planet and run around back on Earth, and because of the radioactive dust, men wear dust-proof cod pieces and animals are ridiculously rare and coveted. It's quite different from Bladerunner (though now that I've finished the book, I want to re-watch the movie), but good in its own way.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 18 20:05:59 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 18 15:33:29 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Wed Apr 16 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "93c5e16254e7838b69178338bb20459e", "book_id": "18739426", "review_id": "8e5c3c37d3bca8a1da4cd297f5349041", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Classic Sanderson \n This book was literally nonstop action. Part steampunk, part Indiana Jones, all good fun. Definitely recommend picking up this book.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 09 22:41:47 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 10 13:44:58 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Feb 09 22:41:47 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a3a4e571b82e9395db73f25ae79742e8", "book_id": "333867", "review_id": "a2e0962a20fb3c493ac81b32b503c0fc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of my favorite books. Downloaded it on my kindle on one of the rare occasions when I had wifi during my deployment and figured it would be a good book to check out sometime, maybe not read it all the way through depending on how good it was... Man was I wrong. I opened it up one night and started perusing it and just couldn't put it down. The character development was amazing and the plot was kept simple, based on something that is plausible (a man gets revenge on someone/something that has wronged) but set in an amazing futuristic environment. I stayed up all hours of the night and finished it in one reading, despite the fact that I had a mission the next day... Totally worth it.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 14 00:05:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 28 12:02:48 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d37b46b2190ed7c518259f29b47a9b36", "book_id": "29484057", "review_id": "e6d468d4df680d38cf1d976037ec9b59", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I am not a fan of anthologies or short stories but I read this book because it has a psychological angle. The book is a series of stories written by fantasy/science fiction writers all of whom write about mental illness or difference. I liked some of the stories but the book did not hold together for me. I was looking for some thread to connect them and there was none.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 12 12:11:12 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 13 08:54:47 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Aug 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f0fee7cd38442e912194e46c99d4af3", "book_id": "24215135", "review_id": "71436697e330eec34b959614449175de", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Uneven. Lots of concept. Needed more story. Liked the setting. I guess I lose my romance novelist card because I wanted to tell the heroine to forget love and do what was right for the greater good. There was one good twist I didn't see coming--love it when that happens. Another one I'm glad to have read (listened to).", "date_added": "Mon Sep 26 14:29:22 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 26 14:33:12 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Sep 26 14:33:12 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f0fee7cd38442e912194e46c99d4af3", "book_id": "19161843", "review_id": "651511036f7e8142c77ce3255b99e87c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Compulsively readable. Excellent story. But dark. Oh my goodness dark. So glad I read it. So glad I'm finished.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 05 15:43:53 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 19 08:41:10 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Sep 19 08:41:10 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f0fee7cd38442e912194e46c99d4af3", "book_id": "25041647", "review_id": "7ef07809dde4f521f3700ca0741e392e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm open to trying anything with a mermaid, so when this hit deal-of-the-day, I one-clicked it. It's a bit of a strange book. Simple story, but with unusual elements. Slow to get going, but that didn't bother me as much as it did some people. The narration took a while to become accustomed to, but I ended up enjoying the voice, too. I'd be curious about other books for this author, but I'm not certain I'd be in a big hurry to read or listen to them. The last hour or so didn't completely work for me. And the villain was awful, but not out of the ordinary. Odd book, but I'm glad I listened.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 01 18:00:15 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 15 05:37:36 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f0fee7cd38442e912194e46c99d4af3", "book_id": "25634347", "review_id": "fd5ed57518d856e2024ce0d9df1d158c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book pits the series off to a great start! So many things to love about this world and these characters. Be warned--once you wander into Blighted Basin, you won't want to leave.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 27 16:09:52 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 27 16:11:50 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f0fee7cd38442e912194e46c99d4af3", "book_id": "9722219", "review_id": "de06ff902932f339a57063ef28330bde", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The first half of the book was a solid four-star read. The second half really picked up. After the midpoint, I couldn't put the book down (which doesn't often happen to me even with the best books) and when I finished, I was desperate to get my hands on the next book in the series as soon as possible. The author has a perfect grasp of first person voice, the story was compelling, the gothic elements spot-on. I was expecting a different relationship between the main character and the dead and I would have liked to have seen the main character have a better understanding of the rules her father passed down to her. Even so, I highly recommend this book. If you're not a taphophile like me before you read the story, you are in danger of being one upon finishing.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 25 11:52:41 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 30 08:01:37 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "af157d0205b8a901dee6d4a2aed7e6ad", "book_id": "17349203", "review_id": "4129b168ab70480ea60ee20d3061ffa4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Un libro corto que te lo lees en un dia. A la vez resulta divertido si se lo cuentas a un nino. Los personajes, los escenarios y las situaciones me encantaron aunque a ratos se daba vueltas en lo mismo. De cualquier modo lo disfrute.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 04 09:06:25 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 04 09:08:43 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Apr 04 09:08:43 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "af157d0205b8a901dee6d4a2aed7e6ad", "book_id": "15783514", "review_id": "01703d2d383f538ba55d94563454e4cc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Al fin termine de leerlo. Muchas emociones durante toda la lectura. Me deja la nostalgia del pasado y de seguir aprendiendo del presente. Hermoso libro :)", "date_added": "Fri Oct 10 15:10:51 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 18 06:39:33 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Nov 18 06:39:33 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "af157d0205b8a901dee6d4a2aed7e6ad", "book_id": "424020", "review_id": "6b41b018d041ca7de07a93236ea212f1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Me encanto, es como escuchar a un guia de museo hablar de la historia del Quidditch.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 05 08:29:40 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 05 08:30:30 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "af157d0205b8a901dee6d4a2aed7e6ad", "book_id": "3", "review_id": "a5751205a154cfa74971b9b4c5edf8fe", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Tuve el gusto de leerlo antes de que saliera la pelicula xD", "date_added": "Wed Jan 01 12:15:29 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 01 12:15:51 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "af157d0205b8a901dee6d4a2aed7e6ad", "book_id": "41899", "review_id": "a9a83f695498de96ffb07d3d7bade4e3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Para muggles que desean aprender mejor de estas criaturas. Divertidas anotaciones en el libro ;)", "date_added": "Wed Jan 01 12:14:13 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 01 12:14:58 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8cbbcdd68aa2d7127820501cbaec7388", "book_id": "18039172", "review_id": "9396b81208dfd69b0b13a629fd41fcfa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Marcus and Ellie live with their grandparents, and don't always see eye-to-eye with them. When Marcus gets in trouble at school, his grandparents decide he and Ellie both need to take responsibility by working in the family magic store, a dull, dusty place. When Marcus finds his grandfather going into a secret room, he discovers that the Magic Shop's shabby exterior is a front for a real magical world that exists all around them. Marcus accidentally sells a very valuable artifact to a stranger, setting in motion a chain of events he never would have imagined. Swapp's fast-paced adventure takes unpredictable twists and turns, as Marcus and Ellie are suddenly immersed in a world filled with dark secrets and dangerous characters. \n Great story for kids (and adults) who love magic and adventure!", "date_added": "Thu Jul 11 17:47:12 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 05 06:38:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "012aa353140af13109d00ca36cdc0637", "book_id": "14201", "review_id": "0e69a246609ecee149e4a82cbe2184f5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Not for everyone -- it is written in a Dickensian style and is quite long. HOWEVER, if you are willing to take yourself back nearly 200 years, this book about magicians is magical!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 10:06:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 07 10:08:59 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ec34d1dce411b82ed55a06f34b35f4a7", "book_id": "301082", "review_id": "a213f11806ce87dae002358f345357b9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved this book", "date_added": "Mon Jun 04 21:01:08 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 04 21:01:42 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "06bd41ab4c378a8c5a9d45c6b4779650", "book_id": "27272506", "review_id": "fb5a707e892138a71d4725e9cb46b841", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Honestly I think I'm too old for this book. Maybe if I read this when I was 14 I would've liked it but honestly... this book was a struggle to get through. I understand that I am not the target audience (so old I'm 21) but the characters were impulsive, annoying, and not thought out. It felt as if the author started writing one book and then changed her mind and started writing another and was too rushed by the publisher and put both books together. There were too many close calls that honestly just shouldn't have been added in because it made the book even less tolerable. I think that this book could've ended halfway through and then the other half should've been the next book maybe then this book would have had a better flow and rhythm to it. One thing I did like was the fact that there where separate religions and ethnicities and tgese differences were a notable part of the plot. It gave the story a bit of dimension and flavor to it which is very prevalent in today's world. (I hope YA readers were able to pick up on it.) In summation, this book was not for me there were many flaws with the plot, storyline and characters. Perhaps if I read this when I was younger I would have enjoyed it more. If you enjoyed it or want a book similar I recommend the series The Selection. (I read this awhile ago so my opinion might change but I do remember enjoying that book.)", "date_added": "Sun Aug 27 06:46:21 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 27 07:03:29 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Aug 27 07:03:29 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "06bd41ab4c378a8c5a9d45c6b4779650", "book_id": "23437156", "review_id": "4450d890c03970103719b8752fe4f51e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "wow can't believe it took me so long to read! amazing so far. reminds me of the first of the throne of glass series books and the demon king and the false prince series. all amazing books and if you didn't read go check them out! but anyways can't wait to see what happens next ahhh!!", "date_added": "Tue Oct 25 22:11:15 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 17 08:14:04 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Oct 30 13:19:29 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Oct 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "06bd41ab4c378a8c5a9d45c6b4779650", "book_id": "2495567", "review_id": "c78d7d89669fc15b65487a926f9d3e9c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "great great book. cant wait to read the next one!!", "date_added": "Sun Mar 06 20:18:00 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 17 09:35:20 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Mar 12 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "06bd41ab4c378a8c5a9d45c6b4779650", "book_id": "8069828", "review_id": "d82434888ae9f718e2007bc7fb59b0e5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "If there was a ten or twelve start option I would rate this masterpiece that", "date_added": "Wed May 07 20:00:13 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 07 20:01:10 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "06bd41ab4c378a8c5a9d45c6b4779650", "book_id": "1210754", "review_id": "678e3914c6a478518e75feac3bcb60f8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It was very strange the beginning- boy slow, just different. But it gets very fast paste at the end. The event before the ending is weird but good ending. Very different than anything I have ever read.", "date_added": "Wed May 07 19:35:10 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 07 19:36:23 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8ecbc8ba108ccf1be156d99a7415c44d", "book_id": "8908", "review_id": "0311d773788e8286ea1ca1fc3213acd2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "One of the best zombie books I have ever read, Max Brooks is clearly as talented as his father. Unlike other zombie fiction, this novel deals with the political ramifications of a zombie apocalypse, through a collection of stories from survivors of the Zombie War.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 17 19:44:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 15 04:07:09 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Oct 10 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8ecbc8ba108ccf1be156d99a7415c44d", "book_id": "149267", "review_id": "f35bca4eeaf55df025eb2a1ea92630e0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "One of the first King books I ever read, a good one, but ends somewhat disappointingly. The best part of the story is definitely the collapse of society due to Captain Trips and the attempts of the military to maintain control. The middle is fairly interesting, but not enough time is spent in Las Vegas, and Flagg's people. His character is fascinating, but in the end he peters out fairly quickly.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 11 21:07:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 15 04:06:58 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8ecbc8ba108ccf1be156d99a7415c44d", "book_id": "62291", "review_id": "ba1bbf50eec146af4a553bfa777acb41", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of the best editions in the Song of Ice and Fire series so far. The additions of Sam Tarly and Jaime Lannister are riveting, but Tyrion is definitely the most interesting read, detailing the court intrigues at King's Landing. Daenerys' chapters are equally impressive, detailing her conquest of the cities of Slaver's Bay with her army of Unsullied. At the wall, the chapters detailing the willing attack and Jon's election as Lord Commander are an interesting diversion from the War of Five Kings. The only issue I had was with the Bran and Arya chapters, which were somewhat slow compared to the pace of the rest of the book.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 04 21:26:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 11 23:08:36 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2f6af21d14c83a5df6cdcef5e6af0b3e", "book_id": "7785917", "review_id": "3b0f680acdac665c945b6616a1d4533d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was a delightful read, light as a fairy tale but with some philosophical thoughts worth pondering as an adult. \n I didn't realize till I had the book that is was a sequel to Haroun and the Sea of Stories; however, it read fine on its own. \n I especially enjoyed Bear, the dog and Dog, the bear along with literalizations of cliches and other well known ideas. Then there were the no-longer-powerful gods of various pantheons who would get stuck in their old adventures and forget who they were to be currently chasing. It was fun to recognize allusions to stories of Prometheus, Venus and others that I knew and to assume that any I didn't recognize also had a history--maybe to pursue finding it. And those poor Roman gods and goddesses who were homeless because they had no Olympus or Valhalla created for them. \n Pure fun.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 23 17:48:08 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 29 14:40:10 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 29 14:40:10 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Nov 23 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2f6af21d14c83a5df6cdcef5e6af0b3e", "book_id": "22875435", "review_id": "c617f19064cb41dfee39d3f1aac63eef", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I heard Percy at the local Wordstock day, and I was drawn to read the book by the description of bringing the Lewis and Clark expedition into the future apocalypse. Actually I think the main link to history is the naming of characters. (I googled names of those on the expedition and yes they were on the original, but not necessarily similar. For example Clark is a female ranger, though she led the book's expedition; York is her half brother, though it is indicated he is dark.) I saw two parallels: Lewis kept a journal and the two got separated for a piece. Maybe someone who knows more about the historical trek would see more subtle parallels. \n The pacing was intense. There were always several subplots going, and moving back and forth was pretty well signaled--only occasionally confusing. The shifts created many cliff hangers. It was very hard to put down at bedtime. (And you can see I didn't put it down many times.) There were enough twists and turns, but not too many. \n The main characters were fairly rounded and developed. Some of the minor ones less so, having no dimension beyond their evilness. The setting was vividly described: hot, cold, mutations, past history; the ongoing fires in oil fields were quite convincing. There were interesting references to climate and country history as the group traveled through. \n If you like apocalyptic/adventure reading, you would like it.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 07 20:19:08 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 31 15:56:46 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Dec 31 15:56:46 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2f6af21d14c83a5df6cdcef5e6af0b3e", "book_id": "1822243", "review_id": "7d74c17908a6a650a5d972ef91d5934e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One thing that drew me to this book was having heard the author of The Mind of the Raven speak. Having been introduced to the intelligence of ravens, I was intrigued to hear of a book told from the raven's perspective. \n The plot was well paced: I was always interested in what would happen next. Information was delayed long enough to maintain suspense without losing interest. Most of the characters were likable (one had no redeeming qualities, however). There was some apparent anthropomorphism in the thoughts and actions, especially in the young adolescent lover ravens. (I have yet to read The Mind of the Raven; maybe when I do I will change my mind.) There was room for a lot of nonintrusive instruction about the ways of nature as Colin, the crow who had lost his memory, was reintroduced to raven ways, observed other animals,and met and conversed with yet others. \n There was a delightful mythic quality woven here and there as well, including a creation story from the raven's perspective.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 29 22:02:23 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 29 22:15:15 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2f6af21d14c83a5df6cdcef5e6af0b3e", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "ce3f1f10d28feafa5f2d3a8ff9e32b40", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Spell binding pageturner.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 31 09:33:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 11 18:29:48 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b06126733bd011eb851564baad2b5f6c", "book_id": "113436", "review_id": "e64d0df1028ea234472a351f6b6aba78", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I fell in love with this story very quickly. It does take a few chapters to get going, but once it does, it captivates you. You fall into this world of dragons, magic, and sword play. You follow a young boy as he discovers who and what he is. Throughout the four books you watch Eragon, along with Sephira, learn and grow. I truly wish and believe that this book should be required reading for students. Not only would they enjoy it and actually read it, they may even learn something. Christopher Paolini gave us a wonderful look in to his amazing mind. I loved it so much that i bought all the books for myself and my husband for Christmas this year. I believe every one should read this book, along with their children. You will fall in love and want to read it over and over.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 04 21:49:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 31 21:35:44 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f4c6fe33ef61c38f7f4aeb5224c259a5", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "396ce229c54fc6cb227696ff78cb0524", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fair enough.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 16 03:08:44 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 16 03:09:24 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "08920c9c72f03d03df72908ce393f7e7", "book_id": "1656001", "review_id": "4e9fc139e8d2f4c8703c58ead1ea0580", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Never in my life did I think I would feel horrible for an alien inhabiting a human. I loved the book...at times I wondered how it was going to end and at parts it was slow...but I would read more like it... Cant wait for the movie!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 18 16:57:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 25 10:47:32 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jul 25 10:47:32 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "08920c9c72f03d03df72908ce393f7e7", "book_id": "10637766", "review_id": "7860e11c32bedb58696c7a9635f7f439", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Okay so book 3 in the SAGA. Well I liked it... but at points I still feel a bit of whats the word... maturity in the writing. I try to say this in a way that does not defer the book. It reminds me so much of Twilight... but I also find it very different. I will say one thing I went from one book to the next. I remained involved. I can't wait to see how 4 turns out.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 17 08:28:51 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 19 11:15:15 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "08920c9c72f03d03df72908ce393f7e7", "book_id": "7791997", "review_id": "e8b50bfeb747a44977cedfd46904a396", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was twisty. I almost need to write my comments at the end of the 4th book. The main character Nora Grey is at it again with her boyfriend Patch who happens to be a fallen Angel... or at least he was until he saved her life--- was given back his wings and made her Guardian Angel. They are trying to date but the Archangels don't like that...so she has to decide if she stays with him despite the fact that he will go to hell if he stays with her... or she breaks up... and attempts to move on... is it really that easy???", "date_added": "Sun Jul 15 14:46:23 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 19 11:22:20 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "08920c9c72f03d03df72908ce393f7e7", "book_id": "3609763", "review_id": "b610485f699674cb7f37b72b00ced06f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What I liked best about this book is it answered a lot of questions that I had about the Twilight Saga. The Histories were awesome, especially showing the genealogy of the Quilette lines. I would find it awesome if she continued on with this series... she has so many possibilities that she can go with and I'm sure there are a lot of fans who feel the same. My points that I think she could go into would be - Renesmee and Jacob Romance, Of course the Volturi are gonna be pissed that they got shown up, Also Nahuel's dad now technically has another Hybrid to test his theory... so I'm imagining some kind of a fight for the heart of Renesmee... or trying to kidnap her... Can Jacob and Renesmee have children? Also there is the Children of the Moon-- They said they were all but extinct... meaning there could still be some out there...so an introduction of werewolves... maybe trying to fight Volturi or the Cullens... who knows... I just don't think it is right to end the series like this... Also I read Midnight sun--- I Believe that Meyer should continue with this idea - I liked reading Edward's thoughts as well as seeing what people were saying in their thoughts about Bella. I would have Midnight Sun - finished, New Moon - have Jacob's thoughts in a book and Edwards thoughts, Eclipse - have Jacob and Edward's thoughts, and Breaking Dawn have Edward's Thoughts. And if she were to create a series about Renesmee and Jacob to still use the Cullens because they are part of Renesemee life. The fact of the matter is the Cullens --- are not only talented... but now their coven went from 8 people to 9... and now you have the wolves -- and their coven friends... the fact is they are a force to be reconned with...which means as long as there are Vampires - there are wolves... meaning not only does Jacob live forever as long as he stays near Renesmee... but the Cullen's coven is getting larger because of Renesmee. She is their link. So many possibilities... I hope Meyer takes them. I realize she likes to get into other books... but she left herself wide open with this! :D", "date_added": "Fri Jun 22 09:46:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 25 08:35:40 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jun 25 08:35:40 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "08920c9c72f03d03df72908ce393f7e7", "book_id": "4502877", "review_id": "4fc124cc58969237af5cd58eb8993dca", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I wish it were finished... but from what I could read this would have been or will be an awesome book. I like looking at Edward's perspective. I didn't know if I would before. I hope she continues forward with this and follows through with the other books. I mean it gives an interesting perspective. I also said that she should make Renesme and Jacob's saga. I love the series! :D", "date_added": "Thu Jun 21 15:23:50 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 21 20:42:27 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "08920c9c72f03d03df72908ce393f7e7", "book_id": "7937462", "review_id": "bd708ba6b9a01234629ee4a5d8875454", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I found this book interesting. I wondered how Riley was able to control his newborn army knowing what problems Jasper faced previous. It was a short book but I thought it was an interesting look into a newborn vampire.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 20 09:13:32 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 25 11:35:52 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "08920c9c72f03d03df72908ce393f7e7", "book_id": "1162543", "review_id": "8e7ca8a874596e7cf740728d10f2aa54", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Breaking Dawn. What more can I say? Action, romance, drama... I mean this book has it in spades. It is a long book... but I could not put it down. I teared up a few times. I wish there was more. I was imagining Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart fighting the battle against the Volturi, and I was concerned for them in general. Loved the series... she needs to continue! WOW!.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 13:05:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 16 17:04:52 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "08920c9c72f03d03df72908ce393f7e7", "book_id": "428263", "review_id": "17e8fc56768f0bd66a4411a0ba16d084", "rating": 5, "review_text": "When I read this I giggled a lot. I mean I loved Jacob and Edward's banter. They both are still fighting for Bella's love but in the end she needs to decide what she wants. I also love the history. The movie makes reference to the histories but this book goes so much more in depth which I love. I feel like I can see the characters clearer.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 13:05:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 15 14:55:33 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jun 15 14:55:33 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jun 14 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "08920c9c72f03d03df72908ce393f7e7", "book_id": "49041", "review_id": "fc85ffd72211365a0015aad7c2f684ff", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I liked the second book. I mean. It once again explained things a little bit better... but I don't know... it seemed like the film might have been better in this case because it condensed it yes... but it was an okay condense.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 13:04:50 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 15 14:56:12 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jun 14 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "08920c9c72f03d03df72908ce393f7e7", "book_id": "6339664", "review_id": "7999f5cbf2e4f63775416e1a45e45883", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I got a feeling that I was reading Twilight with fallen angels. Not bad. It had some interesting twists, that made it a fast read and also kept me involved.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 04 22:14:25 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 25 17:39:06 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "08920c9c72f03d03df72908ce393f7e7", "book_id": "7108001", "review_id": "4f337335b0dc8f6f7e9d601b18e85ef9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Fact of the matter with this book (SPOILER) Some one comes up with a copy of Lincoln's lost journal and is told they write the journal entries. He bounces back and forth going through Lincoln's history where he makes arguments as well as shows pictures of Lincoln and life throughout the years. The way in which he does this it makes a possible account that is surprisingly close to history. Thus why I had to double check... what would Lincoln think about this account of his life? I have to wonder lol.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 04 22:05:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 20 08:34:22 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jun 20 08:34:22 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e1db93d364acf3893ce998ebb8d57fc", "book_id": "17984141", "review_id": "e00ef5c00a463d17ed4e87c2a6d8a737", "rating": 5, "review_text": "MARIE LU, YOU HAVE DONE IT AGAIN. \n RUINING MY FEELS, I MEAN. \n ALSO IS IT ME OR DID YOUR WRITING JUST BECAME SEXIER?? \n (Make a better review soon since I have to study for my test tomorrow lol) \n April 16, 2014 : I JUST SAW THE COVER NOW WOWOWOWOWO COOL COOL COOL OCTOBER 7 SURE I CAN WAIT FOR OCTOBER 7 !!1 \n I checked out the pinterest about this book and oh my gosh the setting, the style, and the characters are just perfect. \n I'm getting the feeling that Adelina will be my next favorite female heroine. This is one series you really do not want to miss.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 17 00:31:06 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 18 07:12:18 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Oct 16 03:37:31 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Oct 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e1db93d364acf3893ce998ebb8d57fc", "book_id": "18705209", "review_id": "569b0f4ffe7c7a8161b87eb2fd10636f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "HAHAHA LOOKING AT MY PREVIOUS PREDICTIONS, I WAS RIGHT ABOUT TWO THINGS: \n A NICO POV AND SOME PIPER ACTION \n SPOILERS AHEAD \n Really wanted to give this 5 stars. But there were things holding me back: \n -unresolved questions (\"What happens to Apollo? The Hunters and Amazons and how did they escape from Orion?? How about freaking Leo? FREAKING FREAKING LEO!!!\") \n -abrupt ending (wait...that's it? everything's all fine and all and bam! another cliffhanger. Great, jusst great.) \n -no Gaea action - i know the whole five books was the Gaea action ITSELF but if we think really deep about it, we don't know much about Gaea. I know they had to kill her fast and all, but still. At least the gods were fighting side by side with their children! I almost cried. \n BUT SOME THINGS REALLY CAUGHT ME!! LIKE \n -the awesome battle scenes!!!! \n -nico's happy ending with will solace <333 \n -SOLANGELO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! \n -jason and his glasses \n -leo's references \n -percy's nosebleed \n - the hilarious scenes that made me gag \n - awesomely written, awesomely crafted, awesomely painted \n I'm sad it's over. I've been following this series since grade 3, and i'm in grade 9 right now. \n THANK YOU UNCLE RICK FOR THE BEST MYTHOLOGICAL EXPERIENCE !!!! EVER \n May 15, 2014 \n OH MY GOD THE COVER \n THERES JASON! \n AND THERES FRANK! \n AND HAZEL! \n I really like the cover! *O* \n Don't read if you didn't read The House of Hades!!! I'm too tired to mark this post as a spoiler!!1 BUT THERE ARE SOME WITH THE SPOILER THING THING. \n Okay regarding about my baby, Nico di Angelo, this is what I think: Nico was trapped inside a Lotus hotel guys. Then sent to a boarding school (it was a boarding school right) and he was a geeky kid back then obsessed with his cards. Percy was the first \"hero\" (probably) he had seen in action. An inspiration, admiratioN!!! HE TRUSTED PERCY. LIKE REALLY TRUSTED HIM! HE'S NOT EVEN THE GEEKY KID HE WAS BEFORE, HE'S MORE MATURE AND HE GOT HOTTER HAHAAH ANYWAYS that's not my point. If you love Nico for who he is then you should respect him for his \"feelings\" (as he quoted) Oh my god I just respect Nico so much more now! \n To summarize it: I am a dedicated fangirl to Nico di Angelo. \n Comments about the last book because man it took me 4 days to finish this book thanks to school -_______- \n 1. Leo will have a freaking girlfriend, okay, Rick Riordan?! He will fall in love even deeply with Calypso AND THEY'LL BE HAPPY TOGETHER OK. \n 2. I hope Piper will have like a major development in the last book though I'm not a fan of her she's still one of the seven and she wasn't given more screen time. \n 3. Hmm.. a prediction about something war related will probably be the resurrection of Bob/another comrade. \n 4. I don't know how they're planning to destroy Gaia/Gaea. In the end our main characters always win. \n 5. The \"storm or fire\" thing... I really don't think it's Leo and Jason :P", "date_added": "Fri Oct 11 04:51:12 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 13 05:38:27 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Oct 13 05:38:27 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Oct 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 28, "n_comments": 18}
{"user_id": "8e1db93d364acf3893ce998ebb8d57fc", "book_id": "17347389", "review_id": "c2a723c06115f050e9cfd5874158b7fb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I remember discovering this book a year ago and felt dubious about it because I didn't really like Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver . Unexpectedly, I actually liked The Raven Boys . I was captivated by the story of each one of the boys and Blue and my vocabulary expanded as well. \n This year, in The Dream Thieves , I learned new words as well (Thank God I read this in the kindle because I have a dictionary to define the words I didn't really understand.) just like last year. But other than that, I got to take a closer look on my most favorite Raven boy, Ronan Lynch!! \n (Now that I think about it, Gansey is the only one who does not have the \"supernatural power\" as I would like to call it. Maybe something will happen in the next book?) \n Gansey was the main lead of The Raven Boys if I'm not mistaken. In The Dream Thieves , it was Ronan and I got to learn lots about his family. Ronan is a Greywaren, just like his late father. He can procure things out from his dreams. But! - He's not the only Greywaren in town. Enter Joseph Kavinsky (Is he gay? I'm so confused) who can do the same tricks and schemes as Ronan. He \"teaches\" Ronan how to control his dreams, but eventually, Ronan ditches him because well we all know that Ronan and Gansey are inseparable. \n Adam also has a little bit of tree conversing going on. In the last book, he sacrificed himself to Cabeswater so apparently he's like the \"eyes\" and \"hands\" (If I remember correctly??) of the whole place, which I think is pretty neat. In my opinion, Adam is the one who suffers deeply. He was abused by his father, lives his life working on 3 jobs, and he was rejected by Blue (ouch). I'm not going to blame Blue, though. \n Speaking of Blue, nothing really much happened in her point of view in the story. (Maybe something will in the next book??) Looking back, I really wished something did. The only interesting parts was when she kissed Noah (Don't worry, he's dead) and was almost kissed by Gansey. Will Blue finally realize that Gansey may be the one who might die in her kiss? \n But hey, Kavinsky is not the only new character in The Dream Thieves ! Enter The Gray Man, a hit man who is certainly gray - from his hair to his clothes. His job throughout the whole book was to find the Greywaren. Only, he didn't know the Greywaren is a who . Along the way, he falls in love with Blue's mother, Maura! \n The only thing that is keeping me hanging is the disappearance of Maura at the end of the book. What the heck is this: Glendower is underground. So am I. \n All in all I really enjoyed The Dream Thieves . Another success has been made :)", "date_added": "Thu Jan 24 04:35:08 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 03 06:58:13 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Nov 03 06:58:13 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e1db93d364acf3893ce998ebb8d57fc", "book_id": "10025305", "review_id": "2b1fd6facde2573ceac5eb98276dd7b1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "And then all of a sudden im for team will. \n 4.5/5 bc. I wanted more fight scenes :O jem djjqjjujnfhe but will is so s weet omg", "date_added": "Thu Jan 24 03:28:57 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 01 20:39:19 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e1db93d364acf3893ce998ebb8d57fc", "book_id": "6131164", "review_id": "b80b79214ff3d3d391b1f0fb328519c7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm currently reading Clockwork Angel and I'm liking it it is very different from the Mortal Instruments and Clockwork Princess is almost coming so I better finish the first two books (probably might borrow the second book from my friend I am also borrowing the first book from another friend)", "date_added": "Thu Jan 24 03:28:53 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 03 18:40:02 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jun 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Mar 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e1db93d364acf3893ce998ebb8d57fc", "book_id": "7171637", "review_id": "c97e36637b42ddf346a012640f1cc09f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It's a must read. If you're the type of person who wasn't compelled to finish the Mortal Instruments, this book will bring justice.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 24 03:22:12 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 29 04:12:27 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 29 04:12:27 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e1db93d364acf3893ce998ebb8d57fc", "book_id": "17061", "review_id": "d06e4e83730ab1c1eed46b26eb2cf5cb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "First Neil Gaiman read", "date_added": "Mon Oct 29 03:33:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 03 18:43:13 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e1db93d364acf3893ce998ebb8d57fc", "book_id": "12127810", "review_id": "58ed16fc5189ddb7c3acd685a0946507", "rating": 4, "review_text": "October 11, 2013: I finally finished this wonderful book!!! \n HAPPY! :) : \n -Probably some people are tired of it, but I enjoy the \"fillers\" or the adventures they go through that distract their quest. I guess they aren't really fillers but sometimes there were some that weren't really needed hahahaha \n -Just like the other people, Nico's revelation was a huge thing for me. Because I love Nico and his everything, I kept on fangirling a few hours ago in school because... I was too excited!! \n -Winner of Character Development goes to.......Frank! He fought hundreds of cows by himself, got a major makeover, and ordered dead soldiers around! Impressed by Frank in this book, go, go, go Frank! \n -The adventures of Percy and Annabeth were the major highlight of this book for me. I enjoyed their POVs and Bob and Small Bob. \n SAD! :( \n -I don't like Piper tbh but she wasn't given the amount of screentime just like everyone else isn't that kind of unfair? \n -Rick Riordan, are you running out of ideas? Just like when Khione made that pun about Jason? I didn't feel the excitement in this book, the humor, the comedy, and that just makes me sad! \n -Idk if its just me but everyone has a personality except for Jason and Piper. Also I feel like Percy is so far away ... probably because I was used to his POVs in the past books. :( \n \"We're staying together,\" he promised. \"You're not getting away from me. Never again.\" \n Only then did she understand what would happen. A one-way trip. A very had fall. \n \"As long as we're together,\" she said.\" \n She heard Nico and Hazel still screaming for help. She saw the sunlight far, far above-maybe the last sunlight she would ever see. \n Then Percy let go of his tiny ledge, and together, holding hands, he and Annabeth fell into the endless darkness. \n My fangirl heart ... in shatters. \n DEAR RICK RIORDAN, PLEASE GIVE ME A NICO DI ANGELO POV. PLEASE. OMG ALL THE FEELS.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 25 02:09:05 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 30 06:52:06 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Oct 11 05:16:04 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 47, "n_comments": 10}
{"user_id": "8e1db93d364acf3893ce998ebb8d57fc", "book_id": "12127750", "review_id": "279adeffb20fb8546dd3287b6b1a4bf7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Introducing The Mark of Athena: Unforgettable Moments! \n Percy blinked. \"So your brother is a winged horse. But you're also my half brother, which means all flying horses in the world are my ... You know what? Let's forget it.\" \n \"STYLE?\" The giant's face flushed. \"I have mountains of style. I define style. I-I-\" \n \"My brother oozes style,\" Otis suggested. \n \"Thank you!\" Ephialtes cried.\" \n Bacchus stepped forward, and the giants stumbled back. \"Have you two gotten shorter?\" asked the god. \n \"Hold up.\" Leo stepped forward, wagging his Wii controller. \"Did you just call my ship a monstrosity? I know you didn't do that.\" \n When he woke, daylight was coming through the glass floor, and a boy's voice said, \"Oh ... you are in so much trouble.\" \n \"I am so hot,\"Narcissus said sympathetically. \n \"Well done, Frank Zhang,\" Leo said dryly, doing his impression of Chiron the centaur. \"That is exactly how people beat Chinese handcuffs. They turn into iguanas.\" \n Leo beamed at his friends. \"That, good people, is how we do things in the Leo World! Come on in!\" \n \"I hate Leo World,\" Frank muttered. \n Hazel laughed. \n Her Most Annoying Majesty, Queen of Olympus, had convinced the other gods that their two sets of children - Roman and Greek - had to combine forces to save the world from the evil goddess, Gaea. \n Then he gasped and pointed to the spot where Frank was hiding. \"Oh, no! Frank is turning into a crazy dolphin!\" \n Nothing happened. \n \"I said,\" Percy repeated, \"Frank is turning into a crazy dolphin!\" \n \"Incredible,\" Jason said. \"These are really good brownies.\" \n \"That's your only comment?\" Piper demanded. \n The eidolons started pounding on the gates again. \n \"Who is it?\" Leo called. \n \"Valdez!\" Wolf Head bellowed. \n \"Valdez who?\" Leo asked. \n Percy smiled at her - that sarcastic, troublemaker smile that had annoyed her for years but eventually had become endearing. His sea-green eyes were as gorgeous as she remembered. His dark hair was swept to one side, like he'd just come from a walk on the beach. He looked even better than he had six months ago - tanner and taller, leaner and more muscular. \n Frank waved his left dorsal fin. 'Sup? \n Percy yelled, \"What's going -Gah! Shrimpzilla!\" \n They were alone expect for Coach Hedge, who was back on the quarterdeck singing the Pokemon theme song. The coach had changed the words to: Gotta Kill 'Em All, and Leo really didn't want to know why. \n \"Behold!\" Percy shouted. \"The god's chosen beverage. Tremble before the horror of Diet Coke!\" \n Leo couldn't help smiling. \"That could be fun.\" \n \"Fun,\" she said unhappily. \n \"Blue elephants.\" \n \"Blue elephants.\" \n \"Kiss me, you fool.\" \n \"You fool.\" \n \"Hey!\" \n \"A son of Ares stood here!\" Hedge cried indignantly. \n \"I'm Roman ... so Mars, actually.\" \n \"Whatever! Famous spot in the American Civil War!\" \n \"I'm Canadian, actually.\" \n Piper twisted the feather in her hair. \"Like water leaking through a dam,\" she suggested. \n \"Yeah.\" Percy smiled. \"We've got a dam hole.\" \n \"What?\" Piper asked. \n \"Nothing,' he said. \"Inside joke.\" \n \"You dropped this,\" he said, totally poker-faced. \n Annabeth threw her arms around him. \"I love you!\" \n \"This is Buford,\" Leo announced. \n \"You name your furniture?\" Frank asked. \n Hazel was looking at him strangely, the way she had during the feast in the forum-like she was searching for something in his face. He was tempted to ask if they had met before, but he was sure they hadn't. He would remember a pretty girl paying such close attention to him. That didn't happen a lot. \n He squinted at it. \"What is-?\" \n \"Chinese handcuffs,\" Percy said. \n Frank, who was Chinese Canadian, looked offended. \"How is this Chinese?\" \n Hazel and Piper had stopped the shaking fits. They were sitting on the deck, staring at Percy, but when he glared at them pointedly, they started hamming it up again, trembling and flopping around like a fish. \n \"I'm the Super-sized McShizzle, man!\" Leo said. \"I'm Leo Valdez, bad boy supreme. And ladies love a bad boy.\"", "date_added": "Sun Oct 21 03:35:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 31 03:37:49 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8e1db93d364acf3893ce998ebb8d57fc", "book_id": "12411635", "review_id": "b8f183a4c2f25541faddebedb4426199", "rating": 2, "review_text": "\"He's hot.\" \n Oh my gosh, hahahahaha. \n 2 stars cause \"it was ok' \n This book was a fast read and it wasn't really that interesting.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 07 01:34:28 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 06 00:29:14 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e1db93d364acf3893ce998ebb8d57fc", "book_id": "13449693", "review_id": "72bb2d915e9f153b29cd69d9ec82a1dd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "After three weeks I have finally finished The Raven Boys, the first Maggie book I actually finished and I'm dancing with joy right now because this book is absolutely amazing. \n The Raven Boys is about Blue, daughter of a psychic though Blue doesn't have these psychic powers, and 4 boys who go to Aglionby who are branded as raven boys because that's the school's logo. Ever since she was little, Blue has been told that she will kill her true with with a kiss. And every April 24th, St. Mark's Eve, souls of people walk in the corpse road and these people will die within the year. Blue is shocked to actually see a soul of a person, and this person is Gansey, who is interested in the corpse road (or ley lines) and is searching for Glendower. \n I like the fact that there was only a pinch of romance, I also like the fact that there was brotherly love (kidding) and parent problems. I like the fact that I want more of the raven boys (all three four of them. They seem hot and perfect and rich but all of them have their flaws (even Ronan) \n Ladies and gentlemen, this book will totally impress you. It impress me. During the three weeks I have learned new vocabulary and how awesome magic is. I'm pretty sure there is a second book, right? This book also makes me wonder who Blue will end up with (despite her curse) and how the book will end. \n Also, this book has film rights so it's not surprising if this book is successful in the movie world. Ahhh, now excuse me, I'm going to dream about my dream cast.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 07 02:45:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 24 18:58:03 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Oct 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e1db93d364acf3893ce998ebb8d57fc", "book_id": "12716010", "review_id": "45ed6e691c115ceede9847eb3f580066", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I FINISHED IT!!!!!!1 :) \n THAT WAS A HAPPY ENDING", "date_added": "Mon Jun 04 22:53:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 01 01:16:19 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jul 01 01:16:19 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e1db93d364acf3893ce998ebb8d57fc", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "a21c10e6ce8c8af00093d49645dcaa34", "rating": 2, "review_text": "So I'm getting this review from my wordpress. This review was created on March 13, 2012: \n Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar was published last year and written by Ransom Riggs. I just finished it minutes ago and I want to review about what I thought about the book. \n First of all, the story is about Jacob Portman who grew up listening to his grandfather's stories, but then several years later as he grew up her began to not believe his \"fairy tales\" and treated him like everybody else. Though one day, his grandfather gets attacked by \"monsters\" and he tells Jacob to go to a woman named Miss Peregrine. He discovers the secrets his grandfather never told him before he died, and that the fairy tales are real -- and they are alive. \n The story was a mixed of the ordinary life and the strange life. For me, it was a bit dragging. The author just didn't go straight to the point. Jacob's character was not expressed well. I love all of the characters of this book, their talents and the fact that they are really peculiar. The book is rather dark and fun at the same time. The book only has 11 chapters and because of that I was getting bored. All in all, the book was splendid written, and peculiar. I suggest everyone to read this book \n OK, 11 months later, I can say that this book was not my cup of tea. The only interesting features about this book are the pictures, probably because there are a lot of YA books without pictures. As I said 11 months ago, it was \"dragging\" and I was \"getting bored.\"", "date_added": "Mon Jun 04 22:52:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 07 02:52:15 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e1db93d364acf3893ce998ebb8d57fc", "book_id": "8490112", "review_id": "afff84736c70674148af2e34cdcac21b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "April 17, 2014 : Wow that suspense \n update : April 12, 2014: After 2 years, I'm going to try this book again, now that the trilogy just ended a few days ago. I hope I'll like it more and maybe I'll also get into it. (Probably because I was 12 years old when I was trying to read this...too young.) \n this book wasn't my type of genre, i suppose ... i got bored, but it did seem interesting and i hope i'll try to read it again.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 04 22:52:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 17 04:57:23 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Apr 17 04:57:23 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Apr 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e1db93d364acf3893ce998ebb8d57fc", "book_id": "5633958", "review_id": "b9725dd35dcc0fb6f65926a824c3e7c9", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I like the quotes in each chapter and the lessons(?) in each chapter.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 04 22:26:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 31 03:54:34 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "7171637", "review_id": "47e542b17d8ac560a85dc47616347739", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Second read, I dropped one star. I remember how boring and slow the book was, but it really picks up at the ending; if you can wait that long. 3.5 stars", "date_added": "Mon Jun 04 22:39:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun May 25 00:38:29 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "3", "review_id": "5f8db523518efe9027d32fa4f3d56a62", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I remember trying 3 times to read this but I always gave up on page 3 or so. So I skipped to book 2 and then read the whole series then came back to this book. It's hard to review this book without taking in the series a as a whole.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 04 22:39:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 30 00:05:04 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Aug 22 15:27:54 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "d543b61945f295c89857dd8d51829520", "rating": 0, "review_text": "(This, and the whole series) Needs a re-read. This was my shit in middle school but all the hate has distorted my views of this book series (phenomena, really) and I need a refresh to form my own opinion. \n Thus, I've abstained from rating any books in this series until I reread them again. Back when I first read them, they all would have been 5 stars. After I thought it was \"cool\" to hate on this, they'd be 2 stars. The new rating will reflect my current opinion.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 04 22:39:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 19 21:22:30 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "13618440", "review_id": "195bd3ea29889a117a3bb3afee4294fc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The lore in this series is incredible. I absolutely adore it. I felt like this book started dragging in the middle and it was completely unnecessary for the book to be 600 pages. There are still some loose ends but I enjoyed reading this so.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 08 19:51:35 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 25 19:04:38 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Apr 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "24751478", "review_id": "b589615500c13c8c1a5b27939f6fac88", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I enjoyed this book. It wasn't perfect or innovating, and it was kind of predictable. Still, it was a nice read and I enjoyed the story. I also like how the romance was kind of already established, so it wasn't insanely cheesy or cliche or something.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 30 21:58:48 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 26 17:19:07 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Aug 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "12507214", "review_id": "cee4186468684e1b28c6c5bbfc36d2b3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5stars. Not as good as the first one until the middle end of the book but still good none the less. The ending is just as vague and infuriating though (although that could be me just being dramatic).", "date_added": "Tue Feb 10 16:23:37 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 14 11:37:13 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Feb 14 11:37:13 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "24120519", "review_id": "375f87d60c25c8f53392c1dd145c433f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars. Took me forever to read this because of college. I don't know if that affected me or not but once I started reading again after a month things seemed kind of dragged. It picked up again for a bit. Some of the decisions that Jacob and Emma made were so annoying and I felt like the ending \"battle\" was a bit of a cheap exit.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 31 21:36:31 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 28 02:10:27 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Nov 28 02:10:27 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "d3377d73bbff07ff53c3714a7fd7abc1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I LOVE this book. Originally, I thought this was a horror novel, as the title, synopsis, and cover would suggest. It turned out to be so much more. At one point when Jacob discovers the loop, I honestly thought of Narnia and was a bit deflated and disappointed and didn't know if this book was worth it. Luckily for me, I kept reading and became enthralled, mesmerized, and enchanted. It was this beautiful story and I need the second book NOW. You know a book is good when you're half way through reading it and you're so scared that the book is going to break your heart (in the best way possible).", "date_added": "Thu Jan 29 21:42:25 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 14:06:09 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Feb 01 11:59:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jan 29 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "ba4f915628a593b1d0a7d7005f8e2d65", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A bunch of science and math jargon that I didn't comprehend but I enjoyed this book. It was slow at first then picked up. The humor is sarcastic and dry, so it's great and funny. My favorite parts were all then povs other than Mark's (what can I say? His are the most boring).", "date_added": "Sat Dec 27 13:51:15 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 31 14:48:49 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Oct 31 14:48:49 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Oct 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "23349901", "review_id": "4c96db7c68d5abd54431c9d6864cbe3d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great read if you want an abridged and slightly inaccurate yet humorous telling of the stories of some Greek heroes. I was pleasantly surprised to see as many female stories as there were. Uncle Rick Riordan also includes themes of consent and feminism so good job and kudos to him. The humor wasn't overbearing like I thought it'd be either, so yay. \n I really enjoyed Otrera, Atalanta, Cyrene, and Orpheus's stories the most. Also, I still hate Jason. Medea's real story makes her a lot more sympathetic than as was portrayed here, but then again I suppose it was Jason's story.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 19 12:28:45 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 10 15:23:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Apr 10 15:23:55 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Mar 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "19162613", "review_id": "2bbad82c7858f284af327fd86c81419f", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I wasn't going to buy this at all, or even read it for that matter, but then I saw a signed copy and Target and I couldn't help myself. I bought it on the spot. Now I just need to find time to read it.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 23 16:04:09 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 19 12:27:55 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "22428828", "review_id": "fbc8bbddb3c402d9097a13c7cd18973a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "*Edited 11/25/16* \n Welp, after reading it a second time, I lower my rating from 3.5 stars to just 3 stars. The beginning was kind of boring and the writing style was just not doing it for. The end got better though, I'm still a sucker for Sizzy. Also, I can now say that this whole thing is definitely just a joke and is in no way meant to be taken seriously. \n *Original Review* \n 3.5 stars...I don't know, I enjoyed this story but the dialogue gave me the feeling that this whole thing was just a joke, not meant to be taken seriously.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 07 22:53:47 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 25 02:54:05 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "12812550", "review_id": "3a39f3017229dfdada0d9de4310d42a0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Jeeze, this book was one heck of a ride. 4 stars because there were parts that just seemed to drag along.", "date_added": "Sun May 25 19:14:00 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 07 19:40:54 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Apr 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "780905", "review_id": "18d43c54c169617e1e0d6a3ab1245fb6", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Stopped reading this at page 91. I don't know if it's just the mood I'm in or what, but I could not get into this at all. Disappointing.", "date_added": "Wed May 21 14:30:18 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 05 19:47:34 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "22057201", "review_id": "b1eb3b5e4f21abcd55f39507f2e0e8d2", "rating": 0, "review_text": "It's been 3 years since the first book, 2 since the second, and still no sign of life for the third book in 2016. *cries*", "date_added": "Mon May 19 15:35:58 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 20 23:40:27 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "438353", "review_id": "21ea5301733d815b79b60348be4356d8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Surprisingly, a lot of the dialogue from the movie were direct quotes from the book. Truly one of the most true adaptations of a book I've seen in a movie. It was enjoyable, but I feel like watching the movie first made me enjoy the book less, since I already knew what was going to happen.", "date_added": "Fri May 09 19:26:40 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 09 13:28:25 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "13528362", "review_id": "a81c1d603f526cdf141167dfce364f87", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Finally finished this book after APs. Review to come...maybe. More accurately, \"rant\" to come. \n Apparently I read this book out of order...oops. Also, I don't remember anything I wanted to say in my review/rant. So double oops.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 23 18:18:59 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 19 17:45:37 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "18666047", "review_id": "7e12864e7c22bd2ad0d140ad6d981b71", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Fast read. \n I like (but am also a bit unbalanced by) the way Mr. Abercrombie tells his story without a 100% happy ending. Because those endings, while almost always the case for most media, probably aren't that realistic and common as we're made to believe. \n 3 stars isn't bad, in fact, I feel like this book was better than some other books I've rated 3 stars. But for me, there just isn't that umph to push the rating to 4 stars or even 3.5. I enjoyed the book, but that's about it.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 20 10:22:32 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 20 02:51:09 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Aug 12 01:08:57 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "13616278", "review_id": "46979e5ecb829fd1ae41ae5c9229bb05", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Digging the cover. Might check this book out.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 20 10:07:48 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 21 00:08:56 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "15839984", "review_id": "ecd3cdddb8401adb156fb41318df0e8f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The synopsis and the cover make this seem like a plain, old, cliche, YA retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Not true and very misleading. It was so much more. There were moments were I was like \"WHAT?!\"", "date_added": "Sun Mar 30 22:02:00 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 14:02:32 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "22521580", "review_id": "447b9a626db97a9b705f64a4c2e95aa8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "First off, I received this book from a goodreads giveaway maybe 1 or 2 years ago? So thanks to the publishers! (Extra thanks because it was the super cool black version) \n On to my review. \n Wow. I was pleasantly surprised by this book -- I couldn't put it down. In fact, I finished this book in a day! \n This is a YA book but it was so incredibly dark at times that I wondered if it was actually an adult book. That darkness definitely worked for this book and pushed the book into \"amazing\" territory. The writing was great too, the shorter sentences really worked to fit the tone and the mood. There are some pretty graphic scenes that made me a bit queasy and uncomfortable so that tells you how great the writing is. \n I do feel like the worldbuilding could use more work and padding because the white and black witch thing could use more work and expansion, but I also understand that the way the book is written is designed for us to go through Nathan's journey with him, only knowing what he knows, and he's pretty ignorant. Still, I think it would just bring the book up another notch. \n I was excited to read this book because I only heard good things about it and I'm happy to say the reviews and the hype were right! This was an incredibly strong debut novel and I can't wait to read the second book!", "date_added": "Sat Mar 08 16:54:30 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 06 17:33:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "12396528", "review_id": "1549117caf327c2217501508f70f860c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I just finished the book and I'm still reeling from it. The book was going along great until the ending. It was such a sucker punch. I don't see how anybody could have seen it coming, because it's one of those plot twists that feel like a cheap shot. I have two conflicting emotions right now: on one hand, I want to burn this stupid book and on the other I want the third book NOW. Ugh, but there were so many things about the ending that bugged me. Okay, how old is Miss Wren? HOW COULD SHE HAVE BEEN SO FUCKING STUPID? Seriously?! She trusted that asshat to call off his men! ARE YOU KIDDING ME. How unrealistic, honestly. And why the fuck did Brownwyn (I forgot how to spell her name) hold back Jacob and Emma and let Caul kill Althea(?)?! Seriously. .", "date_added": "Fri Jan 17 17:06:45 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 12 23:57:52 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "16793", "review_id": "48a4b98d3287263c17c5042fc28b06b5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars. I liked this book! It started off kind of slow for my taste but nonetheless, it was still enjoyable. There wasn't really any action but I did like the writing style. Things were too convenient for my taste but wow, there were SO MANY cute moments in this book. Like, I had to stop and just appreciate all the feels that I got from how cute it was. *sigh*/*swoon*. Also, some parts where I was just like, \"OH MY GOSH! I see how he set that up! GENIUS!\" \n Just watched the movie and I'm not sure which one I liked better. I'm leaning towards the book but the ending of the movie was so dang cute!", "date_added": "Thu Jan 16 18:13:21 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 19 00:58:32 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jan 16 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "18248613", "review_id": "a9767c947c8a3540fec64ef618db21fa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Umm wow. I haven't enjoyed a short story this much since The Audition...Okay, this definitely attracted my attention.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 12 19:09:26 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 12 19:41:17 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "13638125", "review_id": "7ae295f7cf6a4dd6941911616c455a16", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars, the first half of the book set up the story and it kind of dragged but the second part of the book is where the story shines, especially when other characters besides Victor and Eli are introduced. Seriously, the supporting cast was what saved this book. I love Sydney, Mitch, and Serena. I don't really think \"superhero\" is a good word to use when describing this book in any way but I see how it plays into Eli's character. I do like how neither Victor nor Eli can be categorically placed into \"good\" vs \"bad\" or \"hero\" vs \"villan\" (which is definitely one of the themes the author was trying to get across with this book) yet the reader still somehow comes to pick a side and root for that character as if he were the hero (which I guess, in terms of this story, he is). The concept of ExtraOrdinary people and their powers is really interesting, I especially like the idea that whatever the person focuses on the most right before they die correlates to the \"power\" that they develop when they're brought back. . I like the ending although I really want to see what happens next.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 12 19:08:14 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 12 15:32:31 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Aug 12 15:32:31 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "337130", "review_id": "a7eab5b1c1aef41eb97be58717af424f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I rate this somewhere between 4 stars and 4.5 stars (I really want to say it's a 4.5 but I just can't...). So, after reading this book, it's safe to say that I love Neil Gaiman's writing style. The humor is pretty dry and subtle, which is one of my favorite types of humor. \n Anyways, this book started off really strongly but I think it kind of lost some of its steam after the introduction, specifically when Door comes back for Richard and he officially joins their party to avenge her family . So, like, when the journey actually begins. The writing and humor was consistent throughout the whole book though, so that's good. I really liked the characters, and the premise of London Above and London Below is just so interesting. I also really liked the ending, I was scared for a moment that Gaiman would make it completely unsatisfying and have Richard be stuck in London Above, but alas, the Marquis came in clutch (as usual) and we once again get a happy ending :) . I would definitely be interesting in exploring this world some more, whether that be in another book or other media. \n This is only my second Gaiman book, but I like it better than the first that I read from him (Stardust) and I'm very interesting in reading more. Perhaps I'll read his newest one next, or maybe American Gods, since that seems to be the most popular.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 12 13:38:18 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat May 28 02:35:33 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat May 28 02:35:33 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "17061", "review_id": "f682d0d77c9bd9dde4fcd6bff5aff0b9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.5 stars. \n The movie would definitely give me nightmares.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 12 13:38:11 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 12 13:51:20 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Aug 12 13:51:20 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "15783514", "review_id": "ceab93bc566692011e72ca2f596e1bbc", "rating": 1, "review_text": "This book wasn't as bad as other books I've rated 1 star, but unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book at all. The problem? It was so damn BORING. Holy shit. \n I've read 2 previous books by this author and I more or less liked them, but this was just crap. What was the point of the story? Maybe it was so boring because of the child narrator, but I don't think that was the problem. This book just seemed pointless, it didn't really have a story worth telling - or reading for that matter.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 05 17:06:05 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 12 00:38:15 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Aug 24 16:06:38 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "17453187", "review_id": "f89e29fa2453517dee6f0b68abb7889d", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I love a good mythology book.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 21 20:51:45 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 21 20:52:25 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "9415946", "review_id": "fbc55cfc093bbb33af81f7aa1f2e0164", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 (because Goodreads has yet to add half stars...seriously...)I loved this book. It was a great fantasy book and the romance is so cute, subtle, and intimate, yet at the same time tasteful; it made me feel like I was intruding. The only flaw that initially comes to mind and stands to me though, is the pacing. Just the journey took up most of the book and the final confrontation was kind of short. Also, I think she could have added more depth to the characters besides Taisin and Kaede. Anyhow I am falling in love with Ms. Lo's writing. I became a fan of her when I read her story in Foretold and I'm excited to read more books by her.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 12 22:50:00 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 14:10:25 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "18333581", "review_id": "328925a00e7f322b1d3852e16af730ec", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Short and sweet. Reminded me of how much I loved the novellas. Here's to hoping to see Yrene again maybe in the Throne of Glass series?", "date_added": "Sat Aug 31 23:39:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 14:01:48 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "13605727", "review_id": "4e5111d874f01cfd2906429331156bc9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "props to whoever designed these covers 'cause honestly, I'm in love...with the covers that is. Also maybe this series :). Usually I get sick of that cliche \"love triumphs over all\" kind of romance but I think I'm o.k. when it comes to this series.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 30 16:46:53 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 14:03:01 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "9897164", "review_id": "84f80752ddd70dbdda047c6e1a3a7d5b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "*Post-Reading* \n I would just like to say that I called it. I CALLED IT. I knew Ares was the big bad god trying to control Seth Also I thought it was annoying how the author wrote like 10 sex scenes in this book. Like, I get it, enough already! \n Good Lord, so Aidan hates himself for putting Alex on the elixir and punishes himself by avoiding her? So....like Dimitri when he hates himself for the things he did to Rose as a Strigoi? SMH...", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 14:12:52 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 22 19:08:15 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "10860399", "review_id": "e8c49bc3fbd3358f1817408b7ff49cd7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "First, does a guy really break up with a girl over that? Really?.....Anyways all throughout reading this I couldn't stop thinking about the reviews I've read about this being like Vampire Academy. Already I see the similarities (especially the elements thing) but it was still a nice read.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 26 22:15:56 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 26 22:17:41 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "9761778", "review_id": "39c49e9a992762c7c1207a9010b77de8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "HAH! I knew it! I predicted that Seth would turn on Alex and become power hungry etc. AND that Leon was Apollo! Either I'm too good or the author needs to cool it with the hints. Anyways I LOVED this book! Damn it if people say it's like Vampire Academy! They're both great series and I cannot wait to read books #4 and #5!", "date_added": "Wed Aug 07 23:13:39 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 14:05:38 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Aug 30 16:41:51 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "9761771", "review_id": "90db4223ff0e63b7ff623390e44379cb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Liked this better than the first book. This is speculation since I haven't read the 3rd book yet, if the author makes it so Seth was actually just using her I will be angry because I HATE when authors do that. I hate when they take a seemingly sweet, genuine guy and turns him into a douche so the reader will root for the other guy. UGH.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 07 23:13:32 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 14:05:53 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Aug 29 14:12:13 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "18052875", "review_id": "2a42b141d4f19ac85cf37c852429c081", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked it. Just like the first book there was a plot twist that I didn't see coming. Yet again though, I felt like this book didn't really have any substance in it until near the end. Also, the author never fully explained Addie's time slowing ability. Like, um. Okay. I guess it's there because it just is (and also to advance the plot) . So yeah. There's that.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 04 01:19:00 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 14 21:34:42 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jun 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "16156357", "review_id": "76e525de44238ef4af6892f4c08936cc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked this book but I was disappointed at how short it was compared for the first book. There was some more world building in here that I really enjoyed but I wish there was more. I felt like this book was lacking in substance compared to the first book too. I mean, if GotG had too much crammed in there, then this book definitely had too little. I liked Justin and Mae's development but I was kind of put off by Mae's rape . The ending however, literally made me go, \"What?!\" out loud. And it really explains the aforementioned spoiler better. Mae's much more likable (at least to me) in this book. I thought Tessa's scenes were tedious and boring compared to Justin and Mae's povs, however. Interesting to see where the plot goes in the third book, hopefully there will be more world building!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 13 01:26:08 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 11 20:18:23 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "8527908", "review_id": "39bef9b0356eda5456cf086529cb4317", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Hmm 3 stars. This book started off pretty good. Sadly, it had to go down that certain path surprise! the guy is an extremely irresistible hundred of years old vampire who is anti-social (for the greater good of course)and is immediately, mysteriously drawn to the main character, who then turns into a stuttering, constantly horny and blushing fool whenever she is around him. *sigh* And even if he's dangerous and warns her away she is still attracted to him and blah blah blah love, complication, breakup and make up repeat. Ugh. I hate how the MC becomes an idiot when a guy is involved. And I seriously can't get over the fact Ms. Cook had to make him a vampire. I mean, A VAMPIRE. This is like Twilight all over again. . I mean, you might be into this stuff but I was annoyed. I literally put the book down after the first \"plot twist\" and I was about to go and return it to the library right then and there without finishing it. Alas, in the end I finished it and it was alright, nothing remarkable or original, really. Not sure if I should bother to check out the rest of the series...", "date_added": "Mon Jun 10 15:30:05 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 06 20:47:31 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jul 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "18006496", "review_id": "06b95fbee5ed09f218da79721c0bb293", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So much happened in this book.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 09 22:49:03 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 14:02:10 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Sep 25 15:21:43 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Sep 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "33590260", "review_id": "82714ebdfdc7b978d1e7f4ed1c8029f9", "rating": 0, "review_text": "UGH. 2018 release date?? WHY. SO CHAOL CAN GET HIS OWN BOOK? \n I'm obviously the only one here, but I give zero fucks about Chaol. He's such an asshole.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 09 22:49:02 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 05 01:23:03 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "1128434", "review_id": "6fb71e081033bf6b61dd0d9606c6736d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Okay, I have to admit, I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. I didn't know what to expect of this author's writing style and stupidly made the mistake of thinking because he's polish the book wasn't going to be that good. It was a juvenile and incredibly condescending mistake that I'll be sure not to make again - about any author. The writing was really good and I enjoyed all the short stories in this book. I look forward to the series but it's too bad that the Sword Of Destiny, a.k.a. another book of short stories, isn't translated into english. Ah, well, on to Blood of Elves! Also I really like how the author had the backstory of Ciri. And the story of how he and Yennefer met. (I'm a bit concerned that while reading the books I'll REALLY like Yennefer and Geralt together then I'll play the game and be pissed off at Triss...) \n *pre-reading* \n Currently playing the video games and with Witcher 3 coming out it looks like the fans that actually read the book are in for an extra treat. Hoping to finish this whole series before the third game.", "date_added": "Sat May 18 11:43:19 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 21 17:16:04 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "222656", "review_id": "7522313fe8fd26308ec47d38b641cd9a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 stars. The first half of the book was a solid 5 stars but after the slaying of Mauer and the introduction of magic and Luthe things got kind of convoluted. I loved this book but it wasn't perfect. The action scenes/boss battles (if you will) were way too short and easy. And when Aerin and Luthe proclaimed their love for each other I almost put the book down. It was just so unnecessary and I don't understand why it was put in this book. Maybe it was a reference to something that is mentioned in \"The Blue Sword\" but it just seemed tacked on for unknown reasons; and the pacing was off too. Sometimes the writing was a bit confusing but I enjoyed it, you just don't see this style of writing nowadays.", "date_added": "Sat May 18 11:38:20 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 05 15:29:23 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Feb 14 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "20613470", "review_id": "b02861ed77d0e404540f84ab5ea52bb1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Okay so, shit didn't go down until the very end of the book. I did enjoy reading the book but I have to admit that not much happened. Honestly, the witch, Manon's, point of view felt boring and pointless to me. Seriously, I didn't care about her and no doubt she'll have a bigger role in the story but oh my god it was annoying to read about her pov and have practically nothing happen. Chaol still annoys me and my poor baby Dorian :(. I felt like this book dragged a bit but I think it's quite nice to actually read about training happening instead of just reading a sentence referring to a character's training and then the character being a BAMF right away. Hopefully Queen of Shadows moves the plot along more than this book did (which shouldn't be hard since this book just felt like a set-up/filler).", "date_added": "Sat May 18 11:34:28 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 17 23:49:03 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "17874773", "review_id": "448ee2c118673b7b5bc3cc027e6b4c80", "rating": 0, "review_text": "OMG! ANOTHER ONE? WTF? I mean I love this world as much as the next but she hasn't even written The Dark Artifices yet or that TLH(whatever that stands for) and probably other books that I don't even want to bother looking up!", "date_added": "Sun May 05 20:48:53 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu May 16 05:11:49 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "8621462", "review_id": "61829c1c7fbd651a2b697859cfdf00ae", "rating": 3, "review_text": "So I kind of already knew where the book was going, pretty much since the beginning, so it was kind of predictable. Although, I didn't exactly predict Conor's \"truth.\" I enjoyed the little fairy-tale stories and how they get across the theme of not everything's black and white; the stories were such a creative way of telling it. \n I don't know, I didn't really feel anything special until probably the ending. I know a bunch of people are raving in their reviews about this book about how maybe they got chills or something. The book just seemed a bit underwhelming to me until the ending, the ending is what gave me a glimpse of that feeling of awe (?) that everyone else seemed to feel the entire book. \n I would recommend this book to someone. I feel like this one of those books where I would appreciate it even more if I re-read it. \n Also, the illustrations in this book kicked ass. A+ quality.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 25 22:17:19 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 15 14:35:48 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "16096824", "review_id": "b564ce4a984fa417434a44e1a1483ccc", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I want to read this book, especially since I heard the second book is even better, but I just saw that Sarah J. Maas is turning this into a 6-book series instead of a trilogy and the last book is slated for release in 2020... I'm gonna wait a bit because I'm sure it'll be torture to wait.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 18 17:50:54 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 13 19:28:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "11147422", "review_id": "a5c16c712771c090b338bea44e524e08", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I get that this book contains fantasy elements but there were just some parts that felt plain unrealistic, to the point of absurdity. The writing wasn't too bad, minus some parts but whatever. The pacing was bad and the plot was thin. There were so many unanswered questions. I almost gave up on the book near the middle.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 14 19:05:30 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 29 01:56:21 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jun 29 01:56:21 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "17675758", "review_id": "4d9862261c9faf7312a50b0c55b1589a", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I think they should come out with a Paperback edition, cause honestly, I would buy this book just so I could display it on my bookshelf. I mean, the cover is AMAZING. So yeah, while I may buy the book(if they come out with a physical copy with the same cover) just for the cover, the story also sounds interesting. It caught my attention when it said that there is Greek mythology mixed in. \n *EDIT* YES! Paperback versions were made! Time to buy the book and display it on my shelf now...", "date_added": "Thu Feb 14 18:59:41 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 19 23:12:02 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "11988046", "review_id": "dbfe725fcf55fd44d958545fb3fa9ff0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 - 4.5 stars...um wow. This book went from light-hearted to heavy/actionactionactionaction and the main character's life went from pretty awesome to complete SHIT in like 2 short chapters....The book was kind of slow at first and it didn't really go anywhere but near the middle-end (emphasis on end) it JUMPS into action NONSTOP for the rest of the book... \n This is a series? Well damn, guess the feels are just gonna be rolling along \n eh I hate how the author made Duke from a nice guy to a complete dick wad and Trevor into mr. perfect. I knew that would happen since before even reading the book, from when I just read the synopsis. I've read wayyy too many books where the author turns one of the guys into a dick head so it gives the main character an excuse to fall in love with the \"right guy\"", "date_added": "Thu Feb 14 16:49:45 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 21 19:52:18 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jul 04 02:21:49 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "1527322", "review_id": "9f731764ba7b22480e0969fe6f0e276c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm surprised, but, I LOVED this! I mean, I've only read two other plays written by Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet & Othello, both for school) and they were o.k. I didn't really like them. But wow. This play. 5 stars out of 5. The language was gorgeous and flowing, it read like poetry! I actually liked the characters AND while reading it, all I could think about was that Suite Life of Zack and Cody episode based solely on this play. Absolutely brilliant. Also, I loved that this play wasn't a tragedy . I don't think I could have handled it if it was. Lysander was so dreamy, and there was about to be a LEGIT cat fight in this play! It also doesn't hurt that the version of this book that I own has translations on the left pages. It allowed me to actually understand this play.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 12 19:47:05 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 14:14:25 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "10025007", "review_id": "3606e0f648c925d2a65e6da4466730a8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Since the first book fell flat, I was expecting the same from the sequel. In the beginning, it was just that. By the middle though, I was thoroughly enraptured by the book. It was VERY predictable and I predicted the \"villains\" since practically the beginning, still, that fact did not diminish my enjoyment of the book.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 09 13:05:13 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 22 17:27:26 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "3389671", "review_id": "7f40b7a77583c662da4fbe9232d5217c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book started off great. Then, it went down the drain and I just wanted someone to stake all the characters because they were so DAMN annoying. This review sums it up best: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...", "date_added": "Mon Jan 21 22:27:47 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 09 13:04:35 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Feb 09 13:04:35 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Feb 06 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "9680718", "review_id": "69bd7daddb567cb8143647da97bd63a4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Really liked this book and while I see the similarities to Vampire Academy I feel like VA had more charm. Still, this book was kind of predictable but I really liked it.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 21 22:20:05 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 31 12:24:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "13477883", "review_id": "6de76da6f5a1e31c89b9a81a9993a723", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Um. Can I have the second book now? Pretty please? :) \n Seriously, this was the first book in MONTHS that I have read in less than a day. It was just that compelling and interesting. Can't wait for the next book!", "date_added": "Thu Jan 17 21:25:33 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 14:03:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "10626594", "review_id": "7bd20fdd47016e42fc1f2da5392692f5", "rating": 1, "review_text": "*Sigh* Boy, was I disappointed from this book...I was expecting this book to be amazing because it has a pretty high rating (honestly, I should have learned my lesson from TFiOS) and that some reviewers that I follow have praised and lauded Ms. Stiefvater's other books. So, I obviously expected this book to be amazing. I was wrong. It was boring, lackluster, and plain. First off, the pacing. Literally nothing, NOTHING, happens in this book. Oh you can argue with that point but whatever. I first realized that nothing happened at around page 100 when Puck had FINALLY decided to register in the race on her regular horse. It's ridiculous that it took that long. Why? Because it's unnecessary and BECAUSE IT'S EXPLAINED IN THE SYNOPSIS. Ugh. Such a bad move. Then I read 300 more pages and I got near the end when finally, FINALLY, the race actually started. \n ...Are you kidding me? The WHOLE book is superficial and composed of NOTHING. Seriously!! I get it, the men discriminate against you, Puck, because you're a girl. I understood that concept the first time it happened. No need to shove it in my face every chapter. You and Sean have this crazy love for horses that no one else apparently understands. Gotcha. Oh yeah, and it's a BIG deal because you're the first/only girl to decide to do this. Yeah, I GOT THE MEMO. The idea that a girl takes the first initiative to end something that has long time been a male dominated activity used to be original but now it's become cliche, expected even! The author literally could have written this book in like 100 pages or less. Seriously. (Also, the reason that Puck joined the races is incredibly stupid and shallow. Seriously? It's not believable enough for me.) \n The author writes this book in alternating point of views. Puck and Sean. A.k.a. the female protagonist who is defying gender roles blah blah blah (not that that's not important but the way it was written was quite honestly, lame) and the male love interest (oh please, that's not even a spoiler. Seriously, did anyone NOT expect them to get together?) because you've got to add a little romance in here *sarcasm*. My main complaint with this style choice is that the tone of the povs ARE EXACTLY THE SAME. Sean and Puck sound exactly.the.same. I shit you not, I'm not even exaggerating or anything. I swear. Honest. I mean, if you're going to write multiple povs you HAVE to write them so they're different from one another (I think Rick Riordan is a GREAT example of this. His characters in the HoO series [while not all likable, at least to me] definitely all have unique voices. It's practically impossible to get them mixed up). Seriously, it's only two characters! You seriously couldn't create two different personalities? I mean, there's this one page where Sean remarks on how handsome this American guy is (another thing, the author created this world and decided to incorporate it somehow with reality. It's weird and awkward, at least for me). Do guys even do that?! \n I did enjoy the ending but it definitely DOES NOT make up for reading a whole book worth of nothing. The ending, while pleasing, isn't even surprising either. It's expected. Not good. \n This book unfortunately lacks originality. It falls into that young-adult-book category (I can't think of the word right now). Y'know, when all young adult books seem to follow this pattern? Boy-meets-girl or vice versa and they bond and they get together at the end and everything works out happily ever after after stumbling over a few conflicts here or there. I can't articulate myself right now but...yeah.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 15 17:55:06 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 23 19:42:03 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "6831917", "review_id": "b01baec47b3101adc4e6543c23517d38", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars. This book had a really interesting premise, unfortunately the excitement and mystery quickly died down. It did pick up at the end again though.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 04 21:48:02 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 24 20:41:23 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jun 24 01:29:16 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "1", "review_id": "6b75b2116cd8145e0c18eb5387d726f0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of the best books in the series I think.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 03 12:15:33 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 14:00:28 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "2", "review_id": "964644b01cbace92da2036f930f481d8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 stars", "date_added": "Thu Jan 03 12:15:32 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 03 16:38:06 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Sep 03 16:38:06 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "6382055", "review_id": "777e018ee83d4e010bb9df05f9f58c5f", "rating": 0, "review_text": "2020..DAFUQ? I'll have graduated college by then and probably have a career...Actually, my main concern is that he might die before he finishes the series...", "date_added": "Mon Dec 24 13:21:11 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 24 13:40:49 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "13422727", "review_id": "820e3594a743a193de5810e2a792336b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 stars. The first 4/5 of the book, I loved. For some reason, the last 1/5 didn't seem as exciting, it might have been due to the fact that I was rushing to finish this book in a week (which I did). Anyways, what I loved so much about this book was that there was so much political intrigue and definitely some game-changing reveals Aegon Targaryen is alive? Holy shit! If it comes down to him or Daenerys taking the throne I want Dany, all the way. . Also, Daenerys was a BAMF (as usual), Jon Snow was actually interesting for once, Tyrion was witty as always, apparently Arya can see again , the povs from non-main characters were actually well done and less boring, and there was no Sam and barely any Bran, so yay for that. I wished we caught up with Sansa. \n Again, though, I have doubts that George RR Martin can wrap up this series in 2 more books without it feeling rushed, cheap, or filled with a shit ton of plot holes. A large part is due to the snail's pace of the story. Seriously, after the first book it's been 4 books of gradual, slooooooowww buildup of the plot and we've still yet to reach the climax. Anyways, hope the 6th book comes out within a year or 2. Until then, I can finally start binge-watching the show now that I've caught up with the books.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 24 13:21:05 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat May 07 12:31:57 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat May 07 12:31:57 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "374855", "review_id": "02f690ae527b471267e9267a0e79c7c8", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2.5 stars. \n There's a lot of sex and rape in this book, way more than in Game of Thrones from what I remember. The book started off pretty slow, the whole thing just felt like 1000 pages of set-up/filler with a very small foray into the introduction of magic, barely building upon what was introduced in GOT. The slow pacing of the book and the fact that it seemed like there were a lot of words but not a lot happening makes me want to just start watching the show, books be damned. Honestly, the only reason I'm going to continue reading the series is the sole reason that it's GOT; if it were any other series I would just stop here. \n Also I felt like Tyrion had more than half of the povs in the book, definitely way more than any other character. Tyrion's a cool and interesting character but I was getting a little tired of reading through his povs because he just had so many.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 24 13:20:59 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 24 17:22:29 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 03 14:11:45 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "385001", "review_id": "d6d7d6185adb01195e1625cd71f34b5e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was better than A Clash of Kings but not as good as the first one or A Storm of Swords. What was wrong with this book? First off, Danerys wasn't in it, AT ALL. How disappointing. What was good about this book? Bran wasn't in it and Jon was barely in it (no offense, but these guys are kinda boring). This book was definitely a shift from the Starks being the main protagonists to there kind of being no definite main protagonist and instead having all the major characters share that role. \n The book definitely just added more story. I feel like the overarching story isn't going anywhere at this point, everything is moving at a snail's pace. Instead of maybe wrapping up some plot lines all Martin did was add more. I honestly have trouble believing there's an end in sight for this series at this point.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 24 13:20:29 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 25 16:21:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Mar 25 16:21:43 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "62291", "review_id": "d89582dbd879974dde33fe3638ce9c90", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh man, this book was SO much better than the second one. SO many plot twists and a LOT of characters died. I'm back into that GOT hype, and I can't wait to read A Feast For Crows. One thing I love about this series is how multi-dimensional all the characters are. Cersei's a bitch but we understand why she does what she does and to some extent, I respect her. Daenerys was the bad ass bitch I love, Tyrion is awesome as always, Jaime was more complicated than he originally appeared, Arya was awesome as always, Jon was cool as always, Catelyn was the bad ass mom she always is, Brann has exceedingly become boringer, and Sansa, well. With Sansa I'm either annoyed at her or I feel sorry for her. It was both in this book. I'm looking forward to where the story goes after this.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 24 13:20:25 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 14:17:25 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "15861491", "review_id": "91ecb059d582b50752d7f8f44004a918", "rating": 3, "review_text": "7/19/17 \n I guess I read this but I never rated it? Oh well, until I reread it I'll just give it 3 stars. \n Original \n release date is the 27th but I bought it today? What....?", "date_added": "Sun Dec 23 13:50:18 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 19 22:28:13 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "7930335", "review_id": "fc0a4a5c632bd3bc1a350216fbd80153", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It was o.k. Maybe it's just me but I was annoyed at how Ethan had to mention his undying, unyielding, eternal love for Lena practically EVERY.OTHER.PAGE. Like, OKAY, WE GET IT ETHAN. YOU LOVE LENA. WE KNOW. WE'VE READ THREE WHOLE BOOKS ABOUT YOUR GUYS' LOVE PRIOR.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 08 22:52:15 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 06 13:43:31 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jan 06 13:43:31 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "10757833", "review_id": "df6684bb192c3973d7ed6bcf5065e523", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.5 stars...", "date_added": "Sat Dec 08 22:51:39 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 28 00:59:00 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Dec 28 00:59:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Dec 24 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "11568316", "review_id": "6ce9834162ac3d72d04dd3aa7f563698", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Not worth anywhere near $2. I say it should've been free. Anyways, I adore Ridley and Link and I may ship them more than Ethan and Lena now...", "date_added": "Sat Dec 08 01:03:22 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 08 14:35:56 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Dec 08 14:35:56 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sat Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "17167166", "review_id": "eb7060f1bb1296e8bafc418a725110ab", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Whew, what a ride. I really enjoyed this book much more than the first. It's very reminiscent of the novellas (which I absolutely LOVED) so that's a plus. Honestly, Chaol annoyed the shit out of me, especially at the end. I seriously can't tell if Chaol is more loyal to Celaena or to the King. . I know Dorian and Celaena won't happen but I still like Dorian more than Chaol. This book was just plot twist after plot twist after plot twist and I loved every second of it.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 05 20:44:16 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 14:02:25 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "7842288", "review_id": "cf986b09606e3f109064ea50a093dbc1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm pretty sure anyone who has/will ever read this book will want to take it and slap some sense into Lena with it. Multiple times. \n The book was kind of slow-paced for me but Ridley/Link(totes adorbs) and some Liv moments almost made up for it.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 04 20:08:56 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 08 22:51:30 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Dec 08 00:52:50 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Tue Dec 04 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "16148435", "review_id": "9abd33a8086d5b8742e341c138d0e0a0", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Now it has a cover too! And you can pre-order it! \n http://isaacmarion.com/?utm_campaign=... \n It has a title! Hazzah!", "date_added": "Wed Nov 14 22:12:02 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 20 21:07:29 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "12127810", "review_id": "ad3b2224fc54ed6d0c49b595b98243e8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh my gosh. Ugh my heart. Rick Riordan you did it again.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 07 15:28:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 14:02:46 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jul 07 14:53:28 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 9, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "12893742", "review_id": "925d4cf1a5ccce9f54ea69c69c3052ca", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 since it dragged on a bit in the middle. Not my favorite book in the series, but still, Rick Riordan managed to take me, yet again, on another wonderful, magical journey. Yes, pun intended.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 09 22:23:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 01:00:03 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jul 31 01:00:03 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "13533758", "review_id": "f4abaf0ab05b2e90a289dccbd461595c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This might be the second anthology that I've read, after Zombies V.S. Unicorns. And I LOVED it. Seriously, I genuinely enjoyed all the stories (My least favorite was the one by Margaret Stohl; was that legit French?. While some stories were better than others, they're all pretty good. Seriously though, I know for sure which authors I need to check out. Plus, this book reminded me of how much I love fantasy!", "date_added": "Thu Aug 23 18:46:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 14:03:23 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "7818881", "review_id": "8ebb4866c3e5ad42e98ae71d05d3864f", "rating": 1, "review_text": "The book could've been a lot better. I felt as though the author could have gone somewhere with this book but instead she choose the stereotypical, cliche route. Honestly, incredibly disappointing and it ruined the whole series for me... My above complaint also explains why I am not happy with who Vlad ended up with. Like, really? REALLY? I admit, I was rooting for Meredith/Vladmir. I read this book years ago so I can't really remember the other girl's name (Snow?) but it was beyond cliche and unoriginal. I felt as though Meredith wasn't just this (stereotypical) popular, judgmental girly girl at least, until this book. That's because Ms. Brewer changed her into someone we would detest so we would like Snow. IT DIDN'T WORK. (not for me at least) God, it was beyond annoying to read about Snow. Talk about the stereotypical, loner, gothic/emo-ish guy meets vice versa girl. Rant almost over. I guess that's my biggest issue with this book, the fact that she didn't take any risks and played it (too) safe and stereotypical. also the villain. Really? You're gonna make it his dad? It did not work AT ALL. It didn't fit the story and it was completely unnecessary and stupid. Stupid, stupid move. Just my 2 cents...", "date_added": "Sat Aug 11 22:30:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 28 15:33:13 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "15881", "review_id": "53ba8fbace39b8f523e4cfc27c19a852", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was much better than the first one.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 11 01:26:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 14:13:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "12971616", "review_id": "b254e8476f8791f29531ffdd3491d30f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I guess I didn't track this on goodreads when I first read this so I'll just rate it 3 stars, but I have to reread it.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 04 00:51:27 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 19 22:24:56 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "11946245", "review_id": "1d82fddf5f71842c892bb66a5aeefaa2", "rating": 1, "review_text": "MY FEELINGS... \n the ending was terrible, stupid and did not make sense whatsoever. Like, AT ALL. Basically Maximum Ride was a good series the first 3 or 4 books then it all started going downhill from there. Now, about the romance All you Fax shippers will be happy that they ended up together. Now me, I'm incredibly angry. Fang did nothing to fix his mistakes or make it up to Max and she just accepts him with open arms! And then Dylan (*exasperated sigh*) is a cute, innocent puppy who gives Max his love and then she kicks him in the dirt. REPEATEDLY.)! Seriously, I'm sure that's where the misconception that 'Nice Guys Finish Last' gets the idea from...Basically, if you're looking for closure and an epic ending to a series then this is definitely NOT the book for you. If you want a half-assed shit ending, and terrible romance(depending on who you were rooting for, I suppose) then well, this book sounds like it fits that mold.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 12 19:29:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon May 30 16:58:32 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "12127750", "review_id": "ee8b047d6c60f49b86d438e4cb8dd36c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "HOLY CRAP. MY FEELINGS.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 12 19:28:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 14:05:12 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Oct 07 15:02:07 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Oct 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "8755785", "review_id": "0ae50691e97774f3f138df677592aa8c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Okay. First off, what I didn't like: \n -the fact that this book felt way too much like a set up for The Dark Artifices \n -not enough sizzy scenes \n -way too many povs in the book. Half of them were just plain unnecessary and just muddled the story and dragged it on \n -that the book is around 700 pages and there are times where it really feels like its lagging \n -the fact that it feels like I'm missing out on so many references if I'm not caught up in all the shadowhunter facts and family tree and stuff \n -how Cassandra Clare handled sizzy \n -how when Mrs. Clare killed off some characters Jordan, Raphael, Maureen etc. it felt really anti-climatic and nonchalant. It didn't really have a huge impact or have any effect at all, really \n -the book was really angsty, which is fine, if there were enough balance and plot to actually balance it out (it wasn't) \n -the ending made me furious for a variety of reasons \n -the fact that when I finished this book I felt worst than before I even started reading it \n What I liked: \n -Jace isn't an annoying, arrogant asshole (well, at least not as much as he is in the other books) \n -Clary isn't as much of a stupid, selfish bitch compared to CoLS \n -It's TMI (nostalgia really has an effect) \n My thoughts: \n I feel like Helen and Aline were in the book for a reason. Like, there were a lot of scenes where they were mentioned, even if it was for a second or two. This makes me excited because they seem like a really interesting couple and I hope they play a role in TDA. Also, does anyone even really care about Maia or Jordan?", "date_added": "Thu Jul 12 19:28:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 08 00:52:01 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "8709524", "review_id": "3a9e8a1ced1c429392680c37579fdf58", "rating": 5, "review_text": "There were a lot of things in this book that I didn't expect. The direction it took, the mature content and themes ( The emphasis on the psychological and physical torture that was happening ), that one thing Adrian and Sydney get married! HOLY CRAP! (I literally yelled, \"WHAT?\" out loud when I read this part. I totally did NOT see it coming), I did, however, predict the ending even before reading the book. I predicted this from reading the synopsis for The Ruby Circle, so it's all good. The best book in the bloodlines series so far in my opinion. \n This book isn't perfect, there were a lot of loose ends and questions that I hope aren't just left hanging and are answered in the last book, but it was pretty damn good.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 12 19:27:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 14:04:13 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Aug 20 15:52:51 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "8709528", "review_id": "1eeb932bbe1605fc93d71010fae2fcf2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Kind of sad this is the last book in the VA universe but alas, all good things must come to an end. I really enjoyed this ride. Also, what is it with authors always bringing back a villain that's supposed to have died or be done with? I mean, it happened in the TMI and a bunch of other works. Just curious.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 12 19:27:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 14:03:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Mar 22 16:16:11 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Mar 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "9833184", "review_id": "71d9794e9a35e40ca7b7951241075231", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh my. I can't even. Ugh. I knew I should have waited until the next book came out before I read this one. I can't even process anything. Sydney, girl, I'm here for you. Probably my favorite book from this series so far...Also, the cameos = amazing. I seriously feel like re-reading the Vampire Academy series again...maybe I will around the time the movie comes out. \n It has a cover! At first, I thought it was just so...awkward. It still kind of is but it's grown on me. Sydney looks kind of flushed and disheveled which shows just how much she's grown!", "date_added": "Thu Jul 12 19:27:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 14:04:52 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "8709526", "review_id": "e582201298c888dede4db2e1cf153608", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Dat ending doe. Starting from Sydney's revelation to the very end, it was amazing. Faith in this series has been restored after a very disappointed The Golden Lily book. Cannot wait for The Fiery Heart! Also, I kind of missed seeing Jill in this book. I know she had her moments but not nearly enough imo. And having that little snippet with Rose makes me so nostalgic!", "date_added": "Thu Jul 12 19:27:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 14:10:04 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Mar 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "13565676", "review_id": "1883d82d65b6d160353c8061f72ef474", "rating": 3, "review_text": "God this novella is depressing...I have to say, I totally saw this coming (although maybe not the gruesome parts)", "date_added": "Thu Jul 05 00:14:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 11 20:54:20 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "3992598", "review_id": "000a15c998bf335c27f5435259ff2ec9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The book that got me into PJ. This was my first Percy Jackson book that I read. I remember being at the library and wanting to find a book to read and seeing this book and remembering reading about how Percy Jackson was being made into a movie or something and deciding to read this book because of that. One of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. It introduced me to my favorite book series. Literally the next day, I was at a bookstore and I had my dad spend $100 on the box set without even knowing what the books were about (other than they were Percy Jackson) and having no idea whatsoever if I would even like it.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 02 23:06:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 23 16:24:18 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "9378297", "review_id": "a61480e82cb568cf8d2007f8da3f0d21", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked it. I especially liked the beginning, the sarcastic, humorous tone of the book, and the action. It got kind of slow in the beginning/middle and the romance was sweet but kind of sickly because, you know, it was basically necrophilia . What I didn't like was how the beginning high school stuff was cliche, the assumption that all a guy has to do is ignore a girl to get her to fall for you, and the idea of a stereotypical white, blonde prom queen (although I actually liked the character). Also I don't know how to feel about the ending. But, there's a sequel so.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 02 23:06:01 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 29 21:02:27 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 29 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "7896527", "review_id": "b4a66d3d3bf08f4a7a1911474339086e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Was disappointed in this book. Like many others have already said, the way Maas describes Celeana it seems like she's ass kicking, kinda-cold heartedish BAMF. But the Celeana we read isn't that, sure she has her moments but for the most part it's HUGE telling-not-showing. For the full experience I HIGHLY suggest reading the novellas first! You won't regret it :D (seriously I enjoyed the novellas more than this book). still, looking forward to the next one. Also let it be known that I read this book around right when it came out and I PREDICT CHAOL WILL END UP WITH CELAENA IN THE END. That's right, I can already tell Chaol will end up with her, and I will feel shamelessly vindicated when this happens in the end. But I'm Team Dorian anyways :p", "date_added": "Mon Jul 02 22:39:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 11 20:29:32 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "257971", "review_id": "7428e93b5b44c4a6aa9a6346976c99f5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Holy shit. Oh, my gosh. That ending. It was so EPIC. The story was epic and the characters were fleshed out and well-written. There was never a boring part and I think I really need to start watching the show (at least season 1) so I can actually see the epic battles and sword fights taking place. The hype for this book is well placed. So many plot twists. A lot of political intrigue that I wasn't expecting but very much enjoyed. Looking forward to the next books.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 30 10:55:31 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 09 03:05:40 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jul 05 14:58:54 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "3236307", "review_id": "8be7d6fa7fb8d968b5dd0e41ebb67b3f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved loved loved loved loved loved LOVED this book. Katsa was such a BAMF and Po was extremely likable and Bitterblue was already a BAMF-in-training. Also, the antagonist was really well done. I sincerely despise him and reading the prologue of Fire intensifies this. Well done Ms. Cashore! \n It is about time I read this. It's been on my to-read list far too long (think 3+ years!) No more putting it off. It's time.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 25 20:47:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 14:15:26 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Feb 01 13:16:58 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "6131164", "review_id": "440c980d86f7f80d99ae415db31acb5f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Team Jem...or I will burn the book and throw it against the wall. \n *During reading* \n Found 2 typos, on page 275 and on page 279. Mrs. Clare seems to have mixed up Gabriel and Gideon :p \n *Post Reading* Welp, the cover is beautiful and that in itself is enough to give the book at least 3 stars... \n ...OH MY GOD. MY FEELS! This book is certainly the best of both worlds, I mean, come on, she ends up with BOTH Will AND Jem? And it was adorable with both of them? Though, a nagging part of me feels like slut-shaming her I understand that her love for them is equal. I feel like she wrote it as a cheap shot to keep both sides happy. Anyways, let's talk about other relationships. Gabriel and Cecily anyone? OMG They are ADORABLE. Favorite couple besides Jem and Tessa. Also, I actually didn't mind Will in this book. I KNEW she was going to end up with Will (she technically did, and it says on the family tree too) but I didn't expect her to also end up with Jem...it's too good to be true. Seriously, this was too much for my feels to handle.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 25 13:02:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 21 16:32:43 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "8490112", "review_id": "48c8723c4d2c6ecd68d849c67a4da38a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "OH MY GOSH. I just finished the book and am still reeling from it. 3.5-4ish stars. I loved the lore in this book. The reason this book isn't rated higher is because it took forever to get interesting. I literally could not get into it until around page 300 where Madrigal and the wishbone situation was finally introduced. . Seriously, I didn't care about Karou at all and it was only slightly interesting when she and Akiva finally met. But man, oh man. When the story becomes about Madrigal ... Wow. I definitely would have liked this book more if there were less Karou and more Madrigal . More M and less Karou would have been amazing. This book was like it rollercoaster: it takes FOREVER to get to the climax, but when it does...it doesn't stop or slow down and you want MORE. The romance is definitely the best aspect of this book. Which is disappointing b/c the author tries to bring other sub-plots to support the main romance one but they're extremely weak.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 25 13:00:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun May 25 14:07:04 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun May 25 14:07:04 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri May 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "5907", "review_id": "34477681d8e57bd49c7a6c91dc1b2682", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Couldn't finish it. I was 5/6 of the way done with the book and I just had to put it down because it was so boring. Nothing exciting happened and I felt like the book was dragging.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 25 12:06:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 30 13:20:33 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "1226", "review_id": "01e5431d78e85f6d7c984fbc2c14e232", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow...Read it.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 24 20:15:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 10 20:46:18 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jun 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "7171748", "review_id": "8a5e84f4f8d25b145342682acee980eb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Let me just say that before I read this book I liked to think of myself and neutral and leaning toward Team Unicorn...Now, post-reading of this book, it is safe to say that I am Team Zombie. The zombie stories were brilliant and excellent, the unicorn stories (with the exception of 2-3 stories) were just plain horrible and stupid.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 23:32:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 29 14:57:55 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Sep 29 14:57:55 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "8755776", "review_id": "5d5c70dae050a1d6bf257a0e6b2742a6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I would probably rate this book 3 stars. Okay, so let's start this review; first off, I loved how the author was able to have several different sub-plots going on at once with all the different characters and not have it all end up in confusion. She pulled it off, which is probably a hard thing to do, but she did it. That's not to say that I didn't have any issues with this book, because there were a lot. First off, it was pretty inconsistent now that I think about it. It's just the little things, like for example Simon and Isabelle's relationship. Honestly, I thought they were already dating by the time this book started but no, they were still in the confusion zone of almost boyfriend and girlfriend, but not quite there yet. Really? Like, even at the end of the book, after all the intimate moments they shared, they're STILL not dating? And neither of them is apparently bright enough to figure out that they both love each other? Did the stuff that happened in the previous books not matter either? That's not to say that their relationship was probably the saving grace of this book for me... . \n Also, the author uses the same adjectives/phrases for probably every character. Honestly, how many times do you need to tell us Jace is golden, or Sebastian has Valentine's hair and it suits him better than when he dyed it black? \n And Clary and Jace. Just,...really? REALLY? They were beyond annoying for most of this book, although there WERE some moments in which they were tolerable. Clary was SO selfish and their romance just resembles Edward's and Bella's from Twilight so much. \n Jace: I hurt you, I can't be with you anymore now, even though I love \n you and want to be with you! It's all my fault that you got hurt! (Mind you that I had this annoyance since the start of the series, surprisingly Jace wasn't the culprit in this book though!) \n Clary: I don't care if you want to die! I love you too much and i'm so selfish that i'm going to make everything worse! I'm going to ignore what everyone tells me to do because I can't lose you; I love you so much that I can't live without you! (Really Clary? *sarcasm* How did you possibly survive before Jace came into your life? Clary was fine throughout the series but recently she's starting to annoy the crap out of me.) \n I have mixed feelings about how the author wrote about one couple or some group of characters and their adventure and then end the chapter on a cliffhanger. And then the next chapter...SURPRISE! starts right off with a different group of characters...like how she wrote about Simon and Isabelle and then suddenly alternates back to Jace and Clary...Although, at first I was incredibly annoyed, eventually I would warm up and start to get sucked into an adventure only to have the whole process repeat itself. \n But honestly, Isabelle and Simon...DAWWWW THEY'RE SO CUTE! Favorite couple (are they even an official couple?) from the series!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 20:33:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 02 17:26:11 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4672eb229c808b792b8ea95f01f19784", "book_id": "8709523", "review_id": "d2e020ce0493368ce6a39a4dc1cebfe7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was debating on whether or not to give this book 2 or 3 starts. I decided 3 because I just loved Vampire Academy and Richelle Mead but this book certainly is NOWHERE NEAR her best. First, the book was SO predictable. I knew from Bloodlines that Adrian and Sydney would be the book's main couple just like Rose and Dimitri from VA. *facepalm* Sydney is supposedly smart so you know that she would catch on pretty quickly to what was going to happen/what was happening right? Nope. She is like a slug in figuring things out, SLOW. About 1/6 through the book I had already guessed on what was going to happen and I was correct. The book honestly didn't have much going for it, incredibly predictable from close to the beginning all the way to the ending. On the bright side, I just LOVED Adrian's love confession, even though it was borderline cliche, I believe he somewhat pulled it off :).", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 20:32:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 25 11:10:05 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "29449386", "review_id": "1e5e9f561b342dbdb484c8c9e7b4ea32", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Over too soon \n Somehow, despite such a large cast and various plots, it ended too quickly. A worthy addition to the series. Worth the wait.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 19 12:17:20 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 05 21:16:21 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Nov 05 21:14:33 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Oct 25 22:01:15 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "15729539", "review_id": "a14d51ade1446af70923ad2f51267823", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wonderful! Not quite the vampire story I set out for, but it was still a great read. Hill's skill as a writer is only improving. I wasn't a fan of the Heart Shaped Box, thought Horns was pretty darned good, and NOS4A2 was even better. Enjoyed immensely.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 19 10:24:36 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 28 21:43:15 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Nov 29 21:43:15 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Nov 20 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "17332218", "review_id": "c1608f736ac57afd6b95d5298fdaa414", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Enjoyed book two, though it could probably have been a hundred or three pages lighter. If you get to book two, pay attention to the vignettes between parts - they all come back at some point to be relevant again. If you sloughed though book one, you should keep reading book two, Sanderson does a decent job of keeping the story going. My only complaint was I felt like there was a little too much foreshadowing/obvious outcomes. Then again, this is Sanderson, so book three will probably turn all of that over on its head and prove everything we thought we knew was wrong.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 19 05:56:07 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 09 00:40:50 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Nov 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "16368455", "review_id": "4d14e5751a13d8003118cc06a38c128c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "For all the fantasy and short fiction I read, I rarely read fantasy short fiction. The Shattered Shields anthology aptly filled this void in my reading, bringing together both familiar and unfamiliar authors. Like any collection of short fiction, not all of the story worked for me. The ones that did resonate, though, were especially astounding. Even considering myself well read, I was surprised at how many of the authors and worlds on display were new to me. \n I can't give a rundown of every story in the collection, but here are some of my favorites. \n Starlight and Ash - David Farland. I've heard much about Farland over the years, but this was actually my first Farland story. While new to the world, I had no trouble diving in and immersing myself in his world. \n The Fixed Stars - Seanan McGuire. There's something about the Celtic pantheon that has always seemed both exotic and familiar, and this story was no different. \n Keeper of Names - Larry Correia. I've read some of Correia's Monster Hunter books, but this was the first time I've seen him write fantasy. The story was a little predictable, but still a fun read. \n Words of Power - Wendy Wagner. This story could have led the collection in my opinion. I'd certainly read a full length novelization by Ms. Wagner. A mashup World War 1 and golems set in an alternate history, this was a really great story. \n Hoofsore and Weary - Cat Rambo. Come on, Cat Rambo says it all. This story of centaurs on the march was a great story and star in this collection. \n Vengeance - Robin Wayne Bailey. Woof - magic and death gods tickle a spot in this story. For a short story, it packs an amazing punch in a short amount of space. \n There are of course more stories than these, including a Glen Cook Black Company story (Bone Candy). On average, the successes in this anthology were in the majority, making this a worthy read. The stories were consistently on theme, something you don't always see these days, while interpretations of that theme were varied enough to keep the stories fresh most of the time. \n Special thanks to NetGalley and Baen books for the opportunity to read this book.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 03 14:28:41 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 03 15:17:10 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Nov 03 15:17:09 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Nov 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "18458800", "review_id": "8739a6e7cd3d5d27e4a24cb15a65b5bb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The Widow's House suffered from a dragging middle as Abraham's put pieces in place for the concluding volume(s) of the series. Not a bad book, just a bit long in parts.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 24 10:41:11 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 13 13:22:44 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed May 13 13:22:44 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "18490594", "review_id": "8302e5fcd09c910ccfb70f5859271a80", "rating": 5, "review_text": "There must be a magic to California that draws books of this genre. When I first read James Blaylock and then Tim Pratt all those decades ago, their stories tended to take place somewhere in the golden state, a place where a certain kind of magic still reigned. Sitting somewhere in the borderland between magic realism and urban fantasy, their books blended the ordinary with the extraordinary, hidden magic. \n Greg Van Eekhout's \"California Bones\" takes a rightful place in this pantheon. Set in a not so alternate world where magic is real and California has seceded from the United States, this is largely the story of Daniel Blackland, son of a powerful magician and orphaned at the age of 12. Fast forward to an alternate LA - one where the streets are watery canals and the movie wizard DIsney and the water wizard Mulholland are among the powerful - we find Daniel all grown up, a thief with special talents. \n One of Van Eekhout's smartest moves in this book was in not trying to tell us too much. This is a heist story, a crew of thieves sent out to lift some merchandise and a magic sword, and for the most part it stays within the confines of that story. Van Eekhout presents a concise story, one that rarely strays from the heist and the after effects of that heist. What little backstory we get is only in supporting our understanding of our focal character, Daniel. Even when we switch POV characters to Gabriel, grandson of the Heirarch of Southern California, we're still moving towards bringing to conclusion the main story. \n Even if you don't care for heist stories (I'm not the biggest fan), you'll still find yourself drawn into this well written story. Although the central story arc is around the heist, this story is really about power, both taken and earned. From the first moments when we see just how osteomancy works and how the Heirarch acquires his power, to the climatic end, we recognize the heist itself as just a means to an end. \n Many thanks to Tor-Forge for sending me a copy for review - I devoured the book in five days, bones and all.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 22 21:41:35 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 28 19:24:59 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "17046606", "review_id": "30c7d8f0288d0bb6579adae25c8e6f7a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Barnes presents in The Garden of Stones a well developed, fully laid out world. The reader is catapulted into the conflict head first, and although those first few chapters are confusing, chaotic scenes of fighting between factions in a war we don't understand, it all makes sense soon enough. \n At first, the cast of characters seems daunting. Names, species, factions, how will you keep it all straight? While Barnes' world is fully realized, it is a departure from the familiar. New nomenclatures are nothing new to fantasy readers, which is fortunate. But beneath the strange and new, the book really only focuses on three characters and those that orbit them. Indris, the warrior scholar and principal character. Corajidin, his rival in this book and all around mostly bad guy. Mari, daughter of Corajidin, torn between loyalty to her father and burgeoning feelings for Indris and the honor of her career. \n All the while, Barnes paints a promise. There will be action, there will be intrigue, there will be cliff hangers that compel us to read further. I believe Barnes delivers on that promise in this book - the Garden of Stones was well worth the read. \n Thanks to Amazon and Netgalley for the review copy of this book. It was provided in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 22 09:31:49 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun May 18 09:43:04 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Apr 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "18666047", "review_id": "413ac0e4a21648117d71e52e4219661b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "In full disclosure, I didn't even realize this was a YA book when I picked it up. I knew it was Abercrombie, and I knew it was a fresh world, and that was enough for me to begin reading. \"Half A King\" is the story of Yarvin, a prince who wants nothing more than to be a Minister, learn some lore, and stay out of the light of day. Before the novel even gains too much traction, his father and brother are killed, leaving him the title of king. He's unprepared for the role, and being born with less than a full compliment of fingers on one hand, he is quick to be given the titular half a king. \n This being an Abercrombie novel, there should be no surprise that betrayal and a rapid change of fortune is the next step. The phases of this journey will be no surprise to the seasoned reader of fantasy. A boy, cast into the world, must find out who he really is, rising from a somewhat despicable, sniveling child to an adult that knows his own strengths and weaknesses and how to use them to achieve his objective. You come to this story expecting an Abercrombie fantasy, but you stay because despite some of its predictable elements, its told really, really well. The reader will recognize a world that is both familiar and a degree or two off of our own. Like many good fantasies, Abercrombie doesn't try and hide the grit behind feats of magic and enchanted swords. There was magic in the world once, and we occasionally get glimpses of the enchantment that was, but this world is firmly between cold iron and hot blood. \n My only criticism of this novel, and the reason I didn't think it warranted a full five stars, was that I found the conclusion to be a little too trite and pat. It could be that I am too jaded a reader, too far removed from the intended audience to be surprised by the final twist, but I found it to be a little too convenient. \n That said, I would still recommend the book to readers old and young alike, although in fairness some topics may be less appropriate for younger teens - not because the writing is difficult for younger readers, but because some of the content may not be appropriate. \n This review was of the digital ARC provided by Del Rey via Netgalley. Thank you to both parties for the opportunity to read this book in advance - it's been hard holding this review until closer to publication :)", "date_added": "Fri Apr 18 05:02:23 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 22 23:59:40 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Apr 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "0b0ef0faa030da7c68c8ea9107c6ad4a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "If you are reading this book review, then you have me confused with Andy Weir and this text confused with the start of \"The Martian.\" I realize they are similar, as both contain words, but you should really be reading his book, not my review of it. \n Not convinced? What if I were to tell you that Jack London did not in fact die in 1916, but became a time traveling nomad who ended up in 2012 where he watched reruns of MacGyver, caught Moon Race fever followed by the whole Mars One craze, then returned to his roots of writing survival fiction under the guise of Andy Weir two years later? If I were to tell you all of that, you'd say I was crazy, and I say you should read \"The Martian\" and you'd know exactly what I meant. \n From our first few moments with the Ares 3, we know exactly what kind of book this is going to be. This is Robinson Crusoe on Mars. Except with more explosions (but not the Michael Bay kind), and no space monkeys (like the 1964 classic). The book is fast paced, the bulk of it in the first person in the guise of journal entries. I know that might turn you off - I thought it would turn me off. It doesn't. Mark is exactly the kind of smartass you want to read in the first person. The science in the book is as legitimate as Weir could make it, and everything is actually within reach of us today. Weir may take a few liberties, but there are no hidden teleporters or miracle techs, everything is very real and now. \n It was fun, exciting, and I haven't felt this happy about a book in so long, I'm all confused inside and am unable to write a worthy review. But there you have it. I would add that I will be surprised if the Martian doesn't make the list of nominees for a Hugo in 2014. \n This book review is based on an ARC that was sent to me by the publicist prior to publication on behalf of the FantasyBookAddict.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 19 05:26:26 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 05 18:39:10 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "18050226", "review_id": "7d42b4fe4c3101b51f331815fe6d853f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I won't hold back - this is a train wreck of a book. At first pass, these are the stock characters every GM has dealt into an ongoing campaign, the initial quest as straight forward as they come: rob the ancient tomb, plunder some gold, get the magic sword. \n Why read it, then? There's an argument there. You could say its because it's a Michael Bay train wreck, a Wachowski style production. Larger than life explosions, Brandon Frazier as one of the male leads, over the top dungeon crawler. \n And then chapter one starts. \n The Barrow is a well written tale of gritty fantasy. The biggest problem this book faces, I think, is that if you haven't read the comic it's a prequel to, then there's no way to filter the volume of information being dumped on you. What's important? What's filler? I couldn't tell, and that's a problem. In a sea of gritty fantasy epics, this is certainly dark, more adult than most of its competition. Sadly, it didn't work for me, but it wasn't from a lack of style or ability, so your mileage may vary. \n The ARC for this novel was kindly provided to me by Pyr for review.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 25 16:58:09 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 20 08:57:19 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Dec 25 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "17680028", "review_id": "e1fe4fa7b2d141305fc5d078c95be460", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have a confession to make - I'm not the biggest fan of Tom Lloyd's books. It isn't the mythos, or the violence, or even the characters. There is something in the way that Lloyd constructs sentences that hurts my brain. \n I realize that sounds petty and weak, and it is, but it makes reading a full length novel of his difficult. I'm sure listening to a narrated version would be fine - I've learned that lesson with a few other authors lately - but something in the word to brain translation breaks down and I begin to develop a book induced migraine. My internal critic screams at what seem like run-on sentences devoid of punctuation. \n Which is why I'm as surprised as you now are to know I'm going to recommend the God Tattoo so highly. This collection of \"Untold Tales from the Twilight Reign\" follows the same universe as his other Twilight Reign novels, replete with White Eyes and magics and forces both terrible and dark. But somehow, distilled into these short vignettes, each chapter a story in itself, it was actually a really fun and entertaining read. \n Of course, like any story collection, not all stories are created equal, and some are better than others. Fans of Lloyd's will enjoy the collection, and fantasy readers interested in a collection of fun fantasy adventures will find something entertaining here as well. This companion book contains a well rounded collection of mysteries, gothic fairytales, and classic adventure stories - set in the world of the Seven Tribes. \n Enjoy!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 24 07:31:30 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 02 14:56:00 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Nov 02 14:56:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Oct 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "11100431", "review_id": "03848360969b76aabd59da8383b3e44b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm a sap. \n Yes, you have to be dense not to see the threads of conclusion drawing together, to not see the various hints and plot lines draw to a close in this final volume. And yet, there I was, some grain of sand caught in my eye, causing me to get a little teary eyed as I reached the end of the Riyria Revelations. A bit predictable, but satisfactorily brought to a conclusion all the same.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 24 07:30:55 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 25 04:52:53 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Nov 24 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Oct 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "15790816", "review_id": "3ab83d7b7ea63f2784c01feee34935be", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Book three of the Dagger and the Coin - it rises up like Ouroboros writ in words, the ending is the beginning and the beginning is the ending. This third installment brings us back to the world of Marcus and Kit as they go looking for a magical sword to kill a Spider goddess with. Meanwhile, in the sexy world of moneylending, Cithrin continues her struggle and education in service to the Medean Bank. \n Orbiting like a love struck puppy - with a cadre of killer priests and a warring nation at his command - Geder Palliako continues down his self destructive path, the ridiculed, chubby nerd that now wields more power than he knows how to handle or deal with. Meanwhile, working her wily ways to bring all that Geder stands for down, Clara continues her secret campaign with the street urchins and disheveled of Camnipol. \n While the book is not for newcomers - there is simply too much background to explain, about a book and a half to be exact - it is a worthy addition to the series on whole. The pace is fast, the action is tight, and the world, as always, teeters on an unseen precipice ready to dip even further into chaos. As the midway point in the series, I think it's sometimes hard to see the events that happen as the turning points they really are. \n Recommended for epic fantasy readers, but don't start here.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 07 18:07:34 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 22 17:01:16 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Sep 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "15790883", "review_id": "fa96d9334833c53a755b5381aff1bad9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "My first reaction when I finished this book: Imagine Brent Weeks had channeled Brandon Sanderson and you're halfway to knowing what kind of book this is going to be. McClellan has developed a magic system that is very reminiscent of allomancy - powder mages snort or consume gunpowder much like a cocaine addict, endowing them with powers physical and metaphysical. We also see magic in the more traditional sense (hand waving wizardry so to speak), Knacks (people with one off powers, X-menish but without the flair), all resting in a world we can almost recognize as being modeled after late 18th/early 19th century Europe. And like so many books I've stumbled into recently, a B plot centered around religion and gods. \n The initial hook for this book is the calling in of a retired investigator to solve a riddle left by a dead sorcerer at the end of the coup that brought down the King, spiraling out from there to include rogue magi, betrayal among the coup's conspirators, and a civil war. Good stuff, to say the least, and where McClellan might be faulted for a lack of depth, he more than makes up for by keeping the novel at a brisk and relentless pace that hurtles the reader to the conclusion of the first volume far too quickly. A little cliche, but a lot of fun to read, and yet another author/series to add to the queue.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 21 08:08:50 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 01 15:36:33 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "17247983", "review_id": "b51c7004610c683d4b2a3d1c771035e8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Readers of Ovid looking for something with a little more sex and magic would do well to dwell in these pages. Like A Guile of Dragons, Wrath-Bearing Tree is a book whose mood implies it is best savored on a stormy summer afternoon, or from the comfort of a stuffed chair on a cold and bleak autumn night. \n Continuing the early adventures of Morlock Ambrosius, Wrath-Bearing Tree begins by giving us a taste of life in the kingdom of Kaen and how easy it is for one of the many city gods of this continent to be replaced by an usurper. It stands to reason, then, that when Morlock is thrust into the middle of this, his only way out is to kill a god and return home to the Graith. \n But no sooner is he home than he is sent back to Kaen. Something more is going on on that scary continent, and more information is needed about the Two Powers, believed to be behind the fall of many of the city gods of Kaen recently. While readers of A Guile of Dragons will remember the role of the Two Powers in the return of the dragons, this second volume was still approachable as a stand alone novel. Before the novel ends, Morlock and his companion will face warring gods, living machines that grant apotheosis, and a wintry father figure named Merlin driving a sleigh led by eight tiny demons. \n Morlock and his companion's journey reads like a medieval travelogue, cataloging the strange customs and unusual creatures and beliefs found along the way. I enjoyed the book, though it was a bit more graphic (NSFW) than expected. Enge again delivers a well written story set in a mythos that is so familiar to us, painted with the elements that have defined the landscape of fantastical stories for centuries, and yet delivered in a fresh and entertaining story.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 09 19:40:54 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 12 09:59:00 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "14780684", "review_id": "db5315dada86a02fe2daf9059574b06e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Enjoyable, but not quite memorable. Other reviews on Goodreads go into deeper details, but the short of it was that although it wasn't a bad story, it wasn't a world I want to return to find out what happens next. A little disappointed since I really enjoyed the Summoner books by Gail.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 23 14:30:43 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed May 14 19:54:21 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "12759057", "review_id": "992a926174cd9556dd46c3a693939fc4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Where to begin with the second volume of the Dagger and the Coin? This is still the story of a brazen girl turned banker and a bookworm too afraid to know when to stop. It's still the story of a mercenary and an old defunct priest as they head out to deal with a goddess whose priests have spiders for blood. \n But it's also so much more. \n The second volume is no place to start the series, but it is definitely a good place to continue it. Some of the elements are almost reminiscent of Martin's Ice and Fire series - empire in turmoil, dragons, and (SPOILER - can't tell you that bit). The execution, though, is completely different, and where Martin draws a long, deep story out, Abraham punches you in the stomach runs away laughing maniacally. \n It's books like this that make Daniel Abraham such a force to be reckoned with in the fantasy genre. I read this book on an e-reader, and more than once I found myself flailing with my free hand to find a bookmark before I remembered it would do me no good. The King's Blood is an engrossing novel that seems slow to suck you in at first, then races all the way to the finish line.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 01 17:53:05 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 12 10:09:12 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "13542445", "review_id": "0c39df78bd5f505f8418e603a572104f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The fourth Lukien novel John Marco has published, \"The Forever Knight\" is a break from the format and story of the previous books, giving new readers an excellent opportunity to dip into this saga. Cursed with immortality by the spirit living within his sword, Lukien begins this novel restless and aimless. He's a man who lives a life without consequence. When the ancient spirit in your sword can heal you of any wound, mortal or benign, what challenge is there in living? \n Despite the teaser for this book, this book does not dwell on the Inhumans or Lukien's roll as their protector. With the usual grace of a fantasy novel, Lukien is cast out into the world on a quest, sword in hand and companion at his side. While the stated goal of the quest is to find answers to his companion, Cricket's, past, it's obvious what is really the objective - to find a purpose and challenge to satisfy an immortal knight. \n In my mind, two things set this novel apart from many fantasy novels. The first was the decision to present this tale in the first person. For new readers especially, this can be daunting in second world fantasy, where there is no frame of reference for understanding the environment and cultures around the POV. Marco succeeds here by painting with broad strokes, sketching a world and people we can almost see, without lingering on the details that aren't relevant. Not a common choice, but the first person worked well for this story. \n The second factor that set this novel apart from so many other epic fantasy novels these days was breadth. At 282 pages, it's a relatively light contender compared to other tomes available. I would continue to argue that this isn't a bad trend to see in books these days. Presenting readers with a single, well drafted adventure can be so much more satisfying than a collection of adventures sewn together for the sake of bulk. \n In both efforts I think Marco succeeded with \"The Forever Knight.\" An entertaining adventure story that was extremely accessible for a first time reader, and a well written introduction to a new chapter in this character's journey.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 29 16:06:18 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 06 11:32:09 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Apr 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "6690798", "review_id": "c3063d4d4f9d30b8eefbe8f0380f4746", "rating": 0, "review_text": "To be fair, I thought Part One of this book was fantastic. 5 stars, 6 even. It was very reminiscent of King in his early days, a pulpy thriller with government conspiracies and hidden horrors. \n Then the world ended and Part Two began, and I lost all faith in the book. \n Take heed, reader, this book is not for all, for here there be vampires. And then a convenient 100 year or so gap, and a gaggle of new characters we don't have as much vested interest in or really a complete comprehension of the world they live in. This works for some people, I'm just not one of them.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 15 09:17:27 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 28 09:49:45 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "6587879", "review_id": "2874efff432158939b068c6adfab1b76", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I needed something that was fun to read, knew not to take itself too seriously, and was outside my usual reading circles without being just foreign. Horns fit the bill, and I'm glad I read it. While I think Hill played the devilish references a bit much (from the Evil Knieval trail to the number of times he throws 666 out there), the book was still a fun read and well worth the price of admission. To sum up, because we don't waste too many words: Horns is the story of a young man that wakes up one morning, a year after his love was raped and murdered, to discover a pair of horns growing out of his skull. In particularly, I kind of enjoyed the fact that the Devil can be a superhero in the right light.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 21 20:13:07 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 25 13:40:29 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Mar 25 13:40:29 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "1943812", "review_id": "91d6ca1de772969d3c1eb6914b245046", "rating": 3, "review_text": "What could have been a four star book compromises its way up to three stars. First, the good. Tom Lloyd presents us with a world filled with gods and men, and all the fantastical tropes that walk in between. Lloyd tugs at all of the familiar strings - prophetically proclaimed saviors, curses, even vampires, and of course, the question of whether our protagonist will turn out to be the hero or the doom foretold. While a simple enough story, it is often the simple ones that speak truest to us. There is an appeal to these modern fairy tale, and Lloyd makes sure to pepper his story with just enough of these elements to intrigue us and keep us flipping pages. \n So why the struggle up to three stars? This book failed for me on purely technical merits. It had all of the ingredients of the kind of book I normally devour - magic, prophesy, gods, big shiny swords with special names, world in peril, etc. Where did it lose me? \n First, the list of characters, in addition to being too long to keep track of in such a short book, was tucked away at the back of the book. Literally. Readers of the paper edition might have seen it, by accident, when going to set the book down. Readers of the electronic edition, though, would suffer the entire length of the book before discovering that hidden away at the back there is a mild attempt at explaining who's who. Mild, because it isn't conclusive, and doesn't give us the information we need to fully appreciate the story that Lloyd is telling. \n Tackling a new world, with politics and struggles between sides, with an obvious sense of depth and history, is nothing new to fantasy readers. Its part of what makes second world fantasy stand out, after all. As readers, we've come to expect that the author will use one of a few well trod mechanisms. The simplest, and least favored, is of course to just info dump, preferably somewhere near the start of the tale so we can get that nasty mess out of the way and move on. The more timid author will provide us with a glossary, or at least well populated and advertised appendixes, that explain the lay of the land, who the sides are, even a little cultural background. Some prefer this method as it leaves it up to the reader to determine what depth they're willing to explore and understand the underpinnings of the world they just engaged. Of course, the truly brave writer - and this is why epic fantasy is known for its lengthy tomes, I think - will layer their explanations and insights about their fantasy world through the telling of the novel, so that while you may start not knowing who Bahl is or what a white-eyes is, by the end of the story you'll catch yourself swearing in Bahl's name and cursing the blight that is a white-eye born man. These are the story tellers. And this is what is so infuriating about this book, because it is this final cusp that it fails to cross. Our understanding of the world is so incomplete we are left questioning what is happening for part of the book. Every time I felt I had a grasp, we were introduced to a new character that made me question whether we were speaking the same language. \n In the end, I think this first book had potential, but never quite rises above these flaws to stand out. Recommended for genre readers looking for a new series, but be forewarned its rough around the edges.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 22 06:23:51 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 22 06:27:35 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "15743703", "review_id": "fe37bbd7bdb6d8e144efd05dbb0522de", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I want to enjoy this one (it's Brooks!!), but it just felt too repetitive of the book before this.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 19 06:36:41 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 15 09:35:47 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Wed Dec 19 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "12499290", "review_id": "c104ee6a0ce6b8f69b27fa4edbffa2e2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was one of my most anticipated books this year. If you've enjoyed Weeks' other works, then you'll understand why. Even after talking with Brent this summer and learning that he planned on making the Lightbringer series a tetralogy, I couldn't help but start the next book in the series with some trepidation. Would it stand up to past excellence? Would it suffer second book slumps? In other words, is this a coasting book, or will there be actual depth to it? \n The Blinding Knife takes us back into the world of Gavin and Kip and all of the other colorful characters of the Chromeria and Blackguard. Between a mounting war against the Color Prince, and dealing with the aftermath of the False Prism War from 16 years before, Gavin has his work cut out for him. Of course, readers of the first book in the series, The Black Prism, know that there is a lot more to that story than I can share without a big spoilers warning. Readers continuing the adventure should know that there are still ample surprises in this volume, and although we are given more background, its not always where we want it. This, of course, is the author's prerogative, but some of the mysteries can leave the reader wanting. Without revealing any spoilers, the entire ancient mythology and metamorphosis of the wight left a discordant feeling with me. From what we knew of the world so far, the concept of avatars just seemed at odds. It felt out of place and without context, making the color gods meme was a little confusing. It made sense in its own limited context, just like wights made sense as an extension of breaking the halo, but the blend of those two left me a little out of sorts, making it a distraction in this book. \n So what did I enjoy? I still loved Kip - as a fat kid who grew up to be a fat man, I'm partial to the rotund polychrome, stereotypical as he can be. You can lament that he's got Harry Potter syndrome, but that's because Harry Potter had Magician's Apprentice syndrome himself - a magically capable youth in the role of student is going to fall into a trope or two along the way. Weeks does a good job when we're sitting on Kip's shoulders to show us the world Kip thinks he's seeing, even when every other character just sees a capable, headstrong Guile. Weeks tackled a few thorny subjects, including slavery, as well as introducing us to a card game who's rules we learned alongside Kip. The conflicts Gavin faces internally, maintaining the facade of the perfect leader and Prism while really fighting against his own self doubts and insecurities was refreshing. \n The Lightbringer series isn't as dark or deep as the Night Angel trilogy, but fans shouldn't be put off by that. Weeks tells a compelling tale, and fans of epic fantasy will still find themselves with sleepless nights as they try and finish just one more chapter. \n A special thanks to Orbit and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book, and the medium to do it in.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 01 19:44:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 14 18:54:39 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "16034384", "review_id": "a62247b86811a1f95d58236cbcb8b381", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Saladin Ahmed's \"Engraved on the Eye\" offers a nice sampling of Ahmed's short fiction. Collected in this volume are three short stories set in the same world as his first novel, The Crescent Throne, as well as a western, sci-fi, bunnies with swords, and an urban fantasy. Readers unfamiliar with the Crescent Throne will find the stories a good starting point, while fans of Saladin Adhmed's will enjoy the additional background on a certain ghul hunter and his blue clothed dhervish. \n Tying the eight stories of this volume are two themes existing fans will find familiar: the fantastical, told with a heavy Middle Eastern influence. If Bradbury had been Arabic and living in middle America, this is what his first story collection might have looked like, ghul's, djenn, and demons included.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 25 15:56:59 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 25 16:27:58 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Sep 25 16:27:58 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "13269570", "review_id": "bea474367893534d19fa6e5bb016587e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "High Fantasy often faces the criticism that it is a poor reflection of the works that have gone before it, most notably Tolkien. By employing the same basic mythos with a highly Western European (and generally, British) composition, many chide that too much of fantasy falls into this trap and needs to be refreshed with something edgier, or something more original. The end result is generally a poor facsimile that inevitably fails to shine in comparison. \n \"A Guile of Dragons\" is not some mere copy. \n Yes, it employs many of the elements that we might quickly label a High Fantasy trope - dwarves, dragons, ancient terrors, and the name Merlin (or at least his son, Morlock). Its important to remember that it is not what elements a writer uses, but how they use them, that brings distinction. Enge does not treat these elements lightly - the history and culture of the dwarves alone are an integral part of this story, hinting at a depth we never see a bottom to. The shortness of the work (@300 pages) is belied by the depth and fullness of the characters that populate it. These are thick characters, populating the pages not because they fill a need but because it is their story to tell. \n Set as a prequel for Enge's character, Ambrosius, aka Morlock syr Theorn, \"A Guile of Dragons\" introduces us to a small cast of recurring characters, each of whom demonstrates a depth and fullness usually reserved for the titular character. Not having read the other books in this milieu proved to not be a problem - as a prequel, it is a well contained volume, beginning with the birth of Morlock, son of Merlin, and the circumstances that place young Morlock in the care of the dwarves of Thrymhaiam to the north. This is also the story of Morlock's first real adventure (other feats are alluded to, but nothing so grand), following a metre and pace that is reminiscent of a classic saga even when the story telling is modern. \n For in the Northold, the dwarves find themselves cut off from the Graith of Guardians as a guile of dragons invades, reigniting the Longest War from before the dawn of history. Morlock, a thaen of the Graith, adopted son of the dwarves, trapped between both worlds, faces the failings of each as he is thrust into battling the dragons themselves. \n Enge, who's unsecret real world identity is a classics professor, demonstrates that a writer is influenced by the books and life you lead. \"A Guile of Dragons\" is a worthy epic for any fantasy reader, containing a surprising depth and fullness that is rarely found in so short a book. I cannot say more about this book without spoiling it, so I will just say that I wholly and heartily recommend that it be read.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 31 05:44:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 08 15:35:06 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "11992045", "review_id": "09813963d4cb8d825aba1f72634d9079", "rating": 4, "review_text": "In this final installment of the Aeon's Gate trilogy we journey to the island of Jaga. Death has followed, chased, and clung to our crew of adventurers, and a soujourn to Jaga won't change the fact that they are walking into the gaping maw of Ulbecetonth herself. An island surrounded by the statues of lost gods, occupied by lonely hostile warrior lizardmen, and under attack by wave after wave of longfaced purple warrior women who are only content in battle. \n So, a lot more of the same, which isn't a bad thing. Sykes picked up the gauntlet where it lay when we finished Black Halo and carried it to an almost satisfactory conclusion. Some questions remained, and Sykes has all but admitted that's because he plans on writing more stories in this universe. The questions that did remain after reading this novel were the larger picture questions, the kind that are called \"spoilers.\" \n What should returning readers look forward to? Expect to find resolution between Lenk and Kat (as much resolution as possible between a man with voices in his head and a shickt who's people are sworn to eliminate the human infection from the face of the planet). The answers you wanted for Denaos' history or Asper's hand are covered. We even get a glimpse of where the Netherlings come from. \n All in all, this third book did a great job of bringing this chapter of the story to a conclusion, while still leaving room for expansion in the future. As the conclusion of a trilogy, this book was probably the least accessible to new readers, but that's not to be unexpected in a series. I think returning readers will find that this book balances well against the first book in terms of amounts of action and pace. \n RHEGA!!!", "date_added": "Thu Aug 16 19:55:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 18 07:39:01 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "10790290", "review_id": "a1346e6c7b0bc79304df0ec622ddc437", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It's somewhat embarrassing to admit that I had ample opportunities to read this book when it was in two parts, independently published - and failed to do so until it was bought up by Orbit and reprinted. \n That was a mistake. \n Originally published separately, readers can see the divide between the events and repercussions of the first book (Crown Conspiracy) that lead into the second book (Avempartha), and how together they form the chapters of a much larger tapestry. Sullivan sites the story arcs of Babylon 5 as one of his inspirations, and in reading the novel you can see that play out as he gives the reader a simple, straightforward collection of fantasy tropes building up our expectations that this story is going in one direction, only to flip it at the climax and offer a resolution that both fits the story so far, and yet defies what we anticipated. \n The curious thing about Sullivan's book is that he uses light strokes to paint a picture. He doesn't labor over info dumping, choosing instead to give us a who's who and a what's what at the start of the book, and a few short dumps initially to fill in the gaps. Nor does he rely on the shock that grittier fantasy authors have brought us lately; this book is very much a homage o the simple, well written adventure story. While its most basic elements are a variation of the quest and heist motifs, there are deeper motivations at play than just greed. The real strength in Sullivan's writing, though, is in his dialog, the repertoire and voice of his characters making them distinct enough to stand out from the backdrop. No, not all of the characters are well rounded personas with depth, but the characters with whom the story revolves live and breathe in the mind's eye even after you set the book down. \n Theft of Swords is not high literature, with flowing, flowery passages evoking a deep sense of wonder. What it is is wonderfully entertaining. Case in point, I sat down and read the last 40% of the book in one day because I just couldn't put it down. Highly recommended to fans of epic fantasy, especially if you enjoy the \"lighter\" side such as a Brandon Sanderson or Daniel Abraham novel, you will enjoy this.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 29 08:27:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 31 08:30:34 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jul 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "13265092", "review_id": "668ac5e3f7798d878d5a9706b06f32c6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It was with a little trepidation that I began reading Wards of Faerie. It had been decades since I'd last read a Terry Brooks novel, and the Shannara series was never one I had gotten into too deeply, mostly for a lack of resources. I knew that over the years the breadth of the story had grown, and that series that didn't used to be related, like the Word and the Void, had been incorporated into the larger mythos. Still, most of my exposure came from a summer reading through the Magic Kingdom books. Could I jump in unscathed? \n The Wards of Faerie, as it turns out, is very open to the new reader. A brief run through wikipedia wouldn't hurt the new reader, but Terry Brooks is ever the consummate story teller, and with almost no effort gives us a story that is very easy to fall into. It is a world where science and magic are at ends with each other, with many of the secrets of magic lost even to the Druids, caretakers of such knowledge. Aphenglow Elessedil, an elf and a Druid, stumbles upon a lost journal that hints at the whereabouts of the famed elfstones. The Druid's quest to recover the elfstones will mean the gathering of a party and following a vision beyond the known lands as they seek out the lost elfstones. \n It's always a pleasure to read something written by a master of the craft, and this was no exception. Brooks has spent over thirty years developing this world, and the world-building shows. The world that this story is set in has a depth that we can see just beneath the surface without being dragged through it, which helps the story move along at a good pace. The characters that populate it are well developed and believable, rather than the stock two dimensional characters that seem to litter the genre so often. \n Knowing in advance that this will be yet another trilogy, though, I do have to say I was a bit disappointed with where the book ended. This isn't just the poignant disappointment of a story that ended sooner than the reader may have wanted. The bulk of the book was spent developing characters and introducing us to the world as it is, but just as the party is formed and the real action began to start up, the book came to an end. \n My rating of this book came after a lot of thinking, and ultimately was tied to the fact that the story, the meat of why we are reading, is cut too short too soon. Knowing that we are only looking at a trilogy, it seems as though too much time was spent developing characters rather than moving the plot along. Fans of the milieu will enjoy the book, knowing that it will lead somewhere in the next book. Casual readers, though, I think will be put off unless they are already committed to seeing the story develop in the next volume. \n My thanks to Netgalley and Random House for giving me the opportunity to review this work and providing an advanced reader's copy.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 30 18:03:27 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 29 09:50:03 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "9528174", "review_id": "b67f5bad89ef1164fba6e5c4decd041b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Book two of the Aeon's Gate trilogy picks up mere moments after the end of Tome of the Undergates with the intrepid Lenk recording recent events in his journal. The Tome of the Undergates has been recovered, and yet the gates of hell remain closed. Lenk and his five companions set sail to bring the accursed relic away from the demonic reach of Ulbecetonth, the Kraken Queen. But after weeks at sea, tensions amidst the adventurers are rising. Their troubles are only beginning when their ship crashes upon an island made of the bones left behind from a war long dead. \n And it appears that bloodthirsty alien warrior women, fanatical beasts from the deep, and heretic-hunting wizards are the least of their concerns. Haunted by their pasts, plagued by their gods, tormented by their own people, and gripped by madness personal and peculiar, their greatest foes may yet be themselves. \n Critics of the first book lamented that the characters were too thinly sketched, the bulk of the book being taken up by some longer than usual action scenes. In this second volume, Sykes flips that expectation on us. We delve deeper into each of the characters, getting more tantalizing glints of their depth and background as they recover on the island of the dead. To be sure, while the first book was a book of struggling, this second volume gives us a better understanding on why each of our characters - and I don't just mean our protagonists - are struggling and what it is they are trying to achieve. Which in the case of our (un)lucky band of adventurers is largely what they are struggling to run away from. \n The problem, of course, is that we spend most of the book introspecting the characters, their flaws, backgrounds, motives, and favorite past times that we never quite make any headway in the story. In fact, the only real progress in the books is delivered by two new characters that are external to the adventurer party, one a librarian (don't snicker, librarians can kick your butt) on a mission to step any who use magic without paying the price (Oh Netherlings...), and the other who is commonly known as the Moth, a vassal of the Deep Shriek sent out to release the Father. The story advances under the stewardship of these two characters, but they have scenes too far and few between to give the rest of the novel momentum. \n And this is why the second volume of a series usually drags. The first volume hit us with such force and speed, the second volume had a bar set higher than it could reasonably achieve. \n And yet I will still recommend this book to you. It was a well written and fine addition to the series, with all the Shict loving you can handle. Hopefully in volume three, now that we understand what compels most of the POV characters in such detail already, we will return to the tour de force that was book one, but with a better understanding and appreciation of what is driving Lenk and his merry band.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 12 19:43:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 07 10:58:29 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "9579634", "review_id": "a2cb4255a80474b87c7e5ba6a3fd6fb0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Prince of Thorns is the tale of a boy, scarred witness to the brutal murder of his mother and brother, who choses to turn his back on all things good in order to obtain vengence. This is a tale of revenge, as rich in its single mindedness as any classic by Dumas. Young Jorg forsakes every shred of his humanity to feed this desire, something initial reviewers were less than pleased with. Many lambasted this novel as dark and misogynistic, but I have to admit that I didn't see any of that when I read it. Maybe my perspective was tempered by interviews with the author and other commentators, but when I read Prince of Thorns what I saw in Jorg was a dark, disturbed boy, a sociopath created rather than born. \n The first chapter sets the tone for the kind of book you have started. The razing of a village, the flippant use of violence to send a message, and all from the perspective of the instigator. The message to the reader is simple: this isn't going to be a light or cheery story. We are led through a world that's almost familiar - a map that looks striking like Europe, references to Jesus and Plutarch, Shakespeare and Rome. Confusing, at first, are the references to Nietzsche and other modern writers. Rest assured it will all make sense, begging more questions than are answered in this volume. This is a world familiar to us from our own history, familiar to readers of fantasy for its near medievalness, and yet somehow ajar to what we expect. \n There is something else in this story, though, something lying beneath the layer of vengeance and hatred, beneath the blood and violence. This is a story you have to finish to realize just how sad it is. Its compelling, dark tale is written in the first person, drawing the reader into Jorg's warped, sick mind from the start. It is only through flashbacks peppered throughout the narrative that we begin to understand Jorg better. We understand the instigating moment with the briars, when he turned from ten year old boy to vengeful demon. We understand how in the course of only four years (because yes, the Jorg of book one is a young teen) Jorg could gather a band of cut throat, vile scum as his entourage. And only in the final pages of this book do we see what lies beneath the surface and what strings are really being pulled. As a reader, you have this perspective of watching Jorg take bite after painful bite from his heart, because it is bitter, and it is his. \n This was a well written, easy to read debut novel. The best part? I've taken so long to read this book that the sequel is already out, so if you enjoy it, you can keep reading!", "date_added": "Thu May 24 12:17:03 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 05 11:42:09 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jan 05 11:42:09 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "11487807", "review_id": "cab70aadd395891700dc0249343c255b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Where to begin this review? A lot of people like to highlight that Saladin's book is a nice break from Euro-centric fantasy, but to be honest, when you're reading it, that's not what you're paying attention to. What you're watching is the story and characters. Does Saladin deliver? \n Almost. \n We're presented with good characters and a classic but compelling tension. Something dark and evil is rising up, we have ghuls of all variety, a were-lion, a fighting dervish, magic, the mystery of the desert - where do we go wrong? \n For me, the problem was twofold. First, I don't think we had enough depth. The brush strokes are so broad that there's a lack of definition with some of the characters. This might just be an artifact of the fact that its the first book in the series, and Salidan plans on giving more depth later. \n My other problem with the story is that the end seemed a bit rushed. After so much time spent circling around the central mystery, the actual confrontation was a bit short and lackluster. Two sides meet and one walks away, in about as many words as this review will end up being. \n Don't get me wrong - I really enjoyed this book, and it was a fun read. My dissapointment is because I expected more from the book than it actually promised. I settled on four stars because I felt it was a 3 1/2 star book with a lot of potential to be more.", "date_added": "Tue May 01 19:39:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat May 19 10:14:33 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "7378426", "review_id": "7d1752d604e1e24bf90b083145c7dc14", "rating": 4, "review_text": "If you read through the reviews for this book, they boil down to two camps - the haters and the lovers. I have to admit, I originally qualified as the former the first time I tried reading this book. The book initially feels like a transcript from a frat boy fantasy RPG, with a vibe that just left me disinterested. \n Time passed and the world turned, as they say, and I gave the book another shot. Read it in a week, and will probably try and get a hold of the sequel(s) at some point to boot (there's only one as I write this, but I think Sykes has mentioned that the third volume is already done). The book is a fantasy action lark without any redeeming quality, which is the first clue to the kind of reader that will enjoy this. If you loved Abercrombie's First Law books, but wished they had a metric ton more magic, then you'll probably enjoy Tome. The characters aren't really heroes or heroic, and yet by the end you understand what makes them tick (mostly), and why they are the crappy examples of morality that they are. \n Cons? \"Adventurers\" just sounds too much like we're describing a bunch of my fellow geeks on a Saturday night, and really shouldn't be in a self respecting book. Also, the book can be pretty evenly divided into the half where we think everyone's a jerk, and the half where we learn, one by one, what each character's motivating secret is. \n Pros - everything else. Don't go looking for a lost ballad and you'll have a blast. Watery tarts, magic fire, purple skinned warriors, elf-like pro-antagonists, demons, gates to hell, the works, all wrapped in a neat, tidy package.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 04 16:10:11 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 12 14:32:41 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Mar 12 14:32:41 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "8819761", "review_id": "da2f50a4252b2b81e0690318c68bdcfb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "When this series began, there were complaints from some reviewers that the destruction of Windwir seemed too inconsistent. Why did Neb survive, but not others? What was the nature of the destruction that it could raze the city, but leave random individuals untouched? At the time, I attributed this to the randomness of destructive nature - if you've ever looked at what did and didn't survive a tornado as it decimates a community, you know what I mean. \n Antiphon takes a stab at starting to give the rationale in the context of the Nine Lands, and yeah, I didn't see that coming :) \n Antiphon is a worthy continuation of the Psalms of Isaak, in what can only be described now as a science fiction epic, shrouded in fantasy, with the drapery of steampunk and the trappings of...fantasy. Bah. Post-apocalyptic apocalyptic fiction? \n Whatever classification system you use, I call it a good fun read. Probably not the best place to dive into the story, still a great read. Enjoyed it!", "date_added": "Thu Mar 01 20:36:28 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 27 06:28:17 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Mar 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "11783484", "review_id": "8e6eb4e84047f530876a33a38447e700", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Imagine everyone woke up one day to discover that magic was very much real again. As with so much in our modern life, the first reaction of the government would be to regulate it, to determine what the best uses of that magic was for the welfare of the nation - and what magics would be considered safe, and what magics would be prohibited. \n Welcome to the world of Shadow Ops: Control Point. Oscar Britton is your average enlisted grunt, bagging and tagging people that have manifested prohibited, or \"Probe\" talents, keeping America safe from one latent to probe at a time. What happens when this good guy suddenly finds himself marked a probe as his latent magic power manifests itself unexpectedly in a discipline that is forbidden (though outside his control)? \n He runs. \n As a concept, I think Cole has a good formula here. Magic meets military fantasy in a contemporary landscape? What's not to love in this comic book like milieu that is so reminiscent of Marvel and DC copyrights? \n The proof is in the pudding, as they say, and its in the execution that we find the lumps. The world building is as solid as needed - why magic suddenly exists is as much of a mystery to the characters as to us, and that's fine. The fact that Cole chose to set this in our modern world relieves the burden of painting an extremely rich picture to convince us with. We already know the setting, which leaves us with only the unknowns to deal with - the characters and the magic. With the world so easily established, its really in the strength of the characters and the magic they wield that we rely on to entertain us. \n For the magic, its rather simple and easy to grasp. You either come up with magic at some point in your life, or you don't. If you do, its in one of a few defined talents, most of which seem to be centered around control of the Greek elementals - water, fire, air, earth, and spirit (life, death, etc.). The prohibited magics are a little less well defined, but at least we don't have mixed talents (that we know of?). There doesn't seem to be any penalty to using the magic (weakness, inflammation, etc.), but it also isn't easily or quickly mastered. Simple and sweet and easy to follow once you understand the terminology that Cole bandies around. \n But the characters, like with any summer eye candy, is where I got hung up with in this novel. Even in the context of the story, Oscar's waffling at whether he's a team player or being beaten down was annoyingly inconsistent. Either track would have been fine, but I needed something to rally behind, and I didn't get that from Oscar. I found many of the other characters in the book equally baffling, leaving me wanting. This is probably just hindsight, but it seemed that there were chapters during the span of which Oscar would change his mind on whether he was committed to the cause, to and fro, multiple times. \n So, great concept, and perfect if you have an afternoon or two to kill and want a little magic versus assault chopper action. Myke's a really nice guy, so I have high hopes that the sequel will cast off the training wheels that were so evident in this first novel.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 07 10:10:08 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 07 11:46:01 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "106", "review_id": "abc2cdcbf0176757cae894488079568d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I had tried reading this years ago and had a hard time with it - this time I read it in three days :) This sequel to Dune takes place not long after that seminal work, with Paul and Alia at the head of the new Imperium. I was surprised when reading this how tight Herbert's writing was. It was a quick read because Herbert didn't waste time on details that weren't germaine to the moment, which might put off some readers. If Kyle MacLachlan pops in your head when you think Paul Atreides, approach with caution. This Maud'Dib is a ruler, stuck with all of the problems and dilemmas a super powered emperor with a wife, mistress, and a back from the dead friend would expect to face.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 31 04:46:03 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 02 19:33:53 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Feb 02 19:33:53 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "6766638", "review_id": "b4ace73c8d1e69f9ee1520c7939dd05f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "*wow* \n Somewhat reminiscent of Enemy Mine, this first book was a fast paced, fun read. If you like your sci-fi to have aliens, fighting, and a lone human trapped in the middle of it all, you've come to the right place.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 24 15:53:52 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 27 21:05:12 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jan 27 21:05:12 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "10579099", "review_id": "a5e7fcbd64e12cae75c9c0df63811cee", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Dragon's exist. Descended from alchemically altered knights, the Slayers know this to be true. Now a diverse group of teens that includes Tori, a smart but spoiled senator's daughter, must prepare to save the rest of us at any cost. Because after laying dormant for centuries, the dragon eggs are ready to hatch. \n \"Slayers\" is the first book in this YA series by C.J. Hill, the noms de plume of a YA romance writer with 18 other books published. The writing of \"Slayers\" is generally tight, the pace and action following an escalating pace, but the book is not without its faults. Reading \"Slayers,\" one gets the impression that the author wasn't completely comfortable breaking away from romance novels. At inconvenient and even inappropriate times, the action is interrupted with spurious romantic observations and thoughts. \n I have no problem with the fact that there is romance in the story - only with the odd way it interrupts the action, sometimes literally in mid-fight having the protagonist wonder if so-and-so likes her, and maybe he'll kiss her? Its as though the author tried to merge two different stories, or went back through to add the romantic elements to flesh out the story after the fact. Because while both the action and the romance are well written, they don't mesh well together, leaving the reading a bit disjointed. \n All that said, the story has potential. There is a temporary resolution in the story and we are left with enough nuggets to know that the story will continue. I only hope its handled better. \n Readers of YA fiction looking for something new and contemporary, but with fantasy elements, will enjoy this novel. With a title like \"Slayers,\" I had envisioned something more like Buffy vs. dragons instead of vampires, an expectation that tainted my appreciation for the story.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 26 10:36:17 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 30 09:00:14 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sun Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Mon Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "11534333", "review_id": "a058fd9d4e93603346cd12dcdab9e118", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Hellbent was my first foray into the world's of Cherie Priest. I've heard wonderful things about her steampunk series, the Clockwork Century, but of her vampire series, beginning with Bloodshot, I'd heard very little. \n Let me put that to rest. \n If you're just looking for all that glitters, this isn't the spot. Nor is Priest's take on vampires entirely horrific, though. What she is is blunt and snarky and very engaging. \n You can almost forget that Ray (Raylene) is a vampire, except maybe when she's rescuing a kitten that's tracked through a crime scene because its paws smell so good, what with all that fresh blood. Ray is a thief. A very, very good thief, who's hired to track down some magical artifacts and relive their current owner of them. The maniac witch that's threatening to bring down heaven and hell with them is just a complication in the plan, right? \n The other major plot threads of the novel center around blind Ian (another vampire) and his former House, and Adrian's (a human) search for what happened to his sister. While a lot of the historical details to these plots is left unsaid, enough context was given (and even an outright \"This is what happened before\" blurt) that you didn't feel lost if you hadn't read the first book. It also didn't feel like Priest overly did the recap, as most of it was up front early on, letting the story progress on its own from there. \n Hellbent was a splendid mix of action and comedy, and of course magic, vampires, ghouls, and some tasty, bloody kitten paws. Probably a few too many jokes about the objects Ray is hired to steal (I'd hate to be the one to reveal that spoiler), but other than that a solid, fun read.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 13 17:04:13 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 26 14:06:57 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sat Sep 24 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Tue Sep 13 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "6101718", "review_id": "cd8473b731a9f64f4d762e0261045f0a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I'm a little late in reading this, I realize - the sequel is now out, and here I am just getting to it. I remember when \"The Magicians\" came out, critics likened it to \"Harry Potter, but with older kids.\" Of course, the fans called it \"Harry Potter, but with older kids!\" I guess it was whether you used an exclamation mark that made the difference. \n Personally, I found the novel a little uneven. Prior to going off to magic university, I liked the protagonist, Quentin. At school he was a jerk, but ok, not following some of your decisions or comments, a little out of the blue, but I can move along past the angst of entering a new world. By the end of the book I cared less and less about his choices, what he was doing, or even why. I cared more for the secondary characters than for Quentin, and I never got that emotional bond that's supposed to tie you to book and make it impossible to put down. \n The coolest part of the book was the laying out of the Narnia like story the characters grew up with, and then interacting with the real thing. But even here the story was uneven. Some of it was the gritty underbelly of a pseudo-Narnia you know is lurking in the shadows, but then it stopped and became all quick brushstrokes again, glossing over any sense of depth and leaving it all feeling hollow. \n The parts of this novel that were good, were really, really good. Sadly, the parts that weren't dragged this down a couple of stars in my opinion.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 13 06:47:03 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 20 13:04:43 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sat Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sat Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "9409469", "review_id": "e9246e4c8b4180d388d6f4e31dfe253b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The third volume of the Seven Realms series, it really felt like Chima finally has settled into the story of Han and Raisa. Han must finally face the moment we've all waited for - when he discovers his friend and love interest Rebecca is in fact the Princess Heir Raisa of the Queendom of the Fells. \n Overwhelmingly, though, this is Raisa's volume. Friction and violence increase as the people trying to keep Raisa out of the way increase their efforts. \n Will they succeed? \n Of course not. This is a fantasy series, and we all know the heroine and hero ultimately will prevail to win the day. Right? Maybe. Not everything will go to plan as Raisa returns home in this volume. The action and pace of the third volume are more consistent, giving the reader a solid return for their investment in the series. My biggest complaint, and perhaps this isn't fair since the principal character is a sixteen year old girl, is the complete inconsistency in her feelings towards the men in her life. Its difficult to tell who we should be rooting for as a love interest when Raisa herself changes gears every few pages, from mooning over Amon, to Nightwalker, to Micah and Han. \n If you've read the other two volumes of this series, then you deserve this volume. The first half of the book is fast paced (I read the first 300 pages in a day) and will keep you on your toes. The second half of the book slows down, right about the point we realize that we are being set up for the fourth book. Although I think this was the best volume of the series so far, I'm only going to give it four stars - my socks weren't blown off, just mildly uncurled at a few points. I would have liked more from Han, and found the one chapter from Amon's perspective both refreshing and unexpected since no other non Han/Raisa character ranked their own chapter.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 29 17:53:59 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 09 20:00:03 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sat Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "7801229", "review_id": "04dd2867e9c022e0423f309291eb38c8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The second volume of Chima's Seven Realms series begins right on the tail of volume one. Haunted by the loss of his mother and sister, Han heads south to study in Oden's Ford at Mystwerk House. But leaving the Fells doesn't mean leaving the danger behind, as Han quickly discovers when he learns that his fellow students include the Bayar twins, scions of the High Wizard. \n Meanwhile, Princess Raisa has escaped to Oden's Ford, looking to hide from those that would try and force her on a path that is not in her best interests. In Oden's Ford she lives an assumed identity, hiding from those that would force her into a marriage that would break the thousand year old laws that bind the Fells. \n The Exiled Queen is a story of false pretenses and politics, framed within the lives of Han (17) and Raisa (16). This second volume of the series starts off much more strongly than the first, and could easily be broached by readers new to the series. Chima does a great job of refreshing our memory of the plot points without too much backtracking, letting the story carry us forward on its own merits. \n The Exiled Queen is a solid volume in terms of story. The first book of the Seven Realms introduced us to these two characters, making it clear that they were going to be interlinked some day, but focussed largely on world building. This second volume explores their development as individuals, giving us more depth and intertwining their stories as individuals, focussing on character over scenery. Most of the time in Oden's Ford is glossed over with a few brush strokes, focussing instead on the characters thoughts and emotions. In each character we see the shade of the adults they will become developing, at the expense of the story at large moving along. \n For that, this book earns some criticisms. Where the first volume focussed on the world around the characters more than it did on the individuals within it, this second volume takes the exact opposite approach. As a consequence, the action is fairly predictable to anyone that's ever read a fantasy hero/heroine novel before. The state of affairs in the Seven Realms at the start of the book is the same as it is at the end of the book, with only a few pawns moving around on the outskirts of the story. The real story is about us watching Han and Raisa make the decisions that will affect the rest of their lives.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 29 17:53:09 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 06 15:33:50 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sat Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "7479205", "review_id": "8c07310665bba41f1604f34e4216b296", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"The Demon King\" is a novel from two disparate perspectives that eventually begin to weave together. We have Han Alister, who at sixteen years old is already a former thief and gang leader, trying to live his life honestly. But even when staying out of town, trouble still finds him, and before long he is tangling with wizards and getting into worse trouble than he ever did as a gang leader. \n The flip side of the novel follows Raisa, princess and soon to be heir to the Queendom of the Fells. Life isn't as sweet and simple as it should be for a princess as Raisa becomes more and more aware and involved in politics that are as old as the Queendom. The closer Raisa gets to her 16th birthday and \"Name Day,\" the more convinced she becomes of something running afoul in the Queendom. And somehow, her mother the Queen seems to be at the heart of it. \n First, the con. The novel makes so many allusions to past events and history in this first novels that I spent the first third of the book convinced that I had missed a preceding volume or even series. No such book existed, sadly, which makes it even more baffling. I understand the desire to start a story already in motion, so that the reader can discover the world of the characters. Sometimes, that works. Sometimes, it doesn't. In this case, it almost didn't work. \n However, if you can plow forward in the book, things will snap together and start to make sense. As soon as they do, the book is a rush of action and revelation even when it quickly becomes evident that there is going to be little conclusion in this volume. The stories of Han and Raisa loosely weave together and apart in a way that will leave the reader eagerly anticipating the next page. And for every revelation we receive, there is a hint that we are only hearing a part of the story. \n This first volume of the Seven Realms offers a lot of promise, and I'm looking forward to reading the next volume to see if Chima pays off. If you're looking for a story with conflicting love interests, magic, and the threat of a kingdom spiraling into war, the first act of the Seven Realms series is a good place to start. Enjoy!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 29 17:50:39 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 23 18:40:19 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sat Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Thu Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "8752885", "review_id": "a7b90ca6093a3930110f444def9b515d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Its no small talent to find yourself sympathizing with a character that, when you take a step back, you know is a horrible example of humanity. The Dragon's Path delivered as an introduction to a new epic, though the entire 500+ page book felt more like the prelude to the story rather than the first chapter. If Abraham delivers with book two, that won't be a problem, but if not, well - that's why I gave it three stars. It was a fun read, but except for one plot line I spent most of the book wondering when it would pick up.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 10 12:06:47 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 25 15:55:37 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sat Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Fri Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "8752906", "review_id": "1a9348bbd585df4e09d12ab8ce0e689e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Shadow's Lure is the second book of Sprunk's Shadow Saga, following the debut of \"Shadow's Son\" last year (2010). In this volume, we return to Othir immediately after the events of \"Shadow's Son\" as Caim heads north, looking for answers to his past and the murder of his parents. What he finds is a land under the grip of the Shadow, personified in the witch Sybelle and the hints of shadow born magic that darken the land. Meanwhile, Josey, as Empress, is struggling with the politics of a land that seems beset with chaos, not to mention assassins out to remove her. And then there's the fae Kit, who early in the book is whisked away from Caim as she has to deal with her own troubles. \n \"Shadow's Lure\" needs to be read in sequence with the rest of the series, unfortunately. Sprunk gives the new reader nothing to identify with with the characters, plunging the reader into a world where the three main characters have very little direct interaction with one another. readers coming to this book directly from the end of book one, though, will appreciate that this book picks up within days of the first book. \n Sprunk keeps the secrets of his world at bay, giving us only hints and suggestions. For now, this is enough, though the third book, \"Shadow's Master,\" has a lot of promises to deliver on. Sprunk's books will appeal to the sword and sorcery fans - assassins, magic, and action litter the novel, leaving very little room for the doldrums to creep in.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 27 05:04:54 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 24 04:13:10 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Oct 19 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "9766146", "review_id": "d574a516395b35107a929f5ba6250971", "rating": 4, "review_text": "As readers of epic fantasy, we are spoiled. We've come to expect that anything labeled epic must be epic in all regards. It must require epic feats of strength to carry it; it must be epic in length and effort to read it; it must have an epic length cast. Reading Erin Hoffman's debut novel, \"Sword of Fire and Sea,\" will be a shock to the system for most epic fantasy readers who haven't experienced fantasy from the recent batch of new to the scene fantasy authors. Hoffman employs an economy of words that is near terse - there are no wasted descriptions, no wasted scenes. \n As the blurb from Pyr goes, three generations ago Captain Vidarian Rulorat's great-grandfather gave up an imperial commission to marry a \n fire priestess. For love, he unwittingly obligated his descendants to an allegiance with the High Temple of Kara'zul, domain of the fire priestesses. Now Vidarian, the last surviving member of the Rulorat family, struggles to uphold his family's legacy. All of this, of course, is background, and this is about as much as is revealed in the novel itself. You can easily disregard the rest of the back flap's description of the book, because the book quickly changes course more than once as you weave through the story. Hoffman does a great job of keeping you turning those pages, though, so that it isn't until the novel is done and you glance at the back of the cover that you remember to ask yourself, whatever happened with that plot point? \n For a time of the year when the northern hemisphere fantasy readers are looking for \"beach books,\" preferably something shorter than the tomes the likes of Rothfuss and Sanderson are putting out (which are great, but ruin your tan by blocking out the sun as you struggle to hold a thousand page monstrosity up and turn the page), Hoffman's debut will be a fun delight. \n My only complaint about the novel, and I'm phrasing this so it isn't a spoiler, is - really? \"Correctamundo?\" \"See you later, alligator?\" You've got a lot of explaining to do, Ms. Hoffman :)", "date_added": "Wed Apr 27 05:04:23 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 06 09:03:20 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Fri Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "7684939", "review_id": "83d2e33d6f12ee186f0a20409af5250e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Before I even get into my review of this book, I should explain my past with this series. I first tried getting into the Shadows of the Apt series when book one, \"Empire in Black and Gold,\" came out - tried, and failed. I thought the ideas were interesting, but the execution was a little too predictable even for me, and I gave up. I watched as successive novels came out, each one sounding awesome. I even read a few short stories set in this world of the Apt, but I never tried to go back to the full series. \n And then book five fell into my hands. I could still remember the characters and world setting from the first book, but would that be enough for me to get through \"The Scarab Path\"? Just barely, and now I know I've missed out on some awesome reading. Comparing book one to book five, it's easy to see Tchaikovsky's growth and maturation as a writer. The action scenes are well paced, and there are plenty of them. But this isn't just an excuse to chronicle some series of RPG born campaigns - there is no want on violence, and every scene serves to further the plot. \n The only drawback of this novel is that it doesn't work as a stand alone story. If you've only read the back covers of the other four in the series, you know about the rise of the Wasp empire, and how by the end of book four the Wasps were halted, at least for now. In that respect, this novel is a new direction for the series. But without at least a basic familiarity of the cast involved, the Scarab Path would be confusing to navigate. Many names are just casually referred to, even when critical to the plot. In this novel we bring back Che and Thalric as our principal view point characters, with a mix of new and old supporting cast to round out the story narration. The story is set in the distant city of Khanaphes, a city consigned to myth where a strange kinden of beetles live their lives according to the laws of their mysteriously absent Masters. Che is there to find answers to the confusing questions she was left with at the end of the last book. And where Che goes, others will follow, all suspecting secret strategy in her visit to such a remote corner of the Nem desert. \n \"The Scarab Path\" was a good read that kept me up late reading often. Its always fun to read a book that is so stock full of high magic (the Art of the Apt can be described no other way) but where the characters are blind to it, seeing only the fantastical of the rare low (Inapt)magic. A wonderful blend of steampunk and epic fantasy, \"The Scarab Path\" makes a good addition to the Shadows of the Apt series.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 27 05:03:41 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri May 27 14:52:49 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "10301749", "review_id": "fa798166cce06309508b22642f55cde2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Pevel returns to seventeenth century France in this second novel of the Cardinal's Blades. A new threat rises to threaten the future of France. La Donna, an Italian spy known for her subterfuge and intrigue and, of course, inescapable and beguiling beauty, possesses information of a plot against the King and is willing to share it, for a price. \n As a French adventure story that is supposed to remind us of Dumas - if Alexandre had had a penchant for dragons, dragonnettes, and dracs running rampant in the streets of Paris and the French countryside alongside the musketeers, that is - Pevel succeeds. \n There is a flavor to this novel that is very reminiscent of nineteenth century adventure \n novels, doused liberally with fantasy elements. This novel isn't without its difficulties, though. As a sequel, it stumbles a little. Certain revelations from the first book are largely ignored in this sequel, a flaw that only can be overlooked thanks to stronger writing on Pevel's part. The reader has to be prepared to do a little bit of work as Pevel traces a path through Paris street by street in what can be a confusing list of streets. Pevel, like Dumas (but sometimes without the same grace), suffers the crime of random information dumps, which mire this story in unnecessary complexity at times. Too much information, especially when revealed in a story utilizing the third person omniscience of the all knowing, all seeing, all explaining author, lends a detachment to the reader that makes it difficult to invest fully in the characters. \n \"The Alchemist in the Shadows\" is a good read, but you may have to \n work for it a little bit. .", "date_added": "Wed Apr 27 05:03:28 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu May 26 17:14:05 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "7992995", "review_id": "1795aad4433a53c2e218e828ca0349c8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n \"Eon\", the first book of this series, did a fantastic job of givingthe reader glimpses of something deeper to the story, then taunting usby keeping it a foot out of reach. Does the sequel live up to the first volume? \n For the most part, yes. \"Eona\" is the counter to it's predecessor, aconstant torrent of action and motion that rapidly drives the readerto the conclusion, which is really a shame. So many authors these days seem to perpetuate a series long past the point it should have ended, dragging their readership along because, as readers, they've already invested so much into it. If anything, though, Alison Goodman doesn't draw the story out long enough. \n This sequel begins hot on the tail of the first book. Eona has just realized the truth of her dragon, but she is still untrained. Sethon has named himself emperor, and Eona's only hope at mastering herselfand her power lies in Ido, the Dragoneye responsible for all of the destruction. \"Eona\" dashes off from there, as Kygo struggles to secure the empire from his uncle, while Eona learns the secret of both her ancestor and the String of Pearls. Along the way, Eona learns what sheneeds to. \n Goodman does too good a job though - even as we narrow in on the final pages, you can't help but wish there was another volume or three to the story. I don't believe we ever got a satisfactory answer about the compass, and Goodman's world is certainly rich enough that you want to spend more time in it. If you enjoyed Eon, you'll enjoy this conclusion.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 27 05:03:05 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu May 26 17:17:13 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Mon May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Wed Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "2986865", "review_id": "418d5de23e1ea574fe6fd4e288a1bea5", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Good read! I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the arc so I can review this for YAFantasyGuide.com. As with all \"epic fantasy\" novels, it isn't whether we can read what the author telegraphs us in advance (no spoilers, but if you read this and don't see some things coming, bah!) - but its the anticipation and reveal that makes it worth it. Certainly a worthy read.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 31 06:09:03 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 04 18:01:30 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sun Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Thu Mar 31 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "6435253", "review_id": "aaf87a030498e8757d85996c4b7da790", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Lamentation, in my opinion, was a little rough to start off, but by the end you knew you had a decent tale you were dealing with. Certainly a good show for a debut. Canticle takes that precipice that Lamentation left off on and just hurls you into the stratosphere. It feels like you are constantly pumped up on scout magicks as the novel races across the landscape of the Nine Lands (and a glimpse beyond). Book two of the arc is largely a book of reveals, where our perception of the characters doesn't change much (much), but what we know of the world around them grows a lot. While its hard to say whether its critical to have read this book yet for its reveals versus the scope of the series, if you enjoyed Lamentation, really, how could you not read it? (plus, *I* gave it 4 stars. Surely that counts for something!)", "date_added": "Wed Mar 09 11:43:56 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 20 06:26:09 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sat Mar 19 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Wed Mar 09 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "47212", "review_id": "8bd69c350ac8ae6b78ab913d65dc6587", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I picked up the first book of the Dresden Files mostly because I was tired of friends - even people I respected - who said the books were really good. I'd seen the SciFi channel adaption, and frankly, hadn't been impressed. As it turns out, for good reason, since the SciFi channel version paled in comparison to the real thing, except for some names and professions. The book was a fun, quick read. Butcher's no Tolstoy - but then, when you're reading about wizards in Chicago, do you really want a Tolstoy telling the story? I intended to read the rest of the series now, and would even go so far as to recommend it :) So thank you Dan, E, and anyone else that said I should give it a whirl.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 02 20:42:56 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 09 08:09:17 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Wed Mar 09 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Wed Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "6065215", "review_id": "2027989ab3bbc03532b827b229185fd1", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Let me see if I can do this without giving away spoilers, ie, stick only to the info that's already relayed on the back cover. The writing is bad, it moves along at a nice pace, which is why the novel got the stars it got. My problem with it is I spent the first quarter of the novel thinking I'd heard this story, or something similar to it, before - and I had, in Stephen King's short \"The Night Flyer.\" The rest of the novel read like a loose modernization of the classic Brahm Stoker, which for a vampire novel isn't unexpected, but still, I'd been hoping for something a little more. You can definitely see Del Toro's influence in the vignettes that are interspersed through the novel, which are very movie-like in their quick glimpses. But there were no major surprises or seat gripping moments, either. Good for a beach read or home sick.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 02 20:42:32 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 04 11:51:47 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Fri Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Wed Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "6703145", "review_id": "306b9234a091c8f9b18b4288624c1ba1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Spellwright is the introductory novel of Nicodemus, a young aspiring wizard who has been branded a cacographer because of his disability. Simply put, he has magical dyslexia - in a world where spells are visible as strings of floating, physical text, a mere touch by Nicodemus can cause a spell to be misspelled, gaining new meaning and often as not warping it from simple to potentially dangerous. \n As with many fantasy novels, there is a prophesy, and depending on interpretation Nicodemus could be a savior - or the equivalent of the antichrist. \n I have to confess, I've wanted to read this book since it came out a few years ago, and anticipation breeds its own expectations that reality can rarely match. As is oft said, I wish Goodreads would let us use 1/2 stars. Charlton's book is right on the cusp between 3 and 4 stars, but ultimately I couldn't round up. \n The cons, for me, were twofold. First, mechanically, I found the text to be agonizing to follow in some places. It is almost worst that this is an inconsistant problem, because the rest of the time you can get a sense of Charlton's emerging voice. Future books will not suffer this problem, and you can tell. Charlton can tell a story, but that fact is buried in this first novel, and only shining on occasion. \n Secondly, and perhaps this is another writing advancement that will come in the future, there are far too many info dumps. In fact, this book is an amazing example of show, don't tell. There are so many cases where if Blake had stepped back and given pause, he could have demonstrated his point, leaving the reader to \"discover\" the truth on their own (and therefore feel both a minor sense of accomplishment, as well as feel more involved in the story). \n I read the book in five days, with a real life interrupting. In my world, that means the book was a quick read, so caveat lector.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 09 17:53:46 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Tue May 29 05:26:07 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue May 29 05:26:07 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu May 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "3754026", "review_id": "866d1ca592b95890e72e909039f63393", "rating": 4, "review_text": "AWESOME. This trilogy certainly doesn't get the popular attention it deserves. While other popular fantasy authors get touted for their complex magic systems, Weeks dives in with characters and plows straight through with action and a little emotional tugging to give you a satisfying read. Please don't take my stars on this series compared to past recommendations as valuing this book less - I've been too liberal with stars in the past, and this series deserves top notches. Think epic fantasy without the million cast member, 20 volume set.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 28 06:07:58 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 15 15:21:43 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Wed Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "3754016", "review_id": "ed63e251366dab13ebaea49e47d0f27e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Weeks is awesome, that's all I can say. Fantasy full of magic and swords (but oddly, not swords and sorcery ;) ), the middle book in this series takes the decent start book one gave us and catapults you into a streamlined epic fantasy. Awesome fun brain candy that isn't caught up in how cool it is.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 28 06:07:55 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 15 05:55:54 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Mon Dec 06 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "7165300", "review_id": "cd4e03961b016436dbc0857f6e505593", "rating": 5, "review_text": "How to do this without spoiling? It has a maa-aap... \n Seriously, this was a good old fashioned fun read. Weeks hit his stride from the gates, giving a pace that never lagged or left you wondering when the next interesting chapter was going to be. So go, and enjoy it or something!", "date_added": "Mon Aug 23 12:37:02 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 28 06:07:07 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sat Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Mon Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "2767793", "review_id": "a0eda1e3da079acf0b1edf93e11a7b83", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Sadly, I found the third book a little disappointing. The first half of the book spent far more time than it should have trying to bring everyone up to speed, leaving the last half feeling a bit rushed. There were reveals, and things you wondered about this world were finally explained, but the good moments were evenly balanced out by the droll, leaving me with a 3 star review where I expected to give better.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 16 08:57:34 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 23 12:35:33 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Thu Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "68429", "review_id": "f0ca07b21cf720ed42d4df7846fd1ca6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "You read fantasy like this for the action, the excitement, the pace. \n Well of Ascension does not disappoint. Part 5 alone is worth the whole book. If you the first one in the series was ok/good, the second is worth reading. 'nuff said.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 16 08:57:10 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 22 13:47:11 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Thu Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Fri Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "944076", "review_id": "2f74a4b05f98b19b787eb620635e089e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A solid conclusion to the trilogy, Abercrombie did a nice job of bringing this story to a close with just enough loose ends for future additions. Not the place to start reading Abercrombie, but a much more active read than book two.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 16 07:47:09 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 09 17:51:33 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Mon Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "902715", "review_id": "2cef01643873fe995db131df3c7d0ccf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Perhaps not as whiz bang as the first book in the trilogy, Before They Are Hanged was still a good read. As with any trilogy, this book was more about the getting from point A (book 1) to point B (book 3, presumably, where there is resolution), full of nice bits of action and the building up of tension for the third book.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 10 11:33:35 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 16 07:46:29 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Fri Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sat Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "2992765", "review_id": "7058740af8840ff477fd176c4a4fa9a3", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I'm 2 or 3 chapters into the book. Hoping the horrific data drops stop soon. \n [update] \n I just can't do it. The book is beyond my ken for enjoyability.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 06 15:47:04 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 15 15:23:47 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Tue Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "68428", "review_id": "f0f84f7a4e7a1f1e1387bddb2a9ae056", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I've tried to read a few Sanderson books, but this is the first I've actually followed through all the way. While slow to start (beginnings, although not exposition full, are a little awkward/slow to build), Sanderson provides a stunningly well thought out magic system (something he's known for and for good reason), as well as high paced, well written fantasy action. If the beginning of the book had captivated me a little quicker I would have given it all five stars, but as it is I was still more than happy with the book.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 04 16:24:17 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 10 11:31:15 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Fri Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sun Jul 04 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "478f3accbbb16d817fd90732215b6391", "book_id": "7235533", "review_id": "7198a0c42aed786d11c32c730faa2d82", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Let's see if I can do this without spoilers. \n Some reviewers have complained that there were characters who's arc's were too predictable. Sit back and ask yourself, why are you reading an epic scope fantasy novel? Is it because you expect arc's to break the mold? Or because you're looking for a fresh story that follows certain guidelines and then runs wild? Epic fantasies garner certain expectations, and this book is no different. \n Sanderson's first book in the series isn't necessarily the best piece of fantasy out there (sorry), but it plays to your expectations perfectly and with enough excitement to keep the pace going throughout the book. It took me a bit longer than normal to slough through this 1000 page behemoth, but I finished it happily and asking questions that we all know the next book won't answer. \n Well played, Mr. Sanderson. \n Fantasy readers preferring large scale stories (though not necessarily with large casts) will enjoy this book.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 04 13:08:40 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 26 14:35:44 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fd379cf294fc1937e41f3f7df3c9eabe", "book_id": "30183", "review_id": "c373dc933d479b37800d2f783830f326", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I absolutely loved this book, it is a great precursor for the rest of the series. Though at the same time, I can't see how its going to last what like 11 books? But I'm excited to find out :)", "date_added": "Wed Jun 20 16:19:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 11 18:37:16 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Nov 06 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sat Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fd379cf294fc1937e41f3f7df3c9eabe", "book_id": "1", "review_id": "6ac83f76db4557c21311a94fc6c6f90d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I absolutely loved the entire HP series.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 20 16:16:23 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 30 02:35:05 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "92b4a378f7007946263f655b23b6f639", "book_id": "2248573", "review_id": "9c9d1d8ad76ae8b6d77a395f9d67bc66", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was in great anticipation of this book. It took me longer than what i thought it would to finish it. For me it started off alittle slow and focused alot around Eragons cousin Roran. There was only 1 real battle through which nothing happened. The book picked up towards the end and then it was really good, I couldnt put it down at that point. There was alot of information that was given to the reader that they never would've come up with on there own. There was one major twist and that was it. I found out at the end of the book that there's gonna be a fourth and final book in this series. I was truly glad to read about that because i wasnt happy with the ending to this book. I will be in anticipation for the final book because thats where everything will come to a final ending. \n Until then!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 23 12:27:03 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 19 11:38:41 -0800 2008", "read_at": "Thu Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "92b4a378f7007946263f655b23b6f639", "book_id": "444304", "review_id": "3833f5c020d9fdba13515200f940bb14", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Somebody on here told me to read this book and at first i was apprehensive about it but i enjoyed it. I was upset that it ended where it did and now i have to get the other books to find out how it continues, but it was an adventurous childrens series book. It kept my adult mind wondering also. I recommend this book to children and to young adults who like fantasy books. I will definitly be reading the rest of this series. \n P.S. The movie was cute too!", "date_added": "Sat Oct 18 14:10:09 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 23 12:14:27 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "92b4a378f7007946263f655b23b6f639", "book_id": "21787", "review_id": "5df6b3a90af349eeb1ae400e1d1e8bf3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked the book so much more than the movie. There was so much more detail than what you got from the movie. A fairy tale none the less but a fairy tale that adults can enjoy.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 06 15:10:11 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 06 15:12:01 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "92b4a378f7007946263f655b23b6f639", "book_id": "460328", "review_id": "f86eb33e492384ffd64a288fe31dbd48", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed this book! The author catches you from the beginning and holds it until the end. I'm not big on fantasies but this one was great. I laughed,cried,and even found myself get alittle irritated throughout this book. \n I recommend this to any female who likes a little fantasy every now and then!", "date_added": "Thu May 22 16:42:38 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 04 16:45:16 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "92b4a378f7007946263f655b23b6f639", "book_id": "43763", "review_id": "29a0cf0d865f3729e8bdd5bc9dc8abea", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I started this book already having seen the movie and pretty much knowing what was gonna happen. However,although the movie was a visual for the book it was so different. There were so many different points in the book than the movie. The ending wasn't the same as the movie and they changed a few things for the movie. I enjoyed the book more than the movie. \n The relationship between Lestat,Louis and Claudia was powerful. It lasted throughout the book. The need for companionship during the times and for the type of people they were was emotional. The visuals that the book gave were vivid. \n I recommend this book to people who love a good vampire story.", "date_added": "Thu May 22 16:42:09 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 30 12:54:29 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sat Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "92b4a378f7007946263f655b23b6f639", "book_id": "136251", "review_id": "9dc36f56a8eb6850b10395b319df50fb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This whole series was very good. From beginning to the end i couldn't wait for the next ones to come out. This was an excellent end to that series. I won't say what happened incase someone hasn't read it and wants to but WOW!", "date_added": "Sun Apr 13 15:37:58 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 27 13:43:38 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "92b4a378f7007946263f655b23b6f639", "book_id": "1", "review_id": "2854848d391515cca09adaf58f9ede4f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Almost over. I don't think i can handle the suspense of wondering what is going to happen.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 13 15:37:35 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 28 04:13:36 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "92b4a378f7007946263f655b23b6f639", "book_id": "2", "review_id": "e1fc27565b4e9c10c2a41a7ae867016c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have nothing bad to say about the Harry Potter series. I love every book and couldn't wait for the others. Too bad they must end", "date_added": "Sun Apr 13 15:37:11 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 27 16:34:45 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "92b4a378f7007946263f655b23b6f639", "book_id": "3", "review_id": "5a0ae2473743d3c68b92e911644ed724", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Reading this series made me feel like a child again. I was excited in this first book. I watched the movies before i read this book and was happy that i did. I had face to the characters. I knew who they were and it made the books so much better to have an actual visual. The books had so much more in them then the movies did but the movies were good too!", "date_added": "Sun Apr 13 15:34:40 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 27 16:46:23 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "92b4a378f7007946263f655b23b6f639", "book_id": "2337147", "review_id": "7a41b5cd116ca0471a23a20a653ad537", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I thought it was a very good book. I was alittle bored with it around the middle and skimmed through it alittle but it picked up again. Macguire gave an insight to the life of the wicked witch. He gave her a voice and made you see the story from a different perspective. I felt bad for the witch.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 02 16:23:25 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri May 02 09:52:18 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "144ca9947d2cac5fa8d09f8854beeb7b", "book_id": "82192", "review_id": "a1c2f77e28e59124c7e7612362d6deb3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "My husband recommended this book. I wasn't so sure I could get into the fantasy/\"Arthurian saga\" stuff. Once I started, and came to know Mary Stewart's cast of characters, I could NOT put the book down! Loved learning more about the derivation of my son's name while enjoying an excellent tale of love, battles, missteps, diplomacy, servitude, honor, and legend.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 27 15:05:17 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 27 15:15:07 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ba85197c8d24e40073ea439cd7529370", "book_id": "18166416", "review_id": "77720b6f960174a1cb7e84bbecfb2074", "rating": 4, "review_text": "i love jeff erno books and have read almost most of them and have enjoyed everyone so far loved this book it kept me gripped until the end cant wait for the next saga of this story", "date_added": "Sat Oct 05 05:18:59 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 17 00:57:34 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Oct 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "52ab75d4a37ef1cfd51707c795617247", "book_id": "1612302", "review_id": "4809a9c851e0644842fc8a110284d60e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "An enchanting tale, full of literary gems.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 26 02:34:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 15 03:01:56 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 15 03:01:56 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "972db32297c2b02db61cb0d3666081f7", "book_id": "1316617", "review_id": "1cdd6dc8f479f7e97c457ef2ed91a95a", "rating": 1, "review_text": "really I won't consider this a book!!! I'm really shocked by it!!! it has no plot, nothing really happens throughout the book! disappointed :(", "date_added": "Wed Jun 29 01:28:48 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 20 11:08:37 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Nov 20 11:08:37 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "972db32297c2b02db61cb0d3666081f7", "book_id": "18243700", "review_id": "b47c09a2d16ffda5d98c538e0464dc8a", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I really hope that Aelin meet some of the characters in this book in the latest installment :D", "date_added": "Sun May 29 12:25:28 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 29 01:17:19 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 29 01:17:19 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "972db32297c2b02db61cb0d3666081f7", "book_id": "28260587", "review_id": "7cac37f26b4f98eeb2a2704013ee656b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I really was disappointed by this book! the big is HUGE and BORING! I have nothing more to say!!!", "date_added": "Sun May 29 12:25:25 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 25 03:24:18 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Nov 25 03:24:18 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Nov 21 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "972db32297c2b02db61cb0d3666081f7", "book_id": "41899", "review_id": "bb03e363779276bb8d42072353c69581", "rating": 1, "review_text": "!!!!!!???###!#", "date_added": "Sun May 29 11:27:17 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 23 00:28:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Oct 23 00:28:03 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Oct 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "972db32297c2b02db61cb0d3666081f7", "book_id": "17927395", "review_id": "8428bae2a9d35caa38a76404313f57b7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Can't wait for the next installment!!! I loved it especially the ending, the book was a bit boring in the middle bas the ending was great :)", "date_added": "Sun Mar 27 01:53:09 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 19 23:24:34 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Nov 20 23:24:34 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "972db32297c2b02db61cb0d3666081f7", "book_id": "16096824", "review_id": "157fdfc99bf049ac64a19666610b8181", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It's way toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo long!!!!!", "date_added": "Sun Mar 27 01:53:02 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 15 10:48:27 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Nov 15 10:48:27 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "972db32297c2b02db61cb0d3666081f7", "book_id": "23381014", "review_id": "8a8bb97c5f08e5976ba7a547dc5b975a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I'll miss you George :S", "date_added": "Wed Feb 17 02:13:34 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 05 05:43:20 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jun 05 05:43:20 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "972db32297c2b02db61cb0d3666081f7", "book_id": "18006496", "review_id": "a593874f6cd42807a4644dfd24c8f179", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really loved this book & the characters! I was often shaken by the emotions the characters have been going through!", "date_added": "Tue Dec 01 23:29:05 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 19 06:33:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jun 19 06:33:30 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "972db32297c2b02db61cb0d3666081f7", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "8d5b5ed41068536b31336d5d972b9f7b", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I didn't like this book at all!!!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 04 00:45:29 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 25 06:20:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jun 25 06:20:43 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon May 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "972db32297c2b02db61cb0d3666081f7", "book_id": "20613470", "review_id": "1d699508c28d0496ffe591f20c08e295", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I loved the ending! the beginning is a bit boring", "date_added": "Wed Jul 22 14:45:24 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 15 15:53:06 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 15 15:53:06 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "972db32297c2b02db61cb0d3666081f7", "book_id": "23381007", "review_id": "78ea537e5c394e6107d35d6fc618fa93", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I really wanted it to be a book instead of this separate tales", "date_added": "Sun Jul 19 10:46:19 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 03 04:22:11 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Sep 03 04:22:11 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "972db32297c2b02db61cb0d3666081f7", "book_id": "8667848", "review_id": "0c486824752a8c8d1be532fc06d7e741", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not bad!", "date_added": "Sun Jun 28 00:28:51 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu May 11 14:45:31 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu May 11 14:45:31 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "972db32297c2b02db61cb0d3666081f7", "book_id": "6644117", "review_id": "c4ad77a8c00073952f6ee193b8940f0e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Kinda boring", "date_added": "Thu Jun 25 05:37:42 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 05 03:56:06 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Aug 05 03:56:06 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "972db32297c2b02db61cb0d3666081f7", "book_id": "18660669", "review_id": "602c540b640f59cebea613c9625fdfc4", "rating": 2, "review_text": "not bad for a light series book", "date_added": "Mon Apr 06 03:11:28 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 17 05:54:05 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Apr 17 05:54:05 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d301b981c2856f63ac0e7caa9694ef4a", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "41cc74d26aab816496dd7855d2ac2499", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I very much want to see a movie of this book.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 08 07:30:01 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 08 07:30:18 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d301b981c2856f63ac0e7caa9694ef4a", "book_id": "66693", "review_id": "fd206b20832791010809ff12761e3760", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Okay, so this was my boyfriend's favorite book when he was 15. He said I had to read it. I like fantasy, but even after reading the following books to try to catch the excitement he must have felt so many years ago, I was left pretty cold. Can anyone explain why this book is a best-seller?", "date_added": "Wed Mar 11 04:19:04 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 11 04:20:49 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc8c48d41aea15e76fad1d9cb6efde7a", "book_id": "186074", "review_id": "0831232d00be8e74b0170ec15eb7b53a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Brilliant. Would highly recommend this and the second book", "date_added": "Mon Oct 22 00:13:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 23 03:11:53 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Feb 06 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc8c48d41aea15e76fad1d9cb6efde7a", "book_id": "1237461", "review_id": "f954d7003b3660f366d85608a86dfd2c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I was given a set of Christine Feehan's Carpathian novels, and I started with Book 1, Dark Prince. If I hadn't been given the set, I wouldn't have finished this story, or looked at the others. I found the writing so stiff, and stilted, and while I could go with the hero, I just couldn't get into Raven's character at all. Maybe it was the constant reference to her youth and innocence, or maybe it was her marked discomfort for any form of physical contact with other people. I just didn't believe her. I came across her again in Jacques' story later, and she was totally different and credible - nothing at all like the character in this book.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 22 00:03:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 23 02:53:50 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Oct 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc8c48d41aea15e76fad1d9cb6efde7a", "book_id": "108385", "review_id": "dbcc8ea3469f2b5f7f7b74adad3350a7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked Aiden, but there could have been so much more made of him and his extraordinary power, rather than playing it down to accommodate this this immature, ungrateful, dumb female who really didn't deserve him. She spoiled the story for me, big time.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 21 23:49:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 23 03:12:39 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc8c48d41aea15e76fad1d9cb6efde7a", "book_id": "180426", "review_id": "8c327e547feeb4ac68970c491a9acd65", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Okay, I read it, and it had more life to it than the title I read before it; but I can't say I got right into it. I did like the characterization of the guy - don't blame him for having a crazy side after his imprisonment and deprivation therapy. But Shea.... jury's out.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 21 23:44:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 23 03:13:16 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc8c48d41aea15e76fad1d9cb6efde7a", "book_id": "27003", "review_id": "188630b9d884a9f58e525c91eae623b3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very clever, and thoroughly entertaining! Am not going to give anything away. If you know all the old favorite characters, you will love this book. Enjoy", "date_added": "Mon Sep 03 15:59:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 23 02:56:18 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc8c48d41aea15e76fad1d9cb6efde7a", "book_id": "5509920", "review_id": "3b3d0df7a0001a86be4885a4ebbd2b49", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed it. I was originally worried about pairing him with Gwen the Timid, but it worked.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 03 15:58:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 23 03:13:18 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc8c48d41aea15e76fad1d9cb6efde7a", "book_id": "7519472", "review_id": "e8a4218eee7649de82bc5f97a900b7cf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "What do I think? I liked the part that was Gideon & Scarlet's story. \n Came to detest Aeron (and Olivia too) in another part; and am hoping like mad that his little demon plaything who isn't his daughter, whom he hasn't known for centuries, and who isn't his mate, but who's apparently worth more to him than his friends, never shows up in another story. \n Shame. Aeron's selfishness dragged this story down for me. Found myself wishing he'd never been restored to life.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 03 15:58:35 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 28 14:27:28 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc8c48d41aea15e76fad1d9cb6efde7a", "book_id": "476494", "review_id": "bf63b7c6715f53806ad322ef94d9092e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "with the other Gena Showalter books I've read, I've always had a strong sense of setting - could see it, feel it, smell it. I had no sense of setting at all with this one. There was no sense of this world that is Atlantis and which is 'shown' so vividly in the author's other stories. and I didn't get any sense of solidarity or cohesion among Darius' followers. I'm used to finishing a Gena Showalter book and being so overwhelmed with just how many really great 'remember the bit where...' moments there were to relive. But with this one I struggled to think of any, and even then, the only part in the whole book where I culd honestly say I could actually 'see/feel' any of the characters, was the moment after Darius had taken his first bite of a chocalte eclair. That moment. Out of the whole book. Maybe I was expecting too much of this story. Maybe my penchant for dragons raised my hopes too high - I don't know. But it's the first book I've read from this author that I was struggling to stay with.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 03 15:57:50 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 09 02:04:01 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Nov 09 02:04:01 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc8c48d41aea15e76fad1d9cb6efde7a", "book_id": "304027", "review_id": "5afa8c11ea7887e2a91c73155396aaf3", "rating": 2, "review_text": "HATED the ending. Did not like Jane at all; am SO over reading shitkickers; beat feet and the acronyms. On one hand there's this ancient feeling of formality in the Brothers' dialogue; then next thing you know they're talking like teenaged punks. The other thing I did not like about this story was how much it sold Vishous short. He deserved better than Jane; and he deserved a living mate at the end of the story. His backstory was okay, but lacked the impact of Z's. The whole thing with V's feelings for Butch just struck me as contrived and unnecessary. Then there are things like \"I'm going to food up\" (Manny) - excuse me? Who the hell speaks like that? \n The positives about this book - signiicantly less of the lessers, thank you; thank you; thank you. By the time I'd finished book 2 in this series, I had started skipping right over the sections that dealt with the lessers. When you've read one or two of those sections you've basically got the picture; nothing new there yada yada. \n The relationship between V and the Scribe Virgin - a surprise and one I was happy to roll with; though then we find out V has a twin (and I'm assuming he doesn't know about it) and I'm betting that she is going to be paired off with Manny - that strong medico who - we are told more than once in V's story - would get on well with various Brothers. \n Overall - very disappointing. I can't honestly say that I liked it, because I didn't.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 17 02:58:03 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 23 03:03:06 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc8c48d41aea15e76fad1d9cb6efde7a", "book_id": "16180725", "review_id": "868a997bf84dbec10f2c87e2cf6a5781", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I don't remember reading about the two main characters getting together to make a baby, but I gathered from something towards the end of the story that they must have, because she thinks she's pregnant. \n And the ending was a non-event. Don't think I want to read the next book to find out if they do get together. \n It was a dissapointing read.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 07 15:42:36 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 13 13:35:34 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc8c48d41aea15e76fad1d9cb6efde7a", "book_id": "13561895", "review_id": "15c0117844e6946229dd7765cae7d75f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It was okay, but the h was supremely irritating most of the time, For the most part, I was struggling to care whether she achieved her goal or not.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 03 05:42:53 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 28 10:51:21 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc8c48d41aea15e76fad1d9cb6efde7a", "book_id": "3295695", "review_id": "0527668ac7b77247dcec12b87ed5a92e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is my first book by this author. Enjoyed feargus, and there were many aspects of Annwyl that I liked, but she irritated me too. It was a light read, but didn't distract me from my real world. I have the other books in this series, and will continue reading so my friends' money isn't wasted. Having said that, I wouldn't fret too much ifbi'd missed reading this story.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 03 05:38:14 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 05 03:53:05 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Dec 05 03:53:05 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Tue Dec 04 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc8c48d41aea15e76fad1d9cb6efde7a", "book_id": "8699839", "review_id": "5ff4e35135aa439ec4e5554946fb34a7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked the story concept, but it seemed drawn out in the telling, and the ending seemed a bit up in the air; and I'm not sure how the deal was done before the hero could deal with the deal-makers (sorry, don't want to give away plot/story).", "date_added": "Sat Dec 01 14:56:44 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 07 15:39:32 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Dec 04 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc8c48d41aea15e76fad1d9cb6efde7a", "book_id": "13274737", "review_id": "f38cf1347a2125820480b798d4c02780", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked it, but found it a bit drawn out.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 01 14:51:13 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 01 14:52:09 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Nov 26 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc8c48d41aea15e76fad1d9cb6efde7a", "book_id": "15758271", "review_id": "f1b03dfba68abbb5713c3d0c9088b09c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved this book. It's an entertaining read with a nice little twist or two. The characters were well developed, the story was interesting, the internal and external conflicts very well drawn, and the author's writing style was engaging. Every scene in the book drove the story foreward. Loved it, loved it, loved it", "date_added": "Sat Dec 01 14:47:26 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 03 15:47:02 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc8c48d41aea15e76fad1d9cb6efde7a", "book_id": "13574102", "review_id": "c6554f59145b4e028ba4c39f84c29865", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I nearly gave this one a miss. By the time I'd read the rest of the series, I'd learned to loathe Pestilence. Even the couple of times we glimpsed a hint of the happy-go-luck let's-party Reseph, I thought it was Pest just messing with his siblings' heads. Beyond any hope of redemption, he was. \n I was given the book by my daughter who didn't know I wasn't interested in Pestilence. \n I loved it, and it's my favourite one of the series. The story opening - the way the author showed me Reseph stripped bare of memories, learned behaviours, knowledge of who or what he was - was an effective technique that disarmed me of my prejudices about Pestilence. The heroine was well written, and the dialogue - particularly between the two main characters - 'sparkled' on so many levels. The internal conflicts both characters faced, and the external conflicts lurking in the background then drawing nearer created a wonderful tension that built throughout the story. The relationship and its growth was well-written and very credible. \n I loved the pace and structure of this story. While I enjoyed the full on energy and activity in the other books in this series, this one felt far more grounded, and real, than the others without diminishing the paranormal element. \n To be honest, by the time the siblings and their mates showed up, I was so rooting for Reseoh that I wanted the slap the siblings and mates around her ears and tell them to grow up. Of the four siblings, Reseph's character arc was the most significant. \n Thank you to Ms Ione for a beautifully crafted story. I'm looking forward to reading Reaver's and Harvest's story.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 27 14:44:15 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 03 16:35:31 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc8c48d41aea15e76fad1d9cb6efde7a", "book_id": "626688", "review_id": "72482d0189d7987f002c52a334aee9b6", "rating": 1, "review_text": "So, I gather from the overall ratings that most other people liked this book. I didn't. It usually takes me one night to read a book. I had to spread the reading of this one out over five nights because it was too torturous to do in one sitting. I certainly haven't read the four preceding books in the series, and after this one - I won't be. \n It was character soup with too much talk about other characters I'd never even heard of. There were tracts of dialogue that left me wondering who the heck was actually speaking - and after rereading those sections three or four times, I gave up and moved on - still in the dark. For me, there wasn't sufficient focus on the development of the emotional connection between the hero and heroine; and there was no explanation at all as to how Acheron actually saved the day at the end. Had the story been better, I might have been curious about Acheron - curious enough to try another book in the series, but I was too dissatisfied to feel curious. \n My biggest regret is that I bought this book. I'm one of those people who like to help fiction authors by buying their book rather than borrowing it from a library. I use libraries as research centres - a place where I can go and use their reference materials for research. My local library has several books by this author, one of them titled Acheron. They're always sitting on the shelf - every time I go to the library. Obviously not moving. I can understand why. And I won't be touching them. Out of curiosity, I browsed their fiction shelves this morning to see if they had books by other authors I like - they do, but not on their shelves. When I enquired at the lending services counter, I was told that I would need to reserve those titles because they always turn around and head right out the doors again as soon as they are returned by a borrower. It made me feel much better - knowing that I wasn't alone in my reaction to this author's work.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 10 15:16:56 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 10 15:38:20 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc8c48d41aea15e76fad1d9cb6efde7a", "book_id": "4497978", "review_id": "f606f377d77809611c277140649a5111", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this one, particularly the conflict within Shade himself. Runa was very likeable and credible, as were the other main characters with the exception of Roag who was certainly motivated, I guess, but one of those villains who can't be redeemed and is therefore not at all 'likeable'. A thoroughly enjoyable read.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 30 01:43:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 04 13:56:40 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Nov 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc8c48d41aea15e76fad1d9cb6efde7a", "book_id": "2679633", "review_id": "248495a8497a0209359db47aa5d25b0a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Eidolon is great, as a brother; a doctor; a friend and (natch) lover. I did find myself skipping over whole tracts of Tayla's inner dialogue at times - seemed a bit repetitive and slowed the story down for me, but a really good story just the same. Am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 30 01:43:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 04 13:59:54 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Nov 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Oct 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "be3326e6bd4d83def57f502f6904b090", "book_id": "8667848", "review_id": "8dd3f02c8004244df33b03300e57dfc1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Enjoyable. I'll read the next one.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 12 20:13:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 19 18:55:26 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3cb38531c6aab7bcae3c26455b763fe6", "book_id": "6325285", "review_id": "f3a4d39354d756efbbfa8369ca55097f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Kirjoitin Cafe Voltaire -blogiin Rubiininpunasta nain: \"On kiinnostavaa, etta Gier on paattanyt sijoittaa tarinansa Englantiin eika Saksaan, vaikka romaani on saksankielinen. Onko Englannin historiasta tullut osa populaarikulttuuria ihan toisella tapaa kuin muiden Euroopan maiden historiasta?\" \n http://www.avaincafevoltaire.blogspot...", "date_added": "Wed Aug 08 08:31:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 31 10:14:39 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Oct 20 07:29:27 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3cb38531c6aab7bcae3c26455b763fe6", "book_id": "7823592", "review_id": "2fef3f7c42a49968a3a792c973e70b43", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Grimm's fairy tales, but for teenagers. Original and exciting and I want to read the next book on the series as well. Almost four stars.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 08 03:57:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 08 04:00:11 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3cb38531c6aab7bcae3c26455b763fe6", "book_id": "7163862", "review_id": "cf759950b501ef3ba08e0815e5f18d60", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amazing futuristic novel set in Johannesburg.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 08 03:41:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 08 03:44:08 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3cb38531c6aab7bcae3c26455b763fe6", "book_id": "11010899", "review_id": "b4be510f9b7e65363bb5bbc5828ae5ca", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ihan mahtava! Kirjoitan tasta kritiikin Onnimanniin. Trilogian avausosa. En malta odottaa jatkoa, onneksi toinen osa on jo ruotsiksi julkaistu.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 08 03:30:31 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 22 03:58:27 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3cb38531c6aab7bcae3c26455b763fe6", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "b24d4ae7d86be2b03559e47876c6d866", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The fantasy world was really nicely done. Morgenstern is also a visual artist and you could feel that in the way she discribes the circus and the feelings of the characters. \n This is a revue I wrote in Finnish about the book in Cafe Voltaire blog: \n http://avaincafevoltaire.blogspot.com...", "date_added": "Wed Aug 01 05:10:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 19 06:19:02 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "559d843b319087e12f48282e386e401f", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "33da2fbaae7d9c5d2e36e15decb7df5a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Tyvarr lite lang startstracka. Avsaknad av magi i sprak och berattande trots bra grundide och kanske lite val forutsagbar. Den fick tre stjarnor for att jag verkligen ville tycka om den.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 02:29:31 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 14 08:32:37 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Aug 26 10:59:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Aug 09 14:29:24 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "b1360d644d3f5a5a604d6fcfbf772aec", "book_id": "6339664", "review_id": "21d056418de072270ddb80ea387cc786", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Complete rip off of Twilight it wasn't even funny. The only reason it got a star was because it was still readable, but really the Twilight similarities were ridiculous, and almost intolerable. If you like Twilight sure you'll love it, but copy cats aren't my style.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 18 23:44:20 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 02 05:03:28 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b1360d644d3f5a5a604d6fcfbf772aec", "book_id": "8962", "review_id": "c5b841ce7cb6b32fd852cf61fcb4c85c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I saw the movie and I m a total Josh Hutcherson fan, (Steve) so i'm gonna start the books! Wish me luck!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 03:45:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 05 02:28:55 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b1360d644d3f5a5a604d6fcfbf772aec", "book_id": "7171637", "review_id": "b026c7246ea587238be063155e4b4463", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A M A Z I N G !!! It's truly amazing!!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 03:30:51 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 05 03:32:06 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8df21fb8f286950fc75617c765582c41", "book_id": "1158967", "review_id": "c085878c6b6adbea5b88e9a6b07b9131", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I thouroughly enjoyed this book. I got it at the Library and it was hard to put it down. I am hoping that in the future there will be a sequel to it. I loved the characters.", "date_added": "Wed May 28 15:12:15 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed May 28 15:14:04 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Wed May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8df21fb8f286950fc75617c765582c41", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "9c6820b6e9feaaccaacac815f3539545", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Well I was on SCS forums and read a lot of hype about this book so I seen it at Wal-mart oneday and picked it up. I liked it. It is a young adult novel but I still liked it.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 02 09:03:18 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 15 14:10:22 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dcaf63d82422e351590aba2b36950a17", "book_id": "24358297", "review_id": "6f66f07bb8d4e47c3313aaa45c585afb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I just read the 3 books that are currently out in this series in 2 days and I'm going through withdrawal already waiting for the next one.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 22 00:20:09 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 22 20:00:56 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dcaf63d82422e351590aba2b36950a17", "book_id": "23691251", "review_id": "17386c3c1ae398d5c6cfd8838d3bd134", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amaze balls I'm so in love with this series. I found it by accident and I can't wait for more.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 22 00:19:54 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 22 13:30:09 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Aug 22 13:30:09 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dcaf63d82422e351590aba2b36950a17", "book_id": "22873996", "review_id": "b5bf44243457842a76bdc84104663d1a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amazing. One of the best books I've read in a long while. Chapter 6 I swear has to be one of the best and most hilarious chapters ever written about what a girl needs during that horrible week each month. Loved every second of this book and can't wait to read he others!!!!!", "date_added": "Fri Aug 21 16:14:35 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 22 07:01:22 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Aug 22 07:01:22 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dcaf63d82422e351590aba2b36950a17", "book_id": "13421819", "review_id": "9698b4b0a5c3c6e02adb92d56546e6a9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book had me hooked from page one so good starting the second now can't wait to see how it goes the first one ended leaving me in emotional turmoil so please let the next one fix it", "date_added": "Fri Feb 01 04:37:41 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 04 16:46:22 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Dec 04 16:45:04 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dcaf63d82422e351590aba2b36950a17", "book_id": "11947156", "review_id": "66342fdb6dd1267c825915cf221f1854", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I have to say this is one of the more un-realistic werewolf books I've read. For one the main characters literally only know each other for 3 days before they are madly in love and she is ready to move to an entirely new country leaving everything she's ever known behind for him. I just could believe in their relationship it was simply boring. The only other thing is that the main heroine has these 2 friends that I swear I would have completely erased one of them and toned the other down if I could just to much they were really annoying. Not sure if I'm going to read the other in the series to see if it gets better or not. I just couldn't get into this one and had to push through it.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 29 11:11:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 17 09:58:02 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Apr 17 09:58:02 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dcaf63d82422e351590aba2b36950a17", "book_id": "11918", "review_id": "69fd7128caee74986251686570b9f064", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I read this book due to the fact syfy had a new show based from it and I'm addicted after only episode 3 so when I found that it was based off these books I decided to give them a try. While it is not the worst book I've ever read its not the greatest. I found myself skipping pages and generally wanting to reach the end as soon as possible. I don't think I'll be reading the rest but I will continue to watch the show I think it will be much more interesting than the book", "date_added": "Wed Jul 11 14:19:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 18 04:28:18 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Feb 18 04:28:18 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dcaf63d82422e351590aba2b36950a17", "book_id": "10941624", "review_id": "4abce70d5f59051c067943942356c96e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was ok. Everything moved kind of fast for me not enough discription on somethings and im still confused on it. but all in all it was a pretty good book.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 19 15:18:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 21 09:48:21 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jun 21 09:48:21 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dcaf63d82422e351590aba2b36950a17", "book_id": "13573795", "review_id": "e321c63992e2be0ec76465d47a8cc811", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Amazing book couldn't put it down once I started. perfect ending to the series!!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 19 15:14:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 16 11:08:40 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dcaf63d82422e351590aba2b36950a17", "book_id": "361943", "review_id": "b8f41003c75c1e4ce6712ccc41d01ecd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "really i got this just because i needed something to read and was shocked at how good it really was. i would love to reread this again and again but i can't at the moment cause my mother is holding it hostage so she can read it again. really good one of my must reads.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 16 13:27:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 09 12:44:54 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b54c83f02c748fe75ed309e1e12eace2", "book_id": "16170522", "review_id": "1c9abb06439080a85643bb7aef42f4b5", "rating": 2, "review_text": "jmyl n ykwn ldyn ktb qSS r`b `rby dhy lG@ qSSy@ mshwqh wlkn fy jmy` ktbth hnk slbytyn : tnskh l'rwH whdh l`bth , wltnqD fy lHbk@ ldrmy@", "date_added": "Fri Jun 28 07:01:03 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 28 07:02:35 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b54c83f02c748fe75ed309e1e12eace2", "book_id": "3503947", "review_id": "860b1e5fb4517e58d7527217d4dc1645", "rating": 4, "review_text": "rw'y@ swdwy@ lmstqbl 'swd \n lqry' lldktwr 'Hmd khld twfyq qd ySb bSdm@ llG@ lmstkhdm@ fy rwyth hdhh ... wl`l hdh hw lsbb lry'ys lTb`th khrj lmw'ss@ l`rby@ llTb`@ wlnshr Hyth kn lTb` wltwzy` hdhh lmr@ mn dr myryt nshr lrwy@ lshhyr@ (ndy lqtl) ltshwk blhnwk wlty tHwlt l~ fylm synmy'y shhyr mn bTwl@ brd byt ... \n lrwy@ 'b`d m tkwn `n `nwnh ldhy yHwy shkhry@ mbTn@ mn lmHtw~ Hyth 'n ywtwby flTwn hy lmdyn@ lfDl@ bynm ywtwby ldktwr 'Hmd khld hy 'b`d m tkwn `n dhlk ... tsyr lrwy@ fy khTyn mtwzyyn lbTlyn mn `lm zjjy wtHt sfly mm ythkrn b'yqwn@ lmwryz wlsd@ fy lry'`@ lkhld@ al@ lzmn wyswd fy l`lmyn dkhl ywtwby wkhrjh fsd 'khlqy Gyr msbwq whm ljmy` hw t`Ty md@ lflwjstyn lty tfSlhm `n lwq`.... lfrq byn bTly lrwy@ kbyr l 'n lrGb@ fy lt`lm 'w ltjryb hy lty tjm`hm fym b`d llHZ@ lSTdm fy lmjtm` lmSry b`d 50 `man wldhy yrh lrwy 'kthr swdan mn jmy` lkwbys lty r'ynh fy slsl@ 'flm lGrb crew ... \n lrwy@ jmyl@ bkl lmqyys l 'nh Sdm@ jdan fy lmHtw~ wfy l'lfZ b`D l'Hyn w'`tqd 'n hdh hw lhdf ldhy kn yhdf lyh lqS mn khll Hdth Sdm@ l`lh t`yd ldhm l~ lHy@ ... whn yw'kd lqS `l~ hdh bqwlh `l~ lsn 'Hd l'bTl : \" h'ntm 'wl y (...) qd nHdr bkm lHl Ht~ Srtm t'klwn lklb !.. lqd 'ndhrtkm 'lf mr@ .. Hkyt lkm nZryt mltws wjml Hmdn wnbwt 'wrwyl wh .j. wylz..lknkm fy kl mr@ tntshwn blHshysh wlkhmr lrkhyS@ wtnmwn ... lan 'n 't'rjH byn lHzn `l~ Hlkm ldhy hw Hly, wbyn lshmt@ fykm l'nkm lan fqT t`rfwn .. \" \n mlHZ@ 'khyr@ whmh jd ... l tns 'n lrwy@ ktbt qbl lthwr@ lmSryh !", "date_added": "Mon Jul 09 23:46:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 09 23:48:09 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3e6c3b92cc90df443925c58f8899be6e", "book_id": "13521", "review_id": "7cef8abfe2a179801cf94a5f4b0c4de2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not nearly as good as Wicked. The story seemed strained.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 24 14:38:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 24 14:39:39 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "35299885", "review_id": "021b268149efdabab6a388d6132729c7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Monsters Exist is a collection of 14 short stories from the worlds of horror and often the dark paranormal, written by a great assortment of horror-writing authors, most of whose names already strike fear in the reader! \"Kleaver, Buller, Demmer, Deadman...\" \n I'm commenting on each story and giving it a rating, apart from the overall rating of the whole anthology. \n \"Master Vermin\" by Wallace Boothill \n The anthology opens with an interesting piece that is different from what you'd define as horror. There is a significant bit of well-fitted gross descriptions in this story. I liked the suspense and how the ending was unexpected. It gives you a different kind of scary; a creepy thought rather than simply a scary story. \n Rating: 3.75 stars. \n \"Legend Trippers\" by Theresa Braun \n \"Like a clogged water pipe finally bursting, the images materialised.\" \n My second read for Braun, the story is about a myth of horned-creature called the \"Goatman\", who supposedly \"lure[s] victims to their death, straight into an oncoming train.\" A reporter trails a man called Jaxon because he, the reporter, believes that Jaxon has seen the Goatman, but Jaxon doesn't know what he's seen. Jaxon teams up with a waitress to find out what happened to her sister near the area where an accident had happened at an earlier time. \n The pace is slow at first and towards the middle, then picks up and makes a good ending. \n There are many quote-worthy bits and I love Braun's use of imagery. \n Rating: 4 stars. \n \"The Murder of Crows\" by S.J. Budd \n \"He felt death's close proximity that night, and this time it was coming for him.\" \n Barry, a taxi driver, has taken to killing a woman each night, for three nights in a row, until one woman gets into his car and his whole life changes. \n I loved the start, middle, and flow of this story but felt the ending was abrupt. I like the paranormal aspect, but felt that the main character or the author, or both, wanted to get the story over with. \n After a second reading, I'd give this story a 4-star rating. \n \"Wicked Congregation\" by Gary Buller \n \"Wicked Congregation\" is simply a wicked - pun intended - story! I loved it! \n One of the best stories in the anthology, Buller's piece takes an abandoned chapel for a setting. Narrated from the first person perspective of a High Peak Ranger, \"Wicked Congregation\" is about a remote town where Rangers have to make a sacrifice every two decades or all hell will break loose. \n \"Every twenty years they take a piece of our future so we may keep the rest.\" \n The flow, writing style and the suspense was well done. \n Rating: 5 stars \n \"Playing Dead\" by S.E. Casey \n I like Casey's choice of setting in this short story. I felt the story was a bit long, but I liked it \n Set in a carnival, Casey had me guessing throughout the story what the horror would be and what would happen. The story has this strong opening: \"Under the golden eye of Saturn, the only celestial light visible in the pre-night sky, the field vomited up a monstrosity.\" \n Rating: 4 stars. \n \"Lake Monster\" by Mr. Deadman \n \"The air was chilly and quiet, like a morgue, the sort of quiet that puts a keen emphasis on every sound, no matter how insignificant.\" \n Paranormal or not paranormal? This story keeps you guessing till the end. It's a bit different from the rest and there's a bit of comedy embedded in and some beautiful images. I truly enjoyed this one and didn't know what to think or expect throughout. \n Rating: 5 stars. \n \"Never Sleep Again\" by Calvin Demmer \n Sleep? Who wants to sleep? Definitely not me. Especially after reading this story! \n Another paranormal piece, I like that \"Never Sleep Again\" mixes mystery with creepy. I don't want to give anything else away. You just have to read it. \n Rating: 5 stars. \n \"The Voice from the Bottom of the Well\" by Philip W. Kleaver \n Smart, wicked, and creepy are the first words that come to mind when I read this piece by Kleaver. And \"Damn brilliant\". Short stories with children tend to be creepier than anything and Kleaver nailed it with \"The Voice from the Bottom of the Well\". His word choice and flow kept me on edge. I was terrified. \n When reading this short story, I covered my ears in the hopes that I won't be horrified, like I do when watching scary movies. \n Taking this story to a full length novel may also be plausible and it would make for a freaky scary movie. \n Rating: 5 stars. \n \"Eclipse at Wolfcreek\" by Sylvia Mann \n The story opens with a statement and reiteration of the anthology title \"Monsters exist.\" It then moves to naming the three types of monsters. My only problem with this story was that I felt there was some strong scientific jargon. \n Narrated from the perspective Buddy, the story is a tackles creepy differently as we get the description of Buddy's grandmother (you'll love her but she'll freak you out) and the setting. A house in the middle of nowhere. Buddy and his friend Prez go out hunting out of season in the woods near Buddy's home. Suffice to say, they should have listened to Buddy's grandma. \n Rating: 4.5 stars \n \"No. 7\" by William Marchese \n \"No. 7\" is an interesting piece mixing science fiction with the paranormal. There were some confusing parts during the confrontation but overall I enjoyed the story and the narration. It's not as scary as the rest but definitely worth reading. \n Rating: 3.5 stars \n \"Criatura\" by John Palisano \n With lots of dark humour, \"Criatura\" is a must-read scary and fairly gory story. Stranded in the middle of the desert at night, the narrator, Chuck, stumbles upon a creature that was only a myth told to children. I liked the way Palisano gave the reader background information about the \"Criatura\". \n Rating: 4.5 stars \n \"Bitten\" by Christopher Powers \n I couldn't pinpoint the era/timeline in which \"Bitten\" was set; it could be anything, though it felt like the 60's or 70's. I like how Powers weaved a story within a story, merging them at the end. \n Rating: 4.5 stars \n \"Kelpies\" by Leo X. Robertson \n Like \"Master Vermin\", this story isn't scary in terms of the content but the idea, it just leaves you thinking \"DAMN!\" \"No!\" \n It's one of the best pieces in Monsters Exist. It makes you wonder who the 'monster' is here. I thought the description of the kelpies was a little - too - weird though. Still, I kept thinking about the story several days after I finished it. \n Rating: 5 stars \n \"Bloodstream Revolution\" by M.R. Tapia \n The conclusion to the anthology, Tapia's \"Bloodstream Revolution\" has a historical fiction feel to it along with a little gory-paranormal. Reminiscent of the \"survival of the fittest\" idea, the story has a heartbreaking beginning. I could picture every single event quite well in this story. \n Rating: 4.5 stars \n Normally, it's hard to judge a full anthology or short story collection as there tend to be pieces that you dislike or like less than others. But the authors in the Monsters Exist anthology produced quality scary stories. Some I felt were a bit gory, there was significant profanity (fine with me but just mentioning that). What they all did was border on the dark side of the paranormal. \n I must say I enjoyed the different settings, ideas, and overall assortment of scary tales in this book. \n (Note to readers: There is adult content and cursing in the book) \n Overall rating for Monsters Exist: 5 stars! \n Note: I received a free copy of Monsters Exist from one of the authors in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 13 07:08:07 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 01 08:53:00 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Aug 30 14:26:13 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jul 13 07:08:08 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "33012175", "review_id": "2875f86006dce663b4156855ffc48a19", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"Creativity is as blurry as the line between fantasy and reality. It is not written in stone.\" \n Magora: The Bridge in the Fog by Marc Remus is the third instalment in the six-book Magora series. Unlike the first two, which can be read as standalones, The Bridge in the Fog requires background from previous books. In fact it starts right in the middle of the action! \n The Bridge in the Fog has a darker and eerier setting and feel as opposed to the first two books. Once again, Holly and her three friends Brian, Rufus, and Amanda, go back to Magora, world of art and painting and where they attend school. They travel to Magora through a painting. \n There are several ideas running through the story. Holly, a Gindar, which is like a bloodline for master painters, wonders if the evil Cuspidor, an unfinished Gindar, is her father. It scares her but it seems she is not the only one thinking that. Other students in her school have the same thought. \n Unfinished are paintings that were left incomplete by their artists, which means they roam in the form of pencil lines and need blood to become 'finished'. \n \"If a painter makes up something exclusively from his mind, it is creativity in its purest form.\" \n In the meantime, Holly learns that one of her favourite professors isn't teaching this year and sees her as depressed. With a little digging, Holly learns that professor LaPawnee is sad because the bridge to her world has been closed. \n More questions arise about Holly's grandfather, Grandpa Nikolas, who was the reason she had discovered Magora in the first place. Even though he had passed away, Holly learns that he may have created doubles from the real world, so she goes in search of grandfather's double. \n Magora: The Bridge in the Fog flew, rather than flowed, at a much faster pace than its predecessors, with tons of twists and turns. It was an absolute thrill! And I loved every bit of it! \n In his newest instalment, Remus adds expands his cast of characters and races, adding more to the world of Magora and increasing the mysteries. \n There were parts in the book when I was literally mumbling to myself \"No Way!\" and pretty much addressing the author in my mind. There were times when I was gaping, rereading parts just to be sure I read correctly. It looks like Remus has got lots of tricks up his sleeves and I can't wait to get my hands on the remaining three books! \n The Bridge in the Fog is about a hundred pages shorter than books 1 & 2, but the pace is a lot faster. \n As with the first two, Remus adds notes or quotes about art, writing, and creativity at the beginning of each chapter. The reader is still unsure who is saying these words, or whose thoughts they are, Holly's, the author's, or someone else entirely. It is worth noting, however, that these quotes take on a more personal aspect in Magora: The Bridge in the Fog. \n \"You might think creativity is something special, something that is far beyond your reach. But I believe that creativity is in every single one of us.\" \n Holly's self-doubt continues in the third instalment. Even though she is certain now that she is a Gindar, she still doubts her artistic abilities and herself in general. This aspect gives the protagonist a lot of realism, and makes the reader connect with her. \n I was hoping to see more of Brian, the sarcastic one in the group. I liked his creativity. He always makes me laugh. \n I haven't felt a thrill for a series in a very long time, not since the Harry Potter books were still in the publishing process. \n With Magora: The Bridge in the Fog, you won't be able to put it down! Trust me! \n Overall rating: Definitely 5 stars!", "date_added": "Fri May 26 06:53:20 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 15 14:42:24 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Sep 08 17:22:17 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Sep 07 08:27:45 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "28692955", "review_id": "2da8c40d675fce0a1db37628e4898c4c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "LOVE IT! \n Magora: The Gallery of Wonders is the first instalment in the Magora series by Marc Remus. \n Note: I read the second book first but just had to pick up the first one. Each can be read as a standalone, but you'll be making connections if you read both. \n Centred around Holly O'Flanigan, who is living with her distant and annoying relatives The Smoralls, Magora: The Gallery of Wonders opens with Holly seeing a fire breakout at her grandfather, Nikolas' house. We don't meet Nikolas because he dies at the beginning, but immediately after we are introduced the world of Magora, which Holly stumbles upon when she discovers a chest with a painting and the strange creature, Tenshi. \n \"S-s-seahorses?\" \n Had she actually seen flying seahorses in the tree? Holly jumped back up on her feet and grabbed the binoculars. Jittery, she focused them. There they were, three seahorses as big as cats, but they weren't ordinary seahorses. Their leathery tails were spiked with gigantic steel needles, and their bodies were protected by rusted armor. Metal helmets covered their heads and smoke steamed from their snouts. Their bulgy eyes gazed at Holly as if they could see her from the distance. \n Magora: The Gallery of Wonders is full of interesting characters, twists, events and adventures. Some parts are reminiscent of events from other fantasy books, but overall Remus has lots of creative ideas in there. \n From the beginning, the reader is introduced to Holly's friends, who will appear in the following books: Rufus, Brian and Amanda. \n For me, Brian was sarcastically adorable and just cracked me up as I read. I loved his character. I liked them all - may be not Amanda, but she's a love-hate-type of character. \n \"Everything about Amanda repulsed [Holly]. She was arrogant, gossipy, and only cared about her looks. Most of all, she was an extremely good painter. That just made matters worse.\" \n This is the reader's introduction to Amanda; however, having read the second book, I must note I liked the development of both Amanda's and Holly's characters in terms of friendship and trust. \n Character development is evident for the four main characters and continues as the books progress. \n The coolest thing about Magora: The Gallery of Wonders is the pace by which the author introduces the reader to Magora and the concepts in that realm. Having read book two, I was already aware of certain bits, but reading book one gave me a perspective and depth. \n Holly gaped with astonishment at two tiny paws covered with fluffy orange fur. Behind the paws, two frightened green eyes appeared. What followed looked like an orange koala with a humanoid face, like that of a child. It had pointy ears and short arms and legs. \n \"It's a Nukimai.\" Grandpa Nikolas had painted creatures he told her were called Nukimais many times, but Holly had always thought he had made them up. \n One of the things I liked about Holly is that she's smart and actually tries to think outside the box. This is evident in the Quadrennial Art Competition she enters towards the end of the book. She is also brave and sometimes funny. \n In Magora, the children attend Cliffony Art Academy, where Holly can finally pursue her love of art, which in the real world everyone has discouraged her from pursuing. Although she's told she's a Gindar, a rare kind of artist that can create living beings, Holly struggles with her brush strokes and her creations. \n Each chapter begins with a kind of author's note on art, painting and fantasy versus reality. Among the ones I liked is: \n \"The line between reality and fantasy has many shapes. It can be thick or thin, colourful or dull, wavy or straight, blurry or sharp. It is always changing.\" \n The chapter on Ravenscraig Lane reminded me of Diagon Alley from the Harry Potter books, especially the pastry shop where the Holly asks for marzipan griffins and the shop owner jumps around trying to catch them from his shop. Note: It's a mouthwatering chapter! \n Throughout the book, we see Holly struggle with her painting. She has always loved drawing and colouring BUT people have discouraged her saying she didn't have the talent. At Cliffony, there are things she could do, but others that she just seems to fail it. Holly constantly self-doubts her abilities, giving her character depth and making the reader sympathetic. It also makes room for a lot of character development. \n Overall, Magora: The Gallery of Wonders is a highly interesting, exciting and artistic first instalment in a new magical series. It is a middle grade-to-young adult fantasy, combining art, magic, adventure and excitement. It's highly recommended for all ages. You'll love it, trust me. \n \"The struggle to balance fantasy and reality is part of learning that the two can't exist without each other. Reality is fantasy and fantasy is reality. It all depends on the viewpoint. And the line becomes unimportant.\" \n Overall rating: 10 stars \n This review is also post on my Nadaness In Motion blog with pictures provided by the author (including the chapter banner and a black-and-white portrait of Holly) at: https://goo.gl/tKULQM", "date_added": "Fri May 12 12:47:28 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 04 11:54:16 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "34936154", "review_id": "c33aa350fd7946a6cad80eee8aef81f9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Note: I received a free copy of Lady Blackwing from its author Devorah Fox in exchange for an honest review. \n \"What would she write for her first entry?\" \n A character study of poor ole Ollie over there? Or, how about that Laundry Room Zombie Apocalypse? Mercedes twirled the pencil, the scene forming in her mind's eye. \n Lady Blackwing by Devorah Fox is a 25-page novella about Mercedes, a waitress who likes to write but never finishes a story. \n The short novella opens with Roger, a man who wants to write his big story and so buys an extravagant notebook, a brand of pencil known to have been used by John Steinbeck. He sits at a cafe and orders an espresso, \"The drink of famous writers who, if they didn't hang out in bars as had Hemingway, hung out in coffeehouses.\" \n Roger gets frustrated by his inability to write a single word and leaves his notebook and pencil on the cafe table and leaves. Although Roger's accumulation of items used by his favourite authors doesn't do anything for him, they do more than plenty for someone else. \n The opening character reminded me of myself, when I want to create the perfect setting to get my writing flowing but nothing actually happens. Writers will easily relate and sympathise to him. \n \"He failed to understand what was so special about these notebooks and why Hemingway and other writers were so fond of them. His hadn't done a thing for him. His Muse had been AWOL.\" \n After Mercedes writers her first story, she wakes up to discover that it might have been real. As Lady Blackwing progresses, Mercedes slowly begins to write, grow confident and understand what the magical pencil can do. \n While there is little imagery in the story, there is character development for Mercedes. The book cover isn't the prettiest but it shouldn't put you off. \n I liked how Devorah Fox makes the reader question the paranormal aspect of the novella. I also liked the idea of a story within a story. As we get bits and pieces from Mercedes' short stories. The reader also gets to see how Mercedes, as an author, thinks; how she tries to throw obstacles in her protagonist's way and tries to resolve. \n Overall, Lady Blackwing by Devorah Fox is an exciting, quick-paced short novella. Highly recommended. \n Author Devorah Fox has revealed that she is currently writing a sequel to Lady Blackwing. I'm curious what else awaits Mercedes in the new adventure. \n Overall rating: 4.5 stars", "date_added": "Tue May 09 15:19:35 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 11 15:29:50 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "31491757", "review_id": "5da33c412a60b79eb931112573771ff4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Magic, Merlin and lots of humour and mayhem, that's the first thing that came to mind when I started reading Sharon Pape's Magic & Mayhem. \n A paranormal, fast-paced, hilarious cozy mystery, Magic & Mayhem opens with Kailyn Wilde adjusting to the passing of her mother and grandmother, both witches, and to becoming the only person in charge of their magick shop \"Abracadabra\". \n Narrated from Kailyn's first person perspective, the novel is full of humourous comments, descriptions and events. Set in the small town of New Camel, the mystery is revealed from the beginning when Kailyn and her aunt Tilly go to see their lawyer and find him dead. \n \"In this town, heavy traffic was five cars lined up at a red light.\" \n Magic & Mayhem has an assortment of wonderful - and less friendly - characters, but all of whom have a role to play. There is Kailyn, whose magic, along with that of her family, has suffered a bug of late, as well as her aunt Tilly, who reads palms - although the accuracy of her readings can be questionable. \n Kailyn follows her mother's advice and attempts to summon a familiar, a kind of animal guide believed to help witches with their magic. Instead, she discovers an old man in her basement who goes by the name of Merlin. To her and Tilly's surprise - and to the reader's - the great wizard himself was somehow thrust forward in time from the Middle Ages to Kailyn's storeroom. \n \"Did this man really expect me to believe he was the legendary wizard? He looked more like a Don Quixote wannabe.\" \n One of the funniest and most entertaining aspects about Magic & Mayhem is Merlin's adjustment to and discovery of the gadgets of the modern world, from the toilet to the iPod to pizza. \n I loved the references to books and movies, as well as all the magic and witch-related terminology which gave Magic & Mayhem a truly magical feel. It made me feel I was part of the story. The overall word choice of the novel was perfect and the narration was highly enjoyable. The imagery was interesting and impeccable throughout. I have never seen so many perfectly-worded similes in one place. \n \"The kettle had gone from whistling to screeching like a banshee, by the time I plucked it off the stove. Merlin stood in the middle of the kitchen, rotating like a clumsy ballerina.\" \n After the discovery of the dead body, Kailyn begins her own investigation and several townspeople attempt to help her in any way they can, whether through throwing gossip her way or through actual help. Kailyn's curiosity is commendable, especially after she begins receiving death threats, and with the fact that the best suspect for the murder is her best friend Elise. \n \"There was no telling what would happen to history if Merlin died in the twenty-first century. It was bad enough that he would return to his time babbling about computers, aircraft, and men on the moon.\" \n As a cozy mystery, Magic & Mayhem fits all the characteristics, having a fair share of quirky characters, cats and a well-penned mystery. I liked how romance did not play a major - or even minor - role in the novel. \n Characterisation and setting were among the aspects that drew me in to the novel as well. Each character was well defined and the setting was realistic. Coupled with the fast pace of the novel, I couldn't put the book down. \n Almost before I was half way through the novel did I expect to give it a five-star rating. Having finished, I'd definitely give it 10 stars and can't wait to get my hands on the second instalment in the Abracadabra Mystery Series by Sharon Pape. A must-read at all costs. \n \"If we ever figured out how to send him home, it might to be with a pizza oven.\" \n Note: I received a free copy of Magick & Mayhem by Sharon Pape in exchange for an honest review as part of a blog tour with Lori Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 24 06:36:18 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun May 07 14:23:29 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun May 07 14:23:29 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat May 06 13:29:34 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "33115353", "review_id": "4c5ff083149c2ff49b0b30b3485b3ad7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Dead over Heels by Theresa Braun is a fast-paced paranormal short story. \n The story is narrated from the first person perspective of Veronica, a woman who has spent years under the illusion that her mother left her and her father \"because she didn't love them\". \n Veronica has spent years in search of love. She decides to make a wish on a candle then, after giving up hope, meets Sebastian via an online dating site. After they meet, the two feel as if they've known each other for a long time. \n I liked how the story has a strong opening that ended with \"I never knew that finding the one would be such a double-edged sword.\" \n The two decide to meet at The Riverside Restaurant, which is rumoured to be close to a haunted area. \n Veronica is cynical but entertaining. She's also quite descriptive, very down to earth and relatable. \n How long does it take to read Dead over Heels? An hour tops. (An hour and a half if you're a very slow reader). \n Overall, I enjoyed reading the - sad - story. \n \"Hey, could you send a couple of drinks to that table over there?\" Sebastian shot me a wink as he spoke. \n The server's mouth fell agape. \"Sir, who do you mean?\" \n \"The two over there.\" Sebastian motioned to the couple. \n Just then, the pair released their hand-holding, got up and started toward the door. She adjusted the sweater over her shoulders. He cradled the small of her back, kissed her temple and they were gone. \n \"Sir, no one has been sitting there all night.\"", "date_added": "Fri Jan 13 08:17:51 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 27 17:41:44 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "33625653", "review_id": "1f9295baebcb5eb61d3f889b91a0bfe6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Betrayed by Blood by Tiffany Shand is a novella and the first instalment in The Amaranthine Chronicles Series. \n The book opens with Kaylan Avilion, a magic-wielder with various gifts and a sad past, coordinating with others to capture a sorcerer whom they suspect is selling certain illegal potions. The attempted capture goes bust and Kaylan's fiance Elijah is presumed dead. \n A year later, Kaylan returns to the city she once lived because her sister, Freya, has gone missing. There she learns that Elijah is still alive but has changed significantly. \n There is a lot of evil and many mysteries surrounding Elijah, Freya and the Order which governs the city. \n We are told that the Amaranthine are another kind of Order that protects the people, albeit secretly. \n I felt there needed to be more character development. Also, the beginning was a bit confusing for me. Until the end, I couldn't figure out which characters had what powers or abilities. \n Still, Betrayed by Blood has many interesting characters and I liked how Shand revealed certain aspects about her characters through events. A kind of show don't tell technique but through events. She also uses the \"throw problems in their way\" technique quite well. \n There weren't many images or beautiful lines in the novella so there aren't any quotes - there were a few lines but they are mostly spoilers, so I'm not going to quote them. \n Quick-paced and exciting, Betrayed by Blood is a suspense-filled urban fantasy novella. \n Overall rating: 3.5 stars \n (Note: I received a free copy of Betrayed by Blood from the author Tiffany Shand in exchange for an honest review)", "date_added": "Fri Jan 06 16:10:18 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 10 16:46:10 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Mar 25 13:34:40 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Mar 25 06:35:43 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "28897834", "review_id": "0ff3da2c11d25df73417a7662248a917", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"Painting and writing are both products of creativity. Even though the two seem different, they are more similar than we think.\" \n Magora: The Golden Maple Tree is the second instalment in the middle grade-to-young adult Magora series by artist, painter and author Mark Remus. It can be easily read as a standalone, but has prompted me to immediately pick up the first book Magora: The Hall of Wonders. \n If you're a fan of the Harry Potter and Chronicles of Narnia books OR movies, then you'll love the Magora series, which has its own flavour. There are a few characters that you can relate to from other books, like Rufus who is a very Hermione Granger kind-of character, but Magora and its main protagonist Holly have their own character. \n Every chapter begins with a short note from the author about creating, art, writing, or something on this line. The book opens with: \"When you paint, you create. When you write, you create. When you imagine, you create. We create every day, even when we fear we can't create anything anymore.\" \n Magora: The Golden Maple Tree opens with a backdrop of what happened the previous year or book: \"A year ago, Holly had jumped into a fantasy painting that had been created by her grandfather, Nikolas.\" \n The reader also learns about Cuspidor, who has evil fire-breathing seahorses as his minions, and who has been tracking Holly and trying to get her blood. \n The central character of the series is Holly O'Flannigan who is joined by her three friends Rufus, Brian and Amanda. The four are transported to the world of Magora through a painting, where they learn that everything is related to art and drawing. They attend Cliffony Academy, where their tools are paintbrushes, a little reminiscent of magical wands. \n As soon as Magora: The Golden Maple Tree begins, Holly and the reader learn that Holly's friend Ileana, a previously \"Unfinished\" painting who had been \"finished\" the previous year through blood donations, has resumed her \"Unfinished\" form and is dying. Quickly, Holly races to gather her three friends and join Professor LePawnee to re-enter Magora. \n \"Holly felt as if an invisible hand was penetrating her chest, grabbing her heart, and slowly squeezing it like an orange.\" \n Holly admits to her friends that she feels responsible for what her grandfather has done, leaving several \"Unfinished\" pieces, resulting in a lot of evil taking place in Magora. Still, the reader is not told how Cuspidor came to power and why he seeks to destroy Magora. For a twelve-year-old, Holly carries a lot of weight on her shoulders, making her a fairly grown-up character for her age. \n Throughout the book, Holly searches for a way to save her friend. In the meantime, Magora is being attacked by a species called Chandrills. The group of friends learns of a golden maple tree that can both save their world from the pesky beasts and their friend from imminent dissolution. \n The book is full of humourous interactions between the characters, while Holly struggles with a possible crush. \n \"I might get too attached to people here. Because reality is reality and a painting is still a painting. Magora is a fantasy; it will never be real. And I don't think it's a good idea to start believing it could ever be.\" \n We are also told that Holly is a \"Gindar\", a rare form of artist that can create living beings through painting. However, since the first book, Holly has had her doubts about being a \"Gindar\" which in turn has put her in the limelight, making people raise the bar of their expectations from her. \n The language used is easy and the novel is quick-paced and exciting. Each character has their quirks, but Holly is the star. She has her flaws, misconceptions and is a well-crafted protagonist. \n The descriptions of the various games, tasks and adventures is detailed and enjoyable. I couldn't put the book down. \n I also liked the theme of friendship prevalent in the novel and how friends stick with each other despite their differences. \n As a painter, Marc Remus builds significantly on his career and knowledge, crafting an artistic series. A must-read for all ages. \n \"Magic only lasts as long as a fantasy world doesn't become everyday life. When routine takes over, the magic pops like a balloon in a fire.\" \n Overall rating: 5 stars", "date_added": "Fri Nov 11 15:13:32 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon May 29 14:55:05 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri May 26 06:50:16 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed May 24 08:49:11 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "30657877", "review_id": "bd9cec0b54863690d721de6943327258", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Raven's Peak by Lincoln Cole is a fast-paced paranormal action thriller. It was also quite scary in places, and were it a movie with a bit of sound effects, it would definitely be creepy. It is the first instalment in the World on Fire series. \n The novel opens with a lengthy but action-filled prologue where we are introduced to Abigail, a demon hunter, who was out on a mission but had been possessed by the demon she, along with two others, was sent to destroy. Her mentor, Arthur goes to rescue her and is instead taken by the demon after a bone-breaking supernatural fight in a church. \n Though long, the prologue is eventful and exciting. \n \"What stood before Arthur was only the shell of the girl he loved. Something else was in control. He could feel the rage and hatred emanating from Abigail's lithe body. Her skin was covered in a heat rash, her flesh barely containing the demonic presence within.\" \n After the prologue, the novel begins five months after the events at the church, where we meet Haatim, a theology graduate who recently lost his sister to cancer and returned to the US from India, feeling angry at his father and God. He is given a kind of freelance job, by a man named George, to take pictures of Abigail, who is seen following George. \n From there, things progress as Haatim is thrust into the supernatural world of which he had no knowledge. Abigail attempts - at first - to withhold information regarding Haatim's father, who is a member of the Council that sanctions the missions against the demons. \n The duo then flees from otherworldly creatures trying to kill or capture them. Abigail, secretly, tries to find out more about the demon that took Arthur and seeks to save him. \n \"They could feel the supernatural presence, the sheer wrongness of it, as easily as he could. Even the forest could sense something was amiss.\" \n Abigail is tasked to go to Raven's Peak after rumours that there might be a minor demon in the area. From there, things take a whole new level of surprising and scary for both the demon hunter and Haatim. \n Character development in the novel is significant for both Abigail and Haatim. Abigail is also a sarcastic though often serious character, making her interactions with Haatim quite funny, especially since he is new to the whole supernatural scene. \n \"I thought you said I wasn't worth anything to them without the pictures.\" \n \"I didn't think you were,\" she said. \"Turns out, you're worth a whole hell of a lot.\" \n Raven's Peak had many scary parts, some nearly had me biting my nails with suspense, but overall it wasn't horrifying. The pace is very quick, even the longer chapters slip by and you're hungry for more. \n \"What happens when I don't come back? When I become the new threat and you have no one else to send?\" \n Overall rating: 4.5 stars. \n Note: I received a free copy of Raven's Peak from the author in exchange for an honest review (which was originally planned in October.)", "date_added": "Sun Oct 16 16:06:43 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 01 09:25:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Oct 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "28094400", "review_id": "b9fa6c9c287a6e28b174727a282f5c39", "rating": 3, "review_text": "\"No one who has been accused has ever been found innocent. No one who has been accused has ever lived to see their family and homes again. No one who has been accused has ever seen anything besides the bars of the prison chamber until they hung on the hill.\" \n When the Black Roses Grow by Angela Archer is a romantic historical fiction novel with a hint of the paranormal set during the time of the Salem witch trials. \n From the start, the reader is aware of the injustices plaguing Salem, particularly with the regards to the trials persecuting so-called witches. \n I liked how the author kept me wondering if the book has actual paranormal events till the end. \n \"Suddenly, another stem sprouted before my eyes. In contrast, my limbs grew numb... My mind whirled, lost in a sea of unexplainable reasons and sheer terror, while the green vine curled through the air, and the leaves bounced and waved. Shadows closed in, hunting as they preyed on the pain pulsing through the deepest fears of my mind.\" \n Emmalynn Hawthorne, the protagonist, is a rebellious character, for a woman during at the time. She often speaks before she thinks, although there are many other times in which she does her best not to retort. As a character, Emmalynn is quite relatable. Her struggle with sin versus love and desire is real, strong and down to earth. \n \"I care not for the judgements of anyone in Salem.\" \n The sheriff later discovers that Emmalynn is both smart and has this rebellious side. \n There is also the mysterious character of Mr. Dekane, whom Emmalynn secretly admires, and whom we meet bit by bit but cannot understand his true intentions. \n \"Contrary to what other men think, Emmalynn, I do not believe that women are the Devil's instruments. I believe they are wonderful creatures that should not be provided for but cared for.\" \n I appreciate Archer's attempted use of archaic language such 'thee', 'thou', 'thine', to accentuate the historical feel of her fiction. However, there were a lot of inconsistencies throughout the novel, which irritated me. There were also many times that I felt the language is modern but with an archaic word or two wedged in here and there that just did not work out for me. \n One of the lines that I just couldn't imagine being said at that period - around 1692 - is \"Hath a seat.\" It's modern with an old use for \"have\". \n There were many beautiful lines, quotes and images throughout the novel. Here's a reflection by Emmalynn: \n \"One can only be strong before strife consumes, breaking the ties that bind them and keep them tucked away from all around. My strength wavered every day, but today felt different. Today, the pain overwhelmed me more with the ever-present conflict of casting the facade that nothing perturbed me. That I lived a happy life in a town I loathed. That I did not wake every morning with the gut-wrenching feeling of loneliness.\" \n At the beginning of the novel we are introduced to two strangers whose skin is very white. The warning: \"Beware of the white colourless people for they are the devil and will devour thy soul\" is reminiscent of an old wives' tales. \n Emmalynn is fairly well-developed character; still, there was some character development towards the end. Despite the significant amount of sobbing, she becomes aware that to look weak, makes the sheriff and the deacons even more vile. \"I would not allow them to drag me to my death. I would walk to it.\" \n Another thing I liked in the book is the author's ability to show through speech. \n Overall, When the Black Roses Grow would have received a 4.75-to-5-star review from me if it weren't for the attempted use or rather misuse of archaic language. Still, it is highly recommended. \n So the overall rating is: 3.5 stars. \n Note: I received a free copy of When the Black Roses Grow from the author in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 02 12:40:49 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 27 01:23:08 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Feb 24 12:58:04 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Feb 10 14:31:34 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "31565981", "review_id": "f6d77520b3dba4223ba5020756b03e38", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Note: I received a free copy of Something from its author Shelby Lamb in exchange for an honest review. \n Something, book I in the Wisteria series, by Shelby Lamb is a dark, adult, horror and paranormal novel. And when I say dark, I mean pitch black dark. \n Even though most of the characters are aged 16, I wouldn't recommend this book for anyone under 18. The novel is meant for mature audiences and is high in adult content. There is also lots of profanity, so if you don't like it, read at your own caution. \n \"Bella gasped, delighted, glancing at the red Happy Birthday Bitch written around two fondant boobs and a fondant ass with the exact butterfly tattoo she had on her butt.\" \n Something by Shelby Lamb juggles four main characters, but the main main character is Aubrey Golding, an obsessive emo with suicidal intentions. Aubrey is constantly over-obsessing about her ex-boyfriend, Nathan, who ditched her three months prior. It is interesting to see the obsessiveness and how she struggles with and how Nathan suffers from it. Still I felt it was a little overdone at times. \n Other main characters include Bella, a narcissistic 16-year-old looking to make her name in the porn industry, and 15-year-old Kendra who is pregnant with twins. \n What do all the character have in common? They all talked to or mingled with Aubrey, who has recently picked up a book called Something from the local library. As the book progresses, Aubrey shares bits and pieces with the other three main characters. \n \"Vines bordered the edged of the first page, vines that wiggled and swayed as if they were alive.\" \n I liked how Lamb kept giving the reader bits of information that the characters themselves were unaware of, like creatures hiding in the darkness, pages moving, horns appearing and more. \n \"She hobbled toward the bathroom...not noticing the long, outstretched arm that slid back under her bed. Pale as a sheet, except for the dark veins, it had barely missed her ankle.\" \n A few things about the narration bugged me a bit, sometimes I felt that the author's personal views of her characters entered the narrative, disrupting the flow, and sometimes I felt certain parts could be skipped, particularly with several dialogues and some day-to-day descriptions. Similarly, some of the scary parts could have had shorter sentences instead of \"then\" and other linking words. There were also a few slightly gross, albeit needed, scenes. \n There were also some character discrepancies in Aubrey. Sometimes she was a bit mature or seemed grown up, at others she was like a 10-year-old. \n On the other hand, among the things I liked about Something was Shelby's use of thought-provoking similes and imagery throughout. \n While I'm usually not a fan of love triangles, Lamb's triangle is well-crafted, maintaining suspense. \n I liked how the author made me like and dislike Aubrey at the same. Just like Aubrey's conflicting world, the reader is made to feel conflicting emotions about her. While I often pitied her, there were times when she irritated me. In her fit of rage, I was totally rooting for her though. \n \"She closed the door, not noticing the strange, horned creature sitting by Aubrey's sleeping body, hunching over her like a dark, ominous cloud. \n That night, while everyone slept, a pale, smooth and slender hand placed a gift box down on the doorstep. He had found Aubrey once again. \n He always would.\" \n Normally, Something is not a book I would have picked up, but I'm glad I got out of my reading genres and read this. \n Something is a quick-paced, scary novel with short chapters and several lives intermingled, making the book interesting at all times. Highly recommended. \n \"I can smell the Demonolib curse on you.\" \n Overall rating: 4.75 stars", "date_added": "Wed Aug 31 05:31:12 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue May 23 17:06:53 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "30849848", "review_id": "d637dbf6687404e5cb8b328e191ff2df", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Damn! That was a good book! (And I rarely ever start my reviews like this!) \n Kings or Pawns by JJ Sherwood is the first instalment in the Steps of Power series. And what a start! \n The novel deals with Hairem, who has ascended the throne after his father's passing, and who has to deal with a council of corrupt members, all working on their personal gains and away from the needs of their respective elven realms. \n There is also the army general Jikun, whom we see as a bit selfish but nonetheless skilled and who at least has an idea about the duties of his role as a general and the sacrifices he has to make. \n Moreover, there is the general's captain Navon, who dabbles in necromancy, despite his general's orders and despite there being a death penalty for such a practice. I particularly liked Navon's character: cynical, funny, wise and above all kind and loyal. \n I also loved and enjoyed Sherwood's ability in creating her settings, which is made clear from the beginning of the novel. \n There is character development - for good or worse - for various characters in the novel, including King Hairem, General Jikun and others. I also loved Alvena, a mute handmaid with a surprising role to play. She and Navon were my favourites in the novel. \n Basically every character in Kings or Pawns has a role to play. No characters are redundant; those who come and go like messengers are not given names as they are not important. The author is lauded for that. \n \"The temperature in Darival had fallen with the sun, who had also, it seemed, taken her blanket of clouds with her.\" \n Kings or Pawns had me thinking throughout and occasionally wondering if some characters were not as they appear. It also grabbed my interest towards the politics of running a country, albeit a fantastical ones, and had me wondering what happens when a good leader is surrounded by corrupt ones. \n It is going to take me sometime to shake off the brilliant political intrigue and storytelling. \n \"Unlike the palace treasury, [the personal finances] of the council members were filling up like a halfling's pockets in a treasure trove.\" \n I also liked the theme of entitlement throughout Kings or Pawns, which is seen in many characters but particularly the council members. \n There are also several songs and poems in the novel, highlighting Sherwood's ability in writing both prose and poetry equally well. \n The word flow throughout the whole book is exceptional. You don't want to miss a beat, even when things are calm and we're just given a description of place. \n Kings or Pawns is fast paced and will probably keep you reading up all day and night as it did me. There might be some nail biting especially towards the second half of the book. \n I would definitely love to pick up the second book in the Steps of Power series, but I need to get some sleep first! \n My review is part of the August-long Steps of Power blog tour. I wanted so badly to go through the posts but did not want to come up on any spoilers. Check out the full tour here, which includes artwork, interviews, other reviews and more: http://www.stepsofpower.com/", "date_added": "Wed Aug 31 00:49:19 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 31 00:51:28 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "25311692", "review_id": "4ad9c519d8df8f4c2b0c7fff3fa470eb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Stake Out by Lily Luchesi is the first paranormal, romance and crime novella in the Paranormal Detectives series. \n Easily read in one sitting, the book is fast-paced, action-packed and highly enjoyable. \n It opens with detective Daniel - Danny - Mancini surviving an encounter with a man named Vincent, whom we learn is a 200-year old vampire. After submitting his report of the incident, Danny is forced into an early retirement. Two years later, he is approached by a beautiful young-looking woman, claiming she is from a lesser known FBI division called the Paranormal Investigative Division (PID). \n The woman, Angelica, tells Daniel that what he had seen two years prior was true and that the PID is responsible for weeding out dangerous paranormal creatures, like Vincent. Danny struggles to come to terms with these revelations, but accepts to help Angelica catch the rogue vampire. The two slowly become attracted to one another, igniting a bit of a romance, which has deeper roots than the reader expects. \n Stake Out is fairly gritty but nonetheless exciting with likeable characters. I liked how the reader got the viewpoints and flashbacks of various characters throughout the book. \n \"He also knew that Angelica would personally kill him if he did anything to compromise the investigation. Her body might be 24, but her mind was older and more cunning than even Gandalf!\" \n One of the things I liked about the novella was the use of songs at the beginning of each chapter. It added a gothic feel to the book. \n I liked how Luchesi was to the point in the novella, while also keeping the reader on edge by feeding us bits and pieces of history about Angelica, Vincent and even Danny and the PID. I also liked how she had me guessing at events, many of which proved true and others I had to wait for the revelation. \n I also liked how Stake Out has a closed and open ending at the same time, prompting the reader to want to know what happens in later books. \n Overall, Stake Out kept me glued to the Kindle screen till I finished it. \n Overall rating is 5 stars. I definitely would love to pick up the next books in the series.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 24 04:52:05 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 13 04:29:46 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Nov 20 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "26832363", "review_id": "563088c8461b985ab3831428d83179ae", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Nine Candles of the Deepest Black by Matthew S. Cox is a fast-paced horror/paranormal novel with lots of magic. \n The main character is Paige, who has been trying to heal after losing her older sister in a car crash, which she claims to have had a premonition about. Also trying to heal are her parents, who move to the supposedly quiet town of Shadesboro. There, Paige makes friends on the first day and they invite her to a Ouija game and later a spell-casting, which she doesn't believe in but agrees to do anyway. \n In the spell, each girl asks for what her heart desires, but the spell is mostly infused with dark magic and intentions. Once the spell is cast, the girls realise that in order to get what they want, the magic will take something in return. They also release a demon. \n The novel opens with a tense start especially in terms of conversation, however, Paige's sarcasm makes way for a light mood. \"Now I know how sharks feel with those little fish clinging to their ass.\" \n Paige is a likeable goth-character. I enjoyed seeing her transition from constant anger to kind and caring for her younger eight-year old sister, Melissa. Her character development is significant and realistic. \n Other characters who also progress in the course of the novel are her parents. (Which I truly liked). Melissa is a fun and adorable character, who gives a lot of warmth to the mostly cold-inducing novel. \n The part that bugged me though was the excessive description towards the end. I felt I wanted to know what's going on more than details about Paige. The parts behind the mirror were rather fuzzy and hard to imagine for me, as well. The grit at the end was a little over the top for me. \n I also liked that the novel isn't purely good versus evil - I mean there is evil and a demon and all, but the original evil came in the form of greed and heartlessness. \n \"The sight of [the candles] stirred an odd feeling in the pit of Paige's gut. Rather than normal black-coloured objects, they seemed to absorb light, appearing to be candle-sharped holes in reality.\" \n Nine Candles of the Deepest Black kept me cold and on edge all the time. Paige seemed to have a series of horrifying happening one after the other. \n Overall rating: 3.75 stars.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 29 14:57:44 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 01 13:33:28 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "29091578", "review_id": "565966d0ac19520f7de437e1cdc2d63f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The Story of Lucius Cane by Vanya Ferreira is a novella - or short story - introducing the ancient vampire Lucius Cane, who meets an unlikely and strange foe. \n An introduction to a series, the story consists of a prologue and seven short chapters. \n The novella is quite short and does not leave much room for character development. It does, however, give a good description of both Lucius Cane and his opponent. \n The story alternates between Lucius and Jack, also known as Jack the Hound, mostly for his rugged and vicious appearance. Jack, too, has a paranormal side to him, although he is not a vampire. \n \"He noticed that his eyesight had improved and that he could see perfectly no matter how dark, his sense of smell had become so acute he could smell a break baking at the bakers over a mile and a half away...\" \n There is also the mystery of a secondary voice inside Lucius' head. Although we are told that that is for another - much longer - story. \n \"You have to be quick about it, Lucius.\" Spoke a dusty voice but Anne did not hear it.\" \n I like how the story unfolds. Some of it may appear as cliche, one man asked to kill another, but the ending - I definitely did not see that one coming. \n \"One day he came to the belief that there isn't anything quite as thrilling as hunting man, the most dangerous animal of all.\" \n Overall, The Story of Lucius Cane is an interesting and quick read. It certainly makes you want to carry on with the rest of the series. \n Overall rating: 3 stars. \n Note: I received a free copy of The Story of Lucius Cane from the author in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 22 15:24:27 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 30 08:03:42 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Mar 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "25845800", "review_id": "38fd6ea92fbc0106d820de99002e1ccb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum by Kirsten Weiss is a fun possibly paranormal cozy mystery, and the first installment in a series under the same name. \n The novel opens with Maddie Kosloski and her friend Adele, who owns the Paranormal Museum and the second half of a building, which the latter is remodeling into a tea shop. The two women are confronted with the dead body of a not-so-likable acquaintance, Christy, in chapter one. \n Christy, it seems, had a knack for making enemies. While reading, you can't feel sympathy for the dead woman. It also appears as though everyone had a motive to kill her. \n \"Mother always told me to stay positive. But I can't help feeling like another show is about to drop.\" \n Maddie has significant faith that the police will handle the case with care and find the killer. However, she soon discovers that the school bully, Laurel Hammer, is one of the detectives in charge of the investigation, and it seems she has a grudge against Maddie. \n The first introduction we get of Laurel, apart from reminder of Maddie's friend Harper, is this: \n \"Laurel Hammer banged open the door to the interview room. \"So which one of you two idiots killer her?\" \n Maddie constantly tries to get people to tell the police what they know, and tries to do the same herself, but the police look at her as a likely suspect, especially when a second body appears; another fairly dislikable acquaintance. Even after they arrest her friend Adele, Maddie tries to be the good citizen and help the detectives. \n The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum is narrated from the first person perspective of Maddie, who gets many funny and entertaining thoughts. She is also down to earth and realistic, so it is easy to imagine her and imagine being in her place. Also, we go deeper into her character as she hesitates about managing the Paranormal Museum, while job hunting after being fired from her previous job. \n \"Dion Fortune's scrying mirror.\" [said Herb]... \"Of course, I'm asking ten thousand.\" \n I coughed. \"Dollars?\" \n \"But for you, five.\" \n \"Thousand?\" I wouldn't pay five thousand for Ali Baba's mirror. There was no way anything in the museum cost that much. \n The overall pace is fairly quick. There is constant moving and events, but in terms of solving Christy's murder, things are a bit slow. There was also the GD cat, a recurring theme in paranormal novels, although I couldn't understand that cat or its intentions. \n The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum is home to second mystery, one which Maddie stumbles upon, immerses herself in and takes it upon herself to solve. The mystery revolves around the picture of a woman named Cora, who is accused of murdering her husband. \n I truly enjoyed the mystery within a mystery, and how Maddie goes about in order to search for two killers, one dead and one alive. \n Another thing I enjoyed is how Weiss constantly made the reader think and doubt if the Paranormal Museum can live up to its name by being haunted - or not. Up until the end of the novel, the reader has doubts. \n \"The atmosphere thickened, choking. The quiet stretched, the only sound my own harsh breath, breath I could see in the air. It was a nails on a chalkboard silence, a deep silence that tightened my throat, made me tremble.\" \n I particularly liked the development in Maddie's character, a trait not often seen in mystery novels. When we first see Maddie, she has low self-esteem, and who can blame her after nine months of job hunting with no development in getting a job. But as the novel ends, we see a significant change in her character, both in her attempt to catch the killer and in her negotiation skills. \n The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum is a quick, well-written and light read, with a mystery within a mystery and possible ghost. \n Note: I received a free copy via Lori Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours in exchange for an honest review as part of a blog tour for the book.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 02 17:19:59 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 17 21:17:48 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "28253763", "review_id": "2e3886311e9c0669c3bd55c3faf78dd6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Twice Upon a Time by Hope Irving is the first instalment in the Black Angel Book series. It is the story of the witch Deidre, who, being in love with the calligrapher monk Morgann, casts a spell to reunite their souls in the future. However, while Morgann's hosts remember everything, Deidre's do not. \n We later learn that the tale of Deidre and Morgann is believed to be legend, especially amongst calligraphers. \n The opening chapter though informative is narrated in a casual manner, not from a once-upon-a-time monk; it wasn't light either. Afterwards, the narration shifts between Rose and the man carrying Morgann's time-travelling soul. \n I liked how Hope Irving kept the second narrator's identity a mystery (obviously I'm doing the same). \n The idea that Morgann's current form may or may not appeal to Rose or Deidre is interesting and leaves room for possible problems. \n \"Somehow my soul remembers it all, hers doesn't. \n But how will she remember who she was, who we were? \n Will seeing me be enough? \n Will I need to trigger her memory? \n Will she accept me as I am now?\" \n Twice Upon a Time sets the backdrop for the upcoming books in the series. There is a lot of action, although not much with regards to bringing Deidre's and Morgann's souls back together. \n Rose is an ordinary girl, whose heart has been badly broken in previous relationship. Here, she comes to spend the summer with her American side of the family. She deeply seeks to get her mind off the previous relationship and the man who broke her, G. \n Rose is also a cutter and I particularly liked how Irving maintained this trait throughout the novel, even when Rose was happy, giving a realistic side to a paranormal story. \n \"Gifted Deirdre cast the spell that enabled our souls to eventually be reunited. She couldn't bear for us to be apart, and neither could I.\" \n I did not enjoy the too much drinking part of the novel; I felt it was overdone. But that's just me. \n Having been in the search for Deirdre's soul for-ever, Morgann or his host seems unable to comprehend that he may have found her, putting him off balance, and making him think irrationally. I liked that. Although, I felt sometimes he was way too irrational (but that's the norm in relationships now, especially when you make assumptions). \n Getting viewpoints of the two protagonists allows the reader to guess at events and see beyond what is going. There were parts when I was biting my nails with worry and others when I was telling off the characters or just going on \"No. No. Nooooo!\" (So you can probably say it's a bit of an interactive novel.) \n \"She had faith in me, so I have no choice but to have faith in me, too.\" \n Twice Upon a Time is filled with active, fun, interesting and recurring characters, giving the novel a realistic side. The group barely sleeps; however, they do give Rose a breather, allowing her to get her mind off G. often. \n Falling under the romance and new adult genres, the novel includes more than just kissing. In addition, Rose's desires are awakened all of sudden and need to be satiated. \n \"There is no way to find a logical way to deal with this when logic isn't involved.\" \n There isn't major character development for the two protagonists, however, this is expected considering the tale will continue in other parts and hasn't seen major progress in this book. Although Rose does develop a bit, at least she figures out what she wants and that she can't wait for her crush to grow up or take a decision, Morgann's host seems to require several hard slaps on the face to wake him up. \n Although there aren't many profound images in the novel, Twice Upon a Time has many beautiful quotes. I also liked the idea of calligraphy and how it connects the characters together, including Rose and her new crush. The following bit will you give you an idea on what I mean. \n \"To make it work, I have to focus like I do in calligraphy with the ductus; its' the same mechanism: one step at a time in a specific order. I have to remember to breathe. To ensure the fairytale ends well, I will stand by her side until she trusts me and she's ready for me. At last.\" \n I liked that the ending to Twice Upon a Time was different from what I expected. \n Note: I received a free copy of Twice Upon a Time from author Hope Irving in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to reading the next part(s) in the series, which I've been told are likely to be published in 2016.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 26 14:03:39 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 31 17:37:36 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Mar 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "28054396", "review_id": "0eccf034fef15b3ff2bea4ab3b3557c1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Note: I received a free copy of Evanescent by Gabriella Lepore via Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review as part of a blog tour. \n Evanescent by Gabriella Lepore is the story of Bronwen Snow, an ordinary girl living with her grandmother, who is hurled from her normal life when her grandmother tells her that \"it's coming for you\", gives her a letter and tells her to find a Felix Cavara in the castle up the hill. \n Bronwen is shocked but follows her grandmother's orders, especially since the latter's visions are usually \"frighteningly accurate.\" \n The novel opens with an eerie and suspenseful first chapter, keeping the reader on edge and prompting them to carry on. The chapters are usually short, some of which are divided into several parts. \n Arriving at the castle, Bronwen meets three boys, not older than she is, namely: Felix Cavara and his two friends Alastair and Loki. \n According to Ada, Bronwen is being hunted down by a \"Severan\", and we discover later that Felix for all the things he says is unaware of the dangers of that creature. \n \"It follows you,\" Ada mumbled vaguely. \"It's been hunting you, and it's finally coming for you.\" \n ...\"The only thing you can do... is run.\" \n Narrated in the third person, Evanescent is an easy, quick read. However, there was something off about the narration for me. I cannot pinpoint it exactly but I felt that although the writing was smooth, the narration wasn't light. It was irritating a bit. \n There isn't a wide assortment of characters, which is good - just the main ones and a couple of minor ones, some of whom put the whole story in motion. \n I disliked that Felix kept nagging about how he'd been living for \"hundreds of years\" when we discover that the hundreds are only 200 years. I felt it was an exaggeration, one Bronwen picked up. \n \"The cure to your ailment lies within me. If I am to die, you shall never be saved. So, let your father do his worst, for it will make my retribution all the more poetic.\" \n Although the novel is supposed to be centred on Bronwen, whom I thought was too naive, her character development comes only at the very end. We see development in Felix's character, especially as he begins to realise that his selfish actions have affected others and continue to do so. \n Loki was mostly the most lovable character, especially since he is the youngest in the novel, having been cursed with Felix and Alastair at the age of 12; whereas the others were cursed at the age of 18. \n Although Felix's snarky character often lightens the mood and provides humour, it is sometimes too much. His flirtations with Bronwen are not a lot of fun either - in my opinion at least. \n \"My condition? How tactfully put. I think the correct term is mortally challenged. No, if you must know, I like to keep a low profile because when you're as scandalous as I am, it's bound to create a certain, let's say, adoration. A following, if you will.\" \n Evanescent is not free of romance, though it is all clean with just some holding hands and may be a kiss. \n My main problem with the novel was the implausibility of several scenes and events. At one point, having knocked out Felix, the Severan catches Bronwen, while it appears that Alastair and Loki are standing there watching. There other instances, but apart from the narration this was the second most irritating thing about the novel. \n Evanescent covers many themes such as trust and betrayal, love, friendship and of course the evanescence/transience of life and how things happen for a reason. \n What I liked most about the novel was the ending: It was different. I totally enjoyed and respected that. I did not see it coming. \n Last but not least, the cover is gorgeous! \n \"I was scared to death in there,\" Bronwen whispered. \n \"And you'd rather be killed to death out here?\" \n Overall rating for Evanescent: 3 stars.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 11 09:44:03 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 05 18:11:30 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "13162223", "review_id": "db50c7115c5201a665ddec323680b15f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Bentwhistle the Dragon, A Threat from the Past by Paul Cude is the first instalment in the Bentwhistle the Dragon Series. The first chapter opens in the middle of a chase in Egypt, with an unnamed woman, whom we learn is a dragon in human form. \n After that the reader gets long alternating chapters narrated in the third person for two characters: Flash and Peter. Other chapters include a number of prisoners, where the reader gets a different from view point from the characters. \n The chapters with Flash are action-packed, exciting and fly by. The same cannot be said for the chapters with Peter, which are mostly mundane and boring, not to mention very slow. Some of Peter's chapters also involved sports, which I were not enjoyable for me and felt could be cut out. Others might find them fun, but I thought they were too long and not needed. At some point, I thought one of the games was going to affect the dragons in the long run, but it just turned out the dragons in human form were too tired, so I felt it was wasting time (for me). \n \"It was something all of his years of training had never prepared him for...fear, deep down, genuine fear, with a capital F.\" \n \"He knew now that his life hung in the balance, dependent on whether he could choose exactly the right window of opportunity, show one even exist.\" \n There was a lot of unnecessary descriptions and scenes for me, again in the chapters with Peter in them. At some point, I got the impression that every writer wants to include everything they've thought of in the book, but some of it just extended the length of the novel, which is an already long one. At some point, I felt I wouldn't be able to finish the book but I wanted to get to the end, so it spurred me forward. However, there were some points where I started skimming and skipping bits just to finish. \n There were some parts that I felt were not logic, like in the beginning with the pyramid, and later with Flash having a dislocated shoulder but miraculously undressing. There was also a significant amount of repetition in some parts that I felt could be trimmed. \n The novel would have moved a lot faster if the chapters were shorter, especially since there were breaks within the same chapter to alternate scenes and character perspectives. \n One of the things I truly disliked about Bentwhistle the Dragon was how the narrator addressed the reader in some parts, like saying \"Something quite literally magical happened.\" And \"I don't mean no energy to run, jump or swim. I mean he simply wanted to give up.\" \n When emotions and events are repeated over the course of the novel, they are often repeated using the same description or terminology. There were also bits between brackets, like the author was explaining to the reader what was happening. I preferred if that were integrated in the text itself. These bits bothered me. \n The problem that kept nagging at me was that Peter Bentwhistle is too ordinary. There is nothing special about him that would promote him to hero, as opposed to Flash who is likeable, practical and brave, and who has all the qualities that make him a hero. \n \"Risk and thrill seeking were simple part of his nature, as much as a twenty-foot tail, brown shiny scales, and teeth that a crocodile would die for, were part of his body.\" \n On the other hands, I loved the Lavapool game. It reminded me of Quidditch from the Harry Potter series, only played by dragons. I would have preferred I was given an idea how it was played rather falling right into it and having to figure it out for myself. \n There were however many interesting images and similes. \n \"Richie, normally cooler than a cucumber in a Siberian fridge, flinched just a little uncomfortably in her seat.\" \n \"Huge icebergs the size of houses littered the landscape like popcorn on a cinema floor.\" \n I also couldn't find the threat from the past. I think the novel needed some tuning in terms of redundant parts, so as not to lose the reader, and in some cases not to bore the reader as well. \n Overall rating: It took me a long time to write this review because I felt the novel didn't meet my expectations when I finally finished it. On closer inspection of my notes and while rereading bits for the review, I think a fair overall rating would be: 2 stars. \n Note: I got a request from the author for an honest review. \n The book is free via Smashwords here: \n https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...", "date_added": "Sun Nov 15 02:47:12 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 12 15:41:57 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "26112210", "review_id": "e34a753f17c5e11b5021fdcd2c1b0695", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Bound by Prophecy is the third installment in the Bound series by Stormy Smith. Like its predecessor, it picks up where the second book left off - straight into the action. \n Amelia had fallen into a kind of coma after the battle at Cresthaven and Aidan could only reach her in his animal form. \n I felt that I could have used a quick reminder or short summary of what happened in the previous books, even though I read them, but unlike the other two which I read almost simultaneously, there were several months between the second and third books. \n Bound by Prophecy is more focused on Aidan and Amelia's relationship, which means there is more romance than the previous books. It's still a clean novel, but I sometimes felt I needed less holding hands and kissing and more moving forward with the plot, which has several twists and turns that I doubt anyone saw coming. \n \"His fear washed over me like the first swim of summer, the water like ice until you're fully submerged.\" \n Quick-paced, the novel shifts between three perspectives this time, namely: Amelia's, Aidan's and Micah's. We also get to see the characters from book two more in-depth, especially Baleon and Micah. \n When the characters started travelling, I got confused, especially since there was Cresthaven and Syria. What was in Syria and how did they know? This part was a big question mark for me especially since I didn't remember it being mentioned in the second book - it could have been there but my memory fails me. Also, why is their home in Syria not Cresthaven? \n There were several instances in the novel that I felt Amelia was selfish, which is understandable and an important aspect in her character as a to-be leader, still sometimes I felt it was a bit much. \n There is also a lot of speculation as to Amelia's powers and her Keeper power, which has been a bit of a vague subject since the first book. \n \"I'm not part of some destiny or prophecy. What I am is a curse.\" \n One of the most likeable characters in all three books is Amelia's best friend Bethany, AKA \"B\". Her character is light, funny and sometimes the voice of reason. One of my favourite quotes was when she was reprimanding Amelia. \n \"Do you know what that means, Miss 'nobody likes me, I should go eat worms'? That means he doesn't hold it against you. And if he doesn't hold it against you, you damn well can't hold it against yourself.\" \n There is also the strained relationship between Micah and Bethany, who dated briefly before Amelia was forced to be with Micah (end of book 1 & most of book 2). Still there were some indications of hope. \n \"Micah walked slowly toward Bethany, as cautious as a zookeeper approaching a big cat, and likely for a good reason.\" \n Bound by Prophecy is filled with beautiful quotes and speeches by a variety of characters. \n Here Cole tells Amelia about their father's choices: \n \"He looked at me, and said, 'Cole, there are times when you have to rip your own heart out to show it how to beat.' I thought he was crazy, but I get it now. We were his heart. And what he had to do to us tore him up, but we had to learn how to beat alone.\" \n One of the characters that develops significantly in Bound by Prophecy is Micah, who moves from a prince put down by his mother to a strong leader. \n The parts narrated from his viewpoint are interesting, quick and calculated. He doesn't have time to lose and the character development is clear. His speeches were among the best in the novel. Below is the confrontation scene between him and his mother, Queen Julia. \n \"Power is held by those who take it. It is kept by those who wield it unflinchingly. It is earned by those who are willing to compromise anything to achieve their purpose.\" \n \"No mother,\" I interjected, \"that is where you are the one who has it wrong. Power is earned by those refuse to compromise their ideals and beliefs. It is kept by those who put the greater good before themselves. It is held by those who are supported and believed in. Power is merely having the resources to accomplish your objectives, and it is fleeting to those who throw people away like garbage when they don't conform. \n \"Power is celebrated and revered by those who benefit from it,\" I continued. \"You have maintained your power through coercion and fear, and that is why you are dying. You couldn't sustain your power because it was never meant for this purpose. You are dying because your life is not worth the air you need to breathe. You're dying because you are evil in the world needs rid of you.\" \n Although Bound by Prophecy was not my favourite book in the series, I enjoyed the first and second books more, it still earns a 3.5-star rating and is an interesting, fast-paced conclusion to the series - which Stormy Smith has said she might write new books using other characters \n Note: I know this review is long overdue - I finished the book in time but I did not have time to write the review. My apologies for the delay. \n Note II: I received a free copy of Bound by Prophecy from the author and as part of a blog tour in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 13 19:02:20 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 15 14:14:14 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Nov 21 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "26545688", "review_id": "7e5db110feb8131cc7a715881a029317", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Metamorphosis by Jennifer Carole Lewis is the second instalment in the Lalassu series. While the beginning doesn't seem to start where the other left off, it is a fair continuation of the events of the novel. \n While I feel that most of the book can be read as a standalone, I think reading the first part - Revelations - will make the reader guess the identity of certain characters, some events, connections (some of which will be right, others not) and connect the dots better than someone starting with this book. \n The book is divided into five parts named after stages of healing a wound. I liked that, especially when moving forward with the book, the reader realises that there is a lot of progress and healing required by many of the characters. \n \"Living in the past doesn't change it. It only destroys the present.\" \n Metamorphosis opens with former army corporal Ron McBride escaping from his captors and freezing in the Canadian wilderness. He carries the ashes of Nada, whom he was unable to save in the last book and hopes to give them to her family in a place called \"Ekurru\". \n Almost frozen in the cold, Ron wakes up in Doc's cabin, where he meets his rescuers. Ron worries that his former captors would catch up with him or worse harm those who have come to slightly welcome him in this place, which he later discovers is home to highly intelligent massive-sized bears. \n \"The warmth hit him like truck, sparking an irrational temptation to crawl directly into the tiny fire to thaw his frozen body.\" \n The book focuses on both Ron and Lily, whom Ron immediately falls in love with, and the metamorphosis of each of them; a psychological and emotional transformation for one and literal and physical for the other. \n The theme of the hero remerges in Metamorphosis, where the former corporal has always wanted to be a hero; however, in one of his tours, he believes he failed his friends, who died, while he lived. The novel portrays Ron's constant struggle to be a better - advanced - human being as well as his attempts to be worthy of Lily. \n While I understand the need to stress on Ron's problems and inward struggle, I still felt that it was too much at times, or becoming a bit repetitive. \n The Lalassu are people born with supernatural powers. In Metamorphosis, we are given additional information and background on them. Lily and her family are Lalassu but also called skinwalkers, since they have the ability to transform into bears. \n I enjoyed the use of psychology with the characters of Ron and Vincent, especially since the two characters are similar in several aspects, particularly being controlled by A.D., whose touch renders his victims his slaves. \n We also see how Lily's brother and grandfather try to break A.D.'s hold on both Ron and Vincent, a hold that makes it impossible for them to speak or even hear their captor's name. \n Several characters from Revelations make a reappearance in Metamorphosis with backgrounds on many of them, including Karan, who is best described here: \n \"Most people were too lazy to look past what they wanted to see and Karan had no problem with taking advantage of that.\" \n \"Karan never lost, no matter how long it took to achieve his victory.\" \n I felt the chapters were too long, and thought they'd be quicker if they were shorter, since each chapter already covers several places or sides in the novel. \n Ron's interactions - as well as those of the other characters later on - with the bears were rather cute. Ron's - and the reader's - first encounter with a bear in the book goes like this: \n '\"Good bear. Nice bear,\" he croacked. \n The bear's ears went flat against its skull, exactly like an annoyed cat. It snorted and shook its head.' \n Artful humour is prevalent in the novel to break the tension. An important aspect often forgotten or overlooked by writers. \n \"Your head is spinning fast enough to qualify for Exorcist Frequent Flier miles.\" \n One of the most important aspects in the novel for me is character development. I was glad to see the development of several characters not just the protagonists. *applause for the author* \n Metamorphosis is a novel of romance and journey of maturity and self-discovery, and it's full of beautiful quotes and imagery. I look forward to reading more in the series. \n \"It's easier to believe you are broken than to try and heal yourself.\" \n Note: I got an advanced readers' copy (ARC) of Metamorphosis from author Jennifer Carole Lewis in exchange for an honest review. \n Check out my review of the first instalment of the series, Revelations. http://nadanessinmotion.blogspot.com.... \n Also, take a peek at an excerpt from chapter one in Metamorphosis here: http://nadanessinmotion.blogspot.com....", "date_added": "Tue Oct 06 03:55:12 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 04 16:20:28 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "26131984", "review_id": "b0c532d4bc275b6c7375a7de7dc5092a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Anger's Children by K. D. Rose is collection of three short stories. Judging this book or writing its review is particularly hard, since I hated one of the stories, loved another and one remained in between like and dislike. \n I must note, however, that the synopses for the stories were more interesting than most of the stories themselves. Sex is the focus of the stories; some of it was more disgusting than enjoyable. \n The stories are not related and can be read in any order. In the first part or story, titled \"Under the Shadow of Wings\", I did not enjoy the narration one bit. It felt like bits and pieces were scattered and there was no fixed timeline. Also, there was a mention of mighty sword at the beginning but it was never referred to again, which was strange. There was also a transfer of power but there was no rising tension to meet this power surge. \n In addition, contradictory tones in some parts, including \"She had already won. She had just come back to collect.\" It's like winning and collecting - we don't know what exactly, probably souls, except that they belong to her and \"all her dead relatives\" - are being justified. \n The story quickly shifts to impossible sex in an airplane restroom, which is tiny for one person, let alone two with one of them having wings! I also found the ideas she thinks are from her dead relatives rather confusing. \n \"Under the Shadow of Wings\" was an overall weird story and I really disliked it. It was the opening story and seriously put me off the rest of the book for a bit. \n The second story titled \"Eyes Only\" is considerably long compared to the first and last ones and makes up the bulk of the book. It is also the most enjoyable of the three. \n It is a story within a story within a story with a spectacular twist at the end, making it far more complex than the other two. \n With also a lot of sex, \"Eyes Only\" is bursting with suspense. It boasts several bits of imagery, including: \"Like a junkie, my addiction to her had galloped out of control.\" \n \"Eyes Only\" was not free of confusion, however. Still it is mostly enjoyable and interesting. \n The third and final story in Anger's Children is \"The Dark Man\" \n \"You remain a poignant gossamer of idealistic dreams instead of a champion of organised power - an actual force to be reckoned with.\" - these words echo at the end of the story as well, resulting in an unexpected and intriguing ending. \n As a reader, I wanted to know who the characters were. Are they gods? Or are they pawn in a game for the gods? \n Even though the characters have names, we don't know anything about them, except that they have met - and had sex - several times before and that they have been around for centuries. \n I also felt the storyline and timeline were quite vague. \n Overall rating: Again hard to judge but 2-2.5 stars. \n Note: I received a free copy via Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 03 02:53:24 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 13 18:38:39 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "24376990", "review_id": "36ec458f16b4d3dfb23ad19447169bf7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Note: I received a free copy from author Jennifer Carole Lewis in exchange for an honest review. \n \"Wherever there is prey, there are hunters. Jungle, ocean, city - the location doesn't matter. Predators will always find the vulnerable.\" - The opening line for Revelations and one that rings true on several characters and lines in the story. \n Revelations (Book I of The Lalassu) is a quick-paced action-packed adventure mainly about a dancer with super human abilities. For years, Dani has been fighting her family's nagging that she take up the role of High Priestess for the lalassu people in order to serve as their guide and connection with the goddess. However, she wants no part in that and prefers her life as a burlesque dancer. \n Dani also has a darker core, which she calls the Huntress. Often described as a slithering being, the Huntress is meant to be Dani's connection to the goddess. But something is wrong with the Huntress and it appears to be evil or as we later discover, is \"corrupted\". \n \"Concentrating, gathering her personal self... Dani reached deep into her psyche. \n And touched a monster. The Huntress: terrifying, insatiable hunger; ancient rage howling for blood. Linked to the Goddess of her ancestors, it was part of her family's bloodlines, a genetic curse worse than any cancer or disease.\" \n Dani needs to feed the Huntress every few weeks. But because she knows what the dark being will do to her victims, Dani decides to hunt down men who need to be taught a lesson, or simply \"predators\". An example is given in the first few chapters with Josh. \n As Dani exits the club with Josh, we meet Michael Brooks and his cop friend Joe. Michael is a developmental therapist for children. He is kind of like an empath, who is able to read emotions and minds when he gets in contact with others, which he constantly tries to avoid. He uses his gift to discover the secrets children can't share with anyone else. \n \"For everyone else, touch was something casual. It could at times become sensual or intimate, but no one else had to fear it. Every time Michael's skin touched someone or something else, he became privy to their inner thoughts, their darkest secrets, fears and hopes.\" \n Michael senses something strangely dark when he enters the club Dani has just left. People who were out to have fun were in a frenzy of sex and rage. \n The novel shifts between Dani, Michael and Dalhard. The worlds of the first two soon collide especially after one of Michael's clients is kidnapped, and Dani's family is threatened, when her two brothers, both with inhuman speed and strength, are also kidnapped. \n Michael discovers that his charge, Bernie is a medium. What he thought were imaginary friends were actually the ghosts of the dead, bringing her messages and warnings. \n Revelations has an abundance of beautiful but different characters. There are layers upon layers of and character-depth. Although the story is mostly about Dani, and Michael might be a second protagonist or an equal to Dani, others like: Bernie, Joe, Eric, Dalhard and Gwen, all play major roles in the novel. The secondary characters are few, but everyone is important including Nada and Karan. Everyone plays a role and I loved that about the novel. \n One of the things I enjoyed is how Dani, the independent woman, fears what she can do to others. Her gifts are curses. There is a strong character duality, she's both good and bad. She sees the Huntress as evil and fears becoming a Priestess would change her. She also develops feelings for Michael and sees him as naive and too good-natured, making her over-protective of him. \n One of the main themes in the novel is that of the \"hero\". Michael likes comic books, which have shaped his definition of a hero. \"Inside the pages, people who were different became heroes, not freaks. He liked to imagine himself as one of the heroes, using his secret abilities to help others while maintaining a mild-mannered persona.\" \n As the novel progresses, Michael's view of the hero changes and develops. He sees Dani beat up a man who had been stalking one of the dancers. In an instant, the comic book hero who beats the bad guys changes before him after he sees it in a real-life incident. Michael also wants to see Dani as the hero, his, Bernie's and her family's hero. \n Meanwhile, Dalhard, the evil and rich businessman/mastermind, is working hard to \"acquire assets\" or people with superhuman abilities. He tricks Dani's brothers, Eric and Vincent, and we soon discover he has abilities of his own, ones transferred through touch. \n Dalhard later has his eyes on Dani, although he doesn't know anything about her Huntress or her legacy to become the next High Priestess for the Lalassu people, but he sees her as a golden ticket and a vessel for his experiments. \n Dani and Michael have to team up to save the ones they care about as well as the whole of the Lalassu people because Dalhard will stop at nothing to \"acquire\" them for his personal use and for bringing new game-changers to the world of politics. \n On another note, Jennifer Carole also has a way with words and I enjoyed her imagery and word choice throughout the book. (making it hard to pick certain quotes) \n \"But she triggered an uncomfortable wariness, a subliminal warning shivering and shredding the edges of his interest.\" \n One of the things I particularly enjoyed about Revelations and Jennifer Carole's style is her \"show don't tell\" technique. Something many writers struggle with. An example is \"Up close, his looks were even better: easily over six feet with broad shoulders and well-used gym membership.\" And \"She looked like every demonic little girl in a horror film.\" \n Revelations is a quick-paced novel that changes the common perceptions of the \"hero\", with journeys of self-discovery, acceptance and finding romance in unlikely places and people. \n Note II: This book is for adult/mature audiences.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 03 05:28:15 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 06 04:48:09 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "25271311", "review_id": "1bfb475d8adf7e3b84e3f49074c2f6df", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The Witches of BlackBrook by Tish Thawer is the first instalment in the Witches of BlackBrook series; however, it is does not have an open-ending. \n Quick-paced and easy to navigate, the story is about three witches: Karina, Kara and Kenna, who lived in the late 1600's, when magic was practiced freely. Mischief befalls the three, when a woman tricks the elder sister, claiming her baby is ill. After that, Karina is accused of killing the baby and being the devil's daughter. She is sentenced to burn at the stake, where she performs a spell to protect her and her sisters. \n Karina's spell takes the sisters, and the rest of the witches, across time, to be reborn in different bodies every time. \n The Witches of BlackBrook opens with a short but powerful prologue. We see a witch's sacrifice from the first page, which immediately gives an idea about the character, even though we are not sure who that character is from the beginning but later learn that it is Karina. \n The novel shifts between the present, where Karina is Trin, and their episodes and events from their past life before and during Karina's trial. Trin is a massage therapist and lives with her roommate/sister Kit, believed to be Kenna. Throughout their previous lives, they have been in constant search of their third sister Kara, but to no avail. \n The narration is in the third person throughout the novel, but we get the sense of things coming from certain perspectives. There are also short sections of an unknown character constantly trying to separate the three sisters and prevent their union. This character adds suspense and gives a strong eerie and creepy atmosphere. \n In the present, Trin meets Caris, a teacher, who recently moved back to BlackBrook with her cousin. During her first massage session with Caris, Trin sees memories of her and her sisters and immediately believes that Caris might be the third lost sister. However, Kit believes otherwise and we get a strong sense of jealousy. \n I enjoyed the use of spells, and the seamless shift between present and past. \n Trin may be the eldest sister, but she's not the wisest. And I really liked that. \"Trin was always thrown off when another witch was around. She desperately wanted everyone they'd stumbled upon to be Kara, that she'd lost perspective over the years.\" \n There is also the character of Jason, Caris' cousin, who is instantly attracted to Trin and reminds her of her long lost love, Jeramiah. \n The overall setting and descriptions throughout the novel are vivid, but there were several images and lines that stood out for me: \n \"She should be excited and proud of Kit, and she was, but the urgency of finding out what magical barrier was being cast upon her entire destiny seemed like a trump card in her book.\" \n There was also the use of tarot readings. \"Trin acknowledged the Magician card as her past, no surprises there. But the present and future card had her undivided attention. \n The Seven of Swords indicated deceit and deception surrounding her present, while the reversed Tower forewarned her of major changes, where she could no longer count on those close to her.\" \n Although in several instances the novel reminded me of the book and television series Charmed, Tish Thawer put in several twists, giving The Witches of BlackBrook its own character. \n Overall: A quick-paced magical five-star must read.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 30 15:43:41 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 30 15:45:46 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "23294183", "review_id": "22207f3eeca722e0e183b43dc26201e6", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Review to come as part of the blog tour - In progress", "date_added": "Wed Aug 19 01:31:58 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 18 12:08:17 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Oct 18 12:08:17 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "25682457", "review_id": "b8aa22206141d004b6f1c4db3e0075bc", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Anger's Children by K. D. Rose is collection of three short stories. Judging this book or writing its review is particularly hard, since I hated one of the stories, loved another and one remained in between like and dislike. \n I must note, however, that the synopses for the stories were more interesting than most of the stories themselves. Sex is the focus of the stories; some of it was more disgusting than enjoyable. \n The stories are not related and can be read in any order. In the first part or story, titled \"Under the Shadow of Wings\", I did not enjoy the narration one bit. It felt like bits and pieces were scattered and there was no fixed timeline. Also, there was a mention of mighty sword at the beginning but it was never referred to again, which was strange. There was also a transfer of power but there was no rising tension to meet this power surge. \n In addition, contradictory tones in some parts, including \"She had already won. She had just come back to collect.\" It's like winning and collecting - we don't know what exactly, probably souls, except that they belong to her and \"all her dead relatives\" - are being justified. \n The story quickly shifts to impossible sex in an airplane restroom, which is tiny for one person, let alone two with one of them having wings! I also found the ideas she thinks are from her dead relatives rather confusing. \n \"Under the Shadow of Wings\" was an overall weird story and I really disliked it. It was the opening story and seriously put me off the rest of the book for a bit. \n The second story titled \"Eyes Only\" is considerably long compared to the first and last ones and makes up the bulk of the book. It is also the most enjoyable of the three. \n It is a story within a story within a story with a spectacular twist at the end, making it far more complex than the other two. \n With also a lot of sex, \"Eyes Only\" is bursting with suspense. It boasts several bits of imagery, including: \"Like a junkie, my addiction to her had galloped out of control.\" \n \"Eyes Only\" was not free of confusion, however. Still it is mostly enjoyable and interesting. \n The third and final story in Anger's Children is \"The Dark Man\". \n \"You remain a poignant gossamer of idealistic dreams instead of a champion of organised power - an actual force to be reckoned with.\" - these words echo at the end of the story as well, resulting in an unexpected and intriguing ending. \n As a reader, I wanted to know who the characters were. Are they gods? Or are they pawn in a game for the gods? \n Even though the characters have names, we don't know anything about them, except that they have met - and had sex - several times before and that they have been around for centuries. \n I also felt the storyline and timeline were quite vague. \n Overall rating: Again hard to judge but 2-2.5 stars. \n Note: I received a free copy via Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 18 23:08:23 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 15 17:39:27 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Oct 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "25599454", "review_id": "7bd6f8369b2087f0e39c5d915a94d905", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Rare Form by Jen Crane is the first instalment in the Descended of Dragons series. Narrated in the first person from redhead Stella Stonewall's perspective, the novel opens with Stella leaving college and unsure of what to do in her life, when she crashes her car in another and a lamppost. \n From the first chapter we are introduced to Rowan Gresham, another main character, who tells Stella that he has been looking for her and that he has information about her father - a man Stella has never met and whom her mother would never speak of. \n \"It wasn't every day a girl learned of an alternate utopia with dwarfs and magic.\" \n Shortly after, Gresham takes the protagonist to another world called Thayer, where everyone has an animal ancestry and form - except Stella. \n In an attempt to prove to Stella that Thayer exists, Gresham brings a dwarf-like bearded man and hides him under the table at a restaurant. What bothered me about that part was that the focus was on the man not the fact that he magically disappeared. I felt that was a big of an anomaly in the narration or the character's focus. \n Another thing that annoyed me in Rare Form was the use of \"atop\", which was used roughly ten times in the novel. It's not a big deal, but when a word keeps popping up like that - and there are synonyms - I, as a reader, get annoyed. Others may not. \n In Thayer, Stella finally feels that she fits in, though she still wants to prove herself, especially after she learns that the students were betting that she wouldn't last a week there. \n One of the themes or main ideas focused on in the novel was that the school, known as Redix, is a place for \"adults\"; therefore, they have coffee by day and bar by night. No monitoring of alcohol or sex; everything is left open. \n \"Coffee during the day and a full bar at night.\" \n \"Are you freaking kidding me? A dorm with a bar? Pinch me now.\" \n \"It isn't a dorm. It's a residence hall for adult students. We're all adults here.\" \n However, as you read on a bit, several of Stella's actions and reactions seem to be unadult-like, especially in her infatuation with Gresham, which we later learn that he might be taken. \n At first, Stella's narration annoyed me. It was repetitive and fairly shallow; although she describes fear and what happens when we panic and all the crazy ideas we get quite well. \n Stella's character sees significant change during the course of the novel. \n In Thayer, she feels she has a place, makes friends quickly and begins to delve deeper into her new world and lineage - even though her mother still shies away from the \"Who is my father?\" question. \n Not one of the best - or prettiest - images in the novel, but still a creative one \"My mind vomited questions.\" Generally, Rare Form is full of beautiful paragraphs and speeches rather than standalone imagery. \n Although the main characters are Stella and Gresham, others like the jealous - and irritating - principle Livia Miles, who attempts to humiliate Stella throughout the novel and is constantly jealous of her. \n Our and Stella's first encounter with Livia goes like this: \n \"Ugh, Rowan. She is an imbecile. Wherever did you find her, and what moron allowed her into this institution. If this is the caliber of student my department is expected to instruct, I...\" \n Other characters include Stella's mother, Timbra, who becomes Stella's best friends, Boone, the enigmatic Ewan and others. \n Although Stella's main transformation comes towards the end of the novel, it is a significant one, where an adult and wiser Stella comes out. \n The protagonist struggles to find her animal form and to control it. Gresham is her mentor and uses an unorthodox method to help her. \n \"You can't possibly know what it means to coax a throbbing chakra; to fan its banked fire until, white hot, energy bursts forth and burns forcibly through your veins. You can't imagine the rush you'll feel when the only physical form you've ever known explodes into a thousand pieces and leaves a monster in its wake. And the liberating part about changing is that you don't even care. You're free. You're... yourself... finally.\" \n The novel also includes diary entries by Stella, which I felt were a sort of summary to the events, which were already narrated in the first person from Stella's point of view. \n On another note, the novel is fairly quick-paced, especially since its starts with a car crash and quick shift from our world to Thayer in the early chapters. \n Rare Form is not free of romance, in fact Stella is attracted to two people, though one more than the other, and there are several couples, some of which are having difficulty dating because of their animal forms, which is interesting in the turn of events. \n As we go farther into the novel we learn that a powerful wizard had enslaved dragons long ago and had them do his bidding in an attempt to control Thayer. That wizard remains hidden with his whereabouts unknown. Although it has been years since anyone has seen the dragons, Stella soon comes face to face with several. It is then that the already quick-pace heightens and the reader is propelled towards the end of the book. \n Although there were certain points I did not like about Rare Form, I must say, honestly, that I gobbled the novel in a few days, whenever time was made available (including a couple of minutes here and there at work). \n Quick, enjoyable and it has dragons, three things that make a good book. \n Note: I received a free copy of Rare Form by Jen Crane via Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review as part of the blog tour. \n Note II: This book is meant for an adult/mature audience. (18+)", "date_added": "Tue Jul 28 12:57:10 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 11 08:52:12 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "25490922", "review_id": "07b570e4241911441eb8cb049fd7de29", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Note: I free copy via Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. \n Shadow, Shadow by V. B. Marlowe is the first instalment in The Shadow Pines trilogy and an amazing multi-faceted becoming-of-age novel about four school students given four Shadow Boxes on their sixteenth birthday. They, Harley, Teaghan, Gianna and Brock, are told that they have the power to remove one person from their lives by giving them to the shadows, which need to feed. However, they are later told that they must use the Shadow Boxes or someone close to them will be killed/taken by the shadows. \n The novel opens in the middle of an action, giving immediate rise in tension from the first page and marking a strong opening as we see Brock Ethan being arrested. \n \"Everyone was used to me being in trouble, but Brock Ethan? He never did anything wrong.\" \n Shortly after, Brock tells Harley to run and she takes off. We are then transported back to events that happened nine months earlier, when they first received the Shadow Boxes. \n Narrated from the first person perspectives of Harley and Teaghan, Marlowe contrasts the girls' lives and choices. The author also sheds light on the Brock's and Gianna's choices and struggles through these two characters. \n Harley is a rebellious character, often in trouble, grounded and into watching and writing horror movies. Her name reminds me of a Harley Davidson bike, which I often feel she is like in terms of making a statement. However, Harley has several problems and we see from the first chapter that she lacks fatherly affection. \n Her mother disappeared and her father remarried Amy, a cruel and unfair stepmother, from Harley's perspective at least. Harley also has a trouble-making boyfriend, Nash, whom the reader immediately dislikes and deems the perfect candidate to be given to the shadows. \n \"I hadn't heard from Nash all week. That was typical with him. He called when he felt like it, and most of the time when I called him, he didn't answer his phone.\" \n From the first chapters, we see how, despite her misfortunes and familial problems, Harley has more heart than any of the other characters. She has a hard time deciding who she should trade to the shadows, even though several options arise. She even cares for those who have hurt her and takes her time to think of the consequences of \"trading lives\". \n Meanwhile, Teaghan is a geeky, lonely character. She is an introvert and would rather spend her life reading in her room; however, she is often picked on in school. Teaghan is the first to use her Shadow Box, and bit by bit her character changes. \n \"Happiness was a mythical creature that visited other people. I'd never seen it. Sometimes, I felt as if I was the only one who hadn't.\" \n Marlowe does a stellar job in contrasting characters, especially Harley and Teaghan and later Gianna. I think she's done a splendid job with the \"show don't tell\" in her novel. I couldn't help but constantly compare and contrast the characters. \n Another character, a sort of background character is Ava-kaya. She doesn't appear often but she has a major role to play as she is the one who first gives the students the Shadow Boxes. We also never learn how she got all four boxes at the same time. She is also the one with all the info about the shadows and Shadow Boxes, which she reluctantly gives out to Harley bit by bit. \n \"The four of you have been blessed with a great gift. Well, it's a gift for you, but a curse for someone else.\" \n I liked how the Shadow Boxes show the true nature of the characters. Teaghan, for example, begins to appear in a new light to herself and to others. \n Connected by the boxes, each character is tested differently throughout the novel and given different motives and motivations to use their Shadow Boxes. Brock and Gianna's struggles appear towards the end but also shed light on their different characters. \n \"The greatest gift in the world. Trading is what keeps the shadows appeased. It keeps the shadows in their place.\" \n My only problem with the novel is that the prologue or first chapter does not connect with the last, where we see a new character called Michael that we've never encountered before. I don't feel a thirteen-year-old would feel the depth of the characters but that could just be me. (Blurb says for Ages 13 and up). \n Both the narration and language are easy to navigate and light, helping the novel's quick pace, along with short chapters. The imagery, mostly similes, is well placed throughout the novel. Harley is a sarcastic character and her sarcasm adds to the occasional comic relief. \n Overall: 4.75/5 stars - only because the first and last chapters didn't meet for me, but overall, I loved the novel and couldn't put it down. I look forward to the remaining instalments in the trilogy. \n I also liked the cover, which was cute but mysterious at the same time. \n (I would also like to mention that I bookmarked nearly half the novel and wrote tons of notes but to rewrite/copy all that here would spoil the novel and would be too long - just though you should know).", "date_added": "Fri May 15 11:24:37 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon May 25 17:12:50 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "24301457", "review_id": "677d3c0db602cf62ae8535b09c1b2324", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Wish for Me by A. Star is the first instalment in The Djinn Order series. It is an action-packed steampunk, adult, fantasy and romance novel. \n The novel is narrated in the first person by Glory St. Pierre, who seems rebellious but is plain obnoxious. Glory stumbles on a strange looking vase which turns out is more of a genie or Djinn lamp. The contraption, nothing like the lamp Aladdin finds, houses the Djinn Irving Amir, who gives Glory the chance to make three wishes. The two characters start out their relationship on a sarcastic note but an arrow to Irving's shoulder quickly changes their relationship. \n Although there is significant character development for Glory, the protagonist and narrator, I did not like her; I liked her sometimes but those instances were few. The first few chapters put me off the two characters but bit by bit I began to like Irving Amir and respect him. \n Apart from the sweet-talk and \"uber-sexy abs\" and away from the early dislike of humans, Irving is overall an experienced, wise and loveable character, as opposed to Glory. \\ \n \"Humans are shallow creatures with shallow desires and they only ever wish for shallow things. Fame, infinite wealth, love from the one who would not love them otherwise... the story is always the same.\" This Irving's view of human in chapter one, but as the novel progresses, his view begins to change and begins to fall for Glory and she for him, although at first she is more attracted to him sexually than anything else. \n The sarcasm coming from both characters offers a bit of comic relief every now and then to ease the tension, which is a lot in the novel. \n After Irving gets a poisoned arrow to his shoulder and Glory accidentally wishes for magic, things change drastically. Both become hunted by more than one side. \n The ending of Wish for Me was much stronger than I anticipated. Not only that, many of the hunter-prey roles become reversed as Irving and Glory must team up with enemies to fight other enemies. \n A. Star uses several Arabic words and names, which I thought was cute considering Arabic is my mother tongue. \n I enjoyed the contraptions created by Irving. He likes to tinker and create. In his realm, everything is mechanical - the steampunk element - and I enjoyed the description of many of his creations, especially Nagi. \n One of the things that bothered me while reading, however, was the author's constant and repetitive use of \"questioned\". I mean there are options like \"asked\" and \"said\", and certainly others, but the excessive use of \"questioned\" irritated me beyond measure - it was worth a star or half a star in my rating. \n Also, there were several major shifts, from tit-for-tat arguments to romance in a jiffy. I didn't like that and felt it disrupted the flow of the novel. It also felt awkward in places. \n The adult content in Wish for Me is mainly because of the language and a couple of love scenes, which I didn't see as romantic or at least not what I was expecting with the author's bio (below). Still it is unsuitable for ages 18 and under. \n I did enjoy the action in the novel and felt like I was in a movie. \n A. Star uses several interesting and creative images such as \"Irving still treated me like a pimple he was itching to pop.\" \n Several revelations come at the end of the novel, paving the way of the second instalment in the series, which I would like to read if I get the chance. \n Overall rating: 3.5 stars \n Note: I received a free copy of Wish for Me via Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review as part of this blog tour. \n There is a giveaway as part of the blog tour, check it out here: \n http://nadanessinmotion.blogspot.com/...", "date_added": "Wed May 13 03:46:46 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 00:08:32 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jul 31 05:34:50 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "24416381", "review_id": "184e628d32a27c95c08de18f601e25b5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Note: I got free copy of The Huntress: The Beginnings from the author in exchange for an honest review. \n The Huntress: The Beginnings by Nadja Losbohm is the first instalment in The Huntress series. Originally published in German, the novella (around 150 pages) is about Ada, whose life is turned around when she is told that she is destined to become a Huntress. \n Ada Pearce is an overweight ordinary woman, who hates sports. Helping a neighbour, she enters St. Mary's Church and is told that she has to leave her life and everything behind her to become a Huntress. \n There, her trainer and only companion is Father Michael, whom we learn does not age like normal people and has his life tied to being inside the church. \n Narrated in the first person from Ada's perspective, the novella opens with Ada telling the reader that she is pregnant and is going to meet with a reporter (Dan Meyers) to tell the world her story and get them to realise that there are monsters on the streets that they need to be careful of. Although Father Michael originally opposes the idea, he understands Ada's need to keep people safe. \n \"So, when I can't make my rounds, who else is there to protect all those people from what's lurking in the dark?\" \n A Hunter or Huntress comes along once every fifty years. With Ada's pregnancy, there will be several months of Huntress-free streets, making it a monster-playground. \n The prologue is after Ada discovers her role as a Huntress. As the novella moves forward, she tells the reader how that happens. \n \"My name is Ada Pearce, I'm twenty-four years old and I'm a vampire and monster hunter.\" \n The Huntress: The Beginnings is based on flashbacks as Ada tells the reporter her story. Some flashbacks are stories told to the reader and not the reporter owing to their sensitivity or simply because they are too private to be shared. Because of the flashbacks, there isn't a fixed pace for the novel. \n Although the narration is from Ada's perspective, we get glimpses into Father Michael's life - after he learns to trust her - and how he has struggled over the years to become the man he is today. \n We also see Ada progress from one who curses all the time to someone who begins to respect the institution she is in and the man in charge of it. At several points at the beginning of the novella, Father Michael warns her that if she continues to curse, he will throw her out. Her interests and concerns also change and she learns acceptance (among other things). \n She also learns to see past Father Michael's rough exterior and the walls he has put around himself over the years. \n Ada is fairly sarcastic, adding comic relief from time to time. Moreover, her interactions and situations with Father Michael, a man who has only trained Hunters for centuries, are quite funny. \n \"The Father had no idea about matters of a female nature.\" \n I particularly enjoyed those parts of the flashbacks, which show Father Michael's 'human' side and how time affects people who live in closed places (kind of like being with a grandparent). \n \"Everything about his face seemed to be crying out with pain. His black eyes shone wet as horrible images of events in his past raged behind the veil of tears.\" \n The Huntress is also a romance novella. From the beginning, we are told who the father of Ada's baby is, which should not come as a shock to readers since the couple lives together. \n \"Every time you go out there in the dark, I die anew,\" he whispered. \"I die with fear. I die with worry. I feel helpless every time I stay behind. I can't help you, can't protect you when you need it.\" \n I like the use of fairy-tale and other references in the novella. Father Michael tells Ada that she resembles Snow White, and that he finds the seven dwarfs to be scary. \n Although, I haven't read the original Grimm Fairy Tales, there are several references in The Huntress, which have encouraged me to consider reading the originals. \n \"Where do you think the authors of such books...got their ideas from? There's always a grain of truth in every legend.\" Ada tells the reporter in their first meeting. \n The novella is not devoid of monster-hunting. Although, apart from vampires, we do not get the names of monsters, we are given description details of each. Personally, I wished there were more details in the fighting, still a pregnant woman everything a not pregnant one can. \n \"Why weren't there any good-looking, nice-smelling monsters? I suddenly found myself wondering.\" \n The novella falls under the young adult genre and has no adult content, with the exception of minor insinuations. \n The first instalment in the series, The Huntress: The Beginnings is an enjoyable read. It sets the ground for the next three books as well as Ada's and Father Michael's world. \n Should the following instalments be translated into English I look forward to reading them. In the meantime, I'm content with Ada, her journey and her transformation.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 26 11:54:26 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 23 15:52:05 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "24485599", "review_id": "8725d397cdc698d6ce9d85e4c6b941e0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Note: I received an advanced reader's copy (ARC) of Bound by Spells in exchange for an honest review. \n What a blast! \n Bound by Spells, the second instalment in the Bound series by Stormy Smith, picks up where the first book, Bound by Duty, left off. The opening chapter is a powerful one with interesting, even slightly scientific but enjoyable, descriptions of Aidan's transformation. \n Also narrated from the first person, the second book alternates between Aidan's and Amelia's viewpoints, each being in a different place. These shifting perspectives keep the reader on edge while also showing us events happening at the same time. \n As Bound by Spells progresses, we get many reminders of scenes mentioned in the first book, so one does not feel lost or confused, but rather the reader is able to connect events better and begins to make connections as the characters themselves do. \n Amelia continues to be bound by her duty towards her family and her people. In the final scene of the first book and the opening scene in this one, she is seen leaving Aidan, not because she wants to but because she has to go with Micah and Queen Julia, whom we see more often that we would like in this instalment. \n Since the novel picks up where the first left off, we are thrown directly into the action, which is quite fun and different from most books, which start out slow. \n Bound by Spells is rich with characters both from book one and new ones. I particularly loved Dillon, the ten-year-old AniMage, and the way he talks and how he is quite wise and brave for a child. Also, we get to see Nathaniel, Amelia's father in a new light. \n Apart from Amelia, Aidan is a centre-piece in this instalment. We see his character grow and develop, in more ways than one. His love and care for Amelia are enviable. \n As with the Bound by Duty, Amelia's uncontrollable sarcasm gets the better of her and lands in worse trouble than she is already in. I can personally relate to Amelia at this point, particularly as sarcasm gets me into trouble - but not as life-threatening \n Also, we get to see more of Bethany, who, despite being only human, proves to be a major character in the novel. She provides comic relief, insight, kindness and is just fun with her southern-accent tirades. \n The reader gets more than their fair share of the abominable Queen Julia, who tries to win Amelia to her side and demonstrates her twisted Hitler-like logic. Amelia and the reader see her for she really is, a mad woman on a mission to eradicate races in the name of purifying them for polluting Mage blood. While her intentions may have been well at first, she quickly shifted into a heartless abomination without a care for the innocent lives that may be lost. \n At one point or rather moment, the reader sympathises with the queen, but that's only a moment and then her craziness returns. \n Throughout the novel we see Amelia struggle with her Keeper power; the fight for who wins over the other is never-ending and a bit painful to read. \n As with the first book in the series, Bound by Spells boasts many beautiful images, such as: \n \"I walked into a minefield wearing clown shoes.\" \n \"Our power was a faucet constantly turned on. As long as it ran, we lived. But if it turned off, we were done\". Rereading this line and connecting it with the ending, a shiver runs down my spine. \n \"Her darkness sucked the light of my flame into an abyss, like a black hole eating the particles of light and the pieces of stardust from the universe.\" \n Bound by Spells is gripping novel full of power, love, emotional surges and blue and purple orbs of power. \n Stormy Smith has managed to write a book that is absolutely action-packed with bits of sarcasm, raging fury and tempers and above all an enjoyable ride. I couldn't put the book down and I'm currently dying to see what third instalment will unveil.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 02 15:21:41 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 25 14:52:15 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Mar 25 14:52:15 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "24513660", "review_id": "aa9897d5547ad58de79b41b2463a1ecf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Note: I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review and as part of a blog tour with Xpresso Book Tours. \n Check out the giveaways as part of the tour here: \n http://nadanessinmotion.blogspot.com/... \n The Enchanted Rose by Nadia Nader, is a novella or short novel and the first in a new and gripping series. \n The protagonist is Vivian, whose mother recently passed away and who has been shipped off to quirky aunts she's never heard of in a town called Misty Hills. There she begins to learn about her lineage, her family and their curse. Worst of all, Vivian discovers she has a twin sister and a hoard of secrets kept hidden by her mother. \n When Vivian asks one of her aunts (Agnes) why her mother had never mentioned them, she says: \"Your mother never mentioned us because she was desperate to break free. Mentioning us would have made her escape futile... As it is, you are back with us, so she never managed to truly escape.\" \n Upon her first encounter with her twin sister Rose, Vivian is told \"You shouldn't have let her come back. Her father didn't want her. And neither do we,\" which set the loathing, jealousy and anger between the two sister from the beginning of the novel. There are other previous examples, but I felt this was one of the strongest. \n Later when Rose says \"I've been okay for the past fifteen years without you, I don't need you now,\" we understand that Rose has been hating and holding a grudge against her sister for fifteen years. \"Her eyes shone with unconcealed hatred. Her voice dripped with deadly venom.\" \n I like how Ms. Nader includes comic relief in her novel. Vivian is sometimes sarcastic but the clash between her and her sister Rose often leads to humourous situations, or black comedy. \n \"I was horrified that she would describe Rose as \"cheerful,\" and it must have showed, Mrs. Sherwood laughed.\" \n Bit by bit, we learn about the history of Misty Hills and the curse that haunts each family. What I liked about the story of how the curse came to be, is that the original story of two sisters contrasts with the bad relationship between Vivian and Rose. \n Vivian is doubtful of everything when she arrives in Misty Hills and remains so till the end of the novel; I like how that part in her character didn't change, making the reader that all that is going on is a dream. I also liked Vivian's character development as well as Rose's. \n I didn't feel that the book title \"The Enchanted Rose\" was the appropriate one as we don't see that reflected in the novel. It might be a good name for the whole series but not the first instalment. It also misleads the reader into thinking it will be a bit of a Beauty and the Beast story. \n The novel is filled with vivid but enjoyable description and imagery. \n \"There was a wild and wonderful beauty to the unkempt grounds.\" \n It also has the mysterious Hunter, who does not appear often but has a huge secret (and I expect a major role in the coming book(s)). \n I like how the novel does not focus on romance; there is Hunter but there isn't anything \"romantic\", which for me makes the novel stronger at least for this part. \n Overall, I enjoyed the novel and I believe I finished it in a couple of days. It would have been one day, if I didn't have \"stuff\".", "date_added": "Sun Jan 25 11:33:14 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu May 21 17:18:42 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Apr 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "24381520", "review_id": "abed2889dcdfb20bdb1ae6924f681fe4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Note: I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. \n Family Secrets by Kat Nichols is the first instalment in The Secret Societies Collection. The novel is about Sophia, who has been living with her best friend Abby after both her parents died, but soon she is sent off to live with family she never knew existed. \n Not only so, Sophia discovers that comes from a long line of witches. She has to learn everything within five months for her initiation on her eighteenth birthday. She is also to be named the next matriarch of the Blackthorne Coven. The family and coven are loaded with secrets, rivalry and lust for power.ophia is to be trained by her cousin Alexa, who is not an easy-to-deal-with character. At school, Sophia meets Connor, who has a secret of his own, and who is named by Alexa as the 'enemy'. But who is really the 'enemy' in Family Secrets? \n Sophia has a long journey ahead of her and she has to decide who is friend, who is family, who is foe, and who falls under more than one of these categories. \n Narrated in the first person, the novel is about Sophia, her magic and her journey of self-learning and self-discovery. Occasionally, it feels like a diary-entry, but it is nonetheless enjoyable and smooth. \n As the novel begins, we see the Sophia is not a strong character. \n \"Sophie, I don't want you to go.\" Abby grabbed me in a hug, squeezing me tightly. \n \"I don't want to go either. But I have no choice.\" \n \"Yes, you do. Fight back, Sophie. Stand up for yourself for once.\" Her voice was sharp and she pulled out of the hug, looking directly at me. \"Don't let people walk all over you.\" \n A little later, Abby also tells her \"Standing up for yourself doesn't make you a bad person, you know.\" \n As the novel develops, we see Sophia struggle with these words at several points, sometimes winning and sometimes losing. Despite playing a small role in Family Secrets, Abby is both an important character and a major part in Sophia's development. \n \"She was always more outgoing and confident than me. She knew how to act in all sorts of situations, while I just floundered in social waters like a toddler learning to swim.\" \n Bit by bit, Sophia learns to react differently to each character. There is Alexa, Connor, Lucas, Sydney, the maids and mostly importantly her grandmother Beverly. \n \"She stared at me like she was trying to see into my soul. Her blue eyes didn't remind me of my dad's now. Hers looked like ice chips - frozen and hard. My dad could never have those eyes.\" \n As the novel progresses, we see that even the grandmother has intentions of her own, which are constantly revealed to be darker than what others think. \n I truly enjoyed the magic system incorporated in the story. Nichols has certainly exerted efforts to lay down the rules for this well-crafted system, which is slightly complex for the practitioner but easy to understand for the reader. Each spell is bound by a sigil, a symbol, that the practitioner has to imagine in their mind before creating the spell through a hand gesture. \n In addition to reading journals written by previous witches from the coven, Sophia is to be instructed by her cousin Alexa in order to be ready for her initiation. But what happens when your tutor is jealous and adamant on making you fail so they can take your place? \n During training, Alexa is always pushing Sophia down rather than encouraging her. \"We'll start with the easiest of the elements--air. You won't be able to do too much now, but give it time.\" \n In the journals, Sophia learns about other types of magic; however, she soon realises that the journals she is given are of lesser witches. She finds much darker ones in her grandmother's study and begins to sneak those to read them. I particularly liked this part in Sophia, as it shows her the extents of and other secrets in magic. It also contributes to her development and better understanding of her coven. \n In one of the journals, she learns about a spell called \"Compelling\", which is a bit similar to the Imperius Curse in the Harry Potter books. \n The language used in Family Secrets is simple and helps the pace of the novel, which is fairly quick even from the beginning. I liked how Nichols used the maids, who add relief and warmth compared to the coldness Sophia encounters from her family. \n \"The way she said dear grated on my nerves. It turned an endearment into a dirty word.\" \n Although I had an initial dislike for the novel's title because of the negative connotations often associated with those two words, when I finished the novel, I felt it was actually a suitable one. \n I must say, I didn't want the novel to end. It was quick, fun and enjoyable, even the sad parts played major roles in the character and plot building. I can hardly wait for the second instalment in the series.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 09 15:26:51 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue May 19 01:37:27 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed May 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "18910286", "review_id": "a91d40837f1d6f35efd59ee3fb829aca", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Insanity has got to be the quickest-paced novel I've ever read! Full of short chapters and never-ending madness... I absolutely loved this book. \n I don't know if there is a particular character I liked over the others, but I most certainly liked them all for various reasons: the imagery, characters, the background, the different settings, the sarcasm and the humour. Even the Cheshire. \n The first instalment in the Mad in Wonderland series by Cameron Jace, Insanity revolves around Lewis Carroll's famous Alice in Wonderland books. Jace uses the original novels and twists them brilliantly into black comedy and humourous but serious fiction. \n I'm pretty sure this novel falls under the 'absurd' genre but it will the novel of the absurd (not the theatre of the absurd). \n While I haven't read the original books, I have definitely added them to my endless to-read list after this and will be seeing the old literary characters in a brand new light after this read. \n It seems Wonderland was full of monsters that Lewis Carroll had to lock up with magic; however, several of these monsters escaped and shape-shifted into humans. While some live peacefully, others are wreaking havoc, particularly the Cheshire Cat, who is on a killing spree. \n \"If you've survived parasites and bacteria until the age of nineteen, you can survive sane people\" - one of the many cool-but-insane things the Pillar tells Alice in the story. \n Insanity is mostly narrated in the first person from Alice's perspective, with a few exceptions narrated in the third person. Alice, the protagonist of the novel, is young girl in an asylum. She regularly endures shock therapy at the hands of her wardens, who seem to enjoy it A LOT. She has no idea who she is or what the outside world is like. Soon, she is introduced to a serial killer living in the asylum known as Pillar the Killer. \n The two inhabitants of the Radcliffe Asylum embark on morning-only journeys to find the Cheshire and begin to meet several people/characters from Lewis Carroll's book. \n Everything in Insanity and the mystery behind the killings is related to Lewis Carroll, his life and writing. It's brilliantly entertaining and mind-boggling to both Alice and the reader. \n For a book named Insanity, there is a very fine line between what is considered rational and what is seen as 'crazy' and Alice finds it very difficult to differentiate and to be sane in the modern world. \n Moreover, she cannot remember her past and finds it easier to be crazy. Even the asylum becomes 'home' after she goes out to the real world. \n I particularly like how comic relief and sarcasm are interwoven in the fabric of the novel; they are ever-present, so that the reader's brain is never fried but is constantly relieved even in the most serious of situations. \n When we first meet Alice, she narrates how she keeps her sanity, saying \"My orange flower is also my personal rain check for my sanity. If I talk to her and she doesn't reply, I know I am not hallucinating. If she talks to me, all kinds of nonsense starts to happen. Insanity prevails.\" \n Throughout the novel, there is wisdom in insanity; I must admit I found it way better than Shakespeare's Hamlet - both book and character. While the play which is at the top of my never-likely-to-read-again list, Insanity is deeper and better played. I'm not sure how to say, I just loved how the absurdity made a lot of sense. \n Alice landed in the asylum after a tragedy; it was said that had killed all her friends on a school bus after claiming they were Wonderland Monsters, including her boyfriend, whom she cannot remember. When she tries to remember him, she says: \"Whatever we shared is buried somewhere in the abyss of my mind. I just don't know how to swim deep enough and return to the surface with it.\" \n Cameron Jace cleverly critises modern governments in his novel Insanity. Several things the Pillar says ring true. The encounter with Maragret Kent is interesting and leaves much food for thought. I must say, there are things I never understood about governments, no I - believe it or not - actually look at them in a new light and have a better understanding. (I can't believe it either). \n I also particularly liked Jace's use of modern-day governments, the comparisons and the examples \n With a lot of action, running around, getting a Certificate of Insanity, going to the British Parliament and chasing a serial killer - with the help of another serial killer - Insanity is by all means a highly enjoyable and insane must-read. \n Note: I received a free copy of Insanity via Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 08 11:39:08 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 07 09:35:14 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "23277025", "review_id": "c756dfd88e75e731b0c29c465428b1b6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Chronicles of Steele: Raven by Pauline Creeden is my first ever steampunk read, and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed both the genre and Creeden's storytelling. The book is divided into four episodes, each is subdivided into scenes. \n The novel is about Raven Steele, a reaper. Reapers are not entirely mercenaries, or at least they did not start out as such. Their main code is, for every life they take, they must redeem it by saving another. This code stops them from falling in a downward spiral of becoming unfeeling and heartless. \n The novel opens with Raven having made up her mind to go to Gregory and declare her love for him. On the way, a broken automated horse pulling a carriage lands in the water and Raven saves the young boy in the carriage. The boy turns out to be the young Baron, the second in line to rule New Haven. Raven is taken to the Duke and there his older son, Solomon, tells her that the young Baron, Darius, has a demon and that he just suffered a failed exorcism. He asks her to take his brother to the Wood Witch to cure him, or their father, the Duke, will kill him. Raven sees an opportunity to redeem herself by rescuing Darius. \n At the beginning of the novel, we see Raven trying to think of other people as human. A short while after that thought and in her first confrontation in the book, Raven is arrested and the scene is described with \"...gripped the chain between the cuffs and pulled her forward like an ox.\" The image is highly ironic as she tries to think of others as people, whereas such people treat her like an animal even though she gets out of her way and saves a life. \n Throughout the book, Raven tries to escape the Duke's guard to get Darius to the Wood Witch. Getting there isn't easy, but the worse is yet to come as it turns out the Darius is very special and the Wood Witch has much better and bigger plans. \n The novel is narrated in the third person. The language is simple with many beautiful images: \n \"Sunlight sifted through and between the buildings stacked next to one another like books on a shelf.\" \n Every scene in every episode begins with a few lines of advice or notes in the reapers' code. For instance \"Defeat is a state of mind. The loser is not the person who fails, but one who gives up. If one never gives up, lost ground can be easily recovered when the opportunity presents itself.\" Also, \"Actions must be guided by reason, not emotion. The moment decisions become based on feelings, one will err\". \n I particularly liked Credeen's use and choice of colours in these lines, which reflect both Raven's and the author's views as to the Duke's choice since his guard wears brown coats. \"Brown might be a good colour for a dirty job, but a bloody one? As a reaper, Raven wore black - the appropriate colour for the purpose.\" \n In the Chronicles of Steele, there are many bits of sound and advice and food for thought. For example, Raven is highly intelligent and calculating, often anticipating her opponents' moves. In one scene, she tells Darius, \"You don't have to be faster than a bullet, you just need to be smarter than the man holding the gun.\" \n Despite being such a strong character, certain little things still get to Raven. She's hard on the outside but afraid of a tiny thing like spiders. This makes her character more realistic and believable. \"As a reaper, she trained to conquer her fear. Yet the thought of eight hairy legs creeping across her skin made her cringe.\" \n Moreover, we say Raven develop, particularly in terms of emotions. She begins to care for Darius and worries about him. Is he cold? Is he well fed? Later, she draws strength from his faith and trust in her. \n Chronicles of Steele is rich in characters from Raven, to Monroe, Captain Jack Grant, Darius, Colton and even Nikki the dog. Credeen's storytelling is enjoyable and when you think you've been let down, Credeen shows you she's just been teasing - I liked that bit. \n What I particularly loved about the novel is that it mixed so many genres into one beautiful read. It is action, adventure, disguise, mystery, fantasy and supernatural with a tiny tinge of romance. \n \"That woman's passion was like a storm, and he could either cower from the lightning, or be brace and stand in the rain.\" \n Note: I received a free copy in return for an honest review and as part of the Chronicles of Steele: Raven blog tour. \n Note: The books were originally published separately, though my copy is of all four episodes.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 06 13:27:33 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 13 21:29:15 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "23011168", "review_id": "5dea2fd9390157e44bb8f347ff2a0829", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Strings by Darren Gallagher is a collection of 33 mostly scary short stories spanning different eras, worlds, themes and places. The stories encompass a variety of topics ranging from vampires and werewolves to swarms of spiders, to newly-made up creatures to cowboys even. \n 'Ruby Red Soldiers' is a ten-star opening to the Strings collection. It is highly creative with a new take on the supernatural. I'm doing an effort not to spoil this one but suffice to say I loved every bit of it. Also, the fact that I don't think I have read - or seen - any scary stories that take place during the day. It's always the dark and dead of night, but not Gallagher, and not this story. \n 'A Hiker's Life' is an excellent and creative masterpiece about the things that go bump in the morning! I love how Gallagher had me fooled throughout this entire piece. \n I loved the five-star piece called 'The Wishing Well', which was not scary at first but the ending was the scariest part. In a 'A Bag Full of Ashes' who could have though Christmas would be scary? It's new, suspenseful, different and interesting. It also has this sort of uniting in death theme. \n 'Renovation' is one of the stories that do not include the supernatural element but that is scarier than many other-worldly stories. I loved the image \"the kitchen was an untapped pit of darkness\". This story will give every reader the notion of thinking several times and looking into suspicious investments. A ten-star piece! \n 'Kumari' is a short story hit the spot for me. It is certainly one of my favourites in the Strings collection. There is no magic involved, just a little girl with a warrior within against a male-dominated society. I did not feel it was a scary story but certainly a ten-star masterpiece! \n 'Fighting the Curse' is a dark and interesting story though a bit bloody and gruesome but nonetheless different and enjoyable. \n In 'A Secret in Time' I felt that there was something wrong with the third person narrations of this story, like it's too passive or too slow. Overall, the storyline is good and though the Hiker's transformation is a big vague, the story is interesting and would be great to build up a full-length novella or novel on it. I enjoyed the fight and the constant power shift as well as the sort of beauty and the beast reversal. \n Moving on to a 'New Life, New World, New Beginnings', which represents a new take on the sewer cliche as one character says \"You mean all a criminal has to do to escape is go into the sewers?\" and surprisingly the answer is \"Yes!\" Which is rather comical. This story is another Gallagher masterpiece that is highly creative with more experimentation on Lycans rather than werewolves. \n I loved 'Hustled', which I felt could be metaphoric for the burdens we bear and encumber ourselves with in life. The story moves at a fairly slow pace at first but for good reason then the speed picks up with the turn of events and the speed that comes with such a shift is very nicely done. I liked Sebil's cunning. \n In 'Till Death Do Us Part' I loved the bit when one character asks \"Why?\" and the reply was \"Because I want to and because I can\". \n 'Akuya' is one of the top masterpieces in the collection. I loved every bit of it, particularly how it is not about good and evil or even their notions. A must read! It is followed by 'Flight of a Dead Man', an action-packed story that seems to be inspired by the theme of The Transporter movies. I loved Gallagher's use of this speech in this piece. A must read ten-star story! \n Another masterpiece is the story of 'Sinsu', which I truly enjoyed, especially how it unfolded, how taunting bad dreams could be and I believe many can relate to having a bad day after a nightmare. The ending was perfect. \n 'Too Little, Too Late' is a heart-breaking story that is not scary and has no place in this collection in my personal opinion. It is well written but I did not like the content. \n I wish I could mention and comment on all but that will make my review far longer than it already is. However, I will briefly mention a few more titles that I enjoyed: 'Down by the River', 'Little Haven', 'Jars of Hearts', 'A Murder of Crows', 'Blood Ties', 'A Christmas Tree Is More than Just an Object', and 'Frozen Out'. \n Overall Gallagher uses many children in his stories to reinforce the scary element, added to using familiar ideas like Christmas trees and contemplating at the lake and twisting the events to create something brand new. This adds a lot to his works, most of which are highly enjoyable. \n There were a few stories that were er.. ok for me, but only one felt out place in this collection, hence a 4.5-star rating is in order. I realize it is almost impossible to like every piece in a collection. \n Note: I received a free copy of Strings from the author for an honest review and while this post was originally slated for 31st of October, 2014, stuff happened and both my reading and post were delayed.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 07 01:02:31 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 23 13:32:08 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Nov 22 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "23215890", "review_id": "359c5c2e96289a89b60d6e87b0f4ec4f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I received a free copy for an honest review and this is my stop in Aoife Sheridan's October blog tour! \n \"Ghosts, angels, and demons exist. They are not the things from movies. They are so much worse.\" (p. 43) \n Hunters is the first instalment in The Demon Series by Aoife Marie Sheridan. \n I enjoyed the novel, loved the characters but the protagonist, Abigail, I hated her! \n It's the first time for me to dislike a central character so much. \n Abigail Thornton is a nineteen-year-old vodka-aholic demon hunter. But instead of demon hunting, it seems she has a knack for attracting demons - for reasons unknown to her or the reader. \n In the first demon-hunting encounter the reader comes across, the demon recognises Abigail and calls her by her name. The situation is unheard-of, even for a hunter. \n I particularly like how every character is a mystery, not just the central character or Daniel, who is always by her side and is like every girl's dream, but also Cathy, Nicholas, Father Peter, even Simon, to a small extent. \n Abigail has had a rough childhood. Her mother, as she remembers her, suffered from depression and was rarely herself. Her father was never around and her childhood was spent playing with her brother Sam. Abigail came across her mother's body after she had committed suicide. But that wasn't the worst thing eleven-year-old Abigail saw that night, there was someone else in the bathroom, a dark figure, whose face she had never seen before. \n Abigail and I can agree that some characters are just down-right obnoxious like Steven and Cathy, though the latter can be good at times. \n There is a thin line of romance in the novel, between the often unfeeling Abigail and Daniel. The love is not unrequited, it's a mystery of its own. However, one often gets the urge to want to smack Abigail on the face, like when Cathy does, but for different reasons. \n Sheridan lays out several mysterious threads throughout the novel, a sort of large setting for the parts to come. Some threads are answered, others are not. As the saying goes \"The more you know, the less you know.\" (No idea who said it), but that's the situation with Abigail. She has so many questions about herself, her parents, her life, Daniel. But as she begins to ask questions, she begins to fear the answers that she will hear. Worse, answers come to questions she never even thought of; they begin to surface, particularly those of her birth. \n Hunters is narrated in the first person perspective, mostly from Abigail's point of view, though occasionally from Daniel's. Abigail might be a sad and angry teen most of the time, but she is highly sarcastic, giving some dark humour to the already dark story. \n I look forward to reading the coming instalments in the series and to see how these threads of mystery will come to light. I hope more questions will be answered rather than asked.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 06 02:23:26 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu May 14 19:38:54 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Oct 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Oct 06 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "21957948", "review_id": "1e46c5b6c81338646d3e547acd816f61", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Bound by Duty is the first instalment in the Bound series by Stormy Smith. The novel focuses on Amelia, an 18-year-old with massive power she has no idea how important it is or how to control it. \n Throughout her whole life she has been lied to by everyone. Her mother was murdered by Queen Julia, a malicious woman who craves dominion over all who possess magic. Not only that, as a baby Amelia was betrothed to Julia's son, and must wed him when she's 21. \n Also, throughout her life her father has been distant and the only source of comfort had been had brother, Cole, who has had to leave in order to find out more about Amelia's power and destiny. \n Bound by Duty moves at a quick pace; it opens with a scene, narrated in the third person, of the Queen and hunters. The rest of the novel is in the first person from Amelia's perspective. \n Amelia is a very down to earth and highly believable character. We see her emotions rise and fall, build up and deflate. The reader feels her confusion and anger equally. It is like being one with her. She is also an Elder, and it remains fairly unclear to both the protagonist and the reader what that is, only that she is the last of her kind and the strongest of all the Elders. \n She is often funny and sarcastic, and her situations are believable and natural. At one point she says: \"I have to be the only person on the planet capable of pissing off every guy in my life on the same day while managing to get them all to lie to each other - while lying to them myself.\" \n Furthermore, Amelia's character progresses slowly, despite some bad decisions which lead to more trouble, it is clear that she means well despite being unable to fathom the forces that she's up against. As Amelia learns more about herself and history, she becomes entangled in the theme of duty versus love. \n Bound by Duty is rich in imagery. I particularly enjoyed those used to describe a Amelia's power; all her life she's been told to hide and keep her power hidden, so one of the images she uses to describe her power, she says \"I felt my power build; pinpricks of electricity racing through my veins, filling my blood inch by inch.\" \n I loved the image \"I was a war-torn battlefield of emotion.\" \n Although the novel mainly focuses on Amelia, there is a richness of characters. We see how others develop like Cole and Aidan, the latter being one of the mysterious characters along with Derrick. \n Others include Bethany, the southern girl, who wants to hook Amelia up with a guy and gives relationship advice, as well as Micah, another mystery character who is not what he seems but appears to be a bit of a Snape-kind-of-character. \n Finally, although we do not see much of Queen Julia, just a handful of times, the emotions she leaves the reader with are exactly those Amelia feels, hatred and anger at the mere mention of your name. \n Bound by Duty has many wonderful and memorable quotes, so I'm just going to list them here: \n \"Now I was falling faster than a comet plummeting to the earth, just waiting to create a giant explosion. Just like a comet, I had no idea exactly how much damage I would leave in my wake.\" \n \"Because I started our relationship with truth. I haven't lied you. I manipulated you to get you here, but I didn't lie to you. I don't lie.\" \n \"Your heart is yours to give, it is no ones to take. Not a queen. Not a prince. No one.\" \n I enjoyed the novel and look forward to reading the next instalments of the Bound series. \n Note: I received a free copy of Bound by Duty from its author Stormy Smith for an honest review.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 05 10:52:03 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 09 14:41:03 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Dec 19 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "20456671", "review_id": "01d82b27304fa608abfa7c3619547e99", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Of Sea and Stone by Kate Avery Ellison is the launch pad and first instalment in the Secrets of Itlantis series. Told in the first person from Aemi's perspective, the novel opens in the Village of the Rocks. However, it soon moves to the Cities of Itlantis, built beneath the water, after our heroine is kidnapped along with others from her village. \n Aemi is a 'thrall', a fancy word for slave, so was her mother. However, Aemi has been collecting as much money as she could in order to buy her freedom and go to a place her mother told her tales about; a place called Perilous. Kidnapped, Aemi goes to Itlantis, where she becomes an Indentured, a person serving a sentence in order to pay debt. This is a means to hide both her identity and Nol's, the only person left with her from her village and a person she constantly dislikes. \n Of Sea and Stone is quick-paced, although the final five or six chapters move at torpedo-speed. \n Aemi's character is an interesting one; she is quick, intelligent, capable of plotting and overall likeable. However, she is often paranoid, which is both useful as it makes her observant but often annoying. Once in Itlantis, she constantly tries to find a means to escape and go back to the surface. However, as time passes and she gets closer to the family she serves, she feels a pang whenever she thinks of her escape plans and that she would never see Lyssia, her mistress and friend, again. \n \"Nevertheless, something lingered in my chest, heavy like sadness. Leaving this house would require its own kind of grieving, one that made little sense to me but that was undeniable. A captive caring for her captors.\" \n We see Aemi's character develop from hard-headed to kind and loving, especially as she becomes acquainted with new feelings and terms like 'friends'. Since the novel is narrated from her perspective, her emotions are very clear and beautifully written. \n At one point she says: \"I was a pit of shadows, an ocean of unshed tears.\" \n Nol, too, is an interesting character. The novel opens with him as the mayor's second son, who is smug, haughty and obnoxious. But as events progress and he is thrust in Itlantis, he realises many things and captivity changes him. His character gradually changes, showing signs of clear and quick thinking, a good understanding of politics and a caring heart. \n Of Sea and Stone is rich with likeable characters. I also liked the names given to the Itlantean cities, and how the name reflects the general theme or focus of the city: Celestrus, Primus, Verdus, Arctus, Magmus and Volcanus. \n Ellison's word choice and imagery throughout the novel is beautiful and nicely-fitted to the sea and its imagery. \n I had been wondering about the connection of the title \"Of Sea and Stone\" and the novel itself; I didn't quite figure it out for myself but it came at the end and kept me thinking. \n Given the chance and time, I would definitely look forward to see more of Aemi and her adventures, particularly as the novel ends at a climactic point. \n Of Sea and Stone is a clean young-adult novel, and I truly liked that and that there was not much - if any - romance in the novel. \n Overall rating: 4.5 stars \n Note: I received a free copy in return for an honest review by Xpresso Book Tours and as part of a Blog Tour.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 25 15:06:36 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 10 00:49:00 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "23154057", "review_id": "f7dc6e3fed163bf4db3575c213ac3033", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Krymzyn is a story of a boy and a girl, two worlds - literally, a love and above all balance. \n The novel written by B.C. Powell begins with a third person present tense description of what appears to be an initiation of a young girl; one set to embark on a destiny never before seen in the land of Krymzyn. \n The novel shifts to the perspective of Chase, a young boy of twelve, who sees the girl during a seizure, which he learns is caused by a tumour. He is told such 'visions' of places and people are nothing but 'hallucinations' because of his tumour, yet Chase cannot help but believe that place called Krymzyn is real. Once the tumour is out, he stops going there. \n Years later, he gets another tumour and following another seizure and he goes back to Krymzyn. He later connects that only through his seizures - and tumours - can he go to this wondrous world and see the beautiful Sash who stole his heart. \n The people of Krymzyn live their lives in and for balance. Emotions like love, jealousy and hate are alien to them and are considered extremes. When a person dies there, the land calls for another to be 'made' to restore the balance. Each person has a purpose in Krymzyn; no one is idle. \n The novel contains many beautiful imagery and ideas that would do well to be present amongst us on earth - in real life. Moreover, Krymzyn is about colours; Powell uses many colours for vividness and to prepare the reader for the truth that will later be revealed to Chase. \n Most of the novel is written from Chase's perspective; although it varies between past tense narration, as you would write in a diary, and present tense narration when he goes to Krymzyn to give the feeling of immediateness, the now. Chase attempts to convince his family that Krymzyn is a real place with real people; hence the tense used to describe it gives that sense to the reader. \n Character development is evident many characters in the novel, but particularly in the two protagonists Chase and Sash as well as in one of Krymzyn's Disciples, Eval. For Sash, the first time she sees Chase in her vision, she is overwhelmed by all the earthly emotions she experiences. She has no names for such emotions but knows that she is the only one in Krymzyn to have them and experience them. At one point, Sash requests Chase the most difficult explanation of all: \"Explain love to me again.\" \n Chase has to explain the trickiest emotion to a girl who does not even know what smell and taste are. His answer, however, is beautiful: \"It's probably the hardest emotion in my world to describe. Imagine how you felt when your purpose was revealed to you. The excitement you feel when fulfilling your purpose, when you're getting the sap. Then combine that with how you feel when you honour the Sustaining Tree, when you press your face against the trunk. How you feel when you stand on the Tall Hill and see the beauty of Krymzyn. Then add how you felt just a moment ago while watching the children. When you put all of those feelings together for one person and you can't stand to be without that person - it hurts you inside when you're apart - I guess that's how love feels.\" \n As seen with the word 'love' (underlined and italicised), certain words do not translate in Krymzyn, like the earthly emotions as well as curse words, sarcasm and words like 'family', 'parents', and many others. It is an interesting technique that makes the reader wonder how Chase is going to explain certain things. It also shows the tremendous effort taken by the author to create such an intricate and different world. \n I'm not sure if it was intended, but for me, the name 'Chase' is significant as it shows how he chases his dreams in Krymzyn, despite everyone telling him that they are mere hallucinations and figments of his imagination. He also seeks to make these dreams a reality. \n Powell has created a new world that stands in strong contrast to earth. Although there is balance, there are no emotions. The people of Krymzyn are often - if not always - expressionless. Their lives are bound by duty and honour to their land. Powell is lauded for his creation, especially as the reader and Chase become dumbfounded by the many apparently impossible equations of maths and physics, which nonetheless hold and act as a strong base. \n Overall, Krymzyn is a beautiful place and book. It is rich in comparisons and makes one thing. Powell is lauded for this quick-paced creation. \n (Worth noting, the novel contains several sensual and adult scenes. While it may be considered Young Adult, I feel it should be read by those aged 18 or over). \n I received a free copy of this book for an honest review through Xpresso Book Tours.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 13 12:01:47 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 20 04:44:34 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "23010894", "review_id": "08497290443f358f849eae81e131dd10", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Madison, the protagonist and narrator in Rebecca Chastain's A Fistful of Evil, possesses an ability she calls \"soul-sight\", with which she can switch her vision to see people and the world from a different view and perspective literally. \n When Madison switches to soul-sight or Primordium, she sees people's souls and life force. Every person's good or bad deeds give them a colour, a particular shade of white, grey or black. \n Madison does not like her ability, after a sad experience in her teens, and wishes she could forget about it or get rid of it. However, while searching for a job, she finds herself part of the world of Enforcers and evil-fighting. \n Narrated in the first person from Madison's perspective, A Fistful of Evil has a lot of sarcasm, owing to Madison's character, making the humour element ever-present in the novel. One of the thoughts that come to her is after starting her new job and having to buy a phone. She says/thinks \"A cell phone yesterday. A video conference today. Watch out, world. I might get a Twitter account next!\" \n What I also truly loved about A Fistful of Evil is the fact that it does not have a love story or that the romantic element is neither the centre nor is even in the periphery. Madison and her best friend Bridget do talk about men and Madison has a crush on several, however, there is no romance in the novel. Applause to Rebecca Chastain for that. \n All the characters in the novel are well-crafted and loveable. Even the demon, one cannot seem to hate him entirely. Rose is funny, flirty and helpful. She is also the one who \"babysits\" Madison at first. One of the funny scenes I enjoyed was this: \n \"Mr. Pitt snorted. He redirected his gaze to Rose. \"Make sure she doesn't do anything stupid.\" \n \"That's above my pay grade.\" \n A Fistful of Evil shows Madison's character as it grows, falters and gets up again. Madison has several moments of revelation, of light and realisation, that lead her to her decision as to whether she wants to accept her soul-sight and become an Enforcer or not. It is also the little things that make us great people, as both Madison and the reader realise and as Chastain so beautifully reveals it. \n There are many beautiful lines, images and scenes in the novel. One of them has Madison contemplating and weighing right and wrong when doing good; how much wrong or rule-breaking is a person allowed to do in order to do good? \n \"I may not be proud of my job history, but I'd never committed a crime before, let alone a crime in the name of my job. Then again, I'd never done anything as important as battle evil. My other jobs had been meaningless or boring--often both. At least as an enforcer, I was positively influencing the very balance of good and evil. That had to outweigh the minor transgressions I'd made along the way, right?\" \n Imagery is an important aspect in the novel and Chastain is highly lauded for her choice of imagery and humour. A favourite is the funny and realistic \"But there was nothing like a hound of death on my heels to give me an Olympian-worthy boost.\" \n Also, \"The horror reel played out in my head, with the hosts scattering across the continent, then the world, a pandemic of evil\" is a highly visual image. \n Also, when she was scantily dressed, she thought to herself: \"embarrassment came complete with its own heating system.\" \n After battling a demon and nearly dying, Niko - also known as \"Mr. Dark and Deadly\" - takes Madison to refuel or \"recharge\" her energy, which includes having something to eat. One can proudly say that they will look at green salads differently after reading this novel. \n \"Niko selected Cobb salads for both of us--without bacon!--plus four large sides of grilled vegetables. \n Screw that. I'd almost died tonight. I deserved something better than rabbit food.\" Later, Niko explains why it is important to eat greens and why Madison's comfort food of fries and a milkshake do nothing to fill her up or recharge her energy. \n Overall, A Fistful of Evil is an enjoyable, quick-paced fantasy novel. It's fun, it's different and it makes you think. \n It is the first instalment in the series and I look forward to reading the second part.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 11 15:05:09 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 03 11:41:29 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "19469666", "review_id": "aa0cc42d09affaaad9e8ca5374eafe25", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Eden Forest is a novella and the first instalment in The Saskia Trilogy by Aoife Marie Sheridan. \n Narrated in the first person present tense, Eden Forest opens in Saskia with Marta giving a description of the land and alerting the reader to her pregnancy, which we later know is from a love affair with the King of Saskia. We also learn about Saskian laws and traditions and how Saskians are immortal and born with an affinity of air, water, earth, fire or spirit. At first glance, Marta appears to be a caring person. \n The reader learns that Saskia is a world parallel to earth and that a fire barrier separating the two worlds can be crossed but with great difficulty. \n Eden Forest is written from several perspectives, all in the first person; however we are told whose point of view we are reading at the beginning of each chapter, avoiding any possible confusion. It is a very interesting way of writing - the first I've read seen - and it gives character depth. Through this technique, Sheridan merges with each character making them come to life on the pages of her novella. \n The author has an abundance of intriguing characters, but what I liked most was how each character has a specific role to play in the story - even eight-year-old Mei. Some have minor roles but are expected to have much bigger ones in the coming parts of the trilogy. \n As the novella progresses, two characters stand out in contradiction; Marta and her daughter Sarajane. Whereas Sarajane is caring, believable, down to earth, intelligent and understanding, her mother, Marta, is unmotherly-like, as opposed to what we have seen in the first chapter. A face-off between Sarajane and King Morrick makes this point clear. Moreover, most of the time we see Marta, she is crying; yet the reader feels that her emotions are not deep. And when she finally sees her daughter after a long absence, all she is concerned with is food! (Of all things!) \n Another interesting character is the conflicting, contradictory Tristan, King Morrick's head Guardian and who is later given the task to retrieve, or rather kidnap, Sarajane. Until the end of Eden Forest, the reader cannot read this particular character. \n There is also a massive contrast between Saskia's King and Queen, which makes the reader wonder how they ended up together, but that comes at the end of the story. \n Eden Forest is a quick and easy read. Its pace is fair at the beginning but starting chapter three, the pace and events become intense. You cannot put the book down and you feel the need finish the novella and skip work and sleep in the process. \n I truly enjoyed Aoife Sheridan's Eden Forest and can hardly wait for the next two parts, which I expect will have more details about the elemental affinities and focus more on characters briefly mentioned or introduced like Carew. \n (Note: There are a couple of brief, adult scenes).", "date_added": "Tue Jun 10 07:50:44 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 22 15:14:59 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jul 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "18689577", "review_id": "e9a7d7d464693756b070d49bbb37694e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Superb \n I must admit I couldn't put this book down or even sleep till I finished it. \n the characters are realistic with their flaws and positive aspects. Xanthus is probably every girl's dream and yet he is very jealous which turns out to be quite handy. His timing whenever Sara is in danger is impeccable. \n Also, the writer's tension-relief-tension is nicely done with a lot of comic relief in between the heated and quick-paced events. \n I can't wait to read the second part of the series.", "date_added": "Mon May 26 20:24:50 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat May 31 07:06:10 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat May 31 11:36:06 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue May 27 15:12:24 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 9, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "17613068", "review_id": "c2492e1f53add6f245d245ded3825235", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The Colour of Dishonour by Rayne Hall is a collection of six short stories inspired the setting of Hall's epic dark fantasy Storm Dancer. What I love about this collection is that not only are all the stories well crafted, but they also all have a moral in them. \n The collection opens with 'Kin', a highly ironic and moral story. Leha has three daughters, Mahlega, Gonil and Komal. She is proud of the first two but has disowned the third after having a child born out of wedlock. Their land is struck by their gods and by starvation. So, Leha seeks her daughters for food and shelter. \n \"The Seventh Scroll of Wisdom says that kin need to stick to kin like skin to flesh.\" This can neither be said for Leha nor her two eldest daughters. It is a very striking line at the beginning of the story. Leha believes she is following the rules to the letter and justifies disowning Komal. She believes she will be repaid for all she has done to her eldest daughters. \n The reader meets Leha's first daughter Mahlega and her family, who are very selfish and insensitive. All they care about are their needs, like the child who wants new clothes while people are starving and dying. Moreover, All Mahlega cares about is the roofing and how she doesn't like dates and says they are for animals and beggars. Certainly not 'kin' a mother can be proud of. \n When Leha proposes to live with Mahlega because of the famine, \"They looked at her aghast. \n \"Out of the question,\" her son-in-law said. \"I can't have you live here, with six people in two rooms already.\" \n The husband is rude and utterly disgusting but nonetheless very realistic as we see this type of person in real life. \n Mahlega gives her mother exactly what Leha had given her third daughter when she cast her out. It's highly ironic but sort of like divine repayment for casting out Komal. \n \"Mighty Ones, let these people taste the fruit of bitterness. Turn their own children against them, let them feel what it means to be cast aside.\" These are Leha's thoughts after being kicked out by Mahlega and her family. They are highly ironic and Leha cannot realise that she has done the same to her daughter before. \n After being turned out by one, Leha goes to seek warmth and a place to stay from her second and so-called loving daughter, Gonila, who is far from being such a daughter. Later we see Gonila eyeing her mother's gold earrings. Not only is she heartless, but also greedy. Her mother shows up at her doorstep, cold and without a place to stay, and all she cares about is getting 'financial' support from a homeless woman, her homeless mother, who sold her house to pay for her daughter's, Gonila's, education! \n After being turned out twice by the two daughters she did everything for, Leha still would not go to her third daughter, whom the reader knows will not be like her sisters. \n 'Kin' resembles William Shakespeare's King Lear. Even the name Gonila resembles Gonoril. It is a very powerful story about family, love, kindness, selfishness, cruelty and forgiveness. 'Kin' is a short story with the weight of a novel. \n 'Greywalker' is the second story in the collection. The Grey Walker is a zombie-like creature, and the story parallels that the exchange made by Dr. Faustus. It also has many stunning images. It is a carefully-crafted story that I have enjoyed reading over and over. I'm not a fan of zombies, but this story was different for me and I loved every bit of it. Few would find a beautiful image such as this in a zombie-like tale: \"But his actions had not been waterdrops that evaporated in the sun without leaving a trace. They had been cruel flames, scorching deep holes into Laina's defenceless heart.\" \n The 'Greywalker' ends at a climactic point. We finally know why the witch never mentioned a payment at the beginning. Turgan is not mindless, nor is he innately evil but he ends up being a Greywalker and understands his purpose. \n The 'Greywalker' is a 10-star story. \n 'The Water of Truth' is an excellent story about business and greed. However, it seems the so-called educated Yarkoud remains unaware of his greed and will continue repeating his mistakes. His sister, the one he calls 'uneducated' and is ashamed of her, is not bedazzled by money and wealth, and stands in strong contrast to her 'educated' brother. \n 'Each Stone, a Life' is a story of puns and nerve-wrecking. It was not my favourite but that is my personal opinion, although I felt as nerves as the protagonist of the story. It is very well written and plays on emotions well. \n 'The Colour of Dishonour' is a story with layers and layers of puns and irony. \n \"I have blood on my hands\", a recurring line of irony. Also, the use of the colours white and red and the contrast between them is used wittingly in this story.. It is a brilliant 10-star piece. I wish I can quote it whole - but will refrain from that. \n 'A Horse for a Hero' is the last piece in this collection and focuses on a winged horse named Pagos and his journey towards maturity. At the beginning Pagos dreams of a sort of knight or warrior in shining armour. It seems it is not only princesses who picture such dreams. \n \"How dreadful he had been to the nomads, who admired him because they were poor! How nasty he had been to that boy, who was merely immature and spoilt!\" \n I love how Hall ties the beginning and ending of this story together. \n Overall The Colour of Dishonour collection is a weighty but highly enjoyable set of short stories. I enjoyed them all and I loved how they all had a moral to them. It is not often you find the 'literature with a moral or purpose' these days, so this collection was by all means spectacular for me. \n A must read to all and definitely stories I would go back to over and over.", "date_added": "Sat May 24 19:04:45 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 17 04:08:38 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "18306338", "review_id": "f1ed3b02da977980644637e1ccea34aa", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Elven Jewel by Kasper Beaumont is the first instalment in the Hunters of Reloria series, which feels a lot like, and has many similarities with, The Lord of the Rings. Elven Jewel, however, is written for a much younger audience. \n Elven Jewel opens with the halflings having fun but suddenly they see invading Vergai creatures, which are described as \"reptilian creatures\" and I couldn't help but picture them as walking crocodile-like creatures. \n Soon, we are thrown into a quest to seek out the elves and warn them of the incoming Vergai, who seek to steal the jewel that maintains the safety of this planet. Soon, however, the halflings and others become part of a bigger company that journey to battle the Vergai and rescue Princess Shari-Rose and the planet. \n There is a contrast in the characters of the two boys and a starker contrast between the two women: Sienna and Shari-Rose. Sienna is confident and deals with loss much better than the princess who is six years her senior. \n We get the first confrontation between the independent and indignant Sienna and the proud princess (p.89). The reader can't help but be sympathetic towards Sienna and have the urge to smack the princess even if she is the most important character to the events of this story. \n It is said at the beginning of the novel that elves are haughty. We see it in the princess and again in Daeron, her guardian. I felt his long speech on p. 155 is too long and annoying, especially since he defends the obnoxious nature of his charge, whom he has been guarding since birth but has not tried to fix. Though, the reader hopes this ordeal will teach the princess a thing or two about humility and good manners. Daeron's speech comes in response to Randir's highly ironic and funny quote \"[He] decided he would never understand that irksome elf. \"When she's not being an absolute troll!\" he said loudly.\" \n There are, of course, some memorable quotes and images in Elven Jewel. On p. 146, Asher tells Shari Rose: \"To be kidnapped once may be unlucky Princess, but twice is exceedingly careless.\" \n Even though Shari-Rose is supposedly the centre of the story we don't see her much, which is a good thing considering her temperamental character. Still, it is interesting that there is no main or single protagonist in the story. We have several heroes with different abilities and ideas. This gives a great depth to the novel Elven Jewel. There is no single protagonist; there are several heroes and the reader is free to choose their favourite. \n My overall rating for Elven Jewel is 3 stars and I look forward to embarking on the rest of the journey with the Hunters of Reloria in Hunters' Quest. \n For my full and slightly lengthier review of Elven Jewel, check it out here: http://nadanessinmotion.blogspot.com/...", "date_added": "Fri Mar 14 02:46:28 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 04 15:51:28 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "9783478", "review_id": "c08503c4b69f9b468f7b0edea1c8637c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Merlin: The Lost Years is the first installment in the Merlin Saga by T. A. Barron. The prologue is written in the third person, while the rest of the novel is narrated in the first person by a 12-year-old Merlin, or as he is called throughout the novel, Emrys. \n The opening lines of the story remind the reader of the popular scene when an arm rises from the water holding Excalibur. \n Emrys washes up on a shore, alone at first, and has no memory of who he is and how or why he got to this place. He notices a beautiful woman also washed up on the shore and wonders if she could be his mother but feels she is too beautiful to be so. They are attacked by a wild boar and saved by a stag. \n This, slightly strange, beginning is explained after a few chapters. \n Emrys is not convinced that this is his real name and is unsure if the woman, Branwen, is his mother. Throughout the novel, he tries to find out who is he is, who is parents are and where he belongs. \n Emrys has powers but when he uses them, they result in more destruction than intended and he learns to fear them. Throughout the novel, Emrys considers using his powers several times but remembers the promise he made to Branwen to never use them in addition to the painful memory where he loses his eyesight. \n Despite being narrated in the first person, the novel moves at a fairly quick pace. Though the parts about Emrys remembering the painful memory of using his powers are frequent and feel repetitive \"the smell of burning flesh...\" is repeated several times. \n The idea of the \"lost years\" is resolved in the end, where Emrys, and the reader, come upon some startling revelations. \n I liked Barron's use of the giants and how size does not matter. Shim is adorable, especially in the way he speaks \"but I is!\", \"certainly definitely absolutely\" and \"very very very scared\" just to name a few instances. The first meeting with Shim is beyond enjoyable \n Merlin: The Lost Years is a journey of self-discovery and is a good start to the world of young Merlin (Emrys). And I look forward to reading the second part of the saga, titled The Seven Songs.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 06 02:22:44 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 20 17:26:59 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Mar 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "18632165", "review_id": "85826ce20a8046ca422a6f71bf8c22fb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "An excellent novella! \n I loved every bit of it! \n Set in Maine, the United States, the novella begins by introducing the reader to exorcist Jade Clarence, who has been given a final opportunity to prove herself capable of working in the family business of exorcism. She goes to Maine to exorcise a ghost, and meets Dutch \n The novella is divided into seven chapters of varying lengths. The language is simple with lots of dialogue and short paragraphs, all which add to the quick pace of the novella. The dialogues provide information, interaction between characters and bits of comic relief and romance mixed with comic relief. \n Throughout the novella, Jade explains to Dutch how exorcism works, and reflects on her most recent experience. \n Ghosts of the Falls has a slight fairy-tale feel to it, but with a remarkable twist in the end. \n The book also contains two excerpts from Gilman's other works, namely Deep in Crimson and Wings in Redemption. \n I couldn't put Ghosts of the Falls down and I am excited to read more by Sarah Gilman. Every girl/woman will want her own 'Dutch' after reading Ghosts of the Falls. \n Special thanks to author Sarah Gilman and Katie Clapsadl from Entangled Publishing for providing me with a free copy for this review.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 24 07:21:38 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 11 00:28:36 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "18308072", "review_id": "89585fa22d16d93f99c0342f19cf11d2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Thirty Scary Tales by Rayne Hall is a collection of short stories encompassing an array of settings, narration styles and topics with theme of 'scary'. \n There are tales of vampires, ghosts, magic and dreams and other supernatural elements. They are all beautiful and enjoyable but do not compare to the pleasure and intrigue I experienced while reading The Grey Walker, Arete, Through the Tunnel, The Colour of Dishonour, Burning and The Painted Staircase - just to name a few. \n There are a few stories set in Rayne Hall's dark epic fantasy novel Storm Dancer such as The Colour of Dishonour, The Grey Walker, and Each Stone, A Life. Each of these stories is exceptional in its vividness, creativity and unfathomable twists! You have no idea what you're up against! \n Thirty Scary Tales boasts a ton of stunning imagery in this collection, whether scary or just plain beautiful. The reader cannot help but highlight and enjoy. The author also uses an array of settings for tales ranging from Germany to England to Turkey, and extending from Ancient Greece to the Middle Ages to modern times. \n One of the Storm Dancer-set stories is The Colour of Dishonour with its layers of puns and irony (\"I have blood on my hands\"). I still cannot shake off the admiration (for Hall) and the horror (for the Captain). The Colour of Dishonour is a 10-star story. \n By Your Own Free Will makes you think: How far would you go for love? How much are you willing to sacrifice to be noticed by one man? Would you trade your IQ for it? \n Special thanks to Rayne Hall for creating and collecting this set of stories in a single volume and for sending me a free copy of Thirty Scary Tales for a Halloween review. I enjoyed reading them all. As for the Storm Dancer-set stories, this collection has prompted me to begin reading the dark epic novel as soon as I can. \n For the full (extended) review: please click here (no spoilers): http://nadanessinmotion.blogspot.com/...", "date_added": "Tue Sep 24 20:55:28 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 27 04:30:17 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Oct 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "18219262", "review_id": "9ce8dea02e91a7501ae7ee7a8a8393c0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Jean-Baptiste, Vicomte de Martell is said to be a crusader but is given the description of a pirate with one eye and a hook instead of a left hand. It is a bit odd that this crusader-pirate is given a French name but lives in Saarland, Germany (even if it is a fairy tale). \n Like with all fairy tales, the element of magic is present. It is different here; a black pearl that changes Lady Avezoete (who represents the princess in traditional fairy tales). \n The full moon is usually when the werewolf transforms from human to beast, but in The Lady Wolf, it is slightly in reverse. It is when Lady Avezoete decides to take out the black pearl from her mouth and return to her human form. \n Overall, The Lady Wolf is an enjoyable short story with a happy ending, or double happy ending.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 20 07:06:08 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 21 04:25:19 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "17242184", "review_id": "636c29b97cd502e88fc73adc4e4ac503", "rating": 5, "review_text": "An excellent book! \n Although I have not read the first installment (just watched the movie several times - a terrible mistake), I truly enjoyed this book with its endless adventures, Percy's sense of humour and true friendships that make you admire the characters, the writer, and your life. \n Oh and I fell in love with Tyson. I also can't wait to get home and begin reading \"Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse\". \n There were many instances in this book where I felt a close resemblance to the \"ideas\" and \"themes\" in the Harry Potter books. Percy is like Harry in so many ways. He may be a weapon, he has friends who go to lengths for him and trust him. Percy is a demi-god and Harry is a wizard, so there is the magical element in both characters and both books. \n \"Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters\" is certainly a MUST-READ! Oh and there is a pun on 'sea' ;)", "date_added": "Fri May 31 08:17:21 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 04 06:42:22 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jun 04 06:42:22 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "13833", "review_id": "9bbf5341caa36db751318e65ab50c123", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Absolutely WICKED! \n (full review to come soon) but definitely a MUST READ!", "date_added": "Thu May 16 03:07:24 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 01 11:34:18 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jan 01 11:34:18 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "24094", "review_id": "752e5059b315c19d98f342f73fe078fc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wolf-Speaker is the second book in The Immortals Quartet written by young-adult author Tamora Pierce. The reader follows Daine as her ability to talk to animals grows and as her adventures continue. \n In Wolf-Speaker, Daine, now fourteen years old, is summoned by Brokerfang, the leader of the wolf pack she associated with after her family was killed. She rides to answer the summons along with her pony Cloud, dragon Kitten and the mage Numair. The pack tells her that the humans, in Dunlath, are cutting off all the trees, chasing away all the game and doing extensive mining, which is disturbing the wolf pack that has had to relocate. \n When they arrive at Dunlath, Daine and Numair realise that something is amiss. Numair meets an old-school friend/enemy, named Tristan as well as three other mages. \n Daine's character continues to grow and she learns several valuable lessons in Wolf-Speaker, which show great character development. The story has lots of rising tension but not the type of rising tension that shatters your brain. There is also some sarcasm and light humour here and there to break the tension even for a few seconds. \n Wolf-Speaker introduces the reader to many new creatures from Tamora Pierce's vivid imagination, such as 'Hurroks', 'a slurring of horse-hawk', a wholly different take on the Basilisk and others. \n This second installment in Tamora Pierce's The Immortals Quartet is as exciting as the first. Also, the character descriptions at the beginning allow the reader to read each installment without having to refer to or read the previous parts.", "date_added": "Thu May 16 03:00:53 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 30 04:42:03 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "13836", "review_id": "6256d33d54f3056c0c9391d25ef5e973", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce is the first installment in The Immortals series. The story focuses on thirteen-year-old Daine, who has 'a knack with animals'. She speaks to them with their mind. \n With, her home destroyed and her family - mother and grandfather - killed, Daine leaves with her pony, Cloud, to find work and a place to escape those who killed her family. \n She becomes Onua's assistant and helps drive ponies and horses to Tortall (the capital of the Kingdom). On the road, the two women meet new creatures and Daine discovers new abilities, but is still unable to control them. She also meets the powerful mage Numair and later becomes his student. He tells her that she possesses wild magic and teaches her how to harness it better. \n We see Daine's character develop as does her magic and her abilities - which continue in the second installment of the series Wolf-Speaker. Tamora Pierce gives a new dimension to all creatures, mortal and immortal, with many interesting additions to creatures like dragons, as well as new ones like Stormwings. \n As a fan of animals in general, and horses and magical creatures in particular, I could not put Wild Magic down. \n For more reviews, check out my blog: http://nadanessinmotion.blogspot.com", "date_added": "Thu May 16 03:00:14 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 04 20:15:10 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Dec 23 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Dec 19 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "13647567", "review_id": "6de782ffae8b9598d12e784705e5990d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It is one of those books that you are dying to finish but at the same time dreading reaching the end because it means you'll suffer having to wait for the next part of this UTTERLY SPECTACULAR series! \n Her Knight's Quest by Alexis Morgan is the second instalment in the Warriors of the Mist series, following My Lady Mage. It picks up where where My Lady Mage left off; the five Warriors of the Mist had concocted a plan in the hope of defeating Duke Keirthan and putting an end to his tyrannical rule aided by blood magic, thus fulfilling their quest. \n Her Knight's Quest begins with setting Gideon's plan in motion. According to the plan, Gideon and Murdoch are to stay with Lady Merewen and guard her keep from further attacks, while Duncan would pretend to be scholar seeking work as a scribe in the abbey to be able to gather information to defeat the Duke, and finally, Kane and Averel would travel to the city and seek work in the Duke's palace. Keirthan would be quite interested in having a man like Kane who bears a dark mark on his face. \n The first ten chapters in Her Knight's Quest shift between Gideon, the other warriors and Lady Merewen and events taking place at her keep, on the one hand and Duncan and Lady Lavinia, on the other. \n Starting chapter 11, however, the novel takes the reader to a new dimension in the story; Duke Keirthan. We are introduced to the Duke - whom we briefly met in My Lady Mage - and his history. The present Duke of Agathia is Ifre Keirthan, who, it seems, usurped the dukedom from his brother Armel. \n Chapter 11 solves many questions that come to the reader's mind over previous 10 chapters. It also solves the other characters' frustrations and questions they voice. As dark and bloody as Ifre Keirthan is, many events come to light in this chapter, which has a climactic feel to it. \n After chapter 11, the story continues to shift but not between two parties, but three, as Duke Keirthan becomes more involved in the story. Starting chapter 11, it is almost impossible to put the book down. The reader feels that all chapters are of extreme importance. \n Alexis Morgan's tension build-up picks up pace. More mysteries are answered in chapters 13 and 14. Duncan and Lavinia reveal things about themselves that set the story in motion and that link different characters and parts of the story together. Starting chapter 11, momentum builds up and there is no stopping it till the end of the book. \n Her Knight's Quest differs from its predecessor, My Lady Mage, in that there is a lot going on everywhere with each of the characters; there are events taking place at Merewen's keep, at the abbey, and with Duke Keirathan. We also learn about the Duke's past, his rise to power or rather usurpation of the dukedom, and about magic, the duke's dark blood magic and Lavinia's pure earth magic. \n Despite the constant rise in tension, Morgan employs occasional short romantic scenes and some humour. A single humourous line easily breaks the reader's tension, giving them a bit of relief. \n As with My Lady Mage, Alexis Morgan ends her novel on a high note of anticipation. The reader feels as though they need to read all three parts consecutively without halt or pause. \n The second instalment in the Warriors of the Mist series earns a 4.5-star review (from me). It goes without saying that I can hardly wait for the Honor's Price, the third instalment in the series.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 11 17:32:10 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 31 16:31:40 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "372807", "review_id": "7bd168f686137a5b29237cd54544aecf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Until almost the end of the novella, I, the reader, like the dragon a lot more than Alys, the protagonist of the story. She is paranoid to the point of irritation. The dragon, on the other hand, is mysterious, does not express emotions much and is often smarter; too quiet for Alys's taste and needs perhaps. The reader, myself at least, only begins to like Alys when she starts taking matters into her own hands and becomes will to risk her life for others. \n I'm wavering between giving Dragon's Bait three-and-a-half and four stars. It is an interesting story that distinguishes itself from the damsel in distress cliche.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 17 04:02:20 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 06 08:18:20 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jul 06 08:18:20 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "11465665", "review_id": "84fc58087eab24273b1ff37166c4da1f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "ltmym@ \n qS@ \"ltmym@\" hy lqS@ l'wl~ ly llktb nbyl frwq wldhy ktshft 'n lh slsl mn lktb 'y ySl jmly `dd ktbh lnHw 150 ktban w'shhrh slsl@ \"rjl lmstHyl\" lty knt tqr'h 'my mndh snwt `dyd@. wqd qr't 'my qS@ 'w rwy@ \"ltmym@\" fy ywmyn fqT fy Hyn qr'th 'n fy 'ql mn 'sbw` ('ym mtfrq@ `l~ mdr 'sbw`), wqlt 'nh rwy@ shl@ wmkhtlf@ wZryf@. wknt rwy@ \"ltmym@\" kdhlk blnsb@ ly m` b`D lDft wlkhtlft. \n frwy@ \"ltmym@\" hy rwy@ lkhyl l`lmy l'wl~ lty 'qr'h bllG@ l`rby@ (b`ydan `n lqSS lty drsnh fy lmdrs@) w'n `l~ dry@ 'n hnk l`dyd mn lkutb lmSryyn wl`rb ldhyn yqwmwn btjrb fy hdh lmjl l'dby ldhy ystkhdmh kthyran lkutb l'wrwbyyn wl'mrykyyn. \n tdwr 'Hdth rwy@ `n tmym@ 'w qld@ ytwrthh lns `br `Swr ltrykh w'nH lkr@ l'rDy@ lmkhtlf@ bdan mn l`Sr ljlydy wmrwran bmws~ wfr`wn wb`Sr klywbtr wblmlk rytshrd qlb l'sd wlst`mr lbryTny lmSr w'khyran tSl l~ zmnn hdh 'y lHDr. wlfkr@ lsy'd@ hy 'n hdhh ltmym@ tHmy mn yrtdyh wyqdm lktb `d@ 'mthl@ `br `Swr wfSwl lrwy@. `ndm tSl ltmym@ l~ `Srn hdh ybd' lSr` `l~ tmlkh wkshf khbyh w'srrh wkyfy@ `mlh wGyrhm. \n t`d \"ltmym@\" rwy@ mthyr@ khS@ fy fSwlh l'wl~ thm tbd' l'Hdth ttbT' b`d wSwl ltmym@ l~ lHDr Hyth tmtlk ltmym@ ft@ smh zynb wrtht ltmym@ `n 'mh lty wrthth `n 'mh - 'y jd@ zynb - thm y`wd `nSry ltshwyq wlthr@ fy lfSwl l'khyr@ lty tmtz bsr`@ l'Hdth. \n wtqwm ltmym@ bHmy@ mn yrtdyh mn khll wHsh rhyb l yrh lshkhS ldhy yrtdyh. \n tnthy lrwy@ `l~ nhy@ s`yd@ Hyth ynl l'shrr wlmkrwn `l~ jzy'hm fy Hyn yHSl l'bTl `l~ 'Hlmhm. \n wqd lHZt 'n ltmym@ kthyran m tq` fy 'ydy lmlwk wlqd@ kbr lshkhSyt mm ydhkrn blkhtm fy thlthy@ \"mlk lkhwtm\" llktb lshhyr jyh 'r 'r twlkyn. \n wqd '`Tyt hdhh lrwy@ thlth njwm `l~ mwq` jwd rydz (www.goodreads.com) l'n hnk `d@ 'shy Dyqtny 'thn qry'ty lh, 'wlh 'slwb lktb fy ldll@ `l~ stmrr shy m 'w lldll@ `l~ hwl 'w sw hdh lshy, ftkrr lklmt `l~ 'sTr mttly@ l yfy blGrD bl `d@ m ykwn zyd@ `n lHd lmnsb 'w lmTlwb lmwqfin m fy lrwy@, w`l~ sbyl lmthl fy SfH@ 64: \n \"wlkn lshbn lthlth@ nqDw fj'@, bkl wHshy@ ldny... \n wSrkht zynb... \n wSrkht... \n wSrkht...\" \n fy Hyn 'n qwlh Srkh@ wHd@ rnnn@ knt stfy blGrD. \n km ystkhdm lktb \"lfSl@\" bSwr@ mr`b@ km lw 'n llG@ l`rby@ t`shq lfSlt whw 'mr Gyr SHyH. wystkhdm lktb klm@ \"llGy@\" kthyran jdan fy rwyth w`nd qrth fy Gyr mHlh fhy tstfz lqry' wtD`f mn qw@ ljml@ wlklm@ lty sbqth, w`l~ sbyl lmthl fy SfH@ 11: \n \"wSr lmshhd klh blf`l 'shbh blwH@ mkhyf@.. \n llGy@..\" \n stkhdm \"llGy@\" hn yD`f klm@ \"mkhyf@\" lty tb`th lr`b fy qlb lqry' w`qlh, km 'n stkhdm lktb llf`l \"rH\" bdlan mn \"Sr\" 'w \"'SbH\" 'w \"bd'\" 'w Gyrhm mn l'f`l yw'dy l~ rkk@ fy llG@ l`rby@ km 'n f`l \"rH\" 'qrb ll`my@ wl ytmsh~ m` llG@ l`rby@ lfSH@ lmstkhdm@ fy lrwy@. wystkhdm lktb 'yDan Hrf ljr \"fy\" fy Gyr mwD`h lmt`rf `lyh 'w lm`td@, fyqwl mthlan: \"fy bT\" w\"fy S`wb@\" fy Hyn 'n lmt`rf `lyh hw \"bbT\" w\"bS`wb@\", km yq` fy lkhT' lshy'` bstkhdmh \"'y@\" fy Hyn 'n lklm@ lSHyH@ hy \"'y\" sw tb`h mdhkr 'w mw'nth (wn knt lnqT@ l'khyr@ GlT@ lmrj` - n wjd - wlys bltHdyd lmw'lf). \n w'Hynan ystkhdm lktb nfs lwSf lnfs lshy fy mwqf mtqrb@ mthl stkhdmh fy lfSl l'wl \"ywlwn dhlk lSndwq l`jy 'hmy@ blG@\" wfy lSfH@ ltly@ \"ywlyh ljmy` 'hmy@ blG@\". f'yn lbtkr fy hdhh lrwy@ ljdyd@? \n wkthyran l ywjd fwSl `nd lntql byn lshkhSyt wlmshhd lmkhtlf@ fy lrwy@ mm yw'dy l~ stGrb lqry' wyDTrh lltwqf llHZ@ lsty`b m Hdth, km ystkhdm lktb lnqT lmttly@ 'kthr mm ynbGy flm`td hw thlth nqT mttly@ ( ... ) km ystkhdm 'd@ lstfhm ylyh 'd@ lt`jb ylyhm `d@ nqT whw khT' fy llGty lnjlyzy@ wl`rby@. \n w'khyran ystkhdm lktb f`l \"yGmGm\" km lw 'n llG@ l`rby@ qd khlt mn l'f`l! wylHZ 'nh ystHyl 'n \"yGmGm\" shkhSan lmd@ 'rb` 'sTr mttly@! \n n rwy@ \"ltmym@\" lyst Twyl@ mm ys`d lqry' `l~ lqr@ lsry`@ w`l~ lsh`wr blrH@ `nd qr@ `d@ fSwl mttly@ km 'nh tmtz b`d@ 'jr shyq@, Df@ l~ 'nh jdyd@ wnhyth wfkrth mkhtlf@ `n qSS lkhyl l`lmy@ l'jnby@ wl`rby@, why rwy@ tstHq lqr@.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 15 06:14:21 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 02 03:23:55 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "5996777", "review_id": "14ee4c1526e0e0936351759107321183", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I absolutely HATED this book! It was the second book by Naguib Mahfouz for me, and so far the last, I have not gotten over it to venture with something else! \n I don't remember how many tales there were.. but they were all sad and left the reader, me, miserable and depressed!", "date_added": "Mon Jan 07 18:14:35 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 07 18:16:11 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "12648008", "review_id": "944e424c6defccd47244f3fc7dc31b5d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "My Lady Mage by Alexis Morgan is the first installment in the Warriors of the Mist series. The book is as breath-taking and as intriguing as its cover. \n Not being a fan of romance, My Lady Mage is my first fantasy-romance novel. Still, I deal with romance with care for there are often cliches - just read the synopsis of many fantasy books and you'll notice a pattern - but here, I enjoyed it. And that means Alexis Morgan did something spectacular, for I'm not easy to please. \n The novel opens with a sort of introduction titled \"River of the Damned\" describing the Warriors of the Mist. It begins thus: \"The Warriors of the Mist are a legend, their origins lost in the shadows of the past. In dark times, it is whispered, the warriors can be summoned from beneath the roiling currents when a champion is needed and if the cause is just.\" \n My Lady Mage revolves around Merewen, whose father ruled their Kingdom in the land of Agathia, but because the law forbids a woman from ruling after her father's death, Merewen's uncle, Fagan, takes over. Not only has evil roamed the land ever since, but it also grows stronger with each passing day. The first part in the Warriors of the Mist series focuses mainly on Merewen, the warriors, her uncle and his wife and we get a peek at the Duke. \n Merewen goes to the river and prays to the gods. Her summons is answered and five warriors spring from the water. \n I personally enjoyed how Morgan drew on other well-known texts in literature. For instance, \"Then, an arm brandishing a sword burst forth from the deepest part of the river\" (p. 5). This reminds me of the popular scene in the stories - films and series - of King Arthur, when the Lady of the Lake raises her arm, holding Excalibur. There are many such examples throughout the novel. \n There are five warriors, led by Gideon and as the story progresses we learn that each of them has a painful past. We also learn how each of them came to join Gideon and become the Damned. \n Each of these warriors is memorable and loveable on their own. I tried very hard to pick a favourite but couldn't do so entirely; even Kane, who appears to be - and is in fact - brutal and blood-thirsty, cannot be hated or disliked. \n Merewen is a hard-headed, rebellious woman. Not only is she brave, but she is also very caring and considerate. She, literally, puts everyone before herself and is willing to risk her life for the people who respected her father and herself and who have remained loyal to both. \n Towards the end, we meet the Duke, who rules over all the lands of Agathia. There is a reversal of roles in the scene in chapter 22, where Fagan, who constantly terrorises and abuses his wife, cowers before the Duke and is terrified of him. It is an interesting, dead-cold scene. \n I am not a fan of profanity and there were some instances in this novel where I felt there was no need for it. On p. 91, \"Meanwhile, Kane continued polishing the damned horse's hide.\" Personally, I don't see a reason for the word \"damned\" here, especially since what precedes it does not carry any angry tones or the like. \n Also, the use of the ('d) as a contraction for had (most of the time) is very annoying as the reader has to, often, think whether it is 'had' or 'would'. Moreover, it is the only contraction in the text. For me, there should either be contractions throughout or none throughout as well (speech excluded). It also looks out of place. Without this ('d) - and a couple of needless uses of 'damned' - the book would have been utterly perfect! \n The first part in the Warriors of the Mist series is by all means a grabber, a must-read. The moment you finish it you feel like you need the second part right after it to carry on the adventure. The characters are memorable, each in their own way. The book contains some adult scenes so I wouldn't recommend it for anyone under 18 (I suppose that could differ with American and European audiences). \n Alexis Morgan's choice is words and imagery is notable throughout the novel. She wittingly uses tension and comic relief well in her novel, which, I must say, is a blessing. \n For the full (extended) review: please go here: http://nadanessinmotion.blogspot.com/...", "date_added": "Mon Jan 07 13:34:33 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 01 06:19:24 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Mar 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Mar 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "15329", "review_id": "a95227238f678dcb1d84d86855b18f13", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of my favourite books so far. \n One thing I particularly liked about The Hobbit - apart from being much shorter and much more exciting than the subsequent trilogy - is that it proves that romance is not an essential part of a book. Unlike the movie, The Hobbit does not have any women and therefore no romance, and it's perfect. \n I highly recommend reading it.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 07 13:23:57 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 24 09:38:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jan 07 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "93273", "review_id": "bc1f6274671b595701b790f6d8218e85", "rating": 1, "review_text": "This is by all means a HORRID book! It is an insult to the Tales of Camelot, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. The writing of the book is terrible; it makes you want to skip parts. It is very hard to enjoy this book. I am currently hiding this book in the farthest, darkest shelf in the house.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 04 09:18:49 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 10 03:38:49 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "41899", "review_id": "90f6a8cec740e2f6b03fe68a6dd215f2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love it! \n Think of it as a mini-reference to an array of fantastical creatures, with some really cute notes by Harry, Ron and Hermione - mostly Ron though, on the side.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 17 12:24:02 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 19 19:02:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f88032f4ad97b46654fe59ce3387cf5d", "book_id": "23524550", "review_id": "5412d8cf4f3509b138e969bab1d3fbde", "rating": 1, "review_text": "ktb qmyy' mn 'wlh lakhrh", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 03:42:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 20 01:48:30 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "197ee8c6624f698557603a05ad670d45", "book_id": "15863832", "review_id": "bd538c4a0f61b6bc06259c78014185e3", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Hizli okunuyor. Merak uyandiriyor ve sizi surukluyor, zaman gecirmek icin okunabilecek bir kitap. Sayfalari cevirirken zamanin nasil gectigini fark etmeyip benim gibi bir gecede okuyabilirsiniz. Fakat benden daha fazla puan alamayacak. (You should know, I don't even like it :P).Biraz acimasiz olacak galiba ama bende karakterler baska genclik romanlarini ve karakterlerini kopyala-yapistir yapmislar gibi bir his birakti. Ugruna onlarca tehlikeye girilen kucuk kardesi ile Penryn'in baglari uzerinde biraz daha durulsa belki farkli bir derinlik yaratilabilirdi. Ayrica ana karakterin pasif kaldigi kisimlardan da hoslanmadim birkac sayfa oncesine donup yazilari degistiresim geldi adeta cunku zamansiz bir pasiflikti. Karakterin tabiri caizse badass kisiliginin bosa gittigini dusundum biraz. Tabi bu benim kisisel fikrim beklentilerim begenen okuyuculardan farkli olabilir. Yine de ilgi cekici bir dunya yaratilmis ve bu dunya surprizler ile dolu bu yuzden okumasi zevkliydi. Ikinci kitabi okumayi dusunuyorum cunku merak ettigim birkac nokta var :)", "date_added": "Sun Aug 28 08:17:58 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 28 08:42:28 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Aug 28 08:42:28 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "197ee8c6624f698557603a05ad670d45", "book_id": "9413044", "review_id": "c0428d099a88589bbb4cbc9cd411a860", "rating": 5, "review_text": "<3", "date_added": "Fri Dec 21 16:25:46 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 21 08:40:34 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Apr 21 08:40:34 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0d8d07544717e84149df654caae803d0", "book_id": "15763668", "review_id": "2e0b27421494033c96165a24191d5bb6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Glimpse, the newest offering by author Sara Daniell revolves around Orion Draper, A high school student on a land called the Sphere. When she hears of a strange world called Earth, her questioning nature won't stop until she knows what this \"Earth\" is all about. Finding her way there is easy but finding her way back home is nearly impossible and life becomes a new danger every second. \n I think that Sara Daniell has invented an ingenious plot with a cast of very likable characters. Orion is the tough girl who does things by her own rules. Through her rough exterior though she is extremely likable. Her friend Sage is the wonderful comic relief that keeps Orion grounded. Add in Plath, the hunter from the Sphere. He is simply a killer with a heart. The novel is fast-paced with non-stop action. The ending I did not see coming and it definitely makes me eager for the next book in the series.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 30 16:29:31 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 20 18:51:46 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0d8d07544717e84149df654caae803d0", "book_id": "13625827", "review_id": "0aa9718345149909ac54879bfd50b6cb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Katie Jennings debut novel, Breath of Air, is the first novel in the four book Dryad Quartet series and, like its title is a breath of fresh air for the fantasy genre. \n It revolves around Capri, an orphan girl who, on her 18th birthday discovers the truth of her origins and journeys back to Euphora, the enchanted place where she was born. Soon after Capri returns to Euphora though, strange events begin to happen that mirrors what took place soon before Capri disappeared at the age of three. Capri, her friends and her newfound love begin to unravel the mystery of events both past and present in hopes of bringing peace back to Euphora for good. \n It is a wonderful first novel for Jennings. Her writing is very descriptive and makes it easy to imagine the world and the characters of Euphora. Speaking of charcters, Jennings give her characters rich histories and interesting personalities. The heroes are very likable and the villains can be quite nasty. Also, there are many characters introduced but I felt that all were developed quite well. \n It is hard to believe that Breath of Air is Katie Jennings' first novel. The writing is very good, especially for a first novel and she should be commended for undertaking the daunting task of a four book series for her debut works. I am looking forward to the remainder of the Dryad Quartet series as well as future tales from author who looks to have quite a bright future in front of her.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 11 08:22:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 29 11:24:24 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jul 29 11:24:24 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0d8d07544717e84149df654caae803d0", "book_id": "11023788", "review_id": "a8f5ae1191132d0406dd9637ca7253dd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Very good story though a little too short. The characters were very good and I would have liked to seen them fleshed out a bit more but the writer's style is very easy going and easy to read. As I read the story I thought Kendall Lake may have been patterned after Rhett Butler but much nicer. Would have been a 4 if not for the short length and quick rap up. I do recommend it though and look forward to more of Ms. Pape's work.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 02 06:00:35 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 03 07:14:56 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jul 03 07:14:56 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0d8d07544717e84149df654caae803d0", "book_id": "15701498", "review_id": "16f9b0fe0c3f5b16329b1a5e41037229", "rating": 5, "review_text": "As a review for all three parts, I think Odd Interlude was a fun and exciting novella to satisfy us Odd Thomas fans until the release of Odd Apocalypse next month. Not your typical Odd Thomas adventure but a fun read!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 27 06:16:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 01 08:25:43 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0d8d07544717e84149df654caae803d0", "book_id": "453916", "review_id": "88449b70d9c55daacd1c146cb60be1eb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of the hardest books of Koontz to find, but it is so worth the effort! This is actually one of my all-time favorite books by Koontz. It is a wonderful dark fairy-tale about good toys that are alive and when their creator dies, the bad toys also come to life and seek to destroy the good toys. This is fun, classic and one very enjoyable book with wonderful illustrations by Phil Parks.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 15 14:04:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 15 14:07:28 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0d8d07544717e84149df654caae803d0", "book_id": "225606", "review_id": "21cc7101d103a06d458340ad6217a801", "rating": 5, "review_text": "OK...this is one of my favorite books of all time! This book had some good frights but it made me laugh! The adventures of Duke and Earl are hilarious. \n The idea of a nerdy vampire and a redneck werewolf are about as laugh out loud as you can get. It even has a bit of romance. A Lee Martinez has become one of my favorite authors because of this book.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 18:31:31 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 03 18:19:03 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0d8d07544717e84149df654caae803d0", "book_id": "7108001", "review_id": "a8d43d2fb1f3a21b1eb1435f3dc90176", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was so much fun! What I thought was really wonderful was how the author truly made the events in the book tie-in with true events and made the entire history seem plausible. Also loved the journal concept. Very well done. Have not yet seen the movie but I must admit I can't wait!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 04:28:31 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 12 14:50:32 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "393d2d875aef4b1f428f9daac75e92b7", "book_id": "23359246", "review_id": "c892c639271983eed29ad84fc2ce1023", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I started reading House of Night back in 2009, when I was 17. Never thought I'd still be reading this series seven years later. What a journey. I'll forever cherish theses books because they've been with me for so long. On the other hand, though, they enfuriate me sometimes. Why twelve effing books when you could only do seven (the magic number)? I can't remember what happened in most of them, not because I read them a long time ago but because they were fillers. And not bearable ones. One or two times I considered giving up on this series. But I couldn't. Even though the characters annoyed the hell out of me most of the time and the story kept repeating itself over and over again. I finished them, it's done. I'm saying goodbye to Zoey and her circle and Aphrodite, my forever favourite. But I don't think I'm going to miss them all that much. It's quite sad.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 08 15:04:34 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 06 15:34:34 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "393d2d875aef4b1f428f9daac75e92b7", "book_id": "6304335", "review_id": "2d39ee74f57a78d280565b1721bab2e5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I liked it, it's beautifully written. But if I had read it five, four years ago I would'd like it more. It's more for teenagers.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 30 15:49:14 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 24 09:07:21 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Sep 13 01:22:04 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "74923eed26118d852196f9aa18070272", "book_id": "15839976", "review_id": "b3125aee7b745789c7c91b874dfee06f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was amazing cover to cover!! A mix of fantasy, sci fi and dystopian elements, the book followed Darrow as he begins his search for justice. The plot was full of twists, many unpredictable and I loved that about it. I cannot wait to read the next book!!", "date_added": "Thu Aug 11 15:22:07 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 25 16:40:11 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Aug 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "74923eed26118d852196f9aa18070272", "book_id": "29056083", "review_id": "0bc5640f507446f9f8f45c864cdb8f7c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n This book was very disappointing. There were many issues with the play. \n 1) The plot was all recycled from the previous novels. We've seen the Triwizard tournament before and been over how Harry's family died before and so on. \n 2) Harry potter books always offered a lesson to readers, and again this play's 'lesson' was one already learnt in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. \n 3) Characters were much weaker in comparison to their former selves, especially Ginny. \n 4) Stage directions of heart ache and so on hinted at a homosexual relationship. This would have been nice as the series heavily missed representations of the LGBT community. \n 5) Also, when was Bellatrix supposed to be pregnant? She couldn't have got pregnant before the fourth book as Voldemort did not have corporeal form until the end of this text, and for the fifth, sixth and seventh we see Bellatrix often. Therefore, how was she never seen to be pregnant? \n I just found the whole thing unnecessary, not very well thought out and annoying as it messed with the past novels. Not a fan.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 09 10:38:53 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 10 09:32:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bda99715e8f6865c236926a0979b72a5", "book_id": "421129", "review_id": "57381533d30d81746d5abea653f91eab", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Mon commentaire sur le livre : \n ici", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 04:51:25 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 02:14:12 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "25799039", "review_id": "5b50b8506cce7e95f1beb1b6f61be340", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Jopa parempi kuin Itarannan esikoinen. Tyyliltaan hyvin samankaltainen, mutta kokonaisuutena viela ehyempi ja tarinana pidempi. Ei tasta oikein osaa sanoa mitaan jarkevaa, todella hyvaa spefia/fantasiaa.", "date_added": "Thu May 18 03:22:54 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu May 18 03:24:35 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "21902149", "review_id": "07d0f1182b0abc03256eb3398dd41392", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Tamankin kirjan avaamiseen meni uskomattoman pitka aika. Siina alkuunpaasemiseen meni viela pidempi. Luin alkua pienissa paloissa ja ihmettelin, mika on, kun Moers ei tempaakaan mukaansa. Puolivaliin paastyani en kuitenkaan malttanut laskea kirjaa kadestani, vaan luin sen kaytannossa yhdelta istumalta loppuun. Ja mika cliffhanger lopussa! Moersin mielikuvitus on vertaansa vailla, sita ei voi kuin kehua. Yksitysikohtaiset kuvaukset asioista, hullu liioittelu, sanaleikit, kielella leikittely, huikeaa. Kiitos myos kaantajalle, ei varmasti ole ollut ihan helppo tehtava... Kirjojen ja kirjallisuuden rakastajan pakkolukemista, seuraavaa (ja viimeista?) osaa odotellessa.", "date_added": "Wed May 10 03:59:26 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed May 10 04:02:57 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "12567120", "review_id": "619def5db22bb821761509506568d63d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Viihdyttava kirja, josta ei puutu menoa ja meininkia. Kesalomalukemista.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 14 06:29:59 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 14 06:30:56 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "6662349", "review_id": "15cfce5e04d38f754ec8c1bee3a07ef4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Kirja, jonka lukemiseen meni vauvan takia ikuisuus. Todella hyva fantasiakirja, jonka olisin toisenlaisissa olosuhteissa lukenut varmasti huomattavasti nopeammin. Juoni tuntui vetavalta ja henkilot kiinnostavilta ja idea tietoisesta laivasta tuntuu raikkaalta ja uudenlaiselta. Seuraavan osan lukemiseen menee varmasti taas aikaa, mutta luettavahan nekin on, jotta saa tietaa, mita Vivacialle ja muille tapahtuu...", "date_added": "Sun Dec 14 05:59:52 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 14 06:02:29 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "12124232", "review_id": "4a6232cca1767a27cd348dd61f42d1de", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Samaa vampyyrihomppaa kuin aiemmatkin, ehka hiukan kovemmilla kierroksilla seksin ja vakivallan suhteen talla kertaa.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 14 05:55:13 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 14 05:56:23 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "10020598", "review_id": "1c685b7fe296b4baa823eae486731a55", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Viihdyttavaa vampyyrihomppaa.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 10 00:25:37 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 10 00:26:28 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Apr 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "9537808", "review_id": "e375dadd0d7cde4796df6bd4ab27129c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Vampyyriviihdetta ja vampyyriseksia. Sopivaa homppalukemista lauantai-iltapaivaan.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 10 00:15:27 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 10 00:16:49 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "8471015", "review_id": "d13f28b74c539c6d36dce3a8d9de7fe7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Tv-sarjan pohjana olleiden kirjojen ensimmainen, jo klassikoksi omassa genressaan muodostunut romaani. Ihan hauskaa ja kevytta vampyyriviihdetta, nopeaa ja helppoa luettavaa. True bloodia seuranneena on tosin mahdotonta olla kuvittelematta kirjan hahmoja juuri sen nakoisina kuin sarjan nayttelijat ovat ja valilla lauseita myos kaantaa paassaa huomaamattaan englanniksi ja ne soivat paassa syvalla etelan murteella... Viihdyttavaa lukemista.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 10 00:02:38 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 10 00:05:48 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Mar 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "864890", "review_id": "ff2ea910f1f3aae0e8bdd054e0e4dee7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ensimmaista kertaa englanniksi luettu ja huomattavasti synkempi kuin muistinkaan. Hyva, jalleen kerran, muttei paras Potter kuitenkaan.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 20 10:34:46 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed May 28 13:34:40 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "331562", "review_id": "b656c08bc5a19d29093a0d781b3a5f4a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Jalleen, mukaansatempaava kirja, joka on tullut luettua useampaan kertaan aiemminkin. Ei suosikkini Pottereista, mutta hyva.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 20 10:19:29 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 20 10:21:12 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "72193", "review_id": "f58dd9b336063bb333e47aa35b754401", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Monta kertaa luettu kirja (niin suomeksi kuin englanniksikin), mutta jostain syysta tama ei koskaan meneta hohtoaan", "date_added": "Fri Dec 20 10:13:04 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 28 02:31:19 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jul 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "17339755", "review_id": "d427a547fde4fa5245764b0bdd3d017c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Aika erilainen kirja kuin etukateen kuvittelin, muttei huono missaan nimessa. Kirja tuli ahmittua muutamassa tunnissa, enka oikein osaa sanoa, mita mielta olen oikeasti kirjasta. Hyva, kylla, mutta aiheeltaan surullinen, varsinkin kun takakannessa mainitaan kirjan olevan omaelamakerrallinen. Jostain syysta mieleen tuli myos elokuva Winter's Bone. Hammentava kirja, jota jaa miettimaan.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 28 06:54:07 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 28 06:56:20 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "6595954", "review_id": "c4ec1b10422c27c91d008760dc982555", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Aika janna ja erilainen kirja. Tama taitaa olla toinen Ahernin kirja, jonka luen, eika varmasti jaa viimeiseksi. On virkistavaa lukea kerrankin homppakirjaa, jossa ei leikitellakaan romantiikalla, vaan tuodaan sadunomainen, jopa fantasiamainen elementti mukaan. Positiivista on myos se, etta tarinan loppu jaa osittain auki, eika selittele liikaa, mita kenellekin kavi ja mita ei kaynyt, romantiikan suhteen siis. Hyva kirja.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 17 13:18:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 17 13:21:44 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "10121252", "review_id": "4954045b3f0f583e8aa8b701a5f53162", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Tama oli kirja, josta olisin kovasti tahtonut pitaa, mutta eritain lupaavan alun jalkeen putosin taysin karryilta ja pakkokahlasin kirjan sitkeydella loppuun. Harvoin tulee vastaan kirjoja, jotka vaativat lukijaltaan nain paljon. Ehka en lukenut kirjaa ajatuksella, ehka missasin jonkun oleellisen pointin, mutta en yksinkertaisesti ymmartanyt kirjasta juuri mitaan. Aivan kuin olisi lukenut David Lynchin elokuvan kasikirjoitusta. Valilla kirjassa luuli paasevansa mukaan, ennen kuin putosi taas taysin ja loppuun paastya jaljelle jai vain hammennys.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 17 11:29:32 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 17 11:33:20 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "13091715", "review_id": "a63c15c3b1847ad2a1d2debc7ffbda36", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Tama on sarjassamme kirjoja, jotka nyrjayttavat aivot. Todella mielenkiintoinen ja uudella tavalla rakennettu tarina sinansa perinteisen aiheen ymparille. Kuka on oikeasti hyva, kehen voi luottaa missa kaupungissa tapahtuu mitakin. Hyva kirja, jota on melkein mahdotonta luokitella minkaanlaiseen kategoriaan.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 17 10:15:27 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 15 13:32:07 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Dec 06 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "13422727", "review_id": "c0bd7f4fee0932d9fe22436e3e8c7e18", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Vuosien odotus palkittiin vihdoin. Kirja on samalla seka toiveiden tayttymys, etta pieni pettymys. Eri henkiloiden nakokulmia on hurjasti, ja juuri kun saa kiinni yhdesta, mennaankin jo toiseen. Osa tuntui myos jopa pitkaveteiselta, mutta samalla olisi pitanyt olla todella tarkkana, muuten huolellisesti katketty vihje saattoi menna sivu suun. Toisaalta, moni juonenkaanne paljasti paljon ja tapahtumat veivat mennessaan. Silti kirja tuntui aika hajanaiselta ja juoni senkin vaan leviaa. Joitain epamartinmaisuuksia kirjassa oli myos, kuten henkiloiden \"kuolleistaherattaminen\" ja muodonmuuttajajutut tuntuivat Robin Hobbilta lainatuilta, samoin Aryan salamurhaajaoppi... Silti, onhan tama parasta fantasiaa, mita olen koskaan lukenut.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 17 09:02:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 17 09:09:21 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "2213661", "review_id": "ff141557c6d8db5b46528efcdd7ee1f0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Todella hyva Gaimanin kirja. Sekoitus Universumien tomua, Harry Pottereita, Painajaista ennen joulua ja Corpse bridea. Ja vaikka onkin lastenkirja, on siina aikuisellekin paljon annettavaa. Mukavaa oli myos se, etta asioita jatettiin myos avoimeksi, eika kaikkea kerrottu. Hyva kirja.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 17 07:55:51 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 17 07:57:58 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "283870", "review_id": "209cd5e6ca5ceaa5f3ccf59935cdbd12", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Hyva kirja, vaikka lukemiseen menikin luvattoman kauan.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 17 05:50:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 17 05:51:00 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "6697608", "review_id": "78c32427190d3ab279505a3b1863e3b0", "rating": 2, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Ohhoh... Alkuosa kirjasta oli suorastaan scifia ja loppuosa niin ennalta-arvattavaa homppaa, ettei tosikaan. Tottakai Bella saa lapsen ja tulee taydelliseksi vampyyriksi ja tottakai kaikki ongelmat, kuten lapsi, Jacob ja Charlie, ratkeavat kuin itsestaan. Ja tietysti kaikki elavat onnellisina ikuisesti. Pahempaa homppaa kuin Judith Krantz ja Nora Roberts yhteensa!", "date_added": "Fri Aug 17 04:16:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 17 05:00:45 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "5883543", "review_id": "53c1359096aa7c9c8f0c29435004b33e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Taysin eparealistinen ja alloromanttinen, henkiot eivat todellakaan kayttaydy uskottavasti (Edwardin reaktio Bellan ja Jacobin tunteisiin...), mutta jotain kummaa kirjassa vaan on. Jotain joka saa odottamaan seuraavaa osaa ja valvomaan kolmeen asti yolla.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 17 03:34:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 17 03:36:35 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "6457347", "review_id": "7e9eaa29d3fd9083dcf08a4aa1bf5e85", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Taydellista tyttohomppaa, ei mitaan jarkea koko tarinassa, paahenkilo aiheuttaa lukijalle harmaita hiuksia, mutta jostain syysta on ihan pakko lukea lahes ahmimalla. Kesakirjoja nama.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 17 03:27:08 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 17 03:28:39 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "535757", "review_id": "172168937cd63a31e227acb36c70b23b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Jalleen kerran, jarjettoman hyva! Alussa oli pienia kieliongelmia kun sarjan muut osat olen lukenut suomeksi ja taman englanniksi, mutta kun lopetti paikannimien suomenkielisten vastineiden miettimisen, alkoi lukeminen luistaa. Joitain tylsia kohtia mukaan mahtui, mutta varsinkin loppua kohden kirjaa oli vaikea laskea kasistaan. Erikoinen ja lukijaa koukuttava ratkaisu oli myos kirjoittaa tarina vain puolen henkilomaaran nakokulmasta, mutta ratkaisu toimi. Martin on juonenkehittelijana taysin omaa luokkaansa, kaanteita ja tulevaa on melkein mahdoton ennustaa, kun kuka tahansa saattaa tehda ihan mita tahansa, vaikka kuolla. Parasta fantasiaa, mita olen tahan mennessa lukenut.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 16 11:41:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 16 11:46:19 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "3950967", "review_id": "3208e01a7c386881ab14fbf16020e32a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ihan hauska velhojen ja noitien satukirja, joka ei varsinaisesti tuo mitaan uutta Potter-maailmaan, mutta syventaa tietamysta jonkin verran.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 16 10:53:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 16 10:54:27 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "10051726", "review_id": "6998ffe943a029372a450be7f2c81e05", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Aika Dickensmainen kirja, jonka lukeminen oli jostain syysta puoleenvaliin asti takkuista, vaikka tarina oli alusta asti mielenkiintoinen. Puolenvalin jalkeen loppu menikin aika vauhdikkaasti. Jannan erilainen fantasiakirja, vaihtoehtoista historiaa. Juonikin oli aika janna ja loppu jai hiukan avoimeksi, mutta ei liikaa. Erilainen, mutta mielenkiintoinen kirja.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 16 08:35:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 16 08:38:20 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "15745918", "review_id": "3d4ccb7e6bc0b5c14e171eb1f54dc577", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Kuten kaikki aiemmatkin Moersin kirjat, on tamakin huikeaa mielikuvituksen ilotulitusta. Tarina tempaa mukaansa ja vie mennessaan, kirjailijalla on todella ollut orno tata kirjoittaessa! Paras Moersin kirja tahan mennessa.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 16 07:24:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 16 07:29:02 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Sep 23 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "6129629", "review_id": "a1eef4369e3405f39d01332abf770d0e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ilmeisesti aika kehuttu ja tykatty kirja, joka jaksoi viehattaa puoleenvaliin asti, mutta sitten kiinnostus herpaantui. Edward on NIIN ihana ja komea, mutta vaarallinen ja koko kirja on enemman tai vahemman fluffia, sopoilya. Edwardin yliluonnolliset kyvyt tuntuvat valilla liiankin yliluonnollisilta ja taydellisilta, samoin koko Edwardin hahmo. Ihan luettava kirja kuitenkin kaikesta huolimatta ja varmaan hankin myos seuraavat osat kasiini jossain vaiheessa.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 16 06:09:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 16 06:12:22 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "70947", "review_id": "01c40ebca62df7283625df5975b91a2d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Vaihteeksi englanniksi luettu kirja ja onhan tama edelleen hyva. Kirjasta tehdysta elokuvasta oli jatetty huikean paljon pois todella oleellisia kohtia, joiden pois jattaminen vaikeuttaa mahdollisten seuraavien elokuvien ymmartamista... Mutta, kaikkiaan loistava kirja ja loistava koko sarja, myos englanniksi luettuna.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 16 05:53:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 05 06:05:54 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "6795810", "review_id": "80234a6690d4bbc19a731a2705011eba", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loistavaa, jalleen kerran. Paahenkiloita tosin kuolee siihen tahtiin, etta lieneeko ketaan enaa viimeisessa kirjassa jaljella... Mutta ei voi kuin ihailla kirjailijan taitoja. Juoni alkaa olla niin monimutkainen ja sotkuinen vyyhti, etta on vaikea muistaa missa kukakin henkilo milloinkin on menossa. Kirjailija onnistuu myos jatkuvasti pitamaan jannitysta ylla, eika lukija joudu pettymaan missaan vaiheessa.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 16 03:37:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 16 03:40:21 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "6795801", "review_id": "95a54e61289333320b3d6df1562b37fb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Jalleen kerran, loistavaa. Koko sarja on aivan mahtava, vaikka lukijalla ei olekaan mikaan helppo tehtava seurata melko monimutkaista juonta kymmenine tai jopa satoine henkilohahmoineen. Lukeminen on kuitenkin hyvin palkitsevaa, eika kirjaa huvittaisi laskea kasistaan lainkaan. Sarjan joskus paattyessa on hauska nahda, miten Martin aikoo lopulta punoa kaikki langat yhteen.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 16 03:34:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 16 03:37:34 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "3131781", "review_id": "443544614c1c74a2f357c9d79bc40e68", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Toisella lukemiskerralla (ja ensimmaisella suomeksi) kirja tuntui huomattavasti paremmalta kuin ensimmaisella. Puolet kirjasta ei tuntunutkaan olevan pelkkaa telttailua, eika lopun taistelukohtaus tai 19 vuotta myohwmmin -epilogikaan tuntunut niin kliseiselta kuin ensimmaisella kerralla. Kaannos on onnistunut myos hyvin (kuten aina) ja tavoitti alkuperaistekstin tunnelman niin hyvin, etta itkin tismalleen samoissa kohdissa kuin ensimmaisella kerralla. Erittain hyva paatos loistavalle sarjalle, vaikka olisinkin kaivannut Tylypahkaa enemman.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 15 12:57:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 13:01:26 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "6588356", "review_id": "d5f6b29c26acdb1a95e1f67ad128831f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Toinen osa jatkaa siita, mihin ensimmainen jai ja sama taso pysyy ylla tassakin. Loistavasti kirjoitettu, ylatyksia tupsahtelee jatkuvasti, eika Martin arastele tappaa paahenkiloitakaan. Henkiloita kirjassa kylla vilisee niin runsaasti, etta on vaikea valilla pysya perassa siita, kelle tapahtuu mitakin ja kuka vaikuttaa missakin, mutta eri henkiloiden seuraaminen eri luvuissa on nainkin laajassa saagassa oikeastaan ainoa oikea vaihtoehto. Mitaan suurta moitetta en tastakaan keksi, aivan loistava fantasiasarja.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 15 12:50:28 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 12:53:59 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Mar 14 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "12170735", "review_id": "c76534c18e5b76a3765387b33d4f92be", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Verrattuna kolmeen ensimmaiseen, alkuperaiseen Maameren tarinat -kirjaan, taytyy suorastaan ihmetella, miksi kirja ylipaataan on kirjoitettu... Juoni ja kerronta eivat solju samalla tavalla eteenpain kuin ennen, tarina itsessaan on aivan liian ennalta-arvattava ja suorastaan naurettava. Tenarin ja Gedin rakkaustarina on jopa tylsa ja koko kirjan huipennus, jota pedataan koko alkukirja, on muutaman sivun mittainen antikliimaksi aivan kirjan lopussa. Malliesimerkki huonosta jatko-osasta.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 15 07:56:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 08:00:04 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Dec 14 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "444387", "review_id": "12787603ebcaa5724902daa05d28fbfc", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Hyvin samantyylinen kuin Todorovin kirja, kasittelee samoja asioita lahes samalla tyylilla. Ei kovin mielenkiintoinen tai relevantti oman tutkimuksen kannalta.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 15 07:53:22 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 07:55:50 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Dec 13 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "13005063", "review_id": "656e4862922b50d444eefcc225a8f144", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Todella hyva trilogia! Varsinkin ensimmainen osa, joka kertoi Gedin varhaisista vuosista ja Roken velhokoulusta, oli mahtava. Siina oli samaa henkea kuin Robin Hobbin Narri-trilogiassa, joka on yksi parhaista nykyfantasian saralla. Toinen osa oli myos ihan hyva, muttei yltanyt aivan samalle tasolle ensimmaisen osan kanssa. Atuanin kohtalosta maanjaristyksen jalkeen olisin halunnut tietaa enemman, samoin Tenarin alkuperaisesta perheesta. Kolmas osa taas oli hiukan heikompi kuin toinen, aukkopaikkoja siinakin ja sellaisia kohtia, joista mielellani olisin lukenut enemman. Trilogia tosiaan oli hyva, mutta kolme tarinaa ehka liian irrallaan toisistaan ja Ged jo aika vanha viimeisessa. Myos osa henkilohahmoista jai osittain irrallisiksi, eika heista kerrottu niin paljoa kuin mahdollista.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 15 07:26:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 07:31:29 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Dec 04 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "8492687", "review_id": "45231df9fef4a6cc295a7ec0145f10a2", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Huonoin kirja tahan mennessa Narnioista. Jatkuvat kristilliset viittaukset kayvat hermoille ja tassa on niin suoraan osa luomiskertomuksesta, etta sita ei voi olla huomaamatta. Kun niita ei osaa sivuuttaa...", "date_added": "Wed Aug 15 07:16:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 27 12:02:38 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "8492744", "review_id": "66088b36fa0f29f415346482201d587f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Eipa tastakaan osaa mitaan sen kummempaa sanoa, ehka kirja on suunnilleen samalla tasolla kuin edellinen osa.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 15 07:08:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 07:09:17 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "3304123", "review_id": "4329dc6458e53a7dc37e940afb8d54f9", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Tassa paaosissa olivat Jill ja Eustace ja kirja oli ehka aavistuksen parempi kuin esim. Prinssi Kaspian. Mutta en kylla kuitenkaan erityisesti naista kirjoista pida.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 15 07:04:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 07:05:56 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Nov 29 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "3304180", "review_id": "6f11a22b549db862b39ae3cb600ac403", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Tenttia varten pakkoluettavaa, en kylla muuten tykkaa.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 15 06:56:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 06:57:29 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Nov 26 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "3304162", "review_id": "c9712f2b570816c6f100c54e59092e90", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Tassakin koko sarja tenttikirjoja ja taytyy sanoa, etta ilman tenttiinlukupakkoa en kylla jaksaisi kahlata koko sarjaa lapi... Vaikka fantasia ja satu ovatkin lahella toisiaan, on Narnia sijoitettu fantasiaan, vaikka se kuuluisi satuihin. Tarinat ovat hyvin mustavalkoisia, viittauksia Raamattuun loytyy makuuni liikaakin ja henkilot ovat latteita. Mitaan sen kummempia motiiveja tai syita ei juurikaan esitella. Juonet ovat myos ennalta-arvattavia ja ainakin ensimmainen kirja muistuttaa jollakin tavalla Viisikoita... Ei todellakaan lempikirjojani.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 15 06:51:05 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 23 09:13:45 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Nov 26 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "6124600", "review_id": "4a5ac40e21b3b3504c153f3d508d2c4d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Mita tasta kirjasta voi sanoa, fantasiaklassikko, jonka talla kertaa luin tenttikirjana. Mahtava tarina, joka puree niin kirjana kuin elokuvana (kirjana tosin viela paremmin), jonka takana on tuhansia tunteja maailman ja kielen luomista. Tarina tempaa mukaansa edelleen, hahmot ovat uskottavia ja koko kirja lahes taydellinen olematta kliseinen (tai no, tastahan ne kliseet uudempiin fantasiakirjoihin taisivat valua). Edelleenkin mahtava lukuelamys.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 15 06:46:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 06:49:09 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "12991049", "review_id": "748e4f26f49c0049397a8ee9add0ea7c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Periaatteessa tasta osasta ei voi sanoa mitaan, mita ensimmaisesta osasta ei olisi jo sanonut, koska kirja on ollut alunperin yhta nidetta ja on vaan suomeksi ilmestynyt kahtena eri osana. Hyva kirja ja vaikka loppuratkaisu oli erittain ennalta-arvattava, riittaa juonessa tarpeeksi yllatyksia ja koukkuja.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 15 02:43:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 02:45:49 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "12991018", "review_id": "a7b750fe3fcc09fe5aa13b813615da34", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Erittain hyva fantasiakirja, joka ehti lojua hyllyssa lukemattomana aivan liian kauan. Tarinassa on toki kliseita, mutta perusjuoni on hyva ja henkilohahmot uskottavia. Hyva kirja.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 15 02:33:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 02:35:09 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "13405673", "review_id": "8fd2a416bd85e764518d9d6a1d0269a7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Jatkoa erinomaiselle Mustesydamelle. Todella hyva tamakin, tosin alun luin jo kevaalla, joten siita en muista enaa niin paljoa. Hyva kirja kuitenkin, vaikkakin jaa todella kesken. Ehkapa trilogian kolmas osa punoo kaikki langat yhteen.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 15 02:18:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 02:19:47 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jul 03 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "10273360", "review_id": "81e4c51bff2b668ce9de76b3cbec31f6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Kirja, jonka lukemiseen meni todella pitka aika ja josa en edes oikein pitanyt aluksi. Ihan mielenkiintoinen kirja omalla tavallaan, mutta jokin tokki, eika kirja ollut aivan sita, mita odotin. En lukisi uudelleen.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 15 02:13:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 02:14:40 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "799072", "review_id": "e1a5b7ac578abcdbf7b8c723c30e10cd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ihan viihdyttava Molly Moon, muttei aivan ylla ensimmaisten kirjojen tasolle. Juonen kanssa taytyy aina olla tarkkana, kun on kyse aikaatkailusta. Tassakin muutamia aikamatkustukseen liittyvia juttuja on jaanyt selvittamatta ja juoneen on sita kautta jaanyt aukkoja. Ihan viihdyttava kirja kuitenkin.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 14 12:33:01 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 14 12:35:16 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "33507", "review_id": "8919bad2f0c8af865c6df1cfde822999", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Klassikko, jota en ole aiemmin lukenut, mutta nyt tarttui kirjahyllysta kateen. Kiehtova ja aikaansa mielenkiintoisella tavalla kuvaava. Taytyy nostaa hattua Vernen visioille sukellusveneista ja merenalaisesta maailmasta, todella osuvia nain nykypaivan ihmisen silmin. Loppu on kirjassa hiukan keskeneraisen tuntuinen, mutta toisaalta on hyva, ettei kapteeni Nemoa lahdeta selittelemaan sen enempaa. Hyva kirja.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 14 12:26:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 14 12:29:16 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "10707081", "review_id": "18069ac7f43a0ac19ac6aadbd62f4c91", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Kirja, joka on lojunut hyllyssa kauan ja vasta laina-ajan uhkaavasti kuluessa sain sen luettua. Ihan alyttoman hyva kirja! Jones onnistuu valttelemaan perinteisia fantasiakliseita (ei mikaan ihme tietysti, onhan han kirjoittanut niistakin kirjan), punomaan monitahoisen juonen ja solmimaan lopussa kaikki langanpaat yhteen. Ei hanta suotta ole kehuttu. Hyva kirja, joka oli pakko lukea kertaistumalta loppuun. Toivottavasti jatko-osa on yhta hyva.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 14 10:04:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 14 10:10:44 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "12250255", "review_id": "0772850e53d22c72f6524709f3f930ed", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Harvoin tulee luettua vapaaehtoisesti niin huonoa kirjaa, ettei siita ole juuri mitaan hyvaa sanottavaa. Juoni on kokko ja ennalta-arvattava, henkilot suoria kopioita aiemmista kirjoista, maailma on taynna aukkoja ja kieli on tonkkoa ja taynna toistoa. Samoja asioita toistetaan moneen kertaan, eri henkiloiden nakokulmasta. Suomentaja on myos mokannut pahemman kerran kayttamalla sellaisia fantasiakiejaam sopimattomia sanoja kuin tavis ja ottari... Taitto on myos epaonnistunut, sivuilla on todella vahan tekstia ja marginaalit monta senttia. Tyhjia, uuden osan valisia sivuja on myos liikaa. En tieda miten edes jaksoin lukea loppuun koko kirjan, saa nahda, jaako sarjan viimeinen osa kirjaston hyllyyn odottamaan muita lukijoita.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 14 09:58:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 14 10:03:19 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "464164", "review_id": "e09c1f6e7abbffe70a1d24a7088d60c2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Kirja, joka on lojunut hyllyssa varmaan pari vuotta, mutta en ole lukenut kertaakaan, englanniksi siis. Nyt kun kirjoja on lukenut seka suomeksi etta englanniksi (ja yritin ensimmaista kerran ruotsiksikin), huomaa etta vaikka Kaparin suomennokset ovat todella hyvia, englanninkielisissa on oma viehatyksensa, tuntu siita, etta sanat ovat tismalleen samanlaisia kuin Rowling on ne kirjoittanut, ilman etta kukaan on niita kaantanyt. jos ymmartaa englantia hyvin, kannattaa kirjat lukea ehdottomasti alkukielella, patee tosin muihinkin kuin Pottereihin. Azkabanin vanki on aina ollut lempikirjani suomeksi ja se on sita englanniksikin, vaikkakin half-Blood Prince antaakin hyvan vastuksen. Kuitenkin, erinomainen kirja.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 27 09:54:03 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 20 10:23:22 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "12045460", "review_id": "6033a952440f742c77e0cd297136aed5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Taytyy kai ruveta pikkuhiljaa uskomaan, etteivat Pratchettin kirjat ole minua varten. periaatteessa kaikki palaset ovat kohdallaan, hyva huumori, fantasian parodisointi ja hauskat henkilohahmot. Lopputulos naurattaa paikka paikoin, mutta kokonaisuus jaa vaisuksi, varsinkin tassa kirjassa, vaikka noitakolmikko onkin ollut ehdottomasti paras osa Pratchettin kirjoissa.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 26 12:14:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 26 12:17:54 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "943082", "review_id": "0105fd1f18a9e8cf5081a10d566a4345", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Paras Potter ihan ehdottomasti ja piti hankkia myos suomennoksena, taydentamaan sarjaa. Itkin jalleen lopussa ja valilla tuntui etta koko kirja olisi ollut ihan uusi, en muistanut laheskaan kaikkea, varsinkaan yksityiskohtia. Yllatyksia ja uusia juonenkaanteita, paljon aiempia kirjoja selittavia kohtia. Pidin myos suomennoksesta, varsinkin Slughorn -> Kuhnusarvio -vaannoksesta. Hirnyrkkeihin tottuminen vei hiukan aikaa, mutta mielestani onnistunut kaannos, vaikkeivat kaikki Kaparin tyylista pidakaan. Loistava kirja, joka piti otteessaan ja sai haluamaan jatkoa. \n Puoliverinen prinssi alkaa menna jo Azkabanin vangin ohi suosikiksi. Kirja on haikea ja surullinen, mutta samaan aikaan taynna toivoa ja rakkautta. Kirja myos paljastaa aika paljon lopullisesta loppuratkaisusta, mutta jattaa kuitenkin jonkin verran yllatykseksi. Kirjan lukemisesta oli myos jo sen verran aikaa, etta yksityiskohdat olivat aika lailla unohtuneet, samoin osa ihan juonestakin. Pottereiden parhaimmistoa, ehdottomasti.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 26 11:02:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 30 03:00:47 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Mar 25 00:00:00 -0800 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "924046", "review_id": "72aa44b10b1bd086ae2628af72e0f25c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Kirja, joka keratti paljon huomiota ilmestyessaan. Kirja, jota on verrattu niin Harry Pottereihin kuin Salaiseen puutarhaankin. Kirja, joka on fantasiaa olematta fantasiaa. Hyva, joskin ennalta-arvattava kirja, vomppuelaimet ovat todella sympaattisia, samoin Murra-Yari. Loppuratkaisu on tosiaan arvattavissa melkein alusta asti ja paikoitellen kirja sortuu kliseisiin. Kuitenkin hyvin lamminhenkinen kirja ja taytyy myontaa, etta kyyneleet valuivat silmista viimeisilla sivuilla. Lukemisen arvoinen kirja.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 26 10:46:27 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 26 10:49:21 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Mar 19 00:00:00 -0800 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "47521", "review_id": "3cd53fe96b8e825399a5acca7ad6c945", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Yllatyksellinen kirja todellakin! Muistan, etta katselin kirjaa nuorempana kirjastossa, mutta en lainannut, koska kirjalla oli niin tyhma nimi. Samaa mielta olen edelleen, mutta sisalto on erinomainen! Howardin henkilollisyys oli taydellinen yllatys siihen asti kunnes Erskinen henkilollisyys paljastui, mika oli myos taydellinen yllatys. Kirja oli todella yllatyksia taynna! Howardin oleminen Venturuksena, Kyylan Erskinena, avaruusalukset, aikahyppaykset ja loppu, joka jai edelleen hieman arvoitukseksi. Kirjoittiko Quentin koko tarinan? Vaiko vaan lopun? Erittain hyva kirja, jota on vaikea selittaa ja joka vaatisi toisenkin lukukerran.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 26 10:41:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 26 10:45:13 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Mar 12 00:00:00 -0800 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "13503598", "review_id": "63e03954c3a965de9a27006bf0a3e73c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Olen pitanyt kaikista lukemistani Funken kirjoista ja niin pidin tastakin, vaikka loppuratkaisu oli arvattavissa jo takakannen tekstin perusteella. Kaikki tuntui myos kayvan hiukan liian helposti ja joko Funken kerronnassa tai suomennoksessa on pienta ontuvuutta, teksti ei tempaa mukaansa ihan niin hyvin kuin olisi mahdollista. Lopun lohikaarmeiden henkiinheratys-juttu oli myos ihan samanlainen kuin Nakijan tarun lopussa, tosin sellainen on myos helppo keksia itse, ei sita ole valttamatta suoraan kopioitu mistaan toisesta kirjasta. hyva kirja silti kokonaisuudessaan, vaikka pienia puutteita olikin.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 26 10:37:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 26 10:40:59 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "15767835", "review_id": "bac0e5be26a07f4ee5c45f8dba372a77", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Parodia on aina hankala laji, joskus se onnistuu, useimmiten ei. Tama on jotain silta valilta. Periaatteessa joitain hyvia ideoita, mutta toteutus tokkii pahasti. Toisaalta kirjoittaja tietaa sen itsekin ja heittaa siita herjaa jatkuvasti. Osittain pidin, osittain en, en osaa oikein sanoa itsekaan.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 14:32:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 14 03:32:42 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "9369471", "review_id": "3a11cc3cdbc06bb28323a11af57ecd50", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Kirja, jonka lukeminen on kestanyt luvattoman kauan. jostain syysta, vaikka Pratchettin kirjoista pidan, niiden lukeminen kestaa todella kauan. Tamakin on tosi hauska ja osoittaa aika syyttavalla sormella nykyista shoppailu- ja ostoskeskuskulttuuria. Kuolema on ihan ehdoton suosikkihahmo Pratchettin kirjoissa! Hauskaa ja kevytta, mutta viihdyttavaa ja mietityttavaakin lukemista.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 14:20:42 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 24 14:22:57 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "8640823", "review_id": "f38260defaf314da720c2b51da1ef6de", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ihan ok paatos Austraasia-trilogialle, muttataysin erilainen tyyliltaan kuin aiemmat kaksi. Tama oli paljon filosofisempi ja enemman nuorten kirja kuin aiemmat. Toisaalta mukaan mahtuu myos epauskottavuutta, mm. Tomin ja Timon isan juoppous ja siita yhtakkinen parantuminen. Kirja on myos paikoittain aika naiivi ja loppuratkaisu on liiankin helposti arvattavissa. Kirja piti otteessaan siita huolimatta. Ei mahtava, muttei valtavan huonokaan, varsinkaan suomalaiseksi nuorten fantasiaksi.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 14:17:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 24 14:20:05 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "62033", "review_id": "dab01839fe71c89116d31bd9b03c2f3d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ihan mahtava kirja! Kaikki Moersin kirjat ovat olleet loistavia ja Rumo ei peta odotuksia. Alku ei ole ihan niin mukaansatempaava, mutta noin sadan sivun jalkeen alkaa tapahtua niin paljon, ettei kirjaa malta jattaa kesken lainkaan. Kirjailijan kuvitustyyli on hillittoman hauska ja suomennos erinomainen. Kirjasta ei kertakaikkiaan loydy juuri moitittavaa, paitsi se, etta suomeksi kirja julkaistiin kahdessa osassa ja juoni jaa ikavasti kesken... \n Kommentit toiseen osaan: Paikoittain suorastaan raaka kirja ei ole aivan yhta hyva kuin ensimmainen osa, mutta viihdyttava silti. Moersin mielikuvitus on uskomaton ja hieman Rowlingmainen uusiosanojen kaytto paikoittain loistavaa. Myos kirjan viittaukset muihin kirjoihin ja samantyylisen juonen kayttaminen kuin Sinikarhussa on hauskaa huomata. harkitsen vakavasti gradun tekoa Moersin kirjoista. Erittain hyva kirja.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 13:31:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 26 12:12:35 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Nov 21 00:00:00 -0800 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "12250208", "review_id": "08794a19c707906581f21c0e92b5e900", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Hohhoh. Jo edellinen (ensimmainen) osa oli huono, mita talta voi odottaa? Kirjan huonouden takia teki mieli jattaa kirja kesken jo alussa, mutta sinnittelin loppuun. Heti alussa oli keksitty hataiset ratkaisut edellisen kirjan jattamiin aukkoihin, eika niihin myohemmin juuri palattu. Syyta olisi kylla ollut... puolet kirjasta on pelkkaa toistoa ja kuvausta eri henkiloiden kautta edellisen osan ja kirjan alun tapahtumia, aina kyllastymiseen asti. Suuri osa henkiloista on kopioita Eddingsien muista kirjoista, tassakin esiintyy velhotar nimelta Ara, joka on taysin samanlainen kuin Polgara, nimea myoten... kirjassa ei edes oikeastaan tapahdu mitaan ja juoni on lukijan aliarvioimista. Aukkoja on edelleen ja kirja ei ansaitsisi fantasiakirjan genreen kuulumista. Miksi sitten jatkan Eddingsin lukemista? Eddings on ensimmainen fantasiakirjailija jota luin ja ihan tottumuksesta tulee luettua. Tamankin aikana valmistui lahes metri kaulaliinaa, siina sivussa.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 10:52:08 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 24 10:58:09 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "934567", "review_id": "502ef65fb396c5aa76eedf8c3c3fa194", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ihan ok kirja, jonka lukemiseen meni jostain syysta melkein kuukausi. Ehka siita johtuen kirja vaikutti hajanaiselta ja sekavaltakin, eika ollut laheskaan muiden lukemieni pratchettien veroinen. Ihan luettava kuitenkin.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 10:17:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 24 10:18:34 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "93124", "review_id": "98cfa2de93e691f84d4c699a49545754", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Uusin Potter, jonka luin reilussa paivassa. Erittain hyva, ellei jopa paras tahan mennessa. Puoleen valiin asti ei kovinkaan yllattava, mutta varsinkin viimeiset sata sivua olivat mahtavia. Itkin ja nauroin. Jonkin verran enemman oli ennalta-arvattavuutta kuin aiemmissa, mutta myos erittain yllattavia piirteita. Romantiikkaa oli enemman, ei Voldemortia suoraan ja paljon aiemmin selittamattomia asioita. Kaiken kaikkiaan loistavaa, mahtavaa. Tahtoo lisaa.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 09:43:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 30 02:59:04 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "944737", "review_id": "bce5b941059a9ff30372d6e65188f716", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Hillittoman hauska kirja, jonka viittaukset satuihin ja myos muuhun fantasiaan (TSH) ovat ainutlaatuisia. Pratchettilla on huumorin taito hallussaan, erittain hihityttavaa luettavaa.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 09:11:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 24 09:12:48 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "10591134", "review_id": "a7c0db145db95dbc9438a1d91fd17780", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Erittain hauskaa ja kevytta fantasiaa. jonkin verran kuluneita ideoita, mutta nekin oli esitetty uudella tavalla ja jonkin verran juoniaukkoja, mutta niin kai kaikessa fantasiassa. hyva ja mielenkiintoinen tarina ja pisteet siita, etta paahenkilo oli tavallinen, tylsahko mies vailla erityistaitoja. Hyva kirja.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 08:40:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 24 09:02:42 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "10428287", "review_id": "6607e314527732fa0bbc898120adc90d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Hullun hauska kirja. harmittaa, etta nain ensiksi naytelman ja vasta sitten luin kirjan, koska lukiessa naytelman tapahtumat pyorivat paassa ja kirja on kuitenkin paljon parempi kuin naytelma. Ehdottomasti luen lisaa Pratchettia.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 07:47:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 24 07:48:32 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "12224267", "review_id": "e389822e65c34f13efc72917f20e9a99", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Taattua Eddingsia, niin hyvassa kuin pahassakin. Luojan kiitos, epaonnistuneen Reginan laulun jalkeen on palattu siihen, mika osataan hyvin. Toistaiseksi eras ominaisuus, joka mm. Belgarionin tarussa on paaosassa, eli rakkaus ja romantiikka, on puuttunut. Hyva niin. Juoniaukkoja kylla loytyy, fantasiassa niita on tosin muutenkin paljon. Miten selitetaan esimerkiksi se, eta jumalat, joiden pitaisi olla kaikkivoipia, eivat pystykaan tekemaan jotakin tiettya asiaa. Tassa tallaisia aukkoja ei juurikaan seliteta ja se tuntuu lukijan aliarvioimiselta, samoin kuin se, etta jotkut asiat toistetaan lyhyen ajan sisalla jopa kolmeen kertaan. juoni on aika peruskamaa, eika sisalla kovin suuria yllatyksia. Jospa seuraavat osat parantaisivat tarinaa.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 07:19:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 24 07:23:19 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "113304", "review_id": "0bada59946441b990baf4517075c8487", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Funken toinen suomennettu kirja, Mustesydan osui kasiini ja se oli hyva. nyt tama ja tamakin oli ihan ok, mutta jotain jai puuttumaan, se viimeinen silaus. Nyt kaikki ratkesi hiukan liian helposti ja tarina sai onnellisen lopun. Juoni oli kylla hyva ja idea hauska.hyva kirja kuitenkin.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 04:56:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 24 04:58:27 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Apr 07 00:00:00 -0700 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "12642617", "review_id": "fcb2de27fb1bbb708cffd060029f1dd7", "rating": 2, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Aika normaali loppu trilogialle. Ei kirjana mikaan erikoinen ja viimeisessa osassa viela korostuu juonen aukot ja henkilohahmojen irrallisuus ja tietty samastumattomuus. Tessin kuolema kerrottiin jo takakannessa ja sita osasi siksi odottaa, vaikka se tapahtuikin vasta kirjan lopussa. Ja kaikki kaantyy aina parhain pain...", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 04:36:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 24 04:38:22 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Mar 20 00:00:00 -0800 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "12642528", "review_id": "dccca8d4d96de007517993288fa2fe58", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Jatkoa vuorileijonan varjo -trilogialle, jota edelleen luen opponointia varten. Ihan hyva kirja, mutta PALJON raivostuttavia piirteita. Naisten hedelmallisyys; yhdesta yosta tulee heti raskaaksi. Suurin osa ongelmista johtuu myos tulevista lapsista. kaiken helppous ja se, etta kukaan tarkeista henkiloista ei kuole. Onnellinen loppu ja ihmisten ikuinen hyvyys. Myos teoksen kieli on valilla liian suoraviivaista, asioita ei juurikaan pohjusteta tai seliteta. Liiankin helppoa fantasiaa.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 04:33:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 24 04:36:29 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Mar 19 00:00:00 -0800 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "1941443", "review_id": "671fabec7da6d1471c8e54d89853e319", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Proseminaarin opponointia varten luettu kirja, uusi tuttavus. Ensimmaisen osan perusteella leppoisaa fantasiaa, jossa on paljon nuortenkirjamaisia piirteita ja kevytta huumoria. Paikka paikoin mieleen tulee Eddingsin fantasia, molemmissa on yhteista myos se, etta kirjailijat ovat pariskunta. Aika ennalta-arvattava juoni, mutta ihan ok kirja silti.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 04:13:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 24 04:15:23 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "8960", "review_id": "c08c75f71d339d8e5ddf27c82d0bd08d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Jostain syysta vampyyrikirjat tehoavat. Erittain kiinnostava kirja ja hyvin kerrottu, aikuinenkin jaksaa lukea. Tassa sarjan osassa tapahtumia ei ollut aivan niin paljoa kuin kolmessa aiemmassa ja tassa juoni jaa selkeammin kesken. Pitaa kuitenkin otteessaan sen verran hyvin, etta seuraavatkin osat pitanee lukea, kunhan ne suomeksi ilmestyvat.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 03:58:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 24 04:10:18 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "8640815", "review_id": "2ae8b1a0d9f2e75aa238f73869f31629", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Jatkoa Kevaalla isa sai siivet -kirjalle, parempi kuin ensimmainen. Omituisten kielikuvien kaytto jatkuu, samoin mielikuvitus paasee valloilleen. Samalla kuitenkin perinteisten fantasiaelementtien kaytto lisaantyy. Pitaa lahtea salaa vaaralliselle matkalle vuorille hakemaan jotain tarpeellista, ehka eniten kaytetty juoni fantasiakirjallisuudessa ikina... Lopussa mukaan tulee myos paljon kaytetty uuden maailman Aatami ja Eeva -kaanne, kun Laurasta ja Tomista tulee Austraasian \"ensimmaiset ihmiset\". Kaiken kaikkiaan hyva kirja kuitenkin ja kotimaisuus on aina plussaa.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 03:45:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 24 03:48:39 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "3174495", "review_id": "55efd6cb9604a46f0b9c4de43a193a7e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "kirja, jonka luin keskustelufoorumin suosituksen perusteella, seilla suositeltiin kirjaa ja sanottiin sen olevan jopa hieman Pottermainen. Alku vaikutti hieman tylsalta, mutta kun alun yli paasi, kirjakin paasi vauhtiin. mielikuvituksekas, mutta silti tarpeeksi perinteinen. velhomaisia piirteita yhdistettyna perinteiseen seikkailuun ja hyva tulee. Ainoa, mika hieman hairitsi, oli se, etta asioista toisiin hypittiin hieman liian nopeasti ja selittelematta. Tuntui, ettei kaikilla tapahtumilla ollut selvaa yhteytta, mutta siita huolimatta erittain hyva kirja nuorten/lastenkirjaksi.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 23 08:37:42 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 23 08:40:43 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "114956", "review_id": "97ab4b411728cb641701bbc09847a328", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Jotenkin nopeasti kokoonhutaistu kirja, ennen seuraavaa varsinaista Artemis Fowlia. Kirjan varsinaista antia ovat kaksi tarinaa, jotka taydentavat edellisia tarinoita, mutta muut ovat kirjantaytetta. Ei mikaan erikoinen kirja, rahastuksen makua.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 23 07:03:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 23 07:05:06 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "11812518", "review_id": "fc899256d74afdc16351504e80660778", "rating": 5, "review_text": "kirja sotkee nerokkaasti perusfantasiaa, nykypaivaa ja mytologiaa. Alussa ihmettelee etta hah, mita ihmetta tama on, mutta kirja tempaisee tehokkaasti mukaansa ja valvottaa pitkalle yohon paastamatta otteestaan. Ei Gaimania suotta ole kehuttu, todella hyva ja mielikuvituksekkaasti kirjoitettu kirja.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 23 05:38:31 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 23 05:40:38 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "799073", "review_id": "a2c1b05a60ca787cc69f9422a3ec3204", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Tavallaan parempi kuin sarjan aloitusosa, mutta kliseita on edelleen aika paljon. Mollyn aidin arvasi jo melkein ensimmaisessa osassa, tassa se tuodaan viela korostetummin esille, onhan se suuri osa juonta. Juoni on muutenkin kohtuullisen ennalta-arvattava, mutta sisaltaa sen verran omaperaisyytta ja mielenkiintoisia poikkeamia, etta se jaksaa kylla kiinnostaa ja pysyy raikkaana. byngin tyylissa kirjoittaa on jotakin vetavaa, lahes hypnoottista (hah). Hyva kirja.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 18 13:37:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 18 13:40:32 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Dec 24 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "12338032", "review_id": "49a182fbf860d0d2a372afdb1d57fb84", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Nuortenfantasiaa, jota suositeltiin Trendi-lehdessa :D. En pettynyt. Mukaansatempaava kirja siita, mita tapahtuu, jos kirjan hahmot heraavatkin henkiin. joskus sita on itsekin miettinyt, etta jos kaikki kirjoissa tapahtuva tapahtuukin oikeasti ja henkilohahmot ovat todellisia... Tama kirja leikkii juuri kyseisella ajatuksella, vaikka ei aivan kaikkiin kysymyksiin vastaakaan. Juoni on myos hieman ennalta-arvattava, mutta sisaltaa silti yllatyksia. Hyva kirja, jota ei malttanut paastaa kadestaan ennen kuin oli pakko.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 03 13:13:30 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 03 13:16:21 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "15698447", "review_id": "f0ca9cb96749ae9f1e94432648df80ee", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Hyvaa jalkea. Ei aivan yhta hyva kuin Tehtava pohjoisessa, mutta paljon parempi kuin ensimmainen osa. Jalleen kerran tekniikkaa kaytetaan paljon ja osa siita menee vakisinkin yli hilseen. Artemis on kirjan alussa paljon inhimillisempi, mutta kayttaa jalleen kerran vakea hyvakseen. Juliet ottaa myos suuremman roolin, samoin Holly. Loppu kuitenkin on hieman omituinen ja paljon asioita jaa selvittamatta. Se on tietysti tarkoituskin, mutta on tarinassa selvasti aukkokin. Miten Artemis ei kertonut mesmerin vaikutuksen alaisena ollessaan suunnitelmastaan, vaikka sita suoraan kysyttiin? No, kenties kaikki selviaa seuraavassa kirjassa...", "date_added": "Tue Jul 03 12:46:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 03 12:49:58 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Nov 02 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "15698428", "review_id": "9ed3fd10df33cf030f5d44f5b6a95c46", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Huiman paljon parempi kuin ensimmainen Artemis. Artemis itse ei ole enaa yhta suuressa roolissa ja saa hitusen inhimillisyyttakin. Holly ja Foaly, seka yllattavasti Butler ovat keskeisissa rooleissa kirjassa ja varastavat huomion kokonaan, onnistuen siina. Myos maanalaisista tapahtumista kerrotaan enemman ja keijujen tekniikasta myos. Hyva kirja.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 03 12:43:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 03 12:45:19 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Nov 02 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "807968", "review_id": "da1354806be5e25cf9dd506ca917f9c2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Kirja, joka naytti hyllyssa mielenkiintoiselta ja olikin sita. Alkujuoni tuntui kovinkin tutulta ja kliseiselta, orpotytto, ei vanhempia, kamalat kasvattajat... juoni kuitenkin parantui, hypnoosin tuominen oli hyva idea ja Mollyn seikkailut New Yorkissa hauskoja. Loppu oli taas hieman kliseisempi ja kietoo hypnoosiin lahes kaikki henkilot. Hyva kirja.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 03 10:47:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 03 11:17:02 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Oct 10 00:00:00 -0700 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "8957", "review_id": "aca5feeab9b29e3a258a73def420e7ce", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Edelleenkin hyva sarja jatkuu, vaikka kolmas osa onkin ennalta-arvattavampi kuin aiemmat. Kirjoittajalla on hyva tyyli olla kaunistelematta mitaan, edes kammottavaa murhaa ei ole lainkaan siistitty. Se varmasti jakaa nuorempien lukijoiden mielipiteet, mutta hieman vanhempaan lukijaan ne tehoavat.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 03 10:10:38 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 03 10:12:49 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "8965", "review_id": "7b874293bd6b693a3c35a8a757326c0d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Jatkoa Friikkisirkus-kirjalle ja ainakin toistaiseksi pelko siita, etta sarjamaisuus huonontaisi kirjaa, on turha. juoni on edelleen omaperainen ja kerronta sulavaa, eika raakojakaan asioita peitella. Erittain hyvia jatko-osa ensimmaiselle, myoskin erittain hyvalle kirjalle.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 03 10:08:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 03 10:09:56 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "8962", "review_id": "0f37bb2f0107740298cbc69ead7dc2c8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Yllattavan hyva ja kiinnostava kirja, jonka ahmaisin kerralla loppuun. Kerronta etenee sulavasti ja henkilot ovat uskottavia epauskottavuudestaan huolimatta. Vaikka vampyyreja on kasitelty hurjan paljon kirjallisuudessa, jaksaa aihe kiinnostaa ja ainakin tama kirja kasittelee aihetta hieman tuoreemmalla tavalla. Hieman epailyttaa tosin se, jaksavatko kaikki sarjaan suunnitellut 13 osaa olla yhta kiinnostavia lankeamatta kaavamaisuuteen.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 18 12:21:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 18 12:23:51 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "15263634", "review_id": "ede5105639c61ef5143e5401b4327bb4", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Artemis Fowlia on sanottu Harry Potterin vastakohdaksi ja kirjojen olevan Potterien seuraajia. Artemis Fowl onkin taysin erilainen kuin Harry Potter, huonolla tavalla. Kirjan moraali on aika arvelluttava ja Artemiksessa ei ole mitaan samastumispintaa. Lukijan sympatiat ovatkin taysin haltioiden puolella, eika lopussa paljastuva Artemiksen inhimillisyys asiaa juuri pelasta. Kirja oli nopea lukea ja se olikin kirjan ainoita hyvia puolia. Toinen mielenkiintoinen asia kirjassa oli tekniikan kaytto seka Artemiksen etta HAL:in puolella. Kirja oli ihan ok, mutta samanlaisia mahtuu 20 tusinaan.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 14 10:59:28 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 14 11:02:29 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "10330527", "review_id": "f44f4ca85fabc8d8ab867220e6642412", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Oofirin kultaa on erikoinen kirja, kuten kaikki Leena Krohnin kirjat. Kirja vaatii lukijaltaan paljon, eika lukija siita huolimatta ymmarra kirjaa. Tama ei kuitenkaan lainkaan vahenna kirjan kiinnostavuutta, painvastoin. Krohnin kirjoja lukiessa joutuu pohtimaan syvallisiakin asioita ja juuri se tekee lukemisesta haastavaa. Oofirin kultaa on siina mielessa erilainen kuin Krohnin muut kirjat, koska se on jatkuvajuoninen. Vaikka Oofirin kultaa koostuu erilaisista pienemmista patkista, on taustalla kuitenkin juoni, tarina. ollaan Tabernaakkelissa ja siella asuu mm. kullanhuuhtojia, tuatara, Orpana, Lasitytto, Pontanus ja Aavejaytajaisia. Kirja on kiehtova ja paras luku oli ehdottomasti Yokirjeita. Kirjan juonesta on vaikeampi sanoa yhtaan mitaan, niin paljon viittauksia siina on muuhun kirjallisuuteen, varsinkin Raamattuun.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 14 10:51:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 14 10:57:37 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "6457701", "review_id": "2845e988b19d2a191b5e2f6627a201df", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Aivan ihana seikkailukertomus rohekista kaniineista, kekseliaasti kerrottu ja tarina on juuri sopivasti jannittava ja ihastuttava. Lumoaa niin lapset kuin aikuisetkin, luulisin. hellyttava kirja, jonka loppu saa lahes kyyneleet silmiin.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 14 09:00:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 14 09:01:43 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "1032913", "review_id": "f0a3bcaf536a17b02ef729d82915a40d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ei aivan yhta hyva kuin aiemmat Moersin kirjat, mutta ihan kiva lukemisto kuitenkin. Janna idea, ruveta jo kuolleen taiteilijan toiden kautta kirjoittamaan kirjaa ja ideoida tarina. Vaikutteita Moersin Zamonia-kirjoistakin oli, vaikka muuten kirja kasitteleekin enimmakseen fantasiamaailmaa filosofisella otteella. Ihan ok kirja.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 09:30:25 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 02 03:14:32 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Apr 22 00:00:00 -0700 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "62035", "review_id": "d627b5e47a34a9456acdf236b131a3b4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Erittain hauska kirja, ei tosin aivan veda vertoja Sinikarhulle. Huvittavinta on kirjailijan sekaantuminen kertomukseen. Ja kirjailijan piirrostyyli on kerrassaan hihityttava ja hauska. Hyva tarina, joka yhdistaa toden ja fiktion, sadun ja fantasian.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 09:27:44 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 13 09:29:35 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "7196472", "review_id": "234c6b753f4a96896625f5ee9dfcc42a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Liisa Ihmemaassa on tarina, jonka varmasti lahes jokainen on kuullut, nahnyt tai lukenut. Juonihan on taysin jarjeton, mutta silti niin ihana. Tama suomennos oli parempi kuin aiemmin lukemani ja runot, lorut ja laulut kerrassaan hienosti kaannetty. Luulen, etta kirja ei ole ollut maailman helpoin kaannettava.. Mutta, ihana kirja ja suosikkihahmoni ehdottomasti on irvikissa, tassa suomennoksessa Morokolli. Kissa, josta jaa vain irvistys jaljelle.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 08:41:01 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 13 08:44:23 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Mar 30 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "10193046", "review_id": "0ff58b911216a95294a653fb93b4d784", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ihan ok kirja, hyva lopullinen (?) paatos taruille, mutta jotakin kirjasta kuitenkin puuttuu tai siina on liikaa. Kirja ei anna samanlaista uppoutumisen tunnetta kuin varsinainen Belgarionin tai Mallorean taru. Ehka siksi, etta loppuratkaisun tietaa jo. Ja ne kirjoitusvirheet. Niita oli PALJON ja osa aika pahoja. Laskee arvosanaa moinen huolimattomuus.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 08:18:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 04 01:28:07 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Mar 26 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "8499581", "review_id": "e822ac7c908d0f1e45f5d1275a5a26ce", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ihana kirja :). Kirjaa lukiessa tulee mahdottoman hyva olo, lopussa hymyilee kuin Hangon keksi. Kirjailijan kehittama mielikuvitusmaailma on vertaansa vailla ja omituisille otuksille tai kasitteille ei voi olla nauramatta. Satua, seikkailua, mielikuvituksen ja todellisuuden yhdistamista parhaimmillaan.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 08:13:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 24 05:25:53 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Mar 22 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "943382", "review_id": "7edf946ea851d546d338f92a30008a19", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ei edelleenkaan Azkabanin vangin veroinen, mutta parempi kuin muistin. Englanninkielinen vie kylla voiton, mutta ei suomennoksessakaan ole varsinaisesti vikaa. Muutamia virheita ja omituisia suomennoksia toki, mutta muuten ok. Synkka kirja, joka vihdoin kertoo joitain vastauksia kauan askarruttaneisiin kysymyksiin. Lopullisesti kaikki taitaa tosin selvita vasta viimeisessa osassa. Hyva suoritus Rowlingilta. \n Ensimmaiset Potterit on tullut luettua moneen kertaan ja ne muistan lahes ulkoa, mutta tassa oli todella paljon yksityiskohtia, joita en aiemmin ollut huomannutkaan. En vielakaan pida kirjaa suosikkinani, sen verran paljon arsyttavia piirteita ja henkiloita kirjassa on, mutta viimeisten kirjojen pohjustajana kirjan tarina on paikallaan.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 08:02:08 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 16 03:10:36 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Mar 13 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "3310107", "review_id": "c82909d1906b9677ce2f01635e3f7e2d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ei ylla Azkabanin vangin tasolle, mutta hyva ja nautinnollinen kirja kuitenkin. Pituuttakin kirjalla on enemman kuin tarpeeksi ja yllattava loppu. Kirja on synkempi kuin edelliset, muttei liikaa. Sopivaan kohtaankin kirja jaa, lukija jaa malttamattomana odottamaan jatkoa. \n Alunperin tama kirja ei kuulunut suosikkeihini Pottereista, mutta kirja paranee jokaisella lukukerralla. Myoskin vihjeita loppuratkaisusta on siroteltu tahan kirjaan enemman kuin muihin tahan mennessa.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 07:59:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 17 19:22:59 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Mar 12 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "3310098", "review_id": "f1f8dc314d7842e94a49dcf685424931", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Kirja, joka on luettu aivan liian monta kertaa, jotta siihen voisi suhtautua neutraalisti. Kirja, jonka ensimmaisella lukukerralla ahmi muutamassa tunnissa, mutta joka on muuttunut kirjaksi, josta vahiten pidan sarjassa. Mutta ei sen ylikaan voi hypata, jos lukee kirjat jarjestyksessa. Eika mikaan Rowlingin kirjoittama ole ollut viela huonoa. \n Jalleen kerran tama oli hauska lukea ja etsia vinkkeja tulevaa varten ja niitahan loytyy! Tama ja kaksi viimeista kirjaa ovat todella tiiviissa yhteysessa toisiinsa, tiiviimmassa kuin osasin aavistaakaan. Hyvia kirjoja edelleen, edes ehka seitsemannella lukukerralla kirjaan ei vaan kyllasty.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 07:53:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 31 09:17:21 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Mar 08 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "10192990", "review_id": "41927b9e2975e4e3fd7c9d51802ad809", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Kirja ajasta ennen Belgarionin tarua, kirja Belgarath-velhosta. Ihan ok kirja, mielenkiintoista tietaa myos ajasta ennen Garionia, miten kaikki oikeastaan tapahtui. Joihinkin asioihin on tosin mielestani kiinnitetty liikaakin huomiota", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 07:51:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 19 00:50:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Mar 08 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "395946", "review_id": "017378206739fa96c4aeed208fb1976e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Loistava paatos loistavalle tuplatrilogialle. Vaikka loppuratkaisu oli odotettavissa, ei se kuitenkaan ollut ilmiselva. Narrin kuolema toi kyyneleet silmiin ja vaikka lopetus olikin saduista tuttu \"ja he elivat onnellisena elamansa loppuun asti\", oli se ainoa oikea. Toinen vaihtoehto olisi ollut Narrin ja Fitzin yhteensaattaminen, mutta ehka Molly oli kuitenkin se ainoa oikea. Todella hyva kirja.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 12 04:16:01 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 16 10:57:50 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jan 13 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "68488", "review_id": "dcaec85c8c1bfe781b8786c028230262", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Kirja, jonka lukemiseen meni monta kuukautta. Ei siksi, etta kirja olisi ollut huono, painvastoin, vaan siksi, etta englanniksi lukemiseen ei jaksanut aina keskittya. Mutta, ihan alyttoman hyva kirja. Ihan samaa tasoa kuin Nakijan taru, jolle tama on jatkoa. Kun Yonsilma kuoli, itkin silmat paastani ja muutenkin elaydyin tarinaan todella paljon. Siina mielessa englanniksi kirjoitetun kirjan lukeminen on nautinnollista, kun kirjaa ei voi ahmia samalla tavalla kuin suomeksi kirjoitettua. Yhtaan sanaa ei kannata jattaa valiin, koska koko lauseen merkitys saattaa muuttua. On siis luettava hitaasti ja nauttien ja toivottava, etta kirja kestaa mahdollisimman pitkaan.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 12 04:15:59 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 09 01:34:12 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "418506", "review_id": "4ff5ebf5e52ed4d4cb6dbe689195a204", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Alyttoman hyva kirja, kuten ensimmainen osakin, jonka lukemisesta tosin vierahti hiukan liian pitka aika. Hahmot ovat uskottavia kaikkine vikoineen ja varsinkin Fitz kaikessa itsepaisyydessaan ihana sankari. Narrin ja Fitzin valinen suhde on kasittamattoman vahva ja uskon siihen, etta viimeisessa kirjassa heidan valeistaan puhutaan viela lisaa. Onko Narri lopulta mies vai nainen, se on kiinnostavaa. Loistava trilogia.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 12 04:15:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 16 07:45:52 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Oct 16 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "6082615", "review_id": "a4d51a40fd471093a4bfef9ed9bb6179", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Edelleen hyva sarja, paatososa jonka lukemiseen meni yllattavan kauan opiskelukiireiden sun muiden takia. Erittain hyva lopetus, joka kaansi paalaelleen jalleen lisaa fantasiakirjallisuuden kliseita, mm. etsintaretken joka tapahtuukin vasta lopussa. Vaikka loppu kaantyykin hiukan ennalta-arvattavaksi ja menee hiukan yli (jos fantasiassa nyt niin voi kayda), niin kirja sailyttaa taikansa ja pitaa otteessaan alusta loppuun asti. Kokonaisuutena erittain hyva fantasiatrilogia, yksi parhaista joita tahan mennessa olen lukenut.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 12 04:15:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 24 14:04:57 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Dec 23 00:00:00 -0800 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "6041678", "review_id": "60610ac3b175c555ccc0c623c708dfe2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Vaikka takakansi ei kerrokaan kirjasta kovin totuudenmukaisesti, kirja on erittain hyva. Aloitettuaan ei kirjaa malta laskea kasistaan, jollei ole aivan pakko. Kirja onnistuu myos valttamaan fantasiakirjallisuuden pahimmat kliseet ja olemaan omaperainen. Erittain hyva kirja, joka pakottaa tarttumaan seuraavaankin osaan.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 12 04:15:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 24 13:56:11 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "10653805", "review_id": "0dcdaef3d57d0131c9e30549c4df5884", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Viimeinen Mallorean tarun osa ja tavallaan myos paras, vaikkakin tapahtumat ovat hiukan uskomattomia (daah, fantasiaahan tama onkin)... Onnellinen loppu tottakai kruunaa tapahtumat ja maailmankaikkeus palaa radalleen. Ihan hyva ja viihdyttava kirja.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 11 11:01:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 11 11:03:47 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "10653872", "review_id": "fb6b7cb458a62884d722fe4429314605", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Paras Mallorean tarun osista tahan mennessa. Paljon asioita selviaa, mutta osa jaa edelleen hamaran peittoon. Parhaiten sailytetty tunnelma ja juoni etenee juuri sopivalla nopeudella.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 11 10:48:13 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 11 10:49:33 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "10653904", "review_id": "bdecb0adbe28be520de2f4ef7997e4a6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ei niin vakuuttava kirja, liian paljon puhetta erittain epaoleellisista asioista ja viela enemman kirjoitusvirheita, olipa yhdessa kohdassa jaanyt englanninkielinen nimikin kaantamatta. Virheet hairitsevat lukukokemusta jokaisen kirjan kohdalla, olipa kirja kuinka hyva tahansa.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 09:29:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 10 09:30:55 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "10532012", "review_id": "f09e9d2ad366e6bd80134c7be50f39cc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Tassa osassa alkaa tapahtua enemman, eika tekstikaan ole niin tonkkoa kuin edellisessa osassa. Mutta ei siltikaan ylla aivan Belgarionin tarun tasolle.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 09:23:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 10 09:24:38 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Dec 14 00:00:00 -0800 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "10408646", "review_id": "1cb0ba535d896f52691fcb9ae094ea40", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Mallorean tarun ensimmainen osa ei aivan veda vertoja Belgarionin tarulle, mutta on erittain mukaansatempaava ja taitavasti kerrottu siita huolimatta. Ensimmainen osa on tietenkin pohjustusta tulevalle ja jatkoa jaa odottamaan.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 09:22:05 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 10 09:23:17 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "10031164", "review_id": "1034da6c50e0e02ba13b72c28552f470", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Eddingsien olisi pitanyt pysya fantasiassa, murhamysteeri ei toimi lainkaan. kieli on omituista (voi olla myos suomentajan syyta) ja toksahtelevaa, epaolennaisia asioita kerrotaan ja juoni on todella ennalta-arvattava. Loppua kohden kirja paranee, mutta jaa silti kovin koyhaksi. kirja ei kerro mitaan, mita ei olisi aiemmin kerrottu.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 08:40:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 10 08:42:38 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "13612457", "review_id": "73644cdf6e0bb70959efd1211e42b654", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Viimeinen osa Kaarmesodan taruun. Jokaisen kirjan olen lukenut lahes heti kirjan ilmestyttya, joten edellisen kirjan tapahtumat ehtivat unohtua jo ja seuraavan kirjan lukeminen on hankalaa. Kirjassa ei ole myoskaan kaytetty juurikaan omia ideoita, vaan matkittu muita fantasiakirjoja. Lukuisat kirjoitusvirheet tekevat lukemisesta hankalaa, kun sama nimi on kirjoitettu kolmella eri tavalla.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 08:12:38 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 10 08:15:13 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "10321109", "review_id": "169f4cd28d5536085a41dc71b2bef19d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Vaikka tassa osassa kaikki lopulta selviaa (tai lahes kaikki), on kolmas osa kuitenkin selkeasti paras. Tassa kirjassa kirjoitusvirheet hairitsivat paljon, mutta se ei tietenkaan ole kirjailijan vika.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 07:51:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 10 07:52:59 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Oct 10 00:00:00 -0700 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "10275973", "review_id": "b24306d9360d82eff8ad9bef1a83c968", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Rivan kuningatar ei ylla aivan edellisen osan tasolle, mutta tassa osassa Garion saa vihdoin tietaa, mita joutuu tekemaan. Muu teksti on hyvin Eddingsmaista.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 07:50:05 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 10 07:51:13 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "10052144", "review_id": "61dcfe653dd23d6c98c6e7970175c315", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Paras osa tahan mennessa. Tarina siis vain paranee loppua kohden :). Garionille selviaa vasta nyt, mita velhous lopultakin on ja lakkaa taistelemasta kohtaloaan vastaan. Eddingsin huumori on mahtavaa, monin kohdin hihittelee aivan estottomasti.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 07:46:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 10 07:49:20 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Oct 06 00:00:00 -0700 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "9967370", "review_id": "71993ac266226834701d83c99b5ab54f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ennustusten aika on siis samaa jatkoa kiven vartijalle ja kertoo lisaa varastetun kiven metsastamisesta. Parempi osa kuin edellinen, koska tassa alkaa todella vasta tapahtua ja monet asiat selviavat. Kirja jaa kuitenkin kesken ja onkin lahes pakko tarttua heti seuraavaan osaan...", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 07:42:26 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 10 07:44:23 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "9831935", "review_id": "f6d2592ef5837e8f9d3a168e86f7e247", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Paluu Eddingsiin. Aikanaan ensimmainen fantasiakirja jonka luin ja paatin lukea monen vuoden tauon jalkeen uudestaan. Monet ovat eddingsia vastaan ja sanovat hanen \"lainanneen\" kaiken muilta kirjailijoilta, mutta taytyy tunnustaa, etta pidin kirjasta esnimmaisella lukukerralla ja pidan siita edelleen. Huumori on hyvaa ja juoni etenee sopivan salaperaisesti.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 06:51:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 10 06:53:47 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "6224849", "review_id": "8fba68e66479f97c58bb8e0c1948c9f9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Kirja oli hyva ja tietysti selitti kaiken edellisten kirjojen tapahtumista, mutta ei yltanyt aivan ensimmasien osan tasolle. Joitakin avoimia kysymyksia jai edelleen. Kokonaisuutena kuitenkin hyva sarja.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 05:13:50 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 10 05:16:30 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jul 03 00:00:00 -0700 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "110933", "review_id": "c3db1ceae7369119c14c774162b8e302", "rating": 5, "review_text": "En malttanut odottaa suomennosta ja englanniksi lukeminen kannatti. Loistava kirja, hienoa kielta ja mika mahtava mielikuvitus kirjailijalla. Selitti paljon edellisia kirjoja, mutta jatti paljon odotettavaakin. Ei tosin aivan ylla Azkabanin vangin tasolle...", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 04:41:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 10 05:11:53 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "823502", "review_id": "03057b67567319cbf63078440d0c22e7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Murrosiassa Noitavaellus oli suosikkikirjani ja oli mukava huomata, etta monen vuoden jalkeenkin kirja oli edelleen hyva. Omaperainen juoni ja hyvaa tekstia.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 04:39:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 10 05:12:33 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "6224843", "review_id": "e0e92725fa4c306d8967f564d314c150", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Lastenkirjojen osastolta, mutta silti monitasoinen ja oivaltava kirja. Omaperaisyytta loytyy, fantasian ei aina tarvitse olla samalla kaavalla kirjoitettua.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 04:25:31 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 16 05:52:16 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "818056", "review_id": "0cee089c65e770a911c56dad1ac51b54", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Pitihan tamakin hankkia heti ilmestymispaivana ja lukea sunnuntai-maanantai -valisena yona aamuun asti... kirja oli seka hyva etta huono, pettymys ja toisaalta ihan mahtava. Juoni oli loppujen lopuksi aika ennalta-arvattava ja varsinkin alkupuoli kirjasta oli aika tylsa paakolmikon seikkaillessa metsassa... Tylypahkaa olisin kaivannut enemman. Lopputaistelu meni aika lailla niin kuin odotinkin ja kirjan epilogi oli raivostuttavan kliseinen ja sen olisi voinut vallan hyvin jattaa pois. Toisaalta, kirja oli sarjan viimeinen ja yksikaan Potter-kirja ei ole ollut huono tai suuri pettymys. Ehka talle oli liian suuret odotukset. Azkabanin vanki tulee varmasti pysymaan suosikkina Pottereista, mutta kylla koko sarja on aika loistava kokonaisuus.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 03:15:44 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 02:31:43 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "3310088", "review_id": "cb7a6853679f6b7e5e529cb745565ce7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Paras tahan mennessa, ehdottomasti. Paljon mahtavia, uusia hahmoja (Koukkujalka, Sirius, Lupin) ja loistava juoni. Loppu yllatyksellinen ja eraassa kohdassa tuo kyyneleet silmiin. Mahtavaa. \n Edelleen tama on ehdottomasti lempipotterini, kirja jossa Voldemort on kerrankin taka-alalla. Tama on ehka myos se rajanvetajakirja lastenkirjojen ja synkkenevan tarinan valilla, tama on molempia. Hyva kirja.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 03:15:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 17 03:32:15 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Mar 10 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "3310083", "review_id": "f8692be506e0f437ff1f65611839ab08", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Ensimmainen ja useimmin luettu Potter, joka jaksaa kiinnostaa kerta kerran jalkeen aina uudestaan. Ja jostain syysta, vaikka kirjan tapahtumat tietaa, ei kirjaa voi jattaa kesken. Ei aivan myohempien kirjojen veroinen, mutta se on ymmarrettavaa, koska kirjojen henkilot ja koko sarjan idea pitaakin selittaa ensimmaisessa osassa. \n Ties monennenko kerran ajattelin lukea Potterit uudestaan, mutta toisaalta gradun kannalta jarkevaakin lukea, jotta huomaa, onko mitaan jaanyt huomaamatta. Jannasti sita joka lukukerralla loytyy jotain uutta, nytkin kirjasta huomasi melko paljon vinkkeja loppuratkaisua ajatellen. Toisaalta kirjan lastenkirjamaisuus paistaa hyvin lapi, viimeisimmat kirjat ovat aivan eri maailmasta. Loppuratkaisua kohti mentaessa arsytti kaikkein eniten viisasten kiven suojaksi rakennettu esterata. Kivi suorastaan huusi paastakseen pois, suojaukset olisivat voineet olla jossain muussa muodossa kuin sarjana erilaisia esteita, jotka on helppo murtaa. Muuten ok.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 03:15:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu May 21 12:23:38 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "10591073", "review_id": "6e303a787fc9e06772afad639014561b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Hyva kirja, jossa on piirteita Liisa Ihmemaassa -kirjoista ja yleisesti rinnakkaismaailmoista kertovista fantasiakirjoista. Mitaan uutta ja mullistavaa kirjassa ei kuitenkaan tapahdu, siis mitaan sellaista mita ei olisi jo aiemmin kerrottu. Lisaksi lieveteksti pilaa natisti loppuratkaisun, mutta tasta huolimatta hyvin kirjoitettu kirja.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 03:15:03 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 18 12:20:10 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "6050817", "review_id": "67fb721200ba3891e52b56ae49e759f1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ihan mahtava kirja! Juoni onnistuu edelleenkin olemaan erikoinen ja silti karttamaan suurimmat kliseet. Paahenkilo ei ole liian taydellinen ja minamuotoinen kerronta sopii kirjaan erinomaisesti. Loppu yllattaa taydellisesti, vaikka vihjeita siihen suuntaan annetaankin aika paljon. Vaikka sain kirjan loppuun keskella yota, oli pakko hakea hyllysta seuraava osa (jonka olin fiksusti lainannut kirjastosta etukateen) ja aloittaa se samantien... Ei tata sarjaa turhaan ole kehuttu!", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 03:14:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 24 14:01:03 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd6522e9018f2f77332ec74f928f8c45", "book_id": "6588355", "review_id": "d8ccbf23fa67cb55d962ecc0047987e8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Parhaita fantasiakirjoja, mita olen lukenut! Samaa tarinaa kerrotaan parinkymmenen kertojan nakokulmasta ja sen takia tarinassa ei ole mitaan absoluuttista hyvaa tai pahaa, on vain tyhmia ja fiksuja hahmoja. Kirja tempaa mukaansa uskomattomalla tavalla, eika sita meinaa malttaa jattaa kesken. On myos ihana tietaa, etta tama herkku ei lopu kovinkaan pian, nelja osaa on ilmestynyt, kolme ilmestymatta. Juoni on aika monimutkainen kaikkine vivahteineen ja henkiloita (myos samannimisia) on niin paljon, etta vaatii tarkkaavaisuutta pysya karryilla, mutta se todellakin kannattaa. Uskomattoman hyva kirja.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 03:14:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 11:34:42 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jan 07 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e4945a6266566e39e3f251fff0fdde1", "book_id": "13573396", "review_id": "d6f06afe5539d88a95b7a315a8ebe606", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was a great collection of stories by Joanne Harris. I enjoy her style of writing and there was plenty of variety in this collection, a couple of stories set in an old folks home, a ghost story some science fiction story and lots more. Well worth a read.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 15 06:08:06 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 17 08:00:04 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Dec 17 08:00:04 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e4945a6266566e39e3f251fff0fdde1", "book_id": "11250053", "review_id": "d48e86d03389f3f3d046b0423ca527f4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book set in wilds of Alaska in the 1920s. A middle aged couple Jack and Mabel have staked everything on a fresh start in a remote home in the freezing wilderness of Alaska. Mabel is haunted by the death of a baby she lost yrs before. Then a little girl appears mysteripusly on their land ,aech is filled with wonder , but also foerboding who is she, where has she come from, a creepy tale but its also a love story well worth the read found it hard to put down.great for a debut novel.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 09:01:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 03 09:37:12 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Apr 03 09:37:12 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e09e38e178edf7b524913c729854741", "book_id": "34657564", "review_id": "9779f3c53cb53f88ed328003fd346d48", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A fun little read. Evenly paced. \n Enjoyable story.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 07 07:41:01 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 07 07:47:38 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Mar 20 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e09e38e178edf7b524913c729854741", "book_id": "12438410", "review_id": "45199d42da60603a61c17bef62cde1d1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I laughed, I cried, I nearly wet my pants in a few spots. P.J. Jones has a gift for humor, a rare talent! I read bits out loud to my teen daughters and they laughed along with me.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 09 10:18:03 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 09 10:22:03 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Mar 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e09e38e178edf7b524913c729854741", "book_id": "27073981", "review_id": "2d184c9b65116cf51d0a0cb8904ce2f9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Jolanthe weaves a magical tale that enchants you from the very beginning. It's as if the Fae magic spilled onto the pages, enchanting you, drawing you deeper into this magical world. Definitely worth the read! Well done!", "date_added": "Thu Dec 10 15:21:48 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 10 15:25:31 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e09e38e178edf7b524913c729854741", "book_id": "15776615", "review_id": "5c932b4ac450bfa81d9ab9b506a5200d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What a fantastical tale! RAndy has a true storytellers heart, weaving a tapestry of adventure.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 10 11:22:42 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 10 11:23:54 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e09e38e178edf7b524913c729854741", "book_id": "17800143", "review_id": "d1fe1da05cdf3960d25ed8180acad1b3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "From the beginning this was an exciting read. Ms. DeOrto has that ability to keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what's next. A compelling tale, interesting characters, and a fantastic setting. Definitely a page turner.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 08 08:17:05 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 20 10:02:18 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e09e38e178edf7b524913c729854741", "book_id": "12444166", "review_id": "7ead604202fda8b45f9623cd646253ec", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I like the development of Ryodan's character. From reading Ms. Moning's previous books I have a few ideas where things are going. Now comes the hard part, waiting for the next one to see if my theories are accurate.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 21 10:38:24 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 21 10:42:54 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e09e38e178edf7b524913c729854741", "book_id": "6484914", "review_id": "2378541222e71534603456238f604d2a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A nice deviation from Katie McAlister's typical fare. I missed her usual randy humor in this one and it seemed a lot more analytical.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 21 09:48:58 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 21 09:50:57 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e09e38e178edf7b524913c729854741", "book_id": "2712967", "review_id": "7460c3ded6a1df943bf970ed7c5b71e0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Reyes and Danika - what a ride! Nonstop action, sizzling love scenes, and a fascinating premise. I will be reading more of Ms. Showalter.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 01 09:01:04 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 01 09:03:26 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e09e38e178edf7b524913c729854741", "book_id": "50748", "review_id": "54e3e33e4ad60399f9bc484da14030a4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Portia's physicist brain is set on sizzle when theo drops into her life. Filled with Katie's typical witty humor and a frenzied action packed frolic - fasten your seat belts. this is at the pace of her dragon series. Wow, waht a ride! This is wickedly hot!", "date_added": "Fri Mar 01 08:46:49 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 01 08:49:42 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e09e38e178edf7b524913c729854741", "book_id": "50756", "review_id": "92a55cb0465bb62dad99e184d25c8117", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Sharp, witty; Paen and Samantha's story is a fabhuously fun romp! Always a pelasure reading Katie's books!", "date_added": "Fri Mar 01 08:41:09 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 01 08:46:23 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e09e38e178edf7b524913c729854741", "book_id": "15845097", "review_id": "f3094dcf85848d302543eeefaea21c16", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fun interesting, and helpful in the game!", "date_added": "Fri Mar 01 08:08:14 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 20 11:24:58 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e09e38e178edf7b524913c729854741", "book_id": "6275416", "review_id": "64882cd4e1a1aebdd7ecb368263556cd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "At first I thought this was going to be a cheesy, lame story. Boy was I surprised! Ms. Joyce throws the reader into the fray from the beginning and doesn't let up until the very end. No formulaic writing here!", "date_added": "Wed Oct 03 11:30:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 05 06:12:35 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e09e38e178edf7b524913c729854741", "book_id": "9657219", "review_id": "382931ab8d8316dea4948652792f475b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Charming humorous and entertaining! Once I actually got to sit down and read this, it was a delight.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 03 11:27:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 22 06:47:08 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e09e38e178edf7b524913c729854741", "book_id": "6052600", "review_id": "db726179e06b07d6d95fa27796a5e171", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The excitement continues! Love her crazy world!", "date_added": "Wed Oct 03 11:25:25 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 03 11:26:02 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e09e38e178edf7b524913c729854741", "book_id": "3119223", "review_id": "3509402c4a1e6fcfbb074c557d881e48", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What a fun, exhilerating ride! The excitement keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time. I love a book that makes me laugh!", "date_added": "Wed Oct 03 11:24:27 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 05 07:51:58 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e09e38e178edf7b524913c729854741", "book_id": "10630620", "review_id": "32380b0e89574da76b444a46c7ec24ec", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The graphics are excellent, but I felt cheated on this one. Not one of her best, but still worth the read.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 03 11:16:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 03 11:17:35 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e09e38e178edf7b524913c729854741", "book_id": "112752", "review_id": "be27df0d2b206f0df2ce4b9b005972b6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ms MOning hit it out of the ballpark with this one! Her highland Alphas are unforgettable. PUtting this one on my keeper shelf.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 03 11:15:44 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 10 11:44:42 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e09e38e178edf7b524913c729854741", "book_id": "112755", "review_id": "68922641806f6c14c2dbc6256f9435c4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The only challenger for best alpha male to compete with Dageus McKeltar would be Jericho Barrons. Wow! What a wild ride this one is! Have a fan close by or at least ice.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 03 11:14:28 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 03 11:15:30 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e09e38e178edf7b524913c729854741", "book_id": "112754", "review_id": "c5389ce5ed316fae1c461bc7ded3add3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Steamy, Ms. MOning delivers the one-two punch with her alpha males. A great read!", "date_added": "Wed Oct 03 11:13:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 03 11:14:02 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e09e38e178edf7b524913c729854741", "book_id": "84150", "review_id": "f583bef470e27e29a7abd2f272fd0edf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "As usal Sherrilyn Kenyon does not disappoint! Love the Dark- Hunter series. My only complaint is that I've already finished it and have to look for more new books.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 15 09:00:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 09:02:19 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e09e38e178edf7b524913c729854741", "book_id": "100915", "review_id": "56c828a403ee9abde4c8402bd12e4792", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is probably my third time reading the Chronicles of Narnia series. A charming tale, that keeps me interested even in the reread. I would reccomend reading the entire series.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 06:42:51 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 03 10:04:26 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e09e38e178edf7b524913c729854741", "book_id": "50750", "review_id": "dc7631ed827ce2c3a7f757b36f9c0b26", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Katie never fails to leave me laughing and wanting more!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 06:23:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 05 06:23:59 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e09e38e178edf7b524913c729854741", "book_id": "187811", "review_id": "e630205c676299a4924d52e3670d7dee", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I like Meg CAbot's style, however it took me a long time to get into this book. The beginning really didn't grab my attention, so I set it down and forgot it. Once I got past the 3rd chapter, it was a good story.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 06:22:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 20 09:59:41 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e09e38e178edf7b524913c729854741", "book_id": "42899", "review_id": "853f59e9c741f16b656199bd776296b7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Enthralling. J.R. Ward kept my interest from page one to the end. There was never a dull time that dragged. Finished this in record time, and wanted more!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 06:14:30 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 03 10:10:49 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "10a430e80022dfe3ff0967870bc0c609", "book_id": "18012462", "review_id": "6475f5dec5857ef2baa589c07a2db7f6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have one thing to say about Love Remains by Zrinka Jelic. WOW! What a fantastic read. I'm not even sure how to give a review because I don't want a spoil all the plots and twist that this story contains. What I can share is that this is one of those books I read straight through. \n Zrinka Jelic's wonderful hero and heroine, Olivia and Tom, were a delight to get to know. Olivia isn't a very lovable heroine in the beginning. Please give her a chance. She changes into a remarkable woman and I loved rooting for her very unusual happy-ever-after with Tom. \n From the moment I met Tom, he just sizzled off the page--totally hot, hunky-all male lawyer and dad. I just loved his character. When Olivia first meets Tom, I couldn't help asking how could she forget someone like him? No spoiler alerts from me. Zrinka Jelic does a great job explaining Olivia's behavior and it adds such great conflict to the story. \n I found Love Return's supernatural element very unique and refreshing. My one complaint is I would have loved to have a little more interaction between Olivia and her sister. Their relationship was essential to the story. If the sisters' relationship was strong on the page, then it would have made the supernatural element that much stronger. \n Overall, this is a wonderful story and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I highly recommend Love Returns by Zrinka Jelic.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 20 10:46:35 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 02 12:30:03 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "10a430e80022dfe3ff0967870bc0c609", "book_id": "17790093", "review_id": "e803c323187ba9f8a4645862c4a05202", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I absolutely adored The Jade Dragon by Rowena May O'Sullivan. In fact, I loved it so much, I downloaded her first book in the series, A Sliver Rose. I think it is pure magic when an author can draw me so deeply into the story and characters, I just can't let go when the story comes to an end. \n This story is unique and it's very well written. I instantly fell in love with the heroine, Alanna. What a mess she had on her hands. But she wasn't alone in her troubles. The relationship between Alanna and her two sisters is a joy to read. Like all families, they were not perfect, but they support each other--love each other. \n What completely sold me on this book was the developing relationship and the chemistry between Alanna and Gregori. From the moment Gregori broke free, it was a real joy watching Alanna and Gregori find their way toward each other. One moment, Ms O'Sullivan had me laughing my head off while the next moment I was sitting on the edge of my seat. \n While The Jade Dragon is the second book in Ms. O'Sullivan's series, I had no trouble understanding the very imaginative world Ms. O'Sullivan created. The Jade Dragon is a stand-alone novel. I gladly recommend this marvelous story to anyone who is looking for an exciting romance filled with an incredible new world where witches and warlocks are real and love really does conquer all. I can't wait to see how this series ends with Beth's story.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 08 08:58:18 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 08 09:00:02 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "56f9b4008a7cb624440160570b8380d6", "book_id": "301082", "review_id": "d59f897289ab1cd87207c3c163df8e12", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed Dead Until Dark and look forward to reading the sequels.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 20 18:21:20 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 05 16:42:17 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Nov 20 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "56f9b4008a7cb624440160570b8380d6", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "1ca9e5c5b791b17a6d782b0c0bb1fb82", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I very much enjoyed \"City of Bones\" and will without doubt read the sequels. I loved the surprises in the story.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 06 18:56:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 15 19:18:53 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Oct 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Oct 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "56f9b4008a7cb624440160570b8380d6", "book_id": "8667848", "review_id": "ef07aeff928174dc753ced696a305a8b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book!!! It had been such a long time since I read a book that I didn't just think was \"ok\" but \"amazing\"; this was it. This book has love, magic, mystery, and even history. It was easy to get attached to the characters and fall in love along with Mathew and Diana. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy and a good love story..", "date_added": "Sat May 04 13:46:10 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 24 10:03:35 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "56f9b4008a7cb624440160570b8380d6", "book_id": "11559200", "review_id": "88177eb6510c5e811bcfa115f01cf32f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I loved A Discovery of Witches and was very much looking forward to its sequel. While I still enjoyed the read and miss the characters now that I am finished, I am a bit disappointed. Certain parts of the book are confusing and assumes one is familiar with Elizabethan history. Also, the book reads slow; I found myself constantly picking up momentum just to feel bored and disinterested for several chapters after. Over all, I feel the book leaves a lot to be desired; the first novel was definitely more enjoyable. It is worth reading though, if you love the characters and wish to follow the story of the lost manuscript. I am looking forward to the third installment.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 15 15:21:55 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 21 15:14:36 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jul 21 15:14:36 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6e3fbaf57959cb9900714c249bce173f", "book_id": "6339664", "review_id": "2d7923a5bde99572b8f0c1a75b9e061f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.5 \n review later \n meh \n meh \n patch is hawt~~ \n since i started this book i have to finish the series \n thanks a lot to the person who forced me to read this \n but i love you still \n anyways", "date_added": "Mon Aug 27 05:36:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 10 08:16:01 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Sep 10 08:16:01 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Sep 07 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "617ccec66dac2d1029600ed3d706e8ed", "book_id": "28374007", "review_id": "3e59639a9972d1999274070b87152af8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "DNF I really love to read books, but I really don't like it when an author introduces a lot of people. I really couldn't get into the book, and figure out what people were doing.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 04 13:13:16 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 18 18:42:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "617ccec66dac2d1029600ed3d706e8ed", "book_id": "25502639", "review_id": "2d65b7913d763eee88853fa425623d68", "rating": 3, "review_text": "In all honest I only got to 60 pages, and this book really couldn't keep my attention.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 22 11:41:45 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 19 18:10:31 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Mar 19 18:09:26 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Mar 18 19:09:32 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "617ccec66dac2d1029600ed3d706e8ed", "book_id": "13206900", "review_id": "8ef9b634ca43e455500755cb7cacf96f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed the Lunar Chronicles, and Winter was a very good ending. Winter was really enjoyable character, as all were the other characters. I really love the way Marissa Meyer writes, and how she molds her chracters and what they are working towards the end of the book.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 11 12:50:03 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 31 19:26:15 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Dec 24 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "617ccec66dac2d1029600ed3d706e8ed", "book_id": "24885636", "review_id": "c9ed630c38cfa124685faeec5c0db3cd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book, and it's true what it says on the cover of the book every power has a price. Every power that the characters have has a price, because they do want to do good, but at the same time it can backfire. I know this has been oversaid but with great power comes great responsibility.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 15 06:08:50 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 26 18:43:41 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Oct 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "617ccec66dac2d1029600ed3d706e8ed", "book_id": "23677316", "review_id": "ddd0df19fb2f22f5ee8ca83cd555527a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I wanted to like this, but with 100 pages in I just really couldn't get into it.", "date_added": "Sat May 16 08:19:07 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 12 19:22:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "617ccec66dac2d1029600ed3d706e8ed", "book_id": "3432478", "review_id": "e6ac7672411e19f1182d5586559c6ccd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Overall I thought the book was alright a world that went through the zombie apocalypse and a group of people trying to survive it. The main character Mary was intresting, she always questioned weather their lives should be like they are trying to survive the undead everyday. Mary is always curious and is always seeking answers to the things around her, which at times can get her in trouble. While the rest of the characters were great for the book, Mary at first was an intresting character, but I started to get annoyed with her because of her obsession over a boy and him to be with her claming it to be love. Overall I enjoyed the book and the way Carrie Ryan wrote it made it suspensful and page turning.", "date_added": "Thu May 07 11:01:24 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat May 16 08:06:16 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat May 16 08:06:16 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "617ccec66dac2d1029600ed3d706e8ed", "book_id": "22529162", "review_id": "7e10a5bc93a01cda22c6caf4ffad7d99", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book. Laia and Elias were such great characters, this whole book was really well written. I really like the setting of where the book took place I really like books that take place in some sort of fantasy type of world. I really enjoyed Laia's character development on how she out grew her fear, and how Elias was finally able to leave the empire behind. I really enjoy Sabaa and I can't wait for more of her work.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 14 09:08:54 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu May 21 12:21:44 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu May 21 12:21:44 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat May 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "617ccec66dac2d1029600ed3d706e8ed", "book_id": "17331828", "review_id": "6c885c82f9222bba557755c91ed70aee", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I really enjoyed the book, and the interaction between Garrett and Ember. Although I enjoyed the book I felt that the love tringel between Riley, Ember, and Garrett seemed forced.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 26 13:06:43 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 17 07:13:55 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Feb 17 07:13:55 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "040b31603912dc03f19e0b76d58c3660", "book_id": "18138189", "review_id": "6eb5b3d18007ce03de8650310cb1d39c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "", "date_added": "Fri Jul 18 15:42:41 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 12 04:54:57 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Aug 12 04:54:57 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jul 18 15:42:41 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "040b31603912dc03f19e0b76d58c3660", "book_id": "12216302", "review_id": "f52ff02013ca55dac6213a73b45837b7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "", "date_added": "Mon May 05 10:39:47 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon May 26 12:41:46 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon May 26 12:41:46 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon May 05 10:40:27 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a34238731479ea7cb8e0d798b39f665", "book_id": "11827808", "review_id": "56e35dfa7bb4dd1d21b55c12f803b11d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Excellent read. Absolute page turner. Anyone familiar with mythology would be able to guess many of the twists, yet the manner in which the drama unfolds makes it a pleasure to read. This is one of those works which holds the fort both at the story level and the philosophical level - gluing the reader completely. Though the setting is centuries old, immediate parallels could be easily identified in the current society. And you are left to wonder - what else would it take for this generation's Shiva to emerge :) \n Apparently there are trailers for the series too. Checked it after reading the book. nice :) eagerly awaiting the last part of the trilogy.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 10:22:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 20 09:43:44 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jun 20 09:43:44 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "6a163ff023eae2781bfcbb9f880474e1", "book_id": "28412354", "review_id": "3fe8bcb15b9f9d0d717eeaa50b8e59f0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I picked this book up as a friend of mine was on the cover (not the one pictured on here), I must admit I scan the synopsis and it looked intriguing so I downloaded a sample chapter. That was all it took to get me to buy the full version. \n The characters were good and likeable. Like Micki I found Zach to be a bit arrogant but you warm to him as she does. \n The supernatural element was really good. I started reading it as a normal crime thriller so wasn't really expecting the supernatural side to it. \n Not heard of Erica Spindler before so will have to look out for her other books. Would definately recommend.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 01 04:22:41 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 05 05:58:23 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jan 05 05:58:23 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c774855274baf41d5ddf847e6358d414", "book_id": "18663205", "review_id": "12ee9cf6baafca8d978c7160f87aa14b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book started out slowly, but once it found its stride, it was intriguing and fun. Peyton and Ryan are great characters that are easy to root for. I loved the secondary characters Trina and Drake. \n This was a nice start to a new series and I look forward to reading the next when it is released.", "date_added": "Fri May 16 06:15:23 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri May 16 06:15:30 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri May 16 06:15:30 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "30653880", "review_id": "c645163ef36cfd41a2204201342d3c95", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Ship Beyond Time at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I really wish that I had started this book on Tuesday and finished it today, because by starting it on Monday I got to the end by Tuesday and of course, because I'm training someone new I had to put this book down with only twenty pages left to help the newbie close. And gah! What horrible timing! Anyway, The Ship Beyond Time picks up right where The Girl from Everywhere left off, with Nix picking up the pieces of what happened in Hawaii. Slate recovering from his opium addiction and going through horrible withdrawals. Mr. Hart is adjusting to what the Temptation can do. And Kashmir and Nix are still circling around whatever there is between them other than the whole best friends thing.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 13 17:14:35 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 01 10:09:29 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Sep 26 17:24:10 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Sep 25 19:07:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "28512486", "review_id": "5efcdcc4ba577761cc0695f2534a46b2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Frost Like Night at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Compared to book 2, book 3 was a little lack luster for me, but I still thought it was really good. Frost Like Night didn't drag, I was amazed with how fast I was getting through this book on Monday. If it wasn't for the fact that I got distracted, I probably would have finished this book in one sitting, it was that action-packed. The whole concept of Angra being the evil villain who was able to infect others with his Decay was actually really cool. I just wished that his motives had been explained more than they were.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 03 16:39:25 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 15 09:26:28 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Oct 10 18:17:44 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Oct 09 06:45:16 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "24605887", "review_id": "07ec494c8fb1433ff8f042bf184b1ed3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Ice Like Fire at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Um...whoa. Just. WHOA. So let me just start off by saying that I really wasn't sure about this book and series. The first one was okay, but I finished that book just to finish it, you know? I wasn't completely invested in these characters because there was a good chunk of time that I didn't know their history and what was really going on. That being said, I had a better idea of what was going on in Ice Like Fire when it started, but I still had an issue with the characters. Mostly the trio: Meira, Theon, and Mather. But Sir - or William - was driving me nuts too.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 03 16:39:24 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 01 09:59:49 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 21 17:43:52 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Sep 18 16:26:06 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "32711417", "review_id": "a4bdf0e55e838f2d027ca9266718d76c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Quests for Glory at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n When I found out that there was going to be another book in this series I have to admit that I had mixed feelings about it. On one hand I was kind of disappointed because after the way The Last Ever After ended, things were tied up nicely. Characters that I couldn't stand redeemed themselves in my eyes. But on the other hand I was kind of intrigued. What could Chainani possibly have in store for our cast of characters now? \n As it turns out, a few new tricks.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 18 23:22:56 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 15 09:17:43 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Oct 04 17:37:51 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Oct 02 16:34:38 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "21979832", "review_id": "66c769b6bf4305423c3f4f953b4e0a16", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Girl from Everywhere at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Another book where I find myself staring at a blinking cursor as I try to figure out how to start this review. When The Girl from Everywhere first crossed my path, I gave it a hard pass. Books about time travel? Not really my thing. But then a few months ago it kept showing up, whether it was a friend who recommended it to me or just on the YA books tag on Pinterest, this book was stalking me. So I gave into the pressure and added it my reading list. \n And you know what? I don't regret it one bit.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 18 17:44:28 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 17 09:02:51 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Sep 13 17:14:20 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Sep 08 11:57:20 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "18004320", "review_id": "adddd743a322c587a4830a5505c2218b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Last Ever After at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Well, it took until the final book, but I finally found a book in this series I liked. The Last Ever After finally breaks the mold about how fairy tales are supposed to go and realizes that there is a gray area where not everything is just Good and Evil. And to think I wasn't sure I was going to like this book, especially when I saw how thick it was. Could I really deal with whiny Sophie for 655 pages? At first, no, I couldn't. Before I even got halfway through this book I said that the best solution for everyone was if someone ran Sophie through with Excalibur, because Sophie was not only whiny but indecisive. Here she was finally with her happy ending choosing the School Master who became young and immortal for her, and when he tries to give her a ring, she can't decide if she should take it or not. Was she too hasty to write off Tedros and Agatha? And when she finally does decide - thanks to some great string pulling by Rafal - she still isn't happy.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 07 05:02:46 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 20 10:07:32 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Aug 11 15:25:03 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Aug 07 05:02:46 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "18172465", "review_id": "aa58a39a998fe06edccbdbf9f7883aec", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for A World without Princes at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n The lesson that can be taken away from this book is that even when the story ends, it doesn't mean that everyone got their happily ever after. Believe it or not I actually loved the first part of this book. I loved that Agatha wasn't happy just looking after Sophie - especially because Sophie was such a whiny little witch - and wished that she had another shot at her happy ending. I loved seeing The School for Good and Evil turn to The School for Girls and the School for Boys. And believe it or not I even liked that the girls realized that they didn't need princes to have their happily ever afters. But...here we go again where it's all or nothing in this book. Either you are a girl and you don't need a prince or else you're an outcast. There is no inbetween, no gray area, and that really bugged me. I get why it was like that of course, because it is the land of fairytales and everything is black and white. But it was like these characters didn't learn from the last book that there can be a happy medium.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 18 16:54:55 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 22 09:37:11 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jul 20 17:16:33 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jul 18 16:54:55 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "32075453", "review_id": "e3dfb134e716172d089f4b8ab3516273", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Our Dark Duet at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n This book scared me, and that was before I read it. After the way This Savage Song surprised me I was a little hesitant to read Our Dark Duet, because book 2's don't usually live up to the predecessor. But surprisingly, Our Dark Duet was just as good, even if there were some parts that were a little bit off. And what I mean by that is, I kind of wish it didn't take as long for Kate and August to wind up back in the same town. While it was fun to see them apart for a little while, the darker Kate got the more I wanted her to get the hell out of Prosperity and back to Verity as fast as her little legs could carry her.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 23 23:25:55 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 22 09:28:31 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jul 15 13:13:26 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jul 11 05:08:06 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "22638168", "review_id": "b3d7f17c685ec53c0a5dcaaa5736abf1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for A Grimm Warning at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n My biggest complaint with the previous two books in this series was the fact that these books were a little bit too much youth fiction. The writing was very simple and descriptions were a little bit too forced. And while book 3 did have similar problems, the story line was much better than it's predecessors. It wasn't just a rinse and repeat with the whole there's a spell and we have to find all the items adventure. This time the adventure went through our world through Europe and Conner has to follow clues that the Mother Goose left behind to see if the portals really are closed for good. Because if they aren't the Land of Stories is in for a very gruesome situation.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 23 14:06:39 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 01 09:52:15 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Sep 16 11:58:45 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Sep 13 17:14:07 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "32051723", "review_id": "e421d79d190f8da77f764a12ccba8c2b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Dividing Eden at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So this book was interesting and I really mean that. I didn't really understand what was going on a good 75% of the time, while the other 25% of the time I was watching as a brother and sister became ridiculously divided over the stupidest of things. And part of that 25% of the time I also knew that a lot of deceit and plotting was going on, I just couldn't figure out who was the grand mastermind behind it all. On one hand you had Imogen, who I knew from the start wasn't the little innocent seer who only saw one vision of the future. Thankfully, she did show her true colors, even if it wasn't for very long. Then there is someone on the Council of Elders who I know is in on it, I just don't know who since they were all quite villany if I'm being honest. Also there is Lord Garret and Lord Errik, both nobles who say that they support Carys and are trying to help her, but whose motives I can't help but doubt.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 21 16:34:01 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 06 09:37:45 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jul 28 17:00:56 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jul 26 05:05:59 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "16248113", "review_id": "f96c513ed43fb517738e988ff38c52b0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The School for Good and Evil at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Two years ago, I originally had this series on my reading list. The first book became available on the digital library and I downloaded it. I started reading and Sophie and Agatha drove me so bonkers that I gave up and marked it as DNF. The pesky kids at work begged me last summer and the first few weeks this summer to give it another go. So I did, but this time I got the physical copy from the library, and you know what? Sophie is just as petty and vain as I remembered her. BUT Agatha was actually one of my favorite characters. Actually the whole story was wonderful. It was like Harry Potter combined with the old fairy tales.", "date_added": "Sun May 07 14:25:22 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 08 12:17:48 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jul 02 12:42:28 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jun 29 16:40:14 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "30166599", "review_id": "36d69445c85e1bf66c0fd7f7cd2a0ce5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Blood of Wonderland at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Considering how much I 'loved' the first book of this series I was a little surprised that I even decided to pick up book 2. The world of Wonderland had fallen flat in the first book and the character of Dinah had driven me mad with her constant whining and weakness. The same looked to be true for Blood of Wonderland, until Dinah runs into the Spade card and he takes her to the Yukerei where her true origins are revealed. Of course I didn't like her true origins. I think that part of the plot was ridiculous - but you can really just add it to the list - and I have a strange feeling that this character is seriously going to betray Dinah in the next book, but jeez. As my status update for this book went on Goodreads, I want to run this book over with a zamboni.", "date_added": "Sun May 07 14:25:03 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 22 09:24:27 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jul 11 16:37:23 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jul 09 11:10:55 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "27883214", "review_id": "7aa8e4d63bf2f8813951dc8c24f59f18", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is actually a 2.5 star rating. \n Caraval had so much potential, but alas... full review to come. \n Edit: 8/20/17 \n See full review for Caraval at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I'll admit that I was very wary of reading this book. I hadn't heard the best things about Caraval from my fellow Goodreads friends. As my friend Tanya said in her review 'It's not even a book but a bad fanfiction that got published.' I think that was enough for me to do a serious hard pass. But a few months ago as I was searching the YA book tag on Pinterest and this book kept popping up and I took a closer look at it. From the summary it reminded me of The Night Circus and even though it has been a few years since I've read that book, I still liked it. So I decided to give Caraval a try. \n And while yes, I do agree that Scarlett is whiny - jeez we get it, you're trying to save your sister, you do not need to keep saying it every freaking page - there's actually something quite odd about her. But in a good way.", "date_added": "Sun May 07 14:20:21 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 20 10:12:23 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Aug 14 16:55:33 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "25944798", "review_id": "ff2f79b6fc7211a9f4c29af096208357", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review The Beauty of Darkness at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Another book in this series where I am undecided. I liked how this book tied everything together. I liked how Lia redeemed herself not only to her own people, but with the Venda as well. I even liked how the love triangle was resolved. But, there were a few times during The Beauty of Darkness that I felt that Lia, Rafe, Kaden and the others were just...there. Sometimes their chapters felt more like placeholders then plot forwarding.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 11 19:22:01 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 15 12:25:12 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Apr 07 13:31:44 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Apr 04 17:28:37 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "21569527", "review_id": "af76748d8a771f5487a5f7390d3ba4cd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Heart of Betrayal at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I'm really undecided about this book. On one hand I really liked it because the plot was nicely paced and everything flowed together quite nicely. I also liked how Pearson fleshed out her characters more while also introducing new characters. On the other hand, I didn't like this book because there were a few things that were driving me absolutely crazy.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 11 19:22:00 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 01 12:09:52 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Mar 25 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "30227900", "review_id": "477daaf5d5bc244feefd7d86db5f9b55", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Cursed Queen at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So as much as book 1 impressed me, book 2 fell mostly flat. I should have guessed that when we were introduced to new characters that these characters would involve who the true heir to the throne was going to be. But while Elli's story was intriguing and wonderful, Ansa's was blah.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 04 12:50:15 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 01 11:56:11 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Mar 17 17:24:44 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Mar 17 06:37:57 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "32075448", "review_id": "7f1e3037adeb52e47c349f8ad880eafb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Thief's Cunning at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So I wasn't going to read this book when I initially found out about it. I don't like 'companion' books. Especially when it's been a few months since I've read the predecessor. And in Thief's Cunning's case, I didn't really enjoy the first one all that much. But I'm a sucker for finishing things I start (most of the time) and I added it anyway. And let me tell you, I'm kind of glad that I did. \n Don't get me wrong Thief's Cunning still had its issues. While in Assassin's Heart Lea's biggest problem was all her guilt, Thief's Cunning had Allegra and she had two problems. The first is that she wants to be free. Apparently in the life that she currently lives she feels trapped. And I really don't blame her for that notion. Lea and her extended family keep her pretty much housebound except for the odd job. Of course, it took me a while to figure out why - it's been over a year since I read Assassin's Heart - and when I did I had a head slapping moment. Duh.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 11 20:53:57 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 08 11:58:39 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jun 23 15:06:18 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jun 20 16:36:01 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "23495112", "review_id": "306ec8d9d4ec7d2ce8d570822e8b1126", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for The Impostor Queen at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I have to admit that when I started reading this book I honestly thought it was going to be another novel that I was only going to get fifty pages or so in and then discard because it had a really slow start. It also kind of reminded me of Three Dark Crowns with the dark elements. But I persisted and was thoroughly surprised. Once I got passed the current Valtia's death and Elli's blunder with not having the magic and her being banished to the outlands things picked up. I liked Elli's work ethic even though she was down to eight fingers and had seen some horrible things before Oskar found her.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 11 20:44:59 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 18 13:59:12 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Mar 04 12:50:04 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Mar 03 18:48:45 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "8572704", "review_id": "826a4af5045867757059f8916240b741", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Always a Witch at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n If I remember right from my review of the previous book, I liked the character of Tamsin because she was sarcastic and the 'black sheep' of the family. The same thing applies for this one. Despite discovering that she does in fact have a Talent - a really cool one when you think about it - she is still treated as an outcast. Because her power isn't as cool as I think it is. Some of her family thinks that it's unnatural and are avoiding her at all costs. Which is hard to do considering her sister is getting married and the whole family is in town and Rowena is bridezilla. So add in a stranger who time traveled from 1899 looking for information about the Greene family who can jump into other people's bodies and things are about to get interesting.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 31 14:42:32 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 26 13:43:15 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "28114396", "review_id": "2527bc97a6c5afb0243bfba481274318", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Ever the Hunted at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n To be honest, I was a little bit wary about starting this book. Ever the Hunted is one of those books on Goodreads where the reviews are mixed. Where a lot of people really loved it and then there are those that absolutely hated it. It was rare to impossible to find someone who was in between. But the summary of Ever the Hunted sounded like something up my alley and I gave it a go anyway. And surprisingly, it wasn't as bad as some of the negative reviewers made it out to be.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 03 18:19:08 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 15 12:34:30 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Apr 11 16:40:40 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "31451174", "review_id": "f2143927bccf70652013da0c402515b4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I wish there were enough words for me to describe how much I loved and adored this book, but at the moment words are failing me so forgive me if this review isn't up to my usual standards. A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOWAR) was probably my number one anticipated book of 2017 and after the way ACOMAF ended I wasn't sure how I was going to be able to get through the months of wait. I somehow managed and ridiculously cursed myself when I got a stack of library books to read the week before ACOWAR's release. But when I did finally get through that stack of books and started this, I was a little hesitant at first. What if ACOWAR didn't live up to my high expectations and fell into that 'final books of series doldrums?' \n But I should have know that Maas wouldn't let it. She created a wonderful roller coaster of a novel.To read the rest of this review go here https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... but there are spoilers ahead!", "date_added": "Sat Oct 29 19:38:09 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat May 27 13:19:52 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu May 25 17:50:41 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu May 18 14:46:02 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "13085374", "review_id": "306dd6a4d77286a96f2d9070231f606b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Infinite at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n How is it possible that a book that is supposed to be the conclusion to a series still left me with so many questions? I mean, look, I get it Janan is a power hungry guy and the opportunity for him to become immortal should not have been surprising to me. That being said though, the fact that he actually honored his promise to help the original million was quite a shock to my system. Also a shock? How many people died in this book! I mean, honestly, I thought Game of Thrones was bad but this book could easily top them. You would think after all these years of reading I would know better than to get attached to characters, but no...", "date_added": "Thu Oct 27 20:24:20 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 05 13:00:18 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "18085422", "review_id": "c4609391078141539bef39a0a128025e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Asunder at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n In my review for Incarnate, I was a little skeptical of continuing on with this series. It seemed to be that this book basically incorporated everything - reincarnation, religion, dragons, sylphs, etc. - into a very short page span. But, I figured, there was a mystery to be solved with this series. Why exactly can these souls reincarnate? Why is Ana the only newsoul? And why does Janan think that she was nothing but a mistake? So I plunged into book 2. I wish I could say that it got better, but I only was left with more questions.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 25 06:47:40 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 29 12:25:07 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "35712937", "review_id": "0af2ad9d58741b8125664e4fa31bef99", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Midnight Jewel at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I am very conflicted about this book. On one hand I really loved the story and the characters. Mira really jumped off the page and she was a heroine that was instantly likable even if there were a few times I found her to be a little pigheaded. Grant was also...intriguing. He kind of reminded me of Dimitri from the Vampire Academy series, with his whole dark but focused demeanor until his concentration is shattered when Mira walks into his life. Their romance was fantastic, I almost forgot that this was supposed to be a historical fiction piece. I even liked the character of Tom Shortsleeves, he was a criminal mastermind while also looking out for himself.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 21 19:47:43 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 17 08:47:33 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 07 16:10:44 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Sep 04 08:29:47 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "26074170", "review_id": "ef24dc568968a083c1fa2423afb88af8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for This Savage Song at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I'll be completely honest, I did not think I was going to like this book. This Savage Song sounded dark and in these troubling times did I really need more darkness in my life? The answer is yes, apparently I did. I could not put this book down. And as you noticed, I read this thing in one sitting.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 16 12:45:43 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 26 12:33:40 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "31450752", "review_id": "b3b49a0a1f806fbb601ee910e5a8579f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Because You Love to Hate Me at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Anyway, as expected I loved Marissa Meyer's challenge of putting the sea witch into the Little Mermaid's shoes. It was beautifully written. But that wasn't the only story I loved in this book. I also liked Beautiful Venom from Cindy Pon. That twist on Medusa was pretty damn awesome. I even liked the BookTubber's analysis of it afterwards - which I have to admit wasn't always the case. And I also liked April Genevieve Tucholke's take on Gaston from Beauty and the Beast. Talk about a twist that I didn't see coming. Wow.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 16 12:42:49 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 01 10:04:06 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 21 17:44:09 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Sep 19 16:32:16 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "23308087", "review_id": "5f470b44b0222b61ec089f739040ddc5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was...frustrating. Full review to come. \n Update 7/22/17: \n See full review for Flame in the Mist at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Hm...hm...hm...my status update from page 206 of this book still stands even now that I'm finished with it. Flame in the Mist was...odd. At times this book could be completely boring where I just wanted to fast forward to parts unknown. But other times...it confused me. Mariko is not like Sharazi. She's weak where Sharazi was strong. But they are both emotional and Mariko is sly of wit. Okami is not like Khalid and his origins really confuse me the most. Actually if I'm being honest the last thirty pages of this novel completely threw me.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 16 12:42:41 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 22 09:34:24 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jul 18 16:50:13 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "28588345", "review_id": "3fa3c7b407c922289c4c175b08c13459", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Midnight Star at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n After the darkness of the last book I was kind of hesitant with this one especially with everything that's going on in the world. But I really, really wanted to know how this series ended because of how different it was and the two plot twists that Lu threw in in The Rose Society. Adelina lost her sister to the wind because of her cruelty and unwillingness to give up her powers and she found out that the 'gift' of the malfettos isn't a gift at all, but a curse that is going to doom them all. The last one comes to more light as The Midnight Star opens. Adelina is still dealing with her whispers and nightmares, while also being the new queen. Her people fear her and try to assassinate her at every turn, but still she won't let go of what is hers.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 01 10:08:14 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 18 10:09:42 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Dec 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "28374007", "review_id": "47e3d59c3d5c222b9a714f07dfaa1189", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Three Dark Crowns at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Do not let the summary fool you, this whole book - all 398 pages of it - does not involve the fight for the crown at all. If anything this is a prequel of things to come in the next book and I wished I would have known that.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 20 19:23:21 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 05 08:52:20 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "32930771", "review_id": "bbd48383f87a621a0601206ff41597e1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Buried Heart at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n See now I remember why I always like not starting a series until all the books within it are out and available for me to read. I barely remember anything about the last book. I remembered the characters - Jes, Kal and others who's names are just too long and hard to spell - and I kind of remember the plot. Jes was a Fives contender until she met Lord Gargaron (or as I like to call him Lord G) who basically forces her to run the races for him or else bad things will happen to her mother and the rest of her family. Which they did, but Jes was able to rescue them. And then there was some twisted plot to put someone else on the throne?", "date_added": "Sat Sep 17 10:15:36 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 17 09:00:10 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Sep 13 17:13:13 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Sep 07 16:11:31 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "25558608", "review_id": "e2c8299b93ac22f57f62a32542f2e22b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for A Torch Against the Night at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Raise your hand if you have been personally victimized by A Torch Against the Night. *raises hand* When I started this book and made my way through the first hundred pages this book was like pretty much any sequel to a beloved first book. Sometimes it lagged and sometimes the twists that were thrown in were predictable. But then...then things got interesting when Keenan entered the scene with Izzi in tow.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 14 11:53:51 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 31 08:40:58 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "32190010", "review_id": "6033c73588086b36cdb0cf7eb30efc47", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Legion at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Now I kind of remember why I don't like reading books in a series until the whole series is out. I completely forgot what happened in Soldier, and believe it or not my review was of no help which kind of sucks. Thankfully, though, Kagawa does spend a few seconds rehashing what happened in the last book, so I wasn't completely lost. It also didn't help that this was another novel that I was reading during the busiest time of year at work and then right before I went on vacation. Whoops. \n Anyway, I keep forgetting how masterful of a storyteller Kagawa is. She takes something mythical and turns into, well, actually believable. There were a few times while reading Legion that I had to remind myself that, oh, yeah, this is a book about dragons and not human beings on the run from the CIA or something.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 13 10:26:14 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 23 13:51:33 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jun 20 16:35:26 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jun 06 16:04:52 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "32956745", "review_id": "f9053a7a520ccb97ab57d77ad4e4fd63", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Savage Dawn at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I'm sitting and staring at a blinking cursor with no idea how to start this review. I'm really starting to lose my edge when it comes to writing these things. But here it goes. I was hoping that The Savage Dawn was going to be better than The Shadow Hour that it almost rivaled the first book of this series. ...it wasn't. There were times that I found myself absolutely dreading reading this book as I switched back and forth between this one and The Last Ever After. The characters weren't the same. The plot that seemed to have so much life in it, was actually quite boring. Not to mention it was really dark/end of the world like. Granted that was to be expected because you are basically dealing with Light and Darkness in TSH, but still. Yikes. I felt like Tanith's character was something out of Charmed's early days with the Source of all evil.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 13 10:15:04 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 20 10:04:17 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Aug 09 15:47:50 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Aug 02 05:11:49 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "31706507", "review_id": "a3cb100f2725563133105a22e6a725c0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Crown's Fate at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Strangely enough, The Crown's Fate was another book that was on my most anticipated books this year. I really loved the predecessor The Crown's Game and could not wait to see where Vika and Nikolai's story went next. And while in some respects I did like Fate, this book was a little bit too lengthy and dragged which sometimes took away from the overall story. Vika has changed since the end of Game and for good reason. She won the game because of a nasty trick by Nikolai's mother, and Nikolai sacrificed himself to save her and make sure she won. She has not forgiven Pasha for speeding up the end of the game, which makes it really difficult when she has sworn herself and her powers to his service for the rest of her life. Then there's Nikolai who I didn't really recognize at first.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 30 16:33:17 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 08 12:13:23 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jun 30 15:27:04 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jun 23 15:08:51 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "26542535", "review_id": "1c043393bbfb0ce4da849791e6645005", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for The Fate of the Tearling at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n If you've followed my reviews for the previous two novels in this series, you'll know that I was all over the place when it came to this trilogy. I didn't really care for book one because it lagged and the court politics went over my head a lot of the time. Book two was slightly better with more action, but the whole 'vision' thing that Kelsea experienced was sort of trippy. Book 3 is the same. The constant back and forth between the members of Kelsea's court, Kelsea herself, the Red Queen, and Kelsea's visions of Katie from post-crossing gets a little crazy. While the action does pick up and there aren't really any places where The Fate of the Tearling lags, I'm still a little bit mystified.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 30 16:30:52 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 05 07:46:06 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Feb 20 17:09:06 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Feb 17 06:32:52 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "30037865", "review_id": "a6dbbf95f92bd3b80acbc9916bbbcd62", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Rise of Fire at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So after the way Reign of Shadows ended, I was really excited to read the sequel. I wanted to know what happened to Fowler and Luna because the last we left them things weren't looking great. Fowler had sacrificed himself to the dwellers so that way Luna could escape and she went after him anyway even though he had just revealed that he was the son of the man who killed her parents and took the throne from her. She does in fact rescue him and they get out of the dweller's lair, but there lies the problem. Fowler does not leave unscathed. Somehow he got dweller venom in his system and he's going to die and there's nothing Luna can do.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 28 17:36:23 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 01 12:04:14 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Mar 20 17:36:15 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Mar 18 04:41:56 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "30320053", "review_id": "9ea1b07fd2fbb0c77c7b58f3d8968f89", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Long May She Reign at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I thought for sure that I was going to like this book, it was The Queen of the Tearling meets The Girl of Fire and Thorns, both books that I liked. But...but...while good in concept - twenty-third in line to throne who finds herself made Queen because of a horrible dinner party? - and I even liked some of the characters, there was just something about this book that seemed to drag. I mean, I liked Freya, she had a brain and she wasn't afraid to use it. She didn't trust her gut when it came to acting in court, and while at first I found that charming, it did get annoying as she tried to not get killed by those who thought that she was the enemy. Even Freya's best friend Naomi got on my nerves, and that was only because it felt like she wasn't really there, that she was just a shadow. Same thing for Madeline, which I find somewhat disappointing considering how her character developed.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 28 17:30:34 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 03 21:16:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Aug 25 14:19:29 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Aug 17 15:43:52 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "27412183", "review_id": "7b9d047d387f4ed8054a5066f3274c2d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Proposal at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Susannah Simon is in the cemetery on Valentine's Day. This should be an odd place for her to be if it wasn't for two things. One, that her and her uber hot, doctor boyfriend don't really celebrate the holiday because it is just overdone. Two, she's a mediator and she's doing what she does best. Mediate. There is a new spirit that has been making some waves lately in the cemetery, flowers that have been placed on his dead girlfriend's grace have been winding up being kicked and scattered throughout the grounds. Normally, this wouldn't be cause for alarm, but the parents put up a camera and the antics - fuzzy as they may be - have gone viral. So Suze is spending Valentine's Day in the cemetery to put this ghost to rest and make him realize that he shouldn't be mad just because he ended up killing his girlfriend in a fit of jealous rage when she said no to his proposal. Except...that's not what happened at all and now she has to figure out the truth before the ghost winds up murdering someone else. \n I was so excited to read this novella because as I've been mentioning in my previous reviews for this series, I know the other books backwards and forwards and I really wanted to know what happened to Suze next. Especially five years after the events of Twilight. She's an adult, in college, and her boyfriend is actually alive. Things should have been great, right? Well...not really.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 11 17:08:04 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 15 13:20:41 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "26061581", "review_id": "a2b6376e1350a1edd3768abe0a04dbb4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Dark Days Pact at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So, in my review for book one of this series, I said that I wasn't sure if I was going to read book 2 because I wasn't all that intrigued as I thought I was going to be. When I realized The Dark Days Pact was coming out, I decided to add it to my reading list anyway because I had already read the first book, maybe book 2 would take me by surprise. And the crazy thing is, it did. Now that Lady Helen was free from her overbearing uncle's house and she was officially sworn into the Dark Days Club, things are less aggravating. Carlston is slightly more open with her about matters pretaining to the Club and other than Lady Margaret - Mr. Hammond's sister - no one is really telling Helen what she cannot do.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 10 16:10:25 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 05 07:49:00 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Feb 20 17:09:23 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Thu Feb 16 16:52:44 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "30227022", "review_id": "808187f36e93087268fbfaec023a9fec", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for King's Cage at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Here is another book where I am undecided about my rating. On one hand compared to Glass Sword, King's Cage is infinitely better in a lot of ways. Mare is dealing with her demons and trying not to be the monster that she was becoming in the last book. That being said, there is a lot of time in this book - the first 300 pages or so where Mare is Maven's captive and the whole dynamic between the two of them is very...blurred at best. Mare is supposed to be Maven's prisoner, his puppet, but other than a speech to the newbloods and being by his side when he goes on his coronation tour and the Silent Stone manacles she is pretty much left to her own devices.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 10 16:09:41 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat May 13 12:11:24 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun May 07 13:09:45 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "30655760", "review_id": "ad0f6498a2676e5ae3a717ab70af8bd7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for The End of Oz at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n After the way the third book in this series ended, I have to admit I was a little miffed. Here was a series that I thought was only supposed to be three books that got split into four and it showed. Personally, I think that book 2, 3 and 4 probably could have been combined to make one novel and this series could have ended up as a duology. But alas... Anyway, The End of Oz was okay. It wasn't as crazy as book 3 and Amy is a little bit more herself than in previous books. I'm still not a big fan of the whole Amy/Nox relationship, however it felt more natural than it had in the previous books.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 10 16:08:49 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 15 12:32:31 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Apr 11 16:40:26 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Apr 07 13:33:13 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "28585207", "review_id": "39d92eccc622914404fadcd28434d1c5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Personally my thoughts are in turmoil so a full review will be coming soon. But otherwise.... \n Holy shit. Maas. How dare you keep doing this to me. Is no one safe from your wrath? \n Update 1/21/17 \n See full review for Empire of Storms at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I'm kind of glad that I didn't get around to this book last year. After the way A Court of Mist and Fury left me struggling to pick up the pieces of my broken heart, this book would have just killed me. Don't get me wrong, this book was good. A little too good, to be honest. Not only did you have major character development for the least expected characters - yes, I'm looking at your Lorcan and Manon - but the alliances that showed up near the end were just flabbergasting to see. I am one hundred percent with Rowan when he told Aelin that sometimes he wished that he could be in that mind of hers to see all the different ways she comes up with her plots. I would not want to play this girl in chess.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 10 16:07:51 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 21 12:34:51 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "28512427", "review_id": "a2767f0fca20578a78ff38882dc92db0", "rating": 2, "review_text": "See full review for The Black Key at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Why is it authors feel like they need to kill of characters in the final books of series? I mean, honestly, it's not hard to not have a body count in books. Really it isn't. Especially in The Black Key, when it seriously felt like Ewing was killing off characters just for the hell of it.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 10 16:07:31 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 21 12:26:12 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jan 16 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "30199421", "review_id": "2479ee97f647e225e8aa9ffcef665541", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for These Ruthless Deeds at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n It has been so long since I read the first book that when I picked up These Ruthless Deeds I had to go back to my own review - why am I always so vague? - to figure out what the first book had been about. Luckily for me, even though I wrote a really vague review, the plot and characters came back to me as I read each new page of Deeds. And while I felt that the first book was a little bit too much like The Dark Days Club, I have to admit that this book really grew on me.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 10 16:06:41 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 20 10:17:05 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Aug 17 15:43:15 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Aug 16 05:13:08 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "24585267", "review_id": "5eae0dc292156885c38f227eef4c4c74", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The White Rose at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n As usual, second books in a series make me nervous, especially books like The Jewel where I found that the story was just okay. Then I went onto to Goodreads - which wasn't really smart if I think about it - and the reviews for this book weren't all that great. But when have I ever let negative reviews get me down? So I plunged ahead and you know what this book wasn't all that bad. \n Don't get me wrong, this book still had the same problems book 1 did where the dramatic moments weren't all that dramatic - except that scene where Ash went to go visit his sister Cinder one last time and it almost looked like they were going to get arrested whoa! However, I wasn't too disappointed.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 27 05:34:42 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 01 21:23:05 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "12593099", "review_id": "4857dbece455ed674fb27d158cc189b5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Incarnate at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n This book is odd and I'm not really sure how else to explain it. It could be because I went into Incarnate without reading the summary right away. It could be because you're dropped right into this world where souls are reincarnated and you don't really get too much of a heads up as to why that is. It also could be because this book has mythical creatures - sylphs and dragons - without too much of an explanation why. Or, finally, because the narrator herself isn't sure what's going on.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 02 20:23:10 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 29 12:07:38 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "26156203", "review_id": "d2cf9701efe2a604ff83e2611446871e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Crown's Game at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n After the misfortune that was The Square Root of Summer, I went into The Crown's Game skeptical. I remembered adding this book to my TBR pile months ago and I was excited for it back then. When I picked it up a few days ago, I was trying to remember what exactly had me so excited. Then I read the summary and remembered. Oh, right, Russia. Magic. Tsars. Love triangles. So I dived in with a gusto. I was not disappointed.", "date_added": "Thu May 12 22:45:27 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 30 12:10:02 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "26004636", "review_id": "a67f05146a96b395d90751fbc326b4c5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for The Color of Feat at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Confession time: I don't like zombies. In fact, it is probably one of the only fads that I haven't really gotten into over the last decade. Vampires? No problem. Werewolves? Fantastic. Fairy-tale retellings? Give me all of them. But zombies I try to steer clear of. However, in one of those monthly subscription book boxes I receive, this book was in it and I decided I might as well give it a try before I get rid of it. So I did. And let me tell you that is probably five hours of my life I'm not going to get back.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 30 14:35:15 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 18 15:34:56 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "6393119", "review_id": "b222bf2017fa0bece9c9feffce993ce6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Once a Witch at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So, if you haven't been able to tell, I have a niche when it comes to paranormal books. Female heroines who are outcasts and sublimate that with their sarcasm. But then something huge happens that makes them somewhat normal and the whole world rests on their shoulders. And of course, there's always the hot guy who tags along as their sidekick/love interest. Just like that you've pretty much got Once a Witch. Don't get me wrong, I loved the character of Tamsin and her need to be normal, she kind of reminded me of Stacey in the Blue is for Nightmares series. The addition of Gabriel was just maddening, but in a good way.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 02 23:01:02 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 01 21:27:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "26074194", "review_id": "46650b2b8246e218862ac0c93eef8e0f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "See full review for Queen of Hearts at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n You have got to be kidding me. No. Really. You have to be. After reading Heartless last year, a fellow Wonderland friend told me that Queen of Hearts was worse than Heartless and she was curious to see what I thought of it. I see what she meant. Heartless was one hundred times better than this 306 paged sob fest. I mean, seriously. At least, Catherine had a backbone and parents who meant well. Dinah is a sniveling weakling, who I really can't believe was going to be the Queen of Hearts, with a father who makes the King of Hearts that I'm writing look like a hero instead of the villain he really is.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 30 17:20:04 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 08:31:05 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "27272506", "review_id": "60d063a1bb5f4bbd58e9b5a0c645112b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for The Glittering Court at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n When I saw Mead promoting this book on her Twitter I was a little curious. I love reading books that have to deal with regency and ladies of high birth masquerading and figuring out that their something more than their title, and I also love Mead's writing. I added it to my reading list and my friend - who's also a huge Mead fan - got to it before I did. She ended up not liking it all too much, and I was a little nervous. I gave it a go anyway and I can see what's going on.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 25 16:57:38 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 29 11:58:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "16150831", "review_id": "09ff7cd81c400bf0dc8babdb7df836ca", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for In the Afterlight at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Ruby's world has been turned upside multiple times in her seventeen years. From the time she was ten and survived IANN only to discover her strange ability to see inside a person's mind to when the President bombed Los Angeles to get rid of the Children's League. Now, she has to overcome the LA bombing to get what she really wants - the cure for her abilities. But before she can do that, her and the surviving members of the League have to get the hell out of LA before they starve to death. Not an easy task when the city is crawling with Psi Special Forces just waiting for them to screw up and the agents within their own group who are planning to betray everyone for money and supplies to get out and bomb Washington again. \n Thanks to some subterfuge of their own, Ruby and Cole send those agents packing and make their way to the Ranch - the original HQ of the League - but along the way, Ruby and company pick up a person from their group that they didn't think they'd ever see again, and learn the truth about the cure that is supposed to save them all... \n Here we go again with another sequel that I was wary of, because what are the chances that I would actually like all three books of a trilogy? It's rare, and that meant that something was going to go wrong in this book that would send me through three or four star rating hell. But, I shouldn't have worried, because Bracken is good. She knows how to pick up the story right where we left off with Ruby in LA dealing with the fallout of the bombing and the bombshell that she rescued the notes that Clancy tried to burn to a crisp in the last book. Add in the potential betrayal of their fellow agents and Zu finally making a reappearance and things were set up for a great conclusion. And it was really great.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 13 20:27:39 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 30 21:03:21 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "16150830", "review_id": "ace08bdc9044105fc0b4250c28ea13cd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Never Fade at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Ruby has made the hardest decision in the direst of circumstances. When her friend Chubs was shot, she called in the people that she'd been running from since she broke out of her 'rehabilitation' camp - the Children's League. They agreed to help her, but with a price. She had to come and work for them and she made one more condition. They had to let Liam - her boyfriend - go. And she did one other hard thing. She wiped Liam's memory of anything that had to deal with her and sent him on his way. Now, six months later, she is deep into the Children's League, but even they are not safe. Psi Kids are getting killed in action and its being written off as an accident. Ruby and her team - including Cate - are trying to figure out what is going on when Cole Stewart - Liam's brother - comes to Ruby with a new mission for her. \n The reason he got picked up was because Liam made contact with him to try and find their parents. It got called in and Cole got picked up instead of his brother. But Liam when he ran took vital intel that could help the League go back to its old ways. Now, Ruby has to find the one person she thought that she was never going to see again. But she quickly learns that even though she has control over other people's minds, sometimes things never fade... \n I'm always worried about sequels to books that I really liked, because a good chunk of the time, the next one doesn't live up to its predecessor. As I started Never Fade, it looked like that was going to be the case.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 13 20:27:32 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 23 20:41:37 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Apr 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "16068780", "review_id": "56c919c45120c4badd2261478eb5d831", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Jewel at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n On an island called The Lone City that is threatened on all sides by rising water, the royal families cannot bare children because of deformities in their bloodlines. However, since the royal lines need to continue the lower class girls are tested when they start having their monthly courses to see if they have special genes that will allow them to carry the royal's babies. Those girls who test positive are taken from their families and put into holding facilities where they learn everything that they need to in order to become a surrogate for the royals. Violet Lasting is one of those girls and has been since she was twelve. Now, today is her last day of freedom before she is sent to the Auction where she will be purchased by one of the royal families. After today she will not have contact with her friends or family ever again. \n Violet has heard a lot of things about the Auction and the life of a surrogate. But she wasn't expecting being slapped on the first day by the Duchess of the Lake. Nor was she expecting being told that she had to deliver a girl child in three months, or else things would end badly for her. She also wasn't expecting to be towed around on a leash like she was a common animal. But the last thing she was expecting was to fall in love with a companion, a traitorous crime that is punishable by death. \n Compared to the last book I read, The Jewel was a breath of fresh air. The characters jumped off the page. The world was an intriguing one to read about. It sort of reminded me of The Handmaid's Tale only with a little bit more regency intrigue.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 03 09:04:35 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat May 07 20:18:02 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "21421609", "review_id": "281e573accf2a7d3827c3a3d571b3741", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Assassin's Heart at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n In the kingdom of Lovero, nine rival Families of assassins lawfully kill people for a price. As a highly skilled member of one of these powerful clans, seventeen-year-old Lea Saldana has always trusted in the strength of her Family. Until she awakens to find them murdered and her home in flames. The Da Vias, the Saldanas' biggest enemy, must be responsible--and Lea should have seen it coming. But her secret relationship with the Da Vias' son, Val, has clouded her otherwise killer instinct--and given the Da Vias more reason than ever to take her Family down. \n Racked with guilt and shattered over Val's probable betrayal, Lea sets out to even the score, with her heart set on retaliation and only one thought clear in her mind: make the Da Vias pay. \n Okay, so I was really excited to read Assassin's Heart because of the tones of Romeo and Juliet with a twist of the His Fair Assassin series thrown in. I'm a sucker when it comes to forbidden romances. Add in a strong female heroine and I thought for sure this was going to be one of the better books that I've read in a while. Alas, it wasn't to be.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 29 21:14:14 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 09 22:14:33 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Apr 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "23253083", "review_id": "9716a27f3193bdff144b7e5cde9ba2c0", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I'm not sure if it's been too long since I've read the Seven Kingdoms series that is this book is spun off of, but I just COULD NOT get into this book.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 29 21:12:12 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 30 10:46:19 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Apr 30 10:46:19 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "22698568", "review_id": "f8c427c1ffa57ff15537245fba592f22", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Invasion of the Tearling at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n The Invasion of the Tearling is a countless bunch of tales told in 511 pages. But there are only three tales that you really need to pay attention to. First, there's Queen Kelsea of the Tearling. Despite everything that she has accomplished since book 1 her throne is still threatened. Not only by the Red Queen, but by people who desperately want her off the throne for the good of the kingdom including the wonderful Holy Father of the Arvath. While dealing with coups she also has to deal with the Mortemsene army that is amassing on her border and looks to invade all because she refuses to send the shipment of slaves that was promised in the treaty her mother signed. The Tearling has no chance of winning and Kelsea knows that but that still doesn't stop her from hoping. Especially when a dark stranger shows up at her fireplace one night and tells her that he can help her. But like with everything, his help comes with a price and she isn't sure she wants to pay it. \n So, in my review for book 1 I said that the reason I didn't like the book was because it was really slow and I wasn't sure if I was going to continue on. I bit the bullet and continued on and my complaint for book 1 still stands with book 2, BUT this book was more enjoyable than the first.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 23 14:22:57 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 12 14:42:15 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "10576365", "review_id": "77064fc2b57ec10eefc59c4048e1833f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Darkest Minds at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Ruby has survived the odds. She lives in a time when the children of the United States contract a horrible disease that most likely kills them. Most of her class died because of this disease, but she's been lucky and hasn't caught it. Or at least that's what she thinks. On the day of her tenth birthday, she goes into the kitchen for her family's famous chocolate birthday pancakes, only her mother hasn't cooked them and doesn't even know who Ruby is. She takes her into the garage and sends in Ruby's father to get to the bottom of this, but he doesn't know who she is either and calls the police. The police don't come. Instead Psi agents do and take her away to a camp. \n As it turns out, if the children don't get IANN, or they survive it, it means that they are 'special.' Ruby has a special ability to make people forget things and when she is sent for classification she makes her tester forget what type she has and is labeled a Green - they use a rainbow scale to determine how dangerous a kid's ability is Red being the most dangerous, Blue being the least. Six years later, thanks to a White Noise test - a high pitched frequency that only the psi kids can hear and causes them to go immobile - Ruby is sent to the medical wing where she learns the shocking truth. The Psi guards have been testing out a new frequency to pick up any Red, Orange or Yellows that they might have missed. But lucky for Ruby, her nurse doesn't work for the Psi Guard she works for the Children's League and has every intention of getting her out before the guard kills her. But Rub knows that help always comes with a price. \n I came across the book multiple times whenever I went into the book tag on Pinterest. I read the summary once and wasn't sure this would be my kind of book, but a lot of my bookish friends told me that I should give it a go. I'm glad I took them up on their advice. The Darkest Minds is a really good dysotopian tale.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 19 08:24:09 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 19 13:50:21 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Mar 13 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Mar 08 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "25890355", "review_id": "49653f8d96b05fce13f42e55a747b324", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Paper and Fire at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So after reading the first book in this series and then reading the first ten pages of this book, I thought for sure I was in for one long and mindnumbingly boring ride. But, surprisingly, this book was the exact opposite. After being reintroduced to characters and getting caught up on what happened to each since the end of Ink and Bone, the pace picked up and the action - excuse the pun - heated up.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 18 15:19:58 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 05 08:56:06 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "21518344", "review_id": "7f3cce7f08a4501fffbf050fa42f3cfb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Unhooked at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Gwen Allister is sick of moving. For the umpteenth time her mother and her move again, this time to a new flat in London and she isn't happy about it at all because she started putting down roots the last time they moved. In fact, her best friend Olivia, comes with them to help them out for the next two weeks and that is pretty much the only thing that Gwen is happy for. But eventually she knows that Liv is going back home and she'll be stuck here with her mother who believes that the fairy mural painted in the second bedroom in their new flat is real and that they are watching her. \n On the first night, Gwen is awoken by something moving in the shadows and making noises, she thinks it's just a draft of some sort, until a hand clutches over her mouth and lifts her up and out of her room. After a freaky light show, some flying, and possibly a cannon fight, Gwen finds herself falling into water and losing consciousness. When she wakes up she is on board a ship and its Captain welcomes her to the last place she ever thought possible. Neverland. Only this isn't the land from the stories and Captain isn't the villain he is made out to be. Pan, on the other hand, just might be the villain and he wants Gwen no matter the cost. \n So Maxwell had a lot to live up to with her rendition of Hook, and she did come close to beating Killian, but she fell just a little bit short. The first few chapters were a little slow and didn't give too much information, but once Gwen drops into Neverland the pace picks up and the witty conversation flies.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 17 17:26:56 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 26 21:45:58 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Mar 24 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "23688792", "review_id": "02ac14263197eee234b4f9275cb87874", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for These Vicious Masks at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I won't lie, These Vicious Masks is somewhat similar to The Dark Days Club; takes place in England during a time where women socialize and look for husbands and it isn't proper for them to be running around without some sort of chaperone, people with special powers that no one really understands, and some sort of special organization that everyone with these powers fears. Although, the latter doesn't really get explained in great detail, which is where I have a feeling the sequel is going to focus on. But I digress.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 17 17:26:34 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 15 13:08:29 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "25489567", "review_id": "1120a3858455e082df400cfa06eade4d", "rating": 2, "review_text": "See full review for The Love that Split the World at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Natalie Cleary has always been a little strange. She's been able to see and talk to a woman she calls 'Grandmother' since she was small. Her parents took her to therapists to resolve the problem and after some therapy Grandmother disappeared and she became normal. Somewhat. Three years later, she wakes up in the middle of the night to find Grandmother by her bed again and with her usual story, but this time she also has a cryptic warning. She has three months to save him and Alice Chan will help her. Then Grandmother disappears and weird things start happening to Natalie. Her town starts disappearing for seconds then minutes then hours at a time. \n She doesn't know when it will happen and she is officially scared. Who did Grandmother possibly mean to save in three months? And what can Alice Chan do that no other therapist has been able to? She goes to search for answers knowing that no only does she have three months, but that she has even less considering she has to go up to Rhode Island soon to start her new school. Along the way she encounters Beau Wilkes who goes to her school but who she has never seen before. He may just have the answers she needs, but at what cost? \n So, when I first read the summary of this book I'll admit I was a little hesitant to read it. I don't usually read books that are surrounded in Native American culture, sometimes they are not my cup of tea. But everywhere I was looking I kept hearing good things about The Love that Split the World and decided to give it a go. I think I should have listened to my instincts.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 06 17:52:24 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 09 14:48:59 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jul 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "18490681", "review_id": "0274e80e51d814e775245e2eef117e7e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Kiss of Deception at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So, like The Impostor Queen I found that the beginning of this book was dragging. The author hits you with a lot of information all at once with little to no backstory. Told from Princess Lia's perspective, you're dropped in just as she's getting a 'tattoo' of her marriage vow to the Prince of the neighboring nation (don't ask me to spell it). But Lia has plans of her own. She's never liked that she was a First Daughter of the House of Morrighan, especially since she has yet to receive her powers that comes with that title. She wants to make her own destiny and she does. With the help of her handmaiden Paulette she runs and ensconces herself in the neighboring town as a barmaid. The Kiss of Deception picks up when the Prince that she ditched goes after her and an assassin is sent after her too. When both show up on the scene, title chapters are switched to their names Kaden and Rafe, but you don't know who is who. I had a fun time trying to put together what clues I could to figure it out. But it always switched, just when I thought I was onto something.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 05 21:36:11 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 18 14:06:09 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Mar 07 17:47:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Mar 06 17:29:21 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "28260524", "review_id": "ae3cf669753e08a6a7cc667204eaad90", "rating": 2, "review_text": "See full review for Stealing Snow at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n When I first read the summary to this book I was really excited to read it. A fairy tale twist on the story of the Snow Queen. It sounded right up my alley. And as I started reading Stealing Snow, I got this sense of deja vu. I couldn't figure out why until Snow ran into the River Witch and her friends Kai and Gerde. They reminded me a lot of the Order of the Wicked from Paige's other book series Dorothy Must Die. And as the story continued to unfold there were a lot of similarities. Then there was also the fact that this story was very disjointed. After years in a psych ward, Snow is very distrusting and seems to be focused on one thing - finding Bale, the boy she's fallen in love with despite the fact that her kiss caused him to go insane and hurt her.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 01 22:21:27 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 18 10:22:36 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Dec 14 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Dec 12 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "23398607", "review_id": "6191289f68f516876c2c21f344f2ebb9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Ink and Bone at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I don't even know where to begin with this book because it was very strange and not what I normally read. It is very literary with the mentions of books and the Great Library of Alexandria - which to be honest, I never really knew about before I read this book - and the storyline is quite complex. There were a few times where I seriously considered giving up on this book, but I pushed through somehow. Jess is a strange narrator because he's not necessarily good, but he's not necessarily bad either. Because of his upbringing in the world of book smuggling he's used to doing backhanded things to help his family, but that doesn't mean that he enjoys them. In fact, when his father puts him forward to be a spy in the Library, Jess is very reluctant to do so. He wants to be a Librarian. But he doesn't want to be a spy for his family. It's admirable really.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 01 22:10:37 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 20 11:23:31 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "13612965", "review_id": "9b6d471d726c37355568271cb494b4b2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for The Bronze Key at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n My problem with this series is the same throughout all three books so far. Each book is too short and the events within it are rushed. The Bronze Key is annoyingly brief.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 01 21:58:57 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 11 09:23:19 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Dec 05 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Dec 04 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "15723498", "review_id": "b53ddf7906db19d4a699ad031c44a064", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Tiger's Destiny at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Everything that Kelsey Hayes has done for her tigers has led to this. After being kidnapped by Lokesh in the last book, she must find a way to get out before he can do what he wants with her. But because he has so many pieces of the amulet already, his powers far exceed her own. Her only hope is that her two tigers are on their way to find her. Because once they rescue her they still have one last sacrifice to find to break the curse, but this one might take the most from all of them. \n Look, I don't want to waste too much time on a summary of what happened in this book. All you need to know is that there was a lot of drama, adventure, romance, and loss. I loved that Tiger's Destiny diverted a little bit from it's usual pattern of figuring out the clues to find the final sacrifice and instead went straight to Kelsey's time with her kidnapper. If I thought Lokesh was a disillusioned villain before, I thought he was downright crazy in this book. There were a few moments in the first few chapters that I had to go and do something else because Lokesh was being just a little bit too creepy and the way that Kelsey was trying to play him was a little bit disturbing.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 01 16:54:44 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 06 14:38:34 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "23308084", "review_id": "21cd08a77f80c64ab3f7ec103f93ead2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Rose & the Dagger at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n After reading The Wrath & the Dawn earlier this year and the cliffhanger that was left here is another book that I was really excited for its release. But this one for some reason wasn't as awesome as the other books that I was excited for. Don't get me wrong, the story was still good, the characters were amazing - especially the character development of Khalid and Tariq - but there was just something about the plot and the way that everything tied together that kind of left me wanting.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 28 20:51:31 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 08 12:45:47 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "12171378", "review_id": "e836e073e8c0d59ab2872822df85e567", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Tiger's Voyage at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n After rescuing the love of her life from the clutches of her worst enemy, Kelsey's world has been turned upside down again when she realizes that Ren doesn't remember who she is and doesn't feel anything towards her except annoyance. After having a small pity party for herself, though, she comes back stronger than ever and determined to only be friends with Ren since that was how they started the last time. He agrees to her plan and things become easier between them as they, Mr. Kadam and Kishan go on the lookout for the third sacrifice to Durga. \n But this one is different than the others. This one has many more challenges that center around the most mythical creature of all. Dragons. Apparently, there are five of them and to get the third sacrifice - Durga's Necklace - they're going to not only learn how to dive but implore the help of these legendary beasts. Along the way, wills will be tested, love will flourish and hearts will break (multiple times), and their lives will be put on the line. \n There's good news and there is bad news with this book. The good news is I had a lot of emotions while reading this book. The bad news is because I was reading this book at work and there were a lot of times where I gasped, teared, laughed, etc. out loud a lot of people at work now think that I am crazy. Whoops. Oh, well.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 25 19:14:27 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 06 14:34:42 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "10382285", "review_id": "2d8cfee4a55464f47e8cd4e246e49cc7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Tiger's Quest at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Kelsey has been through it all over the last four months. She found out that not everything is what it seems. She has gone through a lot of dangerous things all to break a curse on two Indian princes. She also fell in love with one, but she pushed him away because there was no way that he could love her especially when he had been stuck as a tiger for so long. However, it's hard to leave him and when she gets back home to Oregon she comes to realize that it's even harder to forget him and move on. \n I was so desperate to read this book, that before I even finished book 1 I checked it out from the digital library - which is usually something I don't do. After the way Tiger's Curse ended, I needed to know what happened next as soon as possible. There was no way that Kelsey was going to be Ren free for long and I turned and devoured pages until he showed back up on the scene. Talk about the best Christmas present ever. Like the first book, this book has a lot of adventure and again I'm going to make a reference to the Indiana Jones movies. Only instead of boulders going after our heroes it's mythical creatures.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 18 16:38:48 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 30 11:43:22 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "29091900", "review_id": "d6c2628c1fc04569804dfbb8804f3574", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for The Dark Days Club at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I wanted to like this book because it sounded like something up my alley. London in the eighteen hundreds, a supernatural twist, and a female heroine who has to defy the restraints of her sex in the time period. I was intrigued. But it didn't last. The Dark Days Club takes a while to set up its world, and normally I wouldn't mind a long set up, but this one was quite boring. Lady Helen is about to make her debut in front of the queen and her aunt and uncle - who have taken custody of her since her parents death - are very focused on this debut, because it is her season and they have their eyes on the Duke of Selton. There are a few interesting tidbits thrown in that kept me flipping pages - like the mystery of why her mother is considered a traitor to the crown, her brother, and the disappearance of a maid - but if Lord Carlston hadn't showed up when he did, I probably wouldn't have finished this book.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 16 10:03:12 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 27 13:21:30 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Feb 24 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Feb 17 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "28449207", "review_id": "a5d1891a70ede3e44cba7096ba86444c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Strange the Dreamer at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Four years ago, I fell in love with Laini Taylor and her Daughter of Smoke and Bone series (even if I haven't yet finished that yet, but that's another story). So when I heard that she was writing a new duology, I was so excited. And I was even more excited when I found the new book at my library on the new release shelf. I took it home and started reading it last week and even though it was slow going (because I was reading two books at the same time) I loved every minute of it.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 24 19:45:46 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 22 09:31:01 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jul 15 16:30:19 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jul 11 16:21:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "25524583", "review_id": "a6f3bc847d0748cea1b08c9cb08fa6a2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for The Wrath and the Dawn at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n In a land ruled by a boy-king, every dawn brings about heartache for a new family. The boy-king is kind and strong in his ruling, but in one thing do his people find fault. For the last few months, everyday Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan choses a new bride to be his. But she never makes it to the next day. By dawn, her body is found with a silk chord wrapped around her neck. The people are in uproar and fear who comes next. When Shahrzad (Shazi for short) best friend Shiva becomes the king's latest victim she swear revenge and volunteers to become Khalid's next victim. \n But things don't go according to plan. For the first time, Khalid actually visits a wife and has dinner with her. Right before he leaves, she begins to tell him a story, one that he raptly listens to, even when it lasts past the dawn. He makes a decision to let her live one more night, but soon one more night turns into weeks and then months. And Shazi is slowly starting to forget why she came to the palace to begin with... \n It's been over twelve hours since I've finished this book and I honestly can't even put into words what I'm feeling right now.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 08 20:45:44 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 07 12:11:14 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "25946985", "review_id": "19cc1dcd055c2fc294d0159f79b51b58", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Oblivion at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n The ruling theme in 2015? Taking the first book of a popular series that was told in a the female protagonist POV and switching it to the male love interest. A good chunk of the time I don't waste my time with books like this because I don't want to re-read a book just to get the guy's point of view but lately the authors who have good male characters have been releasing these books. \n Oblivion is the re-telling of Obsidian from Daemon's point of view and because I purchased it through the iBookstore I also got Onyx and Opal told from Daemon's POV. And I have to say it was worth the $6.99 I spent.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 24 10:17:02 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 07 08:48:51 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Dec 14 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "18602406", "review_id": "4b5447dd7afcb64934798884718e57db", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Yellow Brick War at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n After everything that Amy Gumm has been through over the last few months she didn't really expect this. She's back in Kansas even though there is still a war raging in Oz and she needs to stop it. Luckily she isn't alone. The Order of the Wicked - Mombi, Gert, and Glamora - are with her and so is Dorothy. Sensing their chance the Order forms the Quadrant - aligning all cardinal directions of Oz - by adding Nox to their number and they try to take out Dorothy. But she still has the ruby slippers and escapes back to Oz. Now, Amy learns the startling truth that the three items she was commanded to find had nothing to do with killing Dorothy but had to do with unlocking the Wizard's dastardly plan to merge Kansas with Oz and that Nox can never truly be hers. She also learns that the key to defeating Dorothy lies in her original slippers that she wore on her first journey to Oz and that are still in Kansas - somewhere on the grounds of her old high school actually. And it's only been a month since the tornado that destroyed her trailer and took her to Oz. \n Now, Amy has to go live with her - newly sober - mother and try to get back into the high school where she was previously suspended. But despite all that, things are about to get weirder when not only does Madison - her nemesis and resident mean girl - treat her like a friend, but a mysterious being called the Nome King shows up too and might have plans for Amy. \n Okay, look, if I thought book 2 was bad with all the dark, magic, and dead bodies, that had nothing on this book. Yellow Brick War straddles the line between plot device and just down right evil.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 14 13:11:29 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 09 22:09:53 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "15745371", "review_id": "ac287cf3a788c13a4b733b5249477315", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Chosen at Nightfall at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n In the stunning conclusion to the Shadow Falls series - yes, I did actually type that phrase to describe this book - Kylie is living with her real grandfather and aunt on the chameleon preservation. Despite wanting to be there because she wants to learn how to control her powers, she feels isolated. Her grandfather is so paranoid about the FRU finding them that he limits her contact with Holiday and anyone she knew back in Shadow Falls. But her loneliness doesn't last when Burnett, Derek and Lucas show up to tell her about an even that happened back at the camp. Something that has to deal with her. \n Her friend Helen was attacked, and everyone believes it was Mario - the rogue chameleon who's been after her since book 1 - who did it to drag Kylie out of hiding so that way he can attack. Knowing that it is because of her and knowing that she isn't safe among her own kind, she decides to go back to Shadow Falls, but even that is complicated. Between the chameleon elders wanting to kidnap her and make her stay, Lucas still hanging around despite everything he's done, and the whole Mario situation the last thing Kylie needs is another ghost. But that's just what she gets. \n Okay, so I ate this book up. I seriously read over half of it in one day and the only reason I put it down was because I had to go to sleep for work the next morning.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 12 17:17:25 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 26 20:42:06 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Dec 19 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Dec 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "13416236", "review_id": "f7dc2af1df520a17390f0c28d67bb449", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Whispers at Moonrise at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Kylie has finally got an answer in the elusive question of what she is. According to her father, she is a chameleon, but with the answer comes a lot more questions. What exactly is a chameleon? Why is it that there are no other records of chameleons? And how can she control all her different powers without having a mental breakdown? But there are other questions too that don't have to deal with what she is, and the top most one is why is she seeing Holiday's ghost when the camp leader isn't dead? \n Okay, this book was a real emotional roller coaster. Between everyone thinking that Kylie was a lizard - seriously? - and Kylie reconnecting with her real family, not to mention the whole Lucas/Derek love triangle I kind of need a drink. The two things that I've liked about this book series was the relationship between Kylie, Miranda, and Della and the focus on Holiday and Burnett and the whole will they won't they situation they had going on. In Whispers at Moonrise, I get a lot of that, plus some unexpected things.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 12 17:17:19 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 11:50:22 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Dec 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Dec 10 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "12866426", "review_id": "17de8c975d4f8588ff213543c6c9296c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Taken at Dusk at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Kylie Galen doesn't know what she is and she's been spending the last four months trying to figure that out. She's hoping that she will get a major clue when her father's adoptive parents show up at camp to meet her for the first time. But just as she thinks she's getting answers, it is revealed that the couple that came to see her wasn't who they said they were. Burnett - the vampire who works with Holiday as camp advisor - promises that they will investigate the matter, because they need to know whom the couple works for. Like maybe the old vampire and his grandson who kidnapped her in the last book? \n With that in her head, Kylie has a lot of other stuff going on. She's still trying to figure out who she is and it doesn't get any clearer even when her brain pattern is finally revealed to the others - they just see a human, but everyone knows that that can't be right. She also has to deal with an evil deer and eagle, a persistent blue jay, another ghost who may or may not be a baby murderer, and Derek comes back to the camp making the whole Lucas-Derek-Kylie love triangle go up a few notches. For someone who may not be normal she sure does have a lot of normal teenaged problems. \n For the record, this book made me feel really stupid, and it's only because the whole time I was trying to figure out what Kylie was I kept missing important details that Hunter was dropping.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 12 17:17:14 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 11:42:26 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Dec 10 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "10800916", "review_id": "39deab3e882be6671b6d214e96fffd9f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Awake at Dawn at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Kylie Galen's life has literally been turned upside down this summer and it's all thanks to being sent to Shadow Falls camp. But unlike what the website states, this camp isn't for teenage delinquents, it's for teenagers with unique abilities. Like being a vampire, witch, werewolf, fairy, or shape shifter. But even amongst the supernatural, Kylie is still labeled weird. She can see ghosts and her brain - which should show her unique signature - is shut off to the other supernaturals around her. But as Awake at Dawn begins, things are getting really strange when at a vampire ceremony, Kylie takes a sip of blood and likes it. \n The weirdness doesn't stop there when she's also being followed around by a wolf, her strength and hearing are heightened, her mood swings go over the top, and she has a huge growth spurt. The questions about what Kylie really is continue to grow in number and even she is confused and doesn't know where to find the answers. She decides to start with Daniel - her real dad - adoptive parents, hoping that maybe they can fill in the blanks. But even as she struggles with who she is, she also has to decide which boy she likes. Derek - the always there for her - fairy who can manipulate her emotions? Or Lucas - the mysterious guy from her past - wolf who left camp with his ex-hookup? Let the drama commence. \n Do you ever read bad fanfiction? But for some reason, despite how bad it is you can't stop reading it because you want to know how things end? That was me with Awake at Dawn and right now with the Shadow Falls series.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 12 17:17:07 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 12 09:46:50 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "27245910", "review_id": "6fb103e9e1a24375001998ba9a61b372", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Shadow Hour at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So, I don't really remember the events of the first book and when I went to go read my review I cursed my past self for being so horribly vague about what happened. I remembered the whole two warring species of legend aspect and that Echo who was of neither was in the middle even though she housed with the Avicen and was kind of in love with one of their members - Rowan - and had a best friend - Ivy. And that the 'prince' of the Drakharin - Caius - was following her hoping to find the firebird but really he fell for her instead. But that was all I remembered from book 1. I didn't really remember the characters of Jasper and Dorian. And I barely remembered Echo becoming the firebird to save her friends' lives. However, Grey does a really good job of summarizing the events that happened at the end of book 1. \n Once you get past that though, there is A LOT of sitting around and tending to wounds in this book, which is sad considering something more could have been done in 421 pages. I understand why there was a lot of sitting around though, because of the fact that with Echo being the firebird she wasn't really sure who she could trust. But it isn't until they realize that the firebird wasn't the only thing that was released that night, do things get rather interesting.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 12 17:16:14 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 13 10:01:20 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "27161833", "review_id": "151d109bdd6ef64e3ba0c1ff4cb8e8f1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for The King Slayer at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n After having my emotions wrecked by the last two books I read, I was in desperate need of a book that was funny and who's characters I wasn't all that emotionally invested in. Enter The King Slayer. It's been over a year since I read the previous novel, so I figured for sure that I wasn't going to be too broken up about characters and their fates. I was right. While this book still has the action-packed pace, I think it kind of stepped away from the characters that were in the previous book.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 12 17:15:53 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 10 14:58:09 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "31226229", "review_id": "c6091113027ede70c45d7263b2529f23", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Poisoned Blade at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So, while Court of Fives was all about Jes and how she maneuvered through her new life as a competitor in the Fives with a Patron backing her, this book is a little bit more complex. Apparently there is a plot afoot a complex political plot that drove me absolutely insane.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 12 17:14:34 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 24 12:11:42 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "26860475", "review_id": "b1a489dc7db9a57e15ae8f428a516a32", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Huh. This book wasn't quite what I was expecting. Full review to come. \n Update 1/28/17: \n See full review for Life and Death at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I'll admit when I first heard about this I was annoyed. For the tenth anniversary she released a gender bend version of Twilight instead of Midnight Sun which is what I really wanted to see? How lame. And as the reviews poured in for it, I was just skeptical to even try reading it. When I finally got around to it a few days ago, I was biting my lip through the first five chapters, because I was going out of my mind with boredom. It was almost like the same story, just with Beau instead of Bella, Edythe instead of Edward, McKayla instead of Mike - although I have to admit with this character the female version was more annoying than the male - and so on. I was half tempted to stop reading it and leave it abandoned.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 10 14:09:32 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 01 11:54:19 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jan 23 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "25776030", "review_id": "e7b2da88e600db81912dda3d8656ec66", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Unforgiven at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Luce and Daniel have gone off into the sunset, living their happily ever after. But one of their friends isn't so happy. Cam's whole existence was changed because of the Luce/Daniel love story. In one of the many times that the couple fell in love, Cam met a girl named Lilith who changed his whole world. He was going to marry her. Until she wanted to get married in a temple - and he couldn't do it without burning the building down. Not wanting to tell her the reason why he can't get married in a temple, he broke things off with her; breaking his heart and hers in the process. He never knew what happened to her after he denied her, but he's about to find out. \n It starts with a song - Lilith's song - and a little help from Arrianne who tells him that Lilith ended up in hell. Cam goes out in search of Lucifer, but he doesn't have to look far. Lucifer knows what he wants, so he shows Cam what he wants to see. But Cam isn't satisfied with just a glimpse of her, especially because she is in Hell. So he makes a deal with the devil. If Lilith can fall in love with him again in fifteen days, then she goes free. If he can't, he has to stay by Lucifer's side for all eternity. Let the games begin... \n You know I hate the timing of the release of this book. If this book had come out after Fallen had, I probably would have been really excited to read it because CAM. Out of all the fallen angels, he was my favorite. But, since this book came out after the events of Rapture, I wasn't all that excited to read it. I would rather have known what happened with Luce and Daniel and their attempt to fall in love for the umpteenth time, only this time with no memories of past lives. But alas... \n Anyway, this story is okay. It's very bleak - obviously because of Hell - and the odds seemed to be stacked up against Cam.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 10 14:05:19 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat May 14 21:23:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "27840861", "review_id": "379fc3a4ffe64d79beace84f1bcf2893", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Full review to come. Until then...AMAZING. \n Update 12/31/16: \n See full review for Crooked Kingdom at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Considering my record in the last few months with anticipated releases, I thought for sure Crooked Kingdom was going to be one of those books that was going to wind up letting me down. Especially because it had been so long since I last read Six of Crows. But I should have known better. It didn't take me long to get reacquainted with the world of the Grisha and the Crows that I came to know and love during the previous book. The group hasn't really changed since the last book, they just have a new mission with a little bit more higher stakes. A member of their gang has been kidnapped and the only way they can get her back is if they trade her for the precious prize they picked up while in the Ice Kingdom. But Kaz isn't about to go down without a fight and the plans his mind comes up with are just a genius to behold. This book is one twisty ride of fun. Just when you think the Crows have met their match, Kaz shows that he really has thought of it all and will stop at nothing to get his revenge.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 09 23:23:19 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 31 08:51:16 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Dec 23 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Dec 22 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "26073150", "review_id": "5d5207706afcc6ee23432c4763ffafa7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "My emotions are still in turmoil. To see all of my thoughts on A Court of Mist and Fury go to: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So before I even started A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOMAF), I went back and reread A Court of Thorns and Roses to rehash my memories about what happened in that book. I'm kind of glad that I did. Because I was able to see just how broken Feyre had become on that last task, so when the second book began I understood what she was going through. She was not the same Feyre that she was before she wend Under the Mountain. However, that didn't mean I wasn't going to be pissed about it. And yes, I was pissed.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 07 15:08:43 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 10 14:52:25 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Sep 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "29099150", "review_id": "0a24e157ea703bf97941b3024d84f9ed", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review Into the Fire at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n To be honest, because this book got pushed back so many times I didn't really remember anything that had happened in books 1-3. Sure, I remembered Leila and Vlad and all the crazy shenanigans that they had been going through and something major had happened at the end of the last book. But that was about it. Thankfully, Frost catches you up quick and not with a boring recap, but with an intense, action packed first chapter that sweeps you right back into the world of the Night Prince.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 07 15:06:28 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 08 12:10:00 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jun 29 16:39:52 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jun 26 05:10:53 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "23830990", "review_id": "6163aef9f58f9eb6399373d2b7e27270", "rating": 2, "review_text": "See full review for The Rest of Us Just Live Here at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Imagine this. You live in a small town, you're friends with a few people (your older sister, the jock who's actually gay, and your sister's best friend who you've been madly in love with for forever) and you're about to graduate from high school. But then weird things start happening in town, something of the supernatural variety, not that you know that, you're painfully ignorant. You notice the weird but you're not a hundred percent sure what it's all about. Because you and your friends aren't the 'Chosen One.' You're just the secondary characters who have their own problems other than the weird blue light and spooky looking deer. \n *sigh* Where to even begin with this book? Hm...okay, look I loved the concept of this book. What if there's something big and supernatural going on in a town, but the narrator and his friends aren't the ones who are supposed to save it? Great. The diversity of characters - a jock who's guy and a quarter God (which I will get into later) and a POC as the narrator's love interest - fantastic! But, unfortunately, that's where the greatness ends.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 04 15:38:37 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 13 13:30:53 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "12254451", "review_id": "7a9aadcf9bb7138eb00dff3ffe4329b4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Tiger's Curse at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Kelsey has just graduated from high school and is on the prowl to find a summer job, something that will give her experience so that when the new school year rolls around she can find an even better one to help pay for her tuition. The only place hiring though is a traveling circus and they need her help for various tasks. One of which involves a tiger. Instead of being afraid of the beast though, she finds herself drawn to it and connects with it in a way she hasn't connected with anyone since her parents died. \n But it's not to be. Her time at the circus is coming to a close and the tiger is sold to a wealthy man in India. However, something strange happens. The man who came to pick up the tiger from the circus offers Kelsey a job to help escort the tiger to the new owner. Figuring it would look good on her resume and because she doesn't want to be separated from the tiger - named Ren - just yet she agrees and starts a most interesting journey of her life. \n I'll admit that when I started this book I was a little wary. I don't like taking chances on books all that often and this one didn't seem to be one that was up my alley. But after reading the summary and a glowing recommendation from one of the coaches at work I put it on my reading list. And I am really, really glad that I did. What starts out as a sort of cutesy human/tiger bonding sessions turns to fantasy as Ren turns from a tiger into a man and back again.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 04 15:37:54 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 25 19:15:15 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "17342750", "review_id": "b7c36f81ccb24991d2a5dbce2956a51a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Solider at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So, let's be real, I love Julie Kagawa's books. She creates these worlds that are just so awesome and magical that I just wished that I lived there instead of in this one. But, since these worlds are all fiction, that is not to be. However, every time a new book in the Talon Saga comes out I'm transported to a really cool world of dragons and conspiracy. And unfortunately, love triangles, but I'll get into that little misfit later. Usually when it comes to books in multiple POVs I'm not the biggest fan. I like books to stick to two characters points of view max, when more than that get added to the mix I get supremely confused. However, in this book I liked seeing what was happening from all sides. You got to see Ember's inner thoughts and emotions. You got to see Riley and Dante's side. And then, my favorite, Garret and his younger years Sebastian. I felt like I knew what was happening at all times and it made for some delicious reading.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 03 11:40:15 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 13 10:08:59 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "22909838", "review_id": "10543d0b12272bdfc75bd04cbf7f4b12", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Mirror King at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n To be honest, I didn't really remember the events in The Orphan Queen and when I went to read my review for that book, I was kind of disappointed with how vague about events I was. That really didn't help me in trying to remember the first book. Luckily, The Mirror King filled in the holes quite nicely. My problem with the first book was that the execution of the plot was shaky. The first book had a lot of parts that I skimmed through because they were dry. The Mirror King didn't have the same problem. In fact, the execution of the plot wasn't shaky at all.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 17 18:56:54 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 09 15:02:58 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "24701624", "review_id": "982d474a06be78ae587bdaf49b158bac", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Queen of Shadows at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Aelin is back in Rifthold after awakening the part of her that she kept buried for years in Wendlyn. No longer the King's Assassin, she is the Queen of Terrasen and she has revenge to wreak on the King of Adarlan and his Valg army. But before she can avenge her parents' deaths, she must first get back her cousin Aedion from the King's clutches. To do that she needs to seek help from the last two people who would be willing to help her. Chaol - the King's former Captain of the Guard - and Arowyn - the King of Assassins who betrayed Aelin years ago and threw her into Endovier. She hasn't spoken to Chaol since he got her out of Rifthold and saw who she truly was and he has a lot to tell her. Starting with why he isn't the captain of the king's guard anymore and what exactly has happened to their mutual friend Prince Dorian. \n Arowyn, on the other hand, Aelin has plans for. She hasn't exactly forgiven him for all those years she was trapped in Endovier because of his betrayal and she hasn't forgiven him for what he did to Sam. Add in the fact that he has one of the Wyrdkeys that rightfully belongs to Aelin and things don't look all that good for the King of Assassins. On the other side of things, the King has something interesting up his sleeve that has to deal with the Valg princes - especially the one that now inhabits his son. Manon Blackbeak's story becomes even more intertwined with the rest of the Throne of Glass cast as she realizes just what kind of people her grandmother has allied themselves to. \n Okay, so I'll admit that after Heir of Fire I was desperate to get my hands on Queen of Shadows. Aelin was coming back to Rifthold to help her friends and not a moment too soon! This book - even though it was longer than book 3 - flew much faster with all the action and just PLOT between the pages.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 17 18:49:58 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 18 11:39:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "24366952", "review_id": "0e6ed6ea604dbdd9738c415a5619f987", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for The Rose Society at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Adelina is out for revenge. After being cast out of the Daggers - the only group that really accepted her for what she was - and losing the love of her life, she doesn't know what to do now. She takes her sister with her as they try to find a legendary Elite - Magiano. No one knows what his powers are, but Adelina knows that if they can get him on their side they can do anything. It isn't until they do find them, that everyone realizes there really isn't a next step. Not until Adelina offers him the best prize of all - The Crown's Treasury. But to do that they have to get past the Queen's Inquistor - Teren - and kill the Queen herself. \n As more people join her party, Adelina realizes that she can create her own group like the Daggers and be their leader. Even though her illusions are starting to get away from her again. And then she runs into the Daggers and realizes that they're up to the same plan. In a way. Only instead of killing the Queen and taking the throne for themselves they want to put Enzo on the throne. The prince who died in the last book. It turns out that Maeve - the Queen of Bedlain - has the power to retrieve him from the Underworld, but he needs to be anchored to someone - someone that can control him because when he comes back he will be ten times as powerful as he was before he died. Adelina and the others know that they can't let the Daggers win this one, but can they really risk anchoring Enzo to Adelina when she isn't really in control of herself? \n I was so excited to read this book, that when it finally became available on the digital library I wanted to start it immediately. But as soon as I did, I started getting kind of freaked out. This book was dark, and I mean darker than even the last book.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 17 18:49:11 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 27 13:07:12 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "23381014", "review_id": "1cf606f812cdc13feefede4f71054cb5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Angels Twice Descending at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Simon's time at the academy is coming to an end. He will soon Descend to become a Shadowhunter and he's feeling a little bit nervous. Not about the ceremony and potentially dying if he isn't worthy (although when he starts thinking about it that definitely doesn't help). But he's worried about getting back his memories. Will he actually get them back? Or will lose them all? One of their class has actually already left - to afraid to even try to Descend. While George - Simon's roommate and unofficial brother - is just feeling sentimental. \n Clary comes by to help Simon with the stress and to take him by his mom's place one last time. Because as of tomorrow, Simon can no longer see his human family. Because the Law is hard, but it is the Law. \n So, the last novella was an assault on my feelings, this one was a drop kick. Multiple drop kicks.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 17 18:29:30 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 10 10:00:06 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "23381012", "review_id": "ee68a325bb7cf78d6fc43179dbdc5e25", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Born to Endless Night at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n In the last novella it was mentioned that Magnus Bane was going to be coming to the Academy to do a series of guest lectures. What wasn't mentioned was that Alec was going to tag along with him. Simon is nervous about this because he hasn't seen Alec since his memories have been slowly coming back. And according to Jace, something nasty happened between the two of them. \n But things don't go according to plan. A baby is left on the doorstep of the Academy that is blue, but not from cold. It's a warlock. So Simon goes up to Magnus' room to ask what to do and accidentally walks in on Alec and Magnus in the act. Whoops. \n So, apparently, Clare was saving the assault on my feels for this one, because she hit them. And she hit them hard.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 17 18:29:28 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 10 09:54:34 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "26817444", "review_id": "e80af86a1c7648d52196d810b76d8fd7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Fiery Trial at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Simon gets called into a meeting with the dean of the academy. But what he doesn't expect to find is Jem, Catrina, Magnus and Clary waiting for him in the sitting room. Jem has come with news that Emma and Julian have decided to become parabati and that they want Clary and Simon to be their witnesses to such an event. Simon and Clary agree but they don't understand why all these people had to come to tell them that. Until they have the tea. \n Something weird happens after they drink it. They are transported to New York - or what appears to be the city - and meet these different people from their past, plus Jace is there and asking Simon if he remembers when they first met. Simon and Clary don't know what it means, and when they wake up Jem explains that they had water from the Lake, which caused the hallucinations. Apparently, despite the fact that Simon is 19, according to Shadowhunters he is still 18 and can legally become Clary's parabati especially because they passed the water trial. \n This another novella in the series that I'm not quite sure what to make of. While on one hand it's cool to know that Clary and Simon can be parabati if they want to and to Emma and Julian's ceremony, on the other, I'm mad again that Jace was there but barely really said anything.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 17 18:29:26 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 10 09:50:56 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "26124613", "review_id": "30aca054aaa3fafe69ffcde6ae509e13", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Bitter of Tongue at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Simon and a bunch of student from the academy are going on a mission to trap a lone faery who has been spotted out on the moors. George - Simon's friend - is elected group leader much to the rest of the group's disdain. And the reason is obvious when during the mission, members of the group spring a faery trap and are injured. Feeling bad, George tries to capture the faery even if it means going into Faerieland to do so. Simon knows what will happen to his friend if he goes into that land and rides out to stop him. Only he forgets that his horse is in mid gallop and is frightened because of the creatures and falls through the portal himself. \n To be honest, I'm not quite sure how I feel about this novella. While I like that it was a continuation of the last one, I kind of felt underwhelmed.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 17 18:29:22 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 10 09:47:45 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "23381006", "review_id": "319fab05ccf691779276933d91a67238", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Pale Kings and Princes at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n In this tale from the shadowhunter academy, Simon is in his second year at the academy and is dealing with what he did this summer. Which is that he went on three dates with Izzy and they all ended in disaster. \n As much as I loved reading Helen's tale about her dad and his tryst with the Seelie Queen, I was more interested in Simon's relationship than anything else and Clare really had me going when she wrote that the relationship was over. But I should have known better. Characters in these books don't stay broken up for long (except Simon and Clary, which I think should have never happened to begin with).", "date_added": "Thu Sep 17 18:28:58 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 02 14:25:20 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "25741605", "review_id": "0c5c89032ba80254bc794445e1efd5ec", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Mare Barrow is on the run. She used to be a Red - born with red blood with nothing special about her - until one day she accidentally revealed that she had Silver - born with silver blood and special abilities - abilities to the royal families. They took her in and tried to make her one of them, but she never wanted to be one of them. She planned a coup along with a few other Silvers - including her betrothed and the younger prince Maven - and the Scarlet Guard - an organization made up of Reds who go against the crown. She thought it was going to work out until she learned some horrifying truths. The Queen killed Cal - the older prince -mother and that her special gifts aren't as rare as she thought. There are hundreds of people like her - newbloods - and thankfully she has a list. But she forgot one very important lesson. In this time, anyone can betray anyone. \n Maven betrayed her. The Queen forced Cal to execute his own father and Maven arrested him for being a traitor along with Mare. They were to fight to the death in the arena, until they somehow escaped. Now they are on the run, but Mare has a plan. A poorly hatched plan, but a plan nonetheless. She has the list of the newbloods and she is going to save them, because Maven has that list too and he's coming for them. Only instead of killing them, she wants to protect them and maybe use them to form an army that will help take down the Silvers once and for all. \n All aboard! The train for the second book doldrums is here. Please watch your step. There are major spoilers ahead when you click on this link: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves....", "date_added": "Thu Sep 17 18:27:48 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 04 10:44:48 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "25710289", "review_id": "497e3d39b5a084f154c4f1385f54eae2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Every Last Breath at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n The last we left Layla, she had just been attacked and imprisoned by the Wardens. Roth and Cayman got her out and were able to heal her lethal wounds at a cost. While recovering she discovered that a Lilin had been made and had taken over her best friend Sam's body. When book 3 begins, Layla is confronting Sam/Lilin and he explains how he came to take over the body. She is pissed and changes into her Warden form, but something is different about her because the Lilin turns tail and runs. When she looks at her friends, they tell her that she should look in the mirror, because something about her transformation has changed. She now has feathers on her wings, and something else has changed about her because now even Upper Level demons are running from her in fear. \n That's not the worst of her problems either. Because of the Lilin's appearance, the Alphas have appeared and after calling her an abomination and trying to off her, they tell the Wardens that if something isn't done about the Lilin by them then THEY will have to take care of it, which will cause a huge war. Like apocalypse level. No pressure. So, now Layla has to destroy the Lilin before its too late and somewhere along the line she has to save Sam's soul too so that way he doesn't end in Hell for an eternity. \n Oh, jeez, I don't even know where to begin with this book. Like the last one it sent me on an emotional roller coaster that I'm still recovering from.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 17 18:27:24 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 17:42:36 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Nov 12 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "25741628", "review_id": "0301d45d644a7b6555cf3c007aa888fd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Reign of Shadows at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n In a land that has been in darkness for the last seventeen years, lives a girl in a tower. Only she isn't just any girl. She is Luna, the lost princess of the land of Relhok. She was born the night that the eclipse started, demonic creatures called the dwellers rose from the ground and the high chancellor to the King and Queen killed them both. Thankfully, two servants - Servo and Perla - were able to take Luna and escape into the Black Forest. She has lived there for the last seventeen years not able to leave the tower for fear of being killed despite her wishes of seeing the outside world. That doesn't stop her though from trying and on one night when she does sneak out of the tower she comes across three people who fall into one of Servo's traps and immediately bring down the dwellers.Despite Perla's voice in her head telling her not to, she helps them and takes them back to the tower where everything she has ever known changes. \n I'm sorry Ms. Jordan, but you can't do that to my feelings! I should have known though since we were getting to the end that some sort of 'OMG' moment was coming. Anyway, before I get too far into things because this is a relatively new release I'm going to put up this disclaimer: PLEASE DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK ABOVE IF YOU'RE NOT READY FOR SPOILERS.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 17 17:14:56 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 20 11:20:10 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Feb 17 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "20821111", "review_id": "01160d9cc0f9277ceb5feaef28e8e26b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Young Elites at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So after reading the Legend series (even as I make my way through Champion right now) I was kind of iffy about reading another Marie Lu series. Legend wasn't really my cup of tea and this series had been so hyped that I tried not to get my hopes up too far. But it was kind of hard not to when I started reading this book and it took me away from the very first chapter.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 17 16:59:18 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 30 11:58:29 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "23299513", "review_id": "7c2f0b206d1c05fa6e1132692fb2444f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for The Shadow Queen at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Well, that was pretty much one of the best retellings of Snow White that I've ever read or seen (and mind you, I still need to read Winter - shush, no judgement I'm getting to it). Once I got over the fact that this version of Snow White's name was Lorelai - and her last name was not Gilmore - and that she had magic, this story was very easy to fall into.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 17 16:56:59 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 15 09:28:51 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Oct 12 16:29:27 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Oct 10 18:18:40 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "23866511", "review_id": "171cee3369c73ab00a9a5da7b6fff360", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Sweet Temptation at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Last year I read this amazing book series about a girl who was part guardian angel and demon. She fell in love with another one of her kind - only he was just a child of a demon - and as most YA goes it was a forbidden romance. They try to fight their attraction to each other but fail spectacularly. While this is going on, the girl finds out that she is part of a prophecy that will bring about the salvation of her kind while also dispersing the world of the demons. I loved this series so much. So, when I was browsing the digital library for new releases to add to my wish list, I was shocked to find this book on the list. I hadn't heard about a book four, and was insanely curious as to what it was about. To be fair, it isn't really a book four, but more of a supplement to the series. It was Kai - the guy the girl falls in love with - point of view during those three books. \n I'll admit it. I jumped and squealed a lot internally and put a hold out on it automatically. And it was just as awesome, delicious, and dirty as I hoped it would be.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 10 11:11:29 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 11 06:30:58 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "18068907", "review_id": "a2480a6f7cd2c7cc13033bd188f22370", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review of Court of Fives at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n The greatest danger is that she might win. Jessamy is used to living a balancing act. She's the daughter of a Commoner and a Patron who is the country's greatest war hero. She is a mule. People look down at her because of what she is. But on the court of Fives, she is equal to everyone else as long as she has the skill. She does and on the eve of the biggest challenge of her life, her father comes home from battle ruining her plans. The next day she was supposed to run at the trials, but she can't with her father in attendance. However, she still wants to and comes up with a plan to do the unthinkable. \n She runs and almost wins, except at the last possible second she falters. The winner has to unmask and her father will know it was her. So she lets the person ahead of her win. It was a dumb move because that person was Kalliarkos, a noble Patron, and he does not like to win by cheating. He promises to keep her secret, only it doesn't matter. For his uncle, Lord Gargaron, already knows and uses his knowledge in an alarming way. He funds Jes's father, which will give him a higher position, but there are conditions. First, he has to leave Jes's mother and sisters and marry Gargaron's niece. Second, Jes has to go to Gargaron Stable - a training facility for the Fives - and do well or else. Much to Jes's shock, her father agrees to his terms and she is sent on an interesting ride where she gets her heart desire, but at a price. \n So Court of Fives is really confusing. There is a good story there, buried beneath bazillion names that are hard to keep track of (and hard to spell) and a million details that don't seem advantageous to the plot.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 17 18:35:09 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 03 11:33:50 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "25739892", "review_id": "32cc57c462e059613774c26f7ef91045", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for The Evil We Love at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Simon wrote a letter to Isabella and she returned it unopened. A few months later, as the students are getting ready for summer vacation (they even have summer vacation at the Academy? Really?) Isabella shows up with her father for a lecture to the students. The subject? Robert Lightwood's time in the Circle with Valentine and all the others. While Izzy is just their to cause havoc and torture Simon by flirting with his friends. But nothing compares to when she suggests that they summon a demon to bring to the end of the year party. Simon may not remember much, but he's pretty sure that she isn't like that.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 02 10:42:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 28 23:30:07 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "23437156", "review_id": "70c27ae8c0dee511f177369db34847df", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Six of Crows at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n In Ketterdam things are never easy, you're either trying to hard to stay alive or you're in a gang and are still trying to stay alive. When Six of Crows begins you're automatically dropped into a meeting between Kaz - a member of the Dregs - and a member of the Black Tips. Things aren't going well with this meeting and there are people who end up dead and traitors are named. But somehow, despite the odds, Kaz and his crew walk out of the scuffle mostly unscathed. That's when things get interesting one of the merchants approaches Kaz to do a job for him. A new drug that can heighten the abilities of the Grisha has hit the market and the Fjerds have captured its maker and are keeping him prisoner. The merchant - Van Eck - wants Kaz and a crew to go into the Ice Court and rescue him. Or else the economies as they know it will go sideways. \n It's an impossible task and Kaz sees no profit in it for him. Why would he care if the economy goes sideways? So Van Eck sweetens the pot. He offers thirty million krug if Kaz and his crew succeed in delivering this drug's creator to him. Not one to pass on such an exuberant amount of money he accepts. But before he can get in to an impenetrable fortress he's going to need a crew. He already has his Wraith - Inej - who is like a shadow and gets him out of sticky situations. He has his guns - Jesper - who is sharp at shooting but not so sharp at the gambling tables. And he even has a mechanic of sorts - Van Eck's son Wylan - who will do anything to prove himself worthy. Now all he needs a Grisha and someone who knows the Ice Court well. And he has just the two people in mind. Too bad neither of them can stand each other... \n So I have to admit that I absolutely adored this book. Leigh Bardugo is really awesome at what she does and the world in which she has created - which is really an extension of the Grisha universe - is just so detailed. It's amazing.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 20 18:59:59 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 06 09:53:11 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Nov 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "18669174", "review_id": "2d8e958f874a1d327f16826b537a0ddc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review The Queen of the Tearling at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I usually don't use the jacket copy when writing the summaries for my blog, but with this book I don't think I really had a choice. A lot of stuff is going on in this book and that summary was very helpful when I was trying to keep everything straight. Again, this was another book, that I had a feeling that I was going to give up on. In fact, there were a few times where I hovered over the return button, but something happened as I was chugging along that would make me give the book another chapter. \n So if you haven't figured it out yet, this book is slow. Like slower than most books. You're given a lot of information and introduced to a lot of characters before you even hit chapter three. However, if you can stick it out through the lagging and information overload, this book is actually quite interesting.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 07 18:47:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 20 11:12:31 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "25566011", "review_id": "9971accedfb6115357810e02fffd669f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Nothing but Shadows at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n This tale continues on with Simon's time at the Shadowhunter Academy. The elite Shadowhunters are still having issues with the mundanes and Simon is getting rather sick of it. One of the mundanes challenges the elite to a challenge - but not in anything the elite are used to - of baseball. They accept despite not knowing what baseball is. Simon is about to go help out the mundanes, when warlock pulls him aside and tells him that this isn't the first time the Shadowhunter academy has been almost pulled apart due to an elite and mundane rivalry. She then tells Simon the tale of James Herondale.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 05 13:09:05 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 28 23:29:41 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "22929540", "review_id": "964c181fdc6256290aee22d71fb6eb56", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Silver in the Blood at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Dacia and Lou are cousins who are close as sisters and are journeying to Romania to visit long lost family that they never know existed. On their way, each girl experiences some very weird things that make them even more anxious to get there. When they do the mysteries continue, to the point where they don't understand what is going on. But on the night of the full moon they learn the truth, not only about their family, but themselves. \n It turns out that Dacia and Lou's family protect the legendary Dracul family. The prince that Dacia met earlier in the book is part of that family and is trying to usurp the throne from King Carol of Romania because he believes he is the rightful ruler. And he wants the help of Dacia and Lou, because he believes that they are the Claw and the Wing. The Claw is the line of Dacia and Lou's family that turn into wolves, and Dacia is one of them and becomes their queen on her first night of transformation. And Lou is believed to be the Wing, the part of the family that turns into bats. But on the night of the transformation, Lou turns into the Smoke - part of the family that hasn't been seen in generations. But even after all this, Dacia and Lou don't want any part of their families legacy.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 30 19:32:46 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 30 09:50:50 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "20821525", "review_id": "42444571177943a9c533c33941d089f0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Stone Cold Touch at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So what do you do when the guy you're lusting after has been sent back to Hell, the guy you've liked since you were kids won't stop looking after you, and your adoptive family keep thinking the worst of you now that the truth about your parentage has been revealed? You continue on living a normal life, or as normal a life as being half-Warden half-demon can be. Layla has spent the last few weeks trying to get over the fact that not only is she the daughter of Lilith, but that the demon who was sent to watch over her - Roth - was sent back down to Hell to protect her and Zayne. The loss of Roth has hurt her deep especially with what he said before the portal opened I lost myself the moment I found you. But she's trying to move on from that. \n Besides weirder things are happening. A normal quiet kid in her biology class went off on a few kids almost killing them. Thanks to a weird headache she can no longer see people's souls. Zayne is acting really strange towards her. Ditto for her adoptive father Abbott and even Danika wants to be friends. But none of that really matters when demons show up at the Warden compound one night - including Roth - to team up with the Wardens because their worst fear has been realized. A Lilin has been created.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 23 16:39:58 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 13 16:42:07 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 24 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "10874177", "review_id": "6e4a810a056470fd3d85e8850bed754b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Etiquette & Espionage at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Sophronia is a wreck of trouble for her mother, even at the tender age of fourteen. She reads. She climbs. She even takes things apart to figure out how they work. Not something girls at that age in 1851 England should behave. That is why her mother has decided to take extreme measures and has elected a finishing school to take care of her. But something is amiss. While on the way to said finishing school - Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality - the carriage is waylaid by flyway man (think highwayman who can fly) and they seem to be looking for something. \n Sophronia with the help of the others in the carriage, take off and make it the school, but even the school is odd. It's location is top secret because it floats. And as Sophronia quickly finds out, they're not just teaching etiquette at this school, but something more. Like espionage.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 20 15:11:46 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 05 10:44:16 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "18006096", "review_id": "bab219c995b11ab5246561d5f8c7a309", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for White Hot Kiss at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Layla appears to be a normal seventeen-year-old, but as most books go, she really isn't. She's half-demon and half-Warden (a gargoyle that protects the world from demons). She goes to high school like a normal teenage girl does, but what she does afterwards is a little bit more than homework and studying. She tags demons for her Warden family to hunt at night. While on a tagging mission, the demon she is following turns out to be a completely different demon and is about to get the drop on her when an Upper Level demon steps in to save her. Not sure what to think, she bolts and doesn't think about it again until the next day when the demon shows up in her biology class. \n His name is Roth and he doesn't want to kill her despite her belief that he does. He actually needs her help with retrieving a book that unlocks all the origins of the demons. At first Layla isn't interested until he tells her that not only are the demons origins in this book, but the reason why the demons are suddenly after her is in it too. Despite her best intentions, curiosity gets the better of her and she goes down a road where she learns her true parentage and what the demons are after...", "date_added": "Sat Jun 20 15:10:14 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 13 16:41:52 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "23380999", "review_id": "f2ffad31320a84b226fe472f2ddf4bef", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Whitechapel Fiend at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I'm going to make this short and sweet folks. Ready? Simon is still at the Academy learning all his Shadowhunter things. He's still kind of reeling from his visits with Isabelle and Clary and isn't sure what to do. What he doesn't expect is to have Jace show up to teach the students the art of falling. 'The trick to falling isn't to fall at all.' Right. Anyway. Another guest speaker shows up this time it's Tessa Gray and she tells them the true origins of the serial killer, Jack the Ripper. He was a demon. Who knew? The tale ends with Jace reconnecting with Tessa - who is the only living person who knew the Herondales - and him owing Simon a favor. Simon writes a letter for him to give to Isabelle explaining what he meant by what he said in their last conversation. The end.", "date_added": "Mon May 25 13:25:43 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat May 30 10:32:06 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "25105196", "review_id": "cf0577e7c9e3fb50f09c67d320834f83", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Untamed at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n In this companion novel to the Splintered trilogy there are three short stories. The Boy in the Web is told from Alyssa's mothers perspective in the aftermath of Ensnared and how her and Thomas got ingrained into Wonderland and met Morpheus and Sister Two. The Moth in the Mirror follows Morpheus as he tries to figure out a way into Alyssa's heart by going through her human beloved's memories. In Six Impossible Things we are treated to an interesting sight, as Alyssa finally sheds her human life and becomes Wonderland's Queen with Morpheus at her side. \n I won't lie, the only reason I wanted to read this companion novel was for the short story Six Impossible Things, because I was really curious to see what happened to Alyssa after the epilogue in Ensnared. I wasn't too disappointed, but I'm jumping ahead of myself...", "date_added": "Thu May 21 23:12:00 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 02 13:07:52 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Mar 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Mar 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "20702029", "review_id": "c35d5cdcbc8b25ebb170303f141db7aa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Ensnared at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Alyssa has lost everything that is important to her and has ended up in the last place that she ever wanted to be. She is stuck in the asylum that her mother was in, because her father has worried that it's her turn for the madness. Her mother is missing as is her boyfriend Jeb and that's not all. Morpheus - her childhood friend - is gone and the rabbit hole to Wonderland has imploded. She is locked out of the one place that she could really call home all because of Red's attack on prom that changed everything. But she won't stay down long, she will find a way into Wonderland and the AnyElsewhere and get back everything that she has lost. This time around though her human half won't hamper her, because she has finally caved to the madness and she is unstoppable.", "date_added": "Tue May 19 17:23:16 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 31 13:49:23 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue May 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "23734628", "review_id": "fe1266884f7aff6ae00b3f68127a0ca2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Carry On at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n When I was originally reading Fangirl and read about Cath's obsession with the Simon Snow series, I wanted to read the books too. It almost sounded like Harry Potter with maybe a few differences. And I even tweeted Rainbow about it too, so when I heard about this book I was really excited. I think my excitement might have overwhelmed me, because when I actually read this book I was completely frustrated. Don't get me wrong, Carry On is good in its own special way, but there's a lot of mystification going on.", "date_added": "Mon May 18 19:58:23 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 18 15:45:27 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Thu Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "17449197", "review_id": "ebe0e48a41f113006f24e6f1fb8adc81", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Unhinged at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Alyssa Gardner has had quite the year. She went to the world of Wonderland, became it's queen and fought off Queen Red. She almost lost her best friend/boyfriend Jeb, but used her wish to save him and make him not remember his time in Wonderland. She decided not to rule though and to go back to her normal life. Now, everything seems to have gone back to normal. Her mother is home from the asylum, Jeb and her are dating, and she's about to graduate from high school. But there are still problems that remain... \n It starts with Allie's mosaics, before she went to Wonderland she used to create these masterpieces by using insects. Now, she has switched over to stones that she fills with her blood, and the images she creates are slightly disturbing and getting worse with each new creation. Then there are her nightmares about Wonderland, but it isn't the world she remembers. It looks like a war zone, and in these dreams Morpheus is there, trying to convince her to come back and claim her throne. She ignores it all until it almost becomes too late...", "date_added": "Fri May 15 17:15:11 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 31 13:48:58 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue May 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "20775055", "review_id": "4b5865b6ee44a8a0d10cd4ed2eee0ff3", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I'm not going to even bother writing a blog post review for this one. Undead and Unwary is proof positive of why I get very wary of series that go over 10 books. The usual witty and funny Betsy got on my nerves and her ignorance and selfish nature is downright annoying. It got to the point where I generally just wanted her dead. I usually don't give up on series once I get started, but for the Undead series I think I have to make an exception.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 19 14:19:15 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun May 10 09:55:41 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "20345202", "review_id": "1685abed06e97f8a6f435b33d37d08f4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for The Girl at Midnight at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n This is the story of two warring factions and how one person and a crew of misfits try to bring them to peace. On one side you have the Avicien, an ancient race of people with feathers for their hair and magic running through their veins. On the other side are the Drakharin, human like dragons. These two factions have been at war for centuries with massive body counts to show for it. In the middle we have a human girl named Echo (although that isn't her real name). She was brought into the Avicien's by the Ala when she was a small girl and has been pickpocketing for them ever since, even though some believe that she doesn't truly belong. \n Everything Echo knows though is about to be supremely tested when a simple birthday gift for the Ala turns into a scavenger hunt for the legendary firebird, whose power is rumored to be able to stop the war. But she isn't the only one searching for it, Caius - the Drakharin Prince - is also on the trail, and he has his own purposes for the firebird.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 16 09:05:41 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 10 14:23:08 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "20560137", "review_id": "7302bc406b93c93ad8d7bfb8be27c19b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for An Ember in the Ashes at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n in a lot of ways I liked this book. The characters were wonderfully created and jumped off the page. Laia, Elias, Izzie, Helene, and the Commandent especially. The plot of the book was intriguing and slightly confusing, but in a good way that sets up for clarification in future books.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 16 09:04:44 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 17 12:37:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Sep 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "23380998", "review_id": "20a91bfbfc1500c41aaf028a19415353", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Lost Herondale at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I think my reaction to finding out that there was a lost Herondale was pretty much the same one the rest of the fandom had, which was the following: EXCUSE ME? So of course I was really excited to read about the lost Herondale. But I was supremely disappointed. Simon Lewis is still at Shadowhunter Academy and trying to become the badass that he was when he was a Daylighter. One day a guest lecturer - who isn't Isabelle - shows up to tell them the worst thing a Shadowhunter can do. For those of you who don't know it's to betray his fellow Shadowhunters in battle. To put this point home, the lecturer tells them the story of Tobias Herondale who went out on a mission - one that he didn't want to go on to begin with since he had a pregnant wife at home - and when the going got tough he fled. He was never heard from again, but the punishment for abandoning his fellow Shadowhunters was taken out on his wife and unborn child. \n What's the point of all of this? Well, the instructors believe that it's time the Shadowhunters in training had some real life experience. There's a rogue vampire out there and their mission is to take her out. What could possibly go wrong?", "date_added": "Wed Mar 25 08:50:46 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 04 09:27:06 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Mar 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "13612962", "review_id": "e611111358746082c72833e2abb5af00", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Copper Gauntlet at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So, while the first book in this series had a lot of comparisons to Harry Potter, this one started to deviate. Especially with the ultimate question. How do you cope with knowing that you have the soul of the evilest mage living inside you? Well, if you're Call, you kind of don't. He makes lists of things he does throughout the summer/school year that either put him in the good guy category or Enemy of Death category. On the day he goes into his dad's basement and sees what he has planned, it's definitely an Enemy of Death kind of day. Not wanting to stick around - because he's not evil, he's not - Call takes off and visits with Tamara before the new school year begins. \n A few weeks into the new term, and the worst news is given. The Alkahest has been stolen and Call's dad is the number one suspect. And once the Assembly gets their hands on him, they're going to kill him. Not wanting his dad to die, Call decides to take off and find him before it's too late, but not alone. His friends Tamara and Aaron come with him, and on this journey, Call fights desperately to keep his darkest secret unknown...", "date_added": "Thu Mar 12 10:49:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 27 09:40:37 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Sep 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "22428828", "review_id": "e9eba69ee3025eb1688322033a5c3d1b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n This is a small story of what happened after the events of City of Heavenly Fire. Simon doesn't have all his memories back, but he has glimpses. He knows that if he wants to be the badass vampire from before - just less undead - then he's going to have to train. Jace - who now is really close to the guy, who knew? - offered to train him along with Clary, but Simon refused. If he's going to do this, he needs to do this away from the people that he formerly knew. So he goes to the newly reopened Shadowhunter Academy which is on the outskirts of Idris. And by newly reopened I mean, the building is still kind of rundown - the indoor plumbing doesn't even work and we won't get into the food that the dean decides to serve. \n But even here, the in-training Shadowhunters know who Simon Lewis is. He's a legend. He's the badass who helped the Shadowhunters win the last war. So that automatically makes him a member of the elite Shadowhunters, even though he's just a mundane.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 11 19:41:41 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 15 15:58:59 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Mar 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Mar 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "22552552", "review_id": "d9134634f73290f839fbeb21b419b26e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for The Orphan Queen at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n The Orphan Queen is the first for me. I've read plenty of fantasy books and I've read plenty of rebellion books and I've read plenty of both books combined. But this fantasy and rebellion book was different. You have your usual magic users, kings and queens, and successions and those trying to take back a kingdom. But the reason for the torn apart kingdoms was because of something called the wraith, which was born out of using magic. Huh. Interesting. \n Wilhelmina is the lost princess of the land of Aecor. Ten years ago, she was involved in the One Night War where the Indigo Kingdom attacked hers because her parents kidnapped the crown prince Tobiah. He saved her that night, while her parents were killed. Those other children who survived have gone on to form a group called the Ospreys that are trying to get Wil back to her throne. To do so they have a long plan that involves Wil and her friend Melanie infiltrating the Indigo Palace as refugees from a land that has already fallen to the wraith. But while there she can't complete her mission, not while she learns the truth about what really happened that night and what is out there that could save them all from the incoming wraith.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 09 19:46:31 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 17:27:28 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "23168406", "review_id": "de36e430a3712b380adda76d1e12e1d8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Rogue at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Ember Hill is on the run from her dragon association Talon, who had big plans for her and didn't want to let her go. She's also on the run from St. George, a dragon hunting organization, that wants her dead. The only reason she was able to escape with her life was because the guy she had been seeing while in Crescent Beach - Garrett - was part of St. George and helped her to escape. Finding out his true identity was a blow to her, but that doesn't stop her from going back to try and rescue him from certain death. \n Riley - the dragon she escaped with - thinks this plan is outrageous. Why would she willingly go into the enemy's nest especially when it could get her killed? But he knows better than to stop her, and agrees to come along to help out. However, once they're all free they need to keep running from Talon because they're quickly gaining on their heals. But Garrett isn't the only person she left behind when she ran. Her brother Dante is still with Talon and is working for them to get Ember back. No matter what. \n This book was action packed and never really seemed to stop. Just when you thought Ember and the gang could relax a little bit something else came along that would get them moving again.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 08 11:54:36 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 10 12:04:57 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Oct 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "18190208", "review_id": "c1c267254139f66d2b7d26d27a423c1d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Witch Hunter at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Elizabeth Grey lives in England back in the 1500s. Only this isn't the England that we know from books, this version has a different king (Malcolm), an Inquisitor and thirteen rules that govern the land. The recent rule bans all forms of witchcraft, and Elizabeth is a member of the Inquisitor's witch hunters. She hunts for those who are convicted of witchcraft alongside her best friend since childhood, Caleb. But things take a bad turn when she is found with witch's herbs and is arrested for witchcraft. She is sentenced to burn, until a mysterious stranger gets her out of prison, his only request is that she help him. This mysterious stranger turns out to be the most wanted wizard in the country and Elizabeth has agreed to helping him break the curse that is slowly killing him. Along the way she starts to wonder if what she's been taught since birth that witchcraft is evil, isn't one hundred percent true.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 15 09:52:14 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 18 09:16:21 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "22308716", "review_id": "0c71f23060e6513f28cad1496b6a7e61", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Red Queen at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Red Queen takes place in a futuristic world where the states are no longer in existence. In this new world, there are two different types of people: the Reds and the Silvers. The Silvers are those in power because they have powers - some can control fire, read minds, control water, etc. - and the Reds are the lowest of the low. They are the scum in this world and are used as slaves to the Silvers. The other difference between the two is the color of their blood. Reds have red and Silvers have silver. \n Mare Barrow is a Red, a thief and almost out of school. She is concerned because if she doesn't have a job lined up right after she's done with school she gets conscripted to the army. Her three older brothers have already left for the army and she doesn't want to go. But she knows that there isn't anything she can do. No one will hire her, not after knowing about her thieving reputation. Her best friend Kilhorn turns everything around though when his boss dies leaving him unemployed and about to be conscripted. The only way out for the both of them is to run. She asks her black market buyer for help and he teams her up with the The Scarlet Guard. A group that can get her and her friend out, but everything comes at a price and this one is too high. \n It doesn't stop Mare from trying though which only ends up with her sister - who works at the Silver palace - having a broken hand for trying to help. Mare, feeling guilty, goes out into the night and starts pickpocketing. Except she pickpockets the wrong person. She pickpockets the prince - not that she knows that at the time, he just introduces himself as Cal - but instead of turning her in he does something else for her. He gets her a job at the palace and it changes her life forever. Because in this world anyone can betray anyone.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 15 09:51:38 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 17:20:26 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Mar 03 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "18967205", "review_id": "911a06b2f968713818e78544434a330e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Hellhole at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Hellhole follows the tale of Max, a seventeen-year-old dinosaur geek, who works at the local gas station, is best friends with the chief of police's daughter, and takes care of his mom who has a fucked up heart. He's looking for a miracle, but what he gets instead isn't exactly what he has in mind. He goes digging one night after stealing a porcelain cat from his job (you'll see how they're connected in a second) and digs a very big hole. Endless really. What comes out of it, is no angel. In fact, it's Satan - or one of six hundred and sixty-six Satans - this one goes by the name of Burg and as Satan goes, he's pretty laid back. \n All he wants is to stay on earth for a little while, to do that, he asks Max to find him a house - preferably with a hot tub - and if he does this he'll heal his mom. Max is pretty sure that he's going insane, but the other option is letting Burg kill his mom. Enlisting the help of a classmate - Lore - he sets out to find Burg a house. But can he really trust a devil?", "date_added": "Thu Jan 15 09:50:59 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 28 15:58:19 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "20958632", "review_id": "f33ea3632b8777470d307e61871ab483", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for The Darkest Part of the Forest: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n The main reason I got into Holly Black was because of her tales of the faeries. Tithe, Ironside, and Valiant were my favorite books when I was in high school. In 2013, she dabbled into the world of vampires and it was an okay book but had nothing on the faerie tales she wrote. So when I heard about this new novel I was really excited and she did not disappoint.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 15 09:50:19 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 19 10:40:23 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "12558285", "review_id": "cc7f2540382bb74aa4cb5fdad4bffb16", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Splintered at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n We all know the tale of Alice in Wonderland with white rabbits, mad hatters, tea parties and a head-seeking queen. But in Splintered everything we know about Wonderland is proven false. Alice still went this mysterious land, but when she came back she told her tale to Lewis Carroll and everyone in her bloodline has been considered crazy ever since. Alyssa is part of her bloodline and her mother has already succumbed to the illness and is locked up inside the local asylum. She talks to bugs and tried to cut up her own daughter a few years ago. Alyssa barely remembers her childhood, but she knows that her family's curse seems to be coming for her next. She can already hear the bugs talk to her - hence why she uses their dead forms in her artwork - and now she is seeing people in mirrors and voices in her head. \n Thank goodness for her friend Jeb who is the only person to keep her grounded. He's always there for her and looks after her, and that's what he thinks he's doing when he tells her father that she shouldn't be allowed to go to London next year. It isn't safe for her there. Alyssa is still mad at him and she believes their friendship has become frayed because of it (and the fact that he's dating a girl who she can't stand). Hence her bad mood when she goes to visit her mother the night of the prom. Her mother is still acting crazy like usual, however today is different when she starts talking about a key, a pair of gloves, a fan, and a mysterious him. Trying to get the answers out of her mother, she watches in horror as her mother's braid almost chokes the life out of her. Her father and some nurses stop the event from happening and her father makes the decision that something more extreme needs to be done to stop these delusions. But Alyssa doesn't think they are and tries to figure out what her mother meant. Thinking she needs to go to London to find the answers, she makes plans. But her friend calls in Jeb who tries to stop her, instead he follows her into the rabbit hole. \n They end up in Wonderland, but not the one they know from the stories. This is Wonderland post Alice, and Alyssa is apparently the descendant who will fix all the wrongs and right the balance. But Jeb feels that something else is going on and Alyssa isn't sure she can do what she needs to do to break the curse on her family.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 06 16:11:20 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 31 13:49:09 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "19367070", "review_id": "2c61708f89b60dda7b9239304b20d425", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Illusions of Fate at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n I think the best way for me to describe Illusions of Fate is this way: take the play Romeo and Juliet, add in some magic, and have the women have a more important role and you've pretty much got this book. \n Jessa is a student on the mainland of Alben. She loves to learn and despite her mother's protests went to school instead of trying to find a husband. The only way she got into the school however was by threatening her father - a professor at the school who had an affair with her mother a long time ago - and she feels the hate from her fellow students. Jessa isn't from the mainland. She's from an island that everyone doesn't like and that animosity shows when her fellow students call her island rat and tell her to go back home that she doesn't belong with them. But she doesn't care because she's doing what she loves, she's learning and not back on the island getting married and taken care of for the rest of her life like her mother. \n That is until she runs into Lord Finn Akerley who takes an immediate interest in her, and whom she can't help but feel somewhat interested back. But Finn isn't who he appears to be. He brings with him a cloak of mystery and an enemy who Jessa doesn't want to cross. Not that she knows that until it's too late. Lord Downpike takes her hostage thinking that she is the key to getting what he wants from Finn, and he tortures her until she makes her escape. But it isn't the last she sees of the minister of defense as she enters a world much bigger and dangerous than her studies.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 05 08:58:17 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 10 18:07:59 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "23242388", "review_id": "72099762b9c23dca56007c8f62f5d674", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for A Court of Thorns and Roses at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n The best way I think for me to describe this book without gushing for thousands of words is the following: It's Beauty & the Beast with a fairy twist. Feyre and her family are down on their luck they've been banished to a small cottage out in the woods. It's winter and they're starving. The only way for them to eat is for Feyre to go out into the woods and hunt. She's had an abysmal hunt and is determined to find something when she spots a deer. The animal would not only feed her family for days but the pelt alone could get them coin that would help them out. But she isn't the only one hunting it. A wolf comes out of the wood and without even thinking, she shoots him dead. With a wolf pelt and the carcass of the deer her family is set for now. \n The next day after selling the pelts in town, her family is about to dine when a beast breaks down their front door. It's a fairy and he isn't happy that Feyre shot the wolf - who turned out to also be a fairy - to atone for her crimes according to the treaty she must die. But there is a loophole. If Feyre wants to live than she has to go with the fairy and stay with him in the land of fairies - called Prythiam - forever. She agrees. The fairy's name is Tamlin and he is one of the fairy High Lords, the wolf she killed was one of his men. She is half-expecting him to kill her, but he doesn't and lets her do as she wishes. As she learns more about the fairies and a curious illness that seems to ail them, she finds out that they aren't as dastardly as they appear to be. But it might already be too late.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 03 20:55:34 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 02 19:46:26 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "22798836", "review_id": "a79e69904106c489b6433135694959b5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Dangerous Deception at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n It ended in fire. It starts in fire. At the end of Dangerous Creatures, Ridley, Link and the gang were running from Nox's club Sirene that had gone up in flames. Nox had sacrificed himself so that they could get away from Silas Ravenwood. The sequel, starts right where the last left off, only this time, Ridley isn't so lucky. The book begins with Link and Ridley getting into a car crash and the elusive Dark Caster going missing. Nox and Link know what that means. She's been taken by Silas and he will stop at nothing from doing the worst to her. That is unless Nox and Link can stop him. But how can they, when they're both in love with the same girl?", "date_added": "Mon Dec 29 18:54:05 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 18 09:18:44 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "24421479", "review_id": "f39033eaa6ae24651f51697f881efb59", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Triple Moon at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n It's been ten years since the events of Winds of Salem, and time has passed well. Ingrid and Freya are making the most of their lives and everything seems to be going well for them. Until Ingrid gets a call from her old friend Troy - or as he was known to her in Asgard, Thor - it seems that his two twin daughters - Mardi and Molly - have caused a mess that threatens all the witches if the White Council has their way. Their magic is getting out of control and can he send them to her for the summer so that they can work on their magic and find out what exactly happened at this party a few weeks ago? A party where two of their classmates ended up dead. \n Okay, now it might just be me, but for some reason I just can't get into the Witches of East End series. I really wanted to because it's Melissa de la Cruz and I love her writing. But there is just something about these characters that I just can't get into.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 21 18:25:33 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 17:43:24 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Nov 23 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Nov 13 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "21800302", "review_id": "6869a50ac9675f868604fbaece3c7bc4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Princess of Thorns at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Here we go again with the Sleeping Beauty retellings, I'll admit something though. Compared to While Beauty Slept that I reviewed last year, this book was a whole lot more entertaining and engaging. It reminded me a lot of Alanna: The First Adventure, but I'm jumping ahead of myself. There are two prophecies that you need to pay attention to. One deals with our heroine Aurora and the other deals with Niklaas. The first prophecy predicts a time when the ogres are going to try to take over and bring about a time of complete darkness. To do so, the blood of a child of briar is needed. The second prophecy deals with a king who cursed all his sons to turn into swans at the age of eighteen when they can inherit the throne so that way the king can rule forever. \n Aurora and her brother Jor go to live with the fairies after her mother kills herself to pass on her fairy blessings to Aurora. They escape the Ogre Queen's castle and separate so that way it is harder for the Queen to find them. But Jor gets captured on his way for his annual visit with Aurora. Now, she has to save him before the fall or else he will die. She is on her way to securing an army when she gets captured and is about to escape when she runs into Niklaas who was looking for her. But due to the way she is dressed he automatically assumes that she is her brother Jor. They both have motives. Aurora - or Ror for short - agrees to put in a good word for him with his sister (hilarity ensues) if he takes her to the Fleeting Hills so she can procure this army. He agrees despite his better judgment and a partnership is formed. But as they make the journey they become friends and slowly - at least for Ror - something else happens too. But with Ror not telling Niklaas about her true identity and with her fairy powers she isn't sure that she can love.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 13 22:02:25 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 17:27:00 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "18079804", "review_id": "7124c1e2211829a6ebbef41753e61414", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Half Bad at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n This book follows the tale of Nathan Bryn, a half White Witch (WW) and a half Black Witch (BW). His father - where he gets the half BW from - is actually the most notorious Black Witch in the world. He's a murderer and the Council of witches is punishing Nathan for his parental heritage. His half-sister Jessica hates him. His mother kills herself because of him. He can't have contact with white witches without prior approval from the Council and later on he can't go anywhere without prior approval from the Council either. But Nathan doesn't like to follow the rules, he doesn't like how much the Council is controlling his life so he goes where he wants to and hangs out with whom he wants to. The person he likes to hang out most with is a girl named Annalise O'Brien who turns out to be the niece of a member on the Council and who has three older brothers who don't like Nathan at all. \n Eventually his rebellious nature lands him deep in trouble and he is captured and imprisoned by the Council for almost two years. While there he learns pieces of the truth for why the Council has been so interested in him. There was a prophecy that foretold that Marcus - Nathan's father - could be defeated with help from a dagger named Fairborn and Nathan himself. Nathan doesn't want to help the Council, but they are the only people who can give him the three Gifts on his seventeenth birthday that will help him come into his own powers. What can he do?", "date_added": "Sat Dec 06 15:52:27 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 31 13:48:01 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "18602341", "review_id": "08b16583ec389cf61e7b1f083cc9ecac", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Wicked will Rise at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Amy Gumm is from Kansas and like a certain other Kansan before her - Dorothy Gale - she found her way to Oz in a tornado. What she never expected to find though when she got there was Dorothy and the twisted world she had created. Glinda the Good Witch isn't good anymore. The Scarecrow is downright terrifying. The Cowardly Lion has found his courage and has become Dorothy's assassin. And the Tin Man was lethal with his axe, until Amy took out his heart. The Wicked Witches aren't evil, and have in fact formed a group called The Order to save Oz from Dorothy's rule. They take in and train Amy to defeat the girl with the ruby red shoes, but it didn't go according to plan. Now all of the Emerald City is burning and the Order is thrown in every which direction in Oz. And Amy has a mission to achieve, she can't kill Dorothy unless she takes the Tin Man's heart, the Lion's courage, and the Scarecrow's brain. \n She already has the Tin Man's heart and as she escapes the Emerald City she runs into the Lion and takes his courage. The only problem is that in the process of doing so, she tapped into some rather dark magic and became a little bit different herself. She's not sure if she should continue on, not if she can't control this dark side of herself, but how else is she supposed to get home? But as she should know by now in Oz, not everything is what the story book made it out to be... \n So the violence really escalated in this book and I'm not really sure if I liked that or not. On one hand I like having a proactive main character who struggles with the darkness within herself, but on the other hand the story line got a little bit too confusing.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 15 15:40:01 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 09 22:04:49 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "19401029", "review_id": "7a431f2bfa31661d59e50cc35f51438f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Waterfall at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n In Teardrop Eureka broke the only rule her mother ever gave her; never ever cry. And she soon found out the reason why her mother said that. It turns out that Eureka is part of a mysterious line whose tears can cause a biblical flood and the rising of the legendary city of Atlantis. Eureka has finally cried and has started that biblical flood taking many innocent lives and the future of the world is up in the air. But apparently not everything is as straightforward as it seems. To make Atlantis rise, three tears needed to be shed. She's only shed two. The ruler of the city - Atlas - took over her best friend Brooks and will do anything to get Eureka to cry that final tear. \n Ander - the Seedbearer who fell in love with Eureka instead of killing her - has a vague idea of what to do next. It involves the lost Seedbearer - Solmon - because there has to be a way to undo what Eureka has done. When they do find him, they find out that the only way things can be undone is if Eureka goes up against Atlas at a specific location. If she doesn't, the souls that were lost will forever be stuck on earth, or, if Atlantis rises, will be used to rebuild everything like mindless slaves. As Eureka prepares to face off against Atlas she starts to learn things about herself, and one startling realization. What if she's not the hero? What if she's the bad guy?", "date_added": "Sat Nov 15 15:34:53 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 31 10:28:50 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "22500564", "review_id": "0f8998fa5defb00a8b409d1dbc276c48", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Bound by Flames at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n It's been a while since I've read the others book in the series and I had to read my own reviews to rehash my memory of what happened. So in the last book, Vlad got married to Leila after realizing that he couldn't live without her. Maximus became an asshat. Marty keeps on being undead despite all the attempts on his life. And Leila and Vlad found out that their worst enemy - whose name I still can't spell to save my life and who will be known in this review as Big Bad - is still alive. Now, they're on the move to take him out before he can take them out. \n Vlad is still being his archaic self, and is over protecting Leila to the point where she's about to lose her shit. They've discovered that if he coats her in his aura, she can't use her electric or telekinetic linking abilities. This doesn't go over well when Leila realizes that he's doing this on purpose. It doesn't help either that he keeps going off on his own, leaving her at the mansion armed with a lot of guards. However, that plan doesn't seem to work when Big Bad attacks the mansion, causing it to explode and attacks the survivors with flame. He was hoping to kill Leila, but instead - at Maximus's insistence - takes her prisoner... \n At this point in Frost's Night Prince/Huntress world, I think I've seen it all, because I was kind of numb to a lot of what happened in this book.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 15 15:29:17 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 17:37:45 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Sep 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "22678141", "review_id": "70f24e498d4d90a11e9be74cbf827e8c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Daughter of Dusk at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Not much has really changed in the three months since the ending of Midnight Thief. Kyra works for the Palace now as an informant on the Assassin's Guild. Tristam and her are walking around each other on eggshells not sure what their kiss in the forest meant. She's still trying to figure out her bloodlines and what it means to be a Demon Rider, and everything changes for him when he gets a letter from home. But that's not the worst part. The worst part is that the Demon Rider attacks have increased, so much so that the council of Forget is about to take military action against the demon cats. \n Military action that could get innocent soldiers killed, but despite protests from the defense minister, the council approves the notion to increase troops and to enlist from the city. Kyra doesn't want that to happen and tries to put a stop to it, but in this city there's always some kind of crooked politics afoot. \n I really liked Midnight Thief, and when I found out there was a sequel I was really excited, even more so when I found out it was coming out on my birthday this year. I was excited because I loved the story line of Kyra and Tristam and I really wanted to see where their story went next. The answer was pretty much what I expected, there weren't any real good twists like there were in MT.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 15 15:23:55 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 03 11:14:25 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Sep 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "20602999", "review_id": "d38e37c59e8cd0a3a4ca98c7a8e6636f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review Snow Like Ashes at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n You know what I love about fantasy books? When you are dropped into a new world with no idea what is going on, but as the story progresses all these details come at you, like all the different Kingdoms and their relations. And how magic works and who the enemy is. And then there are some things that are a little hazy, but that you mostly get the gist of. I love that in fantasy books, and I really loved that in Snow Like Ashes. This kind of reminded me a lot of the Seven Kingdoms book series by Cinda Williams Chima that I really loved.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 18 19:58:57 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 17 08:44:51 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Sep 03 16:38:57 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Sep 01 05:42:33 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "17331828", "review_id": "80f205451c64590aac5a791bf589c768", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Talon at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n This book follows the tales of Ember Hill - a dragon hatchling who is trying to assimilate into the human world over the summer - Garret Sebastian - a member of the dragon hunting society St. George - and Riley - a rogue dragon on the run. Ember has always craved freedom and this summer is her chance, but the problem is that even this 'freedom' has strings attached. Her guardians for the summer won't allow her to fly (to big of a risk), want her home by midnight, and are always watching her and her brother, reporting their movements back to Talon (the organization of dragons). One false move and they could be taken back for retraining. Something that neither of them wants. But Ember isn't happy with these constraints, so instead of flying she picks the next best thing - surfing. Assimilating with the humans is easy, until she runs into Riley the rogue who takes an interest in her and Garret who isn't quite what he seems either. \n Garret is undercover this summer, St. George has heard about a sleeper dragon and they know that while in their human form they are at their weakest. Garret's mission is to find the sleeper and take her/him out. He starts following Ember, but there's something unusual about her that even if she was a dragon he can't explain. He feels slightly attracted towards her, but he knows that nothing can really come of it if she really is the sleeper. That doesn't stop either of them from trying though. Riley, on the other hand, gives Ember something that she craves desperately. He gives her the chance to fly and the answers to questions she can't get anywhere else. He shows her that there is a dangerous side to Talon that they aren't telling her everything and that she needs to get out before it's too late.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 01 08:46:37 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 18 15:54:30 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "20578940", "review_id": "40c6857609d9e1c2c369d42658c55b63", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Iron Trial at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n On top of the whole magic thing, Call is different in one other way. His left leg has been through hell and back and still doesn't work the way it's supposed to. All his life that has been another factor to Call being weird. And even though he doesn't fail like he's supposed to at The Iron Trial, he still feels like the odd person out because of how spectacularly he did fail. \n Eventually though that's all put to rest. His fellow classmates become his friends, but he still wants to know one thing. If the Magisterium was a place for Call to belong, then why was his father so against him joining the magical school? He may not like the answer he receives.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 28 13:17:07 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 24 09:50:59 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jan 16 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "1743390", "review_id": "a7ebc5aa0a571117c93832050063cadb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for A Curse Dark as Gold at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n This book was actually recommended to me by a friend who knows how much I like fairy tales and retellings of classic old stories, and I'm really glad I took her up on her suggestion. A Curse Dark as Gold follows young Charlotte and Rosie Miller as they take over for their deceased father running the local mill. But this isn't your ordinary mill if you look close enough. The Stirwaters mill has a curse on it. A curse that goes back for generations. There have been so many incidents that the people of the town of Shearing have just learned to go with the flow. And it looks like even with Charlotte heading the helm, the curse still exists. \n It begins with the appearance of Charlotte and Rosie's uncle. Things seem to go wrong and he keeps trying to convince them to cut their losses and sell. But they refuse, even when Randall Woodstone from the bank shows up with grave news that their father took out a mortgage on the mill. With his passing the payments fall to them, but because of their gender the bank isn't comfortable with the 10 year plan and want their money NOW. Pinning all their hopes on selling their goods at market, their hopes are dashed when it is revealed they have been banned from selling due to poor paperwork. Charlotte is desperate and Rosie seeing no other way summon a spirit to help them out. But it leads to more than they bargained for and they have to find a way out before it is too late.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 15 19:29:52 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 31 13:45:29 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "22853150", "review_id": "62229153a7be335c712ee3428c4a789d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Heir of Fire at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Celaena Sardothien has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak--but at an unspeakable cost. Now she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth...a truth about her heritage that could change her life--and her future--forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. To defeat them, Celaena must find the strength to not only fight her inner demons but to battle the evil that is about to be unleashed. \n It's amazing how a 468 paged book can be summed up into one paragraph, isn't it? Unfortunately, that paragraph does NOT do this book justice. Heir of Fire is by far one of my favorites of the series. At first, I didn't really like it, because Celaena is completely broken when the book begins. I don't blame her considering everything she has been through in the last book, but it is still hard to see the once ferocious Assassin become so broken.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 06 18:36:01 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 01 21:57:30 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "23310718", "review_id": "319a4f719485f3e77188d373f17338f8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Firewalker at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Lily Proctor has done the impossible, especially for her. The girl who was allergic to the world has worldwalked into a parallel universe that's similar to her own, but not. This world has magic and in this world she is Lillian the witch of Salem. And what a witch she is. Lily doesn't want to be anything like her counterpart and with an army she went to war against her. Somehow, though, during that war she worldwalked again, this time with Rowan - her head mechanic - at her side and back to her world. When she arrives though everything isn't as she left it. \n She's been missing for three months. The FBI have mounted an investigation into her disappearance where Tristan is their lead suspect. When she returns, she is badly burned to the point of death and her mother, her sister Juliet and Rowan must do everything in their power to save her. While they do, she is in contact with Lillian who shows her how exactly her world (and herself) got so messed up. Through memories, Lily sees the trouble of world jumping, but she also sees how Lillian became the villain and doesn't want anything more to do with her counter part. But Lillian won't take no for an answer. She wants Lily back in her world, and she'll stop at nothing - even murder - to make sure she comes back. \n The problem with reading these books nine months apart, was the fact that the events of Trial by Fire were really hazy to me. I couldn't really remember what had happened, but thankfully Firewalker took care of that by sort of going through a 'previously on' portion. Anyway, this book was basically just as good as the first one, if not better. The characters got fleshed out some more, and there were a few twists in the book that I didn't really see coming.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 01 10:10:57 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 10 12:16:02 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "20613491", "review_id": "71ea8f933e910ccd576f99356443db69", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Trial by Fire at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I love starting new series by authors who I've read their previous works. I love seeing where these minds go and what new characters they create. I loved the world that Angelini created in her Starcrossed trilogy and within ten pages of her new novel Trial by Fire, I was hooked on this world - or as it happens worlds - too. \n Lily Proctor is dying. Well, not really, but that's what it feels like everyday when she goes out into the world to do normal things like going to school. For some unexplainable reason she is literally allergic to everything and whether it's fever, rash, stuffy nose, anaphylaxis shock, or something else she knows that she is falling apart. Soon the world is going to become so toxic to her, it will be death for her to leave the house. But she plans to take advantage of her freedom while it lasts. That includes endangering her life to go to a party with her best friend/kind-of sort of boyfriend Tristan. \n But this party doesn't go as she planned. Even though, her fellow students know of her allergies, somehow - after Tristan leaves her alone to deal with an ex-girlfriend problem - she is slipped some alcohol which causes a severe allergic reaction in her. She has a seizure and Tristan is beside himself - especially when Lily catches him half-naked with the same ex - and rushes her home. When she wakes up she accuses Tristan of not caring about her feelings and he gives her the lame 'I never said we were exclusive' excuse. A fight ensues that ends their friendship. Not knowing what to do, Lily walks out of her house and goes for a walk, but someone speaks to her mind and she gives in to the need to be away from this place. \n She wakes up in a different world, where everything is the same, except for the fact that there are witches and this world's version of her - Lillian - is the supreme witch. More mysteries come to light as Lily tries to figure out her new role in this world while trying not to get herself killed.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 01 10:10:39 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 24 09:48:27 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jan 16 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jan 13 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "17566814", "review_id": "fa3cc0965a596b285abda01317a99a58", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Midnight Thief at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Kyra knows how to get by and to make a coin last a long time. She grew up on the streets of Forge not knowing who her parents are and protected by her friend Flick who taught her the ways of a thief. But she's different than he is, she's limber, quick, and when she moves she doesn't make that much noise. She's the perfect canidate for a job that involves the Palace. But she can't find the item she is searching for and returns empty handed. The man who hired her - James - isn't disappointed that she couldn't find the item, if anything he is impressed that she was able to stay in the Palace so long without being caught. \n A few days later, he has a proposition for her. How would she like to make enough money where she wouldn't have to worry about keeping roof over her head, food in her stomach and enough left over for other things? She accepts the job working for the Assassin's Guild, but only as a thief and nothing more. But her job doesn't go as she plans... \n Tristam and his friend Jack are almost knights of the Palace's army. One day they're out on patrol when they go after a large cat that is attacking a farm's livestock. Tristam believes the attempt is stupid and watches in horror as his best friend is killed right before his eyes by a cat that isn't quite a normal cat. He vows to find these demon cats - or Demon Hunters that have been plaguing the countryside - and enlists into the Minster of Defense's service. But he is baffled by a string of thefts and the fact that the Demon Hunters have moved from the outskirts of the countryside into the city.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 10 21:50:19 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 05 11:08:01 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Nov 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Oct 31 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "18584855", "review_id": "92d1b26363ab324495aa48488bb28c80", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A more detailed review to come, but oy. This was not what I was expecting. And not in a good way. \n Update 12/3/16: \n See full review for Heartless at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I won't lie, this book was one of my top five most anticipated reads for this year. Marissa Meyer and Wonderland? I was sold even before I knew what it really was going to be about. As the details of it came out, I was really excited for it. I always wondered how the Queen of Hearts became the Queen of Hearts. But I might have gotten too excited for it. The first sign should have been when I saw the reviews on Goodreads, there were a lot of negative reviews. But when have I ever listened to these people? I plowed ahead. \n And wished that I had stayed away from this particular rabbit hole.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 16 09:58:52 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 03 13:31:44 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Nov 21 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "8705784", "review_id": "bddce39cdd1cf27caef39d03a844a4c5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review of Born at Midnight at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Kylie Galen is having a tough summer and it hasn't even started yet. Her Nana recently just passed away, her parents are getting a divorce, her night terrors have returned and she keeps seeing this Soldier Dude everywhere she goes, but she is the only one that sees him. Her mother has turned into the Ice Queen since the split and Kylie can't talk to her anymore. While at an end of the year party, Kylie gets caught up in a drug bust and taken off to the police station. Apparently that is the last straw for her mother and she ships her off to a two month summer camp for delinquents and troublemakers. \n To be honest, when I was halfway through this novel I was half tempted to either not finish it or finish it and not read the rest of the novels in this series. Kylie was downright annoying and very whiny. But what saved this book was how quickly she made friends with her two roommates and Lucas's constant attention towards her.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 04 22:25:57 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 14 12:38:00 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Nov 12 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "17234664", "review_id": "0ffa9cbe722cb8c7f6badfdb0e4c37f4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Sorceress at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n The last we left the residents of Captive's Sound, they had just survived a strange illness that had many of their residents in the hospital on the brink of death. Nadia, a newcomer to Captive's Sound and a witch, had made a deal with the evil witch Elizabeth to cure those affected. By swearing herself to The One Beneath - aka this series version of Voldemort - Nadia figures that she'll be able to find a way to stop Elizabeth's plan without any further harm coming to the town. Mateo - her Steadfast (a person who strengthens her magic) - and her friend Verlaine aren't so sure and don't agree with Nadia's plan. And as usual they're right. Because Elizabeth knows all and knows that the only reason Nadia agreed to swear herself was because she wanted to save her friends. She's not 100% committed, but she plans to change all of that by isolating her from those she loves most. \n With Nadia's help, Elizabeth casts a spell over the town that causes torrential rain fall. Captive's Sound is already on the breaking point and add in this rain that causes massive flooding and damage, and the town breaks. Suspecting witchcraft, but they don't suspect Elizabeth. They suspect Verlaine. Verlaine already has her own issues as she realizes that she has fallen in love with the demon bounded to Elizabeth, Asa, and she doesn't understand why he keeps telling her that she needs to know how to kill him just in case. Mateo also has problems as he realizes that because of this dark magic, Nadia is changing and it isn't for the better. Her use of the dark arts pushes them apart, so far apart that he does something really stupid to make sure that when this is all over she'll be safe. But what he doesn't realize is that Nadia is trying to make sure that he remains safe too and they both play in Elizabeth's hands.", "date_added": "Sat May 24 20:58:11 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 04 09:33:18 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "17869212", "review_id": "1673a55a068930cf5cb8d21838f4ce6d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Promise of Shadows at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Zephyr Mourning is in hell. No, literally she is in the Pits of Tartarus and has been working down there ever since the Aetheral Council sentenced her to an eternity in Tartarus. You see before she was sent there, she was a Harpy (or would have been if she hadn't failed her trials because she is a complete and utter failure) with a sister named Whisper who one day she came home to with her body on the floor and one of Hera's generals of her Acolytes on the scene. Zephyr lost her temper and killed him with a dark form of magic that her kind don't usually possess. Hera, of course, wanted her head but the council was lenient and sent her to hell instead. \n However, in the year that she has been down there she has only made one friend Cass and after a meeting with Hades that doesn't go over well, both of them make a run for it and run into more of their kind - a kid named Blue and an old friend from Zephyr's past, Tallon - they get them out of there and that's when she learns the truth. A prophecy was made a long time ago that a Nyx would emerge and save the vaenter (think demi-god) race from the Etherals and the Exalted (think the big 12 of the Greek gods). Because of what Zephyr did to Hera's general they believe that she is the Nyx. Too bad that Zephyr knows better because all her life she has been a failure at everything... \n This book started off weird. You begin this book in the pits of Tartarus with no idea what is going on and Zephyr throws all these different terms at you and you try to keep up with not only those terms but the chain of events that led Zep into the pits. I will admit, that after she gets out of the Underworld and the prophecy about the Nyx is given things got really interesting and fast.", "date_added": "Fri May 09 11:50:35 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 21 09:59:19 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Nov 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "18478946", "review_id": "0418a3b3cd2ce2076876ba8be8c6ff6d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Dangerous Creatures at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Dangerous Creatures is the spinoff series of the Beautiful Creatures quartet. And if you have been living under a rock the last few years the Beautiful Creatures quartet was mostly about Casters - witches - and the tale of Lena and Ethan trying to overcome the obstacles of the Caster and mortal worlds. But instead of following the tales of Lena and Ethan, this series is following - my favorite character from the original - Ridley and her sometimes boyfriend/half Incubus Link. The gang has graduated from high school and is about to go their separate ways, and Ridley seems to be hiding something. Something that involves her current ex-boyfriend Link. \n Her plan isn't revealed until she joins - and gets back together - with him as he journeys off to New York to finally try and make it big as a drummer. The summer before - after Link confessed to being in love with her - Ridley went off to Europe but eventually found her way to a Caster club where she got involved in a high stakes came of Liar's Chance. She lost and not only does she owe a marker - a drummer - but she also owes a marker to the house, one that makes the holder able to call upon her power, talent, etc. to accomplish one task whenever they want. As she tries to pay up her old debt, she comes face to face with the problem she was running from in the first place and not to mention a familiar face from her past.", "date_added": "Sat May 03 10:28:29 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 31 10:26:12 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "25573701", "review_id": "c0c2f4e8620396bf6f0de9ab1dd0a386", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Remembrance at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n It should be a good year for Susannah Simon who has finally graduated from college and is working at her old high school in the administrative office - unpaid - and is still hopelessly in love with Dr. Hector de Silva, her fiancee. Things are going great, except that Jesse is too old fashioned and won't get into her pants until they are wed. And they won't wed until he has means to support her financially. But that she can live with, sort of. She's hoping to break him down any day now. What she can't live with is the fact that a homicidal seven-year old who's a ghost is haunting one of her students and she can't really help because the ghost is overly protective. It doesn't help either that the child she's trying to help is Kelly Prescott's stepdaughter. There's a blast from the past, and another one on the horizon. \n Paul Slater contacts her out of the blue to let her know that he has become a rather flush businessman and one of the acts that he has undertaken as a businessman is to build a strip mall where Suze's old house stands. At first, she doesn't understand why he is contacting her about this. So what, if he bought her old house? She's not that sentimental. But then he giddily tells her something that he found in The Book of the Dead that they studied when they were in high school. If a ghost's haunting grounds are destroyed, an inner demon will be unleashed. And who says that just because the spirit is no longer the same won't happen to the living? Now, Suze is concerned because she doesn't want to find out if Jesse has a dark side and good old Paul has a solution. He won't tear down the house if she gives him another chance. It's a devil's bargain, but is she really willing to risk not taking it? \n Okay, okay, so I'll be honest I really loved this book. The problems I had with the novella weren't really present in this book. The 'new/older' Suze who looked down upon herself was gone. The old Suze - her sarcastic, charming and foul-mouthed self - was back.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 30 22:30:19 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 15 13:25:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "16060716", "review_id": "fe989252e43e37f7aee9e429a6f450f3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Lair of Dreams at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n It's been six months since the events of The Diviners and everyone seems to have moved on. Although there is still a curiosity among the people of New York when it comes to the Pentacle Killer and what happened on the night that he was 'arrested.' Evie O'Neill is trying to move on from that horrific episode. Since the day she made the announcement that she is a Diviner and can read objects, she has been hosting her own radio show. Jericho, Sam and her Uncle Will haven't seen much of her because she refuses to step foot in the museum anymore. And Sam and Jericho are trying their best to save the museum from closing due to not paying the taxes owed on the property. With Uncle Will going out of town, both feel that it is the prime opportunity to throw a Diviners exhibition, with a little help from Evie of course. \n Elsewhere in town, thanks to Evie's proclamation, there are more Diviners coming out of the woodwork. Henry, Theta's best friend, and a teenage girl named Ling are both dreamwalkers. They meet in the dream world and help each other with not only the growth of their powers but finding someone that Henry cares about deeply. But there is a problem with the dreamwalking. Throughout New York people are falling victim to the sleeping sickness, where people go to sleep and never wake up. A lot of people out of fear are blaming the Chinese immigrants and things get really bad for Ling. If she doesn't find an explanation for the sickness, she might lose the one she loves. But as always in the Diviner world nothing is what it seems. \n So, I honestly picked the wrong time to read this book. I should have read it during Halloween it was pretty creepy. Another intriguing ghost story from Libba Bray. I love her writing style and her characters are still spot on.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 31 17:47:13 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 07 10:26:57 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Nov 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "18296016", "review_id": "979c4b3c4fbb61e57404b0629bd2403a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for The Ring and the Crown at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n I just finished this book and I honestly don't know what to say about it. There were some parts of this book that were disgusting, but in a good way. There were some parts of this book that probably were not age appropriate for a YA label, but damn. Basically, if you like the court politics and history of Philippa Gregory's novels, and the magic of The Seven Realms series this is definitely the book for you. \n The Ring and the Crown is set in the early twentieth century in a reimagined Europe and Americas. Queen Eleanor of England and France has a daughter named Marie-Victoria who has been crippled by illness, but has been promised to Prince Leopold of Prussia in exchange for the war between the two countries to stop. The problem is Marie doesn't love Leopold and after you get introduced to the character you kind of understand why. Leopold is kind of...nah, scratch that...is definitely an ass hat. His mistreatment of women is disgusting, even though Isabelle - a descendent of the French royal line before Eleanor took over - kind of deserves it (until near the end when you realize why she acts like she does). Marie loves Gill, a member of the Queen's Guard who is assigned to protect her, and plans to run away with him with a little help from her friend Aelwyn - a member of the magic race, who's father is the queen's Merlin. \n And just when you think you've got the cast of characters figured out, there are few more added into the mix. Leopold's brother - Wolf, who is just amazing - and then a young woman from New York, Ronan who comes to England for the season looking for a husband to save her family from poverty.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 31 16:36:32 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 15 19:03:12 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "18079665", "review_id": "6987db41470f1031531befac6d8ef222", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for While Beauty Slept at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n We all know the tale of Sleeping Beauty, the princess who was cursed to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die unless awoken by love's true kiss. In 2014, the tale we have come to know has been challenged. In Maleficent we are faced with a question what about Maleficent's side of things? What if she was truly the wronged party? And now in While Beauty Slept we are challenged once again. \n The book begins with an elderly woman listening to her granddaughter tell the tale of Sleeping Beauty and how she is sick and tired of hearing the 'all lived happily ever after' version of things. The true story wasn't so romantic and the woman would know since she took care of the real Sleeping Beauty. Her granddaughter asks her to tell her the real story and she relents. \n The elderly woman turns out to be Elise, she grew up on a farm with her family. Her father always seemed to hate her and her mother finally tells her why when she is fourteen years old. Her father isn't her father. Her mother had already had her when they met, she had gotten pregnant while she was a chambermaid in the castle. A few years later, Elise and her family are befallen by the pox. Her mother and two of her brothers don't survive, but she does. Once recovered she goes to the palace and claims a place working in the household and eventually she becomes the queen's personal maid. \n Queen Lenore is troubled, her and her husband have been trying to have a baby but to no avail. Due to the bareness of the queen, the line of succession is in doubt and the king has to name his brother Prince Bowen his heir. Just before he is named, the queen announces that she is pregnant. She gives birth to a daughter - Rose - and the kingdom seems to be happy. That is until the king's aunt - Millicent - tries to take a more hands on approach with the baby. The king and queen won't stand for it and kick her out of the palace. She comes back and places a 'curse' on the castle, threatening Rose's life. A hunt for the woman comes up with nothing and the royal family is left in peace, until Prince Bowen declares war on his brother.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 31 13:27:15 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 15 19:34:10 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "22574591", "review_id": "04cd3cc4aaee582e191a0f17998afcb8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Mortal Heart at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Like with Dark Triumph, Mortal Heart really isn't a sequel. It takes place in the same world with the same characters but the narrator again is different. This time around we follow the story from Annith's point of view. She's friends with Ismae and Syabella, but unlike the two she hasn't been sent out on a mission yet even though she's been at the convent the longest. She fears that the abbess will keep her there to become the convent's new Seer and she doesn't want that. She wants to be like her friends and fellow sisters and go out on a mission. When it becomes abundantly clear that that won't happen (confirmation from the abbess and a young member of the convent being sent out onto a mission), Annith decides to take matters into her own hands. \n She rides out to confront the abbess who has gone to court, but gets a little sidelined. On her first night on her own, she runs across the hellequins - the demon riders from the Underworld who escort the souls marked - and fears that they are hunting her because she ran from the convent. But they aren't. If anything the lead - Balthazar - takes her into the group to make sure that she is well protected. But not everything is as it seems. Even as she starts to slowly fall for the man, she discovers that he may actually be hunting her and takes off during the day. She arrives at court - with some help from the followers of a different God, the name escapes me at the moment - and faces the abbess with her accusations and the real reason for why she has been held back from missions eventually comes out.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 04 00:00:25 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 17:19:49 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "9943270", "review_id": "f62956ba1299ffb08cd65788356d3d85", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Dark Triumph at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Most sequels that I've read over the years usually are a continuation of the first book with the same narrator/main character. Dark Triumph is a little different from Grave Mercy, in that instead of being narrated by Ismae, we're given a new narrator of Ismae's Sister Handmaiden Sybella. Sybella has a dark past, a little bit darker than her fellow sister's. Her task by the abbess of Mortain was to be placed back in d'Albret's household and see which traitors she can strike down to help the duchess. The only problem with that plan is that being back in d'Albret's household nearly made her go mad the first time, because she has been claimed as his daughter. \n It gets even more complicated when the abbess sends her word that the Beast, which d'Albret has captured at the last battle, must be freed and returned to Rennes. It is a difficult task because she is always being watched by those around her. Her brother Julian holds an unnatural love for her and claims her as his own. One of Sybella's ladies is in love with Julian and always reports Sybella's movements to him. But she must rescue him, even if that means her life. What she doesn't expect, when she does get around to getting him out of the cell - on the brink of death - is for him to kidnap her and take her with him back to Rennes. \n All sorts of trouble lies ahead now that Sybella's cover has been blown. Dark secrets from her past are revealed and she must finally face up to things that she didn't think that she could ever do.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 04 00:00:15 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 06 19:12:46 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "18054085", "review_id": "e8411f104985376c59a1594867193563", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for The Iron Warrior at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n The last we left the awesome world of faery, Keirran and Ethan were facing off against the Forgotten Queen after having just gone through hell and back to save Annywl - Keirran's love - from Fading forever. What they came up wasn't the best idea. It was dark magic that is linked to an amulet that Annywl wears around her neck. This amulet connects her to Keirran and draws from his glamour. However, because he is also half-human it was also drawing on his soul. So when the Forgotten Queen told him that the only real way to save Annywl was to drop the Veil, he would have stopped at nothing. \n Even killing his own uncle, because as it turns out to drop the Veil a sacrifice of blood with ties to all three courts of Faery had to be made. And Ethan was that sacrifice. Now, four months later, Ethan rises from the dead - thanks to a protection charm from his kali instructor - and finds that Faery is on the brink of war. The Forgotten didn't completely succeed in dropping the Veil and will do whatever it takes to drop it again. This time permanently. Which means that Ethan has to come up against his nephew again, only this time he may not be so lucky... \n I really need to rethink my theory that I hate all last books in series, because again, a final book had me on the edge of my seat.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 03 23:59:36 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 02 14:17:15 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "17679544", "review_id": "ea5c7cc42578c72db4be24db5b6ada18", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Iron Traitor at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Ethan and Kenzie are back from the Nevernever and things are about to go down. Kenzie's father, who didn't pay much attention to her before, is paying attention now especially when because of her antics - their excuse of running away to New York - she ends up back in the hospital. Kenzie's father forbids Ethan from seeing his daughter ever again and threatens to make his life hell if he even attempts to do so. Kenzie and Ethan don't listen, of course, but another kink is thrown into their plans when Meghan shows up at Ethan's house and asks if he has seen Keirran. Apparently he is missing and no one can find him. \n Ethan doesn't think much of it until Annwyl - the banished Summer Court faery - shows up and admits that the reason Keirran is missing is because he is out looking for a cure for her because she has started to Fade. She needs to find him before it is too late and Ethan grudgingly agrees to help her. But there is a mysterious fey - other than the Forgotten - lurking around who wants to set the balance right. Not to mention a prophecy that just might be the key as to why Meghan has stayed away for so long. \n So when I reviewed The Lost Prince over twelve months ago, in my final rating I wished that the next book would be better because Ethan drove me nuts with his constant complaining. I got my wish. Ethan keeps his complaining to a minimum. The book was so action packed that I couldn't put it down - seriously I stayed up until almost two in the morning on another work day because I needed to finish it.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 03 23:59:21 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 24 10:13:30 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Dec 19 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "16099437", "review_id": "c4ea635b2e77337597c78e24c2e7841d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for The Lost Prince at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Thirteen years since the events of The Iron Knight and things are still not well in the Nevernever. But this time instead of following Meghan and Ash, The Lost Prince follows the journey of Ethan Chase - Meghan's brother - and he isn't the cute little kid we last saw in The Iron Queen. Because of his dealings with faery in the past, they won't leave him alone no matter how hard he tries to live a normal life. Due to this, he has taken on a 'bad boy/rebel without a cause' personality and it's really kind of freaky. Is this really the same kid who caused Meghan to go into the world of Faery in the first place? \n When The Lost Prince begins, Ethan is starting at another new school and is trying to go unnoticed. But on the first day that really gets screwed up. First, a girl named Kenzie talks to him and he actually talks back to her even though he thinks she's part of the popular crowd. Then, he breaks up a fight between the jocks and a nobody named Todd who turns out to be a half-breed. Due to Ethan's Sight he can see what Todd really is and Todd instantly takes notice. So much for laying low. \n It turns out that Todd is into something really nasty concerning some sort of new breed of fey. Eventually - despite Ethan's best efforts - Todd goes missing and Ethan gets tugged into the whole mess. Whatever came after Todd is now coming after him too, and they do so at one of Ethan's competitions with Kenzie in the same room. Not knowing what to do, he pulls Kenzie with him into the Nevernever and he begins a journey that he never thought that he would go on.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 03 23:59:03 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 22 13:30:33 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jan 13 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "9659607", "review_id": "36112276ce7c8f620a7a6a2589a9d9d3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Iron Knight at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Meghan Chase has become the Iron Queen - the ruler of the Iron Fey and Kingdom - and seems to be at relative peace with the Winter and Summer courts. Everything is as it should be, or so it seems. In her final act before she became queen, Meghan released Prince Ash of the Winter court from his promise of knighthood and banished him from the Iron Realm. She knew that if she died, he would follow her soon after and she didn't want that on her conscious. But she didn't die and now Ash has to try and make his way back to her side. \n The problem though is that he's been banished from the Iron Realm and he is still a Winter court faery. The touch of iron could kill him, so he is on a mission. First to find the cat Grimalkin and then to somehow find a soul so that way he can become a mortal and be by Meghan's side. But the task is not easy. For one thing, the jester Puck has decided to join him on his journey and they still have a centuries old feud to put to bed. For another, the journey is perilous and brings out the darker side of Ash, a side he thought he had locked away, and he eventually does turn on his once friend. But when it comes time to deal the killing blow - one that Puck willingly gives him - he can't do it. But that doesn't matter, because what happens next challenges his vow to come back to Meghan's side.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 03 23:58:46 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 28 09:58:23 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Dec 19 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "8685612", "review_id": "454db33814072a2ae48e2ce399796ba7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Iron Queen at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Meghan and Ash have been exiled from the land of Faery for the simple crime of being in love with each other. Banned from the magical paths and not sure what really to do next she decides to go see her family knowing that her mother and her brother are probably concerned about her and where she's been. Feeling nervous she approaches her house and is immediately ensnared into a wire net. The false king sent assassins after her and she comes to the shocking conclusion that as long as the false king is after her she can never truly come home. \n But with the paths to Faery closed to them both, Meghan and Ash need to come up with a plan to get back to the world of Faery. Their first plan of attack is to go visit the Oracle so Meghan can get the memory she took back and then to see the Exiled Queen. With the Exiled Queen's permission, they take her father to a cabin in the woods, where they plan their next move. They don't have to wait all that long as members of both the Seelie and Unseelie courts come to deliver a message from the king and queen. They are losing the battle against the Iron Fey and believe that she is the only one who can destroy them. So Oberon offers her and Ash a deal, if she agrees to help them he and Mab will lift their exiles. Feeling reluctant but knowing there is no other way, Meghan agrees and she walks into another war.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 03 23:58:34 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 13:01:12 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Dec 17 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Mar 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "7747064", "review_id": "0550812899ee891141fa8f5634de6390", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Iron Daughter at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Meghan Chase has upheld her end of the bargain that she made with the Unseelie Court Prince, Ash, and has come with him to the Winter Court. But that was weeks ago, and Meghan hasn't seen him since. She's been trapped in Court waiting for Queen Mab to summon her, but while she's waiting she's been having strange dreams about her battle with King Machina. Finally Mab does summon her to ask her what exactly happened and even when she tells the tale, the Queen doesn't believe her until Ash shows up to back up her story. \n After what happened on their way back to the Winter Court, you would think that Meghan would realize that Ash's indifference to her is to protect her, but she automatically jumps to conclusions and forgets her place. Embarrassed and heartbroken she tries to steal herself away from Ash's harsh words and continue her life at the Court. But that's hard to do when she's in love with Ash, Rowan - Ash's brother - is hanging around, and the whole Winter Court wants her dead. But it isn't until she goes for a walk with Sage - Ash's elder brother - after the Scepter of the Seasons is transferred to the Winter Court's power, that things get a little dicey. Members of the Iron Fey show up in the throne room and attack. Prince Sage tries to fight but is killed and the fey take the Scepter.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 03 23:58:22 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 02 10:42:52 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "18053143", "review_id": "72bdde9ef70be3cb5e9a2a3ed2d3f4a0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Steadfast at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n So the last book ended with Nadia and Mateo destroying Elizabeth and thinking that everything was okay. Except the reader knew differently. Elizabeth still lived and her plan had succeeded. Instead of ripping away the spells keeping Captive's Sound standing, she was trying to take down one of the seals on The One Beneath's tomb. This book picks up right after the last one, and Mateo and Nadia's happiness is short lived when they realize that Elizabeth is still alive. \n Add in Verlaine's spell that keeps everyone from noticing that she's there, Mateo's visions getting worse, Nadia's father being seduced by Elizabeth, and a mysterious illness that causes people to go into comas and you've got one crazy and twisted book on your hands", "date_added": "Sat Mar 01 17:33:12 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 15 19:17:02 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat May 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "12700790", "review_id": "bcf550359dae7685e5aa4a84b52a5e84", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Spellcaster at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n The book begins with a teenaged girl named Nadia who is with her family and they are on their way to a new town. Their mom left them a few months earlier, and they are trying to have a new start. But Nadia isn't who she seems to be. She's actually a witch, as was her mother, and her mother was in the middle of teaching her when she took off leaving Nadia's training incomplete. On their way into Capture's Sound, Nadia feels a magical barrier surrounding the town and when her father hits the barrier it causes the car to go out of control. The car crashes and a stranger, named Mateo comes to Nadia's aid. The reason Mateo was able to come to her aid? He's been dreaming about her for months. Apparently, his family was cursed and the first born of each generation takes on the curse that makes them see visions of the future until eventually they go insane.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 01 17:32:59 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 15 19:24:47 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat May 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "20911660", "review_id": "11e352bcb30a2286aa8d764a33a2656c", "rating": 1, "review_text": "See full review for The Shadow Prince at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Greek mythology has hit the mainstream. Between series by Rick Riordan (awesome!), Meg Cabot (awesome!), Josephine Angelini (meh), and Brodi Ashton (meh) a lot of authors are throwing their versions of the myths out there. Bree Despain is throwing her tale into the ring. We know the tale of Persephone and Hades, but what happened afterwards? That is the question that Despain tries to answer. \n Lord Haden is member of the Underrealm, the second son of the king, he has been disgraced for years. In a strange turn of events, the Oracle has chosen him for this year's journey to the world above to take a Boon. But this Boon isn't like other Boons, this girl is the Cypher, the key to finding the Key of Hades, which can turn the war that the Underrealm is having with the Sky Lords. \n Daphne is a small town girl living in an even smaller world. She hasn't left her small town since she was younger and promised her mother that she never would. But she dreams of leaving the small town and going to live in a place like LA. She has the singing voice to do it, all she needs is a chance to prove herself. That chance appears in the form of her father - the rock star Joe Vince - who comes to take her away to Olympus Heights so she can start her schooling at a prestigious music program. She doesn't really want to go, she has some daddy issues, but she knows that she can't pass up an opportunity like this. But things get weird on her first day there when she runs into a strange boy in a grove and later finds one of her classmates nearly drowned in the same grove.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 01 17:30:46 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 18 02:04:52 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "13568619", "review_id": "89c5f1145f18dba202539523e93d8de2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for The Shadowhunter's Codex at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n As much as I love The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices, I didn't really like The Shadowhunters Codex. I mean, don't get me wrong, I knew what I was getting into when I first picked it up - the mysterious Codex that is discussed in both series - but still... \n The book was interesting and the art was fantastic, but I don't know...", "date_added": "Mon Feb 03 09:33:51 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 12:03:53 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "15839984", "review_id": "6757b1c441f0e97e559e2d8d52fc2169", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Cruel Beauty at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Once upon a time, a line of kings that did not allow the barbarians to invade ruled the land of Arcadia. One day, it all changed. Demons took over the land and held it in its grasp. The lord of these demons - The Gentle Lord - made deals with the people of the land. One deal in particular involved a young couple that desperately wanted to get pregnant, but couldn't. The young man struck a deal with the demon lord. His wife would become pregnant with twins, but one of the twins must be given in exchange to the Gentle Lord as his bride when she reached the age of seventeen. The man agreed and his wife became pregnant and gave birth to twins. The first came out easy, but the second twin took the life of her mother. So it was determined that the first twin would be given to the demon lord... \n Nyx has known her duty to the land of Arcadia her entire life. She is to marry the Gentle Lord and find a way to destroy him and his fellow demons hold on their land. She is to avenge her mother's death. She's known and trained for this duty her entire life. But there is hate in her heart. Hate for her father for liking her sister over her, hate for her sister for killing her mother, and hate for her aunt for sleeping with her father. \n The Gentle Lord is different than what she has come to know. He is still a demon and a lord of bargains, but he also has some dark secrets of his own. On their wedding night, he gives two rules to his new bride; one, the key he gives her opens certain rooms in his palace. Those are the only rooms she is allowed to enter, but he cannot protect her from what's inside. Two, every night she will be given the chance to guess his real name. If she fails to guess correctly, she will die. If she guesses right, she will free him from his masters.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 21 10:24:16 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 14 16:46:01 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "23218", "review_id": "41946743bc1d7b577cc6fedbc4268d66", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Missing You at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n I know I said in the last review of this series that Sanctuary was my favorite, but I think I changed my mind. I've only read Missing You once and even then it was in bits and pieces every time I went to the bookstore - back then my local library sucked with getting the new releases. So after eight years, I finally had the chance to read it again and OMG. This one was definitely my favorite. \n It's been two years since the events of Sanctuary and Jess is different. She finally caved into Dr. Krantz's pleading and went to work for the government. The only problem is that she was actually in the war zones and saw things that a 17/18 year old shouldn't see. She comes back with nightmares, her powers gone, and according to Rob - broken. Speaking of one of my favorite male characters, Rob and Jess have broken up thanks to a misunderstanding that she saw when she came back from the war. She hasn't seen him since...until he shows up at her apartment door in New York.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 11 21:51:26 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 16 15:58:15 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "199781", "review_id": "8780948ed68867cd35018a5a48aa0c1a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Sanctuary at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n So out of all the 1-800-WHERE-R-YOU books, I always liked this one the best. Not only because the drama intensifies - a hate group who kills and kidnaps kids - but because instead of waiting 100 some pages to show up, Rob is present from the second chapter on. \n Oh, and did I happen to mention he's gotten over the fact that Jess and him shouldn't be together because of his probation? ...Well, okay, not really but he's dealing with it better than he has in the past three books - he even calls Jess his girlfriend at one point and gets annoyed that she hasn't introduced him yet to her parents.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 11 21:51:05 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 16 16:11:23 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "187809", "review_id": "9947571215c2f198f55ad337d632bb2e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Safe House at: http://writingundertheinfluenceofsuga... \n The last time we saw Jess Mastrani she had just saved a kid from a cave and had discovered that her ESP powers - the ones she received when she got struck by lightning and make her find lost people if she sees their picture before she goes to sleep - have advanced. When she gets back to start her junior year of high school, she goes back with a new attitude and a new wardrobe. \n But her new attitude barely lasts a day. The girl who sat in front of her - Amber - was found dead the day before and the Popular Crowd are blaming her for the girl's death. How could something like that possibly be her fault? Well, because thanks to good old Karen Sue, everyone still thinks that Jess has her ESP powers and she should have been able to use them to find Amber. \n The crazy thing is another girl - Heather - goes missing and this time Jess does everything she can to find her. She does, with help from Rob, but now she's next.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 11 21:50:54 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 14 13:07:21 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Mar 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Mar 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "199783", "review_id": "39e50da4bf7139184a853e0c27ea11a5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Code Name Cassandra at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Jessica Mastrani has lost his psychic powers to find kids. Or so she told the US Government at the end of the last book and that's how she wants to keep it. The problem is, she still has the powers and she is still finding kids. These kids though, she's made sure that they actually want to be found. \n In the second book, Jess is dealing with the psychic powers thing while being a counselor at a gifted kids music camp - hey, it was better than working the steam table at her dad's restaurant. Although, she is thinking of giving up the psychic power thing when she is put in charge of a cabin full of boys who turn out to be total nightmares.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 11 21:50:28 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 11:50:19 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "439292", "review_id": "fb69d7efca96350e1f5cf35cc4be452a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for When Lightning Strikes at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n As with all of Meg Cabot's books, I've read this series before, but it's been a few years since I have. Right, so... When Lightning Strikes is the first book in a series about a girl named Jessica Mastrani who on her way home from school one day gets struck by lightning. She doesn't think too much of it, until the next morning when she knows the location of two missing kids. \n Yes, that's right. A girl gets struck by lightning and after seeing pictures of people - such as the missing kids on the back of a milk carton - and some sleep she knows where those people are. Now, she doesn't freak out about this...too much. Jess instead does the right thing, and calls the 1-800-WHERE-R-YOU hotline and reports the locations of these kids. Obviously, because she keeps doing this, people start to get interested on how exactly she knows this and the FBI gets involved.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 11 21:50:14 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 12:15:51 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "8866080", "review_id": "c156fbb16d40113f16b24769451ad77f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "See full review for Need at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Usually when I start a new book, I take a quick glance at the reviews on Goodreads. Sometimes by reading those reviews I get a small idea of what to expect from this book and the probability of whether or not I'm going to like what I read. I also take those reviews with a grain of salt because not everybody likes the same kind of style, genres, etc. that I do. But when it came to Need, I think I should have listened to the reviews. \n Zara has just moved to Maine to live with her grandmother after the death of her step-father/father (already losing points). She's been a mess since his death and she also has this weird ability to remember phobias. She knows that she is strange it doesn't help either that she keeps seeing this guy following her around. But she feels slightly better when her grandmother sees him too. She doesn't really want to go to school the next day. But her grandmother makes her. \n At school, Zara meets some friendly people already. Ian, Nick - who she thinks is really cute - Issie, and her kind of sort of boyfriend Devyn. But there are also the mean girls too, like Meghan who for no apparent reason hates Zara on sight. But something strange is going on in this small town, and it all has to deal with the guy who has been following Zara around. Does she have it in her to unravel the mystery and face whatever it entails?", "date_added": "Thu Nov 14 22:31:10 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 17:14:47 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jan 13 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "7273516", "review_id": "172fc1ff729884f2de092c368c265ef2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Page at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I'm officially in tears and I have no idea why. Oh, actually, yes I do. This damn book. I mean, I knew what I was in for - I've read it twice before - but I keep forgetting the comradery between Kel and her fellow pages and then the way that she keeps rising in Lord Wyldon's graces. I mean, that whole bit at the end about how he's not going to doubt her again, considering he's been proven wrong at every turn! That's really what did all of this.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 16:24:39 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 29 10:18:17 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Oct 17 17:03:01 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Oct 16 06:43:20 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "9003699", "review_id": "32a18b9071c12ca05ff3fcb2a337b2f6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Squire at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n You know as I was reading this book, I tried to remember who Alanna did her squire years with and I seriously can't remember. I think that shows you how quickly Pierce glossed over some of Alanna's time as a knight in training. I remember her page years, but the squire years are a blur. Either that or they weren't all that interesting compared to Keladry's. I have to admit I was really happy that Kel agreed so quickly to being Raoul's squire. He had already taken an interest in her because of her work with a lance and he really admired how quick she was when they hunted those spidrens during her first year as a page. To me it seemed like the perfect fit.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 16:23:49 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 29 10:30:55 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Oct 25 17:23:22 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Oct 23 16:10:03 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "8940114", "review_id": "2a71a02f39e22ffb68b98d62e20c413e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Wolf-Speaker at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n As much as I love Tamora Pierce there are times where she gets really long winded, even in a book that isn't all that long. The ending of Wolf-Speaker took forever for me to get through (mostly because of work) and it was because there were a lot of details thrown in that probably could have been left out. Other than that, I always forget how much I love book 2 in this series more than book 1. I think it's because I'm used to the characters now and the strangeness of the Wild Magic.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 16:23:00 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 22 09:40:46 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jul 20 17:16:58 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jul 20 05:11:57 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "7016723", "review_id": "11a16642a3330d8f14bc24c4e5f7634a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for First Test at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Another series by Tamora Pierce another one that I absolutely love. When I first read these books years ago, Protector of the Small was actually my second favorite series by Pierce after the Song of the Lioness Quartet. And mostly because they follow the same lines with a few minor differences. Like for instance, Kel starts her training to be a knight with no secrets about her sex. And that's actually what was so interesting about this series. You get to see Kel's struggles as she tries to compete with the boys who don't want her there. Now, I kind of understand why Alanna kept her gender a secret during her training. And to think this is with Alanna as an accomplished knight in the world!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 16:22:50 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 15 09:14:17 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Oct 02 16:33:50 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Sep 28 17:28:29 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "24885731", "review_id": "567ad65c62aebd3bd57be6d19d6188ec", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for The Realms of the Gods at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n As usual Tamora Pierce does not disappoint. Even in her final book of this series, she ties up all the loose ends quite nicely, while also being quite dramatic and humorous at the same time. I always forget whenever I read these books how much Daine grows on me as I read them.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 16:22:23 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 17 09:05:09 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 14 16:29:03 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Sep 13 17:16:02 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "24885699", "review_id": "ebacaa79c08d43eacd2ffdffce9f0fea", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Emperor Mage at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So out of the novels I have read by Tamora Pierce I remember all of them (hazily) from when I originally read them years ago. The only one I didn't remember was Emperor Mage and I have no idea why. After reading this book - probably for the third time - this book was definitely one of my favorites. I loved the character development in Daine and Numair. And I also love all the little hints that Pierce dropped about their true feelings for each other. It's subtle, but at the same time mind boggling too.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 16:22:11 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 20 10:14:41 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Aug 15 17:30:45 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Aug 15 05:08:03 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "27661901", "review_id": "b383541df70aeb372b2fc6af8154ad05", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for The Woman Who Rides Like a Man at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So like I said in my review for book 2 of this series, when I was younger I had a thing for Prince Jonathan and I was very happy when Alanna and him got together and disappointed when she went riding off into the sunset to go on her adventures as a newly knighted knight of the kingdom. As you can imagine, book 3 of this series left me absolutely heartbroken as a kid, because not only does Jonathan come and find her, but he also proposes and she says no. I remember being completely devastated by her refusal and their ultimate fight that left her hurting in the desert and him looking for someone to replace her with.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 16:21:45 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 01 12:12:59 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Mar 26 13:19:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "13836", "review_id": "3ac1d1f70e340f1bd9473a4c659ff332", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Wild Magic at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n When I was a kid, after the awesomeness of the Song of the Lioness Quartet, I was a little bit disappointed with the first book in the Immortals Quartet. Daine is very shy - with good reason as it turns out - and she isn't too trusting of others. It takes her awhile to come out of her shell. But when she does she develops fast friendships, even if she can be a little thickheaded like a certain Lioness. Her power with animals too is quite striking. I never noticed in my several previous readthroughs how attached she is to those she takes in. It's actually really adorable.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 16:21:31 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat May 27 13:16:56 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu May 18 14:45:10 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "27475122", "review_id": "6a068f1181ade7cebb63c42d68fa8a32", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Lioness Rampant at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n On some levels Lioness Rampant always made me sad whenever I read it. Not only because it was the final book in this wonderful series, but because Alanna doesn't end up with Jonathan like I had been hoping for when I was younger. Now that I'm older, I really like Alanna's character development in this book. She does accept her magic as a part of her. She does realize that there are things that she cannot control. She accepts that Jonathan and her will never be anything more than friends - and her his Champion. And that even though she likes adventuring, at some point in her life she wants to settle down. She just has to figure out with who.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 16:21:15 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 15 12:29:09 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Apr 09 17:30:46 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Apr 08 06:34:47 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "7338506", "review_id": "5515e11dd0d247d179165f1639fb44b9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Alanna: The First Adventure at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n When I was 10, my cousin who got me into Sailor Moon, Magic Knight Rayearth, and various other things, handed me this book and said 'I think you'll like this. Read it.' And so began my love affair of Tamora Pierce's works. If I'm being completely honest Alanna was the book that really got me interested in fantasy - I mean, sure there was a Harry Potter a few years before, but that was just a taste - and I was a little reluctant to read her works now 15 years later. Books that I loved in my childhood that I've revisited as an adult haven't held the same power for me, and I was afraid the same would be true here. But I'm thankful that that didn't happen. \n Alanna is still the wonderful story I remembered as a kid.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 16:20:45 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 05 09:03:41 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "13486590", "review_id": "a4c6c7184624b0452b428472cc1f101c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "See full review for Fracture at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Delaney Maxwell is your typical teenager. She has a group of friends who's she's known all of her life. Her best friend is the guy next door and maybe there might be something more there that she's just too afraid to explore. She gets straight A's and might be valedictorian. She's normal, until she walks across the ice with her best friend Decker to play a game with their friends. The ice cracks and she falls in. By the time her friends get her out, she's been dead for eleven minutes. \n She wakes up in the hospital six days later with tubes in her mouth and shocked doctors looking at her. They thought she was brain dead. She's been in a coma for six days. But everything seems to be fine. That is until she sees someone later on that night come into her room and cuts her deep, and then the shakes start in her hands and her brain feels like it's itching. Shockingly, it has something to do with the fact that she was dead for eleven minutes, now she can sense when other people are about to die. She doesn't know what to do with that fact and tries to tell other people, but they think she's insane. Then she meets Troy, who has the same gift she does, only he's a little bit more bitter about it. He tries to help the people die quicker to ease their suffering. But Delaney isn't completely on board with that. \n I won't say that I hated Fracture, because there were some moments that were okay and the story line was kind of interesting. However, the relationships in this book - whether it was Delaney/Troy or Delaney/Decker - were just not healthy.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 16:17:14 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 12 15:03:42 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Mar 09 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "345627", "review_id": "992a914a1a2518d1b0c301e9900f6729", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Vampire Academy at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So during the whole 'Twilight' phase of my life, anything and everything to do with vampires I had a knack of picking up. Especially when it came to YA novels. The Vampire Academy series will always be one of those books in my heart that I will never forget because it was one of the last book series I read before I went on a reading hiatus - no recreational reading - for almost two years. It was right before my sophomore year of college started when I picked these books up. I had heard great stories about them from other friends and my library finally had book one in and well...I fell in love and now 6 years later these books are still great.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 16:13:30 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 22 13:26:56 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Oct 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "18486264", "review_id": "67afc8b338129449032c139fe8b82379", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Crown of Midnight at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Adarlan's Assassin is back and this time she's the King's Champion. Not a lot of time has passed between this book and its predecessor Throne of Glass. Celaena is getting through her new tasks, while keeping Chaol - the Captain of the King's Guard - close as her friend. But both of them know that something else is there. Dorian and her, on the other hand, are trying to adjust to this new awkwardness in their lives that comes from being not quite lovers, but something that was close to it, before just being friends again. Things are about to change though with the King's latest assignment for Celaena that has to deal with an old childhood friend and a supposed mutiny uprising. It doesn't help either that Queen Elena - the first queen of Adarlan - has reappeared with another cryptic warning that Celaena wants no part of. But things are changing and there are going to be consequences for everyone involved...", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 16:07:36 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 17:29:35 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun May 24 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "13519398", "review_id": "d81f26c95b6fa6edbc003ec095a8e3c0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Throne of Glass at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n This review is going to be hard because a lot of stuff happened in this book. Welcome to the land of Adarlan where the world has been stripped of all its magic and the word magic has been banned by the king. Over there is the city of Endovier that also contains a labor camp where all the prisoners who haven't been killed are sent to work the salt mines. In this camp is a girl of eighteen who is notorious. Her name is Celaena, but others just call her Adarlan's Assassin. It's for this girl that the Crown Prince of Adarlan - Dorian - and the Captain of his guard - Chaol - come to Endovier for. Dorian's father is hosting a competition for someone to become the King's Champion and Dorian wants to sponsor her. He believes that she can win if what he's heard about her is true. Happy for the chance at freedom she accepts. \n Dorian takes her to the glass palace where she meets the other competitors, most of whom are fellow criminals, but instead of going by her name Dorian and Chaol introduce her as Lady Lillian a jewel thief from the neighboring country. They don't want to draw too much attention to her. However, it doesn't quite matter because even though there are Tests prepared to eliminate those who aren't worthy, there are mysterious murders too. The day of a new Test, a body of competitor is found and Chaol is having a hard time trying to figure out what is going on. Celaena starts to pick up on some of the mystery and does her own investigation but what she discovers she can't believe. How is it possible for this sort of magic to still exist? \n She doesn't know and wants to find out but there are people out there - spies, her fellow competitors, those close to the king - who are bent on making sure that she doesn't find out until it's too late.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 16:07:23 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 17:19:05 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "6294", "review_id": "cece5f053bf0239b51e6d007ff0a7abd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Howl's Moving Castle at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Let's get this out of the way before I continue this review: I have seen this movie multiple times and I love it, so when I heard that it was based off a book I decided that I should better get this book and see what was changed from page to screen. \n I really wished I hadn't. \n Don't get me wrong, the book was good and I'm the kind of person who can distinguish between a film and book, but...I don't know. This book lacked some things.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 15:47:58 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 28 08:36:50 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Nov 20 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Nov 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "16054217", "review_id": "21a1ba753bd4d2c0be6fc01dc5a6261f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for The Book of Life at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Diana and Matthew are back from their time walk, but not everything is as they left it and they aren't the same either. Emily - Diana's aunt - was killed while she was away by Peter Knox. Diana is also pregnant with Matthew's twins. But that isn't all that's causing a controversy. Marcus has taken on a human mate - the beautiful Phoebe who we met in Shadow of Night. Baldwin can sense Phillipe's blood oath on Diana and is not too keen on accepting the witch into his family. Not for the reasons one might think though. And it turns out that Peter Knox and the Congregation might not be their only enemies. With all this going on maybe Diana and Matthew should have stayed in the sixteenth century.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 15:33:39 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 17 12:55:37 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "15819219", "review_id": "ef769ff28fb586f89bbae0395cf51811", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Twice Tempted at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n The last we left Leila, she had just discovered that due to Vlad trying to protect her with his essence, she was now fireproof and her psychic abilities were gone. A few weeks later, she is testing to see if she still has his essence by putting her hand into a lit fireplace. She doesn't feel a thing, meaning that she's still got part of Vlad's essence around her, which is a good thing considering the vampire himself has been pretty MIA lately. In fact, things between the two of them haven't been all that great. Leila knows that she loves him, but he's already told her that she shouldn't and he can't offer her much more than being his lover. \n But it looks like things are all about to change when Vlad holds a dinner, inviting most of his vampire line, and Leila's father and sister. After the dinner, he presents her with a ring box. She thinks it's an engagement ring. It's not. Instead it's Vlad's family crest, he's offering her a position in his line. Humiliated Leila leaves the room, but that doesn't stop Vlad from following her. What follows is an intense conversation where she finally realizes that he was right, he's never going to offer her anything more than being his lover, and she decides that it's time for her to leave. The following week she's back at the circus and is trying to earn her spot back when the trailer where she usually stays with Marty explodes. Someone is trying to kill her and it may just be the vampire she just left behind...", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 15:17:20 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 17:28:02 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "13622767", "review_id": "24877cb3f676f121b4ed15b0746e548a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Once Burned at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So the one burning question I've had since Vlad got introduced during The Night Huntress series was what is the connection between Cat and him? They're not really romantically interested in each other, but their friendship goes beyond a normal friendship. And I have a theory after reading Once Burned. What if, somehow, Cat and Vlad are long lost relatives or something? Stick with me here. It is possible considering Vlad had children before he was turned and what other explanation is there for their similar humor and sarcasm? Most of which is apparent - for Vlad - in this book? Ponder that for a while. \n Anyway, Once Burned follows the tale of the Leila or as she goes by Frankie (a twist on the nickname Frankenstein she got while in junior high). When she was a teenager, she was in an accident that involved power lines. She was in a coma and when she woke up she had a horrible scar on the right side of her temple down to her right arm. But that wasn't the only thing she had. She woke up with the abilities to see people's past, present, and future, and the ability to hold an electrical charge in her right hand. She was labeled a freak and she disappeared. She joined the circus where her abilities weren't frowned upon and there she met the vampire Marty. While practicing her routine one day, Leila gets kidnapped by a group of vampires who have heard of her abilities and want her to touch an object to find someone that they're hunting. \n She does and the person their searching for turns out to be Vlad. As a mind reader he's able to tell that Leila has linked to him and he wants to know how she got into his mind. Deciding to use this against the group of vampires who kidnapped her she tells him the truth and he comes to her rescue. Sort of. As we all know Vlad is very stubborn and takes Leila and her friend Marty (who also came to her rescue) hostage to learn more about her powers and to find out who is after him. Leila isn't too keen on this and tries to fight, but when she touches him she takes a glimpse of their future and it involves a bed. Oh, what fun.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 15:17:06 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 17:22:59 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "8563127", "review_id": "508de80d9e059b6f75ab37b689fda472", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Eternal Kiss of Darkness at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n If you've read the other Night Huntress novels you already know whom Mencheres - Bones' grandsire and co-ruler of their vampire line - is. Sometime after he killed his wife Petra, the old vampire was hanging out in Chicago but he wasn't doing anything good. After he killed his wife the visions that he has relied on have stopped, except for one. In this vision all he sees is darkness and he assumes that this darkness is his pending demise. Not wanting to delay the inevitable he searches out some ghouls and foolishly engages them in battle. But he doesn't fight back and thinks that this is the end... \n But it isn't. A suspicious passer by comes into the warehouse where the ghouls are keeping him and tries to interfere. Of course, a regular human with a gun against the ghouls is never going to end well. Mencheres not wanting to be responsible for an innocent human's death - especially one who came to his rescue - attacks the ghouls. But the human - Kira - sees what he is and passes out from not only the shock but her injury too. \n When she wakes up, she's in Mencheres's house completely healed. He tries to wipe her mind of the events, but it doesn't work. He thinks it's because of his blood in her system and decides to keep her prisoner for a few days before he tries again. But when he does, it still doesn't work. Somewhere along the way he has started to get to know Kira and has some intense feelings for her, feelings he hasn't felt since his wife. Beauty and the Beast anyone? Despite his better judgment he lets Kira go with her word that she won't breathe a word of what he is and the existence of the vampires to anyone. But he isn't the only one who has had some intense feelings, and as Kira looks for Mencheres again, she stumbles into something that she may never come back from.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 15:16:55 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 17:17:07 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "7648737", "review_id": "531d6a5845fe75a28022d203e51e78f8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review of First Drop of Crimson at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Between Book 4 and 5 of The Night Huntress series, Cat's friend Denise was pretty busy. After losing her husband to the ghoul/zombie/vampire war, she promised herself that she would never get involved with the paranormal world ever again. How quickly promises change. After the surprising death of her cousin, she goes out with another cousin after the funeral for a drink. He confesses that he doesn't believe that their cousin died from a heart attack - who dies from one at 23? - and that he feels like he's being watched recently. Denise waves it off, until they leave the bar and a man attacks her cousin. She can't believe what she's seeing, her cousin is dying from a heart attack and did his attack really just turn into a dog?", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 15:16:38 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 17:14:09 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "10357792", "review_id": "0a2db3218cab78cd95d2d046fdc4b3b2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Up from the Grave at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n It's actually been quiet over the last few months for Cat and Bones. But all of that is about to change when Cat's uncle Don shows up and tells them that he's worried about Cat's old team. They haven't been to their homes in three weeks. Concerned, Cat goes back to the place she thought she'd never go again, to her old team's compound to talk to Madigan. He tells them cheerfully that every member from her old team is dead and that if he sees either of them again, he'll have them killed on the spot. \n Not convinced of her friend's deaths, Cat and Bones talk to Don, but he is STILL hiding how Madigan and him know each other and every time they summon him to ask, he leaves. With help from the Ghoul Queen of Louisiana Marie, they get him to stay and spill his secrets. Before Don got to know Cat, they only hired her because of her weird geneology. They were taking her blood and other fluids and not only testing it but implementing it into test subjects as well. The results were miraculous, and Madigan wanted to breed Cat, but Don wouldn't allow it and had him fired. But that didn't stop Madigan from continuing on with his experiments. So Cat does the unexpected and tries to draw Madigan out by proposing a meeting between the two of them. It doesn't go how she plans.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 15:16:22 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 13 21:56:12 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Dec 10 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "7954556", "review_id": "f77f6e2a2f3608e14d0064a2ac00337f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for One Grave at a Time at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Cat and Bones just can't catch a break. They've faced a lot of trouble over the last few years between a crazy vampire, a rebel raising ghoul, and the tumults of their relationship, they get to face one more curve ball this time. Their ghost friend Fabian introduces them to another ghost named Elisabeth who has a request for the couple. She's been hunting a guy by the name of the Inquisitor for centuries. He was the reason behind her death and even with his own death he hasn't stopped. Every Halloween he gets a human to kidnap three women who he believes to be witches, and he burns them at the stake. \n Cat and Bones don't like the sound of this guy and promise to help. They start by employing a medium by the name of Taylor - a very fresh character for this series - and open the gates to allow the Inquisitor through. He doesn't like being summoned, especially by a woman and because it's Cat, she doesn't keep her mouth shut either by telling him that she has witch power in her veins. Stupid move, Cat, real stupid. Because of this, he makes it his mission to hunt her down and attack her with every opportunity he gets. The first time they face off he is taken back by her power to raise the Remnants, but like with Cat's other borrowed powers, it does eventually fade. \n So now they need to come up with a new plan to take down this evil spirited ghost and... well, who you gonna call? The Ghostbusters, of course! Well, not really, but close enough. Add in the new head of Cat's old team who seems to have a vendetta not only against vampire but against Cat as well, and things get a little bit more intense than anyone bargained for.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 15:16:09 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 13 21:54:14 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Dec 05 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "6871617", "review_id": "23a1f3c34708586720a92bacdbd5c5dc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for This Side of the Grave at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n I'm happy to report that after four books in which Frost forced Bones and Cat apart at every opportunity, in This Side of the Grave, she finally leaves her two characters alone. But that just leaves everyone else to play with as a new situation takes up their attention. And play with everyone she does. \n Although Cat has now become a full-fledged vampire she is still not as normal as she would want to be. The taste of human blood disgusts her and to feed she must do so on vampire blood. However, there is a catch, because of her new food source, she also acquires the abilities of the vamp that she's fed from. So when she feeds on Bones, she picks up his mind reading ability - which drives her absolutely crazy - and his strength, when she feeds from Vlad she picks up on his fire throwing capabilities, etc. This causes a slight uproar in the vampire/ghoul/ghost world. A ghoul by the name of Apollyon, who has tried this power coup before, has started a war with the vampires if they don't bring him Cat's head. \n In a battle of the wits, Cat has to find out who is on her side and how to control her power siphoning before it's too late and she ends up dead. But that isn't the only thing she has to worry about as a family emergency causes her thoughts to be elsewhere for some time, and the discovery that it isn't just vampire blood she can drink and absorb power from...", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 15:15:57 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 23 11:22:33 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "5604848", "review_id": "b414435ea1547b4d221ce6ceb10d8a01", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Destined for an Early Grave at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Cat finally got her happy ending. She quit her special FBI team to live her life with her husband Bones. They've been traveling the world, enjoying their honeymoon. But she forgets that whenever she's happy something is just around the corner to screw it up. And this thing comes in the form of dreams. She's been having nightmares lately where she's running from Death and almost into the arms of a vampire who isn't Bones. She thinks they're just dreams, but Bones and Menchares know better. \n The dreams she's having are being sent to her by a vampire named Gregor, a Dreamsnatcher - if Cat touches him in her dreams she will be snatched away in the real world to wherever he is. So why has he taken an interest in her? Well, apparently when she was sixteen Gregor came for her, having visions of the awesomeness that she would be capable of, and whisked her away to France for two months. The problem is, Cat doesn't remember this time with him, and that's because Menchares wiped her memories of that time, which he shouldn't have done. Gregor is making a claim on her now, saying that he is her true husband and not Bones. To say that it causes problems between Bones and Cat is a massive understatement.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 15:15:26 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 09 10:05:54 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Nov 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "3570231", "review_id": "a8a5ff47e8718e25b0a174d9aaf4adf4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for At Grave's End at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n The last time we left Cat Crawfield she had just seen her father for the first time ever, and passed up the opportunity to kill him for good in order to maintain peace between two clans of vampires. She also 'married' Bones. When At Grave's End begins, she's on another mission to destroy rogue vampires and that's just the beginning of things. Buckle up, folks, you're in for one hell of a ride...", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 15:15:14 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 02 10:38:37 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "2168860", "review_id": "09d59a1011b64ae0e62843a839341f61", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for One Foot in the Grave at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n When we last left Cat Crawfield, she was running away from her vampire lover Bones so that she could work for a secret organization that takes out vampires within the FBI. When One Foot in the Grave starts, it's been four years since that day and Cat has become the top agent within this organization. The case she is working on that night has some old ties to her former life. Ian, the vampire she's sent to destroy, turns out to be Bones maker. She lets him go as an old debt to him and goes on her merry way. \n The problem is she intrigues Ian and he doesn't like things he can't have so he is starting to hunt her down so that way he can add her to his collection. Not to mention the other vampires who have contracted hits on her life for her former profession as the Red Reaper and she's gotten herself into a sticky situation. That's why when Bones shows up at her friend Denise's wedding, she has a full on panic attack. He's been hunting her down for years. He's angry with her for leaving him, but he still wants her. What's a girl to do?", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 15:15:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 14 16:32:50 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "1421990", "review_id": "a64e6916e8cbd1ac1c3153f5e988081e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Halfway to the Grave at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Popular books, of late, have lead me astray - I tried reading the Outlander series but barely made it 50 pages into the first book before calling it quits and barely made it four chapters into Seraphina before giving up - so when it came to Halfway to the Grave I didn't mark it as 'currently reading' until I was almost halfway through. \n Catherine - Cat - Crawfield is a twenty-two year-old college student who appears to be a normal girl sitting in a bar when the book begins, but as the first chapter unfolds you find out that Cat isn't who she appears to be. No, instead she's a half-breed - half-human and half-vampire - and she is hunting vampires in revenge for her mother who was raped by one twenty-two years ago. This night seems to be going differently than her previous ones. Instead of having a vamp come hit on her, she goes up to him and asks very bluntly - because he doesn't seem to be falling for her usual sexiness - if he wants to fuck? He turns her away, much to Cat's chagrin, and she finds another victim for the night. Feeling bold she goes back the next night, only to run into the vamp from the night before who turned her away. This time thought he's ready for her, and they leave together. \n The only problem is, this vamp knows what Cat is capable of - he followed her the night before - and he pulls a fast one on her. She wakes up in a cave shackled to a rock and in her underwear. The vamp - Bones - demands to know whom she is working for, and that's when it is revealed that she's a half-vampire. He doesn't believe her at first, until he sees her eyes glow. He proposes a deal, if she helps him take out vampires, he'll help her find her father. Cat agrees and the fun begins.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 15:14:53 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 15 19:18:49 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "8428195", "review_id": "16c8653a4f5f665d6a1bc06e598626f3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Entwined at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n So in this book you have eleven princesses, all sisters and named after flowers alphabetically. The twelfth princess is born within the first chapter, but takes their mother - the queen - away. They immediately enter a period of mourning that is supposed to last a year. But the princesses have a love for dancing and they can't seem to quit. So when they find a magical passageway in their room that leads to a ballroom where they can dance with no judgment from their father, it seems to be fate. \n But it's not. It turns out that the guardian of this magical dance floor - Mr. Keeper - has a task for the girls to complete in exchange for using his ballroom. He is in the ballroom because of a spell, and he needs them to find the magical object that is binding him there.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 15:09:16 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 16 16:03:32 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Apr 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "17410362", "review_id": "1fd54fe355438379297a2bb8cab5cba7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Golden at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n The problem with reading this book when I did isn't the fact that it was the day after Christmas, but the fact that it's been over a year since I read the previous book in this series. I had a dim recollection of what happened in the last book, or at least, the ending, but everything else was a big blur. And unfortunately, Golden doesn't spend that much time catching you up. You're pretty much dropped into where Stolen left off; Wes has just collapsed, bleeding onto the deck of the boat and Nat lost her drakon to Wes's sister Eliza who is hell bent on revenge. Oh, and the world as they know it is falling apart, especially the mystical world of the Blue. Of course, Nat does the impossible and brings Wes back to life again, but seriously how many more times can this guy die before he's just dead for good?", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 15:00:10 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 31 08:55:05 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "20821091", "review_id": "1532926fe5eaac8237009141cfddbae4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Stolen at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n It's been a few months since Nat and Wes parted ways at the Blue. Wes went to look for his sister Eliza, but that hasn't turned out the way he hoped. Wes and Shakes are the only remaining members of the team. Brendan, Rourke, and Liannan have gone missing and both Wes and Shakes aren't too optimistic that they are still alive. Nat has been keeping the gateways to the Blue clear from the RSA, but in a recent battle, her drakon is injured by an iron bomb and must go to ground to heal. Feeling like she's lost a part of herself, she still continues her training with Faiz but something strange is happening. \n The ether - the magic that is in the Blue - is failing. There is a spell that has been cast to move the Blue back into the real world, but something in our world is blocking the spell. The only hope that the Blue has to complete the transition is a book locked in a tower, but the key has been lost. Nat and Faiz are about to depart to look for the key when Liannan tries to make contact with Nat to help her. While on the rescue attempt Wes and Nat cross paths again and they realize that their missions just might lead them to the same location. But there are things in their way, mysteries still to be unlocked and the answers aren't what either of them expects and could change their lives forever.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 15:00:01 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 17:19:27 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "19661080", "review_id": "f2e749b1dfd80d7c27d5cdad22a7ff58", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for The Vampires of Manhattan at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n \"Come to think of it, what was a happy ending after all? It wasn't as if once the credits rolled and the lights came on or an author wrote, 'The end,' you stopped living, because there was so much more of life to live, wasn't there?\" pg. 110 \n So Melissa de la Cruz might have ended her Blue Bloods series back in 2013, but as the quote above states, life goes on for the characters she wrote about. In Vampires of Manhattan she picks up ten years later with Oliver about to take over as Regis for the new Blue Bloods coven, Mimi and Kingsley married but having a trial separation or the 'Persephone clause,' and a Venator by the name of Ara investigating the death of a mortal girl and the appearance of pentagrams.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:59:42 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 16 15:48:14 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Sep 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "17693680", "review_id": "5251e80e21d8fe5e41663842ba510085", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Winds of Salem at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n So when we last left the witches of East End, Freya was being dragged back to the 1600s, Ingrid was finally coming to terms with her relationship with Matt, Joanna was finally accepting Norman back into her life, Freddie was getting married, and Killian was being dragged off to Limbo for destroying the bridge. \n Winds of Salem picks up a month after Serpent's Kiss left off. Freya is stuck in Salem during the Salem witch trials with no memory of who she really is. Ingrid, Joanna and Norman are trying to find a way back to her, but the time passages are closed and the family is losing their powers because Loki poisoned the Tree of Life. Freddie is married now to Gert and is taking care of the pixies while they try and look for the missing trident.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:58:58 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 15 18:48:52 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "15850937", "review_id": "2cca9ddb741e7f3565ff405a6ce44358", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Frozen at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Back in 2013, before Disney made the name Frozen so freaking popular, there was a book by two authors. But this story wasn't about an ice queen, her sister and an adorable snowman; this tale was about a girl who was different from most of the population and her struggle to get back to where she was originally from. \n In the future, the world is covered in ice. The ozone is gone and most of the countries aren't what we know anymore. The United States of America is now the Remaining States of America. Las Vegas is now New Vegas - because if there is a city to survive the end of the world why not let it be the city of sin? And Natasha is a blackjack dealer at the casino, but she's more than just that. There is a voice in her head, a mark of flame on her breast, and her green eyes are now no longer the norm but something to be feared. She is different and she needs to get out of New Vegas before it's too late. But she doesn't know how. It's too expensive to go through normal means and the last time she tried to hop the fence, she was caught and put into a government facility. She barely escaped with her life. \n But a new opportunity presents herself when a runner named Wes shows up at her table and tries to run a con on her with his team. Instead of getting the platinum credits like he wanted, the credits disappear and he's thrown out of the casino. However, Wes and Nat aren't done yet, not when she hires him to get her out of New Vegas and to the coast of New Crete where the legendary land of the Blue is. There are dangers out there though and this sort of journey is not for the faint of heart.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:58:45 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 19 10:44:29 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Nov 30 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "22287912", "review_id": "a45b412370b54ca83769765b0be19ef9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Serpent's Kiss at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n So, as much as I loved the first novel in this series, Serpent's Kiss was a little bit of a let down. The characters were still their usual witty selves, but the story line was kind of lacking for me. \n At the end of Witches of East End, Fryr - Freya and Ingrid's brother - comes back from Limbo and accuses Killian of being the true person who destroyed the Bifrost, the link between Asgard and Midgard. Freya is sworn to secrecy and is put in charge of trying to find her brother's - who goes by Freddie now - trident. This causes a slight rift to grow between her and Killian and he can't figure out what's going on. Ingrid and her boyfriend Matt are getting along just swimmingly, until he confesses that he doesn't believe in any of that witch stuff. For a good portion of the book, Ingrid overlooks that, she's more concerned with finally losing her virginity - even though she does back out at the end - and it isn't until the aftermath of Thanksgiving dinner that she realizes that maybe Matt and her can't work. Joanna is dealing with not only her husband, Norman, being back but the romantic interest of a guy named Harold as well. But even she gets sucked into something witchy that ends being involved with Freya and Killian.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:58:17 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 15 18:55:16 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "8113940", "review_id": "a7387e277b3c9a33a3ddc4c2b2ad017d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Witches of East End at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n So in the town of East End there lives this family of witches; there's Joanna, the mother, who's power deals with life, Ingrid, one of Joanna's daughters, who's power deals with healing, and Freya, who's power deals with love. When the book begins, it's Freya's engagement party. She's marrying this guy named Bran Gardiner who met her at a party where she accidentally showed him her boobs. Freya is frantic because she's met Bran's brother, Killian, and there's an attraction there that she can't find in herself to deny. In fact at her engagement party she and Killian do the deed in the bathroom and that's just the start of their affair.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:58:02 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 16 16:12:38 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "33744", "review_id": "6a9dda9f8f92563e2cb851195527086d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n If you liked Maybe This Time and Wild Ride by Jennifer Crusie, then you're going to love this book. I liked it, even though there were a few parts where I was just like, are you kidding me? \n So, this book centers on the three Fortune sisters - Dee, Lizzie, and Mare - who are witches. But that's not all they are. It turns out that their parents were also magically gifted and cashed in on their gifts by hosting a television show. When their parents died, Dee took her sisters and went into hiding. She has the assumption that her aunt Xan killed her parents for their powers and is coming after Dee and her sisters for theirs. She's right, and Xan will stop at nothing to get them. The problem is, she already knows where the sisters are, and she has been watching them for a while. She knows that they are close to giving up their powers anyway, they just need a push in the right direction. Hence, she casts a True Love spell that brings the sisters' true loves to town. The catch is that these True Loves can't stand magic and the only way the sisters can be with them is if they give up their powers. Easy, right? \n Wrong.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:54:19 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 15 19:04:12 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "9551616", "review_id": "07ef33864a9b69ed4758f74b26af8626", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Wild Ride at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n So the past two Crusie and Mayer books have been about hit man and movies that were actually the cover of something to do with the mob. This time around, Crusie and Mayer team up and give you an amusement park....that is the prison of demons. \n Yeah, that's right, demons. These demons apparently have been in captivity since the 1920s, when the amusement park was created, and have been contained in their chalices ever since. Well, except for that one time forty years ago when they all got out and almost caused mass mayhem, but that doesn't play in until near the end.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:53:40 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 15 19:17:55 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat May 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed May 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "30312891", "review_id": "0fd590f40e0659d420acbeb2c5ae029a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "...I'm not even sure what just happened, but my eyes are slightly blurry and seem to be leaking. Full review to come. \n Edit 6/23/2017 \n See full review for Lord of Shadows at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I chose the worst time to start reading this book, let me tell you. Usually a book like this will take me at most four days to read at work, especially if it is slow. But I started this book during the busiest time of year and there were days where I didn't read anything. Because of that I'm hoping that's why Lord of Shadows felt rather clunky. Otherwise, I loved this book to pieces. The drama was top notch. All the relationships that were formed (and broken) were beautifully well done and the story really progressed from book one.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:47:59 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 23 13:44:23 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "25494343", "review_id": "b6ac7dd55d373ac7b68c6d611ed4d976", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Lady Midnight at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So, like many people in the supernatural/YA world this book was pretty much one of the biggest releases for me in 2016. I've been reading about this new series from Cassandra Clare since City of Heavenly Fire was released. I was excited. I liked the fact that we were jumping from New York to LA and that we were going to focus on Emma and Julian. When we met them in CoHF I was kind of intrigued by them and I couldn't wait to read more of their story. Five years after the events of CoHF, Emma is still looking into the deaths of her parents who she is convinced were not killed by Sebastian Morganstern and Julian is busy raising his fellow siblings while also petitioning the Clave to send Mark and Helen back home. But something weird is going on between Julian and Emma, and with the appearance of a contingent from Faerie things get even weirder. \n This novel pretty much has it all. Murder and intrigue. Forbidden love. Drama. Angst. And yes, even the occasional argument over who is the hottest Avenger (Thor, obviously).", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:47:41 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 03 15:09:38 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "16303287", "review_id": "9e9b70fb50d6202f1530a141aadbba07", "rating": 4, "review_text": "If you're a reader of The Infernal Devices Trilogy or The Mortal Instruments series than you know very well who Magnus Bane is. He's a most intriguing warlock who wins over the heart of Alec Lightwood, but what else do we really know about him? That is the question that Cassandra Clare with the help of Sarah Rees Brennan and Maureen Johnson hope to answer in The Bane Chronicles - 11 short stories following the character from all matter of things. These short stories have actually been released individually over the last year, but I wanted to wait until they came out in a complete book. Like with City of Heavenly Fire I'm going to split my review based on the short stories so bear with me here. If you want to read the full review - which includes spoilers - click the link below: \n http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w...", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:47:12 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 06 19:20:14 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Nov 24 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "9307674", "review_id": "956cdc893bea8473634830eaf56a68e2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Last Guardian at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n A lot of people weren't happy with the way that JK Rowling ended her Harry Potter series. In some ways, I was one of them. I don't like endings to epic series, they don't always live up to my expectations. The same could be said for the last book of the Artemis Fowl series. Everything in this book wrapped up loose ends, except for a few, but there were just some things that drove me absolutely crazy... \n But I'm getting ahead of myself. In the last book, Artemis went into treatment for his Atlantis Complex. When this book starts, Artemis is dealing with his last therapy session when all hell breaks loose, again. This time around, Opal is at it again, or so it seems. Two masked dwarfs take Opal from the past - the one who came through in book 6 - hostage and threaten to kill her if the LEP don't release the current Opal from Atlantis. The only problem is that there isn't enough time to get Opal out, and do you really want Opal on the loose? No. No you don't.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:43:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 15 19:26:25 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "7005865", "review_id": "fe97502ae63cdf05d90577b7f006542c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Atlantis Complex at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n So just in case time travel, demons, Opal clones, and Mrs. Fowl finding out everything her dear son has been up to for the last six years wasn't enough, Eoin Colfer throws a new curve ball for the readers. Artemis Fowl, the criminal mastermind at fifteen years old, has finally gone mad. He has OCD, multiple personality disorder, and numerous other psychoses that all add up to the rare fairy disease - The Atlantis Complex. \n This shouldn't be too much of a problem, because as he's presenting his new idea to save the world to his friends - Foaly and Holly - they realize what's going on with him and are going to try to fix him. The only problem? There's another plan going on that Artemis and the gang get caught up in, and his Atlantis Complex has to take a back seat as they try a figure out who is behind this plot and what the endgame ultimately is.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:43:30 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 16 16:02:23 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "2179276", "review_id": "32613bf1a86c49d5ce5356e943c5fc5c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Time Paradox at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n In book 6 of the Artemis Fowl series, Artemis is dealing with the fall out from his three-year absence. He's playing with his younger brothers when his father comes in and tells his son that his mother is barely hanging on to life. Her organs are shutting down. It turns out that Angeline Fowl has a disease call Spelltropy that plagued the People for many years before a cure had been found. The only cure for this disease comes from a species of lemur that is extinct, thanks in part to Artemis Fowl.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:43:21 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 11:46:59 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Mar 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "37586", "review_id": "30b60f1cfbd988733f894eddff077a31", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Lost Colony at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n With Artemis's memories restored, Holly Short no longer a member of the LEP, and Mulch Diggums partnering with Holly to start a private investigation service, how can the Artemis Fowl series get any better? Well, by throwing in the mysterious race of the People - demons - of course! \n I'll admit that the Artemis Fowl series hasn't really made me laugh before; shake my head in disappointment and shame, sure. Smirk at the sarcasm, definitely. Groan in protest, obviously. But never laughter...until this book. There's something about a boy genius experiencing puberty (\"I will find a way to beat it!\" Artemis said. ) that's just gut-wrenching hilarious. Especially when you throw in the fact that his 'adversary' for this book is a twelve-year-old French girl named Minerva. Who he instantly grows an attraction to, because of course, she's a genius too!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:43:12 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 11:47:54 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "227865", "review_id": "d48ba4569cddf4e22afdcb4c9668b58b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Eternity Code at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Artemis Fowl is a young mastermind with a high IQ. He does the impossible and not only finds out about the People - faeries, leprechauns, dwarfs, etc. - but he captures one of them as well. Holly Short is a faerie who works for L.E.P. and who has the unfortunate circumstance of being captured by Fowl. Gold is exchanged and a tense friendship is formed between the two. In the second book, Holly even helps Artemis rescue his father from the Russian Mafia - in exchange for helping her with a goblin uprising. \n In book 3, Artemis is up to his old tricks, one last time. His dad - now fully recovered from his two year capture - has decided that Fowl family who has been making millions due to a life of crime will now go straight. Artemis has one last job to do and that's to put his new invention - the C Cube - on the market. But first he has to convince his biggest competitor to step down.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:42:48 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 12:02:58 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "16115626", "review_id": "5ced24d0c5cb21f9da78eba1ff05c915", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Daylighters at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n I've said it before on this blog and I'll say it again. I don't like final books in series. The whole wrap everything up, weepy characters, and sometimes - if the author is evil - death of beloved characters usually happens in final books and it drives me crazy because most of the time I have high expectations for how things should end. But for the last couple of final books I've started to change my mind, and Daylighters was no exception. \n This book begins where Fall of Night left off, Michael and the other vamps are being hauled away, Eve, Claire and Shane are being hauled away too, but they're giving more of a fight. Things have changed in Morganville and not for the better...sort of. All the vampires have been corralled together at the old mall - Morganville had a mall? Who knew? - and they have shock collars around their necks to keep them in line. The head of the Daylighter Foundation - Fallon - has plans for the vampires, not that he reveals what they are for a few hundred pages.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:38:02 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 15 19:02:03 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "15739817", "review_id": "1a677307a6c63bcb9a23a842443620d1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Fall of Night at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n At the end of the last book, Claire told Amelie that she was finally taking her up on her offer to leave for MIT and that she wanted her to allow Shane to leave too if he wanted. When this book starts, Claire is actually doing it. She's leaving Morganville in the pre-dawn to go and achieve her dream. \n But Shane isn't going with her. Claire hasn't 100% forgiven him yet for believing that she would cheat on him with Michael, and she really wants to try and do this on her own. She wants to make sure that their relationship can survive them being apart. \n The best laid plans...", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:36:03 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 16 16:08:22 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "13414055", "review_id": "2f4ad01f18c6b6c3e2c9d808910a97de", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Bitter Blood at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n The draug are gone and Morganville is on it's way back to becoming what it once was. But not in a good way. Now that Amelie has no enemies left, she believes she is top of the food chain and she reintegrates the old rule of Morganville. \n Vampires get free reign and one free hunt every year. \n Things have changed and Claire and the Glass House gang are trying to keep the humans from declaring all out war. But it's getting hard especially when the humans start coming after them.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:35:31 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 16 16:09:38 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "9526658", "review_id": "0afdf485d013bab59818e4a6d19ff271", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Black Dawn at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n At the end of the last book, Claire and her friends were dealing with the affects of what the master draug - a water based vampire race that the other vamps are afraid of - had done their fellow vampire friends including the Founder Amelie. She was bitten by Magnus and is slowly becoming a draug. The race is on to kill Magnus before it is too late. \n Just in case that wasn't enough, Black Dawn also deals with Eve and Michael's toxic relationship and how they're dealing with the fallout from his attack on her at the end of the last book. They both know that he didn't mean it, because he had been fed on by draug for days, but they both realize what he's capable of now. You. Have. Got. To. Be. Kidding. Me.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:35:20 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 16 16:10:29 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "10549501", "review_id": "3583ab6a89295a879a2109d5b3c8e606", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Last Breath at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Right. So. Last Breath. I'll admit that this book started out really slow and I was sitting and going C'mon pick up the pace... when the mysterious runner from the other town with vampires shows up things got real interesting. And they got interesting fast. Something that this runner had causes the Founder Amelie to turn on Claire and Shane and she orders Myrinn to kill Shane. Oliver comes in later to talk her out of it, so he is sent to stop the crazy vamp and man does the action only escalate from there. \n Because of Myrinn's attempt to kill Shane, Claire is no longer speaking to him, which made me a little bit sad for our bunny slipper-wearing vamp. Don't get me wrong, what he did was bad - but he was under orders and Claire should know that Amelie's will is hard to fight. Michael and Eve are preparing for their engagement party and their wedding. But even this causes problems with the citizens of Morganville. The humans, because they don't want to stand with the vampires who have been oppressing them for years. The vampires, because they don't think they should 'marry the cattle.' Bloody freaking hell.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:34:44 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 11:42:18 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Mar 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "9376345", "review_id": "c75a069312910d6b763e7af0a1e809c2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Bite Club at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n The first rule about Fight Club: You don't talk about Fight Club. \n The same should go for the vampire version - Bite Club. You know, I wasn't sure that Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampires series could get any better than it did in the last book Ghost Town. But I was shockingly surprised. \n In book 10 of the series, Shane is having his usual anger management issues, but they seem to be worse than normal. He's attacking Michael for no reason. He thinks Claire is cheating on him with Myrinn, and he accuses Eve of being a fang banger. Jeez, Shane take a chill pill would you?", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:34:34 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 11:51:29 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "7600922", "review_id": "bb6d90f67a4702ae5ddaec79775bd24c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Ghost Town at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Well, I predicted back in book 7's review that eventually Rachel Caine would have to write the perfect book in this series, and she finally did. After what happened in Kiss of Death, I was a little reluctant to read this book, but my motto is, once I start a series I have to finish it. \n So, Ghost Town... Claire and company are back in Morganville and things are...well, they're not really normal. Ever since Amelie's new rules that allow humans to protect themselves from vampire attack, the vampires are getting a little testy and the humans are...they're finally acting out. They like the power that has been given to them, but they want more.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:34:20 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 12:13:33 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jan 29 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "6289938", "review_id": "d6ad3512d8261b9d9529c29e00aa2770", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Fade out at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n So remember in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, when Ron says to Harry, \"Follow the spiders? Why did it have to follow the spiders? Why couldn't it be follow the butterflies?\" I felt for Ron then, and I really related to that quote while reading Fade Out. \n Spiders, Rachel Caine? Because the town of vampires wasn't scary enough, you had to throw in spiders the size of Chihuahuas? I personally believe that this book should have come with a disclaimer in the introduction: Arachnophobes beware. Gah. \n Anyway, book 7 - seriously SEVEN - takes place a few months after book 6. The town is recovering nicely from Bishop's take over. Vampires are protecting those that have signed up for Protection, Amelie has allowed humans to be armed and attack vampires in self-defense, and Claire is living at her parents' house until she turns eighteen - sort of.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:34:06 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 12:22:38 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "7091713", "review_id": "dd974ac761332a67fa5c309e1a842a5e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Kiss of Death at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Okay, so with Ada gone, Bishop dead, and Morganville at peace - for the moment - what could possibly go wrong in book 8? \n Well, as it turns out not much. Oh, sure, there was the deal that Claire made with Marley and his band of rogue vampires - where she had to get them out within a month or else Eve, Shane, and her would become their personal blood bank - but even that was dealt with within the first twenty or so pages. Michael and the gang are given permission to leave Morganville so that way Michael can go to Dallas for his studio time. If they're not in Morganville, Marley can't attack them. \n But, holy crap! They get to leave Morganville!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:33:55 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 12:20:28 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "3558003", "review_id": "f7ee1c0d42e04064c805d68671e8095d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n You would think, after reading four volumes in this series, I would know to expect the unexpected when it comes to plot points in these books and to expect a cliffhanger at the end of the novel. You would think that, but for some stupid reason, as I read and finished Lord of Misrule I literally had my jaw drop open a few times, and threw my hands in the air when it finished with a cliffhanger.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:33:44 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 12:28:31 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "5212771", "review_id": "849ec6254bb823d877158a51960a755f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Carpe Corpus at http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n One word about this book: FINALLY! \n I'm not sure how much I can say without giving too much away - not that's really stopped me before - but I have to say that this book was probably my favorite so far of the series. The twists, which one would think would have gotten old by book six of a series, twisted into areas that I still didn't expect them to. The action was non-stop, and even when you did get a reprieve I took a deep breath with my characters and enjoyed it because I knew that it wasn't going to last. \n I've read some of the reviews for this series before I started it, and a lot people complained that there wasn't a lot of character development and that was a big reason they didn't like it. I have to disagree. The character development in these books is just fantastic. I sort of envy Caine's ability to develop these characters over an arc of books like she does. I can barely do it over fifteen chaptered stories.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:33:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 12:25:09 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "2295829", "review_id": "50c9b7024516d3cbfa8d9680430f4d96", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review at http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Feast of Fools takes place right where Midnight Alley left off. Claire's parents bringing in three vampires - one who claims to be Amelie's father - and demands to see his daughter. Without ruining too much, I was really glad that this character of Bishop was brought in, especially one of his comrades Ysandre. She brings in drama to Claire and Shane's relationship that was sorely lacking in the other two books. Also, things were sorely lacking, like Shane and Claire's cuteness comes back in this book too! Their video-game sessions and even their hanging out in Shane's room, make up for the lack of fluff in the previous novels.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 14:33:02 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 12:56:33 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "12578305", "review_id": "99d3eed2acc8ec6e9f4b60c49da5979d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for The Chaos of Stars at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Question: What happens when you're the human daughter of two gods? And you just realized that you will never be immortal? Answer: The biggest form of teenage rebellion that has ever transpired. \n Isadora is the daughter of two powerful gods and she has just found out the shocking truth that the only reason that they had her was so that way there would still be someone that believed in them. She will never be immortal and in her eyes she's temporary. She hates her parents for doing this to her and refuses to do anything that they say - and you thought you had issues with your parents when you were a teenager. Sheesh. Her mother announces that she is pregnant with another child and that Isadora will help her with the birth...until Isadora's half-brother Anubis shows up uninvited to the house and Isis realizes that her dreams of danger might be coming true. \n So Isadora is sent to live with her brother Sirius in San Diego until her mother gives birth. This is exactly the freedom that Isadora has always craved, but she doesn't really realize what she is getting into - she hasn't been around a lot of humans ever.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 14 19:52:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 15 19:25:36 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "16070143", "review_id": "a6176ef9476b3b01ff3c025ad62ac553", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Teardrop at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Okay, let's see if I can understand what exactly happened in this book. Eureka is a teenaged girl (16? 17?) who's never cried. Her mom and dad are divorced, and her mother Diana died a few months ago in a horrible mysterious wave. Eureka was with her, but somehow miraculously survived. She loved her mother very much and couldn't imagine a world without her and tried to take her own life by swallowing pills. Now, she is sentenced to therapy, even though she hates therapists - and I really can't blame her this one was intense - and she may or may not have feelings for her best friend Brooks who has started to act weird. \n Throw in a mysterious guy named Ander who doesn't really seem to exist and keeps stalking her, and a mysterious book that her mother left her in her will and things get very interesting for Eureka.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 04 11:51:55 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 16 16:21:51 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "10468701", "review_id": "142406d6fb07fbe076a7eb45182b7984", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Dead Silence at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n A common theme in all four books of this series is the secrets that Violet keeps. But it isn't really until this book that she realizes that she is keeping too many of them, and that her best friend in the whole world - Chelsea - is starting to get annoyed with them. Violet realizes it and doesn't know what to do about it on top of everything else. \n It's been a few months since Violet's kidnapping and she's trying to deal with living with her own imprint. Her friends are worried about her, but she doesn't know how to be around them with this imprint. She's taking more of the sleeping pills to dull the echo. But it isn't until her mother cleans out the attic and finds a box of her grandmother's old stuff that Violet finds a way to deal with the imprint and that there is something going on with her team.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 04 11:49:01 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 14 16:47:06 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "11838803", "review_id": "21af48de81fd38a8c75bd10f8ab0a2ba", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for The Last Echo at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n A question for all the authors out there: when you're writing a book with a female narrator or main character, and you introduce several guy characters into her story, do you automatically think, hm, there should be a love triangle? Or does that plot point come up as you go along? I feel like I need to ask this question, because in about every other supernatural/paranormal book I read, there always seems to be a love triangle between the main character and the guys she knows. The Last Echo was no exception to that rule, which I was really disappointed. Not only did this series go from having the best guy friend being the main character's boyfriend, but now we have a love triangle too. \n Violet is readjusting to her life again. This time she has to get used to being on a team of people who know that she's different. A whole bunch of new characters get introduced - Gemma, Krystal, Sam, etc. - while Sara and Rafe are kept around. The team that Violet is on is investigating a new case. College girls are turning up dead. A new serial killer - called the collector - is on the loose. And unfortunately for Violet, he seems to have taken a new interest in her, even though she isn't the type of girl he goes for. What happens changes the course of Violet's life forever.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 04 11:48:59 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 15 18:47:56 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "7827221", "review_id": "3de59e70ff96b3a35488c2d88b86adaf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Desires of the Dead at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n So, I'll admit (I really should rename this blog to confessions of a bookaholic) second books in a series where I loved the first book scare me. Why? Because I always feel like there are high expectations for that book and they can never live up to their predecessor. Desires of the Dead was no exception. I'll admit something else: my fear was rational. \n Don't get me wrong, Desires of the Dead was amazing. This time around there isn't a serial killer for Violet to find. Instead a mysterious person is terrorizing her from her school and the FBI. You see she found a missing boy's body while she was in the city with her friend Chelsea and she called in an anonymous tip that turned out to be not so anonymous. But this member of the FBI, Sara Priest, is different. She has a team of special people who have abilities like Violet...or so you think. Nothing is really said about this other members of Priest's team, and the only member you really meet is Rafe, but his 'power' isn't revealed at all. Although I do have my suspicions. Add that to the new kids Mike and his sister Megan monopolizing Jay's time and Violet is one stressed out teenager.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 04 11:48:59 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 15 19:00:10 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "6261522", "review_id": "a90fda5583531c2d0f4255dde02d96c1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for The Body Finder at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n To mix things up a little from my usual vampires, paranormal, romance, etc. I decided to read a psychotic thriller. And after reading this book the only thing I have to ask is other than the main setting of a high school and the characters being high school students, how exactly is this book considered YA? \n But before we get into that in depth, The Body Finder is about this junior in high school named Violet Ambrose, since she was a little girl she has this unique ability to sense 'echoes.' These echoes surround every dead thing - whether it is animal or human - and depending on the situation also surround the killer. Except for one instance when she was eight, Violet mostly finds bodies of animals and buries them in her backyard so that they can be at peace. However, a string of young girls disappearing causes her to use her power to find the bodies of these girls, especially after she finds one accidentally in the lake on the night of a party. \n While she's dealing with this killer, she also has to deal with the normal high school life and the complicated relationship that is her best friend Jay who has turned ridiculously hot over the summer and who she seems to be feeling an attraction to. But because of a dumb fourth grade kiss that went terribly, they have sworn never to try dating each other again. So what's a girl to do?", "date_added": "Sun Aug 04 11:48:58 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 15 19:16:12 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "16007855", "review_id": "b977bee0f84ba7c161235d23b8fa23cd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Sweet Reckoning at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n The time for war has come. With the death of their ally Flynn, Anna and the other Nephilim on her side can no longer pretend to work for their demon fathers. Not when they know that no matter what they do they can't be trusted. Anna and Kaidan can't fight their feelings for each other - not since they've declared them - and it's getting hard to hide them when she is being followed by whisperers every day. But why are whisperers following her when the demon lords seemed to trust her six months after that summit meeting? \n They don't trust her anymore. They know of the prophecy and they think that she is the one who will bring it. So Phazeruph - Kaidan's dad - is sending Nephilim and humans after her so that way he can smell her to see if she is still 'pure' and if she really is the one who will bring the prophecy. He even gets so desperate that he sends Kai to her and it's only by a small miracle that they avoid doing the deed. But not for long. Phazeruph is determined to smell her and she can only run for so long. Luckily, her father comes up with a plan that would give everyone what they want, and keep the final battle from coming for a small while. But even the best-laid plans don't always work out.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 04 11:38:14 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 12:58:38 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "15768191", "review_id": "b2e55c1a7f66c880cc388121e3fb4a0f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Sweet Peril at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n When we last left Anna, she was recovering from the latest Duke meeting where she almost died and Kaidan has finally left her to try and live his life out in Los Angeles. In Sweet Peril, Anna is working during her senior year as her father tried to come up with a plan to get her out of this. That opportunity comes when the spirit of the nun she was supposed to meet in California visits her and tells her about a prophecy that predicted that someone would come along that could bring the Dukes their final retribution. \n The rest of the book deals with Anna, her father, and Kope searching for allies for their cause among the other Nephilim while trying to avoid the Dukes attention. Sweet Peril also deals with the whole Anna/Kai/Kope triangle and let's just say that drove me absolutely crazy.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 04 11:38:11 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 12 09:40:01 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "11808950", "review_id": "7adbae083ee7dcda87a8af5caaa0e587", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Sweet Evil at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Anna is a goody two shoes, and she knows it. She doesn't party. She doesn't do drugs or alcohol, and she always respects her adoptive mother's rules. But even she gets tempted every now and again. The thing that differentiates her from other people is that her senses are extraordinary. She's got super hearing, seeing, touch, etc. She doesn't understand why, and especially why it all started happening when she was sixteen. That is until she meets the mysterious Kaidan Rowe who intrigues her more than any other because he is just like her. \n Patti, her adoptive mother, is alarmed when Anna tells her that she met someone like her, and eventually tells her the truth. Anna is the child of angels. Her mother was a guardian angel and her father was one of the Fallen and a Duke of one of the seven deadly sins. Due to the way she was brought up, she's not as evil as she should be, but that's okay because her father believes the guardian angels have plans for her. Something that will change everything.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 04 11:38:07 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 30 13:45:37 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "13455572", "review_id": "0edb87c119f78034fca32ec3dacabf44", "rating": 0, "review_text": "\"Mom, I'm a vampire, I'm supposed to be Goth now!\" DNF at 45 pages in. That quote and the rest of the dialogue pretty much put the nail in the coffin of this one.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 04 11:05:13 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 26 13:07:49 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Mar 26 13:07:49 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Mar 24 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "12180248", "review_id": "aa8515e786e2067e52426254d9284fa6", "rating": 2, "review_text": "See full review for Enchanted at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Sunday Woodcutter is the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter. Because she is such a thing, she has magical properties. Her gift bestowed upon her by her Fairy Godmother Joy is that whatever she writes comes true. It has had harsh implications in the past, so Sunday just writes about her family history. She had six older sisters and three older brothers. Jack Junior died tragically thanks in large part to the royal family of Arilland. Monday was married off to a prince and they never see her anymore. Tuesday died. Wednesday is a little bit strange. Thursday married a pirate king and sends them gifts whenever she can. Friday has a pure heart and a talent with needle and thread and uses it to make clothes for the poor children. Saturday is tomboyish and spends her days with her father and brother in the wood with her axe. Sunday is very lonely, until she meets an enchanted frog who she fasts befriends. \n But the irony - of course - is that the frog (Grumble) is actually the crown prince Rumbold. Thanks to one of her Sunday's kisses, he becomes his human self without any remembrance of his year prior to becoming a frog. All he knows is he is desperately in love with Sunday and needs her to be his at any cost. So, like in most fairy tales, a few balls are held with all the maidens in the kingdom invited. But maybe they aren't meant to live happily ever after... \n As I've said in my previous posts, I really like fairy-tale retellings and this book seemed to be right up my alley. But...it wasn't to be.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 24 14:34:59 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 02 13:02:01 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "12432220", "review_id": "38021b335bcc2f54b260dce40ec7d64a", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Did not finish at 55 pages in. Sage was kind of annoying. His fellow contestants also annoying. And this 'secret mission' with fatal results if you fail was actually boring me to tears.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 16 12:08:12 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 30 13:14:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jun 30 13:14:30 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "13644055", "review_id": "f50f9db831aa6bd5c3f2a04a11a5cbdc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Opposition at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n The world is going to hell. War of the Worlds? Forget about it. The Luxen have landed and they don't want to leave anytime soon and they're destroying everything in their wake. Kat, Archer, Beth, and Luc are tucked away in the cabin not sure what to do. Dee, Dawson, and Daemon are gone, they left when the Luxen landed. Not sure what they're next move should be Katy is blown away when she learns that Beth is pregnant and Archer and her go out to get supplies. This is where they run into a group of Luxen destroying things and assimilating human bodies. Archer and Katy are about to escape and get the hell out of dodge when she feels Daemon, but instead she runs into Dawson. \n The next thing she knows she's waking up in a mansion surrounded by Luxen who are less than friendly, even her best friend Dee is against her. Turns out that the Luxen are all connected by their thoughts and when the new guys showed up, the leader infiltrated all their thoughts and brainwashed them into thinking that humans were evil and deserved to be subjugated. So what does that mean for Dawson and Daemon? It doesn't look good when Katy finally sees him again, he treats her like she's nothing but human trash and their love was nothing.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 16 12:04:57 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 14 16:37:12 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "13644052", "review_id": "c7fe883d325fe1daa04870a37702673c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Origin at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n After book 3's ending, I was desperate to get my hands on book 4 and even when I did - I caved and bought it of Apple's bookstore - it took me a few months to get around to reading it. When I finally did, I was instantly depressed. Kat was indeed captured by Daedalus, and they try to explain that what they're doing isn't as bad as the Luxen have made it out to be. And the killer thing was that Blake - yes, the same Blake who betrayed them - was actually working for Daedalus the whole time Kat and the others were planning their break in to the compound.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 16 12:04:54 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 12:10:38 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "13626692", "review_id": "bc43f3aba1cc982a8c6c19fffaacadd0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Evertrue at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n I'll admit that I didn't really like book 1, it took me ages to finish reading it. But after the ending, I had to read book 2, and it was so much better than the first one that I was really excited for book 3. There were so many options for Ashton to go in with Cole turning Nikki into an Everliving and taking her heart. She could have had Cole be a total dick and control Nikki's actions, force her to go down to the Everliving and fight the queen. She could have made Cole disappear completely. Like I said the possibilities were endless. \n So that's why I was completely disappointed with the direction that Ashton did take with book 3.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 16 12:00:15 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 11:59:51 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "11413298", "review_id": "9fa092baab61f685c072d1eab71a87bd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Elegy at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Amelia, Joshua, and Jillian have been back from New Orleans for the last three months and things have gone back to the way they were. Sort of. Amelia isn't the same ghost that she was when she left, she is now Risen - and has a form that everybody can see now, if she wants. When Elegy begins, she's on the front porch of her mother's house and is getting ready to face her for the first time in ten years, but she chickens out. And for good reason. The demons who were haunting her in New Orleans are still haunting her now, even though she is trying desperately to get back to the netherworld so that way she can get both her father and her friend Gaby back. Even if that means destroying High Road Bridge to do so. \n But of course, the demons won't let her get away with that, because despite everything they still want her and her mysterious gifts and they make her a deal. She either comes to them or for every week she doesn't, someone close to her will die. And it starts with her former best friend - the one who pushed her off the bridge ten years ago. At a loss of what to do, Amelia has to turn to some unlikely sources for help and even then it might not be enough to end things for good. \n The final book of the Hereafter Trilogy was just as sigh inducing as the previous one. This time though it wasn't because of too much information, it was because of lack of information.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 16 11:49:39 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 06 10:12:05 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Nov 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "12847646", "review_id": "acbfad00bf969b60e2df26a488484189", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Arise at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Amelia is getting along with her afterlife as well as she possibly can. Joshua and her are getting on as best as they can considering the newest development that when things between them get too heated she just materializes randomly now. Ruth - Joshua's grandmother - moved out of the house and to New Orleans. And Amelia is still obsessing over the High Bridge incident. She needs to find a way back into the netherworld so that she can get her father out of that place. But on a night of a party, Amelia goes back to the Bridge only to be contacted by Eli. He gives her a warning. \n The demons aren't happy with her for escaping their clutches and they will be coming after her soon, and if she doesn't come with them, they will go after her loved ones until she does. Eli tells her that the only way to keep them safe is to get out of town and never come back. What a thing to say right before the Christmas holiday. Not that Amelia wasn't thinking the same thing. She's been distancing herself from Joshua because how much longer could their relationship last when neither his friends nor parents can see her? So she makes a decision that while Joshua and her are down in New Orleans for Christmas break she's going to break it off with him. But of course, the city of New Orleans and the people she meet down there have different ideas. \n This book was a massive sigh. I was expecting a lot out of it, and it barely met my expectations.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 16 11:49:37 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 06 10:09:08 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Nov 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Nov 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "9256414", "review_id": "60ed34f8f4a86407869aff86d41a1dcc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Hereafter at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I like coming across strange and different books. Hereafter is definitely one of those. When this book begins we are transported to Amelia having a nightmare about drowning. Only this nightmare that Amelia had actually happened. She died drowning. And when she wakes up from that dream, she's back in the river that she drowned in over by High Bridge Road. This time, though, it's different because there is someone else in there with her. \n Like I said before I like coming across strange and different books. This book definitely had the different and strange thing going for it. The concept of having a ghost being the main narrator was totally different for me and I thought for sure that I had actually picked up a book from The Mediator series by mistake. Amelia, as cool as being a ghost was, was still pretty annoying and there were a few times where I just hoped that Eli would succeed and take her away only so that I didn't have to deal with her anymore.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 16 11:48:07 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 14 12:33:00 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Nov 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "11454587", "review_id": "9e39498482310182b40159bb1fff3d99", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Spell Bound at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Everything that Sophie Mercer has come to know and love has gone up in smoke. Literally. The Thorne mansion where she has been staying all summer has burned down to the ground with her father, Archer, and Cal still inside and she doesn't even know where her best friend Jenna is. The only thing she can do is go through the Iternis to the Brannicks like Cal suggested before he went back inside the house. Her mother, for some reason, is with them and she needs to be with her right now. The Iternis spits her back out, but she is shocked to find out that it's been seventeen days since the Thorne mansion burned to the ground and the Casnoffs have declared her father dead. To add even more craziness to the fire, the reason Sophie's mom was with the Brannicks is because she is a Brannick. \n While unraveling the mystery that is her mother's past, and trying to figure out what happened to Cal, Archer and her father, she must also come up with a plan to stop the Casnoffs from rising a demon army to 'take over the world.' Luckily, with Sophie's reappearance Cal and her father find their way to her and so does Archer - although a little bit dramatically I do have to say - and they come up with a plan to go to hell to get more demon glass since that is the only weapon they can use against demons. Just as they are about to implement this plan, Sophie disappears from the Brannick compound and reappears at Hecate Hall. Only it isn't the Hecate Hall that she's known for the last year. It literally looks like a rundown haunted mansion and the other students - including Archer and Jenna - are just as confused as she is as to why they are there considering everything that has happened. \n It turns out that the Casnoffs have the spell that can turn people into demons and who better to turn then the students? Sophie, Archer, Cal and Jenna have to find a way to stop the sisters while also trying to get Sophie's magic unbound.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 16 11:46:06 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 12:56:52 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Dec 12 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "8428064", "review_id": "5a25282af35b51d64afac5172b5d8fdf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Demonglass at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Life has been difficult for Sophie Mercer the last year. She found out that she was a witch, a dark witch, and then ultimately a demon. The guy she had a crush on turned out to be a member of The Eye - a group of people who hunt and kill Prodigium. It's been six months since she killed her psycho demon grandmother Alice, and decided to go through the process of Removal. Now, she's just waiting on her dad, the head of the Council to come and whisk her away to London so that she can go through this process. \n But he gives her an ultimatum instead. Spend the summer with him and after that if she still wants to get rid of her powers he'll approve her decision. She agrees if she can bring her vampire friend Jenna along with her. In London, she discovers that things outside of Hecate aren't as peachy as the headmistress has made it out to be. Other than her father and herself, there are two other demon children - Daisy and Nick - and they're staying at the Council's new headquarters because The Eye burned the old one down months ago. And the Eye has teamed up again with one of the Brannicks so a war between them and the Prodigium is inevitable. Then there's also the unresolved issue of Archer Cross that she has to face when he saves her life one night. What's a girl to do?", "date_added": "Tue Jul 16 11:46:05 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 13 21:59:04 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Dec 10 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "5287473", "review_id": "ebae78e0b719e45a06c8fd2a5285aee2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Hex Hall at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n So after reading the other reviews for this book on Goodreads, I really, really, wanted to like it. The main character Sophie Mercer was witty and sarcastic in all the right ways. Her angst filled crush on one of the most popular/bad boy persona guys in school was adorable and steamy. Her devotion to her roommate was fantastic. So why didn't I absolutely love this book? Well... \n The story takes place at a boarding school for witches, werewolves, faeries, shape shifters and warlocks called Hecate Hall. The year Sophie attends they're just starting a new transfer student program for vampires and the other species aren't too happy about it. While dealing with that, Sophie also learns that she is in danger from three different hate groups who are out to get her because her father is the Head of the Council. The boy that Sophie is crushing on - Archer - turns out to be working for one of these groups, and she finds out after she's already fallen for him. \n ....does this plot sound familiar to anyone else?", "date_added": "Tue Jul 16 11:46:03 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 15 19:11:44 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu May 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "13547557", "review_id": "865b5b2c382cc53f630a352b6fd663e5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for The Evolution of Mara Dyer at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n The last we left Mara Dyer, she had just used her powers to convince a deranged woman to shoot her own father. She couldn't live with herself and went to the police station to confess to everything that she has done. But while she was there, she saw her ex-boyfriend Jude - the one she though died in the asylum collapse. The one who almost sexually abused her. When Evolution begins, Mara Dyer is waking up in a psychiatric hospital where her mother and older brother are trying to convince her that it is for the best that she go through treatment. Because Jude died in the collapse, the only thing they could find of him were his hands. \n But Mara knows better. She knows that her illusions aren't that real and the only person who still believes her is Noah. Noah swears that he will continue to help Mara out, even as they try to figure out what their powers mean and whether or not Mara's fear about killing him is really the truth. But it's not always as easy as it seems. Mara is getting worse. The medication that is supposed to be helping her seems to be doing the opposite. She has started to sleep walk and her appearance is subtly changing. \n Jude is also now stalking her, and he is really stalking her. He somehow obtained a key to her house and is taking pictures of her and leaving her dead animals. And as a condition of staying home, Mara is going to a special school that will help her through her traumatic experiences, and a classmate seems to have it out for her even though she doesn't know why.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 16 11:43:44 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 17:15:51 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "15768409", "review_id": "83f2a6bacef0200a56a58634dd4c454a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for The Retribution of Mara Dyer at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n My 200th post on this blog and I'm really happy that it goes to the review for The Retribution of Mara Dyer. As I stated in my previous reviews for this series, I don't expect my heightened expectations to be met in sequels. But this series did just that if not more. Mara Dyer has been told that she is beautiful and crazy. She's been poked, prodded and tested on. She's had so much medication in her, it's a miracle that she isn't brain dead. And just when she thought she was finally getting to the root of why she is how she is, the rug gets pulled out from under her again. Mara wakes up in another institution with many tests and drugs being administered to her. The last thing she remembers is what happened at Horizons with Jude, Noah and Jamie. She knows that she has to get out of there and find out what's happened to Jamie and the other patients. But there isn't a way out, not when she is this heavily medicated. However that doesn't stop other parties from trying to come to her rescue. Jude helps her - yeah, you read that right, JUDE - escape and promises her via a recording that when she leaves Noah will be waiting for her. He isn't, but that doesn't stop her from rescuing Jamie and Stella, and killing Dr. Kells on her way out. The mystery of what Mara and the others are doesn't die with her though, there was someone backing her and Horizons, it's just a matter of finding out who. The answer may surprise you, I know it surprised me.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 16 11:43:44 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 28 15:51:21 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "8591107", "review_id": "d077cb90d0c26fdab218aa69032cc241", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Mara Dyer is starting at a new school in Florida. Sounds boring, right? Well, let's try that sentence again. Mara Dyer is starting at a new school after moving to Florida because her two best friends and her boyfriend were killed in a horrible building collapse. She was also there, but she doesn't remember anything from that night. Because of the traumatic event, she is currently exhibiting symptoms of PTSD, with hallucinations and nightmares about that night. It's getting so bad that she can't determine between what is real and what is not. \n Already feeling slightly displaced, Mara is unnerved when Noah - the school's notorious player - starts taking an interest in her. Hearing about his status upon the school's population of girls, she tries to steer clear of him, but something about him just keeps drawing her towards him. But that's when things keep getting weirder for her. She imagines the death of a dog abuser, it actually happens. She imagines the death of her Spanish teacher, it actually happens. Her hallucinations are getting worse too, so much so that she accidentally burns herself in her own bathtub. Mara doesn't know what to do and the only person she really finds solace in is Noah.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 16 11:43:42 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 25 17:05:38 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "17331295", "review_id": "87ca6f0d8b96cff097caf42f2a63c0cc", "rating": 2, "review_text": "See full review for A Radiant Sky at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n When we last left Skye Parker she had finally made a decision between the Order and the Rebellion. She chose neither. She chose herself and the cause her parents died for. When A Radiant Sky begins, Skye is faced with the consequences of her actions. \n Asher and her can't be together and he feels betrayed by her decision. Raven, who has been a massive pain in the butt for the last two books, actually becomes a quick favorite by backing up Skye. The Order promises revenge as does the Rebellion. As of this moment, Skye and her friends are at war with two warring angel groups and the end of the world might be near.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 16 11:40:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 12 14:06:55 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "12812657", "review_id": "f94f877db2e8235865dbd5755692cea5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for A Fractured Light at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n The one thing that you take away from this 337-paged book - even at the end of the first book - is that everything has changed. Seriously, you would have thought that would have been apparent in the last book, when Skye found out that she was the offspring of two warring faction angels, but no. This time everything has changed. \n Skye has finally figured out that the Order - the supposed good guys - aren't as good as they claim to be. Not since Devin, a member of the Order, was ordered to kill her. She somehow miraculously survived and now has to figure out how to deal with everything she knows now.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 16 11:40:28 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 15 19:01:02 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "10429025", "review_id": "41276948a1a28d96f60f8d716f0d7488", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for A Beautiful Dark at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n I've yet to meet an angel series that led me astray. I loved the Unearthly trilogy by Cynthia Hand and I also loved the Hush, Hush Quartet (or at least the first three books, I haven't gotten around to reading the fourth one yet) by Becca Fitzpatrick. However, when I started reading A Beautiful Dark I thought that I finally met my match. \n Skye is celebrating her seventeenth birthday when the story begins. She lives in a city outside Denver, Colorado and has three friends - Dan, Cassie and Ian. She hates celebrating her birthday because her parents died in a car crash on her sixth. But her friends never listen to her and throw her surprise parties anyway. While Skye is getting some air she meets Asher, the definition of a bad boy, and then later his cousin Devin who is everything light. Weird things start to happen after she meets these two; boilers explode, her eyes flash silver, she causes an avalanche, etc. That's when she starts to wonder if everything is what it seems to be.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 16 11:40:23 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 15 19:13:24 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu May 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "18114892", "review_id": "ce245c92dbc4eff39ab19c6908b8bef4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Gone at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Janie knows that she is a dream catcher. She has the weird ability to go inside people's dreams and change them if they ask for her help. But with this strange ability comes a price. If she uses it too long, she will eventually go blind like the others before her - most before their twenty-fifth birthday. She will also lose the mobility of her hands and legs. But she has accepted that fact. \n What she hasn't accepted is the fact of what this will do to her boyfriend Cabel who has been there for her over the last nine months. He's having dreams about what her disabilities are going to do to him and it's scaring her. Enough that she's thinking about breaking up with him, leaving the police force, and finding isolation somewhere where she can be safe. But even that might have its own problems she soon learns when her mother gets a phone call that changes Janie's plan... \n Okay, so here is my big complaint about this book. There wasn't enough of Cabel in it. I understand that he wasn't in it because Janie was trying to make this huge decision, but c'mon. The girl needs to listen to the Captain and talk to him about what's going on with her. He can't read minds.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 06 19:46:40 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 02 14:01:08 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Dec 24 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "6453293", "review_id": "68096a5a97f58ad764f3be6135a9cadb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Fade at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Janie has never been normal because of what she calls the 'curse.' Whenever she's asleep and by someone who is also asleep she goes into their dreams or nightmares. Before, she thought that because of this curse she was going to be forever alone, but then Cabel walked into her life and everything changed. Especially when he told her that she could use her gift for good and had her meet his boss a police Captain who has seen this gift before. After helping the police with a drug bust a month ago, Janie is now a part of the squad and this time around there's a bigger case afoot. \n Someone called the high school's anonymous tip line but despite using some of the best technology they can't make out what the person is saying other than some kind of party and rape. The police think it's a teacher at Janie and Cabel's high school and assigns Janie to go undercover to find the culprit. But while doing that she also has to figure out more to this dream catching thing, even if that means figuring out all the consequences that go with her ability. \n Okay, look, I've probably said it before when I was reading Wake, but this series of books is not for the people who are looking for well written literature.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 06 19:46:37 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 02 13:56:12 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Dec 24 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "11340586", "review_id": "74376479a453b4a33576b52ed1c2d101", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Carnival of Souls at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n As usual, Marr writes really odd books. I don't think I've read one yet by her that wasn't a little bit out there. That being said, this book is extremely odd. I always felt that I was skipping pages or something as I read Carnival of Souls. It was almost like there was a lot of action happening in the background that we the reader didn't get to see. It really confused the hell out of me, and made this story extremely disjointed.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 06 19:41:02 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 27 13:13:57 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "10396235", "review_id": "d6cc13dd1cf9f6458c01a0589fd517e1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Darkest Mercy at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n After three years, I finally finished this crazy series about faeries. Book 5, like books 1 and 3, covers our main characters - The Summer King and Queen. Keenan is missing, but he hasn't been taken by anyone. You learn fairly quickly that after what happened in book 3, he went off on his own to figure out what he wanted. Not just as a king, but as a faerie. Ash is handling the Summer Court well in his absence and only wishes that he will return because of what is going on with Niall and Bannach. War is threatening and she needs her King. Especially because Seth isn't really seeing her these days, not until she chooses, which man she'll be with. \n Out of all five books in this series, I think this one was probably my favorite.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 06 19:40:21 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 18 10:14:19 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Dec 12 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "7983426", "review_id": "4fe415b1faad041fe7d4981e1a40de53", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Radiant Shadows at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Originally when I read this book back in 2013, I gave this book four stars out of five. I don't really remember why. Book 4 of the Wicked Lovely series is like book 2; it follows a different set of characters than Ash and Keenan, even though the Summer Monarchs are mentioned in passing thanks to Seth's involvement in the story line. Which isn't much, if you really think about it. This story focuses on Gabriel's daughter Ani and Sorcha's brother/son/dirty work person Devlin. I want to say that this book was interesting, but it really wasn't. It just added another layer of the world of Faerie that I'm confused about. And Ani and Devlin's relationship was just...blah.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 06 19:40:20 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 18 10:02:20 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "10138125", "review_id": "33e64c51e9a411fa06dc09e87add7fd6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Fragile Eternity at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So after the crazy, drug induced haze that was Ink Exchange I always have issues getting onto book 3 of this series. But, with it's familiar characters - Aislinn, Seth, and Keenan - I was a little bit more excited to read this book. The courts are in turmoil. Aislinn and Keenan are adjusting to their new roles. Doria is adjusting to her new role and her unrequited love for Keenan that really isn't all that unrequited. Keenan is reeling from the loss of Niall as he became the new King of the Dark Court. And then there is the other queen. The queen of all faerie, Sorcha who is siblings to War who is biting for blood. Then there is Seth who is neither completely mortal - he is now Gifted with the Sight - nor faerie as he tries to hold onto Ash who is being pulled to her King. I'm usually not a fan of love triangles in YA, but this one I think I can make an exception for.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 06 19:40:18 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 29 12:19:12 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Dec 13 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "8904809", "review_id": "ca5b0b596c84e9d7426150b5b95b4a16", "rating": 2, "review_text": "See full review for Ink Exchange at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I honestly don't know why I read books by Melissa Marr. I know I'm going to be in for something dark. Something supernatural. And something that is confusing. And yet I keep reading her stuff anyway.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 06 19:40:17 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 10 14:40:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Oct 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "7993690", "review_id": "831c7954c08752ca2fbbb8e71c021b3b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Wicked Lovely at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Aislinn (or Ash for short) has the Sight. She can see the faeries and every dirty little thing that they do. But, to avoid trouble with the fey, she has to pretend that she doesn't so that way they won't bug her. In seventeen years, everything has been okay. She's a senior in school and hangs out with her friend Seth who she may or may not have a crush on. But things are about to change. For centuries, Keenan - the Summer Prince - has been looking for a special girl. One who would break the curse that his mother - Beira the Winter Queen - put on him when he was a baby. This curse makes it so unless he finds his true Queen, he will never have access to his complete powers and there will always be an eternal winter. \n *gnashes teeth* Okay, so I'm all one for faery tales, especially those that show the darker side of the fey like in Holly Black's fey books, but this one was just...A little bit too out there for me. I liked the premise of it. Human girl who can see the fey may just turn out to be the savior for the Summer King but wants nothing to do with that world. It had some meat to it, but the execution on the other hand? Was very disjointed.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 06 19:40:16 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 05 10:16:41 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "18053135", "review_id": "a281681f21e7346b13e4945eeec0e19a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Ignite Me at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n *screams into the fathomless void* Okay, look, I know I've said it many, many times but just in case you need a reminder: I don't like final books in series. There's just something about them that don't live up to the hype that they've created. However, that being said, I have been proven wrong before in the past and with this book I was definitely proven wrong. Not only did this book have a satisfying conclusion - mostly but we'll get into that later - but it also had ridiculously good character development, a couple that was worth fighting for, and friends that just kept bringing a smile to my face. Not once did I find myself bored with this book. If anything I found myself annoyed that people would come and interrupt me just when the book was getting really good.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 05 20:59:38 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 19 12:13:55 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Nov 17 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "13104080", "review_id": "b977057b4c5ce26065238b1c9e8928a8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Unravel Me at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Considering everything that's going on in the world, reading a dysotopian novel right now is probably not the best idea. However, it is also National Novel Writing Month and this beautiful, beautiful book gave me ideas on how to move my story forward. Mafi has a gift for taking a character that was absolutely hated in the last book and turning him into a character that I didn't quite see coming.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 05 20:56:45 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 19 12:07:41 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 14 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Nov 12 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "11510910", "review_id": "39db2679c9804db9c8f3e3eb162e4373", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Shatter Me at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So the first time I read this book three years ago, it was really different intriguing to me. The narrator - Juliette - not only has a different name (if I have to read one more book where the MC's name is Anna, Bella, etc. I might scream) but her vocabulary is extreme out of this world. She is very vivid in her use of adjectives and similes. I also liked the concept. A dystopian world where everything is in shambles and then there's this girl who has the power to kill a person just by touching them.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 05 20:56:41 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 05 13:07:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "18525702", "review_id": "a32af1871fd4f8af3aa5861df2e363c9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Of Neptune at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Things have changed for Emma in the last year. A shark accidentally killed her best friend. She fell in love with Galen. She found out that she is part human and part Syrena. She also found out that her mother is the lost Triton princess. Rachel died and she finally graduated high school. With the summer before college on the horizon, Galen asks Emma to take a road trip with him, far away from the ocean. He's still grieving the death of Rachel and Emma agrees. \n Once Grom and her mother are on board they have to decide where to go. Her grandfather helps out and points them towards a small town in Tennessee. But this isn't just a regular small town where everyone knows everyone. No, this small town is filled with vampires...kidding, although that would have made for a good plot twist. This town is actually filled with Half-Breeds like Emma. Looks like the tale that she was told about that other city wasn't exactly the truth.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 15 15:45:35 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 09 12:36:22 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "15513156", "review_id": "3962fd3d66d484ae1bd57a118fbe6366", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Of Triton at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n At the end of the last book, Galen and Toraf had come to the striking realization that Emma's mother was not who she had claimed to be. She was, in fact, the missing Poseidon princess Nalia. When Of Triton begins, Emma has been kidnapped by her own mother because she is under the impression that Galen was sent on land not to find Emma and bring her back to his brother Grom, but to arrest Nalia for murdering Grom all those years ago. With a little help from Rachel and Emma, Galen is able to find them with Grom and Toraf in tow. Nalia can't believe her eyes and things seem to be okay... \n Except for the fact that Grom, despite his brother and sister's protest, has already sealed his mating with Paca. So, Nalia, Grom, Galen, and Toraf decide to go back and show that Nalia is still alive and that Grom's union with Paca needs to be unsealed. But when they get back, some of the trackers don't recognize Nalia's pulse, and Jagen - the power hungry ass - makes everyone question whether or not it really is Nalia and if the Royals are really fit to rule.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 15 15:45:34 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 17 22:06:08 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "12425532", "review_id": "4925cb46bba14fa9e84250be9c5edf5a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Of Poseidon at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n First it was vampires, then it was werewolves, then it was zombies, and then it was witches. Now it's mermaids - I'm sorry Syrena - turn in the paranormal book world. Of Poseidon was one of those books that I found randomly at the bookstore one day, read the summary and added it instantly to my reading list. None of the libraries around me had the book, the digital library didn't have it, and I wasn't really in the mood to shell out big bucks for a book that I wasn't too sure about. However, the iBook store held a sale last year and I picked it up. I read it last December, but because I didn't remember what happened - I've read a lot of books since then - I decided to reread it now that the whole series is out. \n Emma McIntosh feels like her life is just one embarrassing moment after another and when the book begins she's experiencing one of those moments when she literally runs into the most handsome guy on the planet. He kind of unnerves her because of his gorgeousness and because he has purple eyes just like hers. It doesn't help either that her best friend Chloe keeps insinuating things that make her red all over. They go their separate ways and Emma and Chloe go into the water where Emma starts berating her friend for her comments. \n Galen - the guy Emma runs into - watches her and starts to wonder if she is like him and his sister. He can't wonder long as a shark attacks Chloe and Emma goes down with her.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 15 15:45:30 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 14 16:31:42 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "13087982", "review_id": "977911f89f5bcc67e9ffc9fe1ccc7ca0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for A Dance with Dragons at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Before I start this review, can we just take a moment to appreciate this colossal accomplishment? In four months (January, September, October, November) I read all five published volumes of this series. Let me pat myself on the pack...and now. Look, I liked book 4 and when I read Martin's note to preface this novel, I was expecting a parallel of events. But I was NOT expecting to be bored practically to tears.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 10 21:41:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 11 09:12:26 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "13497", "review_id": "b217af741628ade8f322d3484bc29bfb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for A Feast for Crows at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Shockingly, this book did not get thicker as the other two did. In fact, since Clash of Kings, this was probably the shortest. And the reason behind that is a lot of the familiar cast of characters were missing. Granted there were the obvious ones that were missing because they died at the end of the last book. But characters like Jon Snow and Daenerys aren't involved at all and according to Martin that was by design, otherwise book 4 would have been too long. Well, at least this shows me that he does understand how long these books are, but man I kind of missed my Dragon Queen and Jon Snow. But alas there are other characters to meet and lose.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 10 21:41:27 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 12 12:16:49 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Nov 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "62291", "review_id": "faa5a0cb5da1bce453ba6f10285fcb68", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for A Storm of Swords at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n As with A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords got thicker - a whopping 1128 pages, my hand is STILL cramping from holding this one - and I must confess that our dear Martin seriously really needs to rethink his editor. Because the person isn't really doing a great job. I know in writing when you're creating a whole new world it's fun to create all these characters and their backstories/histories, but unless it's substantial to the plot the reader doesn't need to know about them, they can be your juicy little secret. And I felt that Martin in this book really wanted us to know every minor character's history, while on one hand it's interesting, on the other - save the pages man! I already have enough going on in this book I don't need to remember all these characters and what they did when they grew up, besides by the end it probably won't even matter because they will be dead.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 10 21:41:25 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 22 13:22:13 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "374855", "review_id": "e8b20f0ea95cb0b59465fda54251c431", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for A Clash of Kings at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Eight months since I finished my reread of the first book in this series and I finally got around to reading book 2 for the first time. And like the Harry Potter books, these seem to be getting thicker with each volume. I wish that the 969 pages was worth it, but alas...Martin really needs to learn to edit. Some of the pages weren't really necessary to the overall plot, but I digress.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 10 21:41:25 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 01 10:13:01 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "985873", "review_id": "004b393d522b5e3d34e282ef671302e0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for A Game of Thrones at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n A Game of Thrones takes place in a fictional land called Westeros and there are seven kingdoms (houses really) that make up the land. The three main families that you need to keep in mind are the House of Stark - they rule the land to the North and Eddard Stark, the head of the family, is good friends with the king and has been forever; House of Lannister - they are a very powerful (and deceitful) family, the eldest son Jamie killed the previous king, the daughter Cercei is married to the king and birthed three children, and the youngest son Tywin is an Imp and hilarious to boot; and then there is the Targaryens - the family who used to be on the Iron Throne and consists of Viserys the eldest son and Daenerys the only daughter who is at the whim of her older brother as he tries everything in his power to win back the crown that they lost. But as it is put home a lot in this book, when you play the game of thrones you either live or you die and winter is coming. \n Right, as mentioned, this books is lengthy and that was one thing I remember from my reading of it three years ago, it was just too long. There are a lot of details that shouldn't be included and there were some chapters that really had no place and actually distracted from the important stuff that was happening to other characters. And then there are the characters! There are so many that it was hard to keep track of who was who - and I'm so clad that this book had an appendix so I could flip back and figure out which house that person belonged to (although if they died, it didn't really matter).", "date_added": "Mon Jun 10 21:41:23 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 30 11:37:38 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "37442", "review_id": "1888c2e6129a8b0b90546bb5cad5acf8", "rating": 1, "review_text": "For a book whose title claims to be about the life and times of the wicked witch of the west, it was barely about the life and times of the wicked witch.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 10 21:38:18 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 23 15:26:33 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Aug 23 15:26:33 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "17372472", "review_id": "ca850d64aa35e009173b15ecb14f6752", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Snakeroot at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Bosque Mar just won't die. No, seriously, after five damn books of fighting this asshole, the guy just won't leave this world alone. \n Snakeroot takes place right after Bloodrose, only instead of following Calla, it follows Adne, Ren's sister, as she deals with the fallout of the last battle with Bosque Mar. It turns out that even though we assumed that Adne and Connor were going to live happily ever after, Adne is having nightmares and these nightmares aren't pretty. They're scaring her and everyone else around her.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 03 19:31:58 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 12:12:07 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jan 29 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "13365532", "review_id": "f59692c24232dbf0d308a619a0110b02", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Rift and Rise at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Usually, I hate when an author writes a prequel series to one of their other series. Why? Because most of the time, I have already read the original series so I know what happens and/or who those characters are, and sometimes - not all the time - the authors create plot holes by writing the prequels that aren't answered in either series. However, when it came to Rift and Rise by Andrea Cremer I was thoroughly impressed.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 03 19:31:55 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 12:27:11 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "12439063", "review_id": "d635527a40b11c090e5e040867aef961", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Horizon at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n I'll admit that after book 2, I was a little wary of this series. I mean, how can you top the death of not only the main character but the one that she loves as well? The answer, you really can't. I mean, yes, the other two books were good, but they were kind of a let down after book 2. \n With Horizon you got the same set up as you did in Mystic - different POVs with each chapter and I really wished that that wasn't the case. The constant jumping of character's POVs broke up the story and I couldn't really get into a constant groove with it. Not to mention the plot was a little bit lacking, I mean, you have this huge buildup of what Daire and the others have been up to since the last book and what they're planning on doing, but all of a sudden it's like wham, bam, climax! Uh...okay?", "date_added": "Tue May 07 15:49:34 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 12:09:20 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "12439057", "review_id": "51126f826e81f2ab8e3c2078908cb69f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "this book just flew across the room because of the ending. i now want to go out and buy mystic.", "date_added": "Tue May 07 15:47:26 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 16 12:22:28 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jun 10 13:50:55 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "6134826", "review_id": "acb27fc96ec288eb1640addbe0d6f49b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Blue Moon at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n From what I remember about my previous read through of this series - up to book 3 - Blue Moon was not my favorite and it was mostly because of how easily Ever lost Damen and her friends. It pissed me off to no end that after the hell that she went through in the last book, she still couldn't get her happy ending. Of course, now that I'm reading it again, I'm still annoyed, but at the same time I'm also annoyed with Ever for not trying to help sooner and for trusting all the wrong people. I mean, there was a reason that she didn't trust Ava in the last book. And the fact that she still trusted Roman despite the fact that he admitted that he was going to kill Damen was just downright stupid.", "date_added": "Tue May 07 15:45:56 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 28 12:12:46 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "10215349", "review_id": "a567244b54c130a07ccf6c6016a17015", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Immortal Rules at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n The Immortal Rules follows Allison as she tries to make her way as an Unregistered - person living in a vampire city that isn't registered to donate blood weekly to vampires - in New Covington. You're introduced to her 'crew' who she belongs with in the struggle for survival. Notice I didn't mention their names? That's because within the first hundred pages, they all die, except for Allie and the weakest link of her gang. They're attacked by Rabids - vampires who have no control - and Allie is brutally mangled trying to defend her friend. A vampire comes by and offers her the choice to either die or to become a vampire.", "date_added": "Tue May 07 15:44:25 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 11:38:53 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Sep 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "13581990", "review_id": "0e400fe84386a1fbc1b335b896398def", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Eternity Cure at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Allison has found Eden. Allison has left Eden and the human she cares for behind. Now, she is on a mission to find and rescue her sire from the clutches of a crazy vampire. But as she finally nears him, it turns out that it wasn't her sire's 'presence' that she's been following, but her blood brother Jackal. The last time she saw him he stabbed her with a stake and she pushed him out a window. But instead of resuming their fight, he has a proposition for her. He wants to put their fight on hold, and go to an old lab in Old D.C. to try and find a cure for Rabidism. \n At first, she isn't too keen on the idea, she really needs to go and find Kanin before he succumbs to the stake in his chest, but eventually she agrees. When they get there though, someone else has already been there and has taken the living cultures of the Red Lung disease from the fridge. Both of them know it's Sarren and it isn't until Allie really thinks about it that she realizes where to go next. A place she thought she'd never go back to again. New Covington and while there she runs into a few faces she never thought to see again.", "date_added": "Tue May 07 15:44:21 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 02 10:14:22 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Oct 26 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "17883441", "review_id": "2b2d1732af395ba9ce95abf15e5548dc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review of The Forever Song at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Zeke is dead. Tortured by Sarren until he gave up the location of Eden. Allison is beside herself and has decided to let her inner monster win, now that she doesn't have Zeke to remind her of her humanity. Kanin, her sire, understands her grief but he is disappointed that she would let the monster win. Jackal, her older brother is ecstatic that his little sister is finally come over to the dark side. That doesn't stop them from bickering though. Her decision doesn't change until one night while feeding on a woman, the woman's child comes in because they had a nightmare. It reminds her of her humanity and she decides that maybe letting her inner monster control her actions isn't the best idea. \n The group's journey leads them back to Old Chicago where Jackal's minions are working for a new boss. The three think that it's Sarren, but when they get to the building it isn't Sarren who's waiting for Allison but someone she least expected. It's Zeke, but not the Zeke she remembered. Zeke has been made into a vampire by Sarren and has also been made into a childs - a vampire who serves its sire completely because it's been brainwashed. Reeling from the discovery, Allison almost dies by Zeke's hand and Kanin has to take her away. \n When she recovers Kanin and her go back to Old Chicago to rescue Jackal who got left behind and to either turn Zeke back to his old self or to kill him. It's very close, but Allison succeeds in turning Zeke back to his old self even though he doesn't like what he's become. But after some hard reason from Allison he stays off his own execution to go after Sarren who is on his way/already in Eden where a whole new set of problems wait for them.", "date_added": "Tue May 07 15:44:13 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 06 19:14:53 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Nov 28 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "14061957", "review_id": "e6fab59810a4074558f4d6a44c625840", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Ruin and Rising at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n It's been two months since the attack on the chapel. The Darkling somehow made it out of the rubble and is now ruling Ravka. Alina is still recovering from the attack and using some of the Darkling's power while underground with the Apparat. He's been trying to isolate her from the remaining Grisha and Mal, anyone who could turn out to be her ally. She would fight back against him, but she still hasn't been able to summon her power. \n Eventually, Alina does get out from under his thumb and starts dictating things to her loyal band of followers. It turns out that the only reason she couldn't use her power was because she was so far underground. With her newfound 'freedom' she is now free to go after the third amplifier.", "date_added": "Tue May 07 15:30:43 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 19 15:11:02 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Oct 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "14061955", "review_id": "63841684db8368c9a1ca43c34e2bfcae", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Siege and Storm at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n \"With great power comes great responsibility.\" On the run from the Darkling, Alina and Mal are trying to make their great escape. They know that if they are found by him, one of them will not come out alive. But the Darkling being the Darkling, has the power to find her and captures them both. They take to the seas, on the look out for something and that's when it becomes clear. \n The collar that Alina wears is not the only amplifier that Morozova made. There were three, and the Darkling is on the prowl for the second one, threatening Mal's life to find it. Once it is found, the captain of the ship he commandeers revolts, taking the sea dragon and Alina and Mal with him. But the incident in the Fold has left its mark on the Darkling. He now can create beings of darkness that can't be killed by knifes and rifles. Only Alina can destroy them and even with the collar she can't do it for long. \n The mysterious pirate captain reveals himself to be the second son of Ravka's king Nikolai and is bringing Alina back to the capital and his parents. Alina and Mal are hesitant knowing that they should continue to run from the Darkling and try to find the third amplifier. But Alina wants control of the Second Army. She wants to change how people think of the Grisha and warn the people about the Darkling's intent. So despite Mal's misgivings she goes along with Nikolai and things are started that can't be undone...", "date_added": "Tue May 07 15:30:39 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 14 10:24:06 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "10194157", "review_id": "c2fd5459d1a688999bd9275b21da581a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Shadow and Bone at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Ever since they were kids it's always been Alina and Mal against the world. Orphaned at a young age, they both grew up in the same orphanage and haven't left each others side since. They both enlist into Ravka's First Army and are about to do an impossible task. They're about to cross the Shadow Fold, a mysterious layer of complete darkness - monsters called volcra included - that appeared long before Alina and Mal were born. Everyone is nervous because not all who enter return alive, and halfway through the crossing they are attacked by the demons and Alina believes them to be doomed. \n That's when something odd happens that changes Alina's fate forever. A burst of light emits from her and fights back the darkness. She is immediately taken to the Darkling - the master of all Grisha - and is tested. She is found to have the power to call the light, a Sun Summoner, and she is tasked in saving all of Ravka from the Shadow Fold.", "date_added": "Tue May 07 15:30:37 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 12 14:08:46 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "2802316", "review_id": "2ea37d14b5aeaa82cf008de432c7a857", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Shadow Kiss at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Every time I read this series I always forget how much I love/hate this book. I love this book because finally after two and half books of buildup, Rose and Dimitri finally consummate their love and everything is almost perfect. But then I hate this book because of all the crap that Rose goes through in it.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 17:11:51 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 18 15:19:32 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Feb 03 19:21:41 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Thu Feb 02 06:35:33 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "9025116", "review_id": "82ae2fa185c2fc6c453a964bb97455cf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Definitely Dead at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n When the sixth book of the Sookie Stackhouse book begins, she's modeling with her fairy godmother's brother Claude and you start to get the feeling that something happened between Book 5 and 6. How do you know this? Well, Sookie mentions the fact that the Queen of Louisiana and the King of Arkansas got married and that she has already met the Queen when she brought news of her cousin - Hadley - death. Both events play a huge part in Definitely Dead. As I've mentioned before I don't like it when authors write short stories (also called novellas) that play a part in the next book for a series. I already have a long enough reading list, but to add these novellas to them too would just make it that much longer. However, Harris gets a pass because the events in this novella are thoroughly summarized you get the basic gist of what's going on. \n Anyway, Sookie is still dealing with the fallout from her murder of Debbie Pelt and the fact that Eric now knows what happened that night and what happened those few days that he was with her without his memory. Things are strained between the two, which saddens Sookie because she really misses him as a friend. Huh. Debbie Pelt's parents and sister are sniffing around still looking for answers and Sookie has had enough and tries to send them on their merry way. And then there's Quinn, the were-tiger who took an interest in our blonde haired heroine in the last book. He comes around and asks Sookie on a date and to tell her that the Queen requests her presence at this big meeting of all the vampire rulers next month. \n While out on this date, Sookie and Quinn are attacked by Weres and the following day the Queen's assistant comes by and asks her if she's ready to go to New Orleans to tidy up her cousin's affairs. He sent a messenger, who they find dead in her backyard. It's just another normal week in the life of Sookie Stackhouse.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 17:10:24 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 17:22:30 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Mar 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "140077", "review_id": "2e91e6a94425d30fbac94784bd5ca9f7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Dead to the World at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Christmas is over and Sookie is celebrating the new year by making a resolution to not get beat up and put into the hospital. That shouldn't be too hard of a resolution to keep considering she's no longer seeing vampire Bill - who's in Peru anyway - and the vampires from Shreveport haven't come a calling lately. But never say never. On her way home from Merlotte's on New Years, she sees a guy running on the side of the road. The guy turns out to be Eric. But it's not. Eric is suffering from some sort of amnesia. He can't remember who he is and what he's done. He doesn't even remember Sookie! \n Feeling concerned, Sookie takes him in and calls Pam to find out what's going on. Her and the bartender from Fangtasia stop by to check on their master. It turns out a group of witches has come to town and wanted to take Eric's business holdings for themselves. Eric said he think about it until the next day when a representative of the witches came by with a new proposal. The head witch - Hallow - would only take a fifth of Eric's business profits if he gave himself to her for two months. He refused and attacked the representative who had a spell on her that made Eric lose his memory. Until Pam, Chow and a group of Weres find out where the coven is, Sookie has to keep Eric safe, which shouldn't be too hard to do. Except for the fact that nice Eric is a little bit more appealing than his old self and Sookie isn't sure if she can resist.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 17:06:33 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 19 10:01:12 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "6990437", "review_id": "1c8583df0d297c0567923868629b3d7d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for From Dead to Worse at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n It's safe to say that Sookie Stackhouse has had to deal with a lot since she served Bill Compton that red glass of wine back in the first book. But this time around, Sookie's life is in peril from more than just the vampires.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 17:02:36 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 17:24:47 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Apr 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Apr 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "2282133", "review_id": "203ceb62662c7691cdcf0d34d8817ed1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Frostbite at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n As it's been documented on this blog, book 2's in a series where I liked book 1 don't usually hold up for me. However, when it comes to Vampire Academy book 2 delivered everything I wanted and more. Not only does Frostbite pick up where book 1 left off, but it also continues on with our favorite narrator while introducing new characters and upping the action. Not to mention the further exploration of Rose and Dimitri's relationship. Rose believe it or not actually had some interesting character development in this book, even if there were times I thought she was taking steps back and running her mouth when she really shouldn't. But then again a reserved Rose Hathaway would just be weird.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 17:01:35 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 28 12:06:31 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jan 21 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "7791997", "review_id": "40d5fef3d1dceebc3d7b1643861cd76f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Crescendo at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Recently, Becca Fitzpatrick revealed on Twitter that Crescendo was not her favorite book to write out of the Hush, Hush Saga, and I can tell. When this book first came out, I read it in one day and was supremely confused and angered by the events that transpired. How is it that a sequel to a book that I loved could turn in to such...well, crap? Now, that I've read it again, I still don't have an answer, but I kind of understand things better than that first reading. \n Nora is used to her life being turned upside down. Her father was murdered almost two years ago, she's learned that she is descended from a race called Nephilim, and that her lab partner from biology was a fallen angel until he saved her life two months ago. Now, Patch is a guardian angel her guardian angel and she couldn't be happier. But as the book begins, Nora isn't on the path to normal just yet. Feeling overwhelmed by her feelings for Patch, she declares her love for him and he doesn't say it back. \n The next morning in summer school she learns from Marcie Miller - her arch nemesis for years - that Patch went to her house right afterwards and stood watching. Nora asks Patch about it, but he doesn't give her an answer. Feeling hurt and betrayed she breaks up with him causing a rift. Add in a new character named Scott with a dark past of his own, and the fact that Nora is seeing her father around town and you've got one interesting sequel.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 16:58:21 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 14 16:42:52 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "25861100", "review_id": "f1f29ea08d4a06b5c34d5d2db984b5bc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Twilight at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So unless you've been living under a rock for the last decade, you know about this book and the craziness that it created. For the record, before the craziness started I had already read and fallen in love with this book and I was really dismayed when the hysteria started and anyone connected with it got subjected to ridicule. Eleven years later and...well, I've honestly grown up. Don't get me wrong, there were still scenes that made me smile - when Bella got asked out by all those guys and started considering taking out Edward's car, when Bella comes up with the plan to deviate James and Emmett comments about how diabolical she is, etc. - but all the bad press that surrounded this book has finally sunk into all the crevices.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 16:56:11 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 29 16:40:37 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Dec 04 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Nov 26 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "23225", "review_id": "c16677e22e15f1b97b4bb5875ed780c0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Haunted at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Junior year of Susannah Simon's high school career is starting and unlike her fellow classmates she is excited to go back to school. Because thing at home have gotten weird. Or more specifically things between her and Jesse have gotten weird since their kiss weeks ago. He's been avoiding her and when he does appear he doesn't really talk to her. So if she can get out of the house, it's a welcome distraction. But the welcome distraction soon turns into a nightmare when Kelly Prescott tells her that she won't be naming Suze as her VP this year, because she's going to name the new guy. The new guy who just happens to be Paul Slater. The guy who almost left her for dead over the summer in the shadowland. Even though according to him she wouldn't have died because she's not a mediator. She is something more and she didn't need to be exorcised to be transported to that realm. \n Not that Suze is going to believe him, she's still a little traumatized by what happened over the summer. Although CeeCee, Adam, and Kelly all seem to think that Paul and her had a thing. Add in a ghost who doesn't believe he should be dead and his brother should take his place and a kegger hot tub party at her house that her step-brother is blackmailing her into playing along with and Suze is just about fed up. Who said mediating was ever easy? \n So like I mentioned in my Darkest Hour review, I read Haunted first way back in 2003, not knowing that this was book 5 of a series. I fell for Paul because he was awesome and suavy and damn did he have all the lines. Now, of course, that I've read the series multiple times obviously I have seen the error of my ways. However, you got to admit jerkish/cry baby tendencies aside, he's still great...ish.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 16:55:09 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 01 21:15:02 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Apr 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "106085", "review_id": "d736394293c7e10253b4bc446bd9f8c0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Masquerade at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n I find it interesting in some of the reviews that I've read for this book, that a lot of people said that there was no point to it - that it was more filler than anything else. I would like to disagree. Although in some respects there were some 'filler' moments, a lot of what occurred in Masquerade, I have a feeling, impacts what happens in book 3. \n So it's been a few months since the events in Blue Bloods, Schuyler and Oliver are in Venice tracking down her grandfather, Charles is still visiting Allegra, Mimi feels victorious because Jack has strengthened their bond, Bliss is still grieving Dylan's death and is having a lot of blackouts, and then there's the introduction of the new character Kingsley. Schuyler does find her grandfather but he tells her that her grandmother lead her astray - he can be of no help to her...until he shows up in New York and decides to help her anyway. I really liked the character of Lawrence Van Alen, he reminds me a lot of Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter series.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 16:54:32 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 11:57:17 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "301082", "review_id": "5d078d2272997f243942e92492f1b440", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Dead Until Dark at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Welcome to Bon Temps, Louisiana where the vampires are out and trying to go mainstream with the humans. Sookie Stackhouse has been wanting to meet a vampire ever since they came out of the coffin two years ago, and it isn't until a fateful night while she's working at Merlotte's that a vampire walks in and sits in her section. She's excited to finally meet a vampire and she's even more excited when she realizes that she can't hear him. It tuns out that Sookie has had a disability since she was a kid where she can hear everyone's thoughts. This disability has pushed people away from her over the years and not a lot of people definitely know about the ability. They suspect but don't really know for sure. Hence her nickname 'crazy Sookie.' \n When she realizes that the vampire - Bill - is silent to her she's even more over the moon. But things are short lived when the Rattray's ( a really nasty couple) leave the bar with the vampire. The Rattray's are drainers and have moved on to their next victim. Sookie goes to stop them and succeeds much to Bill's astonishment. A few nights later the Rattray's get her back though with every intention of killing her until Bill interferes. An uneasy friendship blossoms between the two of them, with him agreeing to stop by her grandmother's group the Grateful Dead to talk about his time during the war. But her grandmother, being the sneaky woman she is, sets the two of them up and they do fall for each other. \n However, there are mysterious murders going on in town and the victims have bite marks on their inner thighs. Not to mention of group of vampires show up who are looking for trouble and then there is that blonde vampire Eric who runs a bar in Shreveport and has taken an interest in Sookie much to Bill's disdain.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 16:51:50 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 12 09:25:43 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Feb 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "3975774", "review_id": "6b87723c3b0b956d25fefc05dc4e73f9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Evermore at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So I obsessively read this book - and the next two in the series - when I was a senior back in high school, which was almost ten years ago. Back then I thought that Damen Auguste was pretty hot stuff. But now that I'm older...I'm just...fed up with characters like him. You know, the bad boys who try to get the MC to follow them along in every little thing, and are very clingy? Don't get me wrong Ever has her own brand of problems and the way that she so easily falls for Damen is understandable, but the whole time it was happening I couldn't help but think that she could really do better and that she needed to listen to her instincts about falling too fast. Because that's exactly what she did. She fell way too fast.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 16:50:09 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 08:22:36 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "6267237", "review_id": "4ef4a1f6f65433e6db34aab87db14065", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for The Van Alen Legacy at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Here is my belief about the previous three books after reading this one: What was the point? \n Honestly, my emotions went up and down in the previous three books and all of that exercise was for nothing. \n There was also the issue of the timeline. In the book, it's mentioned that it's been a year since the events in Revelations, but I'm trying to do the math and it just doesn't work out that way. It was March/April at the end of book 3, and this one picks up in August right before Jack and Mimi's senior year, and Bliss and Schuyler are both sixteen. A year hasn't passed. Maybe four months, but not a year.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 16:48:48 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 11:55:36 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "685386", "review_id": "8f3ed404653ebd31397ef04f5d279c59", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Club Dead at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n It's a few weeks until Christmas in Bon Temps, and although it's said to be the most wonderful time of the year, this year it's not. Sookie is having problems with her boyfriend. He's more interested in his computer these days than in her. When she finally asks him what he's up to, he doesn't tell her, but instead makes her promise that when he leaves for a trip to 'Seattle' and if something happens to him that she takes his computer and disks and protect them. She agrees knowing that he is lying to her about going to Seattle. She doesn't think much of it until Pam shows up at Merlotte's and tells her that Bill is missing. \n What follows is a weird chain of events. Apparently, Sookie was right to believe that Bill wasn't going to Seattle. Instead he was going to Mississippi for the Queen of Louisiana. While there he ran into an old vampire lover of his - Lorena - and took up with her again. He had called Eric and Pam to tell them that he was going to stay with her permanently and that he needed to settle accounts with Sookie so that way she was taken care of. Upon hearing this information, Sookie is hurt, but she isn't hurt enough to not go to Jackson, Mississippi to look for signs of Bill. The werewolf that escorts her - Alcide - is quite the charmer himself and when they get to Jackson things are not as they seem.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 16:47:03 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 17:18:28 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "49041", "review_id": "a990a966310bdeaad30a05a890e197fe", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for New Moon at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So back when this book first came out, I was so excited that there was a sequel to Twilight that when my best friend called me over the summer to let me know that Borders (RIP) already had copies three weeks before the release date, I instantly made plans to go out and get it. Even though she also told me that I probably wasn't going to like the beginning because she knew how big of a Team Edward fan I was. When I finally got my hands on the book and began reading it, I was devastated. In fact throughout the whole book I was completely wrecked just like Bella. Of course, that was almost eleven years ago.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 16:40:45 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 18 15:27:57 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "7519167", "review_id": "65a537365ea7b2e51980f3f78cfe80bb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Dead in the Family at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So, remember how I said that Sookie being tortured was going to have an affect on her in the next book? Well, I was right. Kind of. Dead in the Family is a little bit different than the other nine books in the series. Instead of getting into the nitty gritty real quick, this book has a very lengthy prologue that deals with the aftermath of Dead and Gone. Sookie isn't the same sunshiny girl that she's been. She's dark. She's in a lot of pain. And she can't even get her happy time with Eric - which is a real shame, considering that's the most he shows up in the whole book. Eventually the prologue ends with Sookie coming back to her old self and everything seems to be all right. \n But it's not. The Weres and the shifters are in a lot of trouble with the government. With the whole reveal, steps must now be taken to see if they have to register with the government like the vampires do. The supes aren't too happy about that and are trying their best to get out of doing this. Claude - Claudine's brother - comes to move in with Sookie, spouting some nonsense about being nearer to his own kin. I know she doesn't really like her fay cousin, but man, he does have his moments and I have to give him a lot of credit for trying. Anyway, there is more reason to him moving in and it has to deal with some stray fairies wondering around even though Niall closed the portal in the last book. \n And as usual, what would a Sookie Stackhouse book be without vampires and bodies? Bill is still dealing with the silver poisoning from saving her and he isn't doing all that well. Considering he got it while saving her, she does her best to find someone to help him heal. And while we're on the subject, Eric finally explains why he wasn't the one who came to save her. He was with Victor and he forbade him from going to save her. This brings up a whole plan where Eric, Sookie, and Pam have to get rid of Victor before he gets rid of them.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 16:32:44 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 17:26:44 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "6479259", "review_id": "5230a12daad4079f0a9e000550dc7b3f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Spirit Bound at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Like with the other two times I've read this book, my emotions are in a constant roller coaster and it starts right on page one. Dimitri is still sending Rose 'love letters' that basically say that she completely screwed up by not making sure that he was really dead on that bridge, they could have had forever, but he has to kill her now and he will find her no matter where she goes. Thankfully, after that, things kind of mellow out. Rose graduates, goes to Court and tries to figure out her next move. She breaks into a prison and kidnaps Victor Dashkov - the guy who tries to kill Lissa - and then she goes to Vegas to meet Victor's half-brother and interrogate him about if he brought a Strigoi back to life. Plot twist, he did do it, but a dhampir can't. The spirit user has to. Emotional high again when Dimitri shows up to take out Rose, but in the end they both fail.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 16:29:52 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 18 14:22:11 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Mar 14 17:24:59 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Mar 09 17:28:23 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "685385", "review_id": "80685a875183ced31c816ff9021ec5bd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Living Dead in Dallas by: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Another thing I liked about the TV show over the books? Lafayette Reynold lives. Living Dead in Dallas starts off with Sookie finding Lafayette's dead body in Andy Bellefleur's car. Lafayette was my favorite character in True Blood and after only a few interactions in Dead Until Dark, I kind of wished Harris had kept him around more. Anyway, Lafayette is dead, probably because of some outrageous parties that he had been going to recently, but Andy is still a suspect in his murder. The murder though gets pushed back because Sookie and Bill are needed elsewhere. \n Sookie made a promise to Eric in the last book that he could use her ability as long as he wanted to if he let a human prisoner go. He agreed and is making good on Sookie's promise. A vampire nest in Dallas needs use of Sookie's ability to find a missing member of their nest. What Sookie stumbles across in her search for answers is not at all what she expected. Turns out that the missing vampire was taken by an organization called the Fellowship of the Sun - a church of followers who believe that vampires shouldn't exist and need to be taken care of permanently. Sookie goes to the Fellowship to figure out where exactly the missing vampire is, but is betrayed by her counterpart. As usual, Sookie find her way out thanks to help from a vampire and another were creature, but the Fellowship isn't quite done yet.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 16:26:51 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 17:18:01 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "872333", "review_id": "79f5718070d1562696235a61a22c4774", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Blue Bloods at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Oh, look, another book about vampires. But this one is different. This one has to deal with vampires who live in Manhattan and OMG - they're rich! Think vampires meets Gossip Girl and you've basically got Blue Bloods. \n I remember reading this series over eight years ago, and again a few years ago back when book 4 came out. And now I kind of remember why I didn't 100% love this series even though it was basically crossed two of my favorite things ever, and that was the craziness of the plot and the jumpiness of the POVs.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 16:24:46 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 11:58:03 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "23224", "review_id": "95ae19977ac50df88f36d64179bceb7a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Darkest Hour at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n After everything that Suze has been through during the six months that she's moved from her home in New York to Carmel, California she wasn't prepared for this. In her stepfather's household you have two choices in how you spend your summer vacation: you can either have remedial tutoring or you can get yourself a job. There go Suze's plans of laying out on the beach all summer. Instead, she gets herself a job working as a onsite babysitter at the Pebble Beach Hotel and Golf Resort. It's not a bad gig. She gets paid ten bucks an hour and whatever she earns in tips, and the clientele that stay at the hotel are the elite. The big problem this week though, is that she is stuck with a kid named Jack Slater who no one on the staff likes because he's afraid of everything. And Suze gets stuck with him for the second day in a row. \n But she won't let Jack's phobias get her down. So she'll forcibly removes him from his hotel room and takes him down to the pool, where all the trouble starts. On the way, they run into a gardener who just so happens to be dead. Jack runs screaming from him and when she asks him what's wrong he tells her quite seriously that he can see dead people. Suze has got a little mediator on her hands. And when she's not training him, she has to worry about what her stepfather is up to in the backyard. Because even though he's trying to install a hot tub, where he's digging there are a few ghosts who aren't happy about it. A few ghosts who know Suze's roommate Jesse really well... \n Okay, so here's something that I don't think I've confessed in my other reviews for this series. Before I knew that these were a series, I read Haunted - book 5 - first and fell in love with Paul Slater. He was the ultimate bad boy and sure, I didn't understand what Suze's problems with him were because I hadn't read this book, but man...I was really team Paul there for the longest. Now, as I'm rereading this series for the umpteenth time I realize how much of a jerk and crybaby he is, but man...I miss the good old days. lol.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 16:24:01 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 25 20:27:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "6754536", "review_id": "e39940b4cd0b7cc4a54a75de1b8fcf47", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Blood Promise at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I always forget that after Shadow Kiss, Blood Promise and Spirit Bound break me. Gone is the carefree Rose. Now, here's a girl who has to go after the love of her life and save him from his eternal damnation. Her training has covered almost everything, except for this. I have to admit that I always get a little teary eyed when Rose makes it to Dimitri's hometown and meets his family. Because she's finally meeting the family and they adore her, but she's there to tell them that he's turned Strigoi. And as much as I loved the family interlude I was anxious for her to get back to the real reason that she was in Russia in the first place. And let me tell you that that confrontation always makes me freak out because it's almost reminiscent of the whole Tuxedo Mask is evil entrance from Sailor Moon (not to mention a dozen or so evil Endymion fanfics I've read over the years).", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 16:18:38 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 05 07:59:23 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Feb 25 12:24:12 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Feb 24 17:20:48 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "7198988", "review_id": "d982c64fc3d7b58dc51cd4ea5ab4c061", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Dark Flame at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n For the love of all that's holy. I swear this book series seems to be getting worse with each new installment. Now I know why I stopped reading these books originally back at book 3. This time my ire will be directed at Ever - consider Damen wasn't really in this book all that much to begin with - because man. Haven was right about one thing, she really needs to RELAX. This girl is way to up tight and while I'm all for characters finding their 'dark sides' and learning to balance the light with the dark I think this book took it a little bit too far. Especially with a character like Ever who is already neurotic as it is.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 19 09:54:02 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 18 13:52:40 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Mar 03 18:48:16 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Tue Feb 28 17:19:35 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "9720768", "review_id": "6e9ffcda04621e8a5806bacad718a4b9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Everlasting at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n After all the crap that I have given this series since book one, I was so excited to finally reach the conclusion that I actually read with fervor to find out what happens to Damen and Ever. Do they live happily ever after? Do they finally break the horrible curse that Roman put on them? Shockingly (heavy sarcasm here), they do both and they also do a few other things as well.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 19 09:54:02 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 30 10:05:54 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Apr 21 17:26:56 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Apr 20 06:36:29 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "13206828", "review_id": "e506cf1782ad12ee2a2951537f05d361", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Cress at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Let me tell you that I am grateful that work was slow on Tuesday, because once I picked up Cress I could not put it down. I know I've said this before but I like how Meyer weaves the separate storylines together so that they all flow together. This time around we're dealing with Cress, Kai and Cinder and her fellow fugitives as they try to stop the wedding from hell. The action is supreme, the way that characters slowly start to form bonds is magnificent, and I love the way that Cinder's character is developing. She is adjusting to her new role as 'princess' quite well. I really loved that scene where after using her Lunar abilities on Sybil she feels horrible and is afraid that she is turning into her aunt.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 19 09:53:39 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 29 13:44:04 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "13206760", "review_id": "20d7094754bf02ac92f6747bb469d19f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Scarlet at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I have to admit that after all the good things I heard about Scarlet, I was ready to be disappointed because that is usually how it goes for me. Especially with series that are sequels, but really aren't because they introduce new characters without seeing any of the old ones. However, this book is different because it does show me the characters I came to know in Cinder while also introducing new ones and having all their paths somewhat intersect. I liked Scarlet's character - she is really no nonsense and will do anything to save her grandmother. Ditto to Captain Thorne who was the comedic relief this book needed when it got to be too serious. Wolf on the other hand...I'm still undecided about him because I'm still trying to figure him out. If I understood this correctly, he is one of those creatures that Levana was working on and had stationed on Earth so that way she could invade it easier? But because he believes Scarlet to be his mate he was able to override his master's wishes? Am I getting that right?", "date_added": "Tue Mar 19 09:53:34 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 18 15:24:01 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Feb 04 19:44:47 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Feb 03 19:23:05 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "18492489", "review_id": "a0f513ba7817d8a554e304d1b75ef996", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Dead Ever After at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n The final book in the Sookie Stackhouse series, what could Harris possibly have in store that hasn't already been done? As it turns out, a lot. Sookie and Sam are dealing with the aftermath of her using the cluviel dor to bring Sam back to life. Sookie is also dealing with her very frayed relationship with Eric, when Arlene - the former waitress who also tried to kill her - walks back into Merlotte's asking for her job back. She refuses and Arlene leaves angry. Unfortunately for Sookie that isn't the end of it, as the book continues we're introduced to other characters who are planning Sookie's downfall. Apparently, after everything she's done in the last twelve books she's amounted herself some enemies. One of which is the former head of the Fellowship of the Sun, Steve Newlin. He's really turned nasty since Sookie took down that organization.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 19 09:52:14 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 27 09:32:26 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "12751687", "review_id": "e21f347aa4ea021365e1188d670e788b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Finale at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n After everything Nora has been through, she has one last task to complete before she can fly off into the sunset and be happy with Patch. She has to lead the Black Hand's Nephilim army to war against the fallen angels. If she doesn't, she and her mother will die. But, if she does, the archangels won't be so pleased with her and Patch. What happened to normal seventeen-year-old problems? \n At least she isn't alone. She's got Patch, she's got Scott, she's got the Black Hand's right man Dante and shockingly she even has Marcie. Yeah, that's right, Marcie is on Nora's side, or at least, she's helping Nora so she can find out who killed her father.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 19 09:49:00 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 14 16:38:24 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "10637766", "review_id": "d4c49e02a58d077dc480c60ed9c23285", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Silence at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Nora Grey has been through it all in the last few years. Her father was murdered. She had a stalker. She thought she was going insane. She was almost killed a few times. She fell in love for the first time. She found out that her father wasn't really her father and that there are fallen angels and Nephilim walking around in the real world. So what could possibly happen to top all of that? Well... \n It's been three months since the end of Crescendo and Nora wakes up in the cemetery having no idea how she got there or what day it is. When the groundskeeper finds her, he tells her her worst fear. It's not April like she thought, but actually September. She's been missing for three months and she has no memory of the last five. She may not remember anything, but she does get the feeling that something isn't right with her mom's new boyfriend - Hank Millar. As she tries to unravel the mystery of what happened to her, she meets old friends and new foes.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 19 09:48:59 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 14 16:39:28 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "10814946", "review_id": "274153bb829e8d0a9e94db59d13210fe", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Gates of Paradise at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n In the final book of the Blue Bloods series, Schuyler, Oliver and Kingsley are doing all they can to protect the final gate that leads to Paradise. The Covens have all been disbanded and are hiding underground. Jack and Mimi have disappeared and the rumors are spreading that they've returned to the Dark and Lucifer. Bliss has found the wolves that will help the Blue Bloods in their battle for Heaven, but they are stuck outside of the passages of time. \n Jack and Mimi, have indeed joined with Lucifer again, but as those who read the last book know, it's only to play double agent so that they can break the bond that they have to each other so that they can each be with the person they love. But their plan seems to be backfiring, because the Morningstar knows all.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 19 09:48:40 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 11:46:01 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Mar 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "9578590", "review_id": "a7140613397953b72b073d977629eb62", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Lost in Time at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n So, while the last book finally made it easier to keep up with the different narrators by devoting a complete part of a book to each, this book resorts back to each chapter is someone else. But instead of being Schuyler, Mimi and Bliss/Deming - this time the third narrator is Allegra, and it isn't in the present time. Allegra's chapters are all about how she came to break her bond with Charles. \n This was one of the reasons why this book was by far my favorite of the whole series so far.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 19 09:48:37 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 11:53:31 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "8130839", "review_id": "343d84736bf311c8d536c3bf00cc43e9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Read full review at http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Bloodrose takes place right where Wolfsbane left off with Calla going after Ren. I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but as much as I love writing love triangles and reading about love triangles - the drama, the angst, the heartbreak - ever since reading Clockwork Princess I can't reading about them anymore. Mostly because of how the love triangle was handled in that book, no other can compare. But, I have to admit this love triangle is intriguing. I'll admit that during Nightshade, I couldn't stand Ren; I was rooting for Shay for the previous novels. But, in the opening scenes of Bloodrose, I sort of changed my mind.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 19 09:48:11 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 12:29:35 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "8755785", "review_id": "32ba75f6e95babcab78a6dcb34f286ca", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Shockingly, it didn't take me forever to start reading this book. Usually, when I purchase new releases, it takes me forever to get to them (or like in Scarlet and Cress's case, I still have yet to read them). But this time around, Clare was next on my reading list once I finished the stack of books I had from the library. So, I'm warning you now, this review does contain spoilers - even though I tried to be vague with my updates on Goodreads - and I've split this review into parts based on the book. So you have been warned. Click the link at your own risk. http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w...", "date_added": "Tue Mar 19 09:46:03 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 15 19:07:33 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "8755776", "review_id": "f9335c5caea5a41ec11a8fefcc2ee5f0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for City of Lost Souls at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n After the way the last book ended with Sebastian coming back to life thanks to Jace, there is no possible way the events in this book could get any worse. Right? \n Ha-ha. Not. \n Simon's mom? Totally hates her son and bans him from the house. Clary is under scrutiny from the Clave because of what happened at the end of book 3. Jace and Sebastian are gone and when they do show up again at Clary's house it turns out that they are bound. You can't injure one without injuring the other. And Jace isn't really Jace. Thanks to the Mark that Lilith made on him in the last book, Sebastian can control him.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 19 09:45:49 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 11:58:51 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Feb 14 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "6752378", "review_id": "bc901bce294d217a451f89c6b97550c9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review of City of Fallen Angels at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n After the way City of Glass ended I was kind of pissed to find out there were two - soon to be three - more books. Um...Cassandra Clare, there's these things called happy endings in which the characters live happily ever after. Nothing else happens to them, and after the shit you put Clary and the gang through - don't you think they deserve it? So what could you possibly have in store for them now?", "date_added": "Tue Mar 19 09:45:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 12:01:01 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "3777732", "review_id": "0aa8b8f96433973d4fb0fea57b80ca23", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for City of Glass at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n So, City of Ashes ended with a mysterious woman approaching Clary telling her that she knows what her mother took and can help her find the antidote. City of Glass takes place right after, with Clary packing for Idris even though Jace doesn't want her to go. It turns out that Clary isn't the only one going to the Shadowhunter's homeland; because of Valentine's possession of both the Mortal Cup and the Mortal Sword a session of the Clave needs to be held. \n Due to some interesting circumstances Simon also comes with the Lightwoods and Jace into Idris - which leads to a whole set of problems. Like for instance, because of Imogene's death a new Inquisitor had to be appointed and honestly. Is it some sort of job requirement that the Inquisitor has to have a vendetta against Downworlders? Or have a screw loose in their head? I mean, honestly. Adeltree is quite the ass.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 19 09:45:45 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 12:02:09 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "7728889", "review_id": "ae7b29428e56b7d0621e55a5a879b880", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for The Diviners at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n The best way to describe The Diviners is the following take the roaring '20s of The Great Gatsby and mix it with some paranormal, religious cult murders and you've pretty much got this book. Jake? Evie O'Neill is too big for small town Zenith, Ohio. She parties every night and is one big whirlwind of trouble. She longs for something outside her small town, and her gift does not help matters. Ever since her brother died she has been able to take an object that someone holds most dear, touch it, and find out some deep dark secrets of the person the object belongs. This gift gets her in trouble with a son from one of the more prestigious families in Zenith, and they want an apology or else. Evie doesn't want to apologize, because what she saw was true. So her parents ship her off to New York City and her Uncle Will, who runs the Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult (aka Museum of Creepy Crawlies). \n But this isn't the best time for her to be in the city, not when there is a murderer on the loose. This guy is different though, he's making 'sacrifices' with weird symbols and Will is called upon by the police to investigate.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 19 09:44:51 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 05 10:32:43 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "15808697", "review_id": "ede62b6b38282bd9e0bab133c59db075", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Deadlocked at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n All right, this is the penultimate book in the Sookie Stackhouse series, where major plot lines should start coming together, ultimatums are thrown out, and some major villain comes to the fold. Right? Wrong. Sure, some plot lines start to come to a happy conclusion, but I have way more questions than answers. But I'm jumping ahead of myself. Sookie has survived a lot over the years, ever since Bill Compton walked into Merlotte's one evening. But this might be her hardest test yet. Felipe - the King of Louisiana - is back in town researching the mysterious disappearance of his regent Victor. Eric is called into his presence to atone for what may or may not have happened to the vamp. Sookie - being Eric's wife - is indebted to make an appearance. \n But while at this party, things go wrong, and they go wrong fast. It starts with getting a call from Eric's day guy that she doesn't need to be at the party that early she can come an hour later, then Bill, who's put in charge of security, warning her as she pulls up that she should just go home. It gets worse when she comes inside and is escorted by Pam to see Eric, and they come upon him feeding on another woman. Sookie is pissed. Eric is confused because unlike with other women, he couldn't resist her. And Felipe chooses this moment to summon Eric and Sookie to speak with him. While they're talking to the King, the police show up. The girl who Eric had been feeding on is dead on his front lawn. \n Okay. I really don't know what to make of this book. Sure, as a standalone novel, it was entertaining, but as the second to last book in a series, it sort of fell flat.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 19 09:30:21 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 19 12:20:01 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "11559200", "review_id": "e1202db44352b3d84e08ced734160fea", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for Shadow of Night at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n As a rule, I don't like time-traveling books. It's nothing personal against authors or anything like that, but I just don't like them. It's hard to get my brain wrapped around the idea that these people who are traveling back in time make changes to the time line that have dire consequences, and most of the time when the time traveling takes place, you're most of the way through the book so all these events that these characters change have already happened. It just doesn't compute with my brain. That being said, I was really surprised with how much I liked Shadow of Night considering it's very time travel heavy. \n When we last left Diana and Matthew at the end of A Discovery of Witches, they were traveling to the past to find Ashmole 792 and a witch that could help her with her wayward magic. At the beginning of book 2, they have successfully traveled back in time. Now the couple has to transition to the time they have traveled to, and get used to certain people being alive - Matthew's father Philippe. While on this journey, Diana and Matthew are finally officially married and the wedding night is definitely worth the wait. Their adventures are comical and serious and...well, like I said I'm surprised I loved this book so much.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 16 11:48:00 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 02 10:11:12 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "8667848", "review_id": "ca5bbb3dfb5a3f7d522cf3c8a57a7571", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for A Discovery of Witches at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Diana Bishop is a witch not that she actually uses her powers. In fact, since her parents' horrific deaths when she was seven, she made a promise to herself that she wouldn't use her magic. Ever. But like with most promises, she breaks it and only uses her magic occasionally. However, when she's not trying to not use her magic, she is a professor of alchemy and is doing research on manuscripts in the Oxford Library. One of the manuscripts she calls, Ashmole 782, isn't just an ordinary manuscript. It's bewitched, and with a simple press of her hand to the cover, Diana undoes the spell to read inside. \n This causes a chain reaction. Apparently, this manuscript hasn't been seen in almost a century and now Diana is being stalked by vampires, witches, and daemons that are trying to have her recall the book so that way that species can regain control of it and its secrets. The first to approach her is a vampire named Matthew, who instantly makes a connection with the witch. Much to the disdain of the other witches, daemons, and vampires, their bond grows and now it's not only a matter of getting the book from Diana, but trying to keep her to her own kind. And some will go to any lengths to do so.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 22 13:02:07 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 11:07:12 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "1582996", "review_id": "fbdd695da394b2c6cecb8b6fd849daf7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for City of Ashes at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Okay, so after Valentine's bomb that Jace and Clary are siblings, him stealing the Mortal Cup and Clary's mom being found but not being able to wake up, how exactly do you top that? \n Answer: by having mysterious Downworlder's deaths, killing off the Silent Brothers, introducing the Mortal Sword, and introducing the Inquisitor who turns out to be a total bitch and has a vendetta against Jace because of who his father is.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 08 19:30:51 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 12:05:01 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "893174", "review_id": "13fac3be89dbaf51332436c70ff238ab", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Lightning Thief at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n I broke my cardinal rule when it comes to books that are adapted into movies and I saw the movie first. In my defense, the movie came out in 2010 and my friend who had read the books desperately wanted to go see it with someone, so I tagged along thinking why not? The guy who directed the first two Harry Potter movies directed this, it could be good. And because I hadn't read the books I thought it was good. My friend was scoffing during the whole movie and told me that I needed to read the books to understand. So three years later - after I got back into reading - I added the series to my reading list and my friend was right. The books are loads better.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 30 17:14:17 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 18 15:41:28 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "6848a950689399bd9a46e2ca70945de7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for City of Bones at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Originally read in December 2012. Reread again in November 2013 because I bought the box set of the first five and I'm preparing for book 6 later on this year...so forgive me if I'm a little hazy on some of the details. \n Clarissa Fray - Clary for short - is celebrating her birthday when she sees something that she shouldn't see; a vampire being killed by a trio of teenagers. Only she doesn't know the man being killed is a vampire, she thinks he's just a regular guy. But the thing is, Clary isn't supposed to see the teenagers at all. They're glamoured. \n While she's trying to figure out who those teens were and why the blonde haired boy with an attitude is calling her a mundane, the apartment she lives in with her mother gets broken into and her mother is taken. When she arrives, the place is in ruins and her mother is gone, but the apartment isn't empty. Something is still lurking and attacks her. The blonde boy comes in and saves her and takes her back to the Institute - a sort of home base for what the boy and his friends are.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 16 23:21:14 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 29 21:51:40 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Dec 17 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "12848043", "review_id": "0148f4d270dbb2898eca0b58995e1180", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Rapture at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Lucinda Price now knows the truth about most of her past lives. Thanks to some Announcer jumping and almost changing the past, she at least has a better idea of what drew Daniel and her together time and time again. The only thing she still isn't sure of is how to break the curse that was put upon her. But that has to take a backseat, because while she was jumping through these Announcers, she had a guide named Bill who seemed to help, yet at the last second he turned out to be the last person Luce was ever expecting. Lucifer. Due to the decision she made not to kill her cursed soul, Lucifer has decided that he can't leave things up to Fate anymore, so he is going back to the Fall and this time he's going to make sure things go in his favor. \n The only way to stop him, though, is to find the location of the Fall, and you would think with all the angels that Luce runs with these days they would be able to find it no problem. But, of course, they can't because they don't remember the Fall all that well. However, hope is not lost (or else there would be no plot to this book, naturally) because of the book that Daniel wrote hundreds of years ago, he has some clue as to how they can find the location. It lies in three relics and when they are brought together they should reveal the information that they seek. But, they only have nine days to find them and stop Lucifer from rewriting history. And somewhere along the line, Luce has to figure out why they've been cursed and why exactly Lucifer is so keen on her... \n Okay, so after the mediocre way that Luce found out the truth about her past lives and love for Daniel, I wasn't expecting to much from this book. Which I guess is a good thing, because I was kind of taken away with Rapture.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 21 06:54:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 23 20:44:26 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Apr 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "9773149", "review_id": "e52c53a3e45f59ac6f2077b847b317b7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Passion at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n The last we saw Lucinda Price she was going through an Announcer to find some answers because she was tired of Daniel not telling her the truth. Daniel goes after her and so do Shelby and Miles despite the angels protests. Luce travels to different past lives trying to figure out if the love that Daniel and her have is worth it and why exactly does she always die during the curse. She learns a lot thanks to help from a little gargoyle named Bill who teaches her how to go '3D' with her past selves, but still. Traveling through time is complicated and if even the smallest thing goes wrong the future could get messed up. \n *gnashes teeth* I was kind of excited at the end of Torment for Luce to go on this huge journey to figure out her past. She was finally taking charge of her life and not waiting for Daniel to give her bits and pieces. Then they had to add in the whole 'time traveling' thing and I got annoyed.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 21 06:50:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 02 12:55:06 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Mar 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "11711049", "review_id": "e0fbd3c6e223b3ca8bd0cd2b0e6495e9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Dead Reckoning at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Another book, another string of drama in the Sookie Stackhouse series. It's been three months since the events of book 10, and Sookie seems to be doing fine. But like with the previous 10 books, that doesn't last long. It begins with a firebombing of Merlotte's and concludes with a plot to kill Victor the regent of Louisiana while the King of Nevada is away on business. I'll tell you now, the firebombing and Victor are not related despite some red herrings. The firebombing of Merlotte's is connected to Sandra Pelt, Denise's sister, who is out of jail and gunning for Sookie's life. And Victor...well, I won't even get into him.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 08:16:08 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 17:38:04 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "199785", "review_id": "e7a206b8e2883284213f7aa6090b6360", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Reunion at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Suze Simon has adjusted to life in sunny Carmel, California. She's sent a few ghosts packing, she's still dealing with the ghost - Jesse - who lives in her bedroom, and she is even somewhat popular. Her adjustment is just in time too, because her best friend from New York - Gina - is visiting for the week and she is so excited. Hanging out with her best friend by lying on the beach and soaking up some rays, while occasionally going to school? Sounds like a good time to Suze. But, of course, Suze isn't that lucky. While picking up some drinks at the local mart at one of the beaches, she sees something completely odd. Four teenagers dressed in formal wear trying to pinch a case of beer. Suze knows that there's no way the store owner is going to let them get away with that, so why are they even bothering? \n That's when she notices the truth. They're not alive. They're ghosts. They're the spirits of the four teens who died in a horrific car accident the other night. Should be a breeze, because she has handled worse cases, right? Wrong. It starts when Jesse mentions that the four spirits are angry and he's concerned for Suze's wellfare. Then when she actually sees the ghosts again their sending down a plaster Mardi Gras head onto a fellow classmate of hers. The classmate who was in the other car and walked away unscathed. Now, she knows that it's a matter of revenge...but who's? \n I've said it in my other reviews for this series, and I don't mind saying it again. I love these books a lot. And even though it's been over a decade since I first read them, they are still great.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 08:15:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 25 20:23:28 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "9462815", "review_id": "a2ec3744fd9f48816c38e2cf58aa15dc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It's been about a year since I read the first one - Insatiable - and usually I don't like leaving that long of a time period between sequels. But since Insatiable was so memorable AND the fact that Meg Cabot has a wonderful talent to remind you about the main points of the last book in the sequel, I wasn't too confused. I'll try to keep this spoiler free, but there was some things that I just didn't quite agree with, but I can see why she did them. Her resolutions, as always, are quick and tidy, but she still left room for possibly for a third one. \n Still love the character of Meena, and Alaric actually grew on me as the book progressed.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 08:15:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 29 21:34:33 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "199786", "review_id": "c988c597055694e130bf2e2683eb0ca7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "see full review for Ninth Key at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Susannah Simon is adjusting nicely to living in sunny Carmel, California. She's admiring the palm trees. She enjoys knowing that there is another mediator, who just happens to be the principal of her school, nearby that she can talk shop with. She even likes her new stepdad and making fun of her older stepbrothers. A few things she still isn't used to though? The fact that she is sharing a bedroom with a ghost who's over one hundred and fifty years dead. Also, she's kind of pissed that no one told her about the poison oak. \n But that all pales in comparison to when she is woken up multiple times by a screaming woman who wants her to tell 'Red' that her death wasn't his fault. Suze agrees only to get back to sleep and in the morning starts to look into it. It turns out 'Red' is Red Beaumont a prestigious businessman who's son Tad danced with Suze at Kelly Prescott's pool party where she got the poison oak. Suze gets into the Beaumont mansion and time with Red to tell him what the ghost told her. Instead of getting the usual reaction - tears, disbelief, etc. - he seems rather interested in what she has to say. And even asks if she would be able to contact other people that he's wronged. Sensing the weirdness of the situation she tries to get out, only to find the windows nailed shut. Something strange is going on... \n I always forget how much Ninth Key freaks me out. It starts out great, with Suze being her sarcastic self with some ghost drama, and it even gets a little interesting when she mentions Tad. But then when they throw in Tad's father, things get creepy. Like The Godfather with a paranormal twist creepy.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 08:14:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 11 21:29:13 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "187811", "review_id": "c2f950bcbd24e4ac860245b8347dad82", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Shadowland at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Susannah Simon has never been normal. From a very young age she has been able to see and talk to the dead. As she got older and when her dad died, she started figuring out that these ghosts came to her to help them move on to the next life or whatever. Of course, because of this she's gotten into a lot of trouble back in New York. But all of that is going to change now that her mother has remarried and they're relocating to Carmel, California. With the new step-dad, she gets three new step-brothers (who she has already nicknamed Sleepy, Dopey, and Doc) and a house that is a historical monument and has the ghost to prove it. \n His name is Jesse and he haunts Suze's bedroom. And really he is the least of her problems. It turns out that the only reason she was able to start at the school that her step-brothers go to is because a girl died over the winter break. The girl, Heather, though hasn't left the Mission Academy. She's still haunting it and despite Father Dominic's (the principal of the school) best efforts, she is not moving on. And now that Suze is there, Heather feels that she is taking her place and she is very, very angry. \n Okay, so Remembrance (book 7 of The Mediator series) comes out in less than a week, which means that it's time for my re-read of the series to prepare. I'll be honest this is like the third time I've re-read these books in the last 10 years and it gets better with each re-read.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 08:07:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 30 11:47:39 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "10406260", "review_id": "54ab491be92e717364a7a69ec2b2b203", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Dead and Gone at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Well, guys here's the good news. After eight books (yes, eight) where Sookie Stackhouse's life is put into danger by vampires every which way she turns, in book 9, her life isn't put into danger by the undead at all. No, this time some more interesting things are happening. The shifters and Weres come out of the closet like the vamps did a few years ago and despite much trepidation by the species, it actually goes okay. Well, mostly. Arlene - Sookie's ex best friend - kind of freaks out and quits. Sam's mom gets shot by her husband forcing Sam to go take care of her and Sookie in charge of the bar. And Crystal - Sookie's sister-in-law - is found dead on a makeshift cross in the parking lot of Merlotte's. The police think it's a hate crime because of her werepanther nature. \n On top of all that, Sookie finally has to deal with her family blood. The war and enemies that Niall has been really cryptic about have finally shown up and they want Sookie dead. Brendan - Sookie's uncle - doesn't care for the half fay and wants to shut off the fairy world from the humans completely, after he destroys all the half fay. Sookie is number one on that list. You know it's bad when Sookie cashes in both of her favors from the vamps and weres to make sure that she has ample protection. But there is only so much that they can do for her. Especially when one of them is taken out of commission.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 08:07:34 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 25 12:55:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Apr 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "8983614", "review_id": "ac5cb2037d4c9488cb471f7a1678659b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for All Together Dead at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Another Sookie Stackhouse novel, another life and death situation because of vampires. But to change the pace a little bit this novel's tragic events don't take place in Bon Temps. Oh, sure the first seventy-five pages have to deal with the small little town, but most of this book takes place at the conference for the vampire leaders that was hinted at in the last book. Sookie has been employed by the Queen of Louisiana to accompany her, not only to figure out if humans are lying but to also play witness to her trial for the King of Arkansas' death. \n Before we even get to the conference though, Sookie has some interesting things happen. Her brother Jason gets married to Crystal because - shocker here - she's pregnant again. Quinn shows up for a day to see Sookie and they finally, FINALLY have sex and just like the sexual tension from the last two books, it lives up to the hype. He also tells her that after this conference he's going to have a whole month off and he would like to spend it with her. And then that slimy girl that Bill was dating finally cracks. She thinks that this trip that Sookie and Bill are taking together is some kind of ploy from Sookie to get back together with him, and the Sookie gets very close to slapping the crap out of her. But thank goodness for Sam who intervenes and kicks the trash out. \n Anyway, at this conference a lot of stuff is going on. Not only do you have the trial for the Queen, but the King of Arkansas second - Jennifer - who brings the suit against the Queen is mysteriously killed. A bomb is found on the same floor that the Queen is staying on and what's going on with all this extra luggage and coffins being found? Well, as it turns out it's all connected. Not that Sookie really figures that out until it's almost too late.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 08:07:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 17:23:26 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "170210", "review_id": "2a5c26218869923059b8c79407463509", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Dead as a Doornail at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Sookie Stackhouse has been living a quiet life since Eric Northman regained his memories and is back to his normal routine. But the peace isn't to last. While leaving for the night with her boss Sam, he gets shot and he isn't the first. There have been two other shootings and the only thing that all three have in common is that they're all shifters. Sookie has to figure out who the shooter is before the next full moon and for some stupid reason suspicions have fallen on Jason. But that isn't the only thing that she has to worry about as the pack master of the Weres has died and Alcide's father is in contention to become the next one against a guy who gives Sookie the creeps. Not to mention Eric is still asking questions about what happened those few days he was with Sookie and he isn't the only one as private detectives who are hired by Debbie Pelt's parents are sniffing around. Guess it's just too much to ask to have a quiet life in Bon Temps.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 08:05:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 19 10:03:15 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Mar 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Mar 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "5311113", "review_id": "e64d29036b6b6bdaff6300691b13b0bc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Breaking Dawn at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n It's been almost a decade since this book's release, but I still remember it like it was yesterday. Twilight fever hadn't quite set in completely yet. But there was more pomp and circumstance to Breaking Dawn's release than there had been for New Moon or Eclipse. Midnight parties galore. Everyone couldn't wait to see how the love triangle would end and whether or not Bella would finally give up her mortality to become an immortal like Edward. But after the party, when everyone got home and started reading, things got a little bleak. Sure, the love triangle was finally resolved, but something was written in those pages that caused outrage to go through the ranks. How could it be that something like this could happen to Bella? When we were told that it couldn't be possible?", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 08:00:35 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 18 14:31:32 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Mar 16 17:41:24 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Mar 14 17:28:15 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "428263", "review_id": "82ab2acc0a27c3947d48687a4d32d325", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Eclipse at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n The last time I read this book, it was the summer before my senior year of high school. I had read Eclipse the summer before when it was first released, but I was rereading it in preparation for the series finale that was coming out in August. Almost a decade later, and this book still irks me a little bit. Mostly because of the love triangle, but now also because of a few other things as well. First, let's examine the new love triangle. As expected, Jacob becomes a new side because of everything he did for Bella while Edward was 'away.' Edward only barely tolerates him because of everything he did for her, but he still tries to keep the two apart, which was quite annoying. The whole dismantling of Bella's car and then having Alice 'kidnap' her when he goes hunting just so that she doesn't go to the reservation pissed me off. Talk about controlling. But he does eventually relent when he realizes that Jacob wants to protect her as much as he does.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 07:59:22 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 05 08:02:09 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Feb 28 17:18:28 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Feb 27 06:37:36 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "8709527", "review_id": "d19b53531b10bc6b89616bc805e85cf4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Bloodlines at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Sydney is still uptight and her beliefs drive me a little bit bonkers, but once you get the backstory on some of her childhood you kind of get why she is the way she is. I liked how more characters from the original series - Jill, Eddie, and Adrian - flow over to this one. And I especially liked how Mead dropped hints as to what really happened on the 'attempt' on Jill's life at Court.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 07:39:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat May 13 14:41:33 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Apr 29 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "6581511", "review_id": "78b3fe1ab33f3ba232b214b00ebec7cc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Shadowland at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n *breathes deeply through nose* Oh-kay. Look. I know Damen and Ever's love is supposed to be soulmate worthy stuff here, but it's kind of hard to believe their soulmates when someone *coughDamenAugustecough* keeps pushing the other away. I mean, honestly in the first book he was allowing Ever to adjust to her new life as an immortal, even giving her the option of not being one if she so chose. She overcame it and decided to be with him forever. In book 2, he wouldn't share his long history with her which allowed Roman to come in and basically almost kill him. And now here we are in book 3 where you think everything is going to be just fine except for the little spell Roman did, when wham. Another person comes in to complicate matters.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 07:35:08 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 18 15:31:23 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Feb 08 17:24:29 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Tue Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "7747263", "review_id": "1e2eef87f2bbd8c9784d1e1438d9a745", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Misguided Angel at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n The biggest issue that I've had with this series was the fact that you had 3 different narrators and that they would change every chapter - or two depending on how series the events were in the last chapter. The problem was sort of resolved in this book with the novel being divided into four parts - Schuyler, Mimi, a Venator named Deming, and a sort of epilogue dealing with the three narrators. I liked the switch because you finally got to groove with the characters and didn't have to worry at the end of the chapter of switching to a different narrator. My only complaint was that each section - except for the Deming section - was too short! Just when things were getting interesting with Schuyler and Jack, BAM! Part two: Mimi Force. And just when things were getting interesting with Mimi, BAM! Part three: Deming.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 07:35:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 11:54:48 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "7739934", "review_id": "3d9564b400250c4acdbbe81ab7e9c6ad", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Night Star at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n So, despite my horrible luck with this series, I continued to plow ahead and read the next volume hoping that Book 5 would not be as bad as Book 4. And in some ways it really wasn't. After what Ever went through in the last book, she is stronger than she has been in the previous four novels. Seriously I was surprised by how confident she was and I thought for sure that when she had her first confrontation with Haven that everything that she had been working for during the summer would have been wasted. But she walked away and went straight to Damen and they talked. Then when Miles finds out about what Ever, Haven and Damen really are she talks with him too. And hell, she even talks to Jude to make sure that he's going to be okay if Haven comes for him and she's not there to protect him.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 07:34:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 01 12:18:50 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Mar 28 18:21:57 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Mar 28 06:33:54 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "6448470", "review_id": "cd30f6fae37729c434a578bdd707dadc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Wow. Wow. Wow. \n That's all that's really to say about this book. I absolutely adored this tale. I didn't think that I was considering that it was a world that I hadn't read before. But, as I always say, never count a book out until you read the first three chapters. And wow. This was impressive. \n The creation and execution of the characters and their story lines was very successful - however, I think the relationship between Jacinda and Will could have developed a little bit more slowly, but considering that we're assuming her feelings for him were all encompassing, I'll let it slide. \n Can't wait for the sequel. :)", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 07:34:22 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 29 21:36:22 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jun 14 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "7974109", "review_id": "44d095dac79a0d231ffd70042cc8825f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Torment at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Lucinda Price is back and she is on her way to see Daniel out in sunny California. She knows the truth about herself - that this is not the first time that she has lived and has in fact been reincarnated hundred of times and every time she falls in love with Daniel. But before they ride off into the sunset together, she erupts in flames and dies. This time around though things are different. Because she has never been baptized in this life, if she dies this time around it's all over. And Daniel won't risk losing her. So she leaves Sword & Cross for another prep school in California, only this one is slightly different. Here she is in classes with Nephilim and she slowly starts to learn some truths in her life of lies. \n Like for instance, Daniel dropped her off at this prep school with the Nephilim to protect her from the Outcasts - some kind of form of fallen angel assassins - and that he has partnered up with Cam to save her. The black shadows that she has seen her whole life are actually called Announcers and can be used to glimpse the past and travel. Luce has the ability to summon them and see into her past and she does just so she can get a freaking clue because Daniel still won't tell her anything about her past lives and she is tired of the lies. But even that might have its own consequences. \n Okay, so book 2 has left me with more questions than answers and I totally feel Lucinda's pain in this book. There's less OMG DANIEL moments which I was thankful for, but instead there are a lot of OMG WHY WON'T DANIEL TELL ME THE TRUTH?!? moments, which started getting out of hand.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 07:33:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 26 21:37:15 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Mar 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Mar 12 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "6339664", "review_id": "b5d12e0cd9f712c49478e3171c855116", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Hush, Hush at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Nora Grey has a normal life. She has a chatty best friend, a mom who worries way too much, and she worries herself about getting into a good college. But everything she knows is about to change when her biology teacher decides to change the seating chart. No longer is she sitting next to her best friend - Vee - she now has to sit next to the mysterious senior transfer who seems to make it his mission to make her blush. \n But things are starting to get really weird. On her way home one night, she runs over a person who somehow is able to knock out her window and try to go after her. When she drives to her friend's house, all the damage is gone. It looks like nothing happens. A few days later, she walks in on someone rummaging through her things, when she calls the police, her room is pristine. She thinks she's finally going crazy, especially when Patch - the mysterious senior transfer - keeps showing up everywhere she goes.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 07:33:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 14 16:43:58 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "7184830", "review_id": "fd7da36bd7ad89d414038a4ca55bb645", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for Fallen at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Lucinda hates shadows, and not your typical shadows either, but the ones that she's been seeing all of her life. Shadows that move and make noises that aren't human. She hates them because by seeing them she knows that she's not normal. And because they keep leading her into trouble. The recent bout lead to Trevor's death and her not being able to explain sanely how such a thing happened. She gets sent to Swords & Cross, a boarding school for the teenage delinquents who are troubled and Luce isn't too happy about it. But it seems to be okay, within the first few minutes of being there she makes a friend in Arrianne and might have caught bad boy Cam's attention. But what about the guy who she really can't stop looking at? Who sees her and flips her off? \n His name is Daniel and no matter what Luce seems to do he brushes her off and gives her the cold shoulder. But there are moments where he is nice and he says something that causes her to think. Not to mention this feeling that she's seen him somewhere before... \n I read this series originally when I was in high school and I instantly loved it...then. Look, I'm all for fallen angels and love stories, but jeez Lucinda. There is a fine line between a crush and crazy stalker territory and you crossed that line MANY times during the course of this 389-paged book.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 07:33:32 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 19 12:15:41 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Mar 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Mar 09 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "93724", "review_id": "2ae5ceddf4896555de827e2c1b7b1f06", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Twilight at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Susannah Simon's junior year has had one interesting start. She has gone from being completely excited about starting school to completely dreading it when Paul Slater - her worst enemy and guy who seems to be crushing on her - shows up to make her life a living hell. Then there is the whole issue with Jesse who moved out of her bedroom not because he didn't like Suze the same way she liked him, but because he had feelings for her too and didn't find it proper to be living with her. Now, she has a twisted deal with Paul - she'll attend his mediator/shifter lessons just as long as he doesn't try to get rid of Jesse. And the deal, despite Suze's misgivings seems to be working. \n That is until one night when she runs into Paul and he cryptically suggests that he might not send Jesse's soul to the shadowland, but instead make it so that way he lives a full life. She's confused and doesn't understand until she has a talk with Paul's grandfather. As a shifter they have the ability to go back in time to help a ghost and make it so that they don't die. But it's tricky and takes away brain cells, and Suze knows that Paul is willing to do it if it means he gets what he wants. Her. \n Anyway, for a series that I liked I wasn't all that thrilled with this book. At the time it was the final book in the series and I have to say that I didn't like it at all. The plot lines were tied up to neatly. Not to mention, it's another book that has to deal with time travel and the thought of different timelines makes my head hurt.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 07:22:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 15 13:16:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Apr 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "1656001", "review_id": "aba4b7b5ea602dcd164777684f898ba9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See full review for The Host at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Everytime I read this book I forget how weird it is. And how slow the beginning is. You're basically dumped into this world that resembles our world, but isn't the one we know anymore because the aliens have won. They've infiltrated the humans and are walking around with our bodies. Melanie was one of the last until she went to go look for her cousin Sharon and ended up being found by the Seekers - their version of the police - and in a last ditch effort threw herself into an empty elevator shaft. But it didn't work. They were able to heal her and now the Wanderer is in her body. But Melanie is strong and won't disappear. Not that you really figure that information out right away. Like I said you're dumped into the middle of things and it's very strange to have two narrators that cohabited the same body.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 07:22:35 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 31 08:47:19 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "9565548", "review_id": "fb03addbb61f758473e134ef81ccb29b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Grave Mercy at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n I read this book originally in 2012, kind of. It was the last book I had in a stack and I had two days to read it, I tried to renew it but someone wanted it, so I couldn't. So I did a really quick speed read, and I might have skimmed the last 100 pages when I realized I couldn't finish it on time. I picked it up again, to try and figure out what really happened in those last 100 pages and so I would have a better understanding of the series. \n Ismae has had a hard life. She is horribly scarred from when her mother took a poison to expel her from her womb. The poison didn't take and Ismae still lived. It is rumored that her father is Death itself. The book begins with Ismae being married off and about to partake in her marital duties when her husband finds that he has been tricked when he sees her scars. The local herb witch spirits her away to a new life working for the convent of St. Mortain - the God of Death.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 07:20:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 29 21:38:39 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "6527740", "review_id": "ab007a0e0144c854ae98aa68e5644cd2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Last Sacrifice at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n This novel will always hold a special place in my heart, even if I decide to reread these books again ten years from now. The reason it will is because this was the last book I read before I went on a two year reading hiatus during college. And really, could I have picked a better book to do it with? Last Sacrifice not only ties up all the loose ends - except for two - quite nicely but Rose's journey to vindicate herself of murder charges and also act on the note that Tatiana left her before she died is completely action packed.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 07:17:34 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 29 13:36:59 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "6644117", "review_id": "1f5ea7c47648e717e6eec33b1a39bd54", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for The Iron King at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n Meghan Chase feels invisible and like she doesn't belong. Her mother barely pays her any attention, her stepfather Lucas acts like she doesn't exist, and her fellow classmate think she's just a nerd/hillbilly from the swamp. Except for her friend Robbie and her brother Ethan, she feels alone. That is until weird things start happening. She seeing thing that aren't really there, or so she thinks. Her family dog acts weird and attacks Ethan, and Ethan isn't acting like himself. It isn't until Meghan's birthday that Ethan really starts acting peculiar and attacks her. \n It turns out that her brother isn't really her brother, a changeling has taken her brother's place and her brother has been taken to Faeryland. Side note: seriously out of this wonderful universe where you have names like Oberon, Tatiana, and Machina, that's what you name your universe? Robbie agrees to take her there because as it turns out he's also from there and they begin their quest.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 07:15:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 29 21:38:20 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "ae91019247b14c1f8f3fb06a8016bc41", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Cinder at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Before I even start this review, I want to be clear, I'm slightly biased towards Meyer's writing, only because when I was a young, just starting out fanfic writer, her Sailor Moon fanfics were the ones I turned to when I was in need of a good, emotional, story. Her fairy tale replay of the Grimm stories has made me cry, many, many times. Also, I originally read this book when it was first released, I just figured I'd give it another read through before I continue on with the series - whose books have indeed sat on my bookshelf unread for years (believe me, it's a long story). Okay? Okay. \n From the summary of this book, Cinder doesn't seem to be the type of book that was up my alley. Science fiction, cyborgs, androids, the science of it alone would probably go over my head. However, because it was a new take on a beloved fairy tale I'd figured I'd give it a shot and what better book to start reading after a Game of Thrones book? And you know what? It was good.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 07:12:30 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 04 19:46:08 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "1103191", "review_id": "61af9951eb5985965617d5e02f885fa3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "See full review for In the Hand of the Goddess at: https://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.... \n Out of the four novels in this series, this book was kind of my favorite when I was a kid. I had a thing for Prince Jonathan and was so excited for Alanna and him to get together that I would always reread that part of the chapter - I even had the chapter memorized. I also liked this book because more people found out her secret and they all took it in stride. Instead of being angry that she had betrayed their trust, they laughed it off and only wished to get to know the Lady Knight Alanna better. Well, except for the King...whose reaction to this day I'm still curious about. You see his shock and anger when it's revealed that she is not Sir Alan, but actually Sir Alanna, but that's kind of it. Pierce jumps to Alanna taking off on her first adventure as a knight. I'm assuming because she revealed that the King, Queen and Prince were being plotted against he would have let it slide, but I'm not sure.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 07:08:01 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 18 14:09:54 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Mar 08 17:33:57 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Tue Mar 07 17:48:25 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a44f603cc3df339acc48590044a2db0", "book_id": "2753843", "review_id": "ccba5c14159cfc74c5978d287c8db528", "rating": 4, "review_text": "See full review for Revelations at: http://toomanybooksnotenoughshelves.w... \n \"I'm tired of being your best friend. I'm tired of being second best. I won't settle for that anymore. It's all or nothing, Schuyler. You have to decide. Him or me.\" \n With a quote like that, how is it possible that the love square that Schuyler, Jack, Mimi, and Oliver are in is not the most important part of this book? Well, real possible apparently. \n Like with most de la Cruz paranormal books, the punches don't really come until the end. And when they do they're absolutely crazy.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 06:58:13 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 11:56:24 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6665fe2d574221577f8a5483a6f17844", "book_id": "18079804", "review_id": "bf8ea08e02dbea17e0fb1ccfb3154787", "rating": 5, "review_text": "WHY I PICKED IT UP: The title intrigued me. The inside leaf blurb caught me. The quote pulls on the back sealed the deal. \n WHAT I LIKED ABOUT IT: You guys, this is truly fantastic urban paranormal YA. For so many reasons. The protag is a DUDE. Not just a dude, but a dude who sounds and acts like a dude, not a dude who sounds and acts like he was written by a female author. And you care about him immediately. And you root for him the whole time, even though you're totally scared that the thing he's trying so desperately to do (meet his father) is going to utterly ruin him. \n THIS BOOK, YOU GUYS. This is really phenomenal YA in its genre. If you are at all into urban paranormal reads, you have to check it out. If you're not, think about checking it out anyway. It's that good. \n WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT IT: All my negative feelings about this read are feelings I'm supposed to have, feelings the author would want me to have. I loathe the bad guys. Except for one of the bad guys who I'm not really sure is all that bad. And that makes me confused, and I hate it and I love it because I'm not sure at all what's going to happen with that character. \n Ugh. So good. So, so so so good. \n OVERALL RATING: Five stars, for real.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 24 08:26:30 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 24 08:27:06 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6665fe2d574221577f8a5483a6f17844", "book_id": "24455464", "review_id": "32e50f56a509ffcd04d137523df62adc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This little tale is bursting at the seams with ALL OF EVERYTHING, EVER: A kick-ass heroine who's actually likable. A flawed, hunky hero who breaks your heart and then mends it in the blink of an eye. An evil queen that makes your skin crawl. Twists and turns that will make you look like a damn fool because you're shouting at your device because OH NO SHE DIDN'T (oh yes, she did). Best of all, Ellie Ann makes the whole thing sparkle with imagery that is so fresh and new but has a feeling of age to it - at times it reminded me of the off-the-charts creative images that George MacDonald conjured up in Phantastes. \n This would have been a super-fun read even without the artwork and audio (which, BTW, are all top-notch). Really hoping that Ellie Ann and her cohorts give us another look into Aura and Saint George's world. While not a cliffhanger, there are miles left to this story. I hope the author takes us further down that road.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 16 13:12:13 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 16 13:13:02 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6665fe2d574221577f8a5483a6f17844", "book_id": "8908", "review_id": "50e21340c8db0fd30b6996995dec96f0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Finished it in a day and a half. Literally couldn't put it down. Love it.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 08 19:56:23 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 08 19:56:50 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6665fe2d574221577f8a5483a6f17844", "book_id": "15813469", "review_id": "9625a855af3ddd6b81d88e73f5399aab", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fabio's writing is smooth - easy to read and engaging. His characters are vivid - easy to like and easy to hate. And the mysterious Singularity, the thing the whole story hinges on, kept me guessing right up until the end. Definitely a fun read!", "date_added": "Thu Aug 23 18:46:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 06 08:23:25 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Sep 06 08:23:25 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6665fe2d574221577f8a5483a6f17844", "book_id": "9440171", "review_id": "59213d605e3b3fa81d570fb8dd00c91c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The Hubster bought me this book while I was in the hospital with pancreatitis, which means I was on a lot of pain meds at the time... \n BUT, \n I really enjoyed this read. When I started it, my expectations were low, but I quickly became entrenched. After awhile I forgot I was reading and was just experiencing the story. \n If you like non-sparkly bad-ass vampires (among other creepy, crawly critters) and a fair bit of action, you'll dig it!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 07:09:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 05 07:24:25 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d4b1dcb35db677f20ee45225a5e43be2", "book_id": "25372801", "review_id": "e24fc30726c78c53c5133056b7672d78", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this from start to finish. Lovable characters and a creative storyline.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 13 08:59:46 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 08 07:24:44 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d4b1dcb35db677f20ee45225a5e43be2", "book_id": "27833803", "review_id": "dcabdceb37465f76d9294990b0a1d4a0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Weird and wacky with a likable main character, laugh out loud moments and a satisfying ending (which is no easy feat in a book like this). Pure fun.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 03 09:06:40 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 11 18:49:43 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d4b1dcb35db677f20ee45225a5e43be2", "book_id": "24331115", "review_id": "4dc18d17d543be7f719949b80abc0bdf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm not quite sure what Maguire was attempting with this one - a retelling of Alice or a commentary on Victorian England? Perhaps if he had committed to one or the other it would have been better, but my passion for anything Alice related and the fantastic British woman who narrated the audiobook were the only real reasons I saw it through to the end.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 04 14:24:15 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 06 20:18:34 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Thu Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d4b1dcb35db677f20ee45225a5e43be2", "book_id": "18050224", "review_id": "df166c2bf998851dde8c32af5377a3f0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 stars. Highly entertaining.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 15 09:30:18 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 15 11:48:47 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Aug 15 11:48:47 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d4b1dcb35db677f20ee45225a5e43be2", "book_id": "22522808", "review_id": "a480a77cef2f2fd4a325081e819546a5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Barely 3 stars. This is a mixed bag of stories that included more mediocre tales than stellar ones. I found myself skipping over certain stories because I was so bored, and that made me very, very sad.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 15 09:10:31 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 15 09:12:59 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d4b1dcb35db677f20ee45225a5e43be2", "book_id": "15842705", "review_id": "755098d9284ef640eca21a7267b7c932", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Meh. I'm over these quirky, illustrated fillers between novels.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 13 16:14:10 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 13 16:16:42 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d4b1dcb35db677f20ee45225a5e43be2", "book_id": "33457", "review_id": "4c36d50b75c6e36021343fab0b753b50", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Entertaining introduction to Moore. The story read kind of like a Hiaasen-Robbins hybrid.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 02 19:11:11 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 17 20:38:28 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d4b1dcb35db677f20ee45225a5e43be2", "book_id": "15591", "review_id": "b2f6f148469e9586a1a47d112829a9dd", "rating": 2, "review_text": "There were only two stories I really enjoyed. As always though, McSweeney's outshines all with their aesthetically pleasing binding and artwork.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 01 17:34:04 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 02 19:08:49 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue Nov 02 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d4b1dcb35db677f20ee45225a5e43be2", "book_id": "366086", "review_id": "c054c37555932f4401e03a32eed0b222", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it from start to finish. I think I might have a found a new author to obsess over.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 26 22:06:32 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 01 17:33:33 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d4b1dcb35db677f20ee45225a5e43be2", "book_id": "7726420", "review_id": "982028c1456528de797343a31e338ec8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "After attending book discussion I felt better about this book, but it definitely was not what I was expecting. It keeps you reading, though, at the same time I found the plot line almost boring. I'm curious to read more Yu to see what his other work is like.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 23 07:27:03 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 30 08:39:58 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d4b1dcb35db677f20ee45225a5e43be2", "book_id": "6202342", "review_id": "fb0d86279abb50d22c5fe3072fcca9d2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Loved it until the last 40 pages and then I think it kinda fell apart. Not terribly thrilled with the ending, I felt like she was trying to pull a M. Night Shyamalan. Still I liked the majority of the story for the same reasons I loved Time Traveler's wife - good characterization, vivid sense of place, and intriguing plot conception.", "date_added": "Mon May 24 16:16:22 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 19 15:51:51 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Mon May 24 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "d4b1dcb35db677f20ee45225a5e43be2", "book_id": "37442", "review_id": "c9f6f78fcbf8d1fff156b8020ec10086", "rating": 4, "review_text": "As with many of the books I've read within the past couple years, this was a title I know I wouldn't have stuck with if I had been actually reading it as opposed to listening to it. The narrator is the perfect match for the book. I still do not understand how this book spawned a Broadway musical though because its fairly mature, wrought with social and political commentary and some graphic sex scenes.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 05 10:31:29 -0700 2007", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 17 08:59:52 -0800 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "d4b1dcb35db677f20ee45225a5e43be2", "book_id": "4404", "review_id": "ae5881671963353a54fe47710ab1f9d3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Although I think he could've used a better editor, I still whipped through this mammoth in a couple days.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 07 18:55:08 -0700 2007", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 17 04:13:51 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d4b1dcb35db677f20ee45225a5e43be2", "book_id": "663871", "review_id": "b95cd4d2b85be8ae99363ba286059a25", "rating": 3, "review_text": "They really need to create a half star option on here, because I would've given this 3.5 stars. I really wanted to like this collection more than I did, however its not unusual for me to only like a handful of stories out of any short story collection by a single author. That being said, the first story in the book and the title story are both worth 5 stars. She definitely has a unique writing style, although some of the stories tend to run on too long and then end abruptly. I do plan on reading her other work though as I find it hard to find interesting short story authors these days.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 07 13:17:41 -0700 2007", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 24 11:22:43 -0700 2007", "read_at": "Mon Sep 24 11:22:56 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d4b1dcb35db677f20ee45225a5e43be2", "book_id": "93436", "review_id": "d48b5afd9f57e588ac3c91dfe7fa859b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amazing. I cannot believe it took me this long to find Miss Scarlett Thomas, but I am hereby a devout follower. The quote from author Jonathan Coe on the cover precisely sums it up: \"Not only will you have a great time reading this book, but you will finish it a cleverer person than when you started.\" I am in complete awe of any novelist who can converse about physics, religion and philosophy in such an incredibly compelling yet oddly understandable fashion. This book begs to be discussed at length over many cups of coffee.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 05 15:22:23 -0700 2007", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 17 03:51:57 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d4b1dcb35db677f20ee45225a5e43be2", "book_id": "14", "review_id": "34805de6d2233048c8ab916cc4188fe5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was disappointed with this, considering its a sci-fi classic and all. Maybe it was quirky 25 years ago, but I found it to be rather boring actually.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 05 14:25:10 -0700 2007", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 05 14:29:39 -0700 2007", "read_at": "Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d4b1dcb35db677f20ee45225a5e43be2", "book_id": "69136", "review_id": "bdb299694742b6ccd37439984a6c5fc9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Captivating fantastical adventure for bibliophiles.", "date_added": "Sat May 26 14:17:44 -0700 2007", "date_updated": "Sat May 26 14:19:05 -0700 2007", "read_at": "Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "05bc211d0c5aee6d524a84a1ea2c8eef", "book_id": "23235083", "review_id": "1bdf178b95277a18278965774baae854", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love this series.", "date_added": "Sat May 30 04:29:33 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat May 30 04:30:12 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "05bc211d0c5aee6d524a84a1ea2c8eef", "book_id": "64217", "review_id": "2b988e9f41ec5dc81652abf69985b88b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Pratchett always amuses me. Great stuff", "date_added": "Tue Aug 27 08:45:22 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 05 08:42:34 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Apr 05 08:42:34 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e1a78766475162b853d84f998b84d12b", "book_id": "22583888", "review_id": "e6f51e12f46bf07091f02c9ff2d76f33", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. \n This book was a good coming of age story overall. The story was a little predictable and the word choice was repetitive. It would fit a preteen reader very well but I didn't get much out of it as an adult. It was appropriate for its audience. The book was a very quick read.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 16 14:22:43 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 19 13:12:00 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Aug 19 13:12:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e1a78766475162b853d84f998b84d12b", "book_id": "24000252", "review_id": "a64ff45b7d71ebf1f12363e28ca6d358", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Another great volume of Writers of the Future. \n My Favorites were: \n \"Poseidon's Eyes\" by Kary English \n \"Between Screens\" by Zach Chapman \n \"Planar Ghosts\" by Krystal Claxton \n \"A Revolutionary's Guide \n to Practical Conjuration\" by Auston Habershaw \n \"Another Range of Mountains\" by Megan E. O'Keefe \n \"Switch\" by Steve Pantazis \n I liked all the stories but \"The God Whisperer\" by Daniel J. Davis. I found it strange and it really didn't make sense to me.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 28 13:23:36 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 01 12:05:39 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jun 01 12:05:39 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e1a78766475162b853d84f998b84d12b", "book_id": "9672833", "review_id": "00178ba0cb1a7ac12a74fc04a4525421", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Overall it was a good read but it just wasn't for me. I found it very predictable. I don't plan on reading the rest of the series.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 03 09:33:10 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 16 12:56:56 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Apr 16 12:56:56 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Mar 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e1a78766475162b853d84f998b84d12b", "book_id": "18666047", "review_id": "b6ed9f7b7a38397f1f01824c5b64a4ad", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Great book, well written", "date_added": "Mon Nov 03 08:41:38 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 05 08:16:26 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Feb 05 08:16:26 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e1a78766475162b853d84f998b84d12b", "book_id": "22913549", "review_id": "7d78d2e24346855ff86babdbfb9909e1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Overall the book was well written but it lacked in story. The story was shallow and easily predictable. It was clearly written by an atheist and pokes full at all religion. It seemed like half the book was spent arguing against religion and it could have been used to move the story along. \n The book is short and is going to be part of a trilogy. I feel that the overall story could have been put into one book under 600 pages and come off stronger. A trilogy in this case seems to just be a way of making money and isn't needed.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 25 07:06:03 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 03 15:51:25 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Nov 03 15:51:25 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e1a78766475162b853d84f998b84d12b", "book_id": "12268647", "review_id": "1052732c85ab0f98b95395e68898dccc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked the story as a whole. I did have a good plot. Where the story lacked was in the presentation. The first person point of view jumping between Dev and Kiran was not presented very well.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 11 15:45:32 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 25 16:07:45 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Sep 25 16:07:45 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e1a78766475162b853d84f998b84d12b", "book_id": "22074449", "review_id": "dc47cfdee68dfe7966defb4e8b9c5651", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I really though the book started off well. The character was developing into what I thought would be a really well developed character. Then she grew older and became very annoying. She is either killing someone or having a crying temper tantrum. As the book goes on Nihal becomes more full of herself and alienates all her friends. Also her obsession with Fen gets really old. \n I really thought the story could have had a lot of potential but I was disappointed. I don't really fit in the demographics of this book but I really kept an open mind. I had no problem with the love interests and the fact that Nihal was a teenage girl. There were times when I wanted to yell at Nihal because she is just so shallow and thickheaded.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 17 07:26:40 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 09 09:12:15 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e1a78766475162b853d84f998b84d12b", "book_id": "20695297", "review_id": "a846c8425d9ca8a531eea8902996768d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Writers of the Future is a great collection of very promising writers and artists. I enjoyed most of the stories a lot. I'm not really into hard core science fiction so I couldn't really get into some of the darker sci-fi. \n I figured it would be best for me to give a 1-5 star rating of the individual stories. \n \"Another Range of Mountains\", by Megan E. O'Keefe ***** \n \"Shifter\", by Paul Eckheart ** \n \"Beneath the Surface of Two Kills\", by Shauna O'Meara ** \n \"Animal\", by Terry Madden ***** \n \"Rainbows for Other Days\", by C. Stuart Hardwick ***** \n \"Giants at the End of the World\", by Leena Likitalo ***** \n \"The Clouds in Her Eyes\", by Liz Colter *** \n \"What Moves the Sun and Other Stars\", by K.C. Norton **** \n \"Long Jump\", by Oleg Kazantsev *** \n \"These Walls of Despair\", by Anaea Lay *** \n \"The Shaadi Exile\", by Amanda Forrest **** \n \"The Pushbike Legion\", by Timothy Jordan ***** \n \"Memories Bleed Beneath the Mask\", by Randy Henderson ****", "date_added": "Sun May 04 18:36:28 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 22 15:01:32 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu May 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e1a78766475162b853d84f998b84d12b", "book_id": "17406654", "review_id": "5f39e6ec87a71ac0f04568eb4e1d8f0e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed reading \"The Golem and the Jinni.\" It wasn't a short book but it didn't feel like a long one either. The story is very serious but there is enough adventure and intrigue to off set the seriousness. It is an interesting mix of fantasy, adventure, and historical fiction with a touch of romance (not at all like a romance novel).", "date_added": "Wed Jan 22 10:02:27 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 18 14:11:52 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Mar 18 14:11:52 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e1a78766475162b853d84f998b84d12b", "book_id": "15788822", "review_id": "302a1915772a59d55bda6d4d66dcfc32", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The overall writing quality was good. The author does repeat quite a bit, constantly reminding of what we read in the last chapter. The book is also really anti religion and has a poor portrayal of women. There is also quite a bit of language in the book. I'm not planning on reading the next one.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 01 17:00:49 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 22 09:32:24 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Dec 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e11c4b66a7e6f3ba737cf4842c03888d", "book_id": "8755776", "review_id": "94ce9cd3637ad8ab711e5926eb765d41", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh just kill me now....why must I have to wait?! \n But really now...Clare, which of your brothers molested you? There are way too many incesexual innuendos (see what I did there?) In your series for you not to have been raped savagely in front of a large crowd, perhaps on a holiday, by your brother or brothers....I feel like your therapist told you to work out your feelings and you wrote a book about it. Everything is dandy but my brother still wants to get down... It's awkward. I could do without it. So, let's kill him off in the last installment and find you some really good medication and you will be healed. Okay?", "date_added": "Mon Dec 23 15:40:32 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 29 02:26:55 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Dec 29 02:26:55 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Dec 23 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e11c4b66a7e6f3ba737cf4842c03888d", "book_id": "28187", "review_id": "8ce34dab09f4561508bf0daf2327eebf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Really enjoyed it. Last few chapters I felt just went on and on. But good read.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 19 23:51:37 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 20 22:07:11 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Dec 21 22:07:11 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e11c4b66a7e6f3ba737cf4842c03888d", "book_id": "6752378", "review_id": "f5b47ee78d7f2377ea4c897ddcecfbc3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I think this was my favorite of the series", "date_added": "Thu Dec 19 23:51:00 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 23 15:37:52 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Dec 23 15:37:52 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Dec 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e11c4b66a7e6f3ba737cf4842c03888d", "book_id": "18215859", "review_id": "5d7dc2f7abd427840a4d582f9ec97623", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Whoa buddy, that was different! Mildly entertaining though! I would read the others!", "date_added": "Tue Sep 10 22:41:50 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 27 04:40:28 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e11c4b66a7e6f3ba737cf4842c03888d", "book_id": "8635145", "review_id": "9c5ee72a321d75c05edb917479ae90f7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it! Want to read the series although,I wonder what story could top this.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 01 21:25:07 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 02 16:06:14 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Sep 02 16:06:14 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e11c4b66a7e6f3ba737cf4842c03888d", "book_id": "6487308", "review_id": "1c868e959320f8e73b1f65f44881cbbd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Slow getting into but so good", "date_added": "Mon Aug 26 17:41:01 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 30 01:11:25 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Aug 30 01:11:25 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Aug 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e11c4b66a7e6f3ba737cf4842c03888d", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "267b31cbe26c6de8ffa5f2965a5d41e8", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Um....no \n just no. \n Spoiler \n . \n . \n What in the literal Fuck is this?! After I figured out jace was her brother I almost puked! Could have been a decent(Albeit badly Written) story without all that sick ass 50shades-it puts the lotion on it's skin-incest bullshit! Disgusting.(maybe not 50 shades style but still, you made a 15 yr old brother and sister Mack on each other And be in a sort of love triangle) Did you get molested as a child? Did your therapist tell you to write this trash?! \n Don't think I can read any of her other books now...see what you've done, stupid author?!", "date_added": "Wed Aug 21 17:30:18 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 23 00:17:53 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Aug 23 00:17:53 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "e11c4b66a7e6f3ba737cf4842c03888d", "book_id": "15059301", "review_id": "fceea153fd1cc58575e9a7159950c02a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Writing wasn't that great.. But the story +?? whoa buddy", "date_added": "Wed May 01 05:21:25 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 23 21:19:18 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e11c4b66a7e6f3ba737cf4842c03888d", "book_id": "7933615", "review_id": "26ee4fb24374b05b8457f5592f2b9d15", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm an avid reader so I start and finish a series. But gosh I wish this would just die already!!! Zoey drives me batshit!! She's supposed to be this amazing fledgling and what does she do? Whines and cries until she's FORCED to do something. Go home Zoey Redbird!", "date_added": "Sun Dec 16 21:55:28 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 02 01:53:43 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Feb 02 01:53:43 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "e11c4b66a7e6f3ba737cf4842c03888d", "book_id": "13526144", "review_id": "86db1eca4af7071ae3345341abd68cbd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Love love love this series...great cliff hanger. Can't wait to go pick up the next.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 16 21:50:18 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue May 14 15:17:20 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue May 14 15:17:20 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e11c4b66a7e6f3ba737cf4842c03888d", "book_id": "11201534", "review_id": "5fc78ea156e81e5bfab126f5aa5190bd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "When I bought this book at Target, the salesperson told me how much they hated it.... I enjoyed this book! More than the first! Can't wait to continue the series.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 16 21:49:32 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat May 04 06:52:02 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e11c4b66a7e6f3ba737cf4842c03888d", "book_id": "7953186", "review_id": "dbb21abf81fc7b32b67b693c31c1048c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I wasn't sure how I'd like this book as I started it but I stayed into it. I wouldn't say it's addictive but a good story either way!! Definitely want the series. \n As for how it read, it's very YA. That is the genre though! I guess I don't understand how you can pick a book up from the YA section and expect it to be written for adults. That seems like a common sense error on the readers part.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 10 21:25:19 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 16 21:47:20 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Dec 10 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e11c4b66a7e6f3ba737cf4842c03888d", "book_id": "7862725", "review_id": "6957c24440ad92eb37943ee61390b3e1", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The sorties itself was quite different and interesting. But things were too repetitive. Almost as if pieces were copy and pasted, and while reading that got on my nerves. \n I don't know much about the author but I hope that this was only a first attempt and that she has grown into an excellent writer with more unique stories.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 01 15:23:22 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 03 11:31:03 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Dec 03 11:31:03 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e11c4b66a7e6f3ba737cf4842c03888d", "book_id": "13402447", "review_id": "db5cb046d280f9fa2b44bcc4ef66f764", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I read this book so quick it was crazy. Cute story. I realized it was a YA book and read on anyway. When I got to the last page I was so mad, I wanted more. Great free read on kindle!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 30 08:05:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 30 08:07:24 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e11c4b66a7e6f3ba737cf4842c03888d", "book_id": "13092807", "review_id": "d1b22451ddb3ba743c8492f4a3556ba4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Really liked this novella. Can't wait to find the others.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 19 07:35:50 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 19 20:36:04 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jul 19 20:35:41 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e11c4b66a7e6f3ba737cf4842c03888d", "book_id": "12283261", "review_id": "1c1a6858af6eaaaa65d368788001e22b", "rating": 1, "review_text": "MEH. \n I love love love Jodi Pocoult and was highly disapointed with this. I knew it would be different, and I'm not sure who did most of the story.... If Jodi, Please don't make anymore YA books....Samantha, please take some more time before you chooe your career path. \n Interesting, cute story concept but less than half way through it lost my attention. I fought to finish the book because I had to know if Oliver made it out of the story..... \n Definately for much younger readers.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 13 15:08:46 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 02 07:31:41 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jun 02 07:31:41 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e11c4b66a7e6f3ba737cf4842c03888d", "book_id": "30335", "review_id": "0921f89e98ae2d62c8ac236d442be600", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So these books were written for teenagers by a teenager. If you open it up without that understanding then you won't like them. But this is still one of my most favorite stories. My copy is almost in pieces it's been read so much", "date_added": "Sat Jul 07 12:41:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 07 12:42:23 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e11c4b66a7e6f3ba737cf4842c03888d", "book_id": "6917952", "review_id": "22a14604f7ccf59c0565659ab5c95323", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I think this was one of my favorites of the series", "date_added": "Sat Jul 07 12:22:02 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 07 12:22:21 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e11c4b66a7e6f3ba737cf4842c03888d", "book_id": "4502877", "review_id": "61c3a8739c5452b7f14f9c6e4233f254", "rating": 5, "review_text": "If she would just finish this.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 09:13:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 09:13:58 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e11c4b66a7e6f3ba737cf4842c03888d", "book_id": "428263", "review_id": "ec83ceebda7996cf996038abbd19be12", "rating": 5, "review_text": "My favorite of the Twilight saga", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 09:12:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 09:12:53 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "94987a4c6236e5b334b4ed5fd20acfe1", "book_id": "13633978", "review_id": "e909f0947f6cb6dca41ee79698ddc78e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Final Life is a fresh new take in the paranormal/fantasy realm of books. The characters were very believable and one could relate to them in the real world. The main character Dominique is on her final life of the Transhuman realm and she has to fight her last fight to keep her life. Dominique finds unlikely allies and a love triangle with two men Farrell and Trent, while discovering the secrets of her past, learning she has been lied to, and getting ready to face her future. \n At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book, but after reading it I was pleasantly surprised and very glad I read it. If you are looking for a fresh new take in paranormal/fantasy/YA I would definitley recommend Final Life and I'm looking forward to reading the next installment.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 21 12:43:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 22 11:59:03 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Sep 22 11:59:03 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "94987a4c6236e5b334b4ed5fd20acfe1", "book_id": "10954782", "review_id": "bde3dc20ded934b2fbb87071c59e645d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I just finished reading Released in preparation for Chaos to come out!! (in one day!!!)Released had me hooked from the beginning to the end. \n I loved the characters in the book, especially Abby. Abby had all of the characteristics that I like. She was a bad ass, but still maintained her femininity. Her brother Carter and their friend Max were a great team. Later Taya was added into the mix. At first I didn't care for Taya's character, but she grew on me as the book went along. \n I was a little sad that a couple of the characters were killed off, such as Norah, I liked Norah and the potential I felt she could've brought out in the plot. I'm sure there will be more characters to love to come in the next book. \n Now that I'm finished with Released....I'm ready for some Chaos!!!!!!!!!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 12 10:22:01 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 28 08:57:27 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jun 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "94987a4c6236e5b334b4ed5fd20acfe1", "book_id": "10917442", "review_id": "3c75eb3b6c83ec64669a3a45dd42d85d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Is any shot at living, worth dying for? \n They thought they'd be safe, but a world ruled by chaos doesn't die easily. \n When Max turned on the radio transmissions assuring safety, they came. But, it wasn't just survivors of the demon apocalypse that crawled their way into the abandoned military base. A myriad of beastly demons unlike any they've ever seen came as well. Abby, and her companions, struggle to survive as the evil around them grows. Desperate to endure, and to defend their fellow survivors, Abby and a squad of fierce fighters, take on a dangerous mission that has deadly consequences. \n My Review of Chaos: Chaos was well worth the wait!!! \n Who knew that a second installment of a series would be better than the first book? Megan Duncan has outdone herself with the second installment of the Agents of Evil Series. \n My favorite character, Abby, has grown into a leadership role in this book which makes her even more likeable than before. It's nice to see a woman take charge and even though Abby still has her feminine side, when the need to kick butt arises she springs into action. The love between Abby and Max continues to grow and it makes your heart melt. \n I loved the new characters that came into the story as well as the reappearance of some characters from the first book. In my review of Released, I expressed how I felt the character Norah, who died, could have played a huge part in the continuing plot. Well, she did from the grave. \n The demons in Chaos were quite extraordinary. I hate spiders and after reading Chaos, I hate them even more. My favorite demon so far is the Smoker Demon. It was the most troublesome demon the characters have fought thus far. \n Overall, Chaos was definitely well worth the wait. It can be read as a standalone book since Megan does a great job building up the story line to give you a good grasp of what's going on in order to understand the plot and characters. I would still recommend reading Released before reading Chaos as it provides more in depth information concerning the plot and the characters.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 12 10:21:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 09 16:35:48 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Wed Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "94987a4c6236e5b334b4ed5fd20acfe1", "book_id": "11512403", "review_id": "3bec5d587d8fa5c01d8a566bf7dec253", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I just finished the second book in the series and I am not disappointed in the series. The series keeps getting better and better as it goes along. I love the balance between innocents, empowerment, and damsle in distress that the character Ridley has. I kind of had a feeling something was going to make Sebastian a key player in the book, but I wasn't sure until I got closer to that part. I am waiting to see how the twist with Savannah's mom plays out and what exactly the role is for her. Hopefully there will be more to that in the next book. Now off to read book #3 in the series.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 08:15:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 18 12:32:26 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jun 18 12:32:26 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "94987a4c6236e5b334b4ed5fd20acfe1", "book_id": "11187203", "review_id": "3f89d2ac46d22cdd2d85c75229b093ae", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I absolutely loved this book. I found myself being so upset towards the end, but then there was the glimmer of hope just before it ended. Now I'm reading the next in the series.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 08:15:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 14 11:10:01 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "94987a4c6236e5b334b4ed5fd20acfe1", "book_id": "13495009", "review_id": "45832f2416f49045b97cfcff5285e73e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Blood Bond has the most exciting and creative plots, which make it the best book of the series. It's full of action, hybrids, betrayal, hybrids, love, hybrids, humor, oh and did I mention hybrids. *laughing* I love hybrids!! \n Throughout the book Tara tries desperately to fight against what she is destined to become, but along with Wes, Alex, George, Cambria, and the rest of the gang she finally realizes that she IS the one destined to lead the Cause. \n The Love Triangle becomes even more intense and complicated for Tara. Wes, Alex, and George, have Tara's heart in one way or another and they all 3 love her deeply. Tara's confusion increases throughout the book but, in the end it becomes crystal clear to Tara who her True Love is. *no I won't spoil it* \n Blood Bond is my favorite of the Dirty Blood series (so far) and I'm excited to see what's next for Tara et al.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 08:03:51 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 12 11:19:51 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Sep 07 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "330f2557be759b71248c49fc4f09992d", "book_id": "1162543", "review_id": "a963633f2e81fd3781c8334ef02aba45", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Ugh!", "date_added": "Thu Dec 18 05:23:36 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 18 05:24:05 -0800 2008", "read_at": "Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "330f2557be759b71248c49fc4f09992d", "book_id": "49041", "review_id": "42bec8a2a3e80cfdf35a30b745449ebe", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not as captivating as the first book. Actually, I didn't really like any of them as well as the first. The fourth book really did me in...I understand that this is fiction, however, it was way to over the top. \n Twilight - I loved. The rest - not so much!", "date_added": "Thu Dec 18 05:20:42 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 18 05:22:33 -0800 2008", "read_at": "Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "330f2557be759b71248c49fc4f09992d", "book_id": "37442", "review_id": "3cfb2ea30594d700ef09cff55de885cb", "rating": 0, "review_text": "It is still on my bedside table. I'm really trying to enjoy the stroy, but I'm not sure it's going to happen.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 18 04:58:37 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 18 04:59:25 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "b7dbd4518192923079be19c74e049608", "book_id": "1156669", "review_id": "5096206927edd21a3f3a89703b6e979d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Not usually a fantasy lover, but met this author. All the elements I love: Celtic folklore, the sea, a love story. Wonderfully crafted.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 21 17:00:36 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 21 17:03:46 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f42e85a3c73fa5852e56c37c370bb1e", "book_id": "7090447", "review_id": "bef31c481ff02a5c91147e22438f24c5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Listened to this with my family and we loved it. Looking forward to the next two in the series.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 10 16:07:59 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 19 18:27:29 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5ba0a7f4f5175ae9d2ce997f790dcb9", "book_id": "24959550", "review_id": "3ce62583b56cdabb43b77c26a421d16c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was disappointed with this book. I loved all the others though. Ready for the next one.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 17 12:43:52 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 13 18:18:45 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5ba0a7f4f5175ae9d2ce997f790dcb9", "book_id": "25543022", "review_id": "48c446d8241da0fa322104b9f18d7f78", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I am not really a zombie type of person but I really liked this book. I loved Parker.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 12 09:04:43 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 19 14:37:08 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jun 19 14:37:08 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5ac0c0a728259db23e16e8e143e3325", "book_id": "30674695", "review_id": "cf16bde869a5171e376cf61dcb8133b4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked it! So sweet <3", "date_added": "Fri Jul 29 14:24:42 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 30 13:15:20 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jul 30 13:15:20 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5ac0c0a728259db23e16e8e143e3325", "book_id": "15817429", "review_id": "d1b3cb4c576c1bf5371687f88167c7da", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Volevo leggere da tanto tempo questo libro e grazie a un giveaway finalmente ho avuto il piacere di farlo *-* Ringrazio di cuore l'autrice per avermi scelta ma ora veniamo a noi u.u \n La narrazione inizia con la descrizione della vita di Erika che ha tutto un lavoro, un fidanzato e una vita tranquilla nella citta di Rimini eppure questo idillio viene rotto dal tradimento del suo compagno che la mette davanti alla verita: conduce una vita che non l'appaga, non la soddisfa. Successivamente si trasferisce in Val di Fassa o meglio a Canazei, in questo luogo dove la natura la fa da padrone, conoscera nuove persone come Stella, Thomas, Ambra e una che la colpira piu di tutte, Jason. \n Tutti nel luogo in cui vive le dicono che Jason e pericoloso, che i suoi occhi neri sono spaventosi ma Erika non li vede neri per lei sono due magnifici occhi verdi. Grazie a un piccolo incidente avra modo di conoscerlo e da quell'incontro nascera qualcosa di profondo e proibito. Ben presto scoprira che Jason e un Angelo della Morte che con un bacio toglie la vita pertanto non potranno mai spingersi oltre, cosa che si rivelera difficile visto il loro legame. Da subito si presenteranno degli ostacoli che metteranno a dura prova la loro tempra e il loro rapporto tanto da spingere Erika a compiere un viaggio pericoloso ma necessario per salvare il suo amore. \n La trama mi ha presa ma quello che mi ha conquistata sono le descrizioni cosi realistiche, per non parlare dei particolari relativi alle attivita di trekking, alle arti marziali e delle cavalcate che danno quel qualcosa in piu che permette al lettore di sentirsi sul posto col personaggio. Sono certa che l'autrice abbia inserito molto delle sue esperienze personali. Particolarmente interessante e la parte relativa al viaggio di Erika nella Valle degli Spiriti anche se avrei preferito saperne di piu >_< \n Unica pecca la velocita con cui si evolve la storia d'amore, essendo una romanticona avrei preferito leggere qualche scena in piu tra i due protagonisti. Lo stile e piacevole, fluido, giovanile e fresco. Credo si possa paragonare questo libro a una dolce brezza che avvolge il lettore per poterlo accompagnare in un piccolo viaggio alla fine del quale capira che per avere cio che si vuole, non dovra mai arrendersi davanti agli ostacoli che la vita ci pone davanti. Spero tanto in un seguito *c* e nel frattempo lo consiglio a tutti coloro che amano gli angeli, le storie d'amore e la natura.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 31 13:22:45 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 10 01:18:11 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5ac0c0a728259db23e16e8e143e3325", "book_id": "15995403", "review_id": "88860abe22eff60e5f66de8bcae1d4de", "rating": 5, "review_text": "La mia recensione la trovate qui: \n http://thesoulofchii2009.blogspot.it/...", "date_added": "Fri Sep 07 13:10:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 10 12:31:23 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "a5ac0c0a728259db23e16e8e143e3325", "book_id": "13365312", "review_id": "267276319d10eaea39656368b75988f9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Trovate la mia recensione qui: \n http://thesoulofchii2009.blogspot.it/...", "date_added": "Fri Aug 24 09:28:35 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 25 14:39:41 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Aug 25 14:39:41 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "a5ac0c0a728259db23e16e8e143e3325", "book_id": "11685366", "review_id": "97f29141fe5d4819d88f1d1029223bc0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Trovate la mia recensione qui: \n http://thesoulofchii2009.blogspot.it/...", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 09:45:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 23 16:56:35 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Aug 23 16:56:35 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "854c0f8798c2d694255830bb6ea29416", "book_id": "2330877", "review_id": "671b469576b342b058946489405d0078", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Awesome! Love this author and his story world. Found quite a few errors/typos in the text, but the story is worth reading.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 09 08:49:51 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 27 12:03:03 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "854c0f8798c2d694255830bb6ea29416", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "e1382feaab47ddbc32881670ef8ce1bd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I've heard really great things about this book. And since there is a movie coming out, I thought I'd get ahead of the game and read it. Well, I got through half of it. Didn't hold my interest. I do want to finish it sometime - just to see how it ends. Hopefully, my concern for the characters will grow...", "date_added": "Sun Jun 17 20:23:42 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 24 16:33:06 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Aug 24 16:33:06 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "1fa34209b2a0797942f7961ca8d69e2e", "book_id": "10808486", "review_id": "989f55af38a6ccb368b625d3b71695b4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A book I can always reread \n This book gets better every year I read it. Reading this for the 5th time and I'm certainly going to try and take a more critical look at it...as I've always just read it because I loved the story and characters.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 20 02:05:45 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 14 06:20:27 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Mar 14 06:20:27 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jun 09 18:40:32 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2a3430e96f418f5f4af9439066dbb702", "book_id": "4062214", "review_id": "0772f91556168efd4bdb44c81d5824eb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This one was better than the first. I got more into the story and am looking forward to reading the next one.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 26 11:50:53 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 29 08:32:04 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Oct 05 07:57:03 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Aug 26 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dea5bda3eaee375c4ab59fd399bc37db", "book_id": "27003", "review_id": "b009f9d001b4760c10742d305625cb90", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Wow, I had a really hard time reading this book for some reason. I almost quit about 5 times, but I kept going. The only reason I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 was because I did really enjoy the ending and how they told the story of Jane Eyre and \"fixed\" it.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 12 22:42:47 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 30 04:02:50 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Nov 30 04:02:50 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dea5bda3eaee375c4ab59fd399bc37db", "book_id": "11250053", "review_id": "d2240f469285ca561df548cb49cd5a64", "rating": 5, "review_text": "There's nothing better than reading a good book and having a good cry in the end. Wonderful book!", "date_added": "Thu Sep 05 17:10:56 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 25 22:17:50 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Feb 26 22:17:50 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dea5bda3eaee375c4ab59fd399bc37db", "book_id": "11988046", "review_id": "4915696b3c7e5be2af40db647ce38325", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Couldn't put it down!! So good! Thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a little too predictable, hence the 4 star instead of 5 rating.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 20 07:39:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 18 11:56:16 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Mar 18 11:56:16 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dea5bda3eaee375c4ab59fd399bc37db", "book_id": "1158967", "review_id": "1b81340e43a04a99b12beab3080b2915", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm really enjoying Allen's novels - loved the apple tree in this one.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 10 18:50:58 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 11 19:13:30 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jul 11 19:10:48 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dea5bda3eaee375c4ab59fd399bc37db", "book_id": "5126859", "review_id": "e2c481b512ecfd777d887b62a2e52e7a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Really enjoyed this quick read.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 02 07:02:28 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 29 15:26:10 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Mar 29 15:26:10 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "dea5bda3eaee375c4ab59fd399bc37db", "book_id": "8667848", "review_id": "09613bd0bc04f9c05f742ccd4d79e490", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked this book. It did remind me of a few other books. Harry Potter: because the main character, Diana, is like Harry in that she has crazy amounts of power unlike anyone else and she doesn't realize the extent of her powers. Twilight: because well, I can't read a book about a vampire and NOT think of Twilight. And, at the end it reminds me of Outlander because of the time jumping, even though we don't get that far in this book. I'm looking forward to reading the next one.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 30 06:04:26 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 06 08:11:10 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "dea5bda3eaee375c4ab59fd399bc37db", "book_id": "2213661", "review_id": "a4e4cbb05c9e4fc7e5644815afdb79e6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was the most unusual book, but I really enjoyed it.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 22 04:50:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 27 05:26:23 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Tue Dec 25 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dea5bda3eaee375c4ab59fd399bc37db", "book_id": "345627", "review_id": "8e7f0eeb8cb49ca914accb18c1fdbba9", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Ugh - I really didn't like this book. I don't know why I finished it - and really, I don't see how it is considered a teen book - I'd NEVER let my teen read this! I am embarrassed to say I read it!", "date_added": "Wed May 09 11:56:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 27 14:36:48 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon May 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "dea5bda3eaee375c4ab59fd399bc37db", "book_id": "1162543", "review_id": "fb8584a6e9aad1a65057f8dbd01a8296", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I loved this series, I loved this book and how it all got finished up. I was a little upset at first that Bella was a Vampire, especially when her Dad first went to see her, but then I got over it. I am sad I don't have another book to look forward to in this series.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 08 15:07:39 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 25 15:38:46 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "dea5bda3eaee375c4ab59fd399bc37db", "book_id": "15881", "review_id": "5fc6c735c20586d3faaf35c4e06e7c45", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have read all the Harry Potter books and love them all, I am looking forward to reading them to my children when they are a tad older.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 18 05:34:15 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 18 05:34:42 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "12f32d2823b2c92362573740a2baa553", "book_id": "4003436", "review_id": "f784c0ea0764843d6aec3037a89d867a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love a good Raymond E. Feist saga. There are always some expected characters, some new ones that we get introduced to and a departure from reality. Sometimes sci fan is just the right distraction from everyday life.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 04 19:01:49 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 19 18:12:45 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sun Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "12f32d2823b2c92362573740a2baa553", "book_id": "28507", "review_id": "f8acf35333e9042519a10e8745fd0134", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I am really enjoying these sci fantasy books.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 31 13:27:51 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 18 18:40:22 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sat Apr 18 18:40:22 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "12f32d2823b2c92362573740a2baa553", "book_id": "57686", "review_id": "1c73f128cbd49c7f7b27eb75c37aa137", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book. I checked all three out from the Omaha library. Such an interesting story line if you like fantasy.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 18 05:47:08 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 14 13:17:38 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Tue Mar 11 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9679fb5a57e64f539756c62bf094128b", "book_id": "26117888", "review_id": "05c374419d26e7f0698f0c44f302de1b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was quite possibly one of the most brilliant books I've ever read. So wonderful. The language and adventure and slow growing change that occurs in the world and in the characters is breathtaking.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 13 16:19:06 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 18 17:41:09 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9679fb5a57e64f539756c62bf094128b", "book_id": "12067", "review_id": "616216537927a8057ca9d4f820064d5b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So hilarious and witty. The characters are charming and occasionally idiots. Great fun with a dark humor edge.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 28 09:07:58 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 09 08:33:13 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Nov 09 08:33:13 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9679fb5a57e64f539756c62bf094128b", "book_id": "4407", "review_id": "53c77e3310ae2e5518291e6b753dff5f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So freaking good!", "date_added": "Mon Apr 20 12:50:42 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 20 12:50:54 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "53c3dc3be68b6ea029f986f39ab7578e", "book_id": "23766634", "review_id": "e1c205e172ece97808f1bd77ecd2c3c4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Her best book yet", "date_added": "Sat Jun 24 16:06:16 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 24 16:06:36 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jun 24 16:06:36 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "53c3dc3be68b6ea029f986f39ab7578e", "book_id": "17927395", "review_id": "9fb0ae16de6a9730bc6ca914b0fbeba5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n I really liked the first book of this series and I overall really liked this one but it dragged for a good 1/3 of the book... I don't know why for sure. Part of why it dragged was because I wasn't sure I liked how far she was going from one of the main character in the first book. Once I decided I really liked where the plot was going, it just still seemed like there was too much detail. It just needed to be condensed a bit. It felt like a 500 page long book or more although I don't really know how long it was because I read it in e format. Anyways it dragged a but but I really enjoyed the first 1/3 and the last 1/3 of the book and I liked what was in the middle 1/3 if it had just been condensed. \n *does contain a few sex scenes", "date_added": "Sat Jun 10 22:10:17 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 17 09:15:41 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jun 17 09:15:41 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "53c3dc3be68b6ea029f986f39ab7578e", "book_id": "24848233", "review_id": "e78355ffe10c93e8668daedb80e82ec7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This episode is like a breath of fresh air! It was exactly what was needed after the continual torture that the gang has been going through recently. \n I am so glad for the passion and fire that is back in Reagan by the end and I'm hoping that Page can be safely rescued ASAP because I don't think I could handle the upsetting tragedy of losing her!", "date_added": "Sat Feb 07 18:55:26 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 26 14:32:13 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "53c3dc3be68b6ea029f986f39ab7578e", "book_id": "23563120", "review_id": "507d5ce3a83083560fe2c7eea7d09e7d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In the debut book of up and coming author Kat Nichols, we read about Sophia who is a girl who has had a some hard, sad things happen in her life but has risen above them. She is tough and strong, all the makings of a perfect heroine! \n Just when orphan Sophia thinks she is the only one left in her family, she discovers that she has a grandmother, a grandmother who wants her to come live with her. Sophia goes and quickly discovers that the family she wanted is not exactly the family she has. \n The way that author Kat Nichols weaves the tale of Sophia and the family secrets discovered is intriguing and makes a real page tuner. The other characters in Sophia's life are full of various qualities that add to or make Sophia's life harder. Some are awful, others interesting and hopeful, and some that continually surprise you with their actions. \n This book will leave you excited for more, and anxious to find out what will happen next. This book will not disappoint and the witches are so fresh and unique that you will enjoy the novelty of their powers and how they are performed. \n Take this journey of discovery and hardship with Sophia, you will not regret it!", "date_added": "Thu Jan 08 06:46:23 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 08 06:48:44 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "53c3dc3be68b6ea029f986f39ab7578e", "book_id": "23780197", "review_id": "88329e6ba2512f5697c324c851c101bb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow I missed this. Soo glad it is back, and is jam packed with the characters I love and the suspense that keeps your heart racing long after the last word is read. \n Just when you hope the Parker gang will get a chance to breathe, you realize the world of zombie apocalypse is even more horrifying and hard to survive than ever before. There are quite the plot twists to begin the third season and I can only imagine the things to come this season. \n If you are smart, you will hop on and enjoy every suspenseful minute of the ride and read this series ASAP!", "date_added": "Wed Dec 17 05:42:13 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 08:37:39 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "53c3dc3be68b6ea029f986f39ab7578e", "book_id": "23732270", "review_id": "7fabb4db80e92d5855e35d24e3780634", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow I missed this. Soo glad it is back, and is jam packed with the characters I love and the suspense that keeps your heart racing long after the last word is read. \n Just when you hope the Parker gang will get a chance to breathe, you realize the world of zombie apocalypse is even more horrifying and hard to survive than ever before. There are quite the plot twists to begin the third season and I can only imagine the things to come this season. \n If you are smart, you will hop on and enjoy every suspenseful minute of the ride and read this series ASAP!", "date_added": "Sat Dec 13 08:30:40 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 30 10:15:30 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "53c3dc3be68b6ea029f986f39ab7578e", "book_id": "22599991", "review_id": "d51cd6abba3263b091d3db66a1021957", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Seriously... This novella series triggers so many emotions in me and just grips me till the ride is over. It is incredible to be so invested in characters and to be so inthralled with a piece of writing. Rachel does it again and again and again with each episode!", "date_added": "Sat Dec 13 08:27:28 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 13 08:29:36 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "53c3dc3be68b6ea029f986f39ab7578e", "book_id": "21957948", "review_id": "84b515c5d003d8e1b3ddbf3f587643e0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh how much I enjoyed this book... I can't even adequately express. \n First of all... I love love love books with magic/powers/supernatural goodness in them and this book is full of them but in a new and intriguing way. I mean come on, powers, we all wish we had them... \n Second... There is something about a slightly wounded/broken character who slowly evolves and grows that I am just drawn to in novels, and this has a main character who fits the package and yet doesn't feel too broken that you are just annoyed with her. It is so fun to have a character that you just can't help but root for! \n Third... the men! They weren't over done but they were very interesting and you were digging for more info about each of them with every flip of the page! \n Fourth... Who doesn't love a good bff supporting character! Every college girl who is going through some self discovery will not be interesting if she did not have the witty and lovable bff! \n Fifth... the cliff hanger that leaves you dying for more and yet not annoyed at the author for leaving you in agony for the next 6-18 months! \n Sixth and final point about why I love this book and why I think you should read it... it is a quick, delightful, intriguing, and suspenseful read by a new and upcoming author that will keep you interested and entertained.", "date_added": "Thu May 29 11:53:54 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 30 23:51:26 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "53c3dc3be68b6ea029f986f39ab7578e", "book_id": "20987458", "review_id": "0e2f01e2d2cdff9f01cc72aea09a9338", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The epic finale in the Siren series will expand the Greek world to mythological and powerful proportion! the conclusion to the Siren series did not disappoint. The greek mythology was in full force and was even more epic, intense and creative than I could have ever anticipated. I love the way that the final book was handled and think it was the best of the whole series!!! Ryder and Ivy are more magical than ever before! Serious Rachel Higginson hit this series out of the park!", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 04:54:10 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 30 14:10:13 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "53c3dc3be68b6ea029f986f39ab7578e", "book_id": "20987441", "review_id": "701c2e65c885b48df4ccab8aa917db76", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked this book a lot! I feel like it built upon the previous story well and gave quite a bit of info but was a little of the same (Seth and Stella being apart ;( I felt like the pace moved well and kept me interested and wanting more. I liked the action and seeing Stella taking on more of her role that she will receive when she turns 18. The ending made my really intrigued to see what happens in the next book and I can see already how much a twist that will be in Stella's life. I am anxiously waiting for Stella's 18th birthday to get Seth back a little but more (hopefully)", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 04:54:05 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 30 11:54:35 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "53c3dc3be68b6ea029f986f39ab7578e", "book_id": "20925798", "review_id": "7e663a9691d7d936ba7d2a636f3d2355", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Unfortunately, with the publishing of this book, the Star-Crossed series is coming to a close.... This series is my favorite and I am already dying to read it all again, start to finish! \n There is absolutely nothing better than getting into Sebastian's and Seraphina's head as we journey to the end of the series. I really loved getting to know Seraphina more and to see what she brings to the table. I absolutely love her now and am sad that I don't get to read more about her and the other Star-Crossed characters. \n Sebastian is just... ahhhh Sebastian. We all grew to love him when he was kidnapped by Eden and the Resistance, but man do I love him even more now. I love his whit and sarcasm. I love his feelings that he doesn't always express. I just love him! \n Now this book is full of suspense, as it should be, as the gang all try to take down Telerov once and for all. There are twists and turns and intrigue. \n I love how this book concludes and feel as satisfied as possible (I mean this is my favorite series, so I will always be incredibly sad that it is ending!) \n Go forth and read! If you haven't read any in the series, then let the story, world and characters of Reckless magic take you away. You will be thanking me :)", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 04:53:56 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 17 05:52:46 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "53c3dc3be68b6ea029f986f39ab7578e", "book_id": "19167968", "review_id": "465afab60b8eede695aa0eded796170c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow... this series instantly sucked me in and took a spot in my top five {and that is saying a lot, because I won't touch anything zombie with a 10 foot pole} \n Reagan is strong and intriguing. I was instantly curious about how she and her gal pal, zombie-butt kicking side kick, haley have stayed alive for the past two years, because heaven help me, I would have died on day 1 of the zombie apocalypse. \n The twists and turns never stop and will keep me enthralled!", "date_added": "Tue Feb 18 17:14:13 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 18 17:14:24 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "53c3dc3be68b6ea029f986f39ab7578e", "book_id": "20849558", "review_id": "baf331c0d4a330667b02781d4e879264", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In the fall, you will: \n fall more courageous with Ivy's developing strength and character. \n fall more in love with Ryder, ahhh Ryder. \n fall more terrified by the Greek world in which Ivy is trying to survive and be free from. \n fall more intrigued by the past of certain characters. \n You.Will.Fall!", "date_added": "Tue Feb 18 16:47:38 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 01 04:50:55 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "53c3dc3be68b6ea029f986f39ab7578e", "book_id": "20418593", "review_id": "197f252f3382f521ab733fb17dc8654f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Great debut for an up-and-coming author and a series that I am thrilled to read! \n I loved this story and I am soo excited to see where the journey will take me. I loved that this book was not immediately paranormal and that you just think della is just a normal girl, until little things begin to tip you off that things are not what they seem. It was nice to be able to learn about paranormal world that Della is apart of while she is just learning about it herself! I feel like this is a fresh and intriguing take on the controlling the elements! \n Can't wait to see what comes next!", "date_added": "Tue Jan 21 07:41:13 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 18 16:49:07 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "53c3dc3be68b6ea029f986f39ab7578e", "book_id": "4214", "review_id": "15ef0022165cecbffd144ca254f686a8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was very beautifully written. I really enjoyed the philosophical and theological aspects and enjoyed part one in particular. \n The end has left me reeling. \n My favorite thought was about how many people view zoos as restrictive to the animals in them just as many people view faith as a restrictive cage. \n I did listen to this, and I don't think i would have enjoyed the book as much if I had read it. The reader did a great job and I really came across as if pi was just telling me his life story.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 01 09:14:25 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat May 13 23:49:38 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat May 13 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "53c3dc3be68b6ea029f986f39ab7578e", "book_id": "18596633", "review_id": "e826480fd2514559fc70c449114de314", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow... this series instantly sucked me in and took a spot in my top five {and that is saying a lot, because I won't touch anything zombie with a 10 foot pole} \n Reagan is strong and intriguing. I was instantly curious about how she and her gal pal, zombie-butt kicking side kick, haley have stayed alive for the past two years, because heaven help me, I would have died on day 1 of the zombie apocalypse. \n The twists and turns never stop and will keep me enthralled!", "date_added": "Mon Oct 14 12:47:12 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 18 17:13:46 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "53c3dc3be68b6ea029f986f39ab7578e", "book_id": "18461614", "review_id": "299371b8634f5002ac0e9f9e1e17e808", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book. Jericho has always been one of my most favorite characters of all time and I was glad he was able to find love because he deserved it most of all!!! Before reading the book, i liked the idea of him and Olivia but knew from the get go that it would be hard for me to immediately, within one book fall in love within her and him together. Since I went in with low expectations and my opinion that no woman would ever be good enough or perfect enough for my Jericho, I ended up very pleasantly surprised and elated with their relationship and with being able to get inside his head. I think that for my favorite chapter, Rachel pulled it off, and for that I am so grateful! \n There is no doubt that Rachel knows how to build a good love story, with a great background of action and suspense. \n I love the plot of the second Half of the star crossed series. I think it is interesting and full of intrigue and I am DYING to read Sebastian and the end of this saga! I know that the second half of this series will be just as good as the first half!", "date_added": "Sun Sep 08 08:55:00 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 18 17:00:30 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "53c3dc3be68b6ea029f986f39ab7578e", "book_id": "3236307", "review_id": "07830a246b198824a0b84e3151e2fab7", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I liked the story line, but it was a little slow in parts. I would have given it a three or four but I am quite peeved that this is a ya book and yet there is a sexual relationship outside of marriage, especially because there never will be a marriage. I think that this should not be displayed in ya novels. So I would say it is a 3 1/2 stars for adults and shouldn't be read by teens.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 09:18:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 19 09:01:37 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Sep 19 09:01:37 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97466e9bcc6b443344f06aa6ae144286", "book_id": "20454095", "review_id": "d72825024dcf2f84dde83913011fef72", "rating": 3, "review_text": "My 8 year old loved it. I did not.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 02 23:38:15 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 07 22:41:55 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jun 07 22:41:33 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Mar 02 23:38:16 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97466e9bcc6b443344f06aa6ae144286", "book_id": "10431447", "review_id": "8cff4c0b7ec49121bcf2b2a71294860b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really wanted this book to be phenomenal-but it wasn't. Meloy was able to do a fairly good job of creating characters that are easy to relate to, but I think he could have gone further with it. Also, I would have loved it if he had been more descriptive with the setting, painted a better picture of the Woods; this would have allowed for the reader to become much more engaged with the book, but that didn't happen. It was a bit disappointing because he had such a beautiful lanscape (Oregon) to work with.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 11 23:10:45 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 30 22:47:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97466e9bcc6b443344f06aa6ae144286", "book_id": "22314178", "review_id": "29dc6606d4b766ac6ce1799531cd125f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I really love the premise of North's books, but she has such utter execution problems. The character/story developments are such disappointments and the endings can be seen from chapters away.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 11 20:57:11 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 11 20:58:13 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97466e9bcc6b443344f06aa6ae144286", "book_id": "2744", "review_id": "d7f95111322a3002a1c2a2476f8b43e7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really like that it had a much different tone to it than American Gods. The characters were wonderful, though I think the ending was rushed and the last bit about Charlie all grown up was a bit of a reach.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 06 21:12:51 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue May 31 11:56:42 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue May 31 11:56:42 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97466e9bcc6b443344f06aa6ae144286", "book_id": "4407", "review_id": "685a4687f9c072ffcb9e383363393284", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I liked this book. It was a struggle to get into, and I ended up shelving it for a bit because I was having trouble connecting. BUT, I did finish it and the more I thought about it, the more my struggle to finish felt a bit like Shadow's struggle to finish his job. And once it was over, it was worth it. Gaiman is a genius. He is able to put the reader through much of the same difficulties the main characters are experiencing, which makes the connection to the book that much better. I'm still thinking about Shadow, and have a list of gods and goddesses to research.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 06 21:10:23 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 06 21:12:47 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97466e9bcc6b443344f06aa6ae144286", "book_id": "22522805", "review_id": "7f4b2691cf7bb5a636e0cc3ebd8f210e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The ending was fantastic. It honestly probably saved the entire book.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 22 22:04:05 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 05 23:21:41 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c8bf6c854005db63d0b29f218dfed131", "book_id": "29543198", "review_id": "7184d6911acce52af1f39fb0f44b8ef2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Children of Avalon blends fantasy characters and classic fairytales into a charming story of adventure and coming of age. The writing and editing could use a bit of polishing to make it even better.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 30 12:33:13 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 05 22:52:21 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Sep 06 22:52:21 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c8bf6c854005db63d0b29f218dfed131", "book_id": "26802017", "review_id": "84451c6607d0ef9460ab01c3dbd164f8", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The Treemakers started as a dark and beautifully written story, but soon turned unnecessarily inappropriate for a book classified as being for young adults. I enjoyed the variety of genres it explored; with hints of romance, adventure and mystery that kept me guessing more often than I thought it would. I was disappointed with the direction that it took. The first third and last third of the story had so much potential and originality. I have to admit to being conflicted between finding some of the writing too dark for young adults, and some of the writing too childish.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 26 08:09:05 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 30 12:34:52 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Aug 30 12:34:52 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Aug 26 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c8bf6c854005db63d0b29f218dfed131", "book_id": "29216279", "review_id": "105eac110d15e478a061f54a62201478", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The Infinity Formula is exciting from the very beginning, with a brilliant twist at the end. It is a good story, and with some grammatical polishing and more illustrative writing at certain points, it could be even better.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 29 19:18:57 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 01 19:48:28 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Aug 02 19:48:28 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c8bf6c854005db63d0b29f218dfed131", "book_id": "35598367", "review_id": "3a483b135fd4c4a939e32f35b5c5ef87", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book explores an impressively original idea. More than just the usual man-versus-evil story, it is dark and intriguing, filling in the spaces of the hero's past with pain and meaning.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 27 20:42:57 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 29 19:16:58 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jul 30 19:16:58 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c8bf6c854005db63d0b29f218dfed131", "book_id": "26162433", "review_id": "c792d3d41c9ffee441312f2d77ae0fe1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book gets harder to put down the further into it you get! Brilliantly comedic writing combined with well-developed characters and plot lines makes for an intense and highly enjoyable read.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 29 07:05:01 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 02 21:42:17 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jul 04 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c8bf6c854005db63d0b29f218dfed131", "book_id": "35510770", "review_id": "52aae3f2e54dec99c016d02d25a1d391", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Nathan Van Coops has very quickly become one of my favourite authors. His talent for creating perfectly detailed and extraordinary new worlds is quite unsurpassed. \n 'Faster Than Falling' reels you in from the opening words, and remains wildly captivating until the very last page. Filled with outstanding characters, bold escapades and breathtaking scenery, it is a fast-paced and brilliant adventure for all ages.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 01 20:50:40 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 01 21:41:12 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d15fdfe9d917d8e605c8b7144ecb7eb1", "book_id": "262430", "review_id": "9756ace6bb43ee761bb435a25c11c455", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I admit, I gave these books a chance because I loved 'The Hunger Games' and Suzanne Collins did not let me down. In fact, I would say all my expectations were met and then surpassed. \n Gregor and Boots are the first characters you meet and you can't help but fall in love with them. Boots is a energetic two year old with lots to say, and she's a huge part of the heart of the story. Gregor almost breaks your heart because you know that at eleven, he's had to become the man of the house and grow up so fast, but he rises to the occasion. \n I listened to the audio of the first three books (I've read them all now) then ran to the library and got the last two, unable to read them fast enough. The Underland is a wonderfully created place, full of people who will scare you, intrigue you, make you laugh, and even cry. I dare you not to wonder what your own Underland adventure would be like. \n This book is written for a younger audience than the Hunger Games, but it's enjoyable for all ages. I was in a car with kids age: 8(boy), 12, 14(2 girls) and then my 73 year old mom and my 40 something sister. When the kids started getting whiny, I pulled out the 'Gregor' books and the entire car was dead silent as I read. I've even got the books in every format now so I'll never be without them. Sounds pretty bad, huh? \n But seriously, give them a chance. It's a good, quick read that is great for a whole family.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 15 21:25:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 21:46:07 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47ba4e1ae9d10d45f517a0db14964c24", "book_id": "19486421", "review_id": "ca9832672c944c7be804d5c30cc3744f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Was great to go back to Chicago! Love this series.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 28 17:16:09 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 21 08:37:29 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Nov 22 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Nov 17 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47ba4e1ae9d10d45f517a0db14964c24", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "28ea6cd41a7ae1c9c3e8e1c444d4d5ea", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Good, suspenseful and easy reading. Quite enjoyable!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 19 16:20:24 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 22 03:54:01 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Aug 22 03:54:01 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47ba4e1ae9d10d45f517a0db14964c24", "book_id": "7923006", "review_id": "878fdde9f04a343abb717ec80b0827d7", "rating": 2, "review_text": "After the first two very good books in this series this one was a disappointment. The writing feels forced and mediocre.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 18 22:15:08 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 02 17:25:03 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Mar 03 17:25:03 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47ba4e1ae9d10d45f517a0db14964c24", "book_id": "6437061", "review_id": "e8d70d4741c8aa1763cd535b77789ca2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a refreshing read. The author's writing style was very easy and enjoyable. The story original. I'd recommend this book to purveyors of good fantasy.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 13 17:50:22 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 16 15:26:06 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Feb 17 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47ba4e1ae9d10d45f517a0db14964c24", "book_id": "45112", "review_id": "32ac7459994c5e0874683be2c1df1ee2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a somewhat redeeming read after the disappointment that was the second book. My only critique was that the ending felt rushed, however at the end, it was well worth the read. - M.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 17 20:59:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 22 05:31:17 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 22 05:31:17 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47ba4e1ae9d10d45f517a0db14964c24", "book_id": "68487", "review_id": "1090123d1ac9952dc6b98c6fb0f89fc7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book seemed to loose something the first had... It is difficult to put into words what was lost, perhaps what attracted me so much to the first was that the innocence of fitz and his discovery of his new life at Buck. In the second book, little or nothing is left of that innocence or sense of discovery. - M.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 14 06:23:13 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 17 21:04:32 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Aug 18 21:04:32 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47ba4e1ae9d10d45f517a0db14964c24", "book_id": "45107", "review_id": "d777c5371f3fbbe2a61bd8e00248de0f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "An easy read, well developed characters, a good plot... This was a great book! - M.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 11 19:02:46 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 14 06:10:23 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Aug 14 06:10:23 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47ba4e1ae9d10d45f517a0db14964c24", "book_id": "77566", "review_id": "0edae1204d5b7fbe0fe5690a9eb8be70", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book should be read as a prequel to the main story, which is 'Fall of Hyperion'. Once you've gotten through it as a prequel, the setting becomes full and vibrant, ready to deliver this well-thought techno-theological treatise on this future conflict between man and machine. \n I think alot of people find this book hard to read. In that case I'd recommend reading the second book first then go back to this one. The second book has enough introductory material throughout that you probably won't be lost and after finishing the main story you will likely appreciate the prequel work and be eager to wade through it in much the same way a Tolkien fan is ready to wade through the Similarion. \n The end of it is this, the Hyperion work as a whole really is one of the better works of science fiction that I've had the pleasure to experience. I would not have said this if I had stopped reading after Hyperion. The Hyperion Cantos must be read as a whole. - M.", "date_added": "Sat May 05 05:31:13 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon May 21 21:09:24 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bacd94c3fc49f9392aa0e26d5fb5aabd", "book_id": "17182126", "review_id": "6b5a37c83e79f904581c0216244bc107", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars. Fun read, but not my favorite Sanderson book.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 14 05:24:04 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 14 05:24:32 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3549723c93f348ace17abdcc305735dd", "book_id": "13510491", "review_id": "c6352a1d1bffad26f192c4e504b934e0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In the beginning I was a bit confused but as I read on, things clicked and made sense. At the end I really loved this book, and can't wait to read the second one. Thalia is a great strong character, and definitely my favorite!", "date_added": "Sun Jun 02 09:25:26 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 07 14:11:29 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jun 07 14:11:29 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3549723c93f348ace17abdcc305735dd", "book_id": "10407279", "review_id": "a6d5e20ada5f61395f0130edced90a75", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Overall I did enjoy the series, but this one just didnt seem much of an ending persay. It wasn't horrible but I was expecting something better I guess.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 04 15:45:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 09 08:24:49 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jul 09 08:24:49 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jul 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3549723c93f348ace17abdcc305735dd", "book_id": "7981206", "review_id": "2c80da7e93e2168ead73caaca26df9ad", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really liked that in this one we learn alot about Sookie's past & her family tree that was hidden from her & other family members. Learning about Adele's action was definetly surprising, as well as where Sookie's \"gift\" came from. There were parts though that I wish had more details & other parts that was overly detailed.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 30 13:23:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 04 15:23:23 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jul 04 15:23:23 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3549723c93f348ace17abdcc305735dd", "book_id": "140075", "review_id": "cb80ccc5af7846e6dcdc5092b1bd9429", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked this book because there was alot of new information & I really enjoyed hearing about Barry the bellboy again :) But it was also at times a bit boring.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 16 21:43:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 20 09:10:45 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3549723c93f348ace17abdcc305735dd", "book_id": "11454587", "review_id": "5cac0ee16d590a46fcfdd8a1606507f1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Pretty good but i was expecting better.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 12:07:05 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 19 12:54:02 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Mar 19 12:54:02 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3549723c93f348ace17abdcc305735dd", "book_id": "2753843", "review_id": "e8b37a1beb51e9d5f1979f298ae09ace", "rating": 4, "review_text": "So far this has been m fav so far. Loved all the twists and learning more of thier.history.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 11:02:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 11 13:03:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Apr 11 13:03:39 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3549723c93f348ace17abdcc305735dd", "book_id": "8428064", "review_id": "39db799695127cdf1c2858f91aac21e5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "GREAT sequel to the 1st book. It was even better IMO than the 1st, which I didn't think was possible. Sophie is now dealing with the Concil & all the conspiricy around it.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 10:34:05 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 05 10:34:25 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3549723c93f348ace17abdcc305735dd", "book_id": "5287473", "review_id": "4a0ccd8dc0b2c45607b1eff614c0ddf2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow, this was a really good Young Adult book. Since the first page I couldn't stop reading about Sophie & all her hardships with being a WITCH, or thats at least what she thinks she is. Then, she falls in love with a boy,who turns out to be her mortal enemy! A must read!!!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 10:33:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 05 10:34:02 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3549723c93f348ace17abdcc305735dd", "book_id": "10937621", "review_id": "e747f8f813c6d60ce61d9b947b433646", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It's a suspenseful mystery read. Has a great plot with brain-washing,politics, and a gifted pyscic who the FBI depend on to solve crucial cases :) The paranormal part is weak, and it has a few sexual scens but I didn't mind. Overall, good read!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 10:31:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 05 10:32:49 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3549723c93f348ace17abdcc305735dd", "book_id": "10783492", "review_id": "be6528408ba9f8a7b8f7f75158e5098c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A magical love story with a circus setting;GREAT read! I loved all the charecters, & this has one very very awesome villian :)", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 10:30:01 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 05 10:30:25 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3549723c93f348ace17abdcc305735dd", "book_id": "11433925", "review_id": "1bf2c0131f9b2d94ff1135adc06cf50c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this sci fi novel! Had alot of fantasy but at the same time you coud identify with the charecters. This story is about a newly divorced & single mother who is trying to figure things out. She is also a writer & at the age of 34, discovers that she is not so normal.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 10:29:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 05 10:29:27 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3549723c93f348ace17abdcc305735dd", "book_id": "6513549", "review_id": "c5120dd1ed8f9cceb3c4e40e453c56f3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked this story about a girl named Mary who is an outkast & bullied. Her grandma & her have the gift or curse of being mediums. It is young adult so I can see how not many adults would enjoy it.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 10:21:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 05 10:23:04 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3549723c93f348ace17abdcc305735dd", "book_id": "9481431", "review_id": "bff4f85ba76e9dd1f2ed4c8d74b99753", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It's a fanasty love story filled with drama and fairies,vampires & humans struggling to keep thier race alive, although I enjoyed this very much I also found it a bit too predictable.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 10:13:25 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 05 10:15:01 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7723af92efca670ee7b49f66e44fa8db", "book_id": "2213661", "review_id": "19b78f4c1e29ed7b216ff9fdbb30c323", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Really loved this... so imaginative. Not scary, just a tiny bit spooky here and there. Dreamwalking--so awesome.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 08 19:23:07 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 08 19:24:02 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7723af92efca670ee7b49f66e44fa8db", "book_id": "10079321", "review_id": "e8ecb02abeb22c419b3c50f64b37b9fa", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Didn't like it as much as the first installment. Felt almost like an old-fashioned computer game in places. I do enjoy his characters, though, and the difficulty of their magic.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 18 17:47:28 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 18 17:48:20 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7723af92efca670ee7b49f66e44fa8db", "book_id": "6101718", "review_id": "f8c09b2dac21aeec577f565c52844c4a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Well, I really did love the \"you have to be brilliant in math to get in\" part--but then you also need a touch of... well... pure magic. It's like grad school, only better. \n I like the cynical, hard-drinking nihilistic students too. \n My favorite part? When they get to be geese. \"All you think about is flapping, eating, and honking to retain contact with the formation.\" Then later, being unhappy and wishing he could just hide as a goose-- so good. I wish depression could be cured in such a way. \n The fantasy world, I thought, was the weakest part of it. At least it seemed almost unnecessary to me. Maybe in the sequel that will change. \n All in all--great fantasy for the slightly-older-than-Potter set.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 14 18:22:51 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 14 18:26:23 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7723af92efca670ee7b49f66e44fa8db", "book_id": "17061", "review_id": "7a8a05966b768cb988bdd8aaf7537f79", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Got the e-version--loved the pictures and the bonus e-features. Nicely done, sufficiently scary in most places, great style. Only thing I thought was missing was an explanation of where the evil creatures came from. They were just there.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 06:52:05 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 10 06:57:24 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7f63deefeec24f4f8afb3e0b522057ed", "book_id": "13645303", "review_id": "19895458c6a5bff090805becbe6880af", "rating": 4, "review_text": "rwy@ m`qd@ bshkl Gryb !!", "date_added": "Fri Feb 22 10:33:04 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 01 08:14:02 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Nov 29 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7f63deefeec24f4f8afb3e0b522057ed", "book_id": "1", "review_id": "0dcc78368eb47eb4f04bc78ae59fd84f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "dY~dY~dY~dY~dY~ \n The best of all the seven books", "date_added": "Wed Feb 20 05:00:53 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 23 21:14:24 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jul 24 02:45:53 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "80a0059b01f514c7eb97b3b447566a25", "book_id": "11206146", "review_id": "ced4f611b470ae43c62191dd9383b761", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Technically this is not my views on Breaking Dawn solely, but the whole Twilight Saga. I did things in reverse. I watched the first Twilight movie before I read the book. When I decided to give it a try, I fell in love with twilight. I was amazed how caught up in it I was. You can say what you will about Stephenie Meyer, she does know how to trap an audience, even a reluctant one. The movie, as usual didn't do it justice. I guess I became an undercover \"Twi-hard\" fan, and was drawn to the Edward and Bella love story. I bought the New Moon and Eclipse books shortly after, but they sat on my bookshelf for three years. \n After I watching New Moon, I was even more reluctant to read the book. I found Bella insufferable and very insecure. Anyways I don't know if its because the final of the movie series is out soon or what, but I became interested in reading to see how it all ends. So I can agree with many readers who find Meyer annoying, but feel pulled to follow through just to see how she wraps it up. I read New Moon, I gave it three stars, but it was truly my least favourite of the saga. Bella really grated my nerves, especially with the platform she puts Edward on. I think in the first novel he more than proved that he was intensely in love with her. So I was amazed that she let him and the relationship go so quickly. If it were me I guess I would have fought for the man I loved. I guess Meyer was counting on us relating to the depths of Bella's low self-esteem. Thankfully she blossoms in the end in Breaking Dawn. So I struggled through New Moon, until Alice returned and thus indicating Edward's subsequent return. \n As an unashamed Vampire-lore fan, I guess it didn't take much for me to be pro-Edward. Meyer, herself points you in that direction by how she developed the characters Edward and Jacob. This was evident in Eclipse, even though Jacob was created as another option for Bella. Jacob never stood a chance. As deadly as Edward was, he was safe, secure, what we call \"a good youth\". Honourable, who would do anything for Bella. Sometimes the lengths he went bordered on insanity, especially in Breaking Dawn when he made that wager with Jacob. Then again whoever said that love and sanity went together. Jacob was portrayed as immature, volatile but determined and equally as passionate. However, Meyer made him out as obnoxious and arrogant at times, and it is sad that according to shape-shifting lore he'll never really mature. That shape-shifting revelation in Breaking Dawn was really something. Two books later we find out that Jacob's actually a shape-shifter not a werewolf. \n I felt tortured - really irritated throughout Eclipse by Bella's blatant selfishness and \"wanting her cake and eating it too\". When Bella chooses Edward, despite the Jacob distraction, no one is really surprised. I couldn't understand Bella's her reluctance to marry Edward in Eclipse. If she was so committed to Edward that she wanted to become a vampire - marriage seemed an \"easy do\". I get the issues - the breakdown of her parent's marriage - but that was their marriage, not her future. It was like she was afraid to commit. So we finally get to Breaking Dawn. Commencing with her apparent reluctance to tell her parents about her engagement and how nervous she was walking down the aisle etc. She seemed so unsure, it just didn't fit with the intensity of their supposed love. \n Also the style of Breaking Dawn differs from the other books. The first three books were narrated by Bella. Now in this volume there's a section on Bella, Jacob and Bella again. So what about Edward? Doesn't he get a voice? Or is it that Bella and Edward are one unit, that narration from his perspective is not necessary? \n What amazes me is how easily she got over the Jacob issue. She cried openly for one night in Eclipse, versus the seven months of pining over Edward as seen in New Moon. There were no near death experiments - no hallucinations. It was a matter of who \"she could live without\". You're kidding right!. Not only did Bella get over Jacob in a snap, but so did Jacob. When she died, the love was gone. He left Edward alone whilst Edward tried to salvage her. So I wasn't so convinced about the Edward-Bella-Jacob love triangle. I guess people want a happy ending to the fairy tale. So the imprinting gene was developed as a means for Jacob to get some happiness. But imprinting on Bella's baby - that's disturbing in so many ways. Couldn't he have imprinted on Leah, the lonely she-wolf? \n In Breaking Dawn we get introduced to a host of Vampire characters from across the world, many with \"talents\". By then it started to get too complicated. I mean as if the usual vampire-human-werewolf/shape shifter was bad enough, now we have to deal with the birth of Renesmee, a vampire-human hybrid. I felt like I was trying to keep up - but I couldn't help it I had to finish. \n In the end Bella gets all her wishes - her family and all her loved ones in tact. I however, am left with more questions. After four books, we don't know about Esme, Emmet, and Alice's life before their transition. I know they are secondary characters but it would have been interesting, especially Alice as she was an integral character. \n I can't deny Stephenie Meyer held me throughout the saga. I was relieved despite my issues with the heroine. I enjoyed Breaking Dawn more than the last two books. Hey plus my guy gets the girl in the end.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 26 12:37:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 06 23:11:33 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Oct 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "80a0059b01f514c7eb97b3b447566a25", "book_id": "691862", "review_id": "7e8556ad87ed21fe2e93177aa67d6d10", "rating": 5, "review_text": "As a child, I read another edition of the Arabian Nights, however I don't think I really appreciated it until now. Maybe it was the selection of the tales, however this time I really enjoyed the adventures. Many of the tales were humorous, in particular Sinbad's various exploits. The stories had the lure of the ancient worlds of Bagdad, Persia and China with lots of mystique and magic tied with a morale to be learnt at the end. They are not \"fairy tales\" as they don't always have happy endings, but definitely \"just\" endings. It is marketed as a children's fiction, but I don't know how appropriate that maybe as they are so many incidences of beheading, and maneating etc. My favourite tales were \"the Story of the Envious Man and of Him who was Envied\", \"the Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor\" (all of them), \"The Little Hunchback\" and \"the Story of Ali Cogia, Merchant of Bagdad\". All in all lots of fun and adventure.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 10 21:15:36 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 13 07:06:15 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8b5b85f0fc2c1873e5a7d8c09905c06f", "book_id": "22521286", "review_id": "7d5c4d0a6b7f162cbbcd31cc1f320404", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Fun read \n Not Harry Potter, but for a low price Kindle read I'd consider reading the other two. Nice story line but the writing is lacking.", "date_added": "Fri May 05 17:16:52 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 13 07:02:13 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "87327e5454fe57c6b3bc82a9490bf130", "book_id": "25344096", "review_id": "277ea1d5e259bb85ab58ce202ca9842a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very creepy! \n Very creepy and very descriptive. Made me feel like I was in the story. Very good book. I definitely recommend!", "date_added": "Sun Oct 09 20:21:33 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 10 19:59:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Oct 10 19:57:38 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Oct 09 20:21:33 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "87327e5454fe57c6b3bc82a9490bf130", "book_id": "17722", "review_id": "c8d245754b92fa43732cfb14d6cdd7c3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm about ready to rip my eyes out.....this makes no damn sense!! \n EDIT: \n I think I'll have to read this again when I'm in a better headspace......tenative rating 3.5 stars", "date_added": "Sat Aug 20 18:31:06 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 01 16:59:45 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Dec 12 09:09:12 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "87327e5454fe57c6b3bc82a9490bf130", "book_id": "7171637", "review_id": "31eb21f08772e6255240fbc289050449", "rating": 5, "review_text": "There were definitely a lot of twists in the story. Definitely unexpected ones. I can't wait to read the rest of the series! Don't want to say too much for fear of spoiling it for ya'll.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 04 20:20:59 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 22 18:30:53 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "87327e5454fe57c6b3bc82a9490bf130", "book_id": "20342545", "review_id": "1abd1ff13e34c928ca3c0e6f6cde3d5a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was abso-freakin-lutely amazing!!!!! The action was on point, the world building was excellent and I need the next book RIGHT NOW!!!!!!! \n I can't really say anymore because I would run the risk of spoiling it! \n PS: David really needs to work on the metaphors LOL", "date_added": "Sat Jan 16 10:59:12 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 26 11:26:37 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Feb 17 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "87327e5454fe57c6b3bc82a9490bf130", "book_id": "8621462", "review_id": "3bd0947f6143d283ed2db76596cbfd18", "rating": 4, "review_text": "From page 187 on just shattered me.....that's all I'm gonna say about it.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 10 18:05:15 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 09 09:39:49 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "87327e5454fe57c6b3bc82a9490bf130", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "f2a65b6f4795d3eb44d06b5b4c2503bf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Very interesting take on Cinderella. I really enjoyed the futuristic aspects of the book. Also, the world building and character development were on point, IMHO. Don't know why it took me so long to read this book.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 07 10:08:52 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 16 19:32:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Feb 14 06:00:49 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "87327e5454fe57c6b3bc82a9490bf130", "book_id": "18367581", "review_id": "b0cf77a2e068f9f4d3ce06bcf649329e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I thought the book was okay. It seems a little too unrealistic and too easy for Darcy to automatically just be published like that. There were moments where I just wanted to slap Darcy for being so......Darcy. Something about her just bugs the crap out of me. I don't know what it is but I didn't like her. I enjoyed Lizzie's story much more than Darcy's. \n I feel as though that this story could have been more developed character wise but it was an interesting premise. \n I'm not saying this is a bad book, I guess it just wasn't for me.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 03 17:24:20 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 10 04:11:29 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Mar 10 04:11:29 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Feb 29 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "87327e5454fe57c6b3bc82a9490bf130", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "8784c5fcbde98ff1b3f81deb31469297", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I absolutely LOVED this book! I can't wait to get the next two!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 29 16:04:57 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 10 13:53:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 15 21:27:16 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "87327e5454fe57c6b3bc82a9490bf130", "book_id": "35729", "review_id": "6a43d3cdc8ebaa846c1dcc7db1cd1d4c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Keeps getting better and better!", "date_added": "Wed Sep 12 18:55:38 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 29 09:46:38 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Sep 29 09:46:38 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "87327e5454fe57c6b3bc82a9490bf130", "book_id": "42899", "review_id": "65b8c63dbec1318dea71861894943962", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Loved this book and can't wait to read the rest of the series!!", "date_added": "Sun Sep 02 08:54:50 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 12 18:43:22 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "23766634", "review_id": "32a3569b83a1ae5eaabadac6364a72ee", "rating": 3, "review_text": "(Leaning towards a 2.5) \n Ugh, I hate how disappointed i was by this book. \n While the story kept me entertained enough to keep reading, i felt absolutely nothing for the characters that in the past books i loved & cried for. Everything fell flat for me. \n I'm hoping for the next story arch, it will get better again but I was pretty unhappy with how this book went.", "date_added": "Thu May 04 20:08:55 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon May 08 14:20:06 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon May 08 14:20:06 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "23264671", "review_id": "f3828a21dffcdafd6c41f2d2d6bad73d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I wanted to write a really nice and detailed review because I've been dying for this book all year but in all honesty all I can say is holy fuck i'm SHOOK", "date_added": "Tue Feb 28 15:02:09 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 02 07:28:08 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Oct 02 07:28:08 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "25174874", "review_id": "49424d8f93c2bf05cbb2ff780a4eb65c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Officially have joined my list of Favorite series. Everything about this series was unique, and original. I absolutely loved the main cast (and side characters) along with all the exciting creatures!", "date_added": "Mon Feb 13 14:36:53 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 16 10:17:43 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Feb 16 11:43:52 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "25526296", "review_id": "09dba3af8304b80d326a16e838c09776", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5/4.75 \n What a lovely piece of magic. \n Though I wish the story was longer, i fell completely in love with the characters and story written here. It was an amazing concept that i think was executed really well. I think if the story was just slightly longer it would have been a full five stars but wow, this was so wonderful to read!", "date_added": "Fri Feb 03 20:37:39 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 15 21:02:31 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "21480854", "review_id": "0d33920da4831623323f320a1ffe5e3f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.75 \n Sooo so good!", "date_added": "Fri Feb 03 05:34:34 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 13 14:35:31 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Feb 13 14:35:31 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "22246897", "review_id": "69e4c056bebc41dce64eb7d671a5369f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "For some reason this one was hard to follow along because I couldn't really tell what was happening in the art. Hopefully will be back on track for the next one!", "date_added": "Sat Jan 28 07:47:09 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 07 19:51:03 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "22544764", "review_id": "4d0a8a6c46b37dbfcdf39f999e1cdf0f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I found the beginning a little hard to get into, but once it started to flow for me i loved it.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 18 11:35:12 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 28 14:18:17 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Mar 28 14:26:02 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Mar 20 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "17236366", "review_id": "a4044f63721ebc7f7ef575a866e0db5b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "More of a 4.5 but thats purely because i'm a giant baby who got scared at one point and had to put the book down. Besides that it was great!", "date_added": "Wed Jan 11 11:24:36 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 03 05:34:15 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Feb 03 05:44:55 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "30312891", "review_id": "2ced18e69ccaf3a4fbfe7bd68fb14c63", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 \n Ouch my heart.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 04 12:05:41 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 21 18:16:10 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "26116636", "review_id": "de29e3f707548c00d3a37db6a520fc6a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5", "date_added": "Tue Dec 20 21:12:46 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 29 03:00:59 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "22299763", "review_id": "ce1617bc04cadd02fecd91f78c1a7ecc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 \n This was SOOOOOOOO good!! And such a great end to the story (though a part of me will always want more about this cast of characters)! \n It was almost a perfect 5 but i found that unlike the first book where i fell into the story immediately, i found the beginning a little slow and hard to get into. But boy oh boy, when it picked up the pace I did not want to put this book down. \n Please believe the hype and read this duology! It IS as great as everyone says.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 13 17:27:13 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 28 18:52:37 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "23207027", "review_id": "1fed85faba0d71328e7185427a50b685", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 \n It did take a while for me to get invested in the story but once i was, i was dying to know what was going to happen. I hope Joseph leaves the world forever!!! And also, the ending holy moly. I need the next book.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 26 12:25:30 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 03 18:14:38 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "13638125", "review_id": "59d3f02428a3805eed84ff22103c2203", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh my goodness, this was a MASTERPIECE. I am truly so angry at myself for putting this off and not reading it sooner. Vicious took my breath away and I cared SO deeply for our three main anti-heroes. I have nothing but positive things to say about this amazing story and I would urge anyone to read this book ASAP! Definitely on my list of all time favorite reads.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 25 17:28:54 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 19 01:31:22 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jan 19 05:20:04 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jan 07 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "18243700", "review_id": "843ac278576ae3f6b4be0a96fafceb41", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5", "date_added": "Fri Sep 16 16:57:04 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 27 17:22:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "28260587", "review_id": "bb794d470679466baf898c87285b6b82", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 \n Holy SHIT! What a gods-damned cliff hanger. \n Can't wait to see what happens next!", "date_added": "Sat Sep 10 23:39:58 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 22:34:45 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Oct 03 04:25:52 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "21787", "review_id": "699eeb75e28c704ad9e5d8caa6f48288", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 \n The story itself I truly love, and i've been obsessed with the movie since very young (which i'd always give a 5 out of 5 stars) but the authors commentary became too much and ended up taking away from the story for me. At first the commentary was funny and interesting and then it was just too much. \n I think if i had just the story itself without the essays from the author, i would have loved it a lot more. \n Still a wonderful story, still a story close to my heart.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 28 12:20:36 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:31:33 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "29966062", "review_id": "9b7f369e6febdd022480ddebfdbde320", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 \n I did enjoy the first few books in the series a bit more but I was very satisfied with the ending and so glad i stumbled across this series! \n It was definitely a great read through out.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 13 11:13:52 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 20 11:24:24 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jul 20 12:51:33 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "29845906", "review_id": "ac5f62632d20a744c6fb698a6c06cf95", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Absolutely amazing. \n This book was perfect on every page, and i am DYING for the next one. \n 100% in my top favorite books!", "date_added": "Tue Jul 12 15:01:18 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 19 20:55:39 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Sep 19 20:55:38 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "29332599", "review_id": "ca3a869ebc23dac412b5bb2bc5c01d48", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked the 1st book well enough, but the 2nd book definitely was better by leaps and bounds.This sequel definitely kept my attention through out and made me excited for the next book! \n Great read.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 13 09:43:33 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 28 11:31:23 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jul 28 11:31:23 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "23127048", "review_id": "ba76cd9c8bbe67987b677e8dd3fb001b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I wish I could give this a 4.5 stars. This book was wonderful! I can't wait to read the rest of the series.", "date_added": "Fri May 27 21:54:21 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 02 21:12:53 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jun 03 21:12:53 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "16096824", "review_id": "2e47edf1e4247045bd610c2e2b0eda4b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5!", "date_added": "Thu Nov 26 22:30:55 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 29 10:56:18 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "22698568", "review_id": "f7c3b3917063894bb4238567a26d83cf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I really enjoyed this sequel, it definitely left me wanting to know more. I admit sometimes i would get confused because of the two stories intertwined but i enjoy it a lot. Kelsea is an extremely relatable character. I've struggled with self harm for 10 years, and i related to her and wished i could be there for her many times. It saddened me to see her become so hard near the middle but i can't wait for the last book.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 11 21:41:28 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 23 18:58:01 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "18712886", "review_id": "eb1f87219a0c6345e83f0d8d733f51a7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was given low ratings so i almost didn't read it... But i'm extremely happy i did. I loved that this book was based on a very relatable woman. She not only was strong but she had her faults, she admitted when she was scared, she cried, and worried but she was a great example. I also loved that she loved reading, with mentions of harry potter and lotr. I definitely would put this in a list of favorite books.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 11 21:41:17 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 19 21:56:57 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jun 20 21:56:57 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "4407", "review_id": "9872c91ed5aae3514ac1934203a95d5c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I know so many people who love this book, but it just wasn't for me. There was just too much going on that i found it hard to focus on the story itself.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 17 21:15:07 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 08 19:35:07 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "10836728", "review_id": "6ef70d2e854eba89f031305793503665", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I've now had the pleasure of being able to read this book two times (Once originally about a year ago, and again to refresh before reading the sequel) and boy oh boy was it wonderful both times. A year after reading it, I remembered that I truly enjoyed it the first time and the basic premise of the plot but I found that I had completely forgot anything beyond those two things so this was an exciting opportunity to re-experience a book...as if for the first time. From the politics, to the incredibly unique powers shown throughout the book, to the personality of the characters, I loved it all. I would definitely recommend The Rook and I'm excited to now dive into Stiletto!", "date_added": "Wed Jan 14 16:36:40 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 09 11:08:37 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 09 12:07:50 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "10468701", "review_id": "d4c21e313ec9da16f068720eb627b7ca", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I feel like it wasn't an ending. It says this is the last book but i felt a lot was left up in the air. I can only hope there will be more so all loose ends can be tied up.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 14 16:29:51 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 12 01:15:44 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Feb 12 01:15:44 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "6261522", "review_id": "c2ae2d8093a22e814ec5cafa202cccc8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was cute. Sounds weird for a book about a girl who can find those murdered. It did have quite a few \"teen book\" cliches but i definitely liked the characters. The actual idea of her echoes is so awesome and i think could have been executed a little better but i did enjoy it a lot.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 14 16:29:49 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 31 20:23:13 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1afe8b35c5e568e95bc17e5b5cdbfd1b", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "9fdd68674c85fb473bcf699fb5af1c99", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really liked this book and I look forward to reading the sequel. I admit the pictures did freak me out though.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 14 16:25:14 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 14 16:25:57 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03b6d2ef3d6a4adbb7cb8908030ab798", "book_id": "112755", "review_id": "922018811d6f8862862425731f056650", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I like the series enough to read all of it, but frankly, these books tend towards too much introspective-what-iffyness-worrying-guessing-hoping-re-evaluating internal dialogue at the expense of plot development. That is apparently becoming a pet peeve of mine. So many questions that could have been answered that I thought were integral to the story, left out for what after a while just becomes \"blah blah blah\" in my head, as I skim pages, which I really didn't want to do. The story line was great, and internal dialogue has its place. In my opinion it's better in smaller doses. Chloe could have exhibited much more of her talent, and instead the most we see is her sitting in a dusty heap reading for hours over something she has trouble understanding while Daegus wants nothing but to shag her brains out every time he looks at her. Her talent was reduced to little air time and I thought it was not very fair to her character. \n On another note, I am not ashamed to admit how easily I can fall for a Scottish brogue wearing long black hair, a kilt and an iron chest. I spend days telling my dog to \"get his little arse off the couch, we're going fer a wee walk ya little hound dog bastard\" and my husband (who is a McFarlane) to \"Haud yer Wheest and take me to bed ya lovely piece of Scottish ass, man, how many times do I have to fluff my breasts for ya?\" :)", "date_added": "Tue Nov 13 17:36:12 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 14 10:55:03 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03b6d2ef3d6a4adbb7cb8908030ab798", "book_id": "6261189", "review_id": "2758b95c419d1cd74bf0307e6a218c04", "rating": 4, "review_text": "An undeniably poignant ending. I like authors that push my limits. I wasn't initially comfortable with the 'voice' I think you call it, of some characters. Then I started to feel a Cajun or Jamaican kind of rhythm to their speech and it was quite musical after a while. I also felt uncomfortable with the idea of 'certainty' around the ghost / soul destination, as if the living had control over the dead and where they end up, but it lent a tension throughout the story that kept me reading. Eventually I was caught up in the story and the relationship between Chess and Terrible, and Lex. The romance tension. I have to say I am interested enough to read the next in this series. I am a 'happy ending' reader, and I think this author has me reeled in for the next book. With 'Game of Thrones' I gave up for the unrelenting disappointment after the fourth book, I don't wish to find this here.....", "date_added": "Fri Oct 19 11:15:23 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 23 05:34:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jun 23 05:34:39 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03b6d2ef3d6a4adbb7cb8908030ab798", "book_id": "1830755", "review_id": "f0b70778e39910998a81ab27c44c8c28", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really love this series but I agreed with several other reviews about the plot being a bit sacrificed for the too-repetitive inner dialogue. Clay and Tally could both have been a bit more complex characters. It doesn't work after a while to constantly wallow in the you-love-me-you-love-me-not-ishness. I wouldn't have minded a bit more time spent on the other now loved characters Lucas/Sascha, Vaugh/Faith, Judd/Brenna, she does it so well in Guild Hunter. That's evolution for you! I'm an artist of sorts and my new work is usually an improvement over my older work. So while this wasn't my favorite it's still at the top of my reads.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 16 11:42:22 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 18 10:36:55 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03b6d2ef3d6a4adbb7cb8908030ab798", "book_id": "9738483", "review_id": "b148c87895ca42aecac8f2421e6a6886", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have been waiting to find an author that equals or exceeds J.R. Ward and Black Dagger Brotherhood. Nalini Singh sure does it for me. BDB is so frickin' fun to read, but Nalini Singh is more complex while just as much kick-ass fun entertainment. Guild Hunter plots are definitely not secondary to the romance which suits me just fine.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 13 11:30:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 14 16:57:44 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03b6d2ef3d6a4adbb7cb8908030ab798", "book_id": "12042279", "review_id": "ef98d1dd31e91c84db1a8641b47a84a7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Sometimes I wonder if it's smart to devour books 1 through 10 in a series. I wasn't certain if I was becoming numb to (or bored with) the author's voice or not. The last two of this series I just started skimming whenever the waaaaaaayy too often 4 page what iffyness of some tiny plot development started. One sentence of plot development followed by \"gosh I remember when I was ten and I lead with my right foot. It just wasn't pretty. And my mom was there, and she was wearing her favorite red button-down...\" pages and pages of it, I think maybe I just overindulged in too much chocolate cake and I needed to take a break and get a cup of coffee. Thing was, when the plot was actually moving along, it was really good. I sure didn't feel that way when I started.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 29 07:52:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 01 20:50:56 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03b6d2ef3d6a4adbb7cb8908030ab798", "book_id": "3373198", "review_id": "c2a12415013fee6a3209888089ee543a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Well oops I skipped midnight rising and didn't realize it. This series just gets better so far. Veil of Midnight is my favorite. I prefer a bit hotter sex scenes but that's my spoiled rotten self demanding more more more. Yeah, baby.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 23 11:37:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 23 11:43:13 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03b6d2ef3d6a4adbb7cb8908030ab798", "book_id": "704043", "review_id": "b5487be676b987d2305a94b778e358ec", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I've read reviews comparing this author's series to J.R. Ward and her Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Some called it a 'rip off'. I didn't take it that way at all. Like a piece of music, a variation on a theme, or 'imitation is the sincerest form of flattery', if Adrian was indeed trying to imitate BDB, I see the skill level needed to successfully rise up to the quality bar many J.R. Ward fans have a hard time finding. At least I have been looking for a while for another paranormal romance author of the same caliber, and even though I didn't expect the first book in the series to impress me, it did. There was no tiny bad-ass evil editor sitting on my shoulder complaining as I read \"that was just lame\", \"Oh my god what happened to proof reading\", \"here we go again with the endless internal dialogue I'm getting bored now\" etc., I just settled in and happily flew through the book. Well done Lara Adrian.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 19 10:56:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 19 11:07:22 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03b6d2ef3d6a4adbb7cb8908030ab798", "book_id": "2679633", "review_id": "b1b30db3a38173b1b148b84d620d708b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not bad. Not bad at all. Hard act to follow my favorite Black Dagger Brotherhood series, but for the first book in a series I'm totally willing to go to book number two. I appreciate so much the reviews that say 'if you like this book you might like this author'. That's how I chose to read the first book of Larissa Ione. I really love this website and am having so much fun being involved in Goodreads. I find myself having personal preferences to what an author decides a vampire/demon/human hybrid abilities are, all depending on what an author decides. Like 'hey shouldn't six pack hunk vampire so-and-so have mind reading abilities crap this sucks! Silly me. But hey I'm riding with the story whatever. Just goes to show a human can be relentlessly demanding in finding the perfect fantasy fix, and be incorrigible when the fantasy doesn't fit. Just. Frickin. Right. Spoiled we are eh? Grateful for the grand selections I am...hehe.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 28 16:59:30 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 11 15:20:37 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Aug 11 15:20:37 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03b6d2ef3d6a4adbb7cb8908030ab798", "book_id": "6871617", "review_id": "e77b6efd2c6cf66730bc00a7fd448293", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Love the series but got a bit disappointed with the reiterations of the previous storyline in this one. The majority of fans don't need the recaps of the story, and I felt this book went overboard to the point that it felt like filler, not story. As a reader who buys the next book immediately after reading the prior book, it actually feels like a commercial or a soap opera recap. Takes you out of the story like bad spelling (editing) if you know what I mean... Considering the small percentage of people who might just happen to jump into book number (x) not knowing there are several books preceding the series (which is kinda silly if you have any knowledge of series books) it seems such a waste of a piece of art to devote recaps at the expense of the respect towards the fans who don't need it. Just sayin'. Love the books though, they are mostly absolutely awesome!", "date_added": "Thu Jul 19 23:10:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 11 15:20:54 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Aug 11 15:20:54 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03b6d2ef3d6a4adbb7cb8908030ab798", "book_id": "1421990", "review_id": "8ed3f8ab5546e6dee1f7bab19421e510", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Delightful! Wanted to boff Cat on the side of the head a couple times but then I knew more about Bones than she did. Wish I could remember the part that made me laugh so suddenly I would have spit coffee through my nose if I had been drinking it. I highlighted a bunch of places in this book-love that about Kindle. Cat reminds me a little of the character Laura Croft in Tomb Raider; agility, strength, fighting skill-knife throwing what a warrior!", "date_added": "Sat Jul 14 20:32:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 16 09:52:08 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03b6d2ef3d6a4adbb7cb8908030ab798", "book_id": "8434922", "review_id": "2d38d214e9db60a868ac6c98c96a2cfe", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Jane True was recommended by a fellow reader of True Blood. After getting discouraged by that series I thought what the heck and am delighted so far by this one. I really compliment the author for being able to recap in a way that doesn't drive series followers completely bonkers. Series are so popular now how can authors/publishers not realize that today's new reader can figure out read book 1 you wanker (sorry, just had to say it since I just learned it). Even Robin Hobb drove the recaps into the ground in Liveship Traders etc.. It's probably some industry standard but hey, change it. Like series books. Like series movies. Like tv series running for years. But not soap operas ew (same recap issue). I digress; I really like this series a lot and am jonesing to see Anyan and Jane onscreen for my viewing pleasure! Oh yeah, have I been introduced to British slang or what! How can something BE 'pants'. Love it.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 10:49:26 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 05 11:16:07 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jun 05 11:16:07 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7962023b853e88d52e9f257181273853", "book_id": "458960", "review_id": "89cbc0addc6dee933fa32c2a2d88f2a9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "what a good book true stories so interesting", "date_added": "Tue Jun 10 07:23:48 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 10 07:27:17 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7962023b853e88d52e9f257181273853", "book_id": "347901", "review_id": "f9d93d88bf914f08badfbcb259ce374e", "rating": 0, "review_text": "please if \\you locate this book sue let me know i love to read it and own it been looking for it for years it seems=l/ya's", "date_added": "Mon May 12 08:23:50 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon May 12 08:25:40 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7962023b853e88d52e9f257181273853", "book_id": "149267", "review_id": "ca5d21daa3a040a7efccaea4bfdb4b66", "rating": 5, "review_text": "READ AND REREAD SEEN THE MOVIE ALSO BUT THE BOOK IS ALWAYS BETTER=REREAD IT LAST WEEK AND SEEN THE MOVIE 6/28/08=READ THE BOOK 6TH OF/JUNE/08=25th \n must read all of his books he rocks", "date_added": "Fri Mar 21 10:14:32 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 22 13:19:53 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1980", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7962023b853e88d52e9f257181273853", "book_id": "864414", "review_id": "3d5105c7c792cda80389ef78a5d77790", "rating": 5, "review_text": "love to read about hauntings and etc! picks up book alot and rereads what i sometimes read over and over again \n theres always some short of super naturals out there \n i beleave in all", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 09:40:16 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 14 10:08:17 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon Jul 14 10:08:17 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7962023b853e88d52e9f257181273853", "book_id": "43615", "review_id": "9e1d9a4fa46bdbd940361cbd1b9123c3", "rating": 0, "review_text": "DANG HES ONE HOT MAN \n CANT WAIT 2 GET HIS OTHER BOOKS ON THE MARKET \n =JUST AFTER SUNSET,THE GUN SLINGER BORNAGAIN,THE LONG ROAD HOME. AND WHAT EVER HE MAY COME OUT WITH IS COOL WITH ME \n IF YOU EVER DECIDE TOO COME 2 A TOWN IN WESTERN NY KING! LETS US KNOW LOVE 2 MEET YA AND HAVE YOU SIGN ONE OF MY BOOKS \n THIS BOOK ROCKS AND THE REST THAT FOLLOW DO ALSO", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 07:20:52 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 10 08:14:14 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7962023b853e88d52e9f257181273853", "book_id": "5092", "review_id": "b13ba46ee76e42acd1c0ca8e5cadbb4f", "rating": 0, "review_text": "SO far so good but hard 2 get into as i seen the stand but its alot different but! its about the devil thats for sur \n THE SECOND WAS WAS GOOD BUT TAKING A BREAK FROM EM READING (A BODY FARM NOVEL BY JEFFERSON BASS =FLESH AND BONE THEN WE'LL READ THE THIRD ONE=STEPHEN KING BOOKS=THE TOWER SERIES \n SOMETIMES I NEED A BREAK FROM HIS BOOKS AS I CANT 2 SEEM TO GET IN TOO EM", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 07:17:40 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 23 14:46:32 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sun Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7962023b853e88d52e9f257181273853", "book_id": "108569", "review_id": "b4bc62ac47aeefcedacb5b20f390960a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "great stories a master of the macabre\"\"-stephen king", "date_added": "Tue Mar 18 10:40:57 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 18 10:44:22 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1999", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7962023b853e88d52e9f257181273853", "book_id": "228202", "review_id": "9482ea21e6ae972ffc8f95e7451bccef", "rating": 4, "review_text": "great book uncut and greatttt movie reads over@times", "date_added": "Tue Mar 18 09:02:52 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 18 09:05:40 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1990", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7962023b853e88d52e9f257181273853", "book_id": "5094", "review_id": "82846bef439db475eea4fb7c6f97e582", "rating": 4, "review_text": "great reading you know the king he holds no bar's taking a break from king now reading jefferson bass=flesh and bones", "date_added": "Tue Mar 18 08:25:13 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 26 06:26:09 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sat Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01608badf9aa27fa949176f75a10cdfc", "book_id": "17207718", "review_id": "5ea1e88bf4eb0f9138bef1c4940a9957", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sydney Hart is twenty years old and a police officer. She still lives in the small village she grew up in and although she had the reputation of being a hell raiser when growing up she is trying to make her father proud now especially since he is her boss! When Sydney meet local farmers son Michael Greyson she wonders if she hasn't made her biggest mistake but she is drawn to him and after sharing a moment of passion events happen in Sydney's life which spiral it out of control, leaving her wondering who she can trust and are the people closest to her really who she thought they were!! \n WOW !!! Well Tim O'Rourke has knocked my socks off again. He is one of the authors I will put a book on hold for....even if it's at a good bit!! This book has everything, engaging characters, gripping story line and amazing twists and turns that will leave you with your mouth open saying OMG really !!! This book is also a little different from Tim other works as it is aimed as the adult reader which he has done effortlessly!! This is supposed to be a stand alone book but I'm keeping fingers and toes crossed that Sydney gets another story :)", "date_added": "Tue Jan 29 09:12:57 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 01 11:07:14 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jan 29 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "01608badf9aa27fa949176f75a10cdfc", "book_id": "17236958", "review_id": "1d49a9edbabf252aeff4c95d7a4a7226", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is book 5 in the Vampire Erotic Theater Romance Series and I must admit that this is the first book that I have read in this series. I was worried that I may have had to read the others to get the story but this wasn't so, all it did was increase my interest and made me want to get to know the other characters who featured towards the end of the book. \n This book is Payne's book. He is part vampire and part incubus, his incubus side able to bend people to fulfill his sexual desires. Payne has never accepted his incubus side, constantly struggling to keeping it at bay and thinks of himself as a vampire first. Payne is of course tall, lean and stunningly handsome he radiates danger and has an intensity about him. Payne is in the underground town looking for a witch he has heard may be able to help his vampire friends. She may hold the answers to a binding spell that is keeping Chicca his friend Andreu's mate bound to the club Vampirerotique, he has heard there is a ring which can bind the person wearing it to another person therefore allowing Chicca to leave the club. Desperate to help his friends he will do whatever it takes to get the ring. \n Payne stumbles across and come to the rescue of Elissa a witch who is under attack. He soon comes to realize that her deceased sister is who he has been looking for. Elissa knows how to get Payne the ring and in return he has to help her recover something from the same person. They set off on a journey, were there is danger, personal truths uncovered and a burning, dangerous passion. \n The thing I love about Felicity's books is that it's like watching a movie I can see it all playing out in my head as I'm reading, so me her books are always perfect escapism!!! \n Payne, wow, what can i say. He is moody, dark, dangerous and tormented but he also has an emotional side and a sad back story to explain why he is the way he is. I loved Elissa, it's so nice to read a book where the leading lady is sure of herself, confident and kick ass. The chemistry between the two has H.O.T, especially the bedroom scenes, but it becomes more than that and you can see the closeness and intimacy develop between the two characters. \n I can't wait to go back and enjoy the rest of the series :)", "date_added": "Mon Jan 14 07:05:30 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 19 10:05:44 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jan 16 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01608badf9aa27fa949176f75a10cdfc", "book_id": "15834487", "review_id": "624de8a005450bde3237edd97ad6fc4f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Erin has been taken from her home in the middle of the night and dragged into the depths of hell by the orders of the devil himself. She is tired, weak and scarred wondering what will happen to her and what could the devil possibly want with her ?? Her sister Amelia has asked Veiron, a fallen dark angel, to go into hell and rescue Erin, which he does and finds an instant attraction to the damsel in distress. The story continues with the couple escaping hell and being reunited with the other angels. As the attraction between the two of them grows Erin and Veiron fall in love but with angels, demons and the devil himself on their trail will they get a happy ever after ?? \n I usually don't like the instant attraction story's as they can feel forced but I loved the connection between the two characters their chemistry was smokin hot and I thought the dialogue between them was funny, touching and real,Felicity did such a good job in finding a voice for these characters. Erin was a kick ass female lead which I loved, she wasn't afraid of a fight and didn't back down !! What can I say about Veiron *swoon* tough as nails on the outside but a soft center. He was wildly protective of Erin but would then say such poetic things to her to!! With every book I have changed my loyalty to my favorite angel but I have a feeling I have found my constant and it will take a lot to change this !! \n When I read the first book in this series I thought it was a good read that I really enjoyed, and as I have read each book they have got stronger and stronger. The characters all appearing in each others books is great as people who have their favorite angel get a treat. The story line about the game between heaven and hell is a refreshing take on a good verses evil ideal. For me this book was like watching a blockbuster movie, the smexy scenes we amazing (Jacuzzi anyone!!), the action scenes were fast paste, there were touches of humor, fantastic story line and the characters were amaze-balls !!", "date_added": "Tue Sep 18 03:34:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 28 16:11:40 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Sep 28 16:11:40 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01608badf9aa27fa949176f75a10cdfc", "book_id": "11953111", "review_id": "a2d2aeff2999c2b38ab92c36371ecb71", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amelia has unknowingly had a guardian angel watch over her since birth, usually watching from heaven Marcus has been sent to watch over her more closely and moves into the next door apartment to her. Marcus is an angel who believes in following his orders and in his duty but when heaven asks him to seduce Amelia and use her feelings to gain her trust Marcus starts to question the mission he has been given. With Amelia in danger from some demons out to attack her Marcus needs answers as to why someone or something would want to hurt the woman he is falling for. Marcus seeks out some of his angel friends for help to find these answers and to protect Amelia, but sometimes the answers we find are not the ones we want to hear !! \n For me this series has gotten stronger and stronger with each book, Amazon does say that these can be read as stand alone books but you get so much more by reading them in order. I love the way the author brings back the characters from other books and also introduces you to new ones without it feeling to full of character and a who's who. It was great to visit Apollyon, Lucas, Einar and there ladies again and to have them all working together was great. \n This book had everything for me, a hot leading man, strong leading lady, HOT bedroom scenes, plot twists, action and adventure and so much more !!!", "date_added": "Mon Sep 10 05:55:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 18 10:36:13 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01608badf9aa27fa949176f75a10cdfc", "book_id": "9723262", "review_id": "e0336894c8abcc6bd77cbbc792c805fd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Although Amazon says this book can be read as a stand alone book I think you would really miss out by not reading Her Dark Angel and Her Fallen Angel first as it really sets the story up. That being said you would still get the idea of what is happening in the story if you went straight to this one. \n Einar is one of Heaven's top hunters and has been sent to earth to track down three demons who are responsible for the deaths of humans and turning an angel to the dark side. When he tracks down one of the demons he is battling with a woman, Taylor, she is half demon half human. Einar intervenes and saves her life even though it will land him in trouble with heaven. The attraction between the two, although forbidden, is something they can no longer deny and soon act upon. \n The chemistry between the two leads was hot and I liked that the ending wasn't all fluffy but lead onto more adventure for the two of them. I think Her Fallen Angel still remains my favorite in this series but this was another fantastic edition !! :o)", "date_added": "Sat Sep 01 16:13:02 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 10 05:45:43 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Sep 10 05:45:43 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01608badf9aa27fa949176f75a10cdfc", "book_id": "15846228", "review_id": "6d2ddecf6a2871b321426b7eb1de29f7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Firstly I maybe a little bias as I LOVE this book series !!! For me it is one of the best and my favorite romantic/erotic vampire series. Each book in the series has been a 5* rating for me and never disappointed and this book was no different !! \n Quinn is known as the playboy of the Scanguard clan, enjoying his days to full and living a life of indulgence especially when it comes to women. But nobody knows his secret heartbreak, two hundred years ago his heart was broken by the love of his life his human wife Rose and he has never been able to forget her and believing her to be dead has never gotten over her. Still very much alive and a vampire herself Rose now needs Quinn's help as an evil vampire is threatening Rose and her and Quinn's only living descendant. \n I loved Quinn's reaction to seeing Rose again, he was happy she was alive but hurt that she hadn't come to him nearly two hundred years ago and also hurt that she kept their child from him. Seeing Rose realize there are vampires that live a civilized life and there was a different way live was a great way of seeing both sides of the story. I really enjoyed the way the book went from present day to two hundred years ago, showing how Quinn and Rose met and fell in love and how they were both turned. The way Tina includes all the other characters and we get to see little snippets of our favorite characters while not loosing sight of who the main leads of the story are always amazes me! This book also introduced us to Oliver a little more with some important life changing events happening for him. New comer Cain was also involved more getting us ready for when he has his own book (fingers crossed) and we also get to know a little more of Thomas's history!! \n These books always have everything I enjoy in a book, first class characters, great plot, romance, action, steamy hot bedroom scenes and they are always complete page turners that I cannot put down. \n My only bad point..... having to wait for the next book !! :o)", "date_added": "Thu Aug 30 07:54:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 01 15:12:50 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Sep 01 15:12:50 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "01608badf9aa27fa949176f75a10cdfc", "book_id": "9529833", "review_id": "0c00692ed7f3d9a7867e05b63a7b49c2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Lucas is a fallen angel who was banished to live on earth three years ago for a crime he didn't commit. In those three years he has tried, unsuccessfully, to prove his innocence and now had his wings stripped. In those three years he has fallen for Annelie a mortal, she is kind and beautiful and totally falling for Lucas to. \n One night after to much to drink Lucas and Annelie spend a night of passion together, and the next day she wakes to see Lucas has wings !! As he explains he is an angel and hopes this will not change her feelings towards him, Lucas is still desperate to clear his name and enlists the help of a fellow angel !! \n I loved this book !! It was a real step up from the first one which I enjoyed, I loved the chemistry between Lucas and Annelie and I also liked that it wasn't one of those, they meet in one chapter an are in love the next chapter. Lucas has been going to her bar every other night for three years so there felt as if there was a connection there !! This story had more of a plot line as it took on Lucas trying to clear his name for a crime he didn't commit so there were a few twists there. I loved that we got to see more of Apollyon and Serenity, I squealed at my Kindle when he arrived on the page, it just tied in so nicely!! \n For me this story had everything I enjoy in a book, action, romance, steamy bedroom scenes, good plot, handsome male lead and a HEA !! \n I will be continuing onto the next book :o)", "date_added": "Wed Aug 29 23:54:34 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 01 14:34:15 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01608badf9aa27fa949176f75a10cdfc", "book_id": "8848401", "review_id": "87b574aff9c88e5d5864a8afe8f7906e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm new to Felicity Heaton's writing and this for me was a great start to a book series !! \n Angel of Death Apollyon has been guardian to the bottomless pit of Hell for centuries, surrounded by darkness and watching earth waiting for his master to call him into service. Whist watching the earth he receives his call to service and descends to earth but the call hasn't come from his master, but from a female witch. \n Serenity has been dumped and left heart broken my her ex boyfriend Edward, using her magic she calls for an Angels help to exact revenge. When Apollyon appears and offers to help her the two join forces to make Edward jealous and feel the same loss and heartbreak she has felt. Straight away there is a connection, instant attraction and sexual tension between the two lead characters. The story is quite a simple one, and one I'm sure any girl can relate to, I could have done with an Apollyon myself on a couple of occasions. The lack of fast paced action or twisting story plot lines only made me enjoy the sexy budding connection between Apollyon and Serenity more. \n My only bad point was I got to 84% on my Kindle and it said the end !! I wanted more !! Instead we were given a sneak preview of the next book in the series which I had already bought, I can totally understand why authors do this but still the fact I wanted more is a good sign and I will defiantly be reading more in the series :o)", "date_added": "Sun Aug 26 14:04:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 29 05:48:00 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 29 05:48:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Aug 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01608badf9aa27fa949176f75a10cdfc", "book_id": "14739206", "review_id": "145307b0482f7fe6988f615dbb69aea0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book !! \n A Demon and His Witch tells the story of Ysabel who lives in the underworld as Lucifers assistant. She is an independent, straight talking girl who is more than happy to put Lucifer himself in his place!! She made a deal with the devil 500 years ago to be in his service if he would help her carry out vengeance on the people who had her burned at the stake!! With a clause in her contract and the people she despises escaped from prison she must return them to the prison or suffer burning at the steak again everyday at the same time until they are all returned. \n In walks Remy a half demon warrior and tracker to help. He is a good looking, vulgar, annoying ladies man. \n When these to meet the sparks fly and the chemistry soars. I loved the two leads the fast dialog between them was so well written it was as if they were bickering in front of you. I loved the writers vision of hell and the devil to, Lucifer nearly stole the show for me he was very funny!!! This is the first book I have read from this author but it certainly won't be the last :0)", "date_added": "Mon Aug 20 16:05:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 21 12:40:53 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Aug 21 12:40:53 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01608badf9aa27fa949176f75a10cdfc", "book_id": "15700058", "review_id": "23bb890defa6639d21adedc5ec8723b9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Samantha Carter wakes up lying in the dirt, looking up at a clear blue sky, dressed as a cowgirl but most importantly of all no idea how she got there!! One minute she was following a suspected vampire/murderer across Whitechapel in London and then her life has been turned on it head!! \n Samantha soon meets fellow vampire hunters The Preacher, Harry, Louise and Zoe and joins their crew who are hired by fellow Englishman Spencer Drake. He wants them to accompany him by steam train into the deadly vampire filled mountains to mine for gold. \n As you would expect from author Tim O'Rourke this book is a fast, action packed adventure, with twists and turns that keep you guessing to the end. This is billed as being Tim's first adult novel, and has a steamy adult relationship/attraction running through the book between some of the characters. Being a fan of Tim's other books The Kiera Hudson Series which is a YA read I must say I have never felt as if I was reading something which is aimed at a YA audience. \n I love that Tim writes such a strong female lead in his books and I especially loved Samantha and her band of vampire hunting cowboys/cowgirls. I think Tim writes characters which are so real I feel as if I know them or would be comfortable hanging out with them, not in the way that I know any vampire hunting cowgirls, but in the was Sam speaks and behaves Tim makes her and her voice so familiar! \n The book leaves you with a cliffhanger, not knowing what is coming next and I for one cannot wait for the next installment. Congratulations Mr O'Rourke on a new and fabulous book series :o)x", "date_added": "Thu Aug 02 00:00:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 13:01:12 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01608badf9aa27fa949176f75a10cdfc", "book_id": "13453301", "review_id": "8f280b23feddcace33bb7fa6572ea193", "rating": 5, "review_text": "O.M.G !! What a fab find and pinch from one of my Goodreads friends!! \n Leah Buchanan has a family reputation to uphold. For five centuries the females of her family have been in service to vampires as blood donating concubines. Leah has been summoned to take part in The Selection where she will be chosen by a vampire to carry on her families service. One of vampire society's most powerful Lucien has his sight set on Leah but little does she know he has been watching and waiting for her for twenty years. \n There was nothing I didn't like about this book, it has a bit of suspense, action and lots of passion!! I loved Leah she was full of personality, spirit and character. Lucien was hot, powerful and sexy and together they were amazing !! The story had a great ending leading it beautifully to the next book, which I personally cannot wait for!! \n Fave Quotes : \n \"my ass was my nemesis, it always had been. It was completely impervious to every diet known to man\" \n \"You seem in an immensely foul mood for someone who just came twice\" \n \"what's your last name........ Vampires don't have last names........ So your like Cher? Madonna? You're just Lucien ? \"", "date_added": "Fri Jul 27 11:06:59 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 02 14:56:35 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "01608badf9aa27fa949176f75a10cdfc", "book_id": "12406076", "review_id": "f90aa8078d4f3e5c8f13c1c3572dd7b7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I will start with an admission I lurve a bit of vampire erotica/romance, and I lurve a bad boy !! Zane was introduced to us readers in Amaury's Hellion, and as soon as I read about him I wanted to know more and get into his character and back story, this book doesn't disappoint on these fronts as it gives you plenty of both!! It's hard to write this review as there are a few surprises along the way that I wouldn't want to give away and spoil anyone's reading pleasure, so I have given a brief outline of the story and my thoughts. I will also give a guarantee, if you have read the other Scanguards books you are about to become a member of team Zane, and you will not be disappointed lol :o) \n The book gets straight into the action with Zane being a vigilante and brutally killing a rapist. When Samson hears of his actions Zane has his class A authorization revoked and is given a baby sitting job looking after 20yr old Portia, while the Scanguard boss decides what further action to take. \n Portia is a hybrid vamp with a problem, once she turns 21 her body will set in it's final vampire form and she will be forever a virgin. This is something she doesn't want as every time she has sex as a vampire it will be a painful experience. With her father leaving town on business Scanguards are called in by her overbearing father to protect her virginity, whilst Portia is determined to loose it. There is an instant attraction between Zane and Portia and the chemistry is HOT, they have a will they won't they thing going on !! There are lots of twists and turns for the coupe and when Portia goes missing the full Scanguard cast is there to help. I love how the rest of the cast of Scanguards are always included and still developing in each book we are also introduced to Zane's oldest friend Quinn and his new buddy little Z ;O) \n I was very nervous before reading this book, the similarities between Zane and Zsadist from the Black Dagger Brotherhood series are very strong and Lover Awakened is one of my all time favorite books, I was worried this would be to similar to that and I would be disappointed...... well I need not have worried !!! \n I absolutely loved this character, he is the bad boy of the pack and the other guys always jump to conclusions regarding his actions and his character and think the worst of him. He has kept his past a secret from his colleagues and he isn't really close to any of them. His back story was heart wrenching and so well written, you could totally understand how and why he has become the cold calculating killer he is now and even feel his loss and sympathize. \n My only criticism would be that I wanted more, I could have read double what was written I wanted to know more about Zane's back story. I would have like more time for the build up of the Zane and Portia relationship and then I wanted to spend more time with the couple!! This is more a compliment to the writer for creating such good characters that I want to spend more time with. \n Overall another great book in the series, I cannot praise this series enough and it always gets my 5* rating. Now looking forward to the next book which I believe is Quinn's story :O)", "date_added": "Wed Jul 11 05:16:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 18 09:07:15 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01608badf9aa27fa949176f75a10cdfc", "book_id": "9808500", "review_id": "b718b87231af5b44ff5b9a94fe948bc2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It's another five stars from me for Ms Tina Folsom. The thing I love about these books is that they don't take themselves to seriously, which for me make the books that more enjoyable. They have the right amount of action, adventure, suspense, HOT sex and humor. I love how the vampires are described as still living with flowing blood and heart beats, this makes much more sense to me instead of them being 'walking dead' as some authors describe them. I will say that I'm a big fan of JR Wards Black Dagger Brotherhood, but unlike those books Ms Folsom makes her books so much more light hearted and enjoyable, once a start a book I cannot put it down. After all how could you not chuckle at Samson and is erectile dysfunction or Amaury and his only way to cure his headaches is with sex!! Gabriel's 'problem' doesn't disappoint and to be honest I so want to blurt it out but you need to read and find out for yourself!! \n Gabriel is the vampire in charge of the New York division of Scanguards and still in town after helping rescue Nina in the last adventure. He is called to Samson's home to help a young woman Maya who has been attacked and turned against her will by a rouge vampire. Gabriel feels a lustful connection to Nina straight away, but has never known the love of a woman due his medical problem. Whilst trying to get help for himself from a local witch he is also trying to help Maya come to terms with her new life, her thirst for his blood and their attraction to each other. Maya is in danger not only does she have to come to terms with her new vampire life but the rogue is also out there stalking and waiting to claim her. You are also rewarded with appearances from the other Scanguard vamps, Yvette, Zane and Thomas. \n I will certainly carry on reading these fabulous books :o)", "date_added": "Wed Jul 11 04:26:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 11 04:56:20 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jul 11 04:56:20 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01608badf9aa27fa949176f75a10cdfc", "book_id": "12833235", "review_id": "205cc46a23b0254ef998821ca655c7a3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Mmmm not quite sure what to make of this book :0/ I felt as if I was only getting half a story and it just didn't flow well for me. \n The book tells the story of Raze who is a fallen angel turned vampire, he is also a bit of a tart!! He is sent to Chicago to follow a lead on something to do with some bad guy, to be honest I lost track of what it was. When there he meets Kim and in the 2 nights they spend together they fall in love ?!? \n As I have looked into it this is a novella from part of a collection of books, there is no HEA or closure at the end of this book as it is more a teaser for what will happen in the series, this left me disappointed !!! \n I downloaded this book as I really enjoyed 'Bared to You' by Sylvia Day but for me this comes no where near as good !! \n Don't think I will be carrying on with the series :0(", "date_added": "Wed Jul 04 09:56:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 05 14:56:26 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jul 05 14:56:26 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jul 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01608badf9aa27fa949176f75a10cdfc", "book_id": "8578248", "review_id": "57dfde7bbbe18dc8e6045b0009c08389", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"You know what happens to naughty girls?\".......... \n \"They end up with real bad boys.\" \n I'm so loving this series of books !! They have the right combination of action, drama, adventure and heat. And my the heat is hot hot hot !! \n We were first introduced to Amaury in Samson's Lovely Mortal, he is Samson's best friend and business partner and also a centuries old vampire. Amaury has a curse which is that he can feel the emotions of others this leaves him in permanent migraine like pain. The only way he can subside the pain is through sex !! \n When Amaury meets the very feisty and human Nina all this changes as just being around her stops his pain, has Amaury at last found a cure to his curse?? Not all is as it seems with Nina and while Amaury is trying to learn more about her, she is looking for the vampires she believes are responsible for her brothers death. Lots of passion and twists included and lots of new vampires for future books !!! \n I loved the two lead characters in this book they were both feisty and no nonsense !! Nina was a great match for Amaury, and they sizzled on the pages !! \n I have started highlighting my favorite lines as I read and with these books there's a couple in every chapter. \n \"Soon, his fangs would dig into her vain and he would drink from her, while he impaled her on his shaft\" \n \"She wasn't particularly pretty, except for her generous dick-sucking lips, but she was willing\" \n \"She kicked more ass than Jean-Claude Van Damme\" \n I could go on but I would be here all night, I love the way Tina writes and each book is a pleasure to read !!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 02 12:27:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 04 08:39:53 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jul 04 08:39:53 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 10}
{"user_id": "01608badf9aa27fa949176f75a10cdfc", "book_id": "8456776", "review_id": "369d9d9110db03aaf426987fb5755a9b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Samson is a man who seems to have it all, wealth and all it's trimmings, good looks and mortality as he is a vampire. Unfortunately for him there is one unwelcome thing he has which is a problem with his libido or lack of it. That is until the lovely Delilah comes crashing into his life and reignites his passion. \n When a book opens with the line \"let me suck your cock\" you know your in for a hot ride through the pages !! \n I saw this in a friends to read list and it had such good reviews I had to give it a try, and my was I pleased I did !! This book has everything the story is uncomplicated but stays exciting and enjoyable. The characters are great to, from the leads of Samson and Delilah to Samson's best friend and fellow vamp Amaury. I loved the interaction between the vampire buddies and also between Samson and his shrink. The sex scenes were plenty and H.O.T !!!! \n This is a great example of what erotic paranormal romance should be like and I will defiantly be checking out other works by Tina Folsom !!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 27 03:24:51 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 28 14:25:46 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jun 28 14:25:46 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "01608badf9aa27fa949176f75a10cdfc", "book_id": "7046495", "review_id": "c62a46658f2ebdc08d142e3f1e0ee97a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** SPOILER ALERT ** \n I only started reading The Black Dagger Brotherhood a couple of months ago and fell in love with the brothers straight away !! \n Lover Mine finally focuses on John Matthew and Xhex. At the end of Lover Avenged we were left with Xhex being kidnapped by Lash and John being a bit of an ass-hat !! Lover Mine starts straight after the gang rescued Rehvenge and Xhex was taken. The chemistry has been building up between John and Xhex for the last couple of books and we know he is in love with her and although separately they know their own feelings they have not confirmed them to each other. With his love taken John is on the hunt for Lash and living in hope that Xhex is still alive. Meanwhile Xhex is in a living hell being held captive by Lash. I loved the connection that these two characters had, because it has been simmering over the last couple of books it seemed really real and natural to me, and the love scenes were HOT!! The other brothers were not left out either and all made an appearance, and Lash makes a great bad guy !! John also reconnected with Tohr and we were finally given the confirmation that John Matthew is in fact the reincarnation of Darius. We are taken back in flash back scenes to how the two brother Tohr and Darius meet which in a twist involves Xhex !! \n I loved the build up in the book for Quinn and Blay and will be very excited to see there story n book 11 !! \n I thoroughly loved reading this book and for me its back to the great form that was the first four books !! \n The only complaint I would have is that the last couple of chapters were a little rushed and I didn't enjoy the sences with the film crew at the B&B but neither of those things spoiled my enjoyment of the book :o)", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 11:02:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 28 15:06:57 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01608badf9aa27fa949176f75a10cdfc", "book_id": "1240662", "review_id": "6a1c5b8f77e81ff6858228ad27882608", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Wow were to begin !! \n This is Phury's book or was it ??? There is so much going on in this book at times I got a little confused, and had to read back the last paragraph I had just read. I didn't care much for Phury through most of this book to be honest, I found him quite week and annoying just like his chosen Cormia !! There will they wont they consummate their love had an irritating effect on me and I just found myself saying to the kindle \"god man have sex with her already !!\" The voice in Phury's head 'The Wizard' was something else which didn't sit right and I don't admit to this often, but I skim read those paragraphs. The shellans all seem to be cut from the same cloth,skinny beautiful girls, who are shy insecure ladies. I would love to see a confident curvy girl get in with the brothers, maybe she could be called Louise!! (mind wanders *sigh*) For me the thing gave the book the four star rating was the events going on around them. John, Quin and Blay were written beautifully, Lash's evolution is something I'm looking forward to reading about, at last we may have gotten rid of the awful same description of the lessers and have a bad guy the brothers can sink their teeth into !! \n I really did struggle to get into this book it wasn't until I was a good 3rd of the way through that I started to enjoy it and I think the only reason I didn't skip this book was because as Phury's twin, I knew I would get my Zsadist fix ;o) \n There are some lovely moments in the book which made me well up. (but if anyone asks, I'm claiming hay fever) And it also left you wanting more and brought new characters and to the forefront, and the return of others. Looking forward to learning more about Xhex and Lassiter !! And by the end although I feel their ending seemed rushed I quite liked Phury and Cormia.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 11:02:32 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 19 01:54:41 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jun 19 01:54:41 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "01608badf9aa27fa949176f75a10cdfc", "book_id": "5098079", "review_id": "14fe375f3d418d6b7a958aa1dfd1fa3e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Thank goodness we seem to be back on form !! \n This book focuses on Rehvenge who is a half breed, half vampire half sympath. This character has been on the fringes of the other books and to be honest I wasn't sure if I would like him. He is the owner of Zerosum one of the brothers favorite hangouts, and as the owner he is involved in all the dodgy dealings of drugs, prostitution and gambling. I must say I was so pleasantly surprised by this character, and by the end of the book thought the guy was a great addition to the cast of characters! \n Rehvenge meets and falls in loves with the kind and caring Ehlena after she treats him whilst working at the vampire clinic. There romance is a sweet one which I thought developed really nicely over the book, I especially thought there phone calls were really cute, the no you hang up moments showed the relationship develop nicely. \n This book also focuses on the relationship between Wrath and Beth, and Wrath's relationship with his failing sight. I thought it was nice to revisit this all important couple as they have stayed in the background of the other books. \n At last we seem to have a bad guy worth hating in the form of Lash, I still found the surrounding lessers to be a bit annoying but bearable. I hope the plan is to make him bigger and badder !! \n As JR Ward crams even more great characters into the book I start to find that this makes them to full of story. (sorry cant think of a better way to put it) Instead of keeping to the plot line detailed in the blurb there are many more strains of story throughout the book you also have the developing attraction between John and Xhex and Thor readjusting to life back at the brotherhood mansion just to name a couple. Its as if she can see where the story is going and wants to cram it all into the one book, which for me is sometimes story overload!! \n Overall I really enjoyed the read. For me nothing so far has beaten Lover Awakened but this seems to be back on form after the slump that was Lover Unbound and Lover Enshrined, just my opinion. \n Towards the end I was all excited to see what happened and the cliffhanger you were left with had me downloading the next book to my Kindle straight away. The next book focuses on John Matthew and Xhex so I can't wait :o)", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 10:58:23 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 25 04:22:50 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jun 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01608badf9aa27fa949176f75a10cdfc", "book_id": "5153799", "review_id": "ca143283cceed0b81f63999b8d66e085", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Lurved this novella !!! Zsadist is my favorite brother from the series and getting this little extra was a joy. Father Mine follows Zsadist's difficulties at adjusting to becoming a father and Bella's struggle of how to help him. I must admit I had a few teary moments as the story was really moving. The only complaint was that it wasn't long enough, I could read books and books on the dark, tourchered, sexy character that is Zsadist (ahhh sigh) :0)", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 10:57:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 13 16:12:08 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01608badf9aa27fa949176f75a10cdfc", "book_id": "304027", "review_id": "2af62f0face9d657de309cb58eb20cfe", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm quite new to the brotherhood and have really enjoyed the previous four books, after reading the reviews for Lover Unbound I didn't know if I was keen but gave it a whirl anyway. \n I was a little disappointed with Vishous's story. I just didn't really take to him like I had the leads before. I thought the way he changed his affections from Butch to Jane was rushed and to be honest I wasn't comfortable with his feelings toward his best friend anyway. I did like to see some of Vs back history and the twist with his parentage was an OMG moment. \n I also liked the development of the students John, Quinn and Blay. I found Phury very annoying and an even less looking forward to his book but will no doubt like most read on. The only saving grace for me was I got a little Zsadist action in the book, as my favourite brother it was nice to catch up with his progression. \n A lot of people have commented on the ending of the book and I must say I too found it a very strange one ?? but then again we are reading paranormal romance were anything can happen :o)", "date_added": "Tue Jun 12 06:25:03 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 12 06:59:43 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01608badf9aa27fa949176f75a10cdfc", "book_id": "13626789", "review_id": "52e7400ec958fe24b3d1cfdd15ceee12", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"Books are like doorways. Open it and you can step right into a whole new world\" \n This is so true and why I lurve this author, every book takes you on the journey, I never just feel like a reader I'm their in the thick of the action. As you would expect from Tim O'Rourke you are transported into the world of Kiera, Potter, Isidor and Kayla and its non stop action. I can always envision the scenes in the story, whether I'm taken to The Ragged Cove, Hollowed Manor or The Great Western Railway and I know the characters as if they were firm friends !! \n This book literally starts were the last book Dead Flesh finished, so there's no messing around you get straight back into the action !! \n Sam is very ill after his wolf bonding being interrupted and as a half breed wolf boy he is not only a danger to himself but to the group. After much deliberation on his fate the gang agree to take him to the Fountain of Souls. As they leave Hollowed Manor it's not long before they have skin walkers on their trail. Taking shelter from a storm and hiding from the skin walkers the gang take shelter in a disused looking railway station and through the night Isidor tells the gang of how he first came above ground from the hollows, the people he met and where he has seen the term 'pushed' before. \n Although this book is called Kiera Hudson Dead Angels this book really belongs to Isidor, and my what a heart wrenching story he has to tell. We were introduced to the lovely Melody Rose who understood what is it like to be different, the interaction between her and Isidor was beautiful. We were also introduced to Ray the relationship between Ray and his father was disturbing, real and gritty and so well written. For Potter fans there is a good dollop of the handsome, grumpy, sarcastic one we all love to love!! \n Never before has a book made me as emotional as this one, be warned you will need tissues. Simply a beautiful, amazing addition to the marvel that is The Kiera Hudson series !! Congratulations Tim :o) \n \"Just imagine if you could go someplace else - to a place where you could be happy. That would be magical right ?\" \n Fingers crossed the gang all find their magical happy place, will be a sad day when this series ends !!", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 01:02:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 01 06:25:46 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01608badf9aa27fa949176f75a10cdfc", "book_id": "11094528", "review_id": "54062c661d5d52ec22fd01ebe2b212bc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Sixteen year old Zach Black and his sister Anna are sent to live with there cruel and creepy uncle Fandel in Cornwall. Walking along the beach one day Zach discovers a doorway which transports him into another world filled with vampires, zombies, ghosts and werewolves. With his sister in danger Zach makes new alias, werewolf William Weaver and vampire Neanna Cera as they set off on an adventure of discovery and excitement !! \n If you have ever read any of Tim's work before you will not be surprised to know that this is another amazing read. The alternate world gave me a real Tim Burton esq feel and the characters are so well described it's as if your there watching the story instead of reading it!! I particularly loved the cruel creepy Uncle Fandel and couldn't help but see the image of the child catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang every time he popped up. (lollipops children, creepy!!) \n One of the overall things I loved about the book was I was able to share it with my son and reading is a big deal in our house, I'm 36yrs old and he is 9yrs old and we both loved it. We can't wait for the next book, but until then I would recommend any of Tim's work if your looking for an amazing read :o)", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 01:02:28 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 27 06:51:48 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01608badf9aa27fa949176f75a10cdfc", "book_id": "13243608", "review_id": "784b1cda943cb22768b597666fc8a9ea", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have adored this series from start to finish, and what a finish Tim O'Rourke gave us !! With nowhere else to run to, Kiera and the gang to underground to The Hollows, a world like no other where the vampirus have made their home. Kiera must journey to the lighthouse, but as the gang venture on their journey one by one they are being murdered. The group soon realize the killer is amongst them and is the illustrious Elias Munn. \n Not knowing who to love, trust or believe Kiera knows she has to make the most impossible choice of all, which race will live, the humans or the vampirus !! \n WOW what an amazing ending to an amazing series, I was literally sat on the edge of my seat with my heart in my mouth whilst reading this book!! Tim creates such an amazing world in The Hollows and the story is fast paced and full of suspense! Well done on an amazing series :)", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 01:01:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 04 03:09:14 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "22678141", "review_id": "495aba504ca5f9baf8fc054a92c5713f", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Wow this book took me forever to read (28 days!). On to greener pastures. This book perfectly represents why I don't care for sequels. Midnight Thief should have been a stand-alone novel in my opinion. \n It all felt wooden and forced; I only stuck with it to watch Adele and Flick grow their relationship. I've never cared for the multiple terminologies for the same thing either. Makvani, demon rider, demon cat, felbeast, pick one and stick to it, stop making my head spin. I would be curious to read a spin off about the Female village chief who had a tryst with Leyus though.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 21 17:22:28 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 26 23:48:22 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "18601430", "review_id": "a18be7faa492b661091c7b64e2044b98", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book blew me away in how much the writing style got in the way of the story. Seriously if you are writing the kind of book that needs a map and glossary, both should be located in the front of the book. \n Anyway the actual story itself was attention grabbing enough once I stripped away all the human activities-like drinking and eating off of china-that didn't make any sense. i did really like that the mermaids had different types of bottom halfs going on. \n Mermaids were treated more like centaurs in this book with their customs and traditions either being borrowed from humans, or it being suggested that humans got their traditions from the merfolk. I liked the attempt at saying that mermaids can be found all over the world and that they tend to take after species from those waters. \n There was a glaring issue with that science wise. Certain species of fish can't survive outside of their respective climates. I would have expected this to be addressed in some way, like song-spells to help them survive or something. Since it is such a huge plot-point that they come together. \n All in all not my favorite book but I am invested in knowing what happens to the characters now, so there is that.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 21 17:21:26 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 31 10:29:08 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Dec 21 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "29069989", "review_id": "9cc34f3f6beafd405a1997ae594bff9a", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Alright, I am going to do you the courtesy of leveling with you. This was my first time reading a play in book form aside from the Shakespeare that I read in high school. For the amount of pages that I managed to get through, my brain will take a very long time to recover. \n It is not so much that I didn't like reading it as a play, though that would be true. It wasn't even that the writing was bad (it was). It was that the author completely decimated the HPU in order to write this thing he calls art. \n The things he did in the first 40 pages alone made my psyche scream that can't happen. Got that, CAN'T not DIDN'T. And my time is far to valuable to spend reading things that encourage migraines. Thus, a no star rating.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 08 01:16:37 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 11 13:13:17 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Thu Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "8529690", "review_id": "f729b55f5fa48fd10ea742de54c95585", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I absolutely love it when books come in collections like this. I just loved the sass on Suze; i think she deserves to be sassy considering the hand she was dealt. \n The overall message I got from this book is that god exists and he has a very twisted sense of humor. Suze is a mediator. She can see and touch the dead. Though she does prefer the element of surprise about the ability to touch them. \n Our brave and smart-ass heroine has been talking to/ignoring ghosts since she was around 3. Trust her there is nothing worse than the possibility of your dead dad or roommate showing up in the middle of a steamy date. \n All in all this was a cute read, but it really took me for bloody ever to finish reading. Mostly due to school commitments. Gahhh! here's hoping I can read my next book faster!", "date_added": "Sat Jul 23 13:17:00 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 20 18:27:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "16070143", "review_id": "04f59a93bcd5516b8146c8df476b0075", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Wow, never have I read a book that started so strong to fall so, so flat in the last 50 pages. Starts of really great with this whole Atlantis vibe, then it gets weird with the whole no crying thing. it really derails though with the whole possession and try to make the girl cry stuff. Seriously such a garbage book, and the main character is such a raging bitch. \n All in all, i would very much like to have this book scrubbed from my mind. Except for a lingering feeling of never read that again. So disappointing to feel like that about a book that started so strong.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 09 18:21:30 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 23 13:16:12 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "395871", "review_id": "f33f755d55d20acfd1a9f82e705e8170", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Wow. That was very different from the TV show. It was good, though. Not shout it on a mountain top good; just good. \n The world building was incredibly easy to slip into. I actually prefer the blonde Elena from these books to Nina's portrayal in the show. The most glaring difference has to be Damon and Stefan themselves. And the lore, any old human will do to let a vampire in to my house, eh? Don't know if I like that. \n Somehow I actually prefer Caroline the way she is in the books; vindictive. Somehow the town being named Fell's Church makes more sense than Mystic Falls. Reading this book something clicked into place for me. I now get the characters motivations and actually like the story for once.", "date_added": "Sun May 15 00:16:00 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon May 30 16:40:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon May 30 16:40:44 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "25852860", "review_id": "2a27cdd86caab1d696ca85548c7fe990", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This book was the movie on steroids! this is a good thing, a great thing. it means that the movie stayed incredibly true to the book :) they key difference is how it all ends. \n I adored Weir's writing style, and the nerd in me rejoiced at Watney's antics even more than I did with the film. Of course, having seen the film first, I kept picturing Matt Damon. Mental Fan-casting ruined. Alas, it was totally wicked :) Suffice it to say that I get why they picked Matt Damon, the character felt written for him.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 04 23:14:00 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 13 14:00:42 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Apr 13 14:00:42 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "24585267", "review_id": "0fc5fa6551bb7e750c47b0a37efdf513", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This book was just getting into the action and bam! cuts off. I have to go request the next one now. Thanks for that. Seriously though, it was amazing. I absolutely adored the world building as I did with The Jewel. \n We join Violet Just after the end of the first book. This is something I really love in writing, the story picking up precisely where it left off. When books start down the road and then revisit through memory, or worse don't tell you what happened it drives me absolutely batty. Batty, I tell you.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 01 11:19:59 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 12 12:54:15 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Mar 09 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "28260587", "review_id": "8a90b06b17322f0d7bd59980a181091b", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I couldn't get into it, I put it down after only five pages. Maybe I will succeed in reading it some time down the road. \n I think part of why I couldn't get into it was, that it is serious crunch time school wise right now. I just don't have the time or foxus to read something that requires so much brain power right now.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 22 23:42:16 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 29 01:34:25 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "20345202", "review_id": "f94bfcf60cb6a54173bdf6351730c4dc", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This book was surprisingly good, it was just one of those books that you pick up at the library, as you do. It didn't call out to me or anything, I just grabbed and signed it out. \n The imagery was fantastic, I really enjoyed picturing this world and what a part-bird part-dragon might look like. Echo is definitely one of my more favorite characters this year. She is a smart-ass, independent, young woman with the world's biggest chip on her shoulder, and did I mention she's a thief; world class from what I read. \n If you haven't started reading this series, I highly recommend it. I've only read one and I'm hooked.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 17 15:36:57 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 09 18:38:48 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Dec 22 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "16068780", "review_id": "f4e60889ddc4f995ad6340a3d5190445", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Violet Lasting is no more. Now she is lot 197, which is better than lot 53 if one has to be known only by a number. lot 197 is part of the surrogate auction. She is property. For the rest of her days she will be poked and prodded, then inseminated, give birth, and then she will die. Childbirth always kills surrogates. \n There are five rings and a center in this world. The Marsh, where 197 is from. The Smoke, where her father worked. The Farm, where her brother works. The Bank, where 197 hopes she will go. Finally, The Jewel, where she will likely end up. Most surrogates go to The Jewel, the center where the royalty lives. Royals, are, after all, a dying breed... \n This book was surprisingly good, I really connected with Violet; I was absolutely enraged several times at what is done to her. the imagery was quite good, though, for the life of me I couldn't settle on what certain characters looked like.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 17 15:36:31 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 09 18:37:53 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 11:31:16 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "18525702", "review_id": "0ce943eae18ff94a848f6e4c55f1f16e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This story was just as edge of your seat thrilling as the last two. Yet, it was somehow expected and abundantly obvious that it would end with a mating ceremony. would have been nice for the two of them to realize that they are two young to make any such commitment to each other. \n Alas, one cannot have everything it's always one of three: great plot, fast read, great writing. the thing is, you can only have two...", "date_added": "Wed Nov 18 00:03:57 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 22 19:19:43 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 22 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "12425532", "review_id": "520d1588f66e5ecb44da0690fa67b195", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This one got me reading for 3 straight hours in the early morning. Damn; wild ride, not over by a longshot though. \n Emma isn't normal, she has always known this. Her hair is almost white, her skin is almost alabaster, her eyes are violet. And then there was that time on the beach... \n Give The Syrena Legacy a read.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 14 00:03:20 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 21 18:13:52 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Nov 14 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "18006496", "review_id": "28701f08ff3aef5d6532b0f6203fa9bf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Damn! There are no words. and now I have to wait for the next book, gah!", "date_added": "Fri Sep 11 19:33:45 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 05 12:16:19 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Nov 22 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "24094", "review_id": "a71351b4414844d7e19ada835356ee1f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was a very easy read, even with five courses I finished it in a couple of days. Daine learns to shape-shift in this one.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 05 19:47:21 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 17 13:31:42 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "13833", "review_id": "b6b633047dcf4c2b595577d30e27bd36", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This one was definitely my favorite of the three I have read in this series. these are by no means wonderful quality; they are, however, easy and fun to read. I will certainly look forward to any others in the series.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 05 19:47:13 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 17 13:34:38 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "13836", "review_id": "4d4e46fa28f58025a536363562006cbb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was surprisingly good :) It started out a little stiff. The pace picking up as I went. The world building was pretty solid; I love Daine, though I do tend to picture her differently from the cover model. \n You know a book fits into high fantasy when it has a map at the front of it. Daine is thirteen, and alone. HEr and her horse, Cloud, are searching for their next home. Enter, Onua, A K'mir who instantly takes a liking to Daine. \n I can't wait to see what they will get up to next.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 05 19:47:09 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 12 09:35:08 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Sep 12 09:35:08 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "15513156", "review_id": "c18b8028af02905cd28b9168aa4215a1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Galen knows things, these things are: I am Syrena, I am a really fast swimmer, my world's form of government is perfectly normal and healthy, I have a Half-Breed girlfriend/future wife. \n the is of what Galen doesn't know is even longer. this list includes but is not limited to: murderous plots to overthrow the monarchy, that his brother's new wife is a fraud, and his ex-girlfriend is still alive. \n Nalia is alive......", "date_added": "Sat Aug 29 22:32:04 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 21 18:10:36 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "11243178", "review_id": "99b10d7c33f18add47f2fe0fb6cfbd97", "rating": 2, "review_text": "this book was dull as toast. It read like watching paint dry. It was provided to me by netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 28 10:30:11 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 11 16:04:14 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "20613470", "review_id": "8e9a9eaa1dd5de169244376a2042e26a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "this one definitely did not disappoint. I officially BROTP Aelin/Rowan.official OTP Celaena/Aelin. I love how it was friendship and trust rather than romance that healed her in this way. \n In this continuation of the throne of glass series we follow Celaena on her journey to recovery from all of the shit she has endured in her life. I do mean everything. A very compelling read. Queen of Shadows is already on request from my local library.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 07 20:24:29 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 16 23:12:19 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Aug 20 11:56:54 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "17566814", "review_id": "c0464b1ad1d8c7e6d94914300ef6d864", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A fabulous first effort. The world building was sublime, to the point that i didn't even question skin-walking. \n Kyra isn't normal. On some level she has always known this. What she didn't know; how closely her fate was tied to a palace knight, and a beast from hell. \n The Demon riders have been terrorizing the outskirts of Forge for months. Tales of a people that communicate with and control giant cats to do their bidding have reached into the palace. We Journey with Kyra as one poor decision after another lands the thief in trouble. \n I love that Kyra was able to keep her humanity in the end despite her heritage going against it.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 14 21:27:02 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 16:18:36 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "3112824", "review_id": "ed73d89ad6cda7f5171949a3713fee90", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Wow. I was not expecting such heavy themes to be shelved in the tween section. This book really threw me, in a very good way. \n Trigger Warning for suicide. Since one would not expect that out of a faery story. \n Knife is a young faery who just wants to explore. We grow with Knife on her journey, not only to adulthood, also to self awareness. She is the queen's hunter. She is also the queen's most disobedient subject. What will Knife get up to next.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 13 17:26:36 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 18 16:56:26 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "17167166", "review_id": "a17f0d0e664bafd4a02bcefcb80a7e7d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Celaena Sardothien is an assassin, a fact which both men infatuated with her would much rather forget. Prince Dorian is all too aware of this particular affliction of hers, as his father insists upon having him in the room for every gruesome detail. Chaol of course is also painfully aware that not only does her profession provide an impediment; their ranks are unequal. This does not stop either of them from falling maddeningly in love with her. \n Crown of Midnight was such a satisfying read, although I had already figured out some of the major plot-twists well before their reveal. Archer can go die in a hole as far as I am concerned, snivelling sack of crazy that he is. Sarah J Maas, just so you know, I am not likely to forgive you for a certain something happening to a certain someone in this book (fairly certain you know which someone, and what something).", "date_added": "Sat Jun 13 17:20:58 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 10 13:26:23 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "21393526", "review_id": "530784b493a9e5a37715fe56f4be989a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Wow. Not. What. I. Expected. At all. Here is what I think i learned. \n Heaven is real, it is really called Magonia, and you only go there after death on earth if you were born there to begin with. Magonians are where the myths of gods come from. They live on a series of floating islands and ships. \n In Magonia Magic is real. storms are made by whales, lightning by sharks, and wind by song. I didn't so much enjoy this book, as was enthralled by it. I couldn't put it down, even though it was hard to follow and barely made sense to me. I give it a 4/5 for brilliant imagery. However, since it was not my personal cup of tea, overall rating is a 2/5.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 05 23:09:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 17 15:35:21 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Dec 14 15:43:54 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "13149420", "review_id": "6f981c49dfcb2db1e2c3bd25d1b208e9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book threw me for a loop; Major Plot-twist. I didn't see over half of this coming! \n First off this book changes perspective immediately, shifting off Alison and onto Tori. \n She's Just an ordinary alien girl who desperately wants her parents acceptance and approval. She was also kidnapped for 3 months by a psychotic scientist. Who wants to experiment and eventually dissect and kill her, no big deal. Tori, is now in a race against time to stop the evil scientist, once and for all. \n Enter the monkey-wrench, by the name of Deckard. A cop turned P.I. who is hell bent on finding out the truth, no matter what the cost. \n Edge of my seat I tell you, couldn't put it down if I tried. I didn't.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 09 14:21:05 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 24 18:22:46 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Mar 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "16201048", "review_id": "a27c78bbb0c9589bdec843ff8aa36260", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was very refreshing. I haven't read much in the way of fiction dealing with mental health issues; those I have read are not very consistent and quite often are written with harsh stereotypes in mind. \n This is not one of those. It was perfectly on point in the relevant information about the diseases and phenomena relayed. The descriptions of Ali's synesthesia was quite interesting; it is easy to understand why she would think that she was nuts at first. \n The way that she could see rotten fruit was particularly intriguing, I personally can smell when something is off much sooner than others, so I don't find this to be a big stretch at all. I am absolutely looking forward to following up with the rest of this series. Definitely recommend.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 22 01:42:53 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 24 18:22:09 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "7849034", "review_id": "2895f4857d2ad58f1a8e7e21dbf50fba", "rating": 3, "review_text": "As always I loved reading the story, the world and character development were spot on as always. I must admit I saw the ending coming at far more than a mile away. \n It was very predictable in an \"Oh, you\" sort of way. It was a great story, though I am not all that sad to see it go. I have never been a one book kind of woman. I like adventure in my life. \n I give this trilogy my Very best wishes as I send it off in favor of a new adventure. \n 3/5 Violent uprisings.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 05 23:51:46 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 02 17:29:15 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "12995284", "review_id": "89a0a069727e57894e14eea09dd9433b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "so, somehow i managed to miss reviewing this back when i finished it. Not sure how that happened, but here we go. Helen's future keeps getting murkier by the hour, and she thinks she is going insane to boot. She keeps dreaming about desserts and waking up with mud on her feet, bone weary. This book was captivating start to finish. This story features excellent world building.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 05 23:51:45 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat May 30 11:58:07 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "13257637", "review_id": "e2f17dc3093cdd203eb0aaceb5eb62d8", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book barely held my attention at all. I finished it in hopes of greater excitement; also dragons. Not really my cuppa. The premise is neat enough with the shape-shifting and whatnot. Where you lose me is the remaining dormant until a star masquerading as a person awakens you. I do not think so, but I didn't write it. So what do I know? From what I do know of dragon lore, their hides are impenetrable; this makes later scenes in the novel a tad tough to choke down, realistically within the universe created. \n I give this two stars because the use of imagery was very well done. Other than that this book was a bit of a wash, if I'm being honest: I always strive for that. Cheers all, until next review.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 05 21:53:38 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 24 22:41:46 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "9462795", "review_id": "15c1502881a8e06bc843d4cc8cce9be2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was a little slow going, and I seriously considered putting it down for good. I am so glad that I didn't! After its' blah start it grew more intense with each page. \n I was captivated somewhere around chapter 3 and upon finishing the book, absolutely dismayed to find that I had managed to take out the third but not the second book in the trilogy. Color me frustrated when I already know I cannot go the library anytime soon; thanks in part, to homework, as well as the snow deluging from the sky right now.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 01 20:42:09 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 24 22:41:05 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "11556960", "review_id": "32af6547def1e154f5ed3565aeef0eb9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It held my attention well enough. Honestly though parts of it felt forced. A world woven on top of earth and it is all basically a giant illusion/hallucination?! come on I've heard that before and it didn't sound good then either. I will just have to see if it improves with the rest of the series.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 26 21:57:39 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 24 22:45:10 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "25494343", "review_id": "077fb8469aa300f025f20521086ca2a0", "rating": 2, "review_text": "As much as it was so easy and comfortable to slip back into the shadowhunter world, like slipping into your favorite worn-out jeans; that's all it was. A comfortable read. It did not excite or thrill me in anyway. The bad guy was a surprise. The relationship between E and J felt very forced and cringe-worthy. \n It is like the author has something deeply against platonic love. I never realized this in all my years of anticipating her next books. After this read I am really not sure that I will be picking up the next Dark Artifices book. I just don't feel that it is worth the frustration and angst between E and J to hear about Tessa and Jem some more, or to hear details about Malec.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 20 17:29:47 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 21 01:25:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jun 21 01:25:44 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "a25a80fe258b5f8606b8d58492b29522", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Didn't hold my attention the same way it used to. Took me ages to slog through it!", "date_added": "Thu Nov 20 17:28:27 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 11 10:55:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Sep 11 10:55:42 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jul 22 17:35:18 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "11388177", "review_id": "a31b5fe64d626028ad5fdf3e24222b8d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Malora Thora-Jayke is the last of her kind; the only human left in existence. She is perfectly happy this way until she is found by a herd of centaurs. They entrap her and her horses, in order to win the Golden Horse, a coveted trophy. Earned by horse racing, something which seems exceedingly dull and stupid to Malora. Through her capture Malora finds herself a new family, she feels the centaurs are the perfect blend of horse and human. She is home. \n This book was intriguing to say the least. Though the year is never discussed by the name dropping of famous people, it takes place in a not so distant future, or quite possibly an alternate present. I would absolutely read the next book.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 08 18:56:55 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 08 18:57:48 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Nov 26 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "8364977", "review_id": "769fd560ef7b9d638593933cc026e1d2", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Chrissy! You got some splainin' to do. Miss Everstar has been given another extra credit project. Read; another life to screw up. And, if you think she would learn from the last time......Guess again. Hilarity and mild terror ensue. What would you do to avoid a loveless marriage? Tansy is having none of that, when she and her family get dropped into the middle ages by a wish, many lessons are learned. The moral of this story is; fairies can be cruel, some are vindictive, and others are just idiots. Stay away from them all.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 16 12:05:08 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 16:57:40 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Oct 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "4346365", "review_id": "a9aad446970e7500db396f45223a4383", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was a wonderful change of pace for me. A totally fluffy read that still had a point to make. Be careful what you wish for. Savannah thought that she had it all, hot guy, great family, normal life. And then Jane had to get in the way of that. She stole her boyfriend, how is that fair. Cue lousy fairy godmother; actually fair godmother and she is barely that. Yet somehow she still manages to teach Savannah the importance of knowing how big your problems really are. After a trip to the middle ages she won't soon forget, she learns just that. I wonder what is in store for Chrissy's next assignment?", "date_added": "Sun Oct 05 23:04:11 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 16:57:45 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "8573642", "review_id": "1f323d018b5c98effb41eb3f036636bf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have no idea if it is just me, but I felt strong undercurrents of \"ism\" in this book. Simply replace the word nosoul with black, Chinese, gay, etc. Ana is the Newsoul in heart, or the nosoul, depending on who is asked. She replaced someone and having had zero control over this; She is still hated, fiercely. \n The people of heart remind me of certain of my own family members (distant family), who would never accept me were I certain things listed above. Some people completely shut down because as soon as they learn you are \"Other\" you are now an object to them, you don't matter. \n These are the people of Heart. It is more than a little Ironic that a people Living in village called Heart possess such little compassion and caring. This book really made me think; It has been a while since that happened, I thank you Jodi Meadows.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 28 14:37:43 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 08 17:25:52 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "5598960", "review_id": "9b5a199955094662dc1eb7756ffde324", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This one surprised me a little, in that it barely had anything to do with mermaids. Seriously, next to nothing. Other than the protagonist terrifying herself with a book of legends, that is it on the finned folk. Still a decent bubblegum fluffy read, though.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 18 13:37:34 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 04 12:00:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "9583227", "review_id": "2f396fec8efd69e9b957d157dc3b89f5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Tempest Rising was oddly thrilling for a book about mermaids. I must confess that this is the first time i have read about a mermaid since the little mermaid picture book I had as a kid. it was bold, sassy and just the right amount of dark. \n Which is why it gets four out of five emerald tails.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 11 16:41:42 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 08 17:21:32 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "18335634", "review_id": "f2e9f43a8384c3fbcfd3b50094448696", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Just as always, amazing imagery. Even a refreshing take on how the love triangle ends. I was hooked from the start. I couldn't put it down if i tried (I didn't). \n Tessa is one fierce woman, I want to be her when I grow up. She is one of the most bad-ass women I have seen written in a long time. I adore Jem, but Will is definitely more my speed. I love that Tessa was able to have children, it would have been such a shame otherwise. \n I give this book 9 adamant citadels out of ten.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 05 18:08:15 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 25 22:21:51 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Dec 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Dec 12 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "10025305", "review_id": "e7e3abfb78f98eb5938fcfdb1bdd9b67", "rating": 5, "review_text": "As always superb imagery! I have to say so far I like TID much more than TMI. Although the triangle between Tessa, Jem, and Will? Necessary, I think not. I absolutely adore Tessa, she doesn't take crap from anybody at all, no matter what. Very refreshing.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 05 18:08:14 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 16:57:52 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "8755785", "review_id": "245c188d6ac004fa66936ef07b36433a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is quite possibly the best ending to a series I have read. And I love that Simon is the clear hero in this one. Even though you already know that there is no---nice try, read it yourself sunshine---this book is full of twists and turns just like it's brethren. Absolutely worth the read!! 10 Adamas Trophies!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 27 10:36:12 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 16:58:13 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "10482677", "review_id": "e1966658ef424a161e35f83330bc55bf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "An entertaining and dark tale of how a young woman with no future destined to hang makes a deal with someone who is definitely Fae and most certainly underhanded to change her life radically. incredibly written and gorgeous imagery tell this fictional account of how Queen Elizabeth the first ascended the throne.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 21 10:37:54 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 17:00:10 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "3099787", "review_id": "5cfc4f4e68c19b628146a1d81ae25046", "rating": 4, "review_text": "These stories were awesome, the imagery was stunning, the only thing wrong with it was how short they were.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 18 20:23:45 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 17:00:58 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "13206900", "review_id": "9d95f0416c83a61abc3767c62a0d0e7e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow, that didn't even feel like 800 some odd pages. I was tricked, I tell you, tricked! In all seriousness though I do have a bone to pick with this whole Winter thing. She hasn't used her Lunar manipulation in years, so how in the hell did she do what she did in that certain chapter. At all. How? Tell me. \n As always the world building was brilliant, and the characters were so memorable that I slipped right into it. I absolutely adored Cress and Thorne in this one. the relationship was highly realistic considering the whole satellite aspect. And his being tongue tied around her was a little corny but it did get the point across. Please, please tell me that we get to see Cinder and Kai get married in some anthology or other. \n And, finally, I am actually now curious to read Levana's story. I want to know more about Channary and whether she really was as awful as all that. And, if so, where the hell did Cinder get her awesomeness from.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 16 21:03:32 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 28 16:54:06 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "13206828", "review_id": "6b9c5c6e95362745cb2536e5cfecaa61", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Where to begin, it was so easy to wolf this book down, done in five days. It was only that slow due to beasting through three papers, an annotated bibliography, and a couple journals. \n dammit Iko, this is why you can't have nice things. So excited to read more about Princess Crazy-Pants, she sounds like a hoot. I hope Scarlet accepts her soon. \n The world building as always, spectacular. The characters are so memorable that I slipped right in fully understanding what was going on. I love that in a book. \n I would have given it a 10 if the rating went that high.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 16 21:03:16 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 18 22:46:48 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Mar 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "13206760", "review_id": "40962888fa54ac52225ad409599c54eb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow, absolutely fabulous! Keep 'em coming! \n Scarlet Benoit is a farm girl, but she wasn't always. She used to live in Paris, now she lives in rieux. One day her grandmother disappears, scarlet knows she didn't run off, but the police don't agree. She will stop at nothing to find her grandma. \n This book was devoured in one and a half sittings. I tried to make it last, really, I did! It was just too good to stop reading. The imagery was on point, and the writing style as always had wonderful flow. Marissa Meyer is swiftly taking up the 2015 favorite author slot for me.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 16 21:03:14 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 09 18:39:40 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Dec 22 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "11387535", "review_id": "15400245e22821b9eb16c617f6a24e42", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow, starting to feel repetitive. This series kept me believing in the impossible. Matter of fact I still believe. I started reading these when I was probably about 10. And they definitely sparked my love of the fantasy genre.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 14 00:33:46 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 17:03:10 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Mar 11 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "334123", "review_id": "af963570a8289dd25dabf952d756ecaa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was quite a daring read for me at the time since I was about 12 and it dealt with necromancy, or black magic. It was a fascinating and captivating read.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 14 00:32:03 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 17:03:04 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "34908", "review_id": "f7cdaa7c88f2edc59939fe33ab7b1934", "rating": 4, "review_text": "As I mentioned before Here, There Be Dragons is without doubt one of the better books I've read in recent months. It is a watered down, Porn free version of Game of Thrones, and I loved every second i will definitely continue with this series.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 13 12:23:48 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 16:58:36 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "54356", "review_id": "5f2974f20774d1cf7b9808ee7e3489e3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A refreshing new take on Rapunzel. the story of a young girl coming of age and realizing she needs more in her life than just her mother. I read this book in less than a day, it was that good.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 12 17:23:27 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 17:02:08 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "41899", "review_id": "30c9e3fb56e2be628091ee4705c0ff70", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is an accompaniment to the original series which is going to spawn a new movie franchise, of course.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 06 14:34:23 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 08 14:34:53 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "23599075", "review_id": "acf9f94f3917f81028ce921180fade02", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow...I kept avoiding this book because of the TFIOS debacle, but, damn! Tumblr you did not steer me wrong this time. Celaena is great, but my lady love is definitely Princess Nehemia. That is one fierce woman. \n Celaena Sardothien is the girl known the world around as the Queen of the Underworld. She can kill a person with their own corset/doublet. She even managed to get the closest to escaping her slave camp Endovier. \n This made me laugh, cry, shout with rage; in a word--perfection.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 04 20:03:45 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 21 01:41:42 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "2800905", "review_id": "522b96b540d2d8236bc91335fa079e96", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The Summoning can be viewed in one of two ways, as the author intended it, and as something else. It is intended to read as the coming of age story of an adolescent necromancer, in a decidedly non-magic world, full of mystery and intrigue. It can also be viewed as the teenage struggle to accept mental illness. Possible triggers for dissociative identity disorder and other illnesses present. Kelley Armstrong spins a brilliant yarn either way you choose to take it.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 01 17:08:21 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 16:59:00 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "3090465", "review_id": "07fd6b87bc040b0cd2b1055974d67e64", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Stephenie Meyer may not be the world's best author but she is a decent story teller. In this corny world where stalking is attractive and vampires glitter, and eat animals instead of people, the reader is sucked in (if one can but look past the syntax and spelling errors).", "date_added": "Fri May 30 16:07:35 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 17:01:53 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "862041", "review_id": "24744945f6c75cd732642ec9eef8232c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I am one of those people who can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that Harry Potter influenced my life, for the better. I was first introduced to the series by a woman I had only met once before, she gave me the third book in the series, telling me sternly that I must not read until I had read the first two. \n Like a good little bookworm i promptly devoured Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, later reading it in sequence. These books showed me that there was more to life than, well, books. I really identified with Hermione, though for some reason I never thought she was British. I must say I much prefer book Harry to Movie Harry, he is so much sassier. Possible trigger warnings for anyone who hates the idea of magic, or who had the misfortune to live with Dursley's or the aunt Marge's of this world.", "date_added": "Fri May 30 16:06:25 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 08 15:16:14 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "46777", "review_id": "346c349f293a4dd18d47f273f3228ad6", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Everyone who is into faerie lore knows that it is the Seelie court you have to look out for. The world building in this book was very implausible, Kaye not knowing who she is makes perfect sense. A knight of the Seelie court being interested in a human does not. Roiben would not likely give up his name he would sooner kill someone than to do that, he surely wouldn't be tricked by a pixie, let alone a human. \n This book just didn't do it for me at all. Not only the implausible world building but the stereotypical assumption that the Monarchy system would still be at play even mystical realms during the present day is ridiculous. \n If i could give this book 1.5 stars I absolutely would.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 28 23:27:41 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 11 18:20:13 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "305234", "review_id": "0321944c22afd9ae46938fe5243801d7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A miniature epic coming of age tale twisted with a hint of faerie. this book was a reread and I loved it both times. Reading this book was like coming home after a long time away; entirely familiar and relaxing.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 28 23:27:37 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 16:58:18 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "30183", "review_id": "9ec6f91b9c5200157cb41a3991ab2b59", "rating": 5, "review_text": "ChosenBetrayedBurned \n These books are, honestly, my guilty pleasure. The writing style is simple and flows well, and the series is fraught with angst, mayhem, and raging teenage hormones; what's not to love?! I reread these books all the time.", "date_added": "Sat May 18 22:39:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 17:01:28 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "28187", "review_id": "36ebcf45f7fb3e3dc37c3a3bf748fafb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A lightly entertaining coming of age story that reflects a universal desire to belong to something.The Percy Jackson series hooks us all in the end by forging strong bonds amongst its characters.Although, if you are the rare fantasy hater don't read this book, it will likely cause you to burn it.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 11:07:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 01 13:24:47 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "5391115", "review_id": "be3b0886d8c3369aec26655f5735b4c3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What is most refreshing about these books is that they do not focus on any kind of romantic intentions. But seriously the design of the hands on the cover is so screwed up!!!!! great story anyway, but that was so distracting.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 10:58:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 16:57:33 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Oct 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "54dbf1ac9c666e6c1a61819025c80620", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh, I did not expect to read this book so fast, or love it this much. Kai is so adorable, I am glad though that he doesn't end up with you know who right away. leave a little mystery for the fifth date. Levana drives me insane just to think about her. I have known so many people just like her, creepy mind control included. \n wasn't expecting to meet Cress so quickly either, for some reason I was under the impression these were tied in standalone novels. They are so much better than that. If you haven't tried them yet, do so.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 10:57:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 17 15:35:15 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "6468666", "review_id": "8ea4dd7edee6606246fd4ec3c8cb6f9e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This ending was stunning. what makes it so stunning, I hear you ask. Well it is not a perfect ending, they are not saved magically from their situations. they are still working it out when the book ends. *Evil Smile* this also means that the series could easily be picked up again by the author.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 10:57:27 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 16:57:21 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "601509eb575b04b62a647536033e5c98", "book_id": "7171637", "review_id": "7ef6e393973bbe38960933cf6095fade", "rating": 4, "review_text": "No disappointments here! Will is such an ass, don't you think? (of course you will just have to read it to know what i mean)Tessa Gray is a young warlock (maybe), though she does not yet know it, all she knows is that a visit to her brother is long overdue. She is then thrust into the shadow world, without a leg to stand on. The poor girl is so lost and she is found by shadowhunters, and rescued from almost certain misery. It is not until reading a book in the institute library that miss Gray shall learn at least a piece of the truth; but first she shall be half frightened to death by a Silent Brother. DUN, DUN, DUUUUUN! absolutely stunning imagery. 9/10 clockwork angels.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 10:57:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 16:57:58 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a61ed781e6722c23306fb73d45eb8ecc", "book_id": "21855874", "review_id": "df74263d54069b15244034345fd109b8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a fun little read. If you liked 24-hour bookstore, I think you'll enjoy this one.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 06 08:04:58 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 06 08:05:49 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a61ed781e6722c23306fb73d45eb8ecc", "book_id": "30282611", "review_id": "a8067d53d78a7275f07128fa2aac660a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a fun quick listen. Being a Firefly fan, I really enjoyed the narrator and found it appropriate to the character who is a super insurance agent across different dimensions.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 06 07:54:33 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 06 07:56:36 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a61ed781e6722c23306fb73d45eb8ecc", "book_id": "23213739", "review_id": "f77ffa265e138e3f13dd791fa314d5df", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I thought of this series as an adult version of Harry Potter with less happiness and magic doesn't solve all your problems.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 07 12:02:33 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 06 07:49:16 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a61ed781e6722c23306fb73d45eb8ecc", "book_id": "12417793", "review_id": "920b7380422d47434679c94bb55d3d7a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This provides an interesting world where Gods are created by our belief, but what happens when we stop believing or few people still believe in them. It had some graphical scenes in it and therefore should not be read by children, but overall it was an interesting story, if you are not easily offended. There is a bit from the author reflecting in both the beginning and a bit at the end that were also interesting. I'd probably read the sequel if/when it comes out, mostly out of curiosity to see what direction the story takes. The narrative was very well written and it invokes a wanderlust just by hearing the descriptions of small towns in America.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 07 11:56:14 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 07 12:01:45 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a61ed781e6722c23306fb73d45eb8ecc", "book_id": "29337659", "review_id": "cd909e499fba739faa61ea06057a5ea3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was my favorite book in the series. I enjoyed it and would recommend it", "date_added": "Thu Jul 07 11:48:15 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 07 11:49:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a61ed781e6722c23306fb73d45eb8ecc", "book_id": "28594075", "review_id": "e54c6498082407b8e2cb4986a90e3755", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was an interesting series. It was a quick listen. The main character is unlike any other that I can remember reading. Not your typical fantasy, although filled with many typical elements of dragons, witches, wizards, cats, and more.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 07 11:44:18 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 07 11:47:38 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a61ed781e6722c23306fb73d45eb8ecc", "book_id": "5105119", "review_id": "b10a17502f4f9dfa2f72088b471f320c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It was a good conclusion to the series. I enjoyed it.", "date_added": "Sat May 07 17:39:00 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 07 11:36:38 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a61ed781e6722c23306fb73d45eb8ecc", "book_id": "611787", "review_id": "aa95426d6911098375fd12d0dec5e4e0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I started this book after the food book in the series, Hood. The point of view changes and is told from the viewpoint of Will Scarlet who has been captured and is retelling what happened since the last book and his joining of the group and how we got where he did. My only reason for the 4 stars vs 5, was that I was annoyed with the point of view. The narrator did an awesome job and I enjoyed it; but stick with it, it was still a great story and ended up being a key part of the story later on.", "date_added": "Sat May 07 17:27:46 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat May 07 17:36:57 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a61ed781e6722c23306fb73d45eb8ecc", "book_id": "17239242", "review_id": "39160b7335b3654daf3f1133217b9c35", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I hadn't read a Xanth novel since probably the 90's. It was a fun read/listen. A little too much focus on sex and nudity for my tastes, but the story was good as long as you don't mind lots of puns.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 31 12:31:12 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat May 07 17:16:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a61ed781e6722c23306fb73d45eb8ecc", "book_id": "20420321", "review_id": "68155e7132f63a8ac05cd64ff3bdc85d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I should preface this that I have always been a fan of Robin Hood tales and am more likely to like something when it is related. This was an enjoyable tale and a unique spin on Robin Hood. There is a section at the end read by the author that talks about the his decisions for some of the major changes in the story that make it unique. \n Reader did an amazing job and I immediately bought the sequel. Will be continuing on.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 31 12:30:42 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat May 07 17:27:07 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Mar 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a61ed781e6722c23306fb73d45eb8ecc", "book_id": "27866546", "review_id": "b9ccb056de11d86e0d42cff17eaceb97", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is probably the first instance for me where the movie was better. Mostly similar, but there are definitely times where it doesn't match up and the choices the movie made were better.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 31 10:57:00 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 31 11:00:23 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a61ed781e6722c23306fb73d45eb8ecc", "book_id": "9533378", "review_id": "f278992ad6a8896e56f5e3f95d0a3c8c", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Atticus and Oberon is my favorite character interaction. Luke Daniels does an awesome job with the narration of these two.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 10 15:02:07 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 10 15:03:38 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a61ed781e6722c23306fb73d45eb8ecc", "book_id": "6656935", "review_id": "3d4ef10c3d4ebc8458473bce51464dc0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Unique system of magic. Enjoyable series!", "date_added": "Wed Feb 10 14:24:06 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 21 09:47:02 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Aug 21 09:47:02 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Aug 21 09:46:44 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a61ed781e6722c23306fb73d45eb8ecc", "book_id": "13", "review_id": "83be3766625dfe9417af36d1d54f1b47", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love the humor. This is my favorite series.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 10 14:06:49 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 10 15:00:51 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a61ed781e6722c23306fb73d45eb8ecc", "book_id": "601238", "review_id": "c510fb10ac2ef3ff4b1fa4ad8d48e040", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is my favorite book of this series out of the ones that I've read. I love the luggage, probably my favorite supporting character of all time.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 10 14:03:47 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 10 15:00:55 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a61ed781e6722c23306fb73d45eb8ecc", "book_id": "28757962", "review_id": "b5578c02bf20aac3be87fae0f7524433", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This wasn't my favorite of the series. Still love the narration and was enjoyable. I didn't enjoy the parties being split up for most of the book into 3 separate groups and then the ending, while possibly necessary for a future book, detracted from it in my opinion.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 10 13:03:01 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 10 15:01:25 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a61ed781e6722c23306fb73d45eb8ecc", "book_id": "22761156", "review_id": "40e9b7d0400fcdbb25483d56de4c83a2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Voices started out as annoying and whining, but keep reading as it gets better about 1/2 way through and became endearing by the end.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 10 12:56:32 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 10 15:01:29 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "26881479", "review_id": "209ae6c855eae937e19ee96aadf43357", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I didn't like it as much as the other Percy Jackson/Heroes of Olympus books, but still it was an easy and enjoyable read.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 23 14:05:15 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 12 01:55:17 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Nov 23 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "23301545", "review_id": "28990329ccda0cf8d218b92494a5fdbb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "a beautiful book, beautiful illustrations and a really nice story", "date_added": "Wed Dec 17 08:47:00 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 17 08:47:56 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Dec 17 08:47:56 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "16014868", "review_id": "09416d844e3903da0c8c6d477a7fec41", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars", "date_added": "Sun Aug 25 09:34:20 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 25 09:35:25 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "15986068", "review_id": "91199feeffccd1a77b09d83af97de74a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n OPEN ENDING???", "date_added": "Fri May 10 11:46:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 16 10:44:37 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "15807042", "review_id": "c3787823a469cd1dc0ab4488025eb048", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Really liked this one! I was in my library and I noted this book because of the beautiful cover, I read the back and the story sounded nice, so I decided to read it. \n There are a few parts of the story that are not complete yet, so I will definitely read the sequel! The Nightmare Garden", "date_added": "Tue Nov 27 12:02:47 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 08 04:33:37 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Dec 06 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Nov 26 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "9765237", "review_id": "efcd24f609e6f3226d929fa828923335", "rating": 4, "review_text": "You have series where seven years go into seven books, and you have series where seven days go into 4 books. \n And I like both. \n This book is for me just the sequel of the previous books - it is as exciting and as well-written. \n There are a lot of story lines, but it does not get confusing. Although I sometimes 'forgot' that those characters exist, because there were too many pages between the chapters. (not sure how to put it, you'll get it if you have read it) \n And on to the The Warlock!", "date_added": "Sat Nov 17 03:54:00 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 18 05:14:18 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Nov 17 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "10813060", "review_id": "de1ae79e15b9431260763b2d29c03121", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was a bit disappointed in this book, because I liked the inkheart series so much and I had high hopes for this. \n When I started, I noticed Cornelia's writing style, since I just finished Inkdeath. \n I felt like I was not a part in the book, I never felt any emotions, I didn't cry, I didn't laugh. \n At the end of the book I thought 'WHAT! this no proper ending! What's gonna happen? [spoiler]Is Jacob going to survive?[/spoiler]'. But then I realized that there was a second book in the series. I will read that one, even though I was disappointed, but it was not a bad book, I just had high expectations.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 04 01:38:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 23 03:04:11 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Oct 17 08:40:37 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "13452386", "review_id": "56b2eb6d3aaf2e832ebd08f0d0de1d4c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book contains some little stories that add information about the series, like: how did Halt know Will's father? \n How did Halt himself become a Ranger's Apprentice? \n It starts and ends with a archaeologist and his student, they find the house Will and Halt used to live. Between the beginning and the end, all the stories are told. \n If you like the Ranger's Apprentice series, you will definitely like this book.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 23 02:34:25 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 29 09:44:29 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Sep 23 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "11199165", "review_id": "02e084682a9952e8196a66edda3022e5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "took me a while to get into this book since the characters weren't introduced again and quite some time has passed after I read book 4 from this sereis. liked it though!", "date_added": "Tue Sep 18 09:01:50 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 16 10:43:57 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "13638002", "review_id": "7ba4ea1e098d65e444901f58c8e8d4db", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2.5 stars. \n I thought the plot was good, and original. But while reading the book you don't get enough hints. Lazarus just tells it all to Simone in the end. \n The things about this book that I did not like were the fact that I couldn't get close to the characters, I didn't get to know them well enough in my opinion. Second, the writing style. I almost had to force myself to finish this book. At the end the story becomes a little more exciting, but not enough to make it a 3-star rating.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 02 06:07:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 12 02:25:42 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Sep 19 11:18:39 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "12358299", "review_id": "fa4bf0fc329093dbcddb06b94de4dce5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Although it sounds cliche - girl loves boy #1, and he is mysterious, but has to marry boy #2 - the storyline didn't bore me. I think there should be less descriptions of outfits, near the end of the book I just skipped them. But considering the fact that the writer, Cayla, was only 14 when she wrote this book, I find it truly a good book. \n I was in the library and saw this book, read what is was about (I never heard of it, nor of Cayla Kluver, before) and I immediately wanted to read it. \n I don't think the cover adds a lot, it is nice but nothing more. \n 3.7 stars. \n There are two sequels: Allegiance and Sacrifice, I added them both to my to read list.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 15 13:24:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 17 15:02:36 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Aug 17 15:02:36 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "428039", "review_id": "2adf6a6df60dd52dfa5137a01c84b392", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I read this book when I was little and now I re-read it. \n It was nice, not too difficult, just some adventure.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 13 14:03:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 30 06:33:44 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Oct 31 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "8784942", "review_id": "341dc84c7b46fc7fc0297dd024cfab7f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I read the first three books of the series a few years ago, and now the last book. \n First it was hard to remember the characters but after a while I started knowing them again. \n The book is not slow and it's a little bit mystique, especially Scar (if I remember his name correctly). \n When I'm reading a book and suspecting things, I always like them to be true. \n For example when Tiron was doing weird (not using spoilers, I'm keeping it vague) I suspected him to be the one who had to fight at the end, and that turned out to be correct!", "date_added": "Mon Aug 13 13:46:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 06 03:03:07 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "6944606", "review_id": "76cc3f83d0c5996524bc9f9a2103af35", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the first book of the series. \n I read this book a few years ago so I don't remember everything, but I do know that I liked it very much. \n I thought the book was exciting. There must be disadvantages but I don't remember. Two years ago I was just reading books, not thinking about what the good and the negative parts were.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 13 12:30:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 06 02:15:38 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "7846209", "review_id": "dd22d4039252a66feb506ddd4a767e9c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I just love this series, it's so good. \n Its never boring, it has good character development etc etc. \n I'd recommend this book and this series to everyone!", "date_added": "Mon Aug 13 12:29:51 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 06 08:12:45 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jul 06 08:12:45 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "12399777", "review_id": "317835324b6c25ed6a2e1f129ca17b56", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It has been a while since I read the first book in this series. \n I do recommend a shorter time between reading these two books (for all the future readers), otherwise you forget things. \n Oh the ending!! \n I thought: 1. ok I did not see this one coming. 2. Is this really how it ends?!?! \n Well lets just say... I'm looking forward to the third book!", "date_added": "Mon Aug 13 06:00:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 18 03:11:33 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Feb 16 08:20:55 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "15772763", "review_id": "8efda210bdcd6844d5ec03e7c34e794b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die. \n oh the end! I cried so hard, just because the book was ending and I didn't want it to. And finally when Sean let Corr go but he - a water horse! they belong to the sea! - returned to Sean \n Of course there were things I did not like about the book, in the beginning the story was a little bit slow for example. And of course there could be more romance between Sean and Puck , but for me it was perfect this way, the slowly developing love. The relationship between Sean and Corr, Puck and her horse are much more detailed, especially the one between Sean and Corr. Corr is like everything for Sean. \n \"the sky and the sand and the sea and Corr\" ahhh how can words be so beautiful!", "date_added": "Mon Aug 13 04:55:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 13 12:58:56 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Sep 07 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "2548866", "review_id": "bb17a715f5fae491d59c77ddefbf3e9c", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This one is going back to my 'to-read' shelve, I will continue reading it when I have more time for it.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 12 15:47:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 12 03:52:59 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Mon Aug 13 15:53:31 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "4588949", "review_id": "f36ff8cb92ee1eafce34dc265dc97dd5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I started reading this book during the summer holidays this year, I finished it now during the 'autumn holidays' (I don't know it there is such a thing in other country's, or how it's called). \n I really like all the myths and legends in this book. I am quite interested in myths and legends so I like how this is all combined in one book. \n Very well and easy written: I am Dutch but I could easily understand everything. \n Every chapter ended with a cliffhanger so I went through the book quite fast. \n I did think however that there are too much storylines, that makes it confusing sometimes. You have the twins, Perenelle, Machiavelli, Dee, Billy the Kid (two times, and the second time he [spoiler]meets Machiavelli, so those two storylines become one storyline.[/spoiler] \n I look forward to reading The Necromancer!", "date_added": "Sun Aug 12 15:34:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 23 03:27:18 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Oct 23 03:27:18 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "10813007", "review_id": "e69c4b3c301a773e8e21aab16c4b264f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book is easy to read, I read it in a day. It's not too predictable. I liked it, it is a nice peace of writing. You don't have to think a big deal while reading it.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 30 08:41:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 30 02:45:03 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "13722786", "review_id": "954fc6b69ee0a5e79b9ef04d854bed6d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book is written from the view of Elizabeth Valchar. The special thing about this is that she is dead. \n She is in an 'after world' or something like that, she is a ghost still wandering around. \n With her is Alex Berg, a boy who is also dead. But why he? \n As the book develops, you will get to know more about Liz' family and friends, and find out why she is dead. \n Is she killed or not? And by whom? \n The time changes (not sure if that is the correct way to say it), sometimes you are in the present and sometimes in a flashback. But it doesn't get confusing, it is always clear. \n Liz also likes running and she describes the feeling you get while running so good, I always wanted to get up and run! But what is better: laying cozy in bed reading a book or running outside in the rain? Yeah, you'll get it..", "date_added": "Mon Jul 16 15:37:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 06 02:46:37 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "6164172", "review_id": "7b06be323de5e411c05773005a447844", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Ik vond het moeilijk om dit boek te lezen, ik kwam er niet helemaal doorheen. Ken je die boeken die je niet neer kan leggen, dat je jezelf moet dwingen om te gaan slapen omdat je de volgende ochtend weer om 7 uur op moet staan? Dit is niet zo'n boek. Ik had deel twee van deze serie ook van de bibliotheek geleend dus ik dwong mezelf om door te lezen, en ik wilde toch weten hoe het af liep. Want het was geen slecht boek, het verhaal was oke (ik wil de term goed hier toch niet gebruiken) opgebouwd. Dus ik dacht: misschien wordt het toch nog spannend op het eind!. Maar dit boek miste de cruciale 'het' om het spannend te maken. \n Daarnaast bleven de karakters voor mij gewoon karakters. Ik hoopte niet op een bepaalde afloop voor ze, ik was niet bang met hen, ik beleefde hun blijdschap niet. Het boek had in dit opzicht te weinig diepgang. \n Kortom: het is geen slecht boek maar ik zou het niet aanraden om te lezen. (klinkt dat te tegenstrijdig? ik hoop het niet :) )", "date_added": "Mon Jul 16 15:10:27 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 13 04:02:15 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "13496", "review_id": "0b2f10c5ea244f9df1643713c993841f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "AWESOME \n (4.5 stars)", "date_added": "Mon Jul 09 14:31:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 15 09:01:35 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jun 15 09:01:35 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "5907", "review_id": "1d551a8de45fbe21dd6d8ce113913635", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Really enjoyed this book! \n J.R.R. Tolkien is a really good story teller: his writing style is funny and doesn't bore you. \n I look forward to seeing the movie - it has a great cast and I already heard a lot of good things about it!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 09 09:46:46 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 28 07:23:46 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Dec 25 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sat Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "6", "review_id": "d1f068d79b07436c1b38b1802017a2cf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I am rereading the HP serie, this time round I'm reading the English versions.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 11:05:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 13 03:41:42 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "1033918", "review_id": "f20ac3c9d26706c2029b02458616a599", "rating": 4, "review_text": "(I read another version, in English)", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 11:51:26 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 15 13:48:58 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "9504167", "review_id": "c109510302e47af8f609b0cec9f9bac5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book wasn't as exciting as the first one. Although, the end was better than the rest of the book. \n You kind of read grace's disease developing (I don't know how to describe this properly) and in my opinion it takes to long. But partly I think that because I want to know what will happen. \n I love the relationship between sam and grace, it is so beautifully written! \n I would have given a 3.5 if that was possible, so i had to choose between 3 and 4, but because I liked the first book so much, I gave 4 stars.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 11:38:03 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 29 10:59:29 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "11847124", "review_id": "2a8cf6dde27675717d02388b28bc72f5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Liked this one better then the first book.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 11:27:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 21 02:09:16 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "0757e6c8076682b47d9d4dcebb6db776", "book_id": "9683040", "review_id": "dff34bd14eed626c53d45b537084d45e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Yeah, I don't know exactly how I should rate this book. \n The story had much potential although it is a bit cliche, but it just didn't touch me. \n There are a lot of questions to be answered who/what kind of angel is Cam? and what does the end mean, the epilogue, where Daniel and Cam meet? I wanna know! \n I will read the second part of the series, as soon as possible so I don't forget everything :)", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 11:25:42 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 02 16:37:31 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Nov 02 16:37:31 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Oct 31 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d340efbd49fb5b779c3e89dbba759f08", "book_id": "12751687", "review_id": "1e8bde1dd47e17ed6325ee38f6324bbc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Really good book.....Why did it have to end that way.:3", "date_added": "Thu Mar 21 11:02:59 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 09 11:01:55 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Apr 09 11:01:55 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Mar 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d340efbd49fb5b779c3e89dbba759f08", "book_id": "9874342", "review_id": "89eabf0b8a9a464d69acb7a4bea36e90", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amazing!! Hope someday it will become a movie!(:", "date_added": "Sat Nov 03 12:51:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 29 11:27:00 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Dec 27 11:51:57 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sat Nov 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d340efbd49fb5b779c3e89dbba759f08", "book_id": "7778981", "review_id": "fc26a0e9bb4bb8cd4c3d143716aa6383", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it!!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 15:00:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 29 11:26:54 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Dec 27 11:51:03 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "d340efbd49fb5b779c3e89dbba759f08", "book_id": "1656001", "review_id": "394c953c812367054827412986471615", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It was a very boring book...Got to page 5 then stopped.....", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 14:50:32 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 29 11:27:00 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jun 26 10:19:55 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "232df2faad5a20e659e8e3bbc83e1c02", "book_id": "715791", "review_id": "2c2b862607b13fd6ca777c46dd7847c6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "amazing as all the rest :)", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 11:13:28 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 26 08:52:59 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Feb 17 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ced7b8e0a3340e8af27f2663f442c3bb", "book_id": "23512999", "review_id": "389163b9851db6c5244f0a5a4bb4ee9e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A solid King collection with a couple of winners (Mile 81 and Rolling Thunder were probably my favorites). I had listened to Mile 81 on audiobook, and there was at least one other story that I had already read, but overall I enjoyed it. I wouldn't put it as high on the list as Full Dark, No Stars or some of the earlier collections like Skeleton Crew, but if you're a fan, there should be enough to sink your teeth into.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 27 08:13:45 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 29 11:49:50 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Dec 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ced7b8e0a3340e8af27f2663f442c3bb", "book_id": "15329", "review_id": "c733c87d28f1f25d26eb4e433ebdb47e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was a lot of fun to read, but I felt like some episodes that were skimmed over should have been given more room (like the battle of the five armies, which Bilbo slept through and was told about, so there was no \"live\" action to it, despite the buildup).", "date_added": "Tue Nov 04 17:59:04 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 13 14:25:31 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Nov 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ced7b8e0a3340e8af27f2663f442c3bb", "book_id": "18418357", "review_id": "54ce81d13f637c374d9e06e3946fdf36", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I found the narrative of this a bit difficult to follow. Not because of the language, but because the story went back and forth a lot retelling subplots that had already been told.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 30 19:14:54 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 31 16:57:36 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ced7b8e0a3340e8af27f2663f442c3bb", "book_id": "9378297", "review_id": "1d6abe828d264d4f8bc38a16a0b23bb1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Well written, quick-moving plot. I'm not a huge fan of the genre, so the crossover between ghost/witch/voodoo was a little much, but it was handled well. The main characters were well drawn. I look forward to seeing if there are more adventures with Cas, Thomas, and Carmel.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 13:14:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 30 19:17:41 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "822977dd32dd48ffd0cc892275c3e6d0", "book_id": "33", "review_id": "034bc777b14acd5c02ba0b383275c505", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Wonderful. Better than the movie", "date_added": "Thu Jul 28 10:33:59 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 21 07:01:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "822977dd32dd48ffd0cc892275c3e6d0", "book_id": "17736129", "review_id": "c2dcafabb213b319f6c9bb186fe89abf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love this story. The development of the characters was awesome and kept me turning the pages. It was fun to read such a well thought out mix of fairies and steam punk. I'd recommend this to any body of any age.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 04 10:39:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 04 10:42:53 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "822977dd32dd48ffd0cc892275c3e6d0", "book_id": "17706116", "review_id": "51addb6fbea7f9b1748cafba4049f800", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This story sat in my heart for over 20 years. It came to life last year in my computer. I love this story. I hope many of you love it too!", "date_added": "Mon Apr 01 10:41:05 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 01 16:33:29 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Apr 01 16:33:29 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "822977dd32dd48ffd0cc892275c3e6d0", "book_id": "7913779", "review_id": "2baf05a2221b88d7ff58a88ad6f2235b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved reading DawnSinger by Janalyn Voigt. I was taken back to a time of the Renaissance and saw myself in the main character, Shea. We all fight the demons in the shadows that exist in our own imaginations and I was blessed with Shea's struggles and triumphs. I read the book on the edge of my seat. I could not put it down. I wanted to ride Wingabeasts with Kai and Shea forever. But alas the story came to an end...or did it. I cannot wait to read the sequel! Thanks Janalyn for an amazing story.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 26 16:44:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 26 16:47:13 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "020684c1b3dab4137230fc3cc309c107", "book_id": "6691280", "review_id": "5f0a385abbb59d34d2a531c79b3406df", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked this book, but I really would have liked it with more \"vampyre\" in it. It was more of a travel log with some adventure thrown in for good measure. There were so many opportunities for it to be amazing but it seemed to fall short each time. \n With that being said, I wish 3.5 stars was an option. I did really like it. I enjoy her writing style.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 18 18:46:40 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 19 11:26:51 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Wed Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "020684c1b3dab4137230fc3cc309c107", "book_id": "5217282", "review_id": "46498dcba0ad5a8bed56e8afef0a5517", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book! \n I am usually able to figure out plot twists early on, but there is a twist at the end of this book that I didn't see coming! \n Can't wait for #5...the series conclusion.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 26 08:14:11 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 31 13:51:14 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Tue Mar 31 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "020684c1b3dab4137230fc3cc309c107", "book_id": "1162543", "review_id": "6703f50f7d358267c6141aecea0c303e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book. Much more \"vampirey\" than the other three books. \n I hope Stephenie Meyers chooses to write more about Jacob...", "date_added": "Tue Jun 03 08:54:23 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 05 09:36:38 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sat Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "020684c1b3dab4137230fc3cc309c107", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "fdaebdf9b1a3067027df4f4f63614537", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Good book if you are looking to escape reality. My 13yo loves it and I canstantly have to remind her that Edward is NOT real :o)", "date_added": "Tue Mar 18 12:50:38 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 02 07:46:57 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "33509076", "review_id": "0a19fea94a819af5208dc33a87e5bfba", "rating": 2, "review_text": "13 year old me would have loved this book. 23 year old me...not so much.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 28 14:31:45 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 02 21:21:10 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Oct 03 21:21:10 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "30116958", "review_id": "5ef49293a9d71b7d28a1565386dbf343", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Such a fun, refreshing read. \n Full review to come.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 19 23:20:27 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 22 10:11:11 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jul 22 10:11:11 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "28218948", "review_id": "06946b4afb75c4910534e22c99e83fd6", "rating": 0, "review_text": "DNF @ 52% \n I really wanted to like this book - Macbeth is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays - but this was just not holding my attention. Half way through the book, I don't care about any of the characters and I kept waiting for chapters to end.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 03 18:37:38 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 03 18:39:11 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Tue May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "17878931", "review_id": "85605a9f62715a048469edbb2e32e6e4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "More like a 3.5. This book does not read as well the second time around.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 13 21:00:48 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 17 20:00:57 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jan 13 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "30269126", "review_id": "75308d4f6b0428fcceb8b43151fada40", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Actual rating: 3.5 out of 5", "date_added": "Sun Aug 07 13:43:25 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue May 23 19:21:07 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "30312855", "review_id": "c00a1f1c554f996a8e55dce8267b4f21", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book guys. This book. \n Full review to come.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 15 18:30:05 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 04 21:27:17 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jul 05 21:27:17 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "18780192", "review_id": "d1ef9acd6edb1b3f4e97ae98bb3aba82", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Review originally posted on journeyintotheshelves.tumblr.com & journeyintotheshelves.wordpress.com \n **I received a copy of this eBook courtesy of the author. This has had no bearing on this review. \n So what happens after the fairytale ending? Everyone always expects that the heroes of the story really do live happily ever after. David Meredith's The Reflections of Queen Snow White explores the possibility that it's not as simple as that. \n Taking place years after her fairytale ending, Snow White, now queen, is consumed by her depression and helplessness after the passing of her Prince Charming; not even her daughter's wedding will bring joy back to her heart. In an attempt to find some solitude, she uncovers a dusty, unused room where she finds her stepmother's old magic mirror. From there, she goes on an personal journey through her memories to reveal parts of herself that she may have long forgotten. Meredith's The Reflections of Queen Snow White is a true character study that delves deeper into the life of Snow White than few have experienced before. Through the mirror's \"reflections\" we experience the wickedness of her stepmother, fall in love with Charming, and learn what it really takes to rule a kingdom. \n Though a quick read, Meredith's work is enjoyable and addresses some major themes, such as how to cope with the loss of a loved one, in a simplistic, yet relatable way. The memories and backstory that Meredith adds to Snow White's story are fascinating and different, but still captures the essence of the original story. The writing flows easily and fits with the setting and voice of the time period. I'm going to be honest, sometimes I was very glad that my kindle has a built in dictionary, but it all still fit within the parameters story. My one issue with this book is that it is a bit too short. The ending felt just a bit rushed and needed to be expanded to really round out Snow White's character arc. \n Overall, The Reflections of Queen Snow White is a quick, enjoyable read that discusses how to find hope in darkness, and how to truly believe in oneself.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 09 14:01:35 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 18 12:39:36 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "27883214", "review_id": "040752805b81537ba95dc801893eb9aa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 out of 5. RTC", "date_added": "Wed May 11 14:34:45 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 27 20:42:22 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "25526296", "review_id": "db86583ddcb7d6443a57c940462d7167", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Review originally posted on journeyintotheshleves.tumblr.com & journeyintotheshelves.wordpress.com \n **I received an eARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and Tor. This has had no bearing on this review. \n Have you ever read a book that you just want to immerse yourself in and never leave? Every Heart a Doorway is one of those books. \n Every Heart a Doorway tells the story of the children who go on magical adventures through the wardrobe or fall down the rabbit hole after they come back to Earth. It's about the kids who journey from extraordinary to the mundane and can no longer cope. Returning home isn't easy, so these children go to Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children, a place specifically made and meant for them, but this sanctuary may not be as safe as they hope. \n This book was incredible. I wish it was longer because I wanted to see more of this world that McGuire created; I wanted to dive into these characters and know what their lives were like before. I just wanted more. \n However, even though I wanted more, the book still felt whole. What we were given as readers was still enough to satisfy the wanting of a well-rounded cast of characters and a gripping plot that every reader wants when diving into a new book. \n The characters were well-rounded and very different from each other, which you could see, not only in the places that they went to, but their tone and manners of speaking. Each character, even minor background characters, had their own distinctive voice that added to this world McGuire has created. Not only that, but this book has an openly asexual and an openly transgender main characters where the plot of the book does not revolve around their sexuality, which was refreshing to read (because, like many, I am tired of books with LGBTQIA+ characters that are solely defined by their sexuality). \n Don't let the fantasy genre tag fool you, this book is a mystery. Despite it's short length, McGuire was able to get so much story and suspense squeezed onto every page that really brought this book to incredible heights. There are few mystery books that I've read where I didn't know or couldn't figure out who was the culprit (I blame watching too much Law and Order as a child), but this one had me guessing every step of the way. \n Overall, Every Heart a Doorway is a captivating, unique, and thrilling novel that delves into the psychology of those who are able to discover who their true selves are, and what may happen when that is all taken away.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 02 18:55:50 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 30 09:22:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "16221851", "review_id": "5fb51805ab07e54610c7ab6b3c43be59", "rating": 2, "review_text": "**I received an eARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. This has had no bearing on this review. \n A loose retelling of Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, Sarah Rees Brennan's Tell the Wind and Fire follows Lucie Manette a girl born in the Dark half of this fantastical version of New York City, and manages to escape to the Light. With her escape, she becomes a celebrity in both the Light and the Dark, for two different reasons, but Lucie just wants to live a normal life. But her boyfriend has a dark secret of his own that pulls her back into the center of a deep power struggle between the Dark and the Light where she may not be able to save everyone. \n Unfortunately, Tell the Wind and Fire was mildly underwhelming for me. It wasn't a bad read, however it wasn't as enjoyable as I expected it to be based on past works of Brennan's that I've read. I always love stories about divided cities, but this one just didn't capture me. The plot, like the city, was divided. There were aspects that were rich and well developed - Lucie's past, for example - while others, some even pivotal to the progression of the story, were not. This just made the entire novel seem disjointed, rushed, and jumpy all the way to the end. \n The characters themselves also suffered from this underdevelopment. While Lucie's former life is a key aspect of both her character and the plot, it seemed as if it was the only thing worth mentioning. This caused her character arc to feel rushed. Brennan's other characters, namely Ethan and Carwyn, also suffered from this underdevelopment. So much so that, when their character arcs \"complete,\" it just simply felt out of character for both. I wanted more development, especially when it came to Carwyn's character who added a bit of personality and comedy to the story. \n The writing throughout the novel seemed just as disjointed as the plot. At times, it felt like she was trying too hard to imitate Dickens' style, which made the story and flow feel awkward. The worst of it, in my opinion, was chapter three which was an entire chapter dedicated to world building. In essence, a chapter solely dedicated as an info dump. It shattered any kind of pace Brennan was building and, actually, confused me more than it helped. \n The saving grace of this novel were the last couple of chapters. They were interesting, coherent, and fast paced. If Brennan made the entire book like those few chapters, it would have been a hit. Unfortunately, that just isn't the case and Tell the Wind and Fire is a miss for me.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 27 15:02:37 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon May 23 15:25:27 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "29069989", "review_id": "f5b9239fe12c35e06d3f4ce26b9628cd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Did I like it? Yes. \n Did I love it? No.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 10 09:14:53 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 09 12:43:04 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "25821928", "review_id": "9865842a16985608a3ab6706003ff3ff", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Rating: 1.5 \n DNF @ 54%. \n RTC", "date_added": "Mon Dec 21 02:40:35 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 20 22:13:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "21518344", "review_id": "5d3bb259c77f52fce0b5ed6a1039f8ec", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5. RTC closer to release date.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 02 09:02:22 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 20 22:12:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jan 05 11:41:03 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "21469054", "review_id": "4ba73238b4d94d88237c831bdb1d61e5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "How many days until Winter? \n RTC", "date_added": "Sun Oct 18 15:15:33 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 19 19:21:07 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Oct 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "28260587", "review_id": "17e5ec5c41ca8f1add31e5fdd2a78564", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 out of 5 stars. \n Overall I enjoyed this book, but I do have some issues with some of it. Full review to come.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 16 13:46:46 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 18 20:18:09 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Sep 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "24292310", "review_id": "91de638d6225adb20ddfcf23919ed883", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I recieved an ARC of this novel thanks to Random House and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. \n In all honesty, I had to push myself through this book. Though the writing was beautiful and poetic, a majority of the time, especially when he was writing about the history of the jinn, it read like a drawn-out textbook. His language also, as the book progressed, left me marginally confused. I kept finding myself rereading passages in order to fully understand what was going on. \n The characters in this book were another problem I had with this book. With the exception of Dania, the jinn, they all felt fairly one-dimensional and interchangeable. I found myself not really caring what was going to happen to them or what they were going to do. Along with the characters, the plot didn't connect with me much either. The disjointed nature of it - the transitions from the main plot line to the history and back - made the book just drag on. \n I did, however, enjoy the philosophical nature of this book, and it is one that I'll contemplate reading again in the future because of this fact. Rushdie's running themes of good vs. evil and the nature of love, for example, were thought provoking and will resonate with readers. \n Overall, I was disappointed with Two Years Eight Months and Twenty Eight Nights, though it will not stop me from picking up another Rushdie book in the future. I may also give this one another try to see if maturity, age, and life experience changes my viewpoints on some of the plot points and philosophical ideas that Rushdie tackles in this beautifully written novel.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 03 20:04:35 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 20 22:14:32 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "15724396", "review_id": "de5dd7a9cb7df13424b00849d7a30f49", "rating": 0, "review_text": "6/22/16 - DNF @ 54%. I put this book down months ago and haven't had the desire to pick it back up again. Though, I may in the future so we'll see...", "date_added": "Mon Aug 17 21:24:33 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 22 13:11:24 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Wed Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "25016375", "review_id": "8a2444371c68fb3d8ceedf49c7a188d7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Review originally posted on journeyintotheshelves.tumblr.com \n **I received an eARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group. This has had no bearing on this review. \n The Anatomy of Curiosity is a compilation of three short stories written by Maggie Stiefvater, Tessa Gratton, and Brenna Yovanoff. that really delves into the creation of each of the stories, and what goes into character development, world building, and the creation and follow-through of an idea. \n This book is fantastic for aspiring writers. It took me a while for me to read this because I didn't read it as just short stories - though you can, and each story has it's own merits - but rather I focused on their writing processes and the little notes and additions that each author added to their stories. \n The book starts off with Maggie Stiefvater's short story, \"Ladylike\", and her discussion on character development: she discusses how to introduce characters, how to develop and execute a character arc. Stiefvater gives great advice on how to create characters without blatantly telling the reader what he/she looks like; but rather how to get the feel of a character across to the reader, not just the physicality of them, all the while illustrating her technique in her story. \n The story itself was gripping. \"Ladylike\" is a tale about a shy, young girl, Petra, who is asked to read poetry to an elderly woman, Geraldine. Normally, Petra is unsure of herself and is always blushing at the most inopportune times, however when she recites poetry, she is in command of herself and confident. Geraldine helps bring confident Petra out all the time, but Geraldine has a secret of her own that could ruin their growing friendship. Stiefvater's characters leapt off the page and were truly the focus of this story. Honestly, I wouldn't mind reading an entire novel-length story about them. \n Tessa Gratton's story, \"Desert Canticle\", is all about world building. The story that went along with Gratton's lesson was incredibly detailed for such a short story. She explains and shows how world building can be woven into the plot and plot structure and how the world can imitate character and how character and plot can imitate the world. It was truly masterfully portrayed in this story. \n As a short story \"Desert Canticle\" was the one I liked the least. It is set in a female dominated society at the end of a desert war. The main characters are a Pacer, a person who is sent into former war zones to disarm magical bombs that bloom like flowers, and a Mage. While in the desert, the two form an unusual relationship that may be explosive on its own. It was beautifully written and well imagined, but the characters lacked a bit of development. However, the plot was engaging and had a nice twist that kept me invested. \n The last story, \"Variations on Drowning\", by Brenna Yovanoff is actually a compilation of various stories that stemmed off the idea of drowning that Yovanoff was fixated on for years. This part of the novel illustrates the progression from a simple idea to a beautifully written story about love and hope. Reading Yovanoff's process was really helpful because it shows how such a small and simple idea can be turned into something so much bigger, even if it does take a couple of tries. \n Overall, The Anatomy of Curiosity is a novel for that every aspiring writer should read. Though it can be read as simply short stories, those willing to learn from these seasoned authors would get the most out of the reading experience.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 12 18:00:14 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 02 13:51:43 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "21524446", "review_id": "b47de911bb0131ba2cf814b0722eb640", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Review originally posted on journeyintotheshelves.tumblr.com \n **I received an eARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion. This has had no bearing on this review. \n A Thousand Nights is a retelling of the Arabian folktale classic One Thousand and One Nights. It follows the story of a girl who sacrifices herself to a murderous king, Lo-Melkhiin, in order to save her sister. She ventures away from home to his palace, marries him, and expects to be dead by dawn just like the 300 wives before her. The sun rises the next morning, and she's alive and she's determined to stay that way. A story of faith, perseverance, and just a touch of magic, E.K. Johnston weaves a magical story about survival and the bond between sisters. \n This was one of my top anticipated books of 2015 - I mean, the cover alone is gorgeous, but the synopsis sold me - and I was so thrilled when I was emailed saying that I got an eARC. Though, because I had such high expectations for this book, I was slightly let down (most likely because I built it up so much in my mind that it couldn't live up to the expectations). \n The main problem I had with this book was with the plot. It took me a while to find it, actually, and it didn't really begin to show itself until about a third of the way of the novel. There wasn't any real action build in the beginning. The plot did being to build, however, toward the later half of the book, and began to really develop toward the end of the novel. The same goes with the action of A Thousand Nights. I just wanted it a bit longer since it began to develop so late, or for the action to begin just a bit sooner. \n Though, this doesn't mean I disliked the plot entirely. There were certain moments in the novel that were fascinating to read. For example, there is magic in this story (of course; it's a fantasy novel), but I didn't realize how much of it was real until about halfway through (which I think was the point; adds a bit of mystery). The magic that both characters wield and what is done with this magic, and how it is created and used was imaginative and different from what I've read in other books previously. \n However, E.K. Johnston's writing style is what made this book. I really enjoyed the way she told this story. It was simply beautiful. The way she wrote this story felt more like she was sitting around a campfire or telling the story to children before bed, rather than something that was written down on paper. It had a spoken elegance to it that really ensnares the reader and drives them to read farther. It was masterfully scripted story, so, if anything, the book is worth reading just for her storytelling capabilities alone. \n The characters in this book were fairly basic. The reader never discovers anyone's name - even the narrator's, with the exception of the king, Lo-Melkhiin. This was slightly frustrating in the beginning to read it that way because it became repetitive and a nuisance to continually refer to people as \"my father's father's father\" over and over again. However, I can see why Johnston decided to write the novel in this manner. This method coincides with the \"campfire storytelling\" writing style Johnston has and it really brings the reader into the novel. Because there isn't a definitive name for the main character or her family members, the reader can insert themselves into the book and become the main character (which sort of counteracts the lackluster qualities of the plot to make the reader want to continue). It is told in the first person point of view (except for certain parts which were, actually, very fun and interesting to read because it gave you a peek into the mind of Lo-Melkhiin), and this furthers the self-insertion idea. \n Overall, A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston is a beautifully written standalone retelling of One Thousand and One Nights about a girl who gives up everything to save her sister.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 03 19:48:56 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 18 12:55:48 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Aug 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "18584855", "review_id": "06d622106b1b3dc040163574dd10d431", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5. Review to come closer to publication.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 27 21:59:03 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 13 18:24:21 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "8621462", "review_id": "9e12d0941057350b0590d64db4ecc3e9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have read a lot of books about death and grief this year. This one, by far, was the best one.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 22 15:52:47 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 17 19:55:23 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "24751478", "review_id": "a92ab537120d03ea739f3b0d95a2146e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Review originally posted on journeyintotheshelves.tumblr.com & journeyintotheshelves.wordpress.com. \n **I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Penguin Random House at BEA 2015. This has had no bearing on this review. \n Soundless follows the story of Fei who lives in a remote mining village at the top of a mountain where everyone is deaf. Fei's village depends on trade with an unknown group at the bottom of the mountain for food and other materials that they cannot get from their surroundings. When the miners begin to loose their eyesight, the trade becomes lighter and the people in Fei's village begin to starve. When Fei miraculously regains the ability to hear, she realizes that she may be able to help her village from dying. That is, if she can get down the mountain. \n In this magical new story by Richelle Mead, Soundless reimagines a Chinese folktale and brings to life the story of a brave girl in her fight to save everything she knows and loves. \n Unfortunately, I wasn't blown away by this story as much as I wanted to. I have loved all of the books by Richelle Mead that I have read so far, and Soundless was one of my top anticipated books of 2015. \n I was intrigued by the idea of a standalone fantasy novel; I haven't read any - in my memory - and I was interested in seeing how aspects like world building would translate in a standalone. With that said, I think Soundless could have actually been longer, just for the simple fact that I felt like the world was fairly underdeveloped. I didn't really get a feeling of the setting and the atmosphere that Fei and the other characters were living in, which was unique to this novel in the first place. The world building just wasn't there, which was unfortunate. \n The characters were the biggest redeeming part of this novel, and this is where Mead really shines. Fey and her passion for her sister and her determination to help her sister is what drove the story forward and grounded the novel so steeped in folklore. Fei's relationship with Li was also a defining trait of the novel that I actually wanted more of after the novel was over just to see their relationship develop more. \n The pacing of this novel was off. In the beginning, the plot went fairly slowly, and then towards the end - I would say, around the last fifty pages or so - the plot picked up speed quickly that left the ending feel rushed. There was no real balance to the book. The plot of this novel was great - an intriguing concept with beautiful storytelling - but the pacing detracted from it. \n Overall, Soundless explores a realm of folktales that I am not completely familiar with, which was really exciting to read and it did leave me wanting more from this world. However, this novel just seemed to slightly miss the mark.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 28 22:41:21 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 21 12:12:06 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Oct 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "21393526", "review_id": "a129114b2aea353ec96f6d6820d8b1e5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Review originally posted on journeyintotheshelves.tumblr.com \n Very rarely do I say that I love a book. Yes, I do give five star ratings, but there is always something that rubs me the wrong way, or I didn't feel completely satisfied. But I absolutely loved Magonia. \n Before I even get into how much I loved the book, let's discuss the gorgeousness that is this cover. It's beautiful, artistic, symbolic, and just slightly hints at what is in store on the inside of the book. I absolutely adore it and it has to be one of my all-time favorite covers. \n Anyway, Magonia tells the story of Aza, a fifteen year old girl who is dying of a rare lung disease (so rare that it is named after her). One day, strange things begin to happen to her: she sees ships in the sky, she hears things that no one else can, birds follow her. She and her family chalk it up to her sickness and hallucinations, but when Aza dies, she realizes that all of the strange things are very, very real. Aza discovers the world of Magonia, of squalwhales and thundersharks, of Magonians. In this world, Aza discovers that she is more powerful and important than she ever was before, and this leads her on a journey of self-discovery and pure adventure. \n The world that Maria Dahvana Headley created was imaginative, unique, and nothing short of amazing. And the characters that she created were no different. Filled with strong and a diverse cast (which was mostly ladies - HECK YES!), they came to life off the page so easily. It was as if Aza was sitting before me explaining what had happened to her. The relationships throughout the novel are dynamic and the characters are easy to love. If you read this book, I dare you not to fall in love with Jason. It is impossible. Headley created this fantastical world but made it feel so honestly real, which, I think, is such a difficult feat to accomplish in some fantasy novels. \n The writing in this was superb as well. Her style was simplistically lyrical, and purely beautiful. My copy is filled with post-it notes tagging all different quotes and sections that I fell in love with instantly. \n My one, slight issue was that I felt parts of the plot were rushed. I felt like the novel could have been just slightly longer in order to flesh out some aspects that were noted, but not deeply explained, such as the ship's crew and their motivations. \n Overall, however, I enjoyed Magonia tremendously. Maria Dahvana Headley took me on a journey through the skies and I cannot wait to go back once the sequel comes out. \n And I have two very important words for all of you: LADY PIRATES.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 16 20:04:30 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 11 19:40:41 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "23174274", "review_id": "8c39d69755eb60256d603719579d297e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Actual rating: 4.5. \n Review originally posted on journeyintotheshelves.tumblr.com \n **I received an ARC of this book courtesy of HarperCollins at New York Comic Con. This has had no bearing on this review. \n One of my most anticipated releases of 2016, Glass Sword is the sequel to the bestselling Red Queen. The story centers around Mare Barrow, a girl born with red blood, but has the powers of those with silver. She thinks she's the only one of her kind, but when she discovers that there are others out there like her, Mare is determined to find them. But Maven, the sinister and vindictive king, is not quite ready to let go of her just yet. Action packed and emotionally charged, Glass Sword does not disappoint and is definitely one not to be missed. \n It may not seem like it at first, but Glass Sword is full of nonstop action, emotion, and turmoil. There was a lot more of internal conflict and dialogue in this novel than in Red Queen, but it didn't slow the momentum of the plot in the slightest. The Mare Barrow of Glass Sword is very different from the Mare Barrow that we meet at the beginning of Red Queen, so watching her development and struggles within herself were engaging and entertaining to read. It's really the second half of the book where the action picks up and the pages seem to fly by. \n My favorite aspect of this novel is Aveyard's world building. The world that started to reveal itself in Red Queen expands massively in this novel. Aveyard does a great job at describing the atmosphere and all of the different cities and places that Mare and her team visit. Capturing the essence of a place is crucial to developing and writing a fantastic fantasy novel, and Aveyard truly nails this skill. I just really hope that there's a map in the final bind up because it would help visualizing where places are in relation to each other (plus, I just love maps). \n The characters that Aveyard introduces and continues to develop are vastly interesting and complex. From Farley to Maven, each one of the characters grows in depth and really adds dimension to the story; most particularly is the development of Mare. Mare Barrow is not a main character that everyone will like. I don't like her, and if I had the chance to meet her I'm not sure that I would want to. But, that does not hinder the fact that she is deeply complex. She's not a likable character, but she goes through so much conflict and does things that no one else would in order to survive that you cannot help but feel for her. \n I really enjoyed Cal and Mare's relationship in Red Queen, however it seems a bit forced in this one. The chemistry between them isn't as strings it was and I'm curious to see where she takes them in the next book. Especially, after the events that unfolded at the end of the novel. \n You thought the ending of Red Queen was a cliffhanger? Wait until the end of Glass Sword. Let's just say I'm \"patiently\" waiting for Book 3. \n Overall, I deeply enjoyed Glass Sword. With a dash of romance, one psychotic ruler, and a brewing civil war, it's a great action packed novel that explores the emotional and psychological ramifications of wartime actions.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 16 20:02:44 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 09 12:33:44 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Nov 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "22328546", "review_id": "951b38bb569a00283ab879676b9c1947", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Actually 4.5 out of 5. \n Review to come.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 10 16:14:27 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 16 18:15:32 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "20983362", "review_id": "5d2ff9ded529d191470b1ffdebf81222", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow, just wow. Such a departure from The Darkest Minds series, but still phenomenal. \n Full review to come.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 09 22:53:06 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 11 14:45:41 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jan 11 14:45:41 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "16034235", "review_id": "3d6c107f0d8dc9bda75c6f3625420f37", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 out of 5. Review to come.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 21 05:10:24 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 09 22:10:42 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jul 10 22:10:42 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "18139931", "review_id": "73a21b3a4f2485d0e1a28e87bbd793a3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Review originally posted on journeyintotheshelves.tumblr.com \n When I read Cinder last summer, I immediately went out to by Scarlet. I have no idea why I waited so long to read it, but now that I did I have one thing to say....I am an idiot. \n I loved this book from beginning to end. Scarlet Benoit has to be one of my favorite characters that I have had the pleasure of reading this year so far. If I were a heroine in a book, I would be her. No, I would want to be her (because in all honesty, I think I would hide under a rock if I had to put up with some of the stuff she does). I fell in love with Wolf the moment he appeared on the page, and I believe that Meyer did a fantastic job writing him because I felt his conflict even though I was seeing him through Scarlet's eyes. \n I did, however, approach this sequel with a little bit of hesitation because I wasn't sure how Cinder and Scarlet would weave together without the feeling of \"jumping around\". I was afraid that it would feel disorganized in a way. I was so wrong. Meyer weaves Cinder's, Scarlet's and Prince Kai's stories so well that I didn't feel like it was \"jumping around\", but rather giving me a whole overview of what was happening. Whenever the point of view would shift, I wanted to go back to the last one, but then it would shift again and I would want to keep reading the last point of view. \n I wished the book was longer.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 20 23:01:12 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 20 23:41:51 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "18712886", "review_id": "2a87a06fb74d38399222b62aec3a761b", "rating": 1, "review_text": "DNF at 45%. \n I put this book down two weeks ago and have no desire to pick it up again. Nothing was happening.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 02 15:26:58 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 26 17:23:46 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "16096824", "review_id": "b22ccdc96788baf9466346abfb8ec0f3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Review originally posted on journeyintotheshelves.tumblr.com \n A Court of Thorns and Roses tells the story of Feyre, a poor village girl who would do anything for those she loves. The novel opens with Feyre in the woods, hunting, where she manages to kill a wolf, so she thinks. The wolf turns out to be a faerie, and Feyre is confronted by Tamlin who demands her to either sacrifice herself or live in Prythian - the land of the fae - for the rest of her life as penance. She goes with Tamlin where she faces the horrors of the fae she's heard about her entire life, but also the beauty of life in Prythian that she never imagined. Feyre falls in love with Tamlin, but when a dangerous force threatens to tear them apart, along with her entire life as she knows it, Feyre must decide to run away to her family or follow her heart and fight. \n I loved this book from beginning to end. I devoured it; if I didn't have work I would have finished it in a day. This was the first Sarah J. Maas book I've read, and I fell in love with her writing. She focuses on the details so wonderfully, that I could picture the world she was building so easily, but it wasn't too overwhelming at the same time. Both the beauty and the danger of Prythian were expressed so well, I just wanted to be consumed by everything. \n Her detailed world building translated well to creating characters too. The characters are well fleshed out and complex, and I can only imagine how better they will become as the series continues. I fell in love with Tamlin and Lucien (I actually wanted more scenes with Lucien because he's a sarcastic asshole and I love him), and even Rhysand gained my interest towards the end. Feyre is who I would want to be in a world like this - fierce but delicate - and her relationship with her family was really special and interesting to read. \n The plot was engaging throughout, and the last third of the book was so fast paced, I couldn't put it down. The relationship between Tamlin and Feyre was so tangible that it made my stomach twist in the best possible way. \n My favorite aspect regarding the novel was how Maas played with The Beauty and the Beast story. At times, I thought she actually inverted the image - meaning that the girl was the beast - but it turned into something much more complex, and I really enjoyed it. \n Overall, A Court of Thorns and Roses grabbed my attention and held it hostage. It's a fantastic novel about how far one will go for those they love. I cannot wait until the sequel comes out next year.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 16 10:02:11 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 20 12:51:25 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "13253102", "review_id": "763918ce8c01facb5e49758a623feaea", "rating": 0, "review_text": "DNF @ 71% \n At this rate, I haven't read it in so long that I don't remember what's happened. I'll pick it back up after the semester is over. I want to power read all five books.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 16 11:09:04 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 28 23:15:50 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Mon Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "18527507", "review_id": "46b4e6b16cd39386a22643a6b4fca300", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Review originally posted on journeyintotheshelves.tumblr.com \n I am so disappointed with this book. I wanted to like it, I really did, but I just couldn't fully get into it. Every once in a while, the plot would grab me with one issue or another. But once it was resolved, the plot seemed to drop off and reading became painful until the next issue came along. \n Some of the dialogue and plot seemed to jump around also, and the characterization wasn't always consistent (Isabel, especially). I did find it completely strange that Grace and Sam \"fell in love\" with each other so quickly and while one was a wolf. I am curious, however, if the time they spent watching each other will be addressed in the following books, so I think I will pick up the rest of the series at some point. \n Despite this, there were a few things I liked about this book. I did like the conflict between Beck and Sam. I did like - once I got over the idea of beastiality - Sam and Grace's relationship. Take away the werewolf part, and it kind of reminded me of Hazel and Gus' relationship in The Fault in Our Stars at times. The \"you gave me forever in the numbered days\" kind of stuff. \n I really wanted to like this book, but the plot line seemed played out to me. Though, honestly, it might be because I read this 6 years after it was published when stories like this started becoming really popular (thank you Twilight), but I honestly don't know. I do, however, hope the next book picks up.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 16 11:08:04 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 24 17:39:59 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "10644236", "review_id": "df1a86ba20411b04a0d14bd00d5eea80", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Review originally posted on journeyintotheshelves.tumblr.com \n Overall, not a bad start to a series. The story is engaging and has the classic Clare plot twist (though no threat of incest, thank God). Being the first steampunk novel I've read, I don't have much to compare to. However, if I read the word 'clockwork' one more time I was going to throw the book across the room. Of all the characters, Jem, Henry, and Charlotte seemed to be the most flushed out and original of her characters. Will's personality is almost a carbon copy of Jace from The Mortal Instruments series, while Jessamine seems as an afterthought just to act as a foil to the main character, Tessa (Jessa - Tessa...wow). Even Tessa seems to go through an identity crisis. Every time she thinks about 'how a lady should act' it seems as if its merely a reminder to the reader (and to Clare herself, possibly) that the story doesn't take part in the 21st century. Unnecessary additions, I believe, at least the frequency in which these mentions occur. \n Despite my grievances, I was pulled into the story by the plot, the witticisms exchanged, and the 'mystery' surrounding Will, Jem, and Tessa. I will definitely be reading the sequel to discover what unfolds next.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 11 12:08:53 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 24 17:35:23 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f67cc8786583247a1fbf3ee190cbbbc2", "book_id": "7740152", "review_id": "321f78c9d723bb946ebe3a82a60bd89a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "When I read the first book, Fallen, and completed it, I couldn't wait to read the next one. But Torment did not meet my expectations. I was expecting a little more action and a little less whiny Luce. I found her annoying most times and a little idiotic. This book seemed like a filler more or less. I do plan on reading the next one, but not right away.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 18 18:36:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 27 19:43:34 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Aug 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f450e00c849e65dbf4ce08bbbda40079", "book_id": "22328546", "review_id": "8ca2c7f36b2fe5ea89ab4e26a24e4382", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I had been in a reading slump for months and this book brought me out of it. I really enjoyed the story line and the ending twist was unexpected but enjoyable.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 21 09:36:31 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 21 09:38:23 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f450e00c849e65dbf4ce08bbbda40079", "book_id": "8448478", "review_id": "7e99d2b41e6239c9b174e17605cd12da", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n It had an interesting plot line, it made me excited for Frewin's next book. I never expected to like this series this much, but it is very interesting and I'm defiantly glad I read it. The last chapter was the saddest, but my favorite part of it. I can't wait until the next book is out and we can see Tania and Edric marry.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 12 22:29:42 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 12 22:32:11 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "18759758c7cf75975cff3fbb1363a73f", "book_id": "22032324", "review_id": "238f06e4852315644b7124149c7c0683", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Me ha gustado sobre todo la ambientacion de la novela; y la trama ha captado mi atencion lo suficiente para llevarme hasta el final del relato. La historia es prima hermana de la celeberrima serie de television LOST (Perdidos) y espero que el final de la trilogia no sea tan decepcionante como el de la citada serie aunque a mi me va a dar igual porque vistas las criticas de las otras dos entregas de momento no pienso meterme con ellas. A lo mejor si la pelicula les queda muy bien me podria aventurar con las siguientes partes, pero creo que con esta primera he tenido suficiente.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 17 02:50:07 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 17 02:57:53 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed May 10 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "18759758c7cf75975cff3fbb1363a73f", "book_id": "27993611", "review_id": "48c28bb45477ed86891571e01c38af5a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "El peor de los tres. Creo que con las dos entregas anteriores hubiera bastado, quizas la moda de las trilogias le ha perjudicado. Los nuevos personajes no me dicen nada y en general la historia no me ha atrapado; se me caia la novela de las manos. Lastima", "date_added": "Sat Dec 31 05:06:30 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 31 05:13:41 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Dec 25 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "18759758c7cf75975cff3fbb1363a73f", "book_id": "25757300", "review_id": "347d6248a51fb96cec2120ad2a16be06", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Me ha gustado mas que el anterior. La historia esta contada a traves de los ojos de una nueva heroina llamada Espina Bathu y el joven Brand. Aparecen personajes mas carismaticos como Skifr la ladrona de reliquias elficas que ensenara a luchar a Espina y se le da un poco mas de protagonismo al brutal guerrero Grom-gil-Grom. Pienso que el error de esta saga es no haber creado un malo con categoria al estilo del Sauron de \"El senor de los anillos\" lo que le resta fuerza a la trama, aunque en general tiene mas brio y tension que la anterior entrega.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 03 17:01:40 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 31 05:06:12 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "18759758c7cf75975cff3fbb1363a73f", "book_id": "25041228", "review_id": "c54d1dd2116e9ed083cf52e60957e6f1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Relato que peca de usar demasiado el mito Campbelliano por lo que resulta pelin previsible en su desarrollo . Tambien abusa de usar frases sentenciosas del tipo: \"La muerte nos espera a todos\" o \"El acero siempre es la respuesta\" que cuando llevas tres de este tipo por pagina empieza a resultar pesado. Los personajes tampoco son el fuerte de \"Medio rey\" de hecho nos importan mas bien poco ya que no se profundiza para nada en ellos; y tampoco hay ni rastro de romance ni \"bromance\" asi que a Abercrombie en esta ocasion le ha quedado un poco soso el guiso. \n Pero bueno en lineas generales, por el final (con su correspondiente sorpresa) que me ha gustado y por el world building creado sobre todo con el lenguaje (\"cruzar la puerta final\" el padre luna , la madre Guerra\"...) se gana una estrella. Eso si, nada de fantasia ni magia, ni Cristo que lo fundo. Esperemos que las dos siguientes partes mejoren.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 26 04:14:09 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 05 04:56:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Oct 05 13:23:18 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "18759758c7cf75975cff3fbb1363a73f", "book_id": "29219366", "review_id": "2b33d133ff2c34f9202f0e80bf08f8a3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "**1/2 \n Le pondre tres estrellas, que realmente son dos y media, a pesar de no haberlo terminado: me he quedado en un 60% aprox. Me ha entretenido la historia y me ha gustado Parabellum, la detective paranormal protagonista, lo malo ha llegado cuando ha empezado a mezclar centauros, con dioses nordicos, gorgonas y su p**a madre. La trama se me ha hecho una bola intragable y sin ningun remordimiento he abandonado su lectura. Asi que aprobado por los pelos porque lo que he leido me ha gustado pero a mi modo de ver ha sido \"incapataz\" de mantener el interes pasado el ecuador del libro. Espero que en la siguiente entrega afine mas porque iba por buen camino... hasta que se perdio.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 21 19:36:37 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 23 04:09:18 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 23 04:09:18 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "18759758c7cf75975cff3fbb1363a73f", "book_id": "16133830", "review_id": "7bbd8829028f9d5cdd3085c4d42c43e7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Muy buen relato, se lee en un par de horas y esta muy bien escrito en el sentido de que tiene una narrativa muy fluida. Es una historia muy sencilla de la que se pueden extraer muchas lecturas. Seguro que la pelicula va a ser un bombazo.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 13 16:41:55 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 13 16:47:26 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jul 13 16:47:26 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "18759758c7cf75975cff3fbb1363a73f", "book_id": "28487078", "review_id": "458a7a3aefe1e4aef7d9628545ba3b21", "rating": 2, "review_text": "!Menuda desilusion! El mejor libro de fantasia epica del 2015 segun varios criticos (a los que respeto profundamente) no tiene nada de fantasia y nada de epica. El libro lo quieren vender como una \"Cancion de hielo y fuego\" vs wuxia y nada mas lejos de la realidad. Un worldbuilding muy confuso y mal explicado saturado de informacion (el mapa que aparece en el libro esta girado 90o y la mitad de las ubicaciones del relato no aparecen) una sucesion interminable de batallas que dejan de importarnos a partir de la tercera, una gran cantidad de personajes indistinguibles unos de otros y con los que jamas empatizamos ya que el autor no se toma el tiempo suficiente para parar la narracion y dedicarles el tiempo que se merecen, unos dioses que brillan por su ausencia y no aportan absolutamente nada al relato y que seguramente estan puestos para darle ese toque de fantasia que atraiga a los aficionados etc, los tan cacareados avances tecnologicos adelantados a su tiempo que el autor utiliza como excusa para crear un genero derivado del steampunk, el silkpunk aparecen con cuentagotas etcetera. A los protagonistas principales, un guerrero de dos metros y medio de altura y un picaro inteligente no se les saca ningun fruto y no hay rastro del \"bromance\" que es lo que la narracion esta pidiendo a gritos. Cuando llevas doscientas paginas lo que te pide el cuerpo es abandonarlo porque la trama nunca acaba de arrancar (lo cierto es que nunca llega a hacerlo). En resumen no hay por donde cogerlo. Se lleva las dos estrellas por el arranque y algun capitulo suelto que han conseguido implicarme en el texto. Muy recomendable para tu peor enemigo.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 11 17:05:29 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 23 08:31:42 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "18759758c7cf75975cff3fbb1363a73f", "book_id": "29004593", "review_id": "da9bf974a426007b52b7c737ee7b235e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "El balance general de la novela es aprobado por los pelos: 2,5 estrellas . Entre las cosas buenas tenemos: la primera parte del libro donde se nos presenta a los personajes principales con una narracion muy fluida y algunos elementos muy bien disenados como el bosque, los caminantes, la torre, el corazon del bosque, la corrupcion y alguna pocion por ahi; y por otro lado que la historia es autoconclusiva. Entre las malas tenemos un sistema de magia realmente ridiculo (a base de hechizos que podria pronunciar cualquiera y que no suponen ningun coste fisico) y ademas muy abundante, llegando a resultar cansino e infantil. Hay varios personajes decorativos que no aportan nada; el mayor ejemplo de esto es la mejor amiga de la protagonista, Kasia que llega a resultar insufrible. La quimica entre los protagonistas Agnieszka y Sarkan (el dragon) es practicamente nula y destaca por el abuso, cercano al maltrato, que el dragon ejerce sobre ella (pocas bromas con este tema). La trama esta alargada en exceso (le sobran como doscientas paginas) \n Si liman todos estos malos detalles se podria hacer una buena pelicula que supongo no van a tardar en llevar a cabo y que yo vere con gusto y que puede que sea uno de los pocos casos en que supere en calidad al libro porque visualmente tiene mucho potencial.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 06 15:12:10 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 04 02:12:45 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jul 04 02:12:45 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jun 24 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "18759758c7cf75975cff3fbb1363a73f", "book_id": "25393346", "review_id": "3794a5d5bc82ee44e0bebe956af6fa44", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Una idea potentisima que daria para mas novelas pero que la autora no consigue sacarle todo el fruto que podia haber dado. Solamente ya con el titulo dan ganas de leerla. Agradezco a @odo, responsable de la pagina http://sentidodelamaravilla.blogspot.... que la tildara de \"novela perfecta\" (aunque no lo sea) porque si no la hubiera definido asi no me habria ido corriendo a comprarla y me hubiera perdido una obra inolvidable. Quizas quince vidas llegan a ser demasiadas y acaba lastrando el conjunto de la narracion. De todas maneras recomiendo vivamente su lectura.", "date_added": "Sat May 28 17:40:00 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 05 13:12:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "18759758c7cf75975cff3fbb1363a73f", "book_id": "23015395", "review_id": "91847a2e3101d434eb792975d189f2fa", "rating": 2, "review_text": "5/10 El tercer tomo de la trilogia despues de los brillantes El mapa del tiempo y El mapa del cielo ha supuesto una decepcion. El autor ha querido cerrar la historia aatando todos los cabos sueltos pero se ha metido en un jardin de universos paralelos del que cuesta mucho salir y que acaba avocando al aburrimiento. Formalmente sigue estando muy bien escrito pero el desenlace termina siendo muy confuso y nada creible. Una lastima", "date_added": "Sun Nov 09 14:52:34 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun May 22 08:05:45 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "18759758c7cf75975cff3fbb1363a73f", "book_id": "68428", "review_id": "3859b2503b8fb2af2f17ad0a223257d0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "7,5/10 Fantasia. Entretenido y bastante trabajado el mundo creado por Sanderson con un sistema de magia \"dura\" original y detallada basado en las propiedades de los metales. Sin embargo el autor desaprovecha uno de los personajes principales de libro, el emperador, del que se podia haber sacado mucho jugo y la batalla final se queda muy por debajo de las expectativas creadas. No se si me voy a poner con las dos entregas siguientes. Veremos....", "date_added": "Mon Nov 03 15:00:05 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 03 15:00:31 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Nov 03 15:00:31 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Nov 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "18759758c7cf75975cff3fbb1363a73f", "book_id": "18137973", "review_id": "f61fc2010b5db8cb34cfb0f6473e0f09", "rating": 2, "review_text": "no lo he terminado, empezaba muy bien pero me ha empezado a resultar aburrido y lioso y lo he terminado dejando a medio libro mas o menos. Me fastidia pero es lo que hay", "date_added": "Sun Apr 06 12:47:55 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun May 04 15:01:14 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun May 04 15:01:14 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "18759758c7cf75975cff3fbb1363a73f", "book_id": "766869", "review_id": "28f8703eb0b4bae9eeebf20cd5a7b089", "rating": 2, "review_text": "5/10 Empieza bien pero a la mitad del libro se empieza a poner aburrido a mas no poder. Aventuras en alta mar naufragios, motines, descubrimiento de razas nuevas en islas perdidas...Todo contado en primera persona sin dialogos lo que la hace un poco dura de leer. Si hubiera sido buena de verdad ya la habrian adaptado para pelicula en Hollywood.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 22 15:38:18 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 22 15:39:12 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Mar 22 15:39:12 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "18759758c7cf75975cff3fbb1363a73f", "book_id": "6690798", "review_id": "392fea9ced136e8df5e8833b43a41304", "rating": 1, "review_text": "no lo he terminado", "date_added": "Sat Aug 31 15:10:55 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 10 10:35:42 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Nov 10 10:35:42 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "18759758c7cf75975cff3fbb1363a73f", "book_id": "10664113", "review_id": "122d4188a57931edf79b4036e49b11e0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "DEcepcionante.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 13 11:22:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 13 10:44:25 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sat Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "18759758c7cf75975cff3fbb1363a73f", "book_id": "13497", "review_id": "a63206f9430d0f295a83ba3b080df2d3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Mete paja por un tubo y el final esta lleno de cliffhangers ( accion inacabada y los personajes, generalmente, en una situacion complicada e inesperada). Nos muestra lo sucedido a los personajes menos atractivos de la historia: Cersei(esta es la mas carismatica) Jaime, Brienne, Arya y aparecen otros En Dorne y las Islas de Hierro. DE los \"protagonistas\" verdaderos no se sabe nada Tyrion, Jon Nieve y Daenerys. No ha podido mantener el nivel tan intenso del anterior: Tormenta de Espadas, considerado por muchos como el mejor de la saga hasta el momento incluyendo el 5o: Danza de dragones", "date_added": "Sat Jun 16 05:40:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 13 11:21:05 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Oct 13 11:21:05 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0c07498e94309381e4f79c9176f57462", "book_id": "6587879", "review_id": "5494fdacd02e156b3b345f85a5111ece", "rating": 4, "review_text": "so many snakes!", "date_added": "Sun Aug 03 08:25:40 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 10 16:02:55 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Aug 10 16:02:55 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "453e6a280947ac1f82a27b91e5fb89bb", "book_id": "35650131", "review_id": "7ff666ce7f3b672f46916394acf15fa4", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I was really excited about this book based on the description, I was however unable to get into it. \n The characters weren't very fleshed out and I found it overly descriptive and repetitive. \n Overall it went nowhere and could have been edited down to a few chapters rather than a whole book", "date_added": "Wed Aug 23 15:31:51 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 10 11:25:16 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Aug 24 16:09:21 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Aug 23 15:31:51 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "453e6a280947ac1f82a27b91e5fb89bb", "book_id": "28591281", "review_id": "b2932fe5038470ebd5395839d9682ea9", "rating": 2, "review_text": "First off it was very hard for me to get into this book. \n I found the dialogue at the beginning a little too childish between Mari and her mother. \n Not to mention the Redundancy, how many times and in how many different ways do you have to say that she's 18? \n about 1/3 of the way in it got more interesting but I found just as things were progressing the book finished. \n It was okay, not horrible and would definitely benefit from better editing. for example I noticed at least two instances where character names were switched in a paragraph. One time being when O'bryan was hurt and then he was the one handing the bandage. \n I think with better editing it would be a much more enjoyable book.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 31 12:57:48 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 03 11:54:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "453e6a280947ac1f82a27b91e5fb89bb", "book_id": "28964143", "review_id": "2b9cb388457b59579365035b68ca7c9a", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I really wanted to like this book. \n I felt like it had potential but it just kept missing the mark, from plot and character progression to dialogue. \n I love me some demons, I do not love me some of this book.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 18 12:24:30 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 18 12:25:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "453e6a280947ac1f82a27b91e5fb89bb", "book_id": "30333745", "review_id": "fc23065eb8cf65c60fb2dd19c1cff63f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n This book grew on me. \n At first it felt like a copy of City of bones, especially with the nightclub scene at the beginning. \n The first few chapters are a little jumbled and I could have done with out the one chapter from Danny's perspective telling us how arrogant Cole is. \n Really how many times and in how many ways do we have to be told Cole acts arrogant, \n You should be able to show us with your writing. \n That being said I was able to get a little into it after that but it definitely feels more like a first draft than a best seller.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 18 12:07:48 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 18 12:26:05 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "453e6a280947ac1f82a27b91e5fb89bb", "book_id": "1494223", "review_id": "1b688ae64eec6697746439dcd6357c49", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Black Fairy tale by Otsuichi is a suprising read. when i first started to read the book i was intrigued by the tale of the raven, after the first chapter I assumed I would be reading a collection of somewhat macabre Fariy Tales- instead i was thrust into an intriguing tale of memories, accidents, and murder. Though the story had some truly disturbing instances you never felt overwhelmed with horror, Otsuichi has a gift for gently exhibiting the grotesque.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 10 18:21:36 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 11 06:33:34 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "453e6a280947ac1f82a27b91e5fb89bb", "book_id": "27411212", "review_id": "3386ce65c40a74d77bfeec7f989d072b", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I actually enjoyed this book. \n the characters were interesting, it set a good pace and i found it well written. \n The reason this book only rates 2 starts is because I felt like I only read half a book. \n It reads more like a novella or an excerpt than a full length novel.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 13 16:10:43 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 20 13:26:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Feb 12 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Feb 12 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "453e6a280947ac1f82a27b91e5fb89bb", "book_id": "22980192", "review_id": "227ef4360d0f54938d17431b378a0285", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I was really excited to read this book. Devils, Angels, Archaic pawn shops and a a little rebellion, what's not to like? \n Quite a bit apparently. \n That's not to say it was a bad book, on the contrary it was well written and had a well thought out plot. \n The thing is, while i usually get really involved in a book and it's characters i found myself uncharacteristically distanced while reading this one. \n The pages were so overflowing with description that i felt i was being told everything and that what was being shown with character interaction and reflection was redundant. \n I started getting intrigued around the end of the book where it stopped kind of mid-story, making me want to read the second one but leaving me frustrated with first. \n Would i recommend this book to someone else? sure, it was just intriguing enough. \n Would i read it again? probably, not.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 02 14:35:42 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 20 13:27:06 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "453e6a280947ac1f82a27b91e5fb89bb", "book_id": "25366309", "review_id": "24932ccd1ab32d0b3c0993bb37cabcd4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Foundling witch is a quick and easy read perfect reading to your kids or for them to pick up on their own. While it can get a little dark in subject matter it does so without a sense of menace that might scare children. \n The story is just different enough to keep my interest and when i reached the end of the book I was surprised with my desire to find out what happens to Anna in the next installment. \n If you're looking for a book with a little intrigue, a bit of mystery, and a lot of magic then i'd recommend this book.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 30 17:15:15 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 30 17:25:22 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "453e6a280947ac1f82a27b91e5fb89bb", "book_id": "22447922", "review_id": "352f80bf7d25ca1970da24e10420913b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Picked up this book because i couldn't put the imp series down. \n Unfortunately i wasn't as enamored with this book. \n Could be that i just couldn't get into Amber as the main character as much as Sam but \n i found that i had to force myself to finish the book.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 18 03:49:48 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 18 03:52:19 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jan 16 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "453e6a280947ac1f82a27b91e5fb89bb", "book_id": "22328546", "review_id": "de0d5cf37e6269354a31694b9a52fbc3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was originally pretty reluctant to pick up this book as there's a flood of Dystopian post-apocalyptic/war torn fairy tales being shoved out recently in the wake of the hunger games success, and most aren't worth reading quality wise. \n Sheer boredom drove me to randomly start reading Red queen and I'm glad i did. \n Nothing gets me like a good thief protaganist! \n I actually read the whole book in a day because i was drawn into the writing style and characters. \n Red queen is a short but enjoyable read.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 29 04:13:58 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 30 05:02:42 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "453e6a280947ac1f82a27b91e5fb89bb", "book_id": "21535271", "review_id": "d2e562dd46db4a69b88b6fd63a10bb8a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "When i read Patrick's apology about this book I understood why he wrote it. \n The slow regard doesn't continue the story of the Kingkiller Chronicles, it's not a connective short story, and i'm happy of that fact. \n He clearly states this was something he wrote for himself, that he felt needed to be written and thought would forever be a trunk book. \n Auri has always intrigued my and being immersed into her thoughts and the world she lives in where everything has it's place and it's own sort of consciousness was pure magic. \n Don't go into this book expecting to read an excerpt from the next installment, open this book with an open mind and just experience the beauty of the world he created. \n Don't listen to the haters Patrick, if one person picked up that book and found it meaningful than you can be proud of that. \n The slow regard inspired me; i wrote, i drew, i re-read it twice more. \n it's now one of my favourite books. \n http://www.quickmeme.com/img/56/5633a...", "date_added": "Fri Sep 04 16:26:50 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 21 14:49:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "453e6a280947ac1f82a27b91e5fb89bb", "book_id": "71811", "review_id": "f53711ae523fdc5f6b8b162c62920b3f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I actually really enjoyed this book. Great characters and solid storytelling. \n If you want a light interesting urban fantasy read with amusing dialogue i highly recommend this book.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 08 14:38:40 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 21 14:52:28 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "453e6a280947ac1f82a27b91e5fb89bb", "book_id": "45106", "review_id": "97a62faa35d1357f4c63ff8746009160", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I feel like i gained a lot of weight while reading this book", "date_added": "Sun Jul 13 21:00:17 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 07 13:10:05 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Nov 24 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Nov 22 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "453e6a280947ac1f82a27b91e5fb89bb", "book_id": "15734760", "review_id": "41dab573fcfed4aac43abc6dd9aaa98b", "rating": 1, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I've always loved reading Laurell k. Hamilton, \n until about halfway through the Anita blake series. \n Somewhere after Narcissus in Chains it seemed that every book would focus more and more on Anita's commitment issues and her discomfort with having multiple lovers. \n Now i'm all for character development and growing along with the heroine, what i have issue with is complete loss of character and meaningful story line. \n Every book, and then every chapter would just reiterate the same drivel. \n Needless to say after being disappointed with the last several Anita Blake books, i couldn't wait to get my hands on the latest merry. \n And keeping in theme with her latest releases i was unfortunately disappointed. \n Once again it seemed that story line was drowned in a wave of can i love more than one man at the same time? \n While merry doesn't have the same reservations as Anita, she did spend most of the book assuring the multiple fathers of her babies that she loved them all to varying degrees. \n The random killing off of Sholto also wasn't a big hit with me. \n While it's the authors prerogative to kill off any character they like, it doesn't sit well with me when it seems like the whole book is just pieced together from notes made along the way without a cohesive effort at compiling a decent book. \n So if Laurell K. Hamilton reads this i hope she takes it fr what it is, an honest review. \n Being a loyal fan of many years and a lover of books, it physically hurts when an artist falls in quality like this. \n for any other authors reading this, please realize that most people who create your fan base can tell when things are just pieced together to meet a deadline and when your heart isn't in it. \n i'm finding it more and more difficult to find books i can really enjoy and it's frustrating searching through all the crap to find a decent author. having one of your favourites turn quality like this out is like a slap in the face to readers like me who continue to buy your books out of loyalty and hope that you'll regain the spark you once had. \n there should be a new category of fantasy/paranormal romance to warn off serious bookaholics. Maybe crap like twilight? \n not trying to bash Laurell but i think after the last few years of turnouts it needed to be said.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 15 20:19:50 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 15 20:46:59 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "367eb0e5a93858e2424c86170b911fe3", "book_id": "15719710", "review_id": "0589bf6725149419ed6b1e388fbf6f34", "rating": 3, "review_text": "What starts out as a very cool premise full of interesting (and often twisted) characters turns into a tale of underdeveloped ones. The idea of the witch soon dissolves into a repetitive tedium and the author's style relies too heavily upon a gross abundance of allusions, similes, & metaphors that cannot be ignored. \n In this age, with the rampant necessity of self publishing, there was a blatant need of editing that seemed overlooked. Errors of grammar/punctuation/spelling were continual--not all to be blamed on the author--but on the process of self publishing. Be this as it may, the errors were enough to distract me from the story & reminded me that I was indeed reading (instead of allowing me to remain lost in the author's storytelling). \n I will give Vernon another try because he has some true storytelling potential.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 11 09:01:03 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 01 17:22:20 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "367eb0e5a93858e2424c86170b911fe3", "book_id": "21337", "review_id": "09ac54fc1d141894a24d6cd6f1138005", "rating": 3, "review_text": "An interesting take on the Frankenstein tale, Koontz moves at blazing speed through this tale. The story is full of killers and strange twists of scientific accomplishments. My biggest gripes revolve around a seemingly meaningless following of a red herring killer and the many dull aspects of Randall Six. \n All in all, Carson, Michael, and Deucalion are all interesting characters that kept my curiosity and attention. I'm a lover of Frankenstein tales/films and this one didn't disappoint. I will be continuing on to the next book of the series.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 05 07:58:19 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 12 10:22:18 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jun 12 10:22:18 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "367eb0e5a93858e2424c86170b911fe3", "book_id": "1437834", "review_id": "b98342edacb353ed16d35e22200ac9bd", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I'm not quite sure what to say about this sequel to Live Girls. Perhaps je june? Pedantic? Tedious? Whatever the proper term would be, this book dragged on for far too long. Easilly, seventy pages could have been expurgated from the work. This novel really lacked action and was full of more characters that were never rounded enough to connect with. Of course, don't get me started on the over-the-top cliche characters that were added to this installment or the horrifically brutal rape scenes that added very little to the progression of the story-line (except for the \"freak factor\"). Quite disappointing.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 06 08:34:52 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 11 11:08:24 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "367eb0e5a93858e2424c86170b911fe3", "book_id": "2890601", "review_id": "98e98e63f8533d1063ccbe59fee050b4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not a bad telling of a vampire tale. It was a quick read and had plenty of action involved to keep me interested. My gripe? I couldn't find a single likeable character in the work. The closest character to \"likeable\" was Casey, but she wasn't nearly expanded upon enough to gain an emotional connection from myself. \n Overall, it's Garton. How can you go wrong with anything the man writes? The book is definitely worth the read.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 04 05:45:39 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 06 08:26:11 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jun 06 08:26:11 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "367eb0e5a93858e2424c86170b911fe3", "book_id": "6690798", "review_id": "6654dd52512996205ebc8ddea36f9a46", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Justin Cronin's The Passage is a courageous attempt at a Herculean scoped story about how the government causes the so-called end of the world by engineering vampire-like creatures with The Twelve. The story jumps from past to present and involves a wide array of characters (so get ready to sort out who is who). My only complaints about the story are that it took over 200 pages to actually get interesting and the unnecessary/excessive amount of detail. Easily, 100+ pages of nonessential information could be wittled away. Regardless, the story is a fun read and I eagerly await the sequel in October 2012.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 05:36:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 06 07:17:11 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "367eb0e5a93858e2424c86170b911fe3", "book_id": "11558", "review_id": "5ff30c6e7ca1ff5f393a5f6de23afe0d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A mediocre book about vicious vampires and the struggling souls bent on defending themselves and loved ones against the onslaught of the dead. There were a few problems with this novel. 1. It takes 200 + pages to actually get interesting. 2. Too much detail given towards the setting. Easilly, 100 pages or more could have been edited out. 3. (Perhaps the largest problem) Every character is completely forgettable. I didn't care about any of the characters and found them all very cliche and dull. I always search for a character that I can connect with and cheer for. Unfortunately, this book didn't have a single one. I simply didn't care who lived and who died. \n 4. The head vampire/the Master was truly pathetic and lacking in the scares department. \n If you're looking for a book that actually crafts vampires the way that they should be, give this one a try. There are no sparkling, vegetarian ones here. However, this book was only an adequate read (and nothing more). They Thirst can't hold a candle to Salem's Lot.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 05:31:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 19 09:54:41 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jul 19 09:54:41 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "367eb0e5a93858e2424c86170b911fe3", "book_id": "11557", "review_id": "8eded96d12d74264720028e45adf8eeb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Quite an epic tale in the vain of The Stand, but no where near as interesting or colorful. A story worthy of reading, my only complaint is that it took 500 pages for me to start to care for the plotline or characters. The final 300+ pages were a wonderful experience of friendship, perseverance, and survival.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 05:30:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 03 07:08:02 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jun 03 07:08:02 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "367eb0e5a93858e2424c86170b911fe3", "book_id": "216211", "review_id": "c1cfd58fa3bb0e8206bfdaf2df03bb86", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Hands down my favorite book by Keene. Hauntingly tragic and obviously filled with sentiment from Brian's own childhood, the book is fraught with tension and incredible characters. It made me quite nostalgic for my own youth; however, minus the abuse and crazy procreating monster. A must read for any fan of the horror genre.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 13:00:50 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 05:59:54 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "367eb0e5a93858e2424c86170b911fe3", "book_id": "2918324", "review_id": "3be0ad3dc052bfeca3592acbc0241442", "rating": 1, "review_text": "You think you know what pain is? Well you don't unless you've forced yourself to read this crap. Horrible sequel to the amazing Dark Hollow/The Rutting Season. Worst book Keene has written (IMHO).", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 12:58:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 05:53:29 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bd0845036141fe8c94d42201edaa21aa", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "472d6e4c070de7c1de8ee27208cbaf03", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Read this in a couple days - loved it", "date_added": "Mon Apr 28 17:38:13 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 30 05:58:11 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Thu Oct 30 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c62edfa8814a94a07e931815540a63db", "book_id": "16054217", "review_id": "d644baba680e539f5d9984c763bd3432", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Started pretty slowly, but ended well.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 07 13:04:37 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 07 13:05:29 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c62edfa8814a94a07e931815540a63db", "book_id": "11312", "review_id": "786f5e7dac9d8f8295c0ed76eddd394b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "delightful!", "date_added": "Thu Nov 10 18:12:08 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 18 10:58:34 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Fri Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Thu Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c62edfa8814a94a07e931815540a63db", "book_id": "6101718", "review_id": "9ce1209882a6f9569d8ab3f78c2d97d6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm actually giving this a 4.5 but I can't do that. Still, I loved it.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 01 13:14:34 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 01 13:15:36 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c62edfa8814a94a07e931815540a63db", "book_id": "1175893", "review_id": "48f1aec5c41c03e0b42c4aa084ec44d7", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I really wanted to like this book, but it didn't do much for me. Weird and boring. Started off on an interesting premise, but I could not get into where the plot was going. Still vaguely curious about the sequels though, since a lot was left unresolved.", "date_added": "Sat May 22 19:52:42 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 10 18:05:06 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Sun May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sun May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c62edfa8814a94a07e931815540a63db", "book_id": "47212", "review_id": "bb0fba7526ff9acdbca84633cb14f673", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Waiting to get the audio book from the library for this... \n Got the audio book and so far I really like it. James Marsters as voice narrator certainly doesn't hurt.", "date_added": "Wed May 12 08:18:33 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 29 19:22:29 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Wed Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sun Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c62edfa8814a94a07e931815540a63db", "book_id": "234225", "review_id": "be1c41e63915621f02f741c0599198c5", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book is my albatross, I've attempted it several times and never managed to finish.", "date_added": "Wed May 12 08:13:44 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 24 10:57:02 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ca6258aba7189e660e04a87165811451", "book_id": "100397", "review_id": "b3418444c372905266c4c2e3292ee78d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fantastic little book. All the little inserts and the whole realistic fantasy plot line and style is great fun as a kid. Lovely inspiring book to own and flip through every once in a while.", "date_added": "Thu May 29 10:15:54 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 28 13:49:57 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ca6258aba7189e660e04a87165811451", "book_id": "940717", "review_id": "1a9079338046527f40533db6e892810e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I've loved this book for ages. We listened to the tape in the car when I was younger, and although I didn't really absorb much of the information (being 4) I thought it was a great little book. I've since read it and fully understood it. It's a great book for kids who enjoy history and (sometimes macabre or indecent) humour.", "date_added": "Thu May 29 10:06:58 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 28 14:11:29 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ca6258aba7189e660e04a87165811451", "book_id": "15783514", "review_id": "cc7531eeb1d1ff6da5e6b22e2fa22697", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It's not what I usually read, but now I understand why Neil Gaiman is so highly rated! An enjoyable and well-paced book.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 08 04:00:08 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 02 13:06:43 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Apr 02 13:06:43 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3682faa64cbddd0ef719d4a539d6ac51", "book_id": "20308537", "review_id": "9154c9f63739106db8fe5cb25e4af133", "rating": 5, "review_text": "How to describe this book. It was like The Night Circus meets The Sandman meets Lies We Tell Ourselves, which are three of my favorite books/series. \n The prose is gorgeous. \n The characters oscillate between relatable and too good to be part of this world. It's not so much that I identify with them, as it is that I wish I knew these people (and after reading the book...I feel like I do). \n My only gripe was with the ending. In a book full of elegant scenarios and understated prose, the drama created in the climax felt out of place. The character's realizations and interactions were briefly overshadowed by the scenario that brought about their development. This didn't last for long though, and wrapped the story up well. By well I mean, of course, in a way that elicited well-earned tears and the sadness that always comes from finishing a beautiful book.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 04 06:05:06 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 10 05:08:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jun 10 05:08:44 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3682faa64cbddd0ef719d4a539d6ac51", "book_id": "18131", "review_id": "1d95c4a429c1d1937ff0bdbea89b56cb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "When this showed up as required reading, ten-year-old me celebrated. \n Would you like to know how many book heroines there are named Meg? Who are a little bit angry and a lot funny and smart? \n Not many. \n Which is why this book was my jam growing up. Meg Murry is the heroine I needed as a child, and though she ultimately defeats IT with love. Really? Love? Not that volcano of super rage I felt beneath the surface? Whatever l'Engle. It's your book. You do you, you crazy snowflake I loved it. \n Rereading it as an adult, though....Was there always all of this religion mixed in with my precious science and math? Was it necessary to bring it in? And did it add to the plot in anyway? \n Adding in the religion seemed heavy-handed, bogged down the plot with precious pages that could have been better spent exploring Aunt Beast or developing Calvin as a character, and continually pulled me out of the story. \n Still, ten-year-old me cannot give this book anything less than four stars. Ultimately, still one of the most entertaining reads I had a child, and one of the reasons I became deeply interested in the sciences. Worth reading. \n Just with a grain of salt.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 17 19:49:59 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 20 15:58:29 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3682faa64cbddd0ef719d4a539d6ac51", "book_id": "119322", "review_id": "3c66ef6939c654ad59cf032c6635a370", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It's hard to talk about The Golden Compass and not simply gush effusively. \n So, let's get that out of the way. \n The Golden Compass is one of the most fantastic and compelling starts to any fantasy series ever and OH MY GOD why are you not reading this book RIGHT NOW? \n In all seriousness, the dialogue between Pullman and Lewis is incredible, and it's hard not to take Pullman's side entirely. Lyra is a remarkable protagonist with who is a perfect blend of flaws and strengths, and her relationship with her daemon, Pan, is so realistic and comforting that every time I stopped reading I kept looking for my own daemon. \n Pullman blends fantastical elements with mundane ones expertly, and even when we're being taken to lands with talking polar bears, everything is presented so authoritatively that it feels true rather than real. The characters are complicated, the morality is full of greyscale, and none of the decisions are easy, for the characters or for the readers. \n And that's why it's important. \n In fantasy, we often rely on good and evil being very black and white concepts, but to actively play with these constructs and show that that's all they are, constructs, is brilliant. In Pullman's world, self-knowledge is king, and the only true evil is to deny your own nature. \n So, great fantasy series? Or greatEST fantasy series?", "date_added": "Sat Feb 22 09:14:37 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 20 16:08:02 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3682faa64cbddd0ef719d4a539d6ac51", "book_id": "6068551", "review_id": "65db2b9cc75495d9307d57da9127f4b4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A reread, but always enjoyable.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 22 18:21:32 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 05 07:55:49 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Dec 05 07:55:49 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Nov 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3682faa64cbddd0ef719d4a539d6ac51", "book_id": "561850", "review_id": "0639b348d8df9adca3ca55b33566919f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The primer for supernatural creatures. \n A great starting place for all things faerie. Just in case you're getting lost in the yelling matches/debates in class over the faerie realms.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 13 14:10:09 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 22 17:32:55 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Nov 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Nov 13 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3682faa64cbddd0ef719d4a539d6ac51", "book_id": "17347389", "review_id": "5bdfcd11be304592f5476e43cac69e5e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fantastic, as always. I loved the heavy Ronan focus, as Ronan is one of my favorite characters of all time, and this book only solidified that stance. Fantastic character development across the board. This book gives us more insight into all of our favorite raven boys, and Blue. Some reviewers said they felt like there wasn't enough Blue in this story, but I couldn't disagree more. If anything, in this novel I really felt like it was easy to see the way Blue really affects (and improves) the group dynamic. Blue's exchanges with Noah are particularly worth paying attention to if you are Blue fan (who isn't? Great female lead). \n The only reason I'm giving four stars instead of five is because I felt like there wasn't enough development of the Glendower plot arc, and because, like many middle books in series, it seemed a tad 'mushy' in places. It doesn't have a proper beginning or conclusion on its own. You will be left with more questions than answers, and that's just how middle books are. \n I can't wait till the next book comes out. This series is absolutely 'can't miss' if you love urban fantasy, books set in Virginia (we just do not get enough...), or books about characters that have serious murky depths.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 09 18:03:36 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 11 08:01:53 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Nov 11 08:01:53 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3682faa64cbddd0ef719d4a539d6ac51", "book_id": "14061955", "review_id": "5be8891d3f1704263f88d7e42b67ac06", "rating": 0, "review_text": "It took a little while for this book to hit its stride, but once it did it really took off. \n Pros: \n Alina's a complex female character that kicks ass without being TheKickassGirl(tm). A hard line to walk. \n Great world building. \n An interesting world with a lot of peripheral moving parts, that encourages me to read the rest of the series. \n Cons: \n The ending was incredible and I could have used about thirty more pages of it. I hit it last night and destroyed it, but it was over entirely too fast and left me with a lot of questions. The rest of the book was well paced, but the ending felt like a sentence that cut out halfway through.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 04 08:05:18 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 25 06:05:21 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Dec 25 06:05:21 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Nov 04 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3682faa64cbddd0ef719d4a539d6ac51", "book_id": "8490112", "review_id": "eead1e5b8d8bbc5b05bf3a53682fbc35", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Pros: Beautiful complicated world, incredibly interesting and unique world 'rules', some beautiful imagery. \n Cons: Sometimes overly verbose, romance felt like the least interesting part of the story..but was focused on the most, main character didn't hit the right notes (for me). \n Overall, I really got into this book around page 320. Once the history came out, it became way more intense. I wish we'd some of that earlier. Might pick up the next one, as now that the world is built I suspect it'll become more interesting. \n Wish the main character was more flawed.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 04 08:04:14 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 15 06:44:44 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Nov 15 06:44:44 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Nov 04 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3682faa64cbddd0ef719d4a539d6ac51", "book_id": "7514925", "review_id": "9a213f818e0b4999e7ca2ad8af15a661", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I loved this book conceptually from the time it came out, but didn't get a chance to read it until recently. The book centers around the Peter Pan story that we all know and love, but centers around the character of Tiger Lily, and is told from the perspective of Tinkerbell. \n Pros: \n The ending of this book is what saved it for me. If I ever have a daughter, I will make sure that she reads this book early and often. Tiger Lily is a strong character, and the ending of the book is much closer to what romantic love is than most of the young adult novels that I read. In the end, you can love someone and not get to have them. I say that, but the novel was also able to avoid becoming preachy. A tough line to walk, and one that I feel earns the author quite a bit of credit in my eyes. \n Tik Tok's character and relationship with Tiger Lily is also phenomenal. Every exchange between the two of them was emotional and even handed. \n Cons: \n Action sequences have a tendency to get muddy and convoluted. \n Narrating a book about Tiger Lily through the perspective of Tinkerbell gets messy in some places. There are clearly places where the author wanted to include thoughts and feelings, but had to go through the narrator instead, removing us from them by a strange narrative degree. \n Overall: Would recommend. Especially to actual teenagers. Probably won't read again, but will be on the lookout for other books from this author.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 20 20:05:00 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 29 05:03:45 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jun 29 05:03:45 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3682faa64cbddd0ef719d4a539d6ac51", "book_id": "13496", "review_id": "0bba0dc58439167aa6ec3df9065fa459", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Excellent plot, shit writing. Geore R. R. Martin's metaphors are factually painful and he's so damned pleased with every outfit he's ever created he just can't WAIT to tell you all about it (in detail, frequently, and at inappropriate moments). Also, strangely obsessed with the breasts of a thirteen year old girl.", "date_added": "Thu May 30 06:19:05 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 14 17:25:04 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jun 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu May 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3682faa64cbddd0ef719d4a539d6ac51", "book_id": "8755776", "review_id": "1480170bbb0a6623481f301564e5eff2", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Last book I said the only thing continuing to save this series was the myriad of interesting side characters. \n I LIED \n Alec kinda sucked this book. \n Isabelle got all \"feelings are weird and why do I have them\" \n Simon continued to wonder \"why am I hanging out with these people?\" \n And Clary and Jace kept making it perfectly clear that despite all of the super loving friends they have that they would gladly watch the world burn in order to be with each other. I think the best part for me was when Clary kept complaining that Jace wasn't acting like himself, and all I could think was \"a completely hollow, vacant, and attractive shell? No, that sounds about like the Jace the rest of us know and love/hate.\" \n I started skipping the making out scenes just because they were so repetitive. All the time! If Jace and Clary are alone for five seconds? They are making out. I think Cassandra Clare is even sick of writing it. I mean, we've all been young and in love....and somehow I still found time to engage in activities that didn't involve face licking. \n I have moved from liking these books and reading them to hate reading them. Which is a shame, because I love her other series.", "date_added": "Wed May 01 06:49:13 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed May 01 06:54:30 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 01 06:54:30 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3682faa64cbddd0ef719d4a539d6ac51", "book_id": "6752378", "review_id": "cdefce4da7724140bd2ef2cc2fd5c453", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Okay. The one thing preventing these books from being excellent? \n The main characters. \n Clary and Jace are a little one note. What are they thinking about? Each other. Usually in unbelievably specific detail. What's the first thing everyone else notices about them? How in love with each other they are. What do they talk about? Also...each other. \n So, why am I still reading this series? \n Oh my god. The side characters. Simon is a great character by this book. And despite the fact that he has two lovely female characters vying for his attention, a band, etc. he completely avoids being boring or thinking obsessively about girls. Simon's got other things on his mind. Likewise, Isabelle is a strong independent character and I would love to read an entire book about her. The world itself is fairly interesting too, which is part of what drove me nuts about Clary and Jace. \"Oh, I think babies are being murdered...I wonder what Jace is up to, why won't he talk to me?\" \n Seriously? \n If you find out something that awful is happening in the world and your first thought is \"why won't my boyfriend call,\" you've got problems. \n Will still read the next one. \n Have taken to skipping the paragraphs of \"oh my god...I love him so much...\"", "date_added": "Tue Apr 16 05:29:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 16 05:35:26 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3682faa64cbddd0ef719d4a539d6ac51", "book_id": "3777732", "review_id": "886f3003c0e3f45b0c955fd91d90a898", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n This one took me a lot longer to finish than the first two. I really enjoyed the first two books of the series, but this one wasn't as good for me. Out of all of the books this one seemed the most obsessed with the romance between the characters and less on the action, and given how integral this one is to the story arcs, that seems like a serious mistake. \n Some of my major grievances are that the characters seem to care about their romances above all else. Towards the end of the book Alec is described as looking more relaxed as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Why? Because he could finally talk about his relationship with his parents. Ignoring the fact that Alec has been a responsible and caring character for the previous two books, I find it strange that this is the most important thing to him by the end of the novel and NOT THE FACT THAT HIS LITTLE BROTHER DIED during the few days he was supposed to be taking care of his younger siblings. \n Likewise Isabelle, who does have a legitimate emotional reaction to the death of her sibling, is giggling and talking about boys with Maia. \n Every single character seems to believe that their romantic entanglements are the things that most define them, and seem more interested in figuring out those than in figuring out the world around them. \n That said, I'll definitely read the next two. Why? Because the action is well written, the world is fascinating, and the characters (when they're not obsessing over who they are going to kiss) are fairly engaging. Overall, still a good book, but suffers a little from being in the middle of the series.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 22 15:41:11 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 19 04:51:17 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Feb 19 04:51:17 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3682faa64cbddd0ef719d4a539d6ac51", "book_id": "7171637", "review_id": "8da72adbdd647a20e1c0e08eee41e149", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was unbelievably good. I can't wait to read everything else she's written. \n Pros: Great writing. Obviously talented writer. Good characters, and great character development. Great world building, I plan to read the entire series after this. \n Cons: The library has the second book checked out and reserved for the next two months...so I'm going to have to wait a little while to get my next fix. I also suffered from major 'book hangover', which made it almost impossible to start any other book because I was so focused on getting my next Cassandra Clare fix. \n I'm not ashamed to admit this: The writing on this was so good I had to take a break and go edit my own W.I.P. while reading. Because I learned a lot about the writing craft just from reading this book.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 05 12:06:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 15 09:29:36 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bab020154af6c12d22fac5b32bc0c4be", "book_id": "22522805", "review_id": "e426b0530cfa29e9e9fb5264a702099a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Must admit, I was a little disappointed. I had heard good things about this author, but this storey just didn't work for me. Perhaps allegory and symbolism I didn't get. Found the dialogue between the characters hard to take. Oh well...", "date_added": "Sun Mar 22 07:20:42 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 14 12:54:05 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jul 14 12:54:05 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bab020154af6c12d22fac5b32bc0c4be", "book_id": "5907", "review_id": "801441f02e0295db7909edf1f8ed2d85", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is one of the most amazing books I have ever read. It actually shaped the type of person I would become. (I was first introduced to Tolkien in grade 6!) Our teacher would have us put our heads on our desks for a half hour and he would read The Hobbit aloud. We would be transported to the world of Middle Earth, far away from our classroom. As I grew up, I would still go for long wanderings in the woods. I could let my imagination run free for a while. I even took up pipe smoking! (still trying to quit!!) \n Now in my 50's I think I have read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings at least a dozen times. I wonder if grade 6 teachers still read to their class?", "date_added": "Fri Jul 27 11:30:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 27 11:42:31 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1967", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bab020154af6c12d22fac5b32bc0c4be", "book_id": "13497", "review_id": "57ed20e4ce776060e85964d41de0cc50", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Ok, I'm starting to get tired of this storey. I shouldn't have read the reviews. It seems if I read the next 2, there may still be no actual conclusion. Mayhap, Mr.Martin is being by the number of books, not the quality??", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 05:57:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 14 06:48:11 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Wed Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b4a73dfe2af24ca5302b4e7a543ea5fb", "book_id": "25796637", "review_id": "6e758e825d8c0f4190e2c54cdb5e9b48", "rating": 5, "review_text": "MOSQUITOLAND and ALL OUR PRETTY SONGS had a genius, country/folk child.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 16 14:24:51 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 15 12:34:26 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b4a73dfe2af24ca5302b4e7a543ea5fb", "book_id": "23308084", "review_id": "e5e8b4bab1a7b0d4a0486e6dee3055f2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It's perfect and magical and you will not be able to contain yourself. That's basically all you need to know. Trust.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 27 12:21:41 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 27 13:04:43 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b4a73dfe2af24ca5302b4e7a543ea5fb", "book_id": "18798983", "review_id": "ef7642fc57383f7fb55f2cd9ca03da7a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm horrific at reviewing books, but seriously, THIS BOOK. It's everything you want in a book-- a great heroine, a not obvious and boring romance, adventure, lush setting (one which Ahdieh is magnificently talented at bringing to life), and this little fizzle of magic like just the right amount of sparkle. It's rich and fresh and fully realized and gosh darnit, it's a \"buy immediately upon release\" book, not a \"wait to get it at the library\" book.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 20 18:20:49 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 20 18:21:04 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e23b7903c76e1cf3cb906125a6466316", "book_id": "598661", "review_id": "a82601eb2e55dcfd0514fe5080f57d95", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was alright. Not my favourite series but I might continue it because the premise is super interesting.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 04 18:59:05 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 05 22:40:00 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e23b7903c76e1cf3cb906125a6466316", "book_id": "10194157", "review_id": "afb0bb0be7ef1f8ee7fc38fdd9d761a3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I couldn't put this freaking thing down! Already ordered the sequel and hopefully it will be here quickly. I'm honestly so bad at book reviews...", "date_added": "Sun May 31 14:25:47 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 07 22:11:20 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "23301338", "review_id": "0beed82325e3f967fe1e4c94c3937c75", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I love this series, the storyline and the characters. But this was my least favourite of the series, it still could do with a little more editing though but it didn't spoil the story. I think we got so used to Ella's dealings with Jack and now a totally different storyline with Roman being evil kinda threw me a little. \n I wish Ella would just decide who she wants to be with Tristan or Roman, personally I'm hoping Tristan, he has such character and a great sense of humour. \n Great ending with all of Ella's friends and some not so much friends helping out to battle good against Evil. Can't wait to read the next installment. \n I received this book in exchange for an honest review. (LOP)", "date_added": "Wed Feb 04 15:18:35 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 05 12:04:01 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "23689388", "review_id": "0ca389265f3290fcabc082f00633be01", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow! What a fantastic first book, I loved it. \n In need of some money, fast, Kassidy Bell decides to take part in a drug trial. Little did she know what she was letting herself in for. Things that go bump in the night are an understatement . Full of creepiness and some scary stuff, I was actually reading this at night and I have to say I was a little creeped out. \n I can't wait for the next in the series, hope it comes soon!!", "date_added": "Wed Dec 17 15:52:41 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 27 13:28:49 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "22668215", "review_id": "9ad0579f2b89e812b8a8a9ea8edd4438", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book, as I have all of this series and the Others of Edenton series, and that some of the characters from the other books appear in each other's stories. \n I just loved Isadora and and Toryn and just hoped they would get together, they make a great couple. \n Isa's so called family are trying to force her awakening on her but running out of time. Toryn has to make a decision to tell Isa who she is, and more importantly who he is and will she still trust him and see him in the same way. \n A great series, a little bit of everything you want in a book, magic, fae, dragons, can't wait for the next one. \n I received this book in exchange for an honest review (LOP)", "date_added": "Sun Sep 28 12:06:09 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 13 02:05:09 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "22845733", "review_id": "d96f51eb26796dd232fac3aef83626f8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow what a great book, yet again. \n I loved the story so different and I even guessed a little of what was going to happen, usually I have no idea. \n I loved Hope even if she does curse rather a lot, and when she finally finds someone she can connect with everything screams that he's a Mechanic, a mindless killing machine. After she wakes up on the floor after being knocked out by her ex, her friend and her ex are dead who's to blame Aiden? Someone else? \n Unravel the mysteries of this awesome book, I definitely didn't expect the ending, I hope they'll be another book!!", "date_added": "Fri Aug 01 13:43:20 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 02 15:11:07 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Aug 02 15:11:07 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "22570481", "review_id": "7639e12df44c33358d160acee22bdbdf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really liked this book. It was a whole new concept for me, which I didn't expect. \n A forbidden romance in a world where earth has been invaded by aliens where any sign of emotion turns them into killing machines. \n This is unlike anything I have read before where a human and alien fall in love having so much to overcome where any signs of emotion could be fatal. I really liked the interactions with the other characters too especially the female alien. I would have loved to have found out what happens to them all, in an epilogue or another book and more about the aliens and why emotions effect them. \n But all in all a really good read and thanks to the author for letting me read this!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 30 15:52:20 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 14 13:35:40 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "22240510", "review_id": "5eec19f9b6a1548154d60f7aa381069f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book, as with all in this series it gets another 5 stars as they are really that good. \n We get to meet Devlin, Fallon's older brother who is just fantastic but so different from herself. He's a Dreamwalker and comes to visit Jamie through her dreams. \n He sets out to find her then meets his sister and a whole load of things happen, not to mention the return of the return of the Dales, who Fallen dispatched last time they appeared in Edenton. \n Devlin and Jamie make a great couple and Devlin just fits in perfectly with the others of Edenton, and as always there's always a great battle scene as the Dales arrive as they try to take everyone down with them, who will win who will lose and will anybody be changed for the better! \n I was given this book in return for an honest review (LOP)", "date_added": "Fri Jul 11 05:51:02 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 17 13:41:30 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "18868405", "review_id": "e12a5f7b8d6f32c195e10342147afdce", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Yet another great book in The Others of Edenton series. \n All the usual characters that we have grown to love in this series as always there to help their friends in need when the going gets tough. \n I loved the first few chapters about where Liz came from and how she dealt with the dreadful things that happened to her. \n Robert and Tremaine, we've seen them before in previous books and I have to say this book puts them in a new light and they are so perfect for Liz, in their own way, yet so different. \n A perfect ending and I can't wait to start reading the next one, oh wait I don't have to on with the next one. \n I received this book in exchange for an honest review. (LOP)", "date_added": "Sat Jul 05 14:27:28 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 16 05:29:05 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "18668115", "review_id": "8b081db54e78c6da3ab09c15b43d9418", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book as I love The Others Of Edenton series. \n I love Amethyst she is a really strong character and knows what she wants. We'll at least she thought she did until Hayden came along. \n I wasn't a great fan of Hayden before but now we have actually gotten to know him a little more he is becoming one of my favourites. \n I loved the prologue and learning more about the world of the Fairie. \n Can't wait to start the next one. \n I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. (LOP)", "date_added": "Sat Jul 05 14:09:05 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 16 05:29:55 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "22061832", "review_id": "964613b57fd8958bbbf998f539eb8fa2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Don't you just hate it when you're that engrossed in a book that you don't see the ending coming. As this usually happens with Tim's books I should be use to it by now. \n Finally people are starting to believe Charley, and even Tim's boss is almost a believer too, but unfortunately still not her dad. \n It seems we're getting there as more pieces of the puzzle is slotting together, but it's nearly killing me, who is the murderer \n Love love love, I can't wait for the next one to find out, June can't come quick enough!!", "date_added": "Mon May 12 12:35:06 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon May 12 12:41:43 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "21545986", "review_id": "27aff5ce0246e4653f2de15027756ccc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this, but so many questions. Why can't she remember who she is and why she keeps travelling back in time, who is the mysterious man who's sending her there. \n I've so missed Harry it's been too long, with Sammy and Harry's love/hate relationship. \n I had only one problem with this it was over too quick, and now I have to wait patiently (yeah right) for Vampire Watchmen, bring it on!!", "date_added": "Sat May 03 02:08:24 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 10 12:54:39 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "21404888", "review_id": "a312e81694fc34921d16e4fdba7e6a82", "rating": 5, "review_text": "As soon as they saw each other it was meant to be but how could Trevor tell Roxy what he was and would she believe him. But it was taken out of his hands as the werewolves of a rival clan attacked Roxy and brought her into his world. \n I really enjoyed this book as I have The Others Of Edenton series, and loved how the two series came together in Nights Embrace. \n I loved Trevor and Roxy, who hit it off as soon as they met, I thought they made a great couple, and Roxy was so badass with all her magic and shapeshifting. \n I can't wait to read the next book to see what happens and will it be the end of Boyd!! \n I received this book in exchange for an honest review (LOP)", "date_added": "Wed Apr 30 16:03:38 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu May 01 04:30:15 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu May 01 04:30:15 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "20579998", "review_id": "2829a745f62df706327649f4aa4ea30a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Wanderers continues where Reborn left off, where Ella flees to Ireland when learning that Tristan is ALIVE. Which does not go down well with Roman or her parents. I missed Tristan so much in Reborn but after Wanderers I'm not sure whether I'm team Tristan or team Roman. \n I really enjoyed this book but have to say not as much as the first book. Ella always seems to be training as she has these kicksss powers but never really gets a chance to use them, especially against Jack. \n There are some really great characters in this series and I am beginning to love them all especially Ella and Dean, I really love this series and another cliffhanger can't wait to find out what happens next!! \n I received this book in exchange for an honest review (LOP)", "date_added": "Sun Apr 13 14:19:51 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 18 04:29:35 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Apr 18 08:46:28 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "21546034", "review_id": "a9cb586f4a9d813b184a57901996b16f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was amazing, I was so glad after reading the prequels book one that there was another to follow. It was great to see what Kiera got up to before we met her in Vampire Shift. Loved the mysteries and even a mystery Kiera couldn't solve about the little girl in The mystery of Derren Splitfoot, spooky. \n I can't wait to read more about Tom in Flashes which is released soon he is such a great character and will we ever find out what happened between Tom and Kiera and why they never stayed in touch.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 25 01:07:44 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 25 09:21:55 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Mar 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "18668746", "review_id": "9904d959f6aef1fda6584c6cbc23a7df", "rating": 3, "review_text": "After reading the synopsis, I have to say I was very intrigued. I loved the plot and the whole concept of the book I just think it needs a little work. \n I was a little disappointed at some of the errors, eg repetitions throughout the story, where Damian lived, was a little confusing and just in general the characters which I have to say I didn't connect to any of them. \n Damian he was all over the place really nice guy one minute then totally weird psycho type the next. Raven hmm, didn't really get her, she was ok one minute and strange the next especially towards her mother, their relationship was strange also it seemed like they had a really good relationship at first then that went out the window and they were basically shouting at each other all the time. \n Overall I think it was a good book, it could be a great book I with a few changes I will definitely read the next one as I am intrigued to find out where the story goes. \n Thanks to the author and (LOP) for this one in return for an honest review.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 21 06:38:51 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 25 06:56:54 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "18458455", "review_id": "f91224c5f1a4a85cd70000e42cee5e5f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book!! I didn't want to put it down. \n This is the story of 15 year old Callum who sees shadows, the dead. He finds that if he writes about them in his diary they go away for a while. \n He doesn't get on with his sister who blames him for their moving to Olden Cross. So when his best friend goes missing he's on his own and when more kids start to disappear its up to him to figure out what's happening and try to unravel the mystery of Olden Cross with the help of the shadows. \n I received this copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 15 09:47:55 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 19 03:57:03 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "18308072", "review_id": "4c390e7234aa5c896c3316e3fc974560", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this collection of short stories. Some of my favourites were, The painted staircase, The Black Boar, I really liked the twist at the end of this one, By Your Own Free Will and Double Rainbows, revenge is sweet,, \n The stories were really creative and imaginative and twists and turns along the way, and loved reading how the stories came about and that some were based on past experiences . \n I received this book in exchange for an honest review (LOP)", "date_added": "Sat Feb 08 14:54:59 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 16 07:14:49 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "20332020", "review_id": "f298f07c2828abcc630b770045734cbb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Earth 2013, not a lot going on, according to badass Maeve Aypotu. There's a problem with the earths atmosphere so it's off to the Archive with her estranged parents to be held in stasis until an improvement is found, \"great\". Well that's the plan, unfortunately things go wrong and Maeve finds herself waking up in the year 2095. \n On an earth where aliens from Pluto rule and the skies are filled with dragons and no cursing is allowed, what the f@@@!! Hmm guess she better remember that one. With a little help from the swoon worthy local, Diem, a dragon trainer. But will he be able to train Maeve? \n One of my favourite lines has to be, \n \"Keep your fuzzy nuggets of my sheets, Steven!\" \n I have to say i nearly choked when I read that one!! \n I love the names the locals give to the Plutians, they are hilarious and so clever. \n You'll just fall in love with this story as I did and it's one of those that will stay with you a long time. \n Be prepared for the ride of your life. You'll not want it to end, but it will, that's life, but you can always check out one of Misty's other series, The Cornerstone Series, which is also fantastic.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 15 02:22:09 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 04 01:45:59 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jan 29 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "18458533", "review_id": "ddb379fd61ad1966708db0e0cac8c8ea", "rating": 4, "review_text": "After having loved The Wanderers, I didn't enjoy this as much. Still a really good book but I have to say I miss Tristan, I loved him in the first book and kept hoping he might make an appearance as some of her other friends did. \n With Ella being the new girl and trying to distance herself from people she still manages to make a few enemies along the way, Mackenzie a witch who takes an instant dislike to her. \n Still plenty of action with the return of Jack who has found out where she is and still intent on having her powers and even acquiring some new ones. \n There was a few mistakes I have to say and had a bit of a job trying to decipher some of the sentences but there weren't many, so thankfully didn't distract me away from the story too much. \n If you read The Wanderers this ones a must read, can't wait for the next one!! \n I received this book in exchange for an honest review (LOP)", "date_added": "Tue Dec 24 01:18:11 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 08 02:53:24 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jan 07 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Dec 24 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "19167601", "review_id": "72adbff323dbfb77156f1b09bca95612", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Forgotten and unnoticed, Caleb Reed thinks he's losing his mind. After the accident and his sister never came back, life totally changed for Caleb. Never getting over her death and never really grieving things just got worse for him. Agoraphobic and panic attacks at the slightest change were his usual day. \n Noticing changes at the old mansion over the road were a whole new ball game. Then discovering a letter on the steps, could he really go outside and get it? \n This book is all about overcoming fears and pushing boundaries, that were thought impossible. With a little help from a certain someone, leaving notes for him. \n A really great book, I would definitely recommend it. I received this book in exchange for an honest review( LOP)", "date_added": "Sun Dec 15 16:01:35 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 21 15:22:48 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Dec 21 15:22:48 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "18669741", "review_id": "38a583bcdbc3e4de48142ef88483966a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Well what can I say about this book, I loved it. \n In a world where its survival of the fittest at a prison camp for teenagers but are they really the prisoners? The world as they know has changed for the worse, unsure of what happened, thunder? War? No one knows. \n Every year one male and female get to leave the prison. A race is held on stilts as this is the only way to leave the prison or get burned alive if the scorchers get you. Tessa didn't want to leave until her more than friend Joe entered. Then after he left she knew she had to follow. \n The characters were so well written you just loved them straight away. \n Tessa is so badass, she certainly shows the scorchers who's boss, and Joe who we really didn't see much of in this book but hopefully well see more of him later. \n I didn't think I could love any of Tims other series as much as I do The Kiera Hudson series but I've got to say this comes pretty close. \n As usual Tim leaves us with a whammy of a cliffhanger that I know will drive me crazy waiting for the next book.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 07 08:28:03 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 05 06:14:58 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Dec 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "18149637", "review_id": "4e7bb81c25e222dfb23219c64bb43dcf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a really good book. The first paragraph just draws you in straight away and makes you keep reading. \n Veronica Kane is your everyday 21 year old who on her 21st birthday celebrates with a few friends and has a little to much to drink. But who would have known that this would have resulted in her own demise. \n After being brutally murdered she becomes a ghost but not your everyday ghost, she has powers in her command that most underestimate. \n After being tortured and being set to evil doings against her will, she sets about planning her retribution and gathering as many souls along the way to help. \n A great story and some brilliant characters, some you'll love and some you'll most definitely hate. \n I received this book in exchange for an honest review. (LOP)", "date_added": "Mon Nov 04 02:31:08 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 11 01:39:25 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Nov 04 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "18718570", "review_id": "3feea6a340e34eaac27662417bd55bc3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "After waiting what seemed like forever for this book to come out it was well worth the wait. When the likes of Tim O'Rourke and CJ Pinard come together you just know it was going to be good. \n Jax and Mia are your total opposites Jax works in a garage, has tatoos, a different girl every night. Mia a goody goody, ok she's kind of a stalker but she has her reasons, right? \n You'll just love this book it has a bit of everything and a little more, as I unexpectedly found out. Will Jax stick around when the truth comes out, it is alot to take in. \n Would love to read more about these two, so hopefully there will be book number 2.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 27 13:16:34 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 11 02:14:17 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Nov 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "19195606", "review_id": "377040c256aa8b31a4d68d45bb1684db", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I read this a while ago and just realised I didn't leave a review for this one so here goes. What can I say but what a brilliant series this was. I had cornerstone on my Kindle for a while and only started reading it when a friend asked me to, well why did I wait so long to start this series, who knows because once you get started you'll never be able to stop till you end up here after reading Capstone. \n I love Nalena and Garret they make such a great couple and have come so far, and the weight of the world on their shoulders. I'm so going to miss them. \n I was in such a rush to read this book but also sad as I knew it was the end of this series but I'm hoping that Misty will change her mind and continue with this series, you never know we can but hope!!", "date_added": "Fri Sep 27 11:14:00 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 19 20:40:30 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Nov 30 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Nov 26 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "6131164", "review_id": "bc48abb573a7e24ad131550d28aa68cd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Have you ever reached the end of a book and just sat there frozen in stunned silence taking it all in and just thought wow! well that just happened to me when I finished this book. \n I have grown to love all the characters as though they were my own long lost friends and been there with them through it all. \n The only thing I could have wished for is without saying too much is to have heard more about Tessa's married life and so much happened in the epilogue. \n But what an ending after everything that Tessa has been through, I'm glad she found happiness again in the end. \n 5 stars are not enough for any of The Infernal Devices books, the are truly masterpieces.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 10 04:07:37 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 27 15:17:56 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Sep 27 15:17:56 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "8755776", "review_id": "11b11778f51b17cf818bd9afbcc0f669", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow I loved this book, Clary really kicked some butt in this one. \n A few surprises I didn't see coming, and not saying too much but I hope they work it out. \n What a cliffhanger, it so makes me want to read the next book like now.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 25 16:31:31 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 10 04:06:34 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Sep 10 04:06:34 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Aug 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "18278922", "review_id": "683bb8a1d251cfb3b190abae868dc837", "rating": 5, "review_text": "After waiting for what seems like forever for this instalment to come out, and to find out the true identity of the photographer and with many guesses to who I thought it was going to be, I can honestly say wow I didn't have a clue I was so far off. \n But that's the thing with Tim's books you think you've got the story all figured out but you'll always be wrong as I was. \n I loved all the interaction with Potter and Kayla, and since her return a little bit of Potter as rubbed off on her as she too has some wise ass comments of her own. \n Finally the return of Isodor, I've missed him and finding out if he'll get his chance to be with Melody Rose again. \n A truly amazing series you won't want it to end but you just can't help yourself to finish every morsel as fast as you can. \n Can't wait for Dead End!!", "date_added": "Thu Aug 22 08:59:53 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 11 00:38:15 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Dec 24 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "18340288", "review_id": "40065b7451c0b44c0b92554c5ce948de", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another great instalment, with Winnie and Thad fleeing to Scotland to search for the moonbeam. With the so called police on their tracks and Winnie's transition into a vampire close by and her thirst getting worse. \n Will Thad use the moonbeam to erase all vampires even if it kills Winnie too. Will Winnie and Thad's love for each other be enough to get them through, with the help of Winnie's friend Ruby keeping a close watch over her, even though she is dead. \n What a shocker at the end, I really did not expect that. I have to say it left me a little sad, but loved what happened after, hopefully leave an opening for another instalment in this great series!!", "date_added": "Thu Aug 22 08:59:40 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 24 06:16:32 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Oct 24 06:16:32 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "18214298", "review_id": "9c14878fe15783f298dc350315f6da3a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book, love the series. \n So this book is about Jess and Slater, we already know a little about them from In Too Deep but this book tells the story of how Jess first came to be in Edenton and how she and Slater met. \n I would have liked to have read New Beginnings before In Too Deep as we kinda knew how the story was going to go but it in no way ruined the story or took anything away from how good this series is. \n I can't wait for the next one. \n I received this book in exchange for an honest review (LOP)", "date_added": "Sun Aug 18 12:44:14 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 02 03:51:34 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "17798463", "review_id": "2afa98b2cc3ddb80229b336fef1b5677", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book. It had some really good characters. \n Owen after only just receiving his \" special abilities\" where as he can reach into other worlds and grab onto things, kinda like flying, swinging. Mrs Argylle, the next door neighbour can produce wind enabling her to fly amongst other things and Ken her brother who can produce water. They are joined by others along the way even Ken's cow Myrtle who has special abilities too is just great. \n They set out to rescue Owens dad after he is kidnapped by The Remnant, who also want Owen and the others to help them, which cannot be good. \n I do hope there will be a sequel, I would love to find out a little more about Mrs Argylle's and Ken's earlier escapades and about Owen's mum. \n I received this book in exchange for an honest review (LOP)", "date_added": "Sat Aug 03 10:46:27 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 17 16:09:37 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Aug 17 16:09:37 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "16181879", "review_id": "482df28f7da48581d3c1ba9f86f93562", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Firstly, I liked the book, I thought it had a good storyline and really liked the characters. \n There was a few things that did make me cringe though firstly every time Olivia called her \"dream man\" Mr Sexy why he didn't just tell her his name. Secondly The Crimson Calamitous. I know it was Ya and I have read loads of Ya books but I just felt really old reading it. \n The storyline has a lot of potential and ill definitely read the next book. \n I received this book in exchange for an honest review.(LOP)", "date_added": "Sat Aug 03 10:45:53 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 08 14:05:23 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 08 14:05:23 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "17910658", "review_id": "6ed206e2439e821331bbce61bc5521da", "rating": 5, "review_text": "As with all of Tims much anticipated books they're over way too soon, as we gorge on every morsel taking in every detail trying to figure out the next piece of the puzzle. \n It starts from where last time around we learn the fate of Potter but is all as it seems? \n This time around its in the point of view of Potter and Seth as they are sent on a journey to try and unravel the identity of the photographer. \n Seth is sent to watch Isi-bore as he calls him, I just love Seth, I never realised how funny he can be and at other times so twisted. \n Favourite Seth quote \"To be honest, the pair were so fucking loved-up with each other, I could've walked beside them singing the 'Hokey Cokey' and neither of them would've noticed I was even there\" \n Potter is sent to watch Kiera, but not his Kiera and has such a hard time differentiating between the two, and discovers way more than he bargained for. \n \"Two whens and wheres and nothing has changed very much. I still had the knack of making Kiera Hudson mad at me\" \n I was so happy to see a certain someone at the end. Does Seth really have a good side??? \n Can both Seth and Potter accomplish their mission or will they get distracted and fail, only time will tell as we await the next instalment in this fantastic series.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 28 06:59:46 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 08 03:06:17 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "17825874", "review_id": "c81091f83cc572a484b94a524b959e6f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "When I first read the synopsis I was really intrigued and it seemed like my kind of book and I wasn't wrong I really loved it!! \n Fallon who is a no messing with kind of girl, who is also a druid with some kickass magic and a tatooist. She leaves in a hurry trying to escape her cheating werecat ex but is it really that easy when you have a psycho vampire after you? \n She meets up with werewolf, Brody who can't seem to get enough of her and tries to win her love. But things don't run smoothly for them at all when a certain vampire, Malachi presumed dead catches up with her. \n Everyone's out to get Fallon but with Brody and some other interesting characters by her side the battle will commence to free herself from them for good. \n I would totally recommend this book can't wait for the next one!! \n I received this book in exchange for an honest review (LOP)", "date_added": "Sun Jul 21 14:53:00 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 30 14:12:01 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 30 14:12:01 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "16035816", "review_id": "d672f32fa171cba1bb4d3c65ce73f5b7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book, I was more engrossed as the story progressed and keen to find out about the happenings of Conrad and Michaela. \n The were some really good characters and so descriptive you could picture them exactly, but especially her father I would love to find out more about him. \n Will definitely be looking forward to the next book!!", "date_added": "Tue Jul 02 04:54:17 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 13 14:18:18 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "13119818", "review_id": "5652db8f51cd0973bb4754181bdedf54", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Dylan and Heaven's story is a really good start to the Soulmates series. \n Dylan who is not your stereotypical rock star has been having dreams about a girl since he was a child. Is she real? Just a dream? He believes so until he finally meets her by accident at a friends wedding. \n Will they realise that they are meant to be together? \n An enjoyable read, and will definitely be getting the next one!! \n I was given this book in exchange for an honest review(LOP).", "date_added": "Fri Jun 28 01:26:16 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 02 04:30:56 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 02 04:30:56 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "13034211", "review_id": "5d66da7ef975560df86b347ec09de6ae", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow, I absolutely loved this book, it was definitely worth more than 5 stars. \n Nalena or The Waste as everyone at school calls her is just your normal girl with a weird mum who has a thing for paper, and sruting stuff down all the time,hence why she got the nickname when a friend happened to call at her house and see all of it piled up everywhere. \n Nalena tried to keep herself to herself and try to be invisible until the day at the library when everything changes. \n That's when she meets Garrett, who is just gorgeous and sits himself down next to her. \n The next thing she knows he's asking around at school, about her!! Which brings unwanted attention her way. \n That when strange things start to happen when two girls try to corner her in the bathroom. \n So she isn't as normal as she thought and was is this life that's set before her, and Garrett too? \n I would definitely recommend this book to everyone, you won't be disappointed.g", "date_added": "Wed Jun 26 14:48:34 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 30 08:37:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Sep 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "18052313", "review_id": "64e34afa428b393e96ca8038094e342a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What a brilliant 2nd book where we find out more about the lovely Thaddeus, as Thaddeus and Winnie are on the run and go in search of the Moonbeam. \n There is not alot more to say about this book without giving away the storyline and spoiling it and believe me you wouldn't want that as you never know as with all of Tim's books just where the story is heading until the very end but even then we're still kept on the edge of our seats waiting for the next installment. \n If you have never read anything other than this series by Tim O'rourke then why not what have you been doing with your time?? You should read all of Tim's books as they're all as good as this series and he will end up to be one of your favourite authors and it was only a matter of time before the big publishers started taking notice, can't wait for the next one.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 12 15:41:20 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 17 10:06:02 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "17855971", "review_id": "a6c979b70147325d352a3131c49faebf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "First of all I enjoyed this book, and felt you could really connect with the characters. Cole the Jumper who always seems to have trouble follow him around and be in the wrong place at the wrong time, literally, and his attempts at fixing the past never really goes to plan. Hannah who has it all planned out for her, without her knowledge, from winning the family holiday to the \"jumping\" around with Cole wielding the \"Staff Of Moses\" in an attempt to change the future and my favourite character has to be Teddy the grizzly bear, loved him!! \n I have to say it did get a little confusing switching from the different times/years sometimes but in no way did it take away the greatness of the story. A must read!!", "date_added": "Mon May 27 15:30:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 14 04:52:24 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "15833658", "review_id": "48488440df9b2127a2dede2a99b6b664", "rating": 5, "review_text": "First of all I loved this book, maybe not as much as the first one as I really did love the whole travelling back in time to find out about Jack the Ripper where there was not so much of this in the second. You've just got to love the banter between Beck and Potter and Richard, when they aren't beating each other up that is, so funny. \n But got to say I am really loving this series as it's the kind of books that you can't put down. I was so glad that I could go straight onto to the next one but how I'm going to wait till book 3 I don't know!!", "date_added": "Tue Apr 23 13:04:27 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu May 09 11:35:34 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "17374804", "review_id": "44668e79b95afec9ec1ebd39dce707ee", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Beck is no ordinary teenager \"she'd been born with the ability to see ghosts, and had occasional dreams of the future\". But that was just the start of it! She only has her sister Bev who she can rely on as her parents hate her and want nothing to do with her. \n At certain times in her life she is saved by 'The Man', Beck has no idea who he is until later when all is revealed. \n Beck finds herself going back in time to find out Jack the Ripper's identity but once there gets entangled in a whole lot more. \n Firstly I loved this book it has Vampires, Hunters and time travel so what's not to love. It had some really great characters, loved Richard and Potter, but I do think Beck should lay off poor Richard though, she's always yelling at him. \n I've just started the second installment as I couldn't wait to find out what happens, would definitely recommend this.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 21 15:38:53 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu May 09 11:36:38 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "15730776", "review_id": "17d139b499729aefda6cbeb2a2f374ad", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 Stars \n Hailey an avid reader decides that she really hasn't any more room for any books so invests in a Kindle. Little did she know when the advertisement said \"with special offers\" exactly what she was getting. \n In the form of a man, who on the verge of death transferred himself into the kindle by accident. \n Shortly after she meets Alex, who Hailey had been calling without her knowledge, so he comes to investigate and sets about to get Sebastian out of Hailey. \n I have to say starting the book I was a little unsure with Hailey's job as a chinchilla milker but getting into the book I really enjoyed it, with some great characters and a great ending that I can't wait to see what that's all about.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 21 02:47:00 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 26 15:26:00 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "17158322", "review_id": "e1e7ba765fd9d7acbb2ed008faab848a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The story starts with Destiny who happens to be at the bottom of a cave beaten and left for dead, how she gets there we do not know, but as she is healing she reflects back on her memories from her mother Aurora Lake. \n Destiny's parents Alex and Aurora lake are Vampire Elders, they have a great life until the night of the Solar storm where everything changes. Everything is destroyed so they pack up what they can and set off to find out what has happened and take their maid Sara and her half brother Ryan, a Werewolf, along. \n As vampires Alex and Aurora notice several changes along the way, they can now tolerate the sunlight and they can now reproduce as Aurora becomes pregnant. \n As most of the humans before the storm didn't know much about the existence of vampires and were creatures, after, they do and they gain lots of enemies who want them dead. \n This is not your usual vampire/werewolf story and it has lots of great twists and turns and leaves you wanting more. \n Would definitely recommend this book and can't wait for the next one!!", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 15:18:21 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 29 09:28:36 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "17729329", "review_id": "e0d6bcc2e7ef9f8413e2744ada67b8db", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sylvie and Cassie were just your average teenagers until Cassie changed over the summer when everyone starting noticing her. Sylvie fantasized about being her and more so when she started dating Kevin the boy she'd liked forever. Sylvie wanted more than that she wanted to be her. \n As Sylvie had been able to astral project for a while now, and getting Cassie to agree to try it to, something went horribly wrong!! Will Sylvie be able to fix this before it's too late?? \n I really enjoyed this, after reading the blurb for this book I was immediately intrigued and had to read it and I can honestly say I wasn't disappointed.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 06 08:35:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 09 16:27:32 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Apr 09 16:27:32 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "17558484", "review_id": "f38eaaa91e9fb3153a4bb894b9f54ff5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Cara who thinks she is a normal human college student gets thrown in to a world which she thought only exists in the books that she reads. Then she meets Eamon who turns out to be her protector as she finds herself in no end of trouble when she meets the evil twins who she she finds out don't really want to be her friends but want to eat her instead. \n After discovering alot about herself along the way she finds her one true friend can't be her friend anymore. \n I really enjoyed this book, and had some really good characters, can't wait for the next one!!", "date_added": "Sat Mar 30 07:37:48 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 03 08:13:23 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "17412493", "review_id": "37b4820879438e55a954bb952140ad70", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The story continues from book 2 where Nyx has been kidnapped and Sebastian's all clingy after their bond is severed which drives Nyx crazy so they're all out to try to get their weird relationship back together. We get to see a few new characters one of which is Clyde the Hellhound, love him. \n Quite a few twists and turns I didn't see coming, I am really enjoying this series and think it keeps getting better I am definitely hooked and can't wait to see what happens next!!!", "date_added": "Fri Mar 22 05:16:22 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 30 08:10:15 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "17405632", "review_id": "eef0d5f1a607f4714f3eaf69c88f76fc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This series is getting even better I love Sebastian not too sure about Alex yet as he can be a little annoying at times but I'm sure he means well. So not just a werewolf and a vampire in the mix now it seems a demon seeks Nyx's attention she is one busy lady. Still plenty of action as now Nyx is on her own but still manages to get in lots of trouble and don't you just love it when her two knights in shining armour come to her rescue. \n On to the next one can't wait to find out what happens!!", "date_added": "Thu Mar 21 12:34:12 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 26 14:57:24 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Mar 26 14:57:24 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Mar 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "17372749", "review_id": "922141c17a9817bed60fe13db1801673", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I only got the first book to review but I've just got to have the next book!! I really liked this book and loved the whole take on the Vampire/Werewolf thing. \n Nyx Slaughter is a very interesting and intriguing person who gets quite alot of of surprises along the way as she finds out she is not Human. This book gives you alot of background into Nyx's life and hopefully in the next one we find out why she is what she is!!", "date_added": "Thu Mar 14 11:51:43 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 20 07:48:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Mar 20 07:48:39 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Mar 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "16007820", "review_id": "db91e663c855dc6182ca578d6d047217", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I read this book in exchange for an honest review so here goes. \n It all starts off when the night before the Blood Ball, Callie goes hunting and everything goes wrong after she picks the wrong human, and cannot wipe his memory, so she lives in fear of the death sentence for the discovery of her race. First off I enjoyed this book and read it in a day. The whole concept was good, the hunting, the Blood Ball and the Mating ceremony and I really liked Cody and Callie even though they kind of annoyed me sometimes with the whole lovey dovey stuff. Jane too was a great character, she was a really good friend that everybody would want to have. There were some interesting twists too that will make you want to read till the very end.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 14 11:50:49 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 16 05:06:18 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Mar 16 05:06:18 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Mar 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "16079285", "review_id": "9d1b4da3a3355b04f94ea45a1bf12bab", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book, as I was intrigued from the first time I saw it and knew I had to read it. I really liked the characters especially Red, she was a good strong character who has to face up to the fact that she has to try to save Wayward when she didn't even know it existed until a short time a go. She is not the lonely little orphan girl she once thought and has family and friends to help along the way. What a different take this was on the whole fairy tale thing I wasn't expecting Red to turn out the way she did.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 06 01:29:05 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 23 16:19:34 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Mar 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "16281499", "review_id": "867393757a92bfa5c7ceeaa4b5e6af87", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I didn't know much about this book when I got it so didn't know what to expect but I have to say I really enjoyed it. At first when Ella was involved in an accident it was clear there was going to be some kind of eerie goings on but I never expected the way it turned out. \n I really liked Ella and Tristan even though Ella kind of annoyed me sometimes for over-reacting towards Tristan but their relationship was alot of fun. \n It left me looking forward to the next book with a cliffhanger ending like that, would definitely recommend this book!!", "date_added": "Sun Mar 03 13:22:20 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 13 02:35:59 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Mar 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "11443963", "review_id": "0202fc7bd1de96fc15b8d4c1716781c2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Jack a vampire on returning home again is attacked by a werewolf as he's trying to protect a girl who he only notices because his vampire friend warned him about, failing to know that she could in fact look after herself and gets himself infected. After going home to die or so he thinks, the girl Silver comes to the rescue. After going back to school Jack meets Jersey his English teacher. I can see why Jack would like his teacher and can relate to Jersey Clifford even after finding out what he is and it will be interesting to see how that plays out in the next book. \n I really enjoyed this book and I loved the whole Vampire becoming human again twist. \n As for his vampire friends who have been his family for the past 10 years, well can't wait to see what Cowboy gets up to next, will definitely be getting the next book!!", "date_added": "Fri Mar 01 10:59:32 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 07 11:53:24 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Mar 06 02:10:15 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Mar 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "17407337", "review_id": "5c602916d8450582388ea9200da76be5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Well what can I say but yet another masterpiece from my favourite author Tim O'Rourke. He can seem to do no wrong and everything he writes is truly amazing, as is this 2nd installment of the Sydney Hart series. I.m really getting to like Sydney now that you look a bit deeper and see that she's not all she seems. Love the twists and turns and yet again I did not figure it out till the very end . I've got to say I love rats but they were a bit gross and a bit savage for my liking, and at least she has Vincent around to watch her back and has something in common with Michael now, love it.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 22 05:07:41 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 04 01:29:52 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "9378297", "review_id": "b58762cb4a65fff6713dda90b29e7989", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book from the start as we get right into the action where we meet Cas who's picking up a hitch hiking ghost, hmm not so bad you might say but when he's trying to drive you off the road. \n Cas on the move again after a ghost who he couldn't resist Anna Korlov aka Anna Dressed In Blood, and she's just as evil as she sounds, who kills everyone who enters her house, well almost everyone except Cas. \n But it's not as easy as he thought to get rid of her. \n I love Anna, and as the story goes on we start to realise why she does the things she does. \n I've already bought the second book which I can't wait to read!!!", "date_added": "Tue Feb 19 13:51:21 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 14 13:49:48 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Aug 14 13:49:48 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "17255435", "review_id": "d71c7b6a60be290c3c14fe2471dd37f9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book and thought the characters were well written, would have loved to have learned a little more about them though. Loved Derek and Bella as their relationship grew and she realised not everyone of them is a monster. Even if he was a little weak when he was supposed to be the leader of their race but if it was left up to his brother who knows what the shade would have become without Derek. Will definitely be reading more of this series!!", "date_added": "Sun Feb 10 12:54:33 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 27 13:25:25 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Oct 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "17207718", "review_id": "cb335b81c2e7470473e2a3aec722bf6a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I absolutely loved this book, as with all of Tim's books I have to have them as soon as they come out, they are that good and Witch did not disappoint. Loved Sydney, gorgeous, strong minded and certainly has a way with the men and willing to take it all on to get justice. I certainly couldn't predict the ending even though i thought i'd got it figured out a few times, wrong it just kept me guessing until the very end, and my god what an ending, fantastic. Tim, where do you come up with all these fantastic ideas?? You truly are amazing!!Keep up the good work!!", "date_added": "Mon Jan 07 11:28:33 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 31 11:21:36 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jan 31 11:21:36 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "16249015", "review_id": "dd150cb19170f81ec749da7d07f43ad8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "As with all of Tim's books you go through different levels of emotions. There's the happiness usually this happens just because you have the next installment of Tim's books in your hands. Then there's the laughter, this happens when Potter and Murphy get together, they are so hilarious. My favourite quote \n \"You couldn't solve a crime even if you stumbled across a killer standing over a headless corpse with an axe in his hand shouting, 'I'm glad I chopped the arsehole's freaking head off!'\" I groaned. \n Then the sorrow as Potter thinks he has lost Kiera and your heart just goes out to him when he says, \n \"Did she really think I would hate her because she was part wolf? I couldn't give a monkey's toss if she was half chimpanzee - I loved her regardless.\" \n Then there's Murphy being all protective over Kiera now that the secrets out and she knows he's her Uncle and it just drives Potter wild as he's taking all the credit for how Kiera turned out. \n Then there's a few of the steamy scene's between Potter and Kiera \"cough cough\" moving on!! \n Then there's Jack, what a surprise can he really have a heart hmmm, I'll keep my judgement on him open as I'm not convinced. \n Then comes the shocker, smack in the head of a finale as you're left broken in despair as the story comes to an end which left me shouting \"NO, No, No.\" But we shall have to see where this story goes as in all of Tim's books you can never be sure as to what is permanent or is it just a temporary glitch? I'm hoping on the latter and things will sort itself out, fingers crossed. Don't know how I going to manage until the next installment, I'm gonna be a nervous wreck. \n Seriously If you need more convincing that this series is that good there is no hope for you, so buy Vampire Shift now!!", "date_added": "Tue Jan 01 09:10:21 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 27 08:07:19 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Mar 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "16248999", "review_id": "b1a05c17c94a71b0e76404215169f70f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is all about Murphy and we get a little insight into why he's like he is today. I just love the banter between Murphy and Potter it's hilarious and the usual shockers that we have come to expect in Tim's books. We see a different side to Murphy, pre slippers days and we meet Pen, love her she's such a great character. Then not to forget Seth who's always there twisting things up as usual and I just loved The Wizard of Oz theme.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 14 01:27:00 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 23 02:35:05 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Dec 19 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Dec 14 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "1656001", "review_id": "99717bfc2d2655b9849aa97520875ad4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I absolutely loved this book, you just feel for Wanda, a soul in (Melanie's) a human's body. Even Melanie starts to like her and form a truce to find the love of her life Jared and her little brother Jamie. \n When she finds them, she is kept prisoner, will they see her as anything else other than a parasite but if she speaks and tries to convince them that she is not like the rest, they will think they are lies and believe her to be a seeker! \n It was a long book but I found that I couldn't put it down even though I didn't want it to end and what an ending very emotional but just fantastic. Would definitely recommend this to everyone, I have read all of Stephanie Meyer's books and loved them all and I'm so glad I read it first before seeing the movie.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 11 02:05:09 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue May 21 05:43:41 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue May 21 05:43:41 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "11094528", "review_id": "cc49079773875175bf8ba1e3b2e0a88a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved this book, from the moment I read that \"Zack discovers a Doorway\" as then he stepped into a whole new world as a peacekeeper I knew I was totally hooked. If you haven't read any of Tim's other books yet you should there amazing!!", "date_added": "Wed Nov 21 01:35:16 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 21 01:46:33 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "42899", "review_id": "60577fdfdc5d318378f4341d06ba0109", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved this book, my favourite of all the series where it all began", "date_added": "Tue Nov 20 06:51:54 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 01 15:29:24 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "ba45746b150cf884a7ee7d96f10ba944", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I read this book because it was recommended to me and I have to say I really enjoyed it. Clary Fray thinks shes a normal teenager but its only when she starts seeing people that others can't that she realises that shes different. Shortly after her mother is kidnapped and with Jace and the other Shadowhunters in tow she tries to find her mother and discovers whole new things about her that she could never have imagined!!", "date_added": "Fri Nov 16 15:20:16 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 28 03:54:26 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Nov 28 03:54:26 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "10913887", "review_id": "ebf2f6e05fe09b62fa095561de1fb2e5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book, and to see a different take on the creatures of the night.Where a boy grew up having to hide his true self from these creatures in order to exist amongst them for fear of being discovered would be his demise!!!", "date_added": "Tue Nov 06 03:50:03 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 06 03:55:32 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "16128348", "review_id": "1bc8d94253c1b5c1b85b45fc6e5b7810", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow, Cannot believe how much I absolutely loved this book,as it was mostly about Seth and he's one evil character but it was great to read what made him into the person he is today, and you gotta feel sorry for the guy and you can understand why he turned out the way he did. As I was nearing the end you try and piece the bits of the puzzle together and where it was leading and I thought no, never that can't be OMG another great ending as always which you never see coming and another emotional train ride,bring on the next one a must on anyones christmas list!!!", "date_added": "Tue Nov 06 03:47:01 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 06 03:48:32 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Nov 06 03:48:32 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "15996310", "review_id": "47122a253a77bb60fcf4d0ca0d41f326", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another great book following the adventures of Zachery Black and his friends a Wolf, a Slath/Vampire, a mechanical man among others, battling together to save their worlds with the help of some weird and wonderful mechanical creatures along the way . An action packed book full of adventures, betrayals and all the twists and turns you'd expect in one of Mr O'Rourke's books.You won't be disappointed!!!", "date_added": "Fri Oct 26 06:15:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 01 15:33:03 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "16008383", "review_id": "7def3405acec5a1a120cb7cd9f1fa41e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Absolutely loved this book, it has it all blood, and a whole lot of mystery. Loved Winnie and Thaddeus, he is so mysterious, one minute you've think you've got him figured out, then the next minute you totally haven't. Can't wait for the next one to see where the story takes us!!", "date_added": "Fri Oct 26 06:06:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 01 15:29:04 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "15825466", "review_id": "aee27a50370186d8d55f3985adb6ee4d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Was in such a rush to read this as wanting to know how the story continues but find myself shouting out, and do not possibly want to believe what is happening. As this has been a long journey and I feel as though I have travelled along side the gang all the way. You're compelled to keep reading even though you might not like what you find on the otherside. This book has got it all the thrills,the action, the heartaches all the things you'd expect from one of Tim's books. The only downside is you finish them too quickly but I just can't help myself when you start you have to see it through till the end!!!", "date_added": "Fri Oct 26 06:02:30 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 26 06:04:17 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "15852020", "review_id": "87017639db6a593760a38344e1a3f8cf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Flashes part one is finally here after waiting for forever to read this book, as Tim has been teasing us for along time with news and snippets of this book. \n As always with Tim's books this was fantastic, fun, full of mystery solving which Tim is so good at creating in all his books. \n I love Charley and Tom who this book focuses on and their working together as a team to try and figure out Charley's 'flashes' \n I feel so sorry for Charley with what she has to go through when she has her 'flashes' and nobody believing her. \n I can't wait for flashes part two but not long to wait.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 28 07:57:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 25 14:28:35 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "13630842", "review_id": "f382845fe46700660227f6d8a81678d0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Yet again another great book, mostly about Potter, so it was always gonna be good, we get to find out more about Sophie and about the world being pushed. In a nutshell the whole series is amazing and I would suggest anyone who has not read them to get them you will not be disappointed!!!", "date_added": "Sat Jul 28 09:44:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 26 06:16:37 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "11386921", "review_id": "bd319cbe1ad75e6d99f17c50c15b2bf2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it, brilliant", "date_added": "Sat Jul 28 09:43:22 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 28 09:43:57 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "13626789", "review_id": "5f0ede44f891f731503077fc46e7c3ed", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fantastic!! If you've read all the other books you'll know what I mean, I was hooked all the way and it just leaves you wanting to read the next one!!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 22 04:19:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 26 06:17:45 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "15700058", "review_id": "c8cee8b79dc2a1f5c2bb2241b2d2f77d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Brilliant loved the new characters and can't wait for the next book", "date_added": "Mon Jun 18 08:53:27 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 01 15:31:16 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "13483839", "review_id": "ef2d379efd73b41fc9a955449dde92f0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What a great start to the 2nd series, thankfully we don't have to wait too long for the release of the next title in the series as Tim amazingly writes so quick which is great when you get hooked and you just want the next one. After series 1 I wondered where it was going to go with this one and I would never have guessed that the gang would end up dead because when that happens that's usually it end of story but not for these guys as you'll find out. An amazing series that I don't want to end!!!", "date_added": "Mon Jun 18 06:07:35 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 01 15:30:56 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "13171969", "review_id": "85c73f3f2852638f1d2271e5b048f690", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I read this book when it came out in 2011 but didn't realise I hadn't done a review. Kiera gets locked away after her failing attempts to find her mum and in search of information. Where are all her friends and who has her locked up? More time with Potter as Luke is away yippee and Kiera has to turn tough or she'll never get out!! Loved this book it has everything laughs mostly from Potter he's so funny, twists that you don't see coming till they've smacked you in the face, wow is all I can say read it you won't be disappointed!!", "date_added": "Mon Jun 18 06:04:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 23 03:02:51 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "12973002", "review_id": "27d2955f5a53e110e26c4e65d167a273", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I read this book when it came out in 2011 but didn't realise I hadn't done a review. Packed with all the twists and turns I just love this series, what with looking for Kayla and fleeing yet more of the turned bad Vampyrus they have alot on their plate. You have to read them fast to find out what happens and then when you get to the end it's like oooh now I've finished and I gotta wait for the next one if you've read them you'll know what I mean!!", "date_added": "Mon Jun 18 06:03:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 23 03:17:26 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "12660468", "review_id": "c3b26625d970fec4a6f6fd97f5893500", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I read this book when it came out in 2011 but didn't realise I hadn't done a review. After Kiera flees from the Ragged Cove she finds herself looking after Lady Hunt's daughter, where we first meet Kayla. Where Kiera still has feelings for Luke but Potter comes onto the scene and makes her look at him in a totally different way, Yay Love Potter!! I've read all the books in the series so far and they're still as fantastic as this one and leaves us well not patiently but waiting for the next one to arrive!!", "date_added": "Mon Jun 18 06:02:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 23 02:48:45 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19d451054bfb41eaeb68afaf5fe9275a", "book_id": "11824848", "review_id": "a70fac0e14e72f9bd8c093a2f2965c63", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Brilliant was hooked from start to finish", "date_added": "Mon Jun 18 05:59:27 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 18 06:01:14 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eea1bd2c68fd7c24fb20d3ac3335f30f", "book_id": "3360159", "review_id": "3cedaecf1cb903974cc1c39168f584a9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I liked :) \n rwyh mmt`h wmshwq@ jd \n stmt`t jd fy fry'th \n ^_^", "date_added": "Mon Mar 09 15:14:04 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 21 19:36:21 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Mon Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "eea1bd2c68fd7c24fb20d3ac3335f30f", "book_id": "2", "review_id": "327aa952d24751ba8870e34717341024", "rating": 5, "review_text": "qry'th bl`rbyh ,wmrrrrrrh stmt`t fy qry'th m` ny bd't bljz lkhms \n why mn Hl~ wmt` lrwyt lty qry'th \n why 'wl rwyh qry'th ^_^", "date_added": "Fri Dec 12 06:39:44 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 12 06:46:53 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5c8517ac11056e41dd07ae5dbc2cad9", "book_id": "35228838", "review_id": "7e843e565c57f6316eb95fd50ef11f20", "rating": 5, "review_text": "srulqop`ilebamde daxvecili samqaroa da clobit` mushaoba emch`neva siuzhets. \n ramdenime \"magram\"-s mainc` gamovqop`di: \n * sharak`vis istoriebia t`it`k`os arat`anmimdevruli an dausrulebeli - avtori itovebs ukandasaxev gzas, rat`a mesame cignshi ar sheizg'udos t`avi. t`it`k`os sxva avtoris dacerilia, saert`o p`onze t`anmimdevruloba aklia. \n * ademebt`an shegirdad mibarebuli k`vo da tarbinshi an universitetshi moscavle k`vo - ori sxvadasxva personazhia. morch`ili da ademebt`an sip`ic`xemot`okili k`vo z'alian meuc`xova. \n * p`elurianis istoria metismetad gacelilia, ch`emi azrit`. nimp`isebrt`an kotrialis ag'sacerad 10 t`avi mezedmeta. \n p.s. ademres let`ani z'alian hgavda huihnhnmebis p`ilosop`ias.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 06 02:54:36 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 14 04:59:07 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jul 14 05:53:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "e5c8517ac11056e41dd07ae5dbc2cad9", "book_id": "35170106", "review_id": "233bf7dbafc82f5a1b4d2b0063eacd73", "rating": 5, "review_text": "natos qoveli axali cignis kit`xvis dacqebisas momt`xovni var da mainc` qovel jerze maoc`ebs. mt`varis shvilobilebma ki qvela danarch`ens ajoba, albat`. \n ak` adamiant`a kidev up`ro p`eradi kaleidoskopia, kidev meti p`antazia da migneba, kidev up`ro meti intriga da saidumlo. mozaika, romelsac`, ggonia, rom acqob, magram axal-axal shreebs poulob, axal ganmartebas, sxvagvar ganvit`arebas. \n es cigni z'alian sasiamovno da saintereso t`avgadasavali iqo. sevdiani, magram z'alian scori dasasrulit`. \n da g'irebulebebi!.. t`avisup`leba, siqvaruli, megobroba, ert`guleba, uangaroba, sapirconed ki shuri, z'alaup`lebisken scrap`va, g'alati... og'ond es qvelap`eri gadmoc`emuli ise organulad, t`it`k`mis sheparvit` - avtori t`avs ar gaxveva azrs, ar gesaubrebit` didak`tikuri tonit`, mxolod gt`avazobs imas, rac` scoria, risic` t`avad scams... \n es iset`i cignia, p`entezis uc`xoenovan, ag'iarebul mceralt`a nacarmoebebs amaqad rom amouqeneb gverdshi!", "date_added": "Sun Jun 25 22:25:31 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 27 14:34:01 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jun 27 14:34:01 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jun 25 22:25:32 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5c8517ac11056e41dd07ae5dbc2cad9", "book_id": "33001192", "review_id": "03b58ec6f76a53eeb1e48792cbdb68c1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "up`ro 4.5. \"amerikeli g'mert`ebi\" rom ar camekit`xa ak`amde, ik`neb 5-c` damecera. \n t`avad geimans ch`emi sauket`eso shep`aseba: mravalmxrivi mceralia, romelic` ert`i zhanris p`arglebshi sruliad sxvadasxva siuzhetur xazebs agnebs, absoluturad t`vit`mqop`ad samqaroebs k`mnis da z'alian sainteresod gadmosc`ems.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 21 01:27:35 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 19 11:27:06 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jan 19 11:35:10 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5c8517ac11056e41dd07ae5dbc2cad9", "book_id": "5996153", "review_id": "4447f679a34b85c9feea50dd68c69aae", "rating": 3, "review_text": "cignis meore naxevari vermosacqveti t`avgadasavali iqo. 1 varskvlavs uazrod gacelili da mgloviare pirveli naxevrisat`vis vakleb.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 21 01:27:18 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 29 23:20:13 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Dec 30 23:20:13 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5c8517ac11056e41dd07ae5dbc2cad9", "book_id": "31120293", "review_id": "8fcf76ef5b20e5ceb95bcb21c2be483d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "z'alian sht`ambechdavi cignia: p`entezis gadmoc`emis axleburi gza, romelsac` sap`uz'vlad sxvadasxva kulturebis mit`ologiat`a g'rma c`odna da gadaazreba udevs. saintereso siuzheti, shesanishnavi narativi, g'mert`t`a originaluri saxeebi, moulodneli kvanz'ebi - es qvelap`eri cigns z'alian sasiamovno sakit`xavi xdis. rom arap`eri vt`k`va misi t`vit`mqop`adi da gansxvavebuli xedvis p`aseulobaze, uc`nobi da saintereso mit`ebis gac`oc`xlebis g'irebulebaze, mz'ap`r da gulshich`amcvdom ch`anart`ebze - es qvelap`eri t`avbrudamxvev kaleidoskopi k`mnis, romlis mier datovebuli kvalic` didxans migqveba. am cigns qvelap`eri ak`vs, rac` karg cigns unda hk`ondes - dagap`ik`rebs, shec`vlis, da ubralod dros sasiamovnod gagaqvaninebs. \n aseve unda ag'vnishno, rom \"amerikeli g'mert`ebi\", \"koralaini\" da \"varskvlavis mtveri\" - es sruliad sxvadasxva cignebia. mxolod istorias ar vgulisxmob, bunebrivia. siuzhetis ganvit`areba, narativi, cignis auditoria, p`aseulobebi, gancqoba - qvelap`eri gansxvavebuli da t`avist`avadi ak`vt`. z'neli dasajerebelia, rom ert`i adamianis tvins sheiz'leboda amdenad mravalp`erovani literatura eshva.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 03 00:07:25 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 03 01:20:48 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5c8517ac11056e41dd07ae5dbc2cad9", "book_id": "29490255", "review_id": "8c248ce7a2084801af2d867eec4ceb5a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "cina cigns ajoba. naklebi t`ineijeruli garch`evebi da meti \"ek`sheni\".", "date_added": "Tue May 31 00:44:15 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 04 08:38:06 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon May 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5c8517ac11056e41dd07ae5dbc2cad9", "book_id": "30294391", "review_id": "04fa3baf90f4302ce013e2f26af1cf40", "rating": 5, "review_text": "rvave mot`xroba aris z'alian kargi. sul narch`evi, sauket`eso mot`xrobebia krebulshi - c`odnit`a da gemovnebit`aa sherch`euli qvela. mokle mot`xrobebis p`inalma gaognebuli damtova, shedarebit` vrc`el mot`xrobebshi ki xan satiraa kargi, xan dialogebi, xan idea (siuzhetebi - t`avist`avad). \n kidev ert`i 5 varskvlaviani cigni bat`umelebisgan.", "date_added": "Fri May 27 00:14:02 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat May 28 10:42:09 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat May 28 14:33:02 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 8}
{"user_id": "e5c8517ac11056e41dd07ae5dbc2cad9", "book_id": "27468431", "review_id": "d90c07b9c846e046d53fccf44822c946", "rating": 3, "review_text": "msgavsi zhanris cignebis samqaros shek`mnisas avtorebi zedmet sip`rt`xiles ich`enen xolme da es uarqop`it`ad isaxeba cignis narativze, personazhebis damajereblobaze. rasac` ver vitqvi mishel ridis gmirebze. cigni uc`eb shemomadna xelshi - gansatvirt`ad mshvenieri sashualebaa.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 16 03:28:37 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue May 31 00:46:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri May 20 03:27:53 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5c8517ac11056e41dd07ae5dbc2cad9", "book_id": "23346759", "review_id": "124454ec6ed5dbe49503bb28d98a4a93", "rating": 5, "review_text": "sabavshvo cigni, romelshic` religiis seriozuli satiraa. iqo sxva \"diduri\" momentebic`, ramac` pratch`etis saintereso samqaro kidev up`ro mimzidveli sakit`xavi gaxada.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 14 05:01:46 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 14 05:03:45 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5c8517ac11056e41dd07ae5dbc2cad9", "book_id": "28003887", "review_id": "2fc6056c228828ecf517d1b5ded43a61", "rating": 5, "review_text": "p`antasmagoria, satira, iumoristuli p`entezi, samec`niero p`antastika da ubralod gadasarevi cigni!", "date_added": "Sat Dec 05 08:27:47 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon May 30 06:34:12 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Dec 04 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5c8517ac11056e41dd07ae5dbc2cad9", "book_id": "27069714", "review_id": "c25f0346b0dcc89bb771251c0036e9b1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "marsis epizodebi, konkretulad ki uotnis ch`anacerebi, z'alian kargi iqo. nasas epizodebi, gansakut`rebit` mat`i pat`etikuri gamosvlebi da satelevizio interviuebi, standartul holivudur sc`enarebze up`ro qalbi. \n uotnis ch`anacerebshi arc` aranormatiuli lek`sika gchris qurs da arc` samec`niero tek`stebi gezedmeteba da gg'lis. ikit`xeba z'alian gemrielad. \n saboloo jamshi mqari 4* ch`emgan.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 20 06:57:55 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 20 07:04:28 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Nov 20 07:04:28 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5c8517ac11056e41dd07ae5dbc2cad9", "book_id": "27468538", "review_id": "cd1ca36e6d9896bc733bbde919bcaf11", "rating": 4, "review_text": "rigzis mier shek`mnili samqaro iqo z'alian originaluri da saintereso. t`umc`a siuzhetma c`ota gamic`rua imedebi - amxela cignidan mxolod 1 t`avi iqo realuri \"ek`sheni\" - danarch`eni ki araskamrisi daz'abulobis momtani molodini.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 13 01:26:45 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri May 20 03:28:23 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "e5c8517ac11056e41dd07ae5dbc2cad9", "book_id": "25432643", "review_id": "f3358da7568e25880c8922557929c633", "rating": 5, "review_text": "adamiant`a sardap`is t`avgadasavali c`ota aradamajerebeli iqo. samagierod, chianchvelebis t`avgadasavalshi ar shemparvia echvi :) \n shesanishnavi istoria, romelic` z'alian hgavs horors, kriminalsa da detek`tivs, sabolood ki sai-p`ai zhanrad ikvreba.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 10 07:36:26 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 10 07:39:59 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Sep 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "e5c8517ac11056e41dd07ae5dbc2cad9", "book_id": "25626455", "review_id": "0e57015cfa19c542f7dd11cf7a62f3d9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "aset` karg cigns ar velodi. es ar aris cigni, romelic` siuzheturi xlart`ebit` da t`avgadasavlit` mogxiblavs, magram es is cignia, sek`sualobis soc`ialur mxareebs sxvagvarad rom daganaxebs da adamianis danishnulebaze dagap`ik`rebs. \n cignis didi g'irsebaa srulqop`ili c`ivilizac`ia, romelic` avtorma daxata: t`vit`mqop`adi kulturit`, religiit`, msop`lmxedvelobit`, politikuri mocqobit`, etiketit` da, rag'a t`k`ma unda, sek`sualobit`. z'alian momecona patriotizmis, megobrobis, siqvarulis da religiis avtoriseuli gageba. \n gamart`uli 5 varskvlavi ch`emgan", "date_added": "Mon Aug 10 07:44:31 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 10 21:01:07 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 9, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5c8517ac11056e41dd07ae5dbc2cad9", "book_id": "12727740", "review_id": "89846af5a87b2798fcb5acf14ad95e7a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "rac` metad vec`nobi p`entezis, mit` metad vap`aseb zelaznis - gansakut`rebit`, am pirvel cigns. iset`i intro ak`vs, mindeba, davivicqo siuzheti da xelaxla ganvic`ado anareklebshi sheg'cevis is pirveli ganc`da.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 19 05:20:05 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 05 00:29:07 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5c8517ac11056e41dd07ae5dbc2cad9", "book_id": "16793", "review_id": "e6a6f6980b42f0093c780f834980d4e2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "mshenieri zg'apari iqo.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 10 04:21:14 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 13 01:27:54 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5c8517ac11056e41dd07ae5dbc2cad9", "book_id": "22370081", "review_id": "eec5bdc4bd6ce6f7c0afeb062c4949a2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "ch`amt`revi zg'aparia - xelidan ver gavushvi cigni :)", "date_added": "Wed Jun 18 01:12:18 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 01 14:24:04 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Oct 01 14:24:04 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5c8517ac11056e41dd07ae5dbc2cad9", "book_id": "48318", "review_id": "43c89c89f2c8620e0395f69dbd1f7f25", "rating": 5, "review_text": "jadosnuri cignia! saoc`ari, uch`veulo, zg'apruli p`abulit`. momnusxavi da momajadoebeli. amas damatebuli saintereso t`xroba, originaluri struk`tura da z'alian kargad mop`ik`rebuli sistema. cigni, romlis sht`abechdilebac` didxans gamqveba", "date_added": "Wed Feb 12 04:13:47 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 21 06:26:37 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Mar 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Mar 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5c8517ac11056e41dd07ae5dbc2cad9", "book_id": "20492802", "review_id": "b5502abae718e6c4bf68404265a267d5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "kidev ert`i jadosnuri da amag'elvebeli cigni. caakit`xet` bavshvs \"dausrulebeli ambavi\" da mas auc`ileblad sheuqvardeba p`entezi.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 23 04:46:29 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 02 04:07:21 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Feb 12 03:44:46 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Feb 08 11:39:43 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5c8517ac11056e41dd07ae5dbc2cad9", "book_id": "12400611", "review_id": "4d09f133a1f54f2b5f6c0bbae4361e60", "rating": 5, "review_text": "momecona mcerlis shesanishnavi iumoris grz'noba, ulevi p`antazia da t`xrobis saintereso, ch`amqoli stili. \n ch`emi gansakut`rebuli k`at`nauri t`argmanis avtors - shesanishnavad aris t`argmnili: absoluturad ar ixamusha k`art`ulma enam p`antaziis samqaros arak`art`veli gmirebi. \n kmaqop`ilma davxure orive cigni :)", "date_added": "Wed Jan 08 09:39:14 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 06 13:04:18 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Mar 06 13:04:18 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5c8517ac11056e41dd07ae5dbc2cad9", "book_id": "12400603", "review_id": "6daa395bfc142e9939e4636a3fbc6cf5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "momecona mcerlis shesanishnavi iumoris grz'noba, ulevi p`antazia da t`xrobis saintereso, ch`amqoli stili. \n ch`emi gansakut`rebuli k`at`nauri t`argmanis avtors - shesanishnavad aris t`argmnili: absoluturad ar ixamusha k`art`ulma enam p`antaziis samqaros arak`art`veli gmirebi. \n kmaqop`ilma davxure orive cigni :)", "date_added": "Wed Apr 03 06:11:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 02 04:06:45 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5b443f077434473afb872bd13c41b231", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "27356be972fbd9de0db79055d3e37ace", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very readable... Will continue on the series whenever I get around to it.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 26 16:15:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 26 16:16:20 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5b443f077434473afb872bd13c41b231", "book_id": "47956", "review_id": "cdc04022afe53defee661b20c333b5ec", "rating": 5, "review_text": "These three books are excellent. Brilliant storytelling & the world created is very convincing. I like them a lot.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 17 07:56:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 26 16:08:00 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5b443f077434473afb872bd13c41b231", "book_id": "30225", "review_id": "172668110b1b1821e62a591888496600", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It is a good read. A nice continuation to the story.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 15:14:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 11 16:13:46 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jun 11 16:13:46 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5b443f077434473afb872bd13c41b231", "book_id": "9526658", "review_id": "a105fafa0dd8ca729c0213d67b0a577c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It is not great. This series is definitely going to too long. The town seems to be going back to the good old days - little or no character development. Eve's brother is still bad, Oliver is the same - there is no growth or change to the characters. \n The series could be going in circles. I won't be holding my breath waiting for the next one.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 14:44:05 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 01 15:39:50 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jul 01 15:39:50 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f35b81ffde30f58ecbdd552a2f02ace4", "book_id": "15704459", "review_id": "81753c734f03435c684b1cb8be837958", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Enjoyed this one a lot more than the first one. Looking forward to Calamity.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 31 11:03:45 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 19 12:34:23 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jun 19 12:34:23 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f35b81ffde30f58ecbdd552a2f02ace4", "book_id": "20150777", "review_id": "68cd5885842b3cbca3d79f2c6a8fc3c0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Just crazy good, can't wait for the next one. Haven't enjoyed a book this much since Storm of Swords. Highly recommended.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 27 16:37:29 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 27 17:19:10 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f35b81ffde30f58ecbdd552a2f02ace4", "book_id": "18241129", "review_id": "626c08a7eb2e8438e4832cad41de5bb9", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Terrible. Boring story, terrible writing, bad Audiobook narration. Gave up after 150 pages.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 30 10:40:11 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 07 09:24:01 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jan 07 09:24:01 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f35b81ffde30f58ecbdd552a2f02ace4", "book_id": "68488", "review_id": "0febf706828c63480d69609a77963c93", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Just OK. The book didn't need to be nearly as long as it was - there's just not a lot of story here. The first solid third of the book was Fitz being visited by various people and chatting with them. It gets old. It really does. \n [minor spoilers] \n So, a few issues. First, like I said above, the actual story of the book is restricted to less than half of it. I get that we need to catch up with the protagonist, but man does it drag. \n Also, the majority of the characters in the book are just unlikeable. I've never loved The Fool but he just seemed obnoxious in this one. Aside from Fitz and one new character (Jinna) I couldn't really stand anyone. \n That said, it had it's moments and the end left me at least mildly interested in the next book, though I think I'll be taking a break from the series.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 23 12:28:21 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 30 10:39:28 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Dec 30 10:39:28 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f35b81ffde30f58ecbdd552a2f02ace4", "book_id": "45112", "review_id": "0f00caf99a744e6bf4d4680e7fb36198", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Could have been about 400 pages shorter and told the same story but was good!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 23 12:20:04 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 28 13:36:30 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Nov 28 13:36:30 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f35b81ffde30f58ecbdd552a2f02ace4", "book_id": "18138189", "review_id": "34253e75faf4b75826ef83c453e5aa73", "rating": 2, "review_text": "More like 1.5 stars, but I rounded up. Very disappointing after a stellar first book.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 29 13:30:29 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 22 10:17:09 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Sep 22 10:17:09 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f35b81ffde30f58ecbdd552a2f02ace4", "book_id": "902715", "review_id": "36e8a5446c4664bdd8e991cf7a2f270c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great book, great series. Didn't love the first 1/3, but it made up for it.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 06 10:42:04 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 17 10:11:29 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Feb 06 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f35b81ffde30f58ecbdd552a2f02ace4", "book_id": "45107", "review_id": "4c84dbc84bd216d95f8ac9584b0c95dd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A little slow to start but fun once it got going. Halfway through the next one now and it's all the good stuff from book one with little of the bad stuff.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 02 12:17:57 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 23 12:19:00 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "f35b81ffde30f58ecbdd552a2f02ace4", "book_id": "17182126", "review_id": "af0e5bff3777f960eb97dc2cd8c3535b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Slow start, didn't love the writing style or some of the quirks, but damn what a finish. By the end I was completely sold and will definitely pick up the next one.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 02 12:10:36 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 15 09:50:48 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jan 15 09:50:48 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f35b81ffde30f58ecbdd552a2f02ace4", "book_id": "104089", "review_id": "7d7a2aa9d74c70b5d089828742f4ede9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Good stand alone fantasy and written very well, but plagued with some problems that almost made me put the book down completely a couple of times. \n Almost all female characters in the book are written as innocent flowers that, nonetheless, turn into sexual vixens within a chapter of their introduction. This happens a great deal and gets to be incredibly annoying. There is an incest sub-plot that ends up serving absolutely no purpose and seems dropped in just to shock. The book takes lots of random detours, even more than half way into the book, and one such incidence is just an incredible jarring deus-ex-machina that doesn't jive with the feel of the rest of the book. \n Finally, there's an incredibly distracting amount of torture description/imagery. I'm not squeamish here, but the amount of it (and the fact that a lot of it specifically mentions it happening to children) is enough to bother even the biggest fan of dark fantasy. \n A good plot, however, when they decided to follow it, and a great ending, both of which saved the book from a lower score.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 17:28:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 27 05:24:37 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jun 27 05:24:37 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1786c05349dde5b3004e0d3042f6c4fd", "book_id": "23852", "review_id": "f0d918ebb9ba8f921def18fd60861e5a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "To give Douglas Clegg only 2 stars pains me to no end. I've been reading his books off and on since high school. I love his descriptions and his ability to make me so completely uncomfortable with what I was reading and visualizing. But going by Goodreads' scoring, 2 stars means \"it was okay\" and that's how I feel about this novel. I had a really hard time getting through it because I was bored. It starts out slow, and in the middle it picked up a bit, but I just couldn't get excited about it. If I tried reading this before this year, I would have given up on it, but I made a promise to myself to finish every book I start. I just didn't like any of the characters and the even the ending was disappointing.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 10 09:42:33 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 08 16:09:25 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Aug 08 16:09:25 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jul 10 09:42:42 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1786c05349dde5b3004e0d3042f6c4fd", "book_id": "17934886", "review_id": "2e45464c3d62e0223a495c71d64975a9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I don't like to review books so quickly after I finish, but I feel like I'm so impressed by this novel that I might lose some of that if I sit on it. \n Honestly, there isn't anything I didn't like about this story. I ate the whole thing up. \n I can't say much that so many haven't already said, and I'm not nearly as expansive or elegant as others, but I have to say that I freaking loved this. \n I'm not going to drabble on about what the book is about, but the main premise is somewhat similar to \n , as others have noted, only on Mars. \n But it also reminded me at points of \n and how far some people will go when there isn't rules or laws and it's every person for themselves. \n The characters are masterfully written. Brown writes them all as real people. You know how when you first meet someone, you have a first impression, and then you get to know them and you realize that impression was wrong? You see this through Darrow. So many of the characters you meet along the way, you see through Darrow, and maybe he likes someone off the bat, only to have them betray him, or maybe you meet hulking beasts that in the end are puppy dogs. You grow to love these characters and Darrow and you feel their pain. The character development is some of the best I've read. \n This is an incredibly sad story full of rage. But it's absolutely amazing.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 19 16:00:25 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 21 20:02:07 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "918f42e9703617054ff3a63df88ed491", "book_id": "12499290", "review_id": "148ee6a369dfe2c459f7696217c157bc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "(Review for series as a whole, up to Blinding Knife) \n These books are very good and highly original. With a original magic system to rival any of Brandon Sanderson's work, a number of moral questions, and a story where even the 'bad guys' have fleshed out and, frankly, often reasonable motives, the only fly in the ointment for me was a lack of proper foreshadowing, especially with some major plot twists that really should have been hinted at better, so you can say 'oh, THATS why did . Instead, it occurs and the cosmos reorders itself to align with what you know now. It should have been the other way around. Still, a fantastic book for all that, I can recommend it to anyone looking for a unique fantasy story with interesting questions.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 18:56:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 05 23:57:02 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "918f42e9703617054ff3a63df88ed491", "book_id": "7165300", "review_id": "967c60dc727b1c323c9c226dd2346f69", "rating": 4, "review_text": "(Review for series as a whole, up to Blinding Knife) \n These books are very good and highly original. With a original magic system to rival any of Brandon Sanderson's work, a number of moral questions, and a story where even the 'bad guys' have fleshed out and, frankly, often reasonable motives, the only fly in the ointment for me was a lack of proper foreshadowing, especially with some major plot twists that really should have been hinted at better, so you can say 'oh, THATS why did . Instead, it occurs and the cosmos reorders itself to align with what you know now. It should have been the other way around. Still, a fantastic book for all that, I can recommend it to anyone looking for a unique fantasy story with interesting questions.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 18:56:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 05 23:56:58 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "af118b1e62452fd8760e3d6afe0bbfe9", "book_id": "13330943", "review_id": "80f55baa1a346af1a5c45b4a92dc95ca", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I hate when you dislike a book that most people loved/raved about. Makes me feel like I'm missing something. This book is one of them.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 27 19:16:54 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 04 03:57:08 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Thu Dec 22 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ec834a076f8236b855e273cfd8ba21e7", "book_id": "35050818", "review_id": "cce5fe3ff53e8f2872b6cca9b9a9ba71", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I didn't know if I would enjoy this as much as The Watchmaker of Filigree Street, but actually I think I liked it even better! And I love the way the two books fit together. Natasha Pulley's brand of historical fantasy is exactly my sort of thing.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 28 02:49:45 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 19 11:09:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Sep 19 11:09:42 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ec834a076f8236b855e273cfd8ba21e7", "book_id": "24942688", "review_id": "30da39be7ddd239962ef03de7c8ae530", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n That was the perfect ending. The right ending. All the devastation and bereavement I felt at the end of Fool's Fate is gone. I always thought they should go into a stone \"dragon\" together. But Fitz, Fool and Nighteyes hunting as a wolf is perfect. Everything from all the books comes together. I am at peace.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 26 09:45:20 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat May 20 13:50:26 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Wed May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ec834a076f8236b855e273cfd8ba21e7", "book_id": "29502206", "review_id": "c0a6703d20ca15a3e5baa8aa9f4186bf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "To be honest, I was a bit disappointed with this book, especially since I waited a long time to read it. I had it as a recommendation in a list of gender-fluid novels to try. (Actually, I preferred Eon/Eona by Alison Goodman, which I also thought much better than her more recent Dark Days Club). I was expecting Pantomime to be in-your-face, own- voice queer fiction., which it isn't. And I don't know if I feel comfortable with Micah/Gene's being a hermaphrodite linked to having magic powers. It feels a bit too much like the \"disabled superhero\" trope. \n Also, I found the plot predictable, and the writing in need of re-drafting. It was a fairly enjoyable story, but I was counting the pages towards the end, rather than turning them faster.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 14 10:19:51 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 07 06:36:27 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Mar 07 06:36:27 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ec834a076f8236b855e273cfd8ba21e7", "book_id": "22567184", "review_id": "e47e3b55ca67c4c303df64bca99fb579", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Mostly, I enjoyed this book immensely, especially the unexpected crossover with the Sevenwaters series. But it felt like the ending was rushed; I was disappointed that the seven-year contract was cut down to three and the personal side of the story was abruptly wrapped up. Or is it??", "date_added": "Fri Dec 30 01:54:46 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 30 01:58:24 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ec834a076f8236b855e273cfd8ba21e7", "book_id": "22544764", "review_id": "932cb169819a53aef49a016c3067a3b7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it! The relationship between Agneiszka and Sarkan reminded me of Howl's Moving Castle.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 19 07:34:41 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 26 08:33:02 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Sep 26 08:33:02 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Sep 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ec834a076f8236b855e273cfd8ba21e7", "book_id": "23157777", "review_id": "295d33b4e55f1434f8b8e9ced8f8ea92", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Argh! Heartrending cliffhanger! Again!!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 18 05:08:22 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 26 09:41:47 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Aug 26 09:41:47 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ec834a076f8236b855e273cfd8ba21e7", "book_id": "20697500", "review_id": "cb5f24af6b7bcc292a01e878e7912941", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This should really be 4 1/2 stars, but Goodreads don't give that option. I read this after going to Rod Duncan's workshop at EdgeLit. I was impressed with the man and his ideas, and equally impressed with the book. This is intelligent steampunk. Not just cogs and airships, but a proper human story about belonging and identity. Also, it really works as a mystery. I think the fact that it is written by a male from a female point of view gives it all-round depth. It makes me want to read the next in the series.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 24 11:20:35 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 27 05:00:21 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jul 27 05:00:21 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ec834a076f8236b855e273cfd8ba21e7", "book_id": "18107099", "review_id": "93b0bba670d5b1c4ddeddcdca9a8adcd", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I'm so glad Ursula Jones did the difficult job of finishing off Diana Wynne Jones' last novel and bringing it to us. It was also great that I was reading it at the time of the Scottish referendum, as the four islands in the story are obviously meant to represent the four nations of the British Isles. This story reminded me of a lot of Diana's other stories, including the Dalemark Quartet, which I love. \n Basically, it's just wonderful to have this last, bonus insight into Diana's wonderful imagination.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 16 10:09:49 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 20 13:35:29 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Sep 20 13:35:29 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ec834a076f8236b855e273cfd8ba21e7", "book_id": "18658063", "review_id": "de94759e290c91770987bb97bc9ab5bf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I was both excited and terrified to read this book, both wanting to meet beloved characters again (pardon the pun) and fearful of what new suffering they might endure. Let me warn you now: don't let this book lead you into a false sense of security. It might seem as if Robin Hobb has gone soft, as if the horrific suffering of the previous books is over. She hits you with it when you least expect it. I did end up shouting and crying at the book, just as I did in the Tawny Man trilogy. Having said that, I also adored this book. I love the new character of Bee. I love the setting of Withywoods. I love the fact that I kept spotting the significance of details from the cover art as they occurred in the plot. So there is lots to love here, and lots to agonise over, too. And, yes, you will still be shouting at Fitz for being dense and creating problems for his nearest and dearest with his bad decisions. It's just a shame that a book takes so long to create and so little time to read. What happens next?!?", "date_added": "Thu Aug 21 09:40:36 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 27 09:22:08 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Aug 27 09:22:08 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ec834a076f8236b855e273cfd8ba21e7", "book_id": "51464", "review_id": "385dd9d27a53d802aa31c780eaac113c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I found this book in a second hand book sale this week, and really enjoyed it. These are exactly the sort of short stories I like; they reminded me a bit of Lord Dunsanny, only not quite so wonderful. I also wonder if CS Lewis read them, as one story contains an obnoxious boy called Eustace who undergoes a change for the better, and another one features someone meeting a faun in a wood.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 07 13:38:19 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 07 13:42:21 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ec834a076f8236b855e273cfd8ba21e7", "book_id": "7022166", "review_id": "a864f0cd07d2be26f38584fbd7ba695c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A fairy take-like historical fantasy, that reminded me a little bit of Juliet Marillier. The only frustrating thing is: what happens next?", "date_added": "Fri May 16 11:06:52 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat May 24 07:34:31 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat May 24 07:34:31 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri May 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ec834a076f8236b855e273cfd8ba21e7", "book_id": "15783514", "review_id": "3097eed4987d6e8a514631cd88806704", "rating": 5, "review_text": "At the beginning, this seemed like a story about someone having a lonely childhood in the 70s. But when the fantasy aspect began, it felt like Diana Wynne Jones had come back to us. Is this a tribute to the late, great Diana? Or an exploration of Neil's childhood memories? Maybe both...", "date_added": "Wed Apr 30 15:34:46 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon May 05 08:38:56 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon May 05 08:38:56 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ec834a076f8236b855e273cfd8ba21e7", "book_id": "127455", "review_id": "059af221831fcee674ff65b266dcc831", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This would have been 5 stars but I had to take one off for flagrant use of the f-word. It's like being repeatedly flashed at for no good reason. Apart from that, I enjoyed this book. It's very original in its world-building, creative in its form, and Locke is a loveable rogue. Plus, I LOVED the House of Glass Roses, and I'm now gutted they I didn't think of it first and I'll never be able to use it.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 04 06:56:05 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 18 14:02:04 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jan 18 14:02:04 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ec834a076f8236b855e273cfd8ba21e7", "book_id": "43763", "review_id": "da40e25e4d0b65aaafbb1f4f9a5072e8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book completely deserves its classic status. It is a religious and philosophical book, addressing questions of good and evil, the nature of the human soul, faith, miracles, God and the devil. It is also a compelling story with characters you really care about. I didn't find it at all disturbing or horror-like. The experience of the vampire over the years and centuries could be applied to so many real-life issues: substance addiction, abusive relationships, struggles with sexual orientation etc. This is a moving, compassionate and intelligent book.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 07 15:27:25 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 24 10:04:20 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Sep 24 10:04:20 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ec834a076f8236b855e273cfd8ba21e7", "book_id": "8626241", "review_id": "b62e2c69b22710ac4a84738ce6d0d9dd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is like Game of Thrones for teenagers. But, unlike Game of Thrones, it has some characters who are actually good and decent, and some genuine love and redemption amidst the action, adventure and gore. I just like the idea of all the different were-creatures; you could keep expanding that one forever! This first book in the series sets up its sequels nicely, while at the same time providing a nicely rounded plot for itself. Also, watch out for references to the legend of Gellet, Jacob & Esau etc.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 20 15:13:21 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 31 04:46:22 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Aug 31 04:46:22 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ec834a076f8236b855e273cfd8ba21e7", "book_id": "13239822", "review_id": "718827aca1f6ce10bc4c608b81bb9d7f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I found this story really interesting. I don't think I've ever read a book set in the Arab emirates before, and I've read very little urban fantasy. Liked the parallel between the two unseen worlds: online and the djinn. And I always like a book with religion. It took a while to get going, and sometimes I found the tech-talk hard to follow, but overall I liked it.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 23 07:02:33 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 30 04:47:54 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 30 04:47:54 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ec834a076f8236b855e273cfd8ba21e7", "book_id": "402045", "review_id": "a84c516320dce78c85b3ec1ff6a73366", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I couldn't read any more of this book; it felt too hurtful.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 25 04:22:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 17 11:27:04 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Dec 17 11:27:04 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sun Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ec834a076f8236b855e273cfd8ba21e7", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "8671a3e9ee815a99d31af04cee9e01e7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I adore this book. I've now read it twice within the space of a year. I wish I'd thought up the idea of the night circus myself!", "date_added": "Fri Oct 05 08:30:08 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 18 03:11:45 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Oct 18 03:11:45 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ec834a076f8236b855e273cfd8ba21e7", "book_id": "23603", "review_id": "458beea079881622f11f027990403fe2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So magical, lyrical and comforting. Especially \"Smith of Wootton Major\".", "date_added": "Wed Oct 03 13:27:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 25 04:26:41 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ec834a076f8236b855e273cfd8ba21e7", "book_id": "7733", "review_id": "70b1606e3e66a90277be8ad869ad1a97", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I studied this both for my A- Levels and my degree, and have loved it ever since. It's so insightful and so FUNNY! I have a particular love for Book 3, and set my first novel, Silver Hands, in that world.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 25 01:15:31 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 25 04:33:05 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ec834a076f8236b855e273cfd8ba21e7", "book_id": "22917", "review_id": "ad035689f790b65707e029abd6e1979f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What can I say about this classic book? A constant source of wisdom and inspiration. I've written so many Grimms'-inspired stories, including my first novel, Silver Hands.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 25 01:13:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 25 04:30:30 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ec834a076f8236b855e273cfd8ba21e7", "book_id": "2133827", "review_id": "a1de9f97a34f90bfe725ebac98eb8b8b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I read this in an English translation as The Boy with the Cuckoo Clock Heart. There is also a concept album and a forthcoming animated film.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 11 05:41:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 11 05:44:02 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "467ed8f03548be6c2d9228f9a2f7b2ea", "book_id": "34037113", "review_id": "a20285cbac14a2f6e3adf52fb6fc4f8e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I would like to thank Simon & Schuster for sending me an advance readers copy of \"The Rules of Magic.\" This is the 26th book I have read by Alice Hoffman, so I guess you could say I am a fan of her writing. \n \"The Rules of Magic\" is the prequel to Hoffman's book \"Practical Magic.\" It tells the story of \"The Aunts,\" Franny and Jet, and their brother Vincent, their early life and coming of age in NYC, and coming to terms with their magical inheritance. Was this magic handed down for many generations in the Owens family a gift or a burden? That question could not be answered -- it simply WAS. \n Franny, Jet, and Vincent have always felt that they were different, but full self awareness only came one summer spent at their Aunt Isabel's home in Massachusetts. There, they come to learn that self acceptance was as important as love for a happy and fulfilled existence. For centuries, the Owens women are taught that love is a burden, that falling in love carries deadly risks, but that a life without love is a small death in itself. It takes a lifetime to learn that the only cure for love is to love more. \n \"The Rules of Magic\" is really Franny's story. She is the strongest of the Owens siblings and also the most stubborn, and certainly the most resistant to letting others into her heart. She dubs herself the \"woman of thorns\" and her heart is impenetrable, except for the love she feels for her two siblings. Even her childhood sweetheart, Haylin, can't break through the walls she puts up. Is it self preservation or self destruction? Or is she really the most loving because she thinks this fortress will protect those she loves most? \n But the reader comes to love Franny. And seeing her journey gives you insight into how she became the way she is, and how her legacy being passed on to Sally and Gillian (in Practical Magic) was destiny. \n This book was a pleasure to read. No one weaves a tale quite like Alice Hoffman. I can't wait to read my next Hoffman book!", "date_added": "Tue Jul 18 00:44:05 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 23 23:03:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jul 23 22:59:50 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jul 18 00:44:06 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "467ed8f03548be6c2d9228f9a2f7b2ea", "book_id": "17262149", "review_id": "2c6b0d602e2390bbec8ef86958237d93", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was first drawn to this book because it was compared to the writing of Alice Hoffman and Sarah Addison Allen, two authors of the Magical Realism genre whose books I have enjoyed over the years. Sadly, the comparison was unwarranted. The Wishing Thread lacks the expert storytelling of Hoffman, and characters did not have the warmth that Sarah Addison Allen is so adept at creating in her books. \n On the positive side, it did teach me that Tarrytown, NY is the home of the Sleepy Hollow/Headless Horseman story, a fact that came in handy the other night on Jeopardy.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 10 00:03:16 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 01:11:38 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "467ed8f03548be6c2d9228f9a2f7b2ea", "book_id": "899200", "review_id": "7f1ac455363999fca8b5999dd6b25e78", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Green Angel is a tender fable of loss and life by the inimitable storyteller, Alice Hoffman. I don't generally read YA books, but made an exception with this one because it was written by my favorite author. No one can weave a tale quite like Alice Hoffman, and this book was very special.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 03 21:58:09 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 05 03:12:48 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Oct 05 03:12:48 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "467ed8f03548be6c2d9228f9a2f7b2ea", "book_id": "1158967", "review_id": "c409abe0ff61bc5cf1a560223c03fe53", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Sweet and magical. This book will cast a spell over all who read it. \n There is something intoxicating about magical realism books. They portray realistic relationships, friendships, families with an added touch of fantasy and whimsy. Life needs whimsy, and it is a welcome ingredient in a book. \n 4.5 stars. (I reserve a 5 star rating for books that change your life and leave an imprint on your soul. This is a very enjoyable book, more of a guilty pleasure read, and deserves high marks.) I will definitely look for other books by Sarah Addison Allen.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 02 00:54:20 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 07 14:29:25 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Feb 07 14:29:25 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "467ed8f03548be6c2d9228f9a2f7b2ea", "book_id": "18950880", "review_id": "d4b5b561e6da8463f0cbd2d930f72c48", "rating": 4, "review_text": "If you are a fan of magical realism, this is the book for you. I was drawn to the novel because of a review I read that said \"as beguiling as the novels of Alice Hoffman....\" Having read 21 novels by Alice Hoffman, this was a statement that definitely intrigued me. \n \"Season of the Dragonflies\" is a captivating story of a matriarchal family and the multi generational bond and business they share. It is a story of flowers, sisters, practical magic, old secrets, and new love, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I read the book in a little over a day -- couldn't put it down -- and look forward to hearing more from Sarah Creech in the future.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 24 02:09:34 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 14 17:23:31 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Dec 24 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "467ed8f03548be6c2d9228f9a2f7b2ea", "book_id": "12967", "review_id": "5a4b89a5b4af08c58003b87a4578260a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not really sure why I gave this book 3 stars. I guess I was in a generous mood. Truth be told, I hated it. And considering it took me over 10 years after purchase to finally pick up and read, there was a hefty amount of disappointment in what I anticipated and what the book delivered.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 30 01:38:42 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun May 18 19:30:58 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "467ed8f03548be6c2d9228f9a2f7b2ea", "book_id": "3682", "review_id": "a6ccbef97f7d6dd0d549a397ec6b3ca4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I read this at the insistence of my teen daughter. I can see how appealing this type of fantasy fiction is for young girls. The magic, the friendships between the girls at the boarding school, and their own feelings of inadequacy and insecurity that cements the bond between them, all combine for a fanciful read. Libba Bray enofolds the story of Gemma Doyle and \"The Order\"in an enchanting fashion. For a fantasy book, this is one of the better ones. I enjoyed it. I would give this book 3 1/2 stars, but I guess I will round up and give it 4 stars.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 20:16:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 01:59:35 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jun 06 01:59:35 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ee09dc36f49d9f1310f3f29618f9ba8c", "book_id": "21569527", "review_id": "1381a7f59b67cd86f00e186ac6d1a723", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amazing", "date_added": "Mon Dec 07 02:44:43 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 27 00:06:04 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ee09dc36f49d9f1310f3f29618f9ba8c", "book_id": "17378527", "review_id": "2724c62f5746eb90b87e21c4c155530e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was whimsical, fantastical and unlike anything I have ever read -- the perfect end to the series -- I can't wait to read more by this author, her particular style of writing allows the reader to enter the minds of all the characters.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 12 18:33:52 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 04 04:06:14 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ee09dc36f49d9f1310f3f29618f9ba8c", "book_id": "10664113", "review_id": "d79ebbc0ba2ab79c5f8a0e9d1b43c709", "rating": 5, "review_text": "As all of the Game of Thrones books are, this novel keeps the reader glued to the pages until the final sentences. Some chapters are trying, however you grow to appreciate them as the plot develops and they link in.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 12 18:30:03 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 18:31:56 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ee09dc36f49d9f1310f3f29618f9ba8c", "book_id": "16429619", "review_id": "b7e05fa315032097ad568db574174aaf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved it ... \n The plot is totally unexpected and originally I had the two male characters confused then in the second half when they were revealed I was so surprised. I have now read the second book and I can say that the characters totally work. I was in a constant battle of who to like more. The heroine was a perfect empowering character \n :)", "date_added": "Mon Mar 30 02:24:55 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 27 00:05:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ee09dc36f49d9f1310f3f29618f9ba8c", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "89a5f0533610d1caa935d41ab7efb0c0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A creative story outside of the norms of teenage literature, with a quirky take on freakish spooky photography", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 17:01:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 07 02:00:30 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ee2526a8ca56fd3e2021e5c917c40e76", "book_id": "10979852", "review_id": "800d291793cb1fbbcdd5a4985f666ac6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I love how far out, but interesting, all of A. Lee Martinez's worlds are. He doesn't disappoint in this one either. It's silly, but smart. Just like the Emperor himself. \n I listened to this, rather than read it, and I have to say that Scott Aiello's narration gave it a certain extra something. Well done, sir!", "date_added": "Mon Dec 02 10:07:28 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 09 19:27:02 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ee2526a8ca56fd3e2021e5c917c40e76", "book_id": "3428935", "review_id": "9c0114e9950c3c4391fd5361e4ede083", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Holy crap did I enjoy this.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 22 06:21:27 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 12 18:54:54 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Mar 12 18:54:34 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ee2526a8ca56fd3e2021e5c917c40e76", "book_id": "10366784", "review_id": "bbc4d30b64990209269b665dabe76b3b", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I always find anthologies a bit hit and miss, and it really depends on a good editor to pick the right stories to tie a theme together. This has happened here. I found the collection to be cohesive, and able to pull me through to the end. The stories were all heavily steampunk, some serious, some light, but I enjoyed them all", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 12:58:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 06 21:24:58 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5908fffe33ba190524f3195bf9f923e0", "book_id": "7743175", "review_id": "fd397e4d4f26d160ee51d1cfa47ea0da", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really honestly didn't think there could be any ending that would satisfy me-- the build up has been incredible, I have been reading this series for two decades, it was hugely influential and set precedent for the caliber of fantasy/fiction I most enjoy. Brandon Sanderson did Robert Jordan proud, I think, in the culmination of the Wheel of Time series. Absolutely fantastic.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 21 06:55:06 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 21 06:58:08 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01765a61b489e69584d0343a574c1246", "book_id": "29069989", "review_id": "0de177ffd2c5d5c0bff318f2bf746b2e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this trip back to London, Hogwarts and the world of Harry Potter. Everyone is still friends and new friends are to be made. The script was very easy to read and it still had the feel of Rowling's original books. I had never read a script before so that put it out of my comfort zone but I really enjoyed it! I loved, loved, loved it!", "date_added": "Wed Aug 10 10:48:35 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 10 10:51:36 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01765a61b489e69584d0343a574c1246", "book_id": "444327", "review_id": "ac67ce5c9e5d88cb97d50409690149b9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I found this one the most difficult to get through. There was so much anger from Harry that I felt overwhelmed by it! I can understand it but it was too much for me at times. I still loved it!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 27 12:45:17 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 19 13:37:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Aug 19 13:37:03 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01765a61b489e69584d0343a574c1246", "book_id": "6", "review_id": "62873b4c1beed0a4c547c021e899643e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have relied so much on the movies for what the books are about that I was reminded why the books are better with this novel!!!!", "date_added": "Tue Jul 19 09:23:29 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 27 12:44:16 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jul 27 12:44:16 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01765a61b489e69584d0343a574c1246", "book_id": "21523103", "review_id": "7ff46bbc8c2efc605cfad63b4ba19530", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I decided that I needed to re-read the Harry Potter books prior to the script of the Cursed Child's release. Philosopher's Stone continues to remain brilliant to me. On to number two!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 06 11:30:54 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 08 10:53:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 08 10:53:22 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "01765a61b489e69584d0343a574c1246", "book_id": "12969560", "review_id": "6cd017efbe2d57af7a3a5e9362a497ba", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is one of the most entertaining books that I have read in a while. Four Prince Charmings (they hate to be called Prince Charming) from 4 different fairy tales are thrown together when their respective kingdoms are threatened by an evil witch. It was full of humour and adventure and it reminds me of the recent Disney films such as Tangled with some Shrek thrown in for good measure. Kids might find the size of the book daunting but it is fast-paced and moves very smoothly from one scene to the next. I highly recommended this book for kids and adults alike.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 06 14:06:56 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 13 10:36:38 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jul 13 10:36:38 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b6404a34d13b40c6d6f3d1f3daeb8d36", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "7206cafc5b4f0f9c0100e7959bb5fe0b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I went through various stages reading The Night Circus. I started off a little impatient and disinterested, which turned to dislike and then somewhere in the middle of the book I got swept up, was loving it, and before I knew it I was nearing the end, wondering how all these ribbons could tie together and was ultimately disappointed. I wasn't invested in the main characters at all. The whole way through the book I felt removed from them when I'd rather be sitting in the same room, curled up on a chaise with a glass of wine, nodding when they speak and wincing when something bad is about to happen to them. Despite the lack of character development, which is a weakness (for me) a good story is supposed to suspend your disbelief and it did that...for a while. Clearly, Morgenstern's talent lies in her descriptive prose. I could see the whole circus set-up, the intricacies of the tents and the detailed designs of the costumes, the magnificent bonfire in its iron cauldron and my mouth watered for a caramel apple. There was some beautifully written passages like the description of the splash of colour in the sea of black at Tara Burgess' funeral ...\"even the light rain cannot push it down into the realms of despair. It rests instead in a space of thoughtful melancholy.\" \n What's interesting is for all of the reasons I wouldn't ordinarily like a book like this: the leaps in time and place and the constant head-hopping, as I got deeper into the back and forth I seemed to forget it was frustrating me. I liked not knowing where things were going since so much I've read lately has been a clobber you on the head commentary or way too predictable and I'm patient when someone is spinning a good yarn. But, I have to admit the ending was a real disappointment. After investing in 470 pages of a meticulously orchestrated and balanced fantastical world, whose numerous participants were carefully chosen and forever linked, its pawns sadly but purposefully played, and just when Celia is about to collapse out of exhaustion and Marco is about to be thrown into the flames by the contortionist (a former contestant of Mr. A.H -- who reveals she's not actually that bothered with what happens to the circus a few pages later - really?) the last 42 pages, the part of a book I ordinarily savor and wonder how I will be able to put down these old friends and move onto something else...the whole thing is rectified by some paperwork? Admittedly, I haven't read a lot of fantasy, but I feel a bit short-changed. I didn't dislike the book and I would urge people to read it, but I think there were some missed opportunities, which is unfortunate considering the author's imagination is masterful and more than capable.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 11 10:57:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 11 13:03:26 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f99f329b40080c4fd2b28b017ada0511", "book_id": "2753843", "review_id": "f5512ea5651487068340573e34a1ce0a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "really good.just wish it was long.finished this and number 2 in the same day", "date_added": "Mon Jun 11 21:06:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 14 09:44:57 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f99f329b40080c4fd2b28b017ada0511", "book_id": "106085", "review_id": "b002168bdfb09589a9f9ccbdde018961", "rating": 5, "review_text": "finished this and number 3 in the same day.best one by far.cant wait to get number 4 :]", "date_added": "Mon Jun 11 21:06:02 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 14 09:46:04 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "13049981", "review_id": "9c6caa6fc47dadcd08d97660ed9ed13b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So I started book one as Team Tucker, ended book two as Team Christian, and started book three not knowing which way I thought was up. \n Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2013/02/revi...", "date_added": "Fri Feb 01 17:38:54 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 08 20:41:03 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "11988046", "review_id": "080a77f1d1d3905d7a9af68538ac33b9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "PIVOT POINT was one of my vacation books, and ended up being the last one I read (on my way home, on the plane). I was uneasy about reading the changing scenes on the beach because I didn't want to get distracted and confused. After finishing I can say that I didn't really need to worry about that, but it was a good plane read nonetheless. \n Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2013/03/revi...", "date_added": "Wed Oct 24 09:10:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 08 20:51:01 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "10512887", "review_id": "447989a49ba1ad063fb082c47b08d5c0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A twist of science fiction and romance, THROUGH TO YOU kept me thoroughly invested and interested from the first page until last. \n Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2012/12/revi...", "date_added": "Tue Jul 10 11:13:01 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 24 13:32:16 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "12024430", "review_id": "f0b85c8d12f50ca00f00e865da2be186", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have LOVED two of Hannah Moskowitz's books (BREAK and INVISIBLE SUMMER) and felt just okay about the other. When I read the synopsis for TEETH I was all eyebrow raise and wide eyes because I had absolutely no idea what to expect. \n Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2013/02/revi...", "date_added": "Tue Jul 03 14:31:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 18 12:01:03 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "12578294", "review_id": "aafe011de0353f5509e82391ff4005a8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I flew through MIND GAMES by Kiersten White, which isn't surprising because I did the same with PARANORMALCY, her debut book back in 2010. In face, I've kept the second and third books of that trilogy on my shelves just because I know I will like them and I like to have a few of those sort of books laying around. \n Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2013/01/revi...", "date_added": "Fri Jun 29 11:57:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 08 20:25:09 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "13445306", "review_id": "39eace138874d9ed345eda57a7637307", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I wasn't sure I was going to try this one, as it's a non-contemp series and I already have trouble keeping track of what I have read, but soon after I received it I found it giving me a siren call and shortly after I was immersed. \n Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2013/02/revi...", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 11:30:25 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 08 20:34:59 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "10552965", "review_id": "9c00dc0e3e21e1326c0f9c05aa6d0202", "rating": 5, "review_text": "WHAT THE! \n Okay, firstly, my final shout out to G (http://greadsbooks.com) for encouraging me to read this trilogy. She also let me borrow Shine so I wouldn't have to wait for the release, since I had plans to read the first two immediately after she convinced me. So THANK YOU Ginger! Thank you. \n Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2012/06/revi...", "date_added": "Tue Apr 24 18:46:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 29 16:19:58 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "12425532", "review_id": "7d034bf0fe3c2e8c0f64d2bda6560e87", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Mermaids are kind of a new fad, or at least a few books have been published recently featuring them. Of Poseidon was the first in this sub-genre that I read, and I think it's a fad I approve of! \n Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2012/06/revi...", "date_added": "Fri Apr 20 17:10:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 19 09:38:52 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "13206760", "review_id": "00a6cf36724cb4858aa74fc774519742", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I didn't really have any intention of reading CINDER by Marissa Meyer. I was a bit intrigued, but I often have problems following along with science fiction and fantasy books because I read so much contemporary and am used to those themes. Then I started hearing good things. Great things, even. And then? My friend Katie sent me an ARC and demanded I read it. \n Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2012/12/revi...", "date_added": "Tue Feb 28 11:11:02 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 23 14:15:08 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "13012603", "review_id": "7b24df44fd4c0cc11cb208ab7f983aa7", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Have you read the synopsis for this book yet? No? DON'T DO IT! DO NOT SCROLL UP! \n As with all things Mandy Hubbard, I was intrigued. I love to jump on the bandwagon for authors who consistently write contemporary, and Mandy is certainly one who does so (several under her other name, Amanda Grace, as well). \n Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2012/07/revi...", "date_added": "Fri Feb 24 12:52:45 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 26 08:39:50 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "13002759", "review_id": "24d0276edc63544280441fccd8cdd032", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Well first things first, that cover kind of makes me laugh, must be the expression on the guy's face. That being said, he DOES fit the description of the guy in the book, so hey. \n Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2012/03/revi...", "date_added": "Thu Feb 23 20:12:13 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 26 08:42:31 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Feb 24 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Thu Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "11563110", "review_id": "09c29f69de217a12f28079ccbf99ebb2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I started HALLOWED pretty much right after UNEARTHLY. Let's be real - why would I wait? \n Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2013/02/revi...", "date_added": "Fri Jan 13 20:32:56 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 08 20:39:03 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "11850771", "review_id": "648e5c30cfa454174268255537464545", "rating": 0, "review_text": "It's no secret that I am a contemporary reader. Unfortunately with the sheer mass of dystopian and paranormal new releases each year, I am unable to read purely contemporary and still consider myself able to recommend books - especially because most readers don't want a contemporary recommendation (*sob*). \n Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2012/02/revi...", "date_added": "Sun Dec 18 14:11:57 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 26 08:42:46 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "a85d168555f375941caffa35714d0fc9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh MAN! \n I let my friends have a look at my NetGalley review list and asked what book I should read next. I immediately got several \"CINDER!\" responses (most notably from Hobbitsies), and even though the cover kind of scared me off at first (I'm not a science fiction person generally, and as you can see there is a little robot piece there), I decided to take the recommendation and go with it. \n Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2012/03/revi...", "date_added": "Sun Dec 11 14:30:24 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 19 20:19:58 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Feb 24 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "7488244", "review_id": "50d7822452d3bfb43fc3b7dab7156888", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ok, well. I've had UNEARTHLY on my shelf for literally years. Not that I don't have a lot of books that have been around awhile, I guess. But after I read UNEARTHLY and loved it so much, I'm sad I let it sit around for so long! \n Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2013/02/revi...", "date_added": "Sun Dec 11 14:29:07 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 08 20:37:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "10798398", "review_id": "30778e1713f7836c29475e90cf486c55", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I should pay more attention to the blurbs of books, honestly. Lisa McMann calls Unraveling Isobel creepy? How could I not listen to that? \n I went into this book assuming it was generally about Isobel and her possible mental illness, not knowing that I was going to be so scared that I would only read this in the daytime. Yes, the summary does mention ghosts, but there are different ways for ghosts to be written about. Here's a warning: Eileen Cook knows how to scare the pants off of you. Or that's true if you're a wuss like me, at least. There's a reason I don't read much in the thriller genre. \n Overall, minus the feeling scared bits, I did enjoy Unraveling Isobel. I enjoyed Cook's writing style, and the plot kept moving along at a nice pace. It's a mix of thriller and mystery, so as you work your way through the book as a reader you get to work out clues and coincidences with Isobel. Some are easy to figure out and some are not, so even the most sleuth-y will be entertained (plus, it's slightly harder to be a detective when things like possible ghosts/mental illness are involved). \n I fully intend on picking up Cook's first novel now, as I know I enjoy her writing style. I also intend on paying more attention to obvious references to creepy in the future. (Or everyone could make it easier on me and make the titles very obvious. Like Anna Dressed in Blood.)", "date_added": "Sun Nov 13 20:17:34 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 19 22:23:15 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Sun Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Sat Dec 10 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "9548964", "review_id": "351c8940c99f69f86bd3a3bd8ff2d43f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I attended a book conference at the end of October (NCIBA) and was intrigued when I picked up Fracture and had not heard of it yet. It is definitely my type of book - though it's not entirely contemporary as I first thought. \n I was immediately interested in Delaney's life - we know from the summary of the book that she falls through the ice and it is a miracle she is alive. Instead of making us guess the details of the monumental event, Megan Miranda takes the time to set the scene and share the experience. I am really not a fan of books that skip over events that set up the rest of the book and force us to guess and assume things, so this was a great way for Fracture to start for me. \n As Delaney recovers from her accident and starts to notice things aren't quite right, Fracture morphs slightly into a mystery/paranormal from a straight contemporary, which would make it a great read for those weary of contemporary but wanting to explore the genre. \n Besides really liking Delaney, my other favorite part of Fracture is that it wasn't predictable. Besides what I knew about the book before reading, I was never sure where it was going to go. I was also kind of creeped out with Delaney's \"power\" which I was not expecting. \n Overall: great debut!", "date_added": "Sun Oct 30 12:44:59 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 20 14:04:16 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Sat Nov 12 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Sat Nov 12 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "8709523", "review_id": "5255517ea43f63ece03c99c59466a04f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The only disappointing thing about The Golden Lily was how I found out many people haven't started this series at all yet! Why! \n Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2012/05/revi...", "date_added": "Wed Aug 03 09:14:17 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 19 13:41:47 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Apr 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "9266804", "review_id": "c3faa6ee08dd37fb035dad159e9645a3", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Love that little star glitter on that cover :p \n Lucy gets her heart broken by her boyfriend Alex on the first day of school and soon finds herself hob-nobbing with three girls whom she never imagined herself hanging out with. They put her through several tests and tasks to see if she is worthy of becoming a member of The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers. \n Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2012/01/revi...", "date_added": "Sat Jul 09 18:21:46 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 26 08:44:06 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "10425811", "review_id": "b1df6e94071a4078bb231b0fb44a8f88", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ahhh I am so charmed by Liesl and Po! \n I was first delighted by the fairy tale storytelling of Plain Kate by Erin Bow, which I found excellent; Liesl and Po is a book worthy of the same praises. \n Liesl, Po, and Bundle are a quirky trio who are on an adventure together. Pair that with alternating chapters where we meet Will, and you'll be reading long into the night with a huge smile on your face. \n This is a perfect read-aloud for a classroom or family, particularly because of its middle grade classification. The teachers, parents, siblings, and grandparents reading this aloud will be begging to read just one more chapter right along with the children listening. \n A fantastic book by Lauren Oliver. I'm so amazed at how her writing has changed throughout her three novels - what a mark of an excellent author.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 06 11:17:38 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 13:21:04 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Fri Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Fri Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "10429015", "review_id": "0112dde2b17ec260afc7c72478a3f465", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I kept waiting for something to happen in this book... and it never quite did. \n The premise is kind of spooky - Wren resurrects her boyfriend from the dead and keeps him hidden (since he is supposedly dead). My first problem was waiting for Wren to explain how she did it, which doesn't come for several chapters in the book, so I was confused for a little while in the beginning. Once Wren meets Gabriel, you're entertained by their relationship from time to time - but that doesn't particularly take off, either. \n The overall tone of the book is quite passive and mellow, which is not what I was expecting at all given the subject matter. I'm not sure I would have kept reading if it had been a long book - as it was, I figured I would read to the end to give it a shot... and unfortunately not much changes by then. \n Sadly, I was not a fan of Cold Kiss. If I had gotten more background on Wren and her family, or more dynamics between Gabriel and Wren it may have fared better, but as is it is not a book I will be recommending over others.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 06 11:16:59 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 26 08:45:30 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sun Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "9918133", "review_id": "b0d984e5726a097936eefee1e57a954b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I had the opportunity to see Elizabeth Miles give a presentation about herself/Fury, and it cemented that this book was a must-read for me. Elizabeth is very personable, funny, and well spoken - I was very pleasantly surprised that she made such a good impression on me. She also read a passage from her book that had me very intrigued, so I started Fury not long after returning home. \n While some of the characters in Fury do questionable things, it's an integral part of the main plot, which is based on revenge. So while I didn't approve of Emily's decisions, I was able to care less about whether I would want to be friends with Emily (no way) and more on the furies and what they were doing around town. \n The furies disappointed me a little bit in parts - especially in the beginning. Towards the middle and end they got more intense and fit better with the title of the book. Fury, overall, seemed more like a thriller than a paranormal to me, and I'm not sure that's what everyone is expecting. \n Overall, I really loved Elizabeth Miles and her writing. Some of the plot I was a little questionable on, but the end hits me pretty hard and got me very interested in reading book two.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 15 08:19:34 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 23 22:29:59 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Fri Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sun Jul 03 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "9182478", "review_id": "813fb2e180693b769cd6a9f5b611fc48", "rating": 5, "review_text": "When I first saw the cover for Hourglass, I will admit - I didn't want to read it because the cover kind of freaked me out. I knew nothing about the book; I'm just a wussy. Weird stuff like that gets to me. BUT. It started being one of those books that readers loved and everyone wanted, so of course the buzz got to me and I decided to give it a go. \n Um, woah? \n Beginning of the book starts off tame enough, explaining our surroundings, Emerson (our narrator), where she is living, her brother and his wife. Things start to get a little crazy after that because she can see people that no one else can see and then you're thinking WHAT IS GOING ON. That pretty much continues from there (and it's a GOOD thing, don't worry. It's not that weird confusion where you keep reading just because you aren't sure what else you're supposed to do). \n The first half of the book is awesome. The second half? Breathtaking. Excellent. Wonderful. \n Myra McEntire weaves everything together in such a way that you are shocked over and over again, chapter after chapter. It isn't just one big HEY moment, it's many, over and over, throughout the whole thing. \n Oh, you like romance? There is some of that, too. Well, not just some - there is strong, POWERFUL romance. So don't worry about that. When the crazy part of the book doesn't keep you reading, Emerson and her relationships will. \n Hourglass is an excellent, mind bending book. It twists the way you think of things, tugs at your heartstrings, makes you laugh (Emerson is quite sassy). This is one book I will be recommending over and over again this summer, undoubtedly!", "date_added": "Sat Mar 19 20:01:32 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 02 14:51:06 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sat Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "8603765", "review_id": "8fa332e13b162699c37a90585853af29", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Hmmmmmmmmm. \n The summary of this book led me to believe it would be a story of two sisters, contemporary based, you know. Turns out it IS the story of two sisters, but not in the way I imagined, at all. Overall, I found it very weird. \n The beginning of the book had me very confused. Things are happening and you're not sure why - Ruby can get anyone to do anything she wants, Chloe finds a dead girl while swimming but the events directly before and after are a bit muddy, Chloe moves to live with her dad for several years and has no contact with Ruby though they were so close before. \n Then there is even more mystery when Chloe comes back - so so so many questionable things. Some things were properly eerie, but some just didn't make sense to me. I felt like I couldn't read fast enough to catch up to where my mind was supposed to be in the story. \n I did love Nova Ren Suma's writing. She flows the words together beautifully. The plot just really did not resonate with me. The cover is also very fitting, certainly more after you finish the book. \n There are many five star reviews of Imaginary Girls on Goodreads, so perhaps going into it with different expectations will help - it is definitely more psychological than contemporary. Many of the actions and scenes are spooky. It was just not a very good fit for me.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 16 12:20:50 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 26 08:46:52 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Mon May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "8527908", "review_id": "8b4f626d87bd279ccf1c8ba5efd4a96a", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Oh, Haven. Haven Haven Haven. \n The beginning of the book sucked me in pretty quickly. Boarding school? YES PLEASE! (I'm easily amused.) Violet packs up, ships off, and tries to find her place at the new school. \n The middle of the book I was laughing at some things that were definitely not meant to be funny. Violet figures out some things about her school, and herself, and her friends... and then dialogue ensues that is... well... not my cup of tea, we'll say. The middle of this book definitely reminded me of Twilight, and this is not something I have ever said before because I get really annoyed when someone tries to sell me something by saying it's \"THE NEXT TWILIGHT\" or something like that. But honestly, the similarities in this one are legit. \n The last bit of the book? Stamp of approval, for the most part. Once I kind of quickly read through the middle part (normally I would have put the book down at this point but I was reading very quickly and decided to give the rest a chance) and got to the end, Violet and Aiden and the rest of them got slightly more interesting, and there was an actual purpose and mission. \n So, my general consensus is that Haven was okay. Had the middle not been a total flop for me it would have fared a lot better, but I really couldn't get past some of the things that were said between the characters. I'm being purposely vague here so that if you are intrigued enough to read that I don't ruin anything for you (but if you want specific examples you can tweet me) :) \n Best for those that are totally into paranormal, and especially paranormal that makes a relationship more complicated because of something having to do with who or what someone is.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 08 11:34:01 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 26 08:47:42 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Tue Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "6505358", "review_id": "fd1ca9a575e44e36662a853bfd1f80e6", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I had seen Guardian of the Dead being nominated for awards and decided that I wanted to see what the hype was about - unfortunately, this book didn't really fit with me. In fact, it reminded me of a book I ended up not finishing not long ago (The Jumbee), which didn't give it a great start. \n Based in New Zealand, Karen Healey certainly has a unique setting. This was perhaps my favorite aspect of this book. \n I did not connect with Ellie or the Maori story. At times I found it ridiculous, and other times I got really confused with all of the details and the way the relationships were connected. Though my reaction may not totally be fair because I generally am not one that likes mythology type stories as I am a more contemporary reader. I did enjoy Ellie's voice and the way she attempted to deal with situations, for the most part. She is a character I would have liked to know in real life. \n The ending of Guardian of the Gate got more complex and grabbed my attention more than the beginning, but wasn't enough to redeem the entire book for me. The multiple plots and stories and characters do eventually come together, but I think the entire thing was a little too complicated for my tastes. \n Guardian of the Gate is a book based on mythology in a different setting, and would be a good read for those interested in mythology or Maori. Many on Goodreads gave this book a very high rating, so please check out a few other opinions before using mine as a reason to not read :)", "date_added": "Mon Jan 17 13:30:54 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 26 08:48:06 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Mon Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "8591107", "review_id": "ef65f984be30ad8db449041c28e2a548", "rating": 5, "review_text": "After meeting the author of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer at the Book Blogger Convention in May, I had an immediate strong urge to read the book. Michelle Hodkin is nice, personable, and, most importantly, very secret about the contents of her book, which naturally gets a person very interested. \n Simon and Schuster were kind enough to bring many copies of this book to the convention, so I was able to walk away with one with immediate intention to read it - and I did. And I loved it. \n The writing style of Michelle flows so naturally, from scene to scene. You're inside the head of Mara Dyer throughout the entire book, which is refreshing as many books I've read lately are from multiple perspectives. I immediately latched on to Mara and her thoughts, and desperately wanted to know what was going on - which kept me reading well into the night. \n I'm not one to spoil anything, and I'm not going to start now because I believe it would take away from the book. Going in with a clean slate will give you the same experience I had (so, seriously, don't go looking for a place to spoil things for yourself). The mystery and the romance had my emotions running amuck, and I want you to discover things as Mara does (which is how the author intended you to). \n There isn't much moreip I can say without ruining parts of the book, but I do want to make it clear that this is an excellent read. The cover has drawn many people in, and the content is even better. It's a wonderful review, and if you have the chance to meet Michelle Hodkin, I would highly encourage you to - she is awesome. Loved this book.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 16 10:28:19 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 02 22:14:26 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Thu Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Tue May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 26, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "8709527", "review_id": "2b209f6a214513f47d9692f65a6f6591", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I was so excited to read Bloodlines that I didn't want to start reading it because then my excitement would be over. It beckoned to me over and over again from my shelf, though, and eventually I gave it. \n The fact of the matter is, I simply love Richelle Mead's writing. Vampire Academy is certainly not a series I would ever have picked up without a recommendation, and Bloodlines is the same - I'm not a paranormal/vampire girl, as most of you know. Vampire Academy is, however, one of my all time favorite series, and it is all due to Richelle Mead - and her magic is back in Bloodlines. \n I wasn't a huge fan of Adrian in Vampire Academy, and Sydney didn't really win me over either (she makes some pretty ridiculous decisions in Bloodlines but I had to keep reminding myself she is young). Regardless, Mead's way of writing together action, relationships, and secrets totally wins me over every time. \n Bloodlines shows hints of Vampire Academy, which I loved. If I hadn't read Vampire Academy before Bloodlines, I may have been confused, because the world she created in the first series is pretty intricate - but Bloodlines is meant as a companion/standalone series, so if you haven't read VA you should be okay. \n I'm so happy to have another Mead series to look forward to, since VA finished last year. I am even contemplating reading her adult books because I love her writing so much. I can't wait for Bloodlines #2!", "date_added": "Thu Dec 16 16:45:06 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 07 11:56:24 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sun Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "7740030", "review_id": "9dc323ac1c869f72e969a8dc2c17a3d7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I will admit, I often judge a book by its cover. I am a very visual person - in fact, I have a college degree in Visual Design - so I tend to make some decisions about a book based on the graphics and colors used for the cover. \n I don't always let this affect my opinion of a book, though. The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball is a very good example of this. I was interested in reading it because it seemed like a light, fun read - and it actually turned out to be a little more deep than that, which means it was even better than I expected! \n This doesn't always happens when I judge a cover, of course, but it does happen. \n The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball (SSotPCB) reminded me a lot of The Karma Club by Jessica Brody, actually. They both have to do with wishes/getting what you want, and realizing the effect this has on those around you. \n There were quite a few characters in SSotPCB that had very distinct personalities, which doesn't always happen in a book with a more 'fun' topic. And as I said before, the plot pleasantly surprised me with a little more depth and learning from the characters involved. \n I think that SSotPCB is a great read for a younger reader looking for more substance but hasn't stepped out of the middle grade zone much. Or for a reluctant girl reader (the pink on the cover certainly doesn't hurt). It is very well written, and I believe it is part of a series (at least that's the feeling I got), so I am looking forward to reading more adventures with these girls and their secret society!", "date_added": "Thu Dec 02 19:45:57 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 14 13:59:47 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Sat Dec 04 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Thu Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "9917879", "review_id": "131bb100e2f9df8bb8ac19d25624ac00", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I am a big fan of Lisa McMann - both as an author and as a person. I met her at BBC this year and she was delightful and lovely and so friendly (which was actually kind of weird if you think about the topics of the books she has written - they are kind of dark/creepy at times). \n I occasionally read middle grade novels, and definitely do so if it is by an author I have enjoyed in the YA realm - Lauren Oliver is the most recent example of this. So there was no question that I would NOT read The Unwanteds, even if it doesn't seem like my kind of book. \n I loved it. I tried to think of another way to open this paragraph, but that's really the gist of the whole thing - I loved The Unwanteds. I don't think the description holds up to the actual content of the book - I thought it was going to be very very middle grade, not much depth at all - but McMann's imagery brought the whole thing together beautifully. I loved the premise of the story, was fascinated by the world they lived in, and ended up reading it all in nearly one sitting because I was wondering what would happen with Alex and his twin. \n I believe that this series has several (seven? eight?) books scheduled to be released, and I really can't wait. The Unwanteds is a magical, imaginative land with a lot of possibilities. It would be great as a read aloud to a class or other younger child.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 12 11:03:00 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 26 19:33:38 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sun Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Wed Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "9504212", "review_id": "244157ed6a8436281be6bb46123641c2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Here's the thing, guys! \n I really, really love this series. And I am really, really sad that the publisher is repackaging it (though I understand the reasoning etc etc) because I feel like it is getting pushed back on a lot of shelves (at least by bloggers) because the break between the two books has been so large. \n Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2012/03/revi...", "date_added": "Wed Oct 13 05:58:02 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 19 20:17:47 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Mar 09 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Wed Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "8542996", "review_id": "c521e067972e4ad7a25f04c22966f1bf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I started Shift immediately after finishing Shade. There was no stopping me. \n Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2012/06/revi...", "date_added": "Thu Sep 30 13:11:46 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 10 10:38:34 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "6963749", "review_id": "260357239785201c6bef8f7140edd6dc", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I was skeptical of Clarity, if only because paranormal wears on me quite quickly. Especially with summer around the corner - the season for contemporary (in my opinion anyway). \n I loved the family dynamic in Clarity. Each of her family members are normal besides their paranormal gift, and I loved that they have a family business based around it. And Clare and Perry aren't exactly happy about it all of the time - which made them real people with paranormal abilities, which definitely isn't always the case in books like these. Paranormal abilities tend to take over characters so I really appreciate when it doesn't. \n The mystery in the book is fun, a murder that Clare is asked to help solve. Makes it kind of suspenseful (of course) - not the most complicated mystery, but was still fun to read about. \n Clarity is overall quite enjoyable. I'll be looking for more from Kim Harrington!", "date_added": "Thu Sep 30 13:11:35 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 26 08:48:17 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "6648020", "review_id": "ee6bbbf73f2433a0d60f0e05cecb3114", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have had a copy of Shade on my shelf since before it was published, and it was even SIGNED because I lugged it to BEA in 2010 to Books of Wonder and has Jeri Smith-Ready sign it. Finally, two years later, almost 100% thanks to Ginger at http://greadsbooks.com , I finally picked it up. She convinced me with the words \"It reads like a contemporary, with paranormal elements.\" Talk about a personalized recommendation! (She also nearly daily says something about the trilogy so that has been subliminally in my head for months now too.) \n Full Review: http://chickloveslit.com/2012/05/revi...", "date_added": "Mon Sep 27 11:08:02 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 19 09:47:09 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "9409458", "review_id": "aacb05ab6cadd5ef640119da0175e232", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I asked for Shiver for Christmas a few years ago because it was raved about quite a bit. I thought it was a pretty good read. I read Linger months later, and liked it quite a bit more than Shiver (the world of Sam and Grace had already been built so there was more room for action). \n I read Forever and liked it five times more than Linger because it was AMAZING. \n I guess now would be the time for me to admit that for the first 25 pages of Forever I was utterly, totally confused. Forever is from four points of view, and so much happened at the end of Linger that I couldn't keep it all straight in my head. I ended up having to read a spoilery review of Linger to get the gist of it all flowing the right way in my head again (so I strongly suggest you reread or do a little research before starting this one). \n Maggie Stiefvater's writing is simply beautiful. Even those that didn't care much for Shiver commented on how wonderful her writing is, and she does not disappoint in the final installment of The Wolves of Mercy Falls. It jumps us right to where Linger left off, and from there we are right back with Grace, Isabel, Sam, and Cole. \n The middle of Forever got a little long for me, but that's my only complaint. The last third of the book flew by and had my heart pounding. Steifvater doesn't use predictable outcomes to satisfy the reader, which was my favorite part - she wrote this book in a real, true way, and it resonated with me as a reader. \n It's not often that I love the last book in a series much much more than the others, but there is no denying that Forever surpasses both Shiver and Linger in my mind.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 26 19:57:00 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 15 10:19:51 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "8543252", "review_id": "92aa9e0963d82cba2a8c05e20d2c7d8e", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I really love Lisa McMann's Wake/Fade/Gone series, and was PUMPED when a Simon and Schuster representative at the Book Blogger Convention told me she had a new book coming out soon! Though I always wished for more in the dream catcher series, I think more Lisa McMann is always good (I'm hoping she comes back to Michigan again soon)! \n Cryer's Cross is another eerie novel - Kendall, the narrator of our tale, lives in a small town in Montana. A girl disappeared last year, and this year Kendall's best friend Nico also disappears - which is a very odd coincidence to happen in a town with such a small population. Kendall begins to suspect it has something to do with the desk both the girl and Nico sat in at school because the graffiti seems to be changing. \n The book wasn't about the actual desk as much as I expected - initially, we spend a lot of time with Kendall and Nico, getting to know Cryer's Cross. A new family moves to town, and Kendall also gets to know the two new students that begin to attend their school. Once Nico disappears I started getting a little freaked out (I didn't read the book at nighttime), especially because there are small passages between chapters that are very creepy. \n Of her four books, I still like Fade the best, but the mystery and suspense of Cryer's Cross makes it a great read (even if it is kind of short). I think McMann is great at getting your head into the book, and that happened with Cryer's Cross too - especially at the end (when it gets the most suspenseful). \n Much much more creepy than the Wake series, Cryer's Cross is another solid Lisa McMann book, and one I would suggest for those that like a little thrill and mystery.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 31 09:13:40 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 26 08:49:35 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Tue Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "6580510", "review_id": "5113b194d13df0793b2e54acfc460160", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I will be the first to admit that I am generally not a person who enjoys fantasy books (I leave that up to my husband). I don't mind a bit of creativity or a fantasy based object, but when the whole book is fantasy I usually have a hard time getting into it and keeping all of the characters/powers/other fantasy-y things straight. \n Let me tell you - Brightly Woven did not fall into the no Shanyn category! Well, let me back up a bit - for the first chapter, I was asking myself what I was thinking by trying another fantasy novel so soon after Incarceron (which had me so confused I had to stop reading). But, I let it wash over me and kept going to where I could get a grasp on the story - and what do you know, 50 or 100 pages later I'm wondering how I got so many pages into the book so quickly. \n While I did still occasionally get confused, I mostly just loved North and Syd. Characters came and went, but as long as I was reading about those two and their adventure, I was good to go - and believe me, there is quite a bit of adventure and action in this novel. \n While Brightly Woven did not change my overall view of fantasy novels (I doubt this will happen in my lifetime, to be honest), I did really enjoy myself reading this book. You know a book is good when you are reading in huge chunks, turning the pages as fast as you can - this is how it was for Brightly Woven, and I am very happy to have read it.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 25 15:41:50 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 26 19:48:24 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Mon Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sun Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "7008041", "review_id": "869562083f2ac5763a279b7102d7d490", "rating": 0, "review_text": "You know, this isn't a book I'd normally read. If there is a general contemporary fail for me, it's a flat preppy character, and this one definitely has a popular girl. But for whatever reason the cover intrigued me and the second book is coming out so I tried it. \n Overall? It was pretty good. The general plot of a goth boy being able to see ghosts is fun and gives a lot of room for creativity - there are ghosts of all types that find him and ask for his help, kind of giving unlimited possibilities for a plot. \n There are a few things that really really annoyed me, and, funnily enough, they had to do with the preppy girl (Alona) :) Will (the goth) probably said 100 times how shocked he was that she was kind of smart, or thought of something clever, or came up with a good plan. AY YAI YAI WILL! You would think after you are surprised by her intelligence the first time (okay, maybe the second) you would accept that as who she is. Their romance also came on suddenly and too fast for me. Though Alona is pretty desperate as a ghost seeing as how she can't touch anyone else. \n But, I mean, in general, it was an entertaining read. The ending got a little more crazy than I was expecting and I don't know how fast I'll be picking up the second in the series. Towards the end I didn't hate Alona as much as I did in the beginning (she is really quite rude and condescending), so I am a little interested in what she does next!", "date_added": "Sat Jul 10 16:34:07 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 26 08:49:09 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "3432478", "review_id": "3fb9e709f7cf7a2d84675ac8fecab05c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "After many rave reviews of The Dark and Hollow Places (the third book in this series), I decided to finally pick up my copy of The Forest of Hands and Teeth and give it a try. I had purchased it months ago at Walmart with the intent to read, so this just gave me a good opportunity. \n I purposely did not know much about the book before starting. I never read the synopsis and did not read reviews. \n I was surprised at the overall feel of the book after I had finished and reflected. Everyone constantly says it's \"Not a zombie book,\" and I can wholeheartedly agree with that now - at the end it felt much more akin to Susan Beth Pfeffer's Life As We Knew It or Meg Rosoff's How I Live Now - survival in spite of zombies. \n The beginning half of the book is quite different from the last half, as the setting drastically changes partway through due to circumstances the characters experience. I enjoyed the second half more than the first, but this could also be because by the second half you are much more invested in the characters. \n My biggest gripe with The Forest of Hands and Teeth is that often days or weeks would go by with no mention, and I prefer to have a continuous story. Though I suppose having a few weeks of living with no extraordinary events is realistic - it just feels less likely to me in a dystopian setting. \n I'm interested to see how the second and third books go. I've had readers tell me they enjoyed the second (Dead Tossed Waves) many more times than the first, with the third (Dark and Hollow Places) being a perfect ending to the trilogy - this is very exciting to me because I quite enjoyed The Forest of Hands and Teeth as it was. \n Very recommended to Susan Beth Pfeffer fans - or, if you've read The Forest of Hands and Teeth, I recommend you try the Pfeffer books. Survival based and you get that eerie, frantic feeling with both. Good start to the series!", "date_added": "Fri Jul 02 18:13:09 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 02 13:30:21 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Mon Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "3157877", "review_id": "91fcb1c24d7e9fe6c29247f7eb07e647", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I eyed Generation Dead a few times at my local bookstore (aka Walmart) before finally picking it up during a clearance Barnes and Noble sale. I had seen this book (and the other two in the series) around quite a bit, but hadn't heard much about them. \n Generation Dead actually ended up being more of a deep read than I was expecting. The cover led me to believe it would be one of those light books about school, some zombies, some jocks, some nerds. What it actually is a look at discrimination - in the book's case, zombies vs those still alive, but a battle for rights nonetheless. \n The middle of the book drug on a little for me - not a ton of action, more talking about the zombies lack of rights. I soldiered on, because I truly wanted to know what was going to happen - I just had to take a few breaks because the text was slow. \n The ending picked up again with action, and when it ended I knew that I wanted to read book two, regardless of the not so peppy middle. Many questions are left to be answered, and many new issues had begun. \n Luckily, Steve offered to let me pick out a book in celebration of our anniversary, so I was able to grab the second installment for my shelves!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 29 16:51:25 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 26 08:52:02 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sun Jul 04 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "8428064", "review_id": "945b575a0c505f427d8d75b8f3e821f3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "If you thought Hex Hall was good, you're in for a treat with Demonglass. \n I will admit, when starting this book I couldn't remember the fine details of Hex Hall, but the author does a nice job of recapping events as they come up in the context of Demonglass. This leaves Hex Hall #2 at a perfect place to expand upon what we know, what we remember, and even the small nuances we may have forgotten. \n The story of Demonglass is quite a bit more complex than Hex Hall, as it should be. We pick up pretty much exactly where Hex Hall left off-Sophie waiting for her dad. Rachel Hawkins is the self proclaimed queen of cliffhanger endings for chapters (as she declared on Twitter, to which I wholeheartedly agree), which means you'll be telling yourself 'just one more chapter' many times throughout, right up until the action hits you and you're unable to stop reading, cliffhangers or not. \n Many events in Demonglass are unexpected, which will keep you on your toes as a reader. Just when I thought we were on one path, Hawkins would flip and get Sophie, Cal, and the rest of the crew in another situation entirely. If I had written my predictions as to how the book would go after I had read a few chapters, I would not have been even remotely close to where we ended up - which, unfortunately, is another cliffhanger. \n I am now dying to read Hex Hall 3, which you will be too. Demonglass was even better than Hex Hall, and I am hoping Hex Hall 3 delivers as well!", "date_added": "Mon Jun 28 12:08:27 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 13 18:52:24 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Fri Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Thu Aug 26 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "6261522", "review_id": "2922cecbe41f3b2fa954cc50a03008e7", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I heard many good things about The Body Finder, and was able to borrow a copy of the book from a friend so I could give it a try myself. \n I knew that the main plot was based on a paranormal element - mainly, \"the body finder,\" who is our main narrator, Violet. What I didn't expect is for the romantic element of her love life to take such a prominent role in the story. Because of this expectation being so off, I was thinking there would be more action and less wondering about boys, which ultimately had me enjoying this book a lot less than many of my friends. \n In fact, the romantic elements of this story were so mushy that towards the end I was actually getting kind of tired of it. I am generally one for romance and characters finding girlfriends and boyfriends but some of the interactions between Violet and her boyfriend were just ... unrealistic to me. I know how boys act around that age and some of the things he says are definitely not fitting with his age bracket, for the most part. And after awhile it all just came too easy. \n BUT, I DID really really enjoy the actual body finder bits of this book. Huge mystery surrounding everything, a character with a paranormal ability that is pretty cool (props to you, Kimberly Derting!), and a murder case that I really wanted solved. The cover is also great. \n So, bits I liked and bits I didn't - overall I would generally recommend, but am hoping for more action and mystery in the second (Desires of the Dead) than we had in The Body Finder. If the second book starts off with chapters and chapters of mush I'm not sure I'll be able to take it.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 24 17:55:22 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 26 08:49:18 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Thu Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "6357708", "review_id": "e1cf364ddb728486ebede523a257dd22", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I've heard people go on and on about fairytale retellings, but I had yet to experience one for myself, so I didn't really get all the fuss. \n Cue music, enter Jackson Pearce \n Sisters Red is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, and it knocked my socks off. Jackson Pearce didn't just change a few things to make it more modern and a little different than the original - she took the concept of the fairytale, amped it up ten notches, added romance, and twisted in some family conflict. \n Every little detail of this book was carefully planned and meant to have a connection with the plot, which made me love it that much more. Jackson Pearce is a crafty, crafty writer. \n Sisters Red had the perfect amount of action and dialogue for me. I'm one who would prefer to see a character's growth than a bad guy sliced in half with a sword, and I never found myself wishing I were reading about anything else besides what Pearce had on the pages. In fact, I read the second half of this book sitting in the drivers seat of my car waiting for someone else and didn't mind the cramped, uncomfortable reading space at all. \n Pearce has another fairytale retelling coming out - Sweetly. It is \"Sisters Red #2,\" but I am fairly certain it is only #2 because it is also a retelling, not because we carry on the story of Scarlett and Rosie. In fact, if it DOES carry on their story, I may be a little upset, because Sisters Red is a 50/50 for me just the way it is. \n Sisters Red is a superb example of a fairytale retelling, and one I would recommend hands down.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 24 17:52:02 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 14 13:30:19 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Sat Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Wed Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "7719245", "review_id": "9964d30b925aa801469242e1a30f46bf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ok, I will admit - I chose to judge Paranormalcy a bit by its cover. I am always a little wary when it comes to paranormal elements in books - I much prefer a contemporary realistic setting, and I can get worn out with all of the werewolves and vampires. But the cover on this one is so beautiful that I wanted to try it. \n My favorite thing about Paranormalcy is that the entire world is transformed. We are not living in a 'normal' world that happens to have elves or mermaids - rather, an entirely different picture gets painted. And instead of being surprised when a paranormal creature is introduced, the reader expects it. Which made this more of a contemporary realistic setting... if I lived in that world. I am feeling as though this is not coming across exactly like I'd like to explain it, but hopefully some of you understand what I mean :) \n In the beginning, I was a little skeptical - I wasn't connecting with the characters. Then, a boy gets introduced, and everything from then on is intense and exciting - and not just because the boy happens to be attractive and nice. There is even a plot line which will appeal to those of you that like to solve mysteries. \n I loved reading about all of the paranormals working together and how their strengths were used to assign specific tasks. A werewolf was used as a body guard, for example. We also got to see some interesting creatures that are normally not written about in books. \n The creativity and imagery used by Kiersten White makes Paranormalcy a must read - whether you're wary of werewolves and vampires or not.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 24 17:46:24 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 24 18:54:27 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Tue Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "6404356", "review_id": "b8353637c6dc957f94999c1230538839", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I liked the plot summary of Other because it seemed like it would include lots of different types of magical creatures... and it did! That was my favorite part of this book. Most of them I hadn't heard of before, and I'm not sure if they all exist in folklore somewhere or if the author made some up, but they were all interesting and had very cool characteristics. \n Unfortunately, the pacing of events was a little slow for me. Only towards the last half to last quarter of the book did I get the action that I was expecting - tracking down suspects, finding new Others. The first half was mainly spent with our main character while she wished that she wasn't an Other - which certainly is important to her, it just didn't grab me in as much as I wanted it to. \n The author does create a unique world, and I had to keep reminding myself that the 'humans' were aware that 'others' existed. I think it would be a lot of fun to read paranormal books based on dryads or some of the other creatures Kincy had playing main roles in her novel. \n Overall, Other was okay. The ending was quite good, though a few things solved too easily. If you're into paranormal and want to meet a few new characters, I think you'd really enjoy this book. \n Unrelated to the review, I was interviewing incoming freshmen at my job and had this book on the table and was scorned by one of them for reading Twilight. I explained that it wasn't Twilight, but I guess the cover gives off a Twilight-y feel to 18 year old males. There are vampires and werewolves, but it's not nearly the same, so it's best to not compare.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 24 17:44:07 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 26 08:52:12 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Thu Jun 24 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "7456034", "review_id": "67a309f9d7fe1c2b06e6d60845d917c1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This beautiful cover is what first drew me in - in person, it is even more green and vivid that you can tell on your computer screen. I also had not read a Nancy Werlin book and felt it was time, so I decided to start with Extraordinary. \n In the beginning I was skeptical, because sometimes fantasy type books don't sit with me well - but five chapters in, I was entranced (and I couldn't even really tell why). \n Soon the story starts to unfold, and I had a desperate need to know what was going on, why Phoebe was involved, and what the deal was with Mallory and Ryland. This is where the story takes a high action turn (which I was not expecting) - Nancy Werlin throws in a few kickers and you're wondering where the last two hours went as you're turning the last page. \n Extraordinary will entrance you and have you solving mysteries right along with Phoebe. I'm looking forward to my next Werlin book.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 24 16:21:37 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 01 08:02:03 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Mon Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "7638313", "review_id": "8f5f39f72a5c2b57e418a5599beb5f80", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I had certain expectations going into Stork because of the summary and title that caused me to like the book less than I would have if I had had no idea what the book was about. Which is unfortunate, but the truth. \n I expected a lot more having to do with the \"stork\" part of our main character - and while it is a prominent part of the plot, I was slightly disappointed with the execution. I envisioned this part of Katla's life taking over all of her decisions, but it really just dealt with one example. \n My favorite part of this book was the relationship between Katla and Jack, and how it changed and evolved. The relationships Katla formed throughout were also enjoyable to read about, especially after they came together in the end - I was pleasantly surprised by some of the clever ways the author tied events together. \n Overall, Stork was a good read but not as much as I was anticipating. I would recommend skimming the summary of the book, adding it to your wishlist if it sounds appealing, and not reading the summary again so that you have a clear mind while you read!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 24 16:16:47 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 26 08:51:55 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Fri Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "7245329", "review_id": "13bd3bf83a2b4021240143b1d4393b52", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I had a feeling about Delcroix Academy ever since I added it to my BEA wishlist. Something about it just clicked with me, and since I returned home from my trip, I've just been waiting for the right moment to read it. \n That moment, folks, has happened. And it was glorious. \n Delcroix Academy is a private school for 'special' students, and Dancia soon finds herself recruited to their ranks. Commence the boarding school/private school introduction - a (mean) roommate, a team of freshmen Dancia is supposed to get to know, new classes. \n We find Dancia torn between two boys at the school - Jack and Cam. One's sort of a bad guy, the other sort of a good guy - but it's up to you to decide which is which. I kept flipping my opinions on that throughout the entire book, which was a major part of the appeal. Plus who doesn't love a little romantic triangle? \n The climax of the book takes a bit to get set up, but once it does it hits you hard and you begin to understand not only everything you've read so far, but the title of the book as well. From there you speed through to the ending, wishing it weren't over because there are clearly many more things to discuss and many more adventures to be had. \n I have a feeling that if Inara Scott keeps writing these books at this pace, they will be a new breed of the Vampire Academy series. The plot starts to show complexity, and the characters certainly have the potential. \n I really loved The Candidates. I loved the intrigue, the mystery, the romance, the action. If you've read my reviews before you already know that I love boarding schools. I am very excited to read Delcroix Academy #2 (which doesn't even have a tentative date yet, as far as I know)!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 02 13:07:08 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 22 18:22:41 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Mon Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "7402393", "review_id": "1d9322a44ba92059de6079bfd6ce553a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm not big into paranormal, in general. I heard a few people enjoyed Nightshade, and when I saw a finished copy in person with the beautiful purple cover and deckled edges, I decided to just go for it. \n Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised, for the most part! I didn't want to be Calla's BFF or anything - in fact, her boy problems got to me at certain points. Though I mean, in the summary, it talks about her love life being the main problem of the book, so I don't know what I was expecting. \n She wavered back and forth quite a bit between the two boys, kind of doing some ridiculous things, but overall I was very entertained, which is important in a book so hey. \n I did love the world that was built with the two groups she hung out with at school, and each of their personalities. Nightshade has quite a bit of action, especially towards the end. I'm not sure I totally agree with what Calla does in the final chapters, but it's Nightshade #1 (meaning there will be other books), so I'm looking forward to see if she gets a little smarter in the upcoming installments!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 02 12:58:12 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 09 16:10:30 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Tue Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Sat Nov 06 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "7778981", "review_id": "ac5cfdddd99f53c8510892bd6fa54c02", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Halo was a BEA book that many many people were very excited for... but until I was hanging around the booth with my roomie April, I hadn't heard anything about it. Apparently the hype was over the cover (which I agree, is gorgeous). That was enough to pull me in, so I got a copy when they were set out at the booth. \n Several people asked to borrow Halo, so it became one of my first BEA reads. It's a VERY thick book, which was slightly intimidating. Luckily, I really enjoyed myself. \n With a title like Halo you would expect the plot to be about angels... and you'd be right. I loved reading about the family of angels this book is based on - why they are at Earth, what they are doing, what it's like to be an angel. They even talk about Heaven every once in awhile, but not in a way that ruins anyone's idea of Heaven, which I particularly enjoyed. \n This book was fairly slow moving as far as action, but I became so invested in the idea behind the angels and their mission that I didn't mind one bit. Some of the plot is slightly predictable, but I didn't mind that either. \n Halo is part of a trilogy, and I am very happy about that (even though the other books don't come out for months). It's possible I would recommend this book slightly more for those of the Christian faith because of the obvious references, but in now way am I saying you shouldn't read it if you are not in this demographic (you'll see what I mean when you give it a try). \n Halo is an excellent book that makes you think about angels and their role on Earth. I can't wait for the next book!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 02 12:55:41 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 07 18:07:24 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sun Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Fri Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "6780702", "review_id": "3584b563d794fbd1b4e97877f5d33445", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I love that the plot of The Rise of Renegade X deals with heroes and villains. It's a topic that has not been done (at least in the books I've read), so it was a welcome break from some of the paranormal I've been reading lately. \n When children turn 16 in Chelsea Campbell's fictional world, they receive a V or H thumbprint, declaring them a hero or villain forever. It's a genetic thing, so you normally know what you are far ahead of time - but poor Renegade X ends up having an X, meaning he has a mix of both hero and villain genes. \n The book is spent with Renegade X and his quest to become a villain like his mom. Those that receive X's eventually turn to V's or H's depending on their behavior in the years after the X, so Renegade X is constantly thinking about what he's doing and how it will affect his future V or H status. \n I had a lot of fun reading this one. The characters were all fun, especially because they all have a special super power. The world they live in is also very entertaining because heroes and villains are constantly battling each other, and it's just the way it is in the world, very casual and nonchalant. A fun read about a different kind of topic.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 02 12:49:15 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 26 08:47:21 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sat Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "7031817", "review_id": "4d27187a48b65651b4ec5ee3b790cf8e", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Fat Vampire started out with a lot of geeky references that really caught me up in the story - it's not often I read a book where the characters love comics and Star Wars. \n As you may have guessed, there is a vampire involved. He's not a typical vampire, which added a bit of comedy to the reading too - a lot of vampires in novels nowadays are these perfect, gorgeous things that ends up being a love interest (at least, that's what I've read). In Rex's Fat Vampire, that's not really the case - actually, we find Doug (our \"Fat Vampire\") lusting after a girl who may or may not be interested in him. \n In the beginning I found our two main guys interesting. They would banter back and forth, ask weird questions, make jokes, etc. As I got farther along in the book, I started to like Doug less and less and less. \n My biggest problem with Doug is that he, frankly, turns into quite a jerk. It doesn't seem like he is going to be that way when you start the book, but something apparently switches over and it's hard for me to root for him anymore. And when I'm not rooting for the main character (when I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to), it's kind of hard for me to like the book. \n Another thing that led to the downfall is how the voice would switch from Doug to Sejal (the girl he likes) to the vampire hunter show - I would read entire passages and then realize I was imagining it from the wrong person's point of view. And then have to re-read. Or I would read a few paragraphs and get very very confused, stare at the book for a moment, and then have to figure out which point of view I was reading. I would have preferred a header or some sort of indication that we were switching over. \n Overall, Fat Vampire had good promise, but ended up to not be that great for me. Loved the first few chapters, and really love the cover, but sadly could not love Doug, which kind of ruined the whole thing for me.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 02 12:48:41 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 26 08:52:22 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sun Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "7877239", "review_id": "322bb2ae1c98fc3329f7c35720778dae", "rating": 4, "review_text": "As I began reading Plain Kate, the tone immediately made me imagine it was being read to me by a fairy tale narrator. Which is so. Charming. Like the beginning of a movie where there is a peaceful male narrator filling you in on the main character's life. I actually commented about this on Twitter and someone (I think Pam?) said that during her BEA appearance, Erin Bow (the author) mentioned that this book is a fairy tale she had imagined in her head. So it all makes sense! \n Because the book was written in this tone, it was very charming to read. I felt like I was reading the manuscript of a movie kind of; it all played out in my head really well. If it hadn't read like I described above, I may not have liked it, but Bow hit the tone perfectly. \n One of my favorite characters of all time is Taggle, Plain Kate's cat, but I don't want to tell you why and ruin part of the story :) \n Plain Kate is a book for those who love fairy tales, adventure, and fantasy!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 02 12:43:17 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 12 18:10:58 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sun Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sun Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "2261214", "review_id": "94941960838f6f7b4be2180e86ea501b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Well well well, Cassandra Clare. You really are quite good at what you do, aren't you? \n Big buzz around these books, right? I mean there are... five out so far? Six? Many more coming in the future? Steve has already read them and really liked them, and after Heidi gifted them to me in ebook form, I still waited a bit - I didn't want to be disappointed. I finally took the plunge and am happy I did. \n The fantasy/paranormal world is twisted together with the normal world in such a way that I did not feel overwhelmed. Each piece of the Mortal Instruments puzzle is introduced and woven together until you're at the end of the book, flipping pages as fast as you can, and understanding much more about Clary, Jace, and the Shadowhunters than you ever thought you would. \n I really think this is a series that most any reader would like. If I liked it and Steve liked it, it shows that it appeals to quite a large audience - boys and girls, fantasy/science fiction lovers and those who prefer contemporary. I will certainly be continuing the journey with the remainder of these books!", "date_added": "Sat Apr 03 12:02:22 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 22 04:12:40 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sat Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "7124095", "review_id": "49663e46353b362a0d5f97c30a1c5b21", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The third and final installment in the Dream Catcher series, Gone is a fantastic wrap-up to Wake and Fade. \n While Wake focused on introducing us to Janie's powers and Fade showed how they could best be used, Gone is a conclusion type of book (more than just being the end of the series). Janie has been finding things out about her dreams in each of the books, and it all comes together in Gone, where she finds out even more about her special ability and what it could mean for the future. \n The Dream Catcher series by Lisa McMann is one of my favorite YA series. McMann is an excellent writer, and keeps Janie's story flowing through each of the books. I felt deeply connected to the decisions made by Janie and her peers as she evaluated what was best for her future. \n Of the three books, Fade is my favorite, but Gone was a great wrap up for the series. The entire concept is a little haunting - if you're into paranormal but want a break from what you've been reading lately and haven't read this series, I highly suggest you do.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 21 18:05:22 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 09 13:21:52 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "6377326", "review_id": "fd897bb515673d62b87fde0288e48713", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Jekel Loves Hyde was an interesting paranormal type read based on the Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde novel written in 1886. I was intrigued to read it originally because of the cover (I've got a thing for purple/green), and because I knew that a lot of people were looking forward to it. I had not read anything by Beth Fantaskey before (but had heard many good things)! \n I was mildly disappointed after reading this. The story moved a little slow, and Jill was rather oblivious to a few things happened that I figured out right away (and trust me, I'm pretty good at ignoring clues so that I don't ruin things in books and movies). I also got very confused in the beginning, trying to figure out if Tristen and Jill's alternating chapters were happening at the same time or as flashbacks or as continuations of the story. \n I also felt as though some of the situations weren't as tense for me as the reader as they should have been - there are a few high anxiety scenes, but I rarely was glued to the page as much as I would have expected. \n This was a solid read, and perhaps even better for someone who is a fan of Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde. I would be very interested in reading Fantaskey's first book, because the writing was good - I just didn't connect with a few things in the story.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 12 13:48:04 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 26 08:52:55 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sun Mar 14 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "6508352", "review_id": "4a4a1366e4d95d9733908d46638d8b6f", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I became interested in this book at first solely because of the cover. I really love the purple tones! When I picked it up to start reading, I had no idea what the story was about, but was able to figure it out pretty quickly. \n Cassie, our main character, has the ability to see a mark that tells her someone will be dying that day. It was an interesting journey hearing about how she came to the conclusion that that is what the mark means. After that, the book gets very philosophical. \n Literally. \n Cassie starts by taking a philosophy class (for fun and something to do that summer), which expands into many different philosophical questions, especially about her mark abilities and if she was meant to do something about it. While I enjoyed these arguments and figuring out what I believed myself, it caused the book to lack a little action or resolution. \n The book was one that got me to think a lot. At the end I was left feeling slightly unsatisfied since the majority of our journey with Cassie was spent speculating and not doing, but I did feel that a sequel would be good, if one happens to be written.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 10 14:39:59 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 26 08:53:01 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Mar 13 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Thu Mar 11 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "5287473", "review_id": "f606cd3d7254cbe3adaaf99e21a05fc2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "There are some books that slightly intrigue me and then BLOW UP on Twitter or on the blogs I read that make me obsess over getting the book to read ASAP. Hex Hall ended up being one of those books (Tirzah to the rescue)! \n Sophie is our main character, and she happens to be a witch. She also happens to be starting at a boarding school for some paranormal types so that she can get a grip on her magic. We are introduced to Jenna, her vampiric roommate (vampires have not traditionally been accepted at Hex Hall), and a coven of witches that want Sophie to join them. \n Soon into the book, something happens to a student, and we are caught up in the mystery of finding out what is going on. This is where Rachel Hawkins' writing started to pull me in - yes, this book is in the paranormal genre, but she never used that a crutch in the mystery elements or personality traits of the characters. \n Each paranormal quality was deeply etched into every character. It wasn't \"Vampire Jenna,\" but rather Jenna, who happens to be a vampire - this is important to me because I was able to relate to the story (paranormal or not). The problems that Jenna and Sophie and the other students face were connected with me as an individual instead of me blowing it off as something I would never experience because I'm not a witch/werewolf/vampire/etc. \n I really love the dynamics of relationships between characters at boarding schools. It's one of my favorite book settings, and Hex Hall is yet another reason why. The tension between Archer and Sophie make it impossible to stop reading, and the coven of witches showing their hatred to Jenna made my blood boil. \n I really, really loved Hex Hall. It had enough paranormal to keep me guessing, but not so much that I was scared away. The relationships were well built, and the intricacies of the school were perfect. This is one of my favorite reads of 2010!", "date_added": "Tue Mar 09 16:59:51 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 14 19:46:00 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sun Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sun Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "7106964", "review_id": "68c63d510430b700ea0a07b0896d7a4f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "First, I LOVE THIS COVER. Love it. Before I even knew what it was about or read anything about it at all, I loved the cover. Once I actually got to see it in person, I had to start reading it right away because I loved the cover so much. \n Now that I am done reading it, I can also say I LOVE THIS BOOK! The title \"The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June\" very accurately describes what the book is about, and much to my pleasant surprise the book is split up by chapter - one chapter written by April, one by May, and one by June, in a rotation. \n Each of their voices was so clear and distinct I didn't have to read \"May said\" or \"June exclaimed\" to know who had said it. The banter between the characters was quick and witty - some of the most realistic dialogue I have read in a long time. \n The \"secrets\" of the sisters weren't used in a cliche or too powerful way, either. This allowed me to enjoy the plot a lot more, knowing one of them wasn't going to swoop in and solve everything just because of their extra powers. \n This is my favorite book of 2010, by far.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 09 16:58:16 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 14 18:32:36 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sun Mar 14 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Sat Mar 13 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "6970490", "review_id": "22b4762013fafb2e0c54f86996f9c147", "rating": 4, "review_text": "After I reached page 40 in this book I remember looking down at the page number and being amazed that I had learned so much about our characters and the story in that number of pages. After that, I would find myself trying to keep on task doing something else but wandering back to Siren to read more. \n Our main character, Vanessa, gets involved in a mystery of sorts, which keeps you guessing as the reader for the entire thing. As you may have guessed, the title does play a role, but since it has elements of fantasy you aren't able to immediately figure out what is happening with Vanessa and her sister. \n It's a hefty book (almost 350 pages), but I whipped through it and really enjoyed myself (besides the time I was reading it alone at night and my phone rang, making me jump). The one thing I did NOT like, and actually really really did not like, were bits in the end - some of it felt rushed and I was not satisfied with how it was tied up in the end. I'm wondering if they are hoping for a sequel? \n This is a very strong read, especially for those that enjoy paranormal books.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 05 16:36:57 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 07 16:28:22 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Sun Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Fri Mar 05 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "3657138", "review_id": "e304d9fcd5df9eb6b54053aebe84465b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "While Wake (Dream Catcher #1) was spent exploring the dream world and giving us an introduction, Fade (Dream Catcher #2) definitely focused on more action and application of the dream catching. \n The basic plot of Fade has Janie and Cabel working to solve a mystery - and because Janie has those weird dream powers, it's not a normal mystery novel in the least. The investigating and creative thinking of Janie, Cabel, and other characters keep you on the edge of your seat as you try to figure out what is going on and how Janie will be able to help. \n Fortunately the book also gives us more information on Janie's \"condition\" and what may lay in store for her in the future. \n As I was reading Fade, I was actually disappointed that this book was only part of a 3 book series - I definitely would love to read many more books about Janie and Cabel fighting crime in this unique way.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 03 14:16:01 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 07 19:13:45 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Thu Mar 11 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Wed Mar 10 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "6522388", "review_id": "f2e76104b084b85c06bfecd30c617f19", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Forget-Her-Nots has a unique plot, as it deals with the language of flowers. I have yet to read a book that comes close to dealing with this sort of 'magic,' so I had a lot of fun hearing the meanings of the flowers and reading about them being used. \n Overall I was slightly disappointed, because the novel seemed more middle grade than young adult to me. The plot was very basic, and the characters were not as deep as I normally like. I did not get to read much about the boarding school, which is one of my favorite book topics, so I was sad about that - and I was confused about the friendships our main character had. One of the girls was constantly mean and yet still remained in the circle of friends throughout, and I couldn't really figure out why. \n I really like the cover of this book, and liked the basic set up of the plot - I was just hoping for a little more complexity.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 02 16:55:31 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 26 08:52:37 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sun Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "6644117", "review_id": "6717805d1b4c30c4cf4b9bb4e7f2e200", "rating": 4, "review_text": "There is a point in my reading where I pick up a book I normally wouldn't because of how many other people have read it (and liked it). I try to do this occasionally because I feel like it makes me a better reviewer overall to have the experience of some of these books in my repertoire. \n So, The Iron King? Many, many fans everywhere. I hadn't picked it up because it is a paranormal/fantasy type book, which is the opposite of what I normally like to read. I won a signed copy of it at some point last year so it has been on my shelf, and recently decided (with the release of The Iron Knight), that it was time to give it a try. \n I really liked the beginning of this one, probably because it was nearly contemporary as Meghan is still in high school. It starts to get kind of crazy after a little while (and CREEPY for a bit, I was sure I was going to have nightmares about the bogey), but I found the pages turning pretty fast. \n There are many Team Puck/Team Ash fans, but I'm not sure they all declared their allegiance after this book because it doesn't seem quite fair to do so yet. I think I am leaning towards Puck but who knows what happens in the next three books. \n The only thing that turned me off of this one a little was just how much action there was - and that is purely a personal thing. I think if I could get my husband to read it he would really love that part. \n Oh, and my favorite part of the whole book were the pack rats. LOVE THEM. \n I needed a break from the action/fantasy right when I finished, but I will be reading the next in the series soon, as the story is good, the imagery was great, and I am wondering what is going to happen to all of the people I met. I can see why this series has become so popular, and am glad that I took a chance to read it.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 02 16:54:16 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 16 16:19:13 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Fri Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Thu Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "6506483", "review_id": "13c74786b90ee45cbd7c7a712897e51d", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This book was a quick read, and basically a Disney movie in written form (notice the publisher includes Disney on the spine). It was a good book to read in between other books for sure. \n The main character is hired to fill in for royalty, so we find her in many odd situations. The best part about this job to me was how the author described the bubble she traveled in (I'd like to try that once). \n The plot never got too thick - the character didn't have to deal with any deep problems or anything like that - though, like I said, very Disney all around. \n I'm actually pretty interested to read the next book in the series, because many of the characters had personality traits that could be built on. Great book if you enjoy princess or fantasy themes.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 24 15:43:08 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 26 08:55:11 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "5996153", "review_id": "ad692155be339be2e0d9357fec98d864", "rating": 5, "review_text": "All I can really say about this without giving anything away is \n EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! \n I loved this book. Seriously. I'm not even into vampires really. And it took me awhile to get into the series in the first place. After I read the first 3 I got this weird urge to go see if my local bookstore (aka Walmart) had the fourth, and they DID and I READ IT IN AN HOUR (not really it's actually quite a long book but it felt like it only took an hour because it was SO GOOD). \n But I don't really want to discuss anything else because if you haven't read the others then it ruins stuff. You know.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 06 14:40:27 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 07 17:26:57 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Sun Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "6068551", "review_id": "f9498a8e2d714f275dfc76f270f4cbe7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I asked for Shiver for Christmas (along with a long list of other books), and ended up getting it. It then sat on my shelf for 4 months because I knew it was supposed to be really good so I was saving it for when I needed a really good book to read. \n I mostly do not read all parts of reviews before I read a book so that I don't get any spoilers or don't expect anything specific. Usually I just look at a book's rating (if the blog does it) or read their last paragraph (which usually sums up how they felt about it). \n WHICH MEANS (all of this build up for this, I know): I had NO IDEA the romance in this story was so intense. And that that was what the entire book was based on (yes yes, I knew that there was romance, but I underestimated the power of Maggie Stiefvater). \n This book kept me emotionally involved from beginning to end; not just to where I cared about the story, but I CARED ABOUT THE STORY. (In caps. That's the only way I can describe it.) \n Yes, the story was good, it was fun, it was intricate. It was well written. But the thing I really took away from Shiver was the powerful emotions I felt. And I'm going to stop trying to describe them. \n You love romance/emotions/relationships, read Shiver.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 04 19:58:38 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 20 19:28:00 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Mon Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "2282133", "review_id": "839d1962669caad7640e7d6c7351601c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I had this book ready to read right after reading the first, and that is exactly what I did. I was fairly excited to get to reading about the characters again, too. \n I don't have as much to say about this one compared to the first, except for a few things - one, I didn't like being 'clued in' on what was happening almost 100 pages into the book (all of those \"this is why this is happening\" paragraphs in case the reader forgot from book one). That's probably because I had just read book one, but it started to get very monotonous and I had to skip over many parts. Two, the title of the book didn't make much sense to me except that it described their weather situation - there wasn't much to do with snow or ice or anything, unless I missed some reference. Who knows, I read it pretty quickly. \n A solid second book, it hooked me right into reading the third (which I'm doing now). I'm very glad that the characters are doing seemingly sane things with their relationships and that it's not one of those stories that breaks people apart/does other drastic things to try to keep you reading (reminds me of Grey's Anatomy and Meredith/Derek for the first few seasons)! \n Oh, and I still don't really like the book cover, and I don't know who those people are supposed to be. \n Book Cover: 0/10 \n Book Title: 5/10 \n Plot: 9/10 \n Characters: 9/10 \n Ending: 9/10 \n Overall: 8/10", "date_added": "Wed Dec 02 18:04:42 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 02 18:04:57 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "5cca1dd30cd5a98c1c8e731839265ccf", "book_id": "345627", "review_id": "ebb71965f6960fb8375f405fbfb20046", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A few months ago, I would not ever have considered reading another vampire series - it just wasn't a genre that I was much interested in. Recently I have found myself getting a hold of more paranormal type books, and this series started to intrigue me. \n I will admit, it took me several tries (3) before I made it past the first few chapters. If I read too many books too quickly, I get invested in certain characters and it's hard for me to keep the details straight in new books that I start, which is what happened when I began reading this one. I gave myself a day or so break, tried again, and it worked! \n After I got all of the characters and dhampir vs moroi vs everything else settled in my head, I found this to be an enjoyable read. It didn't completely pick up for me until the end, but I did not ever really get bored reading the rest - I really like reading about boarding school situations, and was having fun learning about how their world works. \n One thing I couldn't figure out was who was depicted on the front cover. Actually, if this book (and the rest of the series) hadn't been blogged about and featured on other book websites, I would probably not have picked it up because of the cover. \n Book Cover: 2/5 \n Book Title: 4/5 \n Plot: 7/10 \n Characters: 7/10 \n Writing: 8/10 \n Ending: 9/10 \n Overall: 37/50", "date_added": "Thu Sep 10 18:09:27 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue May 11 07:02:28 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "16241391", "review_id": "69c512262166171314653662fb11ea47", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Read for class", "date_added": "Wed Oct 11 05:49:19 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 11 06:25:02 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Oct 11 06:25:02 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Oct 11 05:49:19 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "20764879", "review_id": "a2cbd132261a121c681f23e8ee42518d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "*4.5", "date_added": "Wed Dec 28 08:33:20 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 27 13:24:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Mar 27 13:24:42 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "24490481", "review_id": "85dfde99d1e2e02cf235ffb6a153e739", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was GORGEOUS", "date_added": "Sun Dec 25 17:49:57 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 26 07:55:40 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Dec 26 15:47:55 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Dec 25 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "29358487", "review_id": "414239cd1cbc8083b49822d40c27fe12", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I absolutely loved this! These are the socially conscious fairy tales we all need and deserve. Such a good collection and a perfect way to end my Miss Peregrine binge read.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 16 19:25:24 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 22 13:52:25 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Nov 22 13:52:25 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Nov 21 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "32075662", "review_id": "e138a1135f410a85be46e4707330c654", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 Stars", "date_added": "Tue Oct 25 14:20:03 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 08 12:06:09 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Sep 08 12:06:09 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Aug 29 21:53:01 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "23207027", "review_id": "e6751b049b9670a79198dd8c11ee5c9f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars \n This book was not what I expected at all. I was so excited to read this book for the plot and while the book in actuality wasn't bad, I had a lot of expectations going into it and there's quite a few things I wish would have happened differently. While this book is definitely a slow building story and you have to have a good amount of patientence before you get to the pay off, I did enjoy reading it and will continue with the sequel. \n This was definitely a unique book. The story takes place in a matriarchal society where every generation, a set of triplett queens is born, each posessing a different type of magic--the ability to poison, the ability to control elements, or the ability to control animals and nature. Each queen is then sent to live with others of their gift until they turn sixteen years old, when they then fight to the death to determine who will be the one true queen. I was really happy that we got to see from each of the queens perspectives in this book, but I also thought that we got too many different perspectives from side characters. It was overwhelming and confusing at times and I would have prefered it to just have been the three queens. I also went into this thinking that we were actually going to get to see the fight, but majority of the book takes place before they turn sixteen. I thought it made the book a little boring and slower but knowing where the book leaves off and having all of the character and world development discussed in this book, I think the second book has been set up to be pretty amazing.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 08 17:50:35 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 15 10:00:50 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Dec 08 14:21:20 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "26074170", "review_id": "29b7340ea62f183ee069b43972b55589", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was my first Victoria Schwab book and oh my goodness never has an author been more deserving of hype. The book and her writing completely blew me away. The themes that ran throughout this book were incredible and the way she continued to incorporate them was breathtaking. \n \"It began with a bang\" \n The world Schwab has created in this book is now one of my favorite fictional worlds. Set in a futuristic America, the violent crimes people commit have left shadows, and those shadows are turning into monsters. Violent but non-lethal crimes produce Corsai--brutal animalistic monsters. Murders produce Malchai--vampire like bloodsuckers. And mass murders--bombings, terrorist attacks, school shootings--produce the Sunai, the rarest breed of monster that use songs to steal souls. \n The city of Verity is split into two. The North side is ruled by money, safety can be bought to keep the Corsai and Malchai away. The South side of the city has the Sunai, who only steal the souls of those who have committed the crimes that produce monsters, the crimes that leave shadows that can think for themselves \n Our story follows two main characters. Kate Harker, daughter of the head of the North side of the city, who is fighting her way back to her father, to prove that she has what it takes to live among the monsters. And August Flynn, Sunai, who wants more than anything else to human. \n This book had great characters (especially August who needs to be protected at all costs), beautiful writing, and amazing story building and plot. I am very interested to see how the follow-up, Our Dark Duet, stands in comparison to this book, as it is set to pick up six months after the events of this book leave off. This is surprising to me because as far as I know this is only a duology and I was expecting this book to leave on a cliff hanger with a clear view of the problem the second book would have to solve. However, this book wrapped up fairly well so I'm curious to see how she approaches the next book. Now I just have to eagerly await the book two and definitely need to check out more of Schwab's work in the future.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 07 07:28:52 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 08 12:03:38 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Oct 25 15:02:49 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "29056083", "review_id": "0b872972bc23eb63d74bf3e3ae331c9e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "There are no words. There will never be sufficient words ever again.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 24 16:07:33 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 16:31:02 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jul 31 16:42:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "18584855", "review_id": "4b4f66a4d83fe7c52766ce371ddc7af6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book left me dead inside. \n Even though this book is clearly a retelling about the Queen of Hearts from Alice and Wonderland, I'm a little shell shocked by the ending of this book. I will say that I read the original Alice's Adventures In WonderLand and Through the Looking Glass in preparation for this book, and oh my goodness that was the best decesion I could have ever made. If I thought I was impressed by Meyer's ability to craft retellings when I read the Lunar Chronicles, that was truly nothing after reading this book. The amount of references to the original text and the way she crafts this story to make sense with the originals is absoultly amazing. If you aren't very familiar with WonderLand, I highly recommend reading Lewis Carroll's work before diving into this.", "date_added": "Tue May 24 19:45:17 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 16 21:00:07 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "25203675", "review_id": "a842f63d16833610ae81203312326d97", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was so original; I've never read anything like it. The symbolism blew my mind and was absolutely beautiful, especially the scene describing the tapestry. There were plot twists in this book that I could have never seen coming and couldn't stop reading to find out what would happen next. I had some small problems, and it realistically is probably more like a 4.5 for me, but there were parts that made me so happy that I just had to bump it up to 5 stars.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 20 06:09:32 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 21 15:01:28 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Aug 21 16:21:14 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "17927395", "review_id": "4ac40dab27bed049cb5d29fe9b99ed9d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm not sure I'm going to be able to write a coherent review because holy shit this was one of the best books I've ever read. That ending broke me into a million pieces. I am shattered. I'm so thankful for those last two chapters because seriously if it ended how I thought it was going to end I would have been devastated beyond repair. That little bit at the end was enough to revive me but holy crap how am I going to wait for that last book? \n I'm just so so beyond grateful that I decided to give this book a try because I really was not a fan of ACOTAR, but this is now one of my favorite books of all time. It was beautiful written from start to finish and the characters were 1000000x better and I love everything that it represents.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 12 13:52:38 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 07 08:55:30 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat May 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "30312891", "review_id": "b9e1ca5a099a7180b7f16e12bfb3e0b4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 but oh my god holy crap", "date_added": "Tue Mar 15 18:36:41 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 26 21:22:55 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Aug 26 21:22:24 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Aug 18 13:22:06 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "23795140", "review_id": "9ee96f9991922c0ae319d933dda809a5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Magic Study was a fantastic sequel in the fact that the plot was very original and very strong on its own--definitely not the second book slump. It had its own complete arc and I really liked all the world building done in this book. I love how even though this is a fantasy book it touches on so many real world issues and does a great job of addressing them. All of the women in this series are so strong and empowered and I love that. \n The only problem I had with this book was the way it dealt with Yelena and Valek. I felt like in this book they acted like an old married couple instead of two people that had just gotten together. And while I love that Yelena is independent and the plot doesn't revolve around her love life, I would have liked a little more romance in this book.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 26 19:22:33 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 19 18:44:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "23564319", "review_id": "53500fbd66a40194a6f7595a5bdd0224", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed reading this book. It wasn't really anything special to me but I had a lot of fun reading it and I really liked the characters.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 26 19:22:29 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 16 07:52:05 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Apr 19 14:09:21 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "14061955", "review_id": "ed83bc4d9cf51bb5e370da9d883bc4d2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 Stars. I did enjoy this one slightly more than the first one. I thought it introduced a lot of great new characters and did a much better just showing instead of telling (which was my biggest problem with the first one). While I really enjoyed the first 100 pages after that I thought the plot slowed down a lot and I started to really lose interest. That's what really brought down the rating for me. I will say though that this is still one of the most original YA series I have ever read.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 26 19:21:44 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 12 19:45:34 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "15768409", "review_id": "50913d6fe42a2483620d77a91c23ff3c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I honestly don't understand what people don't like about this book. I was expecting it to be terrible, espically because I find that I'm often not satisfied with the endings to series, but I loved every minute of this one. It was definitly creepier and more graphic, but I thought that it did a great job of explaining all of the shit that went down in the first two books. I honestly wasn't expecting to get that much closure. This was truly a spectacular series and a great ending to a great series.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 26 19:20:36 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 12 17:22:25 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Nov 12 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "24120519", "review_id": "efcc1c3d95aabfa2c61a1301d7d9d134", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I have to say that I found myself skimming a lot of this book. I just could not get into it. I missed not having our cast of characters around that I had grown to love so much in Hollow City, because they really make the story for me. Emma and Jacob on their own were pretty boring to read about. I also felt like the pacing was super off--the first half didn't really have anything happening and by the time the action started picking up I was disinterested and it was really hard for me to get back into the story. I also wasn't a huge fan of the ending. Jacob's parents was very annoying to me and I kind of wish that he didn't return home at all. Overall I did enjoy this series and thought it was unique but I just wasn't a huge fan of this conclusion.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 26 19:08:17 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 21 14:11:19 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 21 14:11:19 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "23164983", "review_id": "48fda37ff02b15f59b04d3a6562022fe", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book totally erased all doubt I was feeling after reading the first book. I had seen the movie before reading the book, and because it's a pretty faithful adaption I felt myself skimming the first book and waiting for it to end. I wasn't sure if it was becuase I already knew the information or if it was the writing itself, but I adored this second installment, so my doubts have been vanished. \n The second book picks up right where we left off in the first. I was really hoping that we would get to explore more loops in this book because that concept is so interesting to me and I was not disspointed. Ransom Riggs continued to use vintage photographs to further this story and take it to interesting and original places. Reading these books is a lot like reading Harry Potter for me. I love all of the children so much and I love the innocence that they bring to the story as they naviagte these pecular places and people while facing dangers that ordinary children would be unable to face. I am excited to start the last book but sad that such an original and fun story will be coming to an end.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 26 19:08:09 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 16 14:27:41 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Nov 16 14:27:41 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Nov 14 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "17899356", "review_id": "fd5e925111af0ac975825ba911fad72a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book pushed me into a major reading slump. I confirmed to myself that it was the book itself and not just me being slumpy, because I had to put it down about half way through to read something else and I devoured it. I just feel really strongly that this book did nothing for the series. I obviously haven't continued on with the third book yet, but I feel like this series would have been better as a duology. \n It was such a disappointment for me because I loved the first book so much, but this was a major second book slump. I love the characters and the world, but I just could not find it in me to care about the plot in this installment. I really really wanted to, there was just nothing for me to latch onto. \n I still want to finish up this series and give it one more chance, because I think it deserves that, but I plan on waiting a little while before I continue on to try and un-slump myself.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 26 18:48:30 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 16 10:13:48 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Oct 16 10:13:48 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "18243700", "review_id": "2d862b4ca618412867534f50842238f2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I absolutely loved this collection of novellas. I thought they were extremely well written and I thought each one was equally captivating in its own way, but they all built off of each other to tell one story. \n The hardest part of reading Heir of Fire for me was seeing Celaena so broken and depressed. I loved reading these novellas because we got to see more of the old fiery, sarcastic Celaena, who I love reading about. It was so hard getting to know Sam because I shipped him and Celaena so much even though I knew it wasn't going to end well. I'm really glad I read these before starting Queen of Shadows because I learned a lot about Arobynn and what an ass he is, and he is going to be an important part of Queen of Shadows, so now I am really looking forward to that confrontation and for Celaena to (hopefully) get her revenge.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 26 18:43:32 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 07 08:54:28 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "11408650", "review_id": "3c23dbef81350a2aaf0d4f9e6ae17f1d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I had a lot of fun reading this one! It was really compelling and I liked all of the characters a lot. It was equal parts creepy, funny, and romantic. The only problem I had with the book that knocked it a star was the fact that there would be times when reading where I felt that certain events were really choppy and didn't flow in a way that made sense, or Mara reacted to something in a way that I didn't understand or wasn't believable. I'm really hoping a lot of things get answered by the end of the trilogy. Other than that I really enjoyed this and can't wait to start the next one after that ending!", "date_added": "Fri Feb 26 12:57:29 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 28 21:29:02 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "b76d8414b671dc8b883e242b5af356a9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book is going to be almost impossible for me to review, so I'm going to keep it pretty short. I actually ended up seeing the movie before reading the book, and I really, really loved the movie. My feelings toward the book are more lukewarm. A lot of this book is worldbuilding and being introduced to all of the characters, and the movie did a really good job of sticking to the book for the most part, so it was a lot of reading things that I already knew, and I think that it made it a little boring for me. I also found myself not liking certain characters while reading as much as I liked them in the movie. However, I could have had a completely different reaction had I read the book first, so that's why I feel like I can't be completely fair in this review. I would have rated the book three stars, and the movie five, so I settled on a four star rating. I'll be diving into the next book straight away so we'll see if my opinion is different going in blind!", "date_added": "Tue Feb 23 15:54:34 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 14 19:51:51 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 14 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Nov 12 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "10194157", "review_id": "1d217791e33873eedc0da5e282d0b162", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I think I went into this book with too high of expectations, from recommendations and from reading the incredible Six of Crows. And I did enjoy this book and I think this series is going promising places, but there are definitely some obvious ways that Bardugo's writing has improved from this book to now. \n My biggest problem with this book was that I felt like it was all telling and no showing. I love the world of Grisha and I thought this book had a really good plot, but there would be whole paragraphs that would literally just describe big chunks of time and events that happened, instead of showing us those events. It was a lot of narrations where I felt like she could have made more scenes and dialogue. I feel like this also led me to not care about the characters as much because they didn't have enough interactions that we got to see, and when I don't care about the characters, I'm just not that interested in the story. \n I also think that maybe I could have enjoyed this more if I had read it before Six of Crows. Since I was already acquainted with the whole Grisha magic system--which I loved reading about in Six of Crows-- I feel like it took some of the novelty of the discovery of the world that happens in the first book in a series. I'm hoping that now that we have some of the introductory things out of the way, book two can only get better.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 22 16:16:54 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 30 20:18:56 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "23174274", "review_id": "f16061257dcafbc7280329cd09ec0aa2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n UUUGGHHHHHHH. Commence prolonged mourning period. After reading this book I definitely realized I will have to go back at some point and reread this series because I ended up missing a lot in my haste to get to the end and find out what happens. I thought this book had a great amount of action for a second book and it had its own plot that I really really enjoyed--no second book syndrome at all! Can I just say that I felt really bad for Mare during this book? I felt like everyone was being so unfair and cruel to her. Throughout the book I really empathized with her and I didn't think that anything she did was as bad as anyone made it out to be? She was a little power hungry but I felt that after everything she went through in book one she had a right to want to feel powerful and in control of her life. And yeah, she didn't trust anyone but if I went through what she went through, I wouldn't either! I honestly hated Farley at the end of this book I couldn't believe she would act that way to Mare when it was her own brother who died. When Shade died I felt a knife go through my back as well. I had to pause and take deep breaths. He was the only person besides Mare that I trusted throughout this entire book, so of course he had to die. I was living for the sweet moments between Mare and Cal, they made me so happy. I just wished there would have been a lot more of them! This series is super light on romance, to the point that we don't even get any makeout scenes between the characters, only quick kisses and thigh rubbing, which is great, but I need more. I guess it's probably a lot more realistic given that they're in a life or death situation and that's probably the last thing they're thinking about, but come on, we don't read these types of books because they're realistic. When I read Red Queen, I had a gut feeling that Maven was going to betray her, so that book didn't have as big of a plot twist for me, but I completely did not see this ending coming. It seemed so plausible that they would to the war for the last book I could see it playing out in my head already so I was SHOCKED. I have no idea now how the next book will play out at all but desperately need it in my life.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 15 09:57:17 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 01 14:14:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Feb 24 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "16096824", "review_id": "ff3edf510164c9b9ec778c0670e29a07", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Ok, I know this series is super beloved, but this book just wasn't my thing. I do think that it has to do more with personal taste than anything else, because I really like Sarah J Maas and the Throne of Glass series. I will say that this book was really close to being 3 stars, but I couldn't do it because I came so close to DNFing this book many different times. The whole first half of this book just dragged on and on to me. I didn't really feel like there was anything particularly likeable about the main character or the love interest, so that aspect didn't hook me into the story either. However, I was never a fan of the actual story of beauty and the beast to begin with, so that is why I blaming most of my dissatisfaction on taste more than anything else. I did find the character of Rhysand very interesting and was more into the story by the end, which is why I think I will continue on with the series eventually and I am very hopeful that I will like the second book more. Maybe this was just a situation where it was the wrong book at the wrong time. There wasn't anything that I outright hated about this book, I just found it boring and difficult to get through.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 07 12:09:25 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 07 08:55:20 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "8490112", "review_id": "8117ba7a3089daeb827faf7eabc518c9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Completely loved the start to this series. It captivated me in a way that reminded me of when I first started the City of Bones series. I loved the characters and this magical world is like nothing I've ever read before. I can't wait to see where this story goes from here.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 06 15:20:20 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 31 05:21:59 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "17342700", "review_id": "8626552f0f24d9a9fc60ce79d88d645f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I think I'm finally really getting into this series now! I have a lot more respect and interest for the characters after this book--finally. Unfortunately, I found the first half of this book really slow and that's why I couldn't give if five stars, but the second half was definitely worth five on its own. I can't wait to read the next book now! \n I also was not a fan of the fact that we were finally introduced to an LGBTQA+ character in this series, only to have him killed off for dramatic effect. I know there is a lot of death in this series, and usually I love that it keeps the plot interesting and keeps me guessing about what will happen next, but I was really excited to finally have that diversity in this story and I don't think she should've taken it in that direction", "date_added": "Thu Feb 04 16:24:57 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 10 16:20:12 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "16000044", "review_id": "9df4d7d58887283ad14e6cd4f2b2cff2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I didn't feel like this book was as strong as the first one, but there were still moments that blew me away. I'm not feeling attached to any characters yet but I think that might change soon.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 04 16:24:50 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 05 15:06:12 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jan 05 15:06:12 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "13206900", "review_id": "1f1924faae9ce445abf8bc92ad073899", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was the perfect ending to an amazing series. Not much else I can say but that.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 04 16:23:49 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 07 10:33:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jun 07 10:33:22 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "13206828", "review_id": "c59320f51796b18a0343f3504f45e884", "rating": 5, "review_text": "My favorite installment so far! I'm so bad at writing reviews for later books in series but this book was amazing. It had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish and I've grown so attached to all of these characters. I'm so excited to read winter but at the same time I'm so not ready.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 04 16:23:43 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue May 31 20:56:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun May 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "13206760", "review_id": "5f202c89df2314782652a46f105eeaa5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Loved this book. I'm just enjoying this whole world and these stories so much. There were so many brilliant and creative bits in this book that just really really made me appreciate Meyer as an author and a genius. I'm so excited to start Cress soon (and for more Thorne).", "date_added": "Thu Feb 04 16:23:37 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed May 25 20:26:09 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "20613470", "review_id": "35f6765ea06517b2c4b0914e98740e92", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 stars, just because I struggled so much with the beginning of this book and it took me a long time to get into it. Once I did get into it, however, I read the last 280 pages in one sitting!", "date_added": "Thu Feb 04 16:21:23 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 07 08:54:23 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Mar 26 08:27:37 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Mar 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "25558608", "review_id": "47d98102e381638a069d560944b326cb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was everything I wanted it to be. It actually physically hurts me when I think about the fact that I have to wait another year for the next book now. I thought this was a fantastic sequel. We had a lot more world building and got to see from the POV of more characters and that's my favorite part about reading books in a series-- the world and character development. I love so many characters in these books and it I'm constantly terrified for them because of how brutal Tahir's world is. I loved that this book dealt more with magic and magical creatures and I would love for the next book to go even deeper with that. I'll admit that the beginning of this one was a bit slow but it was so well-written that it didn't even matter to me. Plus, the amazing, action-packed second half more than made up for it.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 04 16:20:46 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 03 19:44:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "22299763", "review_id": "67146d7ac5ea4c97c16762f4a8be539f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was a fantastic (yet heartbreaking) conclusion to my favorite duology. Leigh Bardugo proves that you don't need very many books to write a captivating and well-structured series. The ending was bittersweet but still completely satisfying.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 04 16:20:30 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 30 12:30:51 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "28588345", "review_id": "dc8173e6ae155109482bda7b0c2691b1", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I felt like there were a lot of missed oppertunities in this book. Overall, I just didn't like the direction she chose for the ending of this series. I was nervous when I picked it up and saw how short it was, but I thought that maybe because it was so short it would be action packed, but I felt like NOTHING happened in this book. \n It was hard for me to stay invested in this series, and I feel like I may have enjoyed the series more as a whole if I marathoned it instead of waiting for each book and reading them as soon as they released. I just felt like this was a really anti-climactic way to end a series about an anti-hero that had so much potential. This is definitely one series where I just disagree with the hype.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 31 15:28:43 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 01 11:24:17 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Nov 30 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Nov 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "17465467", "review_id": "8bb1eb9636b7866ccd2b6880edc032ea", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Falling Kingdoms is the first installment in what I can tell is going to be an epic fantasy series. The plot of this book completely blew me away. So many things happened, and there were so many unexpected twists (not to mention unexpected deaths that kept me frantically reading.) The only reservation I have is that I'm not really a fan of any of the characters yet. They're ok, but many times as I was reading I found them annoying and I can't say I've grown attached to any of them yet. I place a lot of judgment based on how strong the characters are when I read a book, so the fact that I didn't really like any yet still devoured this book speaks that much more highly of its plot. Hopefully I will grow more attached to the characters as the series continues.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 31 08:15:11 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 15 09:59:27 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "16034235", "review_id": "a9adea2e97db5ddbe63326afa96e122d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book had me completely hooked and loving it from cover to finish. Celaena is officially one of my new favorite female characters of all time. If you like action, magic, and love triangles, do yourself a favor and read this book ASAP. I'm so excited to read the next book, this is definitely a new favorite series of mine. The only problem I had with this book is that I felt like a lot of the plot was very obvious. I kept expecting there to be a really dramatic plot twist, but everything that happened I saw coming from the beginning. I'm thinking that it might just be that this is the first book, and a lot of groundwork needed to be laid, and the next books are going to be more intricate. I still REALLY enjoyed reading this book, it had me cheering and laughing out loud and smiling like crazy.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 30 20:20:07 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 15 10:05:19 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "20983362", "review_id": "18c75f0536b8e047ff4950b30b8ef8d7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "1/8/17 \n In my original review below, I did not like Passenger as much as I was hoping to. I enjoyed a lot of aspects about the book, but it didn't hold my attention, and I felt like I had maybe read it at the wrong time. Recently with the release of Wayfarer I was feeling nostalgic for this story and I decided to give it another go. This time around, I throughly enjoyed it. I was able to fully engross myself in the story this time and parts that I found confusing before I now understood because I remembered it from the first read through. This is one of the things that I love most about reading and stories in general. They mean different things to everyone who reads them, and are so influenced by where we are in reality while we are reading them. I love that I can come back to a story a year later and take away completely different things than I did before. \n 2/20/16 \n This is a difficult review for me to write because I'm not sure why I didn't particularly love the book. I thought the writing was great, and I really enjoyed the diversity in the book and the places they traveled to were very intriguing to me. I thought that the first 100 pages or so could have been trimmed down significantly. It was very hard to follow what was going on in the beginning and I think that it was mostly because of the dual POV. I could follow Etta's chapters but I thought Nicholas's were unnecessary and confusing because they focused only on past information we knew nothing about, and I think we could have just been presented with that information later when we had a better understanding of what was going on. Once they started traveling I became more excited but for some reason, I still just couldn't get into it. I think it may just be a personal preference, because so many people have raved about this book. There was nothing necessarily wrong with it I just personally found it a bit boring.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 19 16:04:46 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 08 10:27:49 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 08 13:58:41 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "25817407", "review_id": "8252a1f59e7d63f39ad581c70e7771d5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book! I actually think I may have enjoyed it more than the Selection trilogy! I think that overall the writing and content of this book is more mature. It was definitely darker as well. It was done really well for a stand-alone fantasy novel. Usually when I read stand-alone fantasy's I feel like there's not enough world building or character building but I didn't feel that with this book at all. The only thing I think could have been done better was developing the romance in the book. The main character actually spent very little time with the love interest in this book, and most of the book was devoted to her and her relationships with the other Siren's and the ocean. I liked the other Sirens, I just felt like all of those plot points weren't really what the main idea of the book was about, and so it kind of felt like needless information, and she barely ended up spending any time with the guy she was in love with. All and all though, I really enjoyed reading it and thought it was well done.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 05 11:00:27 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 08 17:28:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Feb 09 15:55:19 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Feb 06 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "13722513", "review_id": "259207e5d78904840786e140e714a7ce", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is unlike anything I have ever read before. There were so many times while reading it that I found myself just completely unable to get over how unique and cool this world is. It's also my new favorite fairy tale retelling of all time. A lot of retellings are very loosely based, but I loved how many aspects of the original Cinderella there were in this book and how they all came together in new and original ways. I loved Cinder's character so much and even though I could kind of see some of the plot twists coming I still really enjoyed reading them. That ending though. I desperately need book two more than anything but I have no money to buy it right now so until I can get my hands on it I'll just be dangling off this cliff . . .", "date_added": "Wed Dec 30 22:33:12 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue May 17 14:46:47 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue May 17 14:48:27 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri May 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "22328546", "review_id": "03696981412ff0bdf5f5ce46304a187a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow. When I started reading this book, I was very underwhelmed. Red Queen has a lot of hype and I felt like the writing in the beginning was very basic and the characters and the story line were kind of flat and boring. THAT BEING SAID, this book gets exponentially better as it progresses--writing, character and plot wise. If you aren't completely loving the book during the first 100 pages, KEEP READING. A lot of what I thought was \"bad writing\" ended up being the foundation for plot twists that I mistook for plot holes at the time. I trusted characters that I knew I shouldn't have trusted, and when their betrayal came, it still broke my heart. For the last 100 pages of this book, I was completely immersed and could not put the book down. Mare Barrow is a complete badass and I love her for it. I think this book had to set up a lot, and that now the next books will continue to get better and better!", "date_added": "Sat Dec 26 20:41:07 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 15 10:05:31 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Feb 15 14:37:05 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "27272506", "review_id": "25afee09c103b36b5e161a4ffaabe566", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Half-way through this book, I was feeling completely underwhelmed. I think this book had to have made the biggest, most satisfying comeback in book history. I read the second half almost in one sitting, and when I had to stop reading to go to class, I couldn't stop thinking about when I could race home to finish it. Most people that have read and enjoyed Vampire Academy and Bloodlines will tell you that the series only gets better after the first book--and I completely agree. I think that aspect of Mead's writing style is reflected in this book as well. The Glittering Court is technically a \"series\", but in reality, it's the same story being told three times from different perspectives, so the book actually reads as a stand alone. I think that's why I found the first half so boring. A lot needed to be set up so that the second half could wrap itself up, and once the foundations were laid and the character relationships were built, the book was AMAZING. However, a lot of aspects about the first half did annoy me. Adelaide and Tamsin could both be very pretentious and annoying at times, and a lot of \"issues\" they faced--like what colors they were dressed in or the decorations for events-- I didn't really care about. But by the second half of the book, Adelaide felt like a completely different character, and I loved her, so it ended up being great character development on Mead's part. I am excited to read the other two books and learn more about the other characters, but I really, really wish this series would have just followed Adelaide and Cedric's story because I ended up loving them so much by the end of the story and I feel like if their story continued I probably would've ended up loving it as much as bloodlines.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 23 10:09:12 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 15 10:04:01 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Apr 13 14:57:19 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "22294935", "review_id": "dbcfa8e4e3392ccfe22439d740f46cfd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Holy crap this book might be my favorite read so far of 2016. It's definitely tied for first with Lady midnight anyway. I have had the Grisha trilogy on my TBR for awhile now but I have not read it yet, but it definitely didn't affect my understanding of this book in any way, it only made me want to read the Grisha trilogy even more. That being said, this is definitely a book that demands your full undivided attention, because there is so much going on and a lot of world building that you really have to pick up on yourself as you read. I was absolutely in love with every single one of the characters and I thought it was genius how all of their backstory was woven through with the plot of the book, because the backstory was a huge part of the story, and super, super interesting. The magic in this book unlike anything else I'd ever read about and I'm so desperate to learn more about the Grisha. The writing was also gorgeous and I loved how Ketterdam was described--even if it might not be the best place to live I still thought it was extremely cool and interesting. This book was a very unique and thrilling read and I would highly recommend!", "date_added": "Tue Dec 22 07:39:47 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 30 12:31:05 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 16, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "25494343", "review_id": "24eb1d668775f6e1d63d261096d187d4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have very weird feelings about this book right now, and I wasn't sure if I was going to write a review. I started out absolutely loving this book and every single character, but as I read more and more, I think I liked it less and less? I'm not sure if that's really how I feel or if it was just a lot of reading in a short amount of time, but I didn't finish this book feeling like I usually do after finishing a Cassandra Clare book. At first I loved every single character so much, but (super unpopular opinion) I don't like Mark at all. I completely sympathize with what he's gone through and I feel bad for the guy, but he made me so angry and reading from his POV was so boring and made me madder. As I read, I decided I just really really loved Julien and he DOES NOT get enough recognition and love and people give him such a hard time for the dumbest reasons and I will defend him until I die. I liked that in this book our main character was a Shadowhunter already so we didn't have to go through the whole explanation and discovery of the shadow world again because it would have been so repetitive for me at this point. However, I think the main reason I wasn't as captivated with this book was because I didn't like the plot line and the villain as much as I like the plot lines in her other novels. I thought it was very interesting, but it moved way too slowly to the point where I was really just reading for the character relationships and not the plot at all. I couldn't believe that the mystery of Emma's parents deaths was solved in book one! That just felt so anticlimactic and simple to me considering that is the conflict our main character starts the story with. I do think the ending was very promising and will create a good conflict for our main characters for the rest of the series. I did really really enjoy the book, anything Cassie writes is amazing no matter what and I cannot wait for book two!", "date_added": "Thu Dec 17 19:49:58 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 15 10:04:47 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Mar 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Mar 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "41899", "review_id": "2f0f3081275f19d35be08a16dae4123b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "J.K. Rowling will always amaze me and is my ultimate hero when it comes to writing. The fact that she can write from so many different personas and create so many unique creatures from nothing is extraordinary to me. I had so much fun reading this book.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 14 18:59:00 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 06 12:35:22 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "23308084", "review_id": "639e406ad4546fde72c4940010f3e7cf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I was determined to give this book 4 starts up until the very end. But I love this series and the ending too much to do it (even though it's probably 4.5 stars in my opinion). \n I just struggled so hard with the beginning of this book. I'll admit, I had very high expectations because The Wrath and The Dawn was literal perfection, but I just found the first half of this book so . . . boring. Renee Ahdieh will also hold the award for most beautiful writing ever, but the beginning of this book was so dragged out and oversimplified to me. I felt like ultimately the characters overcame every obstacle in this book way too easily. Artan told Shazi that his aunt would eat her alive, and when they went to visit her, everything was fine. I expected her to at least trick or lie to them, but no. I even half expected the Magus to betray them because everything at that point seemed suspiciously easy to me. Shazi's magic lessons in the middle of the book seemed overall pointless to me as well. Nothing ever really came of it because I still think in the end Shazi could have come to the conclusion with the chains on her own like she did with the carpet. All that these scenes really added to the book was length. And then they needed to destroy the book, and they did. Even Shazi's escape from Salim seemed relatively easy. \n Also Tariq PISSED ME OFF TO NO END. \n I did appreciate Despina's story line immensely though. That completely surprised me. Overall I was very happy with the ending of this book and it gave me all the feels so five stars it is. Still overall this was a beautiful duology.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 06 20:00:44 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue May 17 09:16:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "24751478", "review_id": "1d29e1861a5c3077eb12720fc45a6208", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I love Richelle Mead, but this book wasn't as good to me as her Vampire Academy and Bloodlines books. It might just be me-- I don't know if I've ever read a stand-alone dystopian book that I really got into. I prefer the character growth over the span of a series. But I liked the concept of the book and the characters, I just think you can always do so much more with the story if you have more books to work with.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 03 13:57:12 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 06 12:13:01 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Dec 12 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Dec 10 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "20560137", "review_id": "1b9a8d06fec9d88e7abdd2af3120f074", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the best book I've read in a really really long time. I could feel myself slipping into a reading slump and I'm so thankful I picked this book up when I did because it managed to engage me like no other book I've read in a seriously long time. The best thing about this book is that it's so completely unique and different than anything I've ever read. Usually, I'm always drawing connections in my mind between books while I'm reading but this book really created a world of its own. I had absolutely no idea where the plot was headed or how things would resolve and I didn't see any of the plot twists coming, which is really rare for me because I've found that lately I usually always can tell where books are headed and see the plot twists coming before the main character. Despite the very dark tone of this book, Sabaa Tahir's writing style is so elegant and the themes and characters in this book were so beautiful.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 02 16:15:29 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 15 10:04:59 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Mar 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Mar 05 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "23381014", "review_id": "2ffc9b908741c785862310ba61e49b1d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I knew from the moment I read \"Someone lives and someone dies at Simon's ascension ceremony\" that this book was going to be rough. I had a good feeling about who Clare was going to kill off and my guess was completely correct. In fact, I had been seeing a lot of fan theories that were actually true to exactly what happened. Still, It didn't make reading it any easier. This book was definitely a tear jerker, but Clare has always been adamant on killing characters to add meaning and depth to the story. She's definitely not wrong, but it doesn't make it easier to read. Still, and amazing book (as always).", "date_added": "Fri Oct 30 09:09:41 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 24 15:06:19 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Nov 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "23381012", "review_id": "95a662f3a7a2efa3b36346eb8d030471", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Really excellent, I think this has been my favorite Shadowhunter Academy installment so far. It was very cute and brought in a lot of characters from The Mortal Instruments, which I always love to see. I think if you ship Malec you'll love this one", "date_added": "Mon Oct 19 09:36:33 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 03 15:19:58 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "23846013", "review_id": "5680bf0ca74ec695330431b6b0e32ad6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have to say, I wasn't a huge fan of the first book in this series. It was ok, but I couldn't really get as into it as I wanted to. The thing I've discovered about Marie Lu is that, for me, when she writes a series, I like each book better than the last. That was how it was for me when I read the Legend series and I can tell that's how it's going to be for this series as well. I think my problem with The Young Elites was that I spent a majority of the book really confused and trying to take in everything about the world and reading this book, I had a better grip on all of that. \n The Rose Society is extremely dark--but that can only be expected since it is a villain origin story. I really found myself falling in love with the characters in this book and becoming way more attached to them. The first half of this book was kind of hard to get into for me but the second half completely made up for it--it was fantastic! I'm so excited for the last book to come out and I have a feeling it's going to be my favorite out of the three, like how Champion ended up being my favorite Legend book. This is something really rare and unique about Lu's writing because it's usually the opposite for me. I always end up loving the first book in a series but it's really rare that I find a trilogy that I personally think has a satisfying ending.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 13 22:22:33 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 01 14:15:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "18798983", "review_id": "d6f257752f7204aa229f31e36c6006aa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I think I might have enjoyed this book even more the second time around. I'm even more excited for The Rose and the Dagger to come out on Tuesday now, and I didn't think that was possible.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 11 10:08:11 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun May 22 11:01:19 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "26860475", "review_id": "594b6ca36b27609b2adf8bf672ba3869", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm going to start out by saying that I loved this book, but I also enjoyed Twilight (the first novel at least), and if you didn't enjoy the original Twilight, you probably wouldn't enjoy reading this one either. \n The reason I liked this retelling so much was because of the fact that Meyer was actively writing it to break gender roles, which are what bothered me the most about the original Twilight books. \n Life and Death tells the exact same story as the original Twilight, but with a completely genderswapped set of characters. This creates an interesting plot that is extremely unusual for any young adult book today: a male character is constantly being saved from female characters, by female characters. I liked that about the book. I also liked the way the male Bella viewed the female Edward. He was never embarrassed or intimidated by her obviously superior strength. \n The problems of two teenagers falling in love way too fast are still there, but Meyer didn't set out to change the story, just the characters, and overall I liked the direction she took.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 06 14:16:36 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 07 09:52:48 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Oct 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "6304335", "review_id": "85d365363fe04f3cf9a712753e446b46", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I'm usually a big fan of paranormal romance books, so I had high hopes when I started reading Beautiful Creatures. I was hoping that it would be a New Vampire Academy or Mortal Instruments type book for me to obsess over. That being said, I was definitely disappointed. \n Beautiful Creatures is told from the perspective of Ethan Wate, living in a one horse textbook southern town. I have to say, I did really like the setting of the book. I think that Southern towns have such a rich history that a perfect for building a mystery around. All Ethan wants to do is escape Gatlin and not end up stuck there in the predictable like everyone else. In walks Lena and everything changes. He's drawn to her, despite her black sheep reputation in town, but all she wants is for him to stay away. \n Overall I thought it was decent, but nothing about the premise or the story pulled me in. I was uninterested in the characters and what happened to them, and I didn't think the love story was all that great. If you're really into these types of books you may find it worth reading, but otherwise I don't know if I would really recommend it. I definitely don't plan on reading on in the series.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 27 17:06:46 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 01 14:36:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Oct 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "23734628", "review_id": "d82af813eb4698f492eb2c3f9be644fb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I think I forgot how good Rainbow Rowell's books were before I started reading this. WOW. I loved absolutely everything about this book. This was Rowell's first time writing fantasy and she did not disappoint! I think because it isn't her usual genre of choice, she brought a really different style to the book. One thing I particularly loved was her magical world building. It was a really creative premise. \n I usually tend not to enjoy stand alone fantasy type books as much as I do series because you don't get as much character development and it usually feels rushed to me, but that wasn't the case at all with this book. In fact, it is probably my favorite stand alone fantasy to date. It is packed with TONS of character development and everything about the characters world was well explained and not confusing or rushed at all. It is a larger book and the beginning is a little slower because it gives you a lot of context, but it is definitely worth it. \n I noticed that most of the negative reviews of this book were centered around the fact that this book was similar to or copying Harry Potter. It was similar to Harry Potter in a lot of ways, but this did not bother me. For one thing, at the end of the book Rowell writes in her author's note that Carry On is HER take on the typical \"Chosen One\" type story. So naturally, a story about the \"chosen one\" would have similarities to Harry Potter, because that's what Harry Potter is. Personally, I liked the similarities to Harry Potter, because I liked how it was kind of the same but ultimately different, if that makes any sense. I love the Harry Potter stories, so of course I would like things that are similar, but this book stands out and is special in its own right.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 16 10:56:08 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun May 22 11:02:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "24885636", "review_id": "2e1b6049da62b04e9a8b7fc274152f49", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I listened to the audio book for this and at first I thought I was going to hate it--I really couldn't stand a lot of the characters-- but it ended up really growing on me! This book doesn't have a lot of hype but if you like the modern day superhero origin story I think this book is really great. The super powers in this book are really unique and it was fascinating to learn how each different one worked--that was definitely my favorite aspect of the book. I thought this book was original and it took me by suprise a couple of times. One thing I will say about the audio book is that I wish they would have cast different voice actors for each point of view, but the person reading did a pretty good job of doing different voices. I might continue on with the series but I'm not sure. I enjoyed reading this but it ended nicely for me and I don't feel that pressured to pick up the next one any time soon.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 01 19:47:12 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 13 19:58:33 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Dec 12 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Nov 26 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "22910900", "review_id": "0e6e6f76f6c9d8884ad52a8089dc2e12", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The plot of this book was so compelling to me. What if you aren't the chosen one? What if you were just a random student at Hogwarts, trying to pass your OWLs while watching Harry, Ron, and Hermoine running around doing whatever it is they do? \n This book is extremely well written. It's told in first person, and the tone is really authentic and relatable. The other thing I really liked about this book was that it was just so different. It covered issues like mental disability, sexuality, and race and worked them naturally into the story in a way that I have never seen done before. I feel like the majority of young adult fiction should be headed in this direction. \n What I thought made the book really cool was that at the beginning of each chapter you got a little blurb about what the chosen kids were doing, which followed all the tropes a story like that normally would. But the story wasn't boring. If anything, it showed that everyone is the protagonist in their own life, and even if you don't feel special, or you're not the chosen one, you still have a story worth telling. \n The one thing that really made the story for me was that the plot stayed true to itself throughout the entire story. I liked the idea of telling a story through the innocent average bystanders eyes, and I was worried for awhile that the main character was suddenly going to become the hero, but the story didn't need that. You were rooting for the main character to fix his own problems, and sometimes ordinary is enough.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 01 07:44:31 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 01 14:35:27 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Nov 24 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Nov 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "34722429", "review_id": "f7e87deed164756c0a538441042c4721", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I am a huge fan of Libba Bray and was really excited to start this book. Set in the roaring twenties, Evie O'Neil is the quintessential flapper girl freshly arrived in New York City. Evie is set to live with her Uncle, who runs a museum of superstition and the occult. Evie is ready to take on the city with her best friend Mable, but shortly after she arrives, strange murders begin to occur throughout the city. And Evie has a strange ability that could put her into harm's way. \n I really liked the time period the book was set in a lot, and I liked the vernacular of the characters as a result of that time period. In that respect I think it was really well written. The characters were also really likeable and had very rich backstories, which is something that Bray does very well. Overall I think that there was just too much packed into this book. I liked that it was told in alternating points of view, but I think if the plot was more streamlined and focused I would have enjoyed it a lot more. \n *** \n Re-read fall 2017--I enjoyed it a lot more the second time around! Definitly 4.5 stars this time!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 15 09:38:37 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 29 17:31:59 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34216df2a5f3846b17e3f96bea6c2ad7", "book_id": "15881", "review_id": "257a31a37cdaee420f73ff873c0448d6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Re-read the illustrated edition and completely loved it. Can't wait for the prisoner of azkaban to come out illustrated next year so I can continue the christmas re-reading tradition", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 17:43:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 29 13:18:31 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Dec 29 13:18:31 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e6d35f5d6eed3b8981a224d43c24f2b7", "book_id": "33545387", "review_id": "473e87bd13c8f3cc05a49e14df4f6f2c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book builds on the premise of the Year 1, but takes it to the next level. Gonna read all books by the author", "date_added": "Fri Feb 03 03:14:21 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 03 03:16:39 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Feb 03 03:16:39 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e6d35f5d6eed3b8981a224d43c24f2b7", "book_id": "31926195", "review_id": "3c36b890bbcbd23e5e8f57b5f848fcfe", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I kept my expectations low as i went in....but it turned out to be quite fun. Definitely listening to all book in the series...", "date_added": "Fri Feb 03 03:10:45 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 03 03:17:24 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e6d35f5d6eed3b8981a224d43c24f2b7", "book_id": "13422774", "review_id": "ce2e4474950b06893b66e37bf95193cd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "At start this book seems like Dresden Files on steroids...a whole lot of them, and I say to myself \"This intensity is awesome, but it can't be maintained throughout for a book this long.\". And put succinctly, I was dead wrong.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 30 06:26:30 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 06 00:26:22 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Dec 05 22:52:22 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Nov 30 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e6d35f5d6eed3b8981a224d43c24f2b7", "book_id": "4643301", "review_id": "2180cf00aca41f56ee49a7061129687d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Precise World building with interspersed Political & Philosophical debates made me fall into the novel (After the difficulties getting through first few chapters), and not come out till the end. \n The whole series just became next on my reading list.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 23 23:07:11 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 23 23:14:00 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Oct 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e6d35f5d6eed3b8981a224d43c24f2b7", "book_id": "3067577", "review_id": "85c818b2e54136f1cac107f452209117", "rating": 2, "review_text": "While story & writing are characteristically Jim Butcheresque, the characters feel scared/terrified about 90 percent of the time (especially the female ones). This gets a bit annoying in the later parts of the book (especially considering they live in a world of commonplace brutality/slavery, and never got even slightly desensitized to it).", "date_added": "Sat Aug 13 03:33:06 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 06 00:27:23 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e6d35f5d6eed3b8981a224d43c24f2b7", "book_id": "68428", "review_id": "ffb0fda691df512bcc0ca675d57da3ca", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The story and the world are brilliant, but it is the writing that takes the cake. With Characters so real, and a world almost crystal, make for an fully immersive experience.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 04 04:05:07 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 07 03:45:34 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Aug 07 03:45:34 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e6d35f5d6eed3b8981a224d43c24f2b7", "book_id": "47212", "review_id": "5a9b26de8e50c464dcc7b25d6834b5d4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A dry-humored, witty protagonist and a furiously paced story. Believe me you, there isn't a better combo...", "date_added": "Tue Feb 23 19:23:09 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 29 05:41:20 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Feb 29 05:41:20 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e6d35f5d6eed3b8981a224d43c24f2b7", "book_id": "341735", "review_id": "ec98fab9afddbfe2ce1a80b47eaeba57", "rating": 4, "review_text": "At first it seemed like any other, and then tantalised my mind with the unique realism of one's desires, emotions and its thought provoking ending.", "date_added": "Tue May 26 01:03:27 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 18 20:41:28 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e6d35f5d6eed3b8981a224d43c24f2b7", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "f8763f6b13f7ad6de826cbf32f1d6fd8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "In one word.. Capitivating..", "date_added": "Mon Mar 09 03:58:01 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 06 00:32:04 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e6d35f5d6eed3b8981a224d43c24f2b7", "book_id": "186074", "review_id": "7506944e347da22b1b598f2c38603e8f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I saw an interview with the author in which he declared that he stated writing this book in 1994 (till 2006-07). And I must say that the effort really shows. The depth of world built and such immaculate writing style that it forces you to imagine, to despair, to love. Within those depths you can see prose bleeding poetry. \n This book is the answer I'll be giving to people who claim that fantasy doesn't involve sophisticated/poignant writing.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 31 15:09:37 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 21 03:06:19 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "40b795551cd5b1dae85ff2f7b8ddee27", "book_id": "62291", "review_id": "b14a3b66155a74ee735c7774e0a3a128", "rating": 4, "review_text": "You can find my comments on Storm of Swords here: http://www.jamierubin.net/2011/08/17/...", "date_added": "Thu Jun 16 18:05:50 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 29 09:16:47 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Thu Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "40b795551cd5b1dae85ff2f7b8ddee27", "book_id": "13496", "review_id": "9ac7ad2e1e2e95dacc7a10fedda39533", "rating": 5, "review_text": "My full review can be found here: http://www.jamierubin.net/2011/05/16/...", "date_added": "Wed May 04 15:00:58 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon May 16 18:02:56 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Mon May 16 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Wed May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "40b795551cd5b1dae85ff2f7b8ddee27", "book_id": "149267", "review_id": "f927788e25e19fc583e5c4a725d68f32", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I've now read all 3 of Stephen King's BIG standalone novels, It, Under the Dome A Novel, and The Stand. While I enjoyed The Stand, I think it was the weakest of all three. In part this might be because it was the first, but I suspect that some of it has to do with the fact that I think the ending of the book dragged on longer than it had to. \n The first half of the book was outstanding, and in particular, I think King did an excellent job of painting a frightening picture of the world as we know it falling apart. When the book opens, things are business-as-usual and gradually, we find that even ordinary things are becoming difficult as the world dies from the flu. I think King is a master of detail in this respect. He is able to investigate each and every facet of normal human experience and illustrates how that experience is impacted by the world-wide disaster. His vision for this kind of writing is unmatched. The depth of his characters is also outstanding, and you find yourself occasionally frustrated by the good guys and having sympathy for the bad guys--and this is as it should be because nothing is black-and-white. \n The fantasy element of the story bothered me, however, and perhaps that is simply an artifact of my difficulty suspending my disbelief. When the battle between good and evil entered the scene, I started to grow a little wary. I understand King's reasons for doing this, but I think the book would have been more interesting without this element. Second to that, more explanation as to why there was this supernatural element and how it related to the superflu would have been helpful. \n I think the book should have ended sooner than it did. I didn't see much value in the final journey back to Boulder. There wasn't much new I learned about the characters or the situation. \n Nevertheless, it was a good read, especially the first half of the book or so and I am glad I had the chance to read the book. 3.5 stars out of 5", "date_added": "Tue May 11 17:42:46 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 04 11:33:17 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Wed Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Tue May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bab1ccd64657f45c5ce407d401ccdf6", "book_id": "23380723", "review_id": "836df200308d9ba16f4230895fa23097", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Excellent \n This captures all that I love about historical fantasy novels. Intrigue, love, relationships, conflicts that are tricky to resolve, sadness for many characters who do not survive and joy for those that do. Very satisfying.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 03 19:11:17 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 19 07:46:09 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Feb 19 07:46:09 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Feb 03 19:11:17 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2193b39163317f53641d1f8539a4586c", "book_id": "3236307", "review_id": "7d45cd009dacc7690453a1fc7f9c4c5e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book. I thought the twists were really interesting and I really liked the characters. I didn't feel at all like the story was one I'd heard before. The premise of the book was fascinating. \n Just so people are aware, there was an uncomfotable scene in this book. A little bit worse than the scene in the last Twilight book. Definitely an after your married kind of book in my opinion.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 02 14:33:13 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 11 14:14:22 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2193b39163317f53641d1f8539a4586c", "book_id": "2248573", "review_id": "f511f821d4d03910d11776cc30abbb96", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Gotta say I was more than a little disappointed by this book. Nothing ever seemed to happen. It was much more boring than the other two books because there was like no action or suspense. And the end! Are you kidding me! I had the same complaint about Harry Potter and this may spoil some of the story line for you but I dislike when they make all these problems for the hero but don't have the hero try to fix or work around the problem. Harry Potter lost dumbledore, lost sirius, everyone expected tons from him and yet we are supposed to believe he's this great wizard without even trying. Eragon has soldiers that can't feel pain and what do they do about it? Nothing they just hope that the next group of soldiers they fight can feel pain. RIDICULOUS", "date_added": "Thu Oct 16 09:42:36 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 16 09:55:06 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2193b39163317f53641d1f8539a4586c", "book_id": "1162543", "review_id": "739621f0bf8c36799658600fa2ab3718", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was a little disappointed with this book. She is a great story teller and I was interested while I read but when I would think about the actual plotline I realized that nothing much seemed to be happening in the book. And I was very disappointed by the end. It was nothing like the other books endings have been. While I love Bella and Edward and Jacob this book was rather an anticlimatic ending to their story. Hopefully there will be more spin off stories from these books that will make this story seem more fulfilling.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 20 09:07:22 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 20 10:32:47 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2193b39163317f53641d1f8539a4586c", "book_id": "9534", "review_id": "638dde53b776f61b500cc021245d4041", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow. I think Bean's story is must read. I crave the end of his story and I think it was done excellently!", "date_added": "Fri Jul 18 11:29:09 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 11 14:02:49 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2193b39163317f53641d1f8539a4586c", "book_id": "93003", "review_id": "4daf77ac8ea198e0e6eda62e2ceedf46", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is my second favorite Narnia book! What a great story about looking at people for who they really are. It's such an interesting and great story.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 18 19:33:14 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 18 19:39:20 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6237533dc14102048c38661051da41c", "book_id": "176268", "review_id": "09157a85f35147e149c2eae94bd4f036", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Wow. Wow. I finished this book over a week ago and it lives in me. Hambly's leads are so real: their foibles, their humor, their relationships to one another. The first chapter so beautifully sets up what turns into a remarkable fairy tale of regret, choices, impossible challenges, and comfort. If I had never read this, I would have missed something wonderful indeed.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 08 04:59:41 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 08 05:04:12 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6237533dc14102048c38661051da41c", "book_id": "15839984", "review_id": "828d50d0d541f6ea2fe400aeeb6f5e9b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Really interesting world-building for the Beauty and the Beast retelling. Much like Donna Jo Napoli did with her retelling Beast, the story is set in an intricate, detailed, out-of-time world. The setting is as much a character as the protagonists.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 19 08:54:31 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 22 12:31:33 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6237533dc14102048c38661051da41c", "book_id": "11864728", "review_id": "70d299daa9ce0ab8cdc78dc9182bb13c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Disappointing culmination to the series.", "date_added": "Sun May 19 14:46:52 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun May 19 14:47:37 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6237533dc14102048c38661051da41c", "book_id": "13561824", "review_id": "45fc9b7c0690ccac3cc00abae2076005", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I enjoyed this a lot; in some ways, it put me in mind of Rae Carson's The Girl of Fire and Thorns. Where Carson's heroine is a bit timid and has to grow into herself, Nielsen's Sage is already pretty sure of himself and knows his worth--but he has to struggle with taming his own confidence and vision of right and wrong to the service of Connor and country. \n What I really, really liked though, was that this was so very far from The False Princess. That book started so well and finished so awkwardly; but this started strong and continued strong. Sage grows, and as readers we struggle to understand the limits of his moral code along with him. We see him grow into compassion, even if it is grudgingly given, and into a greater understanding of his world. It's beautifully done, and I imagine that kid-me would have been hopping from foot to foot in anxious eagerness for the second book.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 17 16:56:05 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 09 10:06:48 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Feb 17 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6237533dc14102048c38661051da41c", "book_id": "13929", "review_id": "b9bede03174e6cac17eee4c8579925be", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Tender and lush, this retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses put me in mind of Patricia McKillip's work, which is nearly always a good thing as far as I'm concerned. Marillier deftly weaves characters and worry into her world, pacing it so that the reader can sink into atmosphere while filling up on detail. Keeper.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 19 09:09:59 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 03 18:23:15 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6237533dc14102048c38661051da41c", "book_id": "7896527", "review_id": "926b11758be2eacc29b6c97019e23e88", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Hmmph. I wanted to like this, so much. Girl assassin? Competition to the almost-death? Hidden intrigues? A fantasy land ripe for rebellion? Yes, yes, yes! \n Sadly, after just finished Tamora Pierce's Trickster books (Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen), all I can say is: puh-lease. The writing was clunky, the storyline weighed down with uninspiring glimpses into the other characters' heads, and the central character is a lopsided, uneven heroine who sleeps through things you'd think she'd be trained to detect. I won't be hunting up the sequel to this.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 29 19:38:49 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 09 08:23:26 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Nov 29 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6237533dc14102048c38661051da41c", "book_id": "6421588", "review_id": "723b7bfe4c06f06f8f7e81b2b9466adb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This series started out so well, but has devolved into farce, melodrama, and now resembles a soap opera. Is this really what we think our YA readers want? Really?! Because I think they can handle deeper, darker stuff than this, and would appreciate a series that would acknowledge that. Get over yourself, Bianca!!", "date_added": "Sat Jan 14 08:06:45 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 31 20:55:40 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jan 31 20:55:40 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sat Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6237533dc14102048c38661051da41c", "book_id": "3054684", "review_id": "b22e059b28475b0963dd89a1ba9aed1d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Oh man, this series started out so interesting and is devolving into farce, melodrama, and soap opera. Is this what we expect our YA readers to like? Really? Because I'm pretty sure they can handle deeper stuff than this, and would appreciate books that acknowledge that.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 14 08:05:39 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 31 20:53:16 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6237533dc14102048c38661051da41c", "book_id": "9549656", "review_id": "8851308f327c1b2da799fabf1f45f7f4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Always a fan of new interpretations of folklore and myth, I came to the Emma Andrews series expecting an insubstantial read. But Lepore, by expanding on the classic lines of vampire myth, has laid out something of a treat. I look forward to where she takes her vampire hunter (and friends) from here.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 30 14:37:22 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 30 14:42:52 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6237533dc14102048c38661051da41c", "book_id": "6965828", "review_id": "007aa1aaa6de16313f0454d5fa92cc47", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Ugh. I was so looking forward to a Regency werewolf romance, but this was just piffle. It's fluff without any weight whatsoever. Maybe that's a contradition: who, really, expect historical romance to have much depth? But when Sherry Thomas brings weight to her romances, it makes one expect the same from other authors. \n And werewolf fiction just aches for depth! Gail Carriger brings humor and charm to her werewolves; Patricia Briggs makes hers larger-than-life but still vulnerable. Lydia Dare gave her wolves no such charms. \n This is the first in a series; I'm not going to be reading the rest.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 07 16:18:13 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 25 22:41:27 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6237533dc14102048c38661051da41c", "book_id": "2213661", "review_id": "9bcdfa0d1b52de0cc73f2e57c0748507", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Nobody \"Bod\" Owens is raised in a graveyard by ghosts and an inscrutable Guardian. He's hiding out from the man who killed his parents, but meanwhile is entirely content to live in a world of ghouls, Fading, Haunting, Witches, and Dreamwalking. \n What I love about Neil Gaiman's work is that it is hauntingly familiar, while still pushing the imagination to understand and realize. As in Coraline, he takes well-rubbed themes and turns them inside out. In The Graveyard Book, it's the story of a kid who grows up on the outside--literally. Bod is practically outside life itself, but with ingenuity and fortitude he makes it work for himself. \n In many ways, I see Gaiman as comparable to Tom Stoppard. Both take common knowledge and use that as a foundation for inspired storylines. But where Stoppard turns his lens towards the theater, Gaiman turns it to novels for both young and old.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 25 06:36:05 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 25 06:43:49 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Mon Nov 23 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6237533dc14102048c38661051da41c", "book_id": "77368", "review_id": "890757e69773c04a5da14f8f6171ffab", "rating": 4, "review_text": "McKinley's version of The Sleeping Beauty. I found this retelling to be more compelling than either of her Beauty and the Beast versions; it is more well-formed, with a clearly articulated world and society, a more believable storyline, and a more satisfying conclusion.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 07 06:20:37 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 07 06:21:42 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6237533dc14102048c38661051da41c", "book_id": "8087", "review_id": "9098c46a8b343ec62d02675b695dc14f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "McKinley's retelling of Charles Perrault's \"Donkeyskin,\" a tale that is often left out of compilations of his fairy tales due to its rather horrific subject matter: incestuous rape. Here, though, McKinley takes the story and expands it, wraps it in a dreamlike world with a faint yet pulsing mythology, all the while refusing to gloss over the more horrid bits. Instead, she illuminates evil and gives it its deserved end; but there is no tidying up, no bow-tied ending. This is pungent, beautiful writing that allows themes to develop without being heavy-handed. Lovely.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 07 06:12:50 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 07 06:16:27 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6237533dc14102048c38661051da41c", "book_id": "8089", "review_id": "b16f3810e73eda08a7fc04f2d598ebc2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "McKinley's second retelling of Beauty and the Beast, written almost two decades after Beauty A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I appreciate an author so taken with a tale that she revisits it, years later; but I can't help but feel that Rose Daughter is a watered down version of the story.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 07 06:10:43 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 03 17:58:46 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6237533dc14102048c38661051da41c", "book_id": "8084", "review_id": "780a416cbf1408dc1482ebd3fd85fa31", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I've loved McKinley's prose for a long time, not least because the lushness of her images. Her heroines are charismatic and thoughtful, even in heartache (oh, Deerskin), and she spends time detailing her world from its gardens up. \n I re-read Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast at the start of 2013, and was struck anew by McKinley's facility with imagery. Emotions sparkle like the \"insides of snowflakes,\" and when the Beast cuts his hand, Beauty sees that \"mixed with the pale wine stain spreading across the tablecloth like the battle-ranks of an advancing army, darker drops were welling up from the tender web of flesh between thumb and index finger and running down his wrist.\" \n Ah, to write like that, and to do it time and again, over the same story twice and dipping into darker tales and sterner worlds!", "date_added": "Tue Jul 07 06:09:47 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 03 18:21:06 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2002", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6237533dc14102048c38661051da41c", "book_id": "407813", "review_id": "42ca9d72e1246cc51410943a37d6aef0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Every time I put this down, I want to pick up a pen and scribe my own fantasy world. In inspiration as much as it is a fascinating read, The Blue Sword is a must-have for any fantasy shelf of repute.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 07 06:08:09 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 07 06:09:21 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1998", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6237533dc14102048c38661051da41c", "book_id": "1421990", "review_id": "c5f3623e5564542506925f15305b6511", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Yuk. I came into this book thinking that the premise seemed interesting, there was plenty of room for Frost to develop characters and plot arcs, and that this was going to be a fun read, perfect for a rainy June day. \n But boy, was I wrong! Frost squanders her characters, turning them into stereotypes: the corrupt politician, the crazed mum, the all-knowing British guy (albeit a vampire), the whiny female. What disappointed me most was how annoying Cat, our heroine, is. We're supposed to be rooting for her, and getting behind all of her action sequences. But her dialogue is terrible, the plot pacing is juvenile, and Cat herself is a let-down. I cringed through some of the dialogue sequences between her and Bones, her vampire mentor; I certainly kept waiting for an \"enemy\" vampire to come and finish her off for me. I wouldn't want to be her friend and I don't want to read another book about her.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 06 06:28:06 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 06 06:31:34 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Tue Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6237533dc14102048c38661051da41c", "book_id": "3128411", "review_id": "cdd0001e96476781191f88e56a81e3e2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Not as great as the previous three, but still has much to offer. Mercy is still fighting strong and living independently, and the werewolf pack has taken her in--somewhat begrudgingly. But there was a little something missing, a little bite (ha ha) that simply wasn't there. Still, I'm all ready for the next one!", "date_added": "Sat Jun 06 06:25:31 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 07 06:29:37 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sat Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "887b209a7c69197a1342981c583ac1f6", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "35dea1beea5ce428eae9575cded3fd86", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Hard sci-fi and survival fiction, 2 of my favorite genres in one funny, well-written gem!", "date_added": "Tue Dec 15 19:52:42 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 20 08:55:59 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jan 20 08:55:59 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "887b209a7c69197a1342981c583ac1f6", "book_id": "13496", "review_id": "e811bdf8018f3cf04ef28d1049e27944", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What lesson have I taken from this series so far? Nothing good happens to anyone is Westeros. Ever.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 29 12:07:23 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 23 13:04:06 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sat Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "887b209a7c69197a1342981c583ac1f6", "book_id": "12856474", "review_id": "be1f16edd3973ff7a8c58cb7a6aa664a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I used to have a collection of abridged classics when I was a kid, so I was excited to finally read this one in its entirety. Little did I know that most of what was edited out was page after page of the scientific names for countless sea creatures, right down to their genus and family. I found myself skimming probably 15% of the book to get back to the plot. But it wasn't all bad; in fact, I really enjoyed it. The mystery keeps you reading, and the fact that Verne was writing about an electrically powered submarine almost a century before they actually existed is nothing short of remarkable. All in all, two thumbs up!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 25 21:05:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 18 13:27:11 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "887b209a7c69197a1342981c583ac1f6", "book_id": "5907", "review_id": "2be140916e09899f927a10739aa027de", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Makes me warm and tingly inside.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 03 06:39:35 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri May 17 10:19:46 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jul 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "a9df0742f3ac2bcedc35c369def6e443", "book_id": "8667848", "review_id": "c629fb9f1c8a85e2e2666d94bade0e3a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Excellent story. Can't wait for the second book!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 18:13:02 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 24 18:38:56 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9d10196759e6bedd378367a12f639fc1", "book_id": "26891429", "review_id": "db47818d6bdd85fe708b4777132b95f5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The book is absolutely amazing. There is a part early on in the book that read more like a short novelle, but once you get past that, the book skyrockets! It's a perfect end to this trilogy.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 01 19:13:08 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 09 10:47:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jun 09 10:47:03 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6baf45d03466a5858403d892286ff222", "book_id": "6101718", "review_id": "025bbf6de2cb65b90dc4049f0f4b695c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It was so boring. Just watch the TV show. The plotting doesn't even make sense. There's no build up. The counting of the students is always wrong!", "date_added": "Mon Feb 13 08:01:34 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 13 08:04:31 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Feb 12 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6baf45d03466a5858403d892286ff222", "book_id": "15724396", "review_id": "df48c000d995b5a8157bd200915014ec", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It was incredibly similar to Riordan's previous books--almost identical to the first Percy Jackson book. He almost has a formula for writing books, just with different mythology. If you're looking for something original, this isn't it. The story is still entertaining though, and it has the usual humor. An enjoyable read despite the lack of originality.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 13 23:31:45 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 13 23:35:19 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Dec 14 23:35:19 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6baf45d03466a5858403d892286ff222", "book_id": "23909755", "review_id": "7f84f7013d2fa9d56788981e72f5f847", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm just waiting for a nice article about colonialism and weapon fetishization in this series.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 13 11:34:48 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 23 19:59:18 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6baf45d03466a5858403d892286ff222", "book_id": "16793", "review_id": "4044c588a51ad682df52454225273271", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Much quest. Very fantasy. Comes together interestingly enough at the end but the ending is still meh.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 04 15:53:44 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 04 15:55:15 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Sep 04 15:55:15 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6baf45d03466a5858403d892286ff222", "book_id": "9579634", "review_id": "84a325addc9ed015dcef395d0d50ec8f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Misogynistic. Please burn immediately. \n Half of the book is about raping women, and I'm sure there are claims that raping and plundering are just what happens because it's like medieval or whatever period and they're doing things and stuff and what not, but I think the author gets way too into describing it to the point of creeperdom. \n Also, there's a weird like technology meets medieval fantasy and magic thing at the endish that's really strange. Stop trying to be hip. \n Lawrence also tries to use a non-standard English for the characters thoughts and speech when they're on the road, but it comes off kind of weird to me, and I'm not entirely sure why.", "date_added": "Fri May 20 14:47:34 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri May 20 14:55:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri May 20 14:55:44 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6baf45d03466a5858403d892286ff222", "book_id": "23846013", "review_id": "f0f62481fc62504f6f6e9facde035d18", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n The second book isn't as great as the first. It's more focused on Adelina's revenge plot, and everyone just seems a lot more dramatic and moody. I also think the plot is far more stereotypical in this novel than the first. She's seeking revenge, she's the main character, and exactly what you expect to happen is always going to happen. It just didn't really feel very fresh or original. It seemed to me almost like Lu felt the need to write a second book, so she just took the revenge idea from the end of the first book and threw together a revenge plot, following the revenge tragedy genre as strictly as I guess you can within the YA genre. \n The book itself is reasonably good, but the way Marie Lu talks about Adelina is really annoying. She constantly refers to Adelina as the villain of her novels, which I guess I can see from a perspective; however, from the way that the series is set up, it seems more to me that Adelina is a revenge hero, but Lu just ignores it. \n Spoilers from the first book: \n Adelina is abused as a child, and she spent the entire first book unsure whether her friends would actually support her or not, compounding mental and physical abuse from her friends and family mixed with the abuse from her actual enemies. In the end of the first book, she's cast out of the dagger society and see claims that she'll get revenge on the Inquisition and on the Daggers. \n Spoilers from this book: \n In the end, she saves a bunch of people from two tyrannical and unjust rulers and an overzealous and masochistic leader of the police state. Seems like some pretty good shit to me. In the end, she manages to alienate pretty much everyone, but she gets what her revenge--the revenge just isn't as sweet as she had hoped. Yes, revenge consumes her and she goes a little wild. I won't deny the villainy. But it's frustrating that Lu constantly denies any heroism when talking about Adelina even though she saves all of the malfettos from death and a reign that punished them unfairly. She's overthrowing a broken system. I'd just like to see the author give her a little bit of credit for the good that she does. \n Also, the random twist where having their powers is causing negative affects because their bodies can't handle it kind of seemed like something Lu was just sneaking in to have a reason for a third book, though I haven't read the third book yet. It also just attempts to explain the fact that Adelina is losing her mind, which I think the psychological side of that would be more interesting to explore than just explaining it away as a side effect of her powers. I realize that this was intrinsic to the dispute at the end of the novel that leaves Adelina alone, but I would have liked to have seen a different ending. It was kind of angsty. Obviously, she got carried away with her revenge, and she isn't fully satisfied with her revenge at the end of the novel, but it's still annoying that it's all based on this whole \"our bodies can't handle these powers\" trope. The novels themselves are already strangely reminiscent of x-men, especially with the two opposing \"mutant\" sides.", "date_added": "Fri May 20 14:13:09 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri May 20 14:34:19 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri May 20 14:34:19 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6baf45d03466a5858403d892286ff222", "book_id": "20821111", "review_id": "9b3c718f0076734ba0883c4fd20b2eec", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The sadomasochistic relationship between the two main characters is creepy and obnoxious. It seems a lot like Stockholm Syndrome not to mention just being cliche, generic, and stereotypical to have the heroine fall in love with the leader dude. Lu's claim that Adeline is a villain is also frustrating especially considering how vividly she develops Adeline's torture by her father. Which only serves to make her relationship with Enzo more unnerving. She's constantly hurt by the people who are supposed to love her and I don't think that was fully explored in the first book. I would categorize her as a victim before a villain. Finally, there seem to be some strong connections to x-men that make the plot seem even more unoriginal.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 16 18:46:29 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 09 22:14:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Apr 10 22:14:43 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6baf45d03466a5858403d892286ff222", "book_id": "60400", "review_id": "fe7214d331e7cb7d2dc3c4759c7b4364", "rating": 3, "review_text": "God help the children if we didn't have young adult books to remind them of gender roles. God forbid anyone think that boys can cook. \n Actual story is fairly interesting.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 23 22:16:35 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri May 20 14:54:38 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri May 20 14:54:38 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6bdbb51920600ba8ee32e0fe90b57262", "book_id": "93436", "review_id": "f30e5a756a2537d08c9ba00142ffb4ef", "rating": 4, "review_text": "captivating and intelligent. nicci, think you would like this book............", "date_added": "Mon Nov 10 09:20:27 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 22 09:01:39 -0800 2008", "read_at": "Sat Nov 22 09:01:39 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6e02fd78825b0d03c38ed51b400705f1", "book_id": "10950666", "review_id": "f80e74f5277ddd588a420c22d8db4a57", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It gets 3 stars because the premise of the story was good. True love and all that jazz does it for me but the execution... wow. The writing was immature and had no literary integrity to it at all. I overlooked all the typos and allowed my grammar forward mind to be ignored, but it was a rough ride. I found myself skipping paragraphs because the characters (namely Bryn) were so flat that their thoughts were absolutely predictable and redundant. I wanted more. If one is bored on a Saturday afternoon then have fun with this read. It has an interesting plot to distract oneself with, but if one is in search of a piece of literature that will have some type of effect on them (which is the point of writing) then skip this book over. With all that said, it must not have been that bad, because I did finish it in a couple days.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 20 08:42:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 12 16:48:14 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Mar 12 16:48:14 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Mar 09 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "edb4b879aabde5c27c480e4a01dca765", "book_id": "11298", "review_id": "fc044547bceed3543477d174ad415fca", "rating": 4, "review_text": "An existential mystery novel, salted with ennui? Don't quite know how to describe it. Weird. Engaging. Enough to make me check out more Murakami. \n But not right away. My head hurts.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 01 04:20:40 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 01 04:22:56 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "edb4b879aabde5c27c480e4a01dca765", "book_id": "77289", "review_id": "2115ed781eea12c3fd4f49aa790aabf3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Maybe it's that they are just a bit dated or that they are early works, but these short stories fell a little flat for me. There are some gems, though, that make it worth checking out", "date_added": "Fri Feb 15 18:23:25 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 15 18:24:52 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "edb4b879aabde5c27c480e4a01dca765", "book_id": "4214", "review_id": "706e6fa71d911fe7e0b6931d46422bf0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The ending redeemed what had by the end seemed a tedious book - but WHAT AN ENDING!", "date_added": "Sat Feb 09 06:46:53 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 22 15:06:18 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Mar 22 15:06:18 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Mar 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "edb4b879aabde5c27c480e4a01dca765", "book_id": "22590", "review_id": "e4a599e730b53a20f486c06ec5e39981", "rating": 3, "review_text": "After Ubik gets off to a wobbly start, Philip K Dick moves into territory suggesting a quantum view of time, experience, and reality. But those hints aren't realized and Ubik ends up being a rather mundane old sci fi story, not quite worth the read.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 10 04:19:48 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 10 04:26:46 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "edb4b879aabde5c27c480e4a01dca765", "book_id": "6690798", "review_id": "14101dec868f48cbc77816f0a799e871", "rating": 2, "review_text": "First act was good - characters, plot, movement. After that... Just. Whole. Lot. Of. Going. Nowhere. \n .", "date_added": "Sun Nov 11 08:53:00 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 12 18:39:31 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Nov 12 18:35:30 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sun Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b6eb81c5d09dfe232397ced641e67993", "book_id": "8492319", "review_id": "852e3a955d36a985e58a00d1c9128d21", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This one was my favorite so far, I think! I loved, loved, loved it!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 10 16:55:39 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 13 16:53:02 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Oct 13 16:53:02 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Oct 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b6eb81c5d09dfe232397ced641e67993", "book_id": "5098079", "review_id": "2c0bbe04ff8ef4277b8b40b919339254", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it!", "date_added": "Wed Sep 25 18:42:48 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 02 12:59:11 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Oct 02 12:59:11 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b6eb81c5d09dfe232397ced641e67993", "book_id": "304027", "review_id": "2d73b8a61189536ae6e60b5c8a819a9a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It felt a little long, but I did like V and Jane together.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 17 16:42:20 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 30 18:05:23 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b6eb81c5d09dfe232397ced641e67993", "book_id": "136251", "review_id": "4e34e51a6c492f7779a09b11b49c545a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amazing! The perfect ending to the series.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 15 04:36:43 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 10 07:01:22 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Mon Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b6eb81c5d09dfe232397ced641e67993", "book_id": "1162543", "review_id": "7a4453011f1be6a26b22dc503b3cd959", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT: \n I was REALLY against Bella becoming a vampire throughout this entire series...but this ended up being my favorite of the four books! Having it have to happen to save her life made it much better for me, as did her impressive self-control. I even shed a few tears at the end of this one. I really enjoyed the entire Twilight Saga, and I am glad I read them...but I definitely think the best was saved for last!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 22 12:09:28 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 27 08:24:37 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5f550cc8d90df1759eda1496621187d8", "book_id": "34", "review_id": "b00e952c6868f0842bbaf5eb36b00d9f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The pace is slower than Hobbit and there is much more scenery, but the story somehow manages to hold one's interest. There is an adventure underneath the overgrowth; and perhaps there is some use for this surfeit of nature--like the green of the surrounding garden, a comfortable home (as per Japanese architecture) is not complete if it does not interact with its environment. The power of the Ring is well depicted--my sons would sometimes scream in warning as Frodo fingered the ring, \"Don't put on the ring!!!\" Thank you for the memories, J.R.R.", "date_added": "Wed May 24 22:20:37 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 15 22:28:01 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jul 28 21:14:26 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed May 24 22:20:37 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5f550cc8d90df1759eda1496621187d8", "book_id": "12067", "review_id": "354684ee85c7e63dfc674962d013fb50", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This was written in a seventies pot-boiler style, which is not really my cup of tea. The idea was amusing, but the realization seemed a bit stretched. There were a few laughs, but mostly I remember a wish to get through it. It did keep me from boredom in a hotel room, but when I got back home I had better things to read and it languishes on my unfinished shelf.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 28 01:26:17 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 01 19:32:17 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed May 17 19:03:38 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Apr 28 01:26:18 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5f550cc8d90df1759eda1496621187d8", "book_id": "5907", "review_id": "161f65bc579ae25675ea730607d5d960", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I read this once in high school, and re-read it to my boys this year. It is wonderful--the pacing is good, the adventure unique and the main characters admirable (and loveable). We have now moved on to Fellowship of the Ring.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 02 19:41:29 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 15 22:27:32 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5f550cc8d90df1759eda1496621187d8", "book_id": "136251", "review_id": "e495b2839da61c4e9e4a4b909d3709c0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Great conclusion to a great series! Rowling outdoes the Tolkien in the long forest fugitive scenes, and really packs a punch with the romance!", "date_added": "Sun Oct 16 19:15:53 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 05 23:55:32 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Nov 20 19:35:57 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Oct 16 19:15:54 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5f550cc8d90df1759eda1496621187d8", "book_id": "198487", "review_id": "2bb6b8aee0a4c4eb2bb3c2e2388652c2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Early, semi-autobiographical stories from Angela Carter's years in Japan in the late 60s. One wonders what effect on the author's thoughts of gender relationships her experiences in Japan at that time had. Could her next group of stories, featuring men as sadists, wolves and other beasts have been influenced by relatively open Japanese attitudes towards the more animalistic aspects of sexual relations?", "date_added": "Tue Sep 27 19:21:58 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 23:09:00 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5f550cc8d90df1759eda1496621187d8", "book_id": "49011", "review_id": "9d8ee59e1f6752e959410ae06404c4fa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "After a bit of a slow start with Nine Stories, this volume shows that Angela Carter can write. She wields a broader vocabulary than any writer I can name and can write sentences that flow clear and fast. They sparkle with wit and insight. The subject matter, retold fairy tales with an erotic twist, feels a bit aged, like the darkly lit, wood paneled men's club interiors of chaste Sixties Playboy photoshoots, and there are quite a few wolves, which imagery feels overused. The libido-on-the-loose vibe pervades these stories, but the feminist messaging, if any, went right over my head.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 26 23:34:45 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 28 01:13:10 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Oct 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5f550cc8d90df1759eda1496621187d8", "book_id": "1", "review_id": "350aaf30c659d278a67d11f7f05cd9be", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It only gets better as the suspense builds in this terrific, mysterious tale of possible double-crossing and virtuousness that delivers the best emotional mix of good versus evil on both a meta- and micro- scale since the Allies versus the Axis in the Second World War.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 19 21:01:23 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 23:08:20 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Sep 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5f550cc8d90df1759eda1496621187d8", "book_id": "2", "review_id": "01f9777052a8b82d28a221c8b7808e85", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Rowling really hits it out of the park with the characters and story in this volume. It is not bogged down by scenes involving Voldemort. No, the story's drama is driven by a human character (Professor Umbridge) who is easily recognized and hated as she continually ups the ante in a quiet battle of wills against Gryffindor and the good professors of Hogwarts. After the initial action and excitement, the story drags a bit with Sirius Black's family history, but after the students arrive in Hogwarts, the story never lets up its pace. First rate! Oh--and my boys loved it as well!", "date_added": "Tue Jul 12 21:07:04 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 28 00:55:55 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Sep 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5f550cc8d90df1759eda1496621187d8", "book_id": "20518872", "review_id": "477b995aa08af112a4849a0a2eb8646e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I have not done a lot of dabbling in the Sci-Fi space, and here I am jumping right into Sci-Fi from a different culture and political system from the get go. \n This tale is a lot of fun, with alien history, random murders, physics, global regime changes, nano-technology and the Chinese Cultural Revolution to boot! The evil environmentalists are interfering in pure science which is humanity's only chance to.... SPOILER ALERT. \n Some pretty well drawn characters and some serious writing and the science is all good.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 25 00:57:52 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 30 01:58:09 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Feb 29 00:04:10 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Feb 09 00:56:52 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5f550cc8d90df1759eda1496621187d8", "book_id": "6490566", "review_id": "508db271380175a055d3f69ec3231418", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Weird Russian fantasy pieces like Gogol's short stories shot through with the supernatural--children or whole families run away from wheezing, strained communities, are helped by friendly strangers, threatened by apparitions, victimized by wizards, and blessed by monks. It sounds like undesirable fiction, but the stories are strangely pleasing, perhaps because they each have an air of hope in them that saves them from their inherent bleakness.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 02 21:38:13 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 05 19:24:01 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Apr 05 19:24:01 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5f550cc8d90df1759eda1496621187d8", "book_id": "57913", "review_id": "d1bc0702cc64ca460f2ac6cff710fd1c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "some stimulants might help the reader get through this", "date_added": "Tue Feb 25 00:35:21 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 03 21:56:15 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5f550cc8d90df1759eda1496621187d8", "book_id": "11", "review_id": "ffe59c5679c14700b5eef9a897195ec8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Good book for when you are sick in bed, or on a subway commute. Douglas Adams has a fine, Monty Pythonesque sense of humor. Its over fast, but apparently there is another one if you are interested. Spoiler alert: I would like to share a point where I did not LOL, but did in fact laugh out loud so hard that the subsequent coughing fit cured me of my bronchitis, viz. \n Question: How many roads must a man walk down? \n Indeed.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 04 00:37:17 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 09 00:24:22 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "8458018", "review_id": "251d9e6dd5bb8820d0792687eceda214", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I like this series and the action is generally good. The audiobook narrator is phenomenal! But I think the series is a bit on the long side.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 22 07:10:07 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 02 17:01:09 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "6634066", "review_id": "840cd577dd9e5c506eb16bff4e246387", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This tale of knights and valor is told from the unexpected viewpoint of a young assistant pig keeper. A lot of mistake laden action abounds for the raggle-taggle group of adventurers that the reader follows. And what is their main goal? To find a runaway pig. How they end up saving a kingdom from a terrible tyrant at the same time is what makes this a fun beginning to The Chronicles of Prydain.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 18 08:18:03 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 22 06:52:15 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Sep 22 06:52:15 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Sep 18 08:18:04 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "28451694", "review_id": "88312e3b07a187ea07305db8ace8ebf0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A slow start with a lot of world building is definitely worth soldiering through to get to the meat of this story.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 07 12:53:45 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 17 09:42:07 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Sep 17 09:42:07 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Sep 07 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "32940067", "review_id": "9fcde685084ed67c877a9bf72d852490", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was alright. You had to read through half the book before you got to anything in the description, though. I'm not sure if I'll continue the series or not.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 07 05:52:04 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 17 15:31:52 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Aug 17 15:31:52 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "16248141", "review_id": "430eee3112087c0767c5eedcdae4e01a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great middle grade book for those who love superheroes and wonder what it would be like to be their sidekick.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 21 07:45:21 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 27 10:18:08 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Aug 27 10:18:08 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "19002988", "review_id": "f6d27915c4a595d17f186ef01ab1d29f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Make sure to read Daughter of Smoke and Bone first! It's not *technically* necessary, but it will help tremendously if you don't know anything about the world Laini Taylor created. \n I've read the entire series, this title last. I enjoyed it. It was a fun romp of a side story for cute, terrifying Zuzanah and lovable, doting Mik.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 27 13:45:14 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 29 07:00:23 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jun 29 07:00:23 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jun 27 13:45:15 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "32991569", "review_id": "bb1d2441b1994bf77535a3c592e5e15a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It took me a long while to get into this book. That can happen for me with realistic fiction, so it makes sense as the first big portion of this book reads like a realistic fiction book. It is so not that! The book is very much like a choose your own adventure where you read every single scenario. Some I liked much better than others. The first few seemed a little lengthy and more tedious than the more interesting segments later on. The stories got more and more outlandish as the book went on, and that's probably why I liked it more and more as I read it. I can see realistic fiction fans liking it less and less the further down the rabbit hole you go.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 27 07:52:08 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 08 18:51:50 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "25742254", "review_id": "455a0b640f910e3d298328a03f06b179", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This audiobook was so distracting as I knew the narrator was pronouncing names incorrectly. Aisling sounds like Ashling, not Ayesling. Kahlen does not sound like Collin but Kaylen or Kellen if it is to be like Kaitlin and Ellen mixed together (which isn't divulged by the author until the last few minutes or pages of the book). Every time I heard the narrator say Ayesling, I corrected it in my head. Every time she said Collin, I wondered what the hell she was really supposed to be called. Seriously distracting. \n All this definitely took away from the general feeling I may have had for the book itself. It was an average teen urban fantasy. Not bad, but not so amazing that I would ever read (and definitely not listen to) it again.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 12 19:10:51 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Tue May 16 11:49:31 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Feb 12 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "29505434", "review_id": "70cc68d3fb919e05dfeb7118767d1313", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked the book and would give it 4 stars, this edition gets a 3. The producer seriously needed to make sure the pronunciation of people and places was the same for each narrator. I listened to all three books, but this one had the most narrators so it was a more pronounced problem.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 28 16:18:26 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue May 16 11:50:36 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jan 07 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "25689038", "review_id": "d042be3836b3e03492f86a1bd8027605", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is Dungeons and Dragons from a goblin's point of view. You know those pesky enemies that just randomly pop up on your quest that you must defeat to get to the gold? Well, what if they just happened to be in the dungeon when you were ransacking it and wanted nothing to do with you? This poor goblin's friend Skeleton is stolen along with all of his treasure.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 22 13:46:35 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 22 14:27:36 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Nov 22 14:27:36 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "25005214", "review_id": "9639ec4d3ddb8b848eb6b638c3585163", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked the story a lot, but the ending seemed terribly rushed.", "date_added": "Tue May 31 04:46:51 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue May 16 11:56:50 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "28356624", "review_id": "b8b82c9518093707426e1b0debd6a13b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I've read Fangirl and LOVED it, so I thought I would like it's companion novel. I did like it, but it took a while for me to get into it. Like over 150 pages... I thought about putting it down, but I'm glad that I didn't. After 200 pages, I couldn't put it down! It finally got to the good bits that we got tidbits of in Fangirl. It's good on its own, but I don't think a reader would get as much out of it if they hadn't read Fangirl yet.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 20 19:08:04 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue May 16 11:57:09 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "22328546", "review_id": "2183d7c5ea264000d0e0edaf33bc0312", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A futuristic Graceling with a rebellious twist. Can't wait for the next one.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 01 02:13:14 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue May 16 12:00:54 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon May 30 21:31:37 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "22820624", "review_id": "6ab55845758cd7b0ab3dc433b75ba5ce", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great for adults who enjoy both fiction and nonfiction. The dry humor throughout is fantastic.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 08 12:41:29 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue May 16 12:19:51 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "18001518", "review_id": "dd63f3e1d0281ccc465d88d05e0dc76c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I was so afraid this book would have the same ending as Romeo and Juliet that it took me two months to finish it. I'm already a slow reader, but for a book that I absolutely wanted to finish, two months is a decade. I really like how everything finally came together and ended up happy for our main protagonists.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 27 20:49:15 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue May 16 12:20:32 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Aug 21 11:30:16 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "6529035", "review_id": "b29102052111ffd48ed948d276441411", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Good for toddler or preschool storytimes.", "date_added": "Mon May 11 11:21:21 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon May 11 11:21:48 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon May 11 11:21:48 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "21993132", "review_id": "e88c6513049f912a2e8bc4c1cb3b60d4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "So many exciting combinations of animals are in this book! The illustrations are fantastic. The words could use some help, however. \n Good for preschool storytimes.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 08 06:55:08 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 08 06:56:19 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Apr 08 06:56:19 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "18584855", "review_id": "cf7febed45d7d2e0e0c407577d26f556", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n This is an imaginative explanation for why the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland is the way that she is. I really liked the first 3/4 of the book. I just like happy endings, so it was a bit disappointing. Plus, Jest's death scene didn't seem to have enough impact as I would have wished. It seemed much more like a side note to what was going on at the time. It could be because I liked his character so much, but I think he deserved more.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 20 14:48:15 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 08 11:40:34 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "13206900", "review_id": "5d4db28477684fbcdcafccfb0413face", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Great ending to the series. I like how all the storylines ended and that no one left without a scrape. Saying much more would include spoilers! So I'll leave it at that.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 20 14:47:10 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 08 11:40:38 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "22489107", "review_id": "38582c99d381426a7f2ff26e94bdb77a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This explains so much.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 20 14:45:47 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 08 11:40:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "20172134", "review_id": "09ea0736d5ce1d0805146594cde7a20e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Great first book! I'm sure the rest in the series will be good as well. Exploring the Netherworld with Charlie and his friends was a great adventure. Anyone who ever wondered what life might be like for nightmare creatures will enjoy this book.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 12 10:00:49 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 08 11:42:16 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 18 22:52:46 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "2689941", "review_id": "c802cf71c00796b766b1337e18e0a0e4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fantastic read! I can't wait to start the next!", "date_added": "Mon Dec 15 08:29:03 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 08 11:43:56 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Dec 23 13:50:52 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "13206760", "review_id": "41e5cfefe7905eecd9cc593008997fc8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This one took me a while to get into. I really disliked Scarlet at first. The chapters about Kai and Cinder kept me going until I warmed up to Scar and Wolf. From then on, I plowed through the rest of it in just a few days. (That's saying something for a slow reader.) \n I can't wait to read the next one!", "date_added": "Mon Nov 10 11:54:18 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 08 11:44:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "196923", "review_id": "f1bea83b90ca2bbdbf1823fa6debeb48", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Super cute! A very inquisitive little owl asks questions about everything. How many stars are in the sky? How many waves are on the ocean? Every time, his mother sends him out to find the answer himself. He finds that every number is too high for him to count. It all connects in the end when Owly asks his mother how many hugs she had left to give him--more than the number of waves in the ocean or stars in the sky. \n Good for toddler or preschool storytimes.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 05 14:18:44 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 05 14:21:30 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Nov 05 14:21:30 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "20708773", "review_id": "69c988d04f086cba984ed186006e2372", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is amazing! Modern day kids get thrown into a King Arthur type quest to bring color back to his kingdom. The colors and storytelling with absolutely no words are astounding. \n This book would be better one-on-one than in a storytime, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it!", "date_added": "Tue Nov 04 13:39:56 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 04 13:41:54 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Nov 04 13:41:54 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "4588949", "review_id": "30a5a998745a6d97a4a791392a2b0936", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The adventure continues! A good installment in the series. I'll continue on with the next to see what happens to the Flamels and the infamous twins of legend.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 28 11:19:47 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 08 11:49:50 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "17378527", "review_id": "d5cc4ede26ba2e3bae98dede011d51f1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Couldn't put it down. Great ending to a series that I didn't want to end! (Mostly because I love the characters and was afraid of the ending.)", "date_added": "Mon Jul 21 13:40:04 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 08 11:50:24 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "18405554", "review_id": "783403ee76142235170d77e6e497c4ee", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Cute story about a bored boy who has an adventure with spinglefranks while waiting on his mother to deliver flowers in the nicest hotel in town. \n Good for preschool storytimes.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 09 06:55:24 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 09 06:58:44 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jul 09 06:58:44 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "22529349", "review_id": "ac49355f91a997accb9a8331b9d0439b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great ending to an excellent series", "date_added": "Sat Apr 12 10:51:35 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 08 11:53:03 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon May 23 14:41:10 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed May 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "12926132", "review_id": "88d62b86da424159e1ec429925a5d023", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great sequel!", "date_added": "Sat Apr 12 10:50:41 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 08 11:53:09 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "17378508", "review_id": "1ce9b0f754ae0b9882b4e7b43f653acf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love this series more with each installation. The mix of dreams and paranormal activity is really mesmerizing and seriously up my alley. I would definitely recommend it to any teen (or adult who likes to read teen novels) who likes the supernatural. \n Whereas all of the books are about all four of the group, each one seems to focus a little more on one character than the others. This one seems more about Blue, (Dream Thieves=Ronan, Raven Boys=Adam in my opinion) which means the last one would focus more on Gansey and his king. I can't wait to read (and dread to finish) the last book when it gets published!", "date_added": "Fri Apr 11 09:18:50 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 08 11:53:14 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Sep 17 07:19:14 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "16085500", "review_id": "e28389a0abd59fb01cc565ff9ee58609", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I like the concept of this book, but there's something lacking in the storytelling of it. There's a little fiend who isn't very fiendish and a little angel who isn't very angelic. They have problems with others accepting them for who they are. So they switch clothes to look like something much worse than they were (in the eyes of their peers). This is what I dislike about the story. Why do the characters have to pretend to be something worse than they are to be accepted?", "date_added": "Tue Mar 11 15:17:32 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 11 15:22:52 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Mar 11 15:22:52 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "12813630", "review_id": "f86d78f161d28ceb51b118697e1da023", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I like how this book started and how it ended. I'm not sure I liked the in between. The very beginning was detailed and definitely set the scene for a horror story. The middle was more like a regular young adult book but with some gore mixed in every once in a while. I enjoyed the story between Tana and Gavriel. Aside from that, there was a reason that it took me over a year to finish this book. It never really caught my interest enough. But for those who enjoy the gore of horror novels and the popishness of YA books, this would be a good choice.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 08 10:58:40 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 08 11:56:15 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "17347389", "review_id": "d806d2b55ef193d861cd99746b1e1646", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Absolutely fantastic! I love this series! Yes, I was able to get a copy before it came out, but now I have more time to wait for the next installation. She's really having the second and third books come out together, right? No? One can hope.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 26 05:25:27 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 08 11:56:20 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "1582996", "review_id": "da04a31cc0e4a624bac61bb71b7e1ace", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great sequel. Naturally continues the story very well while developing the characters more fully. I've already started reading the third book. Sometimes it pays to wait until the whole series is complete before beginning to read it.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 30 11:50:57 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 08 11:56:49 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "17402605", "review_id": "deda74c7004bc625590d2422b4bda38a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great! I'll have to read the rest of the series.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 21 04:58:18 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 08 11:57:02 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "284440", "review_id": "61b28e424ec83668cdc7094059b94e74", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4 stars for the book, 5 stars for the audio performance by Rupert Degas! He was absolutely wonderful! It may just be my love of accents, but I now have to read all the rest in this series as read by him. I've already got the second one downloaded and ready for a listen.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 07 06:25:51 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 16 05:55:14 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "be3827782d899f5d81dd42c4a546a053", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I like it. I like it a lot. I have plenty of ideas on how this series will play out and have to keep reading to see where Clare will take her characters! I would definitely recommend this to any teen who likes paranormal novels of any sort.", "date_added": "Sat May 04 12:58:46 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 08 11:57:52 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "6137154", "review_id": "f4c2a7b490858b90669effe88daa547f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Definitely a companion to Graceling and not a sequel. A good story about the wonders the other parts of the world carry. It was pretty easy to guess what was going to happen in the end from early on. That doesn't mean it was a bad telling of a story.", "date_added": "Fri May 03 19:17:05 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 08 11:58:12 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "15812147", "review_id": "9952971a02ef639770222431b7947266", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Great for a storytime about people/animals that are different. Crispin doesn't breathe fire like most dragons do. Instead, he breathes things that others need or want. Instead of fighting a knight, he breathes out fluffy teddy bears! It's about love, not war.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 21 08:14:48 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 21 08:16:54 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Mar 21 08:16:54 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "10626594", "review_id": "bfe7753b3105ceb53fd8c63da3d66c83", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm so used to reading urban fantasy trilogies, that I wanted this book to keep going! It's really good. And you know that really good books always seem too short. It's set on an island, probably off the coast of Ireland or the UK. The water horses that live on and swim around this island are predators. What do people do with such crazily dangerous beasts? Race them, of course! Will they win or will they get eaten? And why do they race in the first place? \n I enjoyed it immensely.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 17 13:13:59 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed May 07 13:38:16 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Apr 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "3e0f18f959ee2a25f82afc04c56e9111", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really like this twist on the classic Cinderella tale.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 17 11:48:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 20 08:16:14 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Oct 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "378", "review_id": "0157a09c88e4c10f9054e18ecbb0094f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Fun adventure in learning for those around 3rd grade.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 27 17:46:08 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 31 07:33:54 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "8621462", "review_id": "078286896f8822fec86af87c348dc999", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Excellent. Who knew yew trees could heal so much?", "date_added": "Fri Sep 30 15:58:04 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 03 20:02:50 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sun Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Fri Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "2702948", "review_id": "a9792fff6690a9d9658fe1bc26d870e5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Find out secrets about Sarah and Jareth!", "date_added": "Wed Aug 11 18:43:31 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 12 23:12:55 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "6457229", "review_id": "082048db61d61fc2145714d42706f1a3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "If it didn't have so much gore in it, I would read the rest of the series...", "date_added": "Fri Jun 18 20:22:26 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 01 06:18:25 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Fri Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "100623", "review_id": "49b81d8a3158b879933f352b55daabe5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I love this world and the new characters. I don't know that I'll be able to keep feeling optimistic for them considering I know the outcome of their efforts in the end.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 19 20:06:44 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 21 19:30:16 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Mar 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Mar 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "6068551", "review_id": "34fc89f25de01a9fb4e2769bb24da770", "rating": 4, "review_text": "If you want a book like Twilight that's a lot more low key, try this one. Werewolves can be just as fun as vampires!", "date_added": "Mon Jan 11 11:34:40 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 17 06:35:20 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sun Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Thu Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1e368a7d2870eb6fbf6e0d350568a2d", "book_id": "16793", "review_id": "d7d49b626632a72ed6e4103527f39501", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Neil Gaiman read the audiobook to me. Swoon! The interview at the end told me that this was originally an illustrated book. I'm going to have to find a copy now!", "date_added": "Tue Jan 05 19:05:07 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 27 18:19:00 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a4f283aafe153b1997dc6a9fcd2e8e58", "book_id": "4214", "review_id": "cfd167353672f8f57c28f8dcb619e699", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Loved it until the last few chapters. Now I'm not sure...", "date_added": "Fri Jun 10 19:10:58 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 11 06:28:27 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jun 11 06:28:27 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a4f283aafe153b1997dc6a9fcd2e8e58", "book_id": "6404538", "review_id": "3b0220d786cfec213414fc6bf8c8cedf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This started out really great, but I was very disappointed with the ending.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 17 19:04:52 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 19 12:57:04 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Mon Sep 19 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a4f283aafe153b1997dc6a9fcd2e8e58", "book_id": "77523", "review_id": "4ffaa31c33d7d1b55145d9ef8c481478", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm ashamed to admit it, but yes I'm checking it out...", "date_added": "Tue Jul 21 20:19:07 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 25 17:46:12 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sat Jul 25 17:46:12 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "17455811", "review_id": "3a28ccca8faae077a816b8ba43582094", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Great introduction of this world \n I've been a JLA fan for several years, but somehow never got around to reading this series. After this prequel I'm ready to dive in. I really loved Jas as a character and found her very relatable.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 16 21:00:40 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 16 21:05:01 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Aug 16 21:00:40 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "13450339", "review_id": "61000a3f2270ea5aae22edd53985ee2b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I was browsing at the library the other week and I found Poison Princess new in their teen section. I'd seen the cover around and it was mildly on my radar so I figured I'd give it a try. \n Then I got reading other things and it sat beside my bed, untouched for 2 weeks. \n My only regret about reading this book is that I didn't read it sooner. I'm freaking out over how good it seriously is. I read on average 5 books a week and after a while they all start to blur together. YA, boiled down, is Girl meets boy. Girl and boy shouldn't be together but they want to be. Girl and boy overcome it. \n This is not that book. \n Wow. \n There was so much growth between the characters. The world and magic system is so richly developed it nearly pops off the page. Every character has a history, each little clue weaves together to draw a map to what you can expect at the end. \n The only thing I slightly didn't like was how the prologue and the other few scenes with that pair of characters together felt a bit off. I think it could have been told straight through without Aurthur's POV. But I did understand how that gave a new layer to the storytelling and it wasn't a major gripe. I did like how it shows how far Evie's acceptance of her abilities has come. \n I cannot wait for book 2, Endless Knight.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 15 18:24:06 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 30 17:17:07 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "18102827", "review_id": "41647989092d0354e934122aaf744a1e", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I hate giving one stars. I think I've only ever given one other. But I hate feeling unfulfilled and cheated at the end of a book, too. \n Here are the reasons I'm giving this a one: \n --There is no resolution at the end. I'm ok with cliffhangers, but I'm not okay with a cliffhanger in place of any real resolution whatsoever. \n --It is categorized as a romance, which gave me certain expectations, but those expectations weren't met (What I expect out of a romance is that there should at least be a couple that is a fair amount of the focus for most of the book. I also prefer a HEA or a HFN, though in *some* cases I can overlook it.) \n --There were a few rough editing areas. If it was this alone that bugged the crap out of me, I wouldn't have rated it so low, but with the other factors considered, I'm afraid it is a one. \n --Lily's \"Poor me, everyone hates me, I guess I'll go cry as a wolf so you'll scratch my ears\" drove me freaking batty. \n Here are the reasons that I would have given it a three, IF the issues above weren't present (In other words, if you don't care that this is portrayed as a romance, and aren't looking for a romance, and cliffhangers that don't resolve anything at all don't bother you, you will like this better than I did.) \n --There was so much potential with this. The worldbuilding was not very smoothly or seamlessly done, but there was a lot of it. The author truly created a fascinating world, with so much history and culture, and while it could have been done better, I enjoyed it. \n --There are several fascinating characters, and I enjoyed the close friendship between the four. I wish we got to know Pearl and Jack better, but I liked Ezra a lot. \n That's about all I can say without spoiling it. If you don't care about spoilers, or have already read it or decided you aren't going to, see more below. \n ***Major, ranty, annoyed spoilers below, including spoiling the end.*** \n I'm really, seriously ticked off. There is NO resolution. I don't mind cliffhangers, but I do mind when a book isn't cohesive, and doesn't leave me with some satisfaction. \n This is something that could have been great. There is so much to the world and the details about the world and their customs. I mean honestly, the potential here is just immense. There were some choppy and rough parts that I think needed to be reworked to be a bit better, but overall, the writing was fine. \n In the end though, we know nothing. The only thing we had any resolution on was if she could do an awakening, and I never had any doubt over that. \n But the Kings still don't know she's a hybrid, we still don't know what Ezra's idea about home bases was, they are now on the run-- and how did the com revolt against them get this big this fast without anyone realizing it? WTF? And what was up with that letter from her mom and her uncle? That's just random at the end, and felt ridiculous, and stupid. It made zero sense. And Ventclaire still doesn't know he's her dad. Or is he, even? Lily assumes so, but maybe he has a hot brother that Lily's mom boinked too, we really don't know. \n She's supposed to rule people, but we almost only ever see her interact with the other Prodigies. \n And the Romance? Seriously? Dominic dies, every other Prodigy's mate dies. Her and Ezra seem like they could maybe have something, but it isn't really explored. Ugh! It is in the romance/fantasy category on Amazon, but this is definitely NOT a romance. There is no HEA or HFN or even a defined couple.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 14 04:36:22 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 30 08:15:48 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Aug 14 04:50:16 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "9413044", "review_id": "d91c7e682ef4143fa606f8d3bd6658c8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Everneath was good, but I think it could have been better. In fairness, it may be that it only pales because I just read the amazing Crown of Midnight and that set the bar pretty high. \n What I liked: \n I've been seeing this book around for quite a while now so I was thrilled to find it at the library. It's quick and to the point which was nice, though I think it could have been a little longer. It's told through alternating time points: now and 6 months in the past. I really liked the way the two story arcs wove together, helping me to understand the choices and mistakes in the past that lead Nikki to her current predicament. It made her a sympathetic character. I liked her personality a lot, she never struck me as stupid or selfish or whiny. \n What I didn't like: \n I'm not sure if it was so much that I didn't like it, but I didn't really feel the romance and love between Nikki and Jack. He was sweet and a good guy, but this didn't feel like a go through hell and back to be together kind of love. \n My recommendation: \n Everneath is good and definitely worth the read and although it isn't one of my favorites, I'm glad I read it and will be reading the next one. Read it and see what you think=)", "date_added": "Sat Jul 27 12:52:27 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 30 10:36:32 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 30 10:36:32 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "17167166", "review_id": "f3942f864b0d3a63d3054db7e70718ed", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Crown of Midnight is a fantastic five star follow up to Throne of glass. (Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.) \n What I liked: \n I found a lot of things to like about Crown of Midnight. I think I highlighted nearly half the book, noting down things I loved or writing that struck me as awesome. \n One of the first themes I really enjoyed was seeing how Celaena had to withstand the burden of hiding the fact that she isn't actually killing her targets and she had to bear the burden of her friends looking disgusted with her, thinking she was killing them. She accepted their judgement and criticism, to protect them while risking her neck to protect the innocent. \n I also love the developments between her and Chaol. In Throne of Glass there was a strong hint of romance to come, but in Crown of Midnight we truly get to see how much they have come to mean to each other. He's her safety. Her person. And he is learning to trust her. My favorite part was about 45% in, when we see just how much she has changed him and his priorities. I think I'd want Chaol for myself if his girlfriend wasn't a deadly assassin who is as lethal is she is beautiful. \n The plot was definitely good. It moved quickly and the foreshadowing especially was expertly done. There were several times where I had an idea of what was coming, but I could never be sure. Crown of Midnight overall didn't follow a predictable or boring pattern, I was enthralled, frantically reading to see what would happen next. \n Crown of Midnight is the type of book I will reread over and over again, because every moment spent reading it was a pleasure. \n What I didn't like: \n There really wasn't anything about the book I didn't like, honestly. I loved it that much. The only thing I have to complain about is the fact that now I have to wait for book 3. There were some major revelations, especially toward the end, and I'm definitely left wanting more. \n My recommendation: \n If you haven't read Throne of Glass yet, drop everything and read it, now. That way you can move on to Crown of Midnight because it is one of the new pillars of YA Fantasy, truly a must read. I \n This review also appears at http://kellywalker.net/crown-of-midni...", "date_added": "Sun Jul 21 13:39:55 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 29 17:21:40 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "7896527", "review_id": "ba36a86393cd59bfc183dd6cbf0d76c6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I've been seeing this book everywhere (especially as twitter icons) and so when I found it at the library, I decided to check it out and I'm so glad that I did. This book is a lot more suspense/adventure driven than romance driven, and is a nice break from the typical YA Fantasy/Romance. There's a little bit of magic, and a little bit of romantic intrigue that I think may play a larger factor in the next book, but they definitely take a back seat to Cel's struggle to win the contest to be the king's champion. \n I think one of the things I loved most about Throne of Glass was how the main plot was set up. Celaena has two bad choices--win the contest to get a position she really and truly doesn't want, or be sent back to a death camp. She's fighting for her freedom, but for the short term, freedom is just another type of prison. \n Throne of glass has a relatively large cast of characters and I enjoyed most of them. The young prince, Dorian, is not what he seems at first, and he has a conscience. It remains to be seen if he'll develop the spine to go along with it, but I liked his character a lot, though I would like to have known more about him. \n Chaol, the head guard, is brooding and doesn't trust Cel, but I loved him the longer I read. He's worried for both Dorian and Celaena, and he has the guts to act on what he thinks is right. \n There is also a foreign princess, Nehemia, and I enjoyed the intrigue and secrets surrounding her. \n One thing that did confuse me at times was the time period. I really couldn't get a firm idea of what the level of technology would equate to. They seem to wear old fashioned dresses, all though when it is prudent Celaena dons pants and shirts, they use candles for light and travel by horseback but they play games of pool and chess and cards, and have large libraries with trashy romance novels. There were other more modern touches as well, which seemed a bit out of place.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 21 13:38:41 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 21 13:38:53 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jul 21 13:38:53 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "3944722", "review_id": "0dbf728c8a391f121ad2ac609b8dfd31", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The Treasure keeper was good, but yet I found myself bored and tempted to skim more than in past volumes in this series. I liked Rhys a lot, and I liked Zoe. I understood her desire not to be given as breeding stock to the alpha, and I truly wanted Rhys to be safe. \n But something about this one just missed a bit of the magic of the first three. \n I did really like how Rhys and Zoe had such a strong mental connection, and their banter was always quite entertaining. \n I'm irritated that two books later, we still don't know what happened to Rue.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 17 05:37:51 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 17 05:40:28 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "6787083", "review_id": "5a7f0428b6dd7d8cc4e5e3579dde9ec0", "rating": 2, "review_text": "While Shana Abe's writing is just as melodious and entrancing in this volume as in the rest of her series, the story itself is far less captivating. \n Because of the ending of book 4, I found myself having a hard time connecting to Honor or caring about her. \n I was happy with the return of Lia and Zane, but very much dislike that we didn't get to know anything else about Rue and Kit.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 17 05:35:42 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 17 05:36:48 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 17 05:36:48 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "1375607", "review_id": "57328745ddc4f7c09130226efd80947e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Queen of Dragons is just as well written as Shana's other books, but I found it less captivating. Even though I liked Kimber (I seem to like all the Langfords)I really didn't find myself drawn to Maricara. She's cunning and fiesty, but something about her leaves me feeling ambivalent toward her.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 17 05:33:15 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 17 05:34:49 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "1405310", "review_id": "e0b6f7a562440509a555b5281f9d72cb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I liked The Dream Thief almost as much as The Smoke Thief. Lia is a fun main character to follow, and I really like Zane. I loved his nickname for her Lia-heart. As determined as Kit was to have Rue, Zane was to not have Lia, and yet their attraction was undeniable. \n I think one of my only complaints is that we saw Rue run to the house, and then nothing. I would like to have known more about what that was. \n Also, several of Lia's dreams are intriguing, and yet we don't know if that is going to be the future, or how, or anything. \n This book left a lot of questions.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 17 05:27:20 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 17 05:32:31 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "28429", "review_id": "7bbe3922c64d2419c428726645c94a6f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "As always Shana Abe's writing is positively magnificent. \n I've recently read The Sweetest Dark and The Darkest Night and so I decided to seek out the first series, and I'm so glad I did. \n Readers who like Lora are sure to like Rue as well. She's strong willed, stubborn and very protective of those she considers hers. \n I read this in one sitting because I simply could not put it down.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 27 18:11:57 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 27 18:13:48 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "17836528", "review_id": "144c24378deaa21401eb8eca52dbb9b7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I received a copy of The Wrong Girl as an arc through Netgalley. \n To start with, I have to say this book has one of my new favorite opening lines. \n To say I'd been kept prisoner my entire life in an attic wasn't quite true. It was only fifteen years out of eighteen, and I was allowed to walk in the gardens for a half-hour some days. \n Hannah's story picks up quite quickly--as soon as we have a taste of what her normal life is, and calling it normal is quite a stretch and she's immediately painted as a sympathetic character--she's yanked away. Literally. \n Although she's been kidnapped, her circumstances have actually improved and that creates a lot of tension between who she wants to be loyal to, and what resolution she wants. Someone, and quite possibly a lot of people, are being less than honest with her and the majority of the book is centered around her finding out the truth about who she is, and why her circumstances are what they are, all while trying to keep her very big secret. \n The more I read the more curious I became and I found myself flying through pages, searching for answers. A few times I found myself accidentally skimming not because it was boring, but because I just had to know what was going on. \n The twists were surprising and well-crafted. I didn't see several of them coming. \n Hannah is a very likeable heroine. She's sassy, smart, determined and loyal. There is a light undercurrent of potential romance that I expect might get picked up in other books, but there isn't much of one in this one. \n If you like paranormal, historical and suspenseful reads, you'll probably like this one.", "date_added": "Thu May 23 17:09:37 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu May 23 17:24:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue May 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "17788364", "review_id": "0a79729800145e540ef921763582cae8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved so many things about Passion Potion. \n First of all, it was different. The voice was unique, the tone was out of the ordinary. It really doesn't fit with anything else I've read. The best I can place it is sort of like the earliest books in the Vampire Diaries, where it didn't take itself to seriously, it was told very straightforward and the story really depended on the characters to carry it. There is very little description, but the details that are added are of the world building and parameter building variety, rather than telling you the curtains are blue and the kitchen is painted green. In other words, every word matters. \n The pacing is great, the characters were likeable, and the plot made sense. It is set up to have sequel appeal, but it doesn't end on an irritating cliffhanger, which I really appreciated. At times it was downright funny. Even though some of the plot points sound darker ( dead mom, some guy trying to harm the main character ) it never felt dark. It was so lighthearted, I found myself laughing several times ( but not in that annoying yeah right kind of way. ) \n Yes, it was cutesy. Yes, it was insta- love. Yes it was YA mixed with a bit of sexy NA adult mixed with fantasy. And yes it was highly entertaining.", "date_added": "Thu May 02 12:21:57 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat May 04 13:17:21 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat May 04 13:17:21 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "15985348", "review_id": "452ca1271a76051b416f95c173bf40f2", "rating": 1, "review_text": "If you are like me, you might not be sure you want to read/purchase this book given the entire slew of awful reviews. It really is hard to sort through the anger and the bitterness and venom circulating, to find reliable opinions about whether this book is any good or not. \n My mother in law purchased it for her Nook, so after she went to bed I borrowed the nook and sat down to read. It took about four hours. \n The most awful line of the book: He looked more prosperous than when he was broke. - Really? You don't say! \n The best line of the book: \"Sookie. You are mine.\" \n I didn't like the non-Sookie Pov sections, and honestly I don't think they added to the story. If anything I think they only served as filler to lengthen the book. Which is truly sad, because in all actuality most of the book felt like filler. I was never able to settle into a cohesive plot because it seemed like each page was a new episode of \"who will show up for a brief reconciliation from their past wrongs today.\" It felt like each character that has been important in the past that was still alive or undead showed up with an apology for how they'd wronged her in the past, only to help her for a scene, then be called away. The ones who couldn't come make a half-hearted apology followed by an excuse of why she isn't first to them, participated in the juvenile plot against her. \n Eric isn't as much as shadow of himself as some of the reviews would lead you to be. We still get a \"Sookie, you are mine.\" He does absolutely everything in his power to protect Sookie, even at the expense of himself. This, to me, was the best part of the book. I've known for so long that he does truly love her, and I think many of his actions showed it. While I don't agree with all of his actions, and some things were disappointing, I think their resolutions could have been carried out better. \n After his trouble in the previous book, Sam truly is a shadow of himself in this volume. I saw nothing of the close friendship between them of the past, and he left me boggled a lot of the time. He did put Sookie first, and I suppose that should count for something, but his choice didn't seem reasonable or in character. \n As far as Sookie and Eric not ending up together: it breaks my heart, but I think it could have been done in a way that I would have been able to accept. The reasons given (that he was determined to turn her, and she didn't want that) are valid and do make sense. But to be effective, it needed to be set up better. IF they weren't going to have a HEA together ( and I really wish they would have ) then I think they should have ended it a few books ago. They could have broken up, and then in book twelve they could have found a way to be friends, much like her and bill. They could have found a happily not together, but not out of each other's lives. Would I have been sad? Yes. But I would have understood. Then, the romance between her and Sam could have been a big undercurrent of book 12. We could have seen chemistry growing strongly, and even possible have been routing for them to wake up and realize it. Then she could have saved him in the end, we would cross our fingers that it would make a turning point, and this book could have clinched it ( as long as he was more present in it. ) \n I entirely respect that Charlaine Harris had her own vision of how it should end. She is the author, after all. What I don't respect is the way it was carried out. She could have had this end, while still offering fans a sense of gratification for sticking with the series for 13 books. \n In conclusion, if you are still on the fence about whether to read this or not, I would say it honestly doesn't matter. I don't think it offers any satisfying conclusion for anything. Even Sam and Sookie aren't a done deal. If you are looking for closure, maybe the coda will offer it. If you want to read it just so you will have read everything, then go for it.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 29 12:55:22 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 21 13:42:18 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 08 05:18:47 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "17158599", "review_id": "e55989297dc4e8e7b7c2d0871ec7b2cd", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I can say with 100% certainty, the cover made me choose this book. It is stunningly gorgeous, really fits the story, and I utterly adore it. \n Aside from the cover, my thoughts on this book are really mixed. Bear with me as I try and sort out my mess of feelings on this story. \n Let's start at the beginning. This is a sequel, but have no fear if you haven't read the first one. The author gives you a long, dry, drawn out narrative of the character reminding you (or informing you) about everything that happened in the last book. This went on for over 10 pages, straight. (no, not weaved in, or seamless) I hadn't read the first book, but if I had I might have stopped right there out of boredom. \n I get it, I do. It is great when a reader can come into a series that is already in progress. I honestly admire that. But the infodropping needs to be more like infosprinkles and less like infolandmines. \n I stuck with it, and eventually we got to the actual story of the current book, and it improved. Sort of. The plot did, anyway. The writing and the tone was still sadly a bit dry. I constantly found myself rolling my eyes. The dialogue was the worst. Very, very unrealistic. It was like \"Oh Caleb, I'm so mad at you so could you go stand over there where I don't have to look at you while I sit here and pout? Thanks, I really appreciate that you are willing to give me space even while you sulk.\" - No, that isn't an actual line from the story, it is me exaggerating a bit. But it was how I felt like they were talking. The dialogue was very introspective and indulgent and not at all realistic. \n Why am I going on and on about this? Because underneath the storytelling style that bugged the heck out of me, was a good story. I actually really did like the plot, and I continued to read when while resisting the urge to give up, because I honestly wanted to know what happened. I'm rating this book low because it honestly was not for me. But if this writing style doesn't bother you and you are a plot driven reader, you could very well really like this book. \n I'm a character driven reader, and I really didn't bond with any of the characters. I didn't even particularly like any of them. I thought Julia was a selfish spoiled brat. I thought her father was a moron, and I thought both of the boys deserved better. \n The best advice I can give is wait until this is available as an ebook, download the sample, and try it for yourself. If you aren't bothered by the style, consider buying it because underneath an unrefined storytelling style, is a gem of a story with important themes like \"nothing is set in stone, make your own future, and karma is a bitch.\" \n One other thing - If you are reading this for the romance bit - I wouldn't. It really isn't a romance, even though there is a 'love triangle.'", "date_added": "Thu Apr 25 04:54:10 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 29 12:21:15 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "16156293", "review_id": "2296231c7d1cf0bb80100b453b83d657", "rating": 5, "review_text": "When I saw The Deepest Night on NetGalley, I would like to say I was calm. Collected. Professional. \n But I'd be lying. \n I squealed, requested it, and then obsessively checked my emails for an approval notice like a rabid dog frothing at the mouth, slobbering and waiting for something to attack. So when the approval showed up I dropped everything, and read. \n And now I'm sad, and wish I hadn't read it quite as fast... because the experience is over, and I have to wait for the next book. Just like Jesse stays with Lora, The Darkest Night will stay with me, but it isn't quite the same. \n Shana's words are so magical, and musical they are really a divine delight to read. I find that when I'm reading her stories, the plot really takes a backburner to the pleasure of simply immersing myself in her prose. And her characters are so captivating, so vivid, I can't help forget this is fiction, not reality. \n The characters we adored in The Sweetest Dark are back - Lora, Sophie, Armand (Though he is definitely changing, not nearly as much of a jerk as he seemed at first in the first book) and in his own star-like way, Jesse. I was thrilled that he wouldn't totally be gone, because I really like him. What surprised me is how much Armand is growing on me. I am usually very against love triangles, but in this case I really do love both Armand and Jesse, and I don't blame Lora a bit for being a bit torn between the two. Heck, I'm torn between the two. \n The main characters are all so noble, and so selfless. If we didn't have Chloe to be a selfish brat, I'd think the entire cast a little too perfect. Fortunately, Chloe hasn't changed in the least, so not to worry. \n The plot here only had one major surprise, and I cannot tell you what it is of course, but I think it will startle you as much as it startled me and Lora. This book is more about the character's journey after the aftermath. Armand is dealing with the fallout from his father's episode. Lora is sucked into the fallout from his Reginald's episode. It is about to be the summer break, and Lora isn't sure where she will go since she can't remain at Iverson (and isn't even sure if she can come back.) Jesse is no longer living, which tortures all the characters in their own way. One of the most poignant parts is when Mandy tells Lora he'd give her anything she wanted, but the only thing she wants is the one thing he can't give her. \n I will definitely re-read this book just for the pleasure of going through the feelings of the characters again, and for the delight of sinking into Shana's world. The Darkest Night might be a bit sweeter than The Sweetest Dark, and it definitely left me wanting more.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 16 08:42:55 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 14 05:30:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "13257637", "review_id": "4ce102c8209060fd65c7bde983537153", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The Sweetest Dark is a deeply emotional, unexpected treasure. \n I connected to Lora almost instantly. Not the things she saw, but just her raw, jagged edges. She is a tortured soul and I think most of us have felt that way at some point or other. Early in I desperately wanted to see her rise above her circumstances, put her twisty past behind her, and become more than another tragedy, another forgotten girl. \n For so long she heard the voice inside her, but was told she was crazy until she believed them. And then, when finally someone told her that she wasn't, it was like he offered her salvation. I cried for her loved how it turns out that she isn't the bottom of the lowest of the low. Instead, she is one rare, precious being. \n This book is almost entirely devoid of action, and almost even devoid of a plot. But yet I loved it. It felt like a reflective journey that was completely character driven. There were no real tension filled events dragging me through the story, but yet I couldn't put it down. The character is riveting and raw. \n This story is dark. If you aren't in the mood for that, this isn't the right tale. Beneath Shana Abe's beautiful language and amazing imagery, lies a bittersweet tragedy. \n I was so impressed with this book that I'd like to read more of the author's Drakon series. It looks like they may all be loosely connected.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 28 13:39:46 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 08 18:01:55 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "12980966", "review_id": "0c35536ef28be4bef77f661777b166f5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What I found so refreshing about this read is how unique the voice and the premise of the plot is. The language is very powerful and lots of the lines are almost poetic. This author is very talented at really packing a lot of punch into almost every sentence. The words are beautifully crafted, the editing is absolute perfection, the descriptions are just enough to let the reader see it, without being overboard to the point where they bog down the pace. \n There were no sections that I wanted to skim. \n If I was going to complain about anything, it would be to say that while the author's voice is very unique, none of the characters are very distinct. Each is snarky, witty, and a bit crass. And I loved every minute. \n Gavin is a fantastic and dreamy hero, though I would have liked to have seen more of him.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 20 19:21:33 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 13 18:25:27 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jan 23 07:09:02 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jan 20 19:21:33 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "17162767", "review_id": "60c5cc65f0e79c1e899b2d3db2934205", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have been having a really difficult time deciding how to rate this book. I think, if this were not a sequel, I would have rated it a three. However, because it is a sequel, I am going to go into it with the attitude that anyone who is looking to read this sequel has already read the first and so they are familiar with the author's writing style. There were a lot of things I loved about Dragon Blade, and several things that I didn't like as much. \n To start with, let's cover what I loved. We see several of the characters that we came to connect with in Dragon Fate, as well as a lot of new ones. I don't really feel like we got to know any of the new ones well, except for Delno's brother, who I really liked. This story gives a lot of character resolution on several levels, and it was a worthwhile read for that alone. But it also had a very well constructed plot, with the intricate layers of worldbuilding, lore, history and strategy that the first book had. \n I really enjoyed getting to see how the dragons and the humans came together, and there were a lot more dragons in this book. \n Dragon Blade kept me interested from the beginning, and I read it in a matter of days because I really wanted to see what happened. However, while it kept me interested, the story never really sucked me in. What I mean by that is that while the story was interesting, it wasn't absorbing. There wasn't much of a sense of tension, or of being in the moment. It almost has the feel of sitting around a campfire, being told the story of a war hero after he's come home. You are appreciative, and you know he has seen and done incredible things, but you don't fear for him, because he is sitting there in front of you. That is really how I felt about this book. As interesting as it was, I never got lost in it, never felt like I was a part of it, never sat on the edge of my seat with worry or concern. That aside, it was entertaining and I'm glad I read it. \n The author's style hasn't really changed since the first book, but there was even more of characters telling each other things they already knew, and even things that the characters and the readers already knew as a means to add in details about the first book, to refresh readers minds or to fill in a person new to the series. This bothered me a lot more than it did in the first book, probably because I already knew it too. The characters are still prone to long, winding, self-reflecting monologues as a means to reveal their plans, motivations and entire thought process. Because their self analysis is only overshadowed by their analysis of each other -- such as they frequently will say things like \"because you are such a good person, I know you only had the best intentions, so I will forgive you, but don't make that same mistake again\" -- the reader is never really given the room to make up their own opinions of the characters. I think this is a bit heavy handed, and as a reader I like to be able to interpret events and characters my own way and in my own time, making reading a book a uniquely personal experience. I couldn't do that with this book, because I was constantly spoon fed the characters opinions of each other, shaping my own. That isn't an actual quote from the book, it is more of a general feeling and paraphrase on my part, for the record. Also, as I said in the beginning of the review, this problem was apparent in the first installment of the series, so this shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. If you can look past it, you will find that this really is an enjoyable story. \n I felt that the plot really deserved a 5. I would have liked to have more twists and suspense, and I think if the characters actions were allowed to stand on their own, there may have been because I would have been suspecting more backstabbing and surprises. I think stronger developmental editing could have made this book a bit more show and a lot less tell, and the dialogue could have been more natural. So on that, I rate it a 3. \n I think if you like an easy read, with some strategy, warfare and political intrigue mixed with dragon fantasy you will enjoy this book. Also, if you were invested in the characters at the end of Dragon Fate, you will find this read rewarding.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 18 20:09:42 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 21 07:51:06 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "13362536", "review_id": "a20979451130dfbc24b559eba9d7c4ed", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really hate to be critical, but in this case I just can't help it. That ending was absurd and awful and infuriating. \n I can accept cliffhangers, but this goes beyond cliffhanger. For a good cliffhanger, I need to feel some hope, or satisfaction or resolution. \n I would have sworn I was missing pages or something. \n The relationship developments between Daemon and Katy did make me happy overall. Getting to know Dawson was also enjoyable. \n Katy's choice to not tell Daemon about Blake also ticked me off, because it undermined their new, trusting, mature relationship. \n Several consistency problems also really annoyed me. Daemon put the opal on a necklace, but then it was in her pocket, then it was around her neck. This was a key detail, and it didn't flow consistently. \n Also, the black sweats she borrowed from Daemon were destroyed, but then she wore them again for the second attempt.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 09 09:03:02 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 09 09:15:24 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jan 09 09:15:24 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "13047090", "review_id": "978bd8c743ea4ee4535df962296e3e29", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I liked Obsidian, but Onyx was definitely better! \n At times I was really annoyed with the storyline, and how Katy was ignoring everyone for Blake, but otherwise, no complaints. \n The cliffhanger was big, so of course I'm looking forward to reading the next one.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 07 05:22:39 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 07 05:25:32 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jan 07 05:25:32 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "8685612", "review_id": "ee6bf2d7adcdf6139d735c8ecd96e308", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I am so beyond tired of the 'someone has to sacrifice themselves' storylines in fiction! I see it in video games, and books and tv and just ugh! Grumble! \n I loved this book, I really did. I sobbed and sobbed and sobbed through parts of this book. \n Many bits of it were very rewarding, regarding Meghan's family relationship and her relationship with Ash. \n I adored Ash in this book more than in any of the others. \n I get that it isn't 'over' and there is still one more book, and I loved how Meghan's skills grew, but I constantly wanted to strangle her. \n The fact that I feel so strongly about this book, shows how good it is and how well written it is and how vivid the characters are, but I just did not feel very satisfied with what happened.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 31 08:26:18 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 31 08:31:43 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Dec 31 08:31:43 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "7747064", "review_id": "a9b085cd1cb7fc682b76887d40d16322", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Although some of the early Meg/Ash stuff was getting on my nerves, I loved this book overall. One thing that also bothered me was how the important stuff from the bridge novella, Winter's Passage, was also inserted into this book. I sort of feel like I wasted my money buying the novella. \n Otherwise, this was a nice 2nd full installment in the series. Even though I didn't like the angst between the lovers early on, I did like where they ended up. The ending was awesome, though a bit heartbreaking. \n Puck is still one of my favorite characters(even though I'm not hoping for them to end up together), so I was glad when he showed back up, though I wish Meghan would be more considerate of his feelings.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 31 08:14:44 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 31 08:18:23 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "6644117", "review_id": "6bb053c392e9b023f96bfd4a6753a6fe", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book so much. Puck's wit definitely was a high point, but I also liked the budding relationships. \n I adored this book so much more than I can really even verbalize. \n The fey world and the human world are so vivid and I love how much it is grounded in reality by the descriptions of normal, every day things. It really helps you to imagine that a world like this really could be hidden right inside our own.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 28 20:55:04 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 31 08:24:46 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "15714721", "review_id": "85f90592e814e12dd1e0049d29b23414", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Apocalypsis is a really edgy, funny book that puts the really dark, brutal circumstances of the world it is set in into perspective. \n The humor and banter is what keeps this from being too dark and broody. The stark violence and just appalling situations these kids are put in begs for the humor to make it entertaining and not just downright scary. I really felt like it was a perfect blend of the two. \n Once again, Elle Casey delivers a strong female heroine. I absolutely loved the main character. She reminds me a lot of the heroine from War Of the Fae. \n The characters really drive this one home. Bryn is strong, skilled and determined and yet, she has a soft side. Peter is positively adorable and Bodo is just very simplistic and so genuine. He's such a different type of hero because he is so on the surface. I suspect he has a secret but he isn't broody or broken or anything. He offers up his loyalty on a silver platter. \n The early plot starts out a bit predictable. If they need to open a lock, they find something on the ground. If they can't carry their stuff, they find a trailer, etc. But aside from that, the plot is strong. Each event sends you spiraling toward the next, keeping you fully grounded in the story. By the end, it is anything but predictable. \n What I found missing in this one is characters changing as they went through. Most books grab me because I want to partake on the character's journey. This one grabbed me more because of the plot. The characters were likeable and I am definitely invested in them, but it wasn't their emotional journey that left me hooked. I think this book is more plot centric than character centric. \n I will definitely be continuing with this series. It was good enough that I have already bought the second book and begun reading it.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 16 07:04:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 16 07:04:54 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Sep 16 07:04:54 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "15739807", "review_id": "b0353ade759cfeccd74cbee07ee2fa6b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Oh my word, I just don't even really know where to begin. \n Broken Shell Island is positively filled with fun and amusement. I found myself constantly laughing, shaking my head unable to believe what I was reading. \n It was almost like a guilty pleasure. The utter absurdity of everything made it extremely easy to constantly suspend disbelief. I mean, come on - Pixies pee on hair. Chalk makes doors. Suitcases navigate. Seriously. \n It ran the full gamut from glorious to gross. \n Characters - \n Here is what I liked most. Even though the world itself was very believably unbelievable and filled with absurd and hilarious magic, the characters were consistently easy to relate to, unique and well developed. I liked Opal and connected with her almost immediately. I did at times think she acted younger than her age, but after a while I forgot she was supposed to be 15 and just took her as she was. \n World building - This book's world building is what will make it a classic. It is so well developed and well thought out. \n Plot - Almost all the plot threads wind up being tied up nicely. You may be thinking you have it all figured out while reading but don't be too sure of yourself. This book is anything but predictable. \n Quality of writing and editing - This is a self published title that can easily stand with any traditionally publish novel. Top notch. \n Now, generally speaking, I am not a fan of humor. Because of this I had to be in the right mind to read this, as it really isn't serious at all. \n Also, as a parent I feel the need to add that while early on it seems like this would be a great title for children because of the mere fantastical elements and seemingly lighthearted story, it isn't appropriate for the young ones. I would say probably 12 or 13 and up it should be fine. There are a few mature themes and references. I have an 8 year old and while I think she could handle the writing itself and it would probably hold her attention, I don't want her coming to me and asking \"Mommy, what's a virgin?\" Also, a reference to \"doing it.\" (worded as such to come from the POV of a child.) Really these were the only things that would give me pause on the younger children reading it. \n The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because I don't consider it something that I would have to read again and again and again. It's just my personal review style that only books that will become my new classics that I have to reread simply for the experience receive 5 stars.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 10 10:10:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 10 10:23:34 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Sep 10 10:23:34 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "12567090", "review_id": "095b5168745f09fa8fa505a7d8cdc57a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Gosh, \"Become\" is such a hard book to describe. It was a book I loved to hate. \n Allow me to explain. It gripped me from the first page. I read it in a day, I was very captivated by it, and really wanted to see what happened. In that sense, I loved it. \n Much of the book takes place in Desi's head. On one hand, I have to say that Desi's voice was strong, and well developed. On the other hand, her head is a wild place to be. She is very repetitive, thinks the same things a lot - \"I was the devil's daughter...\" Yup got it. Don't need to hear it thought over and over. \n She frequently feels the need to justify her behavior and thoughts and feelings by reminding us just who she is. And that was where my hate came in. By halfway in, I knew the character pretty well, I didn't need all the constant extra explaining. \n The pace was fantastic. It moved fast and never got dull or boring. \n The editing was clean. A few small formatting issues - extra spaces. But absolutely nothing that interfered with readability. \n This book, all in all, is an example of a self published title well done. The cover is breathtaking, and the interior design is done very well too. \n But then we come to the end. I don't mind cliffhangers - to some extent. This one though, left me feeling very unsatisfied. I fully expect the first book in a series to leave me with questions and wanting more. This though, left me feeling like \"what was the point?\" \n From one standpoint, I can see that the conclusion was more in her emotional journey, and that part was at least a bit satisfying. \n I really believe that a cliffhanger, done well, should at least leave a character and by proxy the reader, on a high note. - This book failed to deliver that. \n If it weren't for the ending, I would have likely given 4 stars, even if the repeated thoughts did get a bit annoying, so you may like this book better than I did if cliffhangers don't bother you. \n I haven't made up my mind yet if I will get the sequel. It's my understanding that as of right now, the 3rd book isn't out yet, and I suspect the second book will be just as much of a cliffhanger from the reviews I have read on it. I will probably wait until the author concludes the series, and then consider finishing it.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 14 11:38:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 05:41:27 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 15 05:41:27 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "11946245", "review_id": "363f57408979b2356aef10ebd2694683", "rating": 4, "review_text": "First let me stress than I am an adult (most days) and not the book's target audience of young readers. With that said, this product I believe is intended for children 10 and up. I have an almost 9 year old who is a very advanced reader and I do not believe this would be an appropriate book for her. Way to much on the romance side of things regarding Fang Dylan and Max. \n With that out of the way, while I would worry about how appropriate it was for a young audience, I personally really enjoyed it. This book is great closure. I love that in the end I was not left with a plethora of unanswered questions. One of the biggest reveals for me was the identity of The Voice, and I am so happy this was included. \n Max stayed true to character. She showed her continued softening, but never lost her ability to lead. She remains a strong heroine, which is very welcome. She wasn't quite as headstrong and stubborn as she has been in the past, there is definite character growth where she is concerned. Her choice of priorities in the end was admirable and believable, and really helped sell me on the story. \n At times I did think it was a bit to cliche, injuries were just to inconsequential, answers were a little to easy, but it is after all a children's book. \n The pacing was fantastic. The length did leave a bit to be desired, but again, I am an adult reader. I don't think the length would have annoyed me as much had the last 13% of the product not been a preview of a different book. It really makes it deceptive about the true length of the book you are buying. The actual story stops on 344, not 380. I read the entire thing in under 3 hours. \n I do think longtime fans of the series will be satisfied.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 06 06:19:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 06 10:10:55 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Aug 06 10:10:55 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "13494086", "review_id": "ee9511a95004a8541661bbb44c9d1db2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I just finished Entangled and I truly have mixed feelings about it. This was a relatively quick and easy read, with a well fleshed out plot, and the characters all had distinct personalities and voices. \n The cover is fantastic, the editing is acceptably good - only a few minor typos. \n The plot was cohesive, POV was easy to follow and the characters and the plot itself kept me interested. \n The problem I had with it is I felt like I was constantly a yoyo between being so caught up in the story that I had to keep reading, and then suddenly ripped out of the pages by characters acting in non believable ways. \n For Charlene not to expect her sister and possibly even her mother to eat a chocolate was beyond stupid. I mean seriously seriously stupid. What's the first thing that happens in your house when you are baking? Someone grabs a cookie or whatever it is as soon as it is done. At least that is how it is in my house. And for Gray and even her Mom to have no realized the chocolates were the cause? Also really stupid. \n The mother was not a believable character. What mother that loves her daughter to the point she tries to resurrect her would allow Charlene to dictate what classes they take, how they keep their hair, sleeping around, everything. \n Taking the mother's character and turn her into a super loyal but misguided best friend and maybe she would be believable, but that woman was in no way a parent. While I don't usually mind a lack of parenting in YA novels, when her motivation for the action that caused the major plot thread is parental love, she needs to act like a parent.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 05 18:56:13 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 05 19:05:18 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "13484401", "review_id": "183b6b6ac6f4a6b5490b654552955099", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This novel grabbed me and refused to let go. \n Not only was it a quick, gripping and easy read the plot was believable - the characters acted appropriately and it was often downright funny. I will never be able to go to the bathroom while camping again without cracking up. I laughed, I cried, and laughed some more. \n My absolute favorite thing was Jayne, the protagonist. She did not simply accept things. She did not make stupid mistakes just to further the plot, she resisted, she fought and she has a great smart sassy funny kick-butt attitude. I really enjoyed reading through her perspective. \n The cover is great, the editing inside the novel is very professional and well done. I had zero complaints in that regard. \n The plot was unique as well as well developed. I am not exactly sure what I was expecting when I first started this book, but what I discovered left me pleasantly surprised and delighted. \n I look forward to reading more in the series, and will be purchasing them soon. \n I have been trying to think of anything negative that I should include in the review, but really the only thing would be that it does end on a cliffhanger, but not an unreasonable one. The only unbelievable part of the novel was very early on, with Tony and a gun. It felt a bit to glossed over, otherwise, everything was spot on. \n If you like sassy heroines, fantastical suspense and enjoy a bit of magic, this book will not disappoint.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 03 07:10:26 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 03 07:10:42 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jul 03 07:10:42 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "13553459", "review_id": "824671077227253a89d59fa6535cec73", "rating": 4, "review_text": "When I first started this book I was immediately worried. The narration was hard to sink into and I felt having it told in first person/present tense was often very jarring. It annoyed me and I was having a really hard time enjoying it. It felt like the story wasn't flowing and I expected it wouldn't be long before I gave up on it out of irritation. \n But I couldn't. I tried and I couldn't. Despite having a hard time getting into the writing, the story itself kept me glued. I absolutely positively adored the story. There were times that I thought it was forced and fake and that the main characters were really stupid and this entire thing could have resolved itself by about halfway through, but all in all, it kept me captivated despite frequent annoyance. \n I couldn't turn away from it and ended up staying awake till nearly 2 am to finish reading it. I had never heard of the fairy tale and didn't even realize it was based on anything other than the author's imagination. \n I was also pleased with the level of copy editing, no typos or missing words jumped out at me.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 27 07:32:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 27 07:32:57 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jun 27 07:32:57 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "13289930", "review_id": "5133a2919f9958002185638f52820abe", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was given a copy of Dragon Fate to review by the author, in exchange for providing an honest and objective review. \n When I read the overview of Dragon Fate I was immediately intrigued. It sounded fantastic, and I was pleased when it did not disappoint. It is a modest length, and appropriate for its genre and content. I felt the pacing was spot on, I never got bored with the story, and I never felt rushed. Furthermore, the details never contradicted themselves and in such an extensive new world, that would be easy for a debut author to do. \n I instantly liked our main character Delno, I was emotionally invested in the story and the characters very early into the story. I loved the fact that the author thoroughly built the world, the lore, and the different locales. I absolutely loved the bond between Delno and Geneava. \n The plot was not only brilliantly revealed and constructed, but original and interesting to boot. The plot and the story as well as the depth to the characters is really what makes this book such a fantastic read. \n What I had trouble with was the dialogue. At times I felt the dialogue was a bit forced. The characters are prone to large bouts of self reflection and great speeches, which while it does further the plot I would have preferred to have some of the dialogue and the characters development and epiphanies as the story progressed be a bit more implied and subtle. At the same time, several of the characters are really quite witty, and I loved their sharp retorts. I found that when the characters relaxed, their speech greatly relaxed and I was able to enjoy it more. \n There were a few errors that could be caught by some additional proofreading, but they were not distracting or glaring. \n I felt like the story ended in the perfect place. I wasn't left feeling unfulfilled, and at the same time I definitely want more. I surely hope there is a sequel in the works. \n In summary I would rate the plot a 5, the characters a 4 the editing a 3 the world building a 5 and the cover a 4 granting an overall score of 4.2", "date_added": "Sat Jun 23 15:32:50 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 25 12:53:24 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jun 25 12:53:24 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Jun 23 15:32:50 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "10275728", "review_id": "8231260b8e288f1fb61d004392869201", "rating": 3, "review_text": "All in all I enjoyed reading this book. \n The cover grabbed me right away and I immediately pushed it to the front of my to be read list, ahead of other novels. \n Once I started reading i was immersed right away, and really got interested in the story. To save spoilers, where it fell apart for me is when the setting change. For a brief time the narration tense changed, and it was distracting and brought me out of the moment of the story. After that I just never got into it as heavily. \n I'm not sorry I read it, but I am not sure if I have enough confidence in it to pick up the last 3 books of the series even though I am curious about what else will happen. \n I thought the idea of the story itself was very original and well crafted. I will say that I definitely do not feel this is a young adult book, there are to many adult themes and references ( I would say at minimum 16+) \n I also at times felt myself distracted by the unique terminology used to create the world. There is a fine line between setting the stage, and bringing the reader out of the world you have created because they have to stop and try and recall what a term means. I think this book possibly fell onto the side of being a bit confusing at times. \n The editing was better than many of the indie published novels I have read, although there were a few non distracting easily forgivable mistakes. \n In the end, I gave it 3 stars. It was worth a read, but I wouldn't go back and reread and I definitely wouldn't gush to my friends that they have to immediately read this book.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 23 12:28:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 23 12:28:52 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jun 23 12:28:52 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "13389231", "review_id": "988dcbb4ccb8ffd2d621b96e414ac53b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved the second installment in this series even more than the first one! It was more polished and I was so engrossed that I read it all in one sitting this author just keeps getting better.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 18 07:29:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 18 07:30:35 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "12996931", "review_id": "4e4c810e394b7247fdc058bbd922c2a3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I hate to gush, but i loved this book. It could have used some minor editing to improve slightly, but overall it was of a very high quality. The cover just does not begin to even do it justice. \n I was a little surprised when it ended, but by how it ended, simply that it did. It didn't follow the typical literary build up to a high powered climax instead it was more like a stream of steady unveiling. This pattern continues in the second book, which is even better than the first.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 18 07:25:46 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 18 07:28:14 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1761847f29b18dd5f1afe7215f32f3b2", "book_id": "12872294", "review_id": "55fc7f7fc03bafa83c414980420944ea", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I just finished reading Here ( On The Otherside) and all in all, I am glad I did. I have a few complaints which I will share in a moment, however first I want to make it abundantly clear that all in all this book leans toward the positive side of the scale. I liked it enough that I will probably snag the sequel when it comes out. \n What I disliked: I found several ( atleast four or five) typos - little things like two periods, backwards quotation marks, etc as well as a few inconsistent issues - again small things. One of our characters was described in memory as having laughed at our main character, clinging onto the sidelines wanting to be a part of things - i didn't really feel like her best friend would have said that. At another point she tells a teacher she will stop by and see the school counselor, while internally saying she has no intentions of going. Suddenly the next morning she goes immediately to the counselors office? A good round of editing honestly should have caught these mistakes, but they were small enough that while they distracted me enough to be annoyed, I could keep going and ultimately i was glad that I did. \n Speaking only to the first half of the book I felt that plot points that were dropped often felt forced and didn't flow as well as they could have. She freaks out that Evan is actually looking at her, but by everything that had been described so far shes a bit of a spectacle at the school so while I understood where and why the author was going with the tidbit, it didn't feel natural. I think it would have made more sense if he'd been looking at her in a way that suggested he wanted to talk to her, which understandably would have confused her. \n What I did like: Everything else not listed above. The second half of the book was a giant improvement over the first half as far as plot went. Where before it had felt forced here it felt just right. The pacing overall was great, the first half set us up to know and like the characters and want to see them succeed, and i did. The second half was a whirlwind of a good ride. The author definitely nailed the art of pacing a good story and making us want to continue reading dead on. At no point did I want to give up on the book, even though during the first half I really wasn't entirely loving it. \n I also need to touch on the cover. While i love the breathtaking cover I am not sure that it totally fits the book. If i could have, I would have given this book 3 1/2 stars. With a solid edit and a bit of tightening up the first half to be as well written and as captivating as the second half it could easily be 4 1/2. \n In conclusion, pick up this book, keep with it through the first half and enjoy the rest of the ride.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 08:15:46 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 09 05:24:34 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jun 09 05:24:34 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "127220df38444d7d8183984fca9170fe", "book_id": "13644052", "review_id": "627550eb66155e0dfdea15c044ebe97e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "this was by far the best one yet!", "date_added": "Tue Dec 11 03:34:57 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 28 18:45:24 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "127220df38444d7d8183984fca9170fe", "book_id": "15801791", "review_id": "3216f286e36b77499aee6afe7deb71e1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I am giving it only 4 stars because I think the book was too short. It was excellent in the story line but the ending felt rushed, almost like there would be another book. I love every book in this series but the closer it came to ending, the shorter the books seemed to get. It left me feeling unsatisfied. With that being said, yes I would buy it again and I also would recommend it.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 09 18:21:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 29 03:20:56 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "127220df38444d7d8183984fca9170fe", "book_id": "13514559", "review_id": "22178ef8b8e77ef0df70468b3b4e722b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "all I can say is... HURRY UP WITH BOOK 3!!!!!!!! Rogue was excellent. I could hardly put it down!", "date_added": "Thu Aug 16 16:48:05 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 29 18:20:05 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "127220df38444d7d8183984fca9170fe", "book_id": "10844549", "review_id": "b0a990d815033b5b7bf0571454b09ef7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Love it!", "date_added": "Thu Aug 16 16:35:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 30 04:08:38 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Oct 30 04:08:38 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "127220df38444d7d8183984fca9170fe", "book_id": "11736535", "review_id": "ae41db3aabbd84dae0d04227583334ed", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I don't normally like \"love\" stories, but this was much better than just a love story. I love the mythology theme! Keep up the great work!", "date_added": "Sun Jul 08 17:42:03 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 08 17:44:09 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "127220df38444d7d8183984fca9170fe", "book_id": "12959823", "review_id": "a6f4fc0a14fc9af889f0ed1751b60d20", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I was pleasantly surprised by this series! Once I started reading, I found it impossible to put it down.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 08 17:40:03 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 08 17:41:01 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "127220df38444d7d8183984fca9170fe", "book_id": "13605727", "review_id": "7cee4a6fc2671ff4c05c9b013cb2acdf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amazing! I don't think I can wait for the next book. This series has to be my favorite! I love the way the gods are part of the story. I have always been team aiden but I am even more so after leaving this!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 19:40:34 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 29 03:26:20 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0960c65f0d29ca721b924b31f9f73aa6", "book_id": "8205669", "review_id": "dbfc10609970a458de0d966f58584f0b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "not as much fun as the Plum books, but the first one of those was slow too, so it has great possabilities!", "date_added": "Fri Oct 05 11:33:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 15 13:06:41 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Oct 15 13:06:41 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0960c65f0d29ca721b924b31f9f73aa6", "book_id": "14995", "review_id": "a464eee3949d3c3deaf9c2a5600868e7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "the only book I didn't like, and I only didn't like it because of the ending ... so I've never read the rest of the serier ... I hear that the reason I was mad gets fixed, so I might give them a try", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 07:29:31 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 08 07:30:39 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2001", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "12666103", "review_id": "4791c4e4466c48b891f35470825fe322", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I had no idea how much I needed, wanted, was waiting for this book. It defies description but fulfilled every readerly desire I have - action, a strong but authentically flawed female protagonist, imaginative world-building, and a satisfying ending.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 10 09:10:01 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 10 09:17:27 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jun 10 09:17:28 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "22910900", "review_id": "3edf3867c086acea8e015d5fe3c66c0d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is hilarious perfection.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 03 17:42:51 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 03 17:45:54 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "23174274", "review_id": "494b8ae6497cbb1f09dfdc87e48e3ab2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Cliffhanger. Why do authors do this? Just trust your writing to compel us to read the next book.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 22 13:19:22 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 26 17:41:11 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 22 13:20:18 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "23495112", "review_id": "03f5ed0a140b44e65b30159d97c0ef68", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Although there will be continuations of the series, the book stands nicely on its own.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 22 13:18:17 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 22 13:19:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 22 13:19:03 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "17617617", "review_id": "499637cf723f1211a94b0ce834c72d0c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A decent execution with an unsatisfactorily loose-hanging ending", "date_added": "Wed Nov 26 18:05:16 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 26 18:06:11 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Nov 26 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "17378508", "review_id": "8c12b9da18d00b1c0948c836a7436775", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Painful. Slow. And NOT the ending of the cycle. Just a lot of meandering nothingness.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 02 14:29:35 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 02 14:30:43 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Nov 02 14:30:43 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "20821111", "review_id": "e034fd392f7c02203de58fbb8302287c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I love Marie Lu, but I didn't connect to the main character Adelina, whom I felt was a little too shallow. The world-building, as usual, is phenomenal, and Lu's way with language is almost intoxicating.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 02 14:26:22 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 02 14:28:50 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Nov 02 14:28:50 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "16429619", "review_id": "b3536a89a2a494152b23c68b4e4d218f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Cliffhanger endings make me grumpy, so I will wait until all three books are published before I continue this wonderful story. \n (But still. Ribbed flagons of the Ancients, still found in vast quantities? How brilliant is that?)", "date_added": "Sun Aug 24 13:33:14 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 24 13:34:49 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Aug 24 13:34:49 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "18668056", "review_id": "6c620ef31c8d39ac4ff1e7abb38982ce", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amazing - the ingenuity, the world building, the pacing. Difficult to believe this is a first novel.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 24 13:31:17 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 24 13:32:33 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Aug 24 13:32:33 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "17399160", "review_id": "5c68e742bbf43d7c072523765eb3e6b4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I am sick unto death of YA novels being released that demand sequels and trilogies and cycles and have no satisfaction in a single volume. I'm okay with a story continuation as long as the episodes are discrete and have a natural stopping place - think Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling or Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce or the Changeling series by Kristen Cashore. \n That's why, despite this novel being a debut and maybe a little hesitant in places, I give it 5 stars. Yes, there is the possibility of more to Meira's world , but if the story ended, definitively, at the end of this book, I would be okay with that, too.* And I appreciate being able to rest in between. \n *Dear Ms. Raasch, Please do not hear this as a suggestion that you write no other Eight Kingdoms novels. I want more, more, more! But I thank you for the story-by-story, volume-by-volume way you've set the story.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 20 20:35:01 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 02 14:38:29 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Oct 31 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "13628527", "review_id": "8749fe452b6a5924fed203a82fe1db2c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "As much as I loved Warrior, I have to give it 4 stars because - as I have said before - I hate, hate, hate cliffhanger endings. I suppose, if the book weren't very good, I wouldn't mind a cliffhanger. But Oh's story is fun, fast, and fresh and I am quite put out that I have to wait for its conclusion.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 04 18:38:53 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 04 18:40:56 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "14061955", "review_id": "961f6109a1a7529f7181f2761e9e1587", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I can't decide if I like The Grisha series or not. I do not at all like cliffhanger endings, but Siege and Storm ends with quite a wrenching one. I will definitely read the third book, and I certainly like Leigh Bardugo's dark imagination.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 06 19:14:01 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 06 19:15:48 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "6131164", "review_id": "ec5b8342335c3db950cddfb74b5e3fe8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I cried. Heavily. Clare has definitely perfected her ability to draw you into a character's heart and soul.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 12 20:40:14 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 12 20:41:23 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "11859244", "review_id": "01fd1c6c732ce6673912555058e33fe4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Alex Flinn's Cloaked was a fun mashup of various fairy tale retellings, but Bewitching fell short of being fun. I think Flinn got too ambitious with Bewitching, but it just wasn't as enjoyable, in my opinion.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 29 07:18:01 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 29 07:22:03 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "7075298", "review_id": "e615f2d7fc8bf7302ddf463c27072e59", "rating": 4, "review_text": "pure fun; quick read", "date_added": "Sun Jun 23 17:01:44 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 23 17:02:28 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "12027429", "review_id": "65b511a614f317ba6a04ac4eccf2adcf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The anachronisms present in the first book continue; the modern slang is jarring in the medieval-type world of the story.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 10 12:55:18 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 10 12:58:57 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "4450057", "review_id": "6237de91763446c57b2339ec873dcf7c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Valek on a side trip, proving his heroic nobleness despite the fact he's killed a zillion people", "date_added": "Sun Mar 10 12:53:33 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 10 12:59:05 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "11594370", "review_id": "6c3d9f3e71dbb103c9393a0fb02a4380", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A solid and intelligent middle-grade book", "date_added": "Sun Mar 10 12:51:05 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 10 12:59:17 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "12700790", "review_id": "958c12f7d2f23bd6d452233563407ee2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Somewhat cliche plot but really skillful writing and some nice character development", "date_added": "Fri Nov 23 11:15:11 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 15 07:54:15 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "13056868", "review_id": "92b55c94abf13d275844e01699a4b84b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Near perfection. A little too much wind at the end (literal wind, not long-windedness) but lots of strong characters, fantastic world-building, a feasible plot, and an antagonist who's not a villain.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 04 12:59:35 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 04 13:00:52 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Nov 04 13:00:52 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "13124783", "review_id": "2b2658ec69c74ad1cad23e563c89fc4a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A decent conclusion to the Farwalker trilogy, but it puts me in mind of Maria V. Snyder's Study trilogy, in that, by the end of the third book, you're leagues and galaxies away from the beginning of the first. Too far away, almost, to be really believable.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 13 19:28:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 13 19:30:15 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "10194157", "review_id": "4768e2017fc48c76696e3a2f80e702bb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was the perfect not-too-frothy but still-easy-reading YA fantasy for my end-of-teaching-day brain. Bardugo, educated at Yale, shows her brains with her ability to write. Hoping that the next installment shows deeper plot and character development.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 13 19:15:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 13 19:17:19 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "6764803", "review_id": "bd444cdfd091810e510d96d86bef6828", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have had trouble deciding how to think of the Farwalker trilogy, but then I read a jacket quote from Karen Cushman. Sensel's writing has that same feel, of a protagonist struggling to grow up authentically. This book is far more obvious as dystopia than the first, which I considered almost pure fantasy. \n My 4-star rating is merely a reflection of my own mindset. For the first time since I can remember, I am bored with the \"will I kiss him\" story line. I would TOTALLY recommend this to my middle school students, and I most certainly want my own children to read it. But if I had to choose between a Cushman book and one of these, I'd go for Cushman, for its historicity. \n Also, there are references to menstrual cycles in this second book, which is why I give the age caution. It's handled quite well, but if a young person without any idea about human anatomy encountered those scenes, I can guess there'd be a great deal of confusion.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 06 19:11:28 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 06 19:17:51 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Oct 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "2550219", "review_id": "fdc9230857205646f9b2e23c2d7d1ceb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Well, I did it. I finished the Pellinor quartet. Proud of myself but doubt I'll pick up the additional book that Croggon says on her blog that she is writing", "date_added": "Mon Aug 20 19:47:26 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 20 19:48:23 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "393147", "review_id": "93ac4646ea1d2b6c420078ac1abbb0f9", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Almost all reviews on Goodreads mention the resemblance of the Pellinor series to Lord of the Rings. That's because it's VERY very similar. If you're not a prolific reader, read Tolkien instead. Otherwise, be prepared to slog through quite a bit of description and \"telling.\"", "date_added": "Fri Aug 17 08:05:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 17 08:08:12 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Aug 17 08:08:12 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "393145", "review_id": "f22bdb949fb18a90d188c5440260a679", "rating": 3, "review_text": "If you can fly through heavy tomes, you can pick this book up, but it's rather over-stuffed with description instead of authentic character development. Read Instead: Emperor Mage by Tamora Pierce.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 17 08:01:38 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 17 08:08:57 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Aug 17 08:08:57 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "10425771", "review_id": "28ceeb88f406241dadfeaeb03ba06da4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Highly readable, quite enjoyable, nothing to knock anyone's socks off, but solid fun, all the same.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 12 08:14:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 12 08:16:00 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Aug 12 08:16:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "12394100", "review_id": "c5622923b1d914c171c24195ddc046b2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5, really, but better than 3, so I'll go up to a 4-star rating. \n I have been looking forward to it for AGES. \n Intelligent fantasy, check. Strong female lead, check. Well-realized land, mostly check. I am a theologian by profession and the strange theology Hartman uses in this book is a little too clumsy for me. \n (Just to be 100% clear: not OFFENSIVE. I'm never offended when someone creates a religion - it's fascinating, I love it. But I can spot the weak places in world-building pretty easily when it comes to religion. That's all.) \n Postscript: This is ENTIRELY my own opinion but when I saw that Paolini had given it a (somewhat ambivalent) blurb, I almost didn't want to read it.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 11 10:44:32 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 11 10:56:05 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Aug 11 10:56:05 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "13060608", "review_id": "4ebc065bd72f3cc893b089825c59aaa4", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I thought maybe the Steampunk Chronicles would get better in the second of the series. Nope.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 30 15:45:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 30 15:46:28 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jul 30 15:46:28 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "6940291", "review_id": "5d4fd426180c1bb798647db807b68450", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book made me cry WITHOUT having to kill someone. Thumbs up, Ms. Prineas.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 29 19:36:05 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 29 19:36:34 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jul 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "5985683", "review_id": "f5220b3acf025e9c06e6324370fff6a3", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Eragon meets Chronicles of Narnia wanting to be Hunger Games. Read either Narnia or Hunger Games instead.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 28 15:05:27 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 13 09:37:53 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Aug 13 09:37:53 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "99982b19f24c17ae41457ffcc7da7e47", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Another reviewer said that for some people, this book will be a perfect, 5-star read, everything they've ever wanted. \n Sadly, I am not one of those people. \n My first instinct was to stop reading after the first page. I knew this was not going to be my kind of book. However. I kept reading, and read to the end, although I'm afraid I did skip enormous sections of pure description and nearly choked at the cliched ending.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 27 21:20:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 28 15:00:40 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jul 28 15:00:40 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "12109772", "review_id": "ce1be007a26049d77ed108b170aacaaf", "rating": 0, "review_text": "fantastic characters and memorable turns of phrase pretty much make up for the cliched plot", "date_added": "Sun Jul 22 19:06:32 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 23 18:11:48 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "12643556", "review_id": "54a74c15fcf11bc2b5adc7a644d6cd32", "rating": 3, "review_text": "erudite, fun, but pet peeve: not really a complete novel. Definitely written so people will buy the sequel.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 22 18:59:26 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 23 17:06:43 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "12872294", "review_id": "647a0214f608ac38fd5efde6963d8401", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Kill your best friend, find out your alternate universe self is pretty much Miss Perfect, which you certainly are not. Also, parents in any universe create the exact same offspring. A little far-fetched. I was with Swank until the end, though, and I am not someone who reads books all the way through if they're not well-written.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 15 09:06:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 15 09:12:47 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jul 15 09:12:34 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "9917925", "review_id": "0abb388a3cb4185f6a25ced65e169f30", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Slow start, almost gave up - glad I did not.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 24 18:11:22 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 15 07:53:25 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "9462795", "review_id": "3a0b8df49142c041dd1e61db65e7e846", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Painful to read, so I stopped.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 23 18:42:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 23 18:43:10 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "8666191", "review_id": "3c438fa922443facd949b3b4a74f8f65", "rating": 5, "review_text": "WHAT? There are only THREE? \n Excuse me while I grumble in my corner. \n I'd like to point out that Briceland is equally excellent in creating and breathing life into both male and female characters - that's not something many authors can achieve.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 23 18:34:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 23 18:37:02 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "6798289", "review_id": "06fe55e1f4aba6b7414a7cc9f9a4d187", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Still loving the Cassaforte Chronicles....", "date_added": "Sat Jun 23 18:34:03 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 23 18:34:44 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "9415946", "review_id": "d7a60aa91d337525fda60e379f0e33f7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The primary romance in this book is between two young women, but I hesitate to mark the book LGBT because it's so much more than its romance. At the same time, the relationship between Kaede and Taisin is central to the plot. In her acknowledgements, Malinda Lo talks about the support of her partner, and indeed, this deep love - transcendent of gender - is evident in the novel, which itself feels like a love letter (if an adventure-packed one with yellow-eyed wolves, at that.) \n For whatever reason, I had put off reading this book for quite a bit. I wish I hadn't. With some near-word-for-word echoes from Robin McKinley's writing, Huntress is nevertheless its own work with many of its own strengths.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 21 14:45:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 21 14:53:31 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Apr 21 14:53:31 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "11559200", "review_id": "82df226f6abcc57b34c30dff16fbc7d6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Erudite. Academic. Intellectual. With sex thrown in for balance. \n One might say, a little dry, a little slow. Normally I'd give it three stars. \n However. \n It's not fair of me, but I keep thinking - Harkness is a PROFESSOR. An academic. And she's writing NOVELS. For that, I give her 5 stars. It's heady, it's historical, it's a PhD's version of Disneyland. \n Looking forward to the third in the trilogy....", "date_added": "Sat Apr 14 11:43:13 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 11 10:50:22 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Aug 11 10:50:22 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "8667848", "review_id": "03f038edf5fc6a26fa3b68dc7de6a515", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Lest anyone make any mistakes, this is pop fiction, or chicklit with a brain. A huge brain, yes, which made it an enjoyable Saturday-morning curl-up-and-read book. But it's NOT Harry Potter, despite what everyone says; I will be honest and admit that neither is it Twilight, though it's much, much closer to the latter than to the former. It's fun, but it's brain candy, and the fiction writing feels amateur (the first paragraph of the book almost made me stop right there). \n Best for fans of The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane or Kate Mosse, though ultimately superior (in my opinion only!) to any of Kate Mosse's works. \n So, four stars because of its simple, beach-read-like enjoyment factor, but make no mistake about its being more than it is.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 13 20:10:28 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 14 13:38:15 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Apr 14 13:38:15 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "9447182", "review_id": "aab3e85e69cb695aa626f06c116016ae", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm a rabid fan of stand-alone YA. I think that too often, YA are books which depend on their prequel or sequel. I have nothing against series of books (Harry Potter, Kristin Cashore - yes please!) I just prefer that they stand on their own, with a distinct beginning, middle, and most of all, end. \n Neumeier's novel absolutely achieves that goal. \n But I loved the book on its own merits, too, apart from my personal requirements for novels. \n Neumeier's writing consists of nearly poetic language, though possibly a little too much of it: lots of sort of philosophically descriptive narrative that seemed like Neumeier was afraid we wouldn't recognize her genius and she might not get another publishing contract so she put it all into one book. \n There's original plot, two well developed main characters (though the others may be a little flat), gorgeous world-building and a tasteful, sincere romance that's a lovely finishing note without compromising the strength of the female protagonist.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 10 20:33:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 10 20:40:34 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Apr 10 20:40:34 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "10874177", "review_id": "03234be7105ffe10ea6767664f39a01c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Steampunk frothy and fun, with a strong heroine", "date_added": "Sat Mar 31 06:11:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 16 08:33:17 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 16 08:33:17 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "289590", "review_id": "363f966375540f138e34accf0602c160", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I meant to read Dickinson's books eventually, since my idol (ie, Robin McKinley) chose to marry him. I like his voice, and his unique take on fantasy, which is part Jan Brett Scandinavian folk and part Arabian Nights spice. \n Additionally, I have to wonder if Peterfreund read this before writing Rampant.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 05 13:28:04 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 05 13:31:30 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Mar 05 13:31:30 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "13163574", "review_id": "84c225500df87af0f5cbc64c987143b5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Another book of Lyra, with a new preface about Wrede's editing process.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 05 13:26:51 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 05 13:27:33 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Mar 05 13:27:33 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "13326268", "review_id": "6ed7c154c929d27bb675f99a3bb407c7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm a Pioneer Magic groupie, but I love Wrede's writing and especially the preface to this book in which she shares her editing process.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 05 13:08:50 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 05 13:25:56 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Mar 05 13:25:56 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "13163450", "review_id": "b4905458f698b39ab147f1d2d7cab98b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not Wrede's strongest (I'm a rabid fan of her Pioneer Magic series), but always wonderful to have a strong thirtysomething female protagonist who has children.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 05 13:06:02 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 05 13:11:52 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Mar 05 13:11:52 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "13174213", "review_id": "43a47b7e8f216f56f10ad05d74882000", "rating": 3, "review_text": "DO NOT mistake my three-star rating as anything other than an acknowledgement that this was Wrede's first published novel. This edition has an AMAZING introduction in which she shares her editing process that makes the whole thing worth buying, in my opinion.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 17 16:10:51 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 05 13:04:40 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Mar 05 13:04:40 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "393146", "review_id": "2fef788bca8bb864fb14e1db4e971c2a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The breadth of Croggon's writing and imagination is staggering, but I felt a lack of being hooked: the characters fall a little flat for me.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 05 11:42:42 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 15:40:56 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 15 15:40:56 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "9588207", "review_id": "baf8bcb8dcdee1005a55a12b05430707", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I would put this in the hands of my middle-school students, but I don't think I'd recommend it to my fellow lit teachers. It's fun, slightly simplistic, with a truly plucky* heroine and includes intriguing connections to Transylvania as a real place, not as a monster haven. \n *\"Plucky\" is such a cliched word, but Reveka embodies its meaning - and a little of its cliche.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 05 11:40:31 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 25 18:43:48 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "7908762", "review_id": "5640c015a238095f99692af4236fa42c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "My third ever Sharon Shinn book and I finally see what all the fuss is about. Love.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 23 12:53:02 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 23 12:54:02 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jan 23 12:54:02 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "350500", "review_id": "a8e3000ff5bd60f2f45ec54f862fd358", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Gregory Maguire can do something other than depressed desolate social commentary novels - who knew? Fans of Coraline will love this tale about skibereen.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 23 12:48:31 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 23 12:51:47 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jan 23 12:51:47 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "12180248", "review_id": "d788aa3178c6b967bc6674e30f65921e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Every fairy tale in the world, thrown into one book. Lots of potential, well written, but fell short - literally, I think. I could have read another 100 pages, easily. I was looking for every fairy tale/mother goose story reference, and lost the real plot for a while. Still, Kontis is an author I will be adding to my \"read everything she publishes\" list.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 25 19:50:20 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 06 16:21:12 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Aug 17 08:20:35 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "10445208", "review_id": "5c118dd4afe9e1e9e0a42029543635ff", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm a Snyder junkie, though I haven't touched any of the Glass books. This book is on par with her writing - action-packed, fast-paced, with humor and some highly original devices. Touch of Power has a few too many anachronisms to make me completely happy with it. If you've liked any Snyder, you should read this. If you haven't read any Snyder, you might like this one if you like Anne Osterlund, Tamora Pierce, Robin McKinley, or Shannon Hale's more adult works.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 11 17:03:39 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 15:49:48 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "10429092", "review_id": "43ffae2a37f46d717347cf81d376870c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I am hard pressed to think of any way to make this novel better, unless by making it longer. Much, much longer. And on top of being an amazing book, whose sequels I anticipate eagerly, it stands alone. I cannot tell you how I despise books whose existence is wholly dependent upon their sequels. Brava, Ms. Carson!", "date_added": "Sun Dec 11 10:53:31 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 11 10:56:46 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Sun Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "11431896", "review_id": "5e7b6e9d5625191a083b9da4aec238fd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Loved #1, liked #2, was a little disappointed in #3.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 11 10:52:59 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 02 22:30:24 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "10816908", "review_id": "e9aecc8a77b616e38d9ebd24cb9ce17e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "(this is wholly opinion and won't tell you ANYTHING about the plot, really, only my reaction to it) \n Literally, and very truly, I may cry because this book is over and I have to wait until next year to read more by Rae Carson. Don't get me wrong, this book is complete on its own; there's no cliffhanger which has left me bereft. However, it's been a long time since I wholly fell in love with an author, her characters, her writing style. The three Carson pieces I've read have all earned five stars for me. \n Also, my opinion is that it's difficult to write effectively in present tense - and, yep! Carson writes skillful present tense.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 11 10:52:56 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 29 09:53:19 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Sep 29 09:53:19 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "12291646", "review_id": "9bd43d398a719d12d479a2476c72c8bd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Underwhelming after its predecessor volumes", "date_added": "Fri Aug 19 17:28:23 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 30 14:16:35 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Sep 30 14:16:35 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "12154330", "review_id": "90572791197b353a4d62c105920afd89", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I love Marchetta. I mean, love. I still think that Finnikin of the Rock is the most perfect book EVER written. \n As a story, Froi of the Exiles isn't up to par. It's as though by trying to define madness, Marchetta loses her grip of the character development. Don't get me wrong. This book is FAR better than MOST I've read. Marchetta is a skillful, fantastic author. \n However. \n Froi of the Exiles made me angry. Very angry. In this book, the story doesn't really end. It leaves a plethora of loose threads, hanging endings. \n I resent when authors simply stop a story, whether it's because they're out of room or their publishers are wanting to hook people into buying the next volume. I bought Froi on its Kindle release date on the strength of the writing in Finnikin - and the ending of Finnikin feels satisfying, a story tied up, if not completely, at least enough that I didn't want to throw myself off a balcony for not knowing what was next.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 29 21:21:47 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 21 08:45:11 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Mar 21 08:45:11 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "4932435", "review_id": "5cf1f271c3e153a1fe34ee1d5da1ca8a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I read at least a book a week. I have read hundreds of books in my lifetime. \n This is the most perfect book ever created, and easily my new favorite.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 29 21:16:11 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 11 18:46:51 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Sun Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "6752378", "review_id": "0f3345fba98338b178c879ae1cf0bb9f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "As a theologian, I have huge issue with Clare's take on Lilith. So unfair. Still, that's a disagreement; she's entitled to her interpretation. I give two stars not because of Lilith but because City of Fallen Angels falls far short of the excellence of Clare's other four books.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 13 18:41:59 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 27 18:30:10 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "6760761", "review_id": "4d0f339629b20ed886789bea98292b0b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Although this book was on my wishlist because it's a 2011 deb, I moved it to the top of the pile because of Lauren's review. She loved it, her review was convincing, I think you should read both the review AND the novel. Really, really looking forward to more from O'Neal, a solid writer with amazing skills.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 30 19:12:44 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 26 16:21:59 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Sat Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "2852832", "review_id": "4102d1f6e13d4eb74132c24b1972088f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I like Rhis far more than I did Meliara (from Crown Duel), but I enjoyed the plots equally. Smith isn't afraid of strong women, nor is she afraid of having them fall in love. That's definitely my kind of author.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 18 20:56:06 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 18 20:57:43 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "7236997", "review_id": "4d79b4d2006809828f3699a1f8b4fcec", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fresh, original, Wild West steampunk with the perfect blend of spec-fic and romance. Even Hobson's acknowledgment page is witty.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 18 20:49:05 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 18:52:43 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Feb 24 18:52:43 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "6278019", "review_id": "37ec5b27b9b15ef187e4eba7421520aa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Left me in a gorgeous, misty trance for days afterward. It was perfect, and not, I don't think appropriately called YA. It's mature, detailed - Jane Eyre meets Beauty and the Beast meets The Secret of Kells. I may have a new favorite author.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 18 20:42:40 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 26 16:53:56 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "9064899", "review_id": "1df94b258a9376a9a35fdcd1b4b018c3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Let's be honest: I am familiar with Kiersten White from an online writing circle. I was biased to like her books, but secretly, I feared they would not be very good. \n I was wrong. \n They're good. An eensy bit young for me, but definitely something I'd put into the hands of any girl who has an imagination and an ever so slight violent streak (aka, my daughter). Evie is a strong protagonist who doesn't go through all that wishy washy nonsense that some teen protags (ie, Bella) do. \n Eagerly awaiting Kiersten's next series.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 10 11:24:01 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 15 17:27:33 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "6920820", "review_id": "6308e14814cf24c7a99cacaca416b468", "rating": 3, "review_text": "strong heroine, good cast of characters, predictable ending that was still fun to arrive at", "date_added": "Fri Aug 27 17:44:20 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 22 22:22:40 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "4192586", "review_id": "b8b74c64c0610071eb07126e4e4573d0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "How had I never heard of the Cassaforte Chronicles before now? Love them!", "date_added": "Fri Aug 27 17:32:01 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 23 18:37:04 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "2662169", "review_id": "8ef6cd14f044e4d17aae76c5f97e2828", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Dark like Louise Hawes' Black Pearls, but not nearly as effortless as Hawes. Sex, incest, rape, but the reason I say not for under 17 is because of the depth and exploration of a mother's feelings - even I felt bruised in its savagery.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 21 21:17:46 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 21 21:24:06 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "7726036", "review_id": "e8f2c598b804655ebdd93aa885acde2b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT WHY did no one remind me not to read this book until the third one comes out? Actually (and this is high praise), this is a middle-of-a-trilogy that has decent closure and not a steep cliffhanger. AND I still want to read the last one. Like, tomorrow.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 22 22:08:50 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 08 10:37:18 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "10419831", "review_id": "15d0ae31b13c4b6f5df4f51c94aef643", "rating": 4, "review_text": "frothy, light, with a definite feel of Little Women. Please, don't rate this one til you get to the end.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 29 21:06:52 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 15:06:53 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "41425", "review_id": "19132b95fd2b8fd97473ec8d47143786", "rating": 3, "review_text": "McKinley loves her whippets, as any half-fan of hers knows, but the illustrations in this book don't do her prose - even her child-aimed prose - justice.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 09 12:58:09 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 09 12:59:00 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "7022166", "review_id": "8715aca4369721b22d7868d59399f447", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Akin to Rappaccini's daughter, and a quick read. Still, I'd save yourself some time and just read Hawthorne.", "date_added": "Mon May 24 21:01:04 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 10 15:48:17 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "6518733", "review_id": "14ac08582caf5203f166b1cf5d1f9fcb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is a theological dream. It's brilliant that way. I recommend it be read by seminary students. Oh, and by shelving it on my \"chicklit\" and \"romance\" shelves, I mean: for \"intelligent chicks who like sophisticated romance.\"", "date_added": "Thu May 06 09:02:46 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat May 29 12:09:40 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "7171637", "review_id": "644f3c0417a56476ca0930f36b410ee7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is not a perfect book: There's one instance in which a misplaced comma renders the word \"hopefully\" clunky and inappropriate. There might also be a few times the narrative lags. You know, a few times equals, like, seventeen words.... \n Other than that - WOW. My first foray into Clare's writing (though she's been on my \"wishlist\" forEVER) and enough to make me go buy her first three books. The only thing I hate is that - now there are TWO MORE BOOKS I have to bloody wait for, Infernal Devices #2 and #3.", "date_added": "Mon May 03 06:14:13 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 08 10:41:49 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "6321718", "review_id": "e2b19bf811bf04d9f50a87b3e67761d3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Usually I complain that a book ends too abruptly. I tore through this book, loving and loving it, until I came to what I thought was the natural ending. And yet there were still several chapters to go. It won't make my list of \"absolute favorites\" but it's definitely one I'd consider giving as a gift.", "date_added": "Mon May 03 06:04:37 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed May 12 07:40:59 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "6507754", "review_id": "eda201410ad248abeb562800ff1d997d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really wanted to like this book, but its message was a little too sugary, a little too preachy, and I just - didn't. But I read it all the way through (in about an hour), so obviously Trivas has talent in terms of telling a story and moving it along. I would love to hear what actual middle-graders think of this novel; I think they would like it.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 29 20:59:35 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 27 17:33:28 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "492486", "review_id": "0a1f03c186fa7687cb81c679e222757c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm not a fan of Pierce's \"Circle\" books, for all that I rabidly adore all things Alanna/Keladry/Numair. I did love Will of the Empress, so I thought I'd try Melting Stones. Not Tammy's strongest book, not by a long shot, but I wonder if I'd feel differently hearing the audio version, which was its original form. Read this if you're a Pierce fan, but don't let it be the first (or second, or third) Pierce book you read.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 26 07:51:06 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 26 07:55:35 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "7877549", "review_id": "8b52e38e7464511924dd62655d9e1c9b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Bunce just keeps getting better - third time's a charm, I can't WAIT for Liar's Moon.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 23 10:05:10 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 19 17:26:19 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Fri Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "7740225", "review_id": "1e23953cb417f358eade3adf65abdd86", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm not sure I could give literary snaps for character development, despite this being a really fun, fresh read. I loved the plot, the Irish background, the Chicago setting. I could even put up with Teagan's somewhat flat character (losing a baby hedgehog that you'd saved from premature birth? I'd be a nutcase.) What bothered me - a lot - are the depictions of Aiden and Lennie, as a child and youth who seem to be special needs. We find out that Aiden's strange-ness is magical; what about Lennie? I know that Hamilton causes the guys who bully him to get a taste of their own, but I felt irked by the simplistic dismissal of Lennie with the (albeit bully-said) word \"retard.\" Just keep in mind that none of the characters are fleshed out well, and this will be an enjoyable, far-fetched, highly escapist kind of read.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 20 17:44:39 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 30 19:22:08 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "6839020", "review_id": "7c51652c86e7815a0fef5eec6bfce8f4", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Fascinating premise; skillful writing; best first 3 pages /ever/. The rest is a trippy, ponderous, highly predictable and self-congratulatory drudge. I still plan on reading some of Reeve's other work, but I'd recommend passing on this one.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 15 15:39:02 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 23 07:55:45 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Fri Apr 23 07:52:15 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Wed Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "3188580", "review_id": "584bab6a332313408c22d7572ae7460c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm going to be called prudish, but I don't think the book's treatment of sex/rape is appropriate for its target audience. For adults, however, this is a lovely, gripping whim of a modern faerie story and certainly well-written", "date_added": "Sat Apr 10 07:53:53 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 19 21:30:51 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "7456034", "review_id": "91a1cbdf64727dd3b8ac231e6aa241c9", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I literally did not read the middle 100 pages, and I don't think I lost anything. I like Werlin, very much, but this story fell short of what I've come to expect from her.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 10 07:53:20 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 23 17:41:31 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "6644117", "review_id": "882709cd292eba54e7b0649d9dc37b52", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Labyrinth (my favorite movie of all time) meets Twilight in Kagawa's debut novel, which is a quick, fun read", "date_added": "Fri Apr 09 19:16:39 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri May 21 19:23:09 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "248290", "review_id": "cd9463e6c253bb4550e73c1b84056048", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I like Cameron Dokey; I was prepared to like Beauty Sleep. And while it does have Dokey's signature unique spin, there's far too much exposition. If you make it halfway through, you'll finally get to the action, but I would wish the earlier half moved more quickly.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 09 19:14:09 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 09 19:15:32 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "7507951", "review_id": "3a3b9933b4fcb61909d52102cc1158d6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "NO ONE TOLD ME THIS WAS A CLIFF-HANGER. Do NOT, repeat NOT, read this book until at least the next one (will there be more than 2?) is released. Pegasus, for a single volume, rambles too lengthily with exposition and the main character's internal dialogue. Here's hoping the second book balances this out....", "date_added": "Mon Apr 05 09:49:47 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 23 17:41:13 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "6261522", "review_id": "ebe0a4c6a35b7bff8fcf740e17adfa96", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Wowza. Just a highly enjoyable, well-executed read. Can't wait to read more by Derting.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 05 09:47:06 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 26 18:47:12 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "6768411", "review_id": "505377ea71b103d4a55cf776456ef2af", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I wish I could rate this book more highly; I really do. The plot's intriguing and there are some really lovely passages. But there's also (very subtle) shifting points of view, jumps in logic and action that don't quite make sense, and characters that feel like they're playing a part, rather than being authentic. I'm looking forward to more by Leah Cypess.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 25 16:30:21 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat May 01 11:21:43 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "3389671", "review_id": "26504b26e55f50cd874f0807748e359c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was another title of which I was skeptical: it sounded like a YA brainless chick lit. While it might be YA, and, yeah, probably even chick lit, it's far from brainless. It's intelligent, witty, and deftly crafted. The end dragged a little, but all in all, a highly enjoyable read.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 24 16:42:45 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 24 16:44:55 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "5266667", "review_id": "3d99c3795d8f877c9aab0502558af643", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Because of its cover, I feared to find vapid writing and minimal plot, but Flinn writes with humor and intelligence - this is an empowering, clever take on the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale", "date_added": "Tue Mar 23 13:14:41 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 23 13:16:54 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "6580510", "review_id": "5cca80798d83bdf3a84cab8941c26a33", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fans of Kristin Cashore and Tamora Pierce will delight in new author Alexandra Bracken's first novel. Four stars instead of five because a section near the end dragged a little for me, but I'm intensely hopeful there will be continuing tales of North and Sydelle. (Please?!)", "date_added": "Mon Dec 21 09:39:01 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Mon May 03 09:53:17 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sat Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "7719245", "review_id": "c8071a9dcf25e58de68a12320a6f8081", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I tend to gush (gush gush caffeine high gush) when I know I should be nice to a book/author but I just don't think it's merited. Keep that in mind when I use stark, sparse praise for Paranormalcy, speaking entirely in monotone and with no expression on my face: \n Buffy meets Eva Ibbotson. Strong, intelligent writing. Tight pacing. Good characterization. Fresh plot. Ended on an up note. By far the most enjoyable book I read this summer. Buy it. You'll want to read it again.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 03 08:36:18 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 05 10:43:10 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "1069186", "review_id": "3602c7d5760b78ca69f11cdffa0b6227", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Not-Suited-for-Under-17: explicit sexual content", "date_added": "Fri Nov 27 15:11:12 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 27 15:14:23 -0800 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "332775", "review_id": "212ced5050a957981efa258ba5e4bfa5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm pretty sure Fisher wrote this book as required reading for an IB Theory of Knowledge class. It should be required reading for everyone ages 14-19, but since I'd had many similar philosophical/metaphysical courses in college and grad school, the sheer detailed perfection of her world-building only held me for so long.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 30 18:51:46 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 18 21:03:22 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "6345760", "review_id": "cc86f5aea1a5e6c242deb605274f9c3f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "amazing, heart-wrenching (in the best of ways), lovely", "date_added": "Thu Sep 17 17:46:23 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 20 10:17:35 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "6062032", "review_id": "334f1f2ddcba3ec0c2e071462e9a5623", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This had an exciting premise that, for me, fell flat a chapter or two in. There was too much incongruent world building, too many loose bits (not unfinished endings, just details that don't fit anywhere) and too many clean edges. I did finish the whole thing, so I feel comfortable giving it a two rating whereas if I hadn't finished it, I might still hold out for a three. For fans of literature with a twist, pick up Jasper Fforde instead.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 03 18:10:08 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 13 20:09:20 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "544891", "review_id": "d673ac92dbfc9131175b75069044c012", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Let's be honest. I read this book because Neil Patrick Harris is going to star in the movie. And while it's well-written (description, dialogue, the whole she-bang), I could never entirely buy the premise the 16-year-olds can fall in love so completely, so truly. And I don't mean that as a discussion or argument - I would be happy to agree to that premise, but the book never sold me on it. Still, the movie will have Neil Patrick Harris in it. Did I mention Neil Patrick Harris?", "date_added": "Wed Jun 17 19:26:23 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 13 17:56:52 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "5633958", "review_id": "b1f0fd2c26012463ac58df15f3b67f65", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Before you head back to school, you need to take time to read ghostgirl and ghostgirl:Homecoming by Tonya Hurley (picture below). Part \n Beetlejuice \n , part Christina Ricci's \n Casper \n , part \n Bring It On \n , the \n ghostgirl \n books are the perfect end to summer, get you back in the swing of things for the academic year. 'Cause, let's face it. School's less about Chinua Achebe and quadratic equations and more about the cute new transfers or who will ask you to the first dance. \n Both of these books were highly entertaining and written by a hand skilled in pop culture and teen experience. Hurley sets up each chapter with a song quote and philosophical tidbit. The themes and plot are in no way condescending nor do they stereotype teen angst, but they're also not too profound for occasional readers. There's nothing inappropriate for young teens, but the plot is complex and intriguing enough for older teens. \n Still, while the stories themselves are highly enjoyable, the standout quality of these books is their physical form. In black hardback, the front covers have glassine panes that resemble coffins, and open to a Tim-Burton-like drawing of Charlotte. The pages are all tipped with silver, and the text is framed by black and pink flowers. \n Given together, these would be the perfect gift for any reader or non-reader girl (or a boy you know likes YA fiction) to go back to school, or for any occasion while they're in school (birthday, good grades, etc.) Adults should probably check them out from the library, although they do add zip to the look of any bookshelf.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 13 10:49:54 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 23 18:27:56 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "2508164", "review_id": "4d6d6790db42f39005efc3b4b4f00b2b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Before you head back to school, you need to take time to read ghostgirl and ghostgirl:Homecoming by Tonya Hurley (picture below). Part \n Beetlejuice \n , part Christina Ricci's \n Casper \n , part \n Bring It On \n , the \n ghostgirl \n books are the perfect end to summer, get you back in the swing of things for the academic year. 'Cause, let's face it. School's less about Chinua Achebe and quadratic equations and more about the cute new transfers or who will ask you to the first dance. \n Both of these books were highly entertaining and written by a hand skilled in pop culture and teen experience. Hurley sets up each chapter with a song quote and philosophical tidbit. The themes and plot are in no way condescending nor do they stereotype teen angst, but they're also not too profound for occasional readers. There's nothing inappropriate for young teens, but the plot is complex and intriguing enough for older teens. \n Still, while the stories themselves are highly enjoyable, the standout quality of these books is their physical form. In black hardback, the front covers have glassine panes that resemble coffins, and open to a Tim-Burton-like drawing of Charlotte. The pages are all tipped with silver, and the text is framed by black and pink flowers. \n Given together, these would be the perfect gift for any reader or non-reader girl (or a boy you know likes YA fiction) to go back to school, or for any occasion while they're in school (birthday, good grades, etc.) Adults should probably check them out from the library, although they do add zip to the look of any bookshelf.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 13 10:49:48 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 23 18:34:25 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "6001758", "review_id": "4057b5fbf2bc5fb2af5005aac6265873", "rating": 5, "review_text": "EEPS AND EEPS - Trish is lending me her /signed/ ARC - I AM SO IN LOVE WITH K. CASHORE!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 09 10:12:21 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 11 21:42:41 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "219677", "review_id": "a446200cb330ca9f218b3717525360f5", "rating": 2, "review_text": "plodding pace; I kept trying to struggle through and finally gave up.", "date_added": "Wed May 20 17:25:36 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 19 16:20:50 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "150739", "review_id": "e746169813d295b03f4e0659873fb6c1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "In the same vein as An Ordinary Princess and Ella Enchanted. Very middle-grade, very well done.", "date_added": "Wed May 20 17:20:27 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 30 15:33:19 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jul 30 15:33:19 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "21060", "review_id": "0991dbfdef0d155aaafc1c459ba884a2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "World-building and language made me a fan of Smith, despite my initial and rather intense dislike of Meliara. But all is made well by the end, with a delicious love scene and fantastic ending, never hobbling its female protagonist. Off to find more by Smith....", "date_added": "Wed May 20 17:06:30 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 30 12:09:20 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Fri Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "5495243", "review_id": "9039bd9fbb9aa3e3723d1d6758d7ecbe", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Gosh DARN it. I was convinced that this book couldn't be any good; it had gotten too much hype. Alas, the hype was warranted. This book is what Twilight should have been - a strong female (several, actually), some fantasy elements, and a hot guy (who's not afraid of strong females) in Rome. Yeah, they're killing the killer unicorns, but you would be, too, just to get in on Peterfreund's action. Yes, yes, it's that good.", "date_added": "Sat May 09 17:51:07 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 13 17:51:56 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "2982126", "review_id": "815f258600e1c783c431fa1ef1cf77c0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Anita has a boyfriend and the lead role in her school's production of \"Romeo & Juliet.\" Then, a freak boating accident on her 16th birthday reveals a secret: Anita is really Tania, the seventh daughter of Oberon and Titania, King and Queen of the Faerie Realm. Life in Faerie is renewed, even as Anita struggles to find her place in this new world and say goodbye to her life in the old. And when she uncovers a sinister plot to overthrow Oberon, Tania has to choose between her mortal and immortal self, and between two young men who claim her love. \n I read this book immediately on finishing Wings by Aprilynne Pike, not knowing they were so similar in initial plot. In fact, for the first two or three chapters, I wondered how Pike could get away with such close plot points. Then the similarities end, and Faerie Path veers off into a more traditional fairy tale. \n I preferred The Faerie Path to Wings, partly because of the story itself and partly because of the semi Old English dialect Jones skillfully employs. I am also a sucker for any book about sisters. \n Faerie Path is the first of a serious, but I thought it was well contained within itself. You won't feel an immediate need to read sequels (but you'll probably want to.) This is a good choice for an avid YA or fantasy reader who will enjoy - for at least 4 volumes - the world that Frewin Jones has created.", "date_added": "Wed May 06 11:44:39 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed May 06 11:45:59 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Wed Apr 29 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "1582996", "review_id": "4e107d8f00a7c80e6f12b2bb190a3fee", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Enough with the incest, already.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 20 21:22:16 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 08 10:38:57 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "25ca522c3eaeea1f43b942bc84b1c1fd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Since I read Clockwork Angel first, I can see how Clare has developed her voice and skill since writing City of Bones. Don't get me wrong - they were mad skillz to begin with, but I still think Clockwork Angel is the smoothest, best read. Can I just buy stock in Mortal Instruments now?", "date_added": "Mon Apr 20 21:22:15 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 08 10:41:38 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "2274683", "review_id": "981ff0eb9e9b7f9fe958f56d1b4ddd26", "rating": 4, "review_text": "From Booklist \n Marriott's first novel (The Swan Kingdom, 2008) was inspired by a fairy tale; this second fantasy creates its own world with a complex history of civil war, racial struggles, and religious beliefs. Fifteen-year-old Zira, raised by the Ruan people, bears facial scars and buried memories of her true heritage--she is the hidden heir to the kingdom of Sedorne, ruled by her despotic uncle Abheron. Being half Ruan herself, she represents the possibility of a union between the indigenous Ruan and the occupying Sedorne. When Abheron sends his troops to destroy her home, Zira learns the truth about her identity and sees a glimmer of hope to overthrow Abheron through marriage with a Sedorne lord. Readers of Tamora Pierce will happily immerse themselves in a character not unlike Alanna: a headstrong, feisty teen who glories in physical combat and longs for (and finds) a true soul mate. Marriott's writing is smooth and compelling; lush descriptions are balanced with plenty of fast-paced battles. A satisfying read for fantasy lovers, with rich backstory, lavish costumes, and a happy ending. Grades 7-11. --Debbie Carton \n I finished Daughter of the Flames with a smug sense of justification. When I read Marriott's debut novel, The Swan Kingdom, I predicted her second novel would be remarkable. And, indeed, Daughter of the Flames is an amazing leap from an author who has really stepped up her game. The writing moves quickly, the originality of the story stays fresh throughout, and, above all, Marriott's done some first-rate world-building. Addressing my biggest pet peeve, Marriott does especially well at creating two religions which must co-exist, and she keeps the theologies of these systems consistent. (Yay!!) \n The weakness in Daughter of the Flames, however, is in the almost ulterior motive Marriott has to validate Zira with a man. The third wave feminist in me wants to celebrate a male-female equally empowered relationship. And I'm all for romance. But Zira marries at Sorin's insistence for political and convenience reasons, in an act that seems remove the possibility of her own agency and choice. Then, Sorin fades, more or less, into suggesting that it's only his backing her that makes Zira powerful. \n Still, this is a fantastic, fun, amazing story. Anyone who likes YA, fantasy, or both, should read this book, if not buy it. It would be a great gift for a female graduating high school or going off to college, or for Mr. I-finished-a-Manuscript. \n Steph Su reviews \n Daughter of the Flames \n and interviews Zoe herself!!", "date_added": "Wed Apr 08 16:42:07 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 24 19:21:28 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Fri May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "6091120", "review_id": "e488517748016a82e1d28ade08dbe260", "rating": 5, "review_text": "FIRST LINE: \"Moth was flying his kite near the aerodrome when he heard the dragonfly crash.\" \n Young Moth had grown up in Calio, the mountain city, dreaming of becoming a Skynight, one of the elite pilots who flew the fragile, beautiful, newfangled flying machines called dragonflies. To the north of Calio stretched the Reach, looking like a sea of fog that never ended. Flat and peaceful, the mists of the Reach flowed all the way to the horizon, and Calio loomed over this vast forbidding expanse like a sentinel standing guard. \n There were numerous tall tales about the lands beyond the Reach, and Moth heard the wildest of them from Leroux. Leroux, had once been one of the legendary Eldrin Knights, had taken guardianship of the ten-year-old when Moth's mother died. At first, Moth had been expecially fascinated by Leroux's stories of the Skylords, but at the grown-up age of thirteen, Moth was becoming increasingly skeptical about the existence of these mysterious, powerful and frightening beings from beyond the Reach. \n When Leroux died, Moth was faced with an impossible task: to protect Lady Esme, Leroux's pet kestrel. And protecting Lady Esme would mean venturing into the forbidden Reach with his best friend Fiona, to find dragons, battle Skylords, and discover the secret hidden within the kestrel herself. \n It would be easy for me to ambiguously rave about Starfinder. As I said before, I loved it. But I know that others found it lacking, so I thought I would specify what I loved, so that you can judge whether you might use the same criteria as I. \n 1. It's intelligent. \n The tone of the book doesn't condescend to readers. The narrative might be a little slow for someone only interested in action, but the metaphors and literary elements are delightful for those who choose to identify them. The language is lyrical but not flowery, with lots of good SAT words sprinkled throughout, in only appropriate places. \n 2. It's original....but familiar. \n The Hindenberg meets Fantasyland? Heck, yeah. I never expected, plot-wise, what would happen next. The characters were complex enough to keep me guessing. And the Reach itself is a magical land created wholly by Marco, rather than lifted from the idea of some other one. \n While the plot and characters are original, Starfinder, for me, had the feel of so many of my favorite worlds and authors and characters: Narnia, Neverland, Naussica of the Valley of the Wind, Anne McCaffrey, Lewis Carroll, Howl's Moving Castle, Xena - to name a few. In other words, this story felt very comfortable, both exciting and familiar, and that added to its charm. \n 3. It's got heart. \n Marco is careful not to reduce any of the conflicts in Starfinder to dualisms. There are many shades of grey, and the reader is given a chance to think about what his or her own response might be even as Moth or Fiona make theirs. There's a great deal of affection - parental love, friendship - without romance playing much of a role in this book (other than, for example, a husband-wife who are obviously fond of each other.) Whatever the emotions, Marco elicits them organically, without resorting to cliches for loss or joy or anger or exhilaration. \n Starfinder would make a great present for boys around ages 12 to 14 who like to read, or for reluctant boy readers ages 12 to 18. I wouldn't buy this for a girl unless I knew she was open to the strong female characters and didn't expect mushy romance. But everyone - everyone - should at least check it out from the library.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 27 16:51:07 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 09 21:09:25 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Fri May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "47085", "review_id": "b62364f88ba6f7b67a33730d397aa69e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I came across this book during a grab-Starbucks-browse-Barnes&Noble getaway from my children. An hour of drifting through the aisles, jotting titles to add to my Paperback Swap wishlist, sipping a hot espresso truffle - heaven. \n St. Lucy's was sitting face-out on the shelf, and for better or for worse, I am drawn to books that I judge by their covers. This one features the illustration of a little girl in a white and red pinafore riding the back of a shaggy brown wolf. The girl's pudgy pink hands pull at her short, unkempt hair. I knew how she felt. \n The author of the collection of short stories is the rather beautiful wunderkind Karen Russell, who was 25 years old at the time of printing. I didn't expect much, but having recently entered a short story contest, I realized how little I knew about crafting a short story. And how I really don't like short stories. With a penitent heart, I took the book home and began to read. \n In the ten stories, Russell whisks us away to the darker side of the Florida Everglades and to the plains of the Old West and to an Eskimo ice cap. She lovingly presents characters grotesque and disturbing, who act in grotesque and disturbing ways. Families run theme parks for wrestling alligators or exploiting Giant Conch shells, brothers seek their sister's ghost in underwater caves, orangutans perform at an ice rink, and, yes, wolf-like girls are reformed by nuns. \n These stories may be surreal, but what's far more astonishing is Russell's magic with words. Russell unabashedly expects the best of the English language and refuses to settle for less. Her phrasing is orgasmic. \n Now the thunder makes the thin window glass ripple like wax paper. Summer rain is still the most comforting sounds I know. I like to pretend that it's our dead mother's fingers, drumming on the ceiling above us. \n I shadow the spirit manatees, their backs scored with keloid stars from motorboat propellers. I somersault through stingrays. Bonefish flicker around me like mute banshees. \n Somewhere, an Avalanche is about to happen without us. Rangi must know this before I do, and the dead bear in eyes comes racing towards us across old snow. \n And sometimes, if she sits long enough, it happens. Beneath the hum of her own blood, beneath the hum of the world itself, she thinks she can hear the faint strains of another song. It's a red spark of sound, just enough to cast acoustic shadows of the older song that she has forgotten. \n Words fail me to describe this book. I grasp at adjectives like \"satisfying,\" \"complex,\" \" bizarre.\" Russell's book is the reason the word \"phantasmagorical\" exists. I think about sucking your own blood from a paper cut or pouring salt on a slug. Reading St. Lucy's is like drinking a glass of thick, perfectly aged red wine and being fully sated in both hunger and thirst. \n This is a book writers should read, readers should read, adventurers should read. It's not for the timid, but neither is it for the fearless. It's for all of us who are in between.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 22 20:21:56 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 04 08:56:51 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "3002368", "review_id": "c7f2946a56604df79c6a27e71503685f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. \n YET. \n For those of you who don't know, I have a rule that I neither buy, check out, borrow or otherwise read books whose sequels have not been published. I just get too darn impatient for the continuation of the series. \n Well, I did not realize that Skin Hunger is a trilogy. Yes, it says so right on the book. Yes, I really can read. But I didn't. Big mistake. \n Skin Hunger tells two stories, alternating chapter to chapter between the two. The first is the 3rd-person narrative of Sadima, a young woman with the ability to talk to animals in a place and time in which such magic is strictly forbidden. The second story is the 1st person account of Hahp, a second son sent to wizarding school, centuries after Sadima. \n Skin Hunger is not like The Forest of Hands and Teeth, which has a sequel but is a perfectly complete story in its own right. It's not even like Paolini's Inheritance Cycle, in which each book does a respectable job of tying up a few plot lines before moving on to the next volume. \n Instead, Skin Hunger introduces the two storylines, as well as the four main characters: Sadima, Franklin, Sommiss, and Hahp. These are difficult enough to learn, with the back-and-forth points of view. Indeed, it takes at least a third of the book, if not more, to even understand why there are alternating points of view. For a 350 page book, it's too confusing; it may be more appropriate for the 1000 page novel that the trilogy will become. \n Then, just as you settle into the flip flopping and characters and their possible motivations, the book ends. The story doesn't end; in fact, I thought I'd maybe purchased a misprinted copy. The reader is left with more questions than answers and with severe annoyance at the abruptness. \n Still, Duey's book won Newbery honors, probably because of her original concept and well-paced writing. I am definitely looking forward to the second volume Sacred Scars, but I strongly encourage you to wait until the third book (as yet unwritten) is released before diving into the trilogy.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 22 17:58:41 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 28 21:38:10 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Thu Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "2153427", "review_id": "21345cf389d9e1906e6a478cdcaf35f5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "As another commenter said, I disliked Princess Ben (the character, not the book) to such a degree that I almost put the book down. Fortunately, things happen, and I was quite pleased overall. The story put me in mind of Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix, but had the humor of Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. \n The truly outstanding part of this book is Murdock's writing. She uses a slightly formal voice for Ben, who is writing these accounts after everything in the story has happened. I'm a terrible stickler for point of view, and Murdock never falters. The first person POV is executed flawlessly. \n I think the best audience for this tale are pre-teens, but early teens, maybe through age 15, will love it, too. Older teens and young adults can read it quickly and enjoy it.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 21 18:19:54 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 10 16:07:12 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "2368381", "review_id": "74f99737e2f716b8237ddfdc0a523c52", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a beautifully written collection. Hawes retells six familiar stories and a nursery rhyme. Rather than the idyllic heroes and princesses, these are stories of human desire, frailty, cruelty, and loyalty. Reacquaint yourself with Jack the Giant-killer, Hansel and Gretel, the Pied Piper of Hamlin and Lady Godiva. Meet Rapunzel's mother, as well as the seventh of the seven dwarves, and the emasculated prince who married Cinderella. \n Kirkus Reviews writes that these seven tales are \n magical and sometimes erotic happily-never-after retellings. . . In this sinister, highly sexual faerie world, heroes are often evil and villains are sometimes innocents who simply don't get to tell their side of the story. \n I considered this point of view for a long time, because I didn't find this book to be erotic or highly sexual. Certainly the Grimm Brothers' tales can be as dark as anything Hawes has offered here. Perhaps Kirkus Reviews are comparing the tales to the G-rated Disney versions. In that case, then...yes. Hawe's faerie world is \"sinister and highly sexual.\" \n Instead of \"sexual,\" however, I would use the word \"appetite.\" Hawe's collection of tales shows human appetites in all their variations: for money, for fame, for ease, and, yes, for sexual connection, as well as sexual gratification. Further, Hawes writes in tones as darkly lush and precious as any jewel, pearls or no. \n I recommend this book on its own literary merits, but if I still haven't convinced you to read it, consider this: I have one good reason for you to read this book. The illustration of the Pied Piper of Hamlin makes any imagining of Edward Cullen seem like a toad-faced bottom-dweller. Rebecca Guay's illustrations make these black pearls truly luminous.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 21 18:17:19 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 16 16:28:46 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "2124206", "review_id": "e09cd5502443de496d93778010df9b78", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The Swan Kingdom is a re-imagining of the fairy tale Six Swans. The first written account of this tale was done by the Brothers Grimm around 1812, and its variations throughout Europe feature ravens or ducks. Those early versions were meant to emphasize the unity of the family in light of adversity, which theme Marriott continues. \n In The Swan Kingdom, King and Queen of the Hartlands have four children: three boys, and the youngest, a girl, Princess Alexandra. Alexandra inherited her mother's skills as \"a cunning woman,\" a woman connected with the natural forces and wise in ways of natural healing. Not even her skills can save the Queen when a malevolent being seeks to destroy the Hartlands. Alexandra is sent away, her brothers are turned to swans, and it takes her a year before she even realizes that she's the only one who can save them. \n I understand why an agent and/or an editor took on this book. Marriott has incredible potential as a fantasy writer. Her descriptions, even of lowly herbs, are sumptuous. When she sets her mind to it, she can write a tight, fast-paced scene. Alexandra is (mostly) a smart, likeable protagonist, with the sincerity and doubts of youth but without posturing angst. If you're a fan of fairy tales at all, The Swan Kingdom is worth reading. \n However, I don't think that The Swan Kingdom will ever be heralded as her best work. (At least, I hope not.) It's filled with cliches, such as Alexandra thinking she's \"plain\" and the reader finding out later that she's beautiful. The pace can sometimes lag (I started skimming), and she overdevelops minor characters and under-develops major ones. This book is a great beginning, and I'm excited to see more from this promising author.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 15 17:42:28 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 09 19:02:21 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Wed Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "283494", "review_id": "7f007edbf5462de6a2fa378034e6f13c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I skipped over the second book in the Modern Tale of Faery series by Holly Black. That book, Valiant, veers away from the Kaye-Roiben story, which is what really interested me. I grabbed Ironside, book 3 in the series, almost as an afterthought at last week's trip to Borders. \n After a brief recap of the story in the form of a prologue, Ironside begins on the eve of Roiben's coronation as King of the Unseelie Court. Kaye is unwelcome by his subjects, since she alone has the power to control him (using his real name), and she alone is his weakness. Banished on a quest because of her declaration of love for him, Kaye struggles to find the balance between the life she knew as a human and the life she's learning in the realm of Faerie. \n I love the style of this book. It's fresh and honest without falling into cliches of angst or nonchalance. Black knows how to balance sweeping battle scenes with details like making a bed on the floor. Descriptions are vivid without being verbose; dialogue is snappy and natural. Everything seems to be in place, despite the flip-flopping that Kaye does between Faerie and Ironside. \n While the movement between settings works, the movement between characters is more problematic. My main difficulty with Ironside is that I'm still not certain who the protagonist is. There's almost equal time given to Kaye and Corny, with side trips into Roiben's perpective. In terms of who develops and changes, it's Corny. In terms of a hero, it's Kaye - kind of. Her characterization in this book is weakest, and if you didn't know Kaye from Tithe, I doubt you'd like her in Ironside, because she seems shallow and uninteresting. The really most sympathetic, interesting, quirky, imperfect and lovable character is Cornelius. Although Kaye dominates several key scenes, it's Cornelius whom you feel is leading you through the story. \n The other disappointing part of Ironside, I think, is the loss of the romantic intensity between Kaye and Roiben. There is romantic intensity between another couple, half of which is Corny, and it's darling. Overall, though, the best scenes are the raw ones with Ellen, Kaye's human mother. These are perfectly conceived, perfectly written gems. \n Despite the fact that her style is very different from what I usually read, I really enjoy Holly Black. Her website is friendly and welcoming, and I encourage you to check it out.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 25 17:40:47 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 25 17:42:09 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sat Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "274868", "review_id": "62f5b8159a27eae20daf81928758d93b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm a crier. I cry most easily when I'm angry, but I also cry when I'm sad, and when I'm happy, and when my kids are being cute, and when there are freshly baked cookies to be had. I'm the person Brian Andreas had it mind when he wrote, \"She said she usually cried at least once each day not because she was sad, but because the world was so beautiful & life was so short.\" \n The Legend of Holly Claus is a cry book. It made be cry because of its wonder and beauty. Publishers Weekly said it was a \"lush and leisurely Yuletide read.\" It's part of the Julie Andrews Collection, that \"offers gentle wisdom for the growing years.\" If you're thinking Tasha Tudor meets Louisa May Alcott, you wouldn't be far off. \n To be honest, I bought it because it was 50% off in the Barnes and Noble after-Christmas sale. The premise looked interesting and the illustrations by award-winning Long are breathtaking. \n What I found was one of my new favorite books, one that I will read year after year during the Christmas season. \n Nicholas Claus is the King of Forever, the Land of Immortals. When a child writes an unusual Christmas letter, he and Mrs. Claus are granted their hearts' desire: a child. Their daughter Holly grows up intelligent, kind, and spirited. Unfortunately, she also grows up with her heart frozen inside a block of ice, as part of a complicated curse involving the uber-evil being, Herrikhan. The gates to the Land of the Immortals are barred, so that Immortal may carry out his or her work on Earth, and no new Immortal may enter. \n Seeing Holly rather than Herrikhan as the cause of their misfortune, the Immortals shun Holly, so that she reaches adolescence with only animals as her friends. Determined to right the wrong done at her birth, she finds a way to travel to the Empire City - Victorian New York - where she proves herself a truly selfless and strong heroine. \n In addition to being sappy and sentimental, I'm also superlatively suspicious. I'm almost impossible to surprise. But Ryan manages a few authentic twists and revelations that amazed even me. The Legend of Holly Claus brims with innocence and goodwill, without pandering to naivete. I highly recommend it, even - and especially - if you're a crier.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 08 20:48:10 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 08 20:50:14 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sun Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "28194", "review_id": "4316999a9a3a070965a4bde33df9481f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The premise of Inkheart is that a Meggie, a precocious preteen, discovers that her father Mortimer (Mo) has the ability to call into reality the characters he reads aloud from books. And, unfortunately, he allowed a pretty nasty chap to escape, a nasty chap who will stop at nothing to force Mo to read other nasty characters into the world. When Mo is kidnapped, Meggie and her great-aunt Elinor set out along the Italian countryside to find him. \n The truth is, I wasn't super keen on Inkheart. The plot is decent but predictable. It was well written but not Rowling-well-written. And unlike, for example, Harry Potter, which read better than it translated to screen, I think Inkheart, for all its book-loving characters and plot, was written to be seen. \n Let's be honest. I bought this book because it was on a display for the just-released movie of the same title starring Brendan Fraser. \n Brendan Fraser. \n Like I don't spend enough on books already without publishers using him to lure me into buying more. \n After I read the book, I went in search of information about the movie. Its website is gorgeous. The cast is outstanding: Paul Bettany, Helen Mirren, Jim Broadbent (is there anything the man can't do?). My secret confession is that I think Andy Sirkis as Capricorn looks particularly fab. \n I know, I'm digressing. I think the point is that the book itself was not enough to make me care about reading the next in the Inkworld series. But throw in Brendan Frasier, and I just might buy the rest of the trilogy.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 08 17:34:06 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 25 18:17:44 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Wed Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "5056084", "review_id": "d413f424a2e9eda27263925d22d04529", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Wings, author Aprilynne Pike's debut, tells the story of Laurel as she starts a new school in a cozy California town. Her mom's a homeopath, her dad is opening a bookstore, and her first friend at her new school is a hunky science whiz. When two zit-like bumps appear on her back and keep growing, Laurel has to face the reality of who she is and what her purpose really is. \n Wings is one of the first YA books I've read that caused me to think, \"oh. This is definitely YA.\" Don't misunderstand. Pike's writing feels effortless, her characters are real, and Laurel herself is a kick-ass protagonist. It's not urban fantasy in the sense of Holly Black's \n Tithe, \n but it's less pure fantasy than, for example, Frewin Jones's The Faerie Path. \n A definite choice to buy for girls ages 12-16. Some sex references make it (probably) inappropriate for younger than that. A library check-out for others (YA or fantasy fans, or, strangely, environmentalists).", "date_added": "Sun Jan 04 17:51:10 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Wed May 06 10:37:32 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Wed Apr 29 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "3351354", "review_id": "de0069b6329abba75ecca81c49512992", "rating": 4, "review_text": "First line: \"Nothing ever happened in Ondine, Louisiana, not even the summer Elijah Landry disappeared.\" \n Iris spends lazy summer days with her best friend, Collette, practicing spells and magic more to combat boredom than from any conviction in witchcraft. One afternoon Iris is contacted through these spells by the ghost of Elijah Landry. Elijah was born and died before Iris was born, and no one in Ondine knew what happened to him. Along with Ben, Collette's new \"boyfriend,\" the girls work on solving the mystery Elijah's disappearance. \n I'm hard-pressed to find anything lacking in this, Saundra Mitchell's debut novel. The pacing moves an original plot along nicely, the characterizations are deft and believable, and I assume that Mitchell's screenwriting background is what makes her dialogue so expertly natural. She writes small-town Southerners authentically, without stereotyping. \n What I love most about SHADOWED SUMMER, though, is that that Mitchell doesn't sacrifice an absorbing story for anything inappropriate for her target age group. The 14-year-old girls are aware of boys and kissing, but Iris has reservations about being giggly and fake for them. Iris herself is a darling mix of preteen and teen, tomboy and girl, self-assured and self-doubting. In other words, her character reads just like that of a real kid. \n BOTTOM LINE \n This is definitely one I'll encourage my own kids to read (in ten years), and one I'd feel comfortable giving a girl in grades 6-9 as a gift, even if I didn't know her very well. While I'm not sure parent & grandparent aged folks (male and female) would like to own this volume, they would enjoy it as a quick read from the library. \n Elsewhere: Reverie's review; Pub Story with Reviewer X; Juicilicioussss Reviews; and For the Love of Books", "date_added": "Sun Jan 04 17:43:28 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 03 16:22:05 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "2828595", "review_id": "242d79d245a9316c0ac808ab70cf9bb3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"Please be as you were. I will try to help you.\" She hesitated, and pulled out the handflower honey and added a little more to the mixture in her cup. The water was faintly gold against the silver cup; the small stones in the bottom shone like gems. She did not want god and silver and gems; she wanted ordinary things, commonplace things. Trees and birdsong and sunlight, and unfractured earth. \"Let the earth knit together againt, like - like darning a sock. Here are the threads to mend you with.\" And she threw a few drops from her cup into the trench. (p 24) \n Chalice is the most recent work of Robin McKinley, whose last novel, Dragonhaven (2007), fell short of what McKinley fans know she is able to do. Prior to Dragonhaven, McKinley had published Sunshine(2003), which won the Mythpoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature. Still, Sunshine, a vampire love story, was a departure from the sort of voice McKinley was wont to use. \n Chalice, at last, brings classic McKinley back to us. Woodwright and beekeeper Mirasol is chosen for a role in the governing Circle of her demesne: the role of Chalice, a position second in importance only to the Master. As young and uninitiated as she is, the new Master is more so: a Priest of elemental Fire. The two of them must learn to work together to pull the earthlines back into harmony after the previous Master's seven years of wanton, careless destruction. \n This, McKinley's 14th book, offers the same soothing sweetness as Mirasol's honey. McKinley's strengths are evident, if not at full force. Her characterizations are flawless, both engaging and subtle. Her sense of geography, the ability to create an unknown world and make it tangible to the reader, is unparalleled in fantasy writers. And while McKinley's characters battle evil, there's nothing simple about their understanding of it. There's little that's black and white, but much that ends up being rosy, or even honey-colored. \n If I had to describe her weakness in this book, it's too much telling (of the wrong sort - the sort of backstory narration common to the \"Once Upon a Time\" of a fairy tale) and not enough personal interaction. The Master speaks in paragraphs, and a large part of the first section of story is flashback. This writing style lends to the characterization of Mirasol herself as a loyal over-thinking introvert. \n Don't misunderstand me. This book is enchanting, full of the McKinley that I have long worshipped - erudite and lovely, a fairy tale as personal journey. It's well worth your time, particularly if you have ever loved Cecil/y or Lissar or Honor-as-Beauty. \n While there's not as much action as The Blue Sword or as much romance as Spindle's End, Chalice contains the sort of world where, it seems, even Luthe might feel comfortable, and certainly a world to which I hope McKinley takes us again.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 10 17:58:08 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 02 10:13:40 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Fri Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "3432478", "review_id": "b9be6df5de78dc6c106386beea0a8c3f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was one of the first people to read Twilight, before the whole Bella/Edward craze took over. One of the reviews that I read months later said that Twilight signaled the new \"in\" subject in YA - vampires. They were the \"new zombies;\" and zombies were \"out.\" \n I had never read any books about zombies, for two reasons. First, Robin McKinley has never written a book about them. Second, I am a wimp. A big one. I saw \"Poltergeist\" when I was 19 and I still have nightmares about it. Forget \"Thriller.\" Undead doesn't do it for me. \n Keep that in mind, then, when I say that I almost couldn't finish The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. Her writing is intelligent and sure-handed. Her descriptions are vivid without being verbose. Her zombies jump off the page and try to eat my brains. Oh, wait. \n The Forest of Hands and Teeth introduces Mary, a teenager who lives in a dystopian future. The rules set by the Sisterhood are clear - stay inside the gates, away from the undead who run free in the forest. But when tragedy strikes and Mary must join the Sisterhood against her will, she finds herself thinking about what might lie beyond the fence. \n I really want to be able to tell you more, but then I would have to feed you to the undead. Instead, watch this trailer: \n Truly, I am lucky beyond lucky to even have gotten my hands on the ARC of this book. The fantastic Sharon at \"Sharon Loves Books and Cats\" chose me as the default winner of her early January giveaway. The day I received the ARC in the mail, I put the kids to bed and then stayed up late to read the whole gosh darn book. And then I stayed up late because I couldn't sleep. I'm not sure how to eruditely say, \"I was creeped out.\" \n Having said that, however, I also want to say that Forest of Hands and Teeth was not a slasher brain candy kind of story. Ryan's characterization of Mary shows the depth of a perceptive, complex teenager. Her relationships are not easily defined, and her penchant for questioning authority puts her in frightening situations. \n The only hesitation I have in totally recommending this book is its ambiguity concerning religion and spirituality. This is an occupational hazard and if I ever wrote a book Ryan would probably say the same thing about my grasp of law. The Sisterhood which governs the village seems to take its reference from the sisterhood of Catholic nuns; the Bible Mary is forced to read seems to be the Christian Bible. Because the purpose and power of the Sisterhood are so roundly questioned in the first part of the book, I expected religion and spirituality to be a theme throughout. Mary expresses her disdain for this religion in which she's been brought up, but there's no further development. Since my field is religion, I would have liked to have seen these thread continue throughout the story. \n Then again, maybe Ryan will explore it more in the second installment of Mary's story, which will be released in 2010. And maybe by then I'll have desensitized enough that I can enjoy Ryan's excellent writing without resenting the fact that she writes well enough to bring zombies into my bedroom. \n So. I highly rate this book, despite the fact that I do not consider zombie stories pleasant reading. Whoever said zombies were \"out\" is in for a shock when Forest of Hands and Teeth is released March 10. I'll leave it up to you whether it's a pleasant shock or not, but thanks to Carrie Ryan, zombies are definitely back \"in.\"", "date_added": "Fri Oct 10 17:56:25 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 01 11:28:27 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Sat Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 9, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "81516", "review_id": "cc1e90f80cc0a8b6b3a61cb0b64e6630", "rating": 3, "review_text": "SUMMARY \n When Mira is apprenticed to a witch, the witch's apprentice adopts her as a sister. Too late, Mira learns that she should not trust her new sister when she changes Mira into a magic mirror. Mira's sister becomes the wicked queen of \"Snow White\" fame while Mira, once her usefulness has worn out, is abandoned. The end of the \"Snow White\" tale is barely the first act of Mira's enchanting story. When Ivana, a peasant girl running away from her cruel father, stumbles upon Mira, Mira sees a chance to possibly restore her original form. Mira manipulates Ivana into becoming best friends with a wealthy merchant's daughter named Talia. Mira uses her magic to change the girls' appearances so each resembles the other. What Mira does not anticipate is that Talia is quite happy with her new form and is not as easily manipulated as Ivana. It will take all of Mira's cunning to regain enough power to restore her form, but as she comes to know Talia and Ivana, will Mira be as ruthless with their lives as she needs to be? \n MY OPINION \n The bio on Mette Ivie Harrison tells us that she studied German in college, \"which is where she got her taste for the grim side of fairy tales.\" I hate to break it to you, but from a feminist perspective, all fairy tales are grim. Anyway. There certainly is a tendency toward the grim, or, at least, bittersweet, in Harrison's books. I had read Harrison's The Princess and the Hound, which was akin enough (in theme, at least) to Robin McKinley's Deerskin that I enjoyed it, bittersweet ending and all. \n I gave this book three of five stars largely because of Harrison's writing style. Her prose flows easily, her dialogue is well-written, and if the plot lingers too often, well, you feel as though you're on a leisurely holiday stroll. \n The rest of the book, however, doesn't merit more than a star, a star and a half. While the premise is captivating, the plot and the characters fall flat. The characterization of Mira is decidedly lacking, although she has the potential to be one of the greatest characters of this genre. Talia and Ivana are created similarly. It's as though Harrison is reigning herself in from describing them as kick-ass heroines, and thus all she does is weaken and diminish them. \n In terms of the plot, you could substitute my father's catch-all spoiler phrase \"they were ran over by a bus\" and not miss much of what's going on. There's no climax, no great repentance, even though Harrison tries her best to make you believe there is. It leaves the book hopelessly lacking. \n Other goodreads.com reviewers say that this is a retelling of \"Snow White,\" although, in fact, it includes elements of a number of faery tales, such as Beauty & the Beast, or the lesser known \"Snow White and Rose Red.\" You might try Gregory Maguire's \"Mirror, Mirror\" for a Snow White retelling that's just as dark, though it's written for an older crowd. \n Actually, though, I'm not sure whether to tag this book as middle-grade or young-adult. One of the girls is sexually assaulted, which makes me think YA; then again, the end is morally trite enough (love conquers hate) to make me think middle-grade. There's the torture of a pregnant deer, but there's the simple sentimentality of sisterly bonds. \n This is a book that's going on my Paperback Swap shelf, because there are any number of other books I'd prefer to own than Mira, Mirror.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 22 18:53:52 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 03 13:27:49 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Fri Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "46777", "review_id": "936bbc4128ddfb9aff21cd15507dccb0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "SUMMARY (taken from School Library Journal) \n Kaye is 16 when she finally learns why she's such a strange young woman: she's a changeling pixie under a spell. A move home to the New Jersey shore brings her back in touch with her childhood friends, the solitary fey, who want to end their servitude to the higher-born faeries by foiling the sacrifice of human blood known as the Tithe. Kaye offers to masquerade as a human for the Tithe and is swept into a complicated net of politics and treason between two rival courts of faeries. \n OPINION \n Do you know the scene in the movie \n Labyrinth \n in which Jennifer Connelly's character Sarah eats a poisoned peach and finds herself at a faery ball that is at once beautiful and grotesque? \n I have to believe Holly Black had that scene in mind when she wrote Tithe. Jareth, the Goblin King played by David Bowie, shares physical features with Roiben, a faery that Kaye meets in the woods; the descriptions of the dark faery court are reminiscent of the half-human half-animal masks Jim Henson used in his movie. Also conjured are similarities to the fey creatures depicted in the movie \n Legend \n . \n The word used over and over by reviewers to describe the book is \"dark.\" In fact, it's so dark in the first few chapters, the word I would have chosen was \"bleak\" and I thought about suspending my reading of it. Kaye's mother is an alcoholic, unmotivated, penniless bar singer who moved around so often her daughter dropped out of high school to work full-time at a Chinese restaurant. Kaye wears heavy boots, heavy black eye makeup, and has a cigarette habit that only someone could acquire living in bars every night of the week. \n The problem is, Black is far too poetic to turn readers away. Her descriptions are raw and primal - Kaye thinks of the sun as having committed suicide, bleeding red streaks across the ocean as he died beyond the horizon. The interplay between the characters can be stark, and even disturbing, at times, but then she develops a romance between Kaye and Roiben that made this 32-year-old happily married mom swoon a little bit. \n In between vivid, gruesome, lovely descriptions, Black's sparse prose leaves the plot hanging at certain points, almost to the degree of losing the reader. There's a lot of back and forth movement between the Faery hill and Kaye's grandmother's house that, in a stage play, would make for very short scenes, and can be distracting from the thrust of the action. \n Overall, however, this was a delicious little read, a tart fruit that satisfies the senses and leaves you licking your fingers to catch every last bit. \n OTHER NOTES \n Holly Black as a really interesting, truly helpful website. It offers her daily journal, FAQs, and this ridiculously well-planned page of writing tips. Despite the darkness of Black's writing, it seems she has a fantastically warm heart.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 22 18:51:33 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 01 11:28:08 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "45978", "review_id": "13d59a4b4bcd3999bd75053b6d753734", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I try not to read sequels as they come out. With the exception of every Harry Potter book (yes, I attended three of the midnight release parties) and \n Breaking Dawn \n (which I bought two weeks after it was released), I wait until an entire trilogy, quartet or series are released in paperback before starting the first one. Like the Faerie Wars or the Derkholm books. I mean, I'm a Tamora Pierce junkie, but I'm still waiting to start the Terrier series. \n (Note on paperback v. hardback - it's a preference thing. Yeah, hardbacks are more expensive, at first, but mostly they're too cumbersome and unwieldy. I love the way a paperback nestles in my hands, bending slightly to my touch.) \n Anyway. \n A series of events ensued which resulted in my storming out of the house and to Target, just to get away from the insanity that surrounds my toddlers. I For escapist fiction, my choices were Eldest by Christopher Paolini or The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman. I've read Eragon, but not The Golden Compass. \n Yeah, I bought Eldest. \n It went against my nature to do so, despite the fact that I bought it in paperback. But I figured that since the final book, Brisingr, was due within a few weeks (it was released today, September 20), I'd go ahead and read Eldest, even if it meant I bought Brisingr as a hardback. \n And then DAMMIT if I didn't find out too late that Brisingr is NOT the last book in the series - that there's a fourth and final installment. \n I'd read Eragon because I was keenly jealous of child-prodigy self-publisher Christopher Paolini. He began writing the book when he was 15, finished it when he was 19, and then self-published and marketed it before Knopf snatched it up. I was....ambivalent about Eragon. It was...okay. \n When they say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I don't think it was a blanket acceptance of plagiarism. By the time I read Eldest, I expected the familiar plots, the Middle Earth sounding names, the slightly stilted language, the Star-Wars-type rebellion. I even started making a list. \n Arya=Arwen \n Eragon=Aragorn \n Eragon=dragon (duh) \n Urgals=Orks \n And those are just the words that sound the same. (Ra'zac=Nazgul, anyone?) \n Paolini has grown leaps and bounds as a writer, however. His dialogue, which has always been decent, really shines in Eldest. Further, he's successfully tackled the challenge of interweaving different story lines. His characterization has gotten much tighter, showing in the actions more than in too much description. The relationship between Eragon and Saphira continues to be endearing, showing Paolini's mature grasp of intimate friendship in a really delightful way. \n Eldest continues the tale of Eragon, country-boy-turned-Dragon-Rider, who has joined forces with the rebel band to overthrow the evil Darth Vader....er, I mean, King Galbatorix. In addition to Eragon's story, Paolini develops the story of Roran, Eragon's cousin. Roran, another country boy, defends the village when the Ra'zac come looking for Eragon, and helps evacuate when it's clear that's the only choice left for the villagers. Their exodus story juxtaposes nicely with Eragon's journey to Ellesme'ra to develop his magic under the tutelage of Obi-Wan Kenobi, er, Oromis. \n I hate to admit it, but I really, really enjoyed Eldest. While I'm not going to any midnight release parties for Brisingr, I certainly will be buying it (in paperback. After the fourth book is released in paperback.) I love the Inheritance Cycle so far. It's enchanting; while familiar, it's escapism at its best. \n It's like the CW's new show, Privileged. I want to hate it, but I just can't. I mean, come on, Paolini was homeschooled. Every time I think of it a new geek joke springs to mind. (And I have the right to tell geek jokes, as I am one. And blonde jokes, as I am one - well, artificially, anyway) \n But, as someone pointed out to me, Paolini has a legitimate \"runnin'-with-the-big-boys\"** contract. Complete with paycheck. And a pretty decent book in the process. Here's hoping Brisingr continues the trend. \n **and girls - my addition.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 20 14:49:29 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 25 02:33:07 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 13, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "112969", "review_id": "d82c40a0ac3fd58125470b6c6695b85e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book is a good example of why I wait to read series (more about that soon, in my review of Eldest). Action-packed, an original voice, sharp characters (although not so much as a mention of Henry's mother's lesbian affairs), but not resolved. For that, of course, you have to read the next book. *sigh*", "date_added": "Mon Sep 08 19:26:13 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 09 13:29:47 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Tue Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "2582799", "review_id": "f1eeef5bf0af127f4947eda6ddc919df", "rating": 4, "review_text": "In the fictitious land Altania, Ivy Lockwell has kept her family together since her father suffered a magical breakdown. Intelligent and beautiful, Ivy continues to study her father's books, hoping to learn the spell that will reverse his ailment. Yet, she must also care for her fussy mother and her younger sisters Rose and Lily. When tragedy befalls her family and they are faced with the threat of being evicted, Ivy takes a position as the governess for the young cousins of Mr. A. Quent, an old friend of her father. Ivy's trouble adjusting to the rustic countryside after an entire life in the city soon gives way to her fondess for the two children and her fear that Old Magic seeks to harm them. Together with the dashing Mr. Rafferdy, Ivy must draw on her father's powers as well as her own to save the children, her family, and all of Altania. \n Three \"books\" comprise this rather long novel which reads like Jane Austen meets Diana Wynne Jones. The whole thing's more like an intricate patchwork quilt, with scraps from many different novels, such as Sense & Sensibility, Pride & Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, and snippets of Dickens. \n Probably 80% of the reviews I read about The Magicians say the same thing I wanted to: we felt we shouldn't like it but we secretly did. I think there's such fear of plagiarism (ahem) that we forget that most early art came from re-telling or re-painting or re-imagining older pieces. Beckett may have borrowed the structure, but the design and decoration are entirely the author's own. \n This is the very best kind of book - one that's fun without being vapid, intelligent without being preachy, and fanciful without being frivolous. I'm the first to admit I adore the Bronte sisters and tolerate Austen, and I loved this postmodern take on those styles. Add in the Robin-McKinley-Diana-Wynne-Jones familiarity with and fondness for magic, and it felt almost as though I was greeting an old friend. \n You all probably know how I feel about sequels and, sure enough, Beckett's already working on The House at Durrow Street as a sequel to The Magicians. But I think this volume stands on its own, and would be an excellent choice for hitting the beach, giving to an Austen-loving friend, or recommending for a book club.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 07 17:01:20 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 19 16:43:16 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Wed Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "282201", "review_id": "316cc80ddc1a8c7e11d2ac02db4f6a54", "rating": 5, "review_text": "If, like me, you looked forward to those stories in the Grimms' collections in which there was a clever solution to a piece of trickery, or a particularly cunning way of defeating the nemesis, you will love that these tales have been collected by Kathleen Ragan to engage your mind, albeit on a different level. Ragan collected these stories - pre-existent, not written by her - from all around the world. They are stories that feature heroines: females who are worthy of emulation and around whom the tale centers. They are not scheming crones or vapid maids. These characters are strong, they act, they think. You'll love them.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 14 18:42:22 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 25 18:31:17 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "1661390", "review_id": "e4fb033b1e9b883eb5b8772259dcbd37", "rating": 3, "review_text": "If this book hadn't been recommended to me, I wouldn't have gone past the first two pages. There's only so much information about hot Kansas towns I can take. Henry York arrives in Henry, Kansas, to live with his Aunt Dotty, Uncle Frank, and his cousins Penny, Henrietta and Anastasia. Life is about as normal as anyone would expect in Kansas - from Uncle Frank's truck to evening barbeques and baseball games. One night, plaster starts to chip off of Henry's bedroom wall and fall into his hair. He finds cupboards, all showing window-like portals to other worlds. Add in an ugly witch, a strange creature, and you've got the makings of a wannabe Narnia. \n This is a good book for middle age boys. It's fun and fast-paced and guy-friendly. It would be well paired with Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 14 18:40:47 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 13 18:03:52 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sat Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "589076", "review_id": "170977a71af1fb552dfb3a639fdb1ca8", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Are you kidding me? Pullman can take whatever liberties with religion he likes. He can criticize Christianity to his heart's content. I agree with him a little, disagree a little. BUT MY GOSH. The writing is - slipshod or ponderous or preachy or just boring, by this, the third book. Pullman can do far, far better - check out his Sally Lockwood books for excellent reads.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 28 13:39:19 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 13 19:01:17 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "2800405", "review_id": "f66b6b7ea74f9cf35f4c24dd594b7271", "rating": 5, "review_text": "from Amazon: \n Jack Perdu, a ninth grade classics prodigy, lives his with father on the Yale University campus. Smart and introverted, Jack spends most of his time alone, his nose buried in a book. But one winter evening, a near-fatal accident changes Jack's life forever. His father sends him to see a mysterious doctor in New York City--a place Jack hasn't visited since his mother died there eight years ago. In Grand Central Terminal, he meets Euri, a girl who offers to show him the train station's hidden places--the ones only true urban explorers really know about. Eight flights below the train station, however, Jack discovers more than just hidden tracks and mysterious staircases. He has stumbled upon New York's ghostly underworld. This, Jack believes, is his chance to see his mother again. But as secrets about Euri's past are revealed, so are the true reasons for Jack's visit to the underworld. Masterfully told, The Night Tourist weaves Classical mythology together with New York's secret history and modern-day landscape to create a magical adventure, full of unexpected twists and page-turning action. \n There are so many reasons to rate books highly. And it's difficult to confine myself to a rating system that is limited by whole steps (one star, two stars, but not three and a half, for example.) So while Moby Dick gets five stars not only because I enjoy it but for its literary qualities, The Night Tourist merits five stars because it's one I am can't wait to read to my children someday (when they're out of toddlerhood. And can sit still. So, what, when they're 20? Wait, am I off topic?) \n I put Night Tourist on my wishlist after reading about it on Jen Robinson's Book Page. I scored an ARC on bookmooch, and took it to bed with me that night. \n This is not a night book. This book is fun. The action is described with such wonderful language that you can feel the chill of the New York winter, catch your breath at the dizzying heights of the tall buildings, delight in the friendship Jack develops with Euri as though you'd just made your own friend. \n In addition to being fun, Night Tourist is well written. It's one of the smoothest books I've read in a while. The pace and the storyline, the characterization and the dialogue, the layers which peel away little by little to reveal the mystery of Jack's mother all flow perfectly - not so fast that the reader gets lost, but neither too slow that the reader gets bored. I found myself in the middle of the mystery without even realizing how I'd gotten there, but completely connected with Jack as he moves through the story. \n Finally, the ending is tidy but not unbelievably so. It's nicely satisfying. \n The book is recommended for teenagers, but I think that's because of the topic of \"death\" and because there are so many references to Greek mythology. Those references might be lost on younger students who haven't studied that subject. The story itself is ideal for imaginative older elementary and certainly for middle grades - and beyond. I enjoyed it immensely, and hope my kids will, too.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 21 18:17:49 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 25 18:49:57 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Thu Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "331830", "review_id": "2a3e89958f45fb551d8b281c642483f2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The pacing is tedious; Keturah is sort of a shell of a charcter; but a lushly written, Perreault sort of tale nonetheless", "date_added": "Mon Jul 21 18:17:04 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 19 21:25:36 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "207684", "review_id": "def5c6e01be37b88be1b875af8a20db2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "speaking of Queen Meg, this is a fun Practical Magic-meets-Gossip Girl novel with teen romance that's appropriate for younger readers (middle grade)", "date_added": "Mon Jul 21 18:16:54 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 03 16:27:59 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "469964", "review_id": "2e7ff0bd45e268bd7d13f8556d5c54dc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "SUMMARY \n When Sapphire's father disappears, most people say he's been drowned, although the more vicious of the townspeople say he ran off with another woman. But neither Sapphy or her brother Conor believe either story. Raised on the coast of Cornwall, they have an intimate connection to the sea and her mysteries. Neither of them realizes quite how intimate. When Sapphire feels an irresistible call to the ocean, she must choose where her loyalties lie - to her Air family and the brother whom she adores, or to Ingo, whose power thrums in her veins. \n MY OPINION \n When I stumbled upon it in a Paperback Swap, the premise of Ingo appealed to my YA-fantasy-genes. Unfortunately, the execution is a little weak. The characters are not fully described, so that when one of them (Sapphy, frequently) does something that shows a complexity of heart and mind, I wasn't quite sure how we'd gotten to that place. There are some really lovely moments, like Sapphire mentally connecting to a dolphin while riding it, or a conversation her brother Conor has with honeybees. There are also some awkward moments. Sapphire, frankly, drones on and on about her connection to the ocean, but when her mother's new boyfriend suggests Sapphire should have the dog she's always wanted, Sapphire rethinks her loyalty to Ingo. \n Overall, this is a more mature and vivid, almost mystical, view of merpeople than, for example, The Tale of Emily Windsnap.\" It has the poignant sadness of the original version of \"A Little Mermaid,\" and it reflects Dunmore's deep, abiding love and respect for the sea. \n By the way, I found a particularly vile review on Amazon, and had to respond to it. The reviewer (from Georgia) warns that the contents of the book are junk and will cause the reader to go straight to hell. Why she's letting her children read books at all is beyond me, but in my response, I used the word \"villipend\"!!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 21 18:16:50 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 29 17:51:17 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sun Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "981170", "review_id": "962b4c7ef2cacd8066cb81f4a7fbc024", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This retelling of \"East of the Sun, West of the Moon\" alternates point of view, chapter by chapter. There are five narrators--Father, Rose, Neddy (Rose's brother), the Troll Queen, and the White Bear. Rose is the heroine, the youngest of a large family, struggling with poverty. To save the family Rose goes off with the White Bear, who promises the family riches if Rose will come with him. \n Pattou draws extensively from Nordic mythology as well as the original fairy tale and bits of Greek mythology. She's done her research in any number of fields, but use of detail in East is deft and masterful. The details of such work as map making and sailing ships among the icebergs come to life as she describes them. \n East is a rich tapestry of a novel, but it doesn't quite sparkle for me. Each of Pattou's characters has a fleshed-out personality, even the ones she doesn't like. The most lovingly drawn character is of the Inuit shaman who helps Rose travel to the North-most point of the globe. The plot lopes along with an even pace but it never stalls. The resolution is predictable but still satisfying. And while I recommend you read this book if you're a fan of fairy tale retellings or historical YA, it's not one I urge you to rush rush out to acquire.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 21 18:15:23 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 16 21:03:19 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "1134023", "review_id": "78cb41f2771a6af4fc0e6fe5e536ac36", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Dianna Wynne Jones meets J.K.Rowling in this fantastic book by Irish author Herbie Brennan. Really great stuff.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 21 18:08:36 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 04 17:27:27 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "1743390", "review_id": "f0d11da6ae2cfc861a8dd5f747e7a7ac", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A Curse Dark as Gold is Bunce's debut novel, and a re-imagining of the folk tale Rumpelstiltskin. \n In Bunce's version, Charlotte and Rosie Miller are the last living descendants of the owners of Stirwaters mill. Stirwaters is the last industry holding their small town together, and Charlotte feels a burdened sense of over-responsibility to keep the mill running. Despite her best efforts, and the dubious assistance of her long-lost Uncle Wheeler, mishaps continue to happen which threaten the future of Stirwaters. Finally, Charlotte makes a deal with a strange man, a deal which may save Stirwaters but will cost Charlotte all that she holds most dear. \n A Curse Dark as Gold is well-researched. Bunce bases the story on the woolen industries of Britain and America in the late 1700s, in the early years of the Industrial Revolution. She's comfortable enough with her subject matter to introduce it effectively to her readers - we are neither overcome with information nor do we feel we're lacking. \n Unfortunately, the rest of the narrative is not so deftly handled. The pace of the book is slow, even plodding, at times. Bunce seems hesitant in places, and the result is that the reader seems to be watching a train wreck in slow motion - unable to help, unable to look away. The awkwardness is palpable. \n The reason I would not read this book again, however, is that the protagonist, Charlotte, thoroughly grates on my nerves. She is supposed to be the heroine, but her willful stubbornness sets poorly against the episodes of naivete, her business cunning belies her ignorance of the world beyond her village. I think the characterization is a reflection of Bunce's uncertainty with her own skills. \n I'm torn on whether to recommend this book to you. Indeed, it has some charming strengths, bits of gold among the straw, as it were. Mostly, however, you have to dig through too much straw to find too little gold to make it entirely worthwhile.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 21 06:26:24 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 10 10:51:32 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Fri Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "8316723", "review_id": "a14ff0aaf233c657545fce0acb47f81c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Although I enjoyed the Twilight series, I did not think it was well-written. The Host (in my opinion) showed that Stephenie Meyer can really write. Of course, I think I should get a medal for making it through any book this long that isn't Harry Potter, but that's a different story.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 20 21:09:17 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 25 18:40:07 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "149338", "review_id": "8d19f62b1fb9101f09df4580a08007bc", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Jake Mendoza finds a dying dragon who's just given birth. One of her dragonlets is still alive, so despite the laws forbidding it, the 14-yr-old boy adopts the baby and raises her in secret. \n I can appreciate that this was an exercise in style for Robin McKinley, but I think it would appeal more to the audience that liked \"Sunshine\" than the one who liked \"Beauty.\" McKinley seems to have trouble writing as Jake; or perhaps the storyline is simply too bland. Jake does a lot of teenage philosophizing which is at once wise beyond his years and written in the voice of a 12 year old. \n More than once I put the book down thinking I would not finish it. But, let's face it, Robin McKinley is my God even if she's had a couple of misses these past few years. Although Dragonhaven does improve substantially after the first half, it never comes near the precision of characterization or the depth of human feeling that I've learned to expect from McKinley. \n Read Instead: \"The Blue Sword\" or \"A Knot in the Grain\" (collection)", "date_added": "Wed Jul 02 13:26:06 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 20 21:04:11 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sun Jul 20 21:04:11 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "248484", "review_id": "09f2a15ffdf08dd1a7bcc7306d62ed78", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Dashti is a mucker, a steppe-dwelling nomadic herder, who journeys to the city after her mother dies. There, she is taught to read and to write, and becomes the lady's maid of Lady Saren, the third child of the royal family. What she discovers is that no one else wanted the role of Lady Saren's maid, because Saren was, that very day, being walled up inside a tower. Saren had refused her father's choice of a husband, and would live in the tower for seven full years. The \"Book of a Thousand Days\" is the record that Dashti keeps of their time in the tower, and of the amazing events that occur after they leave it. \n Book of a Thousand Days has been on my wishlist since before it was released, but I've put off reading it. While I loved Hale's Princess Academy, I was less keen on Goose Girl and Enna Burning. Also, I had just (literally, not half an hour prior) finished her adult novel, Austenland, which was the most fun I've had reading in a while. \n I loved Book of a Thousand Days. It's fresh, the pacing is perfect, the characters are lovely (the women strong and the men wise and compassionate), and there's a wonderful ending. It's not a profound book, but it is sufficiently complex that it's no mere fairy tale retelling, either. If you liked any of Hale's works, or if you like fairy tales retold, you should pick up this book right away.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 18 16:54:13 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 28 20:23:45 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sat Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "248470", "review_id": "97266af1fbdf57775a42fc0c1bdf0fae", "rating": 4, "review_text": "from the publisher: \n Razo has never been anything but ordinary. He's not very fast, or tall, or strong, so when he's invited to join an elite mission escorting the ambassador into Tira, Bayern's great enemy, he's sure it's only out of pity. But when they arrive in the strange southern country, it is Razo who finds the first dead body. As they try to learn more from the Tirans about the ever increasing murders, Razo is the only Bayern soldier able to befriend both the high and low born, including the beautiful Lady Dasha. And as Razo finds allies among the Tirans, he realizes that it may be up to him to get the Bayern army safely home again. \n River Secrets is the third of Shannon Hale's books about the mythical kingdom of Bayern. It's also my favorite of the three. Goose Girl was a little convoluted, Enna Burning was a little long. River Secrets is a fantastic little read. It's fast-paced, with a solid plot and characterization, uppity but sincere royalty, plus a romance or two. \n If you're not already a Shannon Hale fan, I'd recommend you put this on your reading list for summer - it would be perfect to read by the pool or on a plane.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 18 16:54:07 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 16 17:37:03 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "753746d5d26fea030b33299b34ea1299", "book_id": "153780", "review_id": "82bf9c703cc527693dbaa58ee17a76cc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Still amazing upon the 117th reading (no, no, actually, I'm not exaggerating.)", "date_added": "Tue Mar 18 13:04:38 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 03 20:16:08 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jul 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c1dcb58641c46c2381cde00966b840b9", "book_id": "5907", "review_id": "2db1b0f9145e50fd684a1bd925815004", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Listened to it on Audible, but it was still imaginable and wonderful. 5+ stars!", "date_added": "Mon Jan 14 01:11:58 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 14 01:12:48 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e7d7bf79b985bd5a1c0223a59ba96be", "book_id": "25395200", "review_id": "deaefd0330beb5dfc4a8c4fcf3d3fc08", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5*", "date_added": "Wed Jul 06 19:29:56 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 07 13:32:57 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jul 07 13:32:57 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e7d7bf79b985bd5a1c0223a59ba96be", "book_id": "26761785", "review_id": "0c8e8e52ce6b0ad968d4922b88f5ea1c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5*", "date_added": "Wed Jul 06 13:14:53 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 06 13:16:28 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jul 06 13:16:28 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b4a528992a95a45f214f447b6cc5994d", "book_id": "2802316", "review_id": "a8ec82ec464253c117599f357716b6c6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A solid three star read. It was entertaining and I liked it, but I'd probably never read it again. Once I start a series, I can't stop. So I'll be reading the next one in the series.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 06 10:54:40 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 27 11:30:08 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b4a528992a95a45f214f447b6cc5994d", "book_id": "29127", "review_id": "5de3266e38ba3f1199c1ec9cae20d89e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is one of the most beautiful books that I have ever read. I expected it to be dry children's fantasy, perhaps dark like the animated movie, but I was wholly surprised in a good way. The writing was poetic and beautiful with many satirical notes that brightened up the story with a subtle humor. I wish I had read this years ago.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 08 23:06:22 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 27 11:43:18 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "434f76b236f00c06ca9fd967df196ab6", "book_id": "8667848", "review_id": "1121ce8ad30b0bd90323c9c823e665d3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fun and sexy! I had a great time reading this.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 09 16:16:02 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 12 15:50:33 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Oct 12 15:50:33 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "21e67f8f9a1679070e93ff8a152efde6", "book_id": "116296", "review_id": "6973d9cac8e847081fd4b7b8e186ff5a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved reading \"Going Postal\", so naturally, \"Making Money\" was a must-read for me. And Pratchett succeeded in writing a second book on Moist von Lipwig that is as intelligent and funny as the first book. Seeing something like the use of money bills and banking business through the eyes of an Ankh Morporcian was tremendously entertaining and definitely a goodread!", "date_added": "Tue Mar 01 06:19:38 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 01 06:24:38 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "21e67f8f9a1679070e93ff8a152efde6", "book_id": "357", "review_id": "c38f9ac043426e5abf855cf1e6282214", "rating": 4, "review_text": "pizza with a pizza on top :) \n Quite weird story but still entertaining enough to read.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 17 07:26:57 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 25 05:02:18 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Sat Dec 25 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Fri Dec 17 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "21e67f8f9a1679070e93ff8a152efde6", "book_id": "34496", "review_id": "902b72a41c76c2cb79e6feb8fadbdcd8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It's a very very cute and funny book on cats and interaction with their human slaves. I put this book on my mental list of gift ideas for cat people. It is just perfect, not too long, light reading, amusing and I am sure that every cat owner will recognize a lot of the situations or behaviour patterns described by Pratchett.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 08 05:40:54 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 19 04:04:51 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sat Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "21e67f8f9a1679070e93ff8a152efde6", "book_id": "1375896", "review_id": "432f4ddedd3ff4a9909f6341145842b0", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The book was ok. \n Unfortunately not as exciting as the first few books in the Septimus Heap series. The story was a bit too foreseeable and I was left with the feeling that I could have lived without the first 75% of the book since it was only quite at the end when the story actually started, the Queste. Everything before was not _really_ necessary or helped developping the main plot.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 15 07:04:58 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 02 14:07:29 -0800 2008", "read_at": "Tue Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "21e67f8f9a1679070e93ff8a152efde6", "book_id": "2248573", "review_id": "92e094a5116f2464cf22ec34d39ad1f4", "rating": 2, "review_text": "How? How can you fill soooo many pages without anything actually happening plotwise? The upside is that if listening to the audiobook, I do not have to have a bad conscience if i fall asleep and wake up 20 minutes later, i just can continue listening to the story without bigger problems... \n ... a bit of an anticlimax after the first two books. But I just realized that there will be a fourth book. Maybe the writer should have stuck to the initial three-book-plan. :-{", "date_added": "Mon Mar 31 00:31:52 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 21 07:13:32 -0800 2008", "read_at": "Sun Dec 21 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "21e67f8f9a1679070e93ff8a152efde6", "book_id": "28195", "review_id": "9721779396efd5a95a33dc707eb2c07d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Less impressive than the first book \"Inkheart\", less exploring and imaginative. But then again, the world of Inkheart had already been thoroughly established in the first book. \n Still, an entertaining and easy to read fiction.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 18 13:46:49 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 18 13:53:02 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "21e67f8f9a1679070e93ff8a152efde6", "book_id": "4214", "review_id": "55902f1ceb442b41d350419f8f5e2948", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I just typed a long and heart-felt review and then it disappeared into internet nirvana :-/ \n So I will only say this: \n Even though the book got a bit lenghty after about 2thirds of the story, I give full five stars mainly because I enjoyed the humorous style of writing so much...", "date_added": "Tue Mar 18 13:33:16 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 14 14:46:58 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d129e49f79b8b524235beb78175c6d86", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "666679731346dab4280a09521b880f38", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm not someone who is into reading young adult books. This book, however, made me fall in love with Jacob and his discovery of his grandfather's life and the people in it. It's a quick read that will hook you in just by the first chapter or couple of pages. The pictures throughout of these children and the environment around them gives you a better insight into the book and the development of the characters. I extremely enjoyed this read. Thrilled for the sequel, Hollow City, that should be released January, 14th, 2014!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 20:50:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 10 02:25:54 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Aug 10 02:25:54 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "1412138", "review_id": "f41affaac7d9eda023335ab5409702f3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Iron Kissed is the third book in the Mercy Thompson series. And it really ramps up the story line. Our heroine is a mechanic who owns her own garage, a walker who can change into a coyote, a woman being courted by a werewolf, a person who can see and speak to ghosts, and someone whose friends also include vampires and several members of the fae. It is her relationship with this last group that powers this novel and it is a powerful story. Mercy's former boss and mentor, Zee, has been arrested and charged with a murder that he did not commit. His fellow fae seem willing to let him die to protect their group from police and public scrutiny. But Mercy is determined to find the guilty party. Even though Zee does everything he can to discourage her, Mercy persists with this dangerous mission. Patricia Briggs certainly pulled out all of the stops in this novel. It is violent and terrifying and sexual. Mercy not only has to face unfamiliar demons but also the ones within herself. This is a continuing story and I can't wait to read the next installment. Mercy Thompson is a heroine like no other (except maybe Sookie Stackhouse).", "date_added": "Thu Oct 19 20:49:26 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 21 14:50:40 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Oct 21 14:50:40 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Oct 19 20:49:27 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "285205", "review_id": "f31a2890535fb7dca19635405bd9b79c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Book Two in the Mercy Thompson series is every bit as entertaining as the first one. Mercy is an amazing heroine. She is a walker who can shift into coyote form at will, she is in love with and loved by two werewolves, and she is an auto mechanic who owns her own repair shop. Mercy has some other unusual friends. One of them is a vampire named Stefan. Mercy owes him a favor and the one that he asks for is a doozy. A vampire/sorcerer (possessed by a demon) is on a killing spree in the Tri-Cities area. His victims include humans as well as non-humans. Stefan has been ordered to meet with this creature. He takes Mercy (as a coyote) along for protection. They both barely escape and have to report back to the head vampire. Mercy becomes increasingly involved in this dangerous situation as members of the werewolf pack that she is aligned with disappear while hunting the sorcerer. Blood Bound is an exciting page turner and I can't wait to read the next book in this series.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 03 18:49:15 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 10 18:02:25 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "31450855", "review_id": "f071290a48189123e89d2196618d1f7f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ten authors collaborated in the writing of this book. That is probably at least seven authors too many. Indigo (the book) is an ambitious endeavor but it lacks heart and continuity. Indigo (the creature) is the alter-ego of Nora Hesper. Indigo is brave and fast and strong and violent in the pursuit of justice. This warrior persona has the capacity to slip into and out of shadows, to use the dark to travel from place to place and to forge weapons from this material. Nora works as an investigative reporter and has become obsessed with searching for the cult responsible for the kidnappings and ritualistic murders of children. As Nora begins to regain her own shattered childhood memories, it becomes obvious why this particular crime holds such power over her. The plot is meandering and confusing and drowning in blood. It appears at the end as if a sequel or sequels are planned. Before the writers go down that path, they should take a hard look at this first creation. It is flawed in many ways. While I do believe that the Indigo/Nora saga has the possibility to be something special, it's not there yet.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 27 19:54:58 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 28 21:36:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 28 21:22:13 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Sep 27 19:54:58 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "71811", "review_id": "b616e8509c7596ed509c1c75db5b563e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Mercedes Thompson is a kick-ass heroine. With her martial arts training, she would be a formidable opponent even if she were a normal human. But Mercy is special. She has inherited powers from the father who died before she was born. Like him, she is a walker (formerly known as skin walker). Mercy's mother discovered her baby was different when she found that a coyote pup had taken her place in the crib. Mercy is given to a pack of werewolves to raise. She is a second-class citizen since wolves are superior predators to coyotes. But Mercy has learned a lot from her foster family and made important connections in the werewolf community. After college, our heroine decides she would rather repair foreign cars than pursue a career with her history degree. Mercy is keeping a relatively low profile until a young, newly turned werewolf shows up at her one-woman garage. She takes the teen under her wing and believes that she has found him a mentor. But the boy's body is dropped on her porch, a young neighbor girl is kidnapped and someone is attacking the werewolf community. Mercy soon finds herself in increasingly dangerous places as she tries to return her world to \"normal\". I haven't been this taken by a main character since I discovered Sookie Stackhouse. I intend to binge-read the entire series and anything else I can find by this excellent author. Fortunately, Patricia Briggs has written quite a few books so I can look forward to many months of good reading.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 19 20:08:43 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 20 18:01:36 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Sep 20 17:45:51 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Sep 19 20:08:44 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "12962037", "review_id": "99c47587eb5bc0f98be2de0a333e8e09", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Thomas is an orphan who has been raised in a monastery by four corrupt and violent monks. He makes his escape to pursue a destiny that he doesn't quite understand. He starts his journey with three unlikely companions that he saves from the gallows - a knight, a pickpocket and a beautiful deaf-mute young woman. Together they travel to the kingdom of Magnus to overthrow it's evil lord. This is a good story and is part one of a series. I probably will not continue with the other books because of inconsistencies and too many unexplained loose ends.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 02 09:50:49 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 04 14:40:46 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Sep 04 14:40:46 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Sep 02 09:50:50 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "45436", "review_id": "6e00c1f186fc479d956e29b7bda0c727", "rating": 4, "review_text": "As a big fan of the Artemis Fowl books, I am eager to read anything written by Eoin Colfer. The Wish List does not disappoint. This book tells the story of Meg Finn. The young teenager has made some bad mistakes. One of them turns out to be fatal. But her death proves a problem for those who decide whether a person goes to heaven, limbo or hell. It turns out that there is a score card with points for good and evil deeds. Since Meg tried to save a man's life shortly before she died, her score is an even tie. Meg is sent back to earth as a spirit. She goes to see the man who she tried to rob and then save. Lowrie McCall is not glad to see her which is a shame since he is the only one who can see her. He doesn't have long to live. His heart is failing. Lowrie has taken stock of his life and is disappointed by the result. A series of missed opportunities changed the outcome. Lowrie narrows the list down to three things he would like to change. Perhaps if Meg can assist him with this wish list, her fate will be changed also. I raced through this book in a few hours and only wish it could have laster longer.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 28 08:13:04 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 28 10:11:11 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "20582841", "review_id": "ab4c733e27813eff7772d85ad273f19e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the fourth installment in the Miriam Black saga. You could probably read this as a stand-alone, but I don't recommend doing so. Miriam is one of the most complex heroines you will ever encounter. Beginning with the first book, Blackbirds, will give you a greater understanding and sympathy for this character. Miriam has a curse. When she touches a person, she will see (and feel) their moment of death. Needless to say, any attempt Miriam makes to live a normal life is doomed to failure. So, she is on a quest to find an elusive person named Mary Scissors who she believes can teach her how to remove the curse. Some people don't believe it is a curse but a gift. And some of them would like to control Miriam and use her power to advance their own private ambition. They soon learn that Miriam Black doesn't play well with others. Like the other books in this series, Thunderbird is an exciting and sometimes terrifying roller coaster ride. And like the other books, I had to buy my own copy since my library didn't have it in stock. Rumor has it that these books might be turned into a television series. If so, I hope that the library decides to purchase copies so that others may enjoy Chuck Wendig's peculiar, haunting and foul-mouthed heroine.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 03 16:51:28 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 05 19:07:14 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jul 05 18:53:30 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jul 03 16:51:29 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "17378527", "review_id": "8dbf64c5c58b773bf3364f5c954e30d9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "For those who have been reading The Raven Cycle, author Maggie Stiefvater delivers an epic conclusion worthy of her long story arc. For those who have not been reading The Raven Cycle, put his book down and start with Book One. This is a confusing enough tale for those who have followed it closely. The small town of Henrietta, Virginia contains many mysteries and unusual residents. It is the home of an exclusive boys school called Aglionby Academy. The privileged students are known as Raven boys. An elite group of them is on a rather esoteric quest. They seek the tomb of a sleeping king named Glendower. They are led in this mission by Gansey who has been searching for this mythic place ever since he died at the age of ten and was brought back to life with Glendower's name whispered in his ear. He is in love with a local girl, Blue Sargent who was born into a family of psychics. Her gift is the ability to amplify the powers of others. Her curse is the oft-repeated prediction that her kiss will kill her true love. Ronan is a dark, tortured young man who can bring back objects from his dreams. Adam is a trailer park kid who attends the academy with a scholarship and by working three jobs. Noah is the most unusual member of their group. He died seven years earlier on the same day that Gansey did. His ghost remains and he is accepted by his friends. The search for Glendower has now reached new urgency as dangerous rivals come to town, lured by the power of the legend. There were times in this series when I began to lose patience but I'm glad that I persevered. The journey was worth the at times meandering story line.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 27 18:42:52 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 02 21:00:54 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jul 02 18:31:20 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jun 27 18:42:52 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "17378508", "review_id": "400c7425886fd6352ffc03ce9876743a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The plot thickens in Book III of The Raven Circle. Don't even think of reading this if you haven't read the first two. It's confusing enough if you are familiar with the story. This book focuses on my favorite character, Blue Sargent. She and her family have been drawn into the strange quest of the raven boys. They seek a sleeping Welch king who was buried centuries ago. He who awakens the king will be granted a favor. I know this sounds improbable, but I'm actually starting to believe in it. However, there are also dangerous people on the same path. One of the characters has been dead from the beginning of this series. Noah was killed by one of those dangerous people years earlier but his ghostly presence is still involved in the hunt. Others will also die in this part of the story. I will read the final installment as soon as I can get my hands on it. Maggie Stiefvater has woven a complex and improbable story with complex and improbable characters.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 19 20:06:28 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 23 13:59:47 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jun 23 13:59:47 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jun 19 20:06:28 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "17347389", "review_id": "9056bd90155935e5dbb724f38ebf34c7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a long, complicated, epic story that spans four books. Don't even think about starting this one if you haven't read The Raven Boys. And even then, it's still rather confusing. Raven boys is a nickname for privileged students from a private school, Aglionby Academy, located in the small town of Henrietta, Virginia. Several of these boys have banded together in a strange quest to locate a Welsh king named Glendower whom they believe was buried nearby. Legend has it that the one who wakes Glendower will have a wish granted. Gansey is the original seeker who has inspired the rest of his team. Ronan is a dark and tortured young man with the strange power to pull objects from his dreams. Adam is an overworked scholarship student who resents his wealthy classmates. Noah is a ghost - murdered years ago by an obsessed friend - who is not always visible to the others. And Blue is townie, like Adam, who is welcomed into the group. Blue comes from a family of psychics. While she does not have that ability herself, her talent is to magnify the powers of others. Each of these young people has secrets, desires and fears that drive them. The Dream Thieves is somewhat repetitious but without revealing information that could really help explain the story line. It wasn't until the last page that I decided I would continue with the next book in the series.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 02 15:41:42 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 03 21:29:23 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "7172680", "review_id": "e5dd40a8bbcefe2f6ed80eb8c9cf35df", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I could have finished this collection of short stories sooner, but I wanted to savor them. Twenty paranormal mysteries by as many different authors. Although bracketed by vampires, these tales include an amazing variety of characters: ghosts, shape-shifters, werewolves, Medusa, Circe, etc. There were not only haunted people but a haunted town and a haunted computer program. The grim reaper makes an appearance, as does the Flying Dutchman. And I loved the banshee story. I've read several of these compilations by Charlaine Harris but this is my favorite one. Many of the mystery authors (would you believe a contribution by Mickey Spillane?) are new to the genre and there is plenty of thinking outside the box. I expect to visit this book again but the wide range of styles and subject matter means that it will never grow stale.", "date_added": "Thu May 25 18:13:45 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue May 30 10:19:41 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue May 30 10:19:41 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu May 25 18:13:46 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "15722284", "review_id": "82774e3774ad9be22ad0ba1f70729d76", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Well, I've finally reached the conclusion of Odd Thomas's strange journey. I've read all of the books at least once. Some more than once because they are all so similar in nature that I ended up re-buying books that I had already read and given away. The premise of the series is unique. Odd Thomas sees the ghosts of recently deceased people. They can't talk to him but sometimes are able to communicate information. He also has some kind of psychic power that lets him find people or things that have been lost. However, as the series progressed there was too much emphasis on chaos-worshipping cabals who were determined to wreak havoc upon the world. Although Odd is supposedly a force for good, he sure does end up killing many bad guys (and gals). He saves many innocent lives in the process but it's hard to understand how this doesn't end up corrupting the hero. Dean Koontz uses florid, over the top language to explain the evil in this world to the point of exhaustion. I know that there are many rabid fans of the Odd Thomas books. I'm not one of them and I'm glad that it is over.", "date_added": "Mon May 15 07:48:28 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu May 18 16:46:12 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu May 18 16:46:12 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "17675462", "review_id": "ec194eabf4f1b1d93b568cf477266a11", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Raven Boys intrigued me right from the opening. Blue Sargent is sitting next to her aunt on Corpse Road. On St. Mark's Eve, the spirits of those who will die in the coming year walk this path. Blue is not gifted with the psychic ability of her relatives and their friends. However, she does have the power to magnify the gifts of others. Blue has never seen one of the spirits until this year when she is shocked to discover a boy her age. Her aunt tells Blue that she could only see a spirit if it is someone she loves or someone she kills. She does not know the boy but recognizes the uniform of an exclusive prep school whose students are known as the Raven Boys. Blue is a townie who comes into contact with these rich, entitled scions at the pizza parlor where she works. It's not long before her path crosses with Gansey and his crew. These four are on a complicated quest to discover a Welch king they believe was buried nearby. After a rocky initial meeting, Blue ends up drawn into their search. Maggie Stiefvater weaves a compelling tapestry with this story but brings it to a rather abrupt and cryptic ending. I presume that is to move the reader on to book two. Mission accomplished.", "date_added": "Wed May 03 15:59:14 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu May 04 21:35:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "31375778", "review_id": "94c111d866de02e160e731ccee020326", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Mirror, Mirror is a quick fun read. After finding out on her wedding day that her fiance was currently married to another and had three children, Adelle swore off men. Four years later, she is a bridesmaid at her best friend's wedding. I should say best girl friend. Her real best friend is a great looking guy she has known for ten years. Ben shares the house that she had expected to be living in with her husband. Anyway, at the wedding, Adelle is nagged into visiting a gypsy tent. While in there, the annoying old woman tells her to look into a mirror and she would see the man she is fated to be with. Surprise, it's Ben. Bigger surprise, the gypsy keeps appearing to Adelle at her home and at work trying to make this fortune come true. It's a cute premise but more of a short story than a novella.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 23 20:30:22 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 26 07:33:51 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Apr 24 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "25326415", "review_id": "cf57cdb9a0adcebd20ba1919bc2e8f00", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Miriam Black lives a dark and dangerous life. As this book opens, she is giving normal a try but its not going well. Miriam is living in a rundown trailer in a rundown trailer park while working a dreary retail job in a rundown store. And this is as good as things get for our heroine. Miriam's gift (or curse) is the ability to see the moment of a person's death if she touches their skin. Even wearing gloves won't spare her from horrific visions and hallucinations. Miriam has recently decided to use her ability to try to change fate and save the innocents. That might mean killing the guilty but the piper must be paid. In this book, Miriam is hunting a serial killer who kidnaps, tortures and murders teenage girls. This puts her in many a perilous situation and I lost count of how many times she herself is beaten and abused by sadistic attackers. If one thing is certain, its that normal is not in the cards for Miriam Black.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 17 14:50:04 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 20 08:14:40 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "18170246", "review_id": "21b0788d9d99ac8ae52cdacdfb953b61", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Poison is a charming and romantic fairy tale for teenagers. When the story opens, our heroine is on the run. Kyra has tried and failed to kill the Princess Ariana and the kingdom is hunting her down. Fortunately, Kyra has resources at her disposal. As a master potioner, she can disable her enemies or disguise her appearance. And a pig named Rosie is helping her to track down the princess so that she can finish her mission. Kyra has had a vision. The kingdom will be destroyed on Ariana's wedding day. So, even though the princess is her best friend, Kyra believes that the only way to save the Kingdom of Mohr is to kill the princess. Complications ensue in the form of a charming young man named Fred who keeps turning up despite Kyra's efforts to shake him. Poison is a fast and enjoyable read. I'm sorry that there won't be more books from this talented author.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 11 18:55:11 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 12 22:30:18 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Apr 12 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "2029927", "review_id": "58f3a920ef914fb3f8fd87b98f40a280", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Magic Beach, California isn't nearly as delightful as its name. Odd Thomas has been drawn to this place by an urge that he doesn't understand. For about a month, he has been working as a cook/driver/companion to a charming, elderly actor. But that is not why Odd is in Magic Beach. It appears that he has a two-part mission: to save a mysterious, pregnant young woman and to prevent a dastardly plan that will result in a massive loss of life. As happens in the other Odd Thomas books, our hero is in constant danger and survives using his wits and his paranormal abilities. He is aided by his ghost dog Boo and the spirit of Frank Sinatra. In other words, business as usual. This series of books is strangely compelling and has a very unique voice. I have already ordered the next one.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 04 15:05:56 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 04 21:19:36 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "12944651", "review_id": "54e46d76e3d80da438fabeae9c0a2f2e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Miriam Black is a most unusual heroine. Like a gypsy, she drifts from town to town. And she is afflicted with a gypsy sort of a curse. If Miriam touches a person, she knows how and when (but not where) they will die. An early unfortunate experience has convinced our heroine that she is unable to change a person's fate. So, she follows people that she knows will die shortly and relieves them of their excess cash and other possessions. It's pretty much how she supports herself. That is, until the fateful day when good samaritan Louis Darling picks Miriam up while she is hitchhiking. She finds that she genuinely likes this large, gentle truck driver. But when their hands brush, Miriam receives a terrible vision. Louis is murdered with her name on his lips. At first, Miriam tries to avoid Louis in the hopes that she can avert his future. But that nasty bitch fate keeps throwing them back together. And now Miriam has some bad baggage. A con artist, Ashley, has solved the mystery of why she keeps showing up around dead bodies and he wants in on the action. Miriam needs to shake Ashley and save Louis. And it turns out that, thanks to Ashley, Miriam's life is now in danger too. This is a good fast read that I devoured in one sitting.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 04 14:08:57 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 04 14:30:05 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "30531543", "review_id": "6e7cab4eed7178c488216a725d7847de", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The Mermaid's Daughter beautifully and skillfully combines two of my favorite genres: fairy tales and opera. Kathleen is a lovely, young soprano descended from a long line of tragic women. Her mother committed suicide while Kathleen was still a baby. Our doomed heroine has been suffering from pains in her feet and her mouth for most of her life. She is also obsessed with the ocean. No doctor or psychiatrist can explain these problems. Kathleen's composer father, Robin, is devoted to her, as is her lover and fellow-student at the music conservatory, Harry (Harriet). They watch in fear as her agony leads her closer to madness. Finally, Harry decides that she and Kathleen need to travel to Ireland to discover more about her ancestors and try to identify the source of her symptoms. At the same time, Robin begins to write an opera based on the fairy tale, The Little Mermaid. I loved this book. The story is divided into three acts and chapters within those acts are narrated by the main characters. I forced myself to only read an act a day to make this haunting, evocative tale last as long as possible. Although Ann Claycomb has been writing for years, this is her first novel. I can't wait to see what else she has in store for her readers. Ms. Claycomb is a rare and exceptional talent.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 17 14:08:27 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 20 08:04:31 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Mar 19 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "9450406", "review_id": "e5a174e0af7bb464458368af7159cc0e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Home Improvement: Undead Edition is another fine collection of short stories edited by (and including tales by) Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Keller. As with their other volumes, there is a central theme: \"All-new tales of haunted home repair and surreal estates\". The fine collection of authors they have assembled took this topic and ran with it in many different directions. My favorite story was \"Gray\" by Patricia Briggs. I so enjoyed it that I immediately started looking for books by this author. As I did with Charlaine Harris, I didn't discover her until she had already published quite a backlog of titles. So, as I did with Charlaine Harris, I will now read all of Patricia Briggs' books. And that is why short story collections are so wonderful. You never know when you will discover your next favorite author. I not only recommend this book to fans of the paranormal but to anyone who has ever owned a house. It turns out that even supernaturals have problems with home improvements.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 16 16:32:32 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 23 21:18:29 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Sep 23 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "24485589", "review_id": "55ac8d68a41b1f0b02e21d7d4810d99b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Hunted is a haunting retelling of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale. Yeva's father taught her hunting skills while she was still a child. As a young woman, she chafes against the restrictions of polite society. Circumstances cause her family to lose their wealth and return to their remote hunting lodge in the woods. Yeva's father disappears while tracking a mysterious beast and our heroine sets out to find him. She is too late for a rescue so the mission changes to avenge his death. The hunter becomes the hunted after Yeva is captured by her quarry and becomes a prisoner. The beast has his own mission for the Beauty and gets her cooperation by threatening the lives of her remaining family members. I loved this book and will be looking for other ones by Meagan Spooner. This is not Disney nor is it Grimm. Hunted is something different from either of the familiar versions in this captivating and original tale.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 01 21:08:01 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 03 13:37:01 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Aug 03 13:37:01 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Aug 02 13:50:07 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "25489134", "review_id": "f9491433af925db72963a7bd5077641a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It is hard to believe that this brilliant book is by a first-time author. It is beautiful and horrible and absolutely spell-binding. The story is set on an estate at the edge of the Russian wilderness. I'm not sure of the time-frame since this is a fable - probably about 500 years ago. Although the family of Pyotr Vladimirovich is wealthy by local standards and has powerful connections in Moscow, they too suffer through the long and brutal winters. But the people have survived with the aid of their household spirits. The story opens before our heroine, Vasilisa is born. Her mother dies giving birth to this special child who will inherit talents passed down from her grandmother. As Vasya grows into a rebellious child, her father becomes convinced that she needs the influence of a mother to tame her into more conventional behavior. He strikes a bargain with the Grand Prince of Moscow that secures a lesser prince for Vasya's older sister but requires that he marry the Grand Prince's mad sister. The step-mother had wanted to join a convent and, with the assistance of a new priest, forces the household and villagers to forsake the old spirits and worship God alone. No one but Vasya seems to realize that this is the reason for the increasingly harsh weather, famine and the mysterious violent deaths that soon plague their community. The book opens with a fairy tale (which you should definitely pay attention to) but evolves into a horror story. The tension and danger build gradually. I found a glossary at the end of the book that might have come in handy earlier. And I sometimes found myself somewhat confused because Russians tend to call themselves by more than one name. But these are minor matters that did not detract from this spell-binding book. It will be a tough act for Ms. Arden to follow but I certainly hope that she has more stories planned. I am a fan.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 01 07:09:52 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 03 21:01:23 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Mar 03 20:43:09 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Mar 01 07:09:53 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "140098", "review_id": "05ae5d0a6ccf26c217b44e75e2fe9b1c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "By the end of this book, I was pushing myself to get through it. Taken individually, most of the stories were entertaining. But the accumulated redundancy of thirteen tales of vampire birthdays turned out to be too much of a good thing. I certainly enjoyed the Sookie Stackhouse \"Dracula Night\" by Charlaine Harris. However, I had already read it twice before in other anthologies. This volume was somewhat disappointing. That being said, I certainly do intend to read the rest of the Charlaine Harris/Toni L.P. Kelner collections. They are fun. I just need to spread them out over a longer time period.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 20 20:47:10 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 21:15:53 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Feb 24 21:09:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Feb 20 20:47:11 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "7102544", "review_id": "0c05a277c0031efd30c0b29eda9312e6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Another fun collection from Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner. This book of short stories is connected by a central theme of vacations. But these certainly aren't ordinary vacations. Apparently even supernatural beings need the occasional get-away. All of the usual suspects are certainly present (vampires, werewolves) but also some very unusual creatures (gargoyles, leprechauns). Death's Excellent Vacation was a very enjoyable read that took a week to finish only because it is so easy to put down a book of short stories without losing the narrative thread. It was great to take my time and savor each one slowly.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 12 18:27:29 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 19 08:11:01 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sun Feb 12 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "28449207", "review_id": "e59e92eb59a566342fe1d5360ee506a5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Strange the Dreamer is a tale filled with gods, monsters and heroes. Sometimes it is difficult to know which is which. Lazlo Strange was a baby orphaned by war and raised by monks, as are many other such children. All are given the last name of Strange, since their parentage is unknown. Lazlo is a dreamer. Both as a young child and as a young man, he is enthralled by fairy tales. His special obsession is any story pertaining to the lost city of Weep. As a librarian, he has access to books telling of this wondrous place. He learns it's language and it's lore but has no hope of ever seeing the place. But that all changes on the day the Godslayer appears with his band of warriors. He seeks men of knowledge in the hope that they can break the curse that is terrorizing Weep. Lazlo's only skill is his collection of stories and ability to speak to the strangers. That is enough to make his dream come true. But when he arrives at Weep, he gains a more wondrous dream. Apparently this tale was too epic to be contained in a single volume. I will be there to buy the next book on it's day of publication. Because Strange the Dreamer is one of the best books that I have ever read.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 08 16:28:21 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 14 17:50:48 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jun 14 17:35:51 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jun 10 08:18:20 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "28926954", "review_id": "cdc56138723630fa1106f44a0dd3fad2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Book 0.5 is a prequel to what I understand is an epic apocalyptic tale set in present day America. It is a mystery as to how or where this plague started, but it quickly killed off most of the people on the planet. This story is set in the form of a letter/diary. Our protagonist has an unexpressed crush on a young woman living in his apartment building and decides to communicate with her even though she is surely dead. He is a virtual hermit who only leaves his rooms to pick up his mail. His written entries are based on what he has learned from the TV and Internet (until power vanishes for good) and from looking out of his windows at the chaos and death in the streets. Each chapter begins with a heading of \"x\" number of days before or after something. I think point zero is the electromagnetic pulse that destroys most technology. Eventually our hero needs to venture outdoors to search for additional supplies. He walks further each day. After he gets a bicycle, his range increases. He finds other survivors but that doesn't go well at all. And a hint is dropped that some of the survivors have evolved into creatures that aren't quite human. I will need to read the rest of the books in order to verify that and I have every intention of doing so. Because I love a good end of the world story and this is shaping up to be one.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 06 16:26:06 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 06 21:31:34 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "17239876", "review_id": "6b61681685fbf07f5efd2378d767bccf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "After Dead isn't exactly a book. It's more of a postscript. This volume is designed for the Sookie Stackhouse fangirl (or fanboy) who has read every book and every short story set in that universe. It is an alphabetical list of every character (minor or major) who appeared in the prior publications. It then tells you what happened to them after the final book was written. Some pages merely have a single line of print. So, it only took a couple of hours to read the entire thing. The main points of interest were the couple of characters whose write-up contained a hint that we might be hearing more of their life story at a later date. Otherwise, there isn't a whole lot to recommend here.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 06 16:17:04 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 06 16:23:32 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Feb 06 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Feb 06 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "6344832", "review_id": "261eafb6d855fc54d81e44698703aaf7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The final book in the Harper Connelly series turned out to be my favorite. This one is mostly set in and around Dallas, Texas. Harper and her partner have been called to the area by a wealthy woman who has questions about her grandfather's death. Our heroine has the unique ability to stand on a grave and see the death of the occupant. This also works if Harper can touch a body in a morgue or funeral home or any other place that she finds one. The dead call to Harper and the dead want to be found. This unique ability was a side effect from surviving a lightning strike at the age of 15. In any event, what seems to be a routine job opens up a nasty can of worms. Harper and Tolliver are also using this trip to reconnect with their family members. One of my personal delights in these books was the introduction of side character Manfred Bernardo. Actually, since I read the Midnight, Texas books before starting this series, I was already familiar with the psychic. But I enjoyed seeing him in the early stages of his discovery of the extent of his talent. And since it looks like Manfred will be showing up in a new TV series, perhaps Harper Connelly will also get her Hollywood debut. I hope so.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 02 17:55:46 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 03 19:40:25 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Thu Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "140097", "review_id": "789d9a750dc12aa0e258a310399f551c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Book three of the Harper Connelly series is much more violent and disturbing than the first two stories. Harper has been called to a small town to search for a missing teenage boy. Her \"brother\", Tolliver, accompanies her as usual. But this turns out to be the worst case in Harper Connelly's strange career. As an after-effect of a lightning strike when she was fifteen, Harper has the ability to find dead bodies and to discover the cause of death (but not who killed the victim or why). She does locate the dead boy. Unfortunately, he is buried in a field with seven other missing boys. Harper and Tolliver need to stay in Doraville, North Carolina while local and state authorities exhume the bodies and investigate the killings. But the longer they remain, the greater the danger that Harper finds herself in. And her relationship with Tolliver undergoes a seismic shift. The pain and suffering inflicted on the killed boys brought me to tears. And the fear and tension build to a stunning climax as the killers are forced to reveal themselves. An Ice Cold Grave is not for the faint of heart.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 31 14:31:53 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 01 20:59:06 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "140078", "review_id": "05813893e2f9640ccbe5047174eb823e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Book Two of the Harper Connelly series pretty much picks up where the first one ended. Harper and her stepbrother, Tolliver, have been invited to Memphis by a college professor. Dr. Clyde Nunley teaches a class about unusual gifts and abilities. Harper certainly has one of those. She makes her living by locating dead bodies. And, once she finds the bodies, she knows how they died. Harper doesn't realize that she was invited to visit the old cemetery on the college campus in order to be exposed as a fraud. Dr. Nunley doesn't realize that he is dealing with a genuine talent. This tense situation is further complicated when Harper reveals that one of the graves holds two bodies - the man who was buried there over a hundred years ago and a young girl who died much more recently. Unfortunately, the girl is a victim that Harper had been hired to find a couple of years earlier in Nashville. Harper and Tolliver have been set up. They need to solve the crime in order to clear their names so they can leave Memphis. And then another body shows up in the same grave. The suspense builds and the mystery is complicated by too many suspects. Another fun, fast read from Charlaine Harris.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 29 16:27:25 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 30 20:23:16 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jan 29 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "58077", "review_id": "df05955b599d500e70aa7237277c0994", "rating": 4, "review_text": "After completing my Sookie Stackhouse journey, I went in search of other books by Charlaine Harris. I decided that my next series would be the Harper Connelly mysteries. Like Sookie, Harper is a very unusual individual. But her personality is much darker and more tortured than the other heroine. Harper is the product of a dysfunctional home where both parents descended from an upper middle-income existence to a wasted life dominated by drugs and alcohol. Harper and her stepbrother, Tolliver, tried to hold the family together but eventually the authorities stepped in. Harper's life was completely changed after she survived a lightning strike as a young girl. This left her with a unique and ghoulish ability. Harper can find dead people. She is drawn to cadavers and, after she locates them, experiences their manner of death. Harper cannot communicate with the dead and she only knows how they died, not who was responsible. As an adult, she is able to make a living by helping people locate their missing and presumed dead family members. However, Harper cannot really function without the assistance of Tolliver. He understands her fears and insecurities and supports her in her work. Harper has, of course, a life-long terror of lightning and becomes catatonic in a thunderstorm. Also, it turns out that her unusual profession is a dangerous ones. Not everyone wants the dead to be found and some, in particular, do not want the manner of death to be disclosed. I enjoyed this book despite its dark tone and expect to pursue the rest of the series.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 27 13:09:00 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 29 10:37:30 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 29 10:37:30 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "21798827", "review_id": "60bcffb44edf840b3db2b5d0d8e4e1ed", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Another fun, fast read (my favorite kind) from the world of Sookie Stackhouse. Interestingly enough, none of these fifteen short stories was actually written by Charlaine Harris. She and Toni L.P. Keller edited the collection and Ms. Harris wrote a brief introduction to the book and to each story. Dead But Not Forgotten will appeal best to Sookie fans. The various authors each took a friend, lover, acquaintance, relative, or minor character from the Sookie universe and wrote a story. The tales are smart, funny, clever imaginings of events in the life of one of them. Since I knew at least something about each one of these individuals, I thoroughly enjoyed letting them have their own moment in the spotlight. This is an excellent collection.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 23 11:56:56 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 24 20:12:34 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jan 23 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "6202318", "review_id": "ba1897a8f4acb695c61efaf3da8d1722", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This fun, fast read is a collection of five Sookie Stackhouse short stories. A Touch of Dead is a perfect way to fill in some of the blanks left by reading the entire collection of novels and a nice addition for someone who has finished the journey but isn't ready to give up the experience. Some of these events have been referred to in the full-length books, although they were not fully explained. I suspect that the stories might be too confusing for a reader who is not familiar with the characters. However, I sure enjoyed spending more time with them. Fairy Dust explains how a fairy brother and sister became the owners of a stripper bar. Dracula Night is a vampire holiday to celebrate the most famous of all vampires. One Word Answer tells how Sookie's cousin was murdered and brings punishment to the one responsible. Lucky shows how a simple magic spell to protect those insured by one insurance agent could backfire on the rest of the town. And Gift Wrap is a sweet and sexy Christmas story. I enjoyed every one of these and only wish that there were more stories in the book. However, I suspect that if I read all things Charlaine Harris I might bump into some of my favorite characters again (at least the ones who are still alive).", "date_added": "Sat Jan 21 16:17:42 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 22 14:31:41 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 22 14:31:41 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jan 21 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "8133097", "review_id": "4487a7b74c3b789e93a59c5fdcadcd8e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "While I am a fan of all things Sookie, I am apparently not a die-hard fan. It took me a couple of weeks to trudge through this book. It opened with an excellent novella, \"Small-Town Wedding\", which did fill in a gap in the series. There were also a few other good entries from Charlaine Harris with background information on the short stories that are out there, answers to fan questions and an essay by Sookie on the various creatures she has interacted with. But a large bulk of this book was contributed by fans who have obsessively detailed each novel and story. These include trivia, recipes, a map, a time line, and an exhaustive (and exhausting) glossary that includes every character, place or item ever referenced in a Sookie Stackhouse book or story. That last entry ran about 150 pages and was very repetitive. I appreciate the work put into creating this collection but it was work to read it too. I may now have reached Sookie saturation.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 05 20:12:02 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 19 07:18:51 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jan 19 07:18:51 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "30117284", "review_id": "e911f5a0ea76f3599003be0f1f703393", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Veronica Roth has a new series that is set on the planet Thuve, one of nine worlds orbiting their sun. Two distinct populations live there and have been enemies for many years. The Thuvhesit people live in the bitterly cold north and cultivate iceflowers which have both medicinal and recreational uses. The Shotet people make annual treks to other planets where they \"scavenge\" unwanted items. The Shotets are a violent, war-like race led by a psychopath named Ryzek Noavek. . His sister, Cyra, is the main character of Carve the Mark. All of the planets are linked by a visible current which moves through space. It bestows currentgifts that lend a destiny to the favored ones. Cyra's gift is pain which is a constant presence in her life. She can also transfer pain to torture or even kill her brother's enemies. I was probably half way through the book before I found her at all likable. Akos is a young Thuvhesit boy when he and his brother are captured by the Shotets because their fates are linked to the ruling family according to prophecies. Chapters alternate between Cyra, whose story is told in the first person, and Akos who is told in third person. There is also a short glossary at the end of the book which would have been more helpful had I found it earlier. Carve the Mark is an ambitious work. I am still ambivalent as to whether or not I will continue with future volumes.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 02 13:48:04 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 10 20:16:02 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Mar 10 19:49:48 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Mar 04 14:26:51 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "15985348", "review_id": "5f7b47c850949ca1ffc63c2926ef4d0f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Well, my long journey is ended. I just finished reading the 13th and final Sookie Stackhouse novel. There are a few short stories I'll be hunting down and a companion book also, but I have completed the trek. And it actually didn't take long at all. It is near impossible to put these novels down. The author draws you in and doesn't let up on the tension. Someone is trying to frame Sookie for murder. Someone else is trying to murder Sookie. More than one enemy is trying to finish off our girl. Fortunately she has some powerful friends on her side. But life is hitting her from all directions. Sookie gets arrested and shot and kidnapped and stabbed and dumped by her vampire lover. If anyone ever deserved a happy ending, it is Sookie Stackhouse. Thank you for providing it, Charlaine Harris. There is no doubt in my mind that I will want to read every one of these books again, as well as the many other novels created by this brilliant author. Needless to say, I highly recommend her work.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 01 09:57:24 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 01 10:10:19 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 10:10:19 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "10407279", "review_id": "e54ad0e7050de9691936b3754758f08d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sookie Stackhouse has the most complicated and dangerous life of any heroine I have ever encountered. In Sookie's world, you literally can't trust anyone - especially the ones that love you. Deadlocked brings more peril to the table with an otherworldly cast of characters. First of all, there is Eric, Sookie's vampire lover. Except he has apparently been promised to the Queen of Oklahoma by his now-dead creator. Then there is Claude, her cousin and a full-blooded fairy. But it appears that he has ulterior motives behind his move into her house. Her shapeshifter boss, Sam, has taken up with an angry werewolf who considers Sookie to be a threat. Once again, this installment in the series is filled with sex and violence. Unfortunately, there is more of the latter. Sookie's life is fracturing from the stress of all of the creatures who either want her or the mysterious and powerful fairy talisman that she possesses. It's going to be messy.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 30 18:16:44 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 31 09:01:46 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Dec 31 09:01:46 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "7981206", "review_id": "a9e48944c8e0fdfd5db8772cfb4b3558", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I gave myself the Christmas gift of spending the entire day reading a Sookie Stackhouse book. I sure will be devastated when I reach the end of this spectacular series. And that will be as soon as I can get my hands on the last two books. As I felt about Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it might just be necessary to go back to the beginning and experience it all over again. On the other hand, I am only in Season Three of TrueBlood, the HBO series based on the novels. Sookie is such an admirable heroine. Though beset with trials, tribulations and dangers on all fronts, she can usually maintain her upbeat, optimistic view of life. Considering how many dead humans and supernaturals she sees, this is quite a feat. In Dead Reckoning, Sookie's problems include (but are not limited to) an old enemy who is making multiple attempts on her life, two fairy relatives who have moved into her home, declining business at her place of employment, relationship trouble with her vampire lover, etc., etc. It's almost too much for a young woman to handle. Unless, of course, that young woman happens to be Sookie Stackhouse. Read this book! After you have already read the first ten, naturally.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 26 09:30:38 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 26 09:39:59 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Dec 25 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Dec 25 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "7091488", "review_id": "4b119997448615051129327bd3d38863", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sookie Stackhouse has the most dangerous, disturbing and depressing life of any heroine I have ever encountered. She usually manages to hold onto her optimistic outlook, but even Sookie is hard pressed to maintain her equilibrium in this book. Her vampire lover is enmeshed in a power struggle with the emissary of the new King of Louisiana. Her werewolf friends are having internal betrayals of their own to deal with. An angry fairy has vowed to kill Sookie. Someone buries a body on her property and sics the police on her. An ambitious FBI agent is determined to harness Sookie's powers to advance his own career. It's all too much for a telepathic barmaid to deal with. But deal she does, because Sookie survives whatever life throws at her. Another great installment in the saga of Sookie Stackhouse. I dread the day when I close the covers on the last book. It might be necessary to start over again from the beginning. Because yes, these books are that great.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 22 21:10:34 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 23 19:31:31 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Dec 23 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Dec 22 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "5161066", "review_id": "f3db7935f3f90600fd791b8e1d6ab52f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Poor Sookie Stackhouse. Her creator lets the most awful things happen to her. And Charlaine Harris certainly didn't leave anything on the table in this book. It turns out that there are worse enemies to have than vampires and werewolves. Fairies. Who knew? Sookie becomes a pawn in a war between two fairy princes who are fighting to control their world. Even though she has vampire and werewolf allies protecting her, that isn't enough to keep the telepathic barmaid safe. There are also humans who want to kill Sookie. Her friendships with supernatural beings are not looked at favorably by those who would destroy all non-humans. The death toll in this book is rather high and one loss is particularly hard to bear. Dead and Gone is another fantastic installment in the Sookie Stackhouse series. Although Charlaine Harris does try to recap the back story line, this saga has become too complex to start in the middle. Go back to Dead Until Dark and begin at the beginning. You won't be sorry but you could well become obsessed. It's that good.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 14 19:16:55 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 16 10:36:16 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Dec 16 10:36:16 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Dec 14 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "2233407", "review_id": "2db71eda93bb94a23f83c017d1ec10bd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Charlaine Harris keeps ramping up the excitement in her Sookie Stackhouse books. This one has a werewolf war and a vampire power struggle and fairy intrigue and magic goings-on. And Sookie is, as usual, at ground zero for all of it. Her love life gets increasingly complicated. Her were-tiger lover has vanished and her vampire ex-lovers are all too present and, of course, her shape-shifter employer is still very interested in a more romantic relationship. Sookie's appeal is universal, except among humans who find her mind-reading disability most disconcerting. Sookie is brave and smart and loyal and very pretty. In From Dead to Worse, she also gets to meet a few relatives that she didn't know about. Since Sookie only has a fairly rotten brother to call family, this is a welcome development in her very stress-filled life. I simply adore these books and have just discovered the HBO television series that was based on Sookie's story - True Blood. Thank you Amazon streaming.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 11 11:34:46 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 13 12:37:40 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Dec 13 12:37:40 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "140075", "review_id": "a5d40939d545ea97dbbb1e152b4a7e1e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I am addicted to the Sookie Stackhouse books and have been binge-reading them for a few weeks. I don't know how Charlaine Harris managed to make each one even more compelling than the previous installment in this series. All Together Dead takes things to a new level. First of all, this is a sexy book while also being an extremely violent one. Sookie is committed to accompanying the vampire queen of Louisiana to a vampire summit in Rhodes, Illinois. This will be a complicated mission since the queen has to stand trial for the murder of her husband and Sookie is the only human witness to the crime. Plus, Sookie will be called upon to use her telepathic powers to find out who is plotting against the vampires. Add to that, her current boyfriend (a weretiger) and only two previous loves (vampires) will all be in attendance. Sookie's life if nothing if not complicated. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book. Now that I have passed the half-way point, I must deal with the reality that I will soon run out of Sookie Stackhouse books. Could be that I'll have to start all over again from book one.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 08 18:28:50 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 10 15:26:28 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Dec 10 15:26:28 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "140079", "review_id": "40a8740503586fcda10329fb97229934", "rating": 4, "review_text": "In this installment of the Sookie Stackhouse saga, the action moves from the small town of Bon Temps, Louisiana to the big city of New Orleans. Sookie's presence has been \"requested\" by the (vampire) Queen of Louisiana. And there is a new man in Sookie's life. Well, not exactly a man. Quinn is a very impressive were-tiger. I've been faithfully reading this series in the order in which it was written. But I must say that it felt like I was missing a few chapters from this story. Maybe there is a novella out there. Although Charlaine Harris did summarize the crucial events of that time gap, I'm sorry that I didn't get to read a full accounting. That being said, Definitely Dead is definitely a fun read and I'm moving on to the next book immediately.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 05 17:41:47 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 07 20:24:47 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Dec 05 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "170210", "review_id": "15aeb7d90d6bb7f0634380892b33efc9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Charlaine Harris just keeps ramping up the suspense and the violence in this series of Sookie Stackhouse books. The poor heroine survives one trial and tribulation after another - often with the help of her not completely human friends and lovers. In this newest installment, someone is hunting shape-shifters and the supernatural community suspects that Sookie's brother could be the shooter. Since he has recently been infected, Jason is more likely to be a target himself. This book is considerably less sexy than previous installments. However, there are now a couple more creatures who are intrigued by Sookie so perhaps the stage is being set for future encounters. Even without sex, a Sookie Stackhouse book is hard to put down. Charlaine Harris sure does create addictive page-turners. Once again, the story builds upon previous books. Don't start reading in the middle of the story. Begin with Dead Until Dark and go from there.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 04 19:09:57 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 05 06:41:54 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Dec 05 06:41:54 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Dec 04 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "140077", "review_id": "67a8a6e56995ae6a52b7e9eadfc616f6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Sookie Stackhouse books have something for everyone - that is, if your taste runs to the unconventional. Sookie is a telepathic barmaid in a small town dive. Her boss is a shape-shifter. Her boyfriend is a vampire. A coven of evil witches has come to a nearby city with the intention of taking over from the supernaturals who already live there. The Shreveport head vampire, Eric, is now wandering around with no memory due to a witch's curse. Sookie's brother is missing after dating a shape-shifter. It's up to Sookie to bring the werewolves, vampires, and non-evil witches together for an epic show-down with the intruders. There will be blood. Lots of it. There is also lots of sex. All-in-all, a very entertaining book. I've already ordered the next two in the series. I understand that there are fourteen books. From my experience, I would recommend reading them in the order in which they were printed. Each book takes place immediately after the previous one left off.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 01 19:30:21 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 01 19:40:41 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "116256", "review_id": "80614e70933fa02efecc6b63a5b36e91", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In Book 4 of the Patternmaster series, the world is not faring well. The seeds of destruction have been sown in the earlier books. The Patternists have extremely developed mental powers. They can telepathically link with each other to communicate, heal or kill. Patternists live in enclaves controlled by the most powerful of their kind. Their mortal enemies are the Clayarks - descendants of the survivors of a plague brought back to the planet by an astronaut. These creatures refer to themselves as sphinxes and have human heads on somewhat cat-like bodies. Regular humans (or mutes) are victimized by both races. The Patternists use them as slaves. The Clayarks torture and eat them. The Patternmaster is the one Patternist who can link with all of his people. The current ruler is dying and a power struggle to succeed him has begun. Octavia E. Butler has created an epic story. Be sure to read the books in the correct order to fully appreciate the arc of her vision.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 27 05:29:45 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 28 06:20:41 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 28 06:20:41 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "140082", "review_id": "131d100e88db232509bd322363d09ef5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Sookie Stackhouse books are plain addictive. Once I start reading one of them, I don't want to put it down until the final page. They are funny and scary and violent and sexy and very compelling. The heroine, Sookie, is a telepath in love with a vampire. So, what could go wrong? Except everything. Sookie's path to true love is not a smooth one. She just keeps stumbling from one disaster to another. Her trials and tribulations are unending. I have never before encountered a young woman so constantly in danger of kidnapping, rape and/or murder. And she has not one, but two, powerful vampires in love with her. And a werewolf. And a shapeshifter. On the other hand, her love life has never looked better. Most humans think she is crazy. Apparently the ability to read minds doesn't go over well on a date. Needless to say, I have already told my local library to get the next book for me.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 23 20:08:37 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 24 18:08:53 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Nov 24 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Nov 23 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "29771527", "review_id": "47826411f14b178a9eee585874e24830", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Everything changes on Gardner Island when Lioness Lazos appears. Ostensibly a waitress, the young looking woman is so much more. A long-time couple bring her into their lives. Abe is a retired history professor with a love of the harmonica. Joanna is a middle-aged stewardess counting the days until she can stop working. Her daughter, Lily, is an angry, confused lesbian. Lioness touches and impacts these three in life-altering ways. During an abnormally long spring and summer, relationships are challenged as the mortals brush shoulders with gods. Peter S. Beagle brings the reader to a mysterious place that I will remember long after closing the book.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 21 07:17:48 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 13 12:44:40 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Nov 23 08:57:07 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Nov 21 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "110494", "review_id": "65babcac50f0e214389b11ae6e98abf1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Charlaine Harris sure packs a lot of genres into her sexy little novels. I guess the simple category would be vampire book but there is much more going on than that. The heroine, Sookie Stackhouse, is a waitress at a small town bar whose life is greatly complicated by her ability to read minds. There is an inordinate amount of crime in Bon Temps, Louisiana. Sookie does a lot of crying and a lot of screaming. But she certainly has good reason to be upset. Seems like someone is always trying to kidnap her or rape her or murder her (or all three). Good thing she has a handsome protector in Vampire Bill. Living Dead in Dallas is book two of the Sookie Sackhouse series and I fully expect to binge-read my way through these marvelously entertaining books.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 19 14:46:53 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 20 11:04:32 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Nov 20 11:04:32 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "28432251", "review_id": "02e4ce9190785213126740e60134cdac", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This concludes the Guardians trilogy. Perhaps I would have enjoyed the final book more if I hadn't had to wait for it. The story is quite convoluted and it was harder to care about the characters and their mission as time went by. There are three men and three women chasing three stars created by three goddesses while being pursued by the evil entity that wants to destroy all worlds. So, not too over the top. The men include a powerful magician, a traveler through time and space, and an immortal. The women consist of a seer, a mermaid, and a werewolf. The romance in this final book is between the immortal and the werewolf. Needless to say, a total suspension of disbelief will be required. It is obvious that someone did a lot of research into a lot of obscure topics to flesh out this story. But it really just seemed to be trying to hard. I didn't love Island of Glass.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 16 13:42:56 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 21 20:53:48 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Dec 21 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "52318", "review_id": "695cf95634fcb33fa453de79a06cb501", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wild Seed is an epic story that spans over 150 years. The two main characters are alive for all of this time and are each the only one of their kind. Doro has lived for millennia by possessing other people's bodies. His motives for the kill vary: survival, sustenance, anger, or enjoyment. He is obsessed with the desire to breed another such as himself. Doro chases this dream by gathering people with special abilities and mating them. It is a genetic experiment that has been going on for thousands of years. Anyanwu is wild seed. This is the term that Doro uses for talents that have developed outside of his program. Like him, Anyanwu is also immortal. And she is wildly talented. Anyanwu is a shape-shifter and a healer. She can become any race or age of either sex or take on any animal form that she desires. The clash between these two strong and powerful entities is breath-taking. It was not until I finished book two that I realized the story continued into other volumes. I will continue the tale until Octavia Butler decides that it is finished. There is nothing else like this story.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 02 17:36:26 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 06 22:12:12 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Nov 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Nov 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "28592999", "review_id": "cbc8de809cdcc2b1d14535c05564c7ab", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Michael Swanwick is a giant writer of small stories. Each entry in this book is a gem that is guaranteed to keep you thinking long after you finish. I tried to pace myself but it was like opening a box of chocolates. One delicious surprise after another and so hard to stop consuming. Although I am sure that I have read Michael Swanwick's stories before in those scifi magazines that I love, this was the first book of his that I ever picked up. I've always been a sucker for a good title. Speaking of which, he has some awesome names for his stories - \"For I Have Lain Me Down on the Stone of Loneliness and I'll Not be Back Again\", \"Of Finest Scarlet Was Her Gown\", \"From Babel's Fall'n Glory We Fled\", \"An Empty House With Many Doors\". Extremely poetic and irresistible. I see from the list inside of the book cover that Michael Swanwick has written many other volumes. Apparently, he has been doing so since 1980. So, I'm a little late to the party but I am ready to join in.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 17 14:12:26 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 20 10:39:59 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Oct 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "116254", "review_id": "ca25285a541c991ec1b02cf631b5787a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Doro is an alien parasite who has lived on earth for over 4,000 years by killing and taking control of countless human bodies - one at a time. During most of this period, he has been consumed with a breeding program in which he tried to create more beings like him. But this book isn't really about Doro. It's about Mary, a product of generations of breeding. This powerful telepath is taking human evolution in a new direction. Those who don't have latent abilities will be enslaved to serve the master race. A showdown between Doro and Mary is inevitable and Octavia E. Butler builds gradually to the ultimate power struggle. I didn't realize at first that this was the second book of a series. Based on my enjoyment of Mind of My Mind, it looks like I need to go back to the beginning of the story. Because even if I know how it ends, I want to see how it starts. And if there is a third book in the Patternmaster series, I'll be looking for that one too.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 15 13:23:24 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 16 13:35:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Oct 16 13:35:43 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "28691932", "review_id": "cdba8e72d921bc48051793a6a9d8edb6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Nadia lives in a strange city that is surrounded by walls. It kind of reminded me of a huge commune. The society is very agrarian and the citizens are named by their skills - such as planter, dyer, glass maker, metal worker, etc. Oh yeah. And every twelve years everyone forgets who they are and where they are (except Nadia, of course). Because of the Forgetting, they all carry a book tied to their bodies in which they record the details of their lives. Without the book, there is no chance that they will be able to function after the next forgetting and will become one of the lost. The people of Canaan know nothing of the world outside their walls. It is forbidden to leave the city. However, it seems that someone is controlling the population and has dire plans to weed out the undesirables. I was glad to get to the end of this book and will not be reading any sequels if they are written. The story line seemed contrived and derivative.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 28 07:24:44 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 19 15:34:21 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Dec 19 15:34:21 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "8706185", "review_id": "ad404576defb76ddf6b48cc6a5bf3813", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I suppose that technically speaking this is a young adult book. At least, the main characters are teenagers. Our heroine, Mori, tells her story in the form of a diary. It seems to begin in the middle of a trauma that she is recovering from and clues slowly are revealed to add more pieces to the puzzle. Fifteen year old Mori has run away from her insane witch mother and been placed under the guardianship of a father whom she has never met before. Dad lives with his three half sisters in England. Mori has lived her entire life in Wales. She is now sent to a snooty boarding school where she is definitely a stranger in a strange land. As she has for her entire life, Mori takes comfort in books. Hundreds of books. Most of them are science fiction or fantasy. And Mori seems to spend over half of her diary listing and reviewing these books. Jo Walton has obviously read extensively in both genres. This is the second novel I have read by this author. I probably won't read any more. If you can plow through to the ending, it is a satisfying one. But it is a tedious journey to get there.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 25 21:06:21 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 27 22:10:50 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "22299763", "review_id": "5e5b9b24838c764a1320a2e7ef7003c7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Crooked Kingdom is the brilliant conclusion to a story begun in the previous novel: Six of Crows. A band of talented and dangerous misfits had completed an impossible mission in the first story. They returned to collect their reward. Instead they were betrayed and one of their crew was kidnapped. The remaining members, led by the intrepid Kaz Brekker, now have several new missions. The first priority is to reunite their gang. Then they must get the large payment that is still owed to them. And last, but definitely not least, wreak vengeance on the guilty. Leigh Bardugo is a masterful writer. Each character becomes so real that you can almost see them. The author slowly reveals the tormented secrets that motivate their behavior. Life has not been kind to the Six of Crows gang and they will not be kind in return. From reading the bio on this author, I see that Leigh Bardugo has Hollywood connections. I certainly hope that she can parlay them into a movie(s) deal. I would love to see her stories on the big screen and am looking forward to future books that are hopefully also set in this mesmerizing universe she has created.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 14 05:52:20 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 29 18:09:03 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "14061957", "review_id": "f1cb17a4e4cead041990670bc7fa5b5c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ruin and Rising is the thrilling conclusion of The Grisha Trilogy. And yes, you must read the other two books first. Why wouldn't you want to? A grand and epic story like this one doesn't come around every day. Leigh Bardugo manages to weave the tangled skein of plots and legends and deception into a satisfying (although often disturbing) conclusion to her saga. The kingdom is battling inconceivable horrors and the champions fighting to save their country seem to fail with every attempt. More than once the situation seems hopeless. Thank the Saints that there are heroes willing to put their lives on the line to restore the nation. And thank Leigh Bardugo for giving birth to this spectacular vision. These books are going to be a tough act to follow. I almost pity the next book that I pick up since I know that The Grisha trilogy is an incomparable accomplishment. These books deserve to be shelved with the Lord of the Rings trilogy in terms of world building. But they are much more fun to read.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 11 21:18:03 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 12 21:51:04 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "14061955", "review_id": "daeff33fecf73ed07c4517e6e91c5374", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Siege and Storm is a brilliant sequel to the wonderful Shadow and Bone story. The tale is set in a land that is perpetually at war with it's neighbors and wracked by internal intrigue. The King wasn't a good leader even before he was poisoned. Now, he is hanging on by a thread. His two sons each would like to inherit the throne. Each also thinks that he can solidify his position by uniting with Alina, a Sun-Summoner Grisha of unimaginable power. Of course, whoever would rule must also contend with the evil and ambitious Darkling who has his own vision for the future of Ravka. All of these men think that marriage to Alina will ensure their destiny. Alina has loved Mal her entire life and struggles to resist the threats that surround her. Some believe that she is a saint and would worship her. Some think that she is a witch and would destroy her. Some feel that her gift is the only hope to heal their war-torn country and restore peace to the land. Alina is threatened by these swirling currents and fights to control her power in the face of constant attacks and temptations. OK. This probably doesn't make sense. That's because you must read the first book first. Seriously. Shadow and Bone is the start of the ultimate fantasy saga. I can't wait to read the next installment except then the trilogy would be over. Unless Hollywood takes an interest. I would love to see these movies!", "date_added": "Thu Sep 08 20:16:18 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 10 11:41:02 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Sep 10 11:41:02 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "10194157", "review_id": "bdc9d8e7c29317cd30fe658a430eaf90", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I decided that I needed to read this book after hearing it praised in several reviews of other young adult fantasy books that I had totally enjoyed. The reviewers were right. Shadow and Bone is amazing. I raced through it in about 24 hours and can't wait to read the sequels. Our story opens with two young orphans who are being brought up in a Duke's home that shelters children left alone by the war that has been ravishing their country for years. Alina and Mal grow up together and are both drafted into the army. Mal develops his innate talent as a tracker. Alina struggles to become a cartographer. But everything changes when they are sent into the Fold - a dark, desolate and cursed part of their country occupied by monsters. When one of these creatures attacks Mal, Alina turns on it in fury and her hidden talent is revealed. This immediately brings her to the attention of the Darkling. He is the leader of the Grisha, soldiers of the Second Army. They are divided into three orders: the Corporalki (Order of the Living and the Dead), the Etherealki (Order of Summoners) and the Materialki (Order of Fabrikators). Alina discovers that she is an member of the Etherealki, but one with a unique ability. She is taken to the capitol to belatedly start training to control her magical power. As she learns more about the Darkling and his evil ambitions to control the world, her life and the lives of those she loves are endangered. This book will take you by the throat and not let go until the last page. I was surprised to read that this was the first novel written by Leigh Bardugo. Fortunately it is not the last and I am a new fan who will be eagerly reading everything she writes.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 04 20:09:22 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 05 14:47:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Sep 05 14:47:22 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "22055276", "review_id": "c783075a81ad3a3a9679eee9a977a87c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Just City is a brilliant book. College courses could and should be taught about it. The premise is a spectacular \"what if\". What if the Greek gods are real? What if one of those gods (Athene) wishes to create a Just City based on Plato's Republic? What if she decides to conduct her experiment in an isolated location (oh yes, it is Atlantis) where it cannot affect history? What if she is able to travel through time gathering up slave children ten years of age from different eras to become part of her experiment? What if she is only able to bring in Masters (guardians, instructors, chaperones) who have prayed directly to her requesting this life? What if her brother Apollo decides to be born as a mortal and live in this Just City as a human being in order to experience humanity? What if Athene decides to bring Socrates to the city five years into the experiment? The results are described by three different narrators: one from each of the three major groups. There is Simmea, a young Egyptian girl born sometime between 500 and 1000 A.D. who is kidnapped by slavers and sold to the masters. We also have Maia, a very educated Victorian lady who yearns for equality in a place that values learning above all else. And, Apollo is there to tell his story of a god trying to understand being human. Their stories intersect over about seven years of this experiment. It is a fascinating idea and not a book that I would normally gravitate to. I usually prefer lighter entertainment and Jo Walton really made me think. At times I was caught up in the story. Other times I got somewhat bogged down in the intellectual debates. I am glad that I persevered to the end but I doubt that I will read any sequels.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 02 18:58:42 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 08 10:03:49 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Sep 08 10:03:49 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "27245910", "review_id": "31de1656bf541e39f6b341c68ef8cab1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Anyone who decided not to read this sequel to The Girl at Midnight has cheated themselves out of a much better book. The Shadow Hour is a gripping, well-written story that involves ancient feuds, ancient power, and ancient evil. There are two races on earth that live concealed in the shadows of the human world with the aid of magical protections. The Avicen have bird properties such as feathers in lieu of hair. Their eternal enemies, the Drakharin, are descended from dragons and are identifiable by remnants of scales on their bodies. The legend has long been told of a powerful firebird that will rise up and bring peace. Unfortunately, the legends gloss over the part that the rise of the firebird will also bring an opposing evil force into the world, the kucedra. Our heroine, Echo, has taken on the mantle of the firebird. Echo is a human who was raised by the Avicen but has fallen in love with a powerful Drakharin. Together they seek the knowledge that will end the war between the two magical races and stop the kucedra before it destroys the world. I can't wait to find out what happens next but I will have to since the third book in the trilogy isn't coming out until the summer of 2017. I hate when that happens.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 28 13:17:35 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 30 19:56:18 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "556610", "review_id": "00b2dd88288c4196660fb9fbc594d5f9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I first read \"A Fine and Private Place\" over 30 years ago. Since I now find myself closer to the grave than the cradle, I thought it was time to re-visit this story. The main character, Jonathan Rebeck, has been living in an abandoned mausoleum in the Bronx's Yorkchester Cemetery for over 19 years. He sees and talks to the ghosts of the recently departed but has effectively abandoned all human contact. His food and other necessities are provided by a sarcastic talking raven. Mr. Rebeck is content with his solitary existence until he is discovered by a widow, Gertrude Klapper. The other engine of change that intrudes into his bubble is the love that develops between two ghosts. Mr. Rebeck finds himself caring for others for the first time in almost two decades. Peter S. Beagle is one of my favorite fantasy authors. This was his first published book but is written with the style and grace of a master. I won't let so much time pass before I read it again.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 25 20:24:35 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 27 21:43:04 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "18114043", "review_id": "a498d00eafe7ba7d00a8aa6587a52b2d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Games Creatures Play is a fun, fast read. OK, some of the stories weren't fun. They were downright violent and scary. Which sometimes happens in games. All of the stories have a sports theme and no two are alike. I picked up this book because of Charlaine Harris's story about the first meeting between Sookie Stackhouse and Manfred Bernardo. Best baseball game I ever read. But my favorite story was the last one: Bell, Book, and Candlepin by Toni L.P. Keller. It had a witch and a werewolf and a bowling alley that had been cursed. Good times. I will be looking for other books by both of those authors because they sure can spin a story.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 14 13:11:11 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 14 13:17:49 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Aug 14 13:17:49 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "27209407", "review_id": "3fb05ea0814f5e8f122ff4cbda4cbeb5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "As you can probably tell from my bookshelves, Bay of Sighs has a little bit of everything. Some of it seemed recycled from previous Nora Roberts books. But even when the story is familiar, no one can tell it like Nora. This trilogy is centered on a quest for three stars that have been hidden for many years. The stars were created by three goddesses to celebrate the new queen. But an evil goddess put a curse on the stars and they fell to Earth. Now, she seeks to find them so that she can use their power to rule the universe. However, six mortals (OK, five mortals and one immortal) with unique gifts and powers are also on a quest. Their mission is to return the stars to the goddesses so that they can be restored to the heavens. This is book two of the trilogy and is not a stand alone story. It would be best to read Stars of Fortune first. The third book, Island of Glass, will not be available until December, 2016. I hope that I still remember enough of the complicated plot when that one is published. I suspect that this series would be better experienced as a binge-read.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 05 17:25:05 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 06 22:17:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "20345202", "review_id": "d39b92120aa0086c9e7176ff41c9fef4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Echo is the girl of the title and a most unusual heroine. As a child, she escaped from her abusive family and was taken in by the Avicen, an ancient race living below New York City. These people have feathers instead of hair and magic that they use to conceal their home and to travel around the world through hidden portals. Echo earns her way as a thief and brings back rare treasures to barter or to keep in her own nest in a forgotten corner of the New York Public Library. However, she is sent out on a dangerous quest to find the firebird. This journey brings her to the attention of the Drakharin, long-time enemies of the Avicen. As the war between these two races threatens to flare up, the firebird is their only hope to restore peace. Echo faces challenges that she never could have imagined. This is a fast, fun read and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in what I suspect will probably be a trilogy. The story very much reminded me of one of my favorite books, Daughter of Smoke & Bone, and is almost as well-written. I consider that a great compliment to this author.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 01 09:40:14 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 02 21:25:29 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "7964", "review_id": "96d3f35a71d4e677aad4934975003979", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Orson Scott Card has woven mythology, theology and magic into a fascinating tale set in a middle-class African-American suburb of Los Angeles. This book tells the story of Mack Street, a changeling baby who mysteriously appears in the opening pages. He is adopted by an unmarried nurse and mentored by the teenage boy who lives next door. Mack is a good child but different from his peers. Early in his adolescence, Mack discovers a strange house that no one else can see. It is a portal that connects our world with the world of the fairies. Mack passes back and forth through this doorway and spends years exploring the fairy world. He quickly notices that days in that realm might translate to minutes or hours in our time. However, Mack and his neighborhood are about to be swept up in an epic battle between good and evil that transverses both universes. Although there were times when I felt that this book somewhat jumped the rails, in the end it was a good story worth reading. I'm more familiar with Orson Scott Card from his Ender books but I believe that I will try some more of his fantasy writing.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 09 18:00:35 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 15 07:14:49 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "25250449", "review_id": "4db3a66f100e344dd7d79f259ec3c7ee", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Night Shift is a book that is a contradiction in terms. It has humor and terror. It has love and murder. It has small-town and paranormal. Midnight, Texas is a crossroads in the middle of nowhere. Many of the buildings are boarded up and the few businesses that are open manage to survive with a trickle of customers. The folks who live in Midnight are a very strange and private group that includes a witch, a vampire, a psychic, an immortal, a talking cat, two angels and three were-tigers. Not your average small town by anyone's definition. But in their own weird way, these people form a sort of family and band together to fend off threats both human and demonic. This is the third book in the Midnight, Texas series and it would be best to read them in order since secrets are revealed slowly. I don't know if a fourth book is in the works but I was thrilled to find out that a television series based on these stories should appear in early 2017. I can't wait to see these unforgettable characters brought to life.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 05 20:00:35 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 07 20:45:59 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "23281944", "review_id": "febd3d81f7ece4eb6fa027f35e43bed0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Day Shift is the second book set in Midnight, Texas. The denizens of this small town are unusual to say the least. Among other characters, there is a psychic, a witch, a vampire, and several other characters that have yet to be explained. Needless to say, this small town not only treasures but requires it's privacy. That solitude is threatened by outside forces in Day Shift. A mysterious corporation has bought and renovated the long deserted hotel and imported some destitute senior citizens to fill a few suites. The phone psychic has been accused of theft and, possibly, murder. Reporters descend on Midnight to cover that story. A telepath is being pursued by angry vampires. A hit woman is being hunted by her father's minions. And the full moon brings a whole new problem. Day Shift is a fun, fast, entertaining read and I am ready for the next book about this amazing town.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 03 18:58:17 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 05 05:36:21 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jul 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jul 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "24120519", "review_id": "456280ef33058e8d9c27370e4318a5be", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The third book of the Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children brings their story to an exciting, dramatic, and ultimately satisfying conclusion. The peculiar world is fighting for survival. Peculiar children and their guardians (ymbrynes) are being stalked and kidnapped by evil beings who wish to capture their powers and rule the world. Our hero, Jacob Portman, has lived a normal life for his first 16 years. As a result, he is unaware of the gifts that he has inherited from his grandfather. But the fate of the world depends on him discovering and mastering his powers. I thoroughly enjoyed this trilogy and am looking forward to the movie(s) based on the books.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 17 18:16:36 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 19 12:22:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jun 19 12:22:54 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "141042", "review_id": "1e4c942ae87c9d8c5ecde397908ebe11", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The Trouble With Witches is a cute, fast read. The main characters are quite appealing. The story is narrated by Ophelia Jensen - a small town librarian who is psychic and a witch and who seems to have a hobby of solving crimes. Ophelia has a powerful partner in her adventures - her gifted 74 year old grandmother, Abby. And a good friend and co-worker, Darci, who wants to be included in their cases. And a dog named Lady and a cat named Queenie (both of who seem to be better judges of character than their owner). This particular mystery involves a missing girl and the mysterious group that she moved in with shortly before her family lost contact with her. Ophelia and her crew head off to a remote lake in Minnesota to investigate the problem head-on. I enjoyed reading this book and probably would have given it four stars except for one annoying characteristic. The narrator and other characters spend too much time referring back to previous stories in this series. I would normally be out looking for the other books but feel like so much plot was revealed that it would spoil the mysteries.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 08 17:16:22 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 10 06:07:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "24611454", "review_id": "ccaed85a1152b203aaf1e1558bed0b4b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Stars of Fortune is Nora Roberts at her most mystical. The book opens with three goddesses crafting unique gifts for a new queen. And the evil dark being who wishes to claim those powers for herself. Flash forward an unknown amount of time (it could be millennia). We now meet six humans on a quest for the three stars and running out of time to find them. This requires a long set-up as the six strangers converge on the hiding place of the first star. Each of them has their own unique powers and it pretty much takes the entire book before we (and they) discover the full extent of them. Of course, now that I am fully invested in the story, I discover that this is a new trilogy and I will have to wait for the other two books to be released. Nora Roberts never ceases to amaze me. She can spin these complex yarns and is so incredibly prolific that she must be writing several of them at once. I await the next installment with bated breath.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 03 16:54:10 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 08 08:52:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 08 08:52:03 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "18107951", "review_id": "750fcbc7c483901e54ef8a28117160a9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Midnight Crossroad is a fun, fast read. Although she is a prolific writer, I believe that this is the first novel I have read by Charlaine Harris. It won't be the last. I was happy to see that there are at least two more books set in the strange town of Midnight, Texas. This tiny town is home to some of the strangest characters you will ever meet. There's a vampire and a witch and a psychic and a talking cat and several residents that I don't quite understand yet. The folks in Midnight are a tight bunch who are devoted to their friends and neighbors. They don't much care for outsiders and strangers don't care to linger in this place. Anyway, a murder has been committed and it's up to the townsfolk to figure out who did it. In the process, many secrets are revealed. I'm looking forward to spending more time with these unusual individuals in the next book.", "date_added": "Tue May 31 17:17:38 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 01 21:33:12 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "23164983", "review_id": "e33997d91224a778e8eb39ce308894ab", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Hollow City was a fast, exciting read. I found it much easier to get into than the first book in the trilogy - probably because fewer explanations of this other world were required. But a big thank you to Ransom Riggs for including the photos of the original peculiar children in the front of the book, along with their names and abilities. I found myself referring back to that often in the earlier chapters as I re-learned who was who. This book picks up minutes after the first book ends and should be read second to that one. The children have escaped the wights and the hollows and the Nazis in the submarine and are rowing their little boats to the mainland of Wales. Their headmistress, Miss Peregrine, is stuck in bird form and they are seeking another ymbryne to restore her to human shape. (I told you, you have to read the first book first). Anyway, the wandering children are in constant danger as they trek through London during the fearsome bombing raids of World War II. And, just like the first book, I have been left hanging in the storyline and must move on to book three. Hopefully, this is a trilogy and my journey is two-thirds over. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is a strange and wondrous place and I am in search of a happy ending to the story.", "date_added": "Wed May 25 18:46:22 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu May 26 12:52:33 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu May 26 12:52:33 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "761dc4d06315a4f050e3ea4824b1aa80", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It is difficult to classify this astonishing novel and difficult to believe that it is the author's first book. How appropriate that it was published by a company called Quirk Books. Jacob Portman is a teenager whose grandfather has been regaling him with bizarre stories all of his life. Jacob has reached the age of doubt and no longer believes in these stories. Until, that is, he witnesses his grandfather murdered by a monster. His family thinks that Jacob is delusional and his psychiatrist just about convinces him of that. Until, that is, Jacob finds a letter and photo left for him by his grandfather. Jacob and his father fly to Wales where Jacob is determined to learn the rest of the story. It will be hard to get this book out of my mind which is a good thing since I am on the waiting list for the sequel. And I am definitely planning to see the movie. I'll try not to scream.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 18 12:56:05 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 19 22:23:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "25372801", "review_id": "b37e5af2b69234a35d9d215efdf26910", "rating": 5, "review_text": "All the Birds in the Sky is a strange and thought-provoking book. The story begins with two children who each have incredible potential, dysfunctional families, and a horrific school environment. They become friends out of desperation. Patricia tries to cope with the world using magic and Laurence is drawn to science and technology. Between the two of them they manage to create a computer intelligence that studies and directs mankind. The factions that each of them join up with as adults could either save or destroy mankind and the planet, and are seemingly willing to take that chance to affect change. A war develops between science and magic but it appears that the world will need both in order to survive. All the Birds in the Sky is a book like no other.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 06 10:40:36 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 05 10:57:29 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jan 05 10:57:29 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "17731926", "review_id": "181b193d6e0072fe06072606bf584013", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Atlantia is an underground city created long ago to protect some of humanity from the pollution that was killing them in the Above. In a scene reminiscent of Divergent, twin teen age girls Rio and Bay must choose whether to remain Below in their beautiful world or return Above for a lifetime of service to help support their childhood home. Rio has always wanted to walk on land and feel the sun but, after their mother is murdered, Bay begs her to stay Below with her. So Rio chooses water at the ceremony. She then watches in horror as Bay picks the dirt container. They are immediately separated and Rio is left behind with her feelings of anger and betrayal. She is forced to turn to an aunt whom she has never trusted to get the help she needs to salvage the pieces of her shattered life. Ally Condie weaves a complex and compelling tale much as she did with the Matched trilogy. I got the sense that Atlantia is a stand alone book and that the story is completely told. This was a nice change since it seems that all young adult books are trilogies these days.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 18 15:35:46 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 21 07:14:38 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "2102600", "review_id": "ac5f7ab05e915b2d305981e4cf83ef0c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "There were a few places in Zoe's Tale when I thought that I must have read this book before. The plot was so familiar. Fortunately, John Scalzi explained this in the afterword. Zoe's Tale is a parallel book to The Lost Colony told from a different point of view. This is similar to Ender's Game/Ender's Shadow and is just as effective. Zoe Boutin Perry is a typical teenage girl - except that she is worshipped as a goddess by a very alien race. This began as a tribute to her biological father. He gave consciousness to this race and they are eternally grateful. Zoe is accompanied almost everywhere by her two companion/bodyguards from the Obin homeworld. Hickory and Dickory (yes, like the nursery rhyme) record her every move and broadcast it all Obins. Because it's not hard enough being a teenage girl without having millions of followers. Fortunately, Zoe is up to this epic responsibility. I was tempted to worship her myself - especially when she saved her friends from certain death by singing to alien werewolves. You probably had to be there. And you should go there. While I recommend reading all of the Old Man's War novels, Zoe's Tale is a great story whether you read it in sequence or not.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 08 07:49:08 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 10 16:18:39 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "27800101", "review_id": "86decbbbbd47fefea117337cab4c7412", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Modern Magic is a collection of four novellas that purport to be updates of classic fairy tales. Three of them do that with varying degrees of success. \"A Late Blooming Rose\" is a Beauty and the Beast tale in which the beast is a young woman confined to a wheelchair. \"Music to Her Ears\" takes on Goldilocks in a too-short story about a personal assistant hired to work for three musician brothers. \"Fairy Trouble\" is an interesting spin on Cinderella in which the fairy godmother is the one who goes to the ball. And I don't know what \"His One Wish\" was trying to be. Perhaps Aladdin since there was a computer program called Genie and a villain named Jin. But the last story didn't feel like a fairy tale at all - too many gun battles, too much blood and too much sex. Since I was in the mood for something a little more fantastical, \"His One Wish\" kind of spoiled the rest of the book for me and dragged down my overall rating.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 29 20:28:59 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 31 22:14:41 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "652783", "review_id": "79a1f39a4a587db81aab12bc9e248c00", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Sanctuary is a worthy conclusion to the Raintree trilogy. Mercy and Judah are members of the royal families of two paranormal clans that are sworn enemies. Despite their undeniable attraction to each other, it often appears more likely that murder will ensue. I have rarely encountered two more conflicted lovers. And as if this situation didn't have enough drama, their one-night stand seven years earlier produced a paranormal child prodigy named Eve. It turns out that this name is in itself a portent. When Judah discovers that he is the father of a six-year old girl, it further complicates his master plan. Mercy had hidden the existence of her daughter from him because his clan had a law that all children born of combined Raintree/Ansara bloodlines should be put to death. Daintree: Sanctuary brings all of the main characters from the earlier two books together for an epic showdown at the Raintree homestead - Sanctuary. This book has earth-shattering sex and earth-battering war in almost equal measures. And although I sometimes found Eve just a little too precocious for words, her existence is essential to the resolving of these conflicts. This is a great book but should only be read in the proper sequence.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 16 07:00:34 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 21 08:01:00 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "727915", "review_id": "1593f835c20881ff63be2e25c3acda7a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It wasn't quite a one-night stand but damned close. If my Kindle hadn't run out of power, I would have finished this exciting, sexy story before I went to bed. Book Two in the Raintree series is definitely a page turner. Our hero, Gideon, harnesses the powers of lightning and electricity. Oh yeah, and he sees and talks to ghosts. This is a very handy ability to have since he is the only homicide detective in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. That is, until his new partner, Hope, shows up and sparks really start to fly. It is a fast and passionate falling in love by two people who each have no intention of ever doing anything of the sort. But the Raintree family is under attack and both of these detectives are soon fighting for their lives and for the lives of their loved ones. I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to find book two in a seven year old trilogy after finding the first one on a used book display at the local hospital. Amazon to the rescue. I bought the entire trilogy for $3.99. Score! I can't wait to read book three but first I really do need to do a few things to get ready for Christmas. The Raintree trilogy is a gift to myself and I sure am enjoying this present.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 15 09:05:08 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 16 07:00:04 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Dec 16 07:00:04 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "189288", "review_id": "4ba5f8130033dba50e7e729926c0613d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a fun, fast read but the story isn't complete. Raintree: Inferno is only one third of the tale. I'm going to have to hunt down the other two books to find out what happens. And those two books are written by two different authors. Looks like I'll be doing a computer search at the library to find out if any of our branches can help me complete the trilogy. That being said, the first book introduces us to the Raintree family and their extra-special abilities. Our handsome hero, Dante, is the \"king\" of the tribe. He owns a successful hotel and casino in Reno. Our heroine, Lorna, comes to his attention because of her extraordinary \"luck\" at the gaming tables. Sparks fly. No literally. The casino burns down. But it turns out that the arson was ordered by a rival paranormal family who wishes to destroy the Raintrees. Lorna gets caught up in this centuries old feud and becomes a target in the war. I sure hope that I can find out what happens next.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 13 14:53:15 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 14 06:50:20 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Dec 14 06:50:20 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Dec 13 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "9b60ebf029f3702bc45b83d422f00601", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Robinson Crusoe on Mars. No, really. Mark Watney is struck by flying debris as he and the rest of his crew are packing up their Mars mission early due to a sandstorm. His shipmates believe that he is dead and, per protocol, leave him behind. Mark comes to and finds that himself stranded on a most inhospitable planet. No, really. Mars keeps trying to kill him. But Mark has mad survival skills and a lot of equipment that was abandoned by his mission. The author often lost me with the maps, math and science (which have been fact-checked and approved by NASA personnel) but the survival story is absolutely riveting. Most of the tale is told in the format of a journal kept by a man who believes he will probably die but intends to survive as long as possible in case someone can mount a rescue mission. The rest of the story occurs on mission control on Earth and on the spaceship that reluctantly abandoned their crew mate. This book had been on my Kindle for months. I decide that I should read it before seeing the movie. Now I can't wait to see Matt Damon recreate this wonderful, exciting adventure. Really.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 06 06:55:32 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 06 07:10:06 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Oct 06 07:10:06 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Oct 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "9534", "review_id": "ef095d18320f43539029b5d07196f816", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I had to create a new bookshelf designation for Shadow of the Hegemon. I'm calling it ten-star because five stars are insufficient when it comes to rating the Ender books. I need to add this tag to the twelve other books I have read in this series. Orson Scott Card is simply brilliant. His knowledge of cultures, history, languages, philosophy, politics, psychology, religions and war strategies boggles my mind. And he is extremely prolific. Tor Books will either have to add a second page to his list of titles or find a smaller font. That being said, Shadow of the Hegemon is a worthy addition to this epic story. I do not consider it a stand-alone book. The reader should have completed at least Ender's Game and, preferably, Ender's Shadow in order to fully appreciate the events in this volume. I honestly felt like I discovered a treasure when I started reading. There is a 3,000 year time span between Ender's Game and the second book, Speaker for the Dead. These two are pure science fiction. But there was a void in the timeline that truly disturbed me. What the heck had happened on earth after the defeat of the alien Formic race? Shadow of the Hegemon begins to answer that question. But the story will continue in the next two or three books in this segment of the series. I'm not sure of the total because every time I think that I have read all of the Ender books, I discover a new batch of them. I haven't been this lost in a universe since Dune. But unlike the Dune series, every single Ender book that I have read is truly compelling. I need to take a break for a day or two before picking up the next volume. These books totally possess me - waking or sleeping. And I hope that I never do find that I have read every single one. Oh well, I can always go back and start over. I've read Ender's Game at least four times and it never gets old.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 11 10:33:24 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 13 08:40:16 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Sep 13 08:40:16 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "23437156", "review_id": "5b6cadc738eca65a375003bdb93c55b8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Six of Crows is an amazing book. It is one of the few novels that I have finished reading and immediately gone back to the first page and read straight through again. Leigh Bardugo tells a great story and she does it with unforgettable characters. In this case, there is a band of six criminals and misfits who have undertaken an impossible mission for an enormous reward. Ms. Bardugo does a wonderful job of describing these young people and giving us the back story to explain each one's motivation. This story takes us back to the world of the Grisha Trilogy (Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, Ruin and Rising). While it is probably not necessary to read those three books first, it will give you a better understanding of this universe. Besides, they are great books. I can't wait to read the sequel to Six of Crows. There are 32 people ahead of me on the library waiting list. It will be well worth the wait.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 01 20:58:27 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 13 12:21:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Oct 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "16098976", "review_id": "93484cd544f3656e9ea1e03dc16d2048", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Odd Interlude earned an extra star because I was so pleased to have actually purchased a book from this series that I had not previously read. That's one out of the three recently bought at a library sale. I have several problems with the Odd Thomas books: the titles are very similar, the blurbs on the back covers are cryptic, the same plot devices are used repeatedly, and the fact that each volume includes a sneak peak chapter from the next installment of the series leaves me totally confused on which books I have read and which ones I haven't. Since this is not a problem that I often encounter, I'm going to assume that it is a deliberate marketing strategy. But I'm getting annoyed. And should Odd Thomas die in the final book, I may find myself more relieved than saddened. Anyway, this one was a good story and I guess I will carry on to the conclusion of the series.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 18 19:22:59 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 11 15:10:23 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Aug 19 07:38:30 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "16433", "review_id": "1321c50cac6d11af70f446a194096ce4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was about half-way through this book when I realized that I had read it before. Since I was on vacation, I went ahead and finished it anyway. I'm having a problem distinguishing between the Odd Thomas books. However, since I have read a few of them, I want to finish the series. I just picked this book up again to write a review, read the summary on the back, and still couldn't tell from that write-up that I knew the story. This is a long and strange journey and I'm hoping that there will be a good payoff when I get to the final installment. Anyway, bottom line is that this book was good enough to read twice but not good enough to remember (even a week later).", "date_added": "Mon Aug 17 13:22:50 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 17 13:29:17 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Aug 17 13:29:17 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "18466571", "review_id": "f5c4933cd8aa2d57387a21e696c4aa88", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Unchosen is Book Two of The Reaper Diaries trilogy. I'm assuming that it was rushed to market because of the many spelling and grammatical errors that interfere with the enjoyment of the story. My favorite parts were the quotes from Molly's diary and from the Secret History of Reapers and from various other \"sources\". The rest of the book tended to be overly tween in language and tone. Despite the limitations of Book Two, I went to Amazon in search of Book Three. I do hate to leave a story unfinished. According to the blurb at the end of this volume, Book Three was due to be released on March 25, 2014. However, it doesn't seem to exist yet. Maybe it is still being proof-read. One can only hope.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 07 16:12:05 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 07 18:34:10 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "7957", "review_id": "ccf96379ea4cba642a7669fcab948d3a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is essential reading for fans of Ender's Game. It includes four novellas that add pieces to the puzzle of Ender Wiggins. The first two stories concern Ender's father - one as a 6-year old child and the other covers the \"chance\" meeting of Ender's parents. These characters weren't fully developed in Ender's Game and I appreciated getting insight into the man and woman who parented three brilliant children who saved the world and changed the universe. Hint: Mom and Dad were also child prodigies. The third book is the original novella of Ender's Game. While I have read the novel more than a few times, it was fun to see the story that gave birth to this amazing science fiction series. The fourth novella is pivotal in that it introduces the artificial intelligence named Jane and explains how and why Ender Wiggins became a Speaker for the Dead. I loved First Meetings and will definitely be reading it again.", "date_added": "Thu May 28 17:09:27 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 29 07:51:12 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "13832", "review_id": "7d0276ef786ff81be902398f582eaafb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Young Warriors is an excellent collection of fifteen original short stories by some of the best authors in the young adult genre. I've read more than a few books by Tamora Pierce who both edited and contributed to this volume. The theme of the book deals with children and teens who have to find their inner warrior. The stories are set in a wide variety of countries, cultures and time periods. No two are alike. The skill and originality displayed by these writers took my breath away. I will be looking for other books written by the authors of Young Warriors.", "date_added": "Wed May 27 08:58:49 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed May 27 18:17:37 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "12394032", "review_id": "b82f391b78b0e1d67545d2ce79333d86", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Undeadly is a fun, fast read and I will probably seek out the next one in the series. Molly Bartolucci goes to school and works part-time in her Dad's business patching up broken zombies. Yes, zombies are part of this society. Apparently you can keep your dead ones sort of alive. Just don't forget to feed them or they might eat you. Molly is looking forward to getting her first kiss from the school hunk, Rick, at her 16th birthday party. The kiss is everything she had hoped for but is followed by a disaster. Rick falls, hits his head on the fireplace, and dies. Molly brings him back to life (mostly) using a talent that she didn't realize she possessed. This gets the attention of a reaper named Rath who was there to collect Rick's soul and help it on it's journey. After he realizes that Molly not only changed fate but is able to actually see Rath, things really get interesting. Molly ends up going to a special school to develop her abilities. The story also incorporates elements of Egyptian mythology - specifically the god of the underworld, Anubis. Although this is obviously a young adult novel, the author does not talk down to her audience and I enjoyed the book.", "date_added": "Wed May 27 08:40:45 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed May 27 08:58:12 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu May 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "6945530", "review_id": "a8f727026dc2d901f9893473bb81a39d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Technically I did finish this book today. Of course, it was at 2:00 this morning. Book Three of The Strain trilogy continues to ramp up the horror and evil that were laid out in the first two installments. It is a dark, dreary and depressing story. The Master has effectively taken over the world. At the end of Book Two, his minions have caused meltdowns at nuclear power plants which then resulted in nuclear bomb strikes from several countries who thought they were being attacked. They were - but from within, not from other nations. This global catastrophe caused multiple volcanic eruptions. The end result is a planet that has been terraformed for vampires. The sky is dark except for two hours a day of weak sunlight. The black rain falls almost continuously. But most horrifying of all is the new society that has emerged. The Master's vampires killed over a third of humanity in the first 72 hours. They specifically targeted the rich, the powerful, the brilliant, the strong, the brave, etc. The remaining humans are those who are easily controlled. Some are herded into camps where they are bred and raised as food (apparently B positive is the Kobe beef of blood). The others work at meaningless jobs and return to their homes each night to watch endless re-runs on TV. And most of them have adjusted to this new reality and comply with the vampires. There are only a few who continue their quest to find the book that will tell them how to destroy the Master (and then to interpret it). This story, and in fact the entire series, is not for the faint of heart. No matter how many times you think that you have reached the depths of depravity, Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan will taken you even deeper into the horror of their vision. I do not recommend reading it late at night. In fact, I am now going to go select a nice romance and try to purge The Night Eternal from my brain.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 10 06:38:54 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 14 08:28:34 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Apr 14 08:28:34 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "13154933", "review_id": "42f45a2390b37029a54d733812b3357a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "As a Dean Koontz fan, I feel like I should appreciate the Odd books better than I do. The main character is the walking definition of odd and off-putting. Some of his mannerisms become quite irksome. The stories purport to be a series of memoirs. The fact that Odd Thomas is opposed to actually using swear words is very annoying since people are always cursing at him. He attempts to convey those conversations by overly cute substituions of non-profanity. This is only the second installment of this series that I have read and I have obviously missed a few chapters since the initial book. Odd likes to keep referring to those tales which can also be annoying. That being said, I found myself quite caught up in the second half of Odd Apocalypse. Dean Koontz obviously did his homework on Tesla and his creations. While I doubt that such a place as this very strange billionaire's retreat ever existed, the science of it was compelling. I could almost picture the strange inventions that gave the mansion it's extraordinary powers. So, I will probably try some more Odd books (but only because they are written by Dean Koontz).", "date_added": "Tue Mar 10 14:56:52 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 17 09:33:02 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Mar 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "69136", "review_id": "efc217fde95b788d49f0e80336face6d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "David is a miserable, angry twelve year old boy living in England during World War II. He is devastated by the death of his mother and furious at his step-mother for marrying his father and adding a new baby to the family. David's only friends are the books on his shelves and they have begun speaking to him. On one particularly unhappy night, David goes into the sunken garden on the grounds of his new home and crawls through a hole in the wall. He finds himself in another world. This place is the Mother of all fairy tales - a violent, dangerous land where his most secret fears come alive and he must battle demons to survive. These are not your mother's fairy tales. Goldilocks is eaten by the bears, Snow White is poisoned by the dwarves whom she has been terrorizing and Little Red Riding Hood has seduced the wolf. David embarks on a journey reminiscent of Dorothy's in the Wizard of Oz and grows up along the way. I read this book in one day and was swept away by the story. In the words of one reviewer, it is \"darkly brilliant, spellbinding and disturbing\". I totally agree.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 22 20:00:09 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 22 20:18:06 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "6065215", "review_id": "f358b692a1f40e4959e20e80311efa65", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I picked up this book because I was intrigued that Guillermo del Toro was a co-author. His movie \"Pan's Labyrinth\" certainly made an impact on me. While reading The Strain, I kept visualizing it cinematically. It turns out that there was a TV series made and I might check that out sometime when I'm feeling brave. Because this is really a scary story. A plane lands at JFK and everyone on board is dead. Unfortunately, they don't stay that way. Let me point out to those who like romantic Vampire stories that this is definitely not one of those. And you should also be aware that The Strain is book one of a trilogy. I'll be going back to the library tomorrow to see if they have the other two books. This one could stand alone but there were definitely loose ends. I want to find out what happens next. Do not read this book at bedtime.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 02 20:17:46 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 08 16:04:19 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "289601", "review_id": "78980e8daa48ead9f48ed53b281216f7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a haunting story about a ghost. She attaches herself to a human and stays as an invisible presence in their lives until they die. This book travels rapidly through a succession of hosts until it reaches the present day. Helen is monitoring her person's high school class when she realizes that one of his students can see her. For the first time in decades, she can interact with another person. She is given the choice of taking over someone's body and living in the real world again or remaining as a ghost. I enjoyed this book both times I read it.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 18:40:36 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 24 13:19:32 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "301082", "review_id": "28bdf659e3ff0ae547507236a47d7d62", "rating": 4, "review_text": "So, I have come rather late in the game to the Sookie Stackhouse books. I decided to check them out after reading the Midnight, Texas series. Sookie is a psychic waitress working in a small town in Louisiana. One night, this vampire walks into the bar and Sookie is delighted. For the first time in her life she has met a man whose mind was not an open book. He is also handsome and charming and so what if he fought in the civil war over a hundred years earlier. Unfortunately, people start dying and Bill the vampire is under suspicion. As is Jason, Sookie's good-looking brother. And it appears that Sookie is the next target of the psychopath terrorizing her community. Things are definitely going to get worse before they get better. I am interested enough to check out the next book. I'll see where it goes from there.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 15 14:50:03 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 09 15:04:25 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Nov 09 15:04:25 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7bda28c106b6c03cf3f5cbe6e437442e", "book_id": "6690798", "review_id": "bc6a406fb71311d5418e6b016a390cd4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book presents a blood curdling vision of the end of America (and possibly the world). It all begins with a military experiment gone awry. It turns out that it wasn't a good idea to breed an immortal super-soldier. And it really wasn't a good idea to use death row inmates as subjects. In The Passage, humanity is virtually wiped out. Small pockets of survivors huddle in fear. I haven't been so engrossed in an apocalyptic vision since Stephen King's classic - The Stand. I'm now half-way through the sequel and I think this is going to be a trilogy (because isn't everything these days).", "date_added": "Mon Oct 15 14:46:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 24 13:25:34 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "035adc0475cd58b92ce8219a5140ea18", "book_id": "15797936", "review_id": "1f2d4e56670d9adf71aed555e240b19d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Read with my little one, her 1st \"chapter book\". Very age appropriate for her (she's 5), an older girl might find it a little boring, as not much happens. But it was enjoyable for a little girl who lives faeries as my daughter does.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 27 09:24:17 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 29 06:58:34 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 29 06:58:34 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5752e83b5c1ccdd8014aaf358b80c199", "book_id": "91476", "review_id": "b51fb1f436402ac04c0949b3449adc50", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Loved the audio book. I was confused about the knight character at first. Where did he come from? But as usual totally was hooked into dresdens saga.", "date_added": "Thu May 25 17:42:39 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 22 10:30:40 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue May 30 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5752e83b5c1ccdd8014aaf358b80c199", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "d96c28561146496f832b04bf64754bbe", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I totally love this book. I did see the film before I read it, and I was so excited to read the book that had inspired such an excellent film. This is perhaps one of the best adaptations of book to film that I have ever watched/read. The clever writing and excellent dialogue throughout the book absolutely made its way to the film. Mr. Weir had a way of writing that integrated clever and comedic dialogs and monologues with a natural feeling to the math and science. I'm a math teacher and it absolutely delighted me to hear him nonchalantly rattle through the math equations that he needed in order to figure out how to survive. It was an engaging and quick read. Intellectually stimulating without being overwhelming. And I'm not gonna lie, the last page had me tearing up a little bit. What an injection of humanity into a story about science.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 20 10:44:44 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 27 10:06:42 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Aug 27 10:06:42 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5752e83b5c1ccdd8014aaf358b80c199", "book_id": "29056083", "review_id": "8ac40a7a40bef5ad8759dfc1e8f9b3ba", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Lots of fan service. Characters were true to form. Scorpius was a delight. Albums the picture of his angsty father. Parts were silly. One or two holes made me go 'really?!' A fun time. Very nostalgic for a long time Harry Potter fan. As a theater technician and stage manager though this play makes me want to tear my hair out. Though to see it pulled off would be magical.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 20 10:41:21 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 20 10:43:53 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5752e83b5c1ccdd8014aaf358b80c199", "book_id": "62005", "review_id": "cf155d6e42aee4ea5ef72150709f1437", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Delightful palate cleanser. Fast read. So glad Ben recommended it. Never knew 'horror' could be quite so cute.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 26 23:30:40 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 26 23:33:25 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5752e83b5c1ccdd8014aaf358b80c199", "book_id": "20332896", "review_id": "f5025e14d5eeb63c86c3852c5e27f2dc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "this is not a 'good' book but it is fun. cheesy, predictable, minimal conflict. a fun light read.", "date_added": "Thu May 01 21:53:47 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu May 08 17:27:03 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5752e83b5c1ccdd8014aaf358b80c199", "book_id": "12873027", "review_id": "9308db46b1afb2a817e40bcb543973be", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Silly and fun. Great little read. Lovely leading character, enjoyed the knitting references. Works as a stand alone. Would love to read the previous books.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 04 16:55:26 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 25 07:51:39 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5752e83b5c1ccdd8014aaf358b80c199", "book_id": "12988016", "review_id": "9012a0413e19f2aab403a5727db96aa6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "this was a fun read, lots of sex. I like the world of the story. the book was a littke too nicely tied up unto a bow at the end, but no complaints from me. excellent for escapism!", "date_added": "Tue May 14 15:25:46 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon May 20 11:14:27 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon May 20 11:14:27 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5752e83b5c1ccdd8014aaf358b80c199", "book_id": "10572", "review_id": "ac781d49e1dc67b8524a62ae1a3d06e0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I actually loved all the intrigue and politics in this book. Plus all the charactrers continue to keep me engaged and interested.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 02 10:43:54 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 31 07:21:31 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jan 31 07:21:31 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5752e83b5c1ccdd8014aaf358b80c199", "book_id": "13496", "review_id": "0c8ba20c52ddd245be558c82d0f4fe98", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Rich world. Engaging characters. Ready for the next one.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 09 08:58:38 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 10 11:41:07 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Mar 09 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5752e83b5c1ccdd8014aaf358b80c199", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "60254ea931505ebb5eb21b9332792775", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Magical, engaging, fanciful, poetic and very beautiful!", "date_added": "Mon Dec 26 16:13:46 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 31 08:10:35 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Mon Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5752e83b5c1ccdd8014aaf358b80c199", "book_id": "16793", "review_id": "4b4bc9c3bcf4d46c17bd6f6f02e9da40", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Sweet and fun, a little shy on character development, but certainly seemed in the tradition of fairy tales. Enjoyable to be sure.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 14 07:40:34 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 31 08:09:50 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Fri Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Mon Nov 14 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5752e83b5c1ccdd8014aaf358b80c199", "book_id": "140082", "review_id": "49c482951cbe28a271e56ffff88ecdeb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Still loving these books and flying through them. With the risk of spoiling, I hope we get a full explanation of Bill's disappearance. I felt unfulfilled.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 25 04:04:35 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 19 07:47:26 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sun Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sat Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5752e83b5c1ccdd8014aaf358b80c199", "book_id": "67513", "review_id": "33bafbf1297ad09edc49cd9adc0e2c25", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I can't wait to read more of these. They a little... well...predictable? Not the plot, but they fit the genre to a T. A bunch of famous characters from history are vampires in this universe and it's a bit.. mary sue, but it's subtle enough it doesn't bother me. I couldn't get through this book quick enough, couldn't put it down. Totally amazing junk food book. LOVE LOVE LOVE.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 29 08:30:26 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 25 03:58:19 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sat Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Wed Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5752e83b5c1ccdd8014aaf358b80c199", "book_id": "12", "review_id": "5b1b5f36614cf44948e3b663d37eb92b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The end of the final book was bittersweet. The character of Random I particularly identified with. These books have shaped our culture, undoubtedly, I am glad to have read them.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 21 09:51:55 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 13 03:38:20 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jul 17 01:45:13 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Mon Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5752e83b5c1ccdd8014aaf358b80c199", "book_id": "301082", "review_id": "db6b7483a5e625973eb9f93614aeb270", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I knew I'd like this book. Read through it very quickly. Definintely from the junk-food catagory of horror/fantasy novels, BUT with a hint of something a bit deeper. Looking forward to checking out the TV show too. The setting of the small town south is absolutely charming, especially to Pacific Northwesterner like me.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 08 16:54:22 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 25 04:04:15 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sat Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5752e83b5c1ccdd8014aaf358b80c199", "book_id": "4453371", "review_id": "4693b3232cccd541b4e895a97d527f6c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really liked the development and build up, especially as a woman planning her wedding. The ending was satisfying, but it came too quick and too easily, felt very deus ex machina. Still a worthy read, can't wait to get my hands on the next one.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 02 17:03:42 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 12 08:00:07 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Fri Mar 12 08:00:07 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Tue Mar 02 17:03:42 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5752e83b5c1ccdd8014aaf358b80c199", "book_id": "1624920", "review_id": "6f2e5bd983dce8eaa8af5e3412a9b509", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This one I liked better then Kitty takes a holiday. The plot was somewhat less predictable, and you learn a lot more about how things work in the vampire/werewolf world. Some of the periphery characters become a little more fleshed out, like Detective Hardin and Kitty's family. Definitely a fun read.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 03 12:08:18 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 02 21:44:04 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sun Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5752e83b5c1ccdd8014aaf358b80c199", "book_id": "139417", "review_id": "15754833d2b6ffc7dac5d03d99a08746", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This first book in the series is awesome. very intriguing look at faeries good and bad. However the second book is not as good, and is more about sex then anything else. I have heard the rest are no better, so I stopped reading after the second one. :/ too bad.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 10 15:07:50 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 10 15:08:51 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5752e83b5c1ccdd8014aaf358b80c199", "book_id": "84119", "review_id": "49979c001e190bd57e6c141df661f713", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I know I read this, because I finished the series, but I don't remember a thing about it.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 08:38:27 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 24 16:51:07 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1995", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5752e83b5c1ccdd8014aaf358b80c199", "book_id": "17707", "review_id": "22864ae8042fb30a1d9c678940acf17c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "To be honest I was a little disappointed. This book had been much built up in my mind and while I found it amusing, it nether sucked me in or much held my interest. I was mildly curious the whole time, but could not come to care about the characters.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 18 14:59:01 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 15 19:28:04 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Thu Apr 15 19:28:04 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Tue Mar 23 12:48:17 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5752e83b5c1ccdd8014aaf358b80c199", "book_id": "66675", "review_id": "44c91ad33a5b4c1b2eafe5b5ced64cef", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Great characters, fun story, Salvatore's style brings the characters to life. A little formulaic, like many main stream fantasy stories, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. Also, for those who play D&D it helps one to see how much variation there is available while still following the D&D rules, since the characters in the books are confined to the Forgotten Realms D&D universe.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 18 14:18:31 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 24 16:41:28 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon Mar 24 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5752e83b5c1ccdd8014aaf358b80c199", "book_id": "43889", "review_id": "30b09d1cced847e718936a5d92065acf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Story that sucks you in. I honestly don't remember a lot of the details about this book except that I was riveted.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 18 14:15:09 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 24 16:44:17 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5752e83b5c1ccdd8014aaf358b80c199", "book_id": "23454", "review_id": "b73c211b5effa65f63701ef151b502bb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is the second book in the trilogy that officially got me into fantasy. I love the books, story, world, characters, but I am also rather nostalgic about them..", "date_added": "Tue Mar 18 14:14:52 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 24 16:48:53 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1997", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5752e83b5c1ccdd8014aaf358b80c199", "book_id": "37442", "review_id": "8995114a0dd0bf045dde7b1dd17d5637", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very different from the musical! An interesting look at life as an outsider. Strange, but good.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 18 14:12:28 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 24 16:42:50 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a4eee8dfe818d48fb2641c6a974d83a5", "book_id": "34449083", "review_id": "69171de9775c9f53b7882793477c9f96", "rating": 1, "review_text": "DNF. Bought this and the new Elizabeth Kostova. Thought I would knock this one out first but I am struggling really badly with this. I really enjoyed 'The first fifteen lives...' even though it dragged a bit it felt meaningful. I was disappointed in 'touch' - it felt like a movie and the whole plot was a bit heavy-handed. The idea here sounded promising but it really doesn't have any thing to say so just keeps saying the same \"lesson\" over again.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 13 21:55:01 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 17 09:53:31 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Fri Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "30312891", "review_id": "189b9f3532030c33ffc209bae70c763d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Whoa!! For real now?! This ending ... talk about a MAJOR cliffhanger. This is torture now, waiting 2yrs to find out how it continues :( \n **Full review will be up soon**", "date_added": "Sun Jul 16 15:53:28 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 08 07:48:28 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Aug 08 07:48:28 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "34042660", "review_id": "473b04be2f6d40b1317db066f0e8f7de", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** 3-book review to come **", "date_added": "Tue Apr 25 13:41:50 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 19 06:29:14 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jun 19 16:28:52 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun May 21 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "30182619", "review_id": "31fac2e55def13457348f260bfdf16e5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 Demon Stars \n Gee, I inhaled this books. I adore this cover. Am already reading book 2 and LOVE it! Right now the books is FREE: http://amzn.to/2q2iUsc \n Full review to come .... \n ________________________ \n Read all my reviews (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook \n Email subscription to my blog", "date_added": "Tue Apr 25 13:30:32 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 25 13:39:17 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Apr 24 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Apr 22 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17927395", "review_id": "c8fa37bc50c2d5da0157b7b0c96fd787", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Whoa, what an ending! This book was super long but I have to admit it needed to be this long - I loved every detail. \n ** Full review to come **", "date_added": "Thu Jun 30 23:18:47 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon May 15 09:57:49 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sun Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "23766634", "review_id": "137f9c961821383dbdfb90d2316d3443", "rating": 5, "review_text": "BEST.SERIES.EVER! \n I laughed, swooned, and cried. What a series. Three books, ~1700 pages later and I don't know what to do with myself. \n I'll write a 3-book review, stay tuned :)", "date_added": "Thu Jun 30 23:17:47 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat May 20 20:15:05 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "13605723", "review_id": "41e50bd9efbe2f2258bbb4bdf2680fbc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book/series was EVERYTHING! I loved it from the beginning to the end. Until today Jennifer's Lux series was my #favorite but her #covenant series proofed to be just as amazing. \n I enjoyed every character I've met - alive or dead - and the 3 main characters, Alex, Aiden and Seth were amazing. \n Def a series you've to check out if you love YA paranormal/supernatural books.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 16 21:42:36 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 27 07:01:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "9897164", "review_id": "acd707d3bebb1a46f38326fc6c3c3be7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5+ stars!! \n Holy sh!t, this book was flipping amazing. I can't even...just awesome. \n Whoa, each book got better and better. \n **Note: I'm reading this series for my own enjoyment and therefore my reviews will be shorter and after I finished the whole series, I'll post a quick summary on my blog. \n ___________________________________ \n Read all my reviews (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook \n Email subscription to my blog", "date_added": "Wed Jun 15 11:13:36 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 26 15:05:11 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "30142491", "review_id": "2b29681de4ae8244ebd2a3d9171b0b26", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"Please. If you won't let me taste any part of you, at least let me taste your lips. \n He closes his eyes, letting his chin touch his chest. \"You'll forget this. You'll forget wanting me as badly as I want you - shit, as badly as I've wanted you for longer than you;ve ben alive.\" \n Otherworldly. Tempting. Sinful. Powerful. \n Meet the Se7en, Born Sinners, who really want to make you sin SO BAD! \n S.L. Jennings delivered again an intriguing, sucks-you-right-in paranormal romance that ended with a cliffhanger (duh, it says it, book one in the series), which made me crave more. I adore her paranormal books; they're refreshing, alluring, and packed with a plot that doesn't allow you to stop reading. \n I've to admit it isn't an easy read, you don't figure things out right away. I felt confused, curious, relieved and again confused. Then at the end I felt a whole lot surprised - I love this!! You feel a bit confused on the why, how, and again, on why but hang in there, it's def worth it. \n I loved the whole concept of this book. Give me fallen (hot) Angels, Warlocks etc. any time and I'm one happy reader. \n About the characters. The main character, Eden, is doomed from the beginning. Seriously, since she was little her life literally sucked. Her father left because he thought her mom is nuts (which is true), her mom also tried to kill her several times, she's no friends, is a loner and has a pretty fancy gift. A gift that is more a curse, she hates it and the baggage that comes with it. Not to mention her nightmares, a special gift from a mysterious someone *shudders*. \n Add L and the Se7en into it and you've a bunch of interesting characters. It's unclear if they want her dead or alive - it's all very complicated but OH SO GOOD! Especially L and Eden's 'relationship' is somewhat hard to figure out. Calling it complicated would be an understatement but both can't deny the pull they feel to another and the truth about each other. \n \"I was born to be a weapon. A murderer.\" \n Prepare yourself to get sucked into an unseen world! If you enjoy paranormal books then this is my current TOP RECOMMENDATION for you! \n _______________________________ \n Read all my reviews (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook \n Email subscription to my blog", "date_added": "Mon Jun 13 14:27:10 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 18 23:49:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "13605727", "review_id": "30a5cc9eaa718b2482eeb29bc73bc7f0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was so excited to find out Elixir is written in Aiden's pov. I thought it's a throwback/summary of the previous books - nope. His pov actually added to the overall story and I loved it!! \n It continues were Deity left of and we read about his love for Alex, his devotion - we get to meet a whole new Aiden. Definitely DON'T skip this novella, it has important plot information in it and is definitely a great addition to the full length novels. \n Wow, this series is getting better and better. \n __________________________________ \n Read all my reviews (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook \n Email subscription to my blog", "date_added": "Sun Jun 12 18:37:30 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 13 10:57:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "9761778", "review_id": "77bd97abc33fbe2a1e15c8c7175acaa1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Holy cow, this book was awesome! I mean, serious, it gave the whole story a different turn. Wow... \n I mean I guessed some things would happen a certain way but, nope, I didn't see EVERYTHING, coming - whoa. \n The ending was a KILLER.... dang! \n **Note: I'm reading this series for my own enjoyment and therefore my reviews will be shorter and after I finished the whole series, I'll post a quick summary on my blog. \n ___________________________________ \n Read all my reviews (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook \n Email subscription to my blog", "date_added": "Mon Jun 06 11:36:44 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 26 14:56:40 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "9761771", "review_id": "944cc1f0d7c42f44d11ef6fba0ac7400", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5stars \n Pure, the second book in The Covenant series was GREAT! The tensions between Alex and the Counsel, her and the pure bloods and most importantly, between her, Aiden and Seth grew. \n This book was entertaining because of all the surprises, secrets, and hidden agendas from many characters. Alex has to undergo quite the challenges in this book - physically as well as emotionally - while trying to figure out her feelings, what the dead Oracle told her, her intuition and the path she's destined to take. \n Overall a great book that kept me clued to my Kindle. Right now I don't know if I'm team Seth or Aiden. I love them both :) \n Also, as of right now it's not a real love triangle - let's see. \n **Note: I'm reading this series for my own enjoyment and therefore my reviews will be shorter and after I finished the whole series, I'll post a quick summary on my blog. \n ___________________________________ \n Read all my reviews (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook \n Email subscription to my blog", "date_added": "Sat Jun 04 14:11:44 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 12 18:59:26 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "9680718", "review_id": "36686aa247cd2d420ca205042a290850", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 Half-Blood Stars \n The first full-length novel in Jennifer's, The Covenant series, fulfilled my expectations. There was nothing I didn't like. It had humor, steam, action and introduced me to characters I started to love right away - including the side characters such as Alexandria's best friend, Caleb. \n I'm looking forward to finding out how Alexandria's story with Aiden, her role besides Seth, and her place in the Covenant continues. \n **Note: I'm reading this series for my own enjoyment and therefore my reviews will be shorter and after I finished the whole series, I'll post a quick summary on my blog. \n ___________________________________ \n Read all my reviews (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook \n Email subscription to my blog", "date_added": "Sat May 28 13:47:12 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 12 18:33:34 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "22328058", "review_id": "02677a07639cd8b75b4ef05d86617fac", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Yeah, I know what I missed :)", "date_added": "Tue May 10 10:23:19 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri May 27 23:56:46 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue May 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "25494343", "review_id": "df69e769bb44b3b60c0386857fd6cf26", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5+ Stars \n \"The touch of her hand was undoing him. She could see him unraveling, piece by piece.\" \n \"A parabatai is your partner in battle. A parabatai is your best friend. Parabatai can be everything to each other - but they can never fall in love.\" \n Let me start off by saying, I FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK dearly! I haven't read the previous books, I watched some TV episodes of the Shadowhunter series and loved it but also decided right there that I won't read the books. Did this make my Lady Midnight reading experience less exciting? No! I was sucked in right after the first few pages. \n Cassandra Clare has a gift - a writing and storytelling gift. Her storytelling was stellar and the world she created with all the characters is one in a kind. Not ones did I feel lost in the book or lost interest in the plot and its characters. Clare made me care, feel, and love every character. The Shadowhunter world is full of secrets, laws, rules and hidden dangers. \n Emma and Julian share more than their parabatai bond. Both suffered losses at a young age. Both have seen and felt how dangerous the world of a Shadowhunter is. When one they Julian gets a second chance to get his brother, Mark, back, Julian and Emma jump at the chance - no matter the cost and risk it means to Julian's remaining siblings and their home at the L.A. institute. \n \"We are bound together, Emma, bound together - I breathe when you breathe, I bleed when you bleed, I'm yours and you're mine, you've always been mine, and I have always, always belonged to you!\" \n While fighting against evil and a friend who turned foe, both Emma and Julian fight their own battle against their forbidden feelings for each other. \n As said, this book, its story is layered with so many surprises, secrets, and discoveries - but never a dull moment! I can honestly say this book surpassed my expectations by a mile and jumped right on my TOP FAVORITE shelf. I'm currently reading book 2 in \n The Dark Artifices, Lord of Shadows \n and it's great to be back in the world of the Shadowhunters. \n If you love books with a gripping plot, a story that has depths, flawed but strong and loveable characters, then I highly recommend this book/series. You don't have you read the other books beforehand if you don't mind - I did just fine without them, too. This will be one of my top recommendations to all fantasy lovers. \n \"As long as there is love and memory, there's is no true death.\" \n Buy the e-book: Amazon B&N \n Buy the paperback: Amazon B&N \n Follow the author: Facebook Twitter Website \n Visit my NEW blog: www.hmubb.com", "date_added": "Wed Apr 06 18:30:26 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 03 14:28:26 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jul 16 16:41:07 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "25944381", "review_id": "f2ae114367724c010dfb32a860c1baee", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I've to admit I wish the whole series were about Queen Coriane. Me goofball bought all the books (those covers were too pretty!!) beforehand and now I saw the actual series is about Mare Barrow. \n Anyhow, I enjoyed those prequels. As said, I enjoyed the tone, setting, and characters of the book. I thought Coriane is a pretty interesting character and her marriage to King Tiberias was short lived (in the book) but what I could read, how they met etc., I really enjoyed. \n I'm sort of dreading to find out who Cal's step-mother is *sighs* because as Tiberias promised her, he'll only love her now and forever. Bittersweet how their story ended :( \n Overall, I'm glad I picked this book up and will continue the series to see if Mare is my type of gal or not. \n ________________________ \n Read all my reviews (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook \n Email subscription to my blog", "date_added": "Mon Jan 18 16:55:30 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 09 21:47:01 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "25209521", "review_id": "eb84c09e8305cb5ec8f54fe0dd84e7cb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "LOVED IT! I cherished those 1000pages. I don't think I've ever missed a fictional character so much such as Jen's, Daemon. Enjoyed being in his head, rereading their (love)story. \n Those characters, this series will always be one of my top favorite!!", "date_added": "Sat Dec 05 22:00:53 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 05 22:04:10 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "26831623", "review_id": "c9b7dc75a5dafc7a2cf24f0adb336c15", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 Looking Forward to this Series- Stars \n \"The steps I'm sitting on are beginning to crumble, steep stones the color of blood. The house is getting old. The first step in matching the family that calls it home.\" \n I can honestly say I'm looking very much forward to read this new vampire series! Twelve vampire houses rule over and alongside the humans, each of the houses been having for the past hundreds of years a Scion - a human that fights and stands side by side with the houses and its Prince/Princesses. \n Unfortunately, The Ravens, House Cantelie, has no Scion. She got killed.... Octavian's aka The Blade, biggest regret and grief. \n \"Some call us the death omen- because when Father speaks, and is ignored, death follows.\" \n The prequel was great, seriously great. It gave the right amount of background information to know who is who, who's part of House Cantelie and most importantly, why Octavian's is troubled. It did hint on unsolved tensions and family drama (which is common is most vampire families/novels and I seriously suck this up stuff up :) ). Bring it all, I'm down for some rebellion! \n Overall this series features some promising strong vampires - females and male alike - that are just looking to cause trouble and refusing orders. Totally my cup of tea!! \n If you're a fan of paranormal books I'd say snatch this free prequel now, getting somewhat to know the House Cantelie - The Ravens - because it's a great intro, providing a glossary beforehand to avoid confusion. \n http://amzn.to/1l8lBoN (free prequel) \n ** THE BLOOD SCION (bk1) comes out Nov 24 ** \n ___________________________________ \n Read all my review (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook \n Email subscription to my blog", "date_added": "Tue Oct 20 12:40:55 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 05 23:34:57 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "6337006", "review_id": "cb46f6eecf32a30a623e75f3c66c57a7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 Hot Animalistic Stars \n Missed her IAD series. Those weres are my top favorite Lore creatures *sighs \n Full review to come", "date_added": "Fri Sep 18 20:35:00 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 21 13:06:49 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Sep 21 13:06:49 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "26006199", "review_id": "9e3d66f4ca08d10212a3e05fcaaa9994", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Uhm yeah. ... I couldn't get into it so I'll put it aside. \n I'm still considering reading The Drafter - let's see how this goes ;)", "date_added": "Tue Sep 15 22:00:21 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 18 20:04:55 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "23356038", "review_id": "237c6aceaa318df3c3747b2ad6050f58", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5-5 Stars \n \"Since you asked nicely, I won't do it again, but you can call me whatever you want.\" \n \"Are you hitting on me?\" Shocked, I shook my head. \"Are you for real?\" \n \"My momma probably thinks I'm real. (...) You're also sitting on me, and sweetness, if you slide about an inch or so down, things are going to get real awkward.\" \n Holy shit.. \"Or fun,\" \n YES!! Ladies, meet Ren Owens my new wicked addiction from the Armentrout-factory! \n I don't know what she's doing or how, whether it's now Ren, Roth, Zayne or my favorite alien ever, Daemon, she's making me fall FAST and HARD for them. You've to know I'm normally not a big fan of YA romance and rarely pick up a book that states YA. But with Jennifer's YA paranormal books, I have no idea what it is, but I can't read them fast enough. I adore her young, sassy and very charismatic characters combined with an intriguing story. \n Her female characters are not weak, they've spunk and say what's up; so does Ivy Morgan. She's no quiet mouse, she's a fighter who stands her ground even when smexy Ren Owen makes her inside squirm with his delicious dimples, smile and body. \n She vowed her life to work for the Order - as have her parents before - fighting against otherwordly enemies, the faes. All went well until one night when she gets badly hurt by an ancient fae and Ren, the new one in the Order, finds her bleeding on the steps. \n Ren is on a special mission and he's not exactly working for the Order but he's definitely working on something....when denying gets harder by the minute because Ren and Ivy spend a lot of 'work' time together, working to in Ivy's pants and vise versa is as well on the agenda LOL. \n \"And why do you've have to be so grabby? Jesus.\" \n \"I like the way you feel against me,\" he said. \n \"You're going to have to get to know me better before you taste my cake.\" \n \"Was that an invitation? Because I'm willing to get to know you in any way possible if that means I gt to taste your cake.\" \n Uhm yeah... what was I about to write? \n Oh yeah, I enjoyed this book tremendously. I liked the lighthearted humor, the snarky back and forth comments, the supernatural story-line, and of course the characters themselves. This is a fun page-turner with a sweet love story developing on the side and with Jennifer's famous plot twists and turns. I didn't see the ending coming and can honestly say the first thing I'll click this summer is Torn, book 2 in the series. \n If you enjoy YA paranormal romance with less drama, but some steamy scenes, great surprises in the plot, a plot that is more than a page turner then I highly suggest this new PNR series. \n Oh and before I forget, hands down, TINK is by far my favorite side-character ever! I laughed so hard I had tears....such a funny little fellow - you will love him! \n \"Tell me yes,\" he ordered huskily. \"Tell me yes and I'll do whatever you want. Anything you want. Just let me do this.\" \n ___________________________________ \n Read all my review (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook \n Email subscription to my blog", "date_added": "Wed May 27 21:50:02 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 03 01:05:23 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "2003625", "review_id": "bc89a7b97d583caeee4f409b6bbf4cf3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"You seem in a fine mood.\" \n \"I'm wearing new clothes, new boots, a new jacket.\" She felt jauntier, younger. \n \"Do you really think it's clothes that are affecting you so - or the three orgasms you enjoyed today.\" \n (...)she tapped her chin as if pondering his question, then answered, \"No, it's definitely the clothes,\" making him scowl. \n So this is my fifth IAD book I've read - no I inhaled it - and I can honestly say next to Sebastian, Cade is my second favorite character so far. I loved this exquisite demon; he was funny - seriously he cracked me up - handsome, and caring. A total catch! \n Since 900 years he's living in the shadows of his brother, the King, especially after he's basically the reason why his brother lost his kingdom. Cade is carrying a lot of burden on his shoulders, then when he thought it couldn't get worse, he found his fated mate just to realize she's a bloody mortal. It's forbidden for the Lore creatures to mix with mortals, plus they wouldn't survive the mating anyways. So what did Cade do, besides drinking down his distress, he played creeper and watched Holly from afar. \n Holly, a lil OCD and math geek, has no idea that when she goes to her late night teaching class that I'd be her last time and her world is about to shift. She's the Vessel and an evil sorcerer wants her to breed an evil offspring, in exchange he would give Cade and his brother a sword that would kill their biggest enemy in order to get the kingdom back. Too bad that Holly, Cade's mate, is his next job. \n \"I do have fun!\" \n \"You wouldn't know fun if it bit you on the ass.\" \n Her chin jutted up. \"You think I'm a goody two-shoes, a prude.\" \n \"I was going to say preachy tight-ass. But prude might fit.\" \n These two couldn't be any more different and I think that was what made the story so likable. It had definitely less action or steamy scenes as the previous books in it but Cade and Holly's character made up for it. I didn't envy him, he was sitting between two crappy chairs and no matter how he'd have hurt either Holly or his brother; hence the 900 years he for once put his brother first. Needless to say it didn't sit well with Holly. But this lil math geek turned into quite a Valkyrie and kicked some serious butt. \n If you enjoyed the previous books in the series you'll like this one too! \n ___________________________________ \n Read all my review (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook \n Email subscription to my blog", "date_added": "Tue May 26 19:58:00 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 01 10:46:36 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "1611656", "review_id": "fc56721b608620bbf83f478221af0e42", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** copy received by Gallery books in exchange for honest review - XOXperts ** \n Neomi was at the peak of her career, she was young, beautiful and one of New Orleans most talented ballerinas until the day tragedy struck. She got murdered on her celebration night, in her very own home by her ex fiance, stabbed in the heart. Since then she's roaming her beloved home, trapped in this world. For eighty years she's suffering, only existing, until the Wroth brothers bring in their brother Conrad, keeping him captive in her home. \n The brothers have finally managed to capture their blood-hungry brother and in order to safe him he needs to stop his insanity - if not, The Forbearer (Vampires) will kill him. The brothers don't want to lose Conrad and try their best to turn him into the man they once knew. \n Conrad is furious that his brothers - whom he wanted to kill since 300 yrs for turning him into a monster - hold him captive. His thoughts make him go insane. After killing so many Lore creatures he not only gained their strength/abilities but also their thoughts and exactly those haunt him, driving him even madder. He has no hope for himself; once a vampire's eyes turn red from the bloodlust there's no going back - he knows it. Plus he's been marked by a dream demon and his wound won't heal. \n - ...a dream demon, one who tracks him by this very injury. One who promised that most coveted dream and most dreaded nightmare would follow the mark. - \n In a nutshell, Conrad has a ton of enemies who would love to see his head in a bag. He knew thus he didn't want to be held captive in this house....until she appeared. \n He thinks he's now losing it completely, seeing and hearing a ghost, such a beautiful ghost. He feels himself feeling again but his instinct - the one that would tell him whether she is his bride or not - doesn't alarm him, yet. The more he gets to know this beauty, spends time with her, the harder it's to resist his urges and wondering about the future (with her). \n Neomi feels the same way; he's not only the first who can see her in eighty years but he's also the first who makes her yearn to be seen and touched - talking to him has become her addiction. It's been too long that she's forgotten how it feels and she knows deep down Conrad is redeemable. Her vampire, he must be, and she's determined to turn her ghostly body into flesh even if it's only for one night. One night to finally feel his strong arms, his hot breath and body against her. \n I've to say this book was a great surprise. First I wasn't sure if I'd like it due to the ghost issue and well, Conrad seemed hard to love from the bits I read in book two and three, but as usual Mrs. Cole delivered a great book, displaying that in the Lore nothing is impossible. This book was less about the steamy sex (there was but no comparison to book one till three) and more about redemption and getting a happy ending, showing how complex the Lore world and its creatures are. You'll definitely enjoy this read and I'm eager to finally read about these two hot demon brother ;) \n ___________________________________ \n Read all my review (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook \n Email subscription to my blog", "date_added": "Sun May 17 13:57:48 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 01 15:37:12 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "435045", "review_id": "438c6a79e3a867a74d9293dd79e0e00a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** copy received by Gallery books in exchange for honest review - XOXperts ** \n 4-4.5 Stars \n \"Move forward,\" he said, grating the words. He was breathing heavily right over her ear. \n \"No way. Kind of between a scorpion and a hard place here.\" \n Oh Bowen, I loved his book. We briefly met Bowen in book one, A Hunger Like No Other, and learned that he lost his mate, living ever since a miserable life. He isn't the strong werewolf he used to be. He's bitter and there's no cure to fill the void in his aching broken heart...until he heard of this year's prize when winning the Hei. \n He has only one goal: win this competition, kill everything and everyone who stands in his way and the prize. \n The prize would help heal his broken heart, it would give his life purpose again, it would give him his mate back - he was never so determined to win. \n Unfortunately he has some great competition, one of them is the pretty witch, Mariketa. She's supposed to become one of the most powerful witches when reaching immortality and in order to keep herself and her coven safe - fulfilling the prophecy - she cloaked her appearance so no male can guide her off her destined path. Well that is until she sets eyes on Bowen and he discovers what's hidden behind her cloak. \n While both, she and Bowen, try their best to win points, coming closer to the grand prize, they cross paths and every time he feels a little more bewitched. Seeming not to be able to keep her off his mind and continuously telling his body it's so wrong to desire her, he's losing his inner battle. He lost his mate and the thought of betraying her by lusting over a little witch is killing him. \n \"You actually think to play me?\" \n \"Why do you assume I'm working spells?\" \n \"For one hundred and eighty years Iv'e no' touched another. (. . .) Have never even given a woman a second look. But now I canna seem to keep my hands off a slip of a witch,\" ...\"A witch who has me feeling like I'll die if I doona find out what it'd be like to kiss her.\" \n Sadly, Mari isn't using any spells and what they feel is real, confusing but real, and it consumes both of them. \n \"His kiss was hard and heated as he claimed her mouth. And she was more than ready to match his need.\" \n Ooook, lets take a breather. This book wasn't as steamy as the others BUT it was full of surprises with another strong plot and I loved it. I was thrilled how at the end the pieces fit together, how everything made sense and I couldn't have been happier for Bowen - he truly deserved it. Kresley Cole put some serious twists and turns in this book (especially at the end) and that's what I love about this series, it's full of surprises, never seems to stop amazing me, with main and secondary characters you can't but fall in love with. Definitely another hit this book! \n ***NOTE: As said before, you don't have to read the other books beforehand but I'd highly suggest you do, just so you don't have question marks in your head while reading book #3. I hate to miss out on small details -whether it's about the characters or the Lore world itself - thus, I'll read them all in order. *** \n ___________________________________ \n Read all my review (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook \n Email subscription to my blog", "date_added": "Thu May 14 23:58:00 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat May 30 12:47:40 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat May 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "25551798", "review_id": "654928d6c5429c49a4348ea940519464", "rating": 0, "review_text": "The cover and synopsis begged to be clicked....and I did ;) \n Amazon http://amzn.to/1EoWmjH (99c only!!)", "date_added": "Sun May 10 22:35:03 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 12 04:22:16 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "16096824", "review_id": "c7fd89b06cd385d5aa6ecdbcbc366e46", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"Once - long ago and for millennia before that - we had been slaves to High Fae overlords. Once, we had built them glorious, sprawling civilizations from blood and sweat, built them temples to their feral gods. Once, we had rebelled, across every land and territory. The War had been so bloody, so destructive, that it took six mortal queens crafting the Treaty for the slaughter to ease on both sides and for the wall to be constructed: the North of our world conceded to the High Fae and faeries, who took their magic with them; the South to we cowering mortals, forever forced o scratch out a living from the earth.\" \n With ACoTaR I pooped my Sarah J. Maas cherry. It's actually ironic because I bought all her Throne of Glass series as paperback already and bought her follow-up, A Court of Mist and Fury, without having read a single word of hers - yup, I had some faith in this author. \n That being said, I barely remember what the blurb said about the book when I decided I start reading it, I was simply fascinated with the cover and thought I've to finally start this series because EVERYONE is raving about. I read this book in two days and took it everywhere with me - I was that fascinated by the world Sarah created. \n I'm a huge fantasy fan, in my opinion, it gives books a special twist that makes my bookworm heart skip a beat. \n Feyre, a young girl that had to grow up way too fast, had to see and feel so much cruelty in her young age, committed a crime she didn't know was a crime. Killing a fae, which was disguised as a wolf. Despite her hate for the fae she killed him (unknowingly) in order to feed and provide for her family. As a result, a High Lord of the Fae came to claim her, because she has to pay her debt for killing a faerie - he took Feyre to the South, away from her family, her misery. \n That's when the story really begins. \n I've to admit the beginning dragged a bit and I played with the thought to DNF but I didn' want to give up - not just because everyone told me how awesome this story is - but I wanted to trust my instinct that this series got to be fantastic. \n AND I WAS RIGHT!! \n Omg, the slow build-up between Feyre and Tamlin was great. Both warmed up to each other and Feyre finally got live a life she deserved. Tamlin showed her a new world; a world that she thought was cruel to humans but his home was everything but that. Both couldn't deny their growing feelings anymore ....until SHE came and ripped their happiness apart. \n \"Because I was human, and I would grow old and - I didn't let myself get that far as he came closer still. Slowly, as if giving me time to pull away, he brushed his lips against my cheek. Soft and warm and heartbreakingly gentle.\" \n The last few chapters gave me almost a heart attack. If you enjoy romantic fantasies than check out this series - a love that goes beyond, a love that makes your heart beat faster, a love that is like no other. \n ___________________________________ \n Read all my reviews (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook \n Email subscription to my blog", "date_added": "Sun May 10 19:23:10 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 02 12:56:50 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "14383", "review_id": "a3963456b47456d8c06cdd347bfb9a5a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** copy received by Gallery books in exchange for honest review - XOXperts ** \n \"Vampire please,\" she murmured, \"make it worth it. Make it . . .\" \n When their lips touched, he groaned; electricity seemed to prick at his skin. He pulled back from her. \"My God.\" Nothing had ever felt so powerful, so right, as this kiss. Her hungry expression deepened. \n This book was everything I hoped it'd be and wished for - seriously, I inhaled it and hands down, it blew my mind. I can honestly say Sebastian is one of my favorite vampires ever. He's a gentlemen, caring, and yet very dominating and naughty. He's the whole package. \n No Rest For The Wicked was a thrilling read, packed with lots of twists and turns and a whole lot of action - perfect mixture to make me a happy reader. \n Sebastian got turned into a vampire 300+ years ago by his brother Nikolai and ever since then he hated what he became. So he hid in his home letting his meaningless life pass by; for years, decades even, he stood in the shadows pitying his existence until she came to him. Kaderin, the Valkyrie's top assassin, to kill him. \n She hates vampire. Vampires are the reason why she lost her sisters. Vampires are the reason why the gods fulfilled her wish to never feel again - she couldn't handle her pain and wanted to be numb. Numb to slay more vampires, her favorite sport, until she meets Sebastian, her next victim. The first vampire who doesn't care if she kills him, the first vampire she can't seem to kill. The first vampire who evokes something within her - a hunger and desire like no other. \n She wants the forbidden but knows it can't be. She can't fall for the enemy and is confused by her action, thoughts and overall feelings - who seem to drown her - when looking at this handsome vampire. \n \"Had any male tasted so good?His taste made her body react with animal needs so strong, she twitched as she resisted them. She wanted to rip his jeans from him, take that thick shaft in both hands, and lick its length in a frenzy.\" \n Ladies, their encounters were smoking hot and I lost count how many times I fanned myself to calm down -whoa. I can't say she made it easy for him and he, too, stood his ground, showing her his limits. But you can only pretend and deny for so long until your deepest desires overpower you because the person (or creature) in front of you is your soulmate, your mate/bride, your fate, and your lifeline. \n What I loved about the second book in the Immortal After Dark series is that it's full with action. Kaderin competes in the Hei, a contest that occurs every 250 yrs where all Lore creatures have to gather treasures from around the world. The fastest and strongest wins and the prize is always worth the risk, as it was this year. I loved reading how Kaderin is such a strong female fighter, she's a born assassin, and Sebastian was just as impressed - he the warlord from Estonia. He battled by her side and what they went through was brutal but it strengthened their bond. \n This book was brilliant and the happy ending was well deserved - prepare your heart for some surprises! Mrs Cole is one heck of an author and I can't seem to get enough of her characters and stories. #TopFavorite so far! \n ___________________________________ \n Read all my review (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook \n Email subscription to my blog", "date_added": "Sat May 09 01:16:27 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed May 27 10:54:59 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed May 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "14384", "review_id": "224246f3126322d08c114cc642ddf417", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"Long ago - and who knows how much time has toiled past- the Vampire Horde trapped him in these catacombs deep beneath Paris. He stands chained against a rock, pinned at two places on each limb and once around his neck. Before him - an opening into hell that spews fire. \n Here he waits and suffers, offered to a column of fire that may weaken but is never-ending - never-ending, just like his life.\" \n It's no secret that I'm a huge paranormal fan and every second or at least third book that I'm reviewing must be a paranormal, otherwise I suffer from withdrawals. Before A Hunger Like No Other I was a Cole-virgin; yup, I've never read one of her books (shame on me!!). But oh boy could I pinch myself for waiting this long. \n This book with its well plotted story, funny characters, steamy scenes truly blew my mind. I was hooked after just a few pages. \n Cole has a brilliant talent to combine all necessary ingredients to write a bestselling book. I was in blogger-heaven by how incredible she crafted this book - beginning by telling tales of old folklore, developing a love story that makes your toe curls, to combining the past and presents in hilarious way. Overall, this book was perfect and I couldn't have picked a better book to get to know Mrs. Cole's writing. \n When a very old Scottish Lykae King (also known as werewolf) could finally escape after decades of torture - thanks to sensing his mate - nothing and no one would come between him and her. Lachlain waited nine hundred years to finally find his mate and now that she's so close some chains won't stop him. \n I didn't know whether I should laugh or fan myself because the hero is super old-school and his mate is a young vampire mix, feisty, much younger and so NOT what he expected her to be. So to say these two had some difficulties would be the understatement of the year. Thrown into a modern time, Lachlain was somewhat lost and didn't know what to do or think....of this new culture, language and his mate. Add to it his Scottish accent and manners I was a goners, book friends. He was hilarious and such a hottie!! \n \"Then to the closet to examine her strange clothes, so many of them red in color, so many of them lacking in coverage. The vampire would not be leaving this room in some of them.\" \n Not only did Emmaline not know that she got claimed as mate she also had a much bigger problem: pure evil was after her! Between escaping and avoiding danger, she and Lachlain grew closer, desire was blooming and both felt the sparks fly - me too. I can honestly say this is one of the hottest paranormal book I've ever read, which is not lacking on plot. \n If you've never read a paranormal romance because the paranormal factor hindered you, try out this series; it'll make your romance heart scream with joy. You'll find everything what you enjoy in a normal romance book: love, steam, strong alpha, tough female and a great developed plot. \n You know a book is brilliant when you read so fast that you forget to put sticky-notes on pages to highlight your favorite quotes/moments - I was so engaged in this story, my world around faded away.... \n ________________________________ \n ** copy received by Gallery books in exchange for honest review - XOXperts ** \n Read all my review (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook \n Email subscription to my blog", "date_added": "Wed Apr 29 01:25:16 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon May 04 11:23:56 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Apr 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "25371839", "review_id": "57d16450858b43d774054db89cc09e8f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 \n That was something else. Full review to come!", "date_added": "Mon Apr 20 13:53:18 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 06 18:46:44 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Apr 20 13:56:04 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Apr 20 13:53:18 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "23214396", "review_id": "fc6fb26d58988d7a04f407843ba5a58a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3 Whispering Stars \n Is it a gift or curse? \n Eloise had the perfect family until a normal day turned into a nightmare, splitting her family in half. A fatal accident ripped her soul mate and one daughter from her, leaving her and her other daughters life and heart in shattered pieces. It was right then that she noticed a change, a change that either serves her as a curse or gift. \n Still grieving the loss of her loved ones Eloise is confused, scared and somewhat helpless what's going on why she all of the sudden can hear and see things no one else can. \n Lisa Unger wrote a quick but intriguing and suspenseful short story, giving the reader a taste of her ability to captivate them with her skillful storytelling. The Whispers scratches the surface of supernatural, thriller and suspense; so if you like such genre I do recommend it, especially since at the end of this novelette you can read an exclusive preview of Lisa Unger's next thriller: CRAZY LOVE YOU (which sounds amazing!!). The Whispers is the first of three mini-series featuring Eloise's life and then in book three that of her granddaughter. \n Her writing style left me craving for more and I'll definitely check out her full length psychological suspense novel, CRAZY LOVE YOU . \n *** I have received this book as a member of the XOXperts, XOXO After Dark's official street team, in exchange for an honest review. *** \n ___________________________________ \n Read all my review (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook \n Email subscription to my blog", "date_added": "Mon Mar 23 18:13:25 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 24 19:02:51 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "31038172", "review_id": "49ab6d542f6b7a52f45431721c9c8600", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5-stars \n If you liked Wicked then you'll love TORN! The second book in the trilogy was everything I hoped for - more action, more twists and turns, more emotions, more of everything. \n I enjoyed how this story continues and can't wait to read the final book in this series! \n **Short review because I read this book for my own enjoyment & not part of any blog tour** \n _______________________________ \n Read all my reviews (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook \n Email subscription to my blog", "date_added": "Mon Mar 16 16:33:55 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 17 10:59:37 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Sep 17 15:52:02 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "19549841", "review_id": "79c850fa5a2e3ecc2eecc814c4ca13ae", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Soooo I decided to finish this book another time. it's not bad but not mind blowing either. I think I'll pick it up bit by bit", "date_added": "Sat Mar 14 14:04:14 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri May 08 21:00:10 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "23296234", "review_id": "0f5098ed5e9b3c1438dabaed08c8abd3", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This goody is on SALE right now, and yup I bought this as well. Only 99 cents - Amazon: http://amzn.to/1tfWe1V", "date_added": "Mon Dec 29 19:17:42 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 29 19:22:35 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17255435", "review_id": "76a13e4766f8ae6633f3e6c329fb07b8", "rating": 0, "review_text": "HUGE SALE GOING ON!!! \n Bella Forrest put her wholeseries on a 99cent sale ladies! If you're fan like me of vampire books now it's the time! I just bought me all 8 books ;) \n Series in order: \n #1 - http://amzn.to/1rwZGpE \n #2 - http://amzn.to/1ymjn9e \n #3 - http://amzn.to/1EI9gNs \n #4 - http://amzn.to/1vX3Ybc \n #5 - http://amzn.to/1D3v9Fq \n #6 - http://amzn.to/1vX4WnM \n #7 - http://amzn.to/ZkzVPz \n #8 - http://amzn.to/1D3vR5r (can be read as standalone)", "date_added": "Sat Oct 11 15:07:15 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 11 15:36:39 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "22895264", "review_id": "063f5ff6d39da5c8ec08e4311cf25d18", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5-5 Stars \n \"Since you asked nicely, I won't do it again, but you can call me whatever you want.\" \n \"Are you hitting on me?\" Shocked, I shook my head. \"Are you for real?\" \n \"My momma probably thinks I'm real. (...) You're also sitting on me, and sweetness, if you slide about an inch or so down, things are going to get real awkward.\" \n Holy shit.. \"Or fun,\" \n YES!! Ladies, meet Ren Owens my new wicked addiction from the Armentrout-factory! \n I don't know what she's doing or how, whether it's now Ren, Roth, Zayne or my favorite alien ever, Daemon, she's making me fall FAST and HARD for them. You've to know I'm normally not a big fan of YA/NA romance and rarely pick up a book that states YA/NA. But with Jennifer's YA/NA paranormal books, I have no idea what it is, but I can't read them fast enough. I adore her young, sassy and very charismatic characters combined with an intriguing story. \n Her female characters are not weak, they've spunk and say what's up; so does Ivy Morgan. She's no quiet mouse, she's a fighter who stands her ground even when smexy Ren Owen makes her inside squirm with his delicious dimples, smile and body. \n She vowed her life to work for the Order - as have her parents before - fighting against otherwordly enemies, the faes. All went well until one night when she gets badly hurt by an ancient fae and Ren, the new one in the Order, finds her bleeding on the steps. \n Ren is on a special mission and he's not exactly working for the Order but he's definitely working on something....when denying gets harder by the minute because Ren and Ivy spend a lot of 'work' time together, working to in Ivy's pants and vise versa is as well on the agenda LOL. \n \"And why do you've have to be so grabby? Jesus.\" \n \"I like the way you feel against me,\" he said. \n \"You're going to have to get to know me better before you taste my cake.\" \n \"Was that an invitation? Because I'm willing to get to know you in any way possible if that means I gt to taste your cake.\" \n Uhm yeah... what was I about to write? \n Oh yeah, I enjoyed this book tremendously. I liked the lighthearted humor, the snarky back and forth comments, the supernatural story-line, and of course the characters themselves. This is a fun page-turner with a sweet love story developing on the side and with Jennifer's famous plot twists and turns. I didn't see the ending coming and can honestly say the first thing I'll click this summer is Torn, book 2 in the series. \n If you enjoy YA paranormal romance with less drama, but some steamy scenes, great surprises in the plot, a plot that is more than a page turner then I highly suggest this new PNR series. \n Oh and before I forget, hands down, TINK is by far my favorite side-character ever! I laughed so hard I had tears....such a funny little fellow - you will love him! \n \"Tell me yes,\" he ordered huskily. \"Tell me yes and I'll do whatever you want. Anything you want. Just let me do this.\"", "date_added": "Tue Sep 02 13:43:01 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 29 10:36:27 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Oct 29 11:00:57 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "22472003", "review_id": "bf1bfa47400fdcd08fd386ba8f2e5ddc", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Review & rating coming soon", "date_added": "Sat Aug 16 21:26:59 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 19 11:25:06 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Aug 19 11:25:06 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "21777373", "review_id": "cc20f5ebac2b477d8b94ac234782656b", "rating": 0, "review_text": "OMG...I just had to buy this book. The blurb...yeah it had me right after the second line. I'm intrigued so so much. Somehow it reminds me of The Time-traveler's Wife. Yup, this will be pushed up my tbr! \n Check it out on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1p7LhjG", "date_added": "Wed Aug 13 16:20:38 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 13 16:35:40 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "23509919", "review_id": "72f5158509dc627584b1909a5ea21702", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Ooooh this book is right up my alley!! Can't wait :D \n A band of fierce warriors walk in the shadows of the human world with capabilities derived from the senses: Trackers, Sounders, Healers, Tasters, Visionaries and the rare Reflectors. They are known as the 'Scars'. \n He kills. She saves lives. \n The Scar, Keir, is lethal, determined and unyielding. He survives by instinct and will do anything to protect his race. When he discovers a rare Healer is being hidden, he will stop at nothing to use her for his own purpose. What he doesn't expect, is the raging need to make her his own. \n Anstice has worked hard to keep her life simple. But when she meets the hot, tattooed Keir who doesn't take no for an answer, simple just became difficult. Dating him was her first mistake. Sleeping with him was her second. Because now he won't let her go and the hot tempered red-head is thrown into a dangerous world she never knew existed. \n Book #1 scars of the wraiths. \n Novella", "date_added": "Wed Aug 06 13:31:09 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 08 13:17:14 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "22838820", "review_id": "1107872d80b025dc1a97ec39be1fa6da", "rating": 2, "review_text": "DNF 68% \n This book wasn't for me. It's labeled as YA but it felt it was even for a younger. I agreed to review it due to the blurb, which sounded promising but when I reached the 70% mark and everything made no sense I lost my interest and gave up. \n The writing didn't really captivate me - this includes the characters, dialogues, and attempt to create a mystical feeling. It felt stilted and dull. The book was missing the important LEADING PATH throughout the book to hold a readers attention because now it seems there's a lot of jumping back and forth. The lack of cohesiveness and slow build-up to the story, the important action -the peek of the book- was just not gonna happen. Maybe after the 70 percent there's some enlightening, action etc. going to happen but the author didn't do a successful job keeping my interest on the story or on the faith of the characters. \n ___________________________________ \n Read all my review (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook", "date_added": "Sun Aug 03 18:30:07 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 13 20:49:55 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17232332", "review_id": "c886721971596ab733bf33b957dbd744", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 \n Eep, I loved to reread it and fall all over again for Dorian *sigh \n Full reedited review to come", "date_added": "Wed Jul 23 14:06:12 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 24 23:54:18 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "22042981", "review_id": "ce7e35e72905695d9266eff17e177c9b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5-4 KING Stars \n YES YES YES!! Finally I know what's going on....ok, lemme say I know to 90% what's going on lol. I do know who and what KING is and I love the idea of it -nicely and unique plotted! \n Book 2 is much more interesting than the first and it had some serious WTH moments. The author surprised me with certain twists and I've to say I liked them all. \n Sure thing, some things King kept hidden, especially towards the end made me wanna choke him and I understood why Mia was so freaking pissed. He sure has his own agenda and is pretty determined to get his way. He has a way with words and his charm that makes you drool...no surprise he gets what he wants. \n As mentioned in my review for book 1, Mia still annoyed me LOTS; but I was hooked on the story that I overlooked her attitude. \n About the question if it's a romance now, I can't really answer that. It had some indications to it but I don't fully trust King. Are his feelings real? Could Mia love him after everything he did and put her through...or better, what he hid from her? \n A lot of lies, secrets and plenty of truth you'll find in this book. I was still somewhat confused but only because King is a mystery. Not a bad one but it's hard for a reader to follow through - his mind works in a very special way. \n Did I like the 2nd book? Yes, much more than the first. I still think certain plot scenes could have needed more envelopment but it was overall much better. \n As written in my other review I finished book 1 and had a \"What the heck was that?\" moment, which made me buy right away book 2. Same happened last night - I finished, thought for 2 minutes and could only say \"I can't believe she freaking did that!\" Damn Mia, what did you do?!?! \n I made my choice who i'd take and I sure hope King has something up his sleeve because I don't want him to disappear fully!! \n I'm super excited for book 3 !!!!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 20 16:34:44 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 20 17:11:20 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "22043009", "review_id": "4d3be7cdafe33f66049edbe88227f155", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Well, where to start?? How about I'm straight forward by saying how it's and what I felt while reading this book. \n First, I was like super excited to start it. The cover, the blurb, just everything lured me in. Yup, I kept my evening free so I can dive into this book. Don't get me wrong, I didn't jump in with any expectations, I just dove in. I like to go in a book blind, especially if it's from my own tbr and not for a blog tour. So yeah here I am, ready to meet KING.... \n After reading half the book I was hella confused and was like \"Did I miss something?\" I didn't rush the book, I took my time but I realized the book just missed from everything a lil bit. The beginning was veeery slow and I was edgy to get to the 'fun' part. So when I finished the book I was still very much C.O.N.F.U.S.E.D. - because nothing was solved or very much explained! \n Yup, I felt as I was walking the whole time through a dark tunnel, no lights, no orientation, just nothing. I finished this book and my first reaction was what the heck was that. \n Did I know who or what KING was? Nope ...he was still a secrete and mystery to me and Mia. I don't like that. Of course I was hella curious and what did I do?? Yup, you might guessed right, I ordered book 2 right away. \n Now you might ask yourself why I did this; afterall,as stated earlier the story had some wholes or could have been stronger developed for my taste. But the author made me BEYOND curious and I badly wanna know who this guy is; what's his agenda' and what key-role does the Mia, the h play in all this. \n That's why I bought it. And it's often that the second book in a trilogy is better because the 1st book is most likely a broader introduction for the characters, setting etc. So indeed, I gave this author the benefit of the doubt and spent $3.99 for book 2. \n Ok, I've to admit the H is more to my liking than the h; she's somewhat annoying and has a serious problem following orders or listen to someone who has more knowledge/experience and could safe her life. But no, miss smarty-pants knows always better - yeah she's a bit annoying. Her inner monologue wasn't the hit and I had some serious eye-rolling going on. And she had some bitch-cake to eat while being around KING; I'm surprised he didn't choke her... \n The side-characters are great, and fit well in the picture. \n Oh, one more thing; there's zero romance going on. Just that you know. There's LOTS of sexual tensions and many 'almosts' but no actual romance. Which didn't bother me one bit but I know many it'll; I'm in for the Urban Fantasy/PNR aspect :) \n So yeah even though it wasn't a 4 or 5 star read for me the author intrigued me and I even finished book 2 last night...and I'm still curious but a bit smarter ;) \n ___________________________________ \n Read all my review (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook", "date_added": "Wed Jun 04 19:19:06 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 04 14:44:38 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17877226", "review_id": "b033729a79226a291da1228756de6da2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was way better than expected!!! After reading several romance books ( I usually don't do romance-only books) I was in need for some paranormal book and with Zoey Rogue my itch was scratched. I loved the setting and idea of this book. Come on, who doesn't love 'sex magic'? Who doesn't love if your man can make you come just by transferring his magic? I would be a super goner if this would actually exist. \n Zoey was one tough halfling and she cracked me up. She kicked ass and her smart ass comments, not afraid of anyone, made her a lovable character. But also the other main character, Declan, an Incubus, won me over. He's one hot alpha and having him as your partner, damn it'd be as if winning the lottery. He literally aims to please you...over and over again. He protects you.He supports you. Loves you unconditionally... \n I liked the whole concept of soul-mates and how two species weren't suppose to interact, unless if they're meant for each other. I was laughing, swooning, and on edge while reading this book. \n Some secret stuff is happening, which kept the book pretty interesting and therefore, I'm eager to read book 2, Zoey Avenger. \n I hope Olivia and Heidi get their butt kicks -that's all I'm saying.... and oh my,the ending...poor Declan. \n So yeah I totally recommend this book/series if you like paranormal books with some strong females, action and great alphas. \n ********************** \n This is from my private tbr and NOT a requested review; thus, it's shorter than usual but I still hope it is enough for you to grab this book - it's great! \n ___________________________________ \n Read all my review (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook", "date_added": "Sun Apr 20 23:23:13 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 04 14:49:06 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "20889498", "review_id": "0374ef6fc5bef8677d6433bd0f41ce30", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Mmhh I was a bit disappointed about this sequel. The first book was soo good but this one, not so much. It was a long read because nothing really happened until the end. The suspense and tension was missing and the spark between Lexia and Linc was not as good as in book 1. \n I was hoping for lots of ass kicking, action filled scenes but no such luck. They were present but fell kind of short. It was a constantly back and forth between Lexia and Linc declaring their love and what the mating really means; her inner conflict about being a Hunter but being different than the rest - I got bored to be honest. \n The grammar errors in the book through my reading off big times and it annoyed me, especially because I bought the copy and it wasn't an arc. It needed s second or even 3rd read through. Plus, some scenes made no sense, ie: Linc was in his panther form adn could talk?? Seriously, no. not when you write the sentence before he was still in his animal form and didn't transform back to human. \n I had high expectations for this one but it seemed as if the author was dragging it out so she can write a 3rd book. Lexia's personality changed towards the end it made no sense and even though I was able to read the 1st Ch of book 3, I decided I won't read the 3rd book because I'm somewhat done with this series. \n I feel bad for Linc, my fave panther, and I don't understand why Lexia didn't snap her mother's neck...but oh well, maybe you'll think differently when reading certain scenes. \n Pls don't think just because I didn't love it that you won't, I just had bigger hopes and expectations for the sequel of 'Lexia, the Deadwood Hunter'.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 07 15:06:37 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 23 14:13:58 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Apr 12 14:37:35 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Apr 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17455817", "review_id": "430d5fdd6935c5e0e64bb342c7760b21", "rating": 5, "review_text": "YES YES YES! Loooved it. \n Full review to come!", "date_added": "Sat Mar 01 01:53:43 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 01 23:39:21 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17455815", "review_id": "615d51e08ea387fbe16a99614ca8e959", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"I lost myself the moment I found you.\" \n With those words Roth, the demon Crown Prince of Hell, wiggled his way into my heart and didn't let go! My gut feeling told me from the very first pages that Roth is the man for Layla - the hybrid, half demon, half Warden. He accepts her how she is; she can be free with him, no boundaries, and no denying. He makes her feel alive and happy - carefree even. So you can imagine after sacrificing himself so Zayne could live, Layla's life wasn't the same anymore (and mine *sniffs*). She was grieving badly even though they hadn't put a label on their relationship, Layla knew deep down, Roth being gone, there's a big void in her heart that no-one could fill. \n OMG! She's done it again....J. Armentrout put a spell on me with her fantastic new YA paranormal series. I was hooked right when she published the pre-novella; right here and then I knew this new series will be a success. She proved after deeply loving the Lux books that she's the queen of YA paranormal/supernatural books for me. Her books are on auto-click and so far she hasn't disappointed me. \n In her Dark Element series she puts her readers through an emotional roller coaster, letting us experience and feel for Layla's torn feelings. Who should she pick? Save and handsome Zayne or fun, daring, alluring Roth? It's a tough choice. We are all bidding our bets since book 1, White Hot Kiss, with who she'll end up with. J. Armentrout crushed our fan-girling hearts at the end of White Hot Kiss and I wanted to throw my kindle away...but, she's as wicked as her books. \n In Stone Cold Touch we see how Layla and Zayne get a bit too cozy (for my taste) even though she can't forget Roth. Her feelings are all over the place and all of a sudden Zayne is more than just a big brother, a secrete crush, her first love.... now she's allowed to taste him; feel him; show her feelings. But this new-found happiness is short lived (thank goodness!!) because Roth is back!! He's back with an agenda because some serious stuff has gone wrong and a Lilin got created -BAD NEWS, ladies. \n Now here she is...torn between two man - both loving her deeply. \n \"Love is a strange creature one thinks has a grasp on and understanding of, only to discover later that it was only the barest taste of the real thing.\" \n Sighs... this book kept me on edge because Roth is one hard guy to read and Armentrout put some secrets in the story that got later on revealed...she had me worried!! Every word, every action from Roth had his purpose and Armentrout weaved such details perfectly into her story - I was hooked, spellbound even. \n \"I want you so badly it's like a hunger that gnaws at me endlessly. It doesn't go away.\" \n Me = goner! \n If you haven't gotten the chance to dive into her new series then you're missing out; it's top notch recommendation material! I can't wait to read book #3 and in case you didn't see it, YOU CAN VOTE with who Layla should end up with. Well you all know my choice (you better support it...JUST KIDDING, really): ROTH! But seriously give your vote because after that Jennifer will write book 3 - better pick the right dude ;) \n !!!! Vote here: http://thedarkelementsseries.com/ !!!! \n _____________________________________________ \n *** 5 -You Put a Spell on Me Stars *** \n ________________________________ \n Read all my review (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook \n Email subscription to my blog", "date_added": "Sat Mar 01 01:53:29 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 01 18:46:16 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "20429000", "review_id": "fc73d256d97b7e9dc4bc368404b78a2b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "IT'S OUT NOW & A FREEBIE!!! Amazon: http://amzn.to/1hZ8kFx \n The is a beta read review \n I just love, looove Keri's paranormal books. When I saw she's writing a prequel, which can also be read as a standalone I was game. I adore her Sons of Wrath books -they're awesomely plotted with passionate characters, lots of action and ass kicking, and the paranormal aspect is her top priority -what's not to love?!? \n In The Fallen we get to know Xander, who we briefly met in book 1+2 and who was already a Fallen one at this moment. But in this prequel we get the back story about who he's, what's his duty/purpose, and so on. \n I loved him *sigh. Even though this was a beta read and I gave her some advice the story was already a 5 star read for me. It had everything what I'm looking for in a book and her plot -damn, she got me again. She put some twists in it, and a turn, which I haven't seen coming, that made me say, \"Oh F**K\" at the end. Well written, well plotted, total mind-f**k on my side. \n Xander is smokin', brutal, and cocky as hell. There was nothing I didn't like about him; in fact I'm dying to read more about him :) And no worries ladies, there's some steam going on as well. \n But read her disclaimer. Certain scenes are not for the faint heart; meaning you'll feel disgusted, sick to the stomach and feel pain for certain characters. It has some dark elements in it but nothing that would kill you lol \n The whole setting of this book, as well as book 1+2 in this series is laid out perfectly and if you're like me a lover of paranormal books her series is the right fit for you! \n So in a nutshell you get while reading her series: hot supernatural alphas,strong females, action, great plot development, never a dull moment, LOL scenes, and panty-melting hot moments that made you wish to switch position with this said female. What I love the most is her originality of the stories she comes up with and the given background/terminology glossary so that I never have to scratch my head to ask: \"huh?\" \n So I think you got it, I enjoyed this book A LOT!! Go add it to your tbr and def start reading book 1+2 in her series -500 pages of pure awesomeness.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 24 18:07:21 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 17 19:05:38 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17208007", "review_id": "ca1c68706b301fd1e595236484094436", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of the best Vamp Books I've ever read \n This book was freaking awesome! If you are a PNR fan, add this IMMEDIATELY to your tbr or buy it right now! Jessica blew my mind with this one; never ever would I've guessed it'd be THIS awesome. \n You know what was the best part in this book huh?? I'll tell you: No effing, unnecessary, cheesy romance that makes your head hurt, cringe, or role your eyes! It's true, sometimes a book is much better without all the drama and lovey-dovey crap. Instead, Jessica focused to keep her story thrilling, exciting, by adding twists & turns, and some seriously mind-f@ckery. She kept on surprising me until the very last percentages and I often heard myself saying:Oh no...no, she didn't/wouldn't do that to the character...oh crap, she really did. Yeah,Jessica had not really any mercy for her characters *chuckles*, and I LOVED it -every piece of it. \n \"This is not a story about love. There is no happy ending. There is only darkness, and the struggle to avoid being consumed by it. This is a story about survival.\" \n She made Mia fall out of a building, smash her head in, getting almost sucked dry, and some rough sex on the kitchen counter was there too- I was truly in PNR heaven :D \n Ok, here a bit about the story. \n Never ever had Mia thought she'd end up as one of those girls... those girls, you know, that got kidnapped, never seen or heard of again. Well, her cockiness put her exactly in this situation. She gets abducted and that's were her living hell begins. \n \"They're going to rape me and kill me and I am going to die. They're going to bury me in the woods ...\" \n She finds herself in a rotten room with a 'roommate',who's half dead, waiting to get put out of her misery like an old dog. This so-called roomy tells her that every 90days she usually has a new roommate...well crap huh, Mia thinks. BUT little did she know that the big bad Vamp boss has different plans with her. \n \" 'How long will you keep me?\"I asked suddenly. he didn't have to think about it. 'Forver.' I believed him.\" \n When Mia gets moved to another room, one of his Vamps,Ryan, she uses the only chance to escape... a chance that ended in a free fall, face first. \n I still don't know if I love or hate Ryan. He's a special kind of twisted. His action didn't all really make sense to me, but I think that's what truly hooked me. I love weird characters, trying to figure them and their attentions out. It's still unclear what is really going on in this VERY old Vamps mind. He's a closed book, but he's the one who changed Mia's life forever. One minute he's sugar sweet and I wanna hug and squeeze him: \n \"You made me want to be a better person, he said in my head, ... You're the reason i'm leaving that life behind. I want to help you...\" \n oh and in the next minute I wanna flog him myself. He's unpredictable, a ticking time-bomb, and I loved the crap out of him. I'm dying to know what he truly thinks and feels for Mia. \n Is he using her just as a tool for himself, having his own agenda or are his intentions pure and honest?? I do not know yet, but I'm eager to find that out in book 2 ! \n \"I'll never leave you ... I'll never be afraid of you. *sigh, he really does know when to push the right button. \n But Mia doesn't forget, he's the reason why she's here in the first place... why she died with 17. \n It's a constant struggle and this book has some disturbing things going on, so be aware!!If you don't want to feel offended, then take a minute and put yourself in Mia's shoes - I know what she wants and did was cruel, but ask yourself: What have you done? \n Nevertheless, I can't wait to get my hands on book 2! \n If you're looking for a HEA, then don't pick this book up; if you're looking for a cheesy romance, then don't either; but if you're looking for a kick-ass Vamp book that makes you gasp, wonder, yell out loud and glues you to your kindle because you wanted to find out what's going on, then this is a must read! \n This is NOT your typically come of age, NA/YA Vamp book -and thank f@ck for that!! \n Copy of book given by author in exchange for an honest review \n _____________________________________ \n Amazon buy link: http://amzn.to/1oDv73u \n My Blog review: http://bit.ly/1l66O7t", "date_added": "Tue Jan 28 13:39:19 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 26 15:24:07 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 25, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "12624498", "review_id": "4030bc1d5bf990f95fa078fa918d5ac3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "On this review I'll apply K.I.S.S. (=keep it short and simple) because it was a book from my purchased tbr. \n I liked this book but didn't love it. You all know I'm a sucker for PRN/Fantasy reads and when I saw it was on sale on Amazon I just had to buy -almost everything that has Vamps in it intrigues me. \n But unfortunately this one didn't rock my world. Val was a bit weird, and def kind of slutty .I mean, I've nothing against females that express their sexual desires or love to have lots of sex but she was a bit over the top; especially as a virgin. I mean every lil comment her mind drifted to sex -even though the dude didn't make any move or gave her any signs. It was a bit strange. How she gave up her virginity was sooo lame and I felt bad for the young man she was together with -he had no idea for the reasons behind her attentions and after that, whoops, he got completely erased by the author. I know I know, it got explained why she had to leave everything behind but still -poor sucker, he was a love-sick puppy. \n The beginning of the book was a bit hard to follow; the flashbacks seemed too chunky and the jumps were too far apart. Val's relationship with Jack -if you can call it like that- was too complicated for my taste and didn't make any sense; sorry. I liked him but totally didn't get him. \n But oooh yeah, I liked Lucas A LOT!! I couldn't stop comparing him with Eric from True Blood. I loved everything about him; his whole attitude as 1600yr old Vamp, his dialogue, his action...just everything. \n The concept of the book was good but I think Val was the reason I didn't love it. It need a bit more clarity and plot development to make it smoother to read. Of course it could be, that I'm again too picky, but I've read lots of PRN books and for my taste it was too weak to give it anything higher than 3 stars. \n If I'd recommend it? Sure, because I know many would love it. In my case, I'm not quite sure if I'll read book 2.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 08 14:42:46 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 18 16:01:09 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "18632224", "review_id": "78838d8bd7785fcc1c47c78363567a7b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Before you continue reading, read my review of book 1, to know what's going on --> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... \n Darkest Shadow tells the story of a Tamara Kingsley, who sent her ex-lover, Valentine, off to Alpha; a prison where no one ever escaped from. As well tell the tale of Valentine who never loses sight of escaping his fate. The novella captures both their feeling and confusion of what happened. \n But not Tamara betrayed him; moreover, he betrayed her and her love to him. \n \"She had been the perfect pawn ... That was all she was ever supposed to be: useful, convenient, a mean to an end.\" \n Yeah even Valentine never imagined falling for her in the way he did. Thus it hurt him even more when she fled one night and to rat him out! \n So now he's her in Alpha and only one thought is like a constant to his mind: Escape and revenge!! \n Revenge on the girl who is the reason that he's locked up here since 14yrs -not aging one bit but also not forgetting why he's here. \n Darkest Shadows is like a missing link to the whole story of Tamara and Valentine. Allyson did a great job capturing the confused feeling of two young people; two people who never really got over one another until the day of revenge; two people who were clearly devastated by the events that tore them apart. I could see why and how Tamara struggled knowing she's the reason Valentine got shipped off as well as why Valentine couldn't truly hate her, even though he wanted to so badly. Sure thing, he felt hatred toward her because she betrayed him and their love but also he knew he couldn't blame her fully. \n The extra seen added to the novella, which takes place after book 1 ends, was so painfully sweet. It showed how deeply those two still cared for another even after all this time has passed. \n Sigh, I really enjoyed this, it was exactly what I needed to read right now and as usual I hope Allyson will one day write a full length novel. \n Copy given by author in exchange for honest review", "date_added": "Sat Dec 07 14:04:25 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 25 09:19:39 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Dec 21 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "13631331", "review_id": "9986cc4764f2f9ac7e48f12f61cf5810", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5Vamp \n overall it was a good read which I enjoyed. It made me gasp,swoon and smile -great novella \n Full review to come", "date_added": "Mon Nov 25 01:05:51 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 21 13:59:44 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Dec 21 13:59:44 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Dec 21 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17455811", "review_id": "5aa85317d2b4e41c9f48a1a731bdc78c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This prequel was simply perfect...sweet, but short , and still complete. \n **Full review to come**", "date_added": "Sun Sep 29 18:48:11 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 05 01:28:08 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Feb 05 01:28:08 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "18590199", "review_id": "a639097c24ab5dc5941a37b44bc8ba41", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Can you relate, you only know a handful of authors that are always on your auto-click? That you can trust these authors that they deliver a great story that draws you in, no matter what the plot setting is? That these authors just don't disappoint you but leave you wanting more? \n Yeah such author is Lauren Stewart to me; her books are on my auto-click since I've read and dearly loved her Hyde serial -which is btw aaahamazing!! \n Even though I beta read Unseen and I know she made some changes afterwards (thanks for that listening to me bitching muhaha) I can say that this book is a 5 star read for me. With the Heights she created another parallel world where PNR beings and mankind live side by side without knowing each other - accept some 'lucky humans' that do. \n Book 1 in the Heights serial serves as a wide introductory and some might be overwhelmed with the names and different characters but trust me, it is necessary. She really threw them all in - Vamps, Weres, Witches,... you name it, and I freaking loved it. \n It's important that you pay attention to the 'side' characters because everyone mentioned in this book is there for a reason -he/she has a purpose!! \n Unseen is to 90% about Addison and Vampire King Rhyse aka Prime to all races of supernatural beings. I loved this dude; I've a serious weakness for bloodsucker and Rhyse is seriously yummy to look uhm, read about. He and Addison experience something that shouldn't have happened (and the King IS surprised about his new-found interest for this weakling, or so he thought)but who both can neither deny or withstand. \n Lets be clear, these two don't have a fairytail love story BECAUSE Addison sees things that make her tummy turn and she has no other choice as to choose at the end - Rhyse or her race. \n Don't worry, the serial is set out that we still see Addison and Rhyse throughout the books (Lauren better keeps my Vamp in the picture *shakes fist*) while the other characters get their spotlight ;) \n Am I excited for this series?? TOTALLY!!! \n I love Lauren's writing style - it's sassy, snarky, suspensful (if needed), and flawless. \n Needless to say: CHECK THIS STORY OUT! \n * Read an exclusive 'Unseen' excerpt on my blog: http://hookmeupbookblog.blogspot.com/...", "date_added": "Sun Sep 29 13:28:07 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 20 17:53:22 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "20423425", "review_id": "bdc018c2e04a208990a16f462190622d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 Steamy Vamp Stars \n I did beta read Adina Falling and never did I think it'd be so steamy... Geez, it was pretty hot ladies. \n Adina is a vampire and an author for erotica -if she writes about her sex life in her novels no wonder she's a bestseller ;) \n She's single and enjoys her life after her marriage, which was more than a mistake, ended . Her ex is literally a psycho that gives you the creeps!! He's still somehwat present in Adina's life... he threatens her because he has his eyes everywhere- seriously creepy! \n Her mother is like every mother and tries to play match-maker with her daughter, because if Adina doesn't settle down the vampire elders will match her -and that wouldn't end well. So, Adina has no other choice then to agree to meet Xander for a blind date. A date her mom, of course, organized... \n But in between Adina is doing what she does best...satisfying her hunger, but she doesn't just feed off of anybody, no, she has a specific type of men she feeds from. The ones that sin and are the scumbags of society -cheaters, liars, and betrayers. \n But this is just a small part of the story... \n Adina has nightmares; terrible nightmares that leave her clueless what they could or do mean.... all she remembers from her dreams is this sickening feeling that something is going to happen...something bad. She doesn't see faces in her dreams, besides of one... the face of the most handsome vampire she has ever seen. His body is to-die-for!! \n To forget her nightmare Adina goes out clubbing wih her friends where she meets Caleb -LADIES, he's extremely handsome and just wait till you read their hot meet 'n' greet ;) He basically swoops Adina off her feet... But she promised to go on this blind date with Xander... \n ....little did she know that Xander would play a bigger role in her life than that of just a blind date. \n Melissa did a great job writing a steamy novella with modern vampires. Adina is a interesting character and her nightmares leaves you wanting to find out,especially now that those two drop-dead hot men entered her life. I'm really looking forward to read the second book of this series, finding out what Xanders knows and if Adina will end up in a triangle relationship.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 25 08:41:08 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 22 12:34:09 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "18042455", "review_id": "41e7ff7202c85520104223ce3024adc3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was a refreshing, especially its plot; something I haven't read and I liked it a lot. It held my attention throughout the whole book because I wanted to know what's behind all the secrets. I wanted to know what Lexia's dad knew and didn't tell her, why she's so different and what the big deal with her mother really was. \n The author did a great job keeping the reader entertained; it had some pretty steamy scenes in it but the PRN factor was more present, which I loved! She put some great twists and action pact scenes in it and I couldn't stop reading. \n Introducing Lincoln, the hot Black Panther, was a great mix-up. I loved his character a lot and he made the book even more interesting, reading his pov gave me a better idea why he 'hates' hunters...and also why he couldn't hate lexia. \n The ending was a bit strange and I was shocked it ended this way...I just hope it was all for the show and Linc is ok, otherwise I won't read the 2nd book. \n If I'm right, then I'm SOOOOO READING BOOK 2 !! The author did really a great job writing a PRN book with an interesting new plot idea that sucks the reader right in. \n If you're a PNR lover like me, you def will like this book a lot!!", "date_added": "Mon Sep 02 12:59:40 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 19 15:07:43 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17981911", "review_id": "1036dc5da02b6e9dd7ab82ce33a34798", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 Sinfully Demonic Stars Spoiler Free Review \n Whoa, what an epic book!! It was long, yeah, but it was filled with so much steam, action and surprises that it could have had 600pages and I still would have been happy. Wow, I really love love Logan. In book one, Soul Avenged, we got only a small glimpse of his dominant character and therefore, I was super curious what his deal is... and just let me say, his life was no happy pony farm, or filled with happiness and love. Thus, I can only be super thrilled how the second book of The Sons of Wrath series ended. Did I mention it was epic? Or that it's smokin' hot, panty melting hot? I had to take breaks in between to calm down lol. \n As usual, Lake didn't hold back on supernatural characters and many (infamous) sups from book one were present in book 2. I highly advise to read book 1, Soul Avenged first, to get to know/become familiar with all the -side-characters and vocabulary. As in book one, Lake provided a glossary and I love this; it makes reading so much easier, especially if the books terms are not common in our world. With Soul Resurrected, lake delivered again a hands-down awesome paranormal book and way more than just a page turner. I really fell in love with her writing and those demons. It's a faced paced, action packed read that will leave you wanting more. \n Now to the story... I won't give anything away but don't miss out and get your hands on book 1 -like in ASAP!!!! \n Logan.... he's somewhat a special kind of man \n -he doesn't do or like weakness \n -he doesn't do love \n -he doesn't do fear \n -Women? Only trouble, no thanks \n His temper is that from a true Wrath Demon and his body as well -SMOKIN' LADIES!!! Wish some of those hotties would really roam this earth \n But Logan is also damaged ... he closed himself off, build his walls so high, that no creature could ever harm him again -especially no female. Even his brother can't crack through to find out what is wrong with him or prey some past details out of him. Only Gavin knows what dark places his brother went to and what pain he suffered. \n \"I never believed in love. Mostly because love never believed in me enough to break through my shield. Why believe in something that's never touched you?\" \n Sigh... the book starts off with a gut-wrenching prologue that made my heart hurt for Logan. Such a misery he endured in his early childhood and life that I wanted to hug him, kiss and squeeze him to make his pain go away. \n So when life screws you over, what do you do? You become untouchable and numb. \n \"Numbness is my shield. My faith. My reality. More real than the idea that love will ever touch a bastard son, like me.\" \n Yep, Logan is a tough one to crack open... but his fight to stay untouchable, fearless, and strong got swiped out by one innocent girl, Calla. \n Calla was everything Logan wasn't. She was pure, beautiful from the in and outside, and too good for a bastard like him. \n We met Calla in book one; she too is an Alexi and as we learn the end of Soul Avenged those two will share a unique and significant bond that will forever change their life. \n I was either laughing or swooning while reading this book. Towards the end I was holding my breath and prayed things will turn out good -so yeah I was on edge. But needless to say, I enjoyed this book a lot. I love Logan and of course Gavin. I'm soo curious and excited to read Gavin's book as well as to find out the stories of his other handsome brothers. I definitely recommend Lake's Sons of Wrath books if you want to read a great paranormal book, a story that has its twist and turns, and with a load of action and hotness!! \n Copy of book provided by the author in exchange for honest review", "date_added": "Mon Sep 02 12:54:45 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 06 15:39:27 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Dec 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Nov 24 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 9}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "15981347", "review_id": "203b9e50ab9a26c27c4ee4d821a9aaae", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5-I Have a new Fave Paranormal Author -Stars \n Spoiler Free Review \n It was the first time that I've read a book by Keri Lake but I def know it won't be the last. Soul Avenged rocked; it was honestly one of the best paranormal books I've read in a very long time. She created a fast paced read, which was loaded with lots of action and many surprises. I couldn't read fast enough. Not one page was boring and I was clued to my kindle. She really put everything in this book - demons (hot as hell demon brothers), lycans, hellhounds, Alexi's, and many others great side-characters. I was overwhelmed by her diversity, as well as how original her story was -LOVED IT!! I'm not easily impressed but Lake create a one in a kind paranormal book. She created unforgettable characters that you can but only fall in love with. Her writing style is vivid and so flawless that it was pure joy to read. Her story development didn't leave any questions and I loved that she provided at the beginning a glossary with vocabulary; but even if she wouldn't have, Lake provided every necessary detail to keep her readers hooked. \n Let me start by the demon brothers -The Sons of Wrath. OMG, I think Lake created the most handsome, stunning and plain perfect men ever. Demons? Who cares, these brothers are extremely hot and just to die for. In Soul Avenged, we get to know Gavin the most, or let me say he stood out to me the most. He's loyal, caring and very protecting of the people he cares about and the people who are under his contract. Basically, you can hire this bunch of hot demons if someone did you harm and they help seeking out justice to people who wronged them. Right now, the sons of Wrath are working together with Ayden, an Alexi, to kill of those filthy Lycans (Werewolves) because they are the reason why she became an Alexi in the first place (Alexi's are soldiers bred to slay lycans). \n Ayden is this kick-ass female; a true fighter and strong as hell. At the past she and Gavin were lovers but Ayden wasn't and still isn't able to love or care for someone. Gavin is too perfect and she's just a broken soul without memories of who she was or even is. All she knows and matters is to kill these beasts off; revenging all the families they destroyed, while finding the one and only lycan who ripped her own family apart. All she lived for was to hunt those wolves down, one by one; there was no room for love. Not the eternity love Gavin was looking for in Ayden. She lived a unattached life after escaping the Alexi compound, and especially General Wade, living after her own rules. \n But all of Ayden's hatred and despise toward lycans would change in the night she was about to kill this halfling, (a newly bitten human, waiting of his full transformation to lycan) Kane. When she touched him, she saw some kind of vision. A vision that would change her life and Kane's fate forever. \n So what did Ayden do instead of killing him? She 'kidnaps' Kane and uses him as kind of labor-rat, trying to figure out if he's the key to find the lycan responsible for the slaughter of her and her family. \n Right after that, the books actions level increases. Ayden is fighting against the urge to kill Kane every single day until his 7days are up, as well as to ignore the growing desire to rip his clothes off. After the 7th day he'd transform to a full lycan and the kill would be inevitable for Ayden. \n I loved Kane, especially towards the end of the book. He became cocky and stood up against Ayden. His smart ass comments and swag where bliss to read, compared to the frightened Kane from the beginning. And damn, did he get hotter and hotter; the more his transformation took place the bigger and more handsome he got. Ayden and Kane's short but intense 7 days are one roller-coaster and you def won't leave your kindle until the story is over. \n If you love or are looking for a kick-ass paranormal book then I highly recommend Keri Lake's Soul Avenged. I loved the 3 main characters: Ayden, Kane, and Gavin. Like I wrote, it has everything -action, humor, romance, and lots of awesome paranormal characters. It's so much more than a page-turner. Lake created a unique story with a flawless plot; a plot that lets you long for more. I finished this book wanting to find out more about Gavin, my fave Son of Wrath, because he deserves so much *sigh. Just read this book, I was too hooked and totally forgot to highlight all my fave quotes *bummer*. \n ARC kindle provided by author in exchange for honest review \n Like our blog on Facebook: HookMeUpBookBlog", "date_added": "Mon Sep 02 12:54:37 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 30 15:38:22 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Nov 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17455585", "review_id": "48a2f9a0c36a5fe56cbf039e8abf9d0e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 Daemon, who? Stars \n Oh Daemon you've got competition...Roth is about to take over ;) \n Jennifer L.A. has done it again, she put a spell on me with her new YA Paranormal series, The Dark Elements. This series has again all the perfect ingredients to get me hooked. In her cocktail she mixed Gargoyles, Demons, a bit of young innocence, sex appeal, and her typical Armentrout signature. I'm hooked; I fell for a Demon and even though I'm sad her Lux series comes to an end I'm thrilled to have this serial to read. \n Layla raised among Wardens/Gargoyles hasn't had an easy life, due to the fact that she's half demon and one kiss or being too close to a Warden could mean the end for him/her. Sure thing, this poor girl is lonely and has a hopeless crush on Zayne. \n As if her world isn't complicated enough, Roth, a Demon appears and is about to turn her world up-side down -positive as negatively. He knows more about her and her 'history' and why she's the way she's. \n Let me tell you it straight: IT WAS FLIPPING AWESOME. \n I was swooning like crazy about Roth; the way he talked, made Layla feel, just about everything. \n Let me introduce Roth the Demon: \n \"I'm a demon, Layla. What I see in your eyes and what I sense from your body is something I will take. Make no mistake. I'll give you one chance.\" \n \"I apologized for calling you a prude. I'll even apologize for yesterday. I scared you. I threw your cell in the toilet, See, I was raised in Hell. You could say I'm socially awkard.\" \n He made me laugh with the stuff he said but he also very much made me tear up at the end. \n I know for many this book is a typical shallow YA PNR book but I can't fully describe what it's, Armentrout's YA are my favorite of them all. They are light but also captivating; funny but emotional; shallow but with deep hidden meanings. So yeah I adore her books/writing. \n She literally puts a spell on me every time I read one of her PNR books and every time I get lost in the worlds she creates. \n I've a new favorite Demon: \"I lost myself the moment I found you.\"", "date_added": "Sun Sep 01 02:41:09 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 05 20:28:47 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Mar 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "20733981", "review_id": "a8bdf3d9b32ef06f8d302083133fa11d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 Sweet Stars \n I was one of those lucky women being able to beta read Staci's novella and let me tell you: This was one sweet novella!! I really enjoyed this short story a lot and Katsu, *sigh* is a dream of man. He and Kim fits perfectly together and it was pure bliss to read about them. \n It'd be useful to read Staci's previous books, Deer in Headlights (book 1) and Snake in the Grass (books 2) to have a better understanding of the gods relationships; also to know who Kim and Katsu is. \n Anyhow, Staci did a great job writing a love story, explaning how Katsu's and Kim's path crossed, how they fell in love with another and how strong their bond got throughout the book. I adored those two, and yeah I kind of envied Kim to find such a keeper. Katsu is a 'all in one package': handsome, protective, loving, caring, and loyal... Geez, he's like a Asian version of Ken ;) \n The novella also gave us some more insight of Hera's hatred toward Aphrodite -I can't wait to find out more, why Hera is such a b*tch- and how those two really do anything to cross each other. \n Ok, Hera is already on my sh*tlist after book 2, so I'm a cheering fan for Aphrodite ;) \n Again, Staci combined a modern love story with her hip Greek Gods; the gods that use the humans as their puppets - I love it!! Don't assume gods are boring; if, then just wait until you start Staci's Good Gods series. It's one of my favorite series ever <3 \n ------------------------------------- \n Follow or like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HookMeUpBookBlog", "date_added": "Wed Aug 21 17:05:55 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 04 14:11:06 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "18160589", "review_id": "8a267cea41c308d1f0fb815d77fa7003", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Copy given by author in exchange for honest review \n This novella was good... no seriously, it was better than expected and I wished it was a bit longer. Fifty pages wasn't long enough; especially at the end it needs some page-fillers because it felt too rushed. \n But the flow of the story was great. The story/idea was great - like I said,I could have read 50more pages, because I EFFING LOVE PARANORMAL and Allyson had a great idea for her book. The throwbacks how Tamara and Valentine met, how there friendship turned into more were interesting and well written. \n Tamara is a loner. She's a dark magic student and didn't make any friends at her new school and therefore tried to stay basicially invisible. While walking the wrong direction to go to the library, she sees the 'bad boy' of her school, Valentine, practicing his magic. She was fascinated by his unique talents and starred a bit too long at him until he saw her. After this, Tamara and Valentine, bonded and a great friendship got created; a friendship that turned into more after Tamara graduated. \n Kissing Valentine was pure fire, as intoxicating as alcohol but in a very different way. \n Instead of going to college, she takes off with Valentine to explore the 'world'. Little did she know what Valentines true plan was... \n A love that turns into disappointment and betrayal. \n In the beginning, he had been wonderful - so clever and charming, with a way of making her feel special and important for everything she said. She thought he just about hung the moon and was flattered her of all people to be his confidante and partner, not yet fully understanding what that meant. \n I would give this novella a higher rating but it wouldn't be fair to other short stories because my minimum for a novella is at least 80pages. I wish Allyson would turn this novella into a novel because it has great potential.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 16 23:45:56 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 07 13:58:50 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "18301503", "review_id": "2e384bb4e6f3e6bf9ba7fa5e79634032", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Copy of book provided by author in exchange for honest review", "date_added": "Fri Aug 16 23:35:39 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 06 17:40:39 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Mon Feb 24 20:45:47 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17673445", "review_id": "a14a75e727c2f8c7f9dec37895786ed2", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I received a copy of Starving Blades from the author in exchange for an honest review. I agreed to review it after reading the sample chapters on Amazon and it was promising, it really was; guess that's why it pains to give it only 2 Stars. But I'll explain why the low rating and I'm aware that I'm in the minority with my rating as well that the author did some more edits on the book while I was reading it. \n I'm a big fan of paranormal books; therefore, I'm a bit more critical and expect certain things. To keep it simple the book needs to hook me and needs to have a straight plot line; it needs to be original written in a way that I don't get bored; no storytelling that takes out the suspense of the story itself; the reading needs to be flawless and a good reading pace it important to me. \n The story of Angel Le Count was different from what I've read so far and that's why I wanted to read it but after the first 2 chapters the story took a turn and it bored me -sorry- to read it. It was more like a story telling than his story. I expected more suspense; more struggle from his side, more inside into his complex character what it wasn't the case. I read more things about the other character, more unnecessary details than what is really important in the story. It distracted me from the actual story. \n What also threw me off was the flow of the story; the throwbacks sometimes didn't work to the stories benefit and I lost track of the actual story. One big thing for me was the editing. I usual try to ignore grammar or sentence structure but it was a bit off. I had to reread certain sentences to figure out the meaning or what the author did mean. \n Overall the story had potential. I liked the idea of the whole plot and Angel's war spirit Sarre I liked but wished to read more about her. The demons in the story were interesting and after I talked with the author I know now that book 1 was meant as an introduction for the following books but the blurb didn't give this away and I really expected something totally different. \n Maybe you will totally disagree with my review but I promised an honest review and that's what I just wrote. I truly believe with some more editing the story will easily boost to a 4star rating. \n More about our blog visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HookMeUpBookBlog", "date_added": "Wed Aug 14 01:51:33 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 01 13:58:37 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "18098934", "review_id": "b935b3f141746e558c399a433d949a6d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "**copy given in exchange for a honest review** \n 3.5 Death-Dealing Stars \n Mia was raised by her grandma because her parents got murdered when she was only 4yrs old. Her grandma tried to hide the painful truth from her as long as she could, until one day in highschool, a boy asked Mia if she's the daughter of the murdered couple; the couple, whose police case still wasn't closed. \n After lots of research, finding out that everything is right what her classmate said, all Mia seeks is revenge! By the age of 18 she signed an unlikely deal with her blood to become a Death Dealer. Death Dealer bring the souls of the dead safely either to the Light or Dark Gate. All Death Dealers are assigned a partner, Mia's partner is handsome Deacon Gage. After years of fighting off demons, while escorting souls, both grew accustomed to another but never felt anything else besides a work relationship. \n But their relationship changed, when both realized they felt more for another; something they couldn't pin-point out yet. \n When Mia gets finally her revenge, sending the soul responsible for her parents death to the gate, Deacon and Mia learn more about another and realize they have something in common: both lost people they loved! \n While open up and sharing their heartaching stories, both feel the pull toward each other even stronger because non of them ever opened up before. That's when they share their very first kiss... But their newfound love didn't last long because on their way to deliver the specific soul to the Light Gate, both Death Dealers get attacked by demons. Can Deacon save Mia? He feels their secret Death Dealer bond is getting weaker and weaker by the second, until he can't feel her at all anymore... He's afraid he lost Mia; now that both admitted their feelings for another, he couldn't lose her. \n I enjoyed this novella, it was short but entertaining, and the story line was something I haven't exactly read before. The added love story was sweet to read and I liked both characters. Why I gave it 3.5 stars is because I wished that it would have been a bit longer,even for a novella, I still had too many unanswered question while reading. I had the feeling important things were missing, despite enjoying the story. I really hope for a sequel because the last 20pages Ashley put some very steamy scenes in it, which I totally loved, and I'm curious finding out more about those two lovebirds and what Mia's higher destiny is- all I can say is it's more than just being a Death Dealer. \n ___________________________________ \n Read all my review (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook", "date_added": "Sun Jun 30 15:56:19 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 04 21:15:53 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "15726675", "review_id": "0d00f834e2d4efa37b3c716d9348f586", "rating": 3, "review_text": "**I was given a copy by the author for an honest review** \n 3.5 Stars \n Not only is Lucinda (Lu) hiding a secret of her own but she's also torn between two men - fire department chief Josh Reynolds and arson inspector Byron Morgan. Both men are attractive and Lu has in the beginning a difficult time figuring out who and what she wants.Who will she choose- handsome but edgy Josh or charismatic and attentive Byron ? To make her life a little more complicated Lu accidently causes few more fires and things start to turn against her, so Lu's secret is about to be exposed. Will she able to keep her secret safe or will Reynolds and Morgan discover what Lu is hiding all this time. As if this wasn't enough, Lu get's blackmailed by her best friends daughter, Kaitlynn. \n I liked the story and it was interesting to read for who Lu will decide and if her secret gets exposed. I'm a big fan of paranormal stories and that's why I agreed to review Nora's book. I wished the story would have gotten deeper into Lu's ability and given more background knowledge about the How come of her ability and just in general more details. I wasn't as hooked as I hoped I would be. Overall it was a good story and I haven't yet read anything similiar to it. However the story needs more details because during reading many question came to my mind and I came to the conclusion the story needed a bit more development to hook me. For me it seemed more like a romance/criminal read than paranormal. I prefer when genres are balanced in a story, it makes it more interesting. \n It is a good read and I would recommend it as a light read anytime. You will like the steamy scenes for sure -I did- and the story has a twist at the end which I found very surprsing (didn't see that coming!!). You'll find yourself, while reading, playing detective cause you too want to help handsome Morgan to solve his case. \n For more reviews visit our blog: http://hookmeupbookblog.blogspot.com.au/", "date_added": "Sun Jun 30 09:24:56 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 03 12:17:02 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "20733706", "review_id": "abb1fe1710c29a90d71a52f18b6d859c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 Outstanding Stars \n I've been a fan of Staci's Good God series since I accidently stumbled over her first book Deer in Headlights . I was lucky to read an advanced copy of Snake in the Grass and it literally blew my mind. \n Staci's way of writing totally hooked me and I couldn't get enough of Dita, Ares, and the other Gods. She perfectly includes some awesome flashbacks into her story which functioned as the missing pieces to a puzzle - I totally loved to read those!! \n Her story put me many times on edge and it never got boring. Snake in the Gras gives you the perfect mix of romance, desire, passion, and revenge. Staci surprises the reader with twists and turns which made it impossible to stop reading. \n In her second book the reader gets a deeper knowledge of the difficult realtionship between Aphrodite and Ares; especially, since it's there time to compete against each other. Ares is eager to win but doesn't want to lose Dita by doing so.Throughout their competition Dita, Ares and even Adonis have to face hardship. This story was literally a roller coaster for my emotions and nerves. \n The story of the Gods human players, Kat and Dillon, are added awesomely to the story. It's pure joy to read how Dita,the Goddess of Love, brings the two players together and crossed Ares by doing so. Staci wrote a pretty sweet love story for them and I enjoyed it a lot-actually I was pretty thrilled reading how it did end. \n Staci's Snake in the Grass definitely deserved 5 Stars because she wrote a magnificant story and I'm looking forward to read more of her Good God series!! I can and will recommend this book to everyone - it is a must read! \n Hook Me Up Book Blog: http://hookmeupbookblog.blogspot.com.au/", "date_added": "Sat Jun 22 13:38:42 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 04 13:20:06 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17925089", "review_id": "955bc7bb082c1a683970312c35af53f1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 Magical Stars \n I was given the chance to beta read Melissa's & Nicole's YA Paranormal book and was happy that it turned out to be such a great debut novel. \n Both author's perfectly turned a well-known story into something totally new and gave the book the perfect mixture of magic, suspense, twists, and wth-effects; oh yeah there's sweet love story to find as well ;). I was hooked right at the very beginning of the story, due to the suspense they created - loved it. I was curious how Gwen's life will turn out in an unknown world full of magic; especially after forcing to leave her beloved friends and home behind. \n Hallows Haven creates a solid base and basic understanding for the following books in Melissa's & Nicole's series; with insides of Gwens family line and what happens after Gwen finds out about the family secrets,which were kept hidden,turning her life even more upside down. Who to trust/blame/believe and who not are constant questions in Gwen's mind. \n Gwen realizes during the first weeks living in Hallows Haven that nothing, or better no one is really who they seem to be. That's when her story really begins... \n Be aware the book ends with a great wth moment and I wished I could have squeezed an answer out of both author's, finding out how it continues, because I'm hella curious,but I had no luck. So like you, I have to wait to read the second book. And like me, after reading THIS ending, you definitive want to know how it continues. \n So yes, I recommend it to everyone !", "date_added": "Mon Jun 10 09:06:50 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 13 10:41:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17608220", "review_id": "876724511e6ac6acca5a05d119d46bdb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"I love you. Always. Beyond death.\" \n I thought I've seen it all, read everything what could/would possibly happen to one of my favorite book couples. I thought I was prepared to experience the final installment. After nine full length novels and several novellas I truly believed nothing can shock me or crush me....well guess who was wrong?! Yup, me, like 100% wrong. This last book was everything I hoped it would be. It evoked so many emotions in me that I really considered to open and drink a bottle (NOT just a glass) of wine at noon to help me get through it. All her books made me feel but this last book, smh, made me cry bittersweet tears. It took 9 books to make me bawl my eyes out...yeah Karina is that good. \n Emotions...so so many emotions rushed through my body that I couldn't ponder or enjoy one emotion too long because a new feeling pushed its way into my mind and in my heart. \n Karina made my heart bleed and bloom with the purity of Dex and Perry's love devotions: \n \"I couldn't lose him. I wouldn't.\" \n \"I love you absolutely, resolutely. There is no question, no doubt. This love just is.\" \n \"I love you! Always have, always will. Always!\" \n Karina also scared the bejesus out of me. Like I said I thought I've seen and read it all. I mean come on, after nine books you naturally assume that, right?!? RIGHT?!! Oh boy was I wrong. It was as if she upgraded her \"I scare the heck out of my readers\" -mood. So here I was sitting in broad daylight, goosebumps all over my body, because (good bless her vivid imagination) she pulled me in in Perry and Dex's darkest most cruelest moments. I felt their sorrow, pain, angst, desperation... GAAH just everything. I was scared beyond for both!! \n \"His eyes were dark pools that had no depth, no sign that made the man had no empathy at all - or that he was even a man.\" \n \"...I didn't sense his beautiful soul. I sensed nothingness, foul and black and endless, a gateway to a world I prayed I'd never see.\" \n I don't know how she's doing it but everything felt so realistic; the stuff she comes up with haunts you, too, not just Perry and Dex. Karina has this ability to create the perfect setting, tagging her readers along, keeping the illusion alive - an illusion that either scares the heck out of you, or makes you feel in all the right and wrong places. It was a constant up and down with my emotions; I was calm and relaxed one minute, allowing to think \"all will be ok now\", and in the next my heart was beating so fast and hard trying to jump out of my rip cage. Yeah my emotions and overall well-being took a toll while reading this book! \n Dust to Dust is packed with everything we came to love in Karina's EiT books - horror, angst, lust, love and supernatural creatures perfectly wrapped up in a all consuming plot that glues you to your e-reader. Even after all these books she still managed to top it off, mesmerizing me, her readers, by following Perry and Dex's last adventure. This series holds a special place in my heart and ever will!! This book was everything I wished it would be... \n *** 5 Love Beyond Death Stars *** \n Note: If you're new to this series, book 1, DARKHOUSE is for free on Amazon! In my opinion, Darkhouse is like the introductory book -it's a bit slower then the rest of her books but you get a great picture who Perry is and how she met Dex. Even though her books are labeled as Horror and Supernatural, keep in mind that it also has a slow building love story in it. Dex and Perry experience so much, grow closer together due to a 'special bond' that it was pure bliss to follow them how they fell for another, bit by bit, more and more, in every book. They literally don't just face supernatural barriers in the books but emotional ones too. And yes, the books HAVE to be read in order, otherwise you get lost. \n ___________________________________ \n Read all my review (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook", "date_added": "Thu Jun 06 20:28:53 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 06 18:09:36 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17608219", "review_id": "a64efe2c665c407a51ffcf8c57451926", "rating": 5, "review_text": "IT'S LIVE!!! \n Amazon US --> http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H8HRUF6/?... \n Smashwords -->> https://www.smashwords.com/books/view... \n ------------------------------------------------- \n 5 Creepy Haunting Stars Spoiler Free Review \n I shouldn't be surprised that Karina Halle wrote with Ashes to Ashes another five star book -for me- and I can only say, this woman tops her own writing. I've never been hooked on a series longer than a trilogy; so you see, A2A is book 8 in the Experiment in Terror series (yep you've read correct - THE 8th BOOK!!) and I'm still head over heels for this series. \n If you thought Dead Sky Morning, On Demon Wings or Into the Hollow was creepy, ha then just wait until you read Ashes to Ashes!! I was reading it with all the lights on because I was about to pee my pants -and I'm not a wuss. But let me tell you what you can expect when reading A2A \n Welcome to Sea Crest Sanatorium \n A Sanatorium were thousands of young kids lost their life due to TB; were thousands of lost souls were haunting the crap out of Dex, Perry, Rebecca ... and me! \n Are you ready??? Ready for \"the children of the damned? Toddlers from hell? Well you better be ready 'cause for certain they are ready for YOU! \n \"I felt the darkness sitting on either side of us, the coldness of the tunnel seeping into my clothes.\"..... I didn't know what was worse-the void in front of us or the black emptiness behind us.\" \n Yeah ladies, that was the moment I was starting to feel CREEPED THE F*** OUT!! Oh but if you know Karina, you know she's going into nice detail; details that make your skin crawl, your hair stand up, and giving you enough material to have the best nightmares ever. She spooked the be-jesuses out of me because I never knew what's coming next!! I hope you're ready for a creepy but amazing read; it's definitely my fave creepy EIT book in the series. \n Now to Dex and Perry. \n Two months have passed and the two of them are living together in Seattle and are just too sweet to look at -both two love sick puppies. In A2A, which is written in Perry's pov, I saw that she had grown to a mature woman. Yes, she still has her insecurities but she has worked hard on herself. Also, Dex doesn't give her any reason to feel less than what she is. He's charming, still cocky, and expresses his love to Perry in such a way I was goner. I mean, seriously, can he get any better (and hotter *cough*)?? I don't think so... \n \"This is real. ... This is nothing but real. You and me. Us. You know that, don't you? ... I'm here. I'm staying here, by your side. This is more than just two people shacking up together. This is so much more. ~Dex \n Yep, me too was a love sick puppy after reading this. I mean, come on, not a single woman wouldn't have melted by his words, especially if you and him went through so many crazy things like Perry did. Those two are really meant for each other; I could feel it in A2A so much. \n But also Perry gave Dex the security he needed. Knowing she is not going anywhere, at least not without him. \n \"You...make me feel sane in this crazy world. You give me hope. You give me life. When I'm with you...I can't even believe I'm with you. It's like that every morning. Like I'm dreaming, but I'm not.\" ~Perry \n Sigh... yes those two deserve each other and way more. Both have had such a tough life (and still kinda do, if considering seeing ghosts on a daily basis, never escaping this craziness) that I'm just thrilled for them. \n Karina manages, again, to create a great balance between romance and paranormal. So no matter what your preference is, you won't be disappointed-she excels to cover both by hooking you page after page. I can't even imagine that her EIT series will come to an end because her books, stories, and characters are something I don't want to miss. \n \"This is real, baby. This is us. Now, always, us.\" \n ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for honest review", "date_added": "Thu Jun 06 20:27:11 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 12 08:59:09 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Dec 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 8}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17687000", "review_id": "8213b03e8a4bbe826af4c1c4212beaae", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 Angelic Stars \n I was one of the lucky girls that received an ARC of Dark Dawn and have to say it was a pleasant surprise. I liked the refreshing twist of this story. \n The prologue gives great background information how God created life on earth, including his Angels, and their purpose on earth. As you can guess, where Angels are found there's evil right around the corner. \n The plot of Dark Dawn gives inside of the constant battle between good vs evil, as well as the creation of some sweet (forbidden) love stories - yeah some steamy scene will be found in it too ;) All I can say is: yummy! I wouldn't say no to an Angel either LOL \n I don't want to give too much information away but what I can say is if you love to read about Angels, good and evil with a twist of romance, and yummy book characters (male&female) in it, then this book is the right fit. This novella created a great base for the following books in this series :)! \n So yeah, I do recommend it- go add it to ur TBR !", "date_added": "Sun Jun 02 22:31:09 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 10 11:15:44 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17362565", "review_id": "320686b5655a66d5e438f6f19a831efe", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 '450-Pages-of-Awesomeness' Stars \n Review contains light spoilers \n I was one of those lucky girls that got an ARC from Lauren and I literally took my sweet time reading it. I was waiting of this book what seems like forever -yeah blame my patience for that- and she didn't disappoint with what she delivered. Strange Case ended exactly how I wish it'd be; no super cheezy ending, no super HEA, but with a new beginning for Mitch & Eden. \n Did I want this series to end? -Hell no! I could and would like to read more of Eden and Mitch. Such an abnormal couple, but so loveable!! So it's obvious I'm a bit sad this series is over... \n Strange Case starts off where book 2, Jekyll ,ended. Eden was held captive by The Clinic, endoured such cruelty, before Mitch saved her, by giving himself up, doing whatever he can to keep his Eden safe. \n Aftr that, Eden hat only two things, two important things to focus on: \n \"Finding a way to bring Mitch back... Number two was making absolutely The Clinic paid for everything they'd done. Murder, rape, kidnapping and deceit were expensive hobbies.\" Mitch was out already 8 days, since he \"had given himself over and they'd brought the facility down.\" \n So yeah, Eden was beyond pissed, worried and wanted revenge, peace, and a piece of herself back... a piece that she lost while held captive in the clinics walls. She wanted Mitch back; without him she felt lost, shut off her emotions and was just a shell of her former self. It got harder and harder to look at this chained version of Mitch; his Hyde was killing her, killing her by knowing he held Mitch, the man she loved so much, hostage inside. \n But she refused to give up...to give up on Mitch...she knew he would somehow make it make back, back to her...even if her heart would break little by little while waiting \n \"...it's really hard to be light-hearted when your heart is broken. When every moment of the day is painful. When a constant reminder of all you've lost is chained up in the next room.\" \n \"When Mitch disappeared, her emotions did too, tucked into her subconscious, useless.\" \n Mitch... he was still this cocky, dirty mouth bastard but this time with a much more softer side- I loved this side on him!He proofed himself as fighter when taking out Hyde01 to safe Eden, and bringing down The Clinic, but he also proofed himself that so much good is in him. He truly fell deeply, for the very first time, in love... In love with no other than Eden. He never imagined being able to love anything or someone, as hard as Eden. She was his Yin to his Yang, his missing piece of his puzzle to complete him... she was everything to him. \n \"if it comes down to you or me, I will always choose you.\" -Yeap I love him like that...which girl wouldn't be a goner right?! I could keep posting so many things he said, things that made my heart warm and wish for someone like him. Yes, he truly opened up and Lauren showed us a side of him that made me fall hard for him even more. \n Mitch loves Eden for so many different reasons and doesn't, can't let her ruin herself but giving in to her abnormal side to get her revenge ... \"I love her more than you can possible imagine. I've brought her more pain than I can possible imagine. But she would still give up her soul for me, and that's exactly why I can't let her.\" \n Let's not forget about our fav ex-cop Landon, he was still a big part in the third book and he kept Eden and Mitch sane when they were about to lose it. I really really liked his character and was thrilled to read his little happy ending too - he deserved it so much!! He made me laugh and sad to the same time cause I knew he deserved so much more, especially after losing literally everything because of The Clinic. He was a strong character and a best friend to Mitch. \n Strange Case is the continuing story to finally bring the person down who's responsible for all the pain every Abnormal had to go through. It kept me on edge till the end because Lauren did a great job stretching the suspense to the very last. But don't think this series is just an Urban Fantasy book, because if THEN YOU'RE WRONG. It's \"a story that can be crude and cruel but\" it \"is in it's heart, a love story.\" And it truly is, it's a slow building love story about two abnormals that fight to finally live a happy life. \n I love you, Eden Colfax. You made me love you. ... Everything good inside me is for you. Because of you. ... Thank you for choosing me. \n ~Mitch", "date_added": "Fri May 31 23:56:05 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 29 13:04:21 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "16107545", "review_id": "44ab9e22534a5905dfb32e0581fc07c9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 FREAKING STARS \n gosh what a ride....suspense nonstop! \n Dear Lauren, you did it again.. you left my mouth hang wide open by how this book ended... In this review I will mostly write about my reactions and less about the story itself (you def need to read Hyde first to understand). \n This book wasn't filled with sexual tension as the previous book was because of the different location (The Clinic), but god damn, it was filled with suspense!! I dont know how many times certain ppl, the one working for The Clinic, pissed me off by their actions/words, or that I wish I could slap them- for real! During reading I got impatient because yeah Lauren, ur writing is freaking awesome and I was sitting on the edge, nervous as hell, to find out who's behind everything. I also was nonstop begging that Mitch aka Hyde and Eden aka Jekyll will make it, find back together, and fight those ppl. \n Yeah this book held many surprise and it was plain awesome!! It had so many twists that when you thought 'aaah it'll def be like this or that' big fat nope, Ms Stewarts took a total different turn.... guess you can tell, I had mostly no idea what's happening next. \n Mitch's character helped a lot to left me hanging. His moods, thanks to his inner Hyde, made me trip. His actions, jeez sometimes I could slap his handsome face, for acting irrational!! Eden tried and tried to make him realize but nope, Mr Stubborn thought and did differently. \n When i thought I know how it'll end, what did Lauren do, she ended again with a cliffhanger...gosh woman, I love you but it drove me nuts!!thank goodness a third book will come out this summer and yeah i'll be one of the first to read it. \n Thanks again Lauren for such a great book, I loved it, even tho it drove me nuts, I truly did!! Like i told you on Twitter, you have a new fan :) \n I can only recommand this series, it's different with many surprises, a hot Mitch, beautiful Eden and a twist of sexy Urban Fantansy", "date_added": "Thu May 30 00:19:25 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 26 18:47:36 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jun 01 13:14:11 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu May 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "15734163", "review_id": "e0470a5da5901640e8834cf7b4a3f34e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "One of my FAVORITE books is on SALE!! $0.99 only: http://amzn.to/1GmbxyM \n 4.5 Hyde-tastic Stars \n I'll try to keep the spoilers to a minimun but I can't promise that,so decide for yourself if you want to continue reading ;) \n Where to start.... Well at the beginning I wasn't sure if I should even read this book because it's nothing new that Hyde is an old topic. Guess if someone had suggested to me to read Frankenstein or Hulk I would have showed him/her the bird- to be honest- cause I'm tired of those topics. Thank goodness a GR friend read the book first and her quotes+review intrigued me A LOT! \n First, it took me around 25% to fully connect with the whole story and it's characters. To be honest I was a tat confused because it's written in 3rd person and Steward writes from many peoples perspective (but more to it later). So there's Mitch aka Hyde how he calls himself. He had a rough childhood and got the bad gene from his Dad- poor boy. He is handsome, really handsome and a dick. He shut himself off to avoid deeper friendships or relationship to avoid accidents with his other half, which made totally sense to me. \n Then there is Jolie, aka THE BITCH... yeah I guess you can tell I don't really like her, but you won't either, trust me -too bad I can't tell too much about her and her mission ;) So Jolie knows Mitch since they were teens. They hooked up etc but Mitch realized he didn't have any deeper interest in her and soon even the sex got cut off. Now Jolie works for him as his assistant. Clever girl >.< !! But like I said, she is on a mission... \n Then there is beautiful and innocent Eden... Eden had also a rough childhood. Her mother died when she was 8 because of drugs; therefore she jumped back and forth in different foster families. She has a best friend Carter. Carter is in love with her and would do anything for Eden -well that's what I thought, but he's kinda a douche and not as honest as Eden thinks. Unfortunately, Eden can't return the same deep feelings for Carter but still they live together (6yrs later after leaving both their tragic teenage yrs behind) as friends in a nice apartment in FL. While Carter is away for practically training, Eden starts sleep walking again, or so she thinks.... \n She wakes up next to a naked Mitch, who had the best sex in his life LOL. Too bad Eden remembers nothing at all how she ended up with Mitch.... that's when Eden and Mitch's story/journey begins \n Like I worte earlier Steward jumps back and forth between character's POVs and it can be a lil confusing but I got used to it and liked it. The story is totally different than expected. Every character is hiding a secrete and in the end, Mitch and Eden realize that they are the only ones they can trust and count on. \n Oh and yeah I've read many hot scenes in books but this one particularly scene around 69% were the hottest I've ever read. Not because it was in full details, which it wasn't, but reading boths thoughts and how deeply they connected were mind-blowing. Yeah I admit it, I was drooling ;) \n Be aware that the story ends with a damn cliffhanger and you can only continue reading because you really want to find out what's happening next. I don't know if this book is for everyone, but I do suggest reading it if you're into Urban Fantasy books and want to read a different kind of Hyde story. \n Like I said before, I was truly surprised and am glad I've read it!! Sorry for lil spoilers but I don't want to tell the whole story because I want that you have the same wth moments like me ;)", "date_added": "Tue May 28 23:35:15 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 04 13:18:06 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu May 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 17}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17916113", "review_id": "0219e488a84c07e9c573d6d24a8261bf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "oooh what a bittersweet ending!! \n Full review to come", "date_added": "Sun May 26 16:51:07 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 28 20:57:29 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "16159713", "review_id": "078dd3250063486e594f96cac4ac27d1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I saved me this book forever but I couldn't wait any longer - I'm like an addict LOL \n This book...my where do I start...ok, well it just swept me off my feet. I was interesting and to the same time sad to read from Dex's POV how he lived thru his heartbreak. Reading his thoughts, his actions were sad and I felt SO SO sorry for him. \n He felt even worse than Perry and his friends did a great job helping him back on his feet. I loved Dean's and Rebeccas's support a lot; it made Dex open up more which I think is good for him. \n As always Karina did a brilliant job writing another book...so far I liked every book from the EIT series and her Artists Trilogy- I can't wait of book 7 \"Come Alive\". \n People, if you haven't read her books yet, ur missing out on something great- so hurry up and add the book on ur TBR or Amazon list ;) U won't regret it!!!", "date_added": "Sat May 25 15:09:25 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun May 26 14:04:45 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun May 26 14:04:45 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17238423", "review_id": "4dc84972884335144dcf8b7ebdde7873", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 Surprising Stars \n Well let me start of by saying that I won a copy of Bluffing the Devil and promised to read it as soon I'm done with my finals- so here I go, I'm done and read it in 2days. \n I was pleasantly surprised how good this book turned out to be; actually, I really enjoyed it. It made me giggle and kept my interest throughout. As I promised C.L Foster i won't pay attention to grammar errors and just focus on the story itself. \n I also won't give away any spoilers, sorry guys. Additionally I won't re-tell the plot because i'm too lazy, but what I can say is you won't be disappointed to give this author and her new book a chance!!!! \n The prologue alone hooked me and I SO WANT A DEVIN AS WELL IN MY DREAMS ;) Devin is yummy, extremely yummy. No wonder Alexia tried to sneak in a nap as often as she could- I would have done it too!! Sadly, Devin was stuck where he was cause the Devil took his life earlier than supposed and he didn't wanna follow Devil's rules any longer. \n Oh and there was Rey. Gosh Rey turned out to be a real sweetheart :) I loved their cocky dialogues and was happy they become friends- despite being a Demon. Guess his charm won ;) \n Now about the Devil.What didn't surprise me that the Devil turned out to be a she *cough* ....my, my, we women are evil huh LOL - BUT I liked it though. \n This book was a great read and everything made sense- good reading pace and no \"wth\" moments that confused the sh&t out of me. \n The things I wished to be better were towards the end. It felt rushed and I asked myself if there will be a second book cause I doubt the devil will just give up, especially knowing how special Alexia really is and her use for the Devil . Also I felt a lil sad for Alexia's Guardian (sorry can't tell too much here who he is) and wished for more infos on their time while having a conversation in the old warhouse. \n Overall, it's a enjoyable book and I'm glad I won it and got the chance to read it :) It's worth giving it a try. So yeah I recommand it if your up for some hot Demons and want to read something else besides a typical romance story.", "date_added": "Tue May 21 21:30:01 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon May 27 20:11:09 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "16143338", "review_id": "5c83e2bc20b64a6a062daf71a2ffe93d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5+++ Stars spoiler free review \n I took my sweet time reading Come Alive and I can honestly say Karina rocked this book; it's by far my fav book of her EIT series!! Writing the whole book in Dex's POV was genius and made me do a happy dance- I just love Dex. I've read plenty of male POVs in other books but Karina, man, she nails a male POV.I secretly think she was in her previous life a dude cause her dialogues are THAT GOOD (previous dude comment is a compliment btw!). I mean, while reading it, you really wouldn't think a woman wrote it -it was just perfect!! And oh how I missed Dex and Perry's adventures to film something good for their show, Karina didn't disappoint with Come Alive; furthermore, it exceeded my expectations by far. \n So this time they fly to New Orleans, in hope to save the show. After coming back with nothing to show for their EIT show and getting almost killed, Dex and Perry need to film something great to keep their show alive, otherwise their boss is gonna fire them. Their boss Jimmy made them work together with Max, aka Mr Gingerballs, believing only he could save their show. Of course both, Dex and Perry are beyond pissed but give it a go because both love their show and realize he might be their last chance. \n In New Orleans they should insepct a haunted house but while being there they hear the rumors about zombies walking around and chewing on people -yeah you hear correctly, ZOMBIES. Needless to say they are curious about it and talk to ppl to get more infos. Instead of just inspecting the haunted house, all three discover they are in the middle of this zombie disaster because while exploring this haunted house, all three get attacked by a zombie and it freaked the shit out of them. I won't give any spoilers away but let me write about how chicken-shit I was: \n I've never been sooo scared for Dex like I was in Come Alive. I really thought this psycho bitch (can't tell you her name) is about to cut him into pieces. I was on the edge and my nerves were on high alert! I really wanted to slap the living shit out of her; gosh I hated her and Perry did too. She was right from the very beginning and I couldn't help but yell at Dex for not listening to her!! The zombies were creepy as hell and I had goosebumps. All the details made me read Come Alive with the light on; so yeah, Come Alive is full of suspense and Karina really did a great job in writing a killer story which made me almost shit my pants (sorry for my language!). \n The story is so good that I even started liking Max, aka gingerballs, because we find out more about him and his true purpose in Perry's and Dex's life, other than pissing them off. And yeah I felt pity for him too, but still he'll be forever my gingerballs :) \n Soooo if you haven't started reading Karina's EIT series then WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!?! It's my top fav series ever, and trust me you'll be hooked soooo badly that you spend days locked in in your room! No, but seriously her series is a must read and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT if you like real characters (which are a bit nuts tho),big suspense, a slow building love story, and yeah some freaky shit like ghosts -then this story is your right choice ;) \n Karina, thanks for another awesome EIT story <3 \n Visit our blog for more reviews: http://hookmeupbookblog.blogspot.com.au/ \n Like us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/HookMeUpBook...", "date_added": "Tue May 07 22:46:51 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 05 19:14:15 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17852923", "review_id": "3e2ba6a24a7ed9dcbf0e170bd5d2c58e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Geeez Karina, every book tops the previous one-wow. Into the Hollow was really something, I even skipped my work so I could keep reading cause I was soooo hooked!! \n At the beginning i was like 'Big Food, for real' but as usual the story blew me away. \n And Perry's and Dex's confrontations, dialogues, etc. -puuh my emotions where all over the place. I was SOO thrilled to the read last 80% that I'm surprised I didn't chew on my nails lol. \n The last percents were heart melting, plain romantic and yeah I loved every single thing about it- gosh I was indeed craving it for so long. Thank god Perry came to her senes! \n So, just 6.5 and then book 7 is almost out :) guess I'll savor me Dex's POV for a lil longer. Now I can go truly happy and in bliss go to bed!", "date_added": "Sun May 05 10:58:48 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue May 07 20:58:55 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "15746858", "review_id": "63eaff50a0fd7ea666bacee3e3df9d4f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "2:15am in SF-I really need to sleep nw.review tomorrow :) \n ******************************************************************* \n Here's my review with some of my fav quotes and lil spoilers-it was really hard not to mark quotes on every page... ;) \n \"I'm very very persistent...\" Oh yes Dex you are and that's why we love you ;) \n So far Lying Season and Dex Files are my favorite ones of the EIT series. It was pure bliss to be in Dexs head and to see how, sometimes truly messed up, his thought would wonder around, how strong his emotions were for Perry and his inner struggle to control himself due to being afraid to love. Yeah no doubt I love Dex even more; everything, the way he talks, acts, even his cocky behavior made me smile and yeah he's def a win-win... Mentally unstable or not he's def a looker and damn hot ;) \n \"Sometimes you came across women who had everything going for them...looks, personalty, smarts, and they had NO fucking idea what they were worth. How amazing and beautiful they were, how they oozed sex and secretes. The you had those women who knew they had what you wanted and used it. Repeatedly. Just to get what they wanted. It was an unbalanced universe.\" \n *swooon aawww* \"She was mine\" \n haha he and his dirty thoughts lol: \"She probably didn't believe in that whole ten years of bad sex thing. Not that bad sex could ever happen if I was in her bed. ... Jesus Dex I thought.\" \n The most touching monologues were the chapters with Abby and after he slept with Perry and was a total fucktard. I couldn't even be mad at him, his reaction made sense,especially after knowing his family background and Abby accident. \n let the heart-break begin: \n Dex: \"You told me you didn't love me!\" \n She looked me in the ey and Is aw the truth. I saw it all. And it was all too late. \n Perry: \"You're not the only one who knows how to lie,Dex!\" \n And ther it was. The truth. She loved me.She had lied. She loved me all this time. She loved me, me. ... She was gone out of my life, out of the show. I had everything I wanted in my hands, in my actual hands, and I destroyed ot before it could even become anything. \n (sorry for the long quoting but this broke my lil heart, picturing him so broken and hurt :( ) \n I'm happy, no that would be an understatement. I'm freaking thrilled that Ada called him and that he is off his Meds and 'back' in Perry's life. I was filled with pure bliss reading he stood in her room and yeah the punch in Max face felt sooooo good-gosh how this ginger pissed me off. Don't even make me start on her Mom-damn what an evil mother and daughter-poor Pippa :( \n I'm happy Karina Halle chose to write short novellas and made her EIT 'complete' and gave her already perfect character more emphasis... Thanks a lot for such amazing books- I'm a total goner and feel like an addict; and yeah this damn one-click button on Amazon is killing me :p \n Anyways, ppl READ THOSE BOOKS,SERIOUSLY DO IT...AS IN NOW ;)", "date_added": "Fri May 03 19:23:25 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat May 04 23:38:45 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17857531", "review_id": "d6f947e77f8ed96bbbb3d0fa92ce70c9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really really enjoyed this heartbreaking story. For me the story filled the missing pieces of a puzzle. It was aad to read about how her so thought true love turned against her and left her hanging; what a miserable daughter she has. \n I felt sorry for Karl tho, he didn't deserve any of this but guess that's life. \n Glad I've read this short story, it made things even more interesting. Now it's time for The Dex-Files :-D I'm seriously excited! !", "date_added": "Thu May 02 21:58:43 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri May 03 10:52:34 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri May 03 10:52:34 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "13647973", "review_id": "3a7d4e0db84ad626b44f4f10c5db4ad2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 \n WOW what a ride! \n I wanted to punch sooo many ppl throughout this book, seriously. \n and on to the next one:-D", "date_added": "Tue Apr 30 21:32:03 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu May 02 21:30:31 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "13061289", "review_id": "30ddc5425c53794978c1d480136a2a71", "rating": 5, "review_text": "oh my, where should I start. ...for me this was so far the book of the series. it was fulk of raw emotions and I felt everything, n I mean really EVERYTHING. \n I'm sure the following books will top it and I'm seriously in love with the books. Gosh Karina, u turned me in a EIT addict!!! lol", "date_added": "Mon Apr 29 23:26:38 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 30 20:55:07 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Apr 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "15754113", "review_id": "584704921a3a5245bdc6319c3ddf14c0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "BAM,what a fantanstic sweet short read!! \n It is a fast read and the short story about the haunted Benson Hotel was a brilliant idea!! \n And on to the next one- Dead Sky Morning is already loaded ;) I guess this will be a EIT weekend for me", "date_added": "Sun Apr 28 13:38:28 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 28 15:50:57 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Apr 28 15:50:57 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "11710500", "review_id": "4d233c8ed33bf7dda8321b1de137d221", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 Stars \n OMG!! It's only the second book and I'm in deep,real deep! What a great read and yeah I'm totally smitten with the characters. Gosh I love the story line and will continue right away with bok 2.5 ;) \n You all SHOULD START READING THIS SERIES,brilliant!!", "date_added": "Fri Apr 26 22:38:30 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 28 13:33:00 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Apr 28 13:33:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "14060046", "review_id": "660ae2c2a65b1e23658ad55434d21d4c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 Hot as Hell Stars \n Wow, just wow!! I love, yeah really love Jennifer's Lux series and until Origin comes out I was freaking happy to see she wrote Obsession. It's a stand alone and yeah it plays in the same world etc but it's nothing like the Lux books. THIS book is very adult and I won't deny that I was fanning myself, more THAN once! Holy mama, what a story. \n Poor Serena witnessed how her best friend Mel get's murdered right in front of her eyes by a Luxen just because Mel saw how the sons of the Senator transformed into huge light bulps. Serena is terrified and explains everything to the cops what she has seen, which wasn't a smart move. \n Serena soons finds out that even she knows way too much and is a threat to Luxen as well as to the government, exposing that aliens exist, so Luxen got sent to kill her. To help to keep her safe,the DOD sends Hunter to protect her. He's the only one to protect her because he too is an alien. But not a Luxen; he's an Arum. Not just any Arum, he's the most arrogant, sexy,drop dead hot, and cocky as hell best killer of the Arums. And he knows it ;) \n Serena feels the instanct attractivity and tries to stay her ground but Hunter hits all her right spots and soon she can no longer resist him. Even he finds himself thinking and feeling things he never knew were possible. \n \"I can promise you that sex with me won't be about long, soft pets or whispered words. I like it rough and raw, but your pleasure will always come first. Every single time.\" -\"Every single time?\" \"Every.Single.Time.\" \n But can this relationship work despite being sooo different? Can Arums love? Will Serena survive through all this? Read for yourself, it's def a hot journey!! \n The forplays, hot-talks and the sex, man they were simply wow. It wasn't smutty but the way Jennifer wrote them, created a big anticipation in myself and that was better than any full detailed sex scene. I loved it!! \n \"...I watched her take the tip of me into her hot, wet mouth. Sensation shot through me like an out of control bottle rocket. (...)I wanted to hold her there forever. (...) Serena was in complete control of me.\" \n Like I wrote at the beginning, you don't have to read the Lux series before, the author gives a great background info why Arums and Luxen hate each other, but it's def a plus ;) I have big fangirl crush for Hunter (until Daemon is back haha) \n For more book reviews visit our blog: http://hookmeupbookblog.blogspot.com.au/", "date_added": "Wed Apr 24 09:20:55 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 06 14:00:53 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jul 06 14:00:53 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "11729060", "review_id": "06534972fa99bd4710aede6720ba4295", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 AMAZING \n I doubt I'll write on every book from the EIT series a review (yeah I knw I'm a bit lazy sometimes) , but honest to god I didn't expect the book to be THAT GOOD. I liked it a lot and I'll start as in right NOW the second book. ;) \n I enjoyed how Karina started this series and yeah I def like Dex' character *wink. \n I might add more to this review, if u can call this lil writing a review. all I can say is that this book is worth reading and Karina is an incredible author! \n The EIT books have another fan: ME ;-)", "date_added": "Sun Apr 14 21:30:10 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 26 22:35:41 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "16118514", "review_id": "c0d425229304c0a6b6f7eab1c559c8d0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The soul has seen too much. She knows more than a soul should know.She can't keep her memories. The choice will be an unfair one if she does. ~The Deity \n I've read the whole series and finished Ceaseless last night; well what should I say besides that it was way better then the previous ones; no MUCH BETTER! \n Would I ever fall in love with Death? Hell yeah, if he comes in the package of Dank, any time ;) \n The third book starts off a lil weird. The author choses to start the book with quotes fromt he previous books and at the beginning it was a tat clueless till I've read the quote from the Deity that tells Dank aka Death that Pagan's memory will be erased cause she has seen and knows too much. Acoording to the Creator, Pagan has her soul's mate who should be/is Jay and the she must choose for herself. \n The unfair part is that her soul and heart craves still remembers and loves Dank unconditionally but her mind is totally clueless; therefore, she ends up pretty confused-poor thing. \n Every moment she has spent with you will be taken from her memories. She won't remember meeting Death and your breaking the rules to save her. She won't remember fighting for you. She won't remember the curse she suffered while under the spell of the voodoo spirit. It will all be washed clea. \n Poor Dank, I felt sorry for him. Now that Death knows and feels love, and now that he had Pagan finally back he has to win her and their love back all over again :( \n The story made me laugh and warmed my heart; i really like the POV's of Dank, reading how much he wants her back and would do anythig for her. But there's one problem, Dank is not allowed to tell her her memories got erased or help her remember with power. \n If you want her, Dankmar, then you have to win her heart from the soul made to be her mate. Only then will it be possible for you to keep her for eternity. \n Yeah you got the point, the Creator makes it really hard but Dank wouldn't be Dank if he didn't try his hardest ;) \n My fav side character in this book was Gee, she a transporter for the dead souls and seriously she cracked me up!!! She was pure joy to read and I loved her! \n Still, the book has some flaws like the other books. Some situations seemed to just be randomly thrown in to fill in the blanks. Some scenes with Jay didn't make sense and I asked myself why did Abbi even bother to write it down. The biggest bummer was that the book ended at 88% on my Kindle- wth- and I thought my kindle broke.The end felt too rushed and I would have loved to read more about their happy ending :-/ ... It is annoying the the Kindle verion ends way before 90% and then continues with the first chapters from her previous books! \n Overall, it was a good read but this series won't be my fav because of it's many flaws. I've read so many great book(series) that I can tell I'm spoilt. Maybe it was a mistake that I've read it right after Obsidian -Lux series because they're just awesome !!", "date_added": "Sat Apr 06 17:42:12 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 07 11:08:37 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Apr 07 11:08:37 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "14625625", "review_id": "1d28c0176cdd0216e8d114ea9270982e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "<3> 3 Stars \n Well, it wasn't how I expected it to be-kinda disappointing. Sure it made Leif's bond to Pagan clearer but it was mostly a repeater of dialogues and few extra thoughts of Leif-nothing special, no WOW or awwwh *swoon* moments. \n In the end the author built in a new character, Sabine, which made no sense to me because the story ended cut-off; so I'm asking myself why did the author did it? to add more lines,pages - I dunno. \n Overall, it is NOT A MUST READ so that u understand more of the story. I downloaded it cause Amazon sold it for free,so i thought why not. But nope, it wasn't anything special!", "date_added": "Sat Apr 06 10:56:53 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 06 17:33:50 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "13323842", "review_id": "0289fd347406cab343d92c53ccd4a1b0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4Stars \n The second book was way better than the first but still I thought things were missing. I wish for more details because it seems the author jumps too many times and leaves out important conversation. Therefore, I notice that often, despite that Pagan was pissed, confused or worried never really confronted Dank and just let it me- nope nope,seems to unrealistic to me. \n I really liked the trio of Pagan,Miranda and Whyatt, so you can imagine i was hella bummed as an 'accident' happened to one of them - was so NOT fair :-/ \n Also the story behind Leif was interesting and I was totally surprised that he had no soul. I was juiced to read a battle scene to get Pagan back but it was kinda lame,seemed way to easy how the Voodoo God made his decision. I'm reading right now 2.5 -Leif's point of view- and I feel really sorry for him. It helps me better to understand how he feels for Pagan... Poor lil fellow \n The book ends with a surprise on their graduation; therefore, I'm curious how the 3rd book will be. \n Can Death really overpower the strength of two soul-mates??? Well well, I'll see ;)", "date_added": "Fri Apr 05 16:01:56 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 06 10:50:14 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Apr 06 10:50:14 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "10860399", "review_id": "9968c5807ae1dfc5879daa7cd42fdbc9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A great prequel that pipes a reader's interest and curiosity about Jennifer's Covenant series. \n We get to meet Alex, a glimpse of her life, her supposed role as half blood and how her life made a 180 - again. \n **Note: I'm reading this series for my own enjoyment and therefore my reviews will be shorter and after I finished the whole series, I'll post a quick summary on my blog. \n ___________________________________ \n Read all my reviews (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook \n Email subscription to my blog", "date_added": "Tue Apr 02 15:20:07 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 04 14:27:02 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "13223520", "review_id": "2a7f8e2702943a60d612bf3321459756", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 Solid Stars !!! \n Well, that was a book journey. \n I'm aware some rreviews mentioned that it has similarities to other novels and couldn't stop comparing it-well let me say I didn't read books that were similar to Existence and I try to keep a free mind when I start reading a book. That's why I could enjoy the Crossfire series without thinking it's like 50Shades;just saying. \n I really enjoyed Pagan's and Death's journey through the book. Yeah sometimes i thought Pagan was a lil slow in getting hints but it was interesting figuring out why Death spared her and found her so 'interesting'. I still dont know exactly why but I assumethe second book will enlighten me ;) \n One thing I didn't like was the names... Come on, how can you name a hottie Dank??? o.O This name doesn't role smoothly LOL \n Anyways, I've already the following books on my Kindle and gonna start Predestined tonight or tomorrow (I've a serious book issue, I swear :p ). I'm curious what kind of path the story will take; I wanna read about Leif's reaction and hell yeah I wanna see how Pagan and Dank find a solution!!", "date_added": "Tue Apr 02 14:56:27 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 05 11:57:11 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Apr 05 11:57:11 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17725017", "review_id": "92a994f877dd7bf5c4e05bc8b6c65bd7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 Solid-Stars \n I've to say at the beginning I was very skeptical about this book; the cover didn't attrack me and the story seemed a repeated one. But I gave it a chance because I really like Jessica Sorensen writing style- a lot, and I'm so glad that I've read it. That book was fantanstic!!! \n Let me start by clarifying that it wasn't my first book about death or that a young girl/adult was drawn to death; but I never expected such a great plot as in Ember. \n The story line was originally and the details,just wow, I was stunned,literally! I enjoyed reading the history about Dark Angels, Grim Angels and the Reaper. It hooked me and not ones did I think the story was boring. Jessica uses a lot of emotional appeals and hooks her readers totally-loved it! \n Poor Ember sees the death of ppl since she's 4yrs old. She avoids crowded places and the only place where she finds peace is at the cemetery. One night she watched two grave robbers; that's the night where she sees the first time Cameron. Soon after that, mysteriously Cameron moves just few houses next to Ember,claiming they just moved here from NYC. \n Cameron is attractive and has a charm of his own. He isn't the only guy who messes with poor Ember's mind and heart. Another new kid moves to the small town- Asher. Asher was her rescue,he saved her in the night when she ran her Dad's car off the cliff and crashed into the lake.Since that night, Ember feels drawn to him, especially after realizing the she can't see his death omen when they touch. Instead, Ember feels calmness when Asher is around. \n Both guys are determined to win Ember's heart,for their own reason-both hide a secret which Ember has no clue about. While she tries to figur things out for herself, a murderer kills off people and all leads to Ember. Since her father mysteriously died/disappeared, the police and the towns citizen have a special eye on her. \n Soon Ember puts piece by piece the puzzle together and she realizes who she is and what Cameron and Asher are after. \n I can't wait for book two :)!!! It was pure bliss to read it.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 02 12:46:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 18 21:14:41 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Apr 14 13:13:32 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17341394", "review_id": "d57d143d5a39c2ada80b6d401ade5743", "rating": 3, "review_text": "*review follows ;) *", "date_added": "Tue Apr 02 11:10:48 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 15 21:16:01 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Apr 09 00:58:05 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Apr 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "13644055", "review_id": "03d52585beb92e7df31b9af22485cef2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sighs. ..another awesome series I've to say goodbye to *snifs. \n I loved reading every second of this book; every page, sentence, thought of Daemon and Kate was just great. \n Full review to come", "date_added": "Tue Apr 02 00:04:11 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 07 00:32:15 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Aug 07 00:32:15 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "13644052", "review_id": "d3e8c43726c940d80547248e1b1bd47b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book... I've waited sooo long of it and now that I've finished it I'm sad. It was everything I wished it to be... it was everything I was looking for... it was just perfect! The Lux series is one of my favorite paranormal YA series ever, and I don't mind that there are less steamy scenes in it than in the books I use to read because Jennifer's books have it all. Seriously, I have nothing, absolutely nothing to complain about. The story starts where the other story left off -Kat being captured, locked in in Mount Weather, holding captive by Daedalus. The book is filled with lots of action and suspense!! I try to keep this review spoiler free for the people who haven't read the first three books. \n Daemon *sigh*... he's even more perfect in Origin. He's still this cocky handsome lil bastard that puts a smile on your face. He made me laugh, swoon, and love him even more. His determination so save Kat put me in awe and I effing loved reading it. He's strong and when he put his mind into something there was no way of turning back. In Origin we can experience a softer side of him as well. He's expressing his feeling for Kat and it's heart melting adorable to read his inner dialogues -goner potential ;) \n \"I'll burn the world down to save her.\" \n \"You're my - you're my everything, Kat.\" \n \"My thoughts spun further back, to the first time I'd seen Kat walking out her front door, heading over to my house to ask direction. Even if I hadn't wanted to admit it in that moment, she had sunk her claws into me, and I didn't want them out.\" \n Kat... poor Kat had to endure so much pain while being held captive. Geez, those people at Deadalus were cruel, sadistic, and pure evil. I got sick from the things they made Kat do and as well as Daemon. But I was in awe of her; she was strong and tried to stay strong. She did hold on to her sweet memories of Daemon, their time together, hoping and praying if she'll ever see him again. And deep down I knew Daemon will come and get her that both will find a way out and THANK GOD I was right!! \n \"My memories after the doors had sealed shut were hazy. Daemon's parting words haunted every moment. I love you Kat. Always have. Always will.\" \n Those two are such an adorable and funny couple it was pure bliss to read about them in Origin. Their dialogues cracked me up sometimes cause even though everyone, and I mean everyone wants to harm they, Daemon can't shut up and throws out the funniest stuff ... \n \"Shut up.\" She brushed her lips against mine. I nipped at her lower lip, and a rosy flush appeared on her cheeks. \"Hmm, you know how I like it when you get all mouthy with me.\" \"You're mental\" \n .... LOL!! \n The book introduced a new character, Archer, and I really liked him. He is an interesting and very complex character, which leads back to the title of the book -but nope, I won't spoil anything, just read for yourself. In the beginning I wasn't quite sure what he's up against but THEN when I knew his plan, I was all team Archer. You'll like him. \n Origin is written in dual POV, and the ppl that know me, know how much I love that. Being in Daemon's head was great; it made me fall for him even more. This book has so many surprises in it -positive as negative- that I was bummed to know the last Lux book will be released next summer *sucks*. And yes, the book ends with an effing cliffhanger and my first thought was: WTH!! I wanted to read more, so much more cause I loved this book so much. So yes, I'll be sitting impatiently, stalking Jennifer's authors page, until the last book is being released. \n \"I want to spend every second, every minute, every hour with you.\" Part of me couldn't believe something so cheesy had come out of my mouth, but it was also very beautifully true. \"I want a year's worth of seconds and minutes with you. I want a decade's worth of hours, so many that I can't add them up.\" \n When you get to those pages when Daemon pours his heart out, you'll be goner like me for sure!! \n If you have loved the first 3 books in the Lux series, you WON'T be disappointed at all with Origin. Jennifer delivered another great book <3", "date_added": "Tue Apr 02 00:02:26 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 01 15:51:08 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Sep 01 15:51:08 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17302792", "review_id": "04eee24b2f0991331ed6d249f5fa5361", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5Stars \n I like the book and story line, but it lacked on action and spark. I know it's a series and I can only assume that the second book will be better. The last 20% were great and I was like Yeah finally some action but that excitement didn't last long. The 'fun' was over fast and I was like o.O ! I wished for more depths and development,and scenes that really hooked me and made me anxious,but this wasn't the case :( \n I understand Ms Espinoza created with Binds a solid base for her series but the spark were missing which I need in a paranomal/fantasy book. \n I liked the characters, especially Phee. I was as disappointed as she when she found out the truth about Reece and was very thrilled when she kicked her husbands ass! \n Overall, the book was a good read and many parts made me chuckle and yeah I'll def read the second book because of the last 20 percent and most def the epilogue which made me want to find out more!! Binds covered the general basis of the book, who is connected with who,etc. - in my opinion. \n I've hope that the second book will rock, especially after reading Spencer's inner dialogue ;)", "date_added": "Mon Apr 01 15:29:54 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 19 11:04:25 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Apr 19 11:04:25 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Apr 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "16225653", "review_id": "1dad80218602d81ccc5cfc1e8b4c1078", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 FREAKING STARS!! \n Ok I thought I'll write a review after finishing the last 3books, cause I assumed with Opal the series is over but NOOOOOOOOOOOO were I wrong; so i guess i REALreview will follow- this here is just short sneak peek how I felt about the book. The book ended with such a cliffhanger that I could only think: WTF!! I'm sooo juiced and can't wait until summer for the 4th book to be released! \n I've to say I was pleasantly surprised by the books and Jennifer L. Armentrout's way of writing. Every book captured my interest and it never got boring-NEVER- seriously! I laughed a lot between the dialogues from Daemon and Katy- priceless:)! \n It didn't really bother me that in this book were not a lot of steamy/hot sex scenes, actually it was really pleasant and i focused on the story itself. \n It's really worth the price and a great read!! SAD IT'S OVER, AUG IS WAY TOOO FAR AWAY :(", "date_added": "Fri Mar 29 18:29:36 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 02 12:25:25 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Mar 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "13047090", "review_id": "9705c1b102e123e55dc10ebccac20a30", "rating": 5, "review_text": "loved it :) Am already reading the third book! \n Full review for all 3 books will follow as soon as I finished the last book", "date_added": "Fri Mar 29 18:23:12 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 01 12:55:03 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Mar 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Mar 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17371003", "review_id": "81a0c03a65b23d23240cdf38ba3be3be", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Update 07/06/2013 \n ***************************************************************** \n 4.5 Goddess-Stars \n I've read Staci Hart's Deer in Headlights twice, and I thought it wasn't possible but the second time I even fell more head over heels in love with the book and Staci! \n The first time I've read the book in a day and was pleasantly surprised about it because I stumbled over DIH, thanks to my GR friend, and didn't know what to expect; but what I did know was that the blurb made me very curious. \n Staci's style of writing sucked me right in and the idea of modern Greek gods living in today's NYC were really brilliant and unique. When thousand year old gods are bored they come up with the funniest things - so they did in Staci's story. She did a great job discribing the gods and what there challenge is. I could picture every god and it was a fun read. I adored Dita and felt her emotions as well as those from Apollo. I giggled like a school girl about their challenge and the conversations the gods had with each other. \n I never thought Greek gods could be SO MUCH FUN. If you think the gods are similar to what we once learned in school, then your TOTALLY wrong- it's much much better and the gods, their stories, their challenges, their secrets will suck you right in, I promise! \n Hilarious, picturing thousand year old gods cracking jokes and using modern slang;) LOVED IT!! \n Not only was it pure bliss to read about the gods but it was also interesting to read about the human players Dean and Lex; from their first meeting till their first kiss, simply everything. Yeah not to forget about their struggles they had to face in their past which hindert them to embrace love. \n Overall, DIH is a fast paced read filled with humor, love, passion and revenge. Find out about the gods hidden secrets, their desires and what they are willing to do to gain more power. \n If you read DIH you will realize it's just a joyful read and you want more, want to find out more about the gods and their next challenge - well lucky for you her second book is right around the corner and it'll knock your socks off for sure ;).", "date_added": "Sat Mar 23 00:47:15 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 27 14:13:12 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17611514", "review_id": "949f4ecc91d1c5c6b0775a3316027c1f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "FULL REVIEW POSTED!!! \n 5+ 'Will Love You Beyond Death' Stars \n \"You're my life, little girl. You die, I die with you.\" \n Wow, I'm having a serious book hangover and character withdrawal. I'm missing these character already hard - ok Dorian that is. I was waiting over a year to read the big finale of this kickass paranormal serial and now I'm sitting here, not knowing what to read/do next. Man, what a crazy ride this book was. \n We all know S.L. Jennings can write, oh boy can she write, but her paranormal serial is off the charts AWESOME! In this highly anticipate conclusion she went all out. She packed it with love (love that bordered on insanity), action, heartache, loss, grieve, growth, surprises.... dang, just everything. It made me feel; her characters and story made me feel in all the right and wrong places, and sometimes I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. \n \"...Gabs - not even death would keep him from you. That's the kind of love that people spend a lifetime searching for - the kind wars are fought for. It can't even really be described as love anymore. It's insanity of the heart.\" \n Oh how right Morgan was. Dorian and Gab's love is like them, otherworldly, and goes beyond anything and anyone. It's been one year since she saw him in this nightclub, one year that he turned not just her world but also her heart upside down. Everything Dorian does, he does it with intensity - loving Gabs is one of it. In this year both encountered some series stuff thanks to Dorian's father, the King and the she-bitch who shall not be named. Now that Gabriella ascended and is the Dark Light (the Divine's golden child) , accepting both parts of her bloodline, the King tries his hardest to make Gabs align with him, even if this means he has to kill every single one of Gabs loved ones....oh and don't think he wouldn't do just about that.. \n Jennings perfectly captured not only the main characters personality growth and struggles, but also her feelings in the book. The reader gets to know Dorian, the real Dorian on such a deeper level that we can' help but fall even more for him. I was a goner ladies, no kidding. He's like the hottest dark Prince ever - and Jennings' steamy scenes were so smokin' hot that I had to take several loooong breaths to calm the f down. Dang she can write a hot scene that makes me green with envy; lucky Gabs! \n The details in the book is another thing I adored. Jennings created a whole different world with different magical creatures and their caste system living among humans. \n A dull moment? Nope, you won't find in this book. \n I really have nothing to complain about; I absolutely loved every page. \n It's not that she didn't freak me out - she did big times. But she also made me tear up and utterly sad - but I've to admit it was for the better (you'll know why when you read it). Yes, we'll experience many losses so do it like me, have a bottle of wine ready. \n If you're looking for a steamy, intriguing new paranormal serial than I highly recommend those books. It's one of my all time favorite serials because it's packed with everything I'm looking for in a PNR book - sex, love, and magic. Characters to fall head over heels in love with. \n \"I know what true suffering is, Gabriella. And no degree of agony could ever surmount how it feels to not have you by my side.\" \n DARK LIGHT (#1) --> http://amzn.to/TATcJJ \n THE DARK PRINCE (#2) --> http://amzn.to/TN8AD5 \n NIKOLAI (#2.5 Novella) --> http://amzn.to/TN8Jqm \n ___________________________________ \n Read all my review (A-Z) on the blog \n Like the blog on Facebook \n Email subscription to my blog", "date_added": "Sun Mar 17 21:46:02 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 28 19:10:39 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Nov 20 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17154753", "review_id": "2fe6b9f5753eca35dddb5d7a2f48a7b3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "BEST REREAD EVER!!! \n It brought out all the right n wrong emotions. It was a great reminder on all the little details I've forgotten. I loved this book hard. My heart ached, loved, cried and cheered in joy. Now off to read the novella, bc according to SL Jennings, it has some important infos in it which I'll need for book 3 -duh ;) \n Full reread review to come :)", "date_added": "Fri Mar 15 22:09:19 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 27 00:42:44 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "17376157", "review_id": "eddf3feb7cb68d392869a4d2a04bf773", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 Awesome Stars \n I was waiting soooo long for this book and now that I've read it I'm sad it's over. Yes, I love, love, loved it. \n Scars and Songs is written in Shane's POV and I truly enjoyed reading it. I could feel his emotions troughout the story and was touched. His joy, pain, concerns,...just every emotion reflect right back to me and I was amazed. \n I kissed her slowly, reverently, and I knew without any loss in faith that nothing would ever compare to that single moment when I first kissed my Selah, and knew that my love for her would last beyond what forever was. \n I whispered my last words to her,\"You have my heart, forever.\" \n The story touches on mostly all important scenes from book 1 & 2 and it was interesting to read Shane's thoughts, knowing how clueless he was that his beloved Selah stood in front of him the whole time. Also, the book includes some added scenes, which were highly interesting to read and worked as missing pieces of the puzzle. Like in the other books, my hatred toward Gabriel didn't change. He is the reason for Grace and Shane's suffering and it was torture to read in book 1+2 what he did to poor Grace.But it was pure relief to read how both fought him. \n The book is filled with humor, love, anxiety, surrow, hate, and passion. I laughed hard reading the dialogues of Shane's inner monologue, his and the boys, and between him and Lea -hilarious. \n Oh, but Shane, if you make my best friend cry, I will tie your pretty little rock star ass up naked and let the homeless men in Central Park have their way with you. \n I wasn't disapointed with the book at all; moreover, I was totally surprised how great it turned out to be. It made me fall in love with Shane's character even more. You all will be happy to read that Christine added a pretty amazing epilogue to it and I was in pure awe, bliss, and joy reading it.I LOVED IT and made a secrete happy dance at home ;). \n I can honestly say that Christine's Mad World is one of my top favorite angel series ever. It is unique and hooks you within the first pages. Thanks for such a great series!! \n More reviews on our blog: http://hookmeupbookblog.blogspot.com.au/", "date_added": "Thu Mar 07 20:44:46 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 30 13:34:22 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jun 30 13:34:22 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "16070072", "review_id": "6ade6fc7a9bcecadfd8395f6e941df9e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 STARS :) \n Well this review will be for the two books,not just the second one. I really enjoyed these book;actually I've read them in 2days. Personally I like some supternatural stuff,even tho it's usually about Vampires I gave this book a chance.It turned out to be great-loved the plot with Angels etc... \n First book was a sweet read and it was sad to read how a soul was trapped so long.I liked all the characters,no doubt about that. Shane is a YUMMY hottie and Grace,well,she's a real beauty according to the book.I liked the open ending,i really couldn't wait to start reading book 2!! \n The second book gives more background story about Grace,Angels etc... The 2nd book didn't disappoint me at all.It was better than the first one. \n Y i dont give 5stars is because I wished the author could have added more details into it; for example why shane didn't do/tell certain things and left Grace clueless. Yeah I wished the book would have been a tat longer. However,overall I really liked this sweet love story and was happy about the ending.... true fairytale :D \n Those two book were a real joy and it was nice to read a different kind of love story...some steamy scene are included ;)", "date_added": "Sat Jan 26 17:22:24 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 30 10:42:09 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8925c45517c467b47b99b0d2bd24d3d5", "book_id": "6288362", "review_id": "849d428f99813a1d45b39f9b5da3f7d8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm a huge fan of the show and the books were just great too. worth to buy :)!", "date_added": "Mon Jan 14 13:44:25 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 15 13:47:27 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "835cb5dab59ecd419cde0e1ddee07312", "book_id": "25241956", "review_id": "f95e971d5a5cf989f5f4d47be24f7a4d", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I have received this book through First Reads and will review when I have finished", "date_added": "Tue Aug 18 07:08:41 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 18 10:12:58 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bda576847fc8af9494d83d73bb8fea96", "book_id": "176327", "review_id": "ca169d7f465c66c7c71377631b0326cc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I had heard of this series,but not really paid much attention to it until my 11-year old nephew recommended it to me. And I'm glad that he did. I listened to the audio book and although I did zone out from time to time, I really enjoyed it. \n The premise is that two recently orphaned girls discover that they are the descendants of one of the Brothers Grimm. Unbeknownst to them, they do have a grandmother and she is ready to bring them to Fairyport Landing to live happily ever after. Like with any good fairy tale, it's not that easy and the girls find themselves knee deep in mystery and intrigue. \n The author has brought together characters from all over...several characters from the Brothers Grimm of course, but other fantasy figures like Alice in Wonderland, Dorothy from Oz, and King Arthur make appearances. Some might consider the book saturated with fantasy characters, but I found it fun as each character entered the story. \n If you're a teacher and doing a study of traditional literature and fantasy, I think this book would be a great read aloud within the unit. And some kids will latch on to it, wanting to read the entire series.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 01 20:49:53 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 15 20:05:26 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bda576847fc8af9494d83d73bb8fea96", "book_id": "13531021", "review_id": "1b34b63c3d9917921c2a9987c0e6e897", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm quite torn on this book. I loved the flavor of Charles Dickens and even the idea of the puppet. But, parts of the book were rather dark. I'm not sure what age I would recommend this book. While it seemed like a book for 4th or 5th grade at first, I'm not sure that it would be entirely appropriate for kids that age.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 31 08:46:16 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 05 16:52:07 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab7623f60197f5b674dff11db90911f", "book_id": "28449150", "review_id": "89e8e12165d42869d3a951c557883c9c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was really looking forward to this because I needed a good scare and it's been a long since I'd read a good horror novel. Maybe it's just me, but I wasn't frightened in the least. The story was not bad at all but I didn't really get what I wanted from this book.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 25 04:52:00 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 13:24:19 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jan 16 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jan 16 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab7623f60197f5b674dff11db90911f", "book_id": "27774758", "review_id": "31fce4522f826e18e5f807252d4cb1cd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Rating: 4.5 stars \n I'm so glad this has a sequel.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 30 10:18:27 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 10:19:33 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Mar 30 10:19:33 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab7623f60197f5b674dff11db90911f", "book_id": "15993203", "review_id": "5badfd4dd1d596c70e240aaaad835266", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Really enjoyed this one. It is not as good as the Eona Duology but this first book is obviously meant to set the foundation for the coming 2 books and as such, was slow at times but I didn't even find the slow bits to be tedious or anything of the sort and the story really picks up a fast pace in the last 200 pages or so. I genuinely can't wait to see where Goodman takes this story, it has such great potential. And as usual, the attention to historical detail is astounding. Goodman draws from real historical characters and events and I really admire a well-researched story.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 23 13:56:08 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 08 11:55:39 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab7623f60197f5b674dff11db90911f", "book_id": "13528340", "review_id": "40a6127cfa6cd03210590daff1ad7eb2", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This started out really well, with magic, mystery and intrigue but then it devolved into an insta-all consuming love story and I...Just....Couldn't.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 02 19:23:32 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 01 01:33:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab7623f60197f5b674dff11db90911f", "book_id": "22544764", "review_id": "372a45147a223e24718383cd8392d57b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Absolutely loved it.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 15 19:55:29 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 26 05:01:25 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab7623f60197f5b674dff11db90911f", "book_id": "18335634", "review_id": "df9860933f016b5e8b40cac4ba24c7f1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Rating: 3.5 \n This was going to get 3 stars but the ending with Will was one of the most beautiful things I'd ever read, so I thought I'd add half a point just for that. The problem with this series in my opinion is that it is just so heavy on the romance and drama. This is really what the books are about. Beyond that, there isn't much of an intriguing storyline. The writing is good but it felt everything was designed in a way to elicit sadness and tears out of the reader and it just didn't work for me. It was very melodramatic and it had me rolling my eyes quite a few times. I wanted a better plot, a more suspenseful story beyond the romance but it wasn't there. It was a nice read but I think the series is just really overrated.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 04 10:39:16 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 06 05:33:57 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab7623f60197f5b674dff11db90911f", "book_id": "23299512", "review_id": "7232e9e00c65136c2c76fc4ebb190a86", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Rating: 3.5 stars", "date_added": "Wed Oct 14 17:55:55 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 28 06:36:02 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Dec 28 06:36:02 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab7623f60197f5b674dff11db90911f", "book_id": "14061957", "review_id": "7b5e5745fc2ea8bed9bb4e99e5eaceae", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Rating: 3.5 stars \n I liked this book but there are things that took away from it, in my opinion. It's a good book, but it had several issues. \n First off, I wasn't annoyed by Mal as many people were. He wanted Alina to reach her potential and did everything he could to aid her in her quest. He's a good guy. I mean, their relationship bored me ( God, did it bore me) but they loved each other so whatever. \n One of the issues for me was that this was a continent heavily plagued by war and that was such an important theme in this story but it was just brushed away. Being orphans was very central to who Alina and Mal and emphasis was placed on how many had died in these endless fruitless wars but in the end, not even a glimpse of how this issue would possibly be resolved was given. Instead, they just housed more orphans ( REALLY???) \n \"No land, no life. Just a uniform and a gun.\" \n Maybe I just expected more from Alina. I guess I wanted her to want to fix it, become queen maybe but she chose to distance herself from it all. I respect the fact that wanting to make the world a better place just is not on everyone's agenda, I do respect that, but Alina showed such fire and initiative numerous times, she went on and on about how she was a force to be reckoned with so you just kinda expect more from her. I wanted to see Daenerys shine through but she just fizzled out. \n She stated numerous times that she loved her power and she loved being stronger but in the end, she reverted back to who she was before any of this happened. It just saddened me. \n One of the biggest themes of the Darkling's campaign is the need to end the wars that have ravaged Ravka. He went about it all wrong, of course, but it would have a lot more interesting to see both Alina and him 'rule as equals' as he stated. To have Alina temper his ruthlessness, create a balance. Or really, just for her to rule alone. Set things right herself after killing the Darkling. \n On the plus side, the scenes were she visits the Darkling are so incredible and one the major highlights of this book. But seriousy, the ending the Darkling got was just right. In some ways, it was what he needed. \n I felt bored in some portions but overall, I was always curious to see what would happen. Plus, I really loved all the secondary characters ( Bahgra in particular) and the scenes with Nickolai were always a treat, as expected. \n It's a good book. I just get the feel of missed opportunities. Of greater story lines that could've been had but were neglected. Of the potential for this to have been a great book. It just.... saddened me.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 14 15:59:16 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 15 02:29:51 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab7623f60197f5b674dff11db90911f", "book_id": "14061955", "review_id": "3ae3c41b50f6e37de217904f89cefd09", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was loads better than the first. Seeing Alina come into her own as a leader, own her power and the command it gives her but still struggle with inexperience, never quite knowing who to trust, was very well written. She grew, still had her insecurities, but wasn't the mess that she was in book 1. Also, the fear of how her power would corrupt her was very intriguing. \n I understood why Mal felt the way he did but it was still hard not to resent him for holding Alina back. I felt sorry for him but he really impeded her progress. I really loved her taking charge, wanted the struggles of seizing and maintaining power explored but that was eclipsed by her troubled relationship with Mal. \n And, oh my God, what a treat Nickolai was! I loved every one of his dialogues and his presence definitely charms the reader. I wish there were stories centered around him and his adventures alone. I would read every single one. \n I really missed the Darkling though.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 14 14:47:36 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 14 14:57:47 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab7623f60197f5b674dff11db90911f", "book_id": "18360128", "review_id": "a6ea7f42c0eb820939ce43b9929ea830", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is so so so adorable!", "date_added": "Tue Sep 29 10:06:19 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 29 10:06:56 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab7623f60197f5b674dff11db90911f", "book_id": "16060716", "review_id": "9f53eaa77d2e988f48588e732fb6fea6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "<3", "date_added": "Sun Aug 09 09:03:22 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 06 04:15:18 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab7623f60197f5b674dff11db90911f", "book_id": "7728889", "review_id": "72b5e40879cef9c6aef2ce52e3dd20cd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Rating: 4.5 \n I enjoyed this story immensely. Everything from the characters to the killer to the 1920s slang was so enchanting. The killing scenes were so creepy, they kept me up at night. One gripe though, a very minor one, was that it was a little predictable. Especially towards the end. But other than it, a truly riveting read. \n Also, fellow gamers will find this very similar to L.A. Noire, which is posi-tut-ely awesome!", "date_added": "Sun Aug 09 08:59:00 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 13 05:46:46 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Feb 13 05:46:46 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab7623f60197f5b674dff11db90911f", "book_id": "21570318", "review_id": "5774d631e0e53fba76fa03b9e7752e6f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "While I enjoyed Cruel Beauty more, this story was so meticulously crafted, it was impossible not to admire the great deal of detail and ingenuity that went into creating it. Every word and scene were vital to the plot and came full circle. Nothing was superfluous and the protagonist was very admirable. \n Great story, Ms Hodge.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 05 07:46:28 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 13 11:23:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Apr 13 11:23:03 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab7623f60197f5b674dff11db90911f", "book_id": "23437156", "review_id": "3e4f6a16c0ba1d16536669e961c07dab", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of the best stories I've ever read.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 04 15:25:00 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 18 12:13:31 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab7623f60197f5b674dff11db90911f", "book_id": "7992995", "review_id": "01983cb591b37f3266475e79ca3d5979", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm in so much pain.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 04 13:48:00 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 16 12:58:14 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab7623f60197f5b674dff11db90911f", "book_id": "10194157", "review_id": "ef86f524ba95e38b8df7ee5aedfe5850", "rating": 3, "review_text": "While I enjoyed this story and flew through it, there were so many things that were wrong with it that took so much away from the story. This story is supposed to be based on Russia, or at least had elements from it, but the only thing Russian about it were the names of characters. I had such high hopes of exploring a new land and culture and the novel really disappointed me in that aspect. The world just was not fleshed out enough. \n Also, the main character was so obsessed with looks, it got on my nerves often. Plus, she found out she had this great gift that could save many lives, she plucked out of poverty and placed in such a luxurious world, so much was given to her but all she did was complain about things. She would make a lot of mistakes and then spend a lot of time angsting about them. She wasn't a bad character, just very frustrating at times. \n A lot of these issues had already been raised in other reviews but anyway, I did enjoy this story. It just left a lot to be desired. Or maybe I had high hopes. But I will be continuing on with the series because I'm really curious to see where it goes from here.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 04 06:06:41 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 01 13:24:58 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab7623f60197f5b674dff11db90911f", "book_id": "18798983", "review_id": "1f877b658e02f3ecf2266a158c7450da", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The Shahrzad in the original Arabian Nights was a force to be reckoned with, truly cunning, manipulative and fearless. This Shahrzad was nowhere as impressive. The writing was beautiful but maybe I'm just not a fan of overly Romantic stories. It just failed to impress me.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 01 08:49:49 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 06 04:15:25 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab7623f60197f5b674dff11db90911f", "book_id": "17399160", "review_id": "0bbf496ee5a465ae7348e23bb593ebf4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Rating: 3 1/2 \n This book had many issues but there was plenty to love as well. I loved Meira and Sir, both as separate individuals but also their relationship with each other. The world building is really good and the story did hold my attention a majority of the time. The Winterian camp scene was particularly poignant and you completely sympathize with the plight of the Winterians. Angra was truly evil and sadistic, characterized in way most YA authors shy from when it comes to their villians. \n Now on to the negatives . \n The writing was too lengthy and Meira just overthinks every single thing and that just inspired a lot of boredom on my part. She went over the same thoughts over and over, even when she was in the midst of some life threatening scenarios. Furthermore, as much as I liked the characters, I just couldn't connect to them. Save maybe for Meira but not a whole lot either. Also, I absolutely hated the fact that there was a love triangle at all. It was completely unnecessary. \n This book wasn't the most original or riveting story I've ever read but it was a really good book, nonetheless. It definitely deserves a read.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 30 07:55:58 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 21 00:48:30 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Dec 21 00:48:30 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab7623f60197f5b674dff11db90911f", "book_id": "20443235", "review_id": "57dae77546b4437a7cf73ca7ca3015f7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Rating: 4.5 \n I thought this book was fantastic, probably my favourite in the series. Kestrel and Arin have changed so much since the first book. Their relationship was stripped down to its bare bones which forced them to build it back up from scratch on a solid foundation of honesty, trust and mutual respect. It was a necessary pain, in my opinion. \n I really identified with Kestrel here. Getting betrayed by one of the most important people in your life and the subsequent desire to punish them whilst still loving them dearly resonated. It was devastating for her father to essentially send her to her death like that. Going by the last two books, it seemed like he cherished her more than anything else and it really broke my heart when their relationship deteriorated. \n I really loved the battle scenes and all the scheming and strategizing done by both Kestrel and Arin. \n The fact that they both had an 'inner voice' ( For Kestrel, her father's voice and for Arin, the God of death) that guided them in their time of panic or distress was brilliant. \n I hope Marie Rutkoski writes more books. I'd love to read more of her stories.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 29 09:33:46 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 22 22:53:31 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Nov 22 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab7623f60197f5b674dff11db90911f", "book_id": "8490112", "review_id": "3b53dc28e5a42a2cc775018debbc20de", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It started out really well, with magic, mystery and intrigue, and the writing is absolutely beautiful, then the insta, all-consuming love kicked in and I... just...couldn't", "date_added": "Tue Apr 01 14:59:47 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 04 10:23:58 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jan 19 09:52:24 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d0aa4e95e3600a44d932c1bb7aba6d86", "book_id": "102885", "review_id": "798d9afa5d6e465fdd51318c9df5a392", "rating": 5, "review_text": "My most favorite book ever", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 22:42:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 03 02:25:16 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d55a44d77eb5d5f71140931a57929f9d", "book_id": "21560020", "review_id": "d2cd856f68f16193b9ce3d1f073a663e", "rating": 0, "review_text": "O.M.G.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 12 11:56:24 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 16 13:14:33 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d55a44d77eb5d5f71140931a57929f9d", "book_id": "15848266", "review_id": "24404e4dda278de4086f39d7ab50c38e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I thought Flame Moon was entertaining and a nice change of pace using mythology as a background. The book is well written and the author does a good job with dialogue and describing the environment. One of the big problems I had was the relationship development between the two main characters. One moment Skye was just tossing around the idea of maybe being more interested in Aiden than she expected, and then next they were all over each other pledging their love and devotion. \n Nonetheless, Flame Moon has piqued my interest and I wouldn't mind reading the next book in the series to see what happens.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 28 13:39:54 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 04 10:17:54 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4ba7ef7101add315ddcd3bd8fd248b46", "book_id": "29361694", "review_id": "4f48ce74df14bbf890fc8046962fac24", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Elemental Secrets by Elle Middaugh \n A book review by Kathleen S. Schmitt \n If one likes fantasy and magic and exciting plots, forge ahead. You will be rewarded with plenty of action and suspense. \n At a superficial level, Elemental Secrets is a teen fantasy book that is well-written and fully entertaining, although I found the pace a little slow in the first third of the book. Until the arrival of a magic action, I could not tell if this was anything but a teen romance novel. However, the appearance of magic in a rather sweet way hinted that the story was going to take some turns that would be intriguing. \n So, on with the plot. Protagonist Valerie appears as a reticent loner (due to changing schools so often as a military brat), but decides this time she is going to turn into an extravert. Furthermore, she finds the will and the energy to make this metamorphosis, which, in the first part of the book feels utterly contrived by the author. Valerie not only wins friends, she spirits herself at speed into the most popular group in the school where she finds ready acceptance. Okay. Nice. The reader who has experienced this kind of social interaction may enjoy this interplay. Readers who aspired to such status but did not attain it might find some of their vicarious needs being met through Valerie's transformation. But readers who have lived differently through high school, meaning most of us, just might be somewhat put off. For a start, I am often suspicious of a beautiful protagonist. But wait. The author has a reason for this leap that feels, well, unreal. \n Unfortunately, for me to explain much more would turn this review into one big spoiler. How to communicate what's in store is difficult without just saying what happens. However, I will try. If one likes fantasy and magic and exciting plots, forge ahead. You will be rewarded with plenty of action and suspense. \n If you are of a philosophical bent, think Nietzsche. What? You say. Well, around the first part of the Twentieth Century, a lot of writers and thinkers were pondering Nietzsche's philosophy. In American literature, this interest moved into what was called 'literary naturalism.' George Bernard Shaw wrote a play entitled \"Man and Superman\" based not only on the Don Juan legend but delving into the naturalistic myths of ancient deities (Think Venus and Zeus and other mythical gods). If you find the superhero enticing, or even if you are newly into Wonder Woman, read Elemental Secrets. \n Also, if you teach high school literature classes, you might want to check out this book as a possible choice for students to read when studying early Twentieth Century English/American literature. \n An internet contributor pointed to an interesting site: https://superheronovels.com/, stating that this old comic book genre may be the new genre in prose literature. You may wonder what I'm talking about, since I haven't told you the plot. However, if any of this rambling tickles your curiosity, then read Elemental Secrets. \n This first-in-a-series novel performs on various levels. While we will not find clarity in this first story, a whole series is emerging through which we can trust we will come to understand this different perception of the world - and perhaps the mind of the author. Is Elle Middaugh just writing a teen fantasy? Or is there something deeper here? Something that is profoundly political for our day and rolling out a scenario for world destiny? \n Thoughts about a master race arise, evoking shades of mid-Twentieth Century fascism. Demigods - kindly or malevolent? Human suppression or empowerment? Alarming suppositions about global warming...? This book offers much fodder for thought, a definite plus in my mind. Read intelligently, and you will find Elemental Secrets involving and rewarding.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 30 21:07:12 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 30 21:16:21 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4ba7ef7101add315ddcd3bd8fd248b46", "book_id": "27003", "review_id": "4f5d85702c09bdf6a305fb9549ec0993", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Eyre Affair should be classified as mystery/adventure/fantasy. It acts like steampunk except that the characters (some of them at least) can be anywhere in time including the distant future rather than just in the Victorian/Edwardian ages. I found the first half of the book confusing. We were in London, weren't we? But not exactly the London I have seen/experienced. Things happened but I wasn't getting a sense of where we might be going. By the second half of the book, I had learned enough of the fictitious ethos/terrain that I got it and found it very entertaining. \n The Eyre Affair relates to an English society in literature is very important. The person on the street can quote Shakespeare the way in modern society people sing popular songs. But something nefarious is underway: the snatching of original manuscripts and counterfitting new plots. Terrible! And worth sending out government agents to stop, before the public revolts. \n Fascinating. Worth reading.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 04 09:55:05 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 04 10:07:05 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4ba7ef7101add315ddcd3bd8fd248b46", "book_id": "17935486", "review_id": "63a5b0245fbcae05ffc639c01fdd2bfc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Every book in Lindsay Buroker's Emperor's Edge series is a delight. Protagonist Amaranthe shows humility and courage as she leads her motley team in defense of the deposed Emperor. Buroker's characters are well rounded, consistent and complement each other. In this last episode I was particularly sad, because, as in every series but especially in this one, I felt the impending loss of both characters and the ongoing episode. The steampunk world and the politics of power-mongering become clearer as the stories progress. Action and reflection balance and ground the plot, and the pacing is just right. As well, the romance between Amaranthe and the Assassin shows up just enough to twig our interest but does not take over the whole story, and this love relationships moves through reasonable and heart-warming developments as time goes on. I heartily recommend this book and the entire series to those who love a good story and care about the clash of good and evil. \n I think women more than men will like this series, as Amaranthe is not a super-hero. Rather she moves by intuition, often into great peril but then to the best of poor choices that are possible. She makes mistakes and has regrets, but her fine sense of human relationships and community are what carry the day.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 21 10:12:15 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 21 10:15:59 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4ba7ef7101add315ddcd3bd8fd248b46", "book_id": "15847065", "review_id": "962e1028c5d08d93770fa7dee14a761d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Every book in Lindsay Buroker's Emperor's Edge series is a delight. Protagonist Amaranthe shows courage as she leads her motley team in defense of the deposed Emperor. Buroker's characters are well rounded, consistent and complement each other. One of the ways we get to know the main characters better is that each book comes from the point of view of a different member of the team, in this case Maldynado. I love getting to know all the members well, as the whole story becomes more involving and more exciting. The steampunk world and the politics of power-mongering become clearer as the stories progress. Action and reflection balance and ground the plot, and the pacing is just right. As well, the romance between Amaranthe and the Assassin shows up just enough to twig our interest but does not take over the whole story, and this love relationships moves through reasonable and heart-warming developments as time goes on. I heartily recommend this book and the entire series to those who love a good story and care about the clash of good and evil.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 21 10:07:15 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 21 10:09:27 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4ba7ef7101add315ddcd3bd8fd248b46", "book_id": "13603792", "review_id": "d07c686f35d5eb790e8945dd572fdb62", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Every book in Lindsay Buroker's Emperor's Edge series is a delight. Protagonist Amaranthe shows courage as she leads her motley team in defense of the deposed Emperor. Buroker's characters are well rounded, consistent and complement each other. The steampunk world and the politics of power-mongering become clearer as the stories progress. Action and reflection balance and ground the plot, and the pacing is just right. As well, the romance between Amaranthe and the Assassin shows up just enough to twig our interest but does not take over the whole story, and this love relationships moves through reasonable and heart-warming developments as time goes on. I heartily recommend this book and the entire series to those who love a good story and care about the clash of good and evil.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 20 19:09:15 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 21 09:58:46 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4ba7ef7101add315ddcd3bd8fd248b46", "book_id": "13044650", "review_id": "fd84ddbca6c84bd1dd0fae35ea850d3c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Every book in Lindsay Buroker's Emperor's Edge series is a delight. Protagonist Amaranthe shows courage as she leads her motley team in defense of the deposed Emperor. Buroker's characters are well rounded, consistent and complement each other. The steampunk world and the politics of power-mongering become clearer as the stories progress. Action and reflection balance and ground the plot, and the pacing is just right. As well, the romance between Amaranthe and the Assassin shows up just enough to twig our interest but does not take over the whole story, and this love relationships moves through reasonable and heart-warming developments as time goes on. I heartily recommend this book and the entire series to those who love a good story and care about the clash of good and evil.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 20 19:08:42 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 21 10:00:30 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4ba7ef7101add315ddcd3bd8fd248b46", "book_id": "11672438", "review_id": "41f39b54a80bb9b3718b9dcc837b17cd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Every book in Lindsay Buroker's Emperor's Edge series is a delight. Protagonist Amaranthe shows courage as she leads her motley team in defense of the deposed Emperor. Buroker's characters are well rounded, consistent and complement each other. The steampunk world and the politics of power-mongering become clearer as the stories progress. Action and reflection balance and ground the plot, and the pacing is just right. As well, the romance between Amaranthe and the Assassin shows up just enough to twig our interest but does not take over the whole story, and this love relationships moves through reasonable and heart-warming developments as time goes on. I heartily recommend this book and the entire series to those who love a good story and care about the clash of good and evil.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 20 19:07:06 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 21 09:59:37 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4ba7ef7101add315ddcd3bd8fd248b46", "book_id": "10031259", "review_id": "9192bec59b7db9211043aa96d89c68ef", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Every book in Lindsay Buroker's Emperor's Edge series is a delight. This first one particularly entertained me so much that I considered it the funniest and most touching book I'd read in ages. Protagonist Amaranthe shows humility and courage as she leads her motley team in defense of the deposed Emperor. Buroker's characters are well rounded, consistent and complement each other, and come from the real world, being fallible but willing to do their best. The steampunk world and the politics of power-mongering become clearer as the stories progress. Action and reflection balance and ground the plot, and the pacing is just right. As well, the romance between Amaranthe and the Assassin shows up just enough to twig our interest but does not take over the whole story, and this love relationships moves through reasonable and heart-warming developments as time goes on. I heartily recommend this book and the entire series to those who love a good story and care about the clash of good and evil.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 20 19:00:02 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 21 10:04:05 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4ba7ef7101add315ddcd3bd8fd248b46", "book_id": "15989176", "review_id": "c073565f3734581dec5bcb2e7296acbf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Every book in Lindsay Buroker's Emperor's Edge series is a delight. Protagonist Amaranthe shows courage as she leads her motley team in defense of the deposed Emperor. Buroker's characters are well rounded, consistent and complement each other. The steampunk world and the politics of power-mongering become clearer as the stories progress. Action and reflection balance and ground the plot, and the pacing is just right. As well, the romance between Amaranthe and the Assassin shows up just enough to twig our interest but does not take over the whole story, and this love relationships moves through reasonable and heart-warming developments as time goes on. I heartily recommend this book and the entire series to those who love a good story and care about the clash of good and evil.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 20 18:43:30 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 21 10:05:08 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "4ba7ef7101add315ddcd3bd8fd248b46", "book_id": "18131", "review_id": "4c1e4b42dc57bf39688b2b40df7e4cc6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Madeleine L'Engle is a superb storyteller. I identified with Meg and loved the tesseract imagery/theme. The gift of love was a wonderful touch.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 15 18:32:11 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 15 18:41:22 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 1990", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d430b5e0d8447a143a48467b1615f75e", "book_id": "25016879", "review_id": "4ab7c94701b8f5a7304b8d2f4436213e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I am not a huge fan of John Connoly's Charlie Parker books, but I have loved everything that I have read that he wrote outside of the series. I highly recommend the first book, Nocturnes as well as Book of Lost Things and the Gates series. This book, in particular, is aimed at readers. His characters are often literary figures or stories of how books really can change lives. He also has a very long rant about horror novels and movies. I do think short stories are highly underrated.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 17 20:41:15 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 09 11:39:06 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d430b5e0d8447a143a48467b1615f75e", "book_id": "30809689", "review_id": "7c592bed0dcc42764d2879514ec477ff", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This really does deserve the whole five stars, but I just couldn't do it. Part of me wanted a Neil Gaiman story from beginning to end. Norse Mythology is simply what it claims to be, a telling of the Norse tales as best as can be done. It is more than enough. I was sucked in from page one and it is with much sadness that I close the finished book only a day later. Quite often while I was reading it I could hear Mr. Gaiman's clear, Brittish voice reading aloud. There aren't many authors that I want to read their work almost as much as I want them to write it. It is because I have come to associate Gaiman and his voice as being on a different plain, of escaping reality and connecting with the magic that he writes. \n Norse mythology is often thought as simply a parallel to Roman with different characters. Mr. Gaiman's book has provided some of the stories, and a background which is adds to every Norse reference that I encounter. Sure I knew Loki, Odin and Thor, and of Valhalla and Asgard. Now I know how Thor got his hammer and of Loki's daughter Hel guards the Underworld. I know how Ragnarok ends the world, only to have it begin again.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 17 20:23:46 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 17 20:40:43 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Feb 17 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Thu Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d430b5e0d8447a143a48467b1615f75e", "book_id": "11553", "review_id": "8ed2884155267b266bef62cf293499c0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "We always refer to these sorts of books as \"coming of age stories.\" It seems like a rather limited description of a story that combines the magic of childhood with the tragedy that pulls us from that magic into the dire world of adulthood. Mr. McCammon did a beautiful job of dunking us into the magic of childhood and letting it slowly drain away. I was left remembering the magic of childhood and appreciating the feeling that the magic is still there if I could just try a little harder to find it. If you grew up in a neighborhood that was your neighborhood, you knew the streets and the people, but you weren't sure if you knew it all. If you felt the magic of playing in the dark of dream the dreams of possibilities, you should try Boy's Life. Maybe it's time to try to grow up again, but then again maybe not.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 15 10:27:58 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 23 15:02:00 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Mar 23 15:02:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Feb 15 10:27:58 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d430b5e0d8447a143a48467b1615f75e", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "8e84502320739f23c9255ebb83f4c661", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked the book. I am told the movie wasn't so great but most of the book was inner dialog which is difficult to in movies. I was impressed by the amount of thought that went into these situations. I was a huge fan of MacGuyver and this was somewhat reminiscent of him. Things might have worked but odds were stacked against everything going right but you care enough about the character that you will it to work. I thought that it was a good combination of technology and math and science. It was a great book from a first-time author.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 13 16:00:57 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 21 15:45:28 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jul 21 15:45:28 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d430b5e0d8447a143a48467b1615f75e", "book_id": "24120519", "review_id": "af752f08db134a371095e8446acac5b8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I reread all of Ransom Riggs books before I read the end of the series. I think Ransom is a genius. He has such an amazing concept. I will be watching for the Peculiar Children's movies. I can't help but think Tim Burton was the perfect pairing for this", "date_added": "Sun Dec 20 18:06:12 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 23 10:19:05 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d430b5e0d8447a143a48467b1615f75e", "book_id": "17831316", "review_id": "be6c7006aacf2354c6c75456030e0802", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I shall dearly miss my friends Samuel and Boswell. This is what readers mean when we say we want the next book but we so don't want it to end. Here's hoping John Connolly decides to write more fun and whimsical characters.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 28 10:11:31 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 06 22:25:19 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d430b5e0d8447a143a48467b1615f75e", "book_id": "12396528", "review_id": "d4548b93e03fdb7b8a239c0be462cec8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Thank you Mr Riggs for allowing me to live in another world for a few hours. Curse you though for making me realize I'll have to wait for yet another book.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 10 09:14:10 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri May 29 08:59:19 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu May 15 06:59:13 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat May 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d430b5e0d8447a143a48467b1615f75e", "book_id": "91479", "review_id": "c256d81be6d475310d9e42df709f635c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "How can you beat a Knight of the Cross who claims agnostism and one who came to the King through a devought Elvis experiance. It's not that they lack faith the evidence is provided dailly and it's a job that needs done.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 26 07:56:12 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 26 07:59:40 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d430b5e0d8447a143a48467b1615f75e", "book_id": "91478", "review_id": "3c135389f6af616ee83ee9ca152d3dc0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I think I must quit donating Dresden Files books. They'll probably get reread. I debate why I like these so much. Butcher has too many plot lines and when something doesn't work, he can always just create some other magical rule to apply and solve everything. In spite of the fact that I don't think I should like them I am hopelessly devouring everyone of them and breathlessly awaiting the next. His formation of characters is what I think adds realism. Everyone is falible and the sense of humor is not to be missed. I'll probably start the next one this evening.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 15 10:00:16 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 17 05:37:49 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Sep 17 05:37:49 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d430b5e0d8447a143a48467b1615f75e", "book_id": "47212", "review_id": "34203c4927e961258049040de5465383", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm going to have to read more of these. I like the way he writes.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 28 21:15:25 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 01 15:03:26 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Dec 01 15:03:26 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Nov 26 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d430b5e0d8447a143a48467b1615f75e", "book_id": "11557", "review_id": "1be68d7601cb725248e69df0e396d26b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I didn't want to like this book. It was written in the eighties and reminded me of the cliches that existed at the time. The world was going to end in nuclear disaster and the general population wouldn't even be aware of the difficulties that existed. Men were the destroyers of the world and women were the creators. It combined religion and The Wasteland which is a bit overdone in literature. The evil friend was obviously the devil and death. I'm not sure I think of death as evil personified.Radiation sickness is an accumulative disease and so are the after effects. It seemed as if most of those that were left alive were not the brightest but instead just wandered looking for something better, what happened to the engineers and the organizers? There was stereotypical evil and the reluctant heroine. For all of these reasons I didn't want to like Swan Song, but I do like it. The characters showed much of true humanity. Despite extraordinary circumstances, people were still people. They gave speeches that made you want to route for them. Their philosophies were simple, just one more day, just one more step. I think that we all want to believe that the thing that can't be killed is hope. I felt a little deceived by the numbers of good versus evil. Humanity wants to cheer for the underdog but I feel that more people should have been on the good side. I know this seems overthought out, but it is because when I thought about it I thought of all of the things wrong, but I would then bury my head back in the book and enjoy getting lost in the story.", "date_added": "Sat May 05 22:55:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 23 10:18:15 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jun 23 10:18:15 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d430b5e0d8447a143a48467b1615f75e", "book_id": "62031", "review_id": "a3e119b0082ea138bb553e833d8d1358", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A book for writers and readers if there ever was on. It was absolutely nothing like what I thought, it was better. I gave it four stars because I want to find my own copy and reread it. I feel sure it'll get the 5th star upon rereading. I need more time to slow down and enjoy it. It started to seem very juvenile but then I got caught up in the story and I was the juvenile and I couldn't wait to turn the pages.", "date_added": "Sat May 05 22:49:35 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 10 08:15:59 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Nov 10 08:15:59 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Oct 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d430b5e0d8447a143a48467b1615f75e", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "43a13c99b061517f39b61ef4457de1cb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I just discovered not only have the movie rights been purchased. Tim Burton will be directing! It'll be right up his alley Pretty good! I'll read #2. An odd combination of Alice in Wonderland and the X-men.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 06 20:59:51 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 26 17:48:54 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Oct 10 09:13:48 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d430b5e0d8447a143a48467b1615f75e", "book_id": "2213661", "review_id": "1a35a6dac36fbab4cdd6bf60272fe083", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great book! Only Gaiman could imagine what it would be like to avoid a serial killer as a small boy and be raised by ghosts and then turn it into a childrens book.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 11 19:26:30 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 08 15:37:27 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d430b5e0d8447a143a48467b1615f75e", "book_id": "6559316", "review_id": "c3831fb54a68b7342bb1c79a3f0a310a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Kayso, it's like an amazingly awesome vampy book. lol This is once again why I love Moore. I'm already awaiting his next one", "date_added": "Sun Apr 04 20:03:48 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 07 20:46:12 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d430b5e0d8447a143a48467b1615f75e", "book_id": "6411440", "review_id": "2ddb3a7dcc7bddbc815322d81e4381b4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The proper amount of geekiness and humor. A super collider partical begins the opening of the gates of hell.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 23 20:36:26 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 09 07:48:36 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Tue Feb 09 07:43:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Fri Feb 05 19:50:26 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "d430b5e0d8447a143a48467b1615f75e", "book_id": "9594", "review_id": "a2441292197c447203303945a2f6e45b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Vonnegut is the kind of author I almost like to forget about and rediscover. I don't like to keep many Vonnegut's on the shelf. There is something about setting him free to rediscover again. Thank you Vonnegut for Kilgore Trout!", "date_added": "Sat Jul 18 06:24:58 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 16 10:13:40 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jun 16 10:13:40 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "84849bc5955662e4decf661a0e1127ae", "book_id": "20819685", "review_id": "455a03f6b88daeca3e471effa59ac3e6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really loved this novel - I've read other books by Mitchell and think he's a great author, and this book definitely didn't disappoint. \n The book tells the story of Holly, both from her point of view and from other people's point of view. The story is told in installments set about 10 years apart, from the 1980's up to the 2040's. Holly's life becomes intertwined with an ancient supernatural battle - at first she remains unaware of this, but later she has to participate more fully. Various characters she meets throughout her life are also entangled in this web of natural and supernatural events that determine the course of her future. \n I really like Mitchell's writing style and his way of bringing characters to life. The different parts in the novel are written from the point of view of different characters, which means Mitchell switches his writing style and word-choice accordingly. The characters become very lively and 'real' because of this. The novel has a very intricate setup with both a 'natural' storyline about events in the normal everyday world and a supernatural storyline that is closely connected to the natural storyline. Different people show up in different times and places, showing close links between their lives. \n Another thing I like about Mitchell's novels are the returning characters. Characters who were less important in earlier novels take on more prominent roles in this novel. Somehow, to me, it feels like this makes the characters more 'real' - like they have an actual life outside of the novel and we catch glimpses of their lives. \n The novel keeps you on the edge of your seat as the story unfolds. Though the alternating narrators can sometimes be frustrating when you want to know what happened to a character, and then the pov changes, but it definitely keeps you reading. Mitchell manages the separate storylines wonderfully and manages to make them come together in a coherent whole. \n Reading this book makes me want to (re)read all of Mitchell's work right away...", "date_added": "Thu Jun 02 13:56:07 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 02 13:56:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "84849bc5955662e4decf661a0e1127ae", "book_id": "6567858", "review_id": "010bdbf406d0cef8f2d8160e40be892f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "An interesting story in which the battle of good and evil is fought against the backdrop of Egypt's ancient monuments. \n I really enjoyed the story. Stewart makes an intricate mix of religion, myth and history with fantasy and magical elements, and I thought it worked quite well. I like the way in which he uses theory about religion and myth to complement the story. \n The story is fast-paced and well written. I very much liked the characters and how they develop, choosing different sides in the course of the novel. The connections between the different characters and groups are sometimes complex, but this also means that the story stays interesting until the end, and makes it much more intriguing than a simple 'good vs. bad' type of story. \n I'm looking forward to reading more of the author's work.", "date_added": "Fri May 17 21:15:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri May 17 21:16:00 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "84849bc5955662e4decf661a0e1127ae", "book_id": "16161313", "review_id": "ab06656373a368323abbaa24842a47ed", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Really loved this novel, I found it really gripping, a real page-turner! \n The story switches between three times and three lives, which each have a separate story, but are also intricately interwoven. I really liked the way in which the stories become increasingly linked and really become one story over time. \n The descriptions of ancient Egypt and the distant future are lovely and very lifelike. The characters are not always worked out as well as they could have been, but the three main characters are worked out nicely and I found it easy to connect to them.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 13 01:01:51 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 13 01:01:35 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "84849bc5955662e4decf661a0e1127ae", "book_id": "16134285", "review_id": "99e2cff281e3e6401ea3aff130b4f61d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great story, very gripping. The characters were worked out quite well and the flashbacks to earlier occurences were worked into the story nicely. \n The story keeps you guessing, giving you different pieces of the puzzle throughout the story, which keeps you involved and makes you want to go on reading. \n I liked the mix of occurences in past times and a modern setting, and the mixing of normal, everyday life and paranormal events. I also very much liked the fact that Petty used actual historical characters and events. \n A very enjoyable read, definitely recommended for those who like books with magic and paranormal occurences.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 13 01:00:53 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 13 01:01:34 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "84849bc5955662e4decf661a0e1127ae", "book_id": "1835829", "review_id": "160eb86d576f8af9fefbb475f264f3b4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A really lovely story. Reading it as an adult it's a bit simple, but I really loved it as a child, so I gave it 4 stars. \n For me, this is a story that has everything a child could want: adventure, travelling to distant countries, friendship, mystery, excitement, intrigue... Though the it is a children's book, it's still a fun read as an adult. Dragt's style is easy to read and to the point, but there are plenty of twists and turns that keep the story interesting, and it stays mysterious and exciting right up to the very end.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 05 11:13:47 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 05 11:16:36 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "84849bc5955662e4decf661a0e1127ae", "book_id": "7082", "review_id": "e3e6663e1b22061a315dd6342344642d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very different from the movie! I mean, the main idea is the same (bounty hunter hunts androids), but other than that the story is very different. \n Intriguing story, makes you think about what it really is that makes us human.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 22 03:38:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 22 03:39:10 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "74e64584ec45d82d546a42eb235ade97", "book_id": "394365", "review_id": "4baa249a44a7400af9a0fe325ae651f8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5", "date_added": "Tue Apr 08 19:51:00 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 08 19:51:32 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Apr 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "74e64584ec45d82d546a42eb235ade97", "book_id": "100915", "review_id": "e5d2ffa33dc112ac32edc842efdcec18", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5", "date_added": "Sat Feb 08 09:59:58 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 08 10:00:22 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "34128219", "review_id": "bac9edb8f69b9cbd4781ec9af9e639f0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A worthy 'equal,' as Pullman has called this. Captures the mood of His Dark Materials so well. I just wish all three were available.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 22 08:33:37 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 22 08:38:16 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "16429619", "review_id": "b4f0470f3ab7991119a23a266a794c0e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.5. This is pretty silly, but I did grudgingly enjoy it.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 13 18:56:12 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 13 18:57:01 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "31450908", "review_id": "9d7d7f5464893fae38346023bfecb593", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2.5. I get the appeal of this series and will continue to read, but both books have felt like missed opportunities. There's no need to conjure excessively intricate fantasy worlds, but I can't help thinking McGuire is too economical with her world building and character development. Mostly I wanted much more Dr. Bleak.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 06 20:31:18 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 06 20:43:15 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "10626594", "review_id": "f1dcbae2544f0148669c116452833a33", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow. This was great. I don't even like horses, and I loved it. Going to come back and write a review later!", "date_added": "Sun Mar 05 14:50:08 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 16 09:48:33 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Mar 05 14:51:15 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "8490112", "review_id": "aa84cd7883253454584fdebb413a9efc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I mean, I liked this, but maybe not as much as everyone else? It's a Romeo and Juliet retelling, which is fine. It also gave me ACOTAR vibes, in that the romance feels pretty cringy until you know what's really going on. I'm going to keep reading, mainly in the hope of more Zuzana snark.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 04 17:36:28 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 04 18:08:59 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "68428", "review_id": "d9db84a6d4b8838f7363d7d31e826080", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2.5. I get why people enjoy this. What I don't understand is why it seems to receive near universal acclaim. It's cheesy, has poorly-drawn, cookie cutter characters, and is full of totally cringy dialogue. Many seem gaga for the intricacies of the metal \"magic\" system, but all that listing of which metals get pushed and pulled and burned and extinguished during action scenes made what should have been the best parts of the book almost unbearably tedious. I'll admit I can get into some pretty mediocre fantasy, but I can also call a spade a spade. It pisses me off a bit that all the corny romantic and tropey fantasy written by women and YA authors gets written off but this passes for serious, genre-enhancing work. No. BTW, I do not think that women and YA authors write exclusively corny/tropey stuff; rather, I'm pointing out that men and adult fantasy authors are just as likely to do it. \n I will say that I enjoyed the device of interspersing excerpts from an old travelogue with the unfolding story, and that I found the steel inquisitors to be terrifying, if one-note, bad guys. The ending did make me a bit curious to continue the series, but if I do, it'll be with the knowledge that I'm reading some fun crap and nothing more.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 18 16:35:22 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 15 07:10:12 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "19161852", "review_id": "7c7b6c50f9c18a9d8f1a6d83b5b5a21f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 stars. The hype is real!", "date_added": "Sun Aug 21 08:42:44 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 17 20:07:47 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "29069989", "review_id": "f2d0dc7b86320c8eef74c5f57df2c779", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Interestingly, this made me feel like I was reading 'Carry On' fanfic. Just me, or is that glorious circle complete?! \n At best, it's an homage to the original series, while at other times Cursed Child felt more like reductive rehash than fresh meat. All in all, it was an okay and relatively fun read. I hope I can see the show!", "date_added": "Mon Aug 15 20:23:21 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 02 16:11:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "15783514", "review_id": "2f6c76a39d14a8572948b4925772a3a3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Maybe my favorite Neil Gaiman work, with the obvious exception of Sandman. And probably part of why I liked it so much was that it did remind me quite a bit of that series: timeless, uncanny beings brushing up against everyday people, the curious and magical brushing up against everyday people problems. And, of course, genuine danger. \n Additionally, this novel took what his others do really well and did it even better, IMO. There's scrubbed yet somehow evocative prose: a vast universe outlined but left open enough for the reader's imagination to work its own magic. There are allusions to songs and books and fairytales that not only sustain and propel the protagonist through the narrative, but also act as pinions linking it to a broader tradition of storytelling and worldbuilding. At the same time, this a modern story set in the real world with relatable people. Gaiman always leaves room for the big and universal sorts of human drama in his fantasies, but allows them to play out in ways that resonate powerfully with our own personal and seemingly everyday experiences. And, as always, there are cats. Even cuddly ones!", "date_added": "Mon Aug 15 19:39:56 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 15 20:22:48 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "14201", "review_id": "687676a2e8d4b36cac001415e8804293", "rating": 5, "review_text": "1000 page book with what must be like 100 pages of footnotes, and I enjoyed every word. It's...magic!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 06 14:05:13 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 06 14:14:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jul 06 14:14:03 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "17378527", "review_id": "8932cd065ea4c144ef67c259c2d310aa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What to say about this book and the series as a whole? I enjoyed it, but wasn't as rapturously enamored as most. The first book, The Raven Boys, did a really great job establishing the tone for the rest: atmospheric, eerie scenery populated by a truly likable and intriguing cast of characters. I particularly loved mercurial Ronan and all the uncanny psychic ladies of 300 Fox Way, who did a nice job punctuating the story with violent outbursts and unintentional humor, respectively. After TRB, I thought The Raven King was the strongest in the series, and it was genuinely suspenseful and scary a number of times. Plus, my ship sailed (and I'm not talking anything having to do with Blue)! And as a final plus, no vampires! \n That being said, I had some issues. First off, however original the fundamental premise of the series and the main corps de characters, this got a wee too tropey for my tastes. The entire time I was reading, I couldn't shake the feeling I was previewing a script for the newest supernatural teen drama on the CW. While the kids were fairly nuanced and believable, the adults mostly fell into the typical YA permutations and combinations: absent, abusive, eccentric, or hot/dangerous. The bad guys in each new installment had a sort of 'monster of the week' flavor, leaving them underdeveloped and, to be honest, boring and repetitive. And I had a hard time swallowing that the town of Henrietta didn't seem to notice...anything. I expected a big finale from a series that repeatedly harped on the cyclical nature of time, but the ending felt anticlimactic and left several plot lines looser than I would have liked.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 26 04:33:37 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 26 06:20:20 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jun 26 06:20:20 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "b76d1ea7a16487fe67f5dc67469e2f5c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Nobody is as shocked as me that I didn't think much of this book. Lots of smoke and mirrors, but very little substance: underdeveloped worldbuilding; an arbitrary, unsatisfying, and oddly uncharismatic system of magic; and a largely dull and flat cast of characters (particularly the romantic leads). I really don't get the hype.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 10 17:21:13 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 13 13:45:21 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Apr 13 13:45:21 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Mar 12 12:57:43 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "23766634", "review_id": "fd90f0d4622fb9ff7c0361c18eac36f7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Positives: \n -SJM finally injects a bit of diversity into a novel. There are people (fairies are people, too!) who are not white and not straight. \n -Action-packed. Some said this book was boring, but I thought it kept a solid clip. \n -Conclusive. SJM is planning to release a number of upcoming sequels, but the story did reach a definitive conclusion. \n -World expansion. I enjoy geeking out over fantastical geography, and this novel gave many a fun glimpse into previously unseen fae courts. \n Negatives: \n -SJM writes sexual tension far better than she writes sex. I really can't imagine any sex scene being enhanced by the word 'scraping.' \n -On that note, there's no significant sexual tension in this novel, which (let's admit it) is a huge part of why any of us read SJM. Her flirtations are incredibly fun and exciting...till they turn into actual relationships. Then they become boring and read more like fanfic. I won't say this gets anywhere near the level of Throne of Glass, but it certainly loses some of the magic. \n -Writing is amateurish. High school kids. Love excessive artful fragments. Just so much. But published authors? \n -Ending was a letdown. There's an epic, emotional final battle, but things still felt too neat and predictable. \n So all in all, not terrible, but nowhere near the quality of storytelling, character development, and pure indulgent enjoyment of Mist and Fury.", "date_added": "Mon May 30 10:46:54 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat May 06 05:16:10 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat May 06 05:16:10 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "9565548", "review_id": "16ded5487ddbaf297b96105fd276db50", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Right off the bat, 'Grave Mercy' reminded me of one of my all-time favorite high fantasy novels: 'Kushiel's Dart.' It had the whole reimagined medieval Europe thing going, which is very much my bag. Still, I mostly ignored the fact that this is based off real history, choosing instead to focus on the more unlikely parts of the story, such as the teenage assassin nuns of Death and their *ahem* many charms and special abilities. These ladies almost had a Bene Gesserit/Honored Matre from 'Dune' vibe, a big plus in my book. While GM definitely (unfortunately) dialed down some of the epicness, sexiness, and bloodiness of those other works, it has likable characters and a plot that's original and nuanced enough to help it stand above similar teenybopper fare. I will definitely be following this series.", "date_added": "Sun May 01 10:43:40 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun May 01 16:23:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun May 01 16:23:14 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "25558608", "review_id": "ad4b5002cd502c579ba4e6a8e33af38b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2? 2.5? Everybody seems to adore this series, so this is a minority report. I'm not opposed to violence and death in novels, but this just seems like it uses both to manipulate readers rather than offer an original story. Instead of actually fleshing out the characters and making the reader care about them, this novel just massacres everyone the leads care about so they seem strong and unbearably put-upon. The villains all suck, and the leads are a boring Mary Sue and Gary Stu. And there's a love quadrangle...why do YA authors still do this? The big plot twist with Keenan...I don't think I've rolled my eyes so hard since a certain werewolf imprinted on a certain vampire's spawn. \n The novel's saving grace was Helene, who actually has some dimension and seemed like a real person. The next novel isn't coming out till 2018, so maybe I'll grow curious by then. At this point, though, I think I'm done with the series.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 29 10:06:55 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 21 16:22:32 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Dec 21 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "25526296", "review_id": "10fae8b6fc000c6014c1ceb2067eb852", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Sometimes, more is more. I wanted more. \n I'll admit that I really enjoyed this book; it manages to do an impressive amount of world-building and magic-weaving in a very small amount of space. Also, how awesome that trans and asexual characters take center stage! And how ironic and hilarious that emo kids still get a bum rap at a school for the freaky castaways of magical lands? \n Still, I'd prefer a bit more time and space dedicated to character development and detail, and the pacing felt rushed in a number of instances. Also, I'm one of those nerds that enjoys intricate fantasy worlds, and would have been happy to hear far more on the subject in a cool book like this that has so many and that actually maps them out. Still, I'm really excited to read the rest of the series.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 26 20:13:30 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu May 25 17:11:53 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "28356624", "review_id": "127b3af0152c94d6f0cf00fd16944670", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I LOVE BAZ!", "date_added": "Sat Mar 19 13:02:42 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 19 13:06:02 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Mar 19 13:06:02 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "18006496", "review_id": "48ddc22db10ca60d6a0bb9e347c851d0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I loved the world building, and it's a great story that I sincerely could not put down. \n That being said, wtf happened to Chaol?! #ChaolaenaForever \n And I want the old Rowan and Aedion back.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 05 06:46:11 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 05 09:47:40 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jan 05 09:47:40 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "22055262", "review_id": "f55126afad4bd311707819a1f0b778fb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Really cool world(s), and definitely conjures more darkness and danger than average YA fare. On the other hand, the characters aren't well-drawn enough to make you care, and all the fighting scenes actually got pretty redundant and boring.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 08 14:19:01 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 26 12:20:47 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "23437156", "review_id": "3975ce8a5627e8fa50851e77eec95ef2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm not really a fan of heist books, movies, etc. I just find them stressful and tedious. But I liked 'Six of Crows' anyway. I think it's because a. great characters, b. strong world building, and c. enough flashbacks to break up the narrative around the one big caper.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 09 20:37:44 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri May 06 12:29:19 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri May 06 12:29:19 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "518848", "review_id": "ff20d95fe42b8a75fb7ddfa6f2a2d7d0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was crazy good...the necromancer's bells, the nine gates of death, and MOGGET. Who wouldn't love a character who embodies ineffable evil contained in sardonic cat form? \n Don't be dissuaded by the fact that it's YA...this is top-notch fantasy that I'd put on par with His Dark Materials. Also, don't be turned off by this being the first volume in a series: it's a standalone novel with a clear and conclusive ending, so no large-scale buy-in required :). That being said, I'll definitely be reading the rest of the series for more of this world and Nix's wonderful writing.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 21 12:01:46 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 18 19:24:01 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "7896527", "review_id": "d6495a8d96f292a3cbff684c0ec22a19", "rating": 3, "review_text": "More like 2.5 stars. Throne of Glass reminded me a bit of the Graceling trilogy, though the characters were far less lovable and the plot far more predictable than Graceling. I mean, the clues that you assume are red herrings are actually just pointing smack dab at the correct answer. After reading, I feel like I already know the jist of where the entire series is headed. \n As far as MCs go, Celaena is...meh. I didn't hate her, and I appreciate a female character who can kick butt and still enjoy dresses and frills. That being said, she felt more like a collection of traits and hobbies than a real person. Plus, she's a sneaky Mary Sue; sure she has a temper and is an occasional egomaniac, but these qualities just make everyone swooooon because they're so obviously fronts for all the emotional turmoil roiling beneath her (obnoxiously stunning) surface. In addition to being pretty enough for everyone to fall in love with (don't get me started on the dumb love triangle), she just, like, loves eating, and reading, and is a master piano player, and is also the greatest assassin in the entire world, literally. And she's eighteen. That should be enough, but I haven't even mentioned that Celaena is also super nice, super smart, a friend to conquered peoples, an orphan, and clearly has some latent magical ability. \n In spite of all this, she comes off as a terrible assassin; she consistently fails to pick up on obvious clues, cannot hit a stationary target with a flower pot, blabs left and right about what she's thinking and feeling, and is reduced to terror by the king. I did like Nehemia and Chaol, though, so there are certainly redeeming characters to balance out Celaena's extreme specialness. \n As with Maas's other series, ACOTAR, I though the strength of this book was in the world-building. Maas has given us a glimpse of a compelling landscape for the characters to explore and set of problems to resolve. I will definitely keep reading, if only to continue seeing more of Erilea and learning more about the role magic plays in its fabric. Even though I found much to criticize, I can't deny how much I enjoyed reading it and being immersed in a new fantasy world. Plus, I'm always a huge sucker for fairies. I'm hoping the rest of the series is stronger, and I'm definitely looking forward to the TV show that's apparently being optioned now!!!", "date_added": "Sun May 24 14:41:10 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 20 13:05:16 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Sep 20 13:05:16 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "8621462", "review_id": "ca28540b9f2ea97f8d5f147b4d6812b7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh my gosh SO good! Deceptively simple prose that slowly builds to a monstrous crescendo. Beautiful illustrations. I CRIIIIIIIED!", "date_added": "Wed Apr 15 06:37:08 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 24 05:27:25 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Apr 24 05:27:25 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "12680907", "review_id": "a8d01dde5edfa76ce205e27fc5c9c336", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Is this really the last book in the series? I hope Cashore isn't done with the Graceling realm, because I genuinely loved these books. Bitterblue was no exception. \n First, if you, like me, didn't get enough Katsa and Po and the rest of their Scooby Gang in the first book, they're back for more. The beloved Council has expanded their antics from basic Robin Hood stuff to actual revolutionary tactics, and Bitterblue herself, now the young queen of Monsea, is in on everything. While Katsa and Po together supply a fair amount of hilarity, this book is perhaps the darkest of the three, focusing on a kingdom's struggle to reconcile with its past and heal from a psychotic, manipulative despot's 35-year rule. As such, it expands upon many of the themes explored in previous books and plays out a bit differently. Rather than traveling around with the Council members as they spread justice and birth control (jk...kind of) throughout the kingdoms, readers stay put with Bitterblue as she unravels the mysteries of her personal and national past. \n This book really showed Cashore's care in plotting out the entire series as a whole, and I really appreciated the way she established and gradually built up her universe and characters. There's a twisty, enjoyable plot and several fun fantasy elements, but the people supply the story's beating heart. I won't lie: sometimes the characters are a bit annoyingly perfect, if not in their actions then in their genuine desire to do the right thing alllll the time. Yet I still loved them and wanted to befriend and go on adventures with them. Without giving too much away, Cashore also does a great job tying up the loose threads of the series cleanly without resorting to schmaltz or \"happily ever after.\" There's room for your imagination to work it's own magic on what's to happen. Or just more books! \n On a final note, I so wish I'd read these when I was a young adult. In addition to the action and romance, the series does a wonderful job presenting loving non-heternormative and non-traditional relationships and destigmatizing healthy, consensual pre-marital sex. I know there's a lot of that out there now, but I remember a YA universe full of Twilight-type messaging. How refreshing and promising that the world has changed, is changing, and that literature is reflecting and promoting it.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 21 13:53:38 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 25 04:43:43 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Apr 25 04:43:43 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "6137154", "review_id": "a2ab829e1375b0149f8a45bea5e32034", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I didn't like it as much as \"Graceling,\" and the whole literature-as-propaganda schtick got a bit tiresome, even though I agree with pretty much everything being propagandized. Still, I'm a sucker for this sort of book, and think that Cashore has a real gift for creating believable characters and romances in spite of the ultra-fantasy worlds. Sure Fire's a little too perfect, and a little too obsessed with her period (I didn't think RPCVs could get tired of period talk), but it's still a really awesome read.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 21 13:53:36 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 24 05:28:51 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Mar 31 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "82192", "review_id": "f84b31da7958d363713d487b141f5904", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 stars. I decided to reread this one since I loved it as a preteen. Found it just as captivating, though much more sexist.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 20 03:54:04 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 24 05:29:39 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "19103097", "review_id": "6c15d013d804fda8ec8e8719b74b2cb8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 stars. Really loved it! Did it deconstruct the fantasy novel? Maybe...have to think about it. It reminded me of Philip Pullman's \"His Dark Materials,\" though that series did a more straightforward, serious job of it. The Magicians trilogy is more of a wink and a nod type deal, but for all its snark and f-bombs, it ends up being a pretty sincere and, dare I say, standard little fairy tale. In a good way! \n Read them all together for maximum effect!", "date_added": "Sat Dec 27 06:23:36 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 27 06:32:05 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "10079321", "review_id": "561d258f5e40e7f9a49629e60132d96e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Okay, this one surprised me. I expected more regurgitated Narnia and fantasy porn (figurative, not literal). And there's that, but this book has so much more going on than the first in the series. \n First off, the pacing...it's great! While \"The Magicians\" rushed us through the years and experiences with too much tell and too little show for my liking, \"The Magician's King\" is a deeply satisfying, carefully constructed slow boiler with real meat. We're already \"in,\" so Grossman's inventiveness can take root and blossom. Quentin's realtime narrative was compelling enough, but the fact that it alternated with Julia's backstory really worked for me. \n Furthermore, I sort of started to GET it...like, the whole reason a really smart guy with considerable writing chops would base his book series on other peoples' series (Lewis, Rowling). There's a deepening in that whole theme of listlessness and grasping at that which we cannot have. We love these worlds and let them take over our consciousness, losing what's in front of us. With the second book, you still get tons of allusions to other works, but it's got a purpose. It's more resonance than imitation. Classic hero cycle stuff. \n Really looking forward to reading the third book!", "date_added": "Thu Dec 25 12:08:53 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 25 12:29:21 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "6101718", "review_id": "6c7f3753d97d74c3c9922b665ea95328", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars. Derivative is an understatement. In spite of it's occasional originality, this reads more like well-written and highly involved fan fiction. The first half of the book features elaborate yet somehow still underdeveloped world building with the purpose of putting our characters in a position to enter Narnia, err Fillory. That's not to say I didn't enjoy every page, but the plotting felt rushed and contrived: we're 100 pages in and Quentin's already in his third year at magic school? It was almost like reading some episodic series like manga or a graphic novel, but without the graphics, rather than an actual novel. \n I've heard many say they disliked the characters, but I found their snark, occasional nastiness, and relatable ennui to be quite charming. I also loved the rough and raw presentation of the magic, and the fact that it's source and appropriate use are questioned by the characters. \n A great classic this is not, but I'm glad I picked it up and am looking forward to the rest of the series. \n *** \n POST-READING OF SERIES OBSERVATION: Joke's on me. Being derivative is THE POINT. I'm slow on the uptake :). And while I'm still bothered by the speed at which the novel unfolded, the series as a whole is great. I liked each book better than the last, and recommend reading them all together rapid-fire!", "date_added": "Sat Sep 27 07:43:05 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 10 12:14:20 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "3236307", "review_id": "f3c32e9363c7d480991208b2f49c779c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Awesome. An inventive, artfully drawn fantasy world with the added bonus of FEMINISM IN YOUR FACE. I know this book probably pissed a lot of people off, but it's the type of story I'd encourage my kids to read some day. Egalitarian relationships, setting your own sexual mores, deciding which of society's norms work for you and which to throw to the wind...it's all here.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 27 07:41:54 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 24 05:35:12 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "7507944", "review_id": "235eb0ee57d272418ee64e6675f3f720", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was awesome! I just wanted MORE!", "date_added": "Sat Sep 27 07:41:31 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 27 18:56:14 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "11298", "review_id": "da1f8ab87adb101ce428ff8c27d7963b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars. Fun to read, complete with some very charming and sublime descriptions of ears. This was only my second Murakami novel, and while it was surreal and fantastical, the book didn't really have the depth or layered quality of \"Wind Up Bird Chronicle.\" Still, it combined elements of fantasy, philosophy, geography, and history in a really inventive and engaging way. Definitely made me want to visit Hokkaido.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 21 16:48:28 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 28 19:56:01 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "aff15cd8107d4de13e32859da505e0e4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book had me raving like a madwoman for the day or so it took to read, since I obviously could not put it down. I don't even have twitter, but I kept having irresistible urges to live tweet every other page. Instead, I texted my husband \"YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!\" about twenty times and nearly jumped out of my own skin. I also talked to the book a lot: about half the time it was along the lines of \"EXCELSIOR!\" and the other half it was more like \"F*#&!!!!\" I also laughed out loud and teared up. \n Emphatic enough for you?! It's intense. \n And this in a book that for my feeble mind was about 50% indecipherable science talk. It went something like...\"I knew I was f!*#$ed (Mark is foul-mouthed bastard, in the best possible way). I was driving along the surface to check the marklars, when MARKLAR! The marklar was totally marklared, meaning I had 30 seconds before I would explode like a marklar-f*#$er. I thought fast, marklaring the marklar with my marklar. Archimedes is a jackass, but the marklar obeys marklar, so I bought myself another 13 seconds. Then it hit me: I had marklar. By calculating the range of marklar according to the marklar plane and adjusting for marklar, I was able to marklar myself through. Now I'm chillin', listening to disco in the Marklar.\" (watch South Park, people!) \n Not even exaggerating: I didn't understand a lot of what transpired, but it didn't matter an iota. Andy Weir is one cunning, brilliant guy to make a hard science book that's full of formulas and technical jargon so compelling. Plus, \"The Martian\" doesn't suffer from the major pitfall that typically plagues hard sci-fi: weak characterization. Mark may not be the most nuanced guy in the history of fiction, but he has a voice, a personality, and a worldview. And while the wide range of other characters peopling this novel didn't get as much face time, I found I could picture them. They were believable: they screwed up, asked questions, fought, cared. We might only see glimpses beyond their \"game faces,\" and the plot does drive the story, but the book somehow didn't reduce it's characters to common comic book tropes. \n Yes, there is cheese, but this is the kind of cheese I'll embrace gladly with open arms every time. Can't wait for the movie!", "date_added": "Mon May 26 17:10:05 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 29 07:31:57 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Apr 29 07:31:57 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "119322", "review_id": "444f05aa04f48ee4599a319864d3e89a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Like most people, I needed something to read during high school between the release of Harry Potter books. I picked up this series and loved it. I just re-read it so I could see the movie and it was even better the second time around.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 10 05:51:43 -0800 2007", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 18 18:36:25 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "136251", "review_id": "1d6db855d3ad2c5493930b808e2852d7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "My brain is still reeling from reading essentially from the moment I got this book last night until the moment I finished it. It exceeded ALL my expectations. Moreover, it builds on everything Rowling did in the previous books and completely elevates the entire series to the realm of, dare I say it, metaphysical. I don't care how nerdy it is; this book makes me want to be more courageous, more faithful, a better friend...I love it. I can't wait to read it again, and to read it to my kids some day.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 25 13:57:20 -0700 2007", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 16 22:40:10 -0800 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db5bc9792b1f5b25e8d9d4799e215446", "book_id": "170453", "review_id": "7f234aa886aba0a1ae41d8059dce56aa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "One I would like to read again, only with a book club...", "date_added": "Sat Jun 23 07:56:25 -0700 2007", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 06 06:23:38 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ea573696701ada25d5dcce39615a072d", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "69fbaa67610f34a66a07ad43b4ea61fd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A thrilling tale of a mans struggle to survive the barren wasteland that is Mars. Can't wait to see the movie!", "date_added": "Tue Sep 22 12:15:30 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 27 20:55:13 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ea573696701ada25d5dcce39615a072d", "book_id": "12652457", "review_id": "4cc18b4f912c8532117e7cdbdc21210f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It's rare I find a book, a series, with every page turned makes me want to turn ten more, every word read makes me want to read a hundred more. \n I eagerly await the series conclusion.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 13 06:48:33 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 13:25:41 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Sep 28 13:25:40 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ea573696701ada25d5dcce39615a072d", "book_id": "34897", "review_id": "a98d5002d57b4b0fc738f8f415940427", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I was expecting one of the main characters to have been killed off by now... Lots of action, no progression. Half of this book was irrelevant the other half just lazy writing. I could have skipped this book and it would not even matter in the overall story. I'm really hoping book 4 is better.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 11 19:50:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 18 21:44:10 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ea573696701ada25d5dcce39615a072d", "book_id": "228665", "review_id": "ed20bf26f9fdbbf54fe7e0c36ff7f0a8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Started off slow, ending felt rushed. Hopefully it gets better.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 11 19:50:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 29 08:02:56 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Dec 21 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0aa3757d0211254712a16bd8289b461d", "book_id": "1496331", "review_id": "4905e54a8773e683d7b2311c0a83ac47", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Karya Grimm pasti sudah tidak asing bagi pencinta dongeng, sama seperti kita merasa familiar dengan nama Andersen. \n Di buku ini, ada banyak sekali karya yang sudah sangat sering diadaptasi ke dalam beragam film Hollywood maupun Disney. Tapi, ada pula karya-karya yang mungkin terasa asing bagi sebagian orang karena jarang diadaptasi dan dimasukkan ke dalam kumpulan karya Grimm lainnya. \n Brothers Grimm sendiri, konon, mulai mengumpulkan kisah-kisah dari beragam sumber ketika mereka diminta oleh seorang keturunan Italia yang ingin mempublikasikan kisah-kisah tersebut. Maka, dimulailah petualangan Brothers Grimm untuk mengumpulkan cerita dari segala penjuru negeri yang mereka datangi. \n Tiba-tiba, orang Italia tersebut justru kehilangan minat untuk melanjutkan proyek ini. Maka, Brothers Grimm kemudian melanjutkan proyek ini atas nama diri mereka sendiri dan voila! Sekumpulkan cerita yang telah mereka tulis ulang ini menjadi kisah-kisah sepanjang masa yang dapat kita nikmati hingga saat ini. \n Tidak semua kisah yang Brothers Grimm kumpulkan diceritakan ulang dan dipublikasikan ke dalam bentuk cetakan tertulis, hanya kisah-kisah yang menjadi favorit mereka saja yang sebagian besar telah kita kenal sejak kemunculan perdananya. \n Siapa sangka, cerita yang tadinya akan diberikan kepada orang lain justru menjadi awal mula kesuksesan dan ketenaran bagi Brothers Grimm? \n Memang banyak yang menyamakan kisah-kisah yang dikumpulkan oleh Brothers Grimm dengan kisah serupa yang menjadi karya Andersen dan Perrault. Well, tidak mengherankan bagi saya karena semuanya memang didapatkan oleh mereka dari hasil bergerilya ke sana-sini, dan terasa wajar juga jika ada kesamaan kisah karena satu cerita di satu negeri dapat dialami serupa oleh orang lain di negeri lain. \n Salah satu yang dianggap sama persis jalan ceritanya adalah kisah Cinderella versi Perrault dan Aschenputtel versi Grimm. \n http://libraryofnia.blogspot.com/2014...", "date_added": "Tue Dec 20 01:29:14 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 20 01:30:41 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0aa3757d0211254712a16bd8289b461d", "book_id": "569384", "review_id": "c6fbc2d2b5af94a3b031eb54b7ccfe79", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Siapa yang tidak mengenal Hans Christian Andersen? \n Bagi penggemar kisah dongeng klasik, termasuk pula penggemar dongeng ala Disney, pasti familiar dengan Andersen dan karya-karyanya. Baik yang dianggap sebagai kisah \"asli\", kisah saduran, bahkan kisah adaptasi Disney. \n Misalnya, kisah The Little Mermaid yang berkorban demi cinta. Ada kisah The Steadfast Tin Soldier yang dikisahkan tergila-gila dengan ballerina dari kertas, yang disimbolkan pula sebagai transformasi Andersen menjadi a small tin heart. \n Selain itu, ada pula kisah yang dianggap banyak kalangan sebagai karya Andersen dengan makna mendalam, dan akhirnya membuat Andersen sebagai tokoh dengan kemampuan bercerita yang mampu memberikan ilham kepada para pembacanya antara lain The Emperor's New Clothes dan The Ugly Ducking. \n Ada lagi kisah Thumbelina, The Little Match Girl. The Princess and the Pea, The Red Shoes, dan The Wild Swans -- yang semuanya ini, tidak pernah keluar dari 100 Kisah Dongeng Andersen sepanjang masa. \n Oh! \n Jangan lupakan kisah fantasi yang didaulat sebagai masterpiece bagi seorang Andersen dan banyak sekali diadaptasi ke dalam kisah dongeng klasik, dongeng Disney, bahkan film Hollywood terkenal -- apalagi kalau bukan The Snow Queen. \n *** \n http://www.niafajriyani.com/2014/03/e...", "date_added": "Mon Dec 19 23:31:36 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 11 05:59:20 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0aa3757d0211254712a16bd8289b461d", "book_id": "32870406", "review_id": "a71835c15b639ab9b4fce28a0c9b3095", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Laia seorang budak, Elias seorang prajurit. Keduanya bukan orang merdeka. \n OH WOW! \n Saya melihat betapa hype-nya buku ini di kalangan bookish di luar negeri tahun 2015 lalu. Pujian juga dilontarkan oleh banyak pihak, apalagi ini adalah novel debut dari penulisnya; An Ember in the Ashes dinilai terlalu bagus sebagai sebuah novel debut, sehingga banyak pihak yang menyatakan bahwa tidak menyangka bahwa novel sebagus itu ternyata merupakan novel debut. Kurang lebih seperti itu. Jadi, ketika akhirnya saya melihat Penerbit Spring menerjemahkan novel ini, saya langsung membelinya ketika masa promo baru dimulai. Kemudian, ketika buku sudah tiba di tangan saya dan saya juga sudah dalam proses untuk membaca bukunya, saya melihat update dari Penerbit Spring di tanggal 2 Desember yang menyatakan bahwa semua pembeli di masa promo akan mendapatkan set bookmark gratis! Yeay! Dan sehari setelah Penerbit Spring memberikan informasi mengenai free bookmark set ini, set-nya sudah terkirim ke alamat saya. Double yeay! \n Okay... Back to the book... Setelah akhirnya saya merasakan sendiri pengalaman membaca An Ember in the Ashes, the hype surrounding this book is entirely understandable. \n Setting mengadaptasi konsep Romawi Kuno, dengan unsur fantasi a la Arabian Nights, dilengkapi juga dengan gambaran kehidupan masyarakat yang menjunjung konsep strata sosial. Saya sulit menahan diri dari godaan cerita yang menggabungkan unsur mitologi, fantasi, folklore, sejarah, dan isu-isu sosial. Ah, you name it. I'm sold! Hahaha. \n Kesan yang terasa itu dark yet beautiful. Ada pula kesan mystical and mysterious. Saya merasa sulit untuk menemukan kata-kata yang betul-betul pas untuk menggambarkan dengan rinci bagaimana pengalaman saya selama membaca An Ember in the Ashes, tidak semuanya berjalan mulus dan ada beberapa plot-hole. Tetapi menurut saya, hal-hal tersebut terasa minor, karena yang jelas, I really enjoyed the experience and it left me satisfy. \n Tadi saya sudah saya sebutkan bahwa buku ini dark. Kesan dark ini sinergis dengan kesan brutal. Iya, buku ini brutal dan membuat saya ngilu; mulai dari pembunuhan peperangan, pelecehan, ancaman, kekerasan... you name it... semuanya digambarkan dengan blak-blakan. Ditambah juga dengan inner struggle yang dihadapi oleh tokoh-tokohnya, keinginan untuk mendapatkan kebebasan, keharusan untuk tunduk patuh terhadap aturan, dan lainnya. \n Kesannya, kasar. Sangat kasar. Tapi, memang kehidupan sebagai budak dan prajurit tidak lepas dari hal-hal yang bersifat kasar, kan? \n Karakter-karakternya juga tidak digambarkan perfect, mereka punya sisi lemah masing-masing; terutama our OTP Elias dan Laia. Tetapi justru itulah yang membuat An Ember in the Ashes terasa perfect. Kita diajak untuk melihat perjuangan mereka untuk mencapai tujuan masing-masing, walaupun itu artinya mereka akan menghadapi kemungkinan terburuk; mati. Di sinilah inner struggle mereka terlihat. Karakter Helene dan Keenan juga menarik. Bahkan, gambaran villain di buku ini juga sangat menarik untuk dikaji -- seperti di The Lunar Chronicles, tokoh main villain di buku ini juga perempuan; Blackcliff. \n Sebagai pemuja karakter perempuan yang strong and tough, saya suka dengan bagaimana Sabaa Tahir menggambarkan karakter Laia -- Laia bukan orang yang tiba-tiba strong, apalagi tangguh. Tapi dia berjuang untuk menjadi seperti itu dan melawan ketakutannya sendiri. Dia juga bukan gambaran elite heroine, dia hanya gadis biasa yang begitu mencintai keluarganya dan terbiasa berada di bawah rasa aman -- sebelum dia harus mengambil keputusan yang nantinya mengubah jalan hidup dia secara keseluruhan. \n All in one; seperti gambaran buku distopian-fantasy modern lainnya, yang lebih banyak memasukkan genre YA di dalamnya, ide ceritanya mungkin tidak baru ya. The Hunger Games series, Divergent series, dan The Lunar Chronicles series itu kurang lebih membawa isu serupa. Tapi, sama seperti ketika saya membaca Cinder pertama kali, saya merasakan kepuasan. Hal yang tidak begitu saya dapatkan ketika mengikuti The Hunger Games dan Divergent series di buku-buku pertamanya. \n Saya sangat tidak sabar untuk membaca sekuel An Ember in the Ashes, yaitu A Torch Againts the Night. Semoga tidak perlu menunggu terlalu lama untuk bisa membaca buku ke-2. Walaupun mungkin saya harus banyak-banyak-banyaaaaaaaak sekali bersabar dalam mengikuti series ini karena yang saya tahu, buku ke-3 saja baru akan terbit di tahun 2018. Dan setelah beberapa bulan lalu mengikuti sebuah artikel yang mengatakan bahwa series ini akan dibuat menjadi 4 buku, berarti saya harus memperbanyak kadar kesabaran dalam mengikuti series ini yes? Hahaha.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 30 11:41:21 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 03 09:38:41 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Nov 30 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0aa3757d0211254712a16bd8289b461d", "book_id": "30343353", "review_id": "15b600e249e7e6870cdc9070be61a411", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Hmm... Plotnya agak jalan di tempat juga, ya, seperti di Scarlet.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 26 01:36:35 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 26 01:38:15 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0aa3757d0211254712a16bd8289b461d", "book_id": "29265436", "review_id": "cecec35f934bf58dbac54166fa658cbf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Kalau Cinder membuat saya less expectation ketika memulai untuk membacanya. Nah, Scarlet saya tunggu dengan high expectation. Hasilnya, ngg, agak kecewa... Saya tetap suka dengan ceritanya, juga dengan versi Little Red Riding Hood di sini, karena di cerita fairy tale yang beredar -- gadis kecil ini karakternya membuat saya sakit kepala. Setidaknya, di Scarlet, dia lebih tangguh. Hal yang membuat saya kecewa hanya di plot yang terasa tidak begitu kaya seperti Cinder. Itu saja, sih.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 26 01:28:51 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 26 01:34:50 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0aa3757d0211254712a16bd8289b461d", "book_id": "27951429", "review_id": "aac714b73b648630b53e9f7c88160c3f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Buku pertama dari The Lunar Chronicles yang membuat saya mengenal seorang penulis brilian; Marissa Meyer. Awalnya saya less expectation saja ke buku ini. Saya sudah melihat bagaimana bookstagrammer luar negeri heboh sekali membahas betapa bagusnya buku ini, ditambah juga dengan book-blogger di luar negeri yang lagi-lagi sering membahas Cinder dan memuja-muji, tapi saya masih ragu untuk membacanya karena saya pikir akan sama saja dengan buku-buku distopia modern yang banyak mengecewakan saya dan ujung-ujung fokusnya lebih ke romance. Itulah kenapa saya cenderung antipati ke distopia modern, dan lebih tertarik untuk membaca yang klasik. \n Tetapi, TLC -- well, technically Cinder dulu sebelum buku-buku selanjutnya dari seri ini -- membuka mata saya bahwa masih ada buku dengan genre ini, yang dibuat di era modern, dan ditulis dengan begitu bagus. Walaupun agak lama untuk saya warm-up ke Cinder, tapi saya menikmati kisahnya sampai akhir. Konsep retelling dongeng dunia, di sini kisahnya Cinderella, juga menjadi bagian yang menarik. Sampai saya mencari Cinderella-retold lainnya lagi.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 26 01:09:47 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 03 06:59:09 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0aa3757d0211254712a16bd8289b461d", "book_id": "31306759", "review_id": "9ca10b207aa0eb91e0da974dab66c941", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ada beberapa hal yang saya suka dari #TheLunarChronicles. Seperti sebagian besar fans serial ini yang saya tahu, saya juga suka dengan fairy tale retelling di The Lunar Chronicles. Selain itu, saya juga suka dengan cerita yang plot-driven dengan perkembangan cerita dan perkembangan karakter yang well-written seperti ini. Serunya lagi, The Lunar Chronicles juga diisi dengan karakter-karakter perempuan yang tangguh -- bukan jenis karakter damsel in distress yang sedikit-sedikit harus diselamatkan oleh karakter laki-laki. \n Tapi, hal yang paling saya sukai dari serial ini adalah tokoh antagonis utama yang memiliki latar belakang kompleks dan perilaku yang juga kompleks. Jadi, bukan sekadar villain jahat yang melakukan kejahatan karena murni jahat. Melainkan karena dipengaruhi oleh kompleksitas karakter, perilaku, dan latar belakang yang memperkuat kemunculan perilaku tersebut. Menurut saya, kompleksitas karakter antagonis inilah yang menjadi daya tarik utama dari The Lunar Chronicles dan Marissa Meyer apik sekali dalam membuat karakter Levana Blackburn. Karakter Levana dibesarkan di dalam keluarga manipulatif, mengalami bullying oleh kakak sendiri ketika ia masih sangat kecil dan menyebabkan cacat permanen pada dirinya, serta selalu berada di bawah bayang-bayang kakak hingga ia remaja. Meskipun lebih mudah bagi kita mengatakan bahwa pada akhirnya setiap pilihan sikap dan perilaku itu adalah pilihan diri sendiri dan Levana punya pilihan untuk menjadi pribadi yang baik, bukannya memilih untuk menjadi jahat, tapi dengan latar belakang seperti itu sih saya lihat wajar jika Levana tumbuh menjadi pribadi yang kejam, haus kekuasaan, dan memiliki kepribadian yang kompleks. Luka di dalam hati dan jiwanya sudah terlalu mendalam, dan didikan keluarganya membuat pola pikir dia twisted.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 26 01:05:54 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 03 06:58:45 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0aa3757d0211254712a16bd8289b461d", "book_id": "32471472", "review_id": "0c1a1fdec4d4c92dabc5ae68eb296dd3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really love Carroll's non sense and magical words!", "date_added": "Fri Nov 25 13:18:29 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 28 06:22:35 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0aa3757d0211254712a16bd8289b461d", "book_id": "209645", "review_id": "b169f3495cb8b0b06cf5a8348516dc15", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A retold version of Cinderella, filled with pictures in silhouette, and in fun and funny naration; basically it's for children and teenager, so yeah, it's really a simple story and no expectation is needed.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 24 12:05:29 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 24 12:06:40 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0aa3757d0211254712a16bd8289b461d", "book_id": "13542719", "review_id": "93a6d8c0f6142309962e747791080605", "rating": 5, "review_text": "n this second adventure of Five Children -- Robert, Anthea, Jane, Cyril's, and Baby Lamb, they are beginning to miss their magical adventures. They then are playing along in their nursery home, but it leads them to ruin a carpet. Their mom buy a new Persian rug and it turns out to be a magic-wishing carpet, in which they can have three wishes per day, and there was an egg of Phoenix rolled up in the rug as well. It's a funny and heartwarming book, filled with hilarious and very inspiring...", "date_added": "Thu Nov 24 12:03:43 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 24 12:04:00 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0aa3757d0211254712a16bd8289b461d", "book_id": "18089942", "review_id": "6ab4649c6d4fa651891b4950308168ff", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"My dear Prue, we are the inheritors of a wonderful world, a beautiful world, full of life and mystery, goodness and pain. But likewise are we children of an indifferent universe. We break our own hearts imposing our mor order on what is, by nature, a wide web of chaos. It is a hopeless task.\" \n The stories might not as epic as Narnia nor Harry Potter, but Prue's adventures are epic itself. The contents are not always save for under-age children, as they told us about torture and death tho.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 24 11:50:12 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 24 11:51:04 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0aa3757d0211254712a16bd8289b461d", "book_id": "10353049", "review_id": "f66167606b03915741a1de3c1e1a5d1f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"My dear Prue, we are the inheritors of a wonderful world, a beautiful world, full of life and mystery, goodness and pain. But likewise are we children of an indifferent universe. We break our own hearts imposing our mor order on what is, by nature, a wide web of chaos. It is a hopeless task.\" \n The stories might not as epic as Narnia nor Harry Potter, but Prue's adventures are epic itself. The contents are not always save for under-age children, as they told us about torture and death tho.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 24 11:49:59 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 24 11:50:36 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0aa3757d0211254712a16bd8289b461d", "book_id": "10431447", "review_id": "3d8178b96f085b46e8b4f063f95ebe32", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"My dear Prue, we are the inheritors of a wonderful world, a beautiful world, full of life and mystery, goodness and pain. But likewise are we children of an indifferent universe. We break our own hearts imposing our mor order on what is, by nature, a wide web of chaos. It is a hopeless task.\" \n The stories might not as epic as Narnia nor Harry Potter, but Prue's adventures are epic itself. The contents are not always save for under-age children, as they told us about torture and death tho.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 24 11:48:56 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 24 11:49:52 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0aa3757d0211254712a16bd8289b461d", "book_id": "21302143", "review_id": "d6b9e7a2d1e0196f978a42a72591d4b3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I always love Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and Through the Looking-glass and What Alice Found There. I also really love nonsense poems created by Lewis Carroll. I kind of have super obsession to Lewis Carroll and Alice's Adventures series that I also bought some of the Alice's Adventures book-series in other versions, his nonsense poems, and several of blocknotes and other products with its theme. \n This book is like an answer for my craving of Lewis Carroll's works, as it contains some of his works that I never read before. The beautiful packaging is a bonus!", "date_added": "Sun Oct 23 14:26:41 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 23 14:40:32 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0aa3757d0211254712a16bd8289b461d", "book_id": "20893854", "review_id": "191c0799d0ddc776e756e3ba76d2a2e3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Not all of the stories are new for me. But, what else I can do but enjoying this books as much as I please... Like Andersen once told us, \"Enjoy life. There's plenty of time to be dead.\"", "date_added": "Sun Oct 23 09:18:37 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 23 09:22:57 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0aa3757d0211254712a16bd8289b461d", "book_id": "25387717", "review_id": "9c4e8c48ac9dc58f9f71a4361cc3172c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I got this package last year and this one being one of my most favorites boxed-set. And I love that postcard bonus as well! It's still too bad tho that I didn't manage to get the package which has the special collector's envelope with twelve peculiar photographs included...", "date_added": "Sat Oct 22 20:57:37 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 22 20:58:16 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0aa3757d0211254712a16bd8289b461d", "book_id": "29905987", "review_id": "a8b26ea837f16ae41248fd5fe1510961", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I can't love Tales of the Peculiar as much as I love Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series. I like some of the stories in this book, but not for some others. It's still interesting tho...", "date_added": "Sat Oct 22 20:51:26 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 22 21:03:04 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0aa3757d0211254712a16bd8289b461d", "book_id": "21949771", "review_id": "f855606fd0d568977e3dbec217308a9f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I found this book in Books & Beyond last year, and this book is definitely being one of my favorites despite I used to hate books with movie-cover. I just love the concept, mystical yet sexy and beautiful. And the story of Maleficent is beautiful itself. Its charm is we, as the reader of the story (or even the viewer of the movie), are always reminded that hatred and revenge are two biggest evils for our heart (and soul).", "date_added": "Sat Oct 22 19:45:01 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 22 20:36:16 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0aa3757d0211254712a16bd8289b461d", "book_id": "24213", "review_id": "44c86106d62406b07a91c4bb79e6c677", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Serial petualangan Alice merupakan kisah fairy tales, penuh fantasi. Iya. Tetapi, permainan kata-kata yang dilakukan oleh Lewis Carroll banyak yang berbentuk sarkasme (untuk edisi asli bahasa Inggris, tidak begitu terlihat di dalam terjemahan). Isu-isu yang diparodikan oleh Lewis Carroll merupakan komedi satir yang sangat menyindir dunia politik saat itu. Anak-anak akan melihat itu sebagai sebuah bentuk komedi biasa, sementara orang dewasa akan melihatnya sebagai lelucon politik yang dikemas ke dalam cerita yang tidak masuk akal. \n Kisah petualangan Alice diperuntukkan bagi semua kalangan. Unsur fantasi yang ada di dalamnya tidak berdiri secara mutlak. Maksudnya, pada setiap akhir kisah petualangan Alice -- baik ketika dia berada di Negeri Ajaib maupun di dalam Rumah Cermin -- kita sebagai pembaca diajak kembali ke dunia nyata. Petualangan-petualangan yang dialami Alice sebelumnya, dianggap sebagai sebuah mimpi. Bagi saya, hal seperti ini membuat kita (termasuk anak-anak yang membaca kisah petualangan Alice) tetap diajak untuk berpikir realistis; se-seru dan se-hebat apapun petualangan fantasi yang dialami di dunia mimpi, tetap tidak merubah apapun yang terjadi di kehidupan nyata.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 22 19:34:45 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 22 20:35:09 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a2f57f7ad953ab0c0e77acbc8e05097", "book_id": "43615", "review_id": "05bc6d001a3911701fffad6047411172", "rating": 5, "review_text": "King is a master of character.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 17 19:56:02 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 04 15:40:07 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Aug 04 15:40:07 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a2f57f7ad953ab0c0e77acbc8e05097", "book_id": "31140332", "review_id": "74031a0931a939c15ceb8a04ad204311", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A very satisfying origin story of how Thrawn became in league with the Empire. And very well done secondary characters as well.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 15 00:56:48 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 17 19:54:49 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a2f57f7ad953ab0c0e77acbc8e05097", "book_id": "8752885", "review_id": "8f39c93627ed2623b5d9c4b25eee004c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a very enjoyable set up to a series. Every character kept me interested and gave unique points of views to this new world without heavy-handed narration for world building. I'm more of a sci-if guy than fantasy, so I really appreciate stories that stick close to the characters and reveal the fantastical elements of the world when it's relevant and in context to the current character and their actions or thoughts rather than long-winded race histories. This leaves me wanting more! Good thing I decided to buy the rest of the series ASAP so now I don't have to wait; book 2 here I come!", "date_added": "Tue Mar 22 20:37:34 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 16 03:42:09 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Apr 16 03:42:09 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a2f57f7ad953ab0c0e77acbc8e05097", "book_id": "28698036", "review_id": "cd52aa3274a35e58af9deb428a51cbb5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So much love for this!!!! A behind the curtain tale, if you will, into a grander glimpse of the Cosmere we've been teased with throughout Sanderson's work. Although this novella covered the events of the original Mistborn trilogy, I enjoyed it best as a follow up to The Bands of Mourning, as we've already been introduced to the \"setting,\" if you will, of this, um, realm *spoilers, dearie. \n So much looking forward to EVERYTHING yet to come!", "date_added": "Fri Mar 04 21:55:05 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 12 17:26:45 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Mar 12 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a2f57f7ad953ab0c0e77acbc8e05097", "book_id": "15575", "review_id": "3fdb79ece60d8bdd3588bead02f4f3c3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I read this very quickly, and would have liked it less if I'd stretched it out. It was hard to tell which characters were supposed to be the main protagonists, given their POV page time and development, and mid way through the book I really came to most enjoy the development of one character who seemed to have supposed to have been a secondary character (Menion Leah).", "date_added": "Thu Dec 17 02:44:24 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 30 01:12:15 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jan 30 01:12:15 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Dec 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a2f57f7ad953ab0c0e77acbc8e05097", "book_id": "16065004", "review_id": "1c3b1dc87558cb68ccaaa092becab609", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So much good here! Whereas Alloy of Law could be read as a stand-alone, this sequel digs back into so much original Mistborn trilogy references while also looking forward that it really can best be enjoyed knowing the entirety of the series. Regardless, the character developments of Wax, Wayne, and Marasi are so good I squealed frequently in delight or anguish. Oh, and if Hoid-spotting were a drinking game, I'd totally play it with Wayne.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 04 09:14:51 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 14 16:17:44 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Oct 14 16:17:44 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a2f57f7ad953ab0c0e77acbc8e05097", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "56c1a061fb5d41efccc38f5bf69654ed", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It's been a while since I've read a book that simultaneously kept me in suspense and laughing at the same time. The voice is so well done: analytical and lighthearted-for-sanity sake. He rambles off a page of technical jargon about a technical solution to a problem, and right at the point where you'd loose the audience he says, \"blah blah blah I'm going to rename that unit of measure a pirate-ninja\" and then continues on his way with the science. Brilliant! This was the book I needed to revive my perspective of closer to real life sci-fi potential in story.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 12 22:31:56 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 19 07:56:47 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Sep 19 07:56:47 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a2f57f7ad953ab0c0e77acbc8e05097", "book_id": "25131600", "review_id": "b946cd6d63250972d8d585b9eb745acd", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I wanted to give this book at least 3 stars for remaining interesting in action (I have not been fond of the new canon novels this year), but the present-tense and the out-of-context use of language dramatically affected the tone and feel of the writing. I do not approve of the slap-dash use of current American colloquial (stylistic dangling participles, incomplete sentences, stated actions instead of developing character and place) like this was a blog or a comic book or screen play and not an immersive novel. \n There are still interesting things in here, like the interludes and some post-Jedi world building teasers. I will be reading the sequels as it is slated to be a trilogy (cringe) but I still don't understand why this novel got past the editing process in its current state? Did they rush everything because of marketing for \"Journey to Stat Wars: The Force Awakens\"? Wendig's will not be a welcome \"fresh voice\" to the canon if there is not more editorial oversight to the mechanics of the writing process going forward. I want to look past the style to enjoy the plot more, but as a trained writer myself I cannot. \n And what's the point in having Wedge Antilles here if he's not given more than 10 pages of \"screen time?\" He's set up as the major character, but then his involvement is as lengthy as an interlude. There are far too many characters and not enough character development to share amongst them. \n Okay, one fun mechanic: about 1/3-1/2 way into the book, there is a slew of scenes that all begin with a character saying, \"we have a problem\" which was kind of cheesy, but still worked to tie everything together and be a plot turning-point for every thread of characters spread about. It helped the pacing and kept me from putting down the book right then.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 03 20:44:48 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 12 22:27:42 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a2f57f7ad953ab0c0e77acbc8e05097", "book_id": "17910048", "review_id": "c17dc4715aea46642caf785773fdb225", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It is very detailed and heavy on world building, which is why I like it. But the plotting and action just drags throughout the entire narrative. The formal language that most of the characters use in conversing with each other, I feel, bogs down character interactions, which is were most of the action takes place. The unknown keeps the reader going forward, but the pay off is less than anticipated. I almost ground to a halt in the last 150 pages, I was getting bored. *Spoiler* The final assassination attempt, although unexpected, is resolved in a paragraph, and the rest is just a set of trial/interrogations to reveal all the remaining mysteries. I finished the book mostly because it was the last one I needed to finish my 2015 reading challenge. Otherwise, I would have left it sitting for longer to get something more exciting through my system.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 19 14:54:25 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 17 02:42:20 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Dec 17 02:42:20 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a2f57f7ad953ab0c0e77acbc8e05097", "book_id": "233649", "review_id": "3431ca2b80d0ca9f5bb2c8b8ae29ada9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The last half was better, and the parts came back together, but the first half felt lost to a narrative that was lost to itself so it kept repeating what it knew about itself rather than showing us something more developed.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 18 23:16:24 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 31 18:37:51 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Mar 31 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a2f57f7ad953ab0c0e77acbc8e05097", "book_id": "22059478", "review_id": "dcf4bba0d93d778e664048662633ac06", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I gave this book one more star than I assumed I would simply because it was not as bad as I was afraid it was going to be after seeing a couple early reviews, reading reviews of the author's other works, and then noting how short it was and written in first-person. I honestly thought I would be more disappointed with this novel (like I have been with a number of the more recent Star Wars authors choices), so maybe it was the low expectations that worked on this book's favor. \n So, what this book has going for it. First, it acknowledges the time line of the tragic events of \"A New Hope\" that Luke Skywalker was not given the opportunity to deal with, and which he was already distanced from at the beginning of \" The Empire Strikes Back.\" That being the deaths of his aunt and uncle, of Ben Kenobi, and of Biggs. (It could have had a greater depth to it since it was written in first person, however I was very grateful for this because I felt this character development was GREATLY lacking in the previously-planned yet altered companion novel \"Razor's Edge\" which focused on Leia... She watched Alderaan die). Also, Luke's extremely limited knowledge of the Force, in looking back, he really didn't do anything Jedi-ish other than listen to Ben's whisper before meeting Yoda, and his desire for a teacher and lack of knowledge was very necessary and evident in his character development at this time. Finally, the recognition that he never did make it to Tosche Station for those darned power converters, and that he used to be a whinier kid. \n What I didn't enjoy as much... I still don't think first person was necessary for a novel about Luke Skywalker, although it did make it for a faster read. It was awkward reading the most iconic Star Wars character from first-person. A lot of Luke's character development is yet to come, so there is not enough to explore with this POV, but the story was so short and uncomplicated that it really didn't hurt either. I read it in one day, too, probably because it was easier to skim a couple paragraphs now and then because they were obvious story-telling flag posts for the POV action and setting.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 01 07:34:28 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 27 23:25:04 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 03 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Mar 03 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a2f57f7ad953ab0c0e77acbc8e05097", "book_id": "11099729", "review_id": "a8b0f37b9e41c6e8965e85e694c63125", "rating": 4, "review_text": "One of Luceno's better books, pulling together so many details from the expanded universe and crossing over into how we understood Palpatine in Phantom Menace. The first 2 parts were the best, but Part 3 runs concurrent with the event of \"Cloak of Deception\" and \"Darth Maul: Shadow Saboteur\" in such a way that someone who has not read those other two novels would become confused, possibly. But the story becomes too choppy in part three because of all the events happening in other places, that the novel looses its tightness. While I love all the details coming together in building the bigger picture of the prequel story as a whole (I mean we even get the build up to the Clones via Syfo-Dias and see Dooku as a conflicted Jedi, how cool in setting the stage to make Episode II more believable) the book as a whole cannot receive my full 5-star appreciation. Plus it ends a bit too abruptly. I mean, where we know it should, but as a pieces of writing it just kind of stops....", "date_added": "Sat Jan 17 00:09:26 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 23 22:17:41 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jan 23 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a2f57f7ad953ab0c0e77acbc8e05097", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "00f60b933ebdfaa616d7b79c0f5cb5c9", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The best book of the entire series (by that I mean it had the most revisions and editing and stuff done to it to be an acceptable read; the rest were released prematurely because of the popularity. I literally threw the second book across the room when I finished it, it was written so poorly.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 09 22:48:44 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 09 22:51:42 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a2f57f7ad953ab0c0e77acbc8e05097", "book_id": "49041", "review_id": "2195fe71e8171b8910c20cad4f230d03", "rating": 1, "review_text": "This was the first book I actually threw across a room when finishing. I kinda enjoyed Twilight, but the WRITING and EDITING craft was so horrible in New Moon like it was a rushed publication, I lost faith in the author and refused to read the rest (although I did watch the movies because I don't give up on stories). The movies did not make me want to go back and read them...", "date_added": "Thu May 15 01:24:46 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu May 15 01:29:49 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a2f57f7ad953ab0c0e77acbc8e05097", "book_id": "228665", "review_id": "1a8fc9d744d3a3f70f1a627987029d57", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I would give this book four stars based on overall enjoyment, but I can't in good conscience from a writer's stand point. It's not just the redundancy of language (overly adverbed phrases and too much repeated, unnecessary details like people licking their lips or fingering things on their person... constantly.) It got bogged down just a little in the middle when our characters got broken up into 3 different groups and each group encountered new and different societies, but most of them lacked significance in the immediacy of the story. I was about to over look it all since I still enjoyed learning about this new world in a 'book 1' context, but then in the last few chapters after everyone was back together before their final action there was a long info-dump explaining a character's back story and learning history of yet another place we have not visited, and then summarizing \"new info\" about what had really been going on during their trek away from Two Rivers, and there was nothing truly revelatory, shocking, or secret about it. I feel this novel could have been much revised and condensed without loosing any hints or clues to things yet to come. I still enjoyed the over all experience, and I'm continuing on (because I love Brandon Sanderson and I trust his writing-sense to tie up this whole series well with the last three books he wrote).", "date_added": "Thu May 15 01:14:39 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 31 22:02:28 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Mar 31 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a2f57f7ad953ab0c0e77acbc8e05097", "book_id": "13496", "review_id": "5ee3418604c684333e736a297ca1b1e1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I knew that by avoiding TV show spoilers (as much as one can) and swearing to eventually read the books first, that I would enjoy the fulfillment of my promise. I did. With sci-fi as my heart language and fantasy just a recent familiarity, it was for me like reading Dune. Politics, plots, long-term pay offs. I'm so excited to devour this series (just no raw horse hearts...)", "date_added": "Thu May 15 00:49:21 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 19 21:58:20 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a2f57f7ad953ab0c0e77acbc8e05097", "book_id": "17332218", "review_id": "0fddf2bf6f04bc680830f54ca41c4208", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Like the first book, this one is amazing; restored my faith in fantasy to be both engaging in the plot, world building, and character development with solid writing craft tying it all together. The worst part is having to wait until 2016 for the next one!", "date_added": "Thu May 15 00:21:43 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 19 23:56:31 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jul 19 23:56:31 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jul 19 23:54:25 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a2f57f7ad953ab0c0e77acbc8e05097", "book_id": "10803121", "review_id": "a9f5eced000229e539ac5faee71b9117", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Freakin' Brandon Sanderson and his epilogues! So good, but it's not over!! Incredible continuation after the world-changing events at the end of the Mistborn Trilogy (ie Hero of Ages). Hilarious too; I love Wax and Wayne... Wait, I just now saw what you did there. Freakin' good Brandon Sanderson.", "date_added": "Thu May 15 00:21:03 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 08 20:56:03 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jul 19 23:42:50 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a2f57f7ad953ab0c0e77acbc8e05097", "book_id": "7235533", "review_id": "1475d4170f4d3f496e5c6da89de53795", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This series is amazing, and this first book restored my lost faith in the fantasy genre. Sanderson's character development through the process of world building and plot action is inspired.", "date_added": "Thu May 15 00:14:47 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 19 23:56:10 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jul 19 23:56:10 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jul 19 23:54:12 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a2f57f7ad953ab0c0e77acbc8e05097", "book_id": "68429", "review_id": "7ff9f1c3dacb0acec43eceb1a6d0c32e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Such a good continuation from \"Mistborn\" and yet so much better at the same time. The stakes are so much different and yet in the tenuousness new society they are so much higher because you don't know what's coming next. I hate to like anything as much as Sanderson's Stormlight Archive, but he's winning me over with every publication I read.", "date_added": "Thu May 15 00:12:57 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat May 24 10:04:53 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat May 24 10:04:53 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a2f57f7ad953ab0c0e77acbc8e05097", "book_id": "140077", "review_id": "54f5eb779f355e2283a1d93ca645ed35", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This series is my guilty pleasure, each book better than the next. I like the amnesiac Eric!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 00:15:13 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 23 23:11:07 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jun 23 23:11:07 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5deff0b63488719ff3fea3103a0c7ad", "book_id": "8835645", "review_id": "f4685d6f5b2e361e06ad1d510d0b430f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed the book, it was a good start for a sequel to one of my favorite series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians. I shall continue to read the rest of the series, since from the look of it, its taking us on a different viewpoint of the gods and the way two different groups are raised.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 25 04:43:04 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 20 18:02:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Mar 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Mar 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5deff0b63488719ff3fea3103a0c7ad", "book_id": "7519508", "review_id": "ff6f217ef2eb653d2daed0d5f46369f1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was easily the best book in the series for me. The major part of the story had me so interested that I forgot to sleep and read through the night. Hope the sequel series is as good as this one turned out.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 12 10:32:05 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 14 13:15:54 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Feb 14 13:15:54 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Feb 12 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5deff0b63488719ff3fea3103a0c7ad", "book_id": "8130423", "review_id": "37e717348fdd5c3fa199b0047156c698", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Story was great in this one. Loved how the story progressed through the book. Great ending as well.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 09 06:01:09 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 12 03:23:30 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Feb 12 03:23:30 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5deff0b63488719ff3fea3103a0c7ad", "book_id": "8126116", "review_id": "037adaa9038c31cd62294ca3bece16d8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved the book, really enjoyed how they show each of the Greek gods.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 28 19:10:58 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 09 05:59:46 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Feb 09 15:02:13 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5deff0b63488719ff3fea3103a0c7ad", "book_id": "7583324", "review_id": "210649bdda42bb2a4780d63a468cedd2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very good book in the series, of course I am only on the second but it was well written. Love the use of mythology and how gods interact with the half-bloods. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 19 22:14:46 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 28 19:01:14 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5deff0b63488719ff3fea3103a0c7ad", "book_id": "7581796", "review_id": "0a019fb2c84df74bb227c40ca03407c8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The book was really well done. I loved how the growth in Percy was able to be shown throughout the book as well as all the different characters. Will be sure to read the rest of the series.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 31 23:33:53 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 19 22:02:27 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jan 20 22:17:39 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f1f7a262da80b17d21ae600bb61ec1b", "book_id": "10572", "review_id": "9a5f58b02464cae201a6dedecfdacacd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So addicting! It took me forever but now I can't wait for the third one!! Then maybe I can watch the tv shows", "date_added": "Mon Jan 18 22:18:32 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 02 16:36:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jul 02 16:36:43 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f1f7a262da80b17d21ae600bb61ec1b", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "983f73dbc0d58433304bcef6fa338d02", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I seem to be giving a lot of books 5 stars these days. I must be getting good at picking them out. \n Or perhaps the same magic that ran the circus in this book is transcending dimensions, and I too am enchanted. \n Regardless of if I am spellbound or not, this book, in my opinion, deserves 5 solid stars. The author has created a magical story, with complex characters and relationships, a mysterious storyline from various points of view that weaves through the years, moving forward and backward as needed. This is all skillfully done with beautiful prose that reveals only what is needed at that time. \n I must admit that I was confused early on. Not so much that I didn't understand what was going on, but I had to keep checking previous chapters to see if I'd missed something. Now that I've finished, I see that the author was dropping mysterious details to foreshadow things to be revealed later. There are questions that don't get answered until the last chapter even, questions that I had been asking since the very beginning. \n The summary of things in this book is this: Celia and Marco have grown up unusually, being trained in magic and illusion by their mentors in preparation for a competition, or a \"game\" as it is often referred to. Both become key players in a mysterious circus. They meet, and later realize they are each other's opponent in a game where, unbeknown to either of them, only one will be left standing at the end. A slow-building romance blossoms, which only raises the stakes. But when they are prepared to leave the circus, they find out there is far more at stake than just their well-being; there is a harmful domino effect that could reach everyone around them. \n The writing is luscious and rich, and somehow it still continues to move at a quick pace. Again, must be the magic. And the romance.... perfect. It was beautiful and painful, and somehow incredibly tangible, and just as electric as it is described in the book. \n To say I am left enchanted and captivated is probably an understatement, but it will have to suffice while I swim around in the magical fog of story that I just finished. Five solid stars, conjured by magic perhaps, but five nonetheless.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 11 11:15:23 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 26 08:41:38 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jan 26 08:41:38 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Jan 13 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f1f7a262da80b17d21ae600bb61ec1b", "book_id": "18667470", "review_id": "8f17becd920c5adb79e4e21458f6d0a1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fantasies are tricky for me. I'm not one to read long sagas with epic battles and queens and kings and the like. I have read them, and every once in a while, it's nice. The Purple Morrow was a wonderful, lighter fantasy to satisfy my craving for that genre. \n Forde is a newer author, but don't let that fool you. She's a natural writer and has a beautiful and magical way with words, very fitting for the light-fantasy setting she's created in this story. The language supports a great cast of characters in a world where everyone fears the Rovers, a band of wild and ruthless warriors. But all is not lost, for there lies hope in the Papilion, the one destined to bring balance and order to a seemingly hopeless time for some. \n With a desperate quest, likeable characters with realistic and refreshing flaws, and the lovely writing style of the author, this was a book that I discovered I need to have a hard copy of on my shelf. I look forward to the other two books in the series!", "date_added": "Tue Nov 12 11:24:45 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 05 20:46:24 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f1f7a262da80b17d21ae600bb61ec1b", "book_id": "385742", "review_id": "529d2824991e327ab82da5475c07d89d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I see a lot of similarities in this series so far to Collins' Hunger Games. Similar character traits, plot twists, and her attention to detail, which I love. This book was more enjoyable for me than the first, maybe because I'm more familiar with the characters and the Underland. Gregor's character bothers me at times, though. At first I thought it was because sometimes the dialogue is super cheesy, but then I realized that he annoys me because he is acting exactly like a preteen acts, which is in fact annoying. Remembering what the target audience was for this book series, I pushed aside the dislike and everything else fell into place just fine. What a great series so far, one that I would have my kids read when they get older.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 02 23:03:11 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 04 09:54:27 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Nov 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f1f7a262da80b17d21ae600bb61ec1b", "book_id": "7743782", "review_id": "b4d17fa9ef0ecad55fe57202408fa274", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sometimes when I read reviews for books that I've read, I am baffled at why people thought the way they did. This book, I totally can see why some people rated it one or two stars. However, I am one who found this book utterly enchanting and amazing. \n Catherine Fisher, an author I'd never heard of, writes very well, in my opinion. I read the book in three nights, which is fast considering I open my book at about 10pm and close it at midnight (since that is the only \"me\" time I get with two toddlers and a full time job). I think it is technically considered young adult, which upsets me because it is lumped in the same genre as teenage high school dramas with shallow plots and superficial characters. I just don't think it fits in on the shelf at the library next to books like that. \n This sequel, which like Incarceron, is a blend of fantasy, steam-punk, and science fiction. It follows Claudia and Finn in the Realm, and also latches on to Keiro and Attia back in the Prison. There is a fantastic blend of points of view including Jared's, and I appreciate that we get everyone's perspective at some point. It leads into the mystery of the Prison, the Realm, the heir, the portals... everything. I couldn't guess anything that was going to happen in either one of these books, and I rather enjoy that! \n But--and this is where I believe some people were lost--it is weird. The world is something completely original in my mind. It blends the three genres that I've mentioned and creates an unusual setting, with some fantastical elements that require a serious suspension of disbelief. I was more than happy to accept all of the premises that were put before me, even when part of me said \"there's no way that could happen\", because Fisher's world is so OUT THERE that I decided pretty much everything is believable. \n Some people were disappointed with character relationships. I felt amazed that none of the books involved romance. Well, not really. There are engagements, a serious secret pining between two characters, and a potential romantic interest involving two parties that started hating each other. But nothing in your face. The author pretty much lets you decide how much time to think about that. She hints at and alludes to when needed for the storyline, but allows you to formulate your own depth in your mind. At least for me, that was how it worked. \n As a matter of fact, all of the characters and their relationships, no matter the type, were so well thought out and REALISTIC. There was no insta-love. No insta-friends. There are people working together that can't stand one another, or who don't trust one another, or who are frustrated with one another, and they do it because they have to. Each one is working for themselves, but they seem to realize in flashes that they have to work for the greater good as well. \n The story weaves in and out of the Prison and the Realm, between the royal court and the portal, from one person's perspective to another, allowing us to get to know our characters and their individual predicaments very well. There isn't a single character I didn't care for. Keiro and Attia were wonderful to follow, with his hardened heart and brutish ways softening every so slightly at times to her annoying and helpful persistence. Claudia and Finn were an odd pair, previously betrothed to one another, her searching to get her father out and make Finn the rightful King, and Finn battling his internal demons and memory loss. The \"Pretender\" threw in a great curve, and I never could quite tell who was right or wrong. Jared's wisdom and weakness, paired with his love for Claudia created an unpredictable character with unpredictable good intentions. And Queen Sia was perfectly bad. Caspar was a lovable bad guy you just wanted to punch. Rix, the Warden.... I could go on and on (and already have) about these characters, but it's better left somewhat of a mystery. \n Some people said the relationships were boring. I say they are developing and leaving the reader to their own imagination. \n Some people said the world was unbelievable and had many flaws. I say the author gave us an incredible idea to work with, with the hope that we would suspend our disbelief and use our imaginations at those \"flaws\". \n Some people said the story was confusing and they couldn't get into it. I say that its mystery hooked me from the beginning and wouldn't let me go. \n I completely see how some people couldn't appreciate this series. But I am so glad that I plucked it off of the shelf, with it's beautiful shimmering cover, and gave it a chance. I will probably buy the two books. With all of the details and shifting points of view, this book will be a very fun reread.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 11 00:21:34 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 14 11:51:17 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f1f7a262da80b17d21ae600bb61ec1b", "book_id": "262430", "review_id": "816c440d931e7219c369f730c142338e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I had to try this book out. I love Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games more than I can express. Her writing captured me and I checked to see what other books she'd written. I was a little disheartened when I found out that her other series was classified as \"juvenile fiction\". Not even \"young adult\", which I have a hard time admitting that I enjoy sometimes. Nope, this series was \"juvenile fiction\". \n And there are definite elements that read as juvenile. I cannot rate against them since I am not the target audience here, but it was meant for a younger crowd. The lead character is 11 years old, and the writing is even more simply done than in THG. But the story is great. Her writing is skilled, though simple. And guess what... no annoying love triangles or romance at all, actually. I would absolutely have my kids read this, along with the rest of the series. \n I enjoyed this book very much! I hope Suzanne Collins continues to write, because she is a great storyteller.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 25 23:08:27 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 09 00:05:23 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f1f7a262da80b17d21ae600bb61ec1b", "book_id": "6727322", "review_id": "aaea996d74500129553a499405071365", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow. This book took me by surprise. I had never heard of it, and only vaguely knew what it was about based on the grimy jacket cover. It sat next to other YA books in the library; its sequel on one side and a petty high school paranormal romance on the other. And something about it piqued my interest. \n And now here we are. I just finished the strangest book ever. It is a fantasy. But not. It is science fiction, but not. Science fantasy? Is there such a thing? Though full of holes worth questioning, the author has created a world where past meets present and future, and science meets fantastical elements. It has real world rules and yet some sort of magic. I'm not really sure. \n Finn is a young man who has visions. He lives inside Incarceron and believes he came from the Outside. He and some others start out on a quest to get Outside. Claudia is the prison warden's daughter. She is arranged to be married to a rotten heir. She discovers secrets about Incarceron that start her out on a quest of her own. Between the two of them, they have both worlds to try to save, as well as find their own places in life. \n So this prison... what a place. I can tell you that I didn't see its mystery coming. The characters were some of the most fully realized I've read about. Aside from Finn and Claudia, I never really knew who was worth trusting, and that was because the author did so well of showing their good sides as well as hinting at dark thoughts, and the other way around. I truly enjoyed the alternating points of view, seeing both inside and out. I felt there was the perfect balance between telling us too much and not enough. \n And guess what? No cheesy romance! There were very strong character relationships of all sorts throughout the book, and the few possibilities for love interests are handled with care and at the proper pacing, hinting enough at something to keep a reader intrigued but reminding us that there are far more important things than romantic love. Such as brotherly love and the love between a father and daughter, and girl and lifelong tutor. \n The plot was new to me, and the twists were some I couldn't predict. I'm left kicking myself for not checking out Sapphique, the sequel, so I can start it right away. \n For those readers looking for something out of the box when it comes to YA (which this doesn't even feel like YA), then give this a try. Whether you end up liking it or not, I can almost guarantee that it is at least different from most of the other cliche stuff out there.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 12 23:40:49 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 18 00:10:48 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f1f7a262da80b17d21ae600bb61ec1b", "book_id": "10611", "review_id": "393e6f8514138be828ba7288dbefed11", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Stephen King is a growing on me. He is one of the bestselling authors in the world, and I'm starting to grasp, after only reading two books, why. His writing talent is amazing, and his writing feels natural, not forced or edited into a good book. I think I may have to read some of his other works. \n And from what I understand, this book quite an anomaly in his writing, since it is polar opposite from his usual horror and suspense, only further convincing me that this man can write not just one type of story, but that his imagination extends to others as well. \n THIS book (which is, in fact, what the review is supposed to be about) was good. Not great. Not original in concept. Not mysterious or magical or anything spectacular. Not the STORY, at least. King's writing, to me, is brilliant, and is what makes it. This story is more like a tale being told by an old storyteller to a younger child. The plot jumps around a bit, but not enough to be confusing, and I got the sense of sitting in an old woman's house with a couple of other young'ns listening to a tale that's been told a thousand times. This story has a lot of cliche characters, predictable plot twists, and a rather mild climax. But you know what? I liked it. It was told with such great writing, that I liked it a lot. Like I said, it FELT as if I was hearing a tale from someone's lips, rather than reading a novel. So to me, the achievement on King's part was great, in being able to capture me with an unoriginal tale for 400 pages. \n I didn't give it 5 stars, because I try to keep those to the ones that really grip me. The ones where they really leave an impression. His book, The Running Man I gave 5 stars, because it left more of an impact. \n I think I could be a King fan. I do. I will just have to find other books of his that aren't horror, and I think I could really become a fan. What must go on in that man's brain....", "date_added": "Sun Jul 21 00:28:18 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 03 00:03:50 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f1f7a262da80b17d21ae600bb61ec1b", "book_id": "12680907", "review_id": "9b53a912b92d074746b0b2095726c689", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I believe I was supposed to read Fire before reading this one, but oh well. Didn't really seem to make much difference. \n Kristen Cashore has a talent for captivating me with her prose. I find it effortless and wonderful, and I really appreciate the humor that pops up. And having loved Graceling and placing it up there as one of my favorite books, I had high expectations for Bitterblue. And for most of the book, I was prepared to clap and sing praises for it and give it five stars plus. Alas, Bitterblue suffered from a lagging midsection. It is not a terrible affliction, as I still eagerly turned pages, but it felt liked everything slowed down at a point about halfway through, and then instead of climbing back upward to an exciting climax, it was more of a gentle uphill journey. \n Don't get me wrong, I still found it thoroughly enjoyable. The characters are so well fleshed out, and she has a knack for keeping relationships between people suspenseful (sometimes painfully so). I think the plot itself could have used a little oomph. \n And there were some secrets revealed that made me cringe and feel for certain characters. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of Fire now. Overall, I found the book to have a well thought out world and history, with three-dimensional and beautifully flawed characters... a great companion book to Graceling. \n Oh, and yes, there is Katsa and Po in this one, two of my favorite characters ever. If anything, Bitterblue has inspired me to reread Graceling :)", "date_added": "Wed Jul 17 12:08:15 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 21 00:05:34 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f1f7a262da80b17d21ae600bb61ec1b", "book_id": "6137154", "review_id": "a7014dcb5d4fcb38c3631bd2d9e448d5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It is too late in the night to write it a review. It will be coming soon", "date_added": "Wed Jul 17 12:08:15 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 13 21:52:26 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Mar 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f1f7a262da80b17d21ae600bb61ec1b", "book_id": "3432478", "review_id": "82209c5694ceab12827c3e562a80d46f", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I've never wanted a lead character to die so badly as I did while reading this book. I hoped and wished that Mary would just DIE. \n The concept of the book is entirely unoriginal and seems to have been molded around M. Night Shamalamawhatever's \"The Village\". While the rest of the world seemed to hate that movie, I liked the idea and enjoyed the movie pretty much. I got that vibe while reading this book and I could have lived with--and even enjoyed--this book in all its unoriginal glory. \n BUT.... \n The author managed to create the most unlikeable character ever in this novel, and lucky for us readers, it was our boring, whiney, bipolar, selfish, stupid protagonist, Mary. There are so many things terribly painful about this book, that I'm sure they've already been written in reviews before, but I have to touch on a few. \n 1. Point of View. The author didn't do anyone any favors by writing in first person present point of view. Instead of an entertaining story, we get pages and pages and pages of what's going on inside Mary's head. First person present can work extremely well, but there wasn't enough actually going on in the story, so instead, we get front row seats to the spectacle that is Mary's inner thoughts. And all this chick thinks about is Travis, the ocean, her mother, and other things masked as philosophical ponderings. \n 2. Mary is a psycho. This chick has issues. First of all, dumb as rocks and though she constantly wonders what is outside the fence and what life used to hold, she is completely oblivious to things around her. She is the most selfish protagonist I've ever seen (and I heard people call Katniss selfish... they should check this hot mess out!). All she thought about was Travis and the ocean, and was either hurting those people around her who've been there for her since childhood, or putting everyone in danger all the time just so she could have her way. I found it impossible to root for her, and it broke my heart to find out that the series continues, because it means she won't die at the end. \n 3. Love/obsession triangle. This is not love. This is insanity, low self-esteem, bipolar mood swings, and a complete disregard for anything resembling respect. Her connection to these guys since childhood should have formed a stronger bond with them, especially since the population is so small, but there appears to be no strong connection between anyone here. Harry and Travis are brothers, and yet they show zero loyalty to one another, and betray the other without even thinking twice. Mary's confusing obsession with Travis is sickening, something like infatuation, but so up and down I'm wondering where her medications are. Her \"friendship\" with Cass supposedly went back many many years, and yet she has no shame in her actions with Travis. In one sentence, she's describing how she can't live without Travis, and the next she's fuming over the sight of Cass and Harry, and then she's livid over Cass and Travis... and it never stops. This chick has major issues. This girl represents everything that I want my daughter to NOT become. I may even use this book as an example of a pathetic and embarrassing excuse for a woman (and lead character!). \n 4. Everything else. It just was terrible. I was pretty invested even up until about halfway, and had this book at around 3 stars, despite Mary's character flaws. I liked the concept enough. And to the author's credit, her writing in terms of sentence structure and flow was actually not bad. But then it all went terribly downhill. \n Towards the end of the book I was really hoping that Jed would get Cass and Jacob out and safe. Cass had an epiphany at the end and I liked her mothering instincts actually. That is about the only thing believable and likeable about this book. \n I skimmed the last 20 pages or so of the book since I was nodding off, and found myself jumping with joy when I finally closed the book and could say I was done. I have never read Twilight, but after watching the movies, I see a similarity in pathetic characteristic between Bella and this Mary chick. I don't want to read or see pathetic. It's disgusting and uninteresting. I won't be reading the others, and I am going to immediately pick up something else and try and flush this waste of time out of my brain.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 11 23:29:53 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 13 23:34:41 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f1f7a262da80b17d21ae600bb61ec1b", "book_id": "100915", "review_id": "c09c4547d68e7ef79a2ac7fe57b56310", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was a great tale. It was written for children obviously, and it has a fairy tale feeling to it. The whole time reading this I kept thinking about how I can't wait to read it to my kids when they get older. How did I not read this when I was younger? Absolutely delightful!", "date_added": "Thu May 02 12:06:24 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 02 00:30:27 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 02 00:30:27 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f1f7a262da80b17d21ae600bb61ec1b", "book_id": "13496", "review_id": "3983d234c3db8e6422439d9ddef73232", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It must be exhausting to have that much imagination to be able to write such a long story from so many different perspectives... and then to go on to write several other books equally as long and complicated. I loved it :)", "date_added": "Wed Aug 29 15:15:42 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 18 22:17:59 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f1f7a262da80b17d21ae600bb61ec1b", "book_id": "15754767", "review_id": "599cca0b77129f180df0dba04aab3365", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was a great, refreshing story! It followed Andy, a 35 year old man who woke up back in his 9 year old self and he has no idea how it happened. He has left behind his beloved wife, who he is desperate to get back to, but finds he has landed back in a time right before his father died which means he gets to see him again. The events from beginning to end twist and turn with surprising answers to all of Andy's questions. I really loved that it makes you think about what would happen if you went back to a time in your childhood. Would you do anything to change it? If you had the opportunity to alter one life-changing event, would you? \n It was an enjoyable read, one that I got sucked into right away and read through very quickly. Thanks to the author, Mike Miller, for giving me an opportunity to read this wonderful piece, and I can't wait to see what else he has in store for future books. :)", "date_added": "Fri Aug 03 09:54:13 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 03 12:36:35 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jul 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f1f7a262da80b17d21ae600bb61ec1b", "book_id": "12974699", "review_id": "a5bee20ce2d2ddaec1533a9f34805183", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I wish I could give half stars, because I would give it 2.5 stars. Goodreads defines 2 stars as \"it was okay\", but it was somewhere between ok and \"I liked it\". Update I upgraded the stars from 2 to 3, because even though I felt it was more like 2.5, I should round up :) \n The writing was improved from the last and the storyline was better. The last half of the book, the suspense and action picked up, and the ending was a good lead in for the third book. I liked the battle scenes in this one, and the twist with Taylor I thought was really good. \n But I had a hard time with the fact that characters were still \"trying to have a good time\" in the midst of dangerous or emotional situations. Such as when everyone played pool before the mission to save Gabriel's parents. It just made me lose that emotional connection that develops in intense situations. \n And I have a problem with the tense being used throughout. It is third person past, but many times it uses the past-perfect tense and that slows things down when not used well or appropriately. (for example, \"she had wanted\" vs. \"she wanted\"). It's a minor thing, but tends to detract from certain situations. \n I did enjoy this book more than the first. You got to see the characters develop more. Early on I wasn't sure if I was going to read the third but now I have to, because the ending left me wondering...", "date_added": "Sun Jul 08 23:00:59 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 08 13:00:48 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f1f7a262da80b17d21ae600bb61ec1b", "book_id": "12974693", "review_id": "29e844078d5bd42fb53bd42be4d65d0f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I don't want to give 2 stars for this book because from the few emails David (the author) and I shared, and based on his posts I see all the time, he is the NICEST and COOLEST guy. But I have to be honest here about the book. \n The GOOD: \n 1. The story concept was good. Not fantastic, but refreshing. \n 2. It was a quick read, and despite the negative feedback I will list below, it was a page turner and easy to get through. \n 3. I enjoyed Christopher Lyon. He was my favorite character, though he needed some polishing. \n The NOT-SO-GOOD: \n 1. The dialogue was clumsy, cheesy, and forced. I don't know if the author was trying to go for a college feel with the way they talked, but it was very unnatural and read more as early high school talk. \n 2. I couldn't get attached to the characters. Their backstories could have been woven in much better instead of a rambling narration. I never really got to know who any of them were because they all had the same voice and manner. \n 3. There were a lot of show-don't-tell violations. \n 4. The foreshadowing seemed too much at times, and mixed with #3 above, the story was flat. \n 5. I don't think the point of view did any justice to the story. It would have been fun to have alternation first person POV between Gabriel and Christopher. Taylor was really only secondary to the angels and demons in my opinion. \n 6. My biggest problem was the characters acting petty and shallow in times where they should be concerned, scared, or emotional. During the battle scenes I couldn't enjoy them because I was caught up in wondering why they were talking about love and getting back to school. \n I read that this was the author's first book published, and in knowing that I have a lot of respect and can only encourage him to keep writing because I think he had a great concept in this book. \n Overall it was a book of flaws, not in idea but in execution and developing talent. I think a good editor would have helped quite a bit. I do plan on reading Demon Evolution though, because I've heard that it is better than the first. :) \n The author stated that this was his first book, and reading his blog was really encouraging for an aspiring writer like myself. So with that in mind, I can only imagine that he has gotten, and will continue to get better.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 08 23:00:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 19 23:09:11 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "4f1f7a262da80b17d21ae600bb61ec1b", "book_id": "82192", "review_id": "4729b67bb174730e247ba3e1c4e5f0b3", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It took me over a month to finish this book because the long, rambling descriptions and narratives slowed the book down immensely. It's a shame that I have to give it only two stars, because I really wanted to like it. The story was interesting and the author really does write well. \n I enjoyed the story being told from Merlin's point of view and I enjoyed the dialogue. But it got bogged down far too often with going overboard on describing how the rain glistened on the blades of grass under an April sky... pages and pages of description. \n I will read the other two, and hopefully they will be better.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 21 16:58:03 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 12 00:29:30 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jul 12 00:29:30 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f1f7a262da80b17d21ae600bb61ec1b", "book_id": "3236307", "review_id": "c9bc14cbebf144743a5b3fbb2bad5d05", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Every once in a while I read a book that I can't say enough good things about. Lately I've read some good books, but none have lingered in the corners of my mind. But this book... this one has done it. \n I'd call this a light fantasy. The world is very similar to ours in a sense, with humans and animals and a seemingly normal world around them with the same seasons and landscapes. The Graced, people with extraordinary abilities in a certain skill, are what set the world apart from ours. It's a primitive, medieval-type lifestyle, pretty common in many of the fantasies I've read. This story is about Katsa, a king's niece, who possesses the Grace of killing. \n But it doesn't read too much like a fantasy novel. I've encountered books hundreds of pages long with tedious descriptions and world-building. This book had the perfect amount of both, and though some criticized the author's world-building, I found I didn't need all of the extras to make it work. \n The author writes very well and rather simply. Her style allows you to flow through the chapters effortlessly as if you are experiencing them firsthand, which makes for a quick read. I read this in about 6 hours total reading time. That's always a bonus! \n But the stars of this magical novel are truly the characters. I'm a fan of strong women leads, not because I'm a feminist, but because they are interesting characters to read about. No one wants a boring, whiney, wimpy chick leading the way. And Katsa is probably my favorite female lead EVER. Which is a lot to say, because if you know me then you know I am a huge Hunger Games fan and pretty much wish I could meet Katniss for real. I think Katsa actually topped Katniss (there must be something with \"Kat\" names) in that she felt her purpose and moved along with the story intentionally, rather than survived her ordeal. I'm not downing Katniss by the way, because she was an amazing survivor in her story, but that's how incredible Katsa is. \n She is Graced with the ability to kill. And she does. But, she's not a ruthless, cold-blooded girl, which could have easily been the direction the author went. Instead, she gives Katsa realistic weaknesses and vulnerabilities, such as the developing ability to control her temper and standing up to her uncle, King Randa, when he wants her to perform his dirty deeds in the kingdom. She's not unkind or foul, but rather a product of her upbringing, and I love the complexity to her character. \n Po is wonderful also. He seems a little soft, but he's also very strong. He is Graced with the ability to fight, and when Po and Katsa meet, they have some incredibly charged interactions. He's intuitive and sensitive to others, yet brave, strong, and level headed. \n The supporting characters are well rounded, and I fell in love with Raffin and Oll and Bitterblue. \n I love when a book feels believable. Not in the sense of that it could actually happen, but that the characters are fleshed out and consistent enough that their dialogue, actions, and interactions seem so natural that it would appear they were modeled from real people. This book has a little romance in it, but I LOVED it. I liked Katniss and Peeta also, but again, I think that Katsa and Po are just that much more electrifying. No insta-love here people, it's a well developed and heartfelt bond shared. \n And the secrets about their Graces... great revelations. Po has a secret, and Katsa discovers her true Grace. Together, this team is unstoppable, and it made for a truly exciting read. \n If I absolutely had to find something to gripe about, it would be the travelling. They did a lot of it. It sagged a little in the middle, but the sag was pretty well supported with great character building and more world-building, plus development of relationships between characters. \n The author was criticized by some for Katsa's character and the depiction of her as a woman in the story. I don't see what the fuss was about, and I'm not even sure why she was picked on about it. I guess some people have more extreme feminist views when it comes to how a woman should or shouldn't be portrayed in a story. Personally, Katsa is incredibly strong and independent. Maybe it was her decision to **gasp** have sex with Po. Just because she wasn't married, and never wants to, the author was criticized. I've seen far worse things exploited in books (Lolita, anyone?), and if you want to get into YA examples of weak or \"bad example\" lead characters, check out The Forest of Hands and Teeth, or Twilight . Katsa is great. I'll let the haters hate I guess, and just keep rooting her on myself. I wonder who the Katsa's critics root for. \n This is a book I will read again. I'm so glad I bought a hard copy of it, because I will read it over and over. And recommend it to everyone I know. I am still thinking about this book and about how this review doesn't do it justice whatsoever. Katsa and Po... just wonderful. Great debut novel.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 08:03:38 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 21 12:39:25 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "4f1f7a262da80b17d21ae600bb61ec1b", "book_id": "92717", "review_id": "30c90d034775321b2e6c1cb4432492fd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Up until reading Hunger Games, this was my all-time favorite book. It is still a completely different genre, being entirely fantasy in every way. The author writes so beautifully I could close my eyes and picture everything she described, and the way the tale wove through all three books was perfect. I have read this book over and over again, never tiring of it.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 00:21:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 13 00:54:51 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1999", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f1f7a262da80b17d21ae600bb61ec1b", "book_id": "10626594", "review_id": "65761fecb4b9531b0c22c37ec98fe33f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The last half of this book was really good. It was exciting, intense and satisfying. The first half was a whole lot of back story and stuff that didn't matter. Many characters introduced were unnecessary or at least given too much page time. Most of what was built then in characters and story could have been done in a much more compact way. There were times I skimmed the pages early on. But as I said, the second half was what I wanted. The relationship between Puck and Sean was intriguing and refreshing, having been built on trust rather than sexual attraction. And thought the actual races were very short, it was the perfect length, and I thought the ending was sweet and perfect.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 00:14:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 08 23:09:56 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6c45e8df9297718b84cffd2c455191bc", "book_id": "6609848", "review_id": "a939782bf710e31bc486949c4a1514b2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "We finished this one last week and both Will and I loved it! He's been able to skype with the author, leaving him inspired to write his own book and also we're getting ready to start the next book in the series!", "date_added": "Sat Jan 24 05:56:32 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 06 10:37:28 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Mar 06 10:37:27 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6c45e8df9297718b84cffd2c455191bc", "book_id": "17910570", "review_id": "fd8d5b285005601560821ab0645f24d8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have been given the privlidge of reading what sounds like a wonderful story! I was given this by the author through NetGalley and I am excited as it is my first book to read and review through Net Galley, so I thank the author for this! I am working on it, but slow going with the holidays. I hope to get some reading time in this weekend! \n ****Updated**** \n Read my full review at: http://letusread325.blogspot.com/2014...", "date_added": "Fri Dec 27 12:17:16 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 01 12:14:06 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jan 01 12:14:06 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "25799515", "review_id": "3a2116ebc4e3293426dac70147bfa3e6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"Sirens\" as a theme offers a broad spectrum of literal possibility, from the avian monsters of Greek mythology to the sleek temptresses of the sea. But the writers of this anthology offer an even broader range of interpretations. One of my personal favorites is \"Nautilus,\" by VF LeSann, a delicious tale of AI and a tantalizing call in deep space. Though far removed from the original concept of sirens, it feels right in this varied collection. \n I also need to shout out to \"Moth to an Old Flame,\" only only because of the London Blitz setting but because of the delightful premise of a siren in love with a deaf man. \n Rhonda Parrish always does a nice job of assembling widely varied but complementary short stories and this anthology is no different. This collection is definitely worth a look if you like to read classic mythology in alternate settings, urban, historical, or speculative, or retellings of the same. \n I received an ARC to review but this does not influence my review.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 01 12:11:00 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 01 12:18:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "22064166", "review_id": "145a380bd28d0fd8a63dfab6e62a5f90", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So at first, this is a tale of a princess doing her duty to her kingdom, marrying to seal an alliance and end a war. It's not her choice, and it scares her, but she's determined to see it through. \n Only, readers of STORMSINGER might recall that the prince to whom she's betrothed isn't exactly the princess-marrying kind. He prefers men. But he has a royal duty to see through, as well. \n Add to this some political treachery from those who would profit by continued war, an assassin seeking to protect her autistic little brother, and and a front-row seat to the developing romance of an infamous lady privateer, and you have an idea of the places this could go. \n (Orya is my favorite.)", "date_added": "Fri Jun 06 21:19:45 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 06 21:21:05 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "21976599", "review_id": "df714d9cd9e873422ac2ce4d0bee54c4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So it's a bit odd to write a review because yes, my story is in this anthology. So let's just agree that I like my own story, sure, but I would have rated and reviewed the book even without it because, you know, fae. \n There are a LOT of different takes on the fairy concept here, from Celtic to cyber, and whether you like traditional or innovative tales, there's probably something here for you. Settings range from the American Civil War to interstellar space to the dark woods of mythology to urban streets, and endings are happy and endings are... not happy. Overall, it's a great collection of modern takes on the fairy tale.", "date_added": "Fri May 09 22:47:00 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 24 10:40:54 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jul 24 10:40:54 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "9533378", "review_id": "92fd5da58f7a37642548baac16c224b0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Okay, I really liked most of this. Fun mythology, interesting characters. The tale of a 2,000+ year old druid protecting a magical sword during a clash of the gods is pretty fun, and I really enjoyed the vampire lawyer and other inclusions. Plot turns which stretched my credulity (the widow's helpfulness at a key legal moment) were made up for by sheer storytelling chutzpah and fun (the hound Oberon's enthusiastic observations). \n That said, there were two big problems which really interfered with my enjoyment of the book. The first is the unfortunately ubiquitous portrayal of werewolves with a hyper-strict dominance hierarchy, just like real wolves. Except that real wolves don't have such a hierarchy, and as the term \"alpha wolf\" has been scientifically outmoded for DECADES, there's really no excuse for writers to still be creating totem-pole pack structure for werewolves \"like real wolves\". If you want to include a super-strict hierarchy, fine, but just don't pretend it's the natural structure of a wolf pack. Animal behavior is my day job, and I find it jarring when books get this so wrong, kind of like reading about objects falling sideways because it's just like gravity. (Also, adult wolves generally don't bark. That's a puppy/domesticated thing, so it makes your scary wolves considerably less scary....) \n The other big downer for me is a slight spoiler, so I'm going to leave a space.... \n Still here? Okay, here it is. \n At the end of the book, when our hero triumphs, suddenly a goddess starts pawing over him and demanding sex. Seriously. It's so blatant I thought it was going to be a lampshade of the awful hero-wins-fight-and-so-wins-sex trope, but nope, it's played for serious. This is out of nowhere (as when the Morrigan went sexy before only to demonstrate his susceptibility to a prurient method of attack, not because she was actually interested in bedding him). \n And not only that, but our hero also acquires a harem of bitches in heat so his DOG can also win hero sex. Yep, sex is the ultimate and obligate reward for a man who does well, even if he has to buy it from those non-speaking dogs who might not even be willing participants. (Because if we're going to give a dog a moral conscience, dreams and goals, and a voice, we can't then freely abuse other dogs, right?) Felt a little cheap. \n Aside from those two issues, however, I enjoyed the story and would continue the series, unless the next book is just all about Atticus getting metaphorical tail and Oberon getting literal tail.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 23 20:35:49 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 23 20:54:32 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "15808380", "review_id": "5f43933f8b4963df65cd119254f026d2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I met the author at a conference and asked what her book was about. \n \"Well, a doctor discovers that she has the power to walk through dreams after a patient spontaneously combusts in her ER, and she learns about--\" \n \"Stop,\" I said. \"You had me at spontaneous combustion.\" \n This is a tricky plot to place, probably technically an urban fantasy but a lot more fantasy than urban. I'd probably give BETWEEN a 4.5 if I could; I kept wanting to come back to it (good!) but got a bit confused in trying to work out all that was going on (how and why?). Our heroine has a probably-realistic confusion and reluctance at the beginning, but she dragged her feet too much at the end for my personal taste. Also, I like a sharp sense of time and action in my fantasy, while this had a more dreamy feel -- which is wholly appropriate for the story, so that's nothing but my own preference surfacing. \n There's some left unexplained -- why was Flynne hypothermic? how are the \"dream\" personalities connected to the \"real\" ones, and are they responsible for one another? was the [spoiler] real or not? -- but a sequel or two coming, so maybe all will be explained. \n But it has dragons and magic and dreams and spontaneous combustion, so worth a look.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 15 08:14:30 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 23 15:08:21 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "18397752", "review_id": "b5ffe3b5d18bd092a8b9ff1cf7152956", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"Whenever that particularly disconcerting [romantic] desire hit her, she went looking for a Strid ship to attack. Blowing things up always made her feel better.\" \n And that's when I decided I would enjoy reading about Captain Arama Dzornaea. \n This novelette manages to weave several stories together as Arama, a stormwitch, a young prince, and a singer wrestle individually and together with their conflicting longings. There are hints of a much greater world than we see, which I expect will be explored further in other books. \n (As a writer, I have to say that I was particularly impressed with the fact that this was an 8-Hour Challenge book. Like a piece of Kinnet's sea glass, this is rough and yet polished.) \n Definitely worth the buck I paid! Recommended.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 17:27:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 29 17:29:01 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "6929566", "review_id": "2695206c7ac47cd170707d54c98828f5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is an odd review to write. \n Let me start by saying that paranormal romance isn't my usual thing, but I'm not as biased as I pretend to be about my genres. :) Once started, I really liked the mythology of this world -- humans call and bind sylphs of various elements or types to serve as familiars (or slaves). The greatest and most powerful must be summoned and bound with a virgin sacrifice, but what the humans don't know is that these sylphs are coming for the women, not their sacrifice, and they hate the men who murder the girls and enslave the sylphs. The sylphs' hive structure, seeking and dependent upon a queen, is a really nice adaptation which makes for a believable ethology for their world. \n But it makes for a really awkward romance. Our story begins when Solie, intended as a sacrifice, doesn't die properly and instead accidentally binds the sylph to herself. Heyou (a misheard \"hey, you\" in a cute oops of a screw-up) is blissfully happy, bound to serve a new hive queen. And here's where it starts to get sticky. \n If I, as a female reader, picked up a book in which the male protagonist magically bound to him a female slave who could be manipulated at will to his preferred appearance and who wanted absolutely nothing more in life than to cling to him and pleasure him sexually, I would be hugely offended. While it's interesting to see the sexism reversed here, I am still offended. If Heyou were only a hive drone, incapable of independent thought, this might be less weird, but in a sentient character presented as a love interest, it's downright disturbing. That's not my idealized relationship. \n The story has potential. It looks like it's intended to continue, and we do have some interesting characters to work with. But by the end we have four male sylphs bound to Solie, and I can't help but think I'd be happier if they had a bit more say in the matter. \n Maybe in the next book Heyou will reject his hive conditioning, work toward some goals of his own, evaluate his relationship with Solie, and then choose to approach her as an equal on a basis of love, not magical obligation, and I would be okay with that. But I'm worried that's not where we're going. \n Three stars: nice world, held my interest (except for one rough patch in the middle), and innovative take on magical familiars, but lost points for joyful sex slaves.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 13 12:04:43 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 13 12:33:22 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Mar 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "91479", "review_id": "78b7cabd9d96d27d69bf1893de4a5a48", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really wanted this to be better.... I got fairly excited about the series in Grave Peril, but this installment is much inferior. The ending is a bit contrived, which is unusual for the series, and features an uncharacteristically dumb move by our hero; the plot was less even in timing, and the great character of Michael we introduced in #3 (one of the best secular depictions of a character of faith, in any series) was undermined here by post-modern copy/paste. Even the action was less compelling. \n I still enjoyed the book, and I'll probably go on with the series eventually, but it's telling that I've read several other books since instead of grabbing the next Dresden book.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 30 17:20:21 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 30 17:25:33 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "1421978", "review_id": "4b2c1e8a5935997b88a94b49dd6ac95b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "My least favorite of the series thus far -- a bit less plot, a bit more sensation and cliche, and I found Robin's subplot disappointing in the end. Plot resolution was very similar to that of Moonshine (#2), so that didn't help, either. \n On the other hand, this had one of the better instances of a cliffhanger ending I've seen. I will look for #4, because I quite enjoyed the first two and everyone can have an off book.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 30 09:40:14 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 31 21:36:21 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "7286699", "review_id": "dd3b9ea7919dbc4e07527f6fa172ba03", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I had pre-ordered the book, and it came with the promised \"This Shit is Not for Kids. Seriously.\" sticker to place on the front cover. At first, I wasn't sure if I wanted to put the sticker anywhere; the cover art is delightful and balanced, and I felt the sticker might spoil it. \n Then I finished the book, and I applied the sticker. \n I'd heard the first two thirds of the book before, read by Rothfuss, and I had an idea of what to expect. The ending doesn't disappoint, but it's probably not the thing to leave out when your young nieces and nephews are likely to visit. The art, as I have said, is fantastic and will absolutely suck in young readers (especially as many of today's children's books are generally so bland). Adults will enjoy them even more. The story is fun and generally paces well. \n Overall, recommended if you're the sort of person who likes this sort of thing. It's not for everyone, so don't say you weren't warned. But it certainly is for a lot of people with a particular type of humor.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 05 22:49:06 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 06 15:07:08 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "11918", "review_id": "0c383fc31fc90f8ec8ed7ccd5ac0a752", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This was recommended as an example of strong supernatural-fiction female protagonist.... Well, it was. Occasionally too strong, even; at times heroine Elena clearly as a chip on her shoulder regarding her gender (which is a better sign that she's worried about it than that she's confident in it). But, overall, it's neither an offensively feminist read nor a sadly weak tale of whining and rescue. \n On the other hand, parts of this book drove me crazy. I am a bit picky here, in that animal behavior is my profession, and I will freely admit that fantasy authors can get away with ethological vagaries in their fictional species, such as werewolves (though even fantasy books read much better if they are believable and consistent). But very often Armstrong would describe her characters' behaviors as \"just like real wolves\" and then include something utterly ridiculous. The strict totem pole hierarchy rarely exists in healthy wolf packs and the term \"alpha wolf\" is not used much in scientific literature anymore, sad as that is for both werewolf authors and hack dog trainers. It's just not true that a top-ranking wolf will get an entire deer carcass to himself while others wait patiently for a turn, as the very simplest of internet searches would show. These repeated inaccuracies, quoting pop culture rather than anything to do with the cited \"real wolves,\" made it hard for me to stay in the story and believe the rest. \n That said, I found other parts of the book quite enjoyable (skimming the usual sex scenes, which bored me as such scenes usually do -- in fact, all of the friends with whom I've discussed reading habits admit to skimming or skipping these obligatory inclusions). If this is her first novel, Armstrong has real potential, if she can invest in some fact-checking.", "date_added": "Sat May 29 09:11:53 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat May 29 09:30:55 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "421007", "review_id": "4fd71794140616720671abdbdb6f4697", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I picked this up while waiting at a bookstore for friends. I joked at the time that I had bought the urban fantasy just for the cover featuring Emo McEmo, but I was surprised when I opened it for the first time later that night and found that I was really enjoying it. Far more than anticipated. \n The story is a nice fresh twist on classic lines, and I was pleased to discover that the writing recalled old pulp fiction with Bogartesque lines. In the end, I stayed up late reading it, which was NOT what I'd anticipated when I bought it on a lark. \n Moral: Don't judge a book by its cover. I think I'd heard that somewhere....", "date_added": "Wed Mar 03 18:52:17 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 31 21:35:36 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Mar 05 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Wed Mar 03 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "47571", "review_id": "73716e22040638bfe999bf425be0ffa3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Enjoyed it. It's DWJ's oft-revisited formula, but she always does it so well, we don't care! Like most DWJ books, to tell you the premise is to spoil something in the plot, but this was a quick bathtub read and worthwhile.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 14 11:47:37 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 14 11:48:57 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "47510", "review_id": "1ce383bed9e0a4638b910ebb19fdcc8e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Five stars for hilarious reading, and a sixth star (not visible) for its valuable utility to authors. Every genre author should review this to catch cliches and holes. :)", "date_added": "Sun Jan 03 16:17:42 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 14 11:43:56 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "44761", "review_id": "28bc1a4f99e8f2b175019e94d16c6eb1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book has a wonderful premise and moments of real talent -- and then the writing pales to merely competent. I really wish it were more even and generally, well, better, living up to its premise. Still reading, though.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 04 02:16:41 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 08 22:43:20 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Tue Sep 08 22:43:20 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "70582", "review_id": "738b45c32fdb8e45e7e0ec71acbb0dbd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was one of several books I read while walking and riding trains through much of Great Britain -- two of which I left in hostels for others to enjoy, sparing myself their weight, only to wish later that I'd kept them to re-read. This was one I wish I'd saved, along with Corporate Mentality. \n There are a lot of nice things about this book (characterization, language, pithy fun) and if I find another copy I'll probably pick it up to revisit.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 04 02:11:23 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 04 02:15:20 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "1344000", "review_id": "686aceb4b4019eb7137bdcf427bfc98e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I think this book is better than the first in the series; I was a bit disappointed that I'd seen the anime and knew how it would resolve. I'm glad this series is being translated!", "date_added": "Thu Jul 23 08:07:44 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 28 23:45:00 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Tue Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "47212", "review_id": "3452ebff050ab7de16b7ce899668d44f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'd heard so many people talk about this series that I (perversely) knew it couldn't be good. Shows what opposition reflex can get you.... \n Overall, I enjoyed this. Interesting story, slightly predictable (a function of the genre) but innovative, fun characters. I'm not rushing directly to my local bookstore, but I will look for more in this series.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 23 07:59:22 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 23 08:02:59 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "27003", "review_id": "e8fed6168b60aee03d9034c5898e31e1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book. \n I would have enjoyed it even more if it hadn't oddly paralleled a series of short stories being produced by my friends and myself. Curse great minds thinking alike -- and one of them making it to publication first. \n Oh, well. I still really enjoyed this book. And if anyone wants to see the adventures of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Fictional Characters, let me know. ;)", "date_added": "Tue Feb 10 22:44:21 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 10 22:47:21 -0800 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "13737", "review_id": "ad73de76264738140fdb9ab7ee0da591", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is a world of great depth; it's obvious author Fuyumi Ono has planned our discovery of the Twelve Kingdoms. Fans of the anime will find this first novel of the series a bit slow, as the anime seems to have condensed the story to fit several novels in each season, but first-time readers will enjoy this first tour of this exotic world. \n The weak point of this story is Yoko's lingering experience in the wilderness; it felt a bit like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, in the sense of dragging too long through misery in the wilderness. That is why I gave this only 3 stars, but I confess I might have been swayed by experiencing the condensed version first. But the rich development of the world compensates for the slower progress, and I will seek out the next in the series.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 10 14:19:54 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 23 16:42:09 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Fri Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "2887211", "review_id": "889f6a5de8e97be1b7d2f867d6c462db", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Oddly enough, I enjoyed the anime more than I did the book. The anime (Seirei no Moribito) devoted a full season to just the first book of the series, and I think that was what made the difference -- parts of the book feel rushed and incomplete, after I have seen a more fully developed visual script. \n Still, I like the premise and without the book, the anime would not have been made. And I have a guess that some of the richer development in the anime came from later volumes in the novel series. Still not a waste of time, by any means. \n Note: it's difficult to review translated books, as so much depends upon the quality and style of translation....", "date_added": "Tue Feb 10 14:10:13 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 11 21:47:52 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "127455", "review_id": "4a76f173f78c16f849fa199bdb2b7dbe", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Wonderfully rendered world, great characterization, and I even like the random bits of \"history\" which appear throughout the story -- they're done well, rather than feeling like the author just couldn't bear to edit his world-building. And the plot held me. \n I didn't like the excessive profanity. Yes, we're dealing with rough folk who probably speak roughly, but it would have sufficed perfectly well to give us a flavor and then get on without as much of it. I found the dialogue actually jarring me out of the book in places; in real life, I wouldn't choose to hang around to listen, either. \n Other than that, though, very well done. I felt there was one silly concession in the ending, but we can allow a single plot flaw in an otherwise excellent story.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 10 20:19:14 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 10 20:25:28 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "13496", "review_id": "f6ce31b6645e1d871a4957618a73ab79", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A friend lent me this. \"You'll like it. It's like what you write, only different.\" \n With that, I began. \n The book is very well-written; the political intrigue is some of the best I've ever read, and characterization is generally very credible and complete. Martin also does a nice job of balancing a large cast of characters and several locations in a way that does not require the reader to keep notes or a scoresheet. \n Martin is (in)famous for his character-killing ways, and so I was cautious about forming too many attachments. Good thing, too. (Incidentally, I wonder if that's an obstacle for the author, if the reader knows to distance herself from the story?) Still, the plot twisted in a couple of wraps that I didn't see coming, and I was roused to anger more than once. \n Not my all-time favorite high fantasy, but probably some of the best, technically speaking. The world is very well-realized (though I have a personal preference for shading it a bit more away from our real world inspirations, so that it's harder for me to recognize historic English events and other ethnic groups) and the characters very real. \n I've decided that original recommendation -- \"it's like what you write, only different\" -- was a real compliment!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 09 14:07:08 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 06 15:11:55 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "401455", "review_id": "1d99152fb1f4bc7bf2636ba35b0fcd6d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I wish this had been better. \n I very much enjoyed Eve Forward's book Villains By Necessity and was glad to receive this one as a gift. I was even more pleased to see that Forward had done some research on animal training, setting true behavior science and operant/instrumental conditioning in a less-advanced fantasy world. As a professional OC trainer myself, I was thrilled to see it being used well in fiction. \n Unfortunately, the plot wasn't enough to sustain this book. There were moments of excellence, but other scenes needed more editing. Parts were sadly predictable. While the premise offered great possibilities, in the end the book didn't quite deliver. \n Not bad, but not great. The author is capable of better.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 09 13:47:35 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 09 13:52:37 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "2248573", "review_id": "5da8d337f1017fc58c2758f29f24daad", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Really, how much phenomenal cosmic power, gleaming musculature, purring voice, and natural musk that drives women wild are we supposed to take? And our Strong Female Leader can have her decision swayed by a eyebrow twitch from our Sexy Magically Powered Hero.... \n I will probably never know how this book ends.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 08 08:39:21 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 10 07:34:34 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 11, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "59268", "review_id": "82f32750c09e5bdcba55d6aa51a390b5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed these. I have to admit that a huge part of the fun was that I got them in audio format, and Simon Jones was a perfect choice for the narrator. He makes a wonderful Bartimaeus. \n The third book was the weakest of the three; somewhat predictable and a bit of post-modernist propaganda. The second book's scene in the British Museum was priceless, however; anyone who has ever visited that august building will love it. \n Not always books for children, but definitely worthwhile for most older readers.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 04 23:22:48 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 10 05:43:56 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "8088", "review_id": "adcb22a8cb176baed83e1298324f6ff4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What I liked most about this novel was that it was NOT yet another tired re-worked supernatural romance. This is a realistic telling of a world which goes on daily, coping with its supernatural aspects just as with taxes and other inconveniences. We don't get -- or need -- a lengthy exposition of where the Other Stuff comes from or how humans should fear it; we just get a story that is fresh. \n We're left wanting more -- that's a good thing. Better to wonder what the \"different ways of being what we are\" might be than to beat it to death in minute detail and choke the reader. We don't know where the magic comes from, or how it works, or why Constantine is who he is, or any of a number of things -- but we know enough. We know that the story works, and we know that the story hasn't ended, as stories don't just \"end\" in real life. I liked that.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 29 13:25:45 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 29 13:34:06 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03f6f73e78c0c3e1bda911a3206de3c5", "book_id": "114510", "review_id": "bf4c9df0ae7e9c3b0b13d2e9fe5d9a21", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was very angry that the cover teaser spoiled the plot twist. When I recommended the book to others, I was careful to cover the offending paragraph or to specify that readers should avoid it. They had much more fun figuring it out for themselves! \n I very much enjoyed the characterization of this. Can't say much more without spoilers. :-)", "date_added": "Tue Mar 18 17:56:16 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 09 14:33:24 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d0ac2144e9a04f60184929b4d6b8bf3", "book_id": "4214", "review_id": "7167412ccb9d995d09842c58dd722b97", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Wonderful book. Highly recommended for anyone that loves animals, religion, quirky characters, and unpredictable story lines. The main character, Pi, is endearing from the very first pages. It is highly enjoyable to follow him on his adventures around the globe. Also: I don't want to give anything away, but there is a killer twist near the end of the book that will make you rethink the whole story. Perfect read for while you're on vacation or when you need a mini-vacation from everyday worries.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 28 22:51:24 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 05 07:27:26 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Thu Feb 24 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Tue Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d0ac2144e9a04f60184929b4d6b8bf3", "book_id": "351021", "review_id": "75b19aa831ebb33e132648c38d176a90", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Fast-paced, interesting topic (where memory meets magic), and decent character development.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 09 22:11:51 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 12 13:06:48 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d0ac2144e9a04f60184929b4d6b8bf3", "book_id": "13521", "review_id": "6427cc1c13c53a9dd11d86e963d1c0a6", "rating": 2, "review_text": "After The Disappointment of Lost, I was biased against Son of a Witch from page one. I tried my best to limit my bias, but as this grandiose story unfolded, the disappointed feeling returned again and again. \n I enjoyed the larger-than-life, sweeping feeling of the novel at times, but Liir's character was too whiney and confused. Most of his time is spent wandering around Oz, wondering what to do. This doesn't make for very compelling reading. The end of the book fell flat, I feel, because I was never really cared about him. \n Also, the sex and vocabulary throughout the novel felt gratuitous. Is MacGuire showing off? Is he trying to explain who Liir is through his sexual escapades? I just felt distracted by the vocabulary and sexual overtones. \n In the end, MacGuire's talent is setting up political situations in fantasy settings. I was disgusted at the tyrannical leaders in the Emerald City by the end of the novel, but frustrated that Liir didn't really accomplish much. Not enough payoff for the setup, in the end.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 05 16:48:20 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 02 13:16:06 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon Mar 31 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d0ac2144e9a04f60184929b4d6b8bf3", "book_id": "1312183", "review_id": "856c0aac7504eb0b7a4875f4f4eebada", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I love Christopher Moore. It's amazing how he can woo me so well, and do his voo doo whether writing about Our Lord And Savior, Jesus H. Christ, or teenage vampires in San Fransisco. The later was the subject of this book. \n Write about what you know, they tell us. I know Moore spends months researching each new era or supernatural phenomenon he'll devote to paper. I know this about him; maybe I should write about him?? \n The wonderful thing about the result from his research is its realism. He made those thirty lost years of Jesus's life come alive as Biff (the apostle who was too dumb to be included in the gospels) and the Lamb trudged through Asia. And in You Suck, the misty morals of vampirism feel like they're knocking. You begin to debate the characters as you lie in bed. This is especially easy to do if you, like me, choose to listen to the audio version, which is perfectly enunciated. \n With the sultry voice actress injecting life into every word of the undead, it's easy to imagine your own alabaster neck stretched before your lord and master. And that's the whole point, right? \n Fun, Frisky, and Flameable.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 25 14:26:16 -0700 2007", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 01 18:18:09 -0700 2007", "read_at": "Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d0ac2144e9a04f60184929b4d6b8bf3", "book_id": "1025669", "review_id": "fea21b02d9fdc7180b538be0fea437bd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Having thoroughly enjoyed Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel, I thought I'd give this collection of short stories a whirl. And I'm sure glad I did. Like a truly inspired authoress, Clarke ended every story too early, leaving me desperately scanning the audio cds in my car, swerving in and out of traffic, pining for more. \n A huge Austenite, I was delighted to find yet another way to explore my undying devotion to the Regency period. I've got the chest for it, after all. My body was MADE for empire waists, I swear. \n British accents! Magic! Pharisees! What more could you ask for? Besides another volume of the same.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 30 21:34:35 -0700 2007", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 23 20:30:19 -0800 2007", "read_at": "Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d0ac2144e9a04f60184929b4d6b8bf3", "book_id": "11390", "review_id": "b00e0c4f297ae667c150ed015e53c4db", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I started this book before Halloween, hoping to finish it at the spookiest time of year to heighten its effect, but it proved terrifying enough on its own. Its macabre-beautiful prose would probably frighten me in May, too. Interesting ideas on relationships, including son/father, young boy/ doppleganger young boy, and youth/age.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 01:32:13 -0700 2007", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 25 22:37:07 -0700 2007", "read_at": "Wed Nov 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d0ac2144e9a04f60184929b4d6b8bf3", "book_id": "16705", "review_id": "4dcad82436429f78ad7c2ea58050077f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Harry Potter for Adults. Adults who like baseball, that is. This was one of the most enjoyable fictions I've read all year. It stars an awkward teenager who can't seem to do much anything right at the opening of the novel, save explain to his long-suffering widower father why he can't play baseball, namely because he's the worst player ever. A Harry Potter cum Houdini cum Babe Ruth rite of passage adventure ensues.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 10 23:13:42 -0700 2007", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 24 01:44:27 -0700 2007", "read_at": "Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d0ac2144e9a04f60184929b4d6b8bf3", "book_id": "872789", "review_id": "b6ec1dc0ad4416fd610ff264ced1c63e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Although I read this sequel before the original, I really enjoyed it. It can be read on many levels-- as a thrilling adventure, a lovely trot through references to other children's books, and a reflection on how to live life in the moment and embrace change. I know that sounds like a pile of hooey-- who would see such depth in a young person's novel?-- but the main character's struggles with expressing her tru character enough to find the truth (who captured the Nobodies) is a wonderful metaphor for modern life, with so many choices. The author reminds us all to be ourselves; it's the best choice in the end. Or maybe I'm just assuming that because I'm in the middle of a personal quest myself.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 18 00:33:52 -0700 2007", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 16 21:50:59 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d0ac2144e9a04f60184929b4d6b8bf3", "book_id": "24929", "review_id": "b39e8e50c35877018ea001157a490619", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I was attracted to this book because I absolutely loved the conceit of Wicked-- take a well-known, despised, yet intriguing character and explain her point of view. Kind of like \"The Real Story of the Three Little Pigs,\" which was told by the wolf, and is one of my favorite picture books. \n The jacket left me feeling woozy with the thought that I could again feel the thrill of gaining new insight into a previously underappretiated character: Scrooge. Dickens being like complicated, intricate candy to me, I was hooked. Additionally, as I am considering venturing into writing myself, I loved the questions Macguire raised, like What is the true identity of a novelist? Do they have a true personality, or are they just an amalgamation of their characters? Unfortunately, I didn't get what I expected. I found Maguire brought in too many disparate themes, including poltergeists, possessions, Jack the Ripper, and Scrooge, without bringing substantial depth or increased understanding of the main character, novelist Winifred (Winnie) Rudge. \n Still, Maguire does several things right. First, his vocabulary is impressive. As one of those totally dorky readers who writes down and later looks up new vocab words, I can attest that I went through nearly a full book of post-its. Second, the plot structure is interesting. As the main character reveals more and more about her past, her characters (in her head? or do they actually live in our world?) are creating a future for themselves. Ultimately, however, I wasn't invested enough in the characters to give this book more than two stars.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 04 18:39:01 -0700 2007", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 21 22:54:07 -0700 2007", "read_at": "Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5ca6491915f40bb26b3caaf08e1d0e4", "book_id": "35486205", "review_id": "87d4fa7834445d2f6be98e748252de53", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Genialt och ett vardigt slut pa trilogin. Svart att kommentera vidare utan att avsloja for mycket, men historien vavs samman till sist. Och otackt blir det, men pa ett helt annat satt an kanske vantat.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 04 08:43:02 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 16 12:41:16 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Sep 16 12:41:16 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "e5ca6491915f40bb26b3caaf08e1d0e4", "book_id": "31282421", "review_id": "77197beb28a628b92bb6be8befcb3f5b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "De som last Ajvide Lindqvists \"speciella omstandigheter\" kanner igen en den. Men har ar det en roman, inte en novell och det ar i beskrivningen av smasamhallet den riktiga kvaliteten finns. Det hade funkat att skriva en dubbelt sa tjock bok, helt utan skrack, och anda fatt den intresserant. Ingen bok som lamnar storre spar, men likval snabblast och valskriven. Och en detaljrikedom som kravt sin research.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 22 05:56:17 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 26 12:28:47 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Nov 26 12:28:47 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Nov 22 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5ca6491915f40bb26b3caaf08e1d0e4", "book_id": "31283395", "review_id": "aa30d34347a5e9d9f4a7a1b1abd64545", "rating": 3, "review_text": "den forsta delen i serien ar inte alls olik Pestens tid, men med skillnaden att King nojde sig med en bok. tyvarr nar del tva och tre i serien intre hela vagen. det ar forst de sista hundra sidorna i del tre som det tar fart, om an i en Deus ex machina. egentligen borde det bli en tvaa men jag ger en extra bonus-stjarna for ett tappert forsok.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 29 05:06:55 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 26 22:43:16 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Aug 27 22:43:16 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5ca6491915f40bb26b3caaf08e1d0e4", "book_id": "2802914", "review_id": "57780e50df802414c4f86c80ceaf7ba6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Borjar lite trevande, blir riktigt bra drygt halvvags men tappar igen lite mot slutet. Det finns flera riktigt geniala tekniska detaljer och knep som visar pa en talang som - nar boken skrevs - annu inte var fardigslipad.", "date_added": "Sat May 21 03:42:22 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 03 12:01:21 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Sep 03 12:01:21 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5ca6491915f40bb26b3caaf08e1d0e4", "book_id": "25587642", "review_id": "a11e0546ec0ea952d0d27e18bd29b8eb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Det har ar en prequel till Himmelstrand men oj vad bra. Teknisk excellens i berattadet och fangslande historier. Mycket markligt. Mycket bra.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 19 02:00:16 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat May 21 12:50:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat May 21 12:50:43 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5ca6491915f40bb26b3caaf08e1d0e4", "book_id": "25445622", "review_id": "207c1e38a7e275d9ce4e0326f573c1e1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "som vampyrbok helt ok (typisk trea) men som skildring av alandsbat en 5+. wow! alla detaljer sitter, det ar en enorm research bakom detta. till och med champagnevraket finns med. Jag skulle garna lasa en serie bocker som utspelar sig i den har miljon, antalet uppslag ar narmast outtomligt.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 27 10:31:02 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 25 10:36:51 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Dec 25 10:36:51 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Dec 22 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5ca6491915f40bb26b3caaf08e1d0e4", "book_id": "16102578", "review_id": "4800514f5217794e5ec6c689fd408100", "rating": 5, "review_text": "En marklig historia, skriven med ett speciellt sprak pa en annorlunda form. Och efter att ha last den kan jag inte riktigt sammanfatta vad den handlar om eller vad som egentligen hande. \n Fager har tagit sin stil ett steg langre, nu ar det enbart korta staplade huvudsatser om 3-4 ord per styck. A ena sidan lattlast men samtidigt kravs energi for att orka hanga med i tempot och de snabba forflyttningarna och skiftena. Att berattelsen dessutom utspelas i temporal oordning, och att det slangs ut manga tradar som aldrig plockas upp igen bidrar till kanslan. Jag gillar det som omvaxling till alla \"deckare modell 1A\" som skrivs, den har boken foljer inga sadana normer. \n Snabblast.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 16 03:17:37 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 16 03:21:17 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jun 16 03:21:17 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5ca6491915f40bb26b3caaf08e1d0e4", "book_id": "24715182", "review_id": "09ebc44b7ee8d12116cd74ffa62ebd24", "rating": 2, "review_text": "svart att motivera utan att spoila. men jag har sett och last det har manga ganger forr. tog mi genom boken pliktskyldigt snarare an av fascination eller intresse. inte alls samma kvalitet som wilderangs tidigare verk.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 16 01:13:57 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 20 23:05:17 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e5ca6491915f40bb26b3caaf08e1d0e4", "book_id": "20706267", "review_id": "6bd607232e7aacd1ba30c20fb4c0fc8b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Kul med noveller, och kul med mindre kanda forfattare. Inget riktigt daligt, nagra riktigt bra och ett antal intressanta grepp och uppslag. Avslutas pa topp med en riktig valskriven novell om just Stockholms undergang.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 28 12:42:13 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 09:35:30 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jul 12 09:35:30 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "23be2c07c1dd24c557aaa7c42c5cfd03", "book_id": "18486457", "review_id": "4c7cb1f40e915ac88b24f709fba10984", "rating": 2, "review_text": "First off, although I was not the biggest fan like so many other readers, the concept is beyond unique. Every other paranormal seems like it's taken from the same cookie cutter mold and the characters are just replaced with different names/places with the story basically the same. It was refreshing to read something that was so unlike anything else in this genre so huge to props for that. \n With that being said, I just couldn't get into the book. There are so many other reviewers who are absolutely in love with this book but in the second half...it got a bit weird for me. Bear with me if this doesn't make any sense, but it didn't feel like I was reading about the same story with the same Alex and Nick. Someone decided to rain on Alex's and Nick's parade quite heavily. \n I also had a hard time connecting to Alex and Nick and their developed feelings for each other. This book spans over a year but it's hard to tell because the detail is easily missed. Alex and Nick never felt like they belonged together for me and I just found a bit strange for Nick to be falling in love with a girl he thinks is imaginary (I did love Walter and Campbell though but who couldn't?). I might be being a bit harsh on the couple as I'm a huge hopeless romantic. \n Anyway, back to the kinda creepy second half of the book: It took a bit too long for the real action to begin, to understand the why that was going on between these characters. I was a bit upset with Alex with how easy she went along with everyone, despite the promise she made and Nick actually being level headed for once. Furthermore, I felt shorthanded or I just didn't understand the meaning behind the \"sleepwalking\" and their shared connection/nightmare. I was also surprised by the abrupt ending and again, I felt like I needed an epilogue (this was before I realized this was the first of a series). I just wanted the closure and the ending is way too wide open for my liking. \n In short: An interesting and very unique novel that had too much build up and not enough connection/clarification for my liking. More than likely, I won't be investing in the rest of the series though.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 29 05:50:51 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 29 06:08:25 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "23be2c07c1dd24c557aaa7c42c5cfd03", "book_id": "12751687", "review_id": "4af691a853db3747460c63321e3fbfc7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "For now, I'm just going to say that I wanted to burn this book and then punch a baby in the face in the last 20 or so pages. I don't think I've ever been that ANGRY over a death.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 21 18:07:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 09 21:45:30 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "23be2c07c1dd24c557aaa7c42c5cfd03", "book_id": "8789318", "review_id": "56ad38fd9b9038c8c4834de9ebd43538", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ben, I've missed you. Your torturing little scenes absolutely killed me and that ending what is so incredibly sweet. And I'm sitting there, staring at the book in utter disbelief in WHY you would do that... \n Excuse me while I go pull a few hairs out. \n December 2012, please hurry up. I need the confirmation that Ben and Camelia end up together. And if by some craziness they don't, I'm going to steal him...", "date_added": "Sat Sep 22 22:49:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 22 22:51:40 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "23be2c07c1dd24c557aaa7c42c5cfd03", "book_id": "10345708", "review_id": "b509dce607a3a72c7942e078e1f02589", "rating": 3, "review_text": "My favorite cover by far. And after reading that description, I'm actually kind of glad that I didn't get DLV until the other day or I would have gone ballistic, knowing that the next book won't be released in a year! Especially after how that ending left spazzing, WHHHY!? \n But, NEAL? WHAT? Team Ben! Forget Adam. \n Edit: Some minor spoilers (though the ending is so predictable, there's really nothing to spoil. But we'll cover that later.) \n I absolutely adore you Mrs. Stolarz. So much to the point where I'm going to let this little mistake slide. Even though this is the 5th and supposedly last book to series that has drawn on for far too long, I don't feel satisfied. I can still walk around a room and have what seems like thousands of questions left with no answers. So I'm a bit disappointed in the ending. \n First off, I understand that \"write what you know\" is what drives a ton of writers. Yet, after 5 books, it was entirely too easy to figure out from the start what had happened. The blog? Knew who it was. The lessons? We all knew who they were coming from but this time it they just felt oddly placed and didn't flow as well. The crime that had hardly any background to it as to why it occurred? Ben would save her like he always does, yada yada yada. \n Plus, Camelia? I will always love you, but I REALLY wanted to slap you across the face for well, basically the whole entire book. You dragged it on with Adam, giving an innocent guy false belief, when you knew damn well it was over. But you don't even have time to mourn it until you run off into Ben's arm (actually more like rub his tattoo) and everything's suddenly okay! You run away to Rhode Island to \"enroll\" in some art classes, when it was all just a cover up for the girl. You disappointed Spencer and made yourself look like a fool in front of everyone (but it turns out everyone's in love with her...what was that about?). You act reckless to the point where your own best friend has to follow you and how do you repay him? You steal his keys countless times and run off on dangerous journeys, without the police and no thought that someone might actually care. I'm starting to wonder if there's any logic injected inside that head of yours. \n And the whole crisis with Alexia? It'd be an understatement to say we're left WAAAY too much in the dark. There were so many unanswered questions formatted in the form of \"it doesn't matter\" or \"it's all for the better, honey\" that I was just ready to stop right there and throw the book at some bonfire (Okay, I'm not really that evil but we get the point, right?). \n If there turns out to be an unexpected sixth book, I'm not a big enough to person to not gloat, \"I TOLD YOU SO!\". Although, I'm not sure if I want to see such a great series get deteriorated a bit more though with the same damn plot with different people. It's like Mockingjay all over again... \n So let's all have a little moment of silence as we all mourn the loss of a series that started out wonderfully and just kinda crash and burned.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 22 22:43:05 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 10 21:28:12 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "23be2c07c1dd24c557aaa7c42c5cfd03", "book_id": "7912474", "review_id": "596b3fb378f0b82125c1fb576337ff57", "rating": 1, "review_text": "So I picked up this book and I read the little blip and thought, \"Hey, this looks cool.\" \n Uhh, nope. \n I've never read a book about sirens (but I didn't even realize it was about sirens until the diary...) and I just felt like I was in the dark. I wanted to know more about the diary cause it seemed to shed some light for not only Lexi, but for the reader as well. But Lexi doesn't even question it and forgets about it. \n Overall, I didn't find this to be much of a fantasy book with a little love like it led on to be. It turned into this one big somewhat sappy but not really love story that was just downright pathetic for me. The love triangle was a bit surprise (and unnecessary) since Erik just randomly turns up out of the blue, uninvited and poor Cole... It was just a huge drag and more like a forced read. Plus, Lexi always feeling terrible and being all \"I hate isolation but I'm choosing it anyway\" can REALLY bring a book down.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 17 23:40:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 17 23:48:02 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "23be2c07c1dd24c557aaa7c42c5cfd03", "book_id": "8755776", "review_id": "64d007dd0e1b8b47e218158db41460a8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Oh City of Lost Souls, oh you poor thing. True, I lost some sleep over this book and technically I still am because I'm crazy enough to attempt to write this review at 5 in the morning but: WHAT THE HELL IS THIS? \n Seriously, Clare? Seriously? \n As if COFA wasn't bad enough but you just had to make it worse, didn't you? You could have had a perfect ending with City of Glass and now I think you're just writing for the sake of having some more money come in, as if that isn't already happening with the City of Bones movie. \n Clary. I honestly used to like you. I really did. Probably not as much as I liked (or loved) Tessa but something. Now you're just annoying me. Sure, you run off and get your little ass potentially killed! No one's going to care! Why would they? You be that whiny girl who can't be away from her boyfriend without causing World War III and see how much love you get. \n Yeah, not so much, huh? \n Overall, I found this book lacking plot and just seemed of Clary dwelling on if Jace would ever would be well...the Jace we all know and love. Since Clary is being the silly girl she is, there's usually Jace to be the funny one we wished would just pop out of the page and be ours. \n But nope. Clare killed her only strong point in this book until the last few pages (cause of course everyone's gonna get their happy ending!) And the fire thing? Really? What's the point of that happening? \n And I'm sure by now everyone's noticed how Clary and Jace are these one of a kind characters that are so awesome and seem to have little to no flaws. And now it just seems that every book is focusing around that and after a while it gets lame... \n But, with the mention of Tessa earlier, it's obvious that I probably loved the Infernal Devices so I was ecstatic to see all the little references in it! Like seeing the angel and Will's copy of Tale of Two Cities and poor Alec getting jealous over Will. (though that really NEEDS to stop). \n And naturally, despite my little personal rant, where calling it unprofessional and mature is an understatement, of course I'm going to read City of Heavenly Souls or whatever it's called. (I really missed finding out what the cities were and now I don't even think there's anything useful about the title, other than trying to maintain the theme of the first 3 books). \n I'm BEYOND curious at how Clare going's to wrap this series up. \n Again.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 11 03:01:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 12 23:46:57 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e69fbf8f5d436239d4e2007fefb12aca", "book_id": "5907", "review_id": "aeddb8fd8fef435edf12a23897fa7229", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I will always lovingly remember this book because I read this book in a London hotel room over the span of about 16 hours. It was a great story.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 12 10:06:56 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 12 10:10:56 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2001", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "32722110", "review_id": "56f8403eae2a4c86bec13b56a36ef969", "rating": 3, "review_text": "As a rule, I love dragons as people stories. Dragons invade the world of General Shaylinor, while releasing some slaves from a dragon controlled mine, she discovers one of the slaves is a dragon locked in human form. After that there is a Lot of sex. Thinking about sex, having sex, in detail. I was expecting a bit of smut, this is definitely adult rated!", "date_added": "Sat Oct 22 17:34:58 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 23 23:42:28 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Oct 24 23:42:28 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "31245755", "review_id": "be9d0ba3007eba024093650c19418689", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Another great instalment in the Alisa and Leonidas journey. This series is great, I can't help but enjoy the interaction between all the characters on the Nomad as it travels from one mess to another. Thank goodness Lindsay Buroker writes a great story, really quickly.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 26 16:27:42 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 27 03:02:20 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jul 27 03:02:20 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "23848809", "review_id": "cf51cf4a804f69ed1554018135ae6836", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I thought Starship's Mage was really quite a good read. I enjoyed the mixture of spaceships and magic, different and interesting.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 13 05:40:22 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 14 19:35:11 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 15 19:35:11 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "22886868", "review_id": "f453dc1f771d649256a359af11cb5014", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really don't know what to say about The Shepard's Crown. I so wanted to love it, as much as I loved all the Tiffany Aching stories, I just couldn't. \n For me, it didn't sound right.... None of the characters I enjoy so much, sounded right, they spoke differently, stilted and repetitive. We all know the reasons for this and it's certainly explained in the afterward, still I found it very sad. \n Having said that, I am glad Sir Terry finished the Tiffany series and will be forever grateful for the Discworld books which have given me so much joy over the years.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 30 04:02:57 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 30 20:15:34 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Aug 31 20:15:34 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "21535271", "review_id": "e4ecd5719c3baedfb33afcad836030dd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really liked this and I have no idea why! \n It's not really about anything much, nothing much happens, it wasn't at all what I expected it to be be.... \n But, Auri kissed and washed, sparkled and danced around in my mind. All very pretty and really, really weird. Hmmmm!", "date_added": "Sun Jan 04 16:25:32 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 04 16:34:37 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "23636026", "review_id": "905256aff6e61052aa369c5cc52d3dfd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Free for Kindle. A Bobby Dollar Christmas novella. \n I think Bobby Dollar is even more enjoyable in small doses.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 31 19:44:24 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 01 01:07:57 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 01:07:57 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "6185509", "review_id": "3950a63fe269f301d6fe2f6f7765db29", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of my all time favourite short stories. While I'm reading it I can see Mr Truepenny and be in his Book Emporium, the idea of real daydreams and continuous dreaming has great appeal.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 27 14:45:31 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 27 14:50:02 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "7292936", "review_id": "fa14d6c78789e7c5f590be7b1fba5267", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Charles De Lint does the short story like the master wordsmith he is.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 27 14:21:50 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 27 14:51:52 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "8680417", "review_id": "9dabf430ce75b4b088cd60d8d655e7d1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Rivers of London is a fun Urban Fantasy that includes murder, mystery and mayhem whilst being full of very British wit and humour.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 29 16:53:33 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 02 19:52:41 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Dec 03 19:52:41 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Nov 30 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "23397921", "review_id": "c52fe39d7fe953b432597f6089c70cb8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This novella is a great little story and like most of Sanderson's stories was well constructed and complete in its own right.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 26 14:13:19 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 10 09:30:16 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Nov 30 16:51:05 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "21113431", "review_id": "1d29c66b73fea8fef5b5f4c51c0db0de", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book had such great potential and I really wanted to like it more. \n Sadly I found Joan to be... well frustrating, I suppose, there's that whole getting all flustered because a man she fancies, strokes a strand of her hair! Seriously? Anyway, character conversations were, in my opinion, wooden. Though the plot was good, overall it was a bit disappointing.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 13 22:38:40 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 02 19:08:26 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Nov 17 22:09:23 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Nov 14 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "22825711", "review_id": "1e65869c5d2579ae0d396c2a658fbd13", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I read this as part of the Nine by Night series. \n A very short story with a simplistic plot, no mystery and a predictable budding romance. If the author put more effort into it (I'm assuming there's a series) the series could be interesting.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 25 01:06:07 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 25 19:12:29 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Oct 26 19:12:29 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "17618591", "review_id": "7666d2a69919a51d3225d1906447c1c5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I read this as a part of the Nine by Night set. \n This short story is a prequel to JC Andrijeski's Allie's War Series.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 25 01:05:31 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 25 19:05:43 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Oct 26 19:05:43 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "20347215", "review_id": "573f3bc1cf1c8bf8337552e7b36adfbf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I read this as part of the Nine by Night set. \n A short story from the VV Inn series, introduces a Grim Reaper to the Vampires and Werewolves in this series. Interesting concept. \n There is a lot of sex, thinking about it, talking about and finally doing it. Not really my cup of tea.....", "date_added": "Sat Oct 25 01:04:24 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 25 18:59:36 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Oct 26 18:59:36 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "20262813", "review_id": "2c96059098c4dab156cf16e635d3e72c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I read this as part of the Nine by night set. \n Young adult Urban Fantasy set in sometime in the future. There wasn't much depth to the characters. The mix of Faerie and gaming was interesting.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 25 00:49:32 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 25 00:54:54 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Oct 25 00:54:54 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "18524705", "review_id": "4c4348837ba205ad979cd249ef00fdc4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I read this book as part of the Nine By Night set. \n The whole story was pretty unbelievable, especially the bullwhip toting Archeologist, sorry, that just did not work for me. \n Really two and a half stars, three is being very generous.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 22 21:09:06 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 25 01:01:52 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Oct 25 01:01:52 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "17263600", "review_id": "9538adb2e2974dc6ee0a41ff37a8e9a2", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I read this book as part of the Nine By Night set. \n I haven't read the V V Inn series, I didn't know there was a series until I finished this story. Perhaps this prequel will be of more interest to those who want to know more about Jon before V V Inn. \n I didn't like it much and had to force myself to finish, that may have been because I couldn't bring myself to like Jon.... the series may be better?", "date_added": "Wed Oct 22 20:56:20 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 22 21:07:17 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Oct 23 21:07:17 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "20446140", "review_id": "7df7c010ac0950fc62c378f74f2c89df", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I read this book as part of the Nine By Night set. \n A quick, easy read, with a lot of action. A man on the run, trying to find the answers before his enemies catch up to him. It was rather short, and so the characters weren't that well-developed. \n I had a few problems with the main character Cesar Hawke's decisions, he didn't seem to be very good at his job and mostly came off as either pretty stupid or well, incompetent. He wasn't much of an investigator but he was fairly lucky so he just bumbled along to the resolution of the story.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 22 02:58:36 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 22 03:17:35 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Oct 22 03:17:35 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Oct 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "11672438", "review_id": "e1ee211791088b72c6da0dc200536879", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really don't know why I'm enjoying these books! \n I've never read steampunk(?) before and they're kind of fun! \n The characters are a lot of fun, the situations they get into and out of, seem mostly improbable but the the characters interaction with each other, somehow make it an enjoyable read. Weird, but fun.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 08 21:49:59 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 11 02:54:06 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Oct 11 02:54:06 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "17332218", "review_id": "1cc4e9836d50436f3cbac4ad1cfcbc7e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What a brilliant book. Even better than the first of the series!", "date_added": "Tue Sep 23 19:16:09 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 27 22:54:40 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Sep 28 22:54:40 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Sep 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "18658063", "review_id": "e491260eefc3a3d4797b4a3659a829ec", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I am so looking forward to getting back together with FitzChivalry! I intend to re-read all the Assassin books before I start this new one. It will be great to immerse myself there again, it's been a long time...", "date_added": "Tue Aug 12 00:50:27 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 24 22:31:58 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "17160012", "review_id": "deeafe88729a94bc1b8d7da2a03a0e9a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Enjoyed it! What happens next? \n How long will it be till we find out?", "date_added": "Tue Nov 26 00:18:27 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 28 18:45:30 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Nov 28 18:41:01 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Nov 26 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "11275323", "review_id": "5112889e61269306f2bbfff607f95425", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another great Discworld story.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 18 18:26:12 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 27 15:11:01 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Dec 27 15:11:01 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Dec 25 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "13542846", "review_id": "14dc899c990721199b4334e8e3cccbde", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I have read and enjoyed all Tad Williams other books. I haven't been able to decide if this was any good, the best I can say is, it wasn't bad. I am hoping the next in the series will be better.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 09 00:24:53 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 31 17:47:58 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Mar 31 17:44:54 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Mar 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "10137823", "review_id": "8084d48453000665b1b38897c3e3fdac", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Sanderson writes very interesting magic systems, that's for sure. Not as good as his other books, but an ok read", "date_added": "Tue Sep 03 00:57:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 26 23:29:11 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Sep 26 23:26:19 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "15954540", "review_id": "a250448207e7963d7138e40eae973fb2", "rating": 1, "review_text": "The world this book is set on is interesting. \n I found character dialogue stilted, clumsy, unfinished, without depth and annoying. Lia's internal dialogue was frustrating, as she's only fourteen I suppose that's to be expected. \n The story itself was just interesting enough to finish.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 28 16:33:48 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 01 19:02:49 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 01 18:50:23 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jul 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "13502958", "review_id": "81e6cc3a046d299afdc3064ffafaa12c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It is very difficult to farewell a series I have been reading since Magician first came out. I have so enjoyed the characters, Midkemia, Kelewan along with the other realms visited, thankfully all can be revisited anytime by just picking up a book and re-reading. Thanks to Mr Feist for entertaining me for so many years.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 18 17:59:41 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 22 03:24:58 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jul 22 03:24:58 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68e92d750f3dfd717570552f62ca7a6d", "book_id": "1440148", "review_id": "3eff124c78b300662e64e4df53f33291", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Recently I saw this mentioned in one of Dana Stabenow's Kate Shugak novels and thought, it's been about 30 years since I read that! It was the first book I'd ever read that made me consider sapience as a thing to be defined. While re-reading Little Fuzzy I found I had to constantly remind myself that so much of it was a reflection of the time in which it was written. Segregation was still commonplace, women were still considered really as temporary workers or at most playing at a career (until they fulfilled their purpose as wives). Personal computers, microwaves and mobile phones really not even dreamed about. \n If you can get over those things this is still an interesting concept for a story, if only for the reason that it makes you consider how a sapient being is defined.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 27 15:26:26 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 03 01:50:12 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0f2c0d7b42ba7d2eaf19c34bf9a36214", "book_id": "187812", "review_id": "532e35c23a91f081920292d04e64ae7c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "weird but good", "date_added": "Sat Nov 29 16:20:13 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 30 11:13:35 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0f2c0d7b42ba7d2eaf19c34bf9a36214", "book_id": "2", "review_id": "41c60ade803e87931d4b68339e8b8c9c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "i hate this book cuz of professor umbridge and sirius dying :(!!!!!!", "date_added": "Sat Nov 29 16:10:32 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 30 11:12:42 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0f2c0d7b42ba7d2eaf19c34bf9a36214", "book_id": "1", "review_id": "6e5dc3e378cf55c24fab908a2026f414", "rating": 4, "review_text": "ok but i miss dumbledore!!!! :(", "date_added": "Sat Nov 29 16:10:29 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 29 00:50:00 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0f2c0d7b42ba7d2eaf19c34bf9a36214", "book_id": "6", "review_id": "71bafbf0dea514abcae4741efe94471c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "guess wat??!!!?!!?!?!?!?! the guy who plays cedric in the movie is ROBERT PATTINSON!!!!!", "date_added": "Sat Nov 29 16:10:26 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 30 08:00:26 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0f2c0d7b42ba7d2eaf19c34bf9a36214", "book_id": "136251", "review_id": "1a0b920cc11134286dee4fe2c9aec11e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "too happy of an ending but it cant be that bad cuz its harry potter!!", "date_added": "Sat Nov 29 16:10:18 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 30 07:59:08 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0f2c0d7b42ba7d2eaf19c34bf9a36214", "book_id": "3", "review_id": "60f302fc4997018f8a1e5116ce769651", "rating": 4, "review_text": "this was not the best harry potter book", "date_added": "Sat Nov 29 16:10:15 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 30 07:58:30 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0f2c0d7b42ba7d2eaf19c34bf9a36214", "book_id": "2120932", "review_id": "a2567cad1712e4df47baf74d1e2373d4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "not the best percy jackson book", "date_added": "Fri Nov 28 17:28:50 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 30 11:16:12 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0f2c0d7b42ba7d2eaf19c34bf9a36214", "book_id": "561456", "review_id": "dd6b5221ddc8164c5a9193e922a918bb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "great", "date_added": "Fri Nov 28 17:28:36 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 30 11:14:17 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0f2c0d7b42ba7d2eaf19c34bf9a36214", "book_id": "28186", "review_id": "8aceaf17621e6f8cec56cd2fda3145f8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "not my fave percy jackson book", "date_added": "Fri Nov 28 17:28:24 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 30 08:00:45 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0f2c0d7b42ba7d2eaf19c34bf9a36214", "book_id": "28187", "review_id": "ac2b720d6f4d6bb16cb56d5e9292ef1c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "loveeeeee this book", "date_added": "Fri Nov 28 17:28:12 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 30 07:57:20 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0f2c0d7b42ba7d2eaf19c34bf9a36214", "book_id": "1162543", "review_id": "47cae994f751114fdc30319638089a9e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "my FAVE book right now!!!!!!!!!!!", "date_added": "Fri Nov 28 17:27:13 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 28 17:27:29 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0f2c0d7b42ba7d2eaf19c34bf9a36214", "book_id": "428263", "review_id": "661bba6ada618f0fa02ce1e91da7b8fd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "love this book", "date_added": "Sat Nov 01 14:41:03 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 01 14:41:21 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0f2c0d7b42ba7d2eaf19c34bf9a36214", "book_id": "49041", "review_id": "4265b13f9a4282a3b83ef58984013b55", "rating": 5, "review_text": "most of it is sad but the end is happy", "date_added": "Sat Nov 01 14:40:31 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 01 14:40:56 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0f2c0d7b42ba7d2eaf19c34bf9a36214", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "6ac4b989a047caf8a706bed34727fd60", "rating": 5, "review_text": "this book is amazing", "date_added": "Sat Nov 01 14:40:07 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 01 14:40:25 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7074b9bd7e86e3eb85dfe2d5d4a85f8e", "book_id": "37190", "review_id": "d50be1a37b177b459a622d9ab5f11e6c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh Reader (and those who've read this know exactly why I call you \"Reader\"), such delights you have in store if you pick up this odd and enormously satisfying tale of a mouse and a rat and a girl with overly clouted ears. In only two books (this and her porcelain bunny story), DiCamillo has found her place as one of my absolute favorite authors. Honestly, there is nary a single misstep in the entire text of this work. Every paragraph, sentence, phrase, and word are exactly where they should be. My only qualm is the finale is a tad rushed but this is very minor. I know they pulled a CG toon movie out of this but the strength of this particular story is really in the TELLING. I can't imagine the savory, lush way the author reveals and regales would translate onto the screen very well. \n A nearly perfect book.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 12 09:02:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 18 12:46:32 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Aug 18 12:46:32 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7074b9bd7e86e3eb85dfe2d5d4a85f8e", "book_id": "24779", "review_id": "822f5943f71ce0dd2edb73f0039e6442", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Perfectly charming entry in the Prydain series. As a youthful reader, I'd only read books one and two, then moved on to other fare, though Alexander's world and characters obviously remained with me. Book of Three and Cauldron are closely tied together and establish this realm in tidy fashion but Llyr is where things begin to soar and that is strictly because our heroes are finally given extra dimension and layers. \n Two standout characters - the clownish and ever-sunny Prince of Rhun who cheerfully leads our band of heroes into dire traps and the self-loathing \"giant stuck in a ditch\" Glew, who may well be my favorite cast member of these tales thus far. Fflewder, Gurgi, and Gwydion are, at this point, such faithful and stalwart entities that each tale is a warm visit with old friend. \n Taran is growing nicely as well. His eventual patience with the foolhardy Prince, his feelings for Eilonwy, his loyalty to his friends...Assistant Pig-Keeper to eventual hero?", "date_added": "Wed Jun 20 08:18:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 26 09:42:37 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jun 26 09:42:37 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7074b9bd7e86e3eb85dfe2d5d4a85f8e", "book_id": "33555", "review_id": "fcc835afaa38a25c25f2fa8295186224", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Greatness. Too deeply personal for me to write a traditional \"review.\" Suffice it to say that what you bring to this novel is what you take from it - - only amplified. \n Me? \n I believe.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 05 08:45:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 11 22:54:59 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jun 12 22:54:59 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7074b9bd7e86e3eb85dfe2d5d4a85f8e", "book_id": "18131", "review_id": "b5a39d8dae6fe67dac8a9f2cc9f4191d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This wouldn't have been half the tale if not for the L'Engle's remarkable gift of characterization. Meg's teenaged angst is pitch perfect and yet not overcooked in the least. And what can one say about the story, which never once goes anywhere predictable. The central theme of individuality, personal choice, consequence is playfully elusive and I like that most of all. There's also a heavy dose of spirituality - heavy but never heavy handed. The text, from the early 60's, hasn't dated in the slightest. Only regret? I didn't read this when I was the right age for it.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 24 07:17:13 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 29 06:19:42 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Apr 29 06:19:42 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Apr 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7074b9bd7e86e3eb85dfe2d5d4a85f8e", "book_id": "24784", "review_id": "ef5669643ea55f9536abb4a154f2dc4e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was a mere 10 years old the last time I read this series and yet it's never left me. Given half a chance, I'll talk it up to anyone. I love everything about this world that Alexander created - - the fact that the \"hero\" is eternally an \"assistant pig-keeper\" (emphasis on ASSISTANT!), the constant threat of the undead \"cauldron-born,\" the lands, the princes, the Caers... and even \"crunchings and munchings\" obsessed Gurgi. \n Oh and Eilonwy, of course... her winding, twisty speech patterns and diction cracks me up every time she opens her mouth. And of course Flewder and his polygraphic harp! \n I'm a fan. (Though this book would have benefited from the presence of the Horned King back in book 1 - - he was dispatched far too tidily, if you ask me.)", "date_added": "Tue Apr 24 07:00:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 24 07:13:04 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7074b9bd7e86e3eb85dfe2d5d4a85f8e", "book_id": "24780", "review_id": "19494f07c4d094fe48653920101ffa60", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A blatant and obvious play on Tolkien's Ring Trilogy but an effective and beautifully written one. The greatness of this novel isn't as much in the plotting as in the characterizations - well drawn characters populate this first entry and that alone adds enough interest to push one into the remaining books in the series. A surprising and generous amount of humor sprinkled throughout also is a welcome element. Certainly can't wait to embark on book 2!", "date_added": "Tue Feb 28 10:30:43 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 03 10:54:24 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Mar 03 10:54:24 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Tue Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "deb3ff9cd79238588887f69d8659260a", "book_id": "6", "review_id": "b1a80c0f107d1165a35fb1ee1de29e66", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Stephen Fry + Harry Potter = cold and flu cure like no other", "date_added": "Wed Jun 01 21:50:17 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 01 21:52:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jun 02 21:52:17 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eadf8c06370d9c6fd74121723c8d20e3", "book_id": "25658485", "review_id": "043c47f0a45922d0437cf94bd20506a2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I cursed this book, with all my heart. How I enjoyed the first book, only to get a slow start yet again, and be deprived of my favourite characters. Hartman agonized me with a plot I care not about, an annoying familiar political spin... only to centered it on the revenge and envy of the girl he hinted in the first book, making me feel, oh at least that was smart. \n I threatened to give 3 stars while I was reading. It deserves more than 2, definitely, but I didn't want to give a four. I was certain I won't. Oh! And did I mention that disappointing love story? He had a good idea, but the way he spun in was incredibly disappointing. Not on Grisselda end. She was good. Kiggs wasn't. I really thought he should have just omitted the whole thing together :/ \n Ah, then he gave me that ending, that marvelous beautiful ending that made me cry out - in my head at least - and consoled me to no end. SUPER SPOILER. Don't click if you have not read it. Yes, I meant that Orma scene. Ah that heartache and that whole scene moved me. I missed Orma dearly. Very much. \n I hated him for playing with my heart like this but I loved that ending. Maybe I'm a masochist in this but I suppose, however much I hate to admit it - this book was worth my money. It's flawed but good. >,>", "date_added": "Mon Jan 09 05:42:45 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 11 02:45:42 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 11 02:45:42 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "eadf8c06370d9c6fd74121723c8d20e3", "book_id": "19549841", "review_id": "9363ebad1b32fd4940f48e01d00f09b9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Full review will come later. \n Quick one: I absolutely love all the characters. Personal favourites would be Orma. \n The story has a nice pacing to it - a little too much description of the surrouning with bland narration, so that part's a minus, but still good :) \n A book I would recommend to my future teenage kid. Or at least when my nephew and niece grows up ^^", "date_added": "Wed Dec 28 04:02:50 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 07 23:59:38 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 08 23:59:38 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "eadf8c06370d9c6fd74121723c8d20e3", "book_id": "32053538", "review_id": "1cc3e09046e79c5f96a55b53da2531e1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I like the issue they brought forth. Louis end narration to Perez's questioning was eerie but... just good. \n Full review sometime later~", "date_added": "Wed Dec 28 04:00:03 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 29 11:17:25 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eadf8c06370d9c6fd74121723c8d20e3", "book_id": "23128304", "review_id": "315a795a825e42b8cfe6d3bd749efda9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Deeply engaging, and odd. \n I hate that I don't understand the book but I'm even more confused to how I can't hate it. In fact, it's odd that I enjoy it despite not being able to understand it. \n Something mysteriously unfortunate happened to the guy and until the very end, the mystery was not solved, and he remain unfortunate. \n Odd, but I like it. I think.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 17 06:02:54 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 16 14:01:08 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Mar 17 06:08:13 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eadf8c06370d9c6fd74121723c8d20e3", "book_id": "19511442", "review_id": "c7179c4e040ae22eb18e6beb96ad6b69", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It was a good read. I can see why it's timeless. Despite the settings, the morals are relatable to this age and more. \n I like some of the stories and how witty most characters can be.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 26 06:56:18 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 07 02:48:06 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Sep 07 02:48:06 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Nov 26 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eadf8c06370d9c6fd74121723c8d20e3", "book_id": "28186", "review_id": "ad284d40dd11347f3bf492a7f915973e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It was better than the first book. \n Honestly, the first book didn't really impress me. If there's anything interesting there, it'd be the conversation Percy had with Hades. \n The only reason I started The Sea of Monsters was because I wanted to finish reading the whole series. \n I don't really like the idea of dropping a book just because it's not interesting. I wasn't even hoping for anything in this book. \n But it took me by surprise. \n I like how Annabeth character is portrayed. She's a mentally strong girl. And the second book proves that strength. Also, I enjoyed the character growth. How lesson are learnt unlike most books where the characters moped about how they didn't have a choice and repeat the same mistake all over again. \n I have to admit, what really impressed me was the ending. \n I had a hunch that there must be at least one more of the Big 3 child. I figured it must be a child of Hades since well... he's the only one without. Thalia caught me by surprise. \n Now I'm looking forward to reading the next book. :)", "date_added": "Fri Dec 27 22:49:55 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 29 01:30:49 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Dec 29 01:30:49 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eadf8c06370d9c6fd74121723c8d20e3", "book_id": "16248223", "review_id": "cfc64bda4d0bd400fe90c12db146569a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Totally love Er Lang. He came in a surprise but that's what so sweet about it.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 14 07:49:29 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 24 09:55:12 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Mar 24 09:55:12 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eadf8c06370d9c6fd74121723c8d20e3", "book_id": "4703450", "review_id": "f427605376ac0cee9659dd3200bb011d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The story was painful to follow at first but it gradually gets better. \n The only reason I didn't put down the book was the influence Robin Hobb's previous books have on me. \n Luckily, it's not a disappointment. It gets interesting too! \n If you can stand the painful early chapters, then do give this series a try. Despite the 3-star, I'm glad I owned my copy. It was worth the money. :)", "date_added": "Sat Nov 30 05:42:55 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 07 11:56:52 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eadf8c06370d9c6fd74121723c8d20e3", "book_id": "45108", "review_id": "087781a06acbc30788f9e460b3df492d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "First, let me clarify that my rating is based on how much I enjoy reading a book. \n I was a fan of the series not only because the characters are enjoyable, but also the interesting and well developed plot. \n The last of the series however, although not that disappointing, doesn't thrill me as much. I didn't like how the Piebald issues were resolved and how many others ended. Everything felt rushed. \n The ending is well enough for me so I couldn't and I still do like it. Although I can't be certain if it's due to the influence of the previous books that made me stick to liking this last book or if I simply like it. \n It's still in my recommended read.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 30 05:42:32 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 24 00:12:09 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Dec 24 00:12:09 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Dec 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "eadf8c06370d9c6fd74121723c8d20e3", "book_id": "68488", "review_id": "e009966492f810e1885137ae7696e077", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm both sad and overwhelmed by the truth the tale can be.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 30 05:42:31 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 21 06:01:22 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Dec 10 03:26:29 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eadf8c06370d9c6fd74121723c8d20e3", "book_id": "45112", "review_id": "5cb6e04fe0dd7bd5c225c6e4946fabe8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I grieve with Fitz but this is truly one of the best woven ending I've ever read.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 30 05:42:24 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 08 10:46:35 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Dec 06 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8997919751c30ab67e9343a99ff4867c", "book_id": "6022863", "review_id": "cae4b118347f93dae5333d8c0a937b79", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Oh, dear. Probably the weakest of the Horus Heresy books. The book takes over half the length just to get them off Caliban and into Space Marine armour, and beyond that doesn't seem to have much to say. A rare misfire from Black Library.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 28 23:48:32 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 21 22:08:04 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jan 21 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Nov 28 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8997919751c30ab67e9343a99ff4867c", "book_id": "91478", "review_id": "045897173d3bff016e4edf63b8930054", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I don't quite like Butcher as much as my friends do, and I think part of that is his prose gets clunky at times, unlike the stripped down three cord punk of Simon Green's writing, Butcher wants to get more complex and I'm not sure he always succeeds. The plot is well done and it kept me interested, but I don't feel the urge to instantly reach for the next book the way I do with other authors I like. \n The Dresden book seem to lack an edge that they really need...I always feel like they could suddenly rev to life at any moment and become great instead of good, but good is a rare thing these days, and they're always enjoyable, so if I could it would be 3.5 stars or even 3.75, but I just can't quite put it to four.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 11 01:30:03 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 21 22:12:40 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jan 21 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8997919751c30ab67e9343a99ff4867c", "book_id": "359375", "review_id": "ab9b8a7128873b585ad31b3fbfafa2de", "rating": 5, "review_text": "An absolutely astonishing modern urban fantasy that blows away what most American authors are doing at the moment. While it helps to be passingly familiar with what's going on in modern Russia, and you'll miss some of the meta-commentary on their modern society, there's plenty of romance, action, and adventure in the book without being overly steeped in Russian politics. \n At the end of the day it's about human beings and emotion, and about the grey areas in the fight between good and evil, and how good can do evil and evil can do good, with the exception being that those who do evil usually don't care about the morality of their actions. \n Hauntingly beautiful in places and razor smart in others, it's at times a meditation on the forces that are beyond our understanding in society as well as an entertaining romp. Highly recommended.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 07 16:01:54 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 07 16:06:15 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "27883214", "review_id": "64d88370e3656753940a8c3a824f44ab", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Yllattavan koukuttavia Yosirkus-viboja.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 16 04:57:14 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 16 04:58:37 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Sep 13 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "18866724", "review_id": "5fb1c64605f19ea1cac94e6697218de3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Tamapa oli veikea! Ajankohtaista asiaa ankeista talouspuheista ja kouraiseva prinsessasatu.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 23 02:45:11 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 10 11:17:23 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "33006696", "review_id": "69568298a4b26e0f97201b4851107dcb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Kovin nihkeasti lahti lukeminen kayntiin, mutta vauhtiin paastyaan imaisi auttamatta mukaansa. Oli vallankumousta, kapinallisia, herrasmiesvarkaita, hovijuonitteluja, tanssiaisia, hulttioperijoita. ymparistotuhoa, salaperaisia usva-aaveita ja vauhdikkaita ninjametallitaikavoimia. Nokkela tyttosankari, eika romanttinen sivujuonikaan ei liikaa hairinnyt.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 20 11:08:13 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 20 11:15:13 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "33345915", "review_id": "a6cbdcf7a5a7a218a11b32152a15fb80", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Niin paljon paralleeleja Leinosen Kirjanoitaan, etta piti younien jalkeen hetken pohtia mita kummassakin oli tapahtunut. Suomalaisesta mytologiasta plussaa. Tuli mieleen Maan katkemat kohtaa Sookie Stackhousen. Toivon lisaa seksikkaita hiisia.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 05 11:35:59 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 05 11:46:45 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Mon Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "32943471", "review_id": "162b22fbc793f6f1d136009f251698c3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "17-vuotias Aura elaa Helbyssa, joka muistuttaa 2010-luvun Helsinkia. Paitsi, etta sahkoiset alylaitteet ovat tuhonneet kaikki kirjat ja maailma Helbyn ulkopuolella on muuttunut vaaralliseksi joutomaaksi. Aura palkataan toihin kahvilaan, mutta samalla suojelemaan salaista saastyneiden kirjojen kokoelmaa ja oppimaan kirjataikuutta. \n Tama oli mainio tapaus. Erityisesti pidin siita kuinka vahvasti kaupunki oli lasna.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 03 13:19:27 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 04 11:25:26 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sat Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "33131493", "review_id": "c1f49f60b905b1f5bee5dab1711b3e90", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Kiehtovaa aavikkomeininkia ja ajankohtaisia teemoja muukalaisvihasta ja resurssien niukkuudesta.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 23 13:19:22 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 28 11:04:23 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Mar 28 11:04:23 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "10781976", "review_id": "17b96394c4e4dbdc8418ad1ffe8c00b0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Pitkaan pyorinyt suositusten perusteella lukulistalla ja onhan tama ihastuttavan rouheaa meininkia mielenkiintoisesti rakennetussa dystopiamaailmassa.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 01 12:26:10 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 04 10:43:58 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Mar 04 13:20:28 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "32479521", "review_id": "c0fe9a3437df64317f49d1e53788f591", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Viehko satuseikkailu taynna kaikuja Narniasta, Liisan seikkailuista Ihmemaassa ja monista muista. Myos Catherynne M. Valenten nuortenkirjat tulivat vahvasti mieleen. Alun nonsense vetosi itseeni loppupuolen ystavyyskuvioita enemman seikkailubestiksen tehdessa \"susanit\".", "date_added": "Mon Nov 14 12:57:01 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 14 13:06:15 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 14 13:06:15 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Nov 14 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "17377545", "review_id": "6d1914f444015973f4da74e1d2b76fcc", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Kiehtovasti rakennettu ja meni tunnelmaltaan iholle. Elmanan hallitsemattomuus, ajatus tyopaikkalotosta ja siihen liittyvista toimenpiteista tuntui hyvin ajankohtaiselta tyollisyyskeskustelua seuratessa ja itsekin tassa hakemuksia rustatessa.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 29 00:04:53 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 01 03:11:28 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Nov 01 03:11:28 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "29069989", "review_id": "8dd04c0d68e3281d7709b55193bcbc08", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Itselleni tama olisi varmaan toiminut paremmin, jos kyseessa olisi ollut selvasti kirjasarjasta erillinen seikkailu. Aikamatkustuskohtaukset saivat tarinan vaikuttamaan nostalgiatribuutilta ja loppu oli sitten melkein tuttuja tapahtumia kasittelevia saippuaoopperamaisia terapiasessioita. Teksti tuntui pakonomaisesti vinkkaavan silmaa lukijalle eika tarina mielestani saanut oikein tilaa hengittaa. Ymmarran hyvin fanifiktiomaisuussyytokset. \n Nojoo, naytelmaa ei tietenkaan voi lukea kuin romaania ja mielikuvitukseni ohjaaman version tuotantoarvot eivat ehka olleet maailman parhaat. Olisi kylla kiinnostava nahda teatterivesiokin.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 01 09:42:22 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 13:33:59 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Oct 02 13:33:59 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "32312174", "review_id": "665009798856ac78503cfb40b7c6ae0c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Olin tasta jo etukateen kovasti innoissani, koska nuorten kauhulle tuntuu olevan kovasti kysyntaa. Oivaltavia, kutkuttavia ja irvaileviakin juttuja, joissa kasitellaan kauhuelementtien kautta niin koulukiusaamista ja yksinaisyytta kuin sisailmaongelmiakin.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 01 03:32:15 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 28 14:10:50 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Oct 29 05:18:37 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "31224556", "review_id": "a1534ab86e45807ff53176a65af23c14", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Kotoisan leppoisa fantasiatarina, jonka ruokailutiheys kilpailee Viisikkojen kanssa ja kesken seikkailun tarvitaan \"rauhallisia tunteja\" toipumiseen. Peltoniemen tyylista olen tykkaillyt pitkaan. Tasta jai ehka asteen pliisu tunne.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 24 07:58:50 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 25 12:20:58 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Sep 25 12:20:58 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Sep 24 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "30763341", "review_id": "3c4cc1a319f2bf9e5232ed46225eb2dc", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Mukavasti aksonia, mutta turhauttavan tutun tuntuisista elementeista koottu.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 20 12:08:17 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 23 02:40:23 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Sep 23 02:40:23 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "18491251", "review_id": "2028f02614f3d2aaeaa93b1dfb131409", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Tama olisi varmaan toiminut paremmin heti kahden edellisen osan peraan ahmittuna. Pienen tauon jalkeen Avain tuntui vahan hajanaiselta ja turhan pitkalta. Loppukaan ei taysin vakuuttanut. Liian kovat odotukset ehka siis, mutta nautinnollinen lukukokemus silti. Teininoitaporukan ja ahdistavan pikkukaupungin kuvaus toimii tassakin.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 21 07:49:53 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 26 11:21:50 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jul 26 11:57:46 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "30780721", "review_id": "ec67f6c6915b837eef8ac440be385fe4", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Kalmankita on viimeinen paikka, jossa raja hirviomaailmaan on yha ohut ja taruolentoja putkahtelee avautuvista porteista. Finn on kuuluisan taruolennonmetsastajien suvun nuorin vesa, jolla on vaikeuksia tayttaa hanelle lankeavaa vastuuta kylan puolustajana. \n Tamapa oli nihkea lukukokemus. Maailma ei oikein missaan vaiheessa herannyt minulle henkiin ja kirja tuntui aivan liian pitkitetylta. Vitsikkyyskin jai laimeasti puolitiehen.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 16 23:58:40 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 26 13:43:49 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jul 26 13:43:49 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "7163862", "review_id": "7ac569bb70b9d2905aaa000dfe11e712", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fantasiaelementeilla hoystetty kovaksikeitetty dekkari Etela-Afrikasta. Kirjan maailmassa kaamean rikoksen tehneille ilmestyy satunnainen elainkumppani ja jokin maaginen kyky, shavi. Pelatyt ja halveksitut elaimelliset ovat slummiutuneet Zoo Cityna tunnettuun kaupunginosaan. Zinzilla on kyky loytaa kadonneita asioita ja kumppaninaan laiskiainen. Paetakseen huumevelkojaan han ottaa vastaan tehtavan loytaa kadonnut teinipoptahti. Keikasta kehkeytyy noir-henkinen hamara verkko. \n Taitavasti tasapainoiltu kokonaisuus, josta tykkasin kovasti. Elokuvaesittelyyn sisallytetty viittaus Pullmanin Universumin tomu-sarjaan lammitti.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 09 12:08:25 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 12 20:46:00 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "30630464", "review_id": "d5fc6e37dca4d141a9f5720745f6f833", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Vau, ylellinen ja upeasti piiretty fantasiaseikkailu vikkelasta Liljasta, joka kinuaa varkaiden killalta kunniakkaampia ryostooperaatioita. Nuori varas kaappaa karsittamattomana itselleen tehtavan, mutta paatyykin pelinappulaksi ahneen jaarlin juoneen. Tama oli ilo!", "date_added": "Thu Jul 07 02:02:36 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 07 09:58:47 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jul 07 13:00:43 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "18109771", "review_id": "bddf21de015269c52f60e20e3063e62f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Mystisen katastrofin jalkeisessa maailmassa kaikki lapset syntyvat kaksosina, joista toinen on fyysisesti taydellinen ja toinen jollain tapaa epamuodostunut. Epataydelliset omegat lahetetaan jo lapsena elamaan kammottuina hylkioina yhteiskunnan reunoille kun terveet alphat jatkavat perheen parissa yhteison taysvaltaisena jasenena. Kaksosten elamat ovat kuitenkin linkittyneet toisiinsa ja toisen kuollessa kuolee myos toinen. Paahenkilo Cassin \"vamma\" on selvanakijyys. Tama haaveilee maailmasta, jossa kaksoset voisivat elaa sovussa. Kaksoslinkki osoittautuu vaaralliseksi kunnianhimoisen veljen alkaessa rakentaa hirmuvaltaista tyranniaa. \n Ihan sujuva dystopiakuvaus paikoitellen kikkailevalta tuntuvasta perusideasta huolimatta. Melko synkan veriseksi aityi meno loppua kohden. Mukavan luonteva romanssi. Loppu antaa lupauksen, etta vastarintaliikkeen taistelu jatkuu.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 05 05:52:37 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 06 13:09:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jul 06 16:16:27 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "28356624", "review_id": "1f9ba12e188a9fd6b80ba7c86dbe7f16", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Vetava metafanifiktio purkaa hersyvasti Harry Pottereiden ja sukulaisten konventioita, useita hauskoja oivalluksia. Tuli mieleen Lev Grossmanin Magiciansin hilpeampi kaksonen. Rowellin Fangirl pitaa viela jossain valissa tsekata taustoitukseksi, mutta toimi nainkin.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 25 12:22:02 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 27 06:02:00 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Apr 27 06:02:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "27846850", "review_id": "2ea278c06edf975ae4307f97fbbd89e3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Jostain syysta olin odottanut jahmeampaa valtapelia enka nain reipasta seikkailumeininkia. Spartacus kohtaa Tuhannen ja yhden yon tarinat tuli mieleen.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 09 07:24:54 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 10 13:22:19 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Mar 10 13:22:19 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Mar 09 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "27234030", "review_id": "1a8766979a6677857914214d1f2e6e3e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Mainio ja mukavan vekkuli! Paassani nain tarinan Studio Ghibli -elokuvana.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 05 04:45:25 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 06 05:42:37 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Mar 06 11:36:59 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Mar 05 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "10005527", "review_id": "1269e11027797bf6d033dcf2148c0c31", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Lupaava alku, paljon kiehtovia elementteja ja pidin tavasta, jolla kaupunki oli tarinassa lasna. Viisikko-osiot jotenkin takkuilivat minulla. Elokuvallisen elamanoppaan saisin ihan mielellani kasiini...", "date_added": "Fri Feb 05 23:45:29 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 07 13:26:43 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Feb 07 13:26:43 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Feb 06 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "24942440", "review_id": "99abfb0892c574c586ecbc14105e3d74", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Sujuva, sutjakan mittainen, lyhyet luvut. Mainioina aineksina Kalevala, noitavainot, perinnetieto ja luonto.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 05 09:57:02 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 08 12:59:08 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Feb 08 13:10:40 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "13455411", "review_id": "cc9973994c58a8c3c7ee544bb455c92c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Tama on ollut lukulistalla ja osui sattumalta kateen kirjaston kierratyshyllysta. Pidin kiduttajien killan luostarimaisten rutiinien kuvauksesta ja muutenkin kirjan maailmasta. Tuoreimpana vertailukohtana tuli mieleen Itarannan Kudottujen kujien kaupunki. Jostain syysta sain tekstista myos vahvoja Alexandre Dumas -viboja.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 04 13:54:10 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 13 12:54:33 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Dec 13 12:54:33 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Dec 04 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "2284802", "review_id": "2d7cbfed736269a1fc55ef3a83118891", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Kuvattu maaginen alamaailma oli kiehtova, mutta loppurytyytysta en meinannut millaan jaksaa kahlata lapi.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 16 09:02:49 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 23 12:54:41 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Nov 23 12:54:41 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "18137087", "review_id": "8246c03f9a7b9a8ec4dcb13b4b472667", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Odotukseni taisivat taman suhteen olla turhan korkealla, eika kirja imaissut mukaansa ihan kuin olin toivonut. Paljon kiehtovia elementteja, mutta olisin ehka kaivannut enemman maailmanrakennusta ja kuvailua. Ilmaan jatetty loppu pakottaa varmaan vilkaisemaan seuraavankin osan.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 14 08:37:41 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 17 04:35:10 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Oct 17 04:35:10 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Oct 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "24777899", "review_id": "a510c72cfc5ee2a863665fddf5f8d947", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ihkutuksen, hattaran ja kiiltavan huulikiillon maara menee reippaasti yli mukavuusalueeni, mutta totaalisessa hopsoydessaan kuitenkin jotenkin valloittava.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 31 02:23:17 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 04 13:00:05 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Sep 04 13:00:05 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7e6b8a3e1bd0303dcffc10697cd3cec3", "book_id": "19246477", "review_id": "10f77a81c6fe3383bcbe748af63006f6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Kirjojen ja kirjastojen ystavia kosiskellaan, omalta osaltani ihan onnistuneestikin. Alun maailmankuvauksesta innostuin kovastikin, kerronta oli mukavan nukkavierua ja brittilaista. Oxfordin yliopiston kirjaston alla taikakirjoja paimentavat taikurioppilaat, kirjakuiskaajat ja Aleksandrian kirjastoon johtava historia viehattivat. Tarinaosuus tuntui ikava kylla turhauttavan tutulta kuviolta.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 24 09:46:01 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 25 12:44:49 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Aug 25 12:44:49 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "c4b5fd2c733469fc3e83e86ccfd6ce37", "book_id": "33014652", "review_id": "a6371856112e8b7ac4df11733f1211cc", "rating": 1, "review_text": "The cover was so pretty that I just had to pick it up but it left me with the feeling that I bought a clever-looking device on tellsell which turned out to be utter crap. My GOD. The main character whined and whined and whined and then whined some more. The first few chapters were somewhat amusing but the moment she was the queen of the death it just felt like I was reading the same five sentences over and over again until I had the strong urge to throw the book into a corner and burn it. I love books that can make me feel things. If a book manages to make me cry or laugh it is an almost inevitable 5 star review. Frustration and anger, however seem to turn that into a 1 star review. I know this book is not aimed at my age group, but I still expected a fun read out of it. \n Do not be fooled by the cover. I learned, yet again, that you shouldn't judge a book by it.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 19 11:23:39 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 26 18:25:09 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Nov 27 00:38:11 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c4b5fd2c733469fc3e83e86ccfd6ce37", "book_id": "30674695", "review_id": "4bd9af39daddcc5930a707c8a7b161b7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was amazing, a true rollercoaster and a book after my heart. Asa is amazing, I would have loved more backstory on him. See how he developed and see how he went from guarding Roland to loving him. This was a perfect sunday read though. Of course I was bawling my eyes out at the ending", "date_added": "Sat Nov 19 07:11:07 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 20 13:50:57 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Nov 20 13:50:57 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Nov 20 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c4b5fd2c733469fc3e83e86ccfd6ce37", "book_id": "6617506", "review_id": "3545dc1d5f8f54efd05398bba9d78624", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I liked it but for a story with so much details and backstory I found the ending to be rather unsatisfying. I craved for a more 'happy ending' I suppose, where Yhalen learns to deal with his fears. Where Bloodraven discovers the actions of the Dark Lord and where Yhalen visits home. \n Still, even if this story was slow at times, it was a very awesome read and I feel nicely cocooned in the world it build. I expected it to be purely erotic reading and thus was surprised when there was such a strong story in it. Loved it. Definitely not for everyone due to the strong line of non-con through it and because of the fantasy aspect but I really enjoyed it.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 22 08:23:30 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 25 05:52:00 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Aug 25 05:52:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c4b5fd2c733469fc3e83e86ccfd6ce37", "book_id": "18072459", "review_id": "5c97fb91fcab5938609342dda75a5875", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This was confusing and didn't make any sense at all. The first book was perfect, the second book was downhill but this one just-.. could have been skipped to my opinion.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 21 10:09:38 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 22 08:13:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 22 08:13:31 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c4b5fd2c733469fc3e83e86ccfd6ce37", "book_id": "20873804", "review_id": "2b1379a6fcfb17be628ba0d5b5de0b6d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "currently on 23 % and taking a little break from it as it is about to send me into a reading slump. I am enjoying the book a lot and it is a easy read but I need to take a break from it because I strongly dislike reading Catelyn, Rob, and Ned's POVs and there is so much of them. This review will be edited once I manage to pick it up again and continue it.", "date_added": "Mon May 09 05:36:02 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 20 10:07:38 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Aug 20 10:07:38 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c4b5fd2c733469fc3e83e86ccfd6ce37", "book_id": "29056083", "review_id": "c46def9012612d16917fc0bea2850f3c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Oh god I am so divided on this book/script. I loved Scorpius and Draco, they made the entire piece tolerable. I disliked Ron and Harry a lot. Some moments of the book/script were strong and very exciting but Harry's parenting was cringeworthy and unbelievable and the ending was weak. \n I also felt as if they were building up to Scorpius being gay, and when that didn't end up happening it felt sorta empty? Still four stars because I managed to finish it in less that 24 hours and that happens rarely these days. \n So enjoyable but the weakest of the eight.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 23 02:42:29 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 21 05:47:32 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Aug 03 12:34:18 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c4b5fd2c733469fc3e83e86ccfd6ce37", "book_id": "18239142", "review_id": "1673228b760acb86dcdfcbc78d201cfa", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was very fond of this book. It surprised me how easily I was sucked into the story. I find the cover a tad too simple for my personal taste but honestly it doesn't matter as it doesnt effect the story one bit. I would have preferred more build up between Ashling and Grey, anticipation makes a great story. I think I can safely say that I liked this book despite the things I liked less about them.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 23 14:08:57 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 19 14:10:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c4b5fd2c733469fc3e83e86ccfd6ce37", "book_id": "27414945", "review_id": "aa1fdc7a3b082aacf5203f7dbcc1c4b3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n It was short, amusing, cute and cliche. \n I enjoyed it, an afternoon well spend but not one of the best books I have ever read. \n There was a lot of potential for this book to explore and I would have loved reading more about the culture of the planet instead of sucky songs of 2005 on earth. Also the sexuality info dump was cringeworthy and was poorly done in my opinion. Still, like I said it was amusing and I thought it was a lovely entertaining light read for a rainy afternoon.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 23 07:51:32 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 20 10:01:27 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Aug 20 10:01:27 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c4b5fd2c733469fc3e83e86ccfd6ce37", "book_id": "18401393", "review_id": "8b52fa6c2e7b827350e138de8a23610a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was the best book I have read in years and years. Will do a full review this weekend but 10/10 would recommend.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 22 17:34:55 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 21 08:51:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 29 04:22:52 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c4b5fd2c733469fc3e83e86ccfd6ce37", "book_id": "17927395", "review_id": "19f05e0f031d4c74800d3e9515bf9644", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In a way I never expected it, this topped the first book. My eyes are so sore of crying now and my heart feels like it has been ripped from my chest. Lucien being my favorite in the first book has been replaced by Arziel and Cassian although I do have a lot of love for Rhys too. I just love my Illyrian boys. Although I am physically sore from reading this book, I haven't read such an awesome story in years. Definitely recommend this book to any and every YA reader", "date_added": "Thu Jan 21 18:48:36 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 11 15:35:44 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 11 15:35:44 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c4b5fd2c733469fc3e83e86ccfd6ce37", "book_id": "16096824", "review_id": "4be89c2d8e737befe92bb80f1d22aff8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow.. During the first two chapters of this book I thought I was never going to finish it and then Tamlin appeared and I was not able to put it down. Lucien is by far my favorite, Lucien is too good for this world, too pure. However, I am also fond of both Tamlin and Rhys. Actually all of the characters have such depts and backstories, I love each and every one of them. \n What an emotional rollercoaster this was. I have Court of Mist and Fury laying next to me so I can continue right away but I actually think I am going to wait until tomorrow with it to let it all sink and process in my mind because this was one hell of a ride and one I certainly enjoyed a lot. I am just a little mad about how super easy the riddle was to solve and that it took Feyre forever but considering I loved the rest of the book, I will forgive it.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 21 18:47:18 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 07 16:40:40 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jan 07 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c4b5fd2c733469fc3e83e86ccfd6ce37", "book_id": "17708010", "review_id": "fb8356b070be2236000b64594522734f", "rating": 1, "review_text": "In short; I really disliked this book a lot. \n Do not recommend it to anyone, not even people who enjoyed Twilight for example. \n This book had quite some potential in the beginning. I loved how it was all set up. I loved the palace but it went downhill after the first night she spend in it. For such a defiant and confident girl that should hate vampires, she was rather easily smitten. \n I also disliked how she kept going from 'I accept my death' to 'I like being here' and then to 'I will escape' and right back to the first. \n Other than that she is so stupid. Like one second she realizes how she has to behave in a social sphere and two seconds later she has forgotten about it and gets angry about it. It would have been a more pleasant read if she either stuck to one opinion or slowly changed it and not kept running in circles. Example: She goes to town with Prince to find her friend and his Owner. She find owner and friend and then she gets angry and sad and throws a stupid tantrum that makes no sense. Like what did she expect?! \n I also expected more of the Prince and his Wolf, for such an old and powerful creature he was rather flat and meek. \n I just wish the book went in another direction after chapter 2 or 3.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 21 17:49:28 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 31 08:11:59 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c4b5fd2c733469fc3e83e86ccfd6ce37", "book_id": "28550610", "review_id": "b8495399e515cc66bc85ef65e7cc0c91", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Harry Potter is by far my favorite series and this is by far my favorite edition. The art work is phenomenal and it gives me all the feelings I had when I was a young girl reading these books for the first time. It might even be my most treasured book of all.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 20 10:12:05 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 26 08:22:19 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Dec 10 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c4b5fd2c733469fc3e83e86ccfd6ce37", "book_id": "12067", "review_id": "4a8a8a25daf1b44991ac96d1b0253b99", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Pretty good until now, I am still at the beginning though. But I like the way it is written and the characters are awesome!", "date_added": "Mon Oct 15 00:27:26 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 19 14:43:41 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f382f2ad23365badd0de4aca77161eea", "book_id": "22888800", "review_id": "0004b0969aefda8289974f4ca281b53b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I was really enjoying this up until the near the end. The story looked to be winding down to a somewhat tragic end but then the author took a left turn just before impact, made a continuity error with Percival retelling a different version of the bark skin story rewriting the rules making any old medician work instead of only the best as though she hadn't just told the restrictive version of it a few hours before when she first saw it, and the author gave the story a typical \"protagonist is saved at the last moment and lives happily ever after with the love interest\" ending and knocked my rating down a star.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 23 05:31:19 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 25 11:21:33 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f382f2ad23365badd0de4aca77161eea", "book_id": "11927282", "review_id": "22a22efe534652607bbf9fa4ad3ed1cb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "If you can ignore the offensive parts or agree with them (I fall into the former category, I swear) this is an entertaining read.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 13 22:31:11 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 22 00:09:12 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Oct 14 23:23:11 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f382f2ad23365badd0de4aca77161eea", "book_id": "1116393", "review_id": "b841ad104b22f6cfa9c6397e45c70f4e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I enjoyed the book up until the end. I liked the slower pace. It felt natural for this story and didn't feel intentionally dragged out for the sake of producing a longer book. The end just felt rushed and dissatisfying and a bit of a generic ending for this genre. It had that feel to it like when an author realizes their books is getting up there in pages and needs to wrap it up quickly to keep it under a certain number of pages. The final confrontation read like it took 5 minutes at most. And the fact Gar rewrote the spell to sacrifice himself instead of the caster was glaringly obvious the moment he found the spell in the journal", "date_added": "Wed Apr 30 10:55:43 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 10 02:28:01 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f382f2ad23365badd0de4aca77161eea", "book_id": "17317908", "review_id": "93dc7e0d680acc35c5d5814317107f24", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I would like to start off by stating I am very fond of the original 11 book sword of truth series this is a sequel to and I am very disappointed with this book. This book is far below the quality of the original series. It seemed to be written with the intent of stretching as little content as possible over as many page as possible making it painful to read. It is filled with unnecessary repetition, descriptions, and awkward wording to make sentences longer than normal. There are times when the same thought is repeated three or four times, sometimes not even with different wording. A small story in a large book. If the story weren't stretched out as it is it would be a decent story, still not on the same level as the original series but probably still an enjoyable (half as long) read.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 01 11:26:45 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 19 07:28:00 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Feb 01 11:49:48 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f382f2ad23365badd0de4aca77161eea", "book_id": "11543195", "review_id": "14f69084248c6ff50b0bbd8775e657dd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of the best books I've read.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 31 18:24:38 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun May 18 23:32:43 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun May 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b27de1fc5d59b476fc142c7207986ac4", "book_id": "13515274", "review_id": "2b2825f8ee93683e8b8620c8074e6a79", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not bad. The character dialogue was believable and interesting enough to keep reading. The main characters are great. The ideas behind the story are interesting, and pretty cool, however I didn't feel like it all came together properly. \n Although the dialogue reads well, entirely too much of it is spent shipboard for the first half of the book. The sabotage that happened shipboard didn't read like there was any sense of urgency prior to the arrival at Dremiks. Also the plot twists near the end felt like being hit by an out of nowhere foul ball rather than the cool shocking surprise they were supposed to be. Or if they weren't supposed to be a cool shocking surprise then they should have been introduced, or hinted at, earlier in the story. The surprises ended up being cool and fun to read, I just don't feel they were introduced to the story properly. \n Overall it's a solid first showing, not enough to win awards, but certainly enough to attract a fan base, a publisher, and a proper editor. Cassandra Davis obviously has what it takes to write future hits, and I look forward to reading them.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 08 15:47:22 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 11 02:19:20 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8ad7187701987b16e44f27088f25f69c", "book_id": "638254", "review_id": "bd5a45a488955f74278976b92188c961", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I truly enjoyed this adventure and can't wait to read the other books in the series. It does have parallels to Christian stories which I really enjoyed. Being a middle grade book it is a quick and easy read but it's very enjoyable. Great adventure, suspense and good characters.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 23 23:53:45 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 24 21:13:07 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8ad7187701987b16e44f27088f25f69c", "book_id": "24490481", "review_id": "a287e1327524e2d9666579e2419df6d1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "For My Full Review Click The Link: \n https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ujnw_... \n This book is absolutely beautiful! When Harry Potter ended it was the end of my childhood. Nothing solidified that more for me than the last movie. When I heard about these coming out I was so excited. Not only for the nostalgia but also because it was exciting to know that a whole new generation was going to be able to experience this magical world. JK is an amazing storyteller. The characters are lovable and it's just a fun read. Still as amazing to read now as a 25 year old as it was as an 8 year old.", "date_added": "Sun May 15 22:08:32 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 26 08:22:57 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8ad7187701987b16e44f27088f25f69c", "book_id": "25011473", "review_id": "68613fb0bc617b66897f1125e4ce8a17", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway! \n First off I have to send a HUGE thank you to Greg Johnson for personalizing my book. It makes the experience reading the book that much more personal for me. \n This is amazing. I really liked the characters and the plot of the story. The way that it ended makes me think that there is going to be a sequel and if so I am DYING to read it. \n For My Full Review Click The Link: \n https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfVLo...", "date_added": "Tue Oct 20 01:01:50 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 12 20:28:06 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8ad7187701987b16e44f27088f25f69c", "book_id": "22724659", "review_id": "995ea7013ebc07eac757db05ffb71c75", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I am in need of the next book! I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from this book but it is amazing! It's a fantasy story that is familiar yet new at the same time! Klaire is an amazing storyteller! I will be posting a video review soon! So many things to talk about \n Video Review \n https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLbb0...", "date_added": "Wed Jul 29 19:58:59 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 03 16:21:39 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jul 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8ad7187701987b16e44f27088f25f69c", "book_id": "7728889", "review_id": "92ed3ab2db244aa9cd447be59cb7b15a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Well first I'd like to say that Libba Bray's writing is truly amazing. \n This was my first time reading her work and I am quite impressed. With that said it did take almost two hundred pages for me to really get into this story. The creepy mystery was what kept me reading. The only character I really cared about was Jericho. I loved the mystery and the action and as said previously the writing but I like to care about the people I'm reading about and that didn't happen in this book. \n With that said the story itself was gripping and I'm excited to see where Libba takes us next. Overall it's a thrilling good time!", "date_added": "Tue Feb 24 03:45:14 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 25 17:01:48 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 03 16:20:31 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8ad7187701987b16e44f27088f25f69c", "book_id": "618241", "review_id": "6a307aacecc520a8a0d3c73cdb8b15ec", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A fantasy ride that I want to take again and again! There are so many things I want to say about this book but I really don't want to spoil anything for you. Click below for my book review! \n YouTube Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xknty...", "date_added": "Sun Jan 25 17:41:49 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 30 07:49:02 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8ad7187701987b16e44f27088f25f69c", "book_id": "17660863", "review_id": "ef3996d6f52f3c4cd31a9d103d84c895", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I got to say, first off, that I went into this book wanting to love it. I love the show. And I guess I was hoping this would give us even more information about this world than the TV show does. Unfortunately, this was not even worth the time. If you have never seen the show don't read this book. You will be so lost and there are so many holes that you will not have the information for. If you are wanting to get into Once Upon A Time watch the show. All three seasons are on Netflix. \n For those who know the show let me tell you why I didn't like this. Mr.Gold (Rumple) and Belle are not present enough for my taste. Rumple is one of the main reasons I love this show. His story is so interesting. And this book pretty much just focuses on Emma and Snow's story. The story itself was rushed. There is no detail or build up to what there doing. They are here, now they are doing this....It's more like a summary or an outline of the show then even a story. Now I tired to finish this book. I had about 30 pages left but I couldn't. I was getting to angry. If you are a fan of this show I don't think you will enjoy it. If you're someone who has never seen the show I think you'll be confused. \n If they are going to turn this show into a book. It would have to be a series. And I'm not gonna lie I would LOVE that. There is so much to this world and so many intertwined story lines. I give props to Odette Beane for trying but it just wasn't at all what I expected.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 08 05:20:54 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 09 05:17:25 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8ad7187701987b16e44f27088f25f69c", "book_id": "10893214", "review_id": "76fafc1a8800069f3abe3c950db55586", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow...just wow! If you like Tim Burton, Hansel and Gretel, and the movie Coraline this book is a must read. \n I loved the fact that I couldn't predict the story as I read. It's hard to find books that don't have similar story lines. I couldn't put it down. \n I also love the character building in this story. At first, you dislike Victoria but as the story progresses she really opens her eyes. It was dark and very intriguing. 5 stars all the way. \n For My Full Review Click The Link: \n https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM5Nu...", "date_added": "Sat Dec 28 17:29:43 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 12 20:45:58 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8ad7187701987b16e44f27088f25f69c", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "2c668d3660e6c953879b12c3a9c071c8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "For My Full Review Click The Link: \n https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLbtK... \n The story, the characters, and the writing style are ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! If you have not yet picked up this series yet you are missing out. One of the best books I have ever read.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 10 00:00:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 12 20:44:03 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8ad7187701987b16e44f27088f25f69c", "book_id": "7740152", "review_id": "c4aae9f6007fd5227345f3f276a97cdd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "After finishing Fallen I couldn't wait to read Torment now that it's read I gotta say it wasn't as good as the first. I'll start off with the pros. I really like how Luce is battling with her feelings for Daniel. It makes the romance of the story less corny and relatable. I also loved learning about the shadows and the things they are actually capable of. The Writing style was still very enjoyable and very descriptive. Now for the cons I guess I just felt like I was reading the same story from Fallen just at a nicer school. I didn't feel as connected to the characters as I did in the first book. And I have to agree with most people about the story being somewhat predictable. I knew Shelby's ex was the bad guy I mean way to make it obvious. I also felt like the battle could have been more intense we build and build and build through the book knowing a battle is coming and then it happens and you're like \"really that's it\" And as I read I get more confused about the love story but I must read on for that to become clear. Over all I still did enjoy reading it and am excited to see where the story goes.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 16 23:46:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 30 08:14:04 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8ad7187701987b16e44f27088f25f69c", "book_id": "6487308", "review_id": "352d98ca63df8f2d134c49c903443819", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was slow to start but once the story picked up I was on the edge of my seat. I loved how you never really knew who she would pick between Cam or Daniel. And the ending was something I really wasn't expecting. The story is so different and unique.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 16 23:45:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 28 00:49:11 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jan 28 00:49:11 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Nov 12 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8ad7187701987b16e44f27088f25f69c", "book_id": "1656001", "review_id": "3a606406ab7f2e555ef7b32ee65c8de3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I liked Twilight but it wasn't a book series that made me just say \"WOW!\" But when I read The Host I was AMAZED!!!! I can't even believe that this book is written by the same author. The writting style is so different. No one should judge this book by it's cover or by the name. This is an adult sci-fi!!!!! The story made my heart race and I never knew what would happen next. It's nice to read a book that you can't predict!!!! 5 out of 5! You want to read it again as soon as you finish it!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 16 22:51:23 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 30 08:02:51 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8ad7187701987b16e44f27088f25f69c", "book_id": "428263", "review_id": "fe08f2bf45c72e9f1a668edbb74c14a1", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I just can't get through this book. I just feel like she is putting WAY too much info down about her characters. And as a reader you want the back story but they way she wrote it just makes me not want to know more and just skip right to the action. I do like the love triangle. I think we have all been in a situation if not the EXACT same similar. This book is probably my least favorite of the series which suprises most people because I believe this is most people's favorite. LOL", "date_added": "Mon Jul 16 22:51:03 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 30 07:57:50 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue May 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8ad7187701987b16e44f27088f25f69c", "book_id": "49041", "review_id": "2a468dcd4fd4c60b85e0062caf864c30", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This to me is the best book in the series. It get kinda old listening about how much she misses Edward but I love the story that forms between Jake and Bella. And the last half of the boook really keeps you on your toes. Unlike the first book I still after all these years LOVE this book. This is probably the only one in the series that I'll read again.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 16 22:49:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 30 07:58:24 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8ad7187701987b16e44f27088f25f69c", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "6607268f11a812027aff813ef0c13edf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I read this book when I was 15. And I remember not knowing much about it and it took me forever to pick it up and read. At that age I LOVED the story....It made me laugh and I related to the character. I read the book in a sitting. I am now 21 and I just don't get the same things out of it that I did back then. I still think that it's great that Stephenie Meyer wasn't afraid to make vampire's so different for what we all know. Alot of people hate this I mean yeah the sparkling thing is kinda weird but to make them good. And I think that us women are drawn to the bad boy who we think we can fix so she really is that far off. It's still an ok read. Just not one of my favorites.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 16 22:49:25 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 30 07:58:52 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8ad7187701987b16e44f27088f25f69c", "book_id": "6", "review_id": "a255098db7d864db5185e0594db13caa", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Let me start by saying that Harry Potter is truly a work of (pun intended) magic. I love every book in the series and its one of the few book series that get better with each book...but I have to admit The Goblet of Fire is my least favorite. I like the movie way more then the book. I know fans always say the movie sucked but I dont agree. The fourth book just had too many side stories for my liking. She would build you up and then stall you for eight chapters before picking up again. Yes it all does come around but I feel like the movie just kept it simple cut to the chase and kept the focus on what was important. Yeah as a huge fan of the world Rowling created we want to know everything but I just felt it went too far. But I did love the suspense and how this book was the start of the dark more adult side of the world. The conflicts and scary themes were amazing. All in all Harry Potter is just in one word amazing.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 16 22:05:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 09 05:04:35 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "Wed Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "11408650", "review_id": "1605ee628046685a8d9806a2b76653d7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It's actually a 4.5 out of 5 stars because there were some confusing parts that I got lost but nonetheless, it was a good read. I couldn't take my eye off the book. I can't stop reading it and find out what happens in the end. So now, on to book 2!", "date_added": "Sun Sep 03 23:56:16 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 06 00:47:45 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Sep 06 00:47:45 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Sep 03 23:56:17 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "28260587", "review_id": "b0fde7ff1d41a1528fa22ad8aa096a61", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Maas is wicked. This book just wrecked my being. :'(", "date_added": "Sun Jun 05 00:24:41 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 28 23:16:05 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "24453444", "review_id": "fbd9329712ed5d23e3a96d1a019d0e50", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ransom Riggs is one talented storyteller - this has been my conclusion when I finally reached the last sentence of the book. It took me three weeks to finish this novel, not because I did not like it, but because I have been occupied with other things. \n Last night, I pushed aside the urge to binge-watch series so that I could read. I was still 70% through with the book and the story, as already exciting as it was, became more (exciting)! The plot went to its climax and I was glued. I even almost forgot to eat dinner because it was so hard to put it down now that the story was unraveling so fast beyond my eyes. \n The revelations and twists just fired up my excitement as I read through the Peculiars' battle for freedom. What I liked most when the story nears to its conclusion was how Jacob chose to go home and Emma accepted to let go. Little did I know that Riggs had come up with another juicy discovery. I won't tell you what that is, you just have to read it if you really want to know.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 23 18:39:28 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 11 20:10:27 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Mar 24 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "18001867", "review_id": "a9c732534aea5493cdbced7827938730", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved the first book so much that when I finished it, I immediately started book two. I was held up then. Between practicing for our dance performance for the Employee's Night for the town's fiesta, and work, and binge-watching TV series, I completely neglected reading. I just finished reading this one on the night of the 24th, fingers numb from gripping the kindle ever so tightly because the ending was so thrilling. \n Spoilers up ahead! \n The novel began right where book one ended and I liked it that the author wrote it like that. The children's' adventure to the Peculiar Capital of the world was full of thrills and twists. I enjoyed reading this novel and some of my favorite parts were when they discovered the secret passage through Ms. Wren's menagerie loop, when the children were caught by the Wights before boarding on the train to London and Hugh saved them, when they finally found Ms. Wren, when they thought Ms. Peregrine will finally change to her human form and when the book cover finally made sense. \n Riggs has truly captivated me in his world of Peculiardom. It's just magnificent how he got to think of every detail that would contribute to how fantastic this made up world would be. \n My excitement was built up when I got to the ending, a major cliffhanger awaited me again that had me scrambling to start book three right away. I seriously feel sorry for those who read the second book when it was released and had to wait for months for the third one to come out. I'm glad I waited until book three was released before starting up with this series. \n All in all, book two is exciting and I look forward to meet new characters on book three that have amazing peculiarity. I cannot wait for the movie. I hope September comes fast!", "date_added": "Wed Sep 23 18:39:28 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 25 21:40:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Mar 24 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Mar 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "23174274", "review_id": "e91d0289d0d2308378995c2fe0a691a5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I cannot wait for book three!!!", "date_added": "Mon Sep 14 23:35:41 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 19 19:37:05 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Oct 21 00:47:11 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "15792316", "review_id": "bf803268f7bc4a2159e90b0b50e3c227", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Kasie West is really good. I will read more of her works soon!", "date_added": "Thu Jul 30 22:08:56 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 25 03:31:29 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Nov 25 03:31:29 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "13574861", "review_id": "0790190f06560f4adc0abc9f3f4c685a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "OHMYGOD", "date_added": "Wed Jul 29 23:46:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 07 22:55:47 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "17878931", "review_id": "416c774af041ad9680ae68a3dac2c9ff", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It was amazing!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 15 18:13:31 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 19 19:40:50 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Sep 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "17505184", "review_id": "4bd138ce625131d4214ef998b81c9405", "rating": 5, "review_text": "book review here: http://therandombibliophile.tumblr.co... \n :)", "date_added": "Mon Mar 16 00:28:12 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 16 00:33:18 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "13206900", "review_id": "26928e6dd138f64f135fa62d4093f9ef", "rating": 5, "review_text": "For me, this is the best book in the series. Every thing was in place and I could not think of a better ending! I will definitely pick up and read this series again in the future! :D", "date_added": "Sun Mar 08 22:28:12 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 22 00:57:58 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 22 02:42:08 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "13188676", "review_id": "498af0f35c472596e66657e0c6fd5cb6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What I liked about this last book in the trilogy: \n It's fast paced, Juliette has grown up, matured and embraced herself wholely, and WARNER <3", "date_added": "Thu Sep 26 22:51:10 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 03 23:55:09 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "11988046", "review_id": "b2b69b5abd1068ff3471a253c92c4f04", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book is refreshing and I'm excited to read the sequel :D", "date_added": "Tue Apr 16 15:57:44 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 19 19:40:28 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Nov 25 16:02:19 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Nov 22 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "7519508", "review_id": "353ec8684bf21a89b1e91bdf4169db34", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was epic! YEP, the very epitome of epic. I just have to say that I was hooked up on it so bad; I read it slowly to absorb every word that was written. I devoured every page and I was sad having to turn it to the ending, but I'm not saying that the ending was bad. I was very much satisfied by the ending, it was the perfect ending for the series and it was so good, I held my tears so that I wouldn't cry over it. I will really miss Percy and his friends' adventure. This series took me to places I never imagined I could go and it was such an amazing thrill. \n This is surely another 5 stars. I recommend this to everyone, read it, devour it, feel it, be in it!", "date_added": "Sun Apr 14 06:42:46 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu May 16 06:09:18 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "8130423", "review_id": "a2ffb5c225054e1c1678f902fb0393d5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "another amazing adventure on to book 5... \n Ricky had really kept me perked up in this 4th installment. It was just fantastic! Another 5 star! \n I can't express how much I enjoyed this book, really impressive. All those details and twists, oh, can I ask for more? \n READ THIS!!!", "date_added": "Sun Apr 14 06:42:44 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue May 07 09:50:21 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "8126116", "review_id": "f597205e960a71f5383ab37409f4474d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "amazing! \n At last, another book worthy of 5 stars! This book had got me completely out of my mind. I thought I wouldn't like it that much but I was wrong. It was amazing! Another adventure, another battle, another challenge, oh Rick, you've given us more of everything! \n I love the addition of characters and again, the revelations in these books just keep on coming. I can't wait how this will all end. \n Now, on to book 4!", "date_added": "Sun Apr 14 06:42:43 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun May 05 06:35:27 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Apr 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "7583324", "review_id": "4afa86eb1b428b626ca983e35252ff7c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "my reaction on the ending: WAAAAAAAH!!!!! \n Ok, so: \n This book stood up to the greatness that book 1 has shown! With new adventures and challenges with Percy and his friends, readers will surely hang on to every word that Rick Riordan has to say. It is fun and fast-paced and really exciting! \n The revelations on this sequel are shocking and not that easy to take in, but then it will make you want to know more and to read more of their quest. \n It's a must read to all those who thirst for fantastic adventure with mythical creatures. \n A children's book it might be, but then we're all children, aren't we?", "date_added": "Sun Apr 14 06:42:42 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri May 03 05:34:32 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Apr 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "11663424", "review_id": "2bbb8433b3754521d848c02af5516062", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was intensely horrifying and I'm glad I finished it. I've never been a fan of horror/thriller stories but this book has been sitting in my TBR list and I figured that it was time to crash this one out. I started this book months ago but was unable to continue because I became busy with school. I reopened it the day before yesterday and just this morning, I finished it. \n I loved it. It was really scary especially when you read it at night which was what I did that's why I got goose bumps and had trouble sleeping. The story was unique because I haven't read anything like it before. The characters were awesome and the way the writer relayed the story was just magnificent. \n Cas was really likeable and so is Anna, though I really got scared when I got to read what she can do. The character I liked least was Will. UGH. Every time I get to read that he is in the scene, I just get this feeling that I want to kill him myself. Though I felt sorry for him when he was killed, I felt kind of relieved that he was. (Am I bad? HAHA) Another character I liked was Cas' mom, she was really supportive even though she knows that something bad would happen to his son. She trusts him so much, and that's what I liked about her. \n The setting of the story was surreal but believable. Anna's background story was heartbreaking and everything was just perfect. Though I gave it a four star, I really recommend it to those who want to have a good scare, read a weird love story and loves fantasy.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 30 21:33:37 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 31 01:51:22 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Mar 31 01:51:22 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "13104080", "review_id": "78203bc7683c7eefe889b12b82d6fc6a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is a 2.5 out of 5. Juliette is so unbearably annoying, I had a difficulty in finishing. Good thing Kenji was there to remind her that the world does revolve around her at all and nobody actually cares about het love life. haha, I love Kenji", "date_added": "Wed Feb 20 00:30:47 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 01 18:32:29 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Aug 28 06:01:59 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "12813649", "review_id": "28cf33d1d739ad3175d6092cd4bfe471", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was really excited to read this book but it turned out to be not that great. I didn't really enjoyed the story, it was exciting, yes, but it felt like something was missing. I wanted more of it, more of the background story of the setting, the characters, and the school. It's good, but not great. I still loved Sophronia though. She was the ideal female character for the story, really headstrong and brave! The writing was excellent, there were a lot of words I still had to look for in the dictionary because, and it's a shame, I don't know what they mean. HAHA \n The world in the novel was particularly bizarre, who would have thought to live together with vampires and werewolves and having them as teachers as well! (This isn't The Vampire Diaries, people. Haha) \n Well, I understand why that came as a complete surprise to me, I haven't read any of Gail Carriger's works. This is the first, so please understand. :>", "date_added": "Tue Feb 05 05:59:19 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 23 05:42:57 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Apr 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Apr 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "6283504", "review_id": "c9b46cdc78c24780fa415e7c7c295439", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I've seen the movie and I didn't have any idea that it came from a book! When I learned that it did, I immediately sought out the book and read it. I was in awe. It was haunting and beautiful at the same time. You can never outgrow this even if it is categorized in the children's book section. It is an easy light read and there are no boring moments. It just took me a long time to finish this read because I needed to put it aside to study for my exams. I finished reading this yesterday and I was really scared. The ending of this book screams creepy, creepy, creepy. I would want to spoil some parts but I think it's best not to. I hope you'll read this, it's really worth your time.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 03 19:29:47 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 29 05:56:41 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Feb 14 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "7428882", "review_id": "56e4b761b62ed9c30691831e7994d04d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It was already a month ago from today that I started reading this book, and finally, I have finished it! (School got in the way) I wanted to read this book because I saw good reviews about it and I've seen its movie and I enjoyed it as well. As usual, the film adaptation was different from the book, but it was ok, beyond ok actually because I think that the movie was better than the book. It's not that I didn't like reading it; I just understood the movie more. \n The novel was a bit dragging. I wasn't really hooked up with the story but getting to know Lena and her capabilities was exciting. Her connection with Ethan was totally enviable, who wouldn't want to talk to your love one without actually saying a word? It's really sweet and intimate. I loved how Ethan protected Lena even though he was just a mere mortal. Lena's want to belong to the human world was adorable. I kind of get why she wanted to belong. I felt that too, before. \n The setting of the story was unique. It took me a while to adjust to it, but then I grew accustomed to where they were. The \"caster\" thing ate me up. I badly want to be one, a Light Caster, that is. It would be awesome to have any kind of powers. :D \n The character I liked most in the novel was Macon and I really became sad when he died even though I already know that he would be basing on the movie I saw. He really loved Lena, he did his best to protect her, and he was really honorable. And how could I forget Boo Radley. That dog, I would love to have him as a pet. HAHA \n The most annoying character I encountered on this read was Emily. She was just a pain in the butt. I really did not like her, I bet you wouldn't too if you read this because she was just a huge trouble maker, and a miss-goody-two-shoes-on-the-outside-but-really-evil-on-the-inside. She and Savannah were b*tches. I actually felt glad when Ridley ruined their prom. HAHAHA \n Overall, I liked the characters, just not so much of the story. Its concept is unique and unlike any other, it's just cliche because of its love story. The boy will do anything for the one he loves and they will end up together happily, a really predictable story. But it was still a thrilling read anyway. \n Famous Quote: \"Mortals. I envy you. You think you can change things. Stop the universe. Undo what was done long before you came along. You are such beautiful creatures.\" - Macon Ravenwood", "date_added": "Mon Jan 21 09:37:34 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 31 01:56:33 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "11123032", "review_id": "3366132392dee567a9170fa3b2b35ea4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It was terrible to have read this book because the writing was so detailed and descriptive, you can't help but picture out what really happened to Pi. BUT, it was not a terrible book! In fact, it was replenishing and had a different feel. It talked about many things and I've learned so much! The beginning was slow but as I read through the middle, the story just flowed and just this morning, I finally finished it! \n It was great and having to read Pi's story reminded me that God is really always there. It seemed that it was impossible to survive in a situation like that of him, but he did! And it was a miracle. Humans really will do anything to survive. \n There were gross parts in the book which I wouldn't want to remember again. HAHA. The writing of the author was friendly. He was just like talking to me as I read through. It was not so hard to understand since the words used are not too deep, but there were certain specific Indian words that I didn't get. But oh well, I finished the book and I didn't have any regrets reading it ^_^", "date_added": "Mon Jan 14 06:46:34 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 12 16:34:38 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "10428902", "review_id": "81fddb819934e6031da2d03b214baa75", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Review is up on my blog too. http://therandombibliophile.tumblr.co... \n This book is extraordinary. I loved everything about it. It is weirdly unique and one of a kind. I am in awe after I finished reading this one. \n I picked this book up the moment I read that Tim Burton is making a movie out of it. I AM A BIG TIM BURTON FAN. So after reading the news, I immediately said to myself that I just have to finish reading the Miss Peregrine books before the movie comes out, and so I did. I am now a Ransom Riggs fan, too. The way he constructed the story line of this novel by finding a connection on the vintage pictures he collected is just amazing. The photos are haunting and creepy. Every time a picture is going to be shown, I close my eyes first before turning the page so as not to be frightened by their weirdness. The creepiest photo on the book was of the twins. They were just so eerie, I was scared out of my shins. Do not read this at night, especially when there are no lights. \n I have many thoughts about the book. In its first part when Abe was just telling Jacob stories about his childhood, I expected that this book has just a psychobabble-thingy plot wherein the grandfather speaks metaphors and there are really different meaning on what he was telling. Later on when Jacob ventured to the island, I realized that this is a mystery/fantasy/adventure book. And the moment when Jacob went to the past - that was when I fell in love. \n The twists that the author introduced in the plot was superb. It was a magical experience to be in a world that is completely new to me. I cannot wait for its movie, although there were some alterations made that I am not happy to hear, I am still excited to see how Tim Burton would pull this off. This is a perfect Tim Burton movie, and I couldn't say more. I will be awaiting for the release of the movie and for the meantime, I aim to finish the remaining 2 books of the Miss Peregrine trilogy this month. \n Do you want to know what a peculiar is? Then its time you open this book and read through, it will never be a disappointment.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 11 00:03:14 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 16 00:19:39 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Mar 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "10468400", "review_id": "ea264d3d08ec4c78adb6cdde37897922", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It has taken quite some time for me to finish this book. And now, that I finally have, I'll be reading the 3rd books next! ^_^ \n This is the sequel of Hex Hall and I just finished reading it this morning. It took so long for me to finish this because school had consumed most of my time, with all the practices and assignments that are demanding my attention, I only get to read a chapter or two per day. \n This novel was a tad boring in the first 10 chapters because it mainly focuses on recalling what happened on the first book. \n So basically we get to read on the daily struggle of Sophia's journey on learning the essence of being a demon and grasping its full potential before it could take hold of her humanity. I love Sophie's character especially her snarky comments and sarcastic comebacks to friends and family. She is so full of humor, I can't avoid giggling when I get to read on those parts. \n In this book, I got to know the real Cal (who was really Sophie's betrothed) and Archer Cross (the prodigium who's a demon-hunter). New characters were introduced and the antagonist was slowly revealed. This book would have been equally thrilling as the first book if only I hadn't read it in installments. \n New exciting magic tricks were introduced as Sophie trained with her father and it was totally a fantasy package complete with thrill and love. I can't wait to read the 3rd book which I just started right now ^_^ \n I gave this a 3 out of 5 stars.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 03 21:11:54 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 04 18:28:40 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jan 23 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "8416819", "review_id": "c2f77c18edc586b18693abd053ee1476", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I've been fascinated to paranormal and fantasy stuffs ever since I was a child. Having seen fairytales and cartoons revved up my imagination even more in my childhood days. I loved watching movies about superheroes, magical powers, extraordinary adventures, mythical creatures and the like. My first obsession was mermaids when I had watched The Little Mermaid. I was so captivated by the beauty of being a half fish, half human, the idea was stuck in my head for so long that up until now, I drool over beautiful pictures encasing the merfolks. Then superheroes captivated me when I had watched The Fantastic Four, then my interest went to fairies and vampires and werewolves and witches and sorcery and magic. My imagination was way too large for me to contain, it was remarkable that I loved every bit of those at once. \n This book held my attention when I got to know the plot. I adore fantasy books and this is just yet another novel that rekindled the spark in my interest about witches. \n The story centers about Sophie's life. She was a witch and was sentenced to live her life in Hecate Hall until her eighteenth birthday because she had done something ghastly in the human world (although I think ghastly isn't the right word for it). There she met her kind and other handful of creatures. Her roommate was a vampire and she became her one and only friend. The author of course wrote a twist in the story because who would want to read a plain plot with a witch and a vampire, right? So, this twist was slowly revealed in the end (obviously) and no, it did not end happily-ever-after because (HELLO) there's two more books for this story and Sophie was given a problem to be solved soon. \n The character I liked most in this book was Jenna, Sophie's roommate; because she was a vampire and those creatures never cease to intrigue me. HAHA. I like her mainly because she was one unique vampire, she likes pink and can control herself. She's a good and true friend to Sophie and she's grateful. \n The moment I loved most in the entire novel was when Sophie made dresses for her and Jenna for the All Hall Ball. The author's description was so precise that I can nearly see what the dresses looked like. I envy that they can make fab dresses from scratch. Magic is cool! I badly want to be a witch. :P \n I'm looking forward in finishing the second book (I'm still in chapter 3, HAHA). \n I give this a 4 out of 5 stars. Go read it! You'll love it :D", "date_added": "Thu Jan 03 21:11:52 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 04 18:27:52 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jan 23 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jan 21 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "15751540", "review_id": "ac613df9b440bfae9833442822476dc3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "this one deserves a 5 star!", "date_added": "Thu Jan 03 16:29:14 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 18 04:39:02 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jul 18 04:39:02 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "7581796", "review_id": "d6cc2406be6f19fbfe3a2293cabd0afb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "WOW! \n : I don't know where to start. Ok here goes. \n I have always adored Greek gods and goddesses yet I don't know much about any of them. I basically knew Zeus, Hades, Philoctetes, Hera, Hermes and Hercules in the Disney movie - Hercules; I knew Perseus, Poseidon, and Andromeda in the movie - Clash of the Titans - and that was about it. I didn't know there were so many gods... \n I came to know about this book after I had already watched the movie. I've been told that the movie sucked and that the book was ten times better, you know, I actually liked the movie especially having Logan Lerman in it. Then I finished this novel and I was struck. YEP, the movie didn't do justice to the book AT ALL, but it was acceptable enough. \n I loved how the author perceived a young boy's perspective clearly, never failing to make me laugh with witty yet humorous lines. It was a fast paced book; I just finished it in a day! \n The story was compelling and gripping that you just can't put the book down. It has the perfect mixture of elements that keeps the readers interested and in the end, you just feel so good that you read the book. \n Read this if you are a fan of adventure and fantasy!", "date_added": "Sun Nov 18 06:39:43 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed May 01 06:05:32 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fab3e0cea61720dc85881bfc09d06b97", "book_id": "11264999", "review_id": "cccc754bb8bdf6ac9821163a578fe246", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I can't put to words what I felt when I was reading this book, but I can tell you that what you've seen on the TV adaptation of this marvelous novel is exquisitely true-to-the-book. \n Ok, I guess somehow I have to say a little something about this read. First of all, this is an epic fantasy book. I can't fathom Martin's imagination; zombies, frozen wastelands, a cunning queen with a cruel son, a twisted plot, a smart dwarf, a young fighter, dragons; everything's here. Though it's a long read and it will really take all your time to finish through the end, it is worth it. \n I especially love Daenerys' flow of story. Every time I near through the end of a character's POV, I almost always wish that it's Daenerys' turn. I love how her life turned upside down. She's becoming stronger as each page past, even Viserys can't contain how huge her authority had grown. I was just saddened that Drogo had that fate (though I already knew what will happen). She's my favorite character in the book. \n Another character I fancy is Tyrion Lannister, the imp. He's wise and can't be fooled and those are the features that make him stand out. I adored the moment when he was about to be executed on the Eyrie by Lysa. Thinking about that trial by combat - wow. I look forward for more interesting scenes of Tyrion when I read the second book soon. \n Although Arya is headstrong and naughty, I also liked her character, because unlike Sansa, her eyes weren't blinded by the truth. She was smart, too, having to escape the castle when Lord Eddard was captured by Lannister men. \n Overall, the flow of the book wasn't confusing at all. It was well written and the story was just divine. It's a masterpiece that the author should be really proud of. I can't wait to read the second book, A Clash of Kings, and I can't wait for the season 3 of its TV adaptation. \n This is seriously a 5 out of 5 stars for me.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 02 02:04:27 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 29 03:56:21 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sun Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "7294032", "review_id": "5d7654782abe48f5642173c078cbf22f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Beginning twenty-five years after the sacrifice of a small boy in Hobarron's Hollow to vanquish evil and hold back the Demontide - there's now a new sacrifice on the menu. A new boy on the chopping block! \n Fifteen year-old Jake Harker is a horror comic fan, thanks to his dad, Adam, who also has a keen interest in things that go bump in the night. Not surprising really, when his mum and dad both work at the Hobarron Institute that is run by the creepy Dr. Gordon Holmwood. Who knows what sort of mischief goes on in there? \n When Jake witnesses the murder of Olivia by a ringmaster and then later his mother's death, evil threatens to take over his life and control him. On top of that someone has kidnapped and drugged his father, and the only one who can save him is Jake. No pressure! \n What happened to the murdered girl and the events that lead from it, all amalgamated in a wonderful, satisfying conclusion and I cannot wait for the next two books in the trilogy to come out! Fantastic! \n I just couldn't put this book down, and was pleased to get hold of the ARC version of this since I collect them. I appreciate there may be typos and missing pictures, but for me that is part of the fun! I do miss out on the absolutely fabulous cover that is on the book in the shops though! A small price to pay. \n Hussey is definitely one to look out for. If you like Darren Shan and Anthony Horowitz type YA fantasy books for boys then you will love, love, love this!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 12 11:27:49 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 12 11:48:15 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "28225843", "review_id": "4b92ad752047be9914d2f49b8f629d1a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I am reviewing Borne by Jeff VanderMeer. Here are my thoughts: \n ^^ Rachel's a scavenger trying to survive in a destroyed world that is littered with biotech experiments the Company have discarded and nothing is ever what it seems. She meets Wick who makes his own way, by dealing with all sorts of things he finds, breaking them down and making the best use out of what he can. Then Rachel finds Borne, but instead of breaking him up and using him for parts, she keeps him. Not only does he start to talk, become a person and grow on her, he starts to grow - into something quite huge and alien. Yet despite his quirkiness Rachel and Borne become attached; like mother and child. What can become of such a relationship in a world where survival is everyone's priority? \n ^^ Borne. How to explain Borne? He waffles between childlike and adult states as he finds his way around Rachel's world. He can morph into objects and people, but without these disguises he forms a six-foot hybrid of a squid and a sea anemone with a ring of circling eyes. In short, he's a fascinating, shape-shifting character, and one Rachel takes it upon herself to teach the ways of the world. One he is clearly not used to living in. \n ^^ Then there's the giant grizzly God-Bear called Mord, the Magician, the poison rains, memory beetles, and the odd discarded biotech that could cause death or discomfort. \n ^^ I quite liked how this book is split into three parts, and each part/chapter has a sub title relating to the next part of the story. \n ^^ Underneath the surface of this post-apocalyptic tale of survival, there is something more. Something deeper. You'll see it as you read through. Maybe the author is writing of a world not so alien after all. If you read in between the lines, is our society so different? Do we teach our children what is best, only to have them go their own way as soon as they have a mind of their own? If you look closer, there are so many similarities to modern life as we know it today. It's a kind of charming, yet terrifying read all rolled into one. \n ^^ This is a great book for any fan of fantasy and science fiction set in a dystopian world, where technology and the supernatural intertwine. \n Overall: VanderMeer's dystopian world is a weird and wonderful mix creative strange characters, a fascinating mind and world-building skills. I've never read anything quite like it! \n Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC copy.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 06 07:48:59 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 09 03:16:38 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jun 08 14:21:32 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jun 06 07:49:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "32944818", "review_id": "5bf6d2581d7802b35c00bbeb1823e240", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I am reviewing Legacy Strain (The Isolation Series, Book #3) by Taylor Brooke. Here are my thoughts. \n ^^ This is an awesome series, with so much going on. In this book we're back with Brooklyn and a kick-ass team for the ultimate fight against Kirin and his followers who are about to release a deadly virus to destroy humanity. It's a tense, page turner which starts slow and then builds momentum ending with a race against the clock, action orientated finale. And what about her nemesis Juneau Malloy - can she really trust him? In this episode, she has no choice than to try. \n ^^ The characters are well fleshed out, and there's relationships a plenty. I previously mentioned possible GBLT themes in previous books, which there are; a nice touch in a young adult, Sci-Fi book. \n ^^ I also really like the world and settings, Taylor Brooke has created. She has a brilliant imagination. \n ^^ Apart from the fact that you'll miss two great stories, I definitely recommend reading both the previous books in this series, so you have a good idea of all the characters and can really get to grips with what's been going on so far. Plus it's fun to see how each character changes, after what Taylor Brooke has put them through. \n Overall: This whole series is definitely worth a read. This character driven series had me hooked from the beginning to the end. \n Discolsure: I received a complimentary copy of this novel courtesy of Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for a honest and unbiased review. \n Omen Operations - Isolation, #1 Review* \n ECHO Campaign - Isolation, #2 Review* \n *Goes to my website Alternative-Read.com", "date_added": "Mon May 08 13:43:27 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 07 13:16:14 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "31309216", "review_id": "564fac6da373853399f7e18295554b10", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I am reviewing Echo Campaign (The Isolation Series, Book #2) by Taylor Brooke. Here are my thoughts: \n ^^ In this second in the series, Brooklyn Harper and her friends, the renegade Omens are really tested to their limits, as Isolation puts them through a series of simulations to see what they are made of. But why? Soon it becomes clear when Brooklyn is given an opportunity to save her friends in exchange for giving up her own freedom and staying with Isolation. But wait a minute! The Omens are genetically enhanced, highly trained killers, what on earth could possibly go wrong with that plan? \n ^^ Ms Brooke writes in an engaging manner, and has a way of hooking of hooking the reader in from the get-go. \n ^^ In terms of sci-fi elements, I really enjoyed the author's creativity; the simulations, Sacrifice Mimicking and the idea that they're all legally dead. This all made for an exciting read. \n ^^ Do catch up and read the previous book, if you haven't already, it will make this one so much more fun. Plus, you'll miss out on a good story! \n Overall: Engaging plot. Smart characters. Intriguing ending. Having recently just finished book one, I was pleased with the continuation of The Isolation Series, and I'm looking forward to starting the third and final book. (Coming your way soon!)", "date_added": "Mon May 08 13:43:04 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 23 08:38:13 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "6487308", "review_id": "142f19abf35c754057e459c5f4731e77", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This story has wings! \n The shadows have always followed Luce around ever since she can remember, but after speaking to her parents about it once, they sent her to numerous psychiatrists, certain she must be suffering from a mental illness. This does not bode well for Luce, always having to lie about the shadows, and thinking there is something wrong with her but never quite knowing what. This turns her into an angry teenager always getting into trouble. So much so, she ends up being sent away to a reform school called the Sword and Cross. Although she is not happy about it, and misses her best friend and parents, things soon look up when she comes face to face with Daniel - the moody, secretive, untouchable boy who she swears she has met before. But Luce is hiding a few secrets of her own. Before coming to Sword and Cross she had a scholarship to a prestigious boarding school revoked when she was blamed for the accident that caused the death of her boyfriend, and it so traumatised her it led to the loss of her memory of the incident. Or so she is lead to believe. \n Meanwhile, the alluring, yet equally mysterious bad boy, Cam, has set his sights on Luce causing her to feel torn between both him and Daniel. But of course it's Daniel she really wants and feels she has a connection with. So, with her new school friend's help she tries to find out more about him and is shocked at what she learns, not only about Daniel, but herself. The shadows are no figment of her imagination, and she has a past connection with Daniel that changes everything. Throughout her life, all her lives in fact, Daniel has been her protector - her guardian angel. But that's not all, Luce finds herself in the middle of a war, and it's fight or flight time between good and evil. Will the dark, sad truth of her relationship with Daniel ever be revealed? One kiss is all it takes to change everything, but is it for the best? \n Oh, what a lovely, Gothic love story, thriller and suspenseful read all rolled into one. The premise of a love that cannot be, may not be a new one, but with a flutter of fallen angels waging a war against each other, the story grows wings and takes on a new life of its own. I could not put it down. However, the ending did seem to lack something by leaving a key question unanswered. Yes, I know there's going to be a sequel and Lauren Kate wants to keep us hooked, and maybe I'm just being too impatient, but it did leave me feeling a little cheated at the end. Despite this, it wasn't enough to destroy my reading experience. I truly did enjoy discovering the secrets of Luce and Daniel's developing romance, and what she had unknowingly walked into that would change her life forevermore.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 30 06:14:23 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 15 01:34:05 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Tue Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 9, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "5886162", "review_id": "179e65eab1a16e2ee23a8e7b9ce36907", "rating": 2, "review_text": "When Purity Drake, an orphan and product of the Royal Breeding House, discovers she is next on the breeding list she has to escape. On the run a man saves her life. Turns out he is a slave and running from the Polar Barbarians with news that terrible forces now aim to enslave the Kingdom of Jackals. The unlikely duo team up in the hope for a better chance of survival in this fantasy/Steampunk world. \n Molly writes celestial fiction novels and is beginning to have strange visions from the Hexmachina. The stars are disappearing and a comet is heading back to Earth to take residence as a new moon - something is going on - and she needs to find Oliver Brookes for answers. \n For all its imaginative world building flair and well-written prose, I couldn't get into this book. For me there was just too much going on, too many fantastical worlds, place names and fractions of which I had the feeling I was not getting the full picture. Usually I love the bizarreness of Steampunk, and I did enjoy learning about some of his characters, especially Coppertracks, the super-intelligent steamman - a nano-mechanical lifeform. But, that wasn't enough. I guess I am the kind of person that needs to read the previous two books in this series to get a true feel of the past happenings of Purity's world. Although, it's clear now it's not going to pass as a standalone story, I do hope to check out the previous books and at a later date, come back better equipped.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 30 06:03:22 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 30 06:05:30 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "6438479", "review_id": "ae47f02abee8a1cf9c0b44ef9cc44955", "rating": 4, "review_text": "From birth Meridia seemed different. She sees ghosts in the mirrors of her magical and mysterious home, and her parents treat her oddly for reasons unknown to her. Gabriel her father resents her, never allowing the girl to speak unless spoken to, while her mother, Ravenna, forgets she exists. Even her nurse acts weird and won't let her out of the house much, for fear of infections and a mist that never leaves their front door. Oh, how she longs to escape her miserable life. \n When Daniel enters her life it's a magical moment of true love, and they soon marry, but with marriage comes another odd family, and poor Meridia seems to leap from one strange household to another; swarms of bees appear at will, along with that colour changing mist again, but worse of all her mother-in-law, Eva, appears to only be happy when making Meridia and Daniel's life hell. Both sets of parents are as bad as each other, and will use whatever method they can to get what they want, regardless of the mental torture and troubles they put Meridia and Daniel through. How many secrets can these two families hold? Can Meridia fathom out what is going on, and stay one step ahead, before her own marriage is destroyed? And what will become of her own child who doesn't seem to stand a chance? \n If anyone believes themselves to have Mother-In-Law problems and they read this book, I guarantee they will feel so much better about their lives. Both Meridia's parents and her In-Laws wore me out with their conniving, scheming ways that almost tear the young couple apart, but that's what made me read faster in order to find out how the story ended. This is a story of love overcoming everything, while at the same time it's also heart breaking. I found it to be something of a cross between a modern fantasy and a Grimm fairytale, which is down to the author's wonderfully bizarre imagination and his unusual upbringing; Born in Jakarta, Indonesia, to Chinese parents. Of Bees and Mist is an atmospheric epic of a story. I loved the way Meridia and her husband learn to overcome the two forces that try to break them up and the clever techniques that the young girl is forced to put into place to protect her family from the atrocities thrown at them from both sides. \n Overall: This engaging plot, along with Setiawan's captivating descriptions and ability to make the story flow in such a mystical and strange world, makes this tale one to recommend. \n Review posted on Amazon UK.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 30 05:19:52 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 30 05:34:12 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "13481309", "review_id": "3939f165e4034ad509293c9597547606", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It sucks being a vampire who wants something she's afraid of; the simple touch of a human. There are lines she's afraid she might cross that keep her from finding that fulfilment, so she's a very lonely lady. Until one night Fate decides to take a hand and deliver unto her the very thing she craves, in the form of two very hunky shifters. Jane has never in all her decades felt as confused as now. \n Jude is an alpha with several things on his mind,not least of which is the woman they've been tracking who smells like home. Only he's not prepared for the fact that not only he,but his second, Cray are destined to be her mate. Now they have to learn to share, find the rogue out for revenge and keep Jane safe at the same time, for this ousted pack member has already killed once. \n For a good quick read full of steamy sex, humour (whether intentional or just my perverted sense of) and strong characters Calista Fox's Claim Me is a fine choice. Jane has the kind of alpha female confidence that makes for great dialogue, while both Jude and Cray are sexy, strong men who learn that sometimes the joke is on them. The biggest disappointment for me was the length (but I always like more than less) because just as I was getting into all of it, their part was over. Knowing this is part of a series I still like a little more in-depth exploration of their stories, but it's still well-rounded, complete and I enjoyed it.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 26 06:06:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 26 06:12:47 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Mar 26 06:12:47 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "12818295", "review_id": "71530eb1fda5708935232e90d3db12f3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Mesa becomes pack Alpha,but isn't complete without the mate that left him years ago,so the first order of business becomes finding and returning his mate where he belongs-home with the pack. Life however has no intention of making his mission an easy one and finding Kody means finding the other part of himself as well. Kody was compelled to leave his mate because he knew that things would never be totally square between them as they were,so he followed his heart and found Samantha. When Mesa shows up on their doorstep an already emotional storm becomes a chaotic cluster as they sort through things never experienced by some and only partially understood by the others. \n When Samantha finds Kody in a compromising situation,her already stressed emotions boil over into an inferno of conflicting feelings- for as much as she feel betrayed by Kody she's even more betrayed by her response to the big,growly man who seems to think he can control her. \n B.A. Tortuga writes a complicated \"tail\" where the male doesn't get it all his way with the female falling at his feet in adoration, and I like that. The characters were fun as well as strong, pulled you into the story and let you enjoy their rather frenetic journey to finding their way to becoming what they're meant to be. Oh, yeah-the sex is quite as frenetic, stimulating and imaginative as any you could hope for; very vivid word painter is this author. Bravo.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 21 15:31:31 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 21 15:39:17 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jan 21 15:39:17 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "12749406", "review_id": "b70ee5a9bc2bcdece6f63c5510b835cf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "52FF is a concoction of short (and sometimes not so sweet) \"Flash Fiction\" stories all under 1000 words each. \n The majority of stories were thought-provoking vignettes with an underlying nefariousness portraying the horror of both fantastical and real life situations, which work on our human weaknesses (anxieties, fear and loathing) with a twist of satire and black humour thrown in. \n In the Nursery, is a poignant example of this heady cocktail of emotions and descriptive prose, by which the author, Marc Nash, tells this heart-rending story through the eyes of a stuffed panda in the room of a child's psychologist. There's a wide variety of stories to read, from the violence suggested in a seemingly harmless game of bingo in The Caller to the Bingo Caller's House Calls \"House\", to Badges and the stark loneliness of Lost Sole, where Nash's very British, analytical voice bubbles to the surface. My favourite story has to be Bittersweet, another fine example of how the author cleverly plays around with words, metaphor and new ideas showing a strong love for language. \n With 52 stories, you can deal a story-a-day, there's a gritty, down-to-earth quick appetiser to appeal to your varying taste-buds. A great \"loo book\" too, and I mean that in a good way! I felt, that in some cases, there were a couple of scenes as opposed to complete short stories with beginnings, middles and ends, however, these tended to be more experimental and came across more like poetry, or an alternative style of prose, which I rather liked as they enhanced their individual potency. This made for a good read as I never quite knew what to expect from one story to another, making 52FF very hard to put down. \n At the end of the book there is a additional nice touch, the story prompts, which led to the ideas behind each piece of flash. A unique and effective idea. I found myself going back and re-reading some of the more mysterious ones armed with this additional knowledge, as though privy to inside information and looking for the things I may have missed, like one does when watching a film for the second time. \n Overall, I do enjoy flash fiction and I think, Marc Nash, has done very well with his collection of 52FF. Whether you are new to this form of creativity, or a flash fiction fiend, 52FF is an electric mixture of small servings covering many flavours to chill, shake and stir you! What provides some thematic unity, as well as satirical bite, is the darkness, which lies around the corner in many of these stories. A veritable cocktail of real life incidents, metaphors and hidden meanings of an imaginative mind!", "date_added": "Wed Jan 18 09:41:07 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 18 10:31:53 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "13163068", "review_id": "334e569eaf3d8994c3c7c8b0dc837be3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Temptation at its Darkest! \n Captain of Nara's Heart by Laurann Dohner \n Nara Barns,shuttle Captain about to become an involuntary sex worker when she's caught trading things she's not supposed to avoids being auctioned to the weird looking aliens when she agrees to be sold to another Captain with an unusual (to say the least) requirement. Although making it with tall,sexy, in heat Captain Vellar doesn't seem such a tough assignment,keeping her heart in tact might be. \n This one was good from the beginning and to tell the truth I hope it's taken and blown into a full novel,for there were a few things that just didn't get enough attention-such as traditions, how things came to pass as they did for the good Captains, etc. Although this does encompass all the criteria to make it a good story and fully engages the imagination I wanted more, which perhaps is the intent? \n Dragon Heat by Mel Tescho \n Betrayal is a dish best not served at all; yet it seems that Grace is about to find it a dish served to her once she's found her latest target-the sexy dragon-shifter who shows her what it means to become the hunted and what betrayal her agency plans. As an operative skilled in tracking and if necessary, killing paranormal creatures,she finds herself \"caught\" by the sensual pleasures he gives her as they elude their hunters. \n This one flowed fairly smoothly,but there were a couple of places where it kind of lost my attention and I had to re-read it to pick up the story again. The premise is good,the sex hot, the characters both strong and smart, but too short to present the entire tale without more background on both. \n Dangerous Addiction by Desiree Holt \n When a man is ready to settle down after finally being able to facilitate his dream of owning his own place,that man is lucky to find the perfect woman and find her quickly. Only Fallon has been abused by her ex-Dom and that means Cord has to be willing to show her he's the man she needs as well as the lifestyle with a little bit of bondage, incredible sex-include expert flogging- but mostly a gentle hand and loving heart. \n I don't usually like a lot of the bondage, but mostly it was so well written that it was actually stimulating. That said, I can't help, but wonder about submission after abuse and the possible effects on a person. The story was strong, the characters vivid and the descriptives easily pictured within the mind. \n Highland Tryst by Eliza Knight \n Being totally against men and love,wouldn't you know a hunk of Highland male would literally fall at Kari Howard's feet causing her to forget that promise to stay away from all men? There's nothing like there being nothing other than all man beneath that kilt he's wearing and Fin shows Kari he knows exactly what to do to rock her world. After all a man who has travelled through time should be able to show a woman how a man can truly cherish her, shouldn't he? \n It was quick, it was hot- maybe not totally believable, but still fun. Where's a Highlander when you need one? \n Tattoo Witch by Kathy Kulig \n Sinful Designs,not just a name but an occupation as Sam and Anita find when they go there after being referred by another tattooed couple The witch who owns it can give you your wildest fantasy with a magical tattoo,but it comes with a price- each one comes with it's own dark and hoary curse. The spells can be broken,but at what cost- and are they willing to pay it? \n This one was just plain good. It spoke to the darkness within and made me wonder if I would be willing to pay or break the curse. Incredible sex, temptation at its darkest and strength of character. \n The Addiction by Jaid Black \n When you realize that you have everything you thought you wanted and that's not enough,what do you do? That's what John Calder wants to know. He has the money,material things, business acumen and any woman at the flick of a finger. Enter Shelli Rodgers -klutz extraordinaire- who teaches him the one thing he's never learned; the art of being happy. \n I want to read more of these two. I have so many questions left unanswered and these guys just seem to belong together, yet the getting there is so quick that I feel a bit like that red-headed step-child; on the perimeter. \n Over-all I enjoyed this anthology and if you're looking for something that has multiple reads that are quicker than novels this is great for it can be parcelled out and enjoyed in increments. It has a bit of \n something for multi-tastes and is a great way to curl up with some cocoa.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 17 05:04:43 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 17 05:23:55 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Sat Dec 17 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "8246566", "review_id": "78365419266ac13a860fb8cb71bc7890", "rating": 5, "review_text": "When man messes with genetics, sometimes he gets things he doesn't understand even though he's under the misconception he's in control. \n Mica Toler was supposed to be safe,everyone said so, but deep in her heart, she knew different; had always known it. There had been a chemistry between her and Blaine forever- a dark, mysterious intensity that drew them together and created a heat they both knew would come to a bad ending. Mica was a woman determined to live her life her way and if that meant staying away from Navarro, then stay away she would, though he has an entirely different outcome in mind for them. \n Now danger stalks Mica and Navarro has no intention of allowing Mica to leave his sight or her enemies to take his reason for being away from him- so if that means behaving like the animal she calls him ; so be it. As the danger converges upon the players, everyone is about to get a major lesson in what it means to let the animal free by stealing a Breed's mate, even if she won't allow herself to be fully claimed. \n I adore books about shapeshifters, but I especially adore those who make them seem plausible, sexy, hot with an actual plot and sub plots as well as well defined characters. Lora Leigh has never failed to give me a book to read that holds my attention with all those requirements, but she also throws in a premise that is plausible as well as we have been working with genetic manipulation since the mid 20th century. \n Most of all she makes me wonder what it would be like to have those abilities, live in the real world and struggle to find my place- again. I definitely keep these paperbacks as they are worth a re-read.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 01 00:11:54 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 01 00:23:26 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "6811353", "review_id": "724dcf13838b6bc3a99faa5aceda9255", "rating": 5, "review_text": "When three kids, Wolfie, Zi'ib and Tala come together from different parts of the world they realise they have a lot of things in common; the same emerald coloured eyes, birth date, a name, which means Wolf in their own language and, as if that isn't enough, each have a father who is missing from their lives. Mysteriously missing, that is. They know that the circumstances that bring them together are too similar to be put down to coincidence and this is confirmed by the new guy, Mr, Forester, who rents a room in Wolfie's house and starts talking about his favourite hobby of tracking down ley-lines and researching the wonders of magic stone circles and the forces they attract. A complete nutter in other words! \n During a speech on lost energy paths by Mr. Forester, the trio all have their senses awakened and find they have special powers, which didn't exist before. Little do they know that for centuries the Chosen have lived among them undetected. Now a secret cult who call themselves the Manus Sacra are looking to the young trio to complete their customs, a mission that will project them into a world known as \"The Hidden Realms of Wisdom\" only reached by the inquisitive minds of the chosen few. Together they must play detective and decipher the clues of the sacred knowledge to discover the true meaning as to why they have been brought together. What they discover may not be to their liking! And Mr. Forester may not be as nutty as he first seemed. \n Sam Osman's Quicksilver is a fun book and I feel the author could very well be likened to a Dan Brown for kids the way he has includes many codes to crack and a story rich in plot and theme. The cute and rather mysterious dog, Elvis, was a charming addition to the cast and I will look forward to reading the rest of the series. A great ticking clock read.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 06 11:39:43 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 06 11:43:01 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Thu Nov 03 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "6871059", "review_id": "af8cb7d67fe6eec5370ccac4d9e829aa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Kyle has a mother who doesn't believe a word he says, a forgetful nan in a home and a father he has never seen. It's no wonder Kyle was troubled as a child and made up an imaginary friend, a father figure, to keep him company. \n But when he hears scratching noises in the attic above his bedroom, and a girl around his age called Ameena later comes to his rescue, it's clear that someone from his past is out to kill him. Could it be that his invisible friend, Mr Mumbles is back and even uglier and meaner than ever? And do both his mother and nan know more than they are letting on about Kyle's past? \n For a kids book I found this an enjoyable read, although I do feel that being the first in a series the meat of the story is yet to come. The idea of a world named 'The Darkest Corners' where the neglected and forgotten ghosts of the past hang out, is pretty cool and I loved the scary Keller house next door - but we only touched lightly on these and I know there must be more to look forward to. An enjoyable and scary read that will keep your kids reading under the covers all night long, and possibly scared to turn the lights out, too.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 28 04:44:16 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 28 04:51:17 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Oct 26 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "9669766", "review_id": "d1a15b9d4eb77c3c05e6a1c7b9d3b0a0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I wanted to like this novel a lot more than I actually did. The central premise - that Lucy's new tattoo is actually a symbol designed to make her a potential mate for an alpha werewolf - is smart and original, and Tracy Kitts' chatty, conversational style draws you in, helping you to believe in Lucy's dilemma even as events unfolding around her become ever more monstrous. There are also a couple of scorching hot sex scenes, most notably one involving sex on a car in the pouring rain. The problem is, those sex scenes only make up a tiny percentage of the book's two hundred plus pages. Sex Symbol comes across as a horror novel spiced up with some erotic content, rather than a full-on erotic romance - which is fine if that's what you're looking for, but personally I prefer a little more sausage with my sizzle. And when Lucy's first coupling in the book - the aforementioned car scene - is fuelled by having had her drink spiked by a friend, it raises issues of dubious consent that some people won't be comfortable with. But if you like Punk'd-style humour and a hefty dollop of gore with your romance, Sex Symbol should appeal to you - and it'll make you think twice about booking that appointment at the tattooist's...", "date_added": "Wed Oct 12 08:14:39 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 12 08:17:38 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sat Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "12448535", "review_id": "04151b7d715d68b51cbd670a4947209a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One woman. Two men. A lifetime of immortality. Which man will claim her first? \n The stage is set: Rain and her friends are in Zen Grooves, a nightclub in Denver. \n The game begins: Rain pulls the short straw, so it's her turn to play the game. A game they made up between them to have some no-strings-attached fun with the men they meet during game play. \n The heat is on: Lead character Rain Calisto is an ordinary woman with a bunch of friends and a lust for life. Oh, and she has diabetes but manages to keep that under control - unlike her lust for two gorgeous men who both seem to have the hots for her. All a sign the game's going well. Besides, after tonight they're not meant to meet each other ever again. Game rules, you see. Life is for living, right? Of course, she doesn't tell them it's only a game, but does get more than she's bargained for. \n Rhys Mathews and his equally sexy friend, Armand Anastasio both have secrets of their own. Whilst Rain is giving herself shots of insulin, the men are giving themselves shots of Defender serum and swallowing Consumption pills to help them walk in the sunlight and consume food and drink, instead of depending on blood alone. No wonder they are so competitive. They're just two regular vampires looking for some fun. No need to look for a mate match yet, which is just the way they like it. Hell, they've got enough on their plate, working on the case of the missing girls and dealing with vampire blood thieves. \n But Rhys' need for Rain is too strong and amidst the throes of passion he feeds from her, starting a ritual he cannot stop. Realising he can neither control himself nor understand why he feels Rain is the one, when that can't possibly happen, he turns to his lair members, brother Steffan and scientist Eilian for help. It turns out that the insulin Rain injects temporarily alters her blood makeup, disrupting Rhys's basic function of identifying that Rain is indeed his human-vampire mate match. Now all Rhys needs to do is tell her what he is and what he has done, without scaring her off. That's if Armand, who is playing games of his own of which only he knows the rules, doesn't get to her first... \n From the moment I read the intriguing prologue and it left me gasping for more, I knew I was going to enjoy the mysterious antics of the Ambrose Heights' vampires. This is the diary of Rain Calisto and Rhys Mathews; a documentation of their transformation from a flesh fantasy to eternal love written in the first person from both points of view. I liked the danger element of Rain becoming a vampire without being given a choice of what she wanted, because Rhys couldn't hold himself back from the day they first met. Add to that some very HOT, seductive, breathtaking moments and the heat is on. In addition, the fact that Rain, runs a vampire book club, yet didn't see vampires as anything but romantic fictional characters, and her realisation of the truth is pretty fitting to how I'd react if this really happened. \n All in all, Maya DeLeina deftly weaves humour, hot loving with some hidden horrors all wrapped up in one erotic, lusty bite. The stage is set. The game begins. And the stakes are higher than ever at Ambrose Heights. \n A book to get your teeth into before the sun comes up.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 24 02:43:01 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 24 02:54:46 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sat Sep 24 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "7832158", "review_id": "a907aa6cd27fddccb7b1fa6afd43a25e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is another good new urban fantasy series. There may be many out there, and because of that there is sure something for everyone to enjoy. \n What I liked about Christina Henry's Black Wings is that it took a hold of me at once and would not let go. I wanted to know what happened, I needed to knew what the secrets were and it was just such an enjoyable ride while it lasted. There was one thing though that was not that good, but in the end it did not matter since I truly liked this book. But for the record...[For the full review please visit here! Thank you!]", "date_added": "Wed Aug 03 07:42:28 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 27 01:34:15 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "8435071", "review_id": "0be71ff9a0f5745c8e30494764980087", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Dark Enchantment is the third book in the Dark magick series by Anya Bast, but even though I have not read of the previous books I could still read it without feeling lost at all, as there is always a new couple on the horizon and new things that happen. \n Charlotte Bennett fears the Fae, just as much as her father dislikes them, so she is glad that they are all behind walls of Piefferburg and can't get out. But when someone pulls her there she does her best to cope with their requests, desperately trying not to fall for a Fae called Kieran, the hot dream guy who started it all. \n I like the world that Bast creates. A world where all Fae live in their own city and can't get out. Read full review here...", "date_added": "Wed Aug 03 07:41:14 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 20 06:16:17 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Feb 20 06:16:17 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "8202714", "review_id": "0c24bffb0b1bc21da8f74ef157b7caf9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is Nancy Holzner's second book about Vicky, a shapeshifter and demon slayer. If you have a problem with demons then she will come in and fix it, even while you dream if that's where they are haunting you. She is the girl to call. No job is too small. \n I was not in love with book 1, it was good, but for some reason I had issues with it. But I still wanted to know what happened and here something showed up that gave me that drive to really want to know. Now I can't tell you because that is a spoiler. But it gets interesting when something bad happens..is happening...The stakes are high, the fight is on, there is drama and most of all, questions. Questions that made me sit up in my chair wanting to scream. I needed to know, and then I know. And then, well then I needed to see it finished. What can I say, something good happens (ok bad, but you get the picture). It's interesting and it will keep you turning the page faster and faster. \n It's hard to say anything about this book without spoiling it all. Vicky will fight for her life again. Things are not easy in Boston. Her werewolf boyfriend is in DC trying to give everyone rights. The zombies in Deadtown are preparing for a concert and demons are popping up as usual. \n Romance then, Kane is away in DC and she misses him. All while seeing the human cop Daniel, whom she also likes. But there is never a triangle going on. It's more that she is dating, Kane is always busy. But I did start to like Kane more in this one. \n The book is better than the first in my opinion, and hopefully it will get better and better.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 03 07:38:43 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed May 24 05:45:17 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Mar 03 04:28:30 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "7823038", "review_id": "52c93aadc2db0eb5373350999ec23cfb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I must say that Kalayna Price's first Alex Craft book was entertaining, but it got really good at the end, so much so, I got truly curious and excited about reading the next in the series. \n Alex is a Grave Witch and can raise shades, not ghosts, but lingering shadows, and because of this she is pulled into something darker. Someone is killing people and now that person is after her too. To her help she has a detective, Falin, who anyone would get at once is the love interest. Sure I like him, he sounds hot and after these two have worked through their issues with each other things might happen. But yes there is someone else too and someone who I sure have my fingers crossed for; Death. When he showed up at the scene I was smitten at once. He did not say much but I am obviously on his team. Since she talks to the dead she sees him around a lot and what is there not to like. \n This book has a lot of questions in it. Who to trust? What is going on? Who is the bad guy and who exactly is Falin? Not to mention, Death. There is also things happening all the time so no chance to grow bored here. \n The world is also interesting as the Fae and witches came out a few decades ago and now they all live together. Not peacefully but getting by. We do not learn that much about the Fae but I would like to know more, since they keep to themselves. \n All in all a good book, that got even better. I do want to read more and keep my hopes up for Death. I just hope Alex sees it, too. \n A nice debut to a series that hopefully will keep on getting better since she sure seems to know how to twist things around.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 03 07:08:13 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed May 24 05:45:10 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Feb 06 01:58:31 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "7831146", "review_id": "140b6f8319259daf6fdaaeaa856956bc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Big, gorgeous, hunky breed-Styx is most apt at finding and capturing his prey. Storme Montague however is more than prey; she might just hold the key to the future for some of the breeds as well as Styx himself. First he has to keep the innocent Storme safe from not only Breed slavers, but his own animal side. \n Storme was told to give what her father gave into her protection to only certain individuals; only Daddy forgot to tell her who those individuals were. She has no particular love for any of the breeds as they cost her everything she held dear, but she never expected to feel for the hunk called Styx those so out-of-control emotions that kept her on her head instead of her feet. Now she must decide whether it's head or heart she follows. \n This one has it all- lust, passion, fear, hate, know it all men and women who know better. I thought with so many different books about the breeds it might get a little boring, repetitive, etc. To my chagrin and my entertainment Lora Leigh manages to find a twist or two to the premise to keep them enjoyable without complete repetition. This was fun, humorous, full of hot sex and long enough to make the reading worthwhile.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 30 05:22:39 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 27 01:44:20 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jan 27 01:44:20 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "6003566", "review_id": "a22bf608986c1fe430efaf9f4823328a", "rating": 0, "review_text": "The scientific elements are limited to the suits Dale and his lifelong friend wears, and to brief references that arise in conversations throughout the book. A little humorous at times, a little fearful, but Crystalwizard keeps the story elements fairly balanced. \n The theme of Wizard's Bane seems to be that people need to learn to live together in peace. Another theme, in my opinion, could be: there will always be trouble to face so keep yourself prepared. \n Wizard's Bane by Crystalwizard is highly recommended to the teen and young adult readers because of the relationship issues that arise amongst Dale's traveling companions. Crystalwizard proves that no matter your age or skills, you are important and your skills are important. This is not to say that other readers won't enjoy the story, for I'm certain any lover of sci/fi writings will love it. Can hardly wait to read the Second Book in the Sojourn Chronicles. Read more here \n Alternative-Read.com \n The \"Inside Story\" as told by Sassy Brit and her Gang!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 14 04:41:22 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 15 09:13:23 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Wed Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "5748982", "review_id": "b280b4b2f48bc583e4e2246d09584b20", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Auja, a young oak, discovers that humans are trashing their world and without help from someone, the forest of Southcrop will wither and die. In her leaves, she comes across a crawler (caterpillar) not seen for thousands of years. He calls himself Fur. For Auja, and the future of her forest, Fur is the answer to their dreams. But it's a long, tough and dangerous world out there for such a meek, little thing that is both a single intelligent being, and a whole colony of caterpillars at once. With the help of the trees' Southcrop Vision, they are able to communicate with each other, and help Fur on a quest he must undertake to save the forest. He must reach Riverside Farm before it is destroyed to pass on the knowledge of the trees, and a special gift, of which even little Fur does not fully understand at the time. Nor does he realise how special he is. \n Southcrop Forest is one of those books that I kept stopping to say to my husband, \"Did you know...?\", which I know is very annoying when you are not the person reading the book, but I just can't help myself sometimes, and I needed to share this as I read! It's cleverly written, in that is is a story about a Tent caterpillar on a mission, talking trees that can communicate with Southcrop Vision, and other insects, birds and animals - each with their own distinct personalities. I could easily picture this as one of those cute animated Disney films, where they try to keep the cartoon characters true to their natural characters, but with the additional \"human\" ability to talk and act cute at the same time. Not always as easy to do in a book and can sometimes come out very forced, but not in Southcrop Forest. Yet, with all its cuteness, it is also sad, and acts as a huge slap in the face - a reality wake-up call - where the message is clear - we are destroying our beautiful and wonderful Earth. As you know, we need trees, they reduce carbon dioxide and give us oxygen, and like all the tiniest, seemingly insignificant creatures that surround us, they all have a purpose and play a big part in our survival. What are we doing for them? \n This book is a must for anyone interested in nature, ecology and the environment and, of course a fun read about the interdependence of various life systems in our world. It's not all cuteness and smiles, nature has a terrible way of being cruel to be kind when it comes down to survival of the fittest. Does Fur complete his quest, and fulfil his dream of flying high up in the sky near the warm sun? I'm not telling. You'll have to read it to find out.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 12 02:21:19 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 12 02:25:09 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Thu Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "8122895", "review_id": "da6eadd28a82e9176e91f71527e58f7b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The story begins with Beldir Trunvar, sorcerer and pro tem leader of the once mighty Zanutian clan, calling upon ancient guardians to give him the power to unlock the sacred gateway in an effort to harness the magical abilities of two cosmic mates, Feyna and Ketrick. \n Feyna Sy Tordinay is a doctor and Ketrick is now known as Commander DeSardon of the Dragon-Class warship, The Stalker, on which Feyna is to work in a professional capacity as a clinical psychologist. Although it's instant attraction on both parts, feisty Feyna makes it clear that under no circumstances will she be messed about by anybody. Especially not a man who thinks he can just walk back into her life and take what he wants as and when he feels like it! \n To make matters worse, Ketrick discovers this was not the first time they've met. As toddlers they were born from two ruling families, and during the Adbavalian invasion their parents thwarted the enemy by sending the children away to be raised anonymously on separate backwater planets. \n Now the enemy has discovered their whereabouts and the two have no choice than to come together, literally, in an effort to harness their joint powers to save each others lives. Unfortunately, the job of telling Feyna this boils down to Commander Ketrick and right now she's in no mood to listen to anything he says! That she could refuse his advances, does not compute with the suave Commander. Until now. \n A rocketing read! Feyna is no pushover when it comes to men and matters of the heart, which makes her the ideal match in this scorching love/hate relationship with the handsome Ketrick DeSardon and the heated sexual tension between them. For this reason I cruised through this book at top speed.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 30 04:41:42 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 30 04:43:20 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Thu Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "7879350", "review_id": "d8f343125f3f224a52c0b90acf522b58", "rating": 4, "review_text": "When Prince Caldwell returns home to his estate, Black Rose, he is reunited with a woman, Ylianor Meyer, who both he and his best friend, Chris, knew as children. Unbeknown to him, his mother, Sophia once banished the nine-year-old Ylianor from their estate, on account of her mother's affair with her husband. So Ylianor's rather surprising return rouses suspicions of her carrying with her an ulterior motive that may not be in the Prince's best interest. To complicate matters further, the reading of his father's Will brings more unexpected news and new problems the Prince's way. \n Chris, now the Prince's lover, is none too pleased with Ylianor's untimely appearance, nor is he impressed with the way the girl enchants his lover with her beauty. But is Chris worried for the right reasons or is there a darker side to his love, which the Prince is yet to discover? \n With a threat to Ylianor's life hanging over her, the Prince decides to take her along on a trip to visit Lord Fairchild. Unaware why Fairchild, the leader of the Council has summoned the boys, the trio are thrown together on a perilous journey of discovery where they must begin to mend their severed connections and awaken special powers before they can finally understand who they are, mind, body and soul. \n Laura Tolomei builds a seductive fantasy world rich in detail where the rules of sex and relationships make for an alluring first book of a series. In a setting that fits the characters perfectly, The Sex pledges the continuing insight into a trio who all need each other, but are still learning why. \n I liked her occasional use of the contemporary omniscient point of view. In addition, Laura's world building skills made Sendar's feudal-like society with its destructive energy a real treat for this lover of the fantasy genre. If there is one thing I didn't like, it has to be the Prince's name, Duncan. Unfortunately that's my own personal taste and bears little reflection on the author's ability to write a damned good story, which I hasten to add, this is. \n I love the characters with their deep-rooted issues, and the hidden gifts they have to learn to use. Where Laura will take this series, I cannot guess, but I know I'll have fun travelling with her characters, as the Prince, Ylianor and Chris discover what their new lives hold in the forthcoming titles. Meanwhile, I'm left chomping at the bit for more, much like the Prince's horse, Fuzeon, until 15th May, when book two is to be released. Not too long to wait, but long enough! \n Book 1 The Sex - now available \n Book 2 The Game - May 15 2010 \n Book 3 The Festival - July 15 2010 \n Book 4 The Fitting - September 15 2010 \n Book 5 The Pledge - November 15 2010 \n Book 6 The Heat - January 15 2011 \n Book 7 The Trace - March 15 2011 \n Book 8 The Guardian - May 15 2011", "date_added": "Tue May 25 16:10:48 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 01 03:21:13 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e16adab6e3efb3734cabfddde0628b64", "book_id": "7602365", "review_id": "8ec66b8f1e95e5497352cd8cf992083b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "In Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire, 1480 a princess priestess vanishes from her room, but nothing is what it seems. The priest of death, Acati is called to investigate, but is horrified when he discovers his estranged brother, Neutemoc, a Jaguar Knight, is implicated in the presumed murder of the missing girl. Now Acati must investigate the situation and find out the truth ultimately to save his warrior brother from the penalty of death and to uncover the real murderer. But everywhere Acati turns, new secrets and leads are uncovered and nothing is what is seems on the surface. \n Servant of the Underworld reads very similar to C. J. Sansom's medieval murder mysteries, with the exception that this is set in (well researched) Aztec times and has supernatural fantasy elements. I really enjoyed this book, and my only gripe is the very long Aztec names could be a little bit distracting. Other than that, this is a suspenseful tale and a very fast read for me, with plenty of cliffhangers to keep me turning the pages to reach the final resolution of this \"whodunit\" and \"closed room\" novel with a difference.", "date_added": "Tue May 25 15:19:38 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 26 13:39:27 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Thu Mar 18 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aaea5c92a4b4b46b899125db83c1a13f", "book_id": "5618698", "review_id": "39acf941ee34be7c0bbeb7c1713692e8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Hilarious! I really enjoyed the audiobook version. The narrator did a great job delivering the funny, sarcastic lines. If you enjoy the Sookie Stackhouse books and are looking for a fun, easy breezy read, pick this book up!", "date_added": "Sun Mar 17 16:14:11 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 17 16:29:51 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "aaea5c92a4b4b46b899125db83c1a13f", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "39fcbdaeb1aa587a502eda411f8dd37e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Since I am not really into circuses, I was not sure if I would enjoy this book. I found myself getting sucked into the magical tale and wished I could be a patron of Le Cirque de Reves.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 15 20:53:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 02 12:26:01 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Sep 06 08:21:03 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aaea5c92a4b4b46b899125db83c1a13f", "book_id": "12381269", "review_id": "283d2e0aa22dbe0209fbdfc2d0e809b8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Better than the last one.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 05 22:18:46 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon May 19 10:57:56 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aaea5c92a4b4b46b899125db83c1a13f", "book_id": "11962970", "review_id": "b21fc1260c8f741c84740f9100336005", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was a little slow-moving. I enjoyed the first book more.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 05 22:15:33 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat May 26 17:33:48 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aaea5c92a4b4b46b899125db83c1a13f", "book_id": "42898", "review_id": "acde059629046721b68a4e1f17226b3d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Another entertaining book in the series. I think I've enjoyed Zsadist's story the most so far. I think what bothers me most about this series is that Wrath is the \"Blind\" King, yet he sees everything. He's clearly not blind at all! Can't wait to read the next installment!", "date_added": "Fri Dec 16 09:39:58 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 02 20:27:06 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Apr 02 20:27:06 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Mar 14 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "aaea5c92a4b4b46b899125db83c1a13f", "book_id": "8133097", "review_id": "d1dc9b39f8f8ec8e0ccf33a5d4971c89", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I think the map was the best part of this book.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 13 10:50:52 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 16 09:33:48 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Fri Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Thu Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "aaea5c92a4b4b46b899125db83c1a13f", "book_id": "42899", "review_id": "2d4d02d9d6dfac2877bd255745c877b6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars. I found this book to be entertaining and funny. I would have given it 4 stars if I didn't find the whole blind vampire thing utterly bewildering. I mean one minute he can see the lines on someone's face, but the next minute, he can't even use a fork to eat his brussel sprouts? Come on already!", "date_added": "Tue Oct 11 09:29:47 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 16 09:32:53 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Fri Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "aaea5c92a4b4b46b899125db83c1a13f", "book_id": "7102544", "review_id": "eac542c79bd0d4825a8e29ed041c9306", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This rating is for the Sookie story only. I didn't bother listening to the rest of the stories when I heard a fobby accent being used by one of the narrators.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 09 10:12:56 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 15 14:18:14 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Thu Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aaea5c92a4b4b46b899125db83c1a13f", "book_id": "7823549", "review_id": "ae60dfb6bd5c046348d3d5990012c3af", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Loved the narrator of the audiobook version! Her sarcastic interpretation made me laugh, and her attitude reminded me of someone I know. She did a great job interpreting all the different characters' voices. I'm not sure if I would have enjoyed this as much if I were to have actually read it.", "date_added": "Wed May 25 09:11:27 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Tue May 31 10:54:51 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Wed May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "aaea5c92a4b4b46b899125db83c1a13f", "book_id": "3609763", "review_id": "ae5b5074298a7eb5b86121ac26eeac15", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was surprised at how thick this guide was. It also had some beautiful drawings inside. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to read through the whole thing because I was too busy, and it's due back at the library. I'll probably be more interested in reading this book when Breaking Dawn comes out.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 26 08:22:32 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Tue May 03 09:12:40 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Tue Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "aaea5c92a4b4b46b899125db83c1a13f", "book_id": "7624272", "review_id": "45cdc035a31077a42320d1db46f915c6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Read this book while visiting my niece. Great for kids.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 07 14:08:51 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 07 14:13:45 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Mon Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aaea5c92a4b4b46b899125db83c1a13f", "book_id": "140082", "review_id": "cd3c846007e93424c49bdf4c90c1a283", "rating": 3, "review_text": "HELLO Alcide!", "date_added": "Wed Feb 23 08:15:07 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 07 14:14:00 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Mon Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aaea5c92a4b4b46b899125db83c1a13f", "book_id": "110494", "review_id": "03ebd5be80007c0aceca10b94414275f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n By re-reading this story again, I now notice how blah Bill is. I'm glad they don't stay together.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 23 08:11:01 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 07 14:15:41 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Mon Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aaea5c92a4b4b46b899125db83c1a13f", "book_id": "8667848", "review_id": "5056545ddf4e5b530725dc10655dc753", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed this book. It was very detailed, and the descriptions really brought the story to life. This book is quite long, and I think some parts could have been edited out. I'm looking forward to the next book!", "date_added": "Wed Feb 23 08:06:10 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 04 09:07:18 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Mon Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Tue Mar 08 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "aaea5c92a4b4b46b899125db83c1a13f", "book_id": "7981206", "review_id": "5aa35709125966c38f6bb45d3cdd1184", "rating": 2, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Disappointing. \n First, I'm personally tired of the Pelt storyline. It's too drawn out, and annoying, and I'm tired of Sookie always rehashing her guilt, and then not feeling guilty, and then feeling guilty all over again. SO OVER IT. \n Also, what's up with Alcide showing up naked in Sookie's bed? That was totally random and didn't fit in at all. It seemed like he was only in the story because Charlaine felt the need to write him in -- maybe to please her True Blood fans? She needs to keep the TV plot separate and not interfere with the true storyline. \n It was also disappointing that Sookie & Eric didn't have the same chemistry as before. Their relationship is basically over. Too bad, I was always on Team Eric. Hope she doesn't get back with Bill. \n Anyhow, I'm still a fan of the Sookie series, and hope the next book is better!", "date_added": "Tue Jan 18 09:24:58 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Wed May 25 09:07:54 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Thu May 12 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "aaea5c92a4b4b46b899125db83c1a13f", "book_id": "7937462", "review_id": "db55050f75344479be01da6c9f45a13c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book was ok, I was interested to learn more about Stinky Fred than Bree. Maybe Stinky Fred will make an appearance in book #5 if there ever is one.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 29 09:18:16 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 29 08:46:10 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aaea5c92a4b4b46b899125db83c1a13f", "book_id": "6752378", "review_id": "d6be8732ef023d4634ec7e2e4811a6f1", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Why is there a book #4 when this was supposed to be a trilogy? I guess someone was making too much money to stop....", "date_added": "Mon Jun 14 14:45:02 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue May 31 10:51:49 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "aaea5c92a4b4b46b899125db83c1a13f", "book_id": "1582996", "review_id": "d2c59466c66369efc8ff21f9205f865f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I didn't like this one as much as the first book. There's too many similarities to Twilight, Harry Potter and Sookie series.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 18 09:12:30 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 02 12:16:24 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aaea5c92a4b4b46b899125db83c1a13f", "book_id": "5161066", "review_id": "92af2e8b1ac75bc7cc1693647cafb356", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I can't believe Claudine is dead!! I must admit, I forgot what \"Summerland\" meant, and wasn't completely sure she had died, and had to ask some friends. I feel that even though Claudine was a minor character, she's been present in most if not all the books, and she deserved a better ending. Her death seemed more like an afterthought. Charlaine should have focused more on Claudine's final battle, and given her a more respected farewell. \n I can't wait for the next Sookie installment!!", "date_added": "Fri Apr 17 15:08:15 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 01 10:01:30 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "aaea5c92a4b4b46b899125db83c1a13f", "book_id": "4502877", "review_id": "f1110efb8fa3272abaae45b752be9b6d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm dazzled by Edward and his growly voice all over again. I really enjoyed this partial draft, and is a must read for anyone on Team Edward. I really hope Stephenie completes the book. I can't wait!", "date_added": "Tue Apr 14 13:50:25 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 17 14:51:35 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Fri Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aaea5c92a4b4b46b899125db83c1a13f", "book_id": "49041", "review_id": "2e96edb7e8e3eef05ff5e70aca06dae1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "After Twilight came out, I was really excited to read the next installment. I was somewhat disappointed with New Moon, and found myself skimming through the book trying to get through it, and trying to find the next part on Edward!", "date_added": "Mon Apr 13 14:39:35 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 13 14:41:10 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aaea5c92a4b4b46b899125db83c1a13f", "book_id": "301082", "review_id": "28321118d0efc8c3c2c6d40ae703d861", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Who knew I'd be into vampire books? But I guess I am. The Sookie series are a fun easy read.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 20 15:38:21 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 20 15:39:02 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "aaea5c92a4b4b46b899125db83c1a13f", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "01fc97ad3ab65f0071f97e71eeadd000", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I could not put down this book! I heart Edward....", "date_added": "Thu Mar 12 08:24:41 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 12 08:26:02 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4e269e672334d12ac5c635930a3e2be4", "book_id": "13496", "review_id": "975f413534fdbc287f4067e4906dfd01", "rating": 5, "review_text": "i'm a fantasy junkie, others may think this book was cliche or a re-hash of other fantasy books but i loved it for what it is - escapism, fantasy, other worldly, wish i had my own dire wolf entertainment. Very complex story line with a ton of characters to get to know, but it does piece itself together nicely. Hoping the TV series lives up to the hype and anxiously awaiting the next book in line!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 27 09:12:44 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 02 11:32:59 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Oct 02 11:32:59 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f2f61ff7f4ed044514e59836062acb9d", "book_id": "18731511", "review_id": "6c1591a54f56c83c3e75f13f9f5e78ee", "rating": 0, "review_text": "So after a year, the new and improved Dragon Within is now available! I did a lot of work on it so hopefully it is now what you all deserve to find in a fantasy adventure. I changed the cover and added a title for the series. The Creation Chronicles will follow Karah on her quest to find herself, but it will also focus on the four elements, the creators of Eiddoril. The characters are all the same and I didn't change the plot, so those of you who have read it don't worry. I just cleaned it up and I'm very proud of my accomplishment. I'm just sorry it took so long! \n I hope you will enjoy my story and the future volumes to come. I have loved bringing these characters to life and I can't wait to share their next adventures. If you love fantasy and dragons as much as I do I'm sure you won't be disappointed.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 06 15:05:24 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 07 05:48:56 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f2f61ff7f4ed044514e59836062acb9d", "book_id": "18363865", "review_id": "e412bbcf83bd9600ae7e663f1eaee0ef", "rating": 0, "review_text": "So after a year, the new and improved Dragon Within will soon be available! I did a lot of work on it so hopefully it is now what you all deserve to find in a fantasy adventure. I changed the cover and added a title for the series. The Creation Chronicles will follow Karah on her quest to find herself, but it will also focus on the four elements, the creators of Eiddoril. The characters are all the same and I didn't change the plot, so those of you who have read it don't worry. I just cleaned it up and I'm very proud of my accomplishment. I'm just sorry it took so long! \n I hope you will enjoy my story and the future volumes to come. I have loved bringing these characters to life and I can't wait to share their next adventures. If you love fantasy and dragons as much as I do I'm sure you won't be disappointed.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 21 07:51:43 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 04 06:16:04 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "f2f61ff7f4ed044514e59836062acb9d", "book_id": "17188814", "review_id": "4186557c19106172ebb0165b6e878054", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The Light Beyond The Storm Chronicles was part of a group discussion through Goodreads. \n Let me start off by saying that I did enjoy this book. The author's attention to detail was excellent and her characters were well formed and believable. The basic storyline was something I could get behind and the love scenes were very well written. \n The story follows a young female elf mage named Dii, who escapes her ruthless master and flees into a world she knows next to nothing about. She finds herself in a land full of people who hate and mistrust magic and consider elves to be nothing more than animals. Her magical abilities and elven heritage lead to her capture by Witch Hunters who are tasked with ridding the land of magic and subsequently the elves who wield it. Through this horrific ordeal she meets a mage named Archos and together they find strength in each other and embark on a quest to save a destroyed elven villages residents from slavery. \n So why only the three stars? Well this is where my own personal feelings come into the picture. This is a dark fantasy where the good guys definitely don't have the best of luck, which is fine, I'm always up for a little gore and gloom. My dislike of the story came when the women of the story were constantly victims of brutality. I understood the authors attempt to describe what life was like for the elves in particular the woman, but it just didn't sit well with me. The author did handle these scenes well though and I can't fault her for writing them into the story, it just wasn't something I enjoyed reading. \n I am looking forward to the next installment of this series, so I can learn more about Dii and her background. This is definitely not a book for the faint of heart but if you enjoy a good, hot, romance novel than this is your cup of tea. Great job Alexandra!", "date_added": "Mon Mar 04 10:28:18 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 18 06:19:33 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Mar 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f2f61ff7f4ed044514e59836062acb9d", "book_id": "15796469", "review_id": "42b91d72919be9407d2aaa3cb974f787", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Review coming soon.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 03 14:47:20 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 25 07:45:45 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Mar 25 07:45:45 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Mar 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f2f61ff7f4ed044514e59836062acb9d", "book_id": "13413589", "review_id": "f0afc825d2aee26751ce873c9c2a18fa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Awesome as always! I love this serries!", "date_added": "Thu Feb 28 16:36:41 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 18 10:26:52 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Mar 18 10:26:52 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f2f61ff7f4ed044514e59836062acb9d", "book_id": "15776950", "review_id": "1ca9ecda95e5c3e47de5cda3192542c6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I purchased a copy of House of shadows as part of a group read through Goodreads and I'm glad I did. \n Being a vampire fan, I was happy to read a new and believable take on the species. In this story his vampires are called the Breed, and they make it quite clear that they don't even consider themselves in the same league as traditional vampires. There are some similarities, but I think Walter was successful in trying something new. \n The main plot follows the story of a young man named Eugene who is saved from his destitute life by a beautiful woman. However unknowingly he becomes an intricate part in her plan to become not only a member of the Breed but to also save her household. All goes according to her plan, until Eugene awakens as a member of the breed, only to discover that the woman who turned him has disappeared and he has been left alone. Eugene must discover how to cope with his new life and discover what has happened to his sire, but being a newly born vampire has enough problems on its own. He is attacked on all fronts, not only from members of his own kind, but also from the predator that now lives inside him. \n House of shadows is a fast paced well written adventure, which kept me turning pages. It is a wonderful addition to the vampire genre and its hidden mystery left me wanting more. My only regret was that it was short. I wish I could have learned more about what Eugene would have to face in the future but I guess I will have to wait for the next one. I recommend this to anyone who loves vampires and a good supernatural mystery.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 02 15:28:02 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 11 07:24:00 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Feb 06 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f2f61ff7f4ed044514e59836062acb9d", "book_id": "13553459", "review_id": "70afd3bec392d6c3a37c20e3ce573b02", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This novel was part of a group read in my Goodreads group. I was provided with a free copy for this review. \n I would like to start off by saying that this was a wonderfully written fairy tale! Although I'm not familiar with the original that Thorn is based on (The Goose Girl), I found it had all the elements required for a great tale. I was especially happy with ending because it was not your typical \"Happy Ending\".. Things do turn out well in the end but it was far from the perfect princess marries the prince ending and I really liked that. I have nothing against fairy tales, but things rarely turn out the way you want them to. \n Thorn follows the story of a young princess named Alyrra who has grown up in an unhappy home. Abused by her brother and ignored by her mother, Alyrra's only solace is her horseback riding and her friend, the Wind. She soon finds herself betrothed to a prince from a far off country that she has never met and has heard even worse things about. She has no choice but to accept and she leaves home on a long journey towards her new husband. During the trip she is attacked and magically switches bodies with her hand maiden. Unable to tell anyone what has happened, she arrives in her husband's kingdom not as a princess but as a common servant. It is in this new life that she must decide to live as a common peasant, something she desperately desires, or to face her fears and fight for what is rightfully hers. \n There were times when I really didn't know what to think of Alyrra. I understood the pain and the fear that comes from being abused, but sometimes I wished I could have just shaken her and told her to suck it up. I also really enjoyed the prince's character. He strong and compassionate, but he had flaws too. \n I would recommend this book to anyone who loves fairy tales. It was well written and it flowed very quickly and effortlessly. Thank you for letting me read such a great novel and I hope we see more from Intisar soon.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 02 12:54:08 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 27 10:02:12 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Feb 12 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "f2f61ff7f4ed044514e59836062acb9d", "book_id": "15838964", "review_id": "f2e61551a4e8d45f874e405ecadf8c18", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This novel was part of a monthly read in my group on Goodreads. A free copy was provided for my review. \n This was a fun read. Deception Peak wasn't your typical fantasy being that it had elements of science fiction involved. It is geared toward young adults, mostly male, but I think fantasy fans at any age would enjoy this. \n The story starts out introducing us to Ian who is a typical teenage boy is living with his father Alex. Ian's mother is deceased leaving Alex to raise his son on his own, which causes a lot of emotional issues for Ian. He has no self-confidence, and his sense of security is very lacking. Ian returns home from school one day to discover that the computer program he and his father had been working on had somehow magically come to life. Against his wishes Alex, Ian's father convinces Ian that they should travel to this new world and explore. Eventually Ian agrees only because he doesn't want to be left behind and with the use of a magical blue circle, and a remote, Ian and his father enter the computer and are transported to a whole new world. Things are fine at first and the pair make a few trips in and out of this strange realm, but that tragically changes. Father and son travel deeper into the realm than they have ever been and discover there are far worse things to be afraid of then wolves and bears. It is not until Alex disappears in the mountains that Ian finally makes contact with the inhabitants of the Realm. Now alone it is up to him to find his missing father and learn to survive with his new companions. It becomes the toughest trial of his life and the beginning of an adventure to find his dad and their way home. \n I liked the characters in this book, all except Alex. I thought his lack of judgement and just all out cluelessness when it came to his son was very frustrating. He continually put Ian in harm's way and didn't seem to care much about Ian opinions. Ian on the other hand grew as a character. He started off very shy, whiny and recluse, but he grows up a lot and becomes the person he wants to be. \n Deception Peak is the first in this series and I will be reading the next ones. The storyline is solid and I'm very interested to see what happens next. Great job Dianne.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 02 12:53:48 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 27 10:44:36 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "f2f61ff7f4ed044514e59836062acb9d", "book_id": "15733312", "review_id": "edbbe15b62badf3b8aa42d4dbfb290ac", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I have been avoiding writing this because I'm not quite sure how to rate my own book. Of course I think it is 5 star material, but I also know that it has some issues. My goal was to publish the story that I had close to my heart and to share it with someone other than my mom, and I think I did a really good job doing that. I couldn't be happier that people have read The Dragon Within and liked it even though my first attempt at a polished work fell a little short. \n I'm amazed at how close I have become to my characters, almost as if I've met them, and to me that is so important in a good story. I've found a new fantasy home that I can retreat to when I just don't feel like dealing with the real world. The only diference is that I get to control whats going to happen and that is a power I hope I can handle. \n So, I guess to sum things up;Do I think this is a great book? Yes! \n Do I recomend this book? Yes! I'm confident in saying that The Dragon Within is a fantasy read worth your time and I hope more readers will follow my journey through Eiddoril. \n Cheers!", "date_added": "Tue Nov 13 08:20:09 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 13 08:20:09 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d71c0f41f5c05cc19f1c8b36c3cf8f7", "book_id": "7949442", "review_id": "7b8b5ec5ba6e14aa07ac77dd8b755dfb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "'Zn 'nh bmkny tqyym hdhh lrwy@ bmwDw`y@, kwnh trtbT ldy b'Hdth w dhkryt m`yn@, `l~ 'y ffkr@ lrwy@ mmyz@, tkhtlf `n lSwr@ lnmTy@ llmSSy ldm, wmkhtlf@ `n qSS lHb ltqlydy@, 'Hbbt Tryq@ lktb@ fy wSf kl ltfSyl lSGyr@, tmnyt lw 'ny qr't lrwy@ qbl mshhd@ lfylm, Ht~ 'kwn 'kthr tshwq lm`rf@ lnhy@, lkny rGm dhlk, 'nhyth fy jls@ wHd@, w stmt`t bh jd", "date_added": "Fri May 23 10:18:41 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 14 19:37:04 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri May 23 15:21:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "9773b4c5dc241e38d76aff2cb96c96fd", "book_id": "23507745", "review_id": "6fdf67530271035b24f1f6d7bf1ff241", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Started off slow but it's a good story.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 01 14:09:12 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 01 14:11:18 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 14:11:18 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9773b4c5dc241e38d76aff2cb96c96fd", "book_id": "12983100", "review_id": "bc89c3a674df6a568233f7a3c455c83c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was disturbing. Gory, disgusting, shocking. It was not what I expected at all. I do want to read the finale...I need to know what happens just for my own peace of mind...I just wish it wasn't so disturbing. I feel like gross details where thrown in at odd moments for the sole purpose of shocking the reader and it didn't flow right.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 07 11:02:19 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 07 19:32:19 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9773b4c5dc241e38d76aff2cb96c96fd", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "c31484e78299d4572d851909f73a104d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fantastic! Very creative, unique story. The photographs are incredible and made the story so much better. Can't wait to read the next book!", "date_added": "Tue Jan 21 11:29:59 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 23 16:44:17 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jan 21 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9773b4c5dc241e38d76aff2cb96c96fd", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "7331c4619f50c136edee7ebb7c2f050f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great take on a classic fairy tale. I wasn't sure how I would feel about a cyborg Cinderella but this was very entertaining. The \"twist\" was easy to figure out but I liked it...everything pretty much turned out the way I wanted it to. Looking forward to Scarlet next.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 02 17:13:25 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 12 22:09:41 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Apr 13 22:09:41 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9773b4c5dc241e38d76aff2cb96c96fd", "book_id": "13482750", "review_id": "d1b75389d4b236fa88a620c23a9e3a28", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was amazing. It was a little hard to get into at first but then it gained momentum quickly and I was hooked. Completely out of the ordinary, I've never read anything like this before. I have a feeling this author is going places.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 18 16:32:53 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 18 16:36:46 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9773b4c5dc241e38d76aff2cb96c96fd", "book_id": "24337", "review_id": "3ae9ad6773fc934e3085ea6193bdfe31", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved this movie. When I found out it was a book first, I couldn't wait to read it. It definitely lived up to my expectations...a little too rushed at the end though. I wish it had been longer.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 24 17:56:23 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 10 21:43:30 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jun 11 21:43:30 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "35838475", "review_id": "f5766f16913dae570ce1a03aa6ffba3b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The latest in the Dracones series is Soroyan's story. I enjoyed reading his story, while heartbreaking, it emphasizes the character he has become today. Tragic and even after seeking vengeance, Soroyan still does not feel whole. Trying to locate his nephew, he finds himself in quite the predicament...on several levels. One such predicament is Raven. After being alone for so long, will Soroyan settle down and let those around him in? Full of emotions, with plenty of twists. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of Dracones Rogue.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 11 16:33:53 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 11 16:43:35 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Mon Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "34361257", "review_id": "941507e7be423ce44a0bae263ceb5a61", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I am a huge fan of Alice and Wonderland and steampunk, so when Melanie wrote Curiouser and Curiouser I could not wait to read it! I love how Melanie has taken a new approach to Alice, the characters throughout the story reflect all of the characters in Alice in Wonderland. No more Jabberwocky and Queen of Hearts, Alice has a new life. Convinced she was finished with her old ways, Alice finds herself drawn back into her previous life. Now she must save the Hatter. But to save the Hatter, she has to see the one person she doesn't want to see again, Caterpillar. Caught between her new life and the past, Alice must make a decision that will impact the rest of her life! Love the world building in Victorian London. A must read! I voluntarily reviewed a copy of Curiouser and Curiouser provided by the author.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 29 17:20:31 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 29 17:20:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "35174857", "review_id": "8afccc6e03151e8d4834001b0d654d43", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Cross posted from Dominion Rising \n I am a huge fan of Alice and Wonderland and steampunk, so when Melanie wrote Curiouser and Curiouser I could not wait to read it! I love how Melanie has taken a new approach to Alice, the characters throughout the story reflect all of the characters in Alice in Wonderland. No more Jabberwocky and Queen of Hearts, Alice has a new life. Convinced she was finished with her old ways, Alice finds herself drawn back into her previous life. Now she must save the Hatter. But to save the Hatter, she has to see the one person she doesn't want to see again, Caterpillar. Caught between her new life and the past, Alice must make a decision that will impact the rest of her life! Love the world building in Victorian London. A must read! I voluntarily reviewed a copy of Curiouser and Curiouser provided by the author.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 29 17:20:10 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 29 17:20:18 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "34877109", "review_id": "75a94ce5f30649b67f3f2c76a5cc862f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Were-leopard Thaniel has his story to tell. Life on the streets and a recently turned were do not make a good combination. Betrayed by those who should love him unconditionally, betrayed by the system, and betrayed by those he thought he could count on. Moving from place to place with Real provided protection, that is until Real turned him over to the werewolves. An uncomfortable situation to a living hell. Rescued by Tierney, Jax and Sami and given the greatest dream of a lifetime. Will Thaniel ever learn to trust? I enjoyed reading Thaniel's heartbreaking point of view. Seeing him in the other books really puts his character into perspective.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 29 17:14:58 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 29 17:15:13 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "33825793", "review_id": "e9d4fd2ea6ebacf87428bde9885f00c5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I thought The Barren was a really good read, despite not having read the first book in the series. Vala Yarlen, a Barren secluded from society, has been given chance of a lifetime. To begin a new life on a new colony. However, she has to serve General Thorin Jarrell during the flight to the new colony. General Thorin and Vala are not strangers having both been introduced in the first book. Vala has a dream to be free and General Thorin has a secret that can bring him down. So what happens when an outcast and an outcast in plain sight are drawn to one another? Emotions and struggles are on a real level with the Vala and Thorin. The conflicts and confrontations are very well written, especially in reference to the prejudices in society and overcoming the obstacles presented. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of The Barren from the author. 4/5", "date_added": "Tue Aug 29 17:13:50 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 29 17:14:04 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "32494911", "review_id": "20b23868a9b465ca8eb11c7dc4cb197b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Betrayed is Hellfire and Sami's story. In book 2, we see how Hellfire used and left Sami. Hurting from Hellfire's rejection Sami is left hurting to find comfort in Goldy. Now Hellfire is back and she needs Sami' help, after all not many can open the portal to Tartaria. Nix has gone to help the wolves of Tartaria, but Hellfire is determined to bring her home. I will be honest, out of all the stories so far, I think this was my least favorite. At least on Hellfire's side. It was pretty neat reading about Sami's past and homeland. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of Dracones Betrayed. 3.5/5", "date_added": "Tue Aug 15 17:44:09 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 15 17:44:35 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "34722675", "review_id": "7367501a2ba4353361620fc332e6f522", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have read the first two books in the series, with many hints to the Dracones curse. As the prequel, it was good to finally get a broader picture of the overlying background story. Skulla is foremost a protector to the realms but when the Ilyuim witch needs help, all he holds dear is caught in the aftermath. Lost in another realm, closed off for a thousand years is the answer to the curse, but only time will tell. Which brings us to the present books, 1 &2, where we see the dwindling numbers of Dracones. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of Dracones Primalthorn.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 02 12:27:01 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 02 14:17:33 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "30038347", "review_id": "f387bcc2d345a7327adf116da7705e92", "rating": 4, "review_text": "As a fairly new author in paranormal romance, Sheri-Lynn Maren has completed her second book in the Dracones series: Dracones Revelations. The series continues with plenty of Dragons, Shifters, Fallen Angels and Phoenix to name a few. We see the same characters (Jax, Teirney and Sami) as the first book, with continued building of said characters. This book tends to focus more on Sami. As well as introductions to new characters. Looking forward to continuing on with the series and what other characters bring to the table. I voluntarily reviewed a advanced copy of Dracones Revelations.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 06 06:06:31 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 01 18:56:01 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "32926036", "review_id": "49ad60d2db7efb4d95c71b17ecf8f660", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Continuing with Leonidas' story, Seduced by a Dragon dives deeper into Rosalyn's feelings. At the end of Chosen by a Dragon, Leonidas turns into his Wyvern form. Not fully overcome by his Wyvern form, Leksander convinces him to come back to the keep hoping to break Meridi's curse. With a plan in place. Leonidas vows to help Rosalyn learn magic and be accepted into a coven. Leonidas and Rosalyn discover foul play to prevent the treaty from renewing. \n With a treaty about to crumble will poetic justice or love conquer? I voluntarily reviewed Seduced by a Dragon as an advanced copy from the author.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 12 12:47:26 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 12 12:47:37 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "32197456", "review_id": "89ee7faf976454282cdc14afd4c3f1cb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Finally Gunn is here! Continuing in the Intergalactic Dating Agency World, Gunn has loved and lost, and has never found another. But rather many others willing to share a night. When Kennedy waltz's back into his life, his attitude is less than stellar. Even more so when he finds out he is paired with her in a mission. \n Kennedy, long lost love, has decided it is time to return home after an eight year absence. Knowing Gunn is hers, she is willing to do what needs to be done to get him back. Even if it means being his 'pretend fiance' during the mission to bring a new mail order bride to Bayou Springs (to be continued in Echo's story). \n Romance, deception and action make the novella a quick and exciting read by Kenzie . I voluntarily reviewed Gunn as an advanced copy from the author.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 12 12:46:21 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 12 12:46:41 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "33123532", "review_id": "3e0bf89937165b28c378ff5a9fc989b9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It all starts with a lightning strike, sea cursed they say. Every fifty years two witches are marked by Othala then sent out to sea to perform the Reutterance. Never to be seen or heard from again. The goal, save the sector from succumbing to ravagers. \n A dystopian world divided into 16 Sectors to save both the human and witch races. Magical barriers protecting each sector from the ravagers. Well written the story maintains a steady pace with the characters developing and growing into themselves throughout. Demetria and Logan are sea cursed, falling in love and tasked with saving the sector, despite the overall anti-witch sentiment. Will they overcome the unforeseen struggles and prejudices to save Galveteen? \n Like all of the other Othala Witch Collection, Sea Cursed can be read as a stand alone. A great read for those who love happily ever after. 4.25/5 stars", "date_added": "Sun Feb 12 12:44:06 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 12 12:44:38 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "33003806", "review_id": "d71e7296bb298f78dd51145b3cfe891c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fast paced, full of action, set in a post-apocalyptic world (aka Mad Max style), The Last True Hero is the second book in the The Burned Land series. The reader is taken to the Southwest, with a decimated society that is full of wargs, reivers, revenants, confederates...all of which are trying to survive. \n Adam McClain, a turned warg, was introduced in Nobody's Hero, banished from his home he help build. Rebuilding his life as a bounty hunter, Adam must learn to accept who and what he is. His leading female, Mia is determined and will stop at nothing to get her sister back. Unfortunately, that means asking the bounty hunter she had every intentions of avoiding. Together can Adam and Mia find her sister? Like most of Bec's stories, the characters are engaging with an excellent side cast. If you like Bec's writing style and post-apocalypse stories with a side of romance, I recommend this book. Also, even with the recap of the previous book, I do not recommend it as a standalone. I voluntarily reviewed The Last True Hero as an advanced copy from the author.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 12 12:40:46 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 12 12:41:36 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "22756102", "review_id": "699177cc024deabb234bf630408b222b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Interesting and filled with Greek mythology. I found the beginning was a little awkward, that is until you learn about the main character Evie. Evie always had special abilities, like knowing the life span of an individual. Making a living as an 'end of life' nurse Evie gives those she know are dying a sense of peace. During a stormy night Evie finds herself taken from everything she knows. Fate is strange like that. \n The Allotter is the first book I've read by Kimberlie Faye, I found there to be plenty of mystery is surrounding the story. I am looking forward to continuing the series.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 01 18:07:47 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 12 12:43:28 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Feb 01 18:07:47 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "30328194", "review_id": "5d7642d7867a8c7319a4d56a66004c17", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Never sure what to expect with a new author, I was pleasantly surprised. A Witch's Hearts Desire is a cute, short read about a spunky witch and a captivating vampire. Happy with life, a quaint potions shop, and an old Victorian home Serena wants for nothing. That is until a devastatingly handsome vampire comes to her rescue. But with an agenda of his own, Dante must help Serena find the key. \n Even though it is a lead into an anthology, A Witch's Hearts Desire can be read as a stand alone. A great read for those who love novella's with a happily ever after.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 15 09:37:57 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 12 12:48:40 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 15 09:37:57 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "30256686", "review_id": "3697bc480e9fd1cedefc1066d1645814", "rating": 4, "review_text": "In Hexbound, the second book in the Dark Arts series by Bec McMaster, the reader is taken to Victorian London, encompassing Sorcery, Demons, Orders, Councils, and an Ascension. A small disclaimer: I have not read the first book Shadowbound, so I did feel a little misplaced throughout the story, as not too much is rehashed. Currently Sorcery is condoned by the Queen, as it furthers her goals. However, not everyone is content to let Sorcery slide, with an anti-sorcery movement in the making. \n The plot revolves around three half-brothers, who all have the same father (the Prime). But due to a prophecy surrounding the brothers, the Prime, and three magical relics, the brothers have had little if any contact with one another. The characters are all engaging. Their backgrounds are thought out and as the story unfolds it is easy to see why the characters are the way they are but it is also great to see them grow. \n With the focus of Hexbound on Grave Arts sorcerer Adrian Bishop, who belongs to an elite group of five known as Scicarii assassins. Their only job is to protect the Order and then the Prime. Only with Adrian's father stepping down as the Prime, his objective seems to shift. With the Chalice safely hidden away in Adrian's safe, no one can breach his wards. That is until Verity Hastings. Can Adrian retrieve the relic or will he have to engage his thief? \n I recommend this book to those who enjoy a Victorian paranormal romance. I look forward to reading Sebastian and Cleo's story. I voluntarily reviewed Hexbound as an advanced copy from the author.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 28 07:09:30 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 28 07:10:25 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "29626967", "review_id": "b1bb7e574aa8e34a456ba0a7474132e3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Noble Secrets is the prequel novella to Cecilia Dominic's Aether Psychics series, which was written after the first two books. Fluid and quick, the story developed nicely, even character growth. As, I am a huge steampunk fan, I was slightly disappointed by the lack of steampunk elements. I am however, looking forward to reading the rest of the series. \n Leaving London, Pauline Donahue wants to start over. Taking a job at the university seems to be the perfect way, that is until her past comes creeping up on her. Christopher Bailey, Duke of Waltham, never suspected he would fall for someone such as Pauline. Can they face their fears together or will they both be ruined? \n I received an ARC copy from the author for an honest opinion. 4/5 stars", "date_added": "Tue Oct 11 06:13:16 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 11 06:15:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "25791377", "review_id": "6b965fd347b3b220c180cfb844707399", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Mission: Improper is a fantastic start to a new spin off series by Bec McMaster, London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy. Steam/industrial Victorian London, three years after the revolution. Blue bloods, verwulfens, mechs, and humans are adjusting to a new way of life. And now the work of the revolution is at stake. People are missing, secret societies, and reformation to return to the old ways, things are getting messy. And only one discreet team has the authority to figure out who or what is behind these calculated attacks. \n With the characters returning from the London Steampunk series, Caleb Byrnes--stoic Nighhawk and Ingrid Miller--feisty verwulfen take center stage. Struggling to find a health balance in their otherwise unstable 'relationship' are put to the test and challenged until the very end. But some things are worth fighting for... \n Both Byrnes and Miller are paired up together, along with Charlie, Ava, Gemma, and Kincade, under the ever watchful eye of the Duke of Malloryn. It seems not all of society is happy in the post-revolution era ruled by the Queen, especially specific members of the Echelon. With a mystery to solve and feelings to define, Mission: Improper dives into the undergrounds of London. \n Readers be warned, I suggest the best way to approach this series is to start off with the London Steampunk series, as it will provide the background to fully understand what is happening. I recommend this book for all those who enjoy a good mystery paranormal romance with a splash of steampunk. Mission: Improper was provided by the author for an honest review. 4.5/5", "date_added": "Wed Aug 24 06:09:03 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 24 06:09:59 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "28254476", "review_id": "0e0e48a6050f98ffce8e8a40308f5f95", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow...just when I was hoping for more Essie and Hank wedding preparations, No Were to Run is actually Dima's story. As a freakin princess, Dima has never wanted to rule, fast approaching the ripe ole age of 500, Dima must make a life altering decision mate or die. Dima's past has been anything but perfect, with daddy dearest set on killing her and destroying her family, including any potential mates. All in all it's been rather lonely, that is until Essie and her posse of misfits--werewolves, perma wolves, vampyres, hybrids, and werecows w/undead husbands. \n Essie and Hank are determined to bring down the Dragon King, but Dima knows that it must be her, so reluctantly she offers her help to the Resistance. Only the oh so sexy Resistance leader, Nicolai despises her! But what happens when he is her fated? To mate or not to mate, that is the question, time is of the essence...and protecting her horde. \n The characters were truly fantastic! With all the quirky sassiness that belongs to Essie and gang was complemented nicely by Dima's outgoing, headstrong, yet passionate personality, along with Nicolai's super alphamaleness. The I am looking forward to more Shift Happens whether it is Essie and Hank getting their happily ever after or Junior and Sandy! I received an ARC of No Were to Run for an honest review.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 18 18:42:47 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 27 15:45:41 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "25714091", "review_id": "6ce8ac17791da47d5c8407bdac0b61af", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Dragon in the Blood is the second in the Vale of Stars series. The Vale of Stars series is set in the same world as Juliette's Nightwing series in the Gladium Province, only later in time. \n Valla Mooring is a confident, headstrong female. Raised by Kol and his younger sister, Valla never had a female influence in her life to guide her. With a tough exterior and a determined mind, Valle concentrates her life on being an assassin within the Elite Guard. Giving it her all, but just maybe that isn't enough. \n Conn Rownflame battles his own demons, with the aftermath of neglect by his father and a recently strained relationship with his twin. With looks to kill, Conn can have any woman he wants and has no problem charming them to his bed. So why is his dragon so insistent on having the one woman who wants nothing to do with him? \n Human women are missing and it is up to Valla and her comrades of the Elite Guard to find them. Only this time, the Elite Guard is teaming up with Nightwing Security and the one guy she who irritates her to no end, Conn. Valla must keep her head in the game, lives are depending on her. Facing two evil fronts, while battling soulfire, Conn and Valla find out how fatal attraction can be. I received an copy of Dragon in the Blood for my honest opinion. 4.5/5 stars", "date_added": "Thu Jun 30 18:03:27 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 30 18:04:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "28807818", "review_id": "aa76feffbdb4043fdcc7de9e42dbd271", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Wild Heat is the third book in the Wilding Pack Wolves Series and the focus turns to Terra Wilding and Kaden Grant. Terra has been present since the beginning, with Jaxson in the River Pack Wolves. \n I was excited she was finally getting her happily ever after...except I found her character to be self-centered and completely unconcerned with the outcome of her actions. Terra is a lofty local artist, who clearly doesn't take no for an answer. \n Officer Kaden Grant has a job to do...keep Terra out of the Wolf Hunter's hands. But nothing with Terra is ever that simple. To make matters worse, Kaden must protect his secret if he is to remain on the force. \n The story was fast-paced and enjoyable true to Alisa Woods' style. Wild Heat was provided by the author for an honest review. 3.5/5", "date_added": "Mon Apr 11 10:29:08 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 11 10:29:29 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "28820982", "review_id": "06f9277f129e398318c3fc2ac1f6b9ea", "rating": 4, "review_text": "With strong characters and a unique storyline, Dark Vortex was an enjoyable read. \n Jack Fialko must find a perfect match. As a human, all Zoe wants is love. Jack's hand has been forced and he must take a mate. Who knew the cousin of his healer witch, Olivia, was more than she seemed. \n Struggling with their high octane pairing, Jack and Zoe have their fair share of ups and downs, struggling to make something of their relationship. But is the eternal bond enough? \n Not following the typical cliches found in paranormal reads, Dark Vortex is a fast-paced read that paranormal fans will enjoy. I received a copy of Dark Vortex from the author in exchange for an honest opinion.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 11 10:28:31 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 11 10:28:50 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "29227171", "review_id": "fa9b0bec4ecb7207ad5a4b8c350ba4b2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Unbonded, both Leonna and Nicholai are required to attend the Betram ritual. \n As anticipation and excitement rolls through Leonna, Betram offers her one night of freedom from who she has become. Hidden behind a mask, she embarks on a journey that will cost her more than she was willing to bargain for... \n Reluctant and not willing to bond, donning a mask Prince Nicholai remains in control of his beast. That is until the enticing scent of honey captures his attention. As dawn approaches, with a night of passion he will not soon forget, Nicholai is forced to let the unknown woman go. \n A quick, fun read with some interesting twists and turns. Unforgettable Lover was provided by the author for an honest review", "date_added": "Mon Apr 11 10:27:45 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 11 10:28:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "29159409", "review_id": "a131f7914a034456fc4ab15c6826e0f6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Moonfate is a compilation of Sylvia Frost's serials: Moonbound, Huntbound, Bloodbound and Heartbound. A unique take on shifter mates kept the storyline interesting with plenty of action. \n Artemis Williams is determined to live a life far away from her mate, especially after shifters destroyed her family all those years ago. Orion North has finally found his mate. When Artemis' friend is taken, she is forced to turn to Orion. But once her friend is saved she has no intentions of sticking around. Although, Artemis soon learns that resisting her mate only makes it harder. \n Unlike other serials I have read, I found the transition between serials to be smooth flowing. A Happily Ever After for the shifter paranormal romance fan. The Moonfate Boxed Set was provided by the author for an honest review. 4.5/5", "date_added": "Mon Apr 11 10:27:13 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 11 10:27:25 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "28799668", "review_id": "30f9bd5dc670cf38efc6a3c769067dab", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Dragons, Weres, Shifters, Fallen Angels and Phoenix are just a sample of what sups you will encounter when reading Dracones: Awakening. As her first story, Sheri-Lynn Marean has created a suspenseful paranormal romance. To say at points it was fast-paced, is an understatement, I rather enjoy stories that move along. The character building was well established throughout the storyline, with likable characters and relatable struggles. With a cliffhanger at the end, the second book promises even more. \n The Ilyium are building forces. Tierney's dad has fallen off the grid. Tierney is in love with Jax. Jax's demons refuse to let him claim Tierney. Tierney wants to help Sami with his visions. Tierney, Jax and Sami need each other as battle lines are drawn. Dracones: Awakening was provided by the author for an honest review. 4/5", "date_added": "Mon Apr 11 10:26:13 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 11 10:26:32 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "23959632", "review_id": "65815fa76704bef6ff10a2022b20b5c6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Emotional, dark and suspenseful Darkness Calling is focused on Aisling and Sean. Introduced as the mother of Sean's son earlier in the series, Aisling is nothing shy of being a mean, aggressive b*tch. But then again everyone has their reasons and hers tops the list. As far as Sean, well we also learn more about his beginnings, to become the man he is. There is a lot of aggression and sexual tension between the two...when faced with powerful demons can they set aside their emotions? \n Laurie has not stopped world building or developing her characters, which truly makes this a great series to read. I received a copy of Darkness Calling from the author in exchange for an honest opinion.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 11 10:25:30 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 11 10:25:53 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "26180927", "review_id": "1183cc0711555343f536d27a79544f05", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Switching Hour is a cute, humorous, quirky read. As the first in the series by Robyn Peterman did a fantastic job at creating an entertaining story. \n After spending the last nine months in the pokey...Zelda is off to Podunk, West Virginia, along with her recently resurrected familiar, Fabio, and limited powers. Her mission, well it's not so straight forward...main objective is not to become a mortal on All Hallows Eve. Inheriting her unknown Aunt Hildi's house comes with more than she bargained for...a Shifter Whisperer?! And a mate to the crazy King Alpha Wolf Mac? \n Will Zelda be able to give up her self indulgent ways, solve her Aunt Hildi's mysterious murder, and find acceptance? Or will she become mortal, after all it seems easier. Well written with plenty of sass. Looking forward to Witch Glitch... Switching Hour: Magic and Mayhem was provided by Netgalley for an honest review.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 11 10:24:46 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 11 10:25:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "28808222", "review_id": "8c0d211f54428629444e3764fd4c08b6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "With a resident gangster ghost, Frankie, living with her, Verity Long struggles to make an honest living. Desperate to land the marketing job at Sugarland Bank, Verity finds herself in the middle of yet another mystery. Only this mystery involves a murder of a dear family friend with a very dead gangster as the suspect. \n Verity Long tries so hard to be ever optimistic. She has been dealt some awful blows from a cheating/lying ex-fiance, a crazy almost mother-in-law out to destroy her. Now with her ghost seeing abilities lands her in the center of 'high profile' police cases. Her police officer kind-of boyfriend, Ellis, who also happens to be the brother of her ex-fiance, wants more from Verity. But Ellis isn't the only one vying for Verity's attention; Frankie wants to introduce her to his gangster friends and for her to find his most loved possession to free him. \n Cute and easy going, The Haunted Heist is for those who enjoy a fun, flirty, murder mystery. Despite being third in a series, The Haunted Heist can be read as a standalone. The Haunted Heist was provided by Netgalley for an honest review.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 11 10:24:04 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 11 10:24:29 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "28945442", "review_id": "b64a37921920879639108c2bbc32df8d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "And bears, oh my! Cyrus is the first book in Kenzie's newest series Black Bear Outlaws, which is part of the multi-author Mating Fever Collection. \n These short stories are great for a quick read, full of action, romance, and spunk! Good girl, Claire Erikson always seems to find herself with the bad boy. Her ex is back claiming to be reformed and wants her for his mate. Claire is determined to keep that chapter of her life closed, date only nice men is her motto. With a pending mating between Claire and her ex...the Council is determined to see the mating through for the benefit of the pack. That is until former bad boy, Cyrus Doucet, comes to her aide. \n Cyrus is a great lead into what we can expect to see from the Doucet brothers. I received an ARC of Cyrus for an honest review.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 11 10:23:21 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 11 10:23:49 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "29348740", "review_id": "bcf42a6f4b00fa24a4d8cef4f08f9df0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Wild One focuses on shifter gang leader and fellow Wilding, Marco and Halfling Julia Holloway. Meeting Marco in Wild Heat gave a cursory view of Marco's character. \n His pack is being picked off one by one, almost as if there is a spy in their midst. And in comes Julia Holloway. Risking her life for a pack youth, Marco is captivated. Unsure of where Julia came from but thankful she was there that fated day. \n As pack leader Marco needs to take a mate, putting it off for as long as possible...that is until Julia, his wolf has other ideas. But will she continue to run or make the pack her home? Wild One was provided by the author for an honest review. 4/5", "date_added": "Mon Apr 11 10:22:37 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 11 10:23:00 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "28945431", "review_id": "a86bd914b7c4f720def97c412881d951", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Mikolas is the second book by Saranna DeWylde and is part of the multi-author Mating Fever Collection. \n This seemed to be a super short novella. Nonetheless, the story was interesting. Voshkie, bodyguard to Princess Krysanthe, seems to be the bane of Mikolas' existence. Little does he know she has a deep guarded secret, which is a deal breaker. Only the longer she is with Mikolas, the more she wants him, but is it just the mating fever or something more? \n Bewarned...Mikolas has a cliffhanger. And as a side note, not having read the first novella, I felt slightly lost. I received an ARC of Mikolas for an honest review.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 11 10:21:24 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 11 10:21:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "28945429", "review_id": "0f71468145b1495a5295fd2bca81c941", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Returning for his own story, Chase Doucet has found his mate, Katrina Craig. \n Only Katrina has plans of her own. After have given up on her ambitions with her first husband, she refuses to fall down that trap again. Willing to love again only when she has finally found love for herself, she leaves Chase before anything can even start. \n Instead of following Katrina, Chase is wallowing in self-pity. His brother's are determined to break him out of his funk...that is until she walks into the local diner while he is having beers with his brothers... \n Cute and full of self-finding/acceptance, Chase was a great read that I couldn't put down. I received an ARC of Chase for an honest review.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 11 10:18:37 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 11 10:18:52 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "28398843", "review_id": "98f64912f5b86b21d7dac731747dad2d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Slade is the first in the Team Greywolf series by Eva Gordon and does not disappoint, full of action, forbidden romance and spunk. With missing wolves, special ops Team Greywolf of the Lycan Intelligence Agency, is sent to investigate. \n Part of Team Greywolf, honorary beta Runt has been assigned the grueling task of babysitting a distraught/crazy/psycho/domineering/princely Alpha. To complicate things even further, Runt can't control her feelings around Slade, knowing what she can never have makes the task of babysitting all the more frustrating. Especially when Runt gets left behind for the next top secret mission. \n Suffering from morphopsychosis Slade has two choices: join team Greywolf or return to his territory with a new alpha female...how does one make such a decision with a distraction like Runt around. Slade use to getting his way, but he and Runt can never be. \n Testing boundaries and strengths, the emotions of both Slade and Runt run high throughout the story but don't forget the supporting characters. I can't wait to see what the rest of Team Greywolf will bring to the table. Slade was provided by the author for an honest review. 4.5/5 stars", "date_added": "Thu Feb 25 10:58:40 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 25 10:58:53 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "28791821", "review_id": "e5b1e2739f8bafe3fc35fede923dbeb1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Finally a full length novel, instead of the serials! However, I found myself detached from Ginnifer and Zane's story. The writing was done well and the storyline was fluid, I just had a hard time connecting with the characters. After reading Enslaved by the Alpha, Ginnifer comes across as selfish. While reading her side of the story, Ginnifer did nothing to lessen my feelings towards her selfishness. \n Capturing the Alpha was provided by the author for an honest review.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 25 10:57:20 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 25 10:57:42 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "27242728", "review_id": "67e2eb61a2d5be80105d83e12a1c2f90", "rating": 4, "review_text": "As the second book in the Reaper's series, Dark Alpha's Embrace, Donna Grant dives a little deeper into the mysterious Reapers. Shrouded in mystery the Reapers are a blend of Light and Dark Fae who are chosen by Death to maintain the balance between Light and Dark. Learning the back story of the Reapers is fantastic, considering their pasts and all that had to be overcome to work as a seamless unit. \n Kyran, a Dark Fae, is the focal point in Dark Alpha's Embrace. Having a tragic and heartbreaking past, his character remains strong and his loyalty runs deep for those he holds dear. \n Living life as a simple human, quiet book loving River refuses to be a damsel in distress to stand up to the Fae who dare to take her books. With her fiery personality and unique history, River is challenged to look past all that she has known. \n Dark Alpha's Embrace blends effortlessly with the Dark Kings and I enjoy getting a different perspective. Dark Alpha's Embrace was provided by Netgalley for an honest review. 4/5", "date_added": "Thu Feb 25 10:55:36 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 25 10:56:07 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "28943914", "review_id": "3676088a25c5ddcf1abd61f5102c666a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Disasters abound...With eleven sassy and cute paranormal valentine shorts, Kiss and Spell is a treat! \n A Bourbon Street Valentine \n Kat, Jade's best friend, is off to Cupid's Ball...only she may get more than she bargained for! Funny and charming, Kat's story fits perfectly with the Jade Calhoun series...perhaps at some point she might get her own story. \n Short and sweet, Kiss and Spell is perfect for a quick read before life gets real. Kiss and Spell was provided by one of the authors for an honest review.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 25 10:54:43 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 25 10:55:11 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "26063603", "review_id": "897132705ff1545be824e380e5ba4186", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Releasing the Demons is the first book in the new series of The Order of The Senary Series by LD Rose. A slightly different vampire spin, dark, foreboding, and full of action, you may find it difficult to put down. The point of view switches between characters lending a multidimensional storyline. \n Blaze is a hybrid vampire. Pyrokinesis is his specialty. With a beaten and tortured past, Blaze focuses his hatred on vampires. But when the torturer, Cyrus returns, Blaze is determined to rid the world of him. \n Valerie, the vampire hunting cop, with a horrid past, struggles to get past Blazes vampirism. Working through their demons together, Blaze and Valerie continue to grow their relationship, all the while planning on bringing Cyrus and his cronies down. Before Cyrus can get to Blaze, yet again. \n Blaze and Valerie were well developed characters, looking forward to seeing more of Blaze's brothers. Releasing the Demons was provided by Netgalley for an honest review 4/5 stars.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 21 09:42:47 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 21 09:43:09 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "25387188", "review_id": "aea224f6f9e1bceda8204842332ce960", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Of Flame and Promise is a short novel within the Weird Girls series by Cecy Robson. Not being able to get enough of one another Taran and Gemini are about to have a bumpy ride, nothing seems to go as planned. Insistent on claiming Taran as his mate, Taran finds herself struggling to accept the claim, as nothing lasts forever. \n Taran is a spirited character and lets nothing stand in her way, a little quick to jump the gun, but a whole lot of fun. Gemini, while not reserved, doesn't seem to be as outgoing. They work well together, that is until he wants her to meet his parents. Taran sisters make an appearance throughout the story, adding that quirky sisterly element. \n Not having read any of the Weird Girl books, the story was easy to read and fast-paced, with some hints of prior books. I am looking forward reading more of the Weird Girl series. I received an ARC copy from Netgalley for an honest opinion. 4.5/5 stars", "date_added": "Thu Jan 21 09:41:33 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 21 09:41:56 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "28239324", "review_id": "05553bdeebc263991e36cc94abebdf70", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Malcolm Brent is an Oath Breaker. After separating himself from Sophia Viera all those centuries ago, he is determined to have her back. Only being an Oath Breaker means he can never full love just her. \n Sofia, an extremely powerful witch is faced with her family's curse. Keep the village safe or die trying. Malcolm steals the dagger that Sofia desperately needs. Determined to no longer live without Sofia, Malcolm has ensured she will be indebted to him. For a price, will Sophia be able to put the past behind to ensure her village's safety? \n As always, the stories do not disappoint, magic and myths are seamlessly blended together to create a unique world. The both of the main characters are faced with a myriad of emotions...loss, hurt, betrayal, and love are just a few components to the overall story. Along with past characters, the action, passion and fighting make the story a quick and enjoyable read. Witch's Fate was provided by Netgalley for an honest review. 4.5/5", "date_added": "Thu Jan 21 09:36:54 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 25 11:00:03 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "28438331", "review_id": "ae1a617e67625bd7e5e870f8439c0398", "rating": 4, "review_text": "As the Wilding Wolves continue to have their stories unfold, Wild Love doesn't disappoint. The River Pack and the Wilding Packs are struggling with keeping shifters safe and out of the limelight. Especially since all their personal information was leaked to the public by an anti-shifter movement. \n The WildLove dating app caters to shifters and those humans interested in shifters, only now someone is targeting the shifters. Noah, on medical leave from the Army, joins forces with the Riverwise Security to put an end to the crime against shifters. Noah is hiding a dark secret, one he would rather leave in the past, only he can't. Just because the experiments are over, doesn't mean he can move forward. \n Emily is the lead programmer for WildLove is unable to understand why anyone would want to harm shifters. Emily is determined to help both her employer and Noah uncover the truth. Even if that means she has to work 'closely' with Noah as his date. \n Only the attraction between both Noah and Emil is sky high. Will Noah be able to overcome his past and move forward with a human? Wild Love was provided by the author for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 06 07:56:49 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 21 09:42:15 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "25101370", "review_id": "8bd7512179d183f85389fc32d614df61", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Smoldering Hunger is the latest story in the Dark Kings which focuses on Darius and Dr. Sophie Martin. I wasn't sure what to expect, since you get a glimpse in Passion Ignites as well as the Dark Alpha's Claim. The story moves along nicely, filled with a budding romance and dragons abound. \n It's been seven years since she barricaded her heart. Focused on her career and helping others, Sophie Martin refuses to let any man get the better of her. That is until Darius walks into her life claiming he is not a good man. \n Not concerned with finding his mate, Darius' past continues to haunt him, preventing him from getting too close to Sophie. But his baser instincts are drawn to the passionate doctor. Unable to stop himself from seeing her, he finds out Ulrik is interested. Determined to find out Ulrik wants with Sophie, he is forced to confront the Dragon King. \n While the story focuses on the main characters, the secondary characters continue to grow, some who already have their stories told, while others we are still waiting for. With glimpses of Rhi cooping with her feelings and wanting to be loved, I am looking forward to her story. Balladyn is determined more than ever Rhi is his. The Reapers remain hidden throughout the story with an occasional blip. Ulik is still scheming to bring down all of the Kings before going after Con. Smoldering Hunger can be read as a standalone; however it is part of an ongoing series. Smoldering Hunger was provided by Netgalley for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 30 05:33:52 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 06 07:59:04 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "25596116", "review_id": "cd3c49295426d7d877c7eda08d38c226", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Masters of the Hunt is a great mix of 16 full length novels...Perfect for any paranormal lover or newbies! This collection allows to reader to experience a multitude of authors with varying writing styles across the paranormal range. Each story is uniquely different with strong characters, action, romance, plots and varying levels of sexuality. \n Witches, vampire, shifters, fae, demons...this collection has it all! Keep in mind that these novels are not standalones, but the first in a series...and the price point is beyond fantastic for 16 novels! \n I was provided a copy of Masters of the Hunt via Netgalley.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 11 18:04:38 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 11 18:05:10 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "27877340", "review_id": "da61bfd6bef0e98007e5277651089703", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Wild Game, the first book in the Wilding Pack Wolves, is a spin-off series from the River Pack Wolves. True to Alisa Wood's style, it is a happily ever after. With strong, likeable characters and an easy storyline, this book was hard to put down. \n Owen Harding, who was introduced in the River Pack Wolves, was rescued from Agent Smith's horrific experiments. Not having shifted since the experiments, he has no idea what his beast is. Knowing he can never take a mate. \n Nova Wilding just inherited her father's gaming company and pack. The pressure is on to find a mate, a strong alpha to lead the pack. Since her father's assassination, the River's pack has been assigned as bodyguards to ensure Nova doesn't befall the same fate. \n With Owen at her side as a personal body guard, the physical attraction is impossible to ignore. Will Nova choose Owen knowing he can never mate, or will her father's beta become her alpha? Wild Game was provided by the author for an honest review.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 11 17:51:08 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 11 17:51:51 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "28170947", "review_id": "06cd95b0ee0f4e79443a49ef3e6a3e4a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Full of shifter action and romance, Kenzie's Wolves of the Rising Sun is a great fast paced, happily ever after series.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 11 17:46:02 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 11 17:47:20 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "26844736", "review_id": "44272b7924d04cd2ea292d150e419a0a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Making her first appearance in Soulceress as Esha's long lost sister, Aurora gets her story. Struggling daily not to steal souls, Aurora, along with her trust sidekick Mouse, sets out to right her wrongs. Despite her craziness, Aurora becomes a likeable character, who wants what she can never have, a happily ever after. \n Felix, half werewolf and long lost love to Aurora, has lived in his own torturous prison, believing Aurora was long gone. But Fate always seems to have its own plans. \n Aurora and Felix are paired together to mend the portal in the Soulceress City. Through flashbacks we get the background of Felix and Aurora's story, but when things go wrong and they are thrown into the past, they must confront their demons and work together to get back to the present. \n The blend of myths in the Mythean Arcana series is perfect; I am looking forward to the next book! Master of Fate was provided by Netgalley for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 09 09:03:58 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 09 09:04:27 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "25944712", "review_id": "e38e9862d85a9fdb2ea44518905ee651", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ahh finally those mysterious Reapers get their own series. Dark Alpha's Claim is the first book of the Reapers, a spin off from the Dark Kings. Unsure what to expect with such little being known of the reapers, Dark Alpha's Claim was a good introduction to the balance of Dark and Light Fae. \n Death has reached out to the Reapers once again. However, the order is one no Reaper is comfortable with, kill all half Fae. Baylon, the perfect assassin in all of his reckless glory, can't seem to grasp Death's orders, especially when Jordyn Patterson walks into his life. \n Jordyn's fascination for all things Fae draws the attention of a Reaper and several Dark Fae. As fate would have it, Jordyn runs into Baylon after acquiring a new book on Fae. At once Baylon recognizes her as half Fae, but also much more. \n Being with Jordyn could cost Baylon is very existence. As well as bringing a new twist to the plot, especially when Reapers are forbidden to form attachments with humans and cannot be known to Fae. But Jordyn isn't quite human, but not fully Fae either. Lines are blurred and fate rests in the hands of Death. Dark Alpha's Claim was provided by Netgalley for an honest review. 3.5/5", "date_added": "Wed Dec 09 09:03:17 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 09 09:03:41 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "27395717", "review_id": "6bb59638c3f1fc185c7e4d680e17aa2a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Jared---the final book in the River pack Wolves Trilogy. The River brothers, alpha's each in their own right, struggle to overcome their demons. So far both Jaxson and Jace have found their happily ever after. Jared, ex-Marine sniper is convinced a happily ever after is not in the cards for him. Knowing what must be done, Jared heads out to take on the Senator, who supports anti-shifter legislation. \n With the pack and shifters in mind, Jared stares down through the scope at Senator Krepky. Little does anyone know that Senator Krepky's daughter, Grace is a shifter. Set on chasing after Grace, he realizes he has to convince Grace to reveal to the world her shifter status, or he will be forced to continue down his dark path. \n As her dad's campaign manager, Grace is fighting a losing battle to convince her father his legislation is wrong, counting down the seconds until her world falls apart. Will Grace convince her dad he is wrong or will the shifter world come crashing down? \n Jared was full of hoops and hurdles, but well worth the read. For all those fans who love a happily ever after, shifter style! Jared was provided by the author for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 09 09:01:46 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 09 09:02:04 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "27387327", "review_id": "eaca7b54e07a97347dbb39a361a16536", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Silas, the Wolves of the Rising Sun by Kenzie Cox continues, told from both Silas Davenne and Hannah Valentine POVs. \n Wanting Hannah since he met her... and Hannah loving Silas for the past six years, yet kept at arm's length away. He made a promise to Hannah's mother to keep her out of the shifter life. The promise quickly dissolves once Hannah decides she will no longer wait for him. Hannah's night out with a friend, quickly turns south. Silas in a predicament and will do anything to save Hannah. \n Looking forward to more Wolves of the Rising Sun! I received an ARC of Silas for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 09 09:00:28 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 09 09:00:55 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "27836859", "review_id": "c7165e7c307d7c0fa7ec0aaea824224f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Kenzie does it again, Darien is told from both Darien and Thea's POVs. \n In the previous book, Silas, Thea--friend of Hannah was kidnapped by her friend and human trafficker, Will. After Thea's rescue, she decided to remain in the bayou with Hannah at the Bayou Hidden Resort owned by Darien, Wren and Silas. Staying in Hannah's old cabin, Thea is overcome with the nightmares. After witnessing Thea's distress, Darien suggest that she stays with him. Settling into a routine, Darien and his wolf see Thea as a mate, not just a friend. Afraid of scaring her off, he doesn't confront Thea, but rather remains friends. \n However, Will, despite being put in jail, is found lurking around Thea's apartment in the city. Seems Will has some loose ends, namely Thea. Never to shy away from a happily ever after, the story is full of action, humor and romance. \n I received an ARC of Darien for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 09 08:59:42 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 09 09:00:05 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "27831527", "review_id": "2e889ba8013777b4832d8009ff24c49f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Hex the Halls looks to be a great mix of short, fun holiday reads! Not having read all of the stories, this review focuses on A Miracle on Bourbon Street (A Jade Calhoun short story) by Deanna Chase. \n A Miracle on Bourbon Street \n All dressed up and no Kane to show, it seems as through Jade never gets a break. To continue with the evening plans, Kane sends Pyper in his place. A lovely sleigh ride complete with hot chocolate and magical displays awaits Jade and Pyper. That is until the elves take over the holiday festivities. Determined to gain their freedom, the elves will stop at nothing to use Jade's magical energy. Never fear though Bea and Santa are never too far away. \n The stories aren't standalones, but it might help you decide whether to continue reading a particular author. Hex the Halls was provided by one of the authors for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 09 08:58:12 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 09 08:58:47 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "24002318", "review_id": "0863c13f4a641ae6e51bcddac87f2d41", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Sweet Ruin features two new characters, Rune and Josephine, rather than continuing on with existing characters. Although Thad and Nix are in the story, no other continuing characters are really involved, but rather new secondary characters. This helps build the upcoming Ascension, as well as outlines the Morior and their role in the Ascensions of the past and current. \n Dark Fey...poisonous to all those who come in contact with his blood, Rune is half fey and half demon. Rune struggles to keep his past in the past, but never truly left if behind. Ever loyal to the leader of Morior (Orion), Rune sets out on his new mission to kill Nix. As an archer and dealer in secrets he is the best for the job. At times I found Rune likeable, but overall I was not sold on his character. \n 'Dead and dead', Josephine is a new breed in which we have only had minimal contact with...she is Thad's older sister. Age eight, Josephine and Thaddius (infant), wandered the streets. Jo's character is brash and she can't seem to stay out of trouble. Which leads to the fated day, she had to let Thad go. Jo tells it like it is and doesn't really ever become a likeable character and at times comes off as whiny. \n Crossing paths and destined to be fated, Rune and Josephine struggle with their growing relationship and 'saving' Thad. I started reading the series this summer, so I am pretty familiar with the other stories. I can say, however, I was not as impressed by this story as the others. Overall the story was good, but I feel within the series there are others that far surpass Sweet Ruin. Looking forward to seeing where the story goes now that the Morior are revealed. I received Sweet Ruin via Netgalley for an honest review.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 08 04:47:01 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 09 08:57:48 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "22926502", "review_id": "983dc3167bca8899ba82fd6add39e96f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Action packed with a splash of steampunk...full of magic, werewolves and mad scientists! \n The Shadow Revolution had so many twists, just when you think it all comes together, it just falls apart. A good portion of book is world-building, as the first of the triology. However it doesn't feel like you are drowning in the unnecessary details. The blending of everyday society with the paranormal is seamless. \n Kate and Simon are quite unique, while drawn to one another there is hesitancy as each is battling their past. Nick's banter was refreshing, Penny with her ingenious inventions and the brooding Malcom. This mash up of characters is unknowingly drawn together with the need to save London from the dark and dangerous. \n Looking forward to the other books in the trilogy. I received an ARC of The Shadow Revolution from Netgalley for an honest review. 3.5/5 stars", "date_added": "Wed Oct 28 11:40:01 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 28 11:40:20 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "23308133", "review_id": "21df1694ceba7b9381ca8f28a4705d5b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Leaving off where The Shadow Revolution ended, The Undying Legion remained true. Still full of mystery with a young girl turning into a werewolf, ritual sacrifices, hieroglyphics, and alchemy. \n The Undying Legion brings Malcom to the front along with Penny's backstory. Meanwhile Kate is dealing with the aftermath of her younger sister, Imogen. Simon is what I would consider in a self imposed crisis and occupied with the key. A sparkling young girl, Charlotte, battles her werewolfism, while finding an unlikely friendship with Imogen. \n Never fear the action is never far away, despite the growing relationships between the characters. Malcom is always looking for trouble, but when the trouble is more than what it appears, he turns to Kate and Simon. And we can't forget Penny's ingenious tinkering with weapons of mass destruction. \n I received an ARC of the Undying Legion via Netgalley for my honest opinion. 3.5/5", "date_added": "Wed Oct 28 11:38:17 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 28 11:40:37 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "23490954", "review_id": "7352a0f90168ed01a49be1c85f7cb188", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Conquering the Dark is a fitting end to the trilogy Crown & Key. The battle lines have been drawn Kate, Simon, Nick, Malcom, Penny, Imogen, and Charlotte against all odds including the gods... \n Conquering the Dark does little to improve upon the character building; rather it focuses on the battles. And believe me there are plenty of battles coming from all angles. By the end of the story, I was grateful there was a satisfying conclusion, never fear though plenty of speculations linger in the air. \n Overall I enjoyed the Crown & Key trilogy with the paranormal blended steampunk storyline packed with action. I recommend the trilogy to be read in order and not as standalones. I received an ARC of the Conquering the Dark via Netgalley for my honest opinion. 4/5 stars", "date_added": "Wed Oct 28 11:37:27 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 28 11:38:27 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "25659787", "review_id": "e6ccb27a046d5afeb6acc5b279392c21", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Feral Passions by Kate Douglas \n This is more like a fairytale. I did not find my self relating to Cherry and her circumstances. I found her character to be 'woe is me' instead of embracing who she was. And the only time she felt good about herself is when two guys were fawning over her. There does not seem to be any real conflict other than her self loathing to keep the story interesting. There is also a side story, with her younger sister and her best friend, which isn't much. Those who love happily ever after with little to no conflict, this story is for you. 3/5 stars \n The Alpha's Woman by AC Arthur \n I would love to say I really enjoyed the story, yet I am hesitant due to lack of flow within the story. Parts seemed lacking or missing entirely, including re-reading passages that either repeated a paragraph earlier or were jumbled. \n Striking out on her own after her mother's death and attempted claiming by her father's beta, Kira is found in the woods by non other than the alpha to another pack, Blaez. Kira seems to be a strong character, although the insta-love with Blaez is frustrating. Both of which are fighting until the end to deny any feelings or pulls to one another, yet are always drawn into one another's arms. The world-building was plentiful, with a nice blend of mythology. 3/5 stars \n I received an ARC of Claimed by the Mate via Netgalley for my honest opinion. 3/5 stars", "date_added": "Wed Oct 28 11:35:44 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 28 11:36:26 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "26889328", "review_id": "1ca8773ae620dd87b1408e3274f2b796", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Spell of the Ball is a great mix of 8 short stories...Perfect for any fan who loves Halloween! This collection allows to reader to experience a multitude of authors with varying writing styles. \n Spirits, Hurricane, and the Krewe of Ghoul \n Carver needs a vampire bride and who else could fit the bill other than our very own Pyper Rayne! Along with others, Pyper and Ida May have been tricked but never fear Julius is never far away. Filled with witches, ghosts, and vampires and ever entertaining, the fast-paced story kept the reader captivated. \n I wouldn't consider the stories standalones, however they make for a quick and fantastic read. Spell of the Ball was provided by Deanna Chase for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 28 11:32:03 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 28 11:32:23 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "23723790", "review_id": "86d8a9c7b718dfa94d109cb901897905", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Dark Kings continue with Passion Ignites. After seeing some of Thorn in Soul Scorched, I was looking forward to his story and it did not disappoint. Drawn into the story instantly, the storyline flows through each scene with the right amount of pace and action. \n Lexi's an American girl who is having a fun-filled trip, traveling with college roomies...that is until tragedy strikes. Lexi witnesses her friend murder, by a guy with red eyes. Convinced she is going to find the killer, Lexi remains in Edinburgh, while the others return home. Unbeknownst to her, while seeking out the red eyed killer, she has stumbled upon a war to protect humankind. Drawing the attention of the Dark Fae is the last thing Lexi should be doing, yet she falls right in the bull's-eye. \n Thorn, along with Darius, is in Edinburgh to remove the treat of the Dark Fae. Drawn to Lexi, despite not wanting a mate, he feels the need to protect. Despite Lexi's feistiness and instance on stabbing Thorn in each of their meetings, Thorn keeps coming back to protect her...all the while fighting his growing attraction. \n There is a glimpse of Rhi and Balladyn, as well as a mysterious blimp concerning the Reapers. And Ulrik is still a puzzle that remains. Passion Ignites can be read as a standalone; however it is part of an ongoing series. Passion Ignites was provided by Netgalley for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 28 11:26:50 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 09 09:02:30 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "27224193", "review_id": "ae92049744b167669b5656cd66c12553", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Tempting the Dryad follows five years after the end of Claiming Valeria, with Tiago and Alesia's story. With a simmering attraction, but only friends Tiago and Alesia are forced to face what they really are... \n Younger brother to Lord Dion, Tiago has his issues, betraying his brother/alpha, has left him less than trustworthy. Determined to show his worth, Tiago gets caught up in a plot to bring Lord Dion and Lord Aldric head to head. Sniffing out the traitors, isn't as easy as one would think, especially when the Fae are involved. \n Tired of waiting for Tiago to get over Cleia, Alesia is determined to have Tiago anyway he will let her. Only now, because of Tiago's involvement, Alesia becomes the focus of the traitors. \n Overall, I am not sure how I feel about Tiago's story as I had a hard time liking his character. Nevertheless, Rivard creates a seamless transition between the stories and leaving tidbits for possible storylines...I am looking forward to Lord Aldric and Rosana's story. \n 3.5/5 stars Tempting the Dryad was provided by the author for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 28 11:25:34 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 21 09:39:13 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "25117156", "review_id": "1a1b8d81b77ff422792a8907afdd04e2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Kissed by Water is the third book in The Watchtower Chronicles by Delwyn Jenkins, which continues from the end of Claimed by Earth and delves into the relationship between Charlotte and Tristan. There has been much progress in character development and the characters have grown into their roles. \n Caring, quiet Charlotte is unwavering in her determination to help save Tristan. With this determination, comes a need to become independent and powerful as the other member's of her Quatre. Set on becoming the next witch in the Quatre to complete the Quickening to help fight the lurking evil, Charlotte attempts to convince Tristan with innocence and prowess that can't be denied, that he should be her partner. \n Carefree, womanizing Tristan finds himself in a dark, torturous coma for months on end. Upon waking from the coma, Tristan's lightheartedness has faded away and there is a lingering darkness. Determined to walk away from Charlotte despite all she has done for him proves to be the hardest thing Tristan has ever done. \n Can Tristan overcome the darkness and will Charlotte become the confident, strong woman she believes she can be? \n Looking forward to Amelia's story. I received this book from the author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 4/5 stars", "date_added": "Wed Sep 30 17:28:09 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 28 11:35:08 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Sep 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "26199463", "review_id": "32476c281e2b294937838709005ef452", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Jade and Kane are back...Bewitched on Bourbon Street is book 7 in the Jade Calhoun series. Switching between Jade and Kane's point of view, the book starts off with a curse. \n It seems like Jade and Kane never get their happily ever after. While performing a fertility blessing, Jade discovers she has been cursed. Not just any curse, but a curse on her and Kane's unborn first child. \n Determined to get to the bottom of this and break the curse, Jade and Kane are faced with a myriad of obstacles from betrayal on all sides, black magic, demons and angels. Full of twists and turns, it was exciting to the end. \n The characters bonds with one another continue to grow, with plenty of returning players, Bea, Pyper, Kat, Lucien, Laila, Chessa, Drake, etc. And there were several new character introductions as well, all of which flowed nicely into the story. \n Will Jade and Kane get the happily ever after or a deal with the devil? I recommend reading the series in order; while it is not necessary it would be beneficial. Bewitched on Bourbon Street was provided by the author for an honest review.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 15 06:35:57 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 15 06:36:28 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "25500089", "review_id": "b0670cd99ff8cd8352a73602e0c57cba", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Claiming Valeria goes back in time before Seducing the Sun Fae, which allows the reader to understand the surrounding situation between mates Rui and Valeria. The Run Rock clan has found itself in an extremely desperate situation, needing concealing spells and lack of funds leads to questionable jobs. Second in command and the clan assassin, Rui is the man for the job, one of which leaves a child, Mary, orphaned. Attempting to right a wrong, Rui brings the Mary to Valeria, who has a most unfavorable reaction to the Rui and the aftermath of the job. Before Rui can claim Valeria for his, he begins spiraling downward Rui giving in to his inner demons... if he can't forgive himself, how could he possibly expect Valeria and Mary to? \n True to her writing style and world building from Seducing the Sun Fae, Rivard creates a sequel that does not disappoint. With many twists and turns, it is hard to imagine even the slightest possibility for forgiveness. Will Rui face his demons and claim the one he loves or will he be too late? \n 4.5/5 stars", "date_added": "Thu Sep 03 11:40:34 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 03 11:40:52 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "20564142", "review_id": "7a0e02cfbb62b7350bed59d8356e5eb8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Cursed by Fire by Danielle Annett is the first book in Blood & Magic. \n After the Awakening, creatures of the night (shifters/vampires) are no longer in hiding. There is not much in way of world building, aside from minor tangents in the book regarding hospitals being research centers, lack of schools, and a different form of politics. \n The opening of the story is catching, however if you are looking for a resolution to Daniel's, a young shifter, death...you will have to keep waiting. Aria is a Psyker, a human with the ability to manipulate fire. Despite being a Psyker, she does not know a lot about them and her trust in Psykers is minimal at best. As a mercenary, Aria is determined to be independent. However, when she is hired to find Daniel's killer, she finds her self paired with a shifter, James. \n While Aria views her relationship with James as brotherly, it is clear James may be thinking along different lines. Although boundaries are never crossed, it could be a potential love triangle. Here enters Inarus, another Psyker, with many secrets of his own. \n As the story unfolds, Aria is in over her head, but will she be able to prevent an all out war between vampires and shifters? As for the Psykers, well they are sitting on the sidelines at the moment. Will Daniel's killer be brought to justice? Who will Aria join the shifters, vampires, or Psykers? Will she fall for James or Inarus? Side note, I am rooting for James and will keep reading the series. \n I was provided a copy of Cursed by Fire from Netgalley. 3.5/5 stars", "date_added": "Thu Jul 09 06:46:35 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 09 06:46:53 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "24914964", "review_id": "fa041cd1104f590b980fa49053384b7e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Hunted, I almost think the Wanderer would have been a better title. Since the book seemed to be based on Shanti's new status, other than being the Chosen. There was minimal building of relationships between characters. Shanti's personality seems timid and weak in this story, rather than the strong, confident woman in Chosen. The relationship between her and her 'brother' seems to be entirely bantering and not established, but rather he will follow her to the ends of the earth, because he believes she is Chosen and for no other reason. Cayan seems to be a bit aloof. While the Honor Guard is present, they fall by the wayside in the story. Rather I felt the story was strictly an informational journey and periodic fighting sequences. \n Up until the very last part of the book, did I truly get involved in the story. Now it seems the real journey will begin...will Shanti become the chosen? Will Cayan and Shanti build a stronger relationship, or will it continue to remain on professional level? \n Hunted was provided by the author for an honest review.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 09 06:44:52 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 09 06:45:42 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "22747313", "review_id": "5bc2144eb4923cbf666fe55ee4690406", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Unforgiven is the final installment of The Soulkeepers Series. Having not read any other books in the series, Unforgiven can be read as a standalone. Yet, I think it would be beneficial to read the series first. I found the story to be uniquely intriguing with the perfect balance of action and romance...With the ending having an unexpected twist, creating a perfect conclusion to The Soulkeepers Series. A favorite to be sure for any paranormal romance fans. \n Spirit Walker, Sophia St. James, is in a race against time. Ka, her conjured identical twin, has been taken to Hell, along with her soul. Will Sophia be able to regain her soul or is she lost to Hell forever? \n I received a copy of Unforgiven via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 09 06:43:58 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 09 06:44:16 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "25556292", "review_id": "72012a431e142c1e3c54a2e2a98985cf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Never one to leave his knitting behind, we finally get Charles' story! \n Unlike the other books, Charles is set a few years after the end of Jonas. With a sparkling Charles, his insatiable craving for women seems to have lost his thrill. \n Ann feeling down on herself, now that Tim has left her, is sure she can handle just one night with the infamous playboy Charles... \n With shifters missing Charles and Ann embark on their mission. Will Charles and Ann be able to save the missing shifters, or will Charles and Ann become victims as well? \n As the final installment of the Darkness Series, I could not have wanted it to end any other way but with Charles and Ann. A little too short and of course, we could always use more of Charles' humor! The story shifts between Charles' POV and Ann's POV and as a result we get to see their internal coping mechanisms relating to their feelings towards on another. With twists and turns, romance and action, this book is hard to put down. \n Charles was provided by the author for an honest review. (4.5/5)", "date_added": "Thu Jul 09 06:43:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 09 06:43:29 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "25478898", "review_id": "721cfd224dfef496d2e5f8766d706f68", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A strong start to The Fada Shapeshifter Series by Rebecca Rivard. \n Seducing the Sun Fae opens right into the heart of the story, with Dion determined to make Cleia right her wrongs for the past twenty years. Dion is the Alpha to the Fade Clan, a clan of river shifters, has seen over the years his warriors picked off, only to return to the clan less than what they once were. Cleia, the Sun Fae Queen, likes to have her fun, especially with the Fada men. \n With a seduction gone wrong and a desperate kidnapping, what else could go wrong?! War, famine, death and traitors are looming in the horizon. \n A sweet and spicy read for lovers of paranormal romance. I received an ARC via Netgalley.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 09 06:40:34 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 09 06:41:18 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "22929547", "review_id": "55167480804dba63d675d95fd3ca2be5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The Last True Vampire by Kate Baxter is a good start to a promising series. The worldbuilding was more than sufficient and provided great detail, sometimes a little too much, to the world of vampires, dhampires, and sortiari. The story felt disjointed at times, along with lots of buildup with minimal results. \n I was disappointed in the main characters, more specifically the heroine Claire. I am not sure Claire has a likeable and relatable personality. Michael (Mikhail) was very woe is me but has a more redeeming personality and throughout the story his character grew. As fated mates, I felt as though their connection was lacking. \n The Last True Vampire was provided by Netgalley for an honest review 3.5/5 stars.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 09 06:39:52 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 09 06:40:23 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "22929489", "review_id": "2c8101835dda5e0b61d389d37d9aae81", "rating": 4, "review_text": "In the Air Tonight is the first book in Lori Handeland's Sisters of the Craft series. This is a trilogy based on three sisters sent to a time where witches aren't hunted. \n In the Air Tonight is Raye Larsen's story, small town school teacher with the ability to communicate with ghosts. Despite growing up in a small town, Raye has always felt like an outsider...abandoned along the side of the road as an infant only to be adopted by a couple who is overly concerned with her talking to ghosts. \n Bobby Doucet, New Orleans police detective, finds himself in the midst of a supernatural murdering spree, only he doesn't believe. Sent to quaint New Bergin, the detective is immediately thrown into the action when he almost runs over Raye. \n A blend of witches, ghosts and witch hunters make this a good, action filled read with a side of romance. At times the information dump pertaining to the world building was a little much, but almost necessary. By the end of the story I was convinced that I should read the other sisters. I was provided a copy of In the Air Tonight via Netgalley.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 09 06:39:17 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 09 06:39:37 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "23498189", "review_id": "11bc8221432a53b6e77ef4096c24fe5a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Blade Dance is the fourth book in the Cold Iron Series by DL McDermott. I have been reading the series right along and thoroughly enjoy the storylines. Blade Dance focuses on Finn MacUmhaill, leader of the Fianna, and Ann Phillips, schoolteacher. Blade Dance takes a different spin, and instead on focusing on Fae sorcerer Miach MacCecht's family and associates, the storyline shifts to the other local Fae leader, Finn. \n Finn, vicious until the end, has been faced with many issues and run-ins with the MacCecht's, especially where his son Garret is concerned. \n Ann, determined to save a child in her class, isn't afraid to confront the cruel Finn MacUmhaill. \n Finn set on wooing Ann, will not let anything get in his way, even the Prince Consort and keeping trying to keep the walls in place to prevent the Fae Queen and her court from returning. \n The characters are well developed with their strengths and weaknesses; we get to see characters from the previous stories as well. Blade Dance is steady-paced and an easy read with a good blend of paranormal romance and suspense. Looking forward to reading more of the Cold Iron Series. I received a copy of Blade Dance via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 09 06:23:51 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 09 08:59:21 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "23127782", "review_id": "b6f95db8c5c3a5f159d815b54331ce75", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Soul Scorched was a captivating read. Not having previously read any of Donna Grant's works, I was pleasantly surprised. Soul Scorched could be read as a standalone, I did not find it necessary to read the books in order, but be warned there are lingering storylines. \n Darcy, a Druid from the Isle of Skye, moved to Edinburgh where she has opened shop for tarot and palm readings. Drawing the eye of Ulrick, by releasing some of his powers that were bound, she has unknowingly put herself in danger. \n Intrigued by humans, Warrick, along with another Dragon King (Thorn), is sent to keep Darcy safe and bring her back to Dreagen. Determined not to have a mate, Warrick finds himself drawn to Darcy and her charming personality. \n Who can Darcy trust, Ulrick or Warrick? Will Darcy choose a side or forever remain neutral? The twists and turns keep the reader interested, as well as the building chemistry between Darcy and Warrick. \n Full of magic, Fae, good vs. evil and dragons...this story does not disappoint. \n I find myself wanting to read the series from the beginning. Soul Scorched was provided by Netgalley for an honest review.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 09 06:22:33 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 09 06:53:25 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "25837038", "review_id": "3769fd98a132ad28dd74e3e41b864f1d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Aiden is the second novella in Wolves of the Rising Sun by Kenzie Cox, told from both Aiden and Rayna's POVs. \n Aiden, along with his brother's Jace and Luc, own a bar out in the Bayou, aptly named Wolves of the Rising Sun. Rayna, a bartender, belongs to Luc, she is his best friend and roomie. But Aiden has known Rayna was his mate for years. Rayna who's had a long time crush on Aiden throws caution to the wind when she agrees to a no-strings attached relationship for the mating season. \n Will Aiden remain hands-off or claim his mate? I can't wait for Luc's story. I received an ARC of Aiden for an honest review.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 09 06:13:45 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 10 13:12:21 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "25729721", "review_id": "5ebb3936473df48b3902949ad1adc164", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Jace is the first story in Kenzie Cox's Wolves of the Rising Sun series, part of a multi-author collaboration, the Mating Season collection. Jace is a novella length story that has alternating points of view from Jace Riveaux and Skye Michaels. \n Having recently broken up with her boyfriend, Skye finds herself drawn back to the bayou. Her love of photography, the bayou, and wolves leads her straight into the arms of her long time crush Jace. What Skye doesn't realize is Jace is a wolf shifter and she just happens to be his fated mate. \n Fast-paced, action pack and romance filled, I could hardly believe it when I finished the story, looking forward to more of the Wolves of the Rising Sun. I received an ARC of Jace for an honest review.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 09 06:13:43 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 09 06:52:13 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "25491049", "review_id": "6d177c5bb2fdf1d499695ae4ee49d9d3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fate Undone can certainly be read as a stand alone. I do recommend that readers take the time to read the series, as readers will gain a better understanding of the Mythean Arcana world created by Linsey Hall. Linsey has a way of creating characters that are strong and perseverant, despite the odds against them. \n Yay for Logan (Loki), he gets his own story, which is hinted to in Stolen Fate. As the story begins, Logan falls in love with a demigoddess, Sylvi. Leaving Sylvi was the hardest thing Logan ever did, despite his actions his love never waivered. In an tempt to get her back the reader is taken through time, leaps dimensional planes, all to once again claim Sylvi's heart, that is if Logan can complete his quest. Otherwise it will cost him and Sylvi their minds... \n Great continuation to the series, I am looking forward to the next book! I recieved a copy via Netgalley. 4.5/5 stars", "date_added": "Wed Jul 01 17:52:01 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 09 06:42:35 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "23197122", "review_id": "45c903350d55fc3f0ce940bfed378da6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Waking the Dragon is the beginning of a new series, Vale of Star, by Juliette Cross. Waking the Dragon takes places several years after the Nightwing Series novellas. \n With three human females dead in Morgan territory, Moria Cade, a human journalist, is determined to uncover the truth. Meanwhile, Kol Moonring, Captain of the Morgan Guard, has been assigned to protect the rebellious Moria. Against their better judgment, feelings become entangled but at what cost? Will Moria sacrifice herself to uncover the truth? \n I really have enjoyed the Nightwing Series and am of the opinion that to understand what is taking place in Waking the Dragon; you should read Soulfire and Windburn first. Lorian, Jessen, Sorcha, and Linden make appearances in Waking the Dragon. \n Overall I enjoyed the story, but I felt Waking the Dragon was very similar to Sorcha's story. As a result 3.5/5 stars.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 01 17:51:55 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 06 16:28:55 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "23531413", "review_id": "ccdb64ab16e7a4dff3ba384f634b1b49", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Two words... sprite monkey aka Sprig! He added a lightheartedness reprieve to the complicated life of Zoey.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 25 16:20:54 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 25 16:25:57 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "24384181", "review_id": "8908e3d21648c7a3c067c4bbd877f339", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Yay for Pyper! She now has her very own spin-off from Deanna's Jade Calhoun Series. On a side note, I think it would be beneficial to read the Jade Calhoun Series before jumping into Pyper's story. However, it is not necessary. \n Pyper, local coffee shop owner and body paint artist, is a headstrong, independent and lively character. Recently acquiring the gift of a medium, Pyper is still not 100% use to ghosts popping in and out of her life. When dress shopping with Jade a Ruby's Vintage Fashions, Pyper finds herself communicating with several ghosts and is overcome by an all over creepy feeling. After lunch, Pyper finds herself returning to Ruby's to purchase another dress, but when she arrives she finds Ruby has been killed. \n Julius, resident ghost of New Orleans from the roaring twenties, is enigmatic. Drawn to Pyper through an unexplainable connection, he is determined to help Pyper find out who killed Ruby. During the 20's, Julius worked for the witches council and was assigned to guard a seer, who was killed on his watch. Julius is determined to protect Pyper and prevent history from repeating itself. \n The story is well written and I would recommend it to those who have read the Jade Calhoun Series and those who are fans of paranormal. \n Spirits, Stilettos, and a Silver Bustier was provided by the author for an honest review. \n 4.5/5 stars", "date_added": "Wed Jan 21 16:39:51 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 09 06:49:01 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "23206075", "review_id": "8b649cf6e27fdc3d552bb19776aff502", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Steampunk is one of my favorite genres, with the uniqueness of zeppelins, automons, gears & gadgets, alchemy and Victorian fashion with a twist! This book is meant for those who love reading a young adult story with plenty of action, drama, and a bit of romance. \n The Chronicles of Steele:Raven did not disappoint with the essentials for a steampunk world. The world building blended seamlessly with the storyline. The characters were interesting and enjoyable, even the villains came into their own throughout the story. The main character Raven is more relatable than most in the story because while she has a hard exterior, you learn there is so much more which leaves her vulnerable. \n One thing I was not a fan of during the story is Creeden would start a tangent or a potential life altering situation without going into further detail or circling back. Hopefully some of those loose ends will tie into the second book. \n I had the opportunity to read the story as a whole rather than in Episodes. I did find that the episodes transitions were almost non-existent. However, I would recommend reading the story as a whole; I can image how frustrating it might be to have to stop an episode each time something major in the plot occurs. \n I received Chronicles of Steele in exchange for an honest review. Overall the story is 4/5.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 21 16:34:22 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 11 17:50:37 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "20640268", "review_id": "9688d5925c08ad4c92068ce135993dc4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "At last, Ella's story...Since the beginning of the Nightwing Series I have been waiting for Ella's turn. Nightbloom is the third book in the series, wrapping up the stories of the dynamic trio of Jessen, Sorcha and Ella. \n Quiet, unsuspecting Ella Barrow's lives the life her parents planned for her. A fine arts graduate, with amazing talents, keeps her art hidden in the basement of her parents' home. Clayton Kerrington, Ella's manipulative boyfriend, appears as though he is a perfect gentleman around Ella's parents. After five months of being together, Ella isn't sure she wants Clayton, but he is the safe answer, as far as her parents are concerned. \n Paxon Nightwing is well aware of Ella Barrow's and doesn't understand what she sees in Clayton. His dragon is vying for Ella and knows she is his. Paxon is dark and mysterious but never lets Ella out of his sights, being the shoulder she can lean on. \n Clayton has no intentions of letting Ella go, but can Ella deny her heart? What will Ella's parents think when they find out her heart belongs to a Morgan. I received an ARC of Nightbloom via Netgalley for my honest opinion. 4/5 stars", "date_added": "Wed Dec 03 17:40:42 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 06 16:27:22 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "20640247", "review_id": "c903ed14a605d7650d83354028035472", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Windburn is the perfect continuation of Soulfire, looking forward to Ella's story. \n Sorcha's character remained true to her initial introduction, sassy and fiercely independent. Lorian could have developed a little more. He is still quite mysterious, especially his vague past. Jessen and Lucius make minor appearances towards the end but no further development. If only the stories were a little longer.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 03 17:40:40 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 25 16:45:17 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "21935518", "review_id": "3b4768f991500e76399fa4ba03f979f9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed this book far more than the first one. I think perhaps it was due to the constant action in this book, the story nor the characters disappoint. \n Both Harlow and Augustine grow throughout the story with Harlow becoming more accepting of her Fae identity and attempts to develop lasting relationships with various characters; while Augustine is assuming the role of Guardian and protecting New Orleans to best of his ability. Aside from the main characters, the supporting cast develops into their own and helps explain the Fae world to both Harlow and the reader. \n A downfall of this book, would be the developing relationship between Harlow and Augustine, it seems very juvenile in nature, especially since they are both adults. \n I am looking forward to the completion of the trilogy and hopefully any lose ends will be addressed. Overall a good read with a 3.5/5 rating. \n I received this as an arc through Netgalley.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 03 17:39:08 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 16 17:05:28 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Dec 16 07:39:19 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "22045893", "review_id": "1bc038220c85999798770d016fcb6972", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Entirely too religious. \n Provided by Netgalley for an honest review.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 10 18:11:40 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 10 18:14:55 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "20640241", "review_id": "126aae75f04ec7bed1a6b3cfb3686bd2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I found Soulfire to be quick yet captivating. I will be looking forward to the remainder of the series! \n The world-building was brief but not lacking. The character development at times seemed to be rushed, if the story was a full length novel there could have been more depth to the characters. \n In the Gladium Province boundaries between humans and Morgons are blending, despite the opposition from the upper echelon. \n Jessen Cade, the daughter of a powerful human family, is promised to a man she has little interest in. A night on the 'wrong side' of town, Morgon territory, Jessen longs to break the confines of her controlling father. Jessen's brother and future husband find her at the Morgon establishment--a brawl breakouts propelling Jessen into the arms of the enemy, Lucius Nightwing. Lucius refuses to recognize her as his own, despite his inner dragon claim. \n Provided by NetGalley for an honest review.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 10 17:38:21 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 10 18:10:31 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "23109320", "review_id": "51c4e13f99f9880d7623c11d42fdc8da", "rating": 5, "review_text": "While the series did not end how I was hoping...Braving the Darkness concludes the series nicely. Throughout the story emotions are running high between the characters, bringing some unexpected twist and turns, leaving me unable to put the book down. Sad to see the end of the series, however Melynda left just enough loose ends for stand-alone novellas/novels, which I am looking forward to for Beyond Redemption! \n Rating: 4.5/5 \n Provided by NetGalley for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 03 06:58:20 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 11 17:38:58 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "22480658", "review_id": "be15bec272c220cdee461e7f5ea2f1dd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I received a copy of the Curse Breaker from Netgalley for an honest review. \n Overall, I would rate the book as a 3.5, because the story has potential but was not what I expected. \n For starters I was expecting a steampunk book, but during the reading it became clear it was more a scifi fantasy with some steampunk style elements. So if you are looking for a steampunk book...this is not the book. \n The read was a difficult read, in the sense that it took me significantly longer to get through the book. There was plenty of overall world building, but it never got specific to the main character's (Wendy) world, just generalizations to the realms. \n I was surprised to find Wendy was completely desensitized. Given her situation and all surrounding circumstances, especially as a child her emotions should be running extremely high.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 23 17:53:52 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 27 14:56:00 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "21368052", "review_id": "dc8f44c4097243c052cd2ae4399cf120", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I did not finish the book. \n The story could have had potential but it was very choppy and jumped around between pov's too often. I felt the book lacked flow and proper world-building, along with overall character development. \n ARC provided by Netgalley", "date_added": "Tue Aug 19 10:45:38 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 19 10:48:17 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Aug 19 10:48:17 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "22400601", "review_id": "57ebfe93f7547347cbe4d7fed7152e92", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Another fast-paced read by Erin Kellison, The Darksider, the third novella in the Revelers Series, took the reader further into the world of Reve and the unique abilities of various Revelers. The world-building continues to evolve, allowing readers the ability to sample what Reve has to offer. \n Even though the book can be a stand-alone, I recommend readers start at the beginning, as the author has done an excellent job of intertwining the novellas. \n The Darksider novella features a Marshal of Reve (Harlen Fawkes) and a strong-willed Chef (Serafina Rochan). With a past of passion and an unknown future, past feelings are reunited when Sera asks Harlen to help capture her Darkside stalker. All the while Harlen, is utilizing his unique and potentially dangerous skill-set as a Reveler to uncover the dark truths of Chimera and Darkside. \n Darksider left the readers with a cliff-hanger...what will happen with the evolving evil Darkside and the impact on the waking world? \n Provided by NetGalley for an honest review.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 27 05:11:55 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 27 05:49:59 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "22092525", "review_id": "cd14d079bd4e56a2129ac9f1e7ba7637", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Provided by the Author through PaC Romance group \n Fated Desire by Franca Storm is a face-paced read with a lot to offer for PNR fans from Seekers, Vampire Kings, Alphas, magic and other Realms. \n In general there is not much to the overall world-building, it is unique and in the development stages. Cora Black is of the mindset that she can turn her back on being a Seeker. However Vampire Prince Luca and Alpha Ryan Winters have different plans for Cora. Prince Luca is determined to have Cora as his bride, while Ryan discovers she is his true mate. All the while, Cora is coming into her true powers, but what is she exactly and how will it impact her future with Ryan and Luca? \n The characters were well developed with a little mystery to their backgrounds. I was left wondering why the heroine, Cora, seem to be of a 'young adult' mindset in her actions and attitude considering she is almost 30. However, don't be fooled the romance development and sexual tension between Cora, Ryan and Luca is not of a 'young adult' mindset. \n Overall storyline has potential as a great series with both romance and action for any PNR fan. I am looking forward to reading more of Cora and her men.", "date_added": "Wed May 28 06:11:35 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu May 29 07:24:51 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "22064146", "review_id": "8f1cd21e49325e3d51f7818069444aba", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Lay Me Down is a captivating quick read into the world of Reve, which I enjoyed more than Darkness Falls. The world-building is unique in that a dreamer can join in group dreams and certain individuals have the ability to manipulate these dreamscapes and the individuals within the dreams. \n In both novellas, there seems to be an overload of action/romance in a short timeframe. Lay Me Down is centered on a stubborn heroine (Maisie - sister of Jordan) and a man of many secrets (Steven Coll); both are determined to not fall for one another while bringing down an unknown villain. The ending of this story is complete but leaves readers with more questions concerning the lurking evil in Darkside and the impact on it can create the waking world. \n Provided by NetGalley for an honest review.", "date_added": "Tue May 27 05:27:31 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 28 06:09:37 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "21980170", "review_id": "90a962426b7f51b9b505d9c74530d81f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "When I first began reading Called by Fire by Delwyn Jenkins I wasn't so sure I would like the book. It seemed as if I opened the book to the middle and began reading. About a third of the way into the book, the story began to develop into an interesting read. \n While there is not much detail as to the overall world-building, it is definitely unique. The Dahnan Witches are transitioned into another world to learn and perfect their crafting abilities. The crafting and development of their powers is well explained throughout the story. Additionally, there are the Watchtower Knights (who were banned) and Sentinels (current protectors of the witches) in which the reader learns bits and pieces. \n The characters were well developed. But I was left wondering why the witches seem to be of a 'young adult' mindset in their actions and attitudes. While the romance development between the main characters and the sexual tension is not of a 'young adult' mindset? \n Overall storyline has potential as a great series with both romance and action, with perhaps a little mystery mixed in. I am looking forward to reading more of the Quatre and the Watchtower Knights. I would have rated this read a 3.5, but since there is potential with the series I gave it 4 stars. \n I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Fri May 16 08:41:39 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon May 19 10:20:52 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "19162557", "review_id": "7bb6141936af843c3115aa841e8b6639", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed reading Braving the Elements, I felt that as a reader you got to know the main characters on a more personal level and the world-building was more complete than the first book. While this book is definitely a different creature from the first, there was action, magic, humor and spunk which balanced out the book well. As a reader, I wish the stories were not so short, however I am looking forward to the third book which was just released.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 22 17:09:38 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 22 17:20:18 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Apr 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Apr 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "19162511", "review_id": "e2c442694c7adb6318de80f0f1298d0b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Definitely a different kind of read...quirky yet weird, while action-packed and humorous. However, for some readers it might be slightly disturbing (ie non-consensual sex). By the end of the book, there is little if any resolution to the storyline. But it leaves the series with potential of future world-building, overall character growth and what makes the heroine tick. \n After reading the book, I was slightly confused on the good versus the bad. Nor does it seem that the situation of the new world that Sasha is thrown into is ever explained other than bits here and there. \n Overall the heroine is comical (even in less than ideal circumstances) and it will be interesting to see the development of a relationship between Sasha and Stefen.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 20 14:01:36 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 20 14:27:34 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "18170598", "review_id": "4ca8d399c9d8ba78949d9e5f04c3b52a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Helene Whitney's memories are missing and she cannot ask her best friend Beth for help. Helene is forced to turn to Miach MacCecht for help after he ordered the death of her best friend. Time is not Helene's friend; she must put faith and trust in the people who tortured her and Beth. \n I enjoyed reading Cold Iron and couldn't wait for Silver Skin to be released. The story is similar in nature to Cold Iron and focuses on Miach and Helene who are introduced in the first book. The world building continued to expand throughout the book. The characters are well developed with their strengths and weaknesses along with the introduction of a few new characters. The story is a fast-paced, easy read with a good blend of romance and suspense, without becoming overwhelming or confusing. Looking forward to reading Elada and Sorcha's story, Stone Song. \n ARC provided by Netgalley", "date_added": "Thu Mar 06 07:58:59 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 27 17:06:29 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Apr 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "18141262", "review_id": "75941ca760116a70baba4506301c0b61", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Provided by the Author through PaC Romance group \n Bound by Sacrifice is the start of a unique paranormal romance series that will capture a variety readers. The creative mix of characters varies from witches, biblical characters, vampires, werewolves, angels and demons, unicorns...the list goes on. Each character in the story was well developed, although we do not find out much about Satan or Asmo, but I am sure that is to come later. Acelynn is trying to save her sister, who sold her soul for love. Satan gives Acelynn an ultimatum to either kill his son or become his bride. During her search, she meets Tom, Abel and Lilith. The relationship between the characters is ever evolving throughout the remainder of the book. \n Bound by Sacrifice is a good read with an ending that I wasn't completely expecting, and left the series with promises of more twists to come. I intend on reading the rest of the Bound by Sacrifice series!", "date_added": "Mon Feb 17 16:27:35 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 18 17:51:27 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Feb 17 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "20648137", "review_id": "c79d209d7d875c394dd5018a7d023a07", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed the Levi novella; very rarely do you get to read a guy's point of view. Being familiar with the characters made for an easy read and allowed the reader to experience Levi's feelings throughout the early stages of Allie and Levi's relationship.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 05 16:40:41 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 05 16:47:42 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "17570740", "review_id": "55ec36cba5f9bf49dd827bd9499085ce", "rating": 4, "review_text": "**I received a copy of His Lordship Possessed as a giveaway from the author** \n A continuation of Her Ladyship's Curse with no gap before the reader is taken away by the world surrounding Kit. Through the unexpected twists and developing romance, I could not put the book down. Looking forward to continuing Kit's next adventure as the story continues in The Clockwork Wolf. \n Part 1 & 2 combined create a unique alternate world complete with steampunkery, magic, spirits and time-travel...all of which are not possible without Kit who is energetic and full of life.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 29 10:40:35 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 05 10:31:18 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "19548305", "review_id": "716c29f6a55f2d027f9feed2c58e2c14", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Mageri series is wrapping up with its final book, Shine. Knowing it is the end, Shine is bittersweet. It encompasses all our near and dear characters (Silver, Logan, Justus, Adam, Sunny, Novis, Levi, Simon, Christian, Levi and the list goes on). Loyalties are put to the test and the characters come out stronger than before. With the meshing of the Breeds, Shine gave Silver the family she never had with plenty of love and devotion. \n With Tarek's death on Logan's hands, he faces treason. Will Justus gain the peace and happiness he deserves? Will Silver and her gang be able to put a stop to Nero? Will Silver get her official marriage? So much to learn, ahem Simon and Christian... Happy to know that this supernatural world based in Cognito isn't over. 4/5", "date_added": "Thu Dec 26 16:54:21 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 13 11:24:12 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "18501670", "review_id": "2e710d695c9949e100893434f137f62d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Unique, fast-paced read with butt kicking action and captivating relationships. \n I enjoyed Primani (received in Goodreads First Reads Giveaway). I currently live in upstate New York, so I enjoyed the references to familiar places. Thank you again for the opportunity to read Primani...I will be continuing the series!", "date_added": "Tue Dec 17 04:58:42 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 16 19:44:06 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "17790646", "review_id": "5a0e10a78eeb7f2f5392850e515a6ca2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really enjoy any kind of mythology, however I am always hesitant to read stories based around the myths. I can truly say I was surprised at the uniquely modern, yet different spin that Molly Ringle takes based on the story of Hades and Persephone. \n The story was well developed with the intertwining of both past--Hades and Persephone--and present--Sophia and Adrian. The point of viewed flowed seamlessly between Sophie, Adrian, and their dream memories. With the Underworld/spirit world and the 'real world' the world-building was fascinating. Throughout the story the characters had a chance to develop naturally and form relationships without being rushed. \n The main characters were well thought out--with Sophie, a college freshman, being slightly more determined then most, she tries not to let others overly influence her actions. Given Adrian's current life, he is more of a hopeless romantic. Niko is quite the trickster starting off from the beginning, yet undeniably charming. The Thanatos, secret society intent on keeping immortals from existence, keeps the reader engaged with their threats of ending both Sophie and Adrian. \n Alas, Hades and Persephone are not the only gods and goddess introduced to the reader in both past and present forms from Rhea, Zeus, Artemis, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hermes, etc. Hopefully in future books we will learn of the past and present lives of several more characters, as well as what happens between Sophie and Adrian. \n I struggled with giving Persephone's Orchard 4 stars, so I settled and gave the story 3 stars, but it was more along the lines of 3.5. Overall I really liked the unique spin on the story of Hades and Persephone mixed with modern day, however I did not find it to be a quick/enjoyable read...it was definitely too long. \n Provided by the Author through Never Too Old for Y.A. & N.A. Books group.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 09 10:01:41 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 11 10:25:06 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jul 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "17706080", "review_id": "c3aab37f8fe688049f6bfd95265a9190", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I received the third book in a giveaway; therefore I must start at the beginning. \n The book was little slow to start, however it does pick up in the middle. By the end there are some pretty interesting twists and turns. With that being said I will continue to read through the series, especially to find out what happens with Ash.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 19 04:48:55 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 30 11:28:34 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jan 29 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jan 29 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "17139957", "review_id": "f94a2273a20cb836ac2556627754c3c8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "**I received a copy of Her Ladyship's Curse as a giveaway from the author** \n Her Ladyship's Curse set in an alternate history of the United States that is ruled by England with a bit of steampunk. As a non-believer in magic, Charmian 'Kit' Kittrege is an investigator, who ironically is hired most often to remove curses. \n The story, while short, gave the reader a depth of knowledge in the world surrounding Kit, including the characters she encounters along the way. This first installment gave readers a glimpse of what is to come with Lucien Dredmore.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 01 04:53:42 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 05 10:12:44 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "18369100", "review_id": "b5cbbce1d00b18e21dfe2bc9226b3666", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed reading Dannika's Mageri Series and I'm looking forward to reading her new series Seven, especially to see how they intertwine. The first book was a good starting point...looking forward to the new adventure this series holds.", "date_added": "Sun May 26 18:40:05 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 31 10:11:10 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Oct 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "17306455", "review_id": "a79c03886db7093a7c1764b44b9befdf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Rating is more of 3.5 \n Lash is a good book in the Paranormal Romance genre featuring Angels. While the story is slow going at first, the action and romance picks up towards the middle of the book through the end. I would have liked to have more development of the main characters earlier on in the book. The coming together of the main characters seemed rushed and not a natural flow. Will read Book 2 once it is released.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 29 17:03:12 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu May 23 04:55:59 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "13571899", "review_id": "71a90bffcc0670d120d4169ed7397599", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of the best quotes so far comes from our ever charming up-to-no good Simon \"The most self-damaging words in the English language are: try, might, and if. These are words of uncertainty. Will you fail? That is possible. But continue doubting your abilities and you'll never succeed.\" \n Gravity continues with Silver's journey of becoming and accepting her life as a Mage. But life is anything but cozy, as there is tragedy, betrayals and suffering. As with the other books, new characters have been introduced. \n Slightly different from the previous books, we get POVs from the various couples in the series. Dark and passionate, Gravity is an emotional journey for all involved. 4.5/5", "date_added": "Mon Apr 29 09:54:30 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 13 10:16:10 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "13571893", "review_id": "a0b38ce2b56c2304848f94e9161d8aa4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Coming up on Silver's one year anniversary of being a Mage, Silver still has much to learn. Breeds don't mix. \n Impulse does not disappoint, the world in which Dannika has built keeps evolving nicely! The characters growth becomes more substantial and intertwined creating a unique dynamic between the characters. Emotions run wild throughout. It was great gaining more insight on Justus, Finn and Silver. With the insight gained, Justus and Silver make tremendous strides in their Ghuardian/Learner relationship. Logan and Silver's relationship escalates, but at times it feels completely one sided. And of course there was introduction of the charming vampire, Christian who forms a love/hate relationship with Silver. \n By now you either love or hate the characters and since the characters make the story, you either know this series is or isn't for you. No worries, there is plenty of action with several twists and the romance definitely heats up. 4/5", "date_added": "Mon Apr 29 07:05:46 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 13 09:58:00 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Apr 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "13502238", "review_id": "a55c38f14c4c29a9b06070f355c52786", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Twist is a fantastic follow-up to Sterling by Dannika Dark. The characters truly come alive in Twist, throwing into the mix Logan Cross, Sunny, Knox, Finn, Eli. The most notable character is Logan Cross who we find is loyal, caring, and gorgeous, not to mention a Chitah. \n Tucked away in Cognito, Silver, formerly Zoe, is learning what it means to be a Mage, including living in secret. Since Adam's change to a Mage, the relationship between Silver and Adam is strained. Craving the closeness, she finally reaches out to Adam to help her find her best friend Sunny. When Silver meets up with Sunny, Adam's friend Knox is introduced. With Sunny recovering from a rejection by Marco, which happened roughly the same time as Silver's disappearance--Silver, Justus and Simon are determined to find out who attacked Silver. Coincidences don't just happen, right? Which leads us to the cunning and oh so sexy Logan, who plans to turn Zoe's life upside down...yet again. That is until unexpected sparks began to fly... \n Twist was a great read, with the introduction of Logan, I could not put the book down! I should forewarn anyone that if you haven't read Sterling, you might not fully understand all that is happening. There is definitely much to take in, including witty/sarcastic banters, action, slightly darker but with a touch of budding romance. 4.5/5", "date_added": "Sun Apr 28 07:38:17 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 13 08:18:58 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "17310126", "review_id": "cba09abe8c2fef520e77d070f1352d84", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A great series to be sure! Set in a somewhat steampunk style Victorian London, with a blend of historical and paranormal elements, My Lady Quicksilver dives deeper into the world of Nighthawks and the humanist movement. Little is seen of Blade, Honoria and their rag-team crew, which readers have grown to love and will miss dearly in this book. \n With that being said, the worldbuilding continues with the new characters, Rosalind Fairchild (Mercury) and Sir Jasper Lynch. At this point, little is really known about either the Nighthawks or the humanist movement. An interesting twist is placed on the love triangle that takes place between Rosalind, Jasper, and Mercury. Naturally Jasper is drawn in by Mercury's strong enigmatic character. There is the element of mysterious, yet dangerous that Mercury provides. Never fear, Jasper is a pretty unforgettable, as well; loyal to those he leads but a misfit in society. It is Rosalind he finds himself falling for on a much deeper level. However trust doesn't come easily. \n Rosalind, aka Mercury--leader of the humanist movement, is determined to bring down the Echelon. But to do that, she must infiltrate the Nighthawks. What better way than to become the secretary to Sir Jasper Lynch, a Blue Blood and leader of the Nighthawks. Sir Jasper Lynch goal: to bring Mercury in. But what Rosalind encounters turns her world upside down... \n Overall the story was well written and I recommend it to those who like paranormal romance. But if you are looking for a strong steampunk element, this might not be your thing. I do not recommend reading the book as a stand alone, as many societal elements are discovered in the earlier stories. 4/5", "date_added": "Sun Feb 24 12:42:26 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 27 15:43:57 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caa4c5b1fbc69e0b7d38c1b86e377923", "book_id": "17210256", "review_id": "e490c0338b0d7ea0b5c583f6de12c299", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Sterling is the first installment of Dannika Dark's urban fantasy series the Mageri. Zoe Merrick, Adam Razor, and Justus De Gradi have a lot to overcome. Thrown into a less than ordinary situation, the relationships between the characters start out awkward and perhaps a little to trusting of one another. Vulnerable and slightly naive, Zoe becomes a strong, resilient character willing to learn what her future holds. Adam is naturally a protector, as his character was defined by childhood and family. His heart is overflowing to those he deems worthy. Justus will forever be a dominant alpha, albeit slightly traditional, but his heart is in the right place. Did I forget to mention Simon...well he is enigmatic, overflowing with humor; Simon adds a much needed light hardiness to the over all story. \n Zoe is nothing more than your average girl, but after a brutal attack, her life is turned upside down. Saved by Adam, he quickly becomes her bff, offering her friendship and shelter. Changes begin to occur, Zoe no longer resembles herself and has a strange energy coursing through her. In enters brooding Justus who not so delicately informs Zoe she is no longer human, but a Mage. With the gift of manipulating energy and the need to learn to control it, will Zoe give up her knight in shining armor to live and train with Justus? As Justus swears an oath to protect her... \n Sterling definitely had some interesting twists and turns. Set in modern day with a twist and flare of the supernatural, urban fantasy fans will surely want to give Sterling a read. 3.75/5", "date_added": "Thu Feb 07 15:32:19 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 13 07:31:32 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7213fb6cd3b36e84be9a9cdfa0c0d918", "book_id": "4214", "review_id": "c22075142e3429c029ebc3470e267216", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amazing book. Easy to read, but no simpliest. Beatiful story... I thought it wold be more about god and less about human nature, but it is more about human nature. I loved it.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 25 10:28:10 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 16 07:51:13 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Thu Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9a88311cb8f79be7a0a84dba2157534e", "book_id": "104", "review_id": "29174cdd9c86670efa4432a6ad64383c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I don't really read sci-fi novels (my only experience reading one is Orson Scott Card's The Memory of Earth. I only really gave this a shot because of my experience playing Dune 2 the RTS video game growing up. Also because I was told it's pretty much Game of Thrones in space. \n Reading the book made me realize a few things: \n A) This is pretty much the extent of sci-fi that I will read. It features advanced technology but mostly in the form of transportation or weapons. There's some techno-babble about super computing and gaining \"super powers\" through special training. But nothing more hardcore sci-fi than that. \n B) The neo-feudal political scenery plus the talk about a chosen one from prophecy makes the story of Dune a more palatable to someone like me who reads fantasy books almost exclusively. \n C) I got the Game of Thrones in space bit but the political aspects of this book was a tad disappointing. I'm expecting an escalation of political intrigue in the next book though. \n D) The book took a while to get used to, having to remind myself I'm reading a different genre. It's a good book that does a good job in helping us discover the world of Arrakis and the story of Paul.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 20 06:21:20 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 05 23:18:54 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9a88311cb8f79be7a0a84dba2157534e", "book_id": "8814469", "review_id": "5a5da7cf678f57a17b267211987d1676", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Took a while to get into the more interesting parts but it's a pretty nice story with lots of action scenes. Could have rated it 4 stars but something about the writing style bugged me at times. Even got confused for a while until I figured out that some parts were not a continuation of events but rather a telling of the same time frame from another character's perspective.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 25 07:28:06 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 03 04:10:06 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jan 03 04:10:06 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Dec 25 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9a88311cb8f79be7a0a84dba2157534e", "book_id": "1404123", "review_id": "1afc5a786f9a7dedc941c525df015dd5", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Horrible. Looked promising and the first chapter was decent. Went way way way south after that.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 07 02:37:51 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 21 08:57:31 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Apr 21 08:57:31 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9a88311cb8f79be7a0a84dba2157534e", "book_id": "21787", "review_id": "a8b5948f87d6463d6cb5ad5621eb2c1b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Comedy, Romance, Action, Adventure. This book it all. Oh it also has awesome characters and villains you love to hate.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 25 02:43:01 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 23 09:27:59 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jun 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9a88311cb8f79be7a0a84dba2157534e", "book_id": "249633", "review_id": "0210cecf70c0227410c172e541b3ded3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It was fast paced and had a lot of things I like in a fantasy book: Politics, gods, a reluctant \"chosen one\", magic, and a hidden race of people. \n i didn't even mind the fact that the summary at the back of the book actually had a spoiler. So did the appendix. It was fun and that's what matters.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 10 06:21:09 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 22 05:20:48 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 22 05:20:48 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9a88311cb8f79be7a0a84dba2157534e", "book_id": "281954", "review_id": "7e3639b631c7184a8352705138a76ea0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Seeing all these awesome animals live and act like humans is a big part of the lure of this book and I guess the series as a whole. But it's a lot more than that. \n The story telling was great and the lore was interesting. The different characters didn't have dull personalities. Also prepare for a story with a surprising amount of character deaths (for a story of this nature)!", "date_added": "Fri Oct 12 03:01:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 16 03:23:52 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9a88311cb8f79be7a0a84dba2157534e", "book_id": "2468019", "review_id": "a32d3aa181029da2780aaa19ee940678", "rating": 3, "review_text": "There was nothing original about the concept of the story nor was there anything very amazing about the writing but it was still a fun read.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 14 21:57:30 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 03 06:45:11 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Nov 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9a88311cb8f79be7a0a84dba2157534e", "book_id": "865293", "review_id": "15ab060b24a99cc471419d8b1ad819c4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I thought I was gonna get the fantasy version of Ocean's 11 (heist story) but I got a lot more. I had a lot of Godfather (politics of the underground) and even some Mission Impossible (stopping a psycho villain's evil plot). All this set in a Renaissance fantasy world. it was awesome!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 30 09:14:46 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 14 04:00:39 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Feb 14 04:00:39 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9a88311cb8f79be7a0a84dba2157534e", "book_id": "45110", "review_id": "1a12902982a0d7d2e5b7c6059d7c84c8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was definitely very different from what I'm used to reading and I can understand why others don't like it. Thankfully I still found this book fun. Since this is my first Robin Hobb book, that's a good thing. \n The world shown in this book was quite interesting. In a way, this book is similar to George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire because you can almost forget that the book has fantasy elements because you are pulled in by the interesting culture and politics as well as the interesting characters of the book. \n The book mostly takes place in a military academy. It sort of reminded me of the military version of Harry Potter studying at Hogwarts. Following the lives of the main character and his patrol as they go through life as first year cadets was actually interesting and fun.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 28 23:51:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 01 23:44:33 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Apr 02 23:44:33 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Mar 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9a88311cb8f79be7a0a84dba2157534e", "book_id": "144127", "review_id": "8aa5ac63a9404cefb6b5cbbd8c661287", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book probably has one of the most unique and interesting magic systems I've ever encountered in a fantasy novel. The plot was nothing really fantastic but it was still a fun read.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 02 06:56:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon May 20 01:38:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon May 20 01:38:42 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9a88311cb8f79be7a0a84dba2157534e", "book_id": "28760", "review_id": "38e6a431005f18be37e79e443c861db8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I almost gave up on this book from the start because there was so much talking and no action at all. I'm glad I persevered because once it got more interesting, it was really a pretty cool story. \n Since I picked this book up without having read the previous book in the series, I'm glad that it can pretty much stand on its own.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 21 21:18:03 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 27 21:31:43 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jun 28 21:31:43 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9a88311cb8f79be7a0a84dba2157534e", "book_id": "91981", "review_id": "71b8c48591bca38ed962420ea219d84f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It's another one of those stories where the unsuspecting hero is forced to leave his home because of some evil threat. It's starts really slow but once it gets going, it's a very rich and interesting story.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 19 04:08:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 09 23:09:59 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Dec 10 23:09:59 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sat Nov 17 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9a88311cb8f79be7a0a84dba2157534e", "book_id": "243272", "review_id": "a00827e52416152ce90ae1487e2ea26e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Starting the first few chapters of this book immediately made me think about The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. As much as I really loved that book, it wasn't the sort of thing I was expecting when you see it compared to Ocean's Eleven. It was more of white collar crime mixed with Godfather and some Mission Impossible, not an actual heist like breaking into a vault. \n At the center of Mistborn: The Final Empire's plot is a rebellion. This rebellion involves thieving crews, lots of careful planning, and even actual heists. The rebellion has people with their own specialties to contribute, much like what you would see from Ocean's Eleven. This was closer to what I was expecting from The Lies of Locke Lamora and I got it in this book. \n But this book is so much more than all that. Sanderson has managed to create an interesting social structure for political intrigue and tension to breed, moving the plot forward using intriguing characters and a well thought of magic system.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 18 08:08:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu May 26 02:19:07 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu May 26 02:19:07 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9a88311cb8f79be7a0a84dba2157534e", "book_id": "415463", "review_id": "51ee15389a7f32e266569985206baf28", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great book since I like King's court drama stories.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 10:27:31 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 11 01:32:47 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9a88311cb8f79be7a0a84dba2157534e", "book_id": "279501", "review_id": "31bef301a934a9496077fd9d854626b1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "As a long time World of Warcraft player, this book really was a treat for me. Christie Golden made this simple and easy to read while packing it full of Warcraft lore. \n This book brought me back to The Burning Crusades expansion of WoW because it takes place in Draenor, the focus of the expansion, but before the Orcs crossed the Dark Portal. \n This book also features a who's who of famous Orcs that leaves you feeling a bit \"star struck\" when encountering them in the book.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 09:50:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 19 04:21:06 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9a88311cb8f79be7a0a84dba2157534e", "book_id": "66683", "review_id": "318568bf09717e707fc29965462f1a8f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I found this book in a store that sells cheap books. It's my first time reading a Salvatore book and I really enjoyed it. \n It's short, light and funny but also full of action. It was a great way to be introduced to the world of Drizzt and his friends, even if it did make reference to past events.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 06:10:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 06:15:35 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dc29bc00ac3d3d70f67d02b71150f069", "book_id": "972801", "review_id": "b1c7ea9f1d3983e22b8189b5dca65508", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Such a twist of events and unexpected ending....The mention of Kenya and the use of \"Kipepeo Girl\" really sparked my interest. :-) Loved it", "date_added": "Mon Sep 15 01:02:30 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 13 03:11:24 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Nov 13 03:11:24 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dc29bc00ac3d3d70f67d02b71150f069", "book_id": "12672876", "review_id": "d53b229fade9756f793fbf1b0683af95", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Well, I didnt like it thaaat much. first it was a bit short (few pages) and the genre, I mean fantasies and fairy tales...but I still enjoyed reading it", "date_added": "Tue Jul 16 12:24:56 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 23 09:54:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 23 09:54:42 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d7ea4b6be0e39ece6b5a586153e5fd7d", "book_id": "23437156", "review_id": "a45bcaeeb593a0d2ba234faa6ca53392", "rating": 5, "review_text": "OH IM GOING TO LOVE THIS.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 27 07:52:08 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 10 10:50:54 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Nov 10 10:50:54 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Nov 05 22:46:10 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2072483ab40c0d43a83f8bcede5f92c7", "book_id": "19286940", "review_id": "8d597a1aab2f889f998eb6979b45cc3d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What a refreshing new read in the paranormal genre! I thoroughly enjoyed Alexia Eden from this new (to me) author. The twists and turns in this book kept me on the edge of my seat and made the cliffhanger that much more brutal. I rolled my eyes, cried, and held my breath all while reading this book in the middle of the night because I could not put it down. The love triangle... no, that's not right... love square?... with Lexi, Jax, Drake and the twins was awesome! Lexi deserves some happiness after the abuse from Drake and Jax's rejection. I can't wait for the release of Angel Blackwood... Who is going to be her mate... or should I say, mates! Ha... in your face Drake and Jax... Lexi gets 2 for the price of 1!!", "date_added": "Thu Jan 30 06:38:26 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 06 10:23:31 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2072483ab40c0d43a83f8bcede5f92c7", "book_id": "15985348", "review_id": "2e20611386246dada126b620bef81da9", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Wow...What a let down!", "date_added": "Wed May 08 09:12:06 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 03 14:45:18 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu May 09 06:15:55 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "301ccc11c1be904468e732d6b167e797", "book_id": "8908", "review_id": "5057de9289d7848002257898958f63c1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Great book. Really enjoyed it.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 07 10:08:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 26 11:34:16 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jun 26 11:34:16 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5a4a570a353920ee1b19d6cc9f76cd38", "book_id": "186074", "review_id": "2c81d0bd155ab366db9f0b7b6e185401", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Nearly 700 pages of exposition leading up to a second book I now have doubts I want to read.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 06 08:31:10 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 15 07:24:52 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Aug 14 18:56:20 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Sep 04 04:47:51 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "88040135e6fcca6d009b790a09567765", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "9c95f861b85543d9a7eee3e07849f98f", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Started this one, but couldn't get into it. The characters are so flat and dull.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 26 12:42:27 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 26 12:45:10 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6e7c55e550088f272b8a39a0f5e30b30", "book_id": "9797582", "review_id": "2fda060bbb11d933e6c3453fe08aff66", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Excellent end to the series, the book kept me guessing almost to the end.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 22 06:57:07 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 06 17:25:38 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Oct 06 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6e7c55e550088f272b8a39a0f5e30b30", "book_id": "8891878", "review_id": "fcd9dd274b943f330d0ce3e8de726b82", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I wasn't sure about this book when I started, it seemed to start a bit slower than the first two. But then it picked up. Excellent ending and looking forward to starting Blood Promise.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 22 06:56:51 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 15 06:11:39 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Mar 21 11:22:33 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6e7c55e550088f272b8a39a0f5e30b30", "book_id": "19401029", "review_id": "2ee24b7391e2432079835e462f5b6a06", "rating": 2, "review_text": "No matter how much I tried, could not get through this book. Completely lost interest.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 25 15:57:16 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 11 14:00:56 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Tue May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6e7c55e550088f272b8a39a0f5e30b30", "book_id": "16248223", "review_id": "03e917ebeaaa43ecdfd73cafb1d2b769", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The story has some interesting twists and does not end the way you think it would. Excellent read.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 03 06:48:48 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 11 06:21:04 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6e7c55e550088f272b8a39a0f5e30b30", "book_id": "6178574", "review_id": "79d81c4338a122dd197abd3009b5450e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A very quick read. Well written, dark, adventure.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 24 05:22:52 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 26 19:37:03 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6e7c55e550088f272b8a39a0f5e30b30", "book_id": "2548866", "review_id": "bd1d4a2ec700ca3e22558c564f0442e1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "May not be a Harry Potter book by Rowling, but still impressive. Full of adventure and keeps you guessing what is going to happen next. Looking forward to reading Curse of the Gate Keeper.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 20 10:21:44 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 17 06:27:20 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Sep 17 06:27:20 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6e7c55e550088f272b8a39a0f5e30b30", "book_id": "11945559", "review_id": "697770dc6656878b0931d35bf4c6df83", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Was better than I expected but a slow read, takes most of the book to build up to the main event and then ends quickly...", "date_added": "Thu Jun 21 08:52:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 15 12:11:13 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Apr 15 12:11:13 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6e7c55e550088f272b8a39a0f5e30b30", "book_id": "15801173", "review_id": "274aac9b95ef977e69e1a98cd8b76d6f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Definitely impressed with this book. Lots of action and ends with a very unexpected but interesting twist.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 15 10:27:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 23 17:37:41 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6e7c55e550088f272b8a39a0f5e30b30", "book_id": "12716010", "review_id": "2ea1dee52b86d428039f697e87f8eb78", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The book was hard to get into and to stay reading, but I am glad that I persevered. The ending was excellent.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 12:31:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 24 12:01:03 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jan 24 12:01:03 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "29923707", "review_id": "91469794aec588a1640336fcc1d0c8c5", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I don't get it. The characters I think I'm supposed to like I actually hate with fiery passion.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 22 05:43:37 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 26 05:15:14 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Sep 26 05:15:14 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "31303411", "review_id": "2151b58d6e6797cae482c6d8e39c837d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It isn't often at all I give a short story any more than 3 stars as there is so little space and time to develop the characters. This was different - a very well executed story in a series that has definitely improved from the first book.", "date_added": "Sun May 14 13:27:45 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun May 14 14:02:06 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun May 14 14:02:06 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "16130760", "review_id": "ce240a22e6c184e46dfe886eb2cee1ee", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.5 - this book was a lot like book 3 but not quite as bad.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 17 14:40:50 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 19 11:24:23 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Mar 19 11:24:23 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "28260402", "review_id": "f95e8ced8a54bd45670ad2b7c0c03a13", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.75 \n Didn't enjoy this as much as the first two but still very good.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 01 01:32:39 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 24 14:38:41 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Mar 24 14:38:41 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Mar 20 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "46202", "review_id": "2eaee4c219dfea981b59cca500e137aa", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.75 \n I thought Poison Study was fantastic and up to about half way, this book wasn't that bad but then everything changed - the characters were no longer the characters they were in the first book and had devolved rather than evolved. The premise of the first book was so good but it was almost as if the author couldn't decide what the book was to be about and the result is just a mess. Being a fan of fantasy fiction I'm happy to let a lot of things go but some if this just wasn't believable and then started to be a bit, well, cheesy. A real shame as it could have really worked. I'm going to read the next book as I'm interested to see where it is going.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 20 05:07:29 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 21 13:56:03 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Feb 21 13:56:03 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "33832888", "review_id": "347bda9832862f4928f26827b2a9ede6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I do like the story but there are still a few niggles for me - first the ones that have been there from the beginning, calling random people \"the mage\". There's so many mages - why not just call them by their name? I think the second part of the book needed a lot more bulking out - people's anger at the end didn't seem justified to what had been described to the reader. Had the sort of detail been gone into then this could have a been a 4+ star book.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 07 10:42:43 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 09 05:41:38 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Feb 09 05:41:38 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Tue Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "29213834", "review_id": "536e665679128632d547c4381525007d", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I was going to give this 3 but the last page made me give it a 2.5. Pretty inoffensive. I like the idea but not the insta-love. Can't help thinking it could have done with padding out and having a lot more from New York before the curse.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 01 00:41:08 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 01 10:38:09 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 01 10:38:09 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "23381014", "review_id": "277008bfacb3a51c65d05b08cc955d05", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Too many authors think that they have to use the shock value because of JK Rowling and George R R Martin. This book is unnecessary and ruined a quite enjoyable appendix to the Shadowhunter world. Unimpressed.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 19 23:53:31 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 20 08:20:34 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Nov 20 08:20:34 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Nov 20 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "21957948", "review_id": "bdacaeb7e1cc3189041de4760b1585f1", "rating": 1, "review_text": "DNF at 33%", "date_added": "Wed Nov 11 09:47:49 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 15 07:46:19 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 15 07:46:19 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "17455815", "review_id": "d3efc644ccf8170bf8f6170829c80851", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Armentrout annoys me. I've read a lot of her books and they really should be 5 stars but it is the same thing that annoys me every time - why can't an editor ever go through and strike out every time she uses a descriptor twice in successive paragraphs? And the damn nicknames! Why is Roth suddenly calling Layla shortie all the time? And Layla-bug? I would so not let a guy near me if he was using that all the time. It is exactly the same thing that ended up seriously pissing me off about the Lux books. That and anything to do with holy demon or alien babies. And that the leading female character is always too good to swear. \n It is a good story but it is an obvious story, I would defy anyone not go have worked it all out way before the reveal at the end. The love triangle is blah. For some reason the character development of Abott really annoys me - he is very 2D. Roth is awesome and I want my own demon familiar. Those kittens rock. Hoping we get to see the dragon in the third book.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 07 11:52:37 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 08 04:03:27 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 08 04:03:27 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "20256261", "review_id": "885ad1fa2ef481142834b107640ab549", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Feel mean giving this one a 2 as it did make me smile in places (despite wanting to smash my kindle in places) so have rounded it up to 3. It also made my commute whizz by today.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 25 05:43:15 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 26 12:18:44 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Oct 26 12:18:44 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "10445208", "review_id": "bba5a245b03c5d5c56cbb4b9ea01528b", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Got to 32% before I decided I'd rather gouge my own eyes out.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 09 13:53:47 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 09 13:56:47 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Oct 09 13:56:47 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "13630171", "review_id": "5e15239f49237c471ba9784b3cce150b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "George R R Martin writes children's stories in comparison to this.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 22 12:07:16 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 29 10:02:12 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Aug 29 10:02:12 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "23381006", "review_id": "22f096dd8367354b4a583c5ebaf57332", "rating": 3, "review_text": "thought this was the best short story by far - shorter than the others but much better in terms of character development, moving on the story and the messaging behind it all.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 01 15:25:47 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 01 15:28:29 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Aug 01 15:28:29 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "18712886", "review_id": "90db51c9dee36a5e6b10ba0c5ddbd39e", "rating": 1, "review_text": "This is one of the worst books I've ever read. I feel swindled that I paid money for it. Then I read that it is going to be made into a film by the directors of Harry Potter. I'm beyond stunned. What did I miss? The characterisation made no sense - the main character changed personality from paragraph to paragraph as did the other characters. She went from uncertain to certain. Uncaring to caring. Worried about her body to not worrying about her body. \n There was a theme of women being oppressed and an indication that this was a bad thing yet in the very next breath the main character is lamenting that she is too overweight to fight or that she is not pretty enough. \n The book seems to be set in the future but it reads like it was set on the past. There is no explanation as to why we went from technology to a neo-medieval world with magic. The Library has Harry Potter books which was just cringeworthy. \n I actually wanted someone to succeed in killing the Queen of the Tearling. In fact, I'm rewriting the end of the book in my mind to ensure this happens. I could go on and on but I've already spent way too much time on this book.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 22 01:55:17 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 23 11:20:25 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jun 23 11:20:25 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "21936988", "review_id": "d7d78f8f2ffe3f01f8d1aa0eb4d71e9e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I'm giving this book two stars because the potential was so good. The character development is a one star - so poor. I couldn't understand how the characters changed from page to page and felt that a lot of the plot was just shoe-horned in. Really disappointing as the concept was really interesting but it played out as three completely different stories that were not meant to mesh together.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 20 01:16:20 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 21 09:33:45 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jun 21 09:33:45 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "20643052", "review_id": "4b914b74cae1c65e22e6523f7db94068", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I don't give five stars lightly. I'm a very harsh critic. There are books I love that I only give four too. Why did I give this one five? Up to the last few pages I thought this was a solid four but then it tied up so well and as I thought about it there wasn't a huge amount I would change. Apart from one thing - an English lad who drinks coffee rather than tea?! What planet are you on Rachel Caine?! \n There are a few other frustrating stereotypes that American authors always associate with the UK too but that wasn't hugely surprising. I also got the impression that Jess's family seemed more Irish than English but that's just nit picking. \n This reminded me a lot of Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next books with the library and the Wales v England battle. Is be interested to know if Caine had read those books. \n This book had infinitely more substance than Caine's Morganville Vampire books which although I loved were Hollyoaks compared to Ink and Bone's Breaking Bad. The writing style is rich and borrows heavily from many different civilisations - the supernatural and steampunk is beautifully and subtly intertwined. \n I cared about the characters. Perhaps I didn't understand some of their reactions to what they witnessed but Caine had already made it clear that these kids were out for themselves. \n This is clearly a young adult book but it has much more richness to it than others in the genre - there is a 1984 theme that can be chilling at times with the executions and inferred torture but it is more painted in your imagination than being crude. \n You aren't hit over the head with romance or love triangles - obviously romantic relationships are there but it was more the family and friendships that interested me. \n I was much more impressed with this at 100% than I was at 20% and I'm very much looking forward to where Caine takes this although I'd urge her to have an end in mind - Morganville went on much too long and too painfully for my liking!", "date_added": "Wed Mar 11 12:54:00 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 18 13:22:15 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Sep 18 13:22:15 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Sep 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "13644055", "review_id": "7c03798be5f2cddca706555609b4850b", "rating": 1, "review_text": "1.5 \n I think I read a different book to everyone else. I was cringing every other sentence. I really enjoyed the first couple of books and then it just seemed to get away from the author. Perhaps I'm just getting older and more cynical with it. The ending just seemed way too easy. And I can't be bothered to say much else.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 11 12:38:49 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 11 12:48:01 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Mar 11 12:48:01 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Mar 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "8709528", "review_id": "848717d9fbbf8f2b6d7fc525b9bf5c47", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'll take time to review this more thoroughly later but I must admit I was disappointed. This took ages to get going and then it just felt too easy and rushed.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 10 02:18:17 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 14 05:06:02 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Feb 14 05:06:02 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "20727653", "review_id": "713c75540e107ab799162693fe50781b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "There is a meme which I think was inspired by this book: \"Well, that escalated quickly.\" Whether it be war, sexual relationships or diplomacy it goes from 0-100 in a paragraph. Good for the impatient reader but frustrating for a reader who likes to bring things to a boil gently.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 31 16:30:55 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 01 11:59:34 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Feb 01 11:59:34 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "22617388", "review_id": "5012921d1ef57b9b4f942724047936a5", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This was a hard book to read. At some points it was really good and at others, it was really bad cliched writing. It was almost as if the author had some key way-points in the book and he didn't really know how to link them all together. The development work to get a couple of the main characters from where they were to where they get to is non-existent. Then there are a couple of characters that crop up at the beginning, are not heard of again and then you are supposed to feel something for them at the end. There's a few other characters that I'd liked to have known more about but maybe the next books will do this. \n I liked the idea, and I've got the second book on prime because I'm intrigued about the story, but I did find myself skimming the book at some points and getting quite confused. I almost thought it was a book for teens but the sex scenes in there it can't be. \n I'm surprised at the number of five star reviews but if this gets people into reading fantasy, that's great. It is certainly less complicated than LoTR, GoT and SotW.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 24 14:29:57 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 31 09:35:02 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jan 31 09:35:02 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "21416690", "review_id": "c1d02e08f7f8cd538fa82e6b971ea202", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I liked the concept behind this I just didn't find it entertaining. I guess the problem for me is that any literary detectives have to come up against Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next stories which are my favourite books of all time. I kept expecting this book to be funny but it wasn't. A good and interesting idea but perhaps brought in too many different magics and for me it didn't really fully explain what the library was and the importance of it.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 23 14:22:08 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 24 14:19:50 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jan 24 14:19:50 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jan 23 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "13641721", "review_id": "58c4d0e26608a44d098c6171c82cd1e2", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I'm am really sorry. I'm sorry because I never normally disagree with the masses on books but in this case I'm the polar opposite of everyone else. These books were dreadful! I nearly gave this one 2 stars because at about 50% it actually got a little bit interesting. The old vampire lore had potential but it was not explored enough. We had to endure the absolutely awful Bridget for pages too long. The ending actually made me feel a bit ill - these characters, who we were supposed to like, aren't really very nice at all. If I read another book where everybody refers to each other all the time with their full names then I, Stacey Frier, will throw my Kindle out from the roof of my flat. Beatrice & Giovanni? Yuck. They sound like a couple I remember in the middle of a Starbucks once who were virtually having sex on their table despite everyone telling them to get a room. In the middle of the day. Just vile. And all this \"woman, come here\" stuff. You ask why I read all four books? I paid for them so I read them so I could write a scathing review. Which apparently no other reviewer in the world agrees with. So I'm sorry it has come to this. That I was lured in with ratings of 4.75 from so many people. I can no longer trust Goodreads.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 17 09:39:58 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 18 14:42:43 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jan 18 14:42:43 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "12886110", "review_id": "61d963ff95ac7f03abda7a13cf7bd15d", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Probably a 2.5. \n I really didn't get this book. It had so many good reviews so I thought it would blow me away but it didn't. It reminded me too much of the \"A Discovery of Witches\" books. I've got the others in the series so I'll read them too. It wasn't bad, the writing was good, it just didn't engage me and just seemed to similar to other books of the same genre I've read.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 25 04:13:23 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 13 14:25:37 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jan 13 14:25:37 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Dec 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "17381002", "review_id": "59e030636182d3abf1908a82fc666d00", "rating": 1, "review_text": "For the first 25% of this book I thought it was quite interesting and well written. Then it absolutely fell apart. It was like it was written by two authors and the second really couldn't be bothered anymore so she tried to throw about 5 books worth of stories into a few chapters. At some points it was cringeworthy. Such a shame as the concept was interesting. Another book that proves you shouldn't read by relying on other's reviews unfortunately.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 03 15:55:12 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 09 02:12:13 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Dec 09 02:12:13 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "15750370", "review_id": "c4f500b49f5b352782953471c068a068", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Truly awful, got to 8% and couldn't hack it anymore.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 31 14:47:15 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 31 15:02:05 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Oct 31 15:02:05 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Oct 31 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "16112741", "review_id": "2222bc398dddd45a679e91e8eb1164c0", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I like the idea but the editing is s mess and it is very annoying in places.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 25 06:48:24 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 25 06:49:10 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Oct 25 06:49:10 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "20446140", "review_id": "c59de9785f17758ec1d9228125579d5c", "rating": 1, "review_text": "1.5 - it was ok, just not my thing.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 18 14:10:59 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 18 14:11:30 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Aug 18 14:11:30 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Aug 18 14:10:59 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "8755785", "review_id": "48cba8265171848c86a6f26e3e0d3169", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm giving this a 4 because of a spoiler. The rest of it is a 3 to 3.5. The Infernal Devices was superior.", "date_added": "Sat May 31 06:40:48 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 02 14:11:29 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jun 02 14:11:29 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "17346991", "review_id": "24cd2b8b92b799bdc2ea0a4730419efc", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I don't know what to say. At times, this wasn't bad. At other times, it was dire. It was like watching a car crash. I had to finish it to see what would happen. At some points it was like characters had complete lobotomies from one page to the next as they acted so erratically. Bizarrely I feel compelled to read the next book but only it the same way one watches auditions for the XFactor.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 20 11:41:46 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 16 13:57:44 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Apr 20 11:44:16 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "16069121", "review_id": "6f4709edae00a3f4e8a693d8b446d811", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A good moral chilling story - short enough to devour in one sitting, thought provoking enough to keep you thinking about it for days. I like that it is understated. Makings of a classic tale children could tell each other round a camp fire when they want to scare theirselves to death a la the Monkey's Claw.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 25 10:44:37 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 25 14:36:58 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Mar 25 14:36:58 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Mar 25 10:44:37 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "6131164", "review_id": "d0613f08446b4a1b52210273b1f9bbdc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow. \n I'm still emotionally wrecked by this book. I'm going to have to wait to review it. \n 24/03/13 \n Where to start in reviewing such a book as this? It was five star up until the epilogue when I was rather tempted to give it a one star for copping out, but I'm assuming it sets up another story arc so I'm giving Clare the benefit of the doubt. \n The Infernal Devices is superior to The Mortal Instruments, granted I think I've only read two of the later. The Clockwork Princess is the best of the lot. The range of emotions, the confliction and grief I felt reading this book were intense. For some reason, I was a bit idiotic, it didn't occur to me that Jem was not dead, I thought that had been closed off completely, and I'm still not entirely convinced that Clare makes the Silent Brother transition case adequately enough. But whilst I was sad, I didn't cry at this point - I bawled my eyes out at the epilogue - Will - he's just such an epic character - and Tessa outlives him - that really hurt. And while it is nice to see Tessa and Jem together, I can't help feeling a little let down by the gigantic cop out - I guess it is hinted at by Magnus when he says 'The first is the hardest' - will Tessa live forever? What will she do when Jem properly dies? Will there be a another - vampire - cop out? I know that these books aren't supposed to be real life, but I was left with a confliction of emotions when it did end. \n The writing is amusing - the one liners and exchanges between Will and Gabriel 'Lightworm' amused me and I really do like the whole emphasis on poetry that Clare uses. I liked the setting of all three books, with the 19th Century restrictions on what was proper - very refreshing from the promiscuous 21st century. I'm still not entirely convinced about Tessa's heritage - it still doesn't really make a huge lot of sense to me why Mortmain goes to all that trouble. \n So overall, yes, 5 stars, for the tears. Books that can make me cry and laugh and think can't be anything else than 5, even though, I kind of wish......", "date_added": "Thu Mar 21 11:07:12 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 24 06:40:47 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "16090772", "review_id": "186f9792aad8e42920fb2acce1402514", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The story itself is more of a three star but in places the writing is truly appalling - I'm not sure if some pages has properly been edited. \n As I ranted about before, the author has a very limited vocabulary. It is as it ski some has had a bet with her that certain words will be on every page. \n Play Bingo or a drinking game with the words broody, tough guy and slim. Argh. All I know about Kenzie is that she is slim. Ethan is broody. Ash is a dark fairy. The forgotten are cat like. On one page, 'I put my hand in the small of her back ' is mentioned in concurring paragraphs. Did he take his hand away? Is there no other description for that hollow in the back? \n The story is ok, if not a bit easy to see what is going to happen. Ethan is a food character. I'm not sure about Kenzie. Megan seems oddly cold and controlling. Ash is still cool and Puck is still annoying. \n Such a shame really, I had high hopes. Even though it is aimed at young adults but even they must get narked with the vocabulary repetition.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 07 06:04:21 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 08 01:11:14 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Mar 08 01:11:14 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "13573795", "review_id": "4649b4ed8797c7d5256123840ef90c17", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I'm pretty sure that this could have been added onto the last book more succinctly.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 28 10:05:46 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 28 13:00:46 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Feb 28 13:00:46 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "9761778", "review_id": "16808ade34b6953c20e2e759ccf8d815", "rating": 4, "review_text": "At one point during the reading, this book could have been 5 stars and then at the end I really felt like giving it 3 stars, but I'm settling for 4 but meaning 3.5 as it is times better than the previous two books in the series - it really starts to run on its own steam. I can't help thinking that the first two books should have been combined into one and that this would be the second of a trilogy. \n It has one of the most beautiful scenes I've ever read in any book with Alex and Aiden which is just - beautiful. And for me, that's saying something, I don't do soppy. But it is perfect, for the story and the characters and probably something that makes the ending and probably the next book all the more poignant. \n I actually highlighted some passages in this, mostly Leon centric, I loved the character and had kind of guessed the story arc there. Bringing the Greek gods into the book was a stroke of genius, more from that please. I'd like a big fight with the Greek and Roman Gods too while we are at it. But that's off topic. I can't help thinking it was a little too easy to smite the furies and get the better of Hades - surely Hades should be kick-ass? \n What ruins the book for me is the Seth/Alex relationship, which I think will put me into a minority. Don't get me wrong, I like the bad boys, I like them very much, but this relationship seemed wrong on so many levels - the elixir event is unforgivable - I agree with Aiden on that. I was actually quite disturbed that Armentrout was happy to go along these lines and have Alex react the way she does - to suggest that this sort of behaviour is acceptable is awful. For a young adult novel especially, its not in anyway okay. However tormented Seth is, I can't see how Alex can forgive or end up with him in the end. Clearly, their fusing at the end is going to to create this new relationship, which is fine, it will be interesting to see everybody else's reaction, but the only way Seth can come back from any of this is sacrificing himself or if Alex does kill him - they clearly can't both live. \n I really hope that this doesn't end like I fear it might. And its that fear that stops me giving it the 4 star, even though at times, it is a 5 star read.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 27 14:51:33 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 28 04:31:49 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Feb 28 04:31:49 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "13223520", "review_id": "577a26d36a8d861ed9d59d61a9639f18", "rating": 4, "review_text": "oh my days, I didn't expect that!!!!!", "date_added": "Mon Feb 25 05:13:26 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 25 16:35:35 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Feb 26 16:35:35 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "16282066", "review_id": "ebcf69cc5abea28030cb45422da72ad8", "rating": 1, "review_text": "1.5 A cup of tea with three sugars in it. You know tea is good but it is so sickly sweet and blah with the sugar in it. You want to spit it out but it would be a waste of tea. Then you finish the tea and wonder why you drank it for the three hours you had it. And you're a bit frustrated because the tea had really bad spelling, poor sentence structure, had about 10 OKs in one paragraph (in an unironic way, OK?) and was naive to infinity and beyond. But, it's tea you know? OK.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 25 05:12:59 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 10 13:04:13 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Nov 10 13:04:13 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Oct 31 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "11808950", "review_id": "d11e8beea75624ca6a45b357c87000e6", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The first 30% of this book is awful. I wondered if it was the character showing naivety at one point but it was poor writing. There's lots of stuff that doesn't make sense - for example, the bizarre relationship between Anna and her adopted mother which bordered on emotional blackmail and then at the end she quotes her adopted mother by saying the best way to live someone was with an open palm/let them go. Huh. The mother has kept Anna so sheltered her whole life - unless this was a recent quote it makes no sense. Had there been a scene where she'd said to Anna \"This scares the hell out of me but I know I have to let you deal with it in your own way\" it might have made more sense. \n There's so much crying in this book - this girl would cry if you picked a daisy in front of her because you'd killed it. I suppose it makes the end confrontation slightly more believable. It does gets a bit better but I'm still a bit unclear on the character development. perhaps that is explained in the rest of the series which I'd like to read but the rest of the books are blimmen expensive.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 25 05:12:16 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 28 14:06:25 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Oct 28 14:06:25 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "9659607", "review_id": "7320c2683cb7b3f04df33ef2ed214d53", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This series is very much like a three course meal. The first two books were the starter that got you into it, ok but leaving you wanting more. The Iron Queen is the main course, you've finished and you're satisfied, but there is something missing. The Iron Knight is the delicious pudding, that you know you really shouldn't eat (in the same way that Julie Kagawa never really wanted to write it) but you do. But by heck do you enjoy it. At the end you're a little satiated but you almost always want a little bit more. \n Brilliant characters, I even lightened up to Grim towards the end. This last book was wonderful story telling - it reminded me of Harry Potter the Philospher's Stone meeting the Angel episode when Angel tries to save Darla and the Buffy episode when Spike goes through his trials and gets back his soul. Very clever, very philosophical and just caught the essence of human, and fey ;-), life's so perfectly. \n I read the whole series in 5 days, with The Indigo Spell inbetween. If that doesn't tell you how much I loved this series you'll never know.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 15 01:17:14 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 15 12:05:19 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 15 12:05:19 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "8685612", "review_id": "66e86846661160f45000ea310bf92e07", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Best book so far. Much better than the previous two, Meghan grows up and grows into the role. I want a happy ending now!", "date_added": "Thu Feb 14 01:39:03 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 14 13:37:43 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Feb 14 13:37:43 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Feb 14 01:39:03 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "7747064", "review_id": "b1f22894ced487c2285b022853b92ecb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "There's bits I hate but I'm going to give it a four for beautifully marrying the futuristic with the supernatural. At times it is brilliant, at times purely frustrating but that's 16 year old girls, talking cats, characters from Shakespeare (I'd take him more seriously if he was called Robbie), iron horses and a dark mysterious winter prince can do.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 12 00:44:14 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 12 15:49:47 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Feb 12 15:49:47 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Feb 12 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "6443015", "review_id": "b230f0b69fd54c6a6e561e5a9a17bb91", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I was going to give this 3 stars all the way through and then I thought about giving it 4. In an ideal world (GOODREADS!) I'd give it 3 and a half. I like the concept but sometimes the dialogue grates me but I can see why YA readers like it. Myself, I like the concept of shadow hunters - other than that, there really isn't anything in these books which is truly unique. And I love that there is a huge element of risk in the Clary (hate the name, I change it to Clarissa when reading, it sounds.... childish) and Jace's (equally dislike the name but Jonathan doesn't suit him) relationship - that takes balls. But it isn't as grim as it might be perceived - it is actually very sympathetically explored - although the kiss in the Seelie Court could have been toned down somewhat and I'm fascinated to see how far it goes. The story is reminding me of the Secret Circle very much. Bit of a shame Simon had to vampify - I liked the idea of keeping someone mundane/human in Clarissa's life. Vampires are always cool, but it over-complicates a love triangle (or at the end of the book, a non-love triangle - Jace and Simon got more action than anyone - together - a new ship?)which was fascinating to start with. Also, why are some of the characters - eg Alec & Isabelle not openly bothered about the incest? They have their own relationship interests with Magnus and the weird fae guy respectively but in the grand scheme of things they are darn normal relationships. Anyway, at some point I'll read the next one but I can't say I'd be too devastated if I didn't.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 08 14:27:35 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 10 05:32:28 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jan 10 05:32:28 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "9412580", "review_id": "bff027f011794f89693ac20246b28491", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Perhaps my mistake was starting to read this after reading one of the best fantasy books I've ever read. I really didn't like this. It didn't make sense. on the one hand there was not enough backstory and description and on the other hand there was too much description of things you didn't need to know. definitely not one for me but completed for the book challenge.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 04 17:27:37 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 08 04:36:40 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 08 04:36:40 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "9680718", "review_id": "ab24b8ac10d3b75827824b4f59d8a3fa", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.5 stars \n This was one bizarre book. I was shocked at the end to realise that it was written by the same person who'd written the Lux series I'd spent the weekend obsessing about - I would have never guessed that, the writing is completely different. (Although thinking about it, lots of discussion of eye colour and abs should have alerted me to this). Lux felt finished whereas this book - felt like it was a draft. Or at least, certainly the first half felt like it was a draft, and yes, it is incredibly similar to Vampire Academy although I'd argue that it isn't *as* similar. For example, Deacon/Seth clearly suck, whereas Adrian kicks ass, so let's not visit that one again. *fangirl moment* \n It was very easy to get through, I almost read it completely in my two-way train commute and then had about 5% to finish at home. It lacked description, although thinking about it, the Lux books were similar. I can tell you a lot of the characters had hair as they were constantly putting their hands through it, and I know what colour eyes people had, but I'm less sure about anything else. \n The story.... yes, it is very similar to VA but there are some bits that are different. I just wish some of the characters were a bit more likeable. The reason VA was so good was because you could see Rose being with Dmitri and Adrian - both were good for her, but whereas Aidan clearly is a sweetheart, Seth seems so creepy. Maybe that's the intention, but it doesn't sell it either way to me. Either make him completely venomous or nice, you can't have it in the middle - it's just....turgid. \n I'm going to try the next book at some point to see if it does deviate from VA, as the author says it does, but I'm more looking forward to the next Lux book, truth be told.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 01 14:01:00 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 25 12:28:11 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Feb 25 12:28:11 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Feb 24 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "3975774", "review_id": "c31410a18ecb3470b07967caf0f1c11c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm honestly not sure why there are so negative reviews of this book. It isn't great but it's not that bad considering who it is aimed at. I read it quite quickly and there weren't too many occasions where the book annoyed me. Yes, there could have been more explanation and backstory but I assume that is what the next five books are about. There are plot holes but show me books that don't have them. It was never my objective when picking up this book to find the next master class novel - you just look at the blurb to know exactly what it is going to be - a tried and tested formula that works. It is escapism. And so what if it borrows themes from other books? It isn't as of there are infinite storylines in the world. I like that the author tries to introduce meanings of auras and flowers although the auras are underused in the latter half of the book - very strange considering the figure at the beginning explaining their meanings. Bottom line is, if you want to read a timeless young adult novel read Catcher in the Rye. People put standards on books that aren't intended to be anything other than what they are. I probably would have given this two and a half stars if I could but bumped up to 3 as there were so many one star reviews of it. So if you've got to the end of my rant, if you're a fan of Twilight, Fallen etc you'll probably enjoy this. The first novel is no way as intricate but let's face it, I'm of a age now where getting too involved is exhausting. ;-)", "date_added": "Mon Nov 19 00:09:18 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 20 11:13:07 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Nov 20 11:13:07 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "13112924", "review_id": "1f185a8aa947aa60681ab4cb0e7d133a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n This is definitely my favourite Kresley Cole book so far. Admittedly, I've only read half of them but I saw this one in the library and couldn't not read it. \n Lothaire is actually perfect, I don't care what anyone says. As an insane despotic future world leader myself I'm totally down with his evilness and I love despite being blooded that he's still a bad ass evil vampire. Admittedly he could be more evil for my liking by the end of the book, but it is pretty fun that he could be fighting on the other side. Looking forward to how that develops. \n Anyway, I'm moving on to the end of the book which I read very quickly indeed. I started last night and was virtually finished by the morning - it is one of those books you just want to know the ending of. I was surprised by some other reviewers saying that it didn't have much of a story. I'd completely disagree, the story was very well developed. Admittedly I've only read the first three and the last two books but in my view the last two books had much better storytelling than the first few which tended to be female meets male, one of them hates each other, something puts one of them in peril and they're happily ever after. \n You know what you're going to get with Kresley Cole books. But what I liked about this one was it seemed to be the other way round, instead letting the tension build to the end of the book (and boy does she raise tension) the tension is released half way through (ish) and then they fight to save the relationship - much better. And do I love Elizabeth (uh, yes I do) for having balls - what a firecracker! I loved that death row bit at the beginning, I loved her fighting the soul stealer with the silly name and I loved her fighting Lothaire - she hacked of his head for heaven's sake. Just awesome. To me, that's true love. I can't decide now if Elizabeth replaces Regin as my favourite bad ass warrior in this series. She probably nicks it. \n It was frustrating at the end when Lothaire was doing all his 'I'm clearly better for you and going to make all your decisions' - what is it with vampires and free will?? I'm super pleased that Elizabeth didn't take it - although it must have been real hard - but even in the end he still didn't seem to apologise for being an asshat. It was all 'Oh you've saved all my family. I'm still pretty p*ssed at you but you're a centuries old eeevvvillll sexy vampire so I guess I'll have to put up with you trying to learn how to treat me'. Uh no, she could have pushed it so much harder. I loved the whole sending someone your dead heart in a box though. I'm going to do that to the ex. I didn't believe his apology in any way shape or form. He's a dude and I love him but that was seriously lame. \n So why isn't this a 5? It very nearly was but the feminist in me doesn't like that when a woman (or I guess a guy) says no in these books that doesn't count for anyone. Elizabeth didn't want to turn into a vampire and said no. That she'd forgive Lothaire so easily does not sit right with me at all. Unless she really did want to be a vampire - after some time. \n These books aren't literary classics but the stories in them are enchanting. I love the lore. I wish it was all real. But Lothaire, enemy of old, my friend, I'd be the one in charge. \n Sorry - not so much a book review but a gush about my favourite topics of evil vampires and world domination. Same old same old.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 09 10:55:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 10 12:52:37 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Sep 10 12:52:37 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "11500217", "review_id": "c9f6b70f07f10261747b2f3d35e17875", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3*5", "date_added": "Fri Jul 06 02:44:01 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 18 17:22:21 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jul 19 17:22:21 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "9487275", "review_id": "5d70188418b1ae6eb0c4e0ab04725506", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Well. I'm pretty stunned.Of all the hundreds of reviews of this book everyone gives it a 4 or a 5. I must be missing something pretty major here. \n I could say that maybe this trio of paranormal romance wasn't my thing. That said, I do adore paranormal romance. What I don't adore is sloppy writing and even though these were short stories, that is what came across. Two of the stories involved women being kidnapped and then throwing their clothes off for their respective kidnappers. the second story I wasn't sure what the point of was at all. I would have given it a 0/5 if possible save for the fact that the final story actually was bordering on vaguely interesting. \n The women in this story are all anti-feminists. What I like about the paranormal romance genre on the whole is that most of the leading ladies kick ass, they aren't victims. But in two of the stories, even they they claim not to be these girls are victims. Who like standing around in their bras and knickers. And checking out how hot people are. \n At times I was actually cringing and must have looked a site on the train where I was reading the book where I actually shook my head in disbelief at some of the conversation. \n Not my thing at all. I only finished it because I had it down for my Summer spell challenge. \n I'm sure that there is a place for such stories in the world - as the average rating of this book shows - but I must live in a totally different galaxy as it didn't speak to me at all. Sorry.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 02 10:11:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 03 14:26:10 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jul 03 14:26:10 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "42899", "review_id": "3afa0f1a042dfc7343b71ef58bfe9fc4", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I've read this book so many times. Well not this actual book but many more with the exact same storyline and characters. I finished it because I had an hour to kill waiting for a friend at the station and I wanted to know if it would end how I thought it would. It did. Not for me I'm afraid.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 01 02:23:05 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 22 05:46:21 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Feb 22 05:46:21 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "13424821", "review_id": "fdaa8f1a1bc7f992aaf7392076ac9612", "rating": 2, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I received this book via Read it and Reap from the Shut Up and Read group. \n This book did start out with a lot of promise, I loved the first page and the scene setting of the sin collectors. The story centres around a sin collector called Liliana who is trying to lead a normal life even though she clearly isn't normal. She meets a guy from her past and all of a sudden strange things start to happen. \n It would have been cool to have some more information about the sin collectors but seeing as this is book one in a series it might be saved for later. \n There were a few issues which I note have come up with other reviews, I must admit I was a little relieved that other people picked up on it as I thought it was just me. I thought it was a little bit creepy that Liliana and Olexander ended up together at the end. I'd pictured him as someone who had been her Guardian while she was a child and to have them together at the end just felt a bit wrong. Had he been her Guardian when she was a teenager then it might have been a bit different, but he saw her growing up! Perhaps if there had been a bit of backstory about the collectors and how they lived this might have worked out differently, but seeing as no adult collectors could have lived together before without the ritual then it still seems odd. \n Another issue was that I thought Liliana would be a little bit more worldly wise being alive for over a hundred years. At times she seemed wise but at other times she seemed dreadfully naive. Her relationship with William/Billy seemed a perfect example of this. Was she naive? Had she had relationships before? How had they gone? I was disappointed with how the relationship developed and given that ***massive spoiler alert*** Billy dies then it seems sad that he couldn't have reprieved himself at the end by sacrificing himself to save Liliana or Julia, or hell, even Valentine or Olexander. \n Overall I really liked the concept. In some places the writing was excellent and in other places I wished the backstory could have been emphasised a bit more. I feel really bad giving it two stars but I really didn't like the ending as I've explained above.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 25 14:30:44 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 02 14:39:31 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jul 02 14:39:31 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "7541858", "review_id": "eb36143c457aeabda2426cfb7fea29e3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Wow, I'm confused. In some ways I like this book. In other ways it seems a complete mishmash of Harry Potter meets the Secret Circle with a healthy dose of Star Wars. With a bit of Eastenders/Hollyoaks thrown in for good measure. In fact the Princess Leia reference totally sealed for me what I knew the big spoiler was going to be. And to be honest, the spoiler didn't really bother me and if this makes me dysfunctional, well *shrugs*. I saw that coming from a long way off. It was entertaining and I finished it quickly. I definitely want to see what happens in the other books as I'm interested in how you can take a storyline like that and take it further but I might get them from the library rather than buying them. I just wish some of the characters could have been a bit more likeable. But it is what it is. The characters in Star Wars were quite wooden too. I wish they hadn' cancelled the Secret Circle though.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 22 07:51:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 22 04:15:24 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Dec 01 13:53:26 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Nov 30 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "8534899", "review_id": "ea0d264b97871ddc5787e10dd18ca1a3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "An excellent read. Riley is an apprentice demon trapper and she's damn cool - a well rounded and likeable lead character. She's kick ass, sweet, funny and not in anyway bolshy. She's vulnerable too, which a key event early on in the book shows. I liked the story line and can see a number of areas where the series could go to. \n I wasn't so keen on some of the linguistics - the Scottish master and Riley's father's 'partner' Beck's conversation was written in their accents (I know there's a techincal word for this - I learnt it in A-Level English Language but I've forgotten) which is something I really detest in books. The only person I think to have gotten away with it with me is Irvine Welsh because his books are a work of art. The use of 'ya' for you and 'ta' for to just annoy me - it suggests people are too stupid to remember that these characters have regional accents. However, it is easy enough to gloss over this. \n I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there isn't going to be another love triangle/rectangle/octagon a la every single young adult paranormal book on the market these days because I really like the innocent relationship that Riley seems to have with Simon but I doubt I'm going to get my wish with all these mystery men showing up in her life. Unusually for me I'm not on the side of the bad boy in this - I'm not sure I really like Beck's character - sure, he really does care for Riley but there's something a little bit off about him for me that doesn't make him as likeable as I susoect he is meant to be. \n I liked the details in the book - for example, the little Magpie demon who stole Riley's 'N' key from her laptop and then returned it - so sweet. \n Looking forward to seeing where this goes.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 21 06:07:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 27 08:59:53 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jun 27 08:59:53 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "6339664", "review_id": "5ae88d8d6af683050f3a9a5c577fd84c", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I'm trying to decide how many stars to give this book. Yes, it is poor in laces but in others it is ok and I was drawn into the story and the world. Probably two and a half but I'll have a think.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 19 14:49:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 06 04:51:09 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Mar 06 04:51:09 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Mar 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "13506255", "review_id": "a6c00984b85ef4f04ece72b5d1a819c9", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I read this via a veersion emailed to me from Shut Up & Read. I really liked the concept of the book, I thought the storyline had a lot of potential. \n I'm not sure if it was just me but I didn't really feel any sympathy to the characters - there seemed to be no character building, no history of the character and their emotional intelligence and this made their reactions to events a lottery. \n I would have loved to have found out why Six had been thrown out of heaven and why she wanted to leave. To me the hell created in the book seemed pretty much ok and when compared with the world that Six experiences - of human and demon violence, I'm wondering why she's thinking she wants to stay on earth at all - but that might be the point of the story. \n Why for example does she feel she can trust some people and not others - we're told that there was a viewing room but why was this used? Did she have acquaintances in hell other than Alden? If not, then why not? Why was it so easy for her to escape hell? The revelations at the end of the book begin to answer these questions but I wonder if some sort of rivalary could have been set nearer the beginning. \n The drawings are amazing and a nice surprise in the book. As I said, I really love the concept and will definitely read the rest of the series to find out what happens as it is very intriguing. I feel bad giving it two stars as I mean two and a half really but I just like my character building slightly more robust.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 18 14:45:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 19 11:15:22 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jun 19 11:15:22 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "8158993", "review_id": "b6c30c6a962b8bf9b8b967e6719dadb0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It isn't unusual for me to finish a book so quickly so don't anyone think that it is such a page turner as my speed implies! That said, I did only put it down twice to do other jobs only to decide to leave the jobs till later. \n I saw this in the library when I was wasting time last Wednesday and it looked interesting. I hadn't realised I was picking up a book in the middle of a series and the reviews I've read suggest that I might have felt differently about the characters had I read the previous books. It reminded me of the plot of 'Fallen' by Lauren Kate and to be honest, it is more or less similar but with extreme adult themes! Not my usual read but sometimes you just have to roll with it. \n And I'll give it this - again it is a paranormal romance that knocks the socks off Charlaine Harris and LJ Smith despite my raised eyebrows at all the very graphic sex - not that I'm against that kind of thing - ;-) - but I'm more of a battle scene kind of girl. But I love the whole concept of the old Viking gods being mixed with vampires, wendigos and other supernatural critters. \n I liked the characters, even though I did get close to peeved with Regin's use of the English language - she's meant to be a daughter of a god, she's lived for 1000 years, can't she think of any better insults or battle cries?! The story was cliched but I like how tha author used what I like to term as the 'Shrek' storyline - instead of something turning into perfection the imperfection is what wins the love of the girl/guy. Some cringeowrthy moments in the sex scenes meant I only gave this three stars but I would have given it three and a half had the option been there. \n I can't deny that I enjoyed the book for what it was - pure escapism with some damn cool characters thrown in- I've even decided to order the first book from the library to see if it gives any context to the characters I learnt in this one.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 17 04:54:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 17 13:07:34 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jun 17 13:07:34 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "6544486", "review_id": "6c2707af3e55b43dc6937a39067234f9", "rating": 1, "review_text": "It is very rare that I won't finish a book due to some OCD complex that I have about seeing something through to the end. This book tested my resolve. In fact I only finished it in the end because I set myself an insane task to read 100 books in a year. \n Thinking back, in 1991, I would have been 11 years old and desparately not trying to be rude here, my 11 year old self was writing stories like this. It is a shame that I hadn't read TVD books before I started reading the more recent gems from Richelle Mead because they just don't compete. They don't even compete with the writing in LJ Smith's Night World novels which I read before TVD as well - and I wasn't a fan of those either. \n It is perhaps unfair to judge a series written clearly for very young adults when you are a thirty something. However JK Rowling completely lifted the bar with children's writing, so it probably isn't unkind to say that these books are the equivalent of Mills & Boon for young teens but where you don't really care for the characters. \n That said, LJ Smith clearly enjoys writing about her evil characters - Damon always seems a well rounded character which you can sympathise with while you just want to stab Stefan for being so.... blah. \n Let's just say I'm trying to be nice because I adore the TV series (which doesn't escape from its own mediocre writing sometimes) but I really didn't enjoy this book. Although the taster chapter for book four at the end of the book was actually the best bit of LJ Smith's writing I've read and I found myself wanting to see if I could borrow it from the library.... yeek!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 13:39:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 11 12:42:08 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jun 11 12:42:08 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "6528333", "review_id": "7a8a44e2bfc8620afaf0a7fb6b464302", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is a really sweet book. \n I wasn't sure that I would get on with it - I don't find werewolves appealing in the slightest (Team Vamp all the way - apart from Oz in Buffy the Vampire Slayer) but it was much better than I thought. People have compared this book unfavourably to Twilight - I'm not going to do that, I'm going to take it as an individual story. That said, Grace is a much more likeable character than Bella and Sam a much less creepy version of Edward. \n For what it is, it is a pleasant enough read - it is a paranormal romance for young teens and you have to take it at that value - this is why the emo poetry thing works even though the song lyrics seem pretty disjointed. \n I liked that the wolves changed because of the weather rather than any primal need - this was a nice touch. \n At times the book just seemed to be waiting for something to happen - eg we went to school, we chilled in my room all week until xyz happened, but these bits went by quickly but did give the impression that they were leading a boring adult life rather than the teenage passion that they were supposed to be experiencing. That said it was a relief for the relationship not to be primal a la other paranormal romance books, it was loving, safe and sweet, and I really got the impression that they adored each other on a pure level. \n So, overall, a nice and sweet story. Nothing stunning but certainly not as bad as some reviewers might have you believe! I'd like to read the next books to see where the story go.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 13:37:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 09 10:35:15 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jul 09 10:35:15 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "601238", "review_id": "e683fd19eeab901cde573a055a52b0d9", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I honestly don't know what to say about this. Given everything I've heard about these books I thought that they would be right up my street. Maybe because I read it during my commute in the morning whilst trying not to fall asleep didn't do it justice. \n There were clearly bits that were ironic and mildly amusing, even though they didn't really bring a grin to myself. In some places it seemed too clever. Maybe there have been authors that have taken on this style and developed it, which is maybe why I found it so.... odd. \n And I've got to admit, I just didn't understand it. Was there a storyline? Was it just a series of events? Is this what it was supposed to be? If it was, fair enough, but I still found it very hard to follow. \n I will probably read a couple more in the series to qualify my view, but perhaps it just isn't my cup of tea, which would be a shame!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 07:33:34 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 17 07:36:28 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Nov 17 07:36:28 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Tue Nov 13 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "72256c964486efe75b008e875c661715", "book_id": "8709523", "review_id": "45663745bd8ebee76adcd800cdc4c89b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "To start, the Vampire Academy books are the best of their genre and I'm including teen vamp series' like Morganville, the Unmarked books and even the 'adult' Sookie Stackhouse books. \n The backstory and history are much more robust and the characterisation is far superior, even if some points are quite laboured. For example, bizarrely even though she seems to have high emotional intelligence, has no idea Adrian is crushing on her. Even if she's immune to him in person then Jill's weird behaviour, given what she knows of spirit must be an anvil. Also it is clear from early on that Trey has another purpose than a match maker. \n Anyway I digress. The book sets up a really interesting story arc to be explored - how far will Sydney go for example to be loyal to the alchemists or loyal to herself. But everyone know's she'll be powerless to Adrian in the end.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 06:59:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 17:24:27 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jun 07 17:24:27 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "16239655", "review_id": "d261fcbe8a6d3258fe4da87546783f66", "rating": 3, "review_text": "started well enough but lost it at the end. was a quick read.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 21 14:40:06 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 21 14:45:42 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "104348", "review_id": "1cb634a9b5b154e11d2935ff50098b37", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I found the start disjointed. Once into the book it was enjoyable and the characters worth caring about. As always thought provoking. Keeps it from getting preachy.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 10 06:58:03 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 10 07:02:13 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "26196475", "review_id": "4f101f5940ce7a9496b701ed199a367c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "of course some stories are better than others but all in all a great compilation of short stories.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 27 20:57:18 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 09 18:56:12 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "25526296", "review_id": "a975f313180f512323cdc1ec0530ddbb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I had high hopes for this book but found it predictable and barely engaging.", "date_added": "Sat May 28 10:21:09 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 10:01:03 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jun 12 10:01:03 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "25489443", "review_id": "16141e50b69191662bab045e4b60c731", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Just didn't really get into this story.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 03 05:24:50 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 18 12:25:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Mar 18 12:25:30 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Mar 05 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "44687", "review_id": "6af5933acb4fe3ab542914a0e8464f8f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Great books to introduce a kid to fantasy. Doesn't translate so well to once older. Fun read with good action and interesting character growth.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 30 11:48:26 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 21 18:58:22 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Dec 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Dec 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "22559890", "review_id": "a87cefe6abdb3e793c0572c1ee4ff7b3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "leaves you wondering", "date_added": "Fri May 15 10:18:38 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri May 15 10:19:54 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri May 15 10:19:54 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "6340340", "review_id": "768b45a07c328f79961034d4d023ee5c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "While not the best, it was a quick read. I appreciate the messy end. Plenty of other reviews here to get the downsides of the book so feel free to read those. I usually shy away from Arthurian stories as they tend to be over-done. This was a decent change from what I've read in the past.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 22 13:54:02 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 22 13:58:16 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "11774295", "review_id": "0a88e3f8e76ff14e43fad99a222bce41", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Really enjoyed this series!!!!", "date_added": "Fri Dec 26 09:33:25 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 28 18:39:55 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "186426", "review_id": "eca3ca352d6eebc220ba920fb117a2f9", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Started well enough but I really didn't like the Ragman by the end. Some of the attitudes were disagreeable to me. Too abrupt an end for me.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 10 22:17:58 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 17 20:09:10 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "11774272", "review_id": "1a5b9306d5086a0a99f969fb48c29564", "rating": 5, "review_text": "so nice to read a good fiction novel after all the non-fiction. really liked the world and the characters. absorbing and fast read. can't wait to read the next book in the series.", "date_added": "Sun May 18 07:14:39 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 26 09:42:15 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Dec 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "12348752", "review_id": "a13a002c2a47cabd52560fe2fe257d55", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Worth checking out more from the author.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 13 22:22:26 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 13 22:23:04 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "17340103", "review_id": "8168ead8e7e0ef6a7bdd1bb821e29a64", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fun easy fast read", "date_added": "Sat Feb 15 10:44:53 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun May 21 09:23:51 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "13554018", "review_id": "373d0ac5e1375e56dcbf4c32356a4413", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Superficial and filled with errors. Would have abandoned if it hadn't been such a fast read.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 04 19:41:13 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 15 16:36:54 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "28876", "review_id": "f774775d2468ebf646609384cabc87c7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fast and good read. Enjoyed the characters.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 29 11:42:41 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 23 16:21:09 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "168540", "review_id": "92bff8455c7848da583d816352debe18", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Good but a little too on her soap box without blending it so well with the story.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 03 11:52:03 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 23 18:46:44 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "15832300", "review_id": "9a8ab0890446b384aa2847e771235204", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very large book of short stories. Overall good mix of writers, most I've not read before so this was an interesting way to read some of their writing. \n -Imaginary Friends by Terry Brooks (a precursor to the Word/Void trilogy) \n Maybe 2 stars if you keep a childlike mindframe while reading. Not my style. \n -How Old Holly Came To Be by Patrick Rothfuss (a Four Corners tale) \n Love! 5 stars. Don't know if it would appeal to the masses though. \n -The Old Scale Game by Tad Williams \n 3 stars at best. Not terribly original or engaging. \n -Game of Chance by Carrie Vaughn \n 5 stars. \n -Martyr of the Roses by Jacqueline Carey (a precursor to the Kushiel series) \n 4 stars. Needs to be longer... like book length. \n -Mudboy by Peter V. Brett (a Demon Cycle tale) \n 4 stars. This may have swayed me enough to read his Demon Cycle series. \n -The Sound of Broken Absolutes by Peter Orullian (a Vault of Heaven tale) \n 3 stars. Too long. Could have easily been pared down to be better. \n -The Coach with Big Teeth by R.A. Salvatore \n 3.5 stars. \n -Keeper of Memory by Todd Lockwood (a Summer Dragon tale) who donated artwork as well as a story \n 4 stars. Liked the surprise end and looping story. A little obvious but right up my alley. \n -Heaven in a Wild Flower by Blake Charlton \n 4 stars. Interesting world \n -Dogs by Daniel Abraham \n 3.5 stars \n -The Chapel Perilous by Kevin Hearne (an Iron Druid tale) \n 3 stars \n -Select Mode by Mark Lawrence (a Broken Empire tale) \n 4 stars. \n -All the Girls Love Michael Stein by David Anthony Durham \n 3 stars. \n -Strange Rain by Jennifer Bosworth (a Struck epilogue tale) \n 3 stars \n -Nocturne by Robert V. S. Redick \n 4.5 stars. strange! \n -Unbowed by Eldon Thompson (a Legend of Asahiel tale) \n 3.5 stars \n -In Favour with Their Stars by Naomi Novik (a Temeraire tale) \n 3 stars \n -River of Souls by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson (a Wheel of Time tale) \n 3 stars \n -The Jester by Michael J. Sullivan (a Riyria Chronicles tale) \n 3 stars \n -The Duel by Lev Grossman (a Magicians tale) \n 4.5 stars. It surprises me that I liked this story so much. I have no explanation. Maybe cause the main chara is named Eliot. :) Love the name. \n -Walker and the Shade of Allanon by Terry Brooks (a Shannara tale) \n 3 stars \n -The Unfettered Knight by Shawn Speakman (an Annwn Cycle tale) \n 3.5 starts \n I feel as though I started this collection really generous with stars but it seems to be loosing my interest...", "date_added": "Sun Jul 07 17:34:18 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 22 11:28:54 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Sep 22 11:28:54 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "6437061", "review_id": "dee66dbc92d8389292d926e521fa5baa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Interesting. Definitely worth the read. 4.5 stars", "date_added": "Sun Jun 30 17:25:43 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 26 18:13:09 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "7841656", "review_id": "1be460af66dff49c93f2a93264ea3946", "rating": 3, "review_text": "like many collection of stories, hit and miss. some fantastically good and others that were pretty bad.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 29 22:32:02 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 27 22:25:45 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "57175", "review_id": "05b9a608386cc77e7c9dce3d26a1842a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Didn't realize this was book two and Cherryh can be hit or miss for me so I was a little unsure going into the book. I really enjoyed it though. The story was good and I really loved the language. Glad I picked it up.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 03 16:56:03 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 03 20:19:38 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Mar 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "12974372", "review_id": "c2c57a45950f08a8a5012351300e04b4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "while I liked the book it was rather cliche which could work but this seemed to me a bit lacking. totally a personal opinion. would still recommend the book and would still read any sequels. \n loved Lockwood's artwork", "date_added": "Fri Feb 08 16:45:15 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 29 11:33:52 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "16037471", "review_id": "108183232a52a07fb96022de67d6fcb5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really don't know how to rate this book. Parts I really enjoyed. Parts I found very difficult. It was reminisent of Sunshine but even more stream of conscience if that is even possible. Sunshine had to grow on me before I liked it. Perhaps I will patiently wait and re-read this one later...", "date_added": "Wed Feb 06 19:54:49 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 02 20:31:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "15844723", "review_id": "d743113d6266be685ebebab715ca539b", "rating": 1, "review_text": "just started reading and already annoyed. good thing the book was free. don't know if i'll be able to finish. \n yep, i'm done. can we give negative stars?", "date_added": "Sat Jan 05 07:45:33 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 08 17:09:29 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jan 07 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "8498147", "review_id": "c9f826bc2dbad2f9a3bff7d872f8447b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "such a good little book for under a dollar. only complaint is someone must have tried a find and replace on all Ws changing them to VE. causes a stumble or two when reading but easily compensated for once the pattern is recognized. noticed another book by the same author that sounds pretty good too. will need to see what else is out there by Hale.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 05 07:44:05 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 06 18:17:18 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "126348", "review_id": "9f1afc6bf0933b9a68afd3f8d6f3c48d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "probably more realistic to rate at 4.5 stars. it took me a little to sink into Miller's use of language and still stumbled a bit along the way. beautiful, haunting and sad.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 02 14:30:10 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 22 15:14:04 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Dec 22 15:14:04 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Dec 10 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "68427", "review_id": "e648715e7cc0b774fd2e938717669561", "rating": 3, "review_text": "wow I really wanted to like this book. it just really lost the pacing especially at the end and the constant everything is lost but suddenly it isn't over and over again was draining and annoying. overall a good if not impressive or sophisticated attempt. really it wasn't so bad just disappointed after having such high expectations.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 28 17:55:18 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 01 19:54:10 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jan 21 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "92755", "review_id": "662216adda7e02f47fad73bee30c1b38", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the first series I ever read by this author. I have been hooked ever since.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 24 19:42:45 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 24 19:43:16 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Nov 24 00:00:00 -0800 1993", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "13595388", "review_id": "bf39705c5f2532b59812030da6509a62", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Love! I worried since short stories aren't my favorite that I wouldn't enjoy this as much as I wanted to. A couple of the stories (of course) didn't entirely satisfy but most were fabulous. Love her voice.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 28 15:08:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 28 15:16:13 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Oct 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "437806", "review_id": "17725b0fe9a44a64aa2938da04b985c2", "rating": 2, "review_text": "slow on the beginning. probably could have been cut at least in half and been the same if not better book; probably allowed the reader to respect Aubrey a little more as the long slow development left me feeling he was a tad dim. nice but predictable.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 07 22:57:42 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 07 23:02:12 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "2662169", "review_id": "4bd18204ef3bbb9772397327b01acd46", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I am abandoning this book. It is so painfully slow and I just can't get into the plot or characters.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 14 11:44:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 12 20:04:03 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "11800036", "review_id": "db349ca100bad2ee1546e10d0f5aa107", "rating": 3, "review_text": "so so", "date_added": "Sat Jul 07 12:33:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 23 17:37:53 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "12046013", "review_id": "08ad565b7b056b6e65e9d564a7cb3fc9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was tempted to drop this to a 3 due to my perceived need for additional editing; too much rehashing of events already explained in previous chapters and lots of expounding in the middle of all the action. Since I still found the book totaling engrossing and the characters engaging, the book still deserves a 4 star.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 17 20:49:25 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 26 17:44:16 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "21032488", "review_id": "7249fca04881577c7afedd024291b4af", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I had a dream last night that the book was published and already out as paperback. It was very realistic. I was sad to wake up and realize it was a dream.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 27 17:33:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 12 08:33:51 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "2640e38331b8a1233ef5106179fec4d9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked it. Fast read. Liked the ending.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 22 19:17:26 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 09 13:31:57 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "8517332", "review_id": "4348e0165c70a1c047de2207c2dc043b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I just really like the way she writes.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 14 21:31:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 17 17:46:03 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "11166703", "review_id": "ac5554934381356520fdadfa78f3b616", "rating": 1, "review_text": "utterly unreadable. can't remember if this was a free ebook but fervently hope so.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 14 11:38:51 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 14 11:40:11 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Apr 14 11:40:11 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "407813", "review_id": "47ec29f07469b174c67edc47c1b9d874", "rating": 5, "review_text": "while not my favorite of hers, i love how varied her writing style is.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 30 17:32:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 10 13:47:55 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "10783476", "review_id": "7541431ce8b0a4f1672a45d8126a292f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Time to lend the book to Lisa. :)", "date_added": "Sun Feb 19 14:09:38 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 28 10:39:35 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sun Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "6052", "review_id": "9396e334f4fa738b9e90504c7246efbe", "rating": 2, "review_text": "the end did not fit with the rest of the book.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 22 17:37:59 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 04 08:02:42 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Mar 04 08:02:42 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Tue Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "12810302", "review_id": "403e2b20b0cb4c0e9440771489f81f22", "rating": 2, "review_text": "meh. unfinished.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 31 13:35:13 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 15 17:07:09 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "13292904", "review_id": "76e86251b187e1c419b21d156831320f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Free e-short story from Amazon. Better then I thought it would be. I would have liked it to be longer and more fleshed out.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 31 13:29:36 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 01 17:28:11 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Sat Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "10085735", "review_id": "3eed49f8d58f299f9d3cb28fa8428c43", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Oh, such a long wait until 2014. I'm sure it will be worth it.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 24 14:03:35 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 20 19:58:29 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "74271", "review_id": "f4bf1be9d88ba479733c4f259f7a3f00", "rating": 4, "review_text": "the series really grew on me. no surprise ending just good summer reading.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 11 08:08:21 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 02 14:25:24 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jun 02 14:25:24 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "74274", "review_id": "bfc2458137fa34bdd5051d445880d8fb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "better", "date_added": "Sun Dec 11 08:05:51 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sun May 27 17:04:03 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "13929", "review_id": "5503e243a0816fb07e3926d795d2448c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked it. I think it could have been better.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 11 07:30:42 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 28 21:06:44 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jan 28 21:06:44 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "671560", "review_id": "c355bb97bedff8075eec0a99c680e25a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Had a hard time getting into the book and relating to the characters. Hopefully the second book increases in action and relatability to the main characters. \n I'm afraid my opinion is more to do with being tired of the genre then a reflection on the author. Or maybe because I'm sick...", "date_added": "Tue Dec 06 19:53:08 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sat May 19 07:45:53 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri May 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "6933876", "review_id": "21c4f01436e70e10efe2c33352b95cd0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not as good as the first book in plot or writing. Still cute and good for laughs. \n Even before venturing into the series, I hadn't planned on reading more then the first two books. Oddly, I feel compelled to read the third book Blameless. It is that feeling you get when you know something bad will happen and you can't seem to look away combined with the guilty pleasure of watching soap operas or 90210. Thankfully the author embraces the campy/pulp fun of it all so I shall do the same.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 09 10:34:14 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 24 13:47:26 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Sat Dec 24 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "6381205", "review_id": "befc3376a79ee9b6b5a1bd129d899735", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Utterly predictable and un-original. Can not be taken with anything approaching seriousness. At times tiring in the attempt to be so terribly british. Yet it all is done with enough charm and cuteness to rate a three star. Good for a quick read and a few chuckles.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 09 10:33:36 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 18 12:40:10 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Sun Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Tue Dec 13 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "20002", "review_id": "058060be80105c44d55273d32e541338", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really wanted to like the book. I just couldn't really get into or want to try to keep track of all the characters.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 23 14:14:19 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 27 17:05:28 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "944548", "review_id": "6905e1c90306f8daa374873d2f831b65", "rating": 3, "review_text": "While I found the writing style and voice of the author different and fresh, in the end the plot was not. I agree with others that the plot (what there was of one) was slow and not really scary. Less about anything tangible and more that the author kept looking to readers and asking 'scared yet?' Usually I'm more forgiving then others about loose ends and lack of definitive end but this one pretty annoying.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 23 14:12:08 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 19 14:59:54 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Sat Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Thu Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "1100941", "review_id": "55f30568798455f7e3c54a12e8327510", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wonderful, funny, touching. Unfortunately had some long breaks while reading due to travel. This may have covered up some pacing issue but probably not. It just wrapped up a little quick for me and seemed to miss a little in the end scene with the Curse. Really the only bad thing I can say about this book is that the horse wasn't brought back in the end. \n Looking forward to reading more by this author.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 21 18:21:37 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 10 22:11:48 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Sep 10 22:02:56 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "5267442", "review_id": "1631850589098b182a69ade09b2cdff2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Mix of chic-lit, fantasy, disney, Austen and Bronte. Very fluffy read. Nice after all the grim Martin books. \n Just got all 3 books in this series for my birthday! :) I was just going to skim parts to refresh my memory on this book since I read it not so long ago but found myself at page one anyway.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 17 15:45:14 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 21 08:57:44 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Wed Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "66584", "review_id": "c159f3ea94c550aca0228ae9fa149c8d", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Seriously people! Use spell check before publishing. At least give your book a good scan for obvious errors. Hate that we lower our standards for a new format. Will it ever get better? I was all set to give this a 3 stars but got so annoyed with the memory of just how pervasive the spelling, grammar etc was that I have to give it only 2. \n Some interesting bits. Humor, horror, imagery. It was good for a nice light free e-book.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 11 20:11:13 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 18 18:55:28 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Mon Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sat Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "9519912", "review_id": "d6e6d0752ea0bb40a2aa13e4e79e0639", "rating": 5, "review_text": "probably more realistically a 4 in comparison to Carey's other writing but in comparison to what I'd previously been reading it was amazing. such a needed respite. clear beautiful voice, well executed world, good enjoyable well paced plot, levity, depth yet simplicity in characters. sucked me in to the exclusion of wanting to do anything else but read. \n author to be in town for a con in Jan. will definitely plan to go.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 11 22:16:24 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 30 19:53:53 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Wed Nov 30 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "10843036", "review_id": "29f1c88551432ec874d12f5d8ce789fc", "rating": 2, "review_text": "needed to be longer and more fleshed out. for a $3 ebook, it deserves at least a 3 star rating but after reading the author's books, I really wanted more.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 01 19:46:13 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 05 08:17:47 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Fri Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "597852", "review_id": "425eea042a9ac8b7c98930080669a6a6", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Not terrible. Just lost all momentum on this book. Lost expectations for the main character and where she was going. \n Started reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, got JRR Martin's series in and no longer have any desire to pick up where I left off in this book. Remote possibility that I may return to it at a later date. We shall see.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 17 15:17:23 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu May 19 21:25:42 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Fri May 13 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sun Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "13497", "review_id": "3488e814e91ce1a8e856570f87a25b7d", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Calling it quits. Tired of trying to get through the stress inducing, no respite book. I might have slogged through to the end but read the author note at the end that stated, due to the book getting so long, he split the book in two with each book focusing on specific characters. The 5th book is the one that focuses on the characters I was a little more attached to. No intention of picking up that book. \n These are good books; well written, huge plot, huge world. Just not my thing. I'd prefer Martin take a note from the Bard and add a little comedy. Something to get us through the tragedy of it all. Unfortunately, not even the fools in the series were funny. Others may have other opinions. This one is mine.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 15 13:28:30 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 09 15:47:02 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Wed Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Fri Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "62291", "review_id": "edbad5ea42260ef65f666ddbb66cd3d1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "seriously having a hard time finishing this series. \n decided to only read the sections on the characters that I like. maybe then I'll get through the series. \n managed to finish the book. actually read all the characters (skimming more then reading some) and found a renewed interest. i just find the book stressful with no rest or relief. i'll finish the 4 since i own them but have no intent to read the 5th that came out.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 15 13:28:25 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 21 11:22:32 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Fri Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sun Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "10572", "review_id": "e05204ec01055cd0db14a26be13a820d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "getting better. while i was still very glad to finally finish the book, i wasn't as anxious to take a break from the series and read something else for a while. i still will take a break but that's only because i have too many borrowed books that i need to read and return to rightful owners. \n btw, glad Theon is dead. just want to ask them all why they just can't get along!? :)", "date_added": "Fri Apr 15 13:28:22 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 17 21:49:41 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "13496", "review_id": "d228ce3c0d5b08eda1cc26ed2a8c2493", "rating": 3, "review_text": "good just really long. slow to start. great characters but a lot of them you just want to smack. worth reading the rest.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 15 13:28:14 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 06 21:55:20 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Mon May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "9844836", "review_id": "d02924764d1d276f9960afadb3eba44b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "it was free", "date_added": "Thu Apr 14 22:17:20 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 15 12:36:58 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Fri Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Thu Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "28251", "review_id": "4b70c6571af92d19169528cb2cd37ef1", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The first two in the series were a little more forgivable in discrepancies and bad plot conceits but this last book never pulled together in anything other then an expectable throw every possible bittersweet ending kind of way. Little too light of a read.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 26 20:38:52 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 13 19:10:18 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "28249", "review_id": "a7a5e08aa81ee19baddf331fe4edb263", "rating": 3, "review_text": "nice light read. not a really stirring or inspiring read but properly distracting, escapist.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 26 20:38:43 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 09 14:29:52 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Mon Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "3379051", "review_id": "0fbde14fb024059e6e386f8465036205", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Could have been better. Good premise but lacking in emotional connection for me. Would recommend it for the lower end of the suggested age range of readers.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 26 20:09:12 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 18 15:58:09 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Sat Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "8146350", "review_id": "7bffa3ac0bfe7a2dca7bee6f02da8db8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book would have gotten a 2 if it hadn't been free. There was (as everyone points out) a serious lack in editing. Inconsistencies, contradictions, and lack of thought plagued the plot. I liked the idea behind the magic of this world but this seemed to be something the author was working out during the writing of the book rather then a fully formed concept. Also, certain characters and whole scenes needed much better development. I appreciated the humor (even if sometimes it was too broad and childish) to help get a reader through the epic trial bits. As for the writing, she is too fond of the word 'but' which really bugged me in the last 1/4 of the book and a good read through the whole book by anyone would have solved some very simple errors. Better editing would have given this book far more polish and increased its readability. \n Mock has a great story that would have kept me reading the entire series if she hadn't rushed to get this first book out. I would get the second book but again, only if it is free.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 25 19:37:55 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 03 08:14:50 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Fri Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Sat Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "4247026", "review_id": "63c531e73c418935b7c31f7b2b1725e5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "an omnibus! I should know better then to get an omnibus but I'll try again. \n really enjoyed the writing! characters, description etc all good. due to the nature of the writing, this was a slow read for me; in a good way, immersion slow reading kind of way. would probably give this more of a 4 and a half star but will give it 5. great enough to drag me through the omnibus. \n still hate omnibus! shoot me if i ever try it again.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 23 22:49:25 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 25 20:59:08 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Tue Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "941467", "review_id": "650ef0b70f01d178415fc3b1365e3661", "rating": 4, "review_text": "read this book ages ago and remember it fondly. fulfilled some of my girly horse crazed fantasies so when i saw it at Bookman's for $2 i just had to pick it up.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 23 22:41:20 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 25 21:02:46 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Fri Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 1992", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "2744", "review_id": "5ae9b977673b467834b944cd89ebee35", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Not as good as his others. Didn't really like either Spider or Charlie but of course they are likable by the end (as author intended).", "date_added": "Sat Oct 23 22:39:44 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 30 07:40:56 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sat Oct 30 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sat Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "5931169", "review_id": "d5f6c21a757920efb97c3fe86ce96e00", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Absolutely not what I expected this book to be. Much better then I anticipated. A nice light read with just enough well thought out emotional connection as well as action that it was really enjoyable and hard to put down. This is not as great, epic, erotic as her Kushiel series. The first 3 books in that series will be hard for Carey to beat and most readers will have a hard time not comparing any of her other books to them. One thing that stood out for me in Santa Olivia was the pacing of the book. I found it to be extremely well done. She spanned years, keeping all the characters involved, interesting and even the climax (usually such a crazed flurry in some of the last books I've read) kept an even pace. I did not feel rushed at the end which was refreshing.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 12 15:18:30 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 03 06:03:50 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sun Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "818867", "review_id": "94544705755cbf429f9c5844a0f862d5", "rating": 2, "review_text": "for under a $1 from Amazon it is worth a buying and seeing how it reads. \n glad this was only an $.89 e-book. fractured, incomplete, lacking cohesion. some poinient moments but more had potential that fell flat. sums up the entire book that it truly had potential but didn't live up to what were already low expectations on my part. i liked the mystery child raised by thieves bit but needed more development to be able to connect with any of the characters.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 01 22:06:11 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 06 20:14:25 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Mon Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "77367", "review_id": "f201a3eba799b68e1934b5434be1e968", "rating": 2, "review_text": "it was ok but only just. the end was pretty odd and disappointing.", "date_added": "Fri May 21 00:27:06 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue May 25 00:26:19 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Fri May 21 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "612086", "review_id": "a1d9e578fb2091f5379fdd7ee8ab13fd", "rating": 1, "review_text": "couldn't get into the story, didn't finish.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 17 17:43:46 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 17 17:44:39 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Fri Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "7507951", "review_id": "9b7f061b91206f00b9dc9f99ce212840", "rating": 5, "review_text": "fulfills the horse crazed little girl in my heart.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 11 17:50:51 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 03 06:04:07 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Nov 05 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "7894642", "review_id": "29b2ed7cf73e0688dd677f60e5dad241", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love her writing.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 10 17:46:42 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 11 07:19:30 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Sat Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Wed Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "133451", "review_id": "f6437a89f63559bf1124286f2cebb2a1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Athyra is probably my least favorite of Brust's books so far. \n Orca could have used a little more editing. It got a little long. I liked the change in perspective but it could have been done a little better, I think. \n Both good quick reads. Fun.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 26 19:29:35 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 21 21:03:00 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Wed Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sat Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "49281", "review_id": "a538132f03421a3cca1d3f591fc4a43c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "this whole series is a very light read but thoroughly enjoyable. :) i like the wacky time line.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 26 19:29:23 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 17 17:29:47 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sat Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sun Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "590349", "review_id": "4895a06cd7cc94947d862371f905778f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Really enjoying this author. Some wild leaps in logic and plot just fit right in with the whole package. Odd mix of the high class Dragaerans with the lowly Easterner. Odd order since book one takes place later then book two. This did clear up some of the wild leaps and questions from book one. Still have book three to read. Will definitely find the other books by Brust to read. \n Book three seemed a bit of a departure from the first two books. Probably a good thing for keeping things interesting. Wasn't entirely up to all the revolutionary philosophy. Enjoy where this could be leading psychologically for the main character. Have already ordered the next in the series and look forward to reading them.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 21 07:19:10 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 27 12:43:56 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sat Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sun Mar 21 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "189022", "review_id": "55186180ee6c72e764275e4257a1b735", "rating": 0, "review_text": "started and was distracted by other books etc. worth finishing.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 21 06:54:44 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 21 06:55:18 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "29127", "review_id": "9936dcc62faa81c229a4805ec41cd674", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I've owned this book for ages figuring I'd read it eventually. I was slightly afraid it would be age relevant and I wouldn't be able to appreciate it as much (like Tolkien and Lewis) now that I'm older. E bought the movie on sale and has patiently waited to watch it after my declaration that I had to read the book first. I am so very glad to have read it. I love it! Even if the movie isn't as good, it will not hurt how much I loved this book. I have one of Beagle's other books and (after an appropriate amount of time passes) look forward to reading it as well.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 21 05:56:36 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 01 16:35:49 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jul 01 16:35:49 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jun 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "3347295", "review_id": "a80d29b0bef1bdd788978d685ad28ad0", "rating": 2, "review_text": "lurches and skips and drops plot lines. understandable in light of the main character but still disruptive. parts are particularly smart but not redeamable enough for 4 stars.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 03 16:20:31 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 11 06:53:05 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Wed Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "6308379", "review_id": "cc86502cdc77929cdced5e8611255b87", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Gruesome. Haven't read Barrie's original but am far more prone to do so now.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 08 18:40:26 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 14 17:21:40 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Wed Jan 13 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "2505609", "review_id": "2cb9bf078cbf835c6f464ec9b0a5227d", "rating": 2, "review_text": "cute enough. not high on the literary must read list.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 04 13:16:05 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 06 18:54:22 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Tue Oct 06 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "6068551", "review_id": "71c08b0ea7af1b077d8300e50c3fdc0c", "rating": 1, "review_text": "twlight wanna be", "date_added": "Wed Jul 29 19:30:11 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 17 17:32:09 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sun Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "3755301", "review_id": "85d46fee67494f45ea57041e8d9678ff", "rating": 2, "review_text": "If I had a young adult reader, I would not want them to read it without guidance. There were a few sections that I would definitely want to discuss if the child read it. Other then that it was too simplistic a tale. The mix of levels makes it hard for me to envision/peg for an age range. Of course the story in a story is a nice devise and I always appreciate the death of a main character. Nice enough plot but the characters were either just starting to get likable in the case of Farhad and Nitish or not developed enough to truly work up to their potential such as Lagan or especially Raka. If the sophistication of the writing had been brought up a notch and more development given to the characters, this would have gotten a better rating.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 23 19:30:35 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 19 11:02:12 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "1116393", "review_id": "943ee8092a1db09ee21884e5f5bae774", "rating": 1, "review_text": "slow going only to end quickly with what I felt to be a cheesy battle. characters too whiney and one dimensional. good concept that didn't live up to its potential \n updated to 1 star cause weeks later its still bugging me.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 13 22:40:30 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 27 11:23:00 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Thu Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "c28d9aa9961b144c09b1518423bebc4a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Sad but true. I read the entire series. Total soap opera but still felt compelled to see what it was all about. Way too flat with the constant guilt and arguing of who loves who more. Definitely needed more editing. Verbose.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 22 21:25:14 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 22 21:25:14 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "104342", "review_id": "eaf91aee6dd3dfde399904900aa779d1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I tried to read this book ages ago and didn't connect. Thankfully I kept it around in order to try again. Tepper is always very thought provoking for me. I love meditating on all that she mixes into her writing. \n Having only read this and one other book by Tepper, my opinion is limited. As much as I enjoy her, I have a hard time seeking out her books and getting into them. There is a willingness to think necessary in reading her. She is not an easy or escapist type of read for me.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 18 16:17:21 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 07 17:15:56 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "1051620", "review_id": "7d70248a1eb6b4d0adfb3507c65787ed", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Very light reading. A little cheesy. Wouldn't mind smacking the main character once in a while but that's the reaction the author is going for....so good job on that score.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 15 14:17:56 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 07 11:22:38 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Fri Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "2015492", "review_id": "6cb3557fb4be3aadab86d1df37e8c3a0", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This was a pretty standard plot. No surprises. I got tired of the repetativeness and so did not finish the last 1/4 of the book. Nor do I plan to read the second book in the series. Hearing that Hekat is precious one more time was not worth my time. While there is curiousity about her second son and how she may end up at the end of the series, it is not strong enough to pull me through.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 15 14:17:27 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 03 10:41:00 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sat Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "186074", "review_id": "4225dde0f90b5593d545e0eb2141ab06", "rating": 5, "review_text": "(first reading March '09) I rather enjoyed this book. Unfortunately the second in the series isn't due out until 4/28! Whatever shall I do!? \n Rather male oriented. Even his love interest, while interesting and intelligent, was still a little more damsel in distress then I would have liked. Both of these points are inconsequential in my overall opinion and enjoyment of this book. \n Totally having to re-read the book before the second one arrives...finally March '11. \n Enjoyed it even more the second time.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 15 14:16:31 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 03 18:20:17 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "2213661", "review_id": "41f6313d5f93de70975bbb4e929180f3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book started a little slow for me. Interesting read. Gaiman as an author has waned for me, but has regained at least part of my respect with this book. \n Actually got 2/3 of the way through the book- at the point of all action picking up and revelations about to be given- only to leave it behind at the Garden I volunteer at. Drove all the way back, angry and annoyed with myself, and did not find the book. The entire time I had that feeling that if I'd only open my eyes and really see then the book would be right in front of me. Not the case so I had to run to buy another copy in order to finish.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 08 14:57:38 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 07 18:57:48 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sat Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "2828595", "review_id": "5f9a498b24531ba9d58d29eaed2af3d7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have been fond of Robin McKinley but her current style of breaking up sentences mid stream by using paranthesis and other ways to add an aside has gotten really annoying. \n While understandable in bad situations to be fatalistic and doubtful, the main character has it in spades. She still goes out to do all she can in the face of adversity but this fatalism does detract from the story line. Also created a discrepancy regarding her ability to bind the demesne fully since it can sense underlying emotions. Should not her doom and gloom have so infected the demesne that it would be impossible to succeed in her tasks (as noted in Chalice's musing that the land's response to the Master is colored by his emotions;) \n Cute fairy tale. Quick read.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 08 14:57:19 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 03 06:05:58 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "299081", "review_id": "7143740ae102eb553100cc27875feac9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Really good and creepy artwork. Plot and characters rather basic though.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 08 14:01:43 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 26 12:45:45 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sun Jul 26 12:45:45 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "338118", "review_id": "f43480cd8e74368cca285ad5286d2099", "rating": 2, "review_text": "still cheesy and obvious.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 18 12:05:52 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 16 20:01:20 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "141454", "review_id": "40fdcc7b1516d0ad7dff2e04bcbc1bec", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Did not finish this book.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 18 12:05:37 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 19 18:45:03 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Wed Mar 18 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "362888", "review_id": "0958a24f5901919b45d3702d9e0c6845", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The blurb on the back was a little misleading. Still glad to have read the book. Probably should have ended about 100 pages earlier as I got a little tired of the story and some of what I found over the top unnecessary rants of the \"here we come to save the day,\" \"I love you but you're so wrong for me\", \"woe are we,\" destiny variety. The world Lisle created was well done in the first half but did suffer later. The culture and religion well thought out. In the end was still good vs evil. I prefer a little more gray area. A good light read. \n Will continue the review later....too tired now.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 11 08:29:21 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 20 19:04:22 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Tue Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "1529058", "review_id": "ab37ebf26f3818e7ee73bab86740934a", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Better then the first book. Still sick so perhaps I'm still being harsh with my rating. The puppies were cute. Huff does have a more open mind when it comes to certain relationships such as Tony and Henry. Liked Biehn a lot as a character. Still annoyed with the others. \n Feeling guilty about the low rating as these were a gift. The next 2 in the series are supposed to be better though. I'll set them aside for when I'm feeling a little more perky.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 02 16:46:40 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 03 15:13:50 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "317121", "review_id": "81c35e13d2f011129ff8c926677b3f11", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I will admit that this lingering cold may be coloring my opinion of this book. Other reviewers are correct, there is nothing groundbreaking, earth shattering, or intellectual about this book. There are other much better vampire books out there. The characters were stereotypical and the plot rather blase with no surprise twists. What suspense Huff was trying to create failed due to the evident plot and its requirements. While Vicki may be a strong female character, her overly abrasive and defensive attitude dominated over her deductive capabilities which should have been developed more. As another reviewer mentioned, more emphasis on Henry's need to feed connected with sex would have made for a much darker and more interesting character. Celluci needs something evil to happen to him. Make him disappear. There was nothing attractive about his character. Evil little nerd was the epitome of all stereotypes. \n On the upside, the little D&D scene made me laugh. \n What is with editors these days? I need to research their actual process. Shouldn't they be catching all the grammar errors, incomplete sentences, etc? Yeesh. This is the second series I've delved into with consistent errors throughout the writing.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 29 18:41:48 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 03 15:14:44 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Mon Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "104090", "review_id": "a6a2ba809fdc31edcde5ffd58aaa0eaa", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'll stick to his books. Several really good.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 07 15:24:53 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 07 19:02:11 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sat Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "5659537", "review_id": "374cc6436bcf670a617b6c525009bed3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Quick read. Enjoyable but not up to par with the original Kushiel trilogy.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 07 14:58:32 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 13:20:11 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sun Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "104362", "review_id": "ff2bf87969a1488c27efcc60d36d337b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "While I felt the plot was fairly obvious and all tied up in a pretty bow at the end, the insights and presentation were fresh and intriguing. Very well written. I would definitely read more by this author.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 29 12:20:13 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 04 15:05:19 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Wed Dec 24 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "3754026", "review_id": "b0380bbfc349cf910271c2b80ad106a7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this whole series. Always fun to root for the \"bad\" guys, too bad they turn out to be good. The truly dark bits are in the first book and early on. They are not as well sustained throughout, giving way to a more clear definition on who's good and bad. While cetainly not as well written or complex as Carey's Kushiel series, these books were absorbing; a lighter, easier read, with more frequent humor. This you can also see if you are as big a dork as I who reads the acknowledgments and the extras at the end of the first book. Downside would be some of the editing. Anyone reading these will find far too many missing, misplaced or duplicated words throughout all three books. The language is rather contemporary which didn't annoy at all until the saying 'the slam' was used. Thankfully it only came out twice. There was that very \"Luke, I am your father\" moment in book 2 but as this is a rather epic series I guess I can accept it especially since Brent weaves the underlying need for the moment through the rest of the story. In the end Brent created a wonderful world, richer then many and absolutely worth visiting. \n There was some mention of a continuation of the story using other characters in the no too distant future. I will definitely keep an eye out for more by this author.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 29 11:39:44 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 29 12:33:04 -0800 2008", "read_at": "Sat Nov 29 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "186689", "review_id": "0c4869c78de8b565d6c410f05e67fb7d", "rating": 1, "review_text": "This book started well. The characters are interesting, especially the main with her penchant for science and math. The in-depth use of the science, math and physics side by side with mythology an intriguing concept. The sexual overtones, in relation to the mythology, were understandable. Unfortunately the whole thing fell flat, long, and with a decided disconnect when it came to the author's ability to believably handle the main character's desires. I would say my feelings toward this book are mixed except that by the end of the book all I wanted was for it all to be over.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 02 19:07:52 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 08 15:45:36 -0800 2008", "read_at": "Sat Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "2152871", "review_id": "b231ff89a3aa0c8ba27f172610911138", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very good end to the stories. Not that I wanted them to end. The whole series took a while to grow on me but I have come to really enjoy them. Not only for the obvious. The culture was rather captivating for me with the heavy emphasis on religion and worship. On the down side, I did rather miss Phedra in this last book. The characters/dialog, especially for Imriel, seemed a little cheesy and rather obvious in comparison to the first 3 books focused on Phedra. Could just be fond fuzzy memories of the beginning of the tale.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 02 18:35:33 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 02 18:51:41 -0800 2008", "read_at": "Tue Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "152427", "review_id": "6e4adb74e958b5566eb8524b3794fcee", "rating": 5, "review_text": "loved this book. it is one that started my addition to fantasy, fairy tale retellings and the lyrical prose. while i like Sword Point, nothing else she has written is anywhere near as good as this book.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 19 14:52:54 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 19 14:54:36 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1992", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "37442", "review_id": "68157218ab35004f1b870325a49f7091", "rating": 1, "review_text": "the ending completely sucked. go see the musical.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 19 14:41:03 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 19 14:42:16 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "463063", "review_id": "40c9b319924f97b5fb249a3f806263a1", "rating": 2, "review_text": "rather over the top drama.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 19 14:11:57 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 19 14:12:51 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "11127", "review_id": "56773e90a02e6f2d428946480a2931f6", "rating": 2, "review_text": "should have read this earlier in life and not as an omnibus. i despise omnibus. just got too long and belabored.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 19 13:06:36 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 19 13:20:58 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "2457442", "review_id": "cfcb2d9b667b5c64f6e79d3b6b7782a6", "rating": 2, "review_text": "felt the need for a dictionary about every other sentence. got rather lost in the plot and wondering exactly what was going on. difficult to slog through. kept the book with the intention to reread and hopefully make sense of it one day.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 19 12:47:41 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 19 12:49:19 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2001", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "104089", "review_id": "450f69ae71e0f9a1f9035b7c72d090df", "rating": 5, "review_text": "first book i read by this author. definitely got me to read his other works.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 19 12:42:22 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 03 06:07:43 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1995", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "186439", "review_id": "b28c58951b13a942c598bc3ab86f6e28", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book is what got me into De Lint. I loved it from the first sentence/concept. While I've read cosiderably more by him, nothing quite compares to this. I did get rather tired of his writing but will always return to this book.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 19 12:38:19 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 29 00:30:39 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1996", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "1158967", "review_id": "b8728b3877133bedb8135879179989cb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I would consider this pretty close to chick-lit but that doesn't deminish the good voice. Easy read", "date_added": "Sun Oct 19 12:32:35 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 13 21:25:23 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "781124", "review_id": "f5eae42ad6f07c41d1367da24312ecf6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "this one by Mckillips leaves me the most conflicted regarding level of liking compared to what she's written before. don't know if that is a good or bad thing. intriguing though.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 19 09:32:39 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 10 13:49:31 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "28759", "review_id": "2254cd67fa8da8f425587480b4426f42", "rating": 5, "review_text": "first read this series in high school.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 19 09:11:22 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 03 06:08:48 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1994", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f1be68e7aec2297644ee1fefe40b933d", "book_id": "2917367", "review_id": "78e0ec3d24e43acf40074783f8a5fdd2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "McKillip is one of my favorite authors. I love the lyrical way she writes. A little more character development would make this a bit better though.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 17 10:40:46 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 10 13:49:06 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "12f00f3694be5d8edc537bdae053fec0", "book_id": "234225", "review_id": "fd6a208eee11618cdf814738a4b4014b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is Science Fiction at the top of its game. The characters are full of depth, the tale is full of intrigue. The story is gripping from start to finish.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 31 08:14:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 31 08:16:19 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "12f00f3694be5d8edc537bdae053fec0", "book_id": "5907", "review_id": "45f969d8583c3791a9f6e39e7f01644e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love this book. That is all.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 31 08:14:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 31 08:14:26 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "12f00f3694be5d8edc537bdae053fec0", "book_id": "944073", "review_id": "e97218bc167e5bb635618b6240c655c0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "An excellent Fantasy book. All the right elements of action, adventure, mystery, and vile characters you can't help but love.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 31 08:12:28 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 31 08:13:25 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e3e5a9831bfc31d4178c87782e06b8b7", "book_id": "7428882", "review_id": "89d9c2314df406e3eb2d2cf1d5ef8ee4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Having been bored to tears by some recent YA fiction (coughDIVERGENTcough), I put off reading this book for a very longtime. But I was actually incredibly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Having the narrator be a male seemed an interesting choice in a field dominated by female-centric fiction... and it also seemed rather ingenious. Instead of reading about Bella lusting after Edward, why not let young women read a novel in which the guy is the one doing the fawning? Isn't the whole point of escapism to want to BE the person whom someone desires? While the countdown to the big birthday seemed to go on a little long, and the ending was a bit more pat than I might have liked, I will (eventually) get around to reading the next book in the series... which is more than I can say for Divergent.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 15 14:59:45 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 21 20:55:27 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e3e5a9831bfc31d4178c87782e06b8b7", "book_id": "10436562", "review_id": "435876c541590aa81fbdc48df174a024", "rating": 1, "review_text": "While I'm moving this to the \"read\" shelf, the truth is, Goodreads needs a new category: \"Abandoned.\" I can't honestly say why I picked up this book seeing as I really didn't enjoy the first book in the series. While ABC claims that the series 666 Park Avenue was based on these books, there's almost no connection between them. And trust me when I say that even if you didn't like the series, the odds of you enjoying these books is slim at best. They're poorly written, badly plotted and, in a word, boring.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 12 14:26:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 15 14:56:13 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Mon Mar 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e3e5a9831bfc31d4178c87782e06b8b7", "book_id": "8783169", "review_id": "7aabf9a07f23c4f319776f38c73ba4bd", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Seen Poltergeist? Read your fair share of ghost stories? Then do yourself a favor Nf pass on this one. There's absolutely nothing original and very little that's even borderline scary in this supposed \"novel of terror.\" in many sections, it feels as if the author is purposely trying to pad in order to give the book more heft. This is particularly true of sections containing conversations. Endless exposition and boringly trite talk dint make for a compelling read. Although the book starts interestingly enough, it quickly becomes downright predictible. Worse, the characters behave in wildly unbelievable ways. Long after a smart person would say, \"Okay, clearly we should never go into that house again,\" these folks find almost comically ridiculous reasons to do so.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 27 13:44:56 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 12 14:25:49 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Mar 12 14:25:49 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e3e5a9831bfc31d4178c87782e06b8b7", "book_id": "8479792", "review_id": "628d3861df3172b145e4a8ac1eab4f0f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This nook tries to be many things for many audiences, but winds up failing across the board, sadly. Astute readers will realize there's trouble afoot when the cover blurb says \"Where the socialites are witches\" as opposed to \"Where the socialites are REAL witches.\" Subtle, but big, difference. The book itself wants to be Sex & The City meets Anne Rice. Sadly, it's neither sexy nor scary enough to succeed on either level.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 14 12:46:42 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu May 26 18:18:22 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Thu May 26 18:14:50 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sun Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5576327201478d5b1327889adb0d5ee7", "book_id": "1569110", "review_id": "63ac6fc5910012ad5ba1f2cd60ec5816", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I registered a book at BookCrossing.com! \n http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13962031", "date_added": "Fri Apr 15 16:07:17 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 15 16:07:18 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Apr 15 16:07:18 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5576327201478d5b1327889adb0d5ee7", "book_id": "1569105", "review_id": "2b9f1047e183481953b925a36e6b604f", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I registered a book at BookCrossing.com! \n http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13962017", "date_added": "Fri Apr 15 15:56:58 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 15 15:57:00 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Apr 15 15:57:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5576327201478d5b1327889adb0d5ee7", "book_id": "1583470", "review_id": "d89a896c11d4756497dd0d5fb3135b2e", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I registered a book at BookCrossing.com! \n http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12840287", "date_added": "Wed Aug 13 14:49:52 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 13 14:49:53 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Aug 13 14:49:53 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "515ce9e61827255a3569b93635d00773", "book_id": "10572", "review_id": "6834391d270d058b3bd391bbc929980b", "rating": 0, "review_text": "A Little more interesting than the first one, I read this faser than the first book.", "date_added": "Sun May 08 08:49:34 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue May 17 09:22:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "56fa11a05db6a158182c5d997b947d74", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "c30eeb8d77f1ca64b6ac9a5b2e7e6a3c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The Night Circus is an extraordinary adventure. I was interested in all the characters and the plot was amazing. In a way I'm sad it's over but I'm so glad I read it.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 18:57:30 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 21 06:49:38 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jul 21 06:49:38 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "56fa11a05db6a158182c5d997b947d74", "book_id": "3188580", "review_id": "7519ab053350d5b0479bce7988e01620", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Impossible was a lovely book I'll never forget it. I remember each character so vividly and it's has been a year since I've read it. I'll tell my kids about this story one day its just that good.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 12:39:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 12:45:43 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "56fa11a05db6a158182c5d997b947d74", "book_id": "6070065", "review_id": "58baf5e6ef28033f096f81ca44d684f6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Jonas Beautiful Dead is the greatest book I have ever read I remember reading the first chapter in Barnes & Nobles and falling in love with it(:", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 10:51:25 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 10:59:06 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "56fa11a05db6a158182c5d997b947d74", "book_id": "12681104", "review_id": "a194a93a2594de9806900abef8a68334", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Even though this story is fiction it doesn't change the fact that everyone can learn something from Lucinda and Daniel's love story. It was heartbreaking for me to finish this book. I didn't want end. Thinking about it being over still brings tears to eyes. I'm not worried though because I know this love story will live on. Lauren Kate is genius and I love her for sharing something so amazing with the world.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 10:34:30 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 03 14:37:27 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Aug 03 14:37:27 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c9fdc034f8fa470718caf8a5bc62fc05", "book_id": "22314178", "review_id": "87a1b1379978a3d7159d9ec51811b877", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I recently read The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North and was impressed at the originality and quality writing, so when I heard about Touch I had to give it a go. It ended up surpassing my expectations and I enjoyed it even more than Harry August - touching and page turning and again so so clever. It's fast paced, it's smart and incredibly original - a winning combination, and almost perfectly executed (my only complaints are around the ending, but they are very minor). \n With a lesser writer I fear that the plot (some people/entities -known as 'Ghosts' - have the ability to travel via skin on skin touch and \"wear\" other bodies, without the owners being aware, apart from a lapse of memory, that they have been 'worn') and the story could have disintegrated altogether, but North made it so entertaining by her absorbing and compelling writing. Much as I enjoyed in Harry August, I loved the settings within this book and the countries we travel through in the various bodies that the main character takes on. \n I don't understand why this book hasn't got more hype. It's fantastic. And for those that have read it - I like what I see! ;)", "date_added": "Tue Jan 27 10:46:10 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 09 06:39:54 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Mar 09 06:39:54 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c9fdc034f8fa470718caf8a5bc62fc05", "book_id": "7870539", "review_id": "ca4c3adde078d54c9e9c6d1acd9c9b6a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Eerie, creepy and dreamy, but beautifully written and very easy to read. A husband and wife who are early morning skiing are buried by an avalanche, and when they shakily dig free and head back down the mountain for help they find the whole village and resort deserted. Food left in the kitchen, no one is answering the phones and not a soul in sight. Time and reality muddle as they try and work out exactly what's going on whilst holding on to the only real constant in the place - each other. \n Yes, the 'twist' is pretty obvious but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of reading this. The setting and language work perfectly in tune with one another - the snow falls constantly, the mountains loom above them, the power flickers and paths all lead in the same direction. It sounds like a ghost story (and it definitely creeped me out) but it's also much, much more than that.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 14 05:46:14 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 22 06:37:18 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Apr 22 09:05:43 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c9fdc034f8fa470718caf8a5bc62fc05", "book_id": "20706317", "review_id": "984f64c502acba89e5f1114810888c5d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Not a light fluffy read in any shape or form - this took some serious plodding through (and lots of googling!) but very enjoyable. So well put together and so smart, but I appreciate it wouldn't be for everyone. Quite science heavy at points and lots of additional info that wasn't strictly relevant to where the book went but a really rewarding read with a very satisfying ending.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 11 15:06:24 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 23 07:41:14 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c9fdc034f8fa470718caf8a5bc62fc05", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "9f3ef5415cebdf9bb175eab9491ece1b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 05 20:13:29 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 08 13:32:49 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Sep 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c9fdc034f8fa470718caf8a5bc62fc05", "book_id": "17199504", "review_id": "28f78655a0e5a5a71e837f9fea981d88", "rating": 2, "review_text": "1.5 stars. A huge, confusing information dump at the beginning of this book had me lost and uninterested (when you can't read a paragraph without having to flick back and forward several times to the glossary, this isn't going to be a smooth read), and it didn't get much better. Paige as a main character was all over the show, and the book was littered with other uninteresting and irrelevant characters. I liked the London setting but this was vastly unexplored. I did slightly enjoy the read more as I got through it, but not enough to improve my overall opinion or care to continue reading any further books in the series. Overhyped.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 30 13:06:08 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 10 06:30:49 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "c9fdc034f8fa470718caf8a5bc62fc05", "book_id": "13579626", "review_id": "f94ba71ef61c99d635c7ac8fcc716c23", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Slow and dull. I wasn't wild on her widely liked YA book 'Before I Fall' but was hoping her adult writing would entice me more. Just not my thing - and that's a real shame as I feel the concept here of the paranormal and human mixed together could have made for a very entertaining book. Lovely cover though!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 23 05:52:32 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 20 10:25:54 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Oct 20 14:43:08 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c9fdc034f8fa470718caf8a5bc62fc05", "book_id": "18806787", "review_id": "b11816932cf129a3cd86ced786eec9c8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not quite sure what I just read...though I think (?) I enjoyed it. Really odd and quirky but neither laugh out loud funny, nor reading through the fingers 'horror', but just mocking enough to resemble both. Perfect length though for a peculiar little tale..", "date_added": "Thu Jun 12 10:16:37 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 31 12:56:40 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jun 19 14:11:08 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c9fdc034f8fa470718caf8a5bc62fc05", "book_id": "16248223", "review_id": "350b1d73a7ac913a1caf57f8445bf6ef", "rating": 4, "review_text": "An easy and enjoyable read (though far more 'supernatural' than I anticipated from the brief blurb I read before starting). Numerous layers to this book, and heavy on the Chinese culture and folklore which was really interesting to learn about as I read. \n I wish I had known there were notes at the back of the book as these are interesting and helpful in explaining some of the Chinese myths which the book bases itself on.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 01 05:45:10 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 10 08:25:05 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Sep 10 08:25:05 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c9fdc034f8fa470718caf8a5bc62fc05", "book_id": "17182421", "review_id": "5decb717a56cd0ab66602ae94d537b60", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars. I've recently watched some of The Returned (or 'Les Revenants' as it's actually French subtitled), a channel 4 show in the UK based on the premise of the dead returning to life. Although this show isn't based on this book the themes somewhat the same - specifically for this story, Harold and Lucille's son Jacob who drowned in the 60's has mysteriously returned with no recollection of what has happened. This phenomenon is occurring all over the world, though the book isn't focused on this and you rarely have much of an insight into what else has happened beyond the central characters. \n No one really seems all that concerned about all the dead returning (or what happened to all the bodies they buried?!) nor are definite answers given. If you want closure and some at least far fetched scientific explanation, this isn't the book for you. Instead, the focus is on emotions and feelings mainly within this small town, dealing with the consequences and the government, and the repercussions of having these people back. \n This is a very slow paced book, but I think deliberately so as it's very thought provoking and such a fascinating concept. It also allows the tension and unease many feel with the Returned to be really felt by the reader. It definitely makes you think about your own life, and what you would say to those you could speak with again, or what you could 'change' about the past - or even what you would do or say if you were one of the Returned. \n I received a copy of this book for free via Goodreads First Reads - thank you!", "date_added": "Tue Jul 30 06:28:22 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 29 07:26:48 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 29 07:26:48 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "c9fdc034f8fa470718caf8a5bc62fc05", "book_id": "13548909", "review_id": "cd51667736bdaad3edcb16c8cbb4b788", "rating": 1, "review_text": "It would seem I'm in the vast minority here, but I really disliked this book. I suspect I'm guilty here for picking up a chic-lit book on witches (neither really my favourite book type or theme!). The writing style grated on me from the beginning and didn't get better. Far too wishy washy and with a cringy, very predictable plot and stereotypical characters. \n Pretty cover though!", "date_added": "Sun Apr 21 14:12:54 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed May 15 06:38:45 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "c9fdc034f8fa470718caf8a5bc62fc05", "book_id": "15783514", "review_id": "50198715d87d2124ccdbd8328afb232d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 stars. My first by Neil Gaiman and I loved it - creepy, magical and mystical. Devoured his beautiful and imaginative writing. I don't often re-read books, but this is one I think I'll return to. Recommended.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 06 09:14:14 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 03 11:55:53 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 03 11:55:53 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "c9fdc034f8fa470718caf8a5bc62fc05", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "dd862a46b32b3c405ecfef56d23ec90d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Beautiful and vivid imagery and magical in every sense, but just felt it was missing 'something', and didn't find the end particularly satisfying. \n Enjoyed it though, and really really wish that circus could be real, I'd love to visit....", "date_added": "Wed Jul 11 10:30:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 21 09:00:29 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jan 17 05:58:19 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "7c6766fa7308ddc560aedfede3eaa79c", "book_id": "11808950", "review_id": "fca772805473ae1ed90de5355bc321e3", "rating": 1, "review_text": "The last half of the book was too depressing. The heroine had this awesome chance to be an active character. Instead she whined about her love interest for most of the book. As she was wasting her time pining after this boy she could have been discovering more about her power as a hybrid.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 21 18:15:46 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 23 00:11:04 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7c6766fa7308ddc560aedfede3eaa79c", "book_id": "2282133", "review_id": "e39bfee5eda223eec63fbabd571ca48e", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I read this in high school...", "date_added": "Thu Jun 21 12:36:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 22 23:56:35 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2f36f78d5d876a3c384aa720e3fb801b", "book_id": "11754793", "review_id": "fa027498eba99dafc31d441ca47527eb", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Unreadable. Just the latest effort of Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson to cash in.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 12 16:20:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 26 15:27:29 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jul 26 15:27:29 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0e55fd11ecc5b0c8e5bc5ef5ff5a0acd", "book_id": "62291", "review_id": "8cf996757aa356306eb417fdbdada877", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed it!!!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 02 17:51:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 16 16:47:14 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd0e5626b0f6f5010445253540f2af", "book_id": "61987", "review_id": "da3d6fac941d64cebc54c253703f1e5f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "A simplier, less funny version of \"A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy\".", "date_added": "Tue Jul 17 13:19:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 24 08:26:10 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "55e22861c570b4b5d322c23831840a29", "book_id": "28810646", "review_id": "1696597d4a84e00f28831b519466082f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Outstanding! \n One of the best prequels I've ever read!", "date_added": "Sun Jul 13 10:30:55 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 20 17:52:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Mar 19 08:18:40 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Mar 12 15:01:03 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "55e22861c570b4b5d322c23831840a29", "book_id": "21535271", "review_id": "9f9727e0175ba57c4268bbd04d442385", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I absolutely loved this book. Maybe I'm one of the slightly broken people. It is a story for me. I look forward to reading it again but until then.... I'll put it in it's special place on my nightstand. It's proper place.", "date_added": "Mon May 05 18:38:56 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 09 20:08:36 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jan 03 12:05:34 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "55e22861c570b4b5d322c23831840a29", "book_id": "944073", "review_id": "45d1727186ba1cdec907d445ddce009f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The beginning of a GREAT trilogy!", "date_added": "Fri Aug 09 16:37:35 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 04 21:37:07 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Aug 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "34857523", "review_id": "745d5429ef4bd8f1d0fecc124ca48ef3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 Stars \n Gareth Kendrick is the last true bard of the Seelie. His voice has the power to command people to fall in love, heal, or commit themselves to their doom. He's always been wary of his power, and scared of the voices of the dead that haunt him ever since his tutelage by the ghost of Gwyddion, the most recently deceased bard before Gareth. \n Gareth loved only one man in his long-spanning life: Niall. Niall was a human, or so Gareth thought and they met \"by chance\" nearly two hundred years ago in the human realm where Gareth chose to live the bulk of his life. For Gareth, Niall was all and everything, and he dispaired greatly when he saw an Unseelie escort Niall through the realms to Faerie. HE was sure Niall was lost to him forever. \n The true was much different. Niall was a half-Fae Unseelie prince sent to kill Gareth, but he fell in love with the man instead. His brother learned of the situation and escorted Niall back to their father as a favor, so Niall could plead his love and ask a boon to be released from his oath. Their father refused and sent Niall into one of the hells of their realm, Govannon's forge, to toil for the past two hundred years in retribution for his treachery. Niall endured the punishment because it ensured that Gareth would not be murdered by another of his father's minions. \n Fast-forward: Faerie is dying and a powerful Mage is planning to rescue it with a remaking spell, but it requires all of the Fae to be present. This includes Niall, whose brother-now the King of the Unseelie-has rescued from Govannon's forge. And, when Niall sees Gareth he knows he can't tell the truth. Gareth, instead of performing his part in the new magic, steals Niall away from the ceremony, sure that a \"human\" could not withstand the magic of the rite. \n Unfortunately, when they flee Faerie they upset the balance and the spell to fix Faerie goes awry. Oh, and it's not cool when Gareth learns his 'dead Human' lover is really a living Unseelie Prince. It's hard going for a bit, but a reconciliation is brokered by David and Bryce, the non-Seelie mates of Gareth's brothers. By connecting with those men, Gareth sees the folly of condemning interspecies mating, and Niall is able to win his heart back. Oh, and save all the realms from the power-mad Mage who had a whole different plan in mind. Expect high stakes, mad love and healed hearts by the end. There's a wee bit of sexytimes, but it's more emotion than motion. \n This is the end of the trilogy, which I think is best read in order, but there's a window to new adventures left open, where Niall and Mal can hit the road to find lost Fae in the human realm. I'd tag along for that... I read a review copy provided by NetGalley.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 22 17:04:35 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 22 17:05:39 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "35910868", "review_id": "bac4552de81af066c52d61651a872d7c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Rav Miller is a big, brawny biker with a heart of absolute gold, when it applies to dogs. People, not so much. He grew up in a family that thrived on making tons of cash in real estate and business, but he didn't like the cut-throat, often not even legal, tactics they took to make more and more money. So, he stepped away and began rescuing dogs. \n Over the years, he decided that opening a no-kill shelter was the best manner to his goal: more dog rescues. He even went to shelters in his area and rescued dogs tagged for destruction. A year ago, he met some strange men from Mad Creek, California; these guys helped him return all his animals from sheltering int he desert after vandals had turned the whole facility loose. Rav never forgot the experience, and he was struck by the intelligence in the eyes of some random dogs they'd brought along, including Milo. And, he sees that same spark of intelligence in Sammy, a shy chocolate lab. \n Sammy's first life was as a chocolate lab, and it began with a great start. He loved his owner, and she loved him, but she fell down the stairs one day and he was too scared to bark for help. Her sister took Sammy in when his first owner died. But, this woman's husband was abusive and particularly hated Sammy. He hated when Sammy interfered while he was beating his wife, and he beat Sammy, too. He threatened to leave Sammy out in the snow during the winter, so she took him to a shelter. There he meets a dog who can turn into a man, one who insists Sammy will be able to do so if only he tries hard enough. Sammy isn't sure if he can, but he also recognizes that he needs to get away from this shelter before his kill date comes up. He takes careful note of his dog-man-friend's instruction on how to make it to Mad Creek and be safe. All Sammy needs to do is get adopted, however, he is terrified of large men and few families are willing to adopt him. His kill date draws lethally close. Until Rav comes along. \n Rav tries to win Sammy's trust, but it's hard to do. Within a week, Sammy the dog goes missing. Rav's speechless when he watches surveillance footage showing Sammy open his cage, and several doors, in order to release himself from captivity. Upon activating Sammy's tracker, he follows his meandering labrador to Mad Creek, several hundred miles away. Two connections to Mad Creek in one year is too much coincidence, and Rav decides a road trip is necessary. Arriving, he cannot believe what he finds: lots and lots of doggy-acting humans. Is it magic, or science? If there's any people Rav could love, it would be these remarkable dog-people. \n Sheriff Lance Beaufort isn't happy that Rav's deciding to stay, but the whole town is overjoyed when Rav announces he's planning to open a dog rescue in Mad Creek, and he's willing to hire members from the community as staff: firstly, Sammy. He immediately notices how many unemployed people live in Mad Creek, and how thin the financial resources are stretched. Yet, working with Sammy shows Rav how easy it is to train the \"quickened\" dogs (who appear as people because they are dog shifters) in new, but repetitive, tasks. It's first nature to them to do the same thing over and over, and it gets Rav's brain working on potential industries he might be able to bring to Mad Creek, to provide jobs for the thousands of quickened who'd never adapt sufficiently to standard jobs in an unsheltered life. \n While Sammy is falling head over tails for Rav, Rav's doing the same with Sammy. Their relationship grows slowly, because Sammy is newly quickened and his physical body is more mature than his emotional or mental age. Plus, Sammy is still shy of large men, even in his human body. Still, being close with Rav is exciting and Sammy's pals, like Milo, help him figure out how to become a physical lover. Rav's patience and quiet love for the man-dog he'd rescued back in Arizona pays off, and Rav's experience in business brings new life to Mad Creek. I don't really want to discuss those details, because the intricate plotting is very sweet. The book is a bit of a slow burn, and has some dark moments, too. Like, Sammy's experiences of abuse, and the way the Mad Creek folks try to run Rav out of town. Expect true love to win the day, Sheriff Lance to get a new partner in caring for Mad Creek, and the quickened to find new hope and industry. It's tender adn sweet and gooey and I loved every second of it. While there's no guarantee we'll see another book in this series, I'm wishing on stars and howling at the moon for one.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 15 07:09:06 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 15 07:10:12 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "35967286", "review_id": "401a776a85b1e48e85e1627b9ae9b6e2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This world is one where no females exist, and a small percentage of males, the omegas, have the ability to become pregnant. Omegas go into heat, an overwhelming physiologic experience, every three months. It is during that 48 hour window that an alpha could impregnate the omega. And, the offspring can be any of the three genders: alpha, beta or omega. In this world. alphas have the best opportunities, best job prospects and best lives. They get their pick of the matable omegas. Betas are second-class citizens who are essentially infertile as they are never allowed to mate an omega. They do form pair bonds, and some adopt discarded beta offspring. Betas have virtually unrestricted lives, though they are considered to be inferior in intellect by alphas. \n Omegas are, maybe, fifth-class citizens. They are kept under strict supervision, they have no rights to freedom or autonomy. Their education usually ends int he mid teens and the omeags are sequestered until their first heat-which comes anytime from 15-21, to \"protect\" them from having an unsupervised heat where they could be raped by any alpha who catches wind of their pheromones. Once mated, it's up to the omega's alpha to decide if there will be further education, a job, or the ability to drive one's self. An Alpha can physically harm or intimidate his omega without repercussion, using the excuse of \"discipline\". \n Braun Ettings is a nearly 21 year old unmated omega who just survived the car wreck that claimed the life of his abusive father. Unable to be left on his own, he's sent to a half-way house for unmated omegas. Braun's not sad his tormentor died, but he's scared in his new surroundings, and wishes he could go live with his pregnant, elder brother, Kell. Unfortunately, Kell's abusive husband is a big problem. Braun notices what looks like a kidnapping of one of the residents of his half-way house and decides to flee-which is brave but perilous. He's accosted and nearly raped, only saved at the last moment by a beta nurse who recognized him from the recent hospital treatment and his alpha husband. Their friend, Tarek Bloom, is an alpha and a constable, and he's really intrigued by both Braun and his tale of woe in the half-way house. Braun feels the pull to mate with Tarek nearly immediately, but he's determined not to fall into the same deadly trap that Kell is caught in. \n As Tarek investigates the situation, and some other crimes, he arranges to become Braun's legal protector, and works out a fostering arrangement for his friends who'd saved Braun. These four form a tight unit of friendship, with a deep attraction brewing between Tarek and Braun. Braun's confused and pleased that Tarek isn't simply claiming him outright. He can't trust that it won't happen, though. Conversations with Kell help to guide him into accepting what appears to be love, but there are lots of complications-the abusive situation Kell is in, the recovery of kidnapped beta youths, the rescue of Braun's fellow omegas from the half-way house-to name a few. Plus, Braun's first heat is imminent. Tarek swears he'll defend Braun and not claim him, but Braun is unsure that Tarek will keep his word. It was good to see Tarek be such a stand-up guy, especially in the face of the deep prejudices and derision he faces by having such an independent omega. They do fall for one another and sexytimes do happen, but not before the friendship and emotional bonding have been built. \n This is, to me, a police romance with an urban fantasy laid over it. Getting used to the lack of females and acclimating to the omegaverse constraints took me a little time. I loved the sexual politics, and how stark the divide was between the alphas and omegas, in terms of power, prestige and autonomy. Braun's a spitfire of an omega, and he's often caught at the center of controversy, but Tarek loves him steadfastly, and it's clear they are going to become stronger as a mated pair as the books go forward. The situation between Kell and his husband isn't fully resolved at the end of this book, so expect that to drive the story line in the sequel. On a different note, it's pretty shattering to read about the abuse Braun, Kell and others survive, so take that trigger warning seriously. I'm looking forward to reading on!", "date_added": "Fri Sep 15 07:02:06 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 15 07:03:20 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "33361479", "review_id": "03b1e1c1713b18cccb25017058dafea4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "DRAGON BURN is a novella in her Dark Kings series, (Book 11.5!) and really best enjoyed when read in order. I've liked SMOKE AND FIRE, FIRESTORM, and BLAZE, so I'm eager to reach the \"climax\" of this sexy series. \n Sebastian is a Dragon King who promised to help Ulrik no matter what centuries ago, and he regrets having to bind Ulrik's magic to prevent the destruction of humanity centuries ago. He doesn't believe that Ulrik is the menace behind the troubles facing the Dragon Kings of Dreagan. So, he's off to Venice to investigate a lead in the search for Ulrik. It seems there's a man who looks quite a lot like Ulrik operating there under the name of Oscar Cox, and Seb believes him to be Ulrik's disgruntled uncle Mikkel in disguise. Seb positions himself to meet Cox's beautiful American assistant, Gianna Santini, in order to gain access to her boss and discover his true identity. \n Gianna is done with relationships. Divorced and bitter, she eschews meeting men and prefers to be solitary-filling her time with her work for \"Oscar Cox,\" a powerful British man to whom she's an assistant. She loves Mr. Cox's power and how quickly she's risen within his company. Still, the man seated beside her for the past two nights at her favorite tavern is quite attractive. And, when she strikes up the nerve to chat with him, Seb's brogue is tasty, too. \n They begin a tentative acquaintance, and Gianna is intrigued by Seb's sensuality and chivalry. Both are drawn to the other, and this is odd for many reasons; Gianna's not interested in having alover after her disastrous marriage and Seb's sworn to not take a human lover. Still, they have an easy-going day sharing breakfast and sightseeing. Gianna, wanting to experience more of the thrill of Seb, invites him to the masquerade ball she's arranged-hosted by Oscar-and that's when things get hinky. \n Seb's as attracted to Gianna as he's ever been to any being. And, he's conflicted about setting himself in her path, because she's clearly in trouble. At the ball Seb's suspicions are confirms, and Gianna's boos recognizes that another Dragon King has been in contact with her. Expect capture, torture and potential casualties. Okay, definite casualties of you count Dark Fae henchmen in the body count. Seb's connection to Gianna and Constatntine, King of the Dragon Kings, enables him to find out the truth behind Ulrik's betrayal and Mikkel's role in their millenia-old feud. Seb also meets the powerful Druid who's been summoned to destroy both Ulrik and Constantine. \n There's still plenty of plotlines to weave together; this novella is a rather self-contained romance for Seb and Gianna, though it adds some critical pieces to the mix...if only Seb and Gianna could remember what those were. Dang Druids and their memory stealing charms. If my count is correct, partnering Seb with Gianna means that only Constantine and Ulrik are single Dragon Kings-and I expect they will find mates and settle scores in the final book, which I'd expect to come out in the coming months.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 30 10:18:24 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 30 10:19:52 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "34857549", "review_id": "5a830c9fd9b3c5d8d3e0e7bf7be41185", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 Stars for this second book in the Fae Out of Water series. \n Mal Kendrick was cursed while saving his brother's life. He lopped off the hand of the Fae Seelie Queen's consort--rotten though he was--and won't gain the use of his own hand until he's restored the Queen's consort in full--not that she wants him back. So, he's cut off from Faerie in the human realm, and feeling rather sorry for himself. Plus, he's having the devil of a time fending off the lesser Unseelie Fae who seem to delight in tormenting him, the former Enforcer of the Queen, now that he's got a bum right hand. \n Bryce MacLeod has devoted hsi life to caring for the earth and building sustainable living spaces that allow development to accentuate nature, not obliterate it. Thus, he's right torqued off when he sees his attractive but surly neighbor, Mal, tossing a bottle at the coyote taking refuge in the wetland that borders the gardens at the rear of the properties. What he doesn't know is that the \"coyote\" was a glamour-sporting Unseelie polluting their land, and Mal's about to open Bryce's eyes in more ways than one. Turns out Bryce is an undiscovered druid, unknowingly raised in the arts by his grandmother, who passed several years before. When Mal's brother-in-law David, from CUTIE AND THE BEAST, gets word of Bryce's latent powers he enlists his dear friend, a Druid priestess, to help train Bryce. \n And these life lessons are necessary because it seems the Unseelie and the Queen's consort are now after the both of them. To hasten Bryce's learning in all things supernatural, he and Mal are magically tethered to stay in close proximity. This makes things both awkward and sexy. For example, they gots to share a bed, because the distance from the sofa to the bed exceeds their tether length. When they do that, well, it hurts, bad. Awkward because Mal's been recruited to aid another Fae in gaining his freedom from a different curse--and this dude, let's call him Steve, claims to have he'll have the power to undo Mal's curse once his own curse is lifted. But, Mal's sworn to secrecy over this opportunity, and he needs to connive and convince Bryce to walk into Faerie with him to complete Steve's tasks. \n So, it's complicated, as is the attraction between Bryce and Mal. Mal's usually a dominant lover, but Bryce has Druid Voice which can compel most any person to do his bidding. Is their kinky-times the result of true desire, or compulsion? That was a real dilemma and one that both Mal and Bryce faced together and alone. They seem to burn the sheets up, but neither man wants to continue if it's not a real connection. Though, Mal's super charmed by Bryce's Mr. Fix-it nature, and how he helps Mal gain the ability to defend himself, and protect them both, from the Unseelie invaders. Their adventures to gain Steve's tokens are dangerous and revelatory; Bryce gains a lot of power and insight when he steps into Faerie. His mission to stave off the pollution in his world and the rot growing in Faerie seem to be linked through the Queen, and he's afraid Mal's chicanery on behalf of Steve will lead to destruction of both realms. Yet, he can't not trust Mal. He's developed a real rapport over the course of their adventures, and he wants to see Mal returned to his uncursed state, even if it means Mal walks away. \n For me, this second book really brought a lot more of the supernatural and lore into the world-building. The first book was fun and quirky, but Faerie was a realm to avoid. This time we're in Faerie at least half of the book, so we get to understand the politics of the space, and the inter-relatedness of the human and Faerie realms. I did see the path the ending would take rather early, and was gratified that it came together in the manner I was anticipating. Mal and Bryce have some real discussions that lead to a strong bond, and a mutually beneficial relationship in the end. This book has more sexytimes than the first, and they were pretty randy. O.O I'm a fan, and I needed a fan. Speaking of fans, the third book features the third Kendrick brother, a revered bard of Faerie who sings in a band in the Human realm. Looking forward to seeing that stalwart soul find a new mate. I read a review copy provided by NetGalley.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 23 19:27:21 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 23 19:31:32 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "35660940", "review_id": "d000b4250b74a954a0c168d7448b08e6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 Stars \n Coy Conlin is one of the few dragon shifters left in Asuda, and he detests the Registry that comes every few months to check up on him and his elderly grandmother. August Seaton is one of the new Registry officers and Coy hates him on principle. It's even worse when Coy returns from a night out and finds August present and his grandmother dead. Oh, and capturing him for indefinite imprisonment. \n August Seaton has had an unpleasant life, with a brilliant scientist mother who is colder than an iceberg. He's been sheltered and isolated, and hungers for friendship, even from bigoted Registry officer Fate. \n The bulk of this story is the struggle for Coy to get free of his prison--and August becomes and unexpected ally. I really don't want to give up too many plot details because the plot is fascinating and the adventure is tense. It's a high stakes experience, and I enjoyed the conversion of August from hapless lackey to imprisoned poseur. He's got a lot to learn about life, which he fully admits. Coy is bitter, but sensible, and takes August's help when the opportunity arises. \n I'm totally invested in this series, and I really look forward to the next book! There's not a lot of romance, here, between Coy and August, though the potential is high despite the big reveal. There's a lot still to come besides the romance, though, and I'm just as eager to watch Coy gain his revenge, find his lost brother, and see August learn the truth of his heritage and rescue the imprisoned shifters of Asuda. I'm wondering if all this will happen in one book!!! O.O", "date_added": "Wed Aug 16 06:25:32 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 16 06:26:32 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "34808048", "review_id": "2dec490f532b5c60118ed60666697a10", "rating": 4, "review_text": "David Evans is a nothing-special kind of guy who loves his dear aunt-the woman who raised him-and works as hard as he can to support her, especially as she is ill. Trouble is, though he's a fantastic assistant and office keeper, he can't seem to keep a position. He's been doing off-site transcription, but it doesn't pay all the bills, so he takes advantage of the one opportunity he's given: temp work for Dr. Alun Kendrick. David heard Dr. Kendrick's voice once, for a transcription, but it did seriously naughty things for David. He can't wait to meet the man in person! \n Alun Kendrick is a cursed Fae. Years ago his lover, a type of rare healing Fae, was murdered and he's never forgiven himself. His punishment for not being there to save his beloved is a horrifying facial disfigurement that startles nearly everyone. Still, he works a a counselor to supernatural beings who find his grotesque appearance to be disarming enough to allow themselves to be vulnerable and accepting of treatment. \n Alun isn't prepared for his temp assistant to be human, and he's outraged that the placement agency sent David, despite him being a sunny, beautiful, thoughtful young man and conscientious employee. Alun tries to find fault in David's colorful adjustments to his office and solicitous treatment of his clients, but David's seeming missteps actually result in inadvertent breakthroughs for several of the supers that come in for counseling. And, Alun's not been tempted to find sexual pleasure since his last lover was killed, nearly two hundred years before. That David turns his crank to eleven? It cripples Alun. \n Unfortunately, there's unrest in the Fae realm and David's help is needed to assist Alun to return and set things to rights-and that brings on a whole new series of problems. David, unknown even to himself, is harboring a secret of his true self and this results in worsening of the conflict. Not to mention David becoming a target for the worst elements of the Fae. \n There's really a lot going on here, and I'm only scratching the surface plot lines. It's a sweet and engaging story with a tender romance that is born from David's ability to see Alun's true heart beneath the layers of emotional armor and his gruff and misshapen exterior. There's the tiniest bit of heat, and a slow burn to reach it, but that was fine. I really enjoyed the mismatch of characters, and how David makes himself indispensable to Alun, and his clients. David's got such a lovely and cheerful way about him, and yet he's not a pushover. He stands up for so many people, and rolls with the waves of supernatural lore that he finds himself swimming within. There's lots of comedic elements, and the pace was fantastic. I never felt like I was getting bored, because I constantly wondered: what's coming next? From helping vampires survive their blood aversion, to teaching young dragons to hoard, David's patient and caring attitude wins over everyone, including Alun, in time. Fun fact: Alun's one of three brothers, and it looks like the other two will have their own love-story books in this new series. I'm looking forward to reading on! I received a review copy via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 08 18:13:40 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 08 18:14:57 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "35112713", "review_id": "3688f88a396360f76b1aca8a8ecfae05", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 Stars! \n Bryan, called Biff by his packmates, is a wolf shifter whose small pack of gay-spectrum wolves has relocated from the east coast to the San Fran Bay area. Biff is a beta wolf, and in this world it means he's the patient one, the one who assists the alpha in negotiations and keeps the peace. His younger brother is his alpha and they pretty much fled the homophobia and heartache of their previous pack once his brother came out and took a merman as his mate. So, Biff knows his pack would accept him if he came out as gay-but he's still a private kind of guy, and he doesn't want to have the pack watching/gossiping about his every step. \n Biff meets Max when he goes to the local DURPS office-imagine an agency like the DMV, only serving paranormals and ten times pettier-to register their pack and help get them permanent housing. Right now, there are seven werewolves and a merman taking refuge in the two bedroom apartment of the traveling drag queen friend of their beloved house ghost. (So, you can see there's lots of shenanigans happening...) Max is a sumage, kind of the opposite of a mage in that he absorbs the magical resonance of actual magic wielders instead of turning his own tricks (ba-da-bum). It was the final disappointment to Max's powerful and power-hungry mage father, long dead and little missed in the ensuing ten years. Max works at DURPS as another slam on his dear-old-dad, and makes no effort to tamp-down his gayness, either. \n Max and Biff have an immediate attraction, and it is this which tips Max into accepting Brian's number, calls, and request for a date. It seems like everything is going fine, even if Bryan is confused why Max won't reveal his body to him-at first, and sets off the first bit of conflict. What I loved about the book is Bryan's steadfastness. Max is used to abuse and scorn, and he can't believe that Bryan could possibly find him attractive-sumages have distinct body issues and Bryan's careful love helps Max regain his absent self-confidence. Also, there are some unique and different challenges that present themselves as Bryan and Max begin to build a life together-not least of which is Bryan's protective Alpha brother. There are mages out for artifacts in Max's father's home, and protecting those potential weapons brings forth Max's true power-shocking everyone. \n I don't want to reveal too much of the plot, because it's fantastic and so very different, but I want to mention that it's got the same fast-paced, witty movement as all the other books I've read by the author. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Bryan and Max have some emotional set-backs that they need to work through, but they do that very well, and the book ends with an HEA. There's some yummy sexytimes, too!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 17 08:01:10 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 17 08:02:39 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "28810197", "review_id": "a52af0920c091273be1d2ffe04cdd3b3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Trigger warning: this book has intense and graphically described instances of the MC cutting her skin as a means to cope with her grief and isolation. \n 16 year old Tori Burns is new to rural Chaptico, Maryland. Her adoptive mother, brother and herself mysteriously inherited twenty acres of land and a home smack dab in the middle of the Slaughter farm, bequeathed by Al Senior upon his death several months ago. It was just in time, too, as Tori's family had been recently evicted from their apartment. (There's some shenanigans about this that I'll describe later.) \n Tori hasn't been the same since her adoptive father died a year ago. Since then, she's quit swimming--though she was an expert swimmer--because she can't imagine doing it without her father cheering her on. Also, she's begun cutting her skin to mask the grief she's experiencing. Her arms and legs are covered in scars, and she regularly presses on healing cuts to induce pain when necessary. She's an outsider in her school which has lots and lots of Slaughter kids, all of whom have the status. Jesse Slaughter is the typical king of the school, and Tori can't figure out why he's talking to her and asking her to Homecoming. \n One night, when the pain is too great, Tori runs out to the small graveyard on the edge of the property and digs a sharp branch into her arm. The blood shed releases a centuries-old curse and, inexplicably, a man from his shallow grave. Tori's appropriately horrified by the advent of this former-servant of age-old Slaughter Farm, Nathaniel, and that's only the beginning. She's plagued by nightmares of the Chaptico Witch, Emmeline, who was the love of Nathaniel back in the seventeenth century. \n So, you can see, this was a really different plot line. The POV shifts between 1690s Nathaniel's memories, the present-day, and dreams/visions Tori experiences from Emmeline's magic. Because, she was a witch, and she did love Nathaniel enough to preserve him until he could fulfill his sworn duty to protect her. \n There are many interesting themes here: dealing with grief, learning about your history, becoming the person you were meant to be, doing the right thing, as well as the folly of greed and the horror of locking down one's family skeletons. I think I didn't really get hooked until about a third of the way through, mostly because I was a little stupefied by some of the issues Tori faces. \n See, her mom is a volunteer art teacher. Her father dies and has no life insurance, leaving them essentially destitute. They have no other family and are on the verge of eviction. Sorry, I'd be working at a paying job, folks. And, the grief really isn't an excuse for me. The whole set-up seemed shady, and it put me off. I almost had less trouble accepting the magical resurrection of Nathaniel than their real-life crisis of near-homelessness. Also, her mom is practically unable to keep this family together. Beyond driving and painting, she has virtually no life skills despite being a mother for 16+ years. It was insulting, honestly. So, shenanigans. I call it. \n The isolation Tori experienced was far easier to accept as a reader. New girl in a small town. She's odd and weird. No doubt she'll struggle to fit in. The double-crosses were to be expected, and I didn't think that was a deficit. Plot-wise, I liked the interwoven POVs and I liked Nathaniel, a lot. Tori, at times, seems deliberately obtuse, but she comes to terms with her position in the tangled history with Nathaniel, Emmeline and the Slaughters past and present. It doesn't help that the current Slaughters are experiencing unprecedented tragedy--including blight, fire and death--and they pin it to the arrival of Tori and her family. It's a mystery why these events are occurring, to everyone but Nathaniel, Tori and an elderly black neighbor who knows more than her family with believe. \n I liked how this turned out in the end, with much faster pacing and a tumultuous climax. For me, the book is an interesting allegory for the power of greed to destroy and of love to reclaim/redeem. That said, it's still troubling how little assistance was available for Tori, with both her grief and her cutting. I received a review copy via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 26 07:35:13 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 26 08:08:16 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jun 26 08:08:16 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "34599180", "review_id": "a0e00abef4ae81ad1f7a82aacabfd1d6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Deke is the youngest of the dragon-shifter Beteferoce family and isn't quite convinced his eldest brother, Jake, is telling the truth about finding his \"mate,\" Shae, but he's willing to check out this arrangement and see for himself. Plus, Deke noticed that Shae's neighbor and good friend, Bryan, is a fit specimen he'd like to get to know better. With Jake and Shae being obnoxiously in love, and thoroughly uncivilized in their sexy behavior, Deke is more-than-happy for Bryan's offer of a spare bedroom in his home. \n And let the sexytimes begin... \n Bryan doesn't usually fall into bed with a guy. He hasn't actually had a partner in years; not since he and Shae didn't work out. But, Deke is turning all his knobs in just the right way, much to Bryan's dismay. How can he be so consumed by a man so quickly? And, won't he be heart-broken when Deke returns to his Coast Guard duties hours away? \n During Deke's week-long visit he learns for certain that he and Bryan are true mates, just like Jake and Shae, but he's due to report for duty so he vows not to begin the bonding process until he can work out an extended leave. This, by the way, is triggered by fluid-exchange so Deke is careful to stay covered up. Well, except for, oh man! Deke!! \n Deke's so sure of his love, he tries to tell Bryan who he really is, and it all goes sideways. He had no idea how Bryan's previous history with the paranormal would skew this experience, but Deke holds faith that he'll be able to win Bryan's heart back, just as soon as he can get more time. The problem? The physical binding has already begun... \n Bryan can't understand what's happening to him once Deke leaves. He's lethargic and ill, and fevered, and unable to manage even the most basic tasks like doing the mechanic work he loves or feeding himself. Good thing Shae and Jake are looking in on him. While Deke manages his details for the Coast Guard, he craves Bryan, and fears what will happen if he shows up on Bryan's doorstep. And, it's even worse when he arrives. \n I liked this book better than the first, for a few reasons. There's a lot more tension, the sexytimes don't take over as much, and Bryan and Deke really have to build trust. I liked how Bryan was a man who'd had a dark past, and his growing love and trust for Bryan helped him to overcome old hurts. I think I was expecting to meet Bryan's long-lost brother at some point, and I will admit a touch of dismay when that didn't happen, but that's only because I'm a greedy reader--it had no impact on this story. For me, I'm hooked on the Beteferoce brothers finding eternal love, and I hope we get some insight on the Fae tattoo artist who seems to be linking them. I enjoyed a reveiw copy via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 26 07:23:12 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 26 07:24:09 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jun 14 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "34459933", "review_id": "29d565548bdec6d6f63cbd2099a0fc9d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I jumped on this book based on the recommendations, but I wasn't in love with the execution. \n It's an epic fantasy about superbeings who live amongst us human on Earth, but the verbose descriptions between the human realm and the Ahe'ey were exhausting, to me. The complete collection here was about 200,000 words, and I think we could have done without a third of them. Plus, honestly, I was put off by the mundanity of it all. When I'm reading Fantasy, I want to be transported. I don't want the dialogue to sound like a contemporary YA/MG story. \n The battles between the castes seemed forced, and the \"drama\" of this life-and-death arrangement also didn't make sense to me. I'm not a big women's studies genre reader, because I'm all about the romance, and this didn't draw me to the cause, I must say. It felt very formulaic, and I didn't connect with any of the myriad characters as a result. The pace bogged, like I mentioned, with large chunks of dense description which damped my interest right quick. The lackluster dialogue sealed Ahe-ey's fate, for me. \n I think, for people who really love Fantasy and descriptive literature, you might find this intriguing.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 19 04:56:33 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 20 04:33:56 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jun 19 08:38:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "31451014", "review_id": "735f9265110207cce210d5e2d27f756c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Anson is a Dragon King who fought beside Ulrik in the Great War centuries ago--to end all humanity. When he saw that the war wasn't helping his beloved brown dragons survive, he flipped sides and joined Constantine to build the dragon bridge and send his dragons to another, hopefully safer, realm. \n Now, his existence, and that of all the Dragon Kings, has been revealed to the human race again, and Kyvor Inc, a tech conglomerate, seems to be at the root of their troubles. We encountered Kyvor's trickery in SMOKE AND FIRE when Kinsey returned to Ryder--this time at Dreagon Distillery, the home base for all the Dragon Kings. Now, Anson is tasked with helping Kinsey infiltrate her old company, to see who knows what, and how they found out about the Dragon Kings. \n Kinsey has identified a possible confederate, Devon Abrams, an up-and-comer at Kyvor who has no idea she's been shadowed by Kyvor agents for a long time. Anson's struck by Devon's beauty and fierceness--and inexplicably wants to protect her almost from the get-go. Is this the pull of a true mate? he wonders... \n So, this book is a ramp up to the large showdown. That means there are many points of view all bringing the end of the story into alignment. For this reason, I would not recommend picking up this book first, if you are intrigued by the series. You really need to go back closer to the beginning because it's choppy and confusing if you haven't met any of the players before now. This book is a lovestory for Anson, but it's less fixed on his romance than I would have liked. Devon is a good lead for him, but they don't have much time to make a connection before they are both captured and tortured. The goal here is to get Anson to reveal his powers, and he's all too happy to do this, because, well, he has little love for humanity in any case. \n For the first time Dragon Kings learn that their main adversary isn't Ulrik--but also his scheming uncle. And, the forces are marshalled to bring down the ultra-powerful Druid that nobody knew anything about--except the bad guys. \n As a romance, BLAZE a little too cluttered with the long-range plot arcs of the series, for me. I really like to experience that high of meeting and falling, and it felt too convenient and too rushed--and too interrupted for me to really latch on. The ending climax is really intense though, and I'm still anxious to see what happens between Constantine, Ulrik, Rhi, and all the other characters--as well as the human mates of the Dragon Kings. So, I'll look forward to the next book, too. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 02 07:14:02 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 02 07:15:15 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "30364791", "review_id": "4ac280f8b32778d4b43912a2d5ef819a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Nate Black is a 22 y/o empath trying to make it on his own in a Houston suburb. He's got some family, but they're all crazier than him, and he knows from crazy. Theo, his estranged twin, has more powerful empathic gifts and moved to NYC shortly after high school ended, but Nate's hidden his empath abilities nearly his whole life, like their mother--who went crazy and killed herself--had instructed. Nate wants to fly under the radar, but he's overcome by a vision of Theo being drowned, in a way that's totally sketchy, and he knows his brother is dead. The only way to discover the truth behind it: head to NYC. Only Nate has barely a few hundred dollars to his name, and his big idea--to hitch his way from Texas--isn't the smartest. \n Trent is a graduate student living in LA and driving home the southern route so he can visit friends in Houston. This has him crossing paths with Nate twice. The second time, he offers Nate a ride. Along the several days ride, Trent and Nate develop a connection, which is far stronger than Nate has ever experienced. Though Trent has never had sexual relations with a man, he believes himself to be bisexual, and he wants some intimacy with Nate. Nate's attracted to Trent, too, but he's used to walling himself off from everyone to keep their emotions out of his head. So, both are reluctant to make the first move. Not that it doesn't happen, because it does, but this isn't a traditional romance. What happens in New Orleans, though, doesn't stop when the trip ends. \n Still, once they reach the bright lights of NYC, Nate goes his own way, promising to keep in touch with Trent. Nate knows he needs to touch base with Theo's closest friends if he wants to learn the truth, and he doesn't want to involve Trent in what might be dangerous. Plus, Trent doesn't know about the empath community and Nate's afraid Trent will balk if he thinks Nate is somehow using his gift to influence Trent into being gay-for-him. Connecting with Theo's pals alerts The Community that Nate's on the scene, however. \n The Community is a hidden network of empaths and telepaths in the NYC area. Nate had no idea of the scope, what with his sheltered rural Texas life, but he's appropriately wary of the cadre of folk who want his loyalty and service. The more Nate learns, the more sinister things seem, and he reaches out to Trent for some normalcy, and insight, because Trent is truly the only person he feels he can trust. I really liked the twists and turns of this one. Expect it to morph into a thriller near the end. More empaths have gone missing/dead than just Theo, and Nate's put himself on a path that is far from safe by poking through the hornet's nest of intrigue that is The Community. As a reader, it was hard to know from what corner the danger came, and that's a testament to the fantastic writing here. The romance is not formulaic, and was all the more interesting due to the odd circumstances. Also, it was freaking unbelievably hot when Trent and Nate got it on. Nate's empathic abilities grow, and he's able to experience his and Trent's lust, and turn that back on them--creating a chemistry that is downright combustible. \n I'm so looking forward to the next book in the series!! I received a review copy via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Thu May 18 04:10:30 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu May 18 04:11:33 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "29875894", "review_id": "0b614b5edf7a35e7e12fec008e20be36", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Dr. Faith Reynolds, an archeologist working a Fair Isle dig, has discovered a new world-in the form of a dragon skeleton. She's sure this is a bona fide discovery, but most of her crew is skeptical, thinking it's likely a new species of dinosaur. Dmitri, Dragon King of the Whites, knows this \"find\" is one of his family, somehow left behind and hidden eons ago after he'd ushered all the rest of his dragons through the portal that removed them from Earth and the humans that were constantly attacking. \n Dmitri has never forgotten the anguish of sending his family on, and never bedded a mortal human in all these years. Still, he's struck by Faith, and her quiet, studious ways. She wants to uncover the truth of her find, and that gets to the heart of Dmitri in ways he hadn't expected. Dark Fae are about, messing and meddling with the humans, leaving two dead over the course of several storms that slow Faith's pace on the site-but gives Dmitri and Faith time to bond-especially once Faith is attacked by the Dark Fae and Dmitri is compelled to rescue her. \n I liked how they built a rapport of mutual esteem before it got physical, and I liked how Faith was willing to accept the truth of Dmitri's heritage, too. It was interesting how the falling in love part happened quick, and there was time for more dangerous complications once Dmitri and friends got the skeleton back to Dreagan. For readers of the series, there is a lot of good stuff happening with previous couples, and naturally, Ulrik-the banished dragon who's been stirring up lots of conflict-is back for more. As we near the end of this series, the conflict between Constantine and Ulrik seems to creep ever-nearer. This time, however, there were serious mind games happening, which made all the convictions to stay hidden and live secretly within human society seem foolish-and I liked that serious introspection. I also liked getting more of the backstory behind Con and Ulrik and what tore the rift between them. I'm anxious to see if Constantine finds a human to love, which I anticipate will be a big part of the end of this series. For readers new to the books, I felt the catch up in backstory was adequate for all this to make sense, more so that when I read SMOKE AND FIRE, so I'd recommend it to anyone who thinks dragon shifters are hot-and want to watch one fall for a studious and conscientious woman. I read a review copy from NetGalley.", "date_added": "Wed May 03 16:58:48 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed May 03 16:59:59 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "33293052", "review_id": "db3de7b00fcf48cc533352e0b589ba82", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Chanda is the Lord of Honey Flower House, a brothel that brings the paranormal to their clientele. He's an incubus who's given up on love, ever since his demon-who-won't-be named boyfriend did him wrong--a long long time ago. \n One morning Azaz, a demon with a mission turns up at Honey Flower House to find a missing bridegroom--someone supposedly posing as a prostitute. Chanda's furious, and determined to get to the bottom of this mystery. Meanwhile, Azaz decides to claim Chanda as his own. As they collaborate to find the missing man, Chanda confesses his deep shame regarding his ex--and Azaz reveals his extreme power, and extreme dislike for Chanda's ex. Little surprise when the missing groom is found and Azaz gets to make Chanda's ex into a (gruesome) love token. \n This on is a bit short on the details, and I didn't really get into it the way I have with other of the author's short fiction. It's okay, but lacking steam and context for this strange and wonderful world of the paranormal.", "date_added": "Wed May 03 16:28:42 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed May 03 16:52:33 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "29922440", "review_id": "c3cc372db7de2ba8e6981d72ee3ad02b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Cynthia Rothschild is off to have a fantastic summer of theatre camp, designing sets that will (hopefully) earn her a \"Tony\". Her sweet, sexy and swoony boyfriend, Ryan, has been attending this camp for years. Years! And he's sure Cyn will love it. Except, well, he neglects to mention his camp bestie, Jules, is a beautiful, talented female lead. And, Jules isn't best pleased to meet Cyn-especially as she and Ryan have been texting/emailning over the past seven months and Ryan didn't think to mention Cyn, or having a girlfriend, at all. \n Yeah, so, teen romance drama is on the program, naturally, but this all becomes complicated when Cyn spots a demon in residence, in fact, he's Peter, camper-writer of the musical Cyn's been slated to stage. Peter admits to being a demon-but a good one!-who'd never kill anyone and gains his energy from the everyday drama of human relationships. He's getting a feast off the Cyn-Ryan-Jules thing. Also, Cyn's demon-repelling powers are in high demand with the demoness who assisted Cyn by destroying Mr. Gabriel, the evil librarian of the first book. As much as Cyn wants to deny the possibility, the book is titled \"Revenge of the Evil Librarian.\" Expect Mr. Gabriel to come back. What he lacks in style and substance, he makes up for in sheer malevolence. Even Annie's at risk again, until Cyn can come clean about all her secrets and get her friends on board for a demon-take-down. \n Ryan and Cyn struggle with trust issues, Peter's eager to step-in as Cyn's leading man, and demons, demons, lots of scary demons. The tension isn't quite so high as the first book in this series, but there's a lot more of the demon world, and the stage has already been set for murder and mayhem. Ahem. I really liked how Cyn owned her foibles and gave her focus to the most important issues: saving the humans, first. The rest of the emotional problems-hurting Ryan, losing friends, keeping her sights off the sexy flirting demon playwright-had an appropriately lowered focus, so it didn't seem cartoonish. The pace is tense, the battles are gruesome and the enemies are many and horrific. I couldn't stop turning the pages by the end.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 17 16:28:04 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 17 16:28:57 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "34374138", "review_id": "b47ad10c2aec486f3d6156b8b3ae522c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 Stars for this M/M shifter romance. \n Seb Calloway is a young single gay man who's not going to fall for a werewolf, unlike his best friend, Jared-who went and mated his wolf, Nathan. Nope, Seb wants his free will, even if it means never finding a true and fulfilling love...like Jared. \n Jared, now park of the Regent's Park Pack, is under their protection, and Seb counts as Jared's family-so he's protected even if he's not interested. Thing is, Seb's apartment seems to be the site of some low-level activity by other packs, notably the Primrose Hill pack, or a rogue shifter pack-and Seb is in danger. Plus, he gets injured and needs medical attention which brings Regent's Park pack Doctor, Tim to the scene. Tim has been infatuated by Seb for awhile, and he's ready to stand in and pretend to be Seb's boyfriend. Because, well, he hopes that Seb will grow to love him enough to choose to become his mate. \n This is a sometimes-bittersweet love story that mostly revolves around Tim and Seb, with lots of input from Jared and Nathan. The trouble stems from plot threads that occurred in the first book in the series, where Nathan and Jared fell in love. Nathan had broken some big laws, and important people want him punished. Seb recognizes he's a vulnerable pawn in this pack intrigue, and he relies on Tim more and more to secure his safety. Their bond develops naturally, and is a sexy experience, for sure. I liked the character and world development, and look forward to spending more time with these London werewolves.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 17 16:17:45 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 17 16:18:49 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "34216621", "review_id": "19d0c62dfb7c0d8668d1eb585354cbb4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "LOCKED TIGHT is the fourth book in her MindJack series where humans have evolved the ability to broadcast their thoughts--but the new wrinkle is mindreaders who can hijack your brain. These \"mindjackers\" are a super powerful minority, being hunted for experimentation and extermination. And Zeph, a \"locksmith\" mindjacker who can lock and unlock the toughest minds, will do whatever it takes to keep himself and his family safe. I've reviewed OPEN MINDS, the first book in this series on my blog, and I've read all the books/novellas out so far. It's a fantastic series, and I'm so glad to return to this amazing fictional world. \n Zeph left his home and family behind the day the world learned about mindjackers. He'd been recruited to one or another \"clan\"--a mafia of mindjackers had long existed underground--and he wasn't proud of the work he'd done for them. But if the world knew mindjackers existed, he was sure being in his home would bring trouble for his mother, father and young sister, Olivia. He fled Chicago New Metro's suburbs for the more sparsely populated Wisconsin, getting by on his wits and skill as a jacker--and keeping his more powerful abilities as a locksmith locked down tight. \n Eighteen months later, he's trying to find out what happened to his family. A check-in showed a home which looked hastily abandoned. Did jackers come and take them? While rescuing a mindreader from the predation of his mindjacking boss' influence, Zeph abandons his newest post on a mission to find his family. He links up with the mindreading community, taking a position as a bodyguard to the daughter of a prominent mindreader: Jeffrey Tiller. Tiller's father invented mindware tech--devices that read and interpret mindreaders' projected brainwaves to operate phones, cars, televisions, etc. Tiller is himself virulently anti-jacker, and makes no apologies for it. His daughter, Juliette, was dating a girl jacker--and he pulled her from school and put her into one where jackers aren't allowed. Zeph has to hide his jacker abilities, 24/7 to keep up the pretense he's just a reader, and hopefully Tiller will like him enough to help find his family. He's a powerful man with lots of connections--and he does promise to assist. \n In the meantime, Zeph takes out a jacker who assaults the minds of kids at Juliette's school, he's hailed a hero and this lands him in the spotlight he hates--he's intercepted by operatives in a confidential government agency who are \"hosting\" his 13 y/o sister as she trains her newly developed jacker powers. Zeph is ecstatic to find Olivia alive, but horrified that she's unwittingly being honed into a weapon. His primary objective is to get her free, even if it's against her own wishes. \n Zeph's life becomes even more of a shell game as he takes a new mission to get close to Julian Navarro, new senator from Illinois who is a known mindjacker--one fighting for equal rights for jackers, and peace between readers and jackers. People who've read the series know that Julian is a good and honest man, and partners with the heroine of the first three books: Kira Moore, herself an intensely powerful jacker. Supposedly, Julian may be dosing readers with drugs to spur changes into jackers--but even if Zeph doesn't buy that line of hooey, saving Olivia depends on getting close to Julian. And, that's where Zeph's whole life gets turned inside out. Expect bombings, shooting, and general destruction to dog his steps as Zeph witnesses the hate for jackers up-close and extremely personal. What few allies he makes are seemingly wiped out before his eyes, and he has to make unthinkable choices to protect Olivia from the danger she's been programmed to create. \n I'm not going to say more about the plot: it's intricate and articulate. Zeph is a good guy caught in every bad situation due to his jacking abilities. He's not dreamed of having a normal life since he underwent his change at 13 and gained his mindjacking ability--but now he'd give anything for \"normal\" and he sees how it could be possible if only the bigots would stop hunting the jackers. There's lots of tragedy in the story, with several casualties, and unexpected allies. At it's heart, the MindJack series has always been about equal rights, and the fight to gain them for all humans--readers and jackers alike. Zeph has seen enough jackers to know how evil they can be, but the depth of hate coming from readers has always been outside of his experience. Now he knows how horrible they can be, and he's dead set on finding his parents before they can be destroy--as Olivia very nearly was. I'm down a little because I feel like I lost a good friend on these pages, but I'm excited to read on.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 17 16:04:46 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 17 16:07:11 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "27827203", "review_id": "967c7c056cb21cf0a98b811a887fa200", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 Stars for this YA adventure, fantasy, and romance... \n Ruby is a teen girl unsure how to manage the demands of her Fireblood heritage in a land where being a Fireblood is a death sentence in itself. Born with the ability to wield fire from her hands, she must release some of this power now and then or she feels pent-up and unstable. She always hides deep in the woods outside their remote village to test and release her fire magic, but the day comes when the Frostblood King's soldiers find her and burn their village for daring to \"harbor\" a Fireblood. They also kill her mother right before Ruby's eyes. \n She's imprisoned, kept in a state of complete damp and cold to douse her flames, and starved nearly to death, only to be rescued by a Frostblood master, Brother Thistle, and his protector, Arcus. They vow to save her if she will help them kill the king--and that's a bargain Ruby's all too eager to make. \n Safely ensconced in an abbey to Fors, the god of Frost, Ruby is trained by Brother Thistle in the safe wielding of her flames, and by Arcus in hand-to-hand combat and swordsmanship. Not all the monks are in favor of keeping a Fireblood nearby, however, and view Ruby's training as traitorous to the throne. Over time, Ruby and Arcus develop a camaraderie that slides into attraction. She's there for several months, as the attack on the king is planned for the summer solstice, the time when Ruby's fire magic will be naturally at it's zenith. But, she's frustrated when she learns that the total plan isn't necessarily to kill the king. It turns out that his ice throne, fashioned by Fors a thousand years before, has been corrupted by dark magic, and Thistle and Arcus believe that darkness has inflicted a madness on the king. Perhaps if Ruby melts the throne, she can restore sanity to the king, who can then call off the hunt for Firebloods. \n Ruby isn't in love with this plan, and feels vengeance is hers to claim--but she's captured by the king's soldiers before she and Arcus can mount their siege. Being a Fireblood, Ruby is pressed into the King's gladiatorial entertainment, fully expected to be killed in her first event. When she wins--aided by magic that isn't hers--Ruby knows she's living on borrowed time. If only she can get her flames on the King's throne before her life is snuffed. \n For a fantasy, I really found the realistic development of Ruby as a heroine to be excellent. She's not a quick study. She gets frustrated. She makes mistakes that harm her, and those around her, but she's valiant and determined. Ruby wants to be useful, wants to help herself and all the Firebloods, and Brother Thistle is a patient teacher she wants to please. Arcus is moody and mean-spirited at times, pushing and prodding Ruby to get her off-center. He knows the kind of battles she'll face if they can get her into the King's court, and his tough-love approach felt realistic, as well. Her experiences in the King's court are filled with intrigues, humiliation, and brutality. She's forced to meet her mother's killer many times, even in battle, and Ruby has to keep her wits clear to keep herself alive. The magic that afflicts the King is in play throughout the court--and Ruby's not immune. She has the opportunity to embrace this power, and change her place in the world dramatically, but her deep rapport with Thistle and Arcus keep her grounded in a way she hadn't expected. The worldbuilding is really good, with scenes that are fleshed out and a menacing tone imbued throughout the prose. The juxtaposition of ice and fire was a constant theme, and related not just their powers but also the emotional landscape of the players: hot-headed Ruby has burning passions, while Thistle and Arcus are cool, collected and calculating. \n The love story that develops between Ruby and Arcus is quiet, with only a few moments of acknowledgment before the climax. It seemed a natural progression of their time spent together--from wariness to acknowledgement, to friendship, esteem and eventually attraction. Arcus has a dark history, and his desire to destroy the throne is tied to his intimate knowledge of the king and the monarchy. I was happy that my suspicions regarding his heritage were accurate. I liked the rawness of the experiences that Ruby endures, and how her personal tragedies help forge her into a warrior ready to save herself and those she loves. This book is slated as the first in a series, and ends in a way that completes the initial story arc. There is no cliffhanger, and I expect the next book will have a whole new set of troubles for Ruby to solve--with Arcus at her side.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 20 06:59:15 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 20 07:00:13 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "9128", "review_id": "46ed75f3a390fe6d66a563f42779d57a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Gary Adrion is a young man of incomparable beauty, spotted on the \"L\" train in Chicago by an artist, Liam Howard, who specializes in holograms. Liam is a little older, and not as attractive as Gary, but Gary-a mostly solitary trust fund kid-is intrigued by Liam's work and agrees to sit for a piece. The result is astounding, and Gary is so taken with it, that he makes an inadvertent bargain to remain as fresh and youthful as his hologram, no matter the darkness and depravity of his actions. \n Well, over the years Gary gets pretty dark, and awfully depraved. Egged on by Liam's dear friend, an outgoing drag queen known as Henrietta, Gary's life takes some disastrous turns. He thinks he finds love, and throws it away on a whim--which leads to deadly results. Liam acts as Gary's conscience, taking him to task when Gary will let him near, and that's not a good situation, either. The further down this rabbit hole Gary falls, the more his hologram absorbs the horror of his actions, turning from an objet d'arte into a grotesque. Meanwhile Gary never seems to age a day. Friends turn bitter and enmity is rampant, even among his hangers-on. Gary delights in beauty, and it's ultimate corruption. \n This isn't a romance, which I knew going in. There is some sex, but it's written for shock value and the effect is chilling, not amorous. As we know from the Oscar Wilde classic, Dorian Gray--our narcissistic Gary--never fully redeems his soul, despite knowing that he must if he's ever to find peace from the ghosts of people that have died as a result of his actions--directly or indirectly. There's lots of drug use, and a seedy club-kid-type vibe for some of the book, and there's horror. Death and murder are part of Gary's path, and the only end is the dramatic one we all know is coming. \n As a psychological thriller, I'd have loved just a little more insight into what happened during the large gaps in time the book spans. Some people seemingly come from nowhere, particularly in the end, and I know they were a part of that murkiness. I also got that Liam sensed Gary's menace from their first encounter, but I didn't see where that came from, as a reader. Gary is definitely shady, but I'd have liked to know how and why we knew that from the first pages. That said, as a retelling of Dorian Gray, I wasn't disappointed.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 31 07:22:15 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 31 07:23:18 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "33877402", "review_id": "aa6204271915cc1297417cddecb92e00", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Josh and Connor are a married couple starting over in Black Creek, Vermont. Connor's a detective who'd been attacked one night while they were returning from a movie date--and Josh nearly lost him. They thought Josh buying out his late grandfather's rural veterinary practice would be the beginning of a quiet peaceful life for them, but Black Creek is shadier than either of them could have imagined. \n Soon, Connor's partner is dead, and Josh's been attacked, and the howls at night surely signal the return of wolves to the woods after nearly one hundred years absence. Only these aren't ordinary wolves. \n As a beginning to a shifter series, this book works, because it gives us a good sense of mystery, and the onset of shifter powers when Connor's attacked by a rogue and saved by the local Alpha. Connor and Josh have a tender and loving relationship that's upset by Connor's new aggressiveness. I like dhow this all played out, and how this pack tried to take care of it's own. The nemesis hasn't been defeated, but the main conflict of this book was Connor's development into a shifter--and that's resolved.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 18 05:44:00 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 18 05:45:01 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "33602142", "review_id": "602ecfcde08141863a042e8ec531f550", "rating": 4, "review_text": "These books are the third in their series and should be read after Claimed by the Mate 1 and 2. \n DANGEROUS PASSIONS picks up where the other books have left off: with members of the Trinity Alps pack needing mates. Alpha Traker Jakes and Evan Dark are the final two unmated members of this pack--and the vacation season has come to an end. It's frustrating to not have mates, but with all the rest of the pack now bound to women they love, Trak thinks maybe it's time to close down the Feral Passions resort for single women--and maybe restructure it into a destination wedding spot. They already have one wedding booked, and that's the last of their expected guests until spring. \n Unexpected guests turn up, however. Darnell is a Hollywood make-up artist who never forgot the steamy nights she spent kissing Evan Dark--and cuddling with a wolf from the reserve. It's been months, but she has to know if Evan's still single--or interested. On an impulse she drives up from LA, and Evan's all-too-happy to rescue her when she takes a wrong turn near the resort. He'd really liked the spunky gal who'd struck a chord with him at the beginning of the summer, and has high hopes that she might join him as a mate. \n Meanwhile, pack members notice Chelo, a rogue wolf running a new flower shop in nearby Weaverville. Chelo has finally managed to escape the bonds of her abusive mate, now dead. She's been on the run for years to escape his brother, Rube, who plans to continue where Jorge left off--raping and abusing Chelo for eternity. Meeting the Trinity Alps pack is such a big change, and Trak is definitely attracted to this powerful shifter who could be his perfect mate--if they can manage to get rid of Rube and his stooges. \n The romances are pretty straight-forward, and have a nice amount of heat. The main stories involve Chelo's pursuers and how the pack decides to deal with it. Expect battles to the death and hot nights in the wolf reserve. While all the love stories are wrapped tight, I can imagine further books with new problems and wolf pups in the future. \n In BOUND TO THE WOLF, Phelan Sava is a lycan werewolf shifter who's been cursed to never find a mate by on of the Furies. He'd turned his back on this female when it became clear she was spying on Phelan to gain access to his Alpha, Blaez. See, Blaez and his Devoted pack are being hunted by Hunters and emissaries of Olympus. Zeus wants the lycans dead--and he won't stop until this happens. Previous books brought mates to Phelan's pack, but he's not on the lookout for his own. He notices the scent of a newly-turned shifter while out for some pleasure and he stops. Because newly-turned wolves need constant physical attention, and she's clearly alone. \n Marena Panos is an attorney who'd been bitten by a partner in her San Francisco firm. This dude wanted a piece of Marena however he could get her, and she fled the area when it seemed she was under investigation for his disappearance. Fair point, as she shot him in order to prevent being raped, but his body was never recovered, and the police thinks she's a killer. Driving non-stop, she rolls into Montana overcome with pain as her body struggles to assimilate the new shifter DNA. Phelan's touch and proximity is the only saving grace from her round-the-clock pain and nausea. It's not long before Phelan's touch becomes more than a balm--and their coupling seems to make all things right in Marena's new stark world. \n Add to this, Marena hears her attacker's voice in her head, and Phelan's sure it's all tied to a plot to capture Blaez and destroy their pack. Phelan's not happy about his growing attraction to Marena, and the realization that she's his true mate isn't a happy one; Phelan's been abandoned by everyone he ever loved. His history is a little too bleak, I thought, but Marena's advent gives him more hope than he's ever held before. \n Expect kidnapping, randy werewolves, Olympic maneuvering and dramatic rescues. This book also feels like it might end the series, but there's a window or two still open to revisit our favorite black ops wolf pack in the future. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 16 08:13:28 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 04 07:54:38 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "32813414", "review_id": "bc444f37741e0fe191264ab500169f8e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 Stars for this contemporary dragon shifter fated-mates M/M romance. \n Shae is a forty-ish artist with a deep and abiding love for all things dragon. He has tons of tattoos featuring the slinky, sexy beasts, and he builds large dragon statues for sale. One afternoon, the fire crew is called out by one of his nosy neighbors. Jake is the head fireman sent to assess Shae's permits, and to make sure he's safe with his blowtorch. \n There's an immediate spark, and Jake, a centuries old dragon shifter, makes it a point to return for a more personal inspection. Learning that Shae has Jake's personal seal and dragon-tongue name inked into his skin disrupts the sexytimes. Momentarily. Once Jake checks with the fae tattoo artist and learns that Shae is his fated Mate? These two get it on like...all the freaking time. \n Roughly 85% of the book is Jake giving it to Shae. Copiously, and with some BDSM elements (spanking, bondage, orgasm denial, plugging) because Shae is an apologetic pain slut. As their bond solidifies, Shae learns that he needs to eat more, so food prep and eating takes up about 10% of the book. The other five percent is Shae flying on Jake's back, meeting three of Jake's four also-gay dragon brothers, and Shae feeling insecure about his looks/age/kinks and why Jake seemingly trapped him into a fate bond. \n The love seemed to happen very quick, but that's nearly acceptable in fated mates stories. I just wished we'd learned a bit more about Shae's history, why he was so isolated, and how Jake's family came into being. The 'rents deets are seriously sketchy. \n So much sexytimes--I could have done with less, and liked the book just as well. I'd have liked it better, I think, if there had been a bit more emotions, or conflict, in it. Lots of dominance, but the heart didn't seem to equal out. And, more flying. I loved the flying bits. \n That said, the book was an easy read, and I'm eager to spend more time with this dragon-shifter series. I received a review copy via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 02 11:31:38 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 02 11:47:21 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jan 02 11:47:21 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "32999282", "review_id": "c268eb3740ddfd7ab353ee97d0fe69ec", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Morgan Le Fay is an eighteen year old girl who'd dreamed of being a member of Arthur's Round, an elite fighting force that would counsel and protect Arthur Pendragon when he became king. This is a contemporary society where magic exists, and Camelot is real. Unfortunately, the Pendragon family is under attack by the Luminaries, an extremist group that wants magic to be out in the open, unconstrained by law. The Luminaries tried to kill Morgan and young Arthur in HENGE and again in SWORD. Morgan is, to her credit, a steadfast girl. She's unorthodox, because she refuses to let Arthur come to harm--and believes that people close to him, namely Mordred, are aligned with the Luminaries. \n Still, her behavior is erratic and dangerous, in the eyes of the court, and she'd been sentenced to death for treason for kidnapping Arthur before his enemies could. Without Morgan, Arthur would have been struck down before he even gained his magic. Of course, in forcing Arthur to find Excalibur, Morgan learned a very difficult truth about her heritage--and her relationship to Arthur. \n She's been imprisoned to keep that secret safe, and also, because no one can fully prove, or disprove, her involvement in Arthur's father's untimely death. Lancelot is on her side, however, and when Morgan is sentenced to a life of magicless servitude, he bargains for her release into the Grey Knights. It's not fantastic, but it's not scrubbing toilets either. But, Arthur needs Morgan more than ever, now that he's fifteen and bearing the weight of the crown. He's borderline suicidal, and Mordred's machinations haven't ceased. When Arthur goes missing, it's up to Morgan--who's blood is tied to Arthur's--to head up the rescue mission, and perhaps save her dear friendship with a jaded Merlin. \n Morgan was my kick-ass heroine of 2015, and she's back this year with another rollicking adventure. She's more subdued, however, feeling the full-weight of her crimes, and newly-discovered paternity. She's devoted to Arthur, but her efforts to assist him only lead her into more trouble. Morgan, Lancelot and Merlin have a complicated relationship, with Merlin--who had been completely infatuated--spurning her, while flirty Lancelot is willing to stick his neck out to make her punishment lessened. Merlin comes off as a real whiny dude, making my esteem drop, while Lancelot's a steady man, unafraid to be a hero. The adventure to find Arthur is perilous and pushes Morgan to her very limits. She never quits. I just love that about her. She may be down, but it's always a temporary situation, because her shrewd intellect is always looking for the next opportunity to rise again. By the end, she's not only saved the day, she's saved herself. And that's totally cool. She has romantic feelings for both Lancelot and Merlin, but this doesn't become a love triangle scenario. There are too many hurt feelings to have any real romance. Plus, Morgan's life is not her own for a great deal of the book. She does her best to mend rifts, and it seems she manages to do this quite well. I'm eager to get the next book in this series.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 29 18:05:11 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 29 18:06:20 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "33146156", "review_id": "b1eb572d2dcb0d5ee05c94867ad275eb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the fifth novella in a series and best enjoyed when read in order--but definitely must read book four, LOVING BLITZ, for this to make sense. \n Calder is a Dockalfar, a dark elf, hated and feared by the light elves of North Pole City, including Prince Jack Frost. He's only been granted access to the city so he can train his younger brother, the beloved Rein Dear Cupid, to control his magic--so he doesn't harm anyone. Calder is a solitary elf, never looking to engage in a fight, but he's formidable and a near-giant in stature. All Calder has ever longed for is a man to share his life with; but Dockalfar males don't couple, and no Christmas elf, Tin Soldier, or winter faery would have him. \n Still, Calder is attracted to Donner, the prickliest of all Rein Dears. His violet eyes seem to call for him, and Calder can't help volunteering his services as a stand-in escort to Donner in the preparations for Jack Frost and Rudy's wedding. Also, he's eager to assist when there's trouble in the town--building new gingerbread houses for elves displaced by avalanche. \n Donner's mystified by Calder. He should be evil and mischievous, but isn't. He's kind and generous, and uses his magic for good whenever he can. It's upsetting for Donner to have all his notions regarding Dockalfar up-ended, even if Calder is the one good one of the lot. And, there's no question that Calder is good. And attractive. And so very tall and strong and...oh, sugar plums! Donner's falling hard for Calder, despite his best intentions. I liked this one, and really wanted it to be longer. Enemies-to-lovers are always a fun read, and this is no exception. I loved how Calder and Cupid's brother semi-redeemed himself, and how we've got one final romance to look forward to in next year's story: Dasher wooing the ice-cold heart of the King of Frost back to life!", "date_added": "Wed Dec 28 09:38:33 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 28 09:40:09 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Dec 28 09:40:09 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "26251259", "review_id": "824b9fe538613b34bdc6db72aa71185e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Christmas Elves Cupid and Blitzen have been best friends since they went to school to train to be Rein Dears, the elite flight squadron that delivers global Christmas cheer now that Santa's too busy with his Mayor Kringle status. They are tender and loving to each other, but just friends. Though, a quick kiss at the Jingle Bells Ball sets each man examining if they could possibly become...more. \n Blitzen doesn't want to hurt his friendship with Cupid, but Cupid has even darker reasons for not pursuing his best pal: he's not exactly a Christmas Elf. His mother was a winter faery, but his father? Dockalfar--the dark elves that instigated the Frost Wars centuries ago. Dockalfar aren't welcome in North Pole City, and would never be accepted as a Rein Dear. Or, so Cupid believes. When his elder brother turns up to wreak mischief and mayhem and ruin Cupid's happy existence. That Cupid and Blitzen are just beginning to explore the love burgeoning between them is mighty inconvenient. \n This novella is mostly sweet with a bit of sad. Cupid doesn't want to harm his brother, but he can't let the man destroy North Pole City. Nor can he face being shunned by Blitzen. I liked how his double-life, as it were, gets smoothed out, and we get the introduction of two potential couples for future stories: Dasher and the King of Frost, and Cupid's other brother, Calder, with Donner. There's a couple steamy moments, and a lot of love sprinkled within this sweet novella package. I find the series enchanting--and Christmas magical.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 28 09:34:30 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 28 09:35:35 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "32471528", "review_id": "0157d9be06bc3f0786520980b2fbba59", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This review was written for Joyfully Jay reviews and can be accessed here: http://joyfullyjay.com/2016/12/review... \n 4.25 stars. \n Cora is a nurse with an undeniable attraction for Zeke, a handsome orderly. Despite her repeated attempts to ignore and avoid him, she's inexplicably drawn into his orbit time and again. At the holiday party, she and Zeke come face to face, along with Zeke's boyfriend, Merrick. Merrick isn't enthused about Cora, sensing there's an attraction he doesn't want Zeke to pursue, but that's all moot when the gas main explodes below them and Cora wakes up chained to the wall in a desolate cabin. \n Zeke and Merrick eventually turn up to explain to Cora that she's being chained for her own good. She'd been nearly killed by the explosion, but Zeke infected her with a vampire virus that healed her mortal wounds. The catch is, if Cora will remain bound and not take any blood from either Zeke or Merrick, her fever will abate and she'll go back to being human in about a week. \n Unfortunately, at first Cora doesn't believe Zeke or Merrick, whose cold eyes stun her into submission. She breaks free and must be collected before she can do harm. That does convince her of her otherworldly status, however, and she's not that upset over it. Her human life was sterile and empty, and being a vampire, witnessing the passion between Zeke and Merrick, makes her crave both of them. She wants to join them, though she's afraid that Merrick will never accept her. \n This is a really compelling, sensual read. Cora narrates the whole novella, and she's clearly a vivid thinker. Plus, once she's infected, her viewpoint becomes distorted and hazy, with a sing-song quality that lulled me along. I dug it. There's a little bit of sex, in the middle and the end, with M/M, M/F and MMF arrangements. Cora's a big player, though, in her own transformation and with saving the relationship between Zeke and Merrick--and also their fledgling triad. I loved her strength. I loved how she made it work for all three of them. Merrick's guilt over being a vampire is sincere, and he becomes a far more sympathetic character when viewed in this light. By the end, it's an emotional rollercoaster, with Cora saving Merrick saving Zeke and then happy menage sexytimes. Yum. \n This book is part of the 2016 Holiday Charity Bundle from Riptide, with 20% of proceeds going toward The Trevor Project. Having read all three books in that package, I HIGHLY recommend it.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 27 08:53:15 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 27 08:55:02 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Dec 19 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "31813755", "review_id": "ef8867213cc6f761078472db70db20fa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the second book in a series, and really should be read in order. \n Thad and Sara are getting used to being a couple, planning a quiet, somewhat cheerful Christmas at Thad's home in the bayou. Though a nominal Hindu, Sara's parents celebrated a secular \"American\" Christmas, and he's a little homesick missing his family. Thing is, weird lights are appearing in the mist, and leading people out into the murk. It even grabs hold of Thad, who (as a vampire) is totally light-sensitive, but it doesn't affect Sara for unknown reasons. As such, Sara is a super important part of the investigation, which irks Thad--he wants Sara to stay home, be safe. \n So this novella packs a lot of emotional punch. We see how Thad's emotionally dependent on Sara, and that's really endearing. They're also working on their intimacy, which Sara loves and Thad's trying not to treat as if it's sinful. Hard for him what with being raised that way. \n ...I half carried him upstairs to our bed. \n Our bed. \n The bed I would share with him as long as he'd have me. Though at times my inner conflict still raged, Sara was a sin I couldn't help but commit. \n #Swoon, really. Because what's more romantic than completely setting aside your biased, yet ingrained, religious beliefs to embrace love. \n This mystery unfolds slowly, but has a big wallop of conflict. The \"natives\" aren't happy about outsiders in the bayou, and are quick to blame the witch lights--visions of light that naturally appear and are dismissed as \"swamp gas\" but are instead serving as a beacon--on Thad, as he's such a recluse that many feel he could be a malevolent force. Some of the townsfolk try to intimidate him into leaving. Then, a young girl goes missing and it's pretty much torches and pitchforks time. \n All of this is happening alongside the Christmas season, and the festive spirit that Sara's trying to cultivate is dimmed by the mounting mystery. The climax is intense, with Thad and Sara combing the bayou for the missing girl, and the source of magic behind the light-beacons. I really enjoyed this, and loved that Thad embraced his human roots more. The affection growing between Thad and Sara is delightful, and I just can't wait to read more of their adventures.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 16 10:34:02 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 16 10:35:47 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Nov 26 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "32610513", "review_id": "a35d27a4551884b6fffc99562a6808b4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This review was written for Joyfully Jay Reviews and can be accessed here: http://joyfullyjay.com/2016/12/review... \n 4.5 Stars. \n Crown Prince Brier Snow is a nineteen-year-old shut-in, barricaded within his own castle under the guardianship of his stepmother, the Queen. He's not used to being near anyone but his beloved nursemaid, and is unhappy that the Queen is sending him to Aire, a region of his land that's populated by criminal exiles and dishonored Thenians. Roland, a huntsman and former Thenian lord, is tapped to be Brier's Master for a year, to teach him to be a warrior. Brier knows his \"sabbatical\" is nothing but the latest attempt to shame him, yet he stoically rises to the challenge. \n During the course of the next months of travel, hunting, and training, Roland and Brier develop a mutual regard. Roland thought the prince haughty, like all Aurelians. But, he learns Brier's hesitance was insecurity, not arrogance. Brier's training is aided by six of Roland's comrades, who mostly take to Brier as well. Brier's affection is greater than as student for his teacher, however, and he makes it clear that he has grown to love Roland, even if Roland will never accept him. Roland's got a secret, however, about his training--that Brier was never meant to survive. \n I think readers will quickly catch on that this is a take on (Brier) Snow White and the Seven (Thenians) Dwarves. It's not much like the tale, excepting Brier is widely regarded as exceptionally fair and the huntsman being too smitten with the Prince to kill him. Just as Roland and Brier acknowledge their love, Brier's fetched back to his castle and coronation. Not like a King could keep an outcast twenty-plus years his senior as consort, Roland thinks, but neither man is happy apart. Brier's melancholy is compounded by his remarkable physiology. He'd been sequestered for years and hidden his \"scars,\" a slivery pattern of leaves that grow over his alabaster skin. These markings are not common, but three men of Brier's lineage have exhibited them in the past few hundred years. And, those men seemingly became pregnant. Like Brier. Can he bear raising Roland's child alone? He has a suitor at court, a young, beautiful prince from a friendly nation, who wants to be his consort. It would make surviving in his unstable court easier to allow this man to take credit for Roland's bastard, but Brier's heart is pledged. And Roland returns, taking a position as King's Guard, since his rightful place as consort is unlikely to be accepted by the nobles who find Thenians completely unsavory. \n This fantastical epic is bittersweet. Both Brier and Roland have had lonely lives, and Roland has a mountain of regrets. He feels responsible for the subjugation of his people, for the death of his wife and unborn child, for his brother, for accepting a contract on Brier's life. He's a man of honor who's lost everything more than once, and he loses Brier more than once, too. His inability to trust Brier's love leads to his disgrace, yet again. \n I really liked the story. It had great elements of fantasy that were fully integrated into this tale of love and political intrigue. The mpreg business was described well, with real-life stakes that were heart-tugging at times. Brier's a good man, and he learns to be a great leader. He has a fractured nation, and a scheming stepmother, and courtiers who are unhappy with the positive social justice changes he's making. He's vulnerable in many ways, but he makes decisions that keep him in the people's favor, even winning over the Thenians--eventually. Expect there to be giant obstacles to overcome, for both Brier and Roland, and for there to be long separations, too. Roland does make the right choices in the end, and he saves Brier's life on many occasions. But, can he rescue Brier's shattered heart and restore his family? \n It took me just a bit to get the hang of all the speech changes, as Brier learns to speak Roland's native tongue. It was handy that there's a glossary in the very beginning. It set the mood for exploration and open-mindedness for the reader. The imaginary setting was crafted with care, but I struggled with timing just a little. Some of the time frames seemed conveniently long or short, and this varied inexplicably in parts. That said, I didn't feel short-changed on the world building or the culture-building, and felt very much transported into Brier's world. \n The Epilogue was so spectacular I want another book. Now. I think people who like fantasy, and are willing to give license to the Snow White fairytale, would really enjoy this one. It was also kind of sweet to watch Brier and Roland in parental roles. The characters are compelling, and the story doesn't bog, much, having a span of more than two years from beginning to end--add a whole lot more for the Epilogue. There's no doubt that the end is happy.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 15 08:53:50 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 15 08:56:56 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Dec 14 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "30731095", "review_id": "7c93faa815d273ce4464b62a36af5ada", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a book set in the 1870s London in a fictional past that includes vampires and werewolves. Much of this world has been described in previous middle-grade/YA book series (Parasol Protectorate or Finishing School) though this is an adult book featuring adult characters--who'd been youths/younger in the previous books. I kinda think you'd enjoy this book better if you've read some of those, because the world is already built, and the paranormal elements not as thoroughly explained in this book, as a result. \n Imogene Hale is a 28 year old beautiful woman in a village. She's had many a suitor, but never accepted any man...because she's attracted to women. When a vampire hive takes up residence at Woolsey Castle, Imogene seeks a job. She's heard vampires are perverted, and she may be able to find satisfaction with the Countess, if she's very lucky and doesn't get drained first. \n Unfortunately, the vampires are selective. They sense she's an innocent, and want to \"save\" her for a special occasion. In the meantime, Imogene is a parlourmaid and begins to attend the needs of the Inventor, Madame LeFoux--otherwise known as Vieve, or Genevieve, form earlier books. Genevieve is a cross-dressing \"tom,\" a woman who likes women...and she very much likes Imogene. But Genevieve is still grieving her wife, and that's damping Imogene's prospects with the inventor. \n There's a lot of posturing, and scheming on the part of the vampire countess and the werewolves, who are close friends with Genevieve. It looks as if Imogene will become just another snack for the hive, but Genevieve is able to halt this pettiness, and make some small claim to regaining her heart and finding love. \n This is a sweet, slow-burning romance. Imogene makes a good partner to Genevieve, having an affinity for mathematics that complements Genevieve's ingenuity. There are many obstacles to overcome, but Imogene is a steadfast companion, and finally wins Genevieve to her side. There's not a lot of steam, but the language is fun, and the situations engaging. The real focus here is on Imogene, and how this country lass makes a good life with Genevieve. There are many characters here that are part of the larger fictional world, and fans will be excited to see Genevieve get her happy ever after.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 01 09:04:19 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 01 09:24:16 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Nov 01 09:24:16 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "28220897", "review_id": "ddfbb1925e531f2c331670f362eb0153", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The books in this set are all separate works, and have no connection with one another. That said, CLAIMED BY THE MATE features FERAL PASSIONS--which precedes Wild Passions and THE ALPHA'S WOMAN which comes before Her Perfect Mates. I think they make more sense having read the previous books. \n To sum up, all the books have male shifters and human females. Catch a Tiger features a M/F romance between a tiger shifter who lives two lives--smart accountant and mob guy. Wild Passions has wolf shifters in search of their mates--mostly this is M/F but there is all a FMM menage. Her Perfect Mates is a MFM menage. \n In Catch a Tiger by the Tail by Eve Langlais, Brody finds his mate while investigating a suspected grift at one of his mafia boss' adult cabaret. Lulu was a waitress at Tail Waggers until her manager disappeared and she got \"promoted.\" Now, Lycan leader of the city Fabian Geroux thinks somebody's on the take--and his sights are on Lulu. Brody's, a lone tiger shifter, in a tight spot trying to prove the sexy redheaded human isn't scamming Fabian, because falling for a human is bad--falling for one Fabian wants dead is way, way worse. \n In the way of things, it turns out Lulu isn't who they suspect her to be, but her secrets aren't necessarily the worst. Nope, the worst is the homicidal maniac who plans to kill her in a quest for revenge against her father. Brody's a wily cat and ends up saving her from big bad bears and keeping her safe from Fabian, too. \n In Wild Passions by Kate Douglas, four women--friends closer than sisters--head off to an exclusive mountain resort for a week-long bachelorette getaway. Feral Passions is a \"wolf preserve.\" Werewolves and regular alike. In this world, all werewolves are male, and they can turn a female with whom they mate. There's a whole pack of males wishing for mates. Meg is having second thoughts about her upcoming marriage to Zach, a wealthy entrepreneur. She and Elle, Jules and Darian--best friends from childhood--are planning a sexy retreat and find the men of Feral Passions to be even hotter than the pictures on the website. Elle soon has two wolves in her bed, while Darian and Jules each pair up with a sexy man-beast. Meg, despite her cold feet, is befriended by Trak, the owner of the resort--and his companionship helps Meg to recognize that she's an attractive woman very much worthy of Zach's affection and love. Lots of sexytimes for Elle, Jules and Darian--and the men who please them. Gonna need a third book to pair off the rest of the pack, but so far everyone is totes cool with their mate-pairings. \n In Her Perfect Mates by A.C. Arthur, Malec hates being a shifter--ever since his twin killed himself. Channing never knew his parents, but his adoptive family was very kind. These two met up with Blaez years ago and they all served in a special ops group in the Marines, alongside Phelan. Now they work and live together in a highly secured compound in the mountains. The previous book was the lovestory between Blaez and his mate Kira. There's a big shifter war in their world, and they came from different factions. Blaez is a hunted shifter due to his pure werewolf lineage. Malec meets new-to-town veterinarian Caroline when he brings her a mutilated buck to see if it can be saved. Malec suspects the buck was a message from Hunter shifters after Blaez--he didn't suspect he'd find his mate at the office however. Malec's not used to being intimate with women on his own--he always makes up the third leg of a menage, with charming Channing. Thing is, Channing's also drawn to Caroline, and Caroline wants both men--except that would make her a slut, like her prostitute mother. The real and present danger forces them all close, and it seems like the only way to keep Caroline safe, from predation and gossips, is to bring her into the pack. Also, sexytimes. \n In all, I liked WILD PASSIONS best, because it's sweet and lots of sexy, but the other two are cool, and interesting in their own way. Each will have more stories to come--to resolve the major plot arcs that are still open, and also secure mates for the currently unpaired shifter males. \n I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 31 06:28:04 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 31 06:29:11 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "25659787", "review_id": "a2231d8b24ba359354835f24fec8075c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book is a two-fer of BBW shifter romance. One wild erotic ride, and one suspenseful adventure. Both stories can be read on their own. \n FERAL PASSIONS is the first story, and I liked it best. Cherry has always been put down for her weight and has a painful past with men. She's conned into a week-long vacation by her sister and her sister's BFF. While staying at the beautiful, isolated, mountainous wolf reserve, Feral Passions, Cherry is stunned and suspicious of the interest she receives from two of the ranch hands, Brad and Cain. Both men are stunningly beautiful, as are the rest of the staff. Cherry was approached by a good looking man before, and he tore her world apart, so she's loath to accept their overtures--until she decides to follow her heart and treat this as a fling. \n Brad and Cain share a secret with their fellow males on Feral Passions land-they are werewolves. Capable of shifting into their wolf forms at will, they entertain the female-only clientele in the hopes of finding a mate. For Brad and Cain this is more of a challenge, as they are themselves a couple, and looking for a third. Could Cherry be The One? They have a very sexy week trying to convince her. \n This is a lighthearted breezy read with lots of sexytimes and a bit of minor conflict. I loved how Cherry was a bright woman, and had those guys all figured out! I also loved how sensual the sexytimes were, and Cherry's willingness to accept Brad and Cain as a pair. Delish! 4 Stars. \n THE ALPHA'S WOMAN was not my favorite, but still interesting. \n Kira is an Alpha female, raised to the perfect mate to an Alpha, but there isn't an Alpha in her current pack for her to mate. Her current Alpha is her father, and he's turned his back on her, allowing his Betas to assault her in the attempt to claim the top of the pecking order. She flees and ends up dragged into a new pack, against her will. Blaez is an Alpha who will never claim a mate. His parents tried that, and were destroyed by vengeful Greek gods, leaving Blaez and orphan. He can't bear to lose another family, but he also won't leave Kira on her own, knowing some other pack will claim or kill her. \n This story has a lot of world building and mythology that doesn't advance the romance. Most of the time Kira and Blaez were at odds, and unhappy with Blaez's highhandedness--yes, Blaez even made himself angry. The story jumped a bit, and left me wanting more romance, for sure. That said, I enjoyed the end. 3 Stars. \n I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 31 05:05:35 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 31 05:07:19 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Oct 31 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "31844114", "review_id": "b8320c43d5be795bc8b76b390785a1c5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This review was written for Joyfully Jay Reviews and can be accessed here: http://joyfullyjay.com/2016/10/review... \n Gideon is a man destined to repeat his mistakes. He will be reborn once a century to kill those put in his path. What Gideon doesn't know is that he is a Black Knight, sworn emissary of Moriel, and an assassin/antihero of the first order. Gideon can only break his contract with Moriel if he pardons his mortal enemy; in his case, it's always the Golden Boy, a fair-skinned, fair-haired younger man that stokes Gideon's lust, even as he disrupts Gideon's plans. \n Michael Mathison is a man bent on revenge. His beloved, Christopher, was wooed away a decade ago to move in with young Gideon Marbury. Three weeks later, Christopher, a man deathly afraid of heights, leapt to his death from a five-story balcony. Recently, Michael was struck by the news of Gideon's elder brother, Richard, the Duke of Marbury, who died suddenly of an allergic reaction while inspecting his land. Michael knew Richard as a conscientious and careful man when they attended Eton together. Gideon stood to inherit a fortune in land if Richard was out of the way. Coincidence? Michael thinks not. \n Michael's so determined to catch Gideon out that he engineers a car wreck that ultimately costs Gideon his license. Still incensed, Michael applies to be a driver for the new Duke, and that's when it gets real. Michael is stupefied by Gideon's good looks and suave demeanor. No matter how deep he digs, he can't seem to unearth any dirt on Gideon. As his driver, however, he soon realizes that Gideon is not the upstanding member of the peerage he projects. No, this sociopath is a studied killer, but why? And for whom? \n We get Gideon's point of view, so we know whom he's contracting with, but Michael doesn't get it, at first. Soon, however, Michael's life is on the line--is it Gideon plotting against him? Or, someone else? Also, Gideon's mad attracted to his sexy driver. Their shenanigans soon escalate into physical intimacy. For me, this came pretty soon. Michael's spent the last decade hating Gideon, but he's able to rage sex the man after a few days? I had a little trouble with that, considering the short time frame of this liaison. Further, the flirtation was really overt. I'd expect a man of Gideon's station and questionable activities to be a bit more circumspect. \n That said, the unraveling mystery of Christopher's tragic death and Richard's actual murder becomes the biggest part of the story. Gideon and Michael become unwilling allies in the search for justice, and that strengthens their bond. This I did like, especially as I could see Gideon shifting from a cold-blooded killer to man who acknowledged his frailties and asked for help, for affection. It was a touch convenient for me, but I did enjoy the shift. It's hard to enjoy a despicable character, and that word truly defines Gideon, in this incarnation. His homicidal tendencies arise early in childhood, and his systematic studies in death are chilling to say the least. \n Regardless, it seems this tenuous connection with Michael may be the salvation of Gideon's soul from the grips of Moriel. There are definite moments where the supernatural creeps into the script, but only in quiet ways. We don't see any apparitions or visitations in the contemporary setting, though we understand it happens once Gideon blows his opportunity, yet again. \n For Michael and Gideon the mysteries surrounding the new crop of deaths in and around the Marbury estate are problematic, and tragic. Michael is a detail-oriented man, and he determines the culprit quickly. That doesn't mean the resolution is easy, however. There's lots of conflict, and a bit of loving. The mystery is interesting, and its solution is compelling. Expect bloodshed, more than one attempt to kill Gideon, some really intense sexytimes, and family ties that bind people far too close for comfort. I liked the story, even if the premise wasn't quite as clear from the blurb. There's a *bit* of magic here, but it's unobtrusive. The book is a set up for other Black Knights books, so I'm expecting more stories, though it's not clear if there's overlapping characters. The way this one ended, I just can't imagine it to be that way.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 27 13:51:58 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 27 13:56:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Oct 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "31304181", "review_id": "537c651db3af337126acede95bc5f385", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Sarasija Mishra has no idea what he's gotten himself into when he blindly accepts a job offer that moves him from Washington to New Orleans. He's never met the man he'll be an assistant to, but the pay is substantial and the contract is for a single year. He wants to help pay some of his mother's bills now that his father recently passed--and he feels a bit inadequate compared with his elder siblings who all went to professional schools, while he screwed around and got a \"go nowhere\" degree. \n Sara's not so pleased when it turns out his employer lives in a rundown bayou house in the midst of the swamp. And his employer, Mr. Thaddeus Dupont doesn't want him there. All Sara can think is it's because Mr. Dupont doesn't want a gay man living with him, but he soon realizes that Mr. Dupont is a man unlike any he's met before. \n I mean, really, has anyone ever heard of a gay vampire monk? \n This book seems like it would be lighthearted, or at least kooky-spooky, but it's really an awesome paranormal thriller/romance. Thad has devoted his last 85 years to being an agent of death for demons the Catholic church can't eradicate. He works within a shadowy organization, the White Monks, who kill demons, and he's their back-up plan when it gets ugly. Thad does this, and maintains his celibacy, in order to redeem his soul. A devout Catholic, Thad wants the chance at an Afterlife, but being so close to Sara is an excruciating temptation. Sara is meant to be his food source. Thad can survive on small droughts of blood, but he only wants female vessels because they don't arouse him. Plus, Thad's compulsion powers don't seem to work very well on Sara. Sara's invading Thad's mind, too, which is deeply unsettling. \n Thad hasn't seen so much demon activity...ever, and the called ones are particularly interested in Thad. Why? Who's calling them, and how does this guy know so much about Thad's ancient history? The demons strike close to Thad's core, kidnapping his daytime agent, Nohea, and attacking Sara. Meanwhile, the ghost of Thad's only lover, Leo, has come a-calling and the message is not good: the person controlling the demon activity wants Thad to turn him into a vampire. \n The interplay between Sara and Thad is really a yummy build up of emotional and sexual tension. Sara isn't best-pleased to learn he signed up to be a year-long feast for Thad, yet he's paradoxically miffed when Thad won't drink from him. Is it because he's a dude? Is it the gay thing? Because Sara finds Thad to be very attractive, and his esteem grows by leaps and bound when he sees Thad in action, fighting and destroying the demons. Soon, he feels honored, not obliged, to offer himself for Thad's use--and that doesn't just mean as a blood snack. Thad's inner reserve is great, but he cannot resist beautiful, sultry Sara for too long. He also can't help feeling guilty afterward. \n I loved the intertwining of religion here, because Sara is a nominal Hindu. He didn't really practice the religion, but he knows some of the ancient tales, and begins a little bit of practice as a center for his own concept of soul--following Thad's example. It was cool how this came to be important at the climax, and I really enjoyed the inter-racial and interfaith aspects of the book. \n It's a little different take on the vampire mythos, but a nice change for the paranormal fan. There's more action than romance, but the tension is great, the plot quickly-paced and the hope that Thad and Sara can make something beautiful come from their odd-couple connection is also high. There are also elements of humor that are totally fun. Sara's a dead-pan kinda guy, and Thad hasn't had so much leavity in his life in a long, long time. I really loved how determined Thad was to keep human fatalities to a minimum, and how reverent he felt about Sara. He's a good man who got caught in a bad way. What was also sweet was the position the White Monks took to the advent of Sara, and Thad breaking his celibacy vow. The story ends, but the series has just begun. Very excited to follow along! \n I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 18 04:23:31 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 18 05:00:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Oct 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "31622576", "review_id": "096e66a498de181b227c4d90826c2091", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 Stars. \n Soren Rochester is a man with a big problem. Besides being a werewolf, his last girlfriend Shelby was a psycho witch who cursed him to remain in his wolf form--along with his dearest friends--forever unless he found true love in two weeks time. Unwilling to let it all go, he allows his assistant to sign him up for Extreme Bachelor, a competition to find his mate--despite his introvert wishes. \n Allyse is a curvy witch, hoping to find a full-time job so she can better care for her ailing mother. Having worked on TV productions in the past, she applies for a job on Extreme Bachelor--and winds up a contestant. Her dog-loving nature is the perfect compliment to Soren's life-long love of canines. They are his business after all. \n Impatient to begin wooing the luscious beauty he meets by mistake in his kitchen, Soren disqualifies all the sequined club girls on the first night, but he still can seem to win Allyse's heart. Is he doomed to be a beast the rest of his life, yanked on a chain held by heartless Shelby? \n I liked the resolution of this story much more than the beginning, which held a few inconsistencies. Allyse is a sweet gal with lots of insecurities, about her body image and her witchcraft skills. Soren is a solid guy who wants a real love, one who shares his whole life, even as a werewolf. His predicament is a little melodramatic, but he bears it well. This is a breeze of a read to wile away a cool afternoon.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 17 06:16:15 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 08 18:01:43 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Oct 17 06:17:04 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "32069098", "review_id": "a6c7f01b002e3449c4c0067949f2c703", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 stars for this contemporary M/M paranormal romance. \n Dominic Ashworth is a Contemporary descendant of the witch brothers Isaac and Alexander Ashworth. Nearly 190 years before Alexander had fallen for his best friend Liam, and tragedy struck--turning Alexander into a vengeful witch besmirched by blood magic. Isaac banished him to the afterlife, he thought, but Alexander lingers in a half-life, his only chance at escape to attack an Ashworth and steal the blood to reanimate his spirit. \n Dominic and his sister Alice had previously lived in Ashworth Farm, the site of Alexander's banishment. Their estranged father sold the property without their knowledge and the new owner, Zach Briceworth, is a distant relative, as stipulated in their deceased mother's will. Dominic decides to check out the new owner, to ensure he has a protective tattoo to prevent attack by Alexander's spirit. He meets Zach's attractive housemate, Caleb, and the interest is mutual. Dominic doesn't want to confess all his worst assets, at first--like how he's descended from witches and the house may carry a malevolent spirit. He knows this makes him sound crazypants, even if it's all true. \n As odd instances begin to erupt around them, however, Dominic is forced to come clean to Caleb, and Zach. It's a problem in their developing relationship--as Caleb's sure Dominic was using him to get inside info on the ghost business. Just when they reconnect, however, Alexander begins his shenanigans again, and this time, it's a life-or-death scenario. \n I really enjoyed this sweet contemporary paranormal romance. Dominic and Caleb are building a strong bond--one that's a little frightening in its intensity for both of them. Could it be Alexander pulling their strings? The question is valid, especially when Dominic discovers paintings and journals from the era of Issac, Alexander and Liam. We have a few historical moments, mostly flashbacks in time that Dominic experiences in dreams. Those are never positive, but the paranormal activity isn't all linked to Alexander--and that's pivotal in the conflict resolution. When we get to the climax it was resolved almost too quickly, but I really liked how it all settled, nonetheless. \n Dominic and Caleb are a sweet couple that have an intense attraction and many a yummy sexytime. The secondary characters, notably Alice and Zach are all interesting and good confidants. I really liked how well Zach and his father embraced the paranormal in their lives--mostly because they had a supposedly dotty aunt who initiated them, unknowingly, into the idea of witches. Expect to cute times, some tough times, some sexytimes and some ghosty times. Perfect October read!", "date_added": "Tue Oct 11 18:00:04 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 11 18:01:39 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "30800090", "review_id": "e08ec81d43f02dd7cbb39383ceaac679", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This review was originally written for Joyfully Jay Reviews, and can be accessed here; http://joyfullyjay.com/2016/10/review... \n 4.25 stars for this contemporary paranormal M/M romance. \n This book is the second book in the Legend Tripping series, and I think I enjoyed it more because I read Stumptown Spirits first. \n See, Trent Pielmeyer has returned from the undead. He was the roommate/hook-up of Logan Connor that got trapped in a nightly ghost war for seven years. Logan and Riley freed him from the macabre torture a year ago, and Trent is barely holding his life together. His homophobic father isn't pleased to have him home--alive--and claiming his trust fund. He can't confide in anyone about where he's been for all this time, and he has no strong friendships. Adrift, Trent runs off to Portland to find Logan and see if they can rekindle their long-past romance. \n Only Trent has no idea that Logan's about to marry Riley. When Trent shows up in Logan's bar, he's blindsided. Good thing Christophe is there to guide him through his emotional breakdown. \n Christophe is a wealthy, cultured, European man who once dated Riley. He's in Portland for the big wedding and finds Trent to be captivating. They hook up, but it's terrifying to Christophe because he nearly shifts into his werewolf form during the act. Only the calming effect he gains from Trent's touch is able to hold back the beast. Christophe is in a battle of wills with his Old Country father--who insists that Christophe assume control of their company instead of his elder brother, Anton, solely because Christophe can shift and Anton cannot. Their father is also arranging a marriage for Christophe, so he can breed more weres. Worst part? If the mating is successful and a werewolf is gestated, the mother dies at birth. Something Christophe wants no part of, even if he did prefer women--which he does not. \n The connection between Trent and Christophe is tenuous. The plot fixes them together in a really interesting way. Christophe wants to bring Trent to Logan's and Riley's wedding, but Trent only goes because he's been completely cut off financially while he's in Portland. See, Trent's developed acute agoraphobia and he's particularly afraid of forests--having been trapped in a haunted forest ghost show for seven years will do that. There's a lot of tension in the whole scene, because Riley and Trent aren't exactly friendly--oh, and Christophe is dramatically double-crossed leaving him in his wolf skin for...possibly ever. He's on the cusp of being hunted down in his shifter form when he's able to reach Trent and communicate in a way that makes them both stronger. I really liked how Trent grew out of his intense fears on Christophe's account. \n I will mention that there's a scene here that's borderline, a situation of dubious consent between the agents of Christophe's problems. It's certainly unpleasant, and I felt grudgingly moved on one character's part. More to the point, I was wholly behind Trent's heroics, especially because I felt Christophe's wolf was a dummy. Chasing a sports car and hoping you'll catch your quarry? Wolf, please. Despite Christophe's meat-headedness, he's a hero when he needs to be, and the sweetness of their relationship was plain to see. \n I liked that they had real problems to conquer that required cooperation and bravery. The love story in this book was better than that of Stumptown Spirits, in my opinion, because Trent and Christophe each have physical and emotional issues that they need address before resolution. Trent doesn't know if he's twenty, or twenty-seven, and trees freak him out. He hasn't been touched in a compassionate, sexual way in seven years, and each night he dreams he's being hanged in the ghost war. On the other hand, Christophe is a werewolf. And he doesn't want to suffer the ill effects of shifting--or suppressing his shift--any longer. Finding a partner who will love him is nearly impossible, and his family's politics are problematic, at best. So, these two isolated men find a chance encounter so much more than either can discard. I liked it. Nothing like a good hurt/comfort paranormal romance. \n The story resolves, but it's clear the ground is laid for a third book. A review copy was received from NetGalley.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 10 16:07:41 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 10 16:13:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Oct 10 16:13:35 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "26221428", "review_id": "f8ad1b601ceb58269745556c416f5269", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars for this winding Middle Grade adventure. \n Reuben is an 11 y/o boy whose mother works two jobs to support them in the tenements of the Lower Downs, a run-down district of New Umbra. It's summer and shy Reuben spends his long days exploring all around his neighborhood, and avoiding the Directions, collections of four men--who always look out in one of the four directions--who shake down the local merchants for pay-offs on a weekly basis. They work for the dodgy man known as the Counselor, who reports directly to The Smoke--a man no one can attest to ever seeing, but who nevertheless pretty much runs New Umbra, mafioso-style. \n One day while exploring, Reuben discovers a mysterious watch hidden in an alley--and he believes that he could sell this antique watch and make enough money to support his mother for years to come. Only, all the watchmakers seem to want to buy it for very little money. One, Mrs. Genevieve, is horrified about the watch when Reuben comes acalling. All the watchmakers have been warned to immediately call the Counselor if the watch turns up. This sets Reuben to working on the watch, and discovering it's dangerous secret: it can render the bearer invisible for short lengths of time. It seems ripe for profit, but the Directions are turning neighborhoods in the Lower Downs inside out looking for Reuben and his fantastic watch. \n So, Reuben not only can't profit from his find, he knows that he's in terrible danger from The Smoke, so he must discover the mystery behind the watch in order to return it to the rightful owner. Therein begins a bit of subterfuge, and a long trip, and the end of a hundred years quest for the Meyer family, sworn defenders of the watch. It allows Reuben to make friends for the first time, as Jack and Penny vow to help Reuben free himself for the scrutiny of The Smoke. \n This is an interesting read. It's also a very long read. I felt as if the tension wasn't very high for nearly the first 150 pages, and while all those winding paths were eventually reunited into a robust trail at the end, it wasn't very satisfying. All those long-winded descriptions had nip-and-tuck resolutions, and I found the pacing to be a challenge to my interest. I liked the mysteries, and I liked the camaraderie that eventually developed, but I truly would have enjoyed the book far better had it been at least a third shorter. \n I'm not going to reveal more plot. It's convoluted and yet interesting. I liked the idea of the story more than I liked the execution, which felt rambling and verbose in many patches. I almost despaired that the book would not have a solid resolution, that we'd be dragged into a sequel, but that wasn't the case, and for that I was absolutely grateful. It's not a bad book. It's just slow, and all the action is understated. I think kids who really like adventure and mystery stories will enjoy this book. I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, and the art was incomplete, but what I saw of it I really liked. I think the art will be of great interest to middle grade readers, too.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 08 19:48:55 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 09 03:46:26 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "31310467", "review_id": "6829a157b04a69f41b398c2597e7a5c3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is an upper YA/New Adult type of read which features two 18 yo boys who finally experience a real love. \n Olly and Scott were best mates from the ages of 9-14. Then there was a kiss. And, their friendship dissolved. Olly admitted he was gay, and Scott would never admit to such a thing, not with his extremely homophobic father pressuring him to keep away for Olly. \n Now, they are 18, and finishing their A-levels (think: senior year in high school here in the US). The pressure is on, and their coming exams will determine which uni they'll attend. When Scott takes a bad turn and injures Olly by mistake, their animosity is exposed out on the street. Miss Wychwood, odd neighbor to Olly, takes a particular interest in the melee, and it's not long before Olly and Scott have their lives turned upside down. Olly wakes inside of Scott, and Scott is trapped in Olly's body. \n It's a body swap! I've loved this trope since the original Parent Trap (with Hayley Mills!!) and I really enjoyed how it worked here. Instead of Olly and Scott helping others connect, they get a unique chance to discover all the good and bad bits of the other, and come to terms with their true feelings. While \"Olly\" is brushing up his footie skills so as to not shame Scott on the school pitch, \"Scott\" is learning all the lines for Romeo, as he's now the lead in the school play. If it means \"Olly\" gets the chance to flirt with boys--and even kiss them (as Scott has secretly desired for a while), well then \"Scott\" must also snog \"his\" girlfriend. Poor Olly! He sure knew he didn't have a single scrap of heterosexuality after those experiences in Scott's stead. Thing is, Scott becomes more and more convinced that he's the one living the lie--and that Olly is the love of his life. Olly already knew that about Scott; it's why he broke off their friendship four years ago--he couldn't bear to watch Scott date girls. \n This book is a *little* light on the sexytimes, compared to other books by this author, but it fit reasonably well with the story. These are boys trapped in the others' body--and it feels like an invasion of privacy to indulge even in manual stimulation. They do break down those barriers, as they build a better rapport and reconnect with each other. I liked how their bond had some time to develop, and it's SOOO tender. And sweet. And just a bit hot, too. \n I really liked how Scott's parents dealt with the changes they are noticing in \"Scott.\" Olly, in Scott's stead, is exposed to Scott's dad's homophobia, and that's pretty rough. Olly's own parents are super open and loving, and it was interesting to see the careful steps that Scott's mother took to open communication and build a better rapport. Scott's girlfriend, on the other hand, wasn't a nice gal, and Scott was better off being fully shot of her. I liked his friends, on the whole, and I LOVED how conscientious Olly was--to be mindful of Scott's needs and not trying to make any permanent changes that would play out unfavorably when/if he and Scott swapped back to their original selves. \n Ultimately, this is a sweet read, with lots of excellent introspection, a little magic and a YA-ish level of sexual exploration. It's probably a bit racy for young teens, but the emotional accessibility will appeal to all age levels.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 08 15:01:27 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 09 03:43:47 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "29069989", "review_id": "3c6bb2115afa535a5b709e8d65236875", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 Stars for this one! I've talked to some young readers who've recently devoured the series, and they report it's not THEIR kind of book, but, as an adult reader, I adored it. \n So. I bought the hype, somewhat. I've read all the HP books with my eldest, nearly 20 years old now, and I couldn't resist this one, even though it's not a novel. It's a play. Expect stage directions and all if you pick it up. It's also not really a kid's story. Which is totally fine because the last three books, IMHO, were for elder readers-late teen to adult. How many ten year olds really want to slog through THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, after all? \n That said, this book makes a distinct break because a large portion of the story is told from an adult POV, that of Harry Potter at ages 37-40. He's married with three children and one of his kids, the middle child Albus Severus Potter, is a misfit. Not only does Albus get sorted into Slytherin, his best friend is outcast Scorpius Malfoy, only child of Draco Malfoy. Albus struggles with his auspicious parentage, especially as he doesn't possess the fantastic gifts at wizardry of his father, or even his popular elder brother, James. Further, Albus and Harry have a very strained relationship. Harry struggles as a parent to Albus, but has no issues with James and Lily. It isolates Albus, even when Harry makes deliberate attempts, fruitless though they are, to connect. \n Meanwhile, Scorpius is haunted by rumors that his father is truly Voldemort, and he's mercilessly harangued at Hogwarts. Albus stays by his side, and they develop a strong, true friendship. The plot gets very messy when a Time Turner is discovered by the Ministry of Magic. See, Time Turners are outlawed because changing the past is a BIG PROBLEM. And, the experimental Time Turner is able to bring people back far further than ever imagined. One person in particular, Amos Diggory, wants Harry to go back and save his lost son, Cedric. This cause, saving The Spare who was murdered in Harry's stead, becomes of prime importance for 14 year-old Albus. And he recruits Scorpius and Cedric's cousin, Delphi, to assist in stealing the Time Turner from his Aunt Hermione in order to pull off this daring rescue. \n I think we all know this goes poorly. As all adults will opine, changing the past is fraught with collateral damage. And that's exactly what happens. While we're never eager to embrace the atrocities that have come to pass, we also know that undoing such things, say by murdering Hitler as a child or something, would lead to so many unforeseen consequences that our world would be irrevocably altered. So, the play, the story, embraces the worst of these outcomes, and builds real terror for Albus and Scorpius. It harkens to the adage \"No good deed goes unpunished,\" and we experience a great deal of punishment in this fiction-scape. \n As an adult, I relished the nuances of the story. I expect many younger kids won't. They don't have the maturity to fully experience the adult POV, but so many of the readers of this series are adults, and I believe that those people are, like myself, well satisfied. Several themes are similar to all HP books: friendship saves the day, valor is a consequence of situation-not a goal to seek, and courage is being who you are, regardless of consequence. The old ties are strong, and new ties can be beneficial. It was rewarding, to me, to see Harry and Draco on the same side, openly, for the first time. I liked how all the pieces fit together, in the same way that they always have. I didn't feel as if I was wondering, much, and I liked the pacing of the story. I'm out of practice reading plays, but fell right in once I got started. In truth, it was refreshing not having the ponderous descriptions of setting bog me down, just this once. That said, I much prefer novels, on the whole. Though, in reality, this book would have been twice as big if it had been a novel. I was able to follow along with all the scene changes and implied emotive notes without any difficulty. Younger readers might struggle with the format, which is the sentiment I've gathered from those who have read the book already. \n I really do not want to spoil the book, but it must be said that both Voldemort and his progeny are present on the page, albeit briefly. It's a bittersweet read with tons of action and a plot that satisfied. I literally read the book in the span of an evening, so you know the pace is fantastic.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 26 13:47:09 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 26 13:52:12 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "30141326", "review_id": "b8ac0cad7ed51390ce41f255cc3e83df", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a collection of paranormal M/M romance novellas that feature the \"Paranormal FBI\" partners Lynn Seymour, a kraken shifter, and Anderson Meadows, a unicorn shifter. \n Soon into their first case together Lynn and Anderson begin a very delicious and dirty sexual relationship. I was enthralled with the variety and intensity of sexytimes these two got up to, especially as Lynn, being a kraken, can change his sex. Anderson seems to prefer the male Lynn, but he has no trouble loving up the lady bits either, when Lynn goes undercover. \n There are five or six novellas that follow \"Wriggly\" and \"Sparkleson\" as they build a life together, even if their work partnership fizzles. I really enjoyed their hi jinks and how they were smart investigators--and handled all the misadventures they got rolled up into, even by accident. I don't want to reveal all the fun stuff. I came into the book expecting to be amused, and that expectation was absolutely exceeded. \n Lynn is a wealthy kraken, who will spare no expense for his beautiful, snarky Sparkleson. Anderson had never planned to settle down, but he is enthralled by Lynn's possessiveness and deep affection. Oh, and the sex is phenomenal. Tentacles abound. And, later on, lady-bits, too. There's so much variety that Anderson never needs to look for another partner. Lynn's love for Anderson knows no limits and Anderson's amazed to realize this is the case for him, too. \n Expect meddling family, murderous family, snark, snark and more snark, spoiling of a unicorn, the thorough taking of one shifter by another on the regular, many solved crimes and bad guys brought to justice, and a happily ever after so sweet I need a dental x-ray. \n I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 23 09:28:19 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 23 10:44:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "30646637", "review_id": "6296bf4b46fcc357de9307a84a5f8044", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the first book in a sci-fi space opera trilogy and is an excellent first book by a young author. \n The galaxy is still healing from the Order War which claimed billions of lives in the quest for freedom from the repressive Galactic Government. Ten years ago marked the final battle, and General Taylor Ghatzi, a powerful telekinetic female humanoid, was on the front line at the point of the Pyrrhic victory. It's where Taylor lost her friend and partner, Prince Steve. \n Now, the galaxy is splintered into several factions, some systems under better (Meltian Empire) rule while others were in worse (Kaleknarian Empire) control. On Icarus Day, the annual remembrance of the final Order War battle, Admiral Ghatzi is caught is a deadly battle with fire-throwing telekinetics (aka Firestormers) from a rebel organization calling itself the Alliance. She's able to save many, due to her quick thinking and quicker reflexes, including Hezekiah, her second in command. Hezekiah is a man she might find some solace with, if she wasn't his commander, and if he doesn't get killed first. Hashing out the goals and leadership of the Alliance is as high on Taylor's list of priorities as is preventing any movement that could tip the precarious galactic power structure into war. \n Cherran DeGuavra is a Meltian diplomat charged with filling his father's large, and powerful, shoes in keeping the balance of peace in the galaxy. He's all about the appearance of calm, knowing that a single misstep could be seen as aggression in PanGal, the loose association of ambassadors from all the empires. That the Kaleknarians have aggressively occupied Tracsion, the only system planet that mines flip-drive powering tracsionite, is a move toward war. Cherran also believes the Meltian government is not as cohesive as the president would like--specifically Ryan Harrison, chair of the Defense branch, seems to have far too many secrets, and some odd over-reaching goals, for a peacetime commander. That Harrison wants to send a powerful contingent of warships to liberate Tracsion, as well as take out colluders to the Icarus Day attackers--the small rebel Jacobian organization--is also suspect, especially for Admiral Ghatzi. She believes Harrison may be protecting the very people behind the attack, using his political will to take out rival organizations. \n The stage is set for battle and it's up to Taylor to navigate the frontlines with caution, and competence, while Cherran works his diplomatic magic--both endeavoring to maintain the peace, free the oppressed, and figure out Harrison's angle. It's a tense book, with several battles and skirmishes spanning what amounts to roughly two weeks' time. Through the dual POV, Taylor and Cherran, we get both the political and the tactical sides of the experience, and there's a tiny dash of romance--Taylor definitely has feelings for Hezekiah, which seem to be reciprocated. I expect the next book will explore this relationship as it develops from genial commander-subordinate to a more equality-type romantic one. I liked the action and the adventure of this galaxy, and the creativity of the many factions. The political intrigue was also good, but a little harder for me to follow with Cherran's POV, compared to the investigation being run by Taylor and her commander. It think this is an inherent problem with the shell-game that is politics, than with the author's skill, however. It's always a tough piece to write, and to understand, when the characters can't see the full picture due to elaborate subterfuge by the main antagonist, in this case Harrison. \n Still, I really enjoyed the book. I'm a fan of adventure sagas, and this one's definitely headed in a great direction, with Harrison's main objective still a bit murky, and Taylor, Hezekiah, Cherran and others keeping very close tabs on him. It's unclear if Harrison's a mastermind, bent on ultimate galactic control, or a puppet whose nefarious projects have taken on their own new and dangerous roles. There are so many characters, it's a little hard to track everything, but I found the pace to be good, with little down-time. The goals are always for peace, even if some battle is necessary to achieve it. Taylor's battle scars are not only physical, she still suffers nightmares of her time in the War; and her growing affection for Hezekiah is scary--she doesn't want to lose another lover, like she did with Steve. It's endearing. I'm anxious to see how all of this plays out in the coming books. A great first book in a series, and one I'll continue to follow, for sure.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 15 01:27:26 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 15 02:13:33 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 15 07:32:12 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "30989088", "review_id": "1cb898b3c79fb4035135d14bf7ba7644", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the second book in a series, and should be read after KICK AT THE DARKNESS. Some mild spoilers for KICK AT THE DARKNESS included below. \n It's contemporary times, but it's also the end of times. The world was infected with a virus that has decimated the population and turned the infected into mindless zombies. Adam and Parker were students at Stanford, Adam a 23 y/o films studies grad student, and Parker an 18 y/o freshman in Adam's class when everything went bananas. They escaped California on Adam's motorcycle and headed east, to see if Parker's family survived the carnage. Along the way they were attacked, fell for each other, confessed some startling secrets, got over themselves, were held hostage, escaped from real and present dangers--many times--and hit the coast. Only to discover Parker's family long gone. \n They bundled up and took off for safety in a yacht, and that's where Fight the Tide picks up. Parker and Adam are making their way south along the east coast. Parker is a trained sailor; his family owned a yacht and he sailed regularly in his childhood. That said, he's never made such a long trip without more skilled partners--his father and elder brother--and he knows going into the open ocean is a very dangerous prospect. Staying close to shore isn't easy either. It's nearing the end of hurricane season, but storms could disable their boat, or send it crashing to the shore. Being near the coast allows them to drop into port now and again to scavenge supplies. Adam, who is a werewolf, always makes these trips as he's immune to the virus, and his heightened strength and senses allow him to avoid or overcome any zombies that attack. That doesn't help Parker, alone on the boat, when pirates board. \n Despite Parker's general wariness, he helps rescue a boat in a storm, picking up two adults and their kids. This companionship is mostly welcome, especially by Adam, who is a drifter and grateful for any pack he can cobble together. Adam and the other adults want to make sail for Salvation Island, a place not on any of Parker's maps, yet whose beacons come across the radio frequencies every evening. Parker's sure it's another trap, and is adamantly against, but circumstances force even his will--when he needs to get help for one of his passengers. \n There is constant action in this book. It's a rollicking ride, with danger lurking from page-to-page. Parker isn't good with people, and his suspicious nature is bolstered with each new tragedy. He's also haunted by the pirate attack, and he's ashamed that he can't move past it. Adam's a bulwark, but he can't be everything for Parker. Plus, the calls of Salvation Island prove to be a siren song he has trouble resisting. I think if Adam had the ability to sail that far, he'd have forced Parker's hand much sooner. \n Despite the harrowing plot, there is still a strong romance here. Parker and Adam are two men in love, and they take great pleasure exploring their relationship in ways that were soopa-hawt. Serious. I had to stop and fan myself at times. As the book drew near it's end, I was glad to watch Parker and Adam make it to safety, even as the seeds for a third book were clearly sown. Safety shouldn't be the only goal, in Adam's mind, not when there are so many humans struggling. I foresee a werewolf invasion, one that liberates humans and hopefully helps eradicate the virus--but that's my own hope! Also, the author has mentioned a fourth, related, book, and I expect it will involve one of Parker's rescues--Jacob--who will *fingers crossed* find a safe haven and partner down the road. \n For paranormal/post-apocalyptic stories, this one's really on the contemporary-realistic side of those genres. There's little shifting, and the zombie menace is easy to imagine. I liked the elements of sailing included here, and thought it reflected a wealth of carefully-collected and sparingly delivered knowledge of actual sailing. I never felt overwhelmed by it; and I grasped how dangerous it was--in a way I had never really expected. In short, it felt so real, I could nearly taste the salty ocean spray on my face. I'm so in on this series, I might need to take drastic measures to get book 3 as soon as possible. Highly recommend!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 25 17:48:47 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 25 17:50:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "30097010", "review_id": "05e33795112145f7dad47fa44ada3b6b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This review was written for Joyfully Jay Reviews and can be accessed here: http://joyfullyjay.com/2016/07/review... \n Aden is an emotionally-damaged, out gay man who goes to a concert and finds himself waiting for his final judgment. He has no idea how he died, but his angelic companion in line assures him that he's in the Hereafter. Aden expects to assigned to Hell. He's not a good guy, and yet, not all of that is his fault. \n When he arrives in front of Dante and Raphael, it's clear that they cannot decide where he belongs either, so they make him a bargain: thirty days on Earth and if he does right and learns about love, he can go to Heaven. Continue living as he had, selfish and narcissistic with no one to even mourn him? Hell for sure. \n Aden arrives in Caterham, a rural community south of London, with only the clothes on his back. He must find a way to survive without stealing or scamming if he wants to go to Heaven. He's also granted seven extra lives, in the event things don't go right. And, they don't. He meets the hood of Brody's car before he meets the driver. Yep, struck by a vehicle while walking down the unlit country lane. \n Brody is a veterinary surgeon with a bad past. He's back in Caterham living on his family's horse farm with his brother Des' family. Brody's hiding from his abusive ex, Matt--a man who really ought to be in prison. Brody hasn't gotten over Matt, but he's also tired of his abuse. I'm not going to explain their complicated history, but it's nasty and I was so glad Brody escaped. Still, Brody's whole life has been shaped by Matt's abuse, and it leads him to dark places, and more trouble. Hitting Aden wasn't part of the plan, but he's grateful when he and Des discover Aden hiding in Des' horse barn. At least he can try to help the man he thought he killed. \n Aden proves to be indispensible, saving Des' son from a bad fall, fixing farm equipment, and gentling Brody's own horse. All the while, the tension builds between Aden and Brody. Aden gains some insight into his final hours while he learns to be a good friend, and a good partner for Brody. He doesn't want Brody to fall for him, but he also doesn't want to abandon Brody when he learns about Matt and recognizes who he is: a dangerous, obsessed man who Aden fears will try to \"possess\" Brody in whatever way he can. \n This is a redemption tale, and it's well-told. Trigger warnings: I hadn't expected the level of abuse that was present for both Brody and Aden in their respective lives. That was startling, and sad. Expect a rape. Also, some recollections of vile child molestation. The circumstances of Aden's death were also shocking and poignant considering the recent spate of mass shootings in the world. While Aden struggles to do right, he's beset by Dante, who wants his soul in Hell, and aided by Raphael, who sees the innate goodness that a young, neglected and abused Aden learned to hide away. There's a lot of torment right here on Earth, and part of that is Aden finding love just when it's too late to grasp. \n Because there are spiritual elements present, readers should expect miracles to occur. And they are the best miracles, really. I had a bit of terror with some alternate endings that were rolling in my thoughts, which caused me to read all the faster. I knew that Matt was big trouble, and had been trouble for a very long time, so I feared he'd do serious harm. Spoiler alert: he does, just not in the heinous way I had been acutely fearing. I really felt a part of this story, and ached for Aden's soul to find peace, and Brody's life to be safe. The end is the best example of hopes realized that I've read in a while. It *might* seem a bit far-fetched, but this is a story about angels and demons and redeeming a lost soul; so, yeah. Miracles happen. Life goes on. Sexytimes for the right reasons. HEA on the horizon. If I didn't actually cry in reading this book, it was because I had no tears left.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 01 15:23:54 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 05 07:52:49 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 01 15:32:37 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "26075798", "review_id": "f2f83e92723953b5781a769ce81ca500", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is the 7th in a series and really best enjoyed when read in order. THIRDS is set in an alternate world where a disease resulted in an altered human state--Therians are a new race of shifters that exist side-by-side with Humans, and there's often trouble. Police officers of THIRDS are matched Humans and Therians partnerships, and they are sent out to settle civil, criminal and domestic disputes (think SWAT, but for shifters) that involves shifters. \n Dex and Sloane have been partners in THIRDS and partners in love for over a year. They have survived many a tragedy, together, and are now openly living together. Sloane recently \"marked\" Dex, scratching him with his jaguar claw. This is a very dangerous bargain, because marking results in an open link between their emotions. Dex can feel Sloane at all times, and comes to crave being in Sloane's presence. Also, the scent of Sloane on Dex is a cause for problems, as other Therians see Dex as a mark to be claimed--a prize to be won. It results in quite a lot of conflict, fending off these would-be mates. \n Dex, Sloane and the rest of their THIRDS team have been steadily, covertly, training in TIN--Therian Intelligence Network--physical tactics, and it greatly benefits Dex when he's kidnapped and needs to escape what is clearly certain death. His torture by a Therian Spook called Wolf sets Dex on a path of discovery about his parents. John and Gina, who were murdered when Dev was only 5, may have been covert operatives, but for whom? Unreliable sources say they helped incorporate Sloane, Ash and other First-Gen Therians into the youth experimentation project that was little more than torture for years on end. It's more than Slaone can take, thinking that Dex's mother was somehow involved in his horrible youth--and that's a big wedge to their otherwise healthy relationship. \n It's also clear that Dex isn't exactly unchanged after his rescue. The Therians around him are experiencing some odd, and downright baffling, responses to his presence. When Ash buys Dex gummi bears we KNOW there's something BIG happening--and I liked how both the mystery of Dex's parents and Dex's subtle transformation were two intertwined plot-lines. This adds a whole new layer to the THIRDS saga, and still keeps the other relationships intact. \n Speaking of relationships, there are two that are brought front-and-center in this book. A reunion and a revelation, and I think readers will be happy with both. Also, sexytimes for Dex and Sloane have never been more molten. Good gravy! And, there's still that winsome humor to lighten up the dark moments. Lots of seriously good counseling from supporting cast--never thought I'd be saying this, but thank goodness for Ash! I experienced a small trip down memory lane going through Dex's treasured childhood belongings, as I was a Care Bear Kid back in the 80s, too. This one's going to bring out the feels in so many unexpected ways; even as I cursed Sloane, I still wanted to love him up. And then smack some sense into him. And then love him up again. \n Don't judge me! I wanted to love Dex up, too!! \n The end isn't a cliffhanger, but it certainly leaves a wide range of possibility for new stories, adventures, and mayhem. Me, and my Cheesy Doodles, can't wait.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 01 06:08:56 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 01 07:33:37 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "29536947", "review_id": "805fcaf971f0a1261581d561cde5c741", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the fourth book in a series, but I didn't have any trouble enjoying it without having read the previous three books. \n Tom Paretsky is a plumber with a skill that allows him to find \"lost\" things. Unfortunately, he often finds dead bodies, it seems. He's newly engaged to Phil Morrison, a private investigator. Tom's called in as a favor to his sister Cherry, to find something lost, a valuable diamond necklace, for uppity Amelia Fenchurch-Majors. This puts him on the cross side of Amelia's step-daughter, Violet Majors. \n And, when he discovers a body in the midst of the church picnic fundraiser it's a big, big problem. \n Okay, so this is a mystery and it has lots of peril--some bits more mild than others--but it's also a character study. Tom is fantastic. His language is sublime. I never, for an instant, was confused about his Britishness. \n \"So, I've had everyone and his bloody dog asking me all kinds of crap ever since, up to and including Will it rain tomorrow? and Can you just fill in this lottery form for me? ta very much.\" \n \"That's just silly. You can't do anything like that.\" She paused. \"Can you?\" \n \"Sis, I live in a two-bed semi in Fleetville. What do you think? But try telling them that. Everyone seems to think psychic means whatever they bloody well want it to mean. \n Tom and Phil are a sweet couple, still trying to figure out what to do with their relationship. When will they marry? Where? Will they move to Tom's house, Phil's flat or elsewhere? Tom has yet to meet Phil's family--and that's a fun Sunday roast dinner scene. \n Seriously, I was so entertained by Tom I almost didn't care at all about the murder mystery. Though, the investigation continues and it's complicated and sordid and there's plenty of dead-ends and fits and starts. Tom has such a fun and fresh outlook. His dry humor just sings to my soul. I love his bestie, Gary, who makes it perfectly clear that he and his hubs wouldn't mind a bit of four-way with Tom and Phil. Those sassy blokes! This regular-guy-with-a-gift mystery is just good reading. Expect a harrowing moment or two; the killer sure doesn't want a psychic getting the better of him (or her!) and might take the opportunity to snuff Tom's candle. Little bit of sexytimes, but it's not a big part of this story at all. That said, I liked that their relationship progressed nicely, and in a way that very likely leads us into further mystery stories down the pike. \n Sign me up! \n I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 29 11:35:39 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 29 12:30:27 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "29233804", "review_id": "e915edd5174d4d125fd1e03a153e2bb1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This review was written for Joyfully Jay Reviews and can be found here: http://joyfullyjay.com/2016/06/review... \n 5+ stars... \n First off, I want to say that readers will likely want to begin this book on a weekend, or when they have some serious time to read. Because it is long. And, while I never felt it slow, there is no getting around the length. \n Secondly: wow. Or, Wow. Quite possibly WOW. \n I've read a metric ton of shifter books. Hetero, gay, lesbian, menage, YA. For real, this is a genre that I know. \n Wolfsong stands apart. \n Ox is a strapping boy, if a bit slow. He's teased for his lack of intellect, but he's a steadfast and loving boy who takes care of his mom, working in the place of his derelict father from the age of 14. He becomes a mechanic in their small town of Green Creek, building lasting friendships with his fellow grease monkeys, especially Gordo, the owner of the garage. \n Ox and his mom share a small cottage in the woods, which shares a lane with a stately home that's been abandoned nearly Ox's whole life. \n On his 16th birthday, Ox meets Joe Bennett, who he believes to be a precocious kid, but 10-year-old Joe hadn't spoken in over a year before they meet. The Bennetts have moved into the abandoned house and he wants Ox to meet his family, so he drags Ox to their house. It all seems very sweet, especially when Joe gifts Ox with a small stone wolf on the next day--a belated birthday gift. \n The Bennetts are absolutely gone for Ox, in a way that's strange to him. He has close relationships with his mom and Gordo, but Joe's parents and uncle and elder brothers really interact with him strongly. When bullies at school attempt to taunt Ox, the Bennett boys stand up for him. They invite Ox over for dinners all the time, and Joe is soon Ox's best friend. Joe's father counsels Ox continually until Ox begins to think of him as his true father--and the feeling is mutual. \n The years pass and over time Ox recognizes the oddities of the Bennett pack. Because they are indeed werewolves. His strong connection to Joe binds Ox to the pack in a way none had really predicted, and it's Ox that Joe needs to maintain his grasp on humanity. Little did Ox realize that Joe's gift so many years ago would bind them forever. Ox is a man who gives his whole heart, like Joe, even if Ox doesn't see Joe as a partner for much of the book. He is so much younger, and fragile in many ways when they meet. The story unfolds over a period of nearly fifteen years of Ox's life. And the revelations that he finds in himself and his pack are far more than Ox could have ever expected. \n Even without a love spark, Ox has a protectiveness for Joe that is unwavering. He learns of Joe's previous kidnap and torture by a rogue wolf, and is filled with rage for Joe's suffering. That his abuser lives is a serious problem, especially when he escapes his magic-fortified prison. Ox and Joe share a love that was so present for so long that the second Ox realizes the sexual feelings he has for an almost-grown Joe, he's humiliated for being so blind. There are moments of such sweetness and humor, and they help with the parts that are so dire. \n I honestly don't want to linger too long on the plot, because it is epically winding. An underdog becomes a hero. The unlovable finds love. Strength is a measure of power, and force, but also of patience and love. Bad guys will take and take until they cannot take any longer. It is the righteous who will win the day. Any of these could summarize themes in the book. Rest assured that all the threads are part of a rich and beautiful tapestry that is resolved at the end. It's mostly a love story between Ox and Joe, but also between Ox and Ox, and that may sound stupid, but Ox has no love for himself. That the future Alpha of all the North American werewolf packs, Joe, loves him is unimaginable, unfathomable. He's a simple man, and his world is turned inside out by his connection to Joe and the Bennett pack. There is first love and heartbreak and battles to the death and mourning and separation and deep longing and resentment and daring moments and heroic measures. \n The writing itself is non-standard, with prose that is lyrical in many ways and was a little challenging at first. The entire book is told by Ox's viewpoint and the spare sentence structure often belies the deep context. Repetition of certain images and memories are a big part of the story, and how Ox sees his world--not just in abstract emotions, but in vibrant color and brutal clarity. The characterization is epic, and that includes the accessory characters, as well. I could completely see several spin-off books from this one alone, because I would read whatever the author had to offer on at least five other characters from the Bennett pack. I want to assure readers that, despite the pack wars and the double crosses and the separation and the resentment, the book ends on a happy note. There are a couple of scenes of steamy goodness, but it's a small slice of the giant pie.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 29 10:48:50 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 29 11:33:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 29 11:33:14 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "30320387", "review_id": "afceb75b9f94deed832374f825b255fd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the first book in a series, and features an accessory character from the Finishing School series who is all grown up now. It's an adult romance, set in a 1870s England Steampunk world, rife with political intrigue, assassins, vampires, werewolves, and mechanicals. \n Preshea Buss is a four-time widow, mostly by choice. Trained as an assassin in her Finishing School she accepted the favor of a known vampire, Lord Akeldama, who proceeded to get her ingratiated to men who needed dispatch. Well, not the last one. He was just old, and not very troublesome. Dubbed the \"Mourning Star\" by the tabloids, she's never met a man who'd claim her heart. She's been contracted to destroy the budding romance of a plain, but well-fortuned woman, Lady Violet, and her erstwhile, penniless suitor, Mr. Jackson, by Lady Violet's father, the Duke of Snodgrove. It's not really Preshea's cup of Darjeeling, but the reward will enable her to ruin the one man who decimated her heart: her dastardly father. Plus, there are concerns the Duke is in grave danger of assassination. Preshea can protect the Duke while she manages Mr. Jackson... \n Captain Gavin Ruthven is a recent retiree from Her Majesty's service. The tall, broad Scotsman would normally never be interested in a wee lass like the Mourning Star, but they are thrown together for three weeks while he attends his longtime friend, Jack (Mr. Jackson) on his quest for Lady Violet's hand. It's a good cover for the captain's other mission: ensure the Duke isn't killed. Is the noted widow there for pleasure, or will she seal the duke's death? \n I was drawn to this author because of her quirky and fun YA steampunk books. While we are still in that world per se, this novella is fully adult, with zinging banter, scandalous repartee, and steamy interludes. It's not a kids book, by any means, and I really enjoyed this slow-burning romance. Preshea has never been touched with love. Abused as a child, and a married woman, she has no need for another man in her life. She's well-settled due to her many inheritances, and Captain Ruthven--while attractive--initially appears the epitome of a lumbering brute. Yet, the more time they spend the more she is captivated and intrigued by his quiet nature and compassionate conversation. Gavin has little interest in the staid ladies of the ton, even if he were a catch. He's done well financially, making a decent fortune in investments, but he needs a woman who would take him well-in-hand. In short, he's a submissive, and he lives to pleasure women with his compliance, as well as his body. \n Expect mischief and mayhem, and the employment of dirigibles to both assassination and seduction. As with previous books, the story is rollicking with a pace that sweeps the reader into falling for unlikely heroes. Gavin is perfectly edible, and Preshea is a lonely woman who never understood all that she'd missed growing up so isolated. Not only does she gain a lover, she makes dear friends. Poor Mr. Jackson, is, however, broken-hearted....for a time.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 22 06:26:49 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 22 07:37:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "27201559", "review_id": "b8896da0116bd75e8f4a3e6b7677f4d3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This review was written for Joyfully Jay Reviews and can be accessed here: http://joyfullyjay.com/2016/06/review... \n 4.25 stars. \n I really enjoyed this young adult, LGBT urban fantasy. \n Thaddeus Cane is 15 years old and has moved twice that many times. He's been raised by his devoted father, Nathan, and misses the mother he never knew. Getting settled in Superstition, their newest town, is easier as it's summer and Thaddeus has found a friend, of sorts. Teofil is an attractive young man who tends the massive gardens in the yard next door each night after dusk. \n Despite warnings from his father, Thaddeus ventures into Teofil's gardens often, and when he doesn't? He watches Teofil at work from his upstairs window. These young boys make a deep connection, and Thaddeus only begins to understand how precious that is when he begins to see the magic the garden holds. \n Learning that Teofil is a garden gnome, and the \"fireflys\" he attracts are truly fairies, should probably be the biggest surprise of Thaddeus' short life. That pales, however, to learning the truth about his mother, magic exists, and he could be a gay and American Harry Potter. (No wands required. Mores the pity!) \n Thaddeus is not alone on his late night walks, though. Evil lurks in the dark, and Thaddeus and his father are targets at the top of the list. I liked how this was all revealed piece-by-piece, with appropriate timing--much like that of his developing relationship with Teofil. These boys sure like each other, and there are some first, and more, kisses to be had. \n The steady reveals had me turning pages, and I want to say the book ended in a satisfactory place, for me, but it felt a little cliffhanger-y. That said, I'm absolutely on board for the sequel. I adored the kind relationships between father and son, and Thaddeus and Teofil had me experiencing all the jittery bubbles of first love. The magic was on the forefront, but never seemed overpowering or outlandish. It's halfway through the book before there's any revelation of magic to Thaddeus, and yet it didn't feel too late. The world building is excellent and I enjoyed each element as it was described. I'm all in for garden gnome warriors, dragons, and atypical shifters, so the witch and wizard elements are simply icing on this cake.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 17 10:54:26 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 17 10:56:39 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "27178212", "review_id": "6e2d9e6f6d157822b18cdb43a3ecaff2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is an interesting magical-realistic story that I mostly enjoyed, but still has some issues regarding. \n Setting: the book mainly takes place in a mythical land, the Lower Hundred, that was lost off the coast of Wales centuries ago. In my brain I liken it to Atlantis. It's a time-trapped land ruled by an Earl. \n Sebastian Swift was the male heir to become earl. At age 13, he was wrongly accused of murdering his twin sister, August, and sentenced to an asylum where he's been abused the past 8 years. He's plagued by dreams of drowning, and one night a vicious storm tears his facility to shreds and he's rescued by the \"ghost\" of August. He's led to a conclave of cast-offs and thieves and taught how to survive on the streets. This is aided by Sven, a man who claims to be from the Upper Realms--and who makes ample use of Sebastian's, er, they have sex. A bit. Sebastian likes men, always has, and is happy to trade his body for protection. He won't reveal his true identity because he learns that an imposter has taken his place as Earl. Still their land languishes and the populace despises the Earl. Sven \"hatches\" a plan to masquerade Sebastian as August--returned from the \"dead\"--inorder to squeeze money from the Earl. \n The changeling, Macsen, is the illegitimate offspring of Sebastian's elder cousin Emrys. He hated Sebastian and August, jealous of their easy life, and had no qualms assuming Sebastian's identity once Sebastian was convicted of murder. He doesn't believe August is who she claims to be, but he also doesn't believe she's Sebastian--at first. Once their true identities are made plain, Macsen and Sebastion must band together against Emrys--one would hope. To some degree they do, because there is a water shortage in the Lower Hundred that has been created by magic siphoned off Sebastian while he was a prisoner of the asylum. \n Okay, this one was a real convoluted cloak-and-dagger read where Sebastian was a pawn in many games, Macsen was a pawn in some of them, characters come back from \"the dead\" and the ability to control water is not only important--it's vital. Emrys has plans to raise to alter their world in a way that would likely destry it--for his own monetary gain. He's a brutal man, and has no qualms about dispatching his enemies--or beating his son into submission. \n I don't want to give too much away, but I'm not really sure that even writing out the major plot points would help it make sense in its entirety. I felt as disoriented as Sebastian, who is heartstrong and headstrong and looking for a place to be loved. Orphaned young, and abused long, he has no real sense of place, and he seems to find it with Macsen, despite their fraught history. Macsen redeems himself, mostly, for his youthful execution of his power-hungry father's orders and plans. He's a bit of a Robin Hood, at this point in time, stealing Sebastian's stolen magic to replace the water his father has stolen, if that makes sense...and helping \"his\" people from the horrific edicts laid out by Emrys, in the \"Earl's\" name. He does the right thing at the right time, even if he heart isn't completely in it. \n I felt as it there were some moments of \"convenience\" that were too unrealistic--especially near the end. That said, I did connect with the love story between Macsen and Sebastian. The resolution was sweet as it stood, with an HEA that seemed plausible for the setting. All the bad guys get what's coming and Mac and Seb create a life that ensures their close quarters even as their open relationship would never be acceptable. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 15 05:12:25 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 15 05:39:28 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 15 05:39:28 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "27210949", "review_id": "9c699493c8797d4fa35565cabf8c4261", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Crispin is a disgraced warlock attempting rehabilitation. He had no idea when he was recruited, as a child, by a blood magician that he was doing anything illegal. It was only when his mentor and caretaker was found guilty of murder that Crispin's involvement became known. He's been offered several mentors to re-train him in acceptable use of magic--and has failed all attempts, his magic--graphimancy--simply doesn't work like other types. Using his forbidden bone pen (fashioned from one of his own finger bones!) Crispin can draw with his own blood and make magic happen. It's a bit harrowing, and highly frowned upon. \n 4.5 Stars \n Ned and Crispin met when Ned assisted in the capture of Crispin's murderous mentor. They have maintained a clandestine love over the past several months, despite Ned's aversion to magic. He is \"flit\" able to hear magic, and he also despises this ability. As Crispin takes on yet another mentor, Ned's getting embroiled in a magical plot--jar sellers, like his neighbor, are being killed in extraordinary ways. Ned can hear the use of magic, and Crispin breaks his oath to save Ned and his rag shop for certain destruction. As the story unfolds Ned and Crispin learn that a great danger is being unleashed, and it's up to them to save London... \n It's a fantastic mystery, and a sweet romance. This book is the first in a spin-off series from the Charm of Magpies, and fully enjoyable on its own--though I will admit to rushing back and buying up the Charm of Magpie books. I've not read a book by this author that I haven't thoroughly enjoyed, so it's not a big gamble. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 08 08:14:09 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 08 08:16:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "28670859", "review_id": "e56a30cf6c0bd566904040ed25087995", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Abaddon's a mid-level devil who's required to collect a certain quota of souls, but not all souls are equal. Like, corrupting one pure soul is worth more than a dozen athletes dying to Go Pro...for example. Abaddon really dislikes soul harvesting. He avoids it, at all cost, but he's gotten a warning due to his lack of productivity and is due to be demoted if he doesn't get one soul in the next month. \n So, Abaddon searches high-and-low for a sterling soul, one that will push his quota far back. He locates one such soul, a shining beacon of a man, in Seth. Seth is the blind virtuoso who plays for a tent revival group which travels the southeastern US. He's also more than just a man--as Abaddon soon learns. \n Seth is 21, innocent, sweet and complete catnip for Abaddon. His soul-hunger is off the charts whenever he's near Seth. Seth was an orphan, dropped at the doorstep of the revival, and adopted by the late revival master. He gets along with his surrogate family, and truly believes in the word of The Lord, but he wants a true love, and he's both a virgin and gay. It's interesting and cool that the revivalists are totally unaffected by that. The more time Abaddon spends in Seth's presence, the more he begins to realize that Seth is mystical in a way that's nearly unheard of. I don't want to give too much away, but expect trials with snakes and faith healing that works. \n In the meantime, Abaddon is plotting his harvest of Seth's soul, and he's also really wrecked over it. How can he condemn such a good man to an eternity in Hell? There are surely things Abaddon can trade Seth to make his human life more bearable, but will Seth accept them, knowing these gifts come from a Devil's hand? As atonement, Abaddon plans to pull every string he can to ensure that he and Seth will be able to connect in Hell, and spend their eternity together. It's still cold comfort for Abaddon... \n It's a quick read and an interesting story. I do love me a conflicted devil, and Abaddon is really a fun character to enjoy. The scenes in Hell are amusing and made me chuckle many a time. The unfolding romance was tender and touching, and I swooned for Seth just as hard as Abaddon did. I hadn't quite predicted the full path of this book, which charmed me, as a reader. I loved the positive portrayal of the revivalists, and the stalwart and battle-ready chaperone that Seth and Abaddon had to avoid whenever they wanted some alone-time. There's a heady build up of sexual tension, and a sweet love that's on the page.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 08 07:33:18 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 08 07:34:20 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "29541892", "review_id": "033fc77bbff289d3c3cd791088365256", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This review was written for Joyfully Jay Reviews and can be accessed here: http://joyfullyjay.com/2016/05/review... \n The Only Option is part of the Dubious novella collection, all of which include a marriage of convenience. It's a high fantasy story that includes magi, necromancers, dragons, and magic. \n Rochus is a necromancer, one highly regarded for his talents by his Queen. As part of his training and practice, Rochus only has half his soul, and his body reflects this lack in that he's deathly pale, has blue hair, nails, and teeth--which are very sharp, and he only drinks blood for sustenance. He's not a vampire, though they also exist in this world. No, Rochus is a wealthy man, and orders his blood brought to him in a pitcher or cup. \n Rochus is en route to the palace, under the Queen's summons, and stays the night at a familiar inn. Being approached by Tilo, a sexy young dragon, is not his preference, at all. Rochus has been the victim of violence before and won't let a sexy creature, like Tilo, lure him away from safety no matter Tilo's sex appeal. Well, the best laid plans don't lead to the best laid necromancer. Tilo has his wicked way, and Rochus is rather pleased about it...until he arrives at the castle and learns that the Queen is ordering him into marriage--to Tilo. \n It seems that Tilo has some very serious issues brewing in his lands, magical elements that can only be handled by a necromancer. His repeated petitions to the Queen for aid were never received and went unanswered, until Tilo had to resort to such a dramatic request. Rochus is outraged and feels as if he's being made a fool of. While he submits to the wedding, he's quick to alert Tilo that his professional services as a necromancer do not fall under a husband's prerogative. \n Well, that pretty much guts Tilo, and his genuine remorse for all his desperate machinations is what turns the tide for Rochus--and maybe fosters some love, too. \n I really dug all the magical elements in this story. None of it felt easy, or convenient. There are moments of true peril that must be overcome by careful consideration and application of Rochus' extensive magical skills--and sometimes some plain out dragon fire, all of which felt totally germane to this world. I loved Rochus' many pets and how in synch they were as magical helpers. Rochus and Tilo were both well-drawn characters with heaps of integrity. Rochus is a proud man, who's been hurt many many times before. He's older--43 years--and has a lot of trouble believing that any man as young, attractive, and virile as Tilo could ever truly want him. This insecurity is what causes him to drive Tilo off, again and again, and I felt that it was really well-considered. It's obviously not simple age that's a problem; Rochus' physical oddities and profession as a necromancer are not generally attractive, as Rochus' history has taught him, so he's wary of building a rapport that will only end in heartbreak. And, yet, Tilo demonstrates again and again that he's really in it for Rochus, not just his magic. It gave Rochus just an inkling of hope for more, which was fantastic. I also loved the dichotomy of the hot dragon and the cold necromancer and how they were so complementary to each other. \n The only issue I had was that of time. It seemed as if it only took a couple days journey to reach Tilo's fortress--and that seemed a mite unrealistic, considering the other spans that were discussed in the book. Other than that, this is a really awesome piece of fantasy that has yummy sexytimes and two very compelling main characters. It may have begun with a marriage of convenience, but it ends with a courtship and an expectation for an HEA.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 07 07:24:43 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 07 07:38:11 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "16221851", "review_id": "1c2b16ada4f4e5bf1872c77d980cf7df", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It took me a few tries to complete reading this book. That I continued to go back says a lot about what I thought of the story. I didn't realize, until the end notes, that this is a re-telling of the Dickens's classic A TALE OF TWO CITIES, not that it mattered at all to me. I've not read that book and it may have helped me get through this one faster, but I doubt it. \n Lucie lives in a divided city--New York City, in some futurescape where magic reigns and those who practice Light magic live in beautiful, wondrous Manhattan, while those who practice Dark magic are relegated to the Dark city. My relations in Brooklyn would not be impressed that their property would house the most despised denizens of this magical realm. Lucie was born in the Dark city to parents of Light magic. It's a rarity, and she escaped by the help of her aunt. Lucie helped her father escape magical persecution, and became known as the Golden Thread in the Dark, for all her efforts to bring attention to the suffering there. She, or rather her persona, is a rallying point for the growing revolution in the Dark city. \n Lucie is dating Ethan Stryker, nephew of the most powerful man in Light city. They have a physical relationship, but Lucie hides all her Dark secrets from Ethan. For him, and all, she is the perfect young woman. Agreeable, pleasant, undemanding, barely noticeable; she lives in constant dread of Ethan's uncle rescinding her ability to stay in Light city, and condemning her and her father to Dark exile. Ethan seems captivated by Lucie, in love with her, but she doesn't trust this, due to her own issues of trust. Ethan also has a dark secret, one we learn in the very beginning; he has a doppelganger, Carwyn, the product of Dark magic performed when he was a baby to save Ethan's life. Dopplegangers are forbidden magic, and the Stykers hid Carwyn in the Dark city hoping he'd die before he was discovered. Not so. \n Ethan's life is nearly forfeit when Carwyn steps in. Lucie doesn't know how to handle it, but she also knows she can't abide Carwyn being abused, as he's been all his life, for being a doppleganger. Her magic is strong enough to alter Carwyn so he isn't immediately pegged as a doppleganger...and that's the beginning of the end, in many ways. \n I wasn't terribly impressed with the story, mostly because bloody rebellions are not my thing. Expect the revolution to come, and expect Lucie to get swept in despite her best attempts to do nothing, not be seen, and keep her family safe. The last item is pretty much the only redeeming quality Lucie possesses: deep family loyalty. She lies at every turn, hides her use of illegal magic, sends Ethan into a situation he can't possibly escape, and sets Carwyn free to wreak havoc as he sees fit. #MoveAlong #NothingToSeeHere *magic fingers* \n There's a *bit* of a love triangle, but not really, for me. I didn't sense a strong attachment in either direction for Lucie, for much of the book, and Carwyn played things way too close to the vest for me to see anything but teasing. When his big reveal came I suppose I had a better understanding of him, but it only magnified the melancholy. I often wondered at the direction the story was taking, sure that I'd missed some key piece of information that would help it make better sense, but I didn't. I suspected Lucie's aunt to be exactly who she was, and had no real understanding their manners to each other after their tumultuous reunion. Lucie hides so much of herself I got lost in her head, and that wasn't good because she's impetuous and secretive at the same time. \n I imagine the end follows closely to that of the Dickens tale, but it was an absolute downer for me, as a reader. Just when I thought the day might be won, well, nope. So, don't expect a happy ending. I also had more terror over the possibility that this book might continue into a sequel, than regarding the peril in which the characters were mired. For those who abhor a cliffhanger ending, I'm happy to report: it's a self-contained story. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 03 13:16:46 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 03 14:16:13 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "30201488", "review_id": "92cdc25d5446277825b4ad089089efc7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This review was written for Joyfully Jay Reviews and can be accessed here: http://joyfullyjay.com/2016/05/review... \n 3.5 Stars. \n Stumptown Spirits is an interesting, contemporary reconnection romance that also features some paranormal elements. While the premise was excellent, I felt as if the execution didn't quite hit the mark. \n Riley and Logan were serious boyfriends--on the verge of a marriage proposal--when Logan disappeared from Riley's apartment and life in what may have been a staged scene of infidelity. Riley's life seemed to implode after this incident. He walked away from completing his Master's degree in folklore studies, only to land a \"research\" job with his best friend, Julie, a production assistant on a third-rate \"Ghost Hunter\"-type cable program. Riley is a glorified gofer, but he's got a great story that might gain him some well-deserved respect: the Stumptown Ghost War, a legend he first heard from Logan, the night they met in fact. \n Logan's roots in Portland, OR, go deep. His grandfather, a WWII vet, was vilified after he claimed to witness a spectral ghost battle in a secluded park--a battle where one of his friends got pulled into the fight and vanished from existence. Then, six years ago, Logan took his college roommate and sexytime-friend, Trent, out to see the ghosts, and Trent got sucked into the vortex, too. Logan had nearly given up devising a plan to save Trent, when he met Riley. Being with Riley was all he had ever longed for, and Riley--who is a bit mousy and has an Elmer Fudd speech impediment--counted himself uber-lucky to have such a sexy boyfriend. \n Riley and his TV crew show up in Portland to film the Ghost War, and Riley and Logan reconnect. It's not pretty. It does get gritty. And that's kinda where I got wrong-footed on the book. \n Riley's a smart man, but he lets Logan mistreat him. He makes excuses that he knows are unreasonable, mostly because he believes Logan's hiding something big. And, he is. Instead of trusting Riley, he hides and hides and hides his involvement and personal stake in the ghost war. Riley is smart, however, and he reads between the lines. He figures out not only what Logan won't tell him, but also how to turn the tide and keep Logan safe, while also righting old wrongs and saving innocents. \n If only Logan wasn't such a giant horse's ass. Really. Because he's got a gargantuan Hero Complex and blistering Martyr Complex, his efforts to keep Riley from danger are nothing short of ham-handed and ridiculous. I gave him the benefit of the doubt for 75% of the book, but after that I mostly wanted to punch him. Logan's redemption, if one could call it that, is that Riley never gives up, Logan really DOES love Riley, and external forces luckily converge serendipitously to save the day, and that was not cool, for me. I wanted Logan to wise up, cooperate with Riley, and be a real hero, not a moron. The one thing I can say is, he does the right thing in the end, even if it's long after the peril was over. So, it's an HEA. \n I got real tired of the bullying Riley suffers from the TV host. I can't even, with all the stereotyping. And I was aggravated by the lack of real physical connection between Riley and Logan. There's one scene of sexytimes, and it's almost heartbreaking, and I mean that in the sad and lonely, one-last-time way that always makes me maudlin. The book is set up for a sequel, with Riley and Logan on the hunt for another ghostly adventure. I'd be interested to see if these guys finally got their act together, or if they are destined to fall into the recurring legendary errors that Riley so diligently studies.", "date_added": "Tue May 24 13:22:57 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri May 27 08:13:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue May 24 13:25:33 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "29631598", "review_id": "9fba2a9d3a7260b0e25fec8a6dd166ad", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This review was written for Joyfully Jay Reviews and can be accessed here: http://joyfullyjay.com/2016/05/review... \n 4.25 Stars. \n Liam Grady and Cameron Danu have been sharing a dream love for more than a decade. Since their late teens, each has had recurring sexy dreams of a lover--one who ages as they do over the years. These dreams are nearly as real as their waking lives, and each man has strong feelings about his dream lover. \n Liam has lived in Asheville, North Carolina, most of his life. He's great friends with his Aunt Dianne, who is near his own age. Like her parents, Dianne is Wiccan, and very Earth-centric. She's long wondered if her priest, Nosha, can help Liam with his dream issues. When they finally meet, Nosha explains that Liam is a Dream Walker, one who can enter the dreams of others. He also may be a Dream Weaver, but will need to train himself to control his ability if he wants to remain safe--and not harm others. One big revelation is that Liam's dream man must be real, according to Nosha. \n Cameron has recently moved to Asheville to take a new job at a tattoo parlor. While out one night, he believes he sees his dream lover, Liam. Their dreams begin to change when Cam comes to Asheville. Instead of their straight-up sexy erotic dreams, Cam and Liam begin dreaming of mundane life together--cuddling and sharing domestic tasks. It marks a turning point for each man, and signals them to find their fated mate. Liam, wanting a permanent connection to the man of his dreams, appears at Cam's tattoo studio. Their meeting is, well, disastrous is not too strong a word. \n Cam freaks the heck out, and Liam is heart-broken to be rebuffed. Dianne intervenes, and it's a good thing! They decide to get to know one another in the waking world and a friendship blossoms. Given their long dream history, attraction is a given. They have trouble separating the dream world with real life--for a little while, anyway. This was a real dilemma they needed to overcome. I liked all the spiritual elements that were discussed as I have little exposure to Wicca; the inclusion of an alternate religious experience was interesting. \n There is a bit of conflict from an outside entity--another Dream Walker who makes attacking Liam his mission. The motivation here seemed exceptional, and not in a good way. While the rationale for Liam's attack was bizarre, to my eye, the resolution was good, allowing a deeper connection between Liam and Cam, while also prompting Liam to train and hone his skill in Dream Walking/Weaving. There are some amazing sexytimes in this book--both in the dream and waking world. And, the book is a solid HEA for Liam and Cam. It was so sweet for these kind souls to get linked, and inked, permanently.", "date_added": "Fri May 13 06:33:39 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri May 13 06:35:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri May 13 06:35:14 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "30171433", "review_id": "d9a6fa51d94c971852603c184cdd4291", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I think I fall more in love with this series with every book I pick up. It's not *required* to read the previous two books to understand this one, but I'd recommend them. \n This series revolves around a secret colony of canine shifters--collies, German shepherds, bulldogs, the gamut--who either became \"quickened\" (able to turn human) after bonding with a special human, or were born \"quick\" to quickened parents. This colony exists in Mad Creek, California, a tiny mountain town which is fiercely guarded by Sheriff Lance Beaufort, a collie shifter. \n Jason Kunik is a quickened Malamute geneticist working for a pharma company in Vegas when he got a bad vibe from one of his superiors and learned his personal research (sequencing his own DNA to find clues about quickening) was under direct scrutiny. He fled to Mad Creek, the only home he'd really known, even if he hadn't been back since high school graduation. Anxious to do something worthy of his knowledge and skill, Jason begins interviewing newly quickened humans, to learn if there is a specific pattern to gaining the Spark...and it goes disastrously. Jason isn't a people-person, and he's not a dog person, either. He scares away any of his subjects by being brash and obtuse. *sigh* (Not all scientists act this way!!) \n Milo was a shelter rescue adopted by the staff at a Fresno hospice, and he's miserable. All the humans he bonds with are dying. Lily Beaufort discovers him while visiting a friend, and dog-naps him back to Mad Creek. Milo's so skittish and in serious emotional pain, only wanting a real home where he's actually wanted. Jason takes pity on him and brings him back to his big cabin, for a few reasons--he finds Milo attractive, he feels a kinship to him as they are both rather misfits, and Jason expects that he'll be able to study Milo's growth into humanity at close range if they live together. \n They have an unexpected tenderness to their developing friendship. As a care dog, Milo can sense the pain and suffering in others, and even illnesses! He'd been around so many dying people, he developed in a very different way from the \"regular\" quickened, and that makes him so unique and precious as a subject--but Jason soon finds that he's getting swept away by Milo's tender nature and compassion. \n This book has a major outside threat: illness. A former Mad Creek resident returns--in his dog form--and he's too sick to shift back to human. Quickened first responders are now becoming ill, and that includes major characters...the backbone of Mad Creek, in essence. Jason, Milo, Tim and Matt (from previous books) are put on the trail to an Arizona shelter where Patient Zero likely had contact with normal, but sick, dogs. I liked how this played out, with Milo and Jason coming to terms with each other, and balancing each other's strengths. Milo seems to love Jason, and Jason's totally afraid to lose his heart to Milo, even if he already has. I really wish we had a little more time in Milo's brain, so we could see how his compassion was only one facet of his affection and growing love for Jason. \n I'm not a virologist, but I appreciated the actual discussion of the disease, and Jason's attempts to get control of it. He's not a virologist, but as a scientist he has learned the most important lesson out there: admit what you don't know. He seeks help, as surreptitiously as possible, so he won't reveal the colony, but in a way that will gain him the knowledge and expertise necessary to solve the crisis. \n This book will certainly lead to another, as there is a bit of a cliffhanger regarding Jason and his expertise, but the love story is sweetly completed with Jason and Milo becoming a stronger pair than the two were separately. I really would have liked a little bit more loving in this book--it was nearly 75% before we got ANY real sexytimes, and that was almost too long for me. That said, Milo is the sweetest Labradoodle on the planet, and I'm glad that Jason remembered no human--or canis sapiens--is an island unto oneself. \n Also of note, I'm keeping a constant observation of my gentle Lab-Pit mix to see if she's got any hint of a Spark happening. *sadly none as yet*", "date_added": "Tue May 10 08:43:58 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri May 13 11:19:56 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "25923471", "review_id": "02df2bc0accee57986d6c61aab4ca717", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the third book in a series, and I'd encourage readers to read the previous books for best enjoyment. \n Lila Sterling is an orphaned teen in a magical world. She's got plenty of magic herself, including the ability to sense magical power and transfer power used against her into magic she can use for herself. These are rare Talents, and she could find herself fighting for her life if power-hungry demagogues, like Victor Draconi, could get his lethal hands upon her. See, Victor has already killed Lila's father and mother, and he's the brutal leader of one of the four Families (think magic mafia) that control the power and commerce in Cloudburst Fall, NC. \n Lila is employed by the Sinclair family as a bodyguard to Devon Sinclair, a beefy Bruiser, only son to Claudia Sinclair, head of the Family. Lila's mother had worked for the Sinclairs many years ago, and Lila feels safe in their world--except she'd discovered a cache of magic infused weapons that had been collected by Victor. These mark the capstone in Victor's plan to kill the other Families and seize all power in Cloudburst Falls, so Lila, Devon and Felix steal the majority of the weapons--with the help of Deah, Victor's daughter (and Lila's cousin)--and replace them with fakes. \n It's not long before all-out war is declared. It's a bloody business and many lives are lost. It sould have been a massacre if Victor's minions had the magic-infused weapons, however. Lila has the ability to end the siege, and bargain for the release of captives, using the very blades she stole from Victor. Oh, and win also a magic duel to end all battles. \n I love the tension in this book. So many life-or-death moments, and increasing suspense. It's a tough road for Lila, who wants to kill Victor, but needs to use her head, and plan the perfect revenge. When the time comes, she's still a girl, one fighting for her life--and those all whom she loves. She and Devon are a couple in the book series, and they have appropriate levels of affection, which are wholly clean. Expect Lila to be hurt, downtrodden, and nearly out of the game altogether, but to persevere against all expectations. The magical elements of this world are truly charming, with unique fauna that have deadly abilities. Who knew I'd love me some Lochness monster? Yes, even a tentacled beast of the deep had me going Aww! \n The end of this book marks a hard break in the series, with some small plot threads left open for use in another book--though I have no idea if a fourth book is forthcoming. ;) That said, I'd totally read on. Lila was one of my Kick-Ass Heroines of 2015, and she's a shoe-in to claim the title again in 2016. Between her thievery, her strength and her indomitable spirit, she's a gal who gets the job done. If the job is protection, theft and saving the day, that is...", "date_added": "Tue May 10 06:17:21 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue May 10 07:18:40 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "26165684", "review_id": "a376a232db7796f2b5f8b6274ae63c79", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is such a fun and interesting addition to the Howl at the Moon series, as it relates the story of a quickened male navigating the complicated waters of human relationships. \n Roman was a K-9 explosive sniffing dog deployed to Afghanistan and thoroughly bonded with his handler, Sgt James Pattson. They served together for two years until their convoy was attacked and Pattson killed in action. Roman was shipped back to his home kennel, and his mourning for James triggered the Spark, and Roman \"quickened\" from his German Shepard body into that of a human male. He escaped and hid until he found another quickened who directed him to sheltered and remote Mad Creek, California, home of a colony of quickened dog shifters. He's been learning how to act human for the past two years, but things aren't generally easy for him, still. \n Roman is nervous about this new assignment for the Sheriff's office. He's a deputy there, under the tutelage of Sheriff Beaufort (Lance from How to Howl at the Moon) but now he's being tasked with watching over DEA Agent Matt Barclay. Matt has been stationed in Mad Creek as part of a network of agents keeping tabs on illegal pot farming in the California mountains. \n Matt is a closeted gay man, afraid to come out and gain the disapproval of his retired colonel father. He lives with a childhood friend, Luci, in order to shield himself from questions about his sexuality, but it's causing more harm--as their pushy parents are expecting an engagement. Matt's frustrated by his growing attraction to Roman, and also by Sheriff Beaufort's constant attempts to thwart Matt's integration into Mad Creek life. It's comical how Matt is shuttled around and openly feared by the residents there, and only manages to raise his awareness of every bizarre incident he witnesses in \"Mad\" Creek... \n Naturally, baddies do arrive, and we have a front row seat to their dastardly deeds--including murder. Roman is injured in the line of duty and adopted during his recuperation by an unknowing Matt. It's so sweet how tenderly they treat each other, and their love definitely grows quickly and strongly during their weeks and months of surveillance. Because Roman spent his early years as a dog, he has no sense of human sexuality. He's attracted to Matt, but doesn't know how to express it, and had been steadfastly warned against \"dog\" behaviors--like cuddling, nuzzling and getting too close--that would clue Matt in on Roman's true feelings. I was both entertained and enthralled at Roman's \"puberty,\" and Matt's an eager partner when they finally get together. \n Expect some heartbreak, however, because Matt's still unsure about coming out, and his father's a meddling meanie of a man. Also, Roman's not sure he can trust another human--he's lost both the men he ever bonded with, one of them permanently. The book is rife with emotional moments, peril and enough humor to keep the pace light and active. I found myself up way too late finishing this one!", "date_added": "Sun May 01 08:15:41 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun May 01 08:16:52 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "29569109", "review_id": "2d51db43d99cb458e31ddb3bd810c7f3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Itu is an exiled prince of the planet Bergradi when an invading army executes his estranged royal family. Escaping the planet with the help of his manservant, Grekor, Itu wants to settle somewhere far away and be safe. While he loves his planet he never planned to rule there-men of his type (those favoring men) had no change of authority. \n Finding work on Outpost Sema, Itu and Grekor attempt to build a new life. They have no idea a Galactic Enforcer, Loka, is stationed nearby. Loka receives the contract on Itu's life-which he notes is amended from execution to observation and notification-if Itu seems poised to return to Bergradi. Loka accepts the contract and befriends Itu, never anticipating falling for the beautiful, compassionate man who is his target. \n As the political state of Bergradi continues to degrade some big galactic players come to the fore, and Itu must choose whether to accept the meager terms of the invaders, or be bold, as his true father had been. I really enjoyed this story. The plot had excellent pacing and a logical progression. There is a nice bit of intrigue, and some harrowing moments, but it never felt melodramatic. I liked how the romance built, with Loka being a considerate and patient partner to his younger and less-experienced lover. I think, however, the dialogue could have been a bit better written. There was too much of our everyday slang, for me, which detracted from the otherwise excellent sci-fi world-building and political thriller elements.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 11 13:50:35 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 11 13:51:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "27304319", "review_id": "4be76787d59c2a2521923976b22fa8ef", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This review was written fro Joyfully Jay Reviews and can be accessed here: http://joyfullyjay.com/2016/04/review... \n 5 Stars! \n Colm Weathercliff lives in a world built on magic, superstition and fear. His mountainous village of Anneslea is no longer a safe haven, now that his father has died. The clerics will soon press him in to farming and marriage, although he has no inclination toward either. Colm has a \"knack\"--don't call it magic!--for locating fish, and has been a steady fisherman at his home lake since his childhood. Fearing for Colm's well-being now that his charismatic father has passed, his stepmother encourages Colm to take his father's ashes to the ocean for burial. She has an aunt in the capital city of Caithmor who will take Colm in, but the trip is long and Colm has little resources. \n He joins a trader's caravan, with the agreement that he gather fish for Fergus, the head trader, each night, a small issue for a man of Colm's nature. He and Fergus bond, sharing the adventure and a few secrets, and a month later Colm is finally in Caithmor. There he meets his stepmother's relations, Aunt Megg and cousin Nichol, who take him in readily. They know all of Colm's talent from years of family correspondence, and help him to find a job as a fisher's mate. Unfortunately the fisher is a drunk, and his big mouth and bigger catches raise the ire of the other fishermen. They alert the clergy, the only legal practitioners of magic. Colm is subjected to torturous questioning and his livelihood ruined, but he's not without resources. He works in Megg's inn and enjoys spending time with Nichol. Nichol is a young man, like Colm, who finds attraction to other men. He is besotted with his childhood friend, and they are a tight pair until Colm's disgrace causes a rift. Soon Nichol is on the outs, and Colm must help him get over his heartache. And the love is strong between them. I liked how they had been friends first and became close as the weeks and months wore on. \n It looks as if life is picking up for both Colm and Nichol when the unthinkable happens and Colm is transfigured. This isn't the worst part, though. Nope. Nichol is gravely injured, Colm is distraught and bereft, and then kidnapped and tortured, and well, it does better. A lot better, actually. But first, Nichol and Colm must endure a big upheaval in their lives, and risk everything to escape and find safe harbor. \n I really loved how this book tied all the plot lines tight. Characters that seemed inconsequential became indispensible. There is actually more to the plot than I've outlined, but I can't reveal more of the tapestry without taking all the joy from it. This is a fantasy and adventure with a romance that grows naturally. I was so intrigued throughout, because the world building is excellent. The elements of magic are considerable, with selkies and mer and curses and priestly charms. I think everyone will know the secret of Colm's magic from the blurb, but the reveal is so different from my expectations that I was completely blindsided by the next several plot turns. I found the juxtaposition of religion and magic to be unique, with the priests and royalty full practitioners of magic, while even innate magic was forbidden to the regular folk. \n The end is squarely in the HEA category, but it's a hard won ending. Like Colm, readers will be on the edge of despair until the last chapter, or two. I was captivated, and pleased both with the story and it's pacing, especially given the length. The book is nearly 500 pages, and I honestly didn't feel as if any of them were wasted. If you like fantasy, magic, and are willing to suffer the amazing turns of Colm's fortune, I really think you'll like this one. \n I also suspect there might be another book in this world, as there were a few characters I could \"see\" getting their own stories--quotes here because one of them is an intriguing blind soothsayer.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 06 05:01:36 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 06 05:03:05 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "25663635", "review_id": "bfc898904b3ebc1cdaf8a7d10f29b6f5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "When I signed on to read this book I didn't know it was NINTH in a series. I must say that this book is best enjoyed when read in order. For those who are new to it, it's still a fast-paced adventure, but the myriad characters, of good, evil, and undecided factions, are a lot to absorb. \n The heart of this book is the love story that develops when Ryder, one of the Dragon Kings who inhabit Dreagan mountain (and whisky distillery) reunites with his lost love, an accomplished hacker named Kinsey. Ryder and Kinsey met four years prior and shared a deep love for a year. Then, Ryder disappeared without a trace. And brokenhearted Kinsey searched high and low for him. \n In the three years since she's had only one contact with Ryder, seeing him descend out of a flying dive as a dragon, who morphed into his human form to save her from death at the hands of a Dark Fae. Kinsey was rattled to say the very least. Sent by her company, Kyvor, to Dreagan's offices, she's stunned to meet Ryder face-to-face. No one can explain why she's on the property, and a bogus work order only sends Kinsey and Ryder deep into the inner communications of Kyvor's elite agents. As the time passes, Kinsey's struck by her attraction to Ryder, and Ryder's eager to spend any time he can with Kinsey-even if it means snuggling in beside her as she sleeps, because she ain't leaving now that she's breached their inner web of security. \n Alongside of this are the continuing plot threads of the series-the looming war with Ulrik, a deposed Dragon King, battles with the Dark Fae, and that pesky Human problem. Just when it seemed as if all would work out, we had another curve ball hefted right at our reconnected lovebirds. This one was nearly fatal, but crisis-averted due to cooler heads at work. Thank goodness, because Ryder would have been devastated to have harmed Kinsey and later determined she was an innocent. There's a little bit of lovin' going on, but not much considering the length of the book. \n Also, this book is being released in four parts. It's probably intriguing for fans of the series, but fresh readers are going to want the full-book upfront as the early parts have too many people and too little substance tying them together to keep the narrative compelling. I found that I really didn't get engaged until the end of the second part, nearly halfway through the book. That's my own fault for not having read the previous eight books, so I stuck with it to the end and really liked it. \n I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 01 10:16:22 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 01 10:18:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "17158532", "review_id": "c49ce9978f445dc2dcff23b25c195389", "rating": 5, "review_text": "You absolutely must read this series. Oh, wait. You must read it in order. When you read it, that is. Because you must read it. I had never heard of the author, but what began as whispers in the M/M community soon became a resounding gong of praise for the books that were once an internet phenomenon but are now traditionally published. \n For those who haven't read any of the books, Crown Prince of Akielos, Damianos, was captured by his elder half-brother's guard, chained and sent as a sexual slave to Crown Prince of Vere, Laurent, under the pseudonym \"Damen\". Vere and Akielos have had a truce since Damianos struck down Larent's elder brother in battle, and Laurent swears he will kill Damianos. Damen must keep his identity hidden to preserve his life, escape, and claim his throne, now that his father has died. That's rather difficult because Laurent--while he wants little to do with Damen--is unwilling to release him. Further, Laurent is in a difficult spot, his uncle the Regent king, seems to want to remain on the throne, and is willing to sacrifice Laurent in border patrol in order to cement his own reign. \n As the book opens, Damen's true name has been revealed in the company of Akielian troops and he takes control of a fort, prepares to battle the Regent's army and command his smaller garrison win against awful odds. His commanders believe that Laurent is using him, and their worry is great considering the unconscionable issue of Damen, their king, being a slave to a prince--no matter how frigid all believe Laurent to be. Will Laurent try to kill Damen now that he knows his identity? It'sa real feal that Damen suffers--especially as the months of living together and campaining have brought a particular closeness to Damen and Laurent--one that Damen is loathe to sever. One that endangers Damen's alliances with his own generals, and causes the Veretians to balk, as well. \n It was an amazing set of political gymnastics keeping the combined forces of Veretians and Akielians together, and just when it seems they will win back their thrones the full treachery of both Damen's brother and the Regent of Vere becomes known. I wasn't shocked, as I fully expected those revelations--due to excellent foreshadowing--but the manner of revelation springs yet another trap that threaten both Damen and Laurent with execution. The machinations were amazing, and kept the pace incredibly taut. Further, the love story between Damen and Laurent is not easy. They must work at it, and build it, just as with their alliances. It is a quiet affair, because there is so much scrutiny, and yet it is packed with sexual tension, longing, loss and satisfaction. That said, it's not terrifyingly graphic, so those who are not fans of same-sex pairing do not need to shun the books. In the whole three-book series, I bet there are less than 10 pages of actual sex (that's 1% of the page volume...) \n As a series, this is one I'd enjoy again and again. The storytelling is superb, and the resolution is hopeful and mostly happy.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 24 17:31:13 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 24 17:32:45 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Mar 24 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "28967196", "review_id": "0ac6b280715985258bc01fecc5fe61d3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This review was originally written for Joyfully Jay Reviews and can be accessed here: http://joyfullyjay.com/2016/03/review... \n 4.5 Stars. \n See that cover? That picture tells a fraction of this erotic romp through Greek mythology that had me wishing I'd had a more classical education. This book needs to come with a warning. Something like: Might singe your iPad. And, frankly, I might not have been troubled if it overheated the dang device. \n So, to sum up the mythological premise: Prince Theseus, son of Aegeas, King of Athens, volunteers to be one of 14 tributes to face the minotaur on Crete. He is able to kill the minotaur and release Athens from their obligation to King Minos. It's a tragedy because there's a mix up and Aegeas thinks Theseus died and kills himself... \n Now, forget all of that tragedy business. \n In this super-sexy, erotica version of the myth, Theseus is an unknown son of Aegeas. On his eighteenth birthday, this untried virgin sets off to meet his father bearing tokens that will identify him to the king. Along the way, Theseus meets cattle-raiding Pirithous and proves his mettle. Oh, and gets sexily deflowered. And schooled in the pleasures between men by Daphnis the nymph, and pretty much every dude in the book, who--to my great delight--are all buff and mostly nude. \n Theseus' reunion with his father is unsatisfying. He's claimed, but Theseus is unhappy for the strife in Athens. He volunteers to meet the demand for tributes to Crete's minotaur, avoiding war with King Minos. Also, Theseus and Pirithous become lovers who, well, are not even close to monogamous. Though they are committed to each other emotionally. Pirithous even volunteers to stay beside Theseus on his heroic quest. \n I'm not going to give any more of this sumptuous tale away. Take it on faith that it is thoroughly hedonistic and, dare I say, completely porny. My goodness. I could say it shocked me, but I've guaranteed an honest review. So, I was totally delighted. It's such good filthy fun, from miraculous life-giving god semen, to orgies, to grave danger. There's always a wink and a nod to the tragic myth, but the story is lighthearted and saucy. Expect cameos from all your favorite gods: Poseidon, Triton, Ares, and Eros and some horrifying creatures of yore: nymphs, satyrs, centaurs, and harpies. Not all of these are sexy, but there's plenty of sexy to be had. For erotica, it was surprisingly campy, with a constant buoyancy that belied the suicide mission Theseus and his fellow tributes are undertaking. It seems there are no existential jams that Theseus cannot resolve with a sexy interlude. There's a bit of tragedy and a bit of revenge and that's almost all good. (Clearly, not the tragedy, but there's so much good happening that the blow is softened.) \n If you like erotica, and are not averse having your Greek myth tampered with in the dirtiest of ways, this is a book you'll enjoy. I caution those who do not enjoy polyamory, because there's a whole lot of that happening here. Also, for those who are intrigued the book ends with an HEA and a set-up for further lusty adventures... with Jason and his Argonauts. \n (Sign me up!)", "date_added": "Mon Mar 14 15:48:13 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 14 15:56:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Mar 14 16:19:24 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "28923188", "review_id": "f97f08fc844a463469a3371cad0693d7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Seth and Carter have been friends since forever. They haven't kept in touch over the last couple years because Seth's controlling and abusive boyfriend, Tony, has isolated him from his few friends and family. Seth felt this was acceptable, to some degree, because he harbored a long-time crush on his straight best friend. A good boyfriend wouldn't talk to guys he finds attractive, right? And, especially not when his boyfriend doesn't want him to do so, right? Besides, Carter's at college, and he has a girlfriend. He doesn't want to hear Seth's troubles... \n The book opens with Seth on a strange train platform, uncertain how he arrived there, and wondering how to get home so he can make Tony's dinner. Immediately the reader knows that something awful has happened to Seth, and that Tony has likely had some role in it. A ghostly train arrives and Seth steps aboard. The conductor gives him the low down--it's a train of souls on the way to their final destination. Thing is, Seth's not dead...yet. He has the power to step off the train at any station, as long as the doors remain clear to his vision. If he lingers, however, that option will disappear, and Seth will be dead. While Seth sorts out if he should disembark, he's shown to his cabin, and his roommate is Carter. \n Carter has only 6 stops remaining until he's a lost soul. He knows this, knows he must make peace with himself and his choices, but he's struggling. He hid his disease from the two people he loved most in the world--Seth is one of them--and he's saddled with regret for never telling Seth that he loved him. \n Even now, as they share space and final moments on this train, both Seth and Carter are shielding their deepest secrets from the other. Carter wants Seth off the train, right now, but Seth won't leave. He can't remember how he came to be on the platform, and he needs to solve this mystery before he decides if he wants to return. Did Tony beat him into a coma? Was is some other trauma? This makes a difference to Seth; he doesn't want to return to the living if he's only going to make the same mistakes. \n Carter watches the stops tick off, and is unable to let go of his past--mostly because his love for Seth is so strong. When he finally confesses, it's not to the reaction he expected. Seth is angry that they never had their chance, and frustrated that Carter hid his bisexuality. They do work it out, over the course of the train ride, and they get their collective houses in order, too. \n I'm not going to say more about the plot. It's fantastic, and heart-rending, and tumultuous. I feel better having read this book, not for any sense of spirituality, but for thinking about my own regrets and soul burdens, and considering how best to let them go. This is a love story, at it's core. Seth and Carter have an epic love for each other that was never acknowledged in life, but this ride of reckoning allows it time to bloom. \n Small flashbacks allow the backstory to be inserted at poignant moments. The clock is always ticking, however, and Seth wishes to linger with Carter forever. Will he? Carter died young, and his regrets are many. Can he clear his soul and enter the afterlife? Or will he be one of the tormented lost souls that claw at the doors of the train whenever it stops? I will say that the book has a happy ending, even if it's not a convenient as it could have been. I liked that. Hard choices make for good conflict and interesting stories. At each turn we could have had the \"easy\" answer, and we really never get that, here, which is a credit to the story. I loved the idea of soul mates meeting as souls, and it's very well handled here. It's even a bit steamy, which was awesome. Highly recommend!", "date_added": "Wed Mar 09 13:25:41 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 09 13:37:33 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "29095623", "review_id": "0685826dd9dc472f878343e193ef7b6a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a collection of stories, poems, and art from female authors collected into an anthology for charitable sale. All proceeds will be given the the Pixel Project to support the production of films that will highlight, and hopefully end, violence against women. \n The stories are not related in any way. They are diverse, with characters who are of color, disabled, of varying ages, and in various states of control regarding their lives and opportunities. All together these stories represent many people, all female, who are taking steps toward empowerment. The tone varies from story to story, but you should expect all of them to resound with desire to better their situation. From the African woman whose husband abuses her and her daughters finally taking a stand, to the wheelchair-bound woman fighting Social Security to get her due benefits, to the elderly woman, shamed at the lack of interest she receives from her only child--the one she continually sacrifices herself for, these women want a life free of drama, and pain, and suffering. And they deserve it. And they take it, make it happen. \n These are very uplifting messages. The characters empower themselves. Oh, how I gloried with the octagenarian stealing her own car back from her shiftless daughter. Oh, how I giggled when Captain Obvious had to cool his heels so the narrator could tour with Star Girl. Oh, how I felt the rage of gamer girls /deleted by hate speech, or Lilith's impotence when Ya gave Adam the power to name all in creation. There are so many points of view to experience in this collection. \n Length of each offering varies from short poems to longer stories. There's a little bit for everyone.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 06 09:07:07 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 06 09:23:46 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Mar 06 09:23:46 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "26079201", "review_id": "e38537afe55b23d0cdc5a25107fbb502", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a fun YA spin on contemporary mythology. The gods of Greece still rule from afar and their sired children, demigods, walk amongst the mortals. They are not many in number, and are often collected into conservatories in order to keep them safe from Skia, the spawn of Hades who hunt them and bring them to the Underworld. All of society understands that gods exist, or did, and kids learn Mythology as a regular subject in school. Much like the demigods of yore, monsters of myth live, too. \n Hope is trapped in a curse that spans thousands of years. Her grandmother was the famed Sphinx at Thebes, and each female offspring is immortal, a monster and untouchable by any other than Apollo or his sons. Hope's mother fell for a mortal and sealed the curse of Apollo-and was punished for it. Orphaned and alone at age 16, Hope must find a way to survive her curse, and also society. She moves to a small town in eastern Washington and endeavors to get past her grief. \n It's not easy. She has plenty of money, thanks to her grandmother's golden treasure, but she's never been on her own. She knows she should keep moving, running from the Skia that she sees with more and more regularity, but she has managed to make friends for the first time in her life. Plus, being a vagabond brings another element of vulnerability that Hope cannot truly contend with. \n Athan, a new student in school seems to charm everyone-except Hope. She's upset with the world, though, and his sympathy eventually allows him access to her isolated realm. Expect the usual high school cattiness. I liked how Hope stood up for herself, and attempted to right wrongs. Her grief was deep, and her world so sheltered. She's not sure what to do with the growing feelings she has for Athan, but she's not willing to tell him her true secret. When she learns he's a demigod her brief respite must end. She's got to get on the road. Now. Or, so she thinks. \n I really liked all the supernatural elements of this one. The prose is a mostly effortless read with plenty of tension scattered throughout. Athan's a swaggering boy, but he drops that act once he gets to know Hope. He could never have guessed her true nature, but he handles the big secret very, very well. It's not ideal for him to love Hope, mostly because his father, Hermes, has some big plans to use Hope as a frustration to Apollo. That said, Athan acts honorably. This is a bit of YA romance, but it's completely clean and age-appropriate. Well, if you don't count the violence. For some reason violence is far more acceptable behavior for teens than sexytimes, but I digress. \n All-in-all, the plot is interesting, Hope's big secret is different from one I've read before, and the book ends with new trouble on the horizon. So expect a MILD cliffhanger because the next book seems to be a completely new adventure for Hope. Not a problem for me, as this is a series I'd gladly dive into.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 29 09:22:49 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 03 12:38:18 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Feb 29 09:23:49 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23398894", "review_id": "54cfa7323414cadbc1f7221f493905ae", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the second book in a fantasy M/M series that needs to be read in order. \n Damen, who is also Prince Damianos of Akelios, was captured and sold into sexual slavery followed by a coup masterminded by his elder half-brother. Damen now slave to the Crown Prince of Vere, Laurent, must hide his identity in order to stay alive. Laurent's most fervent wish is to kill the Akelians, and is particularly frustrated that Prince Damianos, who killed his elder brother Auguste, died before Laurent could claim his vengeance. Damen's fervent hope is to return to Akelios and regain his throne, striking down his brother. \n At age 20, Laurent is months from gaining his own throne from his uncle, the Regent king, who has served for the past seven years. Laurent's not interested in his slave Damen, except to torture him, at first. They have reached a rapprochement in the first book, as Damen convinced Laurent that he can help him survive the treacherous Akelios-Vere border patrol the Regent king has pressed Laurent into performing. \n Laurent wants to live. Damen knows that keeping Laurent alive will prevent war between Vere and Akelios. Damen knows that Akelios will fall if war erupts, divided in loyalty as it has been by his brother's ascendancy. Damen is a born leader, having been proven a top commander and combatant in the wars against Vere. Laurent knows that Damen is strong and has a quick mind, but no one will follow the orders of a slave. That said, the commander of Laurent's troops--a rag-tag batch of mercenaries--is a pawn to the Regent who's likely been told to maintain disorder, enabling a poor defense for the Prince. Laurent fully expects that he will never see the crown, if his uncle has any say in the matter. \n As with the previous book, the plot is rife with cunning and duplicity. Laurent must stay three steps ahead of his uncle's schemes, and he seems to do so. Damen, against his better instincts, advises Laurent admirably. He knows that he can slip off across the border and regain favor with his own people, but the entanglements the Regent has put in motion threaten to destabilize the entire region, and will undoubtedly cause war. \n Damen trains Laurent's troops, under the guise of another officer, as well as becomes the ultimate protector of Laurent--who engages in espionage more than once. Damen's internal conflicts are many and fierce. Laurent is his sworn enemy, and would kill him if her knew his identity. Yet, their close quarters raises feelings of respect and admiration for the man that had brutally punished him previously. Also, the more that Damen is placed in battle, the more that his adversaries begin to see he is not a pleasure slave. He is a battle-hardened warrior, and resembles greatly the lost prince--threatening his anonymity. \n I absolutely loved this story. The twists and turns are astounding. Laurent will stop at nothing to keep his life, and land, from war, even fighting his own lords to destroy the Regent's influence. The Regent is just as duplicitous, and has the might of the land on his side. Laurent, Damen and their troops are often outnumbered, and usually out-matched, and yet they persevere due to Damen's martial acumen and Laurent's bravado. I could not turn the pages fast enough. \n The book series is a M/M romance, and we do see the elements build here. The first book: no intimacy. This book, some intimacy. Laurent is called the Ice Prince for good reason. (I'm betting that he hasn't had a \"lover\" in many years because he's a molestation survivor.) That said, the long hours of travel, training, strategy and escape have welded Laurent and Damen together. Damen wants to escape and is simultaneously drawn to Laurent, not entirely out of duty. The print edition has a bonus chapter that really gets into the nitty-gritty of their intimacy. #Love \n Still, it's a very, very small part of this story. Expect so much more. \n The book, as part of a larger series, ends on a cliffhanger. The third book, Kings Rise, will decide who survives. My money's on Damen and Laurent. And not only as kings who share a border. I'm thinking these two will share a royal bedchamber, too.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 27 07:33:01 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 27 08:13:10 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "9305362", "review_id": "37aaef34fa5f891f0ba1853f5ace7792", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a fantastic read. It's not a M/M romance, per se, but the beginning of one, perhaps. \n The action begins with Prince Damianos of Akelios being captured, stripped and bound as a pleasure slave to Prince Laurent of Vere. Akelios and Vere are enemy nations under a tentative truce since their last war 6 years ago. The decisive battle in this war was the one where both the king and first born son were killed, and Damianos had bested the prince in hand to hand combat on the field. Prince Laurent, only 13 at the time, was too young to take the crown and Vere has been held by the Regent king, Laurent's pedophilic and profiteering uncle. \"Damen\" as Damianos is dubbed, has been made a particular gift for Laurent--who at 20 years of age is ten months shy of his coronation--by Damen's half-brother who has unlawfully assumed control of Akelios. See, everyone thinks Damianos has died, tragically, allowing the crown to fall to the usurper. \n This is a taut political drama with plenty of intrigue. Laurent wants nothing to do with Damen. He hates all Akelians due to the loss of his father and brother in battle with them. He also hates his uncle, which this reader suspects has something to do with the Regent king's sexual proclivities and Laurent's own frigidity. \n This is not a romance. Damen is smart enough to understand that his life hangs in a very dangerous balance. Were any of the Veretians to learn his identity he'd be killed. In the meantime, Laurent spares little thought to brutalizing Damen. There is a wary respect that develops as Damen makes requests that confuse and intrigue Laurent, particularly regarding the disposition of two dozen Akelian pleasure slaves that languish in Vere. True to the insight of Tsun Su, one can expect that Laurent knows his life is also in a precarious position. Ten months remain until he takes the throne and it seems his uncle has played a very deep game to cement his further rule. \n This book is titled Volume One, and is part of a richly-written series. It ends with Damen and Laurent at a rapprochement. Laurent needs soldiers who will defend him against his uncle's schemes, and Damen knows that Laurent staying alive is the only thing keeping Vere from waging war on a divided Akelios. Keep you enemies closer, indeed.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 25 07:42:49 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 25 08:30:09 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Feb 25 08:30:09 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "26544735", "review_id": "df2db0e94ca51bff91811285721db5c7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is a very very very long historical paranormal romance. I think I may have truly enjoyed the story if it had been 200 pages shorter. \n Melissa is debut in her London season when she meets the enigmatic rake Justin Lestrade, newly returned from the colonies to take up his family estate. He's a bona fide rake with dubious connections. Melissa, who is very different from \"polite society\" must be sequestered after her disastrous debut, because the scandal of her yelling and slapping an attacker is too headstrong for the lads of London to accept in a suitable wife. \n Going back to the country, Melissa learns that her estate is close to that of the ruined Lestrade homestead. The county is rife with gossip regarding both Melissa and Justin Lestrade for different reasons. They do find cause to meet up, both taken with each other and fearing a future. For different reasons. Headstrong does not begin to describe Melissa. Reckless, feckless and foolish would be better adjectives. \n I'm usually a fan of a plucky historical heroine, but Melissa is really a woman out-of-time, here. It's London 1760s or so, and she seems one step from burning her corset and demanding autonomy. She knowingly associates with persons that will undoubtedly make her unmarriagable, and this is okay because she doesn't want a strange man/husband lording it over her all the time. Buck up, Mellie, all is completely lost due to your own frippery. \n Justin and his family have dark secrets which were pretty much apparent to me by page 100, of this hefty 500+ page tome. This dark secret has to do with Justin's recognized intelligence well beyond his years, which are supposedly numbered at 19. Let's just say that the curse of Lestrade is unique, but confers unwelcome and gruesome side effects. Is he involved with the mysterious disappearances and deaths of young maidens in the London area? \n I will admit to skimming, which I so rarely do. The prose was just SO INCREDIBLY VERBOSE and repetitive. The author would do well to read a Tessa Dare novel to study brevity and levity in historical romance. I struggled with the poorly edited work. I'm a real stickler for spelling, punctuation, etc and had a near apoplexy with the errors present.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 21 10:38:05 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 21 11:34:59 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Feb 21 11:34:59 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "18725742", "review_id": "dbe62329b0707d6888f6f78f3b664025", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the fourth (and final!) installment of the fantastic Finishing School series, and WOW! To recap: his is a steampunk YA romance set in 1850's England and both vampires and werewolves exist. Some mild spoilers may be present. \n Sophronia has been at Mademoiselle Geraldine's for four years now, and she's sad that her bestie, and ardent admirer Soap--a black \"sootie\" (steamworks worker keeping the airship school afloat)--is no longer aboard the ship. He was gravely injured in the previous book, and Sophronia brokered his healing by pledging herself to serve the werewolf dewan--advisor to the queen. \n Sophronia's still on the look out for the nefarious Picklemen who seek to discredit all supernaturals, and also control all the steampowered devices in the land. She catches these rascals on board the school, but they escape after completing some unknown purpose in the pilot's port. This later ties in to the Picklemen causing serious havoc with the school. \n I do not want to give the plot away...at all, but Sophronia has her work cut out saving her friends and teachers aboard the airship. She'll be tested mentally, physically and emotionally and forced to cooperate with one of her former adversaries. The love story between Sophronia and Soap seems to be doomed--it is unsuitable by society's standards--but Soap's new status leaves him outside of society altogether. Is this is path for them? Will Sophronia survive the Picklemen's plot? It's a rather hair-raising ride across England and in the path of constant danger of not only marauders but an untethered vampire. \n I simply adored this series. It's witty and fun, and frisky! There are some not-so-subtle hints toward burgeoning sexuality, male nudity, interracial romance, even...well, allusions toward outre lifestyles for some of the boys. It tickled me from the first page, and wrapped up the four-book plotline beautifully. I highly recommend reading the series.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 16 06:24:23 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 16 06:42:18 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "22714914", "review_id": "8ba9b0a636ed2bdcea3389c251343f1f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is set in the THIRDS world which is contemporary America with a twist; fifty years ago there was a virus that caused some of the population to evolve into animal shifters. These people are called Therians, and after much civil unrest there is some level of peace between Humans and Therians. THIRDS is the Human/Therian defense organization that keeps the peace and apprehends rogue Therians, as they are very strong, and THIRDS squadrons are made up of equal numbers of humans and Therians. \n Calvin and Hobbs are two twenty-fiveish best friends who are also in love with one another. Ethan Hobbs is a large tiger Therian who has Selective Mutism and crippling social anxiety. He is the youngest of three sons, and his father suffers a Therian-virus-related pain disorder. Watching his father suffer seemed to trigger Ethan's mutism. Some of his own family haven't heard his voice aloud in twenty years... \n Calvin is human, and one of the only people that Ethan is able to regularly speak with, and even then only in close company, and still--only sometimes. They are partners in THIRDS and live together. Calvin has always loved Ethan, as a best friend, and later as a lover, but never told Ethan until recently--when Ethan was critically injured on a mission. It's been several months, and Ethan's not sure what to do. He returns Calvin's feelings, but he struggles to convey his love, being hampered by both his mutism and his anxiety. It was so poignant to be in Ethan's head, feeling his exasperation with himself, and wishing he could be a better (loving) partner to Cal. His eyes are opened in a new way while they sort things out--Ethan gets the full scope of the suffering Cal has endured by remaining his steadfast friend--some of which was intense bullying by humans at their low-income, low-quality high school. \n Cal is a great guy, and partner, to Ethan, and makes his needs and wants, as normal and small as they may seem, known. It is Ethan who commits himself to bridging the gap. Working tirelessly, Ethan begins to expand his group of people with whom he can speak. It was so rewarding for him, and the reader, to observe these progressions. I think this book will certainly appeal to readers who have special needs persons in their lives, as the communication issues Ethan has mirror, to a degree, those present in many kids and adults on the autism spectrum. I loved having such a window into Ethan's condition. \n The setting of working with THIRDS is interesting always on account of the police aspect. There danger is ever-present, and there is bloodshed in this book. People very close to both Ethan and Hobbs get injured and bad guys must be found. Also, loving must (and does!!) happen. While a new reader to the series may not know the full backstory on every character, there is certainly enough in this book to portray Calving and Ethan's love story and to pique interest for further reading. I'm looking forward to the next one!", "date_added": "Thu Feb 11 13:30:45 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 09 08:52:05 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "27971129", "review_id": "e3a69bc2d1e3a029866eec80e7f0a800", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Julie and Horatio meet by chance (or fate?) when Julie arrives to inspect the cottage she's just inherited from a distant relative. Horatio's father wants the property to demolish it--and build a parking lot for his nearby restaurant. \n It's a bad beginning, but things soon turn around. Is it because it's kismet, or because of the magic imbued in Julie's new cottage? She's a college junior, ready to strike out on her own and build the life she always dreamed of, as a baker, not the dental career her recently deceased mother had laid out for her. Her father seems to know this is Julie's calling and he steps away and lets her choose her own path. \n On the flipside, Horatio's widowed father is a real nightmare. His overbearing ways are hampering his relationships and his business. Good thing Julie's culinary creations have an extra special mystery ingredient. Yep, you guessed it: magic. \n What? Did you think I meant love? \n The book's named The Cupcake WITCH, not The Cupcake LOVER!! \n It's a sweet story that's part of a series and fully enjoyable on it's own. If you're looking for steam, keep on walking. The only heating up involves turning on the ovens--clean as whistle romance, but still fun and engaging. Julie and Horatio get over their early issues, and Horatio becomes Julie's biggest supporter and champion, of a sort. A fun dose of magic and a whole bunch of mischief is certainly on the menu here.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 07 16:28:02 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 08 19:07:51 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Feb 06 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "25794188", "review_id": "a08cccfb72775abb8710b6fc45a2bf7c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I wavered between 3.5 and 4 stars, because the story's interesting, but there's too much going on... \n This is the second book in a series, and needs to be read in order. In truth, I think they should be read directly one after the other, because I had a bit of trouble with the many characters, and all their powers, being in action when I opened this book--as it's been nearly two years since I finished THE GIRL AND THE RAVEN. \n To sum up: \n Lucy is the daughter of Jude, a very powerful demon as he was Lucifer's right hand man. Her human mother was the daughter of a powerful witch, but her love affair with Jude turned her into a mess, and a junkie. Lily grew up in abject poverty until her mother OD-ed and she went to live in the care of her Great Uncle Sheldon and his partner, Uncle Bernard. This cozy threesome lives in the first floor of a 3-flat in Chicago, imagine a tall narrow building that has a separate apartment on each of three levels. On the second floor is Aiden and Marcus, who are both supernatural--Aidan's a demon and Marcus is a Protector, and takes the form of a gargoyle at night. On the third floor is Persephone, a witch who was part of gram's former triad. Persephone's been teaching Lucy witchcraft, how to use it and how to conjure spells. So, Lucy's half-demon, half-witch, and totally in love with Marcus, a match that's not generally acceptable. \n See, Protectors and demons clash, quite literally. And when Marcus' family returns as if from the dead--Marcus had been abandoned to his human stepfather at age four, and has been living with Aiden since a year ago when his stepfather died--it sets a whole lot of action in motion. Will Marcus leave to join his father's Protector clan? Lucy's stricken that he might, and that's a big problem as there are demons out there who want to kill Lucy, and Marcus is a valiant protector, as well as having magical blood that heals all wounds. \n But the reason Marcus' family has arrived in Chicago is dire--they want to kill Jude, as the rumors are flying that he's been killing Protectors willy-nilly. Is the threat real? Are the rumors true? Lucy can't determine what's true, but the search is on because killing Jude will destroy his bloodline, and any of his progeny: in short, Jude dies = Lucy dies. \n So, this is an interesting story with plenty of action and a lot of wrangling. Lucy and Marcus need to seek help from some rather unsavory supernaturals in order to cobble together enough power to combat the onslaught of untold numbers of Protectors. However, the more they tangle with the Protectors, the more they recognize something foul in their midst. It's a confounding issue that harkens to some seriously dirty business in Protectorville. I had a bit of trouble with this book, for my own self, because there are so many characters. Probably more than fifty, and not all of them are even close to important. Lucy is a junior in high school, so we have cattyiness central going down with the lunch crew. And, there's a love triangle between Lucy, Marcus and Dylan--a boy at Lucy's school who is Jude's protege; there's something not good brewing between Dylan and Lucy, who'd only always been friends. Until now. Somehow, Lucy's physical maturity and the demon pheromones are a siren's song mashing her and Dylan together--much to to Marcus' frustration. \n I liked how the pace of the story allowed Lucy to hone her skills, both as a witch and a demon. There are a couple of moments when I was struck by improbability woes, but the story adds realistic elements of Lucy being NOT a natural, at anything. She's got to work for all the goals, and she's a kind and compassionate person at heart--no matter her paternity. \n At times, I felt like there was too much happening, and it wasn't central to the plot. Time and again I had to recall who was who, and how they mattered. And there were delays due to Lucy mooning on and off regarding her relationship with Marcus and her friendship-ish with Dylan. She and Marcus both have to deal with scorn from Marcus' father and his uber-conniving mother. There seems to be a bond developing between Marcus and his sister, and that's good because they need all the protection Jude can get. The end is an epic battle that resulted in sort-of-evil triumphing over definitely-bad-bad-bad, which was a bit Pyrrhic. I liked how it all worked out, but the stage is set for further machinations which Lucy is not privy to. This book allowed a few other characters to grab POV in chapters to advance the story, and so the reader knows that Lucy is still in grave danger, even as she's survived this current storm.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 04 08:04:18 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 04 08:08:57 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "26811366", "review_id": "f841ef903c2214dafa305dce4ba7ab55", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is the second book in a series, but can be read as a standalone. \n Pete is an empath who begins this story as a private eye. He's got a friend who helps him with \"muscle\" from time to time, and they get on well--until the sexytimes happen. Which is par for Pete's course. The second he gets physical with a guy he gets in too deep. \n No matter. Pete's got a series of tests to take to determine his empath rating, and in doing so he meets another guy, who he has a pretty stable thing with. It seems that Pete and this guy are a great match, until Pete accepts a job for the police force really far away from his lover. Notice how I'm not bothering with Pete's lover's names? Because they are not important to the story. They are going to be ancient history...soon. \n Pete meets other people at his next job. It's all very nice and platonic, and nice. Then one of these people expresses some interest, and Pete thinks it's better to keep their friendship, but it's okay because they are going to sort of get together. The end. Kinda. \n I really wanted to like this one. The premise sounded great, and I was so intrigued, but I had trouble connecting because so much of this story felt like I was being told the whole thing instead of experiencing it. Pete's got issues. He's neurotic about his annoyingness, and how his constant fidgeting is going to put people off. He absorbed the emotions of everyone around him, and never manages to get a handle on his own emotions. He's a smallish man, and constantly talks about how much smaller or bigger he is than pretty much everyone else in the book. His fixation with height got irritating. There is no steam. None. It's nearly all coy fade-to-black and that got me frustrated. I couldn't get attached because I felt thwarted anytime Pete was getting together with anyone. His only vulnerability was getting overwhelmed by other people's emotions, and It made sense, but it didn't really touch me. I felt bad for Pete, and nervous for him, but his pain didn't become my pain, his joy was never my joy. I felt like the second he met Ellery I knew exactly what was going to happen, and that's pretty much what happened. That he couldn't feel what was going on with Ellery was a bit of a head shaker. Also, the diction and some syntax was consistent with British English, though this book was (somehow and barely recognizably) set in the US. \n I don't know if I'm going to delve into the next book which is more of Pete and Ellery. I wanted so much to love this. Empaths and psychics working together and falling in love? Seemed like a perfect match for me, but it mostly fell flat instead. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 23 14:12:01 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 23 14:39:42 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jan 21 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "27385261", "review_id": "3ae60e2fcd86d7999b95a9b33283ce59", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the seventh book in the Fated Dates series and can be enjoyed as a standalone. I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. \n Idris Greene is a dead omega wolf shifter. Sorta. He's going rogue, unable to control his wolf it seems, and his pack is hunting him--planning to put him to death, in fact. He's run off the road after an uncontrolled shift and when everyone thinks he died in the wreck, he pays for some reconstructive surgery and boards bus after bus to take him to the east coast. There he assumes the name Caden Grey and attempts to restart his life in the small town of Clover Green. \n Samuel is an alpha, but not in charge of a pack. He has a wealthy life in Clover Green and is shattered when he learns that his fated mate, Idris, is dead--but he bolts off to California to pay respects to the man he never met. There he meets Idris' mourning mother, and some of the shifter pack who didn't seem all that sorry Idris died so young. Upon returning home, Samuel is shocked to meet an unknown shifter in his midst--one who arouses him like no other. Caden is so like the pictures he saw of Idris that Samuel believes Caden to be his brother, or cousin. Never did he suspect the truth. \n Caden is suspicious of Samuel, but his wolf is so calm in his presence and Caden cannot deny his obvious attraction. He is lulled into an acquaintanceship, and eventually confesses all to his fated mate. Their relationship is doomed however, because Caden is sure his former pack will hunt him down. \n This as a really creative shifter story, and I liked the new twists that were offered. A gay alpha-omega union is rather unique in this world and allows for mpreg, or male pregnancy. I was tickled that such an event was likely to stay Idris/Caden's execution. We've got rogue shifters and vicious enemies, and ruthless alphas here, and it all comes to a quite thrilling end. I must say that the romance was excellent. Not too fast, and certainly realistic. Poor Samuel only wants to take his lover out for dinner now and again, but Caden's adamant about remaining on the fringe, never going out unless he has to work. Samuel really had to work to get Caden to open up, even when both men were painfully drawn to the other. The end was close to what I had envisioned, and I was not disappointed. \n I think fold who like M/M shifter stories, and especially those who like mpreg elements will really enjoy this one.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 15 18:25:09 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 15 19:11:16 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "27805873", "review_id": "19e15fd86358efeddcd87fd36b4d3f9c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This review was originally written for Joyfully Jay Reviews and can be accessed here: http://joyfullyjay.com/2016/01/review... \n 4.75 stars! \n Okay. Wow. So, I KNOW I'm a total sap, but this book exploited my weepy sentimentality more than once. This was a Christmas read that was almost as overlooked as poor Willie's meager present on Scrudge's desk, and I'm so thankful that the author allowed me to get my romance-loving hands all over this modern M/M \"Christmas Carol.\" \n E.B. Scrudge is a mean one. He's the CEO of Scrudge and Barley, the heartless insurance company he inherited from his lover, Cornelius Barley. Ol' Corny was a heck of a miser, and delighted in laying off employees on Christmas Eve. E.B., or Ebbie to his intimates, continued this barbarism. He also has indulged in his personal assistant in the same manner as Corny did. \n See, Ebbie was Corny's assistant before he seduced Corny and became his stalwart companion and business partner fourteen years ago. With Corny in his grave, Ebbie's got the reins, and he's topping his dead partner in callousness. Willie, Ebbie's devoted assistant, is blindly in love with the boss. He's eager and anxious to take any of the affectionate scraps that Ebbie is willing to toss his way. Expect some seriously sexy not-at-all-HR-approved shenanigans. Whoo! \n Thing is, Ebbie has had it pretty rough, too, as we observe in his travels with the Ghosts of Christmas: Past, Present and Future on Christmas Eve. Ebbie's tortured beyond all bearing. I'm not going to belabor the plot as it follows the general scheme of the Dickens' classic with a wholly modern and sexy view. Expect homophobia, shunning, and heartbreak. \n In truth, I was expecting a bit of a cartoon. The ghosts are lampoons of some of the seediest gay tropes, from a bull dyke to a jaded drag queen, with a beefcake bottom pig in the middle. That said, they are rendered carefully, and with such attention that they are not just caricatures, and they expose Ebbie horrifically. Even Bill--short for Belinda--looks into Ebbie's life and shares his sorrow over his tumultuous and tragic childhood. \n Because Carol is a redemption tale, expect Ebbie to see the light and make amends in grand style. There were three points in the story that quite honestly brought tears to my eyes--and they were not all at the end. I was fully sucked into this story, and though Ebbie is hateful, hurtful and worthy of scorn, knowing that he's going to get his and make everything right went a long way to keep me reading. He's just that vile. Ebbie is the written epitome of the opportunistic 80s \"greed is good\" mantra; I had a strong reaction to him. And while the prose is whimsical in its construction--with numerous humorous asides to the audience and turns of phrase that harken to Dickens--it is not whimsical in message. This retelling never loses sight of the original: this is a life or death tale for Ebbie's soul, and his heart. \n The stakes are high for Ebbie, and also for his assistant Willie, whose continually spurned love for Ebbie is pure. Goodness knows why. As that's one of the tenets of the opening, I can't fault Willie's judgment. He's endured years of Ebbie's abuse and heartbreak, and still goes back for more. Part of that is surely due to Willie's lack of family connections, and it's really tough to witness. Well, it was for me. The end was less trite than I expected, the joy and ebullience of Ebbie's redemption being rather spectacular. I really--REALLY--loved how Ebbie fixed his relationship with Willie, corrected his most recent dastardly deeds, and reached out to those he had never wronged to make their lives easier. This is, without question, a romance and an HEA. \n If you like Christmas reads, and you dig retellings of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, this book should be in your hands. As I can quote SCROOGED, and make a habit of reading A Christmas Carol to my kids every few years at Christmastime, it was a knockout read for me.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 12 12:14:00 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 12 12:21:42 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jan 12 12:21:42 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "28219642", "review_id": "5bc238a096c8664cc24396fe30de3095", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I breezed through this cute little story that centers on Nathan, a squirrel shifter and workaday cashier at a big box store. Vince has been a regular customer for the past few months, coming in to purchase bags of seed for his many bird feeders. Nathan does a little bit of stalking, and a lot a bit of peeping on his crush. \n Crashing out in his squirrel form, munching quality bird seed from Vince's feeders, Nathan revels in the lack of window coverings for Vince's bathroom and bedroom. It certainly feeds all his fantasies...until an irate Vince startles him from his perch and apprehends him! \n I really liked the pace here, with little beating about the bush...Nathan and Vince are well on their way to enjoying more adult activity. The elements of squirrelness were adorable, and, as Nathan tells this tale, we get a whole lot of his nutty point of view. Okay, okay, enough with the puns already. This is a short read, perfect for a sexy lunch break.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 07 07:10:42 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 07 13:19:43 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jan 07 15:56:11 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "24744875", "review_id": "9d16e1ae96ba0d195159784d23517586", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 Stars for this futuristic M/M adventure romance. \n Tover Duke is one of 42 navigators in the galaxy. He is esteemed by all for his ability to shift cargo and people, using only his voice and some sophisticated technology and body implants, to great distances across space, and is well paid for his service to the Harmony Corporation. He loves his beautiful hotel suite home, and his aviary stocked with tame birds, but he doesn't love how he has to sneak around to find men for his pleasure. Harmony Corp doesn't approve of same-sex relationships, and Tover has had to hide behind trysts with women. He has one special man he routinely seeks out--Cruz, an engineer who occasionally pops into the space station where Tover lives and works, but those reunions are few and far between. \n On Tover's 30th birthday there's a huge celebration--and it's interrupted by the advent of a disheveled Cruz popping in and taking Tover hostage. Cruz convinces Tover to \"jump\" them both to a remote space station. As soon as they arrive, Tover is taken into custody, and traded to pirates aboard the station to secure the release of Cruz and his associates. (It seemed clear that this was the best of a lot of bad options for Cruz, and one he agreed to reluctantly.) While imprisoned on the pirates' vessel, Tover is beaten and tortured for his unwillingness to assist moving the pirates' cargo. \n He's rescued later, but the damage has been done. His torture has resulted in psychological damage that causes him physical and visceral pain whenever he even considers \"jumping.\" That doesn't bode well for Tover's illustrious career in transport. While recuperating in a locale that's surrounded by enemies, Tover begins to see that his early life was not a roasy as it seemed, and his work for Harmony not as straight-forward. Cruz is back, and his true colors are shown in a way that earns Tover's grudging acceptance. \n I loved how this story worked. It had excellent elements of futuristic life, and technological elements that thrilled my inner-geek. The love story between Tover and Cruz is rocky, but took it's natural course toward an eventual and appropriately delayed HEA. In the reading I was struck by parallels to Dune: galaxy-bending transport, falling in with a native of a foreign world, understanding and championing the underdog against a galactic behemoth hierarchy. \n I've had this one in my TRB for too long, and relished the rich world-building. I think the big disappointment I had was a lack of the dialogue/culture uniqueness. Cruz and his associates speak Spanish, and have a deeply Hispanic culture. While I liked that there was some cultural inclusion, it was not terribly different from today's speech or manner. And, that was my disappointment. Having been a long time fan of the richness of alien culture (think Enemy Mine, think Star Trek etc) having these CO2-breathing humanoids sit down to a table full of tamales was...anti-climactic. It's like having a Klingon sit down to the traditional feast of hamburgers. That said, the story was truly compelling and the love story one to root for. There are few sexytimes, but what exist are tender and passionate. I really enjoyed this one and hope there might be more work in this world to enjoy. \n I received a review copy via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 01 13:18:06 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 01 17:27:49 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "25849733", "review_id": "2d082dae4a9d03e44ad4e5004bb75eda", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is an erotic M/M menage/poly shifter romance that is HEAVY on the sexy. It features regular interspecies sex and multi-partner scenes. \n Dillon is a bear shifter who was banned from his sleuth for being gay. In the years since, he's has collected two outcast wolves, alpha Jerry and his cousin beta Kevin, and Brad a sexypants fox shifter to become a happy family for each. They've scrounged and scraped to get the money to buy a bar on Ballantine Mountain in Colorado. Together these four work the bar and frolic in bed. And out of bed. And anywhere, pretty much. Especially Brad who--as a fox shifter--is totally promiscuous. \n Sawyer Ballantine is an Urso bear--he should be leading his own sleuth of bears, if they hadn't been massacred a decade previously. Now, Sawyer leads the many shifter packs on his mountain with a ruthless manner, subduing all by violent or sexual means. He keeps the alpha of the wolf pack, Rudy, as his second-in-command, recognizing that the elk shifters are encroaching and wolf politics could turn against him at any time. But first, Sawyer must deal with the four rogues taking up space on his mountain. With sexy results. \n This is a COMPLETE erotic adventure of shifter politics and hierarchy. There is so much sex, of all M/M varieties--partners, triads, foursomes, orgies--some of (initially) dubious consent that I'm reminded of a category on a Book Review Blog called \"Books you read one-handed.\" A BEAR would most probably fall into this category. The book fairly steamed up the screen of my iPad. \n Despite all the multi-partner and non-monogamous action on the page there is no abdication of emotion. The players involved are thoroughly invested in what's happening, and reveling in true hedonistic fashion. Even where there are partnerships, the inclusion of others is welcomed, and understood. For one, a wolf-fox partnership, Sawyer attempts to inject a dose of reality. Foxes, in this world, have no concept of monogamy, but he counsels both parties to \"play together\" to foster intimacy even as partner-sharing will be expected. \n As to the plot, Sawyer's domination of the shifters on his mountain has become a stress and burden, one he's willing to share with Dillon. Thing is, being with Dillon, and observing Dillon's management of his merry band of sexy shifters, Sawyer begins to recognize that domination isn't always necessary and that mutually beneficial partnerships might could be the best policy. It's worth exploring, in any case, as a cougar threat looms on the horizon. Also, this hardened Urso surely benefits from the TLC he gets from Dillon and his buddies. Furthermore, the traditional ban on interspecies loving seems antiquated in this new progressive management strategy; it's removal is fully applauded by those randy foxes! \n Expect roughly 65% of the book to be sexytimes. And the rest is a rather simple plot that's engaging and interesting. I'd re-read this in a hot second.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 29 11:10:09 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 21 16:05:45 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 11, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "25304207", "review_id": "3b54cdba3ac01a741da6e68573daaad0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 Stars \n This is the third book in a trilogy and needs to be read in order. The book series is marketed to older teens, because it contains sexual content that is not always consensual. The books are based upon a cult of followers of the ancient Egyptian god Set, the god of Chaos. Set, and his followers, have no respect for women and use their bodies for pleasure and sacrifice. Usually both. \n Seth is the son of the high priest of Set. He's been raised to believe that he was the next link in the chain for power, and that raising Set from his half-life in the underworld of Duat would lead Seth and his fellow Sons to glory and power. They are wealthy and careless, men, these Sons, enslaving women with chemicals and their innate Blessings--for Seth this is his Compulsion charm. Seth is a powerful Charmer, but his Compulsion didn't work on newcomer Natara \"Natti\" Stone. Back in Book One he was attracted to Natti, and learned (even before she did) that she was a Daughter of Isis, and the last of her people to be Blessed by Ma 'at. Seth's father learned of her magic and wanted her for the ultimate sacrifice to raise Set. Seth stepped in the path of this destruction in Book Two. \n Now, in Book Three, Seth knows he loves Natti--even if \"love\" is the antithesis of the Sons' teachings. Natti knows that she returns Seth's love, and entrusts him with ultimate power over her developing powers. THis si a precarious position, becasue Seth is very much torn in his loyalites. His father is the most powerful Son, but his mother was an unknown Daughter of Isis. He's a \"cursed\" and disowned by both sects. Good thing Natti's got enough love to shore him up. \n That said, all bets are off when Seth's father's able to raise Set...sorta. See, Set still needs a bit of magic to restore his full powers, including immortality, and Natti's the pure of heart one who is able to obtain the magic, with Seth's help. Thing is, Set wants Natti for his wife, and he's ruthless in stealing both her lifeforce and compelling Seth to heal her time and again so he can drink her essence to fuel his powers. \n This unlikely and unwilling trio must travel to the Underworld via a magical gate that only Seth can open to find the hidden name of Ra which bears the magic necessary to restore Set fully, and allow him to kill Seth and join with Natti. Neither of them want to help, but the alternative is death--Seth a soulless one, due to his connection with Set and Natti to be Set's unwilling wife in the Duat. If they can somehow stop (or better yet KILL) Set before they reach their destination Natti and Seth might just get the chance to return to high school... ;) \n Expect lots of death, a fair bit of destruction and more than one resurrection. Expect to be very much unsettled by the callous treatment of women by the Sons of Set, and Set himself. The book is an interesting supernatural fantasy, with well-drawn characters. Natti is a girl on her own, with her heart tied to a boy who could crush it, or revere it. Seth is a boy raised to be cold and finally thriving in the love of a pure-hearted girl. It's a good v. evil clash that has plenty of evil and wee bit of good. Praise Ra it was possible to save the day, at last.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 15 10:37:34 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 15 10:39:00 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Dec 15 14:13:02 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "26126404", "review_id": "d8150d13733e5faa0779a8488d002a5e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the second book in a series, and should be read after TORTURED SOULS. \n 4.5 Stars \n Kacie, Logan and Daniel are back, this time dealing with a severe sorority house haunting. 40 years ago four members of a sorority were drugged by a psychology professor, and three of them were murdered. While time has passed these three souls have been maturing and getting stronger. Their sense of loss and fury has been harnessed into severe aggression. \n When two of the current residents decide to \"play\" with a Ouija board, they unleash a boat-load of malevolence. \n Logan's injured, and not just by the ghosts. Nope, he's pretty sensitive that Kacie (his girlfriend) and Daniel (his best friend) are starring in the school play that forces them to have a big 'ol kiss. This distraction leads Logan into unnecessary peril--and he's lucky to get help when he needs it. \n Kacie's channeling the spirits, but also dealing with the survivor's guilt. How would it feel to know that your mistake led to the torture and death of three of your good friends? Living with that burden is rough. \n I liked the teamwork displayed int he Orion Circle. They have excellent communication, and intriguing talents, from telekinesis to psychic powers, to spirit mediums, to persuasion, these kids (and their adult assistants) are a motley but interesting bunch. I sometime think there are TOO many characters, but the author does a good job of only focusing on 1-3 of them at a time. This story was less about Kacie (like TORTURED SOULS) than Logan, and I expect another book will focus more on Raven and Blake (vampire huntress and werewolf, respectively). \n The story rolls on, with excellent pacing and vivid descriptions. Expect to have the horror flick vibe, this reads like a movie in many ways. This is a YA paranormal adventure, with a DASH of romance, so it's clean of all but kisses, and filled with blood-thirsty villainy and dangerous ghosts.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 09 08:26:09 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 09 08:51:33 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Dec 09 08:51:33 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "26117781", "review_id": "ccca3d69d0e3bdcb7abb27b58903eb87", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a beautiful, Christmas, paranormal M/M romance. \n Jason is a Hollywood-has-been, a former child star who's become a B-list actor in slasher flicks, and he's plain tired of it. The tabloids have been hounding him for years, capturing and exaggerating every foible of his life, so Jason's moved out to rural Idaho to escape and regroup. He's got one close friend (with benefits) Dylan, who Jason has secretly loved for the better part of ten years. Dylan's bisexual, and not the monogamous type. He gives Jason what he can, which is never enough. \n While moving in, Jason observes a stranger in his guest house. Believing it's paparazzi, Jason calls the local sheriff, but no one is found. It is then that Jason realizes that he is the only person who can see the man looking back at him through the guest house window. A ghost then? \n Not so much. \n Ben, as Jason soon learns, was trapped in a snow globe by his sister, to avoid enlistment into the Confederate Army. Yup. Ben is 170 years old, and has spent 150 years trapped in the barren landscape of the scene of the globe. Jason is the first person he has spoken to since the Union deserter stole him from his family home in Tennessee. \n This is a paranormal romance, and one must make some leaps of faith to love this story, but only int he scientific realm. The emotional landscape is so richly textured,and the realities of Ben and Jason's growing affection are well-sorted by the author. Over the course of two months, Jason and Ben become very close indeed, and it leads to big trouble. \n Dylan is afraid that Jason's losing his mind, and at times Jason agrees. One thing is for certain,Jason cannot imagine his life without Ben--and he doesn't want to. Experimenting with their boundaries leads to health problems for Jason, however. \n I will admit to sensing the exact path this story was going to take, and that's totally fine because the journey was excellent. I didn't want to miss a step, walking beside Ben and Jason on their snowy treks or movie theater escapades or dreamscapes. These are two guys who needed real love, true acceptance, and they gave and gave and gave of themselves--to each other. Jason could have easily thrown Dylan off his suspicions by simply giving in to his normal relations with Dylan, but once he had developed intimacy with Ben, he couldn't accept Dylan's less-than-ardent advances. \n Throughout the book I has a sense of expectation, for both disaster and happiness, and both were satisfied. The climax is a bit of a thriller, and the epilogue made me chuckle. I wanted a little bit more sexytimes, but, hey, the book has tons of emotional moments, so my heart soared and plummeted along with Jason's. I wished I had the chance to know Ben's sister Sarah. She seems like a fantastic gal. \n In all, this is a most enjoyable paranormal read, with a great small cast and a love that defied all boundaries. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 01 08:24:34 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 01 08:51:47 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Dec 01 09:02:50 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "26761408", "review_id": "548fd24ef740fe374bbdb4df7500456b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a quickie Christmas romance between one of Kris Kringle's sons and a classic toymaker. It's set in Colorado and very sweet, with a bit of steam. \n Dashing is a 26 y/o toymaker with his own workshop/store in a Christmas village set int he mountains of Colorado. His town hosts a window-decorating contest and Dash is always second place. He's been planning a fantastic display, but all his plans are sidetracked when he finds a beautiful sleigh placed in the midst of his store one early morning. \n Niklaus can only blame Reign, his chief reindeer, for the prank that sent his sleigh into the human realm. Nik only ventures from the North Pole on The Big Day, but he can't complete his toy deliveries if he can't find his sleigh. He tracks it's magical signal to a toy shoppe in Colorado, and finds more than his sleigh in residence. He finds his fated mate, Dash. \n This is a cute story that suffered a LITTLE from too much info at the beginning. For such a short read, it slowed the pace, for me, to have backstory revealed in big lumps, before I even got to know the characters. I would have rather picked up that info in context, when our MCs met and experienced the attraction of their fated bond. \n That said, this is a sweet story of a lost soul finding the half that makes him whole. I liked how the mythos of Kris Kringle was woven throughout the story. Both Nik and Dash get far more than they could have imagined in that chance meeting. Expect some sweaty lovin'. The secondary characters were fun, and the story has a light and whimsical quality. I read an advanced reader copy which had an unfortunate number of distracting errors, and I hope the final copy gets a thorough edit because this book has a fun story and I don't want it to get slammed.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 24 17:43:14 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 24 18:02:09 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Nov 24 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "27233749", "review_id": "8a32fd0a5d8c6093644cfe1b2049e0a9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 Stars for the second book in the LeFay series. It really should be be read in order. \n Morgan LeFay is a gifted 16 year old, one of the strongest magic wielders in Camelot, and still, she was not selected to be the Maven, adviser to young Prince Arthur. No, that duty was awarded to Merlin, a boy in Morgan's class who was clearly infatuated with her. But, Merlin's got a checkered association with the Luminaries, a sect of magic wielders who seek to bring down the House of Pendragon, of which Arthur and King Uther are sprung. Being Maven seems a supreme conflict of interest for Merlin, and Morgan's both frustrated and jealous. \n And, depressed. Morgan returns to her father's home to sulk instead of assuming her post as a Black Knight under the command of High Knight Lancelot. Lancelot comes to pry her from her sorrow, and it sets off a chain of events that I did not see coming. Morgan's soon on the run-with Prince Arthur, a sulky teen if ever I read one, and searching high and low for the mystical Excalibur. The trip is dangerous, and Morgan has certainly signed her own death warrant by making this trip. It's really a mission, one that she hopes will save Arthur from a Luminary plot. And she's pledged her life to protecting Arthur. \n The endearment that arises between them is good. It wasn't sappy or anything. Arthur is a bit of a pill-he's 14 and it shows-and he only slightly warms to Morgan in their adventure. He grows up A LOT in this experience. I liked that part. Lancelot and Merlin have very mixed feelings about Morgan. On one hand she's a traitor, on the other she could be a patriot. And the murk surrounding the Luminaries plans keeps Morgan on a path to execution. Well, maybe. \n This is a story that kept me guessing, and I felt engaged throughout. It's a rather innocent tale, and a bit melancholy. I was grieved when Morgan was arrested, and felt that her new status, as a bearer of Pendragon's Blessing, would have saved her, but it was not the case. The end is a fast and furious ride that includes a stay of execution in the most dire of ways. Arthur and Morgan have some reckonings to make, and I am eager to see how this plays out in the next book in this series. I also wonder how both Merlin and Lancelot will handle their feelings for Morgan going forward. I'm not certain that it qualifies as a \"love triangle\" as Morgan has only discovered romantic feelings, and they are set on one man-the one she cannot have. The resolution is sufficient for this volume, but the story remains active. Definitely recommend!", "date_added": "Fri Nov 20 07:55:31 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 20 07:56:43 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Nov 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "26888096", "review_id": "2064c1dfb78538bad5fd3ba63f1b8ccb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This review was originally wrotten for Joyfully Jay REviews and can be accessed here: http://joyfullyjay.com/2015/11/review... \n 4.25 stars for the whole collection. \n This is an anthology of four long novellas that have nothing in common excepting themes of the supernatural. They are varied in content and scope, some being more paranormal romance and some being more horror. Because they are all standalones, I'm going to talk about each of them on their own. \n The Mill by Jamie Fessenden is a classic ghost story, with a dash of romance. \n The Hawley Textile Mill has stood empty for twenty years. It is well-known that 97 women died in a fire back in 1907, and it is rumored that there is a lot of ghost activity in the building. Mrs. Hawley, last of the Hawley dynasty, wants the building cleansed so the property can be converted into a park. She hires Frank Carter and his team of paranormal investigators (think Ghost Hunters) to examine the building. Frank's brother, Louis, sees a full-fledged apparition, but is injured. While a comatose Louis lies in the ICU, it becomes clear that he's channeling some of the souls lost in the big fire. Mrs. Hawley convinces her personal psychic and medium, Toby Reese, to assist in setting the ghosts free. In order to save Louis, Toby and Frank must cooperate and determine the reason why these souls have lingered in the desolate mill. \n This was an excellent ghost story with a pair of leads, Frank and Toby, that I enjoyed. Frank is a scientific thinker and he's unsure about Toby's skills. Toby's sure that Frank will never take him seriously, and he's wrong about that. The men don't know if they can trust the other, but they have a combined goal to help Louis and clear the mill. It soon becomes clear that there was funny-business that occurred the day of the big fire, and Louis and Toby are mouthpieces to that. In the meantime, Frank and Toby build a rapport that feels organic. Their first sexual encounter was rather funny, and hastily aborted. I liked that there was humor to lighten this story. They are a cute couple, Frank charmingly awkward and Toby forward and friendly. The ghost story is both appropriately paced and appropriately horrifying, and kept me turning the pages so I could find out how Louis was going to escape his coma. Expect a ghoulish seance, two happy endings and some yummy sexytimes. \n Dei Ex Machina by Kim Fielding is a love story that spans the centuries, when the ghost of a young slave touches the soul of a grieving man. \n Mason Gould is landscape engineer on a trip to Croatia with friends and relations to help him grieve the loss of his husband, Carl, who was gunned down in a mass shooting on his college campus. Mason is still emotionally wrecked, and on a whim goes to see a medium in order to make his final goodbyes--those he hadn't made when Carl left for work on that fateful day. This will only work if Carl's sprit has lingered, as in if unfinished business has kept his spirit on this plane--which isn't the case. Instead, the medium channels the soul of Sabbio, a slave who died in the building of the historic palace Mason and his party have visited. Sabbio doesn't leave when the reading ends, however. He follows Mason to his hotel and engages him in his dreams. It's the first peace that Mason has encountered, and he thrives on it. He is enchanted by these glimpses into Sabbio's life, and even gets hints about how to bring him through the ether. \n I really liked how this book brought in the ancient religions, and how the relationship between Mason and Sabbio was very sweet and special. How they soothed each other emotionally. I loved the secondary characters of Viktor and his medium mother; they were so open and compassionate. It was also such a pleasant twist that Mason's steadfastness brought Sabbio's grieving spirit peace. The struggle that Sabbio's spirit endured was really well-crafted, and I liked this glimpse beyond the veil. The historical and contemporary details witnessed by both Sabbio and Mason were deftly interwoven, and I really got a sense for both places within the same city. This was a sentimental story that had a pretty somber tone until near the very end. I really enjoyed it. \n Among the Dead by Eli Easton absolutely bent my noodle. I'm a big fan of M. Night Shyamalan and well... \n Neil Gaven suffered a traumatic brain injury a couple of years ago, and now he sees dead people. He's turned a bit antisocial since then, working from home all the time and venturing out infrequently. On one of his monthly trips to the office he encounters the ghost of a beautiful man in a bowler hat--who is the first to try to communicate with him. He does some investigation and learns the man's identity--what it was when he was alive so long ago. This bowler hat man wants Neil to help a homeless young man in a bad park of the city park--Trist, who also sees dead people. It's scary to Neil, but he can't resist once he learns that Trist is like him in more ways than one. The twist ending absolutely made my day with this one, and I fully enjoyed the mind blow. \n Unfinished Business by B.G. Thomas was a bit A Christmas Carol meets Ghost. \n Mike Ellsworth is a deeply closeted man who's always been faithful to his college sweetheart wife, Lori, until a year ago when he met Joel Kauffman on a business trip. Their attraction was instant and upsetting. Mike didn't want to be a cheater, and he'd resisted his attraction to men for so long--twenty years!--but Joel was everything Mike had longed for. They spent a lot of time together in that week, and Mike made efforts to return to Joel whenever he could. He was en route to their latest rendezvous when he wrecked his rental car and his spirit is not at rest. Mike's yanked into scene after terrifying scene, seeing the difficulties in his marriage in a fresh light, and knowing what he feels for Joel is the love of his lifetime. He regrets not saying so when he had the chance. \n I had mixed feelings over this one, honestly. I'm usually turned off by cheater tales, but I did sympathize with Mike. He's a complex man who relishes his companionship and beneficial relationship with his wife, even if his love for her is mostly platonic, and hungers for the passion he and Joel share. For their parts, Lori and Joel are great characters. I loved the cop, Daphne Brookhart, who can hear Mike's rants and becomes his unwilling mouthpiece. She was so Whoopi Goldberg from Ghost, for me. The secondary story of Mike communing with other ghosts in his realm was excellent. He's able to put some spirits to rest, and fix his mistakes with both Joel and Lori. The end was everything I hoped for, considering that I'm a sappy romantic that wants the HEA more than a chocolate lava cake. This is a non-sexytimes read, for the most part, and the bittersweet regret of Mike is infused throughout, which made this one really somber, until the end which was rather celebratory and drove home theme of the redemptive power of true love. \n On the whole, this anthology is really engaging and has a lot to be enjoyed. Some horror, some suspense, some sexytimes and some redemption. I would recommend to anyone who likes spooky stories and plots that deal with ghosts in all their forms.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 19 18:34:57 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 19 18:38:24 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "26004738", "review_id": "6375d54130d901dcdbe68e95b379cad9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 Stars for this paranormal M/M shifter romance. It's the second book in a series and should probably be read in order. \n Dylan and Avery have been together for a few months. Avery has moved into Dylan's home and they are building a life together, but it's not easy. Avery is working long hours in his training as a private investigator. He comes home late and doesn't see Dylan a lot. Dylan's very protective, and often shadows Avery when he's out on a case--it's caused friction in the past, but I think Avery is appreciating it more now. It's almost a comfort. Well, it can be. \n Avery's still working on a side case, finding a trafficked shifter girl from Dylan's pack, Lacey. It's hard work as the main players in the case keep turning up dead. Plus, there's issue with Avery's family not liking Dylan--out of prejudice. Avery's \"invited\" home for his brother's wedding, and it's not a pretty scene, but I loved their growing bond, and the real maturity Avery displayed in such a rough environment. \n This book is not about the romance. There are a few sexytimes, which are nice and sexy, but that's not the focus. Dylan and Avery have to build their relationship, which struggles due to conflicting schedules. Avery's obsession with finding Lacey definitely puts him in trouble with his mate, and Dylan's as understanding a wolf as one will find. There were times both Dylan and I wanted to shake Avery, not because he was deliberately mean or obtuse, but because he sacrificed so much of himself and the fruit of his labor was...nothing. The end of the book wraps so quickly, with a break in the case that leads to a seriously dramatic rescue. I felt like that was really well done, with all the proper foreshadowing in place. I loved how the resolution left us in little doubt that Avery and Dylan were going to make it in the long-term. There are some other sub-plots out there that concern secondary characters from this book finding their mates, so I expect to read more about those as the series progresses.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 15 05:38:54 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 15 05:40:28 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Nov 12 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "24402674", "review_id": "d39c221bc1eaf65dba63286855e0b275", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the second book in a series, but I read it out of order and had no problems with the storyline. \n This book is set in the fantastical realm of Cloudburst Falls, West Virginia in a contemporary time period with the addition of magic, mobs and mayhem. Okay, so really it's only magic that's a game changer. In this bookscape, there are people who possess magical Talents, like super speed, strengths, divination etc. There are also magical creatures--which are highly concentrated in the mountainous area of Clouburst Falls, or so says the tourism board. Still, lochnesses, tree trolls and copper crushers are part of the fauna, and one must know how to deal with these creatures in order to get on. \n Lila Merriweather is not who she claims to be, and there are few who know the secret of her identity. She was born Lila Sterling, child of Serena Sterling, a powerful woman who fled Cloudburst Falls after Lila's father was murdered by his benefactor, Victor Draconi--head of the Draconi Family and the same dude who later murdered Serena, stealing her magical Talents. \n Lila wants to avenge her parents, but she's only 17 and still honing her magic, plus she knows it would be a suicide mission to take out the head of the most powerful Family in Cloudburst Falls. Instead, she's the personal bodyguard of Devon Sinclair--son of Claudia Sinclair and second-in-command of the Sinclair Family. Lila recently saved Devon from certain death and is just getting used to her new position in the Family, as she's been living on her own and stealing for a living since her mother's murder four years ago. Also, she's totally gaga for Devon, and he for her, but she holds off on making anything physical because she has lost too many people close to her to let Devon get in close. \n This book is the set-up before the major clash between the Sinclair and Draconi families. We learn, intimately, just how underhanded the Draconis can be--and how ruthless some of these people in this world are. \n The set-up is a tournament, which is meant to showcase all the Talents of the Families to themselves and the tourists. It's a major attraction and has been won by Deah Draconi for the past two years. Deah's not the biggest or strongest, but her mimic magic is a distinct edge. Devon and Lila are part of the competition this year, as is Katia Volkov--an outsider who comes down from New York to compete. She lost to Deah the past two years and is angling to win it all. \n I really liked the bit of mystery that was woven into the story. Lila and Devon notice that the magical monsters are moving around, coming out from their normal habitats into areas that are more highly populated. This seems to be a defensive move because they also find many carcasses strewn about the woods, with suspicious markings and clearly malicious stab wounds. I had the culprit and motive pinpointed early on, but that didn't mean I wasn't happy with the reveal. Also, it made for some good suspense. \n Lila has a lot to learn about the Family life, but she embraces the affection and support given so freely by the Sinclairs. Her mother and Claudia had been best friends in their girlhood, and Claudia is happy to have Lila with her. Of course, there are lots of secrets about Lila's mother, and who best to relate them than Serena's sister--not that Lila knew she had an aunt. Or a cousin, one who is poised to become her enemy and her ally. That twist was really excellent, and also sets up the next book stunningly. \n Lila is a dark horse to win the tournament, but she performs exceedingly well, and it's hers to lose. I won't reveal any of that, but the depth of empathy Lila exhibits in the course of competition made her truly likable as a character. I liked that the love story between Lila and Devon is a side issue, one that Lila continues to set to the side, because her duty lies elsewhere. She has the right mindset, and I was glad that she behaved like a woman with a brain, and also a heart. I'm looking forward the next book. \n I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 05 18:08:31 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 05 18:40:18 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Nov 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "26074266", "review_id": "4ae72dac7de68d4b1a1669963b690a7c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 stars for this M/M/M erotic shifter romance. \n Brent is a frog shifter, and has been kicked out of his pack for not only shifting into a different sex, but also a different species. This was a big twist for me as a reader! Brent was initially Brenda, and born into a werewolf pack, but her first shift was into a frog, and when she took her human form again, she...was a he! Yikes! Brent's parents supported him until he was 18, but the pack shunned him when he became an adult. Brent had little choice but to shack up with his boyfriend, an abusive partner, for two years. \n The story opens with Brent being cared for by a pair of frog shifters he met as a child. Corey and Shane are a bonded frog pair, and Brent is sure they are his fated mates. Brent travels far, through the winter snows, to meet Corey and Shane again and reveal his feelings. He's afraid to break their bond, however, and they are also tentative with him. It makes Brent feel as if he's the only one believing that they are mates. \n This is a cute story, with little angst. Brent's nervous about his scars from his ex, and he's unable to really confess all his feelings, because he is scared they won't be reciprocated. The frog shifter idea was fresh to me, and fun. I loved how they would drop into the tub and swim together. It was sad when Brent made some rash decisions and found Shane as a heartbroken frog in the sink! *sigh* \n There are some great sexytimes and a touch of BDSM--mostly spanking and a bit of Dom behavior from Corey. I really enjoyed it, and was glad that their relationship seemed to work out. There's a lot of sensuality here, and a genuine affection which develops. \n I received a review copy via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 31 11:44:01 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 31 12:00:21 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Oct 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "26310309", "review_id": "358b259e7690b50b77cd768c079bd107", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a cute tale with creative use of the Cinderella trope. Mark Sintorella, \"Sinders\" is a housekeeper at a posh NY resort known for its privacy and discretion. Mark is a self-trained clothing designer and spends all his spare money and time sewing couture gowns for women, using himself as a model for patterning. Because Mark's a man, he's often given the unwelcome task of cleaning the many fireplaces that decorate the hotel. He's versatile, however, (yes, pun intended) in that he also works as a server in the dining room when they are short-staffed. Enter a funny little man, Carstairs Pennymaker, who assures Mark that his androgynous physique and face are the ticket to getting his designs noticed, and Pennymaker promises to introduce Mark to prominent fashion designers. Only, when he does so, Mark is identified as \"Mariel,\" Pennymaker's \"niece.\" \n Mark's caught up in the hubbub surrounding the arrival of billionaire Ashton Armitage and his impending wedding. \n Problem? Ash isn't engaged. \n Nope, not engaged and not even interested in getting married. However, Ash has two weeks to find a spouse or risk losing his trust fund. His grandfather had written a clause into the trust mandating Ash be married by his 25th birthday or his entire trust would be liquidated and given to charity. Ash is the typical playboy, without any of the scandal. He's got a prime education, but never worked, and he's a closeted gay man. He's considering making an 'arrangement' with a suitable woman. one who would understand he has no sexual interest in her, and would be a good companion for the ten years the trust proscribes his marriage must last. \n While staying in the posh hotel, Ash meets two women, Bitsy, who has no desire to marry him, and Mariel, niece of Mr. Pennymaker. While he's intrigued by Bitsy, and is sure he could get along with her, Mariel turns him on. And, well, that's NEVER happened. He's not sure if Mariel is Pennymaker's niece, or \"piece,\" but he wants to know her better. And, finding out that Mariel is Mark is only more appealing. \n I liked the fast-paced transitions in this story. We have several points of view, mostly Mark's but also Ash and even Ash's BFF Ronnie, who has her eyes on the voluptuous Bitsy. \n There are some good mis-directions, here, and a couple indecent proposals. I was glad there was so much candor, actually. I didn't want to hate any of the characters for being liars, and I didn't have to. As this is a M/M romance expect Mark and Ash to get to together. And expect it to be sexysexy. The whole drag thing, Mark/Mariel was a little campy and also a little rom-com-y, and I was reminded that this is more of a romantic comedy than a gritty romance. There are preposterous stakes, marrying in two weeks to receive a trust, and an equally preposterous wedding scene, which (after a big switcheroo) was something actually totally endearing when I read it. \n I liked Ash and wanted him to grow up, which he did. I thought he was a little clueless regarding the clauses of his trust agreement, but that only made him seem more romantic and lovable for being willing to toss it all away. Mark is a good sport about a lot of stuff, and I was glad to see that his hard labor was appropriately rewarded. Plus, who doesn't love androgynous fashion models and kitchen sex? Answer: Nobody.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 18 06:51:47 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 18 07:04:41 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "20697586", "review_id": "31b960ac3c4e19a84cd51e1f5c3ce6f3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Mean girl RJ is in the wrong place at the wrong time. She's getting her fortune told at a Halloween carnival when the gnarled gypsy tosses her at the Grim Reaper. Gideon can't undo the damage now that he's collected RJ's soul--even if it's a mistake. She has no choice but to ascend to the Lobby with him. There, she watches as group after group of souls called to Judgement. She encounters a fellow soul unwilling to advance, Sandy, who's awaiting her beloved James to arrive. Throughout, RJ is professing her frustration over being miscollected--and being a bit of a diva over it. Naturally, as RJ is a diva over everything. \n She raises, in this case, holy hell, and it leads to an unprecedented Tribunal of angels who must decide if RJ's worth the trouble of unraveling time to re-insert her into her timeline. And, honestly, the verdict is no. She's been a nasty, mean, lying, conniving wretch of a girl--all in the pursuit of popularity. Her two Guardian angels help to plead her case, that she's young a redeemable, but it is Death Himself who arranges a series of tests--to verify if RJ would make the right choices given the chance. She has spirit guides from her own life (ala A Christmas Carol) leading her back to three key times when RJ departed from a good path. \n RJ is quite a character. She is unashamedly self-centered and made many, many wrong choices with her life, but she is adamant that she'll do better. And, in many ways she does. The bulk of the book is her arguing her case to all and sundry, begging to be heard. And, even when she is heard, those in charge will likely not do as she wishes. Why should they, after all? She is not a worthy soul, in their opinion. And, they're right. But this tough girl makes even her Grams proud as she meets and exceeds Death Himself's challenges. \n I will admit to being frustrated by the ending. I wanted so much for RJ to live the life I pictured for her, and sadly it's not the case. That said, this was a fantastic redemption tale with a very human, and believable, main character. Her journey was quite a wild ride, and how she made amends was thoroughly believable. For all the Heaven and Hell parts of this book, it's not preachy and it's not churchy. Again, like A Christmas Carol, RJ must ponder the parts of her life that went wrong. She has to overcome her Mean Girls training and fight for the right to live a better life than the one she was collected from. I adored how the angels were honest. Brutally honest. RJ is little more than a pest, in their view. Turning back time is a huge undertaking--and opens the gates for other souls to complain that their time should not have been up. Oh, the legalities of final Judgement!", "date_added": "Tue Oct 06 08:48:13 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 06 08:49:00 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "26721642", "review_id": "4526075d1c5d97419fec1ddfe83fd6c9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a sweet and different M/M shifter romance. \n Lon and Corey are newly coupled--just moved in together--and are working out all the kinks. As is normal for a new couple they need to figure out who's gonna do the household chores, and how they're going to manage car use and date night activities--but these \"usual\" issues are complicated by one simple fact: Lon is an otter shifter. \n Every week he needs to spend some time in his otter form, 1-5 hours generally scratches that itch, while longer than 12 hours of otter fun has Lon lost in a haze between both worlds where the water is his best friend and all he wants to do is play. See, when he's an otter, Lon's really an otter--lost in his otterness. He hunts and behaves like and otter--even if it means eating the decorative koi he and Corey put into the pond out back, or shredding all the toilet paper rolls in the house. \n In his human form, Lon's a loan officer for a Boulder bank, and he's not happy when a trio of werewolves appear at his desk for a loan to fund building the Full Moon Conservancy on forestry land. Lon knows that the property is part of the protected habitat of the silverscale dace, an endangered indigenous fish, and that's part of why he declines to approve the loan--approval can only come after the environmental impact studies. \n Some problems? Werewolves don't like to be told no. Also, the alpha of the pack, Melvin, is Corey's department chair at U-Colorado. He recognizes Lon's scent on Corey, and that's a whole new dimension of TMI. Lon fears that the werewolves will eradicate the dace from their property, or kill Corey, or himself, and takes some bold strokes to prevent that--little does he know the werewolves have a dastardly plan to get rid of the dace \"naturally\" with the help of a few hungry otters... \n What I really enjoyed about this story is the in-depth characterization of Lon, and Corey. They both have to deal with the otterness of Lon, and Corey's doing his darnedest without knowing truly how to help Lon. Because Lon's pretty protective about the ins and outs of shifting. In some ways it seems that Lon doesn't actually KNOW the answers to the questions Corey poses, because he's a whole different being as an otter and this is not translatable. Like, there aren't words much when he's an otter. And, if he's an otter for several hours Lon loses his ability to speak when he pulls his fur back. \n As Lon deals with the werewolves, Corey tries his best, though it's not good enough. Lingering effects of shifting threaten to pull Lon into otterness forever, and it's all Corey can do to keep him on this side of the pelt. It was a great psychological story, and I loved the development of the relationship between them. Poor Lon, who loves the tasty koi! Poor Corey, who doesn't know how to deal with a truly wild mate! \n They are a great pair. The pace of the story, and the switching POV both hit the mark for me. I liked the sexytimes, and the emotional context for this couple felt right. They are still getting acquainted--they've only dated a couple of months, and the growing pains of coupledom had authenticity.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 03 16:59:12 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 03 17:41:16 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "22457458", "review_id": "ece5a69cb6effbb72b62145f7f737d0e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a cute little niblet of shifter romance. \n Lon is an otter shifter, and he NEEDS to shift regularly in order stay copacetic. He chooses to do this because indoors + otter = MESS! Lon is an experienced snowboarder and like and self-respecting Coloradoan, he hijacks his powder by boarding down ungroomed backslopes. I found this to be hysterical. Also, side note: my one and only downhill skiing experience was at Eldora, one of Lon's fave haunts. \n While boarding he often ditches his clothes in the deep pines and gives his otter room to play. He meets with Corey, a fellow backsider and econ professor, one afternoon, and helps Corey reclaim an errant board. In return Corey drives Lon back toward Boulder--they hit it off, and hit the sheets. It's all good. \n They like each other and decide to make plans to repeat, and eventually date. It's still all good--with Corey none the wiser to Lon's otterness, and remarking to Lon how much he adores the frisky otter he often sees belly sliding down their slopes and frolicking in the creek. Lon's appreciative of the admiration, but knows he's got to keep his secret. \n Until the unthinkable happens--Corey's got to leave the slopes early one day, well before Lon got his otter on, and the results are furry. I loved being in Lon's otterbrain. He's such a rascal. And Corey's the best man he could have encountered. Even if unexpected otter boyfriend + Cheerios = disaster. \n As an economist, Corey's used to dealing with sums and balances. He's found a catch in Lon, and he's sure that being a couple requires flexibility. And, really, what mammal is more flexible than an otter? It is a sweet little story, with a bit of steam and fuzzy math to adore.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 02 17:18:04 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 02 17:33:32 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "25543022", "review_id": "d0d9a5e72aca5e65a90ad11bd585075c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was more than awesome. \n I've had it on my TBR too long. I bought it months ago and never had the chance to read it, due to scheduled blog reads. And, I'll admit it right now--I was afraid the hype was overblown. That I'd read it and be like: #Meh. \n I was SO wrong! I want to kick the darkness out of myself for delaying. \n Parker is a freshman at Stanford, and in danger of doing poorly in his film class--the one blow-off class he picked. And blew off. He's furious with his TA, Adam, who won't change his grade because Parker is a prick and he did a bad job. Before Parker can drop the class, however, the world descends into chaos as a virus spreads like wildfire across the country--creating zombie-like infected hordes that are out for blood. It is only Adam's fast pace and even faster motorcycle \"Mariah\" that saves Parker from becoming zombie-lunch. \n This is an adventure which becomes a romance. Parker has no idea that Adam might be interested in him, and frankly, both of them are too busy not getting killed to worry about sexytimes. But they happen, unexpectedly and deliciously! Parker is swooning, quite honestly, when he learns how Adam is such a good protector (insert paranormal element here). It's not enough to diminish Parker's ardor, because he fell for the man, first. #AsItShouldBe. \n There are entanglements where there should be hospitality which creates a good deal of drama and a daring rescue. While I personally object to \"mad scientist\" tropes, being a scientist who occasionally gets mad, it worked in this book. I was so on board Mariah, feeling the wind whip through my hair, hoping against all reason that Parker and his family would be reunited. \n The end is a lovely and unexpected surprise. #Adored. #ImmediateReRead \n Oh, and yummy sexytimes and a solid romance which develops honestly.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 30 16:43:09 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 30 18:00:05 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "22714912", "review_id": "0c0fe8300c2e945b418afc60b0954332", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is best enjoyed after reading the previous books in the series. When this book opens, Cael and Ash are still healing from wounds sustained in the previous story. That said, they are finally developing the bonds that Cael has long hoped to build. Sure, they had been the closest of friends, and definitely affectionate, but it had never gone past the occasional tender kiss, or cuddling. Cael wants more, and Ash wants more, but Ash has a long history of self-loathing. \n As a child, Ash had feelings for another boy, and a series of tragic incidences chased him far from his love and all the people he held dear. He grew up in a testing facility for cast off Therians, alongside Sloane Brodie. Ash survived the emotional and physical testing to later join THIRDS as one of the first agents in the program. He's kept his heart held tight, but now he's thinking there's one person who would keep it safe: Cael. \n This is a definite hurt/comfort story, with both Ash and Cael working toward the kind of relationship they have always desired. In the background we have another diabolical plot hatching-one which had first come to light in BLOOD AND THUNDER but the full extent is only now being revealed. Someone has been developing a drug to control Therians in their animal form-creating drones with ultimate killing capability and no consciousness or conscience to stop them. Ash and Sloane are among the targeted, due to their history as Therian test subjects. It's a dangerous and covert business, getting control of the drug before it's used, and might put Cael in specific danger, as well. \n I really enjoyed the careful relationship building. Just because Ash and Cael have been close for several years, Ash is stunned to learn of Cael's tragic pre-THIRDS history. Ash knows he needs to tread carefully, but it's not that long before he recognizes that he can't be the man Cael needs without taking chances on love. There's a lot of vulnerability here, and super sweet steps toward coupledom. I think THIRDS fans will be well-satisfied.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 24 07:49:29 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 24 07:52:02 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "26107909", "review_id": "4034930afd49ce5d723014c14c6f8b7e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 Stars \n This is the third, and possibly final, book in the Cronin's Key series. Alec MacAidan is the key to the survival of the human species. He's only been a vampire for the past 18 months, but he's the Chosen One, if you will, so he's had a busy time of it. I think it's a bit hard to pick this series up at the end, but, having read all the previous books, it's a fantastic adventure/romance. \n In this book, the enemy is a group of otherworldly beings of lycan origin who call themselves Zoan. They are shapeshifters who can also stop time. The Zoan arrived on earth through a portal that opened straight from Hell, and Alec must figure out how to kill them, and shut down the portal before the world is under attack. Alec possesses every talent, or power, ever gifted to the vampire race, and he must use all of them to defeat the Zoan--if he can catch them. \n In the meantime, petrified Zoan are being awakened all over the earth and new portals are opening. It's another race-against-time if Alec, Cronin and their band of vamps will have any chance to save mankind. \n This is a fantastic adventure, though I had a few struggles with the fast pace and the constant motion. Part of the plot hinges on understanding the portals, where they are and how they work, and this means Alec must leap his group of vamps all over the world--in rapid succession--to investigate potential portals. At times, I think I was getting leaping sickness. I didn't get the \"physics\" behind the portals and parts where it was described, of which there are a few, dragged for me. \n That said, Alec is faced by a foe he cannot initially defeat; the Zoan are ancient and possess power greater than his. Cronin is very sincerely worried that this battle may be the last. And, he's partly right. I think the idea of a vampire afterlife was remarkable, and I enjoyed how that was rendered. \n There are so many characters in this series that have become dear to me, and I want to continue reading their stories of adventure. I've truly enjoyed the historical \"borrowing\" Ms. Walker has done to create Cronin and Alec's world and experiences, masking bouts of \"extreme vampire and Zoan activity\" into human tragedy and war has been a fun exercise in thought. \n Plus, the bond of love between Cronin and Alec is so lovely I had to giggle a little at Alec's jealousy when encountering Cronin's former lover. Oh, the intensity! And insanity... ;) Poor Alec and Cronin! They just love each other to pieces--and that's what Alec left behind of the world's largest glacier when his temper took control. There are some tender bits, and I found Alec's newest talent--stopping time--was certainly put to most excellent use when he decided some lovin' was needed RIGHT NOW! Fun! I highly recommend this series.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 18 04:12:59 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 18 04:14:16 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "25429279", "review_id": "28140a8bc72a37744e3677acb30f81aa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the second book in a series and should be read in order. \n Alec and Cronin are fated lovers, with a big problem: Cronin is a ~1300 y/o vampire and Alec is a human NYC detective. Well, he was before Cronin swept into the precinct and quantum leaped him into a world of vampires. Alec's blood was essential to defeat an army of resurrected Egyptian vampires, but once that foe was vanquished Cronin was unable to turn Alec vampire--not for lack of trying. \n They been hitting it on the reg for two months now, with Cronin biting Alec all the time, and still no change. Not for Alec, anyhow. Cronin's experiencing some odd effects of drinking Alec's potent blood--transference of powers from any vamp he's near or touches. It's all very unsettling, as is the news that vampire covens in northern China are on the retreat. \n Mongolian vamps invading their Central Park penthouse is a dead giveaway that a formidable vamp from the dark ages has returned. And China's famed Terracotta army is on the move. \n I loved the mythos here--the rethinking of vampire abilities and Alec's genealogy and how it affects his role in saving the world. The new vamps we meet are interesting and the story moves quickly--especially so when Alec's life is serious jeopardy. \n Beware: there is a lot more loving going on between Alec and Cronin, though the emphasis is always on the emotion and trysts are short and not-too-graphic. Well, until the end. That was some serious steam at the end. \n And, god, will I always cry at fictional weddings? \n Looking forward to the next book in this series!", "date_added": "Thu Sep 10 09:21:45 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 10 09:39:26 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "24830211", "review_id": "e52bb14599a84db4c176e1bf272cfce5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Alec MacAiden is a NYC detective with a photographic memory and a long history with weird shit happening. He's had several close calls with death that were averted by inexplicable means. While chasing down a suspect one rainy night he's disturbed by the perp knowing not only his true name, Ailig, but also by the claim that he must go to Cronin, and find some key, to avert war. Oh, and by this stranger exploding into dust in his very arms. \n This is only further compounded by Cronin appearing at the police station and taking Alec away by quantum leap. Alex can't control his feelings around Cronin, and this is explained, much to Alec's dismay, by Alec being Cronin's FATED mate. And, hilariously, that's even more upsetting than learning that Cronin and his two trusted confidants, Eiji and Jodis, are all centuries-old vampires. \n Really, it's the writing (not the vamps) that sparkles here. The humor and pace are both brisk, and excellent. Alec doesn't like the idea that he is matched to Cronin without his consent. Not that Cronin isn't delicious. Because he is. He's over 6 feet of sexy ginger vampire, originally from Scotland. He is also Old World in manners and sensibilities. And he's thwarted in his desire because sexual relations with Alec will turn him into a vampire, and a new prophesy has a very human Alec sitting squarely in the midst of a brewing war. \n I really enjoyed this one! The historical references were seamlessly interwoven and the new enemy on the horizon is interesting and dangerous. I loved how Alec took all Cronin's revelations with aplomb and humor--and I loved how Cronin and Alec took advantage of the few days they had to make the most of their budding relationship. The sexual tension was delicious, and the advancement of their \"courtship\" was so sweet. The battle scenes were fantastic, and the story was completely wound up in the resolution. The sequel will focus on a new foe, which was excellent.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 07 11:26:54 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 07 12:09:30 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "26044904", "review_id": "6b3b8d7c503392887cf2d0bcc49063f7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I must admit, I'm addicted to shifter stories. I've read dozens by now, and I was so engaged in this one. It's not the normal \"guy gets bitten\" story, though. In fact, the mythos regarding transformation was completely new to me and gave the story a freshness I didn't expect. \n Darien is a man out of time. He lives in contemporary Brooklyn but he doesn't have a TV or a computer. He has restored his apartment to it's Old World charm, and has learned to be a craftsman butcher, traveling to Italy, Poland and other areas to learn from the masters. He's an apprentice to Mr. Nowak who is more father than employer. Every Sunday he sits to dinner with the Nowak's and Darien is a part of their family-well, until money comes into the matter. Mr. Nowak is offered $12 million for his property, including his business and Darien's apartment above it. The Nowak family is clamoring to sell, but Mr. Nowak is holding out for Darien to find a new job, a new home, and the family is growing impatient. \n Also impatient are the real estate developers who cannot wait to carve the history and soul out of Darien's once down-rodden Brooklyn slum, as expertly as Darien would carve a side of beef. Gentrification is ripping the heart right out of the area, and the historic Mechanic's Library is on the chopping block, as well. Invigorated by an experience with Amazonian medicine, (read: psychadelic trip) Darien cannot sit on the sidelines any longer. Becoming an activist for the first time in his life, Darien meets all the members of a community he'd lived in yet hardly experienced. Among them the Court. \n Darien thought the Lipsius Preservation Society would be a consortium of billionaires who'd never worked a day and had money to blow-and he was so, so wrong. Their Old World manners belied a secret world that Darien was only beginning to experience. And, as his hungers become more and more primal, Darien knows that Albeus, King of the Court, is the secret to understanding his brave new world. \n I really was taken by Darien-such an old soul. His attraction to Albeus is immediate, and Albeus senses this, but the physicality comes so much later. Darien doesn't understand the full ramifications of his dabbling in the spectral plane, but he does get that he is forever changed, and that his transformation is not complete. His energy is through the roof, he's ravenous, and his sexual appetite is far more physical than previously. Albeus is a bit stunned by the rapid pace of Darien's transition, but he's grateful-it seems clear the connection between them is more than camaraderie, in contrast to that with the bulk of the Court. No, Albeus and Darien believe they are mates-and move all the more slowly to cement a permanent bond. \n In the backdrop are the realty haggles, personal tragedy, and Albeus' own transformation story. The book is so well-developed and richly textured I could see it all unfold through Darius and Albeus' eyes the entire time. I really loved the slow burn, but I'd have liked a bit more sexytimes, too.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 02 06:59:52 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 02 07:00:34 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "25826390", "review_id": "379a4119c854534ef8abd86bd1240159", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This review was written for Joyfully Jay reviews and can be accessed here: http://joyfullyjay.com/2015/08/review... \n 4.25 stars. \n Ian Evers is a reporter for a fringe newspaper that reports on the activity of magical creatures. It's not much of a day-job working in contemporary Seattle, but he does okay. Until the day he hears a haunting melody that hooks into his brain and tugs him toward unknown disaster. Ian has known that magic exists; his \"Aunt\" Cleona is a part-time witch and he's been attended by Alistair, Cleona's friend and possible Aleut shaman. This music is surely a spell, and Cleona's not up to the task of breaking it. What Ian doesn't realize is he's been targeted because the spell caster senses his inherent, but unknown, magical power. \n Ezekiel, as a dark elf or svarta, is duty bound to bring all magical creatures to his Queen, so she can harvest their power for all her subjects--yet, when he senses the magic in Ian, Ezekiel knows he must taste some of him first. He tries to lure the novice in with a charmed song and interacts with Ian in his dreams, one of the realms betwixt and between, but his magical ties are severed by Ian's friends. Still, Ezekiel is addicted to Ian's light power, and won't quit trying to harness the not-quite-human Ian, especially once the Queen finds out about him. \n This is not a light-hearted fantasy. The Queen is a bloodthirsty, powerful dark elf who has enslaved her clan of svarta for centuries. They hunted the liosa, or light elves, almost to extinction. I really enjoyed the mystical world built within Seattle's confines, though I was sometimes confused about where I was--in what realm, that is. Ezekiel is able to transcend the realms, to some extent, but Ian cannot, at first. His gradual building of liosa powers was excellent. I hate when a character learns \"I have powers\" and is immediately awesome at using them. Ian is not, and most of his use is low key and measured. \n Both Ian and Ezekiel develop an attraction for each other, but this is a tricky dance as their clans are sworn enemies--Ian shares none of this history, having been raised by humans, but the prejudices for Ezekiel are centuries old and harder to break through. I admired how Ezekiel initially clung to those silly notions, and worked past them in a believable manner. The hunger for power, both from Ezekiel and the Queen, was a palpable and real force in their characters and took the plot in different directions from those I was expecting. Ezekiel and Ian learn that their coupling creates more power than either can alone, and this might be the answer for the magic-starved svarta suffering under the Queen's avaricious rule. \n This book is more magical fantasy than romance, but the romance is still present, and there are a few steamy (and acrobatic!) scenes. I loved the language and imagery, getting a real feel for the world through descriptions that involved a lot of sensory information. The point-of-view is shared by Ezekiel and Ian (and later by Alistair) so I had great insight into their emotional landscape and decision-making. Both men question if their attraction is real or conjured by magic, and struggle with the consequences of maintaining any connection at all. I had as much trepidation as Ian did regarding a love with Ezekiel--who could have easily overpowered him and turned him in to the Queen--but I was glad that his faith and trust were rewarded. For Ezekiel, the question to capture or love Ian is one of life or death. But the path to life or death is far different than he first imagined, too. This story is billed as the first in a new series, but the resolution has no cliffhanger. The next story must center on a new dilemma.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 30 10:11:10 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 30 10:12:47 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "25950736", "review_id": "6a20349f1e273caf35c0d61c685cb2e3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a quickie menage scene that answers the question: what happens when a vampire, a werewolf and a human walk into bar? \n Aneesa is a human in love with a sexy, non-sparkling vampire, Ace. They've been dating for eight years, enjoying the many splendors of love with each other, but both have a 'bucket list' menage fantasy to tick off. Ace has chatted with his friend, Barton, a werewolf with an insatiable sex drive, about the possibilities, and he's down for it. (Or should I say up for it?) Regardless, Barton wants to get it on, and isn't above a bit of (harmless) stalking to get the party rolling. \n Thing is, Aneesa's simultaneously put off and aroused by Barton's interest. The deed goes forth with sexy results. \n For a sexy short, it packs a lot of heat, and the whimsical writing kept me smiling throughout. Looking forward to more...", "date_added": "Wed Aug 26 10:08:43 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 26 10:19:11 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Aug 26 13:08:22 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "25790592", "review_id": "8b398433934a74063686f26aa40d2ba6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 stars for this contemporary M/M paranormal romance. \n Ryan is wrecked watching his only sister die of pancreatic cancer. Desperate to save her, and spare her daughter becoming an orphan, Ryan does something he can't even believe--he makes a pact with a demon, Zavier. For the exchange of his soul, his sister will be saved. Ryan is given a five year delay on collection, but when he seals the deal with Zavier something equally extraordinary happens--both men feel a deeper connection. \n For Zavier, touching Ryan unlocks the history of his human life--the one he sacrificed when he made a pact with a demon to save the life of his dying lover, Ryan. Fifty years have passed since Zavier's contract came due and he entered Hell's ranks, but how could his new client Ryan have opened Zavier's locked memories? Zavier begins to investigate his own contract, with the help of a guardian angel and a lesser demon with mad computer skillz. The answers are as infuriating as they are shocking, and Zavier is torn between his demon duty and his love once lost. \n I thoroughly enjoyed this romance. Do not be looking for lots and lots of steamy sex--there is a bit of physicality near the end, but it's a small part of this bittersweet story. The story is told from Ryan and Zavier's points of view, so we really get to see their insights, throughout. The descriptions of Hell are interesting and compelling--I definitely enjoyed the \"corporate structure\" and how the demons and angels jetted about with a touch of a cell phone. \n The star-crossed love between Ryan and Zavier is allowed to develop in a new realm--with Ryan being a more equal partner in love than the man Zavier sacrificed his mortality for all those decades ago. Still, things happen fast. Zavier's boss is frustrated by his slip-shod efforts at signing new souls, and collecting souls come due. I adored Zavier's sense of morality--he's the anti-demon, all conscience and no avarice. His best friend is an angel, for goodness sake! \n As Zavier works to protect Ryan from his own selflessness, Zavier makes the same mistake he did when he was human--and his keen protectiveness nearly ruins the tenuous love they are building, now. The end is nothing short of a miracle, but what can one expect when the angels hear your prayers. I know there are more books in this series planned, and I'm eagerly expecting Adrian (the guardian angel)'s story. I want that guy to find love again.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 26 09:10:07 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 26 09:32:25 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Aug 26 12:00:45 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "25729445", "review_id": "15cb2955a96a0e8f233884e04a195075", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This review was originally written for Joyfully Jay Reviews and can be accessed here: http://joyfullyjay.com/2015/08/review... \n Chris is a new college freshman unsure why he is even attending Creekville University. He didn't apply, but was offered a full scholarship. He's only on campus a day when he learns that his scholarship is dependent upon him working for Ethics professor, Dr. Faran. Oh, and Faran's research is based on the development of supernatural powers. And, Chris cannot talk about any of the research in Faran's laboratory to anyone not covered by Faran's magical contracts. Chris has no powers, though he'd like them. He makes a few friends, but is mostly intrigued by a senior student, Frederick, who also works with Faran. Frederick seemingly has no powers, but develops some--super strength, agility and speed--which are not particularly marketable or beneficial because they are so common. \n As the book moves forward, Frederick becomes more and more despondent regarding his lack of marketable skills. Through his confidences with Chris, we learn that Frederick's family has turned him out for his homosexuality, and his small southern community will not take him back. If Frederick cannot secure a job before graduation he'll become homeless. Chris continues to reach out to Frederick, but the emotional toll seems to be very great. Trigger warning--Frederick is VERY depressed and self-harm occurs. \n I think I didn't get the supernatural aspect from the blurb, but the book opened with a feat of telekinesis, so I got on board right away. The magical abilities the characters display are rooted in logic, not wizardry, which was refreshing. I liked Chris. He's a great kid. He knows he doesn't belong at Creekville and is appropriately worried about being discovered as a fraud. Not that he signed up to BE a fraud! He tries hard in his classes, but nothing seems to interest him until he makes contact with some psych majors and learns about their empathic abilities. Chris attempts his first steps of coming out, and finds many interested partners--even when he isn't looking, but his heart is set on Frederick. \n Chris so confused about Faran and the ulterior motives of this good-looking, charismatic man. It is through all of Chris' angst over Frederick's emotional state and depression that Chris actually decides upon his major--psychology--and seems to develop his ability, though he keeps all of the ability stuff to himself. This is protective for himself and Frederick, as Chris senses that Faran will likely exploit him if he knows. \n Unfortunately, the book ends mid-year, and it felt very unsettled. While there is some resolution, it's not a complete picture in comparison to the plot lines that had been woven. Chris desires Frederick as a boyfriend, and I hoped that Frederick would return his affection and clear interest, but not so much. He does take Chris up on an offer of friendship, and this is his only real lifeline. Chris was okay with being friends, hurt, but not overly so, which demonstrated a maturity I admired. There are a couple of physical scenes in the book, but the steam factor is pretty low. Honestly, this is not a romance; it's a coming of age, coming out, coming into powers story, but not a romance. That said, I did like this supernatural world and also the characters, primary and secondary. I'm intrigued enough to want the sequel. \n A review copy of this book was provided by Dreamspinner Press.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 05 06:36:25 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 05 06:39:21 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "25462873", "review_id": "6802da2565e713d31c3027e129fca4a2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 Stars for this M/M shifter mystery romance. \n Avery and Dylan are both shifters living in Portland, Oregon. They have known each other for two years and should be happily mated except: \n 1. Dylan thinks true mates are miserable, case in point--his parents. \n 2. Avery is a hedgehog shifter, and was deeply offended when Dylan made fun of the idea of mating with such a lowly creature (Dylan is a respected wolf shifter). \n 3. Avery insulted Dylan after Dylan's insult and now they mostly hate each other. \n Avery is a bit of a spoiled brat. His parents give him a hefty monthly allowance which he blows on expensive clothes, personal yoga training and gourmet food. And still, he wagers on an illegal shifter race and finds himself $15K in the hole to a crime lord. Dylan hears of Avery's predicament, and bails him out. He doesn't have to, but he chooses to save his mate, even if they aren't officially mated. \n In the course of his money trouble, Avery's parent's cut off his allowance and Avery is begging for a job. The Portland Pack Alpha is Avery's BFF Jaden's father, and Avery is able to secure a pack job, bringing meals to shut-in shifters and driving them to appointments. It's lowly, but Avery appreciates that he has more purpose than ever in his life. \n In the meantime, Dylan and Avery recognize that their bond is becoming stronger of its own accord, and they should probably get to know one another to see if completing the mating ritual will be the biggest mistake evah. It's quietly endearing, the way they date and barely touch. Dylan fears being forever glued to a mate he cannot stand, and seeks some advice from his mother. He decides to \"go slow\" and this is good and bad. We get a lot of tension, but Avery isn't sure if Dylan's really interested. Hedgehogs don't have the same fated mates dynamic as wolves, so he figures Dylan is only invested from a wolf standpoint--and Avery doesn't want to fall hard for sexy Dylan if it's all one-sided. \n I really did enjoy prickly Avery. He's so tender on the inside and armored on the outside! Even his designer clothes are a form of protection, keeping others at bay. He gets over himself, and really starts thinking of others first as the plot unfolds. Yay! \n The final 2/3 of the book involve a mystery surrounding the disappearance of a young female shifter, only daughter to one of Avery's shut-ins. Avery vows to find the lost girl and gets dragged into an investigation of a human trafficking operation. Expect a lot of action and drama on this front. Dylan is a great guy, the kind of mate anyone, even Avery, would desire. And Avery's desire is so attractive to Dylan that he's drawn in, against his reticence. \n There are some yummy sexytimes, though they happen in the second half of the book. I did like the slow burn, and the cautious moves into what Avery and Dylan understand will be a forever relationship. They treat each other with respect, though there is a bit of secret-keeping that drives that action in the climax. \n Definitely rooting for these guy in the sequel. And the secondary characters are all super yum. Expecting to see them in their own books!", "date_added": "Fri Jul 31 16:46:52 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 17:09:04 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "25958381", "review_id": "80ae40247b51c348e5bd7e537603545b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the second book in a series, but enjoyable as a standalone. \n Aeron is a 29 year old, shy gay man living in a rural Welsh village and caring for his chronically ill mother. He has had few positive experiences of his life, but he counts his new job as a farmhand to be one of them. The stable work enables Aeron to save some money for his mother's care. She has multiple sclerosis and a rapidly declining prognosis. Aeron is determined to do a good job, but he's unprepared for his attraction for the big burly farm owner, Dylan Roberts. \n Dylan lost his husband, his shifter mate, two years ago when rogue vampires tore his pack to literal shreds. He harbors immense guilt, and lives only to avenge his mate. All Dylan's friends want him to come back to their packs, but he remains isolated, hoping to pull the vamps into a trap. Meeting Aeron is unexpectedly upsetting. He feels an immediate attraction for Aeron, which only frustrates him further. How could he even look at another man? His heartsblood was shed and he vowed to never love again. \n Aeron recognizes the need he observes in Dylan--he's so terrifyingly lonely, and Dylan seems the same. He convinces Dylan to have a friendly arrangement, hoping that it might escalate into something more. And, it does, but not in the way Aeron expects. He has no idea that Dylan is a wolf shifter, or that he's now under surveillance by ancient vampires. \n Meanwhile Dylan's inner wolf longs to be mated to Aeron--who is inconveniently human. Even if Dylan could confess his secrets to Aeron, it's impossible to believe the beautiful young mane will be willing to change in to a shifter adn leave his home behind. \n This was an interesting addition to the shifter genre. Dylan is a kind and conscientious man who fears the possibility of losing another mate. He'd rather shut himself away than try again, but Aeron is fiercer than he'd first seemed. I loved the interaction between Aeron and Dylan. Once the secret is revealed the tension only climbs. The addition of vampires creates a solid bit of drama, and Aeron's mother is also part of all equations. The canon of shifterdom is a little looser here, with less emphasis on the discomfort of shifting, and of turning humans to shifters. Dylan's alter ego, as a renown paranormal investigator--a force for justice as it seems--only bolsters Aeron's interest. \n The sexytimes are definitely yummy, and the story wraps with and HEA that includes all the affected parties. It was a well-paced interesting love story that had great side characters, likely ones who had big parts of the first book, and the door is open to another story in the future.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 29 18:44:35 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 29 18:45:24 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "24075953", "review_id": "ededc7fba567565b7d320e6b0d4a5c44", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the first book in a new Urban Fantasy series with several gay lead characters, but romance is barely part of the story, if at all, so do not expect it. \n The Four Horsemen, Death, War, Pestilence and Famine are immortals who live on earth, hidden behind the Veil which shrouds the Fae, Darkfae and other immortals, like the Vitues: Faith Charity, Peace and Hope (among others like Gluttony, Lust and Luck...) from the sight of mortals. Except crazies and seers can sometimes see them. Kismet is likely crazy, but he's had the \"gift\" of sight since childhood. He is terrorized by his constant observations of wraiths and ghosts, including that of his younger brother who was inadvertently poisoned by their addict mother. Kismet is crippled by his visions, and self-medicates with heroin to keep the wraiths from attacking his mind. \n Kismet sits at the center of an intricate plot to remove some immortals from their Calling. See, if people need help crossing planes, Death can be summoned. If someone is in need of Hope, she must appear--and this is a tiring existence for an immortal. Some want to settle down, have a \"normal\" life, perhaps even fall in love, and Kismet's ability to see through the Veil may hint at deeper abilities. Spiking his heroin dose with an agent of magical origin kicks off the action. \n Pestilence, known as Mal to his Horsemen, is lonely. He wants a partner outside of his group, and he's too inexperienced as a Horseman to properly wield the Veil. War (Ari) yearns for more than kinship with Death, the eldest and most powerful of the Horseman. Ari is indefatigable in his pursuit, and Death welcomes his closeness, but keeps it platonic, fearing the loss of his soul if he should lose Ari, his best friend and confidante, for any reason. \n Ari and Mal encounter Kismet while on patrol, and he's in serious trouble--a powerful wraith has been summoned and is nearly finished killing him...except, Kismet survives the attack in the same fashion that an immortal might. It freaks both Mal and Ari out, and Mal insists on bringing him to Death for advice. Pretty much things get bad right after that. \n As I mentioned, this isn't a romance, though the background is set for advancement of romance in a later book. Also, this book fully resolves, while still leaving plot arcs available for a sequel, or series. Through it all we have good guys acting badly, \"bad\" guys behaving with honor, new friendships (Kismet and Mal) and deepening ties (Ari and Death). I really enjoyed the back-and-forth banter between the Horsemen, and also how committed they are to holding each other up. This book is almost exclusively told from behind the Veil, with the immortals carrying most of the POV. I did have some issue with the rapid POV shifts--this is a particular peeve of mine. I like to stay in one character's head for a scene, but the POV jumped constantly. It was less jarring than other books I've read, but still detracted from my enjoyment. \n On the plus side, the prose is stellar, really wrapping the reader in this world within a world. The emotional landscape is rich and I had a great experience feeling Death's pain, Ari's deep love, Mal's isolation and Kismet's fear. The action is fast and fierce, with copious attacks, rescues and near-death experiences for far too many immortals. Looking forward to the next installment! (Fingers crossed for a some love scenes!!!!) \n I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 13 18:21:49 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 13 19:06:39 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "24684698", "review_id": "f6659b4453cdbac835f4b433d60b60e7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is written as a series of tell-all vignettes confessing the TRUE nature of the partnership between renown occultist Simon Feximal and his journalist-cum-paranormalist Robert Caldwell. The setting is 1890s London and men are not allowed, legally, to have sexual relations with each other. (But boy-howdy, do they!) \n They meet because Robert has a ghost inhabiting his ancestral home. He calls out Simon, who has the ability to communicate with spirits, by means of writings that etch across his skin, when he is in the presence of a ghost. It is horrifying and fascinating to Robert, and the manner of expulsion of his ancestral ghost is sexy-sexy. This was actually so fascinating to read. It could have gone campy, but it never did. \n Each chapter is a case; all of them have some heat between Simon and Robert, mostly as a way for Simon to disgorge the coldness that saps him while communing with spirits. I honestly could not get enough of this couple. There could have been a hundred chapters and I'd have continued turning the pages. There are little threads woven in the stories which connect one to the next, but each is unique and interesting while building on the developing love story between these two men. \n I won't say this is tender, because it isn't. There is tenderness at times, but often it's harsh and necessary couplings. The desperation they both experience, amid life-and-death encounters kept me captivated. THere is incredible tenderness in their small gestures--the ones which need to be hidden to protect them both. Political machinations, revenge plots, destruction, self-sacrifice--it's all in here. The journal-style of the writing allows an intimate look into Robert's side of the story and he's just a dream of an MC. He so adores Simon that it's impossible not to love Simon through Robert's POV. \n I adored the historical setting, and the old-style British grammar and spellings. I felt like I was there, as gorgeously and clearly as the settings were described. Nothing like a good ghost story--and this book is chock full of good ones. \n I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 01 14:00:08 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 10 07:42:56 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "25392947", "review_id": "07d1959630176a190c50b204243209dd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 Stars. This is the third book in a series, and should be read in order. \n At the end of the last book, Alice and Mary Lennox (of The Secret Garden) are on the hunt for their loves: Finn (of Huckleberry Finn) and Victor (son of Dr. Frankenstein), adopted brothers who may have perished when the book world in which they were chasing known killer Sweeney Todd was destroyed. Against all odds, Alice believes Finn to be alive; she has lost love before, and regained it with Finn. She will stop at nothing to find him, and, if that means breaking and entering, well, she luckily has renowned thief The Artful Dodger on her side. \n Unfortunately, finding Finn doesn't bring her much relief--because he's been enchanted and will likely die if she cannot find the 13th Wise Woman, from Grimm's Fairytales, to undo the curse. This entire series is an incredibly creative literary enterprise. I adore Alice, who is single-minded of purpose, and a kickass heroine. She's all grown up from her first trip to Wonderland, now an exiled queen whose loved-and-lost story is all the more powerful because she chose political peace over personal comfort. She tells the bulk of this story, and her pain and courage is plain. \n The main objective of all Alice's travels is to locate Gabe Pfeffer, or Lygari, or his much older name, The Pied Piper. Trouble is, there's trouble every step of the way. Like most of the Brothers Grimm's works, this is not a light-hearted fable. Nope, it's a dark tale that includes vengeance, lies, enchantment and a teeny bit of sex. I'm kinda frustrated by the end...because I MUST know what happens next, and, alas, it's a kicker cliffhanger, IMHO. I don't want to spoil the book, so I'm ending this review here. If you think you'll like creative literary fantasy with a vengeful queen who will do absolutely anything to save her prince, this book is for you.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 24 18:42:40 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 24 18:43:40 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jun 24 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "15831627", "review_id": "047596387d8bd7ce870efc4786cf19a2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Um. In case it's not clear, ahem, this is a mermaid book. I would not consider it to be a spoiler, as we learn Meena is a mermaid within the first five pages. What is clear from the disclaimer is that this mermaid book is more than a little sexy. Not for young kiddos, sorry. (Not ACTUALLY sorry! It was a cool surprise for me... ) \n Meena lives in the Bahamas with her adopted parents, and works in their animal sanctuary, Flukes, in a prized cove. They don't have a lot of spare cash and need to spruce up the place for tourism dollars so they contract work via the community service program on the island--essentially bringing low-risk offenders to the sanctuary to paint, scrape and fix the cosmetic blemishes. One of these ne'er-do-wells is an actual well-to-doer, Blake Weathering, whose father owns several hotels on the island. Blake was sentenced to community service after he assaulted a fellow student (with good reason, but still...) \n Blake's not excited about shoveling seal crap for six weeks, but he's more than attracted to Meena--who holds a grudge over Blake's nasty comments regarding Flukes. He has struggled with his father's highly detailed plans for his life and eagerly awaits the release of his trust fund as soon as he receives his diploma. In the meantime, he enjoys rubbing Meena in all the wrong ways. \n They have an adversarial thing going, at first, until Blake makes apologies for his tactless comments, and helps Meena's parents with the design of a new logo and resort-style improvements to entice new visitors. Blake loves working with Meena and her parents who truly value his input and help him feel welcomed in a way his father never did. \n Meena has a lot of special abilities besides her mermaidishness. She can communicate with many of the animals at the sanctuary. She is stronger than she appears, and heals quickly in her mermaid form, too. On the other hand, her feet are extremely tender and her skin is very sensitive to chemicals and synthetic fibers. Blake can't pinpoint why he's so intrigued by Meena, but part of it is her work ethic. She never tires of helping out. And she's beautiful, and smart. She doesn't fawn or feign anything, which he respects. \n Other guys in the work crew? They don't respect Meena nearly as much. One of them, Devin, is a known sex offender, and he's got some dirty deeds planned. Expect big-time badness and more than one rescue. I didn't expect his transformation, and it was an interesting development. \n The romance does develop rather quickly, and this has a lot to do with Meena's magic, as she learns from some traveling merfolk. Meena and Blake are both 18, and Blake is Meena's first boyfriend. If you are expecting some chaste kissing here, well, you're going to get a lot more bang for your buck. And I mean that literally. Some pretty delicious/graphic sexytimes. Made me curious how the merfolk get it on when they are water-bound... \n The book ends on an HEA, and with more sexy. Yay!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 02 10:21:35 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 02 10:49:40 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jun 02 16:11:55 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "25136703", "review_id": "2550de381d2f5ad43bb09e9df36205b6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This review was written for Joyfully Jay Reviews. \n 4.25 Stars for this contemporary M/M shifter romance. This is the second book in the Little Bite of Love series, and it is highly recommended to read both in order as they are sequential and share characters and plot elements. Be aware this review may have spoilers for the first story. \n Hunter Devin is a fierce Enforcer, a half-wolf/half-husky shifter whose once esteemed position as protector to the husky Alpha has been diminished over the past several generations. Now, he is considered little more than a glorified mutt by the pureblood leaders of his former husky clan. Living in the newly-formed Daegan clan that consists of a few powerful families, Hunter is heartsick over having left his lover, Ari Jannsen, behind. \n Ari's determined to escape his near-captivity. His mother, Skyrah, is determined to ally her family with the Alphas of Hagan clan and is glad to be rid of the half-breed cur who corrupted her precious Ari. Hunter knows if he even approaches Ari's home he will be attacked, and his diminutive Ari may also be caught in the fray. \n Here's what I loved the most: this book has a tense plot. We have big secrets and double-crosses. We have crazed parents, and others finding their way past homophobia. We have caring and compassionate men and women. We have life-or-death battles that kept me flipping the pages. And, we have (a little) magic. The main heat of this book is told in flashback, with Hunter and Ari lamenting the loss of their clandestine love as distance and circumstance separates them. Because we begin with their separation, reading their lovestory is especially poignant. \n Of course, there are skirmishes that nearly wipe out the Daegan clan and their pups. The action here is fast and furious. This is a world on the brink of war, with many players seeking to grasp the leadership of the Hagan clan--not least of which is Trip Hagan's homophobic father. Trip, Boone, Kristoff, and Robbie are right in the thick of this book, which means that reading the series in order is really important. \n I adored the blossoming romance between Ari and Hunter. They are so sweet with each other. As is usual for Cochet's books, the emphasis is on characterization and relationships. All the players in the book are well-drawn and have unique contributions to the story. I was glad that we saw some resolution of the homophobia from the first book, and restoration of broken relationships. The end is sufficient to complete this story, while leaving the door open to another book (my money is on Kristoff finding love!) in this series.", "date_added": "Thu May 21 02:38:25 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu May 28 05:50:16 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun May 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "17874499", "review_id": "9123c33c94a9cb6386e258b97e9ecb7c", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This review was written for Joyfully Jay Reviews. \n 4.25 Stars for this contemporary M/M shifter romance. \n Tristan \"Trip\" Hagan is an out gay male in his tiny husky shifter community. He would have ordinarily been shunned, but he's the eldest male offspring to the Alpha of his clan. He has a bright, sensitive son, Robbie, who is the next heir to the clan Alpha as Trip is not eligible and Trip's younger brother is unable to produce any pups. Trip had bowed to his father's insistence to marry, despite knowing he was gay, but divorced his wife when he learned that she had a true mate within their clan. Trip may be willing to sacrifice his own happiness for clan loyalty, but he won't ask anyone else to do so. Trip also has a true mate, Boone, his half-wolf/half-husky Enforcer guard. Unfortunately, a mating between a pureblood (Trip) and a half-breed (Boone) is forbidden under clan law. So the men are close confidantes, but never take the next step--sealing their love by making a mating bond. \n The story is short but well-rounded with interesting secondary characters. Boone and his brother Hunter are both in love with men they cannot have. Being half-breeds, they are a target for scorn and abuse, despite their valiant hearts. There are also some juicy bits of humor to balance out the heartache. The spiders that were too big for the burly huskie shifters to tackle? I died. \n Within the story is a threat from outside the clan. Trip's father is negotiating an alliance with the nearby wolf pack whose Alpha, Kristoff Trevyn, is indisputably attracted to Trip. Yep. Which is all kinds of awkward, especially as Trip's dad is a raging homophobe. I really admired Kristoff; he is kind and compassionate and drives Boone bonkers. \n Robbie recognizes that Trip and Boone are meant for each other, and does try to orchestrate events to cultivate that. All of Trip's close comrades do, in fact. When the personal scrutiny of Trip and Boone gets too intense, there are only two choices: inter-clan battle, or separation. The resolution is almost excellent. The only problem becomes the main crux of the heartache that kicks off the sequel. \n Note: This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's \"Love Has No Boundaries\" event and is available for free through that group or All Romance eBooks.", "date_added": "Thu May 21 02:31:52 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu May 21 02:38:01 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23676989", "review_id": "97f4a4db68ae4bdf6ec3fd13c8a51a61", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 stars for this intriguing M/M fantasy romance. \n Theos is a Sacrati, the fiercest of warriors in the Torian army. Torian society is communal--the men fight and conquer new lands, and protect the women and children who live within sheltered cities in a collection of valleys in this world. Men and women do not marry in Torian society, they meet rarely for procreation, but otherwise are separate. The prized warriors, like Theos, have many invitations to copulate with women, to produce offspring, but most of the time, the men are game to take care of their sexual needs with their comrades (as do the women!). \n As a sacrati, Theos is above a lot of the menial army business. His warlord, however, has been acting mighty shady. Under Theos' command, a band of Elkati men are captured well within the Torian borde. It is clear they were attempting to return to neighboring Elkat valley, but Theos knows the value of a good captive--his men will all get a cut for selling them as slaves. And, Theos has the right, as commander, to choose a slave of his own from the captured. Not that he plans to, however. Keeping a slave is expensive and he would do better to claim the slave's selling price for himself. \n Only, it doesn't go that way. The leader of the Elkati, a fair man called Finnvid, is a healer and a scholar. Theos is especially wary of the strange way his warlord watches Finnvid, and desires him. His suspicions are further augmented when the warlord is enraged by Theos' decision to keep Finnvid, rather than let him be transported through a mountain pass for sale at the onset of winter. Finnvid is not like the men Theos knows. He is verbally opposed to the idea of men having sex with each other--in Elkat such a thing is despised. Moreover, Elkati have monogamous marriages, and this seemingly random copulation within Torian society is as foreign to him as Chinese is to me. It turn out that Theos has 46 children, with more than a dozen women in the city--and more on the way. Finnvid = Mind Blown. \n Still, Finnvid is a secret keeper of the highest order, and the most significant is his BROTHER is the Elkati King. Returning him to Elkat is imperative, but there are so many secrets and lies, that the politics is nearly as dangerous as the winter mountain passage. \n There are double crosses, and double standards and murder most foul. Throughout, Finnvid must come to terms with the most hated part of himself--the part that desires men sexually, and Theos in particular. I was fully engaged in this fantastic world. I felt like I was taking icy steps through the snowy mountains, or sweating in the ice huts and soaping up in the bath house. All the secondary characters are beautifully detailed, having real experiences that impact the story. The political machinations were fascinating, and I really found myself drawn into the story--hoping that Finnvid and Theos would find themselves alive, and together, when the final page came. \n While this is not a traditional romance, and not even a traditional 'slave' romance, there is a constant expectation that Finnvid and Theos will work things out between them. In the meantime, I was rather relieved with how decent Theos was--he had no dearth of sex partners, and he never forced Finnvid to become one of them. They spend a significant amount of time together, and the rapport that develops is quite natural feeling, as are the experiences of regret and loss when they are separated. Still, I had to laugh at how stubborn they both were. \n The book ended in such a way that I don't anticipate a sequel, but man! I'd like to see how all change in Torian society shakes out... \n I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Thu May 14 09:00:26 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu May 14 09:28:04 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "30025154", "review_id": "e55f3c26aead5e8cd3c7e01b98ac93ee", "rating": 4, "review_text": "My original review was written for Joyfully Jay reviews and can be accessed here. \n Edward Grey is a Canadian medical student who is also a necromancer. He has known his ability to reanimate the dead for most of his life, since he raised his cat Boo. Over the years, he has learned a lot about caring for zombies and is mentored by a vudou woman, Mariel, who also can raise the dead. \n Walking through the park one evening, Edward encounters a recently killed young man. It seems the man was a victim of violence, based on his injuries. Instead of summoning the police, Edward elects to bring the young man to his home, where he reanimates him. Wanting to avoid triggering any past memories and possibly enrage his newest zombie, Edward hides the man's identification and calls him \"Kit.\" \n Kit is understandably upset about his new situation, and-at first-suspects Edward as his killer. Kit, for his part, is a sentient zombie, with emotions and desires. He wants to continue his schooling and go shopping and have a life, even if it is undead. Over time, they develop a tentative friendship, but Edward is increasingly attracted to Kit. Kit is far more stylish and engaging than shy-mouse Edward. Edward often questions whom is the zombie in this partnership. \n I liked this story, but it was a little long on Edward mooning. The pace was slower than I generally prefer, occasionally dragging and with a lot of angst on Edward's part. He's afraid of Kit, afraid Kit will turn on him, afraid Kit will leave him, and afraid Kit will lose control and go \"Zombie eat brains!!!\" But, most of all, Edward is afraid to confess his attraction and have suave, stylish, zombie Kit reject him. \n The last third of the book introduces the vengeance aspect of the story, and that got pretty interesting. I found the romance to be subtle and a low simmer. When Edward and Kit do get together, it is tentative at first. Then, of course Edward has to agonize about how Kit won't age while Edward will. Or, if Kit only likes him because they live together. Edward is the kind of guy who borrows trouble. \n The book is rather sedate until Kit meets a \"stranger\" and remembers bits of his old life, in particular the last night of it. We get Kit's insight then, funneled through his memories that break through into Edward's mind. Edward tracks Kit's path of gore, which takes them both to the edge of destruction. The end is peaceful and hopeful with all secrets being revealed. There is no cliffhanger and the HEA is sweet.", "date_added": "Tue May 12 07:40:31 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 11 09:15:41 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "22749788", "review_id": "c34363731656cc7c47210aaec63f67cd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This review may contain some spoilers. \n Lyric learned the biggest secret of her life three years ago: her mother isn't human. She is one of several ocean-dwelling races (a daughter of Sirena) who sent 20 operatives into the human world to learn about life on the surface. Her mother, Summer, met her (human) father and they married, had Lyric, and enjoyed a rather normal daily life as low-income people living in Coney Island. Lyric's father is an upstanding police officer, and had been able to mask his wife's lack of documentation over the years. Lyric had no reason to suspect anything was unusual about her heritage until the night the Alpha arrived. \n The Alpha are Summer's kin, and there's 30,000 of them quarantined in a shanty town on the beach at Coney Island. Lyric's entire neighborhood, now dubbed \"The Zone\", has been placed on lock-down to keep the Alpha from branching out. This means Summer cannot leave Coney Island either as she has no birth certificate or social security card. The book opens with the forced integration of Lyric's high school. \n Lyric knows she needs to keep her head down at school and in public. All of Summer's associates, the other 19 operatives and their families, have been \"disappeared\" to secret government labs for testing, and calling their house into scrutiny could lead to Lyric and her parents being captured. Summer spends her days and nights searching the video feeds of the refugees to find her parents so they can reunite, if possible. \n The forced integration is intense and harkens back to the 60s and 70s inclusion of Blacks into \"white\" schools. Expect riots. Lyric and her BFF Bex are hard-pressed to make their way into school without being caught in the mobs. Plus, lots of kids in this impoverished school are more than happy to lash out at the Alpha, but Summer has told Lyric how deadly they can be. The bullying is extreme and fights are sure to have lethal consequences. Trying to stop one such altercation, Lyric finds herself square in the new principal's spotlight, only Principal Doyle isn't just the new guy in charge. It seems he's got serious insider info regarding Lyric's family. They strike a \"deal\" that Lyric acts as a tutor to the Alpha prime's son, Prince Fathom, and Doyle won't 'out' Summer's Alpha status. \n Thing is, humans seen as sympathetic to, or in the company of, Alpha have been killed by local anti-Alpha vigilantes. The chance of discovery gets ever higher as Prince Fathom and Lyric spend more time together--causing Doyle to sweeten his offer: he has bona fide paperwork for Summer that will enable her family to leave The Zone. \n There is a love spark here, between Lyric and Prince Fathom, but it's on the down low for the first half of the book. I think the bigger part of the story is the politicization of this refugee community. The governer of NY (a blatant parody of Michelle Bachmann which I appreciated) is a hardline conservative positioned against integration, and is on the school steps attempting to bodily block Alpha entry--the National Guard is out in full force, and present in the school and classrooms. Vigilantes are everywhere, attempting to incite riot. \n There are so many parallels to today's society in this novel one could discuss the themes in the context of racism, classism, undocumented status, homophobia, vigilante justice, and xenophobia, among others. The plot itself is not terribly original--Lyric must overcome her own issues and fight the spreading violence that is overtaking The Zone to save herself and her family. The characterization is unique, however, and the love interest thing is not the major focus. Sure, Lyric develops an affection for Fathom, and it's reciprocated, but there are a million and one other things happening here, and that's absolutely cool. \n I really dug the action, and the world-building within this tiny slice of Americana. I've been to Coney Island, and could easily imagine the devastation of the community around it, all filtered through Lyric's eyes. The Alpha are an amazing collection of beings, each of which has a specific role within their society. Learning that they are not the biggest problem facing humanity is rather a refreshing twist. Lyric's migraines are a part of who she is, and the benefit of them was only revealed late. She's able to channel some of that physiological malady into powering an Alpha weapon, but killing others may be beyond Lyric's pacifist ideals. Well, until her existence is treatened... The short time-frame for mastery was thin on believability, but I was able to overcome it. I loved the gritty descriptions, and the secondary characters are fantastic--from Bex's miserable abusive step-father to Lyric's nosy racist neighbor. \n The book ends with a temporary end to hostilites, though the resolution is not complete. Lyric has a lot more work to do to fix her family and her world. This is series I know my kids will love, and I'm anxious for the sequel. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Tue May 05 07:55:36 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue May 05 07:58:39 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue May 05 08:34:10 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "13633035", "review_id": "c1198fc5fcb2c1706096d5516db7a6c7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I received this book via Goodreads' Don't Buy My Love program in exchange for an honest review. \n 4.5 Stars. This is SciFi M/M romance set in our world with a new technology, mnemography. Mneming is the process of having a virtual reality experience, only a bit better. \n Daniel Schneider, and his dad, Big Dan, own Adventureworks, a small mnemography studio in Madison WI. Daniel runs the show now, after Big Dan suffered a persistent mnem (replaced memory) testing out a program that Daniel had authored. Now, Big Dan can't remember that he's been divorced for five years and Daniel lives in shame over what happened to his dad. His confidence in mnem-coding is shattered and his business is failing. He works a second job for a competitor mnem studio to make ends meet, where he is friends with Larry. \n Daniel is gay, and while guiding a client's mnem, he meets another man in the mnem. This has never happened before--the guides (called sherpas) aren't really a part of the program, they exist outside of it, but there is no doubt that the tall, pale man who recurs in another client's mnem is real. \n Okay, there's some doubt. Daniel is constantly convinced he's hallucinating, or worse--mneming--his stranger into existence. Larry is able to convince Daniel that the mysterious Elijah is real however. And they track down Elijah--to find he's straight and autistic, but brilliant at mnem. His invention allows him to slip into running mnem programs as far as 100 miles away. While this is stunning to Daniel, he's even more fascinated by Elijah. Daniel has never been one to fall for a straight guy, but there's something curious about Elijah--and it seems likely that Elijah hasn't had much experience with sex, at all, not just with male partners. They struggle to connect, on account of Elijah's autism, but the manage to work it out...a bit. \n I must say, I was thrilled by the world-building and character-development here. The world is much like ours, so it was easy to visualize, but the tech aspect was well-done. I really had the sense of the mnem a--to me they seem like VR. Big Dan was such a touching, tragic figure, perpetually defending his (estranged and ex-) wife's absence, and urging Daniel to mend fences--only to be continually confronted with copies of his divorce papers. Tired, defeated Daniel struggling to keep his business running while scared he'll mess up even more, facing his delusional father everyday and knowing his program upset the balance, he makes such a compelling character. Elijah and Larry are two scene stealers. Loved them. My only complaint is: more. I wanted MORE pages. I loved where this was going and didn't want it to end. \n As for the heat, there really isn't much, but what there is is deeply emotionally satisfying, IMHO. I want them to get together, for real. For keeps. They seem like a match intellectually, as well as physically. \n Will definitely be looking into the sequel.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 16 06:16:28 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 16 06:41:00 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Apr 16 06:48:22 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "25092851", "review_id": "2f46596d7a690ef9fec4a4d68edfd6be", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 for this contemporary paranormal romance. \n This is the third book in a series and is best enjoyed by reading the previous books. \n Madison has been working on her powers, but no one in her coven was strong enough to save her younger brother from dying, so she sold her powers to Caden, a crossroad demon. Now she's his \"beck-and-call\" witch much to her dismay. And her boyfriend Isaac isn't wild about this arrangement either. Caden calls Madison at all times of day, particularly relishing in disrupting her plans with Isaac...so there's a LOT of friction. \n Caden's most recent tasks involve Madison helping him to collect the four pieces of a Binding chain which, when united, will allow the wearer to control the actions and powers of any being, even a supernatural one. It's too much power to trust int he hands of a demon, but Madison must comply with Caden's demands or risk him no holding up his end of the bargain---essentially causing her brother to die. \n Madison does seeks some help coping with her new \"job,\" mostly confiding in her BFF Kaylee who inadvertently raises the dead. Yep. Zombie. (Well, sorta....) Plus, it seems that Caden's big brother has some serious designs on the binding chain, or Madison, or both. \n I must admit, this book took directions I wasn't expecting. Madison, Isaac and their coven are determined to thwart Caden's attempt to unite the binding chain pieces, yet, in the process of working against Caden, Madison learns that Caden's motives aren't what she expected. No, he proves time and again that his behavior isn't that of a typical demon. That doesn't mean he's all good. He does take advantage of Madison's physical vulnerabilities on more than one occasion. Clearly, Caden would love to explore a more physical partnership, but he stops short whenever Madison puts him in check. That said, the love triangle here is really more tense than most YA romance--with reasons, but it's difficult nonetheless. \n For her part, Madison is keeping too many secrets, and all of them will drive a wedge between herself and Isaac--if he ever finds out. There's a lot of tension, mortal and emotional, with lots of bargaining and some re-drawing of Madison's agreement with Caden. The resolution is one fast ride to avoid eternal damnation. Without the trust developed between Madison and Caden there would be no happy. And, while this story ends clearly, the door is open to another book in this series. Yay!", "date_added": "Mon Apr 13 17:44:45 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 13 17:59:39 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "18773866", "review_id": "ae1827315c2c525d59c5c2b5ce90a367", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This fell right in the 1.5-2 star range for me. \n This story is about Geir, a Berserker who happens to also be a shifter bear. He is a bit of a jerk, who has recently awakened from his hibernation. He is desperate for food and sex, and he takes both all the time with little prelude. He is inexplicably in Arizona where he is having all sorts of sex with the nearest wolf pack alpha (Derrick), a junior alpha (Dallas), Derrick's son Jared and a coyote whose name no one bothers to learn. There is a lot of sex, though it is barely interesting. There is no emotional context to this story, just: Bear. Eat. Sex. Repeat. \n There is a four-way scene that is forgettable and a strange twist where the pack turns against Geir and Geir makes them pay. Because, reasons. I did not get the whole Berserker = Bear shifter angle at all. Half the time I felt the sex scenes were a step above rape. \n The story is short, yet strangely bogged with repetition. If I had a dollar for every time Geir recalled he scent of his special lube and how it makes the wet dog smell of his werewolf partners, I could buy me a whole lotta good smelling lube. For. Real. \n The story reads like it's being told at me, and any contradiction is just explained away. (Because reasons again) I would rather a story I can experience and characters with whom I can engage. Sadly, that is not this book. I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 26 12:23:11 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 26 12:24:42 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Mar 26 16:18:17 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23897883", "review_id": "0065c76b832669fb606ec81ed0c90f2f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is a contemporary paranormal romance that features M/M, F/F and M/F scenes. \n McKay is on a mission to visit Scotland to honor his grandfather's dying wish. He takes with him a talisman, a carved stone that his grandfather brought back from Scotland when he emigrated to Canada. \n McKay is an attractive human--a model, in fact--but he's freshly aware that humans are not the only beings on Earth. His last serious boyfriend was a Canadian werewolf. On this flight of fancy, McKay meets new friends who end up bringing him to a fest in the highlands. This fest happens to occur in a remote stronghold of Fae magic, where the Lord and Lady of the land still bear the magic of the Fae. \n The Lord of this manner, Niall, favors men, and had recently taken up with an Irish Pooka--or shapeshifter. Their liaison is rocky, on account of Pookas being notorious thieves. Meeting McKay, Niall is pretty taken with the sexy foreigner. \n The fest is a celebration of harvest-time, and Niall's lands have struggled for two generations. It seems the key to their restoration lies with the McKay's talisman and the Pooka's magic. \n In truth, I struggled a bit with the voice of this book. The first part was especially difficult for me, with dialogue and description that read awkwardly, and had TMI. It read like the story was being told at me, not me experiencing it, due to the info-dump background. This style wasn't my fave, and I might have stopped reading if the book wasn't so short. The plot complications worked out in a convenient manner, perhaps too convenient. Still, as I got closer to the end, I seemed to enjoy the story more. \n I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 15 12:35:28 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 16 04:32:12 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Mar 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "20798492", "review_id": "4eab0578fe5591a1eb3cb1c2a3a36341", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I found I liked this book better than the first in the series. Lindsey is a sympathetic character--the socialite with a social conscience. He's 24, wealthy and lonely. His family is very loving and he's got close friends in the Harker pack--notably Cole Harker--but he wants a life partner. Wolves are very big on mates, and Lindsey is unapologetically flamboyant, which is just not acceptable to his fellow wolves. \n He'd settle for a human, but, well, rules of the pack state that humans can never know of their existence, plus Lindsey always wishes he could be the rough, dominant animal he hungers to unleash in bed and humans are...fragile. \n Lindsey's secret isn't only that he's half-werewolf, he's also a vigilante. Super Granny has been policing the streets saving victims of mugging and attempted rape. Now, there's a kidnapping ring that's been ransoming children from Lindsey's country club and Lindsey isn't willing to sit onthe sidelines--not when Super Granny can save the governor's daughter! \n In the mix of this, Lindsey meets Officer Seth Zakowsky--a rough-and-tumble motorcycle-riding expert on kidnappers. Seth is gay, but not interested in a \"queen\"--well, not at first. Lindsey is thoroughly attracted and knows full-well that a butch man like Seth would never accept him, yet Lindsey's throwing of attitude has the opposite effect. Seth sees him as brave and really admires Lindsey's athleticism and kindness. Seth had been raised in lower class life, and Lindsey's wealth is kinda off-putting, but the more time they spend the more Seth sees Lindsey's altruism, and the more he wants that man, despite the neck-kerchiefs and purple Gucci loafers. \n There's some complications--not the least of which Seth uncovering one of Lindsey's two major secrets--and a rather big kerfuffle. Spoiler: two break-ups here, and both are settled by outside forces. \n I loved Lindsey, and really enjoyed the pace and action of this book. There are really yummy smexytimes to enjoy. Plus, Cole was a great friend, and the intervention on Lindsey's behalf to create the HEA was Pretty-Woman-ish in impact. Plus, the stage is set for the homophobic issues that come up in the next book, WINTER'S WOLF.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 07 05:37:43 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 07 05:39:01 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "24017512", "review_id": "c28339f4c28c14264ed9d55c9ca73cd4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I truly didn't know what I was getting into reading this book, but, what I found, was a lush world of literary romance in today's world. \n See, in this world, the characters are from books, and they work to save books. Alice, from Wonderland? She is all grown up and a warrior Queen, willing to take on a maniacal murderer. Huck Finn? Victor von Frankenstein? They got adopted by Brom and Katrina van Brunt (from the Legend of Sleepy Hollow) and raised in today's NYC. Finn and Victor are top operatives in the Collectors' Society. Finn and Alice are, in fact, a couple (expect some nice bam-chicka-wow-wow!). \n Their current mission is to hunt down a rogue editor, believed to be Sweeney Todd, who has been collecting legacies--bits of ephemera that contain the 'soul' of a book--and destroying them. This, in turn, destroys the Timelines of every character in the book. It is akin to literary genocide, and was responsible for Katrina van Brunt's untimely death. \n Along the hunt, Finn and Alice have to enter Finn's Timeline, the world of Huck Finn, to pay respects to The Widow who is dying--and deal justice to Tom Sawyer, who caused Jim to die. It's a HUGE kerfuffle. \n Don't think Wonderland is sitting on the sidelines. The Queen of Hearts has a diabolical plot to kill Alice, despite her absence into the \"real world\". Alice had to leave in order to save her subjects, which meant abandoning her first love, the White King. Now, Finn has to seek his assistance in saving the queen of his world. \n And, what the heck is happening with Peter Pan? The man who seems to be pulling all the strings is clearly a double-talker. And his house is an homage to the written word...or is it? His hidden library seems to be the key, if only Finn and Alice could find the door. \n Here's the thing: I loved this book's pace and story. I found it thrilling and creative. Finn and Alice have to search their souls over, and over. And over. There's this part of writing that says authors have to torture their characters to give them depth--well these characters are practically water-boarded. The result? They leap off the page. \n With the climax coming so close to the end, I was terrified we would be left with a horrifying cliffhanger. As it stands the cliffhanger is not-quite-barbaric to the reader, but...it's certainly uncomfortable. Looking forward to the next book!", "date_added": "Wed Mar 04 04:36:51 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 04 04:37:53 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Mar 03 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23264409", "review_id": "87d900a61cf057b991e6cf27a3eea84e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 Stars. This is the third book in the Harker Pack series, but can be read as a standalone. \n Winter Thane is a gay werewolf, no matter how much his father, Damon, insists there is no such beast. His is also an alphanta, or second to Damon, with pure werewolf blood. They have lived in the wilds of Canada for Winter's whole life (20 years), but are returning to Damon's home pack--the Marketo Pack--in Connecticut. The reason: Damon wants Winter mated to a proper she-wolf. Winter thinks Damon's nuts, but he goes along because Winter does not truly wish to be left behind, alone. \n Upon arrival, Winter is displayed to all the eligible females, and his only attraction? Matt Partridge, a human FBI agent. While Winter has some support for his homosexuality--the Harker and Marketo packs have several prominent gay werewolves--not a one will allow him to break the Cardinal rule: exposure of his werewolf nature to a human. \n Well, Matt Partridge isn't quite sure why Winter is so captivating. And, he doesn't understand if Winter's sudden appearance in this locale has to do with either the uptick in drug trafficking or his dead colleague. Matt knows he can't mess up this assignment because he's responsible for his father's care--and dad's dementia is getting worse. Moving to another locale will undoubtedly make things worse. Of course, on the full moon both Matt and his dad go a little moon-mad, leading Matt to seek out some hot outdoor interludes with a willing Winter. \n The story is more complex than the previous books in this series, but involves crooked law enforcement, homophobia, break-up-to-make-up, and shifting power dynamics in the Marketo and Harker packs. Winter is recruited to help Matt. And also the local drug lord. And also factions in the Marketo/Harker pack who don't care for current alpha politics. He must carefully tread the lines between these competing interests, and his attempt to woo Matt. \n Winter is a truly white knight who rescues more than Matt, and the baddies get what's coming. The book ends with an HEA, and more than puppy love. Expect hot and dirty lovin' and a lone wolf who finds a true pack home.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 03 10:36:17 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 03 10:57:25 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "19450529", "review_id": "195a9eafe198ebae55a3f6e94e666565", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Cole Harker is a pure blood werewolf, and alphanta (second in command) of the Harker pack in Connecticut. His pack's territory is recently under attack from a NYC wolf, Nikel Eliazer. They want to control the whole of Connecticut, and the Harker pack is small and vulnerable to a hostile takeover. \n The way Cole's father arranges to strengthen his pack? A marriage alliance between Cole and the alpha daughter of the neighboring Marketo pack. Problem? Cole is an out gay male. For his whole life Cole has heard that there's no such thing as a gay werewolf, but he begs to differ...he's very much a werewolf, and just as much gay. \n Turns out Annalise Marketo doesn't want to marry Cole. Which is pretty crushing, actually. Cole was prepared to sacrifice his happiness for his pack, but Annalise? Not so much. Luckily, Cole is comforted by Paris--Anna's older half-brother who is, well, gay and a panther shifter. Paris is totally attracted to Cole (feeling = mutual) but Paris abhors pack-life. He doesn't want to be tied down, much like the cat he is... \n With the alliance in shambles, Cole endeavors to head off a war with Eliazar's pack. When he discovers Eliazar has unholy designs on Paris, well, it's a rumble. Especially when Paris goes missing! \n Cole knows that he can't keep Paris, but he is willing to spend whatever time he can with the alluring cat. Their connection is fast and fierce, though Paris refuses to commit. Cole? Jilted twice. Still, he recognizes Paris as his mate and will protect him to his dying breath. Super glad Paris got that memo before the final exhale. \n Good action, a quickie connection that mellowed into a more mature love, and battles with foreign packs, homophobes and fear of public speaking abound. This is a super fast read with an interesting cast and delish sexytimes. I liked how Cole's parents were sorry for forcing him into marriage--especially with a woman--and appreciated how open they became in the end. I liked Paris's sassiness, but wished he'd been even a little compassionate to Cole earlier.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 02 09:23:27 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 02 09:58:03 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "24263445", "review_id": "df2dc9570f80a8cf98105864e35fc8c9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a revised work originally published as Notturno. \n Adin Tredeger is a scholar of rare erotic manuscripts and has just won the priceless 500 y/o Notturno manuscript at auction. Notturno is the first recorded book detailing an erotic homosexual relationship, and Adin is captivated by the deeply passionate story of the two lovers. Adin doesn't actually believe love exists, but the heartbreaking story of Niccolo and Auselmo's forbidden love is changing Adin's mind. \n Especially so when Adin meets Donte (nee Niccolo) in the, um, flesh. Turns out the wages of Niccolo's sin was not death, but un-death. He was turned into a vampire (now called Donte), and forced to exist for centuries without his precious Auselmo. Notturno was his personal diary and he guarded it carefully, but it was confiscated with all his other art in the Nazi invasion of France and kept hidden for decades. When it was up for auction Donte's bidding was tampered, resulting Adin claiming the book. But Donte will not rest until his diary is returned, and he's willing to seduce, or sacrifice, Adin in order to get Notturno back. \n This was an interesting read, for sure. The vampire element was cool, especially when we had two factions of vampires searching for the book. Adin hadn't considered the possibility of vamps existing, and suddenly he's caught between Donte and Donte's nemesis, another vamp who wants Notturno destroyed. I really enjoyed how Adin bonded with Donte. Donte claims over and over that he cannot love, that his ability to love was killed with Auselmo, but Adin is a patient man. Through his translations of Notturno, Adin sees the deep capacity for love that Niccolo/Donte had as a man, and he's willing to prove to Donte that love like that never dies. Over the course of several months, and several near-death experiences, Adin recognizes that life really is hollow without love--and having a true love, even with a vampire, is worth dying for. \n Spoiler alert, no men were killed in the course of reading this book. (Though some vamps do get staked.) I wished for a little more heat in the smexytimes, but that's a small quibble. I didn't read the first edition of this book, but NetGalley provided this copy for my honest review.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 13 06:22:07 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 13 06:23:44 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Feb 12 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "22699209", "review_id": "bb6ed3853f2d127ca5b36cf7cc5dde45", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I received this book via Goodreas' Don't Buy My Love Program. \n 4.5 Stars for this richly textured, dystopian epic. \n The future world, as described in Outlier, is a mix between Xmen, and Hunger Games--without the games. There is one main city, Atlas, which is large and filthy, a hardscrabble life, segregated into wards. The Lifted City is exactly what it sounds like, a city built on a platform thirty stories in the air, upon which the ruling class lives, including the King and the wealthy. The lowborn can only hope to ascend to the Lifted City by means of Legacies. (here's where the Xmen link comes in!) Everyone in Atlas has a Legacy, some extra sensory ability that is manifest within them. All children are tested for legacy, and those who have powerful ones may be brought into the Court, either to amuse or serve, as needs be. Persons who have dangerous or extremely rare legacies are at risk of being named an Outlier, and (currently) subject to experimentation or destruction. Another aspect of life in Atlas is that no one sleeps past the age of two, hence, no one dreams. \n The story mainly revolves around the family of Wick Lesser, who is an Outlier, because Wick is 17, and Wick sleeps. He dreams, which is unheard of, and some of his dreams appear to become reality. His family hides his secret, but Wick has another secret, the desire for a male mate--one he continues to see in his dreams. Wick gets caught up in a rebel group, Rain, that is opposed to the current king, and wishes for a more egalitarian life. Wick and his fellow Raindrops *snort* are committing treason just by associating, but nothing prepares Wick for the night when part of Lifted City falls, and the nightmare he has been seeing for nights actually occurs in real life. Wick meets the boy of his (literal) dreams, and rescues this fallen Highborn, Athan, from the rubble. \n The story then moves forward with more rebellion, of a sort, and the brutal Guardian troops quelling discord in the slums of Atlas. Athan and Wick experience their first love, but this is completely downplayed. The story is in the struggle, the avoidance of capture. Wick knows that by not turning over Athan immediately, he'll be arrested for kidnapping. That alone will be a capital offense. Athan doesn't want to leave Wick, or the slums of Atlas--he has always dreamed of a life here, and cannot believe the luck of finding such a loving partner; his own family is cold and unloving. \n This is is an epic book with 10 or so viewpoints. I found it a fascinating read, though the story is really more the congealing of forces prior to the fight. All the players have been moved into positions on the chessboard, so to speak, and the next book promises explosions and uprising (in both rebellion and rising into the Lifted City). For all that this book is named Rebellion, it is really more rebellious in the sense of discontent and rabble-rousing than actual political/military action. That is not to say I didn't enjoy it--I very much did. I'm simply defining the terms, because this is not a war book. \n The romance between Wick and Athan was a bit sweet, but not too intense. There are also scenes of love between Wick's parents who are delightfully smitten after 25 years of marriage. Wick's family is a close-knit one, and I truly enjoyed their interactions. Unfortunately, they are in conflict by the end of this book, but I have high hopes for reconnection.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 12 05:49:27 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 12 09:08:13 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "20911450", "review_id": "b7c545e5cf7d14315f9f1b836cf4baab", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2.5 stars for this YA fantasy. Some spoilers ahead. \n The blurb indicates this is Quin's story, but the POV is actually that of four teen-ish characters: Quin, John, Shinobu and Maud. Quin, John and Shinobu are all training to be Seekers, while Maud is a Dread. In this world are some futuristic weapons and old artifacts, most importantly the athame, a stone dagger which directs navigation through space. \n The apprentice Seekers are told their role is to be defenders of humanity, but this is not the case under the current trainer: Briac, Quin's father. Briac is a mercenary who uses his power to kill for pay. John already knows this--Briac had attacked his own mother years ago and stolen his family's athame. It is John's sworn duty to get it back. \n Briac holds John apart in the training, however, neglecting to complete it. John is banished, and urges Quin to run away with him, as they are a clandestine couple. Quin won't; she believes in her noble purpose as a Seeker and is elated to proceed and learn to work the athame, as is Shinobu--until they discover they will be compelled into murder-for-hire. There's a whole lotta angst, what with being an assassin at age 15... \n Maud is a different creature than a Seeker. As a Dread she is to oversee the Seekers, and make sure they use the athame for the good of humankind. She had been trained (for centuries) by her master, but he is resting between planes and his apprentice is overseeing her--with extreme brutality. She can help the fledgling Seekers, but isn't sure if she should. \n John returns to claim his athame, leaving Quin's home and family in tatters and bleeding. The rest of the book is a chase through the space of their world for John to regain his athame, Quin to lose-then-regain her memories, Shinobu to become an opium addict then redeem himself, sorta, and Maud is finally able to make the proper choices to right the wrongs which occurred while her master slept. \n In truth, I have a low threshold for liking fantasy, but this was a convoluted book. Many times I stopped to read something else, and I can't say--even after finishing--that I'm glad I completed it. The threads of this book were woven too loosely for me to see the tapestry. Too many breadcrumbs leading toward later parts with no real cohesiveness. The end was cliffhangery, with a resolution that left the remaining players in pursuit of each other, which was frustrating after such a long read. I know there's a sequel planned, but I'm not sure I'll pick it up. There was nothing wrong with the writing, but the story never grabbed me. There was no trust between people who should have developed a rapport; every character was some awful shade of bad. Parents lie to their kids, knowing it will do them harm, because of a sworn oath? I call BS on that. Sorry. No oath is going to force me to make my kid a murderer. Not one of the adults in his story had one scrap of decency. And, the kids? Quin and Shinobu fall apart. John's the only one with a backbone, and I'm still not sure if he's capable of doing the right thing. \n It's just my opinion, but this book was more hype than story, for me. I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 10 03:55:50 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 10 03:57:28 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Feb 10 03:57:28 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "20980648", "review_id": "e4d7639c72592b51d4827de7f416eb1a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the third book in the YA steampunk Finishing School series. It is best to read these books in order. \n World note: the story takes place in a steampunk setting, in 1850's England, where vampire and werewolves are a part of society. \n Sophronia is a 16 y/o student at Mlle. Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies--which is in truth a training school for female spies. This year, Sophronia's education includes lessons in seduction... \n \"Seduction in its purest form is a never-ending acquisition of knowledge about another individual. Every male is a new challenge, every occasion warrants a different approach Take the greatest of care when applying these techniques, for they can be more dangerous than actual weaponry.\" \n The girls all straightened. Lady Linette's lessons were always interesting, but seduction was supposed to be the best. What young lady didn't want to know how to manipulate a man? This was what finishing school was all about! \n Sophronia has a BF, Dimity who is more interested in a normal life after school, but Sophronia knows she has several options in front of her. She has an unknown (but she suspects royal) patron who pays her schooling. Plus, she receives regular gifts from a rogue vampire Lord Akeldama high in London society. She has a bosom friend in Lady Kingair \"Sidheag\" whose family is a pack of werewolves in Scotland. \n It is when Sidheag receives notice that her beloved pack is in disarray and her great-great-grandfather has challenged for Alpha of a London pack, that life goes wonky. Sidheag flees to London to intercept Lord Kingair accompanied by the werewolf arms training teacher, Captain Niall--which will absolutely ruin Sidheag. \n Meanwhile, Sophronia and Dimity are released form school to attend the engagement ball of Sophronia's brother. Who also has garnered invitations? Dimity's brother PilloverFe and Felix, Lord Mersey both whom attend the companion school, Bunson's School for Evil Geniuses. Pillover isn't much of a fan of Felix, and neither is Sophronia's (inappropriately close) acquaintance Soap. Soap is a black boy who works as a sootie at Mlle Geraldine's, tending the boilers and boys who also work below decks. \n It seems that Soap and Felix have a bit of a tendresse for Sophronia, thought Sophronia's of mixed opinion on them. She knows Soap is an unsuitable mate; he has no family, and even worse prospects. But Felix, despite being son of an Earl, is also allied with the Picklemen--a secret society which despises the supernaturals in society and wishes to control communication across the nation. As a friend to Sidheag, and receiving aid from a vampire, Sophronia is not opposed to the supernatural, and the Picklem tried to kill her and Dimity in previous books, so she's decidedly against Picklemen. \n Felix, on the other hand... \n And then he was bending down, looking as if he might actually kiss her--in the back of an open cart! \n Turns out that this love triangle intensifies as Soap stows away to keep Sophronia from falling into Felix's affection. Pillover settles this rather succinctly: \n He addressed Soap, \"Although I respect the courage of a man who wears sating breeches THAT tight, but in the end you'll have to cede to Lord Mersey. He's too much of a peer, you understand? And a bit of a prick, as well.\" \n Interruption of the engagement ball by Sidheag and two werewolves is almost a welcome distraction. Especially when all the mechanicals of the house go absolutely bonkers. Sophronia, Dimity, Sidheag, Felix and Soap depart to bring Sidheag to Scotland, so she can help her uncles in the pack who are likely to be slaughtered now that they have no Alpha and are accused of treason. The ladies dress as boys to ease travel--though this is scandalous--stowaway aboard a train and the trip is entirely eventful. \n There are two shot victims, two vampire drones tossed over, and three females trained for espionage who pretty much save the day. Felix is \"rescued\" by his father, the Duke and upstanding Picklemen, but not before declaring himself... \n \"Ouch, darling, must you be so rough?\" \n \"Just stoppering up your silly mouth.\" \n \"I know a better way.\" He pursed his lips at her. \n Soap isn't quite as lucky. Though he does live to see another day. \n This series is a hoot, for real. I love the wit, and the banter. It's truly fun, and the new advent of more teen-speak is welcome. Sophronia's world is one of strict social mores, but what does one do when confronted by an aristocratic werewolf in all his hairy...dangly, glory? \n How on earth was Dimity going to react to dangly bits? Will she faint? She'll probably faint. \n Spoiler alert: She didn't faint. \n Still, the book ends with the love triangle slightly bent, Sophronia with a direct patron, and a lot of 'splainin' for Felix, Lord Mersey. Can't wait to find out more...", "date_added": "Fri Feb 06 17:31:24 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 06 18:29:41 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23438627", "review_id": "05a56880961dd842d39188a53362fc85", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I received this book via Goodreads' Don't Buy My Love program in exchange for an honest review. \n 3.5 stars for this contemporary M/M shifter romance. \n Gray is a wolf shifter in Northern California and one rainy night he's hit by a car and left by the side of a road, in his wolf form. A passing motorist, Kentin, discovers him and takes him for emergency vet care, thinking he's a dog. The nearest vet, Will, is a bad dude with a slick act. Will encourages Kenton to put the wolf down, but Kenton won't. He and his parents made a habit of fostering injured or lost animals, and he's sure he can handle this wolf, who Kenton dubs: Rain. \n While Kenton nurses Rain/Gray back to health, always believing he's a regular wolf, Will makes a determined effort to woo Kenton. Kenton is gun-shy since his last lover was a cheater, and insists they move slow. Kenton and Rain are very comfortable together, but Will, the taciturn vet, is not positive--always wanting Rain caged. His behavior is decidedly in-vet-like. Kenton begins dreaming if a tender lover, and his libido returns--for a dream lover, though he and Will become physical. This tears Rain/Gray up, because Gray is really touched by the affection and a catchment Kenton has for his wolf side. It's a hard decision but Gray knows he must go--and determine what shady activity Will is up to when he's lying to Kenton every time his phone rings. \n Returned to his human form, Gray attempts to woo Kenton, and things get mucked up. The end was a bit more dramatic than I had expected, with Kenton finding out Will's a baddie and Gray is a wolfie all within a few minutes. The end is tender and sweet. \n The writing is solid and the story interesting. I had wished for more conflict--perhaps a bit more resolution. It felt like the story wrapped up too quickly. I was (personally) frustrated about the pet-selling ring, and the unscrupulous scientists. Maybe because I am a scientist, and understand how incredibly regulated the use of animals is; there was a wink and a nod to this in the book, but it's pretty difficult to get around the Federal law in this era of pharmaceutical research. Just sayin.' This will not likely trouble other readers--especially those who oppose animal research. Truth is, a dog selling ring would most likely be selling them for fighting or consumption, before they could sell them to a drug company.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 05 19:32:38 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 05 20:01:02 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "22714910", "review_id": "f12f94014b9ee03edb289e4919ff0148", "rating": 5, "review_text": "OMG. I've just... \n Well... \n Okay. This is the fourth book in the THIRDS series. And at the end of the previous one, Sloane Brodie was injured by a car bomb explosion. It was (perhaps) fatal and we waited on pins and needles, praying alongside Dex, his partner in their job--and in bed (though THIS is a down-low issue)--to hope that his heart (and Sloane) will make it through the night. \n I'm not spoiling this part. I will say that it is tense, and the feels are heart-wrecking. \n Ash has been left to care for/tail Dex as Dex begins the revenge mission to end all revenge missions. Beck Hogan, chief of the Ikelos Coalition and person responsible for Sloane's injuries, is Dex's target--but Dex doesn't know that he is Beck's target. He and Cael are the prime targets for Ikelos operatives who consider Therian THIRDS operatives to be traitors to their race--and knowing that Ceel is precious to Ash, who had recently infiltrated then double-crossed the Coalition. \n Problem with Dex's vengeance plan? Destructive Delta is put on leave. With Ash and Sloane severely injured, they can't go on patrol, and the brass is determined to keep the unit on ice until Hogan is in custody, or dead. \n Dex works on the side, however, setting up a shadow office and calling in favors from Delta and Alpha agents--all to take Hogan out. It's dangerous, from a real life and a professional standpoint. There are set-ups and double crosses, and Hogan get the best of Dex time and again. \n Plus, Dex's really walking a very very thin line of dishonesty--one that could very well cost him his job, and Sloane. \n The pace never lets up. There is loving that THIRDS fans have been clamoring for (cough, cough CALVING & HOBBS!!!) and Cael and Ash reach an understanding, if nothing else. \n The intricate web of this world is being tightened and the relationships are becoming strong, more open, and trust is a conscious element within the Destructive Delta group. Plus, all the side characters are more fleshed out, filling roles as POV characters and humor elements. \n I didn't read this book, I inhaled it. Can't wait for the next chapter in this series.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 01 17:21:50 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 07 18:03:45 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23151530", "review_id": "86cccee4ed492b56dc3e5207c63a1b96", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a very strong YA urban fantasy, bringing a contemporary twist to the Camelot story. \n Morgan La Fay is a fire user, a fact her father has tried to hide her entire life. Morgan's mother, Morgause, was executed a decade before for the murder of her husband--while in self-defense--but no one would hear Morgan's testimony. It seems that Morgan's father wasn't Morgause's husband, and Morgause took great pains to keep Morgan's identity secret. \n Still, Morgan has a lot of anguish over losing her mother, and she's unhappy about the restrictions placed on all magic users in the realm. She wants to be the Maven, or head magic user charged with protection of the next king, Arthur. As Maven, Morgan would use her power to help magic users have a better life. \n Morgan auditions for a spot in Arthur's Round, the selection cycle for Arthur's Maven, and comes up against some talented magic users. Morgan and Guinivere, who has healing energy, become friends, but Morgan suspects something about water-user Merlin that isn't straight up. There are others, and the plot thickens when Morgan learns her mother was a member of the Luminary--a rogue group of magic users who attempted to kill King Uther, Arthur's father, fifteen years before. This attack resulted in the sweeping crackdown on magic use under which Morgan now exists. \n There are some definitely dangerous goings on, with Morgan sometimes smack in the middle of what appears a plot to incapacitate, or even kill, her. It also becomes clear that powers are working behind the scenes to promote Merlin ahead of Morgan--when Merlin doesn't even want to be Maven. Morgan struggles to figure out whom is responsible, and keeps coming up just short, but her determination and craft catapult her into the neck-and-neck race for Maven. \n There's significant mystery here. Morgan isn't a dishrag; she fights hard for all she believes, risking her very life to save others. The tension is real, though I sometimes felt the story jumped too fast. The end is a fierce resolution with plenty more story to tell...in the next book. \n I definitely would read on in this series. A great start with believable drama and well-crafted characters. Innocent, excepting, well, the grisly deaths of a couple baddies. So, safe for all ages.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 28 09:06:49 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 28 18:51:44 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jan 28 09:07:54 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23996345", "review_id": "47aacf648531532a448cb397c0e9e106", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Okay, so this is a M/M urban fantasy which is fourth in a series. I haven't read the previous three books in the series. Sometimes that's okay--however, in this case, I probably should have enjoyed this book more had I followed the series. \n I also thought the book would be more about a sidekick, but it was rather halfsies, with several points of view. \n The language was fun and playful, with good wit and a zany plot. \n This is an urban fantasy, so there exist dragons, sorcerers, dwarves, Fae, half-breeds and mythical tricksters from many traditions including Coyotes from the American southwest. \n Spencer is a half-Coyote who has been shunned by his clan and is fair game for any amount of tricking (harmless) or pranking (potentially lethal) that any Coyotes want to inflict upon him. Coyotes live to swindle, and their favorite prey are Dragons who are wealthy and inordinately gullible. There exists a Sorcerer King, the Ra'keth--also known as the Lightning Rod--who happens to Spencer's best friend, James Black, and for whom Spencer has a secret love. Thing is, as a Coyote, Spencer is bound to trick James, which will likely lead to James' death. \n And, James has a steady boyfriend, Ollie, a half-dwarf--who knows EXACTLY how Spencer feels for James, even if a James is oblivious. \n James is captured by the Dragons, for his \"protection\", because-while James is powerful-he is unskilled and not interested in engaging in the usual Ra'keth antics of world domination. For this, James is perceived as weak, and the dragons are duty-bound to protect him... \n Ollie and Spencer seek to reclaim their love, and are waylaid by the Cobalt Order, a sect of Fae who wish to exterminate all half-bloods. Spencer is able to shield Ollie, but both men are in big trouble. Plus, no one can find James in the Dragon realm. \n This book has a LOT going on. Intricate plot lines abound. Intrigue and double-crosses. Near-death experiences and actual fatalities. What I missed? The heat. All the smexytimes are mentioned and moved on. I honestly could have thought this was all bromance except there's a little dirty talk. \n Took me a bit of time to get oriented to this world, and the multiple POV left more room for redundancy than I would have liked. Perfect read for Dungeons & Dragons fans, what with the copious references to the RP game. \n I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 26 11:11:27 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 26 11:33:36 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23430986", "review_id": "6766417df6ab584135fe9775b18a4daa", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I received this book via Goodreads' Don't Buy My Love program in exchange for an honest review. \n Chase is an exorcist, charged with investigating a woman and her son who are the inexplicable heirs of a wealthy man's fortune. Chase is stunned to realize the son, Lysander, is the object of his recent dreams. \n While investigating from afar, Chase is approached by Lysander, and their attraction is immediate. Chase soon discovers Lysander's mother is a banshee, and Lysander is half-spirit/half-human. This makes it hard for Chase and Lysander to have a connection, on account of Chase knowing the darkness within Lysander is very dangerous. \n The objective, to release Lysander's mother's spirit, is also dangerous, but Lysander's willing to help if it will let his mother rest in peace. \n This novella had some interesting ideas, but I felt as if everything was too rushed, with too much telling. Chase and Lysander meet. Then, they're in love. Chase tells us everything, and the beginning few pages absolutely destroyed any fear I might have developed that the resolution would not be HEA. I never really got the full sense of Lysander and what his abilities might be. Most of the time he seemed like a kicked puppy, but then, he'd be extremely forceful with Chase. Lysander seemed as unpredictable as his mother, and equally as dangerous. I wished Chase had more spark. He's too stolid a narrator, for me. Also, serious problems with this particular punctuation mark \";\". It was everywhere it should not have been. \n There's a few sexy interludes, but I kinda struggled with the emotional development (read: Instalove).", "date_added": "Wed Jan 21 06:54:48 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 21 07:14:29 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jan 21 08:04:50 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23947665", "review_id": "c2f06369e3ebee7fd214477b51ae459b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Following Earth's occupation, Ally becomes a human slave, separated from her dead husband and best friend Eva. She's not very good at being a slave, however, and continues to get sold to increasingly brutal brothel owners because, well, she has a tendency to maim/kill clients or guards who mistreat her. At her sixth brothel she unwillingly befriends a young boy, Max, the personal pet of her owner. She's already killed a few o his guards, but when Alharad notices her affinity for Max he's finally got the right tool to bend Ally's strong will: threatening Max. \n Eva survived her purchase, and thrived. She's married to the king of Drazlan and has been scouring the galaxy for Ally for years. When she finally finds her, she is on the verge of delivering a baby and cannot travel so she sends her brother-in-law, Kiehle, to secure Ally. Kiehle is a warrior, but he's no match for the cunning of a momma bear. See, Alharad plans to put Max and his friend Yoshi to work as prostitutes, and Ally knows a prince has his own transport. She constructs a half-baked, but daring, plan to kidnap Kiehle and escape with her two child charges. \n Best laid plans of desperate women aside, Kiehle is terrifyingly impressed by Ally's ferocity and loyalty. He's attracted to her warrior heart as much as to her physical attributes and allows her to \"capture\" him. There begins the chase scenes and the \"Ally can't trust nobody\" interlude. There's some steam and a whole lot of humor throughout. Ally is a kickass heroine who's gonna save her kids, and herself, in that order. Kiehle is a great male lead--totally loving and sensitive, while also being huge and hot. \n The reunion between Eva and Ally is tender and real. It's such a romp of a book, with appropriately times plot twists and great relationships--not just the romance, but also the friendships. Fun, sexy and funny--it's a triple threat. Kinda like Ally.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 14 17:00:08 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 14 17:00:55 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23591597", "review_id": "ed82af52dcb5a5b22bb53992ec5f9b80", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I didn't realize this was going to be a story about the repeated rape of a straight human male by a pack of werewolves during a full moon when I requested to read this one. I have read some of this author's work before, and liked it, but this was not really my style of read. \n Wyatt has been kidnapped, drugged, bound and left for the wolves by his own brother. Despite being a successful lawyer, Wyatt knows his life is now, well, over. If he survives the wolves, returning to his old life is impossible. For some (unknowable) reason, those who have been wolf-raped and return to town become rape material for any and every male who then wants a piece. Hmmm... That doesn't make any sense. Rape victims have no recourse? They will be continually raped? By humans? Weird. \n Okay, so Wyatt decides he'll submit to the inevitable--be the best rapee evah--and this earns him a lot of rape. In exchange for his compliance, Wyatt hopes he'll earn a \"token\" (ear tag) from the pack which will keep him safe from the rapacious humans when the full moon cycle ends and he returns to life in Rapeland. The alpha inexplicably dotes on him, and decides to keep Wyatt's tender bottom all to himself. \n Wyatt learns to submit, and even to enjoy his new status as Alpha sex toy, unwillingly accepting some Alpha blood which turns him feral. I guess it all sorta works out between them. There's some kissing and tenderness, eventually. \n So, there's a lot of rape, gang rape, and this society is all about wolves raping/mating dudes and human men raping male wolf-rape survivors. I had expected some romance/seduction. I didn't find any. I had hoped there would have been some justice for Wyatt against his scheming d-bag brother. Nope, not here. I, perhaps, had high expectations--but the book description made me believe I was getting a romance, and, again, nope. \n I got a review copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 12 05:27:44 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 23 09:36:26 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23460382", "review_id": "c1881b6fde067fbf6e7ac0ab88828446", "rating": 5, "review_text": "David Vandergraff is the head of a family of Winter witches. He doesn't wish to be, but he is anyway. In this world, where one falls on the magical calendar determines the type of magic one will have. So, if a witch's \"date\" is near the summer solstice, he (or she) will have summer magic, and be able to wield the power of light and goodness. Witches with a date nearer the winter solstice will have dark magic--which yields destructive powers. Winter and Summer witches are diametrically opposed, and have a serious battle between them. Meanwhile, witches whose dates fall between solstices, Equinox witches, can wield both light and dark magic. \n David's family consists of his wife Amanda, sons Jude, Patrick, Xavier and daughters Emmy and Evangeline. Xavier and Evangeline were from a different mother, and they suffered horrific abuse from their dark witch stepfather before David recovered them, nearly destroyed his marriage by revealing his infidelity--all of which happened in the first book. \n Now, Jude is long gone--consumed by darkness enough that he raped a fellow witch: his sister's best friend. He's not COMPLETELY gone, however, because Amanda has been healing his darkness, taking it into herself at great cost to her own health. I can relate--a mother's love is a strong and powerful force, much like magic. \n David is somehow caught in a compulsion spell, one to bring home a missing summer witch. Julie has been gone two weeks, and David is consumed with finding her--and this brings both Emmy and Patrick into the hunt, involuntarily. Emmy knew Julie from volleyball camp, and hated her long before she understood about the animosity between summer and winter witches. It seems they have a physical reaction to each other. Emmy is a resourceful gal, even if she isn't a powerful witch and feels likewise compelled to find Julie. Patrick is experiencing many disturbing visions of a tortured Julie, and his own role in possibly saving her. \n In her searches, Emmy encounters Nathan, Julie's older brother. He's searching the forest where Julie went missing relentlessly, but he knows he'll never find her. There is a strong confounding spell protecting the area, only allowing the access of witches who meet certain criteria. Emmy isn't taken, either, and Nathan knows it is because the person who has Julie only wants witches who date on the Four Events: Summer Solstice, Winter Solstice, and the Vernal and Autumnal equinoxes. Julie was a Summer Solstice witch--and it made her summer magic powerful. With each Event the captor collects, he (or she) gains immense power. \n The rescue of Julie is confounded--and David is struggling to keep his family together--when one of his children goes missing in the forest, too. And Amanda's failing health seems to be at the heart of some of this problem. Nathan and Emmy join forces in the search, and they become close to each other in a way no one wishes, or predicts. Julie and Nathan's summer witch family are relentless in their pursuit of the winter Vandergraff's--wanting to destroy the winter witches, thinking it will protect their family and save Julie. They have succeeded in some destruction, but as Emmy tells Nathan, just because her family is \"dark\" doesn't mean they are bad people. \n This is a truth Nathan respects; his own family is light---and he knows for a fact they aren't good. \n I really love how this story is unfolding. It's multi-layered with lots of twists, and significant moral gray areas. So many moral dilemmas: is it okay to kill innocents to protect those you love? Can one trust the visions of magic? What are the bounds of family, when power is the ultimate objective? Can good ends ever justify evil means? It's fascinating, and deep, with good pacing and enough mystery to keep the series cracking along. The end is a good stopping point, but it's clear there will be no peace between these two families, and that their conflict between them is only getting stronger.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 05 05:49:15 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 05 05:50:08 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jan 05 05:50:08 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23597696", "review_id": "004cf2966d28661bd837f46433080e45", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is an interesting collection of novellas/short stories of (mainly) M/M connections that occur over the Christmas holidays. There are a lot if interracial couples, and also, a solid paranormal bent, which was fun. \n The stories vary in heat, most of which have limited sex on the page. I enjoyed the cross-cultural stories--if is was a young Korean man finding solace with a blind widower, or a black Vaudun master helping a Japanese figure skating phenom--there was such diversity I was charmed. \n There was a transitioning male in a relationship, and I felt the situation was handled with care and thought. I think my fave story of the bunch was Two Parts Mistletoe which featured a potions master helping rescue a nobleman from a love potion--and the devoted secretary who sought magical aid. lock and Hux were adorable! \n If you like a wide variety of paranormal romance, featuring diverse partners and a touch of steam this one will satisfy. I received a copy via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 03 08:26:44 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 03 09:04:44 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "22714908", "review_id": "afcec2559d3853d05ec41b48d90d26fb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Here's the thing: this book is gooooood. But the end made me FREAK the F@CK OUT. \n Dex and Sloane are having a covert relationship. Which makes for lots of fun stealth hook-ups. About the relationships: Sloane and Ash are both Therian shifters who actually grew up together in the pre-THIRDS program. They suffered a lot, as the Powers That Be examined them, learned how the Therians worked, how they shifted, and taught them to control the beast within. It was terrifying, and Sloane is scared that Dex will leave him if he knows the truth about his history. \n Thing is, Dex couldn't care less. Well, that's not entirely true. He cares about Sloane being happy. If Sloane's past makes Sloane pensive, or angry, closed off, well then Dex cares. But details about Sloane's mistakes as a scared child? Pfft. Nada worries. \n Can I say I love Dex? I may be a human woman, and therefore thoroughly unattractive to this fictional gay man, but I swoon for him, nonetheless. He is just so fun, and flirty and intriguing. I guess that's why everyone (excepting Ash) adores him. #GuiltyAsCharged \n In this episode we also have Cael, Dex's foster brother, revealing his deep affection for Ash--and Ash being a bigger total D-bag than usual. Which is saying a lot because Ash is a D-bag all the time. Okay, I do love Ash, too, because I understand that he's been broken, but it takes a good bit of love to consider that his turn-coatery is actually much more than it appears. And, his repulsion of Cael's affection is for Cael's own good. Mostly because loving Ash is more difficult and painful than hugging a Saguaro cactus. \n The plain truth is, rogue Therians are executing humans who did a whole lot of Therian killing in the big skirmishes years ago, and it's up to Dex, Sloane and Destructive Delta crew to ride point on the capture. This is made more complicated by the revelation that a mole exists within THIRDS and all the opportunities to apprehend the offenders result in chasing smoke on the wind. \n This thoroughly realized action-adventure-shifter-police procedural-gay-romance is sure to satisfy the most genre-confused among us. And, I'm so eager for the next novel in the series I'm having trouble holding back the begging to Ms. Cochet. Good thing she throws out short THIRDS vignettes every Thursday on her blog. It's like a weekly hit of my fave fictional drug, which softens the withdrawl symptoms just enough to manage. \n Back to my post-book freak out... here's how I felt when I ended the book: \n SLOANE!!!!", "date_added": "Thu Dec 18 17:22:23 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 18 17:23:38 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23714059", "review_id": "36b1c5d1a81514d9058c6fb0a949dd30", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This final episode of Season Two doesn't disappoint. \n I just love when a book ends well. \n Alexa and Zachariel are under the gun, not only to save themselves, but also ten thousand humans who have been randomly targeted for (lethal) debt collection by the actions of Gehenna, a shadowy confederation of debt collectors who dream of immortality. \n Time is running out, mere hours remain before the faulty files are examined and flagged, with collection beginning the next morning. Oh, and Alexa, Zachariel and Wyatt, are being held hostage by Gehenna's two most vicious collectors: Molloch and Seth. \n If only something terrific would happen, like, say, Molloch dropping dead. \n Nothing so fantastic happens, but there is a blood bath and a coup, and a whole lot of happy feels. The end is as excellent as the eight episode prelude had indicated. The result? Solid storytelling, a bit of heat, a dash of lovin' and an HEA to hang one's most comfortable smoking jacket upon. (If one had a selection of smoking jackets to hang, that is. For all non-smoking-jacket-owning readers, you're gonna love it, too!) \n I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 14 17:16:38 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 15 05:42:07 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Dec 14 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23443958", "review_id": "492ae6058eeb71eecb993975580fb95c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I was a skeptic for the serial format--until I tried it. Being a busy mom/worker bee/reader/writer/blogger etc I didn't think I could \"waste\" my time on a book that wasn't even CLOSE to done. Silly me. It turned out to be the perfect in-between read for me, for when I have 30-45 minutes of time that I want to read, but don't want to get sucked into a full-length novel. Plus, I always had a new episode to anticipate. Well, until now. Because Season Two is in the books. \n Alexa \"Wraith\" Sterling has lived a double-life too long. By day, she's the anti-life-energy activist owner of Sterling Cybernetics, fighting the good fight to end energy transfers from poor people to wealthy \"high potentials\"--essentially literally 'cashing them out' when their potential earnings outstrip their personal debts. It's a horrific new reality, and resulted in the the early demise of not only her mother, but her father as well. \n So, anyone can understand why Alexa would want life energy transfers to cease, but Alexa's terrifying secret, that she was born adebt collector, is one she does not want to see the light of day. By night, Alexa dons the debt collecting persona of Wraith and preys upon people who illegally purchase life energy trades in order to enhance their youth, appearance, or just for a high. Wraith is a mean mama jamma, terrorizing the wealthy, life-stealers and paying out to sick kids---well, until she can't anymore. \n And, definitely not once she falls on the radar of a fringe group of debt collectors, called Gehenna, who want to render themselves immortal by eternal collection of humans. By turns, Alexa is pressured, with life or death consequences, to undo the good work of her anti-debt collection non-profit, Lifetime. The Gehenna collectors, headed by Molloch, will get Alexa's compliance, or kill her--and all those she loves. Alexa find allies where she can, but she's continually choosing between bad and worse options, always a few steps behind the well-orchestrated plan to de-regulate life-energy transfers and create an open season for debt collectors to ascend into the role of demigods, essentially. \n Throughout, Alexa seeks to save her loved ones, and herself, but mostly to shut down Gehenna and its criminal activity. Working within the Gehenna system isn't really feasible; the debt collectors don't trust her, and surviving each more harrowing experience in their captivity is a challenge even this high potential/debt collector is hard-pressed to manage. And, frankly, lots of other people would have simply walked. \n Not Alexa. She's a warrior in corporate skirts. She may have been dealt a raw hand, but she bluffs and bets her way to the best victory she can. And, we're all the better for this maverick willing, not to buck the system, but to tear it all down if it means saving the world from Gehenna overlordship. If I were lost in a dystopian future, I'd want Alexa by my side. \n There's a good bit of steam, and a love story, but mostly there is an amazing story of endurance and doing the right thing, even if it costs you everything.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 14 17:14:38 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 14 17:15:18 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Dec 14 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23569793", "review_id": "20ccb3244ea53526abed6e5a8ffdbeff", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 Stars \n Laurie lives a nondescript life, working as a bartender in a restaurant and lamenting the miserable state of her family-life. Turns out her parents will not speak with her, or permit her any contact with her younger siblings. She tries to fill this void with two girlfriends, but has a terrible secret to hide from them--and everyone: when Laurie loses her temper stuff catches fire. Numerous pyrotechnic events have led to her estrangement, but Laurie's been spark-free going on three years. Well, at least until meeting Mikhail Petrov. Just being in proximity to Mikhail is enough for Laurie's body to light up--and not in the good way. \n Mikhail is a Tri-Elemental, he can control air, earth and water, but he needs a fire Elemental in order to achieve Balance. His most recent partner, Corrine, is nearing the end of her usefulness. He's also a local magistrate, of sorts, controlling/monitoring the movements and activities of Elementals, Mages and Darks (vampire-like magic-bearing creatures) within his tri-state territory. Misha, as Mikhail's close friends call him, had survived years of servitude to Mages before ascending to his current power rank. As an young Elemental, he'd been easy prey for powerful Mages in the past, but his wealth of experience, his own power and coupling with Laurie's Incandescent strength will enable Misha to establish a new elemental world order, one which will banish enslavement of Elementals and Darks to Mages. \n Pulling Laurie's power, however, has unforeseen effects. Instead of simply enhancing the magical strength of Misha's borders, he ends up in a land-grab with all new Mages on his tail. It's okay--for now. Misha's alwasy had his eye on bigger and better things, after all. \n Laurie is not happy. She's hunted by Mages all looking to enslave her and steal her power. Staying with Misha is the best of a bad situation, and she wants out. Of course, every time she leaves, or tries to leave, another supernatural problem befalls her. \n She does manage to make a very powerful friend in her own right--Mina, a Dark who travels through shadow-portals--is daughter the the Dark leader and niece to the Mage Executive. By means of a blood tie, Mina assures Laurie life--because killing Laurie would also kill Mina, and her family is fiercely protective. \n This comes in super handy when Misha gets double-crossed and the Mages finally kidnap Laurie. It's a showdown of the Big Bads and there's an ocean of supernatural blood spilled. Mina had hope to prevent the brewing war, but Laurie's Incandescent luck might have just created a firestorm--one which could take down herself, Mina and Misha in one fell swoop. \n This is an interesting twist on the paranormal genre. I liked the idea of a partnership, and empathized (to an extent) with Laurie's desire to return to normal. It becomes so clear, so quickly, how unlikely it is for this to happen, unfortunately. Instead of wasting time being obtuse, Laurie could have been better embracingher predicament and figuring out how to best save her skin while under Misha's protection. I liked how she was clueless, at first, and honed her skills under Misha's critical eye. This could have become the stereotypical romance--where the attraction is instant and the progression to coupledom is rapid. Not the case, here. Sure, there's some attraction, but it is far outweighed by Laurie's wariness. She and Misha spend weeks-to-months in training together before there is any physicality. \n The large cast and interesting creature types marked this world as different from other paranormal/supernatural books I've read, and the plot moved along nicely. By the end I could really sense the anguish of Misha, Laurie and Mina, as those they love are sacrificed in the name of power. It's a cool read, and I look forward to the next installment.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 09 06:15:29 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 09 06:16:18 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "19286674", "review_id": "2b9d22069737a4f72c10562ff56a9168", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm gonna try hard not to spoiler-ize. \n I loved it. The end. \n Just kidding! There's so much happening in the space of the few days that the books spans. but, to sum up: \n Charley is in a delicate condition, for the first time in her life. She's being hunted by twelve hounds from Hell, and seemingly attacked by them, yet escapes twice with barely any injuries. Meanwhile, Reyes and his Deava compatriot, Osh, are brutalized. For me, it seems there's a missing link; everybody THINKS the beasts are out to kill Charley, but I expect we will learn the opposite is true. In the effort to defend against the twelve beasts, Charley embraces even more awesome powers, leading Reyes to believe that Charley's supernaturalness isn't limited to reaping. \n Turns out that, in addition to being the light of Reyes life, Charley is part God. And her freaktastic ability to heal the gravely injured was not a fluke. \n And, Charley's getting to be more than a bit jealous of Reyes and the way women swoon for him. (I'd like to apologize for all the gawking, Charley, really, but you know he's too sexy for just one glance...) At the heart of this book is a semi-psycho TV reporter who dogs Reyes at every turn. Reyes, naturally, wants nothing of this attention, and is too wrapped up trying to figure out how to keep Charley safe to form the best anti-stalker strategy. \n There was a cold case, five unsolved murders, that Charley solves in the first scene, which seemed to set the stage for further drama--but that was superseded by the current unsolved mystery: four seemingly unrelated people have written similar suicide notes and then disappeared, leaving no bodies. And, unfortunately, when their connections are made, well, it lands Reyes back to the police precinct for questioning. Not good. Especially as Reyes and Charley come across a credible prediction that Charley's due to die, and soon. \n That's all I'm gonna say, except that this book ends with as much of an HEA as any of the others do. And, Reyes is totally gone over Charley, and I'm totally gone over Reyes, which makes for an uncomfortable love triangle, but I'm willing to suffer for at least seven or eight more books.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 08 03:47:37 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 08 03:48:19 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Dec 08 03:48:19 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23641159", "review_id": "50119233c14290851775da62ddfaaa9c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In this episode of Debt Collector (season two) we finally get the idea just how far people are willing to go to ensure life energy trading continues unchecked. \n Government conspiracy? Yup. \n Callous human disregard? Yup. \n Innocents sacrificed? Yup. \n Debt collectors executed? It's only a matter of time and place. \n Alexa, Wyatt and Zachariel travel to meet the one man capable of saving ten thousand innocent lives from debt collection. InTense is the slasher (hacker) who put them in jeopardy, after all, and Alexa's sure that with a little push she can convince him to undo his damage. \n And, she may have succeeded. Thing is, the kind of person who can--and does--hack government files to \"game the system\" and target thousands for destruction should probably NOT be the same man upon whom you pin your salvation hopes. That level of mercenary activity leaves precious little negotiating room, no matter how enticing the offer. \n As Moloch, and his Gehenna cohorts, close the distance on Alexa and Zachariel, it's clear that inTense is the last person on Earth who'd assist--and the government is complicit in this plan, as well. While it looks bleak, I'm fair certain a bit of debt collector double-cross will turn enemies to allies--at least I HOPE so! \n While short, this episode sets up the final showdown for Alexa and Zachariel against Moloch and the Gehenna zealots. Cannot wait for the end! \n I received a copy of this book from the author; this is my honest review.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 08 01:16:42 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 08 01:39:00 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23199461", "review_id": "f313be47d4d03cb32e61cd79d009d49a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a heartwarming M/M Christmas novella featuring a lonely human and the elf who loves him. \n Wes hasn't had the nicest life. His parents died in a fire when he was 8, and he shuttled into foster care. He was adopted, but that parent died, too. He had a decent inheritance, makes a good living, yet has virtually no one to love, excepting his four sled dogs. He is also a kind and caring man, albeit a bit standoffish. \n Garnet is a toymaker elf. He has grand ideas for a different life than his fellow elves: he lost his heart to Wes many years ago and wants to see if there can ever be anything between them. See, Garnet hitchhiked on Santa's sleigh 15 years ago and met Wes who was mourning his lost parents. Garnet was young too, and sympathized, comforting Wes through the night. Ten years ago, Garnet hitchiked again, finding Wes for a brief chat and meal. He's kept an eye on Wes, hoping that Wes would find some peace, and growing steadily more enamored. And five years ago, he... you get the picture; Garnet can't stay away from Wes. \n Thing is, Garnet's plan to knock on Wes' door and introduce himself, again, goes horribly wrong, and it's a Christmas miracle that Wes ends up rescuing Garnet. The two men bond over a quiet, comfortable meal, and a real affection develops as they spend time together...until the Big Guy shows up. \n Will Saint Nick put these two asunder? \n I really enjoyed this quiet Christmas romance. There's not a lot of heat, but the story sparks along with lots of heart. Wes and Garnet are so adorable together. \n I received a copy of this book via NetGalley. This is my honest review.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 06 01:02:40 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 06 01:19:22 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Dec 05 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "19033177", "review_id": "349f2d17a6dd5df8635af623f5609c86", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This M/M Christmas romance is the second book in the North Pole City series. \n Jack Frost is the General of the Toy Soldiers, as well as being the Prince of Frost and a magical person. Like all the enchanted residents of this Winterland world he is hundreds of years old. Jack has had a clandestine relationship with Rudy, Captain of Mayor Kringle's Rein Dear pilots for the last two centuries. It was Rudy who melted Jack's frozen heart after the big war, and they fit together--Jack's strength and moodiness balanced by Rudy's good-temper. They recently \"came out\" and, well, there's lots of turmoil as a result. \n First, The King of Frost isn't happy. And, it seems SOMEONE has devised a plot to remove Rudy as a problem. A black magic attack has Jack in fits, as his heart ices. \n Thing is, as the old tale tells, there is some special magic in Rudy, and his love is again necessary to save Jack from the coldness that lurks within him. \n This is a fast-paced tale with the barest hint of M/M loving.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 02 11:08:39 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 02 11:35:58 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23362485", "review_id": "6c95eea526b4e7e1a77a1f0415a1d67a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the third book of the North Pole City Tales series. It is a M/M romance featuring Rudy Rein Dear's BFF, Vixen, and Jack Frost's cousin, Vale Frost. \n Vixen has craved affection and adulation his entire life. Abandoned young, he was adopted and loved, until his new parents conceived their own elfling and Vixen was again forgotten. Vixen is a bit of a tart, eager to have his merry way with any and all Toy Solidiers who'd buy his drink. He envies his friend Rudy, because Rudy has the heart of Jack, the Prince of Frost. Well, catching Vale Frost's eye is *nearly* as good. Right? \n Vale Frost is a soft-spoken man, despite being a Lieutenant in the Toy Soldier army and cousin to the Prince. He carries a fiery passion for vivacious Vixen, and hopes to demonstrate how eager he is to not only have Vixen as a partner, but to build a real love together. \n Their time together is nothing like Vixen has ever experienced, or had hoped to have; no man has been so kind, loving and considerate with him before. Despite his brashness, Vixen has a very tender heart, and Vale's earnest love is winning his way deep into Vixen's affections. \n Well, until the espionage and punishment ensue, that is. \n Poor Vixen, and poorer Vale. They get caught up in something neither had anticipated, but it affords Vixen the opportunity to show exactly what he's made of, and he just might win back Vale's affection--if he isn't turned into an elfcicle, first. \n I adored this tender romance and the interplay of all the characters from previous books in the series. Vixen's initially gold-digging intentions are swiftly derailed by the force of pure love. *swoon* \n And, this book features some enchanting elf-loving, too! 4.5 Stars.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 02 11:05:38 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 09 18:00:20 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Dec 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "16198158", "review_id": "d26b86b587785e448940258612ad5dc3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This Christmas-themed novella is set in North Pole City where the elves toil, Jack Frost is a prince and the Rein Dears are sexy pilots of Mayor Kringle's sleigh. \n Tim is a tiny elf. His father was a hero of the Toy Soldiers, and his mother was a venerable Sugarplum Fairy, but Tim is just, small. And he's having trouble with his boss, Noel. For some reason Noel has stopped being friendly and is surly, forcing extra work and even dirty tricks on Tim. This is especially upsetting because Tim rather fancied Noel, at first. \n Noel is a hybrid elf, tall and well-built, but with deficiencies he's trying to hide. And his feelings for tiny Tim are even more frustrating. He does feel a bit bad about his latest shenanigan and goes to check on Tim only to find both of them caught up in a bit of intrigue surrounding Prince Jack Frost and Rudy, the ginger-haired Captain of the Rein Dears. \n It seems that Noel is attracted to Tim, and doesn't know how to handle it. Good thing Jack and Rudy are sensitive, and helpful. It's a sweet tale with the barest hint of romance.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 02 10:21:09 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 02 11:35:52 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23286240", "review_id": "35dbeb8ee1bae51548755dd941dda2f2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 Stars for this erotic paranormal romance. \n Well! I wasn't sure what to think about this one from the blurb. I mean, how does a ghost woo a woman? I was delightedly surprised! \n Okay, from the start we learn how worthless Sage is as a boyfriend. He has all the looks and all the money, and he's a manipulative SOB intent on \"moulding\" (\"molding\" for the US readers) Grace into the woman he could imagine marrying. See, she's curvy, with long auburn hair, and has little education. Sage likes how biddable Grace is however, so he's eager to re-make her into a waifish gal with a pixie haircut and a knowlegde of culture. Yeah. Class a Jerk-off, IMHO. \n Still, Grace stays with him, because, well, she doesn't have anyone else. Her family's all gone and Sage is a beautiful, successful doctor. He's a great catch, and he doesn't stray-even if he is WHOLLY awful in bed. Grace has had eight months of once-weekly, planned and scheduled, unsatisfying smexytimes. \n A bit down on herself and her life, Grace opens a few bottles of wine and invites her BFF Amy over for a gal's night. Amy brings along a Ouija board and they play a game-summoning the spirit named Breece. Drunk and silly, Grace challenges \"Breece\" to show himself. And, he does. \n Breece had been killed by a hit-and-run accident while jogging. He has no idea how, or why, he's been summoned into Grace's life, but he's not sad that she's a voluptuous woman. At first he's only a tactile spirit, meaning he can touch and be felt, so he takes a bit of advantage of the drunken Grace. She thinks she's having a fantastic sex dream of imagined Roman warrior Breece, meanwhile ghostly Breece is shagging her six ways from Sunday. \n She learns this the second time-when he takes her in the shower, with a most unSagelike passion. Sage, for his part, thinks Grace is bonkers, and a sex fiend, and arranges her to have a psychiatric evaluation. \n Breece is insatiable, and Grace is sex-starved, so they make a great pair, excepting Breece's undead state. Grace wants to keep up the front with Sage, if only to not be \"alone\" but Breece's attachment is growing steadily stronger-and turning Grace's heart into a pretzel. It doesn't help how caustic Sage is. \n I spent a lot of time loving Breece, liking Grace and hating Sage, which was, I'm sure, by design. This triad isn't meant to be a triangle, however, and Grace FINALLY makes the right choice, only to have more heartache. The end was expected, but not less satisfying. I think readers will cheer on the reunited lovers, and the fun twist at the end really made me smile. \n Lots and lots of fun smexytimes, some barely adequate sexual relations, and one horse's pa-toot of a boyfriend made this one memorable.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 02 07:49:35 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 02 07:50:40 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23619571", "review_id": "35db300f368ad1757e131ea3f4a3b143", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In this episode of Debt Collector season two, Alexa/Wraith is fighting to save herself, and Zachariel, from the debt collectors of Gehenna, by seeking shelter with...a debt collector. \n Their escape from Gehenna's underground lair is dogged by Alexa's knowledge that the two people in her life who hold her heart--Miral and Wyatt--will not be happy with the fact that they are in grave danger, and that Alexa's a debt collector. But she can't keep her secret and keep them safe, so she bares all, and faces their judgment. \n We get more than a cameo from our old Season One friend, Lirium, whose unique ability to heal might just put Zachariel back together again. And, their brief respite in Madam A's brothel/clinic grants them the space and resources to assess the extent of Gehenna's big plan. If they can't stop it, could be that thousands will die on the morrow. No pressure. \n This \"calm\" before the storm is as deceptive as it looks. Licking wounds and prepping for battle is all that Alexa takes time for, and her new allies seem perfectly positioned to help, if only they can reach the one man who may be able to help. And, convince him to choose to aid them at all. \n A great lead-in to the big showdown. Lirium will hopefully be instrumental in cutting Moloch's world domination plans short. And it would be grand to see Alexa get her revenge for not only her lost life, but her father's. Can't wait to see how it ends! \n I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 01 01:32:10 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 01 01:50:32 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23574618", "review_id": "b8f8999afd172f1561a9f4e282a206e8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Alexa/Wraith looks pretty good, for a dead woman. \n In this latest installment (episode 15) in the Debt Collector serial, Moloch has demonstrated just how dispensable Alexa is: if she interferes in Gehenna's plans, she's eliminated. Zachariel's best efforts have restored her life energy to manageable leves, and in the most sexy way possible. Unfortunately, Moloch is displeased with both of them most royally. \n In order to win some favor, Alexa submits to Moloch's demand that she bequeath Sterling industries to a trusted Gehenna operative: his own consort, Ishtar. Alexa is successful at convincing Ishtar the deal has been made--even as she sabotages, but an even worse fate is awaiting Alexa. \n Threatened with the extermination of all those she holds dear, Alexa plays the final ace up her sleeve making a daring attempt at escape...with only the three most powerful debt collectors standing in her way. And, Zachariel's life in the balance. \n The stakes are high. The tension is incredible. And the healing is sexual. Love, love, love. \n I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 24 02:43:01 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 24 02:53:46 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23521670", "review_id": "9669ca348c3ebcf721cef58afb36e7c7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Killer episode! \n Alexa/Wraith has been instructed to have her anti-life energy technology company, Sterling Industries, acquire a small tech company developing battery cells that can be charged with life energy. In essence, this technology would enable debt collectors to store excess life energy, and render themselves virtually immortal by continual harvest from regular humans. \n Moloch, leader of Gehenna, is bent on his cadre of collectors ruling the world, essentially, forever. He continues to set challenges in front of Alexa to either bind or break her. And Alexa is determined to stop him. She enlists the help of her most trusted friends, as surreptitiously as possible, but Zachariel is getting savvy. And Seth wants her dead. \n Faced with impossible choices, Alexa tries to game the system, and nearly succeeds. Shame that Moloch was most displeased. Alexa, shattered and barely able to withstand her handlers' actions, finds her greatest ally yet, and a new path through the conumdrum. \n Again, we are thrust through a story that just picks up momentum with each turn of the page. Cannot wait for the resolution! \n I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 15 06:11:11 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 15 06:21:47 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "7644545", "review_id": "1a436657c8cd57962abd6114ac3975ea", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This sci-fi fantasy M/M romance is an interesting read. Helios Dayspring is heir to the throne of Astrum on the planet of Arash, and yet he's also a sex slave. A war broke out between neighboring kingdoms (aided by Helios' estranged wife) and he was taken captive and sold into sexual slavery. He has no memory of his past because he was implanted with a slave chip that suppresses all his memories and controls his mood to keep him compliant. He has spent the past 5 years as a slave on the planet Warlan. \n One evening his pimp, U'shma, takes him to a dive bar to make some gambling money. Helios catches a glimpse of a man he feels attracted to, and subtly gets his attention. Griffin is a large, formidable man, and he wins Helios's services for a night--what neither of them suspect (because Helios is required to wear the prostitutes mask and long gown) is that Griffin and Helios are both from Arash--and that Griffin was Helios' personal guard (and lover) long before the war began. \n In the privacy of Griffin's room, however, the truth comes out. And it's a tension-filled race to get Helios back to his people, and get his memories restored. I liked this one. The world-building was interesting, and there were lots of good scenes between Griffin and Helios. \n One complaint was the dialogue, which was thoroughly contemporary to the USA, and it drew me out of the story. I wanted it to be more majestic, I suppose. Still, it's a fun M/M Sci-fi read. I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 14 07:20:26 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 14 07:23:20 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "22517659", "review_id": "7befff85bbae412a587be14b360823e0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Is book is the 2nd in a M/M romance series that features shifters, cops, terrorists, ex-boyfriends, dead lovers and vengeance. \n As much as HELL AND HIGH WATER (book 1) is about Dex winning over Sloane, I think BLOOD AND THUNDER is a lot about Sloane learning to love again. And recognizing that the feelings he has toward Dex are, in fact, love. \n Sloane Brodie is a First Gen jaguar Therian. Life has not been easy. His first shift, at age eleven, was so catastrophic he ended up institutionalized. His only friend from those years is Ash, the lion Therian and general dickhead on Destructive Delta squad. They are close, and Ash has no problems giving Sloane his unfiltered opinion, mainly because Ash only comes unfiltered. In this book we get to see many new burgeoning relationships, and understand the inner workings of this select group of law enforcement agents. \n Potential couples to be eyeing: naturally Calvin and his tiger Therian partner, Hobbs. (I KNOW! The jokes are merciless, seriously.) But, there's also some really, really touchy-feely things happening between Ash--who is straight--and Dex's step-brother Cael, the sweet and tender cheetah Therian. All of this will likely bear fruit down the pike, but I can't help wonder who'll do the chasing... \n As for the plot, the THIRDS teams are being led on a merry chase for the terrorist organization, Order of Andrasteia, who longs to see Therians extreme acted, if possible. Hunting down the leader is, well, daunting. He is a former Human Police a force detective, and doesn't make a whole lotta planning errors. In fact, this dude's set on hurting Sloane most heinously--by ripping Dex away, and letting Sloane suffer the grief of losing another lover. \n In the meantime, relationships are getting complicated. Dex only wants Sloane, but can he continue with everything on the down-low? What about when Dex's ex-boyfriend stumbles onto the scene? And how can Sloane keep Dex to himself when his own Delta team--even the lesbians--would pick the suave and quirky Dex for a one-nighter in Marry, F@ck, Kill? (Poor Ash, he really got nailed in that little game!) \n The tension is super high throughout. Sloane has lots of secrets about his recruitment to THIRDS that he wants to remain secret, but the Order seems hell-bent on revealing all it can to discredit THIRDS and the Therians, in general. There are some great tender moments, and some that are plain-out hot. While this is a continuing series, there is a complete resolution to the main plot arc. Still you kinda gotta read the series in order. Not that I'm complaining. I'm a Dex-Girl; I gotta see this one through.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 14 05:45:30 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 14 05:47:59 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "22267616", "review_id": "dba00961874f64c0f8b8f3ff1a3e4457", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is set in an alternate contemporary reality where shifters are fully out in society. \"Therians\" resulted from genetic mutations due to a virus and the anti-viral treatment of it. They are into their third generation of procreation and have governmental rights. The action takes place in NYC and THIRDS is the joint police force comprised of equal numbers of humans and Therians. \n Dex Daley is a detective on the Human Police Force who has just testified against his human partner for killing a Therian in cold blood. The rest of the HPF is out for Dex's blood, and he's been beaten more than once before he gets a \"promotion\". Yep. Dex Daley's going to THIRDS, he's to be the replacement partner for Agent Sloane Brodie, a jaguar Therian with a seriously bad attitude. \n Dex is a jokester, and uber-friendly human, always willing to reach out and charm the pants of anyone (mostly men) who he contacts. His boyfriend fled after the trial, and he's not feeling a lot of lot from the Destructive Delta crew to which he's been assigned. It helps that his adoptive brother, Cael, and adoptive father, Sgt Maddox, are on the Delta team, but Dex works his own magic inserting himself. See, all the Deltas were pretty broken up losing their teammate, Gabe, but Brodie took it worst because Gabe was his lover and he feels it a betrayal to accept any replacement for him. \n Of course, Brodie also knows that if he refuses another partner he'll be reprimanded. So he makes life tough for Dex--who basically turns the tables time and again, working his hardest and proving himself. He's smart, and funny and charming and so unlike Gabe, but there's an attraction, one which makes Brodie furious. Dex does help Brodie blow off steam (read: smexytimes) and they engage in a down-low affair. \n Meanwhile, several upstanding HumaniTherian supporters (people who fight for equal Therian rights) are killed, and all the evidence points to a jaguar Therian. Brodie is not under suspicion, per se, but he's not comfortable with all the scrutiny. He's faced a good deal of prejudice in the press and from humans--particularly from Gabe's brother Isaac. Isaac, for his part, seems interested in Dex, and wants to ruin Brodie--which leads to a whole plot arc regarding tolerance and prejudice. \n In fact, the book is whole lot on cooperation and clashes within the Delta squad. Dex is finally accepted, but Brodie's not sure what to do with his feelings toward Dex--and he might not have a lot of time to figure it all out once the heat gets too hot searching for the murderer and the terrorists come out to play. \n This is a fast-paced shifter M/M romance that has a lot of great characters and a well-planned story. Dex is hysterical--a perfect blend of whimsy and intelligence. His antics are well placed to diffuse the tension and also get his Delta squad to lighten up. He's a great match for the taciturn Brodie, who is so Type A I wondered if he arranged his sock drawer by color. Watching Dex melt Brodie's reserve was so fun. I really enjoyed this and will be reading the sequel.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 12 13:59:39 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 12 14:00:28 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23494486", "review_id": "02e335e8ba26ad6d9d66d9405b9058af", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Alexa/ Wraith has seen the face of her enemy, and knows it is....herself. \n All this time she has been kept in the dark about Gehenna's goals, but they became crystal clear in this episode: eternity. Moloch and Seth and the others have a vision that includes high potentials having extraordinarily long lives--and who are the highest of potentials? The ones who have the ability to take life energy: debt collectors. \n Alexa/Wraith is offered keys to the executive washroom--leadership capability within the organization--but can she stomach the horror of doing what Gehenna demands, knowing it's will mean the lives of millions hang in the balance. \n What was that, Lord Acton? \"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men?\" \n Yeah. Guess all that power makes quite the temptation. Thing is, can Alexa/Wraith even stop the tidal wave Gehenna has unleashed? Or, will it batter her against the rocks? \n As always, the pace is perfect. I felt as whipsawed about as Alexa did--caught in a world she knew existed but didn't understand. The horror she witnesses, and the callous disregard the debt collectors of Gehenna hold for the mere humans, is staggering on both sides of the page. I'm hooked! \n I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 10 01:02:05 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 10 01:19:29 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "15723286", "review_id": "3cb82cf88b6f7f9935d9627c90c6b059", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This second book of the Finishing School series picks up several months after the first, with (now 15 y/o) Sophronia Temminnick back at school following the thwarting of several groups' attempts at obtaining the \"prototype\". What we learn is this prototype is a guidance valve, for use in transmission across the aetherosphere. And, it had been created by the parents of Sophronia's dearest friends, Dimity and Pillover. \n This tale brings Mlle. Geraldine's floating Finishing School into London--along with the company of ten male students from Bunsen's School of Evil Geniuses, among them Pillover and Lord Felix Mersey who is quite taken with Sophronia. \n Attempts to kidnap Dimity are dashed by Sophronia's quick thinking and incomplete training, but Sophronia knows she must learn whom is behind the attempts, in order to keep her dear friend safe. Also, the cause of their mission--observation of a transchannel trip through the aetherosphere---seems to be far outside the realm of normal intelligencer behavior. It seems there is a covert test planned, one that may cause great harm to Sophronia's favorite vampire professor. \n In unraveling the conspiracy, Sophronia must keep her wits and seek alliances with old friends and new acquaintance--even dandy vampires riding about the London scene. Sophronia's uncanny ability to spy, scheme and escape are put to the test when Dimity and Pillover are finally napped. But, can she apply her training to remover herself from the sticky business of finding herself caught between two suitors--especially those who do not suit? In the end, Sophronia discredits one teacher, nearly gets another murdered, and learns to accept that sometimes her schemes will force her to employ--gasp!--a dandy gentleman's attire. \n Oh, and it seems Sophronia's being courted. By more than one powerful man. With all the mayhem and gore, this book's heavy on the espionage and light on the romance, though the book seems decidedly more YA than the first one in the series (which I would suggest is Tween). The pace is blistering and the language is humorous and fascinating. I love the period speech, and the nuances of manners, how they are used to advantage by these intelligencing women. Lord Mersey will be a problem, no doubt, going forward, but so will Sophronia's \"friendship\" with Soap, the black sootie. Looking forward to the next adventure. \n I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 04 06:27:22 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 04 06:28:27 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "18244920", "review_id": "f41a017cfaf9ee61720a47e390fe950d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book is either middle grade or tween. The story centers on Sophronia Temminnick, a precocious 14 y/o girl in this alt/historical steampunk novel. \n It's 1850's England with vampires and werewolves an established part of this world. All families employ mechanicals--clockwork servants who help run their homes, etc. Sophronia is taken as a \"covert\" recruit to Mlle. Geraldine's Finishing School as her mother is quite overwrought caring for this youngest daughter who has no compunctions about climbing trees, rocks, or buildings or taking apart the household mechanicals. \n En route to her new school, Sophronia meets Dimity (another recruit) and her younger brother Pillover (who will attend the neighboring for boys). She soon learns, when their carriage is beset by flywaymen demanding a \"prototype\" that Mlle. Geraldine isn't on the regular with this finihsing school. No, in fact, \"Mlle. Geraldine\" turns out to be a fourth year student named Monique, who had been sent in disguise to collect recruits and some mysterious \"Prototype\" as her final assignment of school. As she failed, quite spectacularly, Monique is promptly demoted to debut status--same as Sophronia and Dimity. \n Over the course of the next few months, Sophronia endeavors to lean all she can in both etiquette, and espionage. Her teachers are clearly involved in something fishy--and as Sophronia unravels the prototype mystery she does make some unlikely allies, and distinguishes herself as a prime recruit. It's a fun read, although I wonder if the target audience will love it as much as I did. \n Sophronia is a funny narrator. Her deadpan wit gave me fits. A few choice lines: \n Upon arrival at the school without her luggage... \n \"No luggage my lady.\" \n \"What?\" \n \"Had to leave it behind with the flywaymen.\" \n \"You did? Oh, yes, you did, didn't you? How tiresome.\" \n \"When I was driving the carriage.\" \n When YOU were driving the carriage? I thought Miss Pelouse said...\" A short pause. \"Where was Miss Pelouse during all of this?\" \n \"Either fainted in the road or crying in th carriage, depending upon which point of the story.\" \n Her appraisal of the new school: \n The schedule proceeded much of a pace after teh chaos of that first day. Sophronia came to expect the un-finishing-school aspects of Mlle. Geraldine's. The lessons were mostly un-lesson-like, the teachers were mainly un-teacher-like, and the routine was more that of a London dandy than that of any proper educational system. \n When returning from an unauthorized excursion she encounters one of her instructors, Captain Niall, in the throes of his werewolf frenzy... \n Sophronia's under-petticoat was of good-quality horsehair, thick and very durable. It should be; it was a hand-me-down that had survived three sisters before her. \n But the werewolf, with supernatural strength, tore through the thick fabric as if it were fine muslin. Captain Niall wrestled with the garmetn briefly before shaking himself loose from the tatters. He crouched down and leapt for Sophronia again. \n Sophronia angled her bottom around and swung the rope ladder to one side, avoiding the werewolf by the narrowest of margins. \n \"Captain Niall,\" she said between pants, \"I liked your very much better when you weren't trying to kill me!\" \n I love steampunk, and this one was chock full of mechanicals and technology. The entire school floats on steam power and airdinghy-riding flywaymen prove to be a scourge the school must fight off more than once--to protect the prototype. \n I received a copy of this book via NetGalley. This is my honest review.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 02 19:22:02 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 02 20:08:16 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Nov 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "12371865", "review_id": "d72e3407156735142b0b26cd81585d33", "rating": 4, "review_text": "UNMARKED is the second book in this series about spirit-hunting teens who are trying to protect Earth from the demon Andras. In book one, UNBREAKABLE, they were right on the cusp of killing Andras--when, unfortunately, they set it free. Yeah. And he's been wreaking havoc and killing people for the last several weeks. \n Okay, so, where UNBREAKABLE left off, the MC, Kennedy had been injured in her escape from the scene when Andras came through to the earthly plane. She and four other teens--Jared, Lukas, Alara and Priest--had banded together because each believed the other part of a mystical Legion of the Black Dove sect. Jared and Lukas are twin brothers who sought the other members out based on documents their father had left behind. Turns out, assembling those documents had actually led Andras to each Legion member, and killed them, which is how Jared and Lukas lost their father and uncle, and Alara lost her grandma, and Priest lost his grandfather, and Kennedy lost her mother--all in one single night. The listing of their names...and it's Jared's biggest secret shame--he wrote the list. \n Kennedy, for her part is despondent. She thought she'd become a Legion member when she exorcised her first ghost, but that didn't happen--unlike all the other Legion members, Kennedy didn't receive her Mark, an insignia handed down to the next Chosen in a family. Unmarked, she recognizes her folly--she was never meant to join them, and she feels utterly alone now that her mother is dead. Her father disappeared years ago, and her aunt has just dumped her into a reform school. \n Haunted by news reports of atrocities no one can explain and gruesome nightmares, both courtesy of Andras, Kennedy recognizes that each day a girl who closely resembles her goes missing. Is Andras hunting her? It seems so, which is why she runs the second Jared and the rest of the Legion turn up at her school. Safety in numbers even if she isn't one of them. \n But their news, of her missing, distant aunt, gets her back on board. The hunt is on for the fifth Legion member, and now it's about fixing the mess she made. Of course, this ghost/demon story is fraught with death and destruction. Kennedy's poised to lose the only people she can trust, and gain some very unsettling allies when the Illuminati come to call. \n Andras is on the prowl, and it's clear he wants to possess Kennedy. She's got some skills in the demon wrangling arena, thanks to her training in UNBREAKABLE, but Andras is too powerful for her. Plus, nobody told her he could jump from person to person like a vengeful louse. No, possession seems a breath away, when Andras targets the one person left whom Kennedy loves in this world. \n The revelation of Jared's mistake sends shock waves through the Legion, just as they need to gather closer--to save one of their own, but Kennedy is determined to fix all her mistakes, and she's got the brains to get the job done right. \n Well, I assume so. Because it looks like the final resolution is gonna happen NEXT BOOK. Stay tuned, peeps! \n As far the book goes, it was an interesting read. It gets a bit explain-y, trying to link all the moving parts together. Turns out Kennedy's mom wasn't such a great gal, and her dad left for (albeit crappy) reasons connected to Legion and the Illuminati--organizations which have for centuries been diametrically opposed as this book purports. It felt a bit deus ex machina when the Illuminati swept in to clean up the Andras mess, but there was still lots of time in the story. Time to go on and explain. In the end, we're left with a demon in chains, another on the loose, with Legion members splitting and Illuminati men hunting. Oh, and a reconnection of the parental-kind in the offing. It fell a bit flat for me. I supposed I should have felt tense, but all throughout I knew this story wouldn't end here, so the urgency wasn't as strong as I would have liked. \n It's still a good read. And safe for kids because, instead of kissing and sex, there's killing and horror. It is a perfect Halloween read, however. And, I'm sure I'll get book 3 when it comes out. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley. This is my honest review.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 31 04:16:46 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 31 04:19:51 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Oct 31 04:19:51 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23458730", "review_id": "e34978d2b99b2216ac220e8c38f3fea1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In this 12 episode, Alexa is forced to get her hands really, really dirty in order to survive. \n In the last episode rogue debt collectors Moloch and Zachariel cornered Alexa into one of three choices: death, exposure, or killing a piece of legislation her late father supported--one designed to make life energy transfer more difficult to happen. \n Gehenna, the association of debt collectors following Moloch, is in favor of more life energy transfers, but why? What is their end game? \n Alexa recognizes she's not able to bring down this rogue cult unless she gets close enough to make a lethal strike. In the ancient ways of Sun Tzu, she does her best to both appear strong when she is weak, and keep her enemies closer. \n It means that Wraith is back in action, and she's doing life energy transfers that make her physically and emotionally recoil. Good thing Zachariel is there to pick up Wraith's pieces. While Alexa/Wraith made more enemies in this episode, it appears she's also got a serious ally--and she lives to fight another day. \n I just wonder, is that actually better? Can't wait to find out!", "date_added": "Tue Oct 28 10:14:03 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 28 10:52:31 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23414150", "review_id": "208cd55b461d6a8b17efa08a9df6b0b9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book picks up from BITE MARK. This review contains some spoilers. \n 4.5 stars for a sexy, paranormal adventure. \n Beatrice is a London butcher with a rare Bombay blood type. Her blood is such a delicacy and so rare that the two vampires who discovered her, Ryle and Aimery, married her immediately to place her under their protection before she was bled dry. Beatrice is ecstatic to be shared by her loving husbands--they are kind and compassionate, and skilled. They always ensure her health by fortifying her with herbal teas which boost her strength and replenish her blood supply. Still, Elfrida, a member of the High Council, wishes to have Bea's blood--and she has followed our merry trio to their Caribbean retreat in the hopes of isolating Bea for draining. \n Aimery and Ryle plan an elaborate escape to the Canadian Rockies, knowing the presence of a large werewolf clan will mask Bea's scent--and hoping the werewolf threat will keep Elfrida from following. \n No Dice. A train wreck separates the lovers, and Bea believes she's the only survivor--mostly because Elfrida snatched her from the wreckage. On the cusp of death, two wolves startle Elfrida mid-bite and save Bea. \n Over the course of a few months, Bea mourns her lost lovers, while languishing in the homey cabin of Isaac and Caleb--a gay pair. What Bea doesn't understand is how these two men thrive in isolation--especially with all this wolves around! \n Okay, she does catch on to Caleb and Isaac's secret life as wolves eventually--but goes with it as they are keeping Elfrida well away. We get some serious gay voyeurism, and a bit of menage, not to mention straight lovin'. And, when the climax hits (the book's climax, people!) Bea finds she has the strength to save her own self--and the lives of men who love her. \n This is a super steamy read with a bit of smexytimes for all comers---M/F, M/M, F/M/M, M/F/M. The paranormal elements are fun and consistent. I adored Caleb as much as Bea did, he was so kind and sweet--not to mention fearless. The book ends with a solid resolution, but I could see the series continuing with new plot lines.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 28 08:01:31 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 28 08:20:20 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23454339", "review_id": "812a213685aa64c6f5abbff1bcfe84a3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 Stars for this paranormal menage romance. \n Beatrice is a normal human woman, working as a the only female butcher in London's Smithfield Meat Market. She is agonized by the loss of her best friend, Denny--now missing three weeks. One day she sees a man in the market who had previously appeared on the day Denny had disappeared. \n Beatrice follows this gentleman through the streets to his home--only to get caught up in a strange new world she never imagined existed. A world of vampires. It seems Bea is a rarity in the human world--her Bombay blood is a delicacy many vampires seek and barely find, as a result of overfeeding centuries before. \n Aimery, as the gentleman vampire is called, offers to help Bea find Denny, and as she is leaving his home another vampire, Ryle, arrives. He also senses Bea's Bombay blood. And wants to share her. It seems that Ryle and Aimery have a history of sharing--when it comes to women with Bombay blood. \n In order to protect Bea form open feeding, they become more than just her shadows; and the results are erotically epic. Still, tying up Bea's loose ends means bending a few Vampire laws--and upsets one High Council member, Elfrida--the only one to have never had Bombay blood. Knowing the threat of Elfrida's hunger is formidable, Ryle and Aimery hide Bea away...and begin a new life as a triad. Well, for a while anyhow. \n Delicious smexytimes and even more delicious Brit-speak make for a yummy read. It's a short book with a resolved plot, and the promise of a chase in the sequel, CLAW MARK. I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 27 15:28:55 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 27 15:50:52 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23007106", "review_id": "6ed0e603830be021a31fecdf686df4d5", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I received a copy of this book via Goodreads' Don't Buy My Love program in exchange for an honest review. \n James is a werebear who finds the scent of an unknown shifter at his door. Outraged, he tracks his pursuer and accosts a scrawny man, Hadrian, for his perceived threat. Hadrian is new to were-life. He doesn't even know what type of animal he is, as he was bitten in the dark by a jealous lover, one he hadn't known was a were. \n James knows it's a crime to bite an unsuspecting human, and he knows that he must somehow help Hadrian with his first transition, but he's reticent as doing so would mean becoming intimate with Hadrian--not something either of them would wish to do an hour after meeting. James is gay, and Hadrian is closeted, but the strain of HAVING to have sex to sort out Hadrian's messed up transition is a bit too much pressure. \n Of course, they have no/little recourse, and they hit it. It's a deeper experience than even James had imagined and they inadvertently become each other's soul mate. Excellent. As if mind-melding wasn't bad enough, now they're imprinted. They spend the next several days getting accustomed, and Hadrian learns to control his wolf transition--because he is a wolf. They also have to track down the werewolf who bit Hadrian and set up her punishment. \n In the meantime there is a whole lot of emotional morass to wade through. I'm generally a fan of introspection but this book seemed to wallow in James' brain...forever. I got way too much of his frustration, and not nearly enough story. \n Hadrian was a liar from the start, and unable to be honest with himself about his sexuality, throughout. I kinda got tired of his self-loathing. As if it's somehow better that he top, because bottoming is so gay he just couldn't take that much gayness, for being gay. Ugh. I wished James had found a better partner. Really. Because James is driven and successful and honest and compassionate, and Hadrian is a freeloading coward who fell into the best possible life with James, and was still mad at James for topping in their first encounter because it was the position James felt most likely to result in successfully linking them telepathically--which was necessary to the story. \n Serious and aggravating issues: \n In all fairness, the author offered me a freshly-revised copy of this book after many reviewers noted the numerous grammatical errors. I declined, for two reasons. First, I was mostly finished with the book. Second, I feel as if what was offered initially should have been properly edited before being made available. This is my opinion, though I do appreciate the author's desire to fix mistakes. Honestly, there SO many in the copy I read I have a hard time believing it could have been rectified in the two days that elapsed between my receipt and the author's revision. \n This book had an interesting premise, but, for me it felt about 75% too long. The writing was ponderous, with sentences that routinely surpassed forty/fifty words being the norm. There were paragraphs that spanned entire pages. I felt as if I was reading a Joyce novel, without the benefit of Joyce's writing. The most egregious sentence topped out at 81 words, and that was about 55 too many. Why I am making a point of this: sentence length matters. It slows down or speeds up the action, the tension, the emotion of a story. In the context of this story, the long, rambling sentences gave me absolute fits--particularly as we were dealing with two men, and it wasn't always clear to which 'he' each 'he' referred. \n As a result it took me twice as long as I would have expected to read this book--on account of having to go back and re-read so much in order to understand what the heck was happening to whom and when. \n Also, I had thought we were dealing with UK-based were-persons, as the grammar, diction and spelling all fell into British English standards (excepting the mistakes), but then we were dealing with a Fourth of July celebration which is a US custom, and that blew my mind. In a terrible, horrible way. It is a GIANT pet-peeve of mine to find Brit speak throughout an \"American\" novel. Lookit, I'm an Anglophile. Give me crisps and mums and arses all you like. But do it IN ENGLAND!!! Not some made-up Fairyland, USA because idiom doesn't translate and only embarrasses the author for lack of research and understanding. \n Also, the gland in a man's nethers which yields ecstasy upon palpating is a prostate. \"Prostrate\" is a position--one a person would assume when begging for forgiveness. The actual conformation is of lying face down on the ground, helpless and sorrowful. I'd hit that Find/Replace function in Word; it was wrong every single time. \n This may have been corrected in later revisions, but I'm not going back for a second read to verify.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 27 10:20:33 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 27 11:05:43 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "22724958", "review_id": "b018c72131a51bab2a2c0688b8cc9cc4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Young Edgar Allen Poe had an auspicious beginning: cut from his mother's womb by his (literal) witch of a grandmother, he was cursed with the power to raise the dead. But, at what cost? His soul? And, when they rise, are they the same? (Think PET SEMATARY) He is hounded by angry ghosts, furious that he refused to use his power to avert death, which drives him to madness and alcoholism--until he meets beautiful Lenore. Shame that Edgar was not destined for a happily ever after. No, death crouches on his shoulders and waits for the chance to destroy anyone he loves. \n Ireland Crane is on the hunt to decipher who cursed her to channel the Hessian--the Headless Horseman. With her boyfriend, Noah van Tassel, and Rip van Winkle at her side, she's, well, she's in trouble. The Horseman wants out to cause murder and mayhem--only Noah's love and a playlist filled with country music can keep that murderous spirit at bay. Rip gets a pang of narcolepsy whenever he's frightened, and Noah can only handle so much, especially when it seems Ireland's affections might be shifting. \n Ireland crosses paths with Ridley Peolte in the course of her investigation. This suave King of Wall Street had a seemingly Midas touch--until he touches Ireland. Moments later he's attacked by an unkindness of ravens. Does Poe's spirit now inhabit Ridley, as the Hessian does Ireland? His mind is plagued by the same visions Poe's had been, and he frees the final monster Poe created--one who has the power to kill Ireland and free the Hessian's spirit into the world. The only peace Ridley feels is when he has direct contact with Ireland's skin. With Noah around this is a fairly awkward arrangement. \n Oh, and we get a good look at the puppet master who set all this in motion when he injects Ireland with a serum that assists the Hessian to possess her. Will the Hessian's power and Ridley's reincarnation abilities be enough to take out Poe's beast rampaging through modern NYC? \n I truly enjoy the mix of story lines, from Poe's life through Ireland and Ridley's experiences. The pace is brisk, with sharp turns and ghastly spins. Lots of ghosts, a few monsters and, well, a creative romp of a tale.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 24 09:26:53 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 24 09:28:34 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23392048", "review_id": "b30761328fba36131faaab67368beaab", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the 11th episode of the Debt Collector serial. I received an advanced reader copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. There be (some mild) spoilers! (Not anything that I THINK will hinder enjoyment...) \n Alexa Sterling is still mourning her father's death. As his sole heir, she strives to maintain control of his company and his mission: eradication of life energy transfers. Both Alexa's mother and father had been cashed out by Debt Collectors absorbing their life energy--though her father's death is considered a murder. \n Being a (secret) debt collector herself, Alexa is deeply conflicted by her moral desire for life energy transfers to cease, and her physical need to transfer life energy. Bit of history, debt collectors have a mutant gene in their DNA that facilitates the absorption of life energy through any skin-to-skin contact. The gene they carry came from a vaccine administered decades prior which was inadvertently incorporated into the populace as a mutation. \n In this episode, Alexa must battle the Board of Sterling Cybernetics Inc to stop them from dismantling her father's company--and she does it with aplomb. Further, we get some romantic insight regarding Alexa's assistant, Wyatt, who is clearly attracted to her. And, I can't wait to find out the whole story of the \"missing\" Glenn; I'm sure it's grisly! \n At the end we get a glimpse of the mysterious Gehenna, a group of associated Debt Collectors. Moloch and Zachariel make a significant impression with their God Cop/Bad Cop routine. Alexa has two choices, and either will destroy huge chunks of her father's legacy. \n Or, as Moloch succinctly points out, there is always option C: they could just kill her outright. \n We're left wondering which direction Alexa will choose, with the caveat that assisting Gehenna will lead to Alexa finding her father's murderer. Eventually. Why do Alexa and I share the feeling that helping Gehenna is a bad choice? \n Loving the support characters. Miral is a female Lucius Fox to Alexa/Wraith's female Batman. Wyatt is a good and earnest friend/assistant who only wants Alexa to be happy--preferably with him. And Jax is a loyal conspirator, always looking for the right target and a suitable payout for Wraith's life energy transfers. \n The pace is incredible, and the story whooshing by. I'm interested to see if the enemies Alexa made at her board meeting coup will be back for vengeance.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 21 07:04:57 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 27 08:16:22 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23352199", "review_id": "989ddd72630044b117e405d86b03fa09", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the second season of the Debt Collector serial featuring a female protaganist. It is not required to read the first season, however, what is IMPORTANT TO KNOW: a debt collector has unique ability to absorb and harness the life energy of a human. One can draw the energy through any skin-to-skin contact, and drawing energy will shortening the life span of the people they touch. They also have the ability to transfer this life energy to others. In the world of Debt Collectors, they are licensed by the government to draw life energy from dying adults and transfer it (legally) to high-potential peoples who can live longer to solve the world's problems. Of course, there is HUGE black market for this skill--and lots of rogue debt collectors exist on illegal life energy collections.... \n WRAITH Review: \n Alexa Sterling is heiress to Sterling Cybernetics--and she's not happy. Mostly because her father was murdered, presumably by debt collectors, only three weeks ago. What Alexa's anti-debt collection crusader father didn't know? That Alex herself is a debt collector. \n Yeah. Alexa has an alter ego as Wraith. She discovered her Debt Collector ability inadvertently, it seems, and it hurt someone close to her. Believing that Debt Collectors killed her father, she is averse to dealing with them. She does have a physical need to transfer life energy--as doing so is a bit of a high and not doing so leads to severe depression. \n So, Alexa/Wraith is a bit Robin Hood. She takes energy from people she knows to have gotten life energy pulses illegally, and donates them to sick individuals--giving them the strength to survive their diseases. It's an admirable use of a deleterious skill, which make Alexa/Wraith an anti-hero of my favorite sort. \n The read is intense, picking up in the throes of a life energy hit. Alexa is creative and utilizes her power in the best way she can, but she's also impetuous, and this leads not only to a bad collection, but also puts her on the radar of a rogue Debt Collector network, Gehanna. She is being recruited against her will--with exposure of her secret life as a Debt Collector in the offing. \n So looking forward to the next episode!", "date_added": "Sun Oct 19 09:03:57 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 19 12:06:04 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Oct 19 12:06:04 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "17404975", "review_id": "259fab723bf7d2d628ece402a3cc0ec7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Technopath Hogarth Dawson has failed to become one of the Power Alliance--more than once. Like many in this world, his super powers are limited. He is able to kitbash, which means he can control technology and transform machines into weapons. Kinda handy, except when he's being mugged in an alley and requiring rescue from the Viking-like Memphis Rook. \n Rook was a member of the Power Alliance, until he failed to save one human in a rescue. Now he's an unlicensed hero risking his freedom every time he goes in for a rescue. And, he does this often because, well, a hero saves people even if they aren't sanctioned to do so. \n The book is a super fast read with dry humor sprinkled throughout. Garth, as Rook calls him, is a snarky narrator, and I often chuckled aloud. \n So there I was, carrying his brawny elephant carcass up the stairwell of my walk-up and regretting I lived on the third floor. I wondered what his fellow heroes could have possibly fed him in the Alliance. Double-decker buses came to mind. Not only that, when I say he was hot, I didn't mean good looking. Granted, Rook was not exactly a homely fellow, but I meant he was burning the hell up. \n Rook and Garth team up trying to save the world, and be with each other, only to get into more trouble. Turns out leader of the Power Alliance, Captain Chivalry, has a history with Garth, and needs his kitbashing power to save someone close to him. Will Garth helping his ex-lover cause Rook to turn away? Or, will Chivalry turn out to be the opposite of his name? \n The book had me laughing. The smexytimes were short and sweet, just like the story. I look forward to the next in the series.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 04 16:38:43 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 09 05:56:15 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "7741856", "review_id": "172d3251a96c046df08fcb62439729c4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 stars for this contemporary paranormal romance. \n Lily is a 28 y/o single woman working in her grandparents' convenience store when she begins to have visions. They are terrifying, and nightmares keep her awake at night. Visiting the site of her recurrent dream, Lily is attacked by a vampire--and rescued by Christian, a Sentient. He tells Lily that she is like himself--and there are others she needs to meet. \n Enfolded into a small Georgia town, Lily joins Abram, William, Christian and Anna (among others) who all have gifts allowing them to see and destroy evil. Lily's gift is as an empath, and a Pathcrosser--one who can assist lost souls cross to the other side. \n Lily and Christian become fast friends, and he warns her to stay away from William--who happens to be a vampire--with a soul, and his humanity. It's a mite complicated, but William is really a good dude, and he's uber-helpful training Lily to focus her powers. Christian hates William out-of-hand because he hates all vamps-they killed his dad. Lily's conflicted--she's terrified of William and attracted to him, too. She knows having any sort of relationship with William will alienate Christian, but as time (months) go by, both William and Lily are struggling to keep their mutual attraction from combusting all over the group. \n In the meantime, Lily learns to harness her power, and the entire group prepares to destroy a vampire infestation near to Lily's home town. It's a big trouble when Lily and William reveal their love, and especially considering Christian's reaction. \n I liked this story. Lily's not a dimwit, and she's not entirely likable--at first. She makes snap judgments and allows her loyalty to be swayed by prejudice. It's a lot for her to get over, and her guilt is plentiful. I liked how she wasn't great with her powers--at first and even after some practice. She felt very relatable--and I like that in a character. William is a big ball of yum. He is virtually isolated, barely tolerated, by some of the group members, and never anticipates having his affection for Lily returned. It's so engaging to witness his vulnerability. Christian is a horse's pa-toot a good part of the book, but his redemption is awesome, and touching. \n This is a great start to a paranormal series, with a clear ending and a storyline to continue.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 01 08:13:18 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 01 08:14:50 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Oct 01 08:14:50 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23200132", "review_id": "7fd44816f184a53c1724addf9c507a40", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Raul Villalobos, renown painter, believes he will add three new women to his \"collection\" when he accepts the commission of wealthy recluse Deidre Delacourt. Seems that Raul, a Fae noble, has the ability to trap his subjects in his art--quite literally. And, he is certain a few more paintings will satisfy his sexual urges. \n Deidre is well aware of Raul's exploits--but she's got a plan to deal with his magic, and perhaps make some of her own. In her mansion she houses two sexual submissives, Claire and Sophia. Claire is a buxom blonde and Sophia is a sultry redhead. Neither woman really wishes for Raul's attention, but they are compliant to Deidre's whim--and Deidre's desires. \n This erotic twist on the THREE LITTLE PIGS folk tale is a sensual read. It presents women of all body types is a flattering sexual light; Raul is captivated by each for different reasons, but he adores the differences in their bodies with a lustful painter's eye. \n The sexual tension builds slowly, with alternating POV between Deidre and Raul. He believes the set-up to be one-sided, but Deidre is as crafty as the come. And, do they come. The smexytimes are interesting and well-described. They range from vanilla to BDSM to menage and from M/F to F/F/F and keep the pace building to the ultimate bondage. \n It is a quality erotic short, easily read over the course of a long, sexy lunch. I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 24 09:53:49 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 24 09:54:24 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23000230", "review_id": "0e7615772abedeac3c29445fdd739477", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Urus tells the majority of this epic tale of magical forces set on tearing apart the world. He is a young adult, on the verge of being outcast from his clan--for lack of being a better warrior on account of his deafness. He discovers a magic within himself when he attempts to commit suicide. He is a sigilord, though he doesn't yet know what this means, or the power he holds. \n Cailix is an orphan in the care of monks, when three blood mages arrive and slaughter the monks to obtain the vertex map they guard and gain the power of their blood. She attaches to the head blood mage, Anderis, and begins to learn this killing art--always in the effort to gain enough power to escape her new mentor. \n Goodwyn, Urus's BFF is a gifter warrior, with the ability to \"see\" the near future in his mind. He also has a dark secret that would alter his status if it were revealed. \n As it turns out, Anderis is tasked with destroying the five dimensional vertices on this world. In doing so he will release his fellow entrapped blood mages and they will then be able to traverse not only this world, but all other worlds. \n There is an exiled arbiter, Murin, who becomes a guide for Urus, helping him to gain the knowledge of his power and also find the lost vertices and protect them from destruction. Unfortunately the blood mages gain power with every kill, and even the combined strength of Urus, Goodwyn and Cailix may not be enough to prevent annihilation when the vertices get crushed. \n This was an interesting hero's saga. Urus and Goodwyn are good characters, both having deeper layers. Urus was routinely beaten as a child, whereas Goodwyn loves one he cannot claim. These internal issues definitely affect the choices they make. Cailix learns the truth of her parentage, and it only makes her more determined to use her blood sorcery for good. Plus, it seems she has an affinity for Urus. \n War is being batted throughout this world, but there comes a time when fences get mended and enemies unite to assault the larger evil, and it is handled in a way that is respectful and honest. Lots of gore--due to the wars incited by the blood mages, and also by the mages harvesting blood for their own power--which directly affects Urus; his sigilord blood power is enormous compared with that of normal people, or even blood mages. \n What I loved about this book was the variety of form. Urus and Goodwyn are from Kest--and they are black with yellowish eyes. Murin, Urus's arbiter guide is a grey man. Cailix is a pale girl with red hair, some of the others in the book range from dwarfish to giant. The people of this world are all different, unique to their locale. Urus's main skill is his abiility to communicate with them, even if he cannot hear and has limited speech--so this was a decent trick, though there were times I wondered if he could possibly read all those lips! His developing sigilord skill was interesting to witness--it comes on slow and builds with time and trial. \n The world is set in less modern times, with hand-to-hand combat being the order of war. Groups that had been allied with the blood mages gained technology far superior to the norm, and for this they paid dearly, but it brought a steampunk element into the plot, allowing for the Old World v. Technology theme to be explored. \n The end comes a little quickly, I thought, but I was glad that it ended in such a way that the resolution is solid, and without a cliffhanger. Yes, there is a tie that will bind on to book two, but it is not the outcome of the battles. \n At times I worried about so many points of view--but they were all well defined. Urus tells the bulk of the story (well his POV does) and Cailix and Goodwyn share other parts for when they are separated and how the battles progress via their eyes. These really move the plot forward, and there is little overlap or recap upon reunion. \n I think lovers of epic fantasy will find this book to be interesting and engaging. I look forward to the sequel. I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 23 08:09:07 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 23 08:13:07 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "9993763", "review_id": "9cf4765b8b5f0c08ebc4853c81ad932c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "ANCHORED is not a love story. \n It's not even a like story, really. \n What it is is a GREAT story. \n This book is set in an alternate universe where slavery is legal worldwide. It is otherwise set in contemporary NYC. \n Daniel is a slave. He's also a celebrity news anchor. His network bought him at age 11 and he's been a faithful slave, reporting the news for NewWorld Media for years now. Unfortunately NewWorld is struggling financially and they've decided to lease out some of their commerical properties--like Daniel--to buyers overnight and on weekends. Daniel's being prostituted out for an annual rental to one buyer, at 6 million dollars. And, he's terrified. \n See, slaves like Daniel are communally housed, but not allowed any physical relationships. His only experience with sex was being raped by men as a child. He had a clandestine \"lover\" with whom he shared a few trysts, but no penetrative sex. And, Daniel's worst fears are realized when he enters his new master's home--he's been leased to a man. Okay, it gets worse: the man who is now his master, Carl, is a talk show host on a competitor network. Yikes. \n Carl has longed for Daniel for years. Aroused by Daniel's physical beauty, and his intellectual persona on TV, Carl expected a partner to share his empty nights with witty repartee and mutual passion. Daniel isn't sure what to do--he's essentially a virgin, and can't read Carl's mixed signals. \n If Carl ordered Daniel to have sex with him, Daniel would have submitted, but Carl never does that. No, he treats Daniel like a Freeman, which only confuses Daniel more. Carl wants a willing partner, and Daniel is unwilling. It, honestly, is a complete failure to communicate, but the end result is Daniel receiving \"training\" in his new role as a pleasure slave that is unconscionable to Carl, Daniel and the reader. \n Okay, so I'm gonna say, this is the only time I've read a rape and felt so incredibly visceral about it. The absolute clinical and violent manner in which Daniel was coerced into sex was so distressing and so riveting. I kept hoping against hope that someone would step in, that Daniel would not be harmed. It was frightening, and yet I could only see the story unfolding in this way. \n Daniel's plight called to the fore the political injustice of this fictional world--and gave context in the inequality of our actual world. So many millions of people are either legally (fictional) or financially (real world) subservient that the choice to engage--or not to engage--in sexual relations is not always within one's power. It was a harrowing, honest, and enlightening experience for me. Other reviews highlight this as well. \n Carl is a terrible master, not because he is violent or coercive--because he is weak. He has no interest in ordering around a slave; he really doesn't like being a slave owner. His two other slaves are virtually autonomous, with Carl having no desire to reprimand them--not that they act out. In fact, Daniel doesn't act out--he just isn't sexually interested and refuses to please if he isn't ordered. Well, at least until he's \"trained\". After surviving that experience he's ready to serve Carl as often as possible, in whatever way necessary, to prevent any further training. \n Carl learns the consequences for his folly in renting Daniel, and makes amends in the best way that he can. He is a truly good man, and didn't understand how his disatisfaction with Daniel would manifest as torture. \n I was particularly touched when Daniel reflects on the difference in emotional attitudes between slaves and Freemen. A Freeman, like Carl, can have/give love to Daniel--because he has autonomy. \n On the other hand, Daniel could have respect, or even affection, for Carl, but he didn't feel free to love him. The power imbalance was too great to have equal footing in something so visceral as love. Daniel appreciates that he always faces the risk of being sold to someone else, so he guards his love carefully to ensure he's not emotionally damaged by what amounts to a commercial transaction. \n It was a very powerful commentary, and one I probably didn't even fully appreciate--regardless of how moved I felt by it. There are some tender moments in this book, but it isn't a tender tale. As I said, it's not a love story. I was glad to see that Daniel was satisfied in the end. That he was safe and protected. This book will stay with me long after I expect. I received a review copy via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 22 09:50:52 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 22 09:52:13 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "23259236", "review_id": "0239ebd6955006980e758bf62d663f3e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I've read both previous books in this fast-paced, steampunk romance series and I had high expectations for the finale. Those were exceeded! \n In FIRST DAUGHTER we connect with Aniri, our high-spirited princess, on the brink of leading her country to war. Well, sorta. I mean, she's not QUITE queen of Jungali, the land where she WOULD be queen if her wedding hadn't been crashed by bombs dropped from a heretofore unknown Samirian skyship. She may have even married Ash, prince of Jungali, and gone to battle with him--if he haddn't been kidnapped for ransom by Samirian forces. \n Still, Aniri knows she is going to hunt down Natesh, the wayward second son of Samir who has not only provoked war, he has Ash and Aniri's pregnant sister (Seledri) in his control. Oh, and his assassins almost succeeded in killing Aniri's mother. \n It's a tense time, and Aniri's eldest sister, Nahali, is now in control of Dharia as their mother convalesces. Nahali is brilliant, but cold. She has a longheld jealousy for the capricious Aniri and is not inclined to seek rescue of Aniri's beloved, not when vengeance is sweeter and warranted. \n It's up to Aniri to wage a battle on many fronts: to convince Nahali to move slowly, and allow a rescue of both Ash and Seledri, while also seeking to foment rebellion in Samir. Aniri is sure assisting Seledri's husband Pavan to rise to the throne will remove the threat of war, but she must go undercover in Samir in order to find Pavan, first. \n So, we get a whole lotta intrigue, espionage, clockworks, and daring maneuvers in FIRST DAUGHTER. Aniri rises to the top, pushing for peace while scouring all avenues for signs of Ash and Seledri. One thing that princess won't abide is leaving them to Natesh's murderous whim. \n It is a full-tilt race to not only rescue the two people most central to Aniri's heart, but to disable Natesh's armada of skyships that are poised to invade and bomb her homeland into oblivion. \n At it's core, FIRST DAUGHTER is a tale of constant love--familial and romantic. There are many positive examples of loving couples, and of people going beyond all borders to save those they love--Aniri foremost because she tells this tale, but also Pavan who is determined to reclaim his wife, and Janak--steadfast protector of the Queen who is inexorably in love with her and seeks to avenge her wounding. \n The climax is nothing other than brilliant, with battling skyships and a weapon of mass destruction poised to decimate the Samirian war complex. Everything happens just as I hoped it would, but not in the order I had expected, leaving me turning the pages in haste to get to the ending I needed--faster. \n If you are a fan of this series you will not be disappointed. For all that it's a love story, the prose is innocent and appropriately-paced. There is no instalove, just affection growing over time and in volume. Aniri is a good protaganist. She makes mistakes and she owns them. She strives hard to protect and save not only her own loves, but to help her sister make decisions that will benefit their world. \n I loved getting lost in the steampuck elements and the East Indian flavor of Dharia, Samir and Jungali. It is rare to see a culture of \"color\" and a matrilineal society in literature, but this world is rendered beautifully. I appreciated the lengths to which the author went to create a society that celebrates women, not only for their beauty and status, but for their courage and ingenuity. It is a place in which I would like to live.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 22 07:33:10 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 22 07:34:06 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "17371956", "review_id": "76787b0906ab075d73c91698d3a0f9a4", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I'm still not sure what this book is about. Robert is a young black teen in Virginia in a near-future setting. The government has people under surveillance and the populace lives in fear of the medical community, to some degree. \n Robert cares about wrestling, and himself. He thinks he's gay, but he doesn't act on it. He is being raised by his father, as his mom was murdered six years ago on his birthday. Robert has a token girlfriend, but they don't get physical. \n In his current place in this story Robert is plagued by hallucinations that become stringer as his birthday comes closer. These hallucinations cause him to act erratically, and even violently, at times. There is violence in the book--school fights that become brutal--and some race baiting. \n Honestly, I have no idea what happens in this story except that Robert gets disqualified in the regional wrestling tourney for tossing his opponent into the stands in a hallucination fueled freak out. Oh, and he has a weird acne problem that requires more medications than I've ever heard of--and this acne bothers Robert a lot. \n So, pretty much nothing happens except that Robert freaks out a lot, worries a lot, and broods a lot. It took me about ten tries to slog through this book, with nothing to show for my effort. There is a planned series. I'm not up to meeting that challenge. I barely talked myself into finishing this book. I got a copy of this book via NetGalley. This is my honest review.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 09 07:27:55 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 09 07:39:02 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "17735596", "review_id": "eab868553a70948e8e598c2dd12a6611", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This story focuses on the adventure of Dr. Adewole, a linguist and Humanities expert investigating the floating island of Risenton. Myths surround this site, and when a power source becomes available, Adewole and a team of explorers and military-folk ascend a mile into the sky to meet an untouched culture. Their arrival is legendary, but the mystery surrounding Risenton's history takes up the tale. \n Adewole's mission to study the history of the city uncovers the primary documents of a sinister inventor who combined magic with metal and brought about his own destruction--along with those of thousands of Risenton-folk. Now, a thousand years later, Adewole's research uncovers the power behind that destruction, and he's an inadvertent accomplice to (perhaps) the second coming. \n It's like STARGATE and THE IRON GIANT had a love child and called it THE MACHINE GOD. I loved it. Like both of those movies, malevolent forces are working behind the scenes to weaponize an ordinarily peaceful invention. \n Beyond creative, I also loved that the main character of THE MACHINE GOD, Adewole, was a man of color and a scholar. The steampunk elements remain throughout, but the fantasy elements, from living metal to sentient, speaking birds, make this story unique. This book is truly well-written allowing the fantasy to simply blend instead of outshine.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 15 08:55:13 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 15 08:56:05 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Aug 15 13:03:43 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "18167182", "review_id": "dc270910ed5d6d10eca5f2bd75d6ac69", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I received a copy of this book via Goodreads' Don't Buy My Love program in exchange for an honest review. \n Nick and Galen were on/off lovers, not exclusive, about 6 months prior. Nick wanted a commitment and Galen couldn't give him one, so he walked out. This isn't as heartless as it sounds. Galen had previously been in a serious relationship but his lover was killed in a car wreck with a drunk driver--while Galen was driving. Galen survived in body, but heart and spirit remain crushed even two years later--he still can't get behind the wheel without panic attacks. So, he wasn't ready to commit to another man, though he did feel that something promising had been building between them. \n At the point where the story begins, Galen 's art museum is prepping for a new exhibit and (astonishingly) he finds four bronze statues in the back of his storeroom. These four statues have no known provenance but they are clearly old and seem form a continuous exhibit, a nude warrior in four separate poses that suggest a missing mate. \n Stunned and overjoyed with his find, Galen immediately incorporates the statues into his new exhibit, but he also reached out to Nick--who is a an art fanatic and also an antiquities hunter. Nick knows all about the statues as it turns out--his family had OWNED them in the past but they were lost at sea decades ago. Nick had, in fact, been planning a dive to discover the wreckage. \n As it turns out, the statues have a curious history. They are all of Nick's ancient ancestor Dexios, and depict him awaiting the return of his missing lover, Lykos. Throughout history, these statues have been cared for--at times they have been completed. It seems the real Dexios was cursed to wait eternally for Lykos to return, and the only way for these lovers to be reunited is through reincarnation and reconnection. \n So, Nick's thought is HE is the Dexios and Galen must be Lykos. Galen is appropriately appalled--he's still not sure he can HAVE a relationship. Yet, the two (Galen and Nick) embark on a real relationship. They go on dates and begin to develop the kind of intimacy they had missed the first time round. It remained to be seen if this would reunite Dexios and Lykos, UNTIL THEY STARTED TAKING OVER THEIR BODIES!!! \n I really enjoyed this book. Such great emotional angst. So many stakes--not just can Galen get over his grief? Or, can Nick overcome his fear of abandonment? No, we also have mythology and magic interfering in ways designed to truly test the love and faith of both Galen and Nick. \n It was a slow burn, with tentative steps toward reconnection. Many times Nick, Galen, or both, had to slow the machinations of Lykos and Dexios. This was all to the good because they've waited hundreds of years to be together and failed several rounds of reincarnation. Smexytimes were well-written and steamy.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 14 18:30:04 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 14 18:49:04 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "17858589", "review_id": "342e42147f51ba0f0b3ff99983e1f7a1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I received a copy of this book via Goodreads' Don't Buy My Love program in exchange for an honest review. \n This M/M paranormal romance was a fun fresh read--for characters who deal with the dead. \n Denton can see dead people--or at least their death traces, remnants of memories from their last few minutes prior to death. He's a quirky gay man who does freelance web design. Denton is a pretty free-spirited guy with a great sense of humor. \n He sublets a friend's apartment and meets the subtly attractive neighbor, Bran, who is almost agoraphobic in his unwillingness to be in public, or meet people. Denton makes some overtures to developing a friendship, but it isn't until Bran's cat sneaks into Denton's apartment that they really connect. \n It seems Bran is an herbalist, and a witch. He can see that Denton does more than 'see' the dead, and enlists Denton's help eradicating a malevolent spirit from a restaurant. In the process of experiencing the ghost trace, Denton inadvertently banishes the spirit altogether--it is then that Bran reveals his thought that Denton is a necromancer.... \n But MORE importantly, Denton finally takes charge of his attraction to Bran, and the two men are very compatible--both in the professional and personal realms. Of course, Bran has a big secret that precludes his wearing of skinny jeans, and I was WONDERING when it would play a role in the bedroom--so glad it happened before the end. \n The book is actually three short novellas in structure, each providing a plot problem, lots of interaction with Denton and Bran, and a sex scene (or two), so it's got some story in there. The smexytimes are fun but understated. It's an amusing book with good characters and a nice paranormal vibe. Had fun with Denton meeting Bran's mother. She's a powerful witch, and has been angling for Bran to meet a partner--so much so she cast some charms on Bran's bed to draw his perfect mate close....that minx! \n Fun book.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 11 06:39:08 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 11 06:56:17 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "22469666", "review_id": "3ccf9c996b2ca3ccd5583793d7d095ff", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I received a copy of this book via Goodreads' Don't Buy My Love program in exchange for an honest review. \n Honestly, this story was good for...entertainment. \n Henri is a 40-something gay man pursuing an advanced degree in botany. He catches his callous young lover in the sack with any one of a number of men, and promptly departs for a nature preserve to study his main thesis topic (Cobra Lilies) only to find it ablaze in a raging forest fire. Overwrought, Henri plunges into the forest and is overcome by smoke and injured, burned severely. \n Months later he is healed, scarred but striving to find any wild Cobra Lilies to study in time to turn in his thesis. (Lookit, I have a graduate degree--the path of Henri's studies absolutely does not jive with my educational experience, and I had two children in grad school. There's grace given to students who have suffered injury or illness, so the big push to finihs was to me, silly. But whatever, the plot is kinda silly...) \n Henri gets wind of a reclusive greenhouse owner who may keep Cobra lilies, and he seeks out this floral Mecca only to come into contact with the most sexually dazzling creature he's ever seen. I mean, a flawless specimen of manflesh who parades about his greenhouse nude, watering his plants and speaking tenderly to them? It's Henri's dream come to life. \n Ambrose is a spider setting his web, however, and he seduces Henri into sex. (Not too hard) Henri's sure this is freaky-deaky when not only do the plants get in on the act, but Ambrose bites him and drinks his blood. Yep. Ambrose is a vamp. \n Henri is stunned to learn that Ambrose's bite can heal the pain of his burn scars, yet, after a second night of passion and research, he flees, suddenly afraid that Ambrose will drain him. Strangely, he returns to school to find his thesis advisor now up for blowing his tenure by sexually blackmailing Henri. O_o \n Henri is partially temporarily healed by Ambrose's bites, and he's totally attracted to Ambrose, but he's freaked by the vamp thing. He decides to return to Ambrose--after he takes a 3000 mile journey into the wilds of the American southwest. He and Ambrose share a novel telepathic link that brings Henri rushing to the rescue when Ambrose's health fails. \n Oh, and immortal HEA. \n All of this happened in a tidy novella. So lots of plot, not all of which made sense. There was a whole lotta smexytimes, most of which was human-to-vampire but some of which included some floral elements...", "date_added": "Fri Aug 01 01:18:57 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 01 01:45:36 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "22756241", "review_id": "2976779ea1cd492d72f1505855473de7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 stars for a paranormal mystery. \n Matthew and Issac Adams are 400 year old werewolves. They live in Eyam, a tiny town in Derbyshire, where they have spent their entire lives. Hundreds of years ago the residents of Eyam had experienced Plague, and Matthew and Issac had helped to protect the town, and its inhabitants, during the outbreak by nursing the sick, and burying the dead. To this day they protect the current residents and their livestock from harm. They change into wolves once-monthly, on the full moon, but remain trapped in caves underground in order to protect themselves and the villagers from harm. \n Being that Eyam is a remote village filled mainly with generations of families who had survived the Plague there are many resident who know Matthew and Issac are werewolves. Both men live in harmony with the villagers; Matthew works at the local pub, and Issac is a doctor. Neither man will engage in a long-term relationship knowing that they have a secret to keep, and their longevity is troublesome in that they do not wish to watch their partner age and die while they do not. Matthew is heterosexual and Issac is gay, though he is not \"out\". \n At the point of the beginning, Matthew and Issac are emerging from their cave night, and learn that someone has slaughtered a sheep. This is a big problem, in that it was made to look as if a vicious animal had torn the sheep apart, and eyes begin to turn towards Matthew and Issac. They have allies on their sides, but they know that they are under scrutiny, and attempt to determine who had committed the crime, with little success. The next month's full moon some villagers attempt to follow the brothers into the caves and witness their change. It is a foolish and dangerous enterprise, and still there is a gutted sheep and no proof it wasn't Matthew and Issac. \n During the next month, supporters plan out how to 1. verify Matthew and Issac's innocence and 2. capture the culprit. This is imperative because both men know if the slaughters continue to recur soon the town will turn against them, and they will be \"outed\" to the world at large. The wait and the plan is too nerve-wracking for the brothers, and they argue with themselves a bit until they FINALLY begin to blow off steam in some very sexy ways. \n Matthew finds a vacationer who appeals greatly, while Issac admits his interest in a newcomer to town--Nathaniel. There are some deliciously sensual interludes, of the Het and Homo variety, that bridge the mystery. When we finally learn who the sheep gutter is (well, I picked up on the WHO right away) it's unfortunate that the WHY was unsatisfying. And, when I say unsatisfying, I mean I didn't want it to be for the reasons explained (I had also thought there might be a bit more of a paranormal turn in the motive, but no...) because, dammit, I wanted both Adams brothers to have a happy ending, and it WASN'T for one of them. \n Well, that is, it wasn't a happy ending THEN. Because, as it turned out, both men end up finding their best partner not too long after. \n It was a fun tale with some steamy scenes and emotional connections. Both Matthew and Issac take turns telling this story and there was a lot of well-considered characterization that surpassed the whole Alpha wolf dynamic of most shifter novels. The loneliness the men experience, of watching generation after generation pass, making friends they will later bury, was palpable. I was so glad to watch them really connect with lovers beyond the one night stand. The book is chock full of Eyam history, and I loved the colloquial speech.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 22 05:19:30 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 10 09:00:50 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Aug 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "22458793", "review_id": "a8f4ae19183b166a24a6d501aced0661", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I received a review copy of this book via Goodreads' Don't Buy My Love program in exchange for an honest review. \n 3.5/4 stars for this M/M steampunk fantasy. \n I'm a bit torn as to my rating because the book was eloquently written, but I struggled with (slow) pacing. As delivered, this is three novellas packed together--and I kinda wanted the story to move...faster. \n Alasdaire is a bastard half-human/half-elf. He is the eldest grandchild to the ailing ruler of the Elven nation in this world. Due to his tainted bloodline, Alasdaire has never been to the Elven lands. In fact, after attempting to murder his derelict father (A Serpent Nation noble) he has been condemned to wear a lethal collar restraint and serve as a sex slave on the estate of the Serpent King's cousin. \n Prince Linden, brother to King Edward, is world weary. He's been battling to protect the fringes of Edward's realm, though he believes Edward to be insane--and over-interested in hastening Linden's mortality. Linden seeks respite and comfort in his cousin Keith's country estate--and he finds both in Alasdaire. \n Elves are detested throughout the Serpent Kingdom--reduced to slavery and unable to perform their magic due to Edward's decrees--but Linden finds Alasdaire entrancing. They strike up a companionship that is respectful and intimate. Over a period of weeks they become more than master/slave, and Alasdaire is distraught when Linden is summond to settle a new conflict afraid for Linden's life. With good reason. \n There are some soft twists, that mainly involve magic, Alasdaire's illegal practice of magic, and Linden's survival as a result of magic--Also, Linden's ascendance to the throne. Can their fledgling love survive the court intrigues and prejudice surrounding Elves? Also, Alasdaire's family rejects his love of a Serpent-Man--Linden. At first. \n I liked the world. The steampunk elements were interesting and handled with humor--ie \"Farting\" steam carriages that were so detested. Alasdaire was rather sympathetic, having been orphaned and abandoned--then later attacked by his deranged dad. Linden is a compassionate prince/king devoted to improving his lands with technology and egalitarian goals which is admirable. While the language is fun and flirty and in keeping with the \"steampunk\" milieu, I simply struggled with how ga-ga in-love Linden and Alasdaire were. The whole \"Our Love Conquers All\" theme kinda felt over-the-top for me, considering the characters in question were a battle-hardened, warrior-general prince, and a tormented sex toy. Also, despite all the assassination attempts, there seemed so little actual conflict--considering the length of the book. \n The sex was understated, and mostly negligible...sadly. I did enjoy that a M/M romance was accepted as the King's union. Even for fantasy, their relationship was open and unchallenged--with a plan to establish a distant cousin as Linden's eventual heir. This was refreshing. \n Unfortunately, I felt the story bogged too often and left me turning pages wondering \"Um, when are we going to get somewhere, here?\" which explains the lower rating.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 15 17:09:40 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 18 07:56:40 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "11265184", "review_id": "e0be7b933ae1a7491eeda09e45bc5892", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I received a copy of this book foe review via Goodreads' Don't Buy My Love program. \n Michael is a 21 y/o human with a serious grudge. His best friend, Scary Mary, had been used sexually and then drained of blood by vampires. After two years of searching he learns where the last vamp hangs out. While waiting for Gray to arrive, Michael is approached by another man, Wild Bill, who seems down for some action. Michael is a novice gay man--pretty much innocent--and while he's attracted to Bill, he's got a mission: drug Gray and stake him, by whatever means necessary. \n Gray does arrive, and he takes Michael's bait--they leave the bar only to be joined by Bill. Things go from hot to molten fast in Michael's barren hotel room. Expect a seriously hot menage. And, a twist that tells us more about Bill than the reader perhaps expected. \n My biggest complaint? I wanted more! The book is very well-written, the world well-conceived, and the pace excellent. I wished it was longer so I could stay with these folks a bit more.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 13 14:21:29 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 13 14:38:00 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jul 13 14:54:16 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "22552880", "review_id": "4bfa4473a08ac1ca633e5147c7add7f0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "When last we saw Aniri, she was due to marry Ash, Prince of Jungali, in a week. Her mother and eldest sister have arrived in Bhatki, Jungali's capital city, for the wedding and Aniri had iceberg feet. She's barely 18, and unsure that she could make a good Queen--let alone a good wife. Plus, she fears that her affection for Ash was the product of their adventure together. She knows he's a good man--Aniri feels a bit...unworthy. \n Then, on the eve of their wedding, Aniri's pregnant sister, Seledri survives an assassination attempt and Aniri takes Ash's skyship to Samir (with Ash's permission yet against his reservations) to \"visit\" Seledri; even Aniri's maid Priya and her personal guard Janak know Aniri's planning to remove Seledri. Why not? There are serious rumors that Samir is planning to invade Aniri's homeland Dharia--which would put Seledri at greater risk. \n Arriving in Samir, Aniri finds the situation more dire than she expected--her sister's husband is in a battle for the throne with his younger brother and Seledri is a pawn in the struggle. Aniri gets unexpected help from her former \"lover\" Devesh and and a person she hasn't seen in eight long years, both of whom have questionable loyalty. \n Still, they are able to rescue Seledri--not without casualties--and the return to Jungali should be triumphant. It is not. Aniri made some key mistakes in the mission, and Ash is ready to send her back to Dharia unwed. Her intelligence gained--that Samir likely has an armada of skyships--hastens Ash's defensive plans, and his efforts to get Aniri far from danger. And out of his country. Of course, Aniri's fickle heart had finally decided that Ash was The One....had been ready to pledge herself wholeheartedly, until he didn't want her. \n But, the best things in life are worth fighting for, and Aniri's a spirited girl. She makes amends the best she can, proclaiming Ash's worth to his people and rousing the Jungalis for the looming battle. Will it be enough to win him back? \n Maybe. I'll tell you now, the book ends with a heavy cliffhanger, but not regarding Aniri and Ash--their feelings are made plain before the book ends. Unfortunately, their romance is still on hold as Bhakti faces the first wave of Samirian aggression and Aniri has an even bigger battle on her hands... \n Oh! I just CANNOT wait for the conclusion of this series! The tension has been great. Aniri's mix of undecidedness over marriage and resolution to save her loved ones is a great back-and-forth. She is young and headstrong and courageous and foolish. Her imperfections remind us of those parts we see in ourselves, undoubtedly. She has only known Ash two weeks--that's kinda short for a commitment like marriage, and her natural reluctance is refreshing. She isn't a gal prone to instalove, but wants a lasting connection to her partner. All respectable ideals. \n And Ash is very compelling. Far more so than Devesh, though that guy has come out better in this tale than the first one. Either way, Aniri's got a lot to do next book to reunite with her love, and save Dharia and Jungali from war.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 07 05:25:30 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 07 05:26:23 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "22442304", "review_id": "8d2d40bee9fc4e24916ffbde6a45f4f8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I nipped this erotic short from the Love's Landscapes event. \n Xander is a human with a long-time crush/desire for his college buddy-turned-business partner, Malone. Malone is a vampire, and Xander wants to be his in all ways possible, but Malone has continually refused him. He finally goes big--offering himself as a submissive source/partner to any vamp who will claim him in a vamp club. He doesn't know if Malone will come, but he hopes. \n Malone knows he's a vicious dude. He bears no love for his feeding partners, and is a brutal Dom to them--it's not what he wants for his longtime friend, Xander. No, Malone cherishes Xander--so he must rescue Xander--first from the club, and second from Xander's illusions. He must be so cruel that Xander decides he cannot handle Malone as a Dom. \n Thing about the best laid plans....yeah. This one goes astray. \n I really enjoyed the dynamic between the two characters. Xander is so steadfast and pure in his desire, and Malone is so conflicted in his desire--it's a tense, taut narrative with plenty of hope for a real love for these men. Just adored. Wanted more!", "date_added": "Mon Jun 23 05:31:37 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 23 05:50:36 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "18685918", "review_id": "ac1a1da77740899dfd7c24092cc5e723", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I received a copy of this book via Goodreads' Don't Buy My Love program in exchange for an honest review. \n This book is filled with bite-size erotic M/M fiction perfect for a slow lunch or a quick night cap. \n There are five stories, each about ten pages long, with varying time frames within a world where vamps exist. Each explores a single scene between a vamp and his target. Despite the short format, the stories feel well-developed with a quick world build and rapid plot. In some cases the two males know each other, in others it's a first meeting. In one story the vamp was rather meek, allowing his blood source to dominate him sexually--that was a fun twist. In most of the stories I was intrigued to want more. \n In total it was a guilty pleasure read I very much enjoyed!", "date_added": "Mon Jun 23 04:59:07 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 23 05:20:31 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "22020431", "review_id": "a1c30e2c595f960531649fef33ea67aa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 Stars for this supernatural M/M romance. \n I received a copy of this book via Goodreads' Don't Buy My Love program in exchange for an honest review. \n Lake is a gay naiad. He is newly appointed as a forest ranger to Gem Pond in Northern Michigan. He is also to be the Guardian spirit of the pond. His partner, the senior ranger, is Forrest Oakley. It turns out that Forrest is a Dryad--and he's also very appealing to Lake. \n Of course, Lake doesn't sense Forrest's attraction for him, and he's not going to reveal himself--in the event his advances wouldn't be welcome. Lake hasn't had a body of water to Guard in 7 years--since he was 16. He's taking no risks on losing Gem Pond. \n Forrest is a closet case. He likes men, but has no experience with them, excepting a kiss of a BFF and a drunken night at a gay bar of which he has no memories. He's terribly attracted to Lake, but won't reveal his interest afraid that their homophobic boss would find a way to fire Forrest. Gem Pond and the surrounding forest is the only place Forrest has ever lived. He is in complete communion with the locale and the mystical animal avatars present in the \"human\" population. He will not jeopardize his post for sex. He's never had any, so he doesn't know what he's missing.... \n This is a slow building romance. Both men have active fantasy experiences, but hide themselves. The supporting cast works hard to get the two to commit to one another, because having mated Guardians causes their natural abilities to be magnified. There is a threat to the ecosystem of Gem Pond-- in the guise of a conservation officer. It takes several months of sharing a one-bedroom cabin before these men become intimate--revealing their true natures and sharing themselves. It allowed for a solid relationship formation, and a more interesting story. \n The book is well-written and the story fun and playful. The descriptions of Lake and Forrest in their human and supernatural forms were complete and engaging. That Lake found Forrest in his tree-form and touched him intimately without either knowing? Genius. I have read other books from this author and have not been disappointed yet.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 16 04:37:58 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 16 05:23:32 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jun 16 07:56:13 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "20643916", "review_id": "552535e53d4470d38ed738dab822950b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars for this contemporary, urban fantasy, M/M romance. \n I received a copy of this book via Goodreads Don't Buy My Love program in exchange for an honest review. \n Quentin is a 19 y/o man living in a cottage outside Nottingham. He is independently wealthy on account of his father abandoning him and his mother 6 years prior--without saying goodbye and while also removing all traces of his existence from their lives--and setting a trashbag filled with half a million pounds on Quentin's bed. \n Quentin is gay and his BFF Bertie is a lesbian. They occasionally co-habitate. They definitely drink to excess. On New Year's Quentin is nearly killed by a drunk driver, but he is rescued by a mysterious stranger who pushes him out of the vehicle's path. This stranger has brilliant green eyes and shows up again at the hospital at odd times without speaking to Quentin. \n Bertie and Quentin's mother believe he's hallucinating the mysterious stranger. After what seems the absolute longest invalid recovery from a broken ankle in the modern medical era, Quentin goes out drinking with Bertie again. And again encounters the stranger. This time they speak. \n Turns out Tyrin is gay, and a stalker-first class. And, he's not quite human. I'm not going to reveal his powers, but from the title one should guess he's Atlantean. He is charged with finding defector Atlanteans and their half-breed children. Turns out Quentin is more than a passing interest--but Tyrin's brother is all about revealing Quentin's issues to the Atlantean community, thereby banishing Quentin to Atlantis. While this would satisfy Tyrin's sexual interest, it would mean cutting Quentin off from his loved ones...forever. \n The book ends with a cliffhanger where Tyrin's brother orchestrates a commotion injuring Bertie...and forcing Quentin to choose between her health and his Earth existence. \n The book is a bit of a slow starter with information dumping in the outset. It was clear to me the issue with Quentin's father from the second he was mentioned. The magic of Atlanteans was interesting--I liked that they all didn't have superpowers--or the same powers. Tyrin is an interesting character; I wish he hadn't come off so creepy. As for smexytimes, that's between them, alas, we get only a couple of smooches and steamy looks with teasing hints about what great times they had. \n It took me a bit of time to warm up to Quentin--he's a bit on the immature side. I liked him and Bertie, they are a fun platonic pair, but the boozing got a bit much. What's with all the puking and passing out? Really. \n The book could have used another edit to remove the punctuation errors and homonym switches.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 16 04:11:18 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 16 04:35:51 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "20700123", "review_id": "af84590387cf7d986c672c3571f0644d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I received a copy of this book via Goodreads' Don't Buy My Love program in exchange for an honest review. \n This is the second book in the Valespian Pact series. Books should be read in order. A quick catch up: \n Zeus is a Fal/Amoric prince. This is news, because he'd grown up believing he was Terran--even though he was raised by the Mar'Sani emperor--who fully adopted him and it is with this race that Zeus associates. He has always felt loved and cherished by his adoptive family, but there are factions of Mar'Sari who despise Terrans--the Galactouc scourge--and by extension hate Zeus. \n Zeus has bonded with a symbiote Dar Massaga--Dargon and Alpha--both males who had never connected with another Dar Massaga and can't imagine pairing with a Terran--but they mate. It is through this mating that they determined Zeus' Fal'Amoric race, becasue all Fal'Amoric males are hermaphrodites--and Alpha becomes impregnated by capturing Zues' eggs and combining them with his and Dargon's sperm. \n Also, there is galactic war brewing against the V'Saar, a bug-like species that is brutal and carnivorous, and this war can only be stopped if the Galactic Princes can find their missing third--the Fal'Amoric prince Prometheus. Prometheus has been missing for two decades and, lacking a better candidate, Zeus may be pressed into service-paired the the other Galactic princes--in order to maintain the magical power to keep the V'Saar out of the alliance's galactic space. \n OKAY! \n So, Alpha's about to deliver kits--to be raised in Dargon's marsupial pouch for a year. This is a super tricky exchange and requires a stable environment--not easy to achieve while on board a ship carrying the Fal'Amoric royal family exiles back to their home on Valespia. \n In order to survive, the refugee ship travels with a military convoy of Mar'Sani--containing Zeus' Mar'Sani brothers, one of whom is the heir apparrant of the Mar'Sani emperor. Together they hunt allies--Feteine robots who can help defeat the V'Saar that chase them to Valespia. \n Zeus and Dargon are injured gravely at the power of the Qrxzl--which not only cements a Feteine partnership, but also reunites Alpha with his first offspring, Star Eater. Together this coalition survives the trip to Valespia, but there they face a battle royale, one that results in extreme danger for both Alpha and the kits. Zeus is an amazing tactician, and an unexpected partner arrives with a host of warriors tipping the balance in Zeus' favor. \n Political alliances are further challenged, but the truth wins out, yay! The books resolves, with an ongoing plotline to carry forth--still ont he hunt for Prometheus. \n There is a LOT going on here, and the pace is brisk. I enjoyed this book better than the first one, as we really get a better sense of Zeus and his valor. His family is completely supportive, and Dargon and Alpha are tremendous in their role as partner to Zeus. I am not a fan of Sci-fi, but this book series has held my interest completely. The smexytimes are brief and understated, allowing the emotional context to be the foundation of the romantic landscape.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 15 06:30:44 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 15 08:29:35 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "16061295", "review_id": "262774305316f97c9468558aef92d19f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In true Charley fashion, the book's pace is set to plaid. \n [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP6DX...] \n If you're planning to read this book, you ought to have read the previous five installments first. \n [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZYhD...] \n To be clear, I have a total girl crush on Charley. First Grave got me totally hooked on the ADD-suffering, grim reaper. She's hysterical and brave and selfless and damned funny. Her brightly shining aura guides souls into the Great Beyond, each time she senses a little of that soul's experiences--upping her empathy quotient by bazillions. \n Her love interest, Reyes Farrow? Well, he's the dark side of the coin. And by dark, I mean black. He's the son of Satan. \n No, no! Not that! Cripes! I'm not a freak! \n Oh yes, that's much better. \n Don't let his lineage fool you, however, Reyes is unequivocally, unremorsefully, totally in love with Charley. His mission was to escape Hell and kill the next Reaper. In fact, it is still his mission, he simply found Charley's essence so awesome, he decided to be born on Earth so he could know her. \n His life on Earth hasn't been even just plain okay--he suffered horrific abuse and was jailed for a time. Still, he served Charley as a defender many times, and has built a fortune which he uses to protect Charley's interests--oh and he wants to marry her. He's waiting (again) on Charley--for her answer. \n So, in this installment, Reyes is in constant pursuit of Charley's answer, affection and companionship. A living man seeks Charley's help getting his soul back from a demon. One of Charley's \"friends\" has been kidnapped as a bargaining chip to get access to a WITSEC informant. And Charley's cooked up a fool proof plan to get her Uncle Bob to finally ask her BFF Cookie out on a date. Whew! That's a lot for a book that spans only a few days in time.... \n The Dealer is a new supernatural in town. He's a Deava, the kind of demon Satan would stitch together from the remnants of dying demons. He's on Earth's plane, eating souls for sustenance. Charlie wants to win back the soul of his client, and makes an ally instead. A powerful one as even Reyes will admit. It seems the Dealer would like Satan defeated, and he knows that the Twelve hounds of hell have been unleashed to find Charley. \n Cookie's dating takes up a good part of the book--Charley sets her up on three fake dates to irritate Ubie enough to get the gumption to (finally) make his move. I love when a harebrained scheme falls apart spectacularly. As this one does. \n Meanwhile, Charley's reaper powers are becoming stronger. She is able to summon souls at will--and even mark them for Heaven and Hell. This becomes more important when she's being blackmailed and tortured, by the police and a Mexican drug cartel, respectively. \n Interestingly, Charley is only kidnapped for an hour in this book. To be fair, I t's a shitty hour with lots of innocent blood spilled, but usually she's facing death a whole lot longer. Even with her newly-expanded powers, Charley's not able to bring everyone home safely. Still there's new life on the horizon, and it's clearly going to get even more hectic for our coffee-swilling heroine. \n As always, the overall series plot revelation is subtle. Charley gains an ally. She makes a new enemy. Her relationship with Reyes takes on a whole new level. Her father has a new mission--one Charley doesn't know yet. We learn about the Twelve, and how Reyes may tip the balance in Charley's favor. The cliffhanger this time was a bit heavier than usual, but also more tantalizing. The smexytimes are interesting and well-written, though I will always crave more Reyes. \n Good thing I had the print edition, because I got me some bonus pages in Reyes' POV! Yay!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 13 05:57:40 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 13 05:58:48 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "16153073", "review_id": "0c12b07c9e4b52caec541caa65eb6ca3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Bear with me, because I don't read a lot of Sci-Fi. I do read a lot of M/M however, and this story qualifies.... \n An infant, Zeus, is found in hypersleep on a derelict vessel in space near the home planet of the Mar'Sani, a reptilian-humanoid species. The Empress, in grief over the loss of her youngest child, immediately adopts Zeus believing his arrival was ordained by Poseidon. Zeus is not only blind, he's a Terran (human) and Terrans are the scourge of the galaxy due to their rapacious enslavement of other planets. A war had been fought and a treaty established, but Zeus is still subject to prejudice, even as a son to the Mar'Sani imperial family. \n Zeus grows up. He is loved and cherished by his family. An attack prompts his father to employ the galaxy's preeminent geneticists, the Chtichlians, to restore Zeus's eyesight. While sedated Zeus learns that he's not quite Terran--he's a hermaphrodite--a physical condition the Chtichlians soon remedy by removing Zeus' hidden uterus. \n In time, Zeus grows into a powerful warrior, like his older foster brothers, but Zeus is denied entry into the Mar'Sani warrior training so he goes to university. He becomes the chief starship mechanic on a prime star base. While there he encounters Dargon and Alpha. This symbiotic male is comprised of a Dar Massaga and his paired symbiotic Alpha who resides as a partial covering on his body. They are connected via a mind link and sexually active within their combined unit. Dargon feels no interest for other mates, but meeting Zeus turns on his Marking instinct. This sucks because Dargon holds a deep hatred for Terrans. And that's what he believes Zeus to be. \n Dargon is in the space port for repairs, all while hiding his live cargo. At first Zeus thinks he's a pirate, but it turns out to be more complicated. Dargon is charged with finding the final Galactic prince, the Bespoken, a Fal'Amoric, or ancient race from whom all species of life were generated. The Fal'Amoric had been herded and hunted by the Terrans in the hope of gaining control of the Galactic counsel. Dargon's cargo is the last Fal'Amoric princess, and Zeus' sister. Oh, and Zeus, too, because Dargon kidnaps him so he can repair the ship while Dargon escapes pursuit from the Terrans and their V'Saar allies. \n Zeus doesn't want to be Fal'Amoric, he's Mar'Sani by choice, and he certainly doesn't want to be the Bespoken, because then he will have to be united with the two other (hermaphoroditic) Galactic princes--especially not when his baby is being carried by another. Zeus's only chance is to find his lost brother, Prometheus, in order to fulfill that Galactic destiny, and it seems his memories of his sexual mutilation by the Chtichlians holds the key. \n Holy cow. I was a bit stunned by the pace. So many species, of which I had no grasp, and yet, I adored Zeus. He overcame so much prejudice. And his destiny is truly great. He has a lot of power within himself, and is only just learning to use it. His strength has won him many admirers in the Mar'Sani nobility, even if he's persecuted by some for his 'Terran' appearance. He's also won over Dargon and Alpha--completely. They have imprinted on him, so they need to remain near each other--even if Zeus must couple with the Galactic princes. Does this make Zeus the center of a love square, or a love pentagon? \n I liked the slower build of \"pairing\" between Zeus and Dargon and Alpha. They recognize their passion, but want to start slow--not that they hold off on all physical contact. I guess they recognize the inherent problems with the possibility that Zeus will be claimed as the Bespoken. It's an interesting book. I had feared I'd get bogged in detailed explanations of sci-fi whozits and whatzits, but that didn't happen. The disjointed timeline was sometimes a gripe, but the pace was adequate. I'm interested enough to seek out the sequel. \n I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 12 07:19:21 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 12 08:11:37 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "20926413", "review_id": "f064e77fba71028dba5d1115a1900a4b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I received a copy of this book via Goodreads' Don't Buy My Love program in exchange for an honest review. \n Kane is a strong lead. He's a gay wolf shifter who has stuck out on his won after being run out of his pack by his father, the Alpha, for being gay. Being an Alpha wolf is something one is \"born to\" and Kane becomes the Alpha of a pack of five gay shifters--one being his long-time friend Griff. They all work together in an auto/motorcycle restoration business small western town, called Cloverleah. \n One day Kane pops into the local diner and is overwhelmed with the scent of another wolf. One that sends his libido racing. Kane had long been told that gay wolves had not \"true mates\" but his body disagrees. Meeting Shawn, Kane senses something different--beside the fact that Shawn clearly wants to bolt. \n Unwilling to let Shawn run in fear, Kane gets his packmates to visit Shawn at work, to let him know they are harmless to him. They may be, but Shawn's father isn't. He's sent hunters after Shawn for the past decade. See, Shawn's a wolf--but he's also MORE. A Shifter Guardian who holds a crapload of magical powers. The hunters shoot Shawn and Kane's the one who can reach into the magical haze and pull out the spelled slugs. \n The two men claim each other as mates leading to a \"war\" between packs. We get interference from Kane's home pack--and resolution of old grudges and alliances newly forged. \n What I liked: \n Kane and Shawn are both strong leads. They are interesting and compassionate. Supporting characters play important roles and have their own mini-arcs in the story. The story is interesting, if a bit verbose. \n What I didn't like: \n The instalove was too INSTA. We barely met Kane and he was obsessed with an unknown party. \n The complete lack of \"American\" diction in this \"American\" tale. Lookit, I'M AMERICAN. AND YET I LOVE BRITISH BOOKS. Do not write in British slang and slap in a couple of city names like Denver and San Antonio and expect this to be translatable. IT IS NOT. The characters sound like \"blokes\" I'd find in Liver-freaking-pool, not the American West. There is a cadence and syntax specific to idiom and colloquial speech. Men in America do not sound like the men in this book--not even the gay men. Sorry. \n The book needs a complete line edit. There are multiple mistakes per page with regard to spelling, word choice, grammar and punctuation. It is a travesty and demonstrates to me, an avid and voracious reader, that the author has little respect for my comfort or enjoyment. Because, frankly, it is painful to have to continually mentally exchange the proper word, or intimate the intended meaning from a poorly punctuated statement. It tells me the writer is a poor editor and needs to shell out some cash to someone competent in this enterprise. Also, if the book is to be set in America, I would suggest finding a US editor--one who could assist in removing any and all Briti-cisms from the text.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 04 05:09:55 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 04 05:39:57 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "21911337", "review_id": "0d9634df0554198082096220d68092ec", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ireland Crane has just taken a job in Tarrytown. She's a high school counselor escaping her former lover--a rich, egotistical, cheating jack wagon named Brantley. So, she's not really keen on a new romance with her delicious landlord/neighbor Noah Van Tassel. They opt for \"friendship\" which is good, because life is about to get very complicated for Ireland. \n Ichabod Crane is looking for a fresh start. Joined by his fellow Revolutionary War veterans, Rip Van Winkle and Washington Irving, Ichabod is set to become schoolmaster in Tarrytown. He's totally attracted to Katrina Van Tassel, but knows he could never woo such a wealthy beautiful girl. Plus, she's spoken for. \n These two stories intersect. When Ichabod and Ireland arrive in Tarrytown so does The Headless Horseman and his fearsome sword and axe. \n Weeks following Ireland's arrival a Van Tassel is killed, the name \"Crane\" carved into his chest. Instant suspect, anyone? And, when Ireland finds a squatter in her home, she's more than freaked. Yes, waking a real-live Rip Van Winkle after a 200+ year sleep would give any modern gal quite a turn. \n Ichabod experiences a different horror--the woman he admires greatly seems to be the target of the Horseman's hunt. Katrina loses her father, her stepmother and a servant, before we learn who is pulling the Horseman's reins--but it is Ichabod's heroism that ends the cycle of violence in his time. \n For Ireland, she's losing time. Periods of it, usually at night, seem to disappear in a haze of night terrors--until Rip finds the cause. Meanwhile, one of Ireland's students is killed, and D-bag Brantley is attacked, too. It soon becomes clear that someone is using Ireland's blood to call the Horseman forth and, before long, Noah's life is on the block. Rip's steadfast desire to save Ireland is only matched by his humor and his narcolepsy--the dude passes out cold whenever he gets spooked leading to some laugh-worthy moments. With Ichabod's history repeating in Ireland's present, can she gain control of the monster within, or will she replace Ichabod in a tragic horrific turn? \n The story is fast-paced and chock full of quick humor--at times I felt like I was reading a Mel Brooks screenplay--all the deadpan digs just cut me up. There are lots of breadcrumbs left behind to be woven into the sequel, RAVEN, but this story ends with a satisfactory resolution. RAVEN will be a new journey, for Ireland, Rip and a love interest. All romantic interludes are conducted behind closed doors, so it's YA-safe...", "date_added": "Sun Jun 01 18:11:09 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 23 10:42:19 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "20181630", "review_id": "ae9e9c35f1f4f3bb4ab940a7742af50c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the 5th book in the NIGHTLIFE series. It's an erotic, paranormal adventure, so buckle up! \n Aaron, Urvashi and Michelle are in London on the hunt for Mike Jamison--the PI who stole Michelle's blood to turn himself into a vampire. There's one dead woman on his account, and Urvashi and her werewolf friends don't want any further casualties. \n First, they have to make nice with the wereworlves--good luck! Michelle nearly killed one of them in a bloodrage back in WWII. And Katya hasn't forgotten--nor will she forgive. Ivan, her fellow wolf, is more relaxed about it. Old grudges isn't his business--hunting rogue vampires is. \n In order to track Jamison, Aaron has to get close to an Albanian gangster. And this dude is a sicko heavy in the sex trade. Aaron gets the info he needs, putting a woman in mortal danger in the process. Helping her brings not only the Albanians on his trail--but Jamison tips off the gangsters that the Columbian cartel may want a piece of Aaron and Michelle after the carnage they left in Vegas. \n Expect copious shootouts and back-from-the-brink sexfests. Expect a few menage scenes. Expect a complicated tale of desire, addiction and power in London's grittiest borough. The action was nearly non-stop, with a snapping pace and frenemy conversion. Fans of paranormal erotica will definitely enjoy...", "date_added": "Sun Jun 01 18:09:54 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 01 18:10:08 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "18310166", "review_id": "2a39f84ca025d65404540f7df80489b9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Aaron is a young, naive man working in NYC. He shares an apartment with his childhood friend, Kyle, and moons over the breakup of his relationship with cold-hearted Delia. One night on his way home from work Aaron encounters a beautiful woman being roughed-up by two undercover cops--they think she's a prostitute and want to shake her down for some cash. \n When Aaron steps in to defend her, he's shot point blank. The woman, Michelle, collects his body and--out of guilt--does something she promised herself she would never do--she turns him into a vampire, like herself. Now, Michelle must train and care for her subservient vamp, and teach Aaron the way to live in the Nightlife. \n Aaron is at first overwhelmed by Michelle, and his transition to vampire-life. He's never had more (or better) sex, and to be strong, virile and more attractive? Tended by a gorgeous master? Oh, and working as an escort where one of his bites thoroughly satisfies his wealthy clientele? Aaron's not sad to step into his new life. \n He leaves behind a newly-disgruntled Delia, an envious Kyle and two police officers who want revenge for the butt-kicking Michelle unleashed before they shot Aaron. They are hot on Aaron's tail, and easily led to Michelle due to his remaining connections to humans. Rescuing Michelle awakens a new bloodlust within Aaron that terrifies Michelle, but the couple settle all scores and find completeness and love with their nearly invincible unit. \n This is a well-written, fast-paced adventure in adult vampire fiction. Would have liked a bit more proof reading--some typos, homophone issues irked me because I'm a stickler for grammar.... There were some smexytimes, but nothing TOO steamy. I had wished for a bit more detail, in truth. Still, it's a fun contemporary adult paranormal that readers will breeze through.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 01 17:49:22 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 01 17:50:03 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "18805795", "review_id": "f0e5bd77aefa4c92aaf6b3ba5ddb00bc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the third book int he erotic, vampire Nightlife series. \n Having lost his wife in Vegas, Aaron is heartbroken. Michelle attempts to assuage his pain by visiting her home/homeland, but there's a fundamental problem with that: Paris is where Michelle was made a vampire. She's got a lot of badass memories from her time as a sexual slave to her sadistic master, and later as a Nazi hunter in WWII. \n So, not all the best things to cheer up a guy. \n Half of the book is Michelle recounting her history--a tale filled with pain and sorrow. Aaron becomes angry that Michelle won't let him take another bloodslave. He wants someone to be close with, besides Michelle. He loves her, but he wants more. Hearing her tale of woe, Aaron becomes convinced that creating a \"harem\" of bloodslaves would make sense--he could tend to all of them, and modern medicine could keep them alive for months or years. This way he could have relationships and kinship with others. \n They argue and Michelle leaves--only to be captured by Mike Jamison. This dude has followed them across the world int he hope of becoming a vampire. He (quite literally) steals Michelle's blood while she sleeps and injests it. Roiling with blood fever, he's at Michelle's mercy when she awakes to learn of his treachery. \n Their encounter leaves Michelle and Jamison nearly dead. Aaron is enraged he couldn't save his master/lover. He's agonized when her psychic link disappears--and almost goes feral with grief. He is \"rescued\" by Urvashi, a fallen angel--who now controls him. \n So, one master to another, but he still longs for Michelle. He cries out for her while asleep, and when joining with Urvashi, much to the angel's chagrin. Then, when he goes to clear out the room he shared with Michelle he learns a life changing secret--and now he has to convince Urvashi to take on another vampire. \n Again, there is no shortage of sex in this book. The pace is brisk, with interesting turns. I felt a little vexed with the long tale of Michelle's years in Paris around WWII, but it was still interesting. And, sets the scene for lots of tension in the next book. M/F encounters only.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 01 17:08:21 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 01 17:23:11 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri May 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "18483636", "review_id": "0d08df001191e04326f0bcf064971492", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the second book in the erotic, vampire Nightlife series. \n Michelle and Aaron are vampires in Las Vegas. They had previously been in NYC, but a botched kidnapping/ransom attempt two dirty cops made on Michelle left both cops dead and our two vamps on the road for quieter nightlife. \n Aaron's been winning a ton of money playing poker--his telepathy has earned him High Roller status, and a serious enemy--gangster Demarco. This dude doesn't like to lose, and he REALLY wants to get a piece of Michelle--steal her away from Aaron by any means necessary. He enlists security chief Kramer in his quest to kidnap and enslave Michelle. \n Aaron and Michelle are oblivious to the gangster's plan. They work the nightlife, taking small bites of multiple victims a night so that they don't get anyone addicted to their venom. Until Aaron meets Anastasia. \n This lost soul just wants to be loved. And, Aaron wants to love her. He is still only a month out from his transition and can't get past his need for companionship. He takes Ana as a bloodslave, against Michelle's wishes and orders. \n Surprisingly, Aaron, Michelle and Ana make a secure threesome. In fact, Ana's quite the helper lining up victims for Aaron and Michelle's nightly feeds. Then, Kramer and Demarco attack. \n Their attempt to kill Aaron isn't as successful as they'd like. Nor is their effort to enslave Michelle by addicting her to heroin. Yeah. Way more trouble than they expected. \n Let's just say that when Aaron and Michelle leave Las Vegas, it's with broken hearts, and a bloody trail of dead gangsters. Oh, and a shadow. Yep. It seems Kramer had hired a PI to find out what happened to Demarco. Mike Jamison is hot on their trail with his own agenda. \n It's a steamy sexy adventure. Not a lot goes well in Sin City--even the sex is sometimes more a punishment than a pleasure. Expect plenty of full-frontal and menage. F/M/F and F/F/M.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 01 16:51:28 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 01 17:07:44 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "18478946", "review_id": "b21746e8bbd839394a7da32d8a4b1570", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ridley, Leah, Link and the Gatlin Gang of partial mortals have finished high school and prepare to leave their small-town world behind. Ridley and Link head north to NYC so Link can find himself a band and get busy getting famous. Ridley, well, she's in a bit of hot water with a wager-gone-wrong. She has to provide a drummer for a Caster band in New York, or face the wrath of nightclub owner and Dark Caster Lennox Gates. \n They arrive in NYC and meet up with the remnants of Devil's Hangmen, Sampson, Necro and Floyd. And, to Ridley's great chagrin, Link fits into the band too well. Floyd, who happens to be an adorable Illusionist, is not shy about sharing her attraction to Link...expect the usual salty exchanges and claw sharpening. \n Bringing Link, a partial Incubus, to Lennox's Dark Caster club gets Ridley all tweaked out. She knows the danger he faces among full-blodded supernaturals and fears for his safety. It also doesn't help that Lennox is happy to insinuate himself between herself and her Shrinky Dink. (Yeah, these kids have a lotta 'pet names' for each other. I ain't going into Link's food-based song lyrics, but they help ground the story firmly in the YA category...) \n Seems Lennox has a problem, a powerful adversary that is demanding to be avenged, and Lennox must collect the two people who ticked off his tormenter: Ridley and Link. He will, of course, except that he knows Ridley's fate. Part of his gift is Sight, and he has seen how Sirens are treated in Caster society. His mother was one, after all. Meanwhile, Lennox is drawn to Ridley--and hopes he can save her from his tormentor's captivity if only she'd drop Link. After all, that dude is a Dead Man Walking in the Caster realm. \n The story is fast-paced with the usual juvenile misunderstandings and new adult wanderings for a life long-dreamed-for, but little-planned. I must say, I enjoyed Ridley. She is completely self-aware of her shallowness, insofar as she finds herself totally unlovable and isolates herself to protect her heart. She loves Link, but she can't bring herself to acknowledge this and risk further vulnerability. Link, on the other hand, is ecstatic over his new band--and their success--he's sure Ridley is just being mean when she tells him his adoring audience was being Charmed. Still, he loves her. He just can't deal with her fears--she's sure they are in great danger--and her manipulations--she totally lied about how he got hooked up with the band. Lennox is wealthy and sophisticated and everything Link is not, but will he win Ridley away in time to save her? Also, Link's execution is all but planned--and from the last Caster either Ridley or Link could have suspected. In fact, Lennox risks his own life in order to tip them off. \n While the book has a resolution, the story is clearly unfinished. Without question Lennox will be made to pay for his (well-meant) treachery and Link and Ridley can't seem to get far enough out of the line of fire to prevent attack. I enjoyed the ride, and am sure that fans of earlier books will laud the \"Link and Ridley\" story for which they clamored. Considering all the romantic tension and simmering desire, the book is wholly innocent with only a few kisses to propel the love stories...so it's safe for all YA readers. \n I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed May 28 18:41:29 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 28 18:44:05 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "19469776", "review_id": "bd96999735622fcd51c542799986b905", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 stars.... \n Wow! This escape tale is quite the fast-paced adventure, with a heaping helping of romance on the side. Natti is nearly killed by the Sons of Set, whose leader is none other than Seth's father Sean. Seth brings Natti back from the brink-with no small help from healing powers he's always had and never understood. \n Natti struggles with the nightmares of her captivity-but also with the overwhelming influence of Seth's Charm-see, as a Son of Set he has a gift to Charm any and all in his eyesight or grasp. He can make them do whatever her wants, even rewrite all their memories or lead them to their deaths. \n Only, with Natti, his power isn't complete-he can compel her, to a point. And he'd like to compel her into bed, once she's healed. Still, the more time he spends on the run with Natti, the more he knows he can't corrupt her with his dark soul. Doesn't mean they don't struggle with keeping celibate, however. \n He decides that getting her into the protection of the Daughters of Isis society is the best course of action, but Natti's resistant. She wants to find the secret name of Ra and use it to keep the Sons fo Set from raising Set... \n Seth's plans would be perfect, if only Sean wasn't dogging their trail with the full force of law and disorder on his side. No, Seth and Natti are under constant pursuit, narrowly escaping capture time and again. Good thing Seth's got that super healing power! \n So, the book is fast-paced, the sexual tension is constant, and the girl saves her own day-for the most part. What's not to like? If you ever had an Ancient Egypt fetish, or you liked The Mummy movies, this book will intrigue. Seth is a whole lot more likable in this book, than DAUGHTER OF ISIS. The book ends with a resolution, but not completion. So much more is at stake in the next episode-clearly we have mortals doing battle for the gods of Egypt and it's gonna be one heck of a showdown.", "date_added": "Wed May 28 06:34:21 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu May 29 07:42:59 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "22041835", "review_id": "a6934df0c4de5262ebaa81a08d3a0821", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm not a huge sci-fi reader, but I love a well-told story. In this short-story collection I found a huge spread from heavy sci-fi to quirky romance. \n Bunker's THE SANTA ANNA GOLD just sucked me in. The funniest thing is, I usually hate tales when I can't trust the narrator, and yet, I was completely entranced. \n Quinn's CORRECTIONS, featuring a time-traveling therapist for death row convicts, had great twists. I almost felt like I was watching an episode of Quantum Leap. \n Peralta's HEREAFTER honestly brought tears to my eyes. Such a tender, heartbreakingly romantic story of a love that transcends time. \n Tozzi's REENTRY WINDOW was a chilling sci-fi adventure of Mars exploration. Ugh! I just wanted to scream, wishing I could change astronaut Brett Lockwood's fate. \n I could go on, but I'm going to go back to reading instead. Catch you on the flip-side....", "date_added": "Fri May 23 04:51:09 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri May 23 04:51:50 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "18872831", "review_id": "74f5edc1be072ecf8a605337ef803792", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This three book set features three separate menage vampire romances. Yes, menage and vampire. It's a two-fer of guilty pleasures. Each features a completely different set of heroines and lovers. It is all M/F/M with a heavy emphasis on the female being the center of all action and desire. \n If you've never read menage, this might be a fun way to test the waters. The romances are slower to develop than traditional menage and the multiple scenes happen at the end of each, following a clearly solid primary romance. Also, they aren't sloppy and the language is less potty-mouth than many I've read.", "date_added": "Fri May 23 03:04:19 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri May 23 03:05:10 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "18702686", "review_id": "3c6dce8ea92affc99511a956e01a2d67", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What a fun read! \n Sara is a \"disabled\" girl--she always keeps her legs bundled up so no one can see her deformity--a mermaid's tail. She has persevered in life despite her over-protective (and possibly deranged) mother, but she has no idea what is in store. See, under the sea there is a battle a-comin'. \n Xanthus is a Dagonian--a virtually immortal race born from the union between the gods Dagon and Calypso--so just because he has a tail don't be calling HIM a merman. The Mer, children of Triton, are extinct--or are they? Triton grants Xanthus the power to walk on land in order to hunt down the human polluters who recently contaminated the seas killing thousands of Dagonians. He has one year to find the guilty parties and send them to Triton--and he's efficient. Catches the corporate masterminds who approved the polluting within a month. \n What he didn't expect to find? A half-ling--a person born of a human and Dagonian. Mixing of the races is unlawful and Xanthus is duty bound to kill this offspring--and the Dagonian and Human who spawned such a monstrosity. Of course, meeting Sara Xanthus' zeal is tamed. The delicate creature is not what he had expected to find. \n No, he's charmed by Sara, experiencing his first bloom of attraction for a female, ever, even if he isn't quite sure what sort of creature she is--her blue eyes mark her as not-Dagonian. Could it be that she's Mer? If he kills Triton's daughter he's in big trouble, but his authoritarian Dagonians will kill Sara on sight. Dagonians have long hated the Mer. Now Xanthus needs to protect Sara from his own family--and himself--goodness me, the gal's in \"mating season\" and her pheromones are testing every last piece of Xanthus' resistence. \n The story's clean--suitable for YA readers. It's a fun, fishy tale with plenty of precautionary info--like make sure you pay attention to what sort of drink your date brings you 'cause it may be drugged--and there's a good bit of sexual tension that is dealt with frankly. \n I had some lingering questions--like where does Xanthus get his money from? And, why is his brother so bent on ruling with an iron trident? \n I loved how Sara kept herself strong in the face of mythic challenges. Also, there's some cool feminist themes--Sara isn't willing to simply submit to Xanthus, unlike Dagonian women, which is a cool swap. Xanthus has to learn to be less draconian and more open to \"asking\" Sara to do what he'd like. A bit of instalove between the characters, fueled by Xanthus' visceral reaction to Sara's pheromones...which was a neat way to foster sexual tension.", "date_added": "Wed May 21 05:56:11 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 21 00:28:47 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 13, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "21462947", "review_id": "8f2695ec1ff723de2b5770abc787d0f7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I received a copy of this book via Goodreads' Don't Buy My Love program in exchange for an honest review. \n This historical M/M pirate fantasy was a captivating read. \n Jon is an empathic young man. frail, and essentially alone--his stepfather acts as a guardian even though Jon is 22 because of Jon's infirmity. Jon is essentially shanghai-ed into piracy while on an errand to find the killer of a prostitute. \n Ship's captain, Baltsaros, had heard of Jon's skill in divining truth as an Interrogator, and felt his skills would be useful in his shady dealings. Of course, Baltsaros isn't only interested in Jon's mind. No, Jon's lithe frame is very attractive, too. Trouble is, Jon's ill--and Baltsaros will aid his recovery, if only Jon joins the crew. Baltsaros' consort, Tom, is a problem. This former slave has been Baltsoros' bunkmate for years--and he's not interested in being replaced by a whelp with no sea legs. \n Therein creates the dilemma--Baltsaros wants Jon, Tom wants Baltsaros, and Jon's a virgin--had pretty much been asexual before his kidnapping. Still, he's developing an interest--and Tom's anxious to turn the tide in his own favor. \n There is a lot of back and forth, with another kidnapping, a man lost at sea, and heartbreak tempered by true affection--time and again. See, Baltsaros is a bit of liar. And, while he may love Jon (perhaps) he's got a whole lot hidden that Jon can't divine. Jon and Tom develop an almost psychic link, and it is clear that there is so much more going on with these three men then lust and lies. \n I thoroughly enjoyed the times at sea--felt they were well-written. The sex scenes were HOO BOY hot, and involved a bit of bondage and (at times) multiple partners. I liked the alternating point-of-view--but I'm a teeny bit confused at the lion theme--Jon sees this lion over and over in his dreams--and I suspect this will be fleshed out in the second book as a possible magical element. \n The HEA is fun and sexy and a great resolution to an unconventional romance.", "date_added": "Tue May 20 10:39:23 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue May 20 10:45:30 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun May 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "13563138", "review_id": "27adbcd3e008ce99b8b217cb070dc2e6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "In this second Slayer book, Joss McMillan is summoned to New York to help hunt down a rogue vampire blatantly consuming humans. While there, his secret is revealed: he had taken a private job--something taboo in the Slayer Society. \n See, this book inserts with the Vladimir Tod Chronicles. Joss had just spent the school year in Bathory living with his cousin Henry, and becoming best friends with Vlad--that is until he learns Vlad is a vampire. Joss stabbed him with his stake, but had not actually killed him. For this indiscretion, Joss is under probation. The Slayer Society has stayed his execution until his loyalty can be proved. The only way to prove his devotion to the SS is to eliminate the rogue vampire terrorizing New York. \n So, at age 15, Joss is the head of his own Slayer clan--even having some power over his uncle, Abraham. With the help of his team, Joss and Co. track the many vampires in the city. Joss is responsible for isolating Em, the teenaged-appearing eldest of the New York coven. While in pursuit, Joss unwittingly enters the V Cafe--a vampire hangout. The barista divulges too much info to him--and then gives him more when he recognizes that Joss will likely hurt his friend less than Em and the Vampire Council will. \n With a name and a location, Joss sets off to confront Boris--alone--as this is how his uncle seems to insist he act. It soon becomes clear that Boris is not acting alone--that, in fact, it was a brotherhood of four rogue vamps. \n Joss accepts yet another favor from Dorian, the strange person who had given him his great-grandfather's stake. In the course of this book Joss learns that Dorian is a powerful vampire--and someone he is destined to kill. What he hadn't expected to learn was that some vamps--like Vlad, and Sirus and maybe even Dorian--are not the heartless creatures he believed them to be. His regret for killing Sirus is only compounded by the menacing texts he continues to receive from Kat, Sirus' daughter. \n In the end, Joss' life is no longer forfeit--but he's got both Em and Kat on his trail. And, if he's honest, Joss is wondering if there is any way he can patch up his relationships with both Henry and Vlad. \n This book is a direct and complimentary read to the CoVT. It fills in the gaps nicely and sets the stage for Joss and Vlad to reunite, as well as fostering their coordination in later Tod books. For kids who enjoy Vlad's books, I think they will find the Slayer books just as enjoyable. Joss is a killer, sure, but he is entirely sympathetic. His need for vengeance springs from witnessing his sister's death by vampire-bite, and he is continually tormented by nightmares in which Cecile returns as a vampire. He is otherwise a societal outcast--and only receives any validation when he is within the Slayer society--and even that is hard won.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 26 08:05:26 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 26 08:31:37 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "10637510", "review_id": "1d49e9517cf121ef5841e3ce56faa736", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the first in a series of Slayer Chonicles, a spin-off from the Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series. \n Joss McMillan witnessed a vampire killing his beloved sister, Cecile. Cecile is the one person Joss had a strong connection with in his life, and now that she's gone he's adrift. His parents neglect him and at school he has no friends. He feels like the Invisible Boy. \n At Cecile's funeral Uncle Abraham approaches Joss to learn the cause of Cecile's death. They conclude it was a vampire. Joss is destined to become the next Slayer in the McMillan family; he possesses all the traits of a Slayer: heightened speed, reflexes and strength. At 10 Joss is too young to become a Slayer, but Abraham encourages him to hone his physical skills so that he will be ready to avenge Cecile when the time comes. \n Three years later Joss is summoned to the Slayer training camp in the Catskills. There Abraham trains Joss--in a most brutal fashion. Sirus, another Slayer seems to take Joss under his protection. And, Joss makes a true friendship with Sirus's daughter Kat. \n Over the course of weeks Joss is brutalized physically and mentally by the training regimen. He convinces himself that he must do this, become a Slayer, in order to set Cecile's spirit to rest--he's been plagued by nightmares of her death since the night she died. So, despite the exhaustion, Joss perseveres. In the meantime, two fellow Slayers are killed by vampires and the finger is pointed at Joss. This part didn't make a whole lot of sense to me, as Joss was clearly incapable to murdering those slayers in the fashion described, yet it marks a turning point for Joss--he stands up for himself in the face of these accusations, something he had not done before. \n There is clearly a traitor in the midst of the Slayer camp, and it is Joss who discovers that party. He also happens upon a hidden vampire nest--and is able to escape as a hero. Of course, his heroism isn't intentional, and it ends up costing him his one friend. \n Joss ends up completing his training, but fans of Vladimir Tod will see the machinations behind Joss's success. There is an alliance between some Slayers and some vampires to wipe out the Pravus, or prophesied vampire, who will be all powerful. \n I really enjoyed seeing Joss inside-out. That kid is just so driven, so determined, and so sympathetic. His craving for even the smallest scrap of validation or affection is rather heartbreaking.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 25 06:24:40 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 25 06:42:54 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "14059393", "review_id": "27b5b3cae99eaa06c5e296f5edacfe57", "rating": 5, "review_text": "OMG. I wanted to cry reading this novella! It's such a heart-breaking tale. \n This novella is a prequel to OPEN MINDS, the first book in the Mindjack trilogy. I have read all three books in the trilogy, but wondered about how things got started between Kira and Raf, so when I found this novella, I pounced. \n In this dystopian world, everyone can read minds--well almost everyone. Kira has yet to go through the \"change\" a switch that happens in puberty to open her mind to every other Reader around her. Without an open mind she is considered a threat, and not a person any other Reader should associate with--she could be a liar, after all. As such, Kira is considered a Zero, and ripe for the taunts and suspicion of her peers. \n Unfortunately, her childhood friend, Raf, is a popular kid--a remarkable soccer player and Gamer. He's also terrifyingly smitten with Kira. His thoughts about her transmit to heir peers, all who believe him a praver--a sicko who preys on zeros as they can't defend against a Reader--today's equivalent would be a pedophile... \n Raf only wants to protect Kira from the nastiness of their fellow students, but it's his attention that actually causes Kira more harm than good. Having this story told in his voice gives the reader a front-row (or should I say open minded) view of Raf's anguish for the girl he totally loves. When a malicious girl, Jessica, uses Kira as a pawn, well, it's just wrecking--to Raf, and me... \n I loved it! \n I received a copy of this book via NetGalley for review.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 24 07:27:39 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 24 07:45:12 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "18982027", "review_id": "485167c7358bd1f5a66ce66a49cc7df3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This contemporary YA romance is tension-packed. Monroe is a troubled high school senior. Her mother died just over a year ago and she's having issues with impulsive behavior. She's got two strikes--one for shoplifting and one for vandalism--any more run-in's and she'll break probation and go to jail. Oh, and she can kiss her scholarship to NYU Buh-Bye. \n Though she knows better, Monroe can't resist touching the newest piece of memorabilia her father has collected for his Gangster Gallery--spent slugs that were used to gun down notorious killers and lovers Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker. Who could have guessed doing so would rouse these two spirits from the Great Beyond. Unable to return the slugs immediately, Monroe takes them along to a party intending to return them the next morning when her dad isn't watching. \n Meeting Jack Hale at the party sets the plot into motion. Monroe doesn't feel a connection to the cute boy, but he's so attentive she can't help chat with him about the slugs. Touching them allows Clyde's spirit access to Jack, while Bonnie's spirit inhabits Monroe. \n Neither Jack nor Monroe really understands what has happened, at first. Monroe starts hearing a voice in her head, and any time she touches the slugs or other personal effects of Bonnie Parker she goes into a trance--seeing Bonnie's memories as if they were her own. Yeah, Monroe's losing it. \n 'Course Jack isn't having a great time either--any time he gets scared Clyde's dominant and charismatic personality erupts. And Clyde's not a reformed man. He knows one surefire way to make some quick cash--and it involves the words: Smash and Grab. Pretty soon Jack's wanted by the police... \n Aided by the Half-Dead Society, Monroe and Jack learn that their only hope to ridding their bodies of Bonnie and Clyde's spirits is to complete their final wish and lay them to rest--together this time--on the anniversary of their deaths. \n Big problem? That anniversary is twenty hours away. \n Bigger problem? Their eternal resting place is in Gibsland, Louisiana, and Monroe and Jack are in Chicago--a 16 hour drive. \n Biggest problem? The cops are on their heels and they just impounded Jack's car. \n Monroe is all for rushing off on the trip south, but Jack's sure Monroe's plan is cracked. He wants to turn himself in--perhaps get off easy for it being \"his\" first offense. This is something neither Monroe nor Clyde will accept--Monroe can't become a three-time offender and Clyde had, and will, kill to stay away from 'the laws'. \n The story unfolds in alternating point-of-view--with Monroe and Clyde telling their parts. Clyde's a bit swept away by the feisty Monroe, and as they drive toward the deadline he attempts to determine which woman he'd want to spend his 'new' life with: Bonnie, or Monroe. Still, it's only a hunch that the spirits can be laid to rest, and Clyde's itching to take Jack's body over--for good. Nonetheless, Monroe and Clyde can't avoid chatting on the trip, and Monroe finally feels a connection to someone--shame it's a long-dead killer. \n Throughout the journey, Jack and Clyde alternate possession of Jack's body--and Bonnie's jealousy and hurt over Clyde's infatuation with Monroe leads her to cause Monroe some grave discomfort. \n I adored the realistic setting, even in the face of the potent magical elements. More than just laying Bonnie to rest, Monroe wants to stop running from all her troubles. She recognizes her troubles result from her own impulsive behavior and wants to do the right thing. Part of that is rescuing Jack, even if it means sacrificing Clyde. Like any getaway road trip, there are almost more obstacles than they can overcome. The pace is fast and the stakes are high: only two spirits might remain past the deadline, and Clyde's desperate to be one of them. \n When the resolution comes the ending is satisfying, while leaving the door open for another tale. \n I received a copy of this book via NetGalley for review.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 23 08:18:22 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 24 20:18:14 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "18664776", "review_id": "25b8c72d7be2852e41b8a90cc5f04ce4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I received a review copy of this book via Goodreads' Don't Buy My Love program in exchange for an honest review. \n STUNG is set in an alternate Victorian era--one where there has been a plague that turned humans to zombies. In this world, debtors have been rounded up and sent to work camps in order to pay off their debts. \n Victor isn't a debtor, he's a singer. One who made a pass at his patron and has been sent to the Honeyhill work camp as a punishment. Victor is immediately intrigued by the frank looks he receives from the camp's chief security officer, Mr. Crunch. Crunch isn't the actual name for this behemoth, but it is the sound made when Crunch cuts down zombies with his machete. \n Crunch could avail himself of any of the prisoners on the work camp, but he's not interested in rape. Something about the pretty Victor really turns his head however. He believes if he makes a special effort to keep Victor safe the man may reciprocate with some affection. \n In fact, both men are harboring secrets other than their sexuality. Upon his arrival, Victor falls in with a group of captives planning an escape attempt. Meanwhile, Crunch is an operative, a soldier in the Humanist army who want to take down the work camp. \n After a few secret trysts, suspicions are raised. Sharpe, a former inmate turned guard, begins spying on Crunch to see if there are any activities he can unearth to topple Crunch's authority. He even brutalizes Victor in order to get cooperation, to no avail. \n A botched escape attempt infuriates Crunch, who not only must rescue Victor from the zombies outside the camp, he must now punish the man for whom he has affection. Who could have guessed that their alliance would be he necessary ingredient to take down the work camp for the Humanists? \n I really enjoyed the world-building here. And the Zombie garden with the zombified bees was truly creepy. The interactions between Crunch and Victor were brief, but powerful. I kinda felt like they took too many risks, however. That seemed a bit unrealistic, considering the homophobia of the period. \n It was a solid, interesting read, however. The language was beautiful and evocative. I could almost smell the sweet-rot of the apiary.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 23 07:54:08 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 23 08:13:59 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "20959528", "review_id": "9fd25574edae180efc88f0b403767f49", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is my fave installment in the series. Sasha and Stefan are--without question--attached. Stefan has sent for a Council elder to verify Sasha's superior magical rank, and to have a Mage come to train her. For some reason, Sasha's magic doesn't seem to work the way Stefan's people are accustomed. \n Every time she tries to cast a spell, it ends in a fiery disaster. Hopefully Toa, the White Mage, can help her sort out the trouble because Sasha is being sent as Stefan's emissary to the nearby shifter population to help secure an alliance against their mortal enemy, Trek, and his minions. If Sasha is successful she will elevated to the rank of full Mage and will be considered a worthy match for a clan leader--namely Stefan--so she is determined to work hard toward this goal. \n Sasha is accompanied by her stalwart--and horny--protector Charles, and Jonas--a good friend of Stefan but someone who had sworn to get revenge against Sasha in the first book. Neither Sasha, nor Charles are certain where Jonas' loyalty lies, however, and they both have serious reason to believe he will not protect Sashs should Trek turn up in the shifter camp. \n And, of course, Sasha's confidence is shattered when her rival for Stefan's affection, Darla, arrives as \"back up\". Sasha is sure this is a \"No Confidence\" vote on Stefan's part and begins to doubt that she will complete her mission--to gain the shifter alliance--which will mean that she and Stefan cannot be linked. \n As it happens, Trek hits the shifter camp hot and hard. A supposed protector is truly a traitor and Sasha must choose between leaving the shifter camp in full battle to protect herself, or turning back to help her new friends. As this is an adventure/erotic romance you can guess the choice she makes. \n It's a satisfying end, with an epic battle that proves Sasha's true worth as both a human and a Mage. The resolution hints at further installments, but the series is fairly well-wrapped. Had a great time with Charles--Sasha always seems to get the better of him, Watch Captain or no. I think the best part of the book was the uncertainty surrounding Jonas and Darla. Both had good reason to want Sasha in harms way, but one did the right thing and proved his/herself the supreme protector. \n It's a fun spicy adventure, but there was far less spice and far more adventure which seemed to be the right mix for me this go-round. Again, not recommending this for young readers. Whole lotta lovin' goin' down...", "date_added": "Mon Apr 21 17:24:22 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 21 17:25:43 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Apr 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "20996178", "review_id": "cdfb45318e0bde88ebc5db6ab5167345", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I didn't know I'd like this book so much! I mean, it starts out with an adulterous husband, David, learning that his teenage kids have been found. Kids he hadn't known--not since their mother had disappeared. And, I mean that literally. She was a witch. Now dead, their children Evangeline and Xavier were recovered, not completely intact. Part of their wizard stepfather's rituals had included rape...of both of them. \n Bringing his lover's kids home is sure to destroy his marriage--and it does. Amanda is furious, but takes the children in knowing they have no other prospects. David's other children--Jude, Patrick, and Emmy--want nothing to do with David or their strange half-siblings. Evangeline believes herself a witch, for crying out loud! And Xavier says virtually nothing to anyone. \n This family has more than just infidelity issues, however. Because, it turns out Evangeline is right--she is a witch. In fact, the whole family is magical--and not in a good way. Amanda had long ago, without David's knowledge, stripped the painful memories of his childhood--including his knowledge of magic. \n Amanda knew they were dark witches, and wanted to keep her family safe from the destructive magic they controlled by ensuring no one ever practiced. Not so easy when you bring home two magical children. Now all David's children are practicing, on the down-low against Amanda's wishes. \n But it seems here's a lot more going on in this family. The darkness is taking over Jude, and pitting brother against brother--particularly when Jude attacks Patrick's girlfriend. To save his family, David must embrace the magic within and surrounding him. And, when he learns Evangeline and Xavier's stepfather may not have been killed, well, it kicks off the biggest crisis of the book. \n I must say, I was captivated by the story. The magic within is very subtle, and bears plenty of repercussions--being Winter People, David's family can't help but channel the destructive type of magic. Even simple spells with good intentions turn out to be horrible. You want to help someone? They get helped, but at another's expense. \n It's diabolical, really. I wanted to hate David. He's a weak man who carried on an affair for years--and yet, it's impossible to hate him. His personal and professional lives are crumbling. Many men might walk away--and he refuses. He does his best to be the stand-up guy and strikes a bargain with Amanda to co-habitate and raise the kids together--even when all the magic becomes real and he's completely rudderless. \n Amanda is not a great person, because she's so damned real. She's a harried, frustrated, angry woman in a situation she never expected to be: supporting a man and his five children, though she only gave birth to three of them. Oh, and practicing magic again to contain her magic-infused charges--something she swore she would never do. Her whole world bottomed out the day those kids showed up at her doorstep, but she fought hard to keep her self, and her family, together. I had to love her passion for those kids and really respected how she handled David's betrayal. \n The book just kept moving, the plot getting darker and murkier--much like the magic. Don't expect to see a lot of binding spells or fire incantations. This is a subtle magic, which I think made it more approachable. It's a standalone book, and the first in a series. Several directions for other books to pick up this families trials, however. \n Clearly Jude's burgeoning darkness will be a huge part of future stories. And the day-to-day trials of choosing to use, or not use, magic will play out. The family clearly is divided on that issue. I look forward to other books in the series.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 18 06:07:12 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 18 06:07:21 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "19162557", "review_id": "122467584cc8a826d49d7c94170aacb9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This second book in the Darkness series follows Sasha's training in magic while she stays with Stephan's vampire-like tribe. Stephan is the leader of his clan, a responsibility he takes dear to heart. It is the reason he does not pursue a match with Sasha, though the two are very much attracted. No, Stephan has been matched to a beautiful, skilled vamp named Darla. \n Charles, the young Watch Commander is in personal charge of keeping Sasha safe from herself, and others. Not an easy job as Sasha's lack of magical skill--yet tremendous magical power--often creates harrowing situations. Like turning her sword into a flame-thrower, or conjuring lethal plant beasts. \n Sasha aches for freedom, even from the visceral link that joins she and Stephan. She leads Charles on some merry chases, and takes him on some high speed drives, trying to soothe the depression she feels for continually failing in her studies. Also, being human she is seen as inferior so she's constantly fighting the sneers of her fellow students. And, faculty--because Darla is one of her teachers. Yes, Darla delights in humiliating Sasha. \n Of course, soon Stephan can't contain his desire for Sasha. His savage lust ends up marking her--a custom seldom practiced in this polyamorous society. No doubt Darla is pissed. \n Meanwhile, the White Mage Trek wants to capture Sasha and drain the magic from her blood to create monsters to fight Stephan's clan. A spy in Stephan's clan succeeds in spiriting Sasha away, yet, Sasha's uncontrolled magic is the key to unraveling Trek's power. \n The story is interesting. There's a lot of intrigue and political machination, particularly as Stephan wrangles between his duty as leader and his desire as a man. It was good to see the pairing of Sasha and Stephen--they make a powerful couple. Plus, his magic acts as a buffer and stabilizer, allowing Sasha to achieve the highest level of magic in their society: black. There's a lot of good banter between Sasha and Charles to lighten the plot. Also, there's some good smexytimes. I struggled a bit with word choice--some stuff just seemed to come out mangled, kinda like Sasha's botched charms. The whole \"color of the magic = power\" thing seemed to take up a bit too much space. I really admired Sasha's willingness to train and persevere in the face of direct opposition. She has a real strong spirit, and her self-deprecation is endearing. The sexy-sexy is at times awkward, and we get over-explaining that can drag the pace a bit, but it's a fun read, nonetheless.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 17 11:45:58 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 17 12:10:34 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "17703290", "review_id": "54fb92904396dead1b750aea3206b2a9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I got THE KING last weekend--which partially explains my recent insomnia. \n This is the twelfth book in the series, and it's main story centers around Wrath, naturally. He is, after all, the king. \n At this point in the series there are many plot lines that are in various degrees of conflict/convergence. The book centers on the ousting of Wrath as King by the glymera, the aristocracy of vampirekind. See they have another person in mind--Ichan, a distant cousin of Wrath's and through him the warrior Xcor plans to rule. The legal mumbo-jumbo of long forgotten vamp lore states that kings must be of pure blood--and any progeny of Wrath and his Queen, Beth, would be 1/4 human. \n Wrath is more than willing to not be King. He's tired of the constant pressure. And now he's terrified that Beth is planning to bring on her own needing, or time of fertility. Wrath abhors the idea of risking Beth's life in pregnancy. It sparks such a rift that Beth actually walks out. \n Now, Wrath has to figure out how to deal, and he's gotta get it handled quickly because there's a lotta hormones in the air. That's right. Beth needs, and Wrath caves. It's all good, though. And Wrath tears out his hair in worry--about his wife and unborn, as well as the throne. At least, he doesn't have to worry about the kingship for long, he's deposed by the usurper. For roughly a day. Won't tell you how he got his crown back but it was NEARLY bloodless. Funny how someone taking away what one didn't want makes a person want it all the more. \n 80's hair-band Cinderella had a song about it.... \n Fear not! The HEA is freaking stupendous. So much love for Wrath, even if he was kinda King Prick for a few chapters. \n Side plots: Assail is punch-drunk in love with the cat burglar Marisol. So much so that he destroys a good bit of his drug pipeline to recover her from the deadly possession of Benloise. Their connection is fierce, and needy. It is rough watching their unfinished business. Will be seeing more of them, for sure--not only because Assail's using Lessers to sell his drugs on the street. \n Via flashback, we get a lot of Wrath's father's story in this one. I really enjoyed learning more about that short-lived reign--and gaining a possible reason for Wrath's blindness--an in utero injury. Fascinating how the intrigues of that court played out in Wrath's own timeline. \n Let's not forget the Chosen Layla and Xcor have a serious attraction. Will she commit treason to be with him? Or, are her overtures the key to peace between the Black Dagger Brotherhood and the rival Band of Bastards? Let's say this: I'm looking forward to Xcor getting his. Next book, maybe. \n And finally, Trez still hasn't submitted to the s'Hibhe to take his place as stud to the Queen's daughter. He's over the nameless sex--focused, unfortunately, on the Chosen Selena. Selena returns his interest, but at what price? His impurity will not keep him from being extracted, and iAm can only keep the executioner at bay so long. In typical Trez fashion, he sweet-talks and sexes his way out of the most dire parts of his predicament. For now. \n Still a lot of plot to build the next episode on. And, we had virtually NO Lesser involvement in this book. Would not expect that trend to bear out much longer. \n It's a satisfying read for BDB fans. Some excellent romance mixed in with the political intrigue and harrowing captures. Plot moves on the trademark Ward pace: fast. If only her next books came out as quickly... :)", "date_added": "Thu Apr 17 07:18:10 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 17 07:19:44 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "19546535", "review_id": "6c1b683ed66992d7b1655de969279da1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I received a review copy of this book via Goodreads' Don't buy My Love program. \n This short novelette is set in the 1700's on Isla Sagrario, a small Caribbean island where homosexual men live openly. \n Francis is man of unknown age, though I guessed it to be mid-late 20's. He was sold as an indentured servant, as an escape from his family's poverty, but his master was a brutal man and a sexual sadist who enjoyed brutalizing Francis. Francis did escape to Sagrario where he is not in danger, but he is scarred and socially awkward and terminally lonely. With his scars he is not an attractive mate, so he accepts what sparse sexual favors he can get with no hope of commitment, though he aches for a constant lover. \n Francis works hard on the island and has some friends, but no real companions. While recovering debris washed ashore he discovers an unconscious merman. Francis carries him home and sets him in a tub of water. When the merman awakens, it is to the compassionate care of Francis. Unwilling to let his neighbors know of his extraordinary guest, Francis brings fish from the ocean for the merman to eat and keeps him company until nightfall. Their brief time together only serves to highlight how very lonely Francis' life is. They attempt some rudimentary language exchange, enough for Francis to learn his guest's name is Wick. Late in the night, Francis returns Wick to the ocean. There Wick gives Francis the lightest of kisses. \n Forlorn without even the barest of loving contact, Francis works himself ill for weeks until he can bring himself to face the ocean. And there is Wick, waiting for him. They begin a physical relationship, over the course of a month, that is mutually satisfying, for a while. One night Wick seems despondent. His mood belies the end of their relationship, as Francis has known it--but what happens next surpasses all of Francis' dreams. \n This is a quick read, a short, but well-written character piece that gives the reader a bit of the magical while also exploring themes of prejudice and unconditional love. It's a neat little story that made me finally wonder: How do the merfolk get it on? And, then it answered that question. I enjoyed it. A touch of sensuality, and a lot of love.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 08 17:51:22 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 09 16:23:25 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "18478956", "review_id": "584285622b537d9c7f0c87b0df9052c5", "rating": 2, "review_text": "So, if you liked the Beautiful Creatures series, this book is a connection from that series into the Dangerous Creatures series coming out soon. \n It provides a little closing peek are Ethan and Lena--their graduation essentially. \n And, it gives voice to Link's love for/obsession with Lena's Siren cousin, Ridley. Ridley's the bad girl, always willing to exploit the men she calls, yet never willing to surrender her heart. \n Except she sorta has--to Gatlin-bumpkin, Link. Not that she will ever admit to loving the quarter-Incubus. This short story tells us how she and Link will end up together in NYC to start the next series. It is a very short recap of the major players from Beautiful Creatures and adds the danger of wagering with Casters in the Big City. \n Looks like Ridley's going to be in contact with Link quite a lot. And I expect a solid dose of romantic intrigue with the new men who have won some control over Ridley's siren song in the next series. \n I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 31 05:15:51 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 31 05:16:22 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "21457758", "review_id": "46e61bef435f62f7eb5a06dcc506ccd2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In this contemporary YA paranormal romance Ariana and Logan Ragsdale are orphaned siblings who happen to have mind-control powers. Logan is 18 and Ariana is 16, both born on All Saints Day, two years apart. Their parents died in an house fire 8 years ago, and their aunt and uncle, who had been guardians, were killed in an auto wreck two years ago. After bouncing to a couple foster homes and finding those caregivers being strangely injured, Logan convinces the Illinois State Foster system to let them live alone... \n When we begin the story, Logan and Ariana are staying under the radar of the authorities. Ariana has a BFF, Becca, but they mostly keep to themselves--out of fear that any people close to them are targets for the tragedy that seems to follow them. \n Of course, they are teens, so it's impossible not to notice the two new students in their small high school. Ben is in Ariana's art class, and interested in dating her. Strangely, he is immune to Ariana's mind-control. Likewise, Logan meets Kira in Foods class. The attraction simmers, and yes, she can resist Logan's mind powers. \n Starting fledgeling relationships is foreign, but exciting. Still, they are wary due to the lack of effect of their powers on their potential beaux. Especially so when Kira begins to reveal more of her history to Logan. She's been 16--for a real long time...and most of that was spent in agony. Seducing Logan to her purpose will satisfy the requirements of her boss, but could mean the end of civilization. \n Not as though these kids didn't suspect foul play in the deaths of their caregivers, but who's really ready to accept celestial explanations? Surely not Logan. He thinks Kira's off her nut, and rightly so. A little physical demonstration promptly makes him a believer, however. \n And Ben? He's on the other side of this equation. He's anxious to get Ariana to join his team, even if doing so condemns Logan to a fiery fate. \n With new knowledge behind the sinister plot that isolated Ariana and Logan from anyone who could help them, they must choose who to trust. According to a prophesy, a war is coming between the Blessed and the Fallen, and the winner will be decided when Ariana, or Logan, chooses a side to assist. \n In either case, accepting their destinies means they will lose each other. Or, not. See, Ariana and Logan are determined to beat the Blessed and Fallen at their own games--and set themselves free of this cataclysmic prophesy. \n Not that they go about it right. Outsmarting beings that can read your mind is pretty tough, after all. Escape Plan A soon devolves into Survival Plan C.2 when one of their guides changes teams mid-game and the casualties are dear. \n It's a wild chase with pretty steady tension throughout as Ariana and Logan search for the answers that will divert their fate. The end is tied up, but leaves room for a sequel. It's an innocent read and suitable for lovers of paranormal YA fiction.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 27 16:34:32 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 27 17:20:12 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "17316288", "review_id": "99230735e05b056b2df936fd5860f16c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I received this book in exchange for an honest review via Goodreads' Don't Buy My Love program. \n This paranormal/urban fantasy m/m romance follows the relationship of Brant, mayor of Bright City, Indiana--who happens to be a closet vampire, and Rabb, an alpha werewolf, who owns City Light, a shifter bar in Bright City. Brant and Rabb are desperately in love with each other, but they broke up five years ago because drinking shifter blood makes vampires crazed. As it's natural for both vampires and shifters to drink from their sexual partners, Brant swore off both Rabb, and sex. So Brant's as sexually frustrated as he is thirsty.... \n Brant has decreed Bright City a shifter-free zone. This enrages Rabb, who likes his werewolf pack to be urban. The timeline of the story bothered me, here, because it seems as if this is a long-standing issue, keeping shifters out, yet it also seems as if it is imperative to keep normal humans from knowing about shifters. How does one create laws banning certain societal elements, without alerting the population to the existence of said elements? Logically, I was stumped. \n Also, Rabb's bar in Bright City is fairly well established. I mean he's got at hiring business, and a gigantic warehouse that is filled with flora and fauna (and a pond for goodness sake) for his urban pack to frolic in. That takes time and money to build. It's also a bit hard to keep quiet, I'd think. Yet, the book opens with a mayoral assistant trying to evict Rabb from his business. How did they not recognize all the shifters were going to City Lights? And, where is all the law enforcement in this place? Not one single cop in the whole story, and there are several murdered shifters, the first being Rabb's bartender. \n Instead of law enforcement, the closet vamp Mayor Brant decides that appointing Rabb as an assistant will allow Rabb to investigate the murders of his pack mates. This, to me, only makes the likelihood of shifter discovery higher, but it has the convenient plot aspect of bringing Brant's hearts desire (Rabb) into excruciatingly close proximity. Brant hungers for Rabb's blood, and his splendid manly attributes, but refuses to indulge as that way lay madness... \n Then, the mayor and Rabb work together try to solve the shifter murder mystery. Again, no police. And, no one seems to really notice that Brant is shirking his mayoral duties being an amateur sleuth. Rabb takes Brant to sacred shifter territory, and the pack is enraged--wants to kill him. There is no love lost between shifters and vamps, even if the vampire doesn't drink blood. Then, Brant pops in on a big shifter jamboree and is nearly devoured. Dumbest. Vampire. Ever. Rabb is brutally attacked trying to get Brant to safety. Brant ingests shifter blood in the melee and suffers greatly after five years of abstinence. Then, smexytimes. [Me: O_o (?) *remembers it's urban fantasy* *shrugs*] \n Anywho, our dogs and vamps are on the case. Brant enlists the vampire council to aid the search. Rabb nearly dies when he encounters the killer. The killer is later found and barely overpowered. More smexytimes. \n Lookit. This is not great literature. I found my eyes rolling more than ten times. It is kinda mindlessly amusing in it's campiness, however, and the addition of the mystery subplot adds an edge of danger that kept it interesting. Basically, the main story line is: how can we get two hot paranormal dudes to bang, without making it a bang-fest? The world building was meh--timelines and vigilante legal issues aside--there was only ONE \"human\" in the whole book. And the idea that a mayor of any 'city' in Indiana could keep his homosexuality, or vampirism, on the down-low seemed to be the biggest fantasy element, to me. (But I'm from Illinois, and we got a saying in Illinois: stay out of Indiana. If you've been there you'd understand...Hoosierland is rivaled only by, perhaps, Oklahoma or Arizona in it's homophobic political stances.) \n I wished the smexytimes had been a touch hotter. Perhaps that'll happen in book 2.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 25 04:16:39 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 25 05:03:30 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "19162511", "review_id": "48ff338dbd32ec7cf33a37fb1e780ae8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Sasha has always seen figures in the shadows. One night she and her boyfriend, Jared, have a car wreck and are accosted by two of these shadow men. All of the shadow people are sexy to the nth degree. I'm not exactly sure what they ARE exactly, but their mind controlling pheromones generally have the humans tearing their clothes off. Exhibit A: Jared...a little startling for Sasha to observe two men sex up her boyfriend in the alley. \n Sasha, however, is immune. \n Sasha wakes up the next morning--fully-clothed--in bed with a naked, sexually-ravenous Jared. She knows something is very wrong, but her memories of the previous night are spotty and she doesn't remember their actual encounter until the next day. At this point Sasha is on a mission to find the shadow people and figure out why she sees them. \n The leader of these shadow people, Stephan, is a temptation Sasha can barely resist. Of course, the shadow people are embroiled in a war with Mage, and Sasha seems to have some magical ability to repel the forces attacking Stephan's people. \n Now, she's an asset--and under the protection of Stephen's minions, like Charles, one of the Jared-Bangers. Charles is a playful, amorous, dim-witted body-guard whom Sasha seems to have no trouble eluding. He provides some real humor into the dark mystery of the Shadow people. \n Of course there's a few harrowing twists that leave Sasha nearly dead--if only someone super strong and sexy had the cure? *narrows eyes on Stephen* \n It's an interesting, sensual start to a series and super quick read. Not for the prudish. Contains copious copulation, consensual, or not.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 23 09:15:07 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 23 09:16:04 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "18273368", "review_id": "d1ec622ec268261083256acdfe7d56cc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sophie Bloom is a survivor. She has to be, she's the reincarnation of Persephone, the Greek goddess of spring. She and her boyfriend Kyrillos--Hades' son--had a big plan to defeat both Zeus and Hades and claim Olympus for themselves--oh and for Demeter, Persephone's mother. But Persephone truly planned to double-cross them all and claim Olympus for herself. That's why Demeter stabbed her. \n Fast forward seventeen years. \n The titan Prometheus, has sacrificed his powers to transfer Persephone's memories and goddess essence into a child, Sophie Bloom, who is celebrating her seventeenth birthday. She knows all about Persephone's schemes and is struggling to connect to Kai--Kyrillos--being her boyfriend. Even more so since he knows Persephone planned to kill him all those years ago. But, in order to stop the destruction of humanity by Zeus and Hades, Sophie and Kai need to perform a ritual on the first day of spring that requires their complete love for each other in order to work. \n Too bad the Equinox is seven days away. \n Sophie has trained hard to master her goddess powers, but she can't escape the disturbing visions she's having of a world filled with destruction--and herself being the center of the maelstrom. Then she goes and mouths off to Demeter again. Same old, same old--even if it's Sophie, not Persephone, butting heads. Demeter has her BFF Hecate, goddess of witchcraft, curse Sophie right back into Hades. \n Yeah. But this time it's Sophie trapped in Persephone's form in the days just prior to her inglorious demise. \n Now Sophie must get Kyrillos to see through the magic to fall in love with herself, not Persephone. Oh, and to win over Prometheus as an ally. Oh, and to convince Hephaestus to help them all escape Hades before Demeter gets stabby. \n It's a tough challenge, but meet it Sophie will--or else humanity is doomed. If only Sophie could find the strength within herself to accept her fate, and love herself. Because, really, what greater power than love could a goddess have? \n Like the first two books in the series, this one rockets forward into the action. There are many characters that play an important role, but Sophie is the heroine front-and-center. She saves herself, Persephone, humanity and her BFF's in the process. Her sharp wit keeps the tone engaging. At times, I wanted to pull a Cher in \"Moonstruck\"--and smack her good--just to get her to see that LOVE was the answer she couldn't seem to find. In all, the series is fun, innocent and creative. If nothing else, reading these books will get you ready for Greek Mythology category on JEOPARDY...but that's only one small reason to read them. \n I received an advanced reviewer's copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 18 06:35:48 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 18 06:37:33 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "18479427", "review_id": "18a45533dc3dff4cba6303578a541e90", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I received a copy of this book via Goodreads's Don't Buy My Love program in exchange for an honest review. There are some spoilers. \n This story centers on the few meager survivors of a catastrophic asteroid collision that occurs near the US west coast. This story is centered in Phoenix AZ. The main characters: Elliot and Adam are two twenty-ish men. Elliot is out and proud gay, Adam has just left a committed relationship with a woman, Jena, for whom he had no romantic inclination because he was closeted gay. \n While stumbling through the barren and buckled remains of his neighborhood, Elliot happens upon Adam. They are overjoyed to find they are not alone. Earthquakes continue to rock the terrain and they seeks shelter together. They also become intimate within hours of meeting--which felt contrived and unrealistic. \n They struggle to find more survivors, mainly because Elliot becomes injured and they go to the virtually empty hospital to seek medicine--again totally unreasonable that there are no emergency response measures or staff. Or even patients. I mean, virtually no one had time to evacuate, because the world government alliance (perhaps) collectively hid the imminent collision of the asteroid from the public until days before it was due to occur. (I cannot stress the inconceivability of this happening what with our 24/7 global news culture.) \n While scouring the remains of a grocery store, Adam and Elliot learn of Refuge Inc., a place for survivors to gather for supplies and shelter. Adam wants to find this place--somehow thinking he might find his ex-fiance, but Elliot is suspicious. They do find the place, with the unwilling help of Anita and her friend, two survivors who assist Elliot to rescue Adam when he gets trapped by falling debris. \n Now at the Refuge, Adam and Elliot are separated. They decide to cool their relationship until Adam can come to terms with his sexuality. Of course, this is complicated by Elliot being arrested for disruptive behavior and the appearance of Jena, Adam's ex, who also claims to be pregnant. \n Elliot meets Mason, an architect of the Refuge, while imprisoned. Mason knows the Refuge is a sinister place--and he's a sinister guy. He convinces Elliot and Adam to spring him from prison--and from the Refuge. Realizing that the projected YEARS of solar blackout are a gross exaggeration of the reality, Adam and Elliot assist Mason--and they escape, though not without casualties. \n On their own, Adam and Elliot are set upon by scavengers. In order to keep these marauders at bay--and to broadcast a message for rescuers--Adam and Elliot agree to lead them to the Refuge--where they can find food and medical supplies, as well as access to a radio transmitter. They plan to break in, but when they arrive, they find the Refuge largely abandoned. That's not to say empty--there are plenty of menacing humans and creatures within its underground bunkers. Mason is now in charge, but he's clearly deranged and poses a specific threat to the band of survivors. \n With great risk, they find the radio and transmit their call for help, but they are attacked and lose some of their ranks. There is an HEA, but it's not the end of the story... \n In truth, I would have stopped reading after the first 50 pages if I hadn't committed to read the whole book and write a review. The scientific facts on which this story is predicated are completely erroneous. That a gathering of perhaps 200 people in a city of 1.5 million survived earthquakes that rocked the area is such a ridiculous notion I couldn't wrap my brain around it. This wasn't a nuclear holocaust or a catastrophic virus outbreak--it was an earthquake. Lots of people survive earthquakes. That there was no coordinated National Guard/FEMA emergency response or hospital staff was simply too unrealistic to be acceptable. The writing is poor with horrible grammar, spelling and usage--so much so that the entire book needs a thorough line edit. Stat. \n I didn't find the romance at all believable until the end of the book--when Adam and Elliot had learned enough about each other and themselves to be adequate partners to each other. Elliot started out as a very emo, effeminate man who grew up a lot in this survivor hellscape. Adam learned to express his emotions, and accept the love the Elliot offered. \n This didn't work for me, as a romance, or a disaster story.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 17 15:52:33 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 17 16:53:35 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Mar 17 16:53:35 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "20308308", "review_id": "81b2f2abf5f4a7396678dbc6a12faa44", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Soon-to-be-sixteen year old Lucy Walker is an orphan. Her mother just OD'ed on heroin and she never knew her daddy. Lucy also harbors a strange power--the ability to shoot fire from her hands when she gets angry. Now she's leaving the trailer park in Tennessee to live with her uncles in Chicago. \n She is befriended by the neighbors, a broody yet handsome boy named Marcus and her late grandmother's BFF Persephone. Learning that her grandmother had been a witch and Lucy is supposed to inherit her powers is quite the curveball. And, what is up with Marcus? Boys never gave her the time of day back in Tennessee, yet he seems almost fixated on Lucy, and her safety. \n It soon becomes clear that Lucy's father isn't as anonymous as she had believed. In fact, her father has known about her from the start, but he walked away from her pregnant mother and Lucy paid the price of her scorned heart. Of course, that's probably standard operating procedure when you are a demon... Lucy's frustrated that she was abandoned to a nightmare life due to his callousness, and refuses all Daddy's overtures to make amends. \n Demons seem to be in abundance in the big city, because there are two who regularly invade Lucy's room, seeking what? She has no idea. But it can't be good, right? \n As the new girl in town, Lucy expects to struggle. But, not this much. She strives to make choices that will keep her safe and help her to feel normal--so she takes on a summer job babysitting the younger half-brother and sister of her school's most eligible football player, Dylan. He's the typical rich kid girls fall all over, and her friends are no exception. Except Dylan starts having crazed dreams and visions--just like Lucy's mother had--followed by seizures. \n Lucy's sure her demon dad is behind the whole mess, so she takes him head-on, offering to accept his persistent attempts at a relationship, if he'll release his destructive influence on Dylan. Naturally, Demon Dad has seven aces up his sleeve and Lucy's so outmatched she can't see the danger until it's in her face. Good thing Marcus is more than just a friend--or a boy. His own supernatural powers come in handy when Lucy's poisoned. And flung off a roof and nearly killed. Twice. \n Man, that Marcus has his work cut out for him, keeping Lucy from a pine box fate! \n The action in this story is pretty intense. There are so many characters--and the point-of-view switches between characters in several chapters--I had the teeniest trouble keeping up. Particularly with all the shapeshifting. Lucy is a strong character. Almost too strong. She's so determined to take care of herself, that she jumps into problems she would have avoided--by simply asking for help. I wished she would have been less stubborn, though she takes her bizarre heritage in without even a qualm, which surprised me. I'd have been more than freaked learning that I was half-witch, half-demon. For all the witchiness in her lineage, Lucy doesn't actually learn any witchcraft, or practice it, in this book. We do see a good deal of her demon-side however. I suppose the rest waits for Book Two. The story ends in a quiet place--no cliffhanger--but sets the stage for further books. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 17 03:17:24 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 17 03:18:36 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Mar 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "19210680", "review_id": "16409dfd918c43f481c14816609e5493", "rating": 5, "review_text": "THE FAERY SWAP features two young(ish) boys--Finn, a human, and Zaneyr, a faery--who trade souls on the summer solstice in Amesbury, England--a stone's throw from, you guessed it, Stone Henge. \n Finn's whole life is devoted to keeping his sister, Erin, safe and out of foster care. See, they aren't orphans but their mom died a few years ago and their dad, a mathematics professor, is parentally MIA. On the way to school one morning, Finn is tricked into helping a strange boy with the smallest of tasks--picking up a dropped coin--and plummets into a realm of magic and fantasy the likes he never could have imagined. \n Zaneyr is determined to thwart his father, King Dageyr, from sealing the Rift--the magical space erected between the human and faery world 4000 years ago. In this breach of space-time, Zaneyr's mother was lost, locked into the mortal human world, while those in the faery Otherworld lived on, never aging. Each summer solstice, emissaries of the faery world are sent to Earth to learn of any advancements in math or science that might lead humans to Otherworld. Due to the time distortions of the Rift, a year in Otherworld equals a century of Earth years, so the advancements move quickly, compared to Otherworld time. \n Knowing that sealing the Rift will lead to many mortal lives lost, Zaneyr risks shifting with Finn--even if it means sending Finn's soul to Otherworld forever. One life must be worth more than the thousands that will be lost if King Dageyr's plan is complete, right? \n Of course, Finn is unwilling to go without a fight. He is assisted in his effort to return to the human realm by a rock sprite named Pyx and Zaneyr's BFF Liranna, a tough faery who harbors a crush on the impetuous prince. They have less than a day to reverse the swap--by sunset on the solstice the realms will be too far apart for souls to return to their previous realms--so it's handy that Finn develops some magical skills while trudging through the Otherworld. \n Just when Zaneyr is getting settled in Finn's life, the unimaginable happens--he meets a fellow faery, one who is desperate to return to Otherworld. And, of course, Finn manages to weave a bit of magic that interfere with Zaneyr's changeling plan. \n In the end, it is guidance from Finn's genius father that stops the realms from merging. \n This book is a real treat. Complete, interesting plot arcs call into question some very serious moral issues in a subtle way. For example, is it okay to sacrifice some to save many? And, what is the value of life? Most compelling for me was: is it fair to risk the happiness of everyone to fix an act long regretted? \n Most importantly, it is the teen characters who save the day--thwarting the mis-guided plots of King Dageyr to correct past mistakes. The HEA occurs two-fold, with both Zaneyr and Finn having a better place in their realms when the sun finally sets. It's written with boys in mind--but I believe girls and fantasy lovers of both sexes will enjoy this wholesome tale.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 10 08:25:24 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 10 08:27:31 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "17565206", "review_id": "9141718d03069f9e1f3a816864bc1ea9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review via Goodreads' Don't Buy My Love program. \n Jacob Kreuz is an exorcist. He was born into a family with an ancient bloodline and aptitude for this paranormal activity. Years ago he worked for the Parliament of Twilight as a professional exorcist, but now he stars in a \"reality\" show of fake ghost house exorcisms. \n This book has a serious disclaimer. It should be heeded. \n Brodie is brought onto Jacob's show as a sidekick. While Brodie has some paranormal ability--he can see lesser energy sprites and grumblies--his soul is too pure to perceive the evil Jacob regularly witnesses. Brodie idolizes Jacob! at first! and seeks first approval, then respect. He receives neither, for a large part of the novel. Though Jacob is attracted to Brodie, he holds him separate, recognizing that any interaction between them will only sully Brodie's pure soul. \n No, Jacob would rather interact with the depraved twin producers of his show, Dorian and Adrian. There arena couple scenes of their twincest, that bear some heat... \n On the site of their newest house investigation, Brodie charges in against Jacob's expressed admonition and becomes the center of a demon feeding frenzy. It is only through Jacob's intervention that Brodie is saved. Of course, Brodie must be purified, and the process isn't exactly pleasant. \n Jacob is supposed to keep watch over Brodie to ensure he is not further attacked, but he departs for a night of debauchery with Dorian. Meanwhile, a demon does prey on the unattended, incapacitated Brodie. This sets into motion the climax which is brutal and deadly. \n I'm never really a fan of books where the one character I liked is brutalized. Jacob is barely sympathetic. He's had a rough go of things, sure, but he is so wholly selfish I really struggled to connect to his character. Further, it seemed every decision he made was wrong. None of the characters, excepting Brodie, held any appeal for me at all. \n I struggled greatly with the head-hopping point-of-view. In a scene with six characters, sharing all of their thoughts is too busy, particularly when they are all men, and all scheming on one or another of the party. It completely took me out of the scene--forcing me to re-read to understand who was saying what, and who was thinking what, and what the heck was happening. Additionally, this book could use some clean-up in terms of misspellings and grammar. The book is designed to have a sequel, and its ending is a pseudo-cliffhanger. I'm not sure I'm up for the second book.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 04 06:14:22 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 04 06:58:23 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "20646454", "review_id": "8713bf33327a20c6ba82478c8770d47b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So, I love the Mindjack Trilogy. I read it in its infancy and looked forward to each new book. \n Now, we get a little peek into the space between the books. In KEEPER, a novella, we get the origins of Kira's extraordinary speed and strength--reactions she is able to trigger by \"jacking\" or manipulating her own brain. \n Kira was able to \"jack\" herself to some extent in Open Minds and Closed Hearts, but for Free Souls she has the unique skill to trigger adrenaline release in her body enabling her to travel at superhuman speeds and act with superhuman strength. It's a valuable skill to have. \n Also, we get to see Julian, leader of the Jacker Freedom Alliance, up close and personal. It's clear that Kira struggles with her attraction to Julian--not sure if it's real or a memeory remnant from the time he jacked her mind. Well, I'm sure it's real; no man is so possessive of a woman without having some emotional bond to her. \n In KEEPER, Kira's obsessed with being on the strike force for the next JFA mission: attacking Kestrel's stronghold and rescuing trapped jackers from experiments and torture. Julian won't let her go knowing that Kira's secondary objective is to kill Kestrel--and it's clear Julian doesn't want Kira in harm's way. So, Kira develops her new talent in secret, hoping to make herself invaluable as a strike force member. \n It doesn't all go down so well, but maybe Julian will learn to relax.... Yeah. Right. \n KEEPER's a quick read and a little bite of Mindjack goodness for fans everywhere. Novellas are great for an at-lunch/pre-bed read, and this one will not disappoint.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 14 08:35:08 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 14 08:35:44 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "18744480", "review_id": "7735b7ba52424e83b64312064362a0f9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This post-apocalyptic literary novel chronicles the life of several immortals, mostly Mathias and Dorian, in the centuries prior to and years immediately following The End of Days. It is told from an omniscient viewpoint, which personally is the most difficult for me to read. I am not a fan of head-hopping prose, and this story switched so quickly I struggled. Greatly. \n Also, the plot is decidedly alinear, and we jump through the centuries meeting and discarding acquaintances--some who reappear later to actually participate in the plot. However, it is never clear when these people will be important, so I had trouble connecting. \n Mathias is an immortal. He knows because his aging is severely slowed after adulthood, and also because he failed at suicide in the 1860's. The End has come in 2070, and Mathias is pretty jaded years later. He failed at foiling the Fiery Ones destruction of Europe's cosmopolitan world, and scrapes by doing odd mercenary work until he learns of Luca, a repainter who matches the description of Mathias' dead lover from 1984. Mathias contracts Dorian, a former lover (from the mid-nineteenth century) to bring Luca to his home. \n Turns out Luca the repainter is the reincarnation of Mathias's lost Luca, and they are reunited. Which, I liked. \n Dorian has a good bit of the plot as well. We learn of his time as an escort, and his failed loves. One such is Petra, who does return to him a century later, as she is also immortal. Dorian and Mathias are not particular friends in the story, despite both being immortal, however they come to an uneasy coexistence near the end. \n In the end, of the book not the world, the plot lines meander toward convergence. It seemed to me there were many crises that became resolved but no clear climax/resolution. And, it turns out that The End, of the world not the book, was orchestrated by seraphim. Oh, and Lucifer opposed this fiery destruction. Talk about Revelations.... \n This book wasn't my style of read. I had issues with the pacing and diction was a problem. I'm one of those sticklers for choosing the right word, and there are homophone hang-ups here. (Taught/taut, duel/dual among others...). \n Also, the story didn't so much resolve as it did end. I knew it would be this way with 100 pages to go, however. The way pacing was going I was sure I'd be unsatisfied with the resolution. Also, this being the first of a series, I knew more would need to happen in the second book. That being said, I'm not left with the \"must read sequel\" craze. \n All romantic portions of the prose were perfunctory in nature. I felt as though the relationships, such as they were, were solid and caring, but we rather skipped the passion... \n I received a free copy of this book via the Don't Buy My Love program at Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 12 08:44:55 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 12 09:14:57 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "17560541", "review_id": "ed12f4674072d528555e95ed6f682734", "rating": 5, "review_text": "If you could read minds, would you? \n That's one part of the premise in Sarah Mlynowski's contemporary YA novel DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT. \n What's this book about? \n Twenty-two students at a public high school in NYC (Tribeca, a rather affluent neighborhood) are given a flu vaccine. The next day most of them can read minds. Over the next few days, they all develop this ability. \n With consequences. \n My Review: \n I devoured this title. At first, the style was off-putting. I'm always in search of the narrative character, the viewpoint, through which the story comes--but that's impossible here. Because the story is told from the collective \"We\" as a past-tense rehash of how these ordinary kids became infected with the extraordinary. Talk about a side-effect! After that quick adaptation on my part, the story rolled. \n While there are twenty-two high school sophomores within this hive mind, there are several who carry the story. \n Timid Olivia, who is as big a germaphobe and hypochondriac as her mother, is the first to notice her new telepathy. Unfortunately, it happens while she's standing in front of her class preparing to deliver a speech on Lyme Disease. Yeah, she faints--but not before alerting a fellow classmate, Pi, that she has telepathy. \n Pi's brilliant. Second in the class, and pining for first, she's determined to be extraordinary. Imagine her dismay in learning that her telepathy isn't that unique. Of course, Pi's the first one to figure out how to use his gift to her advantage. Ever the strategist, she begins to position herself in closer proximity to Number 1, in the hopes of overtaking him. \n See, while they can hear other people's thoughts, there are some rules to this ability: \n First, the closer they are to a person, the louder those thoughts are heard. If there are people in the way, they buffer the thought signals, diluting them. Also, vision is important. If a person has his or her eyes closed, their thoughts are unhearable. Likewise, for the new telepaths, closing their own eyes shuts out the noise of thoughts around them. Glasses can magnify the ability, while dark glasses mute it. It's an interesting story frame, and it's exploited by many of the characters at different points. \n Some of the telepaths want to exploit their position immediately. \n Take Tess. She's bears a secret crush for her best guy-friend Teddy. He's single and they hang out a lot, and she wants to know if her feelings are returned. Should she listen in? Heck, yeah, she does. But one can't unhear those thoughts--and Tess isn't exactly thrilled with Teddy after a bit. \n And what about those secrets? Mackensie, class pretty girl, is dating Cooper, class sweetheart. But when he was away at camp this summer she had a fling with Bennett--an older boy in her building. It's something she's kept inside, but now everyone knows, except Cooper, who is the last to develop telepathy. \n Poor Cooper. His luck just goes from bad to worse when he goes home a gets a taste of parent's thoughts. \n That's the thing about telepathy. While some kids are grade boosting, others are having complete personal meltdowns. Yet, they all agree to keep this ability secret. They form the hive mind of Espies, and attempt to behave as normally as possible to throw off any suspicion. Pi designates herself as the leader of the group, because Pi is a take-charge gal. Others, like Tess and Olivia, emerge from their \"shells\" to become more confident individuals--without being outright dishonest--now that they can see how their private fears hampered their happiness. \n Soon, the CDC comes sniffing 'round the hallway. Guess there were other affected lots of vaccine produced and they traced the last vial to the school. See, one person from another location who had the vaccine died--so it could be the telepathy is fatal. It's hard to say as the man was 81 and suffered a stroke--maybe he would have died without the vaccine? Nevertheless, there's an antidote available, and, for their trouble, the kids will receive a $50,000 payoff from the drug manufacturer when they accept the antidote. \n Will they choose to take the antidote? Do they even have a choice? I mean, it's a nice hunk of money--and nobody wants to die at age 15... \n DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT will be available for sale March 11. I received an advanced reader's copy from NetGalley for the purpose of review. Keep your eyes open for this one in bookstores and libraries. It's a great read. I think teen and fans of YA fiction will adore it as much as I did.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 11 04:09:15 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 11 04:11:59 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "20627530", "review_id": "599d2f964f809515536ac74057ca1b3a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In this third episode of The Freedom Series, Droje and Larke have found safe haven aboard the Valiant, a spacecraft belonging to Droje's longtime family friend, Capt. Zerne. \n Zerne had been a mate on Droje's parents' trading vessel years ago--and barely survived the blast that killed Droje's parents. Along for the ride are fellow freedom fighters Gar and Fel, both male. Gar had been Droje's lover previously, but now he and Fel are intimate. \n Larke is just beginning to learn what it means to live with and grow attached to people. He'd never been close to his family, and it seemed that schoolmates and co-workers all suspected his 'drake' (gay) status. Being with Droje is intoxicating, but can Larke accept the love so freely lavished on him? \n Of course, when one of the crew turns treacherous, calling Corp Sec for Droje's bounty, and Larke's life is threatened Droje decides--rather imperiously I must say--that putting Larke off at the next port is the best plan. Sure, it'll kill Droje who already cares quite deeply for Larke, but anything that keeps Larke out of harm's way is a good plan in Droje's mind. \n Will Larke go along with it? Well, that depends... \n This episode is a good bit longer (~75 pages) and still proceeds at light speed. Yes, it has a complete story arc, with supersmexytimes and fun male gossip, but it's clear that the series arc is being advanced. I just really admire how introspective the characters are--and how willingly Larke opens to Droje. It's not easy for him to admit his real emotions--having needed to conform at all cost--but he really fights to gain what he desires: A life with Droje, and whatever danger that entails. The feline-man assassin, Fel, is a nice foil to Droje's heroism and Gar's overprotectiveness. Plus, a male in a kilt gets me every time. I'm enjoying the books so far. \n I received a review copy of this book in return for my honest opinion via Goodreads' Don't Buy My Love.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 04 12:50:14 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 04 12:51:49 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "18528639", "review_id": "a53bfe1c38e30e4cb234450c3b68dc45", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In this 4th book in the Gryphon series, we catch up with Celeste and her band of shapeshifting comrades on the brink of war. \n The Countess is back, and she wants the Gryphon dead. In this episode we actually learn WHY! (mini-spoiler: Turns out the Gryphon had inadvertently wiped out her whole family...) \n The demon Barnabus is willing to assist Celeste to defeat the Countess's army, but how much can you trust a demon, really? I mean, every demon she's ever put faith in has double-crossed her (looking squarely at you, Rowan!), well, except Caleb--who's loss she still mourns. \n Except Caleb isn't lost. He's mortal, but back. And ho ho! Her dad's back too! As the Council Master. It's a freak-out supreme when they meet which leads to imprisonment of her sister Kendall and her new sister-in-law Alaina on the Spirit Plane. \n Down two comrades, and with Rowan apologetically hounding her steps, Celeste does the one thing she can--destroys one of her enemies. With one army down, she can focus on the looming battle with the other. \n Some clever scheming later and she gets more help than she ever expects--defectors from the demonic side, as well as the phoenix conduit, Talia. And the Gryphon is raging at the Spirit Council's lack of support. He knows the danger Celeste is in--and funnels into her all the power she can handle in the effort to win the day for good. \n Of course, doing so might just render Celeste unable to live in the human world--much like Talia. \n It's a great capper to this series. A solid ending that actually satisfies, while leaving the door open for another book down the road. I'd say more, but I don't want to spoil. I'd recommend this book (and series) to any YA reader who likes urban fantasy, paranormal romance, squeaky-clean romance and fast-paced adventure tales.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 30 04:01:44 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 30 04:15:45 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "16048393", "review_id": "c53e2c4b9f0a0ae5e2efb97b9d510fe3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "When we start off Book 3 of the Gryphon series, we find Celeste is happily in love with Caleb, the half-demon who helped save her and her family form the demon Countess in Book 2. Caleb's been infected with Titan blood to help his demonic transformation, and that becomes a problem when The countess now send every Titan into battle with humanity. \n See, if the titan whose blood was used to create Caleb is killed, he will die. The only way to save Caleb is to remove his demonic nature and erase all trace of his memory--yet Celeste holds on. She loves Caleb terribly and wants to keep him at her side. When the Titans arrive and hurt her brother, Gabe (who morphs into a protector lion to fight) Celeste knows she must sacrifice her love for Gabe in order to keep him and her family from harm. This is even harder to do when Caleb proposes marriage...but Celeste is stalwart--she makes the right choice even though it means losing Caleb forever. \n In dealing with that pain, Celeste seeks out Rowan, another half-demon, and a tentative friend, who can alter her mood by skin-on-skin contact. She takes to spending lots and lots of time with Rowan, all platonic as she's desperately heart-broken, and never realizes that his feelings are, perhaps, more than friendly. To me, I think she knew--she simply didn't want to \"go there\". \n In the meantime, her brother Gabe is planning to marry Alaina--their former spirit guide. And of course everything gets messed up. They nearly call the wedding off when the dress shop is trashed and the wedding hall explodes due to the Countess's unrelenting war on Celeste. The Countess wants to kill Celeste in order to call forth the Gryphon--her archenemy--into battle. And, because the Countess is a demon, she's cool with killing all Celeste's family and firends first. You know, to add to the suffering. \n Rowan comes to the rescue--for the wedding anyway. And the mixing of the human and otherworldly guests leads to some fun times. Oh, and suddenly there's something demonic about Celeste's sister Kendall. Which leads to the first close-to-Celeste fatality. We get a three pronged standoff between Celeste's warriors, the Countess's army and a newly sprung demonic horde under the control of Barnabus/Alec from Book 1 which is at the boil over stage. \n Ever the pirate, Rowan is hurt by Celeste's rebuffs. And this leads to the climactic scene wherein Celeste nearly bites it. Again. I swear this gal is constantly in peril. One of the perks of being a conduit. But, she has some new friends to help and the day is saved. \n This third book in the series is really a great showcase. So many intertwining plot lines have developed. It's kinda sad about Rowan. I never suspected Celeste would really fall for him, but it's still sad to see the effort he makes to meet her more than halfway--and then be refused. This book is light on the romance, as a result, which is fine because the battles have really lit up the pages, and we don't have too much time for pining over Caleb. It's an innocent read, suitable for YA readers of all flavors. The urban fantasy/paranormal elements are great, but this book really needs to be read after book 2, in my opinion. Too much history to catch up with to jump in here...", "date_added": "Thu Jan 30 03:34:53 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 30 03:55:17 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "17619013", "review_id": "d8c686216081799eb63c2c32dbb96b16", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I nabbed HEART OF STONE off of NetGalley just so I could see if Christine Warren could write Urban Fantasy as hot as Karen Marie Moning. \n Mmm mmm mmm. Good stuff. \n About the Book: \n Ella Harrow is trying to carve out a normal life for herself. Well, as normal as an art geek with psychic abilities can hope for. As museum docent and gift-shop manager, Ella is able to keep her distance from people--and her powers in check--while surrounding herself with the artifacts she loves. But how on earth is she supposed to act normal when a thousand-year-old statue on the museum's terrace suddenly comes to life? \n Not your ordinary gargoyle, Kees has been asleep for eons, waiting for a portent of evil to wake him from his slumber. Kees isn't a vision; he's a bat-winged guardian created to protect the world from the seven demons of the Dark. Somehow, Ella triggered his reawakening. Maybe the demons have been unleashed? Maybe his heart is finally ready to be chiseled open? The fate of the world isn't carved in stone...yet. \n My Review: \n This was a super fun read. Ella is spunky. She's got a terrible amount of power that she strains to contain--particularly after the last time it escaped. Becoming an instant orphan will teach a gal control. One night she's attacked on the terrace of the art museums where she works and the statue beside her erupts into life. It's enough to make a gal swoon. She did. \n Kees isn't just a delicious art-come-to-life--he's a Guardian, and he knows the world is in big trouble when an untried, untamed magical girl can rouse him from his mystical slumber. Together they learn that the Keepers of Light are being systematically hunted down by the minions of Darkness. WIthout the Guardians Earth has no hope to prevent demonic subjugation. Kees fights against his emotional reactions--claiming to be nothing more than the stone he is--but Ella insists there's more to him than he will accept. \n Let's just say this: End of times doesn't normal equal romance, but the heat simmered from their first contact--long before they recognized the danger they were in. And, I am NOT a gal who's going to get miffed about some serious friction. Bam-chicka-bow-wow. \n Kees? D-Lish. Makes me want to hit the Art Institute just to see if I can find me some Guardian... \n In any case, Ella and Kees do get it right and track down the last Keeper they can find. Unfortunately he's torched soon thereafter by the Big Baddies. And they continue the hunt for both Keepers and Guardian statues--the remaining six which seem to be scattered to the four winds. All while dodging the Dark Ones. Ella's standoff in her childhood home leaves her with far better magical skills, and a few less enemies. \n It seems, instead of the usual rituals to awaken these magnificent defenders of humanity, a single woman of power can entreat the creature within to break his stony bonds--much like Ella did for Kees--if she is his true mate. And one of Ella's art friends may have found another Guardian. As this is the beginning of a new Gargoyles series, I expect there to be six similar books where a smart sassy gal brings her personal stony savior to life all to save the world. \n In total I liked the magical elements. I felt that Ella wasn't clueless, but needed training to use the powers she always knew she had. And Kees did train her. Hard. With his teaching, and some books gleaned from essential support characters, Ella built herself from a danger into a weapon for good--and in far less time than Mac Lane. Also, did I mention the sex? Kinda like voting in Chicago it happens early and often... Nice. \n Interested? You can find HEART OF STONE at your local bookstore, Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and iBooks. \n If you pick this one up, make sure to come back and tell me your thoughts. \n In the meantime, keep reading my friends! :)", "date_added": "Wed Jan 29 04:42:02 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 29 04:43:08 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "13594769", "review_id": "cf415aec9a36e1a5d70dedaeb820f9fb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "In this second book of the Gryphon series, Celeste faces demons on a daily basis. That's what happens when you are chosen to be the Conduit for the Gryphon's mystical power. \n The demonic forces on Earth are clamoring for control--two factions seem to be rising. One led by the Countess and the other by an unknown, though Celeste believes this leader is her former boyfriend,Alec. And, she's determined to save him. \n Being the Conduit, Celeste is locked in a mortal battle against the demons, and uses the super strength, speed and cunning of the Gryphon to kick butt. Lots of times she's getting her butt kicked, too. Throughout Celeste has the help of her older brother, Gabe who can morph into a giant lion to protect Celeste. Also, her younger sister, Kendall, can fly and has super healing powers, as does their Spirit Guide Alaina, who is dating Gabe and seems to offer a modicum of training. \n Celeste seems to be this otherwise unworldly girl. She has no social life, constantly wants to kill demons to assuage her anger issues, and gets tongue-tied around attractive men. Not helpful, as she's confronted by two delectable males early in the story, but nothing goes aright. Caleb steals her heart....Rowan steals he will..and Alec returns with his demonic girlfriend to warn Celeste that the end is nigh. \n Then, of course, there is the Glee Club from Hell, a band of demons who are sent by the Countess to destroy Celeste. Feeling as though these poor souls have the raw end of the deal, Celeste befriends them. Big mistake, but then again it seems most of the new players in this book have demonic origins. \n When the Countess comes, it's a winner take all struggle that leaves Celeste with a big choice--trust Caleb, or her own instincts. \n It was a fun creative tale. Tons of snarky asides and one-liners, which were funny at times, however, I wished for a bit more sophistication in the language. Also, the Smashwords copy I received from the author (for the purpose of a book tour review) was riddled with errors and typos. This hampered my enjoyment considerably.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 24 16:58:27 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 24 17:18:57 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "15751395", "review_id": "b7bdf2085cc452f37389e5cebdb5e221", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Aldric is a former soldier. His Alliance compatriots destroyed the Earth with nuclear weaponry and then departed to spaceships to wait while the radioactivity dissipates. Left behind to wait out the recovery--tantamount to a death sentence--are millions of people who didn't make the cut. Orphans, Anarchist soldiers, the old, infirm, infertile...and people like Aldric. Because he's fertile but unlikely to procreate--being a homosexual. \n Aldric has roamed the land for five years now. He enters a populated area and encounters Daniel, a historian. It's Daniel's mission to record the memories of Earth's forgotten to upload it for the colonists to view when they return in a century. He's also a target of the Forest Boys--marauders who will kill to obtain what supplies the desire. \n Daniel recognizes Aldric's strength and hires him to be a bodyguard, which is great--except Aldric strives to keep his past secret, and it's hard to do when he's in close quarters. See, Aldric's got some replacement parts courtesy of the military following a mortar attack. Daniel discovers this after Aldric is injured saving him from an ambush. Oddly, Daniel isn't repulsed, and doesn't send Aldric away. \n In fact, things seem to get good between them, on account of Daniel also being into men. This is short-lived however. And Aldric's back on the road. At least, until Daniel's ex attacks. \n This story is both somber and uplifting. Throughout all, there is this pervasive inevitability of death. People know they aren't going to survive, yet they attempt to live the best they can. This fatalistic approach allows for people to not only do heinous things (the Forest Boys) it also allows for people strive for better, and to build lasting bonds (Aldric and Daniel). I really enjoyed the story and felt the world building was excellent. The complex relationship between Aldric and Daniel felt so real. I wanted very much for them to find some peace in their desolate world, and that hope was met. \n This novella is a prequel to a two book series, but stands alone quite nicely. I received a free review copy of this book through the Don't Buy My Love program.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 20 17:16:59 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 20 18:07:31 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "18278456", "review_id": "fe6d3c31d219c3341f029a1c8f6e79e7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Orion is a disgraced hero. Previously first lieutenant to General Ares, his illicit affair with fellow soldier Meme has landed him in prison to be sold as a sex slave. Now his beloved General Ares has decided to purchase Orion--for his own personal use. \n In sorrow over the uncertainty of Meme's future, Orion begs Ares to also purchase Meme. Ares warns Orion that he will use Meme at will, something that deeply unsettles Orion, but he'd still rather know Meme is safe. Before their discovery, Meme had been his sub, and Orion feels a Dom responsibility for his safety. \n This novella is a pre-quel companion to the author's Slave of Heart which I have not read. It works as a standalone, fully describing both Orion and Ares through alternating POV. I had a definite sense of Orion's anguish--over the loss of his position, the loss of Meme, and the loss of General Ares' esteem. \n Ares is consumed with getting Orion not to behave \"like\" a slave, but as a sub. In doing so he neglects Orion, driving Orion hunger for his touch so greatly that Orion is able to actively submit himself. The final task that Orion must experience before Ares will take him is to learn that a sub's love can be transferred. Orion must witness Meme's complete submission to Ares--and it breaks his heart. \n In the resolution a bargain is struck. Also, the set-up for Slave of Heart is created, with the expectation that Orion will accompany Ares into a looming war--this time as his slave, not his lieutenant. It seems implied that Orion will also do battle, however. \n It was a solid story pet-up. I enjoyed the quiet interaction of the three characters. And the power structure was well-described and consistent. \n I received a free copy of this book from the author as part of the Don't Buy My Love exchange on Goodreads.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 17 15:03:53 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 17 15:25:57 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jan 17 15:25:57 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "13570854", "review_id": "e9d52052ee6a625312921c4d79203c96", "rating": 5, "review_text": "FINALLY!! \n Blaylock has loved Qhuinn, despite his mismatched eyes and outcast status, forever. Qhuinn knows this, but he is unwilling to accept that love--feeling mostly unworthy, but also harboring a desire to conform, in any small way that he can--particularly as his family has always hated him for being imperfect. \n In previous books this dynamic has been well fleshed out, but in Lover At Last, Qhuinn's story, we see a new vulnerability. His family is dead and he's on his own. A willingness to chase Blay to find a REAL connection now consumes Qhuinn, but that's not so easy for a few reasons. \n 1. Blay's dating Qhuinn's cousin Saxton \n 2. Blay's very hurt that Qhuinn has repeatedly spurned his affection. \n 3. Qhuinn's going to be a daddy--now that he knocked up one of the Chosen. \n Still, the attraction is fierce. And once Saxton steps aside, Blay allows himself to sample a bit of Qhuinn, never believing that Qhuinn is capable of a real relationship. \n Boy, was he wrong. \n And, man, I did love me this book. \n It's a full-on M/M romance with sex scenes as wet and brutal as a hurricane. And, yet, the tender moments are equally fulfilling and thoroughly captivating. I long ago fell in love with Qhuinn falling in love with Blay. To see them finally connect? Rapture.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 16 03:58:45 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 16 04:11:25 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "2382052", "review_id": "0f76305314acc5ff562adb33c31f2394", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This Grandmammy of the modern erotic novel is sex from page three. \n Anne Rice's BDSM fantasy tracks the waking of Princess Beauty by the Prince--by intercourse, instead of a kiss. Yeah. \n In claiming Beauty, the Prince takes her from her kingdom to serve in his own. She is stripped, and forced to march the two day journey a naked slave, always willing to please her new master. Hmm. \n While there, Beauty is to be the Prince's personal sex slave. She is washed and pampered and to be kept is a state of constant ripeness. She is examined and pranced about and played with by other members of the Court. And other slaves, as well, but don't tell the prince... \n Bear in mind, the characters are 16 (Beauty) and 18 (Prince) y/o. Bear in mind, it is a BDSM fairytale. Bear in mind, there is going to be a lot of sex, punishment, graphic depictions of BDSM punishment, etc. This book (and series) is not for the...sensitive reader. \n Many of the scenes include forcible intercourse as the royal sex slaves, of which Beauty is now one, are 'properly trained' in Queen Eleanor's domain--with the promise that they will return to their own kingdoms to rule much improved in wisdom and temperment... \n It is highly erotic, and fully graphic, and strangely interesting.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 16 03:29:37 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 03 01:05:57 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu May 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "19167136", "review_id": "473b97ee80009e26c5be07351df2e819", "rating": 5, "review_text": "If you had to marry for love or marry for peace, what would you choose? \n That's the question facing Princess Aniri, Third Daughter to the Queen of Dharia. \n It's two weeks until Aniri can choose to marry her beau--Devesh--a courtesan and emissary from Samir. Her two older sisters have already married men that compliment their station, even when love is not present, and Aniri is determined to follow her heart, not her duty. \n Especially when her duty involves marrying Prince Malik, heir to the throne of the barbarous northern Jungali provinces. No. No! NO! \n Except, Aniri knows she can't decline outright--and rumors of a Jungali airship weapon are serious indeed. If Aniri accepts the prince's proposal she can get close enough to find out if the airship is real--and maybe she can help her homeland and her mother's Queendom figure out how to avoid a war. \n Prince Malik makes it easy on Aniri--he tells her their marriage would be one of business. That she could (discreetly) take a lover if she wished. Hmm... And her mother, the Queen, assures her that the choice is hers. \n Aniri does what she must--becomes a spy. I loved her reactions to the 'barbarians\" she encounters on her journey north! Oh, how sweet to have her realize, \"Hey, they're pretty awesome in their own way!\" Then Devesh shows up and tells her the airship is a ruse--a trick to get her to marry Malik. After which she will be killed and her beloved country Dharia overrun by Samir and Jungali. Aniri doesn't know who to believe, and espionage is not her strong suit. The political intrigue is high and Aniri barely escapes an attempt on her life. \n The tension is fierce throughout. Each new chapter brings Aniri closer to either love, or death. We got a fantastic steampunk world, with an east Indian flair, and a strong female main character who picks up the ball and runs her hardest. Even when she fumbles, Aniri is worthy of cheers because she learns from her mistakes and never quits. \n What I hadn't expected, and thoroughly adored, was Malik's assistance. He realizes his only shot at peace is this marriage, and he's willing to trust a confessed spy with the biggest military secret of his country. Aniri could never have learned what was necessary to save her people without Malik earning her forever trust. And Devesh? Well, perhaps an on-the-side lover isn't the best place for him in the Jungali court. In the end, Aniri does choose her own husband. And she chooses very well indeed. \n Three words to describe this Third Daughter? Indomitable. Passionate. Resourceful. She's my kind of heroine. \n So, a bit of disclosure: I have known the delightful Susan Kaye Quinn for going on four years. We are longtime critique partners and I've read everything she's published (except the INDIE GUIDE TO SELF PUBLISHING). THIRD DAUGHTER is, in fact, the first book I received from Sue as a freebie for the purpose of review. I absolutely LOVED it, and would recommend it to any YA reader. It's smidgeon of passion--some swoony kisses--won't make you blush but will get your heart beating.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 04 05:50:48 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 06 16:59:56 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Dec 12 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "18324431", "review_id": "b76a4318fc6be65d2a4f3fef1ed38009", "rating": 4, "review_text": "***I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. \n ***Also, some spoilers. \n Seventeen y/o Raille's mother has been murdered and she's been shipped to a half-brother she never knew. This new life is strange, though not as strange as Raille--who has healing powers she swore to her mother she would never reveal. \n In this new home, however, people expect that she has her mother's gifts. At least, her mother's former husband does. \n While Raille strives to build a new life for herself she becomes involved with Kyle, the school's resident hottie. Part of Raille's power allows her to sense the illness in those around her. Small diseases or injuries can be healed without much effort, but a serious or life-threatening condition will steal her strength, and results in misfortune for someone close to her--which is why she uses her power sparingly. \n Her relationship with Kyle is threatened by the discovery that Raille's grandmother botched a healing attempt on his mother--leaving her erratic and abusive. Still, he recognizes that Raille's power is real--and in time Raille is able to heal the wounds her grandmother caused. \n In fact, Raille's healing skill seems to progress to the point where there are no secondary ill effects. So much so that she agrees to heal her niece's inoperable brain tumors. Behind this, Raille learns the secret plot that brought her to her new home and discovers her mother's killer. \n The healing takes a dangerous turn, however, and soon Raille must find her own father--a man she has never met--in order to save herself from harm. \n This book ends on a very serious cliffhanger. It started rather slow and the build up to revealing Raille's power seemed overlong. It was well-written and will likely appeal to YA readers.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 01 06:08:49 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 01 06:45:38 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Oct 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "18279205", "review_id": "935ce57563eb10d8ef5992b80c2436ae", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked it. Charlie is a little sensitive, a little snarky, and a lot heroic. She'll brawl to help anyone weak defeat their attackers. She doesn't tolerate mean girls and can't understand why the new males in her life find her attractive...particularly Caiden Gallagher, the perpetually youthful 400+ year old Annihilator serving as Charlie's mentor. \n Of course, Charlie's mean girls aren't only students--her headmistress Sarah is part of the I-Hate-Charlie club also, mainly because Sarah has a history with Caiden, one she'd like to repeat. The story reminds me a bit of Veronica Roth's DIVERGENT without the dystopia and recruit maiming. Charlie must master hand-to-hand combat so she can survive battle. With demons. But only the bad demons, because, for an interesting twist, not all demons are bad. Who knew? \n I love Charlie's gay BFF Justas. He's a beefy character, not stereotypically done--think Tiny Cooper--and he's a nice foil to Charlie's occasional pessimism. Plucky Emerson Potts, the tiny black waif recruit, will remind you of Rue (Hunger Games) but we get to know her quite a lot better. \n Charlie's doing well in her training, and Caiden is keeping her fantasies filled, but it's Charlie's heart that takes over the story. It's easy to root for a hero, and Charlie defines the archetype. I wasn't surprised by the ambush ending, but I was unsettled by the sudden appearance of Charlie's real father. In all it feels like a good start to a quality series.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 14 03:27:18 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 14 03:28:54 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "17305421", "review_id": "da70a599c507ba39c5ac0f5200d28ca9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This one is a perfect blend of snark, fantasy and swoon! \n MY DATE FROM HELL begins where it should--with Sophie being tortured within an inch of her life by her dad, Zeus. Family, ain't it grand? \n Still Sophie--a reincarnation of Persephone--can't reclaim the memories she's being tortured to divulge. So she battles on. In the process she frees herself, and Kai--Kyrillos, son of Hades--who is likewise up for execution. Sophie returns to her Vancouver boarding school to learn her magically-enhanced-bully, Bethany, is poised to claim supreme star-status with the help of Hermes--god of tricksters. \n Oh, and Sophie has less than two months to regain Persephone's memories and fall in love with Kai, or humanity is doomed. But Sophie can't seem to let go of her fears that Kai will only love her for Persephone's sake, and not her own. And that's kinda not so okay with Sophie. \n Though Eros and Aphrodite toss in some magic, Sophie can't overcome her own romantic notion that a person should be really in love, not simply faking it. Kai gets it, and he'd like to let her know his own feelings on the matter, but hey, gods have their pride. \n In order to unravel Persephone's memories, Sophie turns to master caster-Hephestus-also known by his hipster name, Festos. And, he's game to help if Sophie can maybe sway Theo into looking his way again. Oh, and Eros volunteers to rescue the brain-drain, but it's gonna hurt. So the merry bunch takes off after Hermes, on a date arranged by Aphrodite, to cut the cord on Bethany's villainous popularity. \n The date between Sophie and Kai soon becomes a Game of Death to rescue Hannah and gain Hermes' cooperation. Along the way Sophie begins to see that Kai isn't all bubbly over Persephone any longer. No, he's realized that Sophie's a pretty extraordinary gal--what with her snark and her magic powers and her saving the day. In fact, Sophie's willingness to accept Kai is what returns Persephone's memories. Now she knows who tried to kill her years ago in Hades. \n And, sadly, that person is back to finish the job.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 31 17:56:32 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 31 17:57:55 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "15749326", "review_id": "b052994d9843875f1e4a7f23b584ce22", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sixteen year old Sophie Bloom is an ordinary girl. She has two BFF's, Hannah and Theo, and a bully--yoga-goddess-Bethany, and a mother who mostly can't be bothered, which is why she lives at her Vancouver boarding school. \n On Halloween Sophie pulls a laxative prank on the vile Bethany, then sneaks out to ruin Bethany's rendezvous with a mysterious boy, Kai. If only high school hijinks were so simple. Sophie does meet Kai, but instead of humiliating Bethany, the kiss Sophie receives triggers an onslaught of memories from her prior life--as Persephone, goddess of Spring and Fertility. Turns out Kai is really Kyrillos, son of Hades, and Persephone's jilted ex. \n Kai's about to reclaim his long-lost love when Theo--who is really Prometheus--intercedes, dragging Sophie back to the school grounds. \n Kai enrolls himself in the school--that's the only way he can get near Sophie/Persephone thanks to Theo's magical wards--but Sophie's not really that keen on him. I mean, he's gorgeous but Sophie's concerned that Kai only wants her for Persephone--and she can't even remember that life. Of course, Bethany's on a mission to win Kai for herself, and the spite is quintessential Mean Girl. \n Yeah, and you thought your high school romances were complicated! \n Classmate Cassie spouts earth-shattering prophesy only Persephone can avert--by hooking up with Kai--cementing the weird-factor. Oh, and Sophie develops defensive magic of her own, which is great now that Hades and Zeus have sent their lightning and fireball wielding minions to destroy her. \n Desperate to reclaim her inner Persephone, Theo takes Sophie to the Underworld to find her magical sapphire--a gift from Persephone's mother, Demeter. While there they are framed for poisoning Hades and barely escape. And, upon their return, they learn that Cassie and Bethany have gone missing--vanished by the new guidance counselor. \n Sophie, Kai, Theo and Hannah brave the labyrinth to rescue Cassie from her dragon captor (oh, and Bethany, too, if it works out, you know) forcing previous foes to become allies. It's a dangerous mission, and may be the end of all things humanity if they fail. \n Homerun, Tellulah Darling! \n This YA paranormal romance is a total hoot. The voice: teen-angst-plus-Greek-god-ennui makes for an acidic, deadpan wit that rides roughshod over all those weepy-weepy-poor-me coming-of-age tales. From the first I was struck with laughter. I was totally endeared to Sophie--all she wants is to be loved for her self without, you know, looking like she wants to be loved at all. Because, for a lot of teens, trying to be anything is trying too hard, and hence, so not cool. The puns are merciless--EX FROM HELL?--take it literally.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 29 18:44:57 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 29 18:45:48 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "13513078", "review_id": "50a3ecd73204f58637961e38bc772a40", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This feature is a RURAL fantasy. Ha! Coined a new subgenre right 'ere! It's like an urban fantasy, but the setting is rural--so, yeah... \n Anyhoo, Stephanie Rowe's DARKNESS AWAKENED is not a vamp tale. It's not an angel tale, either. It is a romantic adventure with paranormal elements, however, and that caught my eye. \n Here's what happens: \n Quinn Masters isn't just a Calydon warrior--he's a member of the Order of the Blade--an elite fighting unit charged with keeping the peace between Calydonians and hiding their existence from the human population. Order members are virtually immortal--Quinn is over 500 years old--but they are forbidden to take mates. See, for Order members, mating women is to invite madness. Never a good idea to have lunatic assassins on the loose, methinks. While on a training mission in the untamed Oregon forests, Quinn's team of new recruits is slain by one of his own--Elijah, a trusted mentor and friend. \n When he recovers from his injuries, Quinn discovers Grace Matthews waiting on his doorstep. Grace knows revealing her presence is tantamount to a death sentence--Illusionists like herself have been hunted to near extinction--but she needs Quinn's help to rescue her sister Ava from a malevolent being--the same one who turned Elijah on his fellow Calydonians. Quinn doesn't realize Grace's Illusionist powers at first, but he certainly apprehends her feminine powers--the attraction between them has it's own GPS signal for goodness sake!--so he's anxious to send Grace on her merry way. \n Of course, when Quinn's home is attacked with them trapped inside, he and Grace become unlikely partners in order to escape. And, it turns out, Grace is able to track Ava's Illusions so she has value in finding Elijah before he goes psycho yet again. \n On the quest for Elijah and Ava, the attraction between Grace and Quinn blossoms. So much so that the Order is ready to terminate Grace to save Quinn from mating madness. Good thing she can conjure Illusions to protect herself! \n The plot is active and the voice is playful. It's not too hot and spicy, but it's clearly got strong romantic elements. I loved the banter between Quinn and Grace. This is the first in a series and we get a good look at several Order members upon which the continuing plot rests.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 16 15:38:26 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 22 19:06:21 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "6289920", "review_id": "50ac669f8ea40e198a34e0d8f0502317", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In COVET, our return to Caldwell, New York has more celestial implications. \n See, God's kinda bored with the centuries-long battle for souls. The deal: Seven people must choose God or Evil in a winner-take-all. If the majority end up choosing God, humanity and the universe win, we go on, no more evil... \n If the other side wins? It's the end...of everything. \n The players: Jim \"Zacharias\" Heron has come to Caldwell on a mission to reinvent himself. He's a military operative who's grown weary of the assassin life. While blending in, he's befriended by Adrian and Eddie--two Harley riding individuals who sometimes don't throw shadows in sunlight... \n Jim's path becomes diverted by electrocution--yeah, he dies. Not good form to kill your MC in the first few chapters, but it works here. We get to meet angels and Jim gets his purpose: to save the soul of Vin diPietro--a multimillionaire developer under the control of a powerful demon. \n This task is made somewhat easier when Vin sets eyes on Marie-Therese, a prostitute with a cause. She's been through the wringer following a brutal divorce and kidnapping of her son. Now that she has Robbie back, her one goal is to pay off the costs of his recovery--being a high-priced hooker has been key to that purpose. \n Vin is struck by her, but also by the need to protect her. His clairvoyance has revealed Marie-Terese is the target of a dark presence and the cost may be her life. And, she's freakin' hot, so Vin has two reasons to keep close tabs on her. \n As Jim and Vin both work to save Vin's soul, Vin's girlfriend Devina proves to be a dangerous connection; one that might be the end of this game. \n In the end, COVET is a fast-paced, Good-v-Evil smackdown that has a fantastic romance arc and plenty of smexy bits. It's a giant departure from the BDB novel series, and yet, with the same location and some cross-over characters, I felt engaged from the start.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 14 06:23:38 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 14 06:25:13 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Oct 14 06:25:13 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "16032236", "review_id": "16b1c938afc91aeff790ab94f5cefccc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Now we're catching up with Julie and Marcus a few weeks later. They've just gotten un-grounded following capers from the last story and are dating. Julie's mom is as protective as ever, urging Julie in ways subtle and not-at-all-subtle to break things off with Marcus. Ultimately it comes down to a simple principle: Marcus isn't magical. Which means, despite his knowledge and his love for Julie, he's defenseless against other magic practicioners. \n Julie, of course, rebels against the thought. But when she sees the raw effects of dark magic on several of her classmates, she knows Mom's...right (Don't we all hate when that happens?!) Marcus isn't pleased but he respects Julie's pleas to simply stay out of danger. \n Good thing Julie has a new sidekick in this story! Or, should I say partner? Because anyone who can summon a spirit Grizzly to kick tail? Yeah, that's some fierce magic, my friends. First Nation mages, Twyla Standingready and her grandfather, are formidable allies in this quest against dark magic. \n The climax is heavy--and more than one white witch sacrifices everything to save Julie's schoolmates from death. Kind of a kick in the ass when Marcus is corrupted by the very evil Julie is hunting, though. \n I was so shocked at Marcus in the end. I mean, sure, it's no fun having a dark spirit turn your thoughts evil, but...but...come on, man! \n True love? \n Ring a freakin' bell?? \n STUDENT BODIES wraps completely, so no cliffhangers...(except for that one part, where the kids nearly pull a lemming)...but anywho, only the emotional ties remain to be re-woven in a possible third installment. \n Again, this novel has a yellow light for cussing, but, hey, it ain't no thing but a chicken wing, baby. Kids cuss. \n Strong themes of tolerance and anti-bullying plot elements outweigh a stray F-bomb, IMHO. I'd recommend STUDENT BODIES to any reader who enjoys YA paranormal adventure or romance fiction.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 07 07:07:10 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 28 04:43:58 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "13533669", "review_id": "cc4af092ac84fdf5b79d22f3469430b8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Julie Richardson's life as a teenage witch is complicated. \n First, Julie's mom is always ragging on her to make sure her potions are smite-worthy and her hexes rock. \n Then, Julie's pool of potential friends is small because it's damn hard hiding her innate witch powers. Too many times odd stuff 'just happens' around her. Good thing she's known Marcus, her BFF, forever. He's a handy punching bag for the football players, but he's brilliant and super loyal. And, Marla's goth, so... yeah. Julie's not fantastically popular. \n Still, she's a good witch, and that's how she gets into trouble: helping others. \n After removing a poltergeist from a neighbor's home, Julie and her mom sense a new malevolent force in their area. Marcus wants to help, despite not being a witch, because, well, he's secretly crazy about Julie. When another poltergeist attacks the high school, Julie, her mom, and Marcus must rescue Marla. And that's when Julie's good deed goes punished. \n Julie's mom gets hexed with a killing curse, Endless Night, and Julie has two days to wake her from a coma before her body succumbs. \n To save her mom's life, Julie and Marcus team up to find Hudibras, the practitioner responsible for the attacks. In the midst of the hunt, Julie meets the ghost of her father for the first time. Alive he'd been a Shadowcull, an agent of coven justice, but he was murdered when Julie was young child. Julie receives his bracelet, which couples with her amulet to magnify her natural powers, and takes her place as the next Shadowcull. \n Now, all Julie needs to do is smoke out Hudibras, save her mom, and decide if Marcus is The One. Tick, tock. \n I really loved POLTERGEEKS. The relationship between mother and daughter is spot-on. Impulsive, irrational at times, and eager to take on too much responsibility to prove she can handle it, Julie is every bit fifteen. Her selflessness and emotional awareness are admirable in equal parts. Julie is resourceful and decisive, and I love that in a YA heroine. She met Hudibras on her terms and, despite the shock of betrayal, Julie kicked serious ass. Julie is likeable and grounded, for being a witch with exceptional power. She and Marcus make a great team, and the budding romance between them is done with a light touch--particularly as Julie can't focus on Marcus while also fighting to save her mom's life. \n Just so we are clear, the language in this one is probably PG-13. Still, I hear 9 year-olds who curse more at the park, so I'm gonna let it go. YMMV.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 27 18:08:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 27 18:09:26 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "16124151", "review_id": "23ddc0629312f894c3a2e0d55ee5c389", "rating": 5, "review_text": "How can a person refuse a gift from Lucifer? \n The Great Deceiver has only had one person in history deny his temptation--and we all know what happened to Him. \n So, really it's no shock that Brielle accepts Lucifer's terrible gift. One designed to undermine her faith--not only in God, but in herself and the power within her. \n DARK HALO, the final book in Shannon Dittemore's ANGEL EYES trilogy, elegantly addresses temptation in all its forms. From simple deception to outright seduction, Brielle, Jake and Marco repeatedly risk loss of soul to Lucifer's plans. (Click for reviews of Angel Eyes or Broken Wings) \n Continuing where BROKEN WINGS left us, Jake is missing--captured by the demon Damien. He is soon joined by Olivia and Marco--and Canaan's halo. Damien wishes to use the halo for his own purpose, but it weakens him. \n Desperate with fear over Jake's disappearance, Brielle and Kaylee set off to find him following communication from God's Throne Room. The rescue is botched, however, allowing Damien to take Brielle and Jake to Danakil, site of a long ago battle between Lucifer and God's host. \n A sulphrous salt desert, Danakil is otherwise known as Hell on Earth. Canaan arrives to reclaim Jake, but cannot take Brielle until she has endured Lucifer's temptation. Lucifer doesn't want her soul...he wants her to wear his dark halo--to drown the Celestial from her vision. \n Why not? For Brielle seeing the human fear and Celestial war is exhausting. She cannot even sleep without nightmares--who doesn't want a good night's sleep, right? \n In the end, Brielle refuses his gift, but Lucifer slips the halo onto her before he disappears. Brielle's challenge--to exist with the constant emotional overload of Celestial vision, or succumb to Lucifer's temptation--forms the bulk of the narrative. Jake endeavors to keep Brielle sane, yet her moments of weakness are frequent and consuming. \n Marco's temptation is more personal. He promised to avenge the murder of his girlfriend, Ali. Olivia's grandfather, Henry, is the man responsible. Among his other sins, Henry is pedophilic and ran a blackmarket baby-selling operation. Seems like a no-brainer to snuff his life, IMHO, but that's not within God's plan. And, while Marco isn't particularly devout, he has learned a thing or three about his soul, thanks to Jake and Canaan. \n By uncovering Ali's story we learn a great deal about Jake's origins, and the connections between Olivia, Marco, and Brielle's mother, Hannah. Dittemore's deft hands build tenuous connections into strong plot lines that engage the mind and heart. \n What this story excels at: revelation of story through multiple view points. The prose is spectacular and the decisions are meaningful and universal. What person out there hasn't blamed a higher being for mortal woes? Who among us has never felt an overwhelming need for peace, at any cost? \n DARK HALO is YA paranormal fiction suitable for all teens and up. The trilogy is enchanting, and a wonderful selection for readers who enjoy faith-based fiction. For myself, I found it to be compelling without feeling preachy. \n You can pick it up today!", "date_added": "Wed Aug 21 06:04:59 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 29 06:09:15 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "13246736", "review_id": "b265659a3bd9f4acccb994cbfc9794d7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Had a bit of a mind blow when I encountered this sentiment: Immortal does not mean eternal. \n Truly, there are subtleties to the words. Immortal means to not die, to not be liable to death, whereas, Eternal means forever existing. But if something doesn't die, it's eternal, right? \n No. If it was created, it can be uncreated. \n And, it turns out, the pantheon of Greek gods was created. Who knew? \n So, why am I waxing all philosophical about the shades of difference between immortal and eternal? \n Simple. \n Got meself an ARC of ANTIGODDESS, due out September 10th, Book One in the The Goddess War series by Kendare Blake--so I read it. \n Definitely liked it. \n What's it about, you wonder? \n Greek gods living-or I should say dying-in the here and now. \n I see you over there shaking your head and wagging that pointy appendage. Yes, you, you beady-eyed provincial! Of course, contemporary mythology is an oxymoron. \n Gimmick, you say? Point well taken, but-gimmick or no-this YA yarn tracking the end of the Titans is a stellar read. \n This multi-viewpoint adventure tracks sibling gods, Athena and Hermes, as they endeavor to discover what force of the universe is killing them. Athena's choking on owl feathers developing within her body. Hermes is ravaged by a steady fever. Both retain some of their god-like powers-strength, wit, speed--but each are diminished. The key to their survival seems to be held by a teen psychic, Cassie--the reincarnation of Cassandra of Troy--whom they must find. Only Cassandra can foresee how to defeat the enemy gods who wish to finish Athena and Hermes off prematurely. \n Cassandra wishes she knew why her visions don't extend past her 18th birthday. Will she be alive, or will her powers simply expire? What she does know is she loves Aiden, but their relationship falls into serious jeopardy when she learns his epic past. Is he even human? \n This book ends with a solid battle and more than one god bites it. I would not call it a happy ending--but it is a satisfactory resolution. Throughout we get an imaginative look at Odysseus, Apollo, Poseidon, Hera, Aphrodite, and the stage is set for Book Two--no question. \n I loved how each god had his/her own unique mannerisms. Athena-goddess of war and wisdom-is naturally austere, and totally fashion unaffected. Meanwhile Hermes-messenger of the gods and god of thieves-is a creature of comfort and has no qualms stealing the best clothes, food or lodgings on their travels. \n Though this is YA I really found the sexual tension between Athena and her favored hero, Odysseus, to be interesting. ANTIGODDESS is clean as a whistle and age-appropriate to young teens, so I wonder how this attraction will play out in the coming books. \n And now I'm wondering how to get me a copy of the next book... \n PS Giving away my ARC to a commenter on my ANTIGODDESS review on my blog...ends Aug 23. US only. \n Check it out here: http://vsreads.com/2013/08/19/behold-...", "date_added": "Tue Aug 20 12:16:36 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 20 12:20:30 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "15869682", "review_id": "a620b941d657a0aca8bbd775cdf907d2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Brielle Matthews has learned seeing the handiwork of God's creation can be a bit overwhelming. \n BROKEN WINGS, the second in the Angel Eyes trilogy by Shannon Dittemore, returns Brielle to the role of heroine. (See my review of ANGEL EYES here) \n Picking up six months after ANGEL EYES, Brielle, Kaylee and Jake have just graduated high school. Stratus is celebrating the opening of a new community center, spearheaded by Kaylee and funded by Olivia Hart's foundation. \n Brielle knows something isn't right about Olivia--Canaan's halo burns hot whenever she comes near, but Brielle's even more unsettled by her father's behavior. Seems Olivia brings out the alcoholic in her dad. \n Coupled with her Celestial vision--Brielle observes Angels and Demons within the human realm--she is being haunted by dreams of her mother's demise. Learning that her mother's coffin was buried empty is a shock of the first order. Could she still be alive? \n And why are Angels circling her home? \n Meanwhile, Brielle is affected by the tar-like fear rolling off everyone she meets. It is only in worship and prayer that she sees the fear disintegrate. So why is Jake--the most devout person Brielle knows--sweating fear? \n Jake's love for Brielle shines through his steadfast gaze, yet she is stunned by his fear. They are meant for each other--God himself gave Jake an engagement ring for her--so, what is he hiding? \n In the Celestial realm, Damien has met with Lucifer and revealed his knowledge of Jake and Brielle's gifts. He is able to garner Lucifer's interest and secure instructions to collect them in two week's time. Damien uses Olivia to not only capture Jake and Brielle, but also Canaan's halo. \n See, Lucifer is planning a battle, and Stratus has become Ground Zero. \n Despite the bond between Jake and Brielle, doubt remains. Jake's risky mission to discover his parentage separates them at the absolute WORST time. And, when he doesn't return, Brielle's fledgling faith is put to the test. \n Again, Shannon Dittemore has spun a beautifully crafted story of love, faith, doubt and keeping our demons at bay. For those who enjoy paranormal fiction, BROKEN WINGS is a fantastic tale. Contemporary themes and realistic emotional content keep this story grounded firmly in the Terrestrial, with eyes to the skies and hope for a safe resolution.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 10 14:35:18 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 10 14:36:00 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "11836562", "review_id": "b89e5e6f0e443d4c46edf58432fde72f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Where do humans exist within the universe? \n Somewhere between angels and demons, squarely within the Terrestrial according to Shannon Dittemore's YA paranormal ANGEL EYES. \n Brielle has returned to her hometown of Stratus a shell of the graceful ballerina who left two years prior on a prestigious arts school scholarship. Instead of being the star on stage, Brielle is set to become the star-witness against Marco, the young man accused of killing her best friend Ali. \n Barely able to contain her grief, Brielle has no desire to dance and struggles to attend school. Even when the new boy, Jake Shield, takes a serious interest in her. \n Unknown to Brielle, forces are working both for and against her. Canaan Shield, Jake's guardian, is an angel whose new mission is to keep Brielle safe, while the demon Damian discovers Jake and Brielle possess gifts rare among humankind. \n Currently in disgrace, Damian quickly realizes Jake and Brielle would be valuable assets to Lucifer, if only he can corrupt their purpose. His role in a child-slavery business draws Brielle into danger, the same danger that killed Ali, and her new gift allows her to be the heroine of more than just her own life. \n ANGEL EYES's beautifully written prose unravels more than a forgiveness tale; it is an epic battle between goodness and evil which challenges the reader to take a new vision of the world surrounding us. \n I very much enjoyed the fresh perspective. The mostly-linear plot facilitates both understanding and anticipation, especially considering the multiple points-of-view. \n ANGEL EYES is the first in a trilogy.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 08 16:36:10 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 08 16:40:27 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "17925525", "review_id": "2b72c7e0175831dd3e1ba58645744906", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In the penultimate episode of the Debt Collector serial, titled RUTHLESS, Lirium/Joe and Elena attempt to track the illegal collections from terminal children. With Lirium's brute force and Elena's tech genius they are able to crack into Candy's accounts and pinpoint the pattern of collection. Unfortunately, there's a new collection scheduled for the next day and Lirium must send out the alert before another life is terminated early. \n At the end of the last episode, Lirium/Joe saved his mother from collection. And, that's great, at least until she decides her remaining days would be best spent in the pursuit of an experimental cure. \n Joe is distraught, and wants to prevent Dr. Brodsky from testing his tissue-boosting technology on her, but he realizes it's not his choice to make. Knowing he can't postpone alerting the authorities to Candy's illegal tranfer activity, Joe asks his mother to wait until he returns before beginning the experiment. While his contact wants to help cease the transfers, nothing can be done without hard evidence of the transfers--and the only way to get that is for Joe to confront the rogue collector, Moloch, to save another young life. \n The action is still high, and the romantic spark building between Joe and Elena seems ready to burn into flame...so huge hopes for the final episode in this excellent series.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 14 10:14:40 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 14 10:13:38 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "15813668", "review_id": "2529288addc9c66f42284ba7c2fc2fba", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The fifth book in this series is not a let down. \n If anything, I'm trying to locate the lovely Ms. Jones's net server so I can hack in for her e-galley of the next book in the series. \n Why? \n Because she--somehow--made a gal raised in a christian home fall in love with the son of Satan. \n That's right. I love her super-Alpha love interest Reyes Alexander Farrow. I may have some competition from Charley, but hey... \n Here's what happens. Charley is a reaper--actually the only living one in existence. Her humor is Outer Limits--I crack up reading her deadpan observations--which takes a bit of the \"grimness\" out of her reaper duties: being a portal through which the dead cross into the afterlife. When they pass through her, she absorbs some of their memories. Communicating with the dead is handy for Charley's private investigator work. Especially when she helps her uncle solve crimes in his job as a Detective for the Albuquerque PD. \n In this book, Charley's longstanding attraction to Reyes Farrow is tested to the limit. See, Reyes has moved into her building--right next door. And he keeps leaving her these sexy Post-its telling her to come over. Charley would like to--but she's nervous. First, as the son of Satan Reyes may be able to lead Lucifer's army straight into Heaven by breaching Charley's portal. Also, Charley suspects Reyes is behind a string of arsons that inexplicably have destroyed every dwelling Reyes ever shared with his sexually abusive step-father. Places where photographic evidence of Reyes' molestation had been hidden in the walls... \n At her core, Charley is an honest soul. She won't hesitate to turn Reyes in if he's a criminal. As she isn't sure, she continues to search for evidence. In the meantime she and Reyes share some heated (read: smoking hot) encounters. Because--did I mention he makes me swoon?--he's delicious. Intelligent, strong, virile, compassionate and head-over-heels for Charley without losing his magnetic charisma. \n In the midst of her Reyes-confusion, Charley works on solving a newly-discovered serial killer case. She follows a few dead leads, and aids nearly thirty lost souls to find their eternal rest. Her discovery of the arsonist seemed more obvious (to me) but handily removes the tension betwixt herself and Reyes. It seems Charley's life will move to the next level with Reyes into Happily Ever Land--until she's kidnapped by a maniac. \n The book ends with an arrangement I hope Charley will not refuse--even if it means the end of civilization as we know it. \n These books are housed under Mystery at my library--only because they don't have a \"Smoking-Hot-Dead-Funny-Paranormal-Romance-Mystery\" section in the stacks. If you're interested, schedule some vacation time and read this series from the start. I think you'll lose sleep. I know I have.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 09 04:34:20 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 29 07:45:59 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Nov 20 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "13411684", "review_id": "7c51a0082fb739839a5c9b37e47fa0f7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of my pre-ordered 5th book in this series--and cursing the fact that I have fallen head-over-heels for yet another couple for whom I must wait to learn all... \n CURSE YOU PUBLISHING PROCESS THAT TAKES FOREVER TO PUT A BOOK ON THE SHELF! \n Cannot get enough of the tension between Charley--the Grim Reaper--and her on/off love, Reyes, the son of Satan. Who knew that I'd find heartbreak for a devil spawn? \n Darynda Jones you are a miracle maker. Please continue. \n What happens in book four? Charley deals with PTSD after nearly dying in book three. But, you note, she nearly died in all the previous books, so why was this one different? Because in Book 3 the one who nearly killed her was Reyes sadistic foster father--the one Reyes went to jail for killing--who, guess what? wasn't yet dead! \n Oh, the trauma/drama! \n In book four Reyes is free, and we expect Charley and he to finally hit it for reals--not in a dreamscape. Do they? Well, yes, but they take a damn long time to get around to it. Yet, it's exactly the right time when it happens. \n And now, I'm one-part ecstatic knowing that things are going well in Albuquerque, and the other part is frustrated. \n Because it's another month until Book 5 will be shipped to my mailbox! AGONY!!!", "date_added": "Sun Jun 09 03:54:36 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 09 04:08:44 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "8788554", "review_id": "c9cf969e3ede94f031ebcac41db5e14f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Still running down some fave paranormal/Urban Fantasy reads for the October SPOOKTACULAR. \n FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT by Darynda Jones is a gem! \n Charley Davidson is a Reaper. She doesn't actually harvest souls--she's merely a portal--a conduit to the otherside. A Pearly Gate, if you will. \n And, she's been this way her whole life. Even brought her own mother's soul to eternal rest when she died at Charley's birth. \n So, it's no surprise when dead lawyers show up unwilling to ride the express to Eternity. What is shocking? The three of them are partners--and they had a really nasty client. \n Can anyone say m-o-b h-i-t? \n Being the gate to the afterlife doesn't pay bills. Charley works as a PI, and also helps her uncle, a police detective, solve crimes for the Albuquerque PD. Why not? I mean, lots of murder victims could tell her exactly where to find the body and who the perp was. \n Anywho...Charley's seen it all. Except perhaps for the dream lover who continues to sex-her-up when her eyes close. He's the absolute sex bomb. And, for good reason: Reyes Farrow is the son of Satan. Yeah. \n Uber-hot! \n Oh! I see you staring down your nose at me! Who's to say he's pure evil? And, and, even if he is, lots of girls go for the Bad Guy, amiright? \n Besides, he's just a dream lover...which means they do the dirty dance in her head. No need for confession, folks. \n Charley endeavors to solve the mystery of the Three Dead Lawyers whilst dodging a pint-sized poltergeist and commiserating with her BFF/secretary Cookie and lamenting her shitty coffee maker. It's a rollicking time--and Charley manages to get herself beat up (twice?) and nearly shot by a client's abusive husband. In this she would have died but a cloaked visage appears and slices her attacker down with mystical efficiency. \n Here's the thing: this book is Laugh. Out. Loud. Charley is irreverent. She's so dead pan (pun intended) about her interactions with the departed that it stuns the reader into hilarity. In the end she does help the lawyers to crossover and finds out a bit more about the connection between Dreamy Reyes and the cloaked assassin. Oh, and it's hawt. \n FIRST GRAVE is the first in a series--and I've read on. They are soooo fun.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 07 09:01:56 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 03 17:13:11 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "17925521", "review_id": "371fe86276a2587edd48699fe4cacfae", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The word integrity means to be honest, and to keep one's word--essentially making promises and keeping them. Well, that's what has happened here in Episode 7 of the Debt Collector series. \n Fresh off a horrific battle that leaves Lirium on the run from the mob, burdened by guilt, and desperate to find his mother before she's another mob hit--we get a new lens with which to examine this enigmatic hero. Not only does he return to Madam A's to provide life-saving mercy payouts to the dying children housed there, he develops a plan to end the black market transferring of life energy from kids. \n With Lirium's newly enhanced collector ability and his absolutely ruthless sense of duty, the race to save his mother is one he's determined to win. For this he enlists the unwilling help of Candy Kane Thornton--his psych officer who sent the mob after Lirium in the first place. The plan is moving forward, until Lirium's mom is found in the worst of all places for a rescue. \n The pace is tight and the stakes are the highest they've ever been, allowing the reader to examine the cost of a promise, and the value of integrity. \n And, the number of hours (336, ugh!) until the release of Episode 8...", "date_added": "Wed May 29 09:34:23 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed May 29 09:49:28 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "17875985", "review_id": "af3ff04bf45d69280ca50c82254e85c6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In this fifth installment of the Debt Collector a battered Lirium must prove his worth to his mob boss, Kolak, or risk certain death. With help from his mentor, Lirium learns how to control his collection of life-energy from both willing and unwilling donors. And, when faced with the choice between his own soulless end or the end of a high potential, he places yet another life on the line. \n A fast-paced read that will have you asking \"pretty-please-with-sugar-on-top\" for the next episode. Now.", "date_added": "Thu May 23 08:11:48 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu May 23 08:14:13 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "17827014", "review_id": "afd9dce16bb86a54d0269b89d7d97021", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In this fourth installment of The Debt Collector serial, Lirium learns what it's like to be an unwilling collector--as well as a donor. On this journey Lirium joins with Ophelia and Valac--fellow collectors--and united they are an awesome force. \n In his race to break free of his current position, Lirium finds he's responsible for two lives lost within forty pages. And, one of the three collectors is left in a bloody heap. \n Suspense abounds, and the narrative is a strong as ever.", "date_added": "Thu May 23 08:10:35 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu May 23 08:11:33 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "17725162", "review_id": "9b0dabf955355aeb6942b35fd0109abf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In this third installment of The Debt Collector, Lirium transitions from a freelance debt collector to one networked into serving a specific population of transfers. He receives not one, but two offers he can't resist--from a terminally ill children's hospital and as a mob collector. Either of these could mean death for Lirium and, unfortunately, he's stuck with the one he's most likely to regret. \n Excellent pacing and curveballs as always, will keep the reader on edge and wishing for the next episode.", "date_added": "Thu May 23 08:09:25 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu May 23 08:10:20 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "17692947", "review_id": "b5d6fd601345375c233517f87be6bc67", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In this second installment of The Debt Collector serial, readers get a fast paced tour through Lirium's existence. In this world, Lirium's job is to collect the life energy of those who have accrued more material debt than they can repay--and transfer that energy to High Poetntials--valuable members of society who pay to stay alive. \n The opening features a tense collection, followed by a confrontation with Lirium's psych officer, Candy Kane. She assigns Lirium a mentor to train him to better cope with the strain of debt collecting. Within pages Lirium's fighting for his life and swearing vengeance. \n Gotta catch the next episode!", "date_added": "Thu May 23 08:07:46 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu May 23 08:08:55 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "17622734", "review_id": "7af048d42a7e58b7d2df437d6a52b7cd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In this first episode of The Debt Collector serial, we meet Lirium, a young man whose occupation is to collect the life force from those who are dying and transferring this enery to others who can pay. It's a grim job, being a collector, but the payoff is a high like no other. Lirium struggles with his reaper-ness, using sex and alcohol to cope with the depression that hits when he pays out life energy. This time, his sex-cape turns out to more than he bargained for--and the high nearly kills him. \n Lirium is fully aware of his faults, and his self-depricating humor is enjoyable. It's a great start to a compelling series and sure to have readers searching for the next episode.", "date_added": "Thu May 23 05:48:27 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu May 23 05:49:24 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "17560872", "review_id": "d8584bd74fda084541923be39ef225ce", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. \n In this sequel to IN YOUR DREAMS we meet up with Zip McKee and Kieran Lanier right where they left off...grounded. And, that's okay. In fact, it's where I expected to find them. Pretty much that's the end of 'expectations being met', however, because the story far exceeded my already high expectations. \n Sometimes I feel as if I know where a story will go, the subtle (or not-so-subtle) foreshadowing leading me exactly where I think the story must end. And, particularly in romance, that's acceptable. Expected, even. But, in reading AS YOU WAKE, I was led a merry chase by That Amy Martin! Kidnapped, as it were, and held hostage to a plot that continued to careen forward down unexpected paths. \n Now, while the story moves forward, the main characters move in opposite directions--Zip to her Dad's and Kieran on a runaway adventure. Just when I thought we'd get a break from the tension good old Kayla tries to make it right, guilty she hadn't been more watchful at Prom. Of course, her idea reunites Kieran and Zip, but now the parental units are involved, and this is both good and bad. Good because the air clears between the two families, bad because it brings new problems to mix: stalker anyone? As the stalker issue gets resolved, we learn more about Kieran's medical history, and begin to hope that the end of his dream-vision doesn't portend the end of Kieran... \n So....I'm a fan-girl. I eagerly await (notice I didn't say PATIENTLY!) the final conclusion of this trilogy. Thanks Ms. Amy Martin for upsetting my sleep patterns. \n Lastly, can I say I love Zip just as much as Kieran? Is that allowed? IDK, but it's true. She is smart, thoughtful, and concerned about her future--qualities I would hope all teen girls would aspire to be. And, Kieran, he's the right mix of awkward teen male hormone angst. He's kind, and funny, and not pushy about the sex...though he's quietly desperate to have it, at least once. So as a couple they match desire with respect, and what better example could we hope for in YA fiction? \n I would recommend this to all teen and YA readers.", "date_added": "Fri May 17 08:36:38 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed May 29 10:39:48 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 29 10:39:48 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "15834810", "review_id": "ae11480aea6a7be6cfce80d26bd0125d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Synopsis (unspoiled [mostly]): In this first-person single point-of-view contemporary YA romance we meet Zara \"Zip\" McKee--a 16 y/o point-guard on her school's varsity basketball team. Zip isn't much into boys--because, in her small town, she's known them all since preschool and they've always been 'friends'. At the opening, two new kids have arrived; brother and sister Kieran and Kayla Lanier. Kieran isn't just new, he's someone very different from anyone Zip has known--which she learn in first period English when she bores him to death...or he passes out. [Spoiler: he lived but he had to carried to the nurse.] \n This auspicious beginning sets into motion big reveals by Kieran and the Lanier family--all intensely private people. And the bombshells--even for Kieran, who has suffered a variant of narcolepsy since childhood--are well-developed and plot-driven. As the root cause of Kieran's condition becomes known it is Zip to whom he clings, and she's not too sad over it. Especially when it mean s a boyfriend and date for the prom. \n But the darkness in Kieran's past reaches out from unexpected places, coming through both his and Zip's dreams and straining their budding relationship. They don't know who to trust, and won't risk losing each other, resulting in an exciting climax. Zip fights to help Kieran, but neither of them have the ability to solve this problem alone. Good thing they don't have to. \n Critique: \n This is a well-paced novel with some suspense and elegantly-placed red herrings. The romance reads true and is compelling, and the science behind Kieran's malady is well-conceived. Zip and Kieran are a fun couple, and I can't recall the number of times I laughed when poor Kieran passed out at just the wrong moment--but there were many. \n I would recommend IN YOUR DREAMS to any person who enjoys YA romance...and anyone who enjoys a good YA story. Looking forward to the sequel.", "date_added": "Fri May 17 08:36:22 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun May 26 13:48:18 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "11973377", "review_id": "36e424cdeb1d84018a1d509c3cd4968c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "TRANSPARENT is a fast-paced adventure, packed with light Sci-Fi goodness, and a splash of romance. \n Plot premise: In the near future the use of radiation blocking medicine alters the genetics of humanity resulting in mutations that creates superbeings. Some of these mutations are kinda lame. Who really wants blue skin? The ability to mimic the scent of a skunk, anyone? Going once, twice... \n Fiona O'Connell, however, had the (mis) fortune to be born invisible--to a crime kingpin father who figures she's just perfect--as an assassin. With his Charm power, Jonas O'Connell can woo any female to do his bidding, and he's decided that Fi, at 16, should become a cold-blooded killer. So, Fiona goes on the run with her telekinetic mother--trying to escape her first deadly assignment. Thing is, when you're brought up around criminals, it's REALLY hard to trust anyone. \n And, Fiona doesn't. \n Not the kids at the new school who are attempting to befriend her, and especially not her eldest brother, her father's right-hand man and a confirmed killer. In order to survive, she must learn to confide in the super kids she meets, however, and she must also trust that this time her mom won't go crawling back to good old dad. \n The best part of this story, has to be Fiona's sense of humor. She's wry and witty and, due to no one knowing her facial expressions, used to being candid. Of course, author Natalie Whipple stands the invisibility barrier on its head to bring in the romance--which works well. Poor Fi! And, yet the lesson of facing one's fears head-on is subtle and sweet. \n I'd definitely recommend this to upper middle grade and YA readers. It's a great story with fun twists and while it resolves nicely, it's got built-in sequel potential.", "date_added": "Fri May 17 05:41:21 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 04 17:47:33 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "17925463", "review_id": "52e4214abfe3e9ffb3553ea8ee3922e1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In this sixth installment of the Debt Collector serial, Lirium is more set than ever on escaping the mob and it's brutal \"cashing out\" of young lives. This episode features Ophelia and Valac as alternating support/hindrance to this effort. The pace is as tight as ever, and in the end I was left with shaking hands and a \"NO!!!!\" caught in my throat. \n Ugh. Another two weeks...And, yet, I'm ready to wait.", "date_added": "Tue May 14 15:43:45 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue May 14 15:48:23 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue May 14 15:48:23 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "12157365", "review_id": "518d8140a121cd4b4e007d8c5023e8b4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this one. 16 y/o Janelle is a caretaker to her family due to a bipolar mother and a workaholic father. Her sense of responsibility is never damped, even when she inexplicably survives being killed in the opening. \n We all hear how an author has to make life hard for the character, and this book is filled with one tough choice after another. Fans of the \"it all works out\" shiny happy ending will not be satisfied, though the resolution is satisfying.", "date_added": "Fri May 10 10:36:05 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri May 10 10:41:47 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "12444166", "review_id": "d4fb441377660954263918066c18219f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I wish I could say this was the book that would make me die anticipating the next, but it isn't. Right now I'm rather glad I got it cheap. Even for urban fantasy it's plot was implausible, and the love triangle wasn't erotic, it was yucky. I'm of only one mind here---if a fourteen y/o is going to have sex in this series, it better damn well happen with another child--not a full-out man. \n I think I'll check out Burned when it's on the shelves...of my library.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 19 17:40:52 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri May 31 02:46:21 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "12727768", "review_id": "84fb67881cc3a28b57e751faba859d8a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "OPEN MINDS is a suspense-filled journey into science, prejudice, and morality from best-selling indie author Susan Kaye Quinn. (Disclaimer: Sue is a good friend and critique partner. I adore all her work.) \n In Kira's world, all the drugs and chemicals that leeched into the water systems caused changes in neural development allowing for pubertal-onset telepathy. Years ago the first telepaths, called Readers, were ostracized, but now it's so commonplace that big cities have been largely abandoned and houses must sit at a minimum distance so the neighbors can't overhear what's happening next door. At sixteen, Kira's passed the point where she would transition into a Reader. Considered a Zero, she's in the minority and destined for the menial tasks assigned to those with closed minds. Not the future she envisioned. And it troubles her would-be boyfriend Raf, as well. \n But Kira soon learns that she isn't a Zero after all. While her mind isn't open, she has a different ability--the ability to \"jack\" into others' minds and cause them to obey her commands. One can imagine the incredible potential of her power. In fact, one does, and he's a gangster. \n See, there are a fair amount of Jackers out there--hidden in plain sight--and they are being rounded up by two contingents: the Mafia, and the Government. While trying to save Raf from certain death, Kira blows her Jacker cover and is rounded up into an internment camp where government scientists study the \"jacker problem\". Much like the internment camps of World War II, Kira and her fellow refugees have no rights, no help, and no recourse against the potentially fatal 'treatments' they endure. \n In order to survive, Kira must team with adversaries who would just as soon kill her. Good thing she's a Super-Jacker, and her skills may be strong enough to free them all. But, even if she does escape where can she go? Her family will undoubtedly become targets. And, the agents running the camp will surely track her down. The resolution is a pell-mell race for Kira to save not only herself, but young Jackers in the government testing labs. \n Kira is a strong MC, and her steadfast commitment to doing the right thing, even if it's hard, gives readers a protag worthy of respect. It's a super-fast read that tackles real societal problems with grace and confidence. I read this book in a day. Mostly because I couldn't stop until I knew Kira was safe.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 19 17:06:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 27 18:28:49 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "17668651", "review_id": "3a781138af2609d7fea80d01292a13bd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "CAUTION! This review contains some spoilers. \n Witches and Faeries and Demons, oh my! \n HOLD TIGHT, a fast-paced, YA paranormal romance, runs the gamut from steamy romance to chilling suspense. Cherie Colyer's sequel to EMBRACE makes one point clear: paranormal male leads have got it going on! \n As a new witch, Madison needs to learn how to control her powers. \n Every time she kisses Isaac the magic within her strikes out. Bam! And folks, electro-shocked lips are NOT attractive. \n Unfortunately, with schoolwork, household chores, and caring for her younger brother Chase while dad works, Madison's practice time is next-to-nil. And she'd like to really kiss Isaac--preferably without the painful burns. \n So she steals a spell from Isaac's book. Just a small one. To summon a helper faerie. \n This simple, selfish act unleashes the biggest karmic butt-kicking Madison could have ever imagined. \n Poor Madison! \n At first she thinks all is okay. A beautiful faerie arrives and cleans her house. Madison even befriends Brea--lending her clothes so she can explore the human realm. But Brea didn't arrive alone. Her brother Reed came, too. And Reed wants Madison--badly. See, getting Madison to choose him over Isaac would be Reed's ultimate revenge after their stand-off months before. \n Reed's plan is simple: trick Madison into consuming addictive Fae food and then yank her off to the Faery court...forever. Fighting off Reed's advances requires all of Madison's strength and Isaac's ingenuity. But, Reed didn't settle for a single-front attack, he's tempting Chase as well. Madison realizes this just before crashing the family car and injuring Chase. In desperation, Madison enlists the aid of a crossroads demon to save her brother's life. \n Reed's seduction of Madison escalates and her coven's attempts to expel him are fruitless. Will Madison have no choice except to leave her family and love behind? \n By holding tight to those she loves, Madison develops the strength to defeat Reed. \n I just love how Colyer keeps the story turning. There's a missing girl, two new hunks, and a love square...that's gotta be twice as hot as a love triangle! And, yet, Madison controls her own fate throughout.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 19 16:34:27 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 03 08:41:59 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "16141459", "review_id": "f8441fe1c112747dbd8612f0ff72070d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved the fast pace. Kira's arc continues as she comes fully into her mind-jacker powers. Again, she must save everyone, including her family (close and distant) but now in saving them she risks harming them. \n The romantic tension between Kira and Julian is clear and present--as much so as the danger that surrounds them. \n It was a book I did not put down.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 07 10:08:48 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri May 10 10:33:24 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ac68d284be15768081bd3e86a1431c9", "book_id": "12931061", "review_id": "8af40058c351f0c95a607ef7f9d9e466", "rating": 5, "review_text": "How can a normal girl escape paranormal enemies? \n She can't. \n But, as my Dad never said: \"If you can't beat them....\" \n In Cherie Colyer's EMBRACE, Madison Riley is facing the worst junior year ever. \n Her boyfriend moved away, her classes stink, and she has to babysit her little brother all the time. But new-to-school, dreamboat Isaac seems to be interested...Very interested. \n Still, it's hard for Madison to enjoy her new romance when her BFF Kaylee is nearly killed in a car wreck and then suffers psychotic episodes. No. Something is definitely wrong in Essex County. \n Plus, longtime pal Paige is sincerely encroaching on the Isaac Territory. \n Madison seems at the end of all things sane when she finally realizes things AREN'T sane. There is no way Kaylee could be so out-of-her-mind that she's trapped in the psych ward. \n Thing is...Madison knows all of this is wrong. And it's Isaac who clues her in. \n Kaylee's been cursed. \n By witches. \n See, Isaac knows this because, well, he knows a WHOLE LOT 'O WITCHY STUFF! \n And, perhaps Madison does, too. If she really digs deep Madison might just find out that she's a force to be reckoned with. It's a power she needs to embrace. \n Good thing for Kaylee, she does. \n EMBRACE, a YA paranormal romance, really hits all the notes. Lost loves, New Loves, BFF's, Teen Angst, and that soul searching feeling that all teens face. Madison takes each step with caution and this makes her a heroine in my eyes because she uses reason and intellect to solve her problems.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 08:44:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 12 19:49:37 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9a6ebcfcae071a09dffadc067fec45f3", "book_id": "29088586", "review_id": "a2c19170443fa4a335e512b0ce47c46b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fascinating, complex and beautifully told, The Other Alice took my breath away. Wonderful!", "date_added": "Sat Jul 02 04:18:21 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 02 04:19:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9a6ebcfcae071a09dffadc067fec45f3", "book_id": "27973757", "review_id": "42f98425517b3687155e0945c4af3443", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Beautiful, exciting and pretty much perfect!", "date_added": "Mon May 02 03:37:51 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon May 02 03:38:50 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9a6ebcfcae071a09dffadc067fec45f3", "book_id": "23573606", "review_id": "eb605fbbaeea0e515b1de2e359aea9f6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ten things you need to know about Dreamsnatcher: \n 1. It's fast and EXCITING! \n 2. Amazing Rowlings-esque WORLD BUILDING! \n 3. Wonderful CHARACTERS! (Moll is feisty, funny and just gorgeous, and Griff the Wildcat is so COOL) \n 4. There is DARKNESS. Loads of it. Really really SINISTER stuff \n 5. But amid that there is LOVE, LOYALTY, and quite a few LAUGHS \n 6. There is NATURE, fascinating GYSPSY lore, and ancient SUPERSTITION \n 7. There is a WORM called Porridge the Second \n 8. The sequel THE SHADOW KEEPER is, by all accounts even BETTER \n 9. Kids I've talked to LOVE it! \n 10. I LOVE IT!!!", "date_added": "Mon Mar 28 02:23:12 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 28 02:46:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9a6ebcfcae071a09dffadc067fec45f3", "book_id": "21939720", "review_id": "9d5936c61778c72b5bebc79f22b3346c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I LOVE this book. I read the first in the series last year, so I knew that I was in for a lot of fun, but this was even better. The plot was great (who doesn't like a competition?), the world-building was superb, Potteresque even, the weaving in of mythology was done brilliantly, but the best part was the humour. In Flynn's superb deadpan style, this book made me laugh way too much for someone a very long way from the age of the target audience. \n I was really sorry to get to the end and Leave Jinx and Tommy, but Flynn does leave the ending open for a third. So, if you're listening, Orchard, yes please!", "date_added": "Sat Dec 05 06:40:28 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 26 09:11:49 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jan 26 14:34:14 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9a6ebcfcae071a09dffadc067fec45f3", "book_id": "18042063", "review_id": "e5d0c53f875eecac627721e23c1b1577", "rating": 5, "review_text": "i'm a big sucker for ghost stories, and I loved this. At heart it's a romance, but along the way we have history, great literature, terrifying dismembered limbs, and a very surprising, and satisfying ending. Kendra Leighton is a great new talent, and with this book she could possibly make ghosts the new vampires (the sexy Twilight sort, of course).", "date_added": "Sat Jun 21 05:15:49 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 21 05:18:00 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9a6ebcfcae071a09dffadc067fec45f3", "book_id": "21939665", "review_id": "31e0d9d30481c0ae16b5ae4c0aa5a2c6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Children always want to rebel against their parents. So, if you happen to be Lucifer's youngest son, the only way to go is good. \n Jinx is, in fact, so fantastically good that his dad has threatened to pack him off to demon military academy to learn wrong from right. Jinx runs away and fantastic adventures ensue. \n But I don't want this to sound like your run-of-the-mill MG. For a start it's set in Hell. Jinx and sidekick human Tommy (who has been sent down below for accidentally killing her evil uncle), and in fact all the characters, are hilarious and refreshingly unique, and will appeal to both kids and parents. \n But what I liked best about it is that, while it's accessible, Tatum Flynn doesn't dumb down for her audience; the writing and plot are satisfyingly, though appropriately, complex, there's a liberal sprinkling of mythology in there, and its all wrapped up in humour so sharp it could give you a paper cut. \n All in all proving that the Devil doesn't just have the best tunes, sometimes he has the best books too.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 21 11:30:20 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 21 02:56:36 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "20fd7b31a6445c3959594b61d3659274", "book_id": "11", "review_id": "e113f93eec78ef04ca057149e9d69105", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I mean, it's funny. Kind of like Fear and Loathing, minus the drugs.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 12 11:53:44 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 12 11:54:32 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Dec 12 11:54:32 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "20fd7b31a6445c3959594b61d3659274", "book_id": "24337", "review_id": "ca0ed0d6ce4f24948fdb7d8a53d8b5f5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I keep remembering great YA novels I read a few years back... or maybe more than a few years. This one was maybe fifth grade? Loved it!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 11 06:24:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 11 06:24:57 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "20fd7b31a6445c3959594b61d3659274", "book_id": "493790", "review_id": "6f6fb78d59eae2825091aa545cf7eaf8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I read this book way back when I was in maybe sixth or seventh grade. And then I read it again. And again. And again. Ad nauseum. \n After not thinking about this book for literally years now, it suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks: the house next door! \n Looking back, this book was probably predictable, badly written, and entirely unoriginal. And yet something about it enticed me to fall head over heels in love with it. I had read my copy at least six or seven times, not to mention the countless times I flipped through and reread my favorite sections with relish. \n There's something about it that I adored. I can't begin to try to explain the feeling of warmth that it makes me feel, considering that it isn't a particularly heart-warming story. \n I can't even write a coherent review of it, either. \n Suffice it to say this: I like to think that all of us have something about us that can't be easily explained or expressed.... something that defies logic and rationality... this book is it for me. It honestly has become a part of my history and self that, even though I've always carried it with me all these years, I'm glad to finally now recognize by its proper origin. I love this book with all of my heart, and forever will want a copy of it at my bedside table. \n Now--to figure out what the heck happened to my copy of it from all those years ago!", "date_added": "Wed Sep 19 14:36:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 19 14:41:49 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 11, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "20fd7b31a6445c3959594b61d3659274", "book_id": "113304", "review_id": "a937e46367948733878ee77dd98c621f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In sixth grade I picked up this book and ended up falling in love with it. Looking back, I can't really explain its charm for me. It was one of those rare finds where I inexplicably fell in love with every word that was put on the page; the book that I would love having in my hands, savor every sentence of, look longingly at the cover whenever it was closed shut. I'm not sure why I loved it so much, but for that year or two it was my uncontested favorite.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 29 20:54:05 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 29 20:56:36 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "20fd7b31a6445c3959594b61d3659274", "book_id": "12283261", "review_id": "da4de13149743b997c7f83008ac70b73", "rating": 2, "review_text": "After anxiously awaiting this year's new Picoult book, I was pretty bummed to see that it was a YA novel, filled with pictures and a fairy-tale plot, and half-written by somebody that didn't write as gloriously as my favorite author of all time, ever. \n AND YET. \n It wasn't all that bad. It was pretty damn good, actually, for what it aimed to be. It's a story for teenagers--falling in love for the first time, coming to accept and love yourself despite your flaws. With that said, nothing of significant importance was imparted to me upon my quick read of this at Barnes and Noble today (a comfy seat in the cafe, a large Hot Chocolate and I wiped this bad boy out). It didn't pack anywhere near the amount of punch that Jodi's best novels sometimes do, but it was sweet. I laughed out loud a few times--to the disapproval of my Cafe neighbors--and read my sister full paragraphs that I thought were cute. But that's about the extent of it.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 13 19:34:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 29 18:56:36 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "20fd7b31a6445c3959594b61d3659274", "book_id": "155238", "review_id": "d65ae9526f77dfc5a4b70093fa09236e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "My sister and I both read these in fourth grade (I graduated high school this May, for reference), and to this day they rank among our favorite series read, ever. And we both have read a LOT of books. \n I forget the plots and the characters names and what even the major point of the quest was... but I do remember the fantastic time that I had reading these books. I remember running to the Childrens' section of Barnes and Noble and hoppping up and down waiting for my dad to buy us the next book, and physically fighting with my sister to read it first (this was before my dad set up the foolproof rotation system we later set in place to ensure peace in the household). I remember reading these books in class underneath my desk, completely engrossed. That is, until the teacher yelled at me for not paying attention to the lesson. I continued reading the next day anyway, the books were so damn good. \n I'm sure that if I went back now and read these books, they would lose their magic for me. They're intended entirely for children, and to rate them on an adult's scale is to do them a gross injustice. \n Let your child read the first book, and I can bet you you'll have a new and excited reader in the house.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 08 19:52:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 08 19:55:53 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "50b88f32499a8f827e9811d74ccb8636", "book_id": "16152454", "review_id": "6f1efd85537b148273aab57b64bf3e0f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "damn I love this series", "date_added": "Fri Feb 01 12:36:24 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 01 12:37:35 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "53543a587dd90891f7d8f3752d0d0904", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "6baae8f36f394c5326fd2e0eaa9ea1fe", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fantasy realism for the romantic. This book is written calmly and read easily. It is better catered to the escapist than to the reader seeking a thrilling page-turner. I enjoyed the way that different parts of the story were told from the point of views of different characters. The story was not presented chronologically. Although this threw me off at times I did appreciate the unique way in which the story was revealed. I would not consider it a true fantasy book. It is just a simple story, told well, with a hint of magic.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 09:04:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 15:59:41 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jun 06 15:59:41 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "34825003", "review_id": "979ddaa33ac5574e8ae4382e71bd483e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "An intense second part of the series. \n 5 Stars. Kjell never wanted to be king, that was his half brother's calling. Kjell yearned for action and battle, never looking for responsibility beyond protecting his brother and his people. When Kjell stumbles across a broken woman, he uses his gift of healing and saves her from her death. She claims to serve him no matter how hard he refused. Soon, he finds something deep within that he never thought he would covet. She changes everything.", "date_added": "Sun May 14 13:21:33 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun May 28 17:59:38 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun May 28 17:53:55 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun May 14 13:21:33 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "34676827", "review_id": "2fcd47fbdd90e990ef59d8b0742e0d66", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really liked the story. \n There are many editing issues in this book. The strong build of story and characters made me stick with the story and want to see what happens next.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 29 12:58:38 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 30 15:25:50 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Apr 30 15:25:50 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Apr 29 12:58:38 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "24563682", "review_id": "c31e954f960cde98372b73bbb064a538", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of the best books I have read in a while. \n 5 Stars. Watch a princess find loss, love, betrayal and revenge through her long immortal life. The vow of The Black Rose changed her worldly purpose to avenge those who gave their vow to follow her.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 02 20:08:39 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 22 15:10:16 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 22 15:10:16 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jan 02 20:08:39 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "30454675", "review_id": "dfbcad8132b565a4e24f17ba0556a23c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Don't. Bother. \n 2 Stars. There is little new information in this very short novella. While Evan's story drew me in, I felt cheated of my money when I was done.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 24 15:58:09 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 27 21:42:33 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jul 24 16:00:03 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "22072831", "review_id": "cd58066df8475fdd85651037920fde82", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A mystery and ghost story in one. \n 4 Stars. An original story with purpose and charm. A ghostly visit opens up a world full of Hope, friendship, love and fortune.", "date_added": "Fri May 27 14:07:58 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon May 30 07:57:24 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon May 30 07:57:24 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri May 27 14:07:58 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "30171592", "review_id": "3bfaabcc5fccb8437f53af5a1bdc64a0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A great fantasy! \n 5 Stars. I couldn't stop reading as the momentum of the story continued to build. Lark had magic behind her words. Magic was forbidden by the king and Lark was told she had to hide her words away until it was time for her to speak again. She was silent, invisible, and weakened in the eyes of others until the Prince- turned-King heard her voice from within and made her his Queen.", "date_added": "Wed May 11 18:20:35 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 19 18:51:46 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Feb 19 18:44:45 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "29769675", "review_id": "dcedc9728b356cfdd20667cfe12920b9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Full of everything!!! \n 5 Stars. Not just a story about vampires. This story is about an alternate world where Fae and the dark princes battle for power and a girl from Earth who will rule them all.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 28 17:05:07 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 30 10:44:49 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Apr 30 10:44:49 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Apr 28 17:05:07 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13480769", "review_id": "0fa2b7dd41d1c77eee2d0f6dea3a210c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fast paced and full of a magical war. \n 5 Stars. Kiran refuses to give up on his aspirations and Eden refuses to be forced into a relationship that she feels is dangerous. With everything practically under her nose to win her battles, Eden's most difficult fight might happen within herself.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 30 18:44:36 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 01 10:50:22 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Feb 01 10:50:22 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jan 30 18:44:36 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "12955738", "review_id": "608b882763faac10043161892b1d5e3c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Another great addition to this series. \n 4 Stars, mostly for editing issues. The war wages on with hostages and more threats of taking Immortality for the Crown. Delia and Justice rejoin the rebellion and finally claim their place in this war. Kieran pleads for a compromise, but his credibility dwindles as his true intentions shine through the dark fog.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 28 20:29:09 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 30 18:42:20 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jan 30 18:42:19 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jan 28 20:29:09 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "12334377", "review_id": "d93969d601fe7a3b1a4b8563f03d9078", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Keep your enemies close. \n 5 Stars. Eden has just begun to tap into her magic. As she is catapulted into magic, family, and undying love, she will learn of sacrifice and Destiny. When the time comes for Eden to choose her own path, will she change the magic world subtly or like a stormy wind?", "date_added": "Wed Jan 27 09:14:49 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 28 20:24:47 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jan 28 20:24:46 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jan 27 09:14:49 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "27831417", "review_id": "52e7105fe75279c045a2538cebdc8417", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A grand standing for the final book in this Trilogy. \n 5 Stars. Every book in this series had drive and intrigue. To have answers to all of the intrigue is wonderfully, but this story ends with a new beginning that I hope is continued in the near future.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 22 16:02:05 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 25 06:18:05 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jan 25 06:18:05 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jan 22 16:02:05 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "15717962", "review_id": "b803577a43d4147bb49746228a851669", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 STARS. April has a lot of pressure on her to survive and she really wants to hold on to Hope. Her independence and fear of making herself need someone are one of her biggest faults. When her curiosity get the best of her, she is trapped and left for dead.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 18 16:40:56 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 19 13:23:21 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jan 19 13:23:21 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13271555", "review_id": "1a1744877082b9a129fe242649df5e5f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 Stars. I bought this as a set with all of the books at a low price. By the end of the first book, I was totally in and asking myself all kinds of questions. That is exactly what I need to continue. #cliffiesnotneeded", "date_added": "Mon Jan 18 16:38:27 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 18 16:40:38 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "25277389", "review_id": "8e2a64594b8272a646e22e24d41706f1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Redemption in the darkest of places. \n 5 Stars. I was made to see the tender heart of a monster, a war full of sacrifice, and an unpredictable end to a fighter you could always bet on winning.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 03 18:42:26 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 04 13:28:03 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jan 04 13:28:03 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jan 03 18:42:26 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "18878060", "review_id": "d200b371c25e8f76b56cc1ebbbe17bd1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 Stars.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 31 16:57:02 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 18 16:36:45 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "26125281", "review_id": "e9a49f66364d2517ae4b5264f126e4f9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Titans and demigods and an Apollyon. \n 5 Stars. Josie is training since her powers had been released. Titans have been visiting her dreams and her fears are growing as the dreams become more threatening. Seth is finding himself in a powerful position that he never imagined, being the soul person to receive another's love. He loses control and puts his Love in danger. Walking away is the only option he can see to save Josie from himself.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 27 15:50:33 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 25 14:02:24 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Feb 25 14:02:24 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Feb 23 19:22:37 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "27028722", "review_id": "ac3e935ca40a6a1f4b57a10e6740a082", "rating": 0, "review_text": "What a tangled web weaved. \n 5 Stars. She made me wait years to hold the answers in my hands, yet Amy A. Bartol leaves me with an open ending where anything is possible. Is it a happy ending? Yes. Is it all tidy and wrapped in a bow? Nope! I kind of like it that way.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 22 21:16:43 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 22 21:16:43 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "10830285", "review_id": "c7aaeb0c86dde377a1053538978af9e7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A great beginning to an epic journey. \n 4 Stars. This YA novel isn't heavy with set up of characters and storyline, yet it flows into a quick paced adventure.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 05 17:02:54 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 27 08:06:45 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jan 27 08:06:45 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jan 27 08:06:43 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "16163914", "review_id": "38ad604966b8aeed797ee27e5c090394", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Full of energy and magic. \n 4 Stars. Scarlett is a null, a being that can take magic away from another when they are in her proximity. Her job is to blend into a crowd and slip away in the night as she cleans up messes made by magical forces so the New World has no clue about the Old World. Someone sets Scarlett into a trap, trying to ruin her reputation and it might just end her life.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 09 07:22:00 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 09 07:22:00 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "19404521", "review_id": "4a16facdcf3f8dd6e9d29b3da2b67501", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Finished first book. It was okay.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 11 19:38:26 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 18 07:22:05 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jun 18 07:22:05 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "10439221", "review_id": "d6868840decd188b7d199d1e249d81b8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "An unusual read for me. \n 3.5 Stars. A very different, yet smutty book for me. I needed something different and this naughty little gem is full of alpha male alien warrior and discovery of a new culture during a grueling war.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 29 06:31:31 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 14 08:51:31 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Feb 14 08:51:31 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Feb 12 20:50:19 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "22543639", "review_id": "4eb10d8802926a8964ed03dfd2ab3c33", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2 STARS. This is probably just me, but I found Ashley to be unnerving. The story has been very flat for me. I expected a bit more humor and I just found most situations to be awkward. \n When Jack returns to Ash, I finally felt a connection to her character. That is short lived and things just turn awkward again.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 24 14:08:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 27 08:53:51 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jul 27 08:53:51 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "22896527", "review_id": "29c57498818649fa6ae289fde34dd1ff", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amazing and unique. \n 5 Stars. Avery woke up in the hospital after a skiing accident resulting in a concussion. She didn't wake up alone. A man named Marcus is speaking to her from inside her head. Avery is stubborn and Marcus is intent on making Avery feel alive. I found this funny and full of raw emotion. A few editing issues couldn't dent my 5 star review!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 15 09:37:56 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 15 14:28:06 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jul 15 14:28:06 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jul 15 09:37:56 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "20869900", "review_id": "8cd40a787910a8ef102e556848ea3877", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A fast paced, magical journey to Hell and back. \n 4.5 Stars. Faye Middleton comes from a long line of Night Watchmen. Her Mother, a clairvoyant witch, had always warned her that Faye was a Defect and when she went to her Culling at age 18 she would be shunned from the world of the watchers. Faye goes to her Culling and finds that her future will be serving the Watchmen, but it might be a short lived life.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 13 15:54:45 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 14 19:03:15 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jul 14 19:03:15 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jul 13 15:54:45 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17972522", "review_id": "c9bed3755e5d30fccf36508936343b6c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Cute and a bit of a mystery. \n 3 Stars. While the main plot seemed predictable, I found myself considering all kinds of scenarios when it comes to the character's past and love Interest. Very strong female characters.", "date_added": "Thu May 21 20:52:32 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu May 21 20:52:33 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu May 21 20:52:32 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "14061957", "review_id": "85b304d322afc6d38db92d3aa45dd0a2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 STAR. This is how to end a series! On the move the entire book, I didn't want to put this down for anything! And my favorite moments were actually with Nikolai. Even when things are at it's bleakest, Nikolai rises everyone's spirit, especially Alina. I may of found myself yelling at Mal and Alina at times, but I never yelled for the author to change a bit of the story; It is a perfect end and beginning.", "date_added": "Sat May 16 18:25:34 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon May 25 09:23:20 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon May 25 10:36:08 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "14061955", "review_id": "07229cf38694ccea6c2dd5ce5f35510b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 STARS. An astounding story. Sankta Alina, the pilgrims call her. Once an orphan given a chance to live to be in the background and a service to others and now Grisha of the highest decree, the Sun Somminer, who had given Hope to a warring and wearing people that the fights may finally end against the dark. The Darkling has found her again and again and he will not stop until she relents to him, making them both vulnerable in the fight for absolute power.", "date_added": "Thu May 14 04:33:04 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat May 16 18:24:47 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat May 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13578987", "review_id": "949c3c30c9051024aa55b155eab335fc", "rating": 0, "review_text": "A great tale of the power within. \n 4 Stars. What an intriguing story. It reminds me of a fairy tale written by the Grimm brothers. Power comes from earth not ego, this lesson is to be learned of a bit late.", "date_added": "Wed May 13 10:58:44 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed May 13 10:58:44 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17455815", "review_id": "a9f8c1817ec70f8835cdbd1810e4faa3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What a puzzling piece to this series. \n 3.5 Stars. Sometimes, when too many characters have direct involvement in the main plot, I feel like the journey took a wrong turn and I have been left without a map. This story did that to me. I also found myself feeling contempt toward the author and the pain her twists caused me. The end is an 'Aha' moment and now I want to beg for a HEA for everyone. I Dred what the future holds for Zayne, Roth, and Kayla.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 28 16:33:47 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 28 18:47:26 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Apr 28 18:47:26 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Apr 28 16:33:47 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "20977124", "review_id": "c7fb817bcb0261b968f56d40c4aa2032", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Constant twists and turns. \n 4.5 Stars. Cricket is running out of time. She needs to hone her abilities. She needs to show her love for Trey in every moment they are together. Who knows if she'll have time to love again?", "date_added": "Mon Apr 27 13:40:57 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 27 13:40:57 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "9480548", "review_id": "99775151f03532cfe919a17800c8a0d2", "rating": 0, "review_text": "A great end to an epic story. \n 4.5 Stars. Full of adventure, this book takes us through murder, prison escape, death of strigoi, radical politics, betrayal, and secret reveals.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 23 19:01:46 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 23 19:01:46 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "9477490", "review_id": "361a8fab50b62070756f6887345eb633", "rating": 0, "review_text": "The world has been turned upside down. \n 4 Stars. This one kept me on my toes. Strigoi can be given life from a Spirit Moroi. Victor is free and hiding. Adrian and Rose are attempting a relationship, as taboo as that is. Dimitri has spies on Rose and he promises that he will end her life. The list of plot and character twists is long and surprising.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 21 16:46:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 21 16:46:06 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "7549331", "review_id": "555e5b39f1c519022921ba9545d2053b", "rating": 0, "review_text": "My favorite so far. \n 5 Stars. Lissa and Rose thought that the dark times were over for them. Finding out that Victor has just been sitting pretty behind bars awaiting his trial, brings back thoughts of torment for Lissa. When they find out that they aren't being asked to testify, they try everything to change the mind of the queen. Darkness begins to surround Rose as her secrets build and Lissa begins to tap into her magic. By the time all truths are in the open, people will be changed and lost forever.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 18 17:52:15 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 18 17:52:15 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "25007389", "review_id": "a7889d8435b7b150b04a9f608eeaa020", "rating": 0, "review_text": "An emotional rollercoaster. \n 4 Stars. Charlotte found herself living in the darkness, abandoned by her family and friends, and only finding herself feeling more and more alone each time she helped another soul move out of limbo. Just as she let the darkness consume her, Ike finds her and begs her to help his brother so he could finally move on. She may finally find a place to call home.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 09 12:47:04 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 09 12:47:04 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "5996153", "review_id": "8b9ecc2101e8126c24008049ace2b46f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 Stars. This was my first audiobook. It took me a bit to go with the flow and not be in control of inflection and such, however, I am glad to get through this book in the series. It was gut-wrenching, tear inducing, and left me feeling at a loss knowing what Dimitri had become. I keep wishing there was enough magic to bring him back, but I am left on this cliff and the next book holds the answers along with more questions, I assume.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 06 08:17:51 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 19 19:20:28 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "8129189", "review_id": "2f79bb74a9477d5253f72b5a7a553769", "rating": 0, "review_text": "A lot of action and twists. \n 3.5 Stars. A few editing issues couldn't dampen my spirits as I read through this book with many battles. Cat must figure out where she is strongest, with her foot on the ground or under it.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 05 21:06:47 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 05 21:06:47 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "7542624", "review_id": "1369d2cd668699fcc3c866af451f292e", "rating": 0, "review_text": "A step forward, building up to a war. \n 5 Stars. I am enjoying watching the characters grow within the story. I was put on alert that Richelle Mead means business when it comes to this world. I am on my toes now, knowing that no character is safe from sacrifice.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 04 12:38:13 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 04 12:38:13 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "8129187", "review_id": "4200488f5a03d892ca7262ade1add7d3", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Second book of this series didn't disappoint. \n 5 Stars. Cat has worked hard to train and command a special paranormal unit for the government. Four years ago, she gave up the only man she ever trusted and loved in order to keep him safe. It has been a lonely road. Now that she feels like she can move forward, her past comes rushing for her. This time, she will keep what she wants.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 30 17:38:52 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 30 17:38:52 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "5441773", "review_id": "e1612346afceb4fc04a509ffd53b5aa9", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Beauty in the Beast. \n 5 Stars. Cat fought for years against those fangy monsters who preyed in the night. She also fought the part of herself that connected to the darkness. Meeting a mark who ends up turning her world upside down, Cat will finally accept her life has more value when she can trust every part of herself.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 28 14:41:35 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 28 14:41:35 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "23696445", "review_id": "0e71ede028dfee27984750ee188ad667", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Open minded and closed for love. \n 4 Stars I love seeing these characters grow and learn. Aislin is strong because she can ultimately see how people feel about her. When she has trouble reading Baird, she has to listen very closely to what he wants. They both need to open up in order to experience the wonder of true love.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 08 06:14:04 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 09 10:18:40 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Mar 09 10:18:40 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Mar 08 06:14:04 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "23969390", "review_id": "c7e62dc9eeda3e22a1224d0be0d0776c", "rating": 0, "review_text": "More Seth? Yes, please. \n 5 Stars. While a little story setting was necessary, as soon as I was comfortable with Josie, everything flowed smoothly and quickly. I was happy to see Seth mature through this. Watching a Titan fall was cathartic, however, I cannot wait to see how they deal with him when he gets back up.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 01 14:51:19 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 01 14:51:19 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "24000896", "review_id": "3c85732e56599498b8d4a816f62b64e8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 STARS I adored how this story was woven from the past to the future. What a brilliant way to connect history with lore! This story has depth and an intimate look into the mind of a vampire who fights his very, violent nature. There were moments where I stopped and said, \"Yeah. I bet that is exactly how this would feel.\" Things that I had often wondered how to put into words were done so here and so elegantly written, as well. And to see such a vile creature be redeemed? I am in awe of how accepting I was to this change.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 11 18:12:50 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 12 17:45:28 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Mar 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Mar 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17336692", "review_id": "2a130b217c21cdb9527330b735280c71", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 Stars. I really like the progression.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 31 15:36:40 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 08 18:12:10 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "23256897", "review_id": "070a456db1e206dcafd27944000bfe53", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Swept me away. \n 5 Stars Finally finding out that you were meant for something more, something magical, was exactly where Keelin found herself. Her maternal grandmother said it was time. Time for what? Keelin just couldn't fathom. Her trip to Ireland will change everything.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 29 10:41:26 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 07 16:39:34 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Mar 07 16:39:34 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Mar 07 06:06:23 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "14624644", "review_id": "de791bc5b6987e4a37b4c9b063ba498e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 STARS What an emotional ending to a pulse pounding story! The choppiness in the beginning bothered me for a little while, but I was so intrigued and needed answers that I continued. I found myself longing for Liam to open himself up. I found myself praying for Crane to meet his Karma. I found myself hoping for a future where the Seers could be free. Yeah, this book definitely pulled me in.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 20 13:55:04 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 31 15:34:49 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jan 31 15:34:49 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jan 29 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "21793828", "review_id": "d71d872ea0b165464a3d30e8f3f79f76", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 STARS This is an epic ending to a fantastic series! When Michaela learned that death is her only outcome, she could've given up and let Heaven and Hell fight on their own. Instead, she risks everything and endures infinite pain and loss in order to make things right and open the gates to Heaven. This book is full of complicated relationships and risky endeavors and I savored each page.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 05 13:20:38 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 10 22:08:51 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jan 11 22:08:51 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "19402121", "review_id": "bf0b85b61ef1865c2886d903e977552c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 STARS What a way to start out a new year! This second book in the End Of Days series was riveting. I laughed, felt suspense, loss, confusion, and utter heartbreak. In the end, I felt Hope. I cannot imagine any changes making this book better.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 31 11:54:52 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 04 18:50:56 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "20561851", "review_id": "5a9eb453289f68e6df3290535f09d0a0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The end of everything. \n 3.5 Stars. When Heaven is no longer taking in souls and angels fall from paradise, there will be a small time when the future seems to have an expiration date. We will see the world and everything beyond it burn to ash unless one Angel, the exiled General, can find a way to win a favor back in to Heaven and dismiss the Athere from their power trip.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 31 11:54:20 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 02 21:27:53 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jan 02 21:27:53 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Dec 31 11:54:24 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "23343597", "review_id": "9a050e046e37093421390fe3c5ba5e18", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Another glimpse into history. \n A solid four star review. Seeing how Charlene found the pack and dealt with hiding a major part of herself for so long was intriguing. The flow of the story flowed like a wave pushing its way onshore, trickles to a forceful rush. This is an important layer to this series.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 09 20:22:32 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 09 20:22:33 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Dec 09 20:22:32 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "18994513", "review_id": "ed96556eedad5004ac577a4adf0700e3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Another layer to this original story. \n 4Stars. I didn't want to like this tortured soul, but her endurance and glimpses of hope kept me looking past her rebuttals of Luke's affection. I actually liked that Luke had reservations about how far he should take his actions when it came to his love for her.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 18 18:27:34 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 18 18:27:35 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "20985371", "review_id": "eceb6976a3f2425879006fecaf182689", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 STARS Despite the many editing issues, I was pulled in to this original story line. The characters grow and have depth. I found myself loving how Clay made his presence known with his actions and how Gabby slowly accepted him. They were really cute together, without meaning to be.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 15 07:31:00 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 16 07:48:43 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Nov 16 07:48:43 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "4827840", "review_id": "d7a40a740d0c6710db8c4c16fa882e96", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 STARS So, I ended up being completely wrapped up in this story, however, it took about 40% in before I was completely in. The action scenes really get intense and almost too detailed to follow at times. I really loved the relationships and bonds that end up solidifying by the end of the story. This was left open for more story and I am really hoping that I find a sequel.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 14 11:26:43 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 14 11:30:32 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Nov 14 11:30:32 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "18660669", "review_id": "8020a20d2885efafa3d759c8f31f86fb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 STARS I enjoyed learning about this new world and it's rules. Underneath the new idea is strength in relationships and social politics with characters that have depth and room to grow.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 08 07:13:51 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 19 14:27:37 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Mar 19 14:27:37 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Mar 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "22842711", "review_id": "43529b4061dcc43d9d6fa1d13fb3e9a2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 STARS I couldn't stop reading this! The characters grew, suspense grew, and my intrigue grew as I learned more about the Gateways, the traditions, and the corruption through history. I am now anxiously waiting for the announcement of book three! *cries* How long will I have to wait?", "date_added": "Wed Oct 29 17:25:48 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 04 09:19:47 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Nov 04 09:19:47 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Nov 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "22564249", "review_id": "c564e4028740bd735e4567d9d83ebb6c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 STARS Warning! The editing was poor, mostly punctuation, but I was able to let it go and be a part of this crazy journey. \n I found Jess to be a breath of fresh air. She had an individual place in her world, but didn't know how true that was until she lost her Mother, found her Aunt and a legacy that no one had ever told her about. There are all kinds of surprises in this story and I cannot wait to move on into the next book. A step forward toward so many new adventures.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 29 09:41:27 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 29 17:25:22 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13453301", "review_id": "eef83a9823d2c1a2197d2dca13b0de16", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.5 STARS I want to give this more because the characters and decent story line kept me completely invested in finding out what happens, however, I hated the switching of narrative styles in the beginning. The editing is poor. And I found myself skimming by the last few chapters in certain areas ( especially when Leah goes on and on about how things look or her personal dilemmas).", "date_added": "Sun Oct 26 16:45:51 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 25 21:27:19 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "11512403", "review_id": "ae87acaa22da6353e8cb01aff3e4d38d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 STARS There was a lot going on with this book and I found myself 'skimming' near the end. I'm not sure that I bought the kit and caboodle about monsters and the residual feelings they have. It didn't sit well with me after all the information given on changing and the drive that consumes afterward. \n I also think that these characters take the huge events and brush them off way to easily. \n I did enjoy where the book went and how everything has begun to connect.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 13 07:21:40 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 14 14:11:43 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Oct 14 14:11:43 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "15731796", "review_id": "317378fa6ac14e1aef415b06ac99cd77", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3 STAR This was fun, yet predictable. I like the mystery behind what connection Audrey and Julian have and I will be reading the next book just to know what happens between them.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 11 17:06:48 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 09 19:04:54 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "22049611", "review_id": "91783a31ece1c82c3bc87da2136743df", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Something special here. \n 3.5 Stars. At first, I had a difficult time feeling any depth for Kailin's character. I am glad that the first novella gave me so much Rowan that I needed to continue on and find more to the story than what is on the surface. Finally, I stuck with it and found deceit, a crumbling society that is losing balance, and the pull that one has to learn to read inside themselves. There are crazy twists and, best of all, Rowan kisses that left me breathless.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 06 13:26:17 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 07 20:19:54 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Oct 07 20:19:54 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Oct 07 06:16:31 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "18012574", "review_id": "b6006497578ebaa4ffaafdc9ca12c784", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have a Love, Hate relationship with these books. \n 5 Stars. Lana always keeps the story moving. She is growing into a respectable captain and is slowly realising that she will have to stand up and be completely dependable as a mentor, as a friend, and as a reaper. \n I love the complexity behind each relationship. I love the dire need feel connection.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 30 20:37:26 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 27 20:25:56 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed May 27 20:25:56 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17830430", "review_id": "b54ee534ddd5408ead2f1c1d0ca4e480", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 STARS Another step forward into Lana's new role. She seems to be almost more special than Grim. Perhaps he has just been hardened by time, greed, and power? And Bub? Yeah, I think he is perfect for Lana. He lets her hold her own and has rescued her only after she has seemed to fail.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 30 12:28:24 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 30 20:35:42 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "16039808", "review_id": "d1aa26c9b1b2d8d4a79e155034c471b0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 STARS I seriously think she's got a thing for Hellions. And who wouldn't?", "date_added": "Thu Aug 21 17:52:03 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 30 12:27:55 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17302792", "review_id": "54a1fc5705cf6bf85b2496c979b1f431", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 STARS I truly became immersed in this story and I had strong feelings for the characters. I couldn't put this book down, even after the twist came about and made me think, 'Okay, this is ridiculous', I had to continue. I still feel a bit jarred, but I can't wait to move on to the next part of this series.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 18 07:24:01 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 18 08:41:15 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Aug 18 08:41:15 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "22895264", "review_id": "1ac3473f9663cd72c8fb5f111e05dfeb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book accelerated all the way to the end. \n 3.5 Stars. Always loving the characters that Jennifer Armentrout creates, I found this story a little bit harder to connect to at first. The plot took a while to set up, but once it was established the story began to increase in risk.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 11 09:43:23 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 22 19:15:55 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 22 19:15:55 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jan 20 13:54:10 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "22084224", "review_id": "545885aca4992b4cfd4986dcc23f07d3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3 STARS I read this in small bursts. It didn't string me along, however I did feel compelled to finish it. Interesting concepts that needed a bit more involvement in order for me as a reader to get a better understanding of how the Reve felt and worked.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 25 18:29:26 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 08 11:50:55 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Oct 08 11:50:55 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "16082905", "review_id": "59f35c47e5ef81dbffd2206039431b67", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 STARS What a fun book, filled with gods, spirits, and other immortal oddities. I enjoyed Lana's strength and her free loving attitude. This book began a journey that I cannot wait to continue.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 25 18:29:24 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 21 17:51:17 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "20797388", "review_id": "917265f7d447c90bc12d287f6c645c38", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3 STARS I felt separate from the narration most of the time. The story was interesting and moved at a great pace. I loved the dynamics of all the brothers. The baddest boy prevailed for me, of course. Oz fought himself, wracking his conscience between right and wrong, and finally, I had thought he came out on top. Redemption may not be in his deck of cards, yet, he may prove loyalty to Karah in the final hand.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 21 18:36:37 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 01 17:17:35 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "18374569", "review_id": "cdd0be386e658df8f282c44f75604175", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 STARS This is definitely an adult fiction with a lot of smexy times, but I truly loved the world building and the connecting characters. There's a great underlining story here.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 04 20:55:39 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 07 17:07:01 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jul 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "22005765", "review_id": "8b85ad180d540da6d6e39f5430774ecb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3 Stars. Three short stories about different relationships between the darkness and light inside of people.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 14 21:34:59 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 14 21:36:39 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jun 15 21:36:39 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "21461200", "review_id": "277d10889378be452140c8d59491c5d1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 STARS This was a quick paces beginning to, what I hope will be, a great series. The characters have depth and I found an innate connection to Rowan that has a piece of me completely invested in what happens next.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 01 18:17:06 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 06 13:25:36 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Oct 06 13:25:36 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "19510849", "review_id": "3c1a47c9a51c7c9fcb3bc804f75eb6eb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 STARS The story itself should be a 4 STAR, but the editing issues bumped my rating down. I adore Angel's characters and her ability to keep a story moving forward with increasing intensity. \n This book has tied so many things up. A true full circle...outcast to fulcrum of a society...missing pieces to reunited families...innocence to evil and back to good (but not quite innocent). \n I would definitely recommend this YA series to readers who enjoy a paranormal journey in which characters slowly grow into what they are destined to be.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 15 18:42:52 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 17 17:37:02 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "16099258", "review_id": "effb0aee588535298ce77b1b2c1c0b95", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I am deeply thinking about how to rate this book. Unlike the first book, there is more consistency and the author's continuity to the story is eons better. However, there still are little to no explanations that answer questions from the first book. And those parallels that made little sense before, aren't even a thought in this part of the story. If this book was a stand alone, I would give it a 3 STAR rating. Because this is a continuation of the first book and so little was brought up or resolved, I am giving this book a 2 STAR.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 27 16:47:41 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 29 19:27:33 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Mar 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Mar 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "16099246", "review_id": "d429128aa0f0c73e57a094d66e7f7cd2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.5 STARS I honestly don't know how to explain my liking of this book. There was too much story and not enough details. I am baffled by the little amount I knew about the main characters and the reasons behind the plot by the end. While all of this has left me questioning why I bothered reading the whole book, I have to say that the promise of an epic book is there. I just needed more info...why did we need to see the parallels? Why did the world end and put the Romani's against the rest of the world? Where did the skin eaters come from/who is to blame? I can go on and on about how much I don't know and I can tell you very little about what I do know for certain. \n I will be trying book two, but I'm looking for answers. If I do not get any, I may not recommend this book for anyone.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 27 16:44:53 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 28 10:09:57 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Mar 28 10:09:57 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "18162472", "review_id": "49366fe36834cfd94245910dc549c795", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 STARS I loved this book! At first, I felt like I was reading a fairytale like Sleeping Beauty.Then we are put into Robyn's world at the age of seventeen where she had been told, as a young child, that her future has been predestined to marry when she completed school. She saw this as an honor and dreamed of her McKale for years and years. On her way to meet McKale , her parents tell her more details about her impending binding that crush her dreams. Her reality may be askew from what she had imagined, yet the real McKale might be better than she ever thought. \n Truly a fresh perspective and unique story. Wendy Higgins has a way of writing that colors the mood and spins a tale that isn't exactly predictable.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 21 16:45:30 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 25 11:05:19 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Mar 25 11:05:19 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Mar 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "16133804", "review_id": "11a13e7158c69b7e2c106f75dd5f11ee", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 STARS In the first book, I found Connor to be a beacon of hope and understanding for Jane. She needed to trust someone who wouldn't judge her by her gift. In this book, the trust is tested and slowly tearing apart. No matter how strong their bond is, Connor and Jane must be stable individually in order to work well collectively. Jane has grown so much and the more knowledge she receives about her abilities and the other planes, the more confident she becomes in herself. \n Will the ghosts sent to her always be on her side? Will she always be able to find a way to release those lost souls, even if they don't want to move on? When a ghost learns more about Jane's abilities than it should, will the vantage be in their favor? Can Connor and Jane survive without the other or are they destined to be together?", "date_added": "Sat Mar 08 07:13:58 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 15 18:42:27 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13459147", "review_id": "6efa04c2416e20ba18d04b9c3921a94d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.25 STARS I held off on reading this for a while because I felt like I was burnt out from all the formulaic YA out there. Silly me. I should have known that Angel would write a creative story with characters that you need to see succeed. I think she may have created my new favorite BBF. Conner has dealt with his gifts the hard way and his knowledge and small triumphs can be seen in a mature manner that most 18 year old boys do not possess. I love that he fights for a connection with Jane and that he shows her how life can move forward even if you are visited by the dead sometimes.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 28 18:30:56 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 14 20:10:57 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17455585", "review_id": "e15a23e921f45526ed61be72ada98aa8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 STARS Another gem from Jennifer L. Armentrout, full of visceral characters and an inventive world. At first I really wasn't sold on reading another YA paranormal book. The Wardens drew me in...Zayne drew me in. I love how he dotes on Layla and treats her like she is the most precious thing in his world. I also feel frustrated when he fights those feelings and seems oblivious to hers. When something in Layla changes, after she meets a demon prince, Roth. Zayne notices more and more changes in Layla and he finds it more and more difficult to keep her out of harms way. It will be too late to protect her heart, but maybe he can protect her soul from turning to the darkness that is always lurking.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 25 11:02:07 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 28 18:15:44 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "20422691", "review_id": "3a6c0a4c967acc2fbe3a9652f7967345", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have waivered through this last book as much as Vivienne did. For the most part, I'd give this final installment a 3 STAR. I was taken away from liking almost every character because of all the manipulations. I still needed to follow through the journey, but I truly had whiplash from how many different directions the characters went in. The end?! The ending, in itself is a 4STAR. While I wouldn't say that I wanted Vivienne to end up where she did, I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what Mab would do when seeing Viv in the future. There were deals made...and a Faery never lies.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 17 14:19:54 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 24 20:03:06 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Feb 24 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17698017", "review_id": "b027795f1b823c0bdd30319f2a42545d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 STARS I couldn't put this book down. While I found answers to many mysteries, the hole Vivienne is in keeps getting deeper and deeper. Kassia has threatened revenge on all, but she has especially targeted Viv for what her former life had done to her. Summer Court or Winter Court? Who will win the ultimate battle and what side will Viv be on? With no one left to love, what will Vivienne fight for?", "date_added": "Mon Feb 17 14:19:52 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 20 21:03:19 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17398829", "review_id": "377f9232eeddc1350fb44aedccb8fd6b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 STARS This is a fast moving train full of mysteries, fae, and oddities. Vivienne may seem lost, but it is her own design-or is it? I found the world building to be a bit slow at first, then I hit one piece of the puzzle and it clicks into place. After that, the story is a whirlwind of battles. I'm not sure if there is a true winner, but I was very surprised to see who survived.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 17 14:19:51 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 18 19:49:23 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Feb 17 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17375092", "review_id": "8a435fb87181cc5942c969501b878b3d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 STARS A very moving novella filled with awkward moments and good intentions.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 17 14:16:46 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 17 14:17:46 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Feb 17 14:17:46 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "18844839", "review_id": "302d5908760f8973d1b9206a58150afb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.25 STARS It took me quite a while to really get into this reimagining story about Medusa and where she would be if so many things were different from our apparent mythologies. I liked how she was humanized in this story and how Hermes never gave up on the goodness he saw in her. And Hermes...I swoon at his tenderness and unrelenting love for Medusa. \n There were odd phrasings and editing issues, but they weren't enough to really bother me. \n Overall, this is a fun read.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 14 11:26:21 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 05 15:17:13 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Apr 05 15:17:13 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13644055", "review_id": "566c12dc52dc0830a36274db55731295", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 STARS I really like the conclusion of this series. Why not 5 stars? Well, let me tell you what I needed from this book first--I needed to know why the Luxen suddenly took over, I needed to know what happened to Daemond and what could make him leave Kat after marrying her, I needed to know who the new player would be and who had the most to gain or lose. This book covers all that and extended my curiosities. The only thing more I could have ask for was for a stronger connection to these characters that I have come to adore. Something was missing for me, but it didn't ruin this epic conclusion. I truly enjoy this series and look forward to picking it up and starting it all over again some day soon.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 08 07:47:48 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 01 13:02:41 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Nov 01 13:02:41 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "15842007", "review_id": "4783fd463daaa4595b2b7082531be1d6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "As a full series, I am aiming my rating toward a 4 STAR. This was definitely a slow world building story because there were too many things, places, beings to discover. Sometimes I felt as if the author had fallen off track and put the wrong pieces together or just got lost in a new idea for no reason, but at the end of the series, the pieces made a big, complete picture. If you like dystopian stories that are intricate and full of twist and turns this is a fun series to discover. \n \"The good guys and bad guys aren't as easy to tell apart as I used to think they were. You can't look at someone with your eyes and take their measure. \n You have to look with the heart.\"", "date_added": "Sat Jan 04 12:11:09 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 14 14:35:42 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jan 17 08:02:39 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17455811", "review_id": "984eb6db52ad81edb592717b057024c4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 STARS A very quick read a slight glimpse into the world of Wardens and their traditions. The chemistry between Jasmine and Dez burns through the pages. The story wasn't as compelling as I had hoped, but the full characters and build up of this undetected populace that exists among humans and demons was more than enough to make me anticipate the next book in The Dark Elements series.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 27 19:12:26 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 27 20:39:29 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "19504931", "review_id": "804892be4c2ab94b51e1b1853237e0f0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 STARS \n Oh, how does she do it? Amy A. Bartol has a certain way of making me want to be a character in her books. At a glance, I will say that there is a slow build to her characters and they aren't very complicated, but the worlds she creates are reality--flawed and complacent with looming power struggles waiting to implode. \n I laughed a lot and cried a wee bit. Trey made me feel that there was Hope for Kricket to find Home in this alien world where she never knew she belonged.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 10 14:37:09 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat May 31 11:34:02 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jan 18 07:48:03 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "16037004", "review_id": "ef4d399b482710f9138b3fd775188403", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 STARS I enjoyed the second part of this series mainly because Sage had POV throughout. It was tough to hear how desolate he felt after Dawn left him. I also found it strange that neither of the two contacted each other, even as they were sorely missing each other so much. When they do come back together, it is intense and explosive. \n My favorite character in both books is Jacob. He is the hero and will always be the hero in my eyes.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 19 11:35:09 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 10 16:15:12 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "15784613", "review_id": "5ebceb2a4b66cd597dbc79a4677b6e39", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 STARS \"Be careful what you wish for...\" This story takes Dawn Emerson on a ride of her life, and possibly her death. Being a music journalist was always her dream and one day, out of the blue, Creem magazine calls her and gives her a dream job--Going on Tour with an up and coming metal band, a band that she has idolized for years. Going on this journey seems like a choice, but it was Fated and Dawn is Fated to fall, trip, bleed and love.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 19 11:33:56 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 09 08:34:35 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Feb 09 08:34:35 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "18244994", "review_id": "baa628192106cc6eaaf647a295f1f4a5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 STARS This wasn't a book I would normally take on, but the writing and overall ambiance had me charmed. I fell into this world and couldn't be done with it until I knew how it ended. The best way for me to describe this story is to borrow a quote. \n 'So long I had lived on the edges between things. I was Gaelta and Keredy, rich and poor, canvas and artist, lover and whore. I had built a home there, on those boundaries. But here was only a choice, without room for compromise--and at least half of that choice lay in my hands.'", "date_added": "Mon Oct 21 06:43:55 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 01 20:34:51 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Oct 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "7304203", "review_id": "8041d71a60f10140373fd25870a69dce", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I didn't think my answers would find peace and understanding, but they eventually did. It was a long road. I read this in a bundle, so my true reactions are recorded there. Created here is a never-ending world full of intricate parts. At times I found myself lost in a turn or in an unexpected voice change, but I found this world intriguing and the characters full of faults and gifts.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 04 19:20:46 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 17 08:11:19 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jan 17 08:11:19 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "6050298", "review_id": "b97fa54ad474f735d0a284d44d19e8bb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 STARS. Reading this in a bundle. Sometimes I feel like the answers, at the end, are not the important parts of the story. It gets so off track sometimes that I'm going mad with misdirection.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 04 19:20:31 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 11 15:13:45 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jan 11 15:13:45 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "2702704", "review_id": "8d5507b274f70907657f20f1751e9cfc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Reading book bundle-This was the most intense book of them all, so far.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 04 19:20:16 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 09 11:33:43 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jan 09 11:33:43 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "344262", "review_id": "75031c7e8212722e5b239c8f5fafa6ed", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Reading book bundle- will review all together.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 04 19:19:59 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 09 11:32:45 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "18324311", "review_id": "0e0c968086d2266805658f3d50b01d2f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 STARS...Do you ever find yourself drawn to an author because they know how to bring your imagination to life? Angel Lawson knows just how to get me involved into a character and immersed in a story. Without spoiling any moments, I must express that this is a twisty mystery. The more we learn about the characters, the more we learn about the folk-lore and then the answers begin to form. I walked in Ethan's heavy footsteps and shuffled in Memory's wedges and I am in awe of how Kira and Angel have woven Norse lore into reality and back again. \n I would've given a bit more star but the editing wasn't perfect in the first half of the book. I also would have been more connected if I had encountered a bit more depth into their feelings (past the primal needs). Overall, the story was fun and original, the characters ran true throughout, and the mysteries and actions kept my nose in the pages until I had the answers to it all.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 28 07:34:41 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 09 21:28:19 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Nov 06 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13630629", "review_id": "401f6b2a9dcad65b2505ceb001ad4d7d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 STAR rating even with editing issues! It was, seriously, a puzzle where each answer brought about a new piece to question. And we're left with the biggest cliffhanger and me, speechless on how to describe how I feel about it all. \n I adore Lon and Cady together. I am enamored by the love she has for Jupe. The one thing about Cady's discoveries in these books that gets me is that she always needs to protect those she cares for, whether they are and the right side of the law or not. Each character that she connects with is completely redeemable and she shows you their shiny sides right along with their disfigurements.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 09 16:33:08 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 17 21:14:27 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Sep 18 21:14:27 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "11476593", "review_id": "e791f326ebf0e6bbca6c1515b836a006", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 Stars. I was relieved to see that Cady and Lon were working on something mature and, hopefully, lasting. I actually love how they trust one another- it may be a bit reluctantly, but definitely needed in both of their lives. \n This second book of the series sends us on a new adventure. Isn't it great how Cady and Lon work so well together. The more that they learn, the deeper they connect. Jupe also plays a huge roll in this one. His connection to Cady becomes more than emotional in this one and that may be the thing that saves his life.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 09 16:32:44 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 11 19:22:05 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17158217", "review_id": "86819768aacb462871622d0d8b6ae6aa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 STARS This was something different. I truly felt immersed in Maggie's life and loneliness. When Evan comes to be seen by Maggie, her faith in God is somewhat questioned. It's not that she felt God and angels weren't real, but perhaps she wondered if God was still caring and aware of all the turmoil in this world, and in her life as of late. \n Maggie struggles with the choices she felt were thrust upon her after her divorce. She tries to shield herself and her children from ridicule by moving their lives a bit further from where they were. She felt a bit off kilter until Evan appeared, her own guardian angel. Good thing that he showed up, because evil beings had Maggie in their sights as the perfect instrument-- a woman who had Faith and waivered on Belief.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 19:05:05 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 07 15:10:34 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Sep 07 15:10:34 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17301746", "review_id": "bd9cfd9a755a560ab281d307f5c9fca6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 STAR Emma must go through many obstacles, including five gates of Hell, in order to try and keep her family safe. In the end she is still left with the choice between good or darkness, but in an entirely different way. \n Again, This story takes off like a shot and flies through many adventures. I thieve on the intensity and am suckered in by the intimacies between characters.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 15 20:58:51 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 17 21:17:56 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Aug 18 21:17:56 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17794709", "review_id": "f70178fab071e2ca03a1c40d55288cc8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.5 STARS This was a background story that explains where Alaine came from and how she and Samuel met. It was basically informational. A few trials, but not connected to any true emotions.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 15 20:56:36 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 16 13:08:13 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Aug 16 13:08:13 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "18211884", "review_id": "fcb10a79157a48220b006bd895486c19", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 STARS. The previous books were filled with intense connections, betrayals, personal battles, and tons of immerging questions. As the battle surges closer, we find answers. So many answers that push us towards, what? Will there finally be an epic battle between Heaven and Hell? Will the Fallen be found and placed back in proper imprisonment? Will the Rephraim survive this battle or will they all perish, making The Garrison achieve their ultimate goal? \n Gaby, Rafa, and Jude are stronger together. Now that Gaby and Jude know what happened a year prior, will they remain a strong unit, or will the knowledge drive them apart again?", "date_added": "Tue Aug 06 09:36:45 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 20 08:36:53 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Oct 20 08:36:53 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17429833", "review_id": "fe6f4ba340baeb603cac30ecae19757b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 STARS As the book moves toward building powers and armies to protect the Survivors, we get so many answers that create more questions. Sadie builds up and moves past the being that she once was--alone, outcasted, and looking for a way to be mortal so she could die--to a warrior in charge. But all this growth and building towards a revolution is a facade in the end. \n I am very disappointed in Sadie. I don't think she can ever be redeemed if she Survives.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 29 11:51:30 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 30 23:28:42 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17149088", "review_id": "747e73dbd661bb8a33cc5446b862a764", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 STARS This wasn't my favorite. What I loved was the developing relationship between Adam and Nick and watching Nick's confidence build. What I was missing? Well I can't put my finger on the pulse of this one. I felt like I was left waiting until the end to see what Garrity was up to; I almost forgot he was creeping about completely and didn't even concern myself with him. Perhaps I needed a glimpse into what his observations were. Just not sure. Still, I found this story an important piece of the whole of the series.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 26 08:05:06 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 20 12:55:25 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jul 20 12:55:25 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "10922506", "review_id": "e75b33af4e6cd636f831b09dcfdc64fa", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Pushing this one to a 3.5 STAR. There is a lot of story here and a lot of people to keep track of. Sadie is going through a lot of discovery. I understand that it isn't easy to change your outlook on life and religion, but I'm not sure if I classify her as troubled, selfish, or a tease? I seriously wanted to smack her when she went back to NY City again. She doesn't deserve anyone's loyalty, yet she has it. \n Any who, I enjoy the mystery in all of this craziness and the connections to mythology help the story have more relevance as we move along. I have theories about things that might not matter and we'll see if I was way off or spot on in the next book.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 24 09:28:57 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 29 11:49:32 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jul 29 11:49:32 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "15757099", "review_id": "1f5c64f3b06c452727857e8cf24630e3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 STAR--Would give it a solid four if the editing were better. \n This is a fast paced book, full of action and emotion. Kade has spark and tenderness. All the Guardians have a defining quirk that makes them a bit flawed and real. \n Escaping death, Emma has been put on the ride of her life that just might end in her death. She suddenly learns to question everything and that is very confusing to a seventeen year old girl who thought she had a decent grasp on who she was. The one thing she cannot deny is that Kade was meant to be hers--if only she could have him.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 24 06:32:22 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 15 20:55:47 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "10470359", "review_id": "41b03bc0b2d8118a12fdf6a07d9ed183", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars. This was a complicated, multifaceted story. There are a lot of players involved and it took me some time to get them organized in my mind. Sadie is very alien like in the human world. All by herself, for three years, she has tried to trump what she had always been taught in her isolated world;Try to trump her own immortality. Just when she thinks that she could live quietly among the humans while in search of answers to her varied questions, she finds that actually living could be what she had been searching for rather than death. \n I was enthralled with the story and mythologies that she came across. She, ironically, is more alive when she searches for death. We learn truths as she does. Not much was too predictable, even with the little foreshadowing that there was in the beginning. \n Witches, shape-shifters, vampires and more in this crazy world that Amanda Havard has created.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 23 07:41:40 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 25 22:12:43 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jul 26 22:12:43 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "112750", "review_id": "b40f18ba354210f3ce78f51f8df67444", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Working through my book bundle--will review together.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 02 05:56:57 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 09 11:31:48 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jan 07 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17405738", "review_id": "42d6bb7bd309fce4d155d9dcc28b3a8d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 STARS Sean has had a Fated existence. As his Father's warrior, and pawn, he acted from anger and rage, thirsting for blood and destruction. There was always this tiny part of good in him that had been seen as a weakness for a long time. When deciding for himself what is right and wrong and defying his Father's wishes Sean stands up for the goodness that had begun to prevail as a major entity inside of his being--balance. Balance was what he was supposed to be looking for and not ultimate power. After bargaining and a bit of manipulation, Sean gets his opportunity to choose right over wrong. No longer under his father's thumb, he builds strength and credibility--power. And what he will do with this new balance and power...I cannot wait to see. \n I went with this rating because of the brutal nature of his life. I could not connect with character, which probably had to do with my personal distance over a static character. I loathed all the manipulation and games and how they overpowered any kind of emotion or connection.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 01 19:33:49 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 02 21:26:36 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 03 21:26:36 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "15765699", "review_id": "e76d1cbdaa978871d6db3ae1e3229415", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 STARS. I am gasping after just finishing this book. What an intense adventure! We pick up where Shadows left off and run straight into action, conflict, truths, and more deceptions. I am simply in awe of Paula Weston's writing and her ability to create such a complete and detailed world of chaos. \n I found myself completely in adoration of Rafa. He feels so strongly and carries the torch that allows Hope, Faith, and Love to never fade out. Gaby and Rafa make sense. They compliment and play off one another and it sounds like only they could wound each other just as intensely as they can love. \n And I can say no more because I cannot spoil this read for another. This is an EPIC story and I only hope that the third installment will bring us closer to answers and healing.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 27 07:41:32 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 10 21:00:23 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17376157", "review_id": "e2384e2cd997ef522ef943c7b72cb7ef", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 Stars. Reading the Mad World series from Shane's point of view was a treat. His raw view on the life he was thrust into was heartbreaking, but his hope and his willingness to grasp what being human is, was completely awe-inspiring. \n Still, the humor of Lea and Grace made me laugh out loud. Alex's innuendos and Ethan's protectiveness, even Tucker's sliminess rang true to certain personalities that I have encountered in life, and I enjoyed all the interactions between them all. The hardest thing for me to get around was the repetition of self deprecating thoughts from Shane, but it helped show his growth as a character in the end. \n Then the looming thoughts from Michael will keep me wanting more story later on...\"Evil can never hide itself for too long, Shane. Its ego is too big to be heard or seen for so long.\"", "date_added": "Sat Jun 22 08:12:35 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 25 23:07:26 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jun 26 23:07:26 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13042238", "review_id": "ea9fb8b85ba857a64ce1ea6b8f79cadc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.5 STARS. Maybe I'm a bit disappointed in Val. It's like she has no will at all--she isn't strong enough to overcome manipulation from anyone. And when she finds herself finally making a decision, it's at a point when she makes the worst choice. \n I'll probably finish the trilogy since this book ended completely undone, unfinished.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 05 18:12:19 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 17 13:49:15 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jun 17 13:49:15 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "9795263", "review_id": "d448c06d878c43e0323c8b2df177cf10", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 STARS!!!! I loved reading about this world where your neighbors could be Earthbound demons and you'd never know it. This book had high staked adventures, connection, humor, and dark corners.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 04 15:05:32 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 09 16:32:02 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Sep 09 16:32:02 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13644052", "review_id": "e3eeaf0b81c8208ba105de30443712b1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 STARS!! How could I not rate this as high as I can? As always, we are thrown in the thick of turmoil with action scenes that are completely visceral. \n Katy and Daemond find their way back to each about a month after Katy was captured by Daedalus. In this book we truly see how strong Daemond's love is (it makes me swoony). Together they learn truths that they never knew existed and, by the end of the book, experienced some of those truths for themselves. \n An other action packed story, immersed in a love story that made me laugh and possibly shed a tear. And now, I'm left here on a cliff...hanging.", "date_added": "Mon May 27 18:33:02 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 01 11:09:45 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Oct 01 11:09:45 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17834122", "review_id": "3484a8d96475c55d2aff0c0333649eb2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 STARS I am blown away. The sacrifices from sin and non-feeling from the hands of Him truly set my mind on edge. Sometimes up is down and down is up---that is what Selah has to contend with. That, and her ability to find goodness in any of God's creations. \n Even when she gives and is taken advantage of, she still stands on her feet and knows that her part in the situation was voluntary. \n \"I don't regret tasting you. I can't. You're not perfect by any means--there are sweeter out there--but I'd never have found a juicier apple anywhere in the world.\"", "date_added": "Sat May 25 09:25:08 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 21 08:30:31 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jul 21 08:30:31 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17877226", "review_id": "9efda89839b4d81615271c9caae2be81", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 STARS! This was an original story with drive, dynamic characters, and momentum for the next book at the end. I never knew who Zoey could trust and, in the end, I'm sure that the Rogues are the only ones she can trust fully...and perhaps Declan too. But who can Declan trust? \n Twists and turns around each corner; This book had me ignoring real life so I could get some answers.", "date_added": "Sat May 25 09:23:20 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon May 27 18:25:32 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13353503", "review_id": "4389156ba9564353dc45b2908777a1c7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It was nice to solely see from Kale's point of view. I adore how he cherishes Dez. Seeing him struggle constantly with being conscious of where his body is compared to others, really put how high strung he is into perspective and how free he feels around Dez because he can be close to her and not harm her.", "date_added": "Wed May 08 08:01:35 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed May 15 11:50:17 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 15 11:50:17 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17306455", "review_id": "179558f704c2cd49d865165996cb1a19", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.25 STARS. I would give more, but the editing was rough. However, I truly found myself enamored with Lash and Naomi. They were really well developed characters and I connected with their humor and stubbornness.", "date_added": "Wed May 01 18:32:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 09 11:13:25 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Oct 09 11:13:25 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "7842288", "review_id": "d29f407e57172806469ae27768edcc72", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 STAR. I did enjoy this book. I did not, however, understand Lena's motives. What I enjoyed the most? Ethan's journey to his Mother and Macon's story and the exploration of the tunnels with Link and Liv.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 26 14:00:14 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed May 01 06:02:46 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17251203", "review_id": "cdb4d641b36dfe8c2868162216b279eb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 Stars This is a promising beginning to a series full of mysteries, coming of age, and finding out that instincts are the only things to believe. I adore Merrin and Elias and I hope that they will continue to find out how each of them makes the whole better.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 24 19:04:13 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 19 17:06:45 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13573795", "review_id": "4f4b1e4d433ea6bf3cf136f43ec06153", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm stretching for the 3 STAR rating. Editing was horrible. I love this book the best i this series for the switch up in story. Dieties are upset that Dank overstepped his role and fell in love with Pagan's soul. She was one half of another pairing, made by the dieties themselves, yet she was drawn to Dank and fell deeply in love against all odds. Now, her memories of Dank and the spirit world have been stripped away and Dank must let Pagan choose between destined, predetermined mate or the undeniable love that exists between her heart and Dank.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 12 13:59:08 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 15 20:58:12 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13323842", "review_id": "2c9b4cf850abfea24a65d98f070c93c1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 STARS. Quite a few typos, but the story was pushing forward and I was able to grumble lightly and move on.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 12 13:59:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 14 17:16:29 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17616744", "review_id": "eef7e4b317a44d34ee5fcd2592cb65f0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 STARS...As with any Angel Lawson book, I got characters. You love pieces of all of them because they are honest and raw. There isn't a happy vibe in this one, but I must say that there is pride, humanity, and Hope. Ari is still learning about the trials of life and finding it harder and harder to hang on and believe in the failing youth in her city. Davis comes along and shows her what is hidden behind what appears to be truth. I love when I can learn from stories and this rang true here for me.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 20:35:50 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed May 28 19:51:23 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "12624498", "review_id": "ca86e414ed75df5c28d21725c52eb8bc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I have to describe this book as an old roller coaster--it chugs along and then releases from the peak of a rickety hill and I was left breathless with the conflict and intensity at the end. Lucas is swoon-worthy and I have a notion that he is irrevocably connected to Valerie. I wish she could see past the lust and give him a chance. Jack seems to have been an obsession that she doesn't know how to deal with. Poor Jack, denying his feelings for Val are just making things more complicated. \n After everything, there's a cliffie. Ah, that's how it goes now. Hopefully I can get the next book soon.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 04 08:49:25 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 05 18:11:31 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13605723", "review_id": "80079ffa68c8f22b8c6061e4b96ac896", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 STARS (even with a few editing issues) Jennifer L. Armentrout has done it again. The story moves so quickly, with passion and intent. I didn't want to stop reading and yet, I wanted to savor each moment. Alex and Aiden are perfection together. The strong network of friends still puts me in awe. The action is visceral and abundant. I enjoyed every minute whether I was cheering, jeering, or sobbing. This is the way to end a series! Promises kept, in their own way and a sense that there is life to live beyond the destruction and pain.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 26 19:28:23 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 04 21:14:33 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Nov 04 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Nov 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "9897164", "review_id": "b843a901637e15ea335304134d4e08f6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "You have no idea how much I want to slap a 5 STAR rating on this! But rushed editing to meet a demanded deadline, thank you by the way Miss A, left me rating this with 4 .5 STARS. \n The thing that makes me sing praises about this story is the heart. Every character has a solid core and the love and loyalty is unwaivering. I laughed, I cried, and I have a major crush on Apollo. I swoon at Aiden and how he doesn't fear his love for Alex (it took forever for that to happen ;) ). The whole family vibe from these characters shines so bright and warms my heart in the end. \n As with all of the books in this series, I was swept into acton and betrayed, surprised--along with the rest of the characters, I felt a forward, and determined, push toward resolution (that I now have to wait until FALL to read. Sigh.)", "date_added": "Tue Mar 26 19:28:22 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 09 20:32:58 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Apr 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "16128535", "review_id": "a1ee410d87509053c1ff75d606856b9f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 STARS of action packed torture. Seth's selfishness sickened me to the core. I could never want him to gain more power from Alex. Aiden can't give up on Alex...even when she pushes him away for his own wellfare. \n Gah! This book is full of everything including Gods who come to eliminate the threat of the Apollyons.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 26 19:26:34 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 28 06:42:33 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Mar 28 06:42:33 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17347389", "review_id": "72982692d343c1e0f48da77d72b25106", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 STARS I know, I know. I complained a bit about this one. I did it because I just wanted to get to the top of the first hill, like a roller coaster. The details of characters and movements, of feelings a searching for truths, of Ronin and his coming to terms with what and who he is...all of these things needed to chink up level by level in order to let loose at the top of the peak. Then I felt the plummets, curves, twists and turns. I couldn't stop reading until the words stopped. The ley line is alive and being used to drive Adam through his promise, to feed Ronin and his dreams, and to bring something Grey to help protect what magic lies at 300 Fox Way.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 14 04:59:39 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 20 12:41:14 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jun 20 12:41:14 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "6131164", "review_id": "c6d0e6858403fee5ea7461c36ca7dd78", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A brilliant and heart-wrenching end to The Infernal Devices series. I feel so much right now after just finishing this. I will put a proper review up shortly. \n My offical review: \n Mortmain, The Magister, has been quiet and most Shadowhunters believe he has run to lick his wounds. Jem, Tessa, and Will know that this is just the calm before the storm, because he did not get what he wanted--Tessa and revenge on the Shadowhunters. \n Life continues on. Jem and Tessa prepare to marry as Will silently loves Tessa from afar. Their love for each other isn't a choice--they are all a part of a whole. The choices, and timing of those choices, seem to be the crux of the story for me. \n While this love triangle is almost unbearble, the Councul is trying to have others rally around removing Charlotte from running the London Institute, but he is doing such descretely. We find out what kind of men the Lightwoods are when they are tested in this situation. \n Again, we have a novel filled with good and evil, love, betrayal, family, loyalty, action, an a story of finding where you belong.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 10 21:16:36 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 22 06:13:14 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Mar 22 06:13:14 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Mar 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "10025305", "review_id": "f744d3105caf68460f9dc8ba46075ac1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "While the first book of The Infernal Devices series was thick and full of intricate information, Clockwork Prince was full of character. Curses, black magic, betrayal, friendship, and love is all intertwined as these brilliant characters' fight against the evil of The Magister, who wants the Shadowhunters to become extinct. \n I swear that I spent the last half of the book with my heart in my throat. My heart aches for Will and for Tessa, because of what they face now hurts just as much as it heals. Poor Tessa loves two parts of a whole--does one deserve more from her? Do either of them deserve eternity or will she spend those days after love has gone alone?", "date_added": "Sun Mar 10 21:14:31 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 12 11:11:40 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Mar 12 11:11:40 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Mar 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "9738483", "review_id": "959ae47fd4ef36463d9e0aaa53845af4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 STARS. At fist I sighed and thought, \"Another book without Elena and Raphael? C'mon!\" \n Then I really was impacted by how much compassion was in Jason and how much hope was in Mayiha. The had pieces that the other needed. \n Also in this book, we see what has been stirring within Cadre members and their emergence from what they once were. I'm hoping that the next book will be about finding a tenth and resolving the power stuggles within te Cadre at last.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 28 05:35:47 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 07 10:03:39 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Mar 07 10:03:39 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Mar 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "8074967", "review_id": "e6c3cc7ae78a4b13da93677246eba90a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'll throw a 3 STAR at this one. This was the first book to veer away from Raphael and Elena's story. For a while I was reading to see if themain story line would shine through. Somewhere in the middle I began to connect to the story. I'm not sure if the characters weren't compelling to me or if I just wanted more Raphael and that hindered me from truly liking this book. So, Dmitri and Honor's stories were sad--comig from lives of torture, torment, and abandonment. When the walls come down, there are two matching souls that should be together for eternity. \n I, eventually, saw redemption. I 'may have' shed some tears at one point. Those moments are later in the story. I won't swoon over tis, but it was okay.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 28 05:35:41 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 05 05:59:46 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Mar 05 05:59:46 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "7307503", "review_id": "7b9c0d71529699b6b34c4c70703d7640", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Rounding up to 3.5 STAR. I found this book to convey a particular tone that the prior books hadn't for me--almost poetic in the decriptions of feelings and actions. I really enjoyed the story build an the twist that,I should have seen far ahead, but I didn't.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 26 13:12:20 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 01 19:44:21 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "6582637", "review_id": "d7f4bf71ac3add7c9da16cf2b0486170", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A lot of information in this installment; Seemingly answering many questions from book one, it was a bit of overload at times. The charcters became more diverse and flawed. There are more dangerous things in Elena's world now that she has begun a life of immortality. Will she be able to keep her head above water or will she drown in memories and guilt before others use her as Raphael's largest weakness?", "date_added": "Tue Feb 26 13:11:59 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 27 21:04:07 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17060956", "review_id": "4439cbfec59ce83faf9b4ce1fa85b967", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was a decent wrap-up of the Significance series. I did enjoy how each chapter brought more anticipation for the major climax of the book. Very formulaic writing style; predictable. The journey to the end was enjoyable.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 22 19:31:16 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 24 06:28:11 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Feb 24 06:28:11 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "1421990", "review_id": "924b07b275c615a1da29a408d5c9fb94", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 17 06:36:27 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 29 14:26:35 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "3819326", "review_id": "bfff96d12602059b6fb3d7efc6d8ce12", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked this a bit more than three stars. Elena is a bad-ass, possibly the best vampire hunter. The next job she has been called in to do, just may be challenging enough to be her last, and there is no way for her to escape it. Rapheal, the archangeal in charge of the NY territory knows that only the best hunter can help save humanity, but his secrets won't allow him let Elena do her job properly. Plus, she brings something out in him that has him concerned for his own safety, his humanity. There is no turning back for either of them.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 17 06:35:06 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 25 11:20:34 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Feb 25 11:20:34 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Feb 24 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13517498", "review_id": "54cd900fce4fdbbc6961093773123e8e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 STARS and just what I needed to read right now. Without putting any spoilers in this, we continue from when Scarlet loses and her mate and tries to end Sean...well, three weeks later. Scarlet caged Ruby up so tightly that she had no idea time even went on. When Ruby wakes up naked, alone, and being chased by supernatural beings in the forest she has so many questions and no way of getting any answers. Did Sean survive Scarlet's attack? Will he want her anymore or punish her for Scarlet's actions? Will Cooper accept her back into his life? What other troubles has Scarlet left her with? These questions are just the tip of the iceberg.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 15 09:16:24 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 01 19:26:05 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13517496", "review_id": "6bbeffad0f73c7c83132d4d853102087", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm givng this book a 3.5 STAR. I rounded up because the fluidity of the stories all together,for this series, hasn't slowed down. I feel like I'm on a speeding train full of action. There are so my lies, of omission and blatant, that are slowlybeing revealed. I'm so scared that I'm going to find Sean betraying Ruby that I don't want to look around the next turn!", "date_added": "Thu Feb 14 05:57:22 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 15 09:15:40 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 15 09:15:40 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Feb 14 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13517495", "review_id": "e4fe487adc21fac458d23f41ad699644", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Finally! This third book of the Caged series was so much fun to read. It's full of foul mouthed humor, a stalking rogue were, and... Scarlet goes into heat! The connecting, or melding, of Ruby and Scarlet has really opened up her character more. There are a lot of new discoveries, most a bit predictable, but the lies and deceit that come along with the revealings is what makes me continue reading. It's the little details that keep my mind involved in the story.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 13 06:06:27 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 14 05:56:08 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13448023", "review_id": "3a24cfa25fd8a3b1c6c734cb2d4e919e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 Stars. Again, I enjoyed this book, but still feel a bit disconnected from it. The reality factor of Ruby's character is growing this time. I see confidence and maturity. I think the connection between her and Scarlet will really enhance her character. I want to slap Sean and find out what Cooper meant when he talked to Gregory about never taking what was his again.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 10 15:54:34 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 12 19:10:35 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Feb 12 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "16070072", "review_id": "c9462ff62fcce35bd9b782579615b5ff", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm really torn on how to rate this. There were way too many editing issues for me and it, frankly, ruined the book for me. I still enjoyed most of the actual story. Shayne redeems himself over and over again, I just wished that he would have stopped the jealousy games sooner. Grace is too stubborn. She wants Shane , but cannot let him gain an ounce of trust.I guess that is what thousands of years of soul hopping will do to someone. I enjoyed the banter and witty comebacks;Lea is the best at comebacks in this book! Overall, I need to rate this lower than I would for almost making me flounce.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 03 14:37:46 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 06 08:43:16 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "15768536", "review_id": "2e138f3480ab18e3b134047bb637541e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Solid 4 STARS. Would have been more if it weren't for some typos. My gosh, how do I review this? I couldn't put the book down and, even now, I want to start Saving Grace. These were $1.99 for the Kindle books. \n Grace has been punished for thousands of years--being thrust into bodies that were fighting losing battles. She has suffered so much pain for just one kiss with an angel, her angel. She has constantly been searcing for him on earth and saving her heart for only him. In this life, she has finally met her match in the body of Grace. She lives on for her, her brother Jacob and best friend Lea. \n When Grace meets Shane, she has lost all hope after losing Jacob to a long, torturous bttle with cancer. Shane is lighting a fire in her labido, but this faulty man could not be him. The sparks that fly and witty insults are definitely entertaining. Grace tries so hard to resist his charm and she fights the good that she sees in him the longer they spend time together, but can she give up her search for 'him' and give in to her desire for Shane? She is a stubborn one. \n MAJOR CLIFFIE!", "date_added": "Fri Feb 01 17:35:55 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 03 14:23:44 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Feb 03 14:23:44 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "7171637", "review_id": "64a5cccd5f3bd3471f68a60b0a943562", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What a journey. Tessa travels by boat from New York City to London, where her surviving family member, her brother Nate, waits for her. Tessa never gets a chance to see him before she is thrust into a world of demons, warlocks, vampires, and Shadowhunters. Being told that her cooperation is the only way to save her missing brother, Tessa tries to embrace this new world and her new abilities. \n This is my first glimpse into a steam-punk world and I spent so much time taking in details so I could picture it. At times, the characters seemed a bit stagnant, but I found more and more depth as I uncovered answers in the story.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 29 13:32:37 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 10 21:12:40 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Mar 11 21:12:40 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Mar 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13615578", "review_id": "b162d5ec2bdbab113cac7c94ceeae183", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What a fun series this was. I'm at a 3.75 star rating. I love that the characters grow and learn and yet are, undeniably, themselves--Stubborn and ready to find a way to have everyone survive but themselves. Good vs Evil where you aren't sure, until the end, if good will truly prevail.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 29 07:03:39 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 29 21:04:54 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 29 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jan 29 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "15819003", "review_id": "868c495a48a551808ea3df342b83a37b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 STARS This was a short novella that gave a small glimpse into the quiet one of the four Merrick brothers. It was enlightening, but not surprising. Having just read SPIRIT, I notice cues of his confusion and his need to fix everybody because he cannot find a way to fix his own confusion and inner turmoil.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 29 05:51:41 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 06 09:58:53 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jul 06 09:58:53 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13263105", "review_id": "c0afaa8c7b6586302f4a154fd4861fe2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Honest review, I give the story a quivering 3 STARS--add in the prestine editing and I could bump it up to 3.5. \n Ruby is older in age, but not in maturity. This really made her character hard to pin down. She was sheltered all of her life, by her parents, as well as by her blindness. On the day that her parents are murdered, she believes that the end has come for her too. She opens her eyes and can, miraclulously, see. And what a sight to behold. \n Ruby is book smart and smart mouthed, but lost in howto connect with the world around her. When she finds one connection, it is with the man who has saved her time and again. This is a story of self-discovery. As secrets are, reluctantly, revealed Ruby must rethink all she hs ever known. \n This is a supernatural YA.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 26 17:13:59 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 11 06:20:33 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "12760903", "review_id": "09382646707b8569262288567b12f103", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 STARS. The series had to have been one whole book and the publisher decided to chop it up. This book was a transitional period. Gemma learns more about herself and works with her powers. Stephan has been spreading his evil mark to those he needs to follow him. The more marks that Gemma encounters, the more she realizes that the end of the world is building to a crescendo and her and Alex's Fate may not be avoided at any cost. While Gemma finds help in places that she would never trust, she must also come to the knowledge that being alone doesn't mean you are alone in the world. \n I just noticed that I forgot to roundup! Oops. I fixed it!", "date_added": "Wed Jan 23 17:52:47 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 30 11:00:45 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "11714997", "review_id": "1cd408f64f9c65356c4fe0ff5569205d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 STAR. Gemma gains a lot of ground and information in this book. She blunders through her talent and is poppoing in and out of places a bit too much. Once she and Alex are on their quest to enter The Underworld, the adventure takes a linear aspect. I enjoyed the last third of the book emensly. Still, she never knows who she cam trust. Luckily, Alex and Layland are on her side, even if they show it in different ways. Will she be able to rescue her Mom? Will any of their actions change the course of the future? Will Gemma be in one piece in the end? All good questions that may have an answer in the end.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 23 17:52:45 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 26 21:25:13 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jan 27 21:25:13 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "11210804", "review_id": "3b5d49b8c207a37dd162bad6ea13f54a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Whoa! This book started out with a fizzle and ended with a huge bang. I am so glad that I was able to get through those few Twilight references because this book grew. It crescendoed into so much action and intrigue. No one could be trusted by the end. We only just began to get a glimpse of Gemma and her past;Still left with missing pieces that explain what she is meant for, really and who her parents were. I am completely blown away.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 23 06:09:00 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 23 17:51:41 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jan 23 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jan 23 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13183957", "review_id": "17ee97f72fd29fcc0ecf38ae9c80c6ad", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 Stars. I enjoyed this novella; A look into Dawson and Bethany's meeting and falling in love. Not much action or struggle until closer to the end. I didn't get a clear view of Bethany's character at all, But there was more Daemon and that made me happy.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 21 13:33:49 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 23 06:01:51 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jan 21 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13362536", "review_id": "fe345889f2bf6bfaff6b0fa6912bd78b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Best book of the series, so far. The connection and love between Katy and Daemon grows more through this series and in this book their trust grows as well. So many hurdles for Katy and the others to jump over its intimidating, and their spontanious nature is slowly overcome, through failures,and all the planning and backup may never be enough to get what they need. What will they find when they reach Beth? What sacrifices will be made and what betrayals lie in wait?", "date_added": "Sat Jan 19 22:41:17 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 21 13:29:19 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jan 21 13:29:19 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 16}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13047090", "review_id": "30b81a305327f8fb1a923dd784323bb6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Solid 4 STARS. I really enjoyed this book, even though Katy is misguided in so many of her choices.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 17 16:16:14 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 19 15:28:36 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jan 19 15:28:36 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "6304335", "review_id": "72725103d226c6262d1bb2f9ec326d63", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I found something that I never expected in this little gem. First off, I was shocked to find out that this is written from a male POV, Ethan-- a very mature minded, sixteen year boy. Secondly, I found myself immersed into a great mystery where, around every corner, was another question laying under a tiny clue. Lastly, I found the story moved quickly, even though there seemed to be a lot of introspection on Ethan's part looking at the small southern town and it's traditions. While it seemed very stereotypical, I saw it as a parallel to the Caster world. \n I enjoyed this so much that I am afraid to see the movie that was based on this novel, in fear that it couldn't capture the essence of Ethan's feelings and internal battles. I will, however, move on to the next book!!", "date_added": "Tue Jan 15 19:20:50 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 26 07:59:50 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Apr 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13455894", "review_id": "a32660f0747db578495d915ac0af1bd9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A solid 3.5 stars. This was a decent conclusion to the Hunter series. I'm not upset in any way how things turned out for each character. From the very first chapter of the first book, I had known that Donna would be a Goddess. She had goddess toes, for Jiminy Sakes! The group dynamic in this final book truly threw me for a loop. I was taken aback by all the twists and deceptions and I never saw the ending coming. That is a feat in itself--to not be able to predict the outcome. I'm sorry to let these characters go, they were so fiesty. I do wish that I could've seen more growth between Donna and Hunter's trust in each other, but I'm not gonna sneeze at such a divine ending.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 10 18:34:21 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 15 19:43:01 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "12970510", "review_id": "838d056ae0c8962e175c033183f6bee2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What I truly love about this series is the fact that relationships grow. In this book I followed the relationship between Donna and Howie from a rocky, gun-toting start to an unbelievable end. I was quite a bit frustrated with Hunter and his inability to trust his Eternal Partner with information that could help her in the tasks that the Prophecy lay before her. Donna doesn't stick up for herself and often stuffs herself right in the midst of danger at every turn, after being disobedient to Hunters rules. So many characters play decent roles in each book. The story is full and encompassing-truly a joy to read from a thrill seeking mind like mine.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 10 18:33:37 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 12 19:30:44 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "12983100", "review_id": "4507157ed42f947deb7fc486b3456484", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 STAR How do I review a book that had me glued to it, yet I felt like I was missing something almost the entire time? The writing is meant for you to 'ride along' with the characters and that distance was felt. It is one of the things that keeps me from immersing myself into the story. \n This book was particularly dark and very twisted with gruesome creations and horrid actions. \n I didn't find myself enjoying much of the story until Raffe flew in and whispered in Penryn's ear. He made everything come alive. The humor and chemistry simply lit the story up.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 10 05:38:39 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 30 20:11:00 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13623150", "review_id": "8953fd87a16cc84953df5eb329f5cc2f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.25 Stars. This glimpse into Warner really made my head spin. Why make a reader sympathize with someone who seems to use fear for power? Who plays horrible, hurtful games with those he claims to adore? Mafi has humanized Warner--gave him reason and his background and appearant mental state have pushed me a little closer to empathizing with him. Will Juliette's rants haunt him to his end? Will she save him from destruction?", "date_added": "Thu Jan 03 21:17:03 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 04 20:30:01 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "15904069", "review_id": "b7d4fc73186ea23ffc2ec3fffd898983", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What a great introduction into this trilogy. The characters are so full and personable. I love when characters search for their loves time and time again. \n A solid 4 STAR book for me. I truly enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next book in this venture.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 02 10:16:04 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 04 11:09:40 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13484803", "review_id": "b08bdb20a54c0e582885b4b1cf8dbf8c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2.5 STARS. I really liked this series, but I wish it would've ended with the last book. I know that there were a few loose ends to deal with, but even those ends weren't tied up in this book. I was missing something in this continuation--perhaps drive? I found myself skimming chapters just to get to the end. I guess I felt like this adventure fell flat for me.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 21 17:35:27 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 20 20:35:21 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "12284911", "review_id": "0479853cec1b2d782d2cfb46738b0374", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4STARS! From the beginning of a cliffhanger to demons taking over the Earth--the battles between Good and Evil crescendo through this book. With action so driven and emotions so high, Horizon is a rollercoaster that I didn't want to get off of. \n I can't even get into a summary without spoiling something. So, I must say that this book holds the key to the end of what Kara has always thought was the truth. The mightiest will fall and Kara will fall too.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 21 17:35:25 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 19 18:16:22 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "12464361", "review_id": "9696d90e491838b1c93bfd72a1f3e082", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3 STARS. Kara is brought back to Horizon to help with the work overload since the mysterious disappearance of thousands of GAs has begun. She gets a lofty promotion, but that does't last long when the angels find out who her Father really is. Kara is prosecuted without trial, sent to prison, and unable to save her Mom's soul, which is being held by the demon Lord. The end doesn't look shiny and happy for our dear Kara.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 21 17:35:22 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 18 19:45:30 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "17155449", "review_id": "e9f3caa3eba180d0b877946daef0e669", "rating": 3, "review_text": "We need those half stars people! 3.5 stars on this one. I fought to keep on this story until about 60% in, where the story finally had a purpose. From that point on, the action was consistent to the end. Kara is sixteen. She's insecure about her looks, her talents, and about the sanity of her mother. In a split second, none of that matters anymore. She finds her soul inHorizon where guardian angels live, train and work. Being dead isn't something her mind wraps around right away, but once she beguns her duties as a rookie GA, she takes to it like breathing air. Once she feels like she is making headway as a GA, she finds herself Marked and being doubted by those who are around her. Kara must fight by herself in order to prove her worth and noone could fathom how valueable she truly is.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 21 17:34:32 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 26 13:50:20 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Dec 26 13:50:20 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Dec 21 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13125234", "review_id": "20c527d9b61cad26acd5590244d189d1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "After loving the relationship between Leila and Vlad, I really looked forward to this book. I didn't feel connected to them in this, however. While there was a lot of action, I felt removed from it all. Not until closer to the end did I feel any urgency.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 13 11:58:01 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun May 19 12:48:50 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun May 19 12:48:50 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "11731782", "review_id": "98269720eb1ce5b7180ec12f65f3190b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I was very dissapointed in this book and I will not be reading the sequel. The story line was actually very original and I really wanted to get past the little things that bothered me. There were too many, unfortunately. I struggled to finish and received a cliff hanger. After all the grammar issues, tense issues, and the constant self depricating views from both main characters I just can't even think of continuing on.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 11 15:56:28 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 09 19:27:35 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jan 07 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "12578077", "review_id": "3963716dc7b813a5ada69717a7e37b4d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 STARS. I don't read much in the sci-fi realm. I didn't even know that I was dealing with an alien race until I was half way through the book. I'm glad of it because I adore Dee and Katy. I'm still a bit peeved at Daemon and his hot/cold behavior toward Katy. \n I'm a lover of UST and this book has it in spades, plus two sarcastic and sassy characters that are driven by passion and self-defiance. \n Just a bit more of backstory for each of them might have pushed me closer to 4 stars. A fun read for me and I am moving on to book 2 immediately.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 09 13:56:37 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 17 16:15:24 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jan 16 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13581340", "review_id": "20982ce0681902fdd3f17eb7b0b9a703", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Evie is half human and half angel, created to be the first angel with a soul. She is a sweet morsel that too many creatures want to drink, consume, love or kill. She has a soul mate, an aspire, an undead King and a guardian angel that all would like to claim her as their own. Her biggest obstacle could be the very man who started it all, her father. \n These characters have such strong bonds that I found myself just as torn as Evie about who I needed her to end up with. Introducing new interests and twists just made life more complicated for her and knowing who to trust, almost impossible. Ending on a sweet, but ominous note means that there will be another addition to the series. I'm really hoping it's in the works!", "date_added": "Thu Dec 06 07:08:54 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 11 08:10:36 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Dec 11 08:10:36 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Thu Dec 06 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "12688952", "review_id": "50b64a2e0c6599663a3ad4cbae5e42e1", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2 and a half Stars. While this book contains a great adventure, mostly seen at the latter portion of the book, the characters didn't jump out at me. The character developement seemed thin and I had a difficult time feeling for Chase. I did enjoy the new world aspects and all the different details that the author took the time to entail. \n At the very end, I mean in the last chapter and the epilogue, I felt something for Chase's predicament. If you're an adventure reader this is definitely worth the time to read. Not sure if I'll be picking up a sequel anytime soon.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 03 20:29:28 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 05 10:03:25 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Dec 05 10:03:25 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "11055258", "review_id": "ecaf8764e8ef6d20a3b4e95058328a8d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The beginning of this book was a bit repetitious from previous installments, but once we get into a bit of action it is pure, thriving battles and information. That is one thing that I find a constant in these stories and that accelerating flow its what keeps me moving through the series. \n Kate is venturing out on her own as a PI. No cases have been offered for months. Her first case comes with promise, but will the payout be worth all the trouble? \n I have never felt so close to Kate losing everything like I did in this book. I was scared for a moment that there might not be a happy ending. Like all of the books in this series, Kate makes it through with her feet on the edge of a cliff.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 27 14:05:23 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 29 07:14:04 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Nov 29 07:14:04 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Tue Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13618440", "review_id": "86b6380f8feff706a416b4f081e673b0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 STARS For a book series to end like it is just the beginning, takes some kind of lyrical magic. The final book leaves me with a world to build in my imagination with wondrous characters to make a future for. A future for godstars. I am completely lost in this world and will hang on to it for a while I think. \n Karou and Akiva met and fell in love ages ago. There love was a burning fire that would tear apart the world that they knew and bring hope to a world that they could only dream of. Death, resurrection, and battles between their own kin couldn't keep their souls from knowing one another and slowly pulling each other towards revolution, reconstruction, and their Fated Destiny.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 23 16:14:58 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 14 07:54:58 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jul 14 07:54:58 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "12670834", "review_id": "da15576548a798177a6518e6e213e16b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n After finishing this second book of The Chosen series, I am really disappointed in where the story went. I traveled through Emma's heartbreak of missing her son and the desperation to get through all of this with Will and Jake at her side. At first I assumed that Emma was going to play martyr and leave Will 'for his own good', but then she realised how much she truly wanted to need him--a great revelation. Raphael became creepier and creepier as the story went along and you could tell that he claimed her personally, yet he kept sending her off to fight battles that he could've snuffed out for her. Seriously? This was all a tiresome game, where no one's life meant anything? She was born for entertainment purposes? I am very scorned by the trivial nature that the plot was spun around and the answers at the end infuriated me for getting so involved. \n I'm giving this book a 3.25. I did enjoy the chase, eventhough it wasn't as fierce as the first book. The ending has me grasping for reasons to continue the other books in this series or just let it be. I may come out the end better off not knowing any more.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 19 09:00:43 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 21 21:56:07 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Nov 21 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Tue Nov 20 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "12749981", "review_id": "7e2756b9e555ddb56e0ee617cb6d2608", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have been blessed with fabulous recommendations lately and this book is no exception. A solid four star rating. \n Emma and her five year old son, Jake, have been running from the Bad Men for three years. After not believing Jake's premonition of the danger and a close call of being caught, Emma never underestimated his ability. That was the day when running became their only option. \n Three years later, the men are getting closer and Emma's options are becoming limited. That is when Will pounces and catches more than a woman with a bounty on her.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 17 08:29:06 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 19 09:11:43 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Nov 19 09:11:43 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sat Nov 17 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13494365", "review_id": "d175f71d47c820c2419abe9922c1b849", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.25 STARS I finally have returned to this series and I felt like I hadn't missed a beat. There is something so gripping, so original, about these characters and their stories that I couldn't put the book down. As always, the Elemental boys keep things exciting and on the move. These books really do have a bit of everything in the right places and I find it fulfilling to read each book.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 11 18:24:00 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 05 22:33:31 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jul 06 22:33:31 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "10401084", "review_id": "6814490c0ebb9ba4256553ba399265b3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I began reading this last night and I couldn't put it down today. Such a great mystery/paranormal/YA book. Had me postulating almost all the way to the end. I adored all the characters. Each one has their own light and darkness, but I really do believe that the strength of humanity is what kept me so entwined in their story. \n I would recommend this to any avid YA reader and even a plain paranormal reader. I'm prepared to search for more from Brigid Kemmerer because she gets it...that thing that puts you directly into the story. That i very hard to come by.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 11 18:17:03 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 11 18:22:51 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13605727", "review_id": "c0f7bcfd108c5070a20eed6811580a05", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What a whirlwind of emotions. Aiden trusting in love...in Alex...is the right thing to do. I am nervous to see how Apollo deals with his choice. Hurry up April 9th!!!", "date_added": "Sun Nov 04 18:26:14 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 28 10:32:21 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Mar 28 10:32:21 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "9761771", "review_id": "63ca6706f9b9c860ae3e9420b8963658", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The second book of the Covenant series began with a spirited jog and quickly escalated to a wild sprint. It is so full of action and emotions,but not overly dramatic. I didn't find any moments lagging to flesh out storyline or lacking in content or forward motion. \n I have to admit that I found my heart breaking over and over again for Alex and she came through it all--what a strong, and extremely flawed, character. I love that she is never perfect, but always finds her way through to the end.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 04 18:25:27 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 26 19:24:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Mar 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "6479550", "review_id": "285a9dc3655fcb345bfdc999a1c81558", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I don't know if you can tell, but I love these characters and their emerging stories. In this book, Kate finally tells Curran how she feels in actions that show Curran that she might be ready to be with him. What she doesn't know is that Curran needs all of her or nothing from her--no room for in between. Can Kate give up her appearant 'professional unbias' and be with him or will she choose her job instead? \n Adding to the story line, more people learn about where Kate has come from,including her ancient Aunt who Kate resembles in many ways. We get more background and lore about Roland and his history. Most importantly, to me, we get a loving Curran and a bit of his story.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 19 06:19:59 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 27 14:03:39 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Nov 27 14:03:39 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Wed Nov 21 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "4345498", "review_id": "c3516a0fa7b42c65f86fce1e6ccc1280", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Roland is the most powerful, untouchable being in the world and Kate has lived every moment of her life for one purpose, to end Roland before he finds and kills her. Kate is one step closer to Roland and more knowledge of who she is and where she came from has been revealed and kept secret. \n Derek's belief in saving a stranger from a horrible life, ends with him in hot water. Kate finds herself seeking out those who meant to harm him. Her reality gets closer to everything she had been avoiding.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 19 06:19:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 17 08:22:26 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Nov 17 08:22:26 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sun Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "1811543", "review_id": "eb0e22bd978d6cd1927201052173c133", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What do I think? I think that Kate has been holding back! Duh? Right? Her secrets are going to come out and she'll have a harder time dealing wit the truth than anyone else will, except Curran. I'm not sure if he'll find her power intoxicationg or a menace. Curran-- he fed her, helped her heal again, and trusted her to hold her own instead of hiding or protectingher. When will she see how he fancies her? What will she do with that power? *lucky lady* \n Did I mention that this book was filled with battles, gore, and fluctuating magic that sparks frenzies of activity?", "date_added": "Fri Oct 19 06:19:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 20 13:31:02 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Oct 20 13:31:02 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Oct 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "12706435", "review_id": "17ea0210849fa59905822ae211bc6fa8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3 Stars on a book that I'd love to give a 4.5 rating to. There were too many errors. 60% into the book, I found myself laughing out loud at the rediculous editing. If I wasn't already so invested in these characters and the plot, I would be screaming for my money back! \n Even though the story isn't over, this book truly answers many questions and creates a few more. Finally, we see if Maggie will make changes or be pigeon-holed into an already determined position on the councel. If you love Maggie, Caleb,the Jacobsons, Bish and Jim, then you may be able to get through this as I did. Shelley Crane has a wonderful sense of storytelling and character development. I should've gotten an audio edition, then I wouldn't be so mad right now. lol.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 12 15:20:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 13 21:30:48 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Oct 14 21:30:48 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "12667194", "review_id": "9c436e6016983a0986a4617a7a2e558f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm giving this one a 3.5 star. Grammar and basic spelling had me tripped up a few times. Beyond that, more story was unveiled and I was riveted. Many things are predictable in this story, but not blatantly so. I'm pretty stoked that I guessed Caleb's ability way before it was revealed.Shelley Crane has a wonderful sense of storytelling. \n My mind is very spiratic right now. Sorry for my strange reaction to this story. I actually want to read the next part of the series right now and answer the burning question...WHO IS THE FATHER?", "date_added": "Wed Oct 10 13:50:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 11 16:51:55 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Oct 11 16:51:55 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Oct 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "11882171", "review_id": "353602df45cb3de1070aee290ff8c9da", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 STARS This was one of those rare books that pulled me in quickly and shot off from the start. There were a few lulls, which allowed me to process all the information that was given, and a few editing issues, but I was totally invested in the actions. Characters were a bit flat on a personality scale, but the roller coaster ride I was on made up for the lack of dimensions.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 08 08:32:26 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed May 08 07:37:32 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 08 07:37:32 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "14761268", "review_id": "c9eeaeb79939d355164f55a794dfa610", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n A fitting end to a brilliant series. The world,hidden in plain site, that Giovanni had come from was fueled by revenge, animosity, and centuries of power struggle. The ancients lived for so long that fighting had succombed to wanting peace and small pleasures and not dealing with any mistakes that they may have left to be unearthed. So, the latter generation of power hungry beings stumble across something that was meant to stay hidden, an elixor that looked to unload burdens of flesh and burdens of bloodlust. With this formula in the wrong hands, with wrong intentions, even the strongest vampire could be weakened enough to bow before another. By the end of this book, every bow is tied up nicely and I feel relieved, even a little sad, to see the journey end.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 29 12:33:30 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 04 18:14:16 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "9680718", "review_id": "be9854f39853bad50f7ff794c547e3eb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'd give this a bursting 4 stars (it would be more if the editing was pristine). \n I love a strong heroine like we see in Alex. She is young, spunky, and dealing with being on the run, losing her Mother, and fighting for a life no one wants her to have. There's also the life that she cannot have which keeps her mind and heart in a constant battle to follow the rules of her world, as ancient as they are. \n I watched Alex mature and fight between right and wrong, not always coming through with the wisest decisions. In the end, she comes to terms with all that had been handed to her and realizes that she may not be powerless, or alone, as she thought she once was.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 19 19:51:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 25 08:05:32 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Mar 25 08:05:32 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "15995747", "review_id": "9e98d1b5a6f70919e0314525d6d4dc53", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm pushing toward a 3.5 star. The writing was clean and had a nice flow. Movement from person to person was necessary, but ddn't come together until about 50% in. Once all of these characters crossed that line, I was really needing to know what happens. Blue is a sweet, eccentric girl who has been sheltered by her Mother. She holds power within her spirit that makes connections for others stronger. I believe that she also draws people to her.This is a book about discovery of self, of magic, and of finding your own way to do the right thing. \n Something held me back from loving this. I just didn't connect. Perhaps there is too much innocence? Too much nonchalance? This is very YA. A great mystery and ghost story.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 18 18:44:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 08 20:48:54 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13502963", "review_id": "f3cba75cd32845f5fa064acd42b623da", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A solid 4.5 STARS! Evie is a half-breed, part human and part angel. Her angel side keeps growing stronger, and we are beginning to see how much more she is. Dangerous is what she seems to everyone she meets, either dangerous as an unknown evolution with limitless capabilities or dangerous as everyone she meets wants her, is compelled to have her. She also feels so much more than a typical angel does. She finds herself drawn to those who love her and begins a confusing journey where her mind, heart, and her soul lead her in different directions. Amy A. Bartol has a style of writing that packs action to the hilt and makes it ascend until the entire story explodes and we are waiting for the smoke to clear in order to see who survived. \n Just did a reread before the final book of the series is released. Do you know what would be great? If I were to get the book a week early! (It is worth a try right?)", "date_added": "Sun Sep 16 17:14:08 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 24 19:04:28 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "3236307", "review_id": "e6d3c70257f525c16058587f35ea9480", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n A solid 4 Stars. I really enjoyed these different characters. Katsa is strong, only unyeilding to the needs of her King, right or wrong. As she grows into herself and her Grace more, she learns that she must stand on her own, for her own reasons. When her king finds that she is not sending messages with brutality, as he wishes she would to send fear his way, Katsa is banished from her kingdom. She is left with freedom. This freedom opens her world up vastly--she only has to edit what she ever thought was possible. \n Prince PO is Graced. As time goes on, we watch his abilities grow and his secrets become intimacies between he and Katsa. \n This book is a journey that I can not wait to travel again.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 16 12:54:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 31 19:28:56 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Oct 31 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Oct 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13381357", "review_id": "c700c4126f27de1477531a493eb82e01", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I this book we actually get to see two points of view, Evie and Russel take turns at the helmn of this ship. I was surprised by this change in format and had a difficult time 'feeling' what Russell was going through. I did like seeing his POV and I think it clears up some misconceptions about how he behaves toward Evie. I really liked the time that the author took in truly having a look into their relationship now. Evie drives me a bit crazy with her overprotectiveness towards others and her complete lack of self-preservation. If this sounds a bit choppy and convoluted, it is because I am still trying to catch up to this story. Once the momentum begins in these books, it's like an avalanche tumbling from the very top of a mountain and it continues building and building past the flatlands and into the waters, slowly melting, revealing the results. \n Rereading before getting to the final book. Russell works so hard to help Evie move on. His passion for her is extreme. I see more fight from Russell than I do from Reed, but that is only because he has the prize in his heart. And Brennus! Finn! Amy A. Bartol truly writes her characters with true conviction.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 14 15:58:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 15 15:50:51 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "12977172", "review_id": "521004d87f54ddade30861df13a84551", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I highly recommend this series to any reader who loves realistic characters. YA is often formulaic, and this does travel that known kind of path. The trueness of the characters and the commitment to plot, the fast flowing pace of action are what truly makes this book worth investing time in.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 13 16:31:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 03 20:53:40 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "15845605", "review_id": "5592b8df2c76d5307d8109dea9d5786e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Therese had been a witness to her parents' murder, narrowly escaping her own death. While in a coma, she watches as her parents are being taken to the Underground, where Death awaits. Always having an uncanny way of controlling her own dreams, Therese tries to engage them. She catches the attention of certain gods with her strong will and abilities. The gods are on the brink of war--some hope for peaceful resolution and some hope for the end of civilization. Will Therese be the key, or perhaps the salvation for humanity?", "date_added": "Tue Sep 11 07:22:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 26 05:53:05 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Oct 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "12562631", "review_id": "0d0ab56a1fa1445f0b4b3b3495af7120", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.75 stars. A wonderful conclusion of the Eden Trilogy. Bryn and William are still fighting to be Betrothed to each other. The Council's vague description of Bryn being a Hayward with William's acceptance of being 'the one', has everyone on their toes. Will prophecies come true of the Chosen One ending an Alliance when his love is taken and used against him? Will the Inheriters win and weaken the Guardians? Will Patrick confess his love for Bryn and nr be forgiven? \n This final book ends in battles I never saw coming.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 21 15:41:23 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 27 21:15:10 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "12090575", "review_id": "29f3c6052769b142f1d3ba17dc82a9e4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.25 stars. I was in heartbreak through most of this continuation of the Eden Trilogy. Bryn runs, as she always has, except this time she runs knowing that nothing will be fixed in her absence. She learns, however, that she can survive alone as she had before William. Patrick is brutal with Bryn. He is forced to finish Bryn's training,being the only transport in the Guardian Alliance, and his insults seem neverending, digging Bryn's pain deeper into her soul. \n Will Bryn learn to control her gift before she kills another Immortal? Will she realise that life is unbearable without William and be haunted by her mistake forever? Will someone else take his place by her side? All of these questions are answered and the path to get there is a battle.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 21 15:41:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 26 09:37:33 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "10950666", "review_id": "690ba2dc08866d54144069c3e88bdf2a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved this book. I found myself wrapped up in the characters and their loyalty, love, and strength. The paranormal aspect is almost a secondary plotline; important as it seems, the push and pull between right and wrong seems to be the strongest theme. \n As I read reviews, preparing myself for what may come, a few people mentioned that this was so much like Twilight. I saw two references that could hold true to that assumption, but this story was more. More developed characters, more action, and more compassion. \n Nicole Williams has a talent in creating character bonds and making them feel different in each situation. I began with Fissure (The Patrick Chronicles) and needed more. I needed to learn about the Immortal world that was hardly touched upon. She writes in a way that makes me crave answers and makes me want to follow these characters through eternity.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 21 15:40:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 24 12:09:59 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Aug 24 12:09:59 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "dc325d338b2d74a41d1e1f06362e092e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 STAR. I did enjoy this quite a bit, but I loved the steampunk world of The Infernal Devices so much that I felt a loss in the NY settin. I also missed the intense innate feelings between probatai that I felt in those books. However, I felt the distance of what time does to traditions and I knew so much more information and didn't feel 'thrown' into this new world concept because I read the prequel trilogy first. \n Clary Fray was a typical sixteen year old girl who lived in the big city--eventhough she knew the rules she skirted on the edge of them more often than naught. One night, at a underaged dance club, Clary saw what no one else could see. After that moment, she would never see anything the same again. Her truths become lies and betrayal. Her wholeworld is in upheaval and trusting herself seemed to be her only choice.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 21 06:38:28 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 08 07:34:23 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Apr 08 07:34:23 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "11731861", "review_id": "3c1dd06a5a6c8d58030569e51014d5e7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "While not all of my questions were answered in this first book, I truly enjoyed getting to know Caleb and Maggie. I really felt for Maggie early on and connected with her ability to move on after her world gets turned upside down. She wasn't running towards a future, but she was definitely taking steps forward no matter how many people tried to crush her. \n Kyle had waited years to get Maggie to himself, even though he was never to entertain thoughts of dating. When she finally says yes, Fate pushes Maggie past him and into her soul mate, Caleb, who is Kyle's cousin. Kyle has no chance. Caleb is adoring. Maggie is struggling to see who she is and whom she can become. Oh, did I mention a family fued ad supernatural powers? \n While a lot is going on here, the crux of this story is love, acceptance, and forgiveness.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 21 06:36:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 30 10:40:50 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Oct 10 11:52:55 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "9984522", "review_id": "503fc5d0f542b480fdafe95be5dbbc8a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 Stars. Cynthia is ex LAPD, now a private investigator. What she lacks in tech gear and electronic devices, she has spades in connections within the force and within the Vampire community. Hired to help find a kidnapped woman, Cynthia connects with the region's Vampire lord, Raphael. The danger is an afrodesiac that niether of them can deny. \n Very strong characters and tremendous action throughout the entire book. The story also holds up well to scrutiny. Not all questions are tied up in a bow, but that's why there's the next book.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 13 21:18:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 22 18:00:03 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Wed Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13414835", "review_id": "2fd798eef08e87af4d567efc048a9ab2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 STARS I love a good angel story that incorporates a touch of mythology and the characters have morals and defined destinations. There's twists and turns, humor, attraction, and lots of action. I've wanted to read this for so long and I am giddy that it held up to my expectations.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 07 18:18:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 09 20:23:51 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13206760", "review_id": "df88281cc170c53e51418ebd79bb225d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "*sigh* I'm stamping this bad boy with a 3.5 STAR (.5 is for my guilty conscous). I wanted so much more, I guess. It kind of fell flat for me character wise. On the side of the story? I liked the progression, but somehow I missed intensity like I saw in the first book. \n WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? \n The last third of the book was what I enjoyed--the action-finally getting a good look at The Lunar Army--the close call by the ship. \n Meh. I can't even articulate a proper review. I am definitely underwhelmed.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 06 13:04:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 17 21:11:44 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Mar 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13139100", "review_id": "10540f88bf3d1bde3ec9d842d97cbb0b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is a nice, paranormal twist based on a classic fairytale. Cinderella (Cydney) had come to vacatio0n every Summer from Florida with her Mother and Brother. Henry (Remy) waited at the same place every Summer to meet with Cinderella and play like a normal child, not like a Prince. After years of knowing each other, what do they really know except for the love that they feel? \n This is a sweet novella that I'd reccomend for pre-teens to young adults.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 31 20:19:13 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 09 06:48:18 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13558861", "review_id": "aae3bb40179447a3fcd8d6c7be9f0799", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm giving this a 3.75 Star rating. It took me a while to actually get into Leila's POV, way longer than usual for me. The plot was solid and the characters were full, rounded and not consumed with their faults. I'll tell you what, Miss Frost can certainly write a fierce male lead Vampire. He is primal, instinctual, and yet in touch with himself. Ias definitely totally engaged by the action and fluidity of the story.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 25 18:14:44 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 25 10:11:29 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Sep 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13574037", "review_id": "7a8b22a580863eac0f060f09209cc329", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Three and a half STARS! This book twisted things around a bit from what I had always thought about Patrick. He definitely has evolved after finding Emma. \n \"When you realize that one day you'll leave the ones you love most behind, you love them with precision and intention. \n When eternity is no longer a reality, life is that much more beautiful.\" \n What I was missing, for some reason, was this powerful passion that I felt Patrick had toward those he loved. I'm not sure why I don't see it as much here, at the pinnacle of his story, as I did in the first book of this series or in The Eden Trilogy. The ending, however, was very sweet and finishing with that lovely family dynamic was a great way to wrap things up. Things were left open for another book. I wonder if this bow will stay tied or if more story will fill the holes?", "date_added": "Mon Jul 23 09:04:50 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 08 11:00:02 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Oct 08 11:00:02 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13502274", "review_id": "99f90fd06a3be4ae3258832aa9205384", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What can I say about this? I wrapped myself up in Patrick. He's been twenty for centuries, a Guardian for the Mortals,a loyal man to his family, and he thought that he was in love until his brother claimed her as his soul-mate. While his dying from a broken heart isn't going to happen, because he is Immortal, he just isn't acting like his normal responsible, well put together, self. His father sends him away to find himself again; Patrick is now enrolled at Stanford and expected to let loose and let go of his recent depression. \n I this process, Patrick is called out on his ego, met toe to toe in brutal sarcasm, and he has definitely found his match--in a Mortal. Rules that should keep them apart are not what get in the way.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 23 09:02:31 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 21 15:36:31 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Aug 21 15:36:31 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13223520", "review_id": "22ed8aa380f7249cbc29b7cf9f0d5b0d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n 3 STAR rating. I really enjoyed the character interactions in this one. I know, it's another YA,but I like reading about Death and how he can find love in a soul when he was made to never feel such emotions or connections. All the rules in this book are confusing to me, but I'm hoping that things will clear up in the second book. \n There are so many questions that remain unanswered--why is Pagan so different? Is the biggest question. \n Is the story a bit over-the-top? Of course it is! It is YA Paranormal! But the characters weren't competely out of control. Most of the situations they went through and reacted to were dealt with in a grounded manner. The humanity in relationsips were more than acceptable to me. I was very entertained. \n So,I just read this again and I must admit that I remembered the story well, but this time I connected better with the characters. I might give the story a 3.5 Star now. Dank's sacrifice for a connection so strong to a soul is endearing. And I agree with Gee that Pagan has a dramatic flair. :)", "date_added": "Sun Jul 15 07:04:42 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 26 18:50:42 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Apr 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "7862725", "review_id": "117b9886e6fdd34c23aef1efd2cf0301", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I feel like this was a great story, but just executed poorly. I had bought the whole series and I will eventually get through them.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 09 12:55:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 03 22:23:52 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Apr 04 22:23:52 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13034113", "review_id": "ebe7e1e6cd7303c5ec5ca66e65872e7a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 STARS I enjoyed this book. It was a story of discovery and growth with a little Nordic magic intertwined.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 05 19:29:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed May 22 19:18:50 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "11500217", "review_id": "05127747dba7046ec6d3896b7060ec72", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 Stars. This book is written in an easy tone and had a direct flow that, as a reader, I need in an action book. I clearly missed some humanity in the characters-something that made me care. Ultimately, I had to finish the book out of curiosity in what was going on. Not until the very end did I find myself caring about Penryn's situation or Raffe's, for that matter. But I did find it. I connected when Penryn finds what she searched for. I connected when Raffe finds her and shows himself. \n My frustration with the sterile characters was definitely overidden by my need to understand what happened and who could let such destruction desimate the world. \n Now, I am ready to move into the next chapter of this story. My curiosity as beedn stoked. \n I know that this isn't a normal review for me, but I'm finding it difficult not to spoil anything with my take on this.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 04 21:13:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 15 21:35:30 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Dec 16 21:35:30 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Thu Dec 13 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "12925064", "review_id": "5905f81af9eed1dfe9489cc100c42651", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.25 Stars. I can't wait to dive into the second book. \n Evie has been having nightmares for quite sometime. Lately, they have become more vivid, real. They are filled with horrific images and pain that she physically feels into her waking. As she begins her college education, she runs into her soul mate, but the man who is Fated to love her for eternity doesn't have a soul and he has a difficult time trying to figure out who and what Evie is. Confusing? Yes. And Evie is torn in half, in so many ways. \n Rereading before I get into the final book. I still feel the urgency and the confusion between the angel and the soul.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 30 08:23:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 15 15:17:00 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Sep 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "11472297", "review_id": "968af02c26ee7502013c47caf7672df9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3 stars is generous, maybe 2.5,but I did end up wrapped up in the story closer to the end--or the point where nothing is resolved, from my perspective. Imagine being a young child and everyone was afraid of you, including your parents. No one willingly touches you, hugs you, comforts you with tenderness and understanding because no one understands--what you are or what you are capable of. Scary, yes? \n This is how Juliette Farreras grew up until the government took her from parents who couldn't feel anything but relief and put her in an asylum. She has a fascination with numbers and repeating truths to herself, there isn't much of an explaination except for her isolation. At seventeen, she had been isolated for almost a year when she suddenly gets a roommate. No one can touch her without touching death, but for some reason this boy, her only roommate ever, can comfort her. He can touch her, too, without any harm to him. Everybody wants her--some to use her as a weapon, some for power, some want her to be free, but only one wants her forever. \n There are TONS of unresolved issues. We never find out why the world came to war. We never find out...oh, there are too many of these. I was sorely disappointed because I really ended up liking many of the characters and the story just abruptly ended. I may read the next part of the series, but I will rage at my stupidity if I am duped again.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 30 08:22:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 06 16:29:57 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Nov 06 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Nov 05 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "12095071", "review_id": "eb3e0b78e82faeee19e183dd9cd3a67c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A witty, strong and twisty story with a heroine who is straight forward and perfectly flawed. Candra's world had been turned inside out; seeing things that she never imagined existed was more than eye opening, it became earth shattering. In her search for answers, who will she be able to trust when those who have loved her forever seemed to be hiding many of those secrets. I truly adore the push and pull relationship between Sebation and Candra.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 29 22:59:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 29 15:56:33 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Sep 29 15:56:33 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "12812550", "review_id": "55ba8b247d3fd145c269dc82d6c5acb8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It seems like I waited forever to read this because I needed to know what was going to happen. Boy, did I get answers. \n I can't express thoroughly what makes this story so enthralling to read. Is it the masterful way Eretz is portrayed? Is it the difficult choices people make during war? Is it the constant struggle between right and wrong, death and taxes, war and peace? Is it the base of love and Hope that you question will come to fruition? Is it the intimacy that I felt towards every character? Is it Fate that holds souls that should never have walked together find each other again and again? \n Anger and self-loathing make Karou blind to her own instincts. Her blame for the destruction of the Chimaera holds her in a place where she is enslaved by those who have betrayed her in the past.There is no trust and yet, she succumbs to ressurecting a monsterous army. Akiva, a bastard, a weapon of the seraphim and the one who was Fated to make change has been broken since he thought Karou was dead. How can there be anything good without the Hope she could give the world? When he finds her alive, he only wants to be with her, but first, he needs to earn her trust back.When two worlds collide and nothing else ever felt more right, could these two begin wars or a new way of life where there is love, life, a future for all kind.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 25 21:14:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 02 14:56:00 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jan 02 14:56:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "12973964", "review_id": "c30146b2b055f2347bfa36eb1d5de4ea", "rating": 4, "review_text": "An alternate universe for Cinderella- doesn't do this story justice as an explaination. I'm surprised that some reviews put this down because it is imaginative and I truly feel for these characters. While we get major answers at the end, there are more twists and suddenly more story to come. I actually want to read this again, immediately. It isn't written poetically, but it is written in a heartfelt narrative that I want to have find some peace, some power, some sense of self worth. I hope you trip over Cinder and Kai and wish for them to be together like I had. I'm excited to read the next book of the series and see where this story takes off to.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 19 20:59:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 06 12:57:10 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Aug 06 12:57:10 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "2321296", "review_id": "85ad4601a4a62516696b580e58ad2028", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Again. I need to read this aain. I'm heartbroken in the end, but I need to understand the need she feels to survive...be on her own.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 07:47:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 13 07:49:20 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "305234", "review_id": "43c4d702f2efe7906dcb490f817c9e43", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved this world of fey. It reminds me of those irrational feelings I used to have as a child; darkness sneaks in sheeps clothing wanting/needing something from you. And Seth. *sigh* what a great character. He is the link to humanity.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 07:44:26 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 13 07:47:39 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "38619", "review_id": "4519f72b66e53457c41b21d4c02cf5a9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.25 stars. I can't wait to begin the next book in this series. Kate is a strong, sarcastic, and brilliant human who has been left alone in a world where magic ebbs and surges. This creates a world full of checks and inbalances between the living, the dead, and the half-breeds. When Kate loses her guardian, who was killed in the line of duty, she becomes consumed with finding his killer. The answers she finds only bring forth more mysteries and colorful characters. I never knew who to trust through most of this story, but I knew who I liked. Curran, Lord of the Beasts, forms an understanding, a possible alliance, with Kate as her quest helped him answer questins of his own. Will they fight each other or with each other? I wasn't sure about who would survive after everything was done.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 20:39:42 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 19 08:47:56 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Oct 19 08:47:56 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "12755792", "review_id": "8143bafe3ab54c5b2752a384ada2329a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow! I am totally in love with Giovanni and Beatrice's story. There were twists and turns that had me spinning for answers at times. The story has a great pace and flow. When Beatrice feels betrayed by the only being that she felt would put her above anything? Yeah. That made me rage. I saw this strong character retreat and I wanted to scream, \"NOOOOOOO!\" However, as they all say about her, \"She is very observant.\" And this part of her nature allows her to fight for her own protection in the end.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 13:48:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 10 21:31:36 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "13302279", "review_id": "6b0fdb643bd44165b5206a89038a7908", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Wile these character' show many flaws in this book, the story seemed to stretch a bit long. I did swoon at the end. The key isthat she is THE messenger...the last...", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 13:16:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 13:19:04 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "12473983", "review_id": "786300105c7438164e0082e111dce834", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Still loving their journey. This middle book has a lot of story and moves a bit slower than the first, but my love for these characters grows with each step forward.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 13:13:25 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 13:15:43 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d69935ed03b527d553c979ffa548659f", "book_id": "8376729", "review_id": "8eb749048a37c75da3b7231c6075e690", "rating": 5, "review_text": "LOVED. Great, strong characters with battles between good and evil.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 13:11:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 13:12:36 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "add71b3ab07822317bc6ccd43fa5835e", "book_id": "162898", "review_id": "50b3ca226b5af27788d8d1cecf194474", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of my favorites. I'm not one for re-runs of anything, but this is one I will read again and again. Twain is brilliant, and this book is hilarious. Made me laugh out loud.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 21:55:36 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 07 22:24:40 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "965695f7e288ac8839e7aed24d881822", "book_id": "17162156", "review_id": "79d7272b46103fdc2145a84df0aafd0e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was great! I loved the concept of this book with the inclusion of photographs and the atmosphere of the story. I also really enjoyed Ransom Riggs' writing, it was beautiful. Definitely going to continue on with the rest of the trilogy. \n 4 stars!", "date_added": "Sun Jul 05 20:38:58 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 04 19:08:02 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Nov 04 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Oct 24 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "86d9e5b4d5f1fd3c8968ba71d1822d99", "book_id": "349347", "review_id": "e815b568081768101d7a47fdb582148f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved it, but I still need to read the authors preferred text.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 09:42:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 05 07:05:35 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "289be7848fe7472db1d604c97d74ef9f", "book_id": "26860475", "review_id": "03701ebe63014a8c710c52a9d184afa6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I didn't think this was a five star read because, well, we've been there, done that already. But, I do think that this is a must-read for anyone who has ever been a Twilight fan. There's a different \"what if...\" ending that I thought was interesting.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 28 15:08:29 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 12 21:49:44 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "289be7848fe7472db1d604c97d74ef9f", "book_id": "13206900", "review_id": "ca87cc8dbe87dd400f49f8f23c61255a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Loved this series!!", "date_added": "Mon Nov 16 21:53:39 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 19 15:30:15 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "289be7848fe7472db1d604c97d74ef9f", "book_id": "15792316", "review_id": "30380b79be09c5cdadc38e15fe5d4be7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Perfect summer read!", "date_added": "Mon Jun 16 07:39:59 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 13 19:54:16 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "289be7848fe7472db1d604c97d74ef9f", "book_id": "11988046", "review_id": "d012cf49c33549f9d038e1991aece49b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Loved this book!", "date_added": "Mon Jun 16 07:37:00 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 16 07:37:40 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "289be7848fe7472db1d604c97d74ef9f", "book_id": "5907", "review_id": "1e0f81af344f4e1ba5bb9411de98fe70", "rating": 3, "review_text": "read this one as a family and the kids loved it...a bit hard for me to get into...but I'm not a huge Tolkien fan.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 14 11:40:33 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 24 12:27:20 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "289be7848fe7472db1d604c97d74ef9f", "book_id": "17245", "review_id": "98948dba773b92cadc17a46445ecb5cd", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Fun read for Halloween...I'm a total wimp and thought it was scary. It was long-winded in parts and I'm a nerd, I know, but I like the sparkly, pretty vampires better....", "date_added": "Tue Sep 11 23:14:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 28 18:58:50 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "289be7848fe7472db1d604c97d74ef9f", "book_id": "7937462", "review_id": "effddbcc63203a3b6fba09a5c0b984f2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Fun, short read. Interesting perspective on the whole series...I still would like to know what is going through Edward's head...", "date_added": "Thu Jul 29 16:01:43 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 29 16:02:39 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "289be7848fe7472db1d604c97d74ef9f", "book_id": "21787", "review_id": "c17a03cf24b4a2854e0f0c6a0f936058", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have to say that I really like this book! I can't believe I haven't read it before. I have to watch the movie again...I haven't seen it in years....", "date_added": "Sat Oct 31 15:15:53 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 09 17:54:35 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Wed Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "289be7848fe7472db1d604c97d74ef9f", "book_id": "357091", "review_id": "a7ce4e54bfbb7f38b75cbca2d585e053", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very interesting book. However, it gave me nightmares!! I must be one of the faint of heart...but a good read. I'm looking forward to reading book 2.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 26 12:39:02 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 30 19:15:13 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Fri Oct 30 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "23303229", "review_id": "b7055cfdaade16cabe168fd8e5e75963", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Hope to see more from Ciaran and Brie.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 20 05:39:15 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 20 05:40:20 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Mar 19 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "31444258", "review_id": "a63a19f9fc0d119951ef40dc5dbc05e5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Suspenseful! \n Best one so far after the first. Glad to see so!E of the shifter goons permanently dead. Smoke's goons open a can of whoopass on Kane.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 24 08:50:33 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 06 13:11:40 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "11764721", "review_id": "b8096addc3e1de7aa7d1149673ced84c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Lotta fun. Very porno, haha. Like the idea of redemption for anyone.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 08 05:03:20 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 08 05:06:02 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jul 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "18303925", "review_id": "97a6a6e45f302eea4f0ddf559bf73f05", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Lotta fun and adventure. And the two witches are sooooo hot!", "date_added": "Mon Aug 08 05:02:59 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 29 11:41:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Aug 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "4935682", "review_id": "3204067d479db1c5c863d4195ae654b3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Most exciting and intriguing and fun. Hope Syrah is a new character.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 13 09:22:39 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon May 09 07:49:36 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "1375896", "review_id": "82948ef5a824e884ff6f8f53c32b4692", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Although not as action packed as first three, I really like the real peril the kids faced and the stronger relationships being forged.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 25 15:26:46 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 07 13:05:30 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Mar 07 13:05:30 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "355916", "review_id": "a985b459280d3728bb8547d5b55c3633", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Excellent ending! Glad things are not always neat and tidy.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 12 06:26:29 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 24 11:27:22 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Feb 12 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "355917", "review_id": "33203ed9ab02ad9e6bd4f91326e3c994", "rating": 4, "review_text": "So much fun. Very creative plot and side characters. Beetle is my favorite.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 19 18:16:33 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 12 06:28:57 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "17845725", "review_id": "09487d550e8f09b2cebe0c5604b9a484", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really like the new vamp.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 04 05:03:17 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 04 05:07:29 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "12754336", "review_id": "a31cff2daff0d3ea6e74b791638a2044", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Intense! Well done Rick. Hopefully Sally will finally open up a bit more in the next book. I know she is not as crabby as we or Bill thinks she is. It's just a cover.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 22 06:48:16 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 24 07:32:28 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Dec 23 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Dec 22 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "11927282", "review_id": "7051f78ab1a6757224df9eed128ab19f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Lots of fun. Vulgar. Adolescent humor. So much more readable than most other vampire specific novels.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 20 13:02:42 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 04 05:07:44 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Dec 21 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "23877267", "review_id": "53c992b273dae5dcca17347161923957", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Pretty good story. Nice to meet more of Ilan's relatives.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 30 04:46:03 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 08 10:32:37 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Dec 08 10:32:37 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "20537472", "review_id": "81fef711a8e4b7fee6466c85dd0dcc22", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The encounter with the Skeltai was cool. Looks like Ilan and Terrac will be inseparable.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 30 04:45:52 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 02 04:32:06 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Nov 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "22181593", "review_id": "3815a41e1114ed989716c9b0f15a2918", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Good twists. Not sure if I like who was killed!", "date_added": "Mon Oct 05 05:32:33 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 27 04:37:51 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "20872110", "review_id": "68a93158c6f32330ad2b2c9cb463ef4e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Creative twist on the \"feeding\" issues with immortals. Although the relationship between Elise and James is frustrating, it's nice to see them working together.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 01 17:12:42 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 05 05:30:41 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "18191096", "review_id": "99f468df0cbeb508852fa7e080ebef33", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ahhh, Abraxas is back. Looks like all Hell has broken loose, literally.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 04 05:32:00 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 04 05:32:54 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "18176532", "review_id": "dfea651763fc7c9f82d0e51edf5e1b7a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Not sure about adding werewolves to the mix. Kinda overplayed, but I do like the characters.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 21 11:24:52 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 04 05:31:43 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Aug 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "17370420", "review_id": "32a087cab9a667f6c5aaa2c4c08057a5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This series has been exciting, frustrating and inventive. Elise is a truly endearing character.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 10 04:42:49 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 18 14:00:48 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Aug 18 14:00:48 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "17727267", "review_id": "1ed4234775930ad09bc94e80eaa76cbf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Kinda bummed there was no Elise in this one. I did like the back story about James.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 07 09:43:10 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 10 04:39:27 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Aug 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "16209489", "review_id": "949071d6ce31da71c28694e504dd5aa4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I gave it a 4 but it deserves a 4.5. Best book of the series. Descriptions of Hell and the interactions between the characters was inspiring.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 02 06:44:13 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 07 09:39:00 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "18609017", "review_id": "e5ff7afbc0172840edf2abe2eafc6c9d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very cool to include a tiefling.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 23 12:47:26 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 22 16:38:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jul 11 09:17:08 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "16142151", "review_id": "e24af640959656ab50ce25fe3f756b35", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Good story. Very different from his other Companions books. Looking forward to the next ones.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 16 17:58:03 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 13 09:21:12 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "769483", "review_id": "cd5da1c1faaae12a23a13d71497cba78", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Liked her writing style. Looking forward to see what Septimus can do.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 07 20:10:14 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 21 20:27:22 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "25578659", "review_id": "38535d84e6af8f9d7ac6009f0d838705", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I am so frustrated with Scorch at this point! Trinos better be able to do something about him.", "date_added": "Mon May 25 06:42:48 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun May 31 10:28:42 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun May 31 10:28:42 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri May 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "22102635", "review_id": "bdbfcd5aec7f29c85da4940d7b733d93", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Scorch really makes me angry! I hope he gets it in the end.", "date_added": "Mon May 25 06:42:28 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue May 26 08:51:03 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue May 26 08:51:03 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "18924264", "review_id": "ba1ec259dc18b85caa2b502ff8a87cfd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I was saddened to come to the end of the series with this book. Then in the Epilogue I find there is another series!", "date_added": "Mon May 25 06:37:27 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon May 25 06:39:59 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "8725235", "review_id": "f7ac3dfdf535ff8fd41a68d46b589f56", "rating": 4, "review_text": "These Darkslayer books are so much fun to read. I am really getting into the characters, especially Melegal.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 20 17:14:21 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon May 25 06:51:14 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "18920918", "review_id": "7a6ad933747bdd14099443cdc56105cd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Lots of fun! Looking forward to see how Dragon becomes a full dragon.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 20 17:07:31 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 28 08:14:14 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "20453996", "review_id": "d6a4c82512e92d9041dccb2743581f32", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was a lot of fun. Like a D & D adventure.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 20 17:03:41 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 20 17:05:37 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "15797384", "review_id": "c94509eb02486435fcafb8d8a3ac6a02", "rating": 4, "review_text": "One of better, yet sad, novels about Drizzt. Not sure where it could go from this point. I really like the Jarlaxle character and hope to see more of his exploits.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 25 16:41:12 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 24 13:58:18 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Oct 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "10664113", "review_id": "4808f2a3c9547eaf38b5835cc3ed96a1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of his best books in the ASOIAF series! Of course, I just wanna scream because I have to wait to find out what happens to Arya, John, Cersei and Dany. C'mon George, let's get crackin' on the next one!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 09:56:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 19 16:02:08 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Dec 23 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "97bc695320ebf891e4188590ece82984", "book_id": "8519822", "review_id": "c0cdf73d7962fb2bb0dd2cf91406db77", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was one best of the Nicholas Flamel series. The ending was most surprising, but it totally made sence. I highly recommend all six.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 09:43:23 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 09:46:33 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed May 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0d644872891a1c0882b31236725a1d47", "book_id": "211728", "review_id": "5b4009539c88a7994a1c2eb47dffa7a7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Slow paced in parts, but wonderfully and magically written.", "date_added": "Sun May 24 16:32:05 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 19 17:51:01 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Fri Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "942ad4ce6a9f636fc5427520b9d67f16", "book_id": "11946245", "review_id": "c8d440f9e8513d976e0f1644945f6b5d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Very good--full of surprises like the rest of the series--sad to see the characters go, but I think it was a good wrap up over all :-)", "date_added": "Mon Aug 20 15:49:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 12 07:36:13 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "942ad4ce6a9f636fc5427520b9d67f16", "book_id": "7171637", "review_id": "18ef93bd799c1920b911de848ec950ce", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very engrossing. I don't normally like vampire and demon stuff, but the characters and story and imaginary world the author creates are fabulous. I'm eagerly awaiting the next book which is currently checked out by someone else.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 10:10:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 10:50:21 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 15 10:50:21 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b42835e0335b800c8eeeaecc6e4dc210", "book_id": "21412146", "review_id": "8d3821f888fbae782163b647436bfd5e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Like everyone else, I picked this up because Gillian Anderson co-authored it. The woman is a damn good actress, so I was hoping that her book would suck because one person shouldn't be imbued with so much talent and be gorgeous to boot. It's hard to judge whether Anderson is any good as a writter though, because she teamed up with an oldhand in the form of sci-fi writer Jeff Rovin. \n The book centres around Caitlin O'Hara, an adolescent psychiatrist, who is drawn into the mystery illness of the daughter of a diplomat. The result is a thriller that mixes international tensions with psychic experiences. The story is a page turner in the sense that it's easy to read and keep reading. It's conventionally written and hewn from the same template as your usual disaster/sci fi flick. The opening chapters for instance are scenes we've all seen at the movies. \n I tried my best not to see Caitlin and Ben, her translator buddy, as Scully and Mulder but it was hard when the authors present an essentially paranormal situation and then had the lead character experience it and then argue against it all the way. There's also an uncanny similarity to one X Files scene (involving mass ascension). Try not to picture Dana Scully there. I mean c'mon even the name O'Hara makes her sound like a redhead! \n I'm don't read sci fi or fantasy generally and the book loses me when the mention of demons come up and fumbles its way towards a sort of all-encompassing general theory of new ageyness. \n The best part of the book is the relationship between Caitlin and her son Jacob. The guilt of being a working mother and the constant worry for her child is rare in the fiction I've read, and the connection between Caitlin and Jacob is heartfelt and unique. \n The book ends with a beautiful cliffhanger that sets the stage for upcoming installments of the series. Will I be reading the rest of the Earthend Saga? I don't know. We'll probably be too busy looking out for the movie!", "date_added": "Sat Apr 04 22:32:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 04 22:58:47 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Apr 05 22:58:47 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b42835e0335b800c8eeeaecc6e4dc210", "book_id": "4602032", "review_id": "f873e6fae011711d1d909ed8aaed5ed6", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Charlaine Harris is going on my blacklist. This list includes authors whose books I will not read and will not even consider reading after sitting through exactly one book by them and finding that it was one too many. The other people on that list, whose very names make me shudder, include Jodi Picoult and Tony Parsons. \n Having said that, I can see, even if I do not comprehend, the appeal of \"Dead Until Dark\" - really, what's not to like? There's a young attractive heroine, a dark handsome stranger, and the mystery of a series of unnatural deaths. To cap it off, it's about vampires, which fulfills our fascination with both sex and death. Yet Harris doesn't quite manage to pull it off. \n The plot is slow and holds no surprises. Although Sookie Stackhouse is proffered as a likable lead, she plays straight into stupid and shallow. The on-off relationship between Sookie and vampire Bill is dragged out for three-quarters of the book and the potential meat of the story, the murders, are relatively unexamined. There is an attempt to inject humour into the story which succeeds perhaps in the first few chapters and then rapidly descends into banality. \n For a fun blend of angst and bloodlust and humour, I'll be sticking with reruns of Buffy.", "date_added": "Sat May 22 23:16:18 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 29 10:15:24 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b42835e0335b800c8eeeaecc6e4dc210", "book_id": "141661", "review_id": "d9211adb320390fca9c3d952f69b84fc", "rating": 2, "review_text": "A quick read that may be time better spent re-watching the series on DVD. Despite being quite authentic in channelling the voice of Gabrielle, this slim volume basically recaps seasons 1 and 2. It does not give extra insight into the characters and even the convincing voice suddenly drops away in the second half, leaving only dull platitudes.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 28 00:27:24 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 28 00:30:40 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Fri Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b42835e0335b800c8eeeaecc6e4dc210", "book_id": "15881", "review_id": "dc2f1a94e787e745547d57294e20adce", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have only vague memories of the first book which had a good story with a routine plot. The characters were likable enough and there were some imaginative elements so I gave this, the second, a go. Much more solid and interestingly interwoven plot, great moments of emotion and good, compelling writing. Every one says it's for children but if children's writers are writing at this level and if adults are stuck with the idiotic prose of Dan Brown, I say chuck the \"grow-up\" fiction and immerse yourself in the world of Harry and Hogwarts.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 07 21:20:01 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 07 21:20:58 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b42835e0335b800c8eeeaecc6e4dc210", "book_id": "121749", "review_id": "6786aa6294d0d2af22850cc35a5ad139", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Thank Aslan for the return of Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy!", "date_added": "Sat Jun 07 21:04:32 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 07 21:05:09 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon Feb 06 00:00:00 -0800 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b42835e0335b800c8eeeaecc6e4dc210", "book_id": "21787", "review_id": "41ce8fef9a4fe069781c2f5f4f90bdd0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Humorous romance and sly satire. Great fun and truly fantastic.", "date_added": "Fri May 23 20:47:38 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 07 21:13:57 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon Apr 24 00:00:00 -0700 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b42835e0335b800c8eeeaecc6e4dc210", "book_id": "84119", "review_id": "089b453f56531706b000354378756ad1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Feels oddly out of place because there's no mention of the real world.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 15:30:14 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 07 21:04:02 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b42835e0335b800c8eeeaecc6e4dc210", "book_id": "100915", "review_id": "d76de3a81b91bdae12f7ba22b77642e1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The best of the Narnia series.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 15:27:09 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 07 21:03:02 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon Jan 16 00:00:00 -0800 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "93a3ce93fef3d8862933e5e6559a0770", "book_id": "429888", "review_id": "3fd84c1536e8a64dfe8bfbfc90da1201", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Dialogue painfully repetitive and characterisations blurred. A fairly long read, enjoyed in parts but flawed.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 10 13:43:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 01 13:17:19 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "93a3ce93fef3d8862933e5e6559a0770", "book_id": "13812", "review_id": "de67e4c94cffbc7f37d32fbf03701042", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I spent my formative childhood years trying to turn my bedroom light on and off by invoking magic or paranormal forces alone, so naturally I feel well qualified to pass judgement on Raymond Feist's Riftwar Saga. \n A classic mix of underdog characters who come good, in a big way. Why hasn't my life followed a similar meteoric rise :o \n The whole story unfolds in a really entertaining way. I read this as a teen originally, returning back for nostalgic reasons as an adult. It was still a really enjoyable read and I really enjoy most of the author's work. Perhaps like a lot of fantasy, the characters tend to be clearly good or bad but I wouldn't say the story suffers for that. More recent similar genre books, such as Trudi Canavan's Black Magician series, have arguably more complex, lifelike characters featuring throughout. That said, I think the scale of the Riftwar Saga makes it a great read for lovers of fantasy. Some of the scenes involving Pug on the alternate World Tsuruan are superb. (Note to self - never, ever annoy a magician :s) It would be great to see something like this or Trudi's books made into films - they would be so much better than some that make the transition I am sure.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 11:10:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 11:26:21 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "93a3ce93fef3d8862933e5e6559a0770", "book_id": "14201", "review_id": "b27fa25f3c74bd6acbdec05b812b3bc6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I wanted to love this book from the start. Call me shallow (!) but I liked the cover straight away and it sounded quirky, just up my street. \n It is some time since I read this but I still remember vividly thinking it was far too long. Small type and a huge number of pages from memory - even from a fan of larger novels. It was undeniably strange in places, befitting the title of course. I found it dragged interminably in places and then it was a page turning ending so by the end I had mixed feelings. \n Definitely not one I would read again but still, quite enjoyed it once I'd finished!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 11:06:02 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 11:09:51 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "93a3ce93fef3d8862933e5e6559a0770", "book_id": "10945764", "review_id": "cde25ac6cc2db594fb87cf127ccaa618", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A classic post-apocalyptic good versus evil battle in a book. \n The range of characters is superb and I remember very well reading the uncut version so many years ago. The TV film never really cut it for me but, as is often the case, the book really stands out so to speak :) \n If you like the horror genre and haven't read this, then you simply must! Even those who would not usually read horror may well enjoy the ride with this one.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 10:32:31 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 10:37:09 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "93a3ce93fef3d8862933e5e6559a0770", "book_id": "44601", "review_id": "30f28eb8f0465e4b2d8b5a9dcf4059c9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I read this on the recommendation of a friend and in fairness it is probably not the sort of book I would actively search for. Much shorter than I am used to, almost felt like a short story, but it is unsettling, provocative and downright creepy in equal measures. Definitely not the sort of tooth fairy we remember from childhood who generously leaves us money :s \n Something of a coming of age book in many ways. In short a good read, albeit slightly disturbing!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 10:12:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 10:20:30 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "34466922", "review_id": "50cc526d68685b33ac9aa0467d9d5c02", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I love Uncle Stevie so I really gave this the old college try. I tried so hard to like it but a) the plot moves at a brutally sluggish pace and b) the way too large ensemble cast is composed of boring characters that are largely impossible to distinguish from each other.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 05 16:27:38 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 08 14:22:25 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "25752041", "review_id": "4ee3f950f50301863ada170f7723e046", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is like a Muppet Babies version of Game of Thrones. I dug it a lot. As the title suggests, four of the five main characters are bastard offspring of royalty who are on the run from murderous mercenaries and from a war their traitorous relatives are trying to start. The characters are tropes straight out of central casting but I liked their rapport and their back stories enough not to mind they weren't original. You have Jax the stable boy, Miles the stuffy book worm, Zell the taciturn warrior whose hard outer shell masks his nobility and kindness, Lyriana the crunchy, touchy feely, do gooder type, and Tilla your narrator who is struggling with insecurities borne of her lowly station. They are different enough from each other that there are opportunities for friction, but they also have the common experience of being outcasts and their shared trials to bond them together. \n This book is quite dark. There is a lot of gore and violence, and there's plenty of pain in the character's past and present. This dark material is written powerfully and sensitively, and intercut with some understated humor that works without seeming out of place. \n Also, I can't believe I'm typing this, but the obligatory sort of love triangle, which typically drives me bonkers in stories like this, is actually compelling. It doesn't dominate the story thankfully but what's there is good. Tilla is hot for Zell because he's brooding and tortured and hot. He reciprocates those feelings but he has very understandable intimacy issues. Miles has pined for Tilla his whole life but she's just not into him. Each character behaves in an interesting, plausible way, it ties nicely into the resolution of the plot, and Shvartz really nails the dark side of male entitlement. \n This book isn't seeking to reinvent the wheel but Shvartz writes well enough that he can make even shop worn conventions of the genre feel interesting. I read this in one sitting and enjoyed it a lot.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 02 16:27:02 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 02 20:50:15 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "16248223", "review_id": "8f4848dc68b5033eddd924016bfce367", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This makes it three stars by the skin of its teeth. I have a reviewing policy that, no matter how many issues I have with a book, if I can answer \"yes\" to the question \"ultimately, are you glad you read this?\" it deserves at least three stars. So, even though I think this book has glaring flaws, it was still (barely) worth the time investment for what it did well. \n This is a book with great world building. I loved being immersed in historical information about a culture that I know nothing about. Said historical information was delivered in a very expository, info dumpy kind of way, but I was OK with that. I found the supernatural setting similarly fascinating. I want to emphasize this is a fantasy novel first, a historical fiction novel second. The majority of the narrative takes place in the Chinese afterlife. The actual details of this afterlife were very interesting to me. \n So what's the problem? Choo built a great world and then peopled with dull characters and a slack, meandering plot. Great descriptions and historical asides alone can't drive a narrative. Choo built the literary equivalent of a really neat diorama but that's it. The plot has no momentum. The characters are mostly passive and bland. \n Also, the romantic side plot is totally unsatisfying. It should have been jettisoned. I resent how often authors feel obligated to toss slapdash, half hearted romance into a story when they can't do it well.", "date_added": "Mon May 22 18:33:51 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri May 26 09:23:35 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri May 26 09:23:35 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon May 22 18:33:52 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "31522139", "review_id": "78f4967698b9863d39163ea45b279aa5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I heart this book and this whole series so much. Bennett is a genius, and I have been so impressed by his skill and creativity. This is excellently paced, packed with tension and action but also plenty of rich character moments. The plot deepens beyond the initial Sigrud avenging Shara's murder intrigue as we get some more crazy divinity action, including (spoiler here ------>) some cannibalism for the kiddies as the murderous god Nokov seeks to gain the powers of his quasi-siblings, the other children of divinity, by killing and eating them. \n As is par for the course, the writing is beautiful, the characters are compelling, the world building is spectacular, the plot is aces. This also does a great job standing on its own as a distinct, self contained story while also including some satisfying callbacks to what came before in books one and two. \n Seriously, drop what you're doing and read this series now. Right now. I assure you whatever you're doing is not as worthwhile as reading these books.", "date_added": "Fri May 05 14:59:42 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue May 09 20:42:10 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "23444482", "review_id": "6c3195f4cfe033a15f0cb0c5db750903", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A fascinating yet frustrating read. I thought this had a great premise, and the execution of the premise was strong in the first half of the book. Baru is a child when her home island of Taranoke is colonized by the Empire of Masks. The Empire is repulsed by what they perceive as the savagery and moral turpitude of the Taranoki way of life, most especially their polyamorous, sexually fluid families. Baru is a child of a three parent family, a mother and two fathers, who is taken away from her family to be sent to a school analogous to the boarding schools Native American children were sent to in America to cut them off from their native culture and indoctrinate them into the \"American\" way of life. One of her fathers is killed. Other residents of Taranoke are physically punished if found to be homosexual, or are forced to participate in eugenics inspired forced breeding or sterilization. They become totally economically dependent on the advanced goods of the Empire. \n Baru is intelligent enough and cunning enough to excel at her schooling and ace a civil service exam allowing her to work as an imperial accountant within the empire and she schemes to take it down from within to avenge her homeland. What an awesome idea right? Dickinson's treatment of Baru's harrowing childhood was excellent and reading about Baru using her economic cunning to (for example) manufacture ruinous hyper inflation was actually really fun. Dickinson has a lot of clever ideas, and a sophisticated grasp of power dynamics within and between countries. \n However, the momentum stalled out for me a lot once Baru leaves her post as imperial accountant to become a faux revolutionary The main problem is that most of the characters are so underdeveloped that they are practically indistinguishable from each other. Only Baru and Tain Hu, a rebellious duchess and the object of Baru's deeply repressed lesbian affections approach even two dimensional status. Everyone else is basically just a confusingly named cipher who exists to advance the plot but has no discernible personality. I had the luxury of reading this whole book over the course of one day. I read half of it in one sitting, put it down for about 90 minutes, picked it up again and read the second half. Even with the ability to block out the bulk of my day and read this with minimal distractions/other demands on my time, it was hard at times to keep track of who was who and what was going on as the ensemble cast grew because the characters were so nondescript. So you have two underdeveloped characters, flanked by characters that aren't even one dimensional. Can you have a \"zero dimensions\" character? If so, Dickinson wrote about a dozen of them. \n Baru is both by nature and by necessity a cold, closed off person, and tonally the book adopts her remoteness. So as interesting as this book was plot-wise, as I intrigued as I was by some of Dickinson's ideas and by the mechanics of Baru's work, it suffers from diminishing returns as it progresses because of how detached the reader is from every character. The final reveal that Baru's supposed alliance with the rebellion was fake, she was taking the rebels down for the empire so she could get in good with them to carry out her own internal sabotage does not have the emotional punch Dickinson wanted because the protagonist is always an icy robot and nobody else has any identifiable personality traits.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 07 05:53:26 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 08 04:46:27 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Apr 07 16:00:10 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Apr 07 05:53:26 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "27833803", "review_id": "94fabe30c75b51bd1f3799f33c57093b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book is weird. Really, really weird. I guess I would call this a horror version of Alice in Wonderland if I had to call it anything. Or maybe I would call this The Odyssey on all the acid. The lead character Ben goes on a \"hike\" where all kinds of strange and disturbing wackiness ensues. Everything begins when Ben witnesses a hideous masked man disposing of a child's mutilated body. As he flees this murderer and his accomplice he encounters all kinds of fantastical creatures and bizarre situations as he \"stays on the path.\" \n This book is creative and unique. Magary writes short, punchy sentences and while his prose is economical, it's also powerful and he writes some very vivid and arresting scenes. His writing is very cinematic. This feels like a book written with a future TV or film adaptation in mind. It would be very easy to translate to a visual medium. \n The sheer weirdness of this did hold my attention (for a while anyway), and I was curious to see what crazy thing was going to happen next. However, I was put off by the lack of structure and coherence to the narrative. This book was a string of wacky events rather than a traditional narrative. There's not much rhyme or reason to anything. The middle of the book also kind of stalled out for me, as the shock value of the craziness wore off. I like my fantasies with some rules and structure and some world building. Otherwise you just have a grab bag of weird anecdotes strung together, which is what a lot of this book is. The heavily episodic nature of the story means you don't have a lot of characters that you follow over the course of the book which makes it hard for Magary to establish dramatic stakes. I definitely liked things about this but it was also a little too weird for me to fully engage with.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 23 15:36:03 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 23 18:26:31 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Mar 23 16:54:37 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Mar 23 15:36:04 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "15704486", "review_id": "90bf64f23d166957a4ac0af66aa770ca", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This is the ninth Sanderson book I've sat down to read and the first that I didn't like. I read half of it and just couldn't get into it at all. I found it so dull. After enjoying the first two volumes so much I was shocked by how much this one didn't work for me. I'm just going to google spoilers to see how everything turns out.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 17 20:29:09 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 25 08:35:19 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Thu Nov 17 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "17182126", "review_id": "580623b596cf7876f60d4ae54f4b11a4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was real cool. Sanderson starts with a strong premise. It's very realistic (that's right, I'm calling a book about people who suddenly get super powers realistic) that newly created \"epics,\" would become so warped by their power that they would be at best indifferent to regular human life and at worst actively murderous. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Regular people would be like ants to super beings. \n So the main showdown in this book is between the Reckoners, a dedicated band of epic assassins, and Steelheart, the epic ruler of Newcago. We follow new reckoner recruit David, seeking to avenge his murdered father. David is a bit too implausibly knowledgeable and perfect but I guess that comes with the territory with this type of book. \n This is quite the fast paced read. It's pretty action-y which isn't usually my thing but Sanderson writes well enough for me to get into it for the most part. As the book goes on Sanderson not only delivers a clever, propulsive plot but he injects more moral complexity and nuance into the narrative. He also writes strong individual character moments for David, lead reckoner Prof and my favorite character Megan. \n Highly recommended.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 04 14:30:00 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 08 07:18:30 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Nov 08 10:24:26 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Nov 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "15839984", "review_id": "1b4387539c0983ded70cde905fc1d6df", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Most of this book was a four star read for me but I found the final act (the last 50-60 pages) so muddled and confusing I'm knocking a star off. \n I thought Hodge did a really good job maintaining a consistently creepy atmosphere. This book is really dark and unsettling at times. The Gentle Lord's castle is a fantastic set piece. This is the literary equivalent of a haunted house movie because so much of the plot is driven by Nyx's explorations of this gigantic, sprawling, fearsome castle. Nyx, Ignifex, and Shade are all interesting characters with complicated motivations. I really appreciated how Nyx wasn't all pure and noble and self sacrificing but was appropriately bitter about her lot in life. I didn't really buy into the love triangle between Nyx, Ignifex, and Shade but it didn't detract from all the other things I was enjoying about the story. \n However, as the climax of the book approaches things went off the rails for me. By the end the plot had become pretty convoluted with all the magical artifacts and mythological allusions and shifting alliances and the resolution to all this craziness, the whole time unwinding thing just left me scratching my head. I didn't understand the mechanics of that at all. How was Nyx even alive in the first place if the last 900 years hadn't happened? She only exists in the first place because of the bargain between her father and the gentle lord. Shouldn't the world be totally different in every way? I was just a pile of confusion from that plot point to the end. I really don't think this book needed the introduction of that type of plot element given how much was already going on. That's right, I'm a 31 year old grown ass adult admitting I couldn't follow the conclusion of a YA fantasy novel. Beyond that, The final showdown between Nyx and the kindly ones was pretty meh to me as well", "date_added": "Thu Oct 20 20:58:26 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 22 11:07:26 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Oct 22 11:07:26 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "15927534", "review_id": "f0c1813517924a69e9ca4090c50c3c3e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A fun bit of fluff. Though the male protagonist of this story is a vampire, don't come into this expecting a dark and scary read. The tone of this book is light and sweet. Though Ian is almost killed by Ben the vampire hunter and Angelica is kidnapped by a vampire named Rosetta acting to protect John Polidori, author of \"The Vampyre\" these potentially grave problems are completely resolved with ridiculous quickness and don't alter the breezy tone Ann affects throughout. \n This book doesn't have a lot of depth to it in terms of plot, world building or characterization but if you go in ready for a light entertainment it's got charm. The premise is solid, Ian and Angelica are cool characters who have a fun relationship to read about, Ann writes good dialogue. I really enjoyed Angelica's attempts to repel Ian and how miserably they failed because he *gasp* actually wanted a bookish proto-feminist.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 14 19:20:30 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 16 14:52:59 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Oct 16 15:08:47 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Oct 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "25328893", "review_id": "cfc489e9fb907b7a617f26bd888b9a0a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "After devouring and adoring Senlin Ascends I was eager to jump right into the sequel. Whenever an author impresses me as much as Bancroft did of course I want to read more of their work ASAP, but I also have a small, skeptical voice in the back of my mind that says \"don't forget, it's totally possible their other work won't be as good as this was, try to keep your expectations in check.\" \n The truth of the matter though is that I would have been disappointed if this book had been anything less than great after the awe inspiring Senlin Ascends. Thankfully, this book is every bit the masterwork that volume one is. There is no sense of that middle book filler feeling you get in certain series. Every plot development is vital and each new facet of the tower we're exposed to is fascinating. As always, character development is strong and the prose is to die for. Also, I didn't mention this in my review of Senlin Ascends, but I love the short inserts of in world texts that begin each chapter in both volumes. \n So in short Bancroft is a genius, you need to read this yesterday and reading me heap superlatives on this brilliant book is a waste of time that could be better spent actually reading Arm of the Sphinx. I am so, so glad I happened upon these literary treasures and I wait with baited breath for volume three (please don't pull a Rothfuss on me Bancroft, I need more of your amazing work).", "date_added": "Sat Sep 17 08:52:48 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 18 15:13:52 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Sep 18 15:13:52 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "17554595", "review_id": "0db909a64739024c740b3bdf0095bce7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Even a 5 star rating seems woefully inadequate praise for this spectacular book. I am in awe of Bancroft's skill and creativity. A book this perfect almost feels like it sprung from the brain of an alien far more advanced than a regular human. I am just stunned that this book exists. \n I started reading this this morning and once I picked it up I didn't put it down until dinner time when I realized all I had eaten over the course of the day was some handfuls of goldfish crackers because I was too transfixed to eat. I reluctantly stepped away to feed myself and picked this up again and read until I finished as soon as I had washed my hands post meal. \n As I gush in more detail about how amazing this book is I want to re-emphasize that, as effusive as I'm being, my words will inevitably fail to do this book justice, it is that fucking phenomenal. \n I want to start by talking about Bancroft's facility with language. His Goodreads bio says he is a poet. I don't read poetry ever (my husband used to write poetry and I read and enjoyed his but since he gave it up years ago I can't remember the last time I read a poem) but I can see the value the author's background as a poet brought to this work. I can tell you his prose is beautiful enough that you will stop, pause and re-read passages just because of how the language soars. I am usually not a very visual reader. I don't frequently paint mental pictures of what I'm reading as I read however Bancroft's writing is so vivid and evocative that I really felt like I could see, hear, smell and taste each ring of the tower. It was impossible not to experience this world like I was really there. \n Plot-wise this manages to feel totally fresh and weird while also feeling totally authentic. Senlin experiences some capital C craziness on his journey but I never thought \"this doesn't feel right\" or \"this isn't believable.\" Every plot development feels earned, and the world building is so thorough and smart that the reader is able to totally buy into Bancroft's universe. If I had to compare this to anything, I would compare it to the movie Snowpiercer (which I also loved) in how it well it sells its bold, visionary world. \n Character development is uniformly top notch. Every character, major or minor, is nuanced and fascinating and compelling. \n It is a crying shame that this only has 100 or so ratings on Goodreads. I hope it soon earns the popularity it so richly deserves. This is everything a book should be. I'm not one of those people that has a big Goodreads following or anything. I write reviews for myself and assume most of the time I am the only person who reads them but anyone else reading this, I implore you to buy this book and give it a shot. You won't be sorry.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 16 07:26:23 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 16 20:56:06 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "6381205", "review_id": "6453cb2431463dabb1ae36cd13660ec2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "True rating is 2.5 stars but I am rounding up with the star rating instead of down like I usually do because I'm fine with goodreads recommending me books based on me having \"liked\" this one. \n There were things that were charming and likable about this book. I think Carriger writes dialogue well, and her humorous asides and juxtaposition of stuffy Victorian mores with supernatural craziness worked for me. I enjoyed the tone of this book. I also thought Carriger had interesting, albeit underdeveloped, ideas about how society would cope with the existence of vampires and werewolves by trying to bureaucratize and sanitize them. \n But there's just not a lot to this book. The world building is thin, most of the characters are flat, the plot is slow moving. These flaws I think stem from all the narrative time devoted to the tepid romance between Alexia and Lord Maccon. Maccon is the blandest character to ever bland and so I couldn't care less about his courtship of Alexia. Had this book cut the romance and instead devoted more detail to developing the paranormal plot and fleshing out the characters it would have been much better.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 06 16:12:59 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 13 07:34:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Sep 13 07:34:44 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "29921910", "review_id": "1b7b5dfb357f8a8797a92f8d652e69e5", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I respect this book. I think Vyleta had a great premise and his writing shows flashes of skill and creativity. However, no matter how much I want to like this, I can't deny I also find this book totally uninvolving and turning the pages feels like a chore. To be honest I don't know why this book hasn't clicked with me at all but I find myself skimming and not actually digesting what I'm reading.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 03 10:51:51 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 09 21:59:39 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Mon Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "14781178", "review_id": "d64e668906ae96076dd72c241309acd1", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I loved both books in Bennett's Divine Cities series so I decided to give some of his other work a whirl. I read 150 pages of this book and nothing happened. There was some cool creepy atmosphere in a few scenes but I need some actual character development and plot to keep me turning the pages.", "date_added": "Fri May 27 08:07:13 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun May 29 10:22:40 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Fri May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "23209039", "review_id": "9652bede83f4275a126ef5d9ba2dfff6", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I read this as part of a buddy read with Unapologetic Romance Readers \n I didn't think this was awful or painful to read but it was very uninvolving. Both the fantasy and the romance had potential but they were so underdeveloped that I didn't get engaged. The world building was nonexistent, the plot very simplistic. I also tend to like my romances to have some more development of the courtship between the main couple. I would have liked more scenes of Garrett and Cassandra actually interacting as people if I am supposed to buy them as anything other than a lust match. \n So at the end of the day there just wasn't much there there for me to sink my teeth into. This is a boring read. It's not unpleasant, Marlowe isn't totally devoid of skill and the quality of the writing itself is pretty good for a free book, but this book takes a lot of potentially cool ideas and characters and doesn't end up doing much with them.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 21 12:25:43 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 24 14:24:24 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Apr 24 14:24:24 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "28356624", "review_id": "5595a06d3c988f0ff2f4402e6332c831", "rating": 3, "review_text": "As I read Fangirl, a book I heartily enjoyed, I found the Simon Snow fan fiction segments perfectly adequate for what they were (an obvious Harry Potter stand in) but not super interesting in their own right so I approached this book with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. My expectations were modest. In some ways this book exceeded my expectations, but it also had some of the flaws I anticipated. \n What this book did better than I anticipated was make me care about many of the characters, even those who don't have large roles, and their relationships. I had a strong emotional connection to this cast. I felt like I had a good understanding of who these people were and why they behaved the way they did. I never wanted to stop spending time with them. \n However, as much as I enjoyed reading this, elements of both the world building and the plot were pretty flimsy and generic at times, which I assume was inevitable given this universe's origins. Rowell takes an everything and the kitchen sink approach to fantasy tropes, tossing in a great variety of creatures and powers in an entertaining but also haphazard way. There's not a lot of originality here. What originality does exist comes more from the sheer volume of fantasy concepts that have been stuffed into this book rather than from a novel treatment of such genre staples as \"the chosen one\" or \"internal strife amongst different magical castes.\" or \"day to day life at magic school.\" So as strong as the character development is, and as enjoyable as the book is, it does feel derivative at times and elements of the world building feel rushed or muddled. \n Even with these flaws, this is definitely a page turner, and you'll be glad you read it.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 21 13:10:03 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 25 11:12:36 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Feb 25 11:12:36 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "20706317", "review_id": "e82b7d120724574a1f5cce69cf4ac677", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What an awesome book this was. It was creative and complex and thought provoking and moving. Through the eyes of Harry August, a man who is reborn upon death over and over again, this book surveys many of the most pivotal events of the twentieth century and does so in a fresh, compelling way while also asking heady philosophical questions about the meaning of life, the nature of time itself, and the possibility and desirability of altering history. \n While a lot of the material here is quite heavy, North also employed wry humor expertly. Much of her writing is darkly witty. Harry is a great character who has a fascinating array of reactions to his continuous reincarnations. Harry frequently skips around in his first person narration of his lives which could have been a real problem in the hands of a less skilled author but North never makes the development of the plot or the characters feel choppy. All the digressions about his lives, all his offhand observations are just as interesting and worthwhile as the main plot. And Harry's extreme longevity allows him the opportunity to build long, complicated, fascinating relationships with a great roster of supporting characters. \n This book is so ambitious, so bursting at the seams with cool concepts and characters and plot twists, that it was an absolute joy to read from beginning to end.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 01 05:30:56 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 04 23:06:16 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Feb 06 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "23004731", "review_id": "99a318b12486d37590167cd90798ec41", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Oh man. I really liked the first two books in the series but this one is such a drag. I have read about half of it and it's just plotless tedium. An author shouldn't need 200 pages to find a purpose for her narrative. I am abandoning ship.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 26 17:57:25 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 31 17:25:18 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sat Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "17910048", "review_id": "3f121d5a70e4b642811ad7ee97f24de8", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I read this book quickly because I hated reading it and just wanted it to be over. To be honest, I was also skimming in parts despite my attempts to pay attention because the book was so eye glazingly dull and impenetrably written. The Goblin Emperor has been on my radar since it came out two years ago. I love reading about court intrigue and I was thrilled at the thought of a fantasy novel rooted in the details of governance. I have no problem putting on my political science hat when reading fiction. The plot synopsis sounded awesome to me. \n I thought the premise of this book had such potential, which is why I never totally abandoned it despite the fact that I never enjoyed it and it never held my attention for more than a few pages at a time. Sadly, reading this is such a chore. There are a million characters with super complex, ridiculous \"fantasy\" names and the language is ridiculously stuffy and formal and flowery. Since Maia is such a naif you have no idea what's going on just like him. Good luck keeping track of who is who and what is what. The enclosed glossary at the back isn't any help. I understand why Addison made these linguistic choices, but they didn't work for me at all as a reader and made this pretty much unbearable. I could never get into the rhythm of this book, and I was always bored and/or frustrated while reading it. \n This is just such a tedious slog. Had the cast been cut in half and if they had names a reader could actually remember and personalities maybe I would have cared about some of these people. Had the pacing not been so terrible maybe I would have cared about what plot there is. The world building is overly focused on language and clothing to the detriment of anything resembling a real book. Maia's an improbably kindly protagonist but that's not enough to make such an obnoxiously written book enjoyable.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 28 17:37:13 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 10 16:46:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Sep 10 16:46:31 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "23507476", "review_id": "0520b9c4deaacb6be4e55ab7d5946890", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Not half as good as it could have and should have been. This is a spectacular premise that Grossman under delivers upon. I think Grossman tries to cover too much time in Crooked. The book tracks Nixon's whole political career, meaning that the book has to survey almost thirty years. This leads to a rushed, superficial treatment of both the realistic elements of the plot and the supernatural components Grossman adds. \n I think this book has a good grasp on who Nixon was psychologically, but since it is narrated first person as an old Nixon looking back at his life, the tone is very detached. Nixon tells us about all his neuroses and all these complicated things going on in his mind and his life, but the audience never feels it. Nixon agonizes continually over his marriage, yet Pat is a total non-character so the marital drama falls totally flat. Grossman flunks the show don't tell test with this book big time. The tone is weird, because Nixon self evaluates using a flat, omniscient perspective yet we the audience have to suffer through a poor understanding of what's going on supernaturally because Nixon himself doesn't know for a lot of the book. So it's like Grossman jettisoned the strongest part of first person narration, emotional immediacy and power, yet emphasized the greatest weakness of the first person perspective, imperfect knowledge of plot points and characters due to the protagonist's limited perspective. \n The result is basically a book long Wikipedia entry on Nixon's life interspersed with some undercooked fantasy elements. Nixon himself is an interesting character, but all the characters besides Nixon are total ciphers. This book has some cool individual scenes, and some witty asides, but on the whole it's underwhelming. I thought this book would be great, so I was definitely let down.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 28 11:03:07 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 02 11:07:44 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Dec 02 11:07:44 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Nov 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "12813630", "review_id": "582dcb0901481af1653a8b264d7a11d4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I didn't totally buy this book. I thought there were internal inconsistencies in the world building and some of the characters' decisions were not well justified in text. Even with these reservations though this was an entertaining book that's worth reading. Black mashes up a lot of different ways of seeing vampirism and this book has some very vivid imagery that really stays with the reader. It's good enough to justify the time spent reading it though it isn't fully successful in concept or execution.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 22 22:18:26 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 25 20:12:33 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Sep 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "17707612", "review_id": "4c1bfc9ddc2c33f9a0fe3fc0fb555da1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was quite the nifty book. I really enjoyed exploring the world Cheney created. I know less than nothing about Portuguese history so I approached this as the type of book where the author builds her own unique world rather than as a story that has anything to do with real life Portugal, though this does have some of the stylistic trappings of historical fiction that I enjoy. \n Interesting characters, an ambitious multi-layered mystery, solid prose, a highly enjoyable read for sure. I look forward to reading the next volume.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 15 11:06:23 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 19 19:59:18 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "10194157", "review_id": "79557effd0c192397930cfbe0c3e7b6b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Initially I liked this book but I also found it a little cliched/predictable. Aside from the sprinkling of pseudo-Russian cultural allusions this seemed like a very standard \"sad overlooked orphan turned chosen one\" story that involves significant time at a magic school, another shop worn fantasy setting. \n However, as this book went on it impressed me more and more. The book becomes more complex and more tragic, the writing and dialogue more poignant. The characters become more nuanced and their relationships more emotionally affecting. \n This book has a satisfying arc of its own while also doing a good job setting up the next volume, which I will be reading immediately. I recommend it highly.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 01 12:22:27 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 05 23:56:35 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jul 05 23:46:38 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "23909755", "review_id": "37267cd5d3f1b1439c95829450a83afd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "An excellent and totally worthy successor to City of Stairs. In this volume General Mulaghesh has to investigate the disappearance of a missing agent working in the wrecked and mostly waterlogged warrior state of Voortyashtan. In her investigations she uncovers a larger, potentially apocalyptic threat. As I have come to expect from Bennett this book featured a cleverly byzantine plot, awesome mythology, great prose and fascinating, morally complicated characters. \n Bennett does such a good job of making this world feel as complex as our own. His fantasy world is very creative and alien in many ways, yet there is an underlying authenticity to how he writes about international relations between countries of different socio-economic statuses, political power struggles, the physical and psychological toll of war, how nations collectively reckon with their past, and the various social and psychological needs filled by religious faith among other things. \n I feel like I could just explore the spectacularly vivid world Bennett has created indefinitely.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 16 15:49:13 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 05 09:53:16 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Mar 05 09:53:16 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "18739426", "review_id": "3a600b2d8c4b7f5885e24083e281890d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A good read but definitely my least favorite Mistborn novel. I have really come to care for these characters (in particular I love Steris with an unholy love) and their relationships to each other and there were definitely some cool concepts/plot twists but I also found the book way too action heavy and the third act \"twist\" involving a certain character's behavior/alliances didn't pack the emotional punch for me I think Sanderson wanted it to. \n There was so much interesting information about the politics of Elendel in the last volume, I really missed that this time around. I feel like the other Mistborn books all have a lot more going on then what is essentially a quest for magical artifact/heist narrative. \n I still look forward to how Sanderson is going to wrap up this installment of the Mistborn saga in the next book.", "date_added": "Wed May 27 11:39:14 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 13 21:20:26 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "16065004", "review_id": "7c757ffd1bf8029b9c8a3db3eee9d932", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Another strong installment in the Mistborn series. I thought the plot took a while to get going but once it did it was quite interesting and the characters remain compelling. I loved everything about the villain in this book, a great character with fascinating motivations. I also appreciated all the detail about the difficulties of industrialization in Elendel.", "date_added": "Wed May 27 11:39:10 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 16 07:25:39 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Oct 16 07:25:39 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Oct 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "10803121", "review_id": "186d8d5e58a54158fd048625a3ecfbb2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was more modest in its ambitions than any volume of the magisterial first Mistborn trilogy but it was still a rollicking good read. The plot was well constructed, the characterizations were strong, the banter-y dialogue was enjoyable to read. It also did a good job of setting up some great mysteries for subsequent volumes. I am also really excited to find out that volumes two and three are coming out relatively soon so I don't have to wait too long to see the continuation of this story.", "date_added": "Mon May 25 23:24:46 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed May 27 11:40:46 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed May 27 11:40:46 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "21535271", "review_id": "c1ef59243833d9e37e41ae5bb4a6c898", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Staggeringly pointless. I don't think I have ever read something with less content. There is absolutely nothing here.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 18 07:05:18 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 19 08:36:18 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Apr 19 08:36:18 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "23363928", "review_id": "12be70555a0488dc5cbd3fa30525ebf1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What a crazy ride this book is. Hawkins creates a fascinating world full of awesome characters and concepts. He also successfully manages to inject some smart gallows humor into this grim, gory story. \n I liked this book a lot. It was highly entertaining and it felt fresh and original. The flashback chapters provided great background information and character development. I really liked how Hawkins treated the concept of godhood; both how he chronicles the acquisition of power and how living with such power would warp a person emotionally, mentally and (in some cases) physically. There isn't much of a cohesive plot until the last third of the book but the world building and the characters are interesting enough that the book never drags. And when everything finally comes together the conclusion is so satisfying. \n I would recommend this highly to non-squeamish readers.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 17 10:40:10 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 11 09:15:08 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Oct 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "20522640", "review_id": "6c144afedfcaceeb162e0c04a299b4fb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I feel about this book pretty much the same way I felt about volume two, Dark Triumph. It is a great character study. Annith, like Ismae and Sybella before her, was an interesting protagonist with a fascinating backstory. I also enjoyed the theological orientation of this installment. \n However, also like book two, I found the plot sluggish. It takes a long time to get going and the final resolution to Duchess's plot relies heavily on a deus ex machina I found totally underwhelming. I feel like the first book had such a rich, complex plot where these last two volumes had enough plot for one book stretched out over two. \n All three of these books offer beautiful writing, well developed characters and interesting mythology. The quality of plotting definitely declines after the first book. Still a series worth reading though for sure.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 10 02:57:01 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 17 08:18:51 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Apr 17 08:18:51 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "9943270", "review_id": "8d17db5451aaf84ba393d22989ef4b94", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Like Ismae, the protagonist of Grave Mercy, Sybella is a great character to build a story around. Her tragic back story, her mission, her various interpersonal relationships (familial, professional, platonic and romantic), all compelling stuff. \n This undeniably fascinating character is stranded in a pretty thin and slowly paced plot however. Plot-wise there just isn't a lot of meat to this story. This volume is definitely still worth reading but it is a step down in quality from Grave Mercy for that reason.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 06 23:02:19 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 10 01:04:32 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Apr 10 01:04:32 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Apr 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "9565548", "review_id": "45206281c42f38a49d6d56c6b3327ad7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So this was awesome. Great characters, delightfully twisty plot full of court intrigue and scandal and assassinations aplenty, beautiful writing, excellent atmosphere and world building. The romance was even good. A+ all around, so glad I read this.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 16 07:19:00 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 24 11:12:29 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Mar 24 11:12:29 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "3961451", "review_id": "c4a969323205c9353694fafa2076a5c2", "rating": 1, "review_text": "The literary equivalent of watching paint dry. Beige paint.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 25 22:26:09 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 05 16:25:19 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Mar 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "20174424", "review_id": "11f20d4baa013d3aa8f89cefe445d3d0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book. The histories of Bulikov and Saypur presented here and the mythology of the Divinities was really creative and fascinating. I was particularly intrigued by the notion of a symbiotic relationship between a God and his/her worshipers where the worshipers partially create/control the God's power through their worship. I also love how Bennett handled the creation stories of the Gods, and how the God's powers connected to specific geographic locations. Really great world building here. The plot was gripping and expertly paced, the characters were compelling. Awesome book top to bottom.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 08 22:33:51 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 12 11:35:20 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Feb 12 11:35:20 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "20819685", "review_id": "161a6e59b46b36c9b3565adb63b475ed", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I loved the first story in this book. I found the second terrible and the third stale and mediocre so I decided to quit there.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 11 16:13:27 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 20 17:19:52 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sun Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "2439888", "review_id": "00fce3e1d8be679a244f715e1d4dbb5e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A very different book from its predecessor but still a very good read. Miller largely abandons the desert hellscape setting of Empress in this second volume of the Godspeaker trilogy, introducing a new cast of characters in the kingdom of Ethrea, which is a more conventional medieval Europe-esque world. In addition to Ethrea being a very different locale than Mijak, this book has a very different style and tone than Empress and a much more wholesome band of protagonists in aspiring Queen Princess Rhian, toymaker Dexterity Jones, and Ursa the healer. Their battles against scheming church prolate Marlan for Ethrea's throne, the foreshadowing of the coming battle between Hekat and Rhian, the introduction of a new religious bureaucracy and belief system, the continuation of Zandakar/s plot from book one, all these things are handled well by Miller. I would definitely consider this book less original than Empress but it is still a well plotted, well written and satisfying read. I look forward to book three.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 01 17:26:10 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 10 19:18:17 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "15783514", "review_id": "167f29fa1503037d53026b82888da7ad", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This short novel evokes a sense of melancholy, nostalgia and reflectiveness in its reader, punctuated with some moments of horror. The success of this book is in its vivid imagery and successful creation of mood and atmosphere. This really is like a fairy tale. Some of the characters (i.e. Ursula and the Hempsteads) feel otherworldly and larger than life while though I found the protagonist a bit bland. The contours of the plot, because of the way the story is recounted in flashback, are a bit dreamy and indistinct at times in the way fairy tale stories are. \n This book has so many great set piece scenes though and it does a good job of stirring the reader's emotions.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 29 19:46:05 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 06 20:45:57 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "2015492", "review_id": "f3867cc93468dc3453fa7e4db5223d59", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a strange, unrelentingly grim book. I look at it as a subversion of the traditional \"chosen one\" hero's journey fantasy arc. In Empress we follow a villain's journey basically, in a world where individualism and free will are totally de-emphasized. \n What I liked most about this book was how truly alien it was. The all encompassing religious belief system, the highly formalized and highly repetitious dialogue, the lack of basic human decency exercised by almost every character, and the bizarre mix of egomania and self effacement that characterizes this warrior society. This is a profoundly different world where cruelty and slavish devotion to an unseen deity govern every action. Characters have personal ambitions but they must be sublimated to \"the god\" and everyone lacks the basic self awareness to determine what they want as opposed to what \"the god\" wants. \n Miller created a very immersive world here, filled with fascinating (albeit gruesome) customs. She handles world building well, avoiding the trap of clumsy over exposition while still communicating vital information. I was never frustrated by a lack of understanding of this world even though Miller deliberately leaves a few things ambiguous. \n It feels weird to say I enjoyed a book this soaked in blood and misery but I did. I found this creative, thought provoking and entertaining.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 08 14:49:34 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 18 10:00:29 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Nov 18 10:00:29 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "7304203", "review_id": "a3d44ae0dc3f6e883a5af6b5aec01a2f", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I have had bad luck the last few months with series totally flaming out on me. This series really needed to be a trilogy rather than a pentalogy. By book four and especially book five there were fewer and fewer things I liked about these books, the flaws became more obnoxious, and it became increasingly obvious that there wasn't enough plot to sustain five books. Even at its best the Fever series is cheesy and superficial and my quibbles with Moning's writing just eventually overwhelmed my interest in her plot, mythology, and Mac's journey. I read a little under half of this book before packing it in. I know it is ridiculous to read almost 4.5 books in a 5 book series but I just groaned internally at the thought of continuing. I will google some spoilers to see how everything turns out. \n I hate Jericho Barrons with the fury of a thousand suns and his relationship with Mac.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 18 21:35:46 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 23 21:18:39 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sat Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "6050298", "review_id": "7980e49420a349ec68cbfe111f2c75b0", "rating": 2, "review_text": "My least favorite book in the series. I feel like book three set up a lot of potentially game changing events and this book didn't really capitalize on them. It felt stale to me. Also I am sick to death of the Jericho Barrons/Mac relationship and Barron's supposed \"mystique.\" He is a dull, static and deeply obnoxious character. I have come this far so I will definitely read the final volume in the series but I definitely found this volume a momentum killer.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 06 16:50:21 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 17 17:01:58 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "112750", "review_id": "ebceac7c4894c659e60e6fdd66cdb42a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Cool plot and world building coupled with some really cheeseball writing. I was interested and impressed by many of the things in this book. I liked the premise, the mythology, the pacing, and I found the plot pretty consistently involving. However I also spent some time rolling my eyes at the pedestrian prose, all the stupid asides about clothes, make up and cars, everything having to do with generic yet improbable super jerk Jericho Barrons. \n A fun read though as long as you set your expectations to guilty pleasure rather than high quality literature. I picked up the second book right away despite the flaws in this one.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 10 15:24:19 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 17 16:51:31 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "18114292", "review_id": "cd2abadbadcf6444451a518740a20599", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I am going to bust out some alliteration to describe my feelings about this book. It is cool, creative yet clumsy. This is an ambitious book that melds genres, teems with ideas and boasts a large ensemble cast that stretches over hundreds of years and multiple continents. It has a nifty premise and some novel and interesting mythology. Interesting treatment of time travel for sure. The romance was fun too. I enjoyed it even if the execution was flawed. \n Even though this book is very exposition heavy there were certain things that either didn't work for me or weren't clear enough to me from a world building perspective. I also had some pacing/plot momentum problems and quibbles with the (lack of) development of the supporting characters. \n I realize this is a first novel. It showed enough promise I'd likely check out the sequel.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 27 13:06:52 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 09 16:09:27 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Oct 09 16:09:27 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "6587879", "review_id": "5e51a60ce5ae1f430a2a3fa6200fd6b2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I had high expectations for this book because I loved Hill's NOS4A2 and the movie adaptation was pretty awesome and it did not disappoint. This book is excellent from top to bottom. Hill jumps right into the premise with zero preamble and the first part of the book has a lot of great dark comedy as Ig compels twisted confessions out of people with his newly sprouted devil's horns. Over the course of narrative Hill uses flashbacks and multiple perspectives well to flesh out the characters and plot. Certain elements of the plot may initially seem a little far fetched but Hill creates a great, grounded bedrock for them in the relationship between Ig and Merrin. His chapters written from the perspective of Merrin's killer are also excellent at conveying a chilling portrait of evil. Awesome book.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 19 01:02:47 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 29 22:50:54 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "13109291", "review_id": "3aaaa66c5cc58a945feaaf5faa22cccf", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I can't believe what a letdown this series ended up being. I loved the first two books, 5 star material. The third book was thin in terms of plot and characterization yet was still a decent read and hinted at some cool things in book 4, so I gave it 3 stars. This latest volume is unbearably dull. I am abandoning it at 39% according to my Kindle. What a disaster after such a fantastic beginning. There was obviously not nearly enough material here to justify four volumes.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 24 08:41:09 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 30 18:36:58 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Tue Jun 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "11590", "review_id": "6de32db899b113c42f085f689a8aad0b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "There were many cool bits of writing in this book. However, despite some great scenes/situations I had problems with how the book was paced.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 17 22:42:23 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 25 23:17:55 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jun 26 23:17:55 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "15702859", "review_id": "2f00f28b0b36534009552bb145749f39", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Blegh. This book had lovely prose and absolutely nothing else to offer a reader. I kind of resent the pretty writing actually because without it I might have just abandoned this narrative train wreck instead of trudging through it. \n The protagonist Morgana is mute from trauma. This is a contrivance that fails in several ways. The romance between Morgana and blandly perfect Cai is super dull and unconvincing because of the lack of communication between them. I never got a good sense of what Cai saw in Morgana and Cai isn't well developed enough to be a proper romantic lead. \n Even more frustratingly I feel like Morgana's muteness was a gimmick included to add complications to what is ultimately a painfully simplistic plot. If Morgana could talk this would be a twenty page short story. The sections of the book relayed in first person from Morgana's perspective read nothing like how you would expect a person so emotionally disturbed as to be rendered mute for years and years to be. Nothing about Morgana felt authentic. \n The villains are also awful one dimensional mustache twirlers who are melodramatic and stupid in the way cartoon villains are. None of the characterizations are complex here. Everything about this book is very flat and juvenile. \n This paper thin plot and these anemic characters are not rich enough to sustain a novel. Don't be suckered in by the stylistic skill shown by the author like I did. This author's first book, the Witch's Daughter, is very good however. Read that instead if this author intrigues you.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 16 21:45:00 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 19 14:57:08 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jun 19 14:57:08 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "11801463", "review_id": "75a3dc3e64d62a6132ed7baa1923d992", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A good book but a definite comedown after the first two excellent volumes. This book is beautifully written as were the first two but it is thin and repetitive. Not a lot of plot progression or character development. A pleasant read but I felt no urgency to keep turning the pages. \n What new material is present here is quite good, there's just not enough of it.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 05 14:17:03 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 11 14:13:47 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jun 11 14:13:47 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "4703450", "review_id": "40c303d632289c1ea060206c722b17da", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is crazy awesome! Fantastic world building, beautiful writing, great character and relationship development. I just found every aspect of this book compelling. A fascinating start to what promises to be a spectacular series.", "date_added": "Wed May 21 13:24:37 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat May 24 09:13:03 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat May 24 09:13:03 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed May 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "6065215", "review_id": "d5fe3eedc124272b6607f4c85ca98a65", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A decent popcorn read, no more no less. The writing is nothing special but not bad enough to distract from the busy plot and large cast of characters. This briskly paced page turner reads very much like a procedural TV show or a novelization of a film: characters exist primarily to serve the plot, it concludes with a big movie like action sequence (which frankly I wasn't crazy about), glancing references to politics (i.e. 9/11, the war in Iraq) are tossed in to try to add some gravitas to the standard parade of gross out scenes and spooky confrontations. \n This book mashes up tropes from plague/pandemic novels and vampire stories. There are a few novel aspects to its mythology wedded to the typical tropes of both genres. \n This is a definition of a book that is fun to read without being especially good. It's such an easy read and there are enough things I like about the story I will continue on with the series.", "date_added": "Fri May 02 09:56:08 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 07 15:11:49 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed May 07 15:11:49 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "13618440", "review_id": "b21a16cb32aa215ffc6d06228c2c2db4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A totally satisfying ending in keeping with the stellar quality of the first two volumes. The new characters/mythology are great, the arcs from the previous books are handled well, the writing continues to be witty and poignant. I am so glad I read this series!", "date_added": "Fri Apr 11 05:42:42 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 17 21:54:12 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Apr 17 21:52:04 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "18360128", "review_id": "f14975a201144c965aaf43643f9a0023", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What a sweet, charming novella. The writing was solid, Zuzana and Mik's narration was clever, the romance left me appropriately swoony. This story did everything it set out to do. The main series is so unrelentingly grim it was nice to see two characters enjoy some happiness here. Now onto the third book.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 04 21:41:10 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 04 22:38:41 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Apr 04 22:34:41 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "5096", "review_id": "79bdd56c8be5f47f45e3a5b85b79c474", "rating": 2, "review_text": "If this book had been 350 instead of 700 pages I would have given it 4 stars. There is an entertaining story buried in this latest volume of the Dark Tower series but it is a thin one that King overwrites to the point where you just want to book to end long before it does. \n To help you understand where I am coming from I must confess that I approached this book with trepidation. Roland is by far my least favorite character in the ka tet, I don't like Westerns as a rule and I wasn't crazy about the first volume of the Dark Tower series which is similarly Roland focused. \n After a strong conclusion to the cliffhanger ending of book three most of this book is a flashback which chronicles Roland's doomed affair with Susan Delgado. I liked this story a lot initially. I really gravitated to Susan Delgado as a character. However this storyline goes on for way, way, way too long and just becomes crushingly tedious. Had this flashback been a tight 200 pages I don't think it would have suffered at all narratively. It is ridiculously bloated in its 400+ pages form. \n This book offers way too little in the way of plot progression and acts as a real momentum killer after the very strong second and third volumes. If Stephen King wanted to write a book that is primarily a digression from the overarching plot he should have seriously trimmed the fat here and made the book significantly shorter. You can't make your reader slog through 700 pages and offer as little as King ultimately offers here plot or character wise.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 22 08:39:35 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 03 18:01:39 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Apr 03 17:48:14 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "8694522", "review_id": "12c83309b15c50e173e1bc56a354339e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book is pretty sweet. It covers three very interesting historical periods (a bubonic plague outbreak in 1627, Jack the Ripper's rampage, and latter WWI in addition to the sections set in the present) and it is beautifully written. The style is just gorgeous and the author supplies the perfect amount of historical information. I loved all the information on old time medicine. \n I was planning on giving this book 5 stars for awhile, I was that impressed by it, but it does have some flaws that keep it from reaching that level. The through line that connects the three historical vignettes and the present is the pursuit of protagonist Bess by the man who initiated her into witchcraft, the wicked Gideon. Gideon is underdeveloped as a character, as is Bess's relationship to him. This makes the conclusion underwhelming. \n Thankfully this book has enough going for it that I can still strongly recommend it despite this problem. I look forward to reading more from this author.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 19 17:04:49 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 24 17:42:04 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Feb 24 17:42:04 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "16199296", "review_id": "729152a7d50c1202fb3d1d5622ec2555", "rating": 3, "review_text": "An improvement over the lackluster second installment. The plot wraps up satisfactorily even if the exposition is a little clumsy. Jacob and Emily directly interact with each other less this time out, resulting in less heartsick simpering and leaving more narrative room for plot development and a larger role for some interesting supporting characters. This series lacks the complexity and depth necessary to elevate it from good to 4 or 5 star level but I am glad I read it.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 03 10:28:19 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 07 15:18:17 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Feb 07 15:18:17 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "12812550", "review_id": "aff50da048714a1003edfb5a3c02fdfc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book just gutted me. Make no mistake, this book might be YA but it is hardcore. Days of Blood and Starlight is quite different from book one. This book is far more epic in scope, and decidedly darker. It is drenched in the horrors of war and presents a heart breaking, sophisticated and intense reckoning of the physical and psychological toll warfare takes on individuals and societies. It is a book with few clear heroes and villains and oodles of morally gray characters navigating impossible situations. \n Everything about this book worked for me. The characters were well drawn and developed organically, the plot was gripping, the writing was gorgeous, and it was both intellectually and emotionally stimulating. I was moved to tears by sections of this book. I can't wait for book three. The dramatic stakes are so high!", "date_added": "Tue Jan 28 06:41:27 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 01 20:06:12 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "359375", "review_id": "7dba2226cdadcf9d5b7282a53f7f88d3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "These three interconnected stories really worked for me. This is not an action heavy book which I liked. Rather, Lukyanenko uses a standard fantasy trope (the battle between the forces of light and darkness) to ruminate on the very nature of good and evil, free will vs. destiny, how to balance the rights of the individual with the rights of the community, and the desirability of status quo maintenance vs. revolutionary change. There's a lot of philosophizing on the part of protagonist Anton and the other members of the Night Watch which proved thought provoking. \n Despite their simplistic titles, both The Night Watch and the Day Watch, working to enforce a non-aggression treaty between the light and the dark respectively, are both very morally gray institutions. So the forces of Light decry the use of power for personal gain and work to protect individuals from the malicious influence of dark magicians. Yet, in their fantastically misguided utopian zeal the Light also birthed Communism and Fascism/Nazism, and are thus responsible for an immense amount of human suffering and death. Agents of both the light and dark watch have nuanced motivations, and neither organization has a wholly positive or negative influence on the world. \n This book simultaneously felt very grounded and authentic yet highly creative. The light and the dark have complicated bureaucracies that have constructed a complex seven degree classification scheme to measure light and dark magic which is regulated in a strict quid pro quo fashion. Any time a light magician wants to use some good (i.e. selfless) magic, it must be balanced by an equal degree of dark magic. Creatures like vampires are licensed and periodically given licenses to kill humans selected randomly, otherwise they must confine themselves to animal or donor blood. This book mixed the magical and the mundane very well. I also liked how the author could still inject wry humor into the dark subject matter. \n There were a few important plot/character development moments that I thought were glossed over too quickly and not given enough time and explanation by the author. I also wasn't keen on the occasional interjection of song lyrics into the text. On the whole though, I would strongly recommend this book.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 27 13:53:12 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 31 15:27:32 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Dec 31 15:27:32 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "6202342", "review_id": "7ab0c5f5320e1933f9cb1f39dd940de2", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book meanders pleasantly through the first 2/3 its page span but it devolves into idiocy as it progresses. There is very little plot action/progression beyond the initial set up (twins inherit dead aunt Elspeth's apartment under mysterious circumstances, said dead aunt is a ghost haunting the place) and the twin protagonists Julia and Valentina are flat, vacuous creations but the supporting characters are interesting (Martin, a man struggling with OCD and the dissolution of his marriage, his long suffering estranged wife Marijke, grief stricken doctoral candidate and Highgate cemetery tour guide Robert) and the writing is good and the whole thing kind of ambles along with a certain degree of charm even if it isn't great. Lots of neat info about Highgate cemetery too. \n However, once the plot finally kicks into gear the story flies off the rails and the book just becomes asinine. There is an improbable, chemistry free romance between Valentina and Robert which Elspeth is forced to witness. This is the first sign of trouble, before things really go bad. The book totally falls to shambles though once Valentina hatches the brilliant plan to get Elspeth to kill her by removing her soul, stage a funeral and convince everyone she is dead, then come back from the dead by having Elspeth stick her soul back into her body to run away from her sister. Of course, since Valentina has been told Elspeth lacks empathy and Valentina is dating Elspeth's former lover, and Elspeth has already killed a kitten and failed to reincarnate it in the way Valentina wants to be reincarnated, obviously nothing will go wrong with Valentina's incredibly brilliant plan right ::eye roll:: In both conception and execution this plot is totally ridiculous Yes, this is the only solution a character ostensibly defined by her passivity and timidity can think of to resolve a sibling dispute. And of course all the relevant people (including strangers such as a medical examiner) cooperate fully. It is so silly and contrived. There is also some balderdash third act revelation about how Elspeth and her twin Edie switched identifies in the 1980's, which \"Edie's\" husband Jack figured out but played along with anyway In addition to the sheer ludicrousness of this development Edie and Jack are total nonentities as characters, undercutting any impact this plot turn may have had. \n I am not totally sorry I read this because as I mentioned it had a few good qualities but the main plot is a total disaster.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 14 17:51:06 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 19 22:17:03 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Dec 19 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Dec 14 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "8908", "review_id": "ce2c022ac57f4dab4a737c1c10480ccf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What really impressed me about this book was its creativity, its scope and its plausibility. It feels very authentic for a book about zombies. \n Written in oral history style, this a a true panorama with a large cast of characters that surveys how dozens of countries reacted to a multi-stage zombie infestation. Even from the vantage point of survivors reflecting back on personal experience, most of these vignettes are thrilling and moving. You'll read about large scale migrations north as survivors seek the comfort of freezing weather, dramatic military engagements, the breakdown of government and civil society as vigilante violence, illness and suicides ravage survivors, the secrets of the countries that weathered the apocalypse well (democracy is not necessary helpful to zombie fighting), and lots of other practical details. This is an ambitious and impressive work with some smart geopolitical and psychological commentary. The fates of many countries are discussed, with particularly memorable discussions of America, Canada, China, Russia, South Africa, Israel, Cuba, Japan, and North Korea. \n Minor nitpicks: I left this book without a clear sense of the timeline (i.e. when the Zombie War began and ended, how long each stage was) and how far after the conclusion of large scale hostilities World War Z takes place. There are parts that make it seem like it takes place many years in the future, but the presence of interview subjects who lived through World War II means that it can't be that far ahead. Also, while I understand its inclusion, there were a few points where the high level of detail about military equipment/maneuvers made my eyes glaze over.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 06 17:30:33 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 10 08:26:38 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Dec 10 08:26:38 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Dec 06 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "8490112", "review_id": "baf6fbd61e06e076e790d4d5d9539763", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was just awesome. Beautiful writing, unique and well developed mythology and world building, interesting and complex characters, moral complexity and nuance, a plausible romance (I usually hate love at first sight story lines, this might be the only book I have ever read that actually pulled one off). I just loved this one. Can't wait to read the second.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 09 13:51:00 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 01 20:08:08 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "15729539", "review_id": "4f177c9a824648a243eddfb9e4e735de", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Man did I love this book. Super creative, creepy, emotionally powerful, full of rich characters and awesome plot twists.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 26 15:38:10 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 24 00:04:51 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Oct 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "15957775", "review_id": "8476fc7994c55b7729a480b89b76abe7", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I liked book two less than book one. While I still like the author's writing style and her skilled evocation of period detail the paranormal plot was just too simplistic for me this time out. I would have liked more in the way of new characters and creatures. This one was too short for me. The romance plot is super twerpy and annoying and there was less cool stuff this time around to distract from that.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 23 04:43:25 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 13 12:49:35 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Sep 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "175983", "review_id": "39ffe8769f598b3a66da6ebedb0d2980", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars. This is my favorite book of the three so far. I was very intrigued by the Crippled God and the mythology introduced in this volume. As was the case in book two, the incredibly large ensemble cast has some vivid and interesting characters and many totally generic soldiers.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 02 17:39:52 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 10 11:15:14 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "10576071", "review_id": "0eadee365d4ce79c2fe8b53acdf86df2", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Meh. Not awful but far duller than it should have been. Despite the presence of a crazed serial killer directly menacing our characters there is a curious lack of conflict here. The plot is too straightforward, lacking the twists and turns the reader expects in a mystery, and the world building (historical and fantastical) is way too thin. This doesn't read like historical fiction at all. None of the characters seem like people from 1915. And the ghost element is totally half baked. There's just not a lot to this story.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 20 11:45:15 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 06 19:38:06 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "55401", "review_id": "ca6845d6752c2c0341545615770bfd50", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book is an improvement over Gardens of the Moon. I found that volume consistently incomprehensible and populated by bland, poorly developed characters. I am happy to say that this book made great strides in overcoming these problems. While I am not going to say I was never confused reading this book generally speaking it was a lot easier to follow what was going on and why. That doesn't mean this book is simplistic because it is certainly not. As dense and complex as its plots were, I could really engage with this text in a way I rarely could with the first. \n Also, this book introduced some vivid and compelling characters. The Bridgeburners still come off as ciphers to me (a few of them carry over from book one) but I was really captivated and at times moved by many of the new characters. Since these new characters actually had distinctive voices and personalities I was better able to follow the byzantine mechanics of the plot. \n Erikson's prose was really working for me this time out as well. His descriptions are very vivid and cinematic and I really liked how he used more (though admittedly still not a lot of) internal monologue this time out. \n There are a few plot twists feel that feel contrived, probably because Erikson never tells you the rules of the game so to speak, and this book definitely overuses the warrens, but I am now a lot more intrigued than annoyed by Erikson's world.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 20 07:58:11 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 10 11:12:26 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "16158565", "review_id": "fa0dac9bb2bd82971da0c2e49f565593", "rating": 0, "review_text": "There's good, fun, creative fantasy weird and then there's lame, contrived, fantasy weird. I only read 60 pages of this but it seemed to fall into the latter category.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 14 14:53:49 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 03 21:26:42 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sat Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "34084", "review_id": "35cb0d2bd427e34d86422cbafb4a3c8f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This series continues to improve. Book 2 was a huge leap in quality over book 1, and I'd say this is better than book 2. This book does a lot of world building in a gripping, entertaining fashion. There is a lot of satisfying plot progression here. The more I learn about the world of the Dark Tower (and how it connects to our own) the more I want to. We get some much needed and satisfying back story here, as well as a lot of cool twists and turns and turns along the road to the Tower. I really like how King balances the futuristic and the primitive aspects of his universe. \n Roland remains to me the least interesting member of the Ka-tet but he has grown on me to the point where I can at least find him mildly entertaining and he's no longer a hindrance to my enjoyment of the series. I don't buy the Eddie/Susannah romance (as much as I like both characters individually) but this doesn't detract greatly from how entertaining this book was either. What shines about this book is how vivid the world these characters inhabit has become. I am very eager to press on to book four.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 12 20:16:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 27 16:52:19 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Aug 27 16:52:19 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "5094", "review_id": "1e0d4c5f790fe6cd388764bb9cd0610e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A significant improvement over the Gunslinger. Roland is still kind of a drip of a character but thankfully the new members of the ensemble are vivid and interesting. This story is very satisfying in its own right and sets up the next book nicely.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 15 13:19:05 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 06 22:56:13 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Aug 07 22:56:13 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "6437061", "review_id": "5b5872fb3a8012bda6f21aa381fc8ada", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2.5 stars. A really mixed bag. I really liked the premise and how the plot developed but the characterizations and interpersonal relationships were pretty anemic. My interest in the world itself was piqued, I liked both the war of the gods backstory as well as the current descriptions of Sky and Darr, but I didn't connect to any of the characters or care about them. The dreamy, reflective first person narration (Yeine is recalling this story at some undetermined point in the future) was also something I blew hot and cold on.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 15 12:32:27 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 12 09:41:16 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "43615", "review_id": "849f8c6f948165f433efeed77424903c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book had consistently vivid and evocative imagery, some great scenes and it hinted at lots of cool stuff, but I also had some problems with it. \n At heart I found the spareness of the narrative underwhelming and the characters are more archetypes than people at this point. This feels more like a collection of stylish vignettes than a novel. This book left me wanting more in a way that was both pleasing and frustrating. Also, and I know these points seem contradictory, I don't think I have ever read another book that is as simultaneously simplistic and convoluted as this one. The plot is pretty bare bones, yet I had trouble following and understanding what was going on at times. \n This book teases at lots of interesting things to come later but it isn't very satisfying in its own right. I want to continue on with the series, where I trust I will get the depth I am looking for. I don't think this works very well as a standalone book, but I am intrigued enough about what this story could be to keep reading.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 12 22:31:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 15 13:05:34 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "15738302", "review_id": "052faa6b73aa942d1eb0bbb1c2372c15", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A super quick, light read that is entertaining enough though it is burdened with some annoying paranormal romance tropes (the simpering girl and the brooding angsty man fall instantly and melodramatically in love). The period detail and supporting cast were nicely drawn and the mystery, while somewhat simple, was interesting enough to propel the narrative forward.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 10 11:13:32 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 12 11:38:15 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jul 12 11:38:15 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "2767793", "review_id": "1cad5dab2174efdada1cb47b026822d0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I am happy to say this concluding book is just as amazing as its two predecessors. A fantastic story in its own right and amazing pay off on all the plot threads introduced in the previous two books. \n This trilogy is one of the best things I have ever read, full stop. These books are brilliantly constructed, with super creative and amazingly air tight world building. I can't believe one man could design a series this awesome. \n These books are very emotionally powerful as well as intellectually stimulating. It is hard for me to heap an appropriate amount of superlatives on this book, and on the series as a whole. Great!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 07 21:45:06 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 12 19:43:33 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jun 12 19:38:20 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "68429", "review_id": "fc69cd06d4f0108c42f805a8cf64f6f8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I am happy to report this book is just as great as book one. It builds on the first book and sets the stage for the third in a deeply satisfying way while also having a well constructed beginning, middle and end of its own. \n Character development remains excellent, and the moral and intellectual sophistication of the narrative remains intact. These books are simultaneously mentally and emotionally engaging. The world building is so great I feel totally immersed in the book's universe. I can't wait to read book three!", "date_added": "Wed May 29 19:29:38 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 07 21:44:28 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jun 07 21:40:24 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed May 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "68428", "review_id": "92324a8b20be57b4691ab87b11af02ca", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Spectacular! Even a five star review feels inadequate to describe how amazing this book this. Mind blowingly well developed in all respects. The world building in this book is absolutely phenomenal. I felt totally immersed in the Mistborn universe. The amount of effort that must have gone into sketching out the geographical, political, social, and religious aspects of this world must have been immense. Somehow this book manages to contain a great wealth of descriptive detail without bogging down a very fast paced narrative. \n This book also contains the most sophisticated discussion of magic use I have ever encountered, in any medium. Everything having to do with allomancy is endlessly fascinating. This book provides a unique and gratifying description of how magic works, and how its various practitioners fit Ito the Final Empire. The magic system is both impressively unique and yet intuitively plausible. I was so impressed by the care used to create the magic rules. \n On top of all of that, this book had great character development and was incredibly thought provoking. The characters are relatable and sympathetic without being flawless. This is a very nuanced, morally complex story. \n This is compulsively readable. Once you pick it up you will never want to put it down again. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Read it!", "date_added": "Sat May 25 20:39:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue May 28 23:47:08 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue May 28 23:26:02 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "7842288", "review_id": "cb5bfa6ea2e80900366e2b3c80de9e87", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The second half of this book was good. It was entertaining in its own right and set up book three nicely. Too bad I had to slog through hundreds of pages of dull, poorly paced teen angst to get there.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 26 11:49:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu May 02 10:30:34 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu May 02 10:30:34 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "55399", "review_id": "f43b3973f9f687911ec44a649f0171fa", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Intriguing but also frustrating. This book was brimming with potential that it couldn't fully capitalize on. I was interested in Erikson's world but his deliberately obscure method of storytelling is wearying. As every other review likely mentions, this book plops you down in the middle of a very convoluted plot and provides no explanation/exposition. Structurally the book is very episodic; jumping between several plot lines already underway and a ridiculously large ensemble cast. Unfortunately, the cast of characters is so large character development is almost nonexistent and keeping track of who is who is a chore. Poor character development is a flaw in its own right and it also inhibited story and plot comprehension. Certain plot developments also seemed contrived and arbitrary because the author withholds so much information. \n This book was engaging in its flawed way and left me with a desire to know more about the world of the Malazan Empire but for me to continue the series I would need better character development and more narrative clarity from subsequent volumes.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 06 17:56:38 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 08 00:01:43 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Aug 07 23:36:57 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "186074", "review_id": "8dc7950c39d5b50d4d9201a3f9106f1b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is one of those books that once you start reading it you just cannot stop. It was relentlessly readable. The broad outline of the plot is somewhat conventional but the way the story is told is brilliant and very captivating. \n The protagonist of the story is a man named Kvothe. At the start of the novel Kvothe is a humble innkeeper living under an assumed name. He supposedly has a past history of great heroism/mythic adventure that has come to ruin in some way. This book is the first third of his life story that he is narrating to a Chronicler. \n Kvothe is not a totally likable or reliable narrator and it is this continual undercurrent of distrust at the recollections of our supposed hero and the clever framing device that add a great layer to the main plot, recounting Kvothe's childhood and attendance at university. Additionally, this book is beautifully written, well paced, and endlessly intriguing. I love how this book treats magic, and the world building thus far has been great for where we are in the story. Every aspect of this world feels so real and so fascinating. \n Solid roster of supporting characters as well. A great read. Loved it!", "date_added": "Tue Apr 02 08:39:46 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 06 13:19:57 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "6304335", "review_id": "0be5c0e570ca84f9338a377510714fd1", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Not bad enough to dismiss entirely but not good enough to be consistently enjoyable. My main issue with this book is that is way too long for how thin the plot is. Relatedly, the world building here is quite shallow and unimpressive and the pacing is poor. There just wasn't enough information here about caster mythos, and the relationships casters build with each other and with the mortal world. Outside of the constant, monotonous hand wringing about Lena's impending \"claiming\" (where she will have to become a dark caster or a light caster) I get very little sense of what it means to be a caster, how caster magic works, how common or uncommon casters are, how they use their powers, etc. \n Part of the reason why this claiming plotline becomes unsatisfying is because the stakes feel very low until the very end of the book. Since the book's primary villain exists offstage until the climax or at least seemingly offstage , and the secondary dark caster villain is laughably unintimidating, there is no sense of what the threat of becoming a dark actually means. Does becoming dark mean Lena will become homicidal, or just a brat with a fondness for lollipops (yes, this book features menacing lollipops)? What do adult light casters and dark casters actually do with themselves? Despite the characters incessant hand wringing about impending doom, the actual ramifications of \"going dark\" remain opaque throughout most of the book. \n Instead of fleshing out the fantasy elements, this book is larded with descriptive detail about the town of Gatlin and its denizens, and typical teenage problems. The coverage of Gatlin rednecks and cliched high school hijinks became super repetitive. \n As for the romance between the narrator Ethan and Lena, it is better than the execrable Twilight but it is still a too joyless and angsty to be convincing. \n Now I said this book isn't bad enough to dismiss outright. Here are some of the things I liked about it: \n 1. I really liked the way the authors handled the death of Ethan's mom and Ethan's thoughts/reactions. These parts of the book were quite poignant and well written \n 2. The second magical plotline (about an enchanted locket and a doomed pair of lovers during the Civil War) was good, and tied nicely into the main plot \n 3. Some of the supporting characters were well drawn \n In short, a deeply flawed book with flashes of promise.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 05 07:38:52 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 26 12:16:09 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Mar 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Mar 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "76620", "review_id": "2e3e0312a0c73704e2f6f2b1fea66830", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I only read half of this before packing it in, it was dull as dishwater. I probably should have read it as a younger person or not at all. Characters are thin and the plot is dull. There are some short snatches of pretty writing but beyond that it's not worth reading. However, as I said I only read half of it so it might have picked up later.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 11 07:56:27 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 08 16:18:12 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "228202", "review_id": "f1778ee8b8240c4018476707fcb96d39", "rating": 3, "review_text": "So many feelings about this book. A real mixed bag: there were some things about this book I loved and other things I found incredibly frustrating. There are lots of individual chapters that are chilling and beautifully written, and the large ensemble cast is mostly well drawn. However, this book is just too much. Way too long (it could lose 100's of pages easy), too many characters, too long to actually set up the Mother Abagail vs. Randall Flagg showdown. About that arc, **vague spoilers ahead** this arc is well established but the execution is shoddy. After a fantastic introduction/background development the character of Mother Abagail is annoyingly underused and not as central to the plot as I wanted her to be. The ending is really anti-climatic because it doesn't feel earned or well connected to what came before. It is followed by a really boring coda. \n I feel like this book is less than the sum of its parts. If you can deal with the fact that the overarching plot is pretty lame and enjoy the really well done character sketches, plot developments that are not connected to the supposed good vs. evil showdown (i.e. day to day struggles of the cast as they survive the flu and come together)and some of the writing, I recommend this book to you. Be prepared to alternate between feelings of engagement and frustration with the text.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 21 08:52:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 25 16:32:36 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Sep 25 16:32:36 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "13453029", "review_id": "0eff4cafb3c54126ec0789b4cda521e3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 stars. Really good! I can't wait to get into part 6. Fascinating dystopian world and great character development. A few very minor nitpicks about the ending of Wool 5 but other than that, awesome reading experience.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 18 17:17:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 24 00:00:11 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "9912994", "review_id": "6dd2d91857969f62bda84f04239febda", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I would consider myself a Chuck Palahniuk fan and I have read and thoroughly enjoyed most of his other books. This one however was a let down. The satire was shallow and toothless because its objects were such safe targets, character development was poor. There were some potentially interesting ideas but they were underdeveloped and thus seemed silly or uninvolving. This reads more like an extended outline or a rough draft. It is a very fast read, and has a few fun scenes and concepts, but this is below par for the author.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 15 18:40:44 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 16 12:14:38 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jul 16 12:14:38 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "4407", "review_id": "d38b990bac862e0e3587a6f09b47bdb8", "rating": 2, "review_text": "There's some cool stuff in this book but the whole is much less than the sum of its parts. I am so frustrated by the unrealized potential displayed here. Gaiman has a great premise, some fantastic imagery and top notch descriptive writing, some potentially fascinating characters, and he strands them in a meandering mess of poor plotting, bad pacing and undercooked world building. Shadow is boring. The focus on Shadow's perspective and experiences to the detriment of other characters is foolish. Gaiman would have been much better off focusing more on the thoughts and feelings and unique perspectives of the gods themselves. Most of the gods pop up sporadically rather than being consistent parts of the narrative, giving the book a very disjointed feeling. There is a curious lack of momentum to the plot, and the stakes never feel high. This just lacks drive and tension. Ultimately it all feels flat and not epic in the slightest. There are the bones of a much more interesting book than what Gaiman actually delivered here. \n Reading this book is like watching an incredibly gifted student flunk out of school because he won't do his work. You can see flashes of brilliance here that tease you into believing this book is going to be something magical, and then the failure to deliver becomes so frustrating. I expected so much more from this book. I thought it would have more to give me. To call it bad would be an overstatement, but it is disappointing for sure.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 08:04:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 28 17:26:52 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "792500e85277fa7ada535de23e7eb4c3", "book_id": "127459", "review_id": "af380030173cad4ef97405adee06ba5d", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Not nearly as strong as the first two books. Overly long, very repetitive. This is overloaded with dead end subplots and boring retreads of stuff already done better in the first two books. I was fine with how everyone ultimately ended up, but it was such a drag to get there. However, I was pleasantly surprised and very glad that (big spoiler about the ending under the tag) the protagonist's love interest dies at the end both because I thought that was a bold and novel choice and because he was such an annoying character and their relationship was implausible.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 10:20:59 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 11 20:29:25 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6d1797a40d0d5fa223bfe387bce89ee9", "book_id": "17199504", "review_id": "ae9dcc2e47fadb37df8c3dd4cf6accd7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed this quite a bit. The characters were intriguing and I found myself fully vested in their outcomes by the end. \n It was a very visual read for me, a clear indicator that the author succeeded in creating a very believable world. Not understanding the complaints about \"info-dumping\" as it seemed like a standard amount of exposition for a series opener. I look forward to the next installment.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 09 20:14:47 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 29 17:03:20 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Mar 29 16:53:52 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Mar 09 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6d1797a40d0d5fa223bfe387bce89ee9", "book_id": "18596354", "review_id": "8cb0101a8c34f7b2db92fbcd0b27534c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Terrific story and a great concept. Looking forward to the next in the series.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 22 13:04:57 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 12 11:12:58 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Oct 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6d1797a40d0d5fa223bfe387bce89ee9", "book_id": "13049688", "review_id": "4f7b993fd6dc9dacbaee0d9272e16191", "rating": 0, "review_text": "could not finish it. maybe someday.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 18 10:59:05 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 28 17:55:54 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Mar 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "acf91eeac51895f858adc7680f737163", "book_id": "15881", "review_id": "557530e8a6c2158a29540eeeed2ed18c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "meh.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 04 00:30:58 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 04 00:32:02 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "acf91eeac51895f858adc7680f737163", "book_id": "3", "review_id": "6cbe89769bb460384bf41b78b3dbde09", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Because I'm so late to the HP frenzy, I can't tell if my review is a reflection of fatigue or my actual opinion. It's fine. It's fun. It's uplifting, but it didn't change who I am. I *may be expecting too much of a young adult book, but when you read a book like Okay for Now and compare it to HP, sure, they both have value; they're both entertaining, but one imprints on my soul. I will keep perservering through this series because what kind of self-respecting English teacher would I be if I didn't finish this g-damn series. I'm told books 3 & 4 rock and WILL change me, so I look forward to that day.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 16 17:01:18 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 16 17:04:28 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "acf91eeac51895f858adc7680f737163", "book_id": "64207", "review_id": "5e6be1e5d5977b7c76a3bedfdbe4e44e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Cute book. Something fun and mindless, which was just what I needed!", "date_added": "Sat Oct 01 19:59:23 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 01 22:26:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Sep 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "acf91eeac51895f858adc7680f737163", "book_id": "10977951", "review_id": "5e7a28bc7ae49224291bcccf3fbc8b1e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book does an excellent job giving a believable and entertaining back story to the poem \"Jabberwocky.\" I really, really liked the story and the plausibility of the plot. I also thought the definitions for the words from the poem and how they tied into the novella were good. A fun read and my only criticism would be it was a little wonky to begin with. I had a hard time getting into the rhythm of the sentences and it wasn't because the words were too hard, or the sentences didn't make sense. The only word I can think to describe the beginning of the book is \"wonky\" or \"weighted down.\" But, get past the first 10 pages and you'll be good to go!", "date_added": "Sat Feb 22 08:09:51 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 22 19:12:31 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "acf91eeac51895f858adc7680f737163", "book_id": "4214", "review_id": "820e8782a3f7fc48fe11758ef0cf9ff3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I loved this book until about 100 pgs from the end. Ugh. It just seemed to go on and on. Granted, I read the book for story and plot; I was not too focused on picking out the rich symbolism or allegorical evidence. That being said, I'm sure I missed some gems, but I felt that the ending of the book tainted all the wonderful-ness of the story. The author seemed to just \"quit.\" It's like he had no credible way to end an incredible story, so he rains on our (the readers') parade by offering us a realistic alternative. I also didn't like how the book did not circle back to the beginning i.e. the struggling author meeting Pi and re-telling his story. I think bringing the narrative back around to the modern scenario outlined at the beginning of the book would have been a better way to cap off the rich story. \n I loved the way the author was able to make life stranded at sea captivating. Day after day, Pi and Richard Parker do the same things, but I still found myself hooked. Because I'm kind of--alright, alright, I'm definitely--obsessed with my cat, I found it hard to picture Richard Parker in a dangerous light. I just kept thinking, \"Oh, a kitty! He's so cute and soft!\" It was wise of the author to constantly remind us of Richard Parker's power and prowess. Overall, a great read well worth the time. I'm excited to see how they adapt it to a movie!", "date_added": "Sat Aug 18 09:49:31 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 06 13:47:34 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "acf91eeac51895f858adc7680f737163", "book_id": "18131", "review_id": "968cf372a96a52ab3acb39a567048c98", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really liked this book. I LOVED the beginning and the end, but there were about 40 pages in the middle which I did NOT love. They were a little tough. The messages and symbolism of the book were enough to keep me interested. Since I do NOT love Science Fiction, it's quite remarkable that I liked the book as much as I did, and I think that's a testament to the book's theme and characters, which I liked very much.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 02 19:43:04 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 18 16:10:29 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sun Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3308afcbfd01f352e82460528e9ae509", "book_id": "25533076", "review_id": "f492e7e168abdd7e204a53e13ac2c2bb", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Meh.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 20 11:44:40 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 25 22:00:04 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3308afcbfd01f352e82460528e9ae509", "book_id": "11287", "review_id": "34d5eeab1f452e9356136066208b98b6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "You could read this without having read Simmons' \"Summer of Night\" first, but you'd enjoy this one so much more if you did. I would also recommend reading his \"Children of the Night\" before this one, too.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 01 09:41:43 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 15 18:37:29 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3308afcbfd01f352e82460528e9ae509", "book_id": "6101718", "review_id": "d387bda421878fcb225e4e6a86b11f49", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I almost gave up right away because it felt like it was going to be a Harry Potter rip-off. I'm glad I stuck with it, because once Quentin started at Brakebills, the similarities ended. It's way more Narnia than HP (intentionally, as I read in an interview with the author). \n I almost gave this 3 stars because I lost interest after the first half and didn't start liking it again until almost the end. It got a little sluggish for my taste and I really started to dislike Q and the rest of the characters, but I think maybe that was intentional, too. I'm on the hook for the 2nd book.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 21 21:12:10 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 25 22:14:46 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Feb 26 22:14:46 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Tue Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3308afcbfd01f352e82460528e9ae509", "book_id": "6316821", "review_id": "68378d0c55bab2f552d7b684fd851b7f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Decent end to a good series. This entire book was like a continuous battle scene and the end was rushed, but mildly satisfying.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 18 08:01:20 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 18 21:56:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3308afcbfd01f352e82460528e9ae509", "book_id": "2903736", "review_id": "4c6067d87f206b15fdab61880f5e70b6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3 stars instead of 4 just because some of the battle scenes get on a bit. Otherwise it's a pretty great series.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 12 06:39:23 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 17 09:29:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3308afcbfd01f352e82460528e9ae509", "book_id": "29056083", "review_id": "88b96fbe5a6368f7fbdf68ee4997e3a6", "rating": 1, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Where to start. \n Harry is kind of an ass (\"sorry, Draco, I could help squash the horrifying rumor that's ruining your son's life, but I don't feel like it.\"). Ron is dad-joke-lame and Hermione is cold, nagging, and worst of all, an idiot. The ministry scene outside her office--what the s@&t was that? 11-yr old Hermione would have been onto them in 3 seconds and then kicked her own, older ass for being fooled by such a moronic scheme. \n Albus is an annoying, unsympathetic emo kid, and I'm still not entirely sure what his problem was with Harry. Was he embarrassed by his dad's fame? Jealous of it? Didn't get enough attention at home? The best we get is that they \"don't understand one another.\" Ok, I guess that's enough to risk destroying the entire world. \n The entire Delphi thing was ridiculous--the time turner, the obscure prophecy centered on Cedric Diggory (who made the prophecy? Where did Delphi hear it? Did I miss something? Am I going crazy!?). It was so convoluted I actually said, \"what the f@&@\" out loud to myself a few times while reading it. \n And to top it all off, Voldemort and Bellatrix got it on?? *wipes away tears of laughter, then pukes*. It is so stupid that I can hardly believe this story was conceived by JKR, or at the least approved by her. So Bellatrix had Delphi right before the Battle of Hogwarts and somehow nobody noticed she was hugely pregnant during the time when, according to the books, she would have been out and about causing mayhem (including torturing Hermione in Malfoy Manor)? And Voldemort, a wizard greatly skilled in legilimancy, had zero clue that his right-hand, #1 hench-woman was knocked up with his baby? And the woman who was so desperate for his attention and favor never bothered to mention she was literally carrying his legacy? This is some of the worst revisionist history I've ever had the misfortune of reading, and I've read all the Sookie Stackhouse books. \n It's like fanfic written by an 8th grader with a thesaurus. \n I've read some apologist-type reviews that say, \"Well, it would translate better onstage,\" and maybe it will, but I'm just going to try and forget I ever read this and that it really ended at \"All was well.\"", "date_added": "Sat Jul 23 19:17:51 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 02 22:41:10 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3308afcbfd01f352e82460528e9ae509", "book_id": "133664", "review_id": "e1a40bbc5d24a4b273180404ca59526e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I like the story, looking forward to starting the next one, but I'm not totally into half the characters, and what is UP with \"(insert character here) arched a brow\"??? The phrase appears almost every time 2 characters have a conversation. \n Not kidding, every time I saw it, I marked the page with a post-it. If I can find a way to attach the pic I will. I didn't notice it in the first book, but I'll definitely be on the lookout for it in the next one. I haven't read any of his other books, but I know the guy has written a lot of them so I know he knows more words to adequately describe a haughty, questioning, or mischievous look (hey, look! There's 3 words and I'm not even a pro). Maybe, since the concept of the book was the basis of a bet, he worked in this stupid phrase as a part of the joke. \n (Spoiler-ish below) \n I can't stand Isana, and Amara and Bernard are getting tiresome, but i do like Tavi, though he has to be the dumbest person in Alera to not have figured out his parentage yet, or at least who his father was. Even his name is a clue, if you are familiar with Latin numerals. He even knows who Fade really is and still hasn't worked it out. \n But I'm on the hook for the rest of the series at this point, so I'll have to let it go.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 23 19:17:29 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 29 14:08:50 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 29 14:08:50 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3308afcbfd01f352e82460528e9ae509", "book_id": "6348045", "review_id": "36a5799cc40ca48342d8c3a1cda97106", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The series started off great but it's become tiresome. My biggest problem has to do with the fantasy elements that Flanagan promptly and inexplicably dropped after the first book. Since book four, every book has relied on bro-banter, pondering strategies, and boring, easily beaten foes. And just so we don't forget, in nearly every chapter we must hear about how much Halt and Will and Horace care for each other (almost as much as they love coffee--HEY-OOO!!! We get it. They like coffee. And Horace eats a lot. Hilarious.). \n The fantasy angle would have at least given us a little variation in plot from book to book. \n There are a dozen other little things I could nitpick but I don't care enough. You might think I need to chill because it's a series written for kids but that doesn't excuse lazy storytelling, in my opinion. Kids deserve good fiction, too. \n I do still kind of like the characters but they are long past needing development apart from one another. I'm going to finish the series only because I've made it this far so I might as well (and I'm hoping something great happens).", "date_added": "Wed Jun 01 19:08:26 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 12 20:46:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3308afcbfd01f352e82460528e9ae509", "book_id": "6313798", "review_id": "fbe45b87b129fe18b4b08d5d700e88c8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great stories but couldn't get into the ones in the last quarter of the book. Maybe I'm just tired of short stories.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 24 11:41:32 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 19 13:53:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Apr 19 13:53:08 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Feb 24 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3308afcbfd01f352e82460528e9ae509", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "988364ac630952217cdf259d7d795275", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm only giving this four stars because the ending seemed so rushed. Otherwise great.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 24 13:52:03 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 27 14:46:22 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Aug 27 14:46:22 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3f07cc5be0f58259c81a7c6472f46b0f", "book_id": "544891", "review_id": "0ddca66a3b1b34272a9235052e3c3902", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I just love beauty and the beast stories. Other wise I'd give it 3 stars. I wasn't fond of the chat room conversations, they were annoying. I also thought that this kid had a reason to be an asshole, his mom ditched him and he was raised by his asshole dad. In that sense, I didn't like the backstory although it was nice to have one, made this retelling stand out.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 17 18:02:35 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 17 18:12:38 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3f07cc5be0f58259c81a7c6472f46b0f", "book_id": "4502877", "review_id": "7fadf41073cd9baf610f4c2b222a5148", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I like the new perspective. I dunno, I kinda see how people don't like him sneaking into her room, but I think that fact has already been covered. He's not a normal teenage boy. The vampires seem to be a little bit more in every way.... stronger, more beautiful, more inclined to act out emotionally.... Plus, if this were any other teen romance, nobody would care. It's just the author's way of describing his inability to be away from her, and since we know that Bella practically moves into failure to thrive without Edward, I'd say it's safe to say they have the similar issues. \n I really like knowing the perspectives of the vampires. It'd be nice if she got into Edward's struggle to not eat or rape Bella when he's making out with her- it sounds like that's the direction she's going in with it being just as burning as the thirst.... \n Finish it already!! It'd be nice to read something interesting from Meyer after that last one...", "date_added": "Sun May 30 08:05:10 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun May 30 08:25:36 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sun May 30 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3f07cc5be0f58259c81a7c6472f46b0f", "book_id": "6450251", "review_id": "7b3c686bf08f933e56ad56cae8aa15fe", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Pretty crazy stuff. Dark and punk it has very raw and violent qualities that you don't often see in paranormal romance. I didn't really find that it had \"sex on every page\" like some people did, the sex scenes are extremely graphic and plentiful though. I thought it contributed to the fact that the character Jade, as a succubus slave, is trapped in a world of forced sex that she doesn't want to be in, and hates herself for. The vampires in this book have a more traditional scary violent way about them, it isn't pretty. The faeries are these crazy little party creatures, that everyone gets their drugs from, and the humans have no clue that any of them aren't really human.", "date_added": "Sat May 22 16:06:17 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat May 22 16:32:17 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sat May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3f07cc5be0f58259c81a7c6472f46b0f", "book_id": "24217", "review_id": "d8c6316cd1cf1f488672955dbd4ffbbb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "the play on words is so fun...its just nonsense...very relaxing.", "date_added": "Tue May 04 18:08:33 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat May 29 08:57:10 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3f07cc5be0f58259c81a7c6472f46b0f", "book_id": "1656001", "review_id": "c14f24d3ba3eb0fcd8f35916da30dff5", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The idea was interesting, but she drags and drags, kinda like reading a story written by a teenager.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 20 12:30:56 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 16 12:51:44 -0800 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3f07cc5be0f58259c81a7c6472f46b0f", "book_id": "2299110", "review_id": "3bfc783ecc85beeb000ec401682fecfb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The first half of the book was too much, so much gruesome stuff over and over again. It was tiring. The second half was fun though.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 25 15:54:42 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 20 12:46:21 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3f07cc5be0f58259c81a7c6472f46b0f", "book_id": "428263", "review_id": "f5462b754fc71f53f9cfa76c29f5ad2f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "These books are great, but they are meant for 16-18 year olds, I believe. In that sense they don't seem appropriate. They completely give the wrong idea about what a girl should allow. The main character in the book allows her boyfriend to control her life, his relatives to kidnap her, and its usually just laughed off. One of her other love interests also forces her to kiss him, which seems to be sexual harassment to me, and her father doesn't even let her boyfriend beat him up! While this all makes for a very interesting young adult novel, maybe it shouldn't be the young adults that are still in high school. I've heard that the last book is horrible, allowing everyone to have a happy ending with no pain and the main character pregnant and married... which seems inappropriate... I might still read it just to confirm. It's price is already lower than the other books even though it just came out this month.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 13 10:13:31 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun May 30 08:11:17 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "27dbf9a0154032558a8941ab65f73a37", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "d7a5177984e2019cd67dc8751da23cda", "rating": 5, "review_text": "what an utterly delightful treat.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 15 22:21:15 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 17 22:14:17 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Dec 18 22:14:17 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "5dbd7afa6d973dd6c1621f18ca62c00e", "book_id": "27209407", "review_id": "1a155bafdea52d48063aaf498516ecc5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Love it!!! Can it be December already?!!!?!?!?", "date_added": "Sat Aug 13 17:39:10 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 13 17:39:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5dbd7afa6d973dd6c1621f18ca62c00e", "book_id": "24611454", "review_id": "9bc7548d6ff4e0e20b238a09c53bd1ac", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it!!! I've been reading other genres lately and it wasn't until I started reading this book that I realized how much i missed this kind of story...Can't wait to read the next one!!!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 09 09:19:02 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 09 09:21:19 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5dbd7afa6d973dd6c1621f18ca62c00e", "book_id": "8709524", "review_id": "763a7ea030ca7a473807eebd1513dba0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "LOVED IT!!!", "date_added": "Thu Feb 21 15:43:01 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 21 12:51:02 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Aug 21 12:51:02 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd16103728a569054b22a4eb682cb2c4", "book_id": "3503947", "review_id": "023f746ea5e012956c8d29b2abbf4674", "rating": 5, "review_text": "trsm Swr@ mtwq`h ltjrb wHdth bd'n nr~ mlmHh mndh ftr@ \n fy mSr khSwS wlshrq lwsT wfy l`lm `mwm \n wtsr` lkhT~ bhdh ltjh wDH \n rwyh mmtz@ mn kl lnwHy", "date_added": "Sat Feb 16 16:10:02 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 13 13:59:28 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Feb 17 19:16:17 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Feb 17 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd23d9de8fb9983fe66401ed9268903b", "book_id": "30332593", "review_id": "36c14371111e012c043817dafaffc527", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n New to me author. This is a strong, well written debut. Grabbed me from the beginning... lost me a little with King Arthur but I fell back in. Looking forward for more from this author.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 17 03:40:05 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 29 18:13:44 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd23d9de8fb9983fe66401ed9268903b", "book_id": "25174427", "review_id": "68390c5382ee97693fa7c5cdcab74ebc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Whooooooooooo girl. I started reading this at work and SOON realized that that was not the place to be reading this steamy, ultra sexy paranormal love story from Ms. Christina Jones. I discovered her by stalking YES STALKING folks' twitter accounts in my search for indie black women authors. I snapped up her Serendipitous Love Series and have REALLY enjoyed her writing-- engaging and down to earth featuring characters of color that I can relate to! \n Haunted is a departure from the work that I've read. It is dark, mysterious and complex, weaving a tale that spans not simply years but *generations* and not a mere city or country setting but entire kingdoms to explore. I am told that Haunted is the first novella in this series and I'm extremely interested in picking up where this book left off. \n Something wholly different that I truly enjoyed!", "date_added": "Wed Mar 18 04:51:10 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 12 07:09:21 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Mar 20 06:16:50 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd23d9de8fb9983fe66401ed9268903b", "book_id": "22665598", "review_id": "664d016011a46cf832f95233770bcf23", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Much to my delight, I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher, St Martin's Press, via NetGalley.com. I tried hard not to reveal any important details but it's so hard to talk about this book without spilling beans. \n I first discovered Sarah Addison Allen by accident. The Girl Who Chased the Moon was a freebie on Amazon. It looked like an easy read and at the time, anything free was good for me, I grabbed it up and started reading... and I just couldn't stop. Magical, whimsical, light and delightful, my fingers just kept turning pages. I got to the end and I thought, \"Well that was nice.\" As is my habit when I find an author whose style I adore, I sought out her backlist and she quickly jumped onto my my AUTO ADD, MUST READ lists. \n I've read every novel that Ms Allen has published and I feel like each is better than the last. All of her books have the slightest bit of magic, a touch of drama, but mostly center around warm and inviting southern towns and delectable food. To read an Allen novel is to get lost in rustic, friendly North Carolina for about four hours. I look forward to the trip every year. \n One of the recurrent themes in Allen's books is friendship and family. We first met the Waverleys in Garden Spells, one of my favorite Allen novels (though I say that about all of them). Returning to Bascom, North Carolina and the sisters Claire and Sydney feel like having a sit d0wn with a couple of old friends-- catching up, meeting the new people in their lives. This story centers around Bay Waverley, Sydney's daughter, who is so much unlike her mother (and so much like her aunt Claire) that Sydney sometimes wonders if the child is really hers. After fleeing an abusive husband and returning to Bascom, Sydney married the love of her life, childhood friend Henry. He adopted Bay, and they're one big happy family, except for one thing. She wants to give Henry a son. \n Claire has always been self sufficient, the rock that other Waverly's hold onto. Her catering business has fallen by the wayside in favor of magical Waverly candies. There's a line that says something really profound, that Claire making candies is like like having the most perfect chair in the most perfect room, but the chair being covered in the wrong fabric-- it's such a small detail that no one really seems to notice. Except Claire. She's not completely happy, making candy all day and she worries about her daughter Moriah, who doesn't seem to display any signs of the Waverly trait. She doesn't have a gift. \n Lingering over the Waverly women is the distant memory of Lorelei, their wayward and wild mother who left them with their Grandmother Mary, never to be seen again. There's a legend that she ate an apple from the magical Waverly tree (Waverlyes don't ever eat the apples) and when you eat the apples from the tree, you see the biggest event in your life. Even if that event is your death. \n Despite the magic and the gifts, Claire has always questioned whether she was authentically a Waverley-- her business and her livelihood depend on her heritage. When a curious man is seen lurking about the house, appearing and disappearing at whim, he brings with him questions and suspicions about Lorelei and Claire. What if Claire wasn't Lorelei's child'? What if everything Claire has ever known about her life is a lie? What if she isn't really a Waverly? And what about the notebooks that Grandmother Mary hid around the house, the ones with the blacked out entries? Are there answers hidden in them? What does it all mean? \n Woven into this story of family relationships is a budding romance between Bay Waverley and a popular soccer player named Josh. It's heartwarming and cute to watch Bay in all her teenage awkwardness become close with a young man who knows more about himself than most young men do at his age. Bay's gift is knowing where people belong. Bay knows where she belongs... if only she can convince Josh of the same. \n I find myself longing for another installment of this magical family. The tree (and the house) has so much personality, it's probably my favorite character. And I feel like there is more story to tell. Like Evanelle... what did M mean by telling her not to be in such a hurry to go, there's more work to be done? Sydney's relationship with Victoria took a bit of a predictable turn, but I feel like there is more there? Josh and Bay-- do they end up together? Buster and Fred-- come on, isn't there a niggle of attraction? And Moriah, who finally displays a gift.. surely, Ms. Allen, there's another Waverley tale inside you!", "date_added": "Sat Sep 06 19:24:05 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 08 07:51:16 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Dec 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "cd23d9de8fb9983fe66401ed9268903b", "book_id": "21796783", "review_id": "6fbaa6958db847607d4df2b51c8c94ab", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I understood it was a prequel and not stand done.... Still quite short and left a lot of questions...", "date_added": "Fri Aug 08 20:15:02 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 07:38:59 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd23d9de8fb9983fe66401ed9268903b", "book_id": "22131009", "review_id": "225c8f6d7c3c9d899a11614e8db76f41", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Shirt stories are too short. Look forward to seeing this character in a upcoming novel.", "date_added": "Tue May 20 15:19:12 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 07:37:11 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd23d9de8fb9983fe66401ed9268903b", "book_id": "284695", "review_id": "b08b9e90ba5008d60cea1dfa07095694", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I completely forgot that I read and LOVED this book!", "date_added": "Sun Nov 11 05:18:16 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 23 20:51:43 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1999", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd23d9de8fb9983fe66401ed9268903b", "book_id": "7084062", "review_id": "9fb520fd12ebdfbd0970fe76f4ed5297", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm officially out of Sarah Addison Allen Books!", "date_added": "Thu Mar 31 05:32:58 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 02 22:38:26 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sat Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Mon Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "cd23d9de8fb9983fe66401ed9268903b", "book_id": "9581507", "review_id": "4766ab33b0469aa2243418f120c5bee9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I received a copy of this novel from NetGalley.com. I was hooked from chapter 1! The pacing is perfect, the way Jennifer moves from present day to the past, advancing the story simultaneously from different points of view. \n I have to say this is the creepiest book I've read in awhile. I can barely finish a Dean Koontz book-- personally, this book takes Dean and Stephen King and locks them both in a closet. \n Very well written, nail bitingly suspenseful, well rounded story line. Loved. I rarely give 5 stars, so 4 stars is really, really well done in my book!", "date_added": "Fri Mar 11 06:13:49 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 06 05:39:50 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sat Mar 12 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd23d9de8fb9983fe66401ed9268903b", "book_id": "5126859", "review_id": "099077b66572ec8e2b9e67bbf17545d1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I didn't know anything about this book when I picked it from the stack... so glad I decided to get it and take a chance on it. I was craving something light and wonderful and this definitely hit the spot. \n The town of Mullaby is a small, southeastern town full of polite charm and a little bit of magic. Sixteen year old Emily has been sent there to live with her grandfather after the death of her mother. Right away, she learns that her mother was not always a fine, upstanding citizen. Rather, she had quite the reputation. \n Emily meets her grandfather, a giant of a man as harmless as a butterfly. He is shy, avoids people and crowds, has a hard time fitting in-- Emily knows how he feels. So does Julia, resident cake baker and owner of the local barbecue restaurant. Her return to Wallaby just a few short years prior dredged up a lot of old memories-- namely Sawyer, a boy she once loved and was torn from, with whom she shares a large secret. \n And then there is the strangeness. The Mullaby Lights that only glow in the night, the \"sweet sense\" that Sawyer seems to have, the sparkle that follows Julia around.... there are a lot of mysteries in Mullaby, for such a quiet little town.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 24 13:38:20 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 02 19:54:42 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Sun Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Wed Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd23d9de8fb9983fe66401ed9268903b", "book_id": "6202342", "review_id": "ee367649c0980821e25a3ba54b17bc79", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I didn't read The Time Traveler's Wife. The synopsis never struck me as something I really wanted to read and I couldn't get into it. I can't decide if that was a good or bad thing. Probably good, because from the reviews, a lot of people went into reading Her Fearful Symmetry on the heels of Time Traveler's Wife and expected it to be similar. It apparently wasn't. I also didn't know the two books were written by the same author-- this book came recommended by two different people in two different circles of friends. I picked it up on a whim and started reading it. I find the best books that way! \n This story begins oh, so right. Niffenegger (you mind if I call her Audrey? That name is a toughie)jumps right into the middle of the story and wades around in it. Our main character, you see... dies on Page One. And I figure if someone dies on Page One, there's a good reason for it and a good story behind it. \n This novel is the story of two sets of twins: Edie and Elspeth, and Edie's twin daughters Julia and Victoria. For reasons not given until nearly the end of the book, Edie and Elspeth are estranged. Have been for nearly twenty years. Elspeth's terminal illness does not change this. Elspeth lives in London, in a flat above her 13 year companion Robert. Edie, her husband Jack and the twins live in the States. \n When Elspeth dies, she leaves her flat, all of her belongings and her money to the twins, with the stipulation that they have to live in the flat for a year before they can sell it. And that their parents, Edie and Jack, must never set foot in it. Her papers and diaries are removed, property of Robert. No one is to see them. Robert avoids reading them until absolutely necessary. \n The twins are 20, but are small and thin and alarmingly co-dependent. Victoria is a mirror image of Julia, down to the beauty mark on her cheek. Victoria is weak, with a heart defect and severe asthma. Julia delights in taking care of Victoria, a constant companion. Victoria is the more artistic and fashionable one. She creates and sews and makes her own clothing. Julia is the smart one, the healthy and strong one. The trade-off, Julia thinks, isn't fair. Victoria is the pretty one, despite their being twins. Julia is envious of the attention Victoria receives without even trying and insists on clinging to her. They have to do everything together. One cannot attend school without the other. One cannot work without the other. Both are still virgins because...what one does, the other must also. The suffocation is palpable. \n Moving to London begins to change the lives of the twins in ways they could never plan for, or imagine. They meet other characters and cast members in Elspeth's life-- Martin, the OCD genius who lives upstairs, who showers three times a day and is compelled to scrub the floor for hours and stacks his life in plastic bins around his apartment, whose wife loves him more than life itself, but left him to have a life of her own. Robert, who lives downstairs, who avoids the twins like the plague when they arrive, whose sorrow over the loss of Elspeth is driving him mad, daily, who thinks he feels her presence, in her flat. Her ghost seems to haunt the place, knocking books over and pushing paperclips around and stirring curtains. \n As the girls begin to enjoy life in London, their relationship begins to change. A bigger world means more opportunity, more to explore, more to do. Their interests begin to divide. They bicker and the threads that once tied them together start to unravel. Robert meets the girls and it takes his breath away how much Victoria resembles Elspeth. More than he wants to, he likes her. He can't help but approach her and want to be near her. But there is the issue of missing Elspeth. \n Who isn't really missing, at all. She is there, in the flat. Stuck in the spirit world, as an energy. Haunting them until she's able to find a way to let them all know she's there. Using a crudely concocted OUIJA board and later a pencil and paper, the girls finally meet their Aunt Elspeth-- if only after death. There are questions yet unanswered and mysteries yet unsolved. \n Why didn't Edie and Elspeth talk? Why did Elspeth leave her worldly goods to two girls she had never met? Why couldn't their parents visit, and why couldn't the girls read her diaries? \n SECRET, Elspeth says. Oh. And a secret it is! \n There are so many elements to this story, and one- no, two!-amazing plot twists. I do so love a plot twist! So many interwoven story lines, existing on their own course until they converge. The twins are the crux... everything else, everyone else are like the spokes of a wheel. \n There are three parts to this story, each equally intriguing, but I don't think that all are weighed equally. Part One begins slowly, unfurling the tale, lazy in its reveal, raising more questions than it answers. Part Two is full of change and discovery and adventure and drama and mystery, a tearing a part and a putting back together and a horrid plan that NO ONE should agree to, but all involved, unfortunately, do. \n Part Three is the carrying out of said plan. And the backfire. And the end result. Part three made me gasp, made my eyes bug out, made my heart ache. And the end made me shake my head and say, 'well that's what you get, now isn't it?' \n For the writers in the room, I think what was most off-putting actually was the third person omniscient. The reader reads what everyone is doing, thinking, feeling. I found this POV to be really confusing. Perhaps the story would have been more gripping if we weren't so privy to everything. A little mystery adds a lot. Make me guess, don't tell me everything. Even simple third person might have made it a tad easier to understand, but I got it figured out, so I guess it wasn't that bad. \n There are some twists in this book that I still sort of don't understand, involving the decades long estrangement between Edie and Elspeth. I think I'll have to read it again soon, concentrating on that part, to understand it better. Overall I really enjoyed the book. Part Three, especially is un-put-down-able! \n It doesn't make me want to read Time Traveler's Wife, though.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 01 01:44:55 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 01 08:51:05 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "30612669", "review_id": "289ea01004cbf23089c8cd2fde2e9b3a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 - 4 stars \n If you have a fear of blood or its details, this book might not be for you. I find it a bit hard rating this book as well. There were good and bad aspects which I will explain in my review. \n Cain Killion, also known as Killer Killion's Kid, aka Triple K, has been living in the shadows of his father's sins. He was forced to endure his father's torture as a child, and through that torture, he developed a sensory ability to get into a killer's mind by touching and bathing in the blood of the victims and replaying the moments before their deaths. Now he uses that ability to help the FBI solve murder cases. \n Very interesting premise for a book, right? Though you have to suspend some disbelief to get through the book. \n It is almost twenty years since the Ledgers family was murdered by Adam Killion, leaving the only victim, Mercy Ledger and a symbol drawn on the wall as evidence. Now on a current murder case, that same symbol has surfaced and Cain must decipher what it means and what connections it has to his father's crimes. \n Mercy Ledger is trying to survive, as much as you could survive in a mental institution where the psychiatrist who's supposed to be helping you is also a sociopath. Cain needs to know what Mercy knows from that crime years ago, so they must somehow work to figure this out. Not easy to do when you have a target on your back. \n There's a romance that develops between Cain and Mercy but what ruined the enjoyment for me was their self-deprecating thoughts of themselves and how they'd be better off leaving the other person alone. It was frustrating in that as soon as something happens to the other person, they realize they can't live without them. Mind you, both these characters have been through the ringer in the \"mindfuck\" category of twisty proportion. \n There is an unexpected twist in the book that left some questions unanswered, which I assume will be addressed in the next book. Although there were some issues in the book, such as the unexplained reason how Adam Killion was caught in the first place, what drove him to kill, his motives, etc. I find it hard to believe that after 70-something murders, he would be caught so easily. It would be nice if this information was filled in. There were parts where the story and its directions were predictable so I wasn't surprised when they were revealed. The author's writing is good, albeit the prose is flowery at times considering the context of blood and gore. It was still an interesting read for a psychological thriller but the loose ends and the pacing, which dropped halfway through, made me round the ratings down to 4 stars instead 5. \n Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 05 12:22:14 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 10 12:33:03 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Apr 10 14:03:53 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Apr 05 12:22:20 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "30743891", "review_id": "0607250a88580bb1d0af25e150cc6e76", "rating": 4, "review_text": "There are two running storylines in this book. \n One - This picks up the story where The Beast left off with Rhage and Mary in the process of adopting Bitty, a young girl who lost her mother from domestic violence. Bitty has heard her mother speak of an uncle, Ruhn, but as far as efforts go to locate her bloodline, no one has shown up to claim Bitty. Which is what Mary and Rhage hope for. The three of them are starting to become a family, growing with love and hardships. Bitty was abused by her father and as vampire transition looms, it also threatens her life due to her previous injuries. The scene at Havers nearly broke my heart. But as a family, they will get through this pain. Then their world gets turned upside down again when they find out the uncle does exist and he wants to meet Bitty. I love this story of these people. There was heartbreak, amusement, love, and in the end, a true HEA for a family, one that was impossible considering Mary is infertile. Bitty is a great character and I love the bond she has with everyone in the house, especially with Lassiter. We kind of get to see Lassiter playing in the role of fate in a way, so this may be a slow introduction of him to taking over Virgin Scribe's role? \n Two - The other story involves trainee, Axe, and Elise, daughter of an aristocratic family who wants to break away from glymera social norms to pursue her career in psychology so she can help her vampire race. Axe really shows himself to become a soldier among the Brothers. He has a rough family history that was also heartbreaking. He gets hired on to be Elise's bodyguard and their attraction grew from there. There are trust issues along the way but they work through it. \n I'm really enjoying this spinoff series as it's a way to read more about the Brothers and their shellans. It'll be interesting to see how the trainees evolve as well. \n P.S. Saxton and Ruhn. I'm so ready to see if a book will be written for them.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 21 23:22:51 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 10 12:37:51 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Mar 30 08:53:21 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "28432251", "review_id": "08815c1afbe140bd03e32b27e3e29834", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The quest for the final star leads the group of six guardians back to Ireland, where deep roots lie for Bran and Doyle. \n This book explores the connections of the characters and their ancestors leading back to the goddesses. I enjoyed the search for the star as I did the first two books. The only thing I wanted more was the connection between Riley and Doyle. It felt more like a relationship of convenience. They were the only two single people left, and even the beginning of their relationship was a no frills enjoy it while you can sex. I wanted a little more than that for them. \n Overall, I still enjoyed the story and the epilogue was nice. Would've liked to see them a few years down the road to see how they lead their lives though.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 26 22:18:39 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:17:20 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "188275", "review_id": "7f7653b0fabb62b10a9c5e36521889fd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Beat of Temptation review... 5 stars! \n We know Nathan and Tamsyn from the first couple of books and this novella in the anthology gives us a glimpse on how they came to be. \n I loved every minute of this. It pulled at your heartstrings. Nate and Tammy recognized each other as mates when Tammy turned sixteen. Nate is stubborn and protective but only wants the best for his mate. His parents loved when they were also young but the mating bond wasn't strong enough to make them last. Nate didn't want that for himself and Tammy. He thinks he's doing what's best for her by holding back and let Tammy grow and expand her freedom in life experience. But all Tammy wants is to love Nate. It took a bit for Nate to come to his senses and everything about them was sweet and sexy. Love the flower scene and the epilogue with their twins.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 18 17:58:59 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:18:52 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "22062213", "review_id": "4fc162df4d6b3ba7a38b337149d423e1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Such a bittersweet ending to this incredible series! I'm a bit sad we have come to the conclusion of Simon and Meg's story, I want to read more of them even if it's just snippets of their lives. There'll be more Others books but it'll involve newer characters and new places. These characters of Lakeside Courtyard have etched a place in my heart! \n When Meg Corbyn stumbled into Lakeside Courtyard, where human laws don't apply, she changed the course and relationships between humans, terra indigenes, and more. Since the last book where the Humans First and Last Movement have been brought down and destroyed by Namid's teeth and claws, fearsome Elders of the wild country, communities are trying to rebuild within the turmoil of limited resources. When faced with adversity, there are those who band together to work for the benefit of the whole group. Then there are others who wants everything for themselves. \n Cyrus \"Jimmy\" Montgomery belongs in that latter group. He has come to Lakeside Courtyard looking for a handout. He's a manipulative, disgraceful conman who cares for nothing but himself. As his presence brings negative impact and distrust among those who established a pecking order in the Courtyard, Simon Wolfgard, as pack leader wants Cyrus gone. However, the Elders have other reasons to let him stay. They want to observe and learn how to decipher from a good human and bad human so that they can decide who and how much of them can be permitted to pass through parts of the wild country. Cyrus's schemes cause more distrust and loss of lives, though he thinks he's above it all and not responsible. Trying to make a quick buck, he makes the biggest mistake of all by taking the most treasured thing in the Courtyard. And the chase is on. \n The events that played out could've all been preventable but lessons are now learned. There was much excitement and anticipation in the last few chapters, and a super sweet ending that I'm sure I'll come back to read over and over again. \n Great ending to a spectacular series. I loved every moment of it!", "date_added": "Sat Jul 16 12:38:01 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 15 09:05:40 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Mar 15 13:49:30 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Mar 11 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "29056083", "review_id": "0117b2977b9459a993e0a86864613cab", "rating": 4, "review_text": "There's been some mixed reviews about this, even among my friends who are hardcore Harry Potter fans. For me, I really enjoyed it, for two points. \n First point, the nostalgia. I loved seeing the gang all back together, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and even Draco. Plus Professor MacGonagall, Dumbledore and even Snape make appearances. The Snape moments hits you directly in the heart. They're all older, married with children, but they're still flawed in some ways. Harry and Ginny has three kids, and he now works for the Ministry of Magic. Having been through great trials and tragedy, you'd think they live HEA. But for Harry, sometimes the past won't stay in the past. \n Second point, the next generation and the lessons we learn with them as we did with their parents. Albus (Harry's second son) and Scorpius (Draco's son) have become fast friends at Hogwarts. Wanting to right a wrong, they decide to take matters into their own hands (with a bit of outside influence of course) to change the course of the past. But we can't mess with history events without dealing with their consequences... Ones that may turn ripples into waves that drown you under. We see the world that might have been if the Battle of Hogwarts was lost, and what a dark, dark world that would be. \n Someone that surprised me the most was Draco's son, Scorpius. I loved his character immensely. So unexpected, yet so refreshing. I totally ship him and Rose Granger-Weasley together by the way. Oh to see how they develop would be fantastic and a hoot to read. I guess my imagination will have to do. \n I think I enjoyed the book more than my peers because I went into this knowing it isn't a novel. It's written as a play and should be read as such. There's a distinct lack of prose and description that we've experienced in the previous seven books. However, that doesn't make this less magical. It just reads faster as the actions move within the dialogue. \n Thank you JK Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne for taking me on this incredible journey with some beloved characters and giving us a glimpse into their lives and a reminder that adventures are always ready to be had. And the best adventures are those shared with friends who will always have your back.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 10 13:55:54 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:17:16 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "24611454", "review_id": "469a63bb93d7b7c6bacef38c381e6db7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Long ago, three goddesses created three stars as a gift for the birth of a true queen. But another one wanted it all for herself, greedy for power. So the stars were casted and scattered across the world until they can be found again to destroy evil. \n There were certain elements in this series that were similar to NR previous trilogies. Light versus dark. Good versus evil. Six individuals: three men, three women. But that's where the similarities end. \n Sasha Riggs have had recurring dreams about herself and five other people. Always the same people. So she put them on canvas as her gift is to see and art is her expression. There must be a reason for these dreams, so she left her quiet life in North Carolina and flew to Corfu, Greece. And that's where the adventures began. \n I say adventure because that's what this book is. It's an adventure, a quest, a journey, to find these individuals who will make up the core group that seek the stars and end evilness once and for all. \n Each of the character has a secret and unique abilities that all contribute to the group. It was fascinating learning about each one as you go on. As the characters discover more of one another, we, as a reader do as well. So I thought that was well balanced. \n The romance part was fated in a way considering Sasha saw herself in the dreams with Bran, so the love was accepted automatically. I wouldn't quite call it insta-love but more of a recognition/knowing in each other. Bran pushes Sasha in her abilities a bit and she needs that push. She was already brave, she just had to believe in it. \n This was a very good start to the series and I'm excited about book 2!", "date_added": "Tue Nov 03 14:10:47 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:17:14 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed May 18 03:07:39 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon May 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "22062202", "review_id": "54a169e5b16907b268ff26aeb009ebcd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Lots of POVs, lots of things happening in this one. We saw what the Elders in the wild country was capable of. And I think that was only scratching at the surface of their powers. We also saw the ugly side of humans. I really like the contrast Ms. Bishop is representing in the nature of humanity. There are those who strives for a good life with what they have, helping those in need versus those who will stop at nothing for greed in obtaining what they think they're entitled to without regards to the consequences. \n There's more development to Meg's prophecies ability, which I found interesting. The relationship between Meg and Simon is still building slowly. Even though I would prefer it to move a tad bit quicker, it's goes against the grain of the nature of these characters, so I'll have to see in the next book. I liked the way the book ended, sweet and innocent. \n I'm not sure where the next book will lead, maybe finding out who Pater is?", "date_added": "Sun Jul 26 21:40:16 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:17:13 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Mar 17 12:22:23 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Mar 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "25293695", "review_id": "15c65db6a713f16c76fda1766e8210b3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n 4.5 stars \n As with any other BDB book, there's a lot of things happening. And I mean a lot. Multiple storylines all woven into one and keeps you wanting more. \n Rhage puts himself and his Brothers in jeopardy when he ignores V's warning and gets himself killed, only to be saved by his one and only, Mary. The motive behind his hasty action to run out on that battlefield brings lots of emotions to the surface. The issues in this book is parenthood and abilities to have children. Some couples don't want children and that's fine. Other couples want children yet cannot conceive, and in Rhage and Mary's case, it was a sacrifice for their happy ever after. The scene with Rhage and L.W. (Wrath and Beth's baby) tore my heart out, so sweet yet heartbreaking. \n Mary is working with a young girl, Bitty, who just lost her mother and she's trying to help the girl open up and deal with the loss. What evolved for their relationship was trust and a lot of food exploration with Rhage involved of course. I love the interaction Bitty had with Rhage, how she immediately gravitated to his charm and personality (I mean, who wouldn't right?). Bitty, for the most part, stolen most of the scenes she was in, from meeting Rhage's beast to greeting everyone at the house by their names, and then walking up to Z and looking past his features and just talking to him like anyone else... Heart melting moments. \n Assail seems to be turning over a new leaf, I hope his new loyalty is true. Xcor and Layla remains the same yet not the same, I'm really hoping we get to the end of their story soon, it's dragging out wayyyyy too long. A few other surprises happen, including the Virgin Scribe, plus a couple of new characters introduced and the future of the Brothers will be interesting to see how it plays out. \n I don't know which Brother we're revisiting next but I'm looking forward to it already.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 22 10:08:15 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:17:13 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Apr 13 14:47:59 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "5393637", "review_id": "0d717aef63c848f88450edd58a5d2011", "rating": 5, "review_text": "For a short novella, this certainly packs a punch! Looking forward to learning more about Charles and Anna, and their world.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 28 20:27:22 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:21:40 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "21849362", "review_id": "3ce6a2936a1619892b04417fa9d33e9e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm not really sure how to rate this... so I'm settling with 3 stars. \n One half of me felt that this was a beautiful sad love story deserving of 4 stars, but the other half wanted to throw down the book because I rather have a HEA for everyone involved making me want to give it 1 star since I felt robbed. This book by far is the most emotional I've felt in this series, I cried through 25% of the book. Although I was spoiled as to what happen here way before I read the book, I found myself enjoying Trez and Selena's love story immensely. It was beautiful even though it ended the way it did. I didn't know what to make of Selena from the previous book but I love her amazing spirit in this one. Her ability to embrace life is a strong and admirable quality. \n Trez and iAm is another love story in itself... The love and bond of brothers. One could not go on without the other. The little twist in their fate was interesting. \n The intensity I found with the earlier books was missing here. There were a lot of moments where questions were raised but nothing concrete was answered. I'm not exactly sure what's going on with Rhage, I guess Ward's next step of going back to the original brothers will answer it eventually. I was slowly warming up to Xcor and Layla until it took a different turn, not in a good way and was one of my book pet peeves. I want to know what's going to happen with Assail, Throe, and the Band of Bastards, and what they all mean for the Brotherhood. Two new characters are introduced for the new spinoff so I'm looking forward to it.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 26 17:14:39 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:17:10 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "24905116", "review_id": "704528a85e083bb26fd5e38299a85c56", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 utterly beautiful and captivating stars \n The third installment was more than I expected, with revelations and surprises that took me on a journey that evoke emotions that not many books can create. \n This was a love story beginning from the first book to the third one. It's a love story not just for two soul mates, but also the love from a father to a daughter, a brotherhood, a sisterhood, family made from blood and the ones that become your family as you connect with people in the journey of life. \n \"I think I'd pull down heaven if that's what it took to keep you here with me.\" \n \"And I'd abandon it if you weren't there.\" \n Ava and Malachi's love was beautiful, one of the best love stories I've read. They were easy with one another even though their journey was one of hardship, heartbreak, and grief. I think that's why their HEA felt much more momentous. I love the way they found their way back to each other and learning about one another again as well as discovering where/whom they came from. \n That discovery was the biggest secret of all. Never would I have even thought to go in the direction that Hunter did, and she did it so well. It was magical, shocking, sorrowful, and lovely all in all. \n The archangels (the Fallen) are at war and these characters are caught in that war unaware of the connections they are a part of. Everything was so well written and imagined, the characters developed into their own, and the plot became more intense with each chapter. \n Even though their story ended, Ava and Malachi will stay with me for a long, long time. I'm glad the series isn't completely over yet, and am patiently waiting for more. \n If you want to experience an excellent love story of joy, heartbreak, wonder, and a slew of other emotions, this series is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. \n Definitely favorite read of 2015 thus far.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 26 12:47:45 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 11 13:32:43 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Apr 11 13:32:43 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "21457243", "review_id": "c6f826da423e1c2e09c72fc103a99457", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 stars \n I just want to keep reading and reading about these characters and their ever changing world.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 05 18:29:23 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:15:37 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Mar 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Mar 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "18754961", "review_id": "f49b12c346f57d543a9b32efb70541bb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Branna and Fin had been young lovers, until the curse mark came onto Fin's skin permanently, denoting him as a descendant from Cabhan. Seeing this mark, Branna feels betrayed from there on out, so she kept her distance. Though her heart had other ideas. Fin is her first and only love so it was a struggle to accept that he's part of the circle to defeat Cabhan. \n I liked Fin's character. He is who he is and doesn't pretend otherwise. Although he's marked by a demon, he's good through and through. He also fought hard staying away from Branna, but no matter how far he runs, she haunts him. \n As for the story, there seems to be a theme going on in this book. \n The characters have a run in with Cahban, they all meet to debrief, and Branna cooks and clean. Rinse and repeat. That in itself made the book quite repetitive and predictable. \n Things got a little interesting towards the end with a transfer of power, but overall, still a quick and tidy ending. \n What I think lacked in this book compared to her other paranormal trilogies is that the villain didn't seem overly evil. So it lacked that impact each time he attacks the group. We get a tiny glimpse into his history but not enough to make him standout. \n As a whole, not my favorite trilogy but still an okay read.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 04 18:04:57 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:17:08 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jun 09 08:34:20 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "21003754", "review_id": "3fa13a31c77c5941ea8edf920afa405a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Quick read, super adorable. I love Peanut and his family! You might want to read Pia Saves the Day first to get some of the background in this one. Liam aka Peanut is growing up fast and he's ready for first grade. I don't think any boy has such an eventful first day of school as Liam! His powers are coming in as he grows and learns to control them. This is a really short novella but it doesn't fall short to keep you laughing and entertained with some very touching moments between this little family. \n Loved these 3-novella arcs!", "date_added": "Sun Apr 06 14:49:49 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:18:47 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "17563080", "review_id": "d75162f26288d34caf98df56843ecc54", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 stars \n I thought this was another great installment to the series. There were more things learned about terra indigene and Meg finding her own way as she lived among the Others. The Others are trying to track down the Controller, who imprisons other blood prophets. When the Others are targeted by humans through tainted meat and drugs containing blood prophets' blood, there's going to be serious trouble. \n The writing was just as creative as the first book, there were moments of intensity and surprises, but the action near the end didn't create as much oomph like the first book. I'm looking forward to the next one as there are things yet to be answered and hopefully getting more of Meg and Simon.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 08 13:52:21 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:15:33 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "20734562", "review_id": "c92e70e4dbed2c8724ee387107f0a89c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 stars \n Vashama canem. Come back to me. \n With these words, Ava brought back her mate though he's not entirely the same man. With spotty memories, Malachi tries to find his way back to the voice that has been calling out to him. Unbeknownst to Ava and her own power, she is led away to a haven for Irina for protection and to learn and control her power. \n As Malachi returns to his brothers and get their help to find Ava, there's a power struggle between two Fallen angels, each with their own agenda for Ava. The Grigori numbers enmass in areas usually unseen and more questions arise as to their purpose. \n While Ava grieves for her mate, you grieve with her even though you know they'll find their way back to each other. The emotions felt real even on Malachi's side as he struggle to understand what happened to him. They are each other's half and incomplete without the other. \n More characters are introduced and you learn more about the Irin/Irina way of living. Intricately written, emotionally powerful, this one will leave you just as breathless as the first book. That epilogue didn't just slam a door open, it broke a dam for questions to flow through. While the ending didn't sit on a huge cliffhanger like in the first book, I'm still flabbergasted. Where is this going? Even as we have a name, the real identity is unknown. Is it who I think it is? I need to know! I need book 3!! \n Highly recommended.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 05 12:01:18 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:15:32 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jun 02 08:37:05 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "8cc1db523d89d90d08b43f689e59d7b6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 stars \n This is a remarkable story about survival in the greatest sense of the word. It's one thing to be stranded on an island on Earth. It's completely different when you're stranded on a desert planet such as Mars. \n Mark Watney was left behind on Mars after a freak dust storm blew a hole in his suit. With no choice, his crew members aboard Hermes had to leave or all of them would die. Now all alone, Mark must find ways to somehow, get a message to Earth that he is still alive. But in order to do that, he MUST REMAIN ALIVE. ON MARS! \n How do you do that on a planet that is all dry land. No water, no growth of any living thing to make it livable. That's where Mark Watney's ingenuity, perseverance, and pure will power to do all that he can to survive come in. From getting water, to rationing food, and hey, even growing some food! Mark Watney is like the MacGyver of space. \n Told mainly from first person POV through logs, it recounts everything that happened. The majority of the book (80-85% of it) is told from Mark's POV so people who have a hard time with reading about just one person might find it tedious. I find Mark's personality to be very likable, especially his sarcasm, there's a certain charm to his thoughts. The events that occurred totally sucked me in, I found myself rooting for Mark and all the people back home working together to try and rescue him. That's another thing I enjoyed about this book. There's no villain who's sabotaging anyone's plans to rescue him (unless you count Mars itself, but that's the way nature goes, it's unpredictable). \n There's lots of laugh out loud moments, as well as, holy-shit-what-just-happened moments, to ones of triumph even over the little things. There's some science tech speak, but it didn't deter me from understanding what's going on or get the gist of it if it got too complicated. I just try not to think too hard on the math. There's a lot of it! \n I don't read a lot of sci-fi. But for some reason, I keep going back to this book, reading the synopsis again and again one week to another, and finally decided to just pick it up and read it. I'm glad I did. It was entertaining while leaving me on the edge of my seat. If this ever gets made into a movie, I would definitely be in line to see it.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 05 10:05:03 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:15:31 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Sep 02 11:10:46 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "6304333", "review_id": "84595e74f89ac0670287004d0606d703", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 stars \n Wow. \n I don't even know where to start with this one. There was so much going on which is part of the mainstay of this series... the intertwined multi-subplots. \n I love Rehv and Ehlena. Another couple that were perfectly matched. I enjoyed seeing their relationship build slowly... or as slowly as compared to previous couples. \n There are two sides to Rehv. The symphath and the vampire, both of which he must control and balance at all times. On the exterior, Rehv is seen as a mogul, a hard businessman not to be messed with. Underneath it all though is a heart of gold only reserved for the privileged few in his life. Rehv has a huge protective nature which is one of the reasons to love him. He protected his mother and sister, Bella. And for years now, he has sacrificed himself to protect Xhex and his true nature from being exposed. \n As a civilian vampire, Ehlena is working hard to support herself and her mentally incapacitated father. And as a nurse, one must have beneficence: to do good for others. So when Rehv came into Havers's clinic, she felt the need to do good by him even though he made her nervous. She also has an unbreakable backbone to stand up for the truth and fight for what she believes in. Rehv finds himself drawn to Ehlena, knowing that she would never accept him if she ever find out his true colors. \n As the heat build between Rehv and Ehlena, things also heat up between John and Xhex, although their HEA is far from attainable. It broke my heart by what happened between them. John Matthew is on a downward spiral. I understand the change in him but I hate to see the soft side of him dissolve. \n The lessers continued to be lead by Lash as they build their capital to gain more power to destroy the Brotherhood. The Brothers will definitely have a fight on their hands that's for sure. \n I love seeing more of Wrath and Beth and the difficulty that they have to face not only as a couple but for Wrath himself as king. We get to see Tohr come back little by little too. The humorous interactions between Lassiter and the other Brothers lighten the tension in parts of the book. I'm curious what role he has to play as we the series progress. \n Vishous glanced at the king. \"You told me I could beat him. You promised.\" \n \"As soon as you come home,\" Wrath said as he got to his feet, \"we'll hang him up by his armpits in the gym and you can use him as a punching bag.\" \n \"Thank you, baby Jesus.\" \n Blond-and-Black shook his head. \"I swear, one of these days I'm just going to leave.\" \n As one, the Brothers all pointed at the open door and let silence speak for itself. \n \"You guys suck.\" \n The ending is somewhat cliffhanger-ish. I'm glad I don't have to wait to start into the next book. I have a huge attachment to John and Xhex so I can't wait to see how their story unfold.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 05 20:40:50 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:18:44 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "2880715", "review_id": "d36284c8ef319188c8dd5a55f7976f1a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "5 stars to Father Mine \n I ABSOLUTELY ADORED this novella. Nalla is born beautiful and healthy with Bella also doing well. The only hiccup in this lovely picture is the absence of Zsadist being a father to his baby girl. His lack of participation also drove a wedge between him and Bella. But Zsadist is scared that his past will have too much effects on his girl's growth, which is why he hasn't even picked up Nalla yet. So either he steps up or Bella is stepping out, taking their girl with her. \n I love Zsadist and Bella together and this little glimpse into their relationship makes me love them more. Marriage is work and they definitely put their share into it here, talking things out with their fears, their hopes, and most of all, their focus on their new gift. \n This interlude was definitely needed after Phury's book for me. It was emotional and heartfelt, and there was oodles of gushiness on my part. That moment when Zsadist picked up his little daughter for the first time... GAHHHHH. MY HEART SIMPLY MELTED. There's no doubt that he would make a wonderful father and Nalla would always be protected. I mean, hello, look at who she has for a dad and the number of uncles around her! I'd be scared for the male coming to knock on that door to date Nalla! \n I can read this novella over and over again and the lingering effects would still be the same... Me in a swoon puddle. \n 4 stars for the rest of the book \n There were some parts I skipped since I wanted to focus mostly on the behind the scenes with the Brothers. I like seeing the process Miss Ward had with each book and how each Brother spoke to her to tell their story. She explained her reasoning for Jane and Vishous and yes, I would have loved to see another 10 pages after their book. That would sit better with me. The one thing that bothered and confused me with V and JR Ward is the animosity between them. What is this \"lie\" that V spoke of? Is it about Jane? His mother? Has he seen visions about his sister? \n This insider guide answered some questions but also raised others for me. Overall, an enjoyable read!", "date_added": "Fri Jan 03 13:05:29 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:17:03 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jan 04 13:30:57 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "15711341", "review_id": "9adcac623b201e67f2f311094ef5d780", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 stars \n What a read!! \n When I first started the book, I hadn't really known what to expect. The world building was written in a way that you learn more about it and its characters as you go. As a reader, you get to discover the mystery of Meg Corbyn, a cassandra sangue (blood prophet), as she gets revealed to the Others. She's on the run from the \"Controller\" and has found a safe haven within the Others' Courtyard. The book is written with lots of rich description about this world. The first half of the book felt slower to me as development has to be built, but past that point, I couldn't put it down. Heck, I finished this at 4 am! Lots of action packed into it, and I was practically on the edge, white-knuckled, couldn't read or turn the pages fast enough to find out what's happening next. I want to jump right into the next book but I'll pace myself until the 3rd book is released. \n Amazing read, and one unlike anything I've read before. Loved it!", "date_added": "Thu Dec 26 11:07:58 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:21:31 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jan 02 03:22:44 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Dec 24 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "18145096", "review_id": "7cd2c3cbdb78adc6b94fffab0b44795b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 stars \n A little vacation. A little treasure hunting. And a little mischief. Baby Liam aka the Peanut totally stole the show. Can't wait to see what he'll grow into.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 11 23:17:48 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:18:43 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "18360128", "review_id": "afb5cb5efd428dcaa27abfcf577f0bec", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I just want to take these two adorable people and squeeze them. Love this! This doesn't add to the story plotwise, but if you like/love Zuzana and Mik from the other books, this is highly recommended for a fun and super cute read of how they seized each other. :)", "date_added": "Tue Nov 26 22:01:33 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:16:59 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri May 23 15:48:52 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "1421990", "review_id": "34962d4111fee99c1d49df3504d2e1d6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I finally got a taste of Cat and Bones, and I liked it! The concept was different and unique. The writing kept me entertained and the story is action-packed. Looking forward to more of them soon!", "date_added": "Thu Nov 21 08:45:44 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:16:58 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Nov 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "11500217", "review_id": "5b8e16023e953e568ded5b133206c2df", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I don't read a lot of YA novels but of the ones I've picked up, I'm lucky enough to enjoy if not, come to love them. This one can be added to that list as well. \n Susan Ee's vivid writing and character development are the things that pulled me into this book. Although the pace was a bit slow in the beginning, it was necessary as it built up why/how these characters are the way they are, especially with Penryn and her mother. Their family dynamic and history is quite intriguing. \n The other interesting dynamic is the relationship forged between Penryn and Raffe, they each have an end goal, and they each need one another to get there. Penryn wants to rescue her sister Paige who has been taken by the angels, and Raffe wants to get his severed wings back on. Another aspect I look forward to finding out more is the political unrest between the angels. \n The secondary characters introduced in this book are also interesting and play integral parts as the story developed. What really surprised me in this book was the vivid descriptions of some scenes that sent chills up my spine and raised hairs on my arms. It's gory, and terrifying yet you can't look away. \n Very interesting first book and I will continue on with the rest of the series to see how Penryn and Raffe's journeys play out!", "date_added": "Thu Nov 21 08:45:36 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:16:57 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "17703290", "review_id": "05beb62745fcd094ec14925a7e0236b7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 stars \n Wrath/Beth: With all that's been happening to the brotherhood, the power struggle for the throne continues. Wrath's job these days include sitting behind the desk and doing paperwork. Not exactly what he had in mind for a King. To make his life even more complicated, his Beth wants to start a family. Fearing for her safety, Wrath throws down an ultimatum that almost tore them apart. \n What I really enjoyed about this couple is the loyalty and love they have for each other. There will be strife throughout a married couple's journey just like we've seen with Z/Bella, V/Jane, and John/Xhex. But seeing how they work it out makes it more meaningful. \n There's also a father-son parallel with Wrath and the glymera going on here as we get flashbacks into Wrath's parents' lives to see the fight for power to rule. \n Assail/Sola: This picks up where it was left off with Sola being kidnapped. What unfolded was... in a word... crazy. I wasn't too sure how I feel about these two, but I really enjoyed seeing them together after such trauma. I can't even begin to guess where they will lead but I'll have to wait to find out. \n Trez/Selena: Just give me their HEA! A new character comes into play that will have an impact on the course of action from Trez and iAm in the Shadow world. I see that the Shadow's book is next. Can't wait! Especially with what's happening with Selena. \n Layla/Xcor: Honestly, I'm beginning to get bored with them. Xcor has failed as a villain, I don't see him as a threat since he met Layla. So let's just move them along. What's happening within the BoB might get interesting though. \n There's still a whole lot of side stuff going on that may detract from the plot's focus. I think that may be what's driving other people away from this series. Also, the writing was a bit different to me. Maybe it's because I read the first 11 books one right after another that I hadn't noticed but with the wait for this book, the writing felt like it's been changed. \n I miss the funny banter and jabs the brothers had in previous books, there wasn't a lot of it in here. Though Lassiter makes up for it near the end (again, I need his book). The ending was pretty sweet too. \n Highlights of the book: \n Z and Nalla keeps melting my heart. I love his little family, true? \n iAm and \"goddamn cat\" aka Boo. \n My only confusion (don't read it until you read the book): \n There's a big time jump in the book because of the pregnancy. Wouldn't Layla be having her baby too soon after Beth?", "date_added": "Fri Nov 08 14:13:22 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:16:55 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Apr 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "15815350", "review_id": "2bc97c620d29d477f5bbe877e5def9c3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 - 4 stars \n Am I off the angst rollercoaster yet? \n While I'm super happy that Qhuinn and Blay got their HEA, I didn't think there was enough of them throughout the book. I usually am okay with the multi-subplots the WARDen got going on, but in this case, it was TOO distracting. Some weren't that important to garner THAT much page time, especially when it could've been focused on Qhuay! \n Qhuinn/Blay: I'm really proud of Qhuinn and how far he has come in becoming the male he is now. Sure it took him a little bit long but all that headf*ck and neglect from his family had some major impact on his ability to accept who he is and who he can be. Not only is he learning to be a better person, he's also becoming a vital asset to the Brotherhood with his skills. Qhuinn wasn't the only person to grow though, Blay has changed as well. No longer does he wear his heart on his sleeves when it comes to Qhuinn. As much as he tries to fight his feelings, \"the heart wants what the heart wants.\" When these two came together (er, no pun intended), it was HOTTTT. I don't read M/M much so there's not much expectations in that area. But dayum. \n Layla/Xcor: I'm starting to like her more and more. As for Xcor, his character has gotten soft. Maybe it's the Chosen's doing but I'm not sure how Ward is going to pair these two up, especially with all that's going on. \n Trez/Selena: I thought these two met before? But anyway, I hope the Shadows get their own books! \n Assail/Sola: I like Assail...helloooo alpha male instincts. Sola was okay. We'll see what happens with them. \n So many pairings now... I really want the books to go back and focus on ONE couple 'kay? \n Saxton: Now here's someone with true class. I really like his character so I hope he gets his HEA too. \n Luchas: Totally didn't see that one coming. \n The lessers: seem irrelevant in this story. I skimmed any parts with them, unless the Brothers were involved. \n Lassiter: My favorite funny man. I need his book! \n Some other thoughts: \n Who was on the phone with Xcor at the end?!?!! \n Where the heck was John Matthew in all this?? This book is about his two best friends, yet he barely had any presence in the book. I would have loved to get his POV on the whole Qhuay thing. \n The major saving grace for me was the epilogue. I could read that over and over and over again. There was more romance in that epilogue than through the whole book. I needed more sappy heart melting moments in the beginning! I better see an actual mating ceremony between Qhuinn and Blay or I'm going to be VERY disappointed. \n I can't wait for The King. You know what's gonna happen in the mansion when Beth goes into her needing...", "date_added": "Fri Nov 08 14:13:20 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:16:54 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "13543137", "review_id": "11a2539341781b033e56ef474a9f0223", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 stars \n I feel shaken, stirred and poured out. Now I'm settled and put together again. \n I didn't think I would enjoy this book so much. I was just eager to get passed this book and go on to Qhuay's book. Boy, would that have been a dumb mistake had I skipped this one. It was a beautiful story of coming home, finding love again in the least unexpected places. Just like Lover Mine came full circle for John, Xhex and Darius, this one completed the full circle for No'One, Tohr, and Wellsie. \n Tohrment: the Brother has been in his own personal hell and the In Between ever since his beloved shellan Wellsie was killed by their enemy. Even though he was brought back to life with the help of Lassiter, he's still a ghost going about his days. He's fighting with his Brothers again but he's also not afraid to die so he can join his beloved. Little did he know though that Wellsie is not in the Fade. And he must learn to let go for her to be free. But can he be with another in order to free the only woman he ever loved? \n No'One: I've read some reviews where they hated her but to each his/her own. For me, she's the embodiment of courage, strength, heart, and grace. As the book went on, these are the characteristics that came to my mind and they fit her. She's not perfect by any means and that's what I love. I love a heroine who's flawed. Who recognizes their weakness but doesn't let it hold them back, and to fix amends for the wrongs they've done. Towards the end, there was more revealed that describes her even more, but you'll have to read to find out. \n John and Xhex: my heart kind of broke for them in this book. As a newly mated couple, there are still things they have to work out. John must also struggle with letting Xhex go and be who she is. His fear of losing her was so palpable and Xhex being such a strong female, it was a battle of hearts and minds between these two. And like any marital troubles, they have to work through it and I really liked the transformation in them both. \n Lassiter: all I can say is... Can Lassiter get his own book please??! I want to know more about him and his background. Who he loved and lost. I want to know everything!!!! \n Qhuinn/Layla/Blay: I need more Qhuay, okay? There was few and far between moments of Qhuinn and Blay so I'm itching to start their story. Layla is starting to come into her own and it'd be interesting to see what's going to develop. \n The battle for the throne is starting to get intense with lives at stake and new characters coming into the mix will make for a ride I'm super excited for. \n My one nitpick in this book is the inconsistency of the fingerprint lock. Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought vampires don't leave fingerprints so wouldn't that make fingerprint locks pointless? \n Before I started this book, my thoughts were 'why couldn't they bring Wellsie back and give her life again like Jane?' But then I thought, well, that makes everything too easy. That would then be expected for every character that dies. So I'm happy to see it turn out the way it did. I was seriously mad at Tohr on two occasions in this book, but thinking about it, I wouldn't want Ward to change a thing. \n This was an excellent read and if Ward keeps it going this way, I'm more than ready for the long haul with this series.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 08 14:13:20 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:18:42 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jan 31 15:12:27 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jan 23 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "7894402", "review_id": "c9ef2503ae0a6a456d4bf1601bd4cd50", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 stars \n What an intense ride! If this was a movie, I don't think I could loosen my grip on the armrest and my arm would be sore after. If I could say one thing to sum up the book, it'd be coming round full circles, especially for John, Xhex and Darius. \n I loved John Matthew the first time he was introduced. He had that innocent and gentle way about him. Xhex is a hard core kickass heroine, one I would not want to mess with after seeing her assassination skills. \n John and Xhex was drawn to one another when they first laid eyes on each other in ZeroSum. They were indeed meant for each other. They both have a pretty brutal past and issues they have to overcome. \n \"You're not half the male you could be because of what was done to you. You're twice what anyone else is because you survived.\" \n The beauty of the relationship is seeing them hold each other up in this book. John was such a wonderful hero. He didn't disappoint me in the least. Xhex was pretty clear she didn't deserve a happy ending but when you have someone such as John in your life, it's hard not to second guess your decision. \n The flashbacks to Darius connected the dots and the strands of life that are intertwined. The few surprises here and there with the Chosen and Payne kept things interesting. The paranormal investigators bits made me scratch my head a little. Yes, the identity of who they found was revealed but is there a significance to it? Or is it just filler? \n What broke my heart in this is the distance between Blay and Qhuinn. I just want their HEA. I know I'll get there but it seems forever away! \n There's more development on Lash, I was actually kind of creeped out at one point. Such evil evil power. \n Overall, I really enjoyed this, it kept me flipping pages to find out what's happening next.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 08 14:04:18 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:16:54 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "8492319", "review_id": "58aa18b7fedeea5a9690849da5f55a5f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 to 4 stars \n This wasn't a perfect book by all means and not my favorite compared to the previous BDB books so far. I liked the new characters introduced that posed a threat to the Brotherhood and the king. But then the plot was rather anticlimactic at the end. I was waiting for some big blowout or something that'll extend the plot in a major way but it fell rather flat. \n Now to the other storylines... \n Manny and Payne: I love reading about Butch/V/Jane but it was unfair to Manny and Payne as there wasn't that much focus on them. I hadn't liked Manny before but he grew on me. The connection he had with Butch wasn't as surprising since I had already guessed what's what when he said his father used to be a surgeon and had a ways with the ladies . I liked his protective nature, but honestly, what hero isn't protective of his female? Payne didn't seem as kickass as she was when she was on the Other Side. I still liked her character though, she stood up for herself and what she wanted, especially going head to head with a brother like Vishous. \n V/Jane/Butch: I love getting more page time with them! I love Butch for what he did, knowing that it hurt him too. Totally a male of worth. V hasn't really gotten over his traumatic past and his emotions or lack of ability to verbally express his emotions aside from violence drove a wedge in his relationship with Jane. I think I was more invested in V&Jane, which again, felt unfair to Manny & Payne. The thing that confused me most was the part that said V & Jane never got mated... Huh??!??!?! Doesn't V have Jane's name tattooed on his upper back, which is how you tell a Brother is mated?? \n Qhuinn/Blay/Saxton/Layla: \n -It hurts me to see Qhuinn and Blay not talk to each other. Qhuinn finally started to figure himself out and what he wants, even though it may be too little too late. And um hello... his dream/vision? Whaaattt?! That sure threw a wrench into things. \n -I like Saxton. Surprise! I didn't think I would but I do. Even though he knows Blay's true feelings, he's still willing to risk it. He's following his heart and I can't blame him. \n -It'll be interesting to see what develops with Layla considering she's now more outspoken. Am I still rooting for Qhuay? Heck yeah. But I'll have to see how the WARDen works out this storyline. \n Can I skip Tohr's book and go straight to finding out? :P \n What I miss from this book was the non-presence of the rest of the Brothers. There were mentions of names and Wrath and Rhage got a few lines, but other than that, there wasn't enough of them for my liking! I need glimpses into their lives, even a little one, outside of the fighting and training.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 08 14:04:17 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:21:30 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jan 23 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "304027", "review_id": "b2f70eb773510500849388b3da313990", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 stars \n What can I say about this one? There's one thing I learned when reading this series. Expect the unexpected. \n Considering Zsadist's past and what he went through, I couldn't imagine any of the Brothers going through something just as bad, but Vishous's past revealed a torture and cruelty inflicted upon him by none other than his own father. The identity of his mother was surprising, yet not surprising as it actually made sense. \n Vishous (V) has never been close to another person, until he met Butch. Their friendship and closeness is one of a kind. Their love for each other is also what strengthens what their destinies hold. The light and the dark. With Butch mated to Marissa, it was hard for V to watch. Then one night while fighting a lesser who just killed a vampire civilian, V was mortally wounded and rushed to a human hospital where he was operated on by Dr. Jane Whitcomb. Jane discovered an anomaly to V's heart and wants to learn more about him, not knowing what he truly is. What I love about Jane is that she's not wishy-washy... about ANYTHING. What she wants, she'll work for to get it. \n V couldn't be exposed to the human world so the Brothers took actions to get him back, and that included a kidnapping of the good doctor. The Brothers had never met the likes of Jane. She stood toe to toe with each one of them and never back down. She is definitely a female who is worthy of a Brother. V fell for her and he fell hard and fast. The scene when she gave him a bed bath... yeah... \n Actually, all of the scenes involving them were hot, funny, and some were even beautiful. V was eager to learn more about her and that means giving information and pieces of himself that no one else ever knew of. However, the Scribe Virgin had other plans for V and that did not involve Jane. \n There was continual development on John, I cannot wait for his story!! We get a transition to Phury's book as well. I hope he can move on, because honestly, it was depressing to read about him still yearning for something he can't have. There was no insights into the lessers world, and the book focused more on the Brotherhood side, which was fine with me. \n The ending certainly threw me for a loop. I truly felt their heartaches, and their joys. I almost felt like V got cheated. As unconventional as that happy ever after is, it still worked for me and may take some getting used to. V is happy, so I'm happy. \n Throughout the series, fate and destiny play a big part in what happens to the Brothers and their females. Everything happens for a reason, and I hope that what happened with Jane and Vishous have a bigger role to play.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 08 14:04:15 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:16:52 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Dec 30 12:19:28 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "1240662", "review_id": "348e35b8537f6b0fd0446f06c97e6f43", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 hazy stars \n I can still see through the haze of red smoke! \n For me, the romance in the book between Phury and Cormia didn't take the forefront attention. It held my interest only because I felt really bad for Cormia and I wanted to see her happy. At first, I thought she was weak and timid, but she definitely proved me wrong with the change in her once she came out of her shell. I love the friendship she developed with Bella and John Matthew. As a Chosen, Cormia knew of nothing outside the whiteness of the environment where her, her Chosen sisters and the Scribe Virgin lived. Once mated to Phury, she was brought over to the human/vampire side. There she discovered the magic of colors and vividness of life. Anyone would be scared and feel out of their element in a new and strange world, but Cormia had courage as big and bold as the strength of the Brothers. \n Phury... I liked Phury up to V's book because at that point, he was making me feel really depressed with his yearning for Bella. He was on a self-destructive path, fighting his inner demons and addictions. Phury has always been the most noble, the most loyal Brother. He would put others' needs before his own as proven by his sacrifice to rescue his twin Zsadist and also taking V's place as the Primale. That I admired in him. His inability to see what was in front of him, however, frustrated me to no end! I wanted to shake and smack some sense into him. His addictions had the better of him and it took a serious life altering spiral to make him turn things around. I hated to see him so tormented and not knowing what to do. He redeemed himself once he figured his true feelings and the fact that he was going to lose Cormia. \n I wouldn't really categorize this as paranormal romance as the romance part was only seen in the last couple of chapters of the book. It read more as paranormal/suspense for me. I really enjoyed the other plots with John, Blay and Qhuinn. As well as Rehvenge and the new development of the Omega and his son. The secondary plots really drove the story forward for me, which is what the 4 stars rating is for. \n I'm not an experienced M/M reader by any means. As a matter of fact, the only M/M romance I've ever read is from Suzanne Brockmann's Troubleshooters series. After this book, Blay and Qhuinn certainly piqued my interest. \n I must read on to eventually get to their story. I guess you can call me a self confessed addict of this series too!", "date_added": "Fri Nov 08 14:04:15 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:16:53 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jan 03 15:07:45 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "42898", "review_id": "efb4bf2f4abd05009653893dcc9b2d98", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 stars for Butch and Vishous, true? \n They made this book for me. To be honest, they saved this book from being a 3 stars. \n When I first started this one, I was excited for Butch's story. I didn't really like him in the first book but he grew on me in book 2 & 3. I had no idea what to expect except from what I read in the synopsis. Butch was going to be in some major life or death trouble, and Marissa was needed to help bring him back. What transpired among Butch, the Brotherhood, the lessers TOTALLY. BLEW. MY. MIND. Didn't even see that one coming. \n Butch and Vishous... MY BOYS!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM. There was such a deep bond between them and we get to find out why. Heck, their connection was stronger than what I felt between Butch and Marissa. \n Marissa, on the other hand... not so much. \n She's the only heroine so far in this series that I didn't feel a connection to or relate to. She got some issues and insecurities, which is fine but I felt like she held Butch back too often. And I hated that she made him hurt and doubt his worthiness of her. I was frustrated with her for the first two-thirds of the book and was only able to tolerate her for the last part, only because Butch loves her! I still think he deserves better. \n Butch, though, is one of a kind. Not only is he part of the Brotherhood, he's also the only HUMAN male accepted into the vampire world. Butch had always felt like he's drifting along in his world. There was nothing to live for. He did whatever he wanted as a cop but there was no purpose to it. Until he fallen into the vampire world where he felt like he belonged but didn't know why. And as the book progresses, there's more to him that makes him special as more things get revealed. \n I like to be a participant in a book, trying to guess and foreshadow certain pieces. With this one, I stopped trying to predict what's going on and just went along for the ride. And what a ride it was! Even to the end, it was one bombshell after another. My jaw dropped and loud gasps happened on several occasions. \n Now I'm going to jump right into Vishous's book. I hope I can root for his romance more.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 08 14:04:14 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 29 14:41:39 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Dec 25 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "42900", "review_id": "f743538e2677c7593705ff7ecfaf776c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 stars \n Phewwww. My head and emotions are all over the place after this. I'm sad, happy, shocked, and tired all at the same time. Let me start off though by saying that the books in this series just get better and better. This one was darker and emotionally heavier than the first two novels. I can't really say much without revealing spoilers and I rather not ruin any. There were a few surprises and plot twists along the way, which make you want to keep reading. I was beyond excited when my suspicion of John was confirmed. I love reading about his development. \n We learn about how Zsadist (Z) got his blood slave markings and scars. My heart bled for both Zsadist and his brother Phury. There was such a strong bond between them that when one is in pain, the other also hurt. And when a writer can make you feel the depth of those emotions with words, they've done their job. I also liked the fact that Miss Ward can focus on a couple in each book and still propel the main storyline forward. \n Zsadist and Bella had a connection from the last book. Z tried hard to stay away from her but since Bella had already endured a horrible nightmare after being taken captive by a lesser who became obsessed with her, he had to try and protect her. \n I loved watching as their relationship grew even though Z fought tooth and nail, thinking he wasn't good enough. But Bella is no weak female. She knew what she wanted and she fought hard too to get it. \n The growth in the relationship and characters of the Brotherhood were also prominent in the book. The bromance between Vishous and Butch... I really love those two roomies. And Phury. Oh Phury, I just want to hug you. And Tohr and Wellsie... Man... OK, it's an understatement to say that my heart was put through the wringer after this. I should take a break from the series but who am I kidding, I crave to read about these brothers. So onward we go! \n One more thing, that epilogue... heart... melted.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 08 14:04:11 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:16:51 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Dec 25 13:07:58 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Dec 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "35729", "review_id": "5c365a6724a9906ccda17c2579c19d1f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 stars \n Hello, my name is Quynh, and I'm a BDB addict. \n I was so wrapped up in this book and the development not only in the main storyline characters (Rhage and Mary) but also on the secondary characters and relationships that are intertwined. It's a busy time of year but any time I have free, this book was in my hands. \n Rhage has been living with a curse for hundred of years now and no one dare to go near him when his curse is released. On the night of his recovery from this curse, he met Mary, who has a voice that soothes his soul. It was rather amusing to read their first encounter. \n Mary is also burdened with an illness that she's been fighting for a while, which has now returned. After their first meeting, Rhage is unable to forget about her so he's determined to have her. Mary knows she isn't what Rhage usually goes after so she questions his pursuit to get to know her. \n There's a quite a dance of two steps forward, one step back between them. At times, I wanted to shake Mary, but it's understandable to see where she's coming from. Rhage though, was utterly smitten and I just love him. He fought so hard for Mary even when she was fighting her own emotions. \n The battle between the Brotherhood and the lesser continues and other stories are developing that make you want more. Which means I now have to jump into book 3 (Zsadist and Bella, yay!) right away to find out what happens next! \n Steam: 4", "date_added": "Fri Nov 08 14:04:09 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:21:30 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Dec 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Dec 19 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "42899", "review_id": "70066353fc168805907a35e14b7852f9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 stars \n OK. I see what all the fuss and hype is all about now so I'll just cut to the chase. \n What I like about this book: \n it has heart \n it has humour \n awesome characters (main and secondary) \n larger than life men (really... mmm) and sometimes, kinda scary, but that's good when they're on your side \n scrumptiously protective alpha hero \n scrumptiously sexy vampires \n hero who's possessive of the heroine without it getting annoying \n heroine who doesn't back down \n swoon-worthy moments \n OMG moments (especially with Darius... I literally squealed near the end *no spoilers allowed*) \n Basically, I was NEVER bored while reading this. It was action packed right from the beginning. The urban setting and world building behind the vampires versus the lesser society was intriguing. The love scenes were steamy. The dialogue was quick and great. \n What I didn't like about this book: \n Officially hooked.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 08 14:04:08 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:16:51 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Dec 11 11:26:44 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "18298132", "review_id": "55358d7407153f991f2b144993de70a1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 stars \n \"Imagine a person created for you. Another being so in tune with you that their voice was the clearest you've ever heard in your mind.\" \n All her life, Ava Matheson heard voices. These voices classified her as crazy or mental. She couldn't keep relationships because over time, her energy become so huge they overwhelm the person she's with. And there's no explanation for it. As a last resort and referral, she makes her way to Istanbul in an attempt to figure out what's wrong with her. Instead of finding a solution, a whole new world opens up for Ava to discover a love unlike no other she has known before. \n What I enjoy about this book is the creative world building. I didn't really know where the author was going with it. I just had to read and find out. The first quarter of the book felt a bit slow but the wonderful writing is what kept me reading. It picks up after that and you couldn't help but be glued to the pages. \n I love the character development, especially with Ava. She's been hearing these voices all her life so it was easy to see her reactions to everything that unfolded. She questioned everything instead of accepting it at face value. I also understood her insecurities and I'm so glad that Malachi was patient enough to make her see she was worth it. A miracle. \n Malachi... I love the family he has with his brothers, the connectedness they have. I love that he never backed down (well, except for when he confused what Damien said lol) and he never let Ava wavered either. The ending tore my heart out! \n Warning: this book ends with a cliffhanger. I really really need book 2! \n This was my first read by Elizabeth Hunter. I'll be sure to read everything on her backlist.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 04 17:17:44 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:15:27 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "178476", "review_id": "64bef23848148b69e0a5e3e6e8fc3a3a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 stars \n Yes I'm late to the party but better late than never, right? And now I can understand why this series is so well loved by people. \n The start of the book was a little slow for me, but world building takes time, and there's still lots more to learn about the PsyNet and the changelings. What took center stage in the book was the romance between Sascha and Lucas, and that was the biggest highlight for me. \n Sascha Duncan is a cardinal Psy. The Psy people have erased ALL emotions over time, so they never feel hurt, jealous, anger, sad, happy, or love. They're basically an unfeeling, cold race of beings. Sascha, however, was the exception, she craved a sense of belonging, loving and being loved in return. They say to feel any of these or other emotions make you flawed, and this flaw could be the death of you when they find out and send you into the rehabilitation center. Sascha has to put on a front or a mask to hide what she feels and these feelings have also caused confusion in her. Especially when she's working together with the DarkRiver alpha leader Lucas Hunter. Lucas recognizes something in Sascha, though he doesn't know exactly what. In their dreams, they share a great passion, and once Lucas discover what's really within Sascha, this passion bloomed. \n That's exactly what I loved about this book. It is romance-centered around these two characters, and what they discover with each other, which was beautifully written. Needless to say, I was very happy with the outcome. \n The other aspect of the plot was also intriguing as Lucas and his people, along with the SnowDancers try to find who has been killing their own people. The power of the mind and how they're connected from people to people and race to race gave the book a sense of newness. The concept is not something I've read before so that was refreshing. The secondary characters in the DarkRiver pack and SnowDancer pack have piqued my interest as well so I'm looking forward to more with them. \n Coming into a new series, I love that there's so much to discover still, and I feel like a kid in a candy store, and this treat must be savored. So hopefully I can pace myself and not indulge too much all at once and take time to enjoy it!", "date_added": "Mon Oct 07 21:03:34 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:15:26 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Apr 01 16:23:08 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "11300302", "review_id": "d3f9a0833b9be00c4b39412538cd00e7", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Sigh, I wanted to like this. I really really did. \n Alice (Ali) Bell just want to be a normal teenager. Going to school, dating, having sleepovers. But all that was hindered by her protective father, sheltering her against something that can't be seen. Until she lost her family on her 16th birthday. What she didn't expect to see was what happened to her parents' bodies afterwards. The monsters were real. Her dad wasn't so crazy after all. The sole survivor of the accident, she vowed to rid the world of these monsters. \n So here's my thoughts on the book: \n I can understand other reviewers who DNF or gave low ratings. I didn't have the expectation that it would be a retelling of Alice In Wonderland, so that aspect didn't disappoint me. What did, however, was the telling of the actual story. The concept was fine. I was pulled in from the first chapter, which told how Ali lost her family and took on the ability to see zombies. And that's about where my interested kind of waned. YA books aren't my norm but I've read some great ones. While the writing was good, there was too much narrative for me. The story is told in Alice's POV but it dragged for soooooo long. Nothing interesting really happened until halfway through the book. I almost gave up but decided to stick with it. When I thought things would get more interesting, it starts to lag some more. I basically skimmed the last 20% of it and even that was nothing spectacular. \n I found myself gravitating toward the supporting characters more than the main. Ali felt a bit flaky with her endless self internalization. Cole was okay I suppose. I didn't love or dislike his character. There was just too much teenage drama for my liking, especially with Ali and Cole dancing around one another constantly even though the attraction and connection were instant. The two of them battling between who would say or admit the \"you know what\" existed was borderline annoying. I mean, really, it's not like saying Voldemort! It's just zombies! \n This was my first Gena Showalter book and I'm kind of bummed I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. I'll leave this series to other YA lovers. I'll check out her Lord of the Underworld series instead.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 17 22:19:06 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:16:49 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "13618440", "review_id": "1805fa5cc13dd878f951e8586b8c4865", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5+++ stars \n What an incredible conclusion to one of the best series I've ever read! There's no way I can do this series justice with a review. Everything that happened either boggled my mind, surprised me, and/or made my heart melt. Everyone had a role to play, however minor, though in the scheme of things, those roles were bigger than they seem. I absolutely LOVED every page of this. This is also another series where the secondary characters are INCREDIBLY loveable and IMO, helped made the series more than it is. I honestly don't think it would be the same without Zuzana and Mik! \n I'm not ready to let these characters go. I want to keep reading about them, even the \"dull\" stories. I just learned there's a movie planned for these books, and I can't wait to see how they make these characters and the world Laini Taylor created come to life. I read that the people behind the movie, Maleficent, will be working on it, so I'm hoping that they will do it justice. \n FANTASTIC. ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC series.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 12 17:34:55 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:16:49 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue May 20 12:13:53 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "6979554", "review_id": "0afe188eece177d1839fb0351ecf62b7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3 stars \n While this book started out strong, it didn't continue without issues for me. Detective Charlotte (Cee Cee) Caissie is a member of New Orleans homicide team. She's working on a case in which bodies have had their throat and heart ripped out. She has a suspect in mind but proving it is another thing. My first issue with this is the crime seems to be glossed over. If something like this occurred, newspaper would run amuck with stories, and the people would 1) be scared out of their minds 2) demand answers from those who sworn to protect them. It seems minor but the procedural element in this book fell short for me. \n Then there's the MC, Max and Cee Cee. I liked them but their relationship didn't burn off the pages. Yes the heat was there but there's more to romance than just sex. While Max character seems like an alpha male at times, other times, he's lead by someone else on a leash, figuratively speaking. Max has been manipulated ever since his mom died and he's taken in by crime boss Jimmy Legere (who's also the man Cee Cee is going after). This is where I can understand why Max seeks out love and acceptance because very few know who and what he is. Max can turn from dangerous to what I call, childlike behavior the next. I can sort of understand that as his mental well being has been affected. Not knowing his father and losing his mother at a young age still affects him. Even though Jimmy regards him as family, it isn't in any sense as Max is used time and time again to do his bidding. \n Cee Cee, on the other hand, seems to run hot and cold, which bugged me quite a bit and I felt bad for Max. The other issue I had is where was her supervisor in all this? Crimes are happening yet there seems to be no control over anything. No one is being held accountable for their actions. The only voice of logic was Cee Cee's partner. Again, may seem minor but I need to believe it! \n There were some interesting and revealing moments, but there were also moments where it plateaued out. I get that this is a paranormal romance, but in order for me to buy in to the story, other elements should be plausible. \n As these two characters story spans 4 books, I will continue on, but I'm hoping there's much more character progression as well. I do like the way Ms Gideon writes, it's just the execution that left me wanting more in this one.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 26 13:55:22 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:15:25 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "9665450", "review_id": "c60b86008c47085e2412c0dccc125294", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n A good read but not as good as the first one. There was too much political things happening in the background, which didn't hold my interest. The pace of the book tapered off after the attack so my interest for it kind of waned. I had a hard time keeping track of who's who for a while with the introduction of other leaders from other demesnes. \n The ending resolved a little too fast for me. The action (what there was of it) didn't have the same intensity as that of Dragon Bound. \n I loved moments of Tiago and Niniane together but that's about it. Looking forward to Rune and Carling's story once I return to this series.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 27 23:14:17 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:21:27 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jul 18 09:23:46 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "16158558", "review_id": "eb6c2b15ad510aebf92247f69dcaa122", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3 stars \n I can't believe I'm going to say it but this fell short of the mark for me. There's no doubt that Nora can tell a story and paint pictures with words. I love all of her paranormal trilogies so far, but some aspects of this felt a bit recycled. \n The story didn't drag but it wasn't spectacular either as I had hoped. I loved the beginning introduction of Sorcha and her 3 children. It pulled me in instantly. After that, some things were too similar to Three Sisters Island, Key and Sign of Seven trilogies. The evil bad guy is slightly different, even though the power seeking is similar to every evil sorcerer written I suppose. The characters were likeable enough but I didn't feel strongly connected to them. \n Our heroine, Iona grew up knowing she didn't belong where she was. The only person who understood her was her Nan, who told her the history of Sorcha the Dark Witch. She decided to uproot and move to Ireland to find her connections. And there she did, with her cousins, Branna and Connor, who are also sister and brother. \n We're also introduced to Boyle, Finbar and Meara. There's strong friendships between all these characters that you can feel. The relationship between Iona and Boyle, however, didn't really spark any flames off the pages for me. I felt like I was told that they had a connection rather feeling it for myself. Usually my stomach or heart flutter and sigh for the H/h. It didn't happen here. It felt a little too rushed maybe as they did jump in feet first. Plus the conflict they had has been done before, and by Nora too no less. \n The connection between Branna and Fin reminds me of Mia and Sam from Three Sisters A LOT. Even though they are similar, I find myself more intrigued for their story than this one. \n The build up in the book focused on allowing Iona to learn and control her power. The fight wasn't all that dramatic and ended rather quickly, but this is only the first book after all. I hope there's more action and magic (between the H/h, too) in the next one. \n Steam: 1.5", "date_added": "Sun Feb 17 21:36:29 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 10 20:59:50 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Nov 06 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "8490112", "review_id": "ac868a318229b8f76199d08a2d2251f0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 stars \n This is one of the best written young adult books I've read in... EVER! The prose and words intricately weave themselves into a story of love, betrayal, and hope. The pace of the book was slower than I expected but that's not to say you don't get immersed into the story and its characters. I honestly could say, with every descriptions of the characters, the settings, the scenes, I was able to picture everything. If I could paint well, there were definitely certain scenes I would love to put down onto canvas. This is a book NOT to be missed by ANYONE. And now I have 2 more to read without the agony of waiting time!", "date_added": "Wed Nov 21 19:44:20 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:18:34 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon May 05 11:06:01 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "12812550", "review_id": "c762ba1d5c9f3af5ab18d5d9deb3cb94", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5++++ stars \n KILL THE MONSTER. CHANGE THE WORLD. \n Where were you the day \n it \n began? \n WOW WOW WOW. THIS SECOND BOOK WAS SO SO SO GOOD. (Yes it deserves all caps). If I thought the first book was creative and imaginative, this one was so much MORE. There's more depth to the characters, you feel what they feel, all those emotions pouring out of the pages. Anger, resentment, worriness, happiness, sadness, anguish. You feel EVERYTHING. There's also a lot that happens in Akiva's world of seraphim and Karou's world of chimaera that if you missed/skipped a page, you would miss something important. By the end of the book, my jaw dropped and stayed there even after I finished. SOOOOOO GOOOOOD. I couldn't even predict the direction it was going in even if the clues were thrown at me. Did I say that this book is good?? \n WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?? JUMP IN! \n I'll be jumping into the third book today.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 21 19:44:19 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:15:24 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun May 11 07:45:09 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "13507512", "review_id": "d67f55c53da99a542a48c9343dc14ae5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The world building in this book is unlike anything I've ever read. It had all sorts of elements from historical, paranormal, vampires, steampunk, and fantasy thrown into one along with steamy romance! An inventive and refreshing read. The characters draw you in, and I mean, every character. Each has something to offer in this book, with enough enticement to make you look for more.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 30 15:06:31 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 20:21:24 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Oct 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "15881", "review_id": "59a0ab8083a0ec577d3921c8db9e3d61", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Re-read August 2016.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 03 13:44:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 29 11:19:12 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0586f608c4a9dd85274f3dd03a3267f1", "book_id": "3", "review_id": "d187877a6dd243008f05fc70eb4cb5d3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Re-read August 2016.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 10:42:38 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 04 23:57:05 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "18326167", "review_id": "5af71e01ea4a4ca0af062535e501db08", "rating": 2, "review_text": "If I had to read \"'I love it when you're a bitch.'\"/\"he loves it when I'm a bitch.,\" one more damn time, I was going to throw a fit. Which says probably more about my childish tendencies than about the book. Who throws tantrums anymore?? -->this girl", "date_added": "Tue Oct 17 18:15:50 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 17 18:18:38 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "24611565", "review_id": "2e55f9dcbf84d56992cb174c546d80de", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was fun. Although, I'll admit that I found Ceda hard to sympathize with during a majority of the book, but I found myself compelled to keep reading. So, at the very least, she's interesting. I also would like less Emre. Bleck.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 17 18:11:20 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 17 18:13:36 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "30312891", "review_id": "fdd0691c574693f7face7dc3dcba5f71", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I'm not a fan of books where one of the plot devices is to have the main characters not talk to one another about issues important to them. It took till 3/4 of the way in for Julian and Emma to talk about their feelings and all I kept thinking was \"really? Really. Really??\" (Very coherent, well thought out thoughts, I know)... But, come on. It keeps being said that it is so obvious to everyone and then no one knows. Oof. And then! Of course then Robert dies after they tell the one person that can help them with the Clave. \n It was too much. The book is an enjoyable ride, but I found myself annoyed all the way through it. This may also be because I started TMI when I was in high school and I am now reading this series in my late twenties. Maybe I'm just outgrowing it? But I don't think so. I think I'm just plain old annoyed. \n Also, side note- Annabel? I mean I just don't think she would've killed Livvy after all the build up beforehand of her character and protection of the black volume. Once again, that could be me.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 08 05:41:16 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 08 05:54:39 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "24452922", "review_id": "ac47ae4a8809972b752b44f923f6b22a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed Nell and her discoveries. Discoveries about her magic, about the world (her introduction to hotels was awesome), about the woman she is and wants to be outside the cult, about her family and recognizing that all things are not completely good or completely bad and that's all right. \n I'm looking forward to her progress and her adventures. Nell may be one of the most real characters I've ever read for all that she has magic.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 04 12:11:12 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 04 12:14:28 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Oct 04 16:19:22 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "13522957", "review_id": "8402cc5219f07067e7033eba076b6846", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Meh.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 28 13:02:52 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 28 13:03:21 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Fri Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "27422533", "review_id": "45a385c1b4171da27cd50b5f51782296", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Catalina next?? Also- Linus Duncan you sly old fool.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 26 09:09:11 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 26 09:09:55 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jul 26 09:09:55 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "18350798", "review_id": "92c26f62fe71e47f5f0418b66be5b66c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The entire time I was reading it, I could not get The Last Unicorn out of my head. I really enjoyed this story and Delilah as the protagonist.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 21 11:45:01 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 21 11:49:39 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jun 21 11:49:39 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "34682413", "review_id": "dba39f93bf1269fd316cd5d645434899", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book felt super rushed after the introduction. Everything happened one after the other; Xandrie met the elves, dragon rider, met the dragon, BFF with Elza, thrown in jail, rescued by Rhey, dragon rider, fighting in tournament, training, put up the shield, dragon rider, love fest in golden cave with Rhey, tournament pt. 2, ball,vpoisoned, tournament pt. 3, save dragonlings (dragon rider again), sister shows up, wedding, intro to sisters story, end. Now usually I'm all for getting to the good stuff, but there was no build up to anything. I can't exactly tell you where the climax of the story was, or why Rhey and Xandrie love each other. I appreciated the magic and the dragons and the world. It felt like something I could delve into, but wasn't given the means to. This book was like a sugar rush, short and sweet, but left me empty inside. Ok, that's a bit dramatic, but you get the point. \n Oh! And there were tons of colloquialisms that jarred you from the story. Like Xandrie thinking \"What. The. Actual. F***.\" Ahhhh!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 08 06:18:13 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 08 06:28:05 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jun 08 06:28:05 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "34881966", "review_id": "52b7470efba46661895edc42a8dbc948", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Wait, why does this book have such high reviews?? I'm not even sure why I read it after the first one. Willa isn't even sure halfway through the book that the brothers like her and yet she considers them hers, and refers to herself as a \"she brother.\" \"She brothers\" don't kiss their brothers!! It makes all the romantic interludes incesty <- made that word up for this moment. It's also hard to read because Willa needs everything explained to her. Everything. And then doesn't understand it. Makes promises, and then doesn't keep them. Oof. This book is not enjoyable. I shouldn't have to question every decision the authors made. I should forget there is anything else, but the story.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 07 11:39:10 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 28 15:43:05 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "24763621", "review_id": "1ff50450152460c2b634a016fac25977", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I kept comparing this book to The Hollow Kingdom, which I loved. This one was a bit underwhelming. The story wasn't rich in the way that I associate fey stories. Maybe I'm being nitpicking, but there it is.", "date_added": "Thu May 25 07:51:13 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu May 25 07:52:43 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu May 25 07:52:43 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "33832888", "review_id": "e84bbe9c4cd804cc72e1704042d394e9", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I got real bored. Also- why were the characters referred to as \"the girl\" or \"the boy\"??? By this final installment I couldn't handle it!", "date_added": "Sun May 14 11:54:24 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun May 14 11:55:29 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun May 14 11:55:29 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "23766634", "review_id": "d9f02cda3eb6a656eb5c20a1ce915908", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book, the battles, the relationships, the mythology woven in, Rhys and Feyre- all made me grip my book and hope I could read for as long as I could uninterrupted. I, however, don't feel resolved with the story. Maybe it's because she set it up for other character arcs for her next books, and I'll feel settled then? There were just a lot of moving parts and for me it almost took away from the main story. I became much more interested in Nesta and Elain than Feyre at certain points. I'm still processing where I think the Azriel arc may lead and if I can agree. I've seen mention that Maas tried to tweak some things in this book in answer to some issues fans had, but some of it didn't flow with the rest of the story and it makes me wonder where it would have gone outside of those adjustments. \n Despite my misgivings, I really appreciated the growth and love and fortitude of all of the Night Court. I loved going through the trials, the wars, the council meetings, with all of them. They feel like friends I know. I think Mist and Fury is by far my favorite, but this is second favorite.", "date_added": "Thu May 04 14:00:09 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu May 04 14:10:17 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu May 04 14:10:17 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "26594217", "review_id": "8d84b73e6a9fe0d9754d5c296714c1d3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was tough for me to rate because I went between liking it and not liking it many different times. I will say that the description on the back of the book is deceptive. I'm not too sure how I feel about the main character either. Ugh. Sometimes I really liked her and sometimes I really didn't. Super helpful right?", "date_added": "Thu Mar 30 13:23:18 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 30 13:25:31 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Mar 30 13:25:31 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "34341759", "review_id": "1bc58ebb0f9d69f9839bd097201826a0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed that!", "date_added": "Sun Mar 19 16:15:23 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 09 18:09:04 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Mar 19 16:15:40 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "33869571", "review_id": "a2ba5c70c5cfbee7c80bb3f6ba6b67a8", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I found this book difficult to get into. I finished it through pure will. The story didn't really flow, and I found Raven unbearable. There was also a lot of smirking. Once again, why is everyone (Raven in particular) smirking??", "date_added": "Fri Jan 27 08:14:23 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 27 08:19:05 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "30037275", "review_id": "a2b5c826a319423ced2acb7aa69e9816", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Disappointing.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 22 13:34:19 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 22 13:34:36 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jan 21 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "30656252", "review_id": "73d867791002ab411bd21ca58f7e8649", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I always want to savor these books because they're the best, but then I want to devour them because they're the best. It's quite the conundrum. One of my favorite things about Mercy, is that she learns about her flaws and treats them. I feel like that's so unusual for many of the heroines in multi series books. I think it makes Mercy all the stronger and relatable. She isn't perfect, nor will she ever be, but she's pretty damn awesome.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 17 17:12:45 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 01 18:37:10 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "29774760", "review_id": "8d8a2c0f82eee85d5648e6f210b6323b", "rating": 1, "review_text": "This book is really hard to read. I couldn't figure out the narrative point of view. It was jarring every time it changed. The editing wasn't great either, which interrupted the flow of the story. And the story itself is meh. It really was not my cup of tea.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 15 17:11:51 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 15 17:14:31 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Dec 12 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "10184345", "review_id": "964284d55f0d92e9be8353df57fb2688", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Tybalt. Finally.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 26 11:28:09 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 26 11:28:26 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Oct 26 11:28:26 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "301082", "review_id": "a851b542979df421cfe71b685464a450", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5!", "date_added": "Wed Sep 07 08:29:48 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 07 08:29:56 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "25036395", "review_id": "5ef5b05c502afd7e2e96f70e98be96e0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It's so weird I liked the story, but I didn't really care if I finished it or not", "date_added": "Tue Sep 06 12:08:47 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 21 12:08:43 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "30247358", "review_id": "3c2332599a529e294feb4c770a763b8e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book was rough. I had to really push myself to finish it. The heroine annoyed me enough that I thought about stopping 1/4 of the way through. She's so angry, which yes, her fiance did just die, but does she have anything else to her? There was one point where she gets mad at her partner for not remembering her fiance, but then thinks he might have been influenced by a memory wipe, BUT decides he's keeping things from her because he's lying to her. This all makes sense, right? \n I don't know if I'll be reading the rest of this series. The world building is shaky and I don't know if it's worth investing in.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 18 10:16:26 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 18 10:27:25 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Aug 18 10:27:25 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 12, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "27015399", "review_id": "54e7815629231912089ecf160eb5ffcd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A world where Greek gods and goddesses are very much present? One of my favorite things to read about, other than Fae. I enjoyed this book, but sometimes it was hard to follow. One time I reread a passage 4 times before finally giving up and moved on. I'm interested to see where Griffin and Cat's story goes!", "date_added": "Wed Aug 03 14:00:04 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 03 14:03:09 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Aug 03 14:03:09 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "23127048", "review_id": "6da1a4b59a642f28506f25174907a58e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book, but I had a problem with Vhalla. I think those problems may smooth themselves out though over the next few books.", "date_added": "Wed May 18 12:30:56 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon May 23 08:36:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "15829917", "review_id": "6f37409988cc85c9207b64c862f28a3c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It was quite bad.", "date_added": "Wed May 18 12:28:56 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed May 18 12:29:09 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed May 18 12:29:09 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "21416690", "review_id": "1392ae8953d262a997f795d93011453b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5!", "date_added": "Tue May 10 16:09:21 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue May 10 16:09:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue May 10 16:09:31 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "12104686", "review_id": "8e1e87a9180da6254cc1c9a64cfb6d53", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It was okay", "date_added": "Tue Apr 19 10:18:47 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 19 10:19:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "22639535", "review_id": "68ec34be75be14887453410adb99bc1c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I honestly have no idea what the ending meant. If anyone can explain it to me, I'd be very grateful!!", "date_added": "Fri Apr 01 05:51:45 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 01 05:53:01 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Apr 01 05:53:01 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "22299763", "review_id": "2779bc194e330e15efebc9513946dfd8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5! I love these characters and I was sad to let one go.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 26 13:47:54 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 06 12:29:32 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Apr 06 12:29:32 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "25494343", "review_id": "d1d43e423ab65a87b0486f94ba4558f7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Rounded up, I really liked it, but I didn't love it. I usually hate side characters, but I almost loved Mark and Cristina the most. Julian wasn't my favorite, and him and Emma especially weren't the couple I was rooting for. Even though you knew it was inevitable. I thought he was super capable and so devoted, but Julian...", "date_added": "Fri Mar 25 08:50:28 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 25 08:55:45 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Mar 25 08:55:45 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "23213197", "review_id": "e2aa00c17a8ad3ccc1cee66b28b1ff41", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 and I want to see where it goes", "date_added": "Tue Mar 22 07:03:08 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 22 07:03:33 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 22 07:03:33 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "3570231", "review_id": "9f4ae2220f1465d8e86d1a25799a56c7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5?", "date_added": "Mon Mar 14 08:05:30 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 14 08:05:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Mar 14 08:05:43 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "24934065", "review_id": "bc00c2286cc23b51e1ef3395ca48cac2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love Amani and Jin. And sand and deserts more than I thought I would. It was magical and real and strong.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 06 15:59:32 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 06 16:01:00 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "15839976", "review_id": "3c8428418e0bb26155f1b3e3265dcb52", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of the best audiobooks I've ever listened to!", "date_added": "Tue Feb 23 08:27:09 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 23 08:27:31 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Feb 23 08:27:31 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "12458287", "review_id": "bec3fed3bd44fcd4bcf9d0a0a3453f86", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars. I don't understand the big issue moment, suddenly meaning nothing. I understand that having all the information changes things, but don't proclaim \"that's it, you've lost me forever\" and not mean it. You're giving up the love of your life or spirit or whatever, you better damn well know why you're doing it.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 10 16:36:59 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 10 16:41:22 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Mon Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "16221851", "review_id": "18c4f14a2ddb6b6a5bdc2b27eec293a8", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Bleck", "date_added": "Wed Feb 10 16:35:50 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:32:31 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Feb 12 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "26031261", "review_id": "e29d0f55ee0e8a54b77832e4dfb75819", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I had a really hard time with Aurora. And it took a while for the story to take off. Almost too long.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 09 08:41:26 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 09 08:43:07 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Feb 09 10:05:17 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "25733273", "review_id": "ec2dae1bdc29a8d03cc424ed1fb384e7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really had to push myself through the beginning to late middle of the book. But then it picked up and Lea stopped whining and I really appreciated her after it. Now that I know it's a series, things make a bit more sense plot wise. It reminded me of the His fair Assassin world. Death God, assassins that follow his order, kick ass girl assassin... \n I'm interested to see where this goes!", "date_added": "Fri Jan 22 09:36:52 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 07 19:21:29 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "8712343", "review_id": "ea72b6c5ceea9d0eeb2e1bfc37c9d52e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Sienna and Hawke are my favorites, closely followed by Sasha and Lucas!", "date_added": "Thu Dec 24 08:44:15 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 24 08:45:02 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Dec 23 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "25752072", "review_id": "602514800eb4e537c12027a92b29516c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So good.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 18 07:04:57 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue May 03 16:11:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue May 03 16:11:44 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "8069828", "review_id": "b51d205cc9c5361179acade0a7ae05f4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love that misunderstandings between Raisa and Han are not used as devices to move the plot forward. They talk to each other and wait to form solid opinions until they figure it out together. It was so refreshing to read a story that was moved forward by the action. One of my new favorite series!", "date_added": "Mon Nov 30 15:50:40 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 30 15:53:31 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 29 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "13549311", "review_id": "b94c2aab61f9eb6d5f7fbca45f308aaf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I think Belle and Jack are my favorite couple from this series. I really liked that we got to see them work through their relationship, rather than work to a relationship. I think being in a relationship is just as interesting as the build up! I appreciated that Belle grew because of her comfort in their relationship. I just wish we could've seen Jack's growth.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 05 12:53:58 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 05 12:57:02 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Nov 05 12:57:02 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "13101349", "review_id": "b9fdd7c7bbee32b6806b489a2be12816", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I wish the ending had been different!", "date_added": "Tue Nov 03 15:25:17 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 03 15:25:35 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Nov 03 15:25:35 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "17333174", "review_id": "fc060d2e9737a63e2ea29eca4541ec45", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Love love love", "date_added": "Wed Sep 16 19:37:12 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 04 08:20:58 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Oct 04 08:20:58 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "23437156", "review_id": "9385534a0fc3c2a6b05ef23c28bd16b6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is beautiful. Physically and literally.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 13 10:08:27 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 03 05:07:57 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Nov 02 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "28260587", "review_id": "becda0a136f23b9d8d093c9d07433821", "rating": 4, "review_text": "So many thoughts about this book. \n 1: it's 2:30 in the morning. I finished the book!!! \n 2: Damn. \n 3: Damn. \n 4: Dammmmmn \n 5: I have to say the thing I wasn't a fan of is all the different perspectives \n 6: I wanted more Aelin, which I think is an uncommon feeling for most readers of this series \n 7: I was underwhelmed by the intimate scenes \n 8: I'm actually a ton better about Aelin and Rowan, but I really feel like book 1 and 2 were a part of a separate series \n 9: it's 2:35 in the morning. I need to go to bed, but I'm too wound up. \n 10: I really like Elide, Manon, and Lysandra \n 11: I'm not sure about Manon and Dorian? \n 12: Aedion and Lysandra - yes \n 13: it's 2:38, I'm going to bed", "date_added": "Thu Sep 10 12:56:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 10 23:46:37 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Sep 11 23:46:37 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "17927395", "review_id": "cd55ac6fc9a4a23b0f82d760eec1ff75", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 thank my lucky stars. Sheesh. This book is so much better than the first and actually makes me like the first a bit more. Thank goodness Feyre stopped pitying herself and grew. So much growth in this book and it was wonderful. I can now say I hate Tam and I take back my earlier review where I stated Tamlin was the prize. Cause he sucks. \n Rhys is magnificent. Starry eyed dream wave**** \n Also, this book is absolutely not for below 17. Why is it marketed to ages 14-17???", "date_added": "Tue Jul 14 10:24:22 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon May 09 06:47:48 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "22303684", "review_id": "ebb2551f83a53d3b360b252967fdf115", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really appreciate the way the Andrews write romance. It's a simmering, smoldering event rather than a flare all with a story that I'm actually interested in, rather than a plot device for the romance. Rogan and Nevada = in heart forever", "date_added": "Wed Jun 10 20:20:27 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 05 06:21:00 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jun 05 06:21:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "20345202", "review_id": "ebb9dd573fc0cd1dcb6e887090b6cfb4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It just felt like at every new plot development, I would say to myself \"Oh, this is like (insert popular YA fiction here).\" And that's fine, if at a certain point you get past that with a really great story. But it didn't get there for me. Maybe the next one?", "date_added": "Sun May 31 18:11:51 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 19 19:30:29 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "17878931", "review_id": "f9c0ab33a618e84662358f9a8c6115ee", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Why does everyone smirk? Do a lot of people smirk? If so, it is a phenomenon I am not privy to.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 30 16:23:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 04 17:40:41 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "6056520", "review_id": "a1cb3f7d9c68a49b60fbcb946b128e32", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I tried rereading this book and I couldn't finish it. I really dislike Sabina. Like. A lot. She's just not a main character I can get behind.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 28 07:42:05 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 03 11:18:17 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "16096824", "review_id": "13459db9800260b9ea58176c4a7baa5b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I am underwhelmed by this book and I am so very upset to admit that. I had watched and haunted the release date for this book since I heard of it. Needless to say, I was super stoked to read it. I've spent some time thinking about what I want to say about it, what exactly bothered me about it and I think it comes down to three main points: the relationships, the plot and Feyre. (Minor-ish spoilers ahead) \n Tamlin and Feyre- It's almost hard to figure out why they fell in love. I know what we are supposed to think, that it is because they both have the burden of shouldering the responsibility of their families and people, as well as their obvious attraction to one another. However, I wouldn't be able to tell you why they are good together. I love romantic story lines and I was excited to see where theirs would go, but it kind of stilted especially near the end. \n Feyre and Lucian- A guy heals you once and you cannot be sure that he will be back to heal you again? Why? He healed you and wants you to succeed. Color me confused. \n Feyre and Rhys- If this is leading to the dreaded love triangle, I might throw a fit. How often in life have you ever had two separate guys pining after you at the same time? Especially, when you are so obviously in love with this other guy. I'm sincerely hoping it's not going to be a \"who should she choose\" type situation, where the conveniently mentioned mating bond foreshadowed such a trial in the upcoming books. Please, don't. Please. I like Rhys, but I like him in the as my ally sense. Not the, I'm going to his court to make googly eyes at him sense. \n The plot- First 3/4 of the book is basically Feyre at the manor learning to do what she wants, instead of what she needs (Tam included), and then the last 1/4 is the fight against the terrible \"She\" alluded to throughout the first part. I was worried that the trials were going to be spaced out over the next few books. Thankfully, they weren't, but I do wish that whole section had been moved back. \n Feyre- Do you look up to her for caring for her family for so many years? I'm not sure, I do know you're not supposed to pity her because she doesn't want that. And if you are empathetic, be careful about it- she may mistake it for pity. I'm so happy that she went after Tam, it's just crazy to me that she loves this guy so much she doesn't believe its worth it at some point. But hey, I understand that mistakes are made and humans/faeries/creatures are fallible in general, who wants to be perfect? I just hope she grows some more in the next books. \n It's sounds like I don't like the book, even now typing this review I'm asking myself \"I thought you really liked the book?\" I guess I was just hoping for more. It had such promise. I will definitely read the next one. Fingers crossed Feyre keeps her eyes on the prize --> Tam, he literally was the prize.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 06 11:58:48 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 20 11:33:49 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "186074", "review_id": "1ddc4a2cf07929375d6e3ff435752d62", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book. Loved. I'm very anxious about Ambrose though and what the future holds for his involvement in Kvothe's life. I want to be Kvothe's best friend and banter with him. Can that happen??", "date_added": "Sun Apr 14 12:19:07 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 08:15:21 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Dec 19 13:57:11 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e596b88d0516977c8a70644e3fa2f53", "book_id": "13928", "review_id": "f8cac9b0a4402a0bba88833e95375f7c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really loved Sorcha, I thought her story was a tale worth telling. I loved the beginning of her and Red's love and watching the outcome. I really enjoyed reading this book, and I stayed up well into the night reading it, which to me is the highest praise I can offer.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 09 21:25:44 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 23 18:44:10 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bb1d3f753d7409a421dc6629eded2d8c", "book_id": "30831912", "review_id": "20b442a2aa9c31840f17fedbf0026dc6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Easy and straightforward Norse myths. Not bad at all", "date_added": "Wed Mar 22 20:25:14 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 22 20:26:15 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bb1d3f753d7409a421dc6629eded2d8c", "book_id": "23511272", "review_id": "68cdbadd8a7e89416b07f6633f18b71a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I randomly found a proof copy of this and so I read it and it was not bad, especially for 12 year olds", "date_added": "Tue Dec 15 13:07:09 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 15 13:08:25 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Dec 15 13:08:25 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bb1d3f753d7409a421dc6629eded2d8c", "book_id": "18705209", "review_id": "7ab36feb96b8949b7f33e9d5d56b2a87", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ending: not great \n Post ending: marked out", "date_added": "Sat Mar 28 16:28:22 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 09 18:53:09 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Mar 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bb1d3f753d7409a421dc6629eded2d8c", "book_id": "12127810", "review_id": "94f8bed47ea6c0d1b3e3d9ac66dca943", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Percy Jackson and the homosexual agenda", "date_added": "Sat Mar 28 16:25:49 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 09 18:52:53 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Mar 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bb1d3f753d7409a421dc6629eded2d8c", "book_id": "7736182", "review_id": "68f373fbe418c26daeb10dd984f5476e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Dubious at first, not fully convinced but suitably bemused.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 20 17:15:10 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 09 18:54:58 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Mar 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bb1d3f753d7409a421dc6629eded2d8c", "book_id": "4502507", "review_id": "03a7da2d0e1d975bafc7b0513167e998", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fine, I marked out for Achilles.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 15 15:16:39 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 09 18:55:27 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Mar 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bb1d3f753d7409a421dc6629eded2d8c", "book_id": "2120932", "review_id": "0a19e1d6a5e5e84c172850ec1aa93a2f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "In which Percy struggles with the ultimate labyrinth--the friend zone.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 15 01:01:48 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 09 18:51:50 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Mar 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bb1d3f753d7409a421dc6629eded2d8c", "book_id": "561456", "review_id": "f160612a7fd81f943dec29c044b77619", "rating": 3, "review_text": "1 was the overview, 2 was Jason/Odysseus, 3 was Hercules. More of the same, anyway.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 15 00:56:37 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 09 18:51:19 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Mar 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bb1d3f753d7409a421dc6629eded2d8c", "book_id": "28186", "review_id": "dcff3049cd2e66e865f9c0c996dc7c73", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It's hard to call a series based on mythology derivative, but I'm pretty sure this was actually the plot of donkey kong country 3", "date_added": "Sun Mar 15 00:53:57 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 09 18:50:50 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bb1d3f753d7409a421dc6629eded2d8c", "book_id": "28187", "review_id": "38664472e805586ac169f8406ac3d38c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Readable", "date_added": "Sun Mar 08 21:57:30 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 08 22:02:20 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Mar 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bb1d3f753d7409a421dc6629eded2d8c", "book_id": "7743175", "review_id": "919c8e45c1966a2d29604767b7757a8e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Worth it.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 27 14:46:08 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 27 14:47:34 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bb1d3f753d7409a421dc6629eded2d8c", "book_id": "8253920", "review_id": "efeff16ba85159e54231982507235449", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Skip the Perrin chapters, like always.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 27 14:45:41 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 27 14:47:19 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Sep 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bb1d3f753d7409a421dc6629eded2d8c", "book_id": "1166599", "review_id": "4270c11911a7a694f8f2b9becf3f00ee", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I liked this one best of all 14, probably.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 27 14:44:23 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 27 14:47:01 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bb1d3f753d7409a421dc6629eded2d8c", "book_id": "13888", "review_id": "2a588f99e9e141a81aa88a312d82fa9c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "An improvement on 10, which was the worst.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 27 14:38:09 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 27 14:46:46 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bb1d3f753d7409a421dc6629eded2d8c", "book_id": "15783514", "review_id": "688abbc54e78f6344bd6c4ea08f4e298", "rating": 2, "review_text": "A bunch of wank from a gigantic wanker", "date_added": "Thu Jul 25 13:36:35 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 10 21:22:09 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bb1d3f753d7409a421dc6629eded2d8c", "book_id": "136251", "review_id": "5c1fbd6630c656a47e99d0065622e350", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Oh god, the fan service. Are we sure she wrote the epilogue? I'm pretty sure you can find the same thing uploaded on a fan fiction website years before the book was released. \n Creepy ass Snape. Need to be moving on.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 27 18:15:54 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 27 18:22:20 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bb1d3f753d7409a421dc6629eded2d8c", "book_id": "1", "review_id": "4a8291574cb0190b0f3ece3c6ec7f7c5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Definitely the least bad of all the books. Two reasons: the youtube video, and the insane new adverbs she managed to come up with. Consolingly.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 27 18:05:50 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 29 04:37:21 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bb1d3f753d7409a421dc6629eded2d8c", "book_id": "2", "review_id": "5b4f99a1565a8656423bc09ec6b2b333", "rating": 1, "review_text": "One of the worst thing I've ever read. Possibly the worst, excepting as always, Lauren Conrad.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 24 19:14:16 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 24 19:15:04 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "bb1d3f753d7409a421dc6629eded2d8c", "book_id": "6", "review_id": "4d69b9b8f6202aaff92c222b4f9b2656", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I have heard people tell me the books get better. That's probably true, I think the last one will be the best because after that it'll be over. \n Watch me cut 100 worthless pages from this book: \n No Rita Skeeter \n No house-elf nonsense \n Bam. It's paced better than the first three but only because Quidditch is dumb as heck, both because there is no way to play it beautifully and if played in real life, Jose Mourinho would be the same anti-footballer of a manager and win every game too since he'd just send everyone to mess with the seeker and prevent games from ending until the other team got bored and quit. The tournament wasn't quite as stupid. \n I do have a question though, why is Emma Watson so worried about house-elves but doesn't give a crap that Harry is being child abused? \n I worry that someone has written Emma/Dumbledore fan fiction.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 22 20:52:30 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 06 14:28:22 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "bb1d3f753d7409a421dc6629eded2d8c", "book_id": "15881", "review_id": "accf60c4217e98d23f34773218ad327f", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I am indeed reviewing the books, but I can't be bothered to spell that one girl's name. \n This was awful. I haven't seen straw men like this since Atlas Shrugged. Unfortunately, Lockheed is no Ragnar Danneskjold. Rowling has a chance here to demonstrate good values for a woman faced with that kind of person. Instead, the entire book is spent teaching children that no matter how book smart a girl is, she'll fall for the attractive \"bad-boy\" type instead of the smart choice. But then again, is there a choice for Emma Watson in this book? She's 12, and Rowling represses her sexuality in its expressible form, giving her over instead to the kind of crush you'd expect a 6 or 7 year old to have. By the time a girl is 12, she's supposed to be on the path to adulthood instead of fawning over the still unobtainable authority (PATERNAL) figure. Is it any surprise that this first outpouring of femininity that we see from Watson is directed at an entirely unmagical figure, she of descent from an unmagical family?", "date_added": "Mon Jun 20 21:39:50 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 06 14:26:27 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "bb1d3f753d7409a421dc6629eded2d8c", "book_id": "3", "review_id": "9f4fbb72a18c1e5b7dfc335f543e3f7b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "To begin: I made a deal that will see these 7 books come this way in exchange for three adult books. \n To make it interesting, I will probably attempt to begin and give up on a proper series critique when I finish. I probably won't do that though because as all of you know or I'd assume you know, I am lazy as h*ck. \n All I really thought of for this one pertains to the troll released that Harry and Ron had to deal with. For all of her intelligence, when faced with the threat of physical violence, Hermonice was reduced to a cowering and fearful _woman_. Ron asks if she is not a \"witch\" to reinforce the idea that she is, indeed, a witch. Not a wizard, as the other two boys demonstrate--willing to use their phallic wands to penetrate instead of remonstrate.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 20 21:27:50 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 20 21:38:56 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bb1d3f753d7409a421dc6629eded2d8c", "book_id": "6101718", "review_id": "f5f4cbdc6601c00146557f7b614fba39", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Damn. Somebody has sex with a fox in this book. It's gross. \n Okay. But seriously. People seem to enjoy complaining about the moniker \"Harry Potter for Adults\" much more than they enjoy calling it that. Look at all the reviews. It's all, THAT'S NOT WHAT IT IS and nobody saying that's what it is. At least nobody has sex with a fox in harry potter. That's sick. What did that fox do to you.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 16 17:19:13 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 06 14:29:37 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "bb1d3f753d7409a421dc6629eded2d8c", "book_id": "57913", "review_id": "65b875f4b8c94c37376aab7820cbee19", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I can understand why people would like it, but it's not for me. There were 6 different perspectives on one page at one point. One was a talking (well, talking in rhyme) dolphin. \n I'd say I gave up when, after struggling all 400 pages long to keep the meaningless and indifferent characters separated, there was a section that was taking place at two times at once. Same character just a year different. And instead of this being two separate readable chapters, the perspective switched randomly. Also, sometimes a section would be in the first person but switch at random to third person. I'm not sure I understand the intent of a technique that rips off the beginners in a writing seminar.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 20 00:29:58 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 17 02:29:23 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Tue Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "210475973a9ee07428c370f743a4093a", "book_id": "7767021", "review_id": "679cc3403b856b67b8226aab5cb7ca4d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm not a fantasy novel fan so reading it was a little difficult at times.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 21 09:36:19 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 21 09:41:36 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "51f792958fc4205df323561ffa9474d1", "book_id": "97967", "review_id": "81b2edb7d9ff8442a05c51256821ce2d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Damn, damn, damn. I howled in pain when I realised the next book is about Kirra. Dammit. I hoped SO MUCH we would see more of Senneth and especially her relationship with Tayse. Aside from all romantic crap it was interesting. I really cracked up when he was imagining how he comes up, kneel before her or bow way lower than to the king and tell her he loves her, I mean... come on. Pure maiden-yes, but tough soldier who not long ago only saw his purpose in life as serving to king? Not so much... \n I was suprised that female auhtor could pull off such nice romance story (usually they really suck at it). At the end of the book I wasn't so sure about the brilliance Mrs Shinn. It started great, then it went the way every romantic female wants it to go. I hated it. Aside from complaints about relationship issues which are of great importance to me the book was rather good. I didn't like lack of explanation to powers. Like how Senneth is able to do almost anything. I had some problems with this book but I cannot really pinpoit what was exactly wrong becuase there were just feelings during reading (some sense of wrongness when they appeared to have all the convenient skills, heck, Cammon in himself was way too much of a convenient thing), well blanketed by great pleasure of reading itself. All in all, rare 4 stars from me. \n I have to admit I loved Cammon from the start and I sooo regretted him not having more wicked character, he could meddle beautifully in this little group. And I am usually very peacefull and I hate all the conflict and underhanded methods especially toying with other people. I cannot explain why I wishes for him to be MORE so much. I wondered with shiver of excitement what would become of him when he grows up. He's got to be hella interesting and I do hope he won't become loyal, boring tool in king's hand. I want him to have will of his own. He already has such a great advantage.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 18 03:53:28 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 20 03:00:28 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jun 20 03:00:28 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "51f792958fc4205df323561ffa9474d1", "book_id": "6782465", "review_id": "e36cfb21137e36fda2deef327c244b02", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Reading this book was so infuriating. There are spoilers ahead so anyone interested in reading the book should stop now. As many people mentioned Toby is damn annoying, she sucks at being investigator of any kind. She makes so many mistakes, and she drives me crazy (you got angry when you learned HE TRIED TO SEDUCE YOU WITH MAGIC, killing people wasn't enough? She got angry when it got personal? I.. I'm just speechless). The thing is, she had potential, and it's sad to see it wasted, completely. I wasn't that into first book but it was okay, I thought it will get better. No, it didn't. I already read few reviews of following volumes and it's supposed to get better so I will try reading next few ones but this book was a serious blow to the series. There's something not letting me just throw it away and forget though. I dare guess this thing is actually Tybalt... Yeah, we OH SO DON'T suspect they will get together. Which worries me. Is she really as old as she's supposed to be? Her actions doesn't make any sense, her conversations doesn't make any sense. I don't understand why so many people love her so much. I'm disgusted by how she handles herself since her pond accident. Already forgot about her family, failing once again to protect the lives of people she was asked to protect. Way to go... Why do people trust her on this anyway? I see no logical reason for that, she doesn't seem to have any abilities making her useful. If she at least could fight with her magic, but no. Every time someone saves her ass and it gets to be Tybalt quite often. What does he sees in her? He seems to have hots for her from the very beginning. Capricious leader like him shouldn't just stalk out of pure malice...? Or am I too naive? Sigh, it hurts to see the world with so many interesting things and such crappy heroine. I do hope it will get better later on. For now I'm switching to books with heroines with more backbone.", "date_added": "Thu May 09 07:06:50 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat May 11 08:44:59 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat May 11 08:44:59 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "51f792958fc4205df323561ffa9474d1", "book_id": "1215032", "review_id": "54c9673013b54f1aac27e67a8c264c76", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I've been reading Pat's Kingkiller's chronicle for more than a week now. Fat, long book. Now I can only quote him saying how much he hates waiting for another book from trylogy. I cannot relate more. I do hope I won't have to wait 4 years for it to come out. I wasn't entirely satisfied with Wise man's fear. It lacked something. It lacked Kvothe's thoughs. I missed being inside his mind. I wondered a lot of times what might he feel, what might he think? I could only guess, and given my incredible talent at guessing people's feeling I was far away from the truth. It left me very sad. Every time I read the sentence about him waiting for death and about the silence I felt saddness like no other. It was breaking my heart. His whole story was just... SAD. I also missed a lot of characters. I missed his conversations with Elodin. I personally thought his ideas and their conversations were absolutely marvelous. I was impressed. I also missed Simmon, he's the gentlest creature I ever encountered in a book. I loved him, I would like to know more about him and Fela. I would like to know more about Devi. The book was heavy, I couldn't shake the feeling of approaching disaster. It was quite right since the author hinted it in a very non-subtle way. The book stole my heart and left me incredibly empty. I'm glad I didn't read it like I read Canavan. I wouldn't be able to stand parting with Pat's work this way. It was one hell of a book. I cannot wait for more. I dare say it was even better than Weeks and that is very huge compliment. I'm happy I found such an author, I'm happy there are thing this good out there. I'm happy there is still hope to find even more amazing things. And lately I've been in a need of hope. \n After reading one star reviews I do admit I kind of missed bad sides of the book. Simply because the author kept me interested even when there was no real reason for that (Felurian part, I'm also convinced it was really unnecessary part considering Kvothe at that time wasn't a young man but a kid, 16 years old kid). So I admit I loved Name of the wind more but still I wish many other filled with action books had this kind of narration and storytelling.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 02 04:53:19 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 09 09:51:38 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Mar 09 09:51:38 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "51f792958fc4205df323561ffa9474d1", "book_id": "28251", "review_id": "d481f2462ae71ec2eb9c19fd2d8d2452", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I was disappointed at the end of the book. I can't say I was fond of High Lord but it ended in the worst possible way. My heart was shattered to pieces as well. It's because there were so many things that shouldn't have happened and so many that should. Authors will strickes again. When I read the story it should have a life on it's own. This one didn't. I enjoyed the whole trilogy greatly, I read the whole thing in three days and at the end I just couldn't believe... It didn't make any sense to me. The whole romance was pretty much strange and very forced. I was aware of it before I started reading books and for first two I could not find any explanation for what was supposed to happen. She could have eneded with Regin, it would be the same. I don't like when authors overuse Stockholm syndrome. Okay okay, I admit, I'm bitter cause he died, I didn't want him to die. I wanted to see what they would do with them. Some questions remained unanswered... the third ring, the whole story about Sevara, WHY they didn't take magic from Arena for heaven's sake?! Akkarin was so hesitant to use people, he preffered to use any other means to win the fight but no, he didn't want to drain Arena. Seemed to me like the stupidest mistake he ever made. Argh, I'm angry now. And here I thought after Age of the five that this one will leave me in a similar state of mind. Very unlikely. Sniff, gotta go pick something else cause at this rate I'm really going to mope around for a day or two.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 18 09:37:51 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 23 03:47:21 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "51f792958fc4205df323561ffa9474d1", "book_id": "6604209", "review_id": "18c92676238a55ac7ec83426eaa055c4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So here we are with very short review of Mistborn Trylogy by Brandon Sanderson. If you want to avoid spoiler stop reading it now. It gave me headache. The beginning was really hard to grasp, the font was awful and something inside me screamed \"meh\" whenever I tried to read it. In the meantime I read Night Angel Trylogy and it was getting even harder to actually find anything good in Final Empire (first book of Mistborn Trylogy). But I didn't give up and after literally hurting through first 100 pages it finally got me interested. Not as much as other books I already read but still I started to read it regularly and actually enjoy it. It wasn't until the second book that I got hungry every time I was doing anything but reading and it was awesome. The plot was very nicely managed, it surprised me to the very end. I was astonished. I still can't stop admiring the author for doing what he did. It was accurate to the last detail (I'm not very bright but I don't think I missed any mistakes). I'm impressed and I want more books like that. I admit the beginning was slow and the story needed a lot of time to get me interested. It was probably the worst thing I can say about the whole trylogy, slow beginning. Other than that I didn't like main character. Vin was so mysterious. Of course she was special from the first moment we read about her. I couldn't bring myself to like her. I suspected the whole first book that she'd betray the crew. And if anyone wants to read it better stop reading my note now. I'll talk about the worst spoilers. First, THEY KILLED HIM! My fav character. .___. Just when I decided that he's the only one I like. I also had funny moment while finishing third book (50 pages before the end) I thougth \"hey, he could've killed some more folks, like Spook or sth\". Then the book ends with two dead bodies T___T I almost cried. Almost cause I never really liked any of them but still it was so sad. I'm not sure what exactly I think about it but I really couldn't stop reading and it was almost as addictive as Study Series. So full of action and unexpected events. I can finally admire the plot as a whole, managed perfectly almost insanely well. I can't get over the fact that I fell for one character I shouldn't fall for. We all know how villains are loved but I rarely like purely \"bad\" people. I don't know if I should use term people when I talk about him. Anyway, TenSoon stole my heart. He was a bastard, killed his own, betrayed Vin at the beginning and he was messed up in every possible way. And I still rooted for him to the very end wishing for a couple with MeeLan (!!!). Maybe my love for canines took all my reason, I don't know. But he was lovely and I loved chapters that focused on him. I highly recommend the series and I don't regret reading it. I wish the book would start in a more interesting way but it's not that bad in the end. Go check it out!", "date_added": "Sat Feb 09 02:51:18 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 09 02:51:56 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "51f792958fc4205df323561ffa9474d1", "book_id": "3754026", "review_id": "12edd9add3f6d0f971339779c8a4b78c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This review won't be as any other. It won't be long and simply buttering everything the author has done, plot, characters. Not at all. It will be one simple word - BREATHTAKING. Go figure yourselves. I think the book touched me way too deep to just share thoughts about it. The topic of death always closes something within me and I do not wish to share any views with anyone about it. But the book in itself was amazing. I was hesitating but it got 5/5 from me on goodreads (although I'd appreciate the 10/10 scale...). I also wrote a fanletter to the author and it was the first time I really HAD to. I couldn't bear not sharing the love for his work, besides he's intelligent and funny man so all the more pleasure. Now I'm really curious about Maria Snyder and if Glass series turns out to be as awesome as Study she'll get one too.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 01 12:04:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 09 02:55:34 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "51f792958fc4205df323561ffa9474d1", "book_id": "12680907", "review_id": "b2e679746ae4acc394847ca734cc4683", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I never expected to find such accurate review of this book. I just finished it and funny thing it left me bitter and blue. I can't stress enough how much I agree with you on what you wrote, it soothed my feelings and for that I'm gratefull. The book was so inconsistent. The author showing some parts of plot then setting them aside for another. It was annoying to follow the book as a whole. I also didn't really like the characters. There were times when the author could stop showing some of them and focus on the others. Whereas I usually hate people (I know from earlier work) to act out of character I was really fond of Giddon. The guy stole my heart and I can't seem to shake off the feeling I got in the first half of the book that he and Bitterblue would be a really good match, very Cashore-like if I may add. I was angry with development of Saf's. The book ends without properly ending leaving me frustrated until I start to search for reviews and find out I wasn't the only one sad by ruining potentially good story (it hurts more to see wasted potential than to see a book bad from the start). I was angry the author put a lot of scenes with characters acting out of character. Only Giddon proved it not to be a complete mistake. In his case it wasn't. But there were a lot of characters I liked for themselves and they didn't get enough time in my opinion. Death was very \"sparky\" if I were to say. His every interaction with Queen was priceless. If he'd been any younger I'd also vote for him to be male lead and a partner to the Queen. I didn't think all that much about romance though. Lately I found myself hating any romances but it made me sad that even though Sapphire started out nicely he ended up being... I don't know what, distraction? Reason for Bitterblue's maddness? I can't explain his role at all since it seemed to me that he was just put in few scenes to make things more spicey and to mess with Bitterblue's poor mind even more. The girl was overall stunning in her ability to stay sane even though there was so much happening. I can't shake off the feeling she was the biggest fool in all of this. I could understand of course she was young, protected and there were wiser people plotting against her. Her childhood and heritage not making it any easier for her. Nevertheless her sudden change and impulse to go out into the city was unbelievable. Her trust and actions... It wasn't downright insane and stupid but during the whole book I couldn't stop thinking that it just doesn't feel right. I didn't see much resemblance to Fire though. A lot of you did, and that's probably understandable, but I read Fire long time ago and just recently I finished Graceling. I can't say I was thrilled with it but I liked it, even though I honestly hate Katsa. Reading Bitterblue right after gave me a strange feeling about the characters that appeared in other books before. I don't expect much of Katsa but after 8 years of being together they probably could act a little bit more mature. Although Bitterblue actually made me realise that Katsa is really mentally broken and there's something terribly wrong with her aside from her Grace. Her childhood implies what was wrong but still. One thing lady Cashore is good at is actually making people act very realistically and all the mental issues seem very real. Especially compared with other books where characters just move on without any problems and as if some issues didn't exist at all. They are all damaged by it, and they all struggle to keep their sanity. But just because I understand that and admire reality of it doesn't mean I can stand interactions of Katsa and Po. They just act like kids and there's not much I can say about it, especiallyu when we were getting ANOTHER kissing scene. Good grief... I also didn't like the lenght of the book, it would feel better if it was split into two books, probably giving more room for some parts of the story to be covered more carefully. I'd enjoy story of a Queen realising her own ignorance and inability to be a good ruler without knowing her kingdom inside out but what we got wasn't resembling anything of the sort. It tried in the end, but it wasn't enough for me. Also I can't help thinking all dialouges were cryptic and wrong, people kept asking wrong questions and actually only Giddon was satisfying character. Saf had potential but it was Giddon that felt right the most. I'm glad to read Fire first, then Graceling and then Bitterblue, it made much more sense this way.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 19 05:20:25 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 09 03:14:47 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Feb 09 03:14:47 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Feb 06 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "51f792958fc4205df323561ffa9474d1", "book_id": "6137154", "review_id": "114e923be861b9c69b55852fee51a75d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Nie ukrywam, po ksiazke siegnelam glownie dlatego, ze zachwycila mnie okladka (na obrazku nie prezentuje sie w polowie tak dobrze jak na zywo). Na dodatek szata graficzna przypomniala mi ukochana serie Study (ktora doceniam coraz bardziej im wiecej ksiazek czytam). Kiedy szukajac kolejnej lektury w walizce brata zobaczylam czerwonowlosa dziewczyne w czerwonej dlugiej sukni z lukiem, na zielonym tle moja dusza krzyknela wielkim glosem ,,bierz to kobieto!\". Jestem wrazliwa na pewne doznania estetyczne ale pierwszy raz pokusilam sie o siegniecie po ksiazke przez okladke. Podchodze podejrzliwie do zbyt pieknych okladek, uznaje bowiem, ze jesli ksiazka jest naprawde dobra, ascetyczna okladka w zupelnosci wystarczy. Nie lubie tez jak ktos mi sie z okladka wtrynia w moje wyobrazenia o postaciach albo w to jak powinnam widziec jdany swiat. Czesto widze go ,,zle\", a czesto po prostu inaczej niz autor zapewne by sobie zyczyl, ale dobrze mi z tym. Nie ukrywam, ze bardziej od szczegolow danego swiata interesuja mnie postaci i ich relacje, a jesli o to chodzi dosc rzadko cos sobie ,,zle\" wyobrazam. Chyba, ze ewidentnie moja logika protestuje jak widzi co czyta. Ale wtedy po lekturze wspominam o tym co mi sie nie podobalo. Shed happens. \n Wracajac do Fire. Dobrze, ze nie czytalam zbyt dokladnie tego co bylo napisane na okladce. Niedawno przeczytany Clockwork Angel mial rekomendacje pani Meyer i dosc nieufnie podeszlam do tego tytulu, by zobaczyc ze poziomem dorownuje niemal Darke Academy (przez jakis czas przypominalo mi to serie o Straznikach Czasu ale nie oszukujmy sie, tam swiat przynajmniej probowal miec jakis sens; w Clockwork byla tragedia i masakra i powinnam byla to opisac ale czekam na Clockwork Princess zeby miec obraz calosci; po Clockwork Prince sie powaznie zastanawiam czy na pewno chce; raczej nie ale coraz wieksza ochote mam poznecac sie nad seria Clockwork). Alez mnie dzisiaj dygresje atakuja z kazdej strony, od razu widac, ze dawno nic nie pisalam. Na samej gorze okladki Fire znajdowalo sie porownanie do Twilight'a i dobrze, ze nie widzialam bo ucieklabym z krzykiem. Potem byloby mi przykro bo ksiazka nie byla najgorsza. \n . \n Ksiazka zaczyna sie dziwnie, od przedstawienia jednej z postaci i do teraz nie rozumiem czemu mial sluzyc ten zabieg. Nie widzialam najmniejszego sensu w zastosowaniu go w takim miejscu. Przedstawienie jakie dziecinstwo mial chlopiec posiadajacy Grace, czyli tzw Graceling mialo szanse byc ciekawe gdyby to on byl glownym bohaterem. Juz w dziecinstwie byl specyficzny i jak sie okazalo manipulowal od niemowlectwa ludzmi dookola wydajac im polecenia za pomoca glosu. Jego watek zostaje urwany w momencie jak dociera on do kraju w ktorym zyje glowna bohaterka. Dostajemy tylko krotka informacje, ze chlopiec zaczyna tam swoje nowe zycie jako Lack. Bedzie wtret dla znajacych fabule. Zrozumialabym przedstawienie krotkiej historii z zycia Cansrela i potem ewentualne wzmianki na ten temat zamiast przydlugich wspomnien Fire. Ze Immiker byl szuja wiedzielismy w zasadzie od razu, nie potrzebowalam opisu jego dziecinstwa zeby to zauwazyc. Wstep wydal mi sie zbedny. Kiedy autorka przeszla do wlasciwiej historii zobaczylam, ze jednak ksiazka cos w sobie ma i bede ja czytac do konca. Glowna bohaterka mnie zaintrygowala. Od razu bylo widac, ze dzieje sie tam cos dziwnego i relacje poszczegolnych bohaterow sa specyficzne. Dosc szybko dostajemy informacje takie jak pochodzenie Fire i to czym jest. Fire byla ostatnia z tzw human monsters. Dells - kraj w ktorym mieszka jest pelny przeroznych dziwnych stworzen ale human monster to prawdziwy rarytas. Zwykle potwory sa piekne, w teczowych barwach. Ich styl polowania byl dosc wyrafinowany i malo przyjemny dla ofiar, ktore byly oczarowywane pieknem, a potem konsumowane nie majac nawet pojecia co sie dzieje. Motyw z ludzkim potworem byl wiec dosc ciekawy. Przekleta pieknosc etc. To co mi mocno zgrzytalo to raczej wybiorcze prezentowanie rekacji na nia i dopasowane do aktualnej potrzeby zmiany zachowania ludzi. W jednej chwili wszyscy padali jej do stop, w innej chcieli ja zabic, a w innej w zasadzie mieli ja gdzies. Co sie troche nie trzymalo kupy. Generalnie Fire unikala spotkan z innymi luidzmi bo jako samica odczuwala zdecydowana awersje do wiekszosci swoich wielbicieli. Byla samotna co jeszcze bardziej komplikowalo sytuacje. Miala ojca, ktory zginal kiedy miala 15 lat i od tego momentu zyla sama w domu niedaleko swojego drugiego, przybranego ojca Brockera i jego syna Archera. Jako childhood friend Archer byl w niej zakochany i nieziemsko o nia zazdrosny. Nasza bohaterka jednak, generalnie nieszczegolnie zadowolona z zycia, zmuszona do ciaglego ukrywania sie przed innymi potworami i przed ludzmi bardzo zdecydowanie nie zyczyla sobie relacji romansowej z Archerem. Byl jej przyjacielem, z ktorym od czasu do czasu szla sobie do lozka. Chyba glownie na zasadzie ,,a czemu nie?\". Tlumaczyla to jako potrzebe przebywania kolo kogos zywego, kto napelnilby ja energia. W skrocie, uzywala sobie Archera i jego sil zyciowych jako mentalnego paliwa, ktore trzymalo ja przy zyciu. Miala przy tym szalenie irytujacy zwyczaj. Zwyczaj, ktorego nadal nie rozumiem, chociaz zalozenia do mnie trafiaja. Otoz nie mogla sypiac, miala koszmary i kiedy nadchodzila noc wybierala sie na dlugie spacery po lesie. Sama. W nocy. Nawet jak miala przestrzelona przez strzale reke. Pogratulowac. Cos dziwnego pchalo ja do wylazenia w nocy i patrzenia w gwiazdy co samo w sobie nie byloby takie glupie gdyby nie to, ze przy okazji ryzykowala swoje zycie. Potwory bowiem nie byly niewinne jak nasze dziki czy zubry. Ale to chyba jedyna rzecz, ktora mnie draznila w ksiazce. Przy okazji powyzsze zachowanie bylo paliwem dla klotni Fire z Archerem. Te z kolei mnie zwyczajnie meczyly, mialy szanse wystepowac w naturze, poza lazeniem nocnym nie mialam wrazenia, ze postaci byly kukielkami ktorym sie cos wciskalo na sile bez sensu (yeah, oczko w strone Clockwork, Darke i Straznikow). Jednak klotnie byly po prostu meczace. \n . \n Nie zdziwie nikogo mowiac, ze zawiazek watku romantycznego wydal mi sie bardzo uroczy. Nic specjalnie oryginalnego i od samego poczatku widac co sie swieci. I enjoyed it anyway. Co prawda do teraz nie moge zdecydowac czy ilosc przypadku byla odpowiednia czy jednak zbyt duza co sugerowaloby, ze chyba byla odpowiednia, jednakze dalam rade opanowac moje rozbuchane oczekiwania. Powiedzialabym, ze kilka scen bylo o klase-dwie nizej niz Study ale trzymaly wysoki poziom tak czy inaczej. Ciekawe czy za kilka lat tez bede z takim rozczuleniem czytac te komentarze kiedy porownywalam do siebie kilka ledwo co przeczytanych ksiazek. It's fun either way. Niesamowicie przypadly mi do gustu spacerki i krotkie rozmowy Bregana i Fire. Oboje mieli powody zeby nie moc spac i oboje mieli traumatyczne dziecinstwo i zycie ogolnie. Nie jestem zwolenniczka zbyt wielkiej ilosci dramy w ksiazkach ale tutaj nie razilo mnie to az tak bardzo. Chociaz dziabalo mnie co jakis czas, ze Fire sie troche nie zachowuje jak 17-letnia dziewczyna. No dobrze, zycia latwego nie miala niemniej... Jestem czysta i niewinna i moj swiatopoglad nieco protestuje. Przy czym co ja, wychowana w dobrobycie i rozpuszczona jak dziadowski bicz moge wiedziec o zyciu? Relacje miedzy postaciami generalnie nie zachwycily mnie jakos szczegolnie. Archer, Nash... Nie bylam fanka jakichkolwiek innych relacji niz Fire-Bregan. Ilosc tajemnic i dziwnych zbiegow okolicznosci na metr szescienny powietrza moze pomine. Jednym to moze pasowac, innym nie. Plot twist dotyczacy Brockera i Archera byl dla mnie nieco zbyt naciagniety. Intrygi palacowe to norma i zbiegi okolicznosci moga wyskakiwac z lodowki niemniej co za duzo to niezdrowo. Mam zamiar przeczytac poprzedniczke i kolejna ksiazke z serii i mam nadzieje, ze sie nie zawiode.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 19 05:17:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 09 02:54:35 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "51f792958fc4205df323561ffa9474d1", "book_id": "4450057", "review_id": "ca1bf9715c28929920d4ebfa2e83923e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Podczas gdy Poison Study jest nazywane Study 1, Assasin Study okresla sie mianem Study 1.5. Jest to krotka historia, ktora jest po prostu dodatkiem, nie wnoszacym nic do fabuly. To krotkie opowiadanie ma za zadanie najprawdopodobniej przyblizyc nam nieco postac Valka i tym razem poznajemy wydarzenia z jego perspektywy. Troche przeszkadza mi fakt, ze Assasin Study powstalo w rok po zakonczeniu trylogii i 4 lata po wydaniu Poison Study, jednak tu juz sie czepiam szczegolow. W koncu wydanie wydaniem, moze napisala to wczesniej. \n Historia jest bardzo krotka ale tresciwa, utrzymana w klimacie pierwszej czesci cyklu. Nie zabraklo momentow emocjonujacych, za co jestem bardzo wdzieczna. Jedyne do czego sie chce przyczepic to oczywiscie Valek. Zaczynajac od najmniej istotnego aspektu, zaskoczyla mnie nieco okladka. Nie lubie jak ktokolwiek rysunkami czy okladkami mi sie wtrynia w moje wyobrazenia o postaciach. Od pierwszych stron postac Valka wyobrazalam sobie jako szczuplego wysportowanego ale jednak dojrzalego faceta (mniej wiecej 30+), ze szpakowatymi wlosami (pomimo uwag autorki o kruczoczarnych wlosach i niebieskich oczach moja dusza uparla sie widziec go inaczej). Wiedzialam tez, ze ma te wlosy mniej wiecej do ramion. Moje wyobrazenie jednak pozostalo gluche i nieczule na sugestie autorki. Ja go widze jako krotkowlosego szczuplego, szpakowatego faceta okolo 40. Okladka byla pierwszym co mi troszeczke zgrzytalo. Podczas czytania rzadko zdarza mi sie rownoczesnie patrzec na okladke wiec dosc szybko przestalam o tym myslec. \n Nie moglam sie przyzwyczaic, ze tym razem widzimy swiat jego oczami. Zapewne nie protestowalabym, a wrecz przywitalabym z otwartymi ramionami jego narracje na samym poczatku Poison Study, ale nie kiedy jego glownym zmartwieniem jest Yelena i jej bezpieczenstwo. Dosc malo wiarygodnie i malo przekonujaco wypadl w roli bezlitosnego assasina (uwielbiam to slowo <3), kiedy rozczula sie nad ukochana kobieta. Lubie postaci mocne, silne, nieugiete, ktore sobie radza w kazdej sytuacji. Lubie cieple romanse osob po ktorych romansu sie nie spodziewam. Ale do diabla obie te rzeczy razem nie daja w efekcie niczego dobrego. Nieugieta, silna postac robi sie rozmamlana co bardzo negatywnie wplywa na odbior watku romantycznego. Gdyby wpleciono kilka komediowych elementow moze nie bylabym taka niezadowolona, ale nie wpleciono. Na dodatek Valek zaczal robic za dobrego Samarytanina, ktory ratuje kobiety i dzieci. Ja wiem, ze i duzo wczesniej Valek byl facetem z zasadmi. Wyszlo to podczas rozmowy z Yelena, byl ewidentnie urazony i rozczarowany, ze uznala, ze on potrafi rozwiazywac problemy tylko mordujac. Z Assasin Study wyciagnelam jeden istotny wniosek, ze Yelena go dosc mocno zmienila. Juz wczesniej jak sam to mowil napsula mu mnostwo krwi i caly czas sie musial o nia martwic i dbac o jej bezpieczenstwo. Teraz jeszcze musi sie zmagac z dzielaca ich odlegloscia. Ale abstrahujac od pierwszego niezbyt dobrego wrazenia po przemysleniu uznalam, ze autorka jest konsekwentna i naprawde spokojnie moglby to byc rodzial Poison Study. Bez szkody dla fabuly, wrecz przeciwnie. Szkoda, ze nie dostajemy wiecej mozliwosci patrzenia na swiat oczami Valka.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 11:09:44 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 09 02:56:43 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "51f792958fc4205df323561ffa9474d1", "book_id": "1966969", "review_id": "a547448a090ffccf7191a6323cb570ad", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Jelenia i Walka przygod czesc kolejna! \n . \n Nie zdecydowalam sie na publikacje komentarza o Magic Study. Zostawilam go rozbabranego, ale z komentarzem dotyczacym Fire Study nie moge tego zrobic. Ostatnia czesc cyklu nie podobala mi sie az tak bardzo niemniej magia pani Snyder nie pozwolila mi przestac ani na chwile czytac. Byla to jedyna radosc ostatnich dni, ktora trzymala mnie w dobrym nastroju. No i teraz peka mi serducho bo serie skonczylam. Przede mna jest jeszcze Power Study i Ice Study ale to juz nie jest \"to\". Ciekawa jestem czy obydwa dodatki sa utrzymane w podobnej konwencji. Wszystkie 3 czesci, ktore dotad przeczytalam (Assassin study jest troszke za krotkie, zeby sie kwalifikowalo) bazowaly na mniej wiecej tym samym schemacie. Moglam spokojnie przesledzic wzor na jakim autorka opierala kazda ze swych ksiazek. Byla to z mojej strony jedynie obserwacja, do teraz nie jestem w stanie sie odpowiednio ustosunkowac do tego faktu. Najwyrazniej wzor byl dobry i uzywanie do kilka razy nie znudzilo mnie ani troche. \n . \n Najwazniejsza rzecza w ksiazkach sa dla mnie bohaterowie. Dosyc mocno sie przywiazuje do bohaterow, nawet tych, ktorych nieszczegolnie lubie. Jelen nie nalezal do moich ulubiencow i nie bede tego ukrywac. Aczkolwiek po Magic Study zauwazylam jedna interesujaca rzecz, ale najpierw powinnam nakreslic pewne tlo dla moich spostrzezen. Wiekszosc dziel z jakimi mam do czynienia posiada bohaterki, ktore sa ksiezniczkami, ktorymi trzeba sie bezustannie zajmowac i je ratowac. Jesli kobieta jest samodzielna i niezalezna to zazwyczaj jest z nia cos nie tak z innej strony. Yelena jest dla mnie postacia szczegolna poniewaz w calym tym natloku postaci, z jakimi kiedykolwiek mialam do czynienia jest jedna z nielicznych, ktore zwyczajnie szanuje. Nie lubie i mysle, ze nie bylabym w stanie jej polubic. Ale szanuje ja i zycze jej wszystkiego najlepszego. Jest kobieta twarda, jest kobieta inteligentna, z charakterem i jest niezalezna. Na dodatek odwazna i momentami szalenie nieostrozna. Uwazam jednak, ze przy tym jest po prostu pelna wiary we wlasne sily. Either is fine by me. Bardzo przyjemnie bylo obserwowac taka bohaterke. W Magic Study jej notowania w moich oczach rosly z kazda chwila poza jednym aspektem (Leif). W Fire Study nie zrozumialam kilku zdaje sie kluczowych informacji wiec moja ocena jest nieco zafalszowana. Bardzo nie lubie nie rozumiec relacji miedzy ludzmi. Moge nie rozumiec fabuly, to zdarza sie dosc czesto ale nie jestem w stanie sie uspokoic wiedzac, ze cos mi zgrzyta w relacjach postaci. Jednakze sama postac Yeleny nadrabiala niedociagniecia. Dziewczyna w zasadzie od dziecinstwa byla zniewolona w taki czy iny sposob. Niewola przy boku Valka wypelnila puste w jej sercu. Mozna bylo mniemac, ze to milosc ja zmienila. A fige! Pierwszy raz od bardzo dawna zobaczylam dziewczyne, ktora BYLA odwazna, BYLA zdecydowana i BYLA samodzielna. Szalenie mi sie podobalo jak szybko przyzwyczajala sie do nowej sytuacji i od razu brala byka za rogi. Nawet majac w perspektywie smierc bez wzgledu na to co zrobi. Zawsze potrafila znalezc wyjscie z sytuacji. Ponadto ona naprawde byla czlowiekiem, ktorego kochaja klopoty (z Valkiem wlacznie). Ladowala sie zwykle nie tam gdzie trzeba, ale i tak glowna przyczyna problemow bylo to kim byla (czyli cos na co miala niewielki wplyw, ale nie siadala w kaciku placzac tylko parla do przodu). Przy czym dochodzimy tym samym do momentu w ktorym bede sie musiala poznecac nad fabula i ksiazka jako taka. Bardzo podobala mi sie prostota Poison Study, byla magia ale w malej dawce. Malej, znosnej dawce. W Magic Study Yelena pokazala caly swoj charakter wiec przez jakis czas ksiazka podobala mi sie bardziej od poprzedniczki. Jednakze potem kiedy magii zrobilo sie za duzo cos zaczelo mi przeszkadzac. W przeciagu dwoch lat w ksiazce caly swiat stanal na glowie, wszystko sie obracalo tylko dookola Yeleny i wszystko od niej zalezalo. Ja rozumiem, ze bohaterka powinna byc nietuzinkowa ale na bogow... Troche przedobrzyli! Zwlaszcza kiedy wszyscy zaczeli ja traktowac jak dowodce, ktorego nalezy sluchac. Rozumiem, ze Valek, Ari i Janco ja dobrze wyszkolili, to ma nawet sens. Z drugiej strony za duzo zalezalo od jej opartych na czystym szczesciu planow. Nie podobal mi sie tez Moon Man. Koncowka naprawde mnie bardzo niemilo zaskoczyla. Nagle swiatlosc niebieska ja oswiecila. Na dodatek Moon Man seemed to know. Pozwolil umrzec tylu osobom bo nie chcialo mu sie powiedziec jej czegos jasno? Nie zrozumialam tez czemu ona zaczela w pewnym momencie odpychac wszystkich. Nie zrozumialam tez nigdy jej realcji z Leifem. Byla drewniana. Ona mu za szybko wybaczyla. Zreszta na bogow, to on powinien ja przeprosic i blagac o wybaczenie za te idiotyzmy, ktore zrobil, a nie zachowywac sie jak fochnieta primadonna. Bardzo zdegustowal mnie tez watek polityczny. Jak sie dluzej zastanowilam to ona nie pojechala do Sitii z wlasnej nieprzymuszonej woli. Fajnie zobaczyc rodzine, ale ona nigdy Sitii nie traktowala jak domu. Nie rozumiem wiec tym bardziej focha, ze jest zdrajca bo chce wrocic do Valka... Ponadto po tym wszystkim co robila dla Sitian oni zmuszali ja do ciaglego udowadniania, ze warto jej ufac, bez sensu. Watek polityczny nieszczegolnie do mnie przemawial. Nie znam sie, moze dlatego. Wracajac do tego co w ksiazkach cenie najbardziej. Podobalo mi sie, ze postaci sa soba przez caly czas. Zmienialy sie pod wplywem tego co ich spotykalo, ale w glebi serducha pozostawaly soba. Choc najbardziej podobal mi sie watek romantyczny. Relacja Yeleny z Valiem jest naprawde szczegolna i piekna. Niesamowicie mnie zauroczyla maniera w jakiej on do niej mowil, dodajac niemal do kazdego zdania \"love\". To bylo naprawde cos pieknego i uwielbialam ich dialogi glownie z tego wzgledu. Abstrahujac od tego, ze oni zwyczajnie ze soba rozmawiali. Taka pare jestem w stanie sobie wyobrazic. Mozna bylo zauwazyc chemie pomiedzy nimi, widac bylo to ogromne uczucie. Jestem skrzywiona przez japonskie podejscie do tematu, ale brak dramy zwiazanej z watkiem romantycznym byl dla mnie ogromna ulga! Btw dotarlo wlasnie do mnie, ze przeinaczenie imion dwojki glownych bohaterow ujawnia wielka prawde o ich charakterach. Yelena faktycznie byla miejscami naiwna i zachowywala sie jak sploszona lania, tymczasem Valek jezdzil po wszystkich rowno. \n . \n Ghost, huh? Uwielbialam konskie dialogi, po prostu uwielbialam. Byly przepieknie skonstruowane. Lakoniczne i bardzo zwierzece. Nie zrobiono w ksiazce ze zwierzat ludzi tylko pozostawiono je zwierzetami. Jestem na to szczegolnie wrazliwa! Przytocze nawet jeden dialog pomiedzy Kiki i Yelena: \n . \n \"Kiki?\" I asked. \n \"Bad man. No one hurt Lavender Lady.\" \n \"Thanks.\" \n \"Peppermints?\" \n \"When we're done. And apples, too!\" \n . \n Dialogi z konmi byly jednymi z niewielu momentow, kiedy moglam sie posmiac. W Magic Study bylo tych momentow wiecej, ze wzgledu na Irys. Wszystkie sceny gdzie Yelena \"rozkazywala\" innym wykonac to czego nie byla w stanie doprowadzaly mnie do lez ze smiechu. Byly absolutnie cudowne. Szkoda, ze w Fire Study tego zabraklo. Niemniej konskie dialogi spokojnie nadrabialy niedociagniecia w tej dziedzinie. Plus ilosc scen Valek x Yelena satysfakcjonowala moja romantyczna dusze. \n . \n Generalnie caly cykl bardzo mi sie podobal. Zaczynalam od Darke Academy, ktore mi sie nie spodobalo, poprzez Guardians of Time, ktory to cykl spodobal mi sie na tyle, zeby za nim tesknic. Seria Study sprawila, ze jak w przypadku Straznikow nie bylam w stanie sie oderwac od lektury i zdecydowalam sie nawet na karkolomne czytanie przez chwile pdf zanim dorwalam wersje papierowa. Bohaterowie podobali mi sie znaczie bardziej niz w Straznikach, Yelena jest ciekawa i niestandardowa bohaterka jesli chodzi o moje osobiste doswiadczenia w tej materii. Watek romantyczny podobal mi sie w stopniu uragajacym moze nie wszelkim ale pewnym normom. Dzisiaj zaczelam czytac \"Priestess of the White\". Zobaczymy czy przebije w moim rankingu serie Study. W planach mam przeczytanie Power i Ice Study wiec istnieje szansa, ze cos o nich napisze ale niczego nie obiecuje. Cala serie Study bardzo polecam!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 11:09:42 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 09 02:56:18 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "51f792958fc4205df323561ffa9474d1", "book_id": "60510", "review_id": "bad2f125cf15ef12c4db6d932dac0651", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Majac w perspektywie rychle skonczenie cyklu o Straznikach czasu (nie wiem czemu uparlam sie w poprzednim review pisac o nich Obroncy Czasu) postanowilam zawczasu zapchac dusze kolejna ksiazka. Zabawna rzecz kiedy bralam sie za czytanie Poison Study bylam na tym samym wykladzie, na ktorym tydzien wczesniej rozpoczynalam The Named. Jednakze Poison Study mialo niepomiernie mniej szczescia albowiem The Named zaczynalam po skonczeniu 2 tomow Darke Academy, ktore jak wiemy jest nieszczegolna dlan konkurencja. Traf chcial, ze akurat przedwczoraj na wykladzie przeczytalam kilkadziesiat ostatnich, emocjonujacych stron The Key. Niezadowolona i rozczarowana zakonczeniem i smiercia kilku... um, bohaterow, nieszczegolnie mialam ochote zaczynac ksiazke nie zwiazana ze Straznikami. Po jakims czasie zmienilam zdanie (wyjasnienie zmiany zdania mozna znalezc w komentarzu o Straznikach czasu). Pierwsze kilkanascie stron Poison Study nie bylo zachecajacych. Nie lubie czytac ksiazek o armii, mordach, gwaltach, wiezieniach i obrzydliwych stronach zycia. Historia rozpoczyna sie w momencie, w ktorym wiezniarka Yelena zostaje wyprowadzona z wiezienia na egzekucje. Czekala ponad rok w zamknieciu na kare za zamordowanie Reyada, o ktorym jeszcze na ten moment nie wiemy nic. Yelena jest mloda kobieta, ktora pogodzila sie juz z tym co ja czeka. Nie wie, ze smierc nie jest jej przeznaczona. Prosto z wiezienia, w lachmanach, brudna i wystraszona zostaje zaprowadzona do pokoju Valka. Sklada jej on bardzo nietypowa propozycje. Chce aby zostala degustatorem Commander Ambrose, ktory sprawuje aktualnie wladze w panstwie Ixii. Yelena nie zastanawiajac sie dlugo wybiera zycie jako testerka pozywienia i napojow dowodcy. Aby zapewnic sobie lojalnosc Yeleny i aby uniemozliwic ucieczke, Valek zatruwa ja trucizna zwana Butterfly's Dust. Jest to trucizna na ktora tylko Valek posiada antidotum. Aby nie dopuscic do smierci Yeleny, musi on podawac jej codziennie jego porcje. Tym sposobem Yelena zostaje zniewolona po raz kolejny i zmuszona do trudnej i ryzykownej pracy. \n Pierwsze strony ksiazki zawazyly na tym czy ja przeczytam i niebezpiecznie blisko bylam porzucenia lektury. Sprawilo to np imie glownej bohaterki, ktorego nie moge przelknac do teraz. Brzmi rosyjsko, a ja rosyjskich imion nie lubie. Valek jeszcze daje rade, ale Yelena byla ogromnym ciosem zwlaszcza po Straznikach, ktorych imiona naprawde szalenie przypadly mi do gustu. Gdzie Yelenie do Isabel czy Rochelle, ewentualnie Valkowi do Arkariana czy Ethana, bo o Matthiew nie wspomne (imie piekne ale bohater buc). Aczkolwiek pod tym wzgledem i Darke Academy naprawde postawilo wysoko poprzeczke (Ranjit [!!!]). To drobiazg i gdyby ksiazka podobala mi sie mniej zapewne stanowilby wieksza wade. Podczas czytania ksiazki nieco mi to przeszkadzalo. Mam swoje ulubione imiona i jest kilka imion, ktorych nie znosze i czasem rzutuje mi to na kontakt z czlowiekiem, ktory dane imie posiada. Tak samo rzecz sie ma z bohaterami ksiazek i jest to jeden z powodow dla ktorych do Yeleny zywie sympatie ale nic cieplejszego, chociaz ona na to w pelni zasluguje. \n Poczatek fabularnie wydal mi sie interesujacy, zwlaszcza, ze dosc szybko zauwazylam malenkie zwiastuny watku romantycznego. Jestem wielka fanka romansow, ale fanka kaprysna. Zadne Harlequiny mnie nie zaspokoja. Potrzebuje romansu, ktory bedzie watkiem pobocznym i bedzie niestandardowy. Watek w Poison Study w pelni usatysfakcjonowal moje potrzeby i oczekiwania. Rozwiode sie nad tym jeszcze pod koniec. \n Klimat Poison Study jest duzo ciezszy niz Straznikow Czasu. Przeszkadzalo mi to na poczatku poniewaz wole lzejsze lektury, pozniej przywyklam. Ponadto brakowalo mi humoru, ktory w Straznikach wystapil w kilku miejscach. Lubie kiedy negatywne emocje sa sukcesywnie rozladowywane. Tutaj sie wszystko kumulowalo i tylko w paru miejscach czulam ulge. \n Po przeczytaniu okolo 60 stron nadal nie bylam przekonana czy chce to dalej czytac, ale z kazda kolejnastrona chcialam wiecej i wiecej. Zwlaszcza, ze ilosc hintow romansowych sukcesywnie wzrastala. Obserwowanie kolejnych relacji Yeleny z ludzmi bylo szalenie ciekawym doswiadczeniem. Jak sama o sobie mowila, jest czlowiekiem, ktorego klopoty znajduja same. W istocie Yelena co i rusz pakuje sie w nowa kabale. Z klopotow natomiast coraz czesciej wyciaga ja Valek. Poczatkowe zainteresowanie jakim ja obdarzal dosc szybko przerodzilo sie w cos wiecej. Nie bylo to oczywiste, nie bylo to narzucone nachalnie, a jednak czulo sie te ogromna chemie. Podkreslanie malych, nieznaczacych gestow, slow. Wlasnie takie romanse uwielbiam. Doskonale sobie zdaje sprawe z tego, ze to najprawdopodobniej byl watek poboczny, ale dla mnie najistotniejszy. Chociaz to tez nie do konca tak, on po prostu dopelnial wszystkie inne watki. Elementy zdrady i zawiazywania przyjazni bardzo zgrabnie sie przeplataly. Dialogi byly inteligentne i w przypadku postaci czujacych do siebie sympatie niesamowicie cieple. W przeciwienstwie do Straznikow, bohaterowie Poison Study czuli i mieli powody aby sie lubic/nie lubic. Relacja Yeleny z Arim i Janco szalenczo mi sie spodobala, chociaz oni troche za szybko zaczeli sie bawic w jej ochroniarzy. Potrzebowala tego jak malo kto jednak szybkosc wydala mi sie podejrzana. Z drugiej strony czas w ksiazce plynie szybko i obejmuje pol roku, a zwazywszy, ze Yelena spedzala z nimi kazda wolna chwile (swoja droga musze sie zorientowac jak wojsko tam w zasadzie funkcjonuje i jak funkcjonuje w ogole, bo oni naprawde mieli mnostwo wolnego czasu) moze to tlumaczyc zazylosc. Yelena pokazala tez, ze nie jest pierwsza lepsza dziewczyna. Umie o siebie zadbac i chociaz meska reka czesto jej sie przydaje do pomocy to woli inwestowac w sama siebie. Kontrolowana ucieczka byla pieknym pokazem jej umiejetnosci. Oprocz postaci, ktore darzyly ja sympatia zdecydowanie wiecej osob zyczylo jej szubienicy. Zaczynajac od pokojowki i wtyczki Valka - Margg. Potworne babsko, ktore podkladalo jej swinie jak tylko mialo okazje. Poczatkowo Yelena dawala sie wodzic za nos, jednak po rozpoczeciu lekcji samoobrony u Ari i Janco przestala pozwalac aby jej ktos w kasze dmuchal. Podobnie podobalo mi sie rozegranie sytuacji z Nixem. Pieknie sobie poradzila i chyba przy okazji tej scysji uswiadomilam sobie, ze tak, watek romantyczny zyje i ma sie dobrze. Poczawszy od \"our suite\", a na \"should I kill him?\" skonczywszy... Valek stopniowo poswiecal jej coraz wiecej uwagi, coraz bardziej sie o nia troszczyl i coraz wiecej morderczych uczuc zywil do wszystkiego co moglo jej zagrazac w jakikolwiek sposob. Poison Study zaspokoilo to czego nie potrafily zaspokoic Darke Academy i Guardians of Time. Potrzebe zobaczenia normalnie budowanego zaufania, poznawania sie, troski. Relacja Valka i Yeleny niebezpiecznie mi przypominala syndrom sztokholmski ale staralam sie nie zwracac uwagi na tego typu uwagi mojej wrednej duszy, ktora mi nie pozwala cieszyc sie harlequinami. Pewnie wtedy nie czulabym sie taka super bo czytam cos lepszego niz chlam w najczystszej postaci ale mialabym przynajmniej szerszy dostep. Dusza gustuje w romansach subtelnych i nie ma rady, trzeba ja porzadnie karmic. W Darke Academy watek romantyczny byl wyssany z palca i kompletnie idiotyczny, a sympatyczna na poczatku (a przynajmniej intrygujaca i fascynujaca) postac Ranjita okazala sie pomylka. W Guardians of Time nie moglam sie doszukac przyczyn zwiazkow ludzi poza odgornie narzucona rola soulmate'a. W Poison Study relacja jest budowana w nietypowych warunkach, ale konsekwentnie i od podstaw. Budowana w sposob naprawde ciekawy. Oczywiscie nie ma nic zaskakujacego w tym, ze mloda dziewczyna poleciala na pierwszego faceta, ktory jej okazuje uwage i zaufanie i ktory jej broni. Podejrzewam (i tu dopuszczam sie jako biolog z etologicznymi zainteresowaniami pewnego naduzycia bo podejrzewam, ze autorka naprawde nie wchodzila w az takie szczegoly), ze bardziej zadzialaly tu normalne popedy niz lacznosc duchowa. Sama od samca wymagam zaspokojenia potrzeby poczucia bezpieczenstwa w absolutnie pierwszej kolejnosci, tak wiec jestem w stanie Yelene doskonale zrozumiec. Nawet jesli pierwsze powody Valka otaczania Yeleny ochrona nieszczegolnie przypadly mi do gustu (generalnie jak sam twierdzil - lenistwo). Co nie pasuje mi o tyle, ze ona spedzila w wiezieniu rok. Ja nie wiem, czekal na jej pelnoletniosc, czy co? Z drugiej strony jak podkreslal potem, nie chcial tego i zupelnie nie planowal, wiec cos mi tu nie pasuje. Niemniej nie bede sobie tym teraz zawracac glowy. Z biegiem czasu Valek zrobil sie wyraznie cieplejszy w stosunku do niej, zaczal jej ufac. Co prowadzilo do dwoch pieknych scen romantycznych. Ktorych sie nota bene zupelnie nie spodziewalam w tego typu ksiazce kiedy zaczynalam ja czytac. Mam ochote zacytowac ale nie wiem czy ma to wiekszy sens. Sytuacja pierwsza byla oczywiscie grozna i zapewne spory wplyw na rozwoj sytuacji wywarlo napiecie i emocje (nie majace wiele wspolnego z romansem). Niemniej pamietajac rozterki Yeleny, jej odczucia i przemyslenia nie moglam sie powstrzymac przed ogromna fala ciepla jaka mnie zalala w momencie kiedy przeczytalam ten fragment. Nie moglam sie przestac usmiechac i po reszte ksiazki siegnelam dopiero po dluzszej chwili. \n Valek made a makeshift bed of straw in the far corner of \n the cell. After extinguishing and hiding the lantern, he \n yanked me down. I curled on my side with my back to him, \n shivering in my wet clothes. Valek pulled some straw on top \n of us and wrapped an arm around me. He drew me close. I \n stiffened at the contact, but his body heat warmed me, and I \n soon relaxed into his grip. [...] \n To help pass the time, I asked Valek how he had \n become involved with the Commander. I thought it an \n unintrusive question, but he grew so quiet that I regretted \n asking it. After a long pause, he spoke. \"My family lived in Icefaren \n Province before it was renamed MD-1. [...] My father needed to \n replace his equipment to stay in business, but the soldiers \n who came to our house to collect the tax money wouldn't \n listen to reason.\" Valek's arm tightened around me. \n A minute stretched longer before he continued. \"[...]When my \n father told the soldiers that if he paid the full tax amount he \n wouldn't have enough money left to feed his family--\" Valek \n paused for several heartbeats \"--they killed my brothers. \n [...]' The muscles on Valek's arm trembled with tension. \n \"Naturally, I wanted revenge. [...] I wanted the King. [...] \n The royal upper class was so corrupt they paid me \n to kill each other. Then I was commissioned to \n kill a young man named Ambrose \n [...] I ambushed him, [...] Instead of killing me, \n though, Ambrose carved a C on my chest with my \n own knife. [...] I promised him that if he got me close \n enough to kill the King, I would be loyal to him forever. \n [...] He's consistent and loyal to his people. \n And there's been no one in this \n world that I care for more. Until now.\" \n I held my breath. It had been a simple, innocent question. \n I hadn't expected such an intimate response. \n \"Yelena, you've driven me crazy. You've caused me \n considerable trouble and I've contemplated ending your life \n twice since I've known you.\" Valek's warm breath in my ear \n sent a shiver down my spine. \n \"But you've slipped under my skin, invaded my blood and \n seized my heart.\" \n \"That sounds more like a poison than a person,\" was all I \n could say. His confession had both shocked and thrilled \n me. \n \"Exactly,\" Valek replied. \"You have poisoned me.\" He \n rolled me over to face him. Before I could make another \n sound, he kissed me. \n To byl fragment, ktory moglabym zatytulowac \"non-verbal confession\". Tymczasem drugi fragment (verbal confession) bazuje na wczesniej relacji i kontaktach Yeleny i Valka, jest pewnego rodzaju gra slowna. Moja dusza z ogromnym piskiem radosci docenila subtelnosc przekazu i moment jako taki. \n It was time to tell him about my magic. I felt light-headed, \n as if I stood on the edge of the world. Taking a deep breath, \n I related the encounters and conversations I'd had with Irys, \n and how she might be able to help us. \n Valek stood still for a full minute, while my heart thumped \n madly in my chest. \n \"Do you trust her?\" he asked. \n \"Yes.\" \n \"Is there anything else you haven't told me?\" \n My head spun. So much had happened and we still \n needed to stop a powerful magician. Death was a real \n possibility. I wanted Valek to know how I felt. \n \"I love you.\" \n Valek wrapped me in his arms. \"My love has been yours \n since the fire festival. If those goons had killed you, I knew \n then that I would never be the same. I didn't want or expect \n this. But I couldn't resist you.\" \n I molded my body to him, wanting to share his skin. \n Rozplynelam sie. \n Abstrahujac od dosc sympatycznie i cieplo poprowadzonego watku romantycznego fabula ksiazki jako taka srednio przypadla mi do gustu. Jest jeden znaczacy powod mojej niecheci. Ja zwyczajnie nie mam glowy do zawilych intryg. Nie doceniam ich kunsztu dopoki mi ktos nie wyjasni jak wyjatkowo tepiej krowie na miedzy. Mam przewrotnosc i bystrosc dwulatka wiec nieszczegolnie jestem targetem gatunku, ktory okreslam mianem intryg palacowych. Zwykle nie chce mi sie zapamietywac zaleznosci i poszczegolnych rang ludzi. Poison Study nie grzebie sie zbyt gleboko w calym politycznym blotku ale jest to jednak glowny watek. Mam wrazenie, ze kolejna czesc pt Magic Study ma szanse bardziej odpowiadac moim zainteresowaniom. Przyznam sie, ze szalenczo spodobal mi sie podtytul Magic Study: You know things are bad, when you miss your days as a poison taster. W moim pojeciu jest intrygujacy i zachecajacy i chociaz doskonale wiem, ze watku romantycznego bedzie jak na lekarstwo to nie moge powstrzymac glodu duszy, ktora bardzo energicznie pozada kolejnej czesci przygod Yeleny.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 11:09:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 09 02:57:06 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "51f792958fc4205df323561ffa9474d1", "book_id": "104571", "review_id": "05dba7e6f5ef318547a2f43a2a9e12e2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Dzis rano skonczylam trzecia ksiazke z cyklu Marianne Curley The Guardians of time. Sklada sie on z 3 czesci: The Named, The Dark i The Key. Wszystkie trzy czytalam w jezyku angielskim i wplynelo to znaczaco na moj odbior. Odkrylam bowiem, ze kocham czytac w jezyku angielskim. Na dodatek przyznanie sie przed sama soba do tego, co lubie wyszlo mi na zdrowie. \n Podchodzilam do pierwszej ksiazki z trojcy troche jak pies do jeza. Czytalam wczesniej inna ksiazke, pierwsza normalna ksiazke fabularna po angielsku Darke Academy cz.1 i pozostawila ona we mnie pewien niesmak. The Named poczekalo sobie zatem kilka dni zanim dojrzalam do siegniecia po nia. Pierwsze co mi sie rzucilo w oczeta to inny jezyk niz ten, ktorym poslugiwala sie autorka Darke. Zrozumialam w czym rzecz dopiero potem, kiedy serducho rozplynelo mi sie pod wplywem przeczytania ukochanego slowa \"Australia\". Podeszlam do ksiazki dosc sceptycznie. Zaczelam ja czytac w okolicznosciach nieco niesprzyjajacych docenianiu lektury jako takiej, mianowicie na wykladzie z Metodologii, najnudniejszym i najbardziej niezrozumialym na jakim kiedykolwiek bylam. Ever. Nawet fizyka byla bardziej zrozumiala. W takich warunkach wszystko, nawet napisy na lawkach byly bardziej interesujace. Mozna powiedziec, ze ksiazka trafila na sprzyjajacy moment jesli chodzi o ilosc uwagi jaka jej poswiecilam ale bylo to na zasadzie \"lepszy rydz niz nic\". Tydzien pozniej, tzn dzisiaj, konczylam trzecia czesc cyklu na tych samych zajeciach, z wypiekami na twarzy i niemal lzami w oczach pod sam koniec. \n The Named rozpoczyna sie wizja malej dziewczynki mordowanej przez potwora na oczach jej mlodszego brata. Zniesmaczona przypomnialam sobie poczatek Darke Academy, gdzie poczatek wygladal dosc podobnie. Tez byla istota plci zenskiej i tez, oh jakze sie nie spodziewalismy, zostala zamordowana. Nihil novi. W przypadku Darke Academy mielismy do czynienia z nadprzyrodzonymi istotami w subtelnym wydaniu. The Named mnie zaskoczylo naglym wpleceniem watku fantastycznego. Naglym jak naglym, moze powinnam napisac, ze w zasadzie nigdy nie czytywalam fantastyki? Wychodzilam z zalozenia, ze te klimaty mnie nie kreca. O jakze sie mylilam... Porownania do Darke Academy pojawialy sie jedynie na samym poczatku. Oba cykle 3 ksiazkowe, przy czym Darke bylo pierwszym jakiego dotknelam, nic zatem dziwnego ze porownania narzucaly sie same. Darke sie wlasnego wpisu w moim ksiezniczkowym journalu nie doczeka wiec Obroncy Czasu musza mi wybaczyc. Biorac pod uwage jakie peany pochwalne im szykuje mysle, ze zrobia to bez problemu. \n Czytajac sarkastycznie rzucalam sobie uwagi w stylu \"oho, znowuz dziewuszke zamordowali, ciekawe co wykombinuja tym razem\". Zastanawiam sie na ile moj pozytywny stosunek do lektury byl spowodowany mangowo-animowym 6-letnim doswiadczeniem. Jestem obyta z pewnymi schematami, niemal nic mnie nie dziwi (poza Agatha Christie) i mnostwo rzeczy mi sie podoba. Dawniej przeklinalam swoj los zwyklego szarego commonera, ale teraz sie ciesze, ze brak mi wysublimowanego gustu. Bardzo szybko poczulam wiez z glownym bohaterem, co bylo o tyle proste, ze mam slabosc do tych rycerzowatych typow, ktorym tylko bialego konia brakuje (i piatej klepki zazwyczaj tez). Niemniej dopiero pojawienie sie postaci Arkariana zatrzeslo moim dotychczasowym swiatopogladem i otworzylo drzwi do nieznanego mi dotad swiata odczuc i emocji i ssania pt:\"bo-ja-to-musze-teraz-koniecznie-czytac\". Wystarczylo, ze facet ma niebieskie wlosy, fioletowe oczy, wyglada jak 18 latek mimo szesciu setek na karku. Tak drodzy panstwo, Arkarian jest starym prykiem i na dodatek pedofilem o czym swiadcza jego sklonnosci, ktorych nie omieszkam wspomniec za chwile. Glowny bohater - Ethan wydal mi sie bardzo sensowny, chociz setting na poczatku mnie mocno klul w poczucie realizmu. Nie martwie sie tym teraz bo poczucie realizmu zdechlo niedlugo potem i nie bylo czego kluc. Setting jest idiotyczny i zawiera dziury jak stad do Ameryki. Na szczescie poza kilkoma momentami kiedy absurd sytuacji przebijal sie przez moja slepote na idiotyzmy przedstawionego swiata nie przeszkadzalo mi to az tak bardzo. W sumie mialam poczekac z tym do konkluzji, ale nie moge sie oprzec. Fascynuje mnie jedna sprawa, jakim cudem cos co ma tak kretynski setting i bohaterow, ktorzy sie zachowuja jakby cos im mozgi wyzarlo, moglo mnie trzymac w takim napieciu. Czytalam ksiazki z wypiekami na twarzy zapominajac o calym swiecie. Chcialam tylko czytac i czytac i czytac i przezywalam lekture jak mrowka okres. Bylam niesamowicie ciekawa co bedzie dalej i czego sie dowiem i jaka relacja tym razem sie utworzy. W sumie ksiazke trudno nazwac nieprzewidywalna, zaskoczyla mnie bodaj dwa razy, cala reszte sobie moglam dospiewac. Moje obeznanie ze znaczacymi zblizeniami w anime sluzylo mi pomoca w przewidywaniu wydarzen. Nic nie dzieje sie przypadkowo i dopoki nie mamy do czynienia z Durara czy Baccano nawet ja jestem w stanie ogarnac, ze podkreslanie dwa razy \"jakie on ma ZIELONE oczy\" mocno sugeruje kto stanowi istotna postac w gronie naszych robaczkow. Tozsamosc Bastiana nie byla trudna do odgadniecia. \n Kto nie czytal Obroncow, a chce niech nie czyta dalej bo sie zaspoileruje. Jakbym znala spoilery przypuszczalnie duzo wieksza uwage zwracalabym na wady historii. Koncowka mnie trzymala w napieciu. Nawet pomimo niesamowicie irytujacego Matta i Rochelle, z ktorej sie nie wiadomo kiedy zrobila przestraszona straumatyzowana dzieweczka. A ktora autorka twardo przedstawia jako outsiderke z wyboru, opryskliwa i z charakterem, ktory deprymuje innych. Pozadalam jak kania dzdzu momentu w ktorym Ethan wreszcie przyzna przed samym soba, ze tak to ONA jest jego soulmatem. W ogole to dzieciaczki fajnie mieli, wszystkie soulmaty pod nosem, pozazdroscic. Co by bylo wszak jakby soulmate byl chinczykiem, ktory sobie umarl 3000 lat wstecz? To by byl dopiero ambaras! Ale nie, tak zle nie bylo. Mielismy tylko pairing 16 latki z 630 letnim facetem. Nic szczegolnego w koncu... \n Bedzie mala dygresyjka, jako zywo nie moge przestac, myslac o komnatach Arkariana, wyobrazac sobie tego stolu kuchennego u Gumisiow razem z calym pomieszczeniem. Wizja mi bardzo pasuje do opowiesci. \n Przechodzac do powaznej analizy bo juz mi w kolejce tupie kolejna ksiazka. Nie dosc, ze rano skonczylam jedna to kolejnego dnia wieczorem juz jest po kolejnej. Nie poznaje siebie, jak mojego Kazehaye kocham! \n Moje zdziwienie iloscia elementow nadprzyrodzonych trwalo dosyc krotko. Zwlaszcza, ze dosc szybko spodobal mi sie pomysl i postaci. Narracja wg kilku bohaterow byla wysmienitym pomyslem. Uwazalam tak tylko do momentu przeczytania kolejnej czesci czyli The Dark gdzie wyszlo mi to bokiem, nosem i uszami. Pomysl sam w sobie nieglupi, jednak wykonanie polozylo go na lopatki. Ja sie przywiazuje do bohaterow, ktorych poznaje jako pierwszych. Ethan zatem zajal zaszczytne miejsce i lubilam go wlasciwie do samego konca nawet pomimo kilku wpadek z Mattem (aczkolwiek podziwiam go do dzis za uzasadnienie dlaczego Mattowi nie przylal jak ten go pobil o Isabel po raz pierwszy). Jego trauma i rozterki byly prawdziwe i poczatkowe uzeranie sie z Isabel przeurocze. Lubie formowanie przyjazni w ten wlasnie sposob. Arkarian dopelnial obraz, bedac tajemniczym bizonem w czarnym bucie. Z niebieskimi wlosami i fioletowymi oczami o czym autorka przypominala na kazdym kroku. Ethan generalnie duzo sie nie zmienil przez wszystkie czesci poza tym, ze irytowalo mnie jego niezdecydowanie. Nie ufal Rochelle, dobrze, mial prawo. Ale do diabla czemu jej tak uparcie bronil? To nie mialo sensu! Bo jego intuicja... Intuicja psia jego mac! Na dodatek potem wychodzily wielkie fochy o czytanie mu w glowie. Nagle jak sie Rochelle usprawnila w tej kwestii to wykrywal kazde wejscie do jego glowki na jakie sie odwazyla. Niestety jest to jedna z dziurek faublarnych, ktora sprawia ze czasami mialam wrazenie, ze patrze na podarte sitko zamiast na Fabule-chan. Arkarian na poczatku byl facetem sensownym, z planem, z tajemnica za pasem. Byl ciekawy, z biegiem czasu zaczal sie z niego robic rozmamlaniec, ktory Wierzy i UFA. To dotyczylo wszystkich, w stosunku do Isabel jednak bil rekordy. Jego zachowanie przypominalo zachowanie 13 latka, ktory sie zakochal po raz pierwszy. Wiwat dojrzalosc u faceta, ktory ma 630 lat i cialo 18 latka. Nie powinno mnie to dziwic, cialo 18 latka sugeruje calkiem intensywna impreze hormonow w srodku wiec moze ja sie czepiam. Isabel zachowywala sie duzo sensowniej na poczatku. Poza jednym aspektem. Teraz przejde do ciernia, ktory mnie dziabal od samego poczatku, ktorego nie moglam zniesc i na ktory nie moglam patrzec. Matt. Ten facet doprowadzal mnie do furii, do szalenstwa. Dziwie sie, ze go nikt nie zabil wczesniej. Jego pozalcie sie niebiosa poczucie odpowiedzialnosci bylo wziete z powietrza i nie trzymalo sie kupy. Obrona siostry jest ze wszech miar chwalebna, ale ten idiota zajmowal sie jedynie tym, jak uprzykrzyc jej zycie. Czego nie moglam zniesc natomiast, ze wszyscy mu na to pozwalaja i cackaja sie z nim jak ze smierdzacym jajkiem. Byly powody zeby sie cackac jak swiatlo dzienne ujrzala Przepowiednia. Wczesniej nie widzialam zadnego powodu zeby pozwalac mu na tak skandaliczne zachowanie. Przeginal zwlaszcza z wpychaniem sie z nosem do zwiazku Arkariana i Isabel, gdzie jakos trudno bylo mi sobie wyobrazic zeby robili cos naprawde zlego. JEMU nikt sie nie mial prawa wpychac do zwiazku z Rochelle, ale w druga strone to robil co chcial. Nie masz to jak zaufanie. Kolejna postacia tego typu, przez ktora toczylam piane z pyska byl Dillon. Wrzod na... Wrzod. Niech bedzie, ze pobil akurat osobe ktora na obicie mordy zaslugiwala od dawna, ale nie w tym kontekscie. Nie wiem czemu z uporem maniaka autorka robila z postaci kukielki, ktorymi sobie majtala jak jej sie podobalo nie dbajac o logike ich poczynan. Konstrukcja postaci lezala i kwiczala i najwyrazniej podrygiwala w agonii. To jak bardzo out of character zachowywaly sie postaci w trzeciej czesci powinnam moze pominac uprzejmym milczeniem. Ale nie pomine, bo narratorami byli jedynie Matt i Rochelle. Gdzie z Matta wychodzil sukinkot jakich malo natomiast z Rochelle niesmiala panienka. Gdzie sie podziala odwazna, charakterna manipulatorka? Nie lubie postaci w tym typie, ale one naprawde zyja i ja doceniam jesli prowadzone sa konsekwentnie. Rochelle obijala sie pomiedzy uczuciem do Ethana, a poczuciem wyobcowania z grupy. Dillon zachowywal sie jak tlumok, ktory nie rozumie co sie do niego mowi. Ktos powinien byl mu dac po pysku w odpowiednim czasie i nawet nie upieram sie, ze koniecznie musiala to byc Neriah. Osoby, ktore maja lepsza percepcje na idiotyzmy fabularne powinny sobie zdecydowanie lekture odpuscic. \n Zglosze jeszcze tylko jeden protest, bardzo chcialam rozwiazania watku Lorian i Lady Arabelli. No glupi byl jak but, ale chcialam jakiegos ognistego romansu miedzy zimnym Niesmiertelnym, a Lodowa dama. Lorian zyl sobie iles wiekow i tak go nagle naszlo \"oh kurna jaka szkoda, ze w sumie to nie nie mam plci, mimo ze jestem facetem, polecialbym na nia!\". Co mi przypomina, ze ilosc informacji w stylu \"o, to jestes moim ojcem?\" nasuwa nieodparte skojarzenia z Moda na sukces. Romanse zreszta tez. Ale nie, Lorian sobie zdechl. I nie bylo ognistego romansu :< Zabicie Rochelle tez bylo idiotyczne i wrzucone bardzo na sile w fabule ksiazki, w ktorej wczesniej osoba zabita spokojnie wracala do swiata zywych. Nie mialo to za grosz sensu. Odnioslam wrazenie, ze autorka chciala zeby zakonczenie bylo dramatyczne wiec zabila randomowo postaci, ktore sie jeszcze do swoich drugich polowek nie zdazyly przywiazac. Coby nie bylo zbyt sielankowo. Zabieg zostawil mnie z bardzo duzym niedosytem w sercu. Tak samo jak i zakonczenie, ktore ja zakwalifikowalam do urwanych. To bylby ten moment w anime, w ktorym bym rzucala przedmiotami po scianach, ze nie ma jeszcze jednego podsumowujacego i rozluzniajacego napiecie odcinka. Zapewne stad ogromna potrzeba skomentowania przeczytanej historii. Od wczoraj nie daje mi spokoju. Mam nadzieje, ze niniejszym komentarzem odczepie sie wreszcie od tych ksiazek. \n I to wszechobecne nagradzanie niesubordynacji!!! Na to zabraklo mi nawet slow komentarza, nawet moj sarkazm wysiadl. \n Jakkolwiek z powyzszego podsumowania wynika, ze lektura jest rzadkim chlamem nie moglam sie od niej oderwac, tesknie za nia i naprawde rozbudzila we mnie niesamowite zadze o jakie sie nie podejrzewalam. Zadze czytania, pochlaniania kolejnych lektur i pisania o nich. Moglabym bez konca czytac o tamtym swiecie i o postaciach. Autorka umiala trzymac w napieciu i nie nudzilam sie ani przez chwile. I za to wielkie brawa.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 11:09:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 09 02:57:29 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "903b5c27ed129bc651f310280d9c6d22", "book_id": "162898", "review_id": "ec07b892e87e6177cd9c946ad4d9276d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I got about more than half way through and had to skip/ skim through to the end. It was a good book, don't get me wrong, but I just had a hard time keeping up with/ understanding the conversations. Mark Twain is a genius and this story proves it. Truly a classic.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 11 07:56:36 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu May 08 07:07:09 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu May 08 07:07:09 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Mar 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "903b5c27ed129bc651f310280d9c6d22", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "61818264c1e2a352147206a996b3f70d", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Just bought this book on a whim and then read the comments.... Now I'm not sure if I want to spend my time reading it...", "date_added": "Sun Sep 08 07:15:00 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 08 07:21:05 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47e063740482b4217e3a84c0f3c06d08", "book_id": "25254201", "review_id": "15384fc33eed29c951165cdb1ab2a78b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Actual Rating: 4.5 \n And so it begins......", "date_added": "Fri Jul 10 14:01:18 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 19 16:39:09 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jul 10 14:01:56 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47e063740482b4217e3a84c0f3c06d08", "book_id": "17878931", "review_id": "d6e9af206f3665ee51599825676a0aa0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Actual Rating: 4.5 \n So.... First off, I want to say that this book is unique despite what many people are saying. Sure, it sort of has somewhat similar aspects to other books, but this book/series is in no way a copy or inspired by any other series. Seriously, there can only be so many series out without some \"sort of\" overlap with the world building. So, for those scared to read it because you're afraid it'll just be a repeat of something you've enjoyed, don't be. This book stands well on it's own.... Anyways, I really enjoyed this book, but I do have to say that there was something that I can't explain that prevented me from being over the top like FIVE STARS! FIVE STARS! YASSSS!! The story was fast paced, and the world building didn't completely overtake the book, which I appreciate since first books often do that. I really like what the book has going for it.. a sort of modern/post-apocalyptic (almost) fantasy-esque setting and the class division between the Red and Silver bloods. Also, I like how there are classes of powers as well. As for the romance aspect of this book, I do have to say I was confused on who I wanted to root for for a period of time.. but that's just because there seemed to be a love.. square? But you'll see what I'm talking about when you read it... but yeah, this book was definitely more action, than romance, which I was really digging since I was on a contemporary YA/NA kick for a while. All in all, I can't wait to continue this series. GAH. When's the next book coming out again? Also... I KNEW that was going to happen in the epilogue. OH yeah.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 12 18:44:36 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 19 15:56:35 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Apr 19 15:56:35 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Feb 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47e063740482b4217e3a84c0f3c06d08", "book_id": "22396077", "review_id": "dd4946ccbeb931615df497a16a55a6db", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Actual Rating: 4.5 \n This book was SO good. Just what I wanted and enough to bring me out of my reading slump. I love worlds like this where the fairy tale worlds and mortals worlds co-exist (although, I never expect peacefully). This book had fantasy and adventure and romance and intrigue and it was so perfectly YA. I was in such a reading slump and this took me right out. When I started this the gritty narrative reminded me of Alex's voice from \"The Female of the Species\" which is what initially pulled me in, but the plot and the world and the characters really brought it home for me. Growing up I always envisioned fairies as Tinkerbell and thought, \"eh, whatever\"... but it's books like these and series like \"Lost Girl\" who have really developed the image of the fae/fairies. I loved this, and although I was satisfied with the ending, I still felt like something was missing for me (even though idk what it is)... Anyways, would definitely recommend!", "date_added": "Mon Jan 12 18:43:02 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 29 19:15:20 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Aug 29 19:10:09 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Aug 17 19:09:25 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47e063740482b4217e3a84c0f3c06d08", "book_id": "23475666", "review_id": "b604a7db7c47b050d6c69216ed61f63b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm freaking SCREAMING right now.. out of both happiness and laughter. Seriously, if there is not a third book to this series then I don't know how I'll be able to live with myself. Perfect. This was perfect. I need more Wesley... I mean...... >:}", "date_added": "Wed Oct 29 19:33:21 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 06 19:14:07 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47e063740482b4217e3a84c0f3c06d08", "book_id": "20613470", "review_id": "4564f853fa2a6bbf2a25cd3f1b9f874d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Omg. Can the next book come now or nah? Oh, and officially Team Rowan, even if he may not be a love interest. He's just great.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 04 09:09:28 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 08 23:05:09 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47e063740482b4217e3a84c0f3c06d08", "book_id": "15798673", "review_id": "2ae17e762e61a52795fe77fc66a218bb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Actual Rating: 4.5 \n Wow. This book was really good. Not my usual read, but damnit. Ness is a damned good story teller. I kept wanting to know more and more what would happen even in the back of my mind I already knew (much like Connor). It made my heart ache, but unfortunately I didn't cry (even though I wanted to). This story is told so beautifully and I got through it with decent time as well. It's both slow-burning and fast-paced. Contradictory. Much like human nature (as said by the Monster). Very powerful story about grief, loss, and acceptance.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 15 23:35:15 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 20 22:45:17 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47e063740482b4217e3a84c0f3c06d08", "book_id": "20522862", "review_id": "4302e596633bb18832d0ed66ab7bb7f8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Actual Rating: \n 3.8 \n The book started off exciting for me, then mellowed for most of the book and then got really exciting at the end. I do have to say.. I did not see that coming. Again, a rather fast paced book and I could really do without the breaking-the-4th-wall recaps all throughout the beginning of the book. I did like seeing everyone's character and their relationships develop, and I can't wait to see Adrian's purpose further into the series. I might be being a little too critical.. but there were definitely just \"awww mann\" moments for me, rather than \"Oh sh*t\" moments. I'd like to see more action throughout the book and not just saved til the end like the first book too.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 13 11:52:44 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 07 17:27:06 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47e063740482b4217e3a84c0f3c06d08", "book_id": "8891878", "review_id": "b757c2e157d40cfad58b6c3609ad8122", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Actual Rating: 3.5-3.75 \n I definitely liked this more than Frostbite, but maaaaaaaaaaaaaan. Why? I'll update this to something more eloquent in the morning when I'm more composed.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 13 11:52:44 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 08 22:48:45 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Nov 13 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47e063740482b4217e3a84c0f3c06d08", "book_id": "13638131", "review_id": "e3aca7329f9ca2127a6164835f1af829", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ahhhh, finally a sequel that is just as good as it's predecessor. I definitely love the fact that there's more Wesley in this book. Squeeee >.< I know it says I took a week but honestly it's just because I've been busy. I literally read like half of this book just yesterday before finally finishing it up today. I love Mac's character because she is just so real to me. She's also smart and flawed and clever and doubtful and kick-ass and is just an awesome protagonist to follow. I reaaaaaally really hope there's a third book or this is turned into a series because I really just want to see more of this world and these amazing characters. Hey, maybe it could be turned into a mystery type series, haha. But either way, I loved this book and the writing was just as impeccable as expected. I would highly recommend.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 17 19:00:16 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 17 18:59:21 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47e063740482b4217e3a84c0f3c06d08", "book_id": "17620113", "review_id": "8c02d3421dd65d6521a104397485df9d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "ACTUAL RATING: 4.75 \n OMG. It's been a while since I've been pretty satisfied by the ending of a series. This book was great and I couldn't put it down. It was so fast paced and easy to zip through. I love Cate's character because she's a fighter and is the furthest thing from perfect which makes her real and relatable and someone to look up to. \n SPOILERS AFTER THIS POINT \n Yeah, so.... As much as I loved this book I would've loved for an epilogue of Cate and Finn finally working things out and finally getting married. I guess I'm a sucker for a happy ending, but I was really expecting/hoping for that to see where everyone ended up (and I was totally shipping Allistair and Rilla). And idk but I was pretty bummed that Alice died and Robert too, but I'm glad Vi will be with Tess. But yeah, I seriously wanted to read about Finn finally and completely falling for her again and wanted to read of their marriage and possibly a daughter who also turned out to be a witch. It would've been nice to see her as a mother and Finn as a father. I guess I'll just have to imagine it! And I'm both relieved and sad that the series has ended. I'm really going to miss the characters and the world and it plan on revisiting them some time in the future.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 17 18:50:25 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 19 19:52:05 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47e063740482b4217e3a84c0f3c06d08", "book_id": "17910471", "review_id": "c48fb3a9f9d497446599958b2a159bba", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 Stars. Pretty freaking awesome! \n This book was rather spectacular. I have to say there was a moment or two of predicatability, but that didn't keep me from reading on. This book is smart and dark and intriguing. It opens us to a world of evil and corruption, and the flaws of humanity. The story was very fast-paced and elegantly woven and did play out as a movie in my head. The back and forth time skips definitely helped with that effect. I love thinking about the possibility of EOs and finding out different powers. I would definitely recommend this book.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 29 20:25:38 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 22 06:34:41 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47e063740482b4217e3a84c0f3c06d08", "book_id": "18135756", "review_id": "f2022baa6c3071106cd7586c7188e900", "rating": 5, "review_text": "All I can say is \"I F*CKING KNEW IT\".... and this book was so good and fast paced and I wanted to cry. Also, Finn has easily found his way on my top book boyfriends list.<3", "date_added": "Mon Sep 23 21:15:03 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 24 16:41:40 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Oct 24 16:41:40 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47e063740482b4217e3a84c0f3c06d08", "book_id": "16096824", "review_id": "b0c89d7038cd0407f1b76d05d1b65865", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Already know this is my favorite book of this year. Sarah really broke the mold with this book. I LOVE the world, the characters, and omgoodness this was so good. I seriously don't know how I have to get through this semester just to read the next one. This was everything I never knew I needed and my only regret was that I didn't read this earlier.. then again if I did I'd had to wait even longer for A Court of Mist and Fury. I think I may like this series better than ToG... We shall see :D", "date_added": "Tue Sep 17 22:16:43 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 22 12:04:46 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jan 21 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47e063740482b4217e3a84c0f3c06d08", "book_id": "7896527", "review_id": "32c6d4ffc4a2137c977add7041dbb533", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5-4.7 stars. \n Fast-paced and just fantastic. Such a strong and kick-ass female protagonist who just makes you root for her all the way through. Not a full five because I would've wanted a stronger ending or I suppose \"cliffhanger\" into the next book. But UGH. The FEEEEEEELS in this book. Just go out and read it. You'll understand. It's action-packed, cleverly written, and a great book. This book has actually been my first fantasy book/series and I have to say this book has definitely gotten me into expanding my reading into this genre. \n Trust me and test this series out. You won't regret it.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 16 00:19:37 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 22 14:10:54 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47e063740482b4217e3a84c0f3c06d08", "book_id": "7791997", "review_id": "b73d2bff03d3be665d175def3ace714e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "SUU MANY EMOTIONS -sobs heavily into pillow- D: waaaah", "date_added": "Tue Jun 25 17:37:19 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 10 18:28:07 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47e063740482b4217e3a84c0f3c06d08", "book_id": "10929432", "review_id": "87cbb2c74e2a8e0d6f5524a40f81f8ae", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Actual Rating: \n 4.8 \n Ooops. I definitely did not mean to stay up and finish.... But wow. Such a captivating story. Victoria Schwab is a creative literary genius and I cant wait to dive deeper into her mind by reading the rests of her books. The Archived was beautifully written with such real characters. I was hooked from the first chapter, and although I have to admit my attention wavered somewhere after chapter 4 for a little while.. it still picked up pretty dang quick. Honestly, if it wasn't for my busy school schedule I could've finished this in one sitting. It's that good. Also, I just adore the world building and this notion that our world is actually 3 separate worlds and the whole idea of this story is just brilliant. I would definitely recommend.", "date_added": "Wed May 08 20:23:46 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 21 01:22:16 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Mar 21 01:22:16 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Mar 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47e063740482b4217e3a84c0f3c06d08", "book_id": "18079710", "review_id": "2022db0cfd4451e57c7430a9cc2a66d7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Actual Rating \n : 3.8 \n I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's semi fast-paced, but definitely an easy read. I love reading from Rose's POV, as she is a kickass female protagonist and the close bond between her and Lissa is really refreshing and definitely makes me want a friendship like theirs. This book was definitely a great start to the series and I really want to go out and see the movie adaptation for it already! As always, there is a good deal of world building and character set-up since it's the first book, but there were still definitely some \"Oh sh*t\" moments. I've been put off on whole vampire-themed YA books since the whole Twilight fandom kicked off (as did the parodies and such)and was ruined for me, but this book was pretty unique. I really like how there's two classe of vampires and the fact that some can wield elemental magic. The vampire aspect isn't so typical and I'm just a sucker for books set in boarding schools. All in all, I can't wait to see what the rest of the series has in store for me. \n SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT: \n I totally knew I couldn't trust Natalie. Pfffffft.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 02:57:11 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 07 17:29:15 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47e063740482b4217e3a84c0f3c06d08", "book_id": "13330943", "review_id": "d97a9d3c76780e045e337bcbfb178660", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Actual rating \n : 3.7-3.9 \n This books actually feels like a story your-rather theatrical-English teacher is reading to you while they tell you to sit back, close your eyes, and just listen to the story. \n The Night Circus was beautifully written and the story line was story line was great, but did get muddled in some spots for me. I'm still unsure how I feel about the book, and I'm not quite sure if that's because of \"book hangover\". I liked how the story also incorporated a 2nd person POV. Pretty darn original. \n I loved the characters, but I didn't get attached to them as much as I had wanted to. Like the love story, the build up was forever for me, honestly. Kind of reminded me of the Ginny/Harry love pair in the HP movies. There wasn't much of a build-up, it just happened. HOWEVER, when it did happen. Their romance was full of beauty and tragedy, as in any good book couple. Another thing was that it took a while to get used to the time jumps, but overall it was an interesting read. Highly descriptive, but I'm neutral as to whether that made the book better for me. Despite that, I loved the circus described and makes me wish I could live in a world with a circus of that caliber. It sounds truly like a dream.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 20 19:21:54 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 07 17:29:32 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47e063740482b4217e3a84c0f3c06d08", "book_id": "13582806", "review_id": "77eb86708308ca70ff088bae5949ad2f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Actual Rating: \n 4.8ish \n I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I really wish I had read the series before watching the movies. I completely love all the world building and all the different, quirky characters. I love how J.K. Rowling was able to create this world or magic and mysticism flawlessly and the whole concept is just so beautifully creative. I wouldn't say I was speeding through the book, but it was definitely easy to read and get through. I would say it's probably because I already knew what was going to happened and I never got to experience the world on my own, in my own head before the movies came out. I definitely want to continue on with the series, and I look forward to doing so! :)", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 21:12:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 08 08:06:06 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Mar 25 14:52:34 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47e063740482b4217e3a84c0f3c06d08", "book_id": "301082", "review_id": "f4eaed09b843eeea3ebfe7b4fe4449d6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It's the first book in the series so it had a lot of introductory stuff I've already learned from the series (which I love), but it was still good. I was worried that since I already know what would happen from watching True Blood that I would get bored, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 20:12:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 14 06:18:15 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jun 14 06:18:15 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "541909efb142dea27044d2b38cce2855", "book_id": "15767586", "review_id": "c4a092bb839816e9103b8631a77929e8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I wish I could give it more than 5 stars. Without giving anything away, this book was a complete emotional roller coaster (which is a good thing). This is by far my favourite of Ms. Kenyons books (although they are all amazing and worth 5 stars each).", "date_added": "Sat May 03 14:49:25 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 13 06:19:39 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jan 13 06:19:39 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Nov 21 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "541909efb142dea27044d2b38cce2855", "book_id": "15749143", "review_id": "d29b79d394d6bdcaf45c2b9a9a2f2554", "rating": 5, "review_text": "WOW! Keri Arthur has done it yet again. Kept me on the edge of my seat. The only negative thing I can say about this book is that is came out to far ahead of Darkness Splintered. I don't want to wait until November to continue this story! LOL! I absolutely love this series. I have gotten lost reading just as I did with Rileys series. You are awesome Keri Arthur!", "date_added": "Mon May 27 06:12:19 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon May 27 06:17:38 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri May 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "541909efb142dea27044d2b38cce2855", "book_id": "15985348", "review_id": "6e884fc07e2d99d45480be00591d95fc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Not impressed how this series ended. :(", "date_added": "Mon May 27 06:08:09 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat May 03 15:09:50 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed May 29 11:05:33 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "541909efb142dea27044d2b38cce2855", "book_id": "4352708", "review_id": "67f793626c4ee90996abe24a05f5a88b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I think that this has to be one of my absolute faves of Sherrilyn Kenyons Dark Hunter books. The story of Fang and Aimee had me crying at times, laughing, angry, devastated and utterly happy. I haven't read a book like that, where I was put on an emotional roller coaster. Kudos to you, Ms. Kenyon.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 14 20:10:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 15 21:13:26 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "541909efb142dea27044d2b38cce2855", "book_id": "28195", "review_id": "b34219a11629bba2326c94d9e0c75c1d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another book I just couldn't put down. I was sucked into this book right after reading Ink Heart. You will feel as though you are right there with the characters. It is great! Cornelia Funke is an amazing author.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 11 11:34:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 11 11:38:02 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "541909efb142dea27044d2b38cce2855", "book_id": "12363978", "review_id": "2c9dc5cd7a514435f3db69e32a08b164", "rating": 5, "review_text": "WOW!!!! I don't really think I could write a review without spoiling everything. I do however will say one thing. I so want Risa and Azriel to get together. Cannot wait for Darkness Hunts to come out. Is November here yet? LOL!!!", "date_added": "Fri Jul 06 09:51:26 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 12 15:35:09 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "541909efb142dea27044d2b38cce2855", "book_id": "9380186", "review_id": "90e525f001b1104d24a18649a3c8b335", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Excellent novel. I love it because it has a lot of stuff from the Riley Jenson Guardian series. That is one of my favourites to read. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. I just couldn't put it down. \n Risa is this woman, half aedh - half werewolf, and she has to find these \"keys\" for the gates (which is where the dead pass through). The challenges that she is faced with along the way make her an even stronger force to be reckoned with. She has help from her best friends Tao (werewolf) and Iliana (mere-shifter and witch), and a reaper named Azriel (whom she has feelings for but doesn't know why and doesn't want them). She falls for a former aedh, Lucien, with whom she starts an open relationship with. I don't want to ruin the story by saying anything else. You will just have to read to find out for yourselves. You won't regret it!! \n ****I'd like to see if anything ends up happening with Azriel?****", "date_added": "Fri Jul 06 09:51:22 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 12 15:34:58 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "541909efb142dea27044d2b38cce2855", "book_id": "10407279", "review_id": "3da6d7da5fc0b6e95fb5b478beee3973", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Well I must say that I am glad the series is over. I absolutely loved the Southern Vampire series up until the last couple of books. Even with the last few novels dragging I still would recommend the series to others to read. This last book was almost a waste as everything was summed up so quickly and with a lot of recaps from the other books. Take the recaps away and you have a book that's maybe 100 pages. I was disappointed in this book though. =( Being the last novel, there could have been more added to the end, but I guess we just interpret it the way we want to.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 06 09:09:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat May 03 15:09:46 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "541909efb142dea27044d2b38cce2855", "book_id": "8508870", "review_id": "b52566d1200392c3378c73f7207b68a2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "LOVE IT!!! This book is juicy. Its got a great plot and some really steamy moments. Once I started to read this book I couldn't put it down. Next thing I knew I had read all 5 Scanguards Vampire books and I am eagerly waiting for the next one. I would definitely recommend them all!!!!!!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 11:49:59 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 12 15:37:06 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "541909efb142dea27044d2b38cce2855", "book_id": "172764", "review_id": "ef76768c80884ad89ae1399502cd543e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "If you haven't read Keri Arthur you should definitely start with the Riley Jenson Guardian series. My friend gave me the first 3 books to read and I was hooked. Bought them all on my Kobo. Full Moon Rising is amazing from start to finish. I highly recommend this whole series!!!!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 11:49:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 12 15:34:04 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "541909efb142dea27044d2b38cce2855", "book_id": "301082", "review_id": "f96f9297ed5b68473edce0fc016b9437", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I started watching the show True Blood first before I even bought this book. It got me hooked and I just had to read the books. This first book is almost a \"dead\" ringer of Season 1. I was amazed at how close they got. I absolutely loved this book and couldn't wait to go onto the 2nd. I would definitely recommend this for anyone who is a fan of the show or who just loves the supernatural world. =) Happy reading everyone!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 11:43:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 11 09:04:55 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "541909efb142dea27044d2b38cce2855", "book_id": "28194", "review_id": "cf7c40f109c09e3fdeca685427bafbc0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I read this book after I watched the movie. Man o Man the book is by far way better than the movie. I loved the movie, don't get me wrong, but after reading this book, I wish they did the movie differently. I could not put this book down. I had to start reading the 2nd one right after this one. It is a very addicting series. I would have loved to see this whole series put into movies. \n Cornelia Funke sure knows how to bring her characters to life. I felt as though I was in the story as I read it. Her descriptions are amazing. I definitely recommend this book to others. You won't be able to put it down and then you will be hooked. =)", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 11:37:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 11 11:34:27 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "20337191", "review_id": "f1d663bf2da78219080fe6bd772a86a5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ivy is a little feisty to say the least. This book is filled with mystery, lvd, humor, and lots of sarcasm! A great 2nd book to the Sage Spring Series.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 21 12:57:30 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 21 12:58:52 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "21503293", "review_id": "6adb24f8814584e3be78d3d9989d47f6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I am lucky enough to have been chosen to beta read this book! This was a very good book. Some intense moments, keeps you a bit on the edge. I stayed up reading it until 1 am to finish it for the MUCH anticipated ending to book 1. I get to design the cover for this and now my head is swimming with ideas. If you love olden times, swoon worthy men who have a good heart but are portrayed a little bad at times, and a beautiful women whose heart is torn this is a great book for you! easy to read and while I found the first a tad bit slow, it quickly picks up and had me waiting in anticipation to see what would happen next!", "date_added": "Tue Apr 01 10:13:53 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 01 10:17:28 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Apr 01 13:52:04 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "18215187", "review_id": "18c73389380c56c29bacd19bf8795ba4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Talk about some unexpected twists in the final book, but oh so good, and leaves with closure! Thank you for leaving us with closure!", "date_added": "Tue Feb 25 13:30:10 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 11 08:26:48 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jun 11 08:26:48 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "18718879", "review_id": "6339e443a25a10981553fa7b631023b5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I LOVE Hollie, and I love her books as well. I was actually at her house when i finished this. And lets just say she got an earful of my thog=ughts on this books. LOL. It was wonderfully written and the following stories about the 3 girls lives in sage Springs just get better and better. I was very passionate about this book. Lets just say things didn't end the way I though they should have and as her photographer and Designer I let her know it! bahaha... I don't want to give ANYTHING away. But this is a WONDERFUL day read that you will get very involved in. Especially as the series continues. This is just one adventure. #teamgavinforever!", "date_added": "Tue Nov 05 11:12:41 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 21 12:57:24 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Mar 05 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "17166774", "review_id": "18aaa10c0f67af2282ed90aaef00f393", "rating": 4, "review_text": "For twenty-one year-old Gemma, life has been nothing short of a little weird. Living a life of nothing more than a shell, emotionless, and just getting by her world is turned upside down by a single moment of emotion. From there she is over taken by emotion after emotion making life confusing and complicated as she adjusts to the changes she is experiencing. \n Then she meets Alex, who she is undeniably attracted to but his arrogance and secretiveness leaves Gemma confused in her feeling for him. Yet she still is pulled by an invisible connection from past dreams and nightmare and a overall feeling that there is something important that exists between them \n As secrets about her past unravel, Gemma's life becomes threatened. She needs to figure out what's going on, before she winds up dead. But the only person she can turn to for answers is the one person she isn't sure she can trust. \n SO, I have read the YA version to this series Fallen Star and I loved it then, so of course I love Shattered Promises. The story is basically the same only all the characters are college age, and the intensity that Alex and Gemma share is far more intimate. Every time Gemma experiences a new emotion this time it seems like lust is accompanying it. The girl is a raging ball of hormones that needs release. I think that allowing the characters to be older and more intimate will open up many different avenues for the future book series. Her relationship with Alex can only get more complicated with all the sexual frustration added to their teetering relationship. Her relationship with Laylen teeters on a want and a true friendship. I still was just as intrigued by the new version as I was the old Version of this series. \n The story is different and introduces all sorts of different characters. Even though I have basically read it before I was still just as engorged in the story waiting for the next twist in the story. The edgier version leaves you even more on the edge of your seat because the scenes are so much more intense, or it seems that way. Overall the book is intriguing, suspenseful, full of mystery and action, and NOW a whole lot more intimate leaving you all hot and bothered.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 01 07:19:57 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 15 11:50:28 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Mar 01 07:46:31 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "13601922", "review_id": "94c1ee8a151f83631bb8c41076f79ba2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "At first I wasn't sure if I would like it, simply because it read from first person to like 3rd in the same paragraph/dialect, it was a bit annoying, but then as I continued it got better and I didn't notice it anymore and the story really picked up. Loved the characters, it was intriguing, overall a really good YA read!", "date_added": "Sat Dec 22 14:24:59 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 17 18:56:50 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "15801791", "review_id": "8f01ee273fe8ab9728d170e0c2485cde", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love love loved this series. I'm secretly in love with Kian... hmmm... this ended mind of abruptly compared to the others, but it was still wonderful. im ready for the next installment of these characters!", "date_added": "Mon Dec 17 18:03:04 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 11 07:10:51 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jan 11 07:10:51 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "13459147", "review_id": "ed779a17dd8cf8926e8138d2dd2be96f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "again, a book ive scanned past a million times because the cover just didn't draw me in. I kept looking at it thinking its not a book ill probably like... but I took the chance and started it on a whim. it was a good book. easy to read, a cute \"love\" story, and had a great mystery paranormal theme to go with.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 14 09:21:35 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 15 21:14:24 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Dec 14 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "15771912", "review_id": "ce23d2c1e58c44b997a9c19fc1defea6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Super cute!! This was a great book, it was a little slow in some parts, but overall really good!! Cant wait for the next!", "date_added": "Sat Dec 08 06:28:04 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 11 12:09:07 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Dec 10 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sat Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "16003506", "review_id": "9051eaf47c367214f8a19526448bf2bd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I actually had a hard time getting through this one. I think it was just the anticipation of knowing waht happens, the end, a final decision... but I dont feel like I quite got that . It is still kind of left open. I became too invested in who I wanted her to be with, which sadly was like all 3 guys. I dont know. I loved this series so much and its characters, I think it was a lose lose no matter what because I loved all the guys.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 26 15:06:46 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 05 10:56:08 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Nov 05 10:56:08 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "16070072", "review_id": "9108504f24b2a3f0db9becc8ae9be0c9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "LOVE!!! Sexy, HOT, love story! I loved this little duo series! Angels, lost souls, forever searching... and great main characters! this was GREAT!", "date_added": "Wed Nov 21 14:42:16 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 26 12:28:05 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Nov 24 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "7844049", "review_id": "91597cb24138452fed75b6e0f3018d29", "rating": 4, "review_text": "TOO SHORT, this is why I hate reading short stories, when I like them, I want more... but other than that I loved it!", "date_added": "Wed Oct 24 20:38:31 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 24 20:39:20 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "7848154", "review_id": "c588abcb426ffadcf476e1091c671616", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Loved! of course I know it was a short story, but I wish it was longer...", "date_added": "Wed Oct 24 20:36:44 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 24 20:38:22 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Oct 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "12207397", "review_id": "579f621ac7408841392e4745a697df65", "rating": 4, "review_text": "great series but left open for more I feel personally... I know the author said she was finished with their story as of now, but hoping she'll give us more once college starts and ends the series more completely. that's why I gave ot 4 stars instead of 5 was intriguing and intense, love story was great, but I needed a more solid ending", "date_added": "Wed Oct 10 09:30:23 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 17 18:57:19 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Oct 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "13416711", "review_id": "2f26e967b0973d7f0700f24586bfc102", "rating": 5, "review_text": "so alot of times I choose to read a book because the cover just looks so good, I don't think this a great cover and doesn't really pull me in so this book has been sitting in my kindle library for sometime... that said... I loved this book. It was intriguing and a different take on angels, vampires and such and I read it in one sitting and am super excited for the next one!!!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 04 15:56:31 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 10 09:19:48 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "12707703", "review_id": "42c080ff09ea4ea2cad49741b650ebdb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "while this book kept me intrigued I felt like I was reading it more because I started it and wanted to just get done. it could have been so much better I think. I was dissapointed to say the least.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 06 10:42:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 02 17:14:54 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "9306975", "review_id": "8b0359a73bd6c5bda10690e313dc7d6e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "talk about one twisted love story. I cant say I didn't like it but I'm still setting puzzled over what the heck I just read.... Wow! hmmm....", "date_added": "Thu Sep 06 10:42:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 18 22:51:48 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Nov 19 22:51:48 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sun Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "15733738", "review_id": "8c285f1bcc2fc62140e1f6c7eeeef201", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I've been putting off reading this book bc I am beyond dissapointed when they are over and I cant read the next one, but I just couldn't hold off any longer... and I'm already craving the next book. this is one of my most favorite series! Its literally a tie between Amy Bartols premoniton series and this one, both have me wrapped around the finger. LOVE Love Love everything about this series.. humor, love, mystery, action... and the characters are soooo easy to fall in love with!!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 28 11:28:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 27 12:05:11 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Dec 27 12:05:11 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Wed Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "21613501", "review_id": "bdba23182165c1a6e1d53e2b61a09100", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This series makes my top favorites list EASY!!!! enough said. IT ROCKS!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 28 11:28:34 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 21 13:00:24 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "21579183", "review_id": "fb6688d794be6907b42366598a5431db", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Okay i was a fan after the first book, But now I am BEYOND sold... I am head of heels, IN LOVE with Quinn Loftis's books~ In 2 books she has easily become on of my favorite authors! This had everything you cuold want out of a book (okay maybe a little more on the \"Love scene would have been nice, but since its a YA book I wont complain) ANYWAYS, I feel like a giddy little school girl who cant wipe the freaking grin off my face. I even started bouncing up and down to my husband as I giggled how much I loved this book. I know SAD, but truly I loved it!!!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 28 11:28:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 21 13:00:00 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Aug 29 22:54:40 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "12706916", "review_id": "b8262b19e723456c5850c267000eaf5d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a good book. Plenty of evil and romance in it, this book is defiantly just a starter but good enough I want to read the next!!", "date_added": "Sat Aug 25 18:40:30 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 25 18:41:52 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "13609335", "review_id": "59f1c88cb2737253a492f6d481c9f646", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I like this series a lot, but after the third book, this one, I LOVE THEM!!! This book was definitely the hook and sinker. Im in so deep in it now it that i cant help but keep thinkging of Madldy, Jackson and thier little crew. This book took my heart, squashed it to seath, then revived it all in one book.... It definatly took me on a trip, and without the heartache and fight throughout the book that shows the love that wins against it, I couldnt have gotten in as deep as I am. M. Leighton wasa master writter int his little story and now she has gained a favorite fan of her books! She is a great writter and I loved every second of this AMAZING book!!! Even though it is about mermaids and fairytale madness, I still find it very real and easy to goet lost in, and feel like I am part of their little advanture! M. Leighton... I LOVE YOU and your books and your fantastic creative mind!! This book was awesome!! SO ready for book 4!", "date_added": "Mon Aug 20 09:04:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 20 16:08:00 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Aug 20 16:08:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "11849067", "review_id": "93aef9bb0569a67b2f3068da03a698fe", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Good. Thought it ki.d of ended unfinished in a way. But non the less I was intrigued enough to read the next Bc I was left wanting to know what was going to happen.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 20 08:47:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 20 08:50:07 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "11034495", "review_id": "8fd8459dfe7b966f3b10402b67dd0703", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Really good, easy read. You kind of know what will happen with the \"lovers\" but it didnt ruin the stroy by knowing the love ending, just kind of made the anticipation a little highter waitng for something to happen. Loved the characters, overall pretty good!", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 15:56:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 24 15:58:17 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "25495400", "review_id": "ba36a2261d88bd4be2afcb09cc3a403b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I am now a FOREVER fan of Quinn Loftis. This was an AMAZING book. Even for a first book of a serious it had me totally hooked. Such a fun, corky, romantic book. I love the characters and thier sense of humor, its easy to start thinking of your own best friends and relate so easily. Im fighting for Jacque and Fane!! Couldnt put it down until I finished it (at 5 am) Yikes, yes its that good that you are willing to lose sleep to finish it!!", "date_added": "Fri Jul 06 20:20:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 17 09:34:12 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "11187203", "review_id": "1e1b6fb6f6fce5946ea1fbcafd8a7c4b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Talk about leaving me hanging in anticipation for the next!! Fabulous book... ready to see what is to come!", "date_added": "Fri Jul 06 20:20:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 20 18:44:52 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "13502970", "review_id": "9883ec8356b970b91758c43b12a3520d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is BY FAR my most favorite book series to date!!! I have become so emotionally invested in this series that I feel it has as much control over me as the magic and pull the characters experience in the book. Amy never disappoints with throwing in another twist that leaves you totally knocked off your feet. She made my feeling change for certain characters, while creating new feelings for new characters. Love is defined yet still tested, this book series just keeps getting better and better. My heart is still beating a a rapid pace, trying hard to catch up to all that happened book 4. Amy, you truly out do yourself. Amazing!!!!! @amy_a_bartol", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 18:51:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 22 14:12:18 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Dec 12 14:55:26 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "13281637", "review_id": "d3d60f418f9a03bdf0c8e67a278e52c1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I seriously cant put this series down. My heart yearns for it as Evie yearns for Reeds, my soul yearns for it as Evie yearns for Russell's. this is one of the most addicting book series.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 18:51:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 05 18:54:44 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jul 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jul 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "12925063", "review_id": "e1aa91b7da9a62a5fe076d3f54317a04", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh man... This book is good!!!! Love stories, soul mates, and a turn of events you never see coming... What can I say? Sleep can wait I need to read the next one!!!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 18:51:34 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 22 13:48:46 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jul 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "1656001", "review_id": "de2f260e2034bbbaa6d0ef8e8701e2da", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I have tried to read this 3 times and just cant get past the first couple chapters... Im sooo lost... I just put it down every time. :(", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 19:17:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 10 19:19:14 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "3d20be45c9dae8c651128959a1c883ec", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The Book that started my reading frenzy!! My most favorite book of all time... without this wonderful book I wouldn't have started reading all the other WONDERFUL books that I have. This series was so amazing that I had to start reading others like it. So it wins my #1 book spot because if not for its awesomeness I would have probably never picked up all the other books.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 19:15:31 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 12 07:16:11 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "7862725", "review_id": "6489a396b28211218217e79c5369f1b8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Whoa... totally not what I was expecting when I started this book. I was a little weary at first, but that was kicked fast as I got to reading. It was a great book and I loved the different outlook on the who angel/demon take. And I'm glad it ended right. I was almost mad there at the end I thought it was gonna end in a twist I didn't think I could handle, but even with the twist I loved it!!!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 13:38:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 02 16:51:48 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Oct 02 16:51:48 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "7507845", "review_id": "56ae799ca8d0cbab5453733a296dd0ff", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I can see this is gonna be a series I LOVE!!! I couldnte put it down and really enjoyed it!! Its been sitting in my kindle library FOREVER... so glad i decided to finally read it!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 13:38:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 25 13:56:26 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Nov 23 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "11051889", "review_id": "9205dc972dbe1db8cf15640c16bac932", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A good book... plenty of suspense and different in good way... I mean obviously its paranormal and there are many different characters but I cant say Ive read a book like it yet. I feel like this is just the beginning... it gonna start really getting good in the next few books! Im excited to see what happens.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 13:37:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 01 07:22:24 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "8585694", "review_id": "96d0be382577873a698cc8c2098c6abc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked the first one and so I read this one.. its not bad, but its not great either.. I found myself more just wanting to finish it because I was 60% done with it. Its okay, just didnt suck me in like so may other have!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 13:18:44 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 25 19:03:23 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "10831726", "review_id": "fede174011047af179cd7243138fc6b4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow, this was good, and so intense in a good way....", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 13:16:35 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 22 19:22:29 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "13480769", "review_id": "9b2c03f38555e9b057abd420f5eee2a6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "TOP TEN FAVORITE SERIES!!! I love, LOVE, LOOOVEEE this book sereies.. One of those that I could read over and over!!!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 13:13:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 17 01:05:14 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "14058683", "review_id": "1544f8eec1a690de539000534793a085", "rating": 5, "review_text": "at first it took me a second to get back into this series, I had taken such a long break reading it that I had to get back into the story line. in the end I was glad I finished it! I really do love this series. full of romance, action, twists and turns.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 13:03:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 11 11:21:15 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Sep 11 11:21:15 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "13223520", "review_id": "cde349aebf3de05d4fe48e673b11d965", "rating": 5, "review_text": "LOVE! Sigh....", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 13:01:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed May 08 07:44:52 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "13318633", "review_id": "0d7dac072930102ef9f9b9c2a24a5b2d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Never saw that ending coming... this series has been intriguing and fullfillng in action, mystery, and romance! Can't wait for the final book and Harper's fate! Gah... So Good!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 12:38:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 19 00:47:04 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jun 19 00:47:04 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "11955586", "review_id": "4772a1ac20d5a37471175d405acfc5ea", "rating": 5, "review_text": "AHHH.. A love that isn't suppose to be, but cant help but HAVE to be... Loving this series so far!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 12:38:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 10 19:06:52 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "13574037", "review_id": "b8b5780d3f4c249dd3f9727b06ca2a55", "rating": 5, "review_text": "oh Patrick.....", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 12:36:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 07 18:21:06 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jan 07 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "13502274", "review_id": "46747345ddda96cbb08d3bc32eb9518b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Nicole Williams writes Another fantastic book!! I already loved Patrick after his devastating heartbreak over Bryn, but now I want to fight for his love... just as much as I Dod for William and Bryn. I cant wait for book 2 of Patrick's story... I live Nicole's books and I know it will be epic just as all her others are!!!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 12:35:27 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 21 21:48:32 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "13416236", "review_id": "9d2aefcf7628086ae6b2bc57571a0e40", "rating": 5, "review_text": "My heart is hurting after finishing this book... so ready for the final book so I can have piece of mind...", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 12:32:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 06 23:03:51 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jan 07 23:03:51 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Dec 17 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "12987118", "review_id": "4a46a2ac2d4e0bb16a62133bf152bc45", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Getting interesting now, excited for the 3rd book since this lovely duo left a cliff hanger... HOW WILL I SURVIVE until December!! LOL", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 12:29:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 13 18:35:11 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "10755377", "review_id": "c4cbd99cdd4e5ae92a8582888b8b43f6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Loving this series, but I think the most interesting part will come in the series to follow, this is more of an introduction book to where the story will really pick up and get exciting!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 12:29:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 12 07:11:03 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "13249985", "review_id": "c5e9c1be7fffba0bfc046ec7e0a78836", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Just an intro to the series.. so Im excited to start in on \"Becoming\"", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 12:29:34 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 10 19:09:27 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "12081791", "review_id": "df4e54033840646c3307c28abb22ba8d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amber down, Olivia down... Bring on Skye and her love life!! Love this series so far and learning about the different girls and their progressive relationships.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 12:29:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 10 21:59:21 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "11881016", "review_id": "7dd1de2839c6339c285b65babe73929b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I like these little short stories... it introduces you to authors whom I might not have known about otherwise, as well as give me a cherry on top to some of my already favorites!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 12:28:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 07 03:36:34 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jul 07 03:36:34 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0a77335c7153662101817527a0d7fb57", "book_id": "11354468", "review_id": "a85a0c3d8713938017732310a2436624", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow. Talk about a book that keeps you on edge! I was seriously stressed about the outcome of these 2! I'm pretty sure I need anxiety medicine after reading this book! Lol. Leave it to Fisher to to write a book that I was so involved I felt like the parent stressing out! Next book Julia and Elliot better kick some @$$!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 12:28:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 23 11:03:44 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jun 23 11:03:44 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a52e4f0be950358411d42ef23fbea04c", "book_id": "17984867", "review_id": "63f6f1d2795a289f139e07732f34bb19", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Haunting. \n If I had only one word to describe this book it would be 'haunting.' \n In all, it is a hard book to describe, just as experiences and memories are hard to describe even to a person who shared the event that gave rise to the experience and memory. And this is what the book is about, the personal, idiosyncratic nature of memory and experience. Or at least this is one of the things the book is about. \n The tale definitely has the feel of a short story, but a short story that could not accept its boundaries. It is a simple story told simply, revealing a complexity hidden beneath the surface simplicity that enchants and lulls you into its depths. It is a pond that hides an Ocean. \n Adults are sure that their lives are more complex than children's. But is that a surface complexity that belies an underlying narrowing down of possibilities from a child's borderless world? As Gaiman says, \"Adult follow paths. Children explore.\" \n As adults, is it because our minds have gotten narrower, smaller, less complex that we can't remember so much from our childhood? Do our mental constrictions that allow us to focus on the pragmatics of our daily life preclude the depth of experience open to any 7-year old? \n This story drew out of the Ocean depths of my memory experiences from my own childhood that I hadn't thought about in ages. Part of the haunting character of the tale is this nostalgic provocation. This heartsickness to capture the feel of home and childhood again. The time when adults were both a source of comfort and a source of terror. As the boy in the story says, children experience and deal with terrors that an adult would not be able to bear. \n This book will speak to those who grew up buried in books and in their imaginations. People who, as children, saw other humans as dangerous and sought sanctuary in books. Seeking companionship lays you open to harm and the boy in the story discovers this to be true, not just theoretically but factually. However, he finds that seeking companionship can sometimes also lead to finding a partner willing to share your risks and to combine efforts with you in fighting off the dangers of the world. \n To the reviewers hesitant to buy because of the brevity of the work: a true reader values a work by the experience given, not by the page count. In this novel/novella, the brevity is perfect; it allows you to explore the Ocean beneath this seeming pond by diving down into your own experiences and memories. \n (n.b. - this is the review I posted to Amazon website)", "date_added": "Sat Jun 01 21:17:50 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 19 16:04:13 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jun 19 16:04:13 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6bdbbdec400eb24809c58d1e7b677b93", "book_id": "13047090", "review_id": "bb78173d85e055bf4b37fcaa3819a3d6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Full of unexpected twists and new characters..everything eventually is woven together and leaves you wanting for more!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 05 06:56:58 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 10 09:30:49 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jun 10 09:30:49 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6bdbbdec400eb24809c58d1e7b677b93", "book_id": "13618440", "review_id": "c431d0c38098f2cd8a2f6001ad6d4e3f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Laini Taylor N-E-V-E-R dissapoints! \n What an incredible way to end such a GOOD trilogy! New exciting characters, twists when you least expect it, Excitement, humor, suspense, everything woven together in this Awesome story! \n I'm not a fan of Fantasy/Paranormal books, but these definetly made me a believer. \n I can't wait to see if any spin offs come out or anything else like this from the author. \n LOVED IT!! \n 5 Stars!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 07:30:19 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 24 10:54:49 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Apr 24 10:54:49 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6bdbbdec400eb24809c58d1e7b677b93", "book_id": "12812550", "review_id": "e6362615c2ab74a17963e9d207a592e6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Dear Laini, \n You are a genius! You have truly made a believer out of me in the fiction genre. I would actually read even your shopping list! But seriously? April of freaking 2014? That's just plain cruel :( \n Absolutely amazing series, rich characters , smart story development, and incredible vocabulary in description! 5 Stars!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 07:30:14 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 10 09:19:08 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6bdbbdec400eb24809c58d1e7b677b93", "book_id": "15840340", "review_id": "8140edaf9728bd923ad9cd819fb49a0a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Beautiful and even funny story! I'm very glad I went out of my regular genre and read it!", "date_added": "Fri Sep 20 12:12:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 30 13:50:43 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Sep 30 13:50:43 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6bdbbdec400eb24809c58d1e7b677b93", "book_id": "15734163", "review_id": "d682bc0ee8d8fd629b036f7340033de6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Excelent!!", "date_added": "Wed Jan 09 05:16:32 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 12 17:08:27 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6bdbbdec400eb24809c58d1e7b677b93", "book_id": "15768536", "review_id": "b4d747ce34c278d4e4a281c038586efd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Crazy! Plain crazy and incredible!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 18 13:26:38 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 21 12:51:12 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Oct 21 12:51:12 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Oct 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ecd6a89229ea8ad5ffda725091ee99e4", "book_id": "6569470", "review_id": "ada0a81ee6024cab3366affbf8a07218", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was so weird. Good, but weird.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 21 09:06:35 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 09 14:42:49 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Feb 09 14:42:49 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jan 21 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34b9021393d33a86a02977729464ee02", "book_id": "11275323", "review_id": "9862afa50eaa1f707b44904b807d958a", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Pratchett continues his descent into writing pure drivel. It's sad. \n The story itself is horribly predictable and stale, and the writing is just cringeworthy. Someone, somewhere, has a checklist of all inventions humanity has ever made, and that person is slowly going through and writing a dull, embarrassing mess for each one of them. I don't know who that person is, but it's not the Terry Pratchett that I grew up with.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 30 03:19:01 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 30 03:22:08 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Apr 30 03:22:08 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34b9021393d33a86a02977729464ee02", "book_id": "234225", "review_id": "b7c36d68a9fb44c775d22216d96ff938", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Flat characters, gratuitous misogyny, homophobia, racism, and a whole lot of \"deep\" quotes (that aren't very deep at all).", "date_added": "Tue Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 13 18:21:40 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34b9021393d33a86a02977729464ee02", "book_id": "2213661", "review_id": "b25914f668539539a3b2299232d51b6c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was an enjoyable, quick read. I see it described here as a young adult book, but I would describe it as a children's book, or at least the younger end of the young adult category. I had gathered from the blurb that it was probably going to be aimed at the younger generations, so that didn't bother me. \n I think this would be a great book for kids who are mature for their years to read. It has some really dark themes - like the fact that the book starts off with a triple homicide - but it covers them in a non-threatening, whimsical sort of way.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 20 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 19 17:14:52 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Oct 20 17:14:52 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34b9021393d33a86a02977729464ee02", "book_id": "4214", "review_id": "72a2f01ab5ce5a360f931a79669fc1df", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Definitely re-read material.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 07 20:13:48 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ddc7f9060e39ecb9eadfc4ac55ade17f", "book_id": "22544764", "review_id": "10256616648c73e74add8abcd9e6f70d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Uprooted is dark and has a classic fairy tale feel to it--while still captivating me with its originality. It's also, um, TERRIFYING--Novik calls on the elemental, deep-rooted image of a dark, dangerous Wood to create the forces of evil that main character Agnieszka has to fight. The characters are flawed (jealous and mean!) and the magic is poetic and earthy. If you want to settle down with a fantasy novel that will feel as important and Big as the fairy tales you read when you were a kid, Uprooted is the perfect choice.", "date_added": "Wed May 27 09:34:10 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 02 07:14:00 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jun 02 07:14:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ddc7f9060e39ecb9eadfc4ac55ade17f", "book_id": "5797595", "review_id": "5a459f4216258209029eb3ca2f46ec5b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It's no Dealing with Dragons, that's for sure.", "date_added": "Thu May 29 10:39:25 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri May 30 13:36:53 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri May 30 13:36:53 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu May 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ddc7f9060e39ecb9eadfc4ac55ade17f", "book_id": "19498351", "review_id": "ded4e9bb3c211988f63036e9560447dd", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I was happy to receive a copy of TRUE FATE from the author via smashwords. \n TRUE FATE is a story bursting with good ideas, and the author's vision is ambitious and full of potential.Unfortunately there were grammatical errors and tense issues that were hard for me to overlook while I was reading. However-- TRUE FATE is undergoing editing and may read more smoothly in later editions!", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 07:40:11 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 14 07:53:58 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Apr 14 07:53:58 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ddc7f9060e39ecb9eadfc4ac55ade17f", "book_id": "17790234", "review_id": "aff3449e39de694be77945bb275866ca", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I just loved The Assassin's Curse and its sequels so having a chance to read the first book in the Hanna Duology, which will be published May 1 in the UK and May 6 in the US by Strange Chemistry. \n Cassandra Rose Clarke's prose never fails to entrance me-I was as swept away by The Wizard's Promise as I was by her previous books-they remind me a little of Wise Child and Juniper by Monica Furlong. \n Best of all, The Wizard's Promise avoids the tropes of recent YA completely-something that is true for many of Strange Chemistry's books. \n This is basically a must-read for anyone who's into wizards, magic, and just a lovely story. \n Read a guest post by the author on my blog at http://giantsquidbooks.com/2014/04/09...!", "date_added": "Thu Mar 06 13:15:37 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 09 08:03:56 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ddc7f9060e39ecb9eadfc4ac55ade17f", "book_id": "13597755", "review_id": "3f4637152acaa2df85a1a7fb9ea1249c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It's been a while since I read a good old-fashioned high school story. You know the kind: cheerleaders. Homecoming queen nominations. Frenemies. Boy drama. In Hexed (coming June 2014 from Delacorte Press) I got the fix I didn't know I needed-with a supernatural element to boot! \n Indigo is a cheerleader with football playing boyfriend whose biggest problems are her quirky, occult-shop-owning mother and on-again-off-again best friend Bianca. But her problems are about to get bigger: when an ancient book goes missing from her mother's store and a leather-jacket wearing bad-boy named Bishop shows up and tells Indie she's a witch, our cheerleader is swept up in a centuries-old fight between sorcerers and witches. \n This story is carried by Indie's refreshingly spot-on voice. Author Michelle Krys nails Indie's simultaneous frustration with the high school scene and longing to be a part of it, her flawed friendships with cheerleading captain Bianca and next-door-nerd Paige, as well as the complicated love/embarrassment she has for/over her mother. If the defining emotion of high school is feeling mixed-up (which it is, right?) then Ms. Krys has high school in a nutshell in this book... \n rest of my review here: http://giantsquidbooks.com/2014/03/11...", "date_added": "Fri Feb 28 08:46:27 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 11 09:43:06 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ddc7f9060e39ecb9eadfc4ac55ade17f", "book_id": "20557540", "review_id": "eaf47e338c5180bc915a0182527dd584", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This review published originally on giantsquidbooks.com. \n After reading Mara I couldn't wait for the second book in Veronica Bane's Unusuals series-it was just begging for a sequel. At the end of Mara, the Unusuals have just begun to come together and confront the danger they face from the Stranger as well as their personal conflicts: Mara's past with her abusive brother, Chris' complicated feelings for Miyuki, Miyuki's absent parents. All of that and more develops in this second installment, and-no spoilers- Miyuki leaves the reader hanging off an even steeper cliff than Mara did. \n Once again Ms. Bane uses flashbacks to sculpt a story that is impressively multi-layered, a tribute to Black Hill Press' mission of publishing novellas with the \"focus of a short story and the scope of a novel.\" The characters and conflicts that were planted in Mara start to poke up through the soil in Miyuki and will inevitably bloom in future installments. \n There were things that didn't quite hit home with me-a cast slightly larger than I felt the length of the novella allowed for left me a little confused, and the beginning was a little slow. But when Miyuki hits its stride, it hits it hard! \n My favorite thing overall was the complicated nature of the relationships in this book, which are so much more dynamic than in the average YA story. Few things are made explicit, and characters don't divide neatly in to friends and enemies-leading ladies Mara and Miyuki snap at each other constantly, and the Unusuals are united not by friendship but rather mutual isolation, which I loved. \n Best line: \n \"Do you think I'm a monster?\" \n \"No. I just think you're an asshole.\" \n Also, I mentioned this in my review of Mara but just have to say it again: the cover art for both these books is just gorgeous! \n Miyuki by Veronica Bane: 4/5--and I can't wait to hear more about the next one!", "date_added": "Wed Feb 05 10:13:54 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 27 08:54:29 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Mar 27 08:54:29 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Mar 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ddc7f9060e39ecb9eadfc4ac55ade17f", "book_id": "17926775", "review_id": "cf2c2323a5bb10e5ab10394bca33253e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I read this book over the course of a week, delighting in a story long enough that I could pick it up every night before I went to bed and read for an hour or two-and still look foward to more. Stolen Songbird isn't a quick read-but the length of this book allowed Ms. Jensen to weave a complicated world and develop relationships over the course of a varied, twisted plot. \n Rest of my review here: http://giantsquidbooks.com/2014/02/13...", "date_added": "Tue Feb 04 19:43:14 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 14 08:07:57 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Feb 14 08:07:57 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ddc7f9060e39ecb9eadfc4ac55ade17f", "book_id": "18108680", "review_id": "3a5658daedfda6e789b6f9257825e99e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Mara by Veronica Bane is a project of Black Hills Press-an independent publishing company dedicated to the novella. So Mara was short, but there's more coming. The sequel, Miyuki, will be out in 2014. \n Mara is the first book I've read that could be classified as \"suburban\" fantasy-the titular heroine and her fellow Unusuals live in the small desert town of Jericho, which segregates the \"Natives\" from the normal folks. The first book in the Unusuals series, Mara is about a group of high schoolers with strange powers to control the elements-in Mara's case, fire... \n Read the rest of my review at http://giantsquidbooks.com/2014/02/06...", "date_added": "Mon Feb 03 19:18:35 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 06 09:52:42 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ddc7f9060e39ecb9eadfc4ac55ade17f", "book_id": "13533650", "review_id": "7f17e14bdbb7cd716598feb6b16b5e42", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Every so often I start reading a book and notice right away that something is different-that there's something going on separating this book and this author from others that are cut from a similar cloth. From the beginning of The Assassin's Curse, I knew I was going to love this book. \n Was it the sixteen-year-old heroine who, faced with an unwanted engagement to the son of a rival pirate clan, runs away on a camel in the first 15 pages of the books? \n Was it the mysterious, damaged, but ultimately good-hearted assassin who is hired to kill her but winds up sworn to protect her after a curse binds them together? \n Was it the snarky, spicy first person POV that reads like a breath of fresh air and doesn't slip once in the whole novel? \n Whatever the reason, I'm so glad I finally picked up this book, which has been on my to-read list for a long time. \n The rest of my review here: http://giantsquidbooks.com/2014/01/30...", "date_added": "Mon Dec 23 14:28:02 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 30 09:36:05 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jan 30 09:36:05 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jan 23 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ddc7f9060e39ecb9eadfc4ac55ade17f", "book_id": "3007704", "review_id": "755cbee275d3126c58f0e807819cf955", "rating": 4, "review_text": "cyberpunk catch-22.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 18 09:09:39 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 25 07:46:41 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jun 25 07:46:41 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ddc7f9060e39ecb9eadfc4ac55ade17f", "book_id": "14497", "review_id": "7b2f455fe186a41c163b45af9d3d03f6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This did a lot more for me than either AMERICAN GODS or STARDUST. The ultimate urban fantasy.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 13 12:43:11 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 23 11:19:27 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34224aef90dfda5a48d36842085c915e", "book_id": "28053888", "review_id": "16448e53fff65ba49b714a85cf430edd", "rating": 2, "review_text": "When I first read the blurb I was a little disappointed that this book wouldn't be about Munro or Christoff. But since I greatly like Thad, I was also curious about his sister and their background story. Thad's sister, Jo, is both strong and vulnerable, a kickass girl and a desperately lonely woman, protective and fierce, an illiterate orphan seeking her own place and someone to share her life with. Unfortunately, this someone turns out to be Rune the Baneblood, the least appealing and most annoying male character in the whole IAD series. The most coveted male who is totally uninvolved and emotionally distanced until he meets his fated one.. The poor victimized and tortured soul, the assassin killing at the whims of others, unwilling to change his habits even for Jo. \n I expected a bit more from this book e.g. Thad's introduction of his sister to Lothaire and some funny dialogue lines, but that didn't happen, though Lothaire has a cameo at the Valhalla fight. There was also not much interaction between Jo and Thad, a little at the start of the book and a little at the end of it. There was instead plenty of repetitive sex stuff, as if KC's recent writing a lot of contemporary eroticas has worsened her intuition about those scenes as they were of worse quality than in her previous IAD books. \n I look foward to the next IAD book, hoping finally for Munro or Christoff story.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 14 09:43:52 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 17 11:00:07 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Dec 19 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34224aef90dfda5a48d36842085c915e", "book_id": "25066127", "review_id": "0e174c5353a7ee222e9d614b7e171b62", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Justin Bricker is one of my favourite characters in Argeneau vampire series. He's always cracking jokes, making pranks and enjoying his immortal life. \n I was looking forward to reading the book that would center around him and his lifemate. I hoped that it would bring his fun-loving persona to the forte and that his lifemate would be a worthy companion of his immortal life. Unfortunately, Lynsay Sands decided otherwise and provided a very toned down, moping, selfish Bricker, a shadow of his former self; there was also nothing special about his lifemate Holly Bosley (apart from the fact she was married to another guy). The lack of any bad guys and angsty situations made a really one-track novel, undeveloped plotwise. How to woo Holly from her husband without breaking the rules of the immortals' code was the only trouble facing the hero throughout the whole novel.There were before some angst-free, enemy-free Argeneau books, but they were introductory to the series, pure fun, humour, escapism and novelty factors, not to mention such great pairing like Lucern&Kate.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 03 13:23:06 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 07 15:38:29 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Nov 03 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34224aef90dfda5a48d36842085c915e", "book_id": "10518110", "review_id": "b94781eae0278dcf38e8ce62987eb5ba", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I haven't started Night Huntress series yet, so the rating is based only on Argeneau half of the book - The Gift by Lynsay Sands. \n Teddy Brunswick is one of my favourite characters of Port Henry's inhabitants, a faithful friend of Elvi and Mabel, the guardian of law in the vampire-friendly little town. He's been introduced in The Accidental Vampire and later appeared in The Reluctant Vampire, Vampire Valentine, The Gift and The Immortal Who Loved Me. The Gift centers around him and his lifemate, Katricia Argeneau. Unfortunately, Teddy deserves better than the never-mentioned-before Katricia and too-many-lame-jokes story. \n The age problem seems not to be a problem in Lynsay Sand's vampire world when characters look to be at a similar age, but when they look to be decades apart, the writer struggles to deal with the age-difference. She was successful in Under the Vampire Moon when she paired 40-something Carolyn with 20-something-looking Christian. She fails miserably in The Gift when she pairs 64-year old Teddy with 20-something-looking Katricia. Teddy seems to be older than his age and creepy, lusting after a woman who looks to be his granddaughter. Katricia seems to be totally overzealous, immature and giggling annoyingly chasing after a guy who looks to be her grandpa. It was a difficult pairing, but it seemed to be written in a rush, without anything fresh to offer.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 16 02:23:15 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 09 09:36:16 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jun 16 14:05:17 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34224aef90dfda5a48d36842085c915e", "book_id": "22723251", "review_id": "762c0b0b87665021f3d19168ed03a4e3", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Until now I considered \"The Lady Is a Vamp\" the worst Argeneau novel, but now we've got another strong contender, \"The Immortal Who Loved Me\". If you had thought that Jean-Claude was the weakest link among Argeneau brothers, think again when never-mentioned-before Basil appears. A sperm donor for 26 babies, a father of those children, who never loved, married nor lived with the mother of his offspring. A Milennia-long friends-with-benefits arrangement. Yup, definitely a perfect catch. \n Not to mention his idea of a romance is checking if all lifemate symptoms work immediately after his first meeting with a prospective lifemate. It's closer to a medical examination than a romantic encounter. He doesn't need to woo a woman when all symptoms are there. There's no romance, no chemistry, and no efforts are needed to bed her. She's just too willing to do it in any place, public or private. All things considered, Basil and Sherry seem to be the most boring and uninvolving couple in the whole Argeneau series. \n It's also quite weird that the only truly interesting character in this book is a repentant immortal rapist who used mind control to coerce sex when high on drugged blood. His storyline was controversial, the rushed family reconciliation unconvincing, not to mention Elvi's convoluted logic of defining rape.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 15 04:08:36 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 09 03:32:58 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34224aef90dfda5a48d36842085c915e", "book_id": "8432615", "review_id": "302e3a44d72e9fb395f3e6be4593aed2", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I usually find hard to rate anthologies as they are more often than not a mix of good and bad stories. This collection is no exception. I greatly enjoyed only two stories: \"The Fridge\" and \"Two Ghosts\". I disliked strongly Fang's backstory in \"Teeth\". The facts about him that I got from the novels are enough for me, I didn't need a detailed and vivid description of his madness and the trial. The two remaining stories left me indifferent.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 04 00:57:18 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 09 09:37:26 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Apr 04 09:50:30 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34224aef90dfda5a48d36842085c915e", "book_id": "16063370", "review_id": "b7ccd2a86c6263b759aad8d7ad1422fb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This anthology is very difficult to rate as gothic classics that are given as a bonus outshine greatly the main offering of JR Rain's stories. While Samantha Moon's story is short, dramatic and entertaining, the two other new stories are really nothing to say good about, not scary enough, not funny enough, a bit embarrassing.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 01 11:45:03 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 09 09:38:03 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Apr 02 02:36:17 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34224aef90dfda5a48d36842085c915e", "book_id": "15832251", "review_id": "6568accc820eff2c6d2b056d06b730d8", "rating": 1, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Samantha Moon continues to be the most pathetic mother of the year. She prefers to risk the life and well-being of her ten-year daughter when she could use the help of supernatural sense of smell of her unfaithful lover to find her quickly. I understand she felt hurt and betrayed, but she again chooses to be selfish instead of putting her child first. Afterwards she could resolve her issues with him, yell at him, break up with him and so on, but at that particular moment her child should be the most important and she should use all the available means to find her. It doesn't really matter that Spinoza finds the child in the end,", "date_added": "Wed Apr 01 02:30:32 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 01 22:52:51 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34224aef90dfda5a48d36842085c915e", "book_id": "12958042", "review_id": "c2e444f275f2313b346d518e3e7b5be3", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Chicagoland Vampires has never been one of my favourite vampire series, but there used to be some books in this series that I really enjoyed. Now I find it hard to continue with this series, I've got a constant nagging feeling that I've already heard many of the dialogue lines in previous books. But there was one thing about Book 9 that I liked, the reappearance of Seth Tate. He's one of my most favourite characters in this series, charismatic, strong and ambiguous. After his departure from Chicago, there was a vacuum and lack of opponents with interesting and strong personalities. I hope he'll be a regular again now he's back in Chicago:)", "date_added": "Tue Sep 09 02:04:22 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 15 12:34:02 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Sep 15 14:16:05 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34224aef90dfda5a48d36842085c915e", "book_id": "13109352", "review_id": "79ac2ed5b2bd4aa1ff5b7e80b219a9c3", "rating": 1, "review_text": "The worst in Argeneau Vampires series. It was really hard not to give up reading it when everything about this book annoyed me so much. The general idea for this story wasn't that bad. It reminds a bit A Quick Bite, the first book in the series, but this time it's an immortal female that finds herself kidnapped and then tied to the bed. Unfortunately, what happened next doesn't utilize the possibilities that were in the story of a desperate father who kidnaps an immortal to persuade her to turn his terminally ill daughter into a vampire to save her from imminent death and excruciating pain. \n But then the so-called desperate man doesn't talk with his captive about his reasons for kidnapping her and doesn't try to persuade her to turn his daughter. Instead they watch some films on DVD, have a picnic, do some shopping and run away from Enforcers, who uncovered the identity of the kidnapper. It was so illogical for me that they don't talk about what is most important for them, but avoiding the subject altogether. The immortal female has just discovered that her captor is her lifemate, but she doesn't talk about it with him either, though she wouldn't have to face the problems other immortals have with explaining blood drinking, eternal youth and allergy to sun, as her lifemate-to-be knows about immortals having worked for Argeneau Enterprise for a few years. Instead of talking they make out in the car backseat , while his dying daughter is put to sleep in the front seat, have sex on the beach, while the daughter is put to sleep in the cottage... I found those sex scenes quite disturbing in this context. \n Although both protagonists were unconvincing as a couple, Jeanne Louise turns out to be the least appealing heroine in the whole Argeneau Vampires series. She's so self-absorbed and squeamish that one is almost sorry for Paul for having fallen for her.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 21 10:00:24 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 24 01:56:47 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34224aef90dfda5a48d36842085c915e", "book_id": "17901077", "review_id": "a8f25522b537ece51e8e54c5fbfdffa7", "rating": 1, "review_text": "The only thing that I liked about Dead Ever After, the final book of Southern Vampire Mysteries, was the prologue. It was the only part of this book which reminded me of the good old days when Charlaine Harris wrote memorable dialogue lines and her characters exhibited a sense of humour. She also introduced an interesting refined villain, a devil. The prologue raised some expectations that this new character would make some interesting action later on, the expectation entirely unfulfilled, as he made no further appearances in the book. \n The rest of the book is totally predictable, lacklustre and disappointing to many fans of this book series. They were, however, forewarned in the past that Sookie would not be turned and not end up with a vampire, so no surprises here. Especially that she had already shown her fans that she didn't care about their preferences in Dead and Gone, the other book of this series that brought the equal disappointment to many of her readers. For me the biggest disappointment after reading the complete 13 novel series, is the fact that from liking greatly the protagonists of this series, I finish reading the series with the characters I don't like or even care about their fate. Sad, really.", "date_added": "Tue May 21 01:04:06 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 09 05:23:40 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9d792d069e341b910f01e65e5a571254", "book_id": "6307964", "review_id": "80b6f43bf2e40deb571ee02de02bfc8f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh my god, I don't know if I'm ready for the next tv series. CRAZY things have happened! \n Easily my favourite book of the series so far.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 25 23:40:02 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 18 10:32:37 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Aug 18 10:32:37 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9d792d069e341b910f01e65e5a571254", "book_id": "11464058", "review_id": "34bbeea11d21248b75330ac338700cde", "rating": 3, "review_text": "OK book....I guess. I just didn't get the point of this story - a very weird plot.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 16 16:16:27 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 19 23:39:10 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Mar 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9d792d069e341b910f01e65e5a571254", "book_id": "11506091", "review_id": "da85fc093937e6327975d6a573fcc9db", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Average.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 15 01:29:04 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 09 22:03:05 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jan 18 23:54:53 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jan 13 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9d792d069e341b910f01e65e5a571254", "book_id": "6421982", "review_id": "79076a1ef315800e86880f97703271e8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Took a while to finish this, but sooo good. Can't decide though if I now want to watch 2nd series or read 2nd book first.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 17 11:48:14 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu May 17 23:50:12 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu May 17 23:49:01 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9d792d069e341b910f01e65e5a571254", "book_id": "10428902", "review_id": "9920d1dd1d32ed0fb1cade406b53ab2a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Awesome beginning - really hooked. Quite average middle and ending. Meh.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 10 03:01:22 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri May 15 12:14:19 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "9d792d069e341b910f01e65e5a571254", "book_id": "2776789", "review_id": "78ec33bcbf7f52dbc9c08bc0a5be6681", "rating": 0, "review_text": "On hold. Part I was amazing, but then it turned into a zombie movie and it's not keeping me entertained AT ALL anymore.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 29 12:20:33 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 06 23:06:55 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue Sep 06 23:06:55 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sat Jan 29 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9d792d069e341b910f01e65e5a571254", "book_id": "6978770", "review_id": "4e95c61dc135982fbce93f41882d66a1", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Nothing in this book worked for me. There was so much interesting information, and interesting characters, and potentially interesting stories, but none of them had anything to do with the plot. Aargh!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 26 11:42:25 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 31 22:52:51 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Thu Jul 29 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Mon Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "51bc0d0a40213d7401a272c40d4e0a85", "book_id": "6580510", "review_id": "5361615d6d3797de790cd0e129b5c7ed", "rating": 1, "review_text": "This book is awful. It has all the fun of blatant stereotypes, not great writing, and enough glorified emotional abuse to make a Twilight fan swoon.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 09 12:10:31 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 09 12:15:27 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Nov 09 12:15:27 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Thu Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d16a5b0ac6f315abe3a5aa101c504b92", "book_id": "23766634", "review_id": "c86853c60960f54b5d9015ee5eb74f4f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I cried AT LEAST half a dozen times. This book took EVERY single minute detail that was blown over and twisted it into the ULTIMATE plot shift. Sara Maas is a GODDESS. I am SO glad to have taken the chance to read it", "date_added": "Mon Oct 02 00:00:46 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 07 16:05:49 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Oct 07 16:05:49 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d16a5b0ac6f315abe3a5aa101c504b92", "book_id": "17927395", "review_id": "04390b2b9dcbb161cd352d11adf4933d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Holy. Cows. \n BEST BOOK IN THE SERIES!!! \n My only complaint was there was a couple scenes that were HEAVY erotica. \n But the love building, \n The debilitating depression, \n The sheer terror, \n THE SUSPENSE!!!! \n This book will make you question EVERYTHING \n And I always love the \"bad/good boy\" love stories! \n Sarah J Maas is a goddess of an author! \n The books never seemed enticing, but I'm so glad that I started reading these!", "date_added": "Sat Sep 30 14:11:16 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 02 11:25:55 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Oct 02 11:25:55 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d16a5b0ac6f315abe3a5aa101c504b92", "book_id": "29923707", "review_id": "fdf43e0495beff8072c43a88297c2622", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh. My. God. \n Two words. \n KILL KATHARINE", "date_added": "Fri Aug 11 23:55:46 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 02 11:28:25 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Oct 02 11:28:25 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d16a5b0ac6f315abe3a5aa101c504b92", "book_id": "28512427", "review_id": "b6b12df996ab481ec4c20602a14a904b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is basically what would have happened if wonder woman's island was conquered and all of the amazon women could control the elements! It is breathtaking! At first I was disappointed that the their wasn't much detail involving recruiting the surrogates or others, but it was clear that there were more important things later on! Highly recommend! I read the whole series in 4 days!", "date_added": "Mon Jun 26 14:06:20 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 29 04:04:24 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jun 29 04:04:24 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d16a5b0ac6f315abe3a5aa101c504b92", "book_id": "13206900", "review_id": "caa43bfe4cbbc224f525b4f809dab1f4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ok I'm still reading it, but I'm almost exactly halfway through, and let me TELL YOU. This book has my adrenaline rushing so much that I am actually shaking. Such an amazing writer and story! \n More to come when finished! \n OH MY GOD. \n THIS BOOK IS FOREVER IN MY SOUL. \n The emotions ran rampant and every stinking event kept me on edge! Marissa Meyer is a writing GODDESS. I'm so glad that I looked past my incredibly snobby view of sci-fi fantasy and gave this series a shot. EASILY one of my favorites now!", "date_added": "Mon Apr 24 13:34:21 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon May 08 19:04:26 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon May 08 19:04:26 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d16a5b0ac6f315abe3a5aa101c504b92", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "9fe0b05c12f472a31c49964387204e21", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I did NOT expect to like this book. I saw it at B&N when it first came out, but I was never into sci-fi fantasy so I immediately dismissed it. But being that it has always been on my recommended list, I had to give it a shot. I wanted to call it a DNF a few pages in, but every person I ran across praised the heck out of it! So I thought to just get passed it and let me just say, I AM SO GLAD THAT I DID! \n Cinder is an amazing character who really gets personal with you. She has flaws and doubts herself like every other person. The love story needed a bit more development, but it wasn't too terrible. \n Retellings tend to be pretty stereotypical, but the cyborg twist was amazing! \n The author forces you to feel CONNECTED to cinder! So much that you feel every bit of pain that she goes through. Especially when the only act of kindness given to her was quickly dismissed and squandered by her stepsister. \n So I'm pleading with y'all to give this book the benefit of the doubt!", "date_added": "Thu Apr 13 22:55:50 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 16 20:10:35 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Apr 16 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d16a5b0ac6f315abe3a5aa101c504b92", "book_id": "24485589", "review_id": "1e4a5fea35f5134ba4d028e40c942809", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Utterly fantastic. It was a beauty and the beast retelling that was so completely different than the others. Usually, you can guess the story and ending, but not this one. The author was clear to avoid the creepy stokholm syndrome that infected every other. You were able to feel the beast's humanity blossom and Beauty's own awareness begin to show. Highly recommend", "date_added": "Sat Mar 25 23:17:02 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun May 14 15:23:15 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun May 14 15:23:15 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d16a5b0ac6f315abe3a5aa101c504b92", "book_id": "25785357", "review_id": "db4a291847d069de59e1a6d6beb7ffc4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really almost called this a DNF, but I hate not finishing a book. \n It bothered me that Ten found it necessary to keep her legs hair free even though she was being tortured in prison. \n Also, the writing sounded extremely immature. A lot of it sounded as if it was a comedians interpretation of how teenagers speak. \n Oh and \"Bow\" loses their character. In the beginning their witty with immature jokes, but later on, they begin to sound more like a \"goody toe-shoes\". Totally lost what makes you love them. \n BUT before you give up on it and declare DNF, pleeeeease get to chapter 18. That's where the sh!t hits the fan and it gets so good! Hopefully the author stops the \"witty\" teenage angst filled one liners and makes Tenley sound like an actual person!", "date_added": "Mon Mar 13 15:56:48 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 13 23:05:13 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Mar 14 23:05:13 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Mar 12 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d16a5b0ac6f315abe3a5aa101c504b92", "book_id": "28374007", "review_id": "271829d1f0aba5d5da52d59417b11cd9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book destroyed me. \n I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!!! \n The book makes you care for each one of the girls and get so involved in their lives. \n You want ALL of them to win. Except Mirabella, she's not my friend. \n I cried and screamed through the the whole thing! This book throws you off ALOT. The ending has this amazing twist that destroyed me! \n The beginning of the book confused me a bit and was a tad slow, but so worth it! \n THIS IS A MUST READ AND IVE ALREADY SET AN ALARM FOR THE NEXT!", "date_added": "Sun Mar 05 19:52:10 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 12 16:38:27 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Mar 03 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a47e60ec76ec2a03e145c95281f97979", "book_id": "35500919", "review_id": "d6983a7460430f1bc3964d6ab8a74285", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Great Read \n Theodora Taylor thank you for Knud's story. I would like to say I am looking forward to Rates story but comes of As a pain in the but. Love love the connection between the Russian stories and the shifter. Loved it!", "date_added": "Sat Aug 12 08:09:58 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 12 18:40:29 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Aug 12 18:36:57 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Aug 12 08:09:58 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5f714acc38961262b25992b6510de10", "book_id": "11368874", "review_id": "1a1f7001856a62d85bf06457ea1a52f2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ho letto con crescente sorpresa questo libro, che ha l'indubbia dote di scorrere piacevolmente. \n La trama e avvincente anche se non eccessivamente complessa (il che, a mio parere, e un merito - trovo stucchevole la ricerca del colpo di scena a tutti i costi); il protagonista e personaggio credibile, affascinante e pieno di sfaccettature. \n La scrittura di Duncan e lineare; il racconto e pieno di riferimenti all'attualita ed e perfettamente calato nel presente. \n E' una lettura assolutamente non 'impegnata', ma non per questo meno gradevole. \n Consigliato per un pomeriggio davanti al camino.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 04 11:04:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 04 11:05:33 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Sun Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d18a7456718c0927ceeec3b0955c972", "book_id": "15707526", "review_id": "efdbced7b8ad77279f21b1f715b90a72", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Not the most exciting book but it builds more story for the conclusion of the Sword of Truth series. I did like it, heck, being immersed in Goodkind's world once again is always fun!!!", "date_added": "Sun Jun 02 10:45:36 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 13 10:41:27 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d18a7456718c0927ceeec3b0955c972", "book_id": "604803", "review_id": "fc3675189b82f110f9d96bb33c6b0be6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another epic book by Goodkind!!!", "date_added": "Sun Jun 02 10:43:44 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 02 10:44:58 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d18a7456718c0927ceeec3b0955c972", "book_id": "7743175", "review_id": "19b82cbcc0c1e34b1280150efd872dcc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A mammoth book to end a mammoth series. Wow, what an ending!!! Seriously I am usually disappointed at long series conclusions, sometimes feeling cheated. This was far from the case.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 02 10:42:24 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 16 05:36:59 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d18a7456718c0927ceeec3b0955c972", "book_id": "17206298", "review_id": "bbff239e731b7d5d57bd779437618887", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is a shogging good time!!! The characters really come alive. Is it sad that my second favorite character was the bad guy. I also like the idea that the heroes were flawed and gritty. It made it seem more like real life. Buy this book. You'll really like it! I did!!!", "date_added": "Mon Apr 15 15:25:20 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 15 15:28:01 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d18a7456718c0927ceeec3b0955c972", "book_id": "10393961", "review_id": "8b9aad9165ed9a226b4bac7f687e46e6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really liked this book!!! Nameless is an intriguing character. It is del edited. If you like fantasy give this one a try. WARNING!!! I am a little hooked so I am off right now to buy the next in the series. The only con I can find is that I really wish it was just a longer novel. I tend to burn out early on serials. I have to add a new note. I just purchased THE NAMELESS DWARF which contains all the books. Now I don't have to fear the burnout. So happy now!!!!!", "date_added": "Sat Feb 23 04:01:36 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 23 04:14:47 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d18a7456718c0927ceeec3b0955c972", "book_id": "133454", "review_id": "673c275dd8349bae099df0f84b768649", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Makes you really think like an assassin would. Never take the same path twice.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 02 13:54:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 02 13:55:36 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d18a7456718c0927ceeec3b0955c972", "book_id": "219205", "review_id": "ff6b0b045099d7e01b8fb68930a73cf6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Awesome book.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 02 13:42:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 02 13:43:17 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d18a7456718c0927ceeec3b0955c972", "book_id": "186074", "review_id": "c843ed9c2518f497b3b9ae819de6c4de", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Kind of boring. He is poor, plays a lute, and makes magical things. I get it but we are belabored by the mundane.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 29 11:43:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 01 12:43:07 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d18a7456718c0927ceeec3b0955c972", "book_id": "189783", "review_id": "a31d3d5906e2fd36fe192bd95bdcc652", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It is the same story as the Sword of Shannara.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 29 11:42:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 29 11:42:41 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d18a7456718c0927ceeec3b0955c972", "book_id": "327685", "review_id": "3798c06e1611205a84c298deb15079b4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Really good read. Is a little too much like \"The Lord of the Rings.\" I still love it though. I read it again about every 3rd year.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 29 11:40:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 29 11:41:43 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d18a7456718c0927ceeec3b0955c972", "book_id": "228665", "review_id": "a4ae61ae3683a7716ecd556f3ed24b70", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The first book in the series and what a series it is. The only complaint I have is that the books are so descriptive that they drag on very slowly. But they are awesome, so don't get me wrong. I love this whole series.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 29 11:36:50 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 29 11:38:16 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d18a7456718c0927ceeec3b0955c972", "book_id": "43889", "review_id": "23af9a3cd95235a9daa2c147565d0aae", "rating": 5, "review_text": "WOW!!! I have read all of his books and this book is a wow. Each book gets better than the last. The entire Sword of Truth series is a great read!", "date_added": "Fri Jul 27 12:09:30 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 27 12:11:05 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d18a7456718c0927ceeec3b0955c972", "book_id": "66691", "review_id": "c1c64e87be6c5537fc67c09da54948e6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was interesting. I have to give it that, but the plot was linear. Easy to figure out. It had good Dungeons and Dragons action but it lacked something more. It was like the characters kept going in circles. It may appeal more to you but for me it was just a long blown-out short story.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 27 12:08:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 20 05:23:29 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Oct 20 05:23:29 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d18a7456718c0927ceeec3b0955c972", "book_id": "11957637", "review_id": "3d0a12215f4577753af9b77e92111845", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Didn't like it as much. Still a fun read but just didn't have the impact of Ex-Heroes.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 27 12:03:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 27 12:04:59 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d18a7456718c0927ceeec3b0955c972", "book_id": "7793307", "review_id": "f91fcb8a07436a3bebb03ace66ea531f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It is a very interesting concept. I really liked it. The beginning was a bit confusing but all-in-all a really fun read.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 27 12:02:25 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 27 12:03:33 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d18a7456718c0927ceeec3b0955c972", "book_id": "8167001", "review_id": "ca07b729847713c64aa648ddbd5c7c78", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Mark Tufo is the man. I love Mike Talbot!!!", "date_added": "Fri Jul 27 10:42:34 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 27 10:43:01 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2a102df56767f527dcaeefbcf260d198", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "9a16b80c5a6c49a9748614cc2e3c0721", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Hands down, my new favorite book! This was AMAZING!", "date_added": "Mon Jan 27 05:47:36 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 07 08:33:42 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jun 07 08:33:42 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7fbfe2412623e7376e5d9c68cae96ed0", "book_id": "8667848", "review_id": "06a8972ddad0f02167e4f761a78f2149", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I don't normally read this genre but decided to give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised! I can't wait for the next one in the series!", "date_added": "Sat Feb 12 17:37:36 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 26 06:39:21 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Sat Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Sat Feb 12 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7fbfe2412623e7376e5d9c68cae96ed0", "book_id": "6690798", "review_id": "7887fce25b7e66652c41b525fb29594f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great story! Reminds me a lot of Stephen King's work. It took me almost 2 weeks to read. I can't wait for the next book.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 20 04:35:14 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 02 19:48:37 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Thu Jun 24 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sun Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eb13e2a647ea2dacb45f086a5191dbc9", "book_id": "7023148", "review_id": "3225b7791d956fd6d83cc8b5e87f4cb2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I went on at some length about this title for The Sci-Fi Christian (http://thescifichristian.com/2011/08/...), so I'll just say this now: if you want to give your imagination and your spirit a real, nourishing gift, read this book! Preferably with a child. It is deceptively simple and beautifully done.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 20 07:18:28 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 20 07:21:02 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Mon Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "277d804e8b845a605dc31659f8d8a2cb", "book_id": "1421990", "review_id": "a80748c2eda3b068098d3a79e1222787", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I read this book a couple of years ago and enjoyed it. I had started a different Jeaniene Frost series lately and familiar characters were brought up, but I couldn't remember at all how they came to be. This meant I needed a re-read. I am glad I reread this story because I truly didn't remember most of what had happened. I feel like each time you read a story you understand it differently based on what is going on around you at that time. This story was what I needed at this time. I liked the kick-butt character. I enjoyed the tension between Cat and Bones. I needed that mix of action, romance, and mystery. \n That being said, I also realized how much this book \"slut-shames.\" When I first read this, I didn't pick up on those vibes. I get that it is part of Cat growing as a character, but just because a character wore revealing clothes, or liked to partake in some adult time, or just was OK with their femininity she would refer to that character as a slut or a tramp. \n I get that she was raised by her mom who probably drilled those things in her head. I will also say that by the end of the novel she seemed to be coming away from that habit. I just felt like it hit me harder this time around in the read. \n All of that being said, I enjoyed the story. (The audible reader is FANTASTIC!) I am already lined up to read the next.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 24 13:14:15 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 25 12:53:52 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Feb 25 12:53:52 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Feb 24 13:14:15 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "277d804e8b845a605dc31659f8d8a2cb", "book_id": "25026933", "review_id": "8569b616c1213c33922145a0cbf385a4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have to start by saying that I absolutely love this series. The main character, Rowan, is witty, kick-ass, and someone that I wish was my best friend. From the very first novel, I've really wanted to see her succeed and really enjoyed her witty come-backs and sass. This was not my most favorite novel of the series. It was a little slow because it was catching up the novel after the extreme action of the last book in the series. On top of that, it has a sad cliff-hanger type ending which makes me desperate for the next book in the series which is not even out yet. :( \n I think that it would be great for anyone who is a fan of fantasy, since it does have vampires and witches in it. I would also say if you are fond of a strong female protagonist, you will enjoy the heck out of Rowan.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 23 14:58:34 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 15 10:26:42 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 15 14:42:18 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Dec 23 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "277d804e8b845a605dc31659f8d8a2cb", "book_id": "19223830", "review_id": "93180b6f6bcb79a1798309c4a3568db7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a very entertaining story. The vocabulary and wording are different from any books I've read before, but not in a bad way. She pulls you into the story by her use of peculiar vocabulary and wording. I really enjoyed the story and the characters.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 18 09:44:17 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 18 10:27:02 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Nov 20 06:08:40 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "277d804e8b845a605dc31659f8d8a2cb", "book_id": "20643052", "review_id": "6156c45c024e5aff38989cf0e7a4ac35", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very interesting beginning to a series. I was emotionally drawn to the characters and enjoyed the fact that even when there were characters who were not meant to be the hero, they still had characteristics that made them likable and easy to relate to. \n This book is set in the future, but has more of a steampunk past vibe. If they hadn't told me at the beginning that the year was 2025, I would have instead envisioned a story set in the 1800's in a slightly altered universe. \n In this future, the controlling body of knowledge and books for the whole world is \"The Library.\" It was started centuries ago as a way to make sure that the gathering of knowledge was controlled and that original works of import were kept safe, while still getting copies to every citizen. However, this presents several issues including the fact that this means \"The Library\" gets to control what information is distributed and also has complete control over most countries and people. \n Jess's family works in the black market. He is a runner who takes black market original works and delivers them to the rich who can afford to buy them. On one such occasion he sees something that deeply disturbs him and helps him to decide that a life of giving books to the rich is not for him. He eventually decides he wants to be a \"Scholar\" and work for \"The Library.\" \n This should be a relatively easy endeavor, but he quickly finds out that it isn't and that he can't believe everything he previously thought was true.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 04 16:20:08 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 23 08:13:05 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Sep 23 08:13:05 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "277d804e8b845a605dc31659f8d8a2cb", "book_id": "13831", "review_id": "1040fe21536f2ef154ee828081ead691", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was one of my favorite series in junior high. Alanna is a young girl with a twin brother. Both of them are being sent to schools that they don't really want to be a part of so they devise a way for each of them to achieve their goals. Alanna goes undercover as a boy so that she can train to be a knight. Throughout the series, she struggles with hiding her identity from those around her and trying to do what's right for her and for her friends and family.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 23 18:25:32 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 23 18:31:54 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "277d804e8b845a605dc31659f8d8a2cb", "book_id": "337130", "review_id": "f77d4b45793946e71fcefbb172a171a9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed Richard's story. I want to keep reading about this world that Richard finds after helping a girl he walks over in the street. I am sincerely disappointed there isn't a sequel, but I have found a new author to add to my reading list.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 06 10:38:01 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 18 11:47:41 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jun 11 16:42:16 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "277d804e8b845a605dc31659f8d8a2cb", "book_id": "9548964", "review_id": "f4896f244bd64ef791c51d05053f1650", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This would really be a 2.5. This novel was definitely interesting and I did enjoy it overall, but there were times I thought the story was a little slow. Delaney falls through the ice and is in a coma for 6 days. Everyone thought she was dead so they are overjoyed that she miraculously recovers. However now, Delaney is able to sense when others are going to die and she doesn't know what to do with this new power. \n It was definitely an interesting concept and would be good for middle school or high school readers. However, like I said, as an adult reading the story, there were parts I didn't understand and that were slow to get through.", "date_added": "Mon May 18 10:00:22 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed May 20 09:06:29 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed May 20 09:06:29 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon May 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "277d804e8b845a605dc31659f8d8a2cb", "book_id": "13206760", "review_id": "7416f59302e9e9999d7cbb54f8566766", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I am really enjoying this series. The main characters are strong females (for the most part) and relatable charming males. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and am already sad that the 4th novel doesn't come out until November!", "date_added": "Mon Apr 27 11:23:21 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 18 11:58:38 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat May 02 13:30:41 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "277d804e8b845a605dc31659f8d8a2cb", "book_id": "22489107", "review_id": "3a8116c25a30d807e00f6a09e1d869be", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It was very interesting to get a look at Queen Levana's back story and why she makes some of the choices she makes. She definitely was made to be an evil queen.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 18 08:30:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 18 11:58:32 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun May 03 13:30:03 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "277d804e8b845a605dc31659f8d8a2cb", "book_id": "1656001", "review_id": "f00a8bf71ddf592e9bcb1688c241e987", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I struggled to finish this book over years and years of stopping and then picking it up and rereading. It has some plot elements that would be cool, but I just didn't feel they were well done enough to hold my attention.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 15 08:32:44 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 22 08:32:09 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "277d804e8b845a605dc31659f8d8a2cb", "book_id": "2", "review_id": "82bf8686b1dfcba49a7cca609005b02e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is my least favorite of the series. Harry is written like a typical 15 year old - angsty, whiny, and melodramatic! It makes it a hard story to get through because you just want Harry to suck it up and get over the little stuff so that he can deal with the bigger issues at hand!", "date_added": "Fri Aug 29 09:17:33 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 18 12:04:43 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "277d804e8b845a605dc31659f8d8a2cb", "book_id": "3", "review_id": "f6040fd033ef4a1167e9d1c776eb3175", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I love the Harry Potter series, even though the first one is not one of my favorite. Since I've been rereading them over the summer, I've come to a better appreciation of how intricate and well-put-together the whole series is.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 29 09:14:06 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 28 11:20:27 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sat Jan 16 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "277d804e8b845a605dc31659f8d8a2cb", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "2f3de1ed41373458ea37066b1148f8e3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this futuristic take on an old classic. Cinder is a cyborg mechanic who gets pulled into a war and search for a missing princess when Prince Kai asks her to help him fix his android. I really enjoyed Cinder as a character. She is strong and relatable even though she is part robot. The book sucked me in and already has me ready to dive into the sequel, Scarlet.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 07 11:31:22 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 23 19:03:45 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4011646e0eb061a24e485a46209fb9f4", "book_id": "127455", "review_id": "c95586bde79a9ee69ac855b60575e3e6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Was kinda skeptical that it would be all its cracked up to be after the first few chapters but by the end i was thoroughly convinced.! Scott lynch created a vibrant and unique world with charming and relatable characters. Definitely picking up the next one!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 15:10:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 23 11:38:39 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd28d8b257012e8c09b4819c81042851", "book_id": "16096824", "review_id": "ed1eb92e326834f1390b7ce588160078", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I jumped on the bandwagon, guys. I'm a sucker for hype. \n A more detailed and full length review will be up soon - I have some thoughts about this book and I'm not sure what rating I'm going to give it yet. Watch this space.", "date_added": "Tue May 16 07:08:20 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue May 16 07:31:19 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue May 16 07:31:19 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri May 12 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd28d8b257012e8c09b4819c81042851", "book_id": "23282139", "review_id": "b161dfb6c6f733887519c2295d592452", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2.5 stars. I don't know, I thought one or two of these stories were really good but I found the majority of them to be just okay. They aren't overly written or bloated with metaphors, but I felt oddly disconnected throughout most of this collection. I found it difficult to connect with the stories and grew less and less interested as I was reading. \n I think maybe this collection just isn't for me. Like I said, I enjoyed a couple of the stories but none of them stuck with me each time I put this down. The best of the bunch is the title story, in which a woman repeatedly cuts her boyfriend in half. Being the first story in the collection, it sadly went down hill for me after that.", "date_added": "Mon May 01 13:41:14 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 04 05:54:46 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Sep 04 05:54:46 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd28d8b257012e8c09b4819c81042851", "book_id": "25914821", "review_id": "847160c0fe9e08271abb706ac2e42127", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Lame villain, lame romance, lame ending.", "date_added": "Mon May 01 12:03:12 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 28 13:49:05 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jul 07 06:23:03 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jul 04 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd28d8b257012e8c09b4819c81042851", "book_id": "23164983", "review_id": "96a3eb64e4eda05c2013c7b84fda6690", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This was, okay, I guess? I'd need to write a full review to explain my thoughts on this book, but mostly I was left cold. However, there's a part of me that is curious to finish this series so I may read the final instalment soon.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 27 07:16:47 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon May 01 12:04:36 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Apr 07 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd28d8b257012e8c09b4819c81042851", "book_id": "29358487", "review_id": "de3aabc9aab9147a47d02d078f4bea88", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 stars. This is a really enjoyable collection of short stories that both fans and newcomers to Riggs' storytelling will enjoy. I'd love to re-read these again some day, especially for a nice, quick, autumnal read.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 24 04:59:14 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 19 08:26:44 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd28d8b257012e8c09b4819c81042851", "book_id": "29056083", "review_id": "65b5d7c250d3165b76936135dc508189", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Erm, okay? \n This was a weird experience. guess I enjoyed parts of it, mainly the magic and the nostalgia of being back in the Wizarding World, but mostly it was just... meh? \n For me, Harry Potter ended with The Deathly Hallows. The story had come full arc and everything was resolved, so as far as I'm concerned the book is very much closed. No pun intended. So The Cursed Child was always going to be a completely separate entity, something that I always intended to keep very separate from the original stories and in many ways, I'm glad it met my expectations in that respect. I don't necessarily hate it because there was a part of me that did love being back at Hogwarts and back in the world I love so much, but a lot of this seemed to border on ridiculous and I put my head in my hands more times than I could count. \n For starters: the FORMAT. I love plays and I have no problem reading them. Some of my favourites are ones that I've yet to see performed so I believe it's perfectly possible to write a play and it be enjoyable to read. But in this case, it doesn't work. A lot of what happens just doesn't translate well on paper; it relies heavily on dialogue which only serves to make the whole thing feel flat and the stage directions are just as a bad. This one almost had me laughing out loud: \n Draco walks up stage and stands beside Ginny. This is almost a Spartacus moment. There are gasps. \n I mean, what? I understand that this is a play, and plays were written to be performed and interpreted. I get that. But this just feels so lazy. A Spartacus moment? Maybe it's just me, but I couldn't take it seriously. But to be honest, pretty much all of it felt ridiculous. I didn't have any particular high hopes, but I went in to this very open minded and was prepared to make up my own mind regardless of previous reviews, but I have to say I agree with a lot of what people are saying. This read like a fanfiction and a far-fetched one at that. The 'big' twist in the plot was simply ludicrous and had more holes in it than a worn out pin cushion. But you know what? I'm not even angry, just confused as to why the story explores plot ideas that were never set up in the first place. It feels forced and I don't really understand why it's needed. \n But it's strange because it goes from the completely ridiculous and overstretched to the downright weak. The characters, the beloved characters, are shadows of themselves and again this is something I put down to the format because they just do not translate well in script form. Ron felt like he was there because he was expected to be, nothing more, and the personality of some of the characters seemed to change completely. Some of the things Draco Malfoy comes out with felt so out of character and in some ways I was kind of glad he'd redeemed himself but it felt too odd, too detached, and I could never quite get my head around it. \n I think to see it would be a completely different experience. Visually, it sounds amazing and maybe the story would work better on stage, but to read this comes across as nothing more than mediocre fanfiction. I won't deny there were moments where I giggled a little at the small parts where the old Harry Potter style and humour shone through, but there's such a mixture of things going on that the scenes I did actually like were overridden by the farce of the story juxtaposed with the more emotional issues. It doesn't gel well and I'm strangely not as upset by it as I thought I would be because as I said, this is a completely separate idea to me from the rest of the Harry Potter novels. \n I don't care what the marketing for this book says; I refuse to think of this as the canon eighth book in the series. Would I still see The Cursed Child if I ever got the chance? Yes, I would. I actually think it would work better and I might even be able to forgive the countless inconsistencies and the ridiculousness of the plot because I think the nostalgia and the atmosphere would be enough to turn this in to something more enjoyable. But the story needs to be left alone now; the characters and the world have been explored enough and to mess with it anymore would be unfair.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 31 14:23:04 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 20 10:08:56 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd28d8b257012e8c09b4819c81042851", "book_id": "29103028", "review_id": "3527972207d0a3d48bdb69a82ce3d92a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fantasy novels aren't usually the kind of books I tend to go for, but when I read the premise for The Queen's Poisoner I was interested to find out more so I downloaded a copy to my Kindle. As it turns out, it was a good shout because I really enjoyed it. It's well written, well-paced, and it was exactly the kind of book I was looking for at the time. An easy read that isn't too complex but also doesn't plod or drag. \n So, the plot: Owen Kiskaddon is the youngest son of the Duke of Kiskaddon, the latter of whom is accused of treason and so must hand over one of his children to the King to act as a hostage. Eight year old Owen is sent to the palace at Kingfountain where he must learn to survive and elude the King's spies, all whist fearing the wrath of ruthless, and possibly murderous, King Severn. It is a mysterious woman, known as the Queen's Poisoner, who vows to help Owen by assisting him in gaining the King's favour and proving his worth, something that will prove vital when Owen's father is again accused of betraying the realm, leaving Owen's live to hang precariously in the balance. \n Child narrators are tricky and reading novels told from this perspective normally make me a little hesitant, especially with books that aren't in a contemporary setting. I find they tend to be unreliable and not characterised as well as adult protagonists, but I managed to see past that with this book. The story was enjoyable and Owen turned out to be a clever and intuitive character, despite him being clouded with a childish awkwardness. There are a few moments like this: \"*gasp* She just spoke back to him! To an adult! Can you believe it?!\" Owen gets tongue-tied around the King a lot of the time, but I can't say I blame him because he comes across a pretty intimidating kind of guy. \n The novel itself is classed as fantasy, but the reading experience felt like historical fiction and I know exactly why. From just the first few chapters I could sense strong parallels between this story and the War of the Roses - the hunchbacked uncle accused of murdering his nephews and claiming the throne for himself was a clear giveaway, so I didn't even need to get to the Author's Note at the end to learn the influence behind the book. It kind of felt like an alternate history retelling of what could have happened had Richard III won the Battle of Bosworth and not Henry Tudor, with of course elements of fantasy mixed in. This in itself is an interesting premise but I'm glad Wheeler decided to write a fantasy novel rather than an outright historical fiction retelling, because this works really well and I actually found the magical elements and the world building to be subtle, yet intriguing. \n This isn't the kind of high fantasy you get from Game of Thrones, but the history behind the Kingdom of Ceredigion and the magical power of the Fountain/Fountain Blessed people was all really interesting and well thought out. As I said, I don't read a lot of fantasy but this was a nice balance for me. Magic obviously exists and everyone knows about it, but it's rare and Wheeler weaves in to the story delicately. \n As a whole, the novel is clear and clean cut. It's full of espionage and plotting and Wheeler shows you can write an exciting narrative without any explicit violence or sex needed. I whizzed through this in a couple of days and I'm definitely going to check out the next novel in the series.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 25 10:02:24 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 02 10:42:16 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 02 10:42:16 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd28d8b257012e8c09b4819c81042851", "book_id": "24737104", "review_id": "955e46f71827e5f15fee7e7e28fa97dd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was boss. I can't really think of any other way to describe my reading experience of The Martian other that it totally rocked and I loved every minute of it. \n The story follows Mark Watney, an astronaut sent on a mission to Mars with five other crew mates. As you probably guessed, things go a bit wrong and during their evacuation Mark gets hit in the dust storm causing the rest of his crew to believe him dead and leave without him. Of course, he's actually still alive and is now left on Mars with a limited supply of food, no way of getting back to Earth, and no communications to contact NASA. If it was me I'd give up hope there and then but Mark Watney is smart guy and gets to work figuring out how he'd going to survive, potentially years, on a planet that wants to kill him. \n Again, I feel this is book I'm a bit late to the party with but I'm so glad finally jumped on the bandwagon and gave it a whirl because it's one hell of a ride. I haven't read an awful lot of science fiction but I love space and because I'm such a massive nerd the whole concept of this story - the science, the engineering, the rockets (hell, yeah) was all really fascinating. Admittedly a lot of it went over my head but Andy Weir made it all sound so cool. Plus you don't really need to understand all the mathematical jargon to follow the story since you know how things are going from how Mark Watney sums every up as either \"Well, that's fucked\" or \"Yay! It worked!\" \n Which brings me to my next point: Mark Watney is an awesome protagonist. He's funny, super smart, and both equally optimistic and pessimistic to be believable for a guy in his position. The story is broken up in to different scenes which take place in various different places, the primary narrative being told by Mark as he runs us through what he's doing with his extended time on Mars. His narration is told through a series of 'logs' he keeps whilst the rest of the time the story skips to the guys at NASA and what they're up to, or the rest of Mark's crew as they journey back to Earth. The story definitely needed these multiple narratives because having just Mark's viewpoint would have felt claustrophobic and repetitive. Mixing it up and adding more characters stopped it from feeling isolated. \n Having said that, there's only one Mark Watney and he's essentially the only well-developed character in the entire book. It's his story after all I guess, plus you don't really need too much character development where everyone else is concerned since they're all just focused on the same thing and that's the Get-Mark-Watney-Home campaign. They all pretty much say the same things with a load of science talk thrown in which is fine because they're just there to fill us in, and Mark holds the entertainment side of things pretty well on his own. He's got quite a boyish, cheeky-chappy sense of humour complete with boob references and lots of sarcasm which did make me chuckle a few times. The basic plot line is obviously a very serious one but Watney's character added some comic relief whilst still maintaining a continuous feeling of anxiety towards the gravity of the protagonist's current situation (no pun intended). \n I'm going to end the review with a quote from the book: \"Every human being has a basic instinct to help each other out.\" That is essentially what The Martian is. One man is stranded on a foreign planet and the rest of the world try their best to get him home, with Watney relentlessly fighting death along the way. Watney and the rest of humanity refuse to give up hope and I think that's pretty great. We should all help each other out more often. \n This review originally appeared on my blog: Chapters by Amy", "date_added": "Fri Jun 24 12:03:26 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 07 13:24:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jul 07 13:24:35 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd28d8b257012e8c09b4819c81042851", "book_id": "263023", "review_id": "f771af6a543839f6c49b74a298da7c12", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Set in the decadent French court of Versailles during the reign of Louis XIV - a period in history I'm particularly interested in - The Moon and the Sun felt like a novel I should have really liked. However as indicated by two-star rating, this just didn't make the cut. \n The premise of The Moon and the Sun is not your standard historical fiction novel as it's blended with elements of science fiction. The story follows Marie-Josephe de la Croix, a young woman fresh out of the convent who has come to court as an attendant in the household of the Duke of Orleans, the King's brother. Her brother Yves is a natural philosopher and a new favourite of the King since - and this is where the sci-fi kicks in - he has just returned from a voyage in which he has brought back with him a sea monster/mermaid whose flesh possesses the ability to grant immortality. Louis XIV gets totally hooked on this idea and plans to cook and eat the mermaid (it's referred to as a sea creature in the novel, but I'm going to carry on calling it a mermaid, because that's essentially what it is) once Yves has finished with his research. This plan becomes not so straight forward when Marie-Josephe is put in charge of taking care of the mermaid, and she comes to realise that it is more human than she initially believed. \n In a nut shell, that is the novel. Granted, it does exactly what it says on the tin, no beating around the bush, but the fact is I just didn't care for the story. There were a few little twists and revelations concerning the truth about certain characters gene pools, but they were mentioned pretty whimsically without adding any depth to the plot, as though they were just thrown in last minute. \n As a central character, Marie-Josephe is at times painfully irritating. She's a pretty smart cookie: she studies maths, composes music, expresses an interest in the works of Isaac Newton, all in addition to her somehow possessing the ability to communicate with the mermaid.. How? It's never really explained; she just kind of wakes up one morning and is able to translate and understand everything the sea monster says. \n I should be happy that the novel focuses on a smart female character during a period where women's education was limited to learning how to draw and play the piano (which by the way, Marie-Josephe can also do). Maybe I would be if Marie-Josephe was a likeable character, but her intelligence is outweighed by her boringly repetitive dialogue and absolute naivety about the facts of life. I know she's spent time cooped up in a convent but good God, if she can be up to date in the scientific developments of understanding gravity, then how can she be so dense as to not understand anything about sex, or what the word \"whore\" means? \n Also, she is forever apologising to Count Lucien, the King's adviser, for saying something she believed to be inappropriate or insulting in his presence. Most of the time she just over thinks absolutely everything because whatever it was she said that she believed worthy of an apology can't have been that bad, because it never stuck in my mind long enough to remember what she was saying sorry for. Girl, just chill. \n She's not the only one. Her brother Yves is an insufferable dickhead most of the time who constantly orders Marie-Josephe around. Our beloved protagonist of course never calls him out on his dickish ways and is forever - again - apologising for being such a let down. There's a scene early in the story where Marie-Josephe forgets to wake Yves up one morning, which causes him to miss the King's Awakening Ceremony which he was personally invited to and is apparently a pretty big deal, so he tells her himself once he finally drags his arse out of bed. Dude, this is your problem, stop being so whinny and relying on your little sister to do everything for you. \n There's also a love story brewing throughout, but the writing and the fact that the love story involved Marie-Josephe meant that I no longer cared once things finally got steamy. And by steamy I mean, holding hands and having an awkward smooch in the back of a carriage. Sexy. \n If the historical and science fiction collab is something you're interested in then this might be your thing. The only parts of the novel I actually liked were the lavish descriptions of the French Court, but sadly even that wasn't enough to save this for me. \n This review was originally posted on my blog: Chapters by Amy", "date_added": "Tue Oct 06 08:37:36 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 05 12:46:33 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd28d8b257012e8c09b4819c81042851", "book_id": "3682", "review_id": "b091684d06046816a8b51f2643f98254", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I wasn't really sure what to think of A Great and Terrible Beauty when I went in to reading it. If I were to categorize it, it would fall under historical fiction/fantasy/mystery/young adult - and maybe comedy? But I guess that's down to Libba Bray's writing style rather than the actual premise of the book. Historical and gothic fiction are two of my favourite genres and I love novels set in Victorian England, so bonus points straight away. With the novel being made up from so many elements of different genres I was worried this might come off a bit slapdash for me, but as it turns out, I really enjoyed it. \n I feel like quite a lot of people have heard of/read this book already, but I'll kick this off with a basic summary. The story is set in 1895 and follows Gemma Doyle, a sixteen year old who has come to England from India after her mother's death. She's sent to Spence, a finishing school for young ladies where all hell starts to break lose when Gemma experiences visions - visions that started when she was still living in India and foretold her of her mother's death. Anyway, these visions are freaking Gemma the hell out, and she ends up teaming up with three other girls to explore her new found power and what it all means. There are realms, and magic, and the supernatural, and I know it all sounds a bit weird, but it's really good. What better way to make boring old finishing school more interesting than by practising magic? \n The one thing that I perhaps thought might grate on me with this book wasn't the elements of fantasy and supernatural in a late Victorian setting - after all, that's what fiction is all about and it's fun. No, what actually nearly bordered on the irritating was the finishing school setting that so closely resembled the modern day high school, it even came with its own group of Mean Girls that nearly made me groan out loud. If there's one thing I cannot stand its self-righteous, cliquey, school girls who are bitches for the sake of being bitches. I mean, let's face it, we've all been to high school and the last thing I want to do is be reminded of how petty teenagers can be. \n So, when I realised that our two resident Queen Bees, Felicity and Pippa, were going to be consistent and central characters in the plot I thought to myself, \"Really? Am I going to have to put up with 400 pages of school girl rivalry and bad pranks? Ugh\". But, Bray saved herself by having a protagonist who wasn't a pushover and even though the plot follows teenagers in a finishing school and yes there is a fair share of catty behaviour, it didn't bother me once the plot got going. \n The plot actually has a good flow to it. There's a lot going on and not a lot of explanation but that's part of the story - you figure it out along the way as Gemma goes in search of answers. And it's not all painting pretty pictures of fruit and learning the waltz (which they do, but it is a late nineteenth century finishing school), because there is a steady pace of action and intrigue throughout with a good bunch of interesting characters. \n I'll openly admit I didn't understand everything that went on: I don't quite understand how and why the magic exists or why Gemma is being pursued for her powers. I know she clearly has some kind of advantage in her abilities and she's much more powerful than she thinks, but to know the history of everything more and why it's all happening would be cool. This is the first in a trilogy so everything clearly unravels a bit more in the following two books, and I know this review sounds a bit hit-and-miss, but I did enjoy this. It wasn't quite what I expected but more than I thought it would be at the same time. Plus, Libba Bray's writing is really funny and her humour is kind of dry and witty which was surprising but enjoyable. \n This review was original written on my blog: Chapters by Amy", "date_added": "Tue Oct 06 07:24:32 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 03 05:49:14 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd28d8b257012e8c09b4819c81042851", "book_id": "7884179", "review_id": "0c6a9f07811b2c262eb7427edcccbca1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I love original fairy tales. They're dark and gritty and strangely familiar due to the watered down adaptations we know from Disney films. Credited to Charles Perrault are versions of some the most famous fairy tales known today, such as Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood, and I love how magical and shocking they are here. \n This collection is split in to two parts, the first part is a selection of tales told in verse where the second part is prose. Personally I preferred the latter half, since those stories were more familiar to me and it was interesting to see how the original tales influenced later versions. However, Perrault's poetry is equally clever and just as dark. \n In the Oxford World Classics edition there's also some illustrations scattered throughout which is a nice little touch.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 06 11:10:28 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 23 05:38:34 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jul 23 05:38:34 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd28d8b257012e8c09b4819c81042851", "book_id": "27005", "review_id": "39205f94d538358c456dbedf56699298", "rating": 3, "review_text": "After reading and loving Jane Eyre , this book sounded like an awesome mash up of kick-ass detective fiction submerged in Bronte's fictional world. And I guess it was, to some extent. It just wasn't quite what I was expecting. \n For instance, the novel is called The Eyre Affair which sounds like a bit of an obvious give away. Alas, it wasn't until about two thirds in to the story that the major shenanigans involving Jane Eyre actually became central to the novel's plot. Effectively, this was a bit of a let down. There were definitely some interesting teasers thrown in with Rochester showing up every now and again, and admittedly, when the story actually got going it was pretty fun. I just wanted MORE. \n To give Fforde some credit, as a whole it wasn't bad, the world it was set in had a very different history to the one we know written in text books today, almost like it was based in a parallel universe where dodo's still exist and people have cool abilities to tele-port in to books. The latter of which I suppose is every book lovers dream.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 07 12:18:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 25 12:00:38 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat May 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd28d8b257012e8c09b4819c81042851", "book_id": "15844279", "review_id": "561acab5a7c930b12610765790a24407", "rating": 4, "review_text": "In this edition, Through The Looking Glass is also published, which I will read at some point. For now, I wanted to read the original debut story as I have never previously read it, nor seen any of the film adaptations. \n A nice easy read which lives up to its reputation as being a very entrancing and unique children's tale, and it was nice to finally be able to read the whole story, knowing the chronological appearance of all the characters. Being so short, I would definitely read this again; there are bound to be some oddities in Wonderland that I would have subconsciously not taken in. With the creation of a world so immensely different to our own, it is hard to ask our minds to take in every detail of such an intrinsically imagined story in one sitting.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 19 05:39:03 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 11 10:57:43 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Apr 11 10:57:43 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd28d8b257012e8c09b4819c81042851", "book_id": "864890", "review_id": "a450b12c069f3e5dd8c5808ec601b359", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Re-read in February 2016 \n This was long overdue. I first read Goblet of Fire when I was about thirteen in preparation for the film and after about ten years and despite knowing the story well from the success of the films, it was like I was reading this for the first time all over again. Book Four and up in the Harry Potter series are considerably larger in size in comparison to the first three books and so there was a lot of stuff I had forgotten about - lots of smaller details and foreshadowing of what is to come. The film is great, but the books flesh out everything a lot better and that's just a given. Goblet of Fire most definitely marks the beginning of the rest of the series since the undertone of events that unfold are considerably darker. \n Whilst not my favourite of the series (that honour goes to The Prisoner of Azkaban) this was still really enjoyable.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 05:05:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 28 13:17:09 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd28d8b257012e8c09b4819c81042851", "book_id": "276750", "review_id": "27c3bab0e101d123d9aa4330dba60634", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Man, I love Angela Carter. She does things with words I didn't even know were possible, and for that alone her work deserves to be read. Not to mention she takes traditional fairy tales and revamps them to give them a super boss feminist twist. The titular story is my particular favourite since it reminds me a little of du Maurier's Rebecca, but her numerous takes on Little Red Riding Hood are also very good.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 15:19:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 01 07:00:26 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Nov 29 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f7f2e1ed6e4edce77be8ab2728bf9afd", "book_id": "22524898", "review_id": "215036dcc3eb9ac7d229491408294634", "rating": 3, "review_text": "So, I received this book on a Goodreads giveaway. And I thought that the summary of this book was interesting and could have a lot of potential in me enjoying the book. But, if I had to decide this book with one word it would \"simple\", every in this book is super duper simple. \n This book is about this world called Mystica this is filled with magic. So, this magic it's divided between two sides. There is the light side as the dark side, and within both sides there 3 wizards that in a way keep the balance in Mystica. But, the powerful wizard (Midnight) on the dark side seeks absolute power over the world Mystica, and to do this he would need to capture the other wizards in some shape or form. So, the world of Mystica needs the Dream Walker, who is Miranda. Miranda must travel the land of Mystica to find the light wizard- Lighting to stop Midnight's plan. \n So, from this synopsis you can clearly tell that this book's plot is extremely simple , but in my head I thought this was a tool to have the reader know as little as possible and then I would be thrown into this epic journey in a fantasy land. So, start off with the characters in this book. They were so dry that there is no way on Earth that a person could connect to the characters. I also felt like some of the characters in this book were just thrown into the book to get through a challenge that Miranda had thrown her adventure, then once that challenge was over and the character wonder just leave in an obnoxious way, and s new character would come right in. Keep in mind that these challenges or problems in the book would last a page or two and that way the last time you would see that particular character again. Again all these problems lead to me having a really hard time connecting or bonding with characters. \n Next up is the plot of this book, like I said in the beginning of this review that mind created this super epic fantasy story that world be amazing. But the author really held back on explaining events in the book that I would consider very important to the plot development. Even the climax of the book was really lacking \n Finally, the writing style of the book. And the it just lack that impact that made a you really remember the book or re-read it ever again. The writing was very simplistic, so I'd you enjoy books with a simply and easy to a read without thinking you may like this book. \n Note to the author- I think the main thing for the to do is to just give it your all and don't hold back on creating really well built characters, plot, and writing style. I would rate this book a three star.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 28 20:27:15 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu May 28 13:08:45 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f7f2e1ed6e4edce77be8ab2728bf9afd", "book_id": "3992598", "review_id": "7a320f3be13d666e2b3af34e41b12412", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was an awesome novella, in this book you go over different adventures that Percy Jackson and other characters go on. This also includes some interviews with Percy, Annabeth, Grover and many other characters as well. I gave this novella a 4 star because it is a novella, I can remember everything that happened in the novella which mean I know what happens and it takes the suspense away. Overall, a really good novella to read!", "date_added": "Mon Dec 30 09:25:49 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 01 07:58:29 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f7f2e1ed6e4edce77be8ab2728bf9afd", "book_id": "4502507", "review_id": "c372205bd744cdd0b0943b0f8c749b72", "rating": 5, "review_text": "For this book like any other Percy Jackson book they are easy reads, but can get and you on the edge of your seat.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 24 06:49:55 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 02 09:14:57 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3085b74acda9a727f0c75509a4e702c4", "book_id": "8755785", "review_id": "adeafc27a15992b5ef8f5e5e1959c9fd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "perfection. i'm going to miss it.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 01 20:22:53 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 01 19:27:38 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "da0d75c3fad8c6cffbab9b99054a088f", "book_id": "5907", "review_id": "d543706ecced0d663ce2015aa10f8861", "rating": 5, "review_text": "classic <3", "date_added": "Wed Feb 24 18:50:43 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 21 08:42:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "da0d75c3fad8c6cffbab9b99054a088f", "book_id": "1", "review_id": "510363f5d2582a956881ce1fd33de64a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "series of my childhood!", "date_added": "Wed Feb 24 18:49:17 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 21 08:45:15 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "da0d75c3fad8c6cffbab9b99054a088f", "book_id": "6", "review_id": "5a236cac14db33b1aca47f59c06d1270", "rating": 5, "review_text": "series of my childhood!", "date_added": "Wed Feb 24 18:49:05 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 21 08:45:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "da0d75c3fad8c6cffbab9b99054a088f", "book_id": "15881", "review_id": "1ed941c0cec9296c850e662626558dba", "rating": 5, "review_text": "series of my childhood!", "date_added": "Wed Feb 24 18:48:46 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 24 18:48:58 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "da0d75c3fad8c6cffbab9b99054a088f", "book_id": "2", "review_id": "5ec0a961f252ac04d7acc5a67d097a21", "rating": 5, "review_text": "series of my childhood!", "date_added": "Wed Feb 24 18:48:34 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 24 18:48:42 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "da0d75c3fad8c6cffbab9b99054a088f", "book_id": "136251", "review_id": "9a256bd628e3e61c4677e9fd4bf5bf46", "rating": 5, "review_text": "series of my childhood!", "date_added": "Wed Feb 24 18:48:19 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 24 18:48:29 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "617d78fda32f856fa561ee1ef2dd3672", "book_id": "34", "review_id": "8e2e8044cb6e6de6234d4120de1b223e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It has a great story but the least exiting of the three books of the collection. I think it's a book that's easy to read and it has great characters.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 15:18:35 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 15 18:38:05 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "617d78fda32f856fa561ee1ef2dd3672", "book_id": "5907", "review_id": "50e1a6f9faa580764d530669b55b9bbe", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It's by far my favorite book. Great characters and it's really inmersive in the sense that it has a lot of details.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 15:18:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 15:24:18 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70eb5a06d5aa23ecc694850b980309a9", "book_id": "3", "review_id": "31e77554f6af6909a40266a84dba950d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "just as good 15 years after I first read it.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 17 15:38:03 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 22 10:59:34 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70eb5a06d5aa23ecc694850b980309a9", "book_id": "6570140", "review_id": "b0c231153e68dc53eb535bb16513e770", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Amusing book but no real substance. Very predictable.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 02 12:06:52 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 13 11:02:36 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70eb5a06d5aa23ecc694850b980309a9", "book_id": "12396528", "review_id": "bb3c2171b91965d80b81cebbb487a158", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Good book, though I preferred the first one. Will be interesting to see where the next one goes.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 08 09:07:11 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri May 29 08:52:52 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70eb5a06d5aa23ecc694850b980309a9", "book_id": "17239876", "review_id": "d2e11c6756d4949493229b0d18b8e6b6", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Really pointless book. I didn't remember half of the characters and really didn't care.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 15 18:30:05 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 20 09:12:27 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70eb5a06d5aa23ecc694850b980309a9", "book_id": "15985348", "review_id": "4fec4c8bd0cdb8065797925aa32a1474", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Definitely better than the last few in the series, though certainly not outstanding. Very predictable ending. Did like that many of the past characters made reappearances, since it's the final book in the series.", "date_added": "Thu May 30 18:18:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 06 10:44:18 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu May 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70eb5a06d5aa23ecc694850b980309a9", "book_id": "11559200", "review_id": "4b3ffb052dad24a411adc51a41a13888", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the trilogy, but this one? Not so much. The character development was lacking, the plot was plodding and it was just uninteresting. The worst bit was the ends when'd they return to current time and characters prominent in the first book were mentioned. But there was nothing to refresh your memory on just who those characters were. Reading this book a year after the first, I had trouble recalling exactly who people were.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 26 20:40:30 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 10 17:31:06 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Aug 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70eb5a06d5aa23ecc694850b980309a9", "book_id": "12381269", "review_id": "1ab8891baa0383f6df145bdbf10dedad", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Didn't hate it completely like the last Sookie Stackhouse book, but it was not especially good either.", "date_added": "Tue May 29 08:42:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon May 19 10:59:50 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70eb5a06d5aa23ecc694850b980309a9", "book_id": "9640019", "review_id": "d55279324b4a8b93050c4776f65e88cd", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Better than #10 in the series, but not good either. Again, it felt like the author rushed to write/publish a book, plot be damned. I'll seriously have to think about reading #12 when it comes out.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 23 21:45:16 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 23 21:48:02 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70eb5a06d5aa23ecc694850b980309a9", "book_id": "7091488", "review_id": "0245a04932232c29a674a053cadc6573", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Really bad book and I usually enjoy the Sookie books. Feels like the author rushed to publish a book, forgetting to add a plot.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 23 21:43:39 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 23 21:44:29 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70eb5a06d5aa23ecc694850b980309a9", "book_id": "8667848", "review_id": "5b64e4a58ff6d61addc3eb159803f788", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book and, in fact, spent a few nights last week curled up in a chair reading it all evening long. It certainly has magical elements, but also has history and travels to various locations. \n The book certainly could have used a better editor though, as parts drag. And I was disappointed (oddly) that there are other books to come. Not knowing any better, I kept waiting to things to start wrapping up. The ending really leaves you hanging, though I'm sure the next book will pick it right up.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 06 08:59:47 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 28 09:03:12 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70eb5a06d5aa23ecc694850b980309a9", "book_id": "6202318", "review_id": "9e0b242affc2d4f8e8c01cbe01daad97", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Wish I'd read these stories in the correct order with the books. There were definitely moments in the book where I felt I'd missed something. Turns out I had. These stories.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 21 11:16:24 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 21 11:22:11 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70eb5a06d5aa23ecc694850b980309a9", "book_id": "5161066", "review_id": "b1b380ffea3a0829c63ebc76c63f4645", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not the best of the series, but enjoyable none-the-less.", "date_added": "Mon May 11 08:48:53 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 09 08:39:06 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70eb5a06d5aa23ecc694850b980309a9", "book_id": "2233407", "review_id": "0c13ce5ca51a1c665e1d356af3c0503b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "After eight books, the series is still addicting.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 17 11:52:43 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 17 12:04:21 -0800 2008", "read_at": "Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70eb5a06d5aa23ecc694850b980309a9", "book_id": "301082", "review_id": "94c20aeb717ab1ab33a03704d606ad8a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it! Is it great literature? No. But I couldn't put it down and had to quickly read the rest of the series. Horribly addicting.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 15 12:36:47 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 17 11:50:05 -0800 2008", "read_at": "Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "23174274", "review_id": "70f5ea8ec12dea7c13ca60c452e9731b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I. NEED. THE. NEXT. BOOK. NOW. \n This book is just as amazing as the last. I'm surprised that filming hasn't begun and that the movie doesn't have posters all over the place for me to die over. A must read and a good advancement of the plot.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 04 19:37:47 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 17 17:51:02 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Feb 17 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "22294935", "review_id": "4971c32152c94dbfe1814d7970093481", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Holy cow \n Let me just say that I have been mulling over how I was going to write this review since I was about halfway done with the book. I decided that I have to separate it into parts. \n Spoiler free \n The writing in this book is phenomenal. I am so blown away just from that that I am going to go ahead and add all of her books to my reading list...despite the fact that it's already long enough. \n I had no idea what was going on at first and thought that I would have to read the previous series in order to understand, but s great job is done in explaining everything along the way and that's what really captivated me about this book! Character development was astounding! For the first time ever I read the book more for the characters than for the plot itself. \n Also, the world that the author has created is something of a masterpiece. Many times, I had the map in order to better understand what she was referring to, but either way, her writing gave way for my imagination to explode in a Big Bang sort of way. \n Spoiler area \n I love all the romances that are booming in this series. Nina is my favorite hands down but I'm secretly rooting for Jesper and Wylan. If that happened I think I would love this author forever...forever more than I do now. \n I'm intrigued about Kaz and Inej because their relationship is very complex and there are so many threads in their life that it's hard to have them combine into one. I do hope that they end up together, though. \n Do when does the second part come out", "date_added": "Fri Dec 04 22:03:21 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 04 22:03:21 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "24488476", "review_id": "420d9b8fd9688dda18c372dc9af2e567", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this one! \n It's about time that the series started coming to an end. The last book was a drag and I feel that this book really set the pace for what the end will ultimately be! \n You will love this one if you're a fan of the series!", "date_added": "Mon Nov 23 10:34:16 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 23 10:35:09 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Nov 23 10:35:09 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "f70d7b556420aafb4f3ddf97ec9befd6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "If you haven't read this book, stop everything that you are doing and go read it RIGHT NOW. \n First off, let me say that I was utterly shocked when I found out this was published online in 2011 and only recently started being a big deal. I'm not surprised, really, with the ever growing curiosity that people have on Mars. Especially now that they're planning to establish a civilization up there. \n I love how this book was set up. Knowing what was going through his head made me connect with Watney, but also knowing what was going on in Earth made everything a lot more climatic. That contrast was the perfect balance for a reader because you're in two worlds at once. The element of surprise was never lost and both sides were just as entertaining. \n I can see why some people might have found it boring though I have to say that it's probably because they lack the yearning to be educated. This book isn't just a story. There are many parts where Watney is just calculating his odds of survival, adding numbers, and spitting science at the reader, like it's something were supposed to know. I'm a scientist and I understood most of the things. However, I had to do quite a lot of research when it came to martian terrains or technology used by NASA. It was more of a learning experience than anything else. \n Watney is probably one of my favorite characters! The guys is overly optimistic and funny as hell. I believe that we would've connected to him more if we were introduced to other aspects of his character. In all truth, I'm sure that someone who is stranded in a remote island for such a long period of time would've had more breakdowns that Watney did. Imagine a planet! I feel Andy Weir might have done this more for the sake of us connecting to the whole story rather than Watney's psych. \n I really loved it and cannot wait for the movie! I hope they do the book justice.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 22 00:14:58 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 27 14:47:43 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Aug 27 14:47:43 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "17878931", "review_id": "f5b0fe77d56544ada10c7d1abb28efc9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amazing! The next big movie series for sure! Loved the plot. I love their abilities! I love that they are not exaggerated and that they have limitations.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 07 16:35:50 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 14 13:40:21 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Aug 14 13:40:21 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "18046624", "review_id": "062a419a82236e0880c1492359678371", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amazing \n If you're a lover of The Hunger Games or Divergent or any of those other similar series, then you will absolutely love this one. I took some time to read it simply because I was immersed in other stuff that took more time. This; however, is one of the best books I've read this year and easily trumps many others I've read in the past. \n The writing is spending which is amazing for someone so young. This being his first novel, I can't imagine what the rest will be like; just as amazing, I hope. The plot is new and fresh and innovative. You won't be bored for a second of the story and, although I have a reading list that is very large, I'm contemplating sneaking the next books in because of how good this one was. \n I loved the characters and what drove them. Loved the family ties and the setting. More importantly, I loved Darrow's evolution through the story. He wasn't the same person a couple of chapters in and then he was a totally different one at the end. I bet he questions so much now and the reader, who grows with him and knows of why he is doing the things he does, even wonders what the turn of events will be. I started out rooting for his cause, but now I hope there's another way...a less cruel way. \n Read it. Amazing.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 08 19:58:24 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 14 10:56:57 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Mar 14 10:56:57 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Feb 29 12:41:56 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "15734760", "review_id": "1a6b604823522074073f2c1e47b7e77a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I don't think I'll ever be able to say a bad thing about the Merry Gentry series. Laurell still stands as one of my favorite writers and this book reminded me why. \n The book gets off to a fast start and, I felt, kept going like that. I think that is what happens after you hold a story for five years. We waited five years (not nine months) to have the babies and to see what would come of that. Given the way the book closed, we could as well wait five more. Regardless, my main concern was the character development for these babies and I'm extremely satisfied. \n This book is a bigger dive into her life and that of the men, even though we once again don't get to find out much about them. Some details here and there, yes, but still not much. Magic keeps running wild and rose petals keep falling, I have to add, EXCESSIVELY everywhere. I even found myself wondering if they had a person to pick these up. There's no way that whoever is piling these petals every couple of hours can be happy about it and I imagine negative thoughts insult the Goddess so...I don't know what to make of that. \n The overall plot advanced some and there is a major loss at the end, but I won't spoil. I will say it is a man and I'll add that he wasn't one of my favorites and I felt nothing like what I felt when Frost died. Having said that, it was still pretty sad given that it some pretty amazing things had happened right before. It was bittersweet leaning on the bitter. \n The end...well, again, I can see her stretching another book a couple of years. My imagination explodes with ideas of where this story could go, but it isn't mine and I don't think it'll ever go where I want it to or we would've been back in faerie a while back. Laurell loved the American aspect of Merry; she never fails to remind us, but I think it's some time we start kicking ass back home and if we're not going back home, it's time to start bringing home to us indefinitely. \n Props for you, Laurell. <3", "date_added": "Wed Sep 04 21:57:25 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 26 17:39:00 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jun 06 22:18:35 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "15861491", "review_id": "f5bf15acae18cdaa717fc440214493ef", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Let me start with saying that I am a huge fan of this series. I have read it since the start but never have written a review that fully details how I feel. \n I'm not about to do that about all the books. Instead, I will try to stick to this one as best I can. \n This book was just as great as the previous ones. With that said, I did hate the outcome. When I first read the title I got a bad feeling. Pittacus Lore has managed to make every single title relevant in all the books. I expected no less of this one. I was not let down. \n This book, unlike most that are part of a series, is not a filler book. Sure, you get some details here and there and some new information but this book, I believe, is a major step to the final battle. I'm not sure if the next will be the last but it could very well be. I liked the plot and the way the book was structured. I liked the twists as well. \n For the major part, the reader gets exactly what he wants. Suspense, a love story or two, some action, and some bit of what we love from each of the characters we've come to admire and fall head over heels for. Team Nine. Well, just because he's hot really. I do love them all. We also, unfortunately get our hearts wrenched. One line in the book, NO SERIOUSLY! ONE LINE! changes everything and makes it all go to shit. For lack of a better way to put it. The climax is basically the end of the book as usual, leaving us with another cliffhanger. One bigger than ever before. \n I don't want to give away spoilers, honestly. I liked the book but not the consequences of the whole mess that's happening. The end of the synopsis says, \"Lorien will rise.\" Well, by the end, Lorien seems closer to destruction than ever before.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 04:57:33 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 29 12:22:15 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 29 12:22:15 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "13188676", "review_id": "94b0620a15887214592188acc0081ce9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I am way beyond speechless right now. I cannot formulate words well enough to describe my love for this series and its author. \n I started reading this series when it first came out. I remember having to wait for all the books to be released; waiting patiently for cover pictures and the slightest bit of hope that maybe the release dates would be rushed so I could have them one after the other. The wait was worth it. So, so worth it. \n I was captivated by this story from the moment I saw a streak through a sentence in the first book book. One hardly sees that and they were all over Shatter Me; thoughts scratched off. Each of them forced me to feel more connected to Juliette. I love her. I love Adam. I love Warner. I love all of them. Tahereh Mafi wrote lines that made sure each was given their worth. \n Shatter Me was the introduction of it all and one that set expectations for the other books. I grew accustomed to Juliette here. Well, at least the Juliette she was then. I grew to love Adam and Kenji and the idea of defience against a government so harsh. Unravel Me, well, unraveled me. I grew to love Warner here. I finished the book it and immediately needed to know when the next book would be out. At last, it did. A masterpiece. A beauty of a conclusion that I had yet to experience in a series. To say that I was more content with this ending than Harry Potter's goes a long way. Suffice to say, I want more. I NEED MORE! \n The story was just so well created. She didn't just finish the story, no. She gave closure to every character and issue. Mafi took us through a lovely journey that I don't think I'll ever be able to forget and one that has been more satisfactory and REAL than most if not all the books in this genre. God knows how much I hated the ending of The Hunger Games and Delirium. This ending...Wow. \n This book deserved 95 stars. It deserves a movie and a TV show. Mafi deserves to be recognized for her sheer amazingness and incredible writing skills. I congratulate you, woman. You have, singlehandedly, toyed with my heart at no one's expense and all to make it radiate in unclouded love for you. Thank you.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 08 12:22:39 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 17 16:30:17 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "7842288", "review_id": "d26d7c726c3376fd4361ccf4bb67bcf0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have this problem with the second book in trilogies. I've noticed it might be me more than the story itself. It always seems as if it's a book only meant to fill one with knowledge and expand horizons. \n This book didn't do much for me. What's solved, really? \n I'm glad to have learned more about the Caster world. I can really see myself believing in a world like that much more than I believed in a world like Harry Potter's. \n I'm excited to read the third book...the conclusion. Finally see where this all ends.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 02 14:06:31 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 03 21:24:38 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "13104080", "review_id": "75aa8da21810303ed36696724989e8c8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Besides the fact that I'm mostly shocked, I don't entirely know how to feel. I don't even know if I liked the ending. This book was great and had my heart racing several times but it was all, I felt, a huge built up for the next book. In my opinion, this was one of those transition books that, with the exception of several key things, was not all that. \n I'm thrilled to have learned so much more about Warner and I'm sure in the next book we are going to learn a lot more. I love him. More than Adam, maybe. Mostly because he's that messed up love that we all fall for. As to the future of the story, though, I feel she's meant to end up with Adam. It's only common sense. I've never read a trilogy where they introduce the main love in the first book and then completely change it after. So yeah...team Warner...regardless of the fact that it won't happen. \n Shatter Me left me begging for the second book. This book left me...nothing. I still feel like I'm where Shatter Me ended and something big is supposed to happen. Let's see.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 08 19:22:35 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 27 06:02:14 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Feb 27 06:02:14 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "b41cbdc0d4fedb3b57e4ebd63c12eabd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Let me start with a disclaimer. The only reason I'm giving this book four stars is because it's nothing outside of this world. Besides that, it's extremely innovative (within the Cinderella story). \n When I first read that it was a Cinderella plot, I was hesitant. I mean, if you're an avid reader like myself, you know that there's only so many places left to go with that story line. Surprisingly, I'm pretty sure we were all surprised. I read some reviews down there and I see I'm not alone. \n Cinder started out great and ended at a huge cliffhanger. Lunar is next and the story is said to be based on red riding hood. I guess that explains the random hood. Whatever. \n The plot was fun and you learn to love and hate some characters. I always look for this. If the characters I'm reading about are not dynamic to the point where I hate the antagonist, I will not like the book! With that being said, I hated the stupid Queen. HATED HER! Probably as much as one hates Mrs. Reed from Jane Eyre or Voldemort from Harry Potter. Take your pick! \n Moreover, when the book came to an end, I was in love with others. I love Cinder because she's a new type of heroine and I like Kai because he's all majesty and crap but still able to be humble and, quite truly, one of the cutest guys I've read about on books. I have a soft heart! \n The cliffhanger...weak. The story: great! The idea: amazing! \n Let's see if Lunar actually earns a five.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 06 10:33:48 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 18 11:21:28 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Sep 18 11:21:28 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "6304335", "review_id": "d7db02630ab2a2809e8b06042b011658", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I read this book because I know it's going to be ten times better than the movie. I keep looking at the trailer and seeing things that I read about and sighing because I'm afraid they'll destroy the story. \n I loved it. I hated the ending. Really? No. \n I'm fine with all these dark jerks roaming the earth but give the girl a break. Fight evil! She has to fight herself every day and that needs to change! \n I'm not sure I like who they cast for the movie to play Ethan. Ew. Ethan is kind of very good looking in my mind. I like Lena dukayayene lmfao \n I love Amma and will always love the memory of Macon :) \n I have high hopes for Ridley and Link. \n Great book.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 11 17:30:57 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 03 20:08:55 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Mar 03 20:05:39 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "6752378", "review_id": "1cb08016c18f3d84377a7144b7e3cf08", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I loved the first three books of the series. Honestly, extending the series, I feel, was the author just basking in that success. This book, unfortunately, doesn't even slightly measure up to its predecessor. I guess I'll write something more when I finish the series given that I feel obliged to do so after four books.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 09 17:49:05 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 21 16:41:18 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Aug 21 16:41:18 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "13624688", "review_id": "25a9ab716d628008b71077e92b524970", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Absolutely amazing. \n Time. \n A gift or a curse? \n Ask Dor... \n Ask Sarah... \n Ask Victor... \n You'll get the same answer from all three but it will seem delusional next to what you think.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 03 22:05:26 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 25 11:32:24 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Sep 25 11:32:24 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Sep 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "9712492", "review_id": "2264d44581d0aaf64697ab52e3650030", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was infuriating! Granted, I am a sucker for love stories but it dragged on so bad and I am not, at all, looking forward to the next. I will put it on hold and will read it 300 books from now IF EVEN! \n Ugh. If it wasn't for the sucky love -__-", "date_added": "Fri Aug 31 13:27:50 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 31 10:42:43 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Aug 31 10:42:43 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "12971616", "review_id": "0630019454d207b8482567942a9ebc19", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Four \n Six \n Seven \n Eight \n Nine \n Sarah \n Sam \n <3 \n I don't know how I can put into perspective how much I have come to love each and every single one of the characters mentioned above. This series has grown on me ever since I first started loving it when I read I Am Number Four. Pittacus Lore has, once again, written a book that met every demand I had of him...at least for the ongoing series and, as always, leaves me hanging for the next book and I'm sure, the next one after that. \n Every page had me on edge and I couldn't put the book away. For a pre-med student who has a lot to take care of in school, this might not be such a good thing. I loved every second of it, though.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 23 05:36:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 31 21:33:20 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "35729", "review_id": "3522937d5b1e85ad617983a5691fc534", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This series is absolutely amazing! \n I loved Wrath and Beth. \n I loved Rhage and Mery even more. \n There was something about how they fell in love - it was different - and fresh. The way that life toughened her up is exactly what made her perfect for Rhage. \n Next up, Zadist. LET'S GO FIND BELLA!", "date_added": "Sat Jun 23 12:02:42 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat May 17 17:01:47 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "12686642", "review_id": "b76ec7244870e919f86012dc6efee394", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was not, at all, inclined to read this next installment. I only did it because it feels like a waste of time to not finish the story since I've read all the first three books. I actually felt cheated by the writer when she decided to prolong it more than it needed to be. Really woman...you just needed to let it go. \n Anyway, she decided to extend it and there's no turning back now. I will finish the series and rate each of the books in the exact matter I feel about them. \n Beginning of the book: \n Here we go again...where did we leave off? Oh yeah. Lilith. \n It has been so much already that I need to do a recap before starting each book. I wasn't happy when I started reading this one, but then I remembered that the ending of the last one was pretty good and I kind of really want to see someone punch Sebastian/Jonathan in the face. \n Ending of Part I \n Holy crap. Okay. Breathe, Will. \n I think this part of the book made me remember why I liked the story in the first place. City of Bones was absolutely amazing! (Please don't judge it by the utter horror that they've made as movies and TV shows). While reading through the first part of the book, I felt attracted to the story again and was drawn by the action and intricacy of everything that's happening. Revelations were made and once again, I found myself drawn to the side stories as much as I am to the main one. \n Alec and Magnus <3 Where the hell is that going? No idea. However, Camille is still running around and she's not playing. She makes a revelation that holy moly. \n Simon and Isabelle - Eh...not a fan. I must say, though, that this book does show Isabelle growing as a person and gives a little more insight of who she is as a sister and a whateverisgoingonwithSimon. \n Jordan - I can't remember right now the name of the girl that he's with, but they have a cute story line going on too. However, so much has happened in this books that I kind of...don't...care. \n This part of the book closed off amazingly and I'm really looking forward to the next part. \n Please don't fuck it up. \n Ending of Part II \n I don't know if it's fucked up, but it isn't as good as the first half. There are parts that I like and other parts, the majority, which I hated. I feel like it's so much writing that I grew bored of it. It has literally taken me so long to read the damn book. \n I honestly don't have much to write. \n I like the imagination and where the events are leading. I also liked that the side stories have developed even more. Actually, I'd say most of the growth in this book is of the side stories. \n The names of the last couple of chapter seems promising. \n Let's see what happens. \n End of book \n Okay. I'm conflicted. \n Again, I feel like the story is just dragging, but she did a good job at the end. That last bit of writing was what I needed to read the last book. \n I still believe the story is unnecessary. Sadly, I see room for so many more stories and I'm afraid that she might keep it going past the next book. The story will close out nicely during the next book, I'm sure, but there are so many lose ends now that she needs to tie that I know for a fact the next book will be just as long or even longer than this one. \n I'm happy at the turn of events in this book and again, really like the side stories. I think that everyone is ending up with who they need. I'm not sure what will happen in the vampire universe, but that's probably what I'm most looking forward in the next book. \n Jonathan/Sebastian is bad. Real bad. However, we only know that as readers because of the things he has done. His character doesn't depict him as much and I really didn't get to see the evil in him during this book. If anything, I kind of liked him when he was compassionate and kind. I am, however, looking forward to him being a total badass during the next one. \n Also...Jace and Clary...someone let these two be happy...for the love of God.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 19 15:15:38 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 25 20:28:35 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "676924", "review_id": "1325882b5e1cdf048e6fad8dddf0f8fc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was thoroughly entertained during this book. Actually, I've felt that way during the two first books of this series. I can't wait to read the next one! If I can ever get through my reading list. \n Very first thing I did after finishing this book? Look to see if there was a movie in the making. To my amazing and wonderful surprise, there is. ECSTATIC! \n This book continues the story of Zoey Redbird as she tries to fit into her life at the House of Night. Except, she's growing and with that comes responsibilities. and hormones She now has to deal with not only being the most powerful fledging her age but with her thoughts and developing powers. \n The events of the book were shocking in that the author manages to keep you engaged during the whole story with things that, in my opinion, are not so relevant and then BAM! throws in something that no one saw coming. Actually, and I won't spoil, I was beyond surprised at the turn of events in this book. To the point where I debated continuing the series or quitting on it. I'm continuing. \n I don't think the writing is splendid but it's a good past time. \n TEAM LOREN! TEAM ERIK! team foursome?", "date_added": "Tue Jun 19 14:39:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 09 21:14:50 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Aug 10 21:14:50 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "8376729", "review_id": "8a6932e7aac5e05be190ab9d848329f8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fallen was one of those books that I read because i needed a break! I become completely entangled on Maggie's life without even wanting to. I was up way too late to finish this book and although I'm sure ill regret it in the morning, right now I couldn't feel happier. \n I love Laury's creativity and this whole new world shes created! I cant wait to read more. My big review will come when Im done with the series :)", "date_added": "Tue Jun 19 08:38:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 05 21:55:09 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Aug 06 21:55:09 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "106085", "review_id": "52b421d6229f983463e3ea358abeba9e", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This book was boring...really boring. I remember texting one of my friends that had already read the book, complaining about how little this book entitled. Then, at the very end, the author decides to drop bombs of information about everyone and everything. I guess it's a good thing because I'll be reading the next book but it sure as hell made me doubt it more than one. Plus, I would hate Schuyler and Jack together now...", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 06:24:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 09 17:37:32 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sun Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "10800916", "review_id": "c77c05e2fc63c4af3b525389dbf5bb5b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book took me a while to read mainly because of the fact that I had other things going on (like school) and those books sort of took priority. I don't think this story has too many special things going for it but my curiosity for knowing what she might become is what is dragging me to add the next book to my to read list. \n I thoroughly enjoyed this book so for those of you seeking a quick read, this is perfect.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 06:24:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 24 21:54:21 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Nov 24 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "5509920", "review_id": "56f8b4a8ea7e0d11608964b788b70f1f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I started out thinking this book wasn't going to be as good as the previous ones and, well, it wasn't my favorite but neither was it bad. I liked Sabin and Gwen's story a lot. It was interesting to see them work past all the roadblocks each had. \n Still a fan of Anya and Lucien though. They stole my heart. \n Aaron is next <3", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 06:24:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 03 15:42:19 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Sep 03 15:42:19 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "12063158", "review_id": "418a0330a607dd424870b549ca6dafad", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I didn't know what the hell I was signing up for when I picked up this book. Matter of fact, I was mostly intrigued because I primarily judged it by it's very fascinating cover. Every reader's mistake of course...is to judge a book by it's cover. Believe it kids! \n I felt like this book had so much potential and so many ways to go but everything was just so underdeveloped. I mean, I don't feel like I know the characters enough or their lives, for that matter. It was one thing after the other and then the book was finished. What was Patterson trying to do? Create another magical bestseller? You could have had, believe me. A dystopia with a mean ruler and a big bad witch/wizard war, SIGN ME UP. Except you did it all wrong so please take my name off the list. \n Am I going to read the next book, yes. Why? Because I'm an avid rader and I like to know what happens to the people I read about. Even if the book was poorly written. I love Patterson, he's a great author, but I feel like he could have done immensely better with a plot that had this much potential.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 06:23:51 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 09 16:43:17 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jul 09 16:43:17 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "2712967", "review_id": "b1b8fb2d5f3b7f232cb67921307645ae", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is by far my favorite book in the series. Yes, I loved Maddox with all my heart, and still do, as well as Lucien but Reyes' story with Danika was slightly more devouring than the last two. I couldn't put it away, not for more than an hour at least, without feeling like I was missing him. It was as if Pain was in me too. \n Gena Showalter, once again, has surprised me in what seems to be a series that has been very well thought out and planned. When one mystery is solved, another creeps behind you wraps itself in your train of thought and you have to beg for Gena to solve it. That's what keeps me reading the series...besides the fact that I'm completely and utterly in love with all of them.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 06:23:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 08 15:56:04 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jul 08 15:56:04 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "30183", "review_id": "cde206262c30b14fdab559c2747975b3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Here's the deal...the reason I gave this book three stars is because, contrary to what I've seen people write below, it is not a bad book. I think most of the complaints have been about the writing and, as a reader, I admit that it wasn't exemplary but I wasn't really expecting it to be when I picked up this teenage book. \n That aside, I thought that credit is due where needed. The author didn't make them \"vampires\", they're \"vampyres\". With that said, I don't understand why people are criticizing her inability to make them similar. After all, they are different species. As for them being witches instead, I think it's pretty awesome that they can work with the elements. I mean, if she wanted a book about witches, she wouldn't have given them fangs, right? The aspect of the two worlds mixed together is pretty cool. \n I'm giving it three stars because it's not the best book I've read and I think I need to save those stars for more deserving books. Is it a good past time? Yes. Is it a good story? Undoubtedly.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 06:22:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 19 14:31:27 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jun 19 14:31:27 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "14948072", "review_id": "04c3e50faa840520fbc2ff5d02d39f03", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed reading this book, for some strange reason. I don't think the characters were as developed as they could have been but it's a really interesting teenage story and I seem to be drawn to these as of late. \n I hope to read the second part soon, seeing how I can't stop wondering what the hell the main character will turn out to be. It's aggravating, really, because some people have told me that you don't even find out on the next book but only time will tell.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 11 06:27:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 12 19:45:27 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4b439e428b728e4f3dc49ad804c8c6d9", "book_id": "42899", "review_id": "0f376233eb3424b0a065d78e56717851", "rating": 4, "review_text": "<3 \n I want me a Wrath.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 16:43:22 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 23 12:00:20 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jun 23 12:00:20 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ff6e627245f1f45e86706531bbff8777", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "28214dd4c8283f451840ab3b5e6295fe", "rating": 3, "review_text": "great plot, pretty bad writing", "date_added": "Sat Jul 16 14:10:44 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 18 14:35:31 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Nov 17 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "27259895", "review_id": "e0b48db05bf4334860312850538598a8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Darcy Harrison doesn't care must for pottery but goes along with his brother Mac to an art show. His brother is in hopes to get his Rickson pottery appraised. Brooke Rickson has made pottery along side her great grandfather and is just as famous as he was and a recluse since he passed away. When Darcy got Brooke's scent he knew she was his mate. She knows what that means and tells him under no circumstances was that happening and she was definitely not taking orders from him or anyone else. Can Darcy persuade her that they are meant to be together and that he won't change her life? Will Darcy protect her from those that want to hurt her? Another great read and would recommend to all as a must read.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 09 16:01:18 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 09 16:01:53 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "25139718", "review_id": "87553fadbce2ae5c5ab14f9546bf0421", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Book 5 in the Justice Series -- Drew works with Steele as a necromancer. He is haunted by his mother and doesn't tell anyone. He doesn't want to do this anymore. Mac tries to save a little girl and they both go over the falls. The little girl is saved but Mac is hurt very badly and might not make it. She almost died and now the ghosts won't leave her alone -- especially the little girls dad who is mad because she didn't save him and wants Mac to die so he can hurt her. Between the two they are a hot mess but their lives are better after finding each other. Can they make this work? Can Steele and his group find the help they need to get on with their lives? excellent read and would recommend.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 28 07:49:07 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 28 07:50:18 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 28 07:50:18 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "25139792", "review_id": "fbc06b585246738d368012c432b8eaa2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Coleen was out of options - due to an unfortunate marriage and then thinking she was divorced she was in debt up to her eyes because of her \"ex\" husband - she had no choice to move back in with her grandmother and help her with her niece until she got back on her feet. \n Anthony (Tony) Bentley knew that Bethany's granddaughter was having problems and coming home. He helped Bethany get in touch with her - what he didn't know was that she was his mate. He has his work cut out for him to get her to trust a man again. \n Can Coleen put the past behind her and trust men again? Can Tony make her believe that all men are not the same? Will they become one? Another great read by Kathi S Barton and would recommend to everyone as a must read.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 03 06:39:13 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 03 06:39:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Oct 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "24557732", "review_id": "4f13767d41bdce1da4a3c5fe12e7af37", "rating": 5, "review_text": "1 Blood Body and Mind - Aaron is the new master Vampire and is having trouble gaining everyone's trust. Sara is not a Vampire and has secrets and doesn't need attention brought to herself \n 2 Divine Savior - Colin is a powerful Vampire and Aaron's right hand man. He literally runs into Shade Doe and must know more about her. Shade has powers of her own that scare her. \n 3 Natural Magick - Dominic is a Vampire and has sworn to be true to Aaron. Picadilly \"Pete\" is in trouble and has to fix all the computer problems she caused. Dominic doesn't want anyone in his life but here she is. \n 4 Burden of Reckoning - Tucker James, a vampire can't think of anything since getting a \"sniff\" of Sam. Sam is a baker and in her off time she helps woman and children get away from abusive relationships. Sam doesn't want a relationship with anyone because of her previous one - can Tucker change her mind? \n 5 Enduring Retribution - Tristan St James is an uptight, neat freak Vampire who works for Aaron. Bailey is a \"hitman\" who works for the Queen of all Magick and has abilities like no other. Can opposites attract? Messiness and neatness come together \n 6 Fated Absolution - Kyle Dixon is on his way to pay tribute to Aaron when he is runover by a crazy lady. Madison Harm or \"Maddy\" is on her way to do some legal work for Aaron when this man walks in front of her. Kyle knows she is his but now to convince her and stop people from hurting her. \n 7 Reluctant Alpha - Bradley Wolff is Alpha and is mad when an Alpha Bitch comes into his territory without telling him. He is excited about an art exhibition at the gallery showing his favorite artist. Alastriona Airic Bennett watched in horror as her family was killed by werewolves and was even more horrified when the Alpha turned her into one and said she was his. She doesn't want to be a werewolf and certainly not mated to one. She is scared when the one who turned her is out to get her and also to find out that Bradley is her mate - watch the fireworks. \n These books are all great reads by the awesome Kathi S Barton and would recommend all as great reads.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 24 10:18:10 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 24 10:19:19 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "28496453", "review_id": "95866c15c30a94c2db868d603a02ffc0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Scott Calhoun thinks he is very different and doesn't deserve happiness because he and his cat are into BDSM. Chloe Davis is on a mission to find out what really happened when her dad (who was a police officer) was killed. She quit her job as a police officer to investigate on her own as the police department was doing nothing to solve this crime. She went to work at a computer shop believing there was evidence there with her boss George and his father William Flynn. When after months she couldn't find anything she put in her notice and George went over the edge saying she couldn't leave and hurt her - thankfully there was an older man there that helped her. When Scott first met Chloe he didn't know what to do -- he knew she was his mate but being a Dom he didn't think he deserved her. Will Scott and Chloe be together? Can Chloe find out what really happened to her dad? This is another great book by Kathi S Barton - can't wait for the next book in this series.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 20 06:43:04 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 20 06:43:41 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "29102102", "review_id": "86ecb540765bfa46d34da7c016416394", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Parker is a jaguar and is out looking over his property with his Dad when he finds an abandoned 18 wheeler - he is just about to call the police when out of no where a boy appears and stops him. The boy is a shifter of some sort and trusts Parker to keep his secret and help him and the girl who rescued him. Reese has been on the run with the boy called Josh for many years - she won't let them take him back to the lab. When Parker meets Reese finally he knows she is his mate, but Reese doesn't want this because if \"the others\" find them they will stop at nothing to get Josh back including killing everyone like they did before. \n Can Reese and Parker become one? Can they save Josh from the lab that created him? Definitely a must read by the awesome Kathi S Barton.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 10 06:40:53 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 10 06:41:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "25484018", "review_id": "1fef332e74784e9e796c3363b0575ae0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Logan Douglas doesn't know what to do with his life. He didn't think he had a purpose and if someone, especially his brother Mason, made one more snide remark he was gonna hurt someone bad or worse. Logan believed he had met his mate as a child and she died at the age of 10 meaning he would never have a mate. \n Charlie Stone was overworked and underpaid at the nursing home and now the police was closing it down and she has no place to go. When Logan and Charlie meet he doesn't understand this feeling for her -- she can't be his mate, can she? \n Another fantastic read by the amazing Kathi S Barton - would definitely recommend to everyone as a must read.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 08 07:51:47 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 08 07:52:19 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "25848650", "review_id": "1a65c1b668001507b745c7b26966a155", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Shane is the fourth book in the Dragon's Saviors Series. Shane and his counterpart Keion aren't looking for a mate - they are busy working on restoring the castle - but they both know that eventually one will come their way. \n Lelani Wayne is a very powerful witch and looking for the person who got her sister Erin's memories and power when she was killed by The Herald. She reached out to Kiaran (Asher's counterpart) who got the memories. She came to the Benson land to find him and came upon Essie who was ready to have her baby. Shane got very scared when he saw the stranger approaching Essie very fast - he couldn't get to her fast enough. What he didn't know was the Lelani was his and Keion's mate. Lelani isn't ready for a mate let alone two. Lelani and all witches are being hunted and killed by The Herald. Will Shane and Keion be able to save Lelani? Will they be able to stop The Herald? This is definitely a must read and would recommend to everyone. Thank you Kathi S Barton for another great book in an awesome series.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 22 05:29:17 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 22 05:35:41 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "29361137", "review_id": "cdda38d72b667019a9fee4e4cbce8b87", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Jorden is the second book in the McCade Dragon Series. The dragon had told him and Kenton that another piece of the jewelry had been activated. Since Jorden could now hear dragon he had a pretty good idea that the woman was his mate. \n Jasmine buys things at auctions and then resells them. She wished with everything she had that she hadn't found the earrings and most definitely had not tried them on because now there were people trying to kill her and her son Gavin to get the earrings. When she is hurt and in the hospital there is another attempt on her life and when Jorden picks her up and the earring touches his skin they are both marked and he knows for sure that she is his mate. \n Can Jorden protect Jasmine and Gavin from the men who want the jewelry to control the dragon? Will the four other brothers find their mates and the jewelry before harm comes to them because of the jewelry? This is an awesome read and would recommend to everyone. Congrats Kathi S Barton", "date_added": "Mon Aug 08 05:12:28 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 21 08:30:16 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "27259889", "review_id": "fa5d5b90dd000471981c46c387074505", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Aedan is Book Three in the Harrison Ambush series. Aedan has everything planned on what he wants to do and one of the things high on his list is running for Governor. Everything is going along fine with debates and such - he thinks everything is great in his life. \n Nikki is a cop that we met briefly at the end of Cormac (Book Two in the series) - she has been hurt along with her granddad. She is taken somewhere safe that no one will find her until they know where her granddad is and she returns to keep him safe. When she meets Aedan (at his home where her granddad is), he knows immediately that Nikki is his mate and wants nothing to do with her or the mate business until she gets hurt again. \n Can Aedan save Nikki and protect her granddad? Will they stay apart because of who is after Nikki and Aedan running for Governor? This is definitely a must read and would recommend to everyone.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 25 10:31:00 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:50:56 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jul 25 10:31:29 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "24418608", "review_id": "fca78eedd8ccd211ceab623e63deee05", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the fifth book in the Blood Brotherhood series. Richard James is a very old vampire and an immortal. He still holds a grudge against the person who killed his mate and brother. Ryiah is a fae and vampires are their mortal enemies. Ryiah is tired of her sister beating her and locking her away without sunlight or the earth. When her sister tells her to bring Richard to her that is exactly what she plans on doing. Richard can handle being around fae as there are some at the compound but what he discovers with Ryiah is that she is the mate that he doesn't want and also the sister to the one who killed his family. Will they make a go of it OR will his hatred of Ryiah's sister keep them apart? A must read by Kathi S Barton and would recommend to everyone.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 11 11:21:14 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:51:27 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jul 11 11:21:47 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "30756723", "review_id": "97f7f16c4c9a4883df875e985c9d50ed", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Lee is the 5th book in the Emerson Wolves series. Lee is a food critic but is glad that he is home with his brothers and their mates. He loves what he does in helping failing restaurants get back on their feet. Kimber Gray is a chef and very good at what she does. When she is blackballed as a chef she has no where or anyone to turn to for her help but her aunt for herself and her daughter. Her aunt is mean and doesn't want Kimber's daughter there. When Lee meets her he knows she is his mate but the \"aunt\" does everything possible to keep Kimber under her thumb. Why? Another great read by Kathi S Barton to find out if Lee and Kimber get together or if the aunt keeps them apart. Would definitely recommend to everyone as a must read.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 27 15:00:22 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:51:34 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "30361802", "review_id": "d8934dc9c508e1d93fa949766fdb6405", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Meet Danburn English - he and his dragon alter have been around for a very long time at the English Castle and he expects when he says something for it to be done right then not later. Kendrick Barrera can't seem to get a leg up in this world. Every time she barely gets ahead her sister does something and she has to deal with that putting her back in the hole. Because of this she is being kicked out with no where to go. Danburn tries to help but ends up hurting Kendrick instead. He doesn't like what he has become. There is something between Kendrick and Danburn that neither want to admit. Will they get together? Will Kendrick ever get out from under her sister's stunts? This is another great beginning to an awesome series by Kathi S Barton - would definitely recommend to everyone as a must read.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 13 04:02:15 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:51:45 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jun 13 04:02:46 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "25139786", "review_id": "65762fc5ec8493affb99c9fda69cfd73", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the 4th book in The Bentley Series, Burke decided to leave the hospital and start his own practice with his brother. \n Piper or Pip as her friends call her - went to the office to get her friend out of there but when she met Burke he instantly knew she was his mate. Pip is a fae and when she met Burke's nephew, Shane, they formed an instant bond. \n There is a madman targeting Shane and his brother, Walter, and Pip tries to save them -- can she save them both? Will Burke and Pip make things work between them? \n This is a definite must read and would recommend to everyone as a book you don't want to miss out on.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 01 07:02:57 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 24 07:39:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "30328194", "review_id": "8b6d162d25ed27a5f2e525eaebed4ea3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is an amazing, well written novella by Darlene Kuncytes. Serena runs a little potions shop and loves being a witch. She loves the quaint old house that she lives in. Her life is perfect. \n Dante is a Vampire who has been hired by a Coven of witches to find Serena and bring her back to them. \n What happens when Dante tries to help Serena is funny, sexy and oh so much more. Neither of them are ready for what is to come. Definitely a must read to find out what the coven wants with Serena and to find out what happens between Serena and Dante. This novella will have you flipping pages until the end and leave you wanting more. Congrats Darlene on an awesome story.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 01 06:06:17 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 01 05:20:26 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 01 06:06:43 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "25139713", "review_id": "a2b1262c89014ba85045ef40b62d4c9d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Meet Landon Logan who is a necromancer and being haunted himself. His parents hate him. His Grandda (who is dead) tries to convince him that he is not worthless but Landon doesn't agree. \n Meet Dillon Malone who with one touch can find things ---- keys - books - bodies -- whatever it may be. Her father wants her dead after she finds out what he has done. When her father goes after Steele's new baby all bets are off. \n Can Landon and Dillon stay together? Do they save the baby? This is the 4th book in the Justice Series and definitely a must read. Well done, Kathi S Barton on another great book - would definitely recommend to everyone.", "date_added": "Thu May 19 14:58:27 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:51:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu May 19 14:59:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "28496428", "review_id": "58f9a57586dc824455e2373a421462a1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Elijah Calhoun and his brothers help people in trouble. Noelle was in trouble from her stepfather and stepbrothers. She wants to hire the Calhoun firm but is having second and third thoughts about doing so. Elijah was surprised to find out the she was his mate. Will he be able to protect her from her family and also help protect his brother Sterling from Helenia? \n Another great read by Kathi S. Barton and I would recommend this as a must read to everyone", "date_added": "Fri May 06 07:47:03 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:52:00 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "25484016", "review_id": "6af0de6bcb92bf4cfc3f9a746f2b6add", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Darin Douglas is struggling with his new bed and breakfast. He is hoping everything is perfect for the grand opening. \n Mercedes Crosby is the new Vet hired by Darin's family and she is trying to get out from under her ex's thumb so to speak. Darin knows as soon as he meets her who she is to him. \n Will Darin be able to save Mercedes and her daughter from her ex? Will he be able to convince her that they are meant to be together? \n Another great book by Kathi S Barton and would definitely recommend to everyone as a must read.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 19 03:51:40 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:52:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "29325096", "review_id": "d1d51a04d676c75a7ebe372c4295d7c6", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Leah was a troubled child and has been hiding out forever it seems. Her path crosses with a young boy and she takes him under her wing and promises not to let another child down. \n Hannes \"Otso\" has finished what he set out to do and is going home when he meets Leah and the boy and she drives him and his polar bear crazy. \n Can Hannes keep Leah and the boy safe from the people who want them dead? Can he save his heart from being broken again? \n Another great book by Millie Taiden - would definitely recommend to everyone as a must read.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 30 10:32:32 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 10:32:58 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Mar 30 10:32:58 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "25848648", "review_id": "11e849e1c51dbd50c9b3d4f937a5045e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Meet Elam and his dragon counterpart Casdon. Elam is not sure what to think of Ariannona when she comes to the house with Casdon saying she has an important message. She is expecting to die when the message is told but Casdon has a secret of his own. Will Elam and Ariannona get together? Will they survive the dragon hunter? This is definitely a must read book and would recommend to everyone.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 23 04:31:59 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:52:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Mar 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "28591836", "review_id": "c08c73a14c75dc661a6d3bc2b6bd2515", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the second book in the Raging Falls series. Carly and Bastien are meant for each other. Follow along with their story and see if things work out for them. NO SPOILERS. Would definitely recommend to all as a must read. Congrats Milly Taiden on your new release.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 05 19:59:43 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 05 20:01:53 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "26879426", "review_id": "b253bc2d1a1d2f2d43869ab3df49d580", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In this new series by Milly Taiden - Luke wants to find his mate and knows when he meets Kira she is his. Kira isn't interested being anyones MINE. Will Luke convince her? Definitely a must read to find out if Luke and Kira stay together. Would recommend to all as a must read. Congrats Milly Taiden on the beginning of a great series", "date_added": "Sat Mar 05 19:57:26 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 05 19:57:59 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "29345174", "review_id": "ba490513fc36fed4a4d627f45d72317c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Kenton McCade is a Doctor and a dragon shifter but can't shift until his piece of jewelry is found. Emma is near death from an infection. She is also in the possession of a ring that she swears talks to her. Someone else wants the ring and will kill for it. \n Can Kenton save Emma from the infection? Can Emma survive? This is another great start to a series by the awesome Kathi S Barton and I would recommend to everyone as a must read.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 28 14:41:04 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:53:19 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Mar 07 05:30:21 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "29100996", "review_id": "f31a731b59c728e8d1fd1add67cfe779", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Colin gets word his brother has been shot and in the hospital. He also learns that Major Lauren Burcher - the commanding officer - is in the hospital as well and he wishes to thank him. When he finds out that he is really a \"she\" and that another attempt has been made in the hospital on her life he wants to help. He picks her up and immediately knows she is his mate. She wants nothing to do with him, mate or no mate, and she doesn't take orders well she is use to giving them. \n Will Colin's family and Lauren's be able to keep them all safe?? Definitely a must read - another great start to another series by Kathi S Barton and would definitely recommend to everyone as a must read.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 22 03:44:31 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:53:26 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Feb 17 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "27259867", "review_id": "e36faa8cc46f0381e09af833dece3d77", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Cormac or \"Mac\" as he likes to be called is set and happy with the way his life is. He is successful in his business and the way everything is going in his life. \n Andi is having a rough time - her dad beat her and she ended up in the hospital. She meets Stormy Harrison and he is gonna help her. When she meets Mac and he tells her she is his mate she tries to run because what she has heard about mates scares her to death and she wants nothing to do with it. \n Can Mac convince her that she has it all wrong and she stay with him? This is a definite must read new series by Kathi S. Barton and would recommend to everyone.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 08 05:09:59 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:53:32 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "24418580", "review_id": "cacd413efcfe8d966f64504ebff11f2a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Book 4 of the Blood Brotherhood is Christopher. He is a panther who is mad as hell and manages to make everyone he sees mad as well. He meets Kate and knows she is his mate. As they get to know each other he learns things about his past he doesn't want to face. \n Go on a journey with Christopher and Kate and see what happens --- you won't want to miss this. Another great book by Kathi S Barton and would definitely recommend to everyone as a must read.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 26 05:00:09 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:53:38 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jan 26 05:01:01 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "28492710", "review_id": "30ba7ee42dda5ebcc6c0a958e7f215e4", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Trent is a wolf shifter and has had a heart attack. His Doctor says he must change his ways or else. He has given up on living until he catches the scent of his mate. \n Johanna is a day walker for a friend for over 800 years. He is ready to meet the sun and she has every intention of following him until she meets Trent. Will Trent and Johanna get together? NO spoilers but is is a must read. \n This is an awesome beginning of a new series. Can't wait to read more in this set. Would definitely recommend to everyone as a must read. Congrats to Kathi S Barton for another excellent read.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 11 06:19:27 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:53:47 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jan 07 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "25139705", "review_id": "ac7c10dbce1e7fde23bbb82deef33c50", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the 3rd book in The Justice Series. Mitch is a necromancer and works with Steele and his group. He is trying to get over his childhood and get on with life life. Like all men he doesn't want a mate but when he finds her in the most unsuspecting woman he doesn't know what to think. \n Vinnie is a vampire - a full blooded vampire - and is most definitely not looking for a mate especially a necromancer. Vinnie has problems of her own with her Mom (whom she doesn't want anything to do with) - with her Dad (whom is dead) and now a mate. \n Will these two unlikely people stay together? This is most definitely as must read and would recommend to everyone to read.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 02 07:03:32 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:53:52 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "25139782", "review_id": "e8976b5091bbd931b4b78136de244ef5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Nolan Bentley is a struggling Doctor and a panther and doesn't want to admit to his brothers that he is in over his head with trying to build a homeless shelter - he doesn't want his brothers to come in and just take over. \n Rylee is in the Army and leaves to take care of her sister who is dying from Cancer and her nephew. She feels that she is letting her nephew down after her sister dies in every way - emotionally - financially - physically - in everything possible. Then when Shane gets hurt and she meets Nolan she doesn't know what is happening to her as her feelings are all crazy for him. \n Definitely a must read to find out how they come together and take care of everything.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 20 16:39:27 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:53:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "25484015", "review_id": "fe07cb6c9a9761ff8a552f5b1781153a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Susie has had a terrible life growing up - her mom dies in prison and her dad abuses her. She is a cougar and also has a special ability. She goes on the run to get away from her dad but he always seems to find her. \n Gerard is tired of his life and ranching etc. and doesn't have a plan for a mate in his life until he figures out what he wants to do with his life. But destiny doesn't wait for him to do that. Susie knows instantly who he is to her and fights it. Once Gerard knows well it is all history from there. \n Another exceptionally well written story from Kathi S Barton that you won't want to put down until you finished it. Would definitely recommend to everyone as a must read.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 09 05:41:11 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:54:09 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "25848642", "review_id": "54a065c42c34a4b850531c1e442254ce", "rating": 5, "review_text": "WOW.........that is all I can say................this is the second book in the Dragon Saviors series by Kathi S Barton and i can't wait to read the rest of these dragon stories and their mates. \n The love between Lindsey, Jed and his other half Zac is amazing. The heartache and hurt that Lindsey goes thru before she finds her \"mates\" is unreal. \n This is most definitely a must read and I would recommend this to everyone.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 04 05:08:54 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:54:13 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Nov 03 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "26872646", "review_id": "c2243d59319eb7cd193bc799b35a26ea", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Riordan is the first book in the Harrison Ambush series. He is the oldest of six children and running the family business and most definitely not looking for a mate. \n Storm Browning is military and has been badly hurt and is showing the doctors that she will do what they say she will never be able to do again. She is running a bakery with her aunts and most definitely wants no one in her life. \n When they meet and Riordan realizes who she is to him he wants nothing to do with her. Get ready to take an awesome journey with these two and find out what happens to them all. This is truly an amazing read - I can't wait to read more of this series. Kathi Barton has most definitely done it again. Would recommend to everyone as a must read.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 26 03:51:17 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:54:16 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "26799709", "review_id": "a1e6cba3ffdb33a036cfb275357f0ef9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ellis is the 4th book in the Emerson Wolves Series. Ellis is not himself and it is affecting his business. He thinks he has found his mate but he can't get close enough to her to find out. \n Dawn was found by Addison shackled and scared. She is hiding from her Uncle and Aunt and if they find her she knows he won't stop at just a beating. Addison hides her in a house and there she stays alone for 8 yrs. \n Will Ellis get close enough to Dawn to make her his mate? Will Dawn ever truly be happy? This is a definite must read and would recommend to everyone. \n Congrats Kathi S Barton on another great read.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 05 06:00:04 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:54:20 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Oct 05 15:16:54 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "26568733", "review_id": "29e6e9a5fef053453f3411ddb5168018", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Hawk is the last book in Samuel's Pride series. He is a different kind of shifter - he can shift into anything. \n Awnia is a Sun Goddess and burns everyone she touches except Hawk. Someone is trying to kill her for her powers. When Hawk meets her he has to have her for she is his mate, but Awnia is afraid because of the curse put upon her. \n Will Awnia lose her fear and take Hawk as her mate? Read the final book in this series to find out. Would definitely recommend to everyone as a must read. Congrats Kathi S Barton on another well written book", "date_added": "Mon Sep 21 04:58:27 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:54:24 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Sep 21 05:01:19 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "24418545", "review_id": "0a83f768be81f9b684079077a89cf159", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Leonard is a very sad, bitter and angry man - he is angry with Hector for saving him - angry with Remy and the group because he doesn't want to be there but stays - angry knowing that he is suppose to be with Jamey because she is his mate. Will he overcome his anger and hate and take Jamey as his one and only? Will Jamey love him? Find out in this awesome new read by Kathi S Barton - once you start reading you won't want to put it down - would definitely recommend as a must read.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 06 16:18:49 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:54:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "25484011", "review_id": "1215fc024836e92e98d8e3abeb356d4f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Mason is book 2 in the Double Deuce Series by Kathi S Barton. \n Mason is brother to Jace and is a cougar shifter. He has been helping his neighbor Landon McBride with the ranch as they are beside each other and its the neighborly thing to do. Old Man McBride jokes one day about Mason buying him out or marrying his daughter and it will all be his - its not really a joke but when Mason finds out how big the ranch is he knows he would never be able to buy it. When Mason meets Mr McBride's daughter, Emma, he knows that she is his mate and he can't fight it. Find out how things go when Emma's brother who thinks everyone owes him because he is a McBride steps in and tries to hurt everyone including his father and mother. This is a definite must read and would recommend to everyone.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 18 06:27:58 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 02 15:36:59 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "26050983", "review_id": "18587b350549c4ef32e351a45431e92d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Emerald is the youngest of the Gems - she has watched her five older sisters find their mates and be happy. Emerald has the worst luck with men and one in particular who doesn't take no for an answer and has hit her. She knows that she will never be as happy as her sisters and find her mate. \n Jul is taking his wine business from a partnership to sole ownership - he gets shot and because of his Mom's friendship with the Gems grandmother he is taken to the Gems house. When he meets Emerald he knows he has to be with her - he doesn't know why he knows this he just does - Emerald knows he is her mate but with her life the way it is she knows she can't be with him. \n Will Jul and Emerald get the life they deserve and be happy? This is a must read - I'm sorry to see this series end. Congrats Kathi S Barton on a great read and an awesome series.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 10 06:11:47 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:54:39 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 10 06:12:10 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "25139777", "review_id": "87d883cbbab65df4b6200f7554d74e96", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Meet Joseph - Joey as everyone calls him - brother to Micah - he has quit his job as a lawyer to finish his house and barn to raise horses. Chris is sister to Angel and were born witches. Angel cames to her sister in a dream and told her to go to Micah that he had something for her instead the driver took Chris and her stepdad to Joey's house. Joey knew the minute he saw Chris that she was his mate whether she wanted that or not. When Chris finds out that she is a very powerful witch and that others would try and kill her for her powers and Joey also the Bentley's join together to save them but will they be able to? Alot of powerful people are trying to kill them. This is a most definite must read and would recommend to everyone. Kathi Barton has most definitely done it again.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 27 04:30:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:54:56 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jul 27 04:30:38 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "25880164", "review_id": "4ceae160c5b2303d2a4624e6c9eff298", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the second book in the Justice Series and I have to say I'm loving this series. Nick is a necromancer and works for Steele. He shares this connection with a woman he has only met in his dreams but he knows as she does that they are meant to be together. Addie West comes from a very wealthy family and her father is forcing her to marry someone she doesn't want to. Her grandmother helps her escape and for five years no one finds her. Nick and Addie can talk to each other thru their minds and she tells him she is in trouble in a barn - that someone is trying to kill her. Can Nick get to her in time before this crazy woman kills her? This is definitely a must read and would recommend to everyone.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 12 06:46:16 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:55:05 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "25796660", "review_id": "b34dfd7d3288dd282e10ed3149fe42e3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Asher: Dragon's Savior is the first book in Kathi S Barton's newest series. Meet Asher and Kiaran who are literally joined at birth by the Dragon King. Asher is an immortal and Kiaran is a dragon shifter - in public they are one - at home they are two separate men - sharing everything until Essie comes along. Essie is hiding from her mother and needs to be healed after being poisoned, but she wants nothing to do with Asher or Kiaran. Will she come to love each one - to share a life with each other?? Another great book by the awesome Kathi S. Barton -- would definitely recommend to all as a must read.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 26 12:19:50 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:55:13 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jun 26 12:23:22 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "24658603", "review_id": "d7e79bfb0c334257b3d1f85b5c87ad62", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Marcus is the brother to Desmond and is guilt ridden with the memory of his fiance Josephine dying because of him. Now Marcus is in New Orleans to find out who is threatening his brother and best friends mates and their unborn children. He meets Liz who considers herself \"damaged\". She was almost killed by someone in her past and now helps others trying to get out of hurtful relationships. There is something about Liz that has Marcus turned inside out and wanting to protect her. Can Marcus save her from the \"rogue vampires\"? No spoilers but a most definite must read to find out what happens to them both and also a surprise for Marcus that has his very much confused. Would recommend to everyone as a must read. Can't wait to read more by the awesome Darlene Kuncytes.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 21 07:44:24 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 01 05:23:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "24418493", "review_id": "270a488fe3b733291d9283019ec3e298", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The second book in the Blood Brotherhood series starts out with Davis just killing a lot of malefactors and sitting there resting when Vicki who is a nurse on her way home after a long shift at work starts throwing pebbles at him to see if he is alive or not. Davis can't believe that she can see the malefactors and wonders how she is able to. Follow the journey of Davis and Vicki to see how they are meant to be together and the struggles they have. Another great read by the amazing Kathi S Barton -- would definitely recommend to everyone as a must read. Congrats Kathi", "date_added": "Wed Jun 17 05:02:41 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:55:23 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 17 05:06:02 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "25621551", "review_id": "6eac69088884d2e7952d5e09f30106b0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Carter Lanning is a shifter like his brothers and when his brother Rider saves a girl he knew in college Carter doesn't want to believe what she is to him. Dane or \"Murph\" to her friends doesn't want to know what she is but knows that she is not normal and will do anything to save her son Max. Murph can read minds and is almost killed a few times. NO SPOILERS but a definite must read to find out what happens between Carter and Murph. This is another great read by Kathi S Barton and would definitely recomend to everyone as a must read.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 03 14:53:24 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:55:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "25506899", "review_id": "30410171fccb4e15a7f3f44fd660d524", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Vicente is a dragon and was drawn to a place by the scent of blood - lots of blood - and what he found was a woman who had been badly beaten and then used as a human target and close to death. She was bleeding badly and had several arrows in her back and legs. When Vicente found her she begged him to kill her before they found her. \n Abby had given up and just wanted to die. She was sure that the three men hunting her would find her before help would come - she didn't have the strength to go on. It was a close call but once at the hospital after several hours of surgery and a little \"help\" she would make it. \n Vicente recognizes Abby and can't believe it is the woman of his past - the one he almost married. Find out they come back together - this is truly an amazing story. Kathi Barton has done it again. NO spoilers but you won't regret reading this story. Congrats Kathi on another great book.", "date_added": "Fri May 15 03:49:26 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:55:38 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri May 15 03:55:33 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "25458983", "review_id": "192b0e1d9b3ae9b1984f42132dfab067", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Jace is a cougar shifter and a hot handsome cowboy. He and his brothers own a farm and are behind on the taxes and are really close to losing the farm. Holly is a hot, rich young lady who is trying to help all the ranchers to not lose their ranch. When they meet Jace knows exactly who she is to him but Holly doesn't. She is definitely attracted to him and the sparks begin to fly. Can Holly figure out who is behind all the foreclosures and does she get her man? Well you will definitely need to read the beginning of this wonderful new series. Congrats Kathi Barton on another excellent read. Would definitely recommend to everyone as a must read.", "date_added": "Sat May 02 04:46:23 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:55:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "25108192", "review_id": "3504094377a2066dda85e559a0e943da", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Micah is another great book by Kathi S Barton. A definite must read. Micah is a cop - a panther who can read minds. \n Reggie is just trying to make ends meet - working 3 jobs and taking care of her brother who is paralized and can't talk. Reggie is in trouble. \n Micah finds out that Reggie is his mate - he doesn't want one but it happens anyways. Reggie gets kidnapped along with Micah's mom. No spoilers but you most definitely will want to read this - would recommend to everyone.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 02 05:22:31 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:55:47 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "25108888", "review_id": "813949039663eab048fae260a999f0a4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Steele is a great read - he sees and talks with the dead and he sees it as a curse. He has a twin sister that means the world to him. On the fateful day that they turn 17 he loses his sister, his dad commits suicide and his mom is committed. He wants to give up on everything and walk away from life. \n Kari is a panther - she has all she can do to control her. She knows from one touch that Steele is her mate but he doesn't want her for anything more than someone to have sex with. Such an awesome journey these two take to come together as one. \n This is most definitely a must read and would recommend to everyone.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 02 05:15:38 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:55:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "24978987", "review_id": "dbb4097899da7379d6e5852404eaee0b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "If you like steampunk stories then you will love this collection of stories. This book will definitely have you turning the pages and staying up all night reading and not realizing you did. \n Would definitely recommend this as a must read.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 20 15:18:30 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 27 12:16:01 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Mar 20 15:18:51 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "24937005", "review_id": "78055af1f8a3557e6d49b82329de9ea8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ruby is a surgeon and loses her job by operating on a young woman who is brought into the hospital. Meet Josh whose sister is the girl Ruby saved and who is also Ruby's mate. Josh's sister turns out to be someones mate also. \n Come along on the journey of Ruby and Josh - you won't be disappointed. Another great book by Kathi S Barton.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 12 05:41:32 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:55:58 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Mar 12 05:41:52 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "18741251", "review_id": "65c7197a45533d11245eab26116c3a67", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a wonderfully written novel - sit back as you fall in love with Dawn - Angelo and Nate and be prepared for a roller coaster of emotions. A definite must read and would recommend to everyone as a must read. Can't wait to read what happens next.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 12 05:20:27 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 12 05:20:48 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Mar 12 05:20:48 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "21487916", "review_id": "e67b4e3b61a0f662eb58899218856250", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Marco is waiting for his \"alfa lupo\" to fulfill the prophecy. Amanda thought she had it made - 25 and everything she wanted until her world went spinning out of control with Marco. This is a well written story about prophecies and finding your mates - I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more. A great book about werewolves - a definite must read. Would definitely recommend to everyone. Thank you Karen Fuller for letting me read you wonderful book.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 03 05:44:31 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 03 05:44:44 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "24882220", "review_id": "04ca366e0ea91df73c277fa877346bbc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "There is a War on the horizon. There have been many attacks already and lots of innocent people are being killed. Princess Malayna is part of the Shadows and is partnered with someone she never wanted. Can Malayna survive and find out who the traitor is? A well written must read by Mariana Thorn - would definitely recommend to everyone.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 12 13:50:22 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 22 09:04:17 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Feb 12 13:52:51 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17206393", "review_id": "a0ac18d5a249dcc8efa4f59e6cb33ddd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Talk about an awesome book. You get laughter, love, happiness, sadness, danger and everything in between. Continue the journey of Connor and Sha and the monster called Maestro. A definite must read - would recommend to all. Can't wait to read the next book in this series to see what happens.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 11 09:02:04 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 11 09:03:44 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Feb 11 09:03:44 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "19291146", "review_id": "7ab2ba359456ae8faad1d5d063541959", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What an awesome book - its focus is on Sha's half brother Achaius and Saia. These two try to protect the Nexus barrier separating the human and Mythric world. Definitely a must read and will leave you wanting to read Book 2 in the series. Would recommend to everyone.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 11 08:59:22 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 11 09:01:26 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Feb 11 09:01:25 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17258996", "review_id": "a6297ed793353d82f438a6dc4540e912", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What a great book - takes you back to your childhood dreams and myths and legends. There is suspense, romance, mystery - everything you could possibly want in a book. Will leave you hanging and wondering what comes next for Sha and Connor. A definite must read and would recommend to everyone.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 11 08:56:20 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 11 08:58:27 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Feb 11 08:58:27 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "22664636", "review_id": "f936ba9b781595146c50d88011b64cc2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was definitely worth the wait -- sorry to see it end. It begins with why Felicity and Laurie break up -- Felicity sees the picture of the man Laurie is leaving her for. Then we are back to the present with Felicity being held captive and people wanting Alexandria dead to break the bond between the two women so they can mate with Felicity. When I found out who was behind this it was a total shcok. Awesome ending to a great series. A most definite must read.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 02 06:38:26 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 02 06:41:13 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Feb 02 06:41:13 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "21902901", "review_id": "a54fd1d89d6371ec9e45148561c20058", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Continue the journey of Felicity and Alexandria. In the first book we find out Alexandria is a succubus and they both are taken to Alex's home. There are some parts of this book that I didn't see coming . No spoilers but this is a definite must read.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 02 06:34:20 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 02 06:36:26 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Feb 02 06:36:26 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "19220079", "review_id": "38ac4147b409ada40a497f8b1863bc5b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a short story of girl on girl - very HOT - very INTENSE - all I can say is WOW. Felicity and Alexandria make this story awesome. Find out how even after Alexandria calls it off she just can't stay away. \n Can't wait for the next book to read", "date_added": "Mon Feb 02 06:29:40 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 02 06:31:45 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Feb 02 06:31:45 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "23823762", "review_id": "96508c36f1957a56df3086ad5e6341ab", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Jamie is the resident bad boy with his signature mohawk and tatoo'd body and a smile women would die for. Jamie is a member of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and a also is a shape shifter. He can have any woman he wants as they all fall for him and his to die for smile except the one he really wants. \n Kelsey is your typical spoiled rich girl who enjoys drinking and partying and of course \"bad boys\". Whatever Kelsey wants she gets and her newest obsession is Jamie. Will she get the man she desires or will they be driven apart by enemies of all forms. \n Another awesome book by Nikki Drost - would definitely recommend to everyone as a must read.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 15 07:19:58 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 15 07:20:23 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 15 13:06:57 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "24376314", "review_id": "38b64516e4ba44e04f845df2b42ad3a5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "All I can say is AMAZING. Kathi S Barton has done it again with the start to another wonderful series. Remy is from the 1800's and is here to protect humans from the malefactors. Sylar is his mate and together their powers grow. A definite must read - would recommend to everyone. Congrats Kathi S Barton on another great series", "date_added": "Sat Jan 10 10:49:58 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:56:40 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jan 10 10:51:54 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "22603114", "review_id": "6f72f780a88767fa3e51fe49b36cd6f3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a very short read but WOW are these pages filled with magic - sex - a man who is cursed - a woman who has to learn to control her magic - this will definitely leave you \"hot\" and leave you wanting more - just when it starts getting good it leaves you hanging on the edge of your seat waiting for the next book -- would definitely recommend this book to all -- congrats Michelle Clay on an awesome read - can't wait to read what happens next", "date_added": "Tue Jan 06 17:46:37 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 10 10:38:43 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "21463920", "review_id": "454463c9a6a9f1dd07b56137ab07ed97", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the third book in this series and it is just amazing as the first two -- Raven Storm shows just what she is made of in this fast paced action packed book -find out the struggles between Raven and Rupe - this is most definitely a must read if you are a Raven fan and I'm really happy that we will see more of Raven Storm -- congrats Skye Knizley on another awesome book -- would most definitely recommend to all to read", "date_added": "Sun Jan 04 07:09:42 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 10 10:39:16 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "23591799", "review_id": "2e49c7c8267b88dfd93bf4ecd5a524a0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the second book in this series. Kalypso is an enforcer for the master of the hellhounds and is suppose to be on assignment for him when she is pulled into something with Val and Fane. She also finds out that her friends have been keeping a deadly secret. Kalypso is forced to see what she has been hiding in her heart for a very long time. Will she be able to help her friends? No spoilers here but this is a definite must read. Would recommend this series to everyone. Thank you Mariana Thorn for a great read. Can't wait to read more", "date_added": "Fri Dec 12 17:29:34 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 30 06:42:18 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "18243476", "review_id": "cf6b62504a0472ab3eaafa3d9d4e1afd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Do you like a story about Shifters - Vampires - Werewolves and throw in a little mystery? well then this book is exactly what you are looking for. Mariana Thorn has done an awesome job of throwing everyone into this story plus hate groups that hate anything that is not human. Natalya is a weretiger and doesn't remember a lot of her past - she works for PIB as an agent. Not giving any spoilers away but this is one book that once you pick it up you won't want to put it down - it grabs you the minute you start reading and you just want to find out what happens - be ready to chuckle at some of the things that these characters do. Can't wait to read the next book in this awesome series. I would definitely recommend this to everyone.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 12 17:29:01 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 12 17:29:11 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "18461855", "review_id": "ba4b46807c3e456eb0afc6e7dc75d17e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Meet Luke - the sexy \"were\" who is a good friend to Desmond and Abby. Meet Katrina who is Abby's friend but also is a \"witch\" and just finds out from her mom that she has a 17 year old sister who her mother after all this time wants Kat to go get and bring her back to her BUT she doesn't want Kat to bring the \"were\" with her - that he will get hurt. Luke isn't about to let Kat go anywhere without him. NO SPOILERS but this is a book that will have you all hot and bothered with the two of them. Find out if they find Kat's sister - if Luke and Kat get together OR if what Kat's mother says is true about Luke. This is a book that once you start reading you won't want to stop until you finish it. I would definitely recommend to everyone as a must read. Can't wait to read the next book in this series.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 14 07:51:20 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 01 05:22:12 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17670941", "review_id": "5101b1a1ac138bd3dafe4300da4b2311", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is an amazing start to The Supernatural Desires Series -- Abby and Desmond are so very hot together. Once you start reading you can't put it down - not gonna post any spoilers but this is a definite must read and would recommend to everyone.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 14 07:50:38 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 01 05:22:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "23279860", "review_id": "4ed65f04f96d7ec94749e82aa6656530", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Damon by Teresa Gabelman \n I just finished reading Damon and it was great - I couldn't put it down! I liked how it was between Damon and Nicole. A great beginning to a series. A good mix of humor, romance, mystery, and horror. I would recommend this book as a cuddle up for a cold evening with a warm blanket and fireplace. Lots of fresh ideas for the topic of vampires and humans.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 06 04:55:05 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 25 04:12:47 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "23301068", "review_id": "74e5a76c8586b8b0b287bd9d3ef41973", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This review is for HALE'S ANGEL by Michelle Clay \n Hale is a demon bad boy who delivers souls to buy his way out of Hell. Cera runs a bar and is trusting and caring. She falls for Hale. Ms Clay has a way of writing the sex scenes without going too far. \n A definite must read - can't wait to read more about Cera and Hale - congrats Michelle Clay on a great book", "date_added": "Fri Oct 03 04:17:29 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 20 06:13:33 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "18072986", "review_id": "aae6bb3d7fee3f5f732c28763806d1d7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another fast paced story of Amelia and the battle between the Medics who injected innocents with JackRabbit7 and the Insurance Agency. A definite must read and would definitely recommend to everyone. Can't wait to read more by the awesome Sarah Jayne Carr.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 21 08:21:10 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 21 08:22:41 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "19473433", "review_id": "d2872f9c54411f9543da0a6b15d6daa3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the second book following the romance between Anya - Nicholas and Declan. There is alot of jealousy going on between the boys. This is an action packed book along with the love triangle. Would definitely recommend this book to all and can't wait for the next book in this series. Congrats Aine P. Massie", "date_added": "Sun Sep 21 08:09:45 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 21 08:11:36 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "16154482", "review_id": "d1bb47966cc322b3a5673f31042bee51", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Meet Sherry - a witch who is tired of her \"normal\" life. Meet Drake - a vampire king for the last 300 years. Sherry is warned to stay away from him but that only makes her more determined to see him. Drake knows from the minute he sees her that she is his mate. A definite must read to see what happens between these two. Would definitely recommend as a must read. Congrats Karen Fuller", "date_added": "Sun Sep 21 08:04:13 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 21 08:06:08 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "10100090", "review_id": "bd936652bd2abb681e2fa982d98bdf87", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Meet Mica - a vampire who has to find a witch that his Master needs to find. Meet Desiree - the witch who someone is trying to kill because of her gifts. When these two meet Mica knows he has found his love. There is a bond between them that they have always wanted but never found until now. Would definitely recommend this book to everyone. Congrats Karen Fuller.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 21 08:00:52 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 21 08:02:48 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "19193256", "review_id": "ecadf2238d1c8b4382e074e77f695936", "rating": 5, "review_text": "When you start reading this story it sucks you right in. The characters are great and the storyline is awesome. Once you start reading it you won't want to stop. Would definitely recommend to everyone. Congrats C. Miller on a great read.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 21 07:55:55 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 21 07:57:28 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "23163371", "review_id": "d7cee020dc7ea6c828c1e2a8426211d3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Meet Mena who is running from her abusive cheating husband. Enter Jaxon, a vampire who wants to quench his thirst but instead helps save Mena and in doing so discovers she is now the new Alpha of his sworn enemies - the werewolves. Mena doesn't know what to think of this new world that surely doesn't really exist. K. S. Haigwood draws you into this action packed story - one that you won't want to put down until you've finished. \n Congrats K. S. Haigwood on a great book", "date_added": "Sun Sep 07 06:09:17 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 13 17:15:02 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "22924619", "review_id": "59b5355e35708f389397f14ea166571f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the final book in the Lanning's Leap Series - Rider is a worrier - he worries about his family's safety. His family's enemy, Sonya, even from the grave is trying to kill his family. It is foretold that when Rider finds his mate that his family could very well die. \n Graham only wants to make her Dad happy. She isn't looking for anything more so when her Dad asked her to go to the Lanning's with him she didn't hesitate. Needless to say when she meets Rider he knew that she was his mate. Rider doesn't want this because of the prophecy but the need to have Graham with him is very strong. \n Will they get together and stop the prophecy? Another great book by Kathi S Barton - sorry to see this series end as it could easily continue. Would recommend to everyone as a must read.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 07 05:55:52 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 21 08:08:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Sep 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "22924618", "review_id": "fa214e746c1bda85056e2bbb7eca5d45", "rating": 5, "review_text": "When they shut down the family Search and Rescue business Andrew Lanning was truly happy. He was tired - bone tired because it seemed lately it was always a search instead of rescue's. He didn't like just laying around so he bought a cable company that needed lots of help. \n Laci was a target of everyone around but she couldn't figure out why so she went on the run until she couldn't run any longer and took a job at the cable company. \n Sonja wants to destroy the Lanning family and will stop at nothing even from the grave. Can Andrew save Laci and take her as his mate? Will Sonja win and destroy the Lanning's? This is another great read by Kathi S Barton and would definitely recommend to everyone as a must read.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 07 05:55:50 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:57:00 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "22924617", "review_id": "f15fcb82febbd23f8912486d6b21e0a5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Meet Phillip Lanning - he works with his brothers doing search and rescue. He's tired - bone weary tired and just wants to sleep. But that isn't his luck when he is told he needs to find Charleston Grant. \n Charleston is better known as \"Charlie\" and is sick - in fact she is dying and only Phillip can save her as she is his mate. There are many people after Charlie for a \"book\". \n Can Phillip save her? This is most definitely a must read and would recommend to everyone. Congrats to Kathi S Barton on another great book and series. Can't wait to read the next in this series.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 07 05:55:49 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:57:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "22924609", "review_id": "399c62de17759687ab4eb3fa7e3ef164", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Meet Linyah who comes from a superior race of people and she is their security force. She is chasing a criminal when she runs into the Lanning's and most of all meets Thomas. \n When they first meet Thomas knows that she is his mate and is not happy with this at all. Thomas is kind of a neat freak and Linyah is just the opposite, but the old saying is opposites attract. \n Another awesome book by Kathi S. Barton - would definitely recommend to all to read.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 07 05:55:40 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:57:07 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "22750975", "review_id": "fa33e9c13ad76e2d7b7775cdcdce529e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Lee is the 5th book in the Emerson Wolves series. Lee is a food critic but is glad that he is home with his brothers and their mates. He loves what he does in helping failing restaurants get back on their feet. Kimber Gray is a chef and very good at what she does. When she is blackballed as a chef she has no where or anyone to turn to for her help but her aunt for herself and her daughter. Her aunt is mean and doesn't want Kimber's daughter there. When Lee meets her he knows she is his mate but the \"aunt\" does everything possible to keep Kimber under her thumb. Why? Another great read by Kathi S Barton to find out if Lee and Kimber get together or if the aunt keeps them apart. Would definitely recommend to everyone as a must read.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 07 05:55:37 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 03 08:45:23 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "22750954", "review_id": "7e94618ec607737f089a3bb93a1a26e4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another great book by Kathi S Barton. We start out meeting Addie who is running away from her past. She can read minds and when she touches you she can see your future. For this reason she tries to avoid everyone. Her father dies and she is on her own with the guilt of her father's death. \n Jarrett meets Addie when his dad and brother protect her from someone who is trying to hurt her. When she is knocked out by a falling brick Jarrett catches her and instantly knows that she is his mate and human. Addie wants to die but of course Jarrett and his family won't let her. \n An absolute must read and would recommend to everyone.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 07 05:55:27 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:57:11 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "22750949", "review_id": "732342dff3e34fb397f1c019d4bfbc54", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Luke Emerson is the Mayor of their small town. His assistant Allen's sister has been hurt in a fire and when he sees her and catches her scent he knows she is his mate. \n Jack is dying - the Doctor's are not giving her long to live. Allen asks Luke to save her but to do so without permission would have consequences but he can't lose his mate - he just found her.........................No spoilers but another great read by Kathi S Barton. Would definitely recommend this as a must read. Congrats Kathi on another great book", "date_added": "Sun Sep 07 05:55:25 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:57:21 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "21847449", "review_id": "f906179e60093842e52761cd46e49eb1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Meet Stephen who is a three thousand year old vampire who is after all this time very set in the way that he lives. Meet Clarice who is hiding from her stepfather - she is a loner and likes it that way. Clarice killed a vampire who was gonna kill her friend and in the process saved Stephen. Stephen realizes that Clarice is his mate - he doesn't want one and when his old lover shows up for revenge things get pretty hectic. \n A definite must read and would recommend to all - congrats to Kathi S. Barton on another great read.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 07 05:55:16 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:57:24 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "21847627", "review_id": "218592596318ae365cde443914da0bd4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Arryn has just lost his charge and is ready to be by himself for a while as it is never easy to lose someone you have watched over for years. \n Renya knows what is going to happen to her in a few months on her 25th birthday thanks to her \"mother\". \n Neither of them are prepared for what happens. No spoilers but once you start reading you will not want to stop. This is another great read by Kathi S Barton. Can't wait for the next book in this series. Would definitely recommend to everyone.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 07 05:55:14 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:57:29 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Mar 20 15:31:47 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "21847626", "review_id": "a536114b4fffd38b302ee0212858b125", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Meet Dusty who just lost her sister and now is taking care of her nephew Kip who hates his aunt. Meet Galin - a Protector who knows he is scheduled to get a wife (which he doesn't want). Will they fall in love? Will Galin be able to protect Kip from a demon? This is another awesome book from Kathi S Barton - a definite must read", "date_added": "Sun Sep 07 05:55:12 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:57:32 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "21846713", "review_id": "e021f73d1135cda06947d090b9c2065e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Opal is a shewolf. Sloan is a vampire. Opal gets hurt by Forrester another vampire and to save her Sloan changes her without her knowledge and in the process claims her as his mate. To say Opal is mad is an understatement. This is a definite must read to find out how Opal copes with being a wolf and a vampire. Would definitely recommend to everyone as a must read. Congrats Kathi S Barton on another amazing book - can't wait to read more.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 07 05:55:04 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:57:36 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "23002505", "review_id": "a24dc9e97a34d0e392e70891db1b48b6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I absolutely love this book - Skye Knizley is an amazing writer! Fresh Blood: Midnight Roads will take you on an incredible ride on the supernatural highway! Jynx and Piper are twins who kick ass and take names later. This is a definite must read - can't wait for book 2! Would definitely recommend this book to everyone. Congrats Skye Knizley on an awesome book.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 22 01:07:51 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 22 01:12:42 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "22846217", "review_id": "7e3973852988e6072e0187c3c7f64538", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Misha is another great read by Kathi S. Barton. \n Misha meets Hannah and knows she is his mate. \"Say my name Hannah. I want to hear you say my name.\" You will fall in love with the characters and you will hate some of the characters. \n Would definitely recommend as a must read to everyone.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 15 05:16:15 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:57:47 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "22734873", "review_id": "09d46c09042e3cae9491866a5d1e7722", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another excellent story from Kathi S Barton - a must read about Hunter and Slone - you will go thru all the emotions that Slone has from hating her stepmom to finding love with Hunter. \n Would definitely recommend this book to everyone - Congrats Kathi on a great start to another wonderful series.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 29 05:49:12 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:57:50 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "21847625", "review_id": "bbc44e6e9e3b6c943ae933771d42bd05", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Agon is the second book in the Mystic Protectors Series by Kathi S Barton - I could not put it down until I finished it - it was a fast paced read - characters that you will fall in love with - can't wait for the next book in this series to find out more about all of them \n This is a must read and would definitely recommend to everyone - Great job Kathi", "date_added": "Mon Jul 07 09:18:22 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:57:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17673181", "review_id": "2c2898d2662c1b8969373da9296fc50e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book will grab your attention right from the start. You won't want to put it down until you find out what is happening to Amelia - lots of twists and turns that you don't see coming and will keep you captivated. Can't wait to read more from this talented author - Sarah Jayne Carr. Definitely a must read and would highly recommend to everyone.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 26 05:33:05 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 26 05:33:15 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "18662306", "review_id": "99c080821b4ed0ed8846807cf4f23483", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a wonderfully written book by K. S. Haigwood of what Kendra will do to save her soul and live - how she fights to get Adam to believe that there is a God - would definitely recommend this book to all", "date_added": "Wed Jun 18 14:24:20 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 18 14:24:29 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "21847444", "review_id": "f7cc0fdae0392acf4667048edc55920c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Kaleb is book 3 in the Samuel's Pride Series. He is a were-bear shifter and a loner until he join's Samuel and the others to rescue Thor (Tania). Thor is a childhood friend of Samuel's and a cop and has been beaten and left to die by a drug lord and thinks of one thing as she is dying - to reach out to Sam to let him know where she is so he can come get her body. Kaleb doesn't want a mate just like all the others but knows the minute he sees Thor that she is his. Follow the journey that kaleb and Thor take along with all the \"others\". A definite must read by the fabulous Kathi S. Barton", "date_added": "Sun May 25 08:02:20 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:58:05 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "19473328", "review_id": "92cd5dc49b36ee948a23d4f8ad54433f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a well written story of two vampires and a human who fall in love with each other. Anya is a vampire who has lost 30 years of her life and doesn't know what happened during that time and keeps having memories. She has a very special talent that she can use with just her voice. She has people in her past who are hunting her to bring her back. Nicholas is \"bonded\" to Anya and wants his eternal love back. Anya and Nicholas aren't your normal vampires meaning they do not \"hunt\" humans for their meals. Anya has fallen in love with a human named Declan who is later found out to be a \"guardian\" (which is a vampire hunter) - this creates an unusual pairing between Anya - Nicholas and Declan -- This is definitely a must read book and can't wait for the next one to find out what happens between these 3 - would definitely recommend to everyone as a must read", "date_added": "Sun May 25 07:19:24 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun May 25 07:19:35 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "22051230", "review_id": "167812a0029eb21d513a40daa5981432", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another amazing book in the Protectors Series --- Adam is everything you could want in a book by Teresa Gabelman \n Adam loses his girl, he loses his temper, but like everything he grows up and starts to wonder about his future and whether he will ever get his Girl back and if he will finally become a warrior? No spoilers but Teresa Gabelman has done it again with another great book. This is definitely a must read and would recommend highly to everyone. Congrats Teresa on another great book", "date_added": "Mon May 12 16:36:13 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 19 05:48:11 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "13594769", "review_id": "7746274488fe9aa3050672027a07426e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Embrace is the second book in the Gryphon Series by Stacey Rourke. This is a continuation of the story of Celeste - Gabe - Kendall and the ever loving Grams. Once you start reading you won't want to stop. A definite must read. Would definitely recommend to everyone.", "date_added": "Fri May 09 05:34:22 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri May 09 06:07:12 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "16048393", "review_id": "dbd3ebe20bb7f0e0aa9b211492e8228e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I just finished Sacrifice and it was wonderful read. The story is so touching. All the creatures in this book will make you want to be a Garrett Sibling. When I got the end of part one I was sad and mad all at the same time. Part two was just as amazing as part one and in some ways my favorite part. I laughed and cried through this entire book and I can't leave out Bernard and Grrrrrrrr is all I have to say about that. I believe this book is the best yet and recommend it to everyone.", "date_added": "Fri May 09 05:33:39 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri May 09 05:33:46 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "12995248", "review_id": "21c854668c3cf4a65153f73feb2032e5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book. It was great can't wait to read more. Stacey Rourke did a wonderful job with her characters and keeping readers on the edge of their seat wondering what is going to happen next. Definitely a must read.", "date_added": "Fri May 09 05:32:59 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri May 09 05:33:08 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "19332798", "review_id": "dd7ade21c9bb1661e30fdd4ceb4d6211", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Kasha is in a room of darkness and being held there against her will -- her captives want what she has - her Grams died before she could be taught everything she needs to know - find out how she survives - find out what Graven means to her - find out who enters at the end of the book - you won't believe it - I was totally engrossed in this book from start to finish - can't wait to read the next book to find out what happens to Kasha - a definite must read by Felicia Starr", "date_added": "Tue Apr 08 14:09:46 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 08 14:09:57 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "20762199", "review_id": "962d6d12cb84c39d12d7df18fc1ccd52", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Adam Stone is an \"enforcer\" - wolf shape shifter. He and his \"brothers\" have a mission to protect - they were chosen by Archangels and have powers other than shapeshifting. Adam can't believe what happens when he meets Andy (Andrea) - he never thought as an enforcer that he would find his \"mate\". Come join the journey of Adam and Andy as they overcome obstacles in their way. \n This is a definite must read by Nikki Drost.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 31 05:31:41 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 31 05:31:52 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "20941219", "review_id": "086210c02c0f963f8f71d3a85b891422", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a well written story about Calloway, a teenager who is orphaned. He has great manners for a teenager and is always trying to see the good in everyone. Calloway is trying to figure out something about a mystery surrounding a note that his dad left him. This is a series that I will definitely be following and recommending to all as a must read.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 12:08:34 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 20 12:10:40 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "20961264", "review_id": "37a79713f6d5476d87911e34c21ae57a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Damon by Teresa Gabelman \n I just finished reading Damon and it was great - I couldn't put it down! I liked how it was between Damon and Nicole. A great beginning to a series. A good mix of humor, romance, mystery, and horror. I would recommend this book as a cuddle up for a cold evening with a warm blanket and fireplace. Lots of fresh ideas for the topic of vampires and humans.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 10 12:22:48 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 25 04:12:12 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "18332519", "review_id": "67e466ff0f16fa602d70488f0260be10", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is about a teenage boy who doesn't feel like he fits in anywhere and how he is dealing with trying to get his dad to understand how he feels. \n No spoilers but this book hits on everything from feeling like an outsiders - falling in love - lots of action - laughs and wonderful characters - would definitely recommend this book to everyone", "date_added": "Wed Mar 05 06:33:03 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 05 06:33:10 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "20886820", "review_id": "add90288c80f68bdfdc9497471536a38", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the last book in the Force of Nature Series. It centers around Randy who is a young Attorney and Molly who is a Police Officer. \n Randy doesn't believe that he wants a mate until he meets Molly. No spoilers but this is another exceptional book by Kathi S. Barton -- would definitely recommend to everyone.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 05 06:07:59 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:58:24 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "20874386", "review_id": "d3d6e2c7e5a5bbd6137d8648ebea1c4e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Again Ms Knizley has brought us a book that isn't your usual vampire read - I have enjoyed following Raven thru being a Chicago cop as well as being a dhampyr and also seeing the closeness grow between Raven and her partner - would definitely recommend this to everyone as a must read - Thank you Ms Knizley for an amazing read", "date_added": "Wed Feb 26 03:41:52 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 26 03:42:06 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "20703121", "review_id": "4a37effaeca4824a119901e5cb1cf3c5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "WOW WOW WOW - what an absolutely wonderful way to end this series -- this is a definite must read series for everyone -- no spoilers but if you want an absolutely mesmerizing series to read this would definitely be the one -- thank you Rue for this amazing series", "date_added": "Tue Feb 25 05:56:06 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 25 05:56:17 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "20801925", "review_id": "dd7e29681628f25ac5c065668cd1b452", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the beginning of a new series called The Mystic Protectors - Riss is a guardian but has been doing it for so long and seen so many of his chargers pass that he wants to quit - the Boss has a different plan - Riss meets Kala and it is instant love on his part. This is an absolutely fantastic beginning to this series and can't wait to read more about the Mystic Protectors - definitely would recommend to all", "date_added": "Fri Feb 14 15:54:05 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:58:34 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "20627649", "review_id": "6055cc8b36acb4552d5b98f3e4f29383", "rating": 5, "review_text": "James is a wolf - he works for Samuel Payne. Gab mechanic and she hunts rogue vampires. She meets James when he goes to her garage and happens upon her battling a vampire. He is not looking for a mate but soon realizes that the mouthy Gab is his. No spoilers but this is one that you will definitely want to read to see how the sparks fly between these two - Kathi has definitely done it again with another great book. Would definitely recommend to everyone as a must read.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 25 12:54:12 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:58:39 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "20442415", "review_id": "6fbd9a8cc8b3c179697cf16d15f73a81", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Do you need a fix of shapeshifters and magic - well this is the book for you - come join Jodie and Reid on their journey - thru the ups and downs of Jodie's life and not feeling safe around her own family - Reid who knows the minute he sees Jodie that she is the one for him - another must read by Kathi S Barton", "date_added": "Tue Jan 07 09:48:26 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:58:48 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "19388721", "review_id": "22bc0b25496c589ed91839abc4d175e3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Diamond is a strong willed nurse who meets her \"mate\" after he is in a car accident and becomes sick from infection. She doesn't want anything to do with him but ends up saving him and he in turn saves her. She becomes his \"slave\". Awesome read to find out all the twists and turns that Diamond's life takes - Kathi has done it again. Would definitely recommend this book to others", "date_added": "Thu Dec 12 05:27:33 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:58:52 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "18075720", "review_id": "b60c473f7924a532451bbfe115b6d3c9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a story of Lily who goes to the country to stay at the house her grandmother has left her and to try to get her life back on track after her break up with Nick. Ash is looking for his winter girl and when he meets Lily he decides she is the one. But as time goes on Ash starts feeling differently. Lily and Nick start having feelings for each other that neither want to admit to right now - there are some sex scenes but done in that romantic kind of way - a definite must read.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 21 14:03:47 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 21 14:04:11 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "18744147", "review_id": "e5e59565b0ccaeb5daebb3e4b3c33e42", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This story is just as great as the first one - Halo and Gunner are the perfect couple - and Rue puts a little twist on the ending to get you ready for Book 3 -- can't wait - definitely a must read and would recommend to everyone", "date_added": "Thu Nov 14 01:39:47 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 17 16:09:43 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "18744137", "review_id": "f866737a9aee66ca028d8927069baec7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Halo Bay has finally snapped after being beaten and stabbed by her boyfriend - as she lays there dying she grabs the knife he used on her and stabs him in the eye and kills him. She has finally had enough of the abuse he had put her through for months. Halo ends up being taken to purgatory by a handsome man named Gunner. She is given the choice of sewing her lips and eyes closed or becoming a hellhound. This is a definite must read - would recommend to all. Can't wait for Book 2", "date_added": "Thu Nov 07 15:04:27 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 14 03:17:44 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Nov 13 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "18686477", "review_id": "2aa5bf8d4ca3b8f792df93dd55a5da33", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is not your run of the mill Vampire story - Raven is half vampire and half human - she works as a Detective on the Chicago Police force - she always gets the weird cases. After going thru 2 partners her new partner is Levac who everyone has nicknamed \"Codumbo\". Follow the mystery of who is doing the killing - whether it be Lycan - ghoul - vampire or what have you. This book is well written and will keep you turning pages to find out what is gonna happen next and who is gonna get killed. Can't wait for the next book. Would definitely recommend to everyone", "date_added": "Wed Oct 30 13:49:46 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 06 13:59:57 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "18679085", "review_id": "201a1c6fc5b3d013dfa7b0afa20d0911", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Samuel is an awesome read by Kathi S. Barton - He is a self-made man and starts out destroying the home where his dad had hurt his mom and him. He moves his mom to another place where they can never be hurt again and in comes Kennedy Buehler with her Irish brogue to apply for the cook position. She is a little tiny thing but doesn't take any crap from anyone anymore. Little does Samuel know that when he meets Kennedy he has found his were lion mate - he doesn't want one and fights it all the way.I won't go into all the details of the book but this is definitely a great start to the Samuel Series - you won't want to miss out on this read to find out why Kennedy comes to the States from Ireland and why Samuel fights not taking a mate. Thank you Kathi for an awesome read - can't wait for the next book in this series.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 15 01:30:55 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:59:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "20894740", "review_id": "3c40191b732a6415b966b247f6df7fa7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Symphoni is an awesome book and a definite must read. For anyone interested in mythology this will have never wanting to put the book down. Greg gets caught up in the ancient feud between the Titans and the Olympians - good and evil. People he calls his friends may be more dangerous than his enemies. This story will keep you wanting more and leave you hanging on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next. Would definitely recommend to others.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 15 01:22:06 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 20 22:02:29 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "18528639", "review_id": "97deeedf17007e63db6f2b769e2dfeb5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the 4th book in the Gryphon Series. Stacey has done it again. This book will make you laugh, cry, shout and anything else you can imagine. NO SPOILERS here but would definitely receommend this book as well as the others in this series to everyone. Thank you Ms. Rourke for another great book - oh yeah loved the football field scene and as always Grams is a hoot", "date_added": "Tue Oct 01 16:47:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri May 09 05:34:18 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "18528508", "review_id": "bae1109c88a6f05edb0f6c5738bea22b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Awesome read about a werewolf and her sisters - her \"alpha\" leader Jeffrey hurts her sisters and grandmother and she attacks him and leaves with her family to get away from him - only to come face to face with her \"mate\" Blair - Kathi has a way of bringing you into the story and making you live thru Sapphire's story - would I recommend this to others - you bet I would", "date_added": "Wed Sep 25 03:22:39 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:59:11 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "18500716", "review_id": "faf2c5926684d54d5548b1ef0ead20a1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the type of book that once you start reading you have to finish. Alexi is dealing with the loss of her mother and slowly coming to terms that she may have feelings for a boy or maybe two. Ravenswood is not your typical town. This an awesome read. Would definitely recommend this to all", "date_added": "Wed Sep 18 14:16:31 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 18 14:16:56 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "18459991", "review_id": "259f965c62b7f237ea75058f6354dc5b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Christine Hughes has done it again - not only does she leave you hanging in Book One (Torn) but she gives you lots of twists and turns and leaves you hanging and wanting more in Darkness Betrayed. With Samantha's friends back and new ones around the ending will definitely surprise you and wanting the next book quickly. Would I recommend this book to others? - you bet I would. \n This series so far is a definite must read. Well done Christine", "date_added": "Mon Sep 09 08:49:06 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 11 12:23:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17332387", "review_id": "f36b4d67c46b6163406294f016cdd3ae", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Here it is the third brother in the Bowen Brothers Series - Dylan lived up to expectations from reading about his brothers Walker and Khan -- Dylan finds his mate in a rough and tough girl named Jack and she don't take no crap from anyone - a definite must read - this series is well worth it - would definitely recommend to others - can't wait to read about the next brother -- thank you Kathi S. Barton for an amazing read", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 05:59:43 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:59:20 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17332393", "review_id": "ca3b0231ae86740f4980083b8b4bb83c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the last book in the Bowen Boys series -- Meet Reed - who after seeing his 5 brothers find mates and be total jerks finally meets his mate and he is not happy. Meet Kerry - who works at the cable company and finally gets to work outside installing cable into people's homes. Another great read by Kathi Barton - you truly don't want to miss out on this -- congrats Kathi", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 05:59:34 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:59:25 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17332391", "review_id": "ab4373f6b8ce052e346655943e028625", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Marc is the 4th book in the Bowens Boys Series - Jonny is on the run from Roy and ends up working for Marc - she thinks she is the only \"one\" like her - a freak of nature. Marc believes that when his \"mate\" died that was the end for him until they meet. Jonny doesn't trust anyone and Marc won't let her go. Once you start reading you won't want to stop - you will want to know what happens between these two. A definite must read - Kathi S. Barton has done it again. Would definitely recommend this book to others.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 05:59:27 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:59:28 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17699176", "review_id": "c84c52658fc3cfc1a4f22bfef8290b76", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Neal is the third book in the Golden Streak Series - this series just gets better and better. Rayne has been hurt in love and has special powers to help plants. You can't touch her without her first knowing or you will be hurt. Neal is an accountant for his brothers and has grown restless. When the two meet sparks fly - literally. Neal has found his mate. Another must read by Kathi S. Barton. Would definitely recommend this book to others.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 05:59:27 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:59:33 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17699178", "review_id": "4bc508b577845da79313f1fc1b4c214b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the 5th book in The Golden Series and it lives up to the rest as being a must read. Meet Jules, a potter, who doesn't want a mate at all especially one that won't do as he says. Meet Lenore (Lenny) a policewoman who is attacked by rogue vampires who have been hired to kill her. You won't want to stop reading this book to see what happens. Would definitely recommend this as a must read. Congrats on another wonderful book Kathi S Barton", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 05:59:26 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:59:41 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17699177", "review_id": "a4b9cf633f38de11cd41b6a8385cab51", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the 4th in the Golden Streak Series and just as amazing as the others were. Brock is a weretiger and the enforcer for the streak but he also has a beast inside him. \n Emma is deaf and can't speak and running away from her family that wants to turn her into a vampire. \n Emma is Brock's mate. \n This is another amazing story written by Kathi S. Barton - would definitely recommend to everyone as a must read", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 05:59:23 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:59:45 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17927379", "review_id": "6c5405db3969967f8bcc1f8821554fc3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "An amazing ending to a wonderful series. Elizabeth is the 14th and last book in the Aaron's Kiss Series. \n Elizabeth, the Queen of all magic, has run out of time --- Rythen has come to take her away --- a must read to find out how this amazing book and series ends. Kathi Barton has outdone herself with another amazing book. Would definitely recommend this book and series to everyone", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 05:59:10 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:59:48 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17927378", "review_id": "54437acba1eff7dda3ac1f928cdf1723", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Book 13 of Aaron's Kiss Series ---- Lizzy, daughter to Aaron and Sara, is at the bakery with Sam and is told \"If you go out there, you'll have to see to the woman first. The boy will make it if you help him later, but the woman won't\". She saves them both and is at the hospital when Logan gets there to see about his son and sister. He is told his wife is there and immediately tries to figure out what is going on. When he sees Lizzy he thinks she is just someone trying to get money out of him. Things go crazy in the elevator and Lizzy bites him and knows what he is to her. Neither one want this at all. Megan is someone who knows Lizzy and hates her for everything that went wrong in her life. She kidnaps Logan and Lizzy must get him back. Will they learn to trust each other and stay together as one? another excellent read", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 05:58:53 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 28 07:44:18 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 28 07:44:18 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17699174", "review_id": "f1bdc52a1c4d0513fc95f8310f1a61bc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Alistair is the second book in the Golden Streak Series - Ally is on the run from her ex-husband - she saves Alistair from being shot but is shot herself. This story is about domestic violence and how Ally fights for her life. Alistair realizes he has found his mate and will do anything to save her. Another great read by Kathi S Barton. Would definitely recommend to everyone.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 05:58:51 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 20:59:52 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "15870691", "review_id": "aaded20b902e7b1eea531834e585c331", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Book 11 -- Aaron's Kiss Series -- Megan is waiting for her test results to come back to tell her that after 9 years of studying she is now a doctor. Her friend Alfred took all that away from her when he kept saying he was hungry and bit her and turned her into a Vampire and then was killed before he could tell her or teach her what she was now. She hated the idea of having to drink from people to survive and now considered herself a monster. She works as a janitor at the clinic with Dr Thomas Reilly -- and he knows there is more to her than meets the eye. Beau Desjardin is visiting Kyle and his mate and meets Megan at the Blue Moon. He knows she is his true mate. Someone is after Megan - a creature that needs to bring her to Samuel Rome. Can Beau save her? And what does the Queen know about this creature? great read and would recommend to everyone as a must read", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 05:58:39 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 28 07:29:54 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 28 07:29:54 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17332189", "review_id": "108f04d32930a89416513695ee84815a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Book 12 - Aaron's Kiss Series --- Mac, who is son to Aaron and Sara, wants to meet the sun even though he has everything going for him. He hates his life because he is a Vampire like his dad. He makes a bargain with his aunt, the Queen, to get what he wants. He has been having nightmares about this vampire killing women. Brandi or Andi to her friends has been running and hiding for years from her stepfather. Brandi is not your ordinary girl and her stepfather wants to sell her to this lab to be cut up and examined. The Queen has Mac save Brandi and she is more than he bargained for. Will he still want to meet the sun after he figures out what Brandi is to him? Can Brandi stay one step ahead of her stepfather? Will they accept each other as mates? another great read.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 05:58:38 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 28 07:39:22 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 28 07:39:22 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "15870674", "review_id": "62618835b8b342f09732386ba5ef60a6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Book 10 of Aaron's Kiss Series ----- Aiden St James is brother to Tristan -- he wants a mate so decides to move closer to his brother to see if he can find her. Allison Zane is a bounty hunter for the Queen and works as a mechanic. Zane saves Aaron and now he owes her -- she also runs into Aiden at the Blue Moon. She is getting closer to Aiden but doesn't want to be his mate. Zane just wants to die. Can she get out of the life she leads? Can she and Aiden become one? another great read by Kathi S Barton - would recommend to all", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 05:58:28 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 28 07:21:42 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 28 07:21:42 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "15827817", "review_id": "290fc6d0c22e9e616f6ac93321ef2ff0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "My Warrior Fae is Book 9 in the Aaron's Kiss Series -- Tess Knight wanted to just get a loan to help buy a car but what she got instead was getting caught up in a bank robbery. She is magical in a way that she can hide in the shadows and doing that is able to take care of the robbers with no one getting hurt but herself. Nathaniel Tremont is a vampire and works for the FBI and has been tracking the robbers. When he finds out they have all been killed he just wants to go and be by himself. He has been selected to heal Tess and as he does he knows that she is his mate. He doesn't want this and neither does Tess. Things are really rocky for them. Doe Nate accept Tess as his mate? Does Tess accept her fate? This is a great read by Kathi S Barton and would recommend to everyone as a must read.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 05:58:24 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 28 07:13:43 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 28 07:13:43 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Nov 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "14718875", "review_id": "b268d07f2b8c891cc1b51e78990ef76d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Shawn McFarland is heading to Aaron's house but makes a stop at a bar and doesn't remember anything after that - he woke up in the woods with a lump on the back of his head - he doesn't think it was robbery because his wallet, money and car keys were still in his pocket. He does know that he is a Vampire and hasn't fed in a while and must find someone to help him with that. He stumbles into a cave and finds a woman living there. \n Cade is a cook and has fallen on hard times because of her step-brother always needing money. She can't afford anything so is living in a cave for the time being. Her step-brother hurts her if she doesn't do what he says. An ex-cop hurts her for the same reason but he wants her to steal for him - move money from one bank account to another. She meets Duncan and agrees to be the cook for Aaron's household for a couple weeks. She never expected to see the Vampire who fed on her in the cave but there he was at Aaron's. She doesn't want this but he doesn't leave her alone. \n Can Shawn win Cade's love? Can Shawn save her from her brother and Gabriel? Another great read by Kathi S Barton and would recommend to all as a great read.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 05:58:10 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 24 10:28:56 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "13490043", "review_id": "554ac8dfe52178ed02125af57a75fad1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Madison Harm or Maddy as she likes to be called is a lawyer but she isn't happy because her boss helped her with her loans and now keeps adding time onto her contract. He sends her to Aaron and little does she know that her life is about to change forever. Kyle Dixon is a very old and powerful Vampire and is on his way to see Aaron when he is run over by the odd Maddy who has a habit of talking to herself. Maddy is more than just a lawyer - Morrigan the Queen of all faeries has been waiting for Maddy for a very very long time but someone else wants Maddy and all the power she has hidden deep within her. Kyle knows that she is his mate but will the love he has for her and the unknown love she has for him be enough to conquer evil even thru death. This book is amazing and would recommend to all.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 05:58:09 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 10 08:31:38 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "13432489", "review_id": "1a38a23e359faea2911355917dc1b204", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sam was an excellent baker and in secret she helped get people away from abusive relationships. Sam has powers which she tries to keep hidden but sometimes she needs to use them. Aaron's mate, Sara, is in the bakery when Sam gets shot and takes her to her home to save her or she will die. Sara knows that she has powers but can't figure out what they are. \n Tucker James is a Vampire and from the moment he got a sniff of Sam's scent he knew they were mates and that he had to save her. As soon as Sam is well she leaves and goes back to her home - Sam wants nothing to do with Tucker and keeps leaving him. Will he convince Sam that they are meant to be together? This is another awesome book by Kathi S Barton and would recommend to everyone.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 05:58:07 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 10 08:30:26 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17699171", "review_id": "93e610ec3c9647ff3c61d8e730de80d6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ryland is the first book in the Golden Streak Series - This is a story about Bronwyn and how she thinks that she is the only one of her \"kind\". She is used and abused and trusts no one. Ryland Golden wants nothing to do with anyone - doesn't want a mate UNTIL he meets Browyn. What a whirlwind they go thru. Great read by Kathi S Barton. Would definitely recommend to everyone.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 05:57:59 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 21:00:16 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "13484559", "review_id": "bc9aaccf13d9c8bbb97aad96f8c252f0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Bailey works for the Queen of All Magick as a hitman. She has abilities like no other. Tristan St James is a Vampire who likes everything neat and in order. He can't believe how bad Aaron's office looks. Tristan knows that Bailey is his mate when he is called to heal her by Pete. When Bailey gets a contract to kill the alpha wolf to save the life of Aaron and his family - will she do it? Will she kill one to save many? How will Tristan handle that his mate is a wanted criminal? Definitely would recommend as a must read.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 05:57:58 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 10 08:31:23 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "13564838", "review_id": "9d25bc4ae3fa2a8cb92535d48787a25d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Bradley Wolff is the Alpha of the pack and is not in any hurry to be with another woman after thinking the last one was his mate. He is in love with the art works of Alastriona Bennett and is excited about the showing she is doing at the gallery. Alastriona Airic Bennett is at a loss after watching her family being torn apart in front of her eyes by werewolves and also hating herself because an \"Alpha\" had turned her into one. Now he is telling her that he is coming for her. Bradley can't believe that an Alpha Bitch has come into his territory without telling him but when he finds out it is the artist he wants to know more -- when he finds out that the one who turned her is coming for her he wants to protect her -- because he knows that she is his true \"mate\". Can Bradley protect her from the one who wants to find her? Can Bradley and Airic find happiness? Another great read by Kathi S Barton and would recommend to all.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 05:57:56 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 24 09:15:57 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "11460105", "review_id": "27f87edb236011f9a3918eef21ae3962", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the second book in the Aaron's Kiss Series - Colin is a very powerful Vampire and is Aaron's right hand man. He is doing his job and literally runs into someone he needs to find out more about. There is something about her - can she be his mate? \n Shade Doe is trying to survive the best way she can. She can't find a job and what she does find doesn't support her. On top of that she is trying to help two little children whose Mom doesn't care about them just how she is gonna get her \"medicine\". \n Shade has powers that scare her - Colin is a Vampire but are they destined to be together? A must read to find out the true nature of Shade and how she is related to Sara and Queen Melody. Would definitely recommend to all as a must read.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 05:57:45 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 11 10:33:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "12929160", "review_id": "d28edd28a87cc16b4c21a022e4b50eab", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the third book in the Aaron's Kiss Series - Dominic is a Vampire and has sworn his allegiance to Aaron. Lately all the women have been saying is how great Pete is - he is so tired of hearing this and is ready to deck Pete and drain him. \n Piccadilly, better known as Pete, is in trouble. She has to fix the computer problems she caused and tell them how she did it. She meets Duncan who works for Aaron and agrees to help him purchase computers and set them up and also after this agrees to fix the security system for Aaron. \n When Dominic finally meets \"Pete\" he can't believe he is a she and that she is his mate and wants absolutely nothing to do with her. Pete is also hiding from her family who wants to do unthinkable things to her. Can Dominic save her from them and will he take her as his mate? Another awesome book by Kathi S Barton.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 05:57:44 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 21 08:19:29 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Sep 21 08:19:29 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "13558634", "review_id": "dfc7a718b5a04254848dc3f62388c44f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was a great start to seeing Leeny as a child and the relationship she has with her mother and sister. This was a wonderful short read and I loved it and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series! Would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes stories about witches. Overall a easy read but wish it had been longer", "date_added": "Sat Aug 17 12:52:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 17 12:52:58 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "12970812", "review_id": "91d3e4e6c131a6e4108970560acbd20b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "From the begining to the end I could not put this book down. There is suspense, romance, \"humor\", and things that go bump in the night literally. I can't wait to read Ransom, the second book in this series. R K Ryals is an outstanding author and wait to read more from this author!", "date_added": "Sun Aug 11 05:08:26 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 11 15:19:53 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "18134057", "review_id": "edd9116bdf8cf5f9d27bb8ccd091d289", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is one of those books that grabs your interest the minute you start reading - keeps you on your toes trying to expect what is gonna happen -- definitely will leave you wanting to read what happens in the next book - would definitely recommend this as a must read", "date_added": "Thu Aug 01 18:25:20 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 01 18:27:03 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "13650334", "review_id": "210fe98ca3a8b92432fb6dbb894bbc55", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was a very good read and difficult to put down. I wanted to know what would happen to Chantal next, and loved how it drew me into it so easily. The characters are wonderful, and the content is written quite well! I truly loved it and cannot wait for to read the next book to find out what happens.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 28 21:53:27 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 30 21:27:08 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "12256544", "review_id": "cb34024804192eb8271df9e52977be13", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Trying to deal with the loss of his family members and his special powers Max goes to live with his uncle hoping to make a fresh start. He meets Asia and Sam, one who also has special powers. This book will have you hooked from beginning til end. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 21 07:22:10 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 30 09:12:18 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "13562109", "review_id": "d0308e25046a113c576434f2386fcf0d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This will have you waiting and wondering what will happen next with Ava - whether she actually has powers and why everyone is after her - can't wait for the next book to come out to find out what happens between Ava and Caleb and who hid Ava and blocked her powers - this is definitely a must read", "date_added": "Sat Jul 06 11:50:17 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 06 11:50:40 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jul 06 11:50:40 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17454136", "review_id": "e3b120232ff9f26505823419bc3889af", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I cried, laughed, screamed, wanted to strangle people and even bit my nails a few times! Summer is a loveable character who has had it rough since her parents died, Biji is the kind of girl you will call one of your besties and everyone has had to deal with a Dawn a time or two! \n If you want to read something fast paced, addictive and crying for more, than Dark Summer is the book for you!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 03 19:04:12 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 03 19:06:01 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "12966697", "review_id": "61fdb434bcfec4051a675dd097385989", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a short story of a wiccan coven where all the single females are having a \"dry spell\" and they cast some spells - this is a fast read but will definitely hold your attention - can't wait to read more about Lance and Alexia - would recommend this to all", "date_added": "Fri Jun 14 06:06:19 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 05 18:01:55 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "15724834", "review_id": "fd2c5419401685b80897e0d475ca4e81", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story of Erin an how she comes to be the Fire Goddess is wonderful. I couldn't put this book down and finished it in one day and now I can't wait to read more by this author. This is a great paranormal book with a few twists that will have you loving Erin, hating Jessica, feeling sorry for Erin and all she goes thru, and Erin finding her soul mate. This is most definitely a MUST READ FOR EVERYONE!!!! I can't wait to read more from this amazing author.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 03 03:24:06 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 03 03:23:18 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17332233", "review_id": "83b727a16c681686c67cfd8ee39d6c02", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is an amazing story about werepanthers and a government agent named Lynne - Walker can't believe that he has finally found his mate in the middle of this action packed mystery surrounding Lynne -- plenty of action in and out of the bedroom and absolutely love the way that Lynne puts all the werepanthers in their place -- can't wait for Khan to get his own story - would highly recommend this to all", "date_added": "Sun Jun 02 09:33:51 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 21:00:38 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17332260", "review_id": "6a14159ae238c1c6838778581f093858", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the second book in the Series of the Bowen Brothers -- Khan hates humans because of one girl - when he meets his \"mate\" and finds out she is human he vows to hate her but instead falls madly in love with her - would definitely recommend this series to everyone -- thank you Kathi Barton for a great book - can't wait to read more about the Bowen Brothers", "date_added": "Sun Jun 02 09:30:08 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 21:00:41 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17668968", "review_id": "8ab284f4a25c853e200fb1cf4bbce55b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "To say that I'm a fan of Teresa Gabelman is putting it mildly - Sid is another amazing book in this series - Sid is in charge of finding the missing half-breed girls when he meets Lana. Sid has definitely met his match with her - they are a perfect match together. This book is full of laughs - moments where you will cry - moments where you will say \"no freaken' way\" because of a twist that Teresa's puts in the book. The chemistry between Sid and Lana is everything that you will want in a sexy vampire book. Teresa has definitely done it again - can't wait for the next book cause you know it is gonna be just as good as this one if not better. Thank you Teresa for another wonderful book - would definitely recommend this as a must read to everyone.", "date_added": "Mon May 06 05:57:45 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 28 10:36:47 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "14061105", "review_id": "a861182f7861404be070bab9169f666c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sssssaaaaaammmmmmmannnnnttttthhhhhhaaaaaa...... This book gives you a creepy voice some in a girls head! \n This book gives you fallen angels who are both dark and light! Some sexy hunk of guys that are with Sam every step of the way to protect her from dark! \n If you looking for a fabulous book with angels who are both light and dark and a girl who is struggling to deal with the death of her dad and being in love with two brothers - definitely a must read - Can't wait to find out what happens to Sam - Ethan and Lucas - would definitely recommend this book", "date_added": "Fri Apr 12 06:09:53 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 16 01:31:45 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jun 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17668962", "review_id": "4966f0c6530dcd3b25d7ce9aa6cb5ac0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I finished Duncan yesterday - the third book in The Protector Series by Teresa Gabelman. To say this was the best book in the series is an understatement. Teresa wrote this book from her heart and it definitely shows - it will have you feeling all the pain that Duncan is going thru since Pam disappeared 3 months ago - it will have you crying tears of happiness when he finally finds the love of his life - it will have you crying and going through all the pain and horror that Pam went through under the hands of Kenny - you will want to reach into the book and grab Kenny and well you will want to just mess him up - you will laugh at Jared and laugh at Sid's jokes - Teresa even throws a surprise into the mix when Pam comes home. Teresa's writing is such that you feel like you are in the room with all of them - from the homecoming to the ooh la la lovemaking to the fights. Teresa has definitely outdone herself. I love all the books in this series but I have to say that Duncan is by far my favorite. \n Would I recommend this book to everyone? You bet I would. It is definitely a must read. If we could give 10 stars this would definitely be the one to get them. Thank you Teresa for an awesome book.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 10 16:54:41 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 25 04:26:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17701761", "review_id": "15bb81fe397df05fd84101a431269e0f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Pawn is a story that makes you sit and wonder why. There were twists to the story right up to the end - it is truly amazing. I thought that I had it figured out, but no was I wrong. Endora or Eel as her friends call her is a likable person and the way the author writes the story you feel like you are right there with her, figuring it out at her speed. I hope that the rest of the trilogy continues along the same lines as this book and that they are released soon! Would I recommend this book to others - yes I would definitely", "date_added": "Sat Apr 06 08:17:31 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 09 11:26:34 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17610969", "review_id": "57c6f068893a23827c17c55492924f30", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Unhappily Ever After is eleven short stories from authors. Some are short and some are kinda long but all follow the same theme of well-known fairy tales with a bit of a twist. \n They are amusing quick reads. I loved 'A Wolf's Tale' by Eric White, which was about Little Red Riding Hood from the wolfs side and the poem 'Not so Perfect' by Crystal Clifton. \n The contributing authors are all talented and bring something unique to this anthology. A really fun read that you won't want to pass up!", "date_added": "Sat Mar 16 04:46:38 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 22 16:52:58 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Mar 22 16:52:58 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17568327", "review_id": "cc9e7d1c598a40b21764d3f421de40a1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is one of my favorite series. This is a novella that got me excited all over again for the next book in the Talented series. It is four chapters sharing the feelings of Talia and Erik. It just keeps building you up for the next book in this series. This novella tells how they first met. The last part is going to pull you in and not let you go. I don't know how much longer I can wait for Created to be released and find out what happens with Talia and Erik. Great job as usual by Sophie Davis - thank you for this wonderful series.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 15 21:57:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 15 15:05:12 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Apr 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17213789", "review_id": "982e731210ba5b3b6deebcfef7f988ab", "rating": 5, "review_text": "OMG Teresa Gabelman's second book \"Jared\" was amazing. Jared Kincaid is a hard fighting and loving warrior. When he meets Tessa it is love at first site! This was one book that was worth reading. This story is just not all sex scenes it is funny, fast paced & so easy to get into. I love the first book \"Damon\" but this one is better. Please Teresa hurry with book 3 :)", "date_added": "Fri Mar 15 21:44:24 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 15 21:45:02 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "11205804", "review_id": "b44f498a4682fe925950b4a1b719b307", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Aaron is the new Master Vampire of this realm and is having a lot of trouble gaining the trust of everyone after the last master. \n Sara is not a vampire and has a lot of secrets of her own and the last thing she needs is to save a vampire and bring attention to herself. \n Aaron knows that Sara is his mate but the doesn't bargain for all that comes with her - like the Queen of all Magic being in trouble - other beings that are magical - and LOVE. \n Can Aaron and Sara be together? This is the first in a series of 14 books by Kathi S Barton. Great read and would recommend to all.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 08 06:38:53 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 08 08:03:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "13125879", "review_id": "802dc3fbb552eae633ae14d8d4908463", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I just finished reading Damon and it was great - I couldn't put it down! I liked how it was between Damon and Nicole. A great beginning to a series. A good mix of humor, romance, mystery, and horror. I would recommend this book as a cuddle up for a cold evening with a warm blanket and fireplace. Lots of fresh ideas for the topic of vampires and humans. Can't wait to read Jared!", "date_added": "Mon Feb 18 04:10:00 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 18 04:12:29 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "16037000", "review_id": "23bc6ef83aa30fad8824b066eb81e172", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Hunted was an amazing read - getting to know Erik and Talia was great - going through their journey together and seeing their love grow - then the cliffhanger of waiting to find out what happens -- this is definitely a must read for everyone - Sophie has outdone herself - can't wait to read more", "date_added": "Fri Jan 25 19:28:39 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 07 13:44:20 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "13624476", "review_id": "5b712506038d6b6c661da1a9f6ddb71d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"Caged\" is full of twists and turns, drama and betrayal. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to read a good paranormal book. You will definitely love it as much. This book was great. Picks right up where the first one Talented left off. \n Talia finds herself with problems like seizures, she doesn't know what is wrong with her and its very frustrating to her. We spend the second book trying to figure out who the spy was and how or why they wanted Talia captured/killed by Crane. The ending will leave you in shock at who the spy turns out to be. Can't wait to get started on Hunted. Great Job Sophie Davis.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 25 19:28:34 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 01 15:28:21 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Apr 01 15:28:21 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "13466202", "review_id": "969bbb2d71b8016d1f0996a1a26bad1c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"Talented\" by Sophie Davis is the first in a series. Set in a futuristic world where a series of natural and human disasters newborns are talented, Natalia, or Tali as everyone calls her is in a training group at the school as one day she wants to go after the man who killed her parents in front of her. This book like most first instalments of a series is setting the scene for the next books and Sophie does a great job at establishing her characters. Definitely a must read - can't wait to read the next book in this series.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 25 19:28:22 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 24 08:39:42 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "15881899", "review_id": "8482f44ed55ce879dc01148d357bfc11", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I received this book as a gift for an honest review. Ianni was a fast read. I think that the main reason I loved this book was learning all of the things that Ianni must do and how the friendships forged in The Many Lives of Avery Snow continue to grow. \n I would receommend reading this novella after reading The Many Lives of Avery Snow. Thank you Christy for a wonderful read", "date_added": "Mon Nov 05 20:33:16 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 05 20:34:34 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "15792303", "review_id": "78e5a17e54ffae699edb34a5ae892eb1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I was given this book as a gift for an honest review. I do not usually like biblical type books or anything having to do with the bible. This one is an exception. Angels that are actually teenagers! I couldn't put this book down once I started it! Highly recomended. I am already looking forward to book 2! From the first pages I was hooked and I struggled to put the book down. The writing was just fantastic and makes you feel like you're right alongside Michelle and Gabriel. I am hoping that Book 2 is coming sooner rather than later!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 18 20:11:42 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 18 20:13:42 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "17258853", "review_id": "29acd02151ae2c95ee47c0c0a6de690f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved this story.I was given this book for an honest review. \n Selena is 17 All she wants to do after she graduaes is leave her home town and never look back.Until that one day she met Titus.He is what she always dreamed of. Titus is sent to kill her. \n This is a wonderful love story. A story of a love with twists and turns.I would highly recommend this book", "date_added": "Wed Sep 26 05:11:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 08 09:39:39 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Sep 26 05:12:53 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9651bbea324fe1c77cd0756d7ff1370", "book_id": "13486922", "review_id": "eda80071cec724d747fab17e25d43e90", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was a very good book with twists and turns that left me wondering what was next. It was exciting starting on page one. Samantha finds herself in a new location with all kinds of crazy stuff going on. She meets Zander and they are inseparable. Look forward to a sequel. This is a must read. This was given to me as a gift from the author for an honest review.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 22 05:13:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 24 11:10:58 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Sep 22 05:19:19 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f3ece35f14c8f1a8e76201f8491eadf", "book_id": "25972177", "review_id": "77d73a6d8ae20666fc7057225110dc72", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Best book he's written since Blood Song.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 17 12:14:30 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 18 13:15:29 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f3ece35f14c8f1a8e76201f8491eadf", "book_id": "18513718", "review_id": "e95f9b6f9239f81f7f1679ae092eef2a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Twas an awesom..er book", "date_added": "Sat Aug 23 13:49:11 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 05 21:01:53 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Nov 05 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Nov 05 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f3ece35f14c8f1a8e76201f8491eadf", "book_id": "15750692", "review_id": "1c00501ee20de7bbecbb0ebc629f9353", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Twas an awesome book.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 23 13:49:06 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 05 21:01:29 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Nov 05 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Nov 05 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f3ece35f14c8f1a8e76201f8491eadf", "book_id": "13569581", "review_id": "67797ff6c63ea6c1b9b66497fc5c6135", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was amazazazing!!!!", "date_added": "Fri Apr 05 09:33:26 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 10 18:14:58 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f3ece35f14c8f1a8e76201f8491eadf", "book_id": "12971616", "review_id": "daf3656b0280cda1c06a25447cc732d4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I didn't much enjoy the first 3/4's of this book, but the ending definitely made up for the lag, unreal ending, it felt like I was reading the avengers, when the team finally comes together!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 11 21:24:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 22 16:16:12 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 22 16:16:12 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f3ece35f14c8f1a8e76201f8491eadf", "book_id": "140975", "review_id": "fa56e505c869bb3b2525b6b295ee10b9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I didn't much enjoy the circus, but the ending was unreal! out of the first 5 books I put this one at 4th! Don't let that deceive you though, they are amazazing books!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 16:15:34 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 22 16:18:36 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 22 16:18:36 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f3ece35f14c8f1a8e76201f8491eadf", "book_id": "359820", "review_id": "2c1c03dcb56739ec19a7f341e5b7f1fc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Rand Al'Thor, and Mat what bosses, love reading from Mat's perspective, unreal \"true beginning\" to the wheel of time books!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 16:14:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 10 07:10:20 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f3ece35f14c8f1a8e76201f8491eadf", "book_id": "233649", "review_id": "f3558ab0dca0cdc970ad92609fce0a22", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The ending really made me give it 5 stars.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 16:14:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 27 14:29:18 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c7255e1bbc0c1ed93b73f72648c7c69a", "book_id": "6158099", "review_id": "5483f4464b9473bb6856bffffdb97685", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Actually I couldn't finish this book. It is a good idea but the characters are not written well.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 25 02:02:39 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 07 02:47:01 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 07 02:47:01 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c7255e1bbc0c1ed93b73f72648c7c69a", "book_id": "20883847", "review_id": "c7dce4b110014a3cd8eab1fd7f902d02", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it!", "date_added": "Thu Sep 10 05:34:55 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 28 02:02:52 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Oct 28 02:02:52 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c7255e1bbc0c1ed93b73f72648c7c69a", "book_id": "21066604", "review_id": "a8f78693d6efe10d0dc6319fcb1aa56e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Way better than the first one.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 07 03:59:41 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu May 14 01:10:27 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed May 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c7255e1bbc0c1ed93b73f72648c7c69a", "book_id": "13616278", "review_id": "09ecaf1c6da6d5462e68f47999943664", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I enjoyed the story and really liked the characters but there are too many points of view and this can be confusing, specially in the beginning. Also, it could do with a better editing.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 16 04:01:58 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 11 00:59:57 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Apr 11 00:59:57 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c7255e1bbc0c1ed93b73f72648c7c69a", "book_id": "6101718", "review_id": "08a0bdfc78c764e7d317d4c9a1b140a0", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Not having read Harry Potter I have nothing to compare this book to so at the beginning I thought it was good. Unfortunately the characters never grow and I got to a point where all I really wanted was for the book to end, really didn't care about it. If you're slightly feeling depressed don't you dare start this book.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 16 01:40:08 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 25 06:41:57 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jul 25 06:41:57 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c7255e1bbc0c1ed93b73f72648c7c69a", "book_id": "13519596", "review_id": "2fb76e8b9b09833e5168ec7c59aa1d94", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Actually it's a 2.5 for me. I liked the first book and was a bit disappointed with the second. About a hundred pages could be cut, lots of scenes are repeated again and again. And not much happens in the end. Hoping it gets better in book 3 cause all the angel advocate idea was really nice.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 13 05:05:41 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 26 10:26:01 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jun 26 10:26:01 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c7255e1bbc0c1ed93b73f72648c7c69a", "book_id": "15832300", "review_id": "a2ed069a5f677f4abacfe5832e7eac9c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Actually it's a 2.8 for me.", "date_added": "Sat May 11 06:11:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 11 06:15:31 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Oct 11 06:15:31 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c7255e1bbc0c1ed93b73f72648c7c69a", "book_id": "8697507", "review_id": "af0dea3289a47987879f10b05a55f156", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Jane Austen with magic, very nice.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 30 06:53:00 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 01 05:42:33 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 01 05:42:33 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c7255e1bbc0c1ed93b73f72648c7c69a", "book_id": "2315892", "review_id": "171c9bf4f9d5152b73e58c51fb5651a4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Love Friendly!", "date_added": "Thu Jan 17 03:35:39 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 12 04:55:25 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Mar 12 04:55:25 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c7255e1bbc0c1ed93b73f72648c7c69a", "book_id": "13486172", "review_id": "c6854e8ee5f926f1295b3483b44c6f43", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm going to miss Gil, Eg and Archidi.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 07 06:51:25 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 07 03:54:38 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Nov 07 03:54:38 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c7255e1bbc0c1ed93b73f72648c7c69a", "book_id": "7743175", "review_id": "198dfab753afb6622df2edefb2d337ef", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Too many names (I really don't need to know the name of every single banner carrier), too many loose ends, poor strategy on the battles, it felt like more than 600 pages of \"they're going to crush us we have to hold on\" and then battles were won and you just don't know how. Thankfully there was Mat. I believe it wasn't easy to finish someone elses work so it's a 2.5 for me. =(", "date_added": "Thu Jan 03 04:05:31 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed May 22 02:47:53 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 22 02:47:53 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "53153484ca3c9aa56f00cfd08ce1c077", "book_id": "13496", "review_id": "e7cf5be35c6f6cd060473e0a458ca9a9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was fantastic....the character development is amazing and I love the point of view changes.....easily one of the most beautiful endings I have ever read. I can't wait to start book 2!", "date_added": "Wed Aug 03 19:12:16 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 03 19:14:06 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fd32f74cf1800f9032fb9e7dff605011", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "fb6b64a3dbc53f604d55d0cb269284af", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book! Very well-written! It kept me turning those pages! :)", "date_added": "Fri Oct 28 10:44:49 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 08 10:40:35 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Nov 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fd32f74cf1800f9032fb9e7dff605011", "book_id": "16793", "review_id": "f58f54354120763043a168f69007b677", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I enjoyed it!", "date_added": "Fri Nov 13 09:24:36 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 22 01:06:37 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 22 01:06:37 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Nov 13 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fd32f74cf1800f9032fb9e7dff605011", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "a1df554afa37a30d1dc762e7ca0eb8a1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 \n keeps you reading, but not my favorite book. clever. sometimes funny. now to see the movie! :)", "date_added": "Mon Nov 02 12:17:01 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 02 12:18:27 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Nov 02 12:18:27 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Nov 02 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fd32f74cf1800f9032fb9e7dff605011", "book_id": "21853633", "review_id": "b7cc1421082c89df60038121c8e28f33", "rating": 5, "review_text": "wonderful, as always :) \n ready for her next one! :)", "date_added": "Tue Nov 18 07:39:15 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 10 11:57:39 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Feb 10 11:57:39 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fd32f74cf1800f9032fb9e7dff605011", "book_id": "17267", "review_id": "3606f574221dfb369ba275ec075780a5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "SO very good", "date_added": "Tue Sep 02 22:00:14 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 22 16:34:50 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Sep 22 16:34:50 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fd32f74cf1800f9032fb9e7dff605011", "book_id": "11250053", "review_id": "5fd0b8ac6d5a69d86a5713a5fd107e07", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Magical, enchanting, beautiful, sad.....many things. Pretty impressive for a first novel. Love the cover art.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 04 14:23:16 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 13 15:57:20 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Sep 13 15:57:20 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "fd32f74cf1800f9032fb9e7dff605011", "book_id": "4214", "review_id": "07a201f37d8ab6046514eee0ee72b110", "rating": 3, "review_text": "WOW - that is one brutal read. Not for the faint at heart. There's some rough stuff in there. I almost didn't finish it. Very good writing, though, for the most part.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 14 17:05:05 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 28 16:06:18 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e06ad2a796ab8cd33f351ac6c57a3ccf", "book_id": "3334563", "review_id": "cb3d47a1fd08ac5fc635b973bd5fbfa2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "OMG loved it!!!! A must read for any bookworm :D", "date_added": "Sat Dec 08 15:08:38 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 25 21:20:42 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e06ad2a796ab8cd33f351ac6c57a3ccf", "book_id": "43814", "review_id": "bd8ca209cc7e437778a210f85a7cfd9a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What a fantastic novel!! My favorite from this series..", "date_added": "Sat Aug 11 20:35:26 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 19 07:34:56 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Aug 19 07:34:56 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "321aecd7826b60cb14fd952adbf826a4", "book_id": "13929", "review_id": "417b17d2a3acfe93ed5d2f2c17cebd1a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Not bad, just not for me.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 14 08:48:22 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 16 22:02:12 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "321aecd7826b60cb14fd952adbf826a4", "book_id": "22544764", "review_id": "6d51a7b253009daab77f035254b5a35c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "VERY overhyped, but decent.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 04 07:03:16 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 14 16:55:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jul 14 16:55:55 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "321aecd7826b60cb14fd952adbf826a4", "book_id": "289590", "review_id": "16593d02afe2ebf2682b5e78a10404e1", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Not great, but not terrible. A bit too juvenile for me, and I didn't care enough.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 30 07:00:44 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 16 21:40:48 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "321aecd7826b60cb14fd952adbf826a4", "book_id": "1003985", "review_id": "152eac572acaaab2fa38b26428511e57", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Meh. The real world outside of Epic felt unnecessary, and I wasn't interested enough in either the style or the story to continue with the series. At least managed to finish, though.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 08 18:10:09 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 16 21:42:10 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "321aecd7826b60cb14fd952adbf826a4", "book_id": "24485148", "review_id": "1125f384426e210cc35732bd0cbc7ab1", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Meh. :/ It was OK, but it couldn't keep my interest enough to want to finish it. I was hoping for more gender bending than I actually got, and tapped when OF COURSE there was a vampire love story in it.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 24 09:40:58 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 30 10:01:33 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Aug 30 10:01:33 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "321aecd7826b60cb14fd952adbf826a4", "book_id": "17342700", "review_id": "6d2effc3e2e3582f01d0f16b27311b69", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This went downhill fast. If people aren't getting murdered left and right, spoiler, everyone dies all the time, they're all in love with Cleo. Let's just say this series had better get less predictable in the next book or I might just quit.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 17 12:24:22 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 23 20:54:02 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "321aecd7826b60cb14fd952adbf826a4", "book_id": "13630171", "review_id": "1e226d160fbf86278b818a578e67ed68", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Stupid Krasians. XD", "date_added": "Tue Jul 28 10:49:29 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 06 14:24:25 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Aug 06 14:24:25 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "321aecd7826b60cb14fd952adbf826a4", "book_id": "22328559", "review_id": "e0e1ceb3490b2e082e33bb65e5e54b09", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I received a RC from Harper Voyager publishing. \n A great modern-fantastical twist on a classic that keeps readers guessing and intrigued! With a slight feminist twist and delightful characters, Ms. Eliza Jekyll and Miss Lizzie Hyde keep their respective parts of a steampunky London in check with their conflicting methods of detective work. Twists and turns abound, leaving the identity of The Chopper a muddled mysterious secret until the very end. Eliza and Lizzie battle it out, together, and otherwise, to unravel secrets of a murderer on the loose and their own selves. A wonderful read and a refreshing take on an old classic for contemporary readers. Chick-litty enough for the feminine persuasion, but still gritty, gory, and dark enough to be an entertaining thrill ride of a mystery for anyone looking for their next favorite bookish crime drama. Definitely a great read. Cannot wait for The Devious Dr. Jekyll!! <3", "date_added": "Sat Feb 07 13:46:51 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 05 10:18:11 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jul 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "321aecd7826b60cb14fd952adbf826a4", "book_id": "17349181", "review_id": "70d49c579dcea34c710056d1441639fd", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Meh. Slightly sexist, incredibly elementary, and mediocre at best. Reminiscent of early Harry Potter. Maybe if I had read it when I was twelve I'd have liked it better. Let's see how the movie adaptation goes.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 14 07:04:09 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 17 13:18:01 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jan 17 13:18:01 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "321aecd7826b60cb14fd952adbf826a4", "book_id": "23213849", "review_id": "234653a219d5c268393badd1c5e27020", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Harper Voyager granted me an e-ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. \n CSI with a dark, devilish twist, and quite a bit of historical tie in, the latest installment in the Sandman Slim series pits Stark against someone who has murdered Death. Seriously. And Death unable to do his job not only screws with the universe, but it's screwing with Stark's sense of self, as well. This book shows us the more human side of Stark's life, interpersonal relations, and consequences of his actions. Sure he still gets away with, and survives, a hell of a lot, like only Sandman Slim could, but I'm sensing some tension within the Slimmites. They're helping to remind him of his humanity, and he's slowly, and reluctantly accepting it, while still trying to balance his overwhelming sense of responsibility as the superhero Abomination. Maybe he's not so bulletproof, physically or otherwise. I can't wait for what comes next. Kadrey's imagery and metaphors always remind me of bar stories with your buds over billiards, and his glorious flair for the morbidly dramatic keeps me frothing for more. I always appreciate that Slims are written in first person present tense, and there's minimal description. It flows better and keeps tensions high feeling like you're strapped into the front seat of Stark's out of control rocket tank. I laughed out loud more than once with how perfect Kadrey's descriptions of things cements and expands upon the gritty world in which my favorite characters live. The world building, the characters, the increasingly inventive ways to keep chucking Stark back into (and out of) literal and figurative Hell will forever keep me guessing. There's a reason I count down the days to each release, and beg and plead for early access. When this releases, buy it, read it, love it. :D", "date_added": "Sun Jan 11 09:43:51 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 05 10:17:38 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "321aecd7826b60cb14fd952adbf826a4", "book_id": "299081", "review_id": "8ae7dda6cffde7fd2237cf0fb898c625", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I will read and gawk at anything Brom releases until the end of time. While sure a lot of his stories are reworked fairy tales and twisted variations thereof, I like the tinges of nostalgia and my own adulthood seeing that yes, my youthful fancies and fairy tales might not be as magical as I was told. While not the greatest writer in the world, Brom balances his prose and sometimes tacky cliche dialogues with breathtaking art that perfectly illustrates any doubt in your mind of visuals. Pleasurable, quick read, recommended for the entertainment value if nothing else, though there's a valid debate on the truth of the perception of \"evil\" that I thoroughly enjoyed. In fact, I'm giving this book to my tattoo artist friend so we can chat about a potential addition to her fairy tale sleeve. Next on my list of Brom: Devil's Rose.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 31 07:41:29 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 06 07:14:29 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Feb 16 10:27:58 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "321aecd7826b60cb14fd952adbf826a4", "book_id": "7745095", "review_id": "da134d8352b06ca8f071e5780f5e3307", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I was sent an advance review copy by Harper Voyager for an honest review, and here it is. \n I tried, but I just can't. I don't care enough about witchy old biddies passive aggressively fighting about who slept with who, and who runs the town. And their weird, unexplained witchcraft is interesting, but it's never fleshed out enough for it to really make sense, or seem to drive the story. I don't care about the inner politics or drama of their town, I don't care about the evil the unleashed upon themselves, as they deserve it, as far as I'm concerned, and I especially don't care that it's coming back to haunt them. I'm assuming this mystery and evil follows the families to present day, as the next chapter starts out as set in 2015, but I just... can't care enough to keep going. :/ \n I'm sure if you're into thriller mysteries you could probably at least get past chapter five, but I have other things that definitely interest me more than this ever could. The prose is wordy and boring, the characters are so unlikable and almost wooden despite their tribulations that I found myself rooting for their inevitable self destruction. \n Good luck, Alex. I'm sure your niche will appreciate your work, but it's just not for me.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 30 19:57:01 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 17 21:36:24 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 13:46:31 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "321aecd7826b60cb14fd952adbf826a4", "book_id": "13505670", "review_id": "4063fb62ab34148d236a682b43956bdf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was sent a review copy of this book by Harper Voyager publishing. \n Having loved everything about The Child Thief and his gothic, visceral perception on Peter Pan, I was beyond excited to explore Brom's take on the Christmas mythos. Something about Brom's writing makes the most outlandish, fantastical things seem perfectly plausible in his worlds, even Santa, Odin's wolves, and ravens against Krampus and his once human Belsnickles, duking it out with broadswords and pistols in the middle of rural Virginia. Brom captures the complexities and humanity of his characters so well, readers really feel for them, hate them, and might even be reminded of someone. It's enthralling how raw and real their motivations, back stories, personalities, and emotions are. Brom helps to really make readers empathize and relate to Jesse, the failed musician and father, that resorts to drastic measures to try make right by his family when Santa's sack literally falls through his roof. Anyone reading would definitely DESPISE The General, his cronies, and Dillard, for how much they have it out for Jesse. And I'll admit, by the end of it, I even felt for Krampus and his utter loathing for Santa Claus and his struggle against the blending of Yule and Christmas. Brom's prose is as delightful as his amazing art work, always included. The illustrations are never required to visualize his characters, but it certainly helps to solidify what pictures he paints in reader's minds. Spot on what I imagined, for sure. Educational, to an extent, fascinating, and a joy to curl up and read with a hot chocolate and candy canes. Krampus: The Yule Lord is a great read for any time of year, but especially around Christma... I mean, Yuletide. :)", "date_added": "Tue Dec 23 19:02:16 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 30 19:45:39 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Dec 23 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "321aecd7826b60cb14fd952adbf826a4", "book_id": "20359709", "review_id": "e8c04e52371071d542f36a0fe3d863c8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I received a copy of this book from Harper Voyager publishing for review. \n What started strong fell a little flat, but on \n a general scale, turned out alright. Octavia, as a heroine, is believable and realistic, aside from her medicine healing, and while Alonzo didn't really reach the levels I expected, and the love tension felt forced and unnatural, it's not a terrible read. She's sassy, compassionate, knows how to protect herself within her means, and doesn't take anyone's garbage, less someone is at risk. Typical altruistic healer type, but it's true to her form. Light, easy, and quick to read, but there's enough happening to keep one entertained. Character twists, surprises, and action keeps the plot somewhat accelerated, and the idea and characters have lots of potential I hope to see reached in the sequel.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 17 07:47:05 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 24 10:10:51 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jan 24 10:10:51 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "321aecd7826b60cb14fd952adbf826a4", "book_id": "20174424", "review_id": "6e95e217e6a9320153762d9bcda43d17", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I want a Sigrud for my birthday. :) \n While this started out a little slow for me, I definitely got my interest piqued about 1/4 of the way in. I was hoping for a steampunky/post apocalyptic/ high fantasy type of thing, and felt like it was more of a murder mystery/political espionage type of story. But the combination of both elements in a fantastic world with deep, detailed, and interesting, once explored, lore and scenery makes this book a definite must read. \n The characters are wonderful, Shara as a real heroine that's a -person,- not an archetype, not a mouse, not a lion. She's book smart, people smarter, and isn't afraid to ask for help, since she often finds herself in trouble because of her ambitions and good intentions. Her interpersonal play with other characters really makes her shine as an unlikely heroine in a screwed up world where everything seems against her by default. \n Sigurd is why I continued on with this book even when it got a little slow for me. Something about a gigantic, one eyed, scarred and possibly insane Northman who seems perfectly alright with being as violent as necessary just makes me giddy. His depth and character reveals are heartbreaking, his snark and ability to get the more gruesome aspects of Shara's job done in an almost amusingly nonchalant manner, makes me adore him in every way. I hope there's more of him to come in the series. \n Reading this, it felt almost like a political/religious/race commentary, which I liked. It illustrates the injustice and inequality of history, of being conquered, and then conquering, of how trying to maintain the status quo and the extremist reaction thereafter can lead to the very revolution both sides are beyond not ready to face. And the six divinities of this world are incredibly fascinating. Only four of the six are really explored in depth, and I'd be interested in a prequel focused solely upon the Divinities. Maybe that's an ace up the sleeve for continuation? Hm? (Please?)", "date_added": "Mon Aug 25 20:16:02 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 05 10:20:23 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "321aecd7826b60cb14fd952adbf826a4", "book_id": "14740590", "review_id": "8448abed27df30a09105de3d96613fcb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Skip it if you plan on reading the sequel. It's just a draft anyway and it's entirely rehashed in Full of Spiders.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 10 10:30:33 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 06 14:56:47 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Dec 05 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "321aecd7826b60cb14fd952adbf826a4", "book_id": "18456381", "review_id": "a3f73c4ae17cac7198040eabfe9cc474", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I received a digital advance copy of this book for personal blogging and review. \n Once again I had a nice four hour long chat over drinks with my favorite anti-hero, James Stark. Oh my god, this book! AMAZING. Kadrey does it again (no surprises there) with more exploits of the hero we all love to hate, and hate to love. Stark deals with the less than appreciative Golden Vigil bossing him around about a serial killer investigation, all while facing the looming threat of the Angra Om Ya in the latest installment of the Sandman Slim series. Old friends, and some old enemies, find their way back into Stark's life as the world is about to end. Yes, again. It's always a frolic through a field of daisies when you're with Sandman Slim. Who's side are Stark's allies really on? Will they find a way to stop the Angra Om Ya in time, or will Heaven, Earth, and Hell all be destroyed from internal, and external forces? Read this book. Find out. You won't be disappointed!!", "date_added": "Mon May 05 19:13:03 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue May 06 13:28:53 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue May 06 13:28:53 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "321aecd7826b60cb14fd952adbf826a4", "book_id": "17349326", "review_id": "fdef9481161f90e4ab7358a8e04ddeaf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I actually liked a YA novel! Well... it was by my favorite author, so I guess it doesn't really count. Kadrey nails the perspective, thoughts, and personality of a 15 year old girl, (which is difficult, even for women who were once 15 year old girls) but still keeps the grit and casual snark that makes Sandman Slim so appealing. Dead Set takes you into the angsty, longing, and lonely world of Zoe, who having just lost her father and moved to a new city with her struggling mother, is searching for somewhere to belong, and someone to get close to again. She finds hope in an odd place, an old record store, and for a girl raised on classic punk music, it seems the perfect place to get her closure with her late rockstar father. But that of course only leads to trouble. She finds herself in a new world halfway between life and death, and she's never sure in which world she wants to stay. Read it! You'll love it, I promise!", "date_added": "Mon Oct 07 20:16:27 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 18 21:22:17 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3ec80f997561136d3e330d548d62e1ed", "book_id": "13578175", "review_id": "ed974b974eb1ad8862902a9950abc4dc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Interesting concept, a soul forger, but not meaty enough to keep my interest.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 04 07:14:42 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 08 18:46:34 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Mar 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6354e39910c9e51b95d1d6387704c848", "book_id": "32827398", "review_id": "9310a0591ba275f3737cc2456502b8ea", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Loved the concept and characters of this book. I didn't realize until I finished it that it is based on the real Project Star Gate through the CIA.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 04 18:11:54 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 21 08:24:01 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Aug 21 08:24:01 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Aug 04 18:11:55 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6354e39910c9e51b95d1d6387704c848", "book_id": "20696767", "review_id": "07f6cc1bd8a01bcc0280d115d9976868", "rating": 4, "review_text": "If I could, I would give it 3.5 stars. It's a fun, light read. Love the concept of modernizing and shaking up the fairy tale perspective. It hooked me enough to start reading the next one!", "date_added": "Sun Nov 23 18:40:02 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 06 09:38:56 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Dec 06 09:38:56 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Nov 23 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6354e39910c9e51b95d1d6387704c848", "book_id": "21853633", "review_id": "6e1eaf29824d003971eed237c2c0a8c2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it! I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the Waverly women and continuing the stories to the next generation. Sarah Addison's writing is beautiful.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 16 09:28:01 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 18 18:19:51 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "10bc578f46a0a267d047848cbfc59141", "book_id": "77566", "review_id": "14514ef4156046a31f5c723d3bd7ed90", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Absolutely astounding, a magnificent piece of science fiction. The characters are incredibly real (I felt more sympathy for Sol Weintraub than I have for a literary character in a very long time), the settings grandiose, and the writing detailed and superb. The world of Hyperion and the Hegemony of Man is incredibly detailed, and literary illusions abound, especially for Keats. Long story short, this is right up there with Dune as some of the greatest science fiction books of all time. NOTE: The language can get a little flowery, and can go into minute detail at times. If you're really not a fan of lengthy descriptions, just know that there are more than a few going into this book.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 20:03:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 13 00:03:22 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "31453632", "review_id": "57a6e1ed7cf4a48c4995fc7a793ccef6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 review to come", "date_added": "Thu Nov 24 18:17:19 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 31 19:38:49 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Dec 14 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "25681951", "review_id": "c0993f9b55b37fafe71b8427fcd7744e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3 Quick but still sweet stars! \n Source: Audible Copy for Honest Review Courtesy of Author and WLK Promotions \n Genre: MM Paranormal Romance \n Short Stories Standalone \n My All of Me Review . . . \n Abel is an alpha and about to be mated to his life partner fellow alpha Kai, but that event didn't happen when Abel gets his heart ripped open from Kai. \n Now years later and Abel has never stopped loving Kai but he's a stubborn man and an even more stubborn wolf. When Kai's sister comes to him for help he quickly says no but eventually gives in. \n And thankfully he did because he quickly realizes that not all is as it seems and now he has to find a way to convince Kai that they can still have their dreams together. \n Normally I love Cardeno's wolf stories and I did like this one as well but not as much as the others. I think since it was a shorter story it was too quick paced and I had to rewind and re-listen a few times to understand the progression of things. However, once I was properly into the story then Abel and Kai started to win me over. \n Another sweet second chance story about true love and rightful paths.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 14 19:57:16 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 14 19:59:47 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "32027348", "review_id": "c2cd5cc8b1d36555c5d726c8c9224ba9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 Love can conquer all stars! \n Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Author & Inkslinger Pr \n Genre: Paranormal Romance \n Standalone \n My Lucian Divine Review . . . \n I absolutely love Renee Carlino. EVERY SINGLE BOOK of hers is refreshing and different and outside of the normal formulas that are too often used within the genres she writes in. In the preface, Renee says 'this book is about faith, love, the unknown, and not taking ourselves so damn seriously all the time.' And that is EXACTLY what this book was about. She couldn't have summed it up better that that. \n Evey is wading through life. Living with her best friend, even if she's overbearing and messy. Dating, well unsuccessful dating. Has a career doing what she loves but she's not complete. On one of her dates she meets a mysterious man whom she has an instant connection with. Soon she finds out that this man is so much more. But can true love conquer all? \n Lucian is Evey's Guardian Angel and he's a drunk. It's way easier to drink then watch the love of your life date everyone but him. But how can an angel and a human be together? \n \"Jesus Christ!\" I mumbled. He turned back toward me, startled. \"Where?\" He didn't sound angry but surprised. \n The banter between these two is great. As Lucian is trying to understand a life he's familiar with yet its still completely foreign and Evey has finally found her mate. But how can it all work out? \n \"Great, so my guardian angle is a perverted narcissist\" \n Lucian and Evey have an instant connection but the ones above need Evey to not remember meeting Lucian in the first place. However, that's not as easy as it usually is. \n \"You're so human,\" she said. \"so flawed. I love you more because it it.\" \n Besides the amazing relationship of Lucian and Evey, the messages within this book are fantastic. \n \" . . . But swearing to God . . .\" \n \"What? It's frowned upon?\" \n \"No, it's just meaningless. People shouldn't lie to each other to begin with. People shouldn't have to fear hell in order to tell the truth. They should fear that their lies will ruin relationships or get them in trouble, here now, on Earth, with the people they love.\" \n True Love is never easy but always worth it in the end. For poor Lucian and Evey they had many trials and tribulations but love always wins. This book was refreshing and beautiful. It was full of love, faith, hope, hardship, misfortune, honesty and realism. I adored it and loved every second of this book. Their was so many great messages and provoking thoughts about what we know or think we know but now can maybe look at it in a different way. Lucian and Evey were perfect together and it was honor to read their journey.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 25 19:07:45 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 19 17:37:22 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "26801178", "review_id": "b25aba5532beadf8c6432d110d72d375", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3. 5 to 4 Adorable stars! \n Source: Audible Copy for Honest Review Courtesy of Author and WLK Book Promotions \n Let's start with I freakin' adored the narrator. His Miguel's voice and accent were awesome and the ability to go back and forth between that accent and a southern accent was great. The whole time I was listening to this story, I had the biggest grin on my face, I adored it. \n Ethan Abbatt is a young adult wolf shifter, whom hasn't ever been able to shift. They don't know why he can't, but this disability has caused the others in the pack to look down on Ethan. His sister, knows that Ethan is made for bigger and better things, just doesn't know what they are. \n One night Ethan, finds himself with some of the other young pack members in the city Kfarkattan, where they stumble across some vampires. Immediately the vampires traumatize the shifters by draining them since they can't feed off them or they will die. For Ethan that blood draining changes everything. \n Even while bleeding out, when Miguel Rodriguez, comes near Ethan, his lower appendage starts coming to life. Which is a new phenomenon for Ethan. After this new finding, he also finds himself able to shift for the first time as well, which saves his life. \n Knowing something huge has changed in his life causes him to go back and find Miguel. When he does find him, he realizes that Miguel is on a feeding frenzy and in danger. Miguel too is intrigued with this young wolf, but doesn't know what to make of the situation. \n Ethan quickly realizes what Miguel is to him, all he has to do is convince Miguel of it. I quite adored these two together. This story wasn't heavy but really sweet. It's about fate and things meant to be, even if they are the most unlikely scenario. \n The only downfall for audiobooks for me, is not being able to save great quotes. But in the end, I thought it was cute and adorable and I loved Miguel and Ethan together. They completely balanced each other out.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 29 20:20:58 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 29 20:24:12 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "27516962", "review_id": "0e7e39d2c43221a04f0cd8d25f4fb836", "rating": 3, "review_text": "review to come", "date_added": "Tue Nov 24 19:45:26 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 25 23:10:25 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Dec 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "25685050", "review_id": "9a0703ca02b945292a166b144aac5782", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 About Time Stars! \n Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Author \n As usual with Cardeno C. we get a sweet story about love filled with tons of heart. \n In Places in time its like a modern day 'a Christmas carol' without being actually christmas. \n Ethan finds himself freshly dumped again, which causes him to go to where he always goes when he needs comfort. On his way to his best friend \n Jude's house, he encounters a bit of an escape of reality with him being brought back in time to find out what he keeps missing but was glaringly obvious. \n Even though Ethan's a bit vain and full of \n himself he didn't realize that he's always had love. It just wasn't the kind he thought he would have, but quickly realizes that it's the kind of love that he deeply needs. \n Jude has always loved Ethan but never knew how do truly show him, when it seemed Ethan only wanted to be friends. So when he's finally given the gift of something he's always wanted, at first he's a bit skeptical but once he dives in, he goes all the way in. \n This was such a cute friends to lovers / straight to gay story. It was quick, adorable, and sweet with a quick dose of steam.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 20 15:03:18 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 20 15:06:05 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "25504865", "review_id": "03f818be1ba057a7a4af35d2d0cc0078", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 Shadowing Stars! \n Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Berkley | Penguin Group \n The story goes on for this unlikely duo. It has felt like forever since I read the Raven and some of the details were vague in my mind as I started to read this book. It took me a bit of time to get up to speed. If I had time I would have re-read the Raven but that was not the case. \n \"I waited my whole life to find you, and now that I have, I'm going to lose you?\" \n I love the fact that this is paranormal spin off from a contemporary series. The way that they are intertwined is brilliant. William is trying to keep his promise to Raven by not hurting the Emersons but it's hard for him with so much history and betrayal involved. \n As William is trying to protect his city from a traitor, he's also fighting for Raven. Raven's becoming stronger and stronger and William's finally letting her in more and more. The more we learn about William the more we see his internal conflict with what he is now and who he was before. His loss of hope and faith are an every day struggle for him, but with loving Raven he learns to balance the sides of himself. \n This book has so many layers woven together, that we're continuously trying to figure out what is going on within in the walls of this city. We get to learn more of William's history which helps build the reasons of the shadow as well as the conflict within himself. We also get to see William change and evolve with Raven. \n William now has to struggle with a decision between love or his people of the city. \n \"You're the other half of me, William. Please don't send me away.\" \n At the end of this book we are still left with wanting to know more. We want to know the true story behind Aoibhe and what her motives are. \n \"You lie as you fornicated, Aoibhe: artfully and forcefully. I have no time for either.\" \n We also want to know if William and Raven can find a balance between their belief systems and their pasts. Even though this book took me a bit to truly get into it, I did eventually get encaptured with the story. I can't wait for more from this series.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 21 22:56:51 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 09 20:02:40 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "24470460", "review_id": "156c891444653a8b804e4f50f4ceb466", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3. 75 Don't let fear lead you Stars! \n Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Author and Inkslinger PR \n First let's start with that I'm a huge fan of Rachel Van Dyken and was super excited to read this new book. At times when reading mainly in the contemporary romance genre I crave and need something more that thankfully paranormal can provide. \n In The Dark Ones, I have to admit that I liked the idea of the story a bit more than the actual story. I LOVED the meaning behind the story but I felt the actual story was a bit too quick paced to really feel the connection between Genesis & Ethan. \n Genesis is a mere human, who her whole life has been taught one thing to only find out that it was completely wrong. Not only was her education wrong but so was her upbringing. Instead of Genesis seeing who she truly is, her mom has taken that from her, making her think she is nothing. \n As Genesis's number is called to help out the elders she finds out her opportunity is so much more than she ever thought. At first it starts with her being a bit lost and out of element, while been caught in between the elders. Then it turns into so much more. \n The only way to hopefully get her live is to be mated with her. Ethan, has been hurt before and doesn't want to risk it again, but for the sake of the prophecy, he takes the risk. \n Just because you're mated doesn't mean its a love match. But for the prophecy to be fulfilled it must be pure of heart. We all think that we love freely and give it all our, but do we? We usually only give what we deem as safe and what is best for us. It's easier to protect ones self than risk the unknown. \n For Genesis, she's put through many tests. If she passes these tests than it gives her a chance to live and hopefully fulfill the prophecy. If that happens it will change the way between the species forever. \n Letting go and making the right choices are tough, and for Ethan and Genesis it's the only way for them to find what they are truly looking for. \n Did I like this book? Yes, but I wanted a bit more from the characters. Does this series have potential? Loads and loads. Did I like Ethan and Genesis? Yes, but their connection escalated too quickly to truly feel the strength of their bond. Did I feel like Genesis & Ethan made the right choices? Absolutely. Did I like the meaning behind the story? Yes, it was my favorite part. Did I like the other characters? Yes, and I can't wait for more from them. \n All quotes taken from pre-published eARC & may be altered or omitted in the final copy. \n For more reviews, visit Live Read and Breathe \n Like us on Facebook Live Read and Breathe Facebook \n Follow along with Twitter Live Read and Breathe Twitter", "date_added": "Thu Aug 20 14:46:51 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 28 11:35:24 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Sep 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "23507711", "review_id": "15d1c31ddff6f8535fa1c2e770705147", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 Just what I needed at the time stars! \n Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Forever | Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley \n I've been suffering from the worst book hangover since reading the Bright Side series which has made so many books lackluster lately. With this I needed a change so I jumped back into the paranormal genre with Katie MacAlister. And I'm so glad that I did. As usual with Katie, this book had heart, humor, passion and quirkiness. This is a spin off series from the guardian series and her other dragon series. I've read so many of Katie's books but have not yet read her dragon or guardian series. I didn't find this altered my experience in any way. But it did make me want to read the other series to have all of the background plus have more of Katie's humor to brighten my day. \n Aoife Dakar finds herself smack dab in the middle of another world but no one believes her. After being put in for two years at mental asylum, she's read to conquer her fears. Only for her to jump right back into another reality where dragons are real and so is magic. Thankfully she is vindicated for not being crazy but now has to wade her way through this new reality. \n Kostya is a dragon and also a man who does NOT want a mate. Especially after being burned by his ex and being held captive for seven long years. But instantly when he meets Aoife he's drawn to her. Kostya starts off dry, particular and way to serious but Aoife's quirkiness brings out his heart. \n With a newfound dog/demon sidekick named Jim these three find themselves courting a whole bunch of trouble. \n Koysta and Aoife's banter was great and sparks flew between them. \n I loved Koysta and Aoife together even though Koysta fought the connection the whole way through. Which was part of the fun between these two. But how can you deny it when your true mate finds you? \n The story was fun and light hearted. The writing is great. I love the banter and interactions with all the characters, it's really a bit brilliant actually. Love Katie MacAlister and recommend this book and anything else she has ever written. \n All quotes taken from pre-published eARC & may be altered or omitted in the final copy. \n For more reviews, visit Live Read and Breathe \n Like us on Facebook Live Read and Breathe Facebook \n Follow along with Twitter Live Read and Breathe Twitter", "date_added": "Mon Aug 17 16:43:43 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 17 16:46:04 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "25866430", "review_id": "491286c09a337ecb5344acdec30bcf5b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3. 5 Sexually Charged stars! \n Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Author and Rock Star PR via NetGalley \n The one thing I love about paranormal is the author basically has carte blanche when it comes to the story. Anything goes, if it's made to be believable. \n Within contemporary books, it's easy to just begin the story, but with paranormal sometimes the world has to be set so we can truly fall into that new world. I found with Alasdair it took quite awhile for me to get immersed into this world. The story started but took awhile to build up. However, once it was built I was more hooked within the story. \n Alasdair, is a very powerful vampire, especially being first sire to Vasilios. He's also one who doesn't stray far from his norm, until he sets eyes on Leo Chapel. \n There's something intriguing about Leo, that has Alasdair drawn and confused. The closer he becomes with Leo, the less that makes sense to him and his world. Leo, doesn't have a hot clue what is going on, but one thing he does know is that he is explicitly drawn to Alasdair. The more he learns the more he's drawn, even though what he learns should cause him to run as far as way as possible. \n As the story goes on, and the more we find out about this world the more the sexual tension builds between Alasdair and Leo. \n \"First, you terrorize me, then you kidnap me, and now, you're hell-bent on destroying my life. If this is your version of playing with your food, I think you've taken it far enough.\" \n As the heat is rising between these two, so is the beginning of the truth of what is to come. \n \"You want to fuck me? Then shut up and fuck me. But you can look at me while you do it. You don't get to forget my face once you're done with me come sunrise.\" \n However, it all ends to soon and we are left waiting for more. \n Did I eventually fall into this world and like it? Yes. Am I choked with the ending? Yes, a bit as cliff hangers can be unnerving at times. However, it's left me wanting more, so I will DEFINITELY be reading the next book to see how it all transpires. Did I like Alasdair and Leo? Yes, very much, but I'm still not sure about Vasilios yet. Did I like the Greek language within the story? Yes and no. Yes, because it always adds something to the story but no because I didn't have a clue what any of the terms meant since my kindle nor itranslate were able to translate it for me. A legend would have been helpful in this situation.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 07 13:28:43 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 30 11:05:04 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Oct 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "25578836", "review_id": "3a839b873f3b684feb6ab01e58d5ae8b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 Lucas Loving Stars! \n Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Berkley | Penguin Group \n This book was so what I needed. I have been in a bit of reading rut with a repetitive loop of angst caused by assumptions and miscommunications so reading a different genre was exactly what I needed. I have had this book on my TBR forever and when Penguin gave me the opportunity to read this first one in the series I jumped on it. Book 14 Shards of Hope came out today so I was excited to start this series at the same time. Now I just have to find time to read 13 books so I can catch up. :) \n Sascha Duncan is a Psy. And the Psy are known to be emotionless creatures that live on logic not emotions. But Sascha's different. Because of the Psy's beliefs if she's different then she should be gone in their minds, now she has to hide these flaws to stay alive. \n Lucas Hunter is on the hunt to find a serial killer who is killing changelings, and Sascha's the key to finding out. Immediately after meeting Sascha he knows something is different about her. Now he just has to find out if that is going to hinder or help his plan for revenge. \n The more Sascha is with Lucas the more she starts to feel. The more she feels the more she gets confused. This part of her feels like the missing link but it also in her mind means death. For some reason Lucas can't stop touching or being near Sascha. His inner beast knows why just his human heart and mind haven't caught up. \n As Sascha learns the truth she has to pick sides. But with a chance to truly feel and live she thinks its worth it, especially since she won't be long for this world. Now that Lucas knows what Sascha is to him he will do whatever he can to keep her safe. \n This book was great. Sure yes it still had some elements of martyrisms and running but that got lost in this paranormal world. SHARDS OF HOPE (Berkley Hardcover; June 2, 2015), the 14th novel in the series releases today!!!!! I can't wait to read the rest of this fantastic series. \n For more reviews, visit Live Read and Breathe \n Like us on Facebook Live Read and Breathe Facebook \n Follow along with Twitter Live Read and Breathe Twitter", "date_added": "Tue Jun 02 17:53:38 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 02 17:55:37 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "25128897", "review_id": "b9ed2dbd915a3a7111b916ea1d83c949", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 Siphon Loving Stars! \n Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy from Author \n When Cardeno C. contacted me with the opportunity to review this book, CC had me at MM lion shifters. \n What could be more hot than two lion shifters going at it? Not alot. :) \n Hugh is the Premier of the pack. His power is so powerful that he needs a Siphon to help carry his reserve so he doesn't overload and die. Unfortunately he has taken his Siphon for granted. \n The Siphon is tired of being invisible so tries to take care of his own choices for once with near devastating results. When Hugh realizes that he has neglected his Siphon he vows to make a change. First the Siphon gets a name ...Johnnie. Second he gets to know Johnnie. And the more he gets to know him the more he likes what he sees. \n For Hugh sex is just about the release of hormones and semen. For the first time in a decade he experiences something so much more with Johnnie. For Hugh and his pack they are animals first humans second, but they have a thing or two to learn from the humans. Like the notion of the emotion love. Hugh's first priority has always been his pack but once he falls for Johnnie he starts to realize that with this connection he gets so much more. \n \"They need their Premier. I need my Siphon.\" \n I loved Hugh and Johnnie together. They were made for each other and were each others ying to their yang. I loved how Cardeno C's mind works and we get introduced to another world where love is love no matter what. \n Adored it! Adored Hugh and Siphon. I can't wait to read more from this Siphon Collection. Yeah!!!! \n For more reviews, visit Live Read and Breathe \n Like us on Facebook Live Read and Breathe Facebook \n Follow along with Twitter Live Read and Breathe Twitter", "date_added": "Tue Apr 14 01:06:25 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 14 01:08:20 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Apr 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "22843247", "review_id": "318906528fed164999531cb4cc0cb84b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 Intrigued Stars! \n Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Intermix/Penguin Group \n I think it's ingenious to have a paranormal spin off come off a contemporary romance series. Brilliant. I'm not totally sure what's going on yet with this series as the novella was setting the stage sort of speak into a new supernatural underworld. In this novella there are a few parallel stories going on. \n We have where the Emersons are in Florence at the Uffizi Gallery to donate Gabriel's beloved Dante collection. \n We have the subplot of the origins of these paintings and how they originally disappeared. \n We have the ongoing love story of the Emerson's but with a twist that makes me uneasy with this great couple. \n We also have the supernatural world arising and a war on the horizon after the Prince of Florence had an attempted assassin on him. Now we don't know how the war is going to go and who to trust. \n Even though I'm a bit clueless I'm completely intrigued how this new series is going to play out and how the subplots are going to be resolved. \n The idea of the series is genius, now my fingers are crossed that it lives up to its potential. \n For more reviews, visit Live Read and Breathe \n Like us on Facebook Live Read and Breathe Facebook \n Follow along with Twitter Live Read and Breathe Twitter", "date_added": "Wed Dec 31 09:40:08 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 23 10:21:01 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "21900558", "review_id": "379ef915bd2c2220fe40efd2615640b4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 Telekinesis Kicks Ass Stars! \n Source: Printed ARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Sullivan and Partners \n This is technically book two of this series but it could be read as a standalone. However, you will get more from the story reading it as a series. This book is based around the gruff, brooding Beau Deveraux, whom after his brother Caleb's experience he doesn't take anything to lightly and believes anything can happen. \n Arial (Ari) has come into this world loved but had to be hidden because of her special powers. Her parents would do ANYTHING to keep her safe. Because safety was always an issue, her dad let her know that if she ever needed help when he wasn't there to go right to Beau or Caleb Deveraux. \n The minute Beau meets Ari his shell starts to chip and he instantly wants to take care of her. And it doesn't take long for Beau to step up to the plate because the minute they try and leave his office all hell breaks loose. \n All Ari has ever known are her parents but she quickly has to depend on others. As Ari and Beau are trying to survive they also fall into each other and start to depend on each other quite quickly. \n However trying to survive isn't the only thing Ari has to deal with as she finally finds out more truths about herself and her past. \n Blood didn't make a family. \n Love did. \n Ari has a pure heart which makes her a bit of martyr when it comes to other but she does have a kick ass gift so you can't really blame her. \n Because it was her nature to put herself before others. To protect when she was the one in need of protection. If she died saving his life it would be for nothing because his life wasn't worth a damn thing without her in it. \n For Beau thinking he has everything under cover quickly gets blown away when Ari gets taken and now he has to do anything to get her back because without her he would be lost. For Beau he NEEDS to take care of her but he really doesn't have to because with her gift Ari can easily take care of herself and others. As Ari holds a little vengeance to her attacker and her parent's kidnappers she unleashes a fury like no other. \n Thankfully there is a HEA for her and her family where she can surround herself with love and others who have similar gifts that make her feel normal and safe. This book has suspense, passion and loads of drama. \n For more reviews, visit Live Read and Breathe \n Like us on Facebook Live Read and Breathe Facebook \n Follow along with Twitter Live Read and Breathe Twitter", "date_added": "Wed Dec 31 09:39:57 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 05 20:51:12 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "23129684", "review_id": "8c478bd8f4aea2a97b38e8b5ccbdb102", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2 to 2.5 Meh Stars! \n Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Penguin Group \n It has been quite awhile since I read an Anita Blake book. The last book I read was Beauty #20.5. The reason I took a break is because this series went from amazing to no substance just sex. So, when I got the chance I jumped on it. I sadly didn't get enough time to read Kiss the Dead and Affliction before hand but after reading Jason I felt like that made no difference to my reading experience with this novella. \n As I was hoping to get into old school Anita Blake what I got was basically a novella on pure sex. The substance wasn't necessarily about the series but more about the exploration of sexuality. For Jason, Anita's wolf to call and friends with benefits is in a human relationship with J.J, whom also is a relationship with her lesbian lover. Jason wants to show more of his animal side to J.J. so he embarks the help of Anita and friends to show how it is done. \n As Anita takes one for the 'team' she also learns a lesson about herself as she is struggling with her first female/female relationship. What she learns is more about her self than her struggling sexuality. \n This book was just a fluff sex filler really and didn't make or break the series for me, it just was. If you want an Anita sex snit bit then read the novella, if you feel like it is going to alter the series or make the series more than it is then , you could probably skip it. It was an easy read and well written, but left me wondering why I read it as it didn't really fulfill me too much in regards to this series. \n For more reviews, visit Live Read and Breathe \n Like us on Facebook Live Read and Breathe Facebook \n Follow along with Twitter Live Read and Breathe Twitter", "date_added": "Mon Nov 17 09:07:34 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 23 17:33:48 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Nov 23 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "23300367", "review_id": "87fbe7e048c37e3949101dbcc5e2c876", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 Mated Stars! \n Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy from Author \n Genre: MM Paranormal Romance \n My Blue Mountain Review ... \n Another great paranormal love story by Cardeno C. In this new series we have the blue mountain pack where the pack is led by the Alpha Frederick and helped with his twin brother and other Alpha Mitch. Here we find out that not all Alphas find their mate, because not all Alphas are able to deal with the responsibilites of the pack and their mate. But Mitch and Frederick have always known they were destined to have mates. More often than not Omegas and Alphas are mated but it is not often you find a male Omega. \n So when the pack stumbles across Simon on their territory and let the Alphas know that there is an unknown lone omega wolf on their mountain, for the first time Mitch gets hope that his mate has been found. Finding your mate doesn't always mean its going to be easy, especially when you mate is scared of his own skin and alphas in general. But Mitch doesn't give up easily so he has to give Simon time to trust him. \n Even though Simon's natural Omega instincts come to life around Mitch he fights it for a long time as he doesn't trust any alpha. Mitch has to be patient with Simon but the reward is worth it for this mated duo. \n Mitch the natural alpha wins my heart especially how he takes care of his mate Simob. Once again Cardeno C. has written a very lovely story about true love. So far I have loved every single story of Cardeno C. They are quick to read and jam packed with emotion and heart. \n For more reviews, visit Live Read and Breathe \n Like us on Facebook Live Read and Breathe Facebook \n Follow along with Twitter Live Read and Breathe Twitter", "date_added": "Tue Oct 28 19:52:33 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 23 17:49:43 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "22472374", "review_id": "2565723f20d39d117c9c9977680bc3ac", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 Adorable Yet still steamy stars!! \n Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Author \n My In Your Eyes Review ... \n Oh Boy I adored this book especially Samuel. At first his booksmart ways were getting in my way of liking him and then they turned to be one of his biggest assets and likeable qualities. Samuel was raised to become the next Alpha of his pack. He took to this responsibilty like a dog takes to water but the one thing Samuel lacks is his social interaction with others. \n Korban is the neighboring packs next in line Alpha with a uber personality but has a douche bag dad/alpha. Korban doesn't care about the responsibility of being the next alpha. \n Even from kids Samuel doesn't trust Korban because he is always smiling and trying to be friendly with him. He thinks he is only being nice to him to learn things about their pack. However, once they chum together in and out of being a wolf, Samuel learns to be at peace and enjoy being with Korban even though he doesn't trust him. \n As the years go on Samuel still can't figure out decipher why he feels different when he is around Korban but he also can't really gel with anyone as friends or lovers. The more he doesn't find a lover though to 'tie with' the more he loses his ability to shift at ease. Then tragedy strikes and due to his non shifting it causes a rift in his pack. \n \"Tying isn't about males and females. It's about connecting with someone who can better you, someone who can give you what you're lacking, someone who can fulfill you and make you whole.\" \n After this tragedy Samuel wants retribution but only the problem is he has to face Korbin and for some reason he can't bring himself to hurt him. \n \"We tie with our mates on all levels-physical and emotional- so we can \n become the best versions of ourselves. That's what makes us complete, and then we're stable enough to bind both our forms-wolf and human.\" \n After this realization Samuel is forced to deal with his feelings and takes what he needs from Korbin only to find out that he really didn't take but it was freely given. \n I really did enjoy this book and I will definitely be reading more from this author and this series. \n For more reviews, visit Live Read and Breathe \n Like us on Facebook Live Read and Breathe Facebook \n Follow along with Twitter Live Read and Breathe Twitter", "date_added": "Tue Sep 23 18:51:06 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 23 18:53:49 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "20489870", "review_id": "6fdcbdfc873dbe7610adf6b0c5ab5fd9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 I so want more of this story stars!! \n After this taste of hope we were left wanting more. Even though they started with acting on their needs with others they ended up having a special bond. I loved getting another glimpse into Victor and Crunch with this short little story. \n I know it was written as an epilogue but I was STILL left with wanting more and I hope maybe one day Victor & Crunch will jump back into the heads of K.A. Merikan and demand that they want more. I'm a hopeless romantic and I need a more solid HEA for these two. \n For more reviews, visit Live Read and Breathe \n Like us on Facebook Live Read and Breathe Facebook \n Follow along with Twitter Live Read and Breathe Twitter", "date_added": "Mon Apr 28 21:57:24 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 28 21:59:16 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "18664776", "review_id": "12b6818cd6e2c75541c85e20e79f9d5b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "eARC for Honest Review from Author \n Finding MM love/lust during the middle of a historical zombie apocalypse. WHAT? \n That's right that is what I said. You know it this can only be a K.A. Merikan book with that story line and I adored it. \n Here we have the pretty boy Victor who lands in a war type camp who warrants the attention of the bad ass guard Crunch with a sweet heart and large sexual appetite. \n I loved that it wasn't just a kinky tryst but more of a sweet love story. \n Set in 1907 in the middle of a zombie apocalypse Crunch finds what he needs but can he keep it? Crunch is trying to create new order and peace in this world but not all his needs are met until Victor lands himself at honeyhill. To act on their needs there is honey, scary ass bees, assholes, douchebags, secret rendezvous and hope. \n What we are left with in the end is hope for Victor and Crunch. \n For more reviews, visit Live Read and Breathe \n Like us on Facebook Live Read and Breathe Facebook \n Follow along with Twitter Live Read and Breathe Twitter", "date_added": "Mon Apr 28 21:54:43 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 28 21:56:38 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Mar 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "20488078", "review_id": "1ef19b2cd8c5b009016053d58f7d76f3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Source: eARC for Honest Review from Beyond the Page via NetGalley \n So the Chanku are a guilty pleasure for me and have been since the original series Wolf Tale. This series involves the second generation of the Chanku from The Wolf Tale series. \n In this book Gabe (Anton's son) and Jace (Adam's son) are best friend and partners who are surveying the quality of wolf packs in their areas. During this time they come across a very injured wolf who happens to be Chanku. Following Adam's foot steps Jace heals this new wolf to only be extremely drawn to her. \n Romy has lived a HORRIBLE life at a compound undergone dreadful things. To escape death she shifts into a wolf which saves her life. \n Once she realizes more about the Chanku and Jace and Gabe she starts to experience for the first time positive happy things. For the first time Romy realizes that sex and sexuality can be a good thing. With the help of Jace and Gabe they help heal her and make her whole. \n She is attracted to both Jace and Gabe but her heart has different ideas and it is soley drawn to Jace. I loved Jace and Gabe's relationship and I was hoping for Romy to be part of a threesome but sadly in the end it was only Jace and Romy with Gabe always being part of them but not mated. Even though I didn't get my wish, Jace and Romy were still a great match. \n I adore this series. It might not be for all but for some reason it totally works for me. :) \n For more reviews, visit Live Read and Breathe \n Like us on Facebook Live Read and Breathe Facebook \n Follow along with Twitter Live Read and Breathe Twitter", "date_added": "Thu Jan 09 17:02:29 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 28 17:05:35 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jan 21 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "18965316", "review_id": "264392227b9899946dccaaee25b24723", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 Multilayered Stars!! \n Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Berkley Trade/Penguin Group \n The Raven starts a couple of years where The Prince left off. In this time we get to see the aftermath of how the potential war played out and with the Prince finally getting his prize possessions. On the surface things are coming to peaceful existence in Florence but the Prince is still unsettled knowing that there may be traitors amongst them and his long ago heart is still void and aching. \n \"Noah released the raven and the raven returned. If I were able to hope, I'd hope you would return to me. Good night, Cassita.\" \n Stumbling across a woman in a near death situation, the Prince goes against their rules and intervenes with the humans to save her. What he didn't realize was that she was going to save him more than she needed saving. \n For Raven, she's a bit plain, overweight and disabled but smart and passionate. After waking up a week later with her being not disabled, thinner and prettier she finds herself smack in the middle of a unknown world. \n After saving Raven, the Prince is intrigued and keeps an eye on her, which is needed as she finds herself in the middle of his world which causes him to save her repeatedly. The more he saves her the more he wants her to go, because he knows that if she stays everything is going to change. \n \"You are my greatest virtue and my deepest vice.\" \n Raven starts to transfer back into her old self which doesn't deter the prince, it actually makes him want her more, as he sees her true beauty. Unfortunately her past causes her to have many walls up that she can't believe that someone can find her attractive but she can believe in supernaturals. \n \"I get tired of evil triumphing over goodness. I get tired of the injustice inherent in the universe and beings, human and otherwise, standing aside and doing nothing.\" \n I liked and disliked Raven. She was brave and smart but stubborn and insecure at other times which made her blind to the reality of what was right in front of her. This stubbornness and insecurity caused her to push away her potential happiness for her wanting to hear magical words. To do this she closed her eyes to everything else, which led her to not listen and see actions. What she wanted was always there she just couldn't believe in it. She was so stuck on works and secrets that I started to get agitated with her 'boo fuckin hoo' woe is me attitude. \n \"I know my failings and I know my fate. I'm supposed to be alone.\" \n \"I can't see how that's possible, since I believe you're supposed to be with me, in my arms, in my bed.\" \n Sylvain Reynard has such a gift at writing so many layers filled with information, details, history, imagination and otherworldly. This makes you fall into the story but at the same time it can also deter as there are at times too many layers that it is hard to keep track of all the ins and outs. You almost feel like you need a spreadsheet to be on top of all the details. \n While the Prince is dealing with his world he's also trying to find balance with the human world and his heart with Raven. \n \"You've ensnared me, Cassita,\" he whispered. \"I've never been less eager to escape.\" \n \"You say no man ever wanted you but when one does-and wants you badly enough to risk everything he's built for you-you tell yourself he's a liar.\" \n \"Let me love you, Raven, with my heart.\" \n I think it will be awhile before we find out who the traitor is amongst them as the depth of this world is just beginning to unfold. I can't wait to jump back into this world and find out how everything plays out for the Prince and Raven as well as the Emersons. \n For more reviews, visit Live Read and Breathe \n Like us on Facebook Live Read and Breathe Facebook \n Follow along with Twitter Live Read and Breathe Twitter", "date_added": "Wed Nov 27 17:23:51 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 07 13:30:38 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "17981911", "review_id": "10ff000d57df4164b5cd554facdb38c0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Source: eARC for Honest Review from Author \n Love is a word that carries on the wind and fades into nothing. Nothing. \n These Sons of Wrath are some sexy beasts I tell ya! I think the Black Dagger Brotherhood are starting to get some competition. \n Logan is a wee bit of an asshhole, especially when it comes to Calla. \n Calla is a virgin soldier with a heart of gold and a broken soul. \n However, very quickly things change and Calla gets under Logan's skin and starts to break the chains around Logan's soul creating sensations Logan and Calla didn't even dream of. \n Two broken souls make one powerful union. \n Once Logan and Calla figure out that together their souls are more powerful than alone. They will fight to the death for what is right....which is being together. \n With the Sons of Wrath there is a whole world going on with so many elements that you are enthralled into this urban fantasy waiting for what next for these sexy demons. \n I loved Calla and Logan! I know their growth was a fast paced but I did feel like there awakening of each other happened a bit too quickly to fully connect to the potential power of this couple. \n Keri Lake has created some sexy brothers and another world where the power of love can defeat the most scariest elements. Can't wait to find out more with this batch of yumminess of the Sons of Wrath. You can't beat the combination of sexy, strong, broken warriors. \n For more reviews, visit Live Read and Breathe \n Like us on Facebook Live Read and Breathe Facebook \n Follow along with Twitter Live Read and Breathe Twitter", "date_added": "Thu Nov 21 17:59:13 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 21 18:02:10 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "15981347", "review_id": "e7d72dda132d95507d40c0e8f8229758", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"Our greatest weakness can sometimes be our greatest strength.\" \n I have to admit I wasn't in the mood for this genre but I had agreed to read book number 2 so I wanted to get the background with book one. As I plundered through Ayden snuck into my heart and captured it with her kick ass ways. \n For Ayden she has one life motto - Vengeance \n She has given up her heart for her role of avenger and slayer of the Lycan. \n To help her avenge she has the backing of the demons AKA the Sons of Wrath. Especially Gavin who wants Ayden as his mate. \n On a chance meeting with a halfling, she gets a window of emotions that causes her to rethink things. \n With this new halfling - Kane who is sarcastic, witty and kind. He starts the slow thaw of Ayden's cold heart \n I have to admit I was torn between Gavin or Kane. They both were awesome. \n I would have been happy with either pick but in the end Kane took root and my heart sighed with relief. \n \"As long as there's a human heart inside my chest, Ayden, it beats for you. And I will continue to love you, even after death finally silences it. You are my immortality.\" \n There were so many elements in this book but they all tied nicely together for a great foundation for this series. Can't wait for all the 'Sons' stories. \n For more reviews, visit Live Read and Breathe \n Like us on Facebook Live Read and Breathe Facebook \n Follow along with Twitter Live Read and Breathe Twitter", "date_added": "Thu Nov 21 17:54:19 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 05 12:37:32 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "17687000", "review_id": "97fc1c275ef46ef5aa2ba1670a494a34", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Source: eARC for Honest Review from Authors \n Soooooo, I liked the concept of this book but....I felt it was a slow start which I actually think couldn't be helped because there was so much story and foundation to build so you could get immersed into this world. \n The books stars with God making humans then it backfiring so he has to create angels to help the wrongs created with the humans but at the same time the humans are being tempted by the fae. \n The main angel is Seth who is the leader of the guardians who happens to fall in love which is a big no no in this world. \n I liked all the guardians and the other characters but I felt like there was too much going on so it was hard to fully connect with all the story lines which caused things to escalate too quickly. \n In the meantime Seth and Anna seem to get themselves into a wee bit of unexpected situations. \n Which has caused a bit of a snag with their purpose on earth. \n Overall I liked the book but I found this book more of a foundation building book which is building up for something big in the future which, has me hooked to find out more. The concept was unique and the series has great potential. \n For more reviews, visit Live Read and Breathe \n Like us on Facebook Live Read and Breathe Facebook \n Follow along with Twitter Live Read and Breathe Twitter", "date_added": "Sat Aug 10 13:37:26 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 10 13:38:09 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "17793022", "review_id": "4a3d1fbd30b0675e9ec785c497181249", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A crazy ass sex story with a crazy plot but it was so crazy it was hard not to laugh for that alone it goes to a 3 star. :)", "date_added": "Sun Apr 28 22:22:46 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 28 22:24:05 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "15719338", "review_id": "364bfc0efdce150bfd2a1d119c9343b3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 Stars \n So Wolf Tales by Kate Douglas was my first foray into the naughty world of m/m and m/m menages and after that I was hooked so I was so bummed when the Wolf tales came to an end. Then one day I find out that there was going to be a spin off type series and I nearly peed myself with glee. \n This series you can read it on your own but it would make much more sense if you read the Wolf tales to help you out with all the background because there is a lot. \n The chanku wolves are still fighting the fight, sexing it up and loving fiercely. \n In this book it was about Lily and Alex 's lives within the chanku and how they find their mates and fight the darkness that is threatening the chanku. \n I was happy with Lily and Sebastion as well as Alex and Anna's coupling. Near the end I felt their bondings were a bit rushed but I did still feel complete. \n It was also great to continue the journey with the other chanku from wolf tales and since I am a fan I will definitely will be continuing this new journey with the Spirit Wild series. ;) \n You can also find me on: \n Live Read and Breathe Facebook \n Live Read and Breathe Twitter \n For more of my reviews: \n Live Read and Breathe", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 17:00:31 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun May 26 15:55:50 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "16039643", "review_id": "3f1130b938d250e7e31e9727c5c4ad9c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This one grew on me. Started as a three but the more I thought about it then it turned into a 4. \n It has been awhile since I have read any paranormal books besides of course the BDB series so when given the opportunity I thought sure what the heck. This looked like it could be a good read. \n I had no expectations of this book and I think sometimes that makes the journey so much better. \n In this book there was a lot of information and I think it was well done with all the history and development into this world. At the same time there was a ton of quirkiness which made it uppity and light while in a darker unknown world. I think because there was so much information some of the parts of the story went to fast but in all I still fell into the story and was immersed into this world. \n I liked the chemistry of Chloe and Zane. There was an instant pull between the two that was passionate yet comical at the same time. \n In this new world that Chloe finds herself immersed into she starts to really gain friends and a new family which is all new for her because given her coma induced gift she has held people at arms length because no one truly understands her. They are drawn to her in the real world and supernatural world but she wasn't really comfortable in her own skin until she was awakened in this new world. \n This book is left with a cliff hanger. :( but thank goodness the next book is supposed to be out soon enough so we can find out what happens with Chloe. I hope we also find out more about what happens with the true reason she has her gift and why now the gift is ten fold. \n You can also find me on: \n Live Read and Breathe Facebook \n Live Read and Breathe Twitter \n For more of my reviews: \n Live Read and Breathe \n Live Read and Breathe Giveaway for new followers", "date_added": "Sat Mar 30 15:00:06 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 06 18:36:52 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "17457124", "review_id": "b5f8ca8762afbc60595bbf589eb5c5ad", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Source: eARC for Honest Review from Simon & Schuster via Edelweiss \n So this is not my normal genre but Jamie wrote it so I had to read it and I'm so glad I did. \n In the beginning with multiple POV's I thought it was a bit redundant but slowly it all came together and had me hooked. \n There were many tears shed and holy shit moments. Which I can't get into without ruining the book. \n But what I can say is it is a book about hope and starting new when you literally have nothing. It's about love when you least expect it. It's about so much loss and trying to survive from it. It's about never giving up. This book is both beautiful and profound. \n You get to see the events through here different characters and how they handle the end of world. \n Scarlet the tough as nails mom who never gives up and is strong not only physically but emotionally and mentally as well. She is put through so many scenarios that I have no idea how I would have handled them. \n Nathan the devoted and loving father who only wants to save his daughter but is calm and level headed when shit hits the fan. \n Miranda the daughter with a grudge because she's forced to be the strong one when she also needs to be taken care of which gets her in trouble when she starts to wander away from safe and secure. \n Even though the book is through these three besides Scarlett and Nathan I think Skeeter and cooper may have been my faves. \n If the end of the world zombie apocalypse book is not your normal thing give this a go I think it's worth the risk. \n For more reviews, visit Live Read and Breathe \n Like us on Facebook Live Read and Breathe Facebook \n Follow along with Twitter Live Read and Breathe Twitter", "date_added": "Sat Mar 23 18:08:22 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 06 20:51:25 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Sep 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "13003688", "review_id": "7a1e2160f6fb35edf4d45b8406cc6dc2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "[image error] \n Holy Christ! Cracker on a Stick. Who comes up with this shit. It was one of the craziest short stories I have ever read but so flippin'funny.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 20 14:54:43 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 20 16:46:13 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "13801447", "review_id": "dc0397f1b6f91d5337f87d7fe567a5e5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "For this review and more Live Read and Breathe \n This book was great. Right from the beginning you are set up with knowing that there is going to be a heart aching situation. The whole book gears you toward this without making it obvious to what is going on. \n Reece's love is pure and a bit magical. You love Jenna and Reece together. Even though they connect super quickly it still feels right. Jenna is way too much in her head but that is what makes Jenna - Jenna so sometimes you are frustrated because you just want them to be together so everything is a HEA but Nope not going to happen because the whole way through you know the other shoe is going to drop. \n At the end you think that is the worst that is going to happen and can finally take a breath of relief well until.....you read the next book. \n This book I felt was a good book about setting up foundations, relationships and the depth of Jenna's & Reece's love for the series.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 20 13:15:39 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 20 13:16:41 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "15824603", "review_id": "d4512c5e1bc482c6872d3550c6967982", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Review at http://livereadbreathe.blogspot.ca/20... \n 3.5 to 4 stars", "date_added": "Sun Nov 25 19:22:08 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 25 19:22:10 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "15817326", "review_id": "ed3fab4a5bf0cb8ce11429f6df000874", "rating": 5, "review_text": "For more Reviews go to http://livereadbreathe.blogspot.ca \n It is no secret that I am a HUGE Kristen Ashley fan and that I love all her books and with this book she did NOT let me down. It was great! I effing loved this book and Callum. I wish I could get me some cuddling werewolf. \n Now this book was long but I am sooo Ok with that and I get lost in KA's stories and her alpha men. I like this whole series and can't wait for the third book to see how it ends. A hybrid hmmmmm. Sounds Yummy if he is anything like Lucien or Callum I am already sold. \n I loved Sonia and Callum. There connection was great. It would not be a true KA story without some miscommunication and drama with a pile of hot sex. Even though you had an idea of what was coming in the story it still left you guessing and I was on a rollercoaster at the end on waiting for the outcome. I loved the outcome of Sonia and Callum and I am sure we will see more in the next one like we saw Lucien and Leah in this one. \n Callum's love for Sonia is lovely. All the characters of this book were great. 5 effing Thumbs Up!", "date_added": "Sat Oct 27 12:08:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 26 18:02:37 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Nov 23 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "16092141", "review_id": "18ed7598a78d79dcac67b0599b1fd24e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "For this review and more go to livereadbreathe.blogspot.ca \n So. I do like this series but my major beef is the same I found in the first book because it is in a multiple POV story it can get very confusing on whose POV it is and sometime you have to re-read to realize who it is. I wish it was better stated which would create a better flow. \n But really that is my only real issue. The story and suspense is good and Kelli keeps you hanging on and waiting for more. I can't wait to find out how the story continues in the third book. \n In this book you are left with a few questions or I guess you could say dangling carrots of what is in store to come.I am so curious to find out what Dylan's dad and Heaven's sister are up to. \n Dylan and Heaven's relationship is enticing and strong. The chemistry is steamy and their soul bond is beautiful. \n In this story you find out way more history and the truth about how soul mates are meant to be. I truly do love the story of Dylan and Heaven.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 27 11:47:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 28 08:48:01 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "16049180", "review_id": "9a6cc65df56afb8b72a30d9d0f8724ce", "rating": 3, "review_text": "So I am a fan of this series but I had to re-read the 2nd book to find out what was going on. The space between book 2 and 3 was too long. Otherwise the book was good. The sex scenes were steamy and passionate. \n This book was short, quick and steamy. :)", "date_added": "Thu Sep 27 20:47:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 27 13:46:17 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "12716010", "review_id": "241ef635b8534d47403888d0cdcfa580", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked this book will have review up on blog and here in a few days. Just got back from holidays so catching up.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 21 12:34:35 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 09 15:35:56 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Sep 07 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "13570854", "review_id": "464f1b9bfe9d91f94350fb2a99f280a0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ah!!!! Blay and Qhuinn! \n I was so looking forward to this book and sometimes with all that build up books can be a let down but good ol' J.R. Ward once again did not let us down. I will admit Zsadist will always be my favorite but Qhuinn could be a close second. \n With the evolution of this series there is now so much going on. There were times I got a bit distracted. \n Ms. Ward has always had the gift of sinful passion and I wasn't sure how it was going to go in the world of m/m but again she did a fantastic job. \n With Blay and Qhuinn you want to pull you hair out with all of the miscommunications with \"Come on guys just get your head out of your asses and see what is right in front of you. Everyone can see it so why can't you?\" \n In the end they finally figured it out and our boy Qhuinn does not do things in half measures. His final stance made my heart melt a bit more for my boy. Together Blay and Qhuinn are something else. \n With this book the only thing I wanted more of was more Blay and Qhuinn but since that is not the case because there was so much more happening. Now I'm left wondering who the next books is going to be about. Will it be Trey and Selena? Will it be Xcor and Layla? or Will it be Assail and Marisol? I wasn't sure how much more story can be told in this world but I am very happy to see that there is sooooooo much to explore with the new additions while combining them with dramas of the other brotherhood. \n You can also find me on: \n Live Read and Breathe Facebook \n Live Read and Breathe Twitter \n For more of my reviews: \n Live Read and Breathe \n Live Read and Breathe Giveaway for new followers", "date_added": "Mon Jun 11 19:38:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 23 10:23:15 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "12751687", "review_id": "5f521daabfaeadd03c88d4a92c72a62c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "For this review and more Live Read and Breathe \n I guess 2012 is the year of the end to many series and The Hush Hush series is one of them. This has been a long journey with Nora and Patch and I am sad to see the end but also happy as well because all series need to come to an end. \n I really like this series and I especially have loved Patch the whole way through. Sometimes Nora can get on my nerves but Patch has never let me down. Ahhhh! The dark brooding fallen angels you got of love em'. \n I don't want to give away any spoilers so I am going to leave this review on the more vague or generic side. The book had many surprises, twists and turns. Some were happy, some were sad and some were WHAT? \n I liked this book and I liked the ending. I thought this series was ended well and I love Nora and Patch. \n Another series and book worth a read.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 22:02:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 06 17:57:12 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "10993282", "review_id": "9cabb8dee696d2a02b514ab7f04e2587", "rating": 4, "review_text": "So I am a HUGE Black Dagger Brotherhood fan and have been for quite awhile. To start with I had a hard time getting into this book not because of the book but because I was not in the right place for the BDB. However knowing that Blay and Qhuinn's book is coming out I decided to see if I could get in the mood for the BDB and I am so glad that I did. \n I wasn't sure how they were going to sell me on Tohrment and No'One since I was a huge Wellsie fan and was so heartbroken when she died but J.R. Ward is a mastermind and hit another one out of the park. \n I fell for No'One /Autumn and was routing for her and Tohr to find and heal one another. Even though I was routing for them to be together and for them to be able to move forward there were many trying times and douche bag moments for Tohr. \n In the wake of No'One's pissed-off departure, Tohr decided that short of the fact John Matthew hadn't managed to cut himself on the hand and foot thus far tonight, it looked like Tohr and the kid had a lot in common: Courtesy of their tempers, both were now dressed in the Captain Asshole costume - which included, for no extra charge, the cape of disgrace, the booties of shame, and keys to the Fuck Up mobile. \n Oh and Lassiter I loved him and his part in their journey of wholeness. \n \"Lassiter, I'm on my knees here.\" \"That's because your balls are in your diaphragm.\" \n The chemistry between Tohr and No'One was explosive even though Tohr was denying it. \n Underneath the fly of his leathers, his cock punched out to its full length. Without apology. \n I wasn't sure how it was all going to play out for Tohr and No'One but it was a success. This book also was great with the drama that is unfolding for the Brotherhood with the Lessers and the Band of Bastards. I can't wait to continue the journey to find out what will happen with Blay and Qhuinn and Layla and Qhuinn, Xcor, etc..... \n This is such an awesome series! \n You can also find me on: \n Live Read and Breathe Facebook \n Live Read and Breathe Twitter \n For more of my reviews: \n Live Read and Breathe", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 21:52:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun May 26 18:03:30 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Mar 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "9368291", "review_id": "e945abc4f1e87cab6d80fb93e384a7a8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ever since I stumbled across Thoughtless and Collision Course on feedbooks I have been a huge fan of S.C. Stephens \n In Conversion here we have sweet Emma who happens to literally bump into Teren who seems almost too good to be true by being the most sweetest, gorgeous perfect boyfriend. But we all have secrets Teren's just happened to be bigger than others. \n For Teren he just may be a bit of a vampire. \n Not only is he part vampire he also has a bit of family baggage and a devastating reality. \n For Emma she seems to take everything in with grace and understanding because love is enough. Or is it.... \n \"It's not like I'm going to nibble on you, since Teren's claimed you.\" She rolled her eyes. \"Like I would do that to my great- grandson.\" \n Teren's family might be rough around the edges literally but they have good intentions when it comes to Teren. \n For Teren his love and adoration is sweet and beautiful. He may not be a rock star with a huge heart but he is just as poetic and sweet as Kellan. \n \"I need your face to be the last thing my human eyes see.\" \n Emma and Teren's relationships has obvious ups and downs with his reality but there bond is strong and there relationship is quirky, sweet, passionate and loving. \n \"Sometimes, Teren...being human has nothing to do with genetics.\" \n \"Teren, that was beautiful...and a touch creepy.\" \n This book was a sweet paranormal romance with fun, drama, passion, intrigue, family, loyalty, surprise and of course lots of love. I can't wait to read the next two in the series. \n Some quotes may have changed in the newer version as this was an older version. \n For more reviews, visit Live Read and Breathe \n Like us on Facebook Live Read and Breathe Facebook \n Follow along with Twitter Live Read and Breathe Twitter", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 18:06:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 27 19:24:47 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "13573795", "review_id": "486c0ad7bfa9c58213c4bb2f668cf6e3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "review to follow soon", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 18:03:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 24 10:02:48 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "68f9915717ccc347b5f46f1b11ec40fe", "book_id": "13519844", "review_id": "5da0330e91d69824f83716a72c444595", "rating": 4, "review_text": "For this review and more Live Read and Breathe \n Well. First off I am a huge fan of Shelly Crane and especially this series. I fell in love with Caleb and Maggie in the first book Significance and continued to love them through their journey the whole way through. \n This book was bittersweet because it was the end of Caleb and Maggie. I really did enjoy it my only problem was that it was too far apart from the Defiance and I did not get a chance to re-read the series before Independence so at times I was a bit lost but in reality that was a minor glitch and it was my issue not the books. \n There are so many things that I love about this series from the world of the Aces to the love of the significants and the love between them once they have imprinted together. \n Caleb forged on. \"I love her with all that's in me....\" (from Independence) \n This book thankfully has a happy ending and closes all of the story lines. The book was full of love, suspense, angst and hope. This series is definitely worth a read. \n Goodbye Caleb and Maggie!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 18:03:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 06 18:01:38 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4067b56ccfa82b34e0ea0bfa2cc99cf1", "book_id": "18889300", "review_id": "4414fc9de805afa52501215557f158ce", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Read my full review on The Bookshelf Intruder \n The Heroes of Olympus series has ended. And I was left with a broken heart. How do I move on? \n Warning: This review is a mess of feels. \n I had to get it out there. You can't say I didn't warn you. \n After 10 books (yes, I'm including the Percy Jackson and the Olympians books) here we are. Gaea is waking up and seven demigods -- Greek and Roman -- unite to stop her from destroying the world. As someone who's waited for this for a whole year, I had to literally drop everything (mainly \n This is What Happy Looks Like \n , which was the book I was reading at the time \n The Blood of Olympus \n came out) just so I can start reading the series finale. I was confident that this will be the best book of the series, that Rick Riordan will rise to the occasion and NOT disappoint me. Did it satisfy me? Stick around to find out. \n As in the previous books, there were alternating POVs. I have to praise Rick Riordan because not only has he made his readers love the awesome, brilliant, charming Percy Jackson (for more fangirling, please check this out) -- he's also manage to make us love six other demigods: Annabeth the wise girl, of course; Leo (who is second to Percy when it comes to awesomeness); charmspeaker Piper, the princess of the undead, Hazel; shape-shifter Frank (how he can turn into a swarm of bees is one of the world's biggest mysteries); and the wind and storm guy, Jason. I have to admit that I didn't like Jason before. I guess anyone who's read the series would understand. He's the son of Zeus/Jupiter who's like the most egotistical god. So Jason was this cool, alpha male and at one point, he was like Percy's biggest rival. Naturally, I am on Team Percy. But that's the thing with Rick Riordan. He's so good at character development that he makes us understand all these characters, makes us like and love them and root for them. And with seven demigods plus two more (Reyna and Nico) on the other side of the Atlantic, character development is no easy feat. \n There were five POVs... and none of them Percy's. Or Annabeth's. Which was my BIGGEST ISSUE HERE. I can understand that other characters should get the limelight, and that this isn't PJO anymore so it's not just about Percy, and that it's so hard to divide the chapters equally into nine POVs so some had to take the back seat. But why Percy and Annabeth? WHY? I was seriously pissed off. I was hoping that there would be even just one chapter each for my OTP. But no, folks. I was left to resort to Percy's funny dialogues and kissing scenes as seen from other people's POVs. Arggghhh!!! \n When Percy pulled away, Annabeth looked like a fish gasping for air. \n 'The Rivalry ends here,' Percy said. 'I love you, Wise Girl.\" \n Good thing there was Leo to fill the joke gap. The Leo chapters were the funniest... which was kinda ironic when you get to the ending. Oh, Leo... \n And then there's Nico with his dark, deadly chapters. It is so great and depressing at the same time to get into Nico's mind. This kid has been through a lot, probably more than any of the other demigods. At least when Percy dropped into Tartarus, he had Annabeth. But Nico, he was mostly alone, but intentionally so. I'm so glad that we get to see Hades' son in a whole new light. So much character development went into Nico and that moment in the end with Reyna was just... wow. It's just amazing how Rick Riordan wrapped up and opened at the same time (does that make sense?) Nico's story. \n Then she did something so unexpected Nico would later think he dreamed it. She walked up to Nico, who was standing to one side in the shadows, as usual. She grabbed his hand and pulled him gently into the firelight. 'We had one home,' she said. 'Now we have two.' \n And Reyna, oh I love her. She's so bad ass! Like Nico, she has her own ghosts (literally) and she's been through so much... but she's a praetor and she couldn't stand down. And I love that Nico gains a friend and a sister in her. \n As much as I hated that Percy and Annabeth (and Frank and Hazel) didn't get their own chapters, I cannot complain about the pacing and writing and overall quality of this book. Some bloggers complained that the ending was open-ended and that may be true... but it also felt wrapped up enough for me. I don't need a new spin-off series (a spin-off to a spin-off, that's kinda confusing) and come on, these demigods have been through enough. Maybe a companion book will do or an additional chapter... where ALL nine demigods are united. I need that in my life. \n It also helped that I read \n Percy Jackson's Greek Gods \n just a few weeks ago because most of the anecdotes and history behind the Greek gods, giants, and monsters are still fresh on my mind. A lot of the characters Percy mentioned in the said companion book were present in this finale. I felt like a history nerd while reading, really. \n But the true measure of a book's greatness, in my opinion, is in how it affects the reader or not. If a book doesn't evoke emotion, then that's pretty pointless, right? I can tell you with certainty that \n The Blood of Olympus \n made me cry like crazy. Tears were falling down on my cheeks as I read the last few chapters. \n 'Legion, cuneum formate!' Reyna yelled. 'Advance!' Another cheer on Jason's right as Percy and Annabeth reunited with the forces of Camp Half-Blood. \n 'Greeks!' Percy yelled. 'Let's, um, fight stuff!' They yelled like banshees and charged. \n Jason grinned. He loved the Greeks. They had no organization whatsoever, but they made up for it with enthusiasm. \n That wasn't even supposed to be sad, that was funny. And yet I was dabbing my eyes with my blanket while I read that part. It was so bittersweet. I had to read through tears. And all that time I was thinking of three things: \n 1. Oh god, it's ending. \n 2. Go, go, go, demigods! Kill Mother Earth! \n 3. Oh my god, it's ending!!! *ugly crying* \n It felt so surreal. I've only started reading PJO and Heroes of Olympus in a little over two years but it felt so much longer than that. By now Percy and Annabeth, and all the others including Coach Hedge, were not just fictional characters. They're my friends, my family. Cliche, yeah, but readers would understand this. They're not real people, but I felt real pain when I finished the book. :( \n Needless to say, I love \n The Blood of Olympus \n . If you haven't started reading the series, then lucky you. You're saving yourself from ALL THESE FEELS. I'm kidding of course. No I'm not. Seriously, you will go through all these BUT it will be worth it. \n The Blood of Olympus \n deserves 5 stars, it does. But since I'm still a little bit pissed off that there's no Percy and Annabeth POV, I'm giving it 4.5 stars (0.5 is a big deal, you guys). If you've read the book, please leave a comment or tweet me and join me in my cryfest.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 07 17:27:17 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 22 06:02:54 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4067b56ccfa82b34e0ea0bfa2cc99cf1", "book_id": "16119728", "review_id": "9ea3867a228a7261525e2e53e0337912", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Full review on The Bookshelf Intruder \n This book is amazing. I can't think of any book or even a movie that I can compare it with because it's just so unique and fresh. I loved a lot of things about it... and I though I should do this review with a list. So, here are 5 things I loved about Fairytale Apocalypse: \n 1. The perfect mix of fairy tale and apocalypse \n Based on the title (duh) and the blurb, you get the sense that this book involves both fantasy and survival. It just amazes me that one doesn't overpower the other. There's just enough magic, adventure, apocalypse, and not overwhelming romance. Actually, there isn't much romance, not as much as I expected. But on the parts where there is romance, it was palpable. I felt it. This was such an emotional book. I felt everything there is to feel: excitement, dread, sadness, love, lust. \n 2. The connection between Lauren, Kagan, and Tessa \n I was a little bit confused in the beginning because I couldn't understand the connection between the three main characters. But once I did, it was, wow. Which leads me to the 3rd point... \n 3. The twists and turns were shocking and surprising. \n No generic plot twists here. Just when I was expecting something to happen, something else comes in and BAM! Reading this book was like riding a roller coaster -- fun and scary at the same time, and you never know when it ends! \n 4. Great world-building \n Both the mortal and Fae world were vividly painted and it was not hard to picture everything. It was particularly easy to distinguish the Fae world from the mortal world because of the author's clear, lively descriptions. The Fae world, though beautiful, is also dangerous. And the mortal world, which used to be bursting with life and energy, is now barren and even more dangerous. Jacqueline Patricks really did a great job on the world-building, and all the details she put in were vital to the context of the novel. There were times that I felt like skipping the details but I'm glad I stuck around because those things proved to be important at the end. \n 5. The cliff-hanger ending \n Relax. The ending was a cliff-hanger but it was a proper ending. You can even say, happy ending. But yes, it was a cliff-hanger, which left me with questions. Normally I'd see this as a con, but in this case, I'm passing this off as a good thing because 1) I got the ending that I wanted and 2) there's so much more to look forward to in the next book. Yay! \n The only thing I didn't like in this book is Lauren and her childishness/selfishness. She infuriated me 90% of the time. But I know now that it was necessary for her to be this way so that in the end, her change has more impact. \n If you're looking for an exciting read, Fairytale Apocalypse is a good choice. I haven't read Jacqueline Patricks' other works but after this, I'm definitely interested in reading another book of her.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 15 05:53:44 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 09 20:14:55 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4067b56ccfa82b34e0ea0bfa2cc99cf1", "book_id": "20829994", "review_id": "3957c7ed6e8a1a9bbcf4f6ec6925e8e7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Full review on The Bookshelf Intruder \n I can't tell you how much I laughed throughout the book. \n I already love Percy for his sass, wit, humor, and sarcasm. All of these traits came in handy for this book. I knew that this book was going to be awesome but I was surprised by how good it turned out to be. It was very informative (if you ever need extensive knowledge about the Greek gods and Titans, you should read THIS) and educational. Despite the many ungodly acts that the Olympians managed to pull through (incest, rape, bullying, abortion), the book remained children-friendly because of Percy's humor and sarcasm and his total lack of reverence for the gods, even for his father, Poseidon. Percy injected a lot of reminders (don't do drugs, alcohol is bad for you) and morals, like this one... \n \"Maybe the lesson is: Know when to brag and when to keep your mouth shut. Or: Sometimes life isn't fair, even if you are as gifted as Athena. Or maybe: Don't give away free tapestries.\" \n ... and a lot of unexpected jokes and an absolutely irreverent style of story-telling about Percy's dysfunctional immortal family: \n \"As for the last brother, Oceanus, he took charge of the outer waters that circled the world. That's how the big expanses of water bordering the earth came to be called oceans. It could have been worse. If Iapetus had taken over the waters, today we'd be talking about the Atlantic Iapet and sailing the iapet blue, and that just doesn't have the same ring to it.\" \n \"In the beginning. I wasn't there.\" \n \"The king was a guy named Aeetes. (As near as I can figure, that's pronounced \"I Eat Tees.\") His big claim to fame was that the Golden Fleece -- that magical sheepskin rug I'm related to -- ended up in his kingdom, which made the place immune to disease, invasion, stock market crashes, visits from Justin Bieber, and pretty much any other natural disaster.\" \n \"Her sacred animals were the owl and the snake. Supposedly, the owl was a symbol f wisdom from the heavens. The snake symbolized wisdom from the earth. Me, I never understood that. If owls were so wise, why would they go around asking Who? all the time, like they couldn't remember their own names?\" \n My favorite part is the story of how Hermes stole Apollo's cows. It was mentioned a few times on the other books but this book tells the whole story behind it. \n I alternated between reading the book and listening to the audio book, and a few times I read while I listened. I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would because I read faster than the narrator, Jesse Bernstein. Jesse sounded well -- I could totally picture Percy while listening to him. But in my mind, it was all Logan Lerman. Teehee! \n Anyway, praises to Rick Riordan for coming out with another masterpiece. I can't imagine how much time and research went into creating this book. Man, you're awesome. \n I urge you all to read this book. If you haven't read any of the Percy Jackson books, that's still okay. You can start with this. Or read The Lightning Thief first, because you have to know Percy first. Whichever you decide to read first, I am 100% sure that you're going to enjoy it!", "date_added": "Tue Sep 09 21:46:07 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 16 21:21:19 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4067b56ccfa82b34e0ea0bfa2cc99cf1", "book_id": "18752959", "review_id": "540c6eb17a3aa6c2f72ac48ada1d35d4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Nothing like a Rick Riordan book to brighten up my day! This cross-over is the perfect read for people who are waiting for The Blood of Olympus. Annabeth and Sadie are both badass. I just realized how much I missed Sadie -- she's like the female version of Percy! I love her! \n Really excited for Blood of Olympus and I hope there are more cross-overs in the future. :)", "date_added": "Tue Sep 09 21:41:44 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 09 21:45:07 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Sep 10 21:45:07 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4067b56ccfa82b34e0ea0bfa2cc99cf1", "book_id": "22402628", "review_id": "f2f89b596e4b3a026d66c7c40498f607", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Full review on The Bookshelf Intruder \n I liked a lot of things about this book. It wasn't perfect, it had its flaws... but not enough to stop me from enjoying the book. \n Dangerous Reflections was a pleasant surprise. It was unexpectedly exciting. The first few chapters kept me on the edge of my seat as Alexis realizes that she has a special power. I'm a history enthusiast like Alexis so her trips back in time were really fun for me. The book was equal parts historical fiction and contemporary, with a little bit of sci-fi (time travel, but the book doesn't explain the dynamics of this), and in combinations like this, one genre usually overpowers the other. In this case, I'm glad that it didn't. Both parts of Alex's life were given enough space. \n Alexis (who has the same birthday as mine) is a good daughter and a good student -- someone who actually enjoys studying and learning. I love that Shay West came up with a protagonist who's not the usual angsty, rebel teenager because not every teenager is like that, right? \n But Alexis isn't perfect either. Her teenage hormones drives her to like Beau, this jock at school. Cute, has beautiful eyes, and plays baseball, and is a major jerk. So I couldn't understand why Alexis likes this guy. Yes, I'm judging. I can't help it. I hate guys (and girls) who think they can get away with everything just because they look good. So I was silently cheering her on during the few times that she stood up for herself. \n Speaking of standing up for herself, Dangerous Reflections also talked about bullying, and showcased a simple but effective way to fight bullies. \n I only have a bit of an issue with the ending. It was a cliff-hanger but some cliff-hangers are okay, right? I mean, they don't leave you hopelessly hanging. This book felt like that for me for a bit, because there were things that weren't resolved yet. I feel like it could have seemed more \"wrapped up\" than it was. Of course, now that I have a copy of the sequel, I have no worries because I can go on reading Alex's adventures. \n Dangerous Reflections is a great choice for readers who are looking for an exciting and somehow educational YA fantasy. It's a great read and I think YOU should check it out. \n Thanks to Pam Labbe of Booktrope Publishing for the free digital copy of Dangerous Reflections and Twisted Reflections.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 21 21:51:46 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 09 21:02:37 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4067b56ccfa82b34e0ea0bfa2cc99cf1", "book_id": "17878124", "review_id": "b3e9bad93737720ee063728f14d4effe", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Read my complete review on The Bookshelf Intruder \n I have a confession to make. I don't like sci-fi. I don't hate it but I don't like it either. Out of all the book and film genres, science fiction is my least favorite. That is slowly changing though. \n I surprised myself by signing up for \n Sci-Fi November \n . I remember thinking, this should be fun! After all, I've read a few sci-fi books here and there that I really liked, so I thought, why not? I'm glad I did that because now, I've read more sci-fi books and watched more sci-fi movies. Which was fun, but also mind-boggling. \n One of the sci-fi books I've read recently is \n Reader \n by Erec Stebbins, which is the first book in the \n Daughter of Time \n trilogy. I was actually asked to review the second book, \n Writer \n , which came out last April 26. But of course, I had to read book 1 first so I did exactly that. \n Ambra Dawn is unlike any seventeen year-old girl. She is special, not because she's beautiful or smart or talented but because of cosmic reasons. She is a 'reader', someone who can see what others cannot. You can think of it as 'third eye' or 'sixth sense' but it's not really like that because she can see through time and space. Her power is a blessing and a curse, for it is because of this gift that she was sold as a slave, deformed as a lab rat, and transported to other worlds serve alien creatures. Her power is the reason she lost everything... but it's also the one thing that can save her and the universe from the super villainous Dram. \n Ambra Dawn is a great narrator, a compelling one. I could feel her pain, her sorrow, through her words. Yes, she is powerful but she has lost everything and everyone that is important to her. So I couldn't help but feel for her and be awed at her strength, grace, and resilience. She's probably the most resilient character I've ever come across. \n While Reader is highly character-driven, its world-building (or universe building?) is just as well done. This book is very imaginative and unique in this sense. It really made me think about the possibility of other worlds. Truth is, this book is so well-written that a lot of times, the line between Ambra's world and mine blurred and I kept thinking, is this still fiction? \n Reader is a really engrossing read, with parts that just kept me excited and twists and turns that were mind-blowing. My only criticism is that there were parts that felt overwhelming for me because of the info-dump. But other than that, I can truly say that Reader is one of the best sci-fi novels I've read. I can't wait to read Writer, and more of Erec Stebbins' works.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 12 17:55:27 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 11 17:09:42 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4067b56ccfa82b34e0ea0bfa2cc99cf1", "book_id": "18870088", "review_id": "2ed8b1c43b829cf9949e4e02f80234e7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Full review on The Bookshelf Intruder. \n I spent two weeks reading City of Heavenly Fire -- a long time for me -- because I had to squeeze in other books and because there were so many characters that I was overwhelmed several times. It was a long time ago when I read City of Lost Souls (book 5) so I already forgot or only semi-remember some characters. Halfway through the book, I finally got in the groove and excitement shot through me. This is it, I said to myself. This is the end. \n Warning: Some vague spoilers below. It won't ruin your experience but if you haven't read it yet and don't want to get ideas, stopping reading this NOW. \n I haven't read The Infernal Devices trilogy yet but I was aware of the TID character references in CoHF. Which then made me want to read TID. I like being fully acquainted with the characters and I was really intrigued about Brother Zachariah, who I'm guessing is Jem from TID. Am I right, TID readers? \n I've said in the past that this series should have ended with City of Glass (book 3), that the characters deserved to be happy then. But I am happy that CoHF did a great job at finishing off all the plot lines. Which is also sad because I have seen these characters grow and I loved love them. \n I never minded Alec and Magnus much in the previous books but CoHF showed me Alec in a new light. He changed, he matured. His occasional show of emotions to his parabatai and his friends surprised and made me silently root for him. I felt so bad about Magnus, too, because he's super old and he's been through a lot and lost a lot. I kinda wished that his suffering would finish because a man can only take so much. Then again, Alec deserved to be happy, too, and being with Magnus made him happy. \n Clary and Jace were nothing short of awesome, as usual. We already know that Jace is a hero, physically strong and also strong-willed. The Heavenly Fire within him was an added bonus because it's the only thing that can kill Sebastian. Clary, on the other hand, was probably the strongest of the bunch in this book. Alec, Jace, Simon and Isabelle relied on her and her powers when there's nothing else they could do. \n Speaking of Heavenly Fire, Clary and Jace did something with the Heavenly Fire but they didn't share it with Alec, Simon, and Izzy. The readers were left to guess what they actually did and I really thought my theory was right! But no. Did you guess right? \n Also, how strange is it to bring a condom with you on a demon realm?! I mean, really? Were you thinking of having sex before you decided to plunge into hell?! \n But probably the most surprising character here was Simon. And I've always liked Simon. I actually like him more than I like Jace. In CoHF, Simon proved once again that he's not mundane anymore and that he's just as valuable as his Shadowhunter friends are. He's become strong and more confident of himself in a way that vampires are. His moments with Izzy were sweet, honest, and heartbreaking. Very, very heartbreaking. \n Fans of The Mortal Instruments can expect to feel every emotion with this book: sadness, fear, adrenaline rush, happiness, pain, anger, and pity. I felt all that with CoHF. This book also felt like goodbye in so many ways. Even as they were celebrating a special occasion, it still felt like a farewell to these beloved characters and the beautiful, exciting Shadow World. \n But the beauty of books is that even after you close it, you know that it's not really finished. In your mind it goes on. You continue their stories. Or not. It's totally up to you to think when and how it ends. So how did it end for me? Well, I'd like to think that whoever's still alive is happy right now, a little bit sad because of their losses but trying to move on. But Cassandra Clare might have hinted through Magnus (or it could be just my imagination) that the story might not be over yet, or at least another story might begin many years later. I do hope CoHF is the last of these books because our Shadowhunter and Downworlder friends deserve to rest.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 08 16:55:35 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu May 19 22:14:26 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4067b56ccfa82b34e0ea0bfa2cc99cf1", "book_id": "22009488", "review_id": "284bb3338778086217202f8dbb60d97b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "When I started reading this book, I had low expectations. The previous self-published book that I reviewed wasn't good and I didn't enjoy it so I psyched myself to not expect too much from this one. And so I was surprised when I got to the first few chapters. Man, it's good. Really good. \n Children of Na is a combination of fantasy, science and historical fiction, spanning the Civil War era in Georgia and World War II times in Russia and Germany. It was like watching 12 Years a Slave and Enemy at the Gates at the same time. Which is great. I love World War II films. Civil War-themed movies, not so much because it upsets me. But having two of these themes in the book makes it exciting, gripping (really gripping, I tell you), awe-inducing, and well, depressing. \n When you combine two very different genres into one book or one movie, it seldom succeeds. Most of the time, it doesn't blend well. The amazing thing is, this is one of the few times that it does. \n Read the rest of the review here.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 28 09:44:49 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 16 21:20:07 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jul 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4067b56ccfa82b34e0ea0bfa2cc99cf1", "book_id": "12127810", "review_id": "399bcb782cae4b95ca209aea9016aa9e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I gave 5 stars because I think that it's the best book in the series so far. All of them had their shining moments. So much character development made into this book. \n Jason became less uptight, Nico had shocking revelations (I had to stop reading for a while and breath after reading that!), Piper became less like a beauty queen and more like a warrior, Coach Hedge is less violent and more emotional (hahaha!), Hazel finally learned how to use her inner magic, and Leo met someone!!! I am so looking forward to Leo's love story in the next book. Hear that, Rick Riordan? Make sure THAT is in the next book. \n Leo and Hazel's moment of \"closure\" almost made me cry. But Frank stepping up... that made me cry. He's amazing! I love the guy. \n Last but not the least, Percy and Annabeth are together. And that's all that mattered to me. Sure, there were scary moments that made me want to stop reading, but there were also bittersweet ones (sob, sob). They both matured (being in Tartarus can do wonders for your relationship) and Percy became more mysterious, more calculating. \n The gang is once again whole. I can't wait for Book 5. :)", "date_added": "Tue Oct 22 18:04:30 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 24 19:05:21 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Oct 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Oct 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4067b56ccfa82b34e0ea0bfa2cc99cf1", "book_id": "12127750", "review_id": "d13338eac6edd18a70fb00f7b1f92143", "rating": 5, "review_text": "If I could, I would give 6 stars. \n As always, Rick Riordan has made me laugh and cry. The Mark of Athena packs in a good amount of humor, inevitable with Leo and Percy finally meeting each other, lots of action (never a dull moment!), and romance (we can use more of it). Never thought I would like all of them but by the end of the book, I feel like I am losing something again. \n To Rick Riordan, you can do anything with the next installments of the Heroes novels. Just don't kill Annabeth and Percy and don't make them break up either. \n And may I have the patience to wait for House of Hades.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 08 22:03:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 14 17:18:02 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4067b56ccfa82b34e0ea0bfa2cc99cf1", "book_id": "3777732", "review_id": "d66564f90d7d179f92a076acfa4c9c73", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I like the first two books of the Mortal Instruments series but I LOVE this book. The ending is so much better. I didn't realize how torturous Jace and Clary's relationship was until I finally learned that they're not related at all. Whew! I know that bad things will happen on the next two books but I am still basking in happiness right now. I also love how Simon has transformed from being a wallflower to a hot vampire.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 17:32:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 12 19:26:43 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9b3f33b83b3db1ef7a84510f4a5b151", "book_id": "12059592", "review_id": "34c82a468a73fc46a2f21526217d2bdf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Interesting, sad life of Neferet makes you see her in a new light. Glad you guys wrote it Gives this character more depth I know it makes me understand her a little better. Really enjoyed it.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 28 08:18:38 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 28 08:21:39 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9b3f33b83b3db1ef7a84510f4a5b151", "book_id": "94767", "review_id": "b710165db018ceb6776966ba9a807f87", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Best of the series so far, good read. Glad I don't have to wait 6 yrs for book four like when it was originally written the cliffhanger would have driven me crazy!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 17:36:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 15 11:15:40 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jun 15 11:15:40 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9b3f33b83b3db1ef7a84510f4a5b151", "book_id": "5094", "review_id": "72dbd1eb022b0fcdb7789b612c28c4f2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Enjoyed book 2 much better, was able to follow it better. Understanding the character more.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 17:34:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 17:36:04 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9b3f33b83b3db1ef7a84510f4a5b151", "book_id": "43615", "review_id": "8ec6fcff67a3232aa68ae1dd8303ab1b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Enjoyed but confusing to me at first.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 17:32:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 17:33:35 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "120f62524cde1989e14890e5bc103578", "book_id": "2866718", "review_id": "7537f55bc345263fd3a965807b6c0366", "rating": 5, "review_text": "VERY addictive! I CAN'T put these down! I can hardly wait till March!!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 02 08:09:48 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 03 10:09:17 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "120f62524cde1989e14890e5bc103578", "book_id": "1326258", "review_id": "a1a9054762f0d857d3ce19649f1f2bb1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "LOVE LOVE LOVED IT! ha", "date_added": "Tue Sep 30 10:18:06 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 03 10:04:02 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Fri Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "120f62524cde1989e14890e5bc103578", "book_id": "676924", "review_id": "853d3b4f5c9e8aa57a65c2ccc2e7328c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "LOVED IT!", "date_added": "Tue Sep 30 10:18:04 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 02 08:09:22 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "120f62524cde1989e14890e5bc103578", "book_id": "30183", "review_id": "a6c357b4f52cc6fe305ccb28f6d2977d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "LOVED THIS BOOK! I am going to get the rest of them today!", "date_added": "Tue Jul 08 14:08:33 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 30 10:17:12 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Tue Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "120f62524cde1989e14890e5bc103578", "book_id": "119322", "review_id": "579429dc41a1c2c00217188ad44983af", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I don't know what it is but everything I read lately I LOVE!! You should all read it!", "date_added": "Wed Apr 16 16:03:44 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 04 15:56:17 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Wed Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "120f62524cde1989e14890e5bc103578", "book_id": "611787", "review_id": "541d7576c4f4e6fe047cbcee0b409e6f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I liked the second book in the series a bit more then the first. I have never read a Robin Hood story so this was fun for me. I am sad I have to wait a year for the 3rd and final book to come out.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 16:16:15 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 12 08:30:14 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sat Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "120f62524cde1989e14890e5bc103578", "book_id": "73931", "review_id": "e3f7b4b0122e2981d856e4733ccd256f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fun twist on the Robin Hood tale :D", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 16:15:26 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 19 08:28:04 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Tue Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "120f62524cde1989e14890e5bc103578", "book_id": "1656001", "review_id": "01cdd151d0dcd44d413fdc4e01871a85", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I lOVED this book!", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 11:03:21 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu May 08 14:50:01 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Thu May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3e4d3ed8314433ed2482221467a2b38d", "book_id": "20819685", "review_id": "df171f3585e739973786dc17a4ab10a7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Author David Mitchell has written of his admiration of Ursula Le Guin (http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015...). Le Guin has argued that all writing begins with language, with the sound of language, and that science-fiction (let's say fantasy, too) is descriptive our present world, not predictive of our future. The Bone Clocks is an outstanding success as a novel, especially on Le Guin's terms. \n Mitchell's gift for accent and dialogue strikes the reader from the first pages of the book. The reader can hear the difference not just between English and Irish accents, but the subtle hybrid of the two. The reader may not notice, however, that Mitchell carefully works with accents only when dealing with characters who are speaking in native English. This is a wise decision; when the characters are speaking other languages, the English translation has no need of an accent. \n Mitchell's characters speak in believable dialogue, always appropriate to time and place. The present tense of the novel ranges from 1983 to 2043, with flashback scenes that stretch the novel into the 1800s. Mitchell seamlessly meshes real-world cultural references with the fictional world he builds. The result feels complete and organic. \n While The Bone Clocks is a fantasy novel, it is also very much a literary novel that is descriptive of the human condition. In the tradition of The Lord of the Rings, Mitchell largely keeps his wizards in the background, focusing on the very human characters in the novel and their concerns. The fantasy elements exist here to further the story, rather than being the point of the story. \n Mitchell pulls off a neat trick in this novel. He structures the book through several acts presented in the first-person perspective of characters in the life Holly Sykes--including, and bookended by, Holly. When readers finish the novel, they will feel that they have experienced Holly's life in its longevity. But they will also feel like they have experienced the lives of the point-of-view characters. Mitchell gives the reader the experience of depth and breadth of character. \n I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It moved me profoundly, and by the last page, I was in tears. This book represents the very best being written in literary genre fiction.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 24 05:58:56 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 10 06:33:50 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3e4d3ed8314433ed2482221467a2b38d", "book_id": "4407", "review_id": "626dfb2c63bcba65245f4f3135258d04", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Gaiman, Neil writes fantasy in a contemporary setting as well as anyone today. American Gods draws on his extensive knowledge from mythologies the world over to create a rich tapestry. But this book is more than just a fantastic tale of a world where the gods of the Old World exist and migrated to the New with the peoples who worship them. This is a book about America written as only someone who knows it from an immigrant's point-of-view can experience it. \n Gaiman's book expresses the ideal of America as a refuge for immigrants and outsiders. In a vignette, we meet a homosexual man who can only express his homosexuality in America. And yet, this man's homosexuality is shown to be inextricable from his native culture. This man finds self-expression in America, but his self-expression is rooted in his native culture. \n Immigrants to America bring the richness of their native cultures with their them. The gods in this novel are a metaphor for the rich cultural diversity of America. Some are well-known, some are mostly forgotten. America is a construct of the peoples and cultures that inhabit it. \n It's no accident that Shadow, the main character of this story, is an ex-con. He is an outsider. Gaiman makes a hero of the social misfit. He is expressing a fundamentally progressive view that criminals can be rehabilitated, that they can do good for society. \n This book celebrates the American landscape. Shadow travels far and wide. Immigrants, I've found often appreciate the size and scope of America, stretching across a continent and taking in multitudes of climes. Garth Ennis shows a similar reverence for America, be it New York or the Mississippi bayou. \n Gaiman has crafted a powerful narrative that vision of a pluralistic America. Gaiman's America draws strength from the diverse multitudes that shape it. It is a vast land that is offers refuge to the repressed, to the oppressed, and to the outcast; it stands as a stark contrast to the monolithic image cast by conservatives of a nation with a single cultural core, a \"Judeo-Christian\" tradition traced back to the Pilgrims. \n This book celebrates America as only an immigrant can. Those born in many parts of America experience diversity in their daily lives unknown almost anywhere else in the world. Gaiman appreciates the difference between America and the Old World. But he also celebrates how the Old World built the New. This book is an absolutely masterful example of contemporary fantasy and one of the best novels about the idea of America.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 17:49:27 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 11 23:02:42 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f6788163972a99f4267e6371071e2cb5", "book_id": "13570854", "review_id": "6630bb8c49606f4935e3f74389dd2084", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a good read, but it is an unfinished story. One character was completely abandoned. As usual for Ward, the editing was poorly done.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 03 12:00:04 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 05 10:46:54 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jul 05 10:46:54 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jul 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f6788163972a99f4267e6371071e2cb5", "book_id": "11508357", "review_id": "4e3b566607fdce5f010e1ae536ecbc28", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The first 2 books in the series were entertaining. But this novel had two severe drawbacks. The first being the fact the story is told in part thru Jolie's diary entries. The second being the long, drawn out flashbacks. The majority of the book seemed to be a review of events from the first 2 books in the series. It was a slow, boring read. If I had not become attached to the characters in the first two novels, I would have given up and moved on to a more interesting read.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 29 18:40:46 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 30 13:00:47 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Mar 30 13:00:47 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Mar 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "55e49b52c2e6296a4ac30e754abe7651", "book_id": "29570143", "review_id": "e514690a58d62b54fc0de45dc199149d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "New York 2140 envisions New York City after it has suffered drastic effects of climate change. The city is dubbed the new \"Venice\" as New York's streets are now rivers, and the oceans sit about fifty feet higher than before. What life remains is mainly on the upper halves of skyscrapers but the same housing issues of gentrification and pushing out the poor plague the population. \n Though dystopian as a whole, the characters are so freaking lovable, it's hard to not have hope that humanity will survive all of the world's cycles.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 07 07:42:54 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 07 07:43:28 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "22299763", "review_id": "d5156af3d5faf9c4cef0e04aa775cee7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Kaz, Matthias, Jesper, Nina, Wylan and Kuwei are hiding. Van Eck has Inej kidnapped and is asking for Kuwei in exchange. When Pekka enters the scene and the Dregs turn their back on Kaz, the whole city wants to kill them. Only this crew of thieves, traitors, and assassins can come up with a plan to find revenge. \n I loved this book so much. It's so perfect in so many ways... I finished it a 2 in the morning and just couldn't sleep. I couldn't stop thinking about the characters, and the bittersweet end and broke my heart. \n I loved every character so much I can't even express it. Kaz fighting his feelings for Inej, the scene at the bathroom was so sweet and sad at the same time, Inej trying to get him by sharing her fear of never being able to be with a man after being abused for so long, Kaz fighting with his phobia and trying to touch her, her voice and pulse the only thing breaking his memories of the bodies he was buried with and the ending almost made me cry Inej not giving up on Kaz or the city, Kaz buying her a ship and finding her family, Inej running to them . Jesper and Wylan growing as characters Jesper finally accepting he's a fabrikator, realizing his gambling problems may be related to a wound and pain he's been avoiding, confronting his father and admitting he gambled all his money; Wylan finding his mother alive, finally realizing what his father is and giving up on him, both of them living together with Wylan's mother , Nina and Matthias exploring their relationship Matthias fighting his old prejudices, accepting Grisha's powers and realizing they might be holy and not unnatural, and that his people may just be jealous, at the end dying because he underestimated the hate his people have, Nina finding peace in her new power, her pain losing Matthias . Even minor characters like Jesper's father were great. \n The ending was... I can't even describe my feelings. I love that they got the money, their revenge on Wylan's father and scared Pekka so much that he's gone for good. I also love that Inej convinced Kaz of fighting everything corrupt in the city, every slaver that is making money by selling and using people. I love that Jesper's father approved of Wylan, that the Ravka pirate was actually the king, that Kuwei gets's to go to Ravka to find a cure to parem. But Matthias dying was so unexpected... I was sure no main character was going to die, so that made it so more painful. I was in total denial, sure he was going to be healed or brought back to life. I'm dying for Bardugo to write more about this characters, but knowing Matthias won't be a part makes me incredibly sad. He and Nina deserved a happy ending. I wanted Matthias finding his wolf, being the proof that Fjerdans and Grisha can coexist and even love each other. \n I need more of this universe. I hope we get more books soon. At the same time, the ending is so good, happy and heartbreaking, that I don't know if the story should continue. In the end, I can't give up on these characters and everything that we haven't seen about this wonderful world. I hope we get to see more of it!!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 12 06:11:27 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 12 06:52:12 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Oct 12 06:52:13 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "23437156", "review_id": "964704f58b9d2b0fc2e6d52c34336731", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Grishas have powers like healing and controlling tides and fire, but their home Ravka has lost most of the war against Fjerda, a country that kills them for having these powers. They consider them unnatural and dangerous, and some of them burn them in a pyre. Now it seems there is a drug that a scientist has developed that can amplify their powers immensely but is also so addictive that most people that try it die while trying to get more. \n In a small island called Kerch, Kaz is the second in command of a gang. He's considered a demon, feared by most and a target of the other gangs. But when a man offers him 30 million to rescue the scientist that has the formula for the drug, he decides the risk is worth it, so he can get the money to finally have his revenge on his brother's murderer. He designs a plan to infiltrate Fjerda, and gathers a team: Inej, a young girl that he saved from a pleasure mansion in exchange for her working as her spy and assassin. Jesper, a shooter that has a serious gambling problem. Wylan, a young boy that can make bombs and whose also the son of the man that hired them. Nina, a Grisha that can heal people but also kill them. And Matthias, a Fjerdan that has a history with Nina. \n I loved this book!! Its slow paced at times, but its interesting and you just want to keep reading. I LOVED the characters, especially Inej and Kaz. I know the book is a bit predictable, but the characters are just too endearing and the plot grabs you. \n Inej is amazing. She's strong and smart, quiet and loyal. She has such a hard past. She is so grateful to Kaz for saving her, and treating her like she's free and not owned, and eventually, realizes she's in love with him against her better judgment. Being a slave and sold as a prostitute was so hard, that it breaks my heart. While the book doesn't give you any horrible details, you can tell how much she suffered by the way she panics just looking at anything related to that place. I also love that she refuses Kaz, knowing that his phobia is so strong that they won't be able to have a real relationship. \n I also love Kaz. He's so broken he's made this whole persona whose only purpose is revenge. His phobia is the only remanent of weakness and it's his body's way of dealing with his pain. He doesn't allow himself to grieve or feel anything but hatred, and while it drives him, it's also hurting him. It seems that Inej is the only thing that makes him feel something else, and in a way her being taken drives him even more than his need for revenge for the death of his brother. \n Jesper was so much fun. He brings some deserved comedy to the book, but he's also faulted and broken in a way. His need for adrenaline and his gambling can make him do stupid things, but in a way that makes the character great. I thought he had a crush on Inej at first, but then realized it was on Kaz. It seems he's falling for Wylan, and while sometimes a relationship like that can be a little forced, it felt natural and exciting to see develop. I wasn't expecting him to be the one that sold them out, but he didn't mean to compromise the mission. He can be naive and blind because of his fear for his father's farm, but he can't stop himself at the gambling tables. I hope he grows as a character. \n I loved Nina and Matthias. Nina is so strong and smart, and Matthias is the type that has a really strong sense of moral and duty to his country and religion, so strong that he's blind to the radical ways of his people and has a hard time opening his eyes to the lies. It is only with Nina that he starts to doubt his beliefs. Matthias reminded me of Wakka from Final Fantasy X, he's the typical fervent believer that thinks his war and murders are justified. When he feels attracted to Nina and starts to see her as a human, bold and brave and compassionate, he's conflicted with himself. I love how Nina is totally in love with him, but at the same time is strong in her beliefs and won't put her country in danger at any cost. \n I wasn't expecting Wylam's father to be the bad guy, but I also wasn't expecting Kaz to use Wylan as Kuwei. \n I can't wait to read the next book. I hope we get to see Ravka, meet more Grishas and expand the world even more. It's such an interesting universe that I want to explore the whole map. And I really hope they get the recenge they deserve.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 05 08:54:12 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 05 09:39:14 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Oct 05 09:39:15 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "18180495", "review_id": "72c31a9b835d26d762cb0b92c29fd312", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ten years ago, Victor and his friend Eli decided to prove their theory that when someone survives a death near experience (and they are actually dead for a little while) they become EOs, ExtraOrdinary people with superpowers. But when they experiment on themselves and prove their theory, things go horribly wrong and Victor ends up in prison. Ten years later, he wants revenge. After escaping, he starts his search of Eli with the help of Mitch, his cellmate, and a girl they found gun wounded on the street called Sidney, who turns out is also an EO, and has been shot by Eli and her sister Serena, another EO. They soon realize Eli is trying to kill every EO there is because of what happened with Victor, and only Victor can stop him. \n I loved this story. The characters were dark and interesting, both Victor and Eli so complex and simple at the same time. They are both filled with jealousy and bitterness, both are proud egocentrics and talented at the same time. But while acknowledges his dark side and his lack of empathy, Eli uses his religion to feed his ego and self-righteousness. While the idea that the last thoughts are what define the power that they gain makes total sense, in a way it also ends up defining the characters. Professor Lyne was right in saying they redefine themselves based on their abilities. But they also are a consequence of how they were before dying because their last thoughts are related to their personality. While Victor can give or take pain because of how much painful his death was, it also relates to his personality. Eli can heal, and that gives him the false idea that he has been chosen by God, that he's different from the other EOs. Serena's strong will and personality makes her bend others with only words. Sidney's sweetness makes her give people a second chance at life. \n I really liked how the story develops, how the chapters go between the present and the past, and that there are differents PoV but they don't feel forced or like the story skips from one character to another. I also liked its ending, and at first I thought it was a solo book so I was sad to see so much potential end there. It's a great ending, but I liked the characters so much that while it ended perfectly, I wanted more. \n So Victor killing Serena was surprising, but her letting Sidney go was comforting. It means all Eos are not so broken and detached from feelings. The dog reviving a second time was a big, big plus in my book. At the end, Victor couldn't kill Eli, but killing Serena made the police finally arrest Eli and put him in jail. And Sidney revived Victor, but we don't know if he still has his powers or how she will react when she finds out Eli didn't kill Serena, Victor did. \n Part of me wonders if in the next book they will revive Angie. \n What I wonder is if the series is called Villains because of Victor and his crew. Victor argues that good or bad, villains and heroes are only a matter of perspective, and Eli seems to believe himself a hero, so they definitivly are villains in terms of Eli's perspective. But are there any good people in the story? \n I can't wait for the next book!!", "date_added": "Sat Aug 19 19:49:15 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 19 20:38:46 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Aug 20 20:38:47 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "13104080", "review_id": "a7c9ca98ea575f631426e5fb7990e7a3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Juliette and Adam are at Omega Point, a place where rebels live and people with unique skills like her call home. Soon they learn that Adam also has an ability, and that is why he can touch Juliette. But she knows Warner can also touch her, even tough she won't tell anyone about it. Adam has no control of his ability, so Juliette can hurt and even kill him while they are together. And when the president come's to the 45th district to hunt Juliette, the war against the Reestablishment seems inevitable. \n I didn't like this books as much. It reminded me a LOT to Never Fade. But it was not as good. \n For once, it was boring. I wanted to see a group of rebels with superpowers, working and planning together, learning and training. But most of it was people staying away from Juliette, Adam being a jerk and Juliette crying. That's it. I get it, Juliette is healing and discovering her strength, but she was so passive it drove me insane. Every time something happened, she was shocked, couldn't move or say a thing. And all she did was cry and isolate herself. Every other character except for Adam and maybe Kenji was just plain and useless. They were all decor and spectators while the whole Adam-Juliette drama happened. I was over the teen drama quickly and didn't get any of the action I expected until the end. \n The whole relationship thing made no sense. Are they so desperate that they can't keep their hands away? Can't they just kiss once in a while but enjoy each others company for a while, until both can handle their powers? I get they are teenagers and they have hormones and love each other and Juliette is obsessed with being touched since she had such a deprivation of it, but its too extreme and they are way too immature. And the way they couldn't communicate, couldn't talk and kept everything to themselves, even IMPORTANT stuff, made me so mad. Juliette can't seem to trust anyone, and while I understand she's like that because of her history, I just can't stand her anymore. \n The only fun thing was Kenji at times, and Warner. He was interesting and discovering his real personality was expected but still nice. He really is in love with Juliette and all he did was because he has to keep a front. You can see that we'll learn more about himself and he'll probably redeem himself because I'm done with Adam. \n Also, Adam being Warner's brother was crazy and way too forced. It's probably a way to unite them at the end but it made no sense. \n I like that Juliette died but was healed and now I'm hoping we'll finally see a kickass heroine. I hope she pulls herself up and the war finally begins.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 02 20:27:00 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 10 10:55:06 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jun 03 20:28:56 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "13206828", "review_id": "7ff48d6dc55d4d2d9c8049e513351b42", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Cress has been living alone in a satellite since she was seven. However, she dreams about earth, about helping Cinder and mainly about Thorne and his eyes. When Thorne goes to save her, Sybill and an official capture him and make the satellite fall, and try to capture Cinder and her ship. Sybill gets away, but she captures Scarlet to torture and interrogate in Luna, and Cinder gets stuck with Jacin, a guard that says is loyal only to the princess. Believing that Thorne is dead, Cinder has decided to find Dr Erland and start the plan to defeat Levana. She doesn't know Thorne and Cress are alive, and lost in the Sahara Dessert. And Kai has decided to marry Levana to stop the war and get the antidote. Cinder has to come up with a plan to stop the wedding and end Levana's reign once and for all. \n I didn't like Cress as much as Scarlet for mainly two reasons: the first one is that I just didn't like Cress herself. She was naive, a bit selfish, and really immature. Ii is to be expected after the way she grew up, isolated from every bit of human interaction, but still. I couldn't connect to her. And this was really sad because it made her story painful to read and her romance really forced. I love Thorne, he's one of the best characters in my opinion, but their adventure felt flat and childish compared to the others. The second reason was that nothing really happened in terms of plot development. It felt like a transition book, and they ended up really similar to where they started. I wish they had a different mission than kidnapping Kai, but hey, at least at the end it got interesting. The thing is, it's a really big book to read for just the final chapters. At least now Kai is on board, he knows everything about Cinder being princess Selene, and they are finally going to Luna. I was sad about Dr. Erland but not that much, and I assumed early on that Cress was his daughter. Is it too much of a coincidence? Definitively, but expected nonetheless. . Also, there was so little of Wolf that made me sad. I get that he's scared for Scarlet, but he should believe in her. And it also felt a bit like Twilight, like he can't live of function without his partner and becomes a walking zombie. And that kills the character for me.", "date_added": "Sun May 14 17:24:30 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri May 26 06:16:38 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri May 19 05:46:47 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun May 14 17:24:31 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "13206760", "review_id": "b0e326679f488dd00be38de012fe5c21", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Scarlett is a girl and farmer living in a small town in France. Her grandmother, who has raised her, has disappeared and Scarlet believes that she has been kidnapped. The police have stopped looking, and she's desperate to find some sort of clue. When she finds her father at her farm looking for something to give the kidnappers, she finds out that he was also taken and tortured, but her grandma refused to give them what they wanted, so they release them. When she questions him about their captors, all he knows is that they have weird tattoos. She recalls a guy with a similar tattoo named Wolf, a street fighter that helped her earlier that day. He tells her he was part of a gang that is trying to find information about Princess Selene, and that they've taken her grandmother because she was a pilot that went to the moon just before the attack on the princess. She asks him to take her to Paris to find the gang and rescue her grandma, and Wolf decides to help her. Meanwhile, Cinder escapes with the help of another convict named Thorne, and now they have a ship and can travel to Africa to find Dr. Erland. She's scared and she wants answers, so she decides to find a pilot in France that may have the answers about how she came to Earth and what happened to her in her first years. \n I liked Scarlet as a character, and I also liked Thorne, Cinder and Kai. Having their point of views was fun and made the book more fast paced. Wolf was ok, I wasn't a big fan most of the time but I don't dislike him. I loved how strong and determined Scarlet was and how she didn't get side tracked for anything. Her priority was finding her grandma. \n The development was predictable because we know Red Riding Hood's story. Wolf betraying Scarlet, her grandma dying. I didn't expect him to work for the Lunar Empire, but it was obvious there was something supernatural about him and his \"gang\", and the fact that Scarlet doesn't get suspicious was disappointing. It sucks that they also killed her father, she didn't get to reconcile with him or at least forgive him. \n You can see how Cinder is struggling with her destiny and duty, how she wants to know more about herself but is terrified about her role. \n It was also fun to see how Cinder's and Scarlet's story connect and by the end of the book they've formed this wanted/saving the world team (or \"pack\"). Can't wait to see what happens next and what Erland has planned for Cinder!", "date_added": "Sun May 14 06:46:56 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon May 29 07:58:57 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun May 14 06:47:58 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "15839984", "review_id": "d8ce6f45dc9142bf9953a18377fc6ba4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Nyx has been born and raised to marry a demon. Her whole life she was treated as a weapon, never loved by her family. She resents her father, who made the bargain and is cold with her, her aunt who instructs her and sleeps with her father, and twin sister, the one chosen to live. \n But when she meets Ignifez, he's different that what she imagined. She knows she has to follow her father's plan and try to end the curse that has fallen in the island, but she discovers that the curse may not be as simple as she imagined. \n I really liked this book. At first, it reminded me Uprooted, but at the end, I felt it really similar to Wintersong. I didn't love it as much as the first, but I enjoyed it more than the last. It captivated me and it was enchanting and sweet. I could feel like it was a retelling of the Beauty and the Beast but at the same time, it was really different, with its own mythology and plot twists. \n I loved Ignifex, but I wish we could get to know him more. At times he felt a bit flat. Shade was a great character, and the same can be said about Astraia, but I wish we could see a bit more about her true personality. \n And Nyx... I loved her too. She is strong but full of anger and is one of the darkest characters I've read in a YA story. Definitely the first that betrays her lover willingly . \n I loved the ending, it felt right and perfect. Ignifex being one with Shade and being the last prince, and sacrificing himself for his kingdom was perfect. It was bittersweet that reality changed and still Nyx's mother died, but in this new time she had a great relationship with her sister and a better one with her father and aunt, and at the end gets to save Lux.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 05 05:51:06 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 26 17:13:08 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "22544764", "review_id": "6d4a12f21afa884a6f12913da5cc85f2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Once every ten years, the Dragon, a magician living in a tower nearby comes to the villages and chooses a 17 year old girl to bring with him and release her until the next choosing. Most of the girls come back changed, and leave to live in the city. In exchange, he uses his magic to fight the forest, a horrible and dark place that turns everyone mad and has monsters that kill or kidnap people. And when the forest takes you, is better to die than to live. Agnieszka was born on a year that would make her eligible to the Dragon, but her best friend and neighbor Kasia was born the same year and everyone knows she'll be chosen, because he always chooses a pretty or talented girl, and Kasia is both. When the day finally arrives, the Dragon chooses Agnieszka. The not pretty, messy, wild Agnieszka, that spends her time looking for berries and climbing trees. She eventually discovers that she was chosen because she's a witch, and the King wants every magician trained. But soon she learns that the magic that every other magician uses, including the Dragon, may be a different kind of magic than her own and that she can do things that others consider impossible. She may be the key to fight back the forest and save the kingdom. \n This is a wonderful and enchanting story. At times I couldn't even begin to imagine how things could turn out ok, but it has a wonderful ending. I loved Agnieszka. She is strong, insightful, smart and brave. She annoyed me at times because she was too shy and I wanted her to speak out and show her strength, but she was still strong in her own way. I loved the way she did magic, from the earth and not from words. She may be too powerful, but she's not a Mary Sue (at least most of the time). I loved Kasia even more, and I loved their friendship. They did envy each other but loved the other dearly, and they were strong because they were together. Dragon was my least favorite character. Even the prince was more interesting for me. He was just grumpy but sweet inside I guess, but I just didn't grow to like him. He just felt flat. But most of all I loved the magic, the small villages fighting against evil, and the forest. Oh, how I loved that evil forest, full of magic and hatred and a mind of its own. It was terrifying but magical at the same time. I loved the ending how everything originated from humans afraid of the tree queen and tried to kill her, but she couldn't die so she became a tree full of hate and consumed everything. I loved that all she wanted was to rejoin her sister, but forgot how. And that Agnieszka is healing the forest and destroying the trees so they can rest in peace. It also made so much sense that the people from the villages were bound to the forest, and the Dragon used the girls as a way to fight the forest. Once they were free from the its pull, they would leave and never come back. I also loved that Dragon tries to keep hiding from living, but at the end can't help to go back to Agnieszka.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 04 05:41:38 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun May 14 19:05:17 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "3950967", "review_id": "a43eda05bfe89deb411771387cac5501", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A short book that contains short stories for wizard children. The stories are cute, they are similar to \"muggle\" ones except that the main characters are wizards or witches, and they all have a clear message about love, humility and generosity. Every story has some notes \"made by Albus Dumbledore\" that contain information and some analysis about the story. Because of this, it has both nice stories you could read to children but also a conection with the Harry Potter universe that any fan will apretiate. Reading Dumbledore's notes about how the Deadly Hallows are a mith made me smile.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 20 09:10:48 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 20 09:18:29 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Dec 20 09:18:29 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "20983362", "review_id": "15e8cf018049350672388f92e1e58736", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Etta feels that her mother is never proud of her. She longs for her approval, so she devotes herself to her violin in order to make her proud. Since is just the two of them in her family, she feels lonley and her only friend is Alice, her violin teacher and her mother's friend that is like a grandmother to her. But her mother wasn't always like that; when she was younger she used to be loving and kind, and tell her stories about her trips and adventures. She even painted about this places she has been and seen, and Etta loves this paintings. \n After delaying her debut for so long, Alice finally agrees to let her play at an event on the museum. But that night everything goes wrong when she's pushed in a portal by Sophia, another violin player, just before seeing that Alice has been killed. When she wakes up the both of them are in a ship being attacked by pirates in the eighteen century. She soon learns that she's a time traveler, just like her mother, and that she's being used by the Ironwood family to find an object that her mother has hiden somewhere in time. \n Nicholas is full of guilt over his half borther's death, but wants nothing to do with his family any more. Being a child of a slave (but free) and raised by a sailor and his wife, he works hard to mantain his freedom and one day own a ship. But the Irowoods are not done with him, and he finds himself being lure by the promise of wealth to buy a whole float of ships. After he begins the search with Etta, he starts to develop feelings for her, wich are reciprocated. He will have to choose between his mission and the time doomed relationship between the two of them. \n I really liked this book. It seems Alexandra Bracken's book are just my stile: fast paced, but also slow enough for relationships to grow and characters to get to know each other. I loved Etta, she was smart and not selfish, wich is a great thing in an heroine this days. Yes, maybe she was too mature for her age, but I'm kind of sick of young and reckless main characters who always make things worse. I also loved Alice and Nicholas. Sophia was fun because you could see what made her that way. The other \"bag guys\" are bit unidimensional but they are ok. \n I really liked the relationship betwwen Etta and Nicholas. It was healthy, the \"secrets\" that they kep from each other made sense and they handled the revelations in a mature way. I was afraid Sophia was going to use Nichola's secret to turn Etta against him, but I was happy that it did not turned out that way. \n I think I would have really if they could have stayed at each place a bit longer. Like a week, to get the feeling of each place and make each scenery more meaningful. t was fast paced but it also felt rushed. Every place should have been like New York at the beggining, so you could feel the loss when they leave each place/time. \n Warning! Spoilers! \n I liked the ending. So she's not dead, and Nichola's brother may be alive too!! And the Thorns have the astrolabe, but their leader is Etta's father? Could he maybe not be as bad as Rose makes him to be? Alice seems to know him since she said \"Henrietta\" must have come from Henry. I hope they can somehow fix the timeline but also find a way to stay together!", "date_added": "Sat Dec 17 08:48:08 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 20 09:21:04 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Dec 19 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Dec 17 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "15993203", "review_id": "f78efa35f23963b4d8af0311086c2542", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Lady Helen is excited about the ball season. She will be presented to the queen, and she will be officially ready for a husband. However, she doesn't want to get married yet, she just wants to go live with her brothers so she can finally have some freedom from her controlling uncle and aunt. They are desperate to show that Helen is not like her mother, a woman with a scandalous reputation. Her memories of her parents are lovely ones, and her brother won't talk to her about what their parents did that was so bad. Then Lord Carlston comes to town, a man that lost his wife and was suspected of killing her but there was never proof. He's a distant relative of the family, and he seems really interested in Helen. She soon starts to realize that she, like her mother, has some unique abilities that make her special. Lord Carlston teaches her about the demons that possess human bodies, and how a secret society with people like them fight against these demons. She has to decide if she will join them, and how to balance her social and public life with this dark scene that threatens to ruin her. \n This book was ok. I liked it, but it didn't capture me that much. First, the setting. While normally I love the Georgian era (like Pride and Prejudice), the supernatural aspects made it insufferable. There is just too much etiquette to make the story interesting, and it's so slow paced that it bored me to no end. Most of the book is conversations and society presentations and such, which would be ok if it was developed correctly; but since it wasn't, it just fell flat. Then there is the whole demons - chosen one thing. Most of it was predictable, and the whole demons taking over their descendent's body was somewhat not interesting enough. Also, the way they fight was boring. Most characters were uni-dimensional, like her uncle or her brother. Even Lord Carlston was boring and I didn't really feel the love connection. The love story felt forced, the main characters were boring and the ending was anticlimactic. Now to the things that I liked. I liked that Lady Helen is a bit of a rebel, she knows what she wants and won't let society dictate her life. I liked that there was this mystery about her parents, even if it was predictable. I also liked how it ends, that she breaks her family connections and commits fully to fighting demons I give it 2.5 stars (rounded up to 3) because I feel the story has potential, but this book lacks character development and plot development and didn't hold my attention.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 15 04:28:57 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun May 14 21:43:23 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "22055262", "review_id": "588a20b72a5472e644a1b50224a72a9c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Kell is an Antari, one of the two that exist. He can travel between the three parallel universes that remain since the forth, dark London, was consumed by magic 200 years ago. His London, Red London, is full of magic and color, while White London is starving and dangerous. But Grey London is harmless, and he finds himself smuggling some items from there in exchange for things from his own London. He has been raised by the king and queen of Red London, and loves the prince like his brother, but feels like he's owned by the crown, like he's a tool and a puppet. Having things from the other dimensions makes him feel powerful in a way. \n I really liked this book. I liked Kell as the main character, his strong and smart but is also a bit conceited in a way. But he is aware of his shortcomings. One of the things I love about Schwab's characters is that they may have faults but they are reflective about themselves and others. They aren't immature and annoying like most YA characters, and their \"bad calls\" make sense. \n I also liked Lila. We don't get to learn much of her past (or Kell's childhood before the throne either) but she's strong and has an iron will. She may be a bit too strong and composed to my taste, I would've liked to see her struggle a bit more, but overall she's a great character. \n I knew Holland was up to no good, and that the thing he gave Rhy could only mean trouble, but I forgot about it until the end. I was more focused on the stone and its dark magic coming to life and spreading that I forgot about the twins. It was a surprise when Astrid revealed herself controlling Rhy. What I didn't like was their motive for giving half the stone to Kell instead of just using it with Holland. I get that they wanted to control Kell and blame him if things went wrong, but I found the reasons to be poor. They could have Holland use the stone, capture Kell, controlled him and then send him to Red London. I guess they were too confident? \n I was sad that Holland killed Lila's friend. But I liked that there was a hint at Lila having some sort of magic. \n I can't wait for the next book. I want to get some answers from the queen and king, and I also want them to show their affection for Kell and find out if they genuinely love him as a son. I also want more of Rhy, I want to see how the bond affects both of them. I'm not digging the hint of him being a love interest for Lila, but I do want to see them interact with each other. \n Can't wait for the next book!!", "date_added": "Thu Dec 08 14:41:23 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 28 08:35:23 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 28 08:35:24 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "15724396", "review_id": "f0a2aa8e232dcc726a40b04dd753bccc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Magnus has been homeless, living in the streets since his mother died two years ago. It's been he and his mother alone ever since she had a fight with Magnus uncles, and before she died she told him to avoid his uncle Randolph at all costs. But when his uncles and his cousin Annabeth start to look for him saying that he is in danger, he gets himself involved in a fight with a fire giant called Surt and dies as a hero. But when he wakes up, he learns that he has been chosen to stay at Valhalla by a Valkyrie named Sam, that his father is the norse god Frey and that he needs to protect his father's sword from getting into Surt's hands and starting Ragnarok, aka the end of the world. \n I really enjoy this story. I didn't know much about norse mythology and it was fun to learn, but a bit confusing. It was A LOT like Percy Jackson, but it was still fun. Magnus is a lot like Percy, a fun and reckless hero that doesn't know anything about his fathers and his heritage. I liked all the modern references and the gods personalities. Is a great adventure book to read for kids.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 07 15:03:24 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 17 04:14:41 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "4837112", "review_id": "c1c4954061c7404f69e05e53bbed2a13", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A short storie included in The Demigod Files. \n Persephone has summoned Percy, Thalia and Nico (one son/daughter of the big 3) to find the sword of Hades before its too late. The sword is too powerful and it can free and titan and doom the greek gods for good. They have little time before the thief escapes the underworld, so they must use their strenghts to find him before its too late. \n Its a cute story, and a perfect book for kids.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 25 10:54:49 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 17 04:14:46 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Nov 23 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Nov 22 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "3992598", "review_id": "a405a0622ee22057891022620b781307", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked this book. Its a recopilations of 3 short stories told by Percy's pov. The first one is about him helping Clarise with a task form her father (greek God Ares), the second one is about him fighting against some gigant ants to save his friend (with the help of Annabeth) in the middle of a camp battle, and the third one is about finding the sword of Hades before the thief can leave the underworld. \n It also has some interviews to the characters, some puzzles and other fun things. It's ideal for kids.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 25 10:52:54 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 17 04:14:49 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Nov 23 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Nov 21 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "beaa3ae6a95abe7ee2972276e831cbc0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Cinder is a cyborg. She has a prosthetic hand, feet, and wires in her brain. She can't cry or blush. She lives in New Beijing, a part of the Commonwealth that still has a monarchy. Hated by society and living as a slave to her stepmother, she works as a mechanic and dreams of running away with her droid friend Iko. She loves her stepsister Peony, but is constantly tormented by her stepmother Adri and her stepsister Pearl. She is constantly afraid that Adri is going to turn her as a test subject for the plague's cure team, but knows she can't since she's her family's only income. One day prince Kai appears at her tent and asks her to fix one of his droids. She hides the fact that she is a cyborg, and tries to get away for the prince, but they keep meeting. However, after the emperor dies from the plague, the Lunar queen and dictator Levana comes to earth to offer her condolences and to try to convince Kai to marry her, so she can conquer the Commonwealth. \n I would love to give this book 4 or 5 stars because I fell this saga deserves it. I loved the main characters, Cinder and Kai (even if he was a bit uni-dimensional and there was some insta love-ish) but I felt like they were funny and coherent. Their decisions made sense, most of the time, and Cinder has probed to be strong and smart. Of course, I hated Adri and Pearl, but I didn't care much for Peony or Iko. I loved the world, and I liked the way the book retells Cinderella's story. The thing is, NOTHING HAPPENS. The whole book is a big introduction and it just gets things in motion, but nothing actually really happens. Its mostly Cinder discovering who she is, dealing with her life and getting to know Kai. And while I liked the characters, it felt really slow paced. I wasn't expecting one of the big reveals, but the second one is kind of obvious once you know the first one Cinder being Lunar took me a bit by surprise. I knew there was something about her not having any family or memories, but I didn't connect the dots at first. However, after knowing that, it's easy to guess that she is princess Selene . I also enjoyed that Cinderella and Snowwhite are kind of the same story. I really dont get the whole cyborg hating thing. I would thing if there was the technology for it, it would eventually evolve into a Unwind kinda thing, where people use and abuse it. But here they hate it because there are wires in their head? Because they get another chance? Anyone that is cured of anything is having another chance at life, so I don't really get the hate to cyborgs, it confused me. It seems to me that society usually gets trapped in the technology craziness, not fear it. \n It took me a long time to finish this one because of how slow and predictable it was (I mean, there is a ball) but when I forced myself to finish it, I enjoyed it and wanted to read the next one right away.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 15 04:33:19 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun May 14 21:49:09 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "10429045", "review_id": "e6d7411cde4e89e5bb4dd5faff4c4ad4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Juliette is in a mental facility. She's alone, barely fed and is losing her mind. She's been in and out of juvenile detention centers since she was 14 and killed a kid. Because she has a curse: she can kill with her touch. Her parents hated her, and society has bullied her all her life. But she still feels that if she can be good enough, well behaved enough, they'll eventually forgive her. \n After having a cell mate for a while, she's finally released and she learns that Adam was actually testing her to see if she was sane or had lost her mind. They expected her to be a feral animal, a killer without feelings but instead found a broken young girl. Adam seems to actually like her, but under the Reestablishment reign he can't do anything to save her from Warner, the president's son and the crazy and cold commander from the 45th district. He seems interested in making her a weapon, but he also seems fascinated with her. Juliette would rather die than to hurt people, but can Warner brake her? Or will Adam save her first? \n This book reminded me a LOT of The Darkest Minds. But instead of having the power of altering minds, she is basically Rouge from X-Men. Fortunately, I love both so I enjoyed this book. It was dark, slow but also enchanting. Even if the story was predictable and she was too broken to be the kind of main character that I like, there was something really interesting in a girl that hates herself but wants to healp others. The writting was weird, like she was writting or thinking and it could become annoying after a while. \n I liked Warner, he seems interesting and I guessed he was a good guy that had to keep apariences to not raise suspictions. I asume he wants Juliette fro some sort of rebelion, but Juliette didn't give him a chance to explain. He did seem a bit crazy thou. \n Adam was ok, it seemd a bit farfetched that he was his childhood crush. \n I'm really exited about them joining the rebelion and that there are others with superpowers.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 15 04:21:38 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 10 10:13:08 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "23766634", "review_id": "ba86eb2cfd0045e565f3cce040695701", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Feyre is at the Spring Court once again. But this time, she's not at home: she's a spy. Her mission is to break the Spring Court from inside and get all the information she can. The king of Hybern sends his niece and nephew to the court, and Freyre uses the opportunity to make her move. But when Iante attacks Lucien, Feyre has to change her plans. \n I love this book so much. I can't believe some think this book is not fast paced enough, or that it has too much sex, or is too long. I actually felt the ending a bit rushed and I wanted to read more, so much more. So many amazing characters, so many possibilities. \n I still love Feyre and Rhys. They are one of my favorite couples ever. They are so strong, smart, devoted and selfless, but at the same time protective of their loved ones. Freyre is not like most female characters, that get themselves in trouble by making stupid decisions all the time. Yes, sometimes she makes split of the moment decisions but they make sense. And the court of dreams... I can't even express how much I love them. Cassian and Azriel, Mor and Amren... they are so complex but great characters. I wish their stories were developed a bit more, but I guess we'll hear from then in the next books. \n I had a hard time liking Nesta. Eventually she starts behaving better and I was a bit more sympathetic to her, but still, I think she needs to grow up and stop being so selfish and self-centered. And I can't stand Elain. I want to like her, but the whole delicate flower thing was annoying most of the time. I feel like Feyre deserves an apology from both of them and that they start to take better care of Feyre. Most of the time its like they don't consider her family. \n I wasn't a fan about Mor being a lesbian. She may like man sexually, but she prefers women, at while it was explained and it kinda made sense, it was rushed and unnecessary. I get that the book was lacking some LGBT characters, but while I wasn't unbelievable and the explanation had some logic, I didn't buy it. \n I also loved Jurian. He was a great character and he surprised me when he revealed himself as an ally. He was kinda charming and I hope to read more of him \n And Tamlin... I don't hate him as I used to. At the end, he did the right thing and he let Feyre go. And the fact that he defended her at the camp... he's not a bad person, he's not a real villain either. He was just too consumed by love and hatred and desperation, and he has some serious anger issues to deal with, but in a way, he's still the man we fell in love with in the first book. \n I felt like Amren wasn't present enough. I get that she was key to the ending, but I wanted to see her in action, in battle. Most of the book she was reading and taking care of Elain, so she was basically missing. \n I also want to read more about Tarquin. He had such a great dynamic with Rhys and Freyre and I wanted to see them interact some more. \n There were so many deaths... the bone carver, the suriel, the weaver, feyre's father... there weren't many main characters deaths, but it was still bittersweet to see those characters sacrifice themselves. I did enjoy when Ianthe got what she deserved \n Overall the book was a journey, an amazing one. I laughed, I cried, I was surprised, nervous, heartbroken and couldn't stop reading. The war was brutal and I was shaking while reading (maybe because of the cold, but still) and I couldn't put the book down. \n Can't wait to read more books of these characters!!!", "date_added": "Fri Nov 11 07:56:52 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed May 31 07:20:22 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue May 30 20:38:29 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed May 24 07:41:24 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "23308084", "review_id": "5036ae788936dbc62adcfb0cc2e057b8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Shahrzad is in the enemy's camp. She's in danger, being the wife of the Caliph, and only Tariq can help maintain the soldiers in check. But Tariq is also a puppet in Reza's game, and soon Shazi realizes that she has to escape, find out how to break the curse and end the war. It seems her father's book may be the clue to finding the solution, but her father is consumed with power and has agreed to work with Reza and Salim. \n I LOVED this book. It was a perfect conclusion to the story. \n I loved every character. I wish the book was longer so we could get to interact with them more. I loved Irsa, I loved Rahim, I even loved Shiva in Shazi's dream . The females in these series are strong and amazing. I love how feminist it is (in a subtle way). \n At the end I didn't even think Despina was a spy. She may have been shady but I thought it was because of Jalal. It was a big surprise when she was revealed to be Salim's daughter. I thought she was going to give in at the end but didn't expect her to be plotting against her father. That was also a big surprise. I'm so happy for her and Jalal! I was also kind of glad they murdered Reza. It reminded me of game of thrones a bit. \n I liked that her father gave his life to give her happiness. He did truly love his daughters. What I didn't like is his insane ego and jealousy before that, but he did the right thing at then end. \n I also loved that her sister wasn't pushed to be with someone else after Rahim. And that Tariq is also still single, but may have a future with Yasmin. \n Shazi and Khalid having a son made me extremely happy. I was so emotional I almost cried.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 04 04:43:55 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 05 09:03:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "23349901", "review_id": "334e6a70853b17b106dc01bc156480f0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "These are Greek Mythology stories told by Percy Jackson. Some of the stories told are: Hercules, Jason, Perseus, Psyche, Theseus, Atalanta and Orpheus, but there are others. \n Its a really fun book. I love greek mythology and Percy is a great story teller. He makes it fun and I laughed a lot through the book. It made me want to re-read Percy Jackson's series, because he is such a great character. I'll definitively check the Greek Gods book also.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 09 17:23:06 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 09 17:28:26 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "17927395", "review_id": "ea7a9f1e0d6652fe7e16061296fb3705", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Feyre is back at the Spring Court, but is suffering. Because of that's shes been through, what she has done, what she has seen, she now can't stop having nightmares, can't paint, can't eat. And Tamlin is too broken to be of any help. He gives her time and space and lets her die slowly, trying to bring his court back to normal. But Feyre starts realizing that normal may not work for her. \n I loved this book. The only reason I took so long reading it was because when finally Rhys and Feyre started to \"talk\", I was so happy that I didn't wanted it to end. This has to be one of my favorite romance book's ever. And don't get me wrong, it has a lot a faults. But it was still amazing. \n WARNING: SPOILERS \n Most people seem to think that Tamlin's character was changed and made a villain to get the story going. But I think he was just as broken as Feyre. The whole first book he was lying to her. And yes, he couldn't tell her anything because of the curse, but most things he kept to himself because he wanted to. He only let her participate because she was a key player in the curse. But then there were other things that were wrong, like not fighting for her at all. Sure, he didn't wanted to put her in more danger, but she was dying and he just wanted to have sex with her. Like Feyre said, he fought for her, just not as hard as she did for him. \n And Tamlin did not change. Anyone that has been in an abusive relationship will tell you that their partner loved them, cared for them, and didn't really mean what they did. Tamlin was Gaston, everyone loved him and couldn't see what a bully he was, how wrong his thinking was. At the end I felt pitty for him. Of couse, he murderer Rhy's family for power or loyalty to his father wich was unforgivable. And he betrayed everyone by his alliance with the King. But he's so sick, he's so consumed by his pain and his obsession with Feyre that I almost feel sorry for him. He obviusly need help, professional help. \n Lucian is the one tha dissapointed me to most. Extreme loyalty can be a fault. That he would let Tamlin betray everyone speaks volumes about him. \n Then there is Rhys. He was already the best character in the first book, because even if everyone else treated him like the bad guy, he always protected Feyre, always fought for her and helped her. The only thing that I didn't like was the wine thing, but I understand that he did it so she wouldn't have to remember anything about her time there. I also didn't understand why he fought so hard form her when she was about to die, but now I do. He knew from the begging that there was something abour her. They were meant for eachother even when she was human. He was perfect, his love was perfect. He respected Feyre, her opinions and her choices. He never dismissed her, and the only secrets that he kept were so she could decide for herself. I love how he trated her as his equal in every way. And how he named her High Lady, something that Tamlin wouldn't even consider possible. \n I LOVED all the night court. Mor, Cassian, Azriel and Amren were exactly what Feyre needed. Hell, I would love to hung out with them. I love Casssian and Amren most of all, but the four of them are perfect. \n I still don't like Feyre's sisters. They are so selfish, so awful. Yes, they kinda help Feyre, but because they know that if they don't they are going to die. I really hope they redeem themselves in the final book. \n The ending was so painful. I'm so scared about the next book. I hope Feyre and Rhys get back together really, really soon. I hope the book is really, really, long. And I really really really want no one to die. \n Is it May 2017 yet???", "date_added": "Mon Sep 12 06:00:10 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 17 04:14:30 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Dec 15 06:27:08 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "17312201", "review_id": "380e59d2906ab8969b0c23847468576d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved the Percy Jackson series and I liked the Kane Chronicles, so of course I needed to read the crossover stories. \n In The Son of Sobek, Percy and Carter meet while trying to defeat a giant crocodile. It is told by Carter's pov, and its a fun short story. \n I loved to see them realizing the mythologyc world is bigger than they knew, and I loved them working together. Carter was a bit anoying (wich is suprising, considering I find him the less anoying of the two brothers) but Percy was everything I remember: fun, sarcastic, a little cocky but serious when needed. \n I liked the idea of someone wanting them to meet, luring them to the same place and time. \n Overall, just what I expected it to be: fun and full of action.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 31 21:43:59 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 17 04:15:39 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "18752959", "review_id": "693ef9af89b23f9e6abc8039a905b365", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved the Percy Jackson series and I liked the Kane Chronicles, so of course I needed to read the crossover stories. \n Again these two mythologyc worlds collide, but this time its Annabeth and Sadie that meet. It is told by Annabethe's pov, but she has knolowdge about Percy's previous encounter with Carter (Sadie doesn't). They both are fighting some creatures that are trying o merge and create a three headed beast, and they quickly join forces to try to stop a both egyptian and greek god from destroying the world. \n They also realize someone is behind all these events, but both greek and egyptian gods are leaving it to their hands to find the culprit and stop him. \n I really liked the story. I love Annabeth, and Sadie was way more fun when she's not narrating. The resolution was a bit \"easy\" but then again, it usually is in short stories.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 31 21:43:55 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 17 04:15:35 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "18752963", "review_id": "dbcaf8ccc978190a6c5319a7eabaa4a9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved the Percy Jackson series and I liked the Kane Chronicles, so of course I needed to read the crossover stories. \n The final chapter of this crossover. It starts with Percy and Annabeth, told by Percy's pov. They are trying to fight against the one that has caused all these events and encounters, who is trying to become both a Greek and Egyptian god and to absorb all other gods and rule everything. With Carter and Sadie's help, they will join their magic and fight together to stop him from becoming immortal. \n I liked the story. I missed Percy's pov, he it a character that I love. I love all the parallels between the characters, and how he can see both himself and Annabeth on Sadie. I didn't really knew that both mythologies coexisted and merge in Alexandria, so that was interesting. I missed the greek component a bit, it was too much of the egyptian world, but it was s till fun.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 31 21:43:50 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 17 04:15:32 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "28111855", "review_id": "35d06eeda25032036d38c2f33cbf3a11", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I couldn't finish this book. I may try it again in the future because its not a long book, but I just couldn't connect with the characters. The world was a bit too complex, or maybe it was just me. The fact that the main character was a gambler didn't suit me either, and I could't really follow what was happening. \n It seemed to have potential, and I wll give it another try in the future.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 21 08:24:02 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 06 06:13:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Sep 06 06:13:55 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "14497", "review_id": "60f303901e3c6876f1c3d8d05ec20982", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Richard lives in London, and leads a boring but confortable life. One day, he finds a hurt girl on the street, and despite his girlfriend's protest he decides to take her home and take care of her. What he doesn't know is that there is a parallel London where magic and legends are real, and that saving Gate's life means he gave up his confortable world for this magical but deadly one. With the help of the Marquis de Carabas and a bodyguard called Hunter, he must help Gate discover who killed her family and wants to kidnap her before the cruel assassins Croup and Vandemar can catch them. \n This was just an ok book for me. I was definitively expecting more. I couldn't connect with the characters, and I didn't understand the world at all. Maybe is because I'm not from London, so the inside jokes didn't really humor me. It seems the author just took names of places literally and that made the whole parallel world, but there was no cohesion. It was just random places. \n I also felt too much like it was a tv series (I understand it was originaly that). For example, he revealed things to the reader but not to the characters, so you hae to wait almost the whole book for them to catch up. That for me is unforgivable. There is no big surprise, and the ending was not satisfactory. It felt flat. That made it hard to finish until almost the end. It didn't help that the main character was annoying most of the book. \n I will try to read something else from Gaiman, but based on this one alone, its just not the author for me.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 16 18:33:51 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 17 04:15:41 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "16096824", "review_id": "decb15755702768c57052841e6f916fb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Feyre lives in a small village near the wall that divides the human's territory from the Fae's one. Fairies used to enslave humans and kill them, but after a war they signed a treaty to live in peace and separate from each other. With her cripple father and her two ingrate sisters, she hunts everyday, desperate to find some food to feed them in the winter. One day she spots a wolf about to a deer, and she sensing it may be fae, she decides to kill it with her iron wood arrow. She did it because she needed the deer and the wolf's skin for money, but she also hated the fairies for their cruelty and abuse of humans. \n A day later a giant beast appears at her door and demands to know who killed the wolf. Since it was a fae, he decides to spare, but she has to go to live with him for the rest of her life. She accepts to save her family. \n Once in his territory, she learns that Tamlin he is a High Fae, and High Lord of Spring, one of the seven areas of his land. She initially hates his kind, but eventually gets to know them and finds herself caring for Tamlin in a way she never imagined. She also starts to build a friendship with Lucian, who at first hated her. \n But there is something that the whole court is afraid of, something that is killing fae, making them sick, taking their powers, and that could soon expand to human lands. \n I loved this story. I didn't realize it was a retelling of beauty and the beast until almost the very end, when it hit me. But that made it even better, because it kept me guessing. \n I liked Feyre, she was a great main character. I liked Tamlin, considering he couldn't tell Feyre what was going on. Lucian was a nice character too. But I hated the sisters so much. Nessa at the end was ok, but the other one was the Hunger Games little sister stereotype and it was areally annoying. The father was also kind pointless. \n The ending of the book was dark but predictable. I liked that the story changed, that it didn't stay as a fairytale. And I loved Rhysand. He was exactly what the book was lacking at the beggining. \n I will definitively read the second book!", "date_added": "Thu May 05 17:00:33 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 17 04:14:52 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Nov 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "26252859", "review_id": "14774f6c3262277a16d2fac2dd6e427d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Apollo has been punished by Zeus and turned into a human. It's not the first time that happens, but this time he has no powers and no strength. He doesn't even have his bow. All he has is a driver's license and 100 dollars. He's saved from some bullies by Meg, a daughter of Demeter who has been raised in the streets and claims his services. He finds Percy and gets his help to go to Half-Blood camp, where he learns that every medium of communication is malfunctioning, campers have disappeared and the Oracle is under control of his old rival. With the help of Chiron, Meg, and everyone else at the camp (including his sons Will and Austin and his daughter Kayla) he needs to find the last remaining Oracle so they can have a prophecy and save the world. \n I liked this book. The story was fun, fast paced and Apollo was a good narrator most of the time. He was a bit annoying but he is/was a god, so that was part of his character. I liked that it continues the story from The Heroes of the Olympus, so we get to see Percy, Nico (not a fan but oh well) and even Leo at then end. The thing is, it seems that Percy, Annabeth and Grover won't be part of these stories, and I'm not really a fan of Jason and Pipers, wich will likely appear in the next books. I wish Riordan used his original characters instead of adding so many new ones. It's like, we have Percy, Annabeth, Grover. Then we have Jason, Piper, Leo, Hazel, Frank, Nico, Reyna... then we have other characters like Thalia, Tyson and Clarisse. It's just too much. I love the universe, but I can't keep up. Maybe I'm too old. \n Anyway, I didn't like Meg. He was too childish and her whole her being Nero's stepdaughter and thinking of \"the Beast\" as someone else was too farfetched. I know it can happen in cases of extreme abuse but it felt forced. \n I'll read the next one, but I feel that while I love the old characters, I'm getting tired getting a glimpse of them and having to like the new ones.", "date_added": "Wed May 04 22:18:43 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 01 15:54:14 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jun 01 15:54:15 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "15704459", "review_id": "be0c540c87208b5ad9f0d4666f90ab1e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "After three attacks on David and the reckoners that seems to be from Regalia, the Epic that dominates New York City, and Firefight killing a member of their team there, David, Prof and Tia decide it's time to kill her. \n I LOVED this book. I loved the new setting, and while I missed the old team, I enjoyed that David was a bit on his own in this book. \n I loved the new Epics, the city (even if the people seemed way too relaxed) and the multiple twists that left me mouth open. \n I couldn't believe Prof used David as bait like that. And the ending... he killed his own team!!! \n Megan was awesome, I loved her. I love how at the end, she was more trusthworthy than Prof. \n And is David an epic? Did he really refuse his powers? And what powers would he recieve? \n I didn't see Regalia's plan coming at all. I don't really understand her motivations, but it was kinda genius.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 08 10:23:06 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 20 10:08:48 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Mar 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "18966322", "review_id": "38553ec58207dcf0a5be793cd549afd4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "After the events of Steelheart, David and the Reckoners are protecting the city and people are starting to live in an Epicless city. But they are still afraid that a new Epic can take the power, so David is set to demonstrate that if people fight back, they can protect what they have. \n While Prof is away, David spots a High Epic called Mitosis, and it seems he has come to kill the Steeleart slayer. \n This was a great, short story to reinmerge myself in the Reckoners world. Is fast paced, and fun to read. It was the perfect way to introduce us to the city after Steelheart, and I can't wait to read Firefight!", "date_added": "Fri Apr 08 10:14:33 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 20 10:13:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "18798983", "review_id": "7aa708d85abe6d4c9de4d0dd24868fd6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "In Khorasan, the 18-year-old ruler takes a bride every night. And the next day, he executes her. Khalid is a monster, and his kingdom hates him, fearing to lose their daughters to his cruelty. But Shahrzad is the first to volunteer as his wife. She says goodbye to her father and sister and goes to what could be her last night alive. She makes her family flee so they can't find them, and plans to assassinate Khalid for killing her best friend Shiva. But when Khalid appears, he's handsome and polite and interested in her motivations. And so, she tells him a story. But when the sun rises, the story is incomplete and she begs to have one more night. Khalid accepts, and soon decides that he can't bare to lose her. Jalal, Khalid's cousin, helps Shazi and makes her see another side of him. As they develop feelings for each other, Shazi is divided between her desire for revenge and the love that is growing in her heart. But her father is working with Shiva's cousin, Tariq, who she was in love with and has loved her since they were little. And Shiva's father is also planning to use him and revolt against Khalid. \n At the end Shazi learns the truth about Khalid and escapes the palace with Tariq, but he can tell she's in love with Khalid. Shiva's father has allied with Salim, and they are planning to destroy Khalid. We will have to see how Shazi convinces Tariq, her father and maybe her sister to help her destroy the curse and help Khalid destroy his enemies. \n I really liked this book. It starts like A Thousand and One Nights but soon develops into much more. Shazi is an amazing character. She's strong, smart and stands up for herself. She is a queen and Khalid's equal in every way, and bows to no one. \n Khalid was interesting. You could tell that he was kind but he was guarded, he had closed his heart and isolated himself because of his guilt and shame. He would rather be hated by everyone and be a monster than to be honest and put the blame where it should be. Wouldn't it make more sense to be sincere to his kingdom, leave the city and let his cousin rule in his place for the duration of the curse? Maybe it wouldn't work but I feel like he should at least try to find a way to break the curse. \n But it has flaws. There is a bit of an instant-love between Shazi and Khalid, and her desire for revenge falls flat when she develops feelings from two or three encounters. At first, she just wanted to have the perfect opportunity, but then she was intrigued and captivated by him and didn't act. I know it's not impossible, but to have such a strong desire for revenge and to put it behind so quickly... it feels forced. I would have liked more encounters between them to actually develop something before she had the opportunity to kill him and decided not to. \n The other thing that bothered me was that Khalid took forever to open up to her. It was obvious that he didn't want to kill the girls and there was some sort of thing that obligated him to do it since his uncle was adamant to kill Shazi and to stop him from falling in love. So the whole revelation was not really a surprise, but the curse felt disproportional to what happened. His wife committed suicide because he didn't love her but was never mean to her, and her father blames him and curses him to kill several other girls so that people hate him and other parents shared his pain. I get that the author didn't want to make Khalid a monster, but it turned out making his ex-wife and her father insane. I mean, depression is a disease and she's not evil for committing suicide, but blaming him and cursing the whole kingdom (and even killing a bunch of girls in the process) is something a psychopath would do.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 08 07:06:44 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 01 17:44:34 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Apr 07 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "18052136", "review_id": "1aa698490ef8d7f8807d79632796d476", "rating": 4, "review_text": "WARNING: there are SPOILERS from the Drakest Minds books in this review \n This is the story of Gabe, a young man who wants to become a skiptracer to get money and leave his town. He's not a bad guy, he's just desperate. And when he finally finds a little girl to turn in and become an official skiptracer, he starts to wonder if he can really see the \"freaks\" as not humans. \n I had read the Darkest Minds rilogy already, so I knew how this little story was going to end. But still, it kinda broke my heart. I liked seeing the whole world form a \"normal\" person point of view, even if it was a short story.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 01 14:00:21 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 20 10:11:28 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "12893742", "review_id": "1401e38c0ec0ceaa6f3f841e8471ba8c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The god of chaos Apophis is free, but he's planning something. He is destroying some manuscripts, and Carter, Sadie and the rest of the Brooklyn kids need to stop him to see if these manuscripts hold the key to defeating him and restoring Ra to his former glory. \n A cute ending (at least for now) to a cute story. But to me it was just that. \n As I said with the other books, this saga was ok, but feels rushed and childish. I guess the fact is that they are books for kids. While there are other books also meant for kids that I still enjoy deeply, these ones feel shallow in comparison. The characters are undeveloped, the ending is way too sweet and there is a lot of insta love. \n I liked some characters, and the mythology was enough to keep me interested. I still find Sadie as annoying as in the other books, and that makes half of the book a bit of a torture. I don't enjoy the differents pov (I didn't like it in The Lost Hero either) so its not wonder I can't connect with the characters deeply. But I still think its a cute story.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 30 13:10:55 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 17 04:16:18 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "28512486", "review_id": "f8fe8150d4156956da330be79c1bcb9f", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I guess I'l see how the story ends, even if the last book took away most of my interest in the characters. It seems the author is going for Mather wich I think is a terrible choice. And she seems to want to reunite Ventrulli's king with Ceridwen, wich basically means that the love message here is this: it doesn't matter if the boy you love is willing to let you marry someone else or marry and have 3 children with other woman. Neither does it matter that fact that he repeteadly decides not to fight for you. Or that he enters your bedroom at night drunk to treat you horribly. Because they will eventualy realize how much they love you!", "date_added": "Wed Nov 04 12:46:08 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue May 03 13:04:53 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "7992995", "review_id": "52fdc05c6afcc8d0991f9ade4a303162", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Once again, I liked the setting, the universe, the mythology. I also liked Eona's relationship with Kygo and Ido. They were different, bound by different interests/duties/expectations, but they were both interesting. Now, on things I didn't like: almost everything else. \n If Eona made me mad in the first book because of her secrets, in this one it annoyed me even more. There was no need to keep SO many secrets from everyone, it was just her being a coward. How can she lead them, expect their trust while keeping most things to herself? She was the one that didn't trust in anyone, not really. Even f she told herself she was fighting and risking herself, until the very end she was just doing everything for herself. And that is not being just flawed: she is selfish, self centered, self righteous, power hungry and arrogant; that is just being an hypocrite. \n She reminded me of Yelena from Fire Study, both exasperated me to no end. \n I also didn't liked the resolution. It's not that I needed to know what happened after the ending (which would have been nice) but that I didn't liked and agreed with how things developed. Ido going back to his power-mad self and trying to contain all the power and saying \"I don't need you anymore\" to Eona was just sad. It felt like there was no character development. Dela leaving the emperor with Ido was just crazy stupid. The dragon healing Kygo was too convenient. It all felt forced. \n I felt like I've read this story before, but with better characters and story development.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 04 07:41:19 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 04 12:40:49 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Nov 02 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "2986865", "review_id": "621da9128d021c15743c617e0ebc731c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I loved the setting of this book. The history, the time, the country, the palace, the gods. I loved the descriptions, how I could almost smell the cinnamon in the story. And I liked Eona and Ryko, at least at first. Lady Dela was definitely the best character in the book. She was the only sincere character, the only on not pretending to be something she is not. I love how this books takes on sexuality, what is like to be a eunuch, a contraire, and how woman are viewed as inferior by men but how woman know what powerful and honorable they can be, even if its not recognized by men. \n What I hated about this book: the secrets and the naivety. I did get why Eona had to cover her identity, but once she was chosen, I think the emperor would have used her and trusted her just as much (or maybe even more; being a woman, she could have been married with his son and empowered him more than as a friend). I also couldn't stand how she didn't tell anyone anything, ever. Not about the folio, the sun drug, the dragon's name, her identity, etc. She even had a freaking hard time telling her master she couldn't do some fight form. And then it was the naivety. I mean, really, when the reader figures things out way before the character does, and we have no extra information whatsoever, it just becomes annoying. Eona is so intuitive, why would she be so blind? \n I mean, she figures out that the Dragon wants her to call herfself Eona at the beggining. She evens says her name at the mirror in the bathroom, and sees the reaction. How could she not understand what this means? Then she uses sun drug to try to use the dragon's power, when this drug hides youw femenine side. I mean, really? It was clear she needed to get in touch with her femenine side. And the writing at the folio... why didn't she just asked Dela? It didn't make any sense. \n At the end, I liked some aspects of the story, but it exasperated me too much.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 04 07:08:07 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 04 07:46:28 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "23380120", "review_id": "19725bc6f8bba39917327314bc56b33e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Carolyn's life changes on day when she comes back to school and her mother and brother get sucked in by some sort of portal. She then discovers she has some sorft of powers, like becoming invisible, that helps her survive and scape some suited guys and scientist that keep comming to her house looking for her. She becomes a bit like an animal, just acting on instict, but one day snaps out of it. And then it all gets weird. \n I couldn't finish this book. I don't really like to leave in the middle, but I didn't enjoy the story and couldn't connect with any of the characters. At first I liked the story, I liked the fact that the main characters was broken and trying to survive. But then the supernatural aspect of the story was wird for me, I didn't really understand it. Everything felt rushed, I didn't get any of the choices and desitions. and the love story just seemed forced. Nate felt like a puppy or a little kid, and she falling for him was too strange for me. I just couldn't relate. \n I think the story has potential, maybe if I would push myself a bit more and actually finish it I would like it. Or maybe I'm just getting old. I think the story can be more enjoyable to others, so don't feel discouraged with this review.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 04 07:07:48 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 04 07:18:20 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "25318430", "review_id": "4ac86bd877be2ff8b2acf7a195939b43", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed this book quite a lot. Gabriel was a bit annoying and sounded immature at first, but there is an explanation for that later on. I get it, but I would have liked to see him acting like the leader we all know he's meant to be. I think we'll see more of that in the next book! \n Nate was a bit disappointing. It felt like he found himself a girlfriend and he stopped being a father figure to Gabriel and became a kinda passive friend. He deserves to be happy, but I felt he stopped being who he was. \n I really like the setting of the story. We get to see how ore users live, what they have to endure and the potential there is in an alliance between humans and ore users to fight this war and also to be able to live peacefully together. \n Some people say that it is a slow book, but I really enjoy getting to feel the story and I don't need action in every chapter.That being said, a bit more of fights would have been great, because fights between people with powers are always fun to read. \n Disclaimer: I recived a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 26 07:44:43 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 20 08:26:39 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "22046915", "review_id": "d71e608c1c80799e204ae541574bf65e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Disclaimer: I received an copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review \n In a world where there is advanced technology but can't find ways to sustain the energy needed, the ores are the answer to everyone's prayers. Gabriel's dad is the one that discovered them, and worked in TERA, a powerful organization that makes technology that works on the ores powers. But after the death of his father, Gabriel is raised by his mother and Nate, his father's best friend, while his brother decides to work for TERA to continue his father's legacy. But one night everything changes, and Gabriel realizes that there is way more to the ores that he knows. \n I really enjoyed this book. It was just what I wanted: A bit futuristic, with some mysterious powers, and good characters. I loved the writing, and some say that it starts slow, but to me, it gave me time to get to know the world, the characters and to connect to the story. \n I liked Gabriel, he can be a bit immature at times but he's strong, smart (most of the time) and knows what's important. I also liked Nate, and I want to know more about his past. I didn't find them annoying. \n I liked the story, I didn't find it slow or boring. It did feel a bit... small, but the world develops and expands even more in the second book.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 18 09:03:38 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 20 08:26:27 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "24916560", "review_id": "ce6f0e99dea6d5a3286f6cbd42f6d094", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I received this book in exhange for an honest review. \n Rating: 2.5 stars. \n Pain and Jane are two sisters working for an organization, patroling New York city and doing missions for payment. But they're not normal teenagers: they are ghosts. They have extraordinary abilities, enhanced senses and they can fly. \n One night, they hear a scream and see ghosts that work for an evil organization, with two humans, discussing if they should kill them or kidnap them. So, they decide to save them and take them to their organization, and protect them until they can figure out why the leader of this evil organization, Eugene, want them. \n Dave and Chester have no idea wich one of them is the target, and why. But now they are in dangers, and only the ghosts can protect them. \n My favorite characters were Jane and Skull. Pain was... horrible. Let me just quote this: \n \"He tried to imagine what she was like before that relationship, then; could she be attentive and kind, more like Jane? Patient, gentle, romantic? He quickly shook his head, as if trying to shake off all of those ideas. It just wouldn't be her\" \n If by \"her\" you mean rude, bad tempered, selfish, arrogant, inmatture, brute and selfcentered. \n I could list all the things that bothered me about this book, but I think it just wasn't my cup of tea. 3 of the 4 main characters annoyed me to no ends, and I found them selfish and inmature. The plot was ok, but I felt \n most of the time it didn't really make any sense to me.", "date_added": "Tue May 19 17:21:43 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 20 08:27:04 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu May 21 08:22:28 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue May 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "23491968", "review_id": "b69f01c554f1fe54992d484e6027bd14", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Alfred begins a quest to search for a magical item that belonged to King Arthur, whose history he is an expert, that legend says it can cure anything. He is determined to find it, to save his wife, who is dying slowly. He is willing to find it for this mysterious man called Nigel that seems can perform magic, but can he be trusted? \n I loved this book in the beginning. I loved the setting, the descriptions, Alfred, Stephen, Benjamin. And the intrigue... I thought I was in for a trip full of mystery and intrigue. But as the story progressed, I started to lose interest. The narration is in third person, and we get to know most of the plot and the lies and betrayals way before the characters, making it irritating most of the time. There were no surprises, nothing really to make me jump or keep me hooked. \n The ending was really sad, and I was left feeling like there were no wins, only loss. Alfred's fate would have been a better one if he just burned the book. Him not getting to say goodbye to his wife... that was too much. \n Overall, I liked it, but I expected more, and was left with a bitter aftertaste.", "date_added": "Mon May 04 10:30:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 17 04:16:58 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri May 22 07:26:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "16034235", "review_id": "84e8eb2969e999737939459616e103a9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Celaena is an assassin. The best assassin in the kingdom. But she was caught, and send to a slave's camp. A camp that people normally survive a month. She survived a year. \n Now, the prince is offering to gain her freedom, by beeing the King's champion (and do his dirty work) for 4 years. But first, she must win a competiton against other assassins, thiefs and soldiers. \n I liked this book, but didn't love it. To me, it reminded me too much of Poison Study but without some of the things that I loved about it. Celaena is too childish and can't control her emotions. You would expect of the greatest assassin to be mature and in control, specially after all she's been through. And I don't mind that she likes dresses, I also like them. You can be a badass and also like superfluous things. But with all that was going on, it felt like she was just superficial. \n Also, I didn't like her attitud of keeping all to herself, not because she doesn't trust them but because she's protecting them. \n I didn't care for the love triangle, and I definitively think that the male characters were pointless. They were the type of character that usually girls are, just pretty things that help to move along the plot. They were not usefull at all, and could't stop thinking how pretty and femenine and cute Celaena is. \n I may read the second book because it has so many good reviews, but the third one doesn't so I'm really not sure.", "date_added": "Sun May 03 05:46:31 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun May 03 06:04:10 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "40158", "review_id": "a6c3c428df5de46be984d9fc7bbeb324", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Gen has taunted the Queen of Attolia too much. She knows she has to capture him and do something to maintain her power in her kingdom and not be overthrown. But the Queen of Eddis will not back down, and she will go to war for her Thief. \n The King of Sounis is afraid of Eugenides, but if the Queen of Attolia takes care of him, he can go to war against Eddis. And a different and powerful kingdom has its eyes in Attolia, Eddis and Sounis, and is trying to manipulate them. \n What an amazing book. The characters are even better than before. Gen becomes more mature and grows to be a great man, but he stills keeps a bit of that humor that I love. And we also get to see more of the queens, that we didn't get to know in the previous book, and they are definitively worth the time. \n The story is mainly politics, conspiracy, and war. But its all handled so well, that its not boring nor overpowering. \n My complain would be that I wasn't down much for the love part, or at least how it was handled. It was also a bit predictable. I would have also liked to see more of the Gods, as they were only tackled a bit at the end. \n But overall, a great read.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 30 10:22:56 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 20 08:27:29 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "15704486", "review_id": "0c1d3e1b7f1a69835cd4b4d17ece3706", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book, but I'm can't be objective about this book saga, because it's one of my favorites. Is it perfect? Hello no. Some things don't really make sense to me, and there were plot points where I felt the solution was corny and a bit predictable. I would have liked that the last 30-40 pages have their own book because it felt rushed. But I still loved it. \n I love the universe, the characters, and I loved the ending. It was everything I needed. It wasn't what I wanted, but you can't always get what you want. If it were for me, I would have a fourth book, about everything that comes next. I want to know what happens to the world and to every character. But the ending made sense, it came to a bit of an ironic full circle, but a happy one. And there were so many things that I didn't see comming! \n I didn't imagine at all Calamity's identity. Or his weakness. And David's powers... they are defitively fitting. \n Also, his dad in the parallel universe was such a happy surprise! \n I wanted to see what happens with Prof, because I don't know if he can ever forgive himself. Maybe he should also go to some other reality to talk to Tia? \n I want at least 3 more books about David and the gang fighting bad epics. And he forming a team of Epics that want to redeem themselves.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 30 06:30:44 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 20 10:08:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "23589225", "review_id": "54af592f6f5369205b6124223ab7a0f6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I received an electronic copy of this book by the author for an honest review. \n I liked this book. It is fast paced, and it got me hooked. Most things were a bit predictable, but the story wasn't about some big revelations, it was a simple and straight forward story. \n I would have wanted the pace to be a bit slower. I wanted to get to know the characters, to learn about them and see them interact more. The love also felt a bit rushed. \n I enjoyed the world, and would love to get to see more tribes in Animalia. \n I hope in the next book we get to know Kora, because I didn't really understand the origin of her feelings. \n Overall, I enjoyed it and would keep reading the series.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 30 04:18:50 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 30 04:33:10 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Mar 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "23846013", "review_id": "d3619f913e3df5fcc69e0d67f306fdee", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Careful: there are spoilers form the previous book! \n After Enzo's death, Adelina travels with her sister Violeta to find other elites that can join her in her fight against Teren and the queen. \n Meanwhile, the daggers join Meave, the queen of another country and lover of Lucent, in a quest to resuscitate Enzo and defeat the queen with the rightful heir. \n I loved this book so much. And I know I'm on the minority here, but I sided with Adelina in the first book and I sided with here most of the second book also. \n I think the daggers are hypocrites. There, I said it. Yes, Adelina didn't fully trust them in the previous book, but they didn't either. They feared her, distrusted her, and also betrayed her. I really don't understand why they judge others when they do the exact same things. Why do lives don't count when they kill? \n Adelina says that Enzo is willing to forgive the Daggers so quickly, and she is right. Their plan was just as horrible as her was. They, Enzo included, were willing to do whatever it takes and use whoever it takes to get what they wanted. I understand that somewhere along the way Adelina lost herself and turned into a villain, but she has powers that make her mad. They say that the difference between a hero and a villain is that both look for their happy ending, but the villain is willing to do whatever it takes to get it. I think this book is full of villains then. \n I just loved Magiano. I hope we get to see him more in the next book, and his relationship with Adelina evolves. I also liked Sergio, and while Violeta exasperates me, I liked her in the final chapter. \n I still don't like Rafaelle. I still think he makes horrible choices, and I cant see him as a hero. He knows that all the things he did were wrong, and gets used by Meave the whole book even if he doesn't agree with what he is doing. \n Anyway, I always contemplated the Batman idea that the only difference between a her and a villain is a bad day. And sometimes it is, but something that's not enough. Some people can make the right choices even if they get betrayed and are abused. Others are not that strong. What I liked about this book is that it makes you revaluate what you think about good and bad. It makes you question yourself, and I think that in the end, I maybe a villain in disguise! \n I'm scared for Adelina in the next book. I think that she's going to eventually come back from the darkness and sacrifice herself, either for someone she loves or to send Enzo's darkness back to where he belongs. I would love to be wrong, because it would be a bit predictable. I'll have to wait and see!", "date_added": "Fri Apr 24 05:57:03 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 20 10:30:05 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Apr 25 12:44:37 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "17332556", "review_id": "72fee8a5035005b7d5f7e7e9fb8a2fbc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Iolanthe is an elemental mage. She has great control of fire and water, a not so great control of earth, but no control over wind. In another time, elementals were respected and had power, but now, they have little to none power. But what she doesn't know, is that she can also control lightning. And that is going to change everything. \n I liked Iolanthe a lot. She is strong, smart, and can take care of herself. I wanted to see her using more magic and kicking some butts, so lets hope in the next book she gets to do that. \n Titus was also a nice surprise. He's not the typical love interest: he's smart, meticulous and powerful, but he's also scared and lonely. He knows he has no real power as a prince, and he knows he has little chance of succeeding in his fight, but he has faith. Faith in Iolanthe, and in his mother. \n I usually don't like books when the heroine pretends to be a guy, because it usually leads to weird love triangles and the whole story ends up revolving around situations where she almost gets discovered. But this is not that kind of book, so I was pleasantly surprised. \n Overall, even if half the book happens at school and there's not that much action, it didn't feel slow and I didn't get bored. I also enjoyed the writing and the setting. It felt a bit Harry Potterish in a way, but not so much as to feel it is the same story.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 23 14:51:08 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 20 10:13:15 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "20359719", "review_id": "3cabf83f34f09a30940c28f6debc0d98", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Iolanthe and Titus go back to school, feeling strong and confident about their mission. But destiny has a bit of a challenge to them, when it seems there is another great elemental, and he is the one that Titus's mother sees in her vision. \n I think I liked this one better than the first one, but there were some things I didn't quite like. First, was the fact that it alternated between the school and the dessert, one story in the past and the other one in the present. I get that it didn't revealed much, but I would have rather a linear story, because it did reveal enough for me to not take some things about the story seriously Like the fight between Iolanthe and Titus, and they \"we are going in separate ways\" thing. It didn't make any sense if they ended up in the dessert together! \n I liked the story, but what I liked the most was the fact that it planted some questions about destiny and prophecies, questions Titus didn't really asked himself. I was annoyed at how blind Titus was most of the book, and how he didn't question anything about the visions. But I liked the fact that it tackles the paradox that happens when you have a glimpse of the future: if you see something in the future, and you act so that it happens, was it really going to happen, or it did because of the vision? \n I also liked that at the end, there is no answer. And that they are fighting against the Bane not because they know they are going to win, and not because they are destined to. \n I did think some twist of the book were predictable, but others took me by surprise. And it also ends on a huge cliffhanger. Can't wait for the next book!", "date_added": "Thu Apr 23 14:51:04 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 20 10:13:01 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "17410991", "review_id": "b1903caf82bc748fc4b2898a687826b3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book picks up where the last one left us: (SPOILERS about the first two books ahead!!!) \n Titus and Iola are in the desert rebel's camp and are being under attack by Atlantis. They know now that Iola isn't supposed to defeat the Bane according to Titu's mother's visions, but they are willing to try anyway. With little time left and no real plan, they must enter Atlantis domain and kill the Bane without falling in his hands, because if they do, Iola will be sacrificed and the Bane's life will be prolonged. \n What a great way to end a trilogy. I have to admit, I read this too quickly, but I enjoyed it immensely. It was fast paced most of the time, it starts with a big battle and it ends with one. \n I loved every character. Iola and Titus were great, I loved their relationship. Iola is strong, determined, smart and powerful. She cares about her family and friends but she makes her own choices, and she lets them make their own too. Titus is the same: even if he wants to protect her, he lets her decide her own fate except when he drugged her, but he was out of his mind at that moment; and he knew it wouldn't really matter, but he had to at least try . I wanted them to have a happy ending together, even if fate seemed against them. I mean, I didn't want to believe either or both of them were going to die. Thank god I was right. \n I loved every secondary character: Kashkari was amazing though I wanted a happier ending for him. I knew he wouldn't end up with Amaram, but maybe he could learn to love her as a sister . Amaram was even more amazing; determined, strong and a fighter. I wish there were more female characters like her. Her sacrifice was so sad, but noble . I also loved the relationship between Master Heywood and Iola. It was so sweet... I knew he as going to sacrifice himself for her. But it made me happy that he could know that Iola was his friend's daughter and that he got to say goodbye. I was also sad about Mrs. Hancock. There were a lot of surprises at the end. The vision about Iola being about Amara, Iola not being Lady Calista's daughter, Commander Rainstone being an ally and in love with Titus mom! And Titus father being caught by the Bane I definitively didn't see any of that coming. \n Overall, I'm sad because its the end of a trilogy of boks that I loved, but it was a great ending.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 21 05:45:55 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 20 10:12:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Nov 20 08:25:19 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "17404295", "review_id": "961e0083b1d99d86daa66b398f7fc76a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Now that Angra is gone (presumably dead) and Meira is the queen of a free Winter, she finds herself and her kingdom in control of Cordel. Her kingdom is so fragile and weak that Noam (Cordel's king) inteds to use them to find the magic chasm in Winter's mines and make himself even more powerful. But the chams is locked, so Meira and Theron travel to Summer, Yakim and Ventrulli to find the keys needed to open it. Theron wants to open the chasm, give magic to everyone and unite the 8 countries in a peace treaty, but Meira knos that magic used in the wrong way feeds the Decay and inteds to keep the chasm closed. Her real reasons for the travel are to find allies that would help her stop Cordel from taking over her country. \n I hated this book. Maybe hate is not the word, but I did not enjoy it. I hated all the characters. Every single one of them. Yes, even Nessa. They wer all so scared of losing the little freedom they gained that were not able to predict anything. They had no ideas, no plans, nothing. Sir was a ghost of who he used to be, and don't even get me started on Theron, Mather and Meira. The three of them have all this inner strugles that make no sense, they are so selfcentered in trying to help others that it pained me to read them. \n Meira is so selfabsorved and selfish, even if she believes that she actually cares about her country, that I wanted to yell at her the whole book. \n I did not see the revelation comming Theron being under Angra's and the Decay influence, and killing Noam but I hated it. It didn't make the character darker, it didn't really make any sense at all and it goes to show you that an unexpected twist isn't always right. Theron is supposed to be strong in his own way, and to care about Meira more than that. Am I to believe that Angra broke him because of his mother's death? That his desire to unite the world is stronger that his desire to not hurt his loved ones? \n Overall, I feel so discouraged by this book that it makes me wonder if I should keep reading the series.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 21 05:39:52 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue May 03 12:47:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue May 03 12:47:14 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "21569527", "review_id": "b0110d262807031c67741ae1977febe4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "WARNING: This review contains spoilers from the first book in the series. \n Lia has finally arrived at Venda, but now she's more at danger than ever. The Konomizar, the ruler of Venda, has decided that she may be of value and plans to use her as a pawn in his power games. Kaden just wants to keep her alive, but his loyalties still lay with his country. Rafe promised he's rescuing Lia, and that his best four men are coming to infiltrate in the castle and save them; he just needs to have more time. But Lia is starting to nurture her gift and wont sit tight while everyone else uses her as a tool. \n I enjoyed this book. It took me a while to remember every character and everything that happened, but once I did I could once again connect with the characters. I enjoyed watching the reality of Venda through Lia's eyes and to see her change her preconceived ideas. The other's pov where nice, except with Pauline: I would have liked to see her taking more action. I get that she is pregnant, but they are not really doing anything really. I guess is just a way for us to know that the queen and Lia's brothers are being manipulated by the chancellor. I guess we'll know more next book, but it was painful to see the princes distrusting their sister. \n I love Rafe, and i like Kaden. Both characters are sweet and in love, but one is willing to do anything for Lia and the other is just way too naive and biased to really make an impact. I'm dying to see how things progress, since Lia definitely chose Rafe, and doesn't love Kaden the same way. I want to know what Kaden vision mean, if she is meant to be with him... maybe that means that Rafe will die. \n I liked Lia in this book. She is strong and stands up for herself every time. She is impulsive at times and a bit naive and irrational, but she is smart and stands firm for what she believes. At times I didn't agree with her actions, but she didn't rub me the wrong way like other selfish main characters of other series. \n The end of the book was a bit rushed, or maybe I read it too quickly. I can't believe The Konomizar killed Aster... but I loved that she took revenge. Finally he was dead! It's a shame she won't stay, I would have loved to see Lia as a Konomizar. Now Rafe and Lia are alone and she has two arrows in her chest!!! Talk about a cliffhanger", "date_added": "Mon Apr 20 21:53:46 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 20 10:13:33 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Nov 14 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "16429619", "review_id": "d857eca787f828c38cc64545ce8b82db", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really liked this book. Lia is a princess, but she's way more than that, and all she wants is to be free. So she and her best friend run away to a little town, just barely outside the kingdom's grasp. And that's when her new life starts. \n Lia is a character that I liked. I didn't agree with all her choices, but she's smart and she stands up for herself. I also enjoyed her friendship with Pauline and the other women that work at the inn. It is nice to see women helping and caring for each other. We got to stick together! \n We've got two other pov: The Prince and The Assassin, both interested in our heroine. We also have two names, Rafe and Kaden, but we don't know who is who. And I have to say, I guessed wrong. I really thought she had fallen for the assassin, but I was glad Rafe was the Prince. It's the simpler way, but who cares? \n At first I cared more for Kaden than Rafe, and didn't get why Lia favored Rafe. But I changed my mind as the book progressed. \n The book isn't fast paced but I enjoyed it. It also gets a bit more exiting at the last chapters. It ends in a huge cliffhanger, and I can't wait to see how the story continues!", "date_added": "Mon Apr 20 21:52:39 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 20 10:13:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "10576365", "review_id": "177ee84995c3c08e5a994bea80a712cc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The United States has been infected with a disease that most kills kids between 12 and 18. But the ones that survive, mutate in a way that they gain some sort of powers. The government took the kids that survived (with the permission of his parents or not) into camps that supposedly can rehabilitate the kids, but in reality they just lived oppressed. The kids are divided in color: green are the super smart ones, blue the ones with telekinesis, yellow the ones that can control electricity, red the ones that control fire, and orange the ones that can use mind powers. Ruby is an orange, but is living in a camp as a green. She is scared of her powers, of the monster that she believes she is and what her powers accidentally did to her loved ones. \n I LOVED this book. A dystopian book about super powers? Count me in! \n What I liked about this book: the world, the setting, the characters, the powers. I loved Ruby; she was strong, smart, but flawed. She exasperated me at times but not to the point of disliking her. I also loved Liam, Chubs and Zu. Liam was perfect, sweet and strong but also reckless and sincere. He was a lovable flawed love interest. I hope we see every character develop even more in the next books. \n And then there is Clancy. What a fascinating character. I had a feeling he was going to turn out to be an antagonist, but I didn't anticipate him being likable, in a way that you hate him but also enjoy reading about him. \n I can't wait to see how the story continues!", "date_added": "Wed Dec 24 04:12:16 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 20 10:08:24 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Dec 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Dec 24 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "18040335", "review_id": "2c09986346f956ff46717f18dab757dd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I enjoyed this book. I loved the prologue, but the first chapters were... boring. I felt like Maggie was strong but also really submissive and I couldn't stand her boyfriend. I agree with her, love is not about controlling. Also, the cult thing was treated superficially. \n Then, there was this thing when she loses her buss, when she Almost gets raped that I felt was unnecessary and should have been worked more deeply. \n At the beginning, I could understand why Maggie left her home (but I think she did it in a horrible way). It was hard for me to connect with the characters at first, but I ended up liking them. I just wish they develop more, because they seem a bit flat so far. But I liked the story, and I wanted to know how the magic story would develop. I hope there is more of it in the next books. \n Overall, I liked it, and I want to know what happens next, specially after that ending!!! Is Maggie pregnant?? Is it Michael's???", "date_added": "Wed Dec 03 11:02:11 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 06 09:08:50 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "9067850", "review_id": "7871fbd635aedbe68eba253c95a64cd6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Even with a truce between the god of evil Set and the Kane brothers, they still need to face the fact that the god of chaos Apophis is about to break free and swallow the world. They plan to bring back Ra, the god of the sun, even is the other Gods and the magicians oppose them. Horus has given Carter a clue to how to bring back Ra from retirement, so they start the journey as always: being chased by crazy egyptians gods, evil magicians plotting with demons, and gods that want to over run them. \n I really liked Jaz and Walt. I REALLY wanted to know what was the matter with Walt, because I was rooting for him. Don't get me wrong, I like Anubis, but I don't see how he could date Sadie. \n I still like Carter, and Bast, and I loved some new characters: Bes and Tawaret were awesome to imagine and super fun to read. \n Sadie is just as annoying and selfish as ever, and Carter's whole Zia thing felt a bit selfish too. But I guess she has a bigger part to play in the next book. I hope she develops a bit more as a character, because I liked her in the first book. \n I was really tempted to stop reading after book one, but I like some characters enough to want to know how they develop. I just wish I didn't have to read Sadie's chapters. And that there were more adults that made sense.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 11 12:29:51 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 17 04:16:23 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "9462812", "review_id": "3c941d63efd196ff4ec061a3d340a89b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Kate and her sister have recently moved to Paris to live with their grandparents, after losing their parents in an accident. They both have a different way of grieving, as Kate spends most of her time reading, going to museums and her sister partying and spending time with friends. But one day, she notices a really handsome man, and he notices her. And her whole world changes. \n I liked Kate most of the time. But her relationship with Vincent felt rushed and a bit forced. It wasn't instalove exactly, but it wasn't far from it either. \n I didn't liked her sister much. I get that she is naive and has a different way of coping with their parents death, but her decisions were almost too naive and it felt like she was a one dimensional character made just for the plot of the book. \n I loved the Paris setting, and I was exited about the Angels aspect of the story, but was a bit disappointing. The whole book felt like a different version of Twilight. But with a less annoying heroine. Even the creepy stalking is there. \n Don't know if I will continue with the series.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 10 18:48:45 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 17 04:18:03 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "448873", "review_id": "4a0900b904ee12bc1b1f460e688e3361", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Gen is in a prison. Everyone think he is a fool, because, who would steal from the king, and then brag about it in a bar? But the King's adviser sees in him the opportunity to use him as a thief, and go in the search of an item that would give his kingdom the power they need to fight the war against the neighborhood kingdoms. \n I loved this book. I enjoyed the gods and the old religion. The stories along the way were great, it didn't feel like they slowed the pace at all. \n Gen is an amazing character, funny, smart, resourceful, and did I say funny? \n I kinda suspected some of the twists, or at least I was hoping I was right, so it didn't came as a big surprise. But it did surprised me a bit, and the story was strong enough to be interesting the whole way.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 08 16:00:11 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 17 04:17:23 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Nov 20 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "46202", "review_id": "8d60342e197f0637944e4c583ebf7e3f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Yelena has to leave Ixia, so now she's traveling with Iris to find her family and to explore her birth country. She has to start training to control her powers, even if they don't know what those are. But there are some girls being murdered, and she finds herself trying to help to catch the guy responsible for it. But when she discovers her powers are one of a kind, she may be the killer's next target. \n I liked this book, but not as much as the first one. \n I think the problem was that most of the characters were a bit too annoying. , Roze, Leif, and Yelena herself. She's too reckless, and it always works out in the end, but I'm kinda over her \"on my own\" attitude. It made sense in the first book, but now it's just annoying... I guess old habits die hard? \n The parents were great, I loved them. I also loved Nutty. And Valek, Janko, Ari and Kiki are still amazing. They get most of my stars.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 03 08:32:02 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 30 07:13:22 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Nov 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "7736182", "review_id": "b1fd51d09af15c8efe47c36ef434f97e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Jason wakes up one day in the back of a school bus, with his girlfriend Piper and his best friend Leo seating by his side, going on a field trip. The problem is, he doesn't remember anything before this moment, but he is pretty sure he's not a student and he doesn't know these people. But where did he come from, and why does everyone think hes been a student in the school for months? \n This book has 3 pov, so the story is told by Jason, Piper and Leo. I didn't enjoy that much, because I usually prefer one point of view. \n I felt I couldn't connect with Jason. He's lacking personality, and I felt him boring. What I loved about Percy was his sense of humor, his sarcasm and how warm and genuine he was. Jason was just a nice, stoic guy. \n What I enjoyed the most was seeing the camp again for the first time, seeing it with someone else's eyes. But I didn't really connect with the new characters, and I found myself just wanting to see more of the characters I already love. \n I thought the reveal was predictable, and that this book falls short to the first series of books. At the end of the day, I like the universe and I would keep reading, but to me it was just a introduction book.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 02 14:12:40 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 30 08:14:56 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Oct 31 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "7090447", "review_id": "fc70dac87df21ee3be40edaf3d8756ba", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Carter and Sadie must save the word from Set, the god of Evil, after they discover they are magicians and his dad has become Osiris to try to manage the underworld. Their uncle Amos takes them to brooklyn and together they must confront the magicians that oppose them and fight against Set. \n After reading the Percy Jackson books, I definitely want to read more of Rick Riordan's books. I LOVED the Percy Jackson and the Olympians saga, but the Kane Chronicles felt a bit childish to me. The adults in these books were ridiculous. It felt way too childish, wich probably means I'm a bit old for these books. Don't get me wrong, I think they are cute, but the fact that there is not a prophecy or something else to explain the fact that the world depends on who little kids makes it a bit hard to swallow. That, and how childish one of the point of views is (I'm looking at you Sadie). I liked Carter, and I also liked secondary characters like Anubis and Bast, but couldn't stand Sadie. \n Maybe I just like greek mythology more.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 24 18:25:49 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 05 11:45:57 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Oct 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "17399160", "review_id": "5684501540c383d702982eeaec07f81f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Meira wants to be a soldier. She wants to fight for her people, that are being oppressed and have become mostly slaves. And she wants to protect her best friend, the heir to the throne and the guy she's in love with, even if they can't be together. But it seems the only way she can help is to be sold as a bride, so they can have an army to fight against the Spring Kingdom. She's part of the 8 people that escaped from slavery, and its up to them to free the people of the Kingdom of Winter. \n I enjoyed this book a lot. It reminded me a bit of Finnikin of the Rock, which I loved; but that also meant that it became predictable. \n I really like the main character, she's strong and smart. I just think the world is a bit simple, and I think the \"big revelation\" is way too predictable, so that was disappointing. I don't know if it is because I've read similar books or if the author gives too many hints, but since the way the beginning it was pretty clear. Fortunately, I loved the world and the characters, and the story is strong, so I wanted to keep reading. \n There is a love triangle, but it wasn't the main aspect of the book. Personally I liked Theron more. I think Mather is a bit too stiff and also, Theron thinks of her more, and respects her. Its not that Mather is a bad guy, and I liked him at first, but after he sold Meira, even if he wanted to \"fix it\", It just wasn't the same. \n I can't wait to read the second book!", "date_added": "Wed Oct 22 06:19:41 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 20 10:13:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Nov 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Nov 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "60510", "review_id": "3a3d028d5ff8d30a2ce8e32da69dc762", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved this book, it had everything: a great main character, strong and smart, an interesting plot, intrigue, a love story that wasn't the focus of the whole thing, some superpowers and some funny but loyal sidekicks. \n The pacing was nice. It wasn't fast paced, but I didn't get bored. \n The things I didn't like were that the \"bad guys\" were absolutely bad, they were twisted ad sadics, and felt a little flat. I hoped there was more of a twist, that there was some sort of traitor, but it was really predictable. \n Also, the commander ways seem really extreme, not making any exception EVER doesn't seem realistic. Also, he turning out to be a woman seemed irrelevant and I don't feel it was explored correctly. \n Valek was also a great character. Strong, smart, loyal but also secretive. I definitively want more Valek! \n The books does have some cruelty and hard things. It is not for everyone.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 17 06:13:47 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 17 04:18:08 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "20821111", "review_id": "e6600a216e50b53203c70307e80825cc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved this book. The pace was just right, the writing was easy and really got me hooked. \n But beside the story, that was awesome, what I liked the most was that it made me question what I think a heroine and a villain are, if it really all depends of your point of view. \n I didn't really knew I was reading from a villain pov until the end of the book. And I still feel Adelina isn't really a villain. But maybe every villain is just someone that has suffered too much. \n Anyway, I loved Adelina. I loved that even after having a horrible childhood, she still loved her sister. Her father favored Violetta, and lets face it, Violeta did betray her a couple of times, even if she meant well. . What I didn't liked were her decisions. But I guess that when you are raised the way she was, you don't trust people much. \n About her powers She has a dark side, that was nurtured by her father, and it seems to feed her powers. I don't know if that is the only way for her to become strong. Is she inevitably going to be a villain? It makes you wonder, are her powers a sign that she was born with darkness, or did she acquire that type of powers because of the childhood she had? \n I loved Enzo, but I didn't liked Raffaelle. I felt he was an hypocrite, he and the rest of the young elites. But I loved that about the book, the fact that the good guys were willing to do whatever it takes, even killing innocents, to get Enzo in the throne. It goes to show you that even the \"good guys\" have a dark side, even if they are fighting for the greater good. \n I can't wait to see how the story continues!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 16 17:10:51 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 17 04:18:11 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Oct 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Oct 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "17182126", "review_id": "eda6e5a664572e62481aec8ff00fcda1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "When Calamity came, people with superpowers started appearing. David's father thought that some of them would use their powers for good, that they would defend the world and create a better one. He was wrong. \n Ten years later, David wants to kill Steelheart, the most powerful Epic and the ruler of his city. He seems invincible, but David knows he must have a weakness, like every other Epic. And he is the only one that can find out what it is, since he's the only person that has seen him bleed. \n But to do this, he needs the help of the Reckoners, a group that fights against the Epics that dominate the world. He has a plan, he has knowledge, and he is ready. \n I loved this book. I love this type of science fiction, and the premise of the book was amazing. Fortunately, the rest of the book delivered. \n I enjoyed the characters, the story, the setting and specially the superpowers. I saw some twists coming, but others took me by surprise. And I definitively couldn't guess the weakness, even if it was a bit anticlimactic. \n Can't wait to read the second book!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 26 13:30:53 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 20 10:29:26 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "21851568", "review_id": "26981d5f5b11c1c685593f571b28ad75", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Cecile is living with her mother and singing in the theater. She has a cold relationship with her mother but she seeks for her aproval. Meanwhile, Tristan is a prisoner below the mountain and is almost dying. Cecile makes a promise to Tristan's father to find Anushka and free the trolls in exchange that they release Tristan a treat him better. Meanwhile, Tristan see that there is much more happening in Trollus that it seems, and tries to amend all the damage that he has done. \n This books is told both by Tristan and Cecile's pov (one chapter each). I really liked reading Tristan's pov because he is smart and kind and is really trying his best. But I hated Cecile. I really did. Which sucks, because I liked her in the first book. She was so easy to manipulate, so reckless and blind that it made me mad most of the time. I know this is YA, but just because she is young she doesn't have to be so selfish and childish. Her desitions were awful and you could just tell that it was the wrong thing to do. That made her extremely annoying to read. \n The big revelation was so obvious that it was kinda like waiting for the characters to catch up. There are SO many hints and the main characters were so blind that it exasperates me (except for Tristan, who can see it quite quickly but it's already too late). The fact that her mother wasn't really her mother was kinda a revelation, but it was obvious after his father talked about her big change of mind about him and her relationshiop with her mother. But that she was Anushka was as clear as day since moment one. \n But I think the thing that most annoyed me was how both main characters can't comunicate. Or at least they choose not to comunicate with each other. Most of the trouble could have been avoided if they just stoped protecting each other and themselves and just talked. Like, stop lying and keeping things and work things out together. But no, Cecile seems to be incapable of trusting people, and makes whatever desition she sees fit by herself, even if it involves other people. I've seen this type of character before, and it just ruins the whole series. \n I would read the next book to see how the story develops, but this was such a dissapointment that I don't expect much anymore.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 14 18:06:01 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 07 09:26:04 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat May 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "4932435", "review_id": "722fcf15f9ed9fdf5be4e0f9d1e1a3b8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "When Finnikin was just a child, he had a dream. Someone told him that he needed to make a blood pact with his too best friends, the prince of his kingdom and future king, Balthazar, and his cousin. What he didn't know was that this pact would change everything. \n His kingdom was invaded, the royal family murdered, and a curse fell in his kingdom. The people that escaped can't come back, and stays in survivors camps, dying of hunger and diseases and the people inside are trapped, under a dictatorship government, that rape and murders its citizens. \n The only hope is to find Balthazar, who's body was never found, so he can lift the curse and free his kingdom. So Finnikin and Sir Topher start a journey guided by a girl called Evanjalin. She seems to have dreams of the prince, and most of all, she has hope. \n This book became one of my favorites. It has amazing characters, an amazing story and a intriguing world. There's not much else to say. \n I would like to warn that it is a strong book. There is slavery, death, rape and other strong subjects.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 26 06:28:10 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 20 10:08:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "301082", "review_id": "abb08a11d4144f2da5343af9a007eb30", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked this book. The main character is great, which is really important to me. I like how the whole vampire business is handled, and I also like the love part of it (its not crazy weird love, its normal dating and attraction). I also enjoyed the murder mystery, I suspected who the killer was but wasn't so sure. Its well written and enjoyable. I'll definitively read more books in the series.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 16:02:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 07 16:04:37 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "b45438e345a7f22d9b68db3c55f1ea44", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is a good YA series in my opinion. It has its faults, but I really enjoyed it (specially the other books in the saga) and I liked the characters. They can be annoying at sometimes, and there where definitively times when I tough about burning the book, but after reading the first 3 books (in which you have some sort of story closure, even if they re-pick it later) I was left with a nice feeling about the saga. Definitively worth a try. If you find its not for you, that's ok too.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 15:59:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 07 16:10:43 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "6644117", "review_id": "6521c8296daa80495e569cdaad0b177f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Just ok. Liked the characters but Ash, didn't like the world or the ending. So, not for me.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 15:55:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 07 15:58:57 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "2282133", "review_id": "eeec8596832810ee60b64d4f077773ad", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Well, I didn't like this book. The first one was ok, and this one is a little bit worse, but still, not my taste. But again, its just my opinion. I will quote Bookworm because I have to agree with him: \n \"The plot wasn't particularly original or interesting for me. In fact, I couldn't care less about how the whole series ends. The romance was stupid. The only reason she loves Dimitri is because of his hotness and how they \"understand each other\" or something, which I didn't buy. All the characters were flat and annoying, except Mason.\". That is kinda how I felt. Except I like Rose a little bit, she is strong and cares about her friends. It is true that sometimes she can be annoying and arrogant, but at least she isn't hopeless or boring. However, the books just didn't cut it for me. But then again, I may give it another chance in a while and read it one more time, this time finishing the saga.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 15:06:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 07 15:11:01 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "345627", "review_id": "43071828e7301d892dea53c97509e022", "rating": 2, "review_text": "So, I didn't like this book. Its just not for me. I think its better that the second one, but still, I expected more. \n I liked Rose, shes tough and independent, but I didn't like the love story at all. Neither her best friend. Its an ok book, and I cant precise why it didn't make me crazy for it, but it just didn't. I respect however is you loved it, and I think is way better than other YA books I've read. But I liked The Mortal Instruments saga way better. I would still give it another chance, maybe in a couple of months, and see if I can read it again and finish the saga. Maybe I just had way too big expectations, but I guess it just wasn't my style.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 14:59:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 07 15:05:36 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "13496", "review_id": "2a51e0ad8d4c311d5d9eb79344e5594d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really liked this book. I haven't read a lot of fantasy books, so maybe this is more of the same, but to me it is really good. I like how every character is real, not all good or all bad, but human. They all look out for their interest, because it is a game of thrones. And they all want something (power, money, etc.). So, even if there aren't any \"good guys\", you still find yourself liking some characters, and rooting for them. \n I also liked how its like every person in this books is \"alone\". And I don't mean it as alone alone, but more like they feel alone. There isn't really any character that is truly happy or finds true happiness, but I thinks that's mainly because of the whole game of power the \"kings\" must endure. Still, I think the book is well written and will definitively read the other books in the saga. I recommend it!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 13:20:03 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 07 18:10:26 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "2", "review_id": "d07af9071aff33682b199201ef6e1fd3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "First of all, Im in love with these books since I was 12 years old, and I got my first book for Christmas. I was hooked then, and I am still now, several years, books, movies and theme parks later. Once piece of me will always dream about this magical world, and Hogwarts will always be my home. \n Having said that, this is my favorite book of the saga. I just love how the plot gets darker and more serious, as Harry and his friends get older. He gets to know more about his parents and this army that fought and still fights against Voldemort, and now he is part of it. \n The only thing I didn't like is this whole dreams thing. This connection he shares with Voldemort is taken way too lightly, because even if he is learning to close his mind, Dumbledore should have realize it was going to be used against them, and do more about it. At least tell Harry that not everything he see was always going to be the true, and that Voldi could make use of it. So when the final fight starts I was kind of disappointed in Harry as well. And I cried and cursed Rowling. But again, who wouldn't?", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 13:20:01 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 20 10:09:06 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "15881", "review_id": "779cf0d87f027c9338b8477c9329adb6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "First of all, Im in love with these books since I was 12 years old, and I got my first book for Christmas. I was hooked then, and I am still now, several years, books, movies and theme parks later. Once piece of me will always dream about this magical world, and Hogwarts will always be my home. \n Having said that, this is one of my least favorite books in the saga. Its not my least because its not as boring as the Half-Blood Prince, but its close. Its still a good book, I just didn't enjoy as much the Tom Riddle story as I probably should have. But one can't help but be happy to be in that magic world again, with all those lovable characters.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 13:19:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 25 16:14:13 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "136251", "review_id": "0d5d043fa82b6cf27110733342eaa23c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "First of all, Im in love with these books since I was 12 years old, and I got my first book for Christmas. I was hooked then, and I am still now, several years, books, movies and theme parks later. Once piece of me will always dream about this magical world, and Hogwarts will always be my home. \n Having said that, this books is sort of a puzzle. It break from the structure of the other books, because its not on Hogwarts. You may say that the first part is long and boring, but its filled with the feelings of being independent, alone, trying to figure out what to do. Its about being out there, in the world, and how hard it can be. There is some action now and there, but its not what this part of the book is about. Then it starts happening. We get to new places, we learn new stories, and people start dying. Just like in the real world, in these kind of \"silent and cold\" wars, we start losing dear friends and loved ones. We finally get to learn about Dumbledore's past, that while it made me sad, I think was appropriate. Then the books pick up its pace even more, until the end, that's filled with action everywhere, because it is a WAR. What happens at the end, while sad, was in my opinion, perfect. It was the only way to end the book so everything would make sense. I would never forget the talk with D at the train station, which reminds us of every talk they had at the end of every book. Maybe to some people this book was a disappointment because it didn't go the way they wanted, or it just didn't fill their expectations. I still find a bitter sweetness in it, but I wouldn't call it disappointment; just sadness that with this book, a part of me and my childhood is over.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 13:19:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 20 10:08:58 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "6", "review_id": "5087c6b00b73c2b41216455f6b79dc2b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "First of all, Im in love with these books since I was 12 years old, and I got my first book for Christmas. I was hooked then, and I am still now, several years, books, movies and theme parks later. Once piece of me will always dream about this magical world, and Hogwarts will always be my home. \n Having said that, I love this book. Its one of the books in which I had more fun, because of the competition and the new characters that invade Hogwarts. Its a shame that Ron gets so annoying sometimes, but there is always Hermione to the rescue! \n I really like the end also. Didn't suffer the lost of the character that dies so much, but it was still sad and I cursed Voldemort. I didn't suspect who was the infiltrate either, so it was a great surprise. One can also notice how much Rowling's type of writing evolves and matures every time she writes a new book. If you like the other books of this saga, then you will definitely love this one!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 13:19:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 07 14:07:21 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "1", "review_id": "9b8c03b86291a778ff7cc89e1507f2b6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "First of all, Im in love with these books since I was 12 years old, and I got my first book for Christmas. I was hooked then, and I am still now, several years, books, movies and theme parks later. Once piece of me will always dream about this magical world, and Hogwarts will always be my home. \n Having said that, this is my least favorite book. I enjoyed learning about Voldemort's past, but it took way too much of the book and the school year and it wasn't that much worth it. The other characters, Ron and Hermione, are flat and lack of any flavor; they just leave Harry alone and submerge themselves in a teen world filled of hormones. I really didn't like how they suddenly, form one book to another, are so superficial and blind, and cant care less about Harry and Voldemort. To me it just doesn't make any sense. \n I cried a lot at the end of this book. I know this had to happen, but it still huts when I think about it. But I knew the true from the beginning, I knew it couldn't be as Rowling was showing us and who was actually an allied in disguise. \n If you are expecting a book full of action, this is definitively not it. But this need to happen in order to give room to the final book, the one that changes everything. I just hoped it could have been more fun to read.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 13:19:46 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 20 10:27:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "3", "review_id": "6b9a0d9bac6ece0bd30abcf14b05a845", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This books touched me when I was 12. That's 12 years ago. Still expecting my Hogwarts letter though. I just love this new universe, this new reality filled with magic and creatures. I read this books so much times that sometimes I feel I went to that school and met all those people. The end of the school year used to make me as sad as it made Harry, but Hogwarts will always be my and every children's home.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 13:19:34 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 20 10:29:38 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "832ade83b0c606e3d8202c2574e4c33d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ok, So I know this book is about nothing but a silly, senseless love story, but I still enjoyed it. Its not well written and has MANY flaws, but I'm a romantic and like some parts of the book. Specially the end, when there is finally some action (even if is way too far-fetched). However, I get that this isn't one of the best books of all times, not even of the month, but I think its enjoyable and anyteen would fall in love with the book, even if it doesn't make any sense.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 13:18:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 07 15:27:09 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "49041", "review_id": "9eff6c1fc407ab490fe0dc00cae2ba19", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I think there is not much more to say about this book. Bella starts to get more and more annoying, being selfish and all. She uses Jacob, falls into a depression caused of the most senseless type of love ever, and finally reunites with Edward. The end. \n Well, I did like the beginning. We all have been heart broken, and those feelings were well portrayed. And I like the whole \"no one understands how deeply in love we were\" thing. I've felt it, and it wasn't anything meant to be or paranormal, it was just a teen's first love. \n I also enjoyed learning about the werewolves life, and history. I liked the new characters, and the whole wolves attitude. But then again, Bella keeps getting stupider and stupider, and is sooo in love that doesn't care for anyone, not even herself. She is doing everything she isn't supposed to: giving Jacob hope, just because it makes her fell better, and exposing herself to danger, to \"see\" Edward (by the way, wtf was that about?). I liked when they reunite, because I though that once together again, she would be herself again, and stop being so annoying and selfish. But oh no, this was just getting worse. I really have no idea why Meyer wanted to make Bella develop into such a worthless character, or Edward too for that matter, but oh well. Anyway, probably a teen will love this book, but as an adult, I wont recommend it.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 13:18:46 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 07 15:37:46 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "428263", "review_id": "4b30c4a12b13aefcb0798a21a5c74dd8", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Oh annoying and selfish Bella, why did I ever liked you? I really don't get why, to make things more complicated in the love department, Meyer makes of the main character the more selfish, disgusting and insufferable person of all times. You may wonder, why did I read this saga, if I don'r like it? I don't want to offend anyone by this critique, I respect anyone who enjoyed this book. But to me, a true heroine is one that fights and sacrifice herself for the ones she loves, that would do anything to see her friends and family happy, and that speaks her mind and wants to take actions to change the things that are wrong. But here, all I find is everyone protecting her, as she only thinks of what she wants and cant care about anyone else at all. Well, she says she cares, but can't do anything to stop making Edward and Jacob suffer, or help her new family fighting vampires. I do like other characters, so I finished this saga to see what happens with them, but its really sad for me that Meyer's opinion of love is so passionate yet lacking of any real care for one another.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 13:18:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 07 14:39:23 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "1162543", "review_id": "4a12c61432c161e8d0942849c260ab43", "rating": 2, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Spoiler alert! \n I did not like this book, so if you are a fan, the you wont like my opinion. \n So Bella and Edward get married, go on their honeymoon, she gets pregnant, they have the baby, she becomes a vampire, everyone is happy. Then the bad vampires want the baby dead, so they have to protect her building up a great team of vampires and werewolves. I will say how it ends, and I will talk about my feelings about it. \n First of all, there are some things that I did like. The fact that Rosalie and Bella team up made me happy, mainly because I like when family gets along. But I think that's about it. \n This books is awful. Everything ends up waay to perfect and everyone is happy. And I mean EVERYONE. Not even one sad face in any of the main characters. Everyone is happy, in love, etc. Not even Jacob, who was part of the love triangle, ends up alone. And Bella's father took this whole vampire thing way too easy to my taste. But guess what? He has someone to love now too, so who cares right? So, she basically isn't giving up anything by becoming a vampire, because she can still have a child, see her parents and friends (not that she has that many) and she can control her thirst better than anyone. To top it all, she is more graceful and beautiful than ever, and she can live hapilly every day and have sex all night long. Well, so much for learning something right? Lets just get married at 18, and everything will be perfect!! \n Now lets talk about the main couple. They are sick. Bella is the most annoying and selfish person I've ever read, and most of the time I hated her fiercely. And Edward is still sulking about the fact that he hurt her once, so now he is powerless and just does whatever Bella wants. I really miss the old Edward, the one that was passionately in love but still could think and act accordingly. \n The fact that half of the book is about an upcoming war that actually never happens makes me really mad. At least the other books had some action at the final chapters, but not this one. \n So, imo, this book its just ok/bad. I had to read it, because I wanted to know how the story ended (there were no movies at the time) but it left me really disappointed and feeling like I wasted my time.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 12:58:26 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 11 14:06:28 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8c86e725d683042e9eec675f294d7d4", "book_id": "27266", "review_id": "a1066d38c2de11aa8362e7b517048f75", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved this book. Frist of all, I've got to say I enjoy reading SOME YA books and this is one of them. So don't expect it to be about life or something. Yeah, its got vampires, but in a different wa than Twilight, so lets not even compare the two of them. I've read some complains about the main character, Claire, and how she is dumb or annoying, like she doesnt question anything. But having read lots of YA supernatural books, I actually think this is one of the most unselfish, grounded, intelligent and less annoying of all the heroines out there (or most of them, anyway). She is smart, so when she sees there is something wrong with the town, it doesn't take her too much time to figure out they are telling the true, so why questioning? And then they talk about not going back to her hometown. Well, thats manly because if you know the town's secret, you cant leave. So there. But hey, we all have different tastes, so maybe you wont like it. I personally really enjoyed this book!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 09:14:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 07 09:29:03 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e978af350d7d1a5112ad44f4ca76fb49", "book_id": "13075659", "review_id": "3ebe91a2800908235b7590015c3430a2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fun light read... finished in a day... about a woman going back to confront her past regarding something brutal that happened to her 15 years ago. True to Kay's writing style, it was set in a small town in NC and had a ton of the forests in the setting. Interesting twist towards the end, which I really didn't expect. Differentially not a let down and really enjoyed! It's been to long!", "date_added": "Sun Mar 03 15:26:11 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 03 15:29:00 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Mar 03 15:29:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e978af350d7d1a5112ad44f4ca76fb49", "book_id": "13624688", "review_id": "979f4e1d0264f25958444c8330e1e89f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great, inspirational story which reminds you in such a busy time that you need to stop counting the moments and ensure that you are living to the fullest.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 10 09:19:32 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 10 09:21:27 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Feb 10 09:21:27 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e978af350d7d1a5112ad44f4ca76fb49", "book_id": "11785468", "review_id": "91f9c6d2cf7d3e0afede62ef79cb80dd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great author.., good to see something new from her. Really enjoyed the characters, lots going on in the book, hope it is the start of a new series for her!", "date_added": "Mon Jun 18 18:33:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 18 18:34:08 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e978af350d7d1a5112ad44f4ca76fb49", "book_id": "599957", "review_id": "4dcfcc1f31ab463bb5734f43d838a09a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great ending which I never expected! Kay Hooper is one of my favorites!", "date_added": "Mon Jun 18 17:59:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 18 18:01:04 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "23f16345b6c5c505ffcfaedb334200d1", "book_id": "6294", "review_id": "02c957fa515cc845cf919855a960e25a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is an awesome book, original and entertaining from the start till the end. I looooovvve Howl and Sophie, and all the other characters. I highly recommend this for younger readers, though I enjoyed it anyway. Much better than the movie, which I watched after reading the book. This is a wonderful story.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 17 02:38:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 17 02:48:44 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f82b98e4366c70c20f26b66c6f55403", "book_id": "8739989", "review_id": "be5931b10cb267ffbffdf8431dee3b2a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The book had a really good story line and idea. But the beginning was extremely hard to follow and get into. There were so many different things going on and they would be very short stories. I was able to get a general idea and understanding of where the author was going though. But I wasn't able to get emotionally involved until I was 60% invested into the book and then it ended. \n Again the idea the book was written on was very catchy! But the organization or the lack of information was just to frustrating when the ebook cost me $11. \n So I will not be getting the sequel. But I am very glad that in purchasing this novel that sum of the money will be donated to the ISF!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 20:47:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 13 13:15:53 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f82b98e4366c70c20f26b66c6f55403", "book_id": "30187", "review_id": "00d38fe653e29ac858be195e30e5b347", "rating": 5, "review_text": "My favorite book! I would call it first an adventure than a romance. The main characters personality is a blast! The main character is about 30ish not skinny and she loves red wine! \n This is a book that will always be in \"reading\" status. \n The cover shown on here really doesn't do it justice. The copy I purchased years ago at a book store had a very different, modern looking cover. I'm not sure I would have picked this book out myself, then based on the cover shown for it on this sight.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 19:29:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 13 13:31:07 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "07fb543fa483ec58744d4ef35612b619", "book_id": "25033829", "review_id": "7dea8af618129fda3361c0dc4f0f83d7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Disclaimer: I received an ARC to read and review honestly. No other compensation was offered nor accepted. \n I am definitely a fan of Shrum's 'Jesse Sullivan' series! This latest installment was yet another great trip and a revealing journey into the series back story. A ton of information is covered and you just get more emotionally attached to these characters. \n My only disappointment was the 'lack' of Jesse, she really is the core personality of the story and I am looking forward to spending more time with her in future books but I do appreciate getting the back story in this compelling and creative way. I'll miss Brinkley though. \n Can't wait for more of the 'Dying' crew!!", "date_added": "Fri Mar 27 08:03:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 20 07:06:06 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "07fb543fa483ec58744d4ef35612b619", "book_id": "22840764", "review_id": "bb668deec5c406b4fffa57e15328802a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Review: \n Jesse's back and still as sassy as she was in her debut 'Dying for a Living'. The sarcasm is spot on and the authentic, clever dialog is quite entertaining. There is a bit more emotional drama and darker story lines to explore but a great balance from our witty characters. \n The story is fast paced and intriguing, even more so in the second installment as we learn more about Jesse's father and his intentions for Jesse's inner circle and the Necronite population. There is a good splash of intrigue and mystery when it comes to Gabriel and why he is haunting Jesse but there is also some very emotional back story revealed, prepare yourself. \n New to the second book is the multiple perspectives. Shrum now changes POV continuously so the reader can puzzle together the story from different characters while getting to know them more intimately. This did take some getting used to since book one was all from Jesse's perspective but not a bad change. \n One small challenge was the lack of back story from book one. There was not much revisiting or in story reference to the events and characters from 'Dying for a Living' even though the story picks up several months after the first book. You may want to reread Book One before diving into Book Two just as a refresher to avoid confusion. \n Overall, I love Jesse and her crew. Shrum writes real people into her characters even if some of them are 'zombies', sorry for the language. The world she's created is as believable and authentic as are her characters. She intertwines real world emotional situations that are often avoided in the genre. Looking forward to more!", "date_added": "Sat Aug 09 09:12:27 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 28 06:46:30 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "07fb543fa483ec58744d4ef35612b619", "book_id": "20645968", "review_id": "4e418fb2e5f0190769578ad92a865130", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was fantastic entertainment. Not often does reading words make me laugh out loud, but I did several times on this adventure. The story is fast paced, clever and the dialog is witty and real. Can't wait for more from Jesse Sullivan!!", "date_added": "Thu Mar 27 17:14:32 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 03 12:58:06 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Apr 03 12:58:06 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fe98878f73553cc022af2a3ef0bb56b4", "book_id": "9833184", "review_id": "c666b50b4528228ffd436a0522d4ed0e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So in love with these books! And so angry that u have to wait till July for the next one!!", "date_added": "Sun Jul 22 01:04:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 16 03:07:28 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Feb 16 03:07:28 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fe98878f73553cc022af2a3ef0bb56b4", "book_id": "8709523", "review_id": "37896b3b1614a8384e8eaf251079c298", "rating": 5, "review_text": "that was so great!!! I am dying for more!!!!!!! oh Adrian.....", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 21:28:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 21 23:54:08 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jul 22 23:54:08 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fe98878f73553cc022af2a3ef0bb56b4", "book_id": "7108001", "review_id": "f75af829cf32f197ec0481a709c4b019", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I couldn't get into this book enough!! I'm just not so into books based on history and war......what I did read tho was well written!!!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 18:23:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 24 11:15:17 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jun 24 11:15:17 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bed815effc10c9154511959d6a008175", "book_id": "28588345", "review_id": "3e165ae921b65eadfa3ae39a659aec72", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This third and final book was amazing! I could not put it down. This series is very different from others I've read and I really enjoyed it.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 28 10:58:12 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 09 06:07:34 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bed815effc10c9154511959d6a008175", "book_id": "23846013", "review_id": "1b4e9b65ebfccd1b8da5298688cea858", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was excellent. Very dark, but I loved the character depth.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 28 10:58:06 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 25 08:10:39 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bed815effc10c9154511959d6a008175", "book_id": "29056083", "review_id": "ca5fe1eaa8615cd18802be3837084e30", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I actually liked this book; however you have to keep two things in mind: 1) it's written as a screenplay and 2) because of this there is not a lot of character depth and development. It was a good story. Not sure I would go see the play, but as a quick read book it was good. If you are a true obsessed Harry Potter fan this probably isn't for you.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 07 04:42:00 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 07 04:45:11 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bed815effc10c9154511959d6a008175", "book_id": "136251", "review_id": "e651f76b6b2da7cfeb0aa861e8910ab4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "My absolute favorite one!!! It was so good!!!", "date_added": "Sat Jan 30 15:50:04 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 30 15:50:44 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jan 30 15:50:44 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bed815effc10c9154511959d6a008175", "book_id": "8667848", "review_id": "14139dda48eefe6b9c0aa2340086a693", "rating": 5, "review_text": "AMAZING!!!!!", "date_added": "Mon Aug 05 12:02:39 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 21 20:19:20 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Sep 21 20:19:03 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bed815effc10c9154511959d6a008175", "book_id": "6527740", "review_id": "96a06c0d0e1e8cdaa9cb5f0f6ad741a1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Awesome!!!", "date_added": "Fri Dec 07 08:51:07 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 02 13:39:02 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Feb 02 13:39:02 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dfce3eae92d8d3d465e370f18243e8dd", "book_id": "18517147", "review_id": "044a941ca5a48d16f56f205b27bd3b2f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Fun, though when you read so many ghost stories together like this, you realize how the basic plots show up over and over again. 1. Someone encounters an evil ghost and flees in horror. 2. Someone sees a loved one acting strange; realizes later that the loved one was ALREADY DEAD. Et cetera. But there are enough variations to make it enjoyable. Some are genuinely original and wonderfully creepy.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 18 15:50:47 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 18 15:54:13 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "198d37b65ef92f865df1b71dc317c22c", "book_id": "17657206", "review_id": "97cd70efa4b6e67c52b0f5ff6c158291", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I've always loved vampire novels, especially those that challenge the typical conventions laid out by previous authors in the genre. BEHIND BLUE EYES manages to take the typical conventions of vampire lore and make them her own, turning our preconceived notions about good and evil upside down in this thinly-veiled morality play. There's a dash of romance, mystery, and more than enough action to keep readers intrigued and flipping pages. It reads very quickly once you sink your teeth in, so to speak. \n D.M. Wolfenden has created a unique and captivating tale of darkness, with vampires coexisting alongside their human prey. The author pulls readers in with strong storytelling, crisp, clear writing, and intriguing characters like Cain, whose brooding, tortured thoughts and absolute savagery are at constant odds as he fights off his enemy Vasile while also protecting Mia, a young girl who once saved him. \n And since this is a horror story for grownups there are also plenty of grisly death scenes, all told with absolute mastery of the genre and in some cases with extremely graphic (and ultimately satisfying) detail. Wolfenden knows precisely how to give 'the bad guys' what they deserve. All in all a great read.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 25 14:49:38 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 25 14:50:23 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jun 25 14:50:23 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "198d37b65ef92f865df1b71dc317c22c", "book_id": "22711078", "review_id": "ce1c8298507e8b74c96f3944ec901932", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Budding zompoc author Shana Festa picks up where she left off -- with Emma Rossi and her family on the run from the hellscape Florida has devolved into after the undead rise to eat the living. Together they battle their way through a never ending nightmare in search of someplace safe where they can catch their breath. \n Festa brings a unique voice to the apocalypse, one filled with colloquial humor, biting snark, and laser sharp insight into human nature. Her characters leap off the page and into the readers imaginations and hearts, not the least of which is Daphne, Rossi's beloved dog. Festa effortlessly holds the reader captive with an engaging storyline that picks up pace right to the very last page and leaves them hungry for more. This is a must read for zombie fans old and young alike. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 23 08:47:49 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 23 08:59:48 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Oct 23 08:59:48 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "198d37b65ef92f865df1b71dc317c22c", "book_id": "149267", "review_id": "9d1a686de267815a3a4e66e4ec37d925", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fun, engaging, sprawling, epic, and terrifying, with hints of pure poetry worked in. It's not surprising to hear so many writers talk about this book. I read the new extended edition, which was like reading a 4 part series in a lot of ways. Surprisingly enough my favorite character was Larry Underwood. Go figure.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 15 12:23:37 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 28 11:35:41 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Feb 28 11:35:41 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "470562ed2ba4be5c5dc5cc35b37f018c", "book_id": "18221864", "review_id": "017b042fe231c4e8f7bca6dc9665afd9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Love Mary Buckham! And I am thrilled to be narrating the audiobooks for this trilogy!", "date_added": "Sun Dec 28 20:53:30 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 28 20:54:35 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "470562ed2ba4be5c5dc5cc35b37f018c", "book_id": "18298211", "review_id": "63a6e7c252598fffec649a5bed5bf1cb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Love Lorraine Kennedy's writing and atmosphere! Her characters are deep and you care about them! I am thrilled it is now available in audio book format - and I am honored to be the narrator for Crimson Rush!", "date_added": "Sun Mar 30 09:08:32 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 30 09:13:40 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d35ecb38fa0aafacd67ce41bc30d7475", "book_id": "6261522", "review_id": "7d12e88db759a49fb646380f885d9dd0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Pretty good for a young adult fiction, I did like the general story although the book was a little too \"young\" for my taste. I think that the ending could have definitely been fleshed out a bit more and would have made this story infinitely better. Time will tell if I will keep reading this series.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 12 21:18:13 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 12 21:20:31 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Mar 12 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2b878851e0bc38471f2d0e01acfd0221", "book_id": "30130875", "review_id": "5b187750c3dc626697adfcc08a6f346b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh. My. Gosh! This was even better than the first book- which I loved! So many surprises, some that I saw coming but some of them blew my mind! I finished the book whooping and fist pumping like a maniac (good thing I was alone) I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a great adventure!", "date_added": "Tue May 10 17:45:03 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 29 15:04:28 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2b878851e0bc38471f2d0e01acfd0221", "book_id": "29769675", "review_id": "83cf2641ba16d25b9e4105cb67fa828d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ah-maz-ing!!!!!! I loved this book! Normally I'm not a huge fan of vampire stories because they all start to feel the same. This was a completely different take on the legends we all know and it is wonderful! Well written, well thought out and completely hooks you from the beginning! Do yourself a favor and read it! You won't be disappointed!", "date_added": "Tue Apr 05 17:30:21 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun May 07 19:58:27 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2b878851e0bc38471f2d0e01acfd0221", "book_id": "26847484", "review_id": "a6ca02bebb9f40b13220eca825808f55", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love this whole series!!! This was a wonderful addition to the story. We get to know Corrine better and after reading this, she just may be my favorite character! I love that the authors give us these extra stories to expand the depth and understanding of the main characters (And it helps calm the anxiety that builds waiting for the next full novel) :) A perfect story with a little something for everyone! I loved it!", "date_added": "Wed Jan 20 15:53:26 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 28 18:52:43 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2b878851e0bc38471f2d0e01acfd0221", "book_id": "26258444", "review_id": "a5a28a20566575ba61048831a7c80166", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed reading this short story. Written from a different perspective, it provided a lot of understanding as to who Zorin is and gave a chance to dig deeper into his mind. It allows the reader to identify with his pain and find out what drives his choices. It also gives us a better view of Varian's character and what makes him tick. A great add on story that develops the storyline and adds a bit of depth to some of the supporting characters.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 13 10:39:26 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 15 18:16:59 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jan 13 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2b878851e0bc38471f2d0e01acfd0221", "book_id": "25171645", "review_id": "8db616ade4c209109723108274d2d87d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. \n Ohhhh karpov kinrade...how I love you guys...you seriously got me with this one! I don't often get emotional reading stories but this one tore my heart out of my chest, ripped it up, and then stomped on it! \n Amazing continuance of the storyline from the first book. I loved the new characters that were introduced. I also really enjoyed Scarlett's character being developed more. The plot, the entangling backgrounds of some of the characters, Scarlett fighting to define who she is, the details- all are huge successes in my book. Another perfectly presented story for me as a reader by a very talented dynamic duo! Loved it!", "date_added": "Sat Jan 09 21:08:16 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 11 22:53:01 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2b878851e0bc38471f2d0e01acfd0221", "book_id": "23718561", "review_id": "a3a5210e696e4e9cd20f76205393cc8a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. \n Holy cow! What an amazing story!!! This book had elements of every kind of story that I love! \n The main character, Scarlett, is a wonderfully developed heroine. After reading so many stories with strong female leads that all start to feel familiar and like repeats of the ones before them, Scarlett was a total breath of fresh air! \n The characters, story and world building were all wonderfully done. Beautiful use of imagery throughout the entire book. The authors painted a perfect picture for me as a reader! \n I pretty much devoured this story and can't wait to see where it will go next! My biggest regret is that I didn't read sooner! Well done guys! Well done!", "date_added": "Wed Jan 06 16:32:26 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 07 22:16:33 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 08 22:16:33 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2b878851e0bc38471f2d0e01acfd0221", "book_id": "17303397", "review_id": "cf1c5541a9bfdf6e84b703b15b83f1c2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So good! \n I came across this book when it was on a free promotion and decided to give it a shot. I loved it! Well written, plenty of action, native American legends, romantic without being trashy, and a genuinely feel good ending. Excited to read the next book in the series.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 13 18:48:53 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 19:15:29 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Dec 20 19:15:29 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Dec 13 18:48:53 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2b878851e0bc38471f2d0e01acfd0221", "book_id": "18324412", "review_id": "541af8101596712a9935349e89ac45ce", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh my goodness! \n It's a good thing that I have already purchased the next book! Talk about a cliffhanger!!!!! I'm excited to see how the series will end!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 25 20:47:01 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 14 15:56:33 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jun 25 20:47:01 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2b878851e0bc38471f2d0e01acfd0221", "book_id": "17346716", "review_id": "dcbc7e2f9fa5aa4641d61d295c8a14cb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So good! \n This book was recommended to me by a friend. I wasn't sure if I would like it (I usually hate zombies...) but I loved it!!! several times I was surprised at the direction the story took and I loved it! It's not often that an author surprises me! Can't wait to read the next!", "date_added": "Mon Jun 16 19:50:48 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 16 19:50:47 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jun 16 19:50:48 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2b878851e0bc38471f2d0e01acfd0221", "book_id": "9471696", "review_id": "0e87e9d661aedb0e04cf68db58fe63e4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Surprisingly good \n I am not really a fan of zombies, but I really enjoyed this book and I'm excited to read Hollowmen!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 10 19:12:45 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 05 17:20:20 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2b878851e0bc38471f2d0e01acfd0221", "book_id": "12711899", "review_id": "ce5d150948b45695862a2990eb67702c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Fun read \n This was my first experience with a paranormal romance and I must say I was pleasantly surprised! I didn't expect much when I started it, but it was a really fun quick read! Definitely going to check out the next book in the series!", "date_added": "Fri May 30 12:46:56 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri May 30 12:55:49 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2b878851e0bc38471f2d0e01acfd0221", "book_id": "10626594", "review_id": "e23388b38d198cd563ca4d5b58ef8b98", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book! It was an easy read, and made for great discussion in my book club.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 08 10:09:43 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 16 18:28:03 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Apr 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bcd5e6b01265c7fd51e607f5586b1705", "book_id": "29056083", "review_id": "ef5a660e2c4f8ab2d212416500054252", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n It felt like fanfic. Definitely meant to be seen on stage p, not read. I feel like there were a lot of things that didn't sound like JKR, and therefore don't fit with canon. The fact that Voldemort and Bellatrix had a daughter just doesn't sit well with me. I feel like the playwrights took some liberties with the story and what I really want is just the story Jo wrote, not the play it was based off of. I'm a bit disappointed honestly.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 31 08:34:40 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 01 19:50:27 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bcd5e6b01265c7fd51e607f5586b1705", "book_id": "100915", "review_id": "1e381e3cced06239f5ee38d19951cf4d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Cute kid's book!", "date_added": "Tue Jul 15 18:16:12 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 15 18:16:29 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bcd5e6b01265c7fd51e607f5586b1705", "book_id": "21787", "review_id": "703e44636fa6286d44eedfb0c6b4ef61", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Cannot even begin to compare to the movie. Watch the movie.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 17 20:41:48 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 16 19:34:00 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bcd5e6b01265c7fd51e607f5586b1705", "book_id": "136251", "review_id": "adba524222053e37700addde9ca7e23a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I don't think any review is necessary. It is simply the best series ever written and this final book left me", "date_added": "Mon Feb 04 17:54:39 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 01 19:56:48 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "Tue Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "738d597ab90c53221387ceabfd4b72d8", "book_id": "13929", "review_id": "f18b611aba27cb7ff91cf4188449d6e0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great re-imagining of the classic tale of the 12 Dancing Princesses.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 19:44:08 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 09 22:16:38 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d896005813ef0d3bc6563f826e839d0d", "book_id": "33852961", "review_id": "a0ffe7c4b1a80eea0aee0d856ad553b7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was eagerly looking forward to this fantastic pair's story because I secretly had 'shipped' them the first time they interacted many books ago. I definitely enjoyed reading Venom+Holly's cheeky verbal exchange and the pace of progression of their low-key feelings for each other. However, the weird nature of the alien-interjection in the end left a somewhat bile taste in my mouth - I felt that the storyline felt too rushed and somewhat incomplete as the book was wrapping up. As a reader, I'm still confused to the extent of Holly's true powers. So I'm hoping we will get to see more of Holly's updates in the forthcoming books or short stories.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 28 17:15:09 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 03 19:58:31 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d896005813ef0d3bc6563f826e839d0d", "book_id": "31867358", "review_id": "8e6c84b8be76bc448dce59703db50e1b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Silver Silence was such a huge disappointment to my genuine surprise. I have been a Psy-Changeling & Guild Hunter series' voracious reader for years now & with every release, I jump up and down with excitement because I'm a huge fan of Nalini Singh's sincere writing style. Unfortunately, this book seemed like it was written by someone other than Ms. Singh. The dialogues between the characters were not thought-out, very poorly written, some of the cheesy lines were utterly repetitive, childish and character development seemed way too rushed. I couldn't wait for this book to end so I can just stare at the walls and seethe in anger - I was so very sad with this finished product. I really hope that in order to maintain the integrity of 3 different series simultaneously and with the immense pressure Ms. Singh is most probably under, she will choose to take some time to write better installments. I think some of your avid fans will be happy if an installment release date is postponed as long as we are satisfied with the true-to-the-core Nalini Singh writing style & story development. Please don't waste our time and money by making us read such juvenile creations - this is so unlike you, Ms. Singh.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 22 19:23:32 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 29 09:10:20 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d896005813ef0d3bc6563f826e839d0d", "book_id": "25243409", "review_id": "ff9e4cfc5c5c2409f819320424169e58", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Archangel's Enigma is undoubtedly the best in this series (however, Archangel's Storm is still my top favorite). I love how Nalini Singh went in details explaining a lot of different bonds -- Illium and Aodhan, Jason & Naasir, Elena & Izak (guest appearance by Janvier & Ashwini), Jessamy & Naasir, Andromeda & Charisemnon, Caliene's memories with Alexander & last but not the least, Raphael & Alexander. I'm a loyal fan of this series for a very long time and I look forward to new installments not just for the in-depth romance between one of the seven or their beloved but absolutely enjoy reading the intricate details of friendship, loyalty, love among family that is not bonded through blood. This is a near-perfect fictional world with grotesque evil, usual tragedy etc but it is also an inspirational world if analyzing the tightly-knit group of Seven, their mates and Archangel & his beloved consort. \n Now back to the two wonderful protagonists -- Naasir & Andromeda. Their chemistry, playfulness with each other, their wildness and loyalty was a delight to read. Naasir's origins being explained was one of my favorite parts and I also enjoyed reading about the debauched background Andromeda hails from. \"Andi\" is perfect for Naasir and their first \"rut\" scene is as raw and passionate as I would have imagined. Naasir is so carefree yet honorable to the deep core and it was such a delight to explore his character as the book progressed. There are a lot of beautifully written scenes in this book & i can't simply pinpoint one or two favorites since I have so many that I have bookmarked & will keep on re-reading! \n Thank you so very much Nalini Singh for Archangel's Enigma. The long, arduous, anticipated thirst has been satiated way above my expectations. I love you so much & look forward to your next installment in Guild Hunter series.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 01 20:30:32 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 02 08:35:00 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d896005813ef0d3bc6563f826e839d0d", "book_id": "15803815", "review_id": "e4157527b177ba1e273bc3644a6ae20a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Loved the chemistry between Hunter & Aylin. The sex scenes were well written as well. The character depth and dialogues in this book was way better than book 1 in this series. I hope next installment will be about Baddon.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 11 07:01:26 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 20 08:05:36 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d896005813ef0d3bc6563f826e839d0d", "book_id": "17409835", "review_id": "86a3e955ed7e97992926205df21bcbab", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is one series where every book Nalini Singh drops, it's just better and sexier than the last. Archangel's Storm is my favorite in the series closely followed by Archangel's Shadows. \n Ashwini & Janvier are wonderful, warm, humorous characters and reading their story was absolutely delightful. The fact that Nalini also included the usual obscure Naasir in couple of chapters were a warm welcome and I can't wait to read about him next. My most favorite character is Jason & Aodhan and I hope Nalini will write a book about Aodhan soon. I really am dying to know Aodhan's backstory and who he will fall for romantically. I look forward to buying the next installment every fall and I truly love this series! I hope Nalini never stops writing and continues with this series for a long time. It's just THE BEST PNR!", "date_added": "Fri Jan 09 08:28:37 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue May 09 11:05:33 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d896005813ef0d3bc6563f826e839d0d", "book_id": "15808767", "review_id": "365b9c3b83af8a731d55b55395dddf57", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Contrary to my expectation -- the story of Raphael and Elena being repetitive and boring for the umpteenth time, this was thankfully an awesome read. It's all because of Aodhan & Ilium & Elena and the many scenes of their camraderie & many epic battle scenes! \n Really hoping the next installment is about Aodhan because I'm still unclear what his backstory is & why he had this repulsion to physical touch for centuries. Something to do with Nazarech right? *pondering still & patiently*", "date_added": "Thu Nov 14 22:00:55 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 04 09:48:32 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d896005813ef0d3bc6563f826e839d0d", "book_id": "42899", "review_id": "313413f3e0383b8313bc18e7735fa28b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I had a lot of expectation since most readers gave this book good reviews -- but unfortunately it seemed like a waste of time! Character development was juvenile to say the least -- though it was fast paced, there was no solid story line to be engulfed in.. Wrath initially seemed like a character to be mesmerized with but as pages flipped, he seemed more like an idiotic, temperamental teenager than the reluctant king! Beth seemed like a big ball of beautiful blob with nothing to offer but to be the bedmate of king wrath.. & yeah, that's pretty much it for their chemistry! The rest of the brotherhood seemed like a bunch of loonies with mostly lame exchanges among them & nothing better or productive to do but be night thugs on the streets -- & butch fit in with the rowdy vampires but he was also excluded from a lot of meetings so yeah his character was another loser in the gang! Overall, it's a boring start to a series -- not sure if I should buy the next one for $7.99! You know what? I don't want to.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 17 20:32:04 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 20 10:47:51 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d896005813ef0d3bc6563f826e839d0d", "book_id": "9738483", "review_id": "9b6048585e89e892cd6ccf277c14454d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Okay, Archangel's storm is my favorite in the series, hands down!! Jason is a dark character with not a lot to say & for some good reason, I really enjoyed reading about his proactive & perceptive nature.. & he met the perfect match in Mahiya! She is really a damsel in all reality but she isn't in much distress that needs undying attention from anyone.. She is an angel not that powerful physically but her sharpness in deciphering a heavily cloaked Jason acutely is something she deserves lot of credit for! She is beautiful yet doesn't need to flaunt it, she is of royal heritage but doesn't need undying worship & she cooks -- she cooks & likes to always ask Jason if he ate! She is one of those heroines who'd rather stay in the dark & create magic just like Jason.. therefore the parallel similarities between the two, the unspoken love & admiration for each other without the overly theatrics was a great and welcoming escape from the rest of the series. Absolutely loved the ending -- A golden justice done well by Ms. Nalini Singh to their unique relationship! \n Please, I beg you.. Why can't the next book be about Venom, Ilium or even Aodhan? Really can't stand to read about Raphael & Elena anymore -- their relationship is functional & all but the seven needs eternal mates & really wanna read about Venom, Ilium, Aodhan, Ashwini, Caliane etc.. No more Raphael! Please.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 11 18:42:17 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 20 10:44:44 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d896005813ef0d3bc6563f826e839d0d", "book_id": "8074967", "review_id": "7592d4149ffe5b267d0bc223e76d8488", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Damien is finally in love -- he's a wicked, lethal character in the previous books so getting to know more about him was something to look forward to.. He, however proved to be a complete mush by the end! Honor is one of those female characters that can easily be forgotten (but not the horrific rape scenes she endured).. Compared to Elena, Honor seems like a novice when it comes to being a hunter.. It's normal to draw comparisons with Elena in couple of scenes because Elena is damn great at her job & frankly, Honor seems to try too hard & plainly sucks! She is a victim of a disgusting gang rape that keeps on popping up in every chapter, that apparently scarred her but she also seems to completely be at ease when it comes to having sex with Damien! Obviously, there isn't anything wrong with that though the transition psychologically has too many loopholes.. & really, her character was written too hurriedly or something & whatever didn't make sense was included in her -- also, kudos to the car sex scene between Damien & Honor (LOL, had to include that).. & please please, write a book on ashwini & janvier! That cat & mouse relationship needs to be taken to a different level & a different book!", "date_added": "Tue Dec 11 18:23:11 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 20 10:44:53 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d896005813ef0d3bc6563f826e839d0d", "book_id": "7307503", "review_id": "87d59a4bbc34f13143c3c5da79c97527", "rating": 3, "review_text": "With every book, I gain admiration for Elena's strength & her killer sense of humor.. However, her childhood horrors repeatedly haunting her for 3 books now has become an absolute drag -- how many times do we have to read about her mom & sister lying dead on the kitchen floor? I usually skip the same old gory details.. With Caliane introduced, as a reader I would expect to read more about ancient archangel history but there wasn't much to do besides the same old, undying & boring chemistry between Raphael & Elena -- also tired of reading about how \"powerful\" Raphael is in every damn page! We get it -- he's damn perfect! But he's a complete deranged, arrogant, aristocratic moron who doesn't do much but just have sex with Elena & order the Seven around! I really wasn't a big fan of Raphael from the beginning of the series -- he's too inhuman & honestly, his love for Elena seems too far-fetched & nonsensical -- Elena usually fears him in most pages & somehow ends up becoming triumphant in one of her ploys with him! Just seems childish to a level -- anyways, Lijuan's calculated scheming is worth giving props to & again, love the individuals that make up the Seven!", "date_added": "Tue Dec 11 18:22:19 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 20 10:44:59 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d896005813ef0d3bc6563f826e839d0d", "book_id": "6582637", "review_id": "13855a02166782940abe15c12b69915d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Since the first novel had an addictive storyline, it only seemed natural that the book to follow will be intriguing too -- & it sure was! The indepth madness explored within Lijuan's deadly realm was great stuff -- the interactions among the cadre's archangels & Raphael's Seven are ridiculously fun to read! Elena's stint in the refuge & her interactions with the nicer angels & kid Angels was worth exploring.. however, the sex scenes between Raphael & Elena is becoming quite boring.. Their inane obsession with each other without any real progress to something adventurous or dramatic in their relationship is just waste of pages in this book! I prefer Lijuan's craziness & Damien's sultry creepiness instead.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 11 17:31:16 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 20 10:45:08 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d896005813ef0d3bc6563f826e839d0d", "book_id": "3819326", "review_id": "b6ff152e61f68493abbe2026fcb4794c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Thanks to Goodreads, I came across this epic vampire/archangel series & Ms. Nalini Singh.. With the exception of one of the lead characters Raphael, I loved reading about Elena, Damien & Ilium.. It's good to come across a book with a real, strong female warrior with balls instead of the pretentious ones that most authors pen in paranormal series.. The dialogues and rebuttals between Elena & Damien are specially hilarious! The progression of the story was very swift, suspenseful & action packed & there was a lot happening -- the world Ms. Singh created is charming & lethal at the same time & that's why reading it equally fun! Ending was truly superb -- more curiosity to move onto the next novel! :)", "date_added": "Thu Dec 06 20:52:50 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 20 10:45:16 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Dec 08 14:04:02 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Thu Dec 06 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d896005813ef0d3bc6563f826e839d0d", "book_id": "769255", "review_id": "ccd96cefd9b2d9079c7317e1f9f659e1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "My absolute favorite in the nightwalker series -- I was a great fan of the easy-going and extremely funny character of Elijah since book 1 so getting a chance to read about his passionate love story in depth was thrilling! The ferocious and equally emotional Siena was the perfect match for a warrior like Elijah & reading about their chemistry & equal despair for each other was highly addictive.. Wish there would be another novel coming out after Adam -- a novel with no drama but each couple living harmoniously with their offsprings and their friends etc etc.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 06 19:57:46 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue May 09 11:02:28 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab0431f1aaea0aee7fd70f827345908a", "book_id": "8674296", "review_id": "be0a4493308c5d16313a7baf700aa70c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "When I started reading this novel, and saw it was 700 pages, I was thinking it would suffer from burn out somewhere in the middle. Boy, was I wrong! The novel has a steady flow throughout, and the descriptions of various scenes throughout the novel are imaginative. The story is told from the points of view of quite a few different characters, from the good guys to the bad guys, and a couple of their animal friends. It has elements from every fantasy novel out there, including the classic tragic hero journey. It kept me interested. I would recommend this to anyone who has read such novels as Lord of the Rings or the Eragon series of books.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 16 16:28:11 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 24 11:46:42 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Mon Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab0431f1aaea0aee7fd70f827345908a", "book_id": "6354407", "review_id": "0748e78788947ce94035ac8a34b6fdf3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Author Cliff Ball draws on his considerable knowledge of history, folklore and Christianity to craft a convincing retelling of humanity's time on Earth. \n Told mostly from the point of view of a newly sworn-in U.S. President, we learn that Earth has existed under the shadow of secrets and lies for thousands of years. As Noah was building his wooden ark to escape the flood, a highly developed race of people called Terrans was designing starships and planning to leave the Earth entirely. \n The Terrans travel to an Earth-like planet and set up a colony, naming it Terra. They explore their new system and meet many friendly cultures. They also meet the Ragnor, a race obsessed with military conquest. The Ragnor attack Terran ships relentlessly and without cause. \n Soon the Terrans return to Earth to see if their human cousins have advanced. They find Egypt at the time of the Pharaohs and decide the earth humans are far too primitive to help Terra fight the Ragnor. \n Some Terrans decide to interfere with human development and pose as Earth people. From the times of King Arthur to Genghis Khan, Terrans make their mark on history. \n Centuries later, a spy base is set up on Mars. From Mars, the Terrans watch as the Great War explodes in Europe and later as World War Two engulfs the entire planet. \n The Ragnor visit Earth in cloaked ships and begin abducting and experimenting on humans. Tales of abduction and UFOs spread around the globe. A Ragnor scout ship crashes in New Mexico in 1947. The Americans develop the Area 51 program at Roswell. The project's mandate is to use the technology from the downed alien craft to defend the United States against her enemies. \n Sixty years later, a secret starship is ready, the crew trained, and the newly elected Present must address the nation and the world. He orders the ship to attack Earth's alien foe. Is one advanced ship enough to match the combined fleets of both Terra and Ragnor? Is America on the brink of its greatest military victory since D-Day? Or is it doomed to fail like no other combat mission in history? \n Ball has written an intriguing new take on history. He keeps the pages turning, explaining historical events in his own unique style. The story builds to an explosive climax that won't leave you disappointed. \n I recommend Don't Mess With Earth to Sci-Fi and alternative history fans. \n Reviewed by WR Potter for Reader's Choice Reviews.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 23 15:55:46 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 16 17:22:03 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Wed Mar 11 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "e9e8a9bc4141fcb875fc256ca59d539f", "book_id": "17345242", "review_id": "c76286d3f0b68b8ecfa79490bb871499", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Although I've marked the book as read, it's more of an encyclopedia than story. I did not read every page, but spent plenty of time pursuing the pages. Beautiful artwork, and lots of details about the characters and the world of Fire and Ice.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 29 09:50:27 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 16 10:44:24 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jan 16 10:44:24 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9e8a9bc4141fcb875fc256ca59d539f", "book_id": "18051296", "review_id": "361ba29dae86a899f338632d23989d9f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I read this because I've read the earlier books and I felt like I should. I miss the strong, brave Clary. She was a very disappointing heroine in this fifth book, chasing her shell of a boyfriend all over the place. I skimmed through the end, not wanting to spend more time than I had to.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 22 17:13:51 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 28 07:54:44 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jun 28 07:54:44 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9e8a9bc4141fcb875fc256ca59d539f", "book_id": "37442", "review_id": "a815784c8f178333e6b0a15dc94fbe7b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Save time and watch it on stage, where they leave out the more twisted, weird parts and you leave feeling good. I regretted the time spent reading this.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 16 07:29:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 16 07:30:32 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9e8a9bc4141fcb875fc256ca59d539f", "book_id": "21787", "review_id": "ade0a5add7d7cddd5191cecf488cdfd9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Too much William Goldman and his non interesting except to himself tangents. I wanted to know the kissing parts that weren't in the movie, but got his personal voice about his life.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 20:03:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 20:06:06 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f8d60b7b9ab89a0829766aaadce70d01", "book_id": "14652563", "review_id": "7ed9cd1cf9d13df6c295d7f57b72bec8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The beginning for me was a little bit choppy. I had wanted Jamie to explain the characters backgrounds, ethnicity since they were a foreign fantasy type, and their goddess herself. \n It was almost like a world of its own. The Goddess Danu was a sorceress praised like a religious figure whose bloodline carried on the throne. Samantha a young princess, who in my opinion needed more time to mature, was very troubled by the pressure of finding a suitor to marry. It was hard for me to connect with Samantha at first, and even through out the book I felt like I was losing sight of her. Sometimes she could sound humble and caring, yet at the same time she was calculating and rude. Taking her station for granted and talking down to her workers, yet she was upset when she seen others mistreat peasants and people of lower class. I felt like her personality was all over the place until I got deeper into the book and she took on a more one dimensional frame. \n My favorite character was Robbie. His background reminded me of Arthur from the Sword in the stone with a mixture of Cinderella, with an abusive father and older brother, a penchant for being bullied easily. I wanted him to fight for himself. If he possessed power...why didn't he use it? Why weren't they so afraid of him they cowered in his presence? \n As I got deeper into the book I began to like it, although at first I didn't think I would because I felt like I couldn't get a great connection in the beginning. As the story progressed the reader is given insight into the two kingdoms that merged to form one, the King's secrets and a binding love that surpasses magic, hate and misunderstanding. \n It turned out to be a very enjoyable book.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 11 12:27:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 11 12:27:57 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f8d60b7b9ab89a0829766aaadce70d01", "book_id": "16047602", "review_id": "477c386e520fedc0bcbb8563eebad87b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I generally liked the overall storyline to this book. The beginning was confusing at first but as I got into it, it was a calming and soothing read. The characters were very down to earth and understandable. They shifted through ages like a shape shifter in transition. It wasn't your normal type of fantasy or paranormal and I can't even describe it as that. It was more of a reunion of good old family values mixed with growing pains. \n I liked the way Karen writes. Her words flow and they gave me the sense of being laid back on a beach chair with a good book and a cold glass of lemonade. I was able to follow the characters and even love Cassidy, Jack and Sarah. \n What I found that I didn't like about the book was its unfamiliar territory. While that should give it brownie points for being original I hated having to re-read a chapter or paragraph to make sure I was grasping it all. The plot- being in an afterlife, the transitional period and what could happen could be described as fanatical and basic at best, but I still felt a little lost when trying to get a grip between my own imaginings and that of the Author. \n What kept it interesting is that old age tale of a mother's love and the bond between herself and child that surpasses all- even death. How reuniting in the afterlife may come with a few bumps in the road. How you have to face up to the wrong you did throughout your life, and also the finality of forgiveness. Everyone's perception of what it may entail is different, and I liked Karen's take on this aspect.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 22 12:45:10 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 22 12:44:47 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Apr 22 12:44:47 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f8d60b7b9ab89a0829766aaadce70d01", "book_id": "9441365", "review_id": "849153b0d71723e2b343b200b220e1c5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "DWED Reviews Labyrinth's Door- Anyia \"Dream of a Warrior\" \n Rating ***** 5 stars \n I absolutely loved this childrens book. It was a simply elegant read filled with action and suspense. My children even loved the accompanying pictures that were bursting with defined detail. The book focused around Anyia a princess of her tribe that wanted to be a warrior. The fiesty girl was disobedient but even still had an abundance of propriety as she wanted to pursue her dream. Accompanied with the story is a guide to help children draw the main character which was a definite plus.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 08 16:56:19 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 08 16:56:45 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f8d60b7b9ab89a0829766aaadce70d01", "book_id": "17246377", "review_id": "84f481a02456b8aeab4a38563d160205", "rating": 5, "review_text": "DWED Reviews-The Chronicles of Covent Kingsblood, Tale two of The Shade Chronicles \n Review Rating- ***** 5 stars \n I was very intrigued by Kingsblood. It was almost as if I was stepping into a 3D realm of vast open marshes, blood and gore, Assassins and culturally depraved characters, which in our day would be thought of as menial and poor. J. L Ficks has a very vast imagination. \n I wish this was a video game! I am a girly nerd, not that that is a bad thing. I love anything creative, from books to art, from painting to playing a video game on my Xbox 360. I could totally see myself glued to the TV mastering the arts of being an assassin. In Kingsblood I would be playing the title character Shade, who is not your ordinary assassin. He has a conscience. He has a soul. He fights with himself constantly because he was trained to be a killer and nothing else. Not a family man, not a robin-hood save the world from degradation. He was trained to serve his king and I loved the fact that not only was he a kick ass soldier, but he was also in sync with his inner compassion. Though he fought it, it could not be taken from him. He was still a lost boy searching for a reason to live. \n But the book is not just about Shade and his missions. It's about unique characters with different races that can be easily related to. They have in-depth personalities, even their surroundings is visually stimulating. There were times when I became confused, I had to put the book down and go online to the website and read about all the races, characters, view the map to get a good vision of what I was reading. And that's what hooked me most. There is an interactive site! I don't have to rely on just my own imagination. The Author has given us an expansive tool to really enjoy the book. To get a feel for what he wants the reader to visualize as they follow Shade on his journey. \n I don't want to spoil this experience for anyone, so I will not go into much detail. You have to read this book. You have to visit the site. You will be amazed at how much heart, time and effort J. L. Ficks has put into this series. Its original, it's fascinating and it will leave you wanting more. \n I would not recommend this book if you don't want to put in the time to read it. To understand the world J. L. Ficks has created I really suggest you go to the site; learn about the world, character and races before diving right in. But if you are a fantasy and action lover, this is definitely the book for you. \n Great Job J. L, you put your soul into this and I can honestly say it was an amazing journey reading this novel.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 25 10:07:27 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 25 10:08:25 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f8d60b7b9ab89a0829766aaadce70d01", "book_id": "10414183", "review_id": "4bb3691afa8111b931beff5f99914564", "rating": 5, "review_text": "see review post on www.krystalmilton.weebly.com \n Timeless Conflict \n By Ute Perkins \n Rating ***** (5 stars) \n Review: \n Timeless conflict is by far one of my favorite reads to date. While I am not going to gush about how perfect the book was, it did have some faults; however the story line, plot, characters, and conflicts were some of the works best qualities. I would definitely be the first patron should this book catch a movie deal. \n First let's go into the style of writing. Ute Perkins in my opinion is a cross between Stephen King, James Patterson and Dean Koontz which are all very dynamic suspense thriller type authors. From the opening in chapter one a reader will find themselves hooked. I was so caught up within the pages of this novel that I found myself unable to put it down. I mean I literally walked around my house chasing after kids, cleaning this and that one handed, with my eyes glued to my Nook. It was horrible! I even tripped twice, truth I swear! Absolute truth! \n I pride myself in giving very honest reviews and insights into the books I review, and let me tell you, I love James Patterson, I can't read Stephen kings novels at night and I absolutely love Dean Koontz. They are by far the best in their genre and Ute Perkins I think should be added to that list. \n Detectives Marcus Reading and Travis Russell put me in the mind of two brothers working together on a gigantic puzzle all the while being distracted with their conflicting personalities. These characters are not one dimensional; Ute did a fantastic job giving every victim, every scene, and every surface inside the book infinite details that feeds the imagination. I had no trouble enveloping myself within the story line, identifying with each unique character and seeing the scenes within my minds eye as if I was really there smelling the fresh scent of blood or watching Marcus become annoyed with Travis as they picked each others brains while attending to their crime scenes. \n If you haven't read this book, surely I say please do. Ute Perkins is a very well written author who has yet to see his due. Very well done Ute, and I thank you very enthusiastically for such a great read. You have a new fan in me.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 23 10:49:12 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 06 08:07:05 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 29 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jan 23 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f8d60b7b9ab89a0829766aaadce70d01", "book_id": "15719561", "review_id": "bfcd908a2f5ddfdd1be7e5be6f692591", "rating": 4, "review_text": "We live in a world where vampires are the most coveted fantasy; Werewolves are an exotic delicacy to be had, Fairies as well as pixies are the center of innocent imaginaries, where animals talk and magic is smoke like clouds floating over the horizon. Simply put, we live in a world where fantasy is sought and kept. \n Asher Tensei has sailed beyond all of that with his debut novel Mana. He creates a symbolic contrast between our world and the fantasy of others, where magic, myth and fantasies collide. \n I am a true lover of Mystery, thriller, suspense as well as personal conflict and Asher nailed all of these elements in the heart of the story where the lead character Eurich Aurion finds himself torn between the present and his destiny. \n One of the things I dislike about most books is how characters are introduced. Many of the main characters have no real substance; the smaller characters have no value. But in this book, Mana, we are introduced to Eurich's lineage. His father's past is outlined so beautifully. We follow the story of his power, how he was created, where it came from, how he wields it against his enemies. We follow Eurich's foster parents and how they came to care for a boy with inevitable power that he can use to save the world. Asher describes his fantasy world in so much detail I would swear it were real. He gives the reader intense detail on the power this world inhabits. He describes history of this magic, the culture, the atmosphere as well as the dangerous animals that dwell there. \n The catch I loved most was the conflict between earth and the world Asher created. What would Eurich decide? Where would this journey of finding his past and figuring out his future lead us? There was no stone left unturned. From the moment I began to read I felt in sync with the characters, I was able to follow the plot, I was able to imagine the goings on as if I were watching it on a Flat screen in my living room with a bowl of popcorn in my lap. \n Mana is a great read. I found myself not wanting to put it down. I did find some of the chapters to be long; I wanted to get to the goods! But after careful consideration I realized that Asher wants his readers to know everything. You get so much of an in-depth look into each character and their circumstance you find that after you are finished you wouldn't want to lose such valuable information. \n Every writer has their own style. While I did feel like I just wanted to skip a page of two, that's not something you can do with this book. It's like a puzzle, every piece fits and if you do happen to skip a page you will definitely miss an important piece. Good Job Asher! Waiting on the next installment!", "date_added": "Fri Dec 28 12:35:09 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 03 10:44:14 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f8d60b7b9ab89a0829766aaadce70d01", "book_id": "8122052", "review_id": "01f5fe28bcd116cc172e55e432ca27f1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book! \n It was great from start to finish! i finished it in like six hours! \n Bought book 2 & 3 and will be reading them, no doubt!", "date_added": "Mon Oct 01 08:33:28 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 01 08:34:50 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f8d60b7b9ab89a0829766aaadce70d01", "book_id": "13122090", "review_id": "901860436c315c1d9ab9b76d119d066f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book has a different outlook on vampires. \n i cant say i loved it, but i didnt have it either, it was interesting... \n took a while to read because i would need to stop to process the random questions in my head that the book brought on. \n very...interesting in a peculiar sort of way.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 25 13:52:02 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 25 13:53:40 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Sep 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f1ebe8c033d7c651066eeef4153d20b", "book_id": "5899779", "review_id": "e47efc8b0e03280b02489be366710d9d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was intrigued by the premise but it really turns out to be glorified plagiarism. The best part is the original story, which hasn't lost its power. There are a few unique and special moments that make this new take on the classic story fun, but the additions have no real substance. It's clearly meant to be silly.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 27 14:52:08 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri May 06 14:35:36 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri May 06 14:35:36 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f1ebe8c033d7c651066eeef4153d20b", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "b01f13d65bfe760ded51a2ef25d5cc81", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I've been eyeing this book by Cassandra Clare for a long time, even before the movie came out. I seem to see it everywhere and I was wondering what all the hype was about. \n Unfortunately, though it seemed like it had all the ingredients for a novel I would like, this one fell flat for me. I don't often say that about a book, especially a promising urban fantasy like this one. But Clary Fray just didn't capture me. And Jace Weyland even less. The book read more like an introductory guide than a story, by necessity of its dizzyingly complex fantasy world. The plot twists were predictable and the prose tried too hard. I wanted to like it, I really did. \"Jace unhitched himself from the railing\" might have charmed me if used once, but the same expression twice or more? And \"he grinned all over his face\" is just silly. \n I probably will pick up the second book and give it a chance, as I am a little curious about what happens next. But I'm not dying to know, and that in itself tells me that The Mortal Instruments won't be going on my top books list. Apologies to anyone who did like the story. If you haven't read it, you may want to skip it and give Divergent a try instead. Or watch the movie: it was much better than the book, for a change.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 10 11:20:17 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 10 11:21:52 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f1ebe8c033d7c651066eeef4153d20b", "book_id": "13497118", "review_id": "0c07dd69e0344b2de47dc6106cf5a209", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I've always loved Stephen R. Lawhead's books, and the Bright Empires series is another fantastic addition, if a bit of a departure from his usual strictly Celtic historical fare. Actually these books have more in common with the Song of Albion trilogy rather than with his Pendragon Cycle or King Raven series. I've been really loving the convoluted adventures of Kit Livingstone and Wilhelmina Klug and trying to wrap my brain around it all. \n If you've read the first two books (and you should!) and you're confused, that's okay, because a lot of questions are answered in The Spirit Well. Of course, plenty of new questions arise, too. But I find Lawhead satisfies my burning curiosity just enough to keep me going. He is starting to wax more philosophical now, too, explaining some of the grander themes behind the epic quest for the Skin Map and the unknown treasure it points to. \n The Spirit Well is everything I want a supernatural adventure to be: plenty of mysteries, wonders, twists, and interesting characters with whom to share the journey. Another great read! I'm looking forward to picking up book 4: The Shadow Lamp.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 05 08:50:18 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 12 08:38:41 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Sep 12 08:38:41 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f1ebe8c033d7c651066eeef4153d20b", "book_id": "10664113", "review_id": "992907272e5a0e74f26e0a43e48f1652", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I absolutely love Game of Thrones. I love the rich characterization and made-up history. I love that Martin keeps surprising me. And he managed to do that yet again, a few times, in book 5. I loved it! \n That being said, I feel like George is spreading himself a bit too thin. I managed to work my mind around book 4 and book 5 being parallel stories, but the fact is, there just might be too many characters to keep track of. Though the story is rich and varied, the overall timeline of the story advances very little in this book. We visit our favourite characters very seldom, making room for ever more new faces and their own baggage. And can we say cliffhangers? I estimate about the last 10 chapters end in serious unresolved problems! \n Perhaps this is just great strategy on George R. R. Martin's part. After all, I'm joining my voice with the masses of anxious fans asking \"When?\" Hurry up, please, Mr. Martin! We can't wait for book 6.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 06 10:46:13 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 22 10:01:44 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "29058155", "review_id": "40a030fcce84669d8bebe80d7dfa8f71", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I'm trying to take this for what it is, in the knowledge that, without seeing the play, I'm not getting the whole picture, but really ... I dunno. There was a lot here that didn't sit right with me alongside previously published canon. I'm not sure how much of this I can or am expected to accept as being canon. \n None of the adults we grew to know and love from the original Harry Potter series felt like themselves. I cannot imagine Hermione growing up to be Minister for Magic, or Harry having a bad relationship with any of his children, or Ron and Ginny being so ... useless and colourless. Or Draco referring to any of them by their first names. \n To be honest, the whole idea of Voldemort having a secret daughter, possibly involving time travel, felt like something straight out of bad fanfic from the mid-2000s. I could not take it seriously. Every time it was mentioned that Voldemort might have had a child, I started laughing, and when it turned out to be true ... well, all I could do was shake my head. \n I loved the affectionate relationship between Albus and Scorpius. It was everything I wanted it to be. Well, almost everything. Because you can't have a story where two male characters repeatedly affirm their affection for one another without shoehorning in an unconvincing hetero crush for one or both of them, just so it doesn't look too gay. It's 2016, and in a story that went some really dark places, queerness is still apparently one step too far.", "date_added": "Sat May 14 11:54:33 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 09 09:41:26 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "23129410", "review_id": "80250eb7863f1b4fb41598c793c85fe1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I opted to listen to the audiobook, even though I do also have a paper copy of the novel. Having the story in Cecil's voice -- although, unlike the podcast, not in his point of view -- felt right. Unfortunately, Cecil's soothing voice meant that I fell asleep more than a few times, and had to skip back to find my place. \n I liked that the story focused on two previously minor female characters, struggling with real and surreal life problems. While Cecil and Carlos and several other major characters are present in the narrative, they are not directly involved in the plot in any major way. \n I imagine it must have been a challenge to write a coherent and sustained story of 400 pages (rather than short, interrelated, episodic stories) set in a world where the laws of reality are flexible and don't always apply, and where linear time doesn't affect all the characters in the same way. I think Fink and Cranor did a good job of putting together a story that made sense in the context of the Night Vale world, and was engaging. I'm not sure how much appeal it will have for people who are not regular listeners of the podcast, but for those who are already fans, there is a lot of world-expanding, and in-depth character development of a kind that the podcast doesn't usually have time for.", "date_added": "Sat May 14 11:45:32 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue May 17 20:19:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "843240", "review_id": "f6d28d8c6fa2700a0e4c6fa3701c15ef", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Bedknobs and Broomsticks was one of my favourite Disney movies as a child, but somehow I never got around to reading the books it was based on (two books, here combined in a single volume) until now. \n The books are, of course, very different. The movie is set during WWII, with the children being sent into the countryside to avoid the London Blitz, and are housed with Miss Price, which I think makes for a stronger setting than merely having her be a neighbour of their great aunt, as she is in the books. \n The character of Emilius Jones (or Brown, in the movie) is substantially different, being a resident of 17th century London in the books, whom the children meet on one of their adventures on the magical bed. He is not quite as much of a charlatan and con man as he is in the movie, though he is a professional necromancer who doesn't really believe in magic. \n All of the children's adventures, and Miss Price's attitude towards magic are very different in the books than in the movie. In some ways I am glad they were changed. The adventure on the \"cannibal\" island, complete with stereotypical natives, is uncomfortable reading for a modern reader, and was best left out. \n Intrasubstantiary Locomotion (Substitutiary Locomotion in the movie) plays a much smaller but still key role in the climax of the story, but no one ever turns into a rabbit. Miss Price and Carey are, over all, the strongest characters in the story. The books have a different but still bittersweet ending. \n Very enjoyable and charming.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 03 23:27:57 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 11 11:10:40 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Apr 11 11:10:40 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "327945", "review_id": "bf9bd560c0739209da09914fccbae75e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What a strange feeling to read a book and feel like it was written with me in mind. I picked this one up on a whim. I love stories with mediaeval settings, have a soft spot for tales of Robin Hood, and the title character shares my name -- my chosen name. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much. I had never heard of the book or its author, and thought it might be nothing more than mildly diverting children's lit. \n In the first chapter, the book surprised me, and I revised my estimates, both of my expectations, and of the target audience. This is not a book for ages 9-12, but more like 12-15. I was a little worried when there was magic so quickly in the story. I like fantasy, but I'm wary of seeing it mixed with historical settings and non-magical legends. But in the end, I felt like this book had just the right amount of magic and flavour of paganism about it. \n And then -- then 13-year-old Rosemary rejects her femininity, declaring outright that she does not want to be a girl or anything that comes with it, dresses herself in boy's clothes, adopts the name Rowan -- and I was lost. I know some people would consider Rowan a Marysue, with her magic half-elfin mother, Robin Hood as her secret father, elf-gifted bow and arrows, and special half-wolf dog, but I don't care; she is everything I want from a young protagonist: tough, brave, kind, competent -- and nonbinary. Yes, I know that the author is probably just making comment, via the character, that being young and female in the mediaeval period sucked, but I choose to read the character as nonbinary, and there is nothing in the text to contradict this reading. Sometimes Rowan wishes to be more feminine, and sometimes more masculine, and neither choice is framed as a bad thing. \n Rowan is befriended by three other characters who don't fit into the world they inhabit: a half-wolf pup she names Tykell, a large, sensitive, somewhat feminine minstrel boy named Lionell, and a runaway princess named Ettarde, who scorns her father's plans to marry her off, as well as the idea that a woman's only value is in her appearance and her chastity. Together, they rescue Robin Hood from the Sherriff of Nottingham, and Rowan must decide whether or not to tell him he's her father, and that she's not the outlaw boy he thinks she is. \n The story was engaging, and in places, surprising. The characters were likeable and realistic (the villains were a little flat, but oh well). The ending was satisfying and unexpected. I read the whole thing in one sitting. I want to believe that Rowan grew up gender non-conforming, into a great healer and fighter, and that she and Etty fell in love, and lived happily ever after. ... And I just checked and apparently there are 5 books in this series, as well as many other books by this author. I may need do some more reading!", "date_added": "Mon Mar 14 04:11:35 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 14 14:11:05 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Mar 14 14:11:05 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Mar 13 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "503322", "review_id": "b85e61bce2bb3fb7a1dd7685b59dfca2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book made me want to write fanfic. That is all.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 14 04:09:13 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu May 26 14:56:19 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "603511", "review_id": "27dde3c747b321deac4f04dd09ca2481", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did Rowan Hood. I'm less interested in Lionel and his problems than I am in all things Rowan. However, I do think this could be a really good book for a young person with low self esteem and negative body image. It was nice to see Lionel get some character development. \n Lionel is filled with self-loathing because he doesn't want to be the one thing everyone seems to think he should be: a warrior. He is large and strong, but at the same time, meek and sensitive, caring only for his music, and for his friends, and convinced of his own cowardice. But when his friends are in danger, Lionel discovers he's capable of more than he thought.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 14 04:08:40 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu May 26 14:57:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "25819519", "review_id": "0890c6840fffb07bec45e684a656681c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was surprising, refreshing, challenging, and occasionally delightful. It was also confusing in places, and in others, deeply frustrating. \n Demane is a healer and sorcerer, working for a band of mercenaries who guard merchant caravans on the perilous road between market cities. Now, he must face the challenge of passing through the Wildeeps -- an enchanted jungle filled with deadly creatures virtually unknown in his own time and place -- where it will be up to him and his magics to keep his brother mercenaries, the caravan, and his lover safe. \n I'll start up front by saying that I am white, and most of the fantasy I have read in my life has been focused on white characters, in an American, European, or pseudo-European setting. It felt good, to me, to read something different, that breaks out of that mold. A setting in pseudo-historical Africa, with a cast of all-black characters, and none of the expected conventions of pseudo-Mediaeval fantasy, felt refreshing. \n I liked Demane a lot. In a world that was often graphically violent and explicitly gory, he is a gentle, nurturing soul who patches people up afterwards, and soothes their hurts and fears, but he can also hold his own in a fight. He holds his brother mercenaries in deep affection, respects women, and is unreservedly loving and and demonstrably affectionate with his lover Isa, who is the captain of the mercenary band. \n I was also delighted to be reading about an explicitly queer protagonist, in a loving, mutual relationship. Such things are still unfortunately rare in popular fantasy, and I know it is rarer still to see such a relationship portrayed between two black men. A few of their fellows seem aware of the relationship, and don't seem to mind or find it strange (one, Cumalo, even seems to ship it). Other characters are explicitly homophobic, so it was sort of difficult to get a bead on how homosexuality is regarded in this world. \n The writing style took some getting used to, swinging between slangy dialogue, formal poetic language, and unfamiliar polysyllabic words, sometimes in the space of a few sentences, and I think that may have affected my reading comprehension during the early scenes of the book. I don't necessarily think that is a bad thing. If readers never read anything that challenges them or takes them outside their comfort zone, they will not grow as readers, or learn to appreciate a wide variety of literature. \n Much of the criticism for this book that I have seen seems to amount to \"The characters used a lot of modern slang, and I didn't like it.\" I personally do not mind when characters in a historical or pseudo-historical setting use modern slang. Humans in general tend to speak in a slangy, informal way, especially among friends and family, so it makes sense to me that fictional characters would do the same. Unless an author wants to learn or invent a whole system of setting-appropriate slang, and teach that slang to the reader, using modern slang works fine. After all, these characters would not have been speaking English, so I see no reason not to translate their vernacular into ours. I thought the use of AAVE helped to highlight the fact that this was not the usually white/European fantasy setting or characters, and gave the text a different flavour. \n I found the lack of female characters frustrating. The only female character to get a significant number of mentions and page time is Aunty, Demane's semi-divine ancestress, who trained him in the magical arts when he was a boy. Demane recalls and thinks about her often, though she does not take part in the action of the story. Almost all other women present in the text are nameless sex workers, and no mention of a woman takes up more than a paragraph or two of space. I don't see why the author could not have included women among his mercenaries in this fantastical setting. \n The other thing that frustrated me, I cannot talk about without mentioning major spoilers for the end of the story. Suffice it to say that a very common trope involving queer characters came into play. But I guess I should have expected it, given the extreme amount of violence and gore in the text. I still could have wished for a better ending. \n Overall, I found reading this book to be a positive experience. I would consider reading it again, or reading other books by this author.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 04 03:10:30 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 20 10:41:42 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Mar 20 10:41:42 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "5139690", "review_id": "2521d45cce2cf72b96839f0dbd763705", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I picked up this book because it had a girl with a sword on the cover, and I have long been a fan of Tamora Pierce and her ilk. I was a bit disappointed by the story, though. If you're just looking for a classic Arthurian-style knight-adventurer story with a female protagonist, this may answer very well. If you want a story about a young girl kicking butt with more modern sensibilities, you may want to look elsewhere. The author also used a lot of archaic language and made some questionable grammatical choices in places, which I, as a fairly well-read adult, had occasional difficulty deciphering. Some of the vocabulary is well beyond the average 9 to 12-year-old reader, who would seem to be the book's intended audience. That said, I would probably have liked the story more if I had first read it at 12 than I do having first read it as an adult.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 21 01:39:47 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 21 01:49:02 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Sep 21 02:09:49 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "16071620", "review_id": "b83a07cf9c3b760a383a9619399ad0fa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "There's no cohesive plot here, so I would hesitate to recommend this to someone who has not already read and enjoyed \"Every Day\". It's just some little vignettes from earlier points in A's unusual life, which provide a bit more insight into the formation of the character. \n The only part that was a little jarring for me was that the wording of the thoughts of a much younger A were as vocabulariffic as teenage-A's. I would have expected things to be expressed more simply in a first-person present-tense narrative.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 15 21:12:09 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 05 19:35:45 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "11506091", "review_id": "9582a3f52359094d3374f96a570401f0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm still trying to decide how I feel about this book. I read it slowly, and the plot had a slow build as all the pieces of the story and the characters were moved into place, and I admit I was a little bored through the first half of the book. It didn't help that two of the first important characters introduced have no redeeming qualities, and it took a while for me to feel more than lukewarm about a few of the other central characters. The story is told out of sequence in some places, and I wish I had paid more attention to the dates earlier on, so I could have a better sense of when everything was happening. If you are looking for a fast-paced, action-packed plot, this is probably not the book for you. About halfway through, it all starts to come together, with a fairly satisfying conclusion. I especially liked the description of how the Circus's fandom, the reveurs, came into being. A visually evocative book. I wouldn't be surprised if someone tried to make it into a movie sooner or later.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 12 14:07:58 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 09 22:06:31 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "141305", "review_id": "2c1045af2fe114d303449ed96a85f90d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "To anyone who thinks Milne only wrote books for very young children: boy, are you missing out! A. A. Milne is the author of an extensive canon of clever, whimsical and humorous writing, and this charming fairytale, according to the author himself, is one of his favourites. Written in 1915, this story includes a power-hungry Countess, a couple of foolish kings, an arrogant prince and his much-preferable wing-man, and a princess who is not at all sure she needs to be rescued. I can't help it; anymore these days every reading I do is a feminist reading. That's just the filter through which I see the world now. I'm not saying this is a perfect piece of feminist literature (it was written by a privileged white male in 1915, after all, and that would be a LOT to ask), but I have few complaints about the story, and they hardly seem worth mentioning in the face of all the giggles and enjoyment Milne provides. The female characters are no more silly or otherwise flawed than their male counterparts, nor are they any more in need of rescue. Sure, you have the stereotype of the conniving, older gold-digger versus the conventionally \"good\" young princess and her sweet and innocent maidservants, but neither of the lead females are two-dimensional, and I loved the fact that when the king goes off to (an admittedly very silly) war, he has no qualms about leaving his 17-year-old daughter in charge. She takes her role as ruler very seriously, and seems much more concerned about governing well than about romance. How could one not love a fairytale wherein the princess thinks of the handsome prince who comes to her rescue: \"Moreover he was just a little too sure of his position in her house. She had wanted his help, but she did not want so much of it as she seemed to be likely to get.\" All in all, Milne spins a wonderful tale, turning many of the usual fairytale tropes on their heads. A great read, especially for ages 9-12. Highly recommended.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 18 10:05:16 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 21 21:07:50 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sat Apr 16 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "8396340", "review_id": "e299ac2ab91ff6b4533e9ac732f8b2ba", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This volume brings together of Pierce's short stories, some new and some older, into a single collection. Her usual themes of teenage and pre-teen girls kicking butt, friendships across cultural divides, and menageries of fantastical beasts are here in plenty. Many of the stories take place in the familiar world of her Tortall books, and include several beloved characters (Daine, Numair and Kitten make an appearance, as do Aly and Nawat Crow). Most of the stories are simple and straight-forward, though many are moving. I especially liked the semi-autobiographical tale of the new house-mother at a girls' home. Overall, it was a pleasant read, but I don't think I would actively recommend it to any but teens and die-hard Pierce fans. \n A review of the short story \"Elder Brother\", which appears in this volume: \n In one of Tammy's books (Wolf Speaker), there is a scene wherein a mage turns an enemy into a tree, with the repercussion that somewhere in the world, a tree became a man. Set against the backdrop of a culture resembling radical Islam, this is the story of Qoim, an innocent apple tree, and what became of him. Because it is only a short story, there isn't the time for Qoim to gradually learn a lot of things, so Tammy takes the shortcut of having the mage magically plant knowledge in his brain, by way of apology. Unable to truly understand humans, Qoim resolves to die, until he meets Fadal, who is not all he seems either. I enjoyed this story, and would love to see Qoim and Fadal show up in Tammy's other books, as the story hints they might. Definitely a good story for ages 12 and up.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 12 23:40:15 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Tue May 24 20:35:02 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue Apr 12 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "6638377", "review_id": "11807983651f282063bbf47b680d3c2c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Belle Goose is an oblivious, self-involved teenager who has just moved from Phoenix to live with her father in the small town of Switchblade, OR. On the first day of school, Belle meets Edwart Mullen, the only boy at school she does not perceive as being instantly attracted to her. She deduces that this must mean he is some sort of supernatural creature, probably a vampire. Though Edwart is perfect in Belle's eyes -- \"Imagine if you took every woman's idea of a hot guy and averaged it out into one man\" -- from description of the character, we learn he is short, skinny, red-haired, freckled, cowardly, weak, and nerdy. His obvious terror of girls only makes Belle want to pursue him more fervently. She orders him to be domineering and controlling, against his personal inclination: \"Imperative, Edwart. The magic verb form is imperative You don't have to hide your natural inclination to boss me around.\" When he finally agrees to be her boyfriend, Belle learns his terrible secret: Edwart Mullen is not a vampire. Fortunately Josh, another boy from her class, is. Belle immediately switches her attention from Edwart to Josh, who is all the things that, up until now, Belle thought she wanted -- 'he hopped out, blindfolded me, and tied my arms together. \"It's for your own good, clumsy.\"' But Belle quickly grows tired of Josh's controlling nature and his habit of sneaking into her bedroom at night, and begins to long once more for the ordinary, good-hearted Edwart. Now if only she had a robot with a vampire-seeking javelin.... This book mercilessly mocks the Twilight series, making some very astute observations about its inherent flaws, while pretending to be the same sort of mindless fluff. All in all, Belle seems to be a more developed character than Bella Swan, and Edwart has more depth than Edward Cullen.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 12 18:43:29 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 14 13:20:51 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Mon Dec 14 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "21776", "review_id": "27ba72837f5b23b09ad3d5b5ab7aadf5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This novella, by the author of \n The Princess Bride \n , tells the story of Luigi, one of the greatest gondoliers Venice has ever known, and of why the gondoliers -- once universally acclaimed as the best singers in the world -- stopped singing. It is a tale of the irrepressible nature of dreams, and the courage of a man who pursues his in spite of their seeming impossibility. Morgenstern/Goldman, of course, claims exhaustive research and unimpeachable sources for his tale -- a device echoed by Lemony Snicket's \"A Series of Unfortunate Events\". The frequent use of superlatives, and satyrically elaborate descriptions of Luigi's years of training are reminiscent of the style Goldman employed in The Princess Bride. A quick, enjoyable read for ages 12 and up.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 08 17:12:22 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 08 18:55:18 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sun Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "290732", "review_id": "6bb9069fe9b59f160e61b4634f4a2c8f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Princess Addie and Princess Meryl are sisters and best friends, even though they have very little in common. Meryl wants to be a warrior when she grows up, and slay the monsters that plague their father's kingdom, and find a cure for the plague known as the Gray Death. Addie is afraid of everything, including spiders. She makes her sister promise not to go adventuring until she is safely wed to her true love -- whoever that may be -- so she won't be left alone. But fate takes a hand, and at the age of seventeen, Meryl is struck down by the Gray Death. Her only hope is for sixteen-year-old Addie to find the courage to go on a quest for the cure. I probably would have find the story more interesting and a lot less predictable if I was about ten -- the target audience -- since Addie starts her quest with all kinds of helpful magical gizmos that do exactly what she needs them to at just the right time. The only thing that took my interest was the romantic subplot. Even that sort of strained my suspension of disbelief, but at 31, I have different expectations and ideas about romance than a child would.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 06 14:42:25 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 06 14:44:30 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Fri Nov 06 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "4856551", "review_id": "abcab11b6c68755951bddbab41b0e093", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The tiny English village of Milbury lies at the center of an enormous ring of standing stones, but that is not its only oddness, as Adam and his young son Matthew quickly learn. Adam has come to the village for a few months to take scientific readings of the stones, and he and Matthew are immediately struck by the strange behaviour of nearly all of Milbury's residents. From their universal greeting of \"Happy Day!\" to the apparent brilliance of Matthew's classmates, everything feels wrong. The only exceptions are a few other newcomers to the village, an eccentric Welsh poacher named Dai, and Mr. Hendrick, who lives in the old manor house. Gradually, Adam and Matthew realise that the villagers are subject to some sinister power which saps their wills and removes all thought and independence, and their fellow newcomers are falling prey to it before their eyes. How can they fight the danger when they don't know what it is, or how it will come at them? All they know is that they must do something quickly, before they are the only ones left in Milbury with the power of independent thought. All they know is that it's something to do with the stones. A good read, especially for the 9-12 set. The only issue I have with it is a low level of casual misogyny. This book was published in the 1970's, and it seems like, even though Margaret and her daughter Sandra have been in Milbury longer, Adam and Matthew come up with all the good ideas to solve the mystery, while \"the girls\" [sic:] just sit around going, \"I never thought of that!\"", "date_added": "Mon Nov 02 08:30:59 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 29 04:53:19 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Nov 02 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "165405", "review_id": "e128ff692cc98e7b6830d84ebbdc9f8c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I can't say it was the most awesome book ever, but I definitely think I would have enjoyed it a lot when I was about 12. Wilma Sturtz is one of the most unpopular girls at Claverford, a private middle school in New York City. She's smart and she's nice, but she just can't break into the \"in\" crowd, and she's afraid befriending other unpopular kids will ruin any chance she might have at a social life. One day, Wilma gives up her subway seat to an old lady. The witch -- for so she is -- rewards Wilma by granting her wish: to be the most popular kid at her school. Suddenly everyone loves her, wants to hang out with her, is telling her secrets, and all the boys want her to go to the dance with them. But it's not as good as Wilma expected. Every time she makes a new friend, she finds herself wondering if that person would really like her without the spell. Things get worse when Wilma realises that the spell only applies to kids at Claverford, and that the magic will run out in three weeks when eighth grade is over. It's a pretty thinly-veiled morality tale about the disappointments of superficial popularity, but with good tips on how to really get people to like you: Be kind, be confident, and don't take yourself too seriously. While the story is simple, Levine is an excellent writer. Her turns of phrase are wonderful and her characters are all unique and believable. A good one for kids who are worried about fitting in.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 01 19:01:02 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 01 19:03:15 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "3063247", "review_id": "b3dd18d0241ff27a483bf3e53c44c758", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book has a very different feel to it than any of Tammy's other works. For one thing, it is written in the first person, told from the perspective of 14-year-old stone mage Evvy, Briar's former student. It was originally made as a full-cast audiobook, which may account for some of the differences in narrative style. The story takes place at the same time as \n The Will of the Empress \n , with Evvy and Rosethorn investigating a rash of dead plants and poisoned water sources on the Battle Islands. With this book, as with tWotE, I was left feeling I'd missed something. Briar, Evvy and Rosethorn have survived a horrific war between Briar's last book and these two. While Briar was left with vivid nightmares, Evvy is left with a reluctance to become emotionally attached to anyone or anything. When she discovers the true danger the island is in, her first response is the declare it the islanders' problem, not her own. Of course by the end, she realises this is neither a practical nor a healthy way to live. The story contains some oddly cartoonish elements in the form of Luvo, the living heart of a mountain (who apparently resembles a biggish, green-and-purple crystal teddy bear which walks and talks), and a couple of wild and playful lava-spirits. This books had its moments, but the extended sequences beneath the earth, where Evvy does little more than argue with the lava spirits, bored me to death. One such sequence goes on for more than 30 pages. I would have liked more scenes with people in them.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 29 20:43:15 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 10:02:38 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sun Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "77366", "review_id": "30e6c5d569f41b131606f4d84a4cefe7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I think I read this in middle school, but it might have been the sequel, The Blue Sword. In any case, it bored me to death when I was 13. So why did I pick it up again? A few years ago, my best friend read us \"Beauty\", also by this author, and I found I really enjoyed it. So I decided to give Robin McKinley another chance. I can very much see why I had a hard time with this book before. Compared to a lot of the book I enjoy, the writing style is dry, the characters flat, and there is very little humour to be found. I didn't feel any special fondness for Aerin, the main character, though I did rather like her two love interests (and the fact that there were two of them, without conflict). The romantic subplot was the only thing that kept me reading in places. Aerin is a bit of a MarySue, especially in terms of extreme good luck being on her side. A lot of things seem to \"just happen\", without sufficient reason being given, and she never really seems to fail at anything. The most important scenes in the book seem to be the shortest, and I was left with a feeling of, \"that's it?\" I may try to read The Blue Sword as well, since I have it, but maybe not right away.", "date_added": "Sat May 02 18:14:08 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat May 02 18:15:22 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "3950967", "review_id": "fe1486c58ebd4b5931c13c15c80a4d63", "rating": 4, "review_text": "At first I was disappointed to discover that there were only five tales in the book. The tales are run-of-the-mill, fairy tale-grade entertainment, and not so spectacular on their own. It's the commentary by Dumbledore that makes this book worthwhile reading. In it, we get extra insights into wizarding history and past occurrences at Hogwarts which add even more delightful colour to the world JKR has created.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 29 11:03:58 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 29 11:05:20 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Tue Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "64207", "review_id": "8c4cdd6461b7a57237d31d313e37e012", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved the format of this book: The two authors began this book as a game, each writing the letters of of one of the fictional cousins, without ever discussing the plot. The plot itself is somewhat predictable in places, but the characters are so enjoyable that it doesn't really matter. It could almost have been a sequel to \"Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell\", going by the setting and the way magic worked. I am very eager to read the other books in the series. \n Recommended for ages 12+", "date_added": "Thu Jan 29 10:48:44 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 29 10:53:35 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Mon Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "60177", "review_id": "cbc988531e0f28837e078650815518c7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I am slowly working my way through the Oz series. I like the books well enough, but I think I would have enjoyed them more as a child, and I would appreciate them more now if I had read them as a child. \n This is the book off of which the movie Return to Oz is largely based, though the movie only loosely mirrors the plot. Still, this is a fine book, with some fun little details (like the Hungry Tiger who very much wants to eat babies, but knows he would feel bad about it after) and I don't hesitate to recommend it to young children and their parents.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 06 09:33:00 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 06 09:37:25 -0800 2008", "read_at": "Thu Nov 20 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "359", "review_id": "f0c07ee924631d311a3fecfba7be48ae", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is a hard book to read in more ways than one. For one thing, it is extremely disjointed, switching from fact to fiction to nostalgic memoir to after dinner speech. And for the other, there is the huge and undeniable oppressive fact of Adams' untimely death hanging over it. Most of the short pieces that make up this unusual book are dated, and each date feels like a clock counting down to that fateful date in May of 2001 when the world lost one of its most brilliant, fascinating minds and kindest, gentlest of men. Those of us who were fans recall, as with other great and terrible events of our lifetimes, where we were when we heard the news. I was just finishing my last year at Uni in Scotland. It was the week before exams. My housemates and I were in our common room, joking around and checking email. And then shock, disbelief, sadness. This book is a rag-tag assembly of unpublished and unfinished writing, taken from Adams' hard drive after his death. Most of it is non-fiction, and over the course of it, we get a very personal, eloquent, and (of course) humorous view of his thoughts on things like his inability to meet deadlines, his love of technology and wildlife, and his own atheism. And, saddest of all, his thoughts about and plans for the future that never arrived. I'm glad this book exists. I'm glad to have read it. I don't think I'll be reading it again. You are still most sorely missed, Douglas.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 31 23:07:20 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 29 19:45:15 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Wed Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "312080", "review_id": "8eede459164b49377aa065fda46cbef4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I've recently begun re-reading Edward Eager's series of juvenile fantasy books for the first time since elementary school, and have come to the conclusion that they are every bit as good as C. S. Lewis's Narnia books. I've now read five out of seven (all except The Well-Wishers and Seven Day Magic), and just this minute finished Magic or Not?, which I think may be my favourite of the series so far. This surprised me, since -- as the title suggests -- the magical element of the plot is a lot more ambiguous. I was prepared for it to be drier than the previous books, but it was anything but dry. \n Children read books about other children having magical adventures all the time, and every child wishes he or she could have magical adventures of their own. Who hasn't wanted to go to Hogwarts or have a wish granted? But every child eventually comes to the realisation that magic is a thing that belongs in stories, and not in real life at all. \n The message Magic or Not? offers is that this does not have to be the case, and magic is there to be found by those who look hard enough and are willing to believe. In the end, the children work out that all the wishes that have been granted *could* have been brought about by human means, but the series of coincidences and improbabilities required seem far too unlikely to believe it was anything but magic. \n If you believe that every person deserves our good will, and that any day can be an adventure if you look at it right, this may be a book for you.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 31 22:03:15 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 06 08:50:11 -0800 2008", "read_at": "Fri Dec 05 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "349090", "review_id": "301ff5dffc305bb9472717e6ea9eb88b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm probably biased, but I think this is an ace book. I can't believe I haven't read it since high school. \"Red Dwarf\" (along with Monty Python) was an integral part of my formative years, and was probably at least partly responsible for the distinctly British shape my sense of humour subsequently took. I still have a huge soft spot for the TV show, but in a lot of ways, the book is even better. Plots that are confined to half-hour episodes are here expanded upon, with more detail, more character insight, and more humour sprinkled throughout the narrative than the dialogue and visuals of the show alone could ever convey. One thing I can't believe I never noticed before: Lister is far and away the smartest character. Before, I just thought of him as a lazy, ignorant slob, who was the hero mainly by virtue of being nicer than everyone else. Yes, he is a lazy slob, but he's not stupid. He recognises when something is important, and he knows how to do the research and where to find the answers he needs. Rimmer, with his complex exam timetables, never seems to absorb 1% as much information as Lister does when he puts his mind to it. Rimmer is, of course, image-obsessed as a mask to hide his own self-loathing. The Cat is image-obsessed because of his own innate narcissism. Kryten lacks depth, but he's a mechanoid with few thoughts not about cleaning. Holly, the wonderfully eccentric computer, is good for a few one-liners. But Lister is the Everyman hero with a heart of gold, who never loses hope in the face of overwhelming odds that he will, one day, find his way home.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 31 08:54:09 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 08 09:08:35 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sun Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "34896", "review_id": "5ad2232f982caf543a617ab934b3ee09", "rating": 3, "review_text": "As a children's book, this is not quite up to the usual level of complexity to be found in GRRM's other books (notably his \"Song of Ice and Fire\" series), but it is still a good story. Children should enjoy it and it is refreshingly lacking in a \"Disneyfied\" happy ending.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 30 20:07:50 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 30 20:10:28 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Wed Dec 05 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "10664113", "review_id": "72790fc3171dc87a2e9a0d6dbba83856", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow. There is a whole lot to process here, isn't there? And I don't know if I will be able to do that fully until I have a chance to discuss the events of this story and their ramifications with other fans of the series. I may not be able to fully process it until I've done another reading. I did not do a re-read of the series to date before the release of the latest volume, relying instead on summaries of the previous books and my own possibly flawed memory of the story so far. I've read the other books about three times, but it's been almost three years since I've been through them. So...what to say. I was glad to get back to a number of my favourite characters, especially Tyrion, of course, and to see storylines that were rumoured or hinted at in Feast played out. There are a lot of game-changing events and characters here, and it will be interesting to see how they play out in the two final books of the series. (It's still two, right? Because seven is a super important number?) I would have liked more information on what happened with Brienne of Tarth than the one small and inconclusive glimpse we are given. I can't say for sure yet, but I think maybe this was better than Feast, and together the two might make a whole book. I'd be interested in finding a guide for reading the two in tandem with one another, since there is a lot of overlap. I'm sure one will pop up sooner or later. In conclusion, Martin is still unafraid of shaking up the story or killing important characters. It can be jarring to be reminded that no one in this series is safe.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 30 20:07:37 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 11 12:05:53 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "70949", "review_id": "3871321412e9421793d092addf2256c8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This may be the fifth time I've read this series, but it's the first time I've read it slowly, and the first time I've paused between chapters to think not just about the more exciting aspects of the plot or how much I like some of the characters, but to really look at some of the concepts Pullman is taking on and appreciate importance of this series. Despite the fact that Pullman has put together a great plot, and told his tale with an almost poetic beauty, there were moments when I couldn't believe he managed to find a publisher willing to take on some of the more controversial subject matter in the context of YA literature. But I am so glad he did, because the ideas here are profound, and they are not ones that young people are often exposed to in such a sophisticated way. Not to say I love everything about this book or this series. Frankly I think far too long is spent faffing about in the world of the dead, and while I know it's important to the plot, it does drag a bit after so many re-readings. But the ultimate message of the series -- that we cannot live our lives for unprovable ideas or in hope of another world which may or may not exist, but that we must do what we can to create the best possible world where we are -- is beautiful and satisfying. Four stars for this book, and five for the series overall.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 23 06:34:31 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 14 02:26:45 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sun Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "119322", "review_id": "5a70fd0d6bb6656411bc801067131fc2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Every time I read this series, I think I enjoy it more. I used to find parts of it a little uncomfortable, a little dull, and thought there wasn't as much humour to it as I normally like finding in my fiction. But on this, my fifth reading, this book feels comfortable, like an old friend. Also this time, I got to read along with a group of people online, one chapter a day, some of whom had never read it before and did not know what to expect. I think the daily discussion with the community greatly increased my appreciation of Pullman as a writer and a story teller, of the characters and the things they represent, and the importance of the themes dealt with in this series, which are so rarely handled in a YA format. Pullman weaves a rich tapestry of characters and the complex world they inhabit to create a gripping adventure tale that is at once familiar and so very, very new. A great series which encourages young people to be brave and self-reliant, and to think for themselves. What more could one ask for?", "date_added": "Sun Mar 23 06:32:27 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 29 19:55:07 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Fri Jun 24 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sun May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "222576", "review_id": "e5f05a27ff7ed4ec5bd783b82d828244", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is certainly the most grown up book of the series so far. There is more real-world violence and adult themes, including violent animal death and mention of an attempted rape. \n Will is back again, and almost has a personality this time. We also get to meet Bran, whom I like almost as much as Jane. The Drew siblings do not appear in this book. There were parts that got bogged down with exposition, and I didn't think it was clear at the beginning that Will had forgotten he was an Old One, until he suddenly remembered. \n This book is not as tightly paced as Greenwitch was, but I enjoyed it at least as much as Over Sea, Under Stone, and more than The Dark is Rising.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 11:07:12 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 27 09:47:35 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "11313", "review_id": "0ab76c2567ff0a2144ad0cd129f6c7ba", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I have now completed my re-read of this series. \n I want this book to be so much better than it is. It's not as weak as The Dark Is Rising was, but it's not much better. Susan Cooper describes things and people and scenery endlessly, and continues to drop chunks of convenient exposition all over the place that haven't even been hinted at in the foregoing series, but there is minimal character development of the protagonists, and sometimes minimal interaction. \n It is almost as if Cooper suddenly realized she had too many characters in her primary cast and didn't know how to write scenes where they all contributed. in some places, she handles this by splitting them up, bringing Merriman into the story late, and sending Will and Bran on a quest to the Lost Land, separating them from the Drews for several chapters. \n While I liked the character Gwion, the Lost Land chapters bored me so much that I kept falling asleep. The dreamlike quality and endless descriptions of the place did not help. Do we really need a description of Bran every time Will looks at him? I get it. He's very pale. He has unusual eyes. I hadn't forgotten in the last 2 pages. All the descriptions are probably meant to build tension, but all they do is stall the forward momentum of the story. \n There were things I enjoyed. It was good to have the Drews back, especially Jane. It was nice to revisit Wales and some of the characters there. And everything having to do with John and Blodwyn Rowlands was great. But it wasn't enough to hold my interest in the story. \n There were several scenes that seemed only tangentially related to the main plot, including the first few chapters where Will is at home with his family. There is a scene where Will and his brothers rescue a young Asian boy from a racist attack, but it has no greater significance than for Cooper to say \"racism is bad and of the Dark,\" which felt a little uncomfortable, considering her use of a Roma character in Greenwitch, and the fact that the boy in this scene never appears again nor is he ever mentioned. \n I got very tired of things happening just because that's how it is due to some ancient law that is never adequately explained. I'm tired of characters just knowing what to do at the right time because the knowledge comes to them, without them having to be clever or resourceful or draw on past knowledge they have gained. I'm tired of new major plot elements being dropped into the middle of the story without any sort of buildup, previous mention, or foreshadowing. And I am really tired of Old Ones wiping people's memories all over the place \"for their own good\". Wasn't there supposed to be an important message of free will in here somewhere? How can people have free will if they are not permitted to benefit and grow from their knowledge and experience? So at the end of it all, 4 of the 6 primary characters will remember nothing of their adventures in these books, will learn nothing from their experiences, and any growth or character development they gained is permanently erased as if it never happened. Screw that. \n But I think the thing I disliked most was the way the climax and the ending were handled. All the characters are finally together in one place and its like Cooper has no clue what to do with them. It's easy to forget some of them are there for pages at a time, especially the Drews, who hardly do or say anything during the climax. None of the primary characters interact much with each other during this crucial scene, and we are only reminded of their presence when Will occasionally notices their facial expressions. It is very frustrating. \n I'm glad to be done with this series. I liked the idea of it. I liked some of the characters. I liked books 1, 3, and 4 (Greenwitch especially was very good, with a tightly paced plot). I liked the pagan/historical/legendary elements and how they were important parts of the world Cooper built. But I have seen the Epic Battle Between Light And Dark with child and adolescent heroes done so much better.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 11:06:44 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 25 11:27:22 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Feb 25 11:27:22 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "24963", "review_id": "883644fc4d07939f39f7f5678ac99e5f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book is much better-paced than \"The Dark is Rising\", the characters are more well-rounded and engaging, and the threat feels more real, spooky, and inhuman. I especially love how pivotal Jane is to the story, since I liked her so much in \"Over Sea, Under Stone\". I would venture to say that it is the strongest book in the series so far. It's a pity that it is also the shortest. \n My only substantial complaint is that the only POC character in the series so far to appear in more than a paragraph or two is the villain of this book. He is Roma (describes himself as \"Romany\"), and the g-slur is liberally used. In spite of the fact that he is an important character who appears in several chapters, he is never given a name, and is only ever referred to as \"the dark painter\" (referring to his skin colour, not his allegiance). \n One thing I really enjoy about the series over all is the way that the books all correspond to different holidays in the Wheel of the Year. The first was Lughnasadh, the second was Yule, and this was set at Beltane.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 11:06:42 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 10 01:55:24 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 10 01:55:24 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "6613066", "review_id": "fc0000cb78af1cc4b97a3f978c83c87b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I love the atmosphere of this book. The way it draws on British myth and legend. The vaguely pagan feel of it. How heavily it ties in with the season during which it is set. There are some great moments. I can see how reading it as a child or young teenager could be a really fun and exciting experience. But I have to say, reading as an adult, I found the story a little weak. Will comes by his powers a little too easily. He just knows what to do at the right moment and does it. Most of the characters are kind of two-dimensional, which may be because the cast is too large do such a short book. It also bothered me that, while Will seems to have a good relationship with his brothers, he mostly seems annoyed by and dismissive of his sisters. Very few female characters take an active role in the plot. Over Sea Under Stone was better.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 11:06:34 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 03 13:41:31 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 03 13:41:31 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "312081", "review_id": "553f3483b4b20505d59a53d641c7290d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I just read this one recently, but when D started reading me \"The Castle in the Attic\", I couldn't help remarking on the similarities between the plots. However, Edward Eager did it first and (I think we can both agree) better. Four cousins visiting for the summer become involved in a magical adventure centered around and marvelous toy castle and a mysterious old toy soldier. They learn that, despite their differences in age, gender, and interests, they can all learn to get along, and wind up having a marvelous time. In the course of their adventures, they meet Robin Hood, King Richard I, and Prince John, and end up re-writing the plot of Ivanhoe, much to their satisfaction. Highly recommended for ages 8+ and grownups, too.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 10:52:09 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat May 02 18:06:43 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Wed Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "91477", "review_id": "dd1e45e2a5481b5f7a1b66b832f6ae9c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "These books are all right. The characters are decent and the plots are well-constructed. It took me until the end of the second book to put my finger on what it was about the writing style that bothered me. \n The author's tone is a trifle smug for my tastes. He thinks he is slightly cleverer than he actually is, and very few of his \"surprise plot twists\" are actually surprising, unless they are so convoluted that no one could possibly guess them. \n This one leaves one plot thread hanging that I am willing to bet will come up somewhere again in the series, but I'm not sure I feel like reading on to find out.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 10:37:31 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 06 09:05:40 -0800 2008", "read_at": "Fri Nov 21 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "153779", "review_id": "8ad825c77875f48dae9160bee1e01628", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I am a HUGE Tamora Pierce fan, and have been for about 17 years now. There is no author writing fantasy geared at teenage girls that I love half so much as I love this woman. After more than 25 years of writing and 25 books, Tammy still manages to surprise and impress me with her wry, no-nonsense approach to juvenile fantasy. Her teenage heroines specialise in kicking ass and taking names, and while they like their men, no one will accuse them of being unable to take care of themselves. Beka Cooper is no exception. \n In Bloodhound, the second of the trilogy, Beka has begun her first year as a Dog (essentially, a cop) in the pseudo-Medieval fantasy kingdom of Tortall. She's 17, unable to find a decent working partner, and someone is flooding the country's coinage with counterfeits. Tammy has made the bold choice in this book of removing Beka to an unfamiliar city (both for her and for the reader) to track the culprits, separating our heroine from most of the cast of characters we met in the previous book, including her magical pet cat, on whom Beka has come to rely a little too heavily. My favourite addition to the cast is Achoo, a scent hound whom Beka adopts when she is mistreated by her previous handler. \n One of the things I especially love about Tammy's books is that morality is rarely black-and-white; thieves live by their own code, and can often become friends or lovers of Dogs without anyone batting an eye. As long as everyone plays by the rules -- written or not -- everything works fine. \n Sex is also dealt with frankly (but never explicitly) in this book -- more baldly, perhaps, than in any of Tammy's previous books. Beka takes for a lover a man she barely knows, fully aware that their affair must, perforce, be a brief one. The romance is almost incidental to the plot, and her new lover takes little part in the action of the book. Beka's love-life takes second place to her main focus: Her job. She and the new man enjoy their time together, and part on good terms, though Beka is saddened when she knows she must leave. Beka's romance with Rosto, her flame from the previous book, is left on the back burner, and we barely see him, though he is frequently in Beka's thoughts. \n This is also the first time we get an explicitly gay character in a major role in one of Tammy's Tortall books. Usually, her characters' sexualities are only hinted at -- because, as Tammy says, her books are not \"about that\" -- but now we have Nestor, Beka's friend and superior officer, who we are told is gay the first time we meet him. We also meet his companion, a male-to-female transexual named Okha, who works as a singer in a tavern, and has ties to the city's criminal element. Both of them are well-thought-of by the other characters in the book, reflecting a very open-minded society. \n All in all, an excellently-written story, though I don't yet love Beka as much as I love Alanna. Highly recommended for ages 12 and up.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 10:37:12 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 01 15:42:05 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Thu Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "153792", "review_id": "ec3fdff9daa492e646365c5b874b011a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "In the third \"Circle Opens\" book, fourteen-year-old smith-mage Daja has traveled far to the north with her teacher, Frostpine, and are enjoying the hospitality of two of his old friends and their children. Daja sees one of their twin daughters use magic, and realises the other must have it as well. Unlike in the previous two books, Daja is able to find appropriate teachers for the two girls, a cook-mage and a wood-mage respectively, and only trains them in meditation. This leaves Daja with a fair amount of free time in which to make a set of fire-proof gloves for her new hero, Ben, who is teaching and organising fire brigades for the island city. But Daja and Ben's newfound friendship is tested by his sharp-tongued mother and by the shocking truth about the arsonist who is plaguing the islands. I think the thing I enjoyed most about this book is the fact that the villain of the piece is actually a highly sympathetic madman. Daja learns that human nature is not black and white, good and evil, and that sometimes the right thing to do can seem like the hardest thing of all.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 10:36:51 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 29 20:58:51 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Thu Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "153783", "review_id": "52b5a7bede23fd430b66b3ca4f953c28", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book had an uncomfortable and bumpy start for me. I had so been looking forward to the four young mages getting back together and being one big happy family again, but it wasn't like that at all. I'll admit that Tammy's way of handling their reunion was much more realistic, but I hate seeing even fictional good friends not getting along. Besides that, in the first chapter, a year and a half goes by, during which the three travelers return to awkward and emotionally fraught homecomings. Daja learns she can no longer live at the temple, her former home, and refuses to live on Sandry's charity. Tris realises her three foster siblings are all incredibly wealthy, while her own prospects are poor, and her wind-scrying is driving her half mad. Briar has narrowly escaped a war, and is suffering deep emotional scars. Sandry, who has been waiting three years for all her friends to return, is deeply disappointed that none of them are eager to re-establish their former bond. But when Sandry's uncle approaches them to ask them to accompany Sandry to visit her lands in the empire of Namorn, they all agree to go. But they are unprepared to deal with Sandry's cousin, the powerful and beautiful empress of Namorn or the web she is weaving to keep them there. Our young friends are all grown up now, and there's no more skirting around the issue of sex. Briar is an unapologetic man-whore, Daja finds love in the arms of a beautiful woman, and Sandry is in constant danger of marriage-by-kidnap. Only Tris seems to keep aloof from the romantic shenanigans, but there are definitely budding Ron-and-Hermione overtones to her relationship with Briar. I had expected at least some of the students acquired in the last series to figure into this plot, but they are conspicuously absent. However, a man from Daja's travels resurfaces, turning out to be a mage driven mad by the power he never knew he had, and it will take all four of them to sort him out. Of course, by the end of the book they are all one big, happy family again, and it is very gratifying. The last time I read a book this long in a single day was the final Harry Potter book.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 10:36:37 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 01 15:41:40 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Thu Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "153782", "review_id": "4aedbf04086acfc0829968af762a4f7c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "In the city of Tharios, far to the south of her home, fourteen-year-old Trisana Chandler is facing two problems. The first is that she has acquired a student -- a journeyman glassmaker named Kethlun Warder -- who is not only several years older than she, but is afraid of her lightning magic; a serious problem since it turns out he carries such power himself. The second is the serial murders of several female entertainers in one of the city's poorer districts. Tris and Keth struggle with the rudiments of glass- and lightning-magic, and work to shape their powers to help Demakos Nomasdina, the man in charge of the murder investigation. Tris has difficulty accepting the harsh class-structure of this new land, and acquires two more responsibilities: A glass dragon created by her student and named Chime, and a four-year-old girl named Glaki who is orphaned by the killer. At the conclusion of this series, I like the characters and their stories, but I still don't *love* them. I am, however, looking forward to seeing the whole gang back together in the next book.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 10:36:25 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 29 21:00:15 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sat Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "24093", "review_id": "3253e4a16c8cbf7fe0a354bd80c29034", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The second book in the \"Circle Opens\" quartet features Briar Moss, now a powerful fourteen-year-old plant mage, living with his teacher, Rosethorn, in the distant land of Chammur. While wandering the market place, Briar discovers Evvy, a ten-year-old girl who has stone magic. Like Briar at that age, she is a child of the streets, without friends or family to care for her. Unable to find her a suitable and willing teacher, Briar reluctantly takes her on as a pupil, but quickly comes to enjoy the role of teacher. There is a secondary plot dealing with gang culture, laying out sympathetically, though not positively, why some children and teens find it useful or even necessary to join gangs. Briar is forced to look at just how far he has come in the past four years; from an unwanted \"street rat\" to a powerful and respected mage. Like the previous book, none of the other three young mages appear, though they are frequently in Briar's thoughts.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 10:36:10 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 22 15:08:43 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sun Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "2744", "review_id": "5cfdf9d7c86729bb1307172cccf6e6c9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I couldn't help reading Charlie in David Mitchell's voice (though he looks nothing like him) and Spider in Patterson Joseph's.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 10:33:22 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 08 06:55:14 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jul 08 06:55:14 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "118229", "review_id": "90d8430d8a2b975bbe537b792fd8a4e7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Buttercup, the commoner-turned-princess, loves Wesley, the farmhand-turned-dashing hero, with all her heart, and of course Wesley loves her, too. But when he is killed by pirates while off trying to make his fortune so he can marry her, she agrees to marry the horrible Prince Humperdink. However, all is not as it seems. Humperdink plots to kill Buttercup with the help of his right-hand-man, the sadistic Count Rugen, in order to start a war with the neighbouring country of Guilder, and only the timely resurrection of her darling Wesley can save her. But since this is a satire of fairytales, nothing goes according to plan, and although Wesley and Buttercup are the romantic leads, they are far from being the most interesting characters. Buttercup may be the most beautiful woman alive, but she has all the brains and depth of character of a cardboard cutout. Wesley is just way too perfect, and how can a reader sympathise with that? It is the supporting cast of quirky secondary characters, including my favourite, Inigo Montoya, that makes this story a classic. However, the truly classic work of fiction here is Goldman's introduction, explaining how he didn't write the story, only abridged the \"good parts\" version from the Florinese original by S. Morgenstern. The story he weaves about his life and his discovery and love of this \"timeless classic\" -- not to mention his notes interrupting the text to explain what he cut out and why -- has had countless readers searching for years for the Morgenstren \"original\". Much to my delight, at the end of this edition (25th anniversary), I discovered the \"abridgment\" of the first chapter of Buttercup's Baby, the putative sequel, prefaced by a 22 page introduction every bit as delightful as that of the original book. This new chapter also included a PG-rated \"sex scene\" between Buttercup and Wesley that had me giggling all the way through.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 10:16:09 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 28 08:56:00 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sun Nov 22 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "1904075", "review_id": "d03d4d9086ac3faf5c29f28fc742d06a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "WARNING: DO NOT read the 2002 edition with the brown-haired boy on the cover. It has been badly edited and \"sanitised\" for children, to the point that many parts of the story no longer make sense. Find an older edition of the book, if you can. \n Bentley Ellicott is the stuff of legends. You wouldn't know it to look at him, though. To most of the people who know him, he appears to be a fairly ordinary eight-year-old boy growing up in small town New England. Perhaps a little more thoughtful than most, perhaps a little peculiar. But Bentley has a secret: he was born to be a hero. The same heart that belonged to Gilgamesh, King David, King Arthur, and hundreds more throughout history, beats in his breast and whispers to him about his destiny. One day, he will become a great warrior against evil, in a struggle which may cost him his life and all he holds dear. That doesn't bother Bentley, though. He knows that all the great heroes of legends were grownups. It will be years before he will be called upon to fulfill his destiny. Or so he thought. \n This has been one of my all-time favourite books since I was in high school. I've lost count of the number of times I've picked it up, read the first page, and been unable to put it down again. I've also lost count of the number of copies I have bought and given away to friends over the years. I love Bentley and his best friend Slally (I especially love Slally; she's such an awesomely fierce little girl). I love wise old Dumbledore-ish Dr. Kreistein. And I love the way the lives of the residents of Stonehaven interweave to tell a tale out of legend. This is a fantastic book.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 10:15:32 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 29 01:13:24 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1996", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "763538", "review_id": "0245838be7d2a49f3056d6636accd6ea", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a story for people who love books. I don't just mean people who enjoy reading; I mean people who are steeped in classic British, European, and American literature. The protagonist, Janet Carter, is an English major at Blackstock College, and Dean pays loving tribute to more or less her entire syllabus over four years. Characters frequently communicate by quoting classic literature at each other, and the names of authors, poets, and literary works litter the pages. \n Do not be intimidated, though! The first time I read this book, I was still in high school, and did not get many of the references, but by God, I wanted to. Reading it made me very excited about going to college. I, too, wanted to be steeped in great literature, spend my time with good-looking and highly literate people, and go on exciting and magical adventures. \n Rereading now, almost 15 years after graduating from college, is a different experience, but no less enjoyable. I did have an exciting and magical experience of college, minus the frequent literary quotations and fairies (though plenty of ghost stories), so the story brings up a good deal of nostalgia for me. I also understand many more (though not all) of the references now, and there are many aspects that I appreciate about the story now that I took for granted as a teenager. \n Tam Lin is heavily focused on its female cast and female friendships. A large cast of young women are depicted with a variety of personalities and interests. They do not always get along with each other, but they do always find common ground in the end, and they all seem like real people. The major male characters, though they are key to the plot, largely serve the role of love interests for Janet and her roommates. The subjects of menstruation, sex, birth control, suicide, and unplanned pregnancy are all addressed and openly discussed by the female protagonists, and some of these subjects are, in fact, key to the story. \n One thing I look for in the books I read these days is good representation of more than just straight, white characters, and while this book is awesome on women, it is rather disappointing here. While the sexuality of a couple of the characters is speculated on, nothing is ever confirmed. All of the relationships, even among the background characters, are heterosexual. There are four mentioned POC characters, two black and two east Asian, but they all serve in fairly minor roles with no direct contribution to the main plot. \n Dean's writing style has some small issues as well. She tends to go a little heavy on the adjectives and adverbs for my tastes, and sometimes her sentences have more clauses than are strictly necessary. She also describes the scenery in great detail every time the characters move to a new location, but I didn't mind that so much. \n I had the silly thought while reading that Tam Lin is sort of like Twilight-done-right. Girl moves to new place and wonders WTF is up with all these attractive and vaguely mysterious people. But Janet isn't completely focussed on and devoted to her man, and when he behaves like an ass, she has no problem taking him to task for it. She is entirely prepared to enjoy her time at college and get a good educagtion without getting too serious about romance, until fate intervenes to change her plans.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 10:15:06 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 17 02:14:22 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Sep 17 02:14:22 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "16793", "review_id": "8a604f75417daf250e8a14616f12f17d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A superb fairytale, flawlessly told. Every time I read it, I am surprised anew by how much I love it. Neil Gaiman is an amazing storyteller.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 10:14:48 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 08 06:33:27 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "960658", "review_id": "995c15754432a746bdadab409401c0dd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "An excellent and very funny book. The comedy and plot are tightly woven together, and I think it's pretty obvious that when you add Terry Pratchett to Neil Gaiman, you get Douglas Adams.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 10:13:13 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 02 17:43:26 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "13496", "review_id": "abed46295c12ee2ae92859caa17c0ea2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I would like to start by saying that, normally, I like fantasy that either does not take itself too seriously or has one foot set in the real world. George R. R. Martin's \"A Song of Ice and Fire\" series is an exception to that rule. His brand of complex political fantasy has never left me bored, confused or in any way dissatisfied. His characters and story lines draw on true historical figures and events, and he never fails to surprise me with his constantly-shifting character loyalties and plot lines. He's not afraid to kill off the \"good guys\", nor to redeem the \"bad guys\" in altogether surprising ways. In fact, I would hesitate to say there are \"good guys\" and \"bad guys\" at all in these books; only people with their own ideals and agendas, much like the real world. Just when you think you know where the story is going, GRRM turns it upside down and shakes it. I cannot recommend these books highly enough.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 10:12:36 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 30 20:17:50 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "153799", "review_id": "45a21c97faad7b45f1c691e21cd79b8c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Briar Moss is the fourth member -- and only boy -- in the Circle of Magic. He began his life as a \"street rat\" and thief named Roach, before being brought to Winding Circle Temple to study plant magic. Unlike the other three books which take place in rapid succession, this one is set several months after the last one. Also unlike the others, Briar carries the majority of the point of view, with only a few pages here and there from the other three. \n Briar has made a new friend, Flick, who lives on the streets as he once did. When she turns up with an unknown illness, heralding the beginning of an epidemic which devastates the city, a cure must be found at all costs, and it is up to a few powerful plant mages to find it. From quarantine to endless lab tests, Briar witnesses first hand what a new illness can do. And when the Blue Pox comes for one of his dearest friends, Briar and the rest of the Circle must once again combine their powers to perform an impossible feat: To defeat death itself. \n Dedicate Crane, who was introduced in the first book, is really fleshed out in this one. From his physical description and personality, I can't help being reminded of Professor Snape from the Harry Potter books. His sarcasm, his sour disposition toward humanity in general, his very proper speech, his penchant for mixing potions, and his intense rivalry with Briar's teacher, Rosethorn, only add to this impression. Also in this book, we get a bit more of a hint at his -- and Rosethorn's -- relationship with Lark. \n Recommended for ages 8+.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 10:11:48 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue May 26 14:00:05 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Tue May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "153793", "review_id": "bc5db819e3db75028add400c742c0c72", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The second book in the \"Circle of Magic\" quartet picks up about ten days after the first one ends. Viewpoint still shifts every few pages, but this book focuses on Trisana Chandler, who, before she came to Winding Circle Temple, was the daughter of merchants, but was passed from relative to relative because no one recognised her magic, and everyone thought she was just crazy. She has begun to make a home and friends for herself, but she's still the grouchiest of the four. Her power is primarily in weather magic, and she can hear distant conversations on the winds. \n The main action of the book involves the four friends defending their new home against a pirate attack. I was worried that this book was going to suffer from Harry Potter's malady of never telling an adult when he sees something odd or suspicious going on, but fortunately these kids are smart enough to speak up right away. Also surprising is these kids' willingness to inflict damage and kill to defend their home. \n The primary message of this book is the same as that of the previous one: That together the four friends are stronger than the sum of their individual magics. Good for ages 8+, but with some minor adult concepts which might require explanation.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 10:11:46 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue May 12 21:41:12 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Wed May 13 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "153791", "review_id": "033295a4cebf092fa4efb273b77e33d3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Daja, the third member of the Circle of Magic, was born into the Trader culture; nomadic merchants who live according to their own rules and customs. At the beginning of the series, ten-year-old Daja was the only survivor of a shipwreck which killed her entire family. Because of this, the Traders labeled her trangshi -- bad luck -- and exiled her from their culture. Because of her magic with fire and metal, Daja was brought to Winding Circle Temple, where she made new friends and began a new life. \n But now, because of her magic and the magic of her friends, Daja has accidentally created a tree made of metal, which grows as if it were alive. The Traders want it badly enough to do business even with an outcast. This, and the wildfires that are threatening the kingdom, may give Daja the chance she longs for to earn her place as a Trader again. But only if she is willing to leave behind her new friends. \n I've enjoyed this book best so far of this quartet. Daja's story is touching, and her character seems slightly more three-dimensional than some of the others.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 10:11:39 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed May 20 09:30:58 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Wed May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "153794", "review_id": "14f513423db0f2610c77a722be065fab", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm giving Tammy's \"Circle\" books another go, and keeping an open mind about them, despite the fact that I have tried this quartet twice before, and found it less satisfying than her \"Tortall\" books. For one thing, all the familiar sights and characters of the \"Tortall\" books are missing. For another, the \"Circle\" books are intended for a younger audience, so not only is there less adult-oriented content, but the stories are told in a more simplistic way. Our hero and heroines are only about ten or eleven when the story begins, and the entire quartet covers little more than a year, so there is little time for character development. \n Tammy has also chosen to focus on four central characters for this series, rather than a single main character, which means that, although the first book belongs to Sandry, it also introduces the other three characters, giving their origins, and switching frequently between viewpoints. The characters think of things in simple ways because they are children, but they are not unlikable characters. \n Sandry is the daughter of noble parents who died in a recent plague, but though she is nobility, she is the most open-minded, friendly, and easy-going of the four. She has been brought to Winding Circle Temple because of her special ability with thread magic, and because of her inability to get along with her dorm mates, she is put in Discipline Cottage with Tris, Daja, and Briar, all of whom, like her, have special abilities and nowhere else to go. Though they come from different backgrounds and have different abilities, they begin to form a strong bond of friendship, which, in the end, is what saves them. \n Most of the book is focused on character and concept introduction, and there's not much buildup to the climax of the book. The message is one of acceptance and friendship. I think this time I think I enjoyed it more than in the previous two reads. I would give it 3.5 stars, if that were possible. Good for ages 8+.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 10:11:24 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue May 05 12:16:40 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Tue May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "153784", "review_id": "9856d3adf0689493a25c5a2760771aef", "rating": 5, "review_text": "When I was 13 years old, I discovered the glorious Tamora Pierce through her \"Song of the Lioness\" quartet, which were, at the time, the only books she had published. \"The Immortals\" quartet came out while I was in high school, but I never connected with Daine as a heroine in the visceral way I did with Alanna, though I can appreciate why other people enjoy her. I never even touched \"The Protector of the Small\" until I was an adult in grad school. \n The first couple of times I read the series, I read it quickly. I enjoyed the books and I liked Kel, but I didn't give them a whole lot of thought. I went on to read all of Tammy's other series after that: The \"Trickster\" duology, the \"Provost's Dog\" trilogy, and all the Circle of Magic books, but Alanna remained my first love, and I was fiercely loyal to her. \n Now, though, I am older. I have learned to understand the world in new ways. I am re-reading Tammy's books more slowly, and savouring each of them as I go, thinking about the things that she is trying to tell us, and I've come to an important conclusion: I've changed my mind, and I think I'm a big enough person to admit it. \n Alanna will always have a special place in my heart, but these are the books I want my niece to read more than any others when she is old enough. I think there are so many important life-lessons here that girls just aren't hearing from enough places, and I think Tammy and Kel are the right women for the job of teaching them. \n The Big Bad here isn't an evil Duke, or a power-hungry Emperor; it's a society which insists that boys must be one way and girls must be another, and that anyone who transgresses those boundaries, no matter whether they are kind, hard-working, or just, deserves whatever punishment they get. \n If you know a twelve-year-old girl, consider giving her these books. Hell, a twelve-year-old boy can learn a lot about respecting girls and women here, too, if you think those are important things for him to know (hint: you should). And if you believe YA fantasy is all fluff without substance, here are four books that will prove you wrong.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 10:11:17 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 31 02:52:29 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri May 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d94ec26a0b328c0e17f640353ae4a69", "book_id": "153781", "review_id": "43e097ad69e0a668e86e92a12be53834", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I completely take back anything I ever said about the \"Circle\" books being for younger readers than Tammy's Tortall books. There's no sex in this one, but drugs and bloody, \"on-screen\" violence are major plot elements. \n Set four years after the first series, the four young mages have parted company, three of them leaving Winding Circle Temple with their teachers to travel and learn more about the world. Sandry has stayed behind to look after her uncle, Duke Vedris, who has recently suffered a heart attack. \n The story contains two plotlines: The primary plot involves the murders of a family of merchants, while the secondary plot deals with Sandry's discovery of a young mage, Pasco Acalon, whose magic manifests itself through dance. As his discoverer, Sandry is required to teach the boy the rudiments of magic, at the same time that she attempts to assist the Provost's Guard in tracking down the assassins and the mage who helps them. Pasco doesn't take part in the primary plot until the very end of the book, and when he does, he is more of a tool than a character thinking and acting for himself. \n The first time I read this book, I was bored by it, and now I am not sure why. The only reason I can think is that, once again, Tammy has departed from familiar territory, and only the characters of Sandry, the Duke and Lark carry over from the previous series. The other members of the Circle are mentioned, but not seen or heard from at all. The story also takes place over the space of about a week. Still, not a bad story, and I am actually looking forward to reading the next one, which I've never opened before.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 10:11:02 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 06 10:04:57 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sat Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "04471bba2bdbe465e9b6d42a3fab663b", "book_id": "9378297", "review_id": "af98a6db7dc808f6fce141dc891780a4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Didn't end like I wanted it to....but it really couldn't.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 09 13:00:24 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 22 07:13:35 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Nov 22 07:13:35 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "04471bba2bdbe465e9b6d42a3fab663b", "book_id": "15762662", "review_id": "f75665584bd088d412206339c103010f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Cute.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 18 20:42:11 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 19 17:15:52 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Oct 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "04471bba2bdbe465e9b6d42a3fab663b", "book_id": "18805916", "review_id": "0f904af780cf63ae0bdfb97f5d86e14d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved this story. I had to keep reading to find out the fate of these star crossed lovers.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 02 15:24:48 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 18 20:40:51 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "04471bba2bdbe465e9b6d42a3fab663b", "book_id": "6587879", "review_id": "c651e7d79d07645651f70937d1800f35", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Started light and fun. Ended deep with the main issue (I thought) unresolved.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 29 19:36:03 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 10 19:28:58 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Aug 10 19:28:58 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "04471bba2bdbe465e9b6d42a3fab663b", "book_id": "3121124", "review_id": "cfd9442eb9b4c3463eeb3c52e8c61589", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Just a fun mindless read.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 22 18:20:17 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 25 18:22:08 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Feb 25 18:22:08 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "04471bba2bdbe465e9b6d42a3fab663b", "book_id": "15702859", "review_id": "32e6229e194d91530d29ba6502d096d2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Absolutely loved this book!", "date_added": "Sun Jan 27 19:28:10 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 22 18:13:48 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 22 18:13:48 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "04471bba2bdbe465e9b6d42a3fab663b", "book_id": "12106940", "review_id": "78e41abb5886cf777ad4c4d9894b93e1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A little too much going on in this one. Things felt rushed but a good finale to the series.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 19 20:16:19 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed May 29 19:15:20 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 29 19:15:20 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "04471bba2bdbe465e9b6d42a3fab663b", "book_id": "13206760", "review_id": "af37a635a5ae59a64c98d79502977074", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved this book. I thought it was better than Cinder.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 30 09:04:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 17 12:42:40 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "04471bba2bdbe465e9b6d42a3fab663b", "book_id": "8113940", "review_id": "1ecb27be21e814fed9f35dd07c1e9067", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Slow start, and I had decided not to continue the series, but it improved much in the second half.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 21 07:26:38 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 02 12:15:55 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "11fdbac8bad69ee5a65e68fe778db6ea", "book_id": "22023134", "review_id": "8a793b0a89491e552f1ad298b4b9bbf9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it just as much as the first two and can't wait for the next two books to come out. I'm a huge fan of this series and would recommend it to anyone. :)", "date_added": "Fri Jan 30 00:53:28 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 30 20:08:34 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "11fdbac8bad69ee5a65e68fe778db6ea", "book_id": "20661334", "review_id": "5807f4b5a5d3b7f4e0800ffa213071e5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Just as great as the first \n So I read this book in like an hour more or less and that should tell you how amazing this book is. It's about Tessa trying to save Meredith but even throughout all that Tessa and Dastien's bond gets stronger they make the cutest couple and Donovan and Meredith are a close second. I'm definitely buying the third I can't wait to see what's in store for the Full Moon Ceremony and the Tribunal. I absolutely love this series!! :)", "date_added": "Thu Jan 29 22:00:06 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 30 00:44:28 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jan 30 00:44:28 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jan 29 22:00:06 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "11fdbac8bad69ee5a65e68fe778db6ea", "book_id": "18739659", "review_id": "b734c867d1ba206d65c929ce5e1c2097", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Alpha Girl \n One of the better werewolf books I've read and trust me I've read a lot of them. Love Tessa and Bastein and the supporting characters as well. The book is well written and original. I'm excited to read the next book :)", "date_added": "Thu Jan 29 12:49:58 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 29 21:59:47 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 29 21:59:46 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jan 29 12:49:58 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7034a10769a15ae00d48937c30046e05", "book_id": "23785073", "review_id": "274a11bda10f6eecbf131e96117eafd5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm usually not enamored by short stories, BUT... this was a quick, fanciful story that is a lot of fun to read. The author took a true story and imaginatively filled in the blanks in a really engaging way. I felt drawn in and sorry that it didn't go on further. I'm really looking forward to more short stories in this Angel Files series.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 31 08:04:07 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 31 08:04:51 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7034a10769a15ae00d48937c30046e05", "book_id": "18744221", "review_id": "5afa97c9660495039b8061613a91572d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was an exciting adventure read! I was well engrossed in it for a couple days. There for a little bit in the middle, I started to think that maybe it was too predictable, but then that abruptly changed and there was surprise after surprise hurtling the story along. \n The grammar and editing need some help, but I'm not one to let that get in the way of a good story. There's some adult content in there too, but nothing pointless or over-the-top. I appreciate a good, gritty read. Some of the scenes are a little fantastic, and stretch the imagination further than mine is used to stretching, but it's an un-apologetically Christian book, and some stories in the Scripture stretch me like that, too! \n The scene with the big battle in it is well thought out and reminded me of some of my dad's real time strategy games. The only part I liked better than that scene was when the hero and the heroine were fighting for the first time. That was comical and lots of fun. \n All in all, I'm looking forward to reading more of this author's work! And I'll be referring some adventure-loving friends in his direction. \n Oh! And I received this book for free in exchange for a review and a copy of my own book.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 31 07:35:23 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 03 12:26:34 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Feb 03 12:26:34 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7034a10769a15ae00d48937c30046e05", "book_id": "20431357", "review_id": "7baedeb7efca9e12b4c7d20b6145b885", "rating": 4, "review_text": "First off... the cover to this book is downright awesome. When you're holding the book in your hands, the colors nearly shimmer in intensity. It's pretty neat-o. \n About the inside of the book... Since Rancid is book number two in \"The Trap\" series, it was nice to meet a couple new characters, (including a new flying horse!) \n The story was an easy read. I spent most of the day involved in it on and off. I felt happy when the characters were happy and was sorry to see it end. \n Honestly though, I felt like the story was only getting started around the end. Two of the main characters were mostly inactive for a long time. And much of the narrative was taken up by a snob insisting on telling his story. (I have to admit though, I'll never look at pinecones the same!) \n Anyway, this book was a fun read, but less exciting than Vicki Lucas' last book. I'm looking forward to continuing the adventure in the next book in the series.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 28 20:41:39 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 12 12:25:14 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7034a10769a15ae00d48937c30046e05", "book_id": "13607237", "review_id": "fcc967850c982cbfde6aa0b14f2ea8f4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It's been a long time since I flat-up enjoyed a book I was reading. But I've been totally basking in Toxic's glow. In fact, although it's a fluid, easy read and I read half of the narrative in a mere day, I found myself closing the book on purpose so that I could have some to enjoy the next day. The story picks up fast. The action scenes are riveting and edgy. The chapters are short enough to keep you saying, \"Just one more!\" The symbols before each character's part really help in keeping everyone straight. (There's not a lot of head hopping though, thankfully) The descriptive parts enamor my imagination, and the fact that part of the story is told from a wind's perspective is a neat twist. \n All in all, I rate this a five out of five. And that's a honor not frequently bestowed by me. \n Now I'm off to buy a copy for my Dad, and my siblings. Because I think they'll all enjoy this wonderful story.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 28 10:21:35 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 28 10:21:54 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7034a10769a15ae00d48937c30046e05", "book_id": "13630568", "review_id": "3d784dadb247de82da0629b9e55004e2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It's going to take me a while to recover from this one... \n The fact that this story has lingered in obscurity for so long is a tragedy. This author deserves far more acclaim than he's gotten, that's for sure. \n Men of Renown is one of the most memorable stories I've read in a very long time. The characters are realistically fallible, and you don't realize how truly attached you've gotten to them until the book closes. There's plenty of well-constructed action, a wide variety of environments and settings, and a taste of tender-hearted romance. The world before the Flood is brought to full light and color. Without glorifying the darkness, the story reads almost like a biblical fantasy. It's clean enough even children can read it, but deep and engaging enough for an adult to enjoy. A magnificent read-aloud book, I'm hoping that maybe someday the author will put out an audio-book version for my children to listen to time and time again!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 28 16:19:05 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 10 14:50:46 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c5a480631b5ed8072dcfaa0f8d2534da", "book_id": "23766634", "review_id": "8c8a9890fd3dd9db3dc8ffcdf3281b8e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Between 3 and 3.5", "date_added": "Sun Jan 08 11:55:34 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Tue May 23 06:30:14 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri May 12 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c5a480631b5ed8072dcfaa0f8d2534da", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "4555c316c220f4b6a76ca2bfd9e73206", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This story is LIT. I love the plot. Writing is just ok but I LOVE Cinder. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series! I will write a better review later lol.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 06 08:25:38 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 11 14:58:03 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Nov 11 14:58:03 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Nov 03 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c5a480631b5ed8072dcfaa0f8d2534da", "book_id": "13206760", "review_id": "1358ba41e3e43420909cf7cff7649bbc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Very fast read! Better character development and great plot building! I liked Wolf's character. Some violence and sinister action makes things more interesting. I liked Cinder better, though. Writing is still just ok.On to Cress!", "date_added": "Mon May 11 13:36:33 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 12 11:06:30 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Nov 12 11:06:30 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "75719e9fad4d4ea2380265e71abca5da", "book_id": "14069", "review_id": "95fae936f3ff11bec0af19284b26e13a", "rating": 0, "review_text": "dragons during the napoleonic war? Why would I noT want to read this", "date_added": "Sun Nov 13 10:26:56 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 13 10:27:29 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Nov 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "75719e9fad4d4ea2380265e71abca5da", "book_id": "38619", "review_id": "8cf1e40982eeb5e450700d746a9a28dc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "formulaic but fun read", "date_added": "Tue Sep 27 11:12:05 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 13 10:16:35 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Nov 13 10:16:35 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Nov 13 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "75719e9fad4d4ea2380265e71abca5da", "book_id": "5776788", "review_id": "8a76eac0977300efbb1a5bf9da061466", "rating": 2, "review_text": "ehh", "date_added": "Tue Jun 07 09:44:40 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 13 10:17:54 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Nov 13 10:17:54 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "75719e9fad4d4ea2380265e71abca5da", "book_id": "9601799", "review_id": "42ad2e49b68406a5ac0532fc4221fe61", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Not too shabby, well paced and a character origin story that hardens to a darker version of batman. In a way...", "date_added": "Fri Mar 13 10:58:28 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 13 10:59:13 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "75719e9fad4d4ea2380265e71abca5da", "book_id": "9533378", "review_id": "bafba13fe1ba79602e4059d5328f0642", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Good Story well written enjoyed the various mythological pantheons added into the book.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 10 19:55:50 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 10 19:56:23 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "75719e9fad4d4ea2380265e71abca5da", "book_id": "5931576", "review_id": "424746a8f79d0186ff18d6d31dc52f9f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Well paced and fairly well written", "date_added": "Thu Feb 13 16:21:49 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 13 16:22:04 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "75719e9fad4d4ea2380265e71abca5da", "book_id": "663098", "review_id": "e375cb5ef9b4b4b975a4576e95cc8943", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I thought this was an interesting read, fairly fast paced and an interesting concept from top to bottom. I am looking forward to reading the next book.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 30 09:12:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 02 14:39:17 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Aug 02 14:39:17 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "75719e9fad4d4ea2380265e71abca5da", "book_id": "7165300", "review_id": "434bf823956343f3fa59c148d1c52add", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Well written fantasy unique use of magic fairly cool book.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 15 19:53:55 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 10 19:58:53 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "306432c4e96d8e400cdd3ed8d46d0d46", "book_id": "6101718", "review_id": "3478901d60cb249c24e2594de9c98630", "rating": 1, "review_text": "This book is what happens when the Harry Potter kids grow up, join the cast of Girls, and whine about it for 300 plus pages. These self-indulgent hipsters somehow manage to take the magic out of Magic by drowning it in a deluge of tepid red wine and poor life choices. The supposed emotional complexity of these kids reads a lot like overly precious, after school special on the dangers of being rich and bored. This book is chock full of smarmy, pseudo-intellect angst. If you've already started and wonder if it suddenly picks up...spoiler alert it doesn't.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 11 08:22:50 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 11 08:34:27 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "24358297", "review_id": "7b82808534392f7d432eef81df12930b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n Read for URR Halloween challenge- werewolf category. \n I keep telling myself that these books are awful. That I really need to stop reading them. I keep telling myself that this one is the last I'm going to read. Well, guess what? \n These books really aren't that great, but they're fucking adorable and so much fun to read. I have made peace with the fact that I love these books and plan to read all of them, quality be-damned. They make me happy. \n Moving on. \n This is Colton's book. He's a wolf shifter and he's been dreaming of his mate, Rheia. She happens to have an adopted four-year-old daughter, Penny, but Colton doesn't know that yet. Rheia has also been dreaming of her mate but she doesn't really know it because she's human. When Rheia and her daughter are attacked, her paranormal friends (who she sees as her brothers) tell her to make her way to the Alpha estate in Lycaonia and when she arrives, she meets Colton for the first time. Colton is relieved to finally have found his mate but is surprised to find out he's now a dad. Everyone at the Alpha estate immediately falls in love with Penny, his new daughter. From there the book is mostly about Colton trying to get Rheia to accept him as a mate and learning to be a father to a very traumatized four-year-old girl who hasn't spoken since she witnessed her parents attack and murder. Of course, everyone is still trying to find out what the Ferals want and why the hell they feel the need to murder people, especially pregnant paranormal women. \n Rheia and Colton were a bit boring as a couple. I liked that Rheia spent most of the book refusing to accept Colton as her mate because it was a little more realistic, especially for a human. Shifters/vampires/witches etc..are used to the idea of mates. Humans, not so much. There was nothing wrong with Colton and Rheia as a couple, there just wasn't anything spectacular about them either. He was gorgeous, kind, and funny. She was smart, strong, and beautiful. You know, the normal stuff. They were certainly compatible in bed, though. Very compatible. Dayum. \n Honestly, the best part of these books is the ever-growing list of secondary characters. I look forward to their part of the plot and checking in on them. In fact, now that I think about it, the main characters are usually my least favorite part of the books. Somehow it still manages to work. \n The plot is often ridiculous, they are filled with absurd instaloves, and there were a few grammatical errors but for some reason, I just didn't care. This series is hilarious and I always laugh out loud. Several times. These books don't take themselves too seriously and they are a great escape. Award-winning literature? I think not. But I'm not going to let that bother me. \n And yes, of course, I'm going to keep reading the series.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 11 15:38:13 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 14 06:33:13 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Oct 13 04:18:57 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Oct 11 15:38:14 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "23691251", "review_id": "8d9aee541c587f056918c5b2689e6565", "rating": 3, "review_text": "*Read for Halloween Reading Challenge-vampire category.* \n So yeah. I just wrote this entire review and accidentally closed the tab. \n The only thing worse than accidentally losing your review is accidentally losing a three-star review. Those S.O.Bs are hard to write. So I'm going to do a condensed version. \n These books are kinda terrible. The only thing that saves them is that they are also hilarious and quick reads. This book spent wayyy too much time on Meryn and Aiden (the previous book's MCs) and not enough time on Gavriel and Beth. I mean come on, you have a super sexy alpha possessive yet kind and romantic vampire as an MC and I have to read about Meryn throwing another temper tantrum about not having enough coffee? Please. \n As I said above, quality wise, these books just aren't that great. The writing is lazy, the romance reaches its HEA within the first 15 pages, and there is almost zero conflict. I saw the medium size twist coming a mile away and the twist I'd hope would be there never happened. And come on, insta-love much? Seriously, Gavriel and Beth were in love within five minutes of meeting each other. \n Despite all of my complaints, I did finish the book in one sitting. I don't regret reading it, in fact, I enjoyed it. And I'll probably continue with the series because apparently, I enjoy badly done very fun romance novels with scenes that include giant hulking immortals standing in a grocery store aisle trying to figure out how a condom works and what \"ribbed for her pleasure\" means.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 07 13:39:16 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 13 04:50:33 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Oct 08 12:10:34 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Oct 07 13:39:16 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 7}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "27274346", "review_id": "e08a18d6047eb9a28376ef4a678ecf75", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It's much easier to accept the regrets of your life when you believe the outcome was already written. \n I was determined to like love this book. I've wanted to read it for years but it kind of slipped through the cracks. I've never seen it in a bookstore and for some reason, it was taken off my amazon wishlist. So basically, I forgot about it for a long time. Then, when I happened to be shopping at bookoutlet treating myself to more books than I could possibly have room for, I saw it! YAS. \n Long story short, yey me. I finally got my hands on this book and I loved it. \n This book reminded me a lot of the show Dead Like Me, which I also loved. Charlie is a Ferryman, one of many that all work at the Ferryman Institute. Each Ferryman (which also includes women, despite the job title), is given a file on an imminent death and it's their job to show up and guide the soul to the afterlife. It should be easy, but it's not. The souls often want to see their loved ones first or are frightened to walk through the door to the afterlife because no one, not even the Ferryman know what is on the other side. Apparently, it's different for every soul. So each Ferryman has a set amount of time to convince frightened, often traumatized, souls to get their asses going to the other side. If the Ferryman fails, the souls are locked out of the afterlife and can never see their loved ones. Essentially, they are stuck wandering. Charlie is a Ferryman genius, so to speak. In his two hundred and fifty years of being dead and being a Ferryman, he's never failed a soul. Despite his stellar success rate, he's sick of being a Ferryman. He's sick of the sadness, the unfairness of it all, and sick of death itself. But he keeps going, as he doesn't have a choice. One day, on his way to ferry a soul, he gets a mysterious box an envelope that will only open at the right time. It is unprecedented but he takes it with him to ferry a soul, Alice. Right as Alice is about to take her own life, Charlie's envelope opens and he's shocked to see that he is given the choice to stop Alice or let her die. It's a choice no Ferryman has ever been given. He makes the choice to stop her. The only problem is that Alice's case and Charlie's choice is very much a this message will self-destruct after you've read it kind of thing. He has no proof that he was given the choice and now the Ferrymen Institue's Inspector Javrouche, is out to get him. The inspector has a grudge against Charlie and is determined to punish him and make sure Alice dies, as she had originally planned. \n Charlie as a character was just fascinating and so well developed. I just liked him. He was really sarcastic, witty, funny, and also quite melancholy. I found him easy to relate to and I just wanted good things for him. I hated that I had a difficult time imagining what he looked like in my head. He really wasn't described well. I knew that he always wore suits and was considered handsome, but beyond that, I had nothin'. I eventually gave up finding clues in the book and just kind of plucked a random good looking guy from my head and assigned him to Charlie. \n While this book was incredibly funny, it also really had its heavy moments. It borrowed a lot of its mythology from the Divine Comedy and I loved the bits of wisdom from the much older Ferrymen. \n In most of the books I read with Death as a character or a grim reaper of some kind, he/she is usually resigned to the fact that everyone dies, so it isn't necessarily a big deal. It's a job to do. Either that or it is made out to be funny and it glosses over the nasty side of the business. I never really considered what it would be like to show up day after day to witness a person's tragic and often violent death. To listen to them beg to see their loved ones one more time or to wrongly assume that the Ferryman had the power to send them back. Over and over, for years and years. I don't think I could ever get used to that. It was a really interesting twist on the usually flippant grim reaper attitude towards death. \n There was a little of everything in this book yet I never felt as though it overextended itself. A secret not so secret part of me always wants a little romance in every book I read. Okay, maybe not horror but you know what I mean. I was so happy with Charlie and Alice's slow burn relationship. But more than that, I loved that the book wasn't about romance. The romance naturally develops between two people who are both sick of their lot, one is sick of living, the other is sick of being stuck not living. I loved the idea of these two people who spent their lives (or not life) feel misunderstood and alone, finding each other. \n As you can obviously tell, I loved everything about the book, and that includes the writing. I'm not a fan of multiple POVs but the transitions were seamless, perhaps because they were third person POVs. It flowed well yet there while allowing for subtle differences between the voices of the characters. \n So basically, this book was awesome. I'm not usually the one that loves the book that everyone just thought of as okay but it seems like that is the case here. Loved it. The only reason I'm not giving it five stars is that I don't really see myself re-reading it. But I absolutely recommend it.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 20 11:34:33 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 29 06:00:21 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 28 07:00:29 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Sep 20 11:34:34 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "13206760", "review_id": "ff0df0514029d2a4c7c5efd048d98a1d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "RTC", "date_added": "Wed Sep 20 11:03:01 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 19 06:36:02 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Oct 04 07:31:13 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Sep 29 09:55:06 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "2f68d57d085dcc5757588defa7c5a778", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 rounded up for fun factor. \n I thought this book was adorable. It also happens to be one of those books that when you really start to dig through everything you find a bunch of little flaws and plot holes. A bit like the Monet concept brought to you from the brilliant mind of Cher from Clueless. Really beautiful from far away but when you step closer it's a bit of a mess. Lucky for me, I loved this book enough that I had no problem ignoring the issues throughout and suspending belief. I CAN'T HEAR YOU PLOT HOLES. \n Cinder is a cyborg mechanic in New Beijing. Cyborgs are considered second-class citizens and are treated as such. She lives with her wicked stepmother Adri and two stepsisters, one of whom is actually Cinder's friend and treats her like a sister. The book begins with Prince Kai bringing Cinder an android that he desperately needs to be fixed. Cinder, of course, agrees. Insta-sparks fly, obviously. A few days later, Adri, being the terrible person that she is, volunteers Cinder to be a guinea pig for scientists working to cure a plague that is spread by touch and exposure to infected areas. No one infected with the plague has ever survived, so everyone knows it is a death sentence. But Cinder is different and she soon finds out why. The second half of the book is dedicated to politics. Specifically New Beijing's relations with Lunars, people that inhabit the moon. They have the ability to alter people's perception and can manipulate people's mind. For years, the queen of the Lunars has been threatening the emperor, now Prince Kai, that if her demands aren't met, she will basically start a war. All the while Kai and Cinder end up spending time together and fall for each other. Cinder knows nothing can come of it, as she is hiding the fact that she is a cyborg. \n As I said before, I really enjoyed this book. In fact, I read it in one sitting. It was interesting, fun, and unique. And believe it or not, I was surprised by the twist. it didn't exactly shock me, I just didn't expect it all to be revealed in this book. I was so sure it was going to end up being the plot of next book in the series. \n I'm glad it was unveiled as soon as it was though, it was part of the reason I couldn't put it down. I needed to know everything. Watch as all of the characters reacted. Draaaamaaaa. Plus, New Beijing was fascinating. For once it didn't feel like recycled world building. \n The romance between Kai and Cinder was cute but it wasn't quite was I hoping for. At one point, Cinder wonders if Kai's interest in her is more based on convenience than anything else, and I absolutely agree with that. She is in his presence more than any other girl his age. Not that his interest wasn't or couldn't be genuine, just that if I were in her shoes, I'd wonder the same thing. Neither have much of a personality so there isn't a real opportunity to explain what makes each so enamored with the other. But they are, instantly. I'm not that bothered by this though. Instalove has always been a big part of Cinderella. Hell, in most versions, it only takes a dance or two for the warm and fuzzies to solidify into true love. \n There are pretty glaring issues with the whole plague bit. It just didn't make sense to me. People are infected by touch, and if they don't even realize it, they go along their merry way touching everything. The disease does eventually wear off of clothing and such, but what about the time before that? It is discovered that someone is infected in the market. What about everything they touched? It's a market! Everyone touches everything! Cinder wanders around the infected and just waltzes out, without any thought of what would linger on her clothing or skin for hours. I don't know, it just seemed to me that the brilliant minds of New Beijing could do a better job of coming up with ways to prevent the disease from spreading. I had so many questions that just weren't answered. \n That ending though. \n I was not expecting the book to just BAM end like that. I was really thrown off because my copy has a bonus short story at the end. As the pages were flying, I was going crazy wondering how it would all wrap up. I completely forgot about the short story. I had a good fifteen pages left when I turned a page and it said in big letters ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. \n I was expecting at least another ten pages of the book. I know it's a series, but come on! That was a mid-scene ending! But it was effective. Stupid cliffhanger. Now I need the next book. Despite all of its issues, this book was a joy to read and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 15 07:39:38 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 20 06:08:52 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Sep 20 15:53:12 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Sep 15 07:39:39 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "17834401", "review_id": "6f01a9e4501c06b652e4db6ea26c8e27", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars. Mostly for fun factor. Okay, all for fun factor. This book was fun. \n This book was a big surprise for me. It began with one of the most eye-roll inducing instaloveyist instaloves I ever read. Seriously bad stuff. The hero knew he was in love with the heroine within twenty-four hours and was just walking around in a haze of hearts with cupid's arrow sticking out of his ass. It seemed utterly ridiculous to me. Not gonna lie, I was ready to DNF. To just...walk away. \n But for some unknown reason, I kept reading. Call it stubbornness but I think it was just because I was bored. But I kept going. And then somehow, the plot thickened. Shit started going down. There was the faintest likelihood of a love triangle that wasn't really a love triangle but brought out some super fun jealousy. The heroine was spunky and smart. The romance really kicked up a notch. More characters were introduced. And I found myself having a damn ball. \n It was far from perfect. Actually, it had a lot of issues. Annoying ones. Too much this. Not enough that. Yet somehow it managed to be really fun and quite entertaining. \n Plot: Werewolves hate Jaguars (shifters) and vice versa. Lana is a Jaguar but doesn't know it. Adam is a werewolf and does know it, and also knows Lana is a Jaguar (wolfy smelling skills). Lana is on the run from shady dudes that she believes are from a mental hospital. She went to the hospital for what she thought was a mental illness of some kind but was actually her shifting into a giant cat every full moon and blacking out. Adam finds her in a diner and walks in all \"It's a full moon, why are you around a bunch of people? Don't you know you could end up eating them because you are a horrible Jaguar and are about to shift soon?\" She laughs in his face. Obviously, he's off his rocker. But the danger is real, the full moon is that night. Then the shady dudes that Lana thinks are from the hospital show up except they are carrying guns are most definitely not from the hospital. Adam kicks their asses and helps Lana escape. When he touches her, he gets that special kind of tingle that means they are mates. He is upset, to say the least. Interspecies mates aren't a thing. Plus their kind hate each other. From there we have the standard \"man must protect mate\" thing. She is of course wildly attracted to him too, but it turns out that Jaguars don't do the \"mate\" thing. Interesting twist. She has to figure out she loves him on her own. BUT something both werewolves and Jaguars have in common is that neither have females born as shifters. Both werewolves and Jaguars have to bite the human females of their choice, converting them into shifters before they can start a family. Lana finds out that she is one in a million and that is why she is being hunted. There is a reason she is the way she is and she is wanted by all sorts of people. \n There is an interesting look at racism throughout the book. Or specieism? Is that a thing? Adam and his pack have to take a look at the way they automatically hate every Jaguar they see. Even if the Jaguars they have dealt with are all awful, they shouldn't condemn the entire shifter species. Adam has less of an issue with this because he has the whole mate thing going for him. But he knows his pack would never accept her so he doesn't take her home to meet the family. She has no choice but to remain his dirty little secret and that doesn't bode well for their relationship. Because Lana didn't grow up with Jaguar parents telling her that werewolves are awful, she has no prejudice. She is understandably angry when Adam's pack hates her on sight when they know nothing about her. It gave the book surprising depth. And I really liked the way it was resolved in the end because it could have been done badly and instead, I found myself tearing up. Someone was probably just cutting onions near by. Whatever. \n While this may just be me, I found it really really weird that a werewolf trained horses. In fact, a whole lot of werewolves. He has a ranch, he lives there. So do the horses, obviously. They shift once a month. Wouldn't there be some underlying wolfy smell that would cause unease in a horse? The smell must linger. Is this a weird thing to wonder? I don't know. But it just stuck out as strange to me throughout the entire book. Why do horses love him? And even more, why with Lana too? Would a Jaguar eat a horse on the full moon? I mean, she killed and ate a squirrel once. Are horses just too big? What if Adam was super hungry in wolf form? Wouldn't he spook the hell out of his horses? I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS. \n The writing itself left a little to be desired. The entire thing was pretty much tell with very little show. Fortunately, that worked for me. I was exhausted and in a lot of pain (stupid knee) and I really didn't mind everything being spoon fed to me. I didn't have to work for anything and I was totally okay with that. \n Adam was a chest thumper, all alpha don't-touch-her-she's-mine. It wasn't really a problem for me because I'm pretty sure that's why we read shifter romance. There is an animal in the men and it gives them a legitimate excuse to act that way without it being an issue. The fact that Lana was a Jaguar didn't really change her personality much and I kind of wish it had. I mean, werewolves have wolfy qualities. What would giant cat qualities be like? There was an interesting opportunity there to use cat vs. dog personality stuff. \n One of the things that were really different about this world of shifters was that they did not have any kind of special healing powers or gift or whatever you want to call it. If they were shot, they bled and had to heal like everyone else. If they broke a bone, they had to be off their feet for a month or two (or more, if they actually listened to their damned doctor). It gave them a vulnerability that I don't think I've ever read in a shifter romance. It certainly made things interesting to know that if a shifter was hit by a truck crossing the street (which was not part of the plot, I'm just making a point) then, they would have to deal with the same ramifications and fears as everyone else. More in fact, because no shifter wants to go to a hospital. Hospitals are the fastest way for their shifter existence to be exposed. \n All in all, this was a really fun read. It wasn't earth shattering or probably even award winning, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and do plan on continuing with the series. The next book is about Adam's twin brother and I just know who his mate is going to be and I can't way to see how it plays out.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 31 16:32:31 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 13 04:50:32 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Sep 02 16:16:05 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Aug 31 16:32:32 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 8}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "30249010", "review_id": "25bb6ff1b5df3a4ce8c45e98bf74cc51", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.5 stars rounded up because of Weston. He gets all the stars he wants. \n This was, unfortunately, a case of a good idea poorly executed. \n Calamity is a simple farm girl who lives with her grandmother. She's never met her mother and has absolutely no idea who her father is. What she does know is that she is never ever allowed to take off her silver (I think that's what they are made of?) cuffs. One night, she awakens to a woman standing over her trying to steal said cuffs. She obviously freaks out and this awakens her grandmother as well. Turns out it's her mother trying to steal her cuffs, hoping to sell them. She manages to get one off, not realizing that they have a purpose. They provide protection from some nasty folks that would harm Calamity. But we don't know exactly why. Just a vague idea. Now that one has been taken off her wrist they can find her. She has to run. So she sets off, bound for somewhere far away, with instruction to find an escort to take her. She finds an escort, an assassin named Weston. He's not one for the warm fuzzies, but for his own reasons, he agrees to be her guide. The rest of the book is travel and chemistry between Cal and Weston. \n Right away, I could see the formula of the book. It's one I enjoy. Unsuspecting special girl meets the sexy anti-hero (in this case, assassin) that has his own agenda but eventually starts to find a soft spot for the special girl. Or hard spot. Mostly hard spot. \n Being the steamy romance loving woman with a pulse that I am, I loved Weston. Trained killer. Alpha. Sexy. Angry. Possessive. Brooding. Intense. He often toed the line of acceptable asshole behavior but I loved it. On top of all that was a little tiny bit of caring buried deep deep deep down. Sort of. Unfortunately, all of those yummy traits were completely wasted on Cal. Wasted, I tell you. She was the epitome of TSTL. I think she wanted to be murdered. Somewhere there was a pin board of her life goals and it was filled with all of the ways she was almost murdered in this book. And in true TSTL fashion, she never rescued herself. I think what I found most frustrating was that she never learned. Ever. It's one thing to get yourself into trouble and need to be rescued, but after the first dozen times, I blame her for it, not the multitude of people out to get her. She learned pretty early on that Weston could hear her thoughts. Yet over and over she would plan things and think to herself I hope Weston doesn't figure out what I'm about to do. I mean come on, Cal. Work with me here. She even acknowledged her own stupidity several times yet...did it anyway. And then wondered where it all went wrong. \n As for the writing? It was in need of good editing. The book was filled with oddly anachronistic words and idioms that just confused me. Considering Cal thought the fact that she disguised herself as a man was scandalous, would have used a horse for farming, and slept in an inn while drinking ale, it made zero sense when she thought to herself that something was a \"bummer\", referenced a rocket, or thought she was \"utterly screwed\". Granted the story takes place in a completely fictional world but it is reasonable to assume that this fantasy world is modeled after a time centuries before ours and so many of the phrases just didn't fit. There were also some grammatical issues and a few phrasings that didn't make sense as well (for example \"...think about with the ears in my head\", but that can all be fixed with a good editor. \n There are good things here though. I really enjoyed the actual plot. Put it this way, with all of those issues, I still enjoyed reading it. That's saying a lot. Usually, the above complaints would get an automatic DNF or one star from me. Yet I thought this book was interesting and fun enough to not only finish it but enjoy reading it. There is great potential here, it just wasn't reached. \n *Review copy kindly provided by author in exchange for a fair and honest review.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 27 04:57:44 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 04 13:46:17 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Sep 12 13:04:15 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Aug 27 04:57:44 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "23163610", "review_id": "3791c3b389f54035cd8c979ad33e0936", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Guess what? I had 75% of this review written and I accidentally deleted it all. ALL OF IT. So, I'm going to do a condensed version because I need to not hulk smash my laptop and dance on the pile of broken pieces. \n Dear Bryony. Dear sweet Bryony and all of her flowers. \n She's sweet, innocent, kind, and destined to be murdered. Everyone who meets her knows it right away. Apparently, there is something about her that lets everyone know that she isn't long for this world. Even Bryony knows it. She's made peace with it. People try to protect her from it, but someone always dies. Fate, it seems, has terrible marksmanship. It is always those around her that die. So, to protect herself and the people around her, she runs. When she feels she's stayed too long, she runs again. Then one day, she runs to a place that she grows to love. She falls in love and makes friends. Unfortunately, one of the people she befriends sees that Bryony is destined to be murdered and decides that he wants to be one the to do it. \n I think if you go into this book expecting anything other than a modern day Grimm fairy tale (like lumberjack hacking a wolf to pieces or stepsisters chopping off toes kind of thing) then you'll probably either think this book is just too weird or plain old silly. Then again, maybe it is. I know I enjoyed it. I actually listened to this book instead of reading it and I wonder if that made a difference. The narrator had a very particular way of reading it that made me feel like I was in 4th grade having a book read to me while we all sat on the floor. I mean that in the best way possible. I felt like a kid again, except this book had a much higher body count than Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. \n It's odd, it's melancholy, and a little deranged but I loved every minute. It certainly made preparing dinner a little different (my audiobook time). I'm 100% serious when I say this, but I actually burned my homemade croutons listening to this (don't judge me, I'm a celiac and I like croutons on my salads). It was right around the 80% mark and shit was going down. There I was, totally absorbed in this strange little book yelling \"Get the knife Bryony!\" and my croutons were burning. WHOOPS. \n Don't worry, they were only burnt on the one side and therefore still delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed the croutons and the book.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 17 15:13:31 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 23 12:11:04 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Aug 22 16:05:42 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Aug 17 15:13:31 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "35123444", "review_id": "c98ecf029d37e83cc46079e89d212de8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"I wasn't certain I would see the light again. The Tower card hadn't lied. Everything crumbled and fell, and it took pieces of me with it. It was only now I could see the other meaning of the card-the rebuilding. I was different, and I hoped my new foundation was stronger than the new one before.\" \n One of the most effective parts of this reading experience was the vagueness of its synopsis. You know there are witches. You know there are tarot cards (mention of the Tower card). You know something momentous happens. But that's about it. I think there is even a little intentional misleading in the synopsis. This is not a book about silly HS worries about clothes and popularity. This book is a giant sucker punch in the feels. Part of me feels like admitting this borders on spoilerish but I think it's necessary. I don't want people to pass this book over thinking it is fluffy and silly. I spent the entire last half of this book wading through a puddle of my own tears. \n But I made it. Somehow I made it through this emotionally devastating book. \n As I said above, the part of the book that really affected me so much was that I had not prepared myself for what happened in the middle of the book, so my synopsis is going to be purposefully vague. \n The book is told in multiple POVs, something I'm not usually fond of, but was done incredibly well here. Rowyn, Reed, and Rose are best friends and have been since they were little kids. They also happen to be witches. Not the flying, turning people into toads kind, but the pagan, healing, herb using, tarot card reading kind. It was more like magical realism than any kind of hocus pocus. Unfortunately, they live in a small town with even smaller minds. They have to endure whispers about their doomed souls from judgmental douches and some people believe they worship the devil. It is a miserable existence for teenagers that are already going through the normally miserable experience that is high school. Reed has been in love with Rowyn since he was old enough to understand what love was and while Rowyn would never admit it, she has feelings for him too. Instead of acknowledging this, Rowyn treats Reed like the best friend that he is, except they are almost overly comfortable with each other and very physically affectionate with each other. Deep down Rowyn knows what she is doing to Reed is wrong. She gives him just enough physical liberties without committing anything to him. I know that we were supposed to find this cruel, but I couldn't. Mostly because I've done the exact same thing. I wasn't trying to be cruel either and I was also 17. Enough about me, I just wanted to make the point that I had a hard time holding it against her, while I know it didn't excuse what she was doing, I understood it. I was really happy when they finally found their way to each other. Rose also finds someone, and she surprises everyone when that person is the opposite of the three of them, a popular jock (but not one of the bullying jackasses, of course). Midway through the book, tragedy strikes. It strikes suddenly, without any kind of warning, much like most real-life tragedies. The rest of the book is really about how everyone deals with the aftermath and the different ways that people handle what life throws at them. \n I'm not exaggerating when I say that from the middle of the book to the end, I just cried. Constantly. And not that cute single-tear-out-one-eye kind of cry. Like ugly, need to blow my nose kind of crying. At least I was at home alone so I didn't have to explain myself. Terrible things happen to people in books all the time. Sometimes these things are fictional enough that you are able to separate yourself from them. Things like a character being captured and tortured by an evil vampire or a character's father is dying of the plague. Stuff that is not really something we would ever have to deal with, but it is sad nonetheless. Then there are tragedies that we know could absolutely happen to us but are not a guarantee. I'm probably not going to be kidnapped and held hostage by a cult leader, but hey, it isn't impossible either. Then there are tragedies that you know without a doubt are happening right now. Someone somewhere is feeling this pain. Someone, right now, feels like their heart is being ripped from their body and just wants the day to start over so they can do the day over again differently. And not only is it possible this will happen to you, it probably will. Maybe 20 days from now, maybe 7 months, maybe 30 years from now. You will wake up one day having no idea that hours later, everything will change. You too will be forced to continue and rebuild your life. The rest of the world will keep turning and somehow, you have to get out of bed the next day and make peace with something that has changed you irrevocably. \n \"The sun set on the longest day of the year, and for me, that held all kinds of importance, because I knew it would rise again tomorrow. That was the hardest part of having my entire world shaken down to its foundation.\" \n Now to add to this painful realization, this book had multiple POVs. So not only are you reading one person's painful reaction to tragedy but multiple people's. At some point, you are going to be in one of those people's shoes. It just ripped my beating heart out of my chest to know that somewhere, there were people feeling this way. \n On the other side of all of this, there was the fact that the world does indeed go on and that is a good thing. I loved that the fact that the characters in this book were mostly witches. It was an interesting way to show that it doesn't matter how different your lives are, we all deal with the same issues. The book didn't shy away from the sometimes destructive and unhealthy ways that people deal with grief. \n I just loved this book. Honestly, when I read to a certain point, I didn't want to finish it. Maybe I'm just overly sensitive, I don't know. I knew that when I read it, I was going to spend the rest of my day in an Eeyore-like funk. But don't let that discourage you. There were parts of this book that put a huge smile on my face and others that had me cheering. There is a lot of romance and it balances really well with the depressing bits. Tragedy changes people, sometimes for the better. The writing was excellent and the book does a wonderful job of incorporating something magical with the mundane. I absolutely recommend. \n *I received a copy from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 02 09:21:19 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 08 05:28:32 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Aug 07 09:35:10 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Aug 02 09:21:19 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "33916060", "review_id": "6d989d43d003244a49105fbd459b031e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"The world is a cruel mother, a matron of darkness, selfishness, greed, and misery. For most, their time suckling at her breast is naught but a scramble through stinging, tearing briars before a naked, shameful collapse as the flesh gives out. And yet in the bright eyes of every newborn, there lies a spark, a potential for goodness, the possibility of a life worth living. That spark deserves its chance.\" \n This was, quite simply, one of the best fantasy novels I've ever had the pleasure of reading. It was dark, imaginative, unique, gripping, and just so well written. I loved everything about it. \n I'm going to do my best to give some kind of synopsis but this story is so steeped in its own mythology and filled with such detail that I feel I might get some of it wrong or do a disservice by giving too many details. That was part of the magic. Everything I read was new and shiny and completely original. \n Ryhalt Galharrow is a bounty hunter who is sent through the Misery to an outpost to find a mysterious noblewoman. He is also known as Blackwing because he serves Crowfoot, a Nameless (one of five god-like beings that fight the Deep Kings, even stronger god-like beings). Galharrow is no stranger to the Misery, a vast wasteland filled with all sorts of nasty magic creatures and ghosts, including the terrifying Darlings and others who were once men. Magic has since twisted and corrupted them but most are held back in the Misery by the threat of Nall's Engine, a weapon that besides being the cause of the Misery's creation has the power to cause massive damage. It isn't something to be used lightly because of the incredible amount of magic it takes to power and the damage it causes. When Galharrow arrives at the outpost to find the noblewoman he discovers that he knows her. Galharrow and Ezabeth have a history together that adds a surprisingly emotional layer to this already incredible book. Together they discover that Nall's Engine might be in trouble and if the Deep Kings find out, there is nothing to stop them from attacking. \n Ryhalt Galharrow would probably describe himself as simple, but he was anything but. He wasn't a hero. He definitely wasn't a villain. While he did many bad things, I would say somewhere buried beneath his bitterness and battled hardened heart he was good. He hated the world and everyone in it, yet he has a select few of people he loved fiercely. He enjoyed killing and admitted as much. He just...was. He didn't feel like a character written, he read like a man plucked from the ether and put on paper. \n \"Pity gets men killed along the Misery,\" I said. \"Stay long enough, and you'll find morality doesn't survive sandstorms, clouds of arrows, or Darling magic any better than flesh.\" \n \"You've a hard soul, Captain.\" \n \"I do.\" \n \"Do you ever wish you were different?\" \n \"I wish everything were different.\" \n He was fascinating to read and I loved being in his head. So simple. So complex. So human. \n While the writing was sometimes crude (appropriately so, it was first person and Blackwing is a rough man) it was also surprisingly elegant and when paired with the horrors of war and the consequences, it was all the more effective and powerful. \n I was glued to this book and utterly fascinated. I wanted to know more about everything. I want a whole book on the creatures of the Misery. I want a history lesson about the creation of their world. I loved the idea of Phos, magic harvested from light. There were Spinners and Talents, both of which could harvest/gather magic from light and the Spinners would wield it. I wanted to know more about everything. We are given just enough information that we understand who the Deep Kings and Nameless are and what they want, yet we are kept in the dark just enough that we aren't able to predict their actions. Basically, everything was done so well. Information was doled out perfectly. No info dump. Just brilliant. I can't recommend this enough for fantasy lovers and I'm so excited that this is a series. \n *I recieved an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review", "date_added": "Fri Jul 14 04:02:15 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 04 13:48:03 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Aug 06 13:26:02 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jul 21 13:19:26 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "22873996", "review_id": "169d4e524ed5ec76b1e730c0c575f7d8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.5 stars \n I don't even know where to begin. Half of this book was a giant one star and the other half was PFM five stars. So basically...I went for right down the middle. \n So. Plot. \n Aiden is a bear shifter and his ginormous military buddies are all sorts of different things. Vampires, Fae, shapeshifter, bears, wolves, the whole shebang. They have paranormal cities right along side normal human ones. Apparently, the men aren't getting their mates quickly enough so Aiden's mother decides to do a spell to bring the mates to them. Enter Meryn, nerdy woman-child extraordinaire. She up and decided to move and decided to stick a dart into a map to decide where. Surprise surprise, she is drawn to Aiden. She decides to climb a random fence and ends up on the paranormal private property that houses Aiden and his men. From there we have a ridiculous albeit hilarious case of kidnapping your mate because she doesn't really understand why this huge man is sniffing her hair and insisting that she is his. For once, the heroine actually fights. Including attacking Aiden with the back of his toilet and throwing things at his head. I'm not going to lie, I thought that was pretty smart. I silently added it to my \"if I ever get kidnapped and thrown in a bathroom, I'll remember to do ____\" list. \n From there we have the standard \"you're the hottest man I've ever seen\" and the \"Is she really my mate? We are so different!\" thing. Unfortunately, we also have one the quickest instaloves in all of instalovelandia. It takes two days for the two of them to admit they love each other. Two days. The only thing that really saved it was the fact that sometimes it's nice to read a book that doesn't spend 200 pages getting the characters together. Instead, the love comes easy and the rest is spent on other stuff. The rest of the book is spent with Meryn in danger and her amazing everyone around her with her love of four-letter words and lack of a filter. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love four letter words, but it was a little too forced here. You don't need your character to ask if someone would pass the fucking coffee or the fucking salt for me to understand she isn't a simpering ass kisser. Moving on. \n I think this book suffered from just trying to be too much. Everything was forced. There was nothing subtle about it. Fortunately, in one way, it totally worked. The humor. Holy shit. There were so many funny lines I highlighted. There was one scene that quite literally had me in tears. Like clutching my sides out of breath kind of funny. It's a scene I don't think I'll ever forget. Ever. I think it alone is responsible for two of the three stars on my rating. Without ruining too much of the fun, I'll say this. Apparently, paranormals have different \"cycles\". I put it that way because that is the word that is used in the book. You know, Aunt Flo. Eventually, Meryn needs tampons. Aiden, of course, has never even heard of tampons. When Meryn tries to describe exactly how her cycle works to her lovely protective mate, she goes with the most medical description she can. When he hears the words \"bleeding\" and \"internally\" he freaks the hell out. It eventually leads to this little gem. To set the scene a little, Aiden and his scary looking paranormal military buddies are in a drugstore at the register with fifteen boxes of tampons. \n \"Son, how violent is yer woman?\" the older man asked sounding curious. \n Aiden leaned in and whispered, \"She knocked me unconscious once with the back of my toilet.\" \n The older man's eyes widened. \"Better get you some chocolate bars. You can throw those from a distance.\" \n The book is peppered with little beauties like that. Like I said, PFM. \n As far as what I didn't like? Meryn. I was not a fan. She was funny, I'll give you that. But she was also very annoying. I just didn't like how far the author went to make her an anti-romance heroine. She was 34, had a pixie cut, only wore converse sneakers and terrible t-shirts, and she loved to drown herself in hoodies 3 sizes too big. She also wore a backpack everywhere and would throw a tantrum if someone touched her laptop. She made constant Star Wars references and was confused as to why none of the paranormal folks didn't know what Doctor Who was. Don't get me wrong, these things alone aren't an issue but together it just seemed so forced. I love a unique heroine who isn't a 5'10 willowy blonde with hair down to her waist and three-mile legs. But come on. They way she was described made her sound 17. The way she acted made her sound 17. The way she spoke made her sound 17. It just didn't work for me. When things didn't go her way she basically had a tantrum and called everyone around her an asshole. Like a giant woman-child. \n Nein Danke. \n I liked Aiden. He was pretty standard. There was the obligatory possessive freak out but I didn't hold it against him. That's almost a prerequisite for any \"mate\" kind of romance. He was sweet and did everything he could to make her happy. No complaints there. \n I enjoyed the world building. There is enough set up for tons of books to come. I liked that. I loved the little details and all of the things that weren't explained. It makes me want to read the next book. This isn't a gut-wrenching angsty book. This is the kind of book to read if you aren't feeling well or need a laugh and a brain vacation. Which lately, describes me perfectly. As much as I had to complain about, which was a lot, I would still recommend it.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 07 16:00:38 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 13 04:50:32 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jul 08 03:52:53 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jul 07 16:00:38 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "16099782", "review_id": "ea20a0c063282674cef65da5648f0808", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Two phrases come to mind when I think about this book. \n 1)Delightfully campy \n 2)Charmingly cheesy. \n I mean both of these in the best way. I didn't particularly enjoy the other books in this series. I think it was because I wasn't sure what to expect and I approached them with a little more seriousness than I should have. This time I was in the mood for the ridiculous and adorable. I compare it to be being in the mood for an HR that is dark, depressing, and angsty (The first thing that comes to mind is The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne. That was quite a dark and heartbreaking HR) and being in the mood for a fluffy favorite of mine like When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare. One deals with deeply scarred people finding each other and dealing with trauma and the other is two people who find each other that also end up searching a castle for two escaped pet lobsters named Fluffy and Rex. Well, last night I wanted Fluffy and Rex. So, I really enjoyed this book. \n Vincent Tremayne is your quintessential brooding reclusive vampire. He lives in a dark castle, he's incredibly handsome, filthy rich, grumpy, dangerous, and filled with guilt. When the Dowager Countess of Morley shows up at said gloomy castle asking him to honor a friendship between their families that's existed for years by taking her granddaughter as a ward (well, asking is a kind word. More like, \"do this or she goes to an asylum\" type of thing), Vincent agrees. When he meets Lydia Price, he wants her immediately. He realizes there can be nothing between them because he is a vampire, she is mortal. Besides the fact that it is against their laws for mortals to know about vampires, he really doesn't want to watch her die of old age. So Vincent makes sure she has a massive dowry and goes about getting Lydia set up for a successful season so that she can marry and be off his hands so his secret will be safe and she'll be happy. This is all well and good except for the fact that Lydia is immediately drawn to him as well. She is curious about his odd behaviors of course. He gets \"headaches\" during that day that keep locked away upstairs. He has odd hours. Takes very long nighttime walks, you know, all that stuff. Lydia falls in love with him, which makes husband hunting difficult. Unlike a lot of HRs, Lydia is pretty single minded. She wants him, doesn't really hide that she wants him, and has no interest in her suitors. From then on there is a lot of vampire politics and Vincent ends up having to make a split decision that will change both of their lives forever. \n Lydia was a great heroine. She was a brilliant painter, which is a major part of the plot, and I loved how supportive Vincent was. She was smart, although she did have moments. I'm not really a fan of the whole \"eavesdrop only a portion of a conversation so that I can misinterpret the conversation\" thing. It just seems a little lazy. \n I liked Vincent but I wish there had been more about him before he met Lydia. I have read the first book, but I don't remember much about him in it (I wasn't too fond of the first book). I wish there had been some kind of interaction between him and another vampire before he meets Lydia to show the transformation in Vincent caused by Lydia's presence in his life. Just a few pages, nothing major. It still worked, but it could have been better. \n Overall I really enjoyed this book. The romance was sweet and it wasn't a very angsty/stressful read. I like that these books don't take themselves too seriously. In each of these books, the author adds something historically accurate as a plot point, however minor, which I think is great. I always learn a little something. I happen to absolutely love HRs with any kind of paranormal in it and as it isn't a large genre, I'm always excited to find a book like this.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 22 11:16:13 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 09 04:58:38 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Aug 08 06:04:25 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Aug 07 10:23:09 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "24450965", "review_id": "c80097287c79e9abbabdfb1317e4a754", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was freakin' adorable. Like cat wearing a hat cute. \n Cats wearing hats are the cutest. \n It took me much longer to listen to than normal because I listen to audiobooks while I cook, and lately, I've been either super sick or super injured. Just wanted to clear up that it wasn't a reflection on the quality of the book (audiobook). \n Young Benjamin and his father live in the Crystal Kingdom. One day, they are attacked by a mass of Orcs and Benjamin learns that not only are Orcs not just a scary bit of a story, his father is actually a wizard. Magic is real! His mother has been taken and they set off to find her. It turns out that Benjamin's mother has something called Teleportation Sickness. Long story short, she is subjected to random trips via teleportation without knowing where she's going. Like I said, absolutely adorable. Benjamin and his father set out to find another wizard that can help and from there the adventure begins! There are dragons, draughrs, mages (and yes, mages and wizards are different!), wizards, centaurs, orcs, and a super intelligent donkey with a goat for a girlfriend. So.freaking.cute. \n I just loved this book/audiobook. Seriously, I overcooked a couple of things listening to it. It was fun, original, easy to listen to, and just...pleasant. A real pleasure to listen to. I'm a sucker for a good middle-grade book every once in a while and this really scratched that itch. The narrator was fantastic and I felt like a kid sitting cross-legged on the floor of a classroom again. I really have no issues with it at all. It was funny, fast paced, and just delightful. I look forward to the next installment. \n *I received a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 15 12:36:06 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 04 13:48:03 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jun 27 14:15:56 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jun 15 12:36:07 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "31867358", "review_id": "5b04862a7a66b8e9ee627cc05d8cc05e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Release date: June 17, 2107 \n 5 very enthusiastic stars \n Okay, I'm big enough to admit it. I seriously overestimated my memory and underestimated how very detailed Nalini Singh's books are. I saw that this was a new series and I remembered reading one or a couple of her books years ago and I jumped at the opportunity to read this. I've been reading too many HR novels and wanted something different. All it took was Nalini Singh's name on the cover and the mention of bear changelings and I was all in. \n I was pretty lost when I started it. There was so much information that I just didn't understand and ended up smiling and nodding through. Things are explained to the extent that I could follow what was happening, but I had no emotional attachment to 75% of the characters beyond knowing who was good and who was bad. Fortunately for me, the other 25% were fantastic enough that it didn't even matter that I was meeting them for the first time. \n I'm going to put the synopsis as a spoiler as not to ruin anything. I don't know what was previous knowledge or new to previous readers. \n The book opens with Valentin Nikolaev, the alpha of the Stonewater bear clan knocking on Silver Mercant's door. Apparently, he's been doing his best to woo/court her for the last 10 months. He is smitten with Silver, who is Psy and head of EmNet. EmNet is the fact of a new alliance between the Psy, Changelings, and humans. Despite the fact that Silver is Silent, something about Valentin fascinates and calls to her. Valentin happens to be at Silver's apartment when there is an attempt on her life and ends up saving her life. He convinces Silver's grandmother that Silver would safest in a place no one would ever think to look for her, Stonewater. Valentin takes advantage of Silver's presence in his home to do his best to break through Silver's decision to be Silent and win her over. He knows in his heart that Silver is his mate. However, Valentin's success is bittersweet. Silver falls for him but also shares with him that Silence is what is keeping her from going insane. It is a race against time to somehow find a way for Silver to embrace her emotions and love of Valentin and keep herself from going mad. In the midst of all this, Valentin, Silver, and those that they both trust work to find out who wants Silver dead and what their end game is. \n Even before reading it, I knew this book would amazing. It did not disappoint. Valentin is without a doubt my favorite book bf of the year. Well, at least for a new series. I'm not really the biggest fan of shifter/changeling books but Singh's books are an exception. I loved every minute of Silver Silence. Silver was strong, powerful, confident, and incredibly likable. Valentin was just delightful. So damn perfect. He not only loved that Silver was incredibly strong and competent, it was a huge part of why he loved her. He would do anything for her, even if it hurt him. He was just one giant bundle of sigh-worthy bear. \n I don't really feel comfortable passing judgment on the plot seeing as I didn't understand the story behind a lot of it. What I can say is that I found it interesting and fast paced. The writing was superb. I loved the science behind so much of it and the detail and care Singh takes with each of the different races (factions? I'm not sure exactly what to call them.) There was an enormous amount of information about the humans, Psy, and changelings without drowning the reader in it. I never felt overwhelmed by all of the information despite the fact that it was all new to me. I can absolutely see why this series is loved by so many. I'm already looking forward to the next book in this series. \n I just loved this book. Absolutely recommend. \n *I received an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.", "date_added": "Mon May 15 14:20:14 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 13 04:50:32 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun May 21 16:28:57 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "32172479", "review_id": "491352748e5f1a93ea8c597ae40da65e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What do you get when you cross PNR with HR with a fairytale retelling? Pure awesomeness, that's what. \n This darling book really turned Cinderella on its head. Our prince is a vampire. Our Cinderella is servant named Arabelle. Our glass slipper is a dagger. And best of all, our first meeting between our prince and Cinderella is an assignation attempt. Yum. \n Arabelle is a servant working for an absolute nightmare of a noble woman and her two horrible daughters. While the sisters do everything they can to catch the prince's attention, Arabelle is the Black Lily, the leader of an underground resistance against the royal family and pretty much all vampires. After extensive planning, Arabelle manages to attend a ball thrown by the royal family for Prince Marius, who is looking for a new blood concubine. Apparently, vampires can only drink from one another to a certain extent. They eventually need human blood. So, while he has an upcoming arranged marriage to the last vampire princess that isn't of his line, he also needs someone to feed on/from. When Marius sees Arabelle from across the room, he is naturally smitten. When she lures him away to privacy she realizes that despite her hate of vampires, she attracted to him too. This doesn't change her mission, though. She is determined to go through with the assignation. Unfortunately (for her at least), her attempt on his life is just that. The rest of the book is about the two of them coming to terms with their feelings. Arabelle learns that she shouldn't judge all vampires based on the evil of a few of them. Marius learns to pull his head out of his ass and take a look around at his people and their plight. Plus, you know, sexy times. \n Arabelle was a strong character but also a bit annoying. She held her prejudices way too long in my opinion. I was at 50% on my kindle and she still couldn't seem to figure out that you should judge an entire people on the actions of a few of them. Marius was far more understanding. Almost to a fault. The turn around in their relationship seemed to come out of nowhere, but I didn't even care. In fact, there were a lot of things that might bother some that I just didn't mind. I'm willing to overlook a lot for a book that is just plain fun. \n My only issue throughout the book was that it read like YA. Well, YA with sex. I'm one of those weird people that if a detailed enough picture is on the cover, I usually picture the character that way. I couldn't really reconcile that with this book. They sounded more like they were about 18-19 (yes, I know Marius was one hundred, but that didn't matter). It read like an HR/PNR, but the characters came off as really young and immature. Once again, not a bad thing in and of itself, just not what I was expecting. \n If these books are your kinda thing, I totally recommend it.", "date_added": "Mon May 08 16:17:20 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed May 10 05:13:10 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed May 10 12:00:59 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon May 08 16:17:21 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "32073153", "review_id": "ff94ab695d4afaa1523e219e91401e15", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.5 \n I actually kind of liked this book. Well, most of the time. This was the kind of book that every twenty pages or so I changed my mind. Flip. Flop. Flip. \n I agree with most of the issues people had with it, but somehow it still managed to be entertaining and original. Honestly, I think most of the reason I enjoyed it so much was because of my love of Norse mythology. If I wasn't familiar with it, I think I'd have been pretty lost. \n The Monstrous Child is about Hel, the teenage daughter of Loki, sister to Fenrir and Jormungandr. Her family isn't exactly the tender loving type and that creates an angry, spiteful Hel. Odin banishes her to the underworld to rule there for all time. That's pretty much it. The rest is about Hel's time as queen of the underworld, her dreams of escape, and her obsession with Baldr. This isn't exactly a plot-driven book, but it was still quite entertaining. \n It was easy to dislike Hel. She didn't have much going for her. She was whiny and incredibly adept at self-sabotage. Some part of her ached for kindness and affection yet she spent all of her time alienating everyone and enjoying it. This didn't really bother me, though. If you consider the results of Hel's upbringing in the same way you would if she were human, it would make sense that she turn out a bitter, angry, hateful, teenage girl bent on vengeance. So while it's easy to understand the reasons for her awfulness, she was still awful. \n It was certainly a risk to make Hel's inner monologue so modern. It took me a long time to get used to it and even longer to move past how annoying it was. I suppose it was meant to make Hel easier for a younger audience to relate to, but instead, it came off as trying too hard. The only thing it was missing was \"lol\". It just didn't work for me. \n It was a fascinating and unique book, but overall, I don't think it was executed well enough to actually recommend. \n *I received an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.", "date_added": "Fri May 05 03:42:40 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue May 09 05:14:44 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon May 08 15:18:14 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri May 05 03:42:41 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "32669741", "review_id": "dbe5050ba29202d61263d65feeb21bc0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What a fascinating and imaginative book. This was just such a pleasant surprise. The synopsis was vague enough that I went into this without really knowing what to expect, but a couple of pages into the prologue I knew it was going to be good. \n If I'm being perfectly honest, to go into too much detail about the plot would 1) sound incredibly convoluted and 2) ruin a lot of the charm of this book. One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was the timing that information was revealed. You really only knew what you needed to know when you needed to know it. <-----Is that even a sentence? Does that make sense at all? What I can say, is this. Tarquin Norwich, a bastard of the worst kind, is determined to get his hands on a special book and it's author, a toymaker named Indigo Peachtree, for nefarious reasons. He sends his son Archie, who happens to be an actual decent human being, to find Pierce Landcross, a man that will lead them to the toymaker. Archie despises his father and wants nothing but to take his younger sister Clover and run away with his new secret bride to live happily anywhere far away. He agrees to retrieve Landcross and brings his little sister with him, where she will be safest. Then he will leave. In the meantime, Norwich and his son Ivor (who is almost as bad as his father) go after Landcross' brother Joaquin. Legacy focuses on each character's adventures whether they are being chased or doing the chasing. There are wonderful characters throughout, including a vampire, a magician, gypsies, and fairies oh my! (Sorry, Wizzard of Oz joke) There are also short stories peppered throughout and wonderful re-imaginings of myths like Robin Hood, King Arthur, and even Greek gods. I just loved it all. \n The first thirty pages or so after the prologue were a little hard for me to get into. I kept getting confused between Tarquin and Joaquin. Their names looked too similar on the page. There are also a lot of characters introduced really early in the book so it was a bit difficult to keep track of them and figure out where they fit in. Thankfully there came a point where everything just clicked into place. \n The book was filled with wonderfully complex characters that refused to be pigeon-holed as either good or bad. (I tried to find a way to avoid saying \"shades of gray\" because that phrase now bugs the hell out of me) I wanted to hate Archie for his lack of a backbone, but I couldn't. I wanted to like Joaquin but a sometimes he was enough of an ass that I just couldn't. Hell, even Ivor had his moments. You never really knew who to trust. But Landcross I always adored. And with each chapter, I loved him more and more. He was just charming as hell. My heart was all a flutter. \n I don't really know how I would classify this book but I think that's a lot of its charm. Steampunk? It has elements of Steampunk but it's subtle. Adventure? Sure. Fantasy? Yes. It clearly takes place in the past, so there are historical elements to it? I DON'T KNOW. Put it this way, if you enjoy Steampunk, Adventure, and/or fantasy, I heartily recommend. It also happens to be a series, so YAY. \n *I received a copy from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 21 13:43:23 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 02 05:30:21 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jun 01 07:52:15 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat May 13 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "22039648", "review_id": "b0ad813ac73dd9e53f9989854123a003", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In this 26 page delight, a cabal dedicated to evil-doing in the name of Thotash gets taken over by an intended human sacrifice. What could possibly go wrong? \n I thoroughly enjoyed this. I absolutely loved Orconomics, so I was pretty sure I'd like this too. It might be short, but it was enough to have me in a fit of maniacal laughter. Seriously, I think at one point I might have cackled. I can definitely see myself re-reading this when I'm in need a good laugh.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 17 11:07:02 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 18 09:11:40 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "34681537", "review_id": "20e232e10f986690e59fc92741520935", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"Fear must be embraced, accepted as natural, but never run from. Never forgotten or locked away. We must overcome it. But in banishing it, we allow it to overcome us.\" \n I really, really liked this. In fact, I feel like an entire novel's worth of action was packed into 67 pages. This was a truly delightful story filled with adventure and surprising bits of wisdom. \n Writing? fantastic. Characters? loved 'em. World building? Awesome. \n My only issue, the length. But let me explain. \n When I read novelettes/novellas and I decide I have an issue with the length (as in, it should have been longer), it's one of two reasons. The first, that the story suffers because it's not long enough. The characters don't have time to develop, the plot is too rushed, whatever. The other is that it totally worked at its current length but I really really wish it was longer because I would read the hell out of it if it was a full-length novel. In this case, it is the latter. In fact, I would read the hell out of this if it was a trilogy of full-length novels. It was just so imaginative and utterly original. I don't feel like anything was missing exactly, I just want to spend more time in Ruby's world. Or in her case, her worlds. I'm really looking forward to the next installment, whatever length it happens to be. If you enjoy fantasy, then I absolutely recommend this. \n *I received a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 06 03:59:40 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 18 09:11:19 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Apr 06 16:23:39 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Apr 06 09:48:18 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "34322047", "review_id": "fcad5f895a94e44538b42fefcb097a6e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I just want to start out by saying man, that cover. So beautiful. \n Now onto the review. \n There was a lot to like here, but for me, it just wasn't enough. \n The plot itself was great. Thea Robinson is the independent, feisty heroine that has the ability to manipulate people's emotions. She suddenly starts seeing things, nasty creatures that turn out to be a variety of demons. She finds out that she is Nephilim, a half human, half angel. Cam is a Power angel, a high ranking angel that fights demons. Cam's commander assigns him to properly train Thea so that she can begin fighting demons, as that is the job of the Nephilim. They don't get along at first, of course, and Cam finds himself attracted to her and loves that Thea has no problem with putting him in his place. It's a pretty standard PNR plot, but I really enjoyed the world building. Mostly. \n I say mostly because there were there some problems. Why does someone with a paranormal gift find it so difficult to believe that there are angels? She's already seeing demons. There were inconsistencies that were so confusing. For example, in chapter eight, Cam tells Thea that his job is to help her learn to kill demons, because that is what Nephilim do. In the next chapter, Thea asks what would happen if she kills a demon, he tells her that Nephilim don't usually have the power to kill demons. \n Cam, impressed with Thea's bravery and talent for fighting, thinks to himself that he had heard from other angels that Nephilim were know to be reluctant to fight at first, afraid of pain and death. That made me wonder why exactly it was their job to hunt demons. Especially considering other angels (such as Cam himself) kill demons as well. They seem more suited to the job. After training Thea for months, when she and Cam are finally fighting an actual demon, he has to tell her in the middle of it to avoid the demon's blood. Why didn't she know this? With a world as unique as this, a lot of explanation is needed. Perhaps it would have worked better as a full length novel. I wanted to know more. I thought this book did a wonderful job of putting a really original spin on an increasingly common sub-genre of PNR. What was there was interesting and exciting. It just wasn't enough. \n I enjoyed the romance, but once again, I think it could have benefited from just more. The best part about \"mate\" romances is that it really gives permission for instalove. There is a legitimate reason for that all-powerful passionate attraction felt between two seemingly mismatched people. But there needs to be more. There needs to be the after, when they both realize that there is more to it than \"because destiny\". I don't think the book really went into that enough. What reasons were given didn't feel like enough to justify the relationship, at least to me. \n This book had a lot going for it, but in my opinion, it never really reached its full potential. \n *ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. \n Just a side note here, but doesn't amazon own goodreads? Could they not synchronize their rating system a bit better? It feels weird to leave two different star ratings for the same book. SO CONFUSING. Okay, now I'm done.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 27 16:39:15 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 03 05:45:35 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Mar 31 14:37:38 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Mar 27 16:39:16 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "34615862", "review_id": "ca9ac828d93214485c6ab3ff53727207", "rating": 4, "review_text": "So this book was a big surprise for me. I was pretty sure I was going to like it. Isn't that why we read what we read? But I didn't just like this book, I really liked it. It was far from perfect, but it was kinda awesome. \n The book is written from Mina Murray's point of view. She is still grieving over the loss of her father at the hands of what she doesn't quite want to admit to herself was a vampire(s) during her time in Transylvania. She's decided to leave that life behind. She has a job teaching on the sketchier side of London, and it's a job she enjoys. She is engaged to Johnathan Harker (I'll get to him later) and wants to live a normal life. Enter Abe, aka Abraham Van Helsing, who she was at one point madly in love with and engaged. He tells her that vampires are a very real threat and that he and his friend at Scotland Yard need her help. Mina wants nothing to do with it, or him and her obviously unresolved feelings for him. She just wants to marry Johnathan and quite frankly, be left alone. That's all well and good until vampires attack a ball and kidnap Johnathan. She can no longer ignore that vampires are real and she is determined to get Johnathan back. So, Mina joins Abe, his friend Arthur, Arthur's recently turned vampire wife (they mostly keep her sedated), and Seward from Scotland Yard on a trip to Transylvania to save Johnathan and hopefully defeat whoever took him. I'm going to stop there on the plot synopsis to keep it as spoiler-free as possible. \n The plot was imaginative and the writing was fairly well done. It felt a little stilted in the beginning. At times it seemed like the sentences were needlessly complicated but eventually, it didn't bother me. Maybe I just got used to the style of writing. I did have a little trouble following how much of book was taking a page out of Dracula lore and how much wasn't. Eventually, I got over that too and decided not to compare so much. Just let it go and enjoy. \n I also want to add that two things I was not expecting happened in this book. \n 1)I actually got a little scared a few times. Like heart-pounding-white-knuckle-holding my kindle kinda scared. I was really surprised. \n 2)I might have teared up at one point. One part might have been incredibly tragic and sad. Maybe. There, I said it. Moving on. \n Mina was a little frustrating. She seemed to constantly overestimate herself. It wasn't that she was TSTL, it was that she was forever putting herself in harm's way when she had no reason to really assume that she could protect herself. Carrying a knife does not in any way make someone strong enough to win a fight with a supernatural being. Especially when she knows exactly zilch about them. How fast, how strong, etc. She pretty much walked around announcing that she would be fine, she was carrying a knife. And somehow, it always seemed to work out for her. I mean, I'm glad it did, but still. At least she was smart and had a good head on her shoulders. \n Abe was just delicious. He was the Rhett Butler to her annoyingly perfect and milquetoasty Johnathan. This is the only part of the book that really bothered me. The entire plot revolved around Johnathan's kidnapping, and honestly, I didn't care if he was ever rescued. He is just this lovely, patient, kind, loving man and yet he just bothered the hell out of me. Go away, Ashley. No one wants you here. I mean, I should have liked him, I suppose. But I didn't. \n I get that he is necessary, no need for a rescue, no plot. I just didn't understand her feelings for him. I wish we would have had some time in her head for an explanation other than \"because he's nice and I love him\". Because I mean, girl. Come on. Abe. There really wasn't even that much really said about Abe. We learn a great deal about the kind of man he is, but it wasn't like a romance novel where there are passages dedicated to the poetry of his face and body. There was just this thing abut him. Forbidden. Adventurous. Masculine. Protective. Every time he was around, I was like, \n Overall, I thought this book was such fun. I just love historical-fantasy of any kind. This book just scratched allll the right spots. Fantasy. A little horror. Some romance. Throw in some mystery and you have a pretty awesome book. And I couldn't be happier that this is a series. I will read them all, happily. \n *ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 21 14:56:32 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 09 15:26:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Apr 09 15:26:42 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Apr 04 10:19:52 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "34306908", "review_id": "308c0eaa5cc9ee763396fca0f914f0ed", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was everything I hoped it would be. \n I kind of switched back and forth between the kindle version and the audio version at first, but the narrator just blew me way. So I stuck with that. If you have the chance, I seriously recommend it. The narration was brilliantly delivered. \n In the world of Arth, being a hero is a job like any other. There's a hero's guild and everything. If you do your job, you're paid in loot. Heroing is what drives Arth's economy. Magic is rampant and there are always foes to slay. Gorm is a berserker dwarf who, after a quest gone terribly wrong, is left disgraced and without a hero's license. He and six others, ranging from mages to elves, are thrown together (not necessary by choice) to complete a quest that would redeem them in one way or another. As their quest goes on, they realize not everything is at it seems and they have to decide whose side they are really on. \n I think the comparisons to Discworld are apt and well deserved. And I don't say that lightly. I love Terry Pratchett. This book was laugh out loud funny, incredibly clever, and at times, unexpectedly sad. I'm not going to go on and on about each thing I loved, because honestly, I truly loved everything about it. I might have cackled like a crazy person during some parts. I might have teared up a little towards the end. Probably just a piece of dust in my eye. \n Bring on book two!", "date_added": "Mon Mar 13 11:45:14 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 25 06:07:56 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Mar 25 06:07:56 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Mar 13 11:45:15 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "30753993", "review_id": "0f867aeadc1d0547fd9adf6203bed773", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I was so excited to get my hands on this ARC. Probably way more than I should have been. But I don't care. I love magical books whether they're dark urban fantasy or middle grade. I thought about saying something along the lines of \"I would have loved this when I was younger\", but who am I kidding. I'm adult enough to admit that I loved this book as a thirty-year-old. And not a thirty-year-old with kids. There are magicians, fairies, mechanical cats, and an evil inventor. I mean, what's not to like? \n The writing was top notch. Though if I'm honest, I didn't spend a whole lot of time thinking about the writing as I read it. I was too busy reading. There was nothing to critique. It was a lot like reading Howl's Moving Castle or the lovely underrated gem that is Alistair Grim's Odditorium. The story just is. It isn't about if you'll like it, just how much you'll like it. \n The story is about an orphan named Felix Cassius Tiberius Carmer III aka Carmer, who is the apprentice to the magician Antoine the Amazifier. Their show isn't doing particularly well, even with Carmer's gift for tinkering and creating brilliant inventions for their magic shows. They enter a magicians competition in hopes of winning the cash prize but quickly realize there is no way they are going to beat the competition, who seems to have actual magic, not illusion on his side. While out in the city, Carmer finds himself face to face with a fairy, a one winged fairy princess named Grit. It turns out that fairies are not only real but are disappearing at an alarming rate. Grit is determined to find out what is happening. Carmer and Grit strike a deal- Carmer will help Grit figure out what is happening to the fairies, and Grit will give Carmer's magic show a little boost. Together they uncover a sinister plot by a dangerous man and have to work together to stop him. \n This book is filled with several lessons and tidbits of wisdom but it's mainly about stepping out of your own shoes and seeing the world through the eyes of others. It's an important lesson for anyone regardless of age and especially relevant today. I think one of the most important reasons we should encourage reading at a young age is to teach empathy. Well, that and the fact that it's awesome. The Wingsnatchers reminded me of why I loved to read as a kid and why I still love it. \n *I received an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 08 03:47:44 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 19 05:55:43 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "33526191", "review_id": "739d45dc6349baaaa165f5294962c772", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5- rounded up because it was just so much fun to read. \n I really liked this book. I found the beginning a little hard to follow, there were so many names and it took a bit for me to keep track of who was who, but when I did, I found it a fast, enjoyable read. I wish there had been a little more character development. Most of this book hinges on the lengths that Clarion is willing to go to to save those around her, but I constantly wondered why. Elena struck me as petty, a little mean spirited, and quite insecure, while Mack wasn't really fleshed out enough. We are told that he is charming, but he only gets a few pages to actually be charming. \n Despite this, the actual story was just so much fun to read. The further into the book I read, I just didn't care about any of my complaints. The story was original, the writing flowed, and the plot was fast paced. I sat down to read the last 84% of the book and looked up a few hours later realizing I was done. And very hungry. Oops. \n I've never really cared for the story of Jack and the Beanstalk, probably because it hasn't been written in a world as interesting as this one. The components of the original story seemed so random and never really meshed well in head. Well, they do now. I very much hope that there's another book someday to continue the story. I'd read it in a heartbeat. \n *I received a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 25 09:37:05 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 04 09:33:36 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Mar 04 09:33:36 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Feb 25 09:40:41 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "10194157", "review_id": "b67660deda00ee68fdf714d2ef53b911", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm not going to actually review this book because well...it has almost 18,000 reviews. There really isn't anything new I can add. But that being said, a few thoughts... \n I loved this book. Like really, really, loved. Loved it enough that the day I started reading it, I jumped on Amazon and ordered the other two books. The writing is gorgeous, the world building is lovely, and the plot itself is unique. \n The love triangle though? I was a little disappointed. I'm not opposed to love triangles, but this one was so trite. I'm bored with the triangle between the girl and the \"guy I grew up with that understands who I am\" and \"guy I recently met and is now a part the life I'm destined to have\". The one that really sticks out to me is from The Selection by Keira Cass. I hated that. They have a lot in common in fact. Fortunately, the Darkling is one hell of a guy (Man? He is hundreds of years old, but this is YA so saying \"man\" sounds funny). He is complicated, villainous, duplicitous, powerful, charismatic, and just FUMMY. That's right, not yummy, FUMMY. Seriously, if she doesn't want him, I'll take him. LOVE a little villainy in a man. In fact, I love a lot of villainy in a man. Fictional man, obviously. \n I actually really liked Mal. So sweet. So protective. And it took him time to realize his feelings. The one thing that really ruins a good love triangle for me is when one or both of them act like love sick puppy dogs. DO NOT PINE. It overpowers anything else in the book. This isn't a romance novel. It's a book with romance in it. I loved the fantasy. The magic. The monsters. The legends. The Palace. The class system. Hell, the map inside the book is stunningly beautiful. There was so much in this book to love besides the romance. But I also enjoyed the romance. And as with all good romance, I want to feel the angst. \n I felt the angst. \n Alina wasn't my favorite. But there wasn't anything wrong with her either. I just wish she'd freaking THINK before acting sometimes. Might save her a bit of trouble. I don't think she's made it into TSTL territory yet but hey, there's always time. \n I loved this book. I'm glad I have the other two and when I'm done with this series I'm going to pull out my beautiful hardcover of Six of Crows that has been patiently waiting for me on my TBR bookshelf. I've heard that it's best to read this series first, so that's what I'm doing. I'm certainly late to the party but you know what they say. Better late than never.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 24 06:02:15 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 04 13:48:03 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jul 16 16:43:04 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jul 10 19:29:10 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "33151485", "review_id": "6bde7f7d632d09297a1c2927c3e03f83", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I received a copy from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review \n 3.5 \n This book was original, entertaining, exciting, and yet a little underwhelming. \n Seventeen year old Charlie lives with her aunt. She suffers from severe anxiety and is eventually home schooled because of it. She doesn't really have any friends and spends most of her time alone. She applies for a job at a tea shop and everything changes. She learns that there are witches, vampires, demons, and that she has a special role to play in their world. Her love interest is vampire, which is strictly forbidden (inter-species romance is quite the no-no.) But isn't that the fun? \n I think the story could have benefited from Charlie being a touch older, something closer to nineteen. Her thoughts were far too wordy for a seventeen year old. In fact, I think most of the characters should have been a little older. Their age and maturity just didn't seem to fit the epic nature of things they were preparing for. No one seemed to know what they were doing, yet they were all confident that things were going to work out. While I was reading, I was reminded a bit of the first few seasons of Buffy. (Complete with forbidden romance with older, brooding, handsome vampire). It seemed mostly a bunch of ill equipped kids dealing with things way over their heads. \n There were several instances of TSTL syndrome, and not just from Charlie. But mostly Charlie. Are you trying to get killed? Charlie was constantly over confident in her ability to follow through with things that she'd only practiced once or twice. \n Her romance with Desmond was a bit of a mystery to me. Most of the time, I just didn't see it. Well, at least from his end. Her age and her actions/thoughts were just so inconsistent. In one instance she thinks something along the lines of never having kissed \"a boy\", then another she is thinking about being in love with \"this man\". It just struck me as odd. She really lacks anything to make her interesting or special beyond her supernatural role in everything. I think it would have been different if we had gotten more than a short chapter in Desmond's head. I just didn't understand what attracted him to Charlie in the first place. He's very vague when she asks the inevitable, \"why me?\" I wanted his affection for her to be more than the cliche of \"innocent girl makes not so innocent supernatural being remember his what it's like to be human\". That always bothers me because it's so generic. If it were me, I'd straight up ask, \"So any innocent human girl would do?\" But still. In the end, it doesn't matter. I'm a sucker for it all. Give me misunderstood and brooding, and you've got me. Give me tall, dark, and handsome and I'm there. In a heartbeat. \n Okay, now that it sounds like I had a problem with everything in this book, let me say, I really did enjoy this book. In fact, I really enjoyed this book. Once I started it, I breezed right through it in two sittings. While a little convoluted, the plot was really the strength of Singing Fire. I just loved it. I've never really read anything like it, honestly. And in this genre? That's really saying something. Everything's been done. I loved the secondary characters, and I loved that there were so many of them. I even loved that there were so many things I didn't understand. Mostly because it made me super anxious for the next book. So many unanswered questions! I'm very excited for the next book. Give. Now.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 23 12:28:26 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 18 08:49:41 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Mar 18 16:13:05 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Mar 13 06:26:11 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "29611498", "review_id": "7a74bda20c3669da5d0d8d413a26efe8", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I am once again in the minority. \n Did I read the same book as every one else? \n My excitement at finding this for free on amazon dwindled with every chapter I read. The previous books have been all over the place and this book was no exception. One chapter had me sighing, the next had me wanting to throw my kindle across the room. Every time I finish a book in this series, I feel disappointed. Yet, there is something a little addictive about them. I want to know what happens to the characters in the next book. After this book, I'm not so sure anymore. \n This book was my least favorite by far. I did not and could not like Gavin. I liked nothing about him. Everything he did, said, and thought, rubbed me the wrong way. As the book went on, I just wanted to punch him in the face. Repeatedly. For example, Gavin tells Lenore not to see a certain person anymore. Lenore agrees it might be dangerous but decides to say goodbye. Gavin gets wind of this and decides to take her before all of the vampires, publicly shame her, and tells them all she will be punished. What the actually fuck? Where is the line drawn between Lord and husband? It seriously pissed me off that something he told her to do/not do in private was brought up before all of the vampires he lords over. This had nothing to do with them. This was not something he proclaimed to all of his vampires that his wife decided to ignore. This was something he personally told her he didn't want her doing. In my mind, that is between husband and wife, not vampire Lord and subject. Is he going to do this every time she does something he doesn't agree with? She was humiliated and violated in the previous book and he decides that this is a thing he needs to do? Add to this that entire book is centered around Lenore healing from the horrific things that she endured physically and emotionally and it becomes a doubly cruel thing to do. Everything Gavin did was all about Gavin. And when he found himself being in the least bit selfless, he was always mentally patting himself on the back. How very impressive that he was able to restrain himself from jumping his traumatized wife. How lovely that he actually cared whether Lenore liked the gowns he bought her. \n The thing that really saved this book from being completely awful was Lenore. She was strong, caring, and found enjoyment in everything she did. There was a touch of Cinderella in this book that I really enjoyed. It was wonderful to see her get all of the things she dreamed about as a child. Lenore was just adorable. I had no trouble seeing why Gavin fell for her. I loved seeing her grow and heal. \n There is also something that I absolutely love about this series that I have unintentionally left of my reviews of the previous books in this series. The author works into each book a semi-fictionalized version of a person that actually existed in the time period of the book. They are written into the plot as themselves and add a touch of reality to an otherwise fictional version of 19th century England. I love reaching the end of the book and reading the little section she includes about the character she chose to work into the book. It's really a wonderful idea. \n Unfortunately, these things weren't enough to save the book for me.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 20 12:05:17 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 23 04:35:55 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Feb 22 05:34:16 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Feb 20 12:05:18 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "34128219", "review_id": "382d99ede7b2ae62f810aa39224c26f8", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This is happening!", "date_added": "Fri Feb 17 03:41:57 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 17 03:44:34 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "18480576", "review_id": "e6c53a8b3381313d12f9c6c25b2a86df", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I don't really know what to make of this book. For everything thing I loved, a few pages later something completely ridiculous would pop up. \n The romance was very sweet. If the entire book had just been about the two of them, I probably would have enjoyed it more. I absolutely adored Rafe. I want one. He upped the book a whole star. Who doesn't love watching a grumpy scarred man who doesn't believe in love fall desperately in love? And Cassandra. She was kind, but for an intelligent woman, she had a serious case of the TSTL syndrome. It's like she wanted to kick the bucket. \n The whole vampire overthrow part of the plot was boring. I ended up skimming most of it. Half of the things that happened revolved around rules of the vampire world that are never really explained. For example, the Mark that connects a vampire and another person can only be be detected within the bounds of the city it was made in? Or is there a certain radius? Is there an invisible line that a person has to cross? Throughout the books, when a vampire feeds on someone, they can see what is in their mind. So why are there constant misconceptions about how the non vampire feels about the vampire? Couldn't they see that when they fed from them? I was so confused. \n From there my confusion continued. Nothing made sense! Why does giving a few vials of blood debilitate a vampire? They can heal a wound in minutes! I've had 12+ vials of blood drawn in one go and I was fine and dandy. Why on earth would a few vials of blood being drawn over a couple of days weaken a supernatural being? Perhaps there is a legitimate reason but it was never explained. \n I'm not a fan of rape as a plot point (or in this case, subplot) in a romance novel, whether it be a main character or a secondary character. I know every book is different and sometimes it's necessary to the plot, but there is a certain way of writing about it that doesn't make you feel like you need to scrub your brain clean. In this case, it was only one sentence that tipped the scale into UGH NO territory. Maybe I'm too sensitive. Perhaps it's all on me, but it's my review after all, and this is something that bothered me. On the plus side (as much as their can be), from the way it was written, I believe it will will play a huge part of a plot in a future book. So while it was unpleasant, I do not believe it was unnecessary. \n Overall, I enjoyed the book. It has a lot going for it. Romance, intrigue, mystery, even a little violence thrown in there (as in fighting). It just wasn't what I was looking for when I picked it up. It was much darker than I thought and perhaps if I was in a different mood I would have liked it more.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 07 19:04:32 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 23 04:35:54 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Feb 09 06:20:23 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Tue Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "25803733", "review_id": "2425d57133304942ebd3609cd2a84ba3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Just a little heads up, I refer to things that happened in the previous book. I didn't mark them as spoilers. \n 2.5 \n The only word that comes to mind when describing this book is...inconsistent. It was just all over the place. \n Beth, a bounty hunter from Houston, accompanies her brother (also a bounty hunter) to track down two dangerous criminals. To be as non-spoilery as possibly, let's just say things go wrong. Very wrong. When Beth finally comes to, she's in the 13th century. Enter Robert, who has recently been rewarded with an Earldom. He's of course tall, beautiful, a skilled warrior, and emotional guarded. Beth is the one to break through that and they fall madly in love (obviously). \n Honestly, this book just pissed me off. SO MUCH POTENTIAL. What happened? \n The romance was perfect. Robert was perfect. A little too perfect. Seriously, nothing bothered him. I would normally find fault with that, but this book had so many other problems, it needed to have a perfect romance. The romance was the only redeeming part of the book. And seeing as this is a romance novel, that counts for a lot. \n Everything else was just...not good. It was ridiculous. Beth happened to speak middle English? Which meant saying \"nay\" instead of \"no\", I guess. Apparently it isn't odd that two children (Beth and her brother) use a long dead version of English as their way of speaking in code to one another. No one in Fosterly really has issues with the strange woman following their earl around wherever he goes. It's not just that she speaks a previously unheard butchered form of their language, it's that she refuses to leave Robert. Until of course after they become lovers, Robert tells her that she can make any changes to the castle that she wants. Which is just weird. As for the sex, his 13th century notions really fly out the window. Does it never occur to him that if everyone knows they are sleeping together and he neglects to state any intentions to marry her, she'll be ruined in the eyes of his people? They might respectfully not say it, but they are all thinking it. For a supposedly protective/honorable man, Robert had ZERO regard to her reputation. Which should be a thing for a 13th century nobleman. I spent a good chunk of my time reading this book saying to myself, \"Really? He/she's really doing this?\" \n I think the book suffered a bit for not introducing enough of Beth's character before the time travel. For someone that speaks middle English, she was pretty ignorant of 13th century social etiquette. Or she just flat out refused to adhere to it. I'm not talking about the little things. But come on, I'm pretty sure she knew the basics. For example, public displays of affection. I kept thinking that even in our time she'd be considered more affectionate than most.He does mention to her a couple of times that it isn't normal for her to do these things but says he doesn't mind. Which I sort of get, that's normal in romance novels. That's what sets the heroes apart from the other men. But seriously? It was alllll the time. While it's very romantic that a 13th century earl would completely disregard the customs and societal expectations of his time for the woman he loves, it was over the top. We're not talking just a sweet kiss in front of others, but full on make out sessions. Climbing all over each other like horny 17 year olds. Get a room. In and of itself it might not be such bad thing, but heaped upon all of the other ridiculously unrealistic things in this book, it was just too much. \n What bothered me the most wasn't the fact that she's so easily accepted by everyone in Fosterly. It was that one of the major conflicts of the previous book was that Dillon (Robert's brother) couldn't marry Alyssa because his people would never accept her as his wife. Most notably because she wasn't of noble birth. It took a major plot twist to allow those two to marry. And between Beth and Alyssa, Alyssa had fewer marks against her in terms of marriageability. Robert pretty much says \"Don't worry, if I vouch for you, my people will totally accept you. I'll just say you're of noble birth. If they still have a problem with it, they will face my wrath!\" Once again, while very romantic, I didn't buy a word of it. \n And doesn't the king have to approve of the marriage? Is that not a thing? I thought that was a fairly big deal in the previous book. \n And then, the time travel. I gave up trying to understand why the hell it happened. The answer was a very convoluted speech about fate and freewill. Don't try to figure it out, just let it go. The book will be much more enjoyable that way. \n As critical as I am of the book, I'm not sorry I read it, just disappointed. I expected so much more. The last book really set the bar high. This book read more like a debut novel. I love her writing, this one was just a dud. Hopefully the next one will be better.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 04 15:10:02 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun May 21 16:29:35 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Feb 06 07:28:36 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "15927534", "review_id": "465f6f1c065f8eefb8ed4d77216de66a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I can't even explain how excited I was to find this book. I love PNR and I really love historical romance. I was so sure this book was going straight to my favorites list. Not so much. \n I love the concept. Vampires that exist peacefully and secretly among the ton. There are Lords of different cities in England (and other countries as well, I'm sure), all part of a vampire hierarchy. There are vampire hunters as well. These are all good things, they were just executed terribly. \n The conflict is centered around Dr. Polidori and his newly published book about a vampire, sparking an interest around England in vampires. Now the actual vampires are worried about being discovered. One way for the vampire Lord of London to throw off suspicion of his vampirism is to take a mortal English bride. Plus, he wants to sleep with her. Win-win. \n What didn't work for me was the lack of explanation of the vampire world. We learn only what Angelica asks. If she's not curious about it, we don't learn about it. And I had a lot of unanswered questions. And the flying? What? How high does he fly? How does that work? Why the hell wasn't Angelica freaked out? It's not like she's used to being in planes. This was the first time in her life she was off the ground. It bordered on bizarre. \n We learn that vampires also have random talents (such as flying and mind reading). Angelica was not surprised by any of them. Her responses to learning certain people had these traits basically translated into \"Oh you can read my mind? Nifty! You can fly? Cool!\" It was completely unbelievable. Especially for a woman in the early 19th century. \n The romance was underwhelming. For some reason, Angelica's behavior and way of speaking reminded me of Alice from Alice in wonderland. She found wondering in everyhing little thing. Everything was fascinating. She loved defying expectation just for shit and giggles. She was always overly enthusiastic. She giggled a lot. Basically, she had this childlike wonder about everything, even sex. Anything childlike, even wonder, is not sexy. I would have believed she was 14 if her age was never mentioned. Which isn't that far off for 19th century England, but for this book, it just made me uncomfortable. She was incredibly immature. Her love of reading and writing books came off as an easy way to make her seem more mature so that a man that has been alive for centuries would find her more attractive than other beautiful women. Think Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Except she's 12. \n I'm tempted to pick another from the series and try again. Sometimes the first book in a series, especially of a genre as different as this one, can take a book or two to establish itself. I think that was the most frustrating thing about this book. It had the potential to be amazing. I probably did myself a disservice going into this book with such high hopes. And if I'm honest, the first book in a romance series isn't usually my favorite. The more the characters have time to develop by appearing in each book, the more attached I get and more emotionally invested I become. I can't really recommend this book, but I'm not swearing off the whole series.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 01 13:11:32 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 23 04:35:53 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "25154251", "review_id": "e44c3552f9222ff8da1a2ccdfd9f0b94", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I can see a lot of things people might find wrong with this book, but I'm not one of them. I loved every minute of it. It just made me happy. \n This book has everything I love. All of it. I'm not even sure how to categorize it, genre wise. It's a medieval historical romance fantasy? Whatever it is, it's awesome. \n Long story short, at 16, Alyssa takes her grandmother's place as healer and adviser to Lord Dillon. She is disguised to look and sound like her grandmother to protect herself from the people that shun healers as witches. Her grandmother's (unfair) reputation protects her. She has been in love with Lord Dillon since she first saw him, despite his fearsome reputation. She knows that he is a great warrior but is also kind. His own reputation has led to a lonely life and he really just wants a wife to confide in, love, and raise a family with. Alyssa and Dillon spend a great deal of time together (she's always healing someone or advising him on strategy etc..) and they become something resembling best friends over the seven years she serves him under the guise of an elderly healer. (Propriety is never really a concern because of course, she's believed to be a very elderly, supernaturally gifted healer.) He finds himself wishing he could find a woman like his healer/wisewoman. \n Lord Dillon is fatally wounded and Alyssa heals him, knowing that it will most likely kill her. Because she lurrvs him. \n Eventually the truth of her age and appearance comes to light and Lord Dillon realizes that the woman he respects so much and has come to depend on for everything is actually young and beautiful. Romance and drama ensue! \n While the plot was fairly original, it was easy to see where it was going. Didn't matter. I just loved being along for the ride. Sure, their love developed quickly, but it didn't come off as insta-love to me. They had been constant companions for seven years. It was the best kind of friends to lovers circumstance. \n I just didn't want this book to end. It was so romantic. As action packed as it was, it was a relaxing book to read. Escapism at it finest. I closed the book already excited to add it to my list of books I'd re-read. And when I saw that this is a series?", "date_added": "Mon Jan 30 14:32:00 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 01 06:58:18 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "28449207", "review_id": "2e8932a9889d24f4857867845d24a655", "rating": 0, "review_text": "That feeling you get when you realize even though you may be halfway through this truly stunning, fanfuckingtastic book, you just don't have time to sit down and truly savor it because your list of time-sensitive ARCs/review copies has gotten out of hand. \n I will come back for you, love. I will come back and read you cover to cover.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 20 04:51:00 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed May 24 06:19:23 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sun Apr 09 16:44:51 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "22296822", "review_id": "90b7067572d650c673e30233ffded5e4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "SO MANY MIXED FEELINGS \n This book in two words: \n I'm not really sure how I feel about this book. What I do know is that there were parts I loved and parts I didn't. But mostly, I loved it. Weirdly enough, I'm in the minority here. I'm never the one that enjoys a book that everyone else hated/didn't like. It's usually the other way around. \n In the middle of a blizzard, Zoe lets her little brother go outside and play with the dogs because he was annoying. Not really a good start to the book. Surprise surprise, her little brother Jonah disappears outside in the snow. Zoe begrudgingly throws on her boots and coat to go look for him. She eventually finds him far away from the house and face down in the snow. She carries him to their recently deceased neighbor's house which is closer than their own house and goes inside. \n Jonah is okay, just really really cold. Their momentary peace is interrupted by Stan, an evil stark raving lunatic that neither of them knows. He has a specific reason for being at the couple's house and refuses to leave before it's done. Stan turns his attention on Zoe and her brother and things go from bad to worse. Just before Stan is about to carry out his evil misdeeds, a man shows up and stops him. An otherworldly impossibly strong man who is clearly not normal. He is X, a bounty hunter from a place called The Lowlands, a weird version of hell, and he's there to collect Stan's soul. X is immediately drawn to Zoe and breaks every rule from the Lowlands including telling her his story. X was born in hell and is forced to collect souls (bad ones of course). Zoe opens up to X about her father's recent death and as X stays with Zoe's family for a few days, they fall in love. X knows he cannot stay long, the fact that he's revealed himself to Zoe and her family puts them in danger and X has to return to hell. Determined to be together, X tries to find a way to be with her. \n Zoe rubbed me the wrong way. There really wasn't much to like. You know when you see a movie that is really good but only one of the actors are actually doing a good job and they end up carrying the entire movie? X is that good actor. Zoe, not so much. I think without X's awesomeness, I would have hated this book. She was very difficult to like. She was so detached from anyone other than X that she came off as a cold and selfish. She didn't really treat anyone well. Not her mother, her brother, or her friends. I don't know if it was intentional. Was she supposed to be that way because of her father's death? Did she close herself off from those close to her on purpose? Maybe. I highly doubt it though. She was just selfish. \n X was just awesome. He gets two stars just for being X. Every time the book was in his POV I just wanted to reach through and give him a hug. He was so damaged and so sweet. And justifiably so. He was so thankful for kindness and the complete opposite of Zoe. He would have done anything for her or family. He did do everything for them. She did not deserve him. No one does! Despite his opinions on his own self-worth, he deserved everything and more. \n The way that X collects his souls is just fascinating. I mean, for one, it's murder. I don't mean that murder is cool or fascinating, just that I loved that the process isn't pretty or romanticized, it's just straight up murder, then soul reaping. I wondered throughout how the souls the bounty hunters are ordered to collect are chosen, but I decided that it must evils souls that are going without punishment. It isn't like the supernatural bounty hunters are popping into prisons and taking people. It seems to be the evil people walking among everyone else continuing to hurt people. During their soul-reaping, the evil folks are forced to watch all of their sins via a supernatural projection onto X's back. There are a lot of flashing colors and honestly, it was bizarre in the best way. I was not a fan of the fact that Zoe takes a picture of the entire ordeal with Stan and posts a picture on Instagram. Girl, what the hell are you thinking? If I were watching a supernatural soul-reaping/murder happening the last thing on my mind would be social media. It was a stupid move on her part and really just added to the many reasons I didn't like Zoe. \n There is one of the most instant insta-loves I've ever read but it didn't really bother me. Maybe because it was supernatural. Supernatural insta love is a lot easier to explain. Because this was PG YA, it couldn't be blamed on lust. Neither is thinking that they want to jump each other bones, but they love who each other are. It bordered on the absurd, but hey, love at first sight and all that. Also, X isn't a complete douche to her before falling in love with her. Most of the male characters in insta-love are. The first example that comes to mind is Twilight. Edward was such a massive asshat to Bella before they decided they were meant for each other. X comes off as stand-offish but it's because he has no experience being around people. He may be socially inept but wants desperately to learn. \n Now, my biggest issue. That ending. Are you kidding me? Are you freaking kidding me? It made no sense. None. I realize that the author needed to set things up for a second book but that isn't an excuse. There were a million ways it could have gone and it just all went hell (haha I'm punny). I was left with a weird combination of anger and confusion. An emotion I shall now refer to as Angfusion. \n But you know what? I'll still read the next book when it comes out. I'm so invested in this I just have to know what happens next. I need to know what happens next. WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT?", "date_added": "Sat Jan 07 16:22:03 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 29 05:58:52 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jun 29 08:11:20 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jun 20 14:28:05 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "30809689", "review_id": "7d2ed7b4c74338adb4578976dd584516", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Really, what's not to love here. \n My only experience with mythology so far has been Bullfinch's, and while I get they are classics, I found them to be a bit dry. Neil Gaiman brings his own what I can only call \"Neil Gaiman-ness\" to Norse mythology and I loved every minute of it. What pushed this from something I really enjoyed to something I absolutely loved was the way that he narrates his audiobooks. He is a truly gifted storyteller. I felt like I was a kid and I had a favorite uncle reading to me. And I mean that in the non--creepiest way possible. His love of storytelling and myths really shines through and it's contagious. He tells these stories with heart and humor and that little something that is uniquely his. \n Loved it.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 03 04:07:39 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun May 21 16:42:23 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Feb 21 13:59:37 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Feb 13 14:00:41 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "47699", "review_id": "a6fc368fc901d7c1a12f01f4fd946ef4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I just love Neil Gaiman. Anything he writes, I just love, I can't help it. Add in the fact that this was narrated by him? PURE GOLD, BABY. The only thing that disappointed me a little, was that I'd read and/or heard, a lot of these. Not gonna lie, I felt a little cheated. But then again, I am book-greedy. GIVE ME MOARRR. \n Despite all this, I loved it.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 03 13:14:31 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 17 05:23:59 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Dec 07 14:08:10 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "30457428", "review_id": "30403aec2af5576e7edbe08a6841ae22", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book starts with seventeen year old Lisa finding her father brutally murdered and his chest cut open, blood drained. (Yep, got my attention.) As she is a minor, she is sent to live with her Uncle Clayton, with whom her father had a mysterious falling out. Her uncle runs Grand Hallow, a huge funeral/mortuary business. Unconvinced that the police will solve her father's murder, she decides to investigate herself, starting with Grand Hallow. \n I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I really liked the writing and I thought the plot was incredibly original. My main problem was with the characterization. Lisa's thoughts and speech seemed more fitted to someone ten years her senior, especially in contrast to her best friend Tina, who I thought sounded appropriately seventeen. Lisa's thoughts and dialogue just seemed out of place and unbelievable. \n I also found issue with the way she dealt with her father's death. I realize no one wants to read about the main character curling into a ball and rocking back and forth for the entire book, but I felt like the day after her father's death she put on her Sherlock Holmes hat and completely forgot that the only family she had (that she wasn't estranged from) had been brutally murdered and mutilated. No one at Grand Hallow is particularly kind, there is no support, in fact her uncle forbids her from even using the phone. These things should have magnified her grief, but instead, the grief was missing completely. This wasn't a man down the street that she met a few times, this was her father. While I know everyone grieves differently, I thought the extent that it was omitted was just odd. \n This book definitely had it's scary moments. I enjoyed the creepy atmosphere, the even creepier secondary characters, and the way the plot kept you on your toes. Every time I was sure I knew who was behind what, I was proven wrong, in the best way. In my opinion, that's a sign of a mystery well done. Overall, a great Halloween read. \n *I received a free copy of the book in exchange for a review", "date_added": "Thu Oct 20 04:07:45 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 17 05:24:20 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Oct 28 08:27:46 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "23766634", "review_id": "2c1c6f28a9c4dd26adb0e1cd7b0fa9ca", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Holy Shit. Maybe I shouldn't have read ACOMAF the day before. Too many damn feels. There is no way this is going to be an in-depth review/critique of plot and style. Pfft. Please. I seriously considered just throwing together a collage of gifs. But I'll give words a go. \n If the last book destroyed me, this one broke me. I finished this book an emotionally exhausted, incoherent, gooey mess of feelings. I don't even know what to do with myself. \n It's kind of funny, really. If you told people that haven't read this series (or didn't enjoy it) that you knew without a shadow of a doubt that by the end of this book you'd be a sobbing, ugly-crying mess and would probably stay that way long after the book was finished, they probably thought you were exaggerating. Well, the joke's on them. I pretty much spent the second half of this book like this: \n This book was flawless. Every damn part of it. The plot. The character growth. Hell, even the length. I liked that nothing was rushed. The scope was so much larger the previous two. I loved getting a look into all of the Courts and the High Lords. Once again, Maas makes you take a second look at characters you blindly accepted as perfect and always right and those you blindly wrote off as villains. And I wasn't happy about it. Not at all. (I'm looking at you, Tamlin.) But...Thank god Feysand made it without any issues. That was pretty much the only thing that could have destroyed this book for me. \n Both ACOMAF and ACOWAR broke my heart but in such different ways. Equally emotional but so different. This book was filled with loss. War. Despair. And of course, hope. This is definitely the kind of book that will take multiple readings to really absorb and process. Which I'll gladly do. But seriously, I hope I get over this book hangover quickly. I really don't want to be stuck like this: \n What the hell do you read after this? \n *UPDATE: \n You guys. ONE WEEK. Holy shit. 7 days. \n ******* \n May 2nd? I want this NOW. \n Actually, yesterday.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 11 10:43:03 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed May 03 11:41:19 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed May 03 11:41:19 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "23308087", "review_id": "7fcda797db7c59870f61066c4b36bad8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I don't think I can even describe the strange high pitched squealing noises that came out of me when I got my hands on this book. I just knew it was going to be amazing. Epic. Entertaining. \n It was all of those things, but it was so, so much more. \n Mariko is the daughter of a prominent Samurai and has been groomed all her life for a political marriage that would elevate her father's status. A marriage is arranged between Mariko and Minamato Raiden, the son of the Emperor and his favorite consort. On her way to the city of Inako, the imperial city, her entire party is ambushed and killed by the Black Clan. Except Mariko. While escaping the ambush, she learns that someone hired the Black Clan to kill her before she could reach the palace in Inako. Knowing that if she returns home, she would lose her opportunity to learn who wants her dead, Mariko devises a plan. First step? Infiltrate the Black Clan. Before she can put her plan into motion, she is taken prisoner by the Black Clan. To survive, Mariko relies on her keen intelligence and is forced to live beyond the well protected existence she had before. The more time she spends with the Black Clan, the more she questions everything she thought she knew, including who is in the right, who is in the wrong, and the many shades in between. \n In the meantime, Mariko's brother Kenshin, known as the Dragon of Kai, searches for her in the Juaki Forest, where he finds reason to believe that Mariko did not die with the rest of her party. He begins his own search for answers. \n The book shifts POVs and we see the web of deception that connects each of the characters and the consequences of their actions. This book is about power in all its forms. Each character, whether it's Mariko, Kenshin, the various members of the Black Clan, the Emperor, or even the Emperor's wife, struggle for power of some kind. Political power, the power to protect, power over their own destiny, power over one's body, or power over another. Each person has to decide what they are willing to sacrifice to gain said power. \n Mariko's character is multifaceted, vivid, and flawed. Her strength lies in her wits and intelligence. Like a gifted chess player, she is always a few steps ahead of everyone around her and easily sees through the machinations of others. She quickly learns that while that might have been enough to thrive in her sheltered noble life, it takes more than that to survive with the Black Clan. Her growth as a person is natural and necessary, and she blossoms into this brilliant bad ass. Braver. Stronger. I loved it. \n \"Mariko was not afraid anymore. As her time with the Black Clan had taught her, avoiding fear made her weak. Embracing it made her strong.\" \n I want to get into the Black Clan and dissect each character but I feel that a large part of the joy of this book was going in pretty blind. I'm the kind of person that tends to read way too many reviews before reading a book, so this was really nice for a change. That and the fact going into everything I want to say would probably lengthen this review by an entire page. I feel like it's pretty long already, so I'm not even going to try. \n The writing was just...stunning. There was a beautiful balance between sparse, direct sentences and entire passages of breathtaking imagery. Everything was written with a simple elegance that allowed so much to be said with so little. And what was said, was just beautiful. \n \"Its petal pink waters were a painted stroke separating the tiled roofs on either shoreline-a swell of blue-grey clay, rising like the sea, bandied about by a storm.\" \n There were surprising moments of wisdom that I found myself reading over and over again, trying to commit them to memory. Good thing I finally realized there is this awesome thing called paper. You know, so you don't have to memorize things. There is everything here. Romance. Magic. Mystery. Heart-pounding action. \n The plot obviously bears a great resemblance to Mulan, which is fantastic. I'm less familiar with Mulan than other Disney movies, not because I didn't like it as much (I loved it) but because I didn't own it. So I've only seen it a few times. Everything I loved about it is here, but there is so much more. There is quite literally nothing I didn't love about this book. All the stars! \n *I received an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. Any quotes above are subject to change.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 06 03:53:35 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 30 15:03:40 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Mar 30 15:03:40 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Mar 21 14:41:21 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "17927395", "review_id": "f971e9cdbe445dfaa5aa375d8a79a059", "rating": 5, "review_text": "*Re-read 5/1/2017 updated review. Only one word needed. YES. \n This book destroyed me. Left me without words. \n I was expecting to enjoy the first book, and I was blown away. I LOVED the first book. I expected (from the ratings and the obvious glee of other reviewers) to love this book. This book shattered those expectations. I have a feeling this is going to be less of a proper review and more of me trying to somehow fashion my incoherent babbling into something useful and understandable. \n OH THE FEELS. \n This book was everything. HAD everything. Adventure, romance, intrigue, drama. I loved every minute of it. \n I must admit, I was worried going into this book if Tamlin was going to vilified unjustly to make room for Rhys. My worries were baseless. I love how it was handled. Tamlin didn't change (much), Feyre did. What she needed changed, who she needed changed. It happens. \n It was fascinating to watch her grow and change, and most of all, to see HER realize she was changing and growing and run with it. \n UGH SO GOOD. \n i think I'll leave it at that. Everyone else has so eloquently covered the rest. I'll just be over here squee-ing.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 09 10:11:12 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon May 01 13:58:47 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon May 01 13:58:47 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "17926775", "review_id": "af41f47faac907a0a6400496d7036826", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I have to give this book props, I wasn't too sure about it in the beginning. It felt very familiar. Outsider marries prince, prince seems like a douche but secretly isn't, prince secretly sympathizes with outsider(s), they fall in love against all odds. It is a very specific plot (at least a portion of it), but one I've read in several YA books. \n BUT \n This book was awesome. A somewhat common plot was done so well and originally that I completely lost myself in it. Hell, I want to live in Trollus. There was wonderful balance. The romance wasn't over powering, the politics were interesting, and the characters had depth. \n And that ending? I quite literally smacked my kindle none to gently on the side of my chair when it finished. So not the ending I hoped for, dammit! But a brilliant one, because I am definitely reading the next book in the series!", "date_added": "Sat Apr 09 08:34:40 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 14 04:35:44 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Apr 11 14:50:23 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "23811320", "review_id": "3386b8829d4883fdaad3c5a71a20cd04", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Solid 3.5. \n I didn't feel the need to review the first two books in the series. (I haven't yet read the third. Poppy bores me to death) They were both incredible, the first being my favorite and in my opinion damn near flawless, the second was fantastic, but just couldn't quite match the first. \n This book however, was a little bit spastic. I really loved Jack and although Mary was a little bland, they were great together. There was just so much going on. \n BUT \n I just wanted to defend this book and say that the only reason I gave it such a low rating (comparably) is because the author set the bar so high with the earlier books in this series. Absolutely worth a read if you enjoy this series. I just finished this book this afternoon and I've already bought the next one.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 07 10:23:07 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 17 04:52:56 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Apr 08 13:09:13 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Apr 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "28962008", "review_id": "55bf8828d006abc3e53c8e02e65de7ce", "rating": 4, "review_text": "*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. \n I have to admit, it took me a while to really get into this book. Not that it wasn't interesting, I was just so confused. Miralem! Fanarlem! Daramons! The first half of the book kind of see-sawed between not enough information and too much. By the second half of the book, it really took off. \n I found myself much less annoyed with the Hidden Lands' constant history lessons and lengthy descriptions when I realized this was going to be a series. The author did a fantastic job with world building and including even the smallest details, making it seem all the more believable and real. (I want to try a can of B-Bite.) \n I really enjoyed that the romance remained on the back burner throughout, enough so that I was always wondering whether they were going to get together at all. (At least in the first book. It seemed obvious that at some point they would get together.) Olivia was an awesome heroine, one of my favorites in a while. She was strong, kind, and completely non-whiny. I hate whiny, self-pitying heroines. And Alfred, adorable Alfred. I really liked him. There were a few moments when I found his complacency annoying, but by the end of the book, that aspect of him was gone. I love watching characters grow, and grow he did. \n Now, for the best part, the drawings! I loved them so much. I wish more books had illustrations. \n I have to admit, I was not a fan of the couple of little chapters interspersed throughout the book on how the book came about. I love reading about the author's process and getting inside an author's head, just not in the middle of the book. It kind of jerked me out of the story. In my opinion, that kind of thing is best left for an intro or at the end. \n All in all, a really fun read, one I truly enjoyed.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 09 04:38:37 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 30 14:46:07 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Mar 15 06:52:08 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Mar 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "26883558", "review_id": "7de005bc8499799adfe14cfee4dc8c8f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This story blew me away, quite honestly. It is absolutely brilliant and incredibly relevant today. I've read some of Lovecraft's work and have enjoyed what I've read. As I grew up and learned a bit more about Lovecraft the man, my opinions of his work shattered a bit. Regardless of that, the fact remains that his works have had an undeniable influence on the horror genre. Before I really sit down and try to eloquently put into words how damn brilliant this novella was, I'm going to read Lovecraft's \"The Horror at Red Hook\", and then re-read LaValle's \"The Ballad of Black Tom\". I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy it, even more, the second time.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 26 03:14:36 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun May 14 04:37:04 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun May 14 04:37:04 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "13541909", "review_id": "2724756353307bc37e56a9443f693274", "rating": 2, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I think I would have let the things that bothered me about this book slide if this was a new author, not an author I've read and really enjoyed before. \n As others have said, the world building was just one giant pile of HUH? Nothing was explained, it was just thrown out there. I really enjoyed Cami, I found her a nice change from most main characters who are written to appear tough as nails but do nothing but make terrible choices and endanger everyone around them. Cami was self aware enough to know her limits. \n Not going to lie, I found the romance part of this book reeeeeally confusing. There's the step brother who is more and the supposed stranger who actually turns out to be some kind of brother. Both gave her tingly feelings. Both really border on the weird. \n This book is like a movie you've been anxiously awaiting to see in theatre. You finally get there, you watch. While its on you think its fantastic, you're completely engrossed, but when the lights come on and you leave, you realize the actual movie was not that great, it was merely the experience that you enjoyed.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 19 05:31:00 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 17 05:18:05 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "26815779", "review_id": "3b4bff1fe30b2d334ab7a0c12d1b06b1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "When I first began The Godgame, I couldn't help but be a little disappointed. I was completely lost and more than a little confused. Luckily for me, that was my fault, not the author's. I'd read Marrow's Pit, but somehow missed Marrow's Legacy, a much needed and fantastic prequel to, The Godgame. So, after fixing that problem, it all started to make sense. \n This book takes us beyond the machine, into the cities of Nova and Talos, and the war that is brewing between them. The world building is well done and engrossing, the simple living Novans and the oppressive, overstuffed Talosians are painted clearly from the beginning. \n I'm usually frustrated by a constantly changing character point of view, but in this case it worked, and it worked well. Despite being given less page time to develop, each of the characters felt completely fleshed out and three dimensional. One of the things I love most about Deininger's characters is that they all exist in a varying shades of gray, to the point where I'm not even sure who I should really be rooting for. \n I love watching as small parts of his other works come together to give history to the world he has built and hint at things to come. As with Marrow's Pit and Marrow's Legacy, I particularly enjoyed identifying the small parts of our world that had survived and bled into their strange and fantastic world. (Wait, why don't they know what that ringing is?) \n My only complaint is a small one, and possibly just one of personal preference. I really wish the book had come full circle in some way, ending at least with the character it began with, Eli Sol. I have to admit, I spent much of the book wondering if THIS would be the part that he would make his appearance. I was determined to see how it all fit! I wanted a few more pieces in my own personal book plot jigsaw puzzle. But, I can be patient. I look forward watching it all come together, one book at a time.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 28 05:47:09 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 09 13:43:19 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "21570318", "review_id": "8e49d2ed08107a1da23760d575d86904", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I just finished this book and I all I can manage are a bunch of inhuman squeaking noises interspersed with high pitched whining as I once again realize this book is over. \n To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure why I enjoyed Crimson Bound (and for that matter, her other book, Cruel Beauty), so much. Is it perfect? No. Did I have questions? Yes. Did I absolutely enjoy every second of this book and getting lost in it? You betcha. \n You know how some books just aren't your thing? You can't put your finger on it, you're not sure why, but it wasn't your cup of tea. Well, this book was the complete opposite for me. A million other people will probably read this book and find it completely mediocre and I just loved it. Period.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 26 07:38:10 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 30 14:48:22 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "10425771", "review_id": "d411631ec6d4fb9a28aec832c41b533a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Absolutely fantastic. I loved every minute of this book. It was well written, smart, and had something very rare, a smart heroine. It is a rare book indeed that I don't at some point want to reach into the book and smack the heroine for doing something so completely stupid. I loved the magic, the romance, and the fact that the mystery lasted to the very last chapter. I devoured this book as fast as my schedule would allow. Others have complained that this book was not on par with others written by this author, but as this is the first book I've read by David Liss, I didn't have that problem. If the other books written by him are indeed better, I look forward to reading them!", "date_added": "Mon Apr 28 07:19:08 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun May 04 12:57:36 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun May 04 12:57:36 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "16169846", "review_id": "dc34da21e5fadd0fd6355709efd5221f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Let me begin by saying that my mouse hovered between the forth and fifth star for a good minute before I settled on four. In truth, it's more of a four and half. I loved this book, I really did, but it just wasn't quite up to par with the last book. It was by no means terrible, it was just lacking a little something. The first book was so rich in description and it seemed like more patience was taken with the plot. I wanted to read the book any moment I could because I just wanted to step into Elle's world, if just for fifteen minutes. This book felt a little more rushed and the characters started to feel a bit two dimensional. As new characters were introduced I began seeing them purely for their advancement of the plot. More than once I said to myself, \"Aha, I knew you would come in right here...\" Perhaps a few more pages might have helped weave them into the story better. \n That being said, I still enjoyed every moment of it. Elle is a strong (and stubborn) woman and I love reading about her. The ending caught me completely by surprise (which doesn't happen often) and I have to admit, I closed the book not too happy with the fact that I have to wait another year for the next book to come out. I would absolutely recommend this book, this book was a joy to read.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 21 06:50:52 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 17 05:13:01 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Aug 08 16:20:29 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49d2875a328d839e22a49d4c7a954907", "book_id": "432522", "review_id": "67672698ce47f02a19641aa4f4ffe656", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Re-read. Old rating 4 stars. New rating 2 stars. \n I've been in a major romance slump lately. So it only made sense to me that I should re-read the books that I've already rated highly but read so many years ago that I don't actually remember them all that well. Because a good book is a good book, right? \n So, the plot. Somewhere very far away, a thousand years ago, super-amazing-gorgeous-warrior-amazing-lover aka Tristan was sleeping with an absolutely horrible woman named Zirra. He's well aware of how awful she is so I don't really understand that. Anyway, he makes it clear that it will always just be sex and she refuses to believe that. When he finally makes it really really really clear, she freaks out and curses him to be a slave to her pleasure and stuffs him in a tiny jewelry box a la genie. He has to be a slave to the pleasure of any woman that possesses his box and the curse will only be lifted when he finds true love. After that, he'll be transported back to his home from wherever he happens to be. Due to some shady politics going on, the box is taken from Zirra and sent far away to protect that tenuous peace on his home planet. A thousand or so years later, the box ends up in a flea market where Julia, our heroine is shopping for her antique shop. She is drawn to the box and buys it. While cleaning it, she pops it open and Tristan appears. He explains that he is there for her pleasure and she makes it clear that she wants nothing from him. Tristan is taken aback by this and the two of them begin to fall for one another. Zirra, of course, is still alive in Imperia and still wants her sex slave, so she does her best to find Tristan. \n So much of this book rubbed me the wrong way. Tristan endured neglect to the point of abuse as a child and then was forced into sexual slavery for centuries. He had to do everything his *shudder* \"masters\" commanded him. However distasteful, however degrading, he had no choice. How did my younger self somehow gloss over this really disturbing fact? When he finally understands that Julia really isn't going to use him for sex he thinks she so incredibly kind and then, of course, decides he wants to sleep with her for the fun of it. And as for Julia, she had a disastrous date when she was 16 that ruined her self-esteem and doomed her to a life of virginal awkwardness. She hasn't dated since that one horrible date. Tristan just can't believe Julia isn't going to command him to clean her toilets or murder a non-existent husband and Julia is just so excited that a man could actually find her size 8 body appealing. So of course it's true love. REALLY? YOU PEOPLE NEED TO GET OUT MORE. \n As others have mentioned, the fact that Zirra was eventually cursed the same way she cursed Tristan did not feel like revenge. It was just disturbing. So now she has to spend an eternity as a sex slave. Was she unhinged and homicidal? Yes. But sentencing her to an eternity of non-consensual sex just doesn't sit right with me. Tristan endured it for a thousand years. What if Zirra endures it for 4 thousand? 10 thousand? I mean, anyone in a box is immortal. This didn't really feel like the right time for the whole \"eye for an eye\" thing. I didn't feel it was justice, it was just rapey and wrong. Death would have been better. \n I found the idea of Tristan and Julia's relationship while Tristan was hers to command so...weird. He was still physically bound to do anything she said. If the roles were reversed people would be chucking this book out the window. It really ruined so much of the romance. It was like a constant cloud of weirdness that floated above everything that was supposed to be sexy or swoon-worthy. \n Honestly, the only reason I'm giving any stars is the fact that everything that wasn't part of the romance was pretty damn funny. I actually laughed out loud when Tristan kept murdering phones in an attempt to protect Julia. Despite any complaints I have about Gena Showalter's books, they always manage to make me smile and occasionally laugh like a mad woman. However, I will most definitely not be reading this again.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 17:35:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 04 13:48:02 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 11}
{"user_id": "f069ee5a5f6f97082dde15999406c182", "book_id": "36070854", "review_id": "1c2cd6f6ff9807797ad30f2bba642a90", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This one ripped my heart out and squeezed. dY'\" I didn't expect that. Seriously, The Hearts We Sold has a great premise and Lloyd-Jones didn't disappoint on delivery.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 21 13:07:24 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 03 20:45:19 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f069ee5a5f6f97082dde15999406c182", "book_id": "31450852", "review_id": "ebe38fceca453e23ec61fd0d4e2cbf73", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm not, like, a hard-core SJM fan, but I want to know how the ToG series ends. So I wasn't really aware that this was a Chaol-gets-his-own-book situation. It was a fine read, but mostly completely unnecessary. Honestly, Maas should have just done some self editing and Chaol's time in Antica should have been proper chapters within Empire of Storms. \n The secrets that are revealed that have impact on the overall war though, I didn't expect that, so bonus star for that revelation. \n Still didn't need a separate book for this stuff. -\\_(tsu)_/-", "date_added": "Tue Jun 27 06:00:35 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 17 23:42:56 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Sep 17 19:46:15 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Sep 12 06:38:15 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f069ee5a5f6f97082dde15999406c182", "book_id": "28260587", "review_id": "abd812b0722e18d49330628a6de620f3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The more I read Maas' books, the more I see her as Anne Bishop Lite. I love all of Anne Bishop's work though, so I give four stars for Empire of Storms, which steps up a from the previous installments (all solid three star books - they're good but not I'm not taking them to a deserted island with me) and heightens the drama (in a good way) and character development (although, I don't really think she needs to pair off every character). And those tiny sparkling gems of humor, those little lights in the dark that are masterfully done by Bishop, but until book 5 Maas hasn't been able to execute without it seeming hamfisted and forced. Those little moments really elevated Empire of Storms for me from the first four. Empire of Storms feels like it started to properly grow into itself, like the series is shaking off it's YA label and is ready to sit at the \"Grown-Ups table\".", "date_added": "Mon Jun 19 16:24:00 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 09 21:20:48 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jul 01 12:21:57 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jun 27 06:00:18 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f069ee5a5f6f97082dde15999406c182", "book_id": "28818314", "review_id": "fdadab22f4cad97e5c2eb638d0ba0efd", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Disappointing...great, fantastic, amazing idea - a modern retelling of the Phantom of the Opera. Terrible execution - over-wrought in the worst way staring a whole ensemble bland and boring characters, which is truly depressing because it's set in a theatrical school. *face palm* \n If Howard hadn't forced the integration of .vampiric myth, incubi/sucubi, and even a Frankenstein trope she could have has a solid novel. This is just a hot mess, otherwise. \n Bonus points awarded for being a physically beautiful book - the gorgeous vine designs at the start of each chapter and the positively inspired choice of a dark red font colour are the best part of this book \n Edit: I take it back, the best part of this book is reading the \n hilarious \n reviews by others who suffered to finish it too.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 03 11:57:52 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 22 18:36:46 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Sep 22 18:00:40 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Sep 10 08:41:48 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f069ee5a5f6f97082dde15999406c182", "book_id": "18966806", "review_id": "74ab4e9a4fd5688999c6d8da7e025837", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So...wow! Thank you to Mr. Brown. I knew something was coming. When I read the foreshadowing, I said to myself, \"I see you...\", and then Mr. Brown ripped out my heart, stomped on it for good measure and so blinded me with emotion that I bought the endgame, hook, line, and sinker. And I loved every minute of it. \n The Red Rising is a fantastic epic, with so many complex, complete characters, an masterful world-building. Seriously, the world Brown has created is so richly detailed and full of so many interesting secondary characters, that he could continue write my from with in it for many more books. \n I didn't expect to love this but I did. So much so, that I've told my husband that he needs to read this since he's a fan of Orson Scott Card and John Scalzi.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 06 12:14:25 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 28 15:08:38 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Oct 14 12:46:11 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Oct 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f069ee5a5f6f97082dde15999406c182", "book_id": "25670396", "review_id": "cbf6d4b30acc6286b3b5f1ee10f48fbd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book art the shoals on which you wilt dash your heart to pieces. *sob* \n I haven't read The Tempest, but Carey's retelling (prequel?) is beautifully written and heart-breaking.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 28 14:54:00 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 27 19:26:11 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Apr 06 20:13:49 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Apr 02 14:43:49 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f069ee5a5f6f97082dde15999406c182", "book_id": "22457223", "review_id": "a440d6986bc63dbdeb5a381d71c64f51", "rating": 3, "review_text": "There is something about the language used or the voice of the characters that makes me think the setting of this book is more modern/contemporary than it should be. I found that somewhat distracting but still enjoyed the story and the race against time to solve the murders and find an ancient, mythical artifact. I think I'd read another in the series. \n Although, wouldn't it have been so much cooler if the heroine, who managed to rescue herself from a horrific and traumatic experience seven years prior, had rescued herself at the end of this adventure too ? That would have gotten this book at least one more star.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 01 07:41:14 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 27 19:27:36 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f069ee5a5f6f97082dde15999406c182", "book_id": "29671347", "review_id": "caedd598dd7da84bb74963ce8261d458", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I wanted to give this four stars, but honestly it feels too similar in formula and characters to Archer's Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences (MPO) series. I will say that this series feels a bit lighter, less gothic than MPO and the magic that Archer is describing is intriguing, but it's even really discussed/explained until almost the end, and then the ending itself is quite abrupt. Such endings are typical of Archer, but this one even more so since not a single main plot point was resolved. \n I plan to read the next installment, but have hopes that this series will be able to better distinguish itself from Archer's previous works.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 23 07:26:05 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 27 19:28:19 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f069ee5a5f6f97082dde15999406c182", "book_id": "26085520", "review_id": "2cdc5ad4dff2ee6ac224c658884790aa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I signed up for OwlCrate because the theme for the May 2016 box was Steampunk, which I love, and this is the book that was included. I would never have picked this one up on my own. I have never had a lot of affection for the story Peter Pan, so I was a little disappointed when I read the synopsis as and discovered this is a retelling of the classic. I was a little reluctant to start reading it but I took it with me on vacation and I was actually pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. \n I thought he steampunk/post-apocalyptic mash-up the author created with the world-building was quite successful. I found it easy to imagine the world described and enjoyed that aspect very much. I found myself liking the characters more than I expected, with the exception of Pete, who was a shadow (pun intended) of the typical dystopian YA male love-interest for the heroine. \n My biggest gripe would be how references to the original are often clumsily forced into the narrative. An example would be the villain's original, ridiculous long, awkward name becoming an acronym and then finally the nickname, Hook. \n The ending is satisfying too - not a cliffhanger and this book can stand on it's own. I was wondering partway through if this was going to go the way of the YA trilogy, but was very thankful for a clear and satisfying ending to this book. \n Even without the Peter Pan references shoe-horned into much of the story, I think this would still be a decent YA novel.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 26 19:38:59 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 20 08:25:45 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f069ee5a5f6f97082dde15999406c182", "book_id": "17727206", "review_id": "bd10a76df3e70169c8e2da1c956d2632", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Just when you think Cherry's world can't get any worse, Karina Copper masterfully pulls the rug out from under both Cherry and the reader, almost to the point of being a depressing read, but the action keeps it moving at a quick pace so you don't dwell too long. Three books in and I'm fascinated by Cherry's flawed character and captivated by the unexpected twists and turns in the story. Desperately rooting for Cherry to finally get some kind of break in book four.", "date_added": "Mon May 30 10:21:00 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 28 14:54:12 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f069ee5a5f6f97082dde15999406c182", "book_id": "15927475", "review_id": "efadbf3ef613cd1a445f68adf822b681", "rating": 3, "review_text": "But, but, but, what happens to Decima??", "date_added": "Thu Apr 28 08:58:41 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 28 14:53:45 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Apr 30 10:24:18 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Apr 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f069ee5a5f6f97082dde15999406c182", "book_id": "15812190", "review_id": "331be009333acf3a39e8a3f72f26770d", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Where my expectations too high? I'm not sure, but I slogged through this one and I wanted to love it so much. I thought the characters in the first book where a bit flat, but there was enough action and the world building was intriguing enough to keep me hooked. This second installment seemed to suffer from equally flat characters, but there was less action to keep my interest. While I wish the third was forthcoming, I can understand why the publisher didn't go ahead with it. Hopefully Ciotta will take the extra time to develop her characters more to be on par with the world she's created and will eventually self-publish the third installment.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 13 21:02:19 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 19 15:27:07 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f069ee5a5f6f97082dde15999406c182", "book_id": "28495997", "review_id": "d9632ff8d89726b7582f4d576f5ff4c1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I first read the Quarters Books when I was in high school and I've re-read them quite a few times since, but these short stories were new to me so I was very excited to return to this world. Huff did not disappoint with these short stories. I found them entertaining and brought back a sense of nostalgia but without compromising or diminishing my memories of the originals, which sometimes happens when you revisit something you loved so long ago. I'm sure they could stand on their own, but honestly, I wouldn't want them too because I think they have more depth within the context of the originals. \n Vree is my favorite character from the original books, so I was very pleased to read the two shorts featuring her and appreciated the little peek at her post-HEA life in the third story. I also really enjoyed Evicka's story as she had a minor appearance in the original series, but even so many years later, I remembered exactly who she was and it was nice to see her character develop in this short. \n Two thumbs up - I'm sure I'll read them again but would do so within the chronology of the original books the next time I decide to re-read those. :)", "date_added": "Fri Mar 25 12:18:41 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 07 09:22:01 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f069ee5a5f6f97082dde15999406c182", "book_id": "23627298", "review_id": "e59f07922c1367b6a5f2bfa1191712ef", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Comparative weak sauce to its predecessors. :( I really enjoyed the 1st Freak House Trilogy, and though I enjoyed the 2nd Freak House Trilogy, it wasn't as strong as the first. The third trilogy is, so far, the most disappointing of the series and seems to plod along at times. I still liked it enough to move on to the next book, but it's a little bittersweet when I think Cara deserves a stronger story since she is such a fascinating and different character than is typical for this genre/period. I think Archer does her an injustice with her shallow portrayal of what could be a deeper, more complex protagonist. Hopefully, more depth of character will be found in the next books. \n If you're new to Archer's work or to the Freak House series, I'd suggest starting with the First Freak House Trilogy instead, the Emily Chambers series (which precedes the Freak House Books, but shares the same world) or, my personal favorite by Archer, the Ministry of Curiosities Series (unrelated to the other series, but I think it's her best as yet).", "date_added": "Mon Jan 11 12:08:28 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 07 08:13:41 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Apr 07 08:13:41 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f069ee5a5f6f97082dde15999406c182", "book_id": "13507512", "review_id": "440ff26cca668863c72ed10bc22a9b5f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was looking for a new Steampunk novel when I picked this book up and this is more steamy romance than steampunk. Steampunk makes a token appearance in this paranormal romance, in an \"Oh, hey, Steampunk is trendy\" kinda way. I wanted more of the details about gadgetry and weapons, mechanical prosthetics, robot drones, steam engines not rickshaws, etc. In comparison to the wonderful steampunk world building by MelJean Brook, Gail Carriger, Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris, Shelly Adina, Cindy Spencer Pape, and Steven Harper, as just a few examples, Bec McMaster has a lot to learn. \n That said, I did find her paranormal world surprisingly interesting with a different take on vampirism than I've seen before. I'm curious about The Eschelon and the White Tower, and want to learn more about how McMaster might bring something new to the werewolf trope, so chances are high I'll be reading more of this series. Hopefully with more steampunk influences in future volumes as well.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 26 09:44:41 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 05 19:54:58 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f069ee5a5f6f97082dde15999406c182", "book_id": "12806429", "review_id": "148e1ff7fb57d047bad70a9515ad0b62", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This gets 2 stars for being okay only because I want so much more. The premise is great, the characters intriguing, and this short story just left me wanting so, so, so much more. This really should have been expanded to be a full novel because the urban fantasy world that it hints at could be very interesting and the characters could be fascinating if they were allowed the pages to really develop. The short story format really did this book a disservice, in my opinion.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 16 11:55:52 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 23 09:56:17 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Dec 22 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Dec 21 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f069ee5a5f6f97082dde15999406c182", "book_id": "16130759", "review_id": "90629a77e2cb6a13532d1d487f888ecf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I love the study series, I really do, but five books in, not only am I questioning how often the characters get captured, but so are they! It's starting to get a bit repetitive in that respect. The Yelena/Valek scenes still get me right in the feels though and I really enjoyed the minor arc where Valek's past catches up to him and the ensuing plot twist that results. \n This feels very much like a \"second of a trilogy\" book - it's building to something huge and almost epic in the third, setting up some very high expectations. I'm desperately hoping Snyder can pull off what's needed for the scope of the conflict and still resolve everything in a satisfying way. \n As much as I love the characters and the world in the Study and Glass series, I would love to see Snyder turn her talents to something new after she finishes Dawn Study.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 05 08:47:29 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 16 13:28:00 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f069ee5a5f6f97082dde15999406c182", "book_id": "24876258", "review_id": "d2e2ddfbdb6c7aee3187ff183f5887b0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Oh! Well! That was incredibly exciting! After becoming a big fan of the Dresden Files, I had high hopes for Jim Butcher's foray into steampunk fantasy and he certainly did not disappoint. \n The world Butcher has built is fascinating - giving you just enough information about how he's imagined it to understand the events taking place but left me very curious about the other Spires, the history of the Spires and their Builders. Butcher does push you into the deep end, so to speak, of his world from the first page so for me there was a bit of mental fumbling in the beginning trying to understand various contexts, but it wasn't really an issue. I'd rather be shoved head first into a fantasy, almost so I can explore it myself, rather than have it laid out for me like a history lesson or tour. \n The action though! It doesn't stop, one battle after another and the action scenes are written skillfully enough that I have no problem seeing them play out in my imagination, which is something I struggle with sometime as I really don't have much of a frame of reference for combat maneuvers in real life. The airship conflicts in the opening and climax of the story are particular highlights and they were like a roller coaster in intensity for me. I almost wish I was actually on board Predator during those scenes. Almost. \n I thought the cast was great too - a really strong, and diverse ensemble. With a few minor exceptions, I was generally impressed by the level of equality of the sexes Butcher portrayed. I think Butcher does very well here in writing his female characters - the characters recognize their own limitations, but perform to the very height of them and allow their skills to complement those of their male companions. Very few characters weren't memorable and those that weren't, were minor supports anyway. The primary characters have depth and enough teased history that no one really comes off as flat or a caricature of the traditional archetypes. Gwen seemed a bit cardboard occasionally, but I can put some of that down to her youthful optimism, naivete, and aristocratic upbringing clashing with the conflicts she's experiencing for the first time in the world beyond the upper echelons of society and her initial training for the guards. \n All in all, Butcher knows how to write a series and keep his readers coming back for more. Without doubt, I'll be reading the next installment when it come out.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 01 09:02:47 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 28 15:08:10 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Aug 14 11:14:31 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f069ee5a5f6f97082dde15999406c182", "book_id": "20937088", "review_id": "2e7555b1a853dbe62951762f188723d2", "rating": 1, "review_text": "FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS LITERARY, SOMEONE GET THIS AUTHOR AN EDITOR!! \n Spelling errors, grammar disasters, and generally poor writing aside, I really wanted to like this book because it has a great concept. However, the poor execution and truly awful \"hero\" with no redeeming qualities produced a disappointing read that left me angry at the characters and the author in the end. \n Did anyone else find that La Caz is a watered down version of Christian Grey of 50 shades fame? I didn't like 50 Shades either, so maybe a watered down version is an improvement, but La Caz still had domination/control freak issues that I found off-putting.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 10 17:35:45 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 10 17:53:26 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f069ee5a5f6f97082dde15999406c182", "book_id": "17683", "review_id": "8e7530e6d87e321770b248be48713880", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Five stars simply because of Sue the Tyrannosaurus's cameo.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 01 09:30:24 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 28 14:55:18 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f069ee5a5f6f97082dde15999406c182", "book_id": "12799435", "review_id": "33cb232d8d2823c9ab72e55e96ac4f82", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked the first novel in The Custard Protocol, but it seemed...more forced, I guess than this one. Perhaps, the characters are better able to stand on their own after the events of Prudence, which isn't a bad thing. In my mind, the characters grew more and were better able to step out of the shadows of their parent's shadows from The Parasol Protectorate series. \n I give this book Two Parasols Up! Very much enjoyed and I look forward to future installments.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 11 19:50:02 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 23 07:25:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "486d766325a940483d00c350d67ca67d", "book_id": "113436", "review_id": "459215994dc4b48a0ba2620d81b7f724", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I couldnt even finish it.So boring.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 22 08:38:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 22 08:39:32 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7320ee6c9368d2bc9e39a7281939160f", "book_id": "20312461", "review_id": "eab34508b8b52893175e99456dfed752", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The Witch's Boy by Kelly Barnhill. Published September 16, 2014 by Algonquin Young Readers. 5 Stars. I got this ebook from the library. Engaging from the very start. Brilliantly written about a couple of teens (one a twin) and their soulful and magical relationships with the earth, the forest, the stones, their dreams of the sea, and even death. An involved plot that is deeply simple at its core--how do the intentions and choices people make about love affect the future--theirs and everyone else's? An intriguing and fun YA read. Highly recommend!", "date_added": "Sun Sep 17 10:14:30 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 19 05:23:12 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "7320ee6c9368d2bc9e39a7281939160f", "book_id": "297891", "review_id": "7d8033b18233c14148437ce18af7d820", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fog Magic by Julia L. Sauer, (c)1943. 5+ Stars. A wonderful middle grade book featuring irresistable fog as a means for a girl to time travel! A tale of a Nova Scotia family and their girl who is about to turn twelve, this book explores magical realism and takes us with it as it bends time to give us a peek of the main character Greta's newfound world. Will reality and responsibility make her a different person when she grows up; will she forget? This book was so good it was a Newbery Honor recipient in 1944. This is truly a read-again book for its mesmerizing inner story which begs the question of whether we can ever hold on to some of the true magic of our dearest moments of childhood--real or imagined. Highly recommend!", "date_added": "Tue Sep 05 21:47:51 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 06 21:08:41 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Sep 06 20:40:33 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Sep 05 21:47:52 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7320ee6c9368d2bc9e39a7281939160f", "book_id": "5976149", "review_id": "c7d97ffe4b40a0215ac200c3d3699fcf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Disney Fairies, Vidia and the Fairy Crown by Haruhi Kato. Children's Fiction, Comics & Graphic Novels. Fantastic fairy land illustrations with a mystery among the fairies at Pixie Hollow. A new Disney favorite for preteens and young teens. Thanks to NetGalley, Diamond Book Distributors and Tokyopop for providing this ebook for review.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 09 00:16:56 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 09 00:17:36 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Aug 09 00:17:37 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7320ee6c9368d2bc9e39a7281939160f", "book_id": "3", "review_id": "9e642693a0b3bc1f7df685a2b8a51114", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Still reading \n Jim Kay's illustrations beyond wonderful! Kindle in Motion is fabulous; not to be missed in an amazing children's book like this! I have this book before and will read again--in this edition. Still reading. Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone on Kindle in Motion 2017.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 26 15:49:42 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 27 22:28:27 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Wed Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 12, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7320ee6c9368d2bc9e39a7281939160f", "book_id": "29587669", "review_id": "184bde41693c4ae8a9da77e21ef8bfe6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 Stars. This metaphysical novel has nice flow, is exciting and gives a whole new take on emotional healing in the wake of death, separation and divorce in the reinvention of love in all relationships in the spiritual community of Lily Dale, New York. Highly recommend. \n Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ebook for review.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 15 08:55:12 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 18 14:12:23 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jul 17 23:01:25 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jul 15 08:55:21 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7320ee6c9368d2bc9e39a7281939160f", "book_id": "707225", "review_id": "f9376dc106bea77ea24507608adaa869", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wonderful! I found this book in paperback in my stash. Printed in England. This boy's journal begins in 1885. It is one of the most remarkable documents of its kind. Highly recommend.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 02 09:22:58 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 07 15:36:15 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jul 05 00:22:54 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jul 02 09:23:03 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5be928ae24aa0a8a0aa9da8b4741ec23", "book_id": "351336", "review_id": "41524dd69511cb4de9dfcd92181d7d20", "rating": 3, "review_text": "if you want to learn the lore of the shadowrun universe, this is the perfect primer.", "date_added": "Sat May 09 15:26:42 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat May 09 15:30:05 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "781bf184a5fd586d10befb3334ad7b8d", "book_id": "13643567", "review_id": "4d96e6f8123fee8b4e545b91fdddbe0e", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I literally could not put this book down, I loved it so much. Can't wait to start the next one.", "date_added": "Wed May 20 20:38:41 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 09 13:46:21 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "781bf184a5fd586d10befb3334ad7b8d", "book_id": "11408650", "review_id": "e9e58895489f7ce184a09613af062edb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "An amazing read, with completely unexpected twists throughout. I loved reading Mara's story, and I need to read the rest of the series ASAP. Loved this book, and especially loved the final chapter. Definitely would recommend this to anyone.", "date_added": "Wed May 20 20:34:33 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed May 20 20:36:37 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "781bf184a5fd586d10befb3334ad7b8d", "book_id": "107012", "review_id": "bb478994ea2012f231c7e3547273d2ec", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really liked this novelization because it gives you the movie, but with more details and specifics of the characters and emotions involved.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 16 15:23:20 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 16 15:24:34 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "781bf184a5fd586d10befb3334ad7b8d", "book_id": "12924379", "review_id": "c2a61d0a65e43f641605cc8499c1459e", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Overall, this was a great finale to the series, and I'm very glad that I read it, because this little pre-series concludes right where The Vampire's Assistant really picks up, but the overall best part about these stories is that they really allow you to understand one of the driving characters in The Vampire's Assistant. This was a lovely book, and it truly did wrap up nicely the chapter of Larten Crepsley's life that you were wont to wonder about if you'd only ever read the TVA books. Glad I made the decision to read this series.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 24 16:04:13 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 29 19:59:23 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "781bf184a5fd586d10befb3334ad7b8d", "book_id": "10890702", "review_id": "f2a70b8b8b5b9a7c5c540d19da11b059", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really liked this series, and this book was a great addition. Overall, this entire franchise of Darren Shan's is great and although I'm personally not a very big vampire person, I did enjoy this and The Vampire's Assistant books that I've read so far, a lot. I absolutely love the way that he created a reality in which a majority of things that are common knowledge about vampires are actually false.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 24 16:04:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 29 19:55:48 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "781bf184a5fd586d10befb3334ad7b8d", "book_id": "7823800", "review_id": "3d2eabca719c37abf45933b2d26b743f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A wonderful read, and one I enjoyed very much. I find it interesting to get into the psyche of Mr. Crepsley after having been on Darren's side of things, and it's awesome to begin to understand why he is the way he is, and why he does things the way he does. Basically, it's just interesting when the character of Mr. Crepsley makes more sense to me.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 24 16:01:35 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 24 16:03:54 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "781bf184a5fd586d10befb3334ad7b8d", "book_id": "8966", "review_id": "f72d9717eaa9bc8ac54ebb67c6cf4fa1", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Awesome continuation to this series. I plan to read it again. It was a great addition and it really helped to tie u some loose ends of Darren's past. Looking forward to continuing the series, and rereading this book.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 25 21:44:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 31 17:51:03 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sun Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "781bf184a5fd586d10befb3334ad7b8d", "book_id": "8963", "review_id": "f4dfe77a5af8f8de51bd6c34e110e92b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book, and all of the twists were a great continuation to an already wonderful series.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 25 21:44:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 31 17:48:10 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sun Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ee578aaff78e6bb900ce6a8931079fc2", "book_id": "28187", "review_id": "70b2faea647b23201289dca03ca69491", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I thought this book was cool because the adventure and journey throughout this book was entertaining. Rick Riordan never had a boring moment throughout the entire book and kept the reader on the edge of his or her seat. There was always something happening, every flip of the page and danger was eminent throughout. You can see the character develop throughout the book and brought the reader through a vivid maze of an adventure. Great book for anyone who is looking for an adventure and to follow a character who is trying to prove himself.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 28 12:19:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 28 12:39:38 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "948210572c4e24c1a62026e799029b11", "book_id": "6752378", "review_id": "b7a53baf38626f0d5ca20c2ef227a8c5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "All I am willing to comment on is the vast diversity between this book and the rest of the series. It took me a lifetime to read through all of the drama brewing between Clary and Jace and the over the top, unnecessary description of every single detail! \n Lord have mercy. \n I'm taking a break from Cassy for a little while.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 16 20:39:38 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 11 13:34:54 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Sep 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "af0c7318dd5579386ecc83a95e05b827", "book_id": "8501304", "review_id": "ae705a89aa7b5a575089ec70f9e412d6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really love this book.. ^_^", "date_added": "Fri Nov 16 19:36:06 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu May 16 22:04:31 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "af0c7318dd5579386ecc83a95e05b827", "book_id": "8501291", "review_id": "ebcf6fa25fbb01acf4efea6d1921cc88", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Really love this book..^_^ \n So much revelations... \n Can't wait for the next book..", "date_added": "Mon Aug 13 00:15:38 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 31 22:01:59 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "af0c7318dd5579386ecc83a95e05b827", "book_id": "7285498", "review_id": "7ac39a6472b2b8b92923c9966bbdc0f2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love this book.. Ellie and William... can't wait to read the 2nd book..^_^", "date_added": "Mon Aug 13 00:15:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 13 00:35:03 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Aug 13 00:35:03 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "af0c7318dd5579386ecc83a95e05b827", "book_id": "9918110", "review_id": "814dba4d250f1eb49f9e29b63ea362c7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Really enjoy reading it.. thanks to Gab.. I hope I have a pet like him..^_^", "date_added": "Thu Jul 19 20:48:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 05 02:02:22 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "af0c7318dd5579386ecc83a95e05b827", "book_id": "12751687", "review_id": "29b16336e72ccfb4f4ec105fd97f17e1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I start reading chapter one all I can say is I really \"Love\" it and I can't stop reading it.. \n I will miss hush,hush sequel specially Patch..^_^ \n 5 star to Becca!! \n Your one of my favorite author..^_^", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 21:58:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 19 23:25:34 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0df06b951880e58cecdf240b660456b5", "book_id": "92009", "review_id": "debeff995ca70a3d871716f9323422f8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is amazing! I have literally spent over a decade trying to find it, it is that good! I have a mysterious and interesting bond with this book I can't explain. I bought this book around 10 to 15 years ago at my local Dollar General for a couple bucks. I read it and fell in love with it. I was in my teens and liked to write stories and began to name some of my characters Naomi after the character. However, shortly after finishing it, it mysteriously disappeared. I looked behind furniture, under furniture, and tore apart my house, nothing. I tried to find another copy, but there were no more at the store. I tried other places, but found that I could not remember the authors name to save my life and when I described it no one had heard of it. I then moved and was hoping that packing everything I own would help me find it again, but I didn't. And so began a decade long obsession with this book. I typed it in search engines, including details I could remember. I did try goodreads at one point a long time ago and nothing. I had begun to think I was crazy and imagined this book. I would periodically think about it and wish I could find it so I could read it again. Tonight there was a big thunderstorm and I couldn't sleep. For some reason I thought of the book as I was scrolling through some kindle books. My goodreads app was there and I just typed it in. I was disappointed when it didn't immediately pop up. I was going to give up and then decided to scroll all the books. I was scrolling and suddenly I saw a cover I recognized. I've finally found it. I read the synopsis and confirmed this is it. Would I recommend it yes. This book has haunted me for years and I never forgot it. Not many books can do that. I'll admit it's not for everyone, but if you like a good suspense, you will.", "date_added": "Mon May 29 00:41:01 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon May 29 01:14:31 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0df06b951880e58cecdf240b660456b5", "book_id": "34347711", "review_id": "c029f1e4c7cfc8cce0f405ec41bafbad", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Short review: I liked it and would suggest it to scifi/fantasy/wizard fans who want a quick entertaining read to pass the time. \n Long Review: \n What if Harry Potter went to college? Well this book answers that question. There is a young wizard who is raised as an orphan, a secret wizards school, a dorky best friend, a brainy girl, a weird nutty girl, a whole society hidden from humans, a hidden wizard town with a great pub, magical classes, wizards who are prejudice against humans, humans that are prejudice against wizards, a special name for non-magical folks, and a mysterious group of wizards with the goal of fighting humans. Sound familiar? \n This is a good start from a beginning author and a good first book for fledgling series. Well, it does play out as a rehashing of previous tales, if you are not looking for a great work of literary briliance and just looking for a fun read then this book is for you. The plotline is a little predictable, but it is a interesting and fun take on the wizarding world. I did like that the author went into detail about how magic works in the books, how spells are created, and decided not to make wands the primary source of magic. I think if the author build on and highlighed the myth and lore, as well as gave more information about the wizarding world/human world (past and present) it would definately add a lot to the story. With the discription of how the magic works and spells are created I could see a game being created, if all this was built upon. I also liked the part about bonding with animals. There are also a few decent action scenes. I believe the mood was supposed to be dark (and at times it could be e.g. when a wizard/human is murdered), but this seemed like a more young adult/older children geared book, so it wasn't too unsettling or graphic. The pace of the book was pretty steady, it did drag at times, but overall was a quick read. The characters were not one dimentional, but were not fully developed. I would classify them as developing. I think that overall the one thing to remember is that this is the first book in a series, so the characters, world, and backstory are still developing and hopefully will grow more as the series goes on. I would read the other books in the series. I like this book and would recomend it to people who like scifi/fantasy/wizard books, and wants a quick entertaining read. I have not read any of the other books, so I don't know how this book is in relation to the others, so my opinion may change as the series goes on and more connections are made.", "date_added": "Tue May 16 12:53:42 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue May 16 12:54:18 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0df06b951880e58cecdf240b660456b5", "book_id": "15764736", "review_id": "306b3b2f18122ac26f1449f69332c53d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Awesome Book! Hannah has had a rough life, shuffled from foster home to foster home, and been plagued with terrible nightmares as long as she can remember. They are just nightmares, right? She is eventually sent to a school for \"people like her\", but what does that mean \"people like her\"? Forsaken is a well written book with relatable and likable characters a reader can identify with. The reader often feels like they can connect with Hannah as they follow her on her adventure of mystery and discovery. I would definitely suggest this to any Percy Jackson fans out there; it has the same modern mythological feel. This book is the beginning of a great series and if the first book is any indication of the rest of the Daughters of the sea series, it will definitely hold its own against heavy hitters like Percy Jackson, Twilight, and Harry Potter. A great read, would definitely recommend it, especially to anyone who loves myths.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 29 18:12:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 29 18:24:50 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "0df06b951880e58cecdf240b660456b5", "book_id": "15754767", "review_id": "1c6bbe9b8ec64ff5ac5ea9f92d026b27", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Timekeeper's Son is a delightful story with charismatic characters, a plot that will hook you, plenty of drama, and a dash of humor. What would happen if you were a 35 year old man who wakes up in your 9 year old body? That's exactly what Andy Meyers is about to find out. The problem is he's not the only person who knows about his time traveling adventure, which involves family secrets, danger, a race against time to save family and friends, and a struggle to make sure he gets back to the women he loves. With a touch of quantum leap, a dash of tru calling, and a hint of a sound of thunder, The Timekeeper's Son is a book that will keep the reader hooked until the end. I would suggest this to anyone seeking a light, quick, delightful, summer read. A great book for the beach or a long car trip.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 11 10:50:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 11 11:03:31 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Aug 11 11:03:31 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3bb6c3ea056ad430b3d3a942ed400bda", "book_id": "17694134", "review_id": "acbdf6ff3227921acd86a1168f0eb8f7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love James!! I was so glad his story was included and expanded upon in Barely Breathing. This is a great follow up and kept my interest through the whole story wanting to know what happens next. Love it!", "date_added": "Fri Jul 04 20:30:55 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 29 20:05:02 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3bb6c3ea056ad430b3d3a942ed400bda", "book_id": "18867502", "review_id": "a1e6d091109be23a5124daccb0e74fdd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fantastic finish to the series!! So happy to see Ever and James both get their HEAs. Loved the action and the cast of characters and the finish. A must read trilogy!!", "date_added": "Fri Jul 04 20:30:47 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 29 20:05:42 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3bb6c3ea056ad430b3d3a942ed400bda", "book_id": "17731788", "review_id": "042fc69d79105b5fda720b429f87b3d0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This story was so unique and magical. I love Ever and Jack's journeys both together and apart. Loved it!", "date_added": "Fri Jul 04 20:30:37 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 29 20:04:13 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3bb78052b3107c3cf71a03833ee207f1", "book_id": "33645809", "review_id": "0bf609d992be0eca92a0732406e9607f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ok I need this book right now or I am going to die of suspense. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN SCARLET AND JUILAN.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 20 17:53:58 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 20 18:01:38 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3bb78052b3107c3cf71a03833ee207f1", "book_id": "1656001", "review_id": "fdd4d220d0d50bb29e8229252b626d79", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I just love this book. I mostly love the coupling of Wanda and Ian. Am I the only person who love Ian more then Jared. Ok this is the first book that I read that was written by Stephanie Meyers that I actually loved.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 25 18:08:50 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 20 07:48:11 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Dec 20 07:48:11 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3bb78052b3107c3cf71a03833ee207f1", "book_id": "25734163", "review_id": "5421518fb673143e93409be8f7c7f1b8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "i just loved this book. even though it was not as fun to read as rebel belle. but i did enjoy all the David and Harper moments i also enjoyed hating on Alexander. i am so looking forward to reading the next book.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 29 20:14:15 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 08 15:12:27 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Feb 08 15:12:27 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3bb78052b3107c3cf71a03833ee207f1", "book_id": "8475505", "review_id": "e34d51bec908c5c15a0ce2f015a76fa3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I just loved this book. It was super funny to read and get lost in. I just loved not only the characters but the places they went. It was a great I am excited to read the next book.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 23 20:42:27 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 08 15:11:32 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Feb 08 15:11:32 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "528f8e3516cd2f4b8184a5b6801d66a5", "book_id": "9307699", "review_id": "7e563ffe2fb7f1c94f6a8c8ab670b893", "rating": 0, "review_text": "FOLKS, IT HAS A RELEASE DATE! THIS IS NOT A DRILL. IT HAS A RELEASE DATE!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 18 12:30:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 15 09:50:54 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e028174c62f21f80c42d1a8637414898", "book_id": "10836471", "review_id": "79f768c06b98125cdd73411faa0d2f09", "rating": 5, "review_text": "OMFG!!!!!! I LOVED this crazy backwards book!! YES YES YES", "date_added": "Mon Jun 02 10:30:43 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 06 04:37:31 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e028174c62f21f80c42d1a8637414898", "book_id": "8715032", "review_id": "93165c14f93bc3ed3821b098d3581862", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this twisted book...", "date_added": "Sun Sep 29 20:26:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 30 05:11:41 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Sep 30 05:11:32 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e028174c62f21f80c42d1a8637414898", "book_id": "13505141", "review_id": "2b17dae22af478b375648a2994293e28", "rating": 5, "review_text": "LOVED it!!! It is kind of hard to put my feelings about this book into words. The only thing I did not really like about this book was the animosity aimed towards Maryah by the rest of her kindrily. That kind of pissed me off, but, on the other hand I can completely understand their frustrations. Overall, I really did enjoy this book, and I am searching for the next one in the series!! I know better than to start a series unless I have ALL the books in front of me, dammit! \n I received Grasping at Eternity as an ARC through Netgalley, via Starry Sky Publishing.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 18 16:12:20 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed May 18 13:36:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e028174c62f21f80c42d1a8637414898", "book_id": "15749326", "review_id": "14889c361eaf982e437167881e93b833", "rating": 5, "review_text": "OMG!!! I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! I thoroughly enjoy a book that makes me literally laugh out loud. I love characters that are smart asses with witty comebacks, no matter the situation they find themselves in(reminds me of myself). I love it when the book climaxes and I am not disappointed. I was not disappointed!! I read it in one sitting, and I am soooooooo looking forward to the next book!! \n I received this book as an ARC through Netgalley by Te Da Media Publishing.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 08 07:29:23 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 14 16:51:16 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e028174c62f21f80c42d1a8637414898", "book_id": "6297248", "review_id": "84a29878c9d004baef72802f50d6d634", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Eh...I was kind of okay with this book, UNTIL, all the bad kids are goth and I got soooooo very tired of reading how appealing and sexy and wonderful and alluring and blah, blah, blah Will was. I did however, like Natalie. So out of the whole book, I liked the love interest. That is all. \n I received The New Kid as an ARC through NetGalley, from Teen Libris.", "date_added": "Sat May 25 08:36:39 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 10 07:31:15 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e028174c62f21f80c42d1a8637414898", "book_id": "12024430", "review_id": "e45a86e877865664af15de4fd17c3f54", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm soooooo confused. But I couldn't stop reading it, ugh!", "date_added": "Fri Mar 22 01:09:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 22 15:02:57 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Mar 22 15:02:57 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "28260587", "review_id": "fb8cd595a82a5887571a637299f0fcdd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What. The. Hell. Just. Happened? QUEEN OF SHADOWS had such a satisfying ending and then SJM throws THIS curve ball out of no where. Gah. I can't review much without spoilers but once again, Maas has given me all of the feels, good bad and otherwise. That ending was insane. And the journey leading up to it was long but damn, it was good. I enjoyed the romance and adventure as well. Once again, my only critique is that it's too long. There is so much to get to this point. And it's not even over yet! But I guess that's what epic high fantasies are all about. I can't believe I have to wait a year for the next one...yes, Chaol's story is out but let's be honest, how can we possibly care about Chaol after that cliffhanger?! I can't wait to see where all of this takes us. \n Conclusion: Own", "date_added": "Mon Aug 28 00:16:03 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 11 21:25:00 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Sep 11 21:20:32 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Aug 28 00:16:03 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "35507387", "review_id": "584998def464572f0efe2cd24e7a9629", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The concept of this book was the only thing I enjoyed. I enjoyed the exploration of Muses, Greek Mythology and what it means to make art. I agree with the message of the book that it is important and vital to humanity and to our individual souls. However you make and discover your art is a beautiful thing. \n That being said, I did not like the remainder of the book. I thought the story was weak and VERY Twilight. Like almost spot on. Supernatural guy falls for a supernatural girl, leaves girl for her own safety, something is \"special\" about her...so on and so forth. Additionally, this relationship was very unhealthy. Vincent expressed his rules that Sylvia had to do \"everything he said\", they spent every hour together and he's \"not real\" to other humans which means she is distancing herself from the real world. And finally, Sylvia became VERY dependent on him. I understand the attempt the ending was trying to make with her performing the show on her own but she was still so dependent on him that her grades slipped and she wasn't acting like herself. Last thing, was Sylvia excused Vincent's desperate attempt to kill his previous lover so they could be together forever. This was disturbing and hard for me to ship because it was such an unhealthy relationship. \n Unfortunately, there was nothing special about this book. The multiple POVs was hard to follow and none of the characters had a unique enough voice for me to distinguish between them. It felt too cinematic and not in a good way. Also, there were some timeline and continuity errors that make keeping track of what was going on difficult. \n Overall, this was not my cup of tea. I was hopeful because of the concept but I couldn't connect with the characters and was often disturbed by their unhealthy choices. The story wasn't strong enough for me and despite the attempt at a cliffhanger, I won't be continuing with the series. \n Conclusion: Unhaul", "date_added": "Fri Aug 18 22:07:45 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 22 22:01:15 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Aug 22 21:53:54 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Aug 18 22:07:45 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "153800", "review_id": "7d9c8bcead3823dceb75b8af047bc494", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What a great conclusion to this quartet! I am a fan of Kel and her group. Tobe was a great addition and I am so happy we finally got to hear about her title: Protector of the Small! I docked this a star because the ending was predictable and a little anticlimactic. It almost felt too easy...I don't know I was expecting more. However, her growth into a Lady Knight and her development with the refugees was perfect. I am happy the book took that direction and stayed true to Kel's nature in the best way. It's such a great, inspiring quartet and I wish there were more heroines like Kel in modern YA. \n Conclusion: Keep", "date_added": "Thu Aug 03 12:24:12 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 08 07:05:40 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Aug 08 09:42:20 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Aug 03 12:24:13 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "153795", "review_id": "131e72e7e67d2e46dbcd190a871eafc1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Kel is an amazing heroine and really came into her own in this book. I have a theory about Tamora Pierce's quartets that the third book is my favorite because it's when the women transition from middle school age to young women. They prove to everyone how awesome they are, how strong and powerful. The romance also develops which is very nice. I was weary of Kel in the first couple of books but I fell in love with her over the course of this book. \n I am so excited for the fourth one. Especially with the teaser we got in her Ordeal of the Chamber in this book. It's going to be amazing, and I predict that Alanna is going to be more present now that she isn't banned from helping Kel any more. Kel and Alanna together is going to be badass. \n Conclusion: Keep", "date_added": "Sat Jul 29 09:51:24 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 03 12:03:28 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Aug 03 12:45:48 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jul 29 09:51:24 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "32075664", "review_id": "69ca9a94b6f3b68613a48ce6a6be032b", "rating": 0, "review_text": "DNF 88 pages in \n I couldn't do it. This book took too long to get started and then it felt so forced and unbelievable. The conflict was silly and unconvincing. And then their solutions were even more upsetting. I don't want to read about stupid, love-struck, martyr teenagers regardless of the time period. Sorry not sorry.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 26 21:32:22 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 26 21:34:27 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "26074135", "review_id": "6572e1db0869d9e973f0dc057ddc798a", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Ugh...what a waste of my time. I should have known from the minute that a young girl gets three wishes and she wishes for 1) her mother to come back 2) to be kissed and 3) to be someone's favorite that I was in for a disappointment. It was just trying too hard to be interesting, magical, realistic, dramatic...I don't even know. Natasha was whining and unwilling to do anything; she just wanted everything handed to her and I couldn't stand it. \n Additionally, the plot made no sense. Where did the wishing tree come from? What's the deal with her mother? And the bird lady? And her sisters are brats too, might I add. Nothing is resolved, either. You end with more questions than when you began and smaller interest to continue into the next book -- which I will not be doing. \n I kept hoping it would get magical, heart-warming or a little redeeming but apparently that was too much to ask from this book. Not my cup of tea -- I wouldn't even recommend it to my students or young readers. \n Conclusion: No", "date_added": "Thu Jul 20 10:15:30 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 24 14:28:11 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jul 24 14:28:11 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jul 20 10:15:30 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "153785", "review_id": "ce79fce99082a21b02cb7259b0dd6f8f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I am so happy to be back in the world of Tortall! Kell is growing into an awesome to-be-knight and I can't wait to see what more is in store for her. I still like Alanna better and miss her presence in these books but it's still awesome. And I ship Neil and Kell so hard! I'm excited to see what the next book brings. \n Conclusion: Own", "date_added": "Thu Jul 06 13:59:51 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 12 18:05:48 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jul 12 15:18:33 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jul 06 13:59:52 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "20958632", "review_id": "002f3ecd272ddf176730fd4c8f27fb45", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Holly Black is queen! I loved this well-rounded story about siblings, friendship and being a knight and a bard and what it means to be a hero. I love how Holly is able to incorporate the extraordinary in the ordinary in her books; she can talk about youtube videos and fae all in the same sentence and it's great. She blends them so well. Some parts were confusing but I loved the majority of it. Such a great stand alone and Hazel is such an interesting character to me. Ben too. I liked their dynamic the best and how much they were willing to sacrifice for one another. Highly recommend it. \n Conclusion: To Buy", "date_added": "Thu Jun 22 11:23:42 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 26 17:08:45 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jun 26 17:06:14 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jun 22 11:23:43 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "31450752", "review_id": "c95c7126005d6ccfd4bca642bba01c45", "rating": 1, "review_text": "What a waste of my life. Don't bother with this book. There is maybe one, two good stories out of here but even those are hardly worth it. It's a shame because I like these authors and I like these booktubers and while this may be have been a good idea, the execution was poor. \n Just, don't pick it up. There are better things to read. \n Conclusion: Not if you paid me.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 14 19:57:35 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 15 12:10:39 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Aug 15 16:50:28 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Aug 11 21:51:52 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "25526296", "review_id": "b37cf21b132feb54e54842337e30a718", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What a unique book. I adored this concept and am super jealous I didn't think of it first. My only critiques were that I wish it was a little longer (only because I am a sucker for good world building and there were so many more that I wanted to explore) and the ending. It was unsurprising and a little disappointing. But I still really enjoyed the concept, the character development and the story overall. It's a good, short but deep and packed read. \n Conclusion: To Buy", "date_added": "Mon Jun 12 10:17:38 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 15 21:06:02 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jun 15 21:04:09 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jun 14 22:46:47 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "32768522", "review_id": "6dea374bbbe21f4c647b28b58732a358", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Okay, this book definitely got better as it went along. But man...it was so slow to start. I almost DNF'ed it. Twice. It was brutal to get through. That's why it doesn't have a higher rating. Because in my opinion, this book could have shaved off the first 150-200 pages and been 10x better. \n That being said, once it picked up, I was hooked. I wanted to finish it faster than my audiobook would allow. It was fast paced and the mystery was picking up. I was much more into the character development and the relationships, romantic and platonic. I found the plot predictable but still kept wanting to find out if I was right. \n It was cheesy and good at the end and I liked that The Chosen One story was different. I also appreciate the magickal therapist and the mentions to trauma. The implications of a life AFTER the adventure were great as well. So yeah, good but too long. \n Conclusion: Maybe, if only to go with my copy of Fangirl", "date_added": "Tue May 30 13:32:46 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:18:18 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jun 09 18:54:54 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue May 30 13:32:47 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "29960675", "review_id": "b047362dfb4f10750f2f1a0782050e7d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was a roller coaster: lots of highs and lots of lows for me. I enjoyed the assassin competition, Sal as a character, Maud was the best thing in this book, and the beginnings of this world and the history of it were interesting. But some of the world building had holes in it for me, which is the nature of a first fantasy book in a series. Also, the format was confusing and jumped around a bit. Finally, I struggled with Sal's journey as an assassin, going from having killed no one to having committed seven murders by the end of the book. It seemed too easy for them; there was a lot of rage but not empathy and their pain came from the past so it was hard to always comprehend. It was almost like rooting for a sociopath and I'm not gonna lie, that was hard to connect to. I am still unsure if I will continue the series; I am intrigued to see more of the world and how this revenge plot will continue but we'll see when we get there. \n Conclusion: Keep the ARC for now, possibly pass it on to a YA Fantasy lover", "date_added": "Mon May 29 09:35:04 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 09 21:20:55 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jun 09 21:16:31 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jun 07 19:06:13 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "153784", "review_id": "8157fcaf24c93ce4731f39bbf54eb312", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This feel VERY similar to Alanna; it's different and still good but I felt like I was getting flashbacks. I like Kell and how she addresses her problems because she is so disciplined, which Alanna was definitely not. But I am enjoying this new take on the knighthood process and meeting all of their children. It's a good continuation and I'm excited to see where the adventure goes. \n Conclusion: To Buy", "date_added": "Thu May 25 06:30:31 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:20:13 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue May 30 15:33:04 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu May 25 06:30:32 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "13834", "review_id": "46b02c61b666013d3f8fd350ccc3675a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'll admit I struggled with this one. I wasn't as interested in the immortal realm and really was more interested in the war and the impending battle. Though I enjoyed the Darklings, the buildup in Numair and Daine's relationship. I am anxious to see how the pair show up in the next quartet if they do at all. Definitely the third one is my favorite in the series but this was still a good conclusion to the series. \n Conclusion: To Buy", "date_added": "Thu May 18 16:43:58 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:20:28 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed May 24 17:07:59 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu May 18 16:43:58 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "13833", "review_id": "4f837cba89da37563b7200bb65037812", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Yes! This is the type of storytelling I know and love. Not all of that hiding in the woods, animal friends, protect the environment crap. I was so happy this one was better and advanced Daine's powers while still advancing the story. I cannot wait for the impending war that is going to happen in book 4. \n Conclusion: To Buy", "date_added": "Thu May 11 11:53:10 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:20:34 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu May 18 16:42:18 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu May 11 11:53:10 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "24094", "review_id": "8c76482b7b21a8d802ed63043ce45101", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5/4 - Okay, I believe this is the weakest of the series so far -- but I was warned of that so I'm okay with it. I liked how Daine's powers evolved and how she was on her own and had to construct her own team and her own family instead of being adopted into on like in the first book. But the plot was a little dull and drawn out and the climax was nonexistent. I am still going to continue reading, if for nothing else but that I love this world and want to see how this impending war is going to turn out. \n Conclusion: To Buy (but only to complete the set)", "date_added": "Wed May 03 06:56:32 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:20:40 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu May 11 11:40:41 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "23766634", "review_id": "8d421a78dd851991eb24d356df9f81aa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I am numb...an emotional wreck. Part of me is glad I am off this emotional roller coaster and the other part wants to jump right back on. First off, let me explain why this isn't 5/5 -- I thought it was tied up too nicely; the bow was too pretty. There were certain aspects of the war that I wish wouldn't have been resolved: \n -Amren didn't need to come back (I mean I am fne with that fact that she did but I would have prefered that she didn't) \n -Someone of the core group needed to die (it's WAR people! Not all of them should have lived but again, I am okay that they did) \n -The whole Drakon Mirdyth situation is probably going to be expanded on but it was annoyingly swept under the rug \n -What was with the Queen/Firebird? Again, not resolved = annoying \n BUT!! All that being said here's what I loved: \n -Feyre discovering and confronting her sense of self \n -Rhys's resurrection (FREAKIN' HEARTBREAKING!!) \n -Nesta and Elain killing Hybern was the best thing ever! \n -The fact that the whole story felt like a love story about Feyre/Rhys but also between the whole family which I loved \n -Tamlin not being hated but not quite forgiven, you know, he's an ex. You can't hate them or you will only hurt yourself. I loved how she gave him light and let him go. \n -Nesta and Cassian all day every day! \n So yeah. I liked it. And I want more. And I might just go back and reread the whole thing. Cause I can. And I can't quite get my head out of the world yet.", "date_added": "Tue May 02 21:22:54 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:19:43 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon May 08 16:42:04 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue May 02 21:22:54 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "13836", "review_id": "82d354207f654568a5259d85c504da69", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It's so nice to be back in the world of Tortall. I'll be honest, I was not Daine's biggest fan but she grew on me. This adventure was less interesting but I feel it was building up toward something more. It was fantastic to see Alanna, George, Jon, and their children. I am looking forward to how this story develops and delving into it further.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 27 22:16:55 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:20:53 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue May 02 21:22:35 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Apr 27 22:16:56 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "24431", "review_id": "c0b3e977cbb2b1b5bd58060ab96e051e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Always a fan of expanding the world of Tortall. We were introduced to Alanna's only daughter Ali who is similar to her father and his spy-like ways. When she is captured and sold as a slave, she gets an offer from a god she can't refuse. \n I liked Ali. She was the best part of this book for me. I am also shipping her hard core with Numir. I feel like Ali was the main reason I finished because while I liked Ali, I missed the rest of the characters. We got brief glimpses of them but not enough to satisfy me. Instead we were thrust into the whole other world, with new politics and rulers and magic which wasn't as interesting to me. It was good, just not what I was expecting. I will finish this duology but I can take a bit of a break. \n Conclusion: To Buy", "date_added": "Wed Apr 19 06:03:36 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 18 12:54:50 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Aug 18 12:55:59 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Aug 08 07:19:45 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "13830", "review_id": "0919e9ab2b4b8bba2de657bb01a7c6dd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Alanna never disappoints me. Even as she grows up, becomes more of a woman while maintaining her sense of self and her knighthood, she continues to amazing and I love it. I will say, this story was a little more uneventful than the other two without the ever-looming power of Duke Roger, but it was a necessary bridge to explore the world, increase Alanna's abilities and heat up the romances. Cause man, this love triangle has got me in a tisy. I am excited and ready for the conclusion of this amazing journey.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 19 06:03:23 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 23 12:42:32 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Apr 23 12:42:32 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Apr 22 17:40:59 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "13837", "review_id": "364e87dfde39ce77331c9f0dbb2f0c0d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was a fantastic, satisfying end to the series. There were times when this was a little slow and I really enjoyed the second half of the novel when we got back to Tortall, but I was with Alanna every step of the way. The warrior woman she has become is incredible and inspiring. I am encouraged to read the rest of the books set in this world. I am so glad I reread this as an adult -- it was just as aspiring as it was when I was a young girl. \n Conclusion: Keep", "date_added": "Wed Apr 19 06:03:14 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 27 11:34:16 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Apr 26 17:19:41 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Apr 23 12:30:25 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "13835", "review_id": "87eb22851e956df92e494755bd8ee231", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Alanna does it again. Man, was she ever the incredible basass in this book than ever. I love how she is exploring her femininity while still staying strong and keeping true to her goal of becoming a knight. The magic aspect is fascinating in this book and how Alanna balances her studies with magic and fighting is awesome. The ending was slightly abrupt for me but I am happy with how everyone reacted once she revealed herself and how it showed the power and importance of friendship.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 19 06:03:07 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 23 12:44:44 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Apr 22 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "18006496", "review_id": "b1b145c6556f0858cdb871f34acc4011", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the best one of the series so far. It tied up so many loose ends from book three and finally brought some of the characters together. The encounter between Aelin and Manon was my favorite part, where these two badass women finally come together and meet. Especially after we have been following their story for so long. \n The character development was great and the anticipation leading up to the final battle and even the trials before that were awesome. That said, I still think this book was too long. There were many moments I felt could have been cut. I understand it is Maas's style to give detail and have slow development but there were some moments where I was struggling with the plot, begging it to move along. Also the slow burn between Rowan and Aelin was torture, but a good torture. \n Overall, this was my favorite book in the Throne of Glass series. I am excited to see how the characters and the plot continue to develop and expand. I'm anxious to see how all these threads tie up together. \n Conclusion: Keep", "date_added": "Sun Apr 09 07:19:19 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 28 13:05:18 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Aug 28 16:40:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Aug 18 12:50:42 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "17927395", "review_id": "bd80fc9eb7600712a141312061919755", "rating": 4, "review_text": "There were so many feels in this book. It was intense, heart-breaking, intriguing, relatable, and inspiring. While I knew some of what was going to happen, how it happened was a whole other story. Maas's world-building abilities are extensive and wonderful -- I loved how much more I learned in this book. I also found Feyre more relatable in this book, how she struggled, survived, and overcame. But how she also acknowledged her ability to love while still healing. I believe that was one of the most poignant parts of the book. \n My only critique of this book was its length. I understand the need to draw out the storyline, to expand on the world. However, I believe some of the side adventures they went on were unnecessary. I also struggled with how they were suddenly presented (though I appreciated that this was consistant throughout the book): \"Oh we have this thing that is connected to the main thing but only if we go on this dangerous journey to get another thing first.\" It had a lot of moving parts -- which again, I appreciate the details and how she pulled them together -- but it was still a lot and a struggle to get through at parts. I felt like I was tumbling over side adventures to get back to the main plot and to the end. \n Which, while we are on the subject of that ending, holy crap that ending! Such twists and turns and tears. I cried for about 20 pages straight. It was gut wrenching and surprising but also rewarding in the end. Needless to say, I have already preordered book three.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 04 21:27:25 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:21:32 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Apr 08 22:06:14 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Apr 04 21:27:26 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "16096824", "review_id": "16d09d05313c53bedbb8e79d6a19bcee", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. I didn't want to put it down. I liked the allusions to Beauty and the Beast and it was a faerie story I didn't mind -- as those are not normally my favorite. I grew to like Feyre as a character and of course, as per my usual, found the side characters such as Lucian and Rhys much more interested than the main ones of Tamlin and Feyre. Also the anatagonist, Amarantha, was BA and amazing and cruel and I enjoyed her a lot. I just wish she had been in it more. \n My two biggest critiques of this one were I didn't like how slow it took to get to the action. I felt like there wasn't a lot of conflict or tension in the first two thirds and a lot of it was repetitive. \"Feyre, don't do this\" x3 and then Feyre would do the thing she wasn't supposed to do. The other trouble I had was with the tasks and riddle at the end. While they were intense and engaging, I felt they were clishe and predictable. \n Overall, I enjoyed this book and will read the second one (mostly because my friends tell be it gets better and crazier and I don't even know how that can happen) but the one thing I will note is how I kept thinking about this story, how addicting it was and how I read it in like three days. That says something in of itself. \n Conclusion: Need to own", "date_added": "Sat Apr 01 07:51:25 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:21:44 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Apr 04 21:27:03 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Apr 01 07:51:26 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "11808950", "review_id": "b8e0cf6eb21b4005cecca0abbd00a790", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was the perfect, cheese, teen, paranormal romance I needed right now. The biggest thing that bothered me about this book was that it didn't seem to have a true plot. Yes, a lot of it was about Anna finding out who/what she was and her on/off romance with Kaiden but still...I felt like the antagonist didn't exist and the only real conflict was people telling them they shouldn't be together. \n The world is interesting but confusing. I still want to know more about it so I am totally going to read the rest of the series but I'm still reeling from what happened at the end and how this progresses since not much happened in this book. I did like it though, for what it is. A YA paranormal romance. It's good for what it is. \n Conclusion: Keep", "date_added": "Mon Mar 27 08:39:34 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 30 13:01:41 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Mar 30 13:34:47 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Mar 27 08:39:34 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "30166599", "review_id": "7ae2e136f8d527571619b1ade21f1551", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 - Why don't I have the last book in this series? I want to see how this all ends. This was the middle book in the series, it was clearly a transition novel. But I knew that going in so it was a little easier to swallow. It took rather a while to get started, however; the scenes with her going through the forest alone were boring and I didn't really start to get into it until Gorrann arrived. But once he did, I enjoyed it much more. Very much reminding me of a YA, Queen of the Tearling especially now with her relationship with her father, the new mentorship and the discovering more about her past. I want to see how this war is going to end.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 19 22:27:11 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 07 10:29:52 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Feb 25 18:05:14 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sun Feb 19 22:27:12 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "26074194", "review_id": "f9fd7dfde4ec048ab898f8d97c1f4fb6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Wonderland is not my favorite fantasy world so I was hesitant at first. But what I liked the most was Dinah as a character. I enjoyed her tenacity, relentless nature, and her femininity. She is dynamic and I want to read more about her. And then, the conspiracy plot thickened and then I was hooked. So I can excited to read the next one -- thank goodness I have it.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 15 16:51:32 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 07 10:29:55 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Feb 19 22:25:27 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Feb 15 16:51:32 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "12813630", "review_id": "4980406080d28bbdaddbe5bd29c63514", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book left me disappointed. I LOVE Holly Black. I think is is queen of YA fantasy and her writing is exquisite. That remained the same within this book. The world building was fantastic and her word choice, sentence structure and descriptions were up to par with all of her other books. She remains queen and gets to keep her title, as far as I'm concerned, despite the fat that I didn't like this book. \n My biggest struggle was with the characters. I connected with none of them. Tana especially. I couldn't understand her decision making to save my life. In general, I have a hard time with stupid characters, one's that defy common sense and make weird choices for no good reason. Tana did that, several times throughout the book. Additionally, I just felt like everyone was a jerk. And not even a likable jerk. It was a story of villains but because Tana was the \"redeemable one\" the only one to save a vampire's life, she was supposed to be \"the hero\". But even her, I couldn't get back some of her nonsensical decisions. Some might argue that Tana was in a desperate situation and wasn't thinking clearly, but Tana could have saved herself a lot of trouble if she had just waited the x amount of hours after to check if she was infected before going into cold town. Hole up in her car -- I don't know! She should have never stepped foot in there and then everything could have been avoided. It wasn't believable enough for me. \n All in all, I love Black's worlds and this one was no different. It was well constructed, integrated the supernatural and modern day so well, I'm envious of it. She builds wonderful urban fantasies but this one, ultimately, fell short for me due to the characters. Tana, Aiden, Midnight, Gaveriel none of them did it for me. So I didn't care. So the rest fell flat. \n Conclusion: Unhaul", "date_added": "Sun Feb 12 07:15:31 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 03 10:30:26 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Sep 03 13:57:15 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Aug 28 08:57:18 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 7}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "27904311", "review_id": "d832fa854a6ea7d83fbe4042691beb69", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I need the next book...like now. I adore Alex Fierro; she is one of my favorite characters Riordan has ever written and her addition to this group is perfect and fantastic. While this adventures was whirl-windy and kind of lame, I still enjoyed the characters and their journeys. I enjoyed Amir and Sam's development. Also that cliffhanger is juicy and enticing! I am a shameless fan of Riordan's books and this book did not disappoint.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 11 22:37:23 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Tue May 30 15:39:56 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Feb 28 21:41:50 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Feb 22 08:22:15 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "30731095", "review_id": "31be73c1eb10b57804418d61c3556067", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the novella I have been waiting for! I get to learn more about Madame LeFoux. It was a great treat into the Supernatural London world. I liked Imogen and her spice, she is the perfect counterpart to LeFoux. And Alexia was perfect in her meddling, along with getting a softer side of Channing. It was a delightful treat back into a world I missed.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 04 22:45:37 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:23:54 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Feb 07 22:55:38 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Feb 04 22:45:38 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "25164304", "review_id": "9dfc485df741fbcf83d1947b7cf8050a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was an interesting read -- I enjoyed the slow burn of the romance, I liked the world, I liked the fact that same sex love wasn't an issue in this world, I liked the characters and the story was surprising enough to keep me engaged. \n My two largest issues with this book were 1) the names which seemed unnecessarily long and complicated and fantasy-esque and 2) the multiple POV sounded too similar and I often had trouble telling them apart which was confusing. There wasn't enough distinction between their voices. \n Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I am sad it's not a series. It's a world I would like to continue learning about. Maybe Audrey will change her mind. Please? \n Conclusion: If it's on sale, I'll buy it", "date_added": "Thu Jan 19 05:45:43 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:16:01 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 11, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "20821111", "review_id": "042254d4b45e2acb1c13d4879e10521d", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I understand I am in the minority in my opinion of this book. However, here are some reasons as to why I didn't like it: \n 1. The main character, while yes is an anti-hero and this is her origin story, was an indecisive no body who asked herself too many questions and couldn't make up her mind about ANYTHING. Which was highly irritating. \n 2. The plot was boring and while I could appreciate that it tried to be ambiguous as to who were the bad guys and good guys, I just didn't care enough. The ambiguity led to apathy. \n 3. I am so sick of superpower YA books it's not even funny (but that's also probably the mood I am in). \n 4. The world made no sense. It was cool at first but just became another version of any other YA world. \n Yeah, not my favorite. It made me sad because I enjoy Marie Lu as a writer and loved the Legend Trilogy but this wasn't worth it for me to want to continue with the series.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 18 10:47:18 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 10 08:29:40 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "17564519", "review_id": "8bfc651c8c60bfc05262329fbca1dc3e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is one of my new favorite books. Holy crap. I didn't want to put it down. It was different and adventurous and fearless and just so good. I loved Leah and her perspective. Her voice was strong and unique and was just the type of character I love to read about. The historical time period is one I haven't read about much and it was awesome to dive into. I loved the little twinge of magic but only enough to make the book unique. The chosen family aspect -- I'm always a sucker for that. But just the plot and the adventure itself! Man, talk about intense and realistic. There was no fear and I felt like I was sucked into the best game of Oregon Trail ever. I am so excited that there is more to this story and more to these characters. Also, I love that there was just enough romance to keep it interesting but it didn't consume the whole book. Which in my opinion is more realistic. And the people of all walks of life that it brought together, the contrast of goodness and badness in people was well done, and only slightly clishe but not enough to be annoying. And finally, the best part, the writing was good. It was varied and detailed and sucked you right in. What a stellar book. \n Conclusion: Need to buy like now", "date_added": "Sat Dec 17 13:01:36 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 29 09:12:11 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Sep 29 11:23:54 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Sep 26 16:01:16 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "18725742", "review_id": "84808afd42ca4ad79cd8685fd6303c86", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Yay! What a way to end this series. I thoroughly enjoyed it as it went on and I think I liked this one the best. The stakes were higher, the danger was more real, it was more intense. Still fluffy and fun but I enjoyed the ending to the whole thing. Now I am sad there isn't more to read in this world. :( But overall, I enjoyed it.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 30 14:03:42 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:26:18 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Dec 05 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Nov 30 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "24934065", "review_id": "d4a22997820bae0de98cffa2bdc7534a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was amazing and I liked this world so much so I wanted to live in it. The first two thirds of this was incredible and engrossing and well-written. And then it went downhill when they introduced superpowers and made the magic the center of the story instead of the growth and journey of an outcasted girl. Again, it makes sense because of the nature of YA in general but I was personally disappointed when it took such a predictable and unnecessary turn. I will probably read the sequel but I'm not terribly excited for it.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 28 12:30:03 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 03 13:41:20 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "28600081", "review_id": "de951e37a3fcee1340e6247710ee2081", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book blew my mind. It crept me out to my core and I didn't want to stop reading but I did. It was tragic and unsympathetic and brave and horrific. A great thriller of mythology mixed with Hunger Games mixed with boarding school books. It was terrifically terrifying.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 28 12:29:50 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 16 14:14:50 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Dec 13 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "20980648", "review_id": "4671e3c6db075851f763a1faf14edf0d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is clearly my favorite of the series so far. I don't know if it's because they are older, or if because we figure out more of the mystery or if it's because it wasn't set in the school...I don't really care. I am actually looking forward to the next book now and can't wait to see how this series ends.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 25 09:00:43 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:26:21 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Nov 30 14:00:33 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "15723286", "review_id": "9c36c7525f3326cf0cbea6ff82209a4e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Yay! Some of the characters I like are back! That made this book more exciting. I want to see how the rest of this series goes. It's just a fun treat.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 19 15:49:50 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 07 10:31:51 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Nov 25 09:00:24 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "21979832", "review_id": "d7e1ee330ad281499c1e7a87abe27ad1", "rating": 1, "review_text": "What a boring book. I feel like I slept through most of it. Ugh, jus disappointing all the way around. I was expecting something much more intriguing and adventurous but this was just dull. Nix was annoying and rather pathetic for my taste. The Love Triangle was awful and the characters weren't relatable or lovable. It was a weird book about addiction rather than time travel. There wasn't actually a lot of time traveling -- I mean there was some but not enough to keep me interested. \n The motivations of the characters were weird. I found their plans and schemes unnecessarily complex. I know little to nothing about Hawaii in the 1800s so more explanation would have been nice. I got lost a lot trying to uncover this myth and that political history. They were bystanders to it all and it wasn't interesting or captivating. \n Also, the time traveling system was confusing. I had NO idea how or why it worked. I wanted more of an origin to all of this. You can just travel to any authentic map based on belief?? I'm sorry but that's a lot of hogwash, mumbo jumbo and I couldn't get on board for it. They also went to fantasy places...and they seemed to be the only people that could do this...and yet they didn't really need a ship...and you could travel from anywhere simply based on belief...I just didn't understand a lick of it. I had too many questions and it was distracting from the lack of plot. \n Don't waste your time. Seriously, it's not worth it. I won't be reading the rest of the series unless I have to for YA Booktube Awards but even then, you might have to pay me. \n Conclusion: Nope.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 11 13:42:56 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 11 20:29:17 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Oct 11 20:22:15 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Oct 09 21:50:37 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "12799435", "review_id": "214b454a5641f0c5671c974eba23b6f2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed this duology about Prudence and her crew. I still like the Parasol Protectorate better however, it was interesting to learn more about the characters in their old age and continue the journey into the world Carriger has created. And I love Quesnel!! Also, Prudence is much for forward than her parents ever were which is fun and I enjoyed the ship elements too. It added a bit more adventure to the whole affair.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 09 07:52:31 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:26:30 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Nov 15 09:53:29 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "12799420", "review_id": "8fd5866117de34707932942cb14f9b9f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved getting to know these characters as young adults and adults. Also seeing some of my old favorites as parents. It was wonderful and delightful, during all of the moments when the characters were interacting. As for the plot, once again, it wasn't the best and at times it was even political which was only mildly interesting. I am going to read the next one, especially for the romance that is brewing but again, it's cheeky and fun. Nothing really more than that though.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 04 20:38:37 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:26:40 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Nov 08 12:41:08 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Nov 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "29939230", "review_id": "e132e7e822b004998827acd207e030f4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "After I finished this book, I laid in bed and hugged it. I couldn't believe such an incredible series was over. It was a wonderful conclusion full of revenge, war, heart break, death, courage, humor, heart, and adventure. I adored every minute of it. I loved learning more about the characters and the world. I felt the characters and the story was well developed and there was significant growth. I want to reread the whole series now so I can take the whole journey over again. Needless to say, this is one of my favorites and will continue to be so. It would take something spectacular to top this for me. \n Conclusion: Keep", "date_added": "Thu Oct 13 09:35:58 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed May 31 15:48:19 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Mar 09 22:47:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Feb 25 18:09:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "11324166", "review_id": "8d38585e215d35431a1016c1ae677532", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I can't believe this series is over! I loved it so much. It's such a great, easy light read and I fell IN LOVE with these characters. IN LOVE, head over heels. I only gave it a 4/5 because it's cheeky and I hate the plots but I would still read them for the characters any day of the week.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 08 19:29:41 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:27:26 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Oct 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "22698569", "review_id": "7e64ef1e18c0f52366f6962d10104ece", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I am glad I stuck with this series. I know three stars sounds low, but I was conflicted the whole time. There were man parts of this book I liked and appreciated, but others I couldn't understand and accept. That being said, I still recommend this series. It is different and makes you think. And yes, it's confusing but if you can get back that has a lot of valid, interesting points. It was preachy at times but I still found the characters worth reading about.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 19 06:22:00 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 07 10:30:50 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Tue Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "8621462", "review_id": "6d90f2b727504fe3d5aca15bd13bbf64", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Well let's just rip my heart out of my chest and do a freakin hat dance all over it, shall we? By god that was good but heart wrenching. One of the best books about what it means to be human I have ever read.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 12 08:50:47 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 10:02:44 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jan 21 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "7719355", "review_id": "c8192156dd8a01db050113a23e635c17", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not as much fun as the first two but certainly enough to keep me reading. I love these characters so much.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 29 21:58:18 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:27:49 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 22 10:14:31 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "25558608", "review_id": "7848c687ca85ad3b7cdc4a532dba19f2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I don't think I can praise this book and this author enough. I adore this series, it has beautiful writing, well-developed characters that grow and change over the course of the adventure, it is heart-wrenching and brutal yet soft and gentle in the necessary moments. It lets you breathe while never letting you put it down. I can't wait for the next one.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 23 07:15:21 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:27:23 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Oct 16 12:16:02 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "10874177", "review_id": "a787c1f2e4ccbb748838710ac06de508", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is a fun addition to the world Carriger has created. If you are new to the world and are a teenager, I would say this is a good fit. Otherwise, start with Soulless and dive into the world that way. I would say the one thing I don't like after reading all of the other books set in this world, is how young the characters are. It seems out of place. But, nevertheless, once I got over that it was rather enjoyable.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 11 07:18:59 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 07 10:31:56 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "26156203", "review_id": "a3b5de8e762bbbc47c4168afb12e3a6a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was intriguing and I loved the Russian Magic History aspect of the whole thing. It left us on one heck of a cliff hanger which is frustrating but awesome at the same time. The character development was good and I enjoyed the magic in the world a lot. The plot wasn't that unique and yet I thought the tension and climax were well constructed. There are a lot of questions I still have so I want the second book, like now.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 11 07:16:18 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 04 15:11:55 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Dec 20 14:27:29 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "7728889", "review_id": "58febe4d9712f45043f399351e9e65b2", "rating": 1, "review_text": "That book was not worth the time that I gave it.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 22 08:17:52 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 19 22:11:01 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "13638125", "review_id": "a362350d40bedc4f5732d190a95228ff", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 This books was creepy, dark, excellent and crawled inside me. I feel like it's going to be one of those ones that stays there for a while. I am struggling to think of what to read next because I'm still so wrapped up in it. \n Schawb's writing is excellent, a breath of fresh air when it comes to today's literature--particularly YA although this is not a YA novel by any means. She created a whole, brilliantly grey and morally ambiguous. It was unpredictable and intriguing and I liked it. \n The ONLY reason this book is less than perfect is because I struggle with creepy stuff, it's not my favorite. Sometimes it was too dark but I pushed through and am very glad I did because holy cow, what a ride, what an adventure. And what characters! Very unique and complicated. \n Great book once again by VE Schwab", "date_added": "Wed Jun 08 08:07:21 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 07 10:57:53 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jun 12 16:49:52 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "13206900", "review_id": "31c1605457551b61bdca399a56b4e047", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 -- Holy crap! It's done! I finished it! My brain feels like it has runs a marathon! Happy happy with the ending. But it was almost not worth it to get there. But yay!", "date_added": "Fri May 06 14:41:13 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:29:05 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "18660669", "review_id": "9a586119b2bb1d2fda960b646c6bb1e4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Okay, I'm intrigued. I'm willing to see where this goes. It's definitely a mac & cheese read for me but I like it enough to continue. We'll see when I get a copy of the second one. I hear it gets better so that helps. Yeah...pleasantly surprised, not terrible.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 10 22:30:46 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:30:05 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Apr 17 13:56:51 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "20764879", "review_id": "bff7bfb10948ee02818ab06f6b156f90", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Guys this is an incredible series. I can't express how much I love it. I love the world Schwab created and the characters. I could follow these characters anywhere. I love Lila's fearlessness and Kell's loyalty but need for freedom. I want the next book desperately. I am so excited!!", "date_added": "Tue Feb 16 06:21:47 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed May 31 15:52:49 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Apr 10 07:46:52 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Mar 05 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "28449231", "review_id": "77c7cdec0906c624a3862b95186e5953", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 reasons to come.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 04 11:56:54 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:28:19 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Aug 22 14:01:03 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "100915", "review_id": "734303628045586bb2932898fef9a66e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I can't help but love this story. Reading it again as an adult has been interesting. The magic lives on but I find it hard when I know so well what is going to happen next. I am excited for when I get to books in the series I haven't read and get to experience them for the first time. But the magic is still ever present in these books. I found myself enjoying the narrator this time around, how he spoke directly to me and it made me wonder what his story is and where he comes from. I'd like to find out if I can.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 09 16:01:57 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 07 10:59:36 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "65605", "review_id": "65a3b5753b875ec7f8d135702d3eacb7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was really more of a 3.75 ish somewhere around there for me. I did enjoy this book. I like Polly and Diggery as characters and I enjoyed learning about the beginning of Narnia. Sometimes I found the creation story when Aslan was singing to the animals a little boring and the parts where the animals were talking about what do to with Uncle Andrew were unnecessary. Though listening to it on audiobook did help because I enjoyed Kenneth Bragnaugh's various voices for all of the animals. Who would have thought to make the female elephant Scottish?! Nevertheless, the magic was still there along with the wonder so I did enjoy it.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 08 07:19:54 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 09:58:27 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Dec 09 15:57:19 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "13831", "review_id": "ee7d4b49e470d8bbad94c22ecacbc6b6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I am so happy I decided to reread this series. It was something I had read back in middle school -- I loved it then and I loved it now. I am grateful for authors like Tamora Pierce who created such inspiring female characters in fantastic world, proving their strength and worth. I remember how much I related to Alanna and it's no different now, expect I'm a little taller and my hair is a little less read. \n This is a fantastic story about a young girl, determined to beat the odd and follow her dreams, despite what the gods have dealt her. Also, I noticed the format of the book, how it is told almost like short stories or adventures in each chapter. It's able to cover the important aspects over an increasing period of time, which I really appreciated. Love this story and can't wait to enjoy it all over again. \n Conclusion: Keep", "date_added": "Mon Dec 07 20:14:55 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 21 16:27:04 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Apr 21 16:27:04 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Apr 19 06:04:48 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "15724396", "review_id": "c2611e73448bacf474d82b220330ee62", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I thoroughly enjoyed this addition to Rick Riordan's excellent collection of modern mythological stories. I liked the concept of chosen family as well as the connections back to Percy's world through Annabeth. I like the idea of changing fate and how life is in the moments and details. It kept Riordan's nerdy and board-line lame humor that you still manage to laugh out loud to. It follows Riordan's formula to a tee, for better and for worse. I also enjoyed the teaser in the epilogue, as well as the possibility of a Percy/Magnus cross over. Ultimately I give it 4.25 out of 5, maybe 4.5 because it was WAY better than the Kane Chronicles but not quite up there with Percy. Though it does make me excited for what is to come.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 26 21:11:55 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue May 30 15:44:35 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Nov 11 09:31:40 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Nov 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "20613470", "review_id": "e265179df5d9ea2b23c544b7ff6eeaba", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5--it was really long and I had to stop and start many times. It was ridiculously slow and I thought we could have gotten to the ending a lot faster. The ending redeeming the book for me. However, I struggled most with the seemingly pointless witch storyline and I didn't enjoy the separate storylines. There were at least four and it was rough to follow. What saved this book for me were the characters because I still love them and want to finish it. But I think it should have been shorter than it was.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 20 17:03:20 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:31:21 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Nov 22 11:59:02 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "17167166", "review_id": "c902435e21fccbf63ef4df86bd1fbc4b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Even though i could have written out this plot line I still enjoyed the intensity and the characters. Thank goodness I have the third book with me.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 02 20:09:04 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:31:33 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Sep 20 16:50:04 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "129984", "review_id": "17e7820d668e03e89af26057f8ad1fbc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5", "date_added": "Sat Aug 22 07:45:47 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 07 11:01:22 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Aug 28 13:24:22 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "22055262", "review_id": "f7bbc6b7e221c168b73038093695d4d7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "way up there for me just a little dark and violent but as a story, one of the best", "date_added": "Sat Jul 18 07:26:57 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 07 11:01:56 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "17404295", "review_id": "1bb8eb675fe2d5c14bd854b54fb026df", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 I still very much enjoyed this book but it was a struggle to get through some parts. I truly believe though that was because it was a sequel. \n The development of the characters was great. I loved learning more about Mather and the Children of The Thaw. I thought the multi perspective was well done and only added to the story for me. \n While the plot was lack luster I enjoyed the expansion of the world and the meeting of new characters. The summer princess is amazing and I want to be her. Though this was difficult when the ultimate antagonist appeared at the end...it felt deus ex machina but opposite. Like \"we haven't had an antagonist this whole time so let's throw one in 80 pages from the end\". Also I totally called the twist. Though I had forgotten about the librarian by the end so points for surprising me. \n I am excited to see where this goes. Because this war got very hopeless, very quick and I want to see how they are going to come back and win this thing. Though, not gonna lie, Meira going to the mountain town at the end makes me think this is rather \"I have these powers and now have to control them So let me hide away from everyone in a temple mountain place so I can go through the grueling struggle of managing my powers the. Come back and kick ass\" which isn't bad...but I just get the sense it is going in the direction.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 17 22:40:37 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 07 10:59:29 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 27 08:55:07 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "17399160", "review_id": "2f85fc88863721a6a59ad827d4340f87", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I am so happy my first book of this year was so wonderful. For me it's like a 4.5 just because I found some of the writing repetitive. Meira didn't need to explain herself so many times. Also there was a weird mix between casual voice and flowery describing voice that didn't mix well for me. But that's about it: onto the good stuff! \n I liked that I didn't know where this story was going. I had somethings pegged from the beginning but in terms of the world development and the turns the adventure took, I couldn't have predicted it at all. I like when a book surprises me. \n I enjoyed Meira as a lead. She was a fierce leading lady and I liked all of her variety in terms of personality. It was a good strong female lead, with a balance of her nature and nurture coming out at various moments in the story. \n Oddly enough, this love triangle didn't bother me. The only time it did was when the two men fought each other which I found to be lame but overall, since it was a small part of the story and don't consume all of it, I didn't mind it. Which is hard to do because o don't like love triangles. \n Overall, I enjoyed this story and this world immensely. I look forward to what it has in store and specifically for the growth of Meira as a character.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 17 22:40:35 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 06 17:54:52 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 06 09:29:48 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "10429045", "review_id": "2c71f963c68f37465736f2daeab679a4", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Eh...I don't know. I am not in love with the characters. I don't think I'm going to finish the series. I don't exactly care what happens to them. The best parts of this book were the brother James and the underground superhero society. I like that idea but I wish it would have been introduced earlier. I am also disappointed with the lack of women in this book. For the majority of the book, it was just Juliette and the men's obsession with her was disturbing and exagerated. Eventually we met Sara and Sonya however they were twins who spoke at the same time and left little to no exploration or depth. \n Additionally, the language was distracting. I understand the style. I can appreciate the poetry behind the language but I found it disruptive to the story. Also, I was sick of it by the time it the story approached Juliette and Adam's relationship. It was dramatic and hyperbolic. Some of the analogies and metaphors were beautifully written and viscerally visual. Yet, they did not move the plot forward or do anything to develop the characters. If anything, it made me dislike Juliette more if that was how her brain worked all the time. It's exhausting. Can't she just experience anything as it is? The stars don't need to explode every time he touches her. \n Overall, I didn't find this story to be original. It felt like Rouge's story from X-Men. I didn't understand the world or the motivations behind the characters. I hear people rant and rave about Warner but someone who starts out as so horrible has to do an unrealistic 180 to become so lovable is not someone I wish to follow. If I am going to pick up the rest of the series, it will be to see where the underground society goes. But if it heads into some sort of revolution and war against the current government with Juliette as the figure-head, I'm out.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 15 16:34:25 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:31:06 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Dec 31 12:20:15 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "25953488", "review_id": "8dcc87e1aac7a79d71b55f63d4b8aeb5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was an interesting story; an interesting villain origin story. There were parts I really enjoyed, such as the tragedy of it and how they depicted Peter Pan as the villain, what a little butthead he was. This has always been a pet peeve of mine, how Peter Pan is glorified and this book paid tribute to the original story where Peter Pan is basically a little sh*t child kidnapper. \n I struggled with the repetitive nature of the story. It was a lot of back and forth with the same issues: to kill or not to kill Pan, to kiss or not to kiss Tiger Lily, etc. It felt like there was very little to move forward to, especially in parts two and three. \n Although, I appreciate the ending. How she remained true to the story and it really is a standalone. \n Conclusion: Don't Need to Buy", "date_added": "Wed Jul 15 08:04:35 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri May 19 07:51:08 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun May 14 16:31:53 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri May 12 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "22698568", "review_id": "45db7c95ff6a21bb7f33168945718835", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was not as good as the first one. I didn't enjoy Lily's story and I find this world is getting more and more confusing. It's also a brutal story where there are trigger warning for cutting, domestic violence and rape. None of which I was aware of so it was quite a shock. But it's still a good story and I'm going to pick up the third...I just might need a bit of a break.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 11 20:08:03 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed May 31 15:51:22 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Sep 28 10:59:26 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Sep 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "12283261", "review_id": "0b6a52046673d98c31cbc598d0852c02", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It was ok. Nothing more than that. A light easy read. The ending, to me, was a cop out. I will probably read the sequel now that know what I am getting into. But yeah...just ok.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 10 07:46:59 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 12 13:32:46 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e8a8e8152ee8def16bc90b306be7caf2", "book_id": "7896527", "review_id": "fb9b7eba378bc499100363405e398210", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It got better. :)", "date_added": "Thu Apr 02 13:23:40 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 10 07:30:52 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Sep 01 16:24:34 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c0f43f95f923313d923588ea7eb8ed6", "book_id": "6408523", "review_id": "62869de1d9ee3581ecbcb67e0ec626b9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Very good, almost the same story from the anime.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 08 14:44:44 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 08 14:45:49 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jun 08 14:45:49 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "098538b422348d74ac67cbd95fd536e6", "book_id": "29069989", "review_id": "7f63feba5ce6e5c454fef4266e998e0f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This may be a revelation to my Santa Claus who gifted me with it: I am not a certified fan of HP series. I could have been when it was initially released in 1997 or adapted for a movie in 2001. I could have been one of those fanatics burgeoned around the world mimicking covens of wizards , waving our replicas of magic wands while enchanting the magic spells we memorize by heart, ostentatiously displaying our black garbs riding our brooms, or puzzled by how we should use the other magical objects. But I never am! Perhaps I was mesmerized by my best friend 's bewitching addiction to it. Whenever she grumbled about it and shrieked in disappointment or excitement without any ideas of her idiosyncrasy, a sparkle of curiosity would linger in my mind. Whenever she was a spoiler since I was not interested in it at all, I would not brush off the idea that it could be a good read. I made it!!! I read book 1, 2, and 3 even their movie series. As a matter of fact, I just borrowed them from her given that I was almost so kleptomaniac to claim them as mine. Thereafter, I quit keeping up with all the series; my urge to be part of the covens of wizards in Hogwarts caved in. I let myself be part of the \"Muggle\", denied of the right to be wriggled under the Sorting Hat. \n When was released last year, I was one of those bookworms who pretended to be interested in it. I was, but I threw doubt on it ;I was aware of the fact that I was a \"Muggle \" . In fact, I even broke the news pell-mell to my friends on Facebook with my screenshot from as if I were such a certified HP fanatic. Well, I was still excited I could hardly contain myself. \n Since I could not afford its price, I accidentally searched its free pdf on VK, one of the largest European online social networking services based in Russia. \n The first questions that had bothered me before reading it were: \n Can I understand the whole story although I have not read nor watched all the series yet? \n Is it a sequel or prequel for the first Harry Potter series? \n How does it differ from novelization since it is a screenplay? \n Surprisingly speaking, I could totally relate to the whole story because I happened to read the first series and watch Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I swear that from the beginning to the ending, I committed the scenes and acts to my memory. I can even recite it in a nutshell now if you ask me what the dickens this book is all about! But don't expect me to do so with a photographic memory. I was not born to be a precocious child. (laughs) I did so when I ate lunch with my friend who is also a big fan of HP. I could not believe my ears what I was telling him about. Voila! The most interesting is that even the magical objects namedropped are still fresh in my memory despite that I searched them on Google to beef up their imaginary pictures. Now, the question is : Would you still understand it if you have not read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire yet? \n The first comment that had instilled in me when it was such a fever in the market was it was the prequel for the first Harry Potter series. I had been conditioned with this idea before I finally gave it a hand. The revelation? It is a big NAH! I was fooled! I was made believed! I was disappointed! I was spoon-fed! What a shame! As the story went deeper, the feeling was like knocking the living daylights out of my gullibility. So, I dreaded reading the next stories to happen. I worried that I might not be able to understand it since I have not read all the series yet. But good grief! Thanks graciousness! The Harry Potter and The Goblin of Fire was my savior! Now, the next question is: Which one is supposed to be better, it were a prequel or sequel? \n When The Harry Potter fanatics found out that the book turned out to be a screenplay, they miffed.They may have not been used to reading Harry Potter series in a screenplay. They may have thought that they would not enjoy it; novelizing a story has a kaleidoscope of literary elements. Well, count me in them! Nevertheless, it is not that bad. Reading it is so light! You could finish it for one day. Believe you me! Alas, I read it for a week because my job steals my valuable reading time. Now my verdict: It could be more exciting if it had been novelized. \n As far as I remember, I quit reading fantasy books when I started studying psychology. My major taught me that everything in the world happens for a logic . Then, I no longer believed in magic. For me then, fantasy could be contrary to the Natural Laws of the Universe. Rather, the only books I read were based on scientific and philosophical discussions. However, when I was tempted to read the first Harry Potter series, I slid back to my childhood , fascinated with all the mysteries in the universe. Such reaction must be the initial effect when anybody, regardless of age and religion, tends to get hooked on it. My co-teacher left behind The Harry Potter can bear witness to this ; recently, he has watched its movie series and now he is playing like a child imitating the wizards of the Hogwarts , casting a spell ,whatever comes to his mind, on whomever he meets by chance , just for fun! ^_^ \n Now I wish to read all the series in 2017.( crossing fingers) \n Thanks to my Santa Claus again!!! ^__^", "date_added": "Fri Jan 20 01:59:24 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 27 18:00:56 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "098538b422348d74ac67cbd95fd536e6", "book_id": "9793876", "review_id": "87528abb8b05f2b4890e1b33abf06821", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The first book written by Bob Ong that led me to the portal of his idiosyncrasies is Bakit Baliktad Magbasa Ng Libro Ang Mga Pilipino?I was impressed by his ways of writing out his ideas or opinions in a conversational way. Reading it was like an editorial article full of facts but funny, intended not only for young but also old adults . Besides, I sensed his hidden blaze of nationalism. Amused, I borrowed Macarthur from my cousin who happened to be his avid reader. After that, I was magnetized again because the theme is not that as deeply and humorously academic and journalistic as the former one but, instead, it is a simple story that young readers may never forget because it reflects the social problem with illegal drug. The story is so worth remembering. No wonder when you ask a young avid fan about which Bob Ong books his/ her favorite is. I bet my boots that it is one of them. And please, count me in. THE VERY THOUGHT OF THE SACHET OF CRYSTAL METH FLOATING IN THE POOPED BOWL REPULSES ME. \n I was in university when I got the opportunity to read another Bob Ong book. Another Bob Ong fan lent me some of his other works. I got the good chance of reading Stainless Longganisa . But I admit that I found it pretty boring. It is just a story of how a writer struggles with completing his book or having it published. If it is so, why did Bob Ong make it more complicated with his satirical dramas? He could have just written it in the other way around. But who am I to cast aspersion on his writing style? WALANG BASAGAN NG TRIP.This is his trademark. \n I was disappointed more after reading his other books such as Ang Paboritong Libro ni Hudas and Kapitan Sino . They almost have the same pattern. The situation was like all Bob Ong had to do was to strike up a witty conversation with me ,with his satirical sentiments and dramas. Thereafter, I got sick and tired of Bob Ong. NAKAKASAWA NA. I promised myself then that I would not read another Bob Ong books. \n I tried to read another Bob Ong when friends of mine gave me an intriguing idea of Ang mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan. My friends said that it is a scary one. Hmmm...Another friend tampered with my febrile imagination claiming that she could not sleep it off. After burying myself in it for the whole night, yes! My friends did not prove me wrong. I was horrified. Somehow, it scared me so witless that I would it put down when I did not want to read what would happen next. I did not want to picture how the scenes look like. Then, my hair stood on end when I patched all the puzzling parts together. GEE, THAT'S WHY? A typical reaction when you have come to understand everything. Who won't forget the scene when the grandma who is supposed to be dead gets up from its bed to approach Galo, the protagonist? Who regretted reading the Latin phrases at the end of his each diary? How about the secret room in where the human -sized saints are kept ? \n The story is clearly manipulating because Bob Ong intended to play our imagination. All the settings are mixed. He intended to lead us in some parts which turn out to be the linchpin of the horror. For instance, Galo also makes us read the Latin phrases he reads out of curiosity . Even though I didn't understand the words, I still kept on reading them. But , in the end, I deeply regretted doing so. YOU SHOULD NOT READ THEM IF I WERE YOU. It is a warning. Plus, the twins, Jezel and Niko .Potek,I thought they were just 'saling pusa'. \n I was first confused with some information with which Bob Ong padded in the story. For instance, the date of the setting is in 1998. But MTB, a famous noon-time show ,was not aired in that year yet. Another thing is a high-tech computer. As far as I know, high-tech computers were unveiled in the 2000's. There are some more happened in the 2000's Bob Ong played back in the 1990's. Thus, I inferred that Bob Ong loves to scrabble all the things that happened from different generations. \n My friend speculates that Bob Ong may have written it off the cuff. He may have dabbled in writing it in a corner without any specific theme on his mind. So, his publisher may have ignored it and still seen its potential to give his readers the creeps knowing that he has established a name in the market. Or she may have meant to say that the story begins with Galo's \"nega moments\"; then, all of a sudden, it segues into a horror part. Thus, the book appears to be inscrutable because she is not sure what Bob Ong may want to imply in this book since all his books appear to have satirical meanings. But apparently, one of the insinuations could be that anyone can have a Cinderella life. OF COURSE NOT! GALO DOES NOT HAVE A PRINCess CHARMING.( laughs) \n Somehow, there are good points in the story that caught my interest aside from the \"katatakutan\" moment. I liked the philosophical conversations between Mama Susan and Galo although I find them obscure and irrelevant to whatever Bob Ong wants to preach to us. Besides, if it were not Mama Susan's revelation about Galo's past , I would really have demoted Bob Ong to all wannabe writers (like me) by giving it one out of 5 stars on Goodreads. Fiddlesticks! I wish I read books literally. \n As a matter of fact, after reading it, I don't want to give it a try again nor flip through its pages given that I found it not that really scary . Perhaps, I just don't want to read the Latin phrases anymore. Gee, it is the impact on me! \n Warning: Please, don't read the Latin phrases. Just skip them.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 29 19:40:47 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 05 19:10:39 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "098538b422348d74ac67cbd95fd536e6", "book_id": "22328546", "review_id": "d21e864d1a9ca753ab6e74d9ba7ce428", "rating": 3, "review_text": "When I tried to flip though the first pages ( since I don't want to read PDFs), I noticed that the story seemed to be new to my taste : I thought stealing was the theme. So, I talked through my hat that it could be the moral talk of the town. IS STEALING REALLY MORALLY BAD? IT'S NOT A QUESTION AT ALL. With this arousing idea, I let myself dig it whenever I couldn't read a real book on a bus , or I didn't want to bring my bag full of the books I haven't read yet. As the story went deeper, there were ambivalent revelations I had feared to read cynically. First, I found the themes, settings, and backdrops garden-variety such as the love-story scenes, the climatic conflicts, and indescribable places beyond imagination, which could have been mutated from the ideas of other famous fantasy writers, and so on. I'm almost familiar with them in other YAs I have read or in the movies I have watched. Nevertheless, what I liked about the book is its unconcealed but irresistible romance among the three main characters, theme on social stratification between SILVER and RED, and the unexpectedly tremendous impact upon me at the ending. (Duh, I still can't get over it.) \n In a world full of accessible and vicarious information where people tend to have the same ideas from one place to another, from one generation to another, we tend to be almost familiar with the same work of different authors. Consequently, we look for something new whenever we are sick and tired of it. No doubt the culture in different aspects changes. No doubt something unique stands out among the others. This case happens to a wide reader when he/she has read the same story over and over again. LET ME NOW STOP BLATHERING. So when it comes to reading books, specifically romantic YAs, for instance, I am almost familiar with the same settings such as a man meets a lady by accident. Then, they will fall in love with each other until they have reached the complete blissfulness . Of course, the climatic conflicts they will go through is the love triangle. The supporting-actor man will comfort the main-character lady , but he turns out to be a bad ass. But some YAs endings are so tragic that you may need a diaper for your unbearable flow of tears. Since the book is intended for young audience, nowadays, the theme should be about a la Edward -of-Twilight style- enchantingly dour and tough. Gee, for sure, you may be tired of it if you're no longer a teenybopper. \n So when I noticed the blatant commonality, I was almost stooped to terminal boredom. I was somehow disappointed, and lost my interest. I wanted to X the PDF and find something new to read. Besides, I am sick and tired of the same settings and backdrops that have gone down in world literature. In fact, the prose appears not to be well-written but \" simple\" , to put it mildly. Victoria Aveyard may have wanted to reach out to all kinds of readers since it is a YA. (So, I should blame it on my literary standard.) \n To distract my careful scrutiny and make this book susceptible to my negative criticism, V. Aveyard wants to impress me by her ingenious plot twists. She may have come up with a theme I as her audience might find new, fresh, and original. (I wish I were right. You may cite some literary works from which she may have drawn impression. ) To be unique, the center of the theme is the social discrepancy between the Silver and the Red. The Silver are superior to the Red.They are powerful and the privileged, the god, but the Red are considered the dredge of society.All the rage in the story is the blood distinction. Your blood can be traced: If your blood is silver, you're a Silver. You should not live in a world apart from the inferior- the Red whose blood is red. In short, the theme is literally about social stratification. So, the book is shed with silver and red blood which curdled my blood. \n There is something somewhat different in this book despite that I did not feel these so-called \" romantic-excitement scenes\". The love triangle among the main characters is suppressible but irresistible, which somehow gave me a little thrill. (Hihihi Let me chortle in this coquettish way.) In fact, I didn't predict the conflicts that would center around them wherein the supporting man turns out to be a protagonist despite the fact that I could have predicted it too. Therefore, I was trapped! I wanted to cry bloody murder that I was betrayed too as the book has mentioned many times the quotable line: \n Anyone can betray anyone. \n When I was close to its ending, at that time, I lost sight of my finickiness. All the hell let loose. The clash of the Silver revealed the real drama of the bogus drama. I felt the adrenaline rush in my veins. I had this burning sensation of rage as did the main character: I also wanted to REVENGE , and now I am ready to do so in the book 2:Glass Sword . Grrrr!!! \n My rating : 3/5 stars . I got angry.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 07 03:11:09 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 10 21:29:07 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "098538b422348d74ac67cbd95fd536e6", "book_id": "26347202", "review_id": "df960a297e76858d9be74f9af3c7aaee", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Edgar Calabia Samar won the 34th Philippine National Book Awards in 2015 for his book one , Si Janus Silang at ang Tiyanak ng Tabon as Best Fiction , which I lavished with 5 stars, the highest rating on Goodreads. If he is given another chance to be nominated for this year, I am pretty sure that he will gain the back-to-back victory. (Ang taray! ) If I had a reputed name in the Philippine literature, I would beat the drum for him. Or if I were one of the judges, I would campaign or lobby my fellow judges above-board for him to win. Just it is magically and terrifically beautiful! Mr. Samar is incredible! Believe you me! \n I did not expect this book two to be better than the book one. It is deeper, stuffier, and more creative- the abnormally mitosis product of his wild imagination. Besides, he galvanized all the neurons inside my body; I have found in this one how skilled in writing such a story Mr. Samar is. Marvelous! First, he mixes his story with the contemporary issues which every young adult can relate to like the super typhoon Yolanda that killed thousands of people. Timely and relevant.That is why he mentions on the first pages of his book that some situations were based on real life. Second, as usual, his trademark for using some characters based on Philippine folklore and myths. So if you are one of those students bored with studying Philippine literature, you might brush up on it again. Cool! Even I did take a fancy for it; I have learned the lessons I had never learned by heart in school. \n On the other hand, since it is now my book two, I have pretty noticed Mr. Samar's styles of settings and conflicts and resolution. The pace of the story goes from the part that there is a mixture of suspense, thrill and awe to the heart-breaking part where the characters, which he must have predicted that his audience will be attached to, should sacrifice to die .The impact? It happened to me! I was totally devastated and annoyed at the author; then, I peevishly muttered under my breath why he always intends to do so. Likewise, although I can guess some inconspicuous inconsistencies, he may have intended to make the supporting character of Mang Joey, the leading bagani, appear to be foolish!. A bagani who is expected to be omnipotent turns out to be a pipsqueak. Well, as a rule, this kind of character is banal in novels. Thus, I cannot blot out of my mind the idea that Mr. Samar may have come to the point that he ran out of ideas unknowing how to get off the hook. Just I am analyzing ,and I am now paralyzed as what the cliche goes! \n The good thing is that the story is a very complicated case. Dude, how did Mr. Samar connect all the scenarios from the book one with the book two? The book one, on the one hand, is the revelation that there are mythical Philippine creatures beyond our imagination-creatures I had never heard of unless you know a lot of Philippine literature. So some words are so \"nakakadugo ng ilong\". The book two, on the other hand, is like opening a Pandora's box where the other covey of mythical creatures clambers out until they are on the loose. The upshot of it is that you had better find a safe hideout protected with sanyang. Gee, otherwise, it is going to be like a walking-dead scene. Besides, it is a challenge for a writer to create anothre scenarios which should be relevant to the book one. In this case, Mr. Samar is indeed creative and genius. Ikaw na! \n One of the things I had not been able to do as a voracious reader is reading a book series just the like of Harry Potter by J.K Rowling and Lord of the Ring by J. L Tolkien ... During that time, I still was not active on Goodreads. Besides, if I like to read them , although I appear to be a late reader, I still cannot afford them; they can still percolate my purses. Yay! Nevertheless, there is one thing I will for sure follow up with: Si Janus Silang, a very Filipino fiction created by our very own writer Edgar Calabia Samar. \n Good luck, Mr. Samar. I am now your avid fan, so I am planning to read your other works.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 27 16:53:01 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 24 18:12:39 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Dec 25 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Dec 25 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "098538b422348d74ac67cbd95fd536e6", "book_id": "22011229", "review_id": "6c1751efb5cac6e4c2cb3f777acf9aa5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have read a great deal of positive feedback about this. My fellow blogger reviewed that it is likened to the Harry Potter and Lord of the Ring series of Britain or to anything else out there considered world-class. Someone on Goodreads shouts out to the world that it is \"ang lupet! \" . Also, someone outspoken professed that he is willing to die, ignoring the fact that the \"Tiyanak\" might come out to bite out his throat and stomach; he insisted on giving it 5 stars on Goodreads no matter what you find fault with this. As a matter of fact, with a special mention to Manix Abrera, the master mind of KikoMachine, reviewed that this is one of the most frightening and hair-raising stories he has ever read. He also added that there were the moments that he would turn back because his hair would stand on end in fear that something might have been sneaking behind him. Ok. I am not against their opinions. I totally agree. Whoa! I belong to you folks. \n If you are Filipino, I highly recommend you read it. Give it a try. I promise you will like it as well as end up appreciating our very own fiction. First, it is not that cringingly old-fashioned or \"baduy \". Do not be mindful of what some \"anglicized\" hubris put that reading local books makes a dull head of you. They must not even have a reliably scientific term paper to claim so. Rather, you can relate to it, especially if you like playing online games . Besides, the author's writing style is unique and not that super slang nor super archaic. It is balanced. I may suggest it an oxymoron of informality and formality. Thus, anyone can read it regardless of your age, sex, religion, or whatsoever. In the end, you will put the feather on your cap I bet. Alas, it has not been translated yet for foreign readers as what happened to his short-listed one for Asian Man Literary Prize , Walong Diwata ng Pagkahulog after it was catapulted to fame. \n I muttered under my breath while reading it that for sure, young -adult readers who are addicted to playing computer games, needless to say the now-defunct , if I am not mistaken, DOTA ( Defense of the Ancient ), will really like it. Besides, it reminded me of my another university classmate who , aside from that he is a closet bookworm because he never brags about reading a lot, is known for addiction to DOTA. I will share it with him once I meet him. I guess he is aware of it. \n Granted that it deals with online computer games, and that I do not like reading books more on fantasy since I believe in scientific reasons, I still enjoyed it a whole lot. In fact, I got interested in it because the author conceptualized a very Filipino game. Instead, he created the characters out of famous Filipino myths and legends such as dwende, nuno, aswang, mambabarang, manananggal, tiyanak, bagani , pusong, diwata, and so forth. With these settings, I can totally relate to the story since I have learned all of them. So I got a thrill out of it. My hair stood on end. I was nervous, worried, angry until I burst into tears when the protagonist's mother died. Shit! It was Christmas when I was reading it. \n As the climax of the story goes, I am amazed at Edgar Calabia Samar's writing skills more. It is wonder how he is able to incorporate the Filipino life and his fondness for Philippine literary figures into such a story. Besides, obviously I can surmise, he makes sure that every angle of the story is consistent to each other without any plot holes about which a reader will be very cynical. And I admit to overlooking some of them just this book is rather remarkable- a tour de force. Period. \n For my foreign folks, the center of the story is the Tala which means star . The main characters have to find it (Tala )through an online game, so the melodramatic game will be over. However, since the story is pretty interesting, I do not have the foggiest idea when the author will finish it. Of course, it is understood that he will capitalize on its fame. Besides, he must still have a large panoply of ideas running into his head. \n Up next , my review of its part two: Si Janus Silang at ang Labanang Manananggal - Mambabarang.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 27 16:50:28 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 29 18:29:35 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 15}
{"user_id": "098538b422348d74ac67cbd95fd536e6", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "b32d00513286c08abc155a2916fd4ab0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I buried myself in this book before All Saints' Day, before all departed buried in cemeteries woke from their long deep sleep. But I was aware that there were invisible entities prowling in my pitch dark room with indescribably cold temperature; that there was someone with red eyes in black,sneaking a peek over my shoulder. But the most hair-raising part was when I heard a soft but hot whisper closing to my right ear, \" WHAT...ARE ...YOU...READING...? My hair stood on end. I jumped to my feet and turned the light on. Shit! Who's that? \n I wish you were not a fraidy-cat . It's just a corny introduction! \n When I was in high school , my cousin and I were so fond of reading horror stories. We would borrow from our friends the famous book which could be bought in National Book Store , The Philippine Ghost Stories. I think it is still available in that book store. Also, we would fain watch such stories documented by then the most-awaited TV program, Magandang Gabi Bayan before or during All Saints' Day. However, I lost my interest in them when I started to study psychology. I don't believe in entities anymore since I was weaned on science . But I can't hold back my desire to shatter my curiosity whenever I know of new Stephen King's best-selling horror books. Thanks to his book On Writing. This book inclined me to read horror stories again. \n Aware that Riggs intended to scare readers out of their wits, but I was not. Nevertheless, I was impressed by three things: his PROSE , his concept of the story, and his creative way of delivering the story. \n The most commendable thing about this book is Ransom Riggs's prose- very clean and qualitative. I enjoyed reading as every sentence is well-written. So, I could understand the sentences very clearly. Also, I liked the words he used in describing the situations- good enough to make me as a non-native reader imagine the scenes. \n I may not have watched nor read all kinds of horror stories just the likes of Stephen King's , but I would say that Riggs's coming up with this kind of story is what is so-called the figment of an author's imagination. Imagine , peculiar children could be used in characters as ghosts or frightening entities. (I wish societies of peculiar children would not take an umbrage at this concept.) \n There is a plot I can bet where the author himself drew the story from and changed its fact. For instance, the experiment of the Hollows in Siberia that caused the vast explosion leading to mutation among them. Could that be the nuclear explosion in Chernobyl? \n Another commendable element of this book is its annoying pictures- annoying because the pictures were faked! Only young readers could be fascinated by this trick. If so, why was I impressed? I was impressed because this is what I really want to do whenever I want to imagine the things I read in the books that are beyond my imagination. Just in the story, although Riggs narrated well with his beautiful prose , but since the creatures described are fictitious or made by the author's imagination, I still had the nosy attitude to take a look at their real description in the pictures. As I was reading the author's description, I was so excited to turn the next page where I could see the picture. In fact, there were times that I would feel nervous about doing so in fear that the next picture would scare me stiff. (sighs!) \n The only parts that lost its originality as well as taxed my excitement or the thrills and chills in the story are: \n 1.\tThe character who appears to be friend of the protagonist turns out to be the archenemy.( It is an old style.) \n 2.\tThe moments when all the characters fight one another , especially at the light house. (What a boring and corny part! ) \n 3.\tAs usual the leader of the clan who is expected to be powerful turns out to be a loser.( Pooh, another poor imitation! ) \n Whoa, Pardon me, Mr. Riggs! It's just as well that you wrote it beautifully, but you failed to scare the living day light out of me. I was just tensed. Hehehe As a matter of fact, I would still fain read your sequel,Hollow City.I want to know more about Hollows and wights. ^_^ \n Psst!", "date_added": "Mon Oct 26 01:38:17 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 02 17:29:41 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Oct 31 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Oct 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "098538b422348d74ac67cbd95fd536e6", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "2b6699307decf414926030d5af86e8eb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The best-seller and awarded the GOODREADS CHOICE 2014 WINNER and which is said to have done well at the box office since October 02, 2015 is indeed WORTH READING. I repeat it is WORTH READING. \n If you have not read it yet and have been curious about why it is such a big talk in the Goodreads universe, I would like you to bear in mind first some reminders before you prep it- but not necessarily that you take them; I know you would still give it a try at any cost out of idle curiosity. \n You should be ready that reading it requires a paucity of MATH and other branches of science such as CHEMISTRY, ASTRONOMY, ENGINEERING, PHYSICS , BOTANY, to name a few unless you majored in one of them. Otherwise, you might end up in a moment of epistaxis and cerebral hemorrhage. In other words, the novel is strewn with technical words. Therefore, make sure that you have internet connection at your disposal to Google some words beyond your imagination. In doing so can help you understand the story more clearly. \n The concept of the story is very new to me, for it may be my second Sci-Fi. The last one was the CONTACT by Carl Sagan. I had enjoyed it at first since I was not completely familiar with all stuff in the universe. However, I lost my interest in its book cover edition; I was very choosy then. (Uh-oh! Beggars cannot be choosers.) Then, I could no longer get around to it. \n An astronaut is stranded on Mars when it just happens that he is not able to leave it with his other crews in the midst of the sandstorm. In order to survive the red planet, he will use his vast knowledge of Botany and Engineering as well as his wide training and experience in Astronomy. Each day is perilous for Mark as if he walks with a tight rope. \n Admittedly, I was close to demoting it to 3 stars ( Not that bad. I still liked it ) for the three reasons: \n (1.) I did not like the writing style, let alone its prose. It is brusque in context despite the fact that it is pregnant with jargon. ( But I know there is nothing wrong with brusque language ; it could still be an art. Probably, it is not my cup of tea. I am more used to classic writings just the like of award-winning writers'. You know what I meant to say. ^^) Nevertheless, in the end, I realized that Andy Weir's intention is to voice what a devastating life of an astronaut stuck on such barren and dreary planet is like . ( If I am not mistaken!) \n (2. ) Although I enjoyed the parts in the beginning, of how Mark Wanty sorts his dilemma out, the longer he describes his some problems , the more I find them a pain in the ass. In short, they were taxing me too. \n (3.) The plot of the story is banal and typical of other there-should-be-on-the-rescue-scenes science fictions. \n On the other hand, I can't forbear from lavishing praise on it: \n (1.) Indeed, it is spell-binding. Every page is so enthralling that I could no longer recognize the people around me, that I was not aware of them, of my environment at all. (laughs) \n (2.) I liked its ending. It does not need to show that Mark Wanty will have a tear-jerking hero's welcome as soon as he is back on Earth. The last breath-taking scene of how he gets aboard and his final journal are enough to bring a thousand words. Weir might have been aware that readers are already familiar with that schematic denouement. \n (3.) I learned a whole lot about science. In fact, I feel like studying Astronomy. (blushing) I am now very interested in studying the heavenly bodies. All the things about Cosmo, NASA, space exploration, thingamabob. Wow! What an interesting field! \n (4.) The theme is very purely scientific. It focuses just on Mars probe. As far as we know, Mars has been the favorite hobbyhorse among scientists in the hypothesis that whether there is a high chance to live on this planet or not. \n (5.) It is very scientifically detailed. Obviously, Andy Weir researched about Mars and NASA thoroughly, especially the problems on Mars Mark Wanty has to sort out such as on how to produce water and oxygen , plant , repair the machines , blah blah blah . Wow, I was impressed. Kudos to him! ^_^ \n (6.) Despite its typically there-should-be-on-the-rescue-scenes story, the epistolary writing riddled with technical words did the justice. So, I can't say that there is nothing new to it. Rather, I highly recommend it to everyone, notably to students who have been taught the Creationism. \n Upon reading it, I would like to conclude that: \n (a.) The book AWKWARDLY suggests that China has a hidden ambition to compete with the USA in the field of space exploration. The good thing is that China has not given Andy Weir a brunt of criticism nor even declared him persona non grata yet. Perhaps Weir also suggests that China has the capacity to keep up with the modern technology despite the world's stereotype about made-in-China products. \n (b.) The book suggests the perpetual debate among theists and atheists whether God exists or not. \n (c.) The book suggests that sometimes NASA or science itself has limitations; scientific analyses could be invalid, but nothing is impossible. \n (d.) The book suggests that we, the world, at any cost, is raring to spend billions of dollars on space exploration. (Paradoxically, there is a widespread famine in some parts of the world.) \n (e.) The book suggests that we could be optimistic in a dire situation. ( I doubt it. ) Probably yes, since we have the survival instinct. But gee, if I were Mark Watney, probably no! since I am not that as genius as he is.( laughs) \n (f.) The book suggests that we should use our \"common sense\" as well as need to be knowledgeable about science at all times if the need rises. \n (g.) The book suggests that a human being has a basic instinct to help one another out as what Mark Watney exemplifies at the end of the book : \n \"If a hiker gets lost in the mountains, people will coordinate a search. If a train crashes, people will line up to give blood. If an earthquake levels a city, people all over the world will send emergency supplies. This is so fundamentally human that it's found in every culture without exception. Yes, there are assholes who just don't care, but they're ,massively outnumbered by the people who do. And because of that, I had billions of people on my side.\" \n Well, no doubt it has received positive feedback, so the British magazine site ,The Guardian , should put it on the new pedestal of 1001 Best Novels of All Time. \n Since I am done with it, I am all systems go for its movie adaptation, especially the actor who leads the role of Mark Watney is one of my favorite Hollywood actors, Matt Damon. 13 13 13 ^_", "date_added": "Mon Aug 24 17:19:23 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 02 17:41:52 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Oct 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 20, "n_comments": 29}
{"user_id": "098538b422348d74ac67cbd95fd536e6", "book_id": "161768", "review_id": "e49cedb613e3067bd135b7c6e12ed972", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Perhaps among the imaginary giant characters I am more familiar with, King Kong stands out among them. I can see his replicas in toy stores (And for sure you can even come across him in Universal Studios). I can play him on video games. I can read him in comics. I can see him making fun of children as a mascot at birthday parties. He could scare the living day lights out of me in a haunted house at an amusement park or even on Halloween day. Above all, he could make an antagonistic cameo appearance in fantasy dramas or movies. He can be famous in any situations. Thanks to its movie adaptation, he is now immortal. For sure, he will be borne upon in the mind of the next generation since it is said to have another movie remake. \n I have seen its 2005 movie remake and I enjoyed it a bunch. Comparatively, having watched its movie adaptation gave me the ideas of the plots and settings. However, nothing beats the book. It gave me more clear description and narration. Imagining King Kong gave me the creeps. Also, I could feel the atmosphere of the unchartered, far-flung Kong Island. I could feel the breath-taking hue and cry among the characters. \n Although I am now a young adult and I no longer believe in fantasy, I still find it fascinating. King Kong is a downright strange, far-fetched creature. Something or someone unusual can get my attention. Besides, the theory of poor old Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution is instilled in me. So a confluence of questions popped into my head. Pop! How if there were such a gigantic monkey? Gee whiz! \n Granted that it is a fantasy, Cooper seems to have made a botch of , or to put it bluntly, to have monkeyed around with some settings. He must have intended to leave us readers hanging, turning over the questions such as: How long does it take the main characters to get to Kong Island? How do they manage to load King Kong onto a ship back to New York? Hehehe Even a genius kindergarten could call it into a question. \n In the end, it just occurred to me that we, the said highest mammal on this planet, would be defensive against another species superior to us. It would be a big, big threat. Figuratively speaking, King Kong resembles some hot issues today such as the advanced robotics, nations with big economy, nuclear deterrent, etc. \n Admittedly, I am still completely flummoxed by some latent meanings of this book. Obviously, the themes have something to do with survival, lost civilization, dominance of human to animals....But the book gives emphasis on the Beauty and the Beast. King Kong represents The Beast who will fall for Anne Darrow as the Beauty. At the end of the story, Danhem bragged before the news reporters that, \"It's the Beauty killed the Beast...\" What do you think Danhem means? \n I worried that I would not enjoy it since I have seen its movie; it could be kitsch; it could have been just a product of a child's imagination. Also, the passages must be awash with low standards of languages. Not bad. It is still a classic everyone should not underestimate. Merian Cooper had somehow what it took to be a fantasy-adventure writer. \n I'm looking forward to its most-awaiting movie remake since we have now ultramodern media production ^^", "date_added": "Sun Sep 21 17:29:31 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 16 19:03:16 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "6cc15db6b608d9f1fa25a0380530b535", "book_id": "176521", "review_id": "a8d3a5837a03843c5a8c7f975df819ec", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Diane Duane takes her world of wizardry and showcases it from a different perspective - the cat. This book is for cat lovers as well as those who enjoy modern day fantasy.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 16:07:34 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 07 16:10:02 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6cc15db6b608d9f1fa25a0380530b535", "book_id": "116563", "review_id": "53949c812c60b92e015d3c89493a9b4a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What a great book that takes the idea of wizardry and not only incorporates it into a current day timeframe, but also turns the fantasy element of magic into science. The main character finds a book in her local library that sets her on the career path of becoming a wizard. Enter explanations of magic and how it affects the universe(s). Some may find parts difficult to easily read because it does explain wizardry like a textbook, but this allows the reader to imagine that, just possibly, they have found this book and are reading to become a wizard themselves. Not only do you root for the human characters trying to slow the death of the Universe, but also the non-human characters. I love this book and the world that exists inside it.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 15:57:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 07 16:06:50 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6cc15db6b608d9f1fa25a0380530b535", "book_id": "616678", "review_id": "88acd9dfbedf94959d3ae9ffa2ec05ca", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It's an epic quest to find a cure for Elania's queen who has suddenly fallen ill. The book introduces many characters and lands, and works to develop both, with varying degrees of success. By the end of this book, the evil plot is revealed and a plan to restore order and save the queen is determined, though no real headway is made yet. This is a quick read and a book that can easily be put down and picked back up again. However, that does mean that some may choose to leave it rather than finish it. The main character Sparhawk is memorable because of his nose, personality, and horse, and that's partially why I come back to his book.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 23:16:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 23:31:09 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "871667c2ad05d0b7206135cae9bbb0a3", "book_id": "6304335", "review_id": "b7bb782ddfa5a60e16bf7da4c589638b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Much, MUCH better than the movie, but still felt slow to me. I didn't really care for the characters one way or the other.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 13 16:58:26 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 13 17:01:41 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "72e53968245c2dadb6d4defbaa845eb1", "book_id": "9914222", "review_id": "79e5adc796b439961f07cf226c5a1551", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A breath of fresh air in an often stale literary world.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 16 06:43:21 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 16 06:44:06 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "10874177", "review_id": "a83e9bb3fa5310defcec6e2f8021924b", "rating": 0, "review_text": "xmas gift from dad", "date_added": "Wed Dec 25 10:45:20 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 25 10:45:45 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "710437", "review_id": "142ae778a8694f7a5660526edce4cc9f", "rating": 0, "review_text": "xmas gift from light", "date_added": "Wed Dec 25 10:44:21 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 25 10:44:39 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Wed Dec 25 10:44:21 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "16078215", "review_id": "1aee48b88f21e1d65a8a170d9147b409", "rating": 0, "review_text": "b'day gift from dad", "date_added": "Fri Dec 06 08:20:00 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 12 03:06:32 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "17840319", "review_id": "523aea7c85688a37ffb8d0fddceb5270", "rating": 0, "review_text": "b'day gift from dad", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 17:56:39 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 06 08:19:00 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "10194157", "review_id": "a9a195d9ea0cef2815340a70840b2889", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was interesting, but it ended -- rushed to an ending, almost -- just where the real emotional meat of the characterization should have begun. Will this be addressed in the sequel? The pacing of this book doesn't give me too much confidence for it, but I'll give it a try. There was a potentially interesting thematic thing going on with Alina growing into her power once she stopped relying on the boy she loved, a setup for tension between \"I found my power protecting someone I love\" versus \"I owned my power when I stopped making love the most important thing in my life\" , but that was somewhat undercut by the ending themes of \"My own power isn't enough, but I get extra power from being feminine merciful\" with a booster of \"I found my extra femininity mercy powers protecting someone I love\" .", "date_added": "Wed Apr 10 14:28:32 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 11 08:00:33 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "3312154", "review_id": "66a83b3e8217853ae507fe6938cf0d4b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Fantastic premise and character voices, complete lack of emotional ending. Deus ex boyfriend, really?", "date_added": "Mon Oct 22 12:54:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 24 18:39:01 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Oct 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "263145", "review_id": "8d49bd5c3ce24522f130174adef2f682", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Meh. It's an interesting world, but the helplessness of the central female character grated.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 15 10:48:05 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 15 10:49:14 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Sep 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "9640779", "review_id": "29ca59a8f86a11782050af2819002a0e", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Holy shit, this is terrible art. It looks like really really bad 3D Poser screenshots. \n I would almost give it two stars for a vaguely interesting story, but wow, no, the art is just that bad.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 11 15:08:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 01 05:57:02 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Sep 11 15:12:50 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "13409145", "review_id": "43c1c0917f14a143ddc155b5631701f9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Reasonably funny, but not as ambitious as the first one; it suffers by comparison. I'm definitely still interested in more in this world, though.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 06 14:23:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 14 19:53:04 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Oct 14 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "248470", "review_id": "0e1fbbfbb0af00e72414ceab356a6f3c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I picked this one up without noticing that it was book three in the series, but it opened with some decent characterization instead of expecting me to already know who these people were and how they knew each other, so I carried on anyway. I don't think I missed anything dramatic; this is a nice but basically unsurprising book.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 30 09:07:28 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 30 17:21:59 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "10866624", "review_id": "9a6e23e542ea1a5f7a6d0cbb81443486", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Well, THIS need a sequel NOW. \n Anyway. \n There were two things I really wanted from this book: something dealing with how uncomfortable it would be for an imaginary friend to actually be real and some emotional scenes involving friends/family finding out about the imaginary/real friend. For the first, wow, yes, the ways in which they both freaked out that someone who knew them so intimately was an independent person were perfect, although there could have been a little more follow-through on how Jared dealt with it by clinging so tightly , and for the second, ...sort of? but not really. I have a very specific narrative kink for characters with this sort of \"I'm always on your side\" secret pact having to finally declare themselves openly, but this sort of teased around the reveal without the full emotional focus I'd been hoping for, partly because there were some other genuinely interesting things going on with other characters in the background. There could still be more in the next book, though! .", "date_added": "Wed Mar 14 11:07:26 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 04 17:12:39 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "8890606", "review_id": "6a423fac6537da29a0dbfb30e42a4480", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was very pretty, but given that I was incapable of reading the dialogue in anything other than the voices from the movie, I have no idea how it might stand on its own. It kept throwing me that Molly was so young when all of the other characters looked so similar to their movie designs. \n I will add that I thought it was an excellent book adaptation: while there were some descriptive passages lifted verbatim from the book that ran alongside the images they were describing, these tended to complement and highlight each other rather than being redundant.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 13 07:29:30 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 17 01:06:55 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Feb 13 17:26:42 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "13109251", "review_id": "8af5d8019da29627b2759169e6775f99", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked this a lot, but I think it was a wise decision not to make it into the first full book of the series; the actual book 1 is much stronger and a much better introduction to the world.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 03 11:37:06 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 06 13:04:52 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "12421944", "review_id": "96248a75c7df6346137be3553a86d77a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "(I have the ARC!!!) \n Still working up to an actual review, but two quick points: \n 1. YAY. \n Okay, wait, two points besides that. So, three points. \n 2. This feels more like the second half of the previous book than its own novel -- which is good, in a way, because the previous book really needed a second half, but it's not an entirely encouraging trend for future books. \n 3. Seriously, WTF with the cover art. Does anyone remember book 1, when Jame was mistaken for a boy while topless? Where the hell is this cleavage coming from?", "date_added": "Sun Sep 04 19:54:02 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 15 21:28:53 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Mon Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sun Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "10555316", "review_id": "601c1a236de6f6bc7c8a8c0edb6f38cd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh, I love love love the older Watanuki and Doumeki now! This is a wonderful leap forward.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 22 13:18:51 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 03 19:15:44 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Mon Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Fri Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "8705465", "review_id": "b5e225194a5f3b58cb4ca6afec7787ca", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I was unimpressed with the substitution of several seemingly unrelated stories strung together for the novel I was expecting. Yes, they all tied back together in the end, very clever. Disappointing, because normally I really enjoy that sort of clever. \n Plus, I was all excited when the first of the stories started up and it was back in the crimelord days. Perhaps what I should really do is go back and re-read Taltos and Yendi.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 01 19:53:44 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 03 07:00:06 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "249855", "review_id": "e4a7568054fd651fb7e323b3a19caee9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Brilliant knock-me-down story from Kathe Koja. Damn, when she's on, she's on. \n Also good: Emma Bull, Charles de Lint, Tanith Lee, Katherine Vaz. \n Somewhat disappointing: Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Carolyn Dunn. \n Already read: M. Shayne Bell.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 14 13:44:39 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 18 20:49:18 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Mon Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Thu Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "58", "review_id": "b3c9ef363fa157338a0b6408dcbd91e9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was really good, so the parts of it which were frustrating were really more frustrating than they would have been in a mediocre book, sadly. Fantastic world-building and a smart, self-aware protagonist -- yay! But that protagonist couldn't manage a believable interaction with any of the other people in the book -- boo! Neef had pretty much no empathy for anyone, no sense that she should be concerned in anything but a mechanical how-does-this-affect-me way with other people's feelings. There could have been a great story in there about what emotions really meant for humans raised by fairies and fairies raised by humans, but the opportunity was lost. The author's short story Catnyp, about the same protagonist when she's a bit older, was much more appealing.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 12 15:27:36 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 29 07:35:00 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Thu Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Thu Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "1501162", "review_id": "bd2ab0c4bef09651ceac0f256b1de595", "rating": 4, "review_text": "(See status updates for mini-reviews.)", "date_added": "Mon Jul 11 06:34:11 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 14 10:48:18 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Thu Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Mon Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "6472451", "review_id": "23aa3e3d0a13bc81d3fa23d6aa591315", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Stop rushing the ending. Slow down. Slow down! But otherwise, yay!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 29 13:57:42 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 10 18:37:06 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Wed Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Wed Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "19822", "review_id": "7a134ac8cefbb5804c22cffd0f0230ce", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ah, now there's a book that knows how to stick a landing. Classic McKillip, even though it makes a nod at a modern/realism setting.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 27 20:36:22 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 27 20:37:26 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Mon Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Mon Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "7090785", "review_id": "e10ee0d6e7ceea9b0efc0c504cc0ca9b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Okay, see, this is good. This is a ridiculous crack premise which (a) takes itself seriously enough to think through some consequences while at the same time (b) remembering what it is here for, namely having proper young ladies whacking at zombies with swords. \n I wish it had found some way of dealing more with the raging Orientalism of the first book (which was by a different author, interestingly), but I suppose that's a huge lump of racism to get around. This book avoided the worst of it, thankfully.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 13 15:31:05 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 19 14:57:39 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sun Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sun Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "7711273", "review_id": "b88108fc6d309ff5ce858afaf7199e94", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Hey! It's a Godmother book that didn't suck! This is a promising sign.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 12 11:28:41 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 12 11:30:04 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sun Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sat Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "9774199", "review_id": "ce147ff4dd63e60514fff6d6af80bb40", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was a gift from my dad, who clearly wants to find some common book grounding with me, his science fiction reading daughter. Sadly, I don't think that paranormal romance is really going to be our meeting point. \n Don't get me wrong -- I definitely enjoyed reading this book! As everyone keeps saying in tones of shock, it's really well written. There are lingering, loving descriptions of tiny minutiae and a plot which, if described, would sound like it ought to fit into a book a third the size of this one, yet I and most other reviewers didn't find the book to be particularly slow. I didn't know that this book was only the first part of a series (a trilogy?) going in, and I didn't realize it until I reached about 90% and the conflict was showing no signs whatsoever of reaching even minimal resolution. That was rather frustrating! \n There were a number of moments of pure hedonistic geekery over things like the Bodleian Library, manuscript illuminations, oenophilia, phylogenetics, and, of course, tea. Mmm, tea. By about halfway through the book, though, the geeky joy was starting to feel like luxury porn, like the richness of the environment was the point of the story rather that part of its support and advancement. \n The world-building of the paranormal side, I will say, didn't make much sense to me. Vampires, in a clever twist, actually perform gene therapy when they replace a human's blood with their own blood, so I'm going to let that one go. Witches have hereditary magic use, and have apparently gone thousands of years globally with a strict inbreeding policy -- the question of whether witches are actually cross-fertile with humans is never addressed, despite the huge preoccupation with species genetics, and I think we're supposed to believe that it's all been one consistent social force keeping anyone from trying, ever. But daemons make no sense as a category, since they appear to be humans with mental illnesses (mostly hypomania) -- yes, considered demons or demonically-influenced at many points in history, but unless you're creating a world which never developed a mental illness concept (but which was medically identical to our world otherwise) there's going to be a long period of time during which most daemons are presumed human. \n And that is, of course, not going into the actual implications of having mental illness as a marker of being nonhuman. Nonhuman is seen pretty universally as immediately and obviously better than human by everyone in this book, which seems like the most fantastical element of all. \n Do I need to talk about the sexual politics? Let me just skim and say that yes, there is a huge heaping of \"I must be the alpha male and you cause me great distress when you don't obey me so if you really loved me then you'd let me boss you around and be an overprotective asshole, and you'd totally forgive me for doing really horrific things to everyone but you because you believe on the basis of nothing whatsoever that I could never hurt you which is all that matters to you (plus I have all of the money in the world and buy you expensive presents which you protest but come to expect)\". Yeah. And there was a side order of \"I show that I am a gentleman by not rushing into penetrative (procreative) sex but by instead introducing you to the marvels of cuddling and foreplay and non-penetrative sex (which neither you nor I consider actual sex so it must be an amazing vampiric invention), none of which have ever previously been part of your sexual consciousness in any way despite the fact that you were raised as a woman and these are traditional women's sexual pleasures\". \n So, yeah. There we are. But it was really well written!", "date_added": "Thu Mar 10 19:42:57 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 19 09:53:12 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sat Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Wed Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "6727322", "review_id": "8982c4447eced082b891572081f54af8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Hmm. This had some fantastic world-building, but I didn't really like most of the characters. Keiro was the only one I cared about in the end, and I wasn't very sure that the author felt the same. I think I would like the second book, though, to learn more about Sapphique if nothing else.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 13 16:04:44 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 31 17:59:48 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Oct 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "6352686", "review_id": "d53f4702707e90fb816c9cff99e74474", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Two stars: one for Fireworm and one for First Flight (see status updates for minireviews).", "date_added": "Wed Feb 02 17:14:39 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 02 17:22:56 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Wed Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Tue Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "5739076", "review_id": "b32c41ed7ba3847dd4ee40e2c5e11175", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Huh. I was bored silly by the first novel in this series, but this manga -- which follows that novel pretty much exactly -- is not bad at all. I picked it up in the library because Takahiro Arai's art intrigued me, and that was clearly the right call: Darren and Steve are tiny and determined and adorable in this book the way they just weren't in the original. I think I'll be following this one in manga.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 22 18:23:49 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 15 10:46:53 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Sat Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "6480142", "review_id": "9e8b42cabb2c3f4428fbd18adfac9603", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm not sure where I got this book, actually; I think it must have been some free promo. \n It's not a great book, but it's pretty much exactly what I wanted to read right now so I'll call it good. The paranormal side of the paranormal romance was interesting, and several times the characters said \"we should call the cops!\" and then actually called the cops, so, y'know, extra bonus points to the plot there. Then again, it loses points for the use of rape to prove just how bad the bad people are. I also didn't buy the romance angle as strongly, but that's not really why I'm here.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 10 08:45:12 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 03 15:32:47 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Feb 03 15:32:47 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Thu Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "844206", "review_id": "c69cb372f8f0cc1807dc1037c20e058b", "rating": 1, "review_text": "My biggest problem with this book was that I thought I was getting a book about a teenaged witch in which witches hunted vampires but then this young witch learned that friendship! can! transcend! etc. And for the first third of the book, that's what I got, and so I was lured in. \n Unfortunately, when the jaws of the actual book snapped shut, it turned out that I was trapped with a book that was really about the ~tragic~ ~immortal~ ~angst~ of twin vampire brothers and their desperate need -- expressed in poetry -- to have a threesome with our (un)lucky witch protagonist. She just needs to ~understand~ that they're good on the inside! And that it hurts them ~so much~ when they don't suck human blood! *cough*blueballs*cough* \n ...You know, I was going to give this book two stars for being moderately technically proficient, but now I don't wanna.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 04 13:47:14 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 14 06:27:21 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Tue Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "7884898", "review_id": "799ed8a45aaec7ae759aea0b88161fe4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "OMG TEH DRAMA, TEH DRAMA. Yes. Still more fun than any of her other recent books, though. \n (Shut up. I'm sick.)", "date_added": "Tue Nov 02 09:19:13 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 07 17:59:13 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Tue Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Tue Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "7171748", "review_id": "10afc0bea4c0e6af4abfda21ce57aacf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "So apparently I am Team Zombie after all. I was not expecting that!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 07 09:50:58 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 10 11:12:19 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Thu Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Tue Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "4876010", "review_id": "66a4d0d4e955a184ce33159c14e92d26", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this collection -- I didn't read it cover to cover, as you can tell from the liveblogging status updates, but I did end up reading every story in it. (I always feel a little embarrassed when I circumvent an editor's careful sequence of stories, but in this case I'm glad I did: I don't think I would have wanted to end on the last story in this book, which was The Master Miller's Tale by Ian R. MacLeod. I don't like my fantasy (1) emo or (2) mostly horror.) \n Stories I did really like were: \n * Light by Kelly Link, which reiterates what all of those people who've been recommending Kelly Link to me have been saying about the wacky and interesting; \n * Teashop by Zoran Zivkovic, which was not as clever as it thought it was but which was still delightful, especially with the tea; \n * The Rope by Noreen Doyle, which was a little bit horror and a little bit non-futuristic science fiction, but all in a really good way; \n * Stray by Benjamin Rosenbaum & David Ackert, which has possibly the best characterization of an immortal/mortal pairing I've ever read, seriously; \n * Singing of Mount Abora by Theodora Goss, which was a shiny perfect fairy tale of a fantasy story; \n * Bufo Rex by Erik Amundsen, which was another excellent fairy tale; \n * A Diorama of the Infernal Regions by Andy Duncan, which was a really great use of a girl as a protagonist; \n * and The Cambist and Lord Iron by Daniel Abraham, although I'm not entirely sure that this was a fantasy story per se.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 06 11:07:04 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 10 17:33:33 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sat Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Wed Oct 06 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "8041873", "review_id": "24d584ef2a2085c0383e167de5367a67", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Lots of very nice world-building in this one! My expectations were low -- basically, I liked the title and the description sounded not unreadable -- but they were definitely exceeded and then some. \n I'm not sure how I feel about the floating POV, with half of the book first person from Sam and half a floating third person omniscient, but it got the job done well enough. (When you have sections in villain POV and it's not awful, you're doing something well enough.) (The extended origin-story flashback from his mother I could have done without, though.) \n Sam was self-aware without breaking the fourth wall; he had white-boy-angst without feeling special; he had special powers that genuinely made his life suck instead of making him special; he was a smart-ass without being too cute; he was scared without being heroic. In short, he was a pretty good protagonist. Ramon, Frank, and Brooke made an excellent set of hero's friends, too. It wasn't all spectacular -- the pacing was a bit uneven, although the book was such a fast read that I didn't ever have time to get bored -- and the sequel hooks were a little obvious (although intriguing). Brid didn't get nearly enough development for her role but she got too much to be dismissed as an extra, which was another thing which felt uneven. \n Hmm. So far this review has been mostly \"there were so many ways that this could have sucked, but it didn't: yay\", and I don't think that really does justice here. I enjoyed this book proactively as well! I liked these characters and this world and would like to read more of them!", "date_added": "Tue Oct 05 05:45:12 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 06 16:46:49 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Tue Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Mon Dec 06 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "8460921", "review_id": "8d06f2118549eeaa3bb653929524fa2b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Immediate thoughts: \n 1. I like Sophos, in a way which really, really underscores how much of a Mary Sue type Gen is. \n 2. Yes, even here. \n 3. So...Gen as Emperor of the Mede by the end of book five? Or will it take until book six? \n 4. There had better be actual appearances of Sophos' sisters in the next book! \n 5. And of Eddis, for that matter! \n 6. Oh, poor Berrone. \n 7. Gods: kind of creepy!", "date_added": "Sun Sep 19 09:30:01 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 07 12:03:14 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Thu Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Wed Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "936725", "review_id": "d010efb2b1589ece03aeef20ad2b5fa2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I had read the title story in some collection, so I was a little worried that I'd already read this whole book and just forgotten to record it, but no, the others were all new, and all good. I definitely enjoyed Instead of Three Wishes again, about a young woman who finds traditional fairytale rewards vaguely embarassing in that teenaged way, and I really liked Leroy Roachbane and The Nightmare too, both of which are about little boys being boys but with very different takes. The Baker King was funny but more fairytalish than the others, and didn't really fit. Factory didn't really fit either -- it's a bittersweet scifi/dystopia ghost story, sort of -- but I like it more so I mind less. A Plague of Leprechaun was cute, and Aunt Charlotte and the NGA Portraits was playful, and I'm sure it was no mistake that their framing devices matched their themes so neatly (in a fun way, not a clunky way).", "date_added": "Sat Sep 18 12:02:37 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 10 19:26:54 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sun Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sun Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "1046558", "review_id": "1d2a2e5671b82d9673536601c55e5156", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Hah, now I have all eight books in matching editions! At last, I can re-read them.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 08 16:18:53 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 08 16:34:48 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "1082753", "review_id": "a651099813765dbc66cb00135079d553", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Pleasing and clever, especially with the use of the first-person to hide information, but probably not something I would have picked up on its own merits; what's been recommended to me is the series as a whole.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 26 20:57:53 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 30 20:55:03 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Wed Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "1073104", "review_id": "20169b38dd14ed1ba87b26d1f229dc43", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The only interesting parts of this book are the characters of Tremane, who is hardly given any time at all, and Karal, who shares far too much of his time in this book with the thoroughly irritating An'desha. Everyone else gets no development in this book because we're still supposed to care about them from the previous trilogy, which quite obviously I don't. \n And then there's the plot. I know that reading Lackey for the plot is like reading Playboy for the articles, and yet. Ouch.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 15 18:35:17 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 30 17:43:09 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Sun Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Fri Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "8177130", "review_id": "511710aa524020436f78361f126c02d4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I put up four stars, which is my default for \"really good book\", but I might bump that up to five as I keep thinking about it. This definitely walks the science fiction/horror line in the way that I like, which is about the world-building and the dissonance from reality rather than the structure of the story itself. It's actually a bit of a horror structure as well, I think, but with science fiction characters. There were a few unexpected notes in the descriptions of bodies -- who is fat, who is small, who is pale, who is marked physically by magic and can it be cut out of their bodies? Still thinking about that. \n I will note that this book, the first in a series, is still 99 cents for the Kindle edition, which as I recall is what prompted me to take a chance on it after hradza's review, and I just went and bought the second book in this series after reading this one.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 27 14:49:16 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 08 17:43:05 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sun Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "1537536", "review_id": "a0607ccfd7103c585e4c0761862881d1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "An interesting book, although it suffers from a drastic lack of shades of gray. Everyone is either eeeeeeeevil or sympathetic to the protagonist, and everyone who is eeeeeeeevil knows and revels in it.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 12 12:20:12 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 28 15:10:21 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "6933876", "review_id": "3449193a3bb055c375680e0f0a55da1e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n This book had a much more believable ending on the plot than the first book -- nearly no strange coincidences required! And I like the supernatural twists on the steampunkery, like the explanations for why telegraph isn't feasible and dirigible is. The emotional resonances are still a little weird with Our Heroes talking a big line about how much they argue by yelling and sex when in fact they actually argue by avoidance and secret-keeping, and the ending with regards to that is -- well, painful. \n Also, I suppose it's nice that only one of the evil lesbians was killed off, but I wish that the protagonist's-eye-view of them had been less faux-coy.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 28 08:12:20 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 20 16:13:20 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Tue Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "77354", "review_id": "5874cb4ebe9029c8c9cd89a09aeaf50b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Absolutely lovely old-school McKillip. I enjoyed the delicate touch with the magic and the girls' friendships at the inn and that the king took responsibility for the ending and many other things!", "date_added": "Sat Oct 24 20:10:39 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 11 12:47:37 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "3259963", "review_id": "ceaad2140809acfc38dc22dbb2cfe0fe", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I picked this book up based on the subtitle touting it as \"The Definitive Steampunk Anthology\", which will teach me to believe cover blurbs instead of checking reviews! I am not terribly familiar with steampunk, but I think that this collection, while interesting, is highly unlikely to be definitive. Then again, I didn't even read all of it, so perhaps I missed a shining gem. \n What I did read was a mixed bag. The good: \n \"Static\" by Marly Youmans combined fantastic world-building with fairy-tale retelling and did it well. I really liked this story and intend to track down more of this author's work immediately. \n \"Machine Maid\" by Margo Lanagan was very, very creepy, mostly in a good way, and the use of the Australian frontier caught my attention, accustomed as I am to American frontier stories. \n \"Speed, Speed the Cable\" by Kage Baker suffered from an ending that lacked all punch, at least for someone like me not well-versed in Victorian historical personages. The body of the story was quite interesting, though. \n \"Hannah\" by Keith Brooke packed a good punch into the end, but the story was only just barely interesting enough to carry me to it. \n The bad: \n \"Elementals\" by Ian R. MacLeod was pointless, and I loathed the main character and his attitude toward all of the other characters. Also, this grammatical construction bothered me immensely: \"As I've already said, I have no precise recollection of this first mention of his theory of elementals. Mostly likely, it would have swirled up with many other thoughts and suppositions. Equally likely, it would have been at our club, and probably at that time in the evening when things had started to become enjoyable blurred.\" \n The ugly: \n \"Steampunch\" by James Lovegrove was the opening story in this collection, and it begins like this: \"Hoi! Hoi, you! Yes, you, kid. Over here. I want a word. No, don't look like that. I'm not some poncey mandrake, though there's a fair few of them around here, I warn you. I won't be trying to stick my Nebuchadnezzar up your jacksie. Strictly a Lady Laycock fellow, me, always have been.\" So...that would be a no, then. \n The unknown: \n There were six more stories left, but -- okay, I can't actually type \"I ran out of steam\" with a straight face. Sorry!", "date_added": "Wed Oct 21 13:45:15 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 21 14:16:05 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "2814168", "review_id": "498ad046c85cbf319391dc39294a8fbf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a thoroughly charming YA book with a fabulous world and cast of characters. Cody and his peers are very much teenagers and deal with the supernatural not as heroes but as high school students. There are only a few places in the book where I cringe in sympathetic embarrassment, and the triumphant ending is delightful.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 03 20:20:56 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 03 20:29:15 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "227532", "review_id": "b1279b43b38273352f75b906a131df89", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Most of the stories in this book are straightforward and well-done ghost stories -- \"The Ghost\" is obvious but amusing, \"Shadow Brother\" and \"For Love of Him\" are creepy as advertised, and \"October Chill\" and \"Being Dead\" are touchingly sad. \"Dancing with Majorie's Ghost\" is silly, and not as interesting as the others. \n \"Drop by Drop\" is horrifying. Not terrifying. When you get to the end of the story (or near enough to put the end together) and realize what's happened, it's horrifying, of the put-the-book-down-and-shudder variety. It took me a month or so to tentatively pick up the book and dare the other stories, which are not horrifying. So...well done, I guess?", "date_added": "Mon Sep 21 15:38:10 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 12 09:43:41 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "5537014", "review_id": "86e0321dbd2bdfb60664aa31f6f481b6", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Just like everyone else who's reviewed this book so far, it seems, I loved A Fistful of Sky and was deeply disappointed in this sequel. Pretty much the only reasons that this isn't getting one star instead of two are that it's mostly not actively awful and there's nothing in it which hurts any of the joy of A Fistful of Sky. It's not worth reading alone or as that book's sequel, though. \n For the curious: This is the story -- or rather, a too-short excerpt from the middle (not the end) of what might be the story -- of Gyp's older sister Opal, the one who left home to be a make-up artist in Hollywood. Opal is married to her work in ways which ought to be weird and creepily sexual but actually play out blandly, doesn't care much about anyone (including herself), and appears to have split off multiple personalities which are just as boring as she is. Also, \"things happen, some of them a bit scary or unpleasant\" does not a plot make. Also, making the protagonist too stupid to notice what's right under the readers' noses does not count as subtle characterization or foreshadowing. Gah. So disappointing!", "date_added": "Sat Sep 12 21:39:49 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 12 21:55:39 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "6306686", "review_id": "f78dd3f399331ece743ade96882bcf78", "rating": 3, "review_text": "An awful lot of juggling balls went up into the air in this book, and only a few of them were caught again. This book seemed to spend a lot of time on the Lee/Taro romantic comedy and not much on secondary characters or plot -- there were many characters back from the first and second books, but only some of them had anything much to do, and the new characters introduced were only roughly sketched out. If they're going to be as important as was implied, I'd really like to know more about them, and since Lee didn't care, we didn't learn. (Which, on a technical note, I do have to admire! In fact, I'd really have preferred getting less information on Ben to match what Lee didn't notice. I don't think that this is too hypocritical -- what I'd truly like would be to reach into the book and shake Lee until she pays more attention to people and plot, so, y'know, plenty of points for suspension of disbelief.) \n All that said, I enjoyed this book quite a bit as a section of the ongoing series! Clearly we're building toward something interesting here, and I hope it won't be too long before we get book five.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 26 17:50:43 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 30 17:26:44 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "3186058", "review_id": "a43120028fbb3f3648fab342e182a26a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Huh. I'm not really sure what to make of this, but I can tell you one thing: I did not see the ending coming! Did I like the ending? That I'm still not sure about, but I think I'll be thinking about it for a while.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 26 17:50:10 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 15 21:40:02 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Tue Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "1848561", "review_id": "0ce7ff78fc2508aa10cf3197fd97f6e2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n A disappointing book -- it's complicated and interesting and fun right up until the end, at which point it collapses into a pile of cliches. It took me a while to spot the twist, but once I'd spotted it, that's all there was to the story. Still, fascinating world-building!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 25 19:56:39 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 25 20:25:26 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "6621968", "review_id": "ac004cc6c67d4d45959ab5d19dfb638f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Okay, I think I have sufficiently recovered from the crazy awesome to write a review. \n Probably the first thing I should say is that I have loved this series for years and years and I have been counting down to this particular book since its publication date was first floated, so those five stars are pretty much a gimme: this book would have had to be actively bad in order to get fewer stars than that. However, even given this bias, I'm quite sure that this book is very, very good. \n Although there is the usual attempt to provide context and some recapping, I don't see how anyone could pick up this book to start the series; you really need to read from the beginning. In fact, I went back and re-read book four before starting this one just to be sure I had the proper grounding, and I think it helped a lot. (Also, it drew out my anticipation, but you probably don't care about that.) With that in mind, this is a spoiler flag for the whole series as well as details about book five, so if you haven't read any of it yet, I suggest backtracking! \n A lot of the character focus in this book is on Tori and Jame as the lord and lordan of the Knorth; Mullen the forgotten Kendar continues to have a big impact, and Jame especially is dealing with the perils of being an authority figure. Tori's story doesn't really move forward as much as I'd hoped and Kindrie's story was oddly subdued -- so if you're a big Kindrie fan, this is probably somewhat disappointing, since the big reveal goes about how you'd expect but then Kindrie wanders off out of the book again. I'm all about Jame, though, so I didn't mind so much. (I love that Kindrie's first solution to the problem of forgotten names is to write them down, though! Sensible movement away from an oral culture in times of need! It was a jolt to realize that I'd been so immersed in the world myself that that simple solution hadn't occurred to me.) \n We actually meet some of the Merikit at last in this book. I'd been a bit worried about the potential wrongness of having someone outside the Merikit culture taking such an important cultural role role in the Merikit religion -- in terms of the cliches in the risk columns, the Merikit are bit Noble Savage, but Jame does not come in as the White Highborn Savior. She saves the village, in fact, by virtue of her in-between gender position. Although gender is something that the Merikit highlight and formalize for her, gender uncertainty and nonconformity have been with Jame since her Talisman days. (The running gag of mistaken identity between Jame and her brother reaches a new height toward the end of this book when Tori wanders around Tentir being constantly mistaken for his sister.) I do admire Gran Cyd's solution to Jame's right-hand-braid problem as well! I admire Gran Cyd quite a bit, actually, despite the clumsy device of having the Noyat ambassador insult her to emphasize his place as a bad guy. Part of that is that she took the Earth Mother's word that Jame was the Earth Mother's Favorite for the year and didn't make her prove herself all over again; that's real faith for you. \n Speaking of faith, Jame seems well settled on being the forefront of the Tyr-ridan these days. Perhaps some of that weapons training is paying off? Although she's moving awfully fast toward physical violence, and I'm still not sure what to make of the scene with Vant (especially since its actual occurrence from Jame's point-of-view was much calmer than Jame's berserker flares usually are, for all that her reaction afterward (and Harn and Sheth's comfort) are highly suitable. (Can I mention, tangentially, how much I really admire Sheth? He's a fantastic role model for Jame, Caineron and all.) I also really like Trishien's role in this and feel stunningly sorry for her. The play of politics is getting really complex here, with the Ardeth sinking into degeneracy and madness and the Caineron and Randir breaking free and rising. I'm really starting to need a diagram of alliances, though! \n Which leads me to the awesome glass map that Marc is rebuilding. I really love the details on this. There were a lot of really nice little touches in this book, like the Body-Becomes-Water exercises and the purring cocooned wyrm, and really creepy ones, like the sargent who carved her son's name in her arm or Harn helping his father with the white knife. \n Looking back over it, this isn't a book in which a great deal of plot happens; almost everything which goes on is in the character development and the behind-the-scenes shifting alliances. I really enjoy this, but partly I feel free to revel in this little breather while something big is clearly building with Urakarn and poor Graykin. ...When's the next book already?", "date_added": "Tue Aug 04 20:13:34 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 15 21:27:30 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Tue Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "62005", "review_id": "446b969544795a4e1fd02c9d46e326fd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Adorable! A lot of the fun of this book is related to figuring out what the heck is going on, and by the end enough is explained for satisfaction -- and, just as (if not more) importantly, enough is not explained for satisfaction. \n Also, in case your copy of this book doesn't make it clear, this is totally fanfiction of half a dozen Victorian English sources. It would've been a hit at Yuletide.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 26 21:27:23 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 28 18:26:55 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "229033", "review_id": "e803916d8bd7d2393570b6717c329a63", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really loved the world-building here, but it took me a while to warm to the characters. In fact, I appreciate Flora in this book more as the starting point of a series heroine than as the protagonist of this book alone; I had the first and second books in hand together and read them back-to-back, which definitely helped the first book. \n A couple of nice points: \n * I do love fantasy worlds which actually have gender equality in careers. \n * Women wear stays instead of bras! And nobody at all wears pants or any type of leggings, as far as I could tell. \n * Magic buzzes and has all sorts of non-standard descriptions. \n * There's public transportation by horse-drawn bus. \n I wonder a great deal about the history of Califa, its immigration patterns, and what relation it had to Huitzil (the Aztec nation) before being conquered in the previous generation. There are only a handful of Huitzil people in the city, apparently, all with diplomatic ties to Huitzil and all some level of physically altered (skin flayed off for religion, human/animal hybrid servents, and [spoiler redacted:]), and all of the non-Huitzil people have blond or red hair and green or blue eyes. Language-wise, I think the non-English terms are a mix of Spanish, French, and what may be Icelandic, Old English, and/or Dutch (I really want to get some of my linguist friends to read this book and explain it to me, actually -- where does one get a name like \"Cyrenacia Sidonia Brakespeare ov Hadraada\"?!). At one point in the second book -- this isn't a spoiler -- there are several mythological beasts seen, all of them traditionally European. Also in the second book -- and this is a mild spoiler, so I'll be vague -- at least one power of vodoun bokors is attributed (pop-culturally) to Huitzil priests, so the Caribbean alternate history must also have had interesting twists! \n This book is, as the second book shows, clearly the launch of a series -- it's marked as a trilogy, but any world that already has additional short stories seems destined for more than three books -- and I'm definitely interested in reading more.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 25 10:50:03 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 07 10:51:20 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon Sep 07 10:51:20 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "5552232", "review_id": "75d4db5bedc6d6dc66f4b2fb72ff5cdf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "...Well, that was far more quasi-incestuous sex magic than I expected to meet this side of fanfiction. \n I really liked this book. I'd hit a bad run and started to forget that the urban fantasy equivalent of the B movie can actually be good, but this is definitely a good book. It's cheerful and sexual and funny and well-built, and it definitely improved my week.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 24 11:21:06 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 15 20:52:33 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Tue Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "359375", "review_id": "6cc85c56dfa6a019e7785120ea03b19f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Interesting. It felt like a very slow, thoughtful book, but a lot of things went by much too quickly -- Anton and Svetlana's courtship appears to have occurred entirely between sections one and two, for example, and really nobody except for Anton and Egor got much in the way of characterization. It was neat to have the mix of fantasy elements and complicated mysteries, though, and the mysteries all had great flourishing reveals as Anton figured them out (although I would have liked to have their emotional significances worked out for a little longer). There was a slightly old-fashioned feeling from having a vaguely Holmesian hero who won by being actually smart, not just clever and tough. Also, I was fascinated to read a story so grounded in Moscow and Russia, a setting very foreign to me. \n I'm not hopping to read the sequels, though; the main point of the book seems to have been \"how do you act truly good when the consequences of anything you do seem to be evil?\", and there's only so far you can go with an answer like \"um, I don't know\".", "date_added": "Mon Jul 06 10:49:16 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 01 10:13:39 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "601978", "review_id": "d6c38499c000d37adabb7a740489e0b2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "You know how sometimes you read a book and you can just tell that it's being written to a specific genre even if you don't know what genre conventions it's actually answering? Well, this book is clearly a Manly Adventure Story of a sort which is unfamiliar to me. Since the first time I read this I've tried to get into several of the author's other novels and just sort of rebounded off the genre. \n Why do I enjoy this one, then? I think it's the concept, and I think you'll agree it's a doozy: Werewolf Secret Service vs Nazis! \n You see? Three stars. \n This is a decently substantial book, covering not just the \"vs Nazis!\" section but also an extended series of flashbacks to werewolf childhood. The \"Secret Service\" bits are...well, how fancy do you need the plot to be? Just play along. \n There are some pretty graphic \"vs Nazis!\" parts, including some horrific concentration camp scenes and a lot of torture (explicit) and rape (implied) -- pretty much what you'd expect in a \"Werewolf Secret Service vs Nazis!\" story, carefully rendered as fiction so it's not too traumatic to read (whether or not it should be). The perils of using real-life monsters, I suppose. \n There are also several rather ridiculous sex scenes, but those can be easily skimmed: his eyes are very green and he smells strangely musky; she has always been cool and competent but that musk drives her wild. There, that's all you need to know. \n Anyway, if Werewolf Secret Service vs Nazis! intrigues, here you go.", "date_added": "Sun May 10 15:40:35 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 15 17:48:35 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Fri May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "7882692", "review_id": "6b2940866c76a557f5bff181159daf01", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This wasn't such a brilliant collection as the previous two, I felt. The only thing which really leapt out at me was Nina Kiriki Hoffman's story about the dragon/human village -- I flipped back through that one after I finished it and was surprised that it was as short as it was, since it felt both complete in itself and like a hefty chunk of a novel. I do wish there were more of it!", "date_added": "Sat Mar 21 17:44:03 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 02 19:19:56 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Sun Jan 23 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "6124224", "review_id": "6cc1e5a123c1ea02833339c3973fc002", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A sequel! A sequel! Look -- it's book four at last! \n I reread the first three just before picking up this one; the transition was certainly jarring and I saw a few errors in consistency, but overall this book fits in very well with the older books. \n That's good and bad, as it turns out. The main thing that drove me nuts in the earlier books, especially the first two, was people jumping to conclusions instead of talking to each other, and most of the arguments between Akki and Jakkin made me want to reach into the book and slap them both. Yes, they're teenagers, but they're teenagers who've been living together on the run for a year and who can read each others' minds. \n Also, this is the book where things with sex -- or the coyness around it -- can only be called weird. Again I say: living together for a year. In a cave. Granted, they had less need than usual to huddle for warmth, but still. These lines from the third book, A Sending of Dragons, remain the sweetest moment between the two of them in the whole series (and they aren't even together) -- \n When he really became bored with his own company and felt himself slipping back into the half-sleep, he invented imaginary dialogues with Akki. She ended every one of those conversations with a hug. He got so he could feel her arms around him, the softness of her cheek on his. \n And the surprise gay secondary characters were...strange. Also the thing -- I'm trying really hard not to give spoilers here -- the thing with Likkarn was far too pat and undermined him a lot. \n All of that aside! I really enjoyed this book. A lot of the questions thrown open at the end of A Sending of Dragons were explored here, and I was satisfied with the ending of this story because it didn't have answers. This is the story of Jakkin and Akki, not of Austar IV -- well, mostly the story of Jakkin, although Akki's role is somewhat expanded -- and its central concepts are trust and responsibility. Solving the world's problems (and giving it new ones) can be handwaved in the epilogue if the characters' stories are resolved. \n I was pleased with most of Likkarn and amused by the complications poor Doctor Henk(k)y faced, and Sssargon remains ridiculous and cute. \n I would love to see more of this world's questions explored, but I don't know if Jakkin's story can give any more than it has; what I'd really like would be other people's stories, more exploration of the consequences of the slavery laws being lifted, some coherent explanation of the mountain cave dwellers (who are bizarrely called \"trogs\" in this book with no explanation of the source of that name) and their settlements, and for someone to realize that the food economy of Austar is about to be smashed.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 12 14:33:46 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sun May 24 20:57:17 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Fri May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "828433", "review_id": "1379df748e5d13bc236ebd9cd460cb8c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Oh God, I'm so ashamed of enjoying this at all. \n This book was extraordinarily scattered; it couldn't fix on a protagonist, a storyline, or even on a personality for any character which could be maintained for longer than a few pages without contradiction. Everything was entirely predictable except for one possible twist in the ending which I was really hoping for and, alas, did not in the slightest receive. \n Really, the best part of this book was that I was reading a library copy into which some previous poor soul had inked margin notes such as \"dictionary!\" and \"I wish you understood English titles -- is this fellow a younger son?\" and \"well, you know your Kipling, anyway\". \n (What? Yes, of course I'm going to keep reading this series. What? Shut up.)", "date_added": "Thu Feb 05 15:37:48 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 12 21:36:34 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sat Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "2881536", "review_id": "fc916e7f1316e0cf65085c50f4c90cf9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It's like the Nightside books, except that nearly half of the weird stuff presented actually had a purpose! So, despite the fact that the protagonist spent more time congratulating himself for being clever and bad-ass than he did actually being clever or, y'know, halfway competent, I'll be looking for the sequel. Perhaps in that one the protagonist won't be so ridiculously overpowered that the text of every fight scene could be replaced by \"OMG WE'RE GOING TO DIE -- but wait, I had this handy-dandy Save-The-Day-Device in my back pocket all along, so I never really had any reason to be panicked or even mildly alarmed.\" I know I sound disparaging, but it was so nice to be able to enjoy the plot of a Simon R. Green book again. (Seriously, his earliest stuff was so good -- what happened?)", "date_added": "Thu Feb 05 15:36:06 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 09 13:32:56 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "3103806", "review_id": "0c2bc068ce28216263adfab4f66ffa8e", "rating": 1, "review_text": "No. Just...no.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 05 15:25:01 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 10 16:06:48 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Thu Feb 10 16:06:48 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Thu Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "3598195", "review_id": "9e93e87362f67bdc1640adda78bce9e3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really love retold fairy tales, but I also have what I think should not be a terribly picky rule: a clever concept is not a substitute for a story. A disappointingly large number of so-called \"fractured fairy tales\" fail this simple test, and the cover art and blurb for this book were not very promising, to the point where I would not have picked it up at all if I hadn't been rather impressed with this author's book \n Goblin Quest \n , which had a clever concept and a very good story. This book does not have a story which is that good; it's decent, but nothing exciting, and frankly if I hadn't already had my expectations lowered by the cover I might not have finished it. On the other hand, there was a lot of heavy exposition coupled with many, many threads left dangling, which means that sequels would be starting from a much nicer place, story-wise. I'll keep an eye out, and in the meantime I don't disrecommend this book to fairy tale fans.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 29 18:20:49 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 11 18:52:23 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "290997", "review_id": "11aef5ff66d9c2bdf7e9b14ffee88394", "rating": 2, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n There's a fantastic story in here. Unfortunately, it's lost under a flood of awkward writing: Angelique's family dramas are only roughly sketched in, Drew's reasons for simultaneously despairing and going through the motions of curse-breaking are never explored, the magic that surrounds Drew's castle suffers from a near-complete lack of world-building, and, sadly, the contortions that the narrative voices go through to mostly avoid using pronouns for Drew are tremendously irritating and not at all mysterious, partly because the reader knows right from the beginning that Drew's \"secret\" is that she's a woman but mostly because it's so clumsily done that it makes nongendered language into a torturous ordeal of sentence fragments and epithets, which I certainly hope was not the intended message! \n On Angelique's family, I feel as though her father could have been drawn in much subtler strokes, with more emphasis on how betrayed he feels by the \"weak\" people around him and less explicit emphasis on his own weaknesses and greed -- far less is needed, since the entire structure of the story rests on the weakness of the father and since the changes for this interpretation nicely highlight that weakness as greed. (When he dies and no one cares, there should be at least a little pathos!) Angelique's brothers are almost complete ciphers, and Angelique's mother's family gets throwaway lines that are very nearly the only characterization anyone in that family has. \n The flashback scene that should have been the heart of Drew's story is barely two pages long, and it's only clear that it is a flashback and not a verbal recounting by the pronoun changes and the lack of quotation marks -- neither of which, I'm sad to say, the editing to that point primed me to read as deliberate rather than accidental -- and, for a searingly traumatic experience, it's almost completely lacking in tension or richness of description. (\"Noooo!!! [sic]\" is not, young padawan knights aside, dramatic.) \n So, all right, we have young Drew, twenty-one years old and raised in glorious isolation by her father to believe that she'll grow up to be Count and marry a nice young girl; we have conniving witchy step-mother who preps Drew's father and then sets up Drew to be disinherited and cast out; we have, again, terribly naive young Drew all alone in this world, believing her family who says she's a monster. Drew spends around fifty years wallowing in a broken heart and severely bruised pride and then at least a hundred more theoretically trying to break the curse but actually setting herself up to be rejected over and over again, thereby proving that her family was right and she was wrong. Great backstory, right? And yet, no. It's astoundingly dull, multiple exclamation points aside. \n The curse is never very well drawn, since it seems to consist mostly of saying that Drew will be twenty-one and stuck in a valley on the borders of fairyland until she gets married, but it only takes a little bit of clever wording for Drew to go charging off to Angelique's rescue after all. (Also, fairyland? Well-used to set the scene; completely irrelevant to all of the plot. There was practically an entire cutlery set on the mantelpiece in the first act in order to draw a knife in the third, if you'll allow a cliche. Why are the Old Ones serving Drew? What's the point of the snakes? What are the poachers looking for? Why is Angelique learning magic? We'll never know!) The corresponding curse on the wicked step-mother came completely out of left field; I'm not sure if there were hints of it that I just missed, but with a little more build-up and a little less what-the-heck-just-happened-there the whole setting up for the revenge killing could have been a great ending. As it is, of course you know that Drew's going to shrug and walk out -- the dramatic rescue has already been completed at this point -- but she stands there listening to the step-mother rant for two pages first, probably with the same what-the-heck-crazy-lady look on her face that I had reading it. \n I really like what this story could have been, though. It's definitely a fairy-tale retelling with far more to the story than just a clever concept (lesbian Beauty and the Beast!). I'm almost tempted to give it three stars. \n (Also? The illustrations in this edition are...well, okay, the little roses are cute and the silhouettes are incomprehensible but still somewhat cute. I think it might be the ridiculously typeset captions on the silhouette illustrations that crack me up: they use some retro-eighties pixelated font that is either a severe typesetting error or some artistic choice which I am completely incapable of understanding. This may be a metaphor for the entire book, actually.)", "date_added": "Wed Nov 19 19:36:24 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 19 16:35:29 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "3768830", "review_id": "e4427058228f484ada00ed5011326f94", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh, Kohane! I really adore her character. \n Also? It was definitely a good choice to read this in the restaurant tonight; this series always makes me so hungry with Watanuki and his intimacy-via-cooking.... (Not that Domeki seems able to handle Watanuki being affectionate any other way! Which is a bit of a reversal, isn't it?)", "date_added": "Thu Oct 09 14:49:49 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 30 17:20:42 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "3091315", "review_id": "19baa275f953d031c0fd4970e1bb0be4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Well, it's no Magic's Pawn, but none of them ever will be again (let us not dwell on the probability that this is because I will never be twelve again) and in fact it's not a book I'm particularly ashamed of being given in hardcover. It sounds like a new series is being launched with some promising setup -- tension between the Heralds, Bards, and Healers! Herald turning on Herald! Ominous strangers from outside the borders! A certain lack of the preaching to the choir which has been driving me mad in Lackey's other recent works!", "date_added": "Thu Sep 18 12:13:14 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 26 19:29:23 -0800 2008", "read_at": "Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "1130927", "review_id": "350014d77278bde3ca559947652adb6d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A lighthearted romp with homoeroticism, violence, and hardcore identity-porn! Just what I needed right now. (It's better than the first one, although I greatly enjoyed that one too and this one probably wouldn't make sense without it.)", "date_added": "Wed Sep 10 19:37:52 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 17 07:07:35 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "385483", "review_id": "60f826eb5232f8cb809b06952b0b4733", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book pulled me in fast, and it'll probably pull you in too if you're enough like me that you're reading my book reviews -- that is, a fan, a geek, or at the very least some variety of nerd. It slows a little in the middle as we begin branching out to follow other, stranger characters, but it pulls together and starts rushing forward again soon enough. Every section is written in first person, but we follow a variety of people, some of them mercifully briefly when they narrate in heavy dialogue (it was saved from being awful by the sheer chutzpah of oh yes, he's going to take this to its horrifyingly logical conclusion, really and truly); many of the sections are preceded by mock-RPG character sheets (fear not any roll-the-numbers scenario with stats like \"wisdom: fortune cookie +8, experiential -2\" or \"shit points, give/take: +3000/0\"). All of the characters had a certain something that made them interesting and memorable, including the bad guys, but I was definitely with Hamza and his fanpair Yehat the whole way down, rejoicing to see characters so much like me leading in an adventure story -- which might seem odd on the face of it, as I'm neither Black, male, Canadian, underemployed, single, nor heterosexual, but was instead quite straightforward as it felt like Hamza and Yehat and I approached these identity points with the same attitudes and that is how the identification actually happened, even beyond the huge common point of fannish geekiness -- and also to see characters who are so close and yet so very far from me (these would be the Fanboys) get...well, I won't spoil it, but I think you know what I mean. \n This isn't a particularly easy book to put down and pick up, but once I settled down with it it wasn't a hard book, although I had to pause for contemplation of the sheer awesome occasionally. I won't give away the ending except to say that it was not what I expected but it was what I wanted. Oh, it absolutely was, in all sorts of fantastic ways.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 07 21:02:57 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 18 07:52:15 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "1294303", "review_id": "d7aacba193fc79cd4e90c8f9d28401b2", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Re-read 8/2008", "date_added": "Tue Aug 05 19:11:26 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 05 19:11:26 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "1022658", "review_id": "999fc99b6258dc8ee43abb801f23506d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The eighties were good (or \"good\") for more than just music and hair: they left a definite imprint on fantasy as well. Witness: \n Starhawk ducked under the door flap of her tent, and held it aside for Fawn to pass. \"I don't know if that's why the wizards finally died out,\" she said. \"But I do know they weren't all evil like Altiokis. I knew a wizard once when I was a little girl. She was--very good.\" \n Fawn stared at her in surprise that came partly from astonishment that Starhawk had ever been a little girl. In a way, it seemed inconceivable that she had ever been anything but what she was now: a tall, leggy cheetah of a woman, colorless as fine ivory--pale hair, pewter-gray eyes--save where the sun had darkened the fine-grained, flawless skin of her face and throat to burnt gold. Her light, cool voice was remarkably soft for a warrior's, though she was said to have a store of invective that could raise blisters on tanned oxhide. It was more believable of her that she had known a wizard than that she had been a little girl. \n --pp 6-7, mass market paperback \n Really, could this delight come from any other decade? For an added bonus, my copy even has tremulous binding and that old-paperback smell! Definitely a comfort re-read, with some fantastic female characters (have we been backsliding on this?), great world-building (religions, histories, magic systems), and gruff male and female mercenaries with hearts of gold (mmmm, fantasy tropes! how I love this one).", "date_added": "Tue Jul 29 18:31:02 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 23 18:07:18 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "3922251", "review_id": "db2672ad6395988c4a68e8bee5084020", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Hmm. So far -- about halfway in -- this seems quite trite and derivative, but it remains oddly charming (perhaps because I latched onto it when I'd been having such a bad day that nothing but sitting in an armchair in a bookstore could salvage it). \n And now I'm to the end of it -- or, at least, the end of the book, which turned out to be the surprise first installment of a series -- and it's still trite, derivative, and charming. I might read the next one, if only because this story is hitting my people-in-disguise-confronted-by-people-they-fooled buttons....", "date_added": "Tue Jul 29 18:28:06 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 31 08:40:37 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Thu Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "474072", "review_id": "cdba6add54ca7bb2a615306326642cf5", "rating": 1, "review_text": "This book felt like it was trying very hard to scare me by holding a flashlight under its chin and making spooky ghost noises. I never finished it; perhaps someday I'll give it another chance.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 23 14:55:03 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 23 14:58:33 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "43808", "review_id": "41e42e909dd520dc4028703f81a5c77b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh, wow. It's kind of embarrassing how much I loved this graphic novel as a kid....", "date_added": "Sat Jul 19 19:44:23 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 19 19:44:23 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "642071", "review_id": "62b6d188b88778087f4593f8777983a5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book looked familiar at the library, but I think I might have picked it up, read a little, and stopped -- I'm not sure why I would have done that, since it's quite intriguing so far (perhaps it wasn't what I was looking for at the time?), but I definitely did remember the beginning and I definitely didn't remember the thing that happened just now at the end of part one! Hurray for finding it again, then.... \n And now, having finished it: I like this! And it has a sequel, which it clearly needs, so I will have to find that (I think I saw it on the shelf at the library). \n It's an interesting opening to a series; things start out pretty straightforward fantasy, with a system of magic, a decadent government with a religious inquisition, and an old-time religion of which the first thing we learn is that it had rhythmic dancing music. And it is a pretty straightforward fantasy all the way through, with a war fought with magefire and energy generated by music -- but the old-time religion is a variation on Christianity (I have a feeling that if I knew more historical theology I'd recognize the doctrinal arguments going on) and the protagonist isn't an instant passionate convert. The author does seem a little confused about the place of women in this society, since both religions have female Gods and women have a lot more social and religious power, but a lot of civil leadership seems to be defaulting to men still. I was very pleased with the way the protagonist's sexuality was handled, though; I actually flipped to the back of the book to see whether it was going to be a bait-and-switch the way a lot of fantasy does, and (you may consider this a spoiler, but I think of it as a recommendation) it isn't: her crush on her roommate is not handwaved away. \n An interesting start for this series!", "date_added": "Thu Jul 17 16:30:57 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 19 19:07:38 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "593792", "review_id": "2530d2c8a594d748c4a2053104dc3ae9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was frivolous, predictable, and a heck of a lot of fun! Also, it reminded me how much I love Wild Angel, so I went and re-read that one Friday night. I'll have to get my hands on There and Back Again, the third book in this not-actually-a-series, one of these days....", "date_added": "Mon Jul 14 20:36:52 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 24 18:34:45 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "1848560", "review_id": "d68022400abf5d39502b57aa9d4d255b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A fun book, playing with memory, identity, and loyalty to people whose identity is changing. And a neat system of magic! One thing you always have to say about Knaak, he can pull out the world-building. \n (And this is a book by Knaak in which, unlike Janus Mask, figuring out the twist makes the plot more interesting, not less!)", "date_added": "Mon Jul 14 19:36:46 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 25 21:26:28 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "212850", "review_id": "8d7b5b2dff7a41121d7055ccda05ad44", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I picked this up at a time when I really wasn't in the mood for a complicated book, but it starts out kicking some complex ass and taking some complex names, so I'm looking forward to getting back to it one day....", "date_added": "Mon Jul 14 19:27:42 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 08 15:11:30 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "22895", "review_id": "9ab4937e5b46ff3578c031eedf0307fb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Fantastic setup; very little pay-off. Alas.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 05 21:29:54 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 07 11:59:25 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "1871863", "review_id": "2cca038ed555cde7bea90a9802f93977", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Oh, very nice! This is definitely living up to the promise of the first book, although it's a bit more straightforward; I may be somewhat forgiving because it definitely has a middle-book feel to it. Is the series is actually intended to be a trilogy? I feel like I should have re-read Foundling before launching into this, because it follows quite directly from the first book character-arc-wise as well as time-wise. (There's a massive glossary in the appendix in the back -- seriously, massive: the appendix is a hundred pages long! -- but I generally don't find that sort of thing helpful for characterization.) I may have to buy both of these books and keep them on hand for when the third one comes out, in fact.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 26 11:58:19 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 24 20:14:20 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "210250", "review_id": "079df4f12263b8d5a6810c825b85fc8d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book keeps shooting for ordinary and missing. It's fascinatingly off-rhythm for the story it seems to be telling, and I'm very intrigued to see what else this author produces in this carefully-built universe and, hopefully, in others someday.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 26 11:52:56 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 26 16:33:15 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Thu Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "1524269", "review_id": "46feff54f0b6ad517dbf67b64e7bec28", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked this book a lot more than the second one in the series -- things are moving in this world now, and it's clear that there's a lot being set up for future books (although not in a heavy-handed \"my goodness, I think I'm going to set this dagger on the mantelpiece now!\" way, mostly). Also, there was new plot without having to give the protagonists new superpowers to deal with it, which is always a welcome sign in an ongoing series. All in all, a book fun enough to prompt me to immediately pick up and re-read the first book in the series! \n (I really don't like the new cover art style, though. This looks to me very much like a romance novel cover, which sets up rather different expectations that the comedy/fantasy style used on (my copies of) the first two books. I doubt I'd have ever picked the series up if the first book had looked like this. According to the reviews on the back of the book, though, it's also quite popular with romance readers, so if that's you, well, congratulations -- you win at covers this round! I personally found the romantic elements of this book well in keeping with the rest of the series' take on things, which is to say, surprisingly healthy for fantasy. Maybe that's part of the romance book angle?) \n (Also, there's an atrocious editing error at the bottom of page 257 in my book -- the tenth printing of the first edition -- so if you have a chance of getting a later printing or a different edition, I'd recommend it; maybe they'll have fixed it.)", "date_added": "Tue Jun 24 20:15:49 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 28 17:57:17 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "672828", "review_id": "656c1cd08d9620417d74b4f25a477987", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Eh. It couldn't hold my interest past the first two chapters in the time I had it checked out of the library. Maybe I'll try it again later -- it looked like it might be getting into at least a few unusual angles on faerieland.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 24 15:07:59 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 24 15:08:03 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "828440", "review_id": "a0edf9b890e5b8003191b4d49254b83b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book is rather ridiculously fun, in that certain nerdy way. It's distinguished from the typical guy-from-our-universe-is-a-fantasy-wizard run of things by having the fantasy wizardry depend on both actual poetry and actual religion. \n re-read 8/2008", "date_added": "Sat Jun 21 20:42:34 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 21 20:47:46 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "384532", "review_id": "6a7cf964e076df11e5cc2a70d5c8a62a", "rating": 0, "review_text": "The sequel to Rite of Conquest, which put me to sleep.", "date_added": "Fri May 09 20:18:20 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri May 09 20:18:27 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "111012", "review_id": "b6f4bcc6afa13a397d5876f38951b1c6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ah, that was good! This was my second try at reading this book. I really enjoyed the first one, but I bounced off of this one on my first try because it takes a really long time to get good. Tess spends the first half of this book being yanked around from one out-of-control situation to the next, plus she really, really is just as appalling a judge of character as Jeck claims! (I don't think that that's much of a spoiler, especially since the claim was in the first book.) \n Of course, at just about exactly the point where I stopped reading last time, things start coalescing, and it all comes together in the end. (I'm not sure I entirely accept the change in {spoiler} at the very end, but the explanation with Tess' unconscious {spoilers} at the very very end do make it fit.) I'd give this book four stars for the ending; the three stars is for the extreme slowness in character development at the beginning. \n Is there a book three yet? Because I really want it!", "date_added": "Fri May 09 20:15:30 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 15 22:02:04 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "7792983", "review_id": "1319a5ebff0c04bf375916821e11ce6a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I definitely liked this book well enough to be on the lookout for the next in the series; I like Dawn Cook's writing and The Decoy Princess built up a lot of good faith, and I'm willing to give this series more of a chance. \n There are two things I didn't like about this book, both spoilery: \n One, I was very disappointed in the romance between Alissa and Strell. It seemed to be running on an entirely typical \"meet, bicker, work together, wistful self-sacrifice\" pattern -- I believed the build-up as friends, but the swing to romance felt like a cop-out to the genre. Had they stayed as friends and worked to make the pose as siblings more believable, I would have enjoyed this book a lot more. \n Two, I'm entirely baffled by how easily Strell freed Talo-Toecan. He was in an unbreakable magical prison! No one had the magical power to release him! Surely no one would think to open the prison door to free him.... It's quite possible that there was something tricky about the prison that I missed, but I think it's also possible that the plot device just plain failed. \n Still, this is an intriguingly-built world and some characters with interesting backgrounds and skills, and I'm moderately invested in finding out what happens next....", "date_added": "Fri May 09 20:05:13 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 21 16:13:19 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Thu May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "671560", "review_id": "bab341931f628cdab280b60442f17c59", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Huh. I like this book a lot better the second time around, and I'm about to start reading the rest of the trilogy for the first time. \n I'm not sure what I think of the device that gives away what I would have expected as the plot of the trilogy in the first pages -- this is obviously not a spoiler, so: Tobin clearly does successfully take the throne, which ought to be shifting the focus from \"what happens\" to \"how do people feel about the way it happens\", but I still feel like the pacing of the story is very conventional and driven by the tension of whether Tobin can be positioned for the coup.... \n Brilliantly creepy, though. It will be interesting to see how the question of Tobin's sexuality is handled in the next book!", "date_added": "Tue May 06 17:59:39 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 02 20:09:15 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "569322", "review_id": "a35f4fe46f1af2f9d917aaa91ebce1f8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "These books are almost unbearably cute. While some of the gender stereotypes felt a little forced (Marlo starts arranging flowers the night before the full moon), it's generally so far over the top (Marlo's female frame is smaller, so he always winds up clutching his clothes to his chest as though about to swoon) that watching Marlo whiplash between his gender expressions is most of the charm of these stories. (The rest is David's cheerful bisexuality in the face of Marlo's freakouts, I feel!) The collected stories -- there's very little difference in tone or theme between the two volumes, so I'm basically reviewing them together -- are all complete cliches, often other couples trying to break up Marlo and David because of some misunderstandings of their own, although I did like the one with Marlo's American fiancee (she was so forthright about it! and I find it very easy to believe that she liked Marlo's girl form more than she would admit). It's a pity that the storyline is complete and there won't be any more of these!", "date_added": "Thu May 01 20:59:03 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 29 14:59:31 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Thu Oct 29 14:59:31 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "593788", "review_id": "0214d15830346f4458128c6c19299bab", "rating": 5, "review_text": "re-read 8/2008", "date_added": "Wed Apr 23 08:26:54 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 23 08:26:54 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "36161", "review_id": "2cb77c0f659477b2702ecf4e0b27e5f4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is just amazing; every time I re-read it I am just as invested in the characters, their growth, and their individual pieces of the whole story as I was the very first time, if not more so. I would love for there to be more of this book, but at the same time I could never give up the perfect ending. \n I'm also caught between the urge to do a thorough thematic review and talk about this story's use of gender, religion, memory, civilization, etc., and the urge to spoil you for nothing, so I will say no more today.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 20 08:42:30 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 20 08:54:28 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "780918", "review_id": "d8452b73b2fc540c7c2ad3feaa275546", "rating": 1, "review_text": "The book was building a world that seemed quite interesting, but I kept falling asleep.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 19 19:15:47 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 19 19:15:47 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "171971", "review_id": "debec0dc8e965287e86643c70938d6a0", "rating": 1, "review_text": "This book really should have been my tip-off that it wasn't Judith Tarr the author that I liked but the specific world she created for her \"Hound and Falcon\" trilogy. I loved that trilogy; this book bored me to tears.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 19 19:15:19 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 19 19:22:44 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "71409", "review_id": "767e8462bb249dd47be98296d3cfde51", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I really ought to read this book again, but I have a very strong memory of flipping back through it after finishing the first time trying to figure out what the heck had just been going on. This book seemed to have several different stories in it, each following on from the previous one without resolving anything whatsoever from it, which just, I have to say, drove me nuts. They were all good and interesting stories, too, and I'd really like to know how they end! Maybe there's resolution in there that I just missed, but I'm not sure I could take the disappointment a second time if there isn't.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 19 18:48:02 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 19 18:55:29 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "57504", "review_id": "944a419c23f6182b9420161fcb3b6e7e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Although this book doesn't stand up to a re-read quite as well as I'd like -- the actual plot is not very complex and even the first time through serves mostly as a character vehicle, which means that the second time it can get a little frustrating watching people fail to realize things which are by now quite obviously foreshadowed to the returning reader -- the two things that I loved about it so much the first time remain utterly delightful, enough to keep those five stars up there. One: the post-apocalyptic setting is just the way I like it, with the patching-together of old technology to new purpose, the generational gaps between the people who remember and the ones who don't, and the hints of someplace else to go where things are better but also worse. Two: the use of religion as magical realism generates a very weighty background because it can borrow from actual history, and it provides (to me, anyway) an immediate connection with the characters (like the protagonist here) who start with a strong fear of and resistance to it because they are nonbelievers/grounded in nonmagical realism.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 19 18:47:59 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 19 19:11:25 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "140148", "review_id": "48160f080cd5abde796d0c7abb125eae", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Oh god, it's bad. It's so bad. And yet it's still a graphic novelization of Jhereg and therefore I still love it. That three-star rating is a compromise on a deep need to give this both five stars and one. \n Fans of the original book will understand everything they need to know when I say that Morrolan has a beard. And yet it has some beautiful touches, such as Aliera in a long dress floating off the ground and the spell calling Rocza to him.....", "date_added": "Thu Apr 10 20:58:59 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 10 21:07:38 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "1902740", "review_id": "8bddcf0935ad27837f0f414ed709a1d0", "rating": 0, "review_text": "There's nothing quite like recent-vintage Mercedes Lackey to get me through feeling ill. When the flu knocked me down a week ago, I knew just where to turn: \n The seventh daughter of the Sea King, Ekaterina is more than a pampered princess--she's also the family spy. \n Really, how could that be a better companion to chicken noodle soup, ice cream, and extra-fluffy pillows?", "date_added": "Thu Apr 03 12:46:23 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 08 15:11:27 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "77366", "review_id": "bdfd2e4c14af48d2978bb79356f7be62", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book as a kid and I love it still as an adult. It's one of those books that's so much a part of my life that it's hard for me to believe that not everyone has read it. Maur still creeps me out, Talat still makes me teary, and Aerin's surka rash as she climbs the tower remains the best thing ever.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 02 14:29:16 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 12 09:42:29 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Wed Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 15, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "317443", "review_id": "448681ab32a530dad578734da852a7d9", "rating": 1, "review_text": "This book was just bafflingly bad. It felt like so much energy went into the worldbuilding (and the world built seems like a fascinating one, with a number of intruiging characters) that there was none left over for the story, which dribbled on until it...I can't even say that it ended, because that would imply that it reached some sort of conclusion. The story just sort of stopped.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 02 14:18:43 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 02 14:22:35 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "155421", "review_id": "d52612004fb7d49dea44932c87bf269f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The thing about the Nightside books is that each story has an interesting mystery plot and the series as a whole has an awesome fantasy arc, but far too much of every book is spent on infodumping, in loving detail, all of the fun that the author had worldbuilding. I found I was too jaded to get interested in new settings or characters after the first few books because so few of them are ever seen again, and even the ones that do recur often have only bit parts in later stories.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 02 09:56:31 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 02 14:42:49 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "1291938", "review_id": "0b7c63bf60ec7568a817859a2b37a64c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the first book in what may be my favorite series of books ever. I...don't even know what else to say.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 26 20:12:54 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 24 09:20:21 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Aug 10 11:15:02 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "1069437", "review_id": "aaadf65eee0c415af35779bc5864a693", "rating": 1, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I was very disappointed in this book, or at least in the first half of it that I read before putting the thing down. I'm usually a big fan of Simon Green's writing, but the concept of the main character here seems to be something I find completely wretched: an boring-as-defining-characteristic man sees a beautiful-as-only-characteristic woman (in this case, \"the woman with the most perfect mouth in the world\"), falls in love with her without knowing anything at all about her, and in the end wears her down with his stalking. (I peeked at the last chapter; yup, he gets the girl.) \n No, thank you. I don't need to waste my time here; I'll go re-read some of the Hawk & Fisher or Nightside books instead.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 25 11:01:50 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 02 11:22:06 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "4937884e137afaa45446be1d2b760116", "book_id": "283494", "review_id": "bb1bf934261904122bddf858a81fd4b5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is a fun book! There's nothing dramatic in the plot, but it isn't formulaic, either, and the storytelling kept me focused on the characters instead of trying to guess the next plot twist so that I never had to feel jaded. Its real joy is in the human moments: the little pop culture asides that Corny and his family make, the times when Kaye and Corny very understandably have no idea what to do next, and most of all in the wonderful relationship between Kaye and her mother. Kaye seems to have gained a bit of maturity in her feelings toward Roiben between Tithe and this book -- which is not saying much, fortunately -- and it's nice to see her making new mistakes instead of the same ones over again!", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 13:37:26 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 26 20:38:29 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6fd69a1b667d6406b5cd54fca241335c", "book_id": "6011733", "review_id": "6cb384a83ad5c191784ba8c75fb11c9b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "lyst klh bnfs lmstwy lkn bh qlyl mn lfkr ljyd@", "date_added": "Thu Apr 11 10:18:18 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 11 10:19:02 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6fd69a1b667d6406b5cd54fca241335c", "book_id": "6004960", "review_id": "07550c25dfb15c0a08fec48dec22a607", "rating": 3, "review_text": "l bs bh , mshklth lwHyd@ nh tstnd ly sTwr@ mn khyl lktb wlyst kGlb lqSS lkhry", "date_added": "Thu Apr 11 10:12:59 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 11 10:13:57 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6fd69a1b667d6406b5cd54fca241335c", "book_id": "9032547", "review_id": "17163ff7febc3e8c238136bbb1cde3b8", "rating": 2, "review_text": "syy'@ jd fy tnwl lmwDw` \n n l `lm `n lflsf@ lkn hl tqn`ny bn flTwn ldhy yDrb bh lmthl m hw l shkhS ytqy' `ndm yry mr'@ wmqtn` bnn fy `lm khr \n hl kmw khdh nwbl lnh kn mntHr `Zmym \n hl rsTw kl m f`lh nh kn yqwl y'l@ wyl`n lns ...lqd ql `nh drwyn nh mw'ss `lm lHy \n knt tmny n fhm lflsf@ wlkn `ly l`ks lqd `lmt Hmqt lb`D lflsf@ wHmd khld twfyq tjhl lflsf@ dhth ?", "date_added": "Thu Jan 17 07:56:11 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 07 07:07:50 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6fd69a1b667d6406b5cd54fca241335c", "book_id": "3503947", "review_id": "1e60088b9ac45c6d0bcb71f6f9198236", "rating": 2, "review_text": "lryfyw lwl : \n jmyl@ jd jd \n lryfyw ltny : 2/8/2013 \n lSrH@ msh `rf n blGt qbl kdh zy fy tqdyrh , mzlt rwy@ msly@ w sls@ , SGyr@ jd tkd tqrb rwyt ljyb .wywjd mshkl@ kbry why ql@ lHdth ,bm`ny n lrwy@ bsT mn llzm lfkr@ mhm@ khdhh ,wkn sykwn fDl lw kmlt lrwy@ fy tfSyl lthwr@ ,lm ykn kwnh `fwy shyy' jyd \n shy kqyr@ fy Hytn tHtj `d@ tqyym", "date_added": "Fri Dec 21 05:27:13 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 02 07:13:09 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "cd031a042eec2e58438e1d9ee587674b", "book_id": "22934445", "review_id": "1f9c169fc73131801494bfd73c5e4232", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"In all your life, your only choice is the path of needles or the path of pins.\" \n Crimson Bound is a fantasy novel, which is loosely inspired on Little Red Riding Hood and is reminiscent of the dark atmosphere which is present in the original Grimm fairy tales. \n I love fairy tale retellings so when I found out that Crimson Bound was a retelling of the classic Red Riding Hood tale, with a dark and magical twist, I knew that I was in for a treat. Rosamund Hodge has successfully managed to create a whole new tale with slight nods to the Little Red Riding Hood tale by giving it a life of its own. \n The hardcover copy is a work of art. I really loved the cover artwork and the matching pine branch pattern on the book cover underneath the cover artwork. The colour scheme and artwork matched perfectly with the themes in this book. The world building of this book is quite fascinating and the setting is either heavy influenced or based in medieval France, with heavy references to french folklore, the names of the characters and the locations. It does help that Hodge has a way with words and it is very easy to visualise the gorgeous locations that feature in this book. \n We experience the story through the eyes of Rachelle, a girl whose sole obsession is to defeat the Devourer, the main antagonist of this book. I will try not to reveal much, but at a young age, Rachelle is careless and makes some grave choices which will haunt her for the rest of her life. Throughout the book, we experience Rachelle battling with her guilt and her life's mission to atone for her sins of the past. I did enjoy the fact that Hodge managed to create a heroine who is complex and deeply flawed. However this does not come off as a surprise since all the supporting characters are well fledged and complex. \n The only thing I can complain about this book was the romance aspect, especially the love triangle and the insta-love which felt forced to me and as if it was shoved in the reader's face. However it wasn't something that would discourage me from reading this book since it was just one aspect of this book and overall I really did enjoy this well crafted retelling.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 13 10:24:49 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 19 03:21:01 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Aug 19 03:21:01 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Aug 13 10:25:03 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd031a042eec2e58438e1d9ee587674b", "book_id": "13528319", "review_id": "c38ec24cbd25bdd85081f132f8a93e61", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was one of the most awesome books I've read this year. The author has provided the readers with an extremely creative way how to introduce them to the world - have a protagonist who has lost her memories and is now trying to figure out the world surrounding her \"old\" self by reading the instructions left by her former self. It was extremely interesting to explore the supernatural world through this manner and how the old and new Myfawny was so different and yet so similar in some ways. \n Furthermore Myfanwy is one of my favourite heroines ever. She is downright hilarious at several points of the plot and it's hard not to like her. I mean, who would fret about mints on your pillow and Toblerone when your life is being threatened and most of the time you're just winging it?", "date_added": "Wed Jun 07 20:59:10 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 02 16:38:47 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jun 27 21:27:16 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jun 07 20:59:11 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd031a042eec2e58438e1d9ee587674b", "book_id": "22328546", "review_id": "6ce4621eec0bf1a20b710f94e5ca8f42", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I really tried to enjoy this book. I was tempted to DNF this book more than once. I struggled to finish the book and I doubt I will ever finish the series. The main character is self centred and obnoxious and I found it very difficult to like or empathise with Mare. Throughout the book the reader is continuously being reminded of how special Mare is and how every man seems to throw reason out of the window to sacrifice their wellbeing for her. However we never seem to understand why... the author doesn't bother to explain why all men seem to throw themselves at her feet. They just do. On the other hand all women seem to hate her, once again without any apparent reason. \n I also didn't enjoy the fact that the characters were built so poorly that they felt like one dimensional characters. The romance/love triangle felt so mechanical that it was hard to even care about who Mare would eventually end up with. \n Personally I feel that this book was a mixture of the most popular book genres thrown in together to form a book which appeals to a large audience. I do not mind that but the book seemed to ride on the whole popular genres without attempting to create a world or characters which readers would feel that are compelling.", "date_added": "Sat May 20 23:19:14 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 18 14:53:59 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jun 11 09:17:52 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat May 20 23:19:14 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd031a042eec2e58438e1d9ee587674b", "book_id": "13636400", "review_id": "a1a5026cb643d7a053349998151782e0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I am quite torn about how to rate this book for several reasons. \n It's quite obvious that the author spent a lot of time building a complex dystopian world. I did enjoy the world-building and Paige is quite a likeable character. The whole story is fascinating and will appeal to any fantasy book lover. However this book seemed to have dragged on and on unnecessarily by constantly bombarding the reader with information. I do feel that it could be shorter and it might have been more appealing if it focused more on character development since I felt that most of the characters lacked a certain depth, which made it hard for me to empathise with them. \n All in all I did enjoy this book and will eventually get to read the sequels since I am curious to see what happens next.", "date_added": "Mon May 08 09:49:22 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 18 14:54:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd031a042eec2e58438e1d9ee587674b", "book_id": "20555443", "review_id": "4f8781359b62d2364c929ad8b8852983", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did so I was pleasantly surprised. I am not exactly a fan of stories where astronauts get stranded in space because well.. most stories end up being a depressing and increasingly lonely tale of struggle but the hype surrounding this book got me curious and I finally gave in and ordered this book. \n I must admit that the main character is what made this book so enjoyable. Despite of the dire situation Mark is in, he manages to remain positive and even manages to crack jokes at time where a normal person would probably just have given up and accepted their fate especially when faced with one obstacle after another. However Mark is relentless in his efforts to overcome any obstacle and he manages to be extremely resourceful. \n The scientific aspect of this book was an interesting aspect, since first of all it reminded the readers of how astronauts have to be equipped with a large variety of knowledge and different specialisations to survive in a very hostile environment. Furthermore it was obvious that the author spent a great deal of time researching and ensuring that the science and facts regarding space travel were accurate. I was also impressed to learn that the journey that Mark took with his rover does actually exist on Mars and NASA has released an interactive map detailing his journey. \n I spent these two days reading this book constantly on edge, hoping that Mark will manage to survive and escape Mars. I literally couldn't put this book down until I was practically nodding off to sleep. To conclude, I was pleasantly impressed with Andy Weir's debut novel and I do hope there are some future science fiction books in the future!", "date_added": "Fri Feb 17 11:33:05 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 19 01:17:15 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Feb 19 01:17:15 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Feb 17 11:33:06 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd031a042eec2e58438e1d9ee587674b", "book_id": "6547259", "review_id": "18b1e6e9231093704336889b8b86cdf9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is one of those giant books which did discourage me slightly from finishing the series. Not that I did not enjoy it, but I must admit this book starts off slow and in the beginning it is a bit difficult to figure out the direction all the different plots are taking. \n However the author kept dropping tiny hints as he always does before the beginning of every chapter, which keep the reader interested in discovering more, as if uncovering yet another piece of the jigsaw puzzle of the mythology behind the trilogy. Sanderson really knows how to tie all loose ends perfectly.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 12 11:11:12 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 12 07:50:25 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Aug 12 07:50:25 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd031a042eec2e58438e1d9ee587674b", "book_id": "13722513", "review_id": "d7e6ef79db1ec8648169fa42bc522674", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I've seen several negative reviews for this book so I wasn't entirely sure if I would enjoy this book but I really enjoyed reading this book but then I have a soft spot for fairy tale retellings. \n Cinder is the modern version of Cinderella. She's partly a cyborg and instead of cleaning the floors, she spends her time fixing mechanical items. The plot is naturally predictable in a way since it roughly follows Cinderella's steps and there are a lot of hints dropped throughout the book in connection with Cinder. However the way the plot unfolded was still intriguing enough to get me curious enough to finish the book. \n I do wish the book did delve more on the background of the Earthens and Lunars but nonetheless I'm still curious enough to get the next book in the series and follow Cinder's adventures.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 04 04:21:41 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 18 14:53:21 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jul 11 12:14:29 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jul 08 23:47:18 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd031a042eec2e58438e1d9ee587674b", "book_id": "6547258", "review_id": "159c539ceb08adf4afaa8854db175b09", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I did expect to enjoy this book since everyone raves about Brandon Sanderson and his ability to write amazing epic fantasies. In the beginning I struggled to read the first few pages - at first the book feels a lot like a jigsaw puzzle and it's a bit hard to figure what exactly is going on. However once I started putting the pieces together I was immediately hooked. It does help that the main crew is extremely likeable and relatable. \n Sanderson has an incredible skill of creating exciting and fast paced plots. He also has a knack of making the more \"boring\" court scenes interesting nonetheless by inserting political intrigue or a hint of romance. He manages to weave the different social strata so that the reader can practically see both sides through Vin's eyes; the poor miserable skaa and the rich frivolous nobles. \n Finally I must say the world-building and mythology in this book is nothing short of amazing. Apart from the mysterious magic system, there are many underlying themes which serve as the foundation of this book: religion, philosophy, psychology and politics. This book manages to be an enjoyable read but also urges the reader to think. I am really looking forward to reading even more books from Sanderson in the near future.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 11 22:56:44 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 12 03:40:14 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Feb 12 03:40:14 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Feb 04 03:53:34 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd031a042eec2e58438e1d9ee587674b", "book_id": "20443235", "review_id": "64c09d2b8eb88949537362fcb4baaa25", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I must admit that despite the fact that I am not a huge fan of romance books, I did enjoy reading this book a lot. The characters are well crafted and I enjoy the fact how the main characters have grown up and developed from one book to another and how their relationships have either blossomed or disintegrated. \n I have been especially keen on how Kestrel has grown up from how we've experienced her in the beginning. Kestrel was a young girl living a privileged life where the most exciting events in her life were tea parties and balls. It was obvious that this lifestyle rendered her pretty much helpless, despite of the fact that she was always a clever girl. I enjoyed how she has blossomed into this brave and strong person. \n I also enjoyed the fact that we got a glimpse into the relationships of Kestrel and Arin with secondary characters, especially the intricate relationship between Kestrel with her father and her tireless need for his love and the witty exchanges and banter between Arin and Roshan. \n This book felt that the stakes were much higher than the previous two. In the previous two books we were mostly transported to beautiful venues and events, where Kestrel was always donning delicate and elegant gowns, whilst this book is mostly based in perilous war zones. \n The author has the most excellent skill of getting the readers hooked and I found it very easy to read the book in a very short time. It's one of those page turners that will practically have you racing through the pages just to find out what happens next. Furthermore Rutkoski managed to wrap all the loose ends that have arisen from the trilogy and create a well-crafted ending for this trilogy. I will be definitely picking up any new books she will be releasing in the future!", "date_added": "Mon Oct 03 10:02:25 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 04 03:51:24 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Feb 04 03:51:24 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b2c9d4aa042e474b0f41d7a9ffbcbd0e", "book_id": "23734628", "review_id": "f77844978303e04c8b199b4d899de38d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"What you are is a fucking tragedy, Simon Snow. You literally couldn't be a bigger mess.\" \n He tries to kiss me, but I pull back- \"And you like that?\" \n \"I love it.\" He says. \n \"Why?\" \n \"Because we match.\" \n Alright, second book of the day. Another book with a main character named Simon. Surprisingly, I did not plan that. It just happened and I'm mildly amused by the coincidence. \n Anyways, I very much enjoyed this one. I did struggle to get into the book completely at first, I spent most of the first half the book feeling like I was missing pieces and not understanding some things. Perhaps it's because I haven't read the other books related to this one. This is my first Rainbow Rowell book and I know that the other books she's written are suppose to relate to this story in some way. Though, I also heard that Carry On basically stood on it's own as it's own separate novel. \n Either way, I don't think my lack of previous knowledge affected my enjoyment of the story. I still very much enjoyed reading this. I enjoyed all the characters and the changing perspectives, and the world got more interesting the more I read. There was a lot in the book that I didn't expect and by the end I thoroughly enjoyed how the book concluded. The ending was entirely unexpected and that was a nice surprise. It's very rare for me to get caught off guard by a book's ending. \n I do feel like the book was left a bit open-ended. I don't know, it just felt like there is suppose to be a sequel attached to it or something. But, I think that was entirely done on purpose. I think Rowell wanted the story to feel open ended so you could imagine how Simon's life goes however you want it to go. \n So, overall, I think this was a genuinely good book. And I very much enjoyed that Simon and Baz's sexuality wasn't a big deal. Hell, homosexuality wasn't a big deal, and that was great! It's very refreshing to read a LGBT story where the book's plot doesn't revolve completely around the coming out/realizing your gay situation. This was just a simple, fun read with magic, vampires, and all kinds of different creatures. Plus cute gay boys as the lead characters. That's always a bonus. \n \"Carry on, Simon.\"", "date_added": "Thu Dec 17 20:57:29 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 26 21:22:35 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jun 26 21:07:29 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Sep 15 16:46:19 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b2c9d4aa042e474b0f41d7a9ffbcbd0e", "book_id": "58077", "review_id": "92ead89e6a2b9bf9f0be53b314e47956", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A good, solid book with an interesting plot line and a cool mystery. The only drawback was the two main characters. I'm not sure what to make of Harper and Tolliver. Most of the time Harper just seems so... Whiny. I've never been a fan of weak female leads, and Harper sometimes seemed so weak and pathetic. But other times she was mostly just sympathetic. In the end, it still was a good book and Im willing to give the next book in the series a try as well.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 19 15:08:21 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 22 18:21:23 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Feb 23 13:14:43 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "af47e7fb849f002e3964f74324495150", "book_id": "25526307", "review_id": "e39c6e3d85dcb3f5e1164d376f8d02f9", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Hmm......... \n I expect MORE from this book after the first and the second.. but it felt less :( \n Kestrel's exile to the tundra. I thought it's going to be a life changing, eye-opening, experience for her but no. the way i see it that part of the story has to be there for the heart break effect.. Just that. It's heart breaking for Kestrel and Kestrel's father and Arin. But it's just that. Heart Break. and i can feel like there is lacking in that part as i go along reading it. \n Arin and Kestrel relationship, their push and pull not like the first and second book makes my heart flutter in third only makes me want to skip reading it. \n AND Kestrel's memory lost and recovery! I really can't grasp it. Her condition is hard to understand and i think the writer don't really explain it with the right deepness so it's somewhat frustrating because i am really trying to relate to her when reading her problem but failed. \n And the Characters that i thought going to have great part. Risha and the Eastern Queen. May as well never put them in the third book and we'll never notice the difference. \n Roshar is unexpected but still somewhat the writer want to really make him as this Oasis character but not doing a distinguish job at it. \n So the story goes forceful and lacking at times. \n what's the good part of this book then? \n Kestrel's Kleverness that's so cool still there, Arin's Brutality and soft heart i love. Just sad the way the story going and being told makes it unsatisfying because i love the characters' characters.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 08 17:06:07 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 08 17:53:27 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "af47e7fb849f002e3964f74324495150", "book_id": "16069030", "review_id": "cade3ae7aa1cb89412fbb0999d968f09", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book needs to be in the screen", "date_added": "Sun Jan 11 06:29:17 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 23 07:38:37 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "af47e7fb849f002e3964f74324495150", "book_id": "289601", "review_id": "e7b9b6ab36c9fcc031157f5c0226d1ce", "rating": 5, "review_text": "wow. captivating. it's crazy", "date_added": "Wed Jun 18 23:12:20 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 20 05:06:42 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5b31fc1fa8ba1f4e48b3a075e267ad9e", "book_id": "18401393", "review_id": "fec729cf8a981e93b92d675b2b3361ce", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"The Martian\" is proof that a well-written protagonist can often make up for flaws in a novel. And when you have someone like Mark Watney - resourceful, gritty and armed with an indomitable sense of humour against the face of overwhelming odds - boy, it's one helluva ride! \n Not an outright 5 stars but 4 and a half stars only for this space-age Crusoe. Highly recommended.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 27 10:50:15 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 30 00:32:58 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Nov 21 00:22:07 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5b31fc1fa8ba1f4e48b3a075e267ad9e", "book_id": "18633458", "review_id": "ceb1c270a081be6b2cc1694fa63eec8f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not my kind of book at all but engrossing enough & kept me hooked pretty much till the very end. 3 to 3.5 stars.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 17 07:40:05 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 16 04:00:25 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jun 16 06:14:55 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "5b31fc1fa8ba1f4e48b3a075e267ad9e", "book_id": "7913305", "review_id": "aa511c0694d2a374437c08f9fddf1f5a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I've just finished this book & all I can think of right now is a silent plea to the Almighty - \"Hey Mahadev, you blessed Amish with tremendous amount of inspiration to write a book like this. Perhaps, he could have done with some perspiration too, so he could have strived to write this book much better than it turned out to be.\" \n There, I said it. And that is the biggest grievance I have with Mr. Amish over his bestselling debut novel. \n I don't need to go over the plot (hell, all my friends in college who call themselves 'casual readers' had read this about a year back & had been telling me to read this ever since & then I finally borrowed the entire Shiva trilogy from a dear friend back in March in the middle of my university exams) & needless to say, Amish had a brilliant one on his hands. I'm no believer but you can't help being charmed by the Tibetan immigrant Shiva - the awe I felt as a kid when I read the Mahabharata & the Ramayana narrated in a style a la Amar Chitra Katha. The storytelling is decent too, given it is quite a page-turner. \n And that is where pretty much all the good things about it stop. The writing is a major let-down, for a story of this scope deserves a hell lot better prose than what Amish offers. No, don't even get started on how this is written in a modern style, the existing standards of Indian popular fiction, blah blah. When you have a story like this, you have to work hard enough to give it the writing it deserves. Barring a couple of well-written war scenes (verging on the epic & did give me a bit of gooseflesh) & a bit of the seeming allegory between Harappa & modern India when Shiva visits Ayodhya (I was impressed by that part), this book has inexplicably bad, lazy writing. Why does King Daksha seem to go around 'hugging' everyone 'tightly'? Why does everyone seem to 'guffaw loudly' (Jai Shri Siddhu!) when a slight grin seems to auffice for the amount of humour in that particular situation? Why does Shiva & every soul unrelated to him or his dear ones get teary-eyed in every other situation involving them? Like some of my friends would say, \"Kitna rota hai bey.\" (deriding someone for being too sentimental) \n There are two kinds of readers - one who prefer writing over plot & vice versa. I'm one who changes sides as I switch from literary to popular fiction, but I'm usually on the side of the latter esp. when it comes to popular fiction. But I'm unequivocal on the stand that even popular fiction should have an acceptable standard in terms of writing & that is somewhere Mr. Amish fails considerably. \n Still, if you can overlook the writing & focus only on plot, I do think there is a really captivating tale to be enjoyed here. I'm going with a rating of 3 to 3.5 stars for 'The Immortals of Meluha', the first book of the Shiva Trilogy by Amish Tripathi. Go for it if you're looking for a fast read, nothing more (given you haven't read it already).", "date_added": "Sat Apr 06 10:05:15 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 05 05:15:05 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 13, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "5b31fc1fa8ba1f4e48b3a075e267ad9e", "book_id": "7462949", "review_id": "840a9276b06f98a1b0cf3ae3cebbd373", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Three and a half stars - would've probably given a generous 4 if only Neil Gaiman didn't take so freakin' long to get to the point. But I really enjoyed the writing & the magnificent scope of the story, not to mention the annex 'On the Road to American Gods' which makes for great reading. \n 3.5 seems fair to me.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 13 07:55:48 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu May 05 04:12:37 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu May 05 06:14:38 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "5b31fc1fa8ba1f4e48b3a075e267ad9e", "book_id": "477725", "review_id": "93d5dc1cb82b74db1f57688dcaf27287", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm not an atheist. I'm not agnostic. I'm not deeply religious. And I'm not much of a spiritual person either. So this story didn't make me believe in God, like the protagonist Pi Patel tells 'The Writer'. \n But when I consider this book as a work of literature, I'm lost for words. This book is essentially a fantasy novel, but there are so many other elements in this novel. There's science fiction. There is magical realism. There's fable & there's allegory. There is spiritualism & there is religion too - two concepts between which there's a thin line that separates one from the other. When all these elements are combined together - you either get an incredible mess of philosophical shit that would be hardly understood by anyone, or you get an extraordinary tale of adventure, survival & courage in the face of adversity. And the latter is what Yann Martel's Booker Prize-winning novel 'Life of Pi' exactly is. \n It doesn't matter whether you've watched the movie which released last year. It's not very dissimilar, but I still reckon you read this book just because it's such a fantastic story on so many levels. \n It's been sometime that I've been so overwhelmed after reading a book that tears welled up in my eyes. And I've always believed that it takes a good book to make you laugh, but it takes a great one to make you cry. \n 5 full stars to this wonderful novel. Easily one of the best books I've read till date. Highly recommended & a must read for readers across all genres.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 17 02:56:51 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 06 06:58:16 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Mar 03 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 8}
{"user_id": "5b31fc1fa8ba1f4e48b3a075e267ad9e", "book_id": "580619", "review_id": "19aaf642642d1294778aa83f914f17aa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Given the extraordinary length of what I've just finished reading, I'll try to keep this mercifully short. \n I suppose I'll continue to have my reservations over the ending of \"The Stand\" for the rest of my life. However, that should not take away much from this good ol' tale of good versus evil. For this is a book with a five-star plot, a five-star narrative (courtesy of King's superpowers when it comes to storytelling) & a motley bunch of characters I genuinely cared for throughout the course of this big, fat book - if only the ending had not been such a three-star one. Okay okay, three & a half at best. \n So my rating is more of a 4.5 than an outright 5, but this tale of dark Christianity is undeniably Stephen King's masterpiece & a modern-day epic in its own right. Highly recommended. \n P.S. This is a somewhat unpleasant habit of mine - bragging about bargain deals when it comes to books. But this one here - I paid only 50 bucks for a copy (INR 50<$1) that was good as new. God is great.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 17 02:52:38 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 05 04:41:28 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Apr 05 07:41:14 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Mar 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "5b31fc1fa8ba1f4e48b3a075e267ad9e", "book_id": "10888677", "review_id": "3a787f67c985f6ebfc14e80f4894f50c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Not much remains to be said about this book or series. Supreme storytelling, fascinating yet realistic characters & unpredictably exciting plot throughout. This has undoubtedly changed the dynamics of the epic fantasy genre. \n 5 full stars to 'A Game of Thrones' by George R.R. Martin. The book is an amazing, extremely engaging & exhaustive read. Highly recommended for fans of the fantasy genre, if they are any who haven't read this one yet.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 16 05:29:28 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun May 05 01:50:27 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8fa852b4d1fc8ce4936574fd2236c7b8", "book_id": "29069989", "review_id": "de3f3406dec30950eb202dd04b347352", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was not a novel, it was a play. And it read quite well as a play. I liked the depiction of Harry as an extremely protective father, even though that is something he would have hated as a teenager. The contrast with his young self was interesting. I also like the conflicted relationship of Harry and Albus. For that matter, even Scorpius and Draco. It brings to light the struggle of what it is like to be a great or a famous person's son. The psychological pressures and issues were well portrayed. I liked how this central theme affected both Albus's personality, as well as who he made friends with. The rest of the plot points drew from the elements already mentioned in the series and we're used well. It was a good, fast read overall.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 23 19:37:25 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 23 19:37:25 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8fa852b4d1fc8ce4936574fd2236c7b8", "book_id": "24453338", "review_id": "6f3b8b60c49c665477d291204b8cd694", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is the kind of book to take you back to your young adult or teen years, and it is perhaps written with that population in mind. It's is reminiscent of Harry Potter and hunger games and divergent, all at once. While there are many predictable plot points, the central idea as revealed by Astria's character is very interesting. It definitely is a fast read, you want to know what's happening next. There were some predictable parts but that could mostly be because I'm older than the population this was aimed for.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 23 19:27:29 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 23 19:27:29 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8fa852b4d1fc8ce4936574fd2236c7b8", "book_id": "12680907", "review_id": "03b474d09a259802f35a5f687233321f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the last of the three books of Graceling Realm, and although a logical sequel to Graceling, it chronologically comes after Fire. In many ways, it was better than Fire. Bitterblue's problems seemed more realistic than Fire's because a lot of it did relate to good admnistration and undoing her father's wrongs. \n The explanation to the central mystery/problem was quite compelling and an unlikely one. Bitterblue realizes that more than what she would like to admit lies in the past. \n There are some interesting sub-plots, but not a lot of them had a convincing dissoultion. However, it was a good end to the series and a good book in its own right. Graceling and Fire fans should give it a go.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 18 08:21:32 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 18 09:18:19 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8fa852b4d1fc8ce4936574fd2236c7b8", "book_id": "2621107", "review_id": "46b058f9a85809e0217b1e26b2b500bc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The series comes to an end with this book. It was satisfactory in some aspects like character development and complexity. But there were loose ends, unanswered questions. Or rather I couldn't completely buy the answers. \n however, maybe there was too much pressure and expectation on the author after the first two books, and this may be a result of that. \n The stories takes many a wild turns, and there are lots of important turning points. however, there are too many characters and the focus is lost. At times, it feels like the character 's confusion reflects similar bend of mind of the writer when compiling this last work. \n However, it does put a cap on the series, and there are some genuine surprises. Worth a read.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 22 11:34:50 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 22 11:49:58 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Oct 22 11:49:58 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8fa852b4d1fc8ce4936574fd2236c7b8", "book_id": "676885", "review_id": "c668d7310d8359866b48a31a3fcbac9e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It is an amazing book. The plot has been well-thought and keeps you turning pages till the end. The plot twists are genuinely surprising and catch you off guard. The characters are well-written, one sees various facets of them, and sees them grow as the book progresses. \n A really good take on a lot of conventions and well-known stories and characters. The wit too, is quite dazzling. And the end, especially, is amazing. The proper sort of climax. \n Can't wait to read book 2 and 3 of the series!", "date_added": "Sat Jul 26 09:05:13 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 26 09:09:57 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jul 26 09:09:57 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8fa852b4d1fc8ce4936574fd2236c7b8", "book_id": "215342", "review_id": "eded94aa4444d05035c347e494e73488", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I don't think there is any other word than Amazing for this book. It is epic, as everyone knows. Sam was lovely for his quirks, Frodo for his courage, Merry and Pippin for their friendship, Boromir for his bravery, Gimli for his stoutness, Legolas for his keen knowledge and Gandalf for his wisdom. LOTR explains very well what power can do to people. It is a sweet tale, well-told, and by a Master story teller. \n Most people have seen the movies. I am glad I did not. It helped me get excited with each hurdle that Frodo and Sam crossed successfully in their journey, and rightly disappointed when certain characters died. \n After I was done reading, I felt, \"Wow, all this was imagined? No, it must have happened somewhere and this is just a mere record\". The book, in all its magic, is that original and appealing.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 14 00:46:18 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 03 10:13:27 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jun 03 10:13:27 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5574ab4f6b8835f028cb0a4b0b1f1057", "book_id": "18718450", "review_id": "e37ad4b072fb527a8e1975aef8fbb065", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It was like going home, after a long stay away. \n Thanks Robin. Keep 'em coming. \n PaulWADE", "date_added": "Wed Dec 03 06:53:24 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 03 06:54:23 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5574ab4f6b8835f028cb0a4b0b1f1057", "book_id": "5322151", "review_id": "9498606295e19fe1c7e6be72e01a47f0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Brilliant...", "date_added": "Sun Oct 26 05:23:00 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 07 05:02:27 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Nov 07 05:02:27 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Oct 26 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5574ab4f6b8835f028cb0a4b0b1f1057", "book_id": "18658063", "review_id": "083c216eddd96c20ff6c12ff9255ea73", "rating": 5, "review_text": "As brilliant as ever. \n It was some time since I had read the Assassin trilogy. \n So I went back to the beginning and re-read them all again. \n Leading me inevitably to this, the latest. \n I cant wait for the next one. \n Keep up the fabulous work Robin. \n Paul Wade", "date_added": "Wed Oct 15 17:39:41 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 03 10:22:20 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Apr 03 11:59:34 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "5574ab4f6b8835f028cb0a4b0b1f1057", "book_id": "13642", "review_id": "d4c53747f66e6110e190e941340a1d5f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "How to describe a book which is part of a template for all the fantasy genre to follow. \n This book, as with the entire Earthsea tale, takes a hold of you. \n You get to know the characters, then suddenly you feel related somehow, to most of them.. \n Brilliant work. \n PaulWADE", "date_added": "Wed Sep 04 02:08:06 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 04 02:13:30 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5574ab4f6b8835f028cb0a4b0b1f1057", "book_id": "45107", "review_id": "858003ec1de0b754ea6816d27755019b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This trilogy was THE most inspired \"Fantasy\" set I had read for many years. \n I have put Robin on my go-to, most favorite writers list. (There are only five in all) \n The characters, the atmosphere, and the story are just brilliant. \n I am NOT going into the plot- no spoilers here. \n I have only one suggestion. \n READ IT... \n PaulWADE", "date_added": "Sat May 25 02:39:01 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat May 25 02:44:40 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5574ab4f6b8835f028cb0a4b0b1f1057", "book_id": "15241", "review_id": "f585a462888a1862536f7887280979c8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It is absolutely brilliant. I wish I had 30-odd years to write one story though. As wonderful as the stories are, with their own language and everything; we are simply not able to match it today with the time constraints we live under. (I have to say Tad Williams very came close with \"The Dragon-bone Chair\" set. His characters were just as complete, as were his variety of races, species or whatever we call them these days.) \n The Hobbit, then the three books of the \"Lord of the Rings\" trilogy were a magnificent, captivating tale from the very first page. The Two Towers, did lull a bit, but it picked up again and suddenly you're whizzed off into a new part of Middle Earth. \n What a ride...........", "date_added": "Sat Sep 22 02:43:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 05 07:00:41 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5574ab4f6b8835f028cb0a4b0b1f1057", "book_id": "13662", "review_id": "ce86d49a93f95ec185352bf3867cc744", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The entire Earth Sea Quartet, is for me one of the most memorable of all the Fantasy genre. I think what I liked was the was even with all his powers, our poor hero is often \"shit out of luck\". Not a very elegant way of putting it I grant you, but its how I'm feeling, so that's how I shall say it. \n What a shame Ursula Le Guin didn't stay with this genre longer. Her \"outer world\" books didn't do so much for me as these tales of Ged did. \n Beautifully written and so full of humanity and heart. I would say this ranks about number 4, in my list of all timers..", "date_added": "Sat Sep 22 02:42:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 05 07:07:20 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5574ab4f6b8835f028cb0a4b0b1f1057", "book_id": "144109", "review_id": "852fcb882d190f73d94237047dc9e3f3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Apart from the \"world\" he creates, the Beasts and relationships keep you interested. \n Most enjoyable and the plot builds quickly, drawing you into the story and keeps you there.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 06 23:36:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 06 23:39:24 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c3e9005b89bf46eeda1e3f44d2f1f0a1", "book_id": "21544228", "review_id": "ffcf6c66b3fdf2d36af92fd4e1c4413b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I was questioning how Kuklo learned all those stealth and combat-ish skills - but I think they will dig more in that merit as the manga goes on - so besides that, this manga series is a new delight look into the past before the main series. The end of this issue specially!", "date_added": "Wed Mar 16 09:33:58 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 16 09:39:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Mar 16 09:44:22 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c3e9005b89bf46eeda1e3f44d2f1f0a1", "book_id": "26196299", "review_id": "0432ffdde57ab7958b0b8cdb27e1bab2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "THE FEELS!!!", "date_added": "Sat Oct 24 20:07:52 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 04 07:07:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Nov 21 13:39:18 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Nov 13 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c3e9005b89bf46eeda1e3f44d2f1f0a1", "book_id": "936906", "review_id": "73e3acc3ef0e82c1273af2271152293a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "CLAMP's mangas never disappointing <3", "date_added": "Fri Sep 11 12:37:48 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 11 12:41:30 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Sep 11 12:41:30 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c3e9005b89bf46eeda1e3f44d2f1f0a1", "book_id": "2333", "review_id": "cad33116934b6a3174b5355a5d6e34fb", "rating": 1, "review_text": "*sigh* \n So, this book is essencialy about a guy who like to beat his dog and achieve everything in his life not for his own merit but mostly luck. \n Also, having in mind that Tolkien wrote/told this story to his kids makes me think that this suppouses to be tale to tell your children too - and I most certainly will not be telling any kids this story. Although I found the story in the original manuscrip a little bit better, it didn't redeem the overall book for me.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 30 18:38:52 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 03 17:28:35 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c3e9005b89bf46eeda1e3f44d2f1f0a1", "book_id": "13206760", "review_id": "45da00c08111e99b52a3c5ddc9b21f72", "rating": 4, "review_text": "After reading Cinder, I wasn't so eager to continuing on with this series. But after I heard about the character Cress, I was intrigued to read about her. But I would have to read Scarlet first... \n And Oh, boy - I'm glad I did it! :D \n This book is so gooooooooooood! It made me like Cinder SO MUCH MORE and I really liked Scarlet and Wolf.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 02 17:22:43 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 07 20:34:38 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c3e9005b89bf46eeda1e3f44d2f1f0a1", "book_id": "17934530", "review_id": "d7973c52904ea0faf39a0e259c6e0642", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is a lovely mash up vibe of H.P. Lovecraft cosmic horror and a 50's sci-fi movie. \n Really enjoy it and I'm really looking forward to read the other books in the trilogy!", "date_added": "Tue Jan 20 01:04:04 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 21 10:42:52 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jan 21 11:14:02 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c3e9005b89bf46eeda1e3f44d2f1f0a1", "book_id": "67939", "review_id": "7104eae868de5bdfd7112a49410e4855", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"Farewell to Middle-Earth at last, I see the Star above your mast!\"", "date_added": "Thu Jan 01 15:14:38 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 01 15:15:39 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 15:15:39 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c3e9005b89bf46eeda1e3f44d2f1f0a1", "book_id": "12891111", "review_id": "55037cd7798d3c52208c5429bf8dab20", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked this book and I'm really looking forward to the rest of the series! \n If you don't mind a bit of sociopathy in your fantasy, this is your book! :)", "date_added": "Mon Jan 06 11:23:53 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 01 22:13:35 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jan 02 21:52:21 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c3e9005b89bf46eeda1e3f44d2f1f0a1", "book_id": "55399", "review_id": "baee2c91052e5388f260f4b881030bfd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Imagine that your friend invited you to his/her house and when you get there, there is a group of people playing D&D or some kind of RPG and you just want to sit and watch it. \n This is the vibe of Gardens of the Moon. \n I think what people actually find complicated in this book is the amount of characters - because there is a lot of them. My way to deal with that was to get the list of characters from Wikipedia and keep close while reading. \n The way Steven Erikson don't just give you all the information and make you really pay close attention to the dialogue and the events and how the characters reacts to them is truly the art of a D&D Master.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 20:26:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 01 22:13:00 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 29 10:02:59 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c3e9005b89bf46eeda1e3f44d2f1f0a1", "book_id": "7726420", "review_id": "ff00e6c7b2231b655fdd72a754eccb68", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I kind liked this book - but I didn't. It was sort of funny sometimes and I really liked how he speak in a past/future tense because of the time travel thing, but the story got a little dragging on the other hand.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 18 07:28:51 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 28 16:58:12 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c3e9005b89bf46eeda1e3f44d2f1f0a1", "book_id": "6437061", "review_id": "1ef610f47ca0fefbc111d49936a05efe", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sieh and Nahadoth are the loves of my life now, and not only because they are Gods", "date_added": "Thu Dec 27 15:35:05 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 29 15:02:10 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c3e9005b89bf46eeda1e3f44d2f1f0a1", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "f9c4af852285195e025da570e5bb517f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I like this book! It wasn't the most awesome read in the freaking universe, but it was super enjoyable! If I have had time, I would have read in one sitting! \n If you are looking for a enjoyable quick fun read, this is your book! :)", "date_added": "Mon Dec 17 17:45:08 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 02 16:12:28 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jun 04 20:33:28 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c3e9005b89bf46eeda1e3f44d2f1f0a1", "book_id": "8490112", "review_id": "818513458959b386a13d8c692adc961f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "You family may (most certainly) be in danger, a war is about to star - and whaaaaaat you do? you stop to drink coffee with the enemy. Not only that, you let your BFF come to chitchat for a while about the way the dude look at you and how handsome he is. \n Sorry, that was just SO STUPID TO ME. SO STUPID. \n So you took 2 stars JUST FOR THAT - you might ask. YES INDEED. \n The plot was perfect! How could this book be bad with such a perfect premise? Oh my dear, just add the most annoying character ever: Akiva. He will ruin the whole vibe of the book being SO - DAMN - STUPID and pathetic.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 23 00:26:56 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 30 15:23:35 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Nov 30 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Thu Nov 29 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c3e9005b89bf46eeda1e3f44d2f1f0a1", "book_id": "1212561", "review_id": "9f4fbed24023cd323d26daedc27af34b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "OHMYGOD! This was my favorite book when I was a child! \n I read it a long time ago so I don't remember why I love it so much KSOPAKP but I will buy it in the future and re-read so I can fell in love again! <3", "date_added": "Fri Nov 16 19:21:33 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 10 11:51:57 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sun Dec 23 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "c3e9005b89bf46eeda1e3f44d2f1f0a1", "book_id": "5907", "review_id": "308bd862949691ce4724ae102245b757", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Thorin,Fili and Kili feelings! \n This book is awesome! Is funny and exciting and made me angry sometimes and fell in love also!", "date_added": "Tue Nov 06 14:43:15 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 16 13:24:03 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Nov 16 13:24:03 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Tue Nov 06 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c3e9005b89bf46eeda1e3f44d2f1f0a1", "book_id": "6381205", "review_id": "36ac3f1340057c097782fcf6d46feb7c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I adore this book! If it wasn't for one thing, this book would have been perfect. But nothing bothers me most than when a \"sex scene\" is used wrongly, like when are in a life threatening trouble and they decide to fornicate anyway because the sex tension is unbearable. It just makes me mad. \n But past that, Alexia is a great character -incredible funny and witty and the right \"sex scenes\" make me giggle \n Obviously the book is so much more than that, a well paranormal intriguing story with an also great plot full of humor.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 17 21:29:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 11 04:59:10 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7838f4c0b761abd7f6ddb32342486a4a", "book_id": "15062217", "review_id": "28b286da08e53386e07636c1b0551c9b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "14 by Peter Clines is book that encompasses various genres. It tells a story that weaves in and out of Science fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Magic all at once. \n The closest companion of this book would be the TV show \"Lost\". Mysterious happenings, insects that do not have any scientific basis, an unexplained history, this book covers it all. \n Nathan Tucker is a Data entry operator who needs a place to live. When he is suggested a building to move in, he finds the offer too good to be true. However after moving in, he begins to find new mysteries associated with the building. Nate is not alone in his enquiries, he finds a team of tenants who are all similarly surprised. The story moves around pretty rapidly and does not linger over a place for a time longer than necessary. \n A great read for anyone looking to find the mysteries of Lost again.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 17 21:20:41 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 06 01:28:09 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7838f4c0b761abd7f6ddb32342486a4a", "book_id": "219418", "review_id": "759d54685c12ddc8ec54255c26971f9a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The Tomb is the second installment in the Adversary cycle after the The Keep. The story is not a continuation of the previous book and follows a different protagonist. \n Jack is a repairman who masquerades as an appliance repairman to the world. His real job is as a shady illegal person who can help with matters relating to the criminal world. Gia is a former love interest with a daughter from a failed marriage. Other characters include Kusum and Kolabati(sic) from West Bengal in India and other minor characters. \n One major issue I had with the book was reading it as an Indian. While the author may have made inadvertent errors, it is difficult not to cringe at them while encountering basic mistakes. Kusum and Kolabati are not Bengali names, nor is the turban worn in Bengal. Also \"Hindutvu\"(sic) is not target for right wing nationalists and demons are called \"Rakshash\" not \"Rakoshi\". I think this is due to an inherent bias in me as a reader but these additions do not hamper the story in any way. \n Jack starts off the book with an appointment with an Indian diplomat, Kusum, who needs his help in recovering an artifact that was stolen from his mother. Jack reluctantly agrees even though he has to accept another case related to his former girlfriend Gia. Gia's rich aunt has disappeared without a trace and the police are unable to help. Due to his previous experience with a British officer ,Jack is recommended to both the incidents. Jack finds and returns the artifact on time and gets to meet Kolabati, Kusum's Sister. A quick chemistry develops between them and this seems to irk Kusum. Gradually the story moves forward telling us about the past of both Jack and Kusum. After about halfway into the book, the real demons appear and the story moves at full speed. Jack encounters the demons and finds out the Gia's daughter Vicky might be the next target. He has to move quickly to save Vicky's life while finding out more secrets about the Indian siblings. \n The book is recommended for fantasy and horror lovers that like to read light action.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 07 20:43:13 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 07 21:07:00 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7838f4c0b761abd7f6ddb32342486a4a", "book_id": "52318", "review_id": "0e444242497757e2a432d4c6c5664153", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Effortless world building at its best. Octavia E Butler tells the story of two unreal godlike beings like they might be living in your neighbourhood. Both of them have lead many lives, trying to understand the humans and live among them. Both have their own ambitions about the future of the society with them in it. A great read that just feels too close to reality than fiction.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 03 20:14:08 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 24 03:47:44 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7838f4c0b761abd7f6ddb32342486a4a", "book_id": "15793201", "review_id": "ccaa816b72eb1fa767244cbd10f19ddd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Adam Nevill has a unique way of integrating ancient horror elements into the modern world. In \"Last Days\" film maker Kyle finds himself drawn into the rebirth of an ancient cult that has existed through centuries. The Blood friends are trying to get back to the earth through their followers. As Kyle works through his interviews and investigations into this cult, he becomes the target of the blood friends. The Horror is great and the book manages to weave history with the present effortlessly. Recommended for someone looking for a great horror read.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 05 02:48:31 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 13 04:43:52 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7838f4c0b761abd7f6ddb32342486a4a", "book_id": "757479", "review_id": "2d11b9180d52bc3ea10e71c2a10672ea", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The story starts off a bit slow, but provides some chill inducing moments as it builds up pace.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 05 02:44:01 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 08 20:27:52 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7838f4c0b761abd7f6ddb32342486a4a", "book_id": "1857440", "review_id": "d2681bc411cf23e498df392139bb7a72", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The book starts of really well. I was anticipating a really good horror story, however the tale of David Wong starts to run away in all directions at once.Not holding my breath for the movie either.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 26 01:34:08 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 25 22:26:03 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Dec 25 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Wed Dec 12 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7838f4c0b761abd7f6ddb32342486a4a", "book_id": "59264", "review_id": "17c567992d434d6e1ba71925b729b775", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Thee Trilogy end on Strong note with this book.However,the first book is still the strongest of the series.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 10 03:06:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 15 06:57:36 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Sep 15 06:57:36 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7838f4c0b761abd7f6ddb32342486a4a", "book_id": "334123", "review_id": "c5dda305d90c3528464be69872bad167", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A nice Fantasy read. The book tells the story of magicians in London ,yet paints a very different world from Harry Potter.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 01 08:29:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 04 23:14:51 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7838f4c0b761abd7f6ddb32342486a4a", "book_id": "28186", "review_id": "2f6150ab7ead852d6abe041dbe5a0608", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I had high hopes from this book after the Lightening Thief,however I was disappointed.While reading this series you can't help but notice similarities with Harry Potter.Also the characters keep referring to events that occurred 3000 years ago.It seems the Greek gods went into hibernation and have woken up with Percy.Good book if you are interested in Greek Gods,not so good as fiction.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 01 20:08:08 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 06 23:02:18 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "edfb7a6edd659a0ed84973c0b0917922", "book_id": "16036868", "review_id": "92c2ca4555beb8bfca23462038fd9618", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Hey, it's my book, so I'm a little bias, it's 5 stars from me.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 30 06:57:51 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 01 02:29:33 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "edfb7a6edd659a0ed84973c0b0917922", "book_id": "42899", "review_id": "2e9106ccab174f468c0d803028ef25a0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book. J R Ward has written a thoroughly entertaining novel.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 19 01:00:28 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 25 07:26:18 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Sep 25 07:26:18 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Sep 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9d9827929f51654a247eb1aaffa20a7e", "book_id": "6387565", "review_id": "0213787277ec4a373db15496ecf59a7c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not as good as I expected it to be", "date_added": "Thu Sep 06 22:54:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 09 12:49:52 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9d9827929f51654a247eb1aaffa20a7e", "book_id": "12127750", "review_id": "bffa4861d4efc63aed198a77056c6733", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I can't believe I have to wait one more year for the next. So unfair! The only thing I didn't like in this book was that Percy appeared weaker!", "date_added": "Sun Jun 17 11:41:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 23 01:17:21 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 23 01:17:21 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76b1dfd5cbd44da133f8c3ddbc053435", "book_id": "841974", "review_id": "a6543ee3ecad7328ee7d402a38dd0396", "rating": 3, "review_text": "good exciting fun. this one felt rather more directed than the previous two books.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 11 05:41:18 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 26 07:51:31 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jan 21 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76b1dfd5cbd44da133f8c3ddbc053435", "book_id": "31226479", "review_id": "9fdf3cc5c6bf55bf32ca54f79c6af31e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "it didn't quite reach the point where i was about to laugh myself sick (as i did last time i read it), but still wonderful. the three witches are brilliantly vivid, both as individual characters, and in the way they interact.", "date_added": "Fri May 13 00:24:24 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 14 10:53:41 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 14 10:53:41 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Nov 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76b1dfd5cbd44da133f8c3ddbc053435", "book_id": "618207", "review_id": "2fd866833f993da8bb396af4591ec7b9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "some really funny bits, but generally a bit so-so.", "date_added": "Fri May 13 00:24:19 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 18 05:50:50 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76b1dfd5cbd44da133f8c3ddbc053435", "book_id": "386373", "review_id": "cba4a1f95d544ee4cfb1ebba7b643da3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "another really good one. the combined Tom Brown's Schooldays/UK driving test mashup at the beginning is particularly good.", "date_added": "Thu May 12 15:01:00 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 17 06:04:54 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jan 17 06:04:54 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jan 07 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76b1dfd5cbd44da133f8c3ddbc053435", "book_id": "18721778", "review_id": "a684ecd4578b9ba7a4a5b641b12f9e9a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "it's strange how London of 20 years ago can sometimes feel almost as alien the patchwork oddity of London Below. \n so yeah, my first Gaiman. \"modern-day fairytale\" is a pretty good description of this. he's a very clear writer, with a wonderful imagination and fantastic turn of phrase.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 18 14:52:28 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 04 06:00:21 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jul 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76b1dfd5cbd44da133f8c3ddbc053435", "book_id": "601239", "review_id": "3106de64e7e774ad3d911a99cc64fbb4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "stronger than The Colour of Magic -- it feels more coherent, and more recognisably Discworld-ish.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 04 05:13:52 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 18 05:22:13 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76b1dfd5cbd44da133f8c3ddbc053435", "book_id": "15845255", "review_id": "5c75572eac901900e4cb467e626e640f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "entertaining pulp. John Carter returns to Mars, where he gets attacked by, and subsequently kills, everything he meets. \n Burroughs doesn't waste any ink on characterisation -- not when there is fighting or absurd coincidences to be written about! nevertheless there are some interesting ideas and twists to be enjoyed among the silliness.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 12 14:18:01 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 23 04:50:58 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Feb 12 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "76b1dfd5cbd44da133f8c3ddbc053435", "book_id": "18131144", "review_id": "b79aa3682de9c3171aeb41f7db7d1cdc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "another outstanding one. Pratchett does a great job of Vimes's transition from a drunken loser into hero.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 18 05:40:00 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 24 06:33:30 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Apr 07 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76b1dfd5cbd44da133f8c3ddbc053435", "book_id": "601238", "review_id": "9ff709fa10c16b7c0d8d897767a31072", "rating": 3, "review_text": "not one of the really great Discworld books, but still impressively solid.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 11 04:45:52 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 18 04:54:32 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jan 16 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76b1dfd5cbd44da133f8c3ddbc053435", "book_id": "1930326", "review_id": "9147fcc4f7c90f3039975bf3b8cf9d67", "rating": 5, "review_text": "an absolutely stunning book: tense, terrifying, moving and hopeful. Bradbury's writing is some of the most marvellous and engaging and beautifully evocative that i think i've ever read.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 23 12:11:43 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 29 05:18:31 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Dec 23 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76b1dfd5cbd44da133f8c3ddbc053435", "book_id": "18627915", "review_id": "3a47a6e46790fdb02a761ce55a9dca39", "rating": 4, "review_text": "two men and Cthulhu in a boat.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 10 06:43:03 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 31 04:55:24 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Mar 31 04:55:24 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Mar 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76b1dfd5cbd44da133f8c3ddbc053435", "book_id": "13190955", "review_id": "0175fb341af84bec9224204343feea9b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "my first taste of Conan. all good trashy fun.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 06 05:18:21 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 06 05:21:31 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Aug 06 05:21:31 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76b1dfd5cbd44da133f8c3ddbc053435", "book_id": "800388", "review_id": "aeea4078f4129f6947bd6b9fcfd57995", "rating": 5, "review_text": "this book has a princess, who gets married near the end and is therefore a bride. it also has fencing, fighting, torture, poison, and all the other things it mentions in the blurb. and a Zoo Of Death. and a pirate franchise. i don't really know why they didn't mention those in the blurb. \n it's the best thing in the world, except for cough-drops.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 05 08:42:51 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 07 15:00:58 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jan 07 15:00:58 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76b1dfd5cbd44da133f8c3ddbc053435", "book_id": "16152487", "review_id": "24da0b5407ad187241a7768659a56cc8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "your Lovecraft Vocabulary Of The Day is: \"surcease\". \n also, waning and fantastically gibbous moons.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 31 12:36:45 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 14 13:54:29 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Dec 31 12:39:19 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "76b1dfd5cbd44da133f8c3ddbc053435", "book_id": "21837765", "review_id": "4017f83d6755a374fba84de1c0cd88e5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "the Lovecraft Vocabulary Word Of The Day is: \"athwart\".", "date_added": "Mon Dec 31 12:01:09 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 03 07:53:34 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Dec 31 12:21:38 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "cd68a54b82e1a97b4d347591f472ea1a", "book_id": "23638951", "review_id": "e880369317a15627778026d7ddfe450b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This is the first book I have read by Heather Graham, the multiple award winning romantic suspense author. And honestly speaking, it left me cold. \n The premise is intriguing enough...a woman is murdered by her husband who is supposed to have been killed by the mafia. Even as FBI agent Brett is investigating the case more such murders by 'dead men' are revealed and the media goes ballistic about 'zombie attacks'. Meanwhile, Lara who has just started working at Sea Life, a dolphin research facility, gets a shock when one of the dolphins brings up a human body part. There is a paranormal angle in it as both Brett and Lara begin to connect with the ghosts of the murdered woman (Maria) and her husband (Miguel). Being part of the Krewe of Hunters series, there are special agents who specialise in solving crimes with the help of ghosts. Apart from this there is an angle about medical research too. \n While it is an easy enough read, there are too many characters (on both sides of the good vs evil divide). The paranormal angle isn't spooky enough. Besides it is a bit of a stretch to imagine that not only the Krewe Hunters but Brett and Lara too are able to easily communicate with ghosts. The writing does not create enough suspense nor is there much of a romance angle. It's unlikely that I will ever read any other book in this series.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 20 02:03:46 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 20 02:41:12 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Sep 20 02:41:12 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd68a54b82e1a97b4d347591f472ea1a", "book_id": "14112002", "review_id": "23850cf499a23dfb0b8b0690f32bb9c6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I am not much into young adult stories but I like stories with a fantasy, supernatural element in them. Jennifer Quintenz does a great job of switching between the two worlds -- present day high school and the fantasy/dream world. \n Braedyn is in for a shock when she learns that she is not just another teenaged girl negotiating high school jealousies and crushes, but a half-human, half-Lilutu who is being groomed for a deadly mission, to save humans from the deadly daughters of Lilutu. \n There is plenty of action in this story. But I particularly liked how Braedyn learns the lessons of humanity even as she discovers her own supernatural powers. \n The vivid descriptions of the dream world are fascinating and have \"made for the movies\" written all over them. \n I look forward to reading more in what is definitely going to be a series.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 06 21:10:28 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 21 21:02:57 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Nov 21 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sat Oct 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd68a54b82e1a97b4d347591f472ea1a", "book_id": "7785917", "review_id": "3b930637a04d58ca7d27a9593959f79a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a wonderful book. Classic Salman Rushdie. He evokes fantastical worlds with in his lyrical writing style. While it may be categorised as a children's book, because of the 'fantasy' element in it, I think it is a great read for adults too. It draws a lot from classic Asian story telling. It is in fact a tribute to the lost art of Dastangoi storytelling. A must-read for everyone.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 19 20:45:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 15 03:14:27 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "158feec3653e979acd18c0c427027dda", "book_id": "29069989", "review_id": "8b23829f68d93cf733c29de310e9e2b7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Reads like fan fiction; disappointing.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 26 04:18:25 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 14 06:25:29 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "158feec3653e979acd18c0c427027dda", "book_id": "18133021", "review_id": "04bf8b2e7dc232654727b257b31eccb0", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Very poorly written with tons of grammatical, spelling, and just plain wrong word or missing word errors. I got really tired of the rehash of the same scene, thoughts, encounters, and so on. A very slow narrative and I felt like I was struggling through a sea of mindless bodies and I don't mean that I felt like I was engaged in the story or sympathetic to the character(s). I speed read most of 2nd half and then couldn't bare to read any more to finish it. I am definitely not interested in a sequel. ETA: I did finish it. Still meh...", "date_added": "Tue Mar 08 18:56:04 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 13 16:55:13 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Mar 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "158feec3653e979acd18c0c427027dda", "book_id": "20525471", "review_id": "7dfa47f128e5074f53e0e14ee1e14c36", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very fun read!", "date_added": "Mon Jan 04 18:32:52 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 13 16:56:16 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "158feec3653e979acd18c0c427027dda", "book_id": "18122693", "review_id": "56a0f205b24554819975443c7b558884", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Sweet story, my daughter loved it. However I felt like it dragged a little with character development. Could have been 50 pages shorter and would have been a good story without the loooong character development.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 22 19:03:51 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 20 06:04:57 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Dec 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Oct 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "158feec3653e979acd18c0c427027dda", "book_id": "2108198", "review_id": "73ca9183ff3ae493c747bc4996ff520f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it! Read with my daughter and she loved it as well!", "date_added": "Fri Jan 02 04:14:18 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 10 04:53:25 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "158feec3653e979acd18c0c427027dda", "book_id": "15783514", "review_id": "c917763c6146e9814776e0e918bc272a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very good. Would love a prequel or sequel about the Hempstocks!", "date_added": "Thu Aug 07 20:39:10 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 09 05:21:19 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Aug 09 05:21:19 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "158feec3653e979acd18c0c427027dda", "book_id": "11", "review_id": "849e2c360782ee1a981859ff892dc05d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the year of my 42 and got a hankering for a re-read!!", "date_added": "Sat Apr 13 18:34:20 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 25 21:55:10 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Aug 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b995873c8688b2c69764d1ae69bcf35", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "179bcdedbdf57720f6d320a74969a713", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Holy Hell!", "date_added": "Fri Aug 03 02:39:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 11 04:11:09 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Aug 11 04:11:09 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b995873c8688b2c69764d1ae69bcf35", "book_id": "12716010", "review_id": "a850cfdac9fe7069a88c2ced7b09b117", "rating": 2, "review_text": "hallelujah!", "date_added": "Mon Jun 18 19:48:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 31 03:07:39 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "3b995873c8688b2c69764d1ae69bcf35", "book_id": "8709523", "review_id": "d2e365a3a1d2287da411c8bb9c7ce8fc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh how I love Adrian. <3", "date_added": "Sun Jun 17 17:43:31 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 31 03:08:14 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "89607c009cc0447aec93a6ee61d835a5", "book_id": "13643567", "review_id": "88a0ee2ce3dbd86ca85965d167745626", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"They rattled my cage to see if I'd bite. When they released me, they'd see that the answer was yes.\" \n Boom, bitches! \n This book creeped me out in the best ways possible. \n Also- I'm obsessed with Noah Shaw.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 24 22:39:03 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 24 22:41:54 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "89607c009cc0447aec93a6ee61d835a5", "book_id": "17154753", "review_id": "3eb9eb7cfaf693132559068451287fdb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I read Dark Light recently and loved it, but this one took the story to another level. The angst...oh the angst...I wasn't sure if my heart was going to survive some of the things that happened. Gabriella did a lot of growing up in TDP, she finally found herself, found who she was meant to become. \n \"Her parents died so she could live and achieve her destiny. A destiny to be great, to be fearless. A destiny to be utterly extraordinary. \" And that's exactly what she becomes, extraordinary. My hat goes off to her, she's a strong girl. \n Now, Dorian...oh, Dorian. Who can forget him? I wanted to hurt him so bad sometimes, but then he says things like: \"Losing you completely shattered me and I wanted to die, Gabriella. I wanted to die with you because living without you isn't an option for me.\" He just has this way about him that makes you want to redeem him <3. \n Bottom line is, if you haven't read Dark Light, do it. If you read it then hold on to your heart (no, really, hold on to your heart bc it's going to need the support) and go get ruined by Dorian...again ;). \n Last thing...Align with the light dark or die.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 27 05:47:59 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 09 09:15:45 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "89607c009cc0447aec93a6ee61d835a5", "book_id": "17232332", "review_id": "91e59d1eb87579f2466809b462880798", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4-4.5 \n Wow. Well, shit. \n I don't usually read fantasy (I was told this was paranormal at first, but I researched and found out that warlocks and such is fantasy). Still, I would kind of classify this as paranormal. Idk you read it and let me know what it is please. \n Anyhow, I usually don't read this genre, but holy crap I loved this story. Gabriella (the MC) is a cool chick, I can see myself hanging out with her. She didn't annoy me, though I did spend 60% of the book wanting to shake her and tell her what I knew that she didn't. I fully expected this to be a typical \"insta-love romance\". I appreciated the fact that Gabriella took it as \"insta-lust\" . I really really appreciated that. \n \"Why would any somewhat sane, shrewd young woman deem it necessary to completely throw herself at a man she's only known for a week? \n \"Between the champagne and tequila shots, my head is swimming and my inhibitions have taken a dive along with my already questionable morals.\" Tell me you haven't been there. Or don't bc if you haven't been there...I'll corrupt you. \n She's trying to find herself throughout the book. Trying to figure out who/what she is and who/what she should become. \n I appreciated the lost journey she went through because we all go through that. Hell, some of us are still going through that. I loved that she wasn't weak and didn't take crap from anybody. \n Dorian, Dorian, Dorian. This guy made me swoon. Like, all out, butterflies in my stomach, swoon . This doesn't happen often (really, it doesn't). He's such an enigma that it should be difficult for you to connect with him, but the way he is written, he just draws you in and makes you sit on edge waiting for the next time he comes out. \"No one has ever moved me like you. Ever. The feeling you give me is insane. It's unnatural. You intoxicate me.\" \n \"Cut the shit. I'm not some giggling schoolgirl and I don't take kindly to games. So save the googly eyes and phone sex voice.\" BAM! \n So Dorian has his secrets, Gabriella seems to think she has her secrets. \n \"You see Gabriella. Darkness is not always what it seems. It can appear frightening at first but there is truly nothing to fear. Sometimes the light can blind us from the truth.\" So many times I wanted to hit Gabriella upside the head and say \"PAY ATTENTION!\" \n Anyhow, I kind of need you all to read this story so we can discuss. Please and thank you. \n I will leave you with another quote (seriously, ever since I discovered how to highlight I am on a total quoting frenzy). \n \"I am not light. I am not Dark. I'm his.\" <3 So am I, Gabi, so am I. \n Also, it's not that this book leaves you with a cliffhanger, I don't think I would classify this as one, but O.M.G. I need to know what is going to happen!", "date_added": "Sun Feb 24 05:50:39 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 15 11:18:01 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Feb 25 08:19:42 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Feb 24 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 21, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "89607c009cc0447aec93a6ee61d835a5", "book_id": "8591107", "review_id": "1455874637ae53d9f9def6014dd76ec9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Unputdownable. Wow.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 17 18:46:49 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 05 03:59:05 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 16, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "89607c009cc0447aec93a6ee61d835a5", "book_id": "304027", "review_id": "ee4b509ab4a780276a07e6773c5fab4b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm going to be honest (what else is new?)...I read spoilers for this one. Yes. I. Am. A. Pansy. Judge all you want, but I'd heard a lot of people didn't like it and I was going to be more pissed off if V didn't get his HEA than not, so I read the damn spoilers. That said...J.R., seriously? SERIOUSLY? Ugh. It's not even that I didn't like the ending, I did....unconventional, I get what you did there...but, seriously? Anyhow, like I said before, I am J.R.'s bitch, so guess who gives this a 4? This girl.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 13 08:28:35 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 05 17:27:32 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "89607c009cc0447aec93a6ee61d835a5", "book_id": "42898", "review_id": "c5391d8a45cd8d7c3e4e89c43f0eb3c4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Look, I didn't care to read about Butch and his human-ness (cuz it's a disease, you know? LOL). Anyhow, I am SO glad I didn't skip it because I ended up loving his story as much as the rest of them. Clearly, I am J.R.'s bitch.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 13 08:28:34 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 05 17:21:56 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "89607c009cc0447aec93a6ee61d835a5", "book_id": "42900", "review_id": "54e166f3e042e35c67bf4f14ae66e4fe", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I LOOOVEDDDDDD this one.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 13 08:27:49 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 07 13:33:16 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "89607c009cc0447aec93a6ee61d835a5", "book_id": "42899", "review_id": "11bc5dac22b379576942f4926b0122b3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ah....smutty vamps...I LOVED this. I hadn't read fantasy in a long time, and I'm glad I decided to read this. I'm hooked. Moving on to book 2!", "date_added": "Wed Jan 09 16:51:40 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 05 17:20:46 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 7}
{"user_id": "39033ab7e75193eec5e44f0b750ac142", "book_id": "13497", "review_id": "ba9a9d6fe2215669574e40476515f14f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This one wasn't better than A Storm of Swords, nor was it in par with it. But it is still mighty fantastic, and caused my heart to skip more than just a couple of beats. George R. R. Martin has become one of my new idols.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 03 08:30:00 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 08 05:05:30 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Apr 08 05:05:30 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Mar 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "39033ab7e75193eec5e44f0b750ac142", "book_id": "12063158", "review_id": "8113eef09735954d1b3dc922942398a3", "rating": 1, "review_text": "You'd think this book was the best book since baked potatoes? Well, you're wrong. \n I think James Patterson is an incredible author. Incredible. And many of his books easily fit in a 'library-of-fame,' so to speak. But this book? Holy moly cannoli! This is easily one of the worst books since coconut-filled chocolates. Ghastly! Horrendous! \n To tell you the truth, I didn't even finish the book. But I must say, I was more than two thirds into it. There was no spark to give me the least of an emotional experience. The characters, I think, are as shallow as you can ever get in the Dead Sea, and the plot is really, really not good. \n So if you're thinking of buying this book, and you're already holding it at the bookstore, accept my advice: turn back. It's not worth the journey. More so, your money. \n James Patterson is an incredible writer - a shepherd to the greatest reads of the era. But I've got to say - this is a black sheep in his flock of writings. A really, really pitch-black sheep. \n Sorry.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 04 02:14:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 07 08:46:01 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Sep 07 08:46:01 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "39033ab7e75193eec5e44f0b750ac142", "book_id": "28187", "review_id": "a5d870e600edeead02cf9beb97827749", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The book is great. The movie, however, has taken many details and threw them straight to hell. So if you think that reading this book is useless 'cause you've watched the movie, and can skip to book 2, you've got it all wrong. That's all, thank you very much.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 05:05:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 27 21:55:53 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "22522805", "review_id": "7e244abdcfded02deb677c5d07deaa2c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I had such high hopes for this book, as I've loved the other two novels I've read by this author. It started out well enough, although I could tell right away that we were in the land of fable instead of the land of realism. The premise, a land where people forget things quickly and there are no reliable memories, made me think of The Dubious Hills. I expected that Ishiguro would treat this premise with great sensitivity, but somehow it just didn't work. He is such a subtle writer that you really need to be paying attention to all the little clues to understand what's really happening in his stories. Yet in this case, those clues we would normally be getting from the characters' memories are missing. A lot of the time I didn't know what was going on, and I gradually realized that I didn't really care. I finished the book because I felt I owed Ishiguro that much, but the ending was underwhelming to me as well. I can't recommend this book to anyone. Try one of his earlier books instead.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 29 15:47:14 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 18 08:25:28 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Oct 18 08:25:28 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Oct 06 09:37:31 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "28260474", "review_id": "03a38272cf4111850ada57b22caf01e7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was in library school when the first Librarians movie came out, and while it was kind of silly fun, I never felt the urge to see any of the others. This book, the first of a tie-in series with the new Librarians TV show, was a lot of fun, if not anything profound. Trying to appeal to fans of both the movie series and the TV series, it alternates between a 2006 adventure with the original Librarian, Flynn Carsen, and a 2016 adventure of the new team. It wasn't clear at first how the two stories related together, but they finally did. All told, this novel was diverting enough to keep my attention on a recent plane trip, and I'd recommend it to fans of the movies and/or TV show. \n (Note: I received my copy of this book through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.)", "date_added": "Fri Jul 07 15:58:38 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 18 12:11:08 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jul 18 12:11:08 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jul 07 15:58:38 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "1182136", "review_id": "b405978e27eca71f189ab0aa8998adae", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It's long been my contention that Brazilian fiction is about 40 years ahead of American fiction, and this book seems to prove it. First published in Brazil in 1980, it feels like it could be published in the U.S. right now. This is the story of Guedali, a boy born on the plains of southern Brazil with a centaur's body, and how he makes his way in the world. It's not really about being a centaur, of course, but about being ashamed of the body you were born with and wishing you could change yourself into something better (or at least more normal). Guedali eventually has his wish granted and becomes something resembling a regular human, but as often happens in real life when people go on extreme diets or have plastic surgery, he ends up no happier than he was before and starts to wish he could change back again. \n As translated by Margaret A. Neves, Scliar's prose is simple yet serviceable. The focus here is not on beautiful language, but on accurately rendering Guedali's stream of consciousness and all the subtle gradations of his emotions. \n If you've never tried any Brazilian fiction but have enjoyed books like The Snow Child or The Book of Speculation, you might want to add this to your list. (It's not even hard to find! Used copies of this edition are plentiful and available on Amazon for about $3.) Try it. You just might like it.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 29 15:17:15 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 03 05:42:11 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jul 03 05:42:11 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jun 29 15:17:16 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "24331491", "review_id": "b05b5e05042d3bf8a3cc7e066838fae7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "As I was reading this book, I couldn't shake the feeling that it was a very good first draft. That's not so unusual, since I do read a lot of prepublication proofs these days, but as this was a regular novel I got from the library, the unfinished feeling it gave me was not a good thing. There were some things I liked about it-- the descriptions of the plants in the nursery were evocative, and the love scenes were very steamy. Still, I can't recommend this book unreservedly.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 13 13:56:27 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 06 17:07:09 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Mar 06 17:01:45 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "319259", "review_id": "7ae170df945766462b755f2ab1293a2c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved the beginning of this book so much. Jonathan Carroll is able to create characters that seem completely real, so much so that you swear they must all be based on people he knows. When it's just telling the story of a lonely bachelor who meets a single mother and her adorable 10-year-old son, this book is great. But then things have to get all complicated, and then there's a confusing time jump, and then in the last few pages something supernatural happens with zero foreshadowing. The whole thing is like watching a train jump the tracks and plummet into the ocean. But I still had to give it four stars, because the first half of the book is just that good.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 02 10:47:26 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 15 11:54:01 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Apr 15 11:54:02 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Apr 08 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "102878", "review_id": "3e6bb22099ef04fd784b0916eb6861ff", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm not sure how I felt about all these stories as stories, but I just love the way Elizabeth Hand writes. Her voice seems so restrained, but you can always sense all the passion hidden underneath. Still, this wasn't really the kind of collection I expected to find under the subtitle \"Strange Stories.\" I've read quite a few books with that subtitle, which always seems to be added as a warning by the publisher. (\"We told you these stories would be strange!\") Usually \"strange stories\" fit into the genres of horror or magic realism. Some of these stories seemed like the first, some seemed like the second, and some seemed like neither. (These latter ones are the stories that I suspect come directly from the author's own life history. Sometimes this made me a little uncomfortable.) \n My favorite story by far was \"The Least Trumps.\" This was the most magic realist of the stories, and unlike any others in the collection, it actually has a hopeful, even joyous, ending. My runner-up was \"Cleopatra Brimstone,\" a somewhat sardonic tale of an entomology student who travels to London and encounters some most unusual insects there. \n If you want to read beautiful writing and aren't afraid of a little bit of literary suffering, then this might be the collection for you. But if you're the kind of person who likes short stories wrapped up neatly with a bow, you should probably move along.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 08 15:58:50 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 02 05:19:52 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Sep 01 15:06:12 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "51107", "review_id": "2a417fd351871a6df0ae311840c82651", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a really, really weird book. Since it's the only one I've read by Pamela Dean, I can't tell how much of the weirdness is her writing style and how much comes from the peculiarities of these particular characters. I'm not sure exactly what happened or how I feel about it, but I was entranced all the while.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 27 05:54:12 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 18 11:51:45 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Apr 18 11:51:45 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "352262", "review_id": "d0808daa35d1b1374554f4cf8b628f0c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "My eight-year-old stepson learned a hard lesson with this book, that the book and movie don't always match. Of course, since he saw the movie many times before he ever read the book, he decided that the movie is right and the book is wrong. So he was less than thrilled with it, and I decided to read it for myself. I thought it was very well-written for a children's book, and I never felt that it was dumbed down. It was quite funny, which is always a plus. But I'm only giving it three stars because the story was somewhat predictable and didn't hold my attention too terribly much. I'm going to try to get him to read the second book in the series next, but I'm not sure if I'll be successful.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 25 08:39:20 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 02 06:27:38 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Aug 02 06:27:38 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "740037", "review_id": "23012bec5db88222221281a5ed5d887d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I thought I knew what to expect from this book when I went in, but Butler managed to subvert my expectations at every turn. The story opens when our protagonist awakens badly injured in a cave with no memory of who she is or how she got there. I expected that the book would be the story of her solitary quest to find her place in an uncaring world, but that was wrong. As she meets first one friendly person and then more and more, the scope of the book gradually widens from one lonely cave in the middle of nowhere to a whole world society, most of whom are well-meaning and honorable and sincerely want to help our heroine (whose name we eventually learn is Shori Matthews) in any way they can. Of course there are bad guys in the story, ones who caused Shori's injuries in an attempt on her life and are hell-bent on finishing the job they started, but we never get the sense that they're going to win. Butler's tone is gentle and life-affirming but also eminently logical, and her prose is clear as a bell through the whole thing. \n My only regret? The book doesn't come to much of an ending at all, and I have a feeling Butler intended this to be the first book of a new series. Unfortunately, she died not long after it was published, so the only way I'll ever find out what happened to Shori is to make up the rest of her story myself.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 10 12:48:37 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 27 09:12:57 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Feb 18 12:30:38 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "10508431", "review_id": "57fd19f87296abc80fd596a242c644a8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I checked this book out of the library for my eight-year-old stepson to read, but I quickly realized it was much too advanced for him, so I decided to read it myself. I really enjoyed it. Now I can't wait to find out what happens in the sequel.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 29 06:55:12 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 24 11:37:43 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jul 24 11:37:43 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "18079804", "review_id": "d80f5c4a34a0d6ebc251aafa3c9786c2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fairly early in this book I began to realize that it was a Harry Potter pastiche, and so I was prepared for it to be rather unoriginal. But then the author began drawing in bits of plenty of other stories as well-- Heroes, The Subtle Knife, and others too numerous to mention. And even though I recognized almost all the pieces from other stories, they were put together in a fairly unusual way that kept me guessing. To be able to put familiar tropes together in a new way is a gift. After all, it's what both Chaucer and Shakespeare did. While I'm not saying that Sally Green is on a level with either of those authors, she has a very good hand with plotting. \n On top of the plot, there's also the atmosphere. This book just feels very, very British, and not in a \"tea cozies and Church of England\" kind of way. There's a sense of the wild, old, England here, such as I got from Mythago Wood. \n In reading other reviews here, it seems that some people are disappointed with the ending of this story. Since we all know that it's the first book of a trilogy, I'm not really sure why that is. It's not as if it ends on a totally crazy cliffhanger that will have us biting our nails for the next year, and neither does it just stop in mid-paragraph in the way that I hate. Rather, there is an ending that brings one part of the story to an end while drawing us on to what happens next. \n All in all, I was very impressed with this book, both as a first novel and as an alternate view of the Harry Potter saga. I can't wait to find out what happens next! \n (Note: I received an advance reader's copy of this book through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.)", "date_added": "Mon Feb 17 02:56:14 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 17 14:21:35 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Mar 12 08:28:49 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "357727", "review_id": "e91f72114dd161a8074c142fdc7937cd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "These are really good, old-fashioned stories, by which I mean that they go on exactly as long as they need to and are very well written. I was very impressed that these stories, all of which are in the first person, each have a very different voice befitting the character narrating each one. I'd like to read more stories by this author, but since this is the only book of his my library has, I guess that probably won't happen any time soon.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 12 05:58:44 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 10 10:52:46 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Apr 10 10:52:46 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "15161", "review_id": "624e498a46a28d6cc517521dde431783", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was expecting this book to be much more tied-in with Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell than it actually was. But once I got over my vague disappointment, I found that I liked the book quite a lot. It actually reminded me far more of Lud-in-the-Mist, in the sense that all the stories were taking place in a world much like ours but just a stone's throw away from Faerie. Many of the stories seemed to be based on old legends that Clarke has fleshed out in her own unique manner.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 24 07:21:51 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 06 14:25:21 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jun 06 14:25:21 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed May 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "280718", "review_id": "f5f21cc8d77725860c8d8d079ea2b850", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed the first part that takes place in the real world, but just as with Mythago Wood, I found the story confusing and muddled once the action shifted to the wood itself. Some have faulted Holdstock for losing control of the story, but I wonder if this was part of his point. No matter how much preparation you do, and no matter how much you think you understand it, once you enter the wood you will forget all your training and do nothing more than struggle to get out again. That's the moral I came up with, anyway.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 18 04:15:41 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 19 18:45:17 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "189745", "review_id": "3225109c72c1e8cdfd8201ce861f0144", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The unnamed narrator goes to sleep in 1890 London after attending a socialist meeting and wakes up in the same room hundreds of years in the future. While he was sleeping, Britain has been transformed into a utopia, where everybody is free to do exactly as he or she pleases but most people, fortunately, like to do lots and lots of hard work. Most people have taken to living simple yet comfortable lives in the country, often in semi-communal situations. People take real pride in crafting beautiful yet useful clothing and furniture, cooking each other tasty yet nutritious meals, and fixing up the most pleasing of the old historic homes. (Any buildings which were deemed ugly or vulgar have long since been torn down, except for the Parliament building, which is now, humorously enough, being using as a manure storage facility.) \n There is much to like about the utopian society that Morris has invented. All people are regarded as equal, and there is no formal government to rebel against or money to cause social friction. All jobs are viewed as equally valid, and people are happy to take turns doing the more menial tasks. Since machines have been abolished, there is no pollution to speak of, and people live long and healthy lives. The only trouble that routinely occurs is when a love triangle is formed, and then the usual remedy is for the losing party to move away to another town for a time. \n However, there are also some parts of this society that might be hard for us to endorse. Although women are treated well and are free to make their own decisions, there is a definite division of labor by sex, with women usually employed in cooking and sewing and men usually doing outdoor tasks. Also, the lack of emphasis on book learning could be hard to take for those of us who have devoted our lives to such pursuits!", "date_added": "Mon Dec 03 05:46:29 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 03 06:03:07 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "1048302", "review_id": "844525d3c21511d2068cca178b024608", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It took me exactly 35 minutes to read this book, and it was so good that I then flipped back to the beginning and read it again! This charming little story reminded me less of other Tolkien works than it did the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm or Hans Christian Anderson, and the voice reminded me of Lud-in-the-Mist.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 14 05:40:56 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 25 12:21:22 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jan 25 12:21:22 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "547448", "review_id": "88c7c60c8e78e67843e4b53e46c5c66b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I thought I loved the first book in this duology as much as I could love anything, but somehow I enjoyed this one much more! Valente goes much, much deeper and darker in this volume than she did in the first, and the tales here seem completely original, rather than reworkings of old, familiar stories. I had to keep my attention focused all the time in order to keep track of what was going on, but it was worth it in the end.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 14 05:14:04 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 13 12:41:40 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Dec 13 12:41:40 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sun Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "11250053", "review_id": "6da7465669963f3a26594154d712db36", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Here on Goodreads most of us go by our real names, but my handle of choice on most websites is Snowmaiden. I gave myself the name years ago when I was having problems with too many men harassing me in chat rooms. (Yes, I really have been around long enough that I experienced the days of online chat rooms!) To discourage these men from approaching me, I decided to give myself a name that sounded frigid. My first choice was Ice Queen, but it was already taken, so I came up with Snowmaiden instead. Another person I kept running into in the chat rooms was called Snegurochka, and she never failed to tell me that my name was the English equivalent of hers, which she got from an old Russian folk tale. I finally decided to look up the story and was quite taken with it, even going so far as to use a drawing of the Snowmaiden as my avatar sometimes. \n When I heard that Eowyn Ivey had written a book based on this story, I was intrigued, but I didn't actually sit down to read it until recently. You see, my husband and I were supposed to travel to Alaska this summer, but we had to cancel our plans due to health problems. I decided I at least wanted to read about Alaska if I couldn't go there, so I finally checked this book out from the library. \n Ivey takes an interesting approach in her adaptation of this classic tale. The main characters of this book, Jack and Mabel, are aware of the Snegurochka story even as they find themselves reliving it. This brings the story from the land of fairy tales and into the real world, but at the same time, the myth is always present in our minds, just as it is in Jack and Mabel's. They know that the story always ends sadly and keep wondering if they can avoid that ending somehow, and we readers eventually wonder the same thing. (I won't spoil the ending here except to say that I found it fitting and satisfying.) \n This approach that Ivey takes of acknowledging the mythic aspects of the story while simultaneously grounding it in reality reminded me a lot of Star Trek: Voyager. In several episodes of that show, a character went through a health crisis of some sort, and we viewers were privy to both the doctor's attempts to use science to solve the problem and the unconscious patient's dreams of going on a long journey or quest to come back to consciousness. I liked the way that the show never answered the question of why the patient was cured. Did the doctor's treatments cause the patient to believe she was successful in her quest, or did her successful journey in the dream world only lead the doctor to think that he was responsible for the cure? The show seemed to be saying that both approaches were valid and both were necessary to solve the problem. Similarly, Ivey lets us have our cake and eat it, too. Is Faina a mystical being conjured on the night Jack and Mabel decide to make a snow child in the yard, or is she a flesh-and-blood girl who lives and breathes like anyone else? Ivey seems to be telling us that she is both at once, and I was able to accept this paradox with no problem because of the skillfulness of her writing. \n This was a very pleasant story to read, and it works equally well as a retelling of the Snegoruchka story and as a novel in its own right. I may not have gotten to go to Alaska yet, but Ivey has conjured the wonders of the state for me in all four seasons, and now I'm even more determined that I will travel there someday.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 05 18:25:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 22 08:48:27 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 11 13:23:34 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed May 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "118050", "review_id": "488165c6b8afa9cd3bcb4e28a8e3bc33", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I thoroughly enjoyed all 570 pages of this book, even as I got to the end and realized the larger story was just beginning. This book tells three intertwined tales. One is about the Trojan War as observed by Thomas Hockenberry, a 20th-century Iliad scholar who has been brought through time, along with many other scholars, to observe the events of the battle between the Greeks and Trojans and report on the accuracy of Homer's version of the story. Since I've only read selections of the Iliad and am never that interested in war stories, this was the least interesting part of the novel for me. \n However, I was thoroughly intrigued by the two other stories. One is the tale of Daeman, a very spoiled man-child who lives on an earth of the far future where humans have no disease, no hardship, and therefore no purpose. When Daeman goes to visit his cousin, Ada, in vague hopes of seducing her, he gets drawn into an adventure that he is in no way ready for, and he ends up learning a lot about himself and the value of human life. \n The last thread is the story of two literature-loving robots, Mahnmut and Orphu, who join an interplanetary expedition and get way more than they bargained for. (Despite being made out of metal, these two are the most recognizably human characters in the book, maybe because of all the hours they have spent studying Shakespeare and Proust.) When Orphu is badly damaged in an accident that kills the rest of their party, Mahnmut goes to heroic lengths to save and protect him. \n In the face of this setback, the robot friends decide to continue the expedition's mission, despite the fact that neither of them understands exactly what it is. \n Since this book ends in the middle of the story and I haven't read the sequel yet, it's hard to say exactly what Simmons' point is here, but definitely he's writing about what really matters in this life. While the Greeks and Trojans bluster and strut, and the pampered future humans enjoy their bread and circuses, the two parties of adventurers are learning about the values of friendship, teamwork, and self-sacrifice. I know who I would rather emulate!", "date_added": "Mon Sep 17 15:50:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 26 11:01:10 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Sep 26 12:25:54 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Sep 01 11:46:49 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "222818", "review_id": "85fc0992e2aa15beafd6a04e748f6efe", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The public library put a \"sci-fi/fantasy\" sticker on the spine of this book, but I'm not really sure how well the story works on that level. Ostensibly about changelings, this novel is really about change. Told in alternating chapters by a boy who is stolen by the fairies and the changeling who takes his place with his family, we get two different versions of the life of Henry Day. In Donohue's conception, the fairies are really more like Peter Pan's lost boys, remaining children in the forest for decades or even centuries until they decide to rejoin human society by taking the place of another child. So the real Henry Day (or Aniday, as the other changelings call him) remains a child with no adult responsibilities, while the false Henry Day grows up, gets married, and has children of his own in the town not too far away. A string of coincidences keeps bringing the two Henrys together through the years, but each time they meet, each misunderstands the other's intentions, and they grow increasingly suspicious of each other as time goes on. \n There are a lot of deep lessons here about the ways that we all must change as we progress through life. There's also a thread about love and how hard it is to ever be completely fulfilled by a romantic relationship. Aniday falls in love with his fellow changeling Speck and over decades develops deep feelings for her, feelings which he can't act on in the traditional way since they are trapped forever in the bodies of six-year-olds. Meanwhile, Henry Day feels like he's living a lie because he can never reveal his true nature to his wife, Tess, even as they go through all the normal routines of married life and parenthood. \n As I was reading, I became worried about the ending. As the two Henrys diverged, it became more and more impossible that they could ever switch back, and I didn't see how else the book could end in a satisfying way. Right up to the last chapter, I was afraid that the ending was going to be a letdown, but then something perfect happened, and the book ended on just the right note. \n I don't know if this book really works as a fantasy, but it definitely works as a novel about life. I can't wait to try another book by this author.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 29 17:09:26 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 09 15:29:56 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jun 09 15:29:56 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jun 02 08:39:58 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "1718834", "review_id": "e6d4ab8907b3e6cc27d8b95d1a727513", "rating": 5, "review_text": "As I got closer and closer to the end of this novel, I started to worry. You see, Hand had done such an amazing job up to that point. First she created several disparate characters, all of whom seemed well-rounded and worthy of my attention, and then she slowly brought their stories together. On top of that, her use of descriptive language was top-notch. (I've never been to England in the spring, but I sure want to go there now!) I wanted to keep living in this world that Hand had created, and I also wanted to see all her characters get their happy endings. But the number of pages was dwindling rapidly, and I didn't see any resolution in sight. So many times I've been disappointed by a book that starts out strong and then peters out at the end, and I didn't want this to be another of those instances. \n Fortunately, I was wrong in my predictions of doom and gloom. Somehow, Hand managed to bring all the pieces together to a very satisfying resolution. While I'm not 100% sure I understand all the implications of everything that happened, I think that might be due to my distracted state while reading this novel. I felt like turning back to page 1 and starting over immediately after I finished, and while I'm not actually going to do that, I'm pretty sure that I will come back to this one in a few years' time.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 27 05:17:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat May 16 13:12:24 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat May 16 13:12:24 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "e7e21b2f05e0cbb03903f684a9482f3b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The management philosophy known as Total Quality Management states that the primary goal of a business should be to surprise and delight their customers. I can't think of many businesses or organizations that have delighted me over the years, but there are a few. At its best, Netflix can certainly surprise and delight me, although I got more of a thrill from it when waiting for a magical red envelope to arrive in the mail than I do when just pushing a button on my television remote and having a movie instantly delivered to me. (This is a sign, I guess, that the perception of magic is more delightful than actual magic become mundane through repetition.) My favorite vacation spot, Mohonk Mountain House, continues to enthrall me every time I visit. I have had several perfect meals in their formal dining room, and I keep finding new views and vistas on their perfectly manicured wilderness trails. My husband, who believes you should never visit the same place twice, didn't understand my devotion to this place until we visited there on our honeymoon, and now he keeps asking me when we can go back! \n I mention these things because I have never encountered a more surprising or delightful place than Le Cirque des Reves, the focal point of this novel. If it was a real place that I could visit, I'm sure I would return time and time again. But just as Total Quality Management states, creating seemingly effortless magic for your customers is very, very hard work. The magic behind the night circus comes from the increasingly tiring efforts of two young magicians, Celia and Marco. They have been entered into a competition by their guardians, a competition that they don't really understand until it's too late. They are supposed to be mortal enemies, but instead, inevitably, they fall in love and seek a happy ending for themselves. \n If The Shadow of the Wind and In the Night Garden had a baby, it would be this book. Just like the former, the story twists and turns through several different time streams, giving us all the pieces of the love story we need, just not in chronological order. And just like the latter, the story has a mythic, fairy tale quality to it. Most of the negative reviews I've read of the book here state that the characters are shallow. Characters are often shallow in fairy tales. How much do we really know about Cinderella, and are we given any good reason for the prince to fall in love with her instantly other than that this is what happens in fairy tales? Likewise, we never learn a lot about Celia and Marco, but I think this is partly due to their status as archetypal star-crossed lovers, and partly due to the way they were brought up. Both were raised by someone more interested in developing their magical skills than their emotions or their intellect. Is it any wonder neither of them developed strong personality traits? \n I especially enjoyed the language of this book. So many novels I read today have language best described as serviceable, often with so many grammatical errors and typos that one can tell the book received only cursory editing by the publisher. This book was flawless in style and execution. This is both a testament to Morgenstern's innate strengths as a writer and the effort put into it by the publisher, Doubleday. They truly have surprised and delighted me with this book. Perhaps they are students of Total Quality Management themselves!", "date_added": "Mon Aug 27 05:15:30 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 22 08:44:46 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "870589", "review_id": "41a1d9d67ae1017d39c618131e5efc17", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I was very surprised by this book, but in a good way. Several years ago I saw the movie on television, so I thought I knew what to expect, but the tone of the novel is entirely different. Where the movie is humorous and light and feel-good, the novel is elegaic. The narrator's father's stories stand not as proof that he was a great soul but that he wanted to be a great soul, which is entirely different. I was also very pleased with the structure of the book. Instead of proceeding in some kind of chronological order, the father's stories are each told in their own chapters, some long and some short, in seemingly random order. This is a much more literary novel than the movie gave me any right to expect, and now I want to read more of Wallace's work.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 24 13:11:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 31 03:35:32 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jan 31 03:35:32 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jan 29 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "386298", "review_id": "0faadc733153657c17f0d675c2794469", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I was working on this book off and on for the whole winter, so it's only fair that I should finish it on what is almost certainly our last snowy day of the season. It's hard to describe what happens in this book, but I love Helprin's voice and the way that he balances utter seriousness with flights of joyful whimsy. If you love winter and/or New York City, this may be the book for you.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 17 05:44:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 09 10:01:15 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Apr 09 10:01:15 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Dec 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "283870", "review_id": "62d793caa9928114155aacf0c4f60c8b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked this book in many ways, but I must admit I'm also a little confused by it. I'm not exactly sure what happened, how it happened, or why it had to happen that way. My favorite sections were with Mary in the land of the mulefa. I'd love to read a whole book about them!", "date_added": "Fri Aug 10 10:40:35 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 17 14:22:52 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Sep 29 15:44:23 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "202769", "review_id": "ed4c703b41165e301708a943890e9953", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It's hard for me to rate this book, because it's very clear when you come to the end that the second volume will be a continuation of the same story. Still, I will say that Valente is very clever (and sometimes maddening) in the way she has entwined all these stories together. I can't wait to start the second volume, but at the same time, I'm a little leery of going into the lion's den again!", "date_added": "Fri Aug 03 05:29:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 02 07:25:28 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Dec 02 07:25:28 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Wed Nov 14 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "1416831", "review_id": "64d1226e3c7fd9e221f256cb25970ece", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I put this book on my \"to read\" shelf a long time ago, and when I needed to hurriedly choose something at the library, I picked it almost at random, without really remembering what it was supposed to be about. As it turns out, that was the perfect way to experience this book, so I'm not going to put too many spoilers in my review. At first I thought it was just a straightforward love story set in Vienna, and even then I was enchanted with it because of Carroll's great conversational writing style. Then things started to get strange and kept getting even stranger, until we were fully in the realm of the fantastic. (Two books that it reminded me of this regard were Mythago Wood and The Lathe of Heaven.) I really enjoyed it very much, and now I need to decide what Carroll novel I want to tackle next!", "date_added": "Fri Aug 03 04:53:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 27 08:01:03 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Mar 27 08:01:03 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "1538490", "review_id": "0017ecf944974a17b8554771c110492e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It took me a long time to get into this book, and before I really connected with it, I was sick with the flu for about a week. When I finally did feel like reading again, other books called to me more strongly. All these excuses explain why it took me over a month to read this book, but I have to wonder if the real reason was that I just wasn't that into it. Or, on the other hand, maybe I would have enjoyed the book more if I'd read it under normal circumstances. Who can say? \n What I can say is that I found it quite enjoyable at times, particularly in the middle section, but the beginning and the climactic ending sequence seemed rather opaque to me. I can't say whether it was a fault of the author or a fault of my comprehension, but I'm still not exactly sure what happened, other than the fact that Maggie got her guy in the end! However, Terri Windling is a very good writer on a sentence level, and her descriptions of the desert are stunning, so don't let my weak recommendation keep you from reading it if you're interested!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 23 15:22:08 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 24 07:49:35 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jan 24 07:49:35 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Dec 23 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "29127", "review_id": "8c50d6d4dd893f9c693cc2686ace52dd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "There are so many glowing reviews of this book here that I feel a little ashamed to admit that I thought it was just ok. I wonder if that has something to do with the age at which I read it. Perhaps if I'd first encountered it as a child, I'd feel the same way I do about Alice in Wonderland or The Wizard of Oz. And maybe if I'd waited until adulthood to read those books, I wouldn't think much of them either. All I know is that I found this story to be a pleasant trifle and nothing more.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 17 03:48:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 19 20:05:50 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Oct 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "2508552", "review_id": "5d9dd631e4c4daae99cd2f52c39ad54b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "When I started reading this book, I was afraid it wasn't going to turn out to be a fantasy after all. It starts out in England just after WWII, but instead of using the real-world situation as a mere pretext to quickly whisk the reader off to another land, as in Narnia or the Wizard of Oz or Alice in Wonderland, Holdstock spends the first half of the book immersing us in the narrator's history and lifestyle in the real world. I started to fear that this book would turn out to be like The Wood Wife or Little Big, where we only get tantalizing glimpses of creatures from the other realm and never go there ourselves. But then at the halfway point, things finally started happening, and they were all the more effective for our having been so deeply immersed in the quotidian details of Steven's life before. I guess the fantastic seems even more fantastic when contrasted with something real! I won't spoil the ending of the book except to say that it also surprised me greatly. Now I can't wait to read the sequel.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 17 03:45:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 18 04:29:46 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Feb 18 04:29:46 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "1281393", "review_id": "747e22116b8cc145ccaf9dce77c53eb4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Alice Hoffman is certainly a talented writer at the sentence level, and I found myself carried along by the strength of her writing, especially as I neared the end. But there was much in the book that I didn't care for or agree with. Many times I've heard male authors criticized for allowing their female characters to be two-dimensional, but this is one of the few times I've read a book by a woman and felt that the male characters were two-dimensional. I never had the sense that any of them really existed except as potential love interests for the female characters, and that bothered me after a while. It also bothered me that Hoffman has such a narrow view of romantic love. If it isn't making your tongue roll on the floor and your eyes bug out and your heart thump in your chest like a cartoon character, then she doesn't seem to think it exists. Because of these problems, I'm not sure if I'll ever read another Hoffman book after this. But, on the other hand, at least it was better than Garden Spells.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 15 10:26:44 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 21 13:52:11 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Sep 21 13:52:11 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "6240758", "review_id": "4d1184a274b5fa2df81c5a394290dbbe", "rating": 3, "review_text": "At first I didn't think I liked this book very much, but it grew on me as I went along. Still, there were some distracting things that kept me from giving it a higher rating. Setiawan is certainly an imaginative author, but I felt that he was lacking in control, not entirely surprising given that this is his first novel. I became especially exasperated with his problems controlling the passage of time. In several instances, he narrates a long sequence of events that must surely have taken months to play out, and then, in the next breath, tells us that only a few days or weeks have gone by. I was also a bit annoyed with his portrayal of marriage. There are five couples in this book, and none of them have a happy marriage. I know that not everybody lives happily ever after, but sometimes people do, and it would be nice if the book could have acknowledged that somehow.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 13 06:41:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 15 18:40:18 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "1158967", "review_id": "de0c88f86635bf294980f03703ce99fd", "rating": 2, "review_text": "So Sarah Addison Allen took the plot of Practical Magic and threw in a couple reruns of Dallas for good measure. That in itself is no reason to denigrate this book; after all, Chaucer and Shakespeare stole all their plots and what mattered was how they were able to make the stories their own. Unfortunately, Allen is no Chaucer or Shakespeare, and she could have used an editor to help straighten out some of the logical errors she and her characters make throughout the course of the book. (For example, Evanelle is 79 years old, and we're told she was married for 38 years and has been a widow for 30. I guess that means she got married at age 11, huh?) There's nothing odious about this book, but it was sloppy and just not that interesting.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 18 10:59:31 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 04 05:03:40 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "305307", "review_id": "3a16b4b41a765e302060010d2d117bae", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Maybe it's because I'd heard so much about it and even seen the movie, but the beginning of this book seemed slow to me and didn't do much to draw me in. Towards the end, though, when things started happening, I decided it was ok after all. Now I'm curious to see what happens in the next volume.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 11 05:42:38 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 17 14:23:17 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jul 25 11:11:56 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "337130", "review_id": "3f7737016bb5c09fa37aedc566b1a26e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I really feel like I should have liked this book, but somehow it didn't meet my expectations. I'd heard it described as being like The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and I guess on the surface that's true. Richard Mayhew is very much like Arthur Dent, a wanderer in a realm he doesn't understand. But what makes Douglas Adams' writing so good is the humor, not his plotting, and without a similar dose of humor, this book seemed superficial and somewhat dull. I'm told that the TV series this book was based upon was very good, so maybe I'll just watch that instead.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 11 05:37:30 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 26 07:34:11 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jun 26 07:34:11 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "6404538", "review_id": "b4b5904d52b3c2b7e00d6bc77b495fcf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really liked the beginning of this book a lot. Two identical twins from the States move to London after inheriting all the possessions of their aunt, herself an identical twin of their mother. Her flat is right next to Highgate Cemetary, so there is much opportunity for musing upon death and encounters with ghosts. They also meet the other residents of the small apartment building where she lived and try to crack the mystery of how and why their aunt and mother cut off all communication with each other years before. \n It was about two-thirds of the way through the book that something really goofy happened, which caused something else even goofier to happen, and so on until the entire book collapsed under its own weight. Niffenegger has said in interviews that this book started as characters in search of a plot, and to be honest, I don't think she ever found one, at least not one that really works. However, the atmosphere and characters she's created are so strong and appealing that I recommend reading the book anyway, just with reservations.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 11 04:41:25 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 11 04:53:25 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "76852", "review_id": "983712ff7f08db09aa0510867d07fd45", "rating": 5, "review_text": "As a big fan of Jane Austen and a big fan of fantasy, I was enchanted by this book and never wanted it to end. When thinking of other works to compare it to, the closest I can come is Sorcery and Cecelia, which I read several years ago and also loved. What I found most amazing about this work is the way that Clarke was able to so closely match the early 19th-century novels she is copying, both in word choice (right down to the spelling!) and in tone. If you've read a lot of those novels, as I have, it's easy to believe that you've stumbled across a missing work from that time period. But if you haven't read that kind of novel very much (or at all), I'm afraid a lot of the charms of this work will be lost on you. I think that's why, in the reviews I've found of this work here and at other places online, literary scholars tend to love it and fantasy fans tend to be puzzled by it.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 05:11:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 06 12:55:59 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "73574", "review_id": "a8e3f1eac600450fc1708b94f9f73a65", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'd never heard of this book until I was looking at reviews here for Little Big, and many people mentioned this work as being a likely inspiration for that one. I wasn't expecting my local library to have a copy, but they did, so I decided to check it out and fell in love. This is truly a meeting of the mundane and the mystical, and, without giving too much away, the ending does nothing to spoil that feeling. I only wish there were other books by this author in print so I could read some more like this.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 10:58:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 19 07:02:59 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "90619", "review_id": "0eefca62487ecf9cf1fc51c8f4e4e869", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What can I say? I thought this book was wonderful, and I was very sorry when it eventually came to an end. I know some reviewers here are disappointed that we never actually learn that much about the fairy realm that is often alluded to, but to me that's the the point-- such things are unknowable and can only be understood at all by putting aside the rational mind and accepting them as given. I've seen other people use the word \"ineffable\" to describe this book, and I think it's very apt. \n The one part of the book that took some time to wrap my head around was the big time jump that takes place around the middle of the book. The story is always zigging and zagging between flashbacks that take place in different periods of the past, but the \"present-day\" of the story suddenly jumps ahead twenty years at one point, and it's up to the reader to piece together what has happened, both to our main family and to the world in general, in the meantime. What's more amazing to me is that, if we accept the beginning of the story to take place in Crowley's present-day as he was writing in the late 1970's (and I think there is textual evidence to support this), and accounting for the time that has passed in the story before the time jump, then the future that it jumps ahead to is roughly our now. Fortunately, our world is not quite as bleak as the future that Crowley imagined, but I'm amazed at the small throwaway details that he got right, such as the existence of urban farms and the cancellation of many soap operas. (I would never have predicted either of those things, but Crowley somehow did.) \n This is the kind of book where you go on a journey with the characters and the story is more about the getting there than the place they eventually arrive. If you are willing to go along with the Drinkwater family as they meander through the late 20th century, you will not be disappointed.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 05:45:27 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 22 08:44:39 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "567586", "review_id": "59af89a6e629c09a274ddabdd9704850", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I came into this book not knowing much about it except what I'd heard about the Broadway show, but still it managed to subvert my expectations. I would venture to classify it as a bildungsroman, as it presents the stages of Elphaba's life in a very episodic way. The five sections recount her infancy, college years, and three successive periods of her adulthood. I liked each of the sections and throught they made wonderful stand-alone stories, but they didn't add up to the portrait of a real character, as each time the story picks up, Elphaba has changed a lot, almost becoming a different character each time. \n To me, this was a good book, not a great one, simply because I saw the seams showing a bit too much.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 05:18:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 14 09:49:06 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "13a8074a4cf64337edcf084b30b9a72a", "book_id": "93436", "review_id": "b9e2b61f89b8c4f1df20a61547cf503e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved this book, but I guess that's no surprise. How could I not love a story about a graduate student in English who finds a book that she knows is cursed and reads it anyway? (I'm sure I would if I had the chance. Wouldn't you?) This launches a series of improbable adventures that takes her across all of England with only 10 pounds in her pocket. I've read a lot of these mind-trippy books with supposed explanations of the reality behind this illusion we call life, but I've got to say this is the only one with a theory so sound that I'm actually tempted to believe it. Thomas is really a wonderful writer, equally adept at expounding huge theories like this and narrating small moments where people are having unimportant conversations over tea. My only teeny reservation is that the love story seems a little bit too pat to be believable, but I guess love at first sight sometimes happens, right?", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 05:09:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 06 09:15:20 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a838e7278ced83e8c1efd36dc724ac59", "book_id": "17332588", "review_id": "59fb41d16ca9aee357e76108f62357cf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "BLACKOUT by Robison Wells reminds me of this old joke. \n There are two dyslexics working in a kitchen. One says, \"Can you smell gas?\" And the other says, \"I can't even smell my own name.\" (Remember, it's just a witticism, a spoonerism, if you will. Not necessarily derogatory.) \n BLACKOUT was an entertaining read, fast-paced, intriguing. I guess you could say engaging. I was engaged, then... Well, I think you'll like those characteristics. I haven't read its predecessor if there is one. But after reading it, I feel like one of those kitchen workers. Nonetheless, I don't have dyslexia. There just wasn't enough narrative explanation for my tastes. Maybe if there are successor volumes, I could be more satisfied. But that's speculative. \n Perhaps, I have the worldwide virus that's a premise to what happens in the novel. I finished the whole book, but I didn't learn sufficient information about that virus. Or about the motivation of both the mentioned and unmentioned antagonists in this work. There was not nearly enough knowledge and development for my tastes, other than the virus is totally weird, inexplicably so, and creative. One thing I did learn about the virus was the fact that it only infected youth --- teenagers --- and it made them super- or sub-human. Superpowers. \n (So, because I'm old, I don't have \"that\" virus. Whew! Something's infected me, though. I hope it can be treated.) \n In BLACKOUT the primary players on the dark side, who, of course, are all infected, include Alec, Laura, and Dan. And on the side of light --- after all, they're probably Saints, since they're from central Utah --- are Aubrey and Jack. Or, perhaps, that should be \"on the light side\" --- ha ha. At least, I think that's right, but recall that I might be infected (although not with \"the\" virus). The former trio serve as terrorists, utilizing their viral superpowers to wreak havoc. The nation's military ends up exploiting the later two heroes' superpowers to thwart the villains. These characters are all viewpoint characters, and they're not the only ones, as I recall. Character development suffered. \n You see, this virus shows itself in varying ways, but never with the same symptoms in any two different individuals. It's unlike any other disease or virus known to mankind, at least in my experience. Or in my imagination. And its symptomatic manifestations are all over the place as far as superpowers or darkpowers for these teens go. The antagonists wreak havoc across the United States --- for what purpose is unclear --- and the protagonists are simply manipulated by their government without a satisfactory justification for my tastes in doing so. \n Hence, as in all fantasy and/or pseudoscience fiction, such powers can be and are manipulated in a deus ex machina way. It's very, very convenient. (I read a uncorrected proof.) \n That's how I spell it.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 24 21:16:41 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 13 12:28:29 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a838e7278ced83e8c1efd36dc724ac59", "book_id": "10626639", "review_id": "9f1962f2241ad93cafa69af653984c8a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Well, I'm biased. The author is in a critiquing group I belong to. I just urge you to read and make your own judgement and evaluation. Solveig, the protagonist, a story teller in her own right, won't let you down. Not with the likes of a frozen fjord, a beautiful sister, Vikings, and berserkers. You won't be disapppointed. \n Matt is a great writer who's on his way to the top. This is a great illustration of historical fiction for children and young people that satisfies the most mature audience too.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 05 13:50:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 05 13:56:51 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a838e7278ced83e8c1efd36dc724ac59", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "9777a06f39929c5802775d9a508fe250", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Weird sledding for me. Uneven terrain. A fantasy book should imho be upright in its presentation. I didn't think this one was.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 05 13:03:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 05 13:09:13 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a838e7278ced83e8c1efd36dc724ac59", "book_id": "24979", "review_id": "982b4b0d9ee9c7bf0a836c5f96fa89bf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I've put the Connie Willis Christmas book away for now, stowed it carefully in my Kindle, and if it gets too crowded there, it'll always be available on my computer or in the Amazon archives. Come next November, however, I'll want it back there, right at the top of my reading list again, to savor some quirky story of Willis's in the quiet moments while waiting somewhere in a line, while riding in the car or bus to some destination, when a speaker's delivery isn't up to snuff, or when I'm waiting for the doctor to see me. \n Hopefully, I'll use them again to better evaluate my place in the world in terms of the stories and their allusions to history and to myth. \n To me, that's the value of reading great stories: self-evaluation and, of course, inspiration. I won't discard other Christmas favorites: Dickens's A CHRISTMAS CAROL and Truman Capote's \"A Christmas Memory.\" Or even the ones Willis recommends there in her own collection. \n There's something unique in reading Christmas stories with that fantastical and, at times, science-fictiony element that Willis is so renowned for. The whimsy and the easy nature of her storytelling is so conducive to the Christmas spirit. \n So next year, sometime after Thanksgiving, I wouldn't be surprised if my wife catches me cozied down in the leather recliner with a subtle smile on my face reading about Joseph and Mary caught up in current times through some time warp or something, finding themselves in a Christian church where people are encouraged not to get too caught up in compassion, and the two of them not knowing quite how to get back on the path to Bethlehem. I'll be contemplating \"Joseph lying about the baby being his, and the wise men sneaking out the back way, the holy family hightailing it to Egypt and the innkeeper lying to Herod's soldiers about where they'd gone.\" \n My wife will speak to me, asking what I'm reading, and I'll say, \"We are all capable of murder. It's in our genes.\" She'll say, \"Boy, you're getting in the Christmas spirit, aren't you?\" and I'll say, \"You know, 'the story of the Second Coming was a single narrative, but it was actually a hodgepodge of isolated scriptures.'\" \n About that time, the electronic file on my Kindle will magically disappear. It had its origins in Connie Willis, after all, and she has just that kind of magic in her writing. If you've read this book, you know what I mean.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 02 10:52:10 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 02 10:54:53 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8148f58f45d7f7cef97b76f77defe680", "book_id": "18090081", "review_id": "dedc0b03dc3a0c253cf2d481458ae636", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Some of the stories were good but some were just awful.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 12 18:48:59 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 12 18:50:16 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8148f58f45d7f7cef97b76f77defe680", "book_id": "24830", "review_id": "08797a618ea3be3bbb39e08acdcb5e91", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked it but I didn't love it like I Sing the Body Electric.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 23 18:03:53 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 21 21:36:03 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8148f58f45d7f7cef97b76f77defe680", "book_id": "6087756", "review_id": "2c23ea2fc776b59bf1d7cbe0d115a5a9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I love the noir feel of the Curse Workers series.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 12 13:32:33 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 12 13:33:49 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7044795eda9fe8fcc1e428b0d5115896", "book_id": "17927395", "review_id": "491da392ef333e63314b818398b65a67", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved this book. It was better than the first one for me. \n Also, what I love about SJM is that she has the ability to make you fall in love with a character and in the next moment hate that same character with a passion. I can understand that this frustrates some readers, but I love it. It is a very rare gift to have as an author these days - enticing such emotion and frustration with \n loved characters. \n Although, I totally love Rhys. I hope there is some form of redemption for Tam friendship wise, and we get to see the old him come back realizing his faults. \n Thanks SJM for the lovely read!", "date_added": "Thu Jul 07 15:36:44 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 07 16:03:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jul 07 16:03:35 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "015cb45454dc70dfc692eb17745fc6c0", "book_id": "544891", "review_id": "74580449d0b2838e0767c205639e78c0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was a fun read as a modern retelling of Beauty and Beast. However, I had trouble with the resolution of the story because it was a modern retelling. The ending to any Beauty and Beast story hinges on finding true love, and really how likely is that for a 15-17 year old.", "date_added": "Tue May 26 13:25:58 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue May 26 13:31:30 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Tue May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "015cb45454dc70dfc692eb17745fc6c0", "book_id": "1326421", "review_id": "a7dd8581a9e8936be9b203505f7c6f06", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Over all I enjoyed this book; however, it struck me as a fantasy book that didn't necessarily want to admit it was a fantasy book. The main character, Ceridwen, is a witch who can't self-identify as a witch (or let anyone else identify her as a witch) because she lives in the Middle Ages and is in constant risk of being burned at the stake. Ceridwen does have magic and a back story of unknown inheritance which gives her special powers (which makes her some sort of witch, albeit a good witch, even if she doesn't claim the name). She also has the learning and specific know how to use herb-craft making her the wise woman she claims she is. \n Really there is just multiple layers to the question of magic. Some magic exists as strait-up magic, some is mere superstition, and some is science. Characters believe other characters have been abducted by fairies and replaced by changelings. One has, the other is merely sick. With regards to her herbs - Ceridwen notes at one point that she has found they often work regardless of whether or not the were picked on the right saints-day, giving the herbs some debate on science vs. superstition. \n Then, of course, there has to be the evil character who, in their jealousy, has to accuse the main character of evil witch craft, and accusation made even worse by the appearance of the plague. Dame Bewick plays this part well.", "date_added": "Sat May 09 08:56:12 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon May 18 15:19:47 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon May 18 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fc0a0792fd1c30427acdbfecbf5b0a20", "book_id": "11590", "review_id": "44f40e7d8c13571ea6efa3d0f7beccc1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "In the introduction King acknowledges openly the inspiration he found in Stoker's Dracula, and it's easy to see those tones in 'Salem's Lot. \n This book is much more closely aligned with the subtle horror of the original Dracula than with gory and bloody Hollywood horror. The final chapters of the book are the most scary, but the bloody parts aren't gratuitous. There's some language but not too much. \n 'Salem's Lot is probably closer to a 3.5 for me. I enjoyed it, especially for an October read. It's creepy, combining subtlety with just enough action.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 23 15:15:25 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 16 08:05:44 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fc0a0792fd1c30427acdbfecbf5b0a20", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "909d00c396ddbfc94067a87215f807c1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A compelling story about survival and ingenuity. I can see that this book will translate into a good movie, but I didn't love the writing. The actual writing was full of technical speak and jargon, and I ended up skimming quite a bit to get past all the technical material.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 29 08:23:25 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 28 17:37:49 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fc0a0792fd1c30427acdbfecbf5b0a20", "book_id": "149267", "review_id": "75ba9ea38bc6577e482bf8b548f0b35b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I was blown away by this book. The Stand is compelling, thought-provoking, dark, and inspiring. It's a beast of a book, coming in at over 1100 pages, but it's worth the investment. King develops rich and complex characters and weaves an equally rich and complex plot surrounding the aftermath of a worldwide superflu epidemic. King's story of the age-old foundational fight of good versus evil kept me reading late into the night. \n This book contains a supernatural element that I found fascinatingly plausible. I found all elements in the story to be expertly crafted, and the supernatural piece is no exception. I would love to read this book is a book club or college course. The discussion possibilities are endless. \n A couple of caveats: The Stand is dark and full of dark characters. King examines what a post-apocalyptic good-versus-evil showdown might look like. Darkness is inevitable, though the good is just as compelling. There is a bit of language, but not superfluous in my opinion. There are also a couple of sexually explicit and violent scenes. One scene in particular I skipped over. Generally, though, the vast content is clean. The story does contains a fair share of expected violence. \n I recommend this book heartily to anyone who can accept a bit of darkness in their reading. The Stand is one I will pull out again for rereading and one that will stay with me for a long, long time.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 23 09:30:44 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 22 20:12:49 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "fc0a0792fd1c30427acdbfecbf5b0a20", "book_id": "248596", "review_id": "dce7d8dff56a288ff0562a4b05166df4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This story was superbly eerie and chilling (and poetically written). Will and Jim unknowingly jump into a battle for souls, and you don't know how it will turn out until the very end. An excellent October read.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 07 10:08:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 30 14:09:16 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fc0a0792fd1c30427acdbfecbf5b0a20", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "5cf9bfc8596bd600e80ba38803d0392f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is a fascinating blend of text and photography. The story itself in an interesting fantasy that involves a sixteen-year-old boy trying to solve a mystery his grandfather intimated with his last words. Interspersed with compelling photography, this book takes you into a very peculiar world. I didn't feel enough resolution at the end, and so I'm hoping that Riggs plans on writing a sequel. Despite that, however, Miss Peregrine was an interesting book that kept me reading.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 26 16:56:43 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 30 20:45:39 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jan 30 20:45:39 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fc0a0792fd1c30427acdbfecbf5b0a20", "book_id": "5027092", "review_id": "02365b210a1757d61d0258bbec7a581c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Categorized as a young-adult novel, I'd place it as a middle reader book. The story followed the traditional Joseph Campbell hero format and often leaned toward the didactic side. That said, Alex was likable enough, and for a tween needing a wholesome and adventurous read, this will do the trick.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 18 19:41:14 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 30 20:30:27 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Sun Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Fri Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fc0a0792fd1c30427acdbfecbf5b0a20", "book_id": "345660", "review_id": "d13fdf1e49eefcd0dcab278a86e1f3aa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "June 2011: The kitschy fantasy cover and awful back matter made me think of medieval clubs and hobbit cloaks, and I moved forward only on the recommendation of a friend. I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that this novel was more light fantasy and told a thoughtful coming-of-age story. Corie starts out as an immature, naive fourteen-year-old and through her summers in court grows into a discerning, empathetic young woman who has to make many decisions about who she is and wants to be. This book wasn't predictable, and I liked that. Summers at Castle Auburn is a great summer read combining sisterhood, political intrigue, and love in a winning fairy tale.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 02 08:47:10 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 21 09:51:49 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "fc0a0792fd1c30427acdbfecbf5b0a20", "book_id": "179064", "review_id": "26eee6e9d7ea43101499f9823bee726b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I found this young-adult novel thoughtful, refreshing, and well-written. The Goose Girl reminded me of Ella Enchanted, another favorite young-adult book. This book contains an ideal combination of action, romance, mysticism, and fairy tale, all enveloped in an honest coming-of-age framework.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 09 15:43:36 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 14 11:44:44 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue Jun 14 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sat Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fc0a0792fd1c30427acdbfecbf5b0a20", "book_id": "6101718", "review_id": "539068c17ebb60409d2149dde5076b38", "rating": 1, "review_text": "My husband and I listened to this book on a road trip and were both gravely disappointed. Apart from the superfluous foul language, the story is dull and unimaginative. Grossman borrows frameworks from the Harry Potter and Narnia books but fails in creating an \"edgy\" HP, an objective I perceived in the plot. The characters are unlikeable and self-pitying. Grossman tries to fit so much into one book that there's no real cohesion to the story. Perhaps it would have been a little better if the author had focused on just one of the many stories he tries to weave together. Regardless, this book was tedious, at times offensive, and hardly qualifies as mediocre.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 03 15:06:47 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 21 11:53:05 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fc0a0792fd1c30427acdbfecbf5b0a20", "book_id": "1137215", "review_id": "323a23649a29bd5b06277e47214beae4", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Falling into the steam-punk literary genre, Boneshaker tells the story of an alternate 19th-century Seattle, one that falls victim to technology, resulting in a quarantined city infected with deadly gas and ruthless zombies. Briar Wilkes, the widow of the inventor of the machine that devastated the city, dares to traverse Seattle's ruins as she searches for her son, Zeke, who ventured into the quarantine to find out the truth about his father. \n Despite this interesting-enough premise, the writing quality falls short. Everything felt too contrived to me: the characters, the dialogue, the descriptions, the action. A book that could have been a delightful escapist novel I felt was resigned to shallow reading that didn't do much for me.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 14 14:58:49 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 21 12:21:36 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Wed Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Tue Dec 14 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fc0a0792fd1c30427acdbfecbf5b0a20", "book_id": "5068564", "review_id": "50cd6978080a58aff4c97ff99f2a9e9e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book wasn't my favorite; I only read it for a literature class. I've always found this story a little bizarre, and I didn't find it any more engaging in book form. (In fact, I think I might enjoy it more as a film.) This book doesn't really have a point; Alice doesn't change at all from the beginning to the end; Alice is inquisitive but isn't smart. This is definitely a book I won't read again.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 20 12:42:55 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 20 12:44:54 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Sun Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fc0a0792fd1c30427acdbfecbf5b0a20", "book_id": "11", "review_id": "0ca1fb21fd2aab18281af4bd3070e6fc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'd heard of this book but never read it until now. I didn't really know what to expect, and I ended up quite enjoying this book. The writing is funny and clever, the story easy to follow yet engaging. This book is clearly a part of a series, so the resolution at the end of the story wasn't quite what I usually like at the end of a book. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is an entertaining, quick read, one that I'd feel comfortable recommending.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 09 15:25:28 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 09 15:28:44 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fc0a0792fd1c30427acdbfecbf5b0a20", "book_id": "2213661", "review_id": "b6b432eab0536bb15c40fb7511829b8d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "mystery \n Nobody Owens grew up in a graveyard. Saved from his family's murder as a baby by the ghosts of the graveyard, Bod has full reign of the graveyard during his childhood, learning the secrets and abilities of the dead graveyard inhabitants. Though Bod has inclinations to venture into the outside world, the world of the living isn't safe for him, because his family's murderer is still out there searching for Bod. Bod has several adventures both inside and outside of the graveyard and as he matures comes closer and closer to solving the mystery of his family's murder. \n I really enjoyed this book. The writing was easy to read but the story was still thought-provoking and compelling. I was pulled into the believability of the supernatural aspects of this book and found the liminality of the space between life and death fascinating. The characters were endearing, and the story decidedly hopeful. I do wish that the mystery surrounding Bod and his family were more fully developed, but apart from that I loved the story.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 12 07:18:50 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 12 12:11:03 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Wed Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fc0a0792fd1c30427acdbfecbf5b0a20", "book_id": "183272", "review_id": "8575b4acbdf30d04eff157fe1873daa2", "rating": 2, "review_text": "adventure/low fantasy \n When Gregory and Brian go up to Vermont to visit Gregory's Uncle Max, they have no idea what lies in wait for this trip. Puzzled by Uncle Max's many eccentricities, they start to explore and house and grounds. They eventually realize that they're playing a game, The Game of Sunken Places, and have to solve riddles and make it past trolls and ogres in their attempts to beat the creepy Jack Stimple. As they play, they become more aware of the dangerous nature of the game, and pretty soon they realize that they're not playing who they thought they were and that the outcome has bigger ramifications than they thought. \n This book reminded me greatly of Jumanji and at times seemed like a copy of sorts. As I understand, Anderson writes bleak-ish novels more than not, so this book seemed like it was probably out of Anderson' typical style. The book felt more middle-grade than I what I expected, but it was a fun book with twists and turns and likable characters.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 09 09:01:30 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 09 09:11:19 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Fri Nov 06 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fc0a0792fd1c30427acdbfecbf5b0a20", "book_id": "2294528", "review_id": "2f49803e58329b4d1b74afa7d05ba4b8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "fantasy/romance/adventure \n Sophie is really a beautiful, young girl but is put under a curse that makes her appear like an old woman. To free herself she seeks out the wizard Howl, a feared personage in the land. But it turns out that really Howl is just an insecure, slightly immature young man trying to figure himself out a little more. Sophie, Howl, his apprentice, and his fire demon go on several adventures in the moving castle, ending up accomplishing more and confronting more than they expected. \n This book was an okay read. It was easy and whimsical, but at times the book felt too long. I've never been a big fantasy buff, but this book was okay for fantasy, maybe because it's not your typical fantasy book. It's fun to see how Wynne-Jones plays with conventional fantasy and twists it to her own ends. Sometimes I wondered what the point of the book was, but perhaps one of the points is to not have a point, to just have a bit of fun.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 21 16:49:21 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 21 16:54:03 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Thu Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fc0a0792fd1c30427acdbfecbf5b0a20", "book_id": "85990", "review_id": "944304fe204dac14b5d74561cc6ea1ac", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Princess Academy is sweet, simple, engaging, compelling, and interesting. This was the perfect young-adult book for me to read right now. It's full of good writing, endearing characters, and driving plot. I loved this book and was sad to see it end.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 07 10:18:03 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 17 11:14:43 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Thu Nov 17 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Mon Nov 14 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fc0a0792fd1c30427acdbfecbf5b0a20", "book_id": "170453", "review_id": "ae2cbb035c792770efd9c9340ccda83d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I didn't really know what to expect from this book, and I ended up really liking it. I think what I noticed and appreciated most was that it didn't remind me of anything else. Martel's writing style and story are completely unique, and I found myself wanting to read the story slowly so I could really soak it all in. I'd definitely recommend this book.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 07 08:39:42 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 06 06:33:17 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "fc0a0792fd1c30427acdbfecbf5b0a20", "book_id": "10336", "review_id": "369dbd0bf1b9ae3e411a969f3a62b138", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I haven't read this book in many, many years, and I had fun reading it as an adult. (I did, however, have to suspend my concerns about the Potter children being told by the professor, a relative stranger at the time, to keep their project a secret from their parents. A mother's perspective, I suppose.) \n A tale of complete fantasy that's simple and fun and sweet. I'm looking forward to reading this to my own kids someday. \n I would probably give this four stars as an adult, but I remember being so enchanted with this story as a child that I have to keep my rating at five.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 07 08:15:31 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 15 15:59:18 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fc0a0792fd1c30427acdbfecbf5b0a20", "book_id": "24337", "review_id": "ce4cb0cefecaa45efbac5b13d03a1d86", "rating": 5, "review_text": "fantasy/romance \n I don't know how a girl (especially a teenage girl) couldn't like this story. Expanding and giving depth to the classic Cinderella story, Levine creates a believable fantasy world where the Cinderella story is better understood. A quick read (or listen if you decide to go with the audiobook version), you still come away feeling like your time reading/listening was well spent. I fell in love with Prince Char and loathed the stepmother and ugly stepsisters. The story is simple, but it's well written and well told. The twist with Ella's curse adds certain depth/meaning to the story that makes this re-told fairy tale appealing to young adults. I just love this book.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 18 17:52:25 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 28 08:19:22 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Tue Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fc0a0792fd1c30427acdbfecbf5b0a20", "book_id": "17245", "review_id": "7db3607b46a7ffa87183cfc62c7188e8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Could there be a more perfect book to read in October? No, there isn't. Dracula was the perfect Halloween book. \n Stoker creates the quintessential horror story, one built on suspense, on uncertainty, on the fantastic supernatural. Dracula introduces an eerie elegance to vampire lore, and I found myself captivated by the spookiness of it all. \n Dracula combines spooky with literary finesse; it doesn't contain gratuitous gore or violence, but is rather replete with subtle and carefully crafted build-up. \n To be completely honest, I loved this book. The only thing that stops me from giving it 5 stars is that it's not life-changing. Dracula just really is an excellent story, one that far surpasses modern horror stories.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 18 17:25:29 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 14 22:20:02 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Sun Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Mon Oct 10 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c282ea67812c2be173ac03af846dace", "book_id": "8621462", "review_id": "87f472db57bcd9216be025d02bfddb7b", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I read this over the last two evenings, and am still feeling a bit shaken. A book which deals with families, grief and loss in a brutally honest way, and makes you stand up and face your own monster, your own truth. \n The illustrations complete the book, I don't think it would have been nearly as powerful with the text alone. Trying to sleep after reading, I could almost see my own yew tree monster, just waiting outside my window... \n Besides dealing with the reality of illness and death, the story also highlights the terror of loneliness, of feeling unable to fit in, or communicate, which both children and adults must all feel at times. I cried. I would highly recommend.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 22 13:00:25 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 22 13:12:28 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "036e7576c75872f740045e34897b4a9c", "book_id": "29127", "review_id": "2a65fe22a99e3378fa108a41173e8afe", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I was obsessed with this movie as a child, and though I couldn't understand the themes at the time, I almost think some of its meaning and heart swept into my subconscious somehow. Reading this tale felt familiar and yet totally new. \n As an adult, I see the Last Unicorn as an allegory about time, specifically, the unique way that humans interpret their existence based on time. At the beginning of the story, the unicorn is immortal and lives in the present moment. She does not know her age, experience regret, or have distinct memories. All of the humans, however, are controlled in one way or another by time. There are those who seek to hold on to time through greed and attachment (Haggard), those who can not enjoy what they have in the present because they might lose it in the future (the Hagsgate villagers), those who fear growing old (Molly Grue), and those who can't \"grow up\" (Schmendrick). And, of course, there is a skeleton who teaches us that \"the right time\" is an illusion. In the end, the unicorn-turned woman-turned unicorn shows us the gift of mortality, for only an enlightened being who understands the limits of time can really appreciate how precious life truly is--in its beauty and its pain. \n Extra bonus: self-aware \"meta\" moments and unexpected humor add a little levity!", "date_added": "Sat Feb 11 18:53:28 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 12 10:34:57 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "036e7576c75872f740045e34897b4a9c", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "38a6cbba78079c7f21d9b46ee2b0624b", "rating": 1, "review_text": "In my Goodreads rating system, I've reserved the 1 Star to books I just couldn't finish. I tried to like this book. I tried so hard. I even picked it up for a second attempt a month or so later when I'd run out of new reading material at my house. I read about a page before throwing it down again. I don't know what's wrong with me, but I HATED Mark Watney and his glib, unfazed, cheerful, \"humorous\" attitude to all of the disaster befalling him. I hated how he would write a paragraph about feeling mildly down and then say, \"Well enough of my complaining!\" I didn't feel like he was a real person, and I started to become indifferent when yet another thing went wrong for him. On top of that, I grew exhausted by all of the mathematical calculations that went on and on for pages. I appreciated the effort at scientific realism, but the end result was just plain tedious to me. This is a rare book that translates better on film, in my opinion.", "date_added": "Wed May 18 06:39:06 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 12 09:53:37 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eea33d75f76e522d4ebdac0fa08179d5", "book_id": "13612018", "review_id": "e6230bfa01abce6f18fedfd9317374e4", "rating": 1, "review_text": "YAWN. Had to be the most boring book I think I've ever read.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 12 16:09:40 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 12 16:13:08 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eea33d75f76e522d4ebdac0fa08179d5", "book_id": "11436723", "review_id": "c63c81ffb55503573b257128539bf7ef", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I quit.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 25 09:23:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 11 14:06:12 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Aug 11 14:06:12 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eea33d75f76e522d4ebdac0fa08179d5", "book_id": "10763598", "review_id": "deafd33466d03e3bfdc9441640ec5f27", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Blew me away.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 09 18:25:58 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 09 18:28:42 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Wed Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eea33d75f76e522d4ebdac0fa08179d5", "book_id": "8667848", "review_id": "9c77ed1f0ca09e025833ac29d4037d9c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A verbose breaking dawn/twilight/historian mash up minus the palpable sexual tension. I experienced twilight deja vu often while reading this. Good writer but I had a feeling of been here read this already.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 14 10:50:46 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 19 19:20:40 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sun Jun 19 19:01:38 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Tue Jun 14 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eea33d75f76e522d4ebdac0fa08179d5", "book_id": "4070493", "review_id": "2c857449e29c39fe456161b1ec622a86", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I hate having to rate books this low. The one star is for the cover. Skip it.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 25 15:15:17 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 25 15:21:07 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Thu Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eea33d75f76e522d4ebdac0fa08179d5", "book_id": "6068551", "review_id": "2bbeee146401b6683bce585e679a9a6f", "rating": 1, "review_text": "This was boring/ I will not read the sequel.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 26 21:10:05 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 03 10:44:25 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Tue Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eea33d75f76e522d4ebdac0fa08179d5", "book_id": "6076413", "review_id": "ba08e529543a41d3d12ada058ee222fb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "So much better than the 1st book!!!", "date_added": "Fri Dec 11 12:09:42 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 17 16:13:12 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Fri Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eea33d75f76e522d4ebdac0fa08179d5", "book_id": "2842796", "review_id": "9dcce3de79f65c55aa6990f2a964d8ff", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Such a cute premise.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 26 16:44:14 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 26 16:44:14 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eea33d75f76e522d4ebdac0fa08179d5", "book_id": "7973", "review_id": "0b33d06c353abeeb69788e0d0633f8af", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Well written, engrossing, and entertaining.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 26 07:06:55 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 26 07:06:55 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Thu Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eea33d75f76e522d4ebdac0fa08179d5", "book_id": "2753843", "review_id": "29d1c4191fa705370a0c3d867de6f02e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I keep reading this series because I really liked the idea of the orgins of her vampires but now it feels as if the author is really just unnecessarily drawing out the story. I am so glad I borrowed mine. Unless I hear rave reviews about the next book I'm done.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 16 15:49:20 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 16 15:49:20 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sun Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eea33d75f76e522d4ebdac0fa08179d5", "book_id": "84140", "review_id": "4454f458c9e8134a5bd59bcbe4c445f3", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I just can't get into this series. I'll try to read one more but they all read the same. Just the leading man switched around. Black Dagger Brotherhood is much better than this.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 11 19:47:09 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 11 19:47:09 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sat Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eea33d75f76e522d4ebdac0fa08179d5", "book_id": "84150", "review_id": "3ff72eb7adc567f0247795a63da5bf65", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Nothing like a trashy novel !!!", "date_added": "Wed Feb 11 19:42:17 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 11 19:42:17 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Wed Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eea33d75f76e522d4ebdac0fa08179d5", "book_id": "3236307", "review_id": "cf6c81553f77a5cbdccc3cadfacfb1f0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed this story because the author did not give me what I expected or wanted to happen in the end. Some YA books all read the same but this one refused to bow to the same tired formula. I think if you like Shannon Hale you'll like this story too.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 24 13:56:58 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 11 19:39:50 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sat Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eea33d75f76e522d4ebdac0fa08179d5", "book_id": "1162543", "review_id": "383e6f3a254d0e013012927922469bb3", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I just want to say that I did love this series. (Rating this book a 1.5 for effort.) \n As an adult reader, this final installment was disappointing. \n The last 200 pages of the book was not as bad as most of it because by then I stopped looking for the sentence from Bella, \"and then I woke up and it was our wedding day\", and accepted it for the story it turned into. \n In my opinion the author gave her readers what they wanted, but not what they NEEDED. She should have stayed true to rules of the story and characters she created. This is why the book fails for me. \n I'm a stickler for the rules authors create. It gives me a solid foundation to hold onto especially when reading fantasy. When they are broken, there had better be a concrete explanation as to why something is able to occur when it normally would never happen, (because I loved the series- I would have even accepted magic or faith), but please don't give me BS. She feed me a trough full of BS. An author has to sell me the fact that I totally overlooked this idea and that is a hard thing to do for avid readers. I feel lied to and that is what is most disappointing, but I digress, it's her book, it's just the potential of what could've been that I yearn for. \n The main story reads out of character nasty and weird and sometimes I like nasty and weird, but not in the universe she created. \n I'm glad it's over. I should have been sad it's over.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 25 09:09:42 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 03 08:24:57 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sat Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eea33d75f76e522d4ebdac0fa08179d5", "book_id": "1582996", "review_id": "34e82f5029fdf056df8ecdac177d514c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "OK, \n I am a sucker for a series. Much better than the 1st. A 3.75.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 12 12:03:28 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 14 11:56:23 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon Apr 14 12:00:05 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eea33d75f76e522d4ebdac0fa08179d5", "book_id": "289601", "review_id": "c2c2bb8e2ee466921b94599982589bd5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I read this in one day. Enchanting or maybe Haunting - a good quick read. I wouldn't really classify this as YA book.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 09 08:58:48 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 18 20:45:55 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Tue Apr 08 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eea33d75f76e522d4ebdac0fa08179d5", "book_id": "301082", "review_id": "32cfe459de44eee749ecb770db023f47", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Fluffy quick read. 2.5 stars only because I finished it.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 26 12:53:26 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 26 13:03:23 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eea33d75f76e522d4ebdac0fa08179d5", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "f2e88f22f1849dedfb539cce97bb6eca", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Hmmm. It was entertaining.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 25 18:40:12 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 11 10:07:02 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Fri Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eea33d75f76e522d4ebdac0fa08179d5", "book_id": "106081", "review_id": "9102a404a371941e0cd3975e8f5c1403", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.75 \n It was an decent and quick read. I will read the sequel in hopes that it improves but I have no desire to really do so. The characters come across very shallow and I really didn't care if they lived or died. I had no emotional reaction whatsoever.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 15:14:27 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 27 10:32:33 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Thu Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eea33d75f76e522d4ebdac0fa08179d5", "book_id": "248484", "review_id": "c37aee266b163f5e893a5fbbb1392a4f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a very entertaining read. However, the 1st 100 pages were a little rough to get through but it was very worthwhile in the end.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 15:08:29 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 23 11:07:05 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sun Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eea33d75f76e522d4ebdac0fa08179d5", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "dad93d24d1f2b84a1688e3358fa0d0ad", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I LOVED it. It ain't high brow lit people. It's not for everybody. It's simply a story that reminded ME of what falling head over heels in love FEELS like.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 14:58:52 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 26 23:12:33 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c63d10403736e95aee06f47017aab95", "book_id": "8606522", "review_id": "fdbdcdc1ea6439542073a80f3bb91132", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Awesome", "date_added": "Tue Feb 26 08:35:57 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 26 08:35:30 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "23719427", "review_id": "15c0d12ae57d643d451f94b61e4bb03a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "After falling hard for Linda Urban's contemporary MG's I knew I was venturing into something new from her, but I just couldn't get into it the way I did her other books. It was fun and quirky and cute and absolutely fine, but I'm not gaga over this one like I am the rest of her books. Having said that, I imagine many a kid loving this and enjoying the adventure.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 15 23:23:44 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 15 23:27:50 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Wed Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "26928871", "review_id": "4dc84acc80d31bf2e9ca1f1b7ee2e6e6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love, love, loved this book. I hate giving anything away in reviews so just know that there is love,poetry, magic, dancing and gorgeous writing involved. The only thing I don't like-- waiting for book #2!!!!", "date_added": "Wed Aug 03 05:54:28 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 02 02:00:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Nov 02 02:00:55 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Nov 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 13, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "24763621", "review_id": "f345d8e8d5a34bc45a3b39c8a168ef19", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love the movie Labyrinth and I knew this book was a sort of retelling, but it was oh so much more than that. It was gorgeously written and so well crafted.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 19 03:18:11 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 01 01:13:01 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 01 03:32:23 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "27883214", "review_id": "81ba8dde4fcdcc4a1f8c96c5e825b43c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amazing! I was drawn in with the teaser free chapter and had to wait until now to get my hands on it. Well worth the wait! It was like Labyrinth for adults!", "date_added": "Tue May 17 23:02:16 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 31 21:01:24 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Mar 31 21:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Mar 31 20:59:39 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "13721337", "review_id": "7b7fe33e48c4c22ed0a76dbf72753976", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Grrr.. The first 6 chapters of this book were a huge eye-roll for me... \n AND it didn't get any better as the story went on. It was a huge muddle of \"just so happens\" mixed with huge info-dumps. \n The only redeeming factor was the historical aspects and the idea of a chantress. \n Otherwise, I just did not enjoy this book at all.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 21 22:39:08 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 28 05:12:05 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jul 28 05:12:05 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "13533650", "review_id": "a4fd2268bd35a3128111449a1529e7b2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Well written. Fast paced. \n The only fault I have with this is its abrupt ending. \n Even when I know a book is a series, I still want each book to have a nice wrapped up conclusion. This didn't.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 04 01:39:23 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 13 04:33:14 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jun 13 04:33:14 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "7146050", "review_id": "ec7c2664762a057f1cd475179f4876eb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "So many things to love... quotes from The Cure, Death Cab for Cutie, Niko, Portishead... the list goes on. This book is beautifully illustrated and there is so much attention to detail... It's all so gorgeous... \n ...until we get to the plot. Then comes my list of so many things not to love... the stereotypes, the shallowness and downright silliness of it all. I guess I was looking for more of a GRAVEYARD BOOK for YA... \n It's cute and quirky. Perfect for a fluff read.", "date_added": "Wed May 14 03:30:09 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun May 18 23:37:19 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun May 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "9409458", "review_id": "a47a68c410be32da1f6bee3a6afed5c5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "All through LINGER I kept asking myself why in the world Cole came into the story. It was a massive subplot that took up so much of the book you almost forgot about Sam and Grace. \n THEN, I started reading FOREVER... \n About a third of the way into FOREVER, I was about to give up (not on Maggie Stiefvater-- I could never do that, but on this series). I think the only reason MS introduced Cole into the series was because she realized Sam was too weak to actually do anything about anything. \n I mean, he's cute and cuddly and all, but Cole is the one with initiate. He's painted as the \"bad guy\" because he actually does stuff! In LINGER he saved Grace's life, in FOREVER he saves just about everybody's life by using his own body as a guinea pig. \n If it had been up to Sam, he would have just pretended nothing was wrong and cuddled up with Grace, a cup of green tea, and book of German poetry.", "date_added": "Fri May 02 22:27:07 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri May 02 22:32:20 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "17675462", "review_id": "85e23bf134302d1f8f0dc224f1dbf4d7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm going back and forth between a 3 and a 4 with this one... \n I know this is a series, but I just hate being strung along and then left feeling confused and incomplete at the end of a 400 page book. \n BUT, as always, Stiefvater's writing is so weirdly poetic and interesting (not to mention intelligent), I typically err on the side of more stars. \n So, here's four stars to a book that is unique and magical.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 11 05:37:24 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 17 16:04:00 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Mar 17 16:04:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Mar 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "18406862", "review_id": "1bdcd2c69d8cbe7aeefe4adf7e207eb9", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I usually salivate over Maggie Stiefvater's prose. BUT, not for this one. I have three words for this book. \n Pretentious, pointless and plot-less.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 07 19:37:20 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 29 00:07:24 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Aug 29 00:07:24 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "6076413", "review_id": "911a7120af06f752909cbc7f67dc35ac", "rating": 3, "review_text": "As usual, Maggie Stiefvater's writing is beautiful and poetic. \n The storyline is intriguing, but the characters are all a little too witty and charming, making them all seem like the same person. \n Also, what is it with Stiefvater's male characters always making one mother-issue, womb-like statement in her books??? Don't know what I'm talking about, refer to page 220 and take a look at Shiver again. \n Otherwise, it was an enjoyable read.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 19 23:23:40 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 23 15:40:46 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Feb 23 15:40:46 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "13595635", "review_id": "f9f311457fb1c57d5f66151397c0d636", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Imaginative-- yes. \n Poetic-- yes. \n Gorgeous visuals-- yes. \n BUT oh so rambling... I skimmed all but the first 5 chapters and the last 2. \n Even though the writing is so beautiful, I have a hard time imagining many MG kids really getting into this book.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 05 18:13:13 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 07 04:38:52 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Feb 07 04:38:52 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "12452420", "review_id": "f8b2010bae5d47f2d775924b26b509f3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was so not what I expected-- in the best way possible. \n It's creepy and down-right disgusting at times. BUT I LOVED it!", "date_added": "Fri Jan 31 17:56:57 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 05 18:10:32 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "13260510", "review_id": "2b040be28f270e32fcc1b8b81cca00de", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This didn't quite live up to my expectations. \n The title is quite the misnomer. There is hardly a rebellion to speak of. It would have been more adequately titled DARKBEAST DOOM or DARKBEAST DRUGERY. \n I expected a rebellion, but is seems the author is just dragging things on to make this a trilogy. The ending is slightly more conclusive than the first book, but hardly the ending I was expecting.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 20 19:52:16 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 27 04:35:34 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jan 27 04:35:34 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "15841790", "review_id": "2b643d6db2f913ab482fc0e057f9dfbc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Just as descriptive and imagination-inducing as the first, but for some reason parts of this story lagged for me. I found myself preoccupied with other thoughts and skimming for a couple paragraphs before becoming inthralled again.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 08 15:29:02 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 10 18:45:00 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "13160327", "review_id": "5b432aaa5e6a2c12de83fb9a75092c8b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "While I really enjoyed the idea of this book, I was skimming large parts after the first third. \n I don't usually enjoy re-tellings of old folklore told in such a delineated manner. I wish this had been more flowing.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 31 17:34:14 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 08 15:28:17 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jan 08 15:28:17 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "13455553", "review_id": "70e201efaacc037c61f2d57fbd93592f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book and can't wait to get my hands on the next... \n Creepy, dark, spooky-- all the good makings of a great read!", "date_added": "Fri Dec 13 18:11:08 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 16 05:02:56 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Dec 16 05:02:56 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Dec 13 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "12010983", "review_id": "bfc492ca48d6e6104856d6ef55590882", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I absolutely love how these books totally turn your feelings for good vs. bad upside down. \n I'm rooting for the evil dark lord to win and I despise the white witch and nefarious good wizard... It's an oxymoron, but that's why I love it. \n These books are so perfect for reluctant readers. Full of hilarious evil and villainous good.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 03 16:14:41 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 08 18:00:47 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "15703770", "review_id": "cef7760274a278656f6d3f798f70c964", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Definitely rivals the first book. \n Loved it.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 18 04:27:37 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 25 01:46:13 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Nov 25 01:46:13 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "10893214", "review_id": "d42025afa433a544e76f339930f8fd43", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was not creepy..... It was downright SINISTER! \n And I LOVED it! \n Then, just when you think the book can't get any better-- you read the epilogue and guess what? It's so TWILIGHT ZONE that I love the book even more!", "date_added": "Thu Nov 14 21:29:51 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 18 04:24:22 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Nov 18 04:24:22 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Nov 14 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "15801226", "review_id": "19030e0da56f83b467035ec882c85e36", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was well done and cleverly written, even if the characters were somewhat cliched and expected. \n I especially loved the Diana Wynne Jones-esque feel to the mind map and walking into someone else's mind. \n Definitely looking forward to the next installment.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 27 18:51:13 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 28 17:18:18 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "15766776", "review_id": "f1769e09384e35ffcf5cc3c05232183a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "While I loved the idea of this and the author did a brilliant job with creating a vocabulary of interesting concepts and fresh takes on an old tale, I found my attention (and patience) waning at several parts of the story. \n RUMP is humorous and fun, I just wish it had been better paced all through. \n It does have a perfect first line, however-- \"My mother named me after a cow's rear end.\" \n Ha!", "date_added": "Mon Oct 21 06:13:11 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 27 18:45:50 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "15780279", "review_id": "2d7e7f20ce7931316cc734ecfd0ba9be", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a perfect mix of fun, mischief, magic, and charm. \n Every little thing was woven together so seamlessly.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 27 16:15:01 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 28 22:59:53 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "17349203", "review_id": "7ddb99351d445876f00c42816a94b413", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Exactly what you'd expect from Neil Gaiman and a title like FORTUNATELY, THE MILK. \n My kids loved this as a read aloud.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 25 23:13:08 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 27 16:13:07 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Sep 27 16:13:07 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "13316252", "review_id": "17794ca78695e32752c1b1c5273f3940", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I\"m sorry. I loved the idea of this book, but maybe I'm just not a true sic-fi fan??? \n I couldn't get into the italicized chapters at all, so I skimmed them. \n Personally, I prefer the DIRK LORD series to this...", "date_added": "Sat Sep 21 22:42:44 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 25 23:09:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "13521501", "review_id": "128adcc5226a23a267e86c48e175e09b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The cover, illustrations, and premise were all beautiful. \n However, I found the narrative to be stilted and I never really fell in love with any of the characters.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 13 00:15:44 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 15 22:06:57 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Sep 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "16043630", "review_id": "0573e9b9b01ba4a7f8879fb408c948a8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I was so surprised by this book. It is definitely unique and very intriguing. \n It's like a Jewish Da Vinci Code for kids.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 21 20:17:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 25 21:50:55 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "6087756", "review_id": "09f4062314545b5a0744bebdbcabb9e7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it. Especially the ending. It still had me going \"Oh, now I get it\" to myself until the next day.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 12 06:30:46 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 15 22:05:33 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "12432220", "review_id": "ed629e620e3133388dfc9bdc4be927fe", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved every minute of the book, but especially ripped through the last 1/3. \n It was well paced and dropped enough clues, but still managed to surprise me completely. \n The only thing that I kept questioning was the age group this was intended for. \n It was in the J section of our library, which is mostly Middle Grade. Yet, this was filled with some details regarding politics that I\"m wondering if it would be too confusing for 10-12 year olds? I guess, I know 12 year old who would love it, but some of it would elude or confuse most 10 year olds. \n On the other hand, it would be too simple for a YA book. So, I guess this is upper MG and for those 10 year olds who love deeper fantasy and would get the political strife.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 03 23:15:33 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 08 18:46:55 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "15944406", "review_id": "7976f1960017acea5394c67d7d13e837", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Perfect. \n This book was realistic enough that I imagined I was friends with these kids (back in the day, of course...) and that I was right along with them on the bus, on the sailboat, in the library. It was also just spooky enough that I was glad to really just be reading about it and not actually on the quest, too. \n I loved how Holly Black explored the boundaries of friendships and growing up and being sure and certain about things at the same time. \n Doll Bones was a perfect blend of real and make believe. Often, the lines between them merging and grey. This is the perfect kind of book. One you relish in and so badly want to be real, but are grateful for the nightlight next to your bed!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 31 23:09:02 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 02 20:04:18 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "7969760", "review_id": "b8004d7dfa09b3fdcc4cf8f5778fdd3c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It took me a couple days to read this book-- it should have only taken me a two. I just couldn't fall in love with this story. In fact, I skimmed the last 5 chapters. \n There were moments when I wanted to fall in love. Booraem's writing is quirky and definitely has those moments of \"how does she know that about me\" when she is describing Mellie's thoughts and reactions. I loved those moments. What I didn't love was the blah, blah, blah, blah explaining of long complicated rules and histories of SPWW. It dragged the story down to an almost unbearable pace. \n Wonderful ideas and funny at times, but overall terrible execution.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 21 23:23:37 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 26 04:20:29 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jul 26 04:20:29 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "16003086", "review_id": "fac7806bf51952de577b2c2e3741001d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was creative and I loved all of it- except for the first 70 pages or so. They were so slow and I really wished they had been edited and rewritten to be a faster pace. I'm not sure how many younger readers are going to slog through 70 pages from the viewpoint of a conceited and selfish bird.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 26 19:45:12 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 30 23:12:54 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "9591398", "review_id": "9ee5084b54038427792bc95a99be004b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm having a difficult time rating this book. There is no doubt it is full of quirky and imaginative characters and ideas, but was this really a kids book? If I had to rate this purely from the standpoint of being a book for children aged 8-12, I'd have to say it was over written and scattered. This would be one of those books that I'd love because of the beautiful and creepy illustrations and I'd remember a couple of the characters, but when you asked me what it was about I wouldn't be able to tell you. \n As an adult, I appreciate the wit and intelligence that would have alluded me as a child reader, but then I also pick up on the annoying overuse of adjectives and the complete lack of connection between scenes and also the lack of credibility and belief that is often suspended and stretched too far. \n The entire time I was reading this book, I had a love/hate relationship with it. At times I loved the writing, then the very next paragraph I was scoffing and imagining throwing the book on the ground and jumping on it a few times. It often came across as precocious. \n A perfect example of what I'm talking about is on page 117: \n I absolutely hate this first sentence: \"The jacket mourned, crying out in silent, emerald-coulored consternation.\" Seriously?! \n But, the very next sentence, I adore: \"Alas, the ears of folk with legs and noses and eyebrows are not made to hearken to the weeping of those with inseams and buttonholes and lapels.\" \n You could argue that the latter sentence was completely redundant, but I would say that it was completely appropriate and written in order to build a beautiful image. The former sentence was just so pretentious- emerald-coulored consternation? Who takes that stuff seriously? \n Overall, the book was a beautiful idea that I really wish had been edited.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 18 18:48:45 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 26 19:35:35 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "7728889", "review_id": "7fb5e014ebe4998c2037f226b1a3e2ce", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really got sucked into the time and voice of this book, but I just felt that Bray included every scene, character sketch, and idea she had concerning the idea of this book without editing. This book would have been stronger and better paced if she'd cut about 200 pages.", "date_added": "Mon May 20 16:43:36 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 03 10:07:10 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jun 03 10:07:10 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "3284192", "review_id": "5163b4d6b0898878fe1edf407466360a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very reminiscent of Dr. Seuss, Roald Dahl, and Shel Silverstein. \n This book was fun, quirky and creative. Although, I would say that I prefer my rhyming in small doses, which is why I find the three authors above so endearing and, perhaps, why I found my attention and patience waxing and waning with this book.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 22 06:36:20 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon May 06 22:14:16 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "11354687", "review_id": "7401439b0de7005d4d2c62ceec6d5944", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Cute, quirky and well-written. \n Okay, I just wrote 'well-written', but I'm going to contradict that to say that parts of the writing were a bit glossy for me-- as in, major issues were glossed over. Having said that, not digging too deep kept the book light and fast-paced.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 22 06:35:35 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 23 06:51:11 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Apr 23 06:51:11 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Apr 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "b8e86770f5e81beaf553aa78442773bd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Love this futuristic take on Cinderella. \n Four stars because even with the new twists and turns added, it was pretty predictable. \n Nonetheless, I can't wait to read the next book in the series.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 17 22:02:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 19 16:30:28 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Apr 19 16:30:28 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "7825557", "review_id": "506c37d1043bd36980fc99defdb3680d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Humorous and gory. Perfect for middle grade boys and girls. The narrator is funny and sarcastic.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 03 22:57:06 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 07 17:43:26 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Apr 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "9565548", "review_id": "f782e620df2eca7f246f3ed1aaab23ef", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Assassin Nuns. Need I say more? \n This story had it all- intrigue, battle, romance, betrayal and lots of plot twists. I loved it and am counting down the weeks to book number 2.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 25 17:15:48 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 29 17:14:18 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Mar 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Mar 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "13531021", "review_id": "7afa5bfd7c26755f1d7f140a34434901", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A perfectly creep, mysterious and utterly delicious book. \n Loved it from the first page to the last.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 13 17:07:18 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 16 07:07:07 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Mar 16 07:07:07 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Mar 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "13513419", "review_id": "f3db50fd943fd26635a9eeb247857103", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book did not disappoint. I loved it from the very first page. Funny, dark, demented and did I mention funny??", "date_added": "Sat Mar 02 04:31:09 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 05 15:39:48 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Mar 05 15:39:48 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "7249522", "review_id": "682d4aa55f6e097535a6086c10c8a8f5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Spooky! \n I loved this book. It wasn't too spooky, just enough goosebumps and laughs.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 21 21:20:33 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 23 21:11:55 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "9464855", "review_id": "022ecf9542922c29ce239ec02fca7924", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Underwhelming. \n This word ran through my mind throughout the entire book. I had moments of \"I love this!\" that were immediately followed by \"I don't care, get back to the exciting stuff!\" \n This was my love/hate relationship with the book throughout. \n The premise is incredible. I love the idea of 'mostly' and how the author reiterated this throughout the book- things were 'mostly' true, people were 'mostly' good. \n Unfortunately, this book was only 'mostly' okay.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 08 21:33:02 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 13 19:21:55 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "10512887", "review_id": "0c717aec65c165bad2136383d5b6c70b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Perfect. \n Through to You is an amazing debut novel. I loved it and can't wait to read more from this author.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 07 20:57:59 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 08 21:32:44 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "3682", "review_id": "fad73bbe746fb4f48ed57f045a32cb14", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Incredible! \n I couldn't put this book down. This was like reading Dianna Wynne Jones for adults (I know this is classified as YA). \n The writing is beautiful, the concept, the descriptions, the characters-- I loved it all.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 02 16:23:01 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 03 21:12:01 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "13438677", "review_id": "3d703f0b5ca0d7bd8d2f7a2a67b12c84", "rating": 3, "review_text": "When I finished reading the last page and closed the book, what were my immediate reactions-- ????? Hmmm. That's exactly what I said. \n Do I love Lauren Oliver's writing? Yes. \n Do I love the idea of spindlers, nocturnis, nids, troglods and a rat with makeup? Of course! \n I loved the ideas and Lauren Oliver describes Below beautifully, but I guess I was left feeling like everything was very easy and the entire last page explained a moral. Parts of it, like when Liza keeps repeating \"It's not fair!\" and twice (which is super repetitive for a 250 page book) she was being distracted from her 'mission' by food and promises of a better life, were very reminiscent of Labyrinth. In a way that's fitting because she gives credit to Maurice Sendak in her acknowledgements, but I guess I really wanted more action and a bit more of a surprise. \n On a whole, yes, I liked it, but I didn't love it and I'm not sure if I'd buy it.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 31 04:35:25 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 02 16:22:29 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "6068551", "review_id": "3ee92f5f90c13a37c79b7c315a9fa642", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Maggie Stiefvater's writing is so vibrant and makes my heart feel like it's being squeezed to death. I love, love, love her writing! \n I gave SHIVER a 4 out of 5 stars because the one problem with this book was it's absolute lack of urgency. I mean come on! I had so many questions and wanted Grace to fight and push more for answers and a cure, but there was just a lot of love and being together- which was beautiful, but there was surprising little tension and action in most parts of this book. I guess I expected it to be a bit more 'exciting'. Having said that, the beautiful writing more than made up for it!", "date_added": "Mon Jan 28 19:30:55 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 31 04:34:58 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jan 31 04:34:58 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "5978613", "review_id": "20c113f137c630658867ce9001e69612", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It wasn't until I was about 2/3 through this book that I actually got 'into' it and even then, I was just meh... \n I think what really put me off from the start was the fact that he proclaims this to be inspired by Diana Wynne Jones... puh-lease! This story was nowhere near entertaining, funny, mysterious or imaginatively descriptive as any work by DMJ.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 04 19:37:51 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 05 23:13:56 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "8621462", "review_id": "41ed5d5006ea8fca0f5bd9c57ce831fd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Vivid. That is the best word to describe this book. \n I loved the writing and loooved the illustrations. It was such an unexpected and sad story.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 30 04:44:59 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 30 04:46:27 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "13231998", "review_id": "af70e6e652fade2fa9623f316104ddd5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Keara and her world are so well described and imagined that I fell into it and didn't want to come out. \n My only issue with this book is that it's not marketed as a part 1 or a trilogy, so the ending come pretty abruptly and leaves you hanging. I don't mind having to imagine up my own ending, but I do want things to be tidy enough that I feel satisfied. This left a bit too much unraveled.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 20 21:27:44 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 20 21:31:31 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "10637959", "review_id": "acce5fb0122c984350b3dd67a9217dbf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm so glad I didn't know what to expect when I opened this book, it made it all the more surprising. \n I love the lyrical, magical and completely real-ness of this book. If you are a lover of fantasy, you will chuckle at the references scattered throughout the story. \n The emotions are raw and so eloquently described. A really beautiful book.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 29 05:19:46 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 23 22:42:31 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "9869553", "review_id": "39a88410ed7a1da1aebb1a40bfd43a65", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I wish I could give this book two ratings, one for the storyline and one for the author's writing. \n My rating for storyline would be 5 stars, for sure. I loved the premise of this book. It was creepy, spooky but so full of truth and honesty and love. \n My rating for the author's writing, on the other hand, would be 2 stars. I mean come on, for a former English teacher I had high expectations. This book was littered with adverbs and adjectives and so much telling it really came across as amateur or a first draft. For instance sentences like: \n The boy seemed rather sad. (pg 27) \n Is just one example of the kind of sentences that are littered throughout the book. I liked the POV it was written from and there were some real gems buried amongst the terrible, but I really think the cover and the pictures throughout the book added to and helped this book along. \n It started off slow, but there was enough of the bizarre to keep me intrigued despite the writing issues.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 26 04:44:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 26 04:52:46 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "7507890", "review_id": "23a6c03ecf0a103adc7933a305152fa6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "SCUMBLE is the best kind of sequel because it rivals SAVVY and may actually win as my more favorite book. \n Ingrid Law writes with so much magic and passion in her words. It's as entertaining to read her descriptions as it is to follow the plot. SCUMBLE is the prefect title and I love that she describes it's meaning making it even more beautiful. \n The one thing about both SCUMBLE and SAVVY that I do have an issue with is the 'draggy-ness' of them. Law fills of over 300 pages for each book and I feel that her books could be so much tighter and have so much more punch if she really cut down on the repetition and cut out some of the un-needed sub-plots. \n On a whole, I love Ingrid Law and anticipate her next books.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 31 20:56:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 31 21:03:23 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "2133795", "review_id": "19ee9dcbd3a340629fac0f1f7df0273d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ingrid Law has such an amazing voice. I love the tall-tale feel of this and SCUMBLE. \n Actually, I read SCUMBLE first because SAVVY was checked out at the library, but I was so in love with Law's writing that I took SCUMBLE anyway- even though I hate reading (and watching for that matter) out of order. \n To be honest, I liked SCUMBLE better. Both books were a bit 'draggy' at times. Maybe implying that the pacing was off in her books is not the best way to describe this. I think it was more of a 'wordiness' or 'over-explaining' or even 'repetition' at times that kind of got on my nerves. I know this is Law's style, since it's in both of her books, but it did make things drag. \n Having said all that, Ingrid Law has really come up with two clever books that keep you laughing, guessing and turning pages.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 31 20:44:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 31 20:51:49 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "2108198", "review_id": "092545ecf1c49b9001a35fab039cca84", "rating": 3, "review_text": "What a nice, light read. I love how Neil Gaiman can paint such beautiful and magical images in such few words. This wasn't my favorite from him, but it was good all the same.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 12 22:00:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 12 22:01:10 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "47571", "review_id": "520abebdcf6e755d6d25fb3f29f22079", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It is no secret that Diana Wynne Jones is one of my favorite authors. \n I loved this book and how I could imagine everything in it, even though it's so complicated and strange. The rainbow strands stretched across my imagination and DWJ has an amazing way of making her books come alive. \n Wonderful, creative and truly imaginative.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 01 20:32:13 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 01 20:34:22 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "367158", "review_id": "af0c35ca107dee706e82b1f580b31c7b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book and neglected my family for the entire weekend because I couldn't put it down. \n Diana Wynne Jones is such a beautiful and descriptive writer. This book is one of her best!", "date_added": "Wed Aug 01 20:25:34 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 01 20:26:57 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "7403981", "review_id": "f1e0413e94412d08130c2161a9a6f237", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Danette Haworth is one of my new favorite authors. If I were a kid again, she would be my new Judy Blume. \n I absolutely loved this book for its folklore-esque style. Each chapter alternates between Allie Jo, Chase and an italicized mystery observer. I really loved how the POV of this book added to the story itself. \n As I was reading this book, I really wanted to be a kid in a big, abandoned place with secret passages. This book is full of adventure, intrigue and fun!", "date_added": "Sun Jul 29 21:55:46 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 29 22:00:54 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "10425811", "review_id": "7c4d27510a555021a94db760333d0fac", "rating": 4, "review_text": "About 6 months ago, this book jumped off the shelf and into my hands. I was in a bit of a rush, so I didn't purchase it then, but it kept creeping back into my memory until I finally picked it up at the library the other day. \n First of all, when an author tells you how personal this book is to them, how can you say anything bad about it? Even if I didn't know what this book meant to Lauren Oliver as she wrote it, I still wouldn't be able to fault it. \n I loved being in Liesl's grey world and seeing things through her big, hopeful eyes. There were so many stories and characters that were intertwined and Lauren Oliver pulled it off wonderfully.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 06:42:38 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 09 06:41:40 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8d05420db5a5ef6d521d3fda5ec5ba81", "book_id": "10431447", "review_id": "26b84399f02e585b570ba57d886b6e7e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The idea of this book is wonderful. The execution, not so much. \n It wasn't necessarily the fact that is was over 500 pages long, I think it was the fact that it could have been about 200-250 and been a more amazing and delightful read. Instead, I found myself rolling my eyes and skimming paragraphs. \n The illustrations are beautiful and the story could have been great, but now that I know this is the beginning of a series- are you serious? 500 pages wasn't enough? I just don't think I'll be reading the sequel(s)...", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 06:37:22 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 03 16:05:47 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2b67387afd3ffc508e58a272ae5dcb73", "book_id": "33457", "review_id": "e71cb6d6e69f758beecd77d6bcc310c4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "From the first lines, I am smiling and can't put this book down.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 17 06:36:35 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 17 06:37:10 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2b67387afd3ffc508e58a272ae5dcb73", "book_id": "74731", "review_id": "270cee9e4438ffba2c5474a0002b774b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love how Christopher ties his different characters from some of my favorite books together in what has become a Christmas Classic in this household.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 17 06:34:49 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 17 06:36:27 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eea357e67a0c862446cfb512b365ad0d", "book_id": "23308084", "review_id": "9600b720da7a5c5116d00876bf6a1fce", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The perfect conclusion to an amazing tale.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 01 11:47:56 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun May 15 09:40:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eea357e67a0c862446cfb512b365ad0d", "book_id": "18798983", "review_id": "78fba67b21548916a52fa57ac8958703", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It's been so long since a book captured my attention like that.Recommended by a friend, I didn't expect to be swept way with Khalid and Shahrzad. The writing and the dialogue kept me captive till late hours in the morning. From the first page till the last, this book is magic.Wrought with mystery and brimming with cultural richness, it is hands down one of the best books I've read so far! Can't wait for the sequel.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 01 11:47:54 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 02 07:18:53 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Feb 02 07:18:53 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ba59525637e2f1bddbd93c4ea4e5a909", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "18ea4f89e5a5597786561189503effd1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Despite the fact that I skimmed much of the physics calculations this book kept my interest all the way through. It was entertaining and informative.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 17 08:17:09 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 17 08:19:32 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "11275323", "review_id": "a8e63c607c1095ce65e84870c7832e34", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I found this quite a hard read. It's enjoyable, racing along with the usual flair of a Moist von Lipwig book. I'll come back with more of a review later. The Shepherd's Crown beckons.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 22 06:28:33 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 28 15:05:33 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Mar 28 15:05:33 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Mar 22 06:28:34 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "31300775", "review_id": "5783ab251c8cf5b0a2a2a296e92a31dc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I came to this with a little trepidation, I didn't really get on with the previous Laundry book and a couple of reviews lacked enthusiasm, but I shouldn't have worried. From the dedication to the end there were deft touches, technical problems in the last pages are foreshadowed in the first few, the PEFs are cleverly devised and drawn, and there are toys galore for the geek among us. \n As earlier tales have taken Deighton and Fleming as their inspirations this one seems to me to draw on Tom Clancy, Op Center mostly. A well as being our hero's tale, revisiting Alex Schwartz from the Rhesus Factor, it's a good demonstration of what Q section is for in the grand scheme of things. \n In the end it's an easy four verging on a five for me.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 06 13:53:08 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 03 12:49:52 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Aug 03 12:55:39 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "23154785", "review_id": "a40493befbbd48deef483829a650a642", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I've read all of the Laundry books more than once and I'm going to have to do so again with this one, but this time to see if I can up my score. It's a good Laundry story but it felt too long overall while still rushed in parts. \n There was a couple of big gaps in my reading of this (damn you work!) which might have influenced my experience. I actually came away from this sympathising with almost everyone but Mo, I'm not sure that was the intent.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 28 12:12:20 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 06 13:51:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Sep 06 13:51:08 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "18211295", "review_id": "dbb6ea8373a51989dab41abc60ad2077", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a fun read with one hell of an ending. \n How do you fight something that nobody will believe exists? Bob Howard has to work that one out on his own. Still working in External Assets this one is almost completely internal in scope. There are more meetings than normal, an old face reappears and Bob may be the only person who thinks that something might be wrong. With all of it. \n The ending came as a shock, and reminded me a little of the death of the Rev. Book in Serenity. A lot has changed for Bob, how he copes is going to be interesting.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 09 13:55:31 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 09 14:30:47 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "12393566", "review_id": "4c06a5537b344273a27c319f438d02ee", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Another outing for Bob, this time lent out to a department he didn't even know he existed. Another dip into the worlds of Le Carre/Deighton via the Dreamlands of Lovecraft. \n Bob is now a skillful digital sorcerer in his own right, and being pushed up the greasy pole of management. As part of this he is set the task of monitoring a pair of extra-curricular contractors on a mission to the States to check out a charismatic preacher. Who, unknown to his flock, is trying to bring about the End Times, and not in a good way. Yet again. \n My view of this book changed quite a lot after reading The Rhesus Chart. More on this in the next comments.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 09 13:18:24 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 09 13:59:12 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "7149287", "review_id": "6d219ac161cf77a00ba5011ed1fdb45f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I've basically been binge reading the first five books of the Laundry, and in this one I think Stross has really hit the pace. \n The remnants of the Soviet intelligence are making waves, Angleton has gone missing and Bob is having problems with management. She's looking after him. \n If that's not enough he's on the sharpe end of an investigation, his trip to look at an airfield has gone badly wrong and a bunch of peopel are trying to end the world. Again. \n It's deft and funny in equal measure, reflecting the Deightonesque labyrinth of the channels between the various intelligence communities. Both ours and theirs, for several values of \"them\". \n A good read in a series that refuses to disappoint.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 09 12:54:46 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 09 13:15:55 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Oct 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "301082", "review_id": "e59658d4c8263705d11320b5dcae8bea", "rating": 3, "review_text": "What can I say, a guilty pleasure. \n I read these after watching the third or fourth TV series and they are not disappointing. The writing style is light and not without humour, much more so than in the series. \n Fluff, but enjoyable fluff.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 21 13:34:22 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 21 13:39:12 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "34", "review_id": "316a51f65e93b43149cb6e519577ad74", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is not a fantasy, it is the fantasy in many ways. \n This book changed my life, so why am I giving it three stars? It's not the best of the three in my opinion, there are some great heights, The Prancing Pony, Rivendell, Weahertop, but it drags in too many places. \n There is better to come.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 21 13:21:24 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 21 13:30:38 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "44659", "review_id": "cfbdd6ebdc8efc4c25b11f13e590aa4b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm not sure this has withstood the test of time particularly well, but when it came out it was a great tale in the quest tradition. The whole Belgariad set a standard for the fantasy genre.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 21 12:42:22 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 21 12:47:41 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "13821", "review_id": "96c83d844c4d694647f60661fb806164", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A book I've owned for over thirty five years and never regretted a day of it. I'd put it at the top of Zelazny's game.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 21 12:26:12 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 21 12:30:29 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "219205", "review_id": "616f5bd2016dc8adf3ea7b4d94d2a630", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Read this back in the day when sliced bread was feeling pretty sorry for itself in the comparison. And I didn't get it. \n I really didn't get it, but I was willing to believe it wasn't the book, it was me. Mainly because I didn't know anyone who didn't think it was a work of genius. Partly because it took me about a month to get through it. \n So towards the end of last year I read it again. And I still don't get it. It's a miserable tome filled with too frequently over-florid prose without much in the way of redeeming features. \n It might get better as the series progresses, but I have no urge to find out.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 21 11:57:25 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 21 12:24:02 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "1244577", "review_id": "0435f445d7792890af24289fbe933bc3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not his best but it rattles along well enough, his Anno Dracula series work better in my opinion, but it explores the concept of the Faustian pact with vigour.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 20 16:48:25 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 20 16:54:09 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "9317452", "review_id": "8d0b5484c07245eb3dd246cef6109740", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed this a great deal. It's a thought provoking mix of police procedural and myth making. Sort of American Gods meets The Bill. \n The two threads, the mysterious outbreaks of violence and the tale of two Thames, weave around and inform each other well. \n London is presented brilliantly. My only quibble is possible confusion of Purley and Kenley. \n Having recently been immersing myself in this and Charles Stross I'm feeling quite spoiled at the moment.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 19 14:45:40 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 21 11:55:37 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Oct 21 11:55:37 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Oct 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "13521459", "review_id": "2ec9f555b429b6936c73a68cc0a9c149", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Apart from a couple of short stories I haven't read any of his longer work. Picked up a copy of this for a couple of quid in a charity shop while waiting for a lift. \n By and large pretty pleased. As far as I can see it's set in the same world as his First Law trilogy but in a frontier territory, very reminiscent of the Wild West. In that the setting reminded me of Hobb's Soldier Son series. \n It's grim and gritty with strong characters. Shane meets Jingo meets Conan.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 18 05:19:39 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 18 05:31:09 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "25241629", "review_id": "5057def5dcde5e1283bc425f2a7b85ec", "rating": 1, "review_text": "It's a clever setup and there are some nice moments in the opening third. \n And that's it. \n Far too much of this falls over my threshold of humour and frequently appears spiteful. Digs are had at everything from mild, the writer for example, to excoriating, the fantasy genre and publishing in general. \n I was disappointed with the much heralded dark ending. It's hard to pull off and he really doesn't make it. He pulls a few sleights of hand to tie everything up in a satisfactory fashion but they are either too late or jar too much to be effective. \n Ultimately it's hard to care about any of the characters and without that there is very little to distract you from a series of well worn tropes. The same hackneyed elements that he takes a shot at early on. \n It's a shame because, as I said, the general idea is a good one, but clumsily executed, muddying the waters with a number of plot elements that really don't hang well with the degree of vitriol poured on the targets of his scorn. Is it a parody in reaction to one question too many of \"Where do your ideas come from?\" A reaction to the excesses of the \"next great thing\" publishing pulls out from time to time? A Scoop for this generation's book mills? You really do wonder what some of these people have done to him. \n With a gentler touch this would work better, in the vein of Pratchett (one of the few names he merely sniffs at rather than kicks) or even at full throttle, Robert Rankin perhaps.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 18 05:01:11 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 19 14:43:37 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Oct 19 14:43:37 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "14150", "review_id": "187d299ec443d9e1bf6591ae5ee1ba92", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Read this hot on the heels of The Atrocity Archive. \n Lovecraft infused Bond romp. Stross' civil servants are superbly duplicitous, the agents murderous, the villain slightly more megalomanic than normal and our hero completely out of his depth. \n Great fun and clever with it.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 18 04:51:34 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 18 05:00:26 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "101869", "review_id": "6427c04d4d78fa09a4c327f2a9808f4d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Stross is a writer I've been meaning to get round to, having read a couple of short stories, and finally found a copy of the first of the Laundry books in Waterstones. I hate starting series in the middle. \n He claims the inspiration for these stories are Lovecraft and Deighton and it shows. There's a a tongue firmly lodged in cheek giving a humour reminiscent of Adams, Rankin and Pratchett. He explains the spy element clearly in an interesting essay at the end of the book, the Lovecraft element speaks for itself. He thinks a lot about what he writes, or at the least how he writes it. \n Fun and an interesting take on the creeping interstellar horror genre.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 18 04:34:48 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 18 04:50:32 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "12067", "review_id": "9ffcd86c20aeb5a7d4f8fea033e7d4da", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is one of the funniest books I had read by two of the funniest authors I have ever read. A superb collaboration.", "date_added": "Sat May 24 01:54:05 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat May 24 01:58:33 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 -0800 1990", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "7637398", "review_id": "2ea6dbeda80902cd7b0b058da21fb48a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A great anthology of stories, tied together with a general (but not completely) fantastic air. Gaiman says in the introduction that the thing that makes a good story is the feeling of ...and then what happened?\", four little words that resonate through the majority of these tales. \n There are real gems in here: Gaimans's own \"The Truth Is a Cave in the Black Mountains\", Block's \"Catch and Release\", Lonsdale's \"The Stars are Falling\", Hill's \"The Devil on the Staircase\" are all standouts for me. \n Some are good, but without engaging quite as well: Michael Marshall Smith's \"Unbelief\", Jeffrey Ford's \"Polka Dots and Moonbeams\" (this is a close one, a whisker off gem), Gene Wolfe's \"Leif in the Wind\", Tim Powers' \"Parallel Lines\", Michael Moorcock's \"Stories\", Kurt Anderson's \"Human Intelligence\", Carolyn Parkhurst's \"Unwell\". \n The vast majority of the rest of the stories are at least enjoyable, but there are exceptions. \n I'm not a fan of Roddy Doyle and \"Blood\" just didn't do anything for me, vampire or geek!\"Goblin Lake\" felt as though it was trying to be too clever which is a shame because I like what Michael Swanwick I have read. Chuck Palahniuk's \"Loser\" was just... well at least it's not very long. \n All in all though a great collection to be recommended to any fan of any of the genres covered.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 05 06:57:46 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 05 07:40:57 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "7822865", "review_id": "55fdea6cfa9e67e1be083110a9e175ff", "rating": 3, "review_text": "As can be seen from my rating I liked this book and, to a large extent, possibly more than three stars. So why did I mark it down I hear some of you ask. Many others will be screaming for my blood for having the temerity to do so. \n I loved, really loved, the world building. As a background for this kind of tale I take my hat of to the author with no qualms whatsoever. The plot was well executed, the characters well conceived even if the relationships seemed a little sketchy in places. \n The concept of gender blindness in their society is well handled, the relationship between Varis and Kiril is almost a throwaway line, Khelsea and Gemma a couple of no note. However apart from Savedra's parents and royalty you wonder where these people come from. \n speaking of Khelsea she represents another small problem. Women in positions of authority and power as a matter of course is great and it fleshed the world out well, it's a ghost of a world this might have become, but I struggle to remember anyone in office who wasn't a female. Isyllt's inspector friend, the coroner, the Captain of the King's Guard, who has one of the best running jokes in the book by the way, the Archas of the Eight, the society is run by women it would seem, but at the top of the pile is a King. There's a slight imbalance which grows as the book unfolds. It's a small thing but it's there. \n Getting late, so I'll come back and finish this later.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 20 15:55:56 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 20 16:24:48 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Sep 20 16:24:48 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "7511118", "review_id": "8afcb50f98629da01dd9fe1988292796", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A good read but not a riveting one. \n The general premise is a familiar one to fans of the horror genre, an outsider is drawn into the world of the occult despite his belief in how the world works. Unfortunately the characters are a bit bland, the protagonist's cop partner is probably the best of them, and the ending is a tad abrupt, talk about love them and run screaming for the hills! \n The story has a decent pace, the ideas are quite strong, but the characterisation lets it down and the presentation of the research is a bit heavy handed. All in all reasonably enjoaybel enough to push the mark over 3.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 20 05:19:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 29 01:41:58 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "6052249", "review_id": "18280ca7004614d598073543a4133c32", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The second book by the author I have read, and I must admit that I enjoyed this far more than Book of Shadows. Still some problems for me with the characters, although they are better drawn than in the other book. The unexplained sexual tension the main character feels for the two main male characters, although it sometimes seems for anyone with a pulse, is distracting; the plot stokes up well but the denoument is spoiled by too much epilogue. \n It is a nice riff on the work in the Rhine lab, extending reality in this way can be quite false, but Solokoff carries it off well here, without the research being too intrusive. \n A strong 3.5 for me.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 20 05:17:32 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 26 05:44:17 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "7031817", "review_id": "9cf2a8def211cebcd518454c38fc2291", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Pretty good. Funny and thought provoking, it kept a good pace throughout. \n Looking through some of the other reviews I can see why some people went off it in the second half, but I think they may have lost the point a bit. Don't get me wrong, it changes quite significantly, and is less consciously funny. But in its place is a thoughtful look at what being undead means, particularly to a dorky teenager. There are still laughs but the changes in our \"hero\" cast an interesting light onto some of the earlier funnier moments.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 17 08:15:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 17 08:43:32 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Aug 17 08:43:32 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "3587238", "review_id": "a559601108000a7a4d5b0cf7c3ae0195", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It was marketed as an MR James style ghost story, but, having got about a quarter of the way through, it falls far short of this. We get tourist map geography in place of local flavour, grand guignol instead of creeping horror. There is little or no growing sense of unease, we know that something is wrong because it hits us round the head almost every chapter. \n Finished it. This is a much better book than Apartment 16, in fact I'm glad I read this second, it at least leaves me with some hope for him. There are still issues, the above still stands and his control of voice is wobbly at best. Dante's (again with the names!) vocabulary sweeps from Beano to Telegraph alarmingly. \n He manages to generate a sense of suspense and urgency, probably best seen as Dante searches for Tom. But the end is disappointing, we have another deus ex machina to save the day, the postscript is hackneyed from the school of The Incredible Hulk closing credits, there are far too many ciphers, does Tom do anything in scene?", "date_added": "Mon Aug 06 07:35:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 14:39:22 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 15 14:39:22 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f61ee006074b388ad77d9ba7623dbe62", "book_id": "127455", "review_id": "ecc7f5a022286acac38717512b922e94", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very good debut novel. \n Sharp plotting, good characterisation and great world building without being intrusive.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 02 08:39:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 02 08:41:55 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5357ea0022472e12d65449f9e92eb2d4", "book_id": "6101718", "review_id": "278e456f194a6336821014b112907cf6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was not the book I was expecting. It started off very Harry Potter-ish and went to a different darker place. As the book went on, I liked the main character Quentin less and less. Now that I've finished, this reads like the sympathetic backstory to future \"bad guy\" character. Maybe he'll grow and change in future books? I'm not sure I'll go out of my way to read the rest of the books in this trilogy but if they cross my path I'll probably try them out and see if my interest is engaged.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 07 17:18:13 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 14 05:53:34 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5357ea0022472e12d65449f9e92eb2d4", "book_id": "31625351", "review_id": "6207c36d5cd2c08cc6883f555e810f6f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "An amazing set of short stories. Original, creative, science-based; I can easily understand why some of them are award winners. Exploring alternate realities, Judeo-christian myths, free will vs. destiny, good vs. evil, etc... Each one of the stories fully explores a \"What if..?\" idea and in a way I've never read before. They're not typical \"Sci-fi\" stories, many take place in the past and have strong religious themes. They raise theological and philosophical questions that make you think about the central idea/premise in the stories. \n Would read again, and would definitely recommend.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 06 09:46:54 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 12 20:25:08 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5357ea0022472e12d65449f9e92eb2d4", "book_id": "23012480", "review_id": "12b13bbe5680559c59dea8ad2a40b73a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A fun read because I don't take her books too seriously. There were a couple holes in the plot and some suspensions of disbelief required, but it was a good story and I like the characters. I am liking these books a little more now as I find the Stephanie Plum series has gotten stale for me.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 30 17:07:35 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 04 04:35:29 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5357ea0022472e12d65449f9e92eb2d4", "book_id": "22522808", "review_id": "3000d7d399bf2b61937b3194c5c6f57b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really liked several of the stories in here. Black Dog and The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains were my favourites, they were well written with an interesting story that kept me guessing. I didn't know what was going to happen next. I'd give them a higher rating. I also liked Click Clack the Rattleback, it was a bit more of a predictable story arc, kind of a classic scary story. I enjoyed it. \n The Sleeper and the Spindle was a wonderful fantasy story. I would love to go to that world again and I loved the Queen, she was an interesting, strong female character that I wanted to know better. \n I also enjoyed the Dr. Who story although being a pre-existing Dr. Who fan I'm not sure how it would have read to someone unfamiliar with the characters. \n I gave it a 4 overall based on the stories I liked, but there were some I wouldn't rate that high.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 04 04:54:54 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri May 08 05:27:44 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5357ea0022472e12d65449f9e92eb2d4", "book_id": "21798827", "review_id": "9404a7f6cd1b5110f3324351701ada6a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Some of the stories were great, some not so much. I definitely enjoyed the chance to read some new content from that world, especially the glimpses into the future. Would only reccommend for a big fan of the Sookie books.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 12 05:44:27 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 19 04:37:55 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jan 16 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5357ea0022472e12d65449f9e92eb2d4", "book_id": "18966819", "review_id": "598941d105afe65de05862849202c809", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A great continuation of the series. There were many twists and turns in the plot, layers of plans and counterplans. Great story telling, bigger than life characters, and a real growth in Darrow's character. I can't wait for the third book in the series.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 29 11:52:55 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 04 04:43:50 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5357ea0022472e12d65449f9e92eb2d4", "book_id": "15722284", "review_id": "a6c67a10213d62d6ee0d781b72bba06d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A lovely way to end the series. Odd went back to Pico Mundo, meaning I got to \"see\" some of my favourite characters again (Ozzie!) and the newer characters made an appearance too.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 29 11:28:41 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 04 04:40:43 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jan 23 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5357ea0022472e12d65449f9e92eb2d4", "book_id": "9090421", "review_id": "4ed26ad59dd9f5d39fdb2ee5bac4f5b9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I got the Audiobook on CD at the library and listened to it daily during my commute and whenever I was in the car alone. \n Not a huge fan of this book. The premise was interesting, but took a really long time for the story to unfold. Every time the interest levels or pacing seemed to pick up, a big old speed bump was dropped into the story. It could have been condensed to half the length without losing much, in my opinion. I am going to read/listen to the 2nd book, which will help me decide whether the 3rd book that comes out next year will be worth it. It's an interesting take on a vampire theme and had lots of potential I'm just not sure it lived up to it.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 18 12:07:16 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 28 05:55:20 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5357ea0022472e12d65449f9e92eb2d4", "book_id": "22041712", "review_id": "501a4dbc3ff136a0df016bc03e40f3f0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A nice short storyin the Cainsville world. I'd read after book two, since it delves into the histories of some minor characters that are mentioned in book two.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 05 06:48:32 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 07 11:36:42 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5357ea0022472e12d65449f9e92eb2d4", "book_id": "20829029", "review_id": "b19a13e7f556eaa68ef0ace1e874b3d2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The ultimate survivalist book. A great read, interesting storyline, likeable characters. Funny moments and edge of your seat moments. Definitely worth the time. :)", "date_added": "Tue Jun 10 12:19:54 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 10 19:24:44 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Apr 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "5357ea0022472e12d65449f9e92eb2d4", "book_id": "18398797", "review_id": "eceff4a8bf9193116db61576d0416c63", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Continuing to enjoy this series. This book answered some questions about Cainsville, which were left in the reader's minds after book one. I am liking where it's going and looking forward to book #3.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 12 13:03:06 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 05 06:13:10 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5357ea0022472e12d65449f9e92eb2d4", "book_id": "15839976", "review_id": "cec6b199964d318a3a80c340f7752c20", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I LOVED this book. I picked it up because it was compared to the Hunger Games and the Game of Thrones series, both series that I thoroughly enjoyed. I was worried it wouldn't live up to the hype but I needn't have. While I would say that it is closer in style to The Hunger Games I could see some of the comparisons to GoT, mostly in the scope of the story which could easily be described as epic. The story was gripping and it only took me about 20 pages to be hooked. If you like Sci-Fi, YA or dystopian fiction, at all, you will love this book. I want the next two books in this series RIGHT NOW.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 11 17:25:13 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 19 05:54:15 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Feb 24 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "5357ea0022472e12d65449f9e92eb2d4", "book_id": "16142043", "review_id": "42b7824393b496289b4f4dbffc2ef316", "rating": 4, "review_text": "My favourite Kelley Armstrong book yet. I received a copy from a friend and dove in without many pre-conceptions about the plot. I just knew that it was her new book. \n Part mystery, part thriller, part paranormal, the book will appeal to more than Kelley's regular readers. I loved the characters, they were complex and I feel that there will be much more of their history and personality to reveal in the future books. I want to know more about Cainsville, I want to know more about Olivia's parents and I really want to know more about Gabriel. Without a \"cliffhanger\" ending, she's left me wanting more, in the best possible way. I'm excited for the rest of the books in this series and am a little upset that I have to wait.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 10 18:03:57 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 12 12:54:15 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5357ea0022472e12d65449f9e92eb2d4", "book_id": "17797381", "review_id": "d3a202b3e69fe2f245bb74fe3c822914", "rating": 4, "review_text": "While this includes many of the characteristics from Koontz novels; dogs, evil, the struggle for good while surrounded by evil, the nature of god/religion, it is a bit different than what he typically writes. I really enjoyed the story, the flashbacks to Addison's past were great for the pacing. They made me eager to get back to the present day story, while also revealing suspenseful information about the main character's past. The nature of the main character was hidden until near the end of the book and I found it was not an expected reveal. I can often see the ending coming, but not this time. A great read that left me with lots to think about.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 26 06:12:39 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 21 09:03:07 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5357ea0022472e12d65449f9e92eb2d4", "book_id": "17239876", "review_id": "2daf79cdccf62ad712025b1cc5b217b5", "rating": 2, "review_text": "A dry, alphabetical list update of what happened to the series' characters after the last book and for the rest of their life. I was mostly interested in what happened to Bill, Sookie, Sam and the other main characters, so for that it was interesting. Otherwise, not really worth the read.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 08 05:34:42 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 04 07:04:38 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Mar 31 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5357ea0022472e12d65449f9e92eb2d4", "book_id": "60924", "review_id": "b5b9ba959a4fb0c2a872290d7da5a4a3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4 distinct stories set in different times within the same universe. Fully realized with growth and change between novels, each could be read as a stand alone novel.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 29 05:08:58 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 07 20:37:59 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jul 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5357ea0022472e12d65449f9e92eb2d4", "book_id": "13453029", "review_id": "c6bab025f0a2afba6a40b5a035c97fda", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The best Science Fiction book I've read in years. Dystopian, post-apocalyptic, and hopeful. The story drew me in, submersing me in their world slowly. The characters are very well written, well fleshed out. The plot is paced just right keeping me wanting to read more without rushing through or diminishing detail. I gave it 5 stars both because I highly recommend it and because I plan to read it again. I just wish I could read it for the first time, again.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 20 09:08:27 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 28 16:29:15 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9482d951222c00ba23553002440dcf95", "book_id": "8573642", "review_id": "00a4fb89d903e38176bbe62561abc5d6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was AMAZING! I absolutely loved this whole new world that Jodi created. I was completely mesmerized by the characters and that world. I read about 5/6 of the book in like five hours. I was left in complete shock. Truly a beautiful novel, highly recommend.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 11 06:39:20 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 11 07:21:23 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9482d951222c00ba23553002440dcf95", "book_id": "10576365", "review_id": "580f6c3b2df8d2938224ebd4aed9768b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is AMAZING. I was completely hooked, the story line just kept going even when I was thinking \"Well, what's Alexandra gonna do now?\" I was hooked from the beginning to the end.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 12 07:13:12 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 14 14:23:01 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "546890bc738a34ed48bdaaafce4a1dc6", "book_id": "23588751", "review_id": "b0ee545fb9a92d5508a664b7f06e7f88", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Nisam citala orginal pa ne mogu usporediti te dvije knjige, ali ovo je bila jedna \" pitka \" knjiga koju sam rijesila u 2 nocne ...", "date_added": "Fri Oct 30 01:07:08 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 29 05:40:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 02 12:32:41 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Oct 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "546890bc738a34ed48bdaaafce4a1dc6", "book_id": "59396", "review_id": "4e9f0ef5e1e8eed51688342e398586b6", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Nije me odusevio sa pricama, iako ga hvale na sva zvona", "date_added": "Tue Sep 22 10:00:59 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 11 06:34:58 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Oct 11 06:34:58 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "546890bc738a34ed48bdaaafce4a1dc6", "book_id": "3335256", "review_id": "8742fc50d7df6ef02f6e4759b830bc51", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Svidjela mi se prica \" simir \"ostale i ne bas tako", "date_added": "Mon Jan 26 05:55:07 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 18 08:03:56 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Feb 18 08:03:56 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "546890bc738a34ed48bdaaafce4a1dc6", "book_id": "20578940", "review_id": "f5b8369e23e6a9ee52deae973eee3f4d", "rating": 2, "review_text": "svako malo me je knjiga posjecala na H.Pottera. Djecak koji ne zna nista o magiji, napokon ima prijatelje ( 1 decko i 1 cura )... Ima zlo u sebi... \n Nadam se da ce nastavci biti malo orginalniji.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 22 03:07:28 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 01 07:12:15 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Dec 01 07:12:15 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Nov 22 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "546890bc738a34ed48bdaaafce4a1dc6", "book_id": "7042377", "review_id": "c896ce03f3988ca6d8010a35fd089bec", "rating": 1, "review_text": "sva mi je zbrda-zdola. nije mi sjela moram priznati...", "date_added": "Tue Jun 11 15:03:09 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue May 26 10:35:36 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue May 26 10:35:36 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "546890bc738a34ed48bdaaafce4a1dc6", "book_id": "144349", "review_id": "cb3140193bee845210f60d35383cdc89", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Idem se bacit na sljedeci nastavak.", "date_added": "Wed May 15 10:29:50 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 07 01:34:29 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun May 19 11:09:22 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "33871932", "review_id": "13d4a1a28bfda93760850f05856befe3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 stars \n After reading- and loving- Sakey's Brilliance trilogy, I have been eagerly anticipating his next book. \n I was not disappointed. Afterlife is a love story, a thriller, a dark sci-fi adventure... it is everything, and I adored it! \n Two FBI agents who are trying to balance a relationship and a high-stakes manhunt at the same time find that their quest to stop evil does not end with death. \n Soooooo good! \n Thank you to Amazon/Thomas & Mercer for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 19 15:57:31 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 19 17:13:29 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "30312617", "review_id": "ac6bb4a84056d614f44196e921028218", "rating": 3, "review_text": "4th&up \n During Farah's 12th birthday party, she opens a gift from her aunt- a unique board game called The Gauntlet of Blood and Sand. She and her three friends barely have a chance to examine the game before her younger brother bursts into her room and starts to play- and promptly disappears. Faced with no choice but to follow him, Farah and her friends find themselves in a dangerous and magical world where losing the game will have deadly consequences. \n A little bit of Labyrinth, a lot of Jumanji, and plenty of potential (not entirely met) combine in this debut novel. \n Personally, I wasn't completely drawn in by the writing or action for most of the story, though the ending kicked up nicely & I loved the inclusion of a Muslim American main character with plenty of references to her Bangladesh culture, family, & mythology as well. I am eager to see what Riazi comes up with next.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 19 15:08:40 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 19 17:15:25 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "32718027", "review_id": "dfdd752a448e9512618b31f995d9d471", "rating": 5, "review_text": "After reading just the first few pages of this absorbing fantasy novel, readers will swear that the authors has magical powers of her own. The action, the characters, the mythology, the setting- every element of this tale shimmers off the page. Street smart con artist Nahri will steal you heart just like she eventually enchants Dara, the djinn that she accidentally summons. These reluctant partners must work together to escape foes from Dara's past, discover the full potential of Nahri's talents, and learn their roles in a kingdom fraught with a tangled history and dark betrayals. \n The next book in the trilogy cannot come soon enough! \n This ARC was provided by HarperCollins, in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 20 20:36:43 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 20 20:50:24 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "33889462", "review_id": "005c280dc4cfaffe0fe6689ceee0fb38", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n Beth Argenis and \"Scotty\" MacDonald have been figuratively clashing swords for over a century. They cannot seem to get along, but they also seem to be irresistibly draw together as well. When the two are assigned to work together on a tricky and potentially dangerous assignment, they find that their connection is too hard to resist- but their timing might not be the best, as deadly trouble seems to follow their every move. \n At first I was a little disappointed that Sands took a step away from the Island of Dr. Moreau-esque plot she had introduced previously in the series, but in exchange she gave me a Scottish immortal, so I can't really be too upset. (Swoon!) I enjoyed the byplay between Beth and Scotty, and while the mystery was a bit obvious, I did appreciate the complicated pasts that the two characters had to overcome before they earned their life mate status. Chalk up another successful entry in the Argeneau series- keep them coming, Ms. Sands! \n Thank you to Avon/HarperCollins and Edelweiss for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 15 12:45:07 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 15 13:22:13 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "33552474", "review_id": "3e20c4085b42f72765a4b57d7a92641e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Silver Harris has a terrible track record with men, but when she crosses paths with Logan Byrne, she begins to think that sexy Irish vampires might be more her style. The lovers each have their own secrets though, and as their romance gets more serious so does the danger that is creeping ever closer... \n With plenty of heat, a bit of humor, and a mystery to round out the plot, Dating the Undead is a blast to read- paranormal romance lovers, take note! \n Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 15 11:43:12 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 15 11:50:09 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "22295304", "review_id": "7c9d8cffb9108fa3aac5eeff6886662c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 stars, 7th&up \n Sierra Santiago's life is changed forever after she realizes that she is part of a long line of gifted artists who can use their talents to battle demons and keep humanity safe from darkness. \n Older's novel is just wonderful- full of sass, a firm sense of community, and fast paced action. Shadowshaper is more than a simple fantasy adventure, it touches upon some big issues such as gentrification, culture theft, empowerment, pride, and more. Despite the range and density of the themes, the story is never bogged down, but instead is paced perfectly for an entertaining read with plenty of depth. \n Highly recommended.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 22 17:22:26 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 10 20:58:35 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "31450855", "review_id": "af8934273238d2af43ea54089e6cade6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Nora Hesper is an ambitious reporter with a secret: during the day she reports on crime, but at night she fights it. Nora is Indigo, a dark protector with mysterious powers that she is still learning to control. Pitting her skills against a deadly cult, Nora finds that her fight with the Children of Phonos might be more personal than she first realized. \n -When I first heard about this book, I was naturally impressed with the list of authors involved in this project. I have no idea how Charlaine Harris, Christopher Golden, Kelley Armstrong, Seanan McGuire, and the six others all got hooked together on this project, but this is a Justice League level author team-up here! \n -Once I started the book, I was hooked. I'm a sucker for a good superhero origin story, especially when there's more than a touch of darkness in play, and this gifted vigilante who literally cloaks herself in shadow more than fits the bill. \n I have to admit that after the promising beginning, I was kind of let down by the rest of the story. \n I felt that the plot got really bogged down: to me it just seemed like a constant rotation of yelling, fighting, falling into shadows, fighting, internal conflicts, and fighting. \n In the end, this was an entertaining urban fantasy which was not as good as I had hoped, given the stellar writing team. \n Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 13 15:05:23 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 13 15:28:34 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "31450908", "review_id": "f64051a4efd38152d5108e836700803e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Hearkening back to the sinister feel of old fairy tales and legends, McGuire combines damn fine storytelling with a dark and twisted take on the lands that can only be reached through hidden doorways found by chosen ones under the right (or wrong?) circumstances. Magic and atmosphere just shimmer off the page, while the author sneaks in food for thought about identity, familial bonds, and the essential need for a child to be allowed to choose their own path- in both a literal and allegorical sense. This is the tale of lost siblings Jack and Jill as only Seanan McGuire could envision. \n Thank you to Macmillan and Tor for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 12 17:45:36 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 12 17:52:22 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "30095464", "review_id": "199c223c2c964c852ae74ee91264ece6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "When Tea discovers that she is a Bone Witch with powers over death, her old life ends in an instant; she is whisked away from everything familiar so she can learn to control her potentially destructive new skill. Tea trains, makes new friends and adversaries, gets caught up in political machinations, and begins to open herself up to potential love interests. Throughout this tale of new adventures, dangers and experiences, Chupeco also gives the reader plenty of warning of dark times to come- a jaded slightly older Tea also plays a part, and she is bent on bringing chaos and revenge to her enemies. \n While this novel drags at times as Chupeco builds a solid foundation for her world, and Tea was not always an enjoyable character, this is a book I would recommend to my teen patrons, and for my own part, I plan on keeping an eye out for the sequel. \n Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 22 17:50:40 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 22 17:52:37 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "30612669", "review_id": "4db8c9aca166ba0924411e3c7819b34a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A disturbing but intriguing premise leads to a fast paced & well written romantic suspense novel. Cain is a consulting detective who literally immerses himself in crime scenes in order to gain insight into the mind of the killer. Mercy is the only survivor of his murderous father's last killing spree. When he breaks her out of the mental health facility where she was being held, they find that they have more in common than murder. \n Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 21 17:51:25 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 21 17:53:33 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "30612698", "review_id": "2eb5c0ca11b70ffc2dbb0edf489c9dd0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "In Wanted and Wired, the future is techno-heavy with a strong thread of old-west mentality- and gun for hire Mari Vallejo is quite comfortable with that. When her latest job goes horrible wrong, the slightly rough and wholly independent Mari finds that she might just need a little help from her handler- the sexy, enigmatic post-human Heron Farad. When given the opportunity to get closer to beautiful, admirable Mari, Heron doesn't hesitate. The two end up on the run as they try and figure out who set up Mari and how deep and wide the trouble goes. \n This debut novel is hot, inventive, and a damn fine ride. I loved how Mari was the muscle of the operation, and I thoroughly enjoyed the give and take of her relationship with Heron. This new series shows a lot of promise- so glad I read it! \n Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 11 13:20:54 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 20 14:20:51 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Mar 11 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "27827203", "review_id": "1d17b2005a72cb14bb95fcc4ebac0c48", "rating": 4, "review_text": "8th&up \n Ruby has had everything taken away from her by the Frostblood king and his followers- her mother, her home, her freedom,...all gone. The only thing she has left is her rare Fireblood power- which at this point is just as dangerous to herself as it is to an enemy. With nothing but revenge on her mind, she will align herself with allies she is not sure she can trust as she risks everything to stop the ruler who is responsible for her pain. With a nice blend of action and romance, solid world building, and an ending that satisfies at the same time as it ensures the reader will want more, this is a winning fantasy. \n Side note: \n Apropos of nothing, this novel kept bringing to mind the classic poem \"Fire and Ice\" by Robert Frost: \n Some say the world will end in fire, \n Some say in ice. \n From what I've tasted of desire \n I hold with those who favor fire. \n But if it had to perish twice, \n I think I know enough of hate \n To say that for destruction ice \n Is also great \n And would suffice. \n With thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for providing access to an advanced copy of this novel.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 28 10:22:50 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 28 11:13:27 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "30809689", "review_id": "3a553bab1ae2ad6e2dd09c6888f4d2a8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fantasy powerhouse Neil Gaiman tackles ancient folklore in his latest work, Norse Mythology. Perfectly envisioning Loki's sneaky nature, Thor's single minded strength, and Odin's sage confidence, Gaiman's vibrant writing presents a world full of treachery, triumph, never-ending wars and one-upmanship, populated by wonderfully larger than life characters. Before you realize it, you'll be as enthralled as a child sitting around a campfire, listening to an elder tell mesmerizing tall tales of adventures from the distant past. \n Thanks to W. W. Norton & Company for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 30 17:54:42 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 20 19:55:12 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "29566060", "review_id": "b7640b4b6120718f3395ec9cebd73cfc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "8th&up, 3.5 stars \n A young woman with more than her share of responsibility and strife meets an otherworldly being who saves her life from a human threat while unwillingly exposing her to danger from the depths of hell. The Edge of Everything has enough adventure, romance, and suspense to keep the pages turning- and thanks to a few loose ends, readers will be eagerly awaiting a sequel. \n This ARC was obtained at BEA16, in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 30 16:07:17 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 29 16:39:33 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Oct 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "28818313", "review_id": "47b7c5a02132e3764995ccd92a7e4573", "rating": 4, "review_text": "7th& up \n Rich is the word that comes to mind when describing Destiny Soria's YA novel Iron Cast. Characters, setting, world building, relationships, plotting; all the elements of this story are well crafted and completely captivating. \n Unlikely best friends Corinne and Ada live in 1919 Boston, at a time when prohibition is a real threat, and people with the ability to create illusions through their artistic talents can make a killing through scams and performances- but run the risk of running afoul of the law or the gangs. When some of their friends at the Cast Iron nightclub are attacked, and then other begin to disappear, the girls band together to try and discover who is after them before they're the next to disappear- or worse. \n Highly recommended! \n Thank you to Abrams Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 30 14:56:18 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 30 15:09:06 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "25489134", "review_id": "4bd66ec300dd7c243a5afea6437f87bf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Katherine Arden's interest in Russian culture and literature and her talent with setting and story shine through in The Bear and the Nightingale, a gift for readers who have a weakness for folklore with a little edge and a lot of depth. \n In a remote area of northern Russia there lies a small village that has always been prosperous and protected by their belief in and respect for magic, spirits, and things unseen. Lately, though, the modern world has begun to seduce them away from their long held traditions and as they lose connection with the old ways, evil and misfortune starts to take hold. Luckily, young Vasilisa is determined to save her people. She believes in the old ways and will protect her village from evil spirits and dark forces- even while those she seeks to protect reject her because they fear what she represents and the ancient powers she fights against. \n This vivid, magical tale is highly recommended for fantasy lovers, historians, and anyone who would like a well crafted, engaging story to keep them company through a cold winter night. \n Thank you to Del Rey and Random House for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 20 11:13:51 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 20 11:20:15 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Oct 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "28218890", "review_id": "e852df46fc427a6feb120e2c4a7c728c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4th&up \n The author of the popular Unwanted books starts another middle school series that kids are sure to love. \n When Charlie Wilde moves with her family from Chicago to Arizona, she is determined to be miserable. She never wanted to leave her house, her school, her friends, her life! Boring Arizona will never be home. As it turns out though, boring is that last thing Charlie can say about her new life- when she tries on a strange bracelet that she found, she suddenly has powers that she'd never thought possible! With the help (and hindrance) of some new friends, she will have to battle some seriously bad guys by making the best of her skills, despite the fact that she has no idea what she's doing! \n This exciting and absorbing novel will have readers dying for more- especially after that cliffhanger ending! Lisa McMann has done it again. \n This ARC was obtained at BEA16, in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 09 13:24:28 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 11:56:08 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "30653776", "review_id": "1499d9513b24dab16bd4c3f6a1eadcd4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Immortal Domitian Argenis knows that beautiful police officer Sarita is his life mate- the one soul that was meant for him. Unfortunately, an evil doctor knows it as well and he plans on taking advantage of this sacred bond. Readers will be carried away as they witness the bond grow between Sarita and Domitian, and they'll be on the edge of their seats waiting to see if the lovers can escape and defeat the mad scientist who holds their lives in his hands. \n Argeneau aficionados will be absolutely delighted with this latest entry in the series, especially considering the diabolical enemy who is revealed, and the possibility for an exciting new layer to the immortal realm. With chills, humor, sweet scenes, and steamy encounters all in just the right proportion, this story couldn't be better. Nods to The Island of Doctor Moreau, The Princess Bride, and gothic vampire tales add atmosphere to the book, and readers will have a great time tagging along on Sarita and Domitian's journey. \n Thank you to Avon and Edelweiss for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 05 16:26:35 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 05 17:13:28 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "28953953", "review_id": "fb7e504fb8df943a3378256d37f7450e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "5th&up, 3.5 stars \n Alice Mayfield knows that The Experimental Center for Love and Learning (a new age style boarding school) is just the latest in a string of dumping grounds that her parents send her to so they don't have to be inconvenienced by her existence. She is resigned to the fact that she will never fit in, she will never matter, she will never find a place to belong. \n When she meets Millie, everything changes. Now Alice has found a friend, someone who truly understands and welcomes her company rather than suffers it. Millie feels the same way because in her Yare (or Bigfoot) community, she doesn't feel like she belongs either. Alas, trouble finds the two friends when a mean girl, some malicious gossip, and a young overeager Sasquatch hunter, collide in a situation that might reveal Millie's uniqueness and result in unwelcome exposure to her whole tribe. \n This is a sweet tale about being misunderstood and finding your place, which concludes with a rousing ending where all the camp kids band together to proudly proclaim their supposed \"freakness\". With a final cliffhanger that leaves Millie & Alice ready for another adventure, readers will find much to entertain them. \n This ARC was obtained at BEA16, in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 29 15:34:36 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 30 14:52:39 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "27860894", "review_id": "6d27e8bc4251ba320a896b4775a478b3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "5th&up, 3.5 stars \n After an accident leaves them with seriously strange powers, 4 kids (& a sidekick) band together to keep themselves safe from a common enemy. Silly and fun, Ignatow adds depth and important issues to her story with her realistically portrayed middle school characters. \n Cookie is the popular girl, but she is fiercely protective of her status because she fears one wrong move will send her plummeting down the social scale- where she's sure some people think the only black girl in school belongs. Farshad is smart & confident but miserable & alone because every day he walks through school as a complete pariah- labeled Terror Boy simply because of his Iranian heritage. Jay- the sidekick- is goofy, loud, & energetic and uses overblown speech that constantly gets him in trouble and provides levity to the book. With occasional language better suited for middle school (bastard, ass), this is a fun and fast paced story, with a twist ending that will have students dying for the next volume. \n That being said, this stellar School Library Journal review by Betsy Bird \n http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production... \n is definitely on point when it refers to the problematic language Jay uses when describing his crush- he calls Cookie a Nubian princess and a delicate black orchid, among other unsettling phrases. Reading about Farshad's experiences with prejudice and bullying is also seriously disturbing, but sadly believable at the same time. \n All in all, despite some problems The Mighty Odds is a layered and entertaining story that is sure to be popular with middle school readers.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 29 15:34:27 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 29 16:55:00 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Aug 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "28110115", "review_id": "d0719589723134212fdf98f4112e7dfb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Psychic powers, dangerous adventures, & true love. Oh my! \n From the very first page (with its entertaining email exchanges) to the last paragraph (where all loose ends are tied up nicely, complete with a HEA), Krentz/Castle keeps readers fully satisfied. Another fine entry to the Harmony series.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 29 15:06:32 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 29 15:27:42 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "28814845", "review_id": "a48e0d5e9d8f3592cec69a7ac6e12172", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A lovely ending to the imaginative trilogy that consists of Journey, Quest, & now Return. \n As brightly illustrated as ever, no words are needed to convey the adventures of a little girl who wants her father to spend some time with her. When she returns to the colorful, magical world she has journeyed in twice before, he joins her & the two enjoy an unforgettable adventure. \n The art and story-craft of Aaron Becker is not to be missed. \n This ARC was obtained at BEA16, in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 24 16:24:00 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 24 16:29:12 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "28116810", "review_id": "de1b33b851792cc62eb4619d6ebb7d91", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n It is time. Shikanoko and his strange sons and various allies are ready to take on their enemies- the Miboshi and the Kakizuki clans, and secure the Lotus Throne for the true Emperor, Yoshimori. Fantastical creatures and legendary wizards, men with shifting moralities, women who have their own secret agendas, and others will have to choose a side and take a final stand in a battle that the spirits in Heaven itself are eagerly anticipating. \n In this final volume of the Tale of Shikanoko series, Hearn ties up all loose ends from numerous plot threads and resolves issue with her many, many characters and provides a satisfying ending to her creative, epic, strange, twisted fairy tale style fantasy. While I did have some hesitations with the uneven writing style (often choppy but occasionally lyrical), the daunting number of players, and the constantly shifting moral platform of the tale, Tengu's Game of Go provided a satisfying ending and Hearn's tale was a departure from my typical reading choices that I'm glad I succumbed to. \n Thank you to Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 10 16:34:08 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 10 17:06:01 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "26114167", "review_id": "7e0b26dc5738ace880beefd0da3ad404", "rating": 3, "review_text": "In the penultimate volume of the Tale of Shikanoko series, the extended absence of the rightful emperor continues to bring turmoil to the land (Hearn's magic filled version of ancient Japan), and all our players are fighting both physical and mental battles that are slowly drawing them closer together for a final confrontation that will once and for all determine the rightful ruler of the land. \n Thank you to Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 10 16:03:59 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 10 17:06:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "26114406", "review_id": "b4602e5863a4bf3bdd5a40860d31ec89", "rating": 3, "review_text": "In this, the second book in the Tales of Shikanoko series, Shikanoko continues to search for his place in the landscape of Hearn's magic filled version of ancient Japan. Shika and the other strange and fantastical characters in this novel fight, grow, learn, love, and make many mistakes that still drawn them closer to their fates and the ultimate battle for control of the Lotus Throne. \n Thank you to Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 10 15:40:49 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 10 17:06:41 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "25944812", "review_id": "e4e561dfa51d1e093e801d50e561f39f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Lian Hearn's historical fantasy is a rich adventure set during medieval Japan in a world where spirits and humans live in uncomfortable proximity. Witchcraft, mythology, betrayals, political machinations, romantic liaisons, and more occur in the first of the epic saga Tales of Shikanoko, where power is what makes the world go 'round. Whether it is stolen, taken by hereditary right, or magicked into existence, each characters seeks it and each character fights to keep the power that he or she has. \n This first volume serves to lay the groundwork for Shikanoko's quest, and introduce the many, many characters who will play a role in his adventures. While a bit jagged in both plotting and writing, the core of this story is definitely strong enough to entice readers to journey on. \n Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 06 13:16:19 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 06 13:30:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "30408280", "review_id": "08b2b57a4dc4c9a23c4d337403cc2d09", "rating": 4, "review_text": "8th&up \n Magic is an integral part of the Mortiz family, and it is considered an honor when a child is old enough to fully embrace their talents. Alex, on the other hand, has been dreading the day when she celebrates her Deathday and must completely accept the powers that she's been hiding. She wants no part of her magical legacy- to her mind being a bruja, or witch, brings nothing but pain and trouble. \n When Alex attempts to deny her inheritance, her efforts backfire and her entire family suffers the consequences. With the guidance of a boy she doesn't fully trust, Alex will be forced to rely on the powers she never wanted in order to bring her family safely home. \n Cordova has created a magical world with elements of Greek mythology, Mexican spiritual culture, and her own unique flare. Alex is a sympathetic character with growing pains that will resonate with most teens- even those of the non-magical variety. Cordova's portrayal of Alex's multi-layered connection with both her female friend Rishi and the secretive brujo boy Nova comes across as authentic and meaningful to the story and Alexa's character development. This is the first in a proposed series, and readers will eagerly await their next meeting with the Brooklyn Brujas. \n This ARC was obtained at BEA16, in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 06 12:16:59 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 06 12:17:50 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "28110852", "review_id": "d1c32e469847b90d200d4b28aa604c36", "rating": 5, "review_text": "An utterly delightful and moving fantasy that is sure to enchant middle school readers! \n In a sad little town called the Protectorate, there exists a terrible tradition- every year on a certain day the youngest member of the community must be left deep in the nearby woods as a sacrifice to the evil witch who lives there. The villagers mourn their lost babies, but if this task is not fulfilled the entire town will pay the price. \n At the same time every year, a kind old witch wanders through the forest and finds a poor abandoned baby that has inexplicably been left to fend for itself in the woods. With no other option, she takes the babies to the town at the far end of the forest, feeding them starlight and keeping them safe on the long journey where they will finally be welcomed with yearning hearts and open arms. \n This year is different. A mother refuses to give up her daughter, and is driven mad when the baby is taken regardless. A young man accompanies the elders on their mission and begins to question the morality of their actions. The witch who finds the child accidently feeds her moonlight instead of starlight, and realizes that since the baby is now full of magic, she must keep her and teach her how to control her powers. This year the winds of change have begun to stir, and when baby Luna turns thirteen and realizes what she is capable of, the storm will awaken in full force and nothing will be the same. \n This wonderful fantasy is not to be missed. With lyrical writing, delightful characters, and lovely messages, Barnhill has truly created magic. \n This ARC was obtained at BEA16, in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 27 16:18:10 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 27 16:18:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jul 27 16:18:55 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "24154660", "review_id": "f86acc76b1a412d9acee6a71541671ce", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n I love Charlie & Reyes as a couple, but I hate that Charlie didn't trust in Reyes and that she kept secrets from him. \n I love the whole Charley Davidson crew, but am kind of taken aback at how many people she keeps letting in on her true nature. \n I love the mysteries of this series, but I didn't like the confusing otherworldly machinations that keep getting built upon instead of resolved. \n As much as I absolutely adore the heat, humor, & heart of these stories, I am starting to wish that the end of the world could get wrapped up- even if that means the end of the series.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 25 16:37:23 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 25 16:40:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "27405351", "review_id": "f67ee85df870a0844b4457e409b9b510", "rating": 2, "review_text": "7th&up \n Given Samantha Mather's heritage, moving to Salem, Massachusetts is possibly not the best decision her stepmother could have made. The birthplace of the most famous witch trials in history might be quite modern in many aspects, but the townspeople have a long memory- especially when it comes to a distant relative of Cotton Mather, the man who is known for sparking witch hunt mania back in the day. The popular but toxic A-list girls at Sam's new school are descendants of the witches who were killed in the infamous trials, and they seem determined to exact revenge on behalf of their ancestors, and if they have to employ a little dark magic to achieve their ends, they will. \n Despite an intriguing premise, I found the writing in this novel to be a bit immature. The story seemed jagged, the main character was all over the place in her personality and actions, and I just could not truly get into the story. If you have an intense love for the movies The Craft or The Covenant, if you are wild about love triangles that include a young, handsome ghost or you can't get enough of mean girl stories, then this might be the book for you. \n This ARC was obtained at BEA16, in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 07 15:39:22 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 07 15:43:45 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "28269994", "review_id": "7a983a2f06929f5d9c5f728cac73f4f2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n It has been far too long since Abigail Forsythe just let loose and had fun- so of course when she finally indulges herself and says yes to a friend's offer of a free (and only slightly shady) plane ride to an exotic destination, things go amazingly awry. Naked hottie chained up in the cargo hold awry. On the run from his captors, stuck on a tropical island in the middle of nowhere with no way to get help, Abigail and Tomasso must work together to survive their unexpected getaway. \n This is the 24th book in the Argeneau series, and it is as ridiculous, sexy, and fun as fans have come to expect. Dive on in- you won't be disappointed! \n Thank you to Avon and Edelweiss for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed May 25 09:33:16 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 06 17:48:13 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "27414432", "review_id": "9b06317036a04ae1ba364009700d67d4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "5th&up \n In this ambitious fantasy adventure set in what appears to be a version of Renaissance Italy, a young orphan named Giacomo discovers he has a gift that will make him an outlaw in the tyrannical society where he lives. Long ago, when a child discovered their Genius (an artistic muse brought to life in bird form) that gift and the ensuing bond would be rejoiced. More recently, however, the self-proclaimed Supreme Creator has ensured that those who possess these talents will be imprisoned or killed. When Giacomo meets three new friends with similar gifts, they inspire him to join their rebellion against the oppressive leader of their region, as well as a new foe who is trying to usurp her. Together, the four companions will travel through treacherous lands and confront dangerous creatures in an effort to find three sacred objects before their enemies can use them in a bid for ultimate power. \n With codes and ciphers, magical geometry, Golem-like creatures and spirits similar to Pullman's daemons, DiMartino shows a lot of creativity and nice world building in this novel, but it will take a determined reader to make their way through this dense tale. \n Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Thu May 19 09:37:18 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 06 17:15:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "28110143", "review_id": "677c6129836c69e0aeef264e0eb1c592", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars, 5/6th&up \n Beloved author of the YA Shatter Me trilogy, Tahereh Mafi's latest is a middle grade fantasy that pays homage to the Alice in Wonderland story in a fresh, new way- keeping the strange, slightly disturbing, yet irresistible feel that Carroll portrayed so well, but really making Alice and Wonderland/Furthermore her own. \n Alice Queensmeadow lives in an amazing world of color and magic, community and adventure, yet she is not happy. Her father disappeared three years ago, her mother barely acknowledges that she exists, and because she has no discernable magic skills and barely any color of her own, she is basically an outcast in Ferenwood. With nothing to lose, Alice decides to prove her worth and find her father- the only person who ever seemed to care for her and love her despite her flaws. With the unwelcome help of Oliver (a boy with a mission and secrets of his own), Alice enters the world of Furthermore and finds that nothing in this new world, or in her old life, is as it seems. \n Furthermore is a land that lives, breathes, and schemes- almost a character in itself. While in this strange land, Alice grows up and starts to come into her own. She is a complex character who changes during her adventure as she moves away from childhood and begins to see more than just her own concerns and needs. That is not to say this is a heavy book, though- there are plenty of crazy challenges, mad characters, and suspenseful experiences to entertain readers, and the vivid and colorful (pun intended) world Mafi created gives readers lots to explore. \n Side note: the chapter breaks are adorable. \n This book was obtained at BEA16, in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Thu May 19 09:36:00 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 11 10:31:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "27840858", "review_id": "5086765b7cac951ac63e152b9c16a589", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have always felt that there is something inherently sinister about marionettes: The fixed expressions with their gleaming, shallow eyes; Their jagged, spider-like movements; The hollow, clicking sounds that serve as harbingers of their physical intentions. To me, they have never seemed whimsical or childlike. Donohue capitalizes on that not uncommon reaction with an eerie yet lyrical tale of a woman who seeks escape from danger and drudgery and finds herself in a nightmare world that little by little feels like home, and the earnest husband who yearns to bring her back to his side even if the journey towards that end threatens to cost them both more than they can spare. Allegory, adventure, magic and menace combine in a unique take on an old myth. \n This ARC was obtained at BEA16, in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Mon May 02 19:56:48 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 18 15:43:59 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "27883214", "review_id": "c3d2f506afa83c3632609e77c3e098b1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 stars, 8th&up \n Ever since she was a child, Scarlett has heard stories of Caraval, the mysterious and magical traveling circus experience that is spoken about in rumors and with awe throughout the land. It became a mirage to her, something to think about and hope for while dealing with her brutal father and trying to protect her headstrong younger sister. For years she believed that if only they could see Caraval once it would be enough to keep their spirits alive despite the hopelessness they felt about the future. \n But Scarlett is not a child anymore. It is time to put aside fanciful dreams and accept her new reality. She is about to be married to an influential stranger- an act that she prays will provide an escape for her and Donatella. Some dreams have a way of lingering, however, and when Scarlett and her sister are unexpectedly given tickets to Caraval, they find themselves seeking one last chance for a happy ever after- for the winner of the games is granted one wish, and Scarlett aims to have that gift. \n Upon entering the world of Caraval, Scarlett is thrust into a game that seems dangerously real, as she tries to navigate the magic and menace of this new world and learn who she can trust with her heart, her life & her sisters safety. \n Caraval is so lush, twisty and atmospheric- it is definitely a must read! \n This book was obtained at BEA16, thanks to Flatiron Books, in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Mon May 02 19:55:25 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 28 13:56:21 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "17564519", "review_id": "18648d711473607f9f929de30cd75dc2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "7th&up \n I love to read, but if someone asks me what my favorite genre is, historical fiction really doesn't make the list. As it happens, the last three books that I've read were YA historical fantasy, and each one blew me away. \n I opened this book with hesitation, almost certain that the setting (California Gold Rush) would be dull and a chore to get through. \n Up next on the menu: a full plate of crow. I tore through the pages of this lush, engaging, realistic but suspenseful story. Carson painted such a vivid picture that whenever I glanced away from the book I was shocked that I wasn't surrounded by a harsh, unwelcoming land, with the sun blazing down, no water in sight, in the company of people that I wasn't sure that I could trust with my secrets, or my life. I became Lee, and took her troubles on as my own. I feared the villain in the story, yearned to go back in time when I had the comfort of my parents near me, mourned their loss, and worried that my only friend in the world was lost to me. I hoped that Lee would safely reach her destination, and when I turned the last page I was content, but oh so eager to continue on with Lee and her new found family. Bring on the sequel! \n This book was obtained at BEA15 in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 30 11:08:32 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 30 11:12:27 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Apr 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "23569428", "review_id": "6ddbdd8441a26eade564e92d58ffd3d4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "9th&up \n Herman, previously known as an author of adult non-fiction, has definitely proven herself a welcome member of the young adult community in my humble opinion. Legacy of Kings (the first book in the Blood of Gods and Royals series), was an absorbing example of historical fantasy. Rich writing, well researched setting, complex characters, fast paced action, romantic tension, and plenty of political machinations made this a novel that I am happy to recommend to my teen readers. \n Set in Ancient Greece, Legacy of Kings follows a handful of teens (including a young Alexander the not-yet-Great) as they strive to prove themselves, as they gather power, as they find their place in society, as they battle and survive, betray, love. Each characters point of view will capture the reader's attention, and leave them wanting more. \n Strange side-note: This is the third book that I've read in a row (It Takes One by Kessler, Don't You Cry by Kubica and this novel) where one of the main characters has heterochromatic eyes (where one iris is a different color than the other). Interesting that this is apparently a new trend! \n This book was obtained at BEA15 in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 30 09:41:57 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 30 09:52:53 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "25263755", "review_id": "f98603d990fadc945fa0e0be25fccce7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n Enjoyable, but not as good as Wicked Ride, which in turn was not as good as her Sin Brother books, or the new Scorpius Syndrome series.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 19 15:16:59 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 19 15:20:21 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "23403599", "review_id": "f85b1f2a8ef8f608dc4f9f816f26f862", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n I didn't realize at first that this is an extension of the Dark Protector series, which I did not complete. While most readers would not find this to be a stumbling block, that sort of thing drives me crazy- I always feel haunted by what I'm missing. Aside from that, the story was HOT and fast-paced, with intriguing characters that I enjoyed spending time with. I did feel that at times the hero was (dare I say...) a bit too Neanderthal. \n Still, a solid start to Zanetti's new series.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 19 15:06:54 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 19 15:15:16 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "18500665", "review_id": "d66c5d61c7b83111057bdd8f9a800477", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A really great ending to a gruesome, tense, romantic, and exciting trilogy. :)", "date_added": "Wed Feb 03 17:51:10 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 03 17:52:11 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 29 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "17849112", "review_id": "f753e0e2fcef869bd054d9c020087cac", "rating": 4, "review_text": "9th&up, 3.5 stars (needed more Raffe) \n *Do not pick this novel up unless you've read Angelfall. World Afterdoes have a recap in the beginning, but if you haven't read book 1, it'll just sound absolutely insane. \n While I definitely felt the lack of Raffe through most of the book, the last third was enough to bring this 3 stars up to a 3.5. I'm absolutely on board for the closer volume.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 03 17:44:56 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 03 17:50:47 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "15863832", "review_id": "deca87d3cbee75be3975c63d611da48b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "9th&up \n This originally self-published YA gem is a great examples of why readers should not shy away from literature from non-traditional avenues. \n Ee has penned a fast-paced and absorbing post-apocalyptic novel where earth has been invaded by vengeful angels, resulting in the downfall of civilization and the institution of a harsh \"every man for himself\" mentality. In the midst of all this chaos, Penryn is desperately trying to keep her little family safe- a task that is made all the more challenging by the fact that her mother is bat-sh*t crazy and her wheelchair bound younger sister has just been kidnapped by an evil angel. Desperate to find her sister, and not able to rely on her mother, Penryn reluctantly joins forces with an angel who has just had his wings torn off by the same angel who kidnapped her sister. Unsure if they can trust each other, Raffe and Penryn embark on a quest for rescue and revenge while facing danger from every side. \n This novel was a blast to read. Raffe represents my kryptonite- a hot guy with angel's wings (sigh). Penryn is tough as nails, but really relatable because you know that she is only that way because she needs to be in order to survive and keep her family alive. P's mom was a bit like Waldo- always popping up in unexpected places- but she added a crazy kind of humor to the novel. The ending had a shocking twist (the whole novel was more gruesome than I had expected) that I really wasn't anticipating, and I consequently purchased the rest of the trilogy immediately after reading the last sentence of Angelfall.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 03 16:50:43 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 07 10:29:35 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "20983362", "review_id": "da077de7f28fe0c721dc05a9658d4bd6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "9th&up \n Determined to impress her emotionally distant mother and make her beloved mentor proud, violin aficionado Etta Spencer is praying that her nerves won't stop her from giving the performance of her career- but worrying about being thrust into the past was never on her mind. Going from a stage in NYC to a ship in the 1700s in an instant is mind blowing enough, but soon Etta discovers that she, like her mother before her, is a time traveler who has become a pawn in a battle for power spearheaded by ruthless patriarch Cyrus Ironwood. With the help of another traveler- the handsome Nicholas Carter, Etta must learn on the run as she attempts to tame her new skill, survive in numerous foreign places and historically volatile time periods, and discern who she can trust in her ultimate quest to return safely to her home. \n This treasure hunt across time and space is an entertaining thrill ride from the first page to the last. The story involves all the senses as readers are given a well-rounded feel for each briefly visited time period. Bracken creates a sympathetic figure in Etta as she navigates all manner of rough waters; as she gains insight to her mother and her mentor's background and motivations, as her eyes are opened to the restrictions inherent in different time periods for women and minorities, as she begins to perceive the masks that most people don to survive their daily lives, and as she attempts to learn the rules of the dangerous game that she is being forced to play. \n Passenger is a rich novel that will have readers clamoring for the sequel. \n Thanks to Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for proving this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 09 15:42:45 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 07 15:12:09 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "20331482", "review_id": "0c787f1514b68cc0ab3f8a443c325dff", "rating": 4, "review_text": "9th&up \n The Scooby gang is back and better than ever as they strive to save their world from the evil machinations of their nemesis, Sebastian Morgenstern. Loose ends are neatly tied up (with the exceptions of the threads that lead to the many companion series), and most of our Shadowhunter friends get their happily ever after. \n What a great way to wrap up the series!", "date_added": "Wed Dec 30 17:11:34 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 31 00:23:47 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "8755776", "review_id": "f1fd4d95b995e86f6647ff32a5d56c2e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The 5th novel in the Moral Instruments series was my least favorite by far. I don't feel that anything really interesting happened in this entry into the trials and tribulations of the young Shadowhunters, aside from a lot of hooking up. \n Slightly spoilerish: Maia and Jordan finally got together (yay!), but in a rushed manner that was unsatisfying to read, Simon and Izzy were adorable when they admitted their feelings (double yay!), but Alec and Magnus self destructed (noooooo!). \n My biggest problem with the book was the fact that throughout most of the novel, I really wanted to slap Clary. \n Rather spoilery: Clary's blind dedication to Jace should have been admirable, but her tendency to ignore everything and everyone else- including Luke's life-threatened medical status- really struck me as immature and self-centered. I also find it super-creepy that the series is still on the incest kick. Now that Clary and Jace know they're not related, she still has weirdness going on with her biological brother. She keeps mistaking Sebastian for Jace and Sebastian kept dancing on the edge of flirting before fully admitting that he wants her and will have her- sibling bond or no. Gross. \n I hope that my Mortal Instruments binge reading has not gone too far- I was going to read the final book next, but I think I might need a little break before jumping into that world again.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 13 10:50:22 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 30 17:21:56 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6752378", "review_id": "5714d788f0f273be1d6c6623be6ecf12", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The fourth entry in the Mortal Instruments series is actually quite a somber volume. Relationships fracture, there are personal missteps, the debate between nature and nurture torments characters, loyalty tug-of-wars ensue, and more. At times almost harshly realistic, I'm finding this series more layered and interesting than I even expected- and that crazy cliffhanger ending? Phew!", "date_added": "Sun Dec 06 11:16:24 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 06 11:29:21 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Dec 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "3777732", "review_id": "0caa84729182981938e1d48a4e71674f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars, 8th&up \n So...there are new characters and betrayals, deaths and shocking truths, the return of Valentine along with plenty of demons, battles and alliances, but mostly there's Clary and Jace and wanting them to be together and them thinking they're siblings but still not being able to stay away from each other and that being completely squiffy, but not really because you know they can't really be related...and oh, thank goodness! when the truth finally comes out.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 06 11:08:21 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 06 11:13:03 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Dec 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "1582996", "review_id": "83ea3fd3b46370d4d2124065cf60a4fe", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars, 8th&up \n Enjoyable series, & I'm hooked enough to be in it at least until this sibling nonsense is resolved. \n Please tell me it's nonsense, otherwise...(shudder)", "date_added": "Wed Nov 25 13:09:03 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 25 13:13:26 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 22 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "13612965", "review_id": "4a274cdcc44893e47480e03796cf6661", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars, 5th&up \n Although not as action packed and tightly plotted as the first two books, the third entry in the Magisterium series was still absorbing and ended with a shock that makes me yearn for the next book. How long do I have to wait???", "date_added": "Thu Nov 19 21:08:37 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 29 15:05:50 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Sep 29 15:05:50 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "24885814", "review_id": "c3be4eb9035f3d1e436820176dafcf2e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Brave 4th or 5th&up \n In this eerie and truly creepy fantasy, an anxious boy finds out that his fears are well-founded, but through that realization he finds his courage. \n Steve's infant brother is sick and his parents are beside themselves with worry. With his family in upheaval and his brother's future in question, Steve find himself dreaming of a creature that offers a solution to his problem- she and her servants will replace the \"broken\" baby with a new, perfect infant. All Steve has to do is say yes and his problems will go away. Maybe he will say yes- it's all just a dream, right? \n What a disturbing, yet wonderful book! Oppel really seems to have a firm grasp on Steve's voice. It's been quite a while since I was a child caught between the obliviousness of youth and the bittersweet awareness of a teen, but it seems spot on to me. Oppel deals with some harsh issues here, but The Nest is a truly cathartic thriller that has a nicely realistic ending despite all the craziness that precedes it. Without sappy sentiment, readers will be reminded that imperfections are beautiful, and the love and the care of a family is messy and wonderful, and something to be cherished.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 08 18:36:07 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 22 11:55:58 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "20172134", "review_id": "885ffea1638ec0cd607eedcb97b272b2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars, 4th&up \n Generally speaking, I don't have much faith in celebrity-authored novels. Despite my cynical nature, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with this fun and fast-paced story which perfectly blends realistic issues (death of a parent, remarriage, etc) and fantastic elements (nightmares coming to life). \n Nicely done, and a lot of fun!", "date_added": "Mon Nov 02 16:23:38 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 02 16:36:52 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "24751478", "review_id": "8d34e3d904230db2fb4fc460be6b92ac", "rating": 3, "review_text": "7th&up, 3.5 stars \n A solid fantasy adventure that has a little bit of everything- Chinese folktale elements mixed with romance, suspense and issues of loyalty, class, courage and sacrifice. I enjoyed Fei's tale, even though it didn't stick with me after the story was over. \n This book was acquired at BEA15 in exchange for an honest review", "date_added": "Wed Oct 14 09:38:08 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 14 09:46:22 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "25241477", "review_id": "2f8d1b7ea13f6aeca500f8c78ec87097", "rating": 3, "review_text": "In Koontz' latest mystical thriller, twenty-two year old Bibi Blair swiftly and mysteriously recovers from a deadly and supposedly incurable condition. While her family and medical team are baffled, Bibi doesn't dwell on the miracle. She doesn't know how she was cured, but she does know why- she has been spared so that she can save someone she has never met, and knows nothing about- someone named Ashley Bell. \n Embarking on a quest to fulfill her new destiny, Bibi finds that she is not the only one who has an interest in Ashley. There are malevolent forces at play, and Bibi will be faced with challenges that surpass her wildest nightmares as she is pitted against the worst evil she has ever known. \n This dark tale was entertaining, with a twist that reminded me a little of a reimagining of The Wizard of Oz. The hidden elements of Bibi's past were intriguing, and I never knew what craziness Koontz was going to present next. \n The storyline and writing was not as strong as I had hoped, though. Personally, I found the constant inclusion of surfer lingo and accompanying explanations to be disruptive and slightly hokey. It made for rather jarring reading. \n I also had a hard time connecting with Bibi. The way she kept meeting people who swiftly ended up hating her or revealing themselves to be her enemy was overwhelming- it happened so often that I began to think that maybe they were on to something. It sort of makes sense once the twist is revealed, but I still feel that it was overkill. \n I can never resist a Koontz book, and I don't regret reading this one. My desire for a Koontz that I could fall in love with, like Watchers or Lightning, remains unfulfilled however. Maybe next time. \n Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 02 12:43:01 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 02 12:48:27 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "24885636", "review_id": "21c96004f240ab6e9432ad2a3e82e71f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "8th&up, 3.5 stars \n Seemingly typical teens with atypical powers band together to help one of their own when he finds himself in a life-threatening situation. \n Although in the beginning I struggled a bit to connect and root for the Zeroes, by the end I was fully involved. I look forward to reading more adventures from this motley group of heroes in training. \n This novel was obtained at BEA15, in exchange for an honest review", "date_added": "Fri Oct 02 09:07:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 04 07:21:42 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "23659059", "review_id": "50be0d92d8d304da85088a6973238f75", "rating": 4, "review_text": "In her latest Rainshadow book, Jayne Castle (aka Jayne Ann Krentz) introduces a heroine with an unusual paranormal talent- Ella Morgan is a Siren whose song can lead a man to his death. Her unique gift turns out to be just what Rafe Coppersmith needs to help him deal with the dinosaur-like alien monsters that are holding up his family's latest project on Rainshadow Island. Despite a brief but rocky past, Ella and Rafe join forces and find that together they can deal with anything- monsters, dust bunnies, human killers, family issues, personal damage, and their own tumultuous romantic relationship. \n Truthfully, I was a little nervous about how a paranormal singers talents were going to work- was she going to bust out into mesmerizing show-tunes whenever she was in danger? It turns out JAK was more subtle than that, and it does work- as does her typical brand of intrigue laced romance. Silly of me to ever doubt!", "date_added": "Sun Sep 20 13:21:52 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 20 13:37:03 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Sep 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "25348554", "review_id": "550836754145a0f647a517a76a28f1f9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Charley Davidson- Grim Reaper extraordinaire, kick-butt detective, complete caffeine addict- is not herself these days. Yes, she is still completely dependent on coffee, but everything else has changed. After reaching her threshold of pain and sorrow at the end of Eighth Grave After Dark, Charley broke, and vanished. Enter Janey Doerr, a young woman who appeared in Sleepy Hollow New York with no memory of her past, her name, nothing. Janey/Charley is now vulnerable and in danger- finding her way back to herself before dark forces descend will be a challenge. Hopefully Janey and her \"new\" group of friends can weather this storm together. \n Fans should be delighted with this twist in the series. I personally loved being reintroduced to the characters that have been gathered around our heroine throughout the series, and knowing more than Charley about her world and her mission adds readers to the conspiracy of protection that surrounds her. Charley and her antics never grow old, but this book revitalized the plot line like I never thought it could. Kudos to Jones- can't wait for Charley's next adventures! \n Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 04 18:10:18 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 31 00:24:19 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "13612962", "review_id": "213ba402dbae53e495344fe460998246", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4th&up \n The Magisterium series continues with another exciting entry which has Callum questioning the loyalties of those around him. His friends, his father, himself- can anyone be trusted? This twist on a Harry Potter style fantasy is a winner, showing no signs of a sophomore slump. \n This novel was obtained at BEA15 in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 27 15:16:47 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 27 15:19:12 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "17831753", "review_id": "18c4a99b318cc1d73a8d886cf3f8750c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "10/11th&up \n I cannot believe that I'm giving this book 4 stars, but I really think I have to. I'm not sure when exactly my perception changed, but it happened. \n Early thoughts: \n Oh my goodness, this book is giving me a serious headache. It's all over the place- I think Scrap is telling the story, but sometimes that doesn't make sense, especially since Scrap might be telling it from Beck's perspective, plus- what the hell is the point of a fairy if they don't have wings?, and so many of the sentences are crazy run-ons, it's also raw and curse riddled and they're prostitutes and the timeline jumped all over the gosh darn place, and everybody sleeps with everyone else and it's just a complete and utter mess. \n Later thoughts: \n After all the complaints above, I really started to get into the groove of the book, admiring the cleverness of the narrative style, understanding the reason for the choppy chronology and the schizophrenic nature of the narrative voice. I got over my distaste for the sexual promiscuity, the cannibalism, and the strong language, and gained respect for the raw and layered presentation of war and sacrifice and family and loyalty. In the end, I was impressed. \n This is why I hardly ever let myself give up on a book. Some novels take a lot of effort and patience, but they're almost always worth the time- this one more than I expected. \n This novel was obtained at BEA15, in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 13 15:46:32 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 13 16:13:21 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "23846037", "review_id": "438a9c17f9e68578f2642ef6d4ca186e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars, 6th&up \n Fourteen-year-old Marin has spent her entire life in the light. On her idyllic island home, the villagers enjoy 14 years of light and then they must leave their homes for the next 14 years- because no one who stay for the Night has lived to tell the tale. Through an unfortunate array of circumstances Marin, her twin brother Kana and their friend Line are left behind. In the dark. Where they quickly discover that there is a very good reason why people fear the Night. \n 30 Days of Night meets Pitch Black (plus 13 years and 11 months), in a fast-paced novel geared towards YA thrill-seekers. \n Creepy and highly entertaining, Halpern does a great job of setting a dark eerie tone that seldom lets up throughout the story. \n This novel was obtained at BEA15, in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 13 15:35:21 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 13 15:45:18 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "9cc453878cd0aa8a210e8097877baa68", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A Robinson Crusoe tale for the 21st century, Weir's first novel tells the story of Mark Watney- an astronaut who has been left, presumed dead, stranded alone on the inhospitable surface of Mars. Thanks to the massive dust storm that almost killed him, Mark has no way of communicating with Earth or his former crew, and he has little in the way of survival tools and supplies. Where there's a will, there's a way, however- and Mark is not ready to give up, despite the seemingly impossible odds. \n Despite being very sciencey and math-ish, I found every moment of this story fascinating and breathlessly thrilling. Mark's wry sense of humor kept me laughing out loud and the inventive nature of the story as a whole made the pages fly by. \n So far this is, hands down, my favorite book of the summer.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 03 23:03:10 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 03 23:18:41 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "18652002", "review_id": "8547065793622f0422d2e485a59b0d29", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Wow. I never thought that I'd find myself tearing up from a book about the fate of a bee! \n Paul's debut is an enthralling, intricate, and adventurous dystopian tale that follows the life of Flora 717- a lowly worker bee whose life will take an unimaginable path when she follows her heart instead of the dictates of her society.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 03 22:48:08 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 03 22:58:24 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "a5a1bd9d89aaa71aa9733426ca9189a3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "9th&up, 3.5 stars \n Not amazing, but more fun than I expected. I have to admit that I kind of got into the Shadowhunters world, and I fully intend on picking up the next book in the near future. With the series coming to the small screen in 2016, I figure now's a perfect time to get caught up.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 03 16:18:23 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 03 16:37:47 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "25706485", "review_id": "5fd50b23b67e2b6f471e85bb4bf41a3f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n Fun, frothy paranormal romance from a great series. \n Dante Notte is in the middle of escaping from his kidnappers when he runs into Mary Winslow. Or rather, when he gets run over by Mary Winslow's RV. Despite this inauspicious introduction, Dante and Mary soon find that they are a pretty good team when it comes to eluding the bad guys, gathering intel in order to rescue Dante's twin brother, or looking forward to a Happily Ever After as life mates. \n Mary is realistically flawed, owns up to the mistakes of her past, and is a sympathetic character because of it. Dante is strong, loyal, and oh-so-sexy. Together, they make this book a blast. :)", "date_added": "Thu Jul 30 23:17:27 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 05 12:05:41 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "24664678", "review_id": "18d5f8dbded991168ed74af19af1a04c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "When self-declared ladies man Justin Bricker finds his life mate, he's sure he'll easily win Holly's heart- but nothing goes smoothly as one thing after another gets in the way of true love, including the fact that Holly is married. \n While I really do enjoy the Argeneau series, I find some more enjoyable than others. This one was more on the \"not so much\" side of the spectrum, ironically because it was too much. Bricker was too confident of his magnetism, Holly was too clingy to a marriage that anyone would have realized years before was a pale imitation of the real thing, Anders and Decker were too enthusiastic about getting in Bricker's way- even if it ended up hurting Holly. The ending was a little too pat, and portrayed humans as basically too annoying for immortals to live with. \n Really, though, I think the main problem I had with the book was that trying to woo a woman away from her husband is kind of squiffy. I realize that Sands was trying to shake things up a little bit, and maybe most readers would be fine with it, but it just struck me wrong from the beginning. \n That being said, I'm still looking forward to the next entry- bring on Dante!", "date_added": "Thu Jul 30 23:17:24 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 21 16:02:12 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "22291630", "review_id": "a503fe2ae567510f5a0b1fab162ac92f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3rd&up \n Angus Cairns is a brownie- no, not a delicious chocolatey dessert or a cookie-selling little girl, but an honest to goodness legendary creature from folklore who loves to clean, organize and tidy up- while making a bit of mischief on the side. Because of a curse that was put upon his family by the Queen of Shadows (ruler of the Enchanted Realm), he must travel from his homeland in Scotland to the wilds of America to serve young Alex Carhart- whether she wants it or not. \n Alex, 11 year old master of messiness, doesn't want a strange creature cleaning up after her- especially one with such an incredible temper, but when Angus and Alex discover that the tie between their families is wreaking havoc on her brother and father, they must work together to break the curse. If they're lucky, they might heal more than one family before they're done, and find a true friendship along the way. \n Coville, a children's literature master, has really outdone himself with his latest story- the first in a new series. Angus and Alex are well formed, with great voice and three dimensional personalities. The multi-format style of the story really adds to the tale- moving the story forward through diary entries, school assignments, mythical encyclopedia entries and more, including appealing illustrations that really bring the characters to life. \n This is a charming book from a talented author. \n This ARC was obtained at BEA15, in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 11 15:30:20 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 08 17:57:20 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "25372801", "review_id": "5e8d90f149fb237970839f3497ff6a3c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Magic and science meet as Patricia (a gifted witch) and Laurence (a genius with science and technology) find that their lifelong, sometimes rocky, relationship and the fate of the world are dangerously intertwined. \n I should have loved this book. With an intriguing mix of magic and technology, interesting characters and a unique slant on our world, it seemed as if it were going to be a Night Circus-esque novel that would be right up my alley. \n Although I enjoyed it, I have a feeling that I'm not hip or cool enough to fully immerse myself in All the Birds in the Sky. \n That being said, the professional reviews are glowing and the general buzz for this novel is quite impressive, so I would recommend you give this novel a try. If you're like most people, apparently you'll adore it; and if you're like me, you'll still finish the last page satisfied even if you're not blown away. \n This novel was obtained at BEA15, in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed May 20 17:56:11 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 22 08:52:08 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jan 21 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "21996359", "review_id": "1bc856baba297b895959229e2c12660a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "4th&up \n Hogwarts meets Storybrooke in this fun, fast paced middle school adventure. Gilly is a great character who has a bit of a chip on her shoulder and is a bit of a rule-breaker, but she has a heart of gold and would do anything for her family and her friends. \n I'm looking forward to the next adventure in the Fairy Tale Reform School series.", "date_added": "Sun May 03 12:35:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun May 03 12:38:25 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun May 03 12:38:25 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "17878931", "review_id": "45e2550ee2587e6126967d99f9b0524c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Mare Barrow does what she must to survive. If that includes stealing and lying, then no one can really blame her- for a Red (a second class citizen in the lands of Norta), little is expected and little is provided. While Mare gets by on her wits and sheer determination, she knows life is different for the privileged and gifted (in more ways than one) Silvers, the elite of society. In one shocking moment, however, Mare finds out that she has more in common with the Silvers that she suspected and that realization leads her on a journey of power, deceit and political machinations that might be more than the clever little thief can handle. Who can she trust? What is the right path for herself and her people? Everything will change when fate unveils the Red Queen. \n Red Queen has a very Hunger Games feel (battle as entertainment, communities at war, class system with a vast wasteland between levels, a girl who gets by through cunning and sticky fingers, dealing with the black market, hoping to avoid the war, desperate to protect friends and family that she doesn't fully connect with but still feels responsible for, etc). At first this made me cynical; I felt the story was entertaining enough, but still had way too much in common with Hunger Games (and thus also Divergent) to impress me. And yet I read on, getting involved in the story, into the character, sucked into the plot despite myself. By the time the Queenstrial began I was completely hooked and quite willing to give myself over to Aveyard's entrancing story. If Mare is the little sister of Katniss and Tris, she is a sibling that, despite having much in common with her sisters, still has the potential to mature and display characteristics and strengths that will set her apart from the rest of her family. I eagerly await the next segment of this anticipated trilogy to see if Mare lives up to her potential. \n side note: \n 7th grade level recommended as a result of suspenseful action and political elements. Language and relationship issues not a factor, aside from one use of the \"b\" word.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 09 17:35:24 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 09 17:38:03 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "20452210", "review_id": "9539abd4c39e5c92d1fdb2f3870330f5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n Chalk up another good one for the Argeneau series. \n An enjoyable romp, typical Sands- a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 09 16:23:55 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 09 16:28:18 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Mar 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "23568160", "review_id": "84864c270b66689876c1914ff2536f67", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4th&up \n Nightbird is utterly charming, and it is vintage Hoffman- full of ordinary people sprinkled with magic and spells, regret and hope, past sorrows and the promise of a happy future. \n Twig and her mother live in a little Massachusetts town that had at first seemed to be just the right size for a big secret, but now has become more complicated as a result of some new neighbors, an old curse, unlikely friendships, and rumors of a frightening creature that haunts the woods at night. \n Middle school students will delight in this fanciful tale that makes magic seem like a totally reasonable element of every childhood. \n Thank you to Random House Children's and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 04 16:07:56 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 22 11:40:29 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "22215757", "review_id": "3e857678c7fd0856f32452a1447efc5e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "When Stan Lee (the unstoppable comic book legend) and Disney (the world's largest media and entertainment company) band together, things really can't go too wrong and they'll probably go quite right. \n Such is the case for Convergence. Action packed and exciting, this novel- which includes comic book style illustrations, was a bit frenzied but a lot of fun. The first in a series, the story works its way through the assembling of the team, explaining the stakes and providing info about the situation and the powers involved. As a result of this world building, the plot was light on character development and a bit too heavy on the quest for non-stop action, but I am eager to see what's next on the agenda, as I can envision the series getting stronger now that introductions have been made and the base of the \"legacy\" has been established. \n Thank you to Disney Book Group and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 13 10:56:44 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 13 10:58:43 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "20708810", "review_id": "4d0e5e84f0ccbdc9313a5d31dc1f62b1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "6th&up? \n This ARC was obtained at BEA14, in exchange for an honest review. \n In a nod to The Prince and the Pauper, with a decidedly Russian twist, a poor peasant girl and a privileged aristocrat accidentally trade places and each embark on an amazing journey to return to their rightful places. \n Sigh. I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. Although it had its moments, the plot really didn't pick up until the last quarter when the League of Freed Prisoners (the major players in the novel) finally banded together. All around, this was a solid story with all the right elements and plenty of creative ideas, but something was missing. Maybe the remote nature of the narrator caused too much of a buffer between the reader and the characters? All I know is that while I was ultimately glad that I read the novel, I don't see a middle school student or teen reader sticking with this long enough to get really caught up.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 14 13:24:59 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 14 13:41:21 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "20578940", "review_id": "73278e983eecec1f529699bd1fd5ef2c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This ARC was obtained at BEA14, in exchange for an honest review. \n Gr4&up \n Black and Clare have started an intriguing new series which opens in a world that owes quite a bit to Rowling's Hogwarts. Before readers can become complacent, however, they realize that there is something a little bit off in the standard \"boy discovers amazing talents and finds that he has an important role to play in the future\" plotline. Callum's struggles and growth are believable, and he and his friends are likable and wonderfully imperfect. The characters byplay is amusing, the action is well paced, and there were enough surprises to keep things interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed The Iron Trial and can't wait to recommend it to my students.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 20 13:24:16 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 20 13:25:31 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "20821265", "review_id": "0499900f9e35a5a5fa63e1d174aed1b1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n Sedona Snow is used to trouble. Her parents were married to other people when they met, so when they fell in love and ran away to start a new life, their families cut them off and considered Sedona's existence to be the equivalent of adding insult to injury. After her parents died, those same relatives though it best to hide her away in boarding school until she came of age, whereupon they told her she was now on her own. \n Later years haven't provided her with much of a reversal of fortune, as her paranormal skills have brought her to the attention of a mad scientist who has kidnapped her in order to subject her to torturous experiments. After escaping, she soon finds that her disappearance has caused her fiance to move on without hesitation. Feeling that she needs a clean break, Sedona moves to Rainshadow Island, where misfits actually fit in perfectly. \n Unfortunately, a change of place doesn't really alter Sedona's luck. Soon she is dealing with renewed attention from her slimy ex-fiancee, the reappearance of the scientist who previously held her hostage, and the unexplained contact of various member of the family who disowned her so long ago, as well as more paranormal danger than one woman can handle. \n It's a good thing she doesn't have to deal with any of it alone then- new Guild Boss Cyrus Jones has taken a personal interest in Sedona's plight, and given the sparks that occur whenever they're near each other, Sedona is inclined to accept his offer of a working relationship- and any other union that might develop. \n Typical Castle/Krentz, which is typically fun. Definitely a must read for fans, though newbies are strongly encouraged to start at the beginning of the series.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 10 16:34:49 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 10 17:09:59 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "19286674", "review_id": "660dc467b5f98c2b3ef74ee77f43ab6c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Charley Davidson is up to her usual antics as she tries to solve her latest P.I. case, perform her duties as Grim Reaper, track down her father who seems to be avoiding her, keep the mobs of drooling women away from her irresistible fiancee, and avoid the twelve deadly beasts from hell that are out for her blood. And you thought you were having a bad day? \n Jones does it again with another winning volume in a series that is funny, action packed, sexy, sweet and sad in turn. While some series lose their steam when the main characters get together, Charley and Reyes just keep getting better and better. \n Simply put, I adore this series!", "date_added": "Thu Aug 21 22:25:30 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 26 16:32:45 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "19486775", "review_id": "a71fd31eef94ef1f5adac107f12225f1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I obtained this ARC at BEA14, in exchange for an honest review. \n While searching for her missing sister, a young woman with untapped powers meets the man who will play a role in her dark destiny. \n Frost's latest work is a New Adult paranormal thriller that is reminiscent of her own Cat and Bones novels, as well as other such as the Charley Davidson series by Jones and the House of Night books by Cast. After a slightly jagged beginning where readers are thrust into the storyline a bit abruptly, the tale does improve and readers will be entertained- although not likely enthralled- by Ivy and Adrian's adventures. As the first entry in a new series, this world has potential and I'm up for a sequel.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 09 09:16:40 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 14 17:41:36 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "18367581", "review_id": "81628ecadfb60bf5c18f5b285cd4af26", "rating": 4, "review_text": "9th&up \n This ARC was obtained at BEA14, in exchange for an honest review. \n Westerfeld's newest blockbuster seamlessly weaves two alternating stories in an intricate dance that will have readers holding their breath for a happy ending for both protagonists. \n Darcy is a young woman on the brink, ready to break all the rules and embrace an independent life that fulfills all her dreams. The high school graduate moves away from her loving small town family and their expectations for college and a traditional career, and instead takes a chance on life in New York City as an almost-published author. With a world of \"firsts\" before her, Darcy takes on her first time living solo, her first girlfriend, her first time being taken seriously as an author, and more. \n Lizzy- our other protagonist- is Darcy's literary creation, and she is destined for an anything-but-average life as well. When Lizzy is caught in the middle of a terrorist attack, everyone is being killed around her and there is no one there to help. With no other options, she plays dead- a tactic that she is a little too good at, as she ends up falling into the Afterworld and discovering that she can navigate between the human world and the world of the dead. The Afterworld is no place for a novice, however, and even with the help of the attractive Yama (spirit guide and lord of the dead), she is bound to make mistakes and come across darkness and evil that threatens her hold on the world of the living. \n Despite the massive size of this book (just over 600 pages), this is a charming and fast paced novel that masterfully weaves the two storylines together and provides many insights into the world of publishing and writing. (Personally, I loved the shout-out to BEA, the Printz award and all the other insider comments). \n Note- Due to the swearing, and some of the dark elements of the crimes in Lizzy's story, I would recommend this for 9th grade and above. Sexual content is not an issue (Lizzy's romantic relationship does not progress far, and Darcy's romantic relationship is serious but sweet and not explicit).", "date_added": "Sat Aug 09 09:16:03 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 04 12:29:17 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Sep 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "20958632", "review_id": "c423aef1d44a346a05e92f23a12925ae", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This ARC was obtained at BEA14, in exchange for an honest review. \n 9th&up \n In the town where teenage siblings Hazel and Ben live, the Fae have always been an accepted part of life; harmless to the locals who know the rules and dangers associated with the \"good neighbors\", and only occasionally treacherous to the tourists who foolishly seek a brush with otherworldly creatures. Recently, however, the unspoken pact between the people of Fairfold and the Fae community has frayed and Hazel finds herself taking a central role in the battle of might and wits that ensues. \n Holly Black is a storyteller after my own heart and she is definitely one of my go-to YA authors. I adore the way she combines everyday life with the seductive yet sinister world of the Fae, and how she weaves fairy lore (changelings, redcaps and more) with dark versions of the tales I remember from children's books (such as Sylvester and the Magic Pebble and Tops and Bottoms). \n The twists and turns of the story, the flawed but likable characters, and the rich world Black creates all work together perfectly, and the result is a novel that is sure to appeal to any teen that likes a little spice with their fantasy novels.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 09 09:15:56 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 16 10:40:15 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "13579626", "review_id": "92c4600b2e52f6d61015616a0e0aef35", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n Rooms sets to prove that lies, secrets, destructive behavior and complicated relationships don't end once your life does. \n After Richard Walker dies, his estranged family gathers together to get what they are owed and then put his memory firmly in the forgotten past. However, like \"Waiting for Godot\", or some other classic Beckett play, the characters seem to be stuck in their present location, forced to resolve their old issues and air their pain before they can move on (or at least move offstage). This concept is true for all the inhabitants of the Walker estate- including the spirits who are tethered to the house. Oliver has taken a seemingly ordinary premise and turned it into a dark story full of raw and uncomfortable moments, and while there is really no one character that the reader can fully sympathize with, the performance the cast puts on is more than enough to hold your interest.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 09 09:15:52 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 13 16:31:36 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "18406862", "review_id": "98e6c79abf8a6eb137933593abd3dc6e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "9th&up \n Unfortunately, for me this was another Stiefvater that did not live up to my hopes. I have a weakness for bad boys (who doesn't?) and was really looking forward to this story, which focuses on Cole St. Clair, a young former rock star who is trying to get back into the world of music, and his quest to win the heart of closed-off and cynical Isabel Culpeper. \n As with Linger and Forever, I felt that most of the book dragged and went around in circles. In this book especially, there was no character growth- the protagonists just went around in endless circles until things were abruptly resolved in the last few pages. \n No terrible, but not what it could have been.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 12 13:05:33 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 12 13:11:54 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "9409458", "review_id": "168193675a91f2e760ecc40306f0dfd9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "9th & up \n Grace and Sam's romantic saga concludes in the last of the official Wolves of Mercy Falls books (although new release Sinner is a companion story which explores the relationship between Cole and Isabel). \n Although the ending did resolve things nicely, and gave me an ending that I was pleased with, the bulk of this book dragged and went around in indecisive circles. Although I don't regret reading the series it regrettably did not live up to the promise of the first book.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 12 12:57:59 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 12 13:05:14 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6654313", "review_id": "716c60ab709b878caaa62539be93c4b8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars, 9th&up \n The starcrossed saga of Sam (former werewolf) and Grace (more than human?) continues as their relationship develops alongside the danger to the wolf pack. Everything from book one is thrown up in the air, and the formerly sweetly romantic and sigh-inducing tone of the series gives way to angst, complications and plenty of jagged edges. \n The killer ending will have fans begging for the next installment.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 12 12:51:41 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 12 12:57:45 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "18480399", "review_id": "bca72b986d243f8ae8f68ee30a353e90", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I obtained this ARC at BEA14, in exchange for an honest review. \n Book 2 in the Dead in the City series doesn't break any paranormal romance molds, but it was a fun and entertaining read nonetheless. \n Taking the immature blond bimbo from the first book and making her the main character was an interesting choice, and one I was not sure I could buy. Humphreys did a good job of flipping my perception though, and she provided depth and a sympathetic background for Maya, so I am glad I gave this novel a try.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 26 16:52:57 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 14 17:47:41 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "15942629", "review_id": "3a07af523a450790621d784a82083fc9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n When patrons of her exclusive nightclub start turning up dead, vampire owner Olivia Hollingsworth is not surprised that she becomes a prime suspect. She is surprised when the investigating officer turns out to be the man she loves- a man she thought died centuries ago. \n An entertaining ride.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 26 16:47:04 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 26 16:52:46 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "18775220", "review_id": "a52d94cd6927f1d24d143bf3f9b43797", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I obtained this ARC at BEA14, in exchange for an honest review. \n As has already been mentioned in a few reviews, the basic idea of Deadly Curiosities bears a striking resemblance to the short-lived but wonderfully cheesy Friday the 13th: the series television show from the late 1980s (yes, I am ancient) where the main characters are trying to take cursed or evil items and antiques out of the hands of naive, unsuspecting mortals. \n In Martin's book, Cassidy is a gifted human who owns the pawn shop where she, her friend/assistant manager Teag and her business partner/vampire mentor Sorren come across malignant trinkets and try to dispose of them before they can do too much harm. Unfortunately, there appears to be a powerful dark force at work in Charleston which is supercharging the dangerous objects the intrepid trio come across. If they don't figure out what's going on soon, their South Carolina city will be awash in black magic. \n This is the first book in the series, but since there are 10 prequel short stories available in ebook form, I occasionally felt like I had missed out on something. \n Despite a decent plot, I felt that this book dragged quite a bit. There were a few repetitive scenes (like two similar battles at different museums, one right after another), and other sections that didn't really advance the plot or increase the readers knowledge. With a little editing (and a lot more of Chuck- an entertaining character that only made an appearance in the last third of the book), the story could have been a lot more solid. \n As it stands, just squeaking in on the 3 star range.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 14 12:02:08 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 14 17:49:14 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6582637", "review_id": "bcae7dfdb75cddaabc7aa17df85fb626", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Due to my absolute adoration of Guild Hunter #1, Angels Blood, I have to admit that I have long put off reading the second entry in the series. How could Singh top the spark between vampire hunter Elena and wicked and seductive alpha archangel Raphael? And the ending to the first book, the one I've read over and over again...how could another book possibly compete? \n Well, I'm glad I finally succumbed to temptation, because this scrumptious book kept my love for Elena and Raphael alive. Steam still rises off the page, the political world Singh created gets even more complex, the suspense is chilling and Elena's background and her relationship with Raphael gets more intricate and well-developed. \n I have learned my lesson. Never doubt Nalini Singh.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 01 13:13:14 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 01 13:22:20 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "16061295", "review_id": "7857f11be12f4e858e3255b5082cd16e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Darynda Jones just gets me. She writes the kind of books that I know will entertain me from the first page to the last. Charlie makes me laugh, Reyes makes me drool, the tangled cases that are investigated keep me intrigued and the curves and twists that Jones throws at the many layered relationship that Charlie and Reyes share keep me yearning for more.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 01 12:35:23 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 01 12:38:56 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "18310679", "review_id": "f64c460b7bcbfd07a264886940f1f721", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have been waiting for Torr and Grace's story for years, so it really is saying something that I wasn't disappointed. Butcher pulls out all the stops to reward readers who have been following this pair throughout most of the Sentinel Wars series. \n In order to save the Theronai warrior that she loved, Grace- a sweet, kind human, risked her own life and then basically disappeared. Months later, Torr finally has news about the woman who stole his heart; Grace is alive, but she is in danger. Knowing that he will battle any enemy to reach her, Torr quickly travels to her side but is dismayed to discover that Grace has no memories of him and their love. Can a soldier who is more comfortable on the battlefield than off win his true love's heart... again?", "date_added": "Fri May 23 11:34:24 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri May 23 11:50:35 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "4600167", "review_id": "ebfdcaf15d07631e4848170e4c9b1542", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.5 stars \n Yet another casualty of my \"I read too many paranormal romances and am thus very, very picky\" mentality. \n With a weak beginning, and some clunky scenes that tried too hard to be sexy or romantic, this one just barely squeaked past the 2 stars range.", "date_added": "Wed May 14 17:03:07 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 14 17:06:16 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon May 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "12436722", "review_id": "30e9598d852e07e834c7999a75cc2647", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Unfortunately, this really was a mediocre novel. The narrative didn't flow, the characters were not well developed and the world building felt half-hearted. There wasn't anything about this novel that I felt drawn to, or invested in. To make matters worse, aside from the main characters deciding that they belonged together forever, the rest of the plot threads were left purposely dangling. I'm sure it was meant to entice, to lead readers to the next book, but I haven't the slightest inclination to continue.", "date_added": "Wed May 14 16:58:13 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 14 17:02:22 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue May 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "18244920", "review_id": "d2d35cc7d890092dd5db7975f75fd147", "rating": 4, "review_text": "6th&up. \n Gail Carriger has definitely hooked me with the first book in her Finishing School series; a steampunk delight that should please readers who are already Carriger fans and will recruit ones who haven't yet had the pleasure. \n Sophronia excels at taking things apart, getting into trouble and driving her mother crazy. For some reason, none of these skills are lauded in the best social circles in Victorian England, so our soon-to-be intrepid heroine is sent to Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy in the hopes that a little polish can be added to the delightful terror before she takes the entire family plummeting down into social oblivion. \n To Sophronia's delight, her new home away from home is much more than it appears, as she becomes acquainted with flywaymen, vampires and werewolves (oh, my), learns how to defend herself, obtain illicit information and train in the fine art of spying, as well as attempt to save her new school- even if she can't manage to get through a day without some kind of mishap. \n Creating a secret school for spies might not be a new concept in YA chic lit, but Carriger offers a fresh setting, well-paced action, great characters, plenty of humor and just a hint of romance. \n Highly recommended.", "date_added": "Thu May 01 16:51:44 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu May 01 17:18:11 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "17165980", "review_id": "959f1124556c5cb31ed3e2003e0a9906", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars, 5th&up \n This creepy, entertaining and fast paced tale introduces Birdie McAdam, a street smart orphan who assists a man who destroys monsters throughout London in the late 1800s. With an intriguing premise, plenty of action, a great heroine, and an appealing cast of characters, readers should gobble up this book.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 23 14:57:32 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 23 15:07:54 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "13549375", "review_id": "d9c85236fe8ad2834ad8ff2948ba7a12", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars, 5th&up \n I found this to be a very fast-paced and entertaining addition to the superhero fiction genre, told from the perspective of a super villain in training who- thanks to a new friend- begin to wonder if using his powers for the dark side is the right way to go.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 23 14:37:48 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 23 14:39:58 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "16101024", "review_id": "090d605b9a8f64befcde7bd4a55f2268", "rating": 3, "review_text": "6th&up \n A teenager is embroiled in a fantastic science fiction adventure which involves a time machine, new friends, Nicola Tesla, shrink rays, an amazing library and more. \n This is a companion book to the Grimm Legacy and it can be read as a stand alone, but if you enjoy this one you'll love the first one as well!", "date_added": "Wed Apr 23 14:22:28 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 23 14:37:26 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "16248141", "review_id": "e6ef41125d25bef86262c295526a652a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "5th&up \n Funny, entertaining, action-packed, absolutely adorable story about the messy side of Superheroes, told from the perspective of thirteen-year-old Drew, Sidekick in training. Full of derring-do, middle school concerns and lots of heart, this is a delightful read from the first page to the last!", "date_added": "Thu Apr 17 15:17:16 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 17 15:20:47 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Apr 17 15:20:47 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "17133624", "review_id": "a7af7a88c48c79c29e7d84b708f477d4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "5th&up \n A solid, quick and entertaining thriller that is sure to entice middle schoolers. The ending will leave readers yearning for a sequel.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 16 17:44:30 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 16 17:46:17 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "12813630", "review_id": "e15133e82d756d8c94fce342512c24f1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "9th&up \n Yes, apparently the wold does need another teen vampire story, because this one had me hooked from the first and still hasn't let me go. Fast paced, seductive, blood-soaked, sneakily thoughtful and entirely engaging.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 16 17:42:03 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 16 17:44:17 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "15944406", "review_id": "b5914f588c84798dc751deaf4b5d37fc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "5th&up. \n Holly Black creates a wonderful and eerie story about change, growing up, and finding the courage to do pursue your goals and your interests no matter where they lead. In the hands of a talented author like Black, a coming of age story is anything but typical, and I very much enjoyed her powerful grasp of the adolescent mind, her wonderfully creepy story, and the many layers she adds to a story that could have been flat and one-dimensional under another author command.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 02 15:10:52 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 02 15:23:42 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "13624404", "review_id": "0a9268029b80f5ce50613dae52351739", "rating": 3, "review_text": "6th&up \n 3.5 stars \n A satisfying fantasy adventure with a strong, imperfect heroine who accidentally finds out that she is a warrior and a leader at heart.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 26 16:35:22 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 26 16:52:31 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Mar 26 16:52:30 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "18052871", "review_id": "bd93938185cce4b770caba764c08efb3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n Sands is up to her usual with the latest in the Argeneau series- plenty of steam, a touch of suspense, a slapstick scene or two, and an all around satisfying read. \n Basha's complex family history adds a bit more darkness than I expected from this usually lighthearted series, but when Sands reveals the whole of Basha's background readers will be entirely on her side and ready to root for her happy ending with Marcus. \n Aside- loved the shout out to the Princess Bride! Yay! :)", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 16:05:40 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 20 16:19:01 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "17797381", "review_id": "a25f6cc1abe5bc0120692ceb0c9a7d90", "rating": 3, "review_text": "In Koontz's latest thriller, two lost souls with histories steeped in horror finds themselves drawn together as they battle an evil that extends beyond their worst nightmares. \n Usually I adore Dean Koontz for his wonderful characters, his unique story lines and his love-triumphs-despite-monsters/demons/evil/doomsday philosophy. This story, a cross between the Christopher Snow novels and The Taking, was a little bit of a let down, though. Some of the narrative seemed a bit uneven- lovely, descriptive or emotional passages alternated with blunt, shocking little vignettes which were jarringly presented as if Koontz feared that the story wasn't reaching the right level of darkness, so patchwork amends must be made. While I liked the distinct characters, the melodrama was a bit over the top, and the ending- while pleasantly surprising, was a bit too tidy.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 15 15:36:37 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 15 16:27:33 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "11945589", "review_id": "abc2042b68b5e5b4e001912bd03cc550", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Cursed is a solid entry in the world of YA paranormal romance. Ember and her little sister Olivia are both different, but while Olivia has the gift of a life-giving touch, Ember is cursed with powers that take life away. (As if surviving high school, dealing with cute boys and the other challenges life has been throwing her way wasn't enough.) \n When Ember discovers that there are people who are interested in her and her sisters powers, she doesn't know if she can trust anyone, but when the irresistible Hayden tells her he is on her side, Ember is tempted to believe him... \n If I hadn't already been hooked by the Lux series, I probably would have been able to rate this higher, but unfortunately, Ember and Hayden have nothing on Katy and Daemon (sigh).", "date_added": "Thu Nov 14 16:31:59 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 14 16:50:23 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "10357792", "review_id": "32947f0d8295b6205df76d2e6d56fe6c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A bittersweet experience- although I'm sad to see Cat and Bones say farewell, I admire an author who knows when to end her story. The seventh Night Huntress book was suspenseful, sexy, and extremely satisfying- a great last hurrah! Thanks for all the fun, Jeaniene- can't wait to see what you have planned next for your fans!", "date_added": "Wed Nov 06 16:30:37 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 02 15:28:07 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "13644052", "review_id": "aaec3c015098480b8cea86770dd0e045", "rating": 4, "review_text": "As usual- break-neck plot pacing, sigh-worthy romance and enough twists, turns and surprises to make me need the series conclusion NOW!!! (please?)", "date_added": "Wed Oct 16 16:18:46 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 16 16:32:33 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "17334051", "review_id": "6bb951965943dc541bb61c6d223e7541", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The latest in the Argeneau series is a sexy and fun read, although the basic premise bears a lot of similarity to Under the Vampire Moon (book #16) emotionally abusive husband, the rich estranged wife/divorcee who might be at risk as a result of her money, the heroine who is reluctant to start a relationship because of her dark romantic past, etc . Still, quite entertaining and a must read for fans of the ever appealing Argeneau family.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 16:00:39 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 03 16:10:55 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "14384", "review_id": "ea9590b747e227df25a3af6da7f64ca2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "After a rather rough beginning in which the \"hero\" almost completely turned me off, I did kind of get into the story. I still had slight issues with a few later scenes as well, but Lachlain eventually grew as a character (and grew on me)and Emmaline gained some backbone as the story went on.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 15:24:55 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 03 15:32:43 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "15742678", "review_id": "16fd8e6e1cee2c74f2d796351c3e059a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The latest entry in the Sentinel Wars series is spicy, imaginative and vastly entertaining. I enjoyed seeing Cain get his own happy ending.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 03 15:11:54 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 03 15:19:58 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Sep 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "15810877", "review_id": "bb7a95139ca7fdad7d3be702f07e3496", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Jayne Ann Krentz does it again with another entry in her Jayne Castle Harmony series. \n On the run from a possible murder charge and a powerful, vindictive woman, Alice North is down to her last dollar, has just been fired from her latest job and now she's in a dark alley facing off against two thugs who are attempting to change this from her worst day ever to her last day ever. Cue good Samaritan Drake Sebastian. After rescuing her, Drake reveals that he actually shares a connection with Alice, and needs her help. Instinctively trusting the handsome stranger, Alice agrees to a crazy and dangerous plan that might solve both of their problems, if it doesn't kill them first. \n As usual, Krentz has crafted a fast paced suspense story and populated it with two main characters that the reader gets immediately involved with. Alice is admirable with her rough past and determined nature, and although Drake has troubles of his own, I loved the way he still made Alice and their budding relationship a priority. \n This was fast paced fun from the first page to the last.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 22 12:09:07 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 22 12:50:13 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "84151", "review_id": "6c1df665997006e61f7e77a1310f8d4c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Bride McTierney knows that she is not perfect, but she has a lot to offer to the right man, one who will love her despite a few extra pounds and appreciate her subtle good looks and independent nature. Just when she is convinced that every male in the entire human race is scum, she meets Vane Kattalakis. Vane is gorgeous, sweet, caring, rich and treats her like she is the most precious thing in his life. He's damn near perfect. For a werewolf. \n Bride and Vane's courtship is electric, and the suspense element keeps the story quick-paced and exciting. The Dark-Hunter world is one that readers will be eager to visit again and again. \n Jumping right into the middle of the Dark Hunter series (this is book 6- oops) was a bit jolting at first, but the storyline was rich enough, the characters engaging enough and the romance spicy enough to more than make up for any slight confusion from secondary characters or mythology threads. This book was a lot of fun.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 22 11:43:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 22 12:08:34 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "14060046", "review_id": "cf5204d0c627325913356dd9e35d9019", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This adult romance set in the same world as the Lux series is just as addicting as the original storyline. Guilty pleasure at its finest. ;)", "date_added": "Sun Sep 22 11:41:51 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 22 11:43:27 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "13658527", "review_id": "5436be35a0f5dabe07838bf398127a3d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Layla has always been an outcast and has trouble fitting in, mostly because she's not fully human. She is a hybrid- part Amoveo, part human- and while she has spent more of her life trying to deny her unusual heritage, now that her mate has tracked her down it might be time to stop and take a stand. William is intrigued by Layla, who is completely opposite from him and what he expected in a soul mate, but when they join forces to battle evil and keep their loved ones safe, they find that fate might know what it's doing after all. \n The third book in the Amoveo series was an enjoyable ride, with a fun cast of characters, a nicely developing relationship and plenty of action. That being said, though I don't regret reading the first three entries, I can't say that I find the series compelling enough to continue.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 22 10:44:00 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 22 10:57:17 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "12532672", "review_id": "06f5b72b7414fc24cccf6bb3008c707d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Feeling a bit let down after reading the first book in this series, I am enough of a paranormal romance junkie that I decided to give book two a try. \n Though still a 3 star rating in my opinion, this novel is an improvement on the first book- I formed a stronger connection with the main characters and got more involved in the plot. The back stories for both Kerry and Dante were well developed, their chemistry heated up the pages, and the plot hummed along nicely as well. \n Since I have yet again been seduced by the teaser for the next book in the series, it looks like more Amoveos are in my future.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 12 16:18:13 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 12 16:31:52 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "10880685", "review_id": "eb040c5a13d65e114211e292e0e2392a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.5 stars. \n Samantha Logan is eager to leave NYC behind, along with her failed career and messy romantic relationship. Moving back to her childhood home is just what she needs to live a quiet and peaceful life- or at least that's what she thinks until she meets the handsome stranger next door. Through Malcolm, Sam learns about desire, destiny and her role in the war between the psychically talented shape-shifters called the Amoveo and the human family that seeks to destroy them. \n Despite feeling like the mythology consists of a patchwork of ideas from other paranormal romances (Butcher's Sentinel Wars books, Psy/Changeling series by Singh, The Argeneau novels by Sands, etc), this books still had a decent amount of promise. I didn't completely connect with the main characters, and was a little let down as a whole, but I couldn't resist giving the series another chance and I picked up book two (Untouched) right away.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 12 15:49:58 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 12 16:17:25 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "2454986", "review_id": "f9e8884a990e41df8fe976c828e62945", "rating": 3, "review_text": "10th&up \n Lucy is a girl on a quest- she is determined to find Fairy Tail, a guild for powerful wizards, and prove that she can hold her own with the best of them. Her journey brings her into contact with many strange characters and her adventures will keep readers entertained and rooting for this novice wizard and her new friends. \n Despite a few images of Lucy and other ridiculously endowed females that I wish were more toned down for the teen crowd, this is still a fun manga with creative world building, appealing artwork and a solid storyline.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 11 17:57:33 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 12 14:47:04 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "15813668", "review_id": "24774761f0d8f9c09f101a4e41c4a3f5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I seriously do not know what to do with myself, this book was so good! \n Charley Davidson continues to balance her complicated life as the Grim Reaper and as an unconventional but highly effective private eye. With the help (and sometimes hindrance) of her family, friends, and otherworldly acquaintances, she attempts to unmask an arsonist, stop a serial killer, and figure out where she stands in her relationship with Reyes, the irresistible guy next door- who also happens to be the son of Satan. Humor, intrigue & plenty of spice round out the fifth book in the Charley Davidson series, which gets stronger with each entry.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 24 17:28:54 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 24 17:29:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "16059424", "review_id": "ddf9c96719b4dc9565f06f409c7bd1ef", "rating": 3, "review_text": "When Ben's wife dies, he cannot bear to imagine life without her. After months of preparation, he decides that it is time to follow her into whatever world comes after \"the end\". Gafla pens an intriguing vision of life after death and is at times the plot is uneven, the coincidences pile up and a surprise plot points is a little less than shocking, there is still plenty to enjoy in this inventive and ultimately charming tale.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 18 16:40:39 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 18 16:41:14 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "15790895", "review_id": "afbe408977d136165a386dfe423be279", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Zoe Norris is currently unemployed and desperately searching for an editing job- any editing job- before she is forced to leave New York City in shame and move back in with her parents (shudder). Her new job at Underground Publishing is a godsend, but Zoe has to admit she might be a little out of her element as she deals with a vampire boss, zombie coworkers, and the underground world of the coterie (the term \"monsters\" is so offensive). In Lafferty's entertaining debut, Zoe and her friends deal with intrigue, chaos and the possible end of days with humor and aplomb. A fun and inventive start to a fresh new series.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 18 16:39:28 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 18 16:39:52 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "15783514", "review_id": "e6af28064dc90cc46df56c4c81c2500c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A wicked, spell binding little nightmare of a book. A visit to his childhood home reminds a middle-aged man of an unbelievable event in his youth where he and a new friend battled an evil that threatened to destroy him and his family. Gaiman takes the mythological characters of the three fates and does what he does best- creates a fantastic adventure that draws you into a world like none you've ever encountered.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 10 10:10:24 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 10 10:10:49 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "15764855", "review_id": "c4a10c19551d46f147e3acff797ba6e2", "rating": 2, "review_text": "When I picked up this book, I was looking for a silly, lighthearted read, but despite those low expectations I was still disappointed. Aside from a couple of chuckle-inducing moments, most of the story was sub-par. Take it Like a Vamp is a hodge-podge of dozens of better paranormal romances with nothing new to offer, and the plot and characters were two dimensional at best. Basically, a waste of time.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 01 17:20:05 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 01 17:24:46 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "15729539", "review_id": "7df84f9b652055c8034120b3aa0e94ec", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What must bedtime stories have been like in Joe Hill's childhood home? With Stephen King tucking you in at night, I'd imagine that \"and they lived happily-ever-after\" might not have been the typical ending to those sleep-time tales. It's no wonder that Hill excels at chillingly horrific fantasy- he learned from a master. \n In NOS4A2 (love the title, and the cover), Hill examines the unsettling nature of growing up, everyday life and relationships, as much as he presents a tale of serial killers and haunted realms. \n The crux of the story is the battle between good and evil. On the side of good, we have the gifted and deeply troubled Vic McQueen- who fights for her life as a young adult, then years later risks everything to keep her son safe. On the other side there is the vile and darkly malevolent Charlie Manx. Manx and his henchman Bing carry out chilling atrocities, and the nightmare world Manx creates is vividly articulated on the page. Vic is a nicely rounded character- flawed and imperfect, but somehow still admirable and sympathetic. Hill's strengths lie in his ability to connect these seemingly opposite characters in ways that highlight their commonalities- revealing the way they are both out of step with the world, uncomfortable in society, trying their best to be true to themselves when no one else sees things the way they do. In many ways the characters are battling themselves as well as each other. \n NOS4A2 is creepy, inventive and well-written. I often found myself cruising along, whipping through the pages in an attempt to reach a moment in the plot where the tension I was feeling would be alleviated. Suddenly I would be forced to pause, track back, and reread a phrase or sentence as I was caught by Hill's imagery, his turn of phrase, his unique way of presenting his eerie vision. \n With three novels under his belt, as well as a wildly popular graphic novel series, Hill has proven that he is no flash in the pan, and his talent shines through the daunting shadow cast by his famous father. If you are a fan of horror and have not sampled his writing, do yourself a favor and get to it!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 12 17:23:50 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 13 15:27:20 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "7090447", "review_id": "8e8399a0443520b599f2cd121bd7ecb5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "4th&up. \n Add a star if you're a preteen \n If you read and loved the Percy Jackson series, especially the first book, The Lightning Thief, this story might sound a bit familiar to you. Carter and Sadie find out that powerful gods inhabit the real world and these formally ordinary kids discover that they have a vital role to play when it comes to maintaining balance between the humans and the gods. \n So, the story is a bit derivative and definitely patterned after the Percy Jackson series, but it is a damn good formula that Riordan is following- so considering the action, the appealing main characters, the interesting Egyptian mythology (though not as compelling as Greek mythology IMHO) and bits of humor, this book should still be a solid hit with young readers. \n (I could have done without the baboons- but, hey, that's probably just me).", "date_added": "Sun Jun 02 13:08:56 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 02 13:21:51 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jun 02 13:21:51 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "13438677", "review_id": "cc568281e965f6961c4e78af14c76ba5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "4th&up \n Liza is a girl with a very active imagination- much to her parents' despair- but even she could never have predicted the journey she'd have to undertake when she realizes that she is the only one who can rescue her brother's soul from the evil spider-like creatures called Spindlers. \n All told, this is a solid fantasy adventure that will likely be well received by the young readers it is geared towards. The opening hook is a good one, there are plenty of thrills, and the climax is suspenseful and the ending ensures that all loose ends are nicely tied together. \n While there are many elements that seem eerily familiar and reminiscent of such classics as Harry Potter, Coraline, Alice in Wonderland, the Wizard of Oz and Greek mythology, I still enjoyed this book, and appreciate the way Oliver set up her story to have an element of disbelief- did Liza really have an adventure? Or was her quest just a way of escaping from her lonely life, and the tension she sensed from the adults in her world. Was her escape \"real\", or just a coping mechanism? Or am I just reading too much into a children's book? \n Regardless, anyone who picks this up will find their time nicely spent.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 11 17:52:56 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 11 17:54:00 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "12432220", "review_id": "2ec96332b842979056f1ffa9397c40d2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "5th&up \n The False Prince, the first in The Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer A. Nielsen, starts off without a hitch or hesitation and never slows down. The plot is action packed; full of suspense, political intrigue and devious machinations, and it's quite amusing as well. Sage will immediately capture reader's attention (and hearts) as he displays his mischievous but honorable nature. Pages will be turned without pause, and the last sentence will be read with a sigh, as newly developed fans eagerly anticipate getting their hands on the sequel, The Runaway King.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 04 16:10:12 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 04 16:11:23 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Apr 04 16:11:23 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "12969560", "review_id": "8a12c754e3d670c0a382e9825531bb93", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The royal princes from famous fairy tales are tired of their anonymous status and the lack of respect they get for the important roles they placed in their adventures. No more will they be referred to as the generic \"Prince Charming\"! These bold heroes aim to make a name for themselves (their own name this time), and no one shall stand in their way! Well, except for a witch, some trolls, a Bandit King, the princesses themselves...well, you get the idea. \n This story is so much fun and full of action and laughs. A rollicking good time!", "date_added": "Sat Mar 23 08:18:00 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 08 09:19:04 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "15722934", "review_id": "5bba71d31f3f68e4c517b4ee3c084683", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Another fun, frothy paranormal romance in the Argeneau series. Fans who have waited for Renegade Hunter Anders to get his own story will be fairly pleased, although if they're as picky as me they might have a few quibbles with the book*. \n All told, however, definitely worth a read- especially for fans. \n *I wish Sands didn't get so over the top sometimes; such as when she decided on Anders' first name, spend a handful of paragraphs on Valerie's gorilla hairy legs, chose the nauseating-if-you-think-about-it way for V to help Leigh deliver, or- the main thing that annoyed me- kept emphasizing the way Anders felt Valerie was passably pretty, but he wasn't really attracted to her until the nanos took over. He didn't love her, she didn't love him, they barely knew each other, but who are they to fight fate/science, so oh well. Sands always redeems herself by the end, but still... I told you it was a quibble!", "date_added": "Sun Mar 10 11:34:08 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 10 11:48:09 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Mar 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "11487807", "review_id": "f49cdbf343a489521e1b793bea28f740", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n Though a bit slow in the middle (where much time is spend gathering our band of warriors and researching defenses) this is a solid fantasy adventure with interesting characters, a lush setting, creative bad guys and enough unresolved issue to fuel more entries in this planned series. \n The Middle Eastern style setting is almost a character in itself, and the heroes of the tale are atypical and well layered individual who are fighting evil in its many forms- whether from shadowy foes who steals souls and display unearthly powers, or the everyday atrocities that occur in a society with a huge gap between the working class and those with means and titles, and even the internal battles that they wage against the personal obligations of duty, belief, honor and sacrifice. \n Saladin is one to watch, and I am definitely willing to visit Dhamsawaat again.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 27 15:21:55 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 27 16:17:55 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "13631207", "review_id": "9985d7e12ba54cba8978396ac0c8eded", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I wanted to like this book, but I just found it kind of...halfhearted, I guess. \n I felt like nothing was as well developed as it should have been- the world, the characters, the relationships, all the books elements had potential, but actually remained as shallow impressions of themselves. Very flat, lacking in depth and quite unsatisfying, in my opinion.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 24 14:18:49 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 24 14:24:13 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jan 23 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "13362536", "review_id": "b8977fc578dff3e339558d138e4d8dd9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "8th&up \n Oh. My. Goodness. \n JA, I love you but I have to disagree with you. Despite what Katy claims at one point during this story, in my opinion, NOTHING sucks more than having to wait 7 MONTHS for the next book in a beloved series, WHILE dealing with a brutal cliffhanger ending. \n I'm dying here! Is it July yet?!?!?!", "date_added": "Mon Jan 07 10:14:05 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 07 10:17:52 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "13047090", "review_id": "fd88d5c1d8c2602ea7a1d8bb19d52a1e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "8th&up \n The second book in the Lux series is even better than the first. It luckily breaks away from the Twilight formula (for the most part), and Armentrout really starts to show her stuff. My three favorite elements of the story are...Katy: she's finally coming into her own, The action: suspense and relationship-wise, things definitely rev up, and Daemon: he is utterly, absolutely scrumptious! \n Bring on the next volume!", "date_added": "Mon Jan 07 10:10:14 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 07 10:13:54 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "12578077", "review_id": "18cb9985171e379313d798506ffc94ce", "rating": 4, "review_text": "8th&up \n Yes, this book is basically a point-by-point copy of Twilight's formula (with a dash of Roswell High thrown in for variety), but what can I say? It's a formula that really works. The author still manages to create a fresh, funny, sweet and spicy story- and the byplay between Katy and Daemon is irresistible. This is one guilty pleasure I don't mind indulging.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 07 10:04:49 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 07 10:09:59 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "12283261", "review_id": "aa81ed3c2267032791d7ccf391180e10", "rating": 3, "review_text": "6th&up \n An interesting and appealing concept, which doesn't quite live up to its potential. Still, this story of a lonely teen named Delilah and the fairy tale prince who wants to escape his story and live in the real world has its charm.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 29 10:49:56 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 29 10:54:48 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Dec 29 10:54:48 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "13538992", "review_id": "b5a3b58d679e60e0f656d6a933b745f6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I can never get enough of Darynda Jones. \n Another smart, sassy and completely readable entry in the Charley Davidson paranormal romance series. \n These books are completely addicting!", "date_added": "Sat Dec 15 13:35:57 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 15 13:37:20 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Dec 15 13:37:20 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "15765663", "review_id": "41e0e7a5fd649f84be32ed9926f455c4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n Typical Krentz, which is not necessarily a bad thing.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 23 18:07:13 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 06 16:57:46 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "11261730", "review_id": "42b63e8d146eea19d32b43e98d3d883e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A decent entry in the series, but not my favorite. \n It's possible my expectations were too high- self-sacrificing and noble Jackie and soulless but honorable Ian seemed like a can't miss match, but Jackie was constantly called out on her selfishness for not choosing a mate and saving one of the warriors, and Ian and his darkness got a little tedious after a while. \n I think the final straw was the introduction of Stan in the last few pages (don't want to give too much away, but if you read it you know). I know it was meant to be lighthearted, but it felt jarring and didn't work with the rest of the story. \n That being said, I am not turned off of the series in general. There are so many characters (too many?) that are begging for their own stories, and I am eagerly anticipating who gets their happy ever after next.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 14 15:19:05 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 16 06:51:00 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "12059093", "review_id": "f41e6a04338c834685dbf74a16bfeac2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Another great entry in the Psy-Changeling series!", "date_added": "Sun Nov 04 12:50:23 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 04 13:39:10 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Nov 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "10255156", "review_id": "a0c13d896533be184581b47dee4f1b1d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A passable paranormal romance- not bad, but nothing really special in my opinion. \n After the first book, I was on the fence as to whether to continue the series, and the second doesn't really make me want to go on reading. The only future story-line that really intrigued me was that of little Janie and her mysterious friend/protector Zane. Since Janie is 5 or 6 right now, I figure it will be quite some time before they get their own story and I don't have the patience to trudge through a half dozen books to get to their tale. Oh well.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 20 11:10:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 20 11:25:03 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "8712343", "review_id": "496e604fba6fad00a7452a89728e9bf8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The tenth book in the Psy-Changeling series tells that tale of Hawke Snow (Alpha of the SnowDancer pack) and Sienna Lauren (a young but powerful and possibly dangerous psy). Fans of the series have watched the byplay between Hawke and Sienna for quite some time, and Singh doesn't disappoint when it comes time to make their romance the main focus. \n I loved the way their relationship played out and resolved- Nalini showed readers the tension, the playfulness, the emotion and the balancing that comes with finding a mate that complements and strengthens each partner. Sigh. \n I also liked that the story was not just about Hawke and Sienna- secondary characters were interesting and fleshed out nicely, the political intrigue and power complications of their world added another layer- it all worked perfectly together to create a great read. \n Love this series!", "date_added": "Sun Oct 14 11:23:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 14 11:50:04 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "8686057", "review_id": "4268843e381aa1531a483eed3142876a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is Zanetti's first novel, and while it felt a little two dimensional to me, there was definitely enough there to keep me interested. I am willing to try her next novel to see if the series is worth following.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 10 16:15:51 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 10 16:23:14 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "7831145", "review_id": "d0aca12f9feac9d7f9c6548251defadf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Another great entry in the Psy-Changeling series! (Was there ever an entry that wasn't great? Not so far)! I adored the slight twist of making the heroine (Indigo) a dominant personality and a figure of authority in the pack where the younger, seemingly lighthearted Drew is also a member. Drew's determination to make their relationship work despite the perceived hurtles was so much fun to read about.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 27 14:23:34 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 27 14:36:38 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "7044445", "review_id": "58cc0c443d8c190fab0473a3929f8bdd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Loved this entry in the Psy/Changeling series- human cop Max Shannon and his love, Justice Psy Sophia Russo. After so many books (this is #8), Singh still manages to enthrall readers.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 27 14:13:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 27 14:22:05 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6239025", "review_id": "0e3d941dd2d86112771e90f64a37f7fc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Better than the first two books in the Rogue Hunter novels. Jo and Nicholas were a fun couple, and Jo's unwavering belief in Nicholas, and his need for that grace made for a really nice read.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 21 15:37:08 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 21 15:40:22 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Sep 21 15:40:22 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "13109352", "review_id": "573b45679b3fd77bba34fd9b942d2700", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Another fun entry in the Argeneau series.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 21 15:26:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 21 15:31:03 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "12900491", "review_id": "871e8f9366e7daad136b6f5c1c35220a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I did enjoy the story of Zacharel- the bad-boy angel and Annabelle- the tortured woman who falls in love with him, but it mostly just made me want to reread Nalini Singh's Angels' Blood.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 21 14:32:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 21 14:44:46 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "13093165", "review_id": "530651f942f8b760bcb1b5b66221c97b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Yay! A new paranormal romance author to love! \n I really had fun with this story of Petra, a supernaturally gifted but cynical doctor, and Galen, the heroic immortal warrior she saves. The world Fox created reminded me of a grownup version of Camp Half-Blood (Percy Jackson and the Olympians series), which I loved. The tale was action packed, richly created, funny, tender and sexy. Sigh. I was sad to see it end, but elated to realize that it is the start of a new series. Hooray! I'm off to pre-order book two! :)", "date_added": "Wed Sep 19 15:37:22 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 19 15:48:22 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "13483502", "review_id": "78598e146fdffcd1e5807641ad340911", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A fun but forgettable paranormal romance from Krentz/Castle. \n It took me a bit to get into the story- it was a little too slow and \"woo-woo\" at the beginning, but I did settle in eventually.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 19 15:25:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 19 15:36:31 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "9640591", "review_id": "44cfef5bcc7fb09226af73caf57ed195", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n While I enjoyed Logan and Hope's story, I do feel that the complex world Butcher created is getting a bit crowded. I could have done without the introduction of Wardens and Temprocians, along with the Theronai, Sanguinars, Anthanasians, Synestryn, etc, etc, etc. It's getting a little hard to keep track of all the beings running around! That being said, I'm still loving the series and looking forward to the next entry.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 19 15:17:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 19 15:25:17 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "7830973", "review_id": "6727241e558b195216c9e69ebd01c2cf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Sentinel Wars series, book 4. \n This was a great entry in the series- I loved Nika and her fractured mind, her perceived insanity and her unstoppable will, and felt the same way about Madoc and his physical and mental strength, his dedication to Nika and his intense fear that he is beyond saving. \n Definitely a read in one sitting kind of book.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 19 15:12:50 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 19 15:16:54 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "7106633", "review_id": "96ed29af87fffa3c2781302ee5a5beb0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n The third in the Sentinel Wars series. \n I have been awaiting Lexi and Zach's story for a while, and I was not disappointed. I enjoyed Lexi's fierce nature, her desire to do what is necessary, and her determination to put things right when she finds out how far she has been led astray. Zach is a worthy mate, and their frequent clash of wills felt right considering the way two similar personalities were trying to meld. \n Fans of the series will be pleased.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 19 15:04:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 19 15:11:18 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6503486", "review_id": "c0bc24127cc0fab1cc27e85f3e616c4a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n I enjoyed the second volume of the Sentinel Wars series. \n I liked the main characters- Paul, with his perfect alpha nature which was softened by his vulnerability and his need for Andra; and Andra herself, a strong female with a painful past which leads her on a never-ending quest to protect those who can't protect themselves. \n There was plenty of action, romance and spicy scenes- altogether a nice entry into the world of paranormal romance.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 19 14:54:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 19 15:02:24 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Sep 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "8273005", "review_id": "91af2b80106e3dbc3862c6a1bff3e104", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I only read the Butcher story \"The Collector\", and merely to keep up with the story arc of the Sentinel series. \n Nothing special, but if I hadn't read it, it would have driven me crazy to have a hole in the Sentinel storyline.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 13 16:12:28 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 13 16:20:19 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Sep 13 16:20:19 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "13094607", "review_id": "29a2849d857f74759fdedf26b8397fa8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n Brady mixes modern Seattle with an old-world feel, adding ancient Norse mythology and a bit of Native American flavored spirituality. With an additional sprinkle of prophecies, tortured souls and new-found power, and you have a nicely crafted start to a new series.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 05 14:27:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 13 17:46:52 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "13486177", "review_id": "3a530c49e5e13de33ffc93a8fb35d21a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A charming story with a lot to say considering it's all about the adventures of a platypus in Australia. Anderson weaves in many lofty themes, such as overcoming your past, finding your inner strength, honoring the ties of friendship and never giving up on your goals. Readers will find themselves rooting for Albert as he turns from a meek mammal into a creature to be reckoned with. \n (Add a star if you love old-fashioned westerns- this book will be right up your alley.)", "date_added": "Mon Jul 30 17:35:28 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 30 17:36:06 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "11436723", "review_id": "c28e297525bec723fb785ee3da22071b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n Weaving together spicy romance and a well-developed new fantasy world set in a typical college town, this is a better than average paranormal romance- the first in a planned trilogy.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 18 17:34:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 18 17:44:07 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "10425771", "review_id": "507b58063dd6ca0fca513c78da2bc3a3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Taking the bare bones of Pride and Prejudice, Liss chooses Lucy (read Lydia Bennett) as his heroine and adds evil and magic, historical figures and a book of unspeakable power and sets it all during a volatile time in England's past- the beginning of the Industrial Revolution when the chasm between technology and tradition and the societal classes threatens to turn into an all out war. \n While Lucy did irritate me at times, this story was a fun adventure fantasy, and I would recommend it to Austen fans who are open for something a little different.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 16 14:32:51 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 16 14:40:53 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6364718", "review_id": "f5995de97856422c703b4cf586f63de9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This ridiculous and entertaining story had me laughing from page two (the first page was kind of short). It's true that much of the book seems to be geared towards adolescent boys (if you get through six pages without a mention of genitals, feces and/or sex, don't worry- something will surely appear on page seven), but I have to admit the situations and dialogue were darn funny. \n While there were sections when the story seemed never-ending, and the jokes were maybe getting a bit stale, just as I would have that thought something creepy or mind-blowing would occur and I would be pulled back in. \n If you're in the mood for crass humor, insane situations and over-the-top science-fiction, than this is the novel for you. Sit back (preferably with an adult beverage) and enjoy!", "date_added": "Sat Jun 16 09:29:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 16 09:37:44 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "47212", "review_id": "eebe2fe907b4301bd0fb99395c1e6d92", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Book 1 in the Dresden Files. \n This book was a lot of fun! Dresden kind of reminds me of Parker's Spenser- wise-cracking, always in trouble, a bit of a screw up, but with an undeniable charm. I really liked the world Butcher created as well: gritty and realistic, it's modern day Chicago which just happens to be chock full of magic- dark and otherwise- around every corner.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 16:50:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 16:56:54 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue May 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "11531818", "review_id": "1ae2d3bb54881a2ea353a13bf69d42f1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm not sure how politically correct the plot is (the hero gets the relationship-shy heroine to spend time with him by telling her he is gay and in the closet, and needs her help as a pretend girlfriend so his family doesn't find out), but the story and characters really caught my interest and had me laughing, sighing and reading as fast as I could. \n Basically, it was a lot of lighthearted fun.", "date_added": "Sat May 19 12:56:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat May 19 13:01:23 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6760780", "review_id": "faf80c3a0ae6a7b08c325b5ff74f4dad", "rating": 3, "review_text": "6th&up \n 3.5 stars \n A fun romp through the dark side of the Grimm Fairy tales. \n Elizabeth just got a job as a page in a special New York Library collection, where some of the items that are borrowed have magical connections to the old fairy tales of lore. Evil is afoot and Liz and her new friends (and possible boyfriend?) must discover who is stealing artifacts before they get blamed, or before tragedy befalls them.", "date_added": "Sat May 19 12:48:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat May 19 12:53:31 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "11838803", "review_id": "5c13a016ebcc0428e446b477a9fd508f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "9/10th&up \n Third in the Body Finder series. \n Derting continues her series with another supernatural romantic thrilling adventure starring Violet Ambrose. I loved the suspense, the love triangle, the secrets and surprises. For some reason I thought this was going to be the last book in a trilogy, but according to the surprise at the ending (and the romantic questions left unanswered) there is still more to come. \n Should be a winner for teen readers.", "date_added": "Sat May 19 12:44:30 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat May 19 12:47:23 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat May 19 12:47:23 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "10557809", "review_id": "30697e4cb785108f85321b992486eb31", "rating": 2, "review_text": "A collection of paranormal romance novellas/essays. In my opinion, Singh's tale was the strongest, but not strong enough to raise the whole book out of mediocrity. If you haven't yet invested the money or time, definitely give this story quartet a miss.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 18 15:13:02 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 18 15:22:24 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "10103026", "review_id": "babe68072cc00258d590fc807910e745", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I really need to stop reading these anthologies. The stories are apparently too short to give the author time to develop a decent plot or create interesting characters. The Howell story was kind of sweet, but it strongly reminded me of the story she wrote in the last Kensington anthology I read. The two other tales in this volume really weren't good enough to make an impression.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 17 13:48:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 17 13:52:38 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Mar 17 13:52:38 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "10637959", "review_id": "52b9bd66775651022bc22a1272d8fcaa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "5th&up \n A well crafted and charming fantasy adventure. I loved how Ursu takes the typical pre-teen angst- fighting with friends, worries about fitting in, drama with teachers and parents- and uses it to lead the characters into perilous worlds and dangerous adventures. The references to great classics in the same genre were a bonus- The Snow Queen, Narnia, Harry Potter, the Golden Compass, Coraline, When You Reach Me, and many, many more. A fast, multi-layered and entertaining read.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 25 14:47:10 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 25 15:00:38 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Feb 24 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "7039218", "review_id": "c9ce9ff43e1b600b2a3c639e085555db", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Vampire Vlad Tepesh has more enemies than he knows what to do with. Human Leila Dalton has more power than she knows how to handle. Despite initial clashes, they could turn out to be the perfect team- if the two of them can manage to ignore the sparks long enough for them to vanquish a mutual, and deadly, foe. \n Frost's books have always had the ability to draw me in so deeply that I resent any intrusions from the outside world, and this novel is no exception. I loved every bit of it- the plot, the characters, the humor, the romance, and mostly the promise of a sequel.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 12 13:15:25 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 03 14:41:10 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Aug 03 14:41:10 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "10889249", "review_id": "63a4c767fb0790fac1ef9526be663125", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.75 \n Krentz continues to bring the goods when it comes to romantic suspense. \n Book 1 in the Dark Legacy trilogy is a fast, fun read with an entertaining mystery, the perfect amount of romance and some paranormal elements to boot. Fans will be pleased.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 09 16:38:55 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 09 16:41:47 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Feb 09 16:41:47 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6909642", "review_id": "de71964592bd7c2116483b473c16220b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "6th&up \n 3.5 stars \n Like Natalie's automata, this story requires a little bit of work and quite a bit of winding up, but once it gets going it is a wonder to behold. \n In the same vein as Something Wicked This Way Comes, Natalie's quiet little town- which lies at the crossroad of somewhere Missouri and nowhere special- is on the brink of monumental change as a Medicine Show comes into town and brings nothing good along with it. Powerful forces are at work, and Natalie has a vital role to play- and she must play it well or her family and the entire town might be lost. \n Readers who stick with the story will be rewarded- the climax, when things all start to tie together and the final battle begins, will leave them breathless and glad they stayed awhile in the little town of Arcane.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 08 15:54:37 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 08 16:05:27 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Feb 08 16:05:27 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "12043770", "review_id": "aaad71fc05b41a9069b374b50ad8123c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Don't you just hate it when you wait forever for a book to come out, then when you finally get your hands on a copy you just intend on reading a few pages to start, but the heroine is so funny and fierce and the hero is so bad and irresistible and the action is so fast and unrelenting that you can't stop turning the pages and before you know it you've read the last sentence and can't fathom how you're going to be able to wait until the next book comes out and to hell with your to-do list and the plans you had made, maybe you should just read it all over again because once wasn't really enough...don't you just hate that?! \n Yeah. Me neither. :)", "date_added": "Wed Feb 08 15:48:23 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 08 15:53:23 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "11276340", "review_id": "31f93e2d6291fa53d322ef7830a877e5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "4th&up \n This is a story where Felix, a boy who has problems at school and at home, finds even more to overcome when his dreams begin to strand him in a dangerous woodland world complete with ferocious monsters and a brave boy who looks just like Felix. \n Be warned, the chills come from the real world as much as Felix's nightmares; as his mother briefly discusses her job as a nurse working with extremely sick children (sometimes the children die, their bodies end up in the graveyard, etc), and the Other Felix reveals that he has seen the bones of the children who has served as meals for the nighttime monsters. Not for the squeamish middle school reader, but most in grade four and up should be fine. \n Other than that, it is a decent mix of reality and fantasy and a nice twist on facing up to bullies and everyday troubles and finding strength in yourself.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 08 15:13:39 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 08 15:28:23 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "9532302", "review_id": "181f1f9c73a72fb0a11022e2e48ae71a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This novel contains moments of intelligence and pathos, biting commentary on religion, modern society and the like, and times where the action sparks or the story takes on a cool old-fashioned 50's monster movie vibe. Unfortunately, there are also moments of jarringly awkward writing, blunt descriptions of sexual encounters, bowel movements and vivid scenes of carnage- and that's not as much fun as it sounds ;) \n All told, my enjoyment of this novel vacillated wildly, and in my opinion barely made it to three stars. I'm sure there are readers who would heartily disagree- to each their own.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 28 15:29:17 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 28 15:45:40 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "10118172", "review_id": "429cc53f74e0a116d342c4590a113bac", "rating": 3, "review_text": "9th&up \n Despite many familiar themes (basic Twilight plot points) and some clunky teen-speak (\"this guy had more lines than loose-leaf\", etc), this story was kind of fun. \n I'm a sucker for an ancient curse/portent of a destined true love. Add in some Wiccan action, confrontations with mean peers and the inclusion of a bad boy with a heart of gold, my looooong ago memories of my teen self cannot resist. \n Although this doesn't break new ground, it's not the worst of the teen paranormal romances that I've recently read.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 18 17:07:07 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 18 17:14:44 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "10626594", "review_id": "67d1c40f3e4936f082429cddf013bec9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "8/9th&up \n 3.5 stars \n With such an intriguing concept, and from a popular author, I had high expectations of this book. Too high? \n It took me quite a long time to get into the story- I never disliked it, but it didn't completely capture my attention until 3/4 of the way through. Puck and Sean were well developed, interesting characters, but I guess I wasn't feeling the hard scrabbled life on the island. The setting, and the story, wasn't as magical or exciting as I thought it would be. \n In the end, however, I was glad that I stuck with the book and I was pleased with the resolution of the story. \n Add a star if you're a horse lover, or your a fan of anything that has the Stiefvater name attached.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 29 15:44:36 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 29 15:51:03 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Wed Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "10063343", "review_id": "70dc5db91a2088ede1368d56bfe97130", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Yum! A great start to a new paranormal series by Sylvia Day. She has created an interesting new world, with angels, vampires, lycan and a lot of potential. Adrian borderlined on aggressively alpha but you won't hear me complaining, and Lindsay was a great mix of compassion, intelligence and strength. They make a great couple, with plenty of heart and sizzle. I'm absolutely on board for this new series.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 16 16:08:42 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 16 16:13:12 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Fri Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "9996331", "review_id": "582ab0a7d1b78e3c7908a6b7449a010e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "An enjoyable read, despite the fact that I had a little trouble reconciling myself to the idea of a hero who's a vampire cat (alright, not precisely as it sounds, but still)! I also found it depressing that almost all the charcters at one time or another were described as soul-weary, or giving off an dark aura as if the weight of the world was crushing their spririt with no end in sight, blah, blah, blah. \n Still, there's enough potential here that I will probably pick up the next book in the series when it comes out.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 16 16:05:38 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 16 16:08:21 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Thu Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "0fc1862ec3233f1b6ae7e3e3aced8809", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Truly, I thought this book was beautiful. Morgenstern is not only a talented artist, but a gifted storyteller as well. The plot of the tale is so rich and layered, her descriptive scenes are utterly magical, and the romance of the circus and the primary characters held me captive from the first. I enjoyed every single page, and was sad to read the last sentence. A highly recommended escape.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 14 15:45:15 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 14 15:56:17 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Tue Dec 13 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "10518110", "review_id": "fe0ce8c198f5fb5da73b2e5d579874d2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The Gift by Lynsay Sands \n Kind of weak, and it felt even shorter than it was. Teddy (a character familiar to loyal readers) deserved better. IMHO, the relationship developed too quickly to be believable, there was no depth to story, and the age difference was slightly squiffy. \n Home for the Holidays by Jeaniene Frost \n Despite only being about 35 pages longer than the Sands tale, Home was nicely crafted and felt like a short novel, rather than a way to fill paper. The story introduced some family background for Bones and added even more appeal to bad boy Ian's character. This novella should serve as a highly satisfying way to tide fans over until the next full length Cat and Bones adventure.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 08 14:31:51 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 08 14:52:10 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Tue Dec 06 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "7864587", "review_id": "72478a67482f3dfa414266d5a66c3a7c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "After reading the first book in the Parasol Protectorate series, I was eager for another Steampunk romance selection. The Iron Duke definitely seemed the way to go- 5 star reviews all over the place! After reading the book, I liked it, but nothing approaching the adoration every other reader seemed to achieve. Maybe I need to reread, after a little time and distance. We'll see....", "date_added": "Sun Nov 06 12:41:39 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 06 12:53:46 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Fri Nov 04 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "7954556", "review_id": "480d8ffa3924f7cea563b908da7a1c0b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n My love for Cat and Bones is still strong. \n True to form, the romantic duo are continuing to make the world safe for all supernatural creatures- this time by dispatching an evil vengeful ghost. \n A little light on Vlad (sigh), but I appreciated the harmonious relationship between Cat and Bones, and Cat's tendency to continually add members to her band of misfit toys..erm..friends.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 06 12:20:45 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 06 12:27:12 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Wed Nov 02 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6381205", "review_id": "220986ec77492a37c5f0654b95c818b9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "So this is steampunk? \n A lush Victorian era setting, elements of science fiction and nifty technological developments, humorous dialogue, plenty of action, paranormal characters, and a romantic couple I couldn't get enough of? \n Consider me a convert! :)", "date_added": "Wed Oct 26 15:19:21 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 26 15:27:02 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Mon Oct 24 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "7986212", "review_id": "da6ad9d6399bcec7905ca2250b85de3c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "4th&up. \n 3.5 stars \n A slightly bizarre children's novel that strikes me as a cross between a Brian Selznick book (one thread told through words, one through pictures) and a Roald Dahl tale (vile and uncaring parents, a spunky and gifted child, and a unique world just waiting to be discovered). \n At times the text is a bit choppy and some elements don't entirely gel, but the illustrations are charming, the plot is unique and I think most readers will happily ignore the inconsistencies and still be pleased with this wonderfully imaginative story.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 13 16:32:30 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 13 16:41:22 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Thu Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "10431447", "review_id": "7d984a90ddb3932dd8972abedb886226", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4/5th&up \n Wow. I really enjoyed this well-crafted, totally absorbing, can't-put-it-down fantasy adventure novel. Everything about this book was rich- the language, the world, the illustrations, the characters, the story-line, everything! While it owes a lot to The Chronicles of Narnia, Wildwood is definitely capable of being rated on its own merits, and I rate it very high indeed. \n I adored spunky Prue, dependable Curtis, the rapscallion Bandit King Brendan, the chillingly evil White Witch-esque Alexandra, and all the enemies and friends that inhabit Wildwood. The beginning was intriguing, the middle was action packed, and the ending made me smile (\"you and what army?\" Hahaha!) \n Can't wait for more from Meloy. In the meantime, I'll just listen to The Hazards of Love a few dozen times. :) \n (4/5th grade due to intense though not exactly graphic battle scenes and a pretty despicable sacrifice based world dominance plan courtesy of the Dowager Governess)", "date_added": "Thu Oct 13 14:15:45 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 13 14:42:34 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Thu Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6871617", "review_id": "2426ead8abf0c7047c813c4f611c459a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I feel like this book was my reward for continuing the Cat and Bones series after reading Destined for an Early Grave, which seriously disappointed me. \n Frost was back in fine form with a thrilling plot, fun characters, smart dialogue and a sexy and strong relationship between my favorite couple. All the conflict was saved for the bad guys and minor complications, while Cat and Bones finally enjoyed some bliss and the understanding that they are meant to be together no matter what, and nothing on earth or beyond is as important as that. \n Wistful sigh. Smiley face. End review.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 08 10:58:07 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 08 11:05:22 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Fri Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "10600187", "review_id": "4d65b4281d005de5ee626bb969100340", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A solid romantic suspense novel with paranormal threads. The millionth book in the Arcane Society series (or so it seems), the last book in the Looking Glass Trilogy, and the first book in the Rainshadow series. Huh. Even though I liked it, it wasn't super-memorable, and I sure wouldn't mind if every once in a while Krentz wrote a novel that completely stands alone. What? A girl can dream!", "date_added": "Wed Oct 05 14:32:51 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 05 14:38:14 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Mon Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "7827221", "review_id": "69e1bd8ff654a79395fca7bedefa5208", "rating": 4, "review_text": "10th&up. Violet is back with her strange gift, her dreamy boyfriend and her penchant for trouble. Derting amps things up a bit as the thrills are a little darker, Violet and Jay's relationship turns physical (dealt with in a subtle matter), and a shadowy and unconventional law enforcement group is introduced- complete with a literally spark-inducing young man with definite future relationship potential. Should read well with teens- there's enough melodramatic high-school style drama mixed in with the suspense. The next volume in the series doesn't come out until April- I'll be waiting!", "date_added": "Sun Sep 25 13:44:40 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 25 13:51:34 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sun Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "9565045", "review_id": "13f98bcc32790735a28f80a219eaabfb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ridiculously, ridiculously good! \n I am DYING for #3!", "date_added": "Fri Sep 09 19:01:08 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 10 08:37:14 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Fri Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6871616", "review_id": "144c1d80a9460c7a32216277705ca4d8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Sigh. Despite his questionable role in quite a few events in the Cat and Bones books, I have always had a soft spot for Mencheres. The twin burdens of his incredible power and immense responsibilities has resulted in his abject isolation, even from those he loves. It hurt to see him so alone and misunderstood by those who should be grateful or at least forgiving of the actions that he has taken. \n I love reading about his romance with Kira- Eternal Kiss of Midnight was the perfect homage for this sect Master Vampire.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 25 15:44:56 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 25 15:54:58 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Thu Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6547187", "review_id": "8d667cc052a712e6952aa3fbb17d5b61", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm glad Denise and Spade have their own story and a well deserved HEA.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 25 14:50:15 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 25 14:50:53 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "5604848", "review_id": "17de954ccefaf6ca9ee1047caf58ec82", "rating": 2, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I adore Cat and Bones. I love their relationship, the thrilling plots, the spicy writing, the humorous banter, and Frosts' ability to make you care about the characters- even the secondary ones. \n As much love as I have towards this series in general however, that is how much I LOATHED this book. I hated the path the plot took, I felt that Cat and Bones each displayed the worst aspects of their personalities for almost the entire book, I hated the whole Gregor issue- which was wrong on so many levels (borderline statutory rape/sexual coercion, and just general ickiness). I hated how the situations Frost put them in seemed to me that it took something special away from Cat and Bones' relationship. I detested the way Cat and Bones acted towards each other, saying and doing things that could only partially be taken back. Basically I spent most of this book just wishing that I could unread it.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 25 14:34:00 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 25 14:50:03 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Mon Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "10802878", "review_id": "2cec1e672ec4095d90f16b2c29b252d3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "An entertaining addition to the Argeneau series. I enjoyed reading about the main couple, but I think the best part was Stephanie- the teen no-fanger. She is a great addition to the series, adding another dimension full of humor and spice.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 18 17:26:03 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 18 17:37:08 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "2168860", "review_id": "300584d2f82b866172092d756f1578f3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Just as good as the first one. :)", "date_added": "Thu Aug 18 17:22:35 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 18 17:24:57 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Mon Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "5441773", "review_id": "3a3e216d320a5ec1dab6abdf61221afc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Yay! A new paranormal romance series for me to obsess over! Happy Day! \n The adventures and romancing of Cat Crawfield- half vampire/half human, and Master Vampire Bones is a blast to read. It took me a little while to warm up to Bones (he's kinda a jerk in the beginning), and then once I started to fall for him, I began to get annoyed by Cat (her intense prejudice against all things vampire did get a little wearing- especially when Bones was being so luscious!), but by the end of the book I couldn't wait to read more about this couple. Literally couldn't wait. I lost a lot of sleep as I immediately downloaded the sequel and sunk right in.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 18 17:14:45 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 18 17:22:11 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Fri Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "9015231", "review_id": "934152883e66274d00ffe37a55dfecd0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Wasn't sure about this book at first, but I just went with it and I'm glad that I did. It was a lot of fun and very different. Albert Einstein plays a role as a \"Neither Here Not There\" Supervisor, ABBA music is used as the perfect cosmic scrambler, and God is a She. This is chock full of lighthearted fun. \n The \"hero\" was my favorite character. Julian is totally bad- but highly amusing and perfect. Come to think of it, I could really use a raunchy, bad-ass, no holds barred evil angel on my side- wonder where I can pick one up? ;)", "date_added": "Wed Aug 10 16:02:28 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 10 16:08:49 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "a5e3d88f9977d4eb43a5cc3d80cf744c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "10th&up. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is Pan's Labyrinth meets Wonderland with faint echoes of Peter Pan thrown in for good measure. Between the eerie photographs and creepy plot, the rough talking protagonist and the deliberately odd secondary characters, this warped anti-fairy tale holds just the right ingredients for an unsettling yet intriguing read.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 29 15:02:47 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 29 15:07:39 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Thu Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6261522", "review_id": "6c61f5bebbdcc5e761468355eeaa6f19", "rating": 4, "review_text": "9th&up. Loved this book! Tense suspense, sigh-inducing romance, well developed characters and tightly plotted text. Derting's first novel is a winner. (Book 1 in \"The Body Finder\" series)", "date_added": "Thu Jul 28 13:39:31 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 11 10:49:38 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Thu Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "8788554", "review_id": "3c09ef636c74280115cea670d507cc3f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A very strong start to an exciting new paranormal romance series! \n This story was laugh-out-loud funny, fast paced and sexy. The new world Jones creates is intriguing and different, and I had a great time coming along for the ride. Reyes is quite irresistible, and Charley is spunky and kick-ass. Can't wait for the next one!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 27 15:57:49 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 27 16:11:06 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "3819326", "review_id": "126fbbbe81a444cb7bd33905d3246746", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 \n Absolute perfection! I loved the hero, the heroine, the world the author created, the hero, the plot, the secondary characters, the hero, and...well, you get the picture. The ending was \"Wow\", and \"Sigh\", and \"Give Me More\"! Sooooo good!!", "date_added": "Thu Jul 14 16:00:18 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 14 16:03:42 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sun Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "262430", "review_id": "b94ccd1f18d814d7dc4c9f73712e5305", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4th&up. \n Before she received widespread public attention for The Hunger Games Trilogy, Suzanne Collins wrote another amazing fantasy series called the Underland Chronicles. I just reread the first book- Gregor the Overlander- and it was every bit as good as I remembered. \n With an absent father, an overworked and stressed mother, not enough money and too many responsibilities, eleven-year-old Gregor has a life he wouldn't mind escaping from, but he doesn't expect to escape to another world! That's just what happens, though, when he and his baby sister fall through a laundry room air duct and into a subterranean world called Underland. Populated by huge bats, rats, cockroaches, and spiders, as well as people unlike any he's ever known, Gregor finds himself caught up in the adventure of his life. \n I highly recommend this wonderful fantasy/adventure series.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 04 08:43:09 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 04 09:04:00 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sat Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "8414756", "review_id": "fb1f24390d43a976bca948546db3329c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "6th&up. \n A bit of a departure for the seasoned sports writer, this novel features a boy whose larger than life father dies in a plane crash and passes along his super powers to his unsuspecting son. The premise is stellar, although I thought the action was a bit slow and erratic at times. Regardless, I think this book will have tons of appeal for boys in the upper elementary/middle school range.", "date_added": "Thu May 12 06:21:17 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu May 12 06:58:16 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "7197913", "review_id": "cc203313fbf3cd9360f7612d2c545f9a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "5th&up. When Sleeping Beauty falls under the spinning wheels curse, it's up to her younger sister- who is immune to magic- to save the day. This adorable and exciting story incorporates many other famous fairy tales, and spices things up with plenty of adventure, humor and light romance. I loved it!", "date_added": "Mon May 09 16:28:11 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon May 09 16:32:40 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sat Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "178476", "review_id": "e8b655d6172f0daaaff8f2fa8cb807d9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh. My. Goodness. I love everything about this spicy paranormal romance. The irresistible Lucas, the heroic Sascha, the imaginative Psy/Changeling world, the suspense, the bond, the sacrifice...I could go on and on and on, but the basic idea is that this book is a must read for any fan of the genre.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 22 00:58:35 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 28 17:26:25 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Mon Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "9581507", "review_id": "ca9869e89cca50a56b38daf40aa42f17", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 \n I'm not sure what I expected when I chose this book, but what I got was a incredibly absorbing and unique tale full of twists and shocking revelations. It was a fantasy, a mystery, a family drama, a horror novel, and much more. Very cool and supremely messed up story- and that was a compliment!", "date_added": "Sat Apr 09 09:29:00 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 14 15:59:40 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sat Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "8702030", "review_id": "5a0a1e1d356cef51d9757c5574403086", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is the start of a new trilogy by Krentz, but it is also the tenth book of the Arcane Society. My comments are similar to previous Arcane reviews I've given. I like the characters and the supernatural suspense plot, but the romance was just a tad weak, and I'm rather tired of trying to keep the facts straight when it comes to the Arcane mythology, and all the revisited characters. Bottom line though, it is still a must read for Krentz fans.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 13 11:47:35 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 13 17:03:09 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "7242757", "review_id": "cf8c41e771c1f58ed4c55185cc8eb0fb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "9th&up. Fashions itself after Twilight, but for a slightly older crowd (some mention of drugs, there's drinking and sex). It was an entertaining read- but be prepared for the cliffhanger ending.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 13 11:41:51 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 13 11:45:22 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Mon Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6503154", "review_id": "768dc8a49034a52fbb647753d523fd0d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Likeable characters, fun romance, a twisty suspenseful plot- an all around good time.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 13 11:40:03 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 13 11:41:31 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Sun Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6503161", "review_id": "c27e645400a290485bd96f5bb31641a0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Lot's of fun- glad she's off the Rogue Hunters subseries. I just didn't like them as much.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 13 16:43:06 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 13 16:46:17 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Sun Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "187812", "review_id": "ac45f63c2fe61096c549bc006b232eeb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "7th&up. I love the premise- is it possible that King Arthur and his court have been reincarnated, and that the powers of light and dark are at battle once again? The mix of classic medieval legend with the trials and tribulations of high school and hormones is a brilliant idea, and results in an rather entertaining story. Recommended.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 20 10:22:37 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 28 15:26:55 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Fri Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6920820", "review_id": "df523ca0bfdeeeaef1d0097709dae39a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "8th&up (3.5 stars) This book definitely owes quite a bit to Twilight and the movie The Convenant, but since both those items fall into the guilty pleasure category for me, I really didn't mind. Zach and Phe are a cute couple, the secret is kind of intriguing and at the end, there are enough plot threads left to make readers yearn for a sequel. I wouldn't mind. Altogether, a solid debut novel.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 11 15:09:14 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 11 15:26:31 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6276499", "review_id": "b681fcdd9abb2e6c721c4d0cc6fec3e1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Every once in a while my friends and I like to indulge in a viewing of one of the SyFy original movies on cable, classics such as Sharktopus or Mega Python vs. Gatoroid. Some of them are half-way decent, but the best ones are the movies that are so bad they're fantastic! The book Basilisk was like a printed version of one of those films. If you have the ability to ignore the slightly clunky writing, the stilted conversation and the occasional two dimensional character, the insane storyline really is enough to make the read worthwhile. After deciding to just go with the flow, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the absolute ridiculousness of the plot. Especially towards the end, I found myself gasping, laughing out loud, and tearing through the pages as quickly as I could.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 31 10:27:38 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 13 15:41:03 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6690798", "review_id": "5d6d4533fbc384021d49c26499421e2a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "So, am I the only person who didn't realize that this book is meant to be the first in a trilogy? I guess I'm kind of glad I was unaware, because I probably would have given it a pass if I had known. Finding out that there is more to come definitely made me feel better about the less than satisfying ending, though. Saved me from having to hunt down Mr. Cronin and shaking him real hard while yelling \"How could you do this to me!\" over and over again, so yay for trilogies on all fronts! \n As for the novel itself, there were times, especially in the middle, when things dragged a bit. It also took me a bit to get used to the epic nature- not the length, but the breadth of the story. Just when I became attached to a characters, or a particular feel of the book, Cronin would rip the rug out from under me and I would have to adjust my frame of mind. \n Although I'm not sure that the story had to be quite as long as it was, I am glad I read it, I was thorougly entertained, and I am looking forward to the next volume.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 12 14:10:41 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 12 14:28:16 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Mon Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "180426", "review_id": "30652cf0299c52b0969e70355e1d6748", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Just like the first, though the hero is a bit over the top alpha, I still enjoyed reading this book. I'm also liking the dark and mysterious Gregori- a secondary character who was in the first book as well, and apparently has his own story in Carpathians #4. Something to look forward to...", "date_added": "Wed Jun 09 17:06:02 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 09 17:08:24 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Thu Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "28866", "review_id": "bc410ea0ab14dec358f8ce250cb10343", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Very alpha male, a bit repetitive, but still enjoyable. A good series for back-up options", "date_added": "Wed Jun 09 17:04:51 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 09 17:05:44 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "7109406", "review_id": "67f73ee332c107b6501351af19fab5d1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not bad, but not great. The relationship of the main characters wasn't quite as well developed as I'd have liked, and while this is only the second book in a trilogy (Dreamlight trilogy) it is the eighth in a series (Arcane Society), and I'm getting tired of trying to keep track of people and minor plot points that only vaguely sound familiar. I love the concept of a psychic connection between hero and heroine, soul mates, etc, but I think Krentz needs a new schtick.", "date_added": "Sat May 08 11:46:31 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat May 08 11:50:20 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Fri May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "44170", "review_id": "ca08f8230f97a8fe2aac62277d55d30e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "6th&up. Although I'm not sure that I'm up for the two other hefty volumes that finish up this trilogy, I did enjoy the world that Beddor created. He managed to created an interesting spin on the Carroll story, while still making his own mark clear. The action was a bit drawn out, but readers who hang tight will not regret the ride.", "date_added": "Wed May 05 15:06:44 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed May 05 15:11:03 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sat May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "5598960", "review_id": "0ed4960b8aaa42cd5d7ba27f485f60c8", "rating": 2, "review_text": "8th&up. So, I realize that lots of people really liked this book, and I wanted to be a fan as well. It just didn't work for me though. I found Miranda to be too superior and unlikable, and every time I would think that she was growing up and changing for the better, something else would happen. Not even major things, just something the author would make her think, or say or do, and I would be back to seeing her as an immature brat that thinks a bit too much of herself. \n I could have gotten over that if the book hadn't just sort of faded away at the end. I realize that the author intends on writing more about the main characters, but it wasn't as if the book was left with a cliffhanger that made you yearn for the next volume. It was more like the author forgot to deal with all the issues that she had introduced. I was just left with a feeling that the book was unfinished, or the author was in a rush to hand the book to the publisher. I'm not sure I care to read more.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 30 07:47:35 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 30 08:41:27 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Thu Apr 29 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "977841", "review_id": "b6343c7ad2933bcfbf397b21b7df7d3d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "6th&up. This lengthy, but very absorbing fantasy introduces fifteen-year-old twins Josh and Sophie, who never guessed that a summer job could change their lives. When they stumble across a magical battle between Nicholas Flamel and his nemesis John Dee, they are caught up in a world full of spells, prophecies, gods and goddesses and more. The ending of the book leaves a lot to be resolved in the next book- and the four that will follow after. So far, this series seems like it will be well worth the investment of time.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 28 15:06:03 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 28 15:24:19 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Mon Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "410304", "review_id": "00482354583cb39c8a81f3d3226249fc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2nd&up. A bit of spookie (Araminta Spookie!) for the younger set. Bats, ghosts, vampires, a snarkie fun heroine and just enough humor. The first in a series.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 19 12:15:41 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 19 12:18:03 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Mon Apr 12 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6260701", "review_id": "1873139a681c30881100d68c0446552f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I found the main characters a bit annoying. Their romance was not fully believable, the action was drawn out and I felt there was too much repetition in the story- same ground was gone over again and again. Not terrible, but a little weak.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 08 14:29:46 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 08 14:33:03 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Thu Apr 08 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "3388855", "review_id": "d0f13b6cba4df8de9ef70eafa31865a4", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I didn't dislike the three stories, but they were kind of forgettable.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 08 14:28:30 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 08 14:29:22 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6339664", "review_id": "c90e4d5821b61c2abcd7f15d52da049b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "9th&up. Add another to the list of teen paranormal romance a la Twilight. Lots of similarities which I won't list, but Patch is a darker hero/anti-hero who is damn nigh irresistible. I would have liked the book a little better if the question of Patch's motivations and his danger factor weren't left up in the air for quite so long- it felt too stretched out to me. I also would have liked to find out more about his background, and the world of the angels. I guess I'll have to wait for the sequel.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 18 15:19:53 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 18 15:28:53 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Thu Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6305025", "review_id": "e9c6a19f15b5118f3fce5ca5cbf41a47", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Book 1 of the Dreamlight Trilogy. I do love the psychic books that Krentz comes up with, and this reminded me of her earlier books Gift of Gold and Gift of Fire. This book was a little bit of a let down however. Right away I found some typo's (one character is referred to as \"Sharon\" one one page and \"Susan\" ten pages later) and some jarring repetition in conversations (the hero's age is mentioned three times in two pages- almost like Krentz forgot she already established it a page before and a page before that! Also, I felt the explanation and description of the psychic skill/bond that the two characters shared was not presented very well, but I was willing to go with it. \n The part that really annoyed me was one that might not bother most other readers. I have had about enough of the Arcane Society. I've read all of Krentz' books, and I still have a hard time remembering all the characters from other books that she throws around. Who has had their own book, and who is just being mentioned in case they wind up in a book later on? For those who were mentioned, what happened to them before? What have I forgotten, what am I missing? That sort of thing drives me crazy. \n That being said, the teaser for book 2 did make me want to read more, so I guess the weaknesses of the book didn't drive me crazy enough to give up on the trilogy.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 17 17:18:08 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 03 17:33:07 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Tue Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "476543", "review_id": "8570589eb2a39a199a78c34711aabef8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It's been over a week since I finished The Darkest Night, but this is the first time I've had a chance to log a review. I guess it's not a great indicator that I can barely remember anything that happened. In the book's defense, I do remember being pretty content when I read the last page. So, let's go with...not memorable, but fun while it lasted.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 31 13:22:51 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 31 13:27:27 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Fri Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6321845", "review_id": "2c8f2d6331437e965c2d8a8697f59b5a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "7th&up. Durst has taken the old fairy tale \"East o' the Sun, West o' the Moon\" and added a spunky modern heroine. I enjoyed this tale, and the way Cassie matured through the story. I thought the ending was inventive and fitting as well. Ice is a worthwhile read, though I would recommend that anyone who liked this book should get a hold of Werlin's Impossible, which was even better.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 23 15:24:48 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 23 15:37:24 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Sat Jan 23 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6376570", "review_id": "78edab599d06f3487972f566b5c530e7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "7th&up. Rather liked this tale of a spoiled, kind of self-centered girl who ends up moving to a \"craptacular\" seaside town when her parents fall on hard times and lose their house and all their possessions. Along with a huge change in lifestyle, Madison can't even find comfort in her favorite pastime, photography, because her camera seems to have picked up a nasty habit of foretelling death. Go figure. \n Pretty solid characters, especially Madison- who is far from perfect, but likable nonetheless. The story turns out a little differently than you'd expect, and Snow lets Madison grow without giving in to the urge to magically transform her into a perfect teen. \n Altogether, not bad!", "date_added": "Wed Jan 13 17:44:25 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 03 21:19:25 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Mon Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "1281393", "review_id": "2826f13497aa69cb0c5968be9b4de308", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A love story, a fantasy, a realistic novel, a wonderful book.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 30 16:12:22 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 30 16:10:23 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Tue Feb 24 00:00:00 -0800 1998", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6455481", "review_id": "c2eeaddcdb098dfe3c0e54121e3d2f90", "rating": 2, "review_text": "7th&up. I usually like Haddix, but was not impressed with this offering. The protagonist was not very likable. The plot, once fully revealed, was not as interesting as I thought it would be. The conclusion was weak, all nice and happy, ends tied neatly and with little believability. I should have re-read Running Out of Time, instead.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 17 16:13:48 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 17 16:39:33 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Wed Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6377359", "review_id": "64ed9d426622226a600e492ec95e96a6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "9th&up. Wow! I mean, I can't believe that....yeah, and then when Stevie Ray....and Heath, when he....and the visions....and the ending....and holy crap!.... \n I would give it an extra star, but some of the teenage conversation got on my nerves a bit, and the love-pentagram got a little old (one true love, girl! Try it sometime!) But a really entertaining read and I can't wait for more!", "date_added": "Sat Dec 12 13:41:22 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 12 13:49:10 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sat Dec 12 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "112751", "review_id": "8c4a935328e28de5d2f955bf7b5c6984", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Boo. For some reason, these characters just didn't click with me. I was on such a role too, because I really liked the rest of the books in this series, especially the last few. I'm doubly disappointed since this is the final one in my marathon since I discovered the series, and now I have to wait forever until the next one comes out- hope it's worth the wait.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 10 17:45:07 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 10 17:47:50 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Wed Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6076413", "review_id": "65fd52e483b886bd3df4dbda394f4c6f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "9th&up. Just like the first book, it took me quite a while to get into the story, then the middle had me reading as quickly as possible, but the ending was a letdown. I can take a less than happy ending, one without all the ends tied, but I feel that was a gimmick Stiefvater already used in Lament, the first book in the series. Plus, I was quite resentful of the games she played with Dee and Luke. Lame. I hope she doesn't ruin the Wolves of Mercy Falls books for me as well.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 10 17:38:25 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 10 17:43:15 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Thu Dec 10 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "112754", "review_id": "5fd0b840c6198e01f46337a0f5f7c5b1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Love the way the two main characters meet! Gwen is feisty and funny, reading about sexy Highlander Drustan tromping about in modern times, driving all the women crazy was a blast (and I can totally emphasize!) I love the MacKeltar's and the lore Moning created- can't wait to read more!", "date_added": "Sat Dec 05 10:15:28 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 05 10:20:10 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sat Nov 28 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "112752", "review_id": "a73d29798885f1ef25ae4f640bf2e236", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Moning's best one yet! I wasn't sure how I would feel about having Adam Black as a hero. The lusty, slightly evil and very mischievous Fae Prince has been merrily wreaking havoc through many of the Highlander books, and having him take centre stage is a bit of a risk. In earlier stories, however, Moning did manage to drop hints that there was more to Adam than anyone would think. This story proved it. I had a great time reading the whole book, loved revisiting the MacKeltar couples as well. The ending was absolutely perfect! Absolutely! Perfect! :)", "date_added": "Sat Dec 05 10:07:39 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 05 10:14:07 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sat Dec 05 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "112755", "review_id": "ec57d09bb72e0bf02620f11ecf1a1cab", "rating": 4, "review_text": ":) Loved finally getting to read about sexy bad-boy Daegus, who sacrificed so much to save the life of his twin brother. The spicy relationship between Daegus and Chloe really made the pages fly, and the heroic nature of this Highlander really made me eager for him to get his own happy ending. Moning gets better and better!", "date_added": "Sat Dec 05 10:03:15 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 05 10:07:24 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "3171884", "review_id": "79246191bfbe36500e46d083dd57c49e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I didn't like this book quite as much as the first, because I felt that Rowan and Gabriel had a love-hate relationship that weighed a little too heavily on the hate aspect. Carly and Gideon were more fun. I still liked the story though, and am looking forward to reading the last book in the trilogy, with Rowan's mysterious and haunted brother Bastian. :)", "date_added": "Thu Nov 12 14:27:12 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 12 14:27:12 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Thu Nov 12 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "84176", "review_id": "af3272df65d166d3fdb1ca6011b563c6", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I wasn't really impressed by any of the stories. Try, it was an anthology, so the stories were novellas rather than more in-depth offerings, but I've read other collections where the authors shone within those restrictions.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 08 10:32:50 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 08 10:32:50 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Fri Nov 06 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "815150", "review_id": "8172a252d973b5a18a9fbc14d16c5caf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I do like this series- plenty of romance, a luscious Highlands settling and men worthy of a fantasy or three. Though the books do have many similarities, I like the slightly different fantasy elements she puts in each book- fairies, time travel, Templars, portals, Beserkers and more. The second book in the series is my favorite so far. This book was rather fun, except I felt that the ending was kind of a mess. It sounds kind of odd to say, but everything was resolved too well, too perfectly. In the last ten or so pages it went from a potentially happy ending, to a ridiculously idyllic ending. Maybe I'm nitpicking, but there it is. I still liked the book mind you, just not as much as the first and definitely not as much as the second.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 31 08:24:27 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 31 08:24:27 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Fri Oct 30 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "1438435", "review_id": "83ce8b654658bf67958ede682751449e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Not bad, but not memorable. The thing that struck me the most about this book is that the cover art is distractingly horrible!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 29 17:29:42 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 29 17:29:42 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Thu Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "743599", "review_id": "8ee03c0de2084bdef458e5545e31146f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Anything Highlands with a hunky hero works for me, and this historical romance with a fair bit of fae thrown in was just the thing for a quiet Friday night. I was happy to find it was the first in a series, which means I've more to look forward to. Yay!", "date_added": "Sat Oct 24 13:07:23 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 10 14:37:50 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "2689742", "review_id": "520cc72028e8a04ba82459678a238390", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Pretty fun. I'm definitely up for the next one in the series. The relationship between Carly and Gideon was a blast to watch- sweet, sexy and sometimes funny. The suspense plotline was a bit \"blah blah blah\", but maybe that was just 'cause I wanted to get back the Gideon and Carly. :) \n Worth a read.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 23 07:31:02 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 23 07:31:02 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Fri Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6068551", "review_id": "31b5e47f9b2e55a80787de337567f3ef", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Re-read, July 5th, 2014 \n Just as good as I remembered. :) \n Originally read October 1, 2009 \n 9th&up. Sooooo good! I was deep into the story from the first page. Grace is a great character- her independence, her strength, her stubborn and loyal nature. Reading about her fascination with the yellow-eyed wolf who saved her life so long ago, the wolf who has watched her ever since had me totally absorbed. And what can I say about Sam? The boy who, for the love of Grace, fights his own nature so that he can stay with her. Stiefvater made him so irresistible- the way he protects and adores Grace, his intelligence and his love of poetry, the way he is the best of the pact, everything good about being human and a beautiful animal together. The ending! Wow! Stiefvater had me tearing through the pages until the last incredibly satisfying word. \n Sigh.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 01 16:13:02 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 12 12:50:45 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6275436", "review_id": "7817bdbd7a4a39e4378f658800284837", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Fun while it lasted. I do look forward to Krentz' futuristic romances, they're light and fluffy entertainment with a setting that takes it a little above the norm. Plus, I totally want my own dust bunnies- and no jokes about my lack of cleaning skills making that an easily fulfilled wish!", "date_added": "Wed Sep 16 17:08:12 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 13 16:46:59 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6304341", "review_id": "9889aba636d6e2b59866aedcfca2627c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Apparently Foster is still having fun with her Thesaurus, which was a bit distracting, but altogether a fun read. Not the best thing she's ever written, but definitely enough to keep me following any further adventures of Gabrielle and Luther.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 16 17:03:19 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 13 16:49:22 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "5899779", "review_id": "adef125c0d61c64aa578c2fc48ef299b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Even though the joke got a little old after awhile, this book is totally worth a read just for its brilliant ridiculousness. I have to give kudos not only to the author, but to the publishing company employee who decided to go forward with this totally insane book. Can you just imagine the pitch at the bi-weekly staff meeting... \n \"So, before we end today's meeting, does anyone have any new business?\" \n \"Um...yes sir. I actually had an author in yesterday with a rather unique idea we might want to follow through with. It's a bit...different.\" \n \"Yes, yes, go ahead- let's hear it!\" \n \"Well, you know how Pride and Prejudice is still hot on the market? This bloke, Mr. Grahame-Smith, would like to rework the story.\" \n \"That's not different! It's all been done! Sequels, prequels, the plot told from alternative points of view- nothing very different about that! As for reworking the story, how can you improve upon a classic?\" \n \"Actually, he'd like to keep the original story with some small alterations. He'd like to add zombies to the tale.\" \n \"The Zombies? The English rock band from the '60's?\" \n \"No sir. Zombies, as in the walking dead. Plus he'd add some adult humor, off-color jokes, amateurish illustrations with plenty of gore, and end it with a faux-reader's discussion guide.\" \n Cue crickets and a lengthy awkward silence. \n \"Zombies. Why not! Carry on, then. Meeting adjourned.\"", "date_added": "Wed Sep 02 15:11:23 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 08 18:20:11 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "3975774", "review_id": "7f763585ff7908887a90ddf3a3cf8bbd", "rating": 2, "review_text": "9th&up. Add a star if you don't mind a slightly inferior story that shares a ridiculous amount of plot points in common with Twilight. I'm sure it will be popular with teen girls who are yearning for anything to fill the hole Meyer left with the completion of her saga. I personally found it passable- the middle dragged a lot, and there was little originality evident. Rather forgettable, though harmless.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 28 21:26:45 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 28 21:33:25 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sat Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "3697927", "review_id": "3e9a1ff8eced56ce31b81ecd518648ca", "rating": 4, "review_text": "5/6th&up. J.D.G. visits the world of fairy tales again in this retelling that fleshes out the story of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Though Rose, the eldest princess, is a spunky three-dimensional character, I like that the real protagonist in the story is Galen- the former soldier turned royal gardener with a heart of gold, a clever mind and the courage to help the girl he loves, no matter what the price. I found myself rooting for Galen from the start, and the exciting and fast pace of the story made the pages fly. \n If you're looking for more, check out J.D.G.'s earlier book Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow- a lovely retelling of the old fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 18 20:52:18 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 18 21:04:30 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Tue Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "1540890", "review_id": "ed8a61b666d463eda1fd40fd8af2c382", "rating": 3, "review_text": "So, I'm definitely a sucker for a story with a feisty librarian as the main character (insert my favorite quote from The Mummy here). I thought this book, was..., well...charming! 289 pages of light, frivilous fun. Kira's my new hero- I'd love to be her, complete with her goofy family and oddball friends, kick-ass job (if the Sweet Library ever has a position open, I hope someone'll let me know), and last but not least the sigh-worthy Caleb.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 18 20:45:23 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 18 20:51:56 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "3389671", "review_id": "bdf519a774281aa1dec2c422ecaf477a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "7th&up. Let me start out by saying that I'm sure this book will be popular with the teen set, so after much deliberation, I gave it three stars instead of the two I was leaning towards. The plot includes a girl who finds out she's really a princess, a handsome suitor with a dark secret, as well as an evil blond cheerleader type, some peril and a happy ending. \n That being said, I personally did not like the book as well as I wanted to. Maybe it was the high expectations I started out with, but while I liked the very beginning, and the end was o.k., the middle made me want to throw the book across the room. Too much groveling and chasing from Jessica- and all for a boy who seems to have very little to love about him. Don't get me wrong, I understand the reasoning that Fantaskey set up for his poor behavior and boorish treatment of the heroine, but it wastoo much. The ending felt pat and hurried, and even though a part of me felt for Lucius, most of me would still have smacked him across the head if I'd had the chance.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 18 20:31:05 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 18 20:45:02 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sun Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6178065", "review_id": "ab13031c69498af4cab68617b757b763", "rating": 3, "review_text": "7th&up. This is the third book in the Chronicles of Vladimir Tod; a half human/ half vampire teen who struggles with his place in the world while dealing with evil proficies, enemies who are after his head/blood and the perils of public school. \n I do like this series- it owes much to the Harry Potter formula, but still manages to have fun with teen angst and vampirism. Vlad is a sympathetic character with a lot of heart, a painful past and many challenges as a human and a vampire. \n I do feel that not much new happened in this volume, and I kind of wish Brewer's story arc could have been condensed a bit and followed Vlad from 9th-12th but maybe that's being a tad hypercritical. Ultimately, I do like Vlad well enough to follow him through high school with the fourth and fifth books. \n (P.S.- There is a scene in health class with the general mention of the reproductive systems, gonads, etc. Not explicit at all, but something to keep in mind. I think the first in the series would be fine for 5th&up, the second acceptable for 6th&up, and this one 7th&up.)", "date_added": "Fri Aug 14 12:25:20 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 10 10:10:50 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Fri Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "5997734", "review_id": "5169c40990fdbabd1260cc0d67fec82d", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Really wasn't impressed with any of the stories, which is surprising because I usually love Foster and like McCarthy. Oh well, better luck next time.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 12 15:18:25 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 12 15:18:25 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "2820533", "review_id": "bf9ae57932d46e4eb2a2aedd83316f2e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "9th&up. Rather unimpressive beginning, but does picks up a bit later. Starts off like a first draft of Twilight- a mysterious boy saves a girl from being run over by a car in the school parking lot and then denies his heroics. He has a secret and a dark side that keeps him aloof from the general population, but the heroine is drawn to him reagrdless. There's even a scene where Camelia and Ben get paired up as lab partners in Chemistry. \n After the first third of Twilight-by-numbers writing, the latter part of the book does get a little interesting; what with Ben's ability being revealed, the \"who can you trust\" game and a stalker with evil plans for our scared heroine. \n All told- not terrible, but not all that much to recommend it either.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 08 11:04:44 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 11:04:44 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sat Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "3873345", "review_id": "6ca3ad9216215f64ca2bfec973fc8492", "rating": 3, "review_text": "7th&up. This snarky and humorous homage to Buffy the Vampire Slayer is slight and fluffy fun. \n A highschooler on the fringe, Mia can't believe her luck when she's asked to prom by Rob (a handsome, intellectually challenged but sweet football player.) When popular and evil Samantha tries to steal him away, Mia decides that measures must be taken- in the form of a love spell. \n Things go horribly awry, and the entire student body slowly starts turning into zombies. Mia will need the help of her best friend Candice and the seriously cute and intense new boy Chase to save the students, herself and prom.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 06 16:29:07 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 06 16:29:07 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Thu Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6468718", "review_id": "8cdec377557797cc90b7731819c495e9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "9th&up. Wow. This book was good, but pretty depressing! Kind of \"The Village\"-ish. It starts with a small closed society, a fragile bubble surrounded by the chaos and pain of reality (in this case, zombies!), with a hierarchy and social structure that holds onto order with an iron fist and a heavy does of fear and intimidation for anyone who questions the way of things. \n The heroine is a bit selfish in my opinion, she reminded me of Katniss from The Hunger Games (and there are a couple of characters that have Peeta-esqe qualities as well.) \n While Forest ultimately offers a bit of hope for the future, it is a sort of feeble light almost extinguished by pain and loss and missed opportunities for love and meaningful connection. It leaves you with the question of whether dreams and hopes are worth pursuing at all, because what you sacrifice along the way might turn out to be infinitely more valuable than the realization of the dream that you held onto for so long.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 24 17:31:29 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 17:41:51 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Fri Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "3188580", "review_id": "1d111c46da8744bdd4ea6f92050d1d4a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "10th&up. A different and really well-constructed work. \n Werlin starts her novel with interesting but not unbelievable themes. Lucy's life quickly goes from ordinary to mind-altering, when she is date raped at the junior prom and finds out that this act was no accident and is actually connected to her insane absent mother, an evil elphin lord and a curse involving three impossible tasks set out in a version of the folk song Scarsborough Fair that has been passed down through generations in Lucy's family. \n With the help of the loving parents who adopted her, and the slightly older boy next door who could become so much more, can a pregnant Lucy beat the curse and save herself and her soon-to-be-born daughter from the bleak future fortold in the ballad? \n The rape scene was nicely crafted- subtle, yet not trivialized, and the mentions of abortion, the right to choose, teenage marriage and marital sex are merely touched upon. They are fitting with the story and not at all explicit or preachy. \n I though it was a really unique and powerful book.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 12 14:14:39 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 14:36:11 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sun Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "3112850", "review_id": "18510a17b291aa28bc74e0746e2a1038", "rating": 3, "review_text": "9th&up. This book, riding on the coattails of Twilight, did get rather good reviews, so I was looking forward to it. Through the beginning, I felt it was a bit rough, as if the author needed more time to grow into her craft. I was disappointed and wondering what the professional reviewers- whom I could usually trust- were thinking. \n It took almost half the book, but then I saw. The characters grew on me, the author finally fleshed out the Irish fey mythology, and I really got into it. I even approved of the imperfect ending and the promise of a sequel. Looking forward to it!", "date_added": "Sat Jun 20 11:54:06 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 20 13:05:18 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sat Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "4134071", "review_id": "5880c178ed05f2bba0b81a61080126cc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "10th&up- In my quest for more like Twilight, I picked up this series. Not quite as good, but I do love the mix of vampirism with wicca and Native American lore. The characters are well developed and the authors suck you right in every time, and usually don't let go till the last page. Almost demands to be read in one sitting. My only complaint is that the books usually end with cliffhangers and then I have to wait until the next entry in the series comes out- darn it! Good spicy YA fun.", "date_added": "Wed May 20 11:35:02 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed May 20 11:35:02 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sun May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "3942622", "review_id": "1e8c07b6c582ed85c4e6cef8cebc18ae", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Argeneau Vampires #11, Rogue Hunter #2. Not sure I'm lovin' on this new sub series of Sands. It was alright- not nearly as much fun as her original series. I'm hoping she goes back to her previous style really soon.", "date_added": "Thu May 14 15:18:16 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu May 14 15:18:16 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Thu May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "2972472", "review_id": "c4081b156c5e8f501d27c63ddbd753c6", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Argeneau #10, Rogue Hunter #1. Part of a new sub-set of her Argeneau Vampire books, I wasn't terribly impressed with this one. The leech incident was nasty, the hunt fizzled out, and the romantic ending felt unfinished. I also felt that the hero, Mortimer (no, really- apparently that was the best Ms. Sands could do) was not as much fun to read about as the other immortal men as they found their life-mates. Hoping the next Hunter book is better...", "date_added": "Wed May 13 15:15:05 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed May 13 15:15:05 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Wed May 13 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "1422252", "review_id": "6d849ede894bc12f1641889381b87951", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Argeneau #9- Quite a twist in this one! As usual, observing as the rough and tough vampire gets used to being in love is a real treat. It was also nice to see the selfless matchmaker Marguerite get her own happy ending. I like the way the author opened the series for a whole new family. I'm looking forward to more fun in the future!", "date_added": "Thu May 07 15:38:51 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu May 07 15:38:51 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Thu May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "28187", "review_id": "7858ec0dac2ba5948ca3b5c7503e80ca", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4/5th&up. I really love this book; action, humor, prophecies and Greek mythology come to life- what more could you ask for? It's a fast read that's a sure fire recommendation for even reluctant reading boys. It's also the first in a series of five, so there's even more fun to be had. Hooray for Riordan!", "date_added": "Wed May 06 17:46:03 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed May 06 17:46:03 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Wed May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "5957044", "review_id": "ced1a50b7898a1e556d4cea0fb00d64f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "When I first heard the Jim Butcher's wife was writing a novel, I was rather sceptical. I had read a few of the Dresden File books and loved them, and figured Shannon was just jumping onto his coattails. (Can you blame me? Stephen and Tabitha strike a bell with anyone?) When I read No Regrets however, I was immediately hooked, and had to eat a small serving of crow. Damn that woman can write- and Burning Alive, her first paranormal romance is no exception. Right away the chemistry between Drake and Helen sizzled on the page- I couldn't get enough of these fantastic characters and the intriguing world that Shannon had created. My only criticism is that I have to wait NINE months for the next installment!", "date_added": "Mon May 04 16:07:15 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon May 04 16:07:15 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sun May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "2721211", "review_id": "9433fc9963826a8fc45f17236d4ec5ac", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Not terrible, but not great either. Weird premise. I mean really, dinosaurs!", "date_added": "Mon May 04 16:01:44 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon May 04 16:01:44 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sun May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "387061", "review_id": "b3578133cbc5268af8385ca575118a11", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Argeneau #4- cute. I liked watching Bastien fall in love with Terri; he was pretty darn sweet!", "date_added": "Mon May 04 15:58:40 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon May 04 15:58:40 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sat May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "6056413", "review_id": "50d934294e172963a2922c35b5d5cb78", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Kathy Love's books are fun- Definitely a borrow versus a purchase, but fun", "date_added": "Mon May 04 15:56:57 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon May 04 15:56:57 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sat May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "38548", "review_id": "9047217c957caec925c220f98c943fc9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Argeneau series #2- not the best in the series, but it was decent. It wasn't as cute as I wanted it to be, and there was one scene where the couple is locked out of the house and she's really hungry that was ridiculously over the top and kind of disturbing, but I'll leave out the details. The later volumes in the series are better.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 30 15:21:53 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 30 15:21:53 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Wed Apr 29 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "1422253", "review_id": "2e33d588f43536ae6a016a5eeaae64fa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Argeneau #7- Totally cute!", "date_added": "Sun Apr 26 13:38:04 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 26 13:38:04 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sun Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "1422250", "review_id": "d2cc5ccb65a0f51f5d48e5cb2057a231", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Having \"seen\" Thomas in some of the other Argeneau books, I really enjoyed reading his story, especially finding out that his surfer-boy personae is just a front.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 25 08:48:04 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 25 08:48:04 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sun Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "38529", "review_id": "a12b3c0931696237cebc1765f2f7225c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I actually think this is my favorite of the series so far, maybe because I started out pretty sure I was not going to like this installment of the Argeneau series. Lucian was such a distastful character in the very beginning of the book, and Leigh was a little too sweet to be true. But Sands quickly reveals why Lucian seems so cold and aloof, and Leigh displays backbone and determination along with her kindness and understanding. A great was to pass the time.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 25 08:42:34 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 25 08:42:34 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Fri Apr 24 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "38562", "review_id": "82f07339367fa0d19f3d7d2232ad036c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Fifth in the Argeneau series. Vincent hires Jackie, a private investigator, to find out who is sabotaging his theatre business and attacking those associated with him. A light touch with the suspense and a sexy but fun romance.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 25 08:39:01 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 25 08:39:01 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Wed Apr 22 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "38568", "review_id": "a34689e5f4fa8a1713dca68d95451bc2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The first in the Argeneau series- it was a lot of fun, the characters made me smile and there was even a little suspense thrown in for good measure.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 25 08:34:20 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 25 08:34:20 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "263149", "review_id": "e16acaa9ca902e00a84a0a7c5c87e947", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This is the 3rd book in the Argeneau series, but I believe it was published first. It shows. I'll admit right off that I hate finding out that I've picked up a book in the middle of a series, and this novel did have a lot of characters and byplay that made it clear I was missing something. The characters were a little flat, and the book was just alright. I'd heard good things about the author though, so I did try and go back to the beginning of the series and found the others a lot more fun.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 25 08:27:55 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 25 08:27:55 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sat Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "2979594", "review_id": "602b7847d6e00e42748a0719d7440ae3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Light reading, but fun. I love watching the interplay between Luther and Gaby, and the way Foster slowly but surely has her opening up and forming bonds with the people around her. I did feel like Foster went a little crazy with the thesaurus though, almost made the book a cross between a romantic thriller and an SAT prep course!", "date_added": "Mon Apr 20 06:57:31 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 20 06:57:31 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sun Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "1708122", "review_id": "821b6ceb6d1a134e51636aa33929f0e4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not as good as the \"In Death\" series, which it bears more than a little resemblance to, but Lori Foster rarely steers me wrong (no matter what name she chooses to write under.) I already have my name down to borrow the next book in the series.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 06 17:22:56 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 06 17:22:56 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "4070493", "review_id": "b0880c6125cd019ccd0a89a66d00b6c7", "rating": 2, "review_text": "7th&up. Shades of Twilight- exiled heroine, new cold town, mother unable to cope, shapeshifters and pixies that are rather vampire-like. Not very memorable, but not terrible. I could see the author being one to watch in the future, but for now I felt that there were good bones to the story, but not fleshed out well enough.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 27 07:56:41 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 27 07:56:41 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Thu Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "27003", "review_id": "1b6af97746709daebe0b9dc1d5b1b7d0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In an alternative reality, Great Britain circa 1985 is a police state, and heroine Thursday Next is the reluctant golden girl of the Literary Detection branch of Special Operations. Wreacking havoc wherever she goes, Thursday is pitted against the third most wanted criminal in Britain, Acheron Hades, a diabolical villian whose latest crime is to kidnap Jane Eyre from the Bronte classic, resulting in untold mayhem in the literary minded community of Fforde's Britain. Throw in time travel, clever wordplay, a prose portal, literary allusions and great heapings of humor, and you've got an immediate classic. As icing on the cake, Fforde has an awesome website (ThursdayNext.com) with tons of absorbing features and a totally addicting literary quiz. Enjoy!", "date_added": "Wed Mar 11 09:28:40 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 13 16:51:30 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Mar 11 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "2213661", "review_id": "bde57cc1d46037a91d2af05807bfd2cf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "5/6th&up. 2009 Newbery Award winner. Really good, a tense beginning, fun and spooky vignettes in the middle, followed by a tight and suspenseful ending. Bod and Silas really captured my attention, and I was sad to see them go. Wouldn't mind a sequel- what do you say Mr. Gaiman?", "date_added": "Sat Feb 14 11:14:33 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 14 11:22:53 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sat Feb 14 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "3040605", "review_id": "8565914bf9db88c4a30ed698d9c43e5e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I might have enjoyed this more if it had been my first Shiloh Walker book. However, major plot points from the other books I'd read by the author distracted me. Cullen (the hero) has a presence which \"settles\" the gifted heroine (Taige) like no other person she's come across before (see Hunter's Salvation). Taige is driven to become a warrior against evil, leaving no space in her life for anything other than war (see Hunting the Hunter). In addition, Taige is constantly being distracted by dreams that include Cullen- dreams that turn out to be more than just fantasy (see Through the Veil). Added to this constant sense of deja vu is the fact that the author did a really good job of making me dislike Cullen in the early part of the book and not such a good job of redeeming him later. All told, I won't be picking up another of her books in the future.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 31 20:03:38 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 31 20:24:05 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Mon Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "2090640", "review_id": "dd25de59093ba0ced3f6ee100e2c8fa9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "4th&up. This was a sweet story, with appealing characters. It should prove popular with young readers, especially ones that are hooked on Heroes and X-Men.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 31 13:29:01 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 31 19:59:09 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sat Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "7965", "review_id": "50a34f0b79c5a9c478800974ad6f6d28", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked this book, but didn't love it. I've read Card before (Enchantment, Ender's Game and Lost Boys) and was looking forward to this one- it's almost 10 years old, but I never got around to it. I found it took a little while for me to get into the story, and the surprise twists were rather predictable in my opinion. I think maybe if this was written by another author, I'd have liked it slightly better, but I have high expectations for Card's work, and was a bit let down.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 18 10:31:18 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 18 10:31:18 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Mon Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "64a068e4281614061529b289773d6aee", "rating": 5, "review_text": "8th&up. I know, I know...It's a bit sophomoric, predictable and saccharine sweet- but I adore Twilight! Every time Edward enters the story, I sigh along with Bella. I've read or listened to this story a half dozen times, and I still crave a re-reading more than I crave a double helping of Blue Bunny Super Chunky Cookie Dough ice cream (and that's saying something!) I'm still hoping Stephenie Meyer eventually completes and publishes Midnight Sun, but in the meantime I'll content myself with Bella's point of view.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 17 15:48:40 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 13 16:45:08 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "2344297", "review_id": "584c6be7dc92c602c370a1328091dd62", "rating": 2, "review_text": "There are two main reasons why I was disappointed in this book. First, I didn't realize that it was a sequel of sorts, and that the reader would really be better off if they'd read The Dead Room first. Second, I was initially intrigued by the killer having an Edgar Allan Poe obsession, but that connection turned out to be really weak.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 17 15:10:25 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 17 15:10:25 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Thu Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "2974804", "review_id": "2cb46db59939e39957e03ba19f8ef90b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Like comfort food at the end of a bad day, I know exactly what to expect when I read a Jayne Ann Krentz romance and that makes me happy. The heroine will be feisty, smart and endearingly imperfect. The hero will be tough, flawed and quite irresistible. There will be a little humor, the right amount of action and suspense and a satisfyingly happy ending. Sigh!", "date_added": "Wed Jan 07 16:08:25 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 07 16:08:25 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Thu Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "ab2fadb5c7bbe55c80406d2b3692e969", "book_id": "2582799", "review_id": "23e8713ed7e76481423525ba1227b1f9", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This tepid book was broken into three parts. Part one was reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice with a heavy dose of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. At the end of part one, I was not captivated, but I did have hope for the story. Then part two happened. Self-consciously imitating Jane Eyre, the author abruptly switched from a third person perspective to a first person narrative. I found the pairing of the protagonist and Mr. Quent disturbing and not believable from what I had learned about the main character up to that point. Also, most of the plot threads from the first part were ignored until the very end of that section, at which time it felt like the author threw things together so part three could get started. In part three, the story did pick up a bit, but at that point I was pretty much determined to finish the books just to justify the price I paid for the hardcover. Even while it did improve a bit, the end of this rather long book leaves the reader with only partial resolution. I was unsurprised to find out that the author is already working on the sequel. I cannot imagine why.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 07 15:20:54 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 07 16:07:51 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sat Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9886b578a7f06870ebe570f58f2aa370", "book_id": "6311614", "review_id": "703b1a7465f1da7b878e3d9254ede6c2", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Entertaining but lacking originality. The author glosses over major plot holes and finds convenient solutions to push the story line forward at any cost. \n The book lacks depth and relies on standard conventions to build suspense and flesh out its characters.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 26 08:44:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 10 07:12:29 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 10 07:12:29 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9886b578a7f06870ebe570f58f2aa370", "book_id": "4407", "review_id": "51b1cf6310cd93c97a22a130373e0233", "rating": 4, "review_text": "An amazingly well thought out and intriguing romp through the american landscape that blends a 'who done it' mystery with a characters intense search for his true self and the meaning of his life. Entirely engrossing, the journey is set against a backdrop of strange godly characters teetering between sinister and lovable. \n A great read, I enjoyed it from cover to cover.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 05 20:44:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 15 08:48:56 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jun 15 08:48:56 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Mar 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9886b578a7f06870ebe570f58f2aa370", "book_id": "24830", "review_id": "e6d5c0fa8cbc6ee3f39381300bb58dc3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was a fascinating and engaging look at \"the future\" through the eyes of the past. Blind to the realities of the limitations the future would place on natural resources.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 10:11:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 17 11:16:47 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f194d32cd02f8477d1cc667c00661462", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "de1068bcc19125e0a6b052d239977012", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Really interesting for a re-telling.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 17 04:52:32 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 01 06:03:09 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Feb 01 06:03:09 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f194d32cd02f8477d1cc667c00661462", "book_id": "23164983", "review_id": "9b9336ff51607ae3fe209e43153b669a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 actually. Ranson Rigg is a wonderful writer. A great continuation from the series, I enjoy reading this book as Jacob and other peculiar children went on a sort of quest to save Miss Peregrine. I do enjoy this book compare to the first one because there are a lot of things happen in this book.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 15 07:22:01 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 29 23:34:12 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f194d32cd02f8477d1cc667c00661462", "book_id": "17167166", "review_id": "f1f41c68f48b12e76d271d10f9b386bb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "An awesome sequel", "date_added": "Thu Aug 06 09:34:12 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 26 07:12:15 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Aug 26 08:12:29 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f194d32cd02f8477d1cc667c00661462", "book_id": "18243700", "review_id": "152b68d2a649c95f524ab263692618e3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great background story for the series. Although it is a compiled of novella but I didn't feel like reading a novella. It just a solid prequel book before Celaena becomes the badass assassin. I really like the assassin and the desert. \n Can't wait to read Crown of Midnight :D", "date_added": "Thu Jun 25 02:58:36 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 06 05:18:20 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jul 06 05:18:20 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f194d32cd02f8477d1cc667c00661462", "book_id": "10429045", "review_id": "1029d576c3f7f1b842f5fcfca99b31a0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I like this book because of the writing style and story line. Tahereh Mafi have a really great writing skill, even though the first 100 page is not really interesting but I kept reading it because of the writing. After 100 pages, the story was really good till the end. \n Looking forward to read the next book.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 17 08:05:53 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 28 06:46:32 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Feb 28 06:46:32 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Feb 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f194d32cd02f8477d1cc667c00661462", "book_id": "10194157", "review_id": "00839b85d2e181e592445fbc520b35d9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was really a good fantasy book. I really enjoy reading this book since it has good story line and fast pace. I do enjoy reading about world building in this book because the author done a good job writing this book. \n This book is about a girl named Alina who have a power to help the world that she lived in. The character in this book was good and the plot twist is really awesome. \n I need to read the second book soon.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 25 03:31:27 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 08 22:07:34 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Mar 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f194d32cd02f8477d1cc667c00661462", "book_id": "345627", "review_id": "2385da188d2e992a25a6d56cecc401af", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I kind into vampire story lately and I think this book also has an interesting story. Its not a typical vampire story I can say because it is a story of vampire which is call Moroi and their guardian call dhampir. \n I do like Rose even sometimes there are something that she did annoyed but still she's a human right and make mistakes. She has a perfect characteristic of friend that we want from our friend even sometimes she went over. \n And those element control that vampire can do also is interesting for me because they can control an element but as for Lissa, she have a unique ability which is she can healed people. \n Looking forward to read the next book.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 25 23:59:37 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 05 09:07:49 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Feb 05 09:07:49 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f194d32cd02f8477d1cc667c00661462", "book_id": "7541858", "review_id": "a390dcbb95b27e82d8b7034a6e1ef79e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book is about a girl named Clary Fray who suddenly her life was totally change after she knew that she was a Shadowhunter. This book starts with Clary and her best friend, Simon went to a club and she saw a guy kill a person in that club. After that incident, her mother disappears and she was attacked by a demon. She went learn many things about Downworlders just to find her mother and later she find out that her mother hide something from her. \n I like this book although this book kind a slow at first. The writing style also is really good but its hard for me to imagine the world that the author build in this book. \n I'll definitely pick up the rest of these series since many readers said that these series get better and better.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 12 09:01:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 22 04:52:19 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Sep 05 10:28:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f194d32cd02f8477d1cc667c00661462", "book_id": "13159888", "review_id": "92c1fc59469e1c3aab436da48124d87b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I think this book was okay but I didn't really enjoy reading this book. I have problem to remember the character because each one of the child have different ability.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 23 02:05:27 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed May 13 11:03:56 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "f194d32cd02f8477d1cc667c00661462", "book_id": "7114458", "review_id": "ef7021fc40328907158feb5a6a800baf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Despite the long book and parts that are quite bored, I managed to enjoy and like the character in this book. \n The ending is quite sad, it seem unfair. I must read the second book.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 23 02:05:03 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 14 03:00:11 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f194d32cd02f8477d1cc667c00661462", "book_id": "7896527", "review_id": "5c04817ac7738aadf8659580bf10f3ec", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book is about Celaena Sardothien who is a trained assassin but got caught by Chaol, Captain Westfall. In order to get a freedom, she must represent the prince to death tournament and become King's Champion for 4 years before get her freedom that she really wanted. \n In the tournament, it got several Test to go through before the Final Test. When the tournament begins, something strange happen to the Champion's, they were brutally murdered before each Test begin. Celaena try to figure out what exactly happen and who is the murderer and try to make sure that she's not the next target of murderer. \n It was a great and I really enjoy reading this book even I'm not a person who really enjoy reading that need a high imagination and I find it too difficult to pronounce the name and place in this novel.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 26 00:35:44 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 27 02:28:38 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Sep 27 02:28:38 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Sep 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f194d32cd02f8477d1cc667c00661462", "book_id": "28186", "review_id": "d6356514095a1624c5b377d03f30e46f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book start with an introducing a new character, Tyson. He is a friends of Percy in school who is homeless and didn't have any friends except Percy. Later, Percy find out that Tyson is a cyclops and actually his brother. The three of them include Annabeth went for a quest to save the Camp Half-Blood because Thalia's Tree have been poisoned by Luke. Percy also wants to find Grover after he dream that Grover might be in danger . Even though the quest is not really for them since Clarisse win the chariot race and Tantalus appoint her to go for a quest. Percy, Tyson and Annabeth sneak out from the camp and also went for the quest. \n This book is pack of action and involved many new creatures introduced by Rick Riordan.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 21 03:51:41 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 05 08:16:51 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Aug 05 08:16:51 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f194d32cd02f8477d1cc667c00661462", "book_id": "6654313", "review_id": "c2b13502f105066b6012c176e26a954a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It's quite better than the first book but I still didn't enjoy this book very much. The plot is not really interesting for me to keep reading it, still I should finish what I've started. One of the reason I didn't really enjoying this book because it has a slow paced and the climax was not really intriguing to become a climax. But I do enjoy reading about new character, Cole who is in a band. \n I don't really understand why Grace parents mad at Sam so much. After all the time they abandon Grace, suddenly they mad at her dating with Sam. Sam and Grace was really lovely in this book. I will pick up the final book to know what happen after Grace become a wolf.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 18 08:23:25 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 26 05:38:35 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Oct 26 05:38:35 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "f194d32cd02f8477d1cc667c00661462", "book_id": "6068551", "review_id": "cdb96fd53c0a60f2fcca92651249d142", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book is about a girl named Grace and a guy named Sam. Basically, Grace is a girl who fall in love with Sam which is a werewolf. They need to find a way for Sam not to change into werewolf when the winter season came. \n I'm not really enjoy reading this book because I find that characters in this book were not really interesting. But I do really like the concept where wolves in this book changed into human when they fell warm. It's like they changing according to season. It really took me a while to finish this book. I want to read the second book since it has a good review from other readers.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 18 08:23:21 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 25 09:52:59 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jul 25 09:52:59 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f194d32cd02f8477d1cc667c00661462", "book_id": "9409458", "review_id": "748c1e2f4d6612d20b4ff59d3c11c0c4", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It's really slow at the beginning and I barely managed to get through. I would not recommend this series to other.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 18 08:23:04 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 15 01:23:44 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Aug 15 01:23:44 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f194d32cd02f8477d1cc667c00661462", "book_id": "12811484", "review_id": "9715699da87de91685d5c8d9965bbbe0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It's a Walking Dead but in Malay version. i love when the writer explain about the scene clearly.it makes me imagine that it really happen.i think this book soon to be a movie.it's new genre in malay books.and i like it :)", "date_added": "Sun Nov 18 08:19:50 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 21 09:51:29 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Nov 21 09:51:29 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f194d32cd02f8477d1cc667c00661462", "book_id": "2120932", "review_id": "4dabe1ca7dc96e8fc56e0374655e7a5d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Another awesome book by Rick Riordan. I enjoy reading the book where they went for a quest to find Deadalus and so much things happen throughout their quest. The book start off with Percy attend a new school but as usual nothing went right for him. Throughout the quest, Grover finally found Pan after searching for years and looks like Luke body is being used by Kronos. \n Looks like there will be more things to come in the last book.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 07:54:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 15 03:30:40 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Feb 15 03:30:40 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d9b33f6a719487b11bf03c84f26e500d", "book_id": "985873", "review_id": "45aab1cdc5a91c82b2f75cbca507fb44", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Great plot writing. There's about a hundred different characters to keep up with but still doesn't seem tedious to follow. Political intrigue and fight scenes were impressive. The author did go overboard with the sexual content if you ask me. If you can get past that, it's well worth the read", "date_added": "Tue Aug 14 13:17:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 21 19:16:10 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Nov 21 19:11:57 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Thu Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c3773bfc7bc0c0665e9767209a067eda", "book_id": "8320840", "review_id": "af125bddc05db7a2e2875c0bdbf07a41", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amazing volume. Correction to some reviews. \n I think this corrects the previous reviews talking about missing stories and pages, and so I say 10 out of 10! \n Firstly, the corrected 2011 edition is a beautiful leather-bound hardback with ridged spine, with beautiful cloth page marker bound into it. Silver edged pages are a nice addition. \n As for the Amazon.co.uk reviews stating it is 'incomplete' - I have gone through all of the other reviews that mention some works of fiction that are missing from this volume so in effect doesn't make it 'complete' in regards to Lovecraft's fiction. See below: \n Wentworth's Day (1957), The Gable Window (1957), and The Horror From The Middle Span (1967) are mentioned as missing but these are not included on the bibliography list on Wikipedia, but are actually written by August Derleth anyway. \n The Thing In The Moonlight, Horror in the Museum, Poetry and the Gods, and In the Walls of Eryx are mentioned as missing, but these are collaborations with notes on the Wikipedia bibliography. \n The Fungi from Yuggoth is mentioned as missing, but this is poetry anyway according to the Wikipedia bibliography. \n The Loved Dead is mentioned as missing but is not listed in the bibliography on Wikipedia and was actually written by C.M. Eddy, Jr. \n The Evil Clergyman is not missing, it is in the contents and features on page 941. \n I have just compared (Dec 27, 2013) the 'fiction' section of the Wikipedia bibliography with all of the stories featured in this volume. All of the fiction is included in this volume. \n It does, however, include Through the Gates of the Silver Key which was in fact a collaboration with E. Hoffman Price, and Under the Pyramids which was a collaboration with Harry Houdini. \n In the volume it says under Juvenilia that The Little Glass Bottle, The Secret Cave, The Mystery of the Grave-Yard, The Mysterious Ship (short and long version), and a discarded draft of The Shadow Over Innsmouth are included. They are. \n In the Juvenilia section of the Wikipedia bibliography it also lists The Alchemist and The Beast in the Cave - these are actually listed under main fiction section in the volume. \n The only thing I have noticed is that under the Juvenilia section of the Wikipedia bibliography is that it lists The Haunted House, John, the Detective, The Noble Eavesdropper, and The Picture. These are not in the volume under main fiction or the Juvenilia appendix - but on Wikipedia is says these are unpublished anyway. \n Reviews have said that 1099 is an 'About the Author' but it only goes up to 1098. Mine only goes up to 1098 but the Index doesn't mention this section anyway and ends as it should to on the last page of Supernatural Horror \n In Literature. \n Again, I repeat, I think this corrects the previous reviews talking about missing stories and pages, and so I say 10 out of 10!", "date_added": "Tue Nov 05 23:00:22 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 27 05:10:35 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e3c321241eb60f7a5aa92393812da21", "book_id": "18079804", "review_id": "925216ba7df48ad425be0b394bf00123", "rating": 4, "review_text": "four stars especially for the plot", "date_added": "Thu Sep 18 17:01:38 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 18 17:02:07 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c4865ac285f8ace7ebee2454e18b6f17", "book_id": "12444166", "review_id": "bd0e9c095c20a8f350821f9d0d1711ad", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love the fever series :) and this is a super good addition to it!! And I actually loved it from Danis perspective! Dreamyyy men of course! I loved it from start to finish cannot wait for the next book :)", "date_added": "Mon Oct 01 07:00:22 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 11 13:03:56 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "66c13363af2bb22370e8d85900278374", "book_id": "10863118", "review_id": "edbe724887a55907a45dd35aaa76ba9a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A really long book, it is nevertheless entertaining. Although I loved the series, there are some parts in this final book that disappointed me. Description of each of the battles in excruciating detail is often over done. Also, there are striking similarity between the plot details of this and Lord of the Rings. Just like Eragon went to collect the energies of Eldunari to win, Aragorn (in LOTR) had gone to the ghosts. Even the names Eragon and Aragorn are very similar. Having said that, it is quite natural and acceptable that this series was inspired by works like LOTR. \n One thing that I liked was the long wrap up to the series. Most of the authors just finish off with an epilogue, giving a hint of happy years that run into eternity. In this case however, a surprisingly large section of the book is dedicated to events that happen after the final battle. It gives a finial finish to the series and gives the sense of a much required closure.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 03 08:06:35 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 12 12:00:00 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "66c13363af2bb22370e8d85900278374", "book_id": "7487564", "review_id": "510418b658baeb02667898678b768916", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It was my least favorite in the series. So well written, brilliant pieces in between. I loved the clutch matches, the American setting and the detail. It was never boring. But I think the author was in a hurry and did not think through the ending which is depressing and chaotic at best.Everything else was great, but why did he have to kill Lucy? I am not able to cope up with that loss. I would have accepted Petra as bad and even liked that because James was catching up with Lucy. I was hoping Lippert would do some Dimensional shift shit again and we would have Lucy back alive and that it all turns out different, but it went as bad as it could have gone. \n I would probably still read the next one in the series, because I secretly hope that Lippert was fooling around in the end and somehow Lucy would come back. \n If you have read only till the second book; in my view, stop there, the third book is a trap, it is the best book in the series till the moment before last and then suddenly it turns the worst possible way. \n I'm sorry I can only give it 2 stars; it having spoiled itself. (just like Petra and Morgan). \n Edit:I have now increased it to 4 stars. Don't know why, but I seem to have passed the emotional burst in which I gave it two stars.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 22 23:36:19 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 04 09:28:10 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Dec 22 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "66c13363af2bb22370e8d85900278374", "book_id": "6415068", "review_id": "a4706b8f14376e894539a65466041d5c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It's a tale straight out of dreams written with love for children. I read it after I had read the three LOTR books and found it more humorous and simple than the LOTR (which because it is richer and thicker in plot becomes complex at times). The book was written by J.R.R. Tolkien for his children. He narrates an educative and descriptive story, making them laugh along the way as they learn. Lessons of morality, bravery, humility and all other heroic traits are woven into a tale of dwarves, a hobbit, a wizard, and lots of animals who can talk. \n Tolkien develops the character of Bilbo throughout the book. Just as we keep on updating our views for a person regularly, a new face/ character of Bilbo is revealed as he takes each new decision. It is a book which has been told as a tale, like a person is sitting next to you and telling a story, thus forging a personal connection with the author.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 15 06:55:21 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 09 21:52:42 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "66c13363af2bb22370e8d85900278374", "book_id": "2548866", "review_id": "233333f671374971586780c1df5021b3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I simply loved it. I needed a continuation of the magical world story. It is a very mature and commendable piece of fiction, more so because, like James it (this fan fiction) had to live upto its father's(The original Harry Potter series') expectations. I think Lippert gave wings to his imagination, without copying everything of the old world but respecting it enough to bring alive the old charm of Hogwarts. \n The best thing was the technomancy class. It gave quite believable and satisfactory insight into how vanishing, apparition, and moving paintings work.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 15 06:32:30 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 15 06:48:28 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Dec 15 06:48:28 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "85ab79f4e24168a27cad21e1a0939c6d", "book_id": "47573", "review_id": "4cd0699459f81d2b19012df939b78f90", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Better than the first one, fun book all around.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 07 11:30:45 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 07 11:31:17 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9176fa8338c6cb56ea006b2dcd9e3d92", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "ebfc1ee2325b23d930a7d09e46fa8d6a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Pleasant read! I couldn't put it down. Loved the narration as I listened to the audiobook. It is read by Jim Dale who also read the Harry Potter series. I recommend this one!", "date_added": "Sun Apr 21 08:29:33 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 27 18:33:07 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "44c597e7a0e36e77060380fd547edf3c", "book_id": "77366", "review_id": "459a0e548f075fa3c3c8bc0fdcf6928c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It was a fun read, but it felt a bit disjointed.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 11 15:55:31 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 11 15:56:49 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "44c597e7a0e36e77060380fd547edf3c", "book_id": "17167166", "review_id": "5abba25e3858cd47dfafe4225b455b45", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow. Just... wow. I highly recommend this read. She does a fantastic job weaving together elements of mystery, romance, and fantasy throughout her storytelling. And my favorite part of reading: her characters. I couldn't put it down.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 11 15:19:54 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 13 18:25:10 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "44c597e7a0e36e77060380fd547edf3c", "book_id": "7896527", "review_id": "845f558ab8a40930da08c24459dc7477", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book. Lovely writing, with a good story. I'm very glad I read the prequels first- they really helped flesh out the main character a bit more. However, I definitely loved the writing more in Throne of Glass than in the prequels. If you're looking for a strong, female protagonist with a thickly mysterious fantasy plot, this book is for you. That, and she kicks butt, which is always fun.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 11 15:19:49 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 12 21:38:21 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "44c597e7a0e36e77060380fd547edf3c", "book_id": "18243700", "review_id": "85b60d89b1bfacc08e39bcb379c0a13c", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Very interesting- glad I read the prequel novellas first. Looking forward to the series!", "date_added": "Mon Jan 11 15:17:09 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 11 15:18:09 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jan 11 15:18:09 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "7733", "review_id": "0928c6a52a72d57dab7ac8e372c8a917", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Swift's satirical travelogue was simply too heavy handed for me. The adventurous settings of a man at sea including his various forms of abandonment (storms, shipwrecks, marooned, pirate attacks, and mutiny) clearly recall sea adventures of the time, while the exploration of fantastical worlds is meant to contain some insight into the non-fiction world of Swift's time. I'm guessing some sort of backhanded commentary on British politics (which I guess was a rather bloody contemporary affair that required bravery and subterfuge for Swift to engage), but whatever it's brilliance once was, it doesn't come through to me today. \n I just. didn't. care. what. happened. to dear Englishman Gulliver. He's big. He's small. He's wiser than imaginary people. He's ignorant compared to amazing horses?! Maybe the animals should lead us? Yeah, I know, bizarre. Usually a fan of reference to classic historical figures, I yawned through his discussions with ancient Romans. \n While the Lilliputians have been absorbed into cultural mindset, the names of other races are muddling and not part of our cultural dialogue. We do not speak of the Byobdingnag's or Laputas. Interestingly, the race of Yahoos has some cultural currency because of the search engine so named, but in Swift's world, the Yahoos are rough, ignorant, and defiled people with whom Gulliver does NOT want to be identified. In fact, his label as a Yahoo and ejection from the society seems to color his own identity and cause him to withdraw from society and his family, giving the book a miserable ending. \n Finally, the end is completely hopeless and uninspiring. Another reason the cultural narrative doesn't get beyond the Lilliputians, aside from it's general boring narrative, is Gulliver's transformation. The book begins as the light hearted romp of a generally honest Englishman through traveling adventures, but by the end, Gulliver has lost his cheerful orientation to life and is a rather crazed, old, recluse. \n It's a classic, so it's good to read for yourself and see what all the fuss is about. But for myself, I prefer other titles, such as the work that started the genre Swift's Gulliver is mocking, a book I highly recommend... \n Robinson Crusoe, Defoe, 1719 \n gave birth to both the travelogue and Robinsonade genres \n https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... \n The title that defined the pirate genre \n Treasure Island, Stevenson, 1882 \n https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...", "date_added": "Tue May 16 09:35:17 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat May 20 07:07:24 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "38686", "review_id": "d3be5109a2b25c640488ae37325fb57b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "#10 Best Sellers of all time, estimated 100 million copies sold \n I'm just not a fan of Carroll's juxtaposed, illogical, keep the reader in a state of confusion, oh! it's all a dream, style. My copy has both these books bound together, and while I don't like either, \"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland\" is less unsatisfactory than \"Through the Looking Glass.\" \n However, after seeing this staged a couple of times, I can understand why people who like word play for it's own sake, gorgeous costumes and vivid settings, adore this book. I can enjoy it on the stage, but I merely tolerate it in print. \n I do own it, but would prefer not to, so this is a title I'll be happy to sell after I've fulfilled my home school duty - and maybe even before. \n Want to read #9 best seller of all time? See \n Dream of the Red Chamber, Cao Xueqin, 1791", "date_added": "Wed May 10 08:47:05 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed May 10 08:47:23 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "3", "review_id": "8af09fb27a0f7e5103d924529b6d2d9c", "rating": 1, "review_text": "#8 Best Sellers of all time, estimated 107 million copies sold (Source: Wikipedia.org) \n I read this about a decade ago. The level of affection for Harry Potter, the number of books sold, the awards given, the movies made and JK Rowling's fortune have only grow in the intervening time. Friends who adore Harry convinced me to read it again. Unfortunately, I found it unchanged. \n I loathe this pedantic and tedius story. From the Muggle popscicle stick theater characters' cruel hatred to the normalization of wizardry, to the alchemy, I simply don't understand what all the fuss is about. I can see that Rowling occassionally creates an interesting scene: Hogwarts castle or Diagon's Alley, and the highlight of the book was Harry's overwhelming mail which occurs disappointingly early for a highlight. \n Harry and the other characters of the book are simply not developed. What are his likes/ dislikes? He is simply shaped by circumstances, circumstances that seem rather pandering (The people closest to you don't see it, but you're special! You are surprisingly rich! You have extraordinary abilities! You need a #2 wingman/ sidekick (Ron)! Capable girls will notice you (Hermoine)! The rules don't apply to you! You have an exciting future ahead of you! etc), but Rowling doesn't develop Harry's CHARACTER. Other characters appear and disappear according to a simplistic linear narrative, leaving no sense that these characters EXIST apart from their presence when facing Harry in the storyline. Clearly, Harry and his friends were in an elite category, to whom the standard warnings and boundaries of Hogwarts' students didn't apply - and Harry the most elite of all. Clearly, they were exceptional and have incredible abilities beyond their age, experience or education - and Harry the most exceptional of all. Clearly, the adults were rather worthless in dealing with the oh-so-scary-impending-threat - and Harry the most vulnerable of all (due to their neglegence). Clearly, they were going to come out unscathed (Excuse me, I yawned.) \n Additionally, \"this has never happened before!\" and \"don't do that or else you'll be expelled,\" and \"his impeding death seemed certain\" rang false, I didn't believe it and I never felt a sense of peril relating to either Harry, his friends, or their adventures. This is heightened by the mental suspension necessary to believe the children are both unaware that they are simultaneously incredibly brilliant and astoundingly dim as they fail to pursue lines of action that would provide clarity to their drawn out adventure. \n I guess the bottom line is that while the popularity is impressive, the writing just isn't that good. Yet this is the first book/ series for many of the young generation, who read it as children and view Harry as a friend from their youth - a breath of nostalgic security. I'm happy they found that in a book. It's an attachment I can empathize with as I have many lifelong friends myself from books I read as a child. But, I wish we could get children attached to excellent literature. \n Want to read #7 best seller of all time? See, \n The Little Prince, de Saint-Exupery, 1943 \n https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... \n The Young Adult best seller I've read and loved is: \n The Hunger Games Trilogy, Collins, 2008 \n https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... \n Here's a classic I'd love to see all HP reluctant readers pick up: \n Tales of Shakespeare, Lamb, 1807 \n https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... \n Or, \n The Great Brain (The Great Brain #1), Fitzgerald, 1967 \n https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...", "date_added": "Tue Mar 28 14:35:50 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 02 12:08:15 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "83346", "review_id": "f4794a832d7f079c5d7a557bc961d948", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I'm just not a fan of Carroll's juxtaposed, illogical, keep the reader in a state of confusion, oh! it's all a dream, style. My copy has both these books bound together, and while I don't like either, \"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland\" is less unsatisfactory than \"Through the Looking Glass.\" \n I do own it, but would prefer not to, so this is a title I'll be happy to sell after I've fulfilled my home school duty - and maybe even before.", "date_added": "Sun May 15 18:15:09 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon May 16 10:38:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "24213", "review_id": "631d3dbe1f6b7f9f94bddc840c10e2e1", "rating": 2, "review_text": "#12 Best Sellers of all time, estimated 100 million copies sold (source: Wikipedia.org) \n I'm just not a fan of Carroll's juxtaposed, illogical, keep the reader in a state of confusion, oh! it's all a dream, style. My copy has both these books bound together, and while I don't like either, \"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland\" is less unsatisfactory than \"Through the Looking Glass.\" \n However, after seeing this staged a couple of times, I can understand why people who like word play for it's own sake, gorgeous costumes and vivid settings, adore this book. I can enjoy it on the stage, but I merely tolerate it in print. \n I do own it, but would prefer not to, so this is a title I'll be happy to sell after I've fulfilled my home school duty - and maybe even before. \n Want to read #11 best seller of all time? See \n Dream of the Red Chamber, Cao Xueqin, 1791", "date_added": "Sun May 15 18:06:29 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue May 16 08:41:07 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "7776444", "review_id": "8726085885e1f0f278b1deed2996e58f", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I don't know if it was me or the book, but I've tried a few times and just. could. not. get. into it. I have not read Lawhead before, but am told by those that love him that this a rather fringe novel and not typical of his style/ subject matter. I feel motivated to try Lawhead again, but it's time to say goodbye to this after over two years of attempts.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 20 12:58:30 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon May 16 10:37:53 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Mar 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "13191360", "review_id": "cf753a4937ae8ccdc93767a369bae97e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I don't know if I developed the unique suspended disbelief necessary for this author or if this particular title was somewhat better than the previous two. Plot gaps and weak characterization continue, but this is clearly the climax of the tale and, as such, I was interested to see how it all turned out - even though my suspicion that it would be formulaic was proved correct. Don't worry about your favorite character dying, no matter how difficult the circumstances. \n Ultimately, this series is simply one tale. It feels like an editor forced the book into three acts - thus creating three titles and the rather awkward cliff hangers of the previous titles. I think it would have worked better as a single title, as I found these mechanics annoying. But this is perhaps the challenge of writing a classic type story for a modern audience - moderns demand books significantly shorter. \n In the end, the setting is a disappointment to me. The author completely failed to engage with the post-flood world. Passing references to ice formation or previous generations with labels such as \"The God of Noah\" are simply not enough to examine the contrasts in that newly reset world. As this type of penetrating illumination was a hope of mine for the series, I found it to be a forgettable disappointment. What we really have is a modern fantasy in the medieval style - not very unique or compelling. \n But safe for kids. \n I have read other Goodreads reviews (it's always intriguing when others see brilliance where you see muck) and it sounds like this is a popular read aloud for families. I can see how it has basic adventure plots that would appeal to children without objectionable material. Yet, I think in the end, I think another, treasured work would always be selected as \"next\" ahead of this.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 06 14:05:09 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 10 11:51:25 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "9636452", "review_id": "24594ceaa76b8fa15fb21b79c9f211fc", "rating": 2, "review_text": "While marketing professionals may have recommended a trilogy, the Peleg Chronicles is just one story, with some rather arbitrary cliff hangers between books. The first edition lacked luster and I'm not sure the second will sell as well anyway. In addition, the somewhat slow start of the first book would be mitigated by a single binding, although I have to concede, it makes it easier to carry! \n I couldn't say at the end of Book 1 that I really CARED about the characters, but I found myself warming to them and their world in Paladins. There were times when I picked the book up not because I wanted to read and this is my current project, but because I wanted to know what happened next. These sparks were encouraging, though not enough to light a fire and I find myself dragging my feet on starting Book 3. \n Adequate to pass the time, this is not classic literature. It is appropriate for young people and would be a good option for a voracious reader.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 06 14:05:03 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 20 12:56:58 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Mar 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "7060400", "review_id": "478c719ef483300046b96f62f0a148c8", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Pleasant enough, \"Foundlings\" is rather bland. The characters are loosely drawn, the world - a promising premise - is hazy, and the plot is rather slow. \n The author is clearly attempting to imitate the likes of Tolkien or Lewis, but the reader cannot help but *notice* his forced modifiers and belabored attempts to construct a \"world.\" Peleg Chronicles (of which this is book 1) may *remind* you of other, more accomplished authors, but the reader is dependent on their better illustration to fill in the gaps. \n There are also several choices made that are perplexing. Why brand the book no magic - no evolution - no humanism and the open the first paragraph with a witch over a cauldron casting a spell? Why illustrate a world that has distinct medieval overtones (ala Lewis, Tolkien and many other writers) without showing us the supposed lost brilliance of the post-flood world? There is a clear conflict between pagan polytheists and those who follow \"the God of Noah\", but no clear connection to either Noah, his descendants, the pre-flood world, Babel or how the message was inherited in now God fearing hearts. Why have believers quote long passages of Scripture not yet written without any explanation for the contemporary audience? Surely, Harding doesn't mean to imply they had the entire Bible (including Psalms and New Testament)? \n This book is fine to pass the time or satisfy a voracious child reader, but it's entirely forgettable. I was given the set, so I'll continue reading and posting reviews on Goodreads.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 06 14:04:41 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 07 10:36:35 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Mar 07 12:52:20 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "7740", "review_id": "d78b09d5ebbd8a376485df66b26b65d9", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This story of Gulliver and his voyages to fantasy locations was never a favor of mine, and apparently my little that read it feels the same. However, I can say it was the site of a great triumph, in that it is the first book this student ever finished that he didn't thoroughly enjoy - a victory of self-discipline! \n The adaptation is good, as is the rest of this series, it was simply the story that didn't happen to entice us.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 06:26:03 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu May 08 19:24:25 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Mar 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "791872", "review_id": "8cdfa5b9171522f72b7e53dac42b64d2", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The Arabian Nights are famous for their magnificent storytelling, and their illumination of the Eastern world. This translation is simple and literal while maintaining some of the poetry and mystery of the stories, as accomplishment to be sure. \n However, the brutality of stories, even when told in such a matter-of-fact manner, cannot be hidden. Certainly, much of the literature of the middle ages is considered violent or carnal by the contemporary reader, but the values system is disconcerting, especially when read to children. \n The first chapter recounts the setting of the 1001 nights. The King, whose heart has been wounded by an unfaithful woman, decides he will marry a new maiden each day and then kill her in the morning. The brave Shahrazad tells the King one story each night, and his desire to hear the story continue causes him to spare her life. After 3 children and 1001 stories, Shahrazad requests of the King her life, and he grants her request (this is recounted in the Epilogue). This context alone took quite a while to explain and discuss with our students. \n The stories throughout are filled with cleverness, adventure many reversals (the rich are brought down and the poor rise), and trickery. Slaves feature prominently in many stories (which is historically accurate as Arabia was the largest slave market in the world throughout the middle ages, only to be surpassed in the 1800s by the trans-Atlantic slave trade), and black slaves are particularly singled out for the lowest stations. Women are often killed, and men are routinely whipped, often for no reason at all. Faithfulness seems to be a virtue only important in a woman, and the jinnee (our genie) will need explanation as well. Particularly brutal is the chapter \"Kalifah and the Fisherman\" (which we skipped entirely), with Aladdin (not surprisingly) the most palatable. \n So why read them? There is adventure and mystery! The stories do give insight into an entirely different culture. The discussions we had with our students were excellent, and served to highlight our own cultural tendencies, as well as the need for a cultural standard of \"righteous\" behavior. Islam and the Arab world being such a definitive part of our experience, and likely our children's, I think such exposure is beneficial. \n Teaching this was a daunting task. For those who want something a little easier, that you do not need to preview as carefully, Jim Weiss' A Storytellers Version of the Arabian Nights CD was well done. Link: \n http://www.amazon.com/Storytellers-Ve... \n Also, we read this alongside \n http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/67... \n King Arthur which provided an excellent contrast for discussion of different cultures and worldviews. \n In conclusion, I cannot say this was \"pleasant\" or \"enjoyable\", and I was very happy when the day came in studying Arabian culture that we got to watch Disney's Aladdin and discuss art, architecture, speech/phrasing, references to Allah, clothing, etc. I think i may have covered it a bit too young (4th grade). However, particularly for an older student, or one curious about other cultures, times and places, this particular edition is a brief and thrifty exposure to another worldview. \n For a more gentle introduction to Arabian culture via architecture, see \n Mosque, Macaulay, 2003 \n https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... \n Other Fairy Tales from the East \n Chinese Fairy Tales, Martens, 1998 \n https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...", "date_added": "Sat Sep 07 08:00:42 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat May 20 07:29:25 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "65641", "review_id": "82431e2a50e42cbe70df94b165d77784", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I love this series, but this installment is a bit weaker to me, personally. \n Part of it is Eustace and Jill. While Eustace experiences tremendous growth during his first adventure in Narnia, he wasn't a favorite and without the Pevensie's to support him, he is flat. Lewis tried to do more with Jill, but her character still seems stilted and it is unclear HOW Lewis envisions her maturation. In the end, I miss the lovely Pevensie's, clearly drawn, dearly remembered, fondly embraced. \n Secondly, the setting of the Underworld is dreary. Sure, it's fantasy and the witch's world is to be undesirable. But Lewis' treatment here is heavy handed. It lacks the simple, mysterious poetry of \"always winter and never Christmas\" so much so that the claim that Narnian's explore the underworld in future times seems abrupt, strange and incongruous. \n Aslan makes several appearances, and the resolution of Eustance and Jill's problem is simply and somewhat cleverly done. The adorable MarshWiggle, Puddleglum and the Owl, Glimfeather are strong Narnian characters, full of unique personality, otherworldly gifts, and adventurous spirit. The plotting of the adventure itself is engaging (though somehow more predictable than other titles in the series), and this isn't a \"bad\" book, it's simply not as brilliant as some of the others. Additionally, love of Narnia compels true citizens to discover all her stories - even medals of silver found among medals of gold.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 14 20:37:26 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 15 20:11:52 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "816660", "review_id": "cfe79fb4ff2845b29d3837cca1cfe427", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Another fun title. I had to write and tell you all that chapter 3 deals with the Littles making a telephone call. This is hilarious. Partly because of the setting of the story, but mostly because my little reader has no experience with a telephone or how it works. I had quite the time trying to explain it! Nonetheless, he did understand flying and the other accomplishments of the Littles in the book. The story features a snow storm and the birth of a baby, so it is interesting to both boys and girls. \n But if you want to save yourself the hilarity, or maybe frustration, of explaining an old fashioned telephone and helping your reader through the intricacies of a machine he doesn't understand, you might want to chose another one of the excellent titles in this series! :)", "date_added": "Sat Mar 09 09:49:27 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 09 09:52:35 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "33", "review_id": "61f263b9d3106fd9075a7361614a3032", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Lord of the Rings Trilogy has sold an estimated 350m copies (more if you include The Hobbit), and is one of the best selling fictional series for adults of all time. I have enjoyed several trips through Middle-earth and highly recommend the trilogy as classic literature. I have posted reviews of the Hobbit, the series prequel, and each of the three books. You can click through each review, or, if you want an overview, here are my highlights: \n From my Hobbit review: \n \"Tolkien himself is an interesting study and the subject of several biographies. From his early life in South Africa to the loss of his parents at a young age to his academic achievements, he famously overcame quite a bit for an Englishman of quiet domesticity. An intellectual, he transformed teaching and understanding of Beowolf and also published fantasy stories for children. His professorship at Oxford, transformation friendship with C.S. Lewis, participation in the writer's guild The Inklings, and international fame that came from his creation of Middle-Earth propelled him further into the limelight. Having not read a biography on him at this time, post in comments any that you would recommend and why you liked them.\" \n From my The Fellowship of the Ring review: \n \"The Peter Jackson movie on this title was not only a huge success, but a mostly faithful account of the story line, language, history and settings of Middle-earth. Of course, the book is better, and sales indicate many were lead to discover the text either in preparation for or to continue exploration after the movie was released. This is a huge win, because not only was this book a best seller, it represents some of the finest fictional writing in the English language and deserves it's status as an enduring classic. If you've only watched the movie, take the plunge!\" \n From my Two Towers review: \n \"When I started researching for this review, I was shocked to discover that after publishing The Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings, Book #1) in July of 1954, Tolkien delivered Two Towers FOUR MONTHS later in November of the same year. Certainly, he had a lot written before Fellowship was published, after all there were some 17 years between the first Middle-earth installment of The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring, but this still struck me as a tremendous achievement. The Return of the King came out eight months later the following year in July of 1955. This was probably possible because Tolkien wrote them all as one story. As such, Two Towers doesn't seem to suffer from many of the difficulties that plague middle books in a trilogy. Instead of slowing down to develop, this installment actually speeds up the action while adding depth to characters. This approach by Tolkien more closely resembles life, where our trials - and adventures - expose our true character.\" \n From my Return of the King review: \n \" The sense of peril is high in this adventure and we see that Tolkien, as an author, doesn't love his characters enough for us to feel confident he will preserve them all. This sacrifice of the good, beloved and noble gives the story a weighty feel. Furthermore, the enduring impact of the struggle with evil on our beloved characters, particularly Frodo, speaks to Tolkien's personal experience with war.\" \n Want to get started? I recommend \n The Hobbit, Tolkien, 1937 \n https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... \n The Fellowship of the Ring, Tolkien, 1954 \n https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... \n For Tolkien on Beowulf and other teaching topics, see \n The Monsters and the Critics and other essays, Tolkien, 2007 \n https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... \n For more on the Inklings, see \n The Oxford Inklings, Duriez, 2015 \n https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit... \n Where to go from here if you've read it? \n For another fictional look at war, but in a dystopian/ futuristic setting, see \n The Hunger Games Trilogy, Collins, 2010 \n https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... \n For a historical fiction look at a long medieval struggle, see \n The Heaven Tree Trilogy, Pargeter, 1960 \n https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...", "date_added": "Sat Mar 09 09:41:02 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 08 19:49:18 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jun 07 13:40:01 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "121749", "review_id": "5a7f40c604439cc6862210a6bea72847", "rating": 5, "review_text": "There is an element of mystery in this installment of Lewis' treasured Chronicles of Narnia. \n Who is Prince Caspian? \n Why have the Pevensie children been called from their world back to Narnia? \n What is the state of Narnia? \n Where is Aslan and what is He doing? \n How does Narnia transform the children from dependents to leaders? \n What should the children do to resolve these uncertainties? \n These questions and others made for a compelling read and another wonderful trip to Narnia. It is joy to see in my student's eyes that same fascination, that same longing to read MORE, that same contemplation \"wouldn't it be WONDERFUL if I could be transported to another land where I'd have wonderful adventures and experience Aslan?\". I have the pleasure of peppering them with questions (What do you think will happen? Where are they? What do you WANT to happen? Do you think X is an enemy or friend? What is Aslan doing?) at the end of chapters and watching the illumination of their hearts as they form their answers. Precious, precious homeschool times. This title has been a special favorite of little boy. \n Highly recommended.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 27 10:03:39 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 15 19:56:20 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "84119", "review_id": "4830d274be22ee58ab35a4d7c52b4f9f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I am torn as we finish this next book in our chronological reading of the Chronicles of Narnia. On the one hand, my son and I loved the story. The horses, Bree with his pride and Hwin with her noble gentleness, the unexpected hero of Shasta, the toughness and transformation of Aravis, the vivid heat and color of Calormene, the rich mountains of Archenland, the longing for 'home' of Narnia and the glimpses into the Golden Age reign of the Pevensie children. All of this with the thrilling adventure of unknown adversaries, escapes, chases, betrayals, desert crossing, castle sieging, and Aslan's profound appearances and wise counsel \"I will only tell you your own story.\" \n Yet, there is something lacking. Is it any wonder that Lewis, so little exposed to female company in his early life, lacks vibrancy in his female characters? The high language in which the Pevensie's previously rather ordinary children speak is somewhat distracting and required editing for our student to understand. And then there are the clear Arabic/ Muslim tones of Calormene society and religious practice. The portrayal does smack of English superiority at points. Yet pondering this reinforced in my mind that the tension between Islam and countries claimed by it, and Christianity, and countries allied with it, is a long standing one that extends back centuries before September 11, 2001. \n In the end, this is a delightful story, that entertains and excites the imagination of children. While it is also an easy, amusing read for adults, the story contains deeper echoes of both the joys and challenges of our world. Looking forward to continuing the series!", "date_added": "Thu Nov 15 14:36:15 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 15 19:55:47 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "11127", "review_id": "795ba92cef4960dc4c5c3825d9a3b868", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This edition features the stories in chronological order, as opposed to the order they were published. They are presented: \n #1 The Magician's Nephew (published 6th) \n #2 The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (published 1st) \n #3 The Horse and His Boy (published 5) \n #4 Prince Caspian (published 2) \n #5 The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (published 3) \n #6 The Silver Chair (published 4) \n #7 The Last Battle (published 7) \n When I was young, I read them in the order published. But, for home school, I have decided to read them in chronological order as it think this will be easier for elementary students to understand. If you would like to do the same, you can get this edition, which I found at a garage sale. The only problem is the book is heavy and the print a bit smaller. This was a convenient book for a long trip, but for home and on the go around town, I prefer the smaller bound copies.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 22 12:31:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 22 12:36:45 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "65605", "review_id": "d369b55f5c7f4e2146fa58d71daa7fad", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The grandeur of Narnia's creation is the climax of Digory and Polly's travel between worlds. The story explains more of Jadis' backstory (and appeal), as well as how the lamp post came to be. \n The big question about this story is not should you read them, but in what order? Since this book features the Creation of Narnia, it is the chronological #1. I find straight chronology is easier for young students to comprehend, but reading it first loses the excitment of finding out more about characters and settings that become familiar with Narnia if you read in the order published. Maybe we can have both? I am going to try it chronologically for read-aloud, when I read to the group, and have older, independent readers consume them in publication order. \n Either way, Narnia remains one of the most captivating lands in the cosmos. Highly recommended to read and re-read.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 22 12:29:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 22 06:40:00 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sat Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "100915", "review_id": "59ccf91e301419fd988e57ef93c245cd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The magic and mystery of this story captivates young and old. Our latest trip through the Wardrobe was just as enchanting as previous adventures. This story, in particular has special nostalgia as my first introduction to Narnia as a little one. Thrilled to share it with the next generation! Both our first grader (via read-aloud) and 15 year old (reading independently) have read through the chronicles this year, and its been a blessing to them and the parents as well!", "date_added": "Sat Apr 24 19:16:50 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 15 14:19:11 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Oct 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "12759", "review_id": "e683806a34504a50e8f6efc22ed10cc9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This clever fantasy was an engaging Kindergarten read aloud. The medieval setting, mysterious adventure, placid young hero and compelling search for delicious made for a wonderful read to which we were eager to return. \n Like all good fiction, there is a lot going on here. Opportunities abound for a discussion of words, fantasy, truth and fiction, greed, loyalty, persistence and mystery. Magic does make appearances, but it's not a new age find-it-in-yourself type of thing - it's a separate world of woldwellers, dwarfs, and mermaids who don't desire to get involved in the things of men, and the tale of how men seek to induce them to use their gifts to their advantage. \n An excellent read. Highly recommended.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 03 15:26:17 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 12 19:43:04 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sun Oct 10 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Fri Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "1162543", "review_id": "91167d2f1c170209475863cbea34a7fc", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Although slow at parts, this was an engaging read. But while I sought some sort of resolution to the tension, Meyer has chosen to give resolution to the world of Twilight, but not the relationships within that world. Bella's marriage, pregnancy (i don't think i'm giving anything away) and transformation were handled well and give us added insight into how the world of Cullen works. The middle section from Jacob's perspective gives us additional insight into the imprinting phenomena which he is so terrified of, and we learn about the Alpha function in the wolf pack. All of these things bring clarity to how the world of Twilight functions, and what the long term trajectory of our heroes (Bella, Edward and Jacob) will look like. And that in itself is quite an accomplishment. While the fantasia of the plot line leaves Twilight open to any number of satirical attacks, I have to say Meyer dealt with these topics in a way that satisfied my nerves and avoided the general lameness that could have easily crept in. \n Fans (and parents) should also be aware that this is the most gory of the four installments. Rationally, not a surprise, since Bella has completely crossed over into the Cullen world. So we get several hunting scenes, and interaction with vamps who do not follow the Cullen's \"vegetarian\" lifestyle, but are considered friends nonetheless. Not to mention the innate violence of the Cullen family \"way of life\" from marriage through pregnancy (which were handled discreetly). While I can see why some would criticize this, I found this satisfying, as these are the very things Edward always wanted to protect Bella from and it would have rung false had Meyer failed to bring into focus what it really means to be forever Cullen. \n On a personal note, i was struck by the Biblical illusions referenced in Bella's transformation (though i'm not sure they were intentional), which brought about a rather analytic pondering of what it will be like when the mortal body becomes immortal, and how we will look back on our human life. I cannot recall this theme being dealt with effectively in other literature I have read. In order to prevent spoilers, I will simply give the Biblical reference that kept running through my mind for those who may not be acquainted. 1 Corinthians 13:12 \"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.\" \n On an analytic note, I found it interesting that even though the Cullen's are 'immortal' they can still die and often fight to preserve their own lives. In addition, it is implied that the Volturi are aged. Are they then, truly immortal? Or merely people of prolonged existence? From a theological perspective, immortality is victory over and release from the possibility of death. Death is no longer a threat. There is no aging, no reduction of power or vitality. In the Biblical context, immortality is an entirely different matter. \n Even though I enjoyed the book, i can see why some fans are disappointed. There is no resolution of RELATIONSHIPS which have been the focus of the Twilight series, rather the story arc continues beyond Breaking Dawn with its rivalries, power struggles, dangers and romances. True, the relationships between Bella, Edward and Jacob are resolved but we don't have a happily ever after feeling per say because the main matter of external relational conflict, with the Volturi is disturbingly unresolved. And secondarily, and far less important, the main matter of internal relational conflict (the relationship between Jacob and Reneesme) is likewise left hanging. Why? Is Meyer intentionally leaving herself an open to door to more merchandising? This seems unlikely, given that if she had been merchandise driven, these thousands of pages could have easily been broken beyond four installments. in the end, I could only conclude that: \n 1) Meyer wasn't willing to sacrifice any of her characters to make the conflict realistic - many a writer has developed an affection too great to sever. The ending that is Breaking Dawn fulfilled her desire to tell this necessary installment, releases her from having to kill off anyone, and leaves the door open to further storytelling should she desire it. With an ending so satisfying to Meyer, is it any wonder the fans feel a little miffed? If Meyer guaranteed future books, I'm sure the fan base wouldn't have had a problem with Breaking Dawn. \n 2) The other thought that came to mind is that the tidy ending is more a function of the modern novel than classic literature, of which Meyer has said she is a fan. Perhaps it satisfies our current culture's desire for immediate and complete gratification. While \"Romeo and Juliet\" and \"Jane Eyre\" do provide a rather full resolution to their story lines, Jane Austin never fully resolved what life would look like for the esteemed Mr. Darcy with the troublesome Mrs. Bennett as a mother-in-law. Tolstoy's \"War and Peace\" brought clarity to the main concept (the impact of the war and the main relationships), but was certainly incapable of resolving the numerous plot lines of all it's characters. Likewise, \"Wuthering Heights\" does not elaborate on the future of the happy couple. When looked at from this perspective, one wonders whether the hysteric Twilight fan base would accept any ending at all? \n If you've made it this far, you'll want to finish. 2.5 stars!", "date_added": "Fri Nov 06 05:59:42 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 19 05:44:28 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Thu Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "428263", "review_id": "81b6163771e690b19ae0f3068fdae715", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was still ticked at Edward and annoyed with Bella when I started reading this book; Jacob I was okay with. I didn't know if I'd finish the series any time soon, but I got a phone call from a friend who told me Eclipse was so excellent, I needed to read it ASAP so we could talk about it. \n Edward starts off as his psycho self and I was prepared to continue my hostility toward his general person, ah, vampire. But then, his character changes, grows, realizes his errors and makes adjustments. This made him more likeable, more flexible, and less Crazy Boyfriend. Less \"girls don't ever date someone like this if you find you are, get out!\" More mature. More recognizing that he cannot control everything. I became comfortable with him again. \n Bella can still be crazy and I don't always agree with her decisions, but I liked the way Meyer negotiated the real tension through which Bella brought the werewolves and Cullens together. Impressive. I liked the discussions about prejudices, and appreciated Bella's example. Meyer illustrates how relationship - knowing people's names and stories - humanizes and ultimately unifies, even mortal enemies. \n One of the best conversations of the series takes place in this book in Chapter 20 \"Compromise\". Love. Life and death decisions. Commitment. Feelings. Purity. Morality. Societal changes. Societal expectations/ roles of men/ women. Marriage. Family. Salvation. Excellent. Now for the Christians, it's true they are pretty much on the errant works based salvation track, and there is no mention of Jesus, but the first step is admitting you have a (sin) problem! I liked it that they grappled with the meaning of this life and the afterlife in a realistic way - this is something that young adults don't think about a ton, but should. Kudos. The exploration of these ideas is captivating, soul searching, life enriching stuff. Great discussion material for book clubs/ friends/ family ect. \n I was also struck by the degree to which the Cullens on 'are their own.' Let's see if I can explain. This may not make sense to non-Christians, but bear with me. Maybe because we have just joined a project to fund translation of the Bible into a language that doesn't have it, but it occurred to me that the Cullens have no direction for how to live. They have these desires. They know the desires are wrong. They want to live in a moral and redemptive manner. They don't know if redemption is even available to them. They don't know what will happen when they die, they aren't even sure of a lot of things about how they should live. They have to figure out everything as they go. This made me think about how precious the Bible is. How wonderful to realize God's pursuit of our hearts and his redemption of our sin-sick souls through the sacrifice of Christ. How valuable to have a guide for how to live, how enriching to have the stories of those who have gone this way before - people just like us! How comforting to know what will happen when we die and be able to prepare for it now! How gratifying to have purpose in life beyond satisfaction of our insatiable desires. In the fantasy of Twilight the Cullens have no idea what applies to them and what doesn't. They have no written word to direct them and few (if any) role models for the course of life they have chosen. They have been expelled from the identity of human (accepted as redeemable in this book and otherwise) to the world vampire - and no one really know what the vampire experience of life is all about. And they have chosen to cut themselves off from the vampire world. It's true that this decision separates them from the wicked consumption of human's, but it also isolates them from the fellowship of shared experience that would help them with how to live. I could not stop pondering these concepts as I was reading Eclipse. \n I continued to like Jacob. I thought it would be crazy to still have him around, but the plotting worked well to keep him engaged and even bring him and Edward closer together. Excellent. I liked the development of the manship between them too. And I found the resolution of Bella and Jacob's relationship strangely satisfying. After hating Edward in the last book, I was unprepared for being comfortable with him by this book's end, but Meyer did it. \n And there is a lot to discuss here. It's been great to read and discuss these with friends. My apologies to those who haven't read them (like my husband) but are nonetheless engaged in my verbal processing! 4 stars.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 15 07:08:47 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 23 12:55:24 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "49041", "review_id": "98ad31a601e5d9746de4641a1bc8d9c0", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I am a fan of the Twilight series, because I think it works on a couple of levels and gets people talking about things that are truly important in life -though I also appreciate the snark and criticism, much of which is valid. However, this installment of the series was difficult for me. There is a lot of darkness in this book, a lot of pulling toward death. Jacob is a bright light, and his character is overwhelmingly more positive, but I found this book a difficult read. \n Edward was annoying, and this book features him at his worst. As for dramatic effect, I completely understand his leaving. Yet, it just didn't make sense to me. I mean, we all knew Victoria was still out there, right? And I thought his whole break up and erase all trace was malicious and cruel. In addition, so much of their relationship is borderline destructive/ psycho in this book. Edward goes from borderline stalking to distant. I was infuriated when they are reunited, discussing what has happened, and Edward says, \"But Bella, how could you have believed me when I said I didn't love you, didn't want you?\" What kind of a psycho, manipulative mind game is that? Like it's her fault you left and she took you at your word? WHAT? And then the whole Romeo & Juliet I'm gonna kill myself thing was just plain stupid, Edward. Stupid. The one redeeming thing was that he did acknowledge he made a colossal mistake, but it wasn't enough to redeem the work for me. I wonder if I will go on hating him? \n Bella was annoying too. I know he left her. I know it was horrible. I didn't marry the first man I fell in love with, and when we broke up, it was horrendous. Excruciating. So I get it that Bella was in pain, and much of her story brought that all back for me. This could also be why I had a negative reaction to this book, it just got too personal. But at the same time, you cannot let yourself go insane, girl. This is a bad message for young women. If you lose Mr. Wonderful, it's all over for you unless he comes back or you go rescue him and he decides he does want you after all??!?! I wanted her to pull herself back, to triumph over the grief. Having gone through the situation, I found the Paris chapter incredibly compelling, and I liked the relationship with Jacob, I just wish Bella could have found a way to survive without having to 'hear the voice in her head'. That she would have chosen the way of life, deliberately, before the whole course of events to reunify them came along. And, I honestly thought maybe it was really Edward, seeing her, talking to her, or that somehow the bite mark on her hand created some kind of unanticipated vampire connection. A supernatural cause would have been more satisfying to me than her slow decline into insanity. I also thought it disturbing that her memory of Edward's voice was his anger. His wrath, inflexibility, dominance. It was icky. From a human perspective, this kind of hold a man can have on a woman's life (and I'm not saying there isn't destruction of men by women, but that isn't the context here) CAN be broken and SHOULD be broken. \n Young women out there: Heartbreak CAN be survived and overcome! You CAN make it. And when you do, you may find there is someone even more wonderful, someone who cares for you and builds you up and is perfect for you. Someone like... Jacob. Marry him. And I think she would have, if things had been different, they would have been different.... \n Jacob and the werewolves are handled almost carelessly and were good for a few laughs. I pondered: Is it true that the people/ precepts that are to guard us are less inviting/ attractive/ engaging than the predators/ illusions that destroy us? And my answer was YES. I found the Volturi a bit wooden, it just wasn't working for me, I thought it could have been so much more. Of course, Alice is cool. Relieved to be done. 2 stars.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 28 17:37:54 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 19 05:32:34 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Wed Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "456fb542c663d726e6fd853a0a10de5a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A REVIEW FOR CONCERNED PARENTS: \n I have read a great deal of criticism of these books. From the 4 stars I gave this one, you can see I liked it. But I think there are some things concerned parents should know about the books that are not getting represented in the discussion. \n This is a good book for parents to read with young adults and discuss together. These are discussions many parents WANT to have. Discussions about morality, beliefs, sex, decision making, etc. It is also a good series for book club discussion. Simply rejecting the books out of hand is, in my opinion, foolish. Meyer has created complex characters, with a complex plot line, in a complex, fantastical world. But the real gem here is the ability to examine moral dilemmas in the context of relationship. Some examples: \n * Can a vampire be good? This was one of my areas of resistance to the books. I thought Edward was to be evil. But, he wants to do the right thing. He is horrified by his vampire identity, and Meyer has set up her vampire characters with unique stories in which they are not culpable for their transformations. In other words, \"what would you do if, one day, through no fault of your own, you woke up to discover you are a vampire?\" Edward's personal wrestling with the strong attraction he feels for Bella and the self-control required to keep his vampire tendencies in check is an intriguing examination of the role self-control plays in all our lives - of how we respond to challenges in our lives and try to overcome situations that are far from ideal, externally and internally. In many ways, Edward's vampire characteristics mirror our sin nature. Now, the answers in Twilight are purely humanistic, but the examination of the role temptation, sin, redemption and salvation play in our lives are illustrated in a way that can generate a lot of discussion. \n * If a vampire could be good, how does one live that out in a world populated by \"bad\" vampires? What does that look like? The Cullens don't want to live as monsters who take human life, and the fight between good and evil becomes one in which the Cullen family is on the \"good\" side, often fighting against other vampires. That twist made the story appealing, and opens the door for a lot more discussion. What does it mean to try to live a different way, when your nature (sin) and environment are against you? \n There is much more than can be discussed such as: \n * Characteristics of Bella/Edward. What makes her/him appealing to readers? What are her/his strong points? Weak points? In what ways is she/he the typical teen, what is exceptional about him/her? NOTE: These characters do develop, so answers to this question will change over the course of the books. \n *How does Bella embody today's ideas about the role of women in society? How does Edward embody the time period in which he was born and lived before becoming a vampire? How do Bella and Edwards perceptions of the role of men and women differ and how does this impact their relationship? How does the time/ culture in which someone grows up shape their relational expectations? \n * What about Bella's human friends. Why doesn't she 'click' with them? Is she using them? Are they good friends to her? Is she a good friend to them? \n * What are the strengths and weaknesses of Bella's relationship with her parents? Compare and contrast the Cullen's and the Swan's. Which is more typical of families today? How does the authority structure differ? After examining these two types of families, what are the strength and weaknesses of your family of origin? \n * Love: What is true love? Is true love more about feeling or commitment? Why? How is God's love different from ours, such as what are our limits/ in what ways is God not limited? Were Romeo & Juliet wise people? Is their example something that should be imitated? Why or why not? Does such passionate love require youth? How would this story change if Bella/ Edward were in their 50's? Does love change over time? If so, how and why? \n The world of Twilight is such that it is difficult to discuss many of these questions in the context of one book. For example, on the topic of sexual purity. In Book 1, Bella understands that Edward is disciplined about physical boundaries because he is afraid he might hurt her. I have read criticisms that abstinence is only advocated because he is a vampire. But it is not until Book 3, when they know each other better, that Bella starts to realize that Edward is morally conservative, and a discussion of purity and virtue ensues, which leads to a discussion of salvation. A discussion that I think is a highlight of the series. I thought this discussion was critical in understanding how society's view toward sexual purity has changed: \n \"Bella: \"That's it, isn't it? The short laugh that escaped me was more shocked than amused. \"You're trying to protect your virtue!\" I covered my mouth with my hand to muffle the giggle that followed. The words were so... old-fashioned. \"No, silly girl,\" he [Edward:] murmured against my shoulder. I'm trying to protect yours. And you're making it shockingly difficult.\" \n Therefore, this series allows for discussion to develop as the readers get more information. \n This is a good way to interact with young adults. Parents, if your kids are interested, don't miss the opportunity. Sure, you won't agree with everything in the books, and you also probably won't agree with everything your teen thinks/ believes. But you can get to know them. You can examine some of your own ideas about life, relationships, love and spirituality. You can shape what your teens are thinking about. And you can grow your relationship together and as individuals. Take the chance. \n ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ \n FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF TWILIGHT: \n I liked this book. I enjoyed it on many levels. Sure, the characters are a bit stilted initially, but I thought it added to the mystery and discovery. I found Meyer's brand of vampires unique. The plot line of discovering who they are, how they became the way they did and what their life was like was as intriguing as the relationship between Edward and Bella. The plot pacing was excellent. Just when you are starting to get a handle on the relationship between Edward and Bella, the plot goes crazy vampire! \n Some more comments: \n It's true that Bella's harping on Edward's physical perfection gets tiring and is not a good role model for young adults. However, it was credible to me. IF a vampire, one of whose characteristics was physical perfection, fell in love with an ordinary teenager, certainly said teenager would be insecure about her physical ordinariness. \n I enjoyed the supernatural elements of the vampires, and found the entire family intriguing - and I am not a big sci-fi, horror, vampire, not even gothic kinda gal. I thought the idea that they were ravishingly beautiful and rich, yet isolated and lonely was clever and fit well with the idea that \"everything about me is designed to lure in my prey - you\". This also creates a positive instruction for young people - even people who 'have it all' need to connect with others and can feel alienated by the very perfection others covet. And, sometimes the external things we covet can hide inner realities that aren't desirable. \n There is a sense in which Edward and Bella's relationship can cross the line into idolatrous worship. This is dangerous, but not uncommon when in the throws of first love. I'll have to see whether or not this continues. \n In other young adult books I have read, I have been bothered by the teen-centered action, the assumption that all adults are hopelessly inadequate to the challenges of teen world. While it is true that Bella works around her parents, the vampire plot line does lend itself to being exceptional. And the other adults, Charlie, Renee and Billy Black, specifically, are treated respectfully. Edward consults his family, particularly his father, Carlisle, regularly. That was welcome. However, behind the scenes reality is that Edward is a 100 something year old vampire and his family structure reflects a group of interdependent adults, thus softening the adults are valuable to the teen experience message. The negative side of this is that the Cullens lie to and work around Bella's parents repeatedly. It's true, this is for both Bella and their protection. But transporting her to other states and continuing to keep them in the dark about her safety, as well as encouraging her to behave in a way that is hurtful to them is not an example to be encouraged. Of course, things could have been dealt with much more efficiently if her father, especially, and her mother, not so essentially were 'in on it', but that would lessen the drama... \n I appreciated the lack of swearing, sex, crime, etc. \n I found it interesting that it rained for 2 days straight when I read this book, it was a lot like living in Forks! \n I loved the comedy. The banter between Bella and Edward - their ability to laugh about how weird life is when two different people come together (so much of what was going on between them happens in real life when two people connect on a truly deep emotional level!). It was realistic that some of their jokes fell flat if the other wasn't on the same page, or found a topic too sensitive. My favorite line was written when Bella is stomping through Port Angeles, trying not to think of Edward and spots his silver Volvo in town. Haven't we all had that experience of trying to forget about someone/ something only to have it keep inserting itself in our mind through random occurrence? Bella's thought is: \"Stupid, unreliable vampire, I thought to myself.\" I laughed out loud! Apparently, Stephanie Meyer doesn't take her story TOO seriously. \n Certainly there are reflections of other literature here. Bella's absolute trust in Edward's goodness made me think of Marie's character in Ludlum's Bourne Identity. Of course, the dark super naturalism and war between good and evil has often been compared to Harry Potter. The fairy tale Thumbelina came to mind in regard to the role of sunlight in the story. Bella's melancholic paranoia scented to me of Jane Eyre, even before I read Stephanie Meyer's web page where she declared Mr. Rochester of Bronte's Jane Eyre, and Mr. Ferras of Austin's Sense & Sensibility as her inspiration for Edward's name. Yet Meyer has combined these elements with her own ideas to create something entirely new and I think the work has the substance to stand on it's own. \n I'm not ready to scream on the street, go get autographs, and camp out overnight awaiting the next release, but I thought this book was engaging and unique. I'm looking forward to reading more. 4 stars. \n There's more, and I hated Book #2 \n New Moon (Twilight #2), Meyer, 2006 \n https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...", "date_added": "Sun Aug 23 19:45:04 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 17 17:55:58 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "36315", "review_id": "fe1d00ae01037ccdc61bebd88a8fc834", "rating": 0, "review_text": "\"The Colour of Outer Space\" is Carp-500", "date_added": "Thu May 15 09:23:29 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu May 15 09:23:32 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "93101", "review_id": "520c4fd99eee07aa8936165300224745", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Need a review \n For a full explanation of the provenance and history of Arabian Nights, as well as an alternative translation, see \n https://www.theatlantic.com/entertain... \n For children, see \n Aladdin and Other Tales from the Arabian Nights, Dawood, 1960 \n https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...", "date_added": "Thu May 01 18:10:34 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat May 20 07:32:47 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "18512", "review_id": "bdc8e0bf2d92b6e5da01f91322a3dcf5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "If you've made it to this last book of the trilogy, it's clear you are hooked on Middle-earth and longing to know the outcome of its struggles and fates of its characters. The sense of peril is high in this adventure and we see that Tolkien, as an author, doesn't love his characters enough for us to feel confident he will preserve them all. Tolkien's willingness to sacrifice the good, beloved and noble gives the story a weighty feel. Furthermore, the enduring impact of the struggle with evil on our beloved characters, particularly Frodo, speaks to Tolkien's personal experience with war. \n If you have seen Peter Jackson's version of the movie, you might recall it as the movie of numerous endings. It is true that Jackson's indecision made the film feel even longer than it's already considerable 3.5 hour running time. On one level annoying, as a true admirer of Middle-earth I think it is testament to the superiority of the trilogy in developing many themes, leaving many loose ends to tie up. Of course, the book does this more effectively than the movie, but the book is always better, right? \n While I highly recommend reading the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy as superlative literature, and have savored each of the Peter Jackson movies in this series (though not The Hobbit productions), I stop short of the immersive scholarship that some apply to these books. If I'm going to work that hard on tracking revisions, learning languages, synchronizing timelines and memorizing history, it's going to be about the Bible or at least historical fact, not a fictitious world. But maybe you can bring to Tolkien's work what he brought to Beowulf, a fresh academic appreciation of a classic work. In that case, your next step would be to conquer The Silmarillion. \n The Silmarillion, Tolkien, 1977 \n https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... \n Looking for another classic trilogy that combines strong themes, characters and adventure? See, \n The Hunger Games (Hunger Games #1), Collins, 2008 \n https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...", "date_added": "Sun Apr 20 17:37:35 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 07 13:28:20 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jun 07 13:28:20 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "15241", "review_id": "096f38e5b53ef4422405b4cb203a2063", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Two Towers (The Fellowship of the Ring #2) \n Tolkien, 1954 \n This was the book that turned the tide for me, drawing me into a strong affection for Middle-earth as the Fellowship dissolves, the war between good and evil intensifies, and the story spreads out across the fictional map. The characters are further developed, the sense of peril intensifies and the quest to destroy the ring seems overwhelmingly impossible. A particular highlight is the endearing revelation of what Samwise Gamgee is made of and why he is the best of friends to have on a terrifying adventure. \n *** mild spoilers *** \n The other character that particularly intrigued me was Faramir. Faramir's perspective is similar to his brother, and yet driven by different values that render him humble before the power of the Ring. Initially suspicious of the hobbits, he comes to accept that they truly knew Boromir and that their account of his death is accurate, thus beckoning him to their service. Faramir, in both Two Towers and the upcoming Return of the King, also illuminates how the struggles of dynasty play out even in war time and distract resources from the battle, reinforcing the theme that the evil of mankind is both without and within. \n When I started researching for this review, I was shocked to discover that after publishing The Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings, Book #1) in July of 1954, Tolkien delivered Two Towers FOUR MONTHS later in November of the same year. Certainly, he had a lot written before Fellowship was published, after all there were some 17 years between the first Middle-earth installment of The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring, but this still struck me as a tremendous achievement. The Return of the King came out eight months later the following year in July of 1955. This was probably possible because Tolkien wrote them all as one story. As such, Two Towers doesn't seem to suffer from many of the difficulties that plague middle books in a trilogy. Instead of slowing down to develop, this installment actually speeds up the action while adding depth to characters. This approach by Tolkien more closely resembles life, where our trials - and adventures - expose our true character. \n Regarding Peter Jackson's movie on Two Towers, I have to note my enduring disappointment in his treatment of Faramir's character. In departing from the book, Jackson has made Faramir and his brother Boromir too similar and lost the disparate motivations of the two princes. While I found the rest of the movie excellent, the corruption of Faramir prevented it from being completely satisfying. \n To finish Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring Trilogy, see \n The Return of the King, Tolkien, 1955 \n https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...", "date_added": "Sun Apr 20 17:37:22 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 07 13:22:00 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jun 07 13:22:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "34", "review_id": "e35e6e8560ba7237eab018f980a5dda1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "#5 Best Sellers of all time, estimated 150 million copies sold (Source: Wikipedia.org) \n With this title, J.R.R. Tolkien became the only author to have two titles in the top 13 best selling titles of all time. This list consists of individual titles that have sold 100m+ copies. While The Hobbit makes the list at 100m, and assumes the #9 spot, The Fellowship of the Ring secures the #5 spot with an estimated 150m copies sold. This makes his work on Middle-earth one of the best selling series for adults of all time (Harry Potter, Goosebumps, Berenstain Bears, Sweet Valley High, etc were not written for adults). You should probably read The Hobbit (#9 Best Sellers of all time) first, as it was published first, in 1937, and its events are the foundation for these next chapters of Middle-earth history. \n I have to confess, the first time I read \"The Fellowship of the Ring\" I found it somewhat tedious. The plot was interesting, but the weight of the history of Middle-Earth, the numerous characters/ locations, and series of magical implements, was overwhelming. Nonetheless, I persevered, and I'm glad I did. Knowing what I know now, I would say to myself: \n \"Self, this is a book to be read multiple times. It is a classic because the themes and symbols work simultaneously on various levels. Don't try to comprehend Middle-earth completely as you read, but rather, be prepared to be swept away to a different world and enjoy it anew each time you visit.\" \n Once one has embraced the transformation, the amazing settings, endearing characters, and mythic themes are truly enchanting. Since that first exposure, the trilogy has drawn me back many times since, and I enjoy sharing it with others, and our children. \n You will note as you read, a peculiarity in Tolkien's use of language. This is a key part of the immersive nature of the Middle-earth world. It's not just that Tolkien creates several languages for different races (the Elvin language is particularly famous), but it's the way he uses the English language to create a chimeric rhythm, vocabulary and setting that runs in a river parallel and yet distinct from the Earth we know. This vision of creating a unique narrative voice drove both Tolkien -- and his editors (who learned that their 'helpful' changes were considered corruptions by Tolkien)-- to unprecedented levels of reviews and revisions. \n The Peter Jackson movie on this title was not only a huge success, but a mostly faithful account of the story line, language, history and settings of Middle-earth. Of course, the book is better, and sales indicate many were lead to discover the text either in preparation for or continued exploration after the movie was released. This is a huge win, because not only was this book a best seller, it represents some of the finest fictional writing in the English language and deserves it's status as an enduring classic. If you've only watched the movie/s, take the plunge and read the book/s! \n To start at the beginning, see \n The Hobbit, Tolkien, 1937 \n https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... \n To continue the journey, see \n Two Towers (Lord of the Rings #2), Tolkien, 1954 \n https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... \n Want to read #4 best seller of all time? See, \n A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens, 1859 \n https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...", "date_added": "Sun Apr 20 17:37:12 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 07 13:20:19 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jun 07 13:20:20 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "5907", "review_id": "0ae55f5aa509892c0a16204cbe09595f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "#9 Best Sellers of all time, estimated 100 million copies sold (Source: Wikipedia.org) \n Published at just under 400 pages, The Hobbit has a feel of brevity when compared with Tolkien's later works set in Middle-Earth. He was wise to begin his public endeavor with this story about a small quiet hobbit caught up unexpectedly in the great events of a medieval world. While the first chapter does contain some explanation of Bilbo's hobbit race, genealogy and habits, The Hobbit doesn't contain the detailed world building for which Tolkien came to be known (and criticized). \n The thing that is particularly interesting about Tolkien's writing is his use of language. Not only did he invent languages for his Middle-Earth world races, but his English words are chosen and assembled in such a way as to drip with epic meaning and other worldly structure. The very manner of presentation immerses the reader in another time and place. Tolkien's desire for perfection of this vision lead to voluminous corrections because editors insensitive to his precision tried to make 'helpful changes' that he believed ruined the flow of the narrative. \n Tolkien himself is an interesting study and the subject of several biographies. From his early life in South Africa to the loss of his parents at a young age to his academic achievements, he famously overcame quite a bit for an Englishman of quiet domesticity. An intellectual, he transformed teaching and understanding of Beowolf and also published fantasy stories for children. His professorship at Oxford, transformation friendship with C.S. Lewis, participation in the writer's guild The Inklings, and international fame that came from his creation of Middle-Earth propelled him further into the limelight. Having not read a biography on him at this time, post in comments any that you would recommend and why you liked them. \n Overall, this is a wonderful first exposure to Tolkien's Middle-Earth history, adventure and language. But, just like the people of the 1940's, I doubt you will be satisfied without reading more, at which point, you will want to check out the Lord of the Rings series, beginning with Fellowship of the Ring. However, everyone I know, even those of us who love Middle-Earth, has a burn out point that occurs for the reader before it does for Tolkien whose life, and that of his sons, went into elucidating Middle Earth history and settings. Most have read the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings series, but I know very few who have studied the notes throughout the books to internalize Tolkien's incredible level of detail, nor do I know anyone who has conquered the additional depth of The Silmarillion. If you have, take a bow in comments! \n Finally, the Peter Jackson films on the Hobbit, for which many were optimistic, are a disappointment (both to me and reviewers and general) and performed poorly at the box office. Then the project was announced, I thought three films from the short book was overkill. I prefer, with caveats, the Lord of the Rings series and would have enjoyed two films on each of those books. You can read my thoughts on those with my Lord of the Rings reviews if you'd like. \n The Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings #1), Tolkien, \n https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... \n For Tolkien on Beowulf and other teaching topics, see \n The Monsters and the Critics and other essays, Tolkien, 2007 \n https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... \n For more on the Inklings, see \n The Oxford Inklings, Duriez, 2015 \n https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit... \n Want to read #8 best sellers of all time? See \n Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997 \n https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...", "date_added": "Sun Apr 20 17:37:02 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 05 19:00:41 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "9534", "review_id": "22dc83ff3fd014e5325cc4e6a918836d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This series got better and better... loved this book. Definitely a read, and reread. \n I much preferred this exploration of Peter, his character and influence in Ender's Shadow than how he emerges in the Ender's Saga series. Additionally, Bean is a captivating character full of virtues we desire and inadequacies that prevent him from the outcomes we all desire. The tension between what we can control and what we cannot control is compelling. The other Battle School characters are also developed in new ways as they grow into their unequaled success which is casting a shadow over the rest of their lives. Highly recommended. \n You'll want to read the next one! \n Shadow Puppets, (Ender's Shadow #3), Card, 2002 \n https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 19:44:32 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 15 19:28:38 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "3016695", "review_id": "5de85e41f5cf675adc618bf760b5a6c2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A truly joyous, classic, adventuresome read for children and adults and everyone! If you don't like it, you have a heart of stone! I cannot recommend it highly enough to read and re-read. \n Book to Movie: The movie IS fabulous, a family favorite. However, if you can believe it, the book is even better! Makes a full of wonder family read aloud.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 10:38:57 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 17 15:32:47 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "378", "review_id": "0a218ae3e3cd9d9ba963043d41b36c41", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A favorite of my husband's from when he was a boy. Didn't do much for me, but reading it was a labor of love. Due to my husband's enjoyment of it, i have a feeling it is in my future, or at least my son's future.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 10:33:58 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 20 10:35:06 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "18131", "review_id": "7ed624b08176371d264e752868378bbe", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A captivating story of adventure that opened a vivid world of imagination to me as a child. I loved the characters and was sad to see it end. It was certainly a memorable title from my childhood and I also recall making a diorama of it in... fourth grade? However, the actual plot was so far afield that I don't remember how the story fits together. \n As an adult, I recognize now that some of the theology is off at points, and somewhat disturbing. While it leads to good conversation if you read it with a friend, because of the theology, i would be careful to avoid introducing it to an impressionable mind too soon.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 10:21:40 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu May 25 09:36:19 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1986", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "101672", "review_id": "5174aa8564505eed7e36ecab5eb93f4f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I remember these books vividly from my childhood. I think my mother read them to us. The boys and the girls enjoyed them, and I'm looking forward to sharing them with my children. \n One memory in particular stands out. When I was young (5, 6, 7?), every summer we used to watch The Lion, the witch and the Wardrobe for summer Sunday School. The supervising adult would set up the hugh projector with immense reels (4, I think) of film in the old, dusty, woody, gym, and the film would be projected onto a large white blanket hung on the wall. We would sit in metal folding chairs. Beside the projector, no supervision was necessary.... we were all a part of another world...", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 10:17:35 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 02 10:13:34 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1984", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "246eac0ca4d02e73d8768a5acb9b89d7", "book_id": "30", "review_id": "ea5d60acc61fb696abf9159877105f7d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "THE HOBBIT \n Even people who look insignificant can contribute! A wonderful introduction to middle earth. \n THE TRILOGY \n A wonderful book rich in story and characters. Amazing the world Tolkien creates! \n Redeeming themes and no objectionable content make it a favorite of our family.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 09:09:23 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 20 09:11:20 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caebbfe21c8c74249b22f53e3253fbbb", "book_id": "6978487", "review_id": "d6cfd9977840ef7135792392f4f31432", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Clever, albeit peculiar. And a rare book in that the characters are all basically good.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 08 16:41:40 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 08 16:42:17 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jun 08 16:42:17 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caebbfe21c8c74249b22f53e3253fbbb", "book_id": "14201", "review_id": "1b5b92f7ccb934e0cb126f18be8bf346", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This should count as three books. \n Absolutely delightful, captivating genius. To create an alternative history in which England was full of magic is quite a feat, pulled off magnificently by Clarke.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 12 14:04:44 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 12 14:06:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jul 12 14:06:30 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caebbfe21c8c74249b22f53e3253fbbb", "book_id": "22886868", "review_id": "d8ab76211aecf7e0224f346989376b54", "rating": 4, "review_text": "You can tell it was not yet finished to Terry's liking. It's heartbreaking to know it's the last. I cried when I finished reading it in mourning for all the stories left untold.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 08 22:50:30 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 08 22:52:29 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "caebbfe21c8c74249b22f53e3253fbbb", "book_id": "12067", "review_id": "c2d1ac3527dd29ed8028d4f74be16b47", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Re-read! First read this when I was about 17. I recall it being difficult to get into. Reading it now I realise this is because jokes involving the M25 and English culture would have been lost on me. \n Genius writing by two incredible authors.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 09:25:42 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 11 05:01:20 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3662a28d82f1cc64d685b8023b4fb74f", "book_id": "15985375", "review_id": "b015c07f74571e6c6feedc10e59619e4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The story was fantastic. I always admire Oliver Bowden's style in giving enough and fulfilling insights about his characters, which is of course not precisely found in the video game. \n The ending seemed somewhat sad, particularly Edward's talk with his mother.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 14 14:07:09 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 03 11:05:32 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3662a28d82f1cc64d685b8023b4fb74f", "book_id": "10048834", "review_id": "d5c48b617ee6e3d74d444bbe69a6b57b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The Secret Crusade is the second book I read from the Assassin's Creed book series, and surely enough, it is astoundingly out of this world. The narrator is Niccolo Polo, who tells the incredible story of the Assassin Altair, and the events that happen through his life and consequently shape his creed. Altair had a mission to undertake, killing nine men that was. Soon he was to discover the connection between them. Furthermore, he started finishing them, one at a time, and uncertainty grew inside of him each time he did so, and all the way looking for answers soon to reveal before him and leave him in surprise of the turning of events. \n The story is profound and very well-written. For the second time, I sense the extraordinary form of emerging emotions and feelings throughout the novel. I know how good a book is from the impact it leaves on me and how much it makes me pensive.. That was deeply felt after reading Oliver Bowden's work. Sheer magnificence indeed. \n Ultimately, I feel pleased to have this novel on my shelf!", "date_added": "Sat Jun 14 14:07:04 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 29 11:27:36 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 29 11:27:36 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3662a28d82f1cc64d685b8023b4fb74f", "book_id": "13589148", "review_id": "204ec75f98e3dbffc696f60ebb652bcb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Certainly, this novel deserves more than just five stars. It is amongst the best books I have ever read or come across. \n Sheer sensation this novel holds, with all aspects including the story, style, parlance and the whole structure of the novel, not to mention the insights and depths it contains. \n Of course I played the video game before reading its book, but still, I found the book itself way more enjoyable, and was of a help to better understand the story.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 04 21:05:08 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 07 13:41:11 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jun 07 13:41:11 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9a2b789ce311cfafad88b779860f46be", "book_id": "13281368", "review_id": "5305939c981c67e9d6f50243b9201da7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Good, if a little repetitive.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 09 13:39:56 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 27 20:09:19 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Nov 27 20:09:19 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd1f18f59ecb4fbc14bfa70e7c820ec7", "book_id": "11813929", "review_id": "0080a72ef5308aa62afdb22fa84a1fc7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fantastic read..loved it!!", "date_added": "Mon Sep 17 19:49:46 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 18 03:10:00 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Sep 18 03:10:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "d4a6d0dfc037e2640d6a815d7b38015f", "book_id": "17245", "review_id": "a241dd44d22c47d9d3606a4733b7f791", "rating": 0, "review_text": "A classic.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 26 12:12:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 26 07:15:02 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d4a6d0dfc037e2640d6a815d7b38015f", "book_id": "1546936", "review_id": "598f2d1d9914a0b2adb8e6038aed7a40", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Okudugum en iyi kitaplardan bir tanesi, karaktetler inanilmaz iyi yaratiomis. Kitabin sonunda Uzun Ihsan Efendin'nin soyledigi sozler beni com etkiledi. Dusunuyorum o halde varim ama hangisi gercek? ...", "date_added": "Fri Oct 26 12:11:08 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 09 14:40:00 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Feb 07 10:31:19 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d4a6d0dfc037e2640d6a815d7b38015f", "book_id": "1622", "review_id": "3c7b32bf6e78c25041c5a187616dc8cf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh Puck!.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 26 11:51:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 26 07:08:36 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d4a6d0dfc037e2640d6a815d7b38015f", "book_id": "11080040", "review_id": "ae6473f57d01de7bcbf0c50a479f43c1", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Bitiremeyip biraktigim nadir romanlar listemde tuttugum bir kitap.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 06 09:31:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 26 07:30:11 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ae9aba2f251fb98b3b3e017da4b97949", "book_id": "2647293", "review_id": "02f84e1e2d566e227c726447ce5e3906", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the first time I read \"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland\". For decades when I considered reading the book, I decided it was too \"curiouser and curiouser!\" \n In 2009 I received a beautiful new edition of the book, illustrated by Robert Ingpen. His magical illustrations add so much to the story. Also, as I read the book, I kept in mind that author Lewis Carroll was purposely writing dream-like scenarios. \n \"Alice, a childish story take \n And with a gentle hand \n Lay it where childhood's dreams are twined \n In memory's mystic band \n Like pilgrim's wither'd wreath of flowers \n Pluck'd in a far-off land.\"", "date_added": "Tue Apr 04 03:31:24 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 22 01:01:40 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Oct 06 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b48aade607aa17b3dffc6c71df4972f5", "book_id": "31427193", "review_id": "e0d52d4c7502fbfb4da34dfc4b934a2e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fun new series \n I am liking this new series from Leighann Dobbs! The characters are interesting and I can't wait to learn more about them in upcoming books!", "date_added": "Wed Feb 22 12:31:24 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 12 17:54:55 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Sep 12 17:49:19 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Aug 27 10:57:29 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b48aade607aa17b3dffc6c71df4972f5", "book_id": "11500552", "review_id": "d412acbafd0c526856fd04779f0d955d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A fun read \n If you are a fan of steampunk, this is a fun read and the beginning of a series that could totally suck you into the world of an alternate Victorian England.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 29 13:28:46 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 09 07:37:18 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Nov 17 17:39:18 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Aug 29 13:28:46 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b48aade607aa17b3dffc6c71df4972f5", "book_id": "22056827", "review_id": "e7bd9edf58b8e5f4c357f849a28094b2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "An Enjoyable Crossover \n This was a fun read combining two series set in San Francisco and involving supernatural events and murder mysteries. Hope to see more of the crossover in both series!", "date_added": "Fri Jul 17 01:19:51 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 23 22:36:50 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Apr 23 22:31:15 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Apr 23 22:07:07 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b48aade607aa17b3dffc6c71df4972f5", "book_id": "19009327", "review_id": "da3fa732aefe9ebc0e135ce857d36222", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Quick fun read! \n I enjoy the Blackmore sisters novels. Lots of fun and some great personalities. Always an intriguing mystery, and a little romance too!", "date_added": "Sat May 02 14:20:04 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat May 02 14:20:04 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b48aade607aa17b3dffc6c71df4972f5", "book_id": "20708754", "review_id": "e35f2dde6c1889f7e9738e19562777e8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was lucky enough to receive an Advance Reading Copy of Evil Librarian through Goodreads First Reads. Thank you! \n The concept of this book was very interesting, and the author did not fail to deliver on the story. However, at times the story seemed to move a little slowly, and I think it could have been tightened up in some places. Overall the story remained interesting, the characters were easy to relate to, and were typical teenagers. \n I liked how the play the school drama club was staging - Sweeney Todd - tied into the story - it was an amusing twist on the demon theme, and brought the story to a new level. Having Cyn - the main character - as the play's technical director I believe helped her to think creatively about a solution to the Evil Librarian.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 22 13:23:08 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 18 10:13:08 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b48aade607aa17b3dffc6c71df4972f5", "book_id": "2373591", "review_id": "ebd3739fb51af7c88ff53cb1da5d87ff", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I registered a book at BookCrossing.com! \n http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12716216", "date_added": "Fri Jun 06 22:28:33 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 06 22:28:33 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jun 07 22:28:33 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b48aade607aa17b3dffc6c71df4972f5", "book_id": "11557", "review_id": "d3cfd41b2be939d40493d8b2449b5f89", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It has been a long time since I read this book. It was recommended to me by a friend, and I am so glad he recommended it. This book held me absolutely rapt. Still one of my favorite books of all time. The storyline was very intriguing, and the writing was spot-on - so descriptive you could hear it, feel it and smell it. If you are a sci-fi or fantasy fan, this is a MUST read. Even if you are not, it is well worth the time to read it - despite its length. I may have to re-read it this summer...", "date_added": "Wed Jun 19 09:00:41 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 19 09:05:57 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "b48aade607aa17b3dffc6c71df4972f5", "book_id": "687348", "review_id": "135dffda0aea126113a1420378fe3b16", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a fun ghost story - a quick read with a good plot and fun characters - especially the ghost!", "date_added": "Wed Apr 24 05:56:11 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 27 18:17:05 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Apr 27 18:15:53 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Apr 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b48aade607aa17b3dffc6c71df4972f5", "book_id": "5633958", "review_id": "0f56a943825562eded302ad1d78360a0", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Have not read this yet - picked it up at Half Price books over Labor Day weekend. I gotta say, the design of this book is definitely what attracted me to it. I LOVE it! And I plan to keep the book after I read it, just because I love the design so much! Let's hope the inside is as good as the outside...", "date_added": "Wed Sep 12 15:05:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 12 15:07:35 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b48aade607aa17b3dffc6c71df4972f5", "book_id": "7108001", "review_id": "ae6b17dba84159a2d129b7c9fdb1cf20", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book - I like alternate views of history, and I am especially into the Civil War period of history, so this book was right up my alley! \n I loved Grahame-Smith's characterization of Lincoln as well as the plot and overall story. It was a fairly quick read, so I would recommend that if this book interests you at all, you should just pick it up and read it!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 21:18:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 23 07:42:13 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "b48aade607aa17b3dffc6c71df4972f5", "book_id": "37442", "review_id": "886872658c9eacd1e231195c267025ce", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of the best books I have ever read! \n I thought it was fascinating that the author could take a story everyone knows and loves and show you a completely different part of that world through another character's viewpoint. \n GREAT read!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 20:55:31 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 13 20:57:14 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "037c382333b7084ccee4cdec7401de90", "book_id": "58092", "review_id": "28c6422651535497e24a8e6e278d12a0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ah, Redwall--would that I could visit there but at least I can visit it in the books.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 01 07:48:25 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 07 13:27:38 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 14 14:31:29 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "037c382333b7084ccee4cdec7401de90", "book_id": "130352", "review_id": "95f0111141755f4a0ff72269424e15d3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another rip roaring tale of adventure from Brian Jacques and the denizens of Mossflower Country, is the heart of this book. Tiria, a young otter maid, is destined to become the Queen High Rhulian of the Green Isle. This requires her to free the Green Isle from the horrible cats that had invaded and placed many of the otters into slavery. She leave her home at Redwall Abbey with Pandion the hawk and a rather odd acting veteran of the Long Patrol to go to Green Isle. A stop is made at the mountain home of the badgers and hares where she is given armor fit for a warrior queen and also the help of 30 veterans of the Long Patrol. Off they go for this adventure that provide moments of victory and also some sadness with the demise of fellow warriors and friend. \n As usual, there is much eating of really delicious sounding food, and the Dibbuns(what is a Dibbuns-read a Redwall Book) with their mischief and fun. All the various dialects that the author adds to the book is astounding. You do not have to be a child to enjoy these books--just a child at heart and I hope that I never lose the ability to be that!", "date_added": "Sat Mar 19 20:41:55 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 05 13:32:49 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Mar 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Mar 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "037c382333b7084ccee4cdec7401de90", "book_id": "22522805", "review_id": "852ce8e432908e2961c8a41885f48ee4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Britain in the 6th and 7th century gave rise to the Arthurian legends and stories that have been so popular throughout the history of Western civilization. In this book, an elderly couple set out on a trek to a village to find their son whom they seem to have forgotten. In fact, their entire world seems to have forgotten so much. All of them seem to be living in an ever present mist that is creating havoc with their senses. On the journey they meet with other travelers such as Sir Gawain, nephew to King Arthur, the warrior Sir Whitsan and Edwin a young orphan. Set against the backdrop of previous conflict of the wars between Saxons and Britons, this melancholy story unfolds. \n This pace of this book at times lagged. However, that gave the author time to fully develop his characters. I must admit that Sir Gawain and Horace were my favorites in this novel. I guess it is because I have always admired the Arthurian stories and the tales of Camelot. Honor and duty were the very essence of the Knights of the Round Table and Sir Gawain was not lacking. \n Prehaps, more than anything, this novel was truly a tale of love and devotion and expressed in several different relationships. The love shared by Axl and Beatrice was the most enduring aspect of the story. The interweaving of fantasy, legend and truth was a great monument to this author. I have read several of his novels and though this had quite a different setting, it still provided a rich intellectual and emotional read. \n It could be said that the novel's title was an open-ending question. Just who was the Buried Giant--well that question can only be answered by the reader.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 25 05:10:27 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 09 12:00:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Apr 19 14:29:14 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "037c382333b7084ccee4cdec7401de90", "book_id": "18665088", "review_id": "66ce9070b141094e21f19c92d28efd1c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Twists and turns accentuate this novel that is set in 1976 on the coast of England in one of the hottest summers ever recorded. David is a young man just finishing his first year at University. His mother and stepfather want him to work for the summer in his stepfather's construction business. However, David feels the pull of something else that takes him to a seaside family resort. At the age of 3, David was taken here by his biological father. There David was found wandering on the pier and his father's body later washes up on shore. David has some questions that have haunted him since childhood and to this place he goes to seek answers \n David finds many things during this summer. He finds the company of two beautiful women, one the wife of an insanely jealous husband, and a young dancer looking for a new playmate. Moreover, he has a erratic drug addict roommate and is also taken into the realm of the National Front party which has shades of Neo-nazi elements. Add to this a deluge of ladybugs, holidaying families with children and grandparents all seeking attention and this novel becomes a wonderful read. It is humor and insanity with definite undertones of fantasy and horror.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 01 08:31:36 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 19 20:57:01 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Sep 30 07:58:48 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "037c382333b7084ccee4cdec7401de90", "book_id": "12672567", "review_id": "91e5544e3ac46a6f2d1be1fccda44f85", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book. I am a History major and my hometown in Jacksonville, Florida. Therefore, St. Augustine is a very familiar place for me. However, there was historical information in this book that was new to me. \n The focus of the book is one battle of the Second Seminole War that took place in the 19th century in Micanopy, Florida (just a little ways down the road from Gainesville). The two teenagers in this book are ancestors of two of the combatants of this battle. It would seem that they are not aware that the war is over and keep reaching out to the young people in their dreams which also causes some time travel. Guided by a native shaman they are able to solve the problem. An exciting and interesting historical read. Being a graduate of the University of Florida, I especially enjoyed the several references to the \"Gator Chomp\". \n This is the first in a trilogy and looking forward to reading the next two books which are also set in St. Augustine.", "date_added": "Sun May 25 11:18:33 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 05 15:58:12 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "037c382333b7084ccee4cdec7401de90", "book_id": "12924326", "review_id": "fa64a4a55b9b0cb3be6cfa5ee7357773", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Tiger Lily, Peter Pan, Neverland---of course, this means another tale of Peter Pan. It is, however, not the Peter Pan of Disney or even the Star Catchers. This story takes place on the island of Neverland with Peter and the lost boys, Captain Hook and the pirates and the native tribes. It is a story of love and betrayal told by Tinker Bell the famous fairy. All the characters are familiar but so different---Mr. Smee is not the funny bungling pirate as seen in Jake and the Neverland pirates but a murderous piece of scum. The story line does follow that of J.M. Barrie and Peter does leave the island and makes his home with all the 'lost boys' in England. The story of his life on the island with Tiger Lily and the others is a beautiful, haunting tale that will cling to the edges of my mind. Wonderful read and emotionally challenging.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 25 19:06:59 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu May 15 09:44:49 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu May 15 09:44:49 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat May 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "037c382333b7084ccee4cdec7401de90", "book_id": "17655422", "review_id": "97835df714039eb3f288348ab096d45e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "13 year old Jake is helping his mother at a car boot sale (flea market) and buys an old cuckoo clock from another seller who is a friend of his. Later at home a young girls shows up at his house demanding the clock because she claims her brother has magically been transported into the clock. Strange as it may seem it is true and then she and Jake are drawn into the clock. Jake had been wishing for an adventure and one then begins--so be careful with your wishes! The world inside the clock holds many dangers but two talismans that help--the wooden cuckoo who becomes gilded and a cat that looks all to familiar. A dark story with moral undertones but entertaining!", "date_added": "Fri Dec 27 20:56:46 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 21 19:18:44 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Mar 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Mar 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "037c382333b7084ccee4cdec7401de90", "book_id": "17343391", "review_id": "ee6241bf82f4761d377cd92519351c80", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The last installment of the Precious Stones trilogy has many twists and turns for our favorite time travelers Gwen and Gideon. Gwen had previously believed that Gideon was in love with her but then discovered what she believed to be his unscrupulous manipulations of her emotions. Still, she has to work with him to try to stall the insidious plans of Count Saint Germain to produce the philosopher stone the completion of the Circle of Blood. If it sounds mysterious it is and a really great read. Several plot twists that leave the reader wondering how they missed them. It was quite an enjoyable series and books with beautiful colorful colors to match their titles.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 26 20:29:41 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 09 11:00:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Apr 26 11:15:20 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Apr 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "037c382333b7084ccee4cdec7401de90", "book_id": "37586", "review_id": "698ab9c1af9acb1440d2f63788635423", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is the 5th installment of Artemis Fowl. All of the familiar characters are here and yet the adventures and problems are anything but stale. In addition to the usual magical beings, this episode includes demons and their island that is caught in a time warp. Artemis has a worthy opponent in the guise of a young female genius, Minerva. It seems that young Artemis is about to enter the joys and thrills of puberty! Both Minerva and Artemis are attempting to snare a member of the demon world and add to that a psychotic employee wanting revenge against demons and you have the makings of a great adventure. \n Eoin Colfer has created another quick moving and eye-opening story. Although this is a young adult series, I find that Artemis and his company of associates are quite intriguing and enjoyable.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 18 08:19:53 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 09 10:06:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "037c382333b7084ccee4cdec7401de90", "book_id": "6919272", "review_id": "ac7ab66c1ae70f07a58d61ee13195955", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book picks up just a few days after the end of the first book (Ruby Red) in the trilogy. Gwen has just discovered that she possesses the time traveling gene of her family and her adventure began. In Sapphire Blue she and her traveling partner Gideon travel back to the 18th century. There they meet with the leader of the Guardians (who control the time traveling) the evil Count Saint Germain. Added to this is the fact that Gwen can see ghosts and demons that others fail to see---so her conversations often become quite interesting. What is the plan for her and Gideon and will their new found romance bloom? These questions will not be answered until the last book-Emerald Green-due in October. \n This is a fascinating time travel YA book. Easy to read and even easier to get 'caught up' in the fantasy. It will be difficult to wait to see the end of the story.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 19 23:52:30 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 09 11:00:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "037c382333b7084ccee4cdec7401de90", "book_id": "12355784", "review_id": "8102c02b8c3dbf27ebc31c21b9f96beb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Though I do not usually read fantasy, this book was quite enjoyable. The book blends a fantasy world and its inhabitants with those of earth although the majority of the book takes place on the fantasy world. A young man fleeing from his brother who desires to kill him goes to a refuge in the desert which has a portal to another world. From there a young princess fleeing the suitor who has destroyed her world meets the youth from Earth and then the story begins. New landscapes and new types of animal life are quite interesting. Another appealing feature is the dream scenes where the youth and princess visit ever before they finally meet and add to that telepathy between humans and animals. It is the first of a trilogy and looking forward to reading the other two.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 05 09:38:07 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 09 11:47:27 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 05 12:07:13 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "037c382333b7084ccee4cdec7401de90", "book_id": "47085", "review_id": "f09639c62ec5b992dd44710cdfee87fd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is a book of short stories. Interesting subject matter where children are the main characters but left me unsettled after reading.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 01 11:37:39 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 04 13:41:47 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jan 04 13:41:47 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "037c382333b7084ccee4cdec7401de90", "book_id": "13075659", "review_id": "02295cbbf6bd2cae796f278dd7bd8600", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Interesting twist to the ending---loaded with suspense as you would expect a Bishop's Crime Unit to be. I have really enjoyed the series but this book so far as been my least favorite.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 22 20:17:36 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 09 11:49:56 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Thu Nov 22 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "037c382333b7084ccee4cdec7401de90", "book_id": "428300", "review_id": "0d8648a0539b17105d0bc46caccc7ef3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is the last installment of the Hollow Kingdom Series. The series began with the abduction of a young girl by a goblin King and she was taken to his underground kingdom. THe surprise to the reader is that this girl really is partially descended from elves. Elves are the preferred brides for goblin kings. \n This book introduces the next generation of goblins with the new goblin king Catspaw. Miranda is a human girl who has been adopted by Marak, Catspaw's father and groomed to be the next wife of the Great King but things go awry. \n A band of elves appear on the scene and goblins and elves are bitter enemies. In order to prevent war, Catspaw accepts a beautiful young elf(Arianna) to be his bride. Miranda feeling lost and betrayed flees from the goblin underground kingdom and is captured by Nir, the King of the Elves. Thus our story begins. \n Both women Miranda and Arianna are miserable and afraid of their new homes. The storyline of the book is first their acceptance of their situations. Arianna has to learn to trust Catspaw. Miranda falls in love with Nir but cannot adjust to the environs of elfish life. Looming always on the horizon is a possible war between both factions. \n This YA book has romance, intrigue, adventure, and a good story. I enjoyed the three books and all the mythical creatures that appeared, goblins, elves, and dwarfs.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 06 16:00:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 09 10:33:42 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Nov 06 04:36:59 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Nov 04 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "037c382333b7084ccee4cdec7401de90", "book_id": "24337", "review_id": "31fd4e21917c383627c37135acb29ca3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Thoroughly enjoyable new twist on the much beloved Cinderella theme. In this book young Eleanor (known as Ella) is given a blessing at birth by the well-meaning but silly fairy Lucinda. She gave her the blessing of obedience believing that this would make her a obedient and pleasant and loved child. She could not see how having to do anything that anyone ordered could be a curse instead of a blessing! The book is a story of the adventures in Ella's life as she strives to find Lucinda the Fairly to remove the blessing. \n It is a book complete with a Fairy Godmother, Evil step-mother and even more evil step-sisters, magic and true love. A definite addition to a YA list of any girl who dreams of her knight in shinning armor!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 01 06:40:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 09 17:21:00 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "037c382333b7084ccee4cdec7401de90", "book_id": "2120932", "review_id": "7b867efa450216cfc9bce3a648d22008", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Percy Jackson and his friends from Camp Half-Blood have another danger filled, near death experience summer. In the fourth book of this series they have to find the secret of the Labyrinth created by Daedalus to aid the Olympians with their battles with the Titans. Once again Percy and his companions meet many mythological monsters that have only one motive-to kill them. As usual, the book begins with Percy attending a orientation for yet another school when all the mayhem begins! New characters are introduced and some are finally put to rest but it makes for a real ride of a read.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 16 20:44:07 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sat May 24 08:52:53 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat May 24 08:52:53 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "037c382333b7084ccee4cdec7401de90", "book_id": "5161066", "review_id": "923b9d4eaf473046a7179dd955c18e61", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I think that this is my favorite Sookie Stackhouse book so far. It has more vampires, were animals and fairies then real humans. Sookie is recovering from her latest violent encounter with the vampire nation and hopes that things will return to as near as normal as possible in Bon Temps---but that is not to be. Right at the beginning of the novel the Weres reveal themselves as shape-shifters to the rest of the world. The fun then begins. Old friendships are strained and tested. Sookie has two witches at roommates and her great=grandfather Niall (a fairy prince) reappears in her life. Just a regular day in Bon Temps, Louisiana. With two vampires in her life as well as shape shifting boss, it makes one wonder how Sookie can face each day. Suspenseful, funny and quirky as usual--this novel did not disappoint.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 16 20:36:42 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 09 11:30:16 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Oct 18 14:15:09 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "037c382333b7084ccee4cdec7401de90", "book_id": "28186", "review_id": "2f4aa37e3abb83e0fe53339d1dcd6899", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Book #2 of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. \n At the start of this installment, Percy has almost finished a complete school year without being expelled or destroying his school. However, on the last day, Trouble finds him and now begins a second adventure. \n Percy helped by another student Tyson (who is really a Cyclops) make it to Camp Half Blood where they find it under attack from the minions of Kronos. They have to find the GOlden Fleece to cure the poison that has affected the tree that guards the camp. Thus the adventure begins and the reader is introduced to more of the Greek myths and colorful characters. \n Fast paced and able to hold the interest of the young reader audience.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 30 16:21:02 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 12 08:12:49 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun May 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "037c382333b7084ccee4cdec7401de90", "book_id": "2295534", "review_id": "b68d81efe1dc4d52fe1f523643f0fb93", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The second in the series of the Kingdom Keepers. In this series a group of middle school children are selected to be the models for holographic guides in the Magic Kingdom in Florida. They quickly realize that they have yet another more important responsibility and that is to save the Magic Kingdom from conquest by the evil villains such as Maleficent. Since I have visited Disney World more than once, I enjoyed reading about the places that I had visited and enjoyed. Most of the plot occurred in Animal Kingdom and it was an interesting read. Highly recommended for the middle school reader.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 30 16:17:28 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 10 06:05:23 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jun 20 14:23:27 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "037c382333b7084ccee4cdec7401de90", "book_id": "6303533", "review_id": "b1443f7c7e05a5677a4bd2e7172c5a3f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I wondered if this book would be as captavating as the first three since it is set 20 years later. The authors did not lose anything---still just as good. I do so hope that they continue. It is a wonderful series for children but not too bad for us old folks too! Thank you Mr. Barry and Mr. Pearson. I too am very glad that your wives allow to write such wonderful books instead of having a \"real job.\"", "date_added": "Wed Apr 21 06:40:56 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 29 12:48:11 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Thu Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Wed Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "037c382333b7084ccee4cdec7401de90", "book_id": "99085", "review_id": "c5507b81531cab074763b83aad4a4831", "rating": 5, "review_text": "As ever, an enjoyable adventure with the denizens of Redwall. Lord Brocktree, a badger lord, is returning to his home on Salamandastron. Accompanying him are various delightful characters such as Dotti the young hare maiden and Gurth a young mole seeking adventure. Add into the bunch the GUOSIM shrews and a self- -proclaimed hare king and it makes for a wonderful adventure. If you have never visited the lands of Redwall as created by Brian Jacques, oh then you have missed a rousing and robust tale. Take the time and stop by the Abbey of Redwall, visitors are always welcomed!", "date_added": "Fri Mar 26 09:16:53 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 05 16:02:13 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Nov 05 16:02:13 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Oct 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "037c382333b7084ccee4cdec7401de90", "book_id": "780918", "review_id": "6bfe3f41daf6322d09473c03e55bcd0a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Interesting blend of historical fact with magic and fantasy! I did appreciate Ms. Tarr's accuracy in the historical realm. As a former secondary school history teacher, this book might just get some students excited about history!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 08 16:44:13 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 29 13:23:31 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Mar 29 13:23:31 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Mar 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "037c382333b7084ccee4cdec7401de90", "book_id": "43814", "review_id": "52a3019e4c3dfb4b8b1044a38c082e42", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Second in the vampire Chronicles. This is a wonderful story about the Vampire Lestat and as always great characters. Loved the way it ended leading right into Queen of the Damned. Looking forward to reading it!", "date_added": "Sat May 16 07:36:13 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 12 08:07:32 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "037c382333b7084ccee4cdec7401de90", "book_id": "27003", "review_id": "fcb6581482878c0fb67de74c430906c7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wonderful read for anyone who likes mystery and literature. In order to understand all the wit you need an understanding of the classics.", "date_added": "Sun May 10 12:11:54 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 09 10:46:10 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "81123f2f79c102d20c2672f620ef9d16", "book_id": "27419429", "review_id": "60f4f70a42c13a1bdc9d76b9604002e7", "rating": 1, "review_text": "*takes deep breath, clears throat* Oh where to begin with this book? I did not like this book AT ALL. It was terribly confusing, the characters were flat and uninteresting, and the dialogue was dull at best and ridiculously irritating at worst. I picked this book up because I have always been a fan of YA dystopian novels and after seeing such great reviews for it, I figured, why not pick it up. It had the extra bonus of being less than 200 pages so I thought I'd fly through it. Boy was I WRONG! It took me four days to read this short novel and that is because I absolutely DREADED picking it back up. I would fall asleep reading it, roll my eyes at the ridiculous dialogue and wish that the end was near every time I opened my kindle. Why did I keep reading, you ask? Because I hate DNF'ing a book, especially when it's short. Also because a girl's trying to reach her reading goal for the year (I clearly have my priorities in order). \n Normally in my reviews, I'd give a little summary of the book and insight into the characters. Wish I could do that now but I DONT KNOW WHAT THIS BOOK IS ABOUT! I was confused the entire time but I didn't care enough to try and figure out what was going on. Sometimes I enjoy when a book confuses me a bit because it keeps me on my toes, like a puzzle I need to solve while reading. That was not the case with this book. I just kept pushing on wishing for the end to be near. \n Needless to say I will NOT be reading the sequel to this book. The \"cliffhanger\" at the end was not enough to intrigue to the point of continuing this dreadful series. I've read enough YA dystopian to know a good series when I see one and this one just did not do it for me. My soul weeps for the time I wasted on this book dY~(c)", "date_added": "Fri Aug 18 08:03:43 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 18 08:19:43 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Aug 18 08:19:43 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "81123f2f79c102d20c2672f620ef9d16", "book_id": "31158760", "review_id": "817f06d52fb39a2db4ab76ec08f18cb8", "rating": 2, "review_text": "*sigh* Where to begin with this book? I suppose I'll start with the positives (since there aren't that many for me). The writing was beautiful and whimsical and I immediately fell head over heels for this book from the moment I began reading it. The plot sounded promising; there was love on the horizon and a bit of a paranormal aspect to it and I was here for it. And then things got WEIRD. I was SO CONFUSED because literally everyone was named Jack. Jack the first, Jack II, Jack the 5 millionth. I didn't know what was going on half the time because there were TOO MANY JACKS. A better name for this book would be A Million WTFs because I ended that book with more questions than I started with. \n The story centres around Jack \"June\" O'Donnell IV and Saul Angert and their families generations-long rivalry. Of course, like any good story, the rivals turn into ~true love~ and then somehow that leads to one \"seeing morning\" in the other and they all lived happily ever after. Or not. I'm not entirely sure because this book confused the living daylights out of me. There's a curse on the family too, because why not, and while I thought that was interesting in the beginning, I did not ever get the satisfaction of understanding of why the curse was there. I mean, there was a whole thing that \"explained\" it, but did it make any sense at all? NOPE. \n And to think I was ready to give Saul Angert a coveted spot on my book boyfriend's list! NOT HAPPENING NOW! The ending of this book was filled with so much cheese, my lactose intolerance started acting up. The things Saul and June said to each other *gags*. No one talks like they do! It was terribly unrealistic and just plain irritating. When I'd first started reading the book, I recommended it to my friend because I thought she'd love it because I was loving it and then, sadly, I had to retract my recommendation because this book was just *insert face palm here* It was a struggle getting through the last half of the book and that actually saddens because I wanted SO BADLY to love this book. Unfortunately, it just didn't do it for me. I suppose I can see why people might like it, but it just wasn't my cup of tea.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 01 14:04:16 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 14 16:18:19 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Oct 11 12:14:33 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Sep 23 12:57:57 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "81123f2f79c102d20c2672f620ef9d16", "book_id": "30964236", "review_id": "66ff472887d4319b7314ff8d00483a8f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "First off, I want to say how fabulous this book is! Plot twist after plot twist, this book kept me guessing from start to finish! Every time I thought I knew what would happen, a curveball was thrown at me and something completely different occurred! Caraval is strangely addicting and I could not get enough! I struggled a bit in the beginning to get into it, but I ended up enjoying it immensely! I had my qualms about Scarlett and don't even get me started on her irritating sister Tella *sigh* but the story is so good, that I can get past them. I must admit though, that Tella is one of the, if not the main, reason why I'm not giving this book a five-star rating. She is so inconsiderate, rash and just downright annoying but she appears in fairly small doses and for that I was grateful! \n The writing had a nice flow to it; very simplistic and easy to follow, though some of the wording was...interesting. Some lines were quite whimsical, which I suppose works for the setting/plot of this book, but gave me a bit of a hard time. Overall though, the writing makes the book quite the page-turner and you won't want to stop once you start! \n Caraval was such a fun, suspenseful and exciting read! I'm usually able to figure out exactly where a story is going to go but this book proved me wrong at every turn. I loved it! Definitely a great fantasy read that I would 100% recommend!", "date_added": "Wed Jan 04 05:41:51 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 15 23:39:25 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jul 16 09:33:22 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jul 04 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "81123f2f79c102d20c2672f620ef9d16", "book_id": "13206828", "review_id": "4887dc69d3001798e36ac4176f1d33f0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "*2.5 stars* HALLELUJAH I AM DONE WITH THIS BOOK! This book took me far longer to read than I'd anticipated. There were parts that I enjoyed, but overall, this book was EXHAUSTING. I didn't feel invested in any of the characters. In fact, I cared less about everyone than I did during the previous books. The only feelings that remained constant were my EXTREME dislike for Wolf and Scarlet. The plot felt beyond absurd at best and downright annoying at worst. Also, the introduction to Princess Winter that we get in the book does not at all make me want to continue reading because Winter is INSANE. Straight up psychotic. If Cress was a torturous, I certainly could not read a book centred around a character like Winter. I will not be continuing The Lunar Chronicles any time soon, if ever. This series was just not for me.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 02 12:40:32 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 10 15:26:52 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Mar 05 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "81123f2f79c102d20c2672f620ef9d16", "book_id": "13206760", "review_id": "dd594c8f71e10751b0a82b8518148b47", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'll be doing a full review of this book on my blog soon, but I'll just say that Cinder and Thorne saved this book for me. If they weren't in it, I probably would not have finished it. The chapters with Scarlet and Wolf were painful for me to get through at times, but thankfully they were interspersed with Cinder, Thorne, and Kai chapters. The dynamic between Thorne and Cinder was a joy to read (they were hilarious!) but ugh it was so hard getting through Wolf and Scarlet's stories. I suppose I have to get used to them because it seems they aren't going anywhere anytime soon!", "date_added": "Fri Dec 02 12:40:31 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 23 15:58:47 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jan 23 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "81123f2f79c102d20c2672f620ef9d16", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "9d0f5d127297da876a28033ca4bb005b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Woah what an interesting read! Full of twists and turns, that book was really good! And don't even get me started on the ending *gasps* I can't wait to see where the story goes next. Thank goodness I already have Scarlet waiting for me!", "date_added": "Fri Dec 02 12:40:24 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 01:53:16 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "81123f2f79c102d20c2672f620ef9d16", "book_id": "29939230", "review_id": "de6299dfc998a42c5b91133323fa599f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Full review to come, but just know that I am so deeply in love with this book and I'm so full of the feels right now. It saddens me to let this series go, but I enjoyed it so so much! Absolute perfection right here!", "date_added": "Thu Aug 04 15:56:51 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 31 16:08:44 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Mar 31 16:08:44 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Mar 21 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "81123f2f79c102d20c2672f620ef9d16", "book_id": "20764879", "review_id": "80a04062a3ed9a3299f69d3d14b33671", "rating": 5, "review_text": "*4.5 stars* This one feels a bit harder for me to rate than the first book. While I obviously enjoyed this book, I will say that I found it to be slower paced than its predecessor. I wouldn't say that I was ever bored while reading, because, let's be honest, V.E. Schwab's writing is just too good to ever drive one to boredom. I will say, however, that I expected a bit more action after the emotional rollercoaster I was given in A Darker Shade of Magic. There were some parts that took me a little longer to get through than others, where I found myself racing to find out what happens next. This book felt a bit like a filler for me, but that often happens in trilogies as the final book is where a lot of major plot lines are introduced as well as loose ends tied up. \n I think my favourite aspect of this book was the character development. Rhy plays a much bigger role in this book than in ADSoM and for that I am forever grateful because his character is a great deal more complex than he once seemed. Kell is still my precious grumpy Antari, but we see some of his walls come down a bit and get a glimpse of a softer side of him (if only for a moment). And Lila Bard is still one of my all-time favourite female characters. She is fierce and strong and I love that I got to see her explore her magic more, even if both of us are still unsure about the depths of her power. Alucard Emery was a new addition to the Shades of Magic world but most certainly a welcome one! He's clever and sassy and handsome and I can't wait to see what other shenanigans he gets up to next! \n I enjoyed witnessing the Essen Tasch, or the Element Games, and loved picturing all the different magical tricks the talented magicians were utilising in the games. I won't say too much about those because ~spoilers~ but there are some definite unexpected twists happening then! \n The ending of this book DEFINITELY makes me happy that I have A Conjuring of Light next to me ready to go because I wouldn't know what to do if I had to wait for the next book to come out! I'm excited to see where the story goes because I need things to change for the better for my precious characters!!!", "date_added": "Thu Aug 04 15:56:46 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 20 19:30:11 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Mar 20 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Mar 11 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "81123f2f79c102d20c2672f620ef9d16", "book_id": "26074170", "review_id": "039106b52c7e42fe5a84ccd6014dfed9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Well, Schwab has certainly done it again! Seriously, this woman amazes me with how beautifully she writes, weaving together details and plots in a way that leaves you in awe. I was already a HUGE fan of her after reading the Shades of Magic trilogy, but after finishing this book, VE Schwab has further solidified her place as one of my all-time favourite authors. She is a literary genius! \n This Savage Song took me by complete and utter surprise. I started this book last summer and then promptly put it down because I wasn't in the mood for it. I picked it up again last month (yes, that's right, LAST MONTH) and the beginning didn't quite have me hooked, but I was intrigued enough to keep going. I am SO HAPPY I didn't give up on this book a second time! Even though it took me ages to read, I really enjoyed it once I got fully immersed in the story. I have to admit, though, that I was thoroughly confused by basically everything for the first half of the book, which is pretty much the only reason why I'm not giving this a five-star rating. My confusion prevented me enjoying this as much as I wanted to in the beginning but once I understood what was going on, I was OBSESSED. \n Schwab knows how to create characters and storylines that blur the lines between right and wrong, reminding us that life isn't so black and white but rather multiple shades of grey. Kate Harker, daughter of one of the most powerful men in Verity, and August Flynn, a monster striving to be anything but, are perfect examples of this. Kate is fierce beyond words and while it took some time for her to grow on me, I am definitely a fan of hers now! August is a PRECIOUS LITTLE CINNAMON ROLL that I just want to hug and protect from the dangers of the world. And yes, I DO want to protect a MONSTER because August is a monster is the loosest sense of the word and is constantly dealing with the internal struggle that comes with fighting against your true nature. \n The last half of the book had me HOOKED! I was stressed and so deeply invested in the story that I just couldn't wait to keep reading more! The ending is a complete SHOCKER and I cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel! I know I'm going to be in for a bumpy, soul-crushing ride!", "date_added": "Thu Jul 21 19:56:24 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 27 16:23:27 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "81123f2f79c102d20c2672f620ef9d16", "book_id": "28260587", "review_id": "eda2c23e9d737eba12b9f1ef29b79693", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book. THIS BOOK. I can barely put into words how I feel about this book. Our queen, Sarah J Maas, has done it once again and fashioned a novel so beautiful, heart-wrenching, and exciting that it is both a joy and a torture to read. And I mean torturous in the best way possible, as this book wreaks havoc on your emotions from start to finish. Think the previous book was intense? Empire of Storms blows it out of the water! Talk about a book full of romance, action and general badassery (for lack of a better word). Aelin Ashryver Galathynius continues to dazzle in this instalment, just as she did in its predecessors. She kicks butt and takes names and does whatever is necessary to protect the ones she loves and to better the lives of the people of Terrasen. \n While I must admit it took me a bit to get used to ToG world again months after I finished Queen of Shadows, once I got back into the swing of things, I could not put it down! My heart was racing at every turn-at points when I thought I'd have a moment to rest, my emotions were put into overdrive as something INSANE occurred. I won't get into details, for the sake of remaining spoiler-free, but Aelin faces more adversity in this book then I thought was even possible and yet never crumbles under the pressure. She is a heroine for the ages and I cannot wait to see what fate (and Maas) have in store for her! I will somehow find ways to fill this terrible void Empire of Storms has left within me until next year, when Maas graces us with the next book of Aelin and her court's enthralling story.", "date_added": "Wed May 04 20:41:46 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 15 13:34:02 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Sep 15 13:34:02 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Sep 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "81123f2f79c102d20c2672f620ef9d16", "book_id": "26073150", "review_id": "23f1d76bffea22a8d97a0ff560782eee", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n (3.5 stars) I'd just like to preface this by saying I LOVE Sarah J Maas and absolutely adored the Throne of Glass series. I went into this book with extremely high expectations, seeing as this book has fantastic ratings on here and I've heard so many great things about it. Much to my dismay, I dragged my way through 75% of the book, paying more attention to the page number than the plot progression (or lack thereof). I found Feyre to be almost unpalatable for a majority of the book-far too downtrodden and self-deprecating. And her reaction to finding out that she and Rhysand were mates was simply uncalled for! I found myself rolling my eyes more often than not when Feyre was left to her own devices, wallowing in self-pity and completely unwilling to let go of her old demons until about the last 100 pages or so. With all that being said, I must admit that the last 30 pages of the book were spell-binding (literally). SJM truly knows how to pack a punch at the end of her novels, leaving you with jaw-dropping cliffhangers that make you eager to read the next entry into her carefully crafted world. Despite my complaints with this book, I am still intrigued enough to want to read the next one. It seems that Feyre is on track to be more attuned to her badass Fae identity, rather than the broken human she once was.", "date_added": "Wed May 04 20:40:59 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 12 07:05:15 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "81123f2f79c102d20c2672f620ef9d16", "book_id": "22055262", "review_id": "344f607a3409236dd01c919668af0bff", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was AMAZING! I mean, where do I even start with this?! The writing was fantastic from start to finish, keeping me intrigued from the very beginning. VE Schwab is a fantasy-writing GENIUS; this is hands-down one of the best fantasy novels I have ever read. How is that she was able to perfectly weave stories together that seemed minor at first, but come to have such importance later on? The characters were SO well-developed, I enjoyed reading about each and every one of them! Even the evil sibling royals Astrid and Athos of White London! I am absolutely in love with Kell and how strong he is and how deep his love for his brother Rhy is. Lila is also now one of my favourite females characters. She is sassy, strong and takes no prisoners. She is a force to be reckoned with and I LOVE HER! \n I loved travelling through the different Londons with Kell and being kept on the edge of my seat as one thing after another kept happening. I felt as though for the first half of the book, I was holding my breath because I could almost feel the air of danger just around the corner. One minute everything is semi-fine and then BOOM something crazy happens and I'm literally shouting \"WHAT IS GOING ON\" as I'm reading! \n I love it when books take me on an emotional rollercoaster! I feel like it's been a long time since I've had a book completely take over my life and consume my thoughts and I'm so happy this book did. I haven't read a fantasy novel in a while (seeing as I've been stuck in a contemporary YA phase the last few months) and this book has definitely gotten me back into the genre. How will I ever be able to read other fantasy series when Schwab's books are JUST SO GOOD?! I'm so ready to read the next book in the series because if it's even half as good as this one, I KNOW I'm going to love it!", "date_added": "Wed Dec 09 19:34:06 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 10 15:26:36 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Mar 10 15:26:36 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Feb 24 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "58f98871633f3174f171a1f8dbbf7a52", "book_id": "10790277", "review_id": "93a57d9d8f4b8aacd6fbdd257be59c3b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is where the writing really starts to improve. The scenes feel a bit more organic. I really enjoyed this novel!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 23 06:29:50 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 23 06:30:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "58f98871633f3174f171a1f8dbbf7a52", "book_id": "10790290", "review_id": "437ad7799db0aa13448c2db5e56122b0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The writing isn't great, but it's good enough to move into the next books (where the writing gets better).", "date_added": "Tue Aug 23 06:28:15 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 23 06:29:18 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "58f98871633f3174f171a1f8dbbf7a52", "book_id": "818111", "review_id": "8f5806d730f86a417ec871aed947b6ac", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Another solid book from Murakami. I really enjoyed the pace of this book. It seems a little slow, but still kept me interested the whole way.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 23 03:11:07 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 23 03:11:59 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4a2e5653f19235c112bf68b754892cae", "book_id": "17927395", "review_id": "d8acc1d7eb1b560c74d2fba422a20f60", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It may sound silly, but I always feel left with this void after I read a really good book. That's how I feel now after finishing the first two books. I just want to open back up the pages and jump back in. I don't know if it's her really great imagery, or my great imagination- probably both!- but I felt like I was there with the characters, through all the battles and all the excitement- felt their emotions, the passion- and holy moly is this book on fire. Smoldering. Like Feyre said, \"I'm going to burn\". Lol. It's been three days and I can't get this book- these characters- off my mind. I'm going to read both books again starting now! \n I can not wait for the third book to come out.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 22 12:27:02 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 07 19:09:57 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "380e83b8803d15da4565ce236dc301e1", "book_id": "7733244", "review_id": "fa0b29a00ce94be18cd4342771ca8cc9", "rating": 1, "review_text": "So I finally finished it. I can't say how many times I thought about telling my co-workers that it's not humanly possible to actually finish this book and just quit. But I did finish it and came out alive. Barely. \n I have nothing bad to say about the mythology in this book, it had potential but the actual story line and the characters.. \n Let's start with Edens character, I'm all in for those ladies who can be independent and still want children but Eden wasn't actually independent at all. Her character was flawed in so many levels I've lost count. At one point she was saying how she don't need no man and the next she was helpless without Ashur. Everything about her inner monologue was just so cringey. \n Ashurs character was no better. If this is the kind of men women romanticize about, I'm ashamed. Ok, I can understand the appeal for \"bad boys\" but Ashurs character was far from it. This possessive/over-protective shit is not romantic! For the love of god, why would you romanticize someone who treats you like they own you but the second they discover that they are actually destined to be with you they leave you, how lovely! \n I could go on about the flaws in this book but I don't know even where to start. From the fact that these two people thought they were in love after few days even though anyone could understand that Eden just thought she was in love cause she finally got proof for the supernatural and Ashur was in love just cause Eden was something he could not have(thought he could not have*), to the fact that all of the plot lines were super easy to figure out with out much thought even though the characters obviously were too busy being so \"in love\" to actually figure shit out. \n I don't know why this review sounds like I had much faith in the book, I did not, but still I'm bothered that some people read this and then go out to the real world and try to find themselves a Ashuriel the Black(ugh). \n All in all, I'm glad that the pain I went through reading this book is shared with my co-workers and that when they finish it I'll just laugh at their expressions. \n I feel free now. At least it is over.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 24 03:47:46 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 17 11:03:04 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611fe7282ff8629e9897ebf5af022907", "book_id": "26075798", "review_id": "cb0230e776b0a244d417c6ab77dc0b68", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Best book ever!", "date_added": "Tue Oct 13 21:02:23 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 12 05:32:15 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jul 12 05:32:15 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611fe7282ff8629e9897ebf5af022907", "book_id": "23609580", "review_id": "fbe069ce12ce2e57f67966327aedd1c8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I just finished reading an ARC of Bewitched, Bothered and Bitten and I love it!! \n I cannot get enough of these books, this is the story of Kerri and Finn... A Witch and a Vampire and how they fell in Love. The plot was remarkable, I was on edge all the way through. I have so much fun reading this book, cannot wait for more in this series!!!! \n This is definitely my favorite paranormal series!!", "date_added": "Wed Oct 29 14:52:42 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 23:33:26 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Nov 19 15:46:34 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611fe7282ff8629e9897ebf5af022907", "book_id": "13502963", "review_id": "cc9bc8e7ad889f4ec9ea7f48ec64e261", "rating": 5, "review_text": "love it!!", "date_added": "Mon Jun 11 19:28:38 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 14 13:18:47 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jun 14 13:18:47 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7d99bdc70d3705716b0c4995089b2a71", "book_id": "27272506", "review_id": "72db8653f8e61ebe0111c151158d10bd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I just read the first 11 chapters, and the book is fantastic. I can't wait to read the rest!!", "date_added": "Mon Nov 02 07:31:46 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 14 09:45:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Nov 21 13:21:37 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Nov 14 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7d99bdc70d3705716b0c4995089b2a71", "book_id": "5996153", "review_id": "900e8cc8c07601407dc35fff7b71153a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Definitely my least favorite book in the series so far. The beginning was too long and boring partially because of the introduction of an unnecessary character (Sydney, who gets her own series). Other than the commercial for Bloodlines, I just wasn't as invested in Rose's story this time around. The action picked up a bit towards the end of the book (last few chapters), but everything else felt too long and drawn out. The ending gives me hope for the rest of the series, so I still will continue with book 5.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 19 20:02:43 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 21 15:05:47 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jun 21 15:05:47 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7d99bdc70d3705716b0c4995089b2a71", "book_id": "2802316", "review_id": "1bb47e1b965ecc755393bb94e892b664", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved this entire book... And then the ending ripped me apart.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 18 12:48:11 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 19 20:01:52 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7d99bdc70d3705716b0c4995089b2a71", "book_id": "8755785", "review_id": "25656c6d4af2a051742ea18bc859bb3d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was half finale to the series, and half setup for another upcoming series. The reader will find it wanting in the end because there are more new questions than there are answers. It definitely doesn't feel like an ending.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 11 17:43:36 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 15 18:35:53 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7d99bdc70d3705716b0c4995089b2a71", "book_id": "10559622", "review_id": "96a8b8745e039bba049490095dd4d461", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Only read the Sookieverse story \"Death by Dahlia\" and the introduction by George R.R. Martin. I enjoy the Dahlia stories because they are from the vampire's perspective, not Sookie's. They seem to have more going on in their heads than Sookie does!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 26 19:03:08 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 06 10:46:25 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jul 06 10:46:25 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "7d99bdc70d3705716b0c4995089b2a71", "book_id": "9637907", "review_id": "1c6faba23254cd9f8c0231146ea479d3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Only read the Charlaine Harris story.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 26 19:00:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 26 19:01:04 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7d99bdc70d3705716b0c4995089b2a71", "book_id": "7102544", "review_id": "b9eac8a237fa6260c51a80f4f981b0b0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I only read the Charlaine Harris short story.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 26 18:54:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 26 18:54:48 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30a338533ba0445b58852b5dacc8836e", "book_id": "944334", "review_id": "a38fa691283f6137e1fc1df26c1c6e0f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"Which one?\" she demanded. She moved her arms, suggesting he get in one. \n Tom walked into the room and stood between the two boxes. He looked at the one marked \"LOVER\" and he looked at the one marked \"FRIEND\". He made his decision quickly. With sharp steps he moved in front of the box marked \"FRIEND\". Picking it up, he lifted it over his head and put it inside the box marked \"LOVER\". Then he turned around, picked up the Perfectionist, and lifted her inside the boxes. He climbed in with her. In the morning, there wasn't much left of either box.\"", "date_added": "Fri Nov 14 17:25:11 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 14 23:44:53 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Nov 14 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Nov 14 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30a338533ba0445b58852b5dacc8836e", "book_id": "60925", "review_id": "6d6f2431179e5e159828ada6786ff7ca", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I wanted to love it but it was just above 'okay'.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 30 20:23:30 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 03 20:29:51 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0256ecd88046c4d2a9c22ce99bb06939", "book_id": "24854369", "review_id": "e5cce3102da477bde180444208e36059", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm not normally a fan of books with fantasy elements, and I also don't write reviews often, but I was completely captivated from the first chapter. This is a very, very unique and interesting story. Though hard to bear at times, I did enjoy the honest, raw look at slavery and how the author forced readers to face the atrocities executed against women that are frequently downplayed/overlooked. I will be reading the next book in the series.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 17 05:15:42 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 17 05:33:02 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jul 17 05:33:02 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "10401084", "review_id": "08c58c7deab9bd5492368954d7d705a6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it. Something different. The story moved along great. Excellent character development.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 15 04:43:29 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 15 04:44:03 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "16150831", "review_id": "8cc693e9ce38ce64bdb7ec5fac1a6096", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Excellent read. Highly recommended.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 10 05:25:52 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 20 06:53:57 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jun 20 06:53:57 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "16150830", "review_id": "41a9b524e0ce8d9004cb140a3561e389", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Excellent", "date_added": "Wed Jun 10 05:25:34 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 10 05:25:47 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "10576365", "review_id": "249abf7481235c958b8f31dfc96af59b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Excellent", "date_added": "Wed Jun 10 05:25:19 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 10 05:25:30 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "8667848", "review_id": "65f7750818b558b9c97e2bd8be501f91", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Great first book in the series.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 07 07:11:33 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 10 05:22:07 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "12578294", "review_id": "8f1131f738e51cb0adcff3bf07bf94b0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Great story. Something really different.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 14 09:53:43 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 14 09:54:10 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Oct 14 09:54:10 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "9064899", "review_id": "4fba4b64d11d11437c8ab1f13f1ebd4c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A great conclusion to the series.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 30 16:15:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 07 11:15:27 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Oct 07 11:15:27 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "8581936", "review_id": "3858c133e63f3e70bb9a62db76dea444", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great second book. A new story that was a continuation in part to the first - but still new. Loved it!", "date_added": "Mon Sep 30 16:15:07 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 30 16:15:40 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Sep 30 16:15:40 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "7966006", "review_id": "40bd47a966ac08db472a1e85d5ee436b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a good second book in the series. It does leave the reader hanging a bit but I will continue with the series.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 02 08:20:35 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 05 10:24:20 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Sep 05 10:24:20 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "6611024", "review_id": "e5efd8e3bbb047aa375ed0321a07241e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Interesting twist to the high school super power kids. I will keep reading the series.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 26 17:25:07 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 02 08:20:30 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Sep 02 08:20:30 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "11454587", "review_id": "7ba682971678603d7bb7b74ed3ad3a7a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great conclusion to the series. Every aspect was wrapped up and intertwined.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 20 07:23:17 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 20 07:23:55 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Aug 20 07:23:55 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "8428064", "review_id": "56a77f793729713201f1f2d571e35da3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a great second book. The story is fresh and different.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 16 11:53:07 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 20 07:20:46 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Aug 20 07:20:46 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "5287473", "review_id": "724dc3829f7a290978666fd23082016f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very enjoyable.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 16 11:52:40 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 16 11:53:02 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "13548152", "review_id": "1ba9cc91f639b9f1d0317b400f3b19d3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a good YA read.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 30 07:04:30 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 30 07:04:47 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 30 07:04:47 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "11164626", "review_id": "223c1342d6fad375d9360bcc828c25cd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a good YA read.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 30 07:04:00 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 30 07:04:26 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "12812550", "review_id": "b1e8218d32fd876f5da4dc99ebedfd32", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This second book in the series did not disappoint. I can't wait for the third. Great characters and the author doesn't make things easy for them. Excellent.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 14 17:06:13 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 17 05:31:57 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "2282133", "review_id": "78b8d753451f73033b74c9be3a377423", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The second book in the series picks up right where the first ends. I enjoy this series and will continue to read. I like that the heroine is strong but not flawless.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 27 06:55:10 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 27 06:55:58 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jun 27 06:55:58 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "6468666", "review_id": "1b8c9a32a3c04f413b1f7c19129b5dc2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I enjoyed this book and would like to see this series continue. This is a fast read and since I had read the first two, I finished this one in a day.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 14 08:46:22 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 03 09:58:23 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "5391115", "review_id": "a3f088cb9902f457465024cdbab60e4a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book picked right up where the last one ended, more like a chapter change than a book change. I am enjoying the storyline and love both Chloe and Derek.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 14 08:45:02 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 03 09:56:06 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "345627", "review_id": "672e3305dc7cb740ff5a350506d1375f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed this book. It gave a slightly different view of vampires and the people surrounding them.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 14 07:33:10 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 27 06:55:06 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "8087906", "review_id": "4e7f083d0f368babe983efbc24eafc12", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A lot is learned in this book about Mercy and her origin. Loved it!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 12 09:44:07 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 12 09:44:38 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jun 12 09:44:38 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "6587387", "review_id": "063181ef58ed0d103e3251abbb08536a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another great book in the series. I hope Mercy never stops!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 12 09:42:41 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 12 09:43:41 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "11864728", "review_id": "b696664f673cd2ed9c4f6756f0c76888", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book \"ended\" the series by having the kids end up where they started - for the most part. I think this might be a good read for young teens, but lacks substance to be inline with some of the other YA books that are so popular recently.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 06 06:25:53 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 14 07:28:38 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jun 14 07:28:38 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "11765920", "review_id": "ec102041e3a5f270d780563dc6ba0cfe", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Very similar to the first book in the series in that it just stops. To me, a series is a collection of stories with or around the same characters. This is more like a set of chapters in one story. I will read the third book to find out what happens, but would hesitate to read more series from this author.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 06 06:23:32 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 06 06:25:23 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jun 06 06:25:23 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "3128411", "review_id": "d644000f86cffad31dc979b7b964ed2a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the best series. The books are an easy read because they suck you right into the story from the first sentence. So much action and a main character who isn't perfect but also doesn't do stupid stuff that no one would do (just to get into trouble).", "date_added": "Thu May 30 09:25:30 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu May 30 09:27:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "8490112", "review_id": "07bdcda8ddebf48f4f1308c7749a219d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The book starts off a little slow, building the characters and the worlds. Once the true story starts it is wonderful. Very unique story line. Loved it!", "date_added": "Tue May 28 13:47:21 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 14 17:05:46 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "1412138", "review_id": "f9f11cbb14416bd234ccd0a8080e85ce", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was just as great as the previous 2. I am so hooked on this series and can't wait to start the next book!!", "date_added": "Fri May 17 12:17:34 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu May 30 09:24:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun May 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "285205", "review_id": "383ad01d724be6279c66ed68788ff741", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Awesome book! I love this series. There is so much going on that I can't put the book down. I'm so glad there is more to the series that I won't have to wait for!!", "date_added": "Fri May 17 12:16:14 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri May 17 12:17:11 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu May 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "872f3fcf54dfabd7b8f8361ea2c77e30", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I read this book because I saw they were making a movie from it. It was a good read and I will read more of the series.", "date_added": "Fri May 17 12:14:46 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri May 17 12:14:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun May 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "13104080", "review_id": "8dd0bf105b2197dcad35f55120dca065", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was awesome! In the beginning, I was a little tired of the \"oh, woe is me\" Juliette, but then she finally got her act together and the book got very interesting. I can't wait for the next one to come out!!", "date_added": "Fri Mar 29 09:16:07 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat May 04 14:11:53 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "13623150", "review_id": "23fcb75f951703c29e90c7eee14bc503", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Why, oh why did she make me like Warner?? Now I am conflicted but can't wait to read Unravel Me!!", "date_added": "Fri Mar 29 09:16:05 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 29 14:03:50 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Mar 29 14:03:50 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "71811", "review_id": "600c47ce79c6407d1aeccb4258f3bd96", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book. It was a light read compared to what I'm used to but it gets going quick and really kept my interest. I will continue with this series.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 14 13:02:13 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat May 04 14:05:07 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Apr 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "6801582", "review_id": "3ec36efbdbd016360506fb3d4f66d220", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed this second book. I have taken a break from the series to read Shadows in the Silence - Courtney Allison Moulton because I reserved it long ago and it is finally mine!! This series is interesting enough to pull me back once I'm done.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 27 15:54:50 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 13 06:32:11 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Feb 06 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "5056084", "review_id": "96ad2248987069e24af8d1ec129efb7e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book put a whole new twist on faeries. I liked the plant idea and the many details put into the story to pull it off. Great read and I will look for book 2.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 27 15:40:35 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 27 15:41:39 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jan 27 15:41:39 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "15724014", "review_id": "eaf77756e801d9f8155d457850de0863", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the best series. I have the next book and am ready to get started.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 15 08:29:31 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 15 08:30:00 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jan 13 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "11098871", "review_id": "490c5004629d38782d4eea9d4f180efe", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love this series. I can't wait to start the next book!!", "date_added": "Tue Jan 15 08:27:59 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 15 08:29:10 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "9659607", "review_id": "8ad15e1fdeaf7329530fa722e97c8dee", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a great series. It moves fast and keeps my interest.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 15 08:26:56 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 15 08:27:28 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "6644117", "review_id": "245d39898250cd56af31e6e71ad41cc6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book and was happy to see that there are several others in the series waiting for me!", "date_added": "Thu Dec 06 11:20:18 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 06 11:20:51 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Dec 06 11:20:51 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "6368611", "review_id": "944275ac510322ef632836df84586fc9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love this book. It gets everyone exactly where they belong. What a perfect ending to the series!!", "date_added": "Tue Oct 30 08:48:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 29 18:35:10 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Nov 29 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "6368610", "review_id": "02f6916112c994348547f0f9e9782b87", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book. I wasn't a fan of Ani's before reading it, but she really grew on me.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 30 08:48:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 20 13:24:23 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Nov 20 13:24:23 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "10429045", "review_id": "ca959bd4c268f62bf84cc19156d8b53c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is amazing. The format allows you to get in the head of Juliette, the main character. Very original in it's presentation. Loved it!", "date_added": "Sun Oct 28 16:54:59 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 29 09:15:46 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Mar 29 09:15:46 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "7796390", "review_id": "941398b6520c43a950ab9cefff479b72", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was a short continuation of the second book in the series. I enjoyed the continuation of Leslie's role.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 28 16:53:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 30 08:37:34 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "2321296", "review_id": "2ff38ab16a99b5c779950bb43936be32", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A great second book. Totally unrelated to the first book although you would need to have read the first book to understand the premise. Loved it!!", "date_added": "Tue Oct 23 17:35:03 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 28 16:47:25 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Oct 28 16:47:25 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "2800905", "review_id": "98b137508b2474465b0a91db4aeaf1e7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I don't like when a book in a series just ends mid-story. That isn't what I think of a series. I like when a series is a collection of stories with the same characters. This is a good book and I will continue to read this series so I can finish the story.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 19 05:15:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 27 06:58:31 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "7719245", "review_id": "3ca5fa73b7a4e9f426d0cfe486910384", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The first book seemed like two stories - one at the center and one at Lend's.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 19 05:15:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 20 16:06:01 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Sep 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "7896345", "review_id": "3979da99179d60b133bafc456fdb8de1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I would probably give this closer to 3 1/2 stars. I'm not a big fan of books (even in a series) that don't have an ending - that just stop like you are missing some pages or chapters. I will read the next book in the series because I already have it, but would not recommend this as highly as some I've read lately.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 19 05:15:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 03 08:57:01 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jun 03 08:57:01 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "305234", "review_id": "980134135d70ccb388a949fe2a8da78a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What a unique and wonderful story. The charater development is perfect, making you love and hate the main characters.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 19 05:15:01 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 23 13:15:03 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Oct 23 13:15:03 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "9439989", "review_id": "c8aa076c2e691a07b914c8515572bd29", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed this fast read. It was a little trite, but the characters are very likable.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 12 10:31:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 19 05:11:48 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "8501304", "review_id": "737f0969372d87b0532d11a432af0bc5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was a great book. Will is saved and the quest to save the world continues. This installment has a few twists and turns you may not see coming, but it will not disappoint. I can't wait for the next book!!", "date_added": "Fri Oct 05 19:01:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 28 14:07:31 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "12812657", "review_id": "eb2b4a1ed4f871d9d597c2b835394974", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This series is a bit different so I really like it.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 05 19:01:02 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 20 16:04:45 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "10429025", "review_id": "50bff990cb1a71ff9405ee300b33467b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A pretty good YA book. It didn't end. You have to keep reading the series if you want to know what's going on.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 05 19:00:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 25 15:45:32 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Aug 25 15:45:32 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "8501291", "review_id": "ed4b1cd5bdd8d795663d3e74971e5bf8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wonderful! I can't wait for the next one. She has a way of creating so much emotion between the characters.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 05 19:00:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 12 10:07:53 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "7285498", "review_id": "5c9a76463b8cbfa2ec50a482c8d6bc02", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was a little slow to get my attention, but by the end I was hooked. I love a strong leading female.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 05 18:58:30 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 05 18:59:14 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "9462812", "review_id": "910914d3daff8c0d5397e24a883199bc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed this book but didn't see the similarities to the twilight saga that so many people spoke of.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 26 11:48:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 26 11:49:21 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Sep 26 11:49:21 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "11563110", "review_id": "babd5de2158d11abf76f265cba3a2692", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I liked the second book more than the first and have high hopes for the next. She keeps the story going and adds a few great new ideas.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 21 17:28:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 21 17:29:42 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "6421588", "review_id": "e0d57008d42315b333debd858d64f381", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another great book in the Evernight series. I can't wait for book four!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 21 17:27:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 21 17:28:12 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "6619499", "review_id": "7d307c909597f6ee494ef9445de3cc8e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was awesome! She really knows how to deviate slightly from mainstream ideas about vampires by adding a great new twist.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 21 17:25:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 21 17:26:55 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "10120780", "review_id": "ed085168a211c3964c3ab31aa4dc3781", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was great. I hope it ends up turning into a series of books following the two leads. It stands alone from the evernight series although it does give a couple minor items away.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 28 14:13:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 28 14:14:39 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jul 28 14:14:39 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "3054684", "review_id": "96d4bf7db905f5913bd2d30503bb1568", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n A great second book in the series. Part of me wishes Bianca would stay with Balthazar but I understand where the series is going. I can't wait to start the next book.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 18 10:39:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 24 18:49:09 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "2722413", "review_id": "c7e3e61b67523f54b935245526ceedd3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This what not what I expected in a vampire book. Excellent twist! I can't wait to read the second in the series.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 11 13:11:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 11 13:12:10 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jul 11 13:12:10 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "7488244", "review_id": "51684a0a9f5b2bd89faadcc6aead4735", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was an excellent book. It definitely ends wide open and calling for a second (or third) book. Loved it!", "date_added": "Fri Jul 06 12:44:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 07 14:54:19 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jul 07 14:54:19 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "10429092", "review_id": "560598072139c2dd8809b67ead383ca9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I had a difficult time getting into the book but once I was into it I truly enjoyed reading it.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 04 14:18:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 04 14:19:41 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jul 04 14:19:41 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c703d1d76f14ba275314e84db38620f0", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "72ecb6229a349c97c298cc23fd486a58", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a pretty good book. Very, very different, but I really enjoyed it.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 01 18:14:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 01 18:15:32 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "63c635e67d856a61d4a2bb590fe8df6c", "book_id": "15753987", "review_id": "c9b1df98679d430cb12650cc2ee8242a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I've been one of Jill's beta readers for some time and have read 5 (3 of which are still coming) of the Meadow's Creek books. Originally this book was not in the series, and when Jill decided to insert it between what used to be book 2 and book 1 I wasn't certain if it was the right thing to do. I even called Demon Royale book 1.5 for some time. \n However, after she worked with it and got the spit and polish on, I realized that this book really enhanced the story a lot. You'll learn a lot more of what drives Natalie to be who she is, and get some tantalizing hints about where the Slayer comes from and even a few more morsels about Charles Buckle's back story. \n I can't begin to tell you how excited I am that Jill is publishing this entire series--its a deep and twisting story that will make you gasp and cry at more than one point!", "date_added": "Sun Dec 02 19:53:54 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 02 19:54:16 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "63c635e67d856a61d4a2bb590fe8df6c", "book_id": "13579021", "review_id": "797236a9fcf5b25f54fb53471eb845f6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is an amazing book about the most unlikely of heroes. Natalie Johnson is a downtrodden girl who never gets a break. She dreams about a better world where she is popular and everyone likes her. This isn't terribly uncommon--except the world she dreams of is real...", "date_added": "Tue Jun 26 12:39:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 26 12:40:52 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c5efcf4e104e229d70b5496943430448", "book_id": "28587696", "review_id": "2172a022c8b39be55fcd32c1a822f2bf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A hilarious thrill ride from start to finish. If you like a healthy dose of sarcasm with your near-death experiences, then this one is for you. If you loved R.I.P.D. (the movie, I can't speak for the comics) this is definitely your cup of tea, but if you despised every moment of it then completely ignore my last statement :)", "date_added": "Tue Oct 18 12:02:27 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 20 11:46:40 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Nov 02 04:15:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c5efcf4e104e229d70b5496943430448", "book_id": "17927395", "review_id": "57df1b8b50b045c02606d303f6429763", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'd give this one 900 bazillion stars, if possible!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 29 18:34:30 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 30 07:48:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c5efcf4e104e229d70b5496943430448", "book_id": "25227016", "review_id": "d497209957110b136819c69d85f8402b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway an embarrassingly long time ago. For some reason I couldn't get into it the first time I tried to read. Well, actually I got about halfway through and just lost focus, but when I finally picked it up again I blew through it like nobody's business! I'm really, really upset that it took so long for me to read, I really enjoyed it and need to remind myself to track down the next books. I enjoyed the characters, got a bit confused with some of the history, and wasn't really surprised by anything in the end, but all in all it was still a very fun ride.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 30 03:01:35 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu May 05 10:25:38 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Mar 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c5efcf4e104e229d70b5496943430448", "book_id": "21851572", "review_id": "1612c41b30556a135a6874c56be9a917", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Having just bawled my eyes out for the last few chapters, I'm having a hard time NOT giving this 5 stars. But honestly I had a hard time sticking with this book, the constant back and forth and switching tactics and neverending but not fully executed schemes were too much. Still, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this series as a whole!", "date_added": "Sun Jan 31 17:50:55 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 08 21:01:18 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c5efcf4e104e229d70b5496943430448", "book_id": "23874477", "review_id": "a7ab0bf4ef622046e7d9e55c66607e77", "rating": 1, "review_text": "FINALLY grabbed me at 51%, then dropped me again by 84%. I tried, but it just really didn't work for me. The setting, the protagonist, the actual problem that needed to be solved. The wrong parts were played up, dragged out, or not touched upon enough.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 11 08:07:18 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 17 07:37:27 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Dec 17 07:37:27 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c5efcf4e104e229d70b5496943430448", "book_id": "9491982", "review_id": "a9c7ab9eee86a503591440da06bd2822", "rating": 1, "review_text": "63% and I am DONE. I wanted to like it, but honestly it was so all over the place that i soent more time being lost than being interested.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 03 20:23:31 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 10 19:39:55 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jul 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c5efcf4e104e229d70b5496943430448", "book_id": "18006496", "review_id": "3afccc26786bf4627237cbf334bbdddc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Hands down, the best book (and series) that I've ever read. I've never felt this emotionally invested in a character, let alone an entire group of characters. The build up of both the excitement and action as well as a completely new and different story was awesome and somewhat unexpected on my part. Perfect. Just perfect.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 08 11:57:22 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 22 06:59:00 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Sep 22 06:59:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c5efcf4e104e229d70b5496943430448", "book_id": "18717457", "review_id": "85f3bfebfa8ba9936fbe07ce3b7a3e29", "rating": 1, "review_text": "ugh...I finally gave up. mildly entertaining at times, but I spent too much time rolling my eyes in disappointment for any plot to grasp my attention.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 14 06:03:41 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 16 19:03:07 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c5efcf4e104e229d70b5496943430448", "book_id": "9397967", "review_id": "e0ccfb8d527a856540e840b102dcc4e3", "rating": 1, "review_text": "65% and I just couldn't drag myself through it anymore. Decent idea, terrible execution.", "date_added": "Mon May 12 08:53:07 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 08 07:15:06 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c5efcf4e104e229d70b5496943430448", "book_id": "17828678", "review_id": "6b5562072b2bc4f630ee5f77816f8694", "rating": 2, "review_text": "eh...a free book is usually a free book for a reason. Basic plot, flat writing, and boring concepts made this double book a one evening read. Though, not a completely terrible way to occupy a few hours.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 04 19:19:48 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 09 08:48:19 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Nov 09 08:48:19 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Nov 04 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c5efcf4e104e229d70b5496943430448", "book_id": "17347389", "review_id": "01fb125e05a7573b810f446c6134dcf9", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Alright, let's try reading this one again! For some reason I fell off the bandwagon about 1/3 into this book the first time around. Not even the slightest clue why.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 09 10:08:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 25 12:47:33 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "29923707", "review_id": "81a606058c004a08239f0189772890c4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5/5 stars. I am completely in love with these books and this was a great second installment. Full review to come!", "date_added": "Sat Sep 23 07:14:43 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 09 10:54:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Oct 09 10:54:42 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Sep 23 07:14:43 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "32991569", "review_id": "feeada7cda8ed1a22cd92ca5fb9ae61b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a review of an advance readers edition. \n The first thing that jumped out at me about Jane, Unlimited was the format. It's divided into six sections: an introductory section, which ends with Jane pondering a choice, and the following five sections are alternate universes of each other, each following a different choice Jane makes. A few mysteries are set up in the introduction, and each of the sections answers a few of the questions. The format really worked in some ways, and really didn't in others. I was really hooked in the first half of the book, with the intro and the first two sections, but the later half left me a little confused and a lot conflicted. In the first section, the characters solve an art theft. The second section was a little bit like a classic spy story, and it was definitely my favorite. I loved Jane discovering the organization that was in the house right under her and the residents' noses, and the storyline was really fun and great for the characters. After this section though, things got a bit more convoluted. \n I had to re-read parts of the third section multiple times because it was so confusing. I felt like things were just happening for no reason and it was hard to make sense of. It definitely had a creepy vibe though, which I really liked, but by the end, I was still extremely confused as to what happened and what, exactly was going on with Charlotte. I liked the fourth section much better, because it made a lot of sense to me and fit in more with the first two. The ending where Jane confronts her alternate self was honestly touching and not at all what I expected, and I loved the message portrayed throughout this chapter. The idea of multiverses has always interested me and this section covered them in a really cool way. It felt like this section could have been a book in and of itself, because as a short section within the overall book it did end up feeling kind of rushed. However, the last section did not impress me. It didn't fit in well with the rest of the story, and the idea was honestly a bit ludicrous. Nothing was explained as far as how the other world got there and why Jane was connected to it, and it just felt really out of place with the other sections. \n Each of the sections felt very short to me, and could have used a bit more development. Honestly, each of them could have stood alone as their own books with some more development, especially the fourth one with the multiverses like I mentioned above. Despite this, I still really enjoyed them and this format of storytelling. It just felt like I got a taste of each bit of story and then the book was moving on to the next one, but I guess that's the idea of this format. I also wish the book had leaned more into the mystery/spy element that it had in the first half, or even the sci-fi that was in the fourth section, rather than leaning towards fantasy in the second half of the book. \n An issue that I had that I feel like I should mention was the way Ravi's sexuality was portrayed. I am certainly no expert on this topic, but as much as I loved Ravi, he definitely played into the bisexual/pansexual stereotype of being a player who flirts with and sleeps with everyone. His character was more developed than that, but there were moments that just rubbed me the wrong way. He was just shown as excessively flirting with everyone, and Jane says that he \"doesn't seem like a guy who's [romantically] serious about anyone\" (p. 77). I'm not saying that these are bad traits or that it makes Ravi a bad person, it just seemed like he was written with the overly flirty bisexual/pansexual stereotype in mind. However, as I said before, Ravi was a very well-developed character and one of my favorites, so this didn't affect how much I liked him. I'd love to hear the thoughts of other bisexual/pansexual readers on this topic, maybe I'm reading into it too much (or not enough). Let me know! \n The part of Jane, Unlimited that will stick with me the most is the characters. This story is very character driven and although there are a ton of characters, each one is very well-written and stands out on their own. I didn't get confused over all the characters like I thought I would when they were first introduced, because each one had things that made them stand out. I would definitely read another book about the side characters alone, they were all so fun and I wanted to know more about them. My favorites were definitely Ravi and Kiran. They both had great development and backstories, and I loved their sibling relationship. Ravi was so funny, and he totally stole every scene he was in. Kiran was so mysterious and was just really interesting to read about (and she was funny at times too). I also loved the friendship between Ravi and Jane. Even though it bordered on romantic at some points, you could tell they both knew that they're not right for each other but still cared about each other anyway. And, of course, Jane and Ivy were adorable! I loved how they came together in each section no matter what, even though their relationship wasn't central to the story. I wish we had gotten more information about Kiran and Patrick's relationship. Even though we got a bit of an explanation, I would totally read a prequel about their friendship and then Patrick getting involved with the spy organization. Come to think of it, I would love to read a linear perspective of the events before and during this book from Kiran's or another character's perspective. \n The overall vibe of the story was very whimsical, and made you feel like anything could happen. I saw someone on Twitter compare it to Clue, and I definitely feel like that's an accurate comparison, especially in the first two sections. I love books with classic mystery/spy vibes and Jane, Unlimited totally had them. It reminded me of children's spy novels that I used to read when I was a kid, in the best possible way. It captured the whimsical innocence of those novels while also bringing on a bit of a darker vibe, and it totally worked. \n Overall, even though I did have a few issues with this book, it was one of the most unique and interesting stories I've ever read. I had to take time to collect my thoughts about it when I finished because it was just so much to wrap my head around, and I've gone back to this review so many times because I feel like it just doesn't do it justice. It started off as one thing, and then ended up as something completely different than I expected (which is good and bad). I honestly want to re-read it already just to help me wrap my head around it, and pick up on details that I missed the first time! If you're planning on reading this book, definitely go into it with an open mind and expect the unexpected (and I hope this review didn't spoil you too much...sorry?). \n See this review and more on my blog here: https://thebookcycle.wordpress.com/20...", "date_added": "Wed May 17 15:49:29 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 16 10:59:49 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Aug 19 19:34:32 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Aug 14 04:23:23 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "30763950", "review_id": "f0b9a35669af7a15fdc70d6f11f8fc48", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A Million Junes was a fantastic second novel for Emily Henry. I wasn't a huge fan of her debut, but this one completely blew me away. I fell in love with June and her family right away. I loved their portrayal of a blended family, and that although June missed her father, she still loved her mother, stepfather, and brothers as her family. June and Saul's banter was also really fun and added a lighthearted note to this emotional story. I loved the way that their relationship developed, and how they explored their pasts together. The flashbacks and the ancestor characters were a bit confusing to follow at times, but they helped to understand the characters. I liked how this book had supernatural elements but it also had normal high school issues as well, including June considering new possibilities for her future. Overall this book was an incredibly unique and heartwarming story about family, love, and loss, and I would highly recommend picking it up come release day.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 17 19:37:02 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun May 14 17:19:44 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat May 13 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "31126769", "review_id": "ab5fa3af551116719538433114b4d0ca", "rating": 5, "review_text": "These novellas were so fun! The one about Christian and the scavenger hunt one were my favorites, but Lissa's journals were also cool to see what she and Rose were up to when they ran away. I love this series and these characters so much!", "date_added": "Mon Dec 26 20:03:31 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 31 06:11:55 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "28374007", "review_id": "57e5e9ac86708aee92836945945aa05f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I've been meaning to read Three Dark Crowns since it was released last year, but I'm honestly glad I waited until right before One Dark Throne was released because this book had quite the cliffhanger! I ended up really loving this book. The world was so unique from any other fantasy book I've ever read, and learning about it was so interesting. I loved the characters, especially the three sisters. Their development over the course of the book was spectacular. The book was a little slow in the beginning, because although it was really cool to learn about this world, it was a bit info-dump-y. However, once I got a quarter of the way in I was totally hooked. \n One complaint I had about this book was that there were too many characters to keep track of. I understand there being a lot of side characters, because each sister would of course have their own life, but some of them were focused on a little too much for me. It was especially confusing when the point of view would switch to one of the side characters. I understand why this was necessary at certain points, but I wish the story had just been from the point of views of the three sisters. As much as I ended up liking Jules, I wish there had been more focus on Arsinoe and her issues with her powers than there was on her and Joeseph (who I HATED by the way, he's complete trash and it pissed me off how easily Jules kept forgiving him). I did end up liking the side characters though, and even found some of Natalia's sections about Katharine interesting towards the end. \n I kept trying to pick a favorite sister throughout the story, but I honestly could not choose! I loved the poisoner world that Katharine was in, and I hope she has more agency and more of a storyline in book 2. I totally called her and Arsinoe having opposite powers from the beginning (though we don't know for sure that Katharine is a naturalist, it's clear that she and her snake got along pretty well from the beginning and since Arsinoe is a poisoner it would make sense). I'm really interested to read about how Arsinoe and Katharine and their people handle this. Mirabella's sections were interesting as well. I loved that even though she was powerful, she never wanted to kill her sisters until she though Arsinoe attacked her at the end. The endings for all three sisters were wild and I'm so glad that book 2 comes out in a few days so I can dive right into it! I'm so glad that Kendare Blake is writing more books in this series, the world is so vast and I'm excited to learn more about it!", "date_added": "Wed Sep 21 08:28:44 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 16 10:57:10 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "27969081", "review_id": "1d4b20d9ecaa5dd7350d3f3c4c4f554b", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This was such a fun, unique, halloween-esque read (though it could be enjoyed any time of the year!) I heard about this book through Twitter, and I am so glad I picked it up. The main character was a bisexual Latina girl, and the story incorporated Latin American religion and culture in such a unique and interesting way. I loved the main character's family, and how the overall story was family-centric. I had a great time reading this, and I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a quick and fun (but slightly spooky) book!", "date_added": "Mon Sep 05 13:45:57 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 26 11:32:06 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Oct 26 16:43:59 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "23308087", "review_id": "50ca582a316ab2562730a132e8ea2fa1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5/5 Stars \n I went into this book with high expectations, and I was not disappointed! I absolutely loved this story. Renee Ahdieh's writing and world-building was just as exquisite as it was in The Wrath and the Dawn duology, and the character development was on point. Flame in the Mist was a unique take on Mulan, and went in a different direction than I was expecting and took me completely by surprise. \n Mariko was a great main character, and I loved her journey. Her voice was poignant and perfect for the narration. The other characters in the Black Clan were also very well-developed, and I really enjoyed Mariko's interactions with them, especially her relationship with Okami. My favorite character was definitely Ranmaru, he intrigued me from the beginning and his big reveal at the end of the story was so wild! I was also interested in Yumi and her relationship with Ranmaru, it was only briefly mentioned but they clearly had a history. I hope it's touched upon in the next book! It would be neat if Ranmaru had perspective chapters, especially because he will be separated from Mariko and Okami. \n As much as I loved the Black Clan members, I couldn't really bring myself to care about Kenshin that much. He was okay, but his storyline hunting Mariko wasn't very interesting to me. I get why it was included but I sometimes found myself skimming his chapters because I just wanted to get back to Mariko. However, the characters like the emperor and the royal family will no doubt play a bigger role in the next book. \n Overall, I really enjoyed this book almost as much as I did The Wrath and the Dawn! Renee Ahdieh is becoming an auto-buy author for me, I'll read pretty much anything she writes. The ending of this book had me on the edge of my seat and the cliffhanger left me desperately wanting more. I can't wait for book 2!", "date_added": "Wed Aug 10 12:05:51 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed May 24 11:30:01 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "14061957", "review_id": "b0ea4b5ad61fd0f18335eb34011edd16", "rating": 5, "review_text": "These books were so well-written and exciting and kept me hooked through the last page. I loved all of the characters and the ending was absolutely perfect. I can't wait to reread Six of Crows before Crooked Kingdom in September because now I'll see the Grisha trilogy references! Leigh writes great characters and her writing style flows so well with the amazing world she's created. Now I just hope she really will write Nikolai a book... I am so glad I finally picked up this series because it ended up being one of my all-time favorites.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 21 10:45:03 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 25 20:09:47 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "23308084", "review_id": "211393560f9dd87ba08768b0758d4236", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this so much. It was a great sequel, and I loved how we got to know more of the characters better. Shazi and Khalid are amazing characters and I love their relationship. The ending was perfect, and this is definitely one of my favorite series!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 28 09:37:59 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 05 10:36:34 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jul 05 10:36:34 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "31371485", "review_id": "9c7eb3745a003e6cb45e2cfb2e13dc08", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a delightful second book in the Ruined series. I read the first one last year and absolutely loved it, and I had just as much fun reading this installment. Avenged picks up right where Ruined left off, and the reader is thrown into the action right away. Em becomes co-queen of Ruina with her recently rescued sister, Olivia, and they have to work on rebuilding their kingdom and gaining the trust of their people. As you can imagine, there is a bit of a power struggle between the two sisters. Olivia has powers and Em does not, Em trusts Cas and wants an alliance between their two nations but Olivia wants to kill Cas and all his people. Olivia seems to have lost all ability to reason and is hell-bent on taking over every other kingdom for the Ruined and killing every human she sees, despite the fact that there are only a small number of Ruined left. There are a number of other enjoyable side plots with other characters, like Aren and Cas. This book was full of plot twists and political intrigue that left me unable to put it down! \n The characters in this book were just as fantastic as they were in the first one. I love Em, she's a great protagonist and her character arc thus far has been amazing. I also adore Cas, he's so pure, and his development has been so good. He's definitely one of my favorite male protagonists, and he and Em have one of my favorite fictional relationships! Aren was also really neat to read about in this book, his storyline with Iria was really interesting and his point of view really added to the story. I also loved all the scenes with Galo, he and Cas are so fun! \n I only had a few issues with this book, and one of them was that it ended almost exactly where it started off. Almost no progress was made plot-wise. The people of Oslo weren't their allies in the beginning, and their weren't their allies in the end. The book started off with Em's concern towards Olivia's growing abuse of her powers, and she didn't really solve that problem in this one either. The last scene felt almost exactly like the last scene in Ruined, and Em hesitantly going along with Olivia's rage-fueled plan to destroy the Lerans. They also started off where they left with their people too, if not in a worse position. The Ruined still have no home, and are still doubting their leadership. Cas and Em are still trying to be together (though I didn't expect that one to be solved till the next book anyway). Cas and Jovita are still vying for power. All of the problems that were set up at the end of book 1 are still present at the end of book 2, and it feels like almost no plot progress was made. It definitely had second-book-syndrome in this sense, though I actually enjoyed it unlike most second books. I wouldn't necessarily call it a filler, as things did happen and it was still very good, but it pretty much ended in the same place it started. The other issue I had was the ending. There wasn't really a climax scene, both parties arrived at the Leran castle to find the Warriors had fled, there was a small scuffle between Olivia and the Warriors and Aren, but that was really it. There wasn't really a big climactic battle scene or a big betrayal or anything, it kind of felt like the book just ended. Which is fine, but considering the lack of plot progression, it feels like a big climax was needed. \n However, if an author needs to write a second book to explore character dynamics and set up for the third book, this was the way to do it. Despite the issues I had with it, the book was still very enjoyable and I had a great time reading it like I did the first one. The story line was very much driven by politics and interpersonal relationships with a few action sequences here and there, but it was fast paced and I was never bored. Em and Olivia's complicated relationship was very interesting to read about, and the power struggle between them as they tried to co-rule their people was so well-written. I'm really excited to see where they end up in book 3. \n Many times I found myself gasping and laughing out loud while reading this. The interactions between the characters were spot on and I loved seeing all the different dynamics that were explored. Cas and Em absolutely killed me in this one. I loved their ups and downs in this book and how they always bounced back and had faith in each other. It's such a well-developed and healthy relationship, and all of their scenes are so cute! Even though their romance wasn't as much of a focus in this sequel as it was in book one, the interactions they had were perfect. They make such a great team and I absolutely love them! \n Overall, I loved this book almost as much as the first one. Apart from the few issues mentioned above, it was a great second book in a trilogy. The third book is already one of my most anticipated books of next year (though I don't want it to be the last one!). This series deserves so much more attention, it's so fun and wild, with great characters and a story line that kept me on the edge of my seat. I can't wait for book 3!", "date_added": "Mon Jun 13 07:47:11 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun May 28 19:48:56 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun May 28 18:55:54 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed May 24 11:38:31 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "26074185", "review_id": "adbc709390b308e5323a9115f3e7b24c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5/5 stars \n I really enjoyed this book! It was fun and really kept my interest, which is surprising because fantasy hasn't been able to lately. The world-building was a little iffy, but I kind of liked it because it made the story feel easier to keep up with. My problem with fantasy is that the characters and plot usually get lost in the (sometimes strange) world-building that I mostly don't care about, but that was not the case in this book. So while the lack of extreme world-building may be a problem for big fantasy fans, it wasn't for me. I was not bored at all while reading this, and I especially liked the characters and the romance. Overall this was really fun and I can't wait for the sequel!", "date_added": "Tue May 03 13:04:43 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 27 12:31:24 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jun 11 05:48:31 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "29749085", "review_id": "ff63be6d53e69aea47ee21edff0d5a61", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5/5 Stars \n **This is a review of an Advance Uncorrected Reader's Copy and will be spoiler-free** \n As soon as I found out that Leigh Bardugo was writing a Wonder Woman story I knew I had to get my hands on it! Leigh is one of my favorite authors but I've never been big into superheros and I honestly went into this knowing next-to-nothing about Wonder Woman (I saw the movie while I was halfway through reading it) but like I suspected, it was still a really enjoyable story! I wasn't sure whether it was supposed to be like a prequel to the movie but after seeing the movie, it doesn't really fit in, so I'm pretty sure it's an alternate-universe type of thing which was really neat! It was so cool to see what Leigh did with the world and the character of Diana and to compare and contrast the two. I honestly enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed the movie (if not more), it was such a unique and creative take on Diana and the Amazons. \n I loved the characters and the little group they formed! Diana experiencing New York City (and modern civilization in general) for the first time was hilarious and led to some really scenes. I didn't go into this book expecting to care about any of the other characters but I ended up absolutely loving them! Alia was amazing and probably my favorite character, she was so funny and brave and I just loved reading from her point of view! Jason, Nim, and Theo were also great and added a lot of lightheartedness to the story. \n My one complaint about this book was that it was a bit slow. I felt like certain things were dragged out longer than they needed to be when I just wanted to get on with the story. However, there were lots of other great things to balance this out! The characters were spectacular, and the incorporation of Greek mythology was amazing and something I was not expecting (because like I said, I went into this knowing almost nothing about Wonder Woman & her relationship to Greek myths). All of the scenes that took place in Greece were some of my favorites, Leigh's rich descriptions made me want to take a trip there! I also really appreciated the diversity in this book and the fact that real-world issues were brought up within it. The Wonder Woman movie was pretty lacking in terms of diversity, so it was really refreshing to have many of the main characters who were people of color. I also always appreciate a good group dynamic/road trip story, and this book totally had it! The friendships and different relationships explored throughout this book really added some heart to it. \n Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend picking it up - especially if you're a Wonder Woman fan! It really made me interested her story and I may end up doing some research and reading more about her in the future. Great characters, road trips, and superheroes come together and definitely make this amazing book worth the read!", "date_added": "Thu Mar 31 18:57:23 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 17 21:52:22 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jun 17 21:27:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jun 11 12:13:16 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "25467698", "review_id": "0dbdaaa64d4bbe87e7ddc074498a4d87", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 Stars \n This book was really interesting. I liked the way the author incorporated concepts of psychology and physics into the story (even though some of them, like hypnosis, actually weren't accurate it was still cool) and the plot itself was really neat. Besides the plot, the other thing I liked best were Natalie's relationships with her family and Megan. I didn't really buy her relationship with Beau being as all-encompassing and important as it was, but maybe that's just me. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book. The last 50 or so pages blew my mind and the book as a whole will definitely stick with me!", "date_added": "Mon Jan 11 14:23:14 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 03 13:58:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "20983366", "review_id": "1e9b39c7804c0fbf4c9de61fb79e00d6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was a wonderfully satisfying sequel to Passenger that I had such a great time reading. All of the characters were fun and interesting and I loved the new relationships that were explored. One of my only complaints is lack of Nicholas/Etta, which was made up for with the new parental and friendship relationships that were brought in so I'm pretty much okay with it. My other complaints were that although the world building in this duology is really rich and nuanced, it did leave me a little confused at times (though I think it's really interesting and I loved it anyway!) and also that the pacing was a bit slow. Other than that, this book was amazing. The action scenes were so well written and had me on the edge of my seat, especially the climax near the end. \n Character growth was another one of this book's strong suits. I feel like I got to know each of the characters so much better than I did in Passenger, and exploring their relationships and friendships with each other was great. Nicholas/Sophia and Etta/Julian were really fun!I love how they were all a little family unit by the end. I also loved Etta (re)uniting with the Thorns in the beginning, and seeing her get to know her father was really sweet. The parallels between her friendship with Julian and Nicholas' friendship with Sophia were really neat as well. Both parties were forced to work together, unwillingly at first, but slowly grew to like each other and gain each other's trust. Sophia/Li Min was another great addition to the story, and I loved seeing their relationship develop as well. \n I am a sucker for when authors leave books somewhat open-ended and open to interpretation, and that was definitely the case with this ending! I thought it fit perfectly well with the story as a whole and it made me so happy when Nicholas decided to rescue the stranded travelers and start rebuilding what they had. \n Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this duology and these characters, and I can't wait to read what Alex Bracken writes next!", "date_added": "Sun Jan 10 17:35:24 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 20 19:57:50 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jan 16 13:44:04 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "22299763", "review_id": "090013d4c00a625391f41da451d8f305", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Absolutely unforgettable. These books are my all-time favorites and I love them with all my heart. The characters are amazingly well-developed, and the story line kept me on my toes all the time. This sequel was everything I wanted and more, and I'm so happy with the ending!! I will pick up absolutely anything Leigh writes in the future (including hopefully a Nikolai spinoff!!!!!!) and I'm going to miss these characters so much!!", "date_added": "Sat Jan 02 11:59:55 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 30 08:41:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "23367261", "review_id": "09aa918c1c88a4960595b80ae85d56e5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5/5 Stars \n Another great addition to this series! I've missed the characters (my problematic faves) so much, and I loved the new character dynamics that were explored. Even the POVs I thought I would be bored reading were interesting. I took off a star because although I really enjoyed this book, I feel like not much really happened and it was somewhat of a filler compared to the others except for character development purposes. The cliffhanger is killing me, I need the next book (which will be the last.....oh my god) now!!", "date_added": "Sat Dec 19 09:47:39 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 24 19:44:17 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Dec 24 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Dec 19 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "23845952", "review_id": "39f371424b44d7bdcf424c8e3901538b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway! \n I really enjoyed this book! I was sucked into the story right from the beginning, and it stayed engaging throughout. I honestly can't remember the last time I read a book with a main character who is in college, and it was nice to read a book about someone who's (almost) at the same point in their lives as me again. Annie's story in the past with the canal was really interesting, and while I enjoyed those parts the flashing back and forth between Annie's memories and the present was a little disconcerting. However, it may have been that way on purpose because it wasn't a pleasant experience for Annie. Either way, this book was very enjoyable for me and thank you again to the author for the giveaway!", "date_added": "Tue Dec 01 04:18:03 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 27 12:33:46 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Dec 25 12:54:36 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Dec 22 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "10194157", "review_id": "db59ea659b77170a09e1f8c8081ae40b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I've been putting off reading this series for a while because I didn't think I would like it, but I was so wrong. I absolutely loved this book. Leigh Bardugo's writing style is fantastic, I loved it in Six of Crows and I loved it in this one. Alina is a great character, and I loved seeing her development into a powerful summoner.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 27 14:14:15 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 21 10:43:23 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "25817407", "review_id": "66798cdccb50da6c982df2fbdfec152f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway! \n 4.5/5 stars \n This book was extremely good. I haven't seen a lot of hype around its release, but it deserves some. It is so much more than what the summary makes it sound like, and it definitely surpassed my expectations! It went from lighthearted and fun moments to darker, way more sad moments with ease and kept me hooked the entire time. Kiera does a great job of telling love stories that keep the the main character central to the plot, rather than only her relationship with her love interest, and that continued through this book. Although the summary implies that this book is a romantic story, which it partially is, it is more so about Kahlen as a person and her journey as a siren, and her relationships not only with Akinli but also with the Ocean and her \"sisters.\" I really enjoyed this book and I feel so lucky that I got to read it in advance!", "date_added": "Sat Nov 14 21:41:58 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 17 19:39:05 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 06 15:24:51 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "18584855", "review_id": "4b751f0043501e70fb2f3b1e4440f7a7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5/5 Stars \n [Review contains mild spoilers] \n I thoroughly enjoyed this Alice in Wonderland prequel! I went into it with kind of low expectations, because although I love Marissa Meyer, I've been kind of losing faith in retellings because of how mediocre some of the newer ones have been. However, I was totally blown away by this book. I forgot how great of a writer Marissa is, and how well-developed her worlds and characters are. I absolutely loved Cath, Jest, and all of the other characters. \n Even though I knew that this was a Queen of Hearts origin story, I found myself wishing that the book would end happily for Cath and Jest. Their relationship was so great, and the way things ended made me so sad for them (honestly from now on whenever I see anything Alice in Wonderland/Queen of Hearts related I'm gonna cry) but it was a fitting ending and origin story for the queen. The white roses and the \"off with his head!\" were included so well into the story, and it made me see the Queen of Hearts with completely new eyes. \n Another part of this book that I loved was the way the many Alice in Wonderland references were incorporated without feeling forced or strange. I was apprehensive about characters like the Cheshire cat being involved because I thought it would be strange, but Marissa weaved them in so well! Other references, like the raven and the writing desk and the white roses (which will forever make me cry) were also weaved seamlessly into the story. It reminded me of just how good Marissa Meyer is at writing retellings, making them original and unexpected while also drawing from the source material in creative ways! \n I really loved this book, and it was one of my favorites I read in 2016. I'm so excited to see what's to come from Marissa Meyer in the next year, because I will most definitely be picking it up!", "date_added": "Mon Nov 09 07:45:02 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 19 11:09:33 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "28588345", "review_id": "ee2eece9ae6eb6375b6cd9867374e1bf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another one of Marie Lu's trademark perfect yet bittersweet endings. I love this trilogy so much, and I can't believe already over, it feels like book 1 just came out! But I am excited to read whatever Marie Lu writes next.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 03 13:02:25 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 08 15:49:19 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Nov 08 15:49:19 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Oct 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "27272506", "review_id": "e5b2276a8b835dc1cbbdd741a9bbd54c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5/5 Stars. I enjoyed this, but it was a little slow-moving and I found myself wondering where the plot was going for some of it. Nothing exciting really happened, and while I liked Adelaide, I feel like I didn't really know much about her. Other than that, I really liked this. I liked Cedric & Adelaide's romance, and I really liked Mira and Tamsin, so I'm excited to read about them in the companion novels!", "date_added": "Mon Oct 26 13:58:04 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 27 12:32:34 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Apr 23 12:13:15 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "23437156", "review_id": "9acf9fa197efbe3415f74af38467d3d9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was fantastic and one of my all time favs!!! I love group/team dynamics and found families in books and this had such a great one. I loved all the relationships between each of the characters and the way that the friendships were weighted as equally important and even given more emphasis than the romances through the course of the story. The characters themselves were great too, and I was so invested in all of them. I thought it was interesting that they all had a point of view except for Wylan, which made me think he was hiding something. He kind of was, which we found out at the end, but it was still odd to me that he didn't have a perspective. Maybe six would have been too many, or maybe we'll just find out in the next one, which I am SO excited for. I think Inej was my favorite character, but I really loved all of them. They were all so well-written and fleshed out that I felt like I knew them all so well by the end. Usually I find myself skimming over character backstories in other books but each of these characters were so interesting that their backstories were all great. I was hooked throughout the book and I had such a great time reading this!", "date_added": "Sun Oct 11 14:57:54 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 02 11:51:18 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jan 02 11:51:18 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "26252859", "review_id": "dc88615c1ec1bba1a84ad563a02f1cfb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I LOVED this. Reading from Apollo's point of view was so fun, and I loved the cameos of the characters from past books (especially Will, Nico, and Percy!). I'm so excited for the next one!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 08 11:08:04 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 27 12:32:23 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun May 22 16:52:32 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu May 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "17399160", "review_id": "ddb9eb2bf1c7cc3c6a5843d9be432f2b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I've been meaning to read this forever, and I really enjoyed it! I loved the character and the fast pacing of the plot. Honestly this felt like it could have been a standalone to me so I'm still deciding whether or not I'll pick up book 2, but I most likely will at some point.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 28 13:53:12 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 16 19:54:36 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "18798983", "review_id": "c4bf46dcd46560e46537829fb9f7fd93", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5/5 Stars \n I had such a great time reading this book. I absolutely loved Shazi, and she's one of my all-time favorite protagonists. Despina and Jalal were other favorites of mine, and I also really liked Khalid. This book took me a little while to get into, because the beginning was kind of sudden and I felt like we weren't really given an explanation as to what was going on. But once I got a feel for the book, I got VERY into it and it went by quickly. The writing style was very smooth and enjoyable to read, and I loved Shazi's snarky dialogue with Despina and the other characters. The only parts I didn't really like were Tariq's parts, because I found them kind of boring and I caught myself skimming his chapters many times because I just wanted to get back to Shazi. I know that they were setting up for the ending and the second book, which I am a little hesitant to read for that reason. But hopefully I will like it as much as I liked this one!", "date_added": "Fri Sep 25 12:08:39 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 27 12:29:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "17342701", "review_id": "cc3ef08a690fc124ce8b386cc119992b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I am so happy with this book! It really explored and developed each of the characters and the plot took so many unexpected turns. I'm so pleased with where this series is going, and I can't wait for the next one!", "date_added": "Tue Sep 01 17:38:38 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 09:45:43 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Dec 19 09:45:43 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "22571365", "review_id": "e24d35e211c42cb751f08a39b061a7eb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5/5 stars \n This book was really interesting and fun! I loved seeing the other side of the Falling Kingdoms world, and how things from that world connected with our world. I thought I wasn't going to be big on the whole multiple worlds thing, but it worked really well in this book. I think Becca was my favorite character and I wish she'd had a POV. Adam was really interesting too, and I can't wait to see where the next book takes him and his relationship with Farrell. I also really liked the relationship between Becca and Crys and I'm excited for more of that in book 2 as well. The whole secret society storyline was really interesting. I wasn't really all that invested in either of the romantic relationships, but I liked them well enough. Overall I really enjoyed this book (though not as much as Falling Kingdoms) and I can't wait for the next one!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 18 20:06:18 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 20 18:57:58 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "23901077", "review_id": "17c2b84b7fcad3bb2d41fbd15913ee6d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is more like a 4.5 because the ending was kind of abrupt, but otherwise I really enjoyed it!! It was just as fantastic as the other two and I'm sad that it's the last one.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 31 08:52:16 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 02 18:55:01 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "23830990", "review_id": "22a79cbc0f1b7a029cb3380139a3bd2a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "the concept of this book was cool, but it kind of felt like i was just reading another john green-esque contemporary with a whiny dude narrator in a group of friends with a girl he has an unrequited love for. it wasn't bad or anything though. i really liked the family aspect and the relationship between mikey mel & meredith, and some of the supernatural parts were fun, though i didn't really find myself caring what the \"indie\" kids were doing, so the supernatural parts just felt kind of extra in addition to the actual plot with mikey and his friends.overall this just didn't stand out to me, though i do plan on reading patrick ness' other books.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 16 07:22:21 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 03 14:01:04 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 09 15:01:18 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Nov 03 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "25518205", "review_id": "520a028ae3130e113ef4d457f5fbf993", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A perfect ending to one of my all-time favorite series!! I can't believe Rebel Belle is over, but this book was wonderful. I had so much fun reading it, and the ending tore me to pieces. I'm so happy with this and I can't wait to read whatever Rachel writes next!!", "date_added": "Sat Jun 27 09:01:54 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 27 12:33:06 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Apr 06 14:21:42 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "17167166", "review_id": "47bbfe0755c892cbcaa42c998165b7f6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "this book was so wild, especially the second half", "date_added": "Wed Jun 24 21:53:28 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 03 07:27:33 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jul 03 11:20:17 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "25453426", "review_id": "790d1c42c69f70ddc8c6c9ba7a53cd0b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really enjoyed these novellas, they were a great addition to the series! I would definitely recommend reading this if you're a fan of the Darkest Minds series, it gives you so much background & additional info about the series. In Time felt a little disconnected from the other two because Sparks Rise & Beyond the Night had the same characters, but I still really liked it.", "date_added": "Sun May 31 04:53:27 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 03 14:00:38 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Dec 14 09:10:25 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "20764879", "review_id": "febd72a1807c1138fcf01ee2b73adb65", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love this world, I love these characters, I love the writing, I love everything about this series. I can't believe I have to wait a year for the next one, and after that cliffhanger.....how am I gonna make it???", "date_added": "Tue May 19 14:10:49 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 12 09:17:04 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Mar 12 09:17:04 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "13643567", "review_id": "2388884b71f984488f047e85e41247c4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "HOLY SHIT.....................", "date_added": "Fri Mar 06 09:41:53 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 10 12:14:40 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Mar 10 13:44:54 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "24120519", "review_id": "2654dd47f06387ec455a1bc82a077b7f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm so happy that I finally finished this series, I absolutely loved it! The ending was so good and I can't wait for the spin-off.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 01 10:55:12 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 13 19:44:19 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Mar 13 19:40:13 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Feb 25 20:36:50 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "24751478", "review_id": "2badb1f54fb614e9c005b969ae2a7ed3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5/5 stars. this was good, but it didn't really stand out to me. i liked fei but the other characters weren't very interesting and the world building could have been stronger. i wasn't super disappointed, because the storyline was pretty much exactly what i was expecting, but i wasn't really impressed either.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 30 11:07:43 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 01 19:38:11 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "17378527", "review_id": "7952d05fd98c53ec740e61f9139653b5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I can't believe this series is over! I won't go into detail but overall I was happy with this book and this ending, but certain things felt unnecessary to the story and other things I felt weren't resolved well enough. I still have a lot of questions after finishing this book, but maybe it was intended to be left slightly open-ended. I am happy with this conclusion though, and I'm going to miss these characters so much!", "date_added": "Tue Jan 06 19:02:39 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon May 09 11:23:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon May 09 13:51:16 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Apr 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "23846013", "review_id": "0713528c93d3ff83e763ec4d4678c65f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "this was such a good sequel!! i liked it just as much, if not more than, the first one. it was so wild and dark and it was interesting to see adelina's reverse character development, and also to see her fighting the daggers who we know & like, and almost rooting for the character who's perspective i'm reading to lose. the thing that raffaele and violetta found out at the end was so wild and i can't wait to see where the next one goes!!!", "date_added": "Mon Dec 29 19:52:32 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 03 13:02:12 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Nov 03 13:02:12 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "20983362", "review_id": "a70555a0a25a079cd9a556b6854707f2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5/5 Stars \n This book was fantastic! I was so excited to read it, and was not disappointed. The beginning was a little slow, and I think some of it was unnecessary to the rest of the plot and definitely could have been cut out, but once I got past that the book flew by! The concept of time travel has always intrigued me, and Alex did a great job with all the nuances. However, I feel like, compared to the beginning section on the boat, the actual time travel/treasure hunt section was way more rushed, and I wished we could have visited more places and spent more time solving the clues in exchange for less time on the ship. It just felt like we found out that we could visit almost any point in time, and that her mom made a really complicated scavenger hunt, but we only ended up going about 5 places. Hopefully there will be more of that in the next one, because the ship sections were probably so Etta could get some info about time travelling from Sophia. I really liked the characters of Etta and Nicholas and their relationship, and the way they balanced each other out through the journey. I also appreciated the way that the racism that Nicholas experiences in various times, including present day, was not glossed over, and was discussed as an issue. The historical details from all the time periods was incredible, and it was so enjoyable to read about all of them. Also, the world itself was extremely well-developed. Overall this was a great book that lived up to my expectations!", "date_added": "Sat Nov 01 09:52:09 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 27 12:34:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "16150831", "review_id": "5a32fe63b9ceb5729bf5f13dc639242e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "As much as certain parts of this book got on my nerves, overall I enjoyed it. The ending was really good, and I'm going to miss these characters!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 23 14:58:25 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 27 12:39:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Nov 09 08:25:36 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Nov 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "13206900", "review_id": "106206e72a05d5e67fca0227a36968a3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "i love this series so much & i'm so sad that it's over but i couldn't have asked for a better ending! this was definetly my favorite in the series, and despite it being over 800 pages it didn't drag at all! i'm glad i still have stars above to look forward to because i'm not ready to let my tlc children go!!!!", "date_added": "Tue Sep 02 15:37:55 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 25 12:46:30 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Nov 25 12:46:30 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "8709528", "review_id": "b5630c983787702c655ee7a76d302292", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I can't believe it's over??? But this was as close to a perfect ending as possible.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 22 10:30:00 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 12 17:15:55 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Feb 12 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "13206828", "review_id": "0ac9b748d2c586659464081488b50e25", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'M YELLING how am I supposed to make it through more than a year before the next one ????? ??", "date_added": "Wed Jul 23 18:57:49 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 10 20:16:55 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "22465605", "review_id": "2363482e340b9c38257aa3c22b126c74", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I don't want to say much because this isn't officially out yet but oh my god........................... \n (this is actually more like a 4.5 because I liked the first one more but I still really enjoyed this one and thought it was a great sequel!!!)", "date_added": "Mon Jun 23 15:20:19 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 27 12:37:29 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Apr 01 16:41:24 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "8475505", "review_id": "20d92b455a02c93efbb83117e509aec9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was such a great book! I didn't know what to expect but it was so much fun, the action scenes were well-written and the main characters were very well-rounded, and just overall wonderful. Harper and David were both great and I loved how their relationship developed as the book went on. I can't wait for the sequel!", "date_added": "Wed May 28 12:40:26 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 23 15:06:07 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jun 23 15:06:07 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "18705209", "review_id": "936dbc1a65eb87b556cbc59573d6ac3b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n ok in case goodreads doesn't actually hide this, this review contains spoilers!!! \n this book was SPECTACULAR!!! It was probably my favorite in the HOO series tbh I enjoyed reading this so much. \n Part of why I haven't liked the HOO series as much as PJO is because I always felt kind of disconnected with the characters, like I don't like Rick's writing in third person as much as I do in first person, but this book felt different. Reyna's and Nico's POVs were so great omg I think their's were my favorite parts of the book, and I especially loved the friendship that developed between them. I loved how Nico's arc seemed to come full circle, even from when he was first introduced in Titan's Curse, and how he and Reyna connected because they had so much in common. I loved both him & Reyna even more in this one, both of the POV's and story arcs really added a lot (of heart) to the book. Jason's, Piper's and Leo's POVs were also fun (It felt like a flashback to the Lost Hero) but I think Reyna and Nico had the best story in this one. I actually cheered when Reyna killed Orion, I was so proud of her omg, I feel like I've said this ten times already but her & Nico's journey as characters was incredible in this one. \n The last chapter confused me, like is Leo dead or??? and why is Calypso suddenly able to leave the island??? whatever we're ignoring that and I'm gonna pretend Piper's was the last chapter because that sorta felt like a good ending??? and Nico's last section was great, I was so afraid that he wasn't going to tell Percy how he used to feel and he did and it was perfect lol \n The final battle with Gaia in the sky with Jason, Piper and Leo gave me so much anxiety, and I'm so glad it came back to the three of them, like the series started with them and it can end with them. I was mad at first that Percy and Annabeth didn't have POVs, but then I realized that it's not just their story anymore, it's all eight of their stories, and Percy and Annabeth already got their conclusion in TLO. Frank and Hazel both had climatic moments in House of Hades, so Jason, Piper and Leo deserved this one. I knew that Leo was planning to sacrifice himself and I felt so bad when Jason and Piper had to leave him omg I'm glad they had that scene on the roof in the end. \n overall this book just made me feel really connected to the characters and I loved the way all their stories were tied up. It really showed how much heart this series has, and I think it was a great conclusion. It feels so weird that it's over, because I started reading PJO in fourth grade and now I'm a senior in high school??? and it's gone??? no more Percy Jackson to look forward to??? I'm hoping Magnus Chase will be good (esp because he's related to Annabeth) but Percy & co will always have a special place in my heart.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 10 12:36:40 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 14 17:48:34 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Oct 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "9833184", "review_id": "17fd7e42996dee89a70164f262755757", "rating": 5, "review_text": "[[SPOILERS!]] WOW I'M OUT THAT ENDING JUST \n CRYING AND SCREAMING I SWEAR I DIDN'T BREATHE THROUGH THE LAST LIKE 4 CHAPTERS \n Eddie is so great I'm just he and Sydney are such a brotp and I love him and Jill :') and ugh he feels so guilty I'm so upset bur I hope they're in the next one more! \n and Sydrian was perfect of course \n the only thing with this book was that it was very Sydrian-centric like I love them and Sydney's magic plot is kinda cool and everything but the others characters were hardly in it until the end (which made up for it because it was SO good) and just everything ahhh I need the next book right now!", "date_added": "Sat Jan 11 14:49:00 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 03 14:52:16 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Feb 03 14:52:16 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "10769811", "review_id": "45fe67e9c392ba396ac19b0488760b16", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n WOW I'M NOT OKAY AT ALL?? \n Partially because this is the last book in the series (even though there's still Bloodlines, but it's not the same!) and partially because THE ENDING! \n Overall, the book was really good. I liked the switching perspectives between Lissa and Rose and the two different storylines going on, Rose trying to find Lissa's sibling and Lissa trying to clear Rose's name. I do wish that there had been more Rose/Lissa interaction than there was, because the only time they spoke was basically in the last three chapters, but at the same time these last few books have contained huge character development for both of them. In the first few books, and before the first book, the two had been so dependent on each other with the bond and everything, that they could not function without the other. At the end of Blood Promise when Avery attacked Lissa and Rose had to jump in and help her fight her way out of it, that was a huge wake-up call for Lissa. It made her realize that she needed to learn how to defend herself, because Rose couldn't always be there to save her, as much as both of them wanted. Rose also learned that there was more to her identity than just protecting Lissa. Her whole life, her mantra had been \"they come first\" but now it was Rose's turn to come first, and through it all, the two still managed to remain close and be one of the best friendships I've read in a book series. The bond being gone signifies this, they are their own people now, but that doesn't mean they can't stay as close as they were. Like Rose said, they don't need a supernatural bond holding them together, their loyalty is enough. \n Another thing I feel the need to comment on is CHRISTIAN. Christian has been my favorite character since book one, and he too has had tons of important character development and his relationship with Lissa is beautiful. They support each other, and the events of Blood Promise ended up only making them stronger when they got back together at the end of Spirit Bound. But, Lissa aside, at this point Christian has basically lost all of his immediate family. He still has the other royal Ozeras and everything, but Tasha being Tatiana's murderer has probably not helped his reputation-his parents willingly turned strigoi, and his aunt who raised him ever since murdered the queen. His family is definetly going to have a hard time accepting him after this (my poor baby), though his being in good graces with Lissa (the new queen) may improve things a bit for him. All in all, I wish we had gotten to see more of a reaction from him about his aunt, all we got was Lissa saying he was really upset. I hope he (and the others) are at least mentioned in Bloodlines! \n I'm so glad Lissa was made queen, and the \"what have we gotten ourselves into?\" look that she shared with Rose was perfect. Definetly a great way to wrap up the series (though there were still some other loose ends-Adrian, Jill, Eddie-that I'm assuming will be addressed in Bloodlines) and I'm definetly going to miss reading these books...I'll have to reread the first one before the movie next month!", "date_added": "Fri Jan 03 09:24:26 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 08 13:51:55 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jan 08 13:51:55 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "7939859", "review_id": "23f3de926afbf051d9f0c3d87d18dae6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "[SPOILERS!] DEFINETLY a step up from the last book. and that ending...whoa. Glad I already have the next one, because talk about a cliffhanger haha. so much christian/lissa-induced emotional trauma throughout the whole thing ahh babies I'm glad they're okay now though, I think I actually stopped breathing when they got captured. Also christian/rose friendship was nice and THE LAST FEW CHAPTERS WITH THE QUEEN AND THE NOTE AND THE HEARING ROSE aHHH I feel bad for hating the queen now that she sent that note haha and lissa having a sibling?! whoa?! all the plots are super interesting and just everything was perfect omg I'm so excited to read the next one, I'm sad it's the last one though...at least I'll still have bloodlines!", "date_added": "Thu Dec 26 13:14:09 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 03 09:28:08 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jan 03 09:28:08 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "6754536", "review_id": "58dccb501bf5e3191195354a9b4a5140", "rating": 3, "review_text": "[SPOILERS!] I honestly was not at all impressed with this one...the first 3/4 just seemed to drag for me. I love Rose, I really do, but I really love her interactions with the other characters- Lissa, Christian, Adrian, everyone and her hunt for Dimitri did not interest me at all, and the long portion where she was held captive and under the influence of the bite was almost unbearable. I wanted more of Christian and Lissa and everyone back at the school, but even their plot felt pointless and didn't really grip me either (I saw Avery being a spirit user from a mile away) and Christian and Lissa breaking up was sad. The last quarter and the ending were great though, basically the saving grace of the book. Thankfully, Spirit Bound looks a lot better than this one was.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 24 09:45:56 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 26 13:23:13 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Dec 26 13:23:13 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Dec 24 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "12127810", "review_id": "48a2f01432a616f0028e39b272b6910f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "SO GOOD I DON'T THINK I'LL MAKE IT THROUGH THE YEAR BEFORE THE NEXT ONE", "date_added": "Tue Jul 02 17:31:24 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 27 12:41:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "9c68bccefde244d300dbad7fe5fcf16f", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "b3161132a2e9e28db8e3caec097fb057", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I originally read this like 4 years ago, and picking it up again this week made me realize how little I remembered. I enjoyed it as much as I did when I first read it, though it felt pretty short (but it was only like 350 pages and a lot of those pages were pictures/chapter beginnings so that makes sense) and I feel like all of the characters, including Jacob, could have used more development. Other than that, it was a quick, easy, October-ish read and I'll probably reread the next one soon (and finally read the third one which has been sitting on my shelf for a year).", "date_added": "Thu Feb 21 14:17:08 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 05 11:59:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f286e7dbe2c09ba37142535fc0af170", "book_id": "12866426", "review_id": "ce82ae9399333f3f151a6c16c7dceb24", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it took me two days to read cant wait until october 2 whispers at moonlight", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 13:18:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 21 06:40:38 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f286e7dbe2c09ba37142535fc0af170", "book_id": "10800916", "review_id": "928aa5426afcc57348944dcbcd85be64", "rating": 5, "review_text": "this series just keeps getting better and better", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 13:18:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 19 15:07:09 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jun 19 15:07:09 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f286e7dbe2c09ba37142535fc0af170", "book_id": "8705784", "review_id": "005d28539cdd720ab99edde30947976a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book soooooo much i could not put it down i would give it two thumbs up everything about this book screamed awesome i laughed so hard at some parts just great", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 13:08:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 19 14:19:56 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73016d8ce7c0174a61856807fb23cd62", "book_id": "23516230", "review_id": "d3628af531d90126854906f33cd1c0d9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "was a liitle wierd at first, but in the end I liked it.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 10 09:47:26 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 10 09:48:18 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6d3eddbe0cdc3c74442232a7e2f7293e", "book_id": "8694522", "review_id": "1a076fcdb147259de4afd428d86b4823", "rating": 3, "review_text": "**3.5 stars ** This book was much better than I was expecting based on the reviews. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, spanning time and place. The current day representation of the character was a little lacking, but as this only tied together the many stories, it didn't spoil the read. I don't usually read books about witches, maybe that's why I enjoyed it more than so many who were disappointed. I quick and enchanting read.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 07 19:05:12 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 13 09:38:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6d3eddbe0cdc3c74442232a7e2f7293e", "book_id": "21853633", "review_id": "af9985a371e459331ddb91a644f52eb4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "**4.5 Stars ** Why did I have to read this book so quickly?! I didn't want it to end! This is definitely a light read, but who doesn't need those every once in awhile. I'm never sure how I feel about sequels to books I enjoy - the disappointment you feel when they don't live-up to the expectations you set. This is not one of those books. I'm not sure that I would have enjoyed it so much had I not read Garden Spells - so if you haven't, I'd read that first. If you're looking for a little light magic, love to savor/dream about food, and enjoy seeing the extraordinary things in the ordinary, this is a book for you. \n There's even a recipe for Fig and Pepper Bread at the end - I can't wait to try it :)", "date_added": "Wed Sep 10 16:18:10 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 13 09:51:24 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f864531d138835c4234f43d7dab2ac9", "book_id": "22366635", "review_id": "7a66a266811a83259153039c3b2c1d7e", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I'm really looking forward to the new title from Cate Masters!", "date_added": "Wed May 28 15:34:43 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 28 15:35:03 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f864531d138835c4234f43d7dab2ac9", "book_id": "18072251", "review_id": "0fade3b2ff0b6f77b46ffdee5fd6bfcd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What are people saying about this book ... \n \"A star is born. Gryffyn Phoenix's Haven is absolutely fabulous. The author's voice is pitch perfect as we are introduced to gutsy teen heroine, Verity. Full of heart and humor, Haven is impossible to set aside, whether you normally read YA novels or not. Phoenix has given us something fresh and new and very exciting. I'll be first in line to read the rest of this unique and entertaining series!\" \n -Tamara Thorne, international bestselling author of Candle Bay, the Sorority series, and Eternity \n \"Deftly weaving ancient tales into a luxurious tapestry, author Gryffyn Phoenix, has created a fresh mythology rife with peril. Blinded in an accident, Verity has adapted to a world of darkness. When surgery restores her sight she learns that she alone can see through the fragile veil that separates mortals and myth. Verity is a wonderfully clever and quirky hero in a world in which the concepts of friend, foe and family are turned upside down, often with terrifying results. Haven is a delicious roller coaster ride with plenty of surprises from the first page to the last.\" \n -Q. L. Pearce, author of Scary Stories for SleepOvers \n \"A promising writer! One to surely watch and read. Definitely read!\" \n --M.J. Rose \n International bestselling author \n I say please read it and let me know what you think.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 13 10:02:21 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 13 10:02:55 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jun 13 10:02:55 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4f864531d138835c4234f43d7dab2ac9", "book_id": "17379063", "review_id": "689a44c45ab393dadc2b79868827374b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book felt like one wild ride. I couldn't put it down because the book's pacing never let me take a breath. I loved it. I was really rooting for the good guys and guessing straight until the end on who could be in on the evil conspiracy and would the good guys survive. Even the kids were interesting and in horror books the youngest characters are usually so one-dimensional. Tamara Thorne is THE mistress of horror. If you want thrills, chills and the best nightmares you've ever had ... this is SO the book for you.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 16 21:15:54 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 16 12:13:49 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Feb 12 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3573c535bdd0ea41366adece3f07ddac", "book_id": "17199504", "review_id": "4cd256930469b739f0d71abcd82a22cf", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I am extremely late to this review party. I picked this book up given its prominence on \"best new fantasy series\" lists, but finished with confusion over why it was picked for such distinction. Since I'm behind on the posting, I'll skip the plot summary so many others have described and jump right into my problems with the book. \n I am confused by the ridiculous amount of praise for the \"world-building\" Shannon creates. She used a metric shit-ton of words to create a place where so much goes unexplained. Shannon provides a heap of indecipherable exposition-dump text to establish her world that includes clairvoyance, Scion, the syndicate, London, Oxford, the Rephs, and the Emites without actually explaining or helping me understand any of it and how it interacts within the world she created. Maybe I just missed it in the dump, but I can't buy into the world you built if I can't even understand it. The entire set-up just left me with so many unanswered questions. And these questions were not minor issues of structure or miniscule detail that would have added depth to a scene or character, they were major issues of how the world was established and functioned and how the people within it lived and acted. \n For example, Paige is in the Seven Seals, a crime syndicate in section I-4 of London, and engages in \"mime-crime\" which is using clairvoyance to make money. How do they make that money and what tasks do they perform, you ask? Well, I can't tell you because it was never explained. \n Also, this alternative-future London is ruled by Scion, an oppressive, totalitarian government that captures, punishes, and kills any clairvoyant that does not work for Scion in catching \"free\" clairvoyants. What threat do voyants pose to society and why is the government so adamant in removing them from society you ask? Well, clairvoyance in unnatural and something, something. \n How to clairvoyants obtain their power? No one knows (okay, I can buy that). How do they use their power? Well, they tap into the aether (spirit realm). It can just happen just by doing it. Not one individual even attempts to explain or describe the process. And don't even ask about what types of clairvoyants exists and what powers they have. According to the ridiculous flow charts at the opening, 52 separate types of clairvoyants exist, and not even that explains the specific powers each uses. Remembering what each one can and cannot do, other than Paige maybe, is tiresome and a chore. \n Okay so clairvoyants are presumably powerful and threaten the government so they are killed or captured. Why? Well, part of the reason for capturing voyants is because a whole race of beings from the aether, the Rephaim, have a deal with Scion to funnel voyants and some regular humans into slavery for the express purpose of training them to fight the Emim. The Rephaim also \"feed\" on voyants. \n The Rephaim? Well they are mystical beings from the aether that purportedly fight the Emim (although they are forbidden from fighting the Emim; that is the job of the captured voyants). They are maintaining a balance between Scion and the Emim. How? Somehow. Why are they based in Oxford? Why not? What purpose are they here for other than torturing and using humans? Your guess is as good as mine. \n Oh, you saw the mention of the Emim? What are the Emim you ask? Some mystical being that likes human flesh and come from the aether. And they apparently really like the area around Sheol I (Oxford). Why just Sheol I? They seem to be drawn to the Rephaim. The glossary states that the Emim's existence, \"is shrouded in mystery\". No shit. Probably why none of the humans are unaware of them prior to the arrival in Sheol I. But if the Emim eat human flesh, why are they not running rampant in London or other cities around the world? If they are attracted to the Rephaim in Sheol I and not other locations, why does Scion have an agreement to funnel voyants to Sheol I? What purpose does that serve? Sweet fancy moses, my head hurts. \n All this world-building by Shannon lacked substantive details that actually established a functioning narrative. With a new set-up, I just have seventeen more questions that are explained away in the glossary with \"it is shrouded in mystery\" and a toss-off comment from Seb's ghost that he knows \"a secret, but I cannot tell\" which will seemingly explain all over the course of the next six (SIX!) books. I kept going down the rabbit hole of my mind trying to answer obvious questions about this world that Shannon had no interest in sharing. \n And that isn't even getting into the flimsy characterizations of the people populating the book. Paige, the feisty heroine, is feisty. She is a little unsure of herself and her powers, but she isn't going to be pushed around. Luckily, she doesn't get pushed around and remains feisty. She also learns to harness her amazing powers, but keeps her feistiness. She also falls in love, because what is a fantasy novel involving an angsty teen without a love story? Not one at all. Especially one so ridiculous and unconvincing as this one. Warden is a handsome, stoic Rephaim that is stoic, but he is also respectful. Throughout the book he remains handsome and stoic while he trains Paige, and she also aids him, but he also remains respectful. And he also falls in love. And then they work together to defeat their enemies (but not really defeat them since this is only book 1 of 7 (SEVEN!)). And then at the end Paige remains feisty, but also in love, while Warden is still handsome and stoic, but also very respectful. It's character depth that you would expect from a 21 year-old author with no other books to her name. \n Basically, they hype surrounding this book is unwarranted, IMO. It is a slog of a book, that has a ridiculous amount of convoluted and trying prose to explain a very, very basic plot. And not a good or unique plot either.", "date_added": "Tue May 24 19:24:21 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 01 07:08:49 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 01 07:08:49 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue May 24 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "89113aa512606f698d1cf3e24156fcd3", "book_id": "23395811", "review_id": "faabc21f66d58a9248d4b7ad885bda01", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was such a good series!! I got so engrossed with the story and absolutely loved the characters. And I'm so glad Sydney and Adrian got their happy ending. I'm kind of sad it's all over though.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 01 08:07:34 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 05 12:15:30 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Mar 05 12:15:30 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Feb 24 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "89113aa512606f698d1cf3e24156fcd3", "book_id": "22838025", "review_id": "8209a600728ae76295fd10922439181c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm a sucker for true love conquering all! Adrian and Sydney better get their happy ending soon though. They totally deserve that.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 01 08:07:28 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 11:25:16 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Feb 24 11:25:16 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "89113aa512606f698d1cf3e24156fcd3", "book_id": "17465483", "review_id": "e8941df3f9a00312262a213c5e9e41aa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sydney and Adrian are finally together!! Woo hoo! It only took 3 books for her to finally admit her feelings...", "date_added": "Thu Dec 01 08:07:22 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 31 11:08:01 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "89113aa512606f698d1cf3e24156fcd3", "book_id": "16433", "review_id": "94418df3479a02d7d370f37a7d35412a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I wanted to give it 4 stars, but unlike the first one, it wasn't great. Pretty good. Definitely interesting. But I was a little disappointed. I'd give it three and a half stars though.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 12 15:07:22 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 12 11:40:26 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Aug 12 13:38:44 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "89113aa512606f698d1cf3e24156fcd3", "book_id": "14995", "review_id": "320fbcb935317c3bf343faca3ef93eb5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I was drawn to the movie Odd Thomas on Netflix. Finally watched it after having it in my queue for ages. Loved it so much that after finding out it was based on a book, I just had to read it. Wasn't disappointed. I loved the characters, plot. There was romance and humor, on top of mystery and supernatural. I think eventually I will read the entire series just to see what happens with Odd.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 20 16:38:50 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 15:06:06 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jul 12 15:06:06 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "89113aa512606f698d1cf3e24156fcd3", "book_id": "21787", "review_id": "c8425bbd439877a967ef19bda6252d54", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It wasn't a bad book, just not my cup of tea. But I fairly gave it 3 stars just because.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 26 14:23:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 10 07:04:14 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Sep 10 11:52:57 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "89113aa512606f698d1cf3e24156fcd3", "book_id": "16356129", "review_id": "1cb89868e1e959a80af34d2e9e563b61", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Aw man, I haven't cried like that in ages! Those last three chapters are highly emotional. But what always gets me is the loyalty Ron and Hermione show Harry no matter what. He really couldn't have asked for better friends.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 06 22:05:08 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 09 08:22:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Apr 09 08:22:17 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "11791884", "review_id": "bbbc615d174c21e81276b039ac925178", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoy the moral ambiguities in this series; the author knows that no one is truly all good or all bad, and his characterization of Alice has he hooked to find out what happens next.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 21 01:11:17 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 02 05:52:26 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Oct 02 06:47:57 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Sep 21 01:11:17 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "33956", "review_id": "64c825daaa9473f9844dc2caee24bae7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "So the other day I was bored (common occurrence with me) and plucked the movie \"Seventh Son\" off the library shelf even though most of the reviews said it was rubbish, and two hours later I thought, \"Eh, that wasn't too bad, bet the book is better.\" \n Imagine my surprise when the movie is almost nothing like the book... and the book, had it been turned into a movie, is about a hundred times creepier than anything the movie came up with. I liked the book a lot. The boggart who fixes breakfast and takes the shape of a ginger cat. The witches buried upside down in the garden, and the one who (SPOILER) gets out because the hero's stupid mistake (/SPOILER). The lessons about moral ambiguities and that no one is either all good or all bad. \n I gotta knock one star off, though, because the clunky writing bugs me. There's so many needless uses of \"was\" and \"were\" that I wondered more than once, \"Did this book even have an editor?\" Unless something happens halfway up the hill to stop you from climbing it, \"we started walking up the hill\" isn't necessary; it's \"we walked up the hill.\" \n Sorry, the editor came out in me, and she's almost as ruthless as this story's villain. Only I don't leave a silver slimy trail in my wake. \n Excuse me, I need to go pout because Hollywood gypped me out of seeing a courageous twelve year old in super creepy circumstances deal with a witch of unknown age and the ginger cat whose yowl stopped evil forces dead at the gate because YOU WILL DIE.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 15 05:11:27 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 21 07:48:41 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 21 07:48:41 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Sep 15 05:11:28 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "64225", "review_id": "ba6c75f2bf4be1e84801fd9f8ed02f63", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Quirky little read, rather a philosophical jaunt without much of a point or a plot, other than to amuse.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 08 19:27:53 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 18 06:39:00 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Sep 18 11:05:09 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "29394403", "review_id": "79c9fdd442f4dea478e8158ecb32fe66", "rating": 4, "review_text": "No one will ever be able to duplicate Terry Pratchett. His zany sense of humor, his wit, his unending imagination... all apparent in the \"17 year old\" who wrote these stories for a local newspaper, the children's section. A delightful collection of the wry oddball qualities that made him later famous; the short story of dueling wizards particularly delighted me. You are missed, Good Sir.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 27 07:55:16 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 25 06:31:26 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 25 06:31:26 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "23301545", "review_id": "bcb383293827b89b93f77902a7b2d4da", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Unusual, dynamic retelling of two different fairy tale legends -- with a great twist at the end.", "date_added": "Wed May 11 08:56:29 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed May 11 08:56:47 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "17349203", "review_id": "e6574078b220b9f40227c1a2437d1156", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Quirky story, terrific illustrations.", "date_added": "Wed May 11 08:56:09 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed May 11 08:56:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "24763621", "review_id": "3c443b8dea1650c47609bb21ff3d40c8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Nooo, it. can't. End. THERE!! \n Felt a little long and detailed at times for my taste, but a good story that held my interest throughout. Lots of little moments that pay homage to Labyrinth, but unique twists and turns, based on some of the mythology of goblins. Great ideas rattling around in this book, and beautiful writing. But... WHY WOULD YOU END IT THERE? \n Sequel? My nose is twitching in suspicion.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 29 10:36:04 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 07 05:23:09 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Apr 07 14:20:05 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Mar 31 21:01:10 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "10428902", "review_id": "6f6d122c3c58d50e456dccc1d4763a85", "rating": 3, "review_text": "After reading reviews of this, I assumed it would be a WWII X-Men mashup. It wasn't. Held my interest from beginning to end and the ideas about time travel and loops are truly unique and interesting. \n One of my literary friends has been tearing her hair out all week because her agent told her to cut her word length by exorcising unnecessary words -- shortening each sentence until it could be streamlined no more, tightening it to a near-impossible standard. \n Reading this, I couldn't help but feel that it could have used a few rounds with a red highlighter pencil, or perhaps the OCD perfectionism of a ruthless word-cutting proof reader. It's a great story, undermined by poor editing. The biggest offenders, other than huge chunks of \"tell, don't show\" are clunky sentences, and passages of awkward exposition. \n I was also left wondering about the logical nuances of the story -- such as how letters get delivered inside time loops (or did his grandfather's letters just get left in a burned out mailbox on our side, and Miss Peregrine pick them up once in awhile?). \n Still, it engaged me enough that I'm looking forward to seeing what Tim Burton does with it.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 22 01:18:13 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 24 16:13:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Mar 24 16:13:22 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "25404391", "review_id": "1ca338eb766a3aa8f08f8f8aed4e1d3f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not sure how you can take a suspenseful, emotionally-impacting film and make a boring novel out of it, but this succeeds. The writing is clunky and awkward, which throws off the entire pacing, and pulled me out of the narrative. It felt like the script was repressing the author's creativity, instead of inspiring him. Shame. Oh, well. I'll just watch the movie a dozen more times.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 24 20:21:00 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 27 06:33:48 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Dec 27 06:57:31 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Dec 24 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "269713", "review_id": "7c0e18d53cee850a9430b3c3797ed3bb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Kind of ambivalent about this tale; on the one hand, it plays about with abstract concepts as well as the duality of fate very well. The North Wind is at once symbolic of a great many truths, not the least of which being God (whom she also serves, with kind of a blind certainty that her role in events is for a greater good, though it may 'sink a few ships' in the meantime). I can see why C.S. Lewis so admired the writer, as he also enjoyed playing about with similar meanings in his stories, but I ultimately felt it got a bit bogged down in its storytelling technique. It reminded me a bit of Tolkien in that respect -- long passages of poetry and description that make it a bit tedious for a children's book.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 18 07:41:50 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 23 20:27:30 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Nov 21 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "22886868", "review_id": "a428cf179c9b4f11b2d0ab2c68275d0d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n \"Granny Weatherwax was indeed here. And there. She was, in fact, and always would be, everywhere.\" \n So true, Sir Terry. And so too will you be. \n Thank you for the heartbreaking and beautiful read.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 02 05:55:53 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 16 09:08:13 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Sep 16 09:08:13 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "27712", "review_id": "e6cd7873004ecff95fd42816a99ac427", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Interesting book. Very, very creative. The prose is a bit difficult at times to wade through (translated from the original language) and the story lagged in places, but it's far more expansive, ripe with mythological roots, and symbolism-heavy than the 80's film!", "date_added": "Fri Jul 31 05:11:08 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 17 19:55:10 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "7823592", "review_id": "7f672d969e48fa09c5250a2373b016df", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A quick, easy read, full of tons of creativity and interesting twists on the lore of Faeries and other mythological creatures. Both scary and funny, the characters are memorable, but the author doesn't always explain things fully and at times I got a little confused. It felt like the author threw me into the midst of a story already in progress, and didn't develop the characters at all, so I never got to know any of them.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 23 04:56:37 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 16 05:38:47 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "15161", "review_id": "5482eee83d0ce49aedc0144d7a048945", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm not as enamored of this as many others. Out of the collection of stories, I found two highly engaging, one held my interest nicely, and the rest did little to stir my imagination. I felt myself, again, longing to experience more of Faerie rather than \"our world.\"", "date_added": "Thu Jul 02 04:54:37 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 05 06:43:38 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jul 05 06:48:10 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "14201", "review_id": "1af058a2eb59cb079b5a964efe8d7b08", "rating": 4, "review_text": "'You really ought to read this book,' she said, and shewed it to me. \n I cast a discerning gaze upon it and said, 'Perhaps.' \n Taking it home to my sweet little house in the midst of the country, with thick rose bushes curling about it and robins occasioning to bathe in the little furrows of water created by the sinking paving stones about the front walk, I sat it upon a shelf and occasionally glanced upon it. Somewhat intimidated by the sheer size of it, for it could scarcely be called a 'quick read,' I did not cast my eye upon it greatly until thoughts of Faerie intruded upon my dreams. (Or rather, my television screen.) Eager that it might unearth some deeper secrets than the superficial treatment of the serie--err, dream, I delved into it readily. \n Great specters loomed in my mind and over my shoulders, visions of Faeie realms and their grim servants, of the presence of the Raven King and occasional whimsical thoughts as deep as the lay-pond, forming about me as surely as the great darkness enveloped Strange; I was lost, maddened, perplexed, caught up, torn asunder, forced to read until my eyes ached, with occasional outcries of \"No! Surely not!\" that disturbed the pretty kitty on her perch. Two days I thus labored, pausing only to eat cake and lament that any book should have quite so many words, before I reached the end. \n Whereupon I concluded that it was quite a lot charming, and a little bit dull in unforeseen places, that I should dearly have liked to see more of Faerie and its notorious 'gentleman' but was quite unprepared for the grotesque turn it took in the last fifty odd pages and that, oh dear, I now have nothing to read.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 01 10:37:45 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 20 08:51:54 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jun 20 08:51:55 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "25225092", "review_id": "8fd6a01776a62f659d984897bcdf75f5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Many years ago, I imagined a world in which a woman was forced to marry a man she hated, confronting her own faith and prejudices along the way. Never content to leave my characters alone for very long, I took the same characters and their plight and placed them in France during the reign of Napoleon. Elspeth is caught between her intense devotion to her faith and her desire to survive, when she is torn from a nunnery and forced to attend an assassin's school. Throughout her adventures, she must confront her own demons and those of her future husband, unlock the secrets contained within the dark and terrible walls, unravel the mystery surrounding a spirit that continues to appeal for her assistance, and even walk through the afterlife in an attempt to assist another in their search for redemption. \n For me, this book was a labor of love, but also one full of doubt, because it is in many ways darker than my earlier books, and raw in its evil. Here, we have far greater forces of darkness than I have toyed with before - a ruthless murderer of ghosts and men in its anti-hero, a heroine threatened in every way possible by her new circumstances - her virtue, her faith, and her life is put on the line. It casts a different light on a character present in my other books, so much so that you may not recognize him at first. Mostly, it forced me to realize that I like setting myself impossible tasks, and asking such terribly powerful questions as - what would matter to a heroine more, her virtue ... or preventing another from sinning? \n Love is not love, if it does not care for another entirely unworthy of that love, more than it cares for itself...", "date_added": "Sat May 23 06:43:15 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 08 13:50:21 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "13536811", "review_id": "f3deac2659bfb0eaed803b61608b4ab6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ah, Pratchett. You have given me so many laughs over the years, and this collection of short stories is no exception. It ranges from Satan hiring an advertising agent to help drum up tourism in hell (Pratchett's first, published story at age 13) to gnomes driving a lorry (well, they can't leave their stuff behind, now can they?) to Discworld and trolls under bridges, and Granny Weatherwax teaching people a lesson (by scaring them through BEING NICE). There's a little bit of Death, pleasant philosopher that he is, and a little bit of sass, and a whole lot of snark.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 15 14:19:55 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 18 09:36:26 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Apr 18 14:03:58 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "12967", "review_id": "b27290bb2dd4d6f34cfd4dd8bebb948f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Somewhere in this incredible tangle of words is a very simple story. \n Last year, a clever writer pulled that story out of this jumbled tale and threw it onto the big screen. I adored it. I adored it so much I bought it after I saw it once, then showed it to my friends and we all wound up bawling at the end. Then we had a deep conversation about God, fate, destiny, and miracles. \n None of that happened to me when reading this book. I was never moved. I never found the common thread. I never felt Peter's life had a greater purpose. The narrative follows him for awhile (with frequent side trails) and then he's gone for several hundred pages. I found myself reading the first chapter intently, and then skimming more and more as it went on. \n Many people love this book. They love the in-depth language. Me, I prefer more straightforward narratives. \"And she named the stars,\" does me just as well as 400 words on each star's name. The writer reminds me of Dickens, or Tolstoy, or Hugo. He gets so enthralled with his words that he leaves the actual plot for five or six pages on a regular basis, to describe things that have no real impact on the plot. Like the history of the city. Or how it looks in the light. \n In short, it is not my cup of tea. I prefer the angels and demons and miracles of the film, which tugs at my heart and whispers to me simple truths that ... if contained in this book at all, are lost under a great towering avalanche of words.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 27 06:17:55 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 04 04:35:36 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Feb 04 04:35:36 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "7250778", "review_id": "81b0d1cb7cde2cee81798f5f2558bca3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a little collection of Victorian vampire stories, all with short passages about the authors before you delve into a world full of mysterious smoke, fluttering bats, and sharp-toothed victims. Some of them are rather bland, but most of them are quite good. Several in particular have such romantic, poetic language that they are a joy to read. Ironically, Bram Stoker's short story finishes off the collection, despite being (in my opinion) one of its weaker offerings. The contrast between vampirism represented in different cultures and styles was interesting, from Russian folklore to English horror stories. Also included is a fascinating chapter on vampires in general, which was full of interesting information. Fun read!", "date_added": "Fri Aug 29 05:35:33 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 15 05:42:30 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Sep 15 05:42:30 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "7937462", "review_id": "5e1950fca5cdce54b410f6fe016a4e58", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Meyer's strength is creating interesting characters. Sadly, most of them flit in and out of the books without letting us spend much time with them. I love the Cullens as much as anyone else, but I want to know more about Jane. And Marcus. And Caius. And especially, Aro - the seriously twisted, exuberant, downright psychotic \"leader\" of the Volturi. I can't figure out if he's actually nuts, if he's really sincere in everything he says and does, or if he's just playing a part. That is what makes him interesting. Alas, the author must not agree, because rather than show us his story through writing a book about him, she tells it to us in an entry on him in her encyclopedia. Boo. \n That, primarily, is the flaw in Meyer's writing: more telling than showing, and not enough initiative in taking this world she's created and running wild with it. The potential for sequels, prequels, spin-offs, historical fantasy, books about the Volturi and other ancient vampires, etc., are all there and she has chosen to walk away from it. I get it, one could get tired of writing about vampires all the time, but that ache is lessened considerably with being able to play with any character, in any time period. One note characters? Write books about them. I'd love to go into battle with Emmett. Or meet the woman Aro chose for his wife. What is her story? Were there any vampires in Marie Antoinette's court? You don't just invent a certifiable nut case like Aro, and leave him as an afterthought in a Bella novel. The same goes for Jane. Burned alive as a witch, then rescued by Aro and turned into a vampire? I would pay good money to read that book, maybe even the $7.99 I wasted on this novella. (Do I regret reading it? No. But it's not worth $8. It takes 2 hours to read on Kindle.) \n Bree Tanner is the vampire girl who surrendered to Carlisle in \"Eclipse\" and was sentenced to die by Jane just for the hell of it. (Jane says \"rules, rules,\" but I say, \"awesome, fabulous, evil Jane, just having fun,\" and I'm right. Bitch does things for the hell of it.) The concept is great. We already know the end of Bree's story - death. The clock is ticking, as the hourglass on the front cover so ominously reminds us. This is the chance to see things from someone other than Bella's perspective. In some regards, it works, at least with Jane. Bree's insights into her are a bit more concise than Bella's. It's a sweet little story but suffers a lot from what bugs me most about the other \"Twilight\" books - too much internal pondering (telling), not enough action (showing). Bree lives mostly in her head. She reasons things out, she figures them out, and she's fairly smart (... but also oblivious, which is remarkable). \n The writing peruses some things in depth and skims over others. The violence is sometimes graphic but never truly emotional on a level that would be wonderfully disturbing. And, for me, it opens too late in Bree's un-life. I wanted to read about Bree's \"changing\" experience, since we never really got that from Bella. I wanted the venom rushing through her veins, the awakening with unbearable thirst, the pure bloodlust. I wanted to feel her die - the first time and the second. I wanted some actual battle scenes instead of Bree coming in just late enough to see the debris. The lackluster approach to climaxes is a pattern in these books. \"Twilight\" - a decent climax, a good fight scene. \"New Moon\" - the climax is seeing the Volturi, which is fascinating but hardly action-packed, considering all they do is stand around and talk. \"Eclipse\" - most of the action we hear about second-hand. \"Breaking Dawn\" has 40 pages of dialogue and Bella flexing her \"shield\" but no big knock-down, tear-up fight with the Volturi like I hoped for. (Why are people afraid of the Volturi? What do they do, TALK people to death? Other than set a couple of vampires on fire, I've never seen them DO anything.) And here, Bree comes in after it's mostly over. Great ideas, good storytelling, but not a lot of delivery at the end. \n I love revisiting this world from a different perspective (yet another reason I wish the author hadn't shelved writing the books from Edward's point of view...) but I wish it had been a little bit... more. More what? Just more. More in depth. More brutal. More honest. More emotionally gripping. Something.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 14 05:29:45 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 14 11:06:28 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jul 14 11:06:28 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "22388341", "review_id": "2ab8e5e7e12ab83054a1ba4a861c59cd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I can't seem to escape tackling controversial topics, in this book the idea of family curses, although it's changed from a more tangible and realistic curse (such as alcoholism) into a fantastical idea. \n This book rather wrote itself. I knew the twist toward the end going in, and that it would tie in the Ripper murders, but the rest unfurled with each passing week. I intended to use Dr. Bell from the start. He's fascinating man, and was a fun character to write - a no-nonsense but very compassionate figure, devout in his faith and as remarkable for his observational skills as for his hidden talents. \n Alana was a throwaway character in \"The Secret in Belfast,\" important for only a few chapters, to establish the Conclave and Richard's role as their Influencer. But as I wrote those few pages about a remarkable woman with the incredible ability to \"punish\" those who use their gifts for evil, I knew she needed a novel and an entire back story of her own. Here, she has it, from the darkness in herself to her first meeting with Richard... although only observant readers will pick up on it. \n The decision to bring in Alistair and Henoria, from \"Thornewicke,\" was made for two reasons: I couldn't find a place for them in \"The Secret in Belfast,\" however much I wanted to, and my readers asked me to delve further into their marriage. Here, we have them a genuine couple for the first time, and find out a few more surprising secrets and nuances of the relationship between Guardians and Defenders. \n In my usual tongue in cheek way, I've slipped in literary nods to some of my favorite books and films, and made hints toward characters and places that will be important in future books... which may just be set in a time period much further back than 1888 England. But then, that's part of the fun of being a writer. Hopefully, it's fun for you, as my reader, too.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 05 15:15:24 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 28 09:46:32 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jul 28 09:46:32 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "10875223", "review_id": "fc2927d42a5fea5538880f6154b175cc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm not entirely sure what to think of this book. It's a brilliant world populated by too many characters -- I had trouble keeping them straight. I assumed this was a problem because I read the first half in short bursts, but then I spent an entire afternoon reading the rest and still had difficulty remembering who was who among the male characters. It names drops frequently both fictional Victorian characters and historical figures from the period -- everyone from Bram Stoker to Sherlock Holmes (he, sadly, does not appear, as he has been interred in a concentration camp, but Mycroft does make a handful of appearances). \n It's an alternate history tale that follows up on the idea that Dracula won his fight with Van Helsing, and went on the conquer Britain, with the result that the city is now crawling with shape-shifting vampires. Someone is now dashing about murdering prostitutes, earning him the name Silver Knife by the tabloids. Later, that turns into \"Jack the Ripper.\" In that sense, it's a clever idea (we know the villain from early on and his motivations) but some plot threads don't make much sense and have no real follow-through (unless I skim-read over it, we never found out why the hopping Chinese vampire was so intent on killing the heroine). The characters are rather one-dimensional and I cared about none of them. \n It reads beautifully, but for me, the experience was lessened by the luridness of this world. The author doesn't shy away from crass descriptions of cruelty, gore, or sex. He also pads the narrative with more description and detail than I like, which makes it a tedious read. It's an interesting world but I doubt I'll read further books.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 11 05:31:03 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 29 05:40:34 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jun 29 05:40:34 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "34528", "review_id": "6bd7df4709c2c7f8729e8f0f0d2a9b59", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It feels a bit strange to read a Pratchett book that isn't Discworld, but he brings his charm and subtle profoundness to \"our\" world through the eyes of a boy who suddenly realizes he can see ghosts! Johnny embarks on a journey to preserve the old town cemetery from being bulldozed. It has the usual charm and sweetness of Pratchett, with his usual hijinks and silliness, but is also appropriately morbid.", "date_added": "Sun May 11 08:51:52 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri May 16 09:51:15 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri May 16 09:51:15 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "34492", "review_id": "2d4508f3d86ceb4f164c21abbfb70609", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Pratchett is a wordsmith. He creates a divine world into which he spins his stories... stories of magic, where seasons have personalities and can become ... almost human. This is the case of the Wintersmith, when young witch Tiffany Aching leaps into the midst of the winter dance and takes the place of Summer. Wintersmith is captivated by her and wants to become human so as to be with her. He starts courting her with wintery magic, including millions of little Tiffany snowflakes. But as Granny Weatherwax knows, a season becoming a human can be dangerous... \n I like these books. They are simple but sweet, profound yet funny, and full of unforgettable characters -- in this case, a witch who digs her own grave (literally). Tiffany is a delightful heroine -- sweet, sincere, intelligent, and kind, with an unusual amount of insight into The World. \n As for the rest? Well, what can I say except CRIVENS!!", "date_added": "Mon May 05 10:26:44 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun May 11 08:50:57 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun May 11 08:50:57 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "34501", "review_id": "1098f283ce33d8c4f47cc2bbe5a1f724", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I always have liked the Tiffany books. She's a spunky heroine, a serious thinker, and still in many ways a child -- as she should be. Tiffany is full human... err... witch. Pratchett writes in a nice, flowing style that introduces his \"grown up\" characters (like Granny Weatherwax) in a way that will delight children, but without the sensually-inclined input of Nanny Ogg. It's a lovely little adventure in which Tiffany encounters a new evil and... well, does she save it? Get rid of it? Earn a proper witch hat? \n It'll make you laugh out loud at times, and smile as you ponder the depths of the profound mind behind it -- a mind that can, in a single chapter, pay subtle tribute to the movie \"Babe\" only to turn around and give you something profound to ponder.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 29 09:53:09 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon May 05 11:09:15 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon May 05 11:09:15 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Apr 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "18660669", "review_id": "f93524ea2519e0b52f6072be414b6a0f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Many people love this book. I didn't. Why? \n Three reasons: \n + Bitchy main character \n + Convenient information drops rather than clues \n + Animal mutilations \n Granted, I read this book at a bad time in my life with a lot of distractions, so I was half out of it at times, and if I'm wrong -- that's why: my mind was elsewhere. \n My thoughts sum up this: take an unoriginal premise and throw in a lot of strange words with minor definitions at the very start of the book, then assume your reader remembers them all the way through. Have almost no explanations for a long time and then a lot of them crammed in at once. Give no foreshadowing of anything so that when it comes time for big reveals, the narrator has stored up information that she has hidden from the audience that can explain everything; or when the villain is revealed, the audience has to stop and wonder, \"Who?\" Add in almost zero romantic character development between your main character, who is a selfish brat most of the time, and the teacher she is crushing on, other than the understanding that he finds her \"hot.\" \n Throw some heavy smutty makeouts (why is she nude, and he isn't?), disturbing descriptions of dead animals that died a horrible death, and f-words to push the YA envelope, and throw it out into the world to entice YA readers everywhere. For most, it worked. In my preoccupied frame of mind, it didn't.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 11 06:36:05 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 12 06:35:21 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Mar 12 06:35:21 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Mar 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "17166853", "review_id": "dc29e877cec9237e2a87e0d12cba2241", "rating": 4, "review_text": "First off, I hate zombie novels. Then why rate this book so high? Frankly, because I couldn't put it down. I may have hated the zombies, the horror, and one of the main characters, but I could not stop reading once I started. This darn book kept me up several nights in a row! \n It's about the zombies taking over the world, and trapping a bunch of people in a hospital. You have some awesome dudes (like the Bikers for Jesus) and some seriously annoying dudes (like the rogue doctor) ... and then you have Eric. The most irritating yet entertaining selfish bastard ever to walk the face of the earth -- the kind of guy who perves on zombie women and leaves an entire family to die just so he can drive off with a bucket of chicken. Eric is sheer genius. He's the character you love to hate and you continue reading in the hopes he will die a gruesome, awful death. He doesn't. Rats. \n That being said, the second half of the novel is a little less engaging than the first, if only because Eric drops out of the picture and becomes a background character with the occasional mention. After a dozen chapters with him, I kind of missed the little rat fink and his hideous behavior. It was a freebe on Amazon, I had no idea what it was, and boy did I find out. \n Apart from rampant gore everywhere you look, the book was surprisingly clean. Sadly, of course, it has an unfinished ending no doubt leading into a series about these characters. And darn, I'll probably have to read them too.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 06 05:30:28 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 12 06:24:12 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Mar 12 06:24:12 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "64218", "review_id": "7ce14da0d927e330f4af18534e16143f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Rincewind gets dragged into playing the role of a demon from the other world for a pimply kid who just wants three wishes. The result is a brief stint in the jungle, a helter-skelter trip through time (Rincewind even runs into his ancestor), and even a journey into the 8 levels of hell. It's hilarious -- one of Pratchett's best, and a surprisingly quick read that mocks the pants out of Faust, ancient civilizations, and parrot owners.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 02 05:41:06 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 03 05:19:44 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Mar 03 05:19:44 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "47994", "review_id": "988d4c67b73e3c111223ac293400b5d5", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Not one of my favorites. It attacks the Australian outback and takes a poke at it, but with a plot that tends toward incoherency more than outright humor. There are hilarious portions but overall, it took me a week rather than my usual few hours to read it. Then again, the wizards were never my favorite protagonists.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 19 05:49:11 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 28 05:38:04 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Feb 28 05:38:04 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "17183843", "review_id": "5d3fcb14393a06b70109f84e1b9eb6e3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Six months after her abduction, Rayna is still having nightmares. She survived the attack of a demented serial killer, where others were not so fortunate. But she knows that the battle has only just begun... \n This is a good read, and an enticing follow-up to \"The Shadow.\" It moves a little slow in the beginning but once everything starts to unravel, it takes us from one gut-wrenching incident to the next, climaxing in a cliffhanger that will leave readers chewing their nails while waiting for the final installment. \n Rayna lives in a world populated with \"X-Men\" like Gifteds - those who possess supernatural abilities, ranging from telepathy to swift healing. Throughout, A.G. Porter weaves in realistic teenage situations (shopping for prom, anyone?) and references to faith that are never preachy, but always in earnest. Her world-building is wonderful, as she introduces new and unexpected characters along the way - some of whom, we only get tantalizing glimpses of, with the promise of future greatness. \n I never saw the final twist coming, and the last two chapters in particular are chillingly wonderful. It's a bit of a spooky book, so if you want the hair to stand up on the back of your neck - read it at night.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 17 06:04:17 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 28 13:25:39 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Feb 28 13:25:39 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Feb 17 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "34541", "review_id": "1b79d9201f071ec414daa4b7a33b9331", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Midway through I realized I've read this book before, but it doesn't matter -- Pratchett takes a poke at vampire mythology and its popularity in his hilarious tale of vampires from Uberwald coming to take over Lancre. But Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax \"can't be having\" with that, so the witches get involved. If you're well read in vampires (or at least have seen a lot of old Hammer movies), it's even funnier the way he manipulates popular quotes, tropes, and tricks -- but with his usually sincerity running underneath. And lest you think it's just a laugh-fest, he explores religion as well, through a Priest of Om whose views conflict with Nanny's (she thinks he's a narrow-minded soul), but who winds up saving Granny Weatherwax (and everyone else) on more than one occasion. He pokes gentle fun at everything, slams it a bit harder with probing questions, and then reminds us of how faith begins. It's a lovely little read.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 06 19:06:47 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 16 06:20:34 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Feb 16 06:20:34 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Feb 06 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "64217", "review_id": "1eb833658383617a5e68fd60c5cb0433", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Pratcheett tends to be hit or miss with me. Either I find him hilarious and enjoy every word, or I'm bored and all the jokes fall flat. In spite of having some funny references to Cleopatra, The Mummy, Moses, and Ancient Egypt, this one unfortunately fell flat for me. It has some great moments with assassins and making fun of crocodile gods (not to mention the two camels, named \"You Bastard!\" and \"Bloody Stupid\") but overall it's kind of a one-note joke extended too far. I can buy a certain amount of stupidity but can't dive headfirst into it, so the idea that You Bastard was a master at math was a bit... too much. Some of the characters also seem a bit feeble. Loved the idea of a disembodied Pharaoh watching himself being embalmed, but not enough to ever read it again.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 04 06:30:21 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 07 12:40:46 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Dec 07 12:40:46 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Dec 04 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "34502", "review_id": "3ede4713492450a0e911be4d95c33fde", "rating": 5, "review_text": "As usual with Pratchett, some of his jokes wear a little thin, but this has the bonus of involving both Susan and Death -- two of my favorite Discworld characters. When Music With Rocks In comes to Discworld, it disrupts everything! It's quite a rolicking adventure, complete with one line that had me laughing until I cried -- \"Thank you,\" said the grateful Death. And yes, there are lyrical gags, clever arm-twists of famous band names, and a good deal of sarcasm meant to go around. Still. Susan. Her discovery of who she is, her reintroduction to Binky (Death's horse), and her interaction with \"nonsensical things\" is terrific. Plus, it has flaming wheels rolling out of debris and a rather disastrous incident in which Death has a wee accident on a bicycle (not named as such). I loved it.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 26 05:50:46 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 02 05:34:00 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Dec 02 05:34:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Nov 26 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "10664113", "review_id": "b165f996053b4bfa22c24cc94aee7e61", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I feel as if I have eaten a banquet and been left hungry. Martin has filled his book with enormous portions of internal thoughts and details that range from the grotesque (innards spilling out) to the vile (sexual descriptions) to the mundane (what everyone ate that day). True, I did find out what to expect for certain characters on the impending season five of GoT, but it felt like progress in the plot was paper thin.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 11 04:28:55 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 21 07:35:07 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "47212", "review_id": "b3aeffe54f1962d238086a66072f7c78", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked the world building and some of the more unusual elements of this story, but the bad language and sensuality threw me off a bit. It also had a tough time holding my interest, which means sometimes I started reading and had forgotten what I'd read the night before. Just not my piece of cake, I suppose.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 23 08:01:35 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 27 07:04:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Oct 27 07:04:39 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "6381205", "review_id": "8d6bdfcc8fc5e603ff4575a74bcb76bb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Clever idea and beautiful writing. The author's characters are fanciful and likable, but in two areas doesn't suit my personal taste -- sometimes her dialogue flow is interrupted with too much description or internal musing (meaning on occasion when someone answers a question, I've forgot what it was in the first place)... and it's a bit too crassly sexual for my taste, in ways I'd rather not mention. So much so, in fact, that I won't read the rest of the books.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 16 20:04:52 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 22 06:33:27 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Oct 22 06:33:27 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Oct 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "12177850", "review_id": "cc4070535ac47cdc444dce590f06a7cf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm not sure what to say in this review, but here goes. \n This series is excellent if you like: \n -\tExtremely slow moving plots \n -\tSo many characters you can't tell most of them apart \n -\tWatching people you like die \n -\tWaiting for the people you hate to die \n -\tSeemingly endless and, for the most part, pointless sex scenes, references to genitalia, incest, and so forth \n Like a lot of people, I got sucked into these books after the HBO started up. I figured, \"Hey, why not find out what happens so I won't be caught off guard next time when a character I like gets his head whacked off?\" So, I started reading. And I found out I like a lot of the characters way more in the books than on the show. I also found out that my assumption that hey, the books must be cleaner than HBO was wrong--HBO actually kept clothes on people during some scenes, which I very much appreciate. I hope they keep it up. \n Many people love this series, and I can see why - starting off, it has beautiful writing and is very engaging, but later gets bogged down in its own unimportance. If you thought Tolkien overdid it in his slow-moving epic, he has nothing on Martin, who can devote entire chapters to absolutely no progress in the plot whatsoever. I'm a bit of a mover and shaker. I like to read stuff that gets to the point. In some ways, I think Martin should have devoted one book each to one or two characters, and then tied them together in book seven. From an editor's perspective, it would have made more sense and kept him concerned with a more limited number of characters (such as: The Lannisters, The Starks, Danny/Her Dragons, Arya/the Hound, Sansa/Littlefinger, etc.) For one thing, you wouldn't have to read the books revolving around characters you don't like, and for another, you'd actually remember where lesser-seen characters ARE the next time you run across them... unlike in this format, where it can be 500 pages between installments for Arya. \n It's not all bad. Not by any means. He has a good plot... when it's going somewhere. And a lot of these figures are unforgettable. He also does some nice \"shock 'n' awe\" moments... the best being Joffrey's comeuppance (which I waited and rooted for endlessly... and am now bitter over the fact that HBO is making us wait for it), Tywin Lannister's death (... really?!?), and Littlefinger's unexpected betrayals. The final chapter in the third book is a thing of brilliance. Shame the rest of the novels didn't hold my interest nearly as well. \n I read the first two books chapter-by-chapter (but not word for word, because frankly, I don't care what each of the castle dinner courses are like, or particularly care about large chunks of information that doesn't much matter). By book three, I was starting to skim some chapters and skip others. When I realized book four was almost completely Jamie and Cersei, I only read about a fourth of it and then turned it back in to the library. The true tragedy of it is that the third book ends on a brilliant chapter about Sansa, Littlefinger, and snow castles, but we don't get to see much of them in the next book. \n As someone who has systematically liked all the characters less and less as the series goes on (apart from Tyrion, Littlefinger, and Sansa) and has, as a result, become less and less interested in their fates, this is well nigh unforgivable. At this point, I don't care about anything other than who wins the Iron Throne, and the fate of the Stark girls. But I have a sneaking suspicion that in twenty or so years, when the books are finished, I can just look up the information online and not have to bother slogging through the last two volumes. And that's... not good. But the HBO series should end before then, and presumably have an actual resolution of these events, so maybe I won't have to wait after all.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 12 13:44:42 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 28 06:33:34 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "18458957", "review_id": "89edf3cf3398a029de8d3021e475b65f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Thornewicke is Speculative Fiction with a Christian slant. I originally read Libba Bray's series and thought, \"Why is it all the secular readers get to have so much fun?\" But I also was disappointed in some of the secular viewpoints and occult influences in the books, which in large part is why I don't recommend a lot of speculative fiction to my readers. Much of the time, secular books cross over from magic into satanic themes. \n My idea was to introduce magic into Christian Fiction, through a premise that magic is tied in to Biblical principles and Spiritual Gifts. Often, the talents these characters have are extensions of our responsibilities as Believers... in the case of Thornewicke, a young woman chosen as a Guardian against evil in a very specific way and place. There are two kinds of magic in this book - the magic that comes from the Creator in her role as a Guardian, and sorcery used by the forces of evil. \n This is the first in a series of books set in different time periods, with different historical backdrops and characters, revolving around Spiritual Gifts. There will be occasional cross-overs but each book will stand alone, united only through its theme of spirituality and the fantastical. As the series progresses, you will meet Influencers, Seers, Prophets, Discerners, Peacemakers, Healers, Sirens, and many others. There are layers of religious symbolism for the reader who chooses to search for it; none of it was intended but God has a way of poking His nose into my business and forcing me, through my own writing, to confront the things I struggle with as a believer. The books, I hope, are never overtly preachy but they are distinctly Christian, in many instances with pastors in the top tier of characters.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 05 09:46:57 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 15 16:14:34 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "12507214", "review_id": "cbb8736ef949d7c38ffddc3dfa657744", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Good follow up to the first installment of the ghost-hunting Cass. Remnants of \"Supernatural\" linger in it, but it does forge its own path. This time, Cass is out to rescue the love of his life, Anna, from hell. There's some memorable imagery here and an interesting (and often funny) trip to London, but it's not as spine-chilling as the first one. And I didn't feel the book needed the occasional f-words to make an impact.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 01 13:50:52 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 03 17:45:25 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "2442", "review_id": "8f503315410b65f7fe75c41843e7e250", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Nanny Ogg, Granny Weatherwax, and Magrat are off on a grand adventure when Magrat \"inherits\" a wand and becomes a \"Fairy Godmother.\" Magic, chaos, and slight sadism ensue, with plenty of the usual gags you find in Pratchett's witch books. The first bit isn't all that funny but then it becomes hilarious, and finally tapers off into the usual \"more serious look at things\" that the author is known for. I didn't love EVERYTHING about it (frankly, the voodoo aspect threw me off, and toward the end the \"foreign\" jokes wore a bit thin) but it was a quick, memorable read, and where else do you get to see a house drop on Nanny Ogg (fortunately, her hat saved her noggin')? \n Minor detractors: some racy material in the form of innuendos, and a bit of general stupidity with Greebo the cat (who makes a mighty FINE human).", "date_added": "Fri Aug 30 05:22:52 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 01 13:50:40 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Sep 01 13:50:40 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "12455491", "review_id": "cd176f75f7fd6927039fb491f677fe2f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm not sure what to say about this book, so I'll divide it into two chunks: \n The Good: It's well-written and moves quickly. There's no moment when the reader feels bogged down. Transitioning between a past story and a present story is difficult and although the first time it happened was a little jolting, I adapted to it fast. In many ways, both stories -- about the modern girl and her troubles and the \"wyrder\" and her sister -- are equally engaging. The dialogue is never stiff and it doesn't have too much description (but enough). \n The Bad: It's not very deep and a lot of the initial responses to members of the opposite sex are simply lust. Lilian wants Cade the first time she sees him, and that never subsides. We find out later the reason why she's such a sex-charged character but even that doesn't really compute, since lust drives ALL the characters. At one point, the king of the faes transports the wyrder into fae country... to seduce her. Why? She references her plainness several times, so why would this fae king want her so desperately? Fortunately, the sexual aspect is never all that graphic (talk of burning loins and such) but still, it's uncomfortable and makes the story more torrid than it needs to be. \n Overall, I'll read it again -- but for such a good writer, it needed more than sexually charged emotions behind it.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 28 05:26:41 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 28 05:32:51 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Aug 28 05:32:51 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "48002", "review_id": "c65c4d59c08644eedc4db2d5da706f7d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Pratchett books fall into three categories for me: \n 1) Absolute adoration & gut-busting laughter \n 2) Highly entertaining but not real funny \n 3) I struggle to finish it \n This, unfortunately, is the latter. It starts out great and the parts with Susan are both entertaining and funny (she's such a logical little thing and yet... is tempted by chocolate). It's kind of a twisted spoof on The Karate Kid, with a master and an apprentice, time-slicing, Yetis, and all kinds of the usual Pratchett nonsense, but for me it wasn't all that funny and I really struggled to keep interested during the Lobsang scenes. However, the last fifty or so pages are awesome, and this has probably my favorite ending paragraph in all the books. So, it was worth a read once, but probably not more than that -- at least for me.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 26 05:28:16 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 03 09:11:49 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Aug 03 09:11:49 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "11", "review_id": "bd2c33770bdd7a4e6450a343944b034f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Right, so my introduction to this book started thusly: \n Awesome Friend: Have you read Hitchhiker's Guide the Galaxy? \n Me: Uh, no. \n Awesome Friend: YOU MUST READ IT. IT'S HILARIOUS AND PHILOSOPHICAL AND SO CLEVER. \n Me: Why? \n Awesome Friend: It's just... satire, and wit, and there's a manically depressed robot, and you need a towel to travel around the galaxy with, because it's useful for all kinds of things, and there's this dude named Arthur who lays down in front of a bulldozer crew who wants to destroy his house, but it ultimately doesn't matter because the earth is about to implode. \n So, I read the book. At times, it amused me. At times, I wasn't sure if there was an actual plot (in retrospect, laughs aside, I don't think there really is). At times, it caused me to almost bust a gut laughing. At times, it tickled my fancy and kicked my cat and curdled my milk, and in the end, I'm really not sure what I think about it, because a couple of chapters from the end I stupidly watched the movie and spent the entire rest of this (first in a series) book going, \"Huh... that wasn't on screen.\" \n Still, the last few paragraphs were hilarious. Even if I did read the robot's dialogue in Alan Rickman's voice. (Thanks, movie!)", "date_added": "Fri Jul 26 04:53:03 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 11 09:43:09 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Aug 11 14:56:25 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "34510", "review_id": "c19af27d783b742987814c88fce87d52", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Only Terry Pratchett could take the history of movies, bring it to Discworld, infuse it with early movie gags (references to Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, and \"talkies\"), and give you a magic-eating monster in the process. It's not as laugh-out-loud hilarious as some of his other books, but it has one of the most intriguing plots -- it kept me reading until the end. Those familiar with Discworld will get a kick out of running amuck of familiar characters (the talking dog, the sausage salesman, and some of the wizards at the academy) but it can also stand alone.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 24 15:43:57 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 26 04:51:02 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jul 26 04:51:02 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "9378297", "review_id": "be3671b40a722424d31e8b0a309d2940", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not a bad book, overall. I would have appreciated less foul language, but it had a decent plot, a nice pace, and a surprising twist toward the end. I didn't find it scary, but then I've seen multiple seasons of \"Supernatural.\" I saw elements of the series in this book, but never so overt as to appear copycat-esque. Decent paranormal thriller but it did leave me a little unsatisfied.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 26 05:28:11 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 30 10:27:41 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Apr 30 10:27:41 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "12411635", "review_id": "e9922c24361eef4686fdd3fd60b1b16e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Cute book, it kept me reading. I did figure out \"whodunit\" fairly early on, but the writer did shock me with another twist. As someone who never was much of a giggly boy-crazy girl, I found the heroine's constant awe of the men in her life's glistening muscles a bit tedious. I will say, however, that there's a LOT of Harry Potter throwbacks: Keepers, a magical academy, magical detention, the removal of fingers to belay suspicion, sinister teachers, and even a big, frightening groundskeeper. It didn't bother me, but it did make me smile.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 15 10:29:22 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 24 06:01:43 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Apr 24 06:01:43 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "9874342", "review_id": "da88efd15c25525ca74a2c378fb8b810", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This author had a hard road to walk -- mixing fantasy with history. It's a fast read, and an entertaining one, and yeah, made me tear up toward the end... but I had a few problems with it. \n The author chose not to incorporate hardly any historical figures out of respect for the ship's passengers. I get that, and I admire that, but it also means there's rarely a moment during the first several hundred pages when the reader feels this is actually taking part on Titanic! Historical figures ground fictional ones. One brief encounter with Thomas Andrews didn't make me feel like I was \"on the infamous ship.\" Plus, the whole thing was just so ridiculous I never entirely believed it -- werewolves using the Turkish Bath to change. \n Secondly, I'm a bit tired of the cliche of boy and girl falling in love over the course of the voyage. I'm not a romantic in that regard. I enjoy a good romance but when I'm reminded it took place over the course of four days, that snaps me back into disbelieving reality. Plus, all her leading ladies (minus one) have slept with someone out of wedlock by the end of the book. This is 1912. Nope, nope, nope. \n I did enjoy her conclusion, though. She had a nice twist in the last chapter.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 10:55:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 23 05:38:53 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 23 05:38:53 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "12453199", "review_id": "6730e42a72ccd6001c1ead21e35dc56c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm torn when it comes to reviewing this book -- a vampire hunter on the TITANIC?! How awesome is that? \n The premise is awesome -- the vampire-slaying heroine hits her head and wakes up in the body of her ancestor, on board the most infamous ship of all time. She shmoozes her way through second class and creates sparks with a handsome young man, all the while dreading the collision and aftermath. The first couple of chapters are particularly promising. Having her know what's coming is a good idea, since it really hammers home the dread. \n Unfortunately, I never emotionally connected with this book -- in part because the romances (there are two of them) are so unrealistic; she meets and falls for Alex in four days (and he falls for her), and then once she returns to present-day, she has an immediate romantic connection with someone she's barely spoken to. The dialogue is also forced -- sometimes painfully so. I wish there had been more about the vampires. I wish we could have interacted with better-known historical figures. I wish there'd been a little more going on than just wandering around the ship and changing for dinner. Props for the idea, but the execution didn't live up to my expectations.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 10:55:03 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 17 05:10:00 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 17 05:10:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "985d7c7a78fe11bf3f9c66d8a80568b9", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Read the first three-fourths of this novel and was so bored, I skimmed the rest. The dialogue is clunky and unrealistic, all the characters have the exact same \"voice\" (if you stripped the \"he said,\" \"she said,\" you couldn't tell who is speaking), and there's enormous chunks of irrelevant, dull, poorly-shared back-history (in which two people sit and talk for endless pages). Certain lines sounded familiar enough I recognized them as straight out of the Harry Potter movie series. Since every author is inspired by everything they see, hear, and read, I don't fault the author for the similarities to the Harry Potter series, but they are rather obvious.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 28 06:29:30 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 08 06:11:08 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Apr 08 06:11:08 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "12084278", "review_id": "9171e9441a21d6fba34da5c04a620e34", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Good plot. Interesting characters. Great plot twists. Held my attention throughout. A little difficult to keep characters straight, there were so many of them. And it could have used a better editor -- there was a LOT of repeated information and needless exposition, as if they assumed we would forget earlier information and needed an internal rehash of everything that was happening by the heroine.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 22 06:23:34 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 28 05:37:26 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Feb 28 05:37:26 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "8694522", "review_id": "34ddcaae653a805cebfc6aa82788c0f8", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Beautifully written, but rather predictable and too much Satanism for my taste.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 10 14:15:48 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 15 06:35:51 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 15 06:35:51 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "34511", "review_id": "47517a289d33c3e84bbf07f7bff05ab5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This may be the most fun I've ever had reading a Pratchett book. It sometimes feels a little long and I honestly had trouble keeping all the secondary characters straight, but he yanked the rug out from under me not once, not twice, but thrice! There's a lot I didn't see coming (that maybe I should have) and a ton of laughs, although sometimes I wished he'd lightened up on the vulgar aspect a bit. But still, this is about men at war! ... err... kind of.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 01 13:16:48 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 09 12:58:16 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "6250169", "review_id": "b0b4c18536b8844fd17dff13bc2e9812", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I enjoyed this book early on but it lost momentum in the second half and I wound up skim-reading and page-skipping until the end.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 22 14:51:38 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 01 13:16:12 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 01 13:16:12 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "63720", "review_id": "63d755892f73c5ee5cdef2f5df84ecaf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The Watch books aren't my favorites; I much prefer his other characters. Decent read, learned a lot about the werewolves, but it dragged a bit in the second half.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 10 06:02:57 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 21 06:26:55 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jan 21 06:26:55 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "17183839", "review_id": "b00f3d163d32033d2a3a0de03bd0f27f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'll say one thing for this author: she knows how to keep you reading. She writes so vividly, it's like watching a movie unfold in your head. Her writing choices, particularly in the second half, are brilliant, and the ending leaves you screaming, \"What?! Where's the sequel!?\" which is the mark of a good series. \n But it was also a bit wordy for my particular taste (it won't be, for others). I felt like the story could have been told in a shorter amount of time, and that some of the back history of secondary characters wasn't essential to the plot. I also had a lot of trouble keeping people straight, since a lot of the secondary figures have similar names -- Liam and Logan, for instance. There's also two guys whose names start with N (Nick and Ned), and two guys whose names start with J that are about the same length! \n It's nice to see a book that blends the supernatural (the main character is psychic, and something of a dream seer) with religion (nice references to God, although His name is also taken in vain on occasion), but it also contains some grisly moments that deal with a murderer beating girls to death, so the under 12 set might want to wait a few years.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 05 16:23:40 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 10 04:50:10 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 10 04:50:10 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "34498", "review_id": "66f0a4fc251bfe3cb434f82d6ca74493", "rating": 4, "review_text": "As usual, Pratchett lays on the sarcasm and satire thick, but makes it entertaining with typesetting dwarves and a vampire photographer (who, unfortunately, turns to a pile of dust if the flash is too bright). There's a wee bit of romance, a lot of shenanigans, and a murder or three. It's a hilarious look at the world of publishing... in a way only to be found in Ankh-Morpork.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 25 05:35:26 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 01 16:27:08 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Dec 25 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "7842288", "review_id": "00ad5c4ae7bf704c35b1820aeddbfd51", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Leah. Lena. Link. Larkin. Liv. Why does everyone's name start with the same letter? \n If you enjoyed the first book, this is more of the same: much talk, little action. Like the first book, my opinion is that it was too long, too over-bloated, and not all that well executed. I find myself skimming large paragraphs, knowing they're full of description that has no impact on the story. But I will say, the twist at the end of this one was great.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 16 05:52:51 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 24 05:58:29 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Dec 24 05:58:29 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sun Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "6304335", "review_id": "db3131541ae12f43c188ba79fdd0df00", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Opinions on this book seem to be divided; I fall in the middle. \n I thought it was a great original concept, had some fun, charming Southern humor, and interesting characters. \n But there was far too much needless exposition and description (I found myself routinely skipping reading longer paragraphs, which I knew from the first dozen chapters were mere filler -- such as what someone was wearing), repeated information (the same conversations over and over), anti-climactic writing (there's no real sense of urgency or fast-paced action to the climax), and confusing sentences (which at times, I had to reread multiple times). \n Essentially, what it feels like is a great first draft that hasn't had the fat trimmed from it yet. I suspect, however, it will work magnificently on the big screen, since a screenplay will trim anything needless out of the 500+ pages.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 06 16:28:24 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 09 14:25:12 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Dec 09 14:25:12 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Thu Dec 06 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "7430962", "review_id": "130d207ba10b7f237a3aeb8a79eee570", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I made it about 30 pages into this before the absurdity got to me, and forced me to quit. I'm not sure whether it was the terrible writing that did it, or my offense that such a great novel has been reduced to little more than zombie pulp fiction.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 13 11:54:13 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 13 11:55:15 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "7108001", "review_id": "88b72d44c7b36512fad12d0683a3737e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Disclaimer: I saw the movie first. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have read this in the first place, but it's been fun to compare the book and film. \n The Book: is written like a mock, monster-mashup biography, shifting from first and third person point of view. As such, you never really connect to any of the characters as individuals (or at least I didn't). That isn't to say it's not entertaining, but it can be rather \"dry\" in places, and super-gory in others (severed heads, anyone?). There were moments when my jaw hit the floor at the brazen nerve of such a book being written, but in the end it was an enjoyable read. \n The Movie: takes the basic concept of the book and makes it what the book SHOULD have been -- like a novel, full of sweet moments between Abe and Mary, with great comedic timing and best of all, a primary villain and a \"historical\" best friend. \n Read the book. If you get bored, watch the movie before dismissing it entirely. If you enjoy the book, remember that the movie is a different medium with different strengths.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 06 06:29:07 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 13 11:38:06 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Nov 13 11:38:06 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Tue Nov 06 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "116296", "review_id": "924a5c973e34961fcf244b93d3196a26", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Somewhat dry in places, but a hilarious satirical look at the banking industry, with a few Igors thrown in for good measure.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 27 10:38:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 20 06:17:45 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Sep 20 06:17:45 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "142023", "review_id": "d7fdaaff6339c6acfdf48256999e7ae9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A friend recommended this to me, so I sat down and read it -- in about six hours. You are kept wanting to know more, to find out what will happen to Callie and her friends. But therein lies the frustration -- it takes so long to reach the end. I sometimes found myself skim-reading, and the pacing in the second half was rather slow. But I liked the symbolism and she had some great and unique touches here and there.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 08 14:52:34 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 08 14:56:47 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "47990", "review_id": "a37ed5e55e71d02cc19ba9fc15b30125", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Pratchett is hit or miss with me -- this was mostly a miss. I enjoyed it, but thought the last half dragged a bit and some of the jokes wore thin.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 20 14:38:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 28 05:51:51 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jul 28 05:51:51 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "9565548", "review_id": "6c6cead8729ef5768c0e9c5a2c6312d1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What if Death had a daughter? What if her mother tried to expel her from her womb with a potion? What if it left her scarred... and with a gift of dealing out death? \n It's a good book; it moves fast, it has terrific main characters, and it kept me turning the pages. My only problem with it is keeping some of the characters straight, and there were moments when details caught me off guard, since I imagined certain things and characters differently than the author later described them. However, since I was reading two books at once, the missing details may simply have been oversight on my part.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 13:16:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 13 07:52:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Apr 13 07:52:39 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Mar 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "1162543", "review_id": "8c591e34794dc682722c8149e61f268b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "When I first cracked open Breaking Dawn, I was a starry-eyed reader with preset visions of how this story should go. Needless to say, once we hit the pregnancy from hell, then the Imprinting of WTF?, followed by the \"oh, come on, what a cop-out it is to have Bella totally in control!\" I was so done, I chucked it across the room and quit the entire franchise. \n I'm older, wiser, and more cynical now, along with having two films based off this stinker of a book under my belt, which means my read-through had two objectives: it calmed my raging fury in some places, and increased my general sense of \"no freakin' way\" in others. \n The Good: \n The wedding and early chapters are brilliant. Kate is wonderful, as is Garrett (although my fondness for him has more to do with Lee Pace on screen than his character on the page). I even got to where I liked \"Nessie\" after awhile (... once she stopped cracking her mother's bones from the inside out, that is). And, we get another visitation with Aro (shame it's so... dull) and his pet psychopath, Jane. Being inside Jacob's head was also amusing I don't mind the whole \"vampire pregnancy\" thing anymore (initially, I hated it) but... I'm annoyed how the author went about it. \n The Bad: \n Doesn't the author understand the creepy overtones of some of this stuff? Jacob imprinting on a baby, in spite of all the written assurances that it's \"not like that,\" and \"they're just friends\" is freaking NUTS, and not just because it reminds me of \"child-grooming.\" Don't even get me started on the minute this book turned from a romantic YA to a horror film, complete with Edward ripping his child out of Bella's abdomen with his teeth. My first time through I was screaming \"Kill that thing!\" (and I'm pro-life... that's how bad it was) and this time, I just set my jaw and read on. She uses way too many words, particularly at the end, where the most \"exciting\" thing about the Volturi confrontation is Bella internalizing her thoughts about how awesome her shield is, as she protects everyone around her from... talking. That's it. You get to the freaking climax of the book, and everyone stands in a circle and talks... for like 40 pages. \n Thank you, whomever brought this scene to the big screen and CHANGED IT. This book would have been ten thousand times more awesome if Meyer had WRITTEN INTO IT what happens on screen - character deaths, full on action, then yanked the rug out from under our feet. You single-handedly turned the biggest snore-fest in the franchise into the most awesome on-screen confrontation. You deserve applause. \n Also, since I got bored (again) toward the end, I did a lot of skim-reading. I don't have the burning hatred for this book that I used to, but it's still something of a disappointment given how fun the first three are to read.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 12:56:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 14 05:10:53 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Aug 14 05:10:53 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "49041", "review_id": "3e7da5748f3f128b87edecf56ec1d4ea", "rating": 4, "review_text": "When I first read this book, I remember finding it irritating how Bella descended into total depression after losing Edward. There's still stuff that bothers me about her behavior (such as her desire to \"hear\" him through stupid, irrational, irresponsible behavior) but this book has shifted for me into my \"favorite\" of the Twilight series, in part because... well, there's not much Edward in it, so he can't be too controlling and obnoxious. \n Here again, Meyer drops little hints about other characters in the book that made me screech, \"That's brilliant! Why don't you write about that?!\" (like the Father Marcus who chased all the vampires out of Italy was actually Marcus from the Volturi... ahaha, that's awesome!) \n The problem is that for two-thirds of the novel, she builds Jacob into such a great guy that it's hard to understand why Bella can't just pick him. Jacob makes her happy. He brings out the best in her. They get along like coffee and cream. Then the werewolf gene activates and Jacob turns into an emo, emotionally-driven nut job (can't Bella get away from these people? And why does she have to be one too?). And, of course, what transpires when Edward comes back is a bunch of posturing, werewolf-vampire-hating, etc. Bummer, dude. \n Still, Bella's trip to Italy and her meeting with the Volturi are what make the novel for me. Aro has to be one of Meyer's more ingenious creations... an ancient vampire with \"paper-thin white skin,\" an irritatingly creepy habit of being jovial all the time (though I suspect it's to throw people off his murderous tendencies), and an obsessive desire to \"collect\" talented vampires. I didn't know whether to laugh at his interview with Bella and Edward, or feel a cold chill blowing through the room. \n As usual, I skipped a lot of the purple prose and \"emotional vomit,\" but don't even get me started on Edward's suicidal tendencies. It's not romantic, dude... it's screwed up if you can't stand to live without someone. Bella yells at him for it, though, so I guess in the end it's ... yeah, no, it's so not cool, even then.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 12:56:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 09 05:24:53 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Aug 09 05:24:53 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "428263", "review_id": "4916c8988bb2bf015a90f427e13ba3b3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Let's just pause to remember that this book is about hormonal, immature teenagers. Got that? \n Okay, moving on - Meyer has refined her writing and it's much less problematic here than in previous installments. It flows better, her plot falls in with more twists and turns, and we also get some much-needed character development from people like Jasper Cullen (although we still don't see enough of him). I waffle between whether or not this is my favorite book, in spite of its faults, New Moon has a certain appeal just for the last hundred pages. But Eclipse really brings out a change in Edward - gone is the eternally whining, testy, and even childish vampire from the first novel, and in his place is a reasonably sensible, even sane young man who avoids tearing Jacob to pieces while wolf-boy hugs Bella to his chest, to warm her in the midst of a blizzard. THIS Edward, I can respect. He's really the redeeming factor a book that turns grisly at the end.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 12:56:13 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 10 15:24:07 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Aug 10 15:24:07 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Aug 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "5b481a9160b41f5258ef130df1a333c5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "My introduction to this series started long before every preteen and their freakin' grandmother was reading it - a friend sent me the first book for Christmas. I read it, found it entertaining, and went back to my life. I thought little of it, but now, revisiting the series after five movies, countless articles, and everyone from Stephen King to my pastor weighing in on the series, I'm picking up on... well, a lot that I'm surprised didn't annoy the hell out of me the first time around (maybe it did, I don't remember). \n For the four people who haven't read this franchise, it's neither as glorious nor as horrific as many would have you believe; people inevitably either fall into the \"I love it, and it's flawless\" side of the argument, or the indignant, angry, bashing sort who love insulting the intelligence of anyone who does like it. I fall into neither camp, because I try to be objective about things - and there are some good and bad aspects to this book. \n The good is that whatever you think of her purple prose and leading characters, Stephenie Meyer certainly knows how to tell a story, take a popular topic, and bring new things into it. What other franchise has their vampires playing baseball during a thunderstorm? Her use of \"gifts\" with some vampires is brilliant - Jasper can control others' emotions, Edward can read minds, and Alice of course can foresee the future. \n Her misfortune, therefore, is to stick us in the minds of insipid, immature, neurotic teenagers, when she has a host of infinitely more fascinating characters at her fingertips - Carlisle, the son of a fanatical pastor in the 1500's who gets attacked and turned when hunting vampires in London, strikes out on his own and eventually winds up with the Volturi? Now that is the story I want to read! Or what about Alice's stint in the mental institution under shock therapy, until a vampire smuggled her out and turned her--only to be killed by James? Dammit, Meyer, how could you spin such an intriguing story in five paragraphs and leave me to wade through 500 pages of Bella tripping over stuff, Bella admiring how gorgeous Edward is, Bella biting her lip, Edward being bipolar, Edward getting \"angry\" and frightening Bella (who doesn't care if he eats her, it's just she doesn't want him upset with her first), and... well, just Bella being Bella. \n Much has been said about this series and unfortunately, once you've heard it, you can't un-see it. I was painfully aware of the awkward writing, the amateurish usage of words other than \"said\" that were redundant (the dialogue expressed itself well enough without needing \"stressed,\" \"explained,\" or \"shouted\" at the end of it), and, more noticeably... the undercurrent of Bella and Edward's twisted, codependent relationship that unfortunately reads like it comes out of the abusive boyfriend handbook. Controlling her? Check. Constantly putting her down and making her feel self-conscious? Check. Mean-spirited teasing? Check. Blaming her for your own damn problems? Check. Feeling remorse when your choices put her in danger? Check. Stalking her and checking up on her every five seconds? Check. Edward's rapid shifts from anger to laughter make him look unstable at best, and psychotic at worst. I question my own sanity in ever liking Book!Edward (and I did, when far younger and much dumber). \n I never thought I'd say it, but for once the movie is better. Why? Bella is less pathetic. Edward is less of a creepy, bipolar manic-depressive twit. And the secondary characters have more of a chance to shine. Plus, you get to see the vampire baseball game in action. Meyer does suck you in and hold you tight. I just wish an editor had shaved three hundred pages off the manuscript and they'd dealt with some of the stalker-y tendencies before it went to print. But oh, well. People loved it anyway. \n Next up, the book where Bella spends 450 pages whining and then comes SO CLOSE to being eaten by Aro... \n Sigh. Pity.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 12:56:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 06 12:39:20 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Aug 06 12:39:20 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "34484", "review_id": "c6e3a93052aeaa9128bd54bb8285192f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Terry Pratcheett has a lovely habit of taking something and mocking the hell out of it, while also asking pressing questions about it. \"Small Gods\" is his reflection on organized religion. Throughout, in his usual, hilarious, offbeat way, he questions the existence of gods, while reminding us that the established result may not always be what is intended. Nothing is sacred to him, which is what makes his books so good. \n This is one of my favorites. The hilarity of the great god Om being stuck in the feeble, pathetic body of a one-eyed turtle, stuck with a mindless novice who is the only person who actually believes in Om's real self (as opposed to the bull, the eagle, and the established \"Om\") and therefore, the one person who can actually HEAR him brings on plenty of utter hilarity. I actually had to stop reading at one point, I was laughing so hard. \n In my opinion, this is Pratchett at his finest (along with \"Mort\"). As usual, it runs in all sorts of directions before tying everything together at the end, so... PAY ATTENTION. Laugh, question, and learn.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 12:55:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 24 05:16:59 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 24 05:16:59 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "34507", "review_id": "8488783dba398b06bf6626a8fb1e2b65", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This may be my favorite Discworld novel yet, and considering how fond I am of Susan, Mort, and Death, that's saying something. \n A wizard intends to pass on his magical staff to the seventh son of a seventh son -- except he performs the magic and they find out later it's a little girl. Esk, at eight years old, sets out to become a wizard, with lots of shenanigans and hijinks along the way. Let's put it this way: people who try and take a little wizard-girls' staff from her are in for an unpleasant surprise. Granny Weatherwax (in her first appearance) doesn't \"hold\" with these kinds of things, so she tries to get Esk to be a witch instead. \n Big mistake. From there on, it's chaos in Ank Morpork while magic builds up, the skies pour sheets of rain, the river shifts, forcing all the gargoyles inside, and all hell breaks loose -- in a manner of speaking. \n It isn't laugh-out-loud funny (well, it can be in places) but I read the whole thing with a smile on my face. I don't recall Esk from any subsequent books, which is a shame, but it's a good enough tale to stand on its own two feet... err... broomstick... err... wizard staff... err...", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 12:55:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 11 05:23:41 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Dec 11 05:23:41 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "474059", "review_id": "dec1a0701ac5f25f931bf72bf6ba7d40", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I love Pratchett, but not all the time. I've enjoyed many of his books (particularly \"Mort,\" \"Hogfather\" and the like), but there are a few that I found downright tedious. This is one of them. The first few chapters were side-splittingly funny. Spread throughout the rest of the book are intermittent flashes of hilarity, packed into much ado about nothing -- several hundred pages of antics of characters that seem superficial and downright uninteresting. The angel and demon are the best part of the book -- and unfortunately, they disappear for chapters at a time. To be honest, I quit reading 3/4ths of the way through. It couldn't hold my interest.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 12:55:35 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 30 07:28:04 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jun 30 07:28:04 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "64216", "review_id": "92db8da73d0aa1abad9ebe3eb6250f1b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Normally I'm not a fan of the Night Watch books, but this one was charming. I loved the wee dragon Errol and his mysterious fate. Death made a few memorable appearances, and at long last I (since I'm reading these out of order) got to find out where Sam Vimes got his wife! Who knew?", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 12:55:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 12 13:44:22 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Sep 12 13:44:22 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "2", "review_id": "e31ef21ab9e55383be084306a9c5146a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the book where Rowling's prose started to get out of hand. It's a terrifc story with many wonderful moments, but Harry's inner monologue and constant rage wore on me, as did a few of the secondary plots. But, it also has the distinction of introducing two unforgettable characters -- the eccentric \"Loony\" Luna Lovegood, and the horrific Deloras Umbridge. If you can get through this book without screaming, swearing, and vowing to make her suffer a truly violent death, you're much more of a saint than I am.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 12:55:01 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 25 10:07:24 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Mar 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "15881", "review_id": "27e474a9dbb0358d1d714693ceb834cb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Digging into this book for the first time after the series ended, I was reminded how much I love its increasing character development and storyline. This was the first Potter book I ever read (having seen the first movie, stupidly, I raced on to the second book to see what happened next! then forced myself to start at the beginning) and it's still one of my favorite plots. It's also the creepiest of the books -- how could it not be, with an unseen terror lurking in Hogwarts that only Harry can hear? And how could you not love some of Rowling's new characters, like Moaning Myrtle? \n Reaching the end of this book is both sobering (since it's so much fun) and exciting, since next up in the franchise is my favorite book!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 12:54:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 09 11:11:27 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Mar 09 11:11:27 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Mar 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "1", "review_id": "3a5972fe1c5930e7b3ff0aa155c2535c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I forget how excellent this book is until I read it. My first time, I was up until 3am on a Saturday night finishing it and the ending just gutted me. It turned everything I believed about these characters upside-down on its head. For weeks... months... years, the debate raged: whose side is Snape really on? The book itself is terrific, a cracking good read. It moves fast. It brings in elements of adolescence in unique ways, but more importantly, it resonates with grief at the end. If you've ever lost someone, you'll completely identify with Harry's shock, horror, guilt, and ultimate feeling that the death was senseless and wasteful. That is the message Rowling imparts to her readers -- that every loss is devastating, but that unfortunately, death is a part of life... and it's those who face it with courage who are the greatest heroes.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 12:54:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 30 02:27:05 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Oct 03 06:01:03 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "6", "review_id": "09d501eeacd1fc27c52b41bffb11a5df", "rating": 5, "review_text": "By now, everyone has read this book, so I won't bother with a summary. I'll just say this: this book inspired what is arguably my favorite of the Potter films. It has all the magic, mystery, and character development of the earlier books combined with much higher stakes. Characters that will become important later -- such as Bill Weasley and Fleur -- are introduced. The first flutters of romance take flight in Hogwarts. Hermione gains a boyfriend -- and Ron gets jealous. \n Last but not least is the horrific chapter in which the Dark Lord returns, a chapter that spurred match-happy religious groups to clamber for book burnings to come back into fashion. All I have to say about that is: next time read the entire book before striking a match, and you'll start figuring out just where Rowling is headed with her plot (here's a clue: her symbolism, as time goes on, isn't much less blatant than C.S. Lewis' in Narnia). \n Read up, and enjoy. It only gets darker from here on out.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 12:54:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 21 14:02:25 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Mar 21 14:02:25 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Mar 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "136251", "review_id": "0ced0395fae9a98bebb6baaea80665c1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wrapping up a series is always difficult. How do you resolve everything? Which characters survive? Many complain that this book is too long. In some ways, it is -- but all the same, it's the conclusion of an epic seven-part series and I devoured every word. It answers many questions. It brings everything into perspective. Rowling draws together the silver threads of previous books in order to resolve the conflict between Harry and Voldemort -- in a brilliant way. True, I saw some of it coming, but other things caught me by surprise. My first time through, I read it all in a day-long stretch, stopping only to cry as some of my favorite characters met heroic ends. As always, when you reach the final few words, you feel a sense of peace and happiness at Harry's happy ending -- but also a profound feeling of loss, in leaving so many friends behind. \n But, as Rowling has told us, no matter how many years pass or what draws our attention in the meantime, whenever we push play or start to read, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome us home.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 12:54:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 14 06:42:47 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Oct 14 06:42:47 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "667237e8f40c97b8dc2f4e217cf3589c", "book_id": "3", "review_id": "9836952102129c96de4cfc2ff6aebf88", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I came into this book series late -- I was nearly an adult when I cracked open the cover of this book. Reading it, though, made me feel like a child again. This is one of the few book series I hate to put down as I read at night. I will literally keep going until my eyes droop, no matter how late it is. \n Reading this book after finishing the series, I can see where Rowling lays the groundwork for everything to follow. Some of it is less than obvious, such as Harry's observations that there are times he suspects Snape might be a mind-reader. Even the Sorting Hat's attempt to place him into Slytherin takes on an entirely new meaning after the final book. \n My encouragement is -- if you've read this series only once, read it again. If you've never read it, read it. Get lost in it. Laugh over it. Cry with it. Rowling is a best-seller, and one of the greatest childrens' authors of our time for a reason. \n If you're a Christian and hesitant about \"the magic,\" toss your reservations out the window. You'll be dumbfounded at the Narnia-esque symbolism spread throughout the books. (There's a reason J.K. Rowling can't resist picking up a Lewis book, and she pays homage to him here in a multitude of little ways only those familiar with Narnia will understand.)", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 12:54:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 07 07:21:03 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "705978b3f98eae8c1ee1b4e284fa2396", "book_id": "18161615", "review_id": "68c83c649471e81e88d3a47649ccf6f1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of my favourite childhood memories was reading and re-reading this book over and over again.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 03 16:36:38 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 03 16:39:20 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "705978b3f98eae8c1ee1b4e284fa2396", "book_id": "17158532", "review_id": "fc50bb7f99382a7e9e714af857ff0dde", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A satisfying ending to a good trilogy. I'm happy.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 01 16:57:23 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 24 16:51:37 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "705978b3f98eae8c1ee1b4e284fa2396", "book_id": "17158513", "review_id": "dc8db95875a04c618ffd18716c2cc978", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I feel like Pacat's writing felt more comfortable when free from the confinement of the Veretian palace, and it showed greatly in this book, which I have enjoyed thoroughly (and definitely more than the first one). \n The pace is simply delightful, because everything happens exactly when it should, never rushed or late. \n The unfolding of the relationship between the main characters, Damen and Laurent, was a beautiful thing to read exactly because it held this quality, of being perfectly paced, never seeming forceful, every step in their dance around each other always born of something true within themselves. \n I can only attribute to Damen's candor that he never realizes that Laurent has been sexually abused by his uncle ; I tip my hat and bow to Pacat for handling it with the greatest respect, and showing it in every motion Laurent makes, every word he speaks -- since the very first time we meet him, in volume one, in fact --, without making it too overt. \n I join my friends in eagerly awaiting the third book.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 01 16:57:22 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 24 16:51:32 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Dec 08 12:41:35 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Dec 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "705978b3f98eae8c1ee1b4e284fa2396", "book_id": "9305362", "review_id": "3ad5e6a8381b8d860f5421f02d4ca937", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It took a while to pick up a good pace, probably because it needed to lay the foundations of its world. \n That said, even when the pace was slower I was completely intrigued by this book, and fond of its main character, Damien. As the story went on, I found I'd started caring for more and more characters, and now I'm eager to read the second volume.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 01 16:57:21 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 24 16:51:52 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Dec 06 15:55:05 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Dec 04 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "705978b3f98eae8c1ee1b4e284fa2396", "book_id": "76852", "review_id": "f155d14e6dca37653e3ec2c9736822ad", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Entirely delicious. Clarke's style is delightful, ironic, engaging. \n I can't recommend this enough.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 08 13:18:00 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 24 16:39:38 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Sep 25 15:08:43 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "705978b3f98eae8c1ee1b4e284fa2396", "book_id": "15839984", "review_id": "4ed9115121f6ff6745ad5630fbfb3011", "rating": 1, "review_text": "This book was recommended to me a couple days ago on twitter by Natalie, who told me right away this book wasn't the ~best book ever written!~ So I was prepared for a light read last night when I started this. \n Honestly, this wasn't even an enjoyable light read. I've read better written fanfiction. The writing is utterly weak. Two pages into the book, a day has passed. Time jumps are inconsistent. The characters are paper-thin, the worldbuilding tries to be something but nothing is ever really explained, especially at the end, which seems to have been written in a rush. \n Everything makes sense because of some things that Nyx saw, understood, then fainted and forgot, or she saw, understood, and did not explain to the audience. Which is probably a good thing because everything is an info dump in this book. But honestly, how is a reader supposed to accept that what happens happens for reasons that we're not even given? Or we're given in chunks and bits? \n E.G., this book is an info dump after another, with Nyx telling the audience how she feels in between. I never felt emotionally connected to her. For one, she never makes you feel how she feels, because she'd rather tell you. It's \"I did this, I felt this\" the whole way through, which is obviously bad writing and annoying as hell. \n Another important reason I couldn't emotionally connect with the story is because the main character makes no sense at all. One moment she says she hates her family, she has poison in her heart!, the very next she feels so bad about hurting her sister. Nothing is ever seen in-depth; the narrator always stays very clear of introspection, in favour of exposition and info dumps. \n The plot and the worldbuilding are frankly laughable -- we're supposed to believe that Ignifex is so evil! He's so bad! [Really, really obvious spoiler under the cut] Then a single thing happens, obviously she feels attracted to him, and bam! He's actually just a victim. He's so mistaken. But he's still so wicked. And she's so wicked. It's all just words, words, words. Nothing is seen in action, not truly. \n Another thing: why the Greco-Roman pantheon (Not that the Roman pantheon makes an appearance)? Just like that? Why the liberal use of the word \"Arcadia\", which used to mean something? Why mix it up with \"Anglia\" and why are the anglican gods pagan? \n Oh, and the title. Cruel Beauty. The book states clearly that she's not really a beauty, that's her sister! And cruel? She's not cruel. There's even a sentence in the book that says she actively doesn't want to be cruel. So what's the point of the title, except that it sounds cool?", "date_added": "Sun Nov 16 02:52:48 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 24 17:01:36 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "705978b3f98eae8c1ee1b4e284fa2396", "book_id": "17378508", "review_id": "f6c540ef51530b26100d32eac1b7d958", "rating": 2, "review_text": "October 22nd, 2014. \n This book was packed with action, significantly more so than the first two, so much however that the psychological insight, the inner life of the character which I so loved in the precedent installments of the series, finds itself quite set aside. Not that there isn't; there is much character growth. We see Ronan coming to terms with things he was afraid of even giving a name to in Dream Thieves, things he had kept secret; we see Adam ending up much more adult than I'd first expected him to be; Gansey and Blue's relationship struggles to find a new path without defining itself. All this admitted, the book still felt like an interlude, moving some rocks out of the way of the plot and paving the way for the great finish. \n How is this possible? There are many new exciting characters, events, development! And yet it doesn't feel enough, because sadly hardly any of this is given time and space to breathe. Its flaw is that there is too much action in too little space. \n Take, for instance, the villain: on the outside, he's exciting and menacing, powerful, capable of ruining the Gray Man's life, omnipresent while keeping himself at the outskirts of the main stage. \n And this is all of it. What do we know of Greenmantle? We know nothing of how he became who he is, we know nothing of how he acquired what power he has, nothing at all of his inner life. We know little of his relationship with his wife, how it came to be, why in the whole wide world they love each other and decided to get married, why do they sometimes act little like actual people, if at all. Their development is left to the imagination of the reader. When Piper behaves in a weird, probably magic-induced way, there is no given explanation -- no insight, no reflection, no sign of what's going on in her head except for her later actions, which also feel pretty much out of the blue. Then Greenmantle leaves. We do not get to know anything about his involvement with Ronan's father, we do not get to know his plans for the Greywaren, we do not get to know his real deep motive, he's just gone . It's so unsatisfying and disappointing. It feels unfinished, like this is the outline of a plot to be filled, like more should happen, more should be told. \n These villains feel like the childish idea of a villain, with potential for greatness, but no substance, no real life -- like the cardboard cutout of a character. \n That can be also said of Jesse Dittley - sweet guy, but his cartoonish portrayal felt slightly distasteful, at least in my opinion. What was meant to be conveyed by the all-caps, for instance, could've been made to understand by the use of simple adjectives, or one of Stiefvater's descriptions, which can be beautiful. It's definitely irksome, and a faux pas. \n I shall not say the same for Gwenllian because I hope her character will be explored in the next book, but if not so -- well. She is potentially very interesting. \n However unhappy I am with the form, I cannot say so of the content. I am so profoundly delighted by it! I am in love with everything and everyone -- I love Adam wholeheartedly again, or maybe for the first time; I love Ronan and his small steps towards some freedom, Blue and Gansey and their dependence of late night phone calls, Blue and her finally exploring of her powers. \n I particularly appreciated the handling of Blue's rage towards her mother and Blue's grief for Persephone's death. I felt like that was very well done. \n Lastly, I want more of Gansey in parallel with Glendower.", "date_added": "Sun May 18 03:43:58 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 24 17:05:52 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Oct 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 13, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "705978b3f98eae8c1ee1b4e284fa2396", "book_id": "17675462", "review_id": "5e5dbde54c63072c249b4f162990ea5c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Very good. Engaging writing style and lovely worldbuilding. The relationships between the characters ring refreshingly true and deep, especially because as you go further you just keep digging: there is always some new facet to unveil, a new aspect of a character you hadn't anticipated to discover, all masterfully presented to the reader. I love the way the supernatural elements are handled, woven into the story as if they could be very much part of reality. Also, I should mention Whelk makes for a good old-fashioned villain.", "date_added": "Sun May 11 14:38:08 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 24 17:10:10 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun May 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "705978b3f98eae8c1ee1b4e284fa2396", "book_id": "14061957", "review_id": "45330d0b016c1f68a6dac50d62635218", "rating": 1, "review_text": "The Grisha series laid a very good foundation which would've been amazing to explore, but it never dared to, it just skimmed the surface to pass on to something else. One concept which I found extremely good was the lack of God: only Saints are worshipped in Ravka. That's a lot. That's humanist. If there is no God to answer to, no God to test you, every human can be a Saint. It would be great to explore, the concept that without a God you can aim even higher. But sadly, none of this is ever explained. The whole tsarpunk aesthetic is just an aesthetic 95% of the time. I wish Leigh Bardugo had been braver, I wish she'd gone into the light/darkness duality, the humanizing/dehumanizing effect of eternity, the real meaning of a name, the meaning of power. The hunger for power, oh my God, I wish we'd gone down that road. \n Instead what we got with this third act is the frankly terrible moral that if you are strong, if you feel good in your strength as woman, if you are powerful, well... you really should turn all of that down for some boy's love, because he's scared of you when you're powerful. The moral is: make yourself little and take up no space, because a boy wants to be more powerful than you. Alina didn't have space to embrace herself because what she wanted was to please Mal, and that is disgusting.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 27 10:56:07 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 24 17:08:13 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 9, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "705978b3f98eae8c1ee1b4e284fa2396", "book_id": "8694389", "review_id": "e9d01359ba2e433110bef3eb61d56c65", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was like a magical experience - captivating and strange and beautiful. Marya Morevna is a great character, and like her you will feel pulled between Koschei and Ivan, and like her you will be starving in Leningrad, or running around in the Country of Life, or with your nose deep in a Pushkin book and red scarf at your neck. Every image in this book will stay with you, and some bits will stick to your memory, because you liked them so you read them twice, and thrice, until you knew them by heart. If you want a journey in a dark, strange, magical world, this book is for you. Read it, the prose is marvelous, the characters so true. This book felt like an extension to the myths and legends I read as a child. It was beautiful, and I'm glad I bought this book so I can read it again and again.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 02 14:32:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 24 16:46:46 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Aug 12 03:07:21 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db4c92b1ad891824f24c2523de214103", "book_id": "13497", "review_id": "2300d2da9cdf853d15ac8756d51ff4ca", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Bipolar ride. Oft a bore. Too many names to care about. Some highs and some joys can be found here, i hope the next book will not leave me as bewildered...", "date_added": "Sat Sep 08 03:19:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 08 03:44:42 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Tue Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db4c92b1ad891824f24c2523de214103", "book_id": "822993", "review_id": "8ad88ea68fd569fb11d560120232946a", "rating": 0, "review_text": "The series helped me to visualise it so much that i ate this up in a week outside of work hours. Im eating up a book a week. \n Criticisms to come with the last book.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 10 20:29:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 09 02:52:05 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db4c92b1ad891824f24c2523de214103", "book_id": "10297179", "review_id": "6f387e32d904f1b107fde9a032bfe83b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Some stories have brilliance and laugh out loud qualities. Others are just forgettable. Mixed reviews", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 01:08:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 03 13:10:59 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db4c92b1ad891824f24c2523de214103", "book_id": "259836", "review_id": "240ecb4c0dd4692ad1c878e7d9b0e52b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I damned well loved this book and its spinoffs. Love forever!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 19:30:38 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 07 19:31:29 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9553c05c644e7e25e3817602bf0f9ea", "book_id": "28449207", "review_id": "2fdab3598890ddec59147f777cb65c01", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm in awe of Laini Taylor's creativity and she writes with such intelligence, insight and humor. I absolutely love this book and don't want to wait for the next installment! A pleasure to read through and through.", "date_added": "Fri May 05 21:31:27 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 08 13:44:27 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9553c05c644e7e25e3817602bf0f9ea", "book_id": "1215032", "review_id": "a0808417ee5a3b14c7f7840e9a94cb5b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Well written, well crafted stories. I'm having withdrawals weeks after finishing this. Can't wait for the next installment!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 30 14:46:43 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 30 12:31:13 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Sep 30 12:31:13 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e9553c05c644e7e25e3817602bf0f9ea", "book_id": "42432", "review_id": "6b93f665c99cd271841512c130f22f2b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "a triology would've been just fine...", "date_added": "Sat Mar 29 14:26:15 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 29 14:26:15 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1e2e603a3d86ac5d2af6a85e76998766", "book_id": "12421152", "review_id": "69600ebe9d110f47d3404c22044fe32b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Listening to Neil Gaiman read Neil Gaiman is the best thing ever.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 01 07:16:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 06 08:17:32 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Oct 06 08:17:32 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Oct 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "87d77df22e9adc8129b0233a1e0171ca", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "0b5c61350151dd896401f84b67891930", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The story of The Night Circus is the story of Celia and Marco, bound together at an early age and raised to play a game of magic that only one can win in order to prove a point between two men. The circus is the game and the acts pawns, caught up in a world of spells and illusions. Celia and Marco are unwilling participants, searching for a way to stop playing and survive. As they search they find each other and The Night Circus becomes a love story. \n As other reviews suggest, The Night Circus one of those books you will either love or hate. Personally, I loved it but can completely understand why it isn't everyone's cup of tea. I found that I needed to know what happened next and that I was really rooting for Celia and Marcus. At the same time, the game itself didn't completely make sense. In this, it was frustrating. I felt it was just beyond my reach. The main problem for me was that it's creators weren't strong enough characters in themselves. I didn't understand their motivation. For a first novel, however, and because I cared enough about everyone else, I was able to get past this issue. I also enjoyed the rich, detailed, descriptions. I felt I could see the circus. Again, though, this would not suit everyone as it involves a lot of fantasy. For those who enjoy such books, however, this is a jolly good read and highly recommended.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 25 23:58:39 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 26 01:38:25 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "87d77df22e9adc8129b0233a1e0171ca", "book_id": "8667848", "review_id": "b0546b51862f1f9b852b8649246d288b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Diana Bishop is the last in a long line of witches. The daughter of a powerful witch and wizard who died when she was young, she has always resisted her power, preferring instead to live a human life. After becoming an historian, she is doing research when she calls up an old book, Ashmole 782. Immediately, she knows it is bewitched. After a cursory review, she sends it back to the stacks, wanting nothing more to do with it. Unfortunately, other witches are interested - as are Deamons and Vampires. One such Vampire is Matthew, who is very old, very charming and (not surprisingly) very good looking. Despite knowing that it is dangerous, Diana starts spending time with Matthew. As she does, her magic starts to assert itself. Together, they start to try and find out why and the secrets of Ashmole 782. At the same time, they need to protect Diana from the other creatures who all seem to want to get to her and her power. \n A Discovery of Witches is an enjoyable story but - unfortunately - somewhat predicatable. I felt I knew what was coming next almost from page one. The weak female protagonist who discovers she isn't so helpless after all, the mean, moody, broody vampire who has a heart. The fact that they fall in love despite the danger. An assortment of other non-human characters that aren't completely formed. As a fan of this genre of fiction, I had hoped for something more and just didn't get it. However, for those who don't read quite as many books involving vampires - or have missed the Twilight Saga, it is an good read.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 26 10:23:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 13 11:51:39 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Aug 13 11:51:39 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34b3d1f3626eaa8b6d075df95ac65268", "book_id": "28104943", "review_id": "440106755872bcc45231e40f03107e48", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm always a fan of this series, and I can't imagine that I could walk away from Anita, Jean Claude, and everyone else at this point. Yet there were places in this book where the editing needed some work. Some of the conversation did not flow well between characters, and some of the summary information (to remind the reader of events and issues from previous books) became distracting.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 24 10:47:19 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 22 07:58:04 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Oct 16 14:58:04 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34b3d1f3626eaa8b6d075df95ac65268", "book_id": "13498652", "review_id": "c2feb98044e16d1f66b087af9e21403f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The writing was very uneven; there were some stories that were ok, but others that were boring. The collection was disjointed and I just wanted it to end.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 13 15:44:49 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 15 07:15:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 15 07:15:44 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34b3d1f3626eaa8b6d075df95ac65268", "book_id": "8935153", "review_id": "6ccd0bcfd012c65afc84ae94cc475042", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Good one. They keep improving after a bit of a lull. Missed Jean Claude, but happy to see Edward, I mean Ted.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 16 18:58:22 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 16 19:01:09 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34b3d1f3626eaa8b6d075df95ac65268", "book_id": "30271", "review_id": "8f38f8224e49ace685ce3b483b691f44", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Turned out to have a great ending, but a bit too many twists and turns before the good part of the plot came through.", "date_added": "Fri May 29 19:43:50 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 03 21:38:10 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34b3d1f3626eaa8b6d075df95ac65268", "book_id": "3115950", "review_id": "7b13fcb49f05518b9f1c67ff794a4b9c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Strong third book in the series. Much faster read from start to finish than 99 Coffins.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 22 16:32:06 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed May 27 23:06:57 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Wed May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34b3d1f3626eaa8b6d075df95ac65268", "book_id": "1441722", "review_id": "de026ac3b05ed7fb22eeb7207fdbb071", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A bit slower start that Wellington's other books, but it finishes really strong.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 12 19:59:04 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed May 27 23:08:27 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34b3d1f3626eaa8b6d075df95ac65268", "book_id": "23244", "review_id": "e6ca845fe04eea4db56384b4ca7e28c4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Funny and witty. Like a Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 15 years after she retires.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 12 18:47:43 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 12 18:48:39 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "34b3d1f3626eaa8b6d075df95ac65268", "book_id": "9553", "review_id": "46fba328866664ff39d3e1e7e2ae0d89", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Ghostwalker books are somewhat of a guilty pleasure. They work to disconnect me from my life and my work. I really enjoy the paranormal/psychic ability stuff in them.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 24 11:36:37 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 24 11:38:52 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "be3f867b0ad729bad77a4af4026b1957", "book_id": "104349", "review_id": "0b8b71f09eec2d1403fedf0d7dcb3d6c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A friend gave me a bunch of her epub files and this was one of the books. I had never heard of Sheri Tepper and so came to the book with little or no expectations. This book had a really slow start but something in it kept me reading, despite not really being engaged for the first few chapters. Eventually though it started to really interest me. Tepper's development of the idea of how a society develops, how ideals become corrupted and a few wrestle power was well portrayed. The language used and the story told by Queen Stephanie seemed to be a Maori story and the language Maori. I wondered, given that Tepper is American if the Hawaiian language is similar to Maori but didn't think it resembled so closely. Love the metaphor of a planet having a song. \n Haven't finished yet - just up to the part where Genevieve has been kidnapped by Zeb in the caverns. But spent a few minutes this morning educating myself of Sheri Tepper who was more famous than my ignorance warranted. \n The mystery kept me going well after I felt the soporific effects of a too long book! The main characters kind of lost focus after the mystery was revealed and I did have to slog to the end but there were aspects of brilliance that saw me through. It was a well conceived story and I'm looking forward to reading more of her books.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 04 16:01:32 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 25 02:35:50 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Nov 04 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "be3f867b0ad729bad77a4af4026b1957", "book_id": "16690", "review_id": "72f85865378bd0bc27afa7bd04aa0f40", "rating": 0, "review_text": "know nothing about it but will take a recommendation and run with it", "date_added": "Tue Nov 11 00:12:37 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 11 00:13:08 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "be3f867b0ad729bad77a4af4026b1957", "book_id": "43916", "review_id": "4701cc6fb405dae63f1b2ac092876a67", "rating": 2, "review_text": "All the elements, some of the dialogue and many of the characters seem to be a direct quotation of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Feist did manage to hook me with his early development of Pug and Tomas and the various other people populating the novel. Never-the-less, I was never able to fully dive into this book without my critical brain whining about his cliches, phrases and shortcuts. Overall, my review would be that there is a glimmer of something original and interesting in this but it gets obscured by all the dross that clutters up the pages.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 28 00:54:24 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 03 21:32:10 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Fri Jul 04 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "be3f867b0ad729bad77a4af4026b1957", "book_id": "878307", "review_id": "e2cb4c4fad5175826089f1ebd33e8afc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "For some reason, I thought that this series was written by the same author as Watership down. Obviously I was wrong... all these years! I loved this story. It took me away. What a journey. The author completely managed to draw me in and hook me. Can't remember much, to be honest, but the feeling of reading it lingers.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 22 23:51:06 -0700 2007", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 17 06:38:59 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1992", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "be3f867b0ad729bad77a4af4026b1957", "book_id": "76620", "review_id": "f51f788b587929fa44c2fc8aa8b0861b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "as I recall this book was exciting, riveting and I cried.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 22 23:45:34 -0700 2007", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 17 06:38:58 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1993", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "be3f867b0ad729bad77a4af4026b1957", "book_id": "631828", "review_id": "a130c1b1a56142f6d714106005716f16", "rating": 0, "review_text": "on recommendation by Samantha...", "date_added": "Fri Jul 27 16:17:43 -0700 2007", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 27 16:18:07 -0700 2007", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "be3f867b0ad729bad77a4af4026b1957", "book_id": "238114", "review_id": "d2f9d095d6b358ee656b35873e6d7c28", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Jeanette Winterson's fantasy world here is full of holes and inconsistencies which are jarring. Her descriptions are banal in the extreme. This is a book for children and perhaps they would enjoy it but I didn't particularly.", "date_added": "Sun May 27 05:00:39 -0700 2007", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 08 10:50:34 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5595c439735705ad6139a7934f96bb41", "book_id": "13299748", "review_id": "f1fba77be20247b867e57f590a642051", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Why the heck did I find this book funny? Does that make me a sicko? Damn you Mark Tufo.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 01 09:18:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 01 15:41:40 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Oct 01 15:41:40 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b6174b6a37ec84e409e76d02c75b9831", "book_id": "12127750", "review_id": "5c7f5cf5a34cad6be72452176a626f04", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Awesome book, finally has the Greek and Roman sides coming together to form a team to destroy Gaea. It was cool to see the various creatures and such in Greek Mythology that I had read about before in a more modern setting.", "date_added": "Fri May 03 11:47:26 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri May 03 11:53:32 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3f3ce18309199b9ad7eb6ce6bccc38f7", "book_id": "17262208", "review_id": "1f173e674cf74a6d6cf3dbfbbe5148dc", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Definitely not as chuckle inducing as the first.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 25 12:23:33 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 24 10:37:59 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Feb 24 10:37:59 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3f3ce18309199b9ad7eb6ce6bccc38f7", "book_id": "15729539", "review_id": "d9b67e5e8e0f079bf1d410bd5c31994a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "His best book this far, I tore through it.", "date_added": "Fri May 10 17:35:16 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri May 17 07:56:10 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri May 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3f3ce18309199b9ad7eb6ce6bccc38f7", "book_id": "3979", "review_id": "f1e7bebf59164a67a9bec062565316ec", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I liked this book, it was pretty dark, and the end was almost too much, even for ME.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 27 11:50:26 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 27 11:52:47 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76413aa32ae6debd29ff7c2c437f17ca", "book_id": "6479550", "review_id": "da77389b0fc6a05225da4ab1506f9dd4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "All I have to say is that if you aren't reading this series, you need to... like, NOW!", "date_added": "Sun Sep 24 19:16:47 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 16 15:01:06 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Oct 16 15:01:06 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Sep 24 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76413aa32ae6debd29ff7c2c437f17ca", "book_id": "29635545", "review_id": "591d9ed238931f39491c8532cb6972d2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The little black cat in this book is EVERYTHING. But seriously, this was truly wonderful and complex and just... fun to read.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 04 15:32:40 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 24 17:58:53 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Sep 24 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76413aa32ae6debd29ff7c2c437f17ca", "book_id": "29069989", "review_id": "830c7438208fe0ad15c6303d876242e1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "review to come....", "date_added": "Sat Aug 13 21:40:24 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 15 19:01:19 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76413aa32ae6debd29ff7c2c437f17ca", "book_id": "27883214", "review_id": "1b4243d7865dda1f6b4cb31c5b210b9b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "More like a 3.5 star book, but I rounded up because I was pleasantly surprised by the conclusion of this novel and the new mysteries it left me wanting to solve. \n This was not a perfect book. But it was fun in all of its imperfect glory. And even though it was insta-lovey, I totally ship Scarlett and Julian. \n All in all, I enjoyed this book and will definitely get a sequel.", "date_added": "Tue May 24 19:21:06 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 13 19:55:07 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Mar 13 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76413aa32ae6debd29ff7c2c437f17ca", "book_id": "23734628", "review_id": "3df440056385d3d747876ed681ab0d27", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Can I give this more than 5 stars please? This was beautiful and I ship Simon and Baz so effing hard!", "date_added": "Wed Dec 10 17:21:59 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 25 03:02:22 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Nov 25 03:02:22 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Oct 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76413aa32ae6debd29ff7c2c437f17ca", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "3d0cf93d19acf8690c5dbe18db8262db", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm giving this 4 stars when it could be 5 only because I figured out the major plot reveal VERY early on. But I loved this book and I can't wait to get the next one!", "date_added": "Thu Nov 27 16:18:43 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 19 09:12:16 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Feb 19 09:12:16 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76413aa32ae6debd29ff7c2c437f17ca", "book_id": "17910078", "review_id": "8cbea1be91f607684220b3a9f0c09cfc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book served as a nice set up for the sequel. And while I enjoyed the plot of this one (the richness of the many cultures and the new discoveries Isabella made), it seemed to be less engaging than the first one until the last 100 pages.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 09 00:38:53 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 31 18:12:03 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Sep 02 01:21:27 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76413aa32ae6debd29ff7c2c437f17ca", "book_id": "1187138", "review_id": "2363bcdc3a3bdc2e4500dfc658332501", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Most people truly hate this novel, and I can understand why. \n Where are the fan favorites like Dany, Jon and Tyrion? Well, I think people forget that this novel and A Dance with Dragons are technically one book that got split into two like a Harry Potter film. It might not make for the greatest first half, but it definitely sets the story up well for the next part. \n One great part about this book is the inclusion of Cersei chapters. We may hate her guts, but getting all the inner workings of such a crafty, terrible woman was amazing. She's stupid, but she makes being stupid entertaining. Martin really did a good job with her. \n The next best part was the back and forth between Jaime and Brienne chapters. Not a lot happens in their chapters, but their constant thoughts about one another reminds me why I love their friendship so much. \n And then... my favorite part. DORNE. We've heard of Dorne, and we've met some people from Dorne, but we finally found ourselves in Dorne and interacting with people there. Those chapters could get boring, but the change of scenery was refreshing and much needed (they definitely spiced things up since the book lacked Dany's locations). \n I found quite a few spelling and grammatical errors throughout my copy of the book, and I suppose there as to be one book in a series that falls short of perfection. And while I can't say this book is my favorite in the series, it definitely doesn't deserve the hate it gets. \n Sure, it is boring. Sure, it lacks the best characters. But without this book, we'd never know Cersei's secrets. And I truly believe that would be a shame.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 18 16:44:58 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 03 12:35:57 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76413aa32ae6debd29ff7c2c437f17ca", "book_id": "13330943", "review_id": "ec8e0b71ec0064d97a071096118d0dac", "rating": 4, "review_text": "As you read this novel, you wonder to yourself whether any of it makes sense. Jumping back and forth in time, the events of the novel transpire in random order, captivating you. This confusing layout is quite similar to the circus itself: You never know what each chapter or tent will bring, even when you read the titles for each. Once you reach the end, you find that everything made sense. Every chapter that seemed to be in the wrong order was in the right place all along. Each character lost wasn't lost without reason or care. Everything had its place in the tale to lead you to a wonderful conclusion. While it might not seem satisfying to some, the journey taken in the novel is fantastic and worth every page. You won't know what you're missing until you open the book or step into the tent.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 13 17:47:40 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 28 15:23:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Mar 28 15:23:42 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76413aa32ae6debd29ff7c2c437f17ca", "book_id": "10572", "review_id": "f1114f30b33a002f240ae951c6310994", "rating": 4, "review_text": "My least favorite out of the three I've read. But it is still brilliant.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 11 12:45:42 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 11 12:46:24 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76413aa32ae6debd29ff7c2c437f17ca", "book_id": "7664041", "review_id": "49c2125dd49a8ffada767ee72a835d0d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Disappointing would be the accurate description for this book. Honestly, there are still a lot of loose ends, plot points that were thrown away, and there wasn't much that surprised me... There were a few gems, which is why I at least gave it 3 stars. I just expected more...", "date_added": "Tue Dec 11 12:42:04 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 11 12:43:59 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76413aa32ae6debd29ff7c2c437f17ca", "book_id": "3432478", "review_id": "f2bafe329ccc17dc30bd5f14e46ee496", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book is slow, but very intense. I feel like the themes are a lot more mature than the rest of the YA novels with horror elements. I cried many times for the characters. The imagery in the novel was great, and the story was amazing. I haven't gotten around to reading the other books in the series, though.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 11 12:38:53 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 11 12:41:20 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76413aa32ae6debd29ff7c2c437f17ca", "book_id": "33555", "review_id": "315ea1b775cec1f3b10d7ff808ca9be4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "If you've seen the film, disregard it. There's very little connection between the book and film. The concepts are the same, but the details are quite different. I recommend reading the book if you're interested in the ideas and philosophies that helped inspire it. It's thought-provoking.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 11 12:35:24 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 11 12:37:26 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76413aa32ae6debd29ff7c2c437f17ca", "book_id": "44170", "review_id": "586c93de220435487ed318fad95c45e0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Definitely an interesting take on the Wonderland story. The characters are amazing, though I wish I could have read more about Hatter. There are some slow points, but it's definitely worth giving a try. I plan on reading the next books soon.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 11 12:22:47 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 31 18:31:07 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76413aa32ae6debd29ff7c2c437f17ca", "book_id": "8564790", "review_id": "fcc4eb313a44a179abd080dca100cfc9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This novel is dark. If you're not interested in darkly twisted ideas, I recommend choosing a different book to read. If you still decide to read it, here's the basic premise: \n Ig grows devil horns overnight the year after his true love's gruesome murder. With the horns come powers of persuasion and the ability to extract sinful revelations from unsuspecting people. \n Joe Hill is brilliant in his writing style. His descriptions are interesting and thought-provoking, and his dialogue is realistic. This is the main reason I'm giving the book 4 out of 5 stars. I truly enjoyed the writing. \n Onto the novel itself. It is broken up into five parts, all of which following a particular character or story-line: \n 1. Hell: This is the introductory part. It establishes the powers Ig has gained, as well as the characters he will interact with throughout the novel. It also leads Ig to discovering more about his true love's (Merrin) murder. \n 2. Cherry: This section is basically all back story. It reveals how Ig and his true love met, as well as how Ig and Lee Tourneau became best friends. \n 3. The Fire Sermon: Reveals events that took place the night of Merrin's murder. Ig develops his devilish powers and learns more about himself and Lee. A major confrontation takes place. \n 4. The Fixer: This part follows the past of Lee Tourneau. It explores his childhood, as well as his connections to Merrin and Ig. This part, honestly, was difficult to read for many reasons. \n 5. The Gospel According to Mick and Keith: This part is the finale. Final confrontations and revelations. \n This book is brilliant, though there were many parts I felt were unnecessary or cheesy. Like when Lee intends to burn Ig alive in his car... When the narrative finally returns to Ig, we find that he's basically healed by the flames and is now bright red with new skin. Though it's describe as if he's turned into the cartoon version of Satan. Also, many of the powers Ig obtains thanks to the horns are silly... Like his ability to exhale smoke like a dragon or his weird sermon preached to the snakes in The Fire Sermon. If it weren't for these aspects of the story, it would've been a hit with me. The final 10+ chapters were devastatingly sad, but I hadn't been invested in a lot of the characters in order to feel what I should have. \n If you're looking for something truly twisted, or you're interested in reading the book before the film version (starring Daniel Radcliffe as Ig) comes out, I highly recommend it. Just be prepared for some really strange things.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 11 11:40:48 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 31 14:19:30 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Dec 31 14:19:30 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Tue Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "76413aa32ae6debd29ff7c2c437f17ca", "book_id": "62291", "review_id": "2dae2664da43ca3f2939cf7ef708ab81", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A Storm of Swords is the best in the series so far. It is heart-breaking, shocking and simply brilliant. You will laugh, cry, get angry, and want to stop reading at multiple points. And as usual, Martin's writing style makes you feel like you're right in the action with arrows flying past your head and steel clanging on steel. I don't think I can say anything bad about this installment.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 14:00:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 31 18:31:49 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "627fd91ccb09183e9bf7827d0fb03312", "book_id": "17562900", "review_id": "57b3ae0f641190832d064952796b3fcc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Always a fun read.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 15 04:58:00 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 15 04:58:12 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "23559647", "review_id": "f3f82c4fcbcc246a0cafb5edd2b22e45", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It's been a while since I've had a story stomp on my heart every chapter, but this story will make you feel miserable and weirdly hopeful the entire time. I dare you not to feel for these characters, and the best part is they're all slightly strange characters for a disutopian sword and sorcery story. The title character (the Vagrant) is an especially sad twist on The Man With No Name trope, and you get the impression early on that he has no idea what he's doing. Oh, and he's hauling around a baby and a magic sword, and you don't know how he got either of them until the end. Harm as the side-kick is probably the closest thing to a 'standard' fantasy character, and his personal quest not to be a shit person out of default (because this world is REALLY shitty) is moving, too. I even felt pity for blobs of infernal demon flesh. That's an impressive feat of storytelling right there. Every twist in this story was really gripping, and while there are many depressing moments, there's definitely one that made me stop reading because I couldn't handle my emotions. (If you read this, you will KNOW what it is.) In a story where it's easy to feel for so many characters in such a crap-sack world, it's (weirdly) the angels (the seven) that are the least likable characters. This, too, is a feat of story-telling, even if it's a subtle one. \n The world building is a new take on the war between angels and demons. The flashbacks are interspersed with the main plot and told in an omnipresent tone, which I liked. First, we see how the Usurper is made. Then, we see how the Usurper fucked up everyone and everything. The flashbacks help illuminate the present events and serve to make them sadder and more poignant. It was a great way to tell a backstory that would've been unnatural for the main characters to tell, and it helped me understand what was going on in the present--it made the story matter. \n The understated prose works well, too, and fits with the sparse, barren world the story takes place in. I described this book to my friends as 'fantasy The Road', but the ending was more uplifting, so everyone doesn't die. There's also so much snarky dialogue in fantasy that I was impressed to read a book that was so compelling with so little dialogue. Basically, I loved this story and ordered the sequel IMMEDIATELY (although this book can be read as a standalone).", "date_added": "Wed Dec 07 10:06:53 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 13 12:07:04 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Dec 13 14:55:37 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "16280678", "review_id": "da5cfcdb909530c1b6598a860cc480c4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Like every Iron Druid book, the odd numbers are better than the even ones. That said, I liked the introduction of Owen a lot, even though the change of format threw me initially. Luke Daniels narrates him to perfection. The Yeti were intensely amazing, and I want more of them in this series. Granuaile has finally become her own character, which is something I've been waiting for. I'm not sure this series is really ever going to resolve anything, though, but I'll keep following along. It's definitely got its hooks in me.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 30 10:26:29 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 07 10:04:53 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Dec 07 14:31:21 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Nov 30 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "16071748", "review_id": "358e40f3122e1f9968f2f717ae0758d5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "If you can't figure out the 'who did it' part of this book, there's no hope for you. Also, Morrigan became my favorite character in the series, and I hope she gets to come back to life.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 30 10:24:57 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 30 10:28:32 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "13536649", "review_id": "64cd28fbe35a7a8dc055638fa9748d62", "rating": 5, "review_text": "After the last book (I seriously can't keep the freaking names and order straight in this series...), Trapped was a return to form. I loved the tension in this book, too. If you hate pop cultural references though, this series might wear on you by this point.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 30 10:23:03 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 30 10:28:30 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "12700306", "review_id": "1831b58102a877097b0f160ff44e10af", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Iron Druid is like Civ for me: every odd number is good, every even number is 'meh'.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 30 10:22:14 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 30 10:28:29 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "9595620", "review_id": "07671fd99106e418eea6a6306b9612f5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Hammered is by far the best book in this series. Reading or listening to the first three books is highly encouraged. They're pretty short, and this is one of those series that I really like on audio books. Hearne has this skill with making every mythology figure kind of a dick, too, and it pays off in this book. Big time. There's no romanticizing mythology in Iron Druid.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 30 10:20:04 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 30 10:28:26 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "13603792", "review_id": "65b48268f694ef184e8ad2975ae63625", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I've been loving this series, and Conspiracy felt like it got the plot back 'on track'. The 2nd and 3rd books feel like lulls, but Conspiracy gets back to the main plot with the Forge conspiracy. There's also a train heist. What's not to like? Also, I was seriously impressed with Akstyr's plot, which I honestly didn't have high expectations for after how little I enjoyed the Books and Basilard sections of the last two books. I think one of the things I liked the most was that Akstyr, who felt the least like a real character in this series, came across as fully formed with his own unique motives (his mom and not wanting to be a shithead for the rest of his life) and life goals (to study the mental sciences). This book also benefits greatly from the return of Yara and Sespian.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 27 16:51:08 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 16 14:06:20 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Dec 16 15:36:07 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "47994", "review_id": "699841bbff6877bbc89540aadb57e6c6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is one of the few Discworld books I hadn't read. It wasn't a favorite, but even okay Pratchett is like 10x better than most authors.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 24 21:01:51 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 24 21:03:05 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "21846804", "review_id": "1800cdd50b3107717bbc7f7a206250da", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Into the Abyss by J.L. Langland \n I pulled this book from a recommendation thread on r/Fantasy, and the premise was entertaining. Tom, a normal boy in our world, goes to a party and gets summoned into another world-as a powerful demon. Tom's soul is effectively ripped from him, he dies, and he's bound as a demon slave in Astlan. Being a powerful demon yet a slave is a contradiction, and this story is riddled with uncomfortable moments for Tom while he comes to terms with not being human (yet still obviously remembering and thinking of himself as human) and with being a pawn in a magical war where both sides (there are 2 powerful wizards at war) are afraid of him. \n The story turned out not to be clunky, either, which was a fantastic surprise. It gets a bit unwieldy as it goes on by adding too many uninteresting POVs but most of the characters in Into the Abyss matter (at least in the first 3/4 of the book...the army generals and wizards that get introduced as POV characters later are forgettable and boring). Tom as the main character is definitely interesting, and he has to deal with the duality of being a human and a demon, and he finds himself slotted into the default 'evil hell spawn' role rather he wants to be or not. The wizards of Astlan don't understand where demons come from (aka normal souls from other dimensions). When Tom becomes a demon, he has trouble with controlling his master's missives and his demonic impulses. Jenn, a young wizard, starts out as a more interesting character, but she becomes a less interesting character as she (a supposedly intelligent and otherwise compassionate woman) is played as a bit of a fool when she irrationally and instinctively distrusts Tom. This is maybe my biggest character complaint-there are characters that do act irrationally For The Plot. Jenn is the biggest violator, but even the better characters like Tom and Rupert get in on the action. The maligned and traitorous wizard, Gastrope, is maybe the most rational character because he has a reason to distrust Tom (he almost murdered him and scared the shit out of him), but Gastrope is the character that makes active attempts to come to term with Tom and (spoiler) Rupert being demons. \n Now, let's get to the MVP character of the story-Rupert. I would've read a story 1/2 this length that was just about Tom and Rupert, and their big brother/little brother relationship is seriously sweet. Rupert was a born demon, and he appears to be a major exception to the 'ripping souls from other dimensions' rule of how demons are made in Astlan. Rupert disguised himself as a wizard when he started to turn into a demon, and it's Rupert that teaches Tom to shapeshift from demon to human. There's a truly touching scene where Rupert reveals his demonic self to Tom, who realizes he and Rupert are the only two people in Astlan who really understand each other. Rupert talks about how he ran away when he started to become a demon, and then Rupert drops a bomb-he thinks Tom is his father because they do look exactly alike. (If you think about it, there's a magical in-story reason this could be, even if the book doesn't address it.) This adds levels of questions and confusion to the plot, and Tom, being somewhat sympathetic and simultaneously spineless, decides to let Rupert believe he's Tom's son. \n After a series of okay-but-sometimes-boring plot developments, Tom & Co. find themselves in Freehold, where the political situation has spiraled out of control. The two wizards are still at war, but there are archdemons involved, too. There's also a McGuffin book, which doesn't figure too much into the early plot but the wizards are really interested to open it and control the astral planes. The most interesting development is that the Rod of Teirnon, a religious army of a literal warrior God, converge on Freehold to route out the demons. The Rod is led by Talerius, their Knight Rampant, and there's a truly climactic battle at the end of the story between Tom and Talerius. As with much of this story, there's a bit too much padding around the fight, but it's amazing, and unlike with some books I've read recently, the ending doesn't disappoint. \n Rating: 4 stars for the story, even when it does feel a bit unpolished and a bit unwieldy.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 20 19:37:04 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 30 10:14:35 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Nov 21 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "28220899", "review_id": "048d5e25516dec2b682462f678a02d88", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Freeks by Amanda Hocking \n I think awkward flirting and adorable family bonds must be a sweet spot in books right now, but that's GREAT because I've found lots of those books that have recently that focus on tight family relationships. For me, paranormal romance and fantasy romance works the best when there are other strong relationships in the story that balance out the romance, making the entire story feel more authentic. Enter Freeks, which is something of the love child between The Night Circus (a book I was surprisingly 'meh' about) and Grey/Dark Shadows/Beautiful Creatures (ah yes, I do really have a paranormal sweet spot that I need to be scratched every once and while, hmm?) \n Enter Mara, a traveling carnie/circus worker in a freak show with people with actual paranormal powers. (A note: this book is set several decades in the past, which negates cell phones and the ease of newer communication, which would've riddled this story's plot with holes, especially the opening when Blossom disappears. It's amazing what 'go call her on the cell' can do to a story.) Mara has no powers (or at least she thinks she doesn't) for most of this book. She is, of course, wrong. Her mom is a necromancer and communes with the dead, and her mom's boyfriend and head of the circus, Gideon, is a psychic. When the beat-up trailers and wagons roll into Caudry for a high-paying gig, their powers start doing strange things, and everyone realizes they've stumbled into a magical mess that might require running from the town and ruining the circus. \n Freeks wastes no time in introducing townie and adorable love interest, Gabe, who meets Mara when she's walking through Caudry and admiring the old mansions. Gabe's sister, Selena, is having a birthday part, and Mara is invited in off the street. Adorable flirting ensues, but the savvy paranormal reader (if you're reading this blog, I assume you might count yourself among this number) knows there's something off about Gabe. If you can guess it (which you might be able to), you know where this story is heading. That said, I loved a lot of the scenes between Mara and Gabe because the stress at the circus, and how Mara clearly cares more for her family than a boy she just met, which helps make their relationship feel real-yet-also-adorable. \n When a monster attacks the carnival, a series of employees gets hurt. No one can figure out who sent the monster or what it's after, and the town's people are belligerent at worst and diffident and disinterested at best in the well-fare of the carnival workers. There are some obvious hints as to what the creature might be and who might be benefitting from it killing the carnival workers, and none of these things are subverted too heavily. There was one true surprise for me (Gabe really doesn't know anything! He's not actually a love lead villain!), but after ravenously reading this book, the ending fell a bit flat. It was weirdly anti-climactic and rushed after the detail that went into building the world and relationships of Freeks. Still, a 'meh' ending didn't ruin a solid paranormal story. \n Rating: 4 stars. I loved the characters, the family bonds, and the adorable flirting, but the ending let me down a bit. It was a bit too predictable and neat.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 16 11:22:11 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 20 13:33:33 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Nov 20 13:33:33 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "182342", "review_id": "2dd09aefdaaf851dcc59c6dcb7269f82", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wolf Moon is classic de Lint. Books like this are why I dig around and keep reading de Lint. Wolf Moon focuses on Kern, a shapeshifter who finds himself hunted by a harper. To save himself, Kern jumps into a churning river and is saved by the fae folk (themes!). When the fae bring Kern to the Tinker (themes!), which is an inn, he finds himself attracted to the innkeeper, Ainsey, and wanting to live among the inn folk. However, the vindictive harper (and ho boy, is he an asshole) follows Kern to the valley where the inn is located. The tension in this story is unreal, and if you're not a de Lint fan, this would be a decent place to start for his high fantasy books set in other realms. I think the most powerful (for me at least) theme in de Lint's work is how, even when the world doesn't understand you and stomps on your sense of worth, that human decency can save the day. In the hands of lesser authors, the 'decency can save you' theme would be saccharine, and maybe some people still do find it that way, but good authors can sell this theme and make me feel all the powerful emotions. Wolf Moon is this theme distilled, and every character works in the story, which makes things even worse when one of the dies. Basically, if you're sold on the misfit family group early on, keep reading.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 10 13:14:27 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 11 07:38:00 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Nov 11 13:47:15 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "27212876", "review_id": "c3e1cf70d4ee1c05ea9c636b8696dd06", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Immortal by Nicole Conway \n I've been high on the Dragon Riders series since Avian, which took the characters and standard-but-well-done premise introduced in Fledgling and turned it into something darker and special. This series started off as Harry Potter meets How to Train Your Dragon, and the characters of Becca, Jaevid, Felix, Sile, and Jace were my favorite and carried the story well. Traitor deepened the story by taking Jaevid and Jace into Luntharda, the forest home of the hated gray elves. In the forest, Jaevid learns of mysterious parentage, his nature powers, and about Horvid's treachery. Jaevid emerges from the forest alone (Jace stays behind with the Elfen princess) with the knowledge that the king is an impostor. Que the beginning of Immortal. \n Felix featured very little in Traitor because Jaevid disappears to the forest early in the novel, but Immortal starts with Felix's temper destroying his career as a dragon rider. It's bad enough that Felix flees back to his childhood home. Felix is Duke now, and he promptly begins to drink himself stupid until Julianna comes back recouple him to his sanity. \n When Jaevid returns, he gathers 'the gang' together to betray the king. Everyone takes some convincing, but Jaevid proves the king is Horvid in disguise. When they fight Horvid, he is absolutely as nasty as you would expect him to be, which isn't a letdown. The ending is bittersweet, so don't go in expecting everyone to live. Still, it's a satisfying end, although most of the book is told from Felix's POV for...reasons. \n Rating: 5 stars A strong end to a strong series", "date_added": "Mon Nov 07 22:16:06 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 08 17:02:01 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "1042546", "review_id": "149e79bf199a2f466257db83c9773ad2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was a lovely bridge novella between Abhorshen and Goldenhand, which I have been dying to read, but I wanted to relisten to Abhorshen and read this novella, first. Nick was one of my favorite characters in Abhorshen, and Nix is clearly building him as a character for the future of this series. In The Creature in the Case, there's a free magic creature manipulating a powerful government figure south of the wall. There's this HG Wells/Lovecraftian vibe to this novella, which I liked a lot. This is something you can read in like 2-3 hours, and it takes place in mostly one location (an old country manor) and involves a chase scene to the Wall. The free magic creature escapes by drinking Nick's blood, which is all kinds of fucked up after he played host to a shred of The Destroyer. (It's implied HEAVILY that he got special charter/free magic infused blood ala the other magic bloodlines--the Clayr, Abhorshen, and Royal family--in this universe. Except his blood would be from The Destroyer. I'm sure this plot isn't nearly over, and it's probably going to show up in Goldenhand.) This is a very much a bridge book, and it's basically about Nick being able to get over the Wall, where he meets Lireal, and they're presumably going to track down the Free Magic creature together. This book is the bridge book for Nick's character, too, who has made some peace with his life and is ready to move to the Old Kingdom. If you like this series, just read this. You might be lost next book. Maybe not. I don't know yet, but this series is one of my literary crack reads, so of course I liked it. So, with that, time for the next book.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 07 10:31:33 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 10 13:13:54 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Nov 10 15:40:26 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "23302838", "review_id": "0c2f47ab5eddcd60061ddc7b52c5b91e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Goldenhand by Garth Nix \n Let's get this out of the way: this is the book where Garth Nix stops teasing us with the Nick/Lireal relationship. That alone should be why you read this. If you're not an Old Kingdom fan coming into this book, I can't say it will convert you. I also don't think this can be read without reading the original trilogy because there are so many sweet, sweet moments for the fans in this book. I am, if you cannot tell, a fan. :) \n Now that that is out of the way, there were a lot of things I liked about this story. I'm an Old Kingdom addict and a ridiculous fan of Garth Nix in general. Unlike Clariel, which struggled with repeat settings at the end, Goldenhand goes into new and interesting places in the kingdom while delving into new plots. I would strongly recommend reading The Creature in the Case before Goldenhand. I wasn't sure if it would be necessary, but it's a short novella and definitely will help you care more about the beginning of the book when Lireal has to go rescue Nick (again, poor boy). \n While the plot converges at the Clayr's glacier, it takes its freaking time getting there. This isn't terrible because it's a mostly enjoyable time getting to know some characters better. I could've read an entire book with Nick and Lireal awkwardly flirting and exploring the library ala in Lireal, and there are these little touches (like Nick being brought in as a curio) that weave this plot line together magnificently. Seriously, it's a good story when 'the boring parts' are the best parts because everything just works and it is literally magical, and there's the same deep worldbuilding in Goldenhand that I've come to know and love from this series. Seriously, after destroying the world (almost), what more Charter mysteries could be left? Turns out there are loads, and it's great to delve into them. Nick as the living character stone is the biggest plot reveal, but there are some interesting magical plots done with Free Magic and the nomadic clans, which haven't been featured before in a main book. \n Okay, let's talk about the weakness in this story. If you like this character, you're going to like the book more, but Ferin had too much page time for me. Her chapters could've been shorter, and while I appreciated her more at first, I would've preferred more Lireal in the library versus more Ferin running up a rock slope for 7 chapters. As someone who likes exciting heroines, I was surprised how 'meh' I was on Ferin. I get it--there are Stakes and Battles and Ferin's character is Important and Must Be Established, but she was too much of a good thing for me. Her character got interesting again during the big battle scene at the castle/river/bridge, and her role with Mogget (Best Guest Cameo) fit into the plot and was well-done, but I could've just used less of her. \n There's a lot of 'I promise, everyone's happy now!' in Goldenhand. Sabriel, series kick-off heroine and still character MVP of the series, states that Lireal deserves to be happy after everything that has happened to her, and she's freaking right. Goldenhand is more about the Abhorshen-in-Waiting finding her own personal happiness than any Big Bad slaying or world-ending catastrophe. For fans of Sabriel, which ends well but fairly perfunctorily after Sabriel (spoiler like 15 years late?) doesn't die, Lireal is sweet, sweet wish fulfillment. We get to see Lireal pick up her duties as Abhorshen and Clayr (kind of), and she's able to find love in her adopted family and her personal life despite her lonely childhood and job that literally almost killed her. We also finally see the Royal Family getting to be more of a cohesive family unit, which bathed me in moments of heartwarming (they all talk about each other! Elemere is a character! Sabriel comments on Lireal's love life! awake parent talk about how Sam bit off more than he can handle with Ferin!) that encapsulated so much of what I love about this series. \n You know what they say: come for killing the Dead and stay for the heart-melting relationships. \n Rating: 5 stars despite Ferin. If this hadn't been a favorite series, she would've annoyed me a lot more.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 07 10:30:56 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 17 11:32:20 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Nov 17 12:48:27 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "30654616", "review_id": "1048d2f1f3df76656094d3064d279b7f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I skimmed my way to the end of this book to see if there was something in this story that would save it for me, and it's never a good thing when I find myself skimming. It means I've really became disinterested in the story, and that's exactly what happened in Paternus. The parts with Fi and Zeke were at least interesting, but I ended up not caring about much of anything else in this story. That surprised me because the premise is great with the Firstborn and the old gods coming back. It's not a terribly original premise, but if it's done well, it's one that I enjoy reading. As a mythology nut, I really like to see authors and stories that put their own twist on old myths. Paternus lacks no ambition in reinventing myths, and it's the main draw of ths story, but for all its pretense at originality, Paternus lacked substance in its world building. The big twists are obvious and take way too long to get to, and there's very little emotional reason for wanting to reach those twists, which is the main problem of the story. Simple plots are great when the story provides something else unique (characters usually and voice always) to draw me towards the conclusion. That never really materialized in Paternus like I thought it would. All of the characters are pretty dry, honestly, and this story probably suffered from being too ambitious with its world building and maybe not ambitious enough with it. I kind of connected with both Fi and Zeke and got their characters, and I found myself skipping other parts of the book just to read their chapters, and as the story went on, it became more and more about them, so it's worth finishing to keep up with their arcs. That said, these were some of the driest and least authentic characters I've encountered in fantasy, and it probably has a lot to do with the writing style. There's a lot going on in Paternus, and some of it is good, but a lot of it is...well, dry. Boring. Everyone says a lot but no one does a lot, and even when they do things, it's all For The Plot. So much failed to feal authentic, and when the story got better towards the end, I unfortunately didn't care enough and wasn't invested in it by those parts. All the parts with the Firstborn were a huge let down for me. It's a lot of 'and this god is like this and this god does this' and it's so much talking and so very little story telling.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 05 12:28:03 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 18 11:57:55 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Nov 18 13:02:18 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "30258320", "review_id": "e3bd46cfe83e9cb00fc8323bea85f751", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Gilded Cage by Vic James \n The concept of Gilded Cage is pretty basic--aristocrats are magically gifted and commoners are not. The Jardines are a magically powerful family, and the story revolves around their household and the Hadley family, all of whom end up as slaves at the Jardine estate. The world building is deceptively simple, and while that can make the story a bit sloppy at times, it lends itself well to supporting multiple POVs. The story mostly weaves between the POVs of the Jardine and Hadley family. The most prominent POV in the story is that of Luke, and while I thought I wouldn't enjoy his sections early on, I actually really liked his character and became devastatingly attached to him, which is what kept this story going for me. I didn't dislike Silyen or Abi, but I wasn't nearly as interested in Abi as the naive slave girl with a crush on her master or Silyen as a master manipulator. Silyen styles himself as a Chessmaster, but there was little in this book (beyond an initial ploy with his aunt and the Chancellor) that actually showed off his 'grand plan'. A lot of what happened seemed to heavily be coincidental and maybe going in a direction Silyen could use, but his plans seem to rely on 'reading' other people or 'guessing' their actions correctly. This was really lazy characterization for me, and during Silyen's POV section, we weren't given many clues to his plans, which he presumably thinks about a lot, so I just didn't believe him as this master strategist. \n Gilded Cage wants to be a dystopian Victorian novel, and in its worst moments, it desperately tries to ape the cleverness of Johnathan Strange & Mr. Norwell. At its best moments, it has the appeal of Downtown Abby while it vacillates between the complexities of the aristocrats and the slaves. The characters have to intrigue you or else I don't think you'll like this story. There's not a lot there to the world building, and it relies on characters telling you a lot about themselves and their views on the world. Bouda, who isn't a likable character at all, is used masterfully as a juxtaposition to characters like Abi and Luke. Without the vacillating POVs, this story looks a lot flatter and could've become repetitive and boring. The POVs are kept kind of limited, though, and certain characters aren't given any or very little time solely in the service of trying to deliver a plot twist at the end. Oh? The end? It doesn't really work. It relies on feeling sympathy for a non-POV character, and at that point, not even Luke freaking cared about Jackson, so that took some of the punch out of what happened, too. There were so many characters introduced, and the situation seems so entrenched for the slaves that either something big needed to happen at the end to make a real change in the world of the story, and it doesn't. I had a hunch that this might be a 'building' type of book where we meet the characters and get a cliff-hanger ending, which is exactly what happens. The read itself wasn't disappointing but be prepared to get let down by the ending even if (and especially if) you enjoyed the book up til that point, which I did. \n Gilded Cage does all the things that a story should do to support multiple POVs. I've been having trouble reading stories with lots of POVs that don't tie together well, but the simple premise of Gilded Cage makes all the disparte characters slide together with ease. The characters are woven together well but expect any character lacking a POV chapter to be used in a surprise plot twist. That's the downside of too many POVS--any character that doesn't get one is a 'plot' character, but there are enough interesting characters in Gilded Cage to mostly mask this. Hopefully, in the rest of this series, more of the characters will get their own chapters so the plot can continue organically. For as weak as the world building can feel, the characters are all interesting and most of them get abused frequently, so I felt genuine pity for most of the characters, all of whom are trapped in various situations that they can't quite comprehend how to escape. Silyen seems to have A Grand Plan to change this, but while his motives are clear-ish, the execution of said plan seems haphazard at best and entirely coincidental at worst. \n Rating: 3 stars. I devoured this book, but I hope that the world building gets better as the series goes on.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 04 09:18:18 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 27 13:52:34 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Nov 27 15:12:19 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "1062774", "review_id": "2e9f9834e9b02490211d73fd4f4a57b5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ala last time, I'll talk about my (spoiler) least favorite book first. Into the Green is classical Charles de Lint high fantasy. If you like Eyes Like Leaves, Into the Green is a similar (if slightly inferior) book. Angharad is Summerborn, and the story begins in tragedy when her tinker family (including father, mentor, and husband) all die of the plague. Angharad is the sole survivor, and the fae folk gave her a magic harp, which she names after her dead husband.Angharad is a thrice magical person: tinker, harper, witch. There are several lovely yet unconnected vignettes of Angharad traveling around the country finding and recruiting other Summerborn. The story picks up about half-way through when a the glascow, a box that releases wizard magic that kills the green, is brought to what is effectively fantasy world Dublin, where rich lords take witch fingers for their powers. The story fell apart for me here because two side characters, Tom and Lammond, steal the story completely from Angharad. This happens sometimes with de Lint--the side characters can (and do) end up with the more compelling story lines, which can sap the story of its strength. That's what happens in this book, which deflated the ending for me. Lammond was an especially unnecessary character, and I never quite got how he fit into everything. And no, not logically fit, but he didn't seem to be part of this story in the way the other characters did. Also, Tom's story is tragic, and I wish more of the story would've been Tom and Angharad working together and helping mend each other's lives. Alas, not quite what this story was.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 04 09:09:52 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 11 07:21:32 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Nov 11 13:51:15 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Nov 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "11672438", "review_id": "a62ccbf59215b146763deaa8e593a416", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Dark Currents by Lindsay Buroker \n I loved The Emperor's Edge, so I dug into Dark Currents almost immediately. Dark Currents picks up where The Emperor's Edge left off--Amaranthe and Co. are still criminals with hearts of...ugh, gold. Maybe. And only when Amaranthe is in charge. They've moved into a pump house and are 'staying low key' while simultaneously trying to gain recognition for their 'good' (and often bungled) deeds. \n The characters are really making this series fly for me. You've got Amaranthe, who is the team leader, and her POV is the prominent one. Unlike in Emperor's Edge, Books, the professor/librarian with the least convincing reason to join a criminal group, is the other POV in Dark Currents. I loved Sespian's POV, so I was a bit disappointed to get Books instead, and while Books has a romantic subplot with the new character, Vonsha, I wasn't as connected or invested in their relationship like I was with the one between Amaranthe and Sespian. Books was also the character that I thought the least interesting in The Emperor's Edge, so I wasn't excited about his POV. This is, however, setting up a trend of highlighting different characters on the team in the next several books. The upside of the Books POV is that we get to see his developing (and often hilarious) relationship with series character MVP Maldynado. That was the biggest improvement in Dark Currents--it's a lot funnier than the initial installment. The team has more chemistry together, and Books and Maldynado get their own buddy cop style moments, and I loved all of them from the beginning where they investigate the dead bodies all the way to when they're ingloriously lying their way into visiting Vonsha. The other big development is that the story touches on the Sicarius/Amaranthe relationship long before I thought it would. They get some moments together to discuss the unique and weird status of their partnership and not-quite-friendship and even-less-existant-romance. These are touching scenes, and they underlay the tension in the final chapters of the book. Without those small moments, Sicarius's final ploy wouldn't seem such a betrayal. \n There's such deep world building going on in Dark Currents, too, but it's not highlighted often. Instead, the world building is the solid backbone upon which these characters are the attached ribs. You don't notice the spine of the story, which is fine, and it keeps the slower moments in Dark Currents from collapsing. There's tension from foreigners entering the empire, and when bodies wash into the city and the water supplies are poisoned, it looks like foreign enemies of the empire are to blame. Amaranthe and Co. travel to the countryside to discover what (and who) has poisoned the water source. What they find is magic (ahem...the mental sciences) is to blame, and the shamans that built the devices have a personal grudge against (you probably guessed it by now) Sicarius because everyone but Amaranthe hates him. The plot isn't as great, and it struggles from slower moments, but there's a cohesion between characters and world building that keeps the mundane details like property values and water poisoning interesting. There is just enough that happens between Amaranthe and her team (and introducing the new character, Yara, another--the first!--female sergeant) to keep this story rolling along and establishing itself as a long-term and need-to-finish series. \n Rating: 5 stars, despite some sophomore slump in pace", "date_added": "Thu Nov 03 09:42:22 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 22 13:51:24 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "22544764", "review_id": "66a9617891e008e9ff6c4e914049b660", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Blog review \n I was behind on reading Uprooted, but holy shit was this story good. Like 'need to go back and start at the beginning even though I just finished' good. If you think the farm boy/girl saving the world trope is dead, read this book. Uprooted gets rural living. Agnieszka loves her home and her community, and she has no intention of leaving. She actively fights against this the entire book, and even though this book is one of those ones that gets pegged as 'adult' and 'dark', I thought it was convincingly written for a teenage girl. Seriously. Teen me would've DIED reading this. Adult me totally did, too.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 29 11:33:11 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 04 09:01:20 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Nov 04 14:32:32 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "25688980", "review_id": "9f08d68e3c185230e3bbb1424b2cd153", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is an adorable middle-grade retelling. While I found Cinderella's POV to be tedious, Char is an amazing character. Char is the prince of the Northern rats, and he lives in the manor of Cinderella's family. Char admires Cinderella's thrifty, rat-like qualities, and this is reciprocated later when Cinderella falls for Char's very human braveness, courage, and grace. Char's relationships with everyone from Swiss to his mom to Cinderella are filled with his own grandiose personality, and everyone clearly loves him for it. There's a nice twist to the 'classic' tale that made the scene of the ball really heartwrenching, but because this is MG, you're going to get the happy ending. This is a quality book to read if you want a clean, sweet romance with an interesting character and a heart-melting ending.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 25 19:50:41 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 04 09:09:26 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Nov 04 14:32:23 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "17683", "review_id": "b267d975dfca3c22e569c700c84f7e5f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 stars for Corpse Taker alone. What a scary fucking villain.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 21 09:49:38 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 21 09:50:48 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "99383", "review_id": "af29c0b75e9db33ac3040e514e61ff6d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I am not current with the Dresden Files yet (getting there ever so slowly) but everything since book 4 has been solid. I loved Blood Rites. LOVED IT. Butcher keeps getting more inventive with his world, and he's toned down some of Harry's groan-worthy qualities. The side characters are introduced better and feel more fleshed out and necessary.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 21 09:46:23 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 21 09:50:41 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "20662728", "review_id": "48da047692187948ff45d4e58221b7e8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Book review \n Clariel was a book I've put off reading for a while. This could be an aversion to prequels and their proliferation like ugly fungi. However, Goldenhand convinced me that it was time to catch the fuck up with the Old Kingdom series. Clariel is a major spoiler character in the original trilogy, but I went into the book knowing who she is, but you don't need to know what Clariel becomes to enjoy the story. The first half of the book was excellent. Clariel wants to flee to Estwael, the giant forest, and live with the borderers, but she's forced to go to Belesaire and play politics. It was refreshing to read a heroine who hates politics and city life and wants to run away. Clariel was distinct from Nix's other heroines, too, and the first half of the book is a nice addition to the Old Kingdom series. Unfortunately, this story fell apart in the second half and felt too much like a retread of Sabriel.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 19 11:15:26 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 04 09:03:38 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Nov 04 14:32:28 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Oct 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "22703076", "review_id": "336223c89e5d784b74da187ddb945f9c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Cinderella and the Colonel by K.M.Shea \n I did not intend to go on a retelling kick...but I went on a retelling kick. What can I say. I have itches that need to be scratched. In particular, I love retellings that are sweet/clean romance and deliver the happily-ever-after (HEA) ending. The Timeless Fairytales series delivers retellings that have an idealistic undertone, but the heroes and heroines have teeth, grit, and enough interesting character tweaks to be interesting. Also, there's a cohesive universe being developed between these stories that genuinely intrigues me, yet each story stands well on its own. \n Personally, I didn't like the characters of Cinderella or Friedrich as much as I liked Elise and her bros in The Wild Swans. I really loved the familial relationships in that book, but on the upside, the romance between Cinderella and Friedrich is superb and deserves to be the focus of this story. It has political twists with Cinderella being the highest ranked noble in a conquered country, and she's under pressure to marry a noble from her country or marry Friedrich, a conquering army officer from Erlauf. Like Elise, Cinderella is another princess that's obsessed with business and finances, and Queen Freja also has a practically minded head on her shoulders. There's a lot of talks about taxes and estates, and the opening--where Cinderella is working in the market and bonding with her servants--had shades of Ever After. There is no faster way to my sugar-coated heart than making me think of Ever After. I am NOT objective here. :) \n There are several points from the 'classic' Cinderella tale that were lacking for me. They could be filed away as creative twists, but the step-mother is decidedly non-evil. She's aloof but helpful, which was an interesting choice. The fairy godmother has some help, and she doesn't play the important role in the story as I was hoping she would. The star of the plot really is the politics around the military and uniting the two countries via a marriage alliance. Friedrich's role in that plot is pivotal yet interesting, but this story really does spend a lot of time building into the larger 'evil abounds' plot of the shared fairytale universe. This detracts from the Cinderella retelling, and it's not quite as brilliant as Ever After (I mean, Leonardo Da Vinci as a fairy godmother? Can you really ever beat that?) or Cinder, which I loved to pieces, but Cinderella, Friedrich, and the nobles are interesting enough to carry the plot. In particular, the young nobles and military officers with smaller parts felt distinct to me, and Cinderella and Friedrich's loyalty to their underlings did establish them as good people, which is what made this story work. Also, I love this trend of financed focused princesses who are capable of running countries, so I'll gladly return to this series for more of that. \n Rating: TORN. 3 stars because I didn't love it like Wild Swans? 4 stars for being awesome in its own right and having the most believable romantic relationship in this series so far? Round-up. 4 stars.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 18 20:55:31 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 24 15:51:11 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Oct 24 15:59:39 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "10031259", "review_id": "78c3ea47d447e4b337fee7fa5e99b35f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The Emperor's Edge by Lindsay Buroker \n I love stories about athletic women. It's a serious sweet spot for me, and Amaranthe is competent and strong from the start. She's written with enough vulnerability that she doesn't feel like a generic action girl. \n There was also a certain vulnerability to Sespian that I liked, too. Incredibly earnest and a bit goofy, he genuinely wants to make the world a better place, which makes rooting for him against his advisers easy. I also dug Sespian's crush because it felt teenage boy real. The theme of my reading week has been 'awkward crushes', and unfortunately, this plot ends up on the metaphorical backburner. \n The world of The Emperor's Edge is going to interest a lot of you. It has this neo-Roman quasi-American feel to it. There is the Emperor and a strong military presence with a strict caste system. One of the main conflicts is between the military and the business class, and while there's some touching on the Turgonian Empire's foreign issues and wars, it's largely left untouched in the first book. Amaranthe is an Enforcer, part of the military, but she's unusual in that she's a woman, which aren't usually recruited to the military. This makes Amaranthe an easy scapegoat when the notorious assassin, Sicarius, returns prior to the emperor's birthday, and someone needs to be blamed for his assassination (or more likely, needs to be sent to get murdered by him). Amaranthe unwittingly has a token from Sespian with her, which allows Sicarius to take an interest in her, and then she returns to the Enforcers, and then, she's tortured in a secret, underground bunker, and then she's left for dead...and it's only the first fourth of the book. My biggest complaint is that this book never slows down, and I thought the plot in the later part of the book (Amaranthe trying to crash the economy through counterfeiting) would be boring compared to the action-packed first half, but it wasn't. \n The counterfeiting plot introduces us to the other members of Amaranthe's 'team'. This is where I was hooked. I freaking love stories with odd-ball teams and ragtag misfits, and I ended up caring for (and enjoying) most of these characters and their illegal adventures together. Books is kind of the most boring character, even though he's recruited first, but then we get the #1 comic relief, Maldynado, who's a self-worker/rich boy/lazy-disinherited-son. If this book had only included Amaranthe, Sicarius (well-written enough to be interesting...it's hard to do that with more taciturn characters), Sespian, and Maldynado, it would've been a good book, but there's an ex-gang member/illegal magic user and former slave/pit-fighter in the mix, too. \n What I really loved about this story (and am continuing to enjoy about this series) is that there are little scenes that really stick in my mind and tug at my heart. There is a lot of complexity to this story (hey, world-builder fans, you'll love it!), but there are also these well-crafted personal moments. For example, Amaranthe and Sespian's flirting is adorable, and I was all about their meet-cute. Amaranthe's mission with Maldynado to the fighting pit was truly heart-breaking, and there's a moment where she feels so strongly for the slaves and realizes what a horror the business villain organization, Forge, is in the larger scheme of the world. Then, there's The Big Reveal (and no, I'm not spoiling that because it's not what you think it is and it's worth it), which is the moment I was waiting for the entire novel. There's no 'neat' wrap-up in this novel (it is the first of a series), but Emperor's Edge successfully launches a set of characters into a complex world. (And yes, I am reading more.) \n Rating: 5 stars. There is so much here, but the plot and characters are all genuinely interesting. It's action packed without feeling like it's cheating you on emotional moments. Sign me up for more.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 18 18:12:27 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 16 21:06:11 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Nov 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "22046015", "review_id": "1651f6f79f94d997dcc56dfe1e792285", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Wild Swans (Timeless Fairytales #2) by K.M. Shea \n The Wild Swans isn't a retelling I come across often, although it had always been a secret favorite story of mine. The strength of this fairytale is that it relies on the family relationships over romantic relationships, which is a sweet spot for me and not done often enough in fairytale retellings. Elise is the princess, and King Henrik adopted her into the royal family with seven brothers. Elise runs the treasury and is a business whiz, and I really liked this element of Elise's character. I don't think I've read a penny-pinching princess before, and Elise's personal goals are to keep her country afloat even when her father, the King, marries Clotilde, a woman that wants her hands on the country's purse strings. \n The brothers, as siblings, are great characters. Some of them (Nick, Mike, Erick) aren't as well fleshed out, but the other four brothers (Steffan, Rune, Falk, and Gerhart) have full and complicated relationships with Elise. I was particularly touched by the familial bond between Elise and Steffan, and they had a really sweet big brother/little sister relationship that was totally believable. (Did I mention there's not enough family relationships explored in epic fantasy in general? It's an amazingly rich area that so many stories leave untouched.) I absolutely believed Elise wanted to knit her hands into bloody pulps to save the big brother she admired. (In retrospect, this big sibling/little sibling relationship is the initial thing that I loved so much about Grey, too.) Elise and Gerhart have a complicated relationship, and it's because Rune and Falk both have crushes on their adopted sister. \n Yeah, the romances are where this story falls apart. (But only a little bit...I promise this won't be another 'Heather rants about romances' reviews.) \n Since we've had Game of Thrones, we are now all presumably cool with incest relationships in our fantasies, but there's a weird brother/adopted-sister dynamic love triangle that I couldn't grasp onto. While Thief of Songs had an interesting love triangle that was rich and complex, The Wild Swans had an awkward pair of relationships between Elise/Rune and Elise/Falk. There's also the 'choose your own ending' bit, which I didn't hate, but I wasn't invested in either romance, so I read them both. If Elise's relationships with Rune and Falk hadn't been romantic (or if one of the brothers would've been purposefully picked as the love interest), this story would've woven itself together more convincingly. In Beauty and the Beast, the romantic plot is strong, even if it ended a bit wonky. The two characters are able to grow together, and the love triangle dilutes that relationship a lot in this story. \n This series is being told in a single universe, which worked well to entice me to read the rest of the series. The heroine, Elise, is unique, and her attachments to her brothers and to her country are the powerful, driving forces of this story. The end, where Elise chooses to face Clotilde rather than risk her brothers' lives again, touched me and got to the heart of why I love this fairytale. That overcame the awkwardness of the romances for me, and maybe it will for you, too. \n Rating: 4 stars because I was excited to read this story the entire time, even when I found myself groaning a little bit. Is it an objectively 'good' story? I don't know, but I really did love this retelling, and the focus on family hit a sweet spot. It might, objectively, be a 3 star book, but the characters elevated this retelling for me.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 15 14:09:44 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 18 18:22:06 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "32849250", "review_id": "d18860a6e7589de8433b39db9e678c23", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Weregirl by C.D. Ball \n I've been looking for a quality shifter story (this was before I checked out Hair In All the Wrong Places and Blood and Rain, which is a ridiculously different style of story than Weregirl), and there was initially a lot to like about this book. There wasn't a lot of horror, and the small town vibe fit with this type of story. It has a bit of a cozy mystery vibe early on, which worked well for a YA werewolf book. Nessa's initial transformation is tied to her track running and emotions. That was interesting and reminded me of Ginger Snaps a bit, but without the boat loads of blood (shame). I loved Nessa as a high school athlete trying to get a college scholarship to leave her hometown. I really related to that, and I love stories about female athletes. Her character and her struggles around life are vivid and real, and Nessa's desires to run kept me hooked on this book even though there were parts I didn't like. \n There's no real romance with Nessa and anyone, which I suspected might happen later in the book, and while there was a direction I think it might have gone, there's enough obscuring of the romantic interest to allow focus on Nessa's internal struggles. An athletic, female protagonist draws me into stories, so I liked Nessa, and some of the other characters felt developed, too. The romance plot was interesting in that Nessa doesn't fall into anyone's arms immediately, and the story stays friendly and never delves into romance plots, which is abnormal in paranormal stories. I always have mixed feelings with romance plotlines, so Weregirl going 'light' on the romance angles didn't bother me. There's definitely a tease at who the other 'real' werewolf is. \n And now to the rant section. HOLD ON.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 05 12:24:48 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 28 06:37:54 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "30376044", "review_id": "a93a5c420f9f670f7c56fa56746badd4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A Mortal Song by Megan Crewe \n The premise behind A Mortal Song is amazing and makes it worth the read. Sora is a mortal girl who has been switched at birth with a kami (magical/goddess) child princess. This isn't to protect Sora but the kami princess, who's destined to save the kami at Mount Fuji with her amazing god powers. The story is told from the POV of Sora, the girl who grew up thinking she was a princess and is now getting replaced by a human girl. The worst part is that Sora has to train her replacement in the ways of magic before a horde of demons overruns the mountain and kills her adopted family, whom she loves even though they've lied to her her entire life. \n The premise is a heartbreaker, but the characters (especially Sora) never really gelled for me. Sora is a strange character for me. She had a lot of concrete details in her backstory, and I understood her motivation the entire time, but there was always something 'thin' about her. It was like she never thought about anything besides the plot. This story never forgets The Plot, so maybe that's what actually caused me to feel uninterested in the characters. There were a lot of moments where it just felt like it was 'going through the motions'. In fact, this reminds me a bit of how I felt about Heroine Complex, which was a story with a kickass concept that never really went beyond the conceptual idea for me. (I will say I thought the two main characters in Heroine Complex were more well-developed than the main characters in A Mortal Song. The world building of Heroine Complex ultimately grated on me more while A Mortal Song had elegant elements in how it built its world.) I would have preferred the story be a bit more twisty--maybe dare I say it...more of a hot mess--to breathe some life into it. The sections in Tokyo did drag, and for being at the center of the story, Sora often didn't feel like a main character. Everyone else in this story seemed to sideline her, which is part of her story as being the human child, but it made for a less interesting read than the 'kid with secret powers' story. Maybe I'm too fixated on that narrative, but I like my main character to feel like the freaking main character. A Mortal Song sometimes didn't feel like Sora's story. \n I'm not the type of reader to point out or loathe 'love triangles'. I tend to accept them as part of the story, but I really hated how forced the love stories were in A Mortal Song. I didn't feel much for either Takeo or Keiji, and the story always wanted to make these relationships more important. Maybe it's that I really wasn't feeling Sora as a character, which was why I didn't quite get attached to either of her romantic interests. I'm going to contrast this to Uprooted, where I was ridiculously attached to the main character's relationship; that come organically because I got the main character. If A Mortal Song could've made me care more about Sora, the rest of the story would've interested me more. Overall, this is a great YA fantasy piece, and if you like world-building and Asian mythology, this book could be a winner for you. \n Rating: 3 stars. Solid idea, but liked-not-loved the characters. Sora seemed really rigid for a first person POV character and none of the other characters 'stepped up' to become more interesting.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 03 21:41:51 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 23 13:08:16 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Nov 23 15:01:51 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "29910761", "review_id": "2da44778c23abded33f464ef1761e384", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I couldn't get into this book. It wasn't bad but suffered from being boring. The characters lacked personality for me and introducing a tragic death at the beginning of a story only works (for me) if I find the characters interesting. It just felt like axing a character for backstory without building the story or world at all. There was just something really under developed about this story even though the writing is fine.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 03 12:57:39 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 03 13:01:49 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "27048456", "review_id": "45e4c1bdeb069594633a80cdc235416a", "rating": 1, "review_text": "There are four characters introduced, and at after they all had their chapters, I realized two things: I didn't like any of the characters and had no idea what the plot of this story was. There was no sign of how these characters could team up later. I couldn't tell how they were related to each other in the context of their world, and none of them were interesting enough to save this story for me.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 27 20:36:58 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 28 15:58:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "22825711", "review_id": "7f7ea3ebb9acf37b2a412b62ea957294", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Justice Calling (The Twenty-Sided Sorceress #1) by Annie Bellet \n Justice Calling is the first in The Twenty-Sided Sorcerer series featuring sorcerer/gamer/nerd Jade Crow. I love nerd fantasy. (The technical genre is 'litRPG'.) That said, while I loved the jokes and Jade as a character, there were some elements that I wanted in Justice Calling that just weren't there. \n First, and this is a big one for me, Jade and her friends are nerds but they never do anything nerdy in this story. Jade paints some orc figurines, but this story could've used a scene where Jade and her friends nerded out. They needed to go Full Nerd, and I would've believed this entire world and story more. They could've watched a movie. Or had a LAN party or cos-played or anything. There were lots of nerd jokes and deftly laid references, and Jade's first person POV convinced me she was a nerd, but the plot never slows quite enough to establish Jade's friends (Levi, Ezee, and Harper) as actual characters. The villains were just as thin, but whatever, they were clearly the starter pack villains for this series. The overall 'meh' towards everyone else Jade interacted with made it difficult to feel invested in anyone Jade talked to. \n I liked Jade a lot. I didn't believe her romance with Alek at all (ah, the character problems continue). I was more interested in her failed (and probably creepy and definitely abusive) relationship with her ex, the sorcerer Samir, than anything she did with Alek. Alek is a Justice, a shape-shifter Super Cop, and he has a vision that Jade is going to be the catalyst for the death of many shape-shifters. This is the Plot Kick-off, and that's all that really happens on that front. Alek shows up and says 'hey, there's a prophecy about you and now I have to stalk you' and somehow Jade is completely okay with this. Sure. Whatever. A sorcerer (probably connected to Samir) targets shape-shifters, freezing them in their animal form and stealing their powers. Jade's past as a sorcerer becomes relevant--she has the power to stop them but that would come at a gross price (eating hearts). \n This story reminds me a lot of how The Dresden Files started--not particularly strong on the plot front and with some woefully or weirdly underdeveloped side characters--but with a strong main character personality. If book two gets better, I think I could like this series quite a bit, but there needs to be another character I care about besides Jade for me to stick with this series. Still, this book is worth the read as the starter pack for a hopefully more interesting story that revolves around Jade and the shifter world. \n Rating: 3 stars. I liked the main character and world building ground work, but I didn't love the other characters or really get a sense of who they were. That ruined a lot of moments for me.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 27 13:36:43 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 28 15:12:10 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Sep 28 15:27:21 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "24777202", "review_id": "8b684f749db3fce765a5f0be401789aa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Thief of Songs by MCA Hogarth \n Thief of Songs is about music, and it feels lyrical. The writing is sumptuous and flows forth with detail that never feels strained. It's been a while since I've read a story that bursts on the page, but Thief of Songs did that for me. The two main characters, Amet and Dancer, are musicians and composers. They meet when Amet, a Western patriot, goes East to confront Dancer about how she stole his music, which he 'gave away' as revenge against his ex-lover, who broke their betrothal to marry an Easterner. In a fit of rage and passion, Amet hits Dancer, the favorite and ex-lover yet current friend of the Divine, the ruler of both Western and Eastern kingdoms. Dance remains besotted with Amet, but Dancer's lover/life partner, Always Falling, grounds Dancer and helps en (the pronoun of hermaphrodites) deal levelly and intelligently with the messy political and romantic situation. \n The story is driven by the romance between Amet and Dancer, which provides real tension for the first half of the book. It resolves mid-way through (kind of), and I expected a more action-packed plot--or at least a less romance-centric plot--to dominate the later halves of the book. The politics between the East and the West, and to a greater extent the magical and the non-magical, do manifest, but a little too late and never nearly as convincingly as the romantic elements. Unfortunately, Theif of Songs reminded me what I disliked about romance-centric plots--they're all about the relationships. Not a bad thing, and if you really like fantasy with solid world-building that digs into the character's relationships, Theif of Songs is probably for you. There are precious few stories I consider too character focused (interesting characters will literally make me forgive so many plot mistakes), but this story crossed into being overly dominated by the character's internal lives. I wanted some other element of plot, yet the romance and all the fourth and third sex difficulties are continuously brought up. The forbidden love amongst the third, fourth, and 'normal' sexes dominated this entire story, but I only found it interesting enough to carry the first half and wish it could've not been the focus during the second half. The other plot morsel is the conflict between those who live in the East and are infused with magic continuously and the magic-starved Westerns. \n Maybe I just like more explosions and gore in my stories. That's probably true. \n The one world-building element I did like, which was a staple of the romantic plot line, was how the fourth and third sexes fit into relationships. It was implied that a third sex like Dancer and the Divine had more voracious sexual appetites. The fourth sex (asexuals) had no sexual appetite, and magic worked differently for both sexes. Also, Theif of Songs created a completely believable polyamorous relationship in second fantasy, which is something I'm desperate to read more of! If you find most fantasy romances boring, yet are a romance fan at heart, Theif of Songs is definitely a powerful contender for most interesting and believable romance in fantasy I've read in a LONG time. \n In many ways, this story reminded me of why I love yet sometimes am frustrated with Charles de Lint, too, who's one of my favorite authors. De Lint can linger too long on characters while forgetting to have an actual plot, but his writing and world-building work is subtle and expressive. The same is true of MCA Hogarth, and while part two of this series might not be for me, I'm curious to read more of her writing. \n Rating: 4 stars. The writing is beautiful. The world-building exists, but it's never expanded beyond the scope of the immediate sphere of the character's lives. The romance is believable, and it really is the main plot of this story--for better or worse.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 27 13:35:08 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 17 10:05:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Oct 17 10:50:56 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "25547303", "review_id": "b93b582be077946ad121e68fcbf5a1f8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Blood and Rain by Glenn Rolfe \n Oh gory horror novels, how I love you but am so picky about which ones of your lot I read. The jump scares, the mysteries, the blood, the massive body counts...more, please. That said, I hate some of the character tropes in horror. Often, the characters feel unoriginal and under-developed. Blood and Rain has the good--the gore, the slick pace, the scares--but also the bad--thin characters that never develop beyond cannon fodder. The main reason to read this book is because it has that old-school werewolf horror feel ala Silver Bullet and The Howling. \n The story starts in 1997 when Stan sneaks out of a mental asylum. The story pulls no punches and waits no time in giving us the first transformation, which is the bread-and-butter of werewolf books. Stan changes and runs off to murder people in his old hometown. So far, so awesome. \n We fast forward to whenever Spiderman 2 came out (seriously, I forget the year, but that movie gets mentioned over and over again). The town of Gilson Creek has been quiet until the Full Moon Monster returns one fateful night, murdering several people. Old horrors are recalled, and each of the citizens remembers the traumas of years past. Sheriff Joe thought he killed the previous werewolf, but he now realizes he failed, and it came back to life, rising from the grave. The Sheriff pretends to ignore Nick Bruce and the other conspiracy theorists that come and want to expose the Full Moon Monster, but the Sheriff believes. He has to. \n The best part about this story is that it introduces both werewolves--yes, there are totally two--early in the novel. We know the first werewolf is Stan, and on his first recent attack, he bites Nick, the young conspiracy theorist. Nick slowly descends into his own version of madness over the course of the month while everyone else is preparing to fight the (presumably single) werewolf. Stan, too, doubles down on his monstrous side, which he refuses to keep in check any longer. Sheriff Joe and his daughter, Sonya, are given a lot of story time. Blissfully unaware of the monsters, Sonya is a boring character. She also becomes a ridiculous damsel in distress later in the story, solely there for the B-movie scream moments. *sigh* I could've done with at least one competent female character in the story. Part of it is that both werewolf characters get more than a little creepy with the women and girls they encounter, and yes, they're the monsters, but the 'good' characters are too thin personality wise (except for the Sherriff) to provide a solid balance to the werewolf creepiness. We get a lot of 'got to protect the womenz' from Sheriff Joe, which got very annoying, very fast. I can't even go into what I thought of Mel. Could I have liked her? Sure, but she is literally described by ALL THE CHARACTERS as having good tits. That's what passes for female personality here. *sigh* \n The other members of the conspiracy theorist magazine, the residents of Gilson Creek, and Sonya's friends are kind of boring. Fortunately, the story flips through these characters so fast (or I just wanted to cycle back to the better characters) that I didn't mind that there were so many. The members of the sheriff's department are easier to tell apart and have some personality, but no one survives this story. Don't get attached. Other than maybe towards Sonya, this story doesn't have a single sentimental bone, which is fine. The fast, slick action sequences and lovingly described murder scenes make up for what's lacking with the characters. Who cares, really, when they're all going to literally die? I did feel bad about the Sally and Randy dying, though, because I believed the comradery among the police officers. \n This story doesn't really cover any new ground in terms of playing with horror tropes. It just does the old ones so well that it scratches an itch perfectly. Don't read this if you want any kind of HEA or uplifting, snuggly feelings at the end (this book is more along those lines). Or hope at all. The title says it all--BLOOD. Read this story for the slasher scenes and all the blood. \n Rating: 4 stars. A classic werewolf story. AND BLOOD. But also some stupid horror tropes. BUT SO MUCH BLOOD.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 11 18:06:34 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 17 10:49:57 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Sep 17 15:48:39 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "17205118", "review_id": "255f9103aaf3bfdd2be8aa6d1fc3dcfc", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The Beast (Hunter Legends #1) by Lindsay Mead \n If you've been hanging around this blog for a hot minute, you probably realize I kind of have an obsession with awesome and original fairy tale retellings. I freaking LOVE THEM and there are some quality ones out there. In particular, I'm like a connoisseur of Beauty and the Beast retellings. Incidentally, this could explain my obsession with Robin McKinley in that every romance she writes is effectively a riff on Beauty and the Beast (and I'm not kidding). I reviewed K.M. Shea's Beauty and the Beast several months ago, and I found myself missing that story the entire time I read this one. I seriously might have to give K.M. another review, too, because I've read that she's only gotten better since her debut. \n But back to the book at hand! \n The Hunter Legends held such promise. The land neighboring Glace (fantasy France) was cursed, and the populace turned into vicious hellhounds. Belle is a hunter, and she lost her mother while doing battle against the hellhounds. Belle and her father have invented these steam punk contraptions to help them hunt the beasts, and in a fun twist, Belle and Gaston are comrades in arms. The Catholic church endorses the hunting of the hellhounds (because of course they do!), although they disapprove of Belle--a woman--hunting the beasts or leading men. \n Does this set-up sound awesome? It is. It really is. But unfortunately, that's where the amazing story evaporates. There's nothing underneath the initial premise, which is all kinds of awesome. The several legitimately brilliant ideas are off-set by blandness in characters and pacing that made my head ache. Also, the ultimate myth arc fell flat towards the end because the characters didn't work. That killed the good will, the momentum. \n Belle and Gaston are sort of fleshed out. Weirdly, their relationship was the most convincing for me. I thought this story might get extremely interesting and have Gaston (or Belle!) turn into the quintessential hellhound/beast. Alas, the beast is a prince, and damn, is he bland. And Belle loves him INSTANTLY. Until Belle meets the prince, we're given all this evidence of her as a badass hunter. Yes, there's some info dumping, and that made her character thin for me, but this story seemed clever enough to get out of some flat characterization. \n It wasn't. Belle seriously falls in love with the prince in a series of moon dreams. Once again, cool idea, but overused. Instead of having Belle confront the prince earlier (and in his real form), she hangs out with him in dreams and swoons over him. This goes on forever, and it's terribly boring. When Belle has to bring the prince back and deal with him fighting the curse, there's a glimmer of interest in their relationship. The prince turns human (not via a kiss!), but he's wounded and weak and can't maintain his human form. Belle has to convince him to 'let go' and turn back into a beast, and he does, and it's the realest their relationship ever gets. We never get to know much more about how Belle, a commoner, would deal with being courted by the prince. Other than Belle, the prince, and Gaston, there's nothing else going on with the characters. Nothing. The main villain is a let down, too, in that her motivations distract from what makes Belle awesome. This is also due to the prince who is amazingly boring. He's described as this ultra-good, ultra-smart person, and we never see any of that. Not really. The norn and Fenrir want him on their side because of his awesome Viking/Norse god ancestry, which further distracts from Belle and her role in the story. \n Basically, I liked Belle, but if you're writing Beauty and the Beast, both of those characters have to work for me to really love the book. \n Rating: 2 stars. No amount of cool could save this story. I kind of hate this book for sucking so much at characterization because everything else was cool.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 11 14:44:27 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 13 20:58:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Sep 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "17306681", "review_id": "4961aec34f099ee75949403b6147e604", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Thread Slivers by Leeland Artra \n This is one of those books I had many mixed feelings about. I liked the main characters Ticca and Lebuin. There's clearly a lot of detail that went into the world-building, but it was too much of a good thing. It was, as if to make up for the other characters being uninteresting or to introduce the 'epic' part of epic fantasy earlier in the story, Artra added 800 POVs to this story. They're all unnecessary. Finding a way to introduce plot elements while maintaining the focus completely on Ticca and Lebuin would've improved the pacing of this story, even if it would've made it shorter. I skimmed through everything else because the level I cared was 'meh'. \n When you manage to make a giant, immortal wolf general boring, your story has a problem. \n There is initially a lot to like about Thread Slivers. Ticca is a Dagger, a warrior for hire, and she is tasked with solving the mystery of who killed a powerful mage while protecting another mage, Lebuin, from the Knives that want to murder him, too. Lebuin thinks another mage, Magnus Cune, at the guild wants him murdered, which is a fairly safe assumption seeing how the two act together. It becomes clear that there's something more--much more--going on around these two, and it was a fine little mystery as to what that plot was. There's a hint of time travel and some sci-fi/fantasy blending, which is a theme that I've read in other books and like a lot. This plot is clearly being saved for later, and it feels like a lot of interesting plot elements are being saved for later. And not in a good way, either. \n But when we do get answers, they kind of suck. This isn't because the plot wasn't cool (time travel! immortal warlords! lost magic! special bloodlines!) but because we find out all of these things from characters that have never met the main characters or have only met the main characters tangentially. These characters all revolves around Duke, and he monopolizes like a third of this story and made every moment suck because he's conceptually awesome without doing anything for emotional aspects of this story. He has no POV chapters himself, but all of these boring characters that interact with him get special chapters. This is the real problem in this story--all the major plot twists are doled out several chapters before the main characters even get a hint of what they are. Ticca and Lebuin feel like footnotes in what should be their own story. \n When we do get back to Ticca and Lebuin, who are journeying to collect the mage's things in hopes of finding clues to his death, we're treated to the most annoying character in the novel--Klaisa. She sucks. She's bland, and she appears in Lebuin and Ticca's dreams to info dump. She tells them things we've already known for some time, and if her appearance weren't supposed to be This Big Thing at the end, maybe I could've tolerated her. But I couldn't. She was The Worst. She was the final distraction in a novel that unraveled from a strong first half. \n And cliffhangers only work if you care about the ending. \n Rating: 3 stars and only because I liked Lebuin, Ticca, and the details around those characters.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 08 12:40:50 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 19 15:26:21 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "27969081", "review_id": "3d147bc8fe0ea9bac23d6795593c8eeb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova \n You want some diverse fantasy? Amazing characters? New and interesting worlds? Exciting and fresh mythos? Then this book is for you. \n In many ways, I kind of wish The Bone Witch had been this brilliant. Labyrinth Lost opens in Brooklyn with young bruja, Alejandra (aka Alex), dreading her powers. She witnessed her father's disappearance--or maybe death--when he goes to take care of her dead and possessed cat, Miluna. After that, Alex's father disappears, and she can't let go of the guilt that his demise was all her fault. Alex can feel her power, and she tries desperately to suppress it even though her mother and sisters (Lula and Rose) have their own powers and push Alex to come into her own. \n And that's just the set-up. Things go to hell (literally) when Alex attempts a spell on her Deathday to remove her powers and her connection from her ancestors. Instead, she opens a portal to Las Lagos and traps her family their--and they're at the mercy of an evil, corrupt bruja. \n The Las Lagos world is stunning. The book was good when Alex dealt with her family and her powers in Brooklyn, but when she and Nova cross into Las Lagos, things go batshit--and it's wonderful. A mysterious brjuo, Nova, helps Alex travel to Las Lagos, and his tragic yet interesting past becomes central to the plot. Nova couldn't complete his Deathday ceremony, so he lost control of his powers, and that's gradually killing him. Fortunately, Alex finds other allies in Las Lagos. The native avians and fauns are amazing characters even though they don't play major roles. Each character feels distinct, and I also liked Alex's friend--and definitely more than a friend later--Rishi. In a world of magic, Rishi is purely human, but she follows Alex into the portal to Las Lagos anyway. Rishi has no powers, no defense against the horrors of Las Lagos, and Alex sacrifices herself to keep Rishi alive. The story is incredibly powerful up to this point. \n Unfortunately, the ending wimped out a little bit. The story never revolves Nova's moral quandary. It tries, but it leaves his feelings for Alex and his motivations a little loose for the sequel. And yes, there's obviously going to be a sequel. Alex's missing father is dangled as an unsolved mystery throughout the novel. At the end (not a huge spoiler now), it's still unresolved and used as a teasing cliffhanger. If Alex's missing dad could've been worked into the final battle, it could've provided some twist or surprise to the ending. The battle with the evil brjua is straight forward and has zero surprises, which was the most shocking thing about a story that kept adding layers to it every chance it got. Maybe I'm also a cliff hanger hater, but this one worked, even if I thought it was a bit unnecessary. \n Still, I loved so much about this story. Alex is such a well-fleshed out character, and her emotional struggle with her family and her history drives the plot the entire time. The side characters (except maybe the evil bruja sorceress) were well-written and felt organic and real throughout the story. This made some of the weaker moments fly by, and the alternative universe of Las Lagos is unique and where the real story takes place. \n Rating: 5 stars for most of it, but it lost momentum at the end. The unresolved plot threads were VERY unresolved, but I loved the characters and their worlds enough to enjoy this story thoroughly.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 08 09:04:52 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 21:12:47 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "30360279", "review_id": "bd9181fcd3a23d4292171b1ad846ab8f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Shadow of All Things by Allen Houston \n Evelyn rides the subway home in New York when a group of strange things invades her car. These time stopping shape-shifters are Elyuum, and they're introduced as being scary as hell. Evelyn is saved by Redmond, an apparent homeless bum that's more than he seems. Redmond tells Evelyn about the interdimensional Elyuum, which have invaded New York and are intent on controlling it. Also, the Elyuum kill seers like Evelyn. \n The books splits into several more POVs, which helps build the threat of the Elyuum and make their version of world-domination convincing. The Elyuum and their minions are everywhere, bribing everyone from high-level politicians to cops and street gangs. Pharrell wants to be a nurse but is forced to help his brother traffic drugs. Pharrell witnesses the effects of the Elyuum's drugs and their ability to shape-shift, and he was my favorite character early on in the story. The scenes with Pharrell and Sunny D had real tension and provided nice pops of horror. Neil and Adelaide are at boarding school/prep school, and one of their classmates has been murdered. Neil is a seer, too, and he and Adelaide piece together the mystery of the Elyuum and their whereabouts in New York. I liked the relationship between this pair a lot, and these are the plot lines and perspectives the really move the story. Adelaide gets extra bonus points for being a fencer. \n But like a story with lots and lots of character POVs, it does go overboard and drain the tension in certain spots. There's a wholly unnecessary gangster plot that should've gotten introduced in book #2 or had a better payoff in this book. The side plots slowed the story towards the end, and they started to feel more like padding than the actual story. That was a let down because the main plot was really cool, but it's like Houston didn't want to give any major action (only teasers) in this story. It needed more of an awesome climax. \n The world building is great. There's the feeling of living in New York, of being part of a huge city. The slow, meandering moments cement this city-living feel. Evelyn, Neil, Redmond, Pharrell, and Adelaide feel like they belong in New York--like they are New York. Even if you're a bit of a big city claustrophobic like I am, the feeling of living with the mass of humanity, integrated into a world with so many different people, comes across in the way this story is told. \n Rating: 4 stars. The book slows towards the end, which leaves it ultimately hanging in a weird spot. I understand that it's an ongoing series, but I wanted a little bit more real resolution. Still, that didn't take away from the characters and world building.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 06 21:10:43 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 28 15:58:11 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "30095464", "review_id": "db1fb47fd48edfed9225cd919e3b39bb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco \n Confession: It took me about twenty percent of the novel to figure out what this book was about. That's not a bad thing--it was an exciting challenge. A mysterious bard (name still unknown by the end of the novel) travels to the end of the world where they discover a young woman that wears fancy clothes and kills demons with a word. This is Tea, the infamous Bone Witch, who's a dark asha in exile. For what? We don't know. Tea then tells her story to the bard. \n The Bone Witch is Memoirs of a Geisha meets The Kingkiller Chronicles. Tea manages to be about half as annoying as Kvothe, so that makes the story much more readable, although her mousiness often makes her fade into the background too much as a person. She's a little thin as a character, and this isn't a great thing, considering over half of the story is told from her POV. This disconnect with Tea's personality hampered my ability to get into the story, but that's partly because I had trouble connecting 'current' Tea (exiled and in the boneyard) with 'past' Tea (training as an asha). While I think this tone dissonance might be intentional, it hampered my early enjoyment of the story. Current Tea holds a mystery, but was a character that I couldn't quite grasp. Past Tea is open but a bit boring, a bit bland. This gets better when Tea trains to be an asha, but the early parts of this story were bumpy. \n But there are so many other things about this story the surmount Tea's slightly lackluster personality. Tea discovers her powers when she raises her brother, Fox, from the grave. Fox could've felt flat and like a plot-prop, but he was a wonderfully subtle character. He's reserved but occasionally funny, and there's something subtle in how Chupeco writes him that never quite lets you forget that he's struggling with his new, undead life. The other characters all feel real and fully fleshed out, too. Lady Mykeala is Tea's mentor, and she's dying and weakened without her heart. \n When Tea reaches the Willows, a specific city center dedicated to training asha, the story comes into its own. Asha are witches (kind of) but also geisha (kind of) and elevated court advisors (kind of). The roll of the asha and what they do in and for the societies of this story is complex. Some of the asha are body guards, some marry nobles, and others perform (for lack of a better term) witchcraft. The asha have to be stunningly beautiful yet be capable fighters, dancers, and learned women (yes, only women--but with a twist). How the asha train, who trains them, and all the details thereof are the most interesting elements of this story. It's fantastic worldbuilding, and the magic is upfront yet subtle. \n Current Tea explains and uses much of the magic she'd been taught, which works to show that she's mastered it. Tea also raises deava from the boneyard, which provides a clue as to how the story will end. The deava are at once terrifying and yet adorable. I'm kind of a sucker for scary-yet-cute, so this depiction of the deava worked remarkably for me. It also shows the contrast between how Tea used to view the deava with fear and how she 'now' sees the deava as pets. \n During her training, Tea meets the future king, Kance, and his cousin, Kalen. Tea has clearly captivated the attention of the royal house, and while that plot doesn't play out by the end of this book, it's developed tantalizingly for future story. \n Oh twist ending, how I hated you. It was clear the book might end on a cliff-hanger, which I dreaded. We were teased as to who was in the grave that Tea danced over, and we did find out, but screw you, Rin, for that teaser ending! \n Rating: 4 stars. Loved some of the more subtle character work, and I'm desperately interested in the world that was created. Also, that freaking ending. I need to know how the freak that relationship develops!", "date_added": "Sat Sep 03 13:35:56 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 08 08:50:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Sep 08 10:22:30 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "27880863", "review_id": "d7c008085d19983f6ac8a95578a23bd1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Critical Failures #4 The Phantom Pinas by Robert Bevan \n After CF #3, Tim & Co are back in the C&C world to find Mordred. They captured Mordred's dice at the end of A Storm of S-Words, but they can't use them to get themselves back to normal. Instead, they return to Cardinia to tell Frank and the other transported players at the Whore's Head that they've got the dice. Initially, everyone is excited, but no one knows where Mordred is or how to use his dice. This leads to the group splitting up, which is what slowed down the plot too much for me. \n Honestly, I didn't care as much about what Tim, Dave, Cooper, Katherine, and Julian did in this installment. (More on that below.) CF #4 is more about the side characters and expanding the cast. We meet the Drow elves, which might become more important later, and an awesome mayor that can shape-shift into a tiger. Tim spends 90% of the story being drunk, and Cooper tags along with him until even he can't stand Tim. A lot of what the main cast does is chase after the captured Ravenous, and it's a bit tedious. Maybe I don't appriciate Ravenous enough as a character, but Ravenous conviniently escapes from Mordred, which forestalls a real confrontation with the dickish CM. I think this series works best when the characters have to confront Mordred and his minions, which felt lacking here. \n The new characters--Stacey, Randy, and Denise--are amazing, but they might've distracted from advancing the main plot line. They steal this book and get the best plot lines. Stacey was designed by Mordred to be 'the perfect character'. She has an 18 in every skill set and is an elf. Denise came to C&C to get his manhood back, which doesn't work out well for him. He ends up a dwarf--a female dwarf--named Dennis. \n But let's talk about Randy. Oh, Randy. My new favorite character and vehicle for the star plot line in this book. Randy, the gay Southern, kidnapped van driver, is now an incredibly buff Paladin. Randy is a humble character, and while he deals with latent guilt over being gay, he's instantly liked by the Whore's Head residents. It's difficult not to like Randy, and I totally forgive Bevan diverting the story to focus on his plot. The people at the Whore's Head explain to Randy later, because Randy is a Paladin, he has to worship a god. Being the good Christian that he is, he picks Jesus Christ. A glitch in the C&C game causes Jesus to manifest as a New God in the C&C world, and Randy gains incredible healing powers. He heals people in the name of Christ--this never gets old--and eventually gains enough notoriety as the first disciple of the New God to meet the king. This seeming diversion is what eventually turns out to be the 'real plot' of this story. \n Because Mordred is the CM and knows everything about said game, he releases a lich king, who heads straight for Cardinia with an army of orcs. This ends in a climactic battle, where everyone dies and is resurrected as zombies in service of the lich king. Except Randy is there, and he prays to Jesus Christ, who manifests in the C&C world. \n That's right, Jesus comes to fight a lich king. Whatever other problems this book had was worth it for that battle. \n The C&C adventure continues but in a series of short stories. I loved this absurdist fantasy world, but I'm not a huge short story fan. If you are, there are plenty of them. \n Rating: 4 stars because while there are some amazing plot moments, this book felt more disjointed than the strongest books in this series.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 03 13:34:01 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 03 13:35:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Sep 03 13:35:17 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "22963010", "review_id": "17afdda7506e98ff1fbf9bb54c1d3066", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Critical Failures #3 A Storm of S-words by Robert Bevin \n The title alone is a work of satire. It was this title that convinced me to check out the entire series! \n A Storm of S-words begins with Tim discovering that Mordred is alive--and shitting in his freezer. Only this series would start with a guy taking a dump. However, Tim & Co can't keep Mordred trapped, and he escapes. Oh, and there's another problem--they've all come back to their world as their C&C characters. \n That poses a unique set of problems for all of the characters. Tim is mistaken for a child several times, which causes an awkward encounter with a pedophile. Yeah, this book doubles down on the already outrageous levels of inappropriate in this series when the story shifts settings to the real world. They need to find Mordred and get his dice, but they have to be stealthy because they draw too much attention to themselves as their C&C characters. This leads to the genius plan to steal a white van--a pedophile van. Tim kidnaps Randy, a gay Southern man, because they need his van to ride around in. This ends with Tim cutting off someone's balls. Of course, that's literal. It's this series. \n Meanwhile, Julian and Cooper go to a CDC poison clinic to resolve Cooper's poisoning at the end of C&C #2. They meet Stacy, the lab tech, who is drop-kicked into this world of crazy. Stacy knows Katherine, who cheated with her boyfriend, and because it's Katherine, she's not the least bit sorry. Now that she's a vampire, Katherine's already stubborn personality gets turned up to eleven. Katherine can turn others into vampires, and she looses control of her first victim, Ginfizzle (aka Ginny). Unable to control herself, Katherine also attacks Butterbean, her wolf/animal companion. She stops herself from killing him, but Ginfizzle wants his blood, leading to a massive vampire-on-vampire brawl. Anytime Katherine appears, she's bound to cause problems. This is no exception. \n This brings me to the best team-up of C&C: Katherine and Cooper. These two incredibly selfish yet weirdly endearing characters have to track down Ginfizzle before he turns others into vampires and kills his way through Mississippi. Katherine and Cooper's rampage starts with a revenge trip to the pizza delivery shop where Cooper used to work, where he terrorizes his former manager, Derrick. Then, Cooper and Katherine invade a Dick's Sporting Goods because that's a plot in this story. That scene is the absolute best in the book. This is also the first time I've read some weird hybrid of NFL slapstick/satire in a fantasy book. Go with it. \n While Katerine and Cooper destroy Mississippi, Tim, Stacy, Julian, and Dave brainstorm how to fix their major problem of still being their C&C characters. To capture Mordred, they use Stacy as a honey pot trap. She goes on a date with Mordred to the Olive Garden, which ends predictably poorly when Katherin and Cooper's hot mess hunt for Ginfizzle tips off Mordred that Stacy was bait. This ends with Stacy being transported to the C&C world and becoming the prisoner of the Four Horsemen. \n Mordred's ultimate weapons are his dice, which give him the ability to summon the now leveled up Four Horsemen to usher in the Teenage Dick Apocolypse to the real world. They corner Mordred, and because this series isn't going to end anytime soon, Mordred's plans go awry, but the ultimate problem--how to go back to normal humans instead of C&C characters--isn't resolved. \n Rating: 5 stars. This is the best C&C book in terms of action, plot, and character development. It's also the best fantasy novel title pun I've seen. \n https://hdlynn.wordpress.com/2016/08/...", "date_added": "Mon Aug 29 09:30:58 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 29 09:33:57 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "26863057", "review_id": "09349050bb6196e474ca24fed502fce7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Age of Myth by Micheal J. Sullivan \n This is part 1 of an epic fantasy, and it does not disappoint. There are recognizable elements of elves, humans, and dwarfs, but they're woven together in such a masterful way that, although they're not completely fresh, they feel authentic to this world. That's all I ask for from epic fantasy world building. The elves rule the world. Specifically, the Elven tribe of the Myraltih are in charge of the most technologically advanced empire. They're so powerful they pay the humans (the Rhunes) to fight each other and assorted enemies (goblins, ect). The elves won a war several centuries ago against the dhreg (dwarves), but it's their relationship to the humans that sets the stage and matters in this series (or at least in this first book). The elves keep the humans as slaves and consider them basically animals. There's a scene where the evil vizier, Gryndal, unearths a 'den' of Rhunes and demonstrates how filthy and animal like they are to the prince and heir to the elven throne. (This also works as an establishing character moment for the prince--it's the moment where he decides the Rhunes aren't better than animals, too.) It becomes clearer as this story continues that the real plot is about the inheritance of the elven throne. The building of the plot to that point is interesting, but it's not clear for some time that tumbling the elven empire is going to be the main drive of this series. But it's worth it to stick with this series while all of those bigger details unfold. \n The characters are introduced in a slow but purposeful way. It was like we were zoomed in on these characters (starting with Raithe) and then the plot slowly pulled away and revealed the true scope of this series. I loved that. We start with Raithe and his father trespassing on the elves land to hunt game because the elves have banished the Rhunes to sub-par and barren lands that are bad for farming and short on game. Raithe's father is killed by Shegon, who has a real blade compared to Raithe's sub-part copper sword, but Shegon's slave, Malcolm, knocks Shegon out with a rock. Then, Raithe finishes him off with a lucky but well-timed sword stroke, and--bam!--Malcom and Raith are on the run together. It didn't originally make sense to me why Malcolm was so eager to run off or kill Shegon (it's a brash move that goes against his established intelliegence), but we're provided with a 'post-credits' sting that even manages to explain that inconsitency. \n Persephone is the wife of another Rhune cheif, and her husband dies in the first chapter (killed by a bear, Grin the Brown, who's destined to become a large part of the plot from the intro). Persephone is confronted by a young mystic, Suri, who brings her wolf into the city to warn Persephone and the cheif that disaster of epic proportions is on its way to destroy the Rhune peoples. Persephone and Suri initially didn't seem like strong characters or like they had much to offer the plot beyond 'and the other reindeer' at first, but after they team up with Raithe and Malcolm, it becomes clear that Persephone's village is going to be the star location of Age of Myth. \n Age of Myth is wonderfully character driven. I kind-of-not-so-secretly hate the phrase 'character driven' (ISN'T THAT SUPPOSED TO BE EVERY STORY?), but if it applies to anything I've read recently, it's this series. The main plot slithers along and always feels like it's at the 'edge' of the story, and it feels like the characters more than any epic fate or larger forces drive this story. The first taste of the larger plot is when we're introduced to Arion, a powerful elf Myralith (aka sorceress), and her POV gives a glimpse into how fracture and frankly fucked-up the royal elven lineage is. When Arion heads out to deal with the elven and Rhune rebellion, I got excited knowing that she was about to step into the tumultuous conditions happening on the edge of the elven kingdom. The pace picks up gradually and the climax starts throwing character revelations and genuine plot twists, and I was like 'oh, this story has more? Yes please.' There aren't any major 'epic battles', but the smaller scale works well for this series and helps ground the entire tale. \n Rating: 5 stars. The slow burn pays off at the end. This is a strong start to a series I'm really looking forward to.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 28 11:35:25 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 27 20:35:57 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "26114291", "review_id": "b6050a0f0bfe17a195658bace8f1aa21", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ghost Talkers by Mary Robinette Kowal \n Ginger is a medium working in the top-secret Spirit Corps during WWI. Ghost Talkers is a blend of historical fiction, paranormal, and alternate history. The spirit corps has used magic--which is real but takes a paranormal bend--to bind soldiers' ID tags so that they report in after death and act as Ally spies. This means the Spirit Corps has allowed the Allies to gain an important advantage in WWI. \n I've not read Kowal before, but she blends historical fiction with light paranormal elements to create a unique story. The main characters--Helen, Ginger, and Ben--have a lot of charm, which helps, but the real star is the tone of this novel. If you're a historical fiction fan, you'll probably love this book. I loved this book. It had everything good about historical fiction combined neatly with unique paranormal plot elements. It's rather light on fantasy elements (sans ghosts), but Ginger's powers as a medium are used deftly and often enough that they don't feel forced or like an unnecessary side note. Magical realism can rub me the wrong way sometimes because it's often 'oh yeah, and magic', and it's super obvious when an author wants to be 'more literary' and not play up the fantasy elements of their work. This book never short-changes or apologizes for being fantasy, and the historical details are added flourishes. \n Oh, did I say I loved this? I did. \n It was obvious to me that, at some point, Ben was going to die. I thought that he and Ginger would go on a secret mission first, and then he'd die in the course of action. While that did happen, Ben's death happened way earlier in the story than I expected. If Ben's death would've been the first event in the novel, though, it wouldn't have worked well, either. Kowel tricks you with the slow build-up, which made me think Ben would live longer than he did. Instead, his death kicks off a murder mystery and spy mission. The only nitpick I have is that I thought the main, tantalizing question--who killed Ben and why--wraps up too soon. But it's a great pay-off, and I was totally tricked into THAT SPOILER I'M NOT MENTIONING HERE BECAUSE IT'S A REAL SPOILER. :) Suffice to say, the plot works to keep you guessing. \n There are plenty of twists and turns in this story, too. The initial mystery is who killed a British gunner. The ghost claimed it was a British officer--a spy. Ben tracks down this lead, and he's murdered. Then, the mystery transfer to the more personal 'who killed Ben', which creates plenty of tragic and beautiful moments of Ginger interacting with ghost Ben. If you like light romance (sweet romance), this is a book for you, too. I loved the relationship between Ben and Ginger, and Ben's slippage into ghostly insanity tugged at my heartstrings every scene. Ben doesn't pass on immediately, but he's emotionally falling apart, and Ginger has the man she loves but is inevitably going to loose him. It's subtly and sometimes beat-you-over-the-head tragic, but always amazing. \n Rating: 5 stars. Loved it. This book blends historical fiction and fantasy superbly.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 28 11:33:19 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 11 21:47:19 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "1961496", "review_id": "ab913d68e7d4d6e9ffc40dd2f553b834", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I had so many mixed feelings on this book. I loved the writing, liked how the characters fit into the world and enjoyed not getting beat over the head with magic systems. The travel and adventure travel aspect was awesome, too, and made for a powerful second half that contrasted interestingly with the first half, which was a detective noir story set in a medieval city-state. There was something that confused me a lot, and it took me a long time to put my finger on it--the characters didn't have real reactions to things. Not all the time, but the reactions were just off in subtle ways. Anja sometimes gets overly weepy while she's simultaneously being described as being strong. Also, I get it--Mysskeal is tough. That is the point of the story, and yet, there is some strange crap going on with his 'reflexes' and martial art training. Someone pointed out in the r/Fantasy review thread that half of being a great swordsman is footwork, and then it hit me that that's exactly what was wrong with the character for me. There were loads and loads of stakes, but after a point, it wore on me a lot. When the characters didn't feel wooden and weird, the story was immensely powerful. Anja and her crumbling family provided the most heart-wrenching storyline for me, and that woman isn't offered any consolation at any point during the story. Emotionally, Anja takes a beating, and I truly did feel pity for her. In some ways, Wurts refuses to provide a neat ending, so expect more of a bittersweet one than a HEA.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 28 10:01:55 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 11 14:27:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Oct 11 15:38:11 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "18667253", "review_id": "9b226388ac3c7f125c957384fc5c98e8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Critical Failures #2 Fail Harder by Robert Bevin \n At the end of CF #1, Tim & Co are stranded in the C&C world because Tim's gambit to get them back to the real world by tricking Mordred into locking himself in a freezer backfired. Tim & Co travel to Cardinia, the capital city, because there's not a reason to stay in the dangerous forest. Oh, and they're looking for a bar to get shitfaced. \n With Mordred dead, Tim & Co have to figure out how to get back to the real world. The benefit is that they don't have Mordred dicking with them in this book. This turns out to be a good thing--they can work on the spell to get them back--and a bad thing--without Mordred, there might not be a way back. Period. First, they go to a bar with a minotaur bartender and get drunk. This scene is lovely, and I wanted more minotaur bartender and his no-nonsense attitude. We're introduced to Millard, who lures Katherine and Chase back to his fortress. You can tell that this is going to end badly. \n Tim, Dave, Cooper, and Julian go to the Whore's Head Inn, where they meet Frank and all the other humans that Mordred trapped in the C&C world. These people have been around the C&C world for a while, so they've bought a place to stay away from the local NPCs and not draw attention to themselves. Tim & Co cause these people a lot of problems. Because they're dicks. That's how this series is--the main characters are awful. Specifically, Tim continues to level up in dickishness throughout this book. However, there are four teenage boys who've nicknamed themselves the Four Horsemen, and they're introduced literally kicking a puppy. These guys don't care about beating up on the local NPCs. The Horsemen are determined to curb stomp every NPC in the C&C world because it's all fantasy to them. There are shades of Thomas Covenant's dickery in these characters in that they don't believe the C&C world is real, and they take that opportunity to do whatever the hell they want. Just imagine the Call of Duty trolls set loose in a fantasy world that has zero defenses against asswipes. They're really effective villains, too. \n The star plot point of this book involves staking a vampire in the most hilarious way possible. There's no way a plot involving a dildo vampire stake can be wrong. And if it's wrong, I don't want to be right. Once again, there's a weird tragedy to the entire affair because Tim & Co are kind of in the wrong and--as usual for this series--were major dicks to the vampire. \n There are plenty of expected plot elements in CF #2, and while I didn't feel it was quite as enjoyable as CF #1 in its twists and meta humor, I still loved it. It takes time to introduce the new characters, and they all suffer from being slightly forgettable. I loved the direction the overall story went in, though, so I'm forgiving of the underwhelming new characters. CF #2 ends on the mother of all cliffhangers, too, so I immediately jumped into CF #3. \n Rating: 4 stars. The beginning feels strung out, and although the new characters in Cardinia are great, it feels like too many, too soon. The plot with Millard, the vampire, provides amble humor. \n https://hdlynn.wordpress.com/2016/08/...", "date_added": "Sat Aug 27 10:55:15 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 29 09:33:53 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "77366", "review_id": "3dd3e064930884eb0630c1c23fee78f0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "*Sigh* Badass lady knight, and somehow, I didn't love this book. I liked the first part where Aerin trained with Talat, but the story felt more disjointed than I'm used to McKinley's stories feeling for me. I think there's also an aura of melancholy in this story that pervades it, always keeping me from truly loving the other characters, even though Aerin is awesome. Her riding around and killing dragons and evil wizards with Talat--the best. Everything else--including the other characters? Meh. I particularly thought Luthe was underdeveloped, and while I did like that Aerin got to be with both men, introducing a love interest halfway through a story is difficult to do. McKinley also clearly took the narrative view that Luthe was a better match--a truer love--for Aerin, but that was never freaking shown in the story. Oh, and then, everyone dies. Well, not everyone, but the deaths of the king and Perlith, one of Aerin's major antagonists, robbed the story of meaningful resolutions. It's weird that McKinley sidesteps her character's emotional journey this way by doing the 'easy' thing and killing off the character instead of letting them resolve their plot somehow--even if messily.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 26 09:44:37 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 28 10:00:37 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Aug 28 11:02:53 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Aug 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "15701981", "review_id": "75b4a91260bbdf41e8ae60f8fa88cf03", "rating": 5, "review_text": "There's not enough truly humorous fantasy in this world. There's so much grim dark, but I love absurdism--and does this story ever deliver. I'm going to review each of the four books in the main series arc separately, even though I read them in a box set. \n Critical Failures isn't an original plot--D&D...wait, C&C...nerds get transported into their game world by a dick of a dungeon master, Mordred. They literally become their characters. Tim is a halfling thief, Dave a dwarf cleric, Julian an elven wizard/sorcerer, and Cooper a half-orc barbarian. Later in the book, Tim's sister, Katherine, and her date-but-not-boyfriend, Chase, are transported to the C&C world as well. Katherin is a half-elf druid, and Chase is...a bard. Because someone has to be. \n I've never read a sword and sorcery fantasy with so many dick jokes and fart jokes. It's amazing. The adult humor makes some of the subtle character moments--I promise that they're there--work well instead of making them feel cheesy. This plot flies on wings of audacity, which makes the cliche avalanche feel fresh and new. For example, healing magic is painful at first--and then you orgasm. Or shit yourself, if you're Cooper. \n Magic healing--painful yet relaxing. \n The main antagonist is Mordred, who manipulates the C&C world to dick with Tim & Co. Tim is kidnapped by Captain Righteous, whose name is hilarious, but he ends up being a weirdly interesting character. Same with Shorty the gnome prison guard. That's the genius of this book, really. It gives a sweet, sweet nerd fix while playing with elements of character and making everything that can feel...well, cheesy...about D&D feel fresh and real. It's kind of hilarious to me that so much *bad* fantasy has been inspired by D&D, and yet, this D&D fanfic/love letter feels new and fresh. \n Maybe it's the swearing. Maybe it's because that this story captures the heart of playing D&D with your stoned friends. Not that yours truly has ever done that. *ahem* \n This is clearly going to be a long series, so the ending isn't resolved. It's satisfying, but I went into the end knowing this series continued. The main 'kick-off' arc with Mordred has a satisfying twist that allows the gang to tango out of immediate danger, but for a steep price. The characters remain in the C&C world--good for us, bad for them. \n The number of dick jokes won't disappoint. \n Rating: 5 stars I dare you not to laugh. \n Blog link: https://hdlynn.wordpress.com/2016/08/...", "date_added": "Thu Aug 25 22:22:40 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 29 09:33:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "23504114", "review_id": "a1a0900d7a72689fd092e28bb7926367", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Going Through the Change is about four women who develop superhero powers via naturopathy and pseudo-science. Can you tell the problems I had with this book? There were lots of things to like about it as well, but this is one of those 'you touched all the wrong spots' books for me. \n The book opens with Linda turning into a man. This scene is done well, and it stays on the light-hearted side of body transformations. Of course, I loved American Werewolf in London, so I clearly have a preference for gruesome body horror. If you're a horror light-weight, this book should work well for you. All the powers and changes work on a lighter level, and the pacing never overplays the graphic aspects. It feels more like Adam West Batman versus Christopher Nolan Batman. \n Patricia was my favorite character. I liked Jessica as well, and all three of the main protagonists--Patricia, Jessica, and Linda/Leonel--are all likable. They develop authentic relationships, and Patricia, in particular, walks an interesting line between being likable and competent. She also is the character with the most dramatic transformation, which endeared me to her. \n Now, onto the parts of the book I hated. All of the characters develop their powers via magic emerald dust made by Dr. Cindy Lu--the Chinese doctor/medicine woman/mad scientist. Superhero stories get away with a lot of 'how we got our powers' absurdity, which is probably why I tend to loathe origin stories, and this book is no exception. There's the magic soap, the magic tea, the magic skin cream...you get the idea. It's all based around pseudo-science garbage, which made for a doubly uninteresting origin story. Yes, Peter Parker got bit by a spider, and that's stupid, but he didn't bathe himself in freaking soap. That's a new level of dumb. \n If you can get over the ridiculous kick-off plot, which I wouldn't blame you if you can't--the writing is lighthearted and the characters work well. The idea is hooky--what if older women were superheros?--and the book revolves around these female friendships. Helen is the only character I considered underdeveloped, but the plot makes apparent why that is. Cindy, for all that I hated the stupid reasoning she was a mouthpiece for, is a paranoid and fully developed character that's struggling with the limitations of human knowledge and technology. \n The story ends on a cliff-hanger, too, but I was more relieved and less excited. Yes, I want to know what happens to Cindy, but if it involves more emerald-powder-fake-science nonsense, then I'm not sure I care so much. Still, the sequel promises to be about Patricia more, which is great because she had concrete character development from someone who distrusted people and doubted others competency to someone that could be a team player. I liked that. \n Rating: 3 stars. There's nothing particularly wrong with this story, and the right person might love it. It's a unique twist on the superhero genre, but too cutesy for my particular taste--which are apparently bloody, graphic, and crude. \n https://hdlynn.wordpress.com/2016/08/...", "date_added": "Wed Aug 03 10:00:36 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 28 11:30:23 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Aug 28 12:11:28 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "29069285", "review_id": "fa676e6b7c13e29e50e0d41649e209e7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm reviewing each book separately, but I bought the box set. The dick, fart, and sex jokes don't disappoint. This series has it all: orgasm magic, dildo vampire stakes, Arby's, and Jesus Christ fighting a lich king. I love reading books that I didn't know I wanted until I started reading them, and then I realized I desperately needed them. Quality fantasy humor has this effect on me often. See: my Discworld obsession.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 03 09:59:30 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 25 22:32:25 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "28159073", "review_id": "c9317d991ba38b00fa7ec0dbbfcc2a06", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Silent Hall by NS Dolkart \n Silent Hall is about five island teens that are the only survivors of a particularly gruesome curse that causes everyone else on the island to die on land. We're introduced to each character quickly and in successive chapters. There's Narky, who murders a 'love rival' in the first chapter. That's how you start a book! \n I'm going to talk a lot about the characters because they're what made me love this story. And the best part about Silent Hall? It never slows down when introducing characters. We meet the other four main characters--Pheadra, Hunter, Bandu, and Criton--in the next several chapters. It becomes apparent something bad is going to happen, and all of the islanders except the five teens are dead by like chapter seven. This story really waste time and keeps the plot moving. There's enough in this book for an entire trilogy's worth of action, but it doesn't feel rushed. \n The entire Five Man Band--my favorite trope--is done exceedingly well here. The leader is, oddly enough, Narky, the murderer. The lancer is definitely Bandu, the feral child. Criton is the smart guy, Hunter is the big guy, and Phaedra is the chick. I loved Bandu and Hunter, and Bandu is a *motherly* version of the lancer, which is a fun twist on that character archetype. Hunter is surprisingly reserved and sensitive for the big guy, and I connected with both of these characters. As the smart guy, Criton drives a lot of the plot because it's heavily based in questing for new mythology. Out of all of the characters, Pheadra is the least developed. I feel her arc never came to completion (sequel?). I can't get out of talking about characters without mentioning Psander, the wizard who owns Silent Hall. Psander never came into focus as a character for me, and she mostly serves as a plot device. The main five are strong enough that it doesn't matter that much. \n The plot moves fast, and you're constantly deciphering the new mythology that comes along. The mythology focuses on the gods and the barriers between the worlds. I was as frustrated as the characters were not to learn more or know more. The obscurification felt almost too purposeful in some parts of the story, and some explanation on how magic works was sorely needed. The most exciting part of the novel focuses around the elves, who are not the friendly, fairy creatures of folklore. They're strong warriors and gather their powers from an evil tree. We do find out--fairly quickly, too--how the elves powers work and why they work. I think that made that part of the story more concrete and helped propel the action. \n The weakest part of Silent Hall is how Psander and her missions feel underdeveloped. They're basically fetch quests, and while the five characters have emotional reasons for wanting them to happen, it's never explained why Psander's magic works. This does hurt part of the ending of the book. \n Notes: \n I couldn't stop thinking of 'narking' every time I read Narky. I have no idea if this was intentional on the author's part. \n The romance plots surprised me. They felt realistic, if not fully developed, and I felt 'sequel' in those unresolved stories. \n I read a lot of fantasy series where people natter about religion this summer. Can't say I particularly enjoyed that aspect of this book. \n Rating: 5 stars. This book wasn't fun, but it was action packed, and I liked all of the characters.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 03 09:58:51 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 26 09:29:24 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Aug 26 10:55:20 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "30010194", "review_id": "63e45cb498b8da7c762b9da7324c9f95", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Moonburner by Claire Luana \n Moonburner starts when Kai is born--and her birth must be kept a secret because she's a special sorceress. Moonburners and Sunburners are at war, and Quitsu finds herself trapped in the middle of it. There's a fire nation/water nation element to the Moonburner/Sunburner war, and I liked that. \n There's a nice touch of Japanese mythology in this story. It's a genuinely diverse piece of fantasy. Kai is unique as a character, and her personality fits well with the moon goddess persona. Hiro, too, fits a certain stereotype, and he's a strong and silent type sun warrior. My favorite character was Quitsu, though, and I found him endearing without being saccharine. I'm picky about my fantasy couples, but I liked these two together. They talked to each other, and I get the feeling that they're soul mates (even though I dislike that term...) without it being too forced. Hiro complicated things, but I found myself rooting for Kai and Quitsu. \n In general, Kai's training seemed to drag a bit. I wanted a little more from this story in terms of action-based plot. I loved the characters and their relationships, though. Pura is a lovely character, but I wish she had more backbone. The supporting cast maybe wasn't as well developed and made this story feel a bit thin. \n The end sets up for the sequel, but Moonburner ends with a punch. There's a nice touch of family verses service, and I liked how Kai has to become a leader verse just a figurehead. \n Rating: 4 stars. This is a diverse high fantasy story with an interesting female character.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 18 22:20:16 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 29 09:34:06 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "29767648", "review_id": "7a009a1c05ba3e51a8e3980b0c82ae08", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The Hereafter features Nin and Dylan, two teens who find themselves dead. Neither of them have memories of their deaths. Nin 'awakes' at peace--on a beach and in a seemingly idyllic place. Dylan find himself dead in a dumpster--disaffected and angry and bitter. At first, Nin and Dylan seem like they can't be different people. \n This story plays with memories, which I love. There's an insubstantial quality to the Hereafter, which alternates with 'Before' chapters. Boucher's flowing, wispy prose aids to this atmosphere and lends itself best to Nin's chapters and character. Nin and Dylan piece together their memories, showing that Nin's life wasn't so peaceful after all. The mysteries of both Nin and Dylan's lives are all in their memories, which kind of leaves the current story in the Hereafter feeling a little thin on stakes. That's personal opinion, though, and if you're okay with stories that are less action-packed, most of the momentum of the story taking place in Dylan and Nin's memories will probably work better for you than it did for me. \n A romance taking place in the afterlife...it's kind of odd and yet sweet. Boucher's writing sells the sweet romance aspect of this, and what initially attracted me to this book was the idea of how this type of afterlife romance would develop. Dylan and Nin bond over their problems, and Dylan opens up to Nin about his frankly shitting life. This drives Dylan away from Nin, but she has her own problems when she begins to remember her old boyfriend and Mrs. Frost. Both of these characters are intensely sympathetic...which was a bit boring to me? If you like commentary romance and contemporary YA, I think this story will work better for you than it did for me. \n I don't want to ruin the big twist in the story, but it did deliver. This story is 100% raw emotion and driven by the character's feelings. There's an underlying theme of forgiveness and atonement in the afterlife, which becomes pronounced the more the story progresses. There's a fluidity to this story and a non-linear aspect to it that's enchanting. It reminded me a bit of Everyday, which I really liked.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 13 11:52:20 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 13 14:41:27 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jun 13 15:13:39 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "27209443", "review_id": "dab395e3b9da8997ba7a4c496d05ae48", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I'm going to DNF this one for the moment. This book feels like EVERYTHING I should want in contemporary urban fantasy. Maybe I just hate superheroes (probably true) or felt burned out on the 'everyone has powers now!' storyline. There are amazing ass-kicking Asian-American women! There are evil cupcakes! But this story never felt like it went beyond that concept, and there was something too twee about this book for my tastes. If you don't care about social media or celebrities much, I have a feeling this story might not work for you, either. Strangely enough, I can relate to MCs that are vampires over an MC that's a personal media assistant. That probably says more about *me* than Kuhn's writing. I love meta stories, but this one felt too meta and navel-gazing. This is one of those books that's going to get a lot of good press and *really* work for some people, but I never got traction with this story.", "date_added": "Thu May 26 12:59:45 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 13 13:53:10 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Oct 13 15:36:16 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "25014122", "review_id": "b19e2814b6e1cca391589b702bdc1de8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the teenage werewolf book I've been wanting to read. It's not perfect, and in some parts it's a little confusing, but this is an enjoyable read for those who want a werewolf book that's actually about werewolves. Colin is a boy living with his misanthropic grandma, and he thinks he's a huge loser (and maybe he is, but maybe it's just a high school thing). Colin gets bullied relentlessly at school by Gareth & Co. This is when he decides to run away, but there's a werewolf plus a car attack that gets in the way. He hallucinates a lot, and I liked the instant post-bite action. None of that waiting a month for the next full moon here. \n I like the awkward teen vibe Colin has going for him. It's not forced. There's a definite Teen Wolf vibe to Colin's transformation. It's fast/immediate. Colin has a friend (seriously, a single friend), and I guess part of the point is that he doesn't really like or know anyone at school. This gives Colin's character a feeling of isolation early on. He could've used a wacky friend. \n There's clearly something going on with Becca and her dad, Mr. Emerson, early on. Becca's secret comes out later, and there are several mysteries surrounding people in this book that get dropped all together towards the end. You might guess the big secret, but you might not. It's a standard enough paranormal twist, but there's a certain level of confusion as to what is going on between different people in this story that it made me uncertain where it would resolve itself. A little surprise: not a bad thing. \n Creepy dude, creepy dude, who are you? Silas Baxter, werewolf and werewolf hunter. There's quite the conspiracy happening. It 100% involves Becca's father, and that's obvious. I wanted him to ultimately become more likable throughout the book, but Mr. Emerson never does. What kind of relationship does Becca have with her father? We never really find out. There's a lot of strange people in Elkwood--the twins, Garth, Becca, her dad, Colin's grandma. It feels like everyone else is in on this conspiracy except Colin. (And they are.) That's okay, because Colin finds out soon enough what's happening, and this story never makes you wait too long to get to the interesting parts. \n Link to the blog review", "date_added": "Sun May 22 18:02:43 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 09 08:16:38 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jun 09 14:11:57 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "23344338", "review_id": "391d89f96cdab7fde4b96b36d495ad91", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Traitor is the third installation in the Dragonriders Chronicles, following Fledgling and Avian. This series is not a trilogy, so don't expect the adventure to end here, which isn't a bad thing. I wanted to read the ending of this story, but I'm glad it wasn't rushed because Traitor was a surprising yet exciting installation in this series. \n Jaevid goes to Northwatch to fight the Grey Elves with his former instructor and now flight partner, Jace. Jaevid is shocked by the war and the destruction it has caused along the boarder between the two kingdoms. Felix joins him on the front, where a man that could be his real father(!) is stationed. However, these relationships isn't tapped into in this novel because battle calls, and Jace and Ghost are knocked out of the sky over Luntharda. Jaevid dives down to save him, and they're both captured by the Grey Elves and their princess, Araxie. \n Sometimes, new characters can destroy the flow of a series or take too much focus away from the main characters. Not so with Araxie. She's an important character, but she meshes fluidly into the existing world. She's another battle hardened badass, and she leads the interrogation of Jaevid and Jace. During his interrogation, Jaevid learns that the royal grey elf family, including Araxie, are his relatives. This doesn't sway their opinions, however, and they decide to deliver Jaevid and Jace to their forest god, Paligno. It's this god that saves Jaevid, awakening him to the full extent of his powers. \n Jaevid has never had a family he really felt close to, considering his father, Ulric, is a cruel man and was possibly driven mad by stealing the god stone. Jaevid and Araxie learning to trust each other and discovering their familial bonds endeared me to them. Their relationship is also a neat way to introduce us to the world of Luntharda, which is a complete departure from the dragon rider academy atmosphere. \n One thing that I saw coming and hoped to hell like it would happen was the relationship between Araxie and Jace. Some fantasy bungles the romance elements--hard--either by trying to make the relationships star-crossed or by only having a character there as a love/sex interest. In Avian, Jaevid/Beckah grew naturally from the plot and from who the two characters were. In Traitor, Araxie/Jace follows a similar pattern, but the personalities of the two characters make the relationship new and fresh. Both Jace and Araxie are battle hardened people, and their relationships builds around them learning how to put down their defenses and open up to each other. I liked their romance better than Jaevid/Beckah's, but the building of this relationship consumes a major part of this book, so if it doesn't jive for you, this entry in this series might not work as well for you. \n Ultimately, most of this story takes place with Jaevid navigating the new world of Luntharda. A lot of plot elements are finally revealed, and Jaevid devises a plan to end the war. We don't learn this plan (next book!), and the second half of this story involves escaping Luntharda. Nothing happens with the major plot during this section, but there's a lot of character growth during this journey. The character, Kiran, from Fledgling, returns to escort to the boarder of Luntharda, and Kiran ultimately ends up following Jaevid to his human home out of loyalty. If you're interested in Kiran, there's a short story at the end about him.", "date_added": "Sun May 08 14:23:32 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri May 20 08:25:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri May 20 11:22:49 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "29994968", "review_id": "2e6b89cda446164db969ebf57317ec25", "rating": 1, "review_text": "This book ended up being not for me. It started too slow and without enough of a concept or voice to interest me.", "date_added": "Thu May 05 08:54:31 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 29 09:34:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "18733563", "review_id": "5c0094674bbbf1b15897fd2153e6fb3e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Jaevid is a half-elf, half-human that's sent to live with this biological human father, Ulric, who makes saddles for dragon riders. Fledgling, especially early on, goes quickly into How to Train Your Dragon territory. Jaevid is basically Elven Hiccup. If this is the How to Train Your Dragon novelization, I'm okay with that (I loved that movie). \n The story is a little slow. Not in terms of action, but Jaevid's internal monologue doesn't quite feel right. The writerly part of my brain started to whisper \"passive voice and gerunds...too much passive voice and gerunds...\" This pattern of writing makes Jeavid feel like a boring character, even though I've got a solid idea of him as a person being that he's a shy fifteen year old. He's a bit more introspective, but there were parts that I started to skim because there was too much passive vs. active voice. \n Felix is a weird character for me. I like him, but his personality--what we're told and what we see--is a bit incongruous. Felix at once feels too mature and understanding, and yet, he does the silly 'don't tell me the clearly important information you have' shtick. He's also a huge goof-ball when it comes to the other students and girls. As I said, I liked him, but he feels a bit hard to pin down. \n The dragons don't have much personality, which is a bit of a shame. (Note: This gets better in Avian, but I want to talk about it in Fledgling, first.) Mavrik feels like an animal here, which is good, but this novel begs for the How to Train Your Dragon comparison. Toothless feels distinct as an animal with a personality, but Mavrik is a bit more of plot prop in this novel. He's an animal, which is good, but he lacks the quirky behaviors normal animals exhibit. Once again, this gets better, but this is where Mavrik's character stands for me in Fledgling. \n There's a lot of little, incongruous details in this story that felt silly to me. There are 9 fledglings and yet, a 100 trainees? That's a very lopsided class size (years 1 and years 2 only were mentioned as being dragon riders). Once again, this is fixed and explained in Avian, but it left me scratching my head in Fledgling. They also jump on the back of a dragon...a dragon that has spines! And live. The slavers didn't notice their prisoners run free? There was a lot of these little things, which added up for me, and even impacted the enjoyable moments of the book. \n There are several times in the story where the mentor, Sile, has to be saved by Jae and Felix. It feels a bit repetitive, but it establishes that there's a faction out for his life and that they're connected to the crown. I liked Sile, but he doesn't explain nearly enough of the major backstory to satisfy me. This is purposeful, but it does obscure his motivations. \n MYTH TWIST! There's a little surprise and added mythology after Felix and Jaevid are captured. This isn't the dragon version of Hogwarts, and I expected the climax to take place at the school, which it doesn't. This is a welcomed surprise and hooked me into the end of the story. The conclusion of the plot felt a bit too convenient. This is a continuing series, and there's certainly more in the world and series. This book has the easy, MG feel of Eragon without the fiddly prose, but the obvious comparison is How to Train Your Dragon. The middle of the story diverts it away from what I expected, which elevated this book (and other novels in the series) for me.", "date_added": "Mon May 02 21:20:37 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu May 12 11:20:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu May 12 13:47:02 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "17333338", "review_id": "d152fd0b623dbbb1ee31a8bbf8bca708", "rating": 2, "review_text": "John Charming works at a bar in middle-of-nowhere Virginia because he's a werewolf (well, part werewolf) on the run from the Knight's Templar. The Knights are sworn to uphold the Pax Arcana and protect the monsters of the world from human discovery. (The world building of the Pax Arcana feels a bit familiar...hmm...) If this book would've been more about the Pax Arcana and awesome vampire hunts, it would've been awesome. Instead, it's about John's stupid love life, which is terrible and boring. Sig, a Valkyrie, walks into John's bar to hunt a vampire, and the will they/won't they starts almost immediately. It's like this author was told urban fantasy was all about the angsty relationships and forgot that those only work if they're a side-story or the 'B plot', and John's relationship with Sig felt like the 'A plot' of this story. \n I'm a bit disappointed John isn't a real werewolf. Disreputable bartender? Check. Renegade Knights Templar? Also check. Werewolf? That's a stretch. Don't go into this expecting a shifter heavy book. \n Didn't care as much for the 'old' myth and modern technology blending. It felt forced instead of creative; it was more like the author wanting you to know how smart he was verses John authentically being presented as intelligent. The book was heavily self-referential and wanted to appear smart, but there were some stupid things it did to undermine the credibility of the story. When a story gets too referential--to the point where it's mocking its own plot--it can mean there are serious problems in the story. Instead of being meta, it highlighted the things that already bothered me about this story. \n Not thrilled with Sig. There's way too much time devoted early in the book to how much she likes John and vice versa. I'm not feeling it. I mean, seriously, we could be getting a bloody vampire show down, and John and Cahill, the cop, are having these boring conversations about Sig and her love life. \"I've known Sig for twenty-four hours...\" is about right. Cahill is a creep, which makes John and Cahill's scene about 100x worse and sufficiently awkward. This is only the first of many, endless awkward scenes between John and just about everyone in this story. \n John's personality: it will make or break this book. It's the biggest positive, to me, but not as humorous as some might find it. John points out how half-assed his man-pain is, and it's a meta instance of the character defending a weakness in the narrative. Meta is great when it's actually humorous, but John's tragic past never quite clicked with me. There's all this teasing about the Knights, but he doesn't actually fight them. They never directly come after him. That's a shame because the Knights and the other elements of the world-building were much better than John and Sig's story, which is the center piece of this novel. The vampire hive house was gory and fantastic. The 'smart vampire', Anne Marie, is the real mystery to this story. The twist ending didn't work here and sunk what hope for the story I had. I spent this entire story hoping it would be awesome, but nope! The entire story is really about John's love life, even up to the bitter freaking end. \n Molly and Choo are too good for this story. So is Parth. Parth is also the best. This story is much better when it focuses on its action piece set-points. Some of John's fighting feels like the fantasy equivalent of Bullet Time, but those scenes are still gripping. Anything is better than the soggy, white-bread relationship between Sig and John. \n Maybe I'll have to go into a full rant about special reasoning and map reading in fantasy soon, but another instance showed up here. I mean, have people used topo maps in the woods before? Here's the full quote: \n \"Last night I visualized a map of the area I was in like a man. And I knew exactly where I was on that map. Men can't do that without landmarks. Wolves can't do that. But I could.\" \n First, you would've had landmarks. I get the point is that wolf-senses are heightened and that enables a better understanding of where one is, but this is illogical. The speed at which the information was processed is the key, I think, to this scene. But you, a normal human, do this type of special awareness all the time when you go 'off trail.' Yes, the key is landmarks, but there are lots of little tricks to knowing if you're lost and how lost you are. Here's an example: I hiked a 'trail' (I say this lightly) through a canyon system. It was mostly washed out, so there was a fair amount of knowing when to leave the wash, what side branch to take, and where we would get 'spit out' if we followed the route correctly. There were certain sets of landmarks we used to help guide our progress. This took TIME, but in and of itself, this isn't some kind of super power. Processing this type of information at speed is what would be difficult. \n I wanted to like this book. I actively hate read this book to give it a chance as if every new plot twist would refocus the book on its more interesting elements. That never happens. This book kept getting worse and finding new, creative ways to let me down. Every time something interesting happens, the focus shifts to John and his whiny past or John and Sig's boring relationship.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 30 17:09:21 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu May 19 10:21:56 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu May 19 13:28:41 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue May 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "68427", "review_id": "6f52889ce0d0c3e7d778e39156b477a6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm not the biggest Sanderson fan, but I finally got around to reading his debut. I'm not doing an official review of Elantris, but man, I loved it (well, other than the nattering about religion). I think I'm also in the small camp of actually liking Sanderson's characters and getting bored with magic systems.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 28 08:44:06 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 29 09:33:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "6571771", "review_id": "c168ae664e3150d94a57fc1bba9202d5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed this excerpt. The mysterious, Victorian atmosphere intrigued me, and it's like Penny Dreadful set in a school of magic...horrible dark magic. Historical, urban fantasy is always fun to find, and the pacing is slow, which works for the genre blend in this book. Percy herself starts out a bit thin as a character, but that's because she's purposefully guarded.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 28 08:36:48 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 29 09:33:41 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "19447511", "review_id": "ee799ad177db6eeb0bade4e814c9720f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Do I need to recap the plot of this book? If a series is entitled 'Timeless Fairy Tales', I've hope you know what you're in for. As an unashamed fan of Robin McKinley's Rose Daughter (what I consider to be the better of her two Beauty and the Beast retellings), I'm always on the look out for a lovely little retelling like this. KM Shea does an excellent job of bringing her own touch to this story, and it still rings true to the heart of the tale. \n The best part of this story is that Elle, the beauty half, has a logical reason to be trapped in the chateaux. In the first scene, she falls through the roof and breaks her leg. Hearkening back to the French roots of the tale, Elle is trapped in a country chateaux in the fantasy country of Loire, which is fantasy France. Prince Severin, the younger brother and non-heir apparent, reluctantly keeps Elle through the summer and autumn in his chateaux until her leg heals. There's a certain Enlightenment feel to the culture and architecture of the chateaux, and I would've enjoyed if the story played up these elements a bit more. For me, it's not possible to go part French-all aboard the Francophile train or go home. That said, there are nice little allusions to French culture, and I'm clearly freaking obsessed with finding a Beauty and the Beast tale where one of the characters rants about French art and literature. \n That said, I liked Elle's character a lot. At first, she doesn't seem particularly special as a heroine, but there's some hints that she's a bit more than she seems. There's some playing coy with her backstory, and if it was dropped earlier in the novel, I think it would've heightened the tension at the end. As much as I try not to judge a book by its ending, this one was one where I had to do that. The end could've-should've-been more tense. Frankly, the story ended a bit too soon, and I was waiting for another twist, another action sequence, but it never came. \n But let's get back to the parts I did love: the characters. This is the clear strength of the novel. Elle's friendship with the servants, especially Emele, is poignant and didn't bore me. The servants all have personalities of their own, and their part in the curse (being unable to speak and wearing masks) adds a distinctive aura to the story that made it stand out. By including other characters, instead of just having the palace be empty, the world becomes richer, the story filled with more emotional stakes because that's where the real action is in this novel. The servants also push the romance along with gossip and schemes, and the crown prince, Lucien, helps add depth to the greater political landscape of the story. Also, it was nice to see Severin have relationships outside of his one with Elle. \n The central relationship in the story between Elle and Severin worried me at first. Severin is in the unique position that he's tried to break his curse before and failed, so he has no interest in trying again. This let some of the tension out of the relationship initially, but the servant supporting cast stepped in to help kindle the initial friendship between Severin and Elle. For most of the story, it's a friendship. That works well with Elle's character and her supposed station, but this is where I would've loved a surprise drop in her backstory. Things would've gotten crazy a lot earlier, and more could've happened in this novel. There was a certain amount of ease with which the curse was broken, but I like more teasing out of my finales. I know what the ending is going to be. I want to need that ending, anticipate it with every freaking page, and this story didn't quite deliver that longing. Still, there are sweet, tender moments between the main characters, and they're both fully fleshed out humans with flaws and pasts. \n Full review", "date_added": "Wed Apr 27 15:46:07 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu May 05 08:47:29 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu May 05 08:47:29 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "26236877", "review_id": "9925d840a85b90e8d3ce180dcab1f382", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I wanted to like this book. I really did. It has a fantastic cover, a great title, and it implied it was going to be about a badass librarian. I was hooked on that concept. Unfortunately, this story didn't deliver. It's not really about Dafne, the aforementioned librarian, and if there'd been a focus on her earlier in the book (or if the book had started later when she became more important to the story), I would've cared about her more. This story also should've been told in third person. It simply would've worked better, and I don't come across many stories where I feel that way being that I don't prefer a POV. It's author's choice, but first POV did nothing to help this story or build Dafne's character. \n Ursula is the new queen, and this book picks up where the previous book in the series left off. The early parts of this book are chronicling Ursula and Harlan's more interesting adventures, and Dafne literally sits on the sidelines. This is why this didn't work well as a first person POV--Dafne tells someone else's story. That's massively boring. When the early part of the book doesn't involve the main character at all, I'm concerned. \n It took 20% of the book before it felt like Dafne was the main character. The story should've just started there or else the earlier parts of the book needed to make Dafne important. She's a wall flower, and that's not interesting, even for an introverted character. There's a lot of characters talking about the plot and not a lot of plot. I felt like this story is about Ursula, which makes sense in the context of the series, but not for this book in particular. \n The characters spend so much time talking about things. Less dialogue would've helped because there was too much of it. I know, there's this thing about not putting info dumps and unnecessary description into the story, but less dialogue would've tightened this narrative. But shouldn't characters be interacting? Yes, but when they prattle, all of the meaning in the dialogue is lost. The importance is gone, and all of the conversations felt meandering and useless. In the latter parts of the book, it becomes more descriptive and starts to rely on Dafne's internal narrative more, and that's the only reason this book became remotely bearable. This makes the early parts of this book baffling. It feels like an infinitely worse book and a completely different story! \n King Nahoka KauPo and the descriptions of his people and traveling to the island relieved the amazing boredom of the earlier parts of this story. This happens a third of the way through, and if you can't get to this part, I honestly can't blame you. The first third of this book is DNF bad, but the volcano king's island focuses the world building and presents Dafne with definitive challenges. The bad news is that the remainder of the story leaves Dafne languishing on an Nahoka's island, which delivers the story back to some of the more monotonous elements of the earlier part of the novel. \n The narrative voice of this novel (and the choice of 1st POV) grated on me the entire time. It was like sandpaper in my eyes. The positives of the book kept drowning in this problem, and no mistake, it was a huge problem for me. I already mentioned the drastic change in writing between the first part of the book and the latter part of the book, and I 'd honestly skip the first 100 pages if I were to start reading this all over again. \n Read the full review at Throw This Book at Me", "date_added": "Sun Apr 24 12:02:24 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed May 04 20:55:19 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "22264041", "review_id": "bfb33e0b6358f5e368f85c7c2ea98b05", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The summary of this story is obvious: it's a retelling of the infamous Creteian Minotaur's life. The minotaur, Ast, meets Ovid, the famous Roman poet, and recounts the details of his life over a thousand years after the events of the labyrinth occurred. I love mythology and ancient history, and that's what drew me to this book initially. This novel was a quintessential For Want of A Nail story for me, and if you love stories from the monster's POV (think the classic Grendel), then Minotaur is going to be a net positive read for you (it was for me). There's a lot of good in this novel, but the format of the retelling weighs it down and limits how connected I felt to this story at any given time. \n Ast retelling his life to Ovid is an interesting premise. The narrative retelling format makes sense for this story, and it lends the story a mythological feel. However, after reading a couple stories that relied on this narrative retelling format, I think there's some major draw backs in telling a story this way. Because Ast tells you a lot of things, this makes some of the other characters in the story seem under developed. Pheadra suffers the most from this, and that's a shame because it would've been a better story if I understood her more or had a better feeling of her as person. \n I love mythology retellings and reimaginings, but this story didn't quite do it for me. How you feel about this retelling will likely depend on how engaged you are with Ast's narrative voice. It's not bad, and the style is purposefully archaic, but that does mean that it's a bit dry. Still, I liked Ast as a character; he's a purposeful gentle giant, and his treatment during his childhood, his encounters with bandits, and his events in the labyrinth turn on the foil between Ast's appearance and his true personality. We rely on Ast for most of the story--and solely during the retellings--to form opinions on the characters. All their actions are filtered through his perspective, which causes the characters to lose a bit of their own agency and personality. At the same time, Ast is a reliable narrator, and there's no reason given why he'd be anything but honest with Ovid. In some ways, this creates a more boring story--Ast has clearly developed some emotional distance and perspective on the events of his childhood. \n Ovid isn't much of a character, and that's a shame because a more developed character could've helped this story. Ovid is a drunken old man with three divorces, and he serves mainly as a personality foil for Ast. There are also a lot of 'genius bonuses' for readers who know a bit about Minoan society and Greek mythology. Icarus makes an appearance; of course Theseus does, and his characterization stands out a bit stronger than most. King Minos comes across as a mustache twirling villain, but this hardly matters as the story needs a strong antagonist, and he fits that role. \n Link to full review", "date_added": "Sat Apr 16 15:33:38 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 25 10:23:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Apr 25 12:20:07 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "26883552", "review_id": "ef133487f1c50f4c5a3bff6b5fcd7dd6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I read this novella by Guy Hailey being completely unfamiliar with his writing style or his previous works. On reflection, while novellas can help introduce you to an author and their style, I don't think this is a particularly good way to get into this author (especially if you love long novels and series). There's no previous works of his that this novella made me want to read. If you're a novella person, this is a quick read, and if you're already familiar with the author, you'll probably like it more than I did. The Emperor's Railroad is the first in the Dreaming Cities series, and if it's a series of novellas, and you like this story, this might be a series that's worth your time. The description of the world sounded amazing, which is what drew me to it. \n Global war devastated the environment, a zombie-like plague wiped out much of humanity, and civilization as we once understood it came to a standstill. But that was a thousand years ago, and the world is now a very different place. \n Conflict between city states is constant, superstition is rife, and machine relics, mutant creatures and resurrected prehistoric beasts trouble the land. Watching over all are the silent Dreaming Cities. Homes of the angels, bastion outposts of heaven on Earth. Or so the church claims. Very few go in, and nobody ever comes out. \n Until now... \n Zombies! Futuristic fantasy wars! Mutants! Dragons! The world building in this novel doesn't disappoint. The zombie apocalypse reminded me of World War Z, which I loved. The invasion of New Karlsville scarred and shocked me, and felt like a vignette out of World War Z with a fantasy twist. This was the strongest aspect of the novella for me. This scene was genuinely scary and impactful, and I wish the novella would've opened with this instead because it would've roped me into the story faster. Instead, we're introduced to Quinn as this ultra-badass, and I kind of hate when a non-POV character is heralded as such a badass immediately. It takes time to establish awesome characters are awesome and don't just tell me this guy is awesome--I have to come to believe it for myself by the character's actions. I was never as in awe of Quinn as the narrator, 12 year old Abney. That's probably intentional, but this story is notably better once the focus shifts from how awesome knight Quinn is to the stakes of Abney and his mom attempting to resettle after the New Karlsville disaster. \n Unfortunately, like with many novellas, I always feel like I'm in the middle of a story that feels half-baked. There's a lot of world building that's vague, and no amount of connecting with the characters or potential coolness of the world could eliminate this feeling of being unmoored for me. There's also an incongruous aspect to this novella: Abney is a 12-year old protagonist, which really works for introducing us to this futuristic world. However, this is another narrative retelling, where we're being told about Abney's journey from New Karlsville to Winfort by the older Abney that already made the journey. Older Abney, presumably, should've known more about the world than 12-year old Abney, but we're never given this perspective. It gives the world building a bait-and-switch feel where a lot of information is purposefully kept from us by the narrator and characters in story. \n Full review at Throw This Book at Me", "date_added": "Sat Apr 16 12:24:22 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 28 08:11:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Apr 28 08:11:43 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Apr 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "23299663", "review_id": "0ffcf850c71b265fc2678ecfd7301a6f", "rating": 1, "review_text": "This was a slog of a book from the beginning, and I marked it DNF. There's no charm to this story, and all of the characters felt flat. Katrina's a mustache twirling villain, and it's not that there's a lot introduce early in the book, but the world building is so thin and clumsy that I never got interested in the story. Katrina is a fire elemental, but this book starts too fast for me to care about Cade or Katrina and their backgrounds. Then it switches to Mara and her sickness too fast for me to care about her. Then 'weeks, even months' pass, which is a huge time skip in the first quarter of a book. A time skip this large at the beginning of the novel means that it didn't start in the right place. I really love werewolf books, but I have to care about the characters for them to work, and that never happened once in the first third of this book. The characters were just thin to me, and I never connected with them.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 13 12:22:27 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 13 13:21:05 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Apr 13 13:21:05 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "24424154", "review_id": "f80f9e8395a718b4fcf226f034361b3e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "We start where How to Date Dead Guys left off. There's no time skip--we jump right in after Mike disappears into the river. Emma is still dealing from the shock of losing all of her friends, and she wants to solve Steve's murder. She also clearly has unresolved feelings for Jake, even though she came to grips with her issues with Mike at the end of How to Date Dead Guys. \n Emma and Walker investigate a series of murders, and Emma becomes possessed by the spirits of the victims. She relives their deaths, and a particularly evil spirit, Shadow, inhabits her, too. Through Shadow, Emma learns that 'the Master' wants to turn her to The Dark Side. This part of the plot isn't particularly clear, but it launches the story into the possession plot line, which carries through the remainder of the story in a more satisfying way than whatever is meant to happen with the Master. \n There are lots of horror elements in this novel, more so than in the first book of the series. The dead church ladies coupled with Emma's hallucinations are creepy, and while the visualization works, it's not the story's strongest elements. The psychological tension between Emma, Walker, and their respective families grips much harder than anything with dead people and witches. The tone in How to Ditch Dead Guys isn't as lighthearted as the one in How to Date Dead Guys, but during its best moments, the book tries for it. The ease with which the characters interact offsets the darker moments in this series. \n The award of 'Most Improved Character' goes to Walker. He's an actual character in this novel instead of a plot device! Walker's growing relationship with Emma and the tension between Emma and his family is more dramatic than a thousand spirit possessions. I genuinely cared what would happen with Walker this time, and I'm glad he's sticking around in this series. Being that this is, you know, a series about dead people and necromancy, that's not a guarantee. \n Part 2 opens when Emma 'dies' and goes to purgatory. Her spell to destroy the Book of Shadows goes awry and she finds herself in a swim center. The bad news? She thinks she's dead. The best news? Jake is back, and oh boy, did this story need the romantic tension he shares with Emma. The purgatory section focused on what this series does best: interpersonal tensions. All of the paranormal elements are side dressings to how Bernard misses his wife or how none of them trust Steve or how Emma can't parse her complicated feelings for Jake. The paranormal elements are underwhelming compared to what's happening between the characters, which is the tension the feeds the story. \n This carries through to the end of the novel, where Mike and his brother, Kevin, come back into the story. Kevin's a cop now, and he helps Emma clear Walker's name. Emma's guilt propelled How to Date Dead Guys into the final act, and Emma's understandable stubbornness in the face of her family and friends' struggles brings this second book in the series to a close. If I'm honest, I wasn't quite as into the earlier parts of this book because I didn't feel the focus on the paranormal elements did Emma or the story any favors, but these stories are slow burners. The later parts of the book make up for some of what I found lacking early on because the story shifted back to relying on the tension between the characters for drama, which is what worked the best in this novel. \n Full review at Throw This Book at Me", "date_added": "Wed Apr 13 12:21:42 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon May 02 08:30:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon May 02 08:30:51 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "27226794", "review_id": "7c02865d1ec1a3ba48111f85fdf8c5d4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Shadows by Christi J. Whitney \n Shadows picks up at graduation, about 1-2 months after Grey ended. Sebastian graduated, he's still estranged from his friends and still a gargoyle. I thought we might get a moment where he reveals his secret to Katie early on, but it doesn't happen. Instead, Sebastian agrees to go back to the Romaney clan. This is clearly trouble. \n Do I ever love the brotherly relationship between Hugo and Sebastian. Grey surprised me when it focused on it towards the end without ever letting up on also focusing on the romance with Josephine. It's nice to see characters who love their family, friends, and have romantic interests. We learn a lot more about the Romaney family in this novel, including their particular family dynamic. The Romaney's (with Nicholas as bandoleer) are more authoritarian than the Corsi clan, which made me miss the relationships between the Gypsy Ink Corsi's even more as the novel progressed. \n There's a lot of talk about how Sebastian should accept himself and his gargoyle nature. There's a lot I don't know about this. That's partly because the nature of the Shadowen is kept secret. It seems like a not-so-good idea to me. This plot thread remains unresolved by the end of the story. There's a narrative split between the acceptance camp and the repression camp, and it's ultimately not clear which way will solve Sebastian's problems controlling himself. \n Sebastian's life with the Romaney's is rough. There are new levels of terrible explored, and when you think it's not going to get worse, it does. No one likes him, and a big mystery about the nature of the Shadowen develops. One of the gargoyles from Grey returns, but he's a true, mindless monster now. The fear that Sebastian is going to turn is real. THE FEAR IS REAL. Like in Grey, Shadows pays off the emotional stakes at the end of the story. I suspected Shadows was going to have a downer ending, but that still didn't prepare me for how angry it made me. I need book 3 right now I'm not okay with my feelings at the end this book. \n Josephine got a personality! She's still a quiet, sometimes 'too pure' character, but the rigid family structure of the Romaney clan shaped who she is. She doesn't have real friends; she's being groomed for an important role in gypsy society, so she's carried that responsibility from a young age. She's a girl who never got to be a child, and she's clearly repressed a lot of feelings. It's difficult to empathize with a guarded character because, well, they don't emote much, but Josephine comes into herself in Shadows. It's official: I believe in her as a love interest. \n The new Romaney clan characters are strong. Zara, Phoebe, and twin Francis, who got some but not a lot of time last book, stand out. There are a lot of effortlessly likable characters in this story. There are also a lot of detestable characters in this story. Quentin wins the most hated character, hands down. I typically don't like when 'the other woman/the other man' is the default bad character, but the twist at the end of the story sold me on Quentin as a villain with his own, particular motives beyond 'easy love triangle antagonist.' Augustine makes an appearance again, and while he appeared more of a nuisance in Grey, he's advanced to the stage of The Chessmaster in Shadows. Augustine has a plan, and while some of it's clear, most of his secrets remain mysteries. Shadows ends on the biggest of cliff hangers, so don't expect resolution, even the bitter sweet kind, like in Grey.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 12 10:03:37 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 01 09:29:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 01 15:08:34 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "23899193", "review_id": "5a5bf601aadabb6c2f3764586c208e80", "rating": 5, "review_text": "There's so much about this book to love. It's a quality swashbuckler tale, and every time I thought I had this story figured out, it kept going and changing the rules. With less competent narration, this wouldn't work, but Falcio's blend of humor, stubbornness, and world-weariness ground this fast-paced story in a depth of human emotions. Falcio, the First Cantor of the Greatcoats, starts the story in a duel. The entire novel revolves around duels, which works well because the fight scenes are all well-paced and authentically fun. That's another thing about this series that I loved: the humor between the characters (especially the three friends Brasti, Kest, and Falcio) fits with their personalities and helped me get into the story. I love humorous fantasy, but it's so rare to find quality humor mixed in with gory action scenes and have it work. \n The duel transitions to a palace attack, and the fearful attacker is the Saint, Birgid, who's controlled by powerful magical mask. The main plot launches here, and the Greatcoats have to figure out who is killing the Saints of Tristia before said murderer can kill Ethalia, the newest Saint of Mercy and Falcio's on-again-off-again-it's-complicated lover. If you're new to the series, there's a lot of back story with the dead King, Falcio's daughter Valiana, and Falcio's dead wife Aline that consume the beginning chapters of the story. You can get into the series here, but it's going to be a bit of a tough go for several chapters until they get to the church and try to save Saint Birgid. \n Full review at Throw This Book at Me", "date_added": "Wed Apr 06 19:39:59 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 14 06:59:06 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Apr 14 14:25:57 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "13518388", "review_id": "0b59ffb5cae6f8ab8866b7861880a511", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Writing one star reviews is a drag, but this isn't even 'so bad it's good.' It's just a slog of a story. Any elements that might have potentially been interesting are lost in the mess. (Note: that's not to say the writing itself is incorrect or bad. It's not. The problems are with the overall story.) This should've been about a third of the length with a narrower scope. There's simply too much description, and if you're going to pack your story with that many words, you've got to earn them. Spoiler: this story doesn't. \n Personal rant (and what convinced me this story wasn't going to have a late book comeback): If you don't know about cross country travel and you want to write it into your epic fantasy, run your story by someone who knows how outdoor travel works. This section made me want to scream but not with joy. Everyone uses maps or a compass, so Kamarie's 'know these woods skills' logic wouldn't freaking work. You get lost SO EASILY in the woods. Then, there's this gem: \"How did you learn about firewood?\" Yet, she can't tell upstream from downstream? Has she seen water? She rides horses! She's had to have seen a freaking stream at some point. This character makes zero sense, and it's clear she's vastly under qualified for this mission. Sorry, I'm not suspending my disbelief that much. \n Full review at Throw This Book at Me", "date_added": "Sat Apr 02 13:31:15 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 08 08:51:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Apr 08 08:51:43 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "28497161", "review_id": "88a479f18f12281c7a535e117d880cef", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Derric is a stable boy whose sister, Sarah, is the lady in waiting to Princess Maria. Maria is under a curse, which she thinks can be broken by Prince Humphrey. However, curses are like contracts, and true love gets in the way, so Derric has to have is step mother, the evil sorceress, but the curse on Maria. There are a lot of good plot elements that should be in this story, but the characters are one-dimensional and the writing lacks the humor needed to carry off the story's more interesting ideas. \n Read the rest at Throw This Book at Me", "date_added": "Sat Apr 02 10:02:02 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 29 09:33:59 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "26115230", "review_id": "1be39a266d2f01ac4d3688039c577698", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sebastian wants to be apprenticed to his tattoo artist brother, Hugo, when a whole lot of weirdness steps into his life. Sebastian finds out that his brother is a part of the Corsi gypsy clan, and he's made an honorary member. This is around the time the Romany clan and their performing circus comes back into town with the alluring Josephine, who Sebastian feels a strange urge to protect. \n This is a story that was, for me personally, was a bizarre read. This isn't because the book was bad, but because it did several things that ultimately make it difficult for me to judge a book (more on those below). By about ~25% of the way through a book, I ask myself what I'd rate the book. At about ~2/3 of the way through the book, I check back in and ask myself if that rating still holds. For most books, it does, and to me, the ending is usually inconsequential if the set-up works. (An ending has to be horrendous for me to rage-quit a book.) However, I knew whether I loved this book or found it 'meh' would hang solely on the ending. I vacillated between finding this book tedious and being unable to put it down within the same freaking chapter. \n The voice of Sebastian is engaging. Sebastian's personality isn't particularly original in YA, but it kept me hooked. The 'I-want-a-normal-life' plot works because it's obvious this story is careening into crazy, and the horror of Sebastian's transformation drives this aspect of the story. I felt bad for Sebastian for 100% of this story, but some people might find aspects of his self-depreciating personality grating. \n The secretive element of the gypsy clans are played up early in the novel, and that slows it down. However, I didn't want to stop reading this piece because I hoped those secrets would pay off. The risk of using secrets is that they can make/break an ending. I'm not sure all of these secrets paid off, specifically in the case of Josephine and her past, but the ending didn't end up relying on the gypsy clan secrets to make it work. This was a massive relief for me because the 'we can't talk about this now' moments early on made me wary that there was going to be a half-baked plot drop at the end. There's not! It's more of a straight-forward action climax with a surprise, low-key coda ending, which paid off the main, emotional plot elements well, ignoring the vaguely defined gypsy mysteries that could've bogged down this ending. \n This story reminded me of Horns, but in a good way, in that it kept the focus on Sebastian and his struggles. Josephine is underdeveloped as a love interest, but this doesn't destroy the story because it's apparent that this relationship is designed to be unrequited and one-sided. This means that Sebastian's longing for Josephine doesn't rely on her being developed or returning his affections. Most of Sebastian's friends didn't get a lot of novel time, but Katie stood out as a solid choice for a best-friend. Katie didn't feel like a stereotype. None of these characters did, which is refreshing in YA, and this novel never descends into high school cliche verses high school cliche. \n Didn't particularly care for the gargoyle characters. They could've been fleshed out more. They seemed out of place, which was weird, considering the rest of the cast felt like they fit into the story well. They're basically there to serve as mooks at the end, but being that this is the first book in a trilogy, I'm sure their leader, Augustine, is going to play a major part in the next part(s) of this series. \n Full review at Throw This book at Me", "date_added": "Tue Mar 29 15:08:19 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 18 09:57:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Apr 18 09:57:44 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Apr 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "22716886", "review_id": "90dfcb7b524d35cc276277b5c0423f7a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "How to Date Dead Guys is about Emma, a nerdy college girl who has problems fitting in because she's always had a connection to spirits. When her crush drowns, Emma is over come with guilt, and she'll do anything to get him back, including summoning him from beyond the grave. However, it's not Mike that comes back, but Sam, a boy who killed himself the semester before. The story gets more complex, yet remains fun, as more people come back from the dead. Emma has to find a way to put them to rest while overcoming her own guilt over Mike's death. \n The call kidnaps Emma and Chrissy gives her a makeover. If you like Ghost World (the movie), you'll love the tone and feel of this book. Early on, we meet a pioneer spirit girl and a chem TA who dropped in the river by the local college. The river becomes a major set piece in the novel, and it works unusual elements of horror into the story. \n Full review of How to Date Dead Guys", "date_added": "Mon Mar 28 09:24:05 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 04 10:20:16 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Apr 04 10:20:16 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "26879148", "review_id": "b438d1cff36265f4618bf48f602a6111", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I enjoyed the fantasy sci-fi magic blend that's The Fifth Vertex. This is a sophomore slump in the series. The three main characters, Urus, Cailix, and Goodwyn are still as well fleshed-out as they were in the first book, but there are pacing problems that hampered my interests in this follow up book. The world building is still solid, but some of the new characters don't work, which is a problem for the plot. \n The story starts when Urus is going to a council meeting to determine if he lives or dies. He's sentenced to death, but he's saved by another sigilord, Lu (or Luse). Lu wasn't as fleshed out as the main three cast members, and she had LOVE INTEREST plastered on her from page one. Her relationships with the characters, even Urus, never felt fleshed out enough. She's a huge character early in the book, which is what I think drags it down. \n Read the rest of the review on Throw This Book at Me", "date_added": "Wed Mar 23 18:32:48 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 06 10:27:53 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Apr 06 10:27:53 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "8748031", "review_id": "97ed7a28efd95edf173de01f75dbeb6a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Humans and elves are at war and have a mutual species hatred for each other. The humans think the elves (there's no confirmation, however, that the elves did this) released the ferals-roided up wild animals-onto human lands. The ferals have one purpose: to kill all humans (Bender would be proud). The story begins with Ayden, an elf ranger, cheering on the ferals from a distance while they harass some humans. However, Ayden's sister, Ella, goes to see a human friend, Ayden follows, and they both get captured. Upon capture, they're brought to the prince, Freyrik, and he takes more than a little bit of a liking to Ayden, who becomes his slave. \n In many ways, this book is very simple: it's a BDSM romance between a king and his reluctant slave. In other ways, I found myself surprised with how much care is taken to build that relationship into something that wasn't creepy. There's a lot of back and forth between Ayden, and the slowing down of the main plot (the imminent attack of the feral surge) gives Ayden and Freyriks' relationship time to grow into something more mutual and less coercive. Yes, there is a lot of erotica here, maybe more than some readers want, but there's enough other plot that the story shows as much restraint as Freyrik in focusing on the more sexual aspects of the relationship. (That said, it's an M/M adult romance; expect dicks.) \n Read the rest at Throw This Book at Me", "date_added": "Fri Dec 05 04:55:28 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 05 04:56:43 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "21943349", "review_id": "c559e82cc04c8f8d521686c0cdf28a7a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Jacob had what could understatedly be called an unusual upbringing by an occultist family in North Dakota. But these aren't just any crazies living off the grid-Jake is from the Greene family, a group of fanatics who believe they're going to be the ones to bring about the Apocalypse by releasing the Younger Gods of the Deep into the human world and ushering in the last age of man. This-and a graphic incident where Jake's only childhood friend is tricked into getting his heart cut out on prom night-causes Jake to flee from his family and move to New York City. Jake hopes to leave all of his occult baggage behind him, but when his sister, Esther, begins committing ritualistic sacrifices in Central Park, he knows he's the only one who can stop her. \n Jake enlists the help of his Nephilim roommate (Carter), the daughter of a voodoo high priestess (Antoinette), an ex-NYPD cop turned supernatural soldier (Dorthea), and a smorgasbord of other denizens of New York that are involved in the supernatural community. During the best moments, the complex supernatural network is reminiscent of what I loved about Neil Gaimen's Neverwhere; we're treated to what feels like the tip of the iceberg of a vast and complex world. The aspects of supernatural New York are deftly woven with the aspects of what makes real New York unique, and this story definitely feels like it couldn't have taken place anywhere else but New York. That said, you'll enjoy this story more if you like New York or buy into the mystique (and what I personally consider the myth) of what makes New York special. If you're a bit 'meh' on New York in general, then the little details of this book might just make you role your eyes. The major plot of the book is Jake & Co. going around to each burrough to alert and then help protect the five hearts of New York. If you just rolled your eyes at that line, you probably shouldn't read this book because this plot consumes the majority of the story. \n Read the rest of the review at Throw This Book at Me", "date_added": "Mon Oct 13 09:35:04 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 13 09:35:48 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "22045893", "review_id": "8028400cdeb9ae616d011149dda31d96", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I recieved this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. \n I've never read something that I could describe as Christian horror-erotica, but this book is exactly that. \n Assumpta is a young woman who's out on her luck; she's a woman of deep, Catholic faith, but one with special magical abilities. Assumpta is literally paying her father back for everything he bought her from her birth (the hospital bill) through to her eighteenth birthday when she moves out. This is, quite simply, absurd characterization and not an organic plot point at all. Money problems? Sure, but there are more believable ways to give a character financial problems. That's roughly the extent of Assumpta's character: broken, magical, and religious. She gets mixed up with Greg, a man who's cursed with a demon by an ancient artifact. Unfortunately, Greg and Assumpta have no chemistry. This is a problem with the character's throughout the novel. The closest a relationship in this novel gets to a real relationship is the one between Father Tony and Assumpta. \n The stone demons start out as a creepy mystery; they scuttle up and down Assumpta's body, and blessed items burn her. When Assumpta starts to turn to stone, I felt like I should've been invested in her, but by then, the demon plot went in a strange direction--and not good strange. There are numerous long scenes of demonic sexual assault, and erotica just isn't my thing. It's not that I'm a prude, it's just that the scenes are neither titilating nor horrific. \n The final nail for me was the major plot point where Assumpta becomes more desirable to the demons because she's been baptized. She spends a lot of time wringing her hands about Greg not being baptized, and like the shallow characters, the argument against atheism is equally paltry. To read this book, you do honestly have to believe in heaven and hell, or Assumpta's worry about Greg going to hell isn't going to mean much to you. I'm not opposed to characters who are Christian's, but this book isn't clever or thoughtful enough to pull off nuanced theological discussions.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 01 16:50:13 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 01 17:12:44 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "20826785", "review_id": "f7ca3cefbd64555b1e25fb7051128e8f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Daniel is a 200 year old Protector, people who spend their afterlife protecting humans from Nightmares, which are creatures who invade people's minds and make them go insane. Daniel's job is a Catcher, someone who stops the Nightmares, and he partners with other Catchers and at least one Weaver, whose job it is to bring humans dreams. When Daniel is assigned to protect Kayla, a sixteen year-old girl in a mental institution, he knows he'll have his work cut out for him--and this goes double when, during his first night on duty, Kayla is attacked by six Nightmares at once. The race is one to find out why Kayla is a special target, but the more Daniel digs into Kayla's history, the more he finds himself attracted to her. \n For the most part, I really liked Daniel's character, and he was the right choice as the focus on this story. His personality and the world-building is established immediately, and there's a lot of history between Daniel, Seth, Sam, and Tabbi that is hinted at; I got the impression that these were people who'd been friends for a long time. They shared stories, had that easy lingo that exists among friends, and it simply made them human. These characters are also funny, which is a huge plus for me in a paranormal book. Some of the older characters like Giovanni, Bartholomew, and Trishna aren't as fleshed out, but they don't have to be; they serve their given roles well. \n Full review on Throw This Book at Me", "date_added": "Sun Sep 28 13:01:25 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 29 08:25:50 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "22542586", "review_id": "abac8b5362cccdc3df13e98aaa35fd9d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Avian begins where Fledgling left off--literally with Jaevid in the same scene still reluctantly riding home for the three month interlude. Jaevid returns to find Katty with another boy (another blacksmith!) named Bren and his childhood home abandoned. Katty lives up to her name early on, and it's clear she has complicated feelings for Jaevid, who has no desire to relate or reconnect with his childhood friend. \n Jaevid learns wood-working, finds a mysterious sword, and a note from his brother, who's now an infantry man at the front. These things (and Mavrik's company) keep Jaevid from spiraling into self-loathing angst. Jaevid can't indulge carpentry forever because an urgent letter from Beckah prompts him to go help her, Sile, and her family. Jaevid finds Icarus chose Beckah to be a dragon rider, and even though women aren't allowed to go to the academy, Beckah is determined to learn, but things take another turn for the urgent when Sile's wife nearly dies during pregnancy. She's saved by Jaevid, who triggers a series of new Eleven powers, including super-healing and initiating his own growth spurt into adulthood. \n Then, the dreams begin...dreams that aren't part of Jaevid's memory. He sees his mother, who talks to him while a mysterious Elf kills the king. At the end, there's a lone soldier, and for most of the novel, Jaevid wakes up here. The dream begins to impact Jaevid's life at the academy, and he knows the plot on Sile's life extended all the way to the king. Jaevid knows his dreams are connected, but he's struggling to survive his second year at the academy, which includes rooming with his school nemesis, Lyon. \n I seriously never wanted to stop reading this book. The slight up-tick in pace, the logical growth in the characters were all great. There's so much that happens in this second book, and the biggest improvement is that everything feels a bit more organically rooted this time. Jaevid's relationships with Beckah and Sile are fleshed out, and Felix's incongruous attitudes become grounded in his family problems. \n The training was more practical this time. That has to do with Jace Rodin being an actual character instead of a last-minute stand in for Sile. The sadistic instructor, Thrane, pushes Jaevid to his limits. Thrane's a racist, and he gets to Jaevid by breaking Lyon's arm repeatedly and trying to goad Jaevid into a battle fever. \n Mavrik, Icarus, and Nova all have actual personalities. The dragons still aren't the main draw to this novel, but Icarus is a big-softy now. Mavrik has his own frustrations now; he's being trained to keep pace with Jace's dragon, Ghost, who is the fastest flyer among the dragon riders. \n The one plot I didn't like: Katty's. It felt like trying to avoid a love triangle. This worked a little bit because Jaevid becomes friends with Bren, Katty's new boyfriend. However, I still didn't quite get the sudden change in Katty's personality. I suppose that it could be explained because we're seeing the entire relationship through Jaevid's perspective, and he's clearly confused about Katty's actions as well. \n Beckah: a turn for the awesome. I liked her in Fledgling, but I loved her in Avian. Beckah's plot to become a dragon rider concludes awesomely. There was a scene with Beckah that I expected to go one cliche direction, but I loved her a thousand times more when that scenario was subverted. I don't want to say anything else more about that scene because it's worth it. For all the great moments Beckah gets in Avian, you should know where her plot with Jaevid is going. Jaevid and Beckah have 'forbidden romance' oozing from their pores, and it's a sweet romance. \n This book was exactly like I expected, and yet, refreshing and different. It grew out of the mold Fledgling provided. The academy is more dangerous, the mysteries behind the conspiracy feel like they matter, and Jaevid struggles with his new powers and strengths. Every character in this story feels like they belonged in this world more.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 26 09:34:05 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon May 16 22:37:09 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon May 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "22891924", "review_id": "b8ef6c69afbdfb4974f710e89ce88447", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Thyra Winter is the Snow Queen, her powers gifted to her by Mael Voss. Her fate is bound to his task of assembling a magic mirror before she turns eighteen or else she'll become one of the disembodied wraiths that haunt her frozen castle. Thyra suppresses her emotions to deal with the oppressive nature of living with Voss and with the seeming impossibility of her task. The premise is interesting, but the focus veers away from all of that and delves into Thyra immediately trying to recruit a local yet somehow brilliant boy, Kai, to help her construct the mirror. This is a problem because Thyra's struggle with Voss and his old mentor, Sephia, could've made an interesting story if it would've been the focus. \n Spoiler: it wasn't. Instead of this more interesting book, we get Thyra chasing a boy, Kai, and adopting a puppy, Luki. I ended up enjoying Luki as an animal companion, but the fact that the dog is the most interesting character in the story says something for how shallow the remaining characters are. Thyra's character veers into Frozen fanfic territory. No, really, it's Frozen fanfic. She uses the phrase 'Let it go' too many times for this to be a coincidence. This served to limit Thyra as a character for me, and she doesn't step beyond being a shadow of Elsa's (more vibrant and fleshed out) personality. \n Full Review at Throw This Book at Me", "date_added": "Fri Sep 26 09:33:03 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 11 10:35:13 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Apr 11 10:35:13 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "20344877", "review_id": "736be1f845bce74ce094dcd11f8b726c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Five survivors of supernatural trauma are coerced by their psychiatrist into joining a unique support group. If the premise of monster therapy sounds interesting to you, read on. Harrison is a twenty-something ex-monster hunter who's less devil-may-care than he initially appears. Stan is an amputee from cannibalism, who's in love with being a victim. Barbara encountered the mysterious Scrimshander, who carved something into her literal bones. Martin is an RPG obsessed guy who begins seeing Dwellers, creatures from the other side, and Greta is...well, she's a girl with a secret, and initially seems like the key to why they're all gathered together. The book is an extended character study on the trauma the Last Boy or Last Girl that defeats or survives the monsters undergoes. To be a hero means being a survivor, with all the PTSD that entails. \n The styling of each chapter changes subtly to match each of the character's personalities. Harrison's chapters are sharper, more to the point; Barbara's sections are more lyrical. Stan is annoying, but this is intentional. Martin's reveal starts out a bit lame, but it's turned into something deeper, and it's after Martin's reveal that I really began to trust this book, believe in its story. The book does start out tedious, but it begins to pay off. At first, Greta is used as more of a plot device than an actual character, but this changes as well; no character in this book is used solely for their backstory. Rather, the backstories build to enhance the relationships between the various characters, including the psychiatrist, Jan. It's not a superhero team up, so don't go into this book expecting that, but the character's relate in ways that are more authentic, even if that means they're not heroic. In many ways, this book subverts and challenges what it means to be a hero (seriously, there's a fantastic Campell shout out in here). \n Rating: 4 stars because the character building and backstories pay off in interesting, if not entirely surprising, ways. \n Full review on Throw This Book at Me", "date_added": "Thu Sep 25 14:41:22 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 25 14:42:50 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "13597733", "review_id": "1c3ee47b1aa10c1d448f87770ad7c32f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Zadie's sister Mara was hit by a bus and is in a coma, and Zadie is feeling guilty about chasing a boy, Gavin, while her sister is on the brink of death. Zadie's guilt isn't misplaced because she has magic powers, and she thinks she might be able to bring her sister back to life. The novel starts slow and gains traction, and the initial focus is on Zadie and her BFF, Naomi, who are both obsessed with getting a double date with the afore mentioned Gavin and his cute friend, Danny. But this story builds from Sweet Valley High to haunted house, and that's where its strength is. \n Rating: 3 stars -- loved the writing style, but didn't connect with some of the characters and didn't enjoy parts of the plot \n Full review at Throw This Book at Me", "date_added": "Wed Sep 24 19:05:59 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 24 19:33:29 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "23000230", "review_id": "17e7b80f16c8246709def0d85809046a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Urus is a young man living in the culture that values warriors above all else...and he's about to be culled, turned into the biggest pariah in his society. If you want to know what the phrase 'start where the action begins' means, read the beginning of this book; Urus starts the novel ready to commit suicide because he considers himself worthless and a failure at the one goal he wanted his entire life (his uncle and best friend are elite warriors, so it does make sense from a personal angle that he'd want to join their ranks). \n My rating: 4 for world building and a main character that was heroic while struggling and being genuinely flawed \n Read the full review at Throw This Book at Me.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 24 18:32:08 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 24 19:33:44 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "15830521", "review_id": "11d4ba4ab86111f15e0c963d95acdd9e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A struggling young woman searching for meaning in her life, a tragic family event, a mysterious man...this story starts off with all the paranormal fantasy hallmarks. The main character Arionna reminded me of Elena from the first season of the Vampire Diaries when she was introduced; this is not a bad thing. Remember how you used to care about Elena? Back in the day when she had agency and choices? Me, too. If you liked that version of Elena, Arionna is the protagonist for you. Arionna cares a lot about her dad and friends. That said, Arionna falls into the trope of lost-little paranormal heroine once and a while; the bonus is she doesn't need constant saving, so that's a thing. \n Rating: 3.5 - the beginning of the book is closer to a 3, but the mythology reveals elevates the later half to a 4. \n Go to blog for the full review", "date_added": "Fri Sep 19 21:12:58 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 19 21:19:38 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Sep 20 21:19:38 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "18520957", "review_id": "97bfa0556888fc2b562ed023dd617a7c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Fall picks up about a month after Fade ends, and Arionna is recovering in the hospital from Skroll and Hati's attack. Arionna is now plagued by nightmares of Fenrir and the twin demon wolves; she's also starting to understand the darker side of Dace's nature. Dace is willing to sacrifice anything and everyone to keep her from being attacked again, and Arionna fears this is going to turn him into a literal monster, so she leaves Bebee to go in search of answers to stop the apocalypse. \n The story starts out stronger than Fade does, and there's an urgency to Arionna's problems in this book that there wasn't in the first one. Her relationship to Dace is sorely tested, too, and there are good moments where Dace gives off the vibe that he could potentially become abusive. Arionna is smart enough to realize that, if she doesn't figure this thing out for herself, Dace's need to protect her is going to lead him to further manipulate her, controlling every aspect of her life. This is a challenge most heroines with alpha male boyfriends face, and Arionna is wise enough to know what the starter kit for an abusive relationship looks like; in a nice twist, she leaves Dace instead of him fleeing to protect her from himself. \n Rating: I can't state enough how I wanted to like this book more, but the ending killed it for me. Something else needed to happen; it was too much set-up and too little pay off. This isn't the first series I've read that's done this, and it ticks me off every time. Sequels are hard, I know, but book two is where the ugly, miserable parts of your characters and weird, complex world-building can really shine. I am going to finish this series, but 3 stars for dropping the ball on the climax. \n Read the rest of the review at Throw This Book at Me", "date_added": "Fri Sep 19 21:12:48 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 11 07:19:47 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "9645260", "review_id": "073b8a52dbdcfa4c710eacb49f1cf04c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I couldn't stop thinking about this book; I read it really quickly, knew I liked the writing style, not sure how I felt about the overall story, and then it took a full 48 hours to sink in--this book was flipping great. The writing is the snappy, fast-paced, and the characters are all fleshed out, and I felt like I knew them all instantly. \n Read the rest of the review on my blog \n Read if: you're an urban fantasy nut. \n Beware if: you have a low tolerance for steam punk mixed into your urban fantasy. Also, if you like erotica, this book isn't for you. \n My rating: 5 stars for having a full story, teasing the sequel, and being unable to get off my brain.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 16 12:15:07 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 20 19:24:09 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "219205", "review_id": "02f4a700445dd11811f74f9aa07da31c", "rating": 1, "review_text": "This book starts out with a lot of promise, and the general idea is that a festering asshole of a human is transported to a fantasy realm and thinks it's a dream. Initially, it's a great concept. The fantasy world isn't interesting. That's what caused me to DNF.", "date_added": "Mon May 13 21:08:21 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 03 10:08:15 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Aug 03 10:41:30 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5e72863b9b6029543c922dea68c263d0", "book_id": "6690798", "review_id": "a6758205d895fb01edb5d73bdd309773", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I've seen people hyping City of Mirrors, and I wanted to come and leave a review for one of the worst books I've literally ever tried to read (emphasis on try). First, Cronin HATES vampire stories. He wanted to play around with the ideas of vampires without understanding what makes those stories (and interesting subversions of those stories!) work. He just doesn't get it. I'd argue he doesn't get fantasy as a genre, either, because this book was boring. There wasn't half the substance in this book found in equally long epic fantasy books. The world building is haphazard, and the inconsistent characters and needless time jump will drive you to insanity faster than Cthulhu. Even for lit fic, with zero vampires or apocalypse added, this book would've been tedious. The characters do nothing. You get backstory info dumps instantly that are supposed to make you care about his one dimensional creations. I hated every character (and not in a love-to-hate or 'this is the evil, mustache twirling villain' way). They all felt like unsympathetic villains pity-pandering for sympathy. The only character I sort of liked was the cranky federal agent/experimentation guy that played solitaire and hated everyone else in the novel as much as I did (and he died half-way through). The entire Twilight series was a better vampire story than this mess.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 28 13:04:26 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun May 01 19:25:42 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1089e55275e63dccf2ea3ada60708f42", "book_id": "17255435", "review_id": "5a794b3bed04d141064846046b1798b7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I usually hate everything about vampire books but, this one had me staying up until two just to read a little bit more! I love this book and the conflict of characters! Along with the strange cliff hanger at the end! Makes you think! Loved loved loved it!!!!", "date_added": "Thu Aug 22 11:32:46 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 22 11:34:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1089e55275e63dccf2ea3ada60708f42", "book_id": "17607786", "review_id": "de465db729987fc4bed2ed092ac65f84", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This was absolutely amazing! I am speechless! :) <3", "date_added": "Sun May 19 17:09:35 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 08 18:42:56 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1089e55275e63dccf2ea3ada60708f42", "book_id": "7896527", "review_id": "836b9233956608349490bdd138701814", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book really was a work of art, absolutely amazing!!!", "date_added": "Wed Feb 20 15:52:37 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 23 17:34:06 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1089e55275e63dccf2ea3ada60708f42", "book_id": "6131164", "review_id": "04d7358e4f1010a5e68e378eaba7000e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "all I have got to say is Tessa better choose Will I'm going to implode!!!!! IN THE END EVERYONE WINS AND SHE STILL CHOOSE WILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY!!! AMAZING WRITE JUST BRILLIANT!", "date_added": "Sat Feb 09 13:49:26 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 27 13:30:48 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "15818042", "review_id": "3c52953fe49e150f39b992613e17430b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "There are some books in the romance genre that are so wrapped up in \"finding love,\" the entire plot seems to revolve around the needs of the two main characters. Even when there's danger involved, these kinds of books tend to be anti-climactic. The man has no purpose without the woman. The woman has no future without the man. They live for each other and apart they are nothing. \n I'm sure some people find this terribly romantic. But I find it depressing. There's more to love than finding someone who fills your personal needs. There's more to love than lust and obsession. There's individuality too. There's the will to take care of yourself and the strength to be alone. \n Yep, I said it. There is no love without the strength to be alone. \n This romance novel was a refreshing change from many of the Young Adult novels I've read in the last year that are high on love triangles, teen angst, and emotional dependency. This romance novel has two strong characters, capable of being alone. There is no melodramatic inner-struggle where the man tries for 100 pages to say he loves the protagonist. There are no chapters dedicated to the obsessive idolization of the leading man. No statements from the protagonist about how she'd rather die than live without him. No place where the main female character just can't decide who she loves more and I, as the reader, just want to smack her senseless. \n No, this is a well-crafted book with two mature leading characters. It is refreshing to read about a man using the \"L\" word on his first attempt. Refreshing to cheer for a woman who understands herself, trusts her instincts, and has the strength to be alone. Not only that, but the plot is amazing. There are pirates. Curses. Werewolves. Ghosts. Sacred Stones. Witches. And an entire cast of strong supporting characters. I couldn't put this book down. It was that good.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 28 05:01:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 28 05:44:31 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "10799881", "review_id": "f3f715d88de9ff4c980798701295d823", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was a fast entertaining story--clean, fun and not too serious.", "date_added": "Tue May 29 19:04:34 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue May 29 19:06:31 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "9915707", "review_id": "80f39c7376acb3204dd3113443347137", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I've decided that not every series which begins well also ends well. I had a hard time getting into NEED, the first book in this four book series, but once I was hooked I was really hooked. ENDURE was fabulous. The twists were perfect. The ending was satisfying without feeling cliche. The characters were well developed and the author's insights were spot on. What a great story!", "date_added": "Sun May 13 18:21:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun May 13 18:26:46 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "8673931", "review_id": "71d64c154587e0f121bfcfe2923daa36", "rating": 5, "review_text": "First, I must say that I've never been a fan of scary stories and have, my entire life, been petrified of reading literature that deals with evil spirits, Satan, or hell. That said, I really enjoyed this book. The protagonist is both tough and vulnerable. She's interesting, intelligent, and more insightful than most teenage girls and yet, I could still buy that she was a teenage girl. \n This is a fabulous read.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 22 06:49:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 22 06:54:04 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "11454587", "review_id": "29ec65d6e79f99e4a6d9267a53ff5698", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I really wanted to like this but it just didn't live up to the promise of the first two books in the series. Character development was lacking, the plot was scattered and lacked tension, and the ending was cliche (not going to go into how, but it was). \n The one thing I liked about the story was what the author did with Elodie. That, I had not expected, and it is the one reason I'm glad I finished the book. It must be hard to keep a series engaging for three entire books.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 17 13:48:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 17 14:10:02 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "10518595", "review_id": "4e7c01afb8efe3c4915c20c161c54b2a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I wouldn't call this a three star book so much as a three and half star book. It had a lot of good things going for it, like the fact that the fairies weren't all amoral. This, in and of itself, made it an interesting read for me, even if I did detest Ryland and found him rather, uh . . . creepy. \n The psychological idea of being glamoured against your will was disturbing as well, which was fine and something I could deal with for a short segment of the book, but the way it went on and on was kind of sado-masachistic and left me feeling slightly sick and ripped off by an ending where my sense of justice felt cheated. \n Otherwise, it was a good story.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 10 09:05:31 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 10 09:17:35 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "3575676", "review_id": "a659fcf691f85c9edcf84b109a02fb14", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Despite the good writing, I couldn't finish this one. The first story was fine, the second one was sort of okay, but by the third I was so tired of sparkling perfect beautiful supernatural creatures that I just couldn't stand to read anymore. And the protagonist in the third story, Keller, was so rude and obnoxious that I couldn't even stand to see things from her point of view.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 17 12:59:18 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 17 13:07:43 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "2985500", "review_id": "a3e6240b2c911a8cff6842ec4cd5cca7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I found this volume more addicting than the first. The first two stories really grabbed me. The last one kind of dragged, but it still kept my interest. I like L.J. Smith's writing style, the way she incorporates the back story into the plot bit by bit so the reader doesn't get bored.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 14 06:38:47 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 14 06:41:03 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "3099787", "review_id": "e2c57c82da2e24a3f2e3f683006ce470", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was a light, frivolous read. The story lines were interesting even though I didn't like all the stories equally. \"Secret Vampire,\" really drew me; \"Daughters of Darkness,\" didn't do much for me as I had a hard time connecting with the characters; and \"Spellbinder\" had a lot of conflict and kept me on the edge of my seat.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 12 06:06:23 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 12 06:11:26 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "9436632", "review_id": "166f6f2050d42529db99194021dad2fd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was the second book in Sophie Jordan's Firelight series, and it started really strong, with an opening scene where Jacinda is falling. The story was gripping; I wasn't bored and there were certain things Sophie did really well, like capturing the desperation one feels in being shunned and censored by an entire community. I liked the inner-struggle Jacinda had going between doing what she wanted verses what she thought was right and responsible. The development of Cassian was good in this one, though Tamara's development seemed a bit sparse. \n I guess I was hoping to like Tamara more, that her attitudes would change toward Jacinda in book II, or that she'd gain more insight, but for most of the book she was just a brat. The character I felt the most sympathy for was their mother, who was treated poorly but had given up, losing her ability to do anything to fight back. The bonding ceremony was cool, as were the powers of the different Draki. I liked the world building in this, and probably would have given it more stars had it not ended on such a cliff hanger.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 05 06:42:03 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 05 06:56:42 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "9642278", "review_id": "0c1ac0e70f4ca58166d7cdc77f612f3f", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I couldn't get through this one. There was no emotional energy in it. The characters were blah and the different POVs were confusing.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 05 06:33:02 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 05 06:35:26 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "7823600", "review_id": "0713639ada70bcf873854ea92a06f720", "rating": 2, "review_text": "After reading a number of rave reviews of this book, my expectations were probably a bit too high. Not the author's fault, of course, as it was a good read and kept my interest. The plot was engaging and it moved. I understand why so many readers like it, but there were a few things about this title that drove me nuts, so I've decided on the pro and con approach: \n Pro: Frannie is a petite girl that kicks some serious butt. \n Con: Frannie is a petite girl without any supernatural strength that can flip a guy twice her size over her shoulder and flat on his back. Fun as this was, it did not ring true to me. \n Pro: The story was told from alternating first person point of view, which helped me see situations from more than one perspective and aided in character development. \n Con: Frannie's voice and Luc's voice were so much alike that I kept mixing them up and forgetting exactly whose point-of-view I was reading from. In fairness, this wasn't as much of a problem in the beginning as it was at the end of the book. \n Pro: This story has some vivid and colorful descriptions. \n Con: Desrochers uses so many adverbs that it drove me c-r-a-z-y. Here's an example: \n . . . a small black spider is furiously building a web across the upper corner. I watch for a while as she moves quickly and smoothly around the circle of her lair, efficiently and meticulously constructing the perfect trap. \n Desrochers, Lisa (2010-09-14). Personal Demons (p. 154). Tor Teen. Kindle Edition. \n Pro: The opening grabs you right away. Not only is there enough mystery to keep you guessing, but there's a ton of romantic tension filled with delicious innuendo. \n Con: Much of the tension fizzles out when the characters get together because they are always, always touching. Don't get me wrong, I like touching, but like all other elements in a story, it can be overdone. \n If characters are touching ALL the time, the magic of connection is harder to maintain. And for me, Frannie's need for closeness bordered on obsessive by the end of the novel. At the beginning she seemed strong, but at the end she seemed needy and in constant emotional turmoil. \n Pro: There's a lot of conflict in this, some of it quite creative. The way the author describes emotions as scents is a stroke of genius. The twist at the end is fabulous, and the fight scenes are anything but generic. \n Con: Though original, I found her exploration of demon possession kind of creepy. Maybe this is due to my preconceived notions, but for me there's nothing romantic about letting a demon into your body. And the times in the story where the demon possession was forced, it was treated much too casually. I'm sorry, but the people who'd been possessed behaved as if nothing had happened afterward, except that they were tired and confused. That's something I just couldn't wrap my head around. \n Despite the cons, this was a fun read. Not deep, but fun. Recommended for anyone who likes romance, angst, and steamy love triangles.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 01 05:12:33 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 07 11:57:08 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "10224627", "review_id": "eb4fb4abca72573f1de49cf0f838d5e2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Can you imagine this girl waking up in a dark alley naked? \n She's in amazing shape, has been arrested for indecent exposure almost a dozen times, and has the biggest roundest . . . eyes you have ever seen. And like most YA characters I've read about lately, she is strong and fast and has the ability to change into something not-quite-human. But unlike these same characters, she doesn't magically keep her clothes on like some G rated, ultra-cleaned up, Disney version of a werewolf/pixie/shapeshifter. This was, in fact, what kept me reading at the beginning when Maggie Mae's story read so much like teen book deja vu. \n Characters with no parents . . . check. \n Vulnerable protagonist with mysterious ability . . .check. \n Good looking rich dark-eyed boy (Bridger) with a secret . . . check. \n Who likes her for no apparent reason . . . check. \n Even when she treats him like crap at the same time she ogles and ogles and ogles him . . . check, check, check. \n In fairness, the girl has abandonment issues. Huge, monstrous abandonment issues. And after she is viciously targeted by bullies in chapter eleven, she gets some pretty bad advice from her foster mother, Mrs. Carpenter, who tells Maggie that if she changes schools she'll be letting the bullies win. \n I can just see how that kind of logic would pan out if we extended it to its natural conclusion. The awkward fourteen-year-old girl I used to be would stay in class for an entire year with the boy who sexually harassed and bullied her rather than change classes. \n Okay, so maybe that actually happened, but things only got worse, not better. And I came to see that the reason I stayed had less to do with being strong and more to do with pride. It wasn't worth it. \n I digress. \n The author makes up for this misguided philosophy when she turns the tables on the reader later, showing how Bridger's true nature is hidden under Maggie Mae's need to project her prejudices and insecurities onto him. \n So you think Bridger's a one-dimensional stuck-up rich kid, do you? A cardboard character derived of nothing but cliches? Well, humph. Is it possible that you are the stuck-up cliche, but have projected your personality onto him? \n My whole mindset changed. \n Bethany did something with the voice of Maggie Mae that Stephenie Meyer couldn't do with Bella's voice in four massive volumes. She put Maggie through a paradigm shift in her thinking and took me with her. It was fabulous. Just fabulous. And I'm not even going to talk about the gripping, edge of your seat feeling I had through most of this book, or the very cool Navajo Skin Walker folklore, or the unbelievable twist at the end that made my stomach plummet. This isn't your typical young adult shapeshifter book. It makes you think. It sits with you. And it's aptly named because it truly shifted my perspective.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 17 09:17:29 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 27 05:12:58 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "9479871", "review_id": "008ab691f161e5a25c85b98e5fba9495", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Love! A romance novel that's tasteful, entertaining, and sticks with you even after you've put it down.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 15 11:44:27 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 15 11:45:40 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "9397967", "review_id": "121ab5a538119a87027b4b3984a755f5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really liked this book as is evidenced by the four stars. It was gripping and kept you guessing to the end, and I will definitely read the sequel. \n That said, I felt a bit dizzy at the beginning trying to figure out the timeline of the story because the author throws much of the back story at readers up front, and does this by using a lot of \"before this happened, and after this happened\" sentences. I had to reread a few parts so that I wouldn't feel so disoriented. Once I got used to her writing style I did fine, thought. \n Believe it or not, even though I've read some reviews complaining about this, I like how the protagonist zeroed in on tassels in her narrative. The detail helped me stay in the story, well . . . until I read this part on page 262: \n \"What did any of it mean? Where could it go? He was a death deity. I was a senior in high school.\" \n At which point I broke out into uproarious laughter and my seven-year-old daughter came running to ask me what was so funny. Note to self for my own writing: don't ever EVER have one of your characters point out how ludicrous the premise of your book is. It breaks the magic. \n Fortunately, I was able to get into the story again pretty fast after that. My husband and I even had a good laugh about it.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 06 08:17:16 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 06 08:36:01 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "6506483", "review_id": "7293a6327b0bb89832ec2a462239eb3c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Good read!", "date_added": "Wed May 18 17:03:24 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed May 18 17:03:49 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "7402393", "review_id": "5eb706ef0aee8045d422b9bbb292d72f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Some things about this book were amazing. I started reading and couldn't put it down. The pacing was perfect, the plot well structured. It was a seat of your pants, high stakes read, all of which I absolutely loved. \n Other things left me wanting more, like the relationship between Calla and Ren. Cremer does a good job of showing their physical chemistry, the way Ren feels about Calla, and the pressures both these characters have as alphas. What I wished there had been more of, any of, actually--were one or two good flashbacks where I could glimpse the kind of \"relationship\" these two had growing up as \"friends.\" \n I mean, with Shay it's understandable that we don't know much about his past. The boy is new to Calla's life and because the story is told from her POV, they have no history she can think about besides saving him from the Grisly. But if Ren and Calla grew up together, you'd think there's be lots of history to draw from, stuff that Cremer could have used to help us better understand Calla's feelings toward Ren. \n Carrie Ryan does this in her book, \"Forest of Hands and Teeth,\" in the midst of bloodshed, fear, and zombies destroying the world. I found myself moved to tears by the scene where Mary and the boy she's supposed to marry, but doesn't love, are tied together in preparation for their union, because he is so kind to her. In Nightshade, though, there was a lot of time spent on physical chemistry and not as much on the emotional chemistry between Calla and Ren. \n In fairness, Cremer did give us a few tender moments with Ren, like the one where he healed Calla. Then again, that one seemed to serve a double purpose, as it showed the kind of relationship the Guardians had with the Keepers. \n This is a great read if you want to explore the implications of blind loyalty. It's thought provoking and Cremer does a good job of showing us how the pack relates to each other, how they're like a family, how tradition is used to control. There's so much good about this book, I'd recommend it to just about anyone.", "date_added": "Mon May 16 08:18:08 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon May 16 08:42:44 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "6382661", "review_id": "d29c178d8e0067e0ea0fc849b6bd0e28", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was a good book. I enjoyed it. The only problem I had with it was that the love interest was introduced way late in the book. There wasn't a lot to build on there and I didn't see why Hannah liked him so much. Also, not much happens for a book this long.", "date_added": "Wed May 11 09:08:40 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed May 11 09:10:05 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "7948945", "review_id": "00d2cfc3f8a430d11765d89c96337b25", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I didn't love, love this book. But I did like it enough that if there's a sequel, I'll be eager for it to come out. Some small things that bugged me: the name of the main male character. \n Haden sounded entirely too much like Hades and that kind of gave things away for me early on. Also, I thought there was a let of telling and back story in the opening chapters. \n Hayes descriptions were excellent and the telling seemed to decrease as the novel progressed until her friends were a bit more fleshed out. It did suck me in, I will give it that. All in all a fun read.", "date_added": "Wed May 04 14:25:39 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed May 04 14:29:49 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "331830", "review_id": "1972ee4ecc40575fa1d6fac625227fad", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book brought me to tears. It's poetic, insightful, and perfectly paced. The Creme Brulee of YA lit. I'm in awe of this author.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 29 19:40:49 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 29 19:44:33 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "6368611", "review_id": "ba1030d333864ca91f92d9d2d69efe3d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Another good book by Melissa Marr. I admit I grew somewhat tired of some of the characters in this one. Seth didn't do nearly as much as what I would have liked him to do. And Melissa Marr clearly LOVES happy endings. This book had the perfect ending for the reader who wants all stories to end in bliss.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 28 14:11:48 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 28 14:14:36 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "8428064", "review_id": "221b73bd99c9fa4b7bd14b830558e0a8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I devoured this one. Seriously, I bought it at the book store yesterday. And I've already finished reading it. If only all books were so gripping. Then again, perhaps I should be grateful they're not, because if they were, I'd never sleep. Rachel Hawkins rocks!", "date_added": "Tue Mar 08 05:20:53 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 29 11:17:03 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "5287473", "review_id": "af8304ec77781abe675b53ecfb230858", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Someone hit me upside the head. I almost didn't buy this because the story looked like the same old witch meets vampire meets werewolf meets shapeshifter teen romance thing, blah blah blah. But this book rocked! \n First off, it sucked you right in (no pun intended). The main character was funny and likable without being too perfect. The plot kept moving; Rachel Hawkins executed plot twists like a pro; and the pacing was awesome! I loved this book and can't wait to get my hands on the sequel.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 17 13:02:40 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 17 13:07:12 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "8685612", "review_id": "e73ff6903956d80eca91b59f60f08f3d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Julie Kagawa is amazing! Make sure you have a box of tissues with you before you reach the end, otherwise you'll end up wiping tears on your sleeve like I did.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 14 13:21:01 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 14 13:22:50 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "6300287", "review_id": "74b4ea5b8beae8fb473dd09e024584b3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "All I can say is wow! This is one of the most heart-felt, gripping, imaginative books I've ever read. Just beautiful.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 20 10:19:31 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 20 10:20:25 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "2820533", "review_id": "99980d0b8de85f878e9f7d528224e1e0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I picked this up at the library after buying Deadly Little Games, the third book in Laurie Stolarz's Touch series. I was drawn to the author's writing style right away, but decided to read the first two books in this series before I just jumped into the third. And believe me, I'm glad I started from the beginning. \n The protagonist is relatable and someone you want to root for, the boy she's interested in is intriguing and intense with a very cool secret, but neither of those two things make the novel. No, what really sets this novel apart is the way Stolarz sets up the mystery in the story. Someone is stalking the protagonist, you see, and she's surrounded by so many likely candidates that it made my head spin trying to figure out who it was. \n The plot is perfectly paced (in my opinion) and I couldn't help but constantly think about the boys in this book and wonder, question, puzzle out constantly who could be stalking the main character. I loved it, though I would caution this may not be the best read for anyone put off by violence, as there are some rather violent scenes toward the end. Now I'm chomping at the bit to get my hands on the second book. I put it on hold at the library, but it hasn't come in yet. :(", "date_added": "Wed Jan 05 05:27:00 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 05 05:38:09 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "7842288", "review_id": "5316632b458d21029e24a130cb12ee72", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I give up, I cannot get through this. Don't get me wrong, it's well written and I totally understand why people love it. I just can't seem to keep interested, though. I must have the shortest attention span known to man.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 02 10:04:42 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 02 10:05:33 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "6448470", "review_id": "972aaa33f16e0b31f436c511bfb2717b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I put off reading this book for weeks, which was a big mistake because I loved it! You know a story touches some part of you when you put it down and immediately want to write a poem about it. Sophie Jordan's prose are beautiful. She has a way with language that made my insides sing with happiness. There was this one sentence where two people touch hands and she describes it by saying their palms are kissing. I know, it's cheesy, but I'm totally into pretty word pictures like that one. This book was breathtaking, so artistic and well crafted. I loved it. \n Oh, and here's my poem: \n Song of the Fire-Breathing Draki \n They call me \"it\" \n A wild unearthly thing \n Cornered in the mouth of a cave \n Shivering in a puddle of red and gold \n Trapped, wounded, dangerous . . . \n I hold my knees to my chest and stare down the hunter \n Infusing my skin, my lungs with fire \n Insisting, demanding, daring him to kill me \n To look me in the eye and send me to my death \n And yet he stands there as if frozen in time \n Caught off guard by my vulnerable face \n The emotion in my posture \n The humanity in my eyes \n I shake and my skin burns hotter \n Red as the pounding blood in my veins \n Gold as the reflected sunlight at my feet \n Earth and fire, Sun and water \n It drips from the ends of my hair \n Flows over the tops of my toes \n And just like that, he touches me \n \"Beautiful,\" he says.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 20 07:03:45 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 20 08:26:43 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "7791997", "review_id": "733d192b099e3fd7e022db4b377ea041", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Isn't the cover to this book just beautiful! I swear it must be a SIMON & SCHUSTER thing. Their books have such pretty covers. I'll start with what I liked about this book, and there's a lot. The plot was well paced, the emotional intensity was high throughout, there was plenty of conflict, and I loved, just loved the twist at the end. \"But you didn't give it five stars,\" I hear you saying. Why is that? \n It's so subjective. This is such a well-written book. In a lot of ways it was even more well written than Hush Hush, certainly it was less creepy. And I really wanted to love it, not just like it, but love it. But Nora was such a jealous girlfriend in this and so emotionally unstable, I had a hard time relating to her, let alone understanding why Patch would try so hard to stay in her good graces. At the end of Hush Hush, Nora trusts him with her life. At the beginning of Crescendo she doesn't believe a single word out of his mouth. It's almost as if Nora has had a personality transplant where Patch is concerned, which is great for the plot, but doesn't make a lot of sense for the character. \n I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes a fast pace, high-octane, adventure filled read.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 20 06:40:46 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 13 16:01:46 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "8069535", "review_id": "2e8701c06e5d99e6fb4df9ff50331c6f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "As is often the case with Carrie Jones' novels, it took me a little longer to get into this one. The pacing wasn't slow, but the emotional impact of the scenes didn't reach full force until a bit farther into the book. Carrie's writing style is quirky and fun, where the plot is serious and has a lot to do with \"life and death.\" \n It's refreshing how she balances her quirky style with the subject matter, but it also takes a few chapters to get used to. I love the poetic descriptions of feelings in this book. On page 66 she actually describes Astley's happiness as being like pink bubble gum, only not sticky. Her writing is creative, unique, and full of so much personality that it makes me want to smile as I read. Thank you Carrie Jones for another great book!", "date_added": "Thu Dec 16 05:57:27 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 16 06:05:35 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "2321296", "review_id": "9d13710ea1c1edbd3a28672b45ef5efa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this! It's clear the author has some understanding of addictions by the way she writes about Leslie and Irial. Her physical descriptions of what's going on in Leslie's body as she changes are top notch. I really felt for her in this book. Plus, both Leslie and Irial are likable characters.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 08 05:30:18 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 08 05:32:11 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "5152561", "review_id": "e667d9dc5dd9a728cd49d30254e5a965", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked this one. It was refreshing to get back to the original plot line between Ash, Seth, and Keenan. I admit I wanted to gag at the end when Seth was in the high queen's court. I know their relationship was supposed to be sweet, but it struck me as a tad disturbing. The ending was kind of a cliff hanger, all full of loose ends. But then the next book doesn't focus on this story, but on two other people. So I kind of feel like I'm hanging by my fingernails, waiting for the next Ash, Seth, Keenan book to come out. Not a bad read, though. I enjoyed it.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 08 05:26:59 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 08 05:29:48 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "6368610", "review_id": "7e53a699b20d3ffd5312d3d8a0c123a7", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Not my favorite. I suppose I had a hard time relating to the characters, especially Devlin. I didn't get him at all. Plus, the fact that he was an assassin kind of killed it for me. But the plot was well thought out, so I have to give Melissa Marr credit for that at least.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 08 05:24:59 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 08 05:26:28 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "248484", "review_id": "33af634fb69e143138dff4bbcfc7ef89", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was probably the best Shannon Hale book I have ever read. Unlike her other books, it's written in first person journal form. At first, I had a hard time getting into it, but once I did . . . wow! All the detail about the Gods in this Asian culture was thorough and well done. The main character was a true heroin, able to handle anything that was thrown at her. She was loyal, kind, strong, courageous, smart, and self-sacrificing. The plot rocked! Seriously, I loved this book!", "date_added": "Mon Nov 29 12:06:37 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 29 12:09:51 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "6304335", "review_id": "649403a29da056cdabd210e0c33ba296", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book's great strength was its depth. You really felt for the characters. The southern backdrop of the story was well done. I mean, reading this made me feel like I was stepping into a little southern town. The pacing was a bit slow for me and there was a certain question I was dying to know that never got answered by the end of this book about the mortality of one of the main characters. One I can't very well ask on a review if I don't want to spoil the ending. The authors certainly had time to explain it, though, in a book that was over 560 pages long. Over all, I enjoyed it.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 29 12:02:43 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 29 12:06:02 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "85990", "review_id": "baeefe506966af115dd8636272545293", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved this book! In fact, reading all this Shannon Hale makes me feel like a really bad writer because she is so amazing. Every sentence she writes is smooth, her imagery is beautiful, and her characters are increasingly likable. This one was also clean. What's not to like?", "date_added": "Mon Nov 29 11:59:33 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 29 12:01:37 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "305234", "review_id": "00f83b78495fea3bde9f26cfa2cb4815", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Is it a sin to fall in love with a character in a book? I certainly hope not, because I absolutely fell in love with Seth, the human love interest in this story. And he's a kid who has bars in his eyebrows and a piercing in his lip, so no, someone like Seth wouldn't typically be my type. But he's so loving, gentle, non-judgmental, and supportive . . . too good to be true, really, which is why I fell in love with him. Fictional boys can be so much more dreamy than real boys. Anyway, I digress. The relationship between Aislinn and Seth in this book is so beautiful and soft that it makes it downright impossible not to love this book. At least, for me, it was downright impossible. Plus, the pacing was absolutely perfect, the plot was well thought out, and the read was engaging. I loved this book!", "date_added": "Tue Nov 23 05:28:33 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 23 05:33:13 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "7234828", "review_id": "a6e563403eb5aec548e131b0ffe07088", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was a pretty good book, the characters were well developed and it was a fast, entertaining read. The beginning pulled me right in, but then, I never really got a feel for Avalon (the city where it takes place.) It needed more \"world building\" in my opinion, since it is supposed to take place in a city unlike anyplace else on earth, where faeries and humans have a joint government. \n The plot was a lot like the Iron King plot, with the main character being half fey/half human. All though it does differ on some key points. The rules which the faeries follow aren't all the same. I'd elaborate, but I'd rather not give away the plot in case anyone wants to read it. The main character seemed a bit old for her age too. Even so, I enjoyed reading this and may even check out the sequel when it comes out next year.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 23 05:19:02 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 23 05:24:26 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "6407514", "review_id": "175c0966b32edd8af57af683f961d27b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was OK. The writing was still beautiful and the character development was to die for, but the plot moved slower than the plots in her other three books, the main character grew at a snails pace, and the climax was a bit far from the end. Even so, I enjoyed it. Shannon Hale is an amazing writer.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 16 05:34:52 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 16 05:36:38 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "248470", "review_id": "b697a652e0c8a9df4b0102cc4be65dd7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was my favorite of Shannon Hale's Bayern books, told from the perspective of Razo, a short, funny boy who always feels like a tag along. It surprised me how fast I was able to see things from his perspective, and I realized quickly how very likable Razo was. He's one of those characters you root for from the beginning because he's a character with obvious weaknesses and strengths, and unlike the other main characters in the Bayern books, Razo doesn't have any powers. His humanity makes him appealing. Plus, I absolutely adored the ending.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 16 05:29:04 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 16 05:34:14 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "248482", "review_id": "d24fb1a8f5ac09597eea211b55418356", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What I liked about this book was the contrast between Enna's two \"boys\": Finn and Sileph. I'll try not to give too much away, but Shannon Hale does a great job of contrasting the feelings one feels in a passionate, persuasive sort of love, to the feelings one has in a tender, caring sort of relationship. There's a lot about balance in this book and I love the growing friendship dynamic between Isi and Enna. This book has everything, great character growth, smooth prose, friendship, and love. I really enjoyed reading this.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 16 05:24:43 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 16 05:39:23 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "179064", "review_id": "1e03348695e0c1bf55eacc3d4fd8dd0c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this. Shannon Hale has a smooth, lyrical, picturesque writing style. Plus, her prose really flow. I liked how the main character grows over the novel, how she discovers more about herself, and turns her trials into valuable learning tools. :)", "date_added": "Tue Nov 16 05:21:29 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 16 05:23:41 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "a073414220d3ff55a044bfe4731e952f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked this one, but not so much that I'll read the sequel. I didn't really care all that much about the characters until about half way through the book. The author is amazing with descriptions, that's the main selling point for this series. The way Ms. Clare solved the love triangle was daring. I saw it coming, but then dismissed my instincts because I had a hard time believing the author would actually go there--then she did. \n I won't say anymore because I don't want to give anything away.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 01 07:36:31 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 01 07:39:21 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "6600137", "review_id": "03d19315fbf97eebc315bed7c66b3947", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'd give this three and a half stars if that were an option. I liked this book, but got bored at certain points. Granted, it's not really the author's fault that I have such a short attention span. The plot was well thought out, the Norse legend stuff was kind of cool. I liked the introduction of Pixies who weren't evil, and I especially liked how Zara's skin kept turning blue. That was a very cool twist. \n The ending was a tad abrupt, but not so much so that it made me angry or anything. I will definitely look for the third book in the series when it comes out later this year. In fact I can't wait.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 01 07:32:03 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 01 07:35:52 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "4070493", "review_id": "2bfd539fe658e0fbf363e853c89aea6e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It took me a while to get into this one. In fact, I had to pick it up several times before it got interesting. But then, once the plot picked up, I couldn't put it down. \n The slow, molasses-running-down-a-board pace that makes the book hard to get into, makes the plot more believable once it gets going. The details about the characters are vivid and well done, giving you the feeling that you're really inside the story. There's this one really scary scene where Zara is running on the road in the middle of the night that totally gave me chills. I made the mistake of reading that scene just before I went to sleep and ended up with nightmares about it, that's how well done it was. Now I'm itching to get my hands on the second book. Good job Carrie Jones.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 29 07:08:18 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 29 07:13:05 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "6339664", "review_id": "a156f6ae722902f01cb86bcdd02f8b02", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really liked this book. After reading mixed things about it and then reading Fallen and feeling disappointed about Fallen, and then hearing that Fallen was just like Hush Hush, I almost didn't bother picking it up. \n But then I did, and I read it, and I liked it because the plot kept moving and the characters were interesting and the plot twists were way cool. Am I allowed use the words way cool in a book review?", "date_added": "Fri Oct 29 07:05:15 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 29 07:07:18 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "7719245", "review_id": "0f6dac435f515a8ce61967973ffe4736", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved this book, don't let the four stars fool you. I loved it so much that I wrote a poem for it: \n Paranormalcy \n How do I love thee? Paranormalcy \n From the depth and breadth and height of Lish's tank \n To the soul of a Faerie that Evie will not thank \n For the love of Lend who would not harm a flea \n Unless there is a secret file he must break in to see. \n I read thee by fire and flickering light \n Locked in the bathroom in the dead of night. \n I read thee as children tug at my knee \n Burning the spaghetti when I reach page two-o-three. \n I love thee to my peril, Paranormalcy \n As seas of amber, eternal and deep \n Found in the immortal gaze of Reth \n A love so sweet, I whisper it in sleep \n Thinking of IPCA with my dying breath. \n You gotta love literature that inspired creativity, right?", "date_added": "Fri Oct 29 07:03:16 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 29 07:04:44 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "2508164", "review_id": "1bc3ed76820e6d79aa0661140fa8bd1d", "rating": 1, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I honestly don't know where to start in what bothered me about this book. So I'll start with what I liked, and that was the author's voice. Even though I didn't get half the references to music bands and other pop culture stuff, I did like the genuine feel of the writing. I know that doesn't go along with a lot of other reviews I've read, but frankly, I wouldn't mind reading more Tonya Hurley if her next books weren't centered around characters who are stereotyped. OK, so I suppose I should start there: this book is a walking stereotype. The cheerleaders are evil and dumb, the jock is goodhearted but stupid, and Hurley actually went so far as to say dead teenagers don't worry about their parents because they're all so self-absorbed. \n Not setting the bar very high there, are we? \n Last I checked there were all different kinds of teenagers, just like there are all different kinds of people. Not all cheerleaders are evil snobs, not every nerd is a wanna be, not all jocks are stupid, and believe it or not, some teenagers do care about their parents. Which brings me to the next thing that bugged the heck out of me: Where are the parents? Now, I understand that most teen books I have thus far read have neglectful parents who are practically non-existent in the text. This has, in fact, turned into a cliche in teen fiction unto itself, but Hurley takes this to a new level because there isn't a single scene with a parent in it, and the parents aren't even specifically mentioned. Charlotte's are kind of, sort of, mentioned in passing, but I know nothing about Petula and Scarlet's parents by the end of the novel, nothing about the main male character's parents, and nothing about the parents of any of the dead kids. It's as if I've been put into a high school world where all parents have been wiped off the face of the earth by a tragic plague which left only teenagers. Ooooh, there's a good plot line, but I suppose that's already be done in Lord of the Flies. \n On to the next thing that drove me crazy: plot holes. One in particular. The dead kids are supposed to keep a house from getting condemned, a house with asbestos in it. And they succeed at this task by having the local high school hold a dance at the house. Leaving me to scratch my head and wonder why any high school would agree to hold a dance in a nearly condemned property with asbestos in it. Do they really care so little about the health of their students? And does this solve the asbestos problem? It doesn't, and there is little as frustrating as getting to the end of a book with a conclusion that makes absolutely no sense. \n Which brings me to my next issue, Charlotte is whiny, whiny, whiny, whiny . . . to the point that I had a very hard time stomaching her, and selfish. So selfish that her one ultimate act of growth in the end is virtuous only because it isn't as selfish as everything else she's done. It's like applauding a thief for not taking candy from a baby, because the character of the thief is just too ugly to make the more satisfying deed of the thief returning the candy unrealistic. Yeah, Charlotte, you didn't steal the kiss--good for you, now you're a hero! Are you kidding me? \n At this point in time you're probably getting the impression that I feel kind of cheated by this book, and you would be right. Because it looked so good and I really got into it in the first three chapters or so, then it just deteriorated. I almost stopped reading when I got to the 12 steps, and that's sad because I love the 12 steps, but just didn't see how they had enough relevance to the plot. It isn't like we saw the dead kids working through the steps, and the only one they really covered in the book was letting go. So what of the others? Was it just filler material or what? \n OK, I'm done with my rhetorical questions now. I understand full well how hard it is to write a novel and I respect Ms. Hurley for her hard work. And in fairness, the fact that I felt so much disappointment with the book, means that she succeeding in making me care. So in the sense that her writing style was entertaining, I can certainly learn something from her. It just wasn't my favorite read.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 16 13:04:28 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 16 13:49:04 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "2800905", "review_id": "358a04b2011acc7698ed72c9b4ac6738", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I feel kind of bad I didn't like this because I really wanted to. The story was good in that the plot kept moving and there was plenty of action all around, but I found I just didn't care. I know that sounds awful, but for a lot of the book it seemed like I was watching the action on a movie screen rather than living vicariously through the characters. I didn't really connect with any of the characters or care about them enough to make reading this enjoyable. Aside from her love of movies, I didn't feel like I knew the protagonist very well, not even at the end of the book. \n Her love interest, Simon, was woefully underdeveloped, and as a result I didn't care one way or the other whether the protagonist ended up with him. The strongest character was Derek, who I found myself liking more than Simon. There were a ton of plot twists, but not a lot of foreshadowing, which made me want to throw up my hands and say, \"And where did that come from?\" \n The funny thing about that is that I can usually predict twists before they happen. Most authors have the opposite problem where they foreshadow too much until the mystery is gone and there's no surprise. But Kelley Armstrong keeps the reader so much in the dark that by the time the twist has happened, you're grabbing your head and saying. \"Where on earth did that come from?\" And I'm not talking about the Werewolf business, that was done well. But the part at the end where Aunt Lauren turns out to be working against her neice . . . that really irritated me because there wasn't anything clearly leading up to it. \n By the time I reached the end of the novel, I wanted to throw it across the room. Why? Because I realized I knew absolutely nothing about Lyle House! And wasn't that the mystery the story was supposed to solve? \n Note to authors: if you are writing a series. Please tie up most of your loose ends at the end of the first book. Granted, I know it's a series, so you can't wrap up all of them. But consider leaving one open, maybe two if you're really daring--but please, oh, please--I beg you not to wrap up one and leave five more dangling open like in this book. It made me feel like all that reading was a waste of my time and I assure you, I won't be picking up the sequel.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 14 09:44:49 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 14 10:00:23 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "3236307", "review_id": "926e54589f70f4b2426eb23f37d641bc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n This was a beautifully written book, it pulled me right in, but then after a while it felt as if it would never end and I started flipping to the back of the book wondering if I was anywhere near it. The character development was exceptional, the main character, Katsa, was both strong and likable, but oddly, my biggest gripe with this book was that I didn't think she changed enough. She did change some and was willing to let Prince Po into her life in the last third of the book, but even after spending loads of time protecting a young girl she grew increasingly fond of, she didn't change her very cold attitude toward children--insisting she didn't want them and wanting never to marry. \n I understood her resolve about not wanting to belong to someone else at first, especially with the way she'd been used by King Randa, but she never got over her irrational ideas about marriage. Something which made me think of her as someone stuck in a victim's mindset. \n The love between Po and Katsa, was touching, but I got angry with the author when she made Po blind at the end of the book. First I started crying, then I thought I could deal with it, but upon finishing it I realized I was still angry because there was no reason . . . absolutely none, why the author had to inflict this bit of horror on the reader. It wasn't central to the plot, to the feelings the two main characters shared, and it ended up feeling like emotional manipulation. \n I usually like it when a book makes me cry, but not when there doesn't seem any point to it. In fairness, the author probably did have a reason for this plot twist, something to do with Po's Grace and how he was able to develop it fully, but in light of how he lost what he loved most going blind: looking at beautiful things, it hardly seemed a fair trade. And I didn't like having to feel his anguish in exchange for him understanding a Grace that I, as a reader, could never fully feel or understand. \n Anyway, I still gave the book four stars because it was exceptionally written and had some amazing things in it. I'm not sure I'll pick up anything else by this author for a while, though.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 03 08:58:31 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 03 09:12:28 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "6178354", "review_id": "f6d135aa64ea9c54c655695fbef2ccb1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I would have given this three and a half stars if I'd had the option, since it was better than the second book. For one thing, it actually resolved and the plot twists at the end were genious. For another, the way Mr. Beddor used the caterpillars in this one was very clever. \n Every once in a while I felt disoriented reading it because the cast of characters was so large, and naturally, when you have that many characters it's impossibly to adequetly spend enough time on all of them. The sound effects in the text continued to annoy me and I still found myself wishing for more indepth insights into the main character's thoughts. I found the budding romance between Alyss and Dodge lacking, but then, it's clear this isn't a romantic book but more of an action tough-boy read. Maybe I'm just in the wrong genre. \n Overall, I enjoyed the series and admired the author's imagination.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 01 07:18:16 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 01 07:27:00 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "289695", "review_id": "26826f809d426de0a156ae05afe51e42", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I didn't think this book was as strong as the first one in the series and spent a while trying to figure out why. And while I'm not 100% convinced my theories are right, I will share them anyway. \n First, Alyss played a much smaller part in this book than in the first. As a reader I found myself in Redd's head a lot and wasn't sure if I particularly liked being there since she was such an unlikable character. I understand why Mr. Beddor did it that way, since the book was in third person and the reader had to know what was going on . . . still, I wonder if there could have been any other way. \n Second, in the first book there was a lot about Alyss's adjusting to earth life and as such there was kind of an inner war that, as the reader, I got to see. In this book, however, most of the character's inner-struggles have been externalized. It's battle scene after battle scene after battle scene, with very little room for any kind of inner-angst. \n This was unfortunate because I missed the inner struggles of the characters and found myself getting bored with bloody battles and particularly with the constant sound effects in the text: \"Fwack! Fwak fwak! Fsoosh! Fi-fi-fi-fi-fith! Fwingk, fwingk!\" and lets not forget \"Feeeeeeeooooooshhhkaaaghghgk!\" \n In fairness to Mr. Beddor, it was well enough written to keep the drama going and I absolutely felt the need to pick up the third book, even if I was annoyed that he ended this one right, smack in the middle of a battle scene with nothing resolved. On to my reading.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 01 07:02:13 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 01 07:16:56 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "44170", "review_id": "ee8136b151e2ef3a751cd9175d0503c8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was sheer fun and was so imaginative that I couldn't put it down. I liked the map at the beginning of the book, the time table at the end, the twist on the origanl Alice in Wonderland story, and all the other very nice visual details that made this book fun to read.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 31 06:17:17 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 31 06:18:40 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "565595", "review_id": "79ee2cee885daf9881845c543726fb2c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "More witchcraft . . . \n Fortunatelly, there was less emphasis on the ceremonial aspects of witch craft in this particular novel and more character development. I'm all for character development, I love knowing all about my character's ups and downs. Ironically, the biggest weakness of this book was all the backstory Ms. Curley puts upfront. \n She writes a lot about the character's backgrounds, something which is helpful in understanding why her characters behave as they do. But she also managed to repeat herself so much that I felt as if I were being hit over the head with certain things. \n I liked the two main characters, they were both endearing. The plot was creative and I liked how it ended. All though, I wish the ending had gone on a little longer . . . the crush/love aspects were understated, while the backstory was overstated, so I felt like I wanted more kissing or something. \n Isn't that silly? I wanted more kissing. But it's true, especially at the end. Here they've gone through this amazing adventure, couldn't they end it with some vow of undying love and a nice smooch?", "date_added": "Mon Aug 23 12:18:35 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 23 12:28:13 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "5266655", "review_id": "61e43a70de7d4fd19b84b40709b2e9cf", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I will not be picking up the sequel to this. \n First off, I'm tired of reading about sacred circles, earth, wind, fire, water, and all that witchcraft stuff. Not that there's anything wrong with it, I've just had my fill. Probably the book that got me to the point of witchcraft bordem was \"Marked\" by PC Cast. \n It isn't really fair that I shouldn't give this book a fair shake because of something another author wrote, so I read on even when I realized how this book had witchcraft elements. \n In the end the thing that let me down was how promising the book seemed at the start. I really got into it. I loved the female characters, especially the protagonist, who I thought was a wonderfully interesting girl. But then Sebastian came onto the scene more frequently and the book lost its magic (no pun intended). \n With everything Lady Agnes writes about Sebastian, I found I couldn't forgive him for his past deeds. Even though the author goes out of her way to show the reader he's changed, it was hard to fall in love with him when constantly reminded of how he bullied Lady Agnes, drove her away, threatened her, and eventually . . . well, I wouldn't want to spoil the ending. \n I didn't care for him. And as much as I admired the main character for her undying devotion where he was concerned, I was unable to feeel any chemistry between them. I thought she was too good for him and that he didn't deserve her. Plus, I got kind of bored in the middle. The plot never picked up pace even though I kept reading. I don't know if my boredom was a result of not loveing the main male character, not caring about the drama which involved him, the pacing, or simply guessing the plot twists way before they happened. I mean, foreshadowing is one thing, but man, these twists were obvious. I found nothing shocking, simply predictable. \n So no, I won't be reading the sequel to this, but not because Gillian Shields is a bad writer. I actually think Gillian Shields is an excellent writer, just not a very good story teller.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 23 12:00:47 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 23 12:16:15 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "6487308", "review_id": "4d9237e9c2dd2756939746b90916ff22", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The hype around this book was so large that by the time I picked it up there was no way it could have lived up to my hopes. It was well written and the twist at the end was clever and well done. I just felt immensely disappointed with a few things: \n 1. The female protagonist. I found her obsessive to the point that I wanted to throw the book across the room at times. Yes, I know that's typical for romance. But aside from her interest in this one boy, I couldn't figure out what other interests she had. There's one spot in the book where she talks about how smart she is, but I don't see an ounce of passion in her about anything except the boy she's attracted to. She doesn't paint, write, play an instrument, love to learn, or excel at anything at the school where she's been placed . . . oh, except stalking, she does pretty good at that. I almost found myself rooting for the female villian who tried to kill her because I agreed that this girl was just pitiful with her love sickness. \n 2. Unanswered question. By the end of the book there were still too many. It was as though the author gave us the answer to one big question, tied up one loose end, and then left about a dozen flowing free. I know it's a book in a series, so having it be a cliff hanger is inevitable. But there were simply too many questions unanswered for me. I felt massively jipped by the time I reached the last page. My exact words may even have been: \"Is that it?\" \n All that said, the story was engaging. The concept was creative and the male protagonist was interesting enough that it almost made up for the blandness of the girl whose point of view it was told from. More than anything, I'd hoped to see some growth in her character, but there just wasn't much if any. \n Lauren Kate does have a way with words, though. I read the whole thing in the course of two days. I'm sure, as a writer, I could learn a lot from her.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 23 11:47:28 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 23 12:00:18 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "7747064", "review_id": "90e65a901e8914657c68d06e46d13e2f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book! It brought me to tears in a few places, the ending was bitter sweet, and the writing . . . wow! The writing was definetely improved from book one. I loved Kagawa's descriptions, they've vivid and pull you right in to Meghan's world. I like how the protagonist in this novel changes and becomes stronger. It's always rewarding to see characters grow, and while I found myself rooting for Ash a lot, I fell in love with Puck.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 06 19:40:39 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 06 19:46:46 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "6644117", "review_id": "800661455b05a1c94b02015b38965f2b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have officially fallen in love with this series. I was a little irritated with the protagonist at first for having no sense of self preservation. Also, there were some places in the middle of the book where the author does too much stage directing. But I absolutely adored the story, fell in love with the characters, and couldn't stop thinking about this book. I haven't felt so passionate about anything I've read for awhile. I almost couldn't loan it to my sister because I wanted to reread the whole thing again. I'd recommend this book to anyone. I loved it.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 06 19:29:40 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 06 19:35:39 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "6705943", "review_id": "37388905bb3fc5b22cb2c7cd0a9a7e21", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book sucked me right in. Maggie Stiefvater has a way with words, particularly images. The mood was sullen and brooding, the main characters both obsessive and intense. They had good reason to be that way since there were some dark themes and the male lead had led a hard life. The pacing was a bit slow for me, just because it was a book about werewolves and I expected more action I guess. But as a relationship book it worked rather well.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 03 13:39:56 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 03 13:52:39 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "3697927", "review_id": "29a62eac0c4a47cd1e44c7688e2d3a2f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was fun. Not serious or thought provoking, just great light reading, and Jessica Day George did a good job with it.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 26 10:36:59 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 26 10:37:50 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "3432478", "review_id": "8dc18ace11c68100204b2b4ec0808066", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This was stirring and beautifully written, I simply found the world Mary lived in depressing, so depressing I wanted to cry myself to sleep. Plus, the ending didn't do much for me. I give the author credit for symmetry and a nice structure, I just felt so immensely disappointed at the end though. I guess all that death just got to me.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 08 15:44:44 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 08 15:47:30 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "3831768", "review_id": "5f512a3b1f8831a87ac4001bc33ea9a3", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book was well crafted. It sucked me in for about the first half and then had the traditional lull in the middle. Or maybe that just says something about my attention span. \n I've never read parnormal romance before, so this was a first. Frankly, I'm not sure it's really my cup of tea as I had a hard time getting into the premise. There were a few times I had to hold myself back from laughing at the idea of a ghost possessing someone's body after falling from a tree. It just seemed so far fetched, that and the idea that this girl could see the ghost in her cousin Pen when no one else could. \n While I appreciate the underlying message of acceptance and uncovering the bad parts of ourselves as well as the good, I didn't see the main character as someone completely out of denial. So on the deepness scale, it kind of fell flat. The ending with the abusive Dad was predictable, the scenes with weed smoking and porn were unnecessary, not to mention enough of a reason to hide this book so my daughters will never find it. I found the morals of the main character exceptionally loose and her disdain for those who believed in abstinance repulsive. \n It made me think of the girl I was good friends with in college who used to tell me everything. We got along great until one day she found out I didn't believe in sex until marriage--all of a sudden she refused to talk to me. All this time we had bonded, both of us believing in tolerance and acceptance, but when she found I had morals she didn't agree with she called me a hypocrit and refused to talk to me. That's tolerance for you (please note the sarcasm). This is one reason why the depth of this character fell flat. \n Anyway, that was a tangent, but along the lines of other things I would have changed about this book. I found much of it disorienting. It was confusing when people changed bodies. And there was so much body switching, time travel, and conversing with people of unknown origin that at times I had to read pages over and over to figure out what exactly had happened. \n I found the Ruby character particularly confusing. By the end of the book I realized I was supposed to be confused about this character, even if I did put the pieces together before the explanation at the end on my own. \n I don't like reading about a character if I can't even tell if they're alive or dead. Tell me up front, will you? Otherwise I feel like I'm reading from the padded cell of a nut house.", "date_added": "Sun May 23 06:25:06 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun May 23 17:48:52 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "186074", "review_id": "e9750052c4d895ce88d077af32f3339e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "There was a lot of hype around this book. Perhaps I took it too seriously. I will compare this book to a pot of water, sitting on an old gas stove as it waits to boil. You know it will turn into food eventually, but you're not sure what kind. Mac and sheese,spaghetti, hard boiled eggs, mashed potatoes . . . \n So you set about watching the author cook this dish and you are waiting, waiting, waiting for the water to boil. The author/cook describes everything about the water and the pot. We know the filtered water inside came from the refrigerator. We know the pot has a dent in it because someone dropped it on the floor. We're even keenly aware of the silver edging of the pot as the author goes on about how the non-stick black surface isn't necessary in that particular spot. \n The descriptions are beautiful, accurate, sometimes even deep. The author/cook has a captivating way of telling you how he's cooking his food. \n \"Perhaps it began there,\" he says on page six hundred and something, for about the second or third time. The story is 722 pages long so you can imagine what I thought when he used this phrase so close to the end. \n The dialogue was clever, the insights in the book well done, Rothfuss has a gift for using analogies. I absolutely understand why people love this book . . . but for me, after 722 pages of watching tiny bubbles form at the bottom of a non-stick sauce pan, I put the book down and immediately said two things: (1) \"That was it?\" and(2) \"What was the plot?\"", "date_added": "Sat May 15 10:14:05 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun May 23 07:09:27 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "639197", "review_id": "e94ae2aec836dda4e405efad16eaa724", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Started out great, I loved the epilogue. I also appreciated that it was clean and had a great twist. \n I can't really put a finger on when I began to lose interest in the book. I finished it and liked it, but got bored in some spots. The pacing is a little slow in places, but overall a good read.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 15 09:33:31 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 01 05:41:05 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "17245", "review_id": "58a36580a8080bdcdddf5c0e851cb06a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Great story, a bit technical and drawn out in some spots. But over-all a fun read, the story makes up for it. It was creepier than I had anticipated. But in this case, creepy was cool. And I particularly liked how it was written so that you understodd the story from many points of view.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 01 18:02:39 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 01 18:05:07 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "127459", "review_id": "9027a6c10a9ea4853ec91ae20e0557bd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book brought me to tears. It wasn't all fun, some of it was bogged down in detail I thought, and there was one particular spot where I got irritated with Gemma for throwing so many fits and storming out of so many room. The preaching at the end was a bit much for me. It is all too easy to condemn past society for not seeing things as we do now, easy for us because we didn't live back then. A bit of a way out of examining ourselves and what needs to be changed about our present society, in my opinion. \n The story itself, though, is absolutely moving and captivating. It is a lovely story worth reading. I couldn't stop crying for quiet a while after reading this book for the beauty of the story. That alone is enough for me to give it five stars. \n Thank You Libba Bray!", "date_added": "Sun Jul 05 11:27:26 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 01 10:20:08 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "51428", "review_id": "401a244db3461ffb2e69e8ddd36b56f4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was longer then the second one and tied up a lot of loose ends. It was a little long winded for me in spots but over all a very fun book. I liked it and am dying to read the last one now.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 29 07:25:25 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 29 07:26:29 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "3682", "review_id": "86806182e8af99100710005a49f8b4de", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I absolutely loved this book! It was well written, insightful, entertaining, and just impossible to put down. Her descriptions fascinated me but didn't go on so long that I lost interest in them. Very good writing, wonderful story, did I mention I loved this book!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 25 08:24:01 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 25 08:25:17 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "30183", "review_id": "54721baf33c826566c3ab2ab84ca5b40", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I was disappointed with this book I just don't know how to explain. The female character was a stronger personality, that was good, but the dialogue seemed predictable and the characters struck me as kind of flat. I thought character development was the main thing this book lacked, althought the preaching didn't help much either. I didn't leave the book feeling like it was a fun story about vampires, but more that it was about magic and witchcraft and religion, much of it get tediously repetitive towards the end. Just not my cup of tea.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 25 08:17:24 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 25 08:22:00 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "49041", "review_id": "44ae94e02efb2a4a8884bdd3cb58dc5f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Reckless, pitiful Bella needs to get a hobby or something. She is so miserable it is painful to read, infact I started reading only the first sentence of every paragraph and didn't miss very much. Ms. Meyer can be long winded, she seems to be in love with purple prose. \n I admit I liked the Jacob character though, it was easier for me to relate to him than to Edward or Bella. Maybe because he was more human, I don't know. Bella sure does use him, it doesn't make her come across virtuos at all!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 25 08:16:45 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 29 07:41:52 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "428263", "review_id": "9c127e155ec34d2411c730ece352000c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "So is there anything about Bella that doesn't scream codependency?? I suppose it wouldn't bother me so much if she didn't remind my of myself not very many years ago, did I just write that? Hmmmmmm. \n Every major relationship this girl has is based on pity or want rather than love. Except the one with her dad, but in that case Charlie isn't really emotionally available to Bella anyway. She NEEDS Edward, can't live without him, can't exist if he is no longer alive. Stephanie dear that's not love it's obsessivness, and there is nothing lovely or admirable about that kind of mindset. It is thoroughly unhealthy. Clingy, needy, Bella would make most guys run for the hills. \n I mean seriously, is there anything more tiring than dating someone who cries non-stop and has to be held all the time, someone who is in constant need of rescuing and who is always asking the question, \"what are you thinking?\" \n Bella's lack of boundaries made me want to scream every few chapters. Infact I think I did scream a few times at my poor husband. After a while he just nodded his head and said, \"I know.\" She says no when she means yes, yes when she means no, and argues constantly over things that don't matter. I mean, seriously Stephanie, pages and pages of arguments over something as trivial as whether or not Bella could possibly accept a gift. The girl creates drama for herself all the time and I confess I find it scary that so many girls can relate to her mindset, it isn't a promising sign if that is true. \n But on the up side it makes sense that Bella is a perpetual victim and has a perpetual victim complex because otherwise she wouldn't make such a perfect target. Someone has to be bait and Bella is good bait.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 25 08:16:24 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 29 07:56:03 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "1162543", "review_id": "419e3f5425fd7846b59049f837647215", "rating": 3, "review_text": "What a relief to get out of Bella's tunnel vision for a bit of this book. I found Jacob's take on things much more refreshing, although even he was long winded. \n The only gripe I have with this book was that it was a bit anti-climactic. I was hoping for a good battle scene at the end, especially after reading through so many pages to get to it, only to find there was no battle at all. Just a lot of talking.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 25 08:16:03 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 29 07:58:54 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "3843654", "review_id": "67c092e4f5cd0e0af9aa809d75bec143", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was o.k., it was very easy reading which is nice. A lot of dialogue, though it probably could have used a little more filling in with descriptions. Just my opinion. \n I was a little bit disappointed by the ending, but the book grabbed and kept you until you got there.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 03 14:30:35 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 03 14:31:56 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "1656001", "review_id": "e54be56dcf57a995c451a93b251b2480", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Great book, written from a perspective I did not expect.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 01 14:57:39 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 06 13:01:43 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Fri Feb 06 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28b5d9511a8d84230291653b665c4044", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "50895e8e2d4c27919fee79f7c998c636", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I had mixed feelings about this book. \n The main characters' relationship I found disturbing. Bella has battered women's syndrome and Edward's dating behaviors could easily be put on a list of red flag behaviors for single women to watch out for in order to avoid dating violent men. \n Fortunatelly Edward turned out to be a trustworthy person in the end but there is just something fundamentally wrong about thinking it doesn't matter if your boyfriend kills you because you would rather die than live without him. Something has to be said about having a certain amount of self-esteem and self-respect as a person. You don't have to be a narcissist to love yourself enough to care whether or not you live or die. Bella doesn't. \n Edward needed to learn how to take no for an answer and Bella needed to learn how to say no and mean it. Both leading characters could benefit from anger managment classes. \n Otherwise this was a really fun story. Stephanie Meyer is a good story teller and I thoroughly enjoyed the drama of the storyline. Particularly the bloody violent parts. I'm looking forward to reading the next book.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 31 12:43:17 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 10 15:03:42 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "d73414c49a1f3e1d5be60cd51cf2f9cf", "book_id": "5996777", "review_id": "f3be1b90e507eabb097cc2d9ae16ac89", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"lyly 'lf lyl@\" mn 'jml m qr't lnjyb mHfwZ w 'kthr '`mlh 'thr `l~ qlby w rwHy ... lSr` byn lshk w lyqyn, byn lkhyr w lshr, byn ljnb lmly'ky w lshyTny fyn ... hdh lSr` lmtnhy w hdhh lHrb lDrws ldy'm@ fy l`lm mn Hwln km fy 'nfsn ... \n lHy@ km lnfs lnsny@ l t`rf ntSrt nhy'y@ llkhyr km llshr ...l yntSr lSlHwn dy'm wl yw'ydhm llh bqwth km l ynhzm lZlmwn bm`jzt mnh ... hy mlHm@ kbr~ fyh 'nw` mn lmSy'b w lbtlat, lntSrt w l`thrt ... w blt'kyd lyst Tryq mstqym mn ls`d@ l'bdy@ 'w lHzn l'bdy ... hy ntSr w hn fqT lmn twlh llh brHmth w rzqh `lm w Sbr w fhm w Hkm@ w nwr mn ldnh ymshy bh l~ nhy@ hdhh lrHl@ ... \n \"nHn nkbd 'shwq l HSr lh ltqwdn fy lnhy@ l~ lshwq ldhy l shwq b`dh, f`shq llh yGnk `n kl shy\"", "date_added": "Fri May 27 13:27:50 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri May 27 14:01:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri May 27 14:01:14 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f0ecb1a3bf0444294e4fd5e7d4aa046a", "book_id": "68428", "review_id": "3a8a18eb5fabfcb9c692012b9e53138b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The story was good, but the characterizations could be a wobbly at times. Some happenings at the end, to me seem a little unbelievable.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 27 02:41:53 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 27 16:25:10 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Aug 28 02:46:43 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f0ecb1a3bf0444294e4fd5e7d4aa046a", "book_id": "601238", "review_id": "e23a85ea494404864e6084cd1696573a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I have to say, The Colour of Magic is quite different to every other fantasy books I've read. \n I first picked it up because a lot of people have said Discworld is an amazing series, and I wanted something light and fun to read. I wasn't disappointed. Rincewind was instantly a likeable character, although at times I did get frustrated at his cowardice, but by the end of the book, he had grown a little bit more of a backbone, which was nice. It was quite fast paced, I have to say. Once it they got out of one dire situation, they walked straight into another, which I realise was Pratchett's point -- the story is stereotype after stereotype. \n All in all, though, I really enjoyed the book.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 20 15:40:54 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 30 06:20:43 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Dec 30 06:20:43 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbc8e9191744d39350d6a6590b03c02e", "book_id": "18046743", "review_id": "fe5b8ae0c220bb8ce07fa72152c4bed7", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Struggled to finish this book, my goodness this was so bad...", "date_added": "Sat Aug 06 01:44:49 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 27 15:37:15 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbc8e9191744d39350d6a6590b03c02e", "book_id": "31304766", "review_id": "a0258ae7e8b8185231b5151d40855465", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Think I didn't love it as much as I wanted cause of the written format, just not that into 'script' form.. Still would love to see the play! But nothing like the original books! \n I was so happy to have Snape back if only for a few scenes tho <3", "date_added": "Sun Jul 31 15:53:21 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 09 09:52:16 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbc8e9191744d39350d6a6590b03c02e", "book_id": "6479259", "review_id": "b4b209c8db8f40e260f5af271f0e9868", "rating": 2, "review_text": "What in the world??? This was like Jacob and Bella all over again but even worse.... Ughhhh.. Had to skip most of the book for this reason.....", "date_added": "Mon Jul 08 13:44:54 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 01 05:47:22 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Sep 01 05:47:22 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbc8e9191744d39350d6a6590b03c02e", "book_id": "12716010", "review_id": "409f034f18901c14560354db93b7f6d4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it! Beautifully written and a perfect ending to the story...!!!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 12 00:47:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 14 16:35:06 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jun 14 16:35:06 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbc8e9191744d39350d6a6590b03c02e", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "b1a5886640da976f90a62d72c74440e5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Such a beautiful story! If only I could visit this amazing place just once! But I'm sure the same that happened to Bailey would happen to me! Not that it would be at bad thing... Not at all!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 15:51:46 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 22 15:42:34 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Oct 22 15:42:34 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "23766634", "review_id": "28bb72c549be3c9b2da5a5efe3e3657f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I CANT WAIT THAT LONG. NO. STOP. PLEASE.", "date_added": "Thu May 26 23:59:05 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu May 04 19:15:55 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "30194", "review_id": "1855147f6a0c6db828897aea9037d64d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "For more reviews, check out Keep Calm and Love Books \n Like I said in my previous review for, Goddess of the Sea, Cast's writing style is just so intriguing that I had to read what else she had written in this series. I honestly loved the idea of a Greek mythology romance! In this book we follow Lina and her quest as Persephone in the Underworld with Hades. I mean, yes, technically this was pretty far off considering Hades was supposedly a hateful man that literally stole Persephone from a garden and raped her. So, clearly the accuracy and adaptation was far off but I still loved this nonetheless. I found it interesting how easy it was for me to fall in love with Hades. Cast did an amazing job with her characters and fleshing them out so vulnerably so that we can really see their true intentions. The whole novel was just so magnificent, I will probably read it again haha. \n Lina was a delight to read. She was caring, smart and thought with her head. Her connection with animals was perfect for this role she had to play considering there is the famous three headed beast in Hell, Cerberus. I really did think it would be difficult to read from the point of view of a 43 year old women, considering I'm only 18 myself but I found myself forgetting the matureness of her as she embraced Persephone's youth. Maybe since she was an older, matured women, I found her so smart and level headed. That being said, when it came to Hades, she was just all love and lust. WHICH IS A GOOD THING. I enjoyed the romantic portion of the book and instead of, Goddess of the Sea, romance seemed to encompass the novel entirely and the main plot was getting to unravel Hades while keeping the Underworld a better place with a women's touch. \n \"Ultimately, the body is just a shell; it is the soul which defines the man or woman, god or goddess.\" \n Hades was delicious. I really like the men in P.C. Cast's books. She makes them sound so juicy and I found myself liking Hades fairly quickly. Having read and know about Greek mythology myself, I usually (like said in my other review) detest false depictions of mythology but I was actually okay with this. Everything despite Hades nature and personality, was actually quite accurate. We got to see Demeter, Apollo and even have mention of Athena, Aphrodite, Hermes etc. I liked that connection when we would see into Persephone's own mind and see the grand feasts the Goddess of Spring would host. \n \"Soul mates will always find each other. Do not weep on their behalf...they will be together again.\" \n All in all, I really do see myself loving and reading all of P.C. Cast's novels in this series. Rest assured, after this review gets posted I will move onto the next novel in the series, Goddess of the Light, following Artemis and Apollo, YAY. As usual, I loved this novel and this author especially!! A great book if you love Greek mythology and interaction with some of the famous Gods and Goddesses.", "date_added": "Thu May 26 21:26:31 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu May 26 21:52:47 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Thu May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "30196", "review_id": "ae36e2cedb31229757364b2a0e3ccf96", "rating": 5, "review_text": "For more reviews, check out Keep Calm and Love Books \n WOW. WOW. WOW. WOW. I was so not expecting to like this book. I couldn't believe how hooked I got!! Immediately I thought our protagonist, CC, was weird and that I was not going to like her at all. Yep. As you guessed it, I was 100% wrong. It took a couple chapters (maybe up to 4) for me to really start to realize how great this story was. It's not a regular, stereotypical siren/mermaid love tail (no pun intended) but instead, the love was magical and CC's transformation between a strong, Air Force and independent women to this love filled, desperate mermaid was incredible!! There are 7 books in this series and when I saw that, I was immediately confused. The novel ended beautifully and I couldn't imagine continuing CC and Dylan's story anymore but then I realized they're all different plots!!! Every book in P.C. Cast's series has different settings, plots, God's and characters. I can definitely say I will be reading more of her works because she is a fantastic writer. Now, just for reader's discretion, this should be labeled Rated R considering there is sexual content in this. I've definitely read worse but some people might find the sex scenes in here a little too much. I truly didn't mind it at all, I found it fitting because it showcased Dylan and CC's love perfectly! I will admit I did not get how Dylan and CC had sex. Sorry, I'm just going to put it out there... It didn't make sense to me but oh well. \n CC was incredible. She was brave, strong, independent and hello! An Air Force Sergeant!!! I love anything with a strong female lead, especially one in the army, so this was perfect. She really knew when to stand her ground and make herself known to the empowering men. CC goes into a realm and world where on land, women are looked down upon and beauty is considered a sin and evil, especially a women's beauty. So of course, CC in this beautiful body of Undine, demands attention by her very existence. The abbot running the monastery where she resides, does not take to her and instantly hates her. Lot's of drama transpires but I managed to stay so impressed with CC and her strong will and not giving up even though the situations were SO degrading to women, I wanted to scream. \n \"I did so enjoy learning the Poultry Dance,\" Gwenyth said, waving a hand in front of her heated face. \n \"Chicken Dance,\" CC corrected with a giggle. \n \"Chicken Dance,\" Gwenyth repeated. The old woman's eyes sparkled.\" \n Dylan was just sooooooo fine. He was perfect. From the moment we met him to the very end was amazing. He was such a good match for CC and I loved that he made sure to mention from the beginning that he loved CC for CC, not Undine's body. He really, truly loved her and it was love at first sight. I liked that we got his P.O.V sometimes because it allowed us to see his true intentions and make us fall in love with him even more! Gaea was so sweet. She was just so lovely to read about! I loved her immediate love and protection for CC, even though her own daughter was away from her. She really was a great mother and Goddess. I liked when we met Lir in the end. Lir was definitely not what I was expecting though! Usually with Greek mythology novels, I detest when an author makes God's and Goddess's nice and sweet, because in myth and legend, they were brutes that loved to kill and have sex. Cast really held that balance with Gaea and Lir, whom is Poseidon by the way, and we really saw that they were capable of in the last couple chapters. Let's not forget Lynelle. I knew from the beginning they would be close friends. Lynelle really shown through on her trust and support for CC even after she found out what she was. I liked that Cast gave Lynelle character growth as well! \n \"True love is not a potion one person can swallow and another refuse to drink. It happens only when the souls of two join together to form one.\" \n There were a lot of moments in this book where I wanted to scream at the abbot, Andres, Sarpedon and many more characters but that was just the thrill to see the judgment get passed onto THEM in the end. Really guys, this was a wonderful book and I assure you I will be reading the others in this series because I can't get enough of Cast's writing!", "date_added": "Wed May 25 18:01:30 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed May 25 23:20:05 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Wed May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "16069030", "review_id": "13d105c9e932f20d54997f8b51767857", "rating": 5, "review_text": "For more reviews, check out Keep Calm and Love Books \n I don't exactly know how I did it but I managed to read this whole book in about 4 hours... That is the BEST record time I have for reading a book. I'm pretty proud of myself and clearly this book lived up to it's hype by how fast I read it. I honestly just seemed to speed through it and wanting needing to know how this book will end! I really liked the world this was set in. I felt as if it was so different and unique that it was refreshing to read about. The politics, history and war in this world is just amazing. I LOVED reading all about the past and what happened with the war between Herrani and Valorians. It was interesting to read that the Herrani's were the ones on 'top' before the 'brutish' Valorians came and took it from them. Instead of causing excitation with the Herrani race, the Valorians took them as slaves. Pretty sad for the Herrani's. Obviously towards the end of the book I wasn't a big fan of the race but I get why both sides did what they did. The great thing about this book was that the politics, history and even the way the dystopian world was, it was so logical. I actually made sense of what was law and the rituals/customs they had. I've never read anything by Rutkoski but I really like her writing and how she made this dystopia so believable and understood. I didn't find myself confused at any of the 'ways of life' the Valorian's lived as well as the Herrani. \n As for the characters!!!! Let's start with: \n Kestrel: Absolutely amazing. I've always said my favourite protagonist from any book had to either be Celaena from Sara J. Mass's, Throne of Glass series or Taryn from Tijan's, A Whole New Crowd series. Well, Kestrel definitely tops those by a long shot! I was so impressed that Rutkoski managed to make her so strong and liked even though physically, she wasn't much of a fighter. Instead, her main weapon was her mind. In the beginning chapters her father even compliments her saying, \n \"Her father gave her a level look. \"Your military strength has never been in combat.\" Which was another way of saying that she was a poor fighter. More gently, he said, \"You're a strategist.\" Kestrel shrugged. Her father said, \"Who suggested I draw the Dacran barbarians into the mountains when they attacked the empire's eastern border?\"All she had done then was point out the obvious. The barbarians' over reliance on cavalry had been clear. So, too, had been the fact that the dry eastern mountains would starve horses of water.\" \n I mean... It's pretty clear she knows her shit and she's very talented in the sense that she knows how to think her way out of any problem! We do however get to see her physical strength get put to the test, which to be honest, was one of my favourite scenes in the WHOLE book. The fight she had with Irex was just laughable. She would have clearly lost if she hadn't used that strategist brain of hers and think her way out of being killed! I honestly think Kestrel was such a brilliant character, I can't wait to read her smart and witty mind in the next novel! \n Arin: The first time we get introduced to him and Kestrel described him was basically when I knew that this rough around the edges, hot ass looking dude would be our love interest. I, at first, liked him a lot! I thought he was great and understandable considering he was just bought to slave a family, I would be pretty hostile as well. And finally when we get that knowledge that he's actually not all innocent as he seemed and what he had been doing around the house not innocent AS WELL. Well....... I kind of freaked. I almost put the book away because I couldn't stand him anymore. I can say 100% having finished the book now, I still very much dislike Arin. Maybe the next book will change that but honestly, that betrayal and then for him to expect her to still be all lovey eyed with him.. As Cher would say from Clueless, AS IF. \n Jess: From the beginning to the end, I always liked Jess. Her loyalty really shows towards the middle and that touching devotion Kestrel shows Jess at the end is truly touching. I LOVED Jess. She was such a breath of fresh air and seemed to be the perfect best friend Kestrel needed. It's not secret that Kestrel is a strange, not conforming to society norms, type of girl. And Jess is honest about that and even says so out loud about her friend. They are the two perfect duo that I'm sure we will be seeing a lot more of in the next book! Though, I wonder if the events that happened in the last chapter of this book will throw a rift between them two, concerning Ronan. And speaking of Ronan... \n Ronan: Super hot. Super available. In love with Kestrel. What's not to love back!?!? Well the fact that Kestrel knows in her heart that he's not for her. Towards the end I really did think Ronan had a chance, I was actually routing for him more than Arin, since my hatred for him was stronger than ever, but poor Ronan. He does get shot down indefinitely and I'm sad to say that I'm pretty sure tat ship has sailed 100%. We know he's Jess's brother but we don't really touch on their family other than the siblings. I wonder if we will get to learn more of their family and how they are so close to the general's daughter. \n General Trajan: I just wanted to touch upon this character because Rutkoski really did go all out with her characters and made the stereotypical father in charge not so typical in this book. It was a welcome refreshment when I realized that the general isn't all that mean and typical 'dad' like in many YA dystopia novels. I actually quite like Kestrel's father and I'm glad we'll get to read about him in the next book. After what's happened now, I hope we'll actually get to see more of him and understand him better! I liked how he could be nice and caring yet have that fatherly figure in him. He made sure that his daughter knew he was to be obeyed but not out of cruelty or oppressiveness, but out of caring and the love he had for his daughter and her safety. He was just another one of Rutkoski's great characters in this series. \n The book ended with a satisfying cliff hanger for what is to come in the next, but it wasn't unbearable. I quite like how abruptly this ended and I'm pretty glad I read this so late because now all 3 books are out, YAY. Time to get reading and hopefully I'll have read the whole series by the end of this week, or at the rate I'm going, by at least Friday. Also, the cover is just so impeccable, definitely a plus for me!!!!!!! LOVED THIS!", "date_added": "Tue May 17 21:03:08 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed May 18 01:45:02 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Tue May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "4502877", "review_id": "f716d1a71e34f39b42d931268d1a43e3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was awesome! It really made a difference with Edward's P.O.V straight from the beginning. I loved hearing his thoughts and how abrasive he was towards Bella in the start. Which, if you've read Twilight, Bella's approach towards Edward is anything but abrasive, in fact the opposite. We finally get to read where he went after meeting her in Biology class that first day. I liked this, it filled a lot of holes and made me understand Edward way more better. Now, this is a partial draft because it was leaked before Meyer had time to finish it, but for a partial draft I was pretty satisfied. I really only wanted to read how Edward thought of Bella in the beginning when they first met. \n For the progress on where Midnight Sun is, writing wise, she hasn't let out any announcement whether she is even going to finish it. When Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined (10th anniversary edition) came out she actually said in an interview she was afraid that people were going to think that it would be the finished copy of Midnight Sun. This is pretty much a sure way of us knowing that we shouldn't expect the final copy any time soon, unfortunately. \n For the actual content in this, it was so well-written. You can definitely tell when Stephanie Meyer writes something because she has such a mature and unique writing technique, it's very inspiring. From just reading the Twilight series I always thought that Edward was just emotionless and had a flat personality. This totally changed what I thought! Again, you really get to see him struggle with these unfamiliar emotions he's having because of this clumsy new girl. There was humour with his side of the story, which I welcomed by the way. \n Meyer really played on the fact the he can read minds. I loved Edward's replies towards the mind's he would read. I couldn't believe how rude some people were to eachoother and the jealousy towards Bella! It was a huge plus because now I knew what people really thought about each other and Bella in the couple first of chapters. Namely, Jessica. Meyer literally took us to the depths of Edward's mind and thought process and it really did change the Twilight experience for me. I found myself actually liking this version better than the originals. \n I really did enjoy this and I really do wish that Meyer would complete this! It would be epic and I definitely wouldn't mind the whole series in his P.O.V. It really was a game changer for Twilight and I'm definitely keeping my alerts on for whenever Meyer decides to finish the book. \n IF you liked this novel, check out more on my blog where I review YA and other genres plus follow movie-adaptations and such! http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Wed Apr 27 23:52:47 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 28 17:32:25 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "17162437", "review_id": "0628945a78dba462a2171850d1eee97e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So, this book originally intrigued me because it was considered almost as good as, Susan Ee's Penryn and the End of Days trilogy, which is a huge compliment on Paula Weston. I can officially say that even though the storylines are completely different, I do agree with the comparison. This book was actually incredible! I loved how everything played out and the sequence of events were perfect. Everything happened at such a perfect time that it flowed so nicely. It was very well written and deserves a lot more hype. Weston is an Australian author and it was pretty difficult to get her books, considering I was greedy and ended up ordering them straight from Australia, so I could have them a year before they were published in Canada, where I am. LOL I know that's cheating a little but seriously, these books were so addictive and so much fun to read, I needed these books one after the other. \n The energy between Gaby and Rafa is incredible. Since the first time she, thought, she met him till the end of the book, was just consistent non-stop electricity between the two. The big drama was that Gaby seemed to have this whole life before, where she can't seem to remember a single thing about it. She learns a lot about her 'true' self and how heartless this Gabe could be. The other mystery is her brother. What exactly happened to her twin brother if she can't trust this new life's memories? Is her brother really dead? Or was that just part of this non truthful life she's been living. So we definitely get to see the journey and trip from both Gaby and Rafa to find out, considering Rafa and Jude are best friends. \n I liked how Weston played on the memory aspect in this series because it was interesting when we would hear about the two different, yet same physical person- Gaby and Gabe. I really liked that and it had a bit of a psychology theme to i, which I really enjoyed. It seemed to have brought more to the book then just an average YA angel novel. I really liked this book and I'm really excited to read what happens when Gaby gets her memories back, because it has to happen some day! \n IF you liked this review, check out more on my blog for YA and other genre books! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Wed Apr 27 18:25:10 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 27 18:25:41 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "25817407", "review_id": "2e9821fab5243c62be4dbbb9eb72405e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Lets just put this into perspective for you guys, I read the sample and then bought this book at around 3am this morning and I then finished it at 7am this morning. Damn, that was quick. I could not put it down. It was so captivating and such a light, easy and fun read. Who doesn't want to read about sirens and then to turn it into a sad perspective on them as well? I think Cass wrote this book beautifully and I just loved that it was a stand-alone. I needed a book with a happy ending since I've been stuck on the gruesome, A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones), novels. This was much needed and I think you guys can tell how much I enjoyed this. \n It was a cool concept on the whole siren/mermaid type thing. We automatically start off with our main character in the 50s where she's 19, the richest family on the ship they're on and beautiful. Her and her family start to hear this beautiful song with these beautiful voices and all of a sudden everyone is going overboard willingly, jumping to their deaths. Kahlen has the sense to plug her ears but even then that is not enough. She does, however, have enough time to see her family jumping to their deaths as well, damn. Distraught by that and a moment of distraction the voices reach her head again and she, too, jumps overboard. After coming to sense, she realizes she hasn't even lived yet, she's 19 and she wants to get married, live a life, have children etc. Well that seems to be the call for help because then she is soon pulled out of the water and given the chance for a life where she will not age, not get hurt, and stay beautiful for however long the Ocean says. As long as Kahlen feeds the Ocean that is, with humans. Shipwrecks. See where this is going? It doesn't take a genius to know what she picked, so Kahlen then turns into this beautiful Siren and rather abruptly, we get to chapter 2 where it is 80 years later. Dun Dun Dun.... \n So Kahlen seems to be with new and young sirens now, in the present. She's almost like there leader seeing as she's the oldest siren they know, or rather live with. It was cool how Cass tried to justify that killing people for the deemed 'evilness' of the Ocean was something good and to kill 200 is to save billions type of argument. Also that the Ocean, whenever She is mentioned in anyway, has to be capitalized. It was almost like the Ocean is a real living thing with a mind of Her own, which in this book She was. She could speak to the sirens, give them hugs and warm their hearts. The thing I found interesting though, was that Kahlen loved Her. Like really really loved Her and adored Her. I couldn't get that seeing as it was the Ocean Herself that killed Kahlen's family and forced Kahlen to live for about 80 years isolated and killing people on shipwrecks. It was weird how the sentencing went as well. Kahlen had mention it was 80 years since she was 'reborn' and still had about 20 or so to go. That's 100 years of not speaking to any human, unless it's to sing for their death, and since we're on the topic, killing loads of people for the Ocean to eat. Kahlen of course then meets a boy whom she realizes that she may love and may want to live for. The Ocean doesn't like that and in a way, is jealous? Since it seemed that She only truly loved Kahlen out of all of Her sirens, which is interesting because the Ocean knows that if this boy sticks around She will lose the only one She truly cares about. \n This book was so cool and new!! I had never read anything remotely close to this type of fantasy and just the plot line in general. I really liked how different it was and it was a nice, easy and fun break from all of the other YA paranormal book series there are today. Really starting to like Kiera Cass's work now! \n IF you liked this review, check out more on my blog where I review YA and other genre books! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Tue Apr 26 12:45:29 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 08 17:39:46 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "6618272", "review_id": "8e4df98160e024e1b4a863497eb85641", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Lets just put this into perspective for you guys, I read the sample and then bought this book at around 3am this morning and I then finished it at 7am this morning. Damn, that was quick. I could not put it down. It was so captivating and such a light, easy and fun read. Who doesn't want to read about sirens and then to turn it into a sad perspective on them as well? I think Cass wrote this book beautifully and I just loved that it was a stand-alone. I needed a book with a happy ending since I've been stuck on the gruesome, A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones), novels. This was much needed and I think you guys can tell how much I enjoyed this. \n It was a cool concept on the whole siren/mermaid type thing. We automatically start off with our main character in the 50s where she's 19, the richest family on the ship they're on and beautiful. Her and her family start to hear this beautiful song with these beautiful voices and all of a sudden everyone is going overboard willingly, jumping to their deaths. Kahlen has the sense to plug her ears but even then that is not enough. She does, however, have enough time to see her family jumping to their deaths as well, damn. Distraught by that and a moment of distraction the voices reach her head again and she, too, jumps overboard. After coming to sense, she realizes she hasn't even lived yet, she's 19 and she wants to get married, live a life, have children etc. Well that seems to be the call for help because then she is soon pulled out of the water and given the chance for a life where she will not age, not get hurt, and stay beautiful for however long the Ocean says. As long as Kahlen feeds the Ocean that is, with humans. Shipwrecks. See where this is going? It doesn't take a genius to know what she picked, so Kahlen then turns into this beautiful Siren and rather abruptly, we get to chapter 2 where it is 80 years later. Dun Dun Dun.... \n So Kahlen seems to be with new and young sirens now, in the present. She's almost like there leader seeing as she's the oldest siren they know, or rather live with. It was cool how Cass tried to justify that killing people for the deemed 'evilness' of the Ocean was something good and to kill 200 is to save billions type of argument. Also that the Ocean, whenever She is mentioned in anyway, has to be capitalized. It was almost like the Ocean is a real living thing with a mind of Her own, which in this book She was. She could speak to the sirens, give them hugs and warm their hearts. The thing I found interesting though, was that Kahlen loved Her. Like really really loved Her and adored Her. I couldn't get that seeing as it was the Ocean Herself that killed Kahlen's family and forced Kahlen to live for about 80 years isolated and killing people on shipwrecks. It was weird how the sentencing went as well. Kahlen had mention it was 80 years since she was 'reborn' and still had about 20 or so to go. That's 100 years of not speaking to any human, unless it's to sing for their death, and since we're on the topic, killing loads of people for the Ocean to eat. Kahlen of course then meets a boy whom she realizes that she may love and may want to live for. The Ocean doesn't like that and in a way, is jealous? Since it seemed that She only truly loved Kahlen out of all of Her sirens, which is interesting because the Ocean knows that if this boy sticks around She will lose the only one She truly cares about. \n This book was so cool and new!! I had never read anything remotely close to this type of fantasy and just the plot line in general. I really liked how different it was and it was a nice, easy and fun break from all of the other YA paranormal book series there are today. Really starting to like Kiera Cass's work now! \n IF you liked this review, check out more on my blog where I review YA and other genre books! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Tue Apr 26 01:48:22 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 26 12:46:11 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Apr 26 12:46:11 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "25861100", "review_id": "8a4f0ac68703f773bada8e584e0edfdb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm going to assume that everyone reading this review knows about Twilight and has read the originals. Onward from that, this is the tenth anniversary edition where Bella and Edward's roles and genders are switched. When I first heard about this I literally through my phone because of the excitement and the urge to do a happy dance- true story. Literally every female in the original Twilight series turns into a male and vice versa. It was actually pretty good, which I'm struggling to imagine how I could possibly say that with a straight face... I wasn't necessarily a big fan of the books, I liked the movies well enough to watch them in the theatres but that's about it. So for me to say that this book was actually pretty good, is a lot. \n This was pretty funny to read, it took a while to get used to and remember who was who but all in all, pretty humorous. I liked that Meyer took the used up old story of Twilight and made it into something new and refreshing. Mind you guys, the main reasons why I didn't like Twilight did not disappear in this new version. The romance still sucked, the whole vampire sparkle stuff was still bogus and the characters still didn't connect with me or relate to me at all. While this was a cool new innovation of Twilight, I'd still give it the same rating as the originals, 3-4 stars, at the most. \n For anyone interested in reading, I say just do it. I mean, it's a cool thing for Meyer to do and I liked that she came up with this idea. It was a definitely a different perspective to view the plot through Beau Swan, a male, getting captivated by the beautiful vampire, Edythe Cullen. I didn't mind the book and I definitely didn't hate it as some-most people did. Just read it, who knows, you might actually really like this new version better! \n p.s. Soooooo Meyer had the time to write this book yet not the sequel to the Host ?? Um priorities much? -insert grumpy ass face- \n IF you liked this review, check out more on my blog where I review YA and other genres! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Sun Apr 24 17:47:39 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 29 16:42:27 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "17343391", "review_id": "9599771e382a17b19c92ba88ed3fabae", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ahh, the last book in the Precious Stone Trilogy... so sad. I did not want to see this series end but unfortunately, it was time to wrap things up and call it quits. After all, we needed to find who the real culprit was right? \n It was definitely sad to say goodbye to Gwen and her quick wit and also Xemerius! Boo! He literally made the books so funny and not all dramatic at times. Again, I will say that the romance portion was lacking and I felt no connection between Gideon and Gwen. The only time I didn't particularly like Gwen, was when she was obsessing over Gideon and not getting her priorities straight. With that being said, Xemerius did stop the whining of lovers scorned at most times and fixed her priorities. I don't want to give too much away so I can't necessarily talk about the plot considering this book was dedicated to solving all of the problems and mysteries. \n BUT. CAN I JUST TEASE YOU GUYS ABOUT THAT ENDING? LIKE DAMN. I was not expecting that at all. I loved that surprise because then everything starting clicking into place, in my mind. I will say that the whole book was kind of lacking in exciting plot twists. Having read the whole novel, the book was all leading up to the big finale, which many were disappointed in. I can see their P.O.Vs for sure, but I just loved this series so much I couldn't not like it, especially the end! \n I always hate reading the last books in any series because I can't seem to let go no matter what! I mean, I still reread this books from time to time. \n IF you liked this review, check out more on my blog where I review YA and other genre books! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Mon Apr 18 20:03:51 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 18 20:04:18 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "17254055", "review_id": "7b6de46ef9e979cc7a31869e17bc4cf8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The second book in this wonderful trilogy was just as exhilarating as the first! The comedy was on point and I'll tell you why: Xemerius. I LOVE HIM..IT? LOL. Who knew Gier could make a gargoyle funny and have it actually work with the story. I also love James, I mean how fun and great was it to actually meet him when he was alive and kicking! We left the first book with Gwen and Gideon kissing and we open the book right in that same scene. Having read all the books a couple times, I can still say that the romance was the only problem I had with this series. I honestly couldn't stand Gideon or his romantic notions and crap with Gwen. Don't get me wrong, I love Gwen, she's a great, funny and so very realistic protagonist but god was the romance such a disappointment. I just didn't like their relationship and whole 'connection' between them, oh well. Still, it didn't deteriorate my opinion on the books as a whole. \n We were introduced to Raphael, Gideon's little brother who takes an interest in Lesly. Nothing special there really, again, don't get wrong I love Lesly as well but they don't really contribute to the storyline much except for a certain part, but thats really it. Can I just say how entertaining and cool it is to hear and read through Paul and Lucy's P.O.V. in the epilogues? \n Not much to say for this book, except that the final last book is way better and I'm pretty sure I'm going to re-read it after reviewing it haha. \n IF you liked this review, go check out more on my blog, where I review YA and other genre books! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Mon Apr 18 18:55:51 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 18 20:04:38 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "9004758", "review_id": "4cc59f2c5c9125fdc0fdfa816cb6e818", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was cool sequel I will admit. Instead of having trouble with little possessed Kasey anymore we now have a different type of possessing, but instead on Alexis and Megan. It was interesting to see the after effects on Alexis's family's life after what happened in the last book. Kasey was in a psychiatric home and had just come back from her treatment and we find ourselves living in a whole new different neighbourhood. Kasey is starting her first year of high school and all she wants to do is be normal and have normal friend. Well that's a little hard for a girl to do when she's been possessed by an old grumpy vengeful spirit. After all, everyone remembers Alexis's little sister breaking one of the most popular cheerleader's little sister's arm. Who could forget that? \n While Kasey is adjusting to high school life she becomes friends with a new girl and weirdly enough, Lydia. Yeah, the weird emo girl from ALEXIS'S old group of friends. Anyways, they join this Sunshine Club where basically all of the girls, including Kasey, get turned into these amazing, beautiful, fashionista type popular girls. Alexis and Megan right away knew that something was up. I liked the friendship between those two a lot in this book. It really shown through how much last book's events bonded them together even when they were enemies just a couple months before. Alexis and Megan then have this bright idea to join the club themselves because again, they smell something fishy going on. Yeah not really a good idea considering the spirit that is turning these girls into psycho's and beauty pageant girls isn't all that perfect and innocent as he seemed. Especially with his creepy ass book. \n I couldn't quite believe how serious things got towards the end and a huge twist happened that left me shocked and sad. If you don't want to get spoiled I suggest not reading the description for the next book, like at all. It ruins it on the first few sentences, so just a disclaimer and warning on that. Basically this book made a great sequel to the series and I'm really liking Alender's writing style! It was fun to read and really makes you anxious, just like the first! \n p.s. I know this is in the last book review I did on this series but heres the link for the amazingly well done book trailer!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ID1j... \n IF you liked this review, check out my blog for more YA and other genre books! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Thu Jan 28 21:19:11 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 25 21:26:27 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "20958632", "review_id": "647d38fbe27cae54d7dcb2eec0abf0f9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is so... intriguing? I want to describe it as weird too because I mean, you guys read the synopsis right?? I know, as soon as I did, I had to read it! What an interesting book, definitely different than what I usually read. Now, I did only look into this book because I happened to love The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, so much that I needed to read other novels by Holly Black. Having said that, I was not disappointed as this novel was fantastic! \n It was such a cool concept that the town is not only aware about the fae that habit the forest, but the fact that they practically live in peace because of it. It was funny that the fact that the town is such a hot spot for tourism is because of the infamous boy in the glass coffin. I mean, come on. If there was a town in today's day and age that had a fae-looking boy asleep in a coffin, we would not visit and gawk at it. Im pretty sure we'd break into it or atleast have it whisked away to the CIA or NASA haha. But anyways, I also strangely liked the fact that Hazel, the main character, had a gay, open brother. I LOVED THAT DETAIL. Not only that, but having Ben fall in love with the fae boy. Hazel was so quirky and cool with her real life relatable problems. The intro was a bit slow with getting to know the characters and getting used to our surroundings but then it picked up speed and we got to the fun, fae parts. I love fae books, so this book was a big plus for me just from the beginning. \n I liked the little surprise we got towards the middle where we find out who the big \"bad\" guy is. Also the story behind that was interesting and I loved reading it. LOL I found it really funny that the townspeople were so contempt with the fact that the fae had free pickings on the tourists and could bug them as much as they want. It was a fun, creepy, fairytale-like novel and I can now declare Holly Black as a master at standalone novels that incorporate fantasy paranormal. This wasn't AS good as The Coldest Girl in Coldtown but I did rather enjoy it a lot :) \n IF you wanna see more reviews, go on and check out my blog! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Thu Jan 28 21:18:34 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 15 20:26:15 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "18296016", "review_id": "a44560e45ea8d1e9a882a07d12597170", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book definitely intimated me. Not only had it been out for quite a while but it had tons of reviews and was and still is quite popular. Starting off the book we are introduced to Princess Marie, who has an illness. I was a bit confused at first and it did take till Wolfgang's P.O.V and him describing her illness for me to fully understand what was happening with her. There are a lot of characters in this book and at first, it was really overwhelming haha. I literally found this book to be, put plainly, a bunch of horny teens that are obsessed with sex. LMFAO. IM SORRY BUT THATS WHAT I THINK. \n I think my favourite character was Aewlyn, because who doesn't love a powerful, fierce witch, or mage as this book calls them. I felt like she was the smartest and knew how the courts worked and how to work them for her favour. Also, hello. In the FABULOUS trailer, which will be linked below, the actress that portrayed her is beautiful! I couldn't stop myself from just staring at her face. Speaking of the trailer, I can say that it is the only reason I read this book and even knew it existed. It was so professional done and not cheesy like most book trailer are, it was a total favour for this book. Was this book the best thing ever? No. Was it cool and had a interesting concept? Yes! The whole book is told from 5 point of views: Marie, Aelywn, Wolfgang, Ronan and Isabelle. \n Princess Marie: Sweet, shy, calm, well-mannered Princess who is 17 and has tuberculosis, in which she has to wear leg braces... all in all, she's pretty plain looking. Also her mother's like 150 years old and only Marie can see her mothers true face (old and haggard) while everyone else marvels at how she doesn't look a day over 30. Yikes. \n Prince Leopold: Handsome, smart, brave.. and an asshole. He's the famous, lovable prince that everyone worships and adores. Obviously except Marie considering she sees right through his act. OH and he's especially horny, like really really horny. \n Gill: Handsome? um.. brave?? I mean he's just a strong guard that Marie is truly in love with for saving her life. I guess he has personality? \n Aewlyn: Beautiful, strong, powerful, witch. Also, daughter of Merlin, I mean .... I LOVE the Arthurian Era, so whats better than having Merlin in this book? well the fact that his daughter could be more powerful than even him. Dun Dun Dun...Basically her day job is being Marie's best friend and accomplice. \n Ronan: Who? sorry thats right, the American who goes to Europe to get married off to save her broke family. Thats when she meets Wolfgang... the prince... even though she doesn't know it yet. \n Prince Wolgang: Horny. Ass. Teenager. I mean, he is the brother of Leopold after all. He is the handsome, underrated, charming prince that might not get to be King, but gets all of the ladies instead. He's sweet and nice when we meet him.. except that in the first five minutes of meeting Ronan, and other girls might I add, he suggests strip poker as an icebreaker. Yep. Horny teens!!! \n Isabelle: Beautiful, petite, French royal, delicate, and not a virgin considering she's been sleeping with Prince Leopold for the past how long? You see, Isabelle has the worst luck. At first, she's originally engaged to Leopold and even gives it up to the man-whore thinking he loves her for who she is blah blah blah. Until, that engagement is taken and given to Marie. SO what does Isabelle do? try to ruin it.. of course. Something horrible does happen to her so I cant be too judgemental.. oh wait I can considering she literally has. to. cry. all. the. friggan. time. WHY. Isabelle was my least favourite character by far! \n All in all, the book was pretty entertaining for a quick read. Just saying, with everything said and that I've made fun of, I will still read the upcoming sequel because I mean.. it is a cool concept and hello! MERLIN. \n HERES THE TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeqBg... \n Also, the song is what immediately pay more attention. If you know it, kudos! \n IF you liked this review, go check out more on my blog. I review YA books and more! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Tue Jan 26 15:47:28 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 18 20:59:15 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "3678651", "review_id": "353e059f6150ea930a398b59c6d1bd73", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was so cool! I couldn't believe how interesting ghosts and a possessed 12 year old can be. This was my first book I've ever read from Katie Alender and I have to say I'm pretty impressed. It was a cool concept and was written very nicely and well-paced. Everything happened at a perfect time, and I never once got bored. So, Alexis is the typical outsider in school, she wears her own fashion, has different coloured hair and what not. Basically, she doesn't care what anyone thinks, especially the mean cheerleaders. Her little sister now, Kasey, just wants fit in. She's best friends with the ever so mean cheerleader's little sister... until Kasey breaks her arm. I mean just from the synopsis, how Kasey's eyes turn green, she's talking in 18th century language and she is loosing her memory... it's pretty clear that Kasey is possessed. It also doesn't help that Kasey has a strange obsession with dolls, like her whole room has shelves after shelves of dolls just sitting.. staring.. yikes. Alexis, being a normal yet dysfunctional teenager doesn't want to believe anything's wrong with her sister but when dangerous and violent things start happening in her home and to her family, she cant keep overlooking the strange things Kasey does anymore. \n This book, to say the least, was... creepy. It definitely had that creepy, ghost, chill factor. Very paranormal and even has romance in it. I loved the events adding up to the end, they were creepy and Kasey especially was creepy. She did a lot of horrible things, to her friends, her family and finally at the end, to her sister. It's gong to be interesting to read how the real Kasey is going to live on seeing as I'm sure she can remember everything she's done, or at least be told. After all, she is just a 12 years old girl. I really can't wait to read and review the next book in this series, and see how Alender can create even more creepiness. \n IF you liked this review, check out more on my blog where I review YA and other genres! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Mon Jan 25 15:39:16 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 22 11:43:15 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "23569428", "review_id": "4cf9c7583cf73fb3bc086cc61475438d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "For more reviews, check out Keep Calm and Love Books \n This book follows Alexander the Great, yes the same one we learn about in high school, in his teenage years to becoming the king of Macedonia . It takes place in 360 BC, which is just crazy to read about in Herman's amazing descriptive text. This did take me a while to read and get into but that's only because of the amount of characters with crazy long ancient names. I needed time to remember the roles some of these people played in our protagonist's storylines. With that in mind, there were A LOT of different character arcs. I actually really liked Herman's writing and the distinguishing between the characters, it was really fun and different to read about this mysterious, unknown time period from a historian's (Eleanor Herman) mind. \n For everyone's storyline, we have 3 main plots: Alexander, Katerina and Zofia's. Among those we then have the minor plots with different P.O.V chapters: Jacob, Hephaestion, Cynane, and Olympia. It sounds really confusing but it wasn't! I liked how we heard from everyone's head and it gave us more perspective on the story and world we're set in. Speaking of the word, this takes place in, again, 360 BC, so the Gods and Goddesses from Greek mythology are pretty prominent in this. We always get references about how not long ago the Gods roamed the earth. I really liked the incorporation of mythology and how we frequently get references of Zeus, Ares, Oracle of Delphi, Athena etc. Again, Herman is a historian so it does not surprise me that she included history that's pretty accurate to today's knowledge. \n This is a quote from the Author's Note at the end of the book: \n \"Though this is a work of fantasy with some fictional main characters--Katerina, Jacob, and Zofia--I wanted to make their world of 340 BC as historically accurate as possible... While Alexander's half sister, Cynane, might feel too modern, she really did model herself on the Amazons and was known for her military prowess....His father, the king, was distant and harsh; his manipulative, ambitious mother was devoted to her snakes and widely regarded as a witch; his older half sister, Cynane, was a jealous, competitive Amazon; his younger half brother, Arrhideus, was mentally handicapped; and his tutor, Leonidas, employed educational methods that would today land him in jail for child abuse.\" \n I loved how accurate this was and it really does make me want to read more of her work. \n Now, for the actual characters and storylines, the only plot that really advanced in the beginning was Princess Zofia. Right away, her story just goes to the max with drama and she has to fight for what she wants and realize the dangers outside of her well protected and sheltered life in the palace. We left her story very open ended and I'm excited to see how her's will end in the sequel. I also just really want her to help with the war in Pella and meet everyone. We start the book off in Katerina's P.O.V and we can already tell she's not normal. She definitely has some strong magic coursing through her veins and I liked how the book ended with her owning her true self and I'm so excited to see her embrace herself fully. Heph, Alexander's best friend (even in history), was pretty dull, but I still liked hearing his thought. His one problem, which clearly states in the book, is his pride. I really found his pride annoying at times but towards the end, like everything, he was just getting better and I think he's going to be a great hero in the end. \n My favourite storyline had to be between Kats and Cynane, Alexander's sister. Something about her abrasive manner and how she'll do anything to prove she doesn't want to be just a lady (GoT's Arya basically) was amazing. From the start of her P.O.V chapter, I knew I'd like her. \n \"As she slips through the crowd, she intentionally brushes against different men. She's not sure why she does it--to remind herself of her power over them, perhaps? Or maybe because even through the coarse cloth of her dress, it feels kind of thrilling when they touch--as if anything could happen.\" \n I just feel like there are so many great moments in this book that I need to quote them all for you guys. If you need convincing to read this book at all, just look at all of the glorious reviews it has. This book was amazing and I can say it is my favourite read in 2016 so far. I can't remember a book I read that just left me speechless and MAKE me want to search the web to find out more of the stuff that conspired in 360 BC. Guys, just read it. It's simply amazing and I am now going to read Eleanor Herman's other novels. \n Here are some quotes to persuade you further: \n Alexander's P.O.V: \n \"Down on the street, a man driving an empty cart is cursing bitterly, trying to back up his donkey and cart to make way for another vehicle. That's how it is, Alex thinks. Someone always has to give in. But not for long. He has other plans, plans his father doesn't know about. And if he succeeds, he'll be the greatest leader this world has ever known.\" \n Cynane's P.O.V: \n \"True loyalty--it's almost unheard of. And it's exactly what Cyn has been looking for all these years. Correction: it's what she has been looking to destroy.\" \n Katerina's P.O.V: \n \"\"There was, long ago, in the time before time, a great battle between gods and monsters,\" Ada begins, looking straight ahead. \"The gods won but lost much of their power and became almost mortal, mating with humans.\"\" \n Hephaestion's P.O.V: \n \"\"Kat, you're going to be all right,\" he lies. She doesn't answer. She's looking in wonder at the sky, moving her pale lips. He turns to see what it is that so fascinates her. It's the hellion, flying in wide lazy circles over the battlefield, howling as it rises higher and higher, and is gone.\" \n I am so excited to read Herman's sequel to the Blood of Gods and Royals series, Empire of Dust.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 10 15:41:17 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu May 05 16:07:56 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu May 05 16:07:56 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "9833184", "review_id": "7508d8c24d8122b214c37408d90565a4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was different from all of the other books! We have 2 P.O.V's in this, which was cool because we finally get to read about Adrian's thought process. So, Zoe is annoying. Simple as that, and this is me being nice. I really hate her, I can't put it straight enough! She bugged me so much, she always seemed to be on her sister's side yet at the first chance, she rats her out to her father and guess what? Sydney is in trouble now and all I want to do is slice Zoe's throat. \n I feel like Sydney and Adrian were a little dull in this book, meaning that they just weren't themselves. They were careless and got too comfortable. Sydney wasn't smart enough to realize when something was wrong and we didn't see the normal, very analytic thinking person I really liked from the first book and Vampire Academy. \n Adrian was almost exactly like that. It felt like he, too, wasn't himself because he was way too overly in love with Sydney and his mistakes, along with hers, threaten now all of their lives and not to mention the only reason they're there, Jill. It was just so frustrating how stupid they could be and just not think with their heads in this book! I felt like screaming at them a lot of the times just to talk some sense into their brains and shout out the obvious. \n I really liked how we got to go to the Royal Court, and we see everyone! That was probably my favourite scene in the whole book. There was so much drama that happened it was just so juicy! We get so many fights and a huge battle which was total Vampire Academy like. I loved it! It was so cute to see how Sydney and Adrian were trying to hide their relationship from their friends because we all saw how that worked out for Rose and Dimitri. \n I really did like this book, but it was not my favourite. I didn't like the ending, something bad happens and I totally know I'm going to get so frustrated in next book. So, all in all, it was a good instalment in the series and while I am frustrated and mad how the series turned, I am excited to see how Adrian and the gang can save Sydney from this drama. \n IF you liked this review, check out more on my blog where I do YA, other genres, and movie-adaptation/tv series reviewing!! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Tue Aug 04 22:15:48 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 29 12:02:48 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "8709526", "review_id": "4fffac162c02595dbc1041dfa1813253", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was hot hot hot! The connection between Sydney and Adrian is just inevitable. I do feel for Sydney though, she has to go against all of her instincts that have been drilled into her head since childhood. Besides the romance in this book, we get a lot of action! Sydney finally finds the infamous Marcus Finch who managed to escape the Alchemists and do something spectacular to his tattoo. I liked that we got to learn a lot about the golden lily tattoo's in this novel and their history, Mead really focused on the implications if the tattoo was to used on you. It's almost like brainwash in a way and I have a suspicious feeling that is what is going to happen to Sydney's sister, Zoe. \n This book really is just about the struggle Sydney has mentally about whether to follow her instinct, that may be wrong, or her heart. The problem is that she has so much other crap to deal with, her newfound magic, protecting Jill, dealing with Angeline, and especially the lies that the Alchemists have been telling her. She doesn't know who to trust expect the Moroi, whom she had been brainwashed into not trusting... basically it's a huge mess in Sydney's life and she's close to exploding. I honestly wouldn't blame her if she did. \n The big 'bad' in this book is some person tracking and killing young witches across the US. So, of course Sydney and Adrian go on little, adorable trips to all of these places to figure out who and why this is happening. Unfortunately, they do lose some witches but the culprit is revealed and Sydney finds herself fighting to the death with them. It's an amazing scene and an amazing way to end the book. I still have so many questions that need to be answered but I guess I can wait till the next book :(. \n This was a pretty good novel and it seems to be going in the same direction as Vampire Academy, which is nice because that series was awesome! \n IF you liked this review, check out more on blog where I review YA and other genre books. \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Sun Jul 26 02:38:17 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 23 14:03:40 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "8709523", "review_id": "ec33328e4732a4dfe473b6f2932edaf9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So it seems like the Bloodlines series it going to go the same way as Vampire Academy, in a way. It was pretty predictable but not in a way that I disliked it. It was still super juicy and addicting as always. I LOVED reading this story and the world of Moroi, Dhampir, and Strigoi from Sydney's P.O.V. Something about her inner thoughts and the way she spoke was just such a refreshing start from Rose's in the Vampire Academy. Of course, it was a little annoying how restricted Sydney could be and that she's not that comfortable with herself, let alone others like Adrian. \n I liked how they made Sydney more than just a boring Alchemist. Now that she's pretty sure she has this unexplainable magic, she starts to open up, yet she knows the danger if anyone were to find out. I really liked how they incorporated Braydon, a sort of distraction for Sydney. It was cute and sweet and also funny to see how Adrian reacted. The pacing for everything was pretty darn good- the romance, danger, self-realization etc. I was so hooked on how likeable the characters were. Obviously I know Eddie, Jill and Adrian from before but Angeline and Tray were pretty likeable, despite their faults. What made this book even better was definitely Sonya and Dimitri!! Those two are both hilarious and just a great reminder where this whole storyline and world came from. \n Adrian was fantastic. Since Vampire Academy, I've been in love with Adrian. I think he has definitely grown and gone through some shit and deserves so much more, a.k.a Sydney :). Now, I don't know where Mead is going with this but it seems that Adrian finally gets to have some happiness in his life. I like that we get to see Sydney change, for the better. Her prejudices from the years and years of being brainwashed are finally breaking down and she's, again, slowly allowing herself to open up and be vulnerable in front of the Moroi and Dhampir. \n All in all, this was the perfect sequel and I couldn't ask for a better book! Can't wait for the next one, The Indigo Spell!!! Yay! \n IF you liked this, check out more on my blog where I review YA and other genre books. \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Fri Jul 24 20:12:07 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 22 21:45:48 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "8709527", "review_id": "8760fb196449878f28210bd2d5ef0490", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Here we are, back again in the wonderful world Richelle Mead created. This book started off right on Sydney Sage at home being awakened by her alchemist bosses. Sydney's home life is a rough one, to say the least. Her father is horrible to her, he treats them like crap, and her sister is just so annoying. Zoe wants to do anything to make her dad proud, even if that means going on a mission that'll most likely get her killed, when she's only 15 years old. Of course, Sydney sees how obscure this is, and offers herself considering she knows more about the Moroi and Strigoi from her little escapade with Rose and Dimitri in Blood Promises and Last Sacrifice. Well, you can understand how upset Zoe was and accused Sydney of wanting all the glory to herself, yeah.. not really. What a brat. \n Anyways, flip forward a couple chapters and Sydney is back with the gang!!! Sydney, along with an annoying 'supervisor/partner' Keith Darnell, the golden boy of the alchemists. She meets up with Rose, Dimitri, Adrian, Eddie, Jill, and weirdly enough, Abe Mazur, Rose's father and someone Sydney has clearly met and made a deal with before, -gasp- mystery. Sydney and Jill move to Amberwood Prep to protect the newly found royalty, Jill, after many suspicious attacks made on her life. \n This novel was super juicy and totally fun to read. It never once got boring and I flew through it in one sitting. Adrian is a huge character in this series, which I'm glad for considering he didn't really get much in Vampire Academy. The others do make appearances once in a while but the book is solely about Sydney and her new life hiding out with Jill, Keith and Adrian. While, this book was pretty predictable, it did have its twists and surprises later on in the book and in the whole series. Adrian's lines were hilarious of course, so we still had the humour. Sydney's P.O.V was definitely different from Roses. Sydney's would be smarter, critical and more serious while Rose's was funny, witty, and sarcastic. Aside from that, this book was pretty darn great! I had fun reading it and definitely reading the rest of the series. \n IF you liked this review, check out more on my blog where I review other YA and genre books! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Fri Jul 24 00:10:30 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 21 11:44:16 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "17455815", "review_id": "a8515f9ea04e3c5be5513c98f062cf8c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I definitely wouldn't go as far as saying this book was better than the first, White Hot Kiss, but it was pretty good and yet also frustrating. This, like the first, were light and easy to read and you get into it really fas. So seems like Roth is pretty much with Layla at this point. Obviously at the beginning of the book the two have their problems considering what happened in the last book. There was a huge sacrifice Roth had to make which ultimately Zayne swoops in, saving Layla's broken heart. There were some pretty funny moments right at the beginning when Roth came to the institution and they all had a discussion about Layla like she wasn't standing right there. Some pretty awkward things happened and I loved reading it. \n So the Lilin are here and they're wild and also slowly taking over. In this book there are witches, which is cool and I liked that Armentrout incorporated that into the plot. Bambi was amazing of course as she now is on Layla practically permanently. A huge plot twist happens to one of Layla's friends and it was crazy towards the end of the book because I have no idea what Layla is going to do in the next book! As for the romance, Armentrout actually put out a post that basically said, she'll be hosting a poll while she's writing her last book of the series, Every Last Breath, for the the fans to vote who they want Layla to end up with, Roth or Zayne. That is so freaking cool as an author! I was so impressed by that and just respect her so much more now because she is literally incorporating her fan's opinions and ships into the story. It's pretty much no surprise who won but I'm not going to say for obvious spoiler reasons. \n There's a funny scene, it's really not funny in the context but I found it pretty stupid that I had to laugh. While Layla went to the movie theatre, a man goes up to her that seems scarcely familiar with a water bottle of clear liquid... HMMMM LAYLA I wonder what that is. Oh wait, if an old man resembling the church guy comes up to you in public with clear liquid while saying \"I can expose you\" I wonder what's going to happen next. Any guesses? Yep, you bet it's holy water and can we all just remember that Layla can't actually touch it? Well any guesses as to what the guy did? Yep, threw it on her. In public. God (no pun intended) sometimes I just wanted to punch Layla and Roth and even Zayne sometimes. \n Anyways, the book was great and it was pretty easy to read. Again, for just a light read and sometimes humorous, this was pretty good. I had a lot of fun reading this and we end it on a high-note of sorts, at least for me. \n IF you liked this review, check out my blog for more YA and other genres! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Mon Jun 08 12:18:30 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 25 21:03:26 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "17455585", "review_id": "52c51addcc30edf9d447f03197ba1aba", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was such a cool concept. I'v always had a burning interest in angel/demon books and just adding gargoyles made it even better! I was pretty into this book, I couldn't put it down and had finished it in one go. Poor Layla, can't be kissed because she literally has the kiss of death. It's pretty obvious the desire Zayne holds for her, which just made it 10x more frustrating at how blind Layla was. You know, I'll admit, I think I'm team Zayne, something about him just makes me love him better than Roth! I mean, don't get me wrong, Roth is hella sexy and so raw in power, it's exhilarating to read, but.... Zayne is also powerful and smart and just.. angel like? Definitely more my type -insert heart eyes-! \n I liked that Armentrout wasn't afraid to bring in mythology to the story and plot. We heavily get into some hell-related mythology which was great. While, this story was romance-based, I did like the other stuff too. Her friends, the inside Warden drama, and Layla's dilemma. Layla wasn't the typical strong, fearless and ruthless character that I usually prefer but I did like that her ultimate priority and nature was saving the people she cared about and just good-heartedly trying to help everyone and anyone. \n Some of the characters weren't my favourite like, Stacey, who was way too portrayed as the 'slut' and the 'wild' one of the friendship between her and Layla. Also, Danika. I mean, Layla doesn't act too nice to her but come on.. being a Zayne lover myself, lets not have Danika in the picture please. I found it weird how I kind of ?liked? Petr and that unnecessary drama. Obviously we find out why he's needed in the series but for spoilers sake, I won't say. Petr was a good distraction from the whole Zayne/Roth love drama. One thing I didn't really understand about the plot was that humans very well knew gargoyles existed but.. how and why? It's almost as if everyone in the world has this, 'so what?' kind of attitude towards it, which I don't get considering usually people would be making it national news and freaking the hell out. \n The book was enjoyable but only for a light reading. If you were wanting to read this for an in-depth plot masterpiece, unfortunately you won't find it here. It was still good, and I did read the next one :) \n IF you enjoyed this review, check out more YA and other genre books on my blog! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Sun Jun 07 20:53:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 19 22:19:37 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "17927395", "review_id": "a8499b435b976d9d567002ffb7105132", "rating": 5, "review_text": "For more reviews, check out Keep Calm and Love Books \n \"No one was my master-- but I might be master of everything, if I wished. If I dared.\" \n Amen. Ok. I've been debating how to express in this review how *excuse my language* FUCKING AMAZING THIS WAS. I don't say this lightly but this might actually be my favourite book I have EVER read. The fact that the ratings for this book is literally 4.77/5 from 19, 818 people's rating on Goodreads is absolutely ridiculous. If that does not tell you to go, either, start this series or read this sequel then I honestly am baffled at your ignorance. I am still in a state of shock from just finishing reading this novel. I read this via iBooks but rest assured, tomorrow (considering it is 4:30 am right now) I will be picking up the hardcopy. Where to begin with this masterpiece? Lets start with the amount of action/love/despair/fighting/capability all stuffed into 624 pages. I've always loved Maas, right from Throne of Glass but wow. She really did outdo herself in this novel. The amount of heart-wrenching despair and strength in this novel is just overwhelming. One of the main reasons it took me from May 3rd till now, May 27th to finish this book; Let me put it into perspective, I finished City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare, a 725 page book in less than 5 days. DO YOU GET WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY? This book was so jam packed with knowledge and character growth that it took a hell of a long time to read. Also, another reason is because the next book comes out May 4th, 2017. Excuse me? Um, a year. A fucking full year for the next novel.... I don't even think I can physically and/or emotionally do that. I can't begin to tell you guys how amazing the transformation and alliances took place from ACOTAR to ACOMAF. I was definitely team Tamlin in ACOTAR but now..... Hello, when you read this book you'll realize why anyone who says they're not team Rhysand will probably get murdered on sight. Just saying. The fact Maas was able to turn the ferocious team Tamlin group all into team Rhysand is just proof of amazingness. I really do aspire to be an author one day, and I can now say that I will definitely look to Maas and her writing skills that are just impeccable. \n \"I was not a pet, not a doll, not an animal. \n I was a survivor, and I was strong. \n I would not be weak, or helpless again \n I would not, could not be broken. Tamed.\" \n You say it girl! God, Feyre was just such a strong character in this. I'm pretty sure she's stronger than Caelana/Aelin even. Feyre is the epitome of strength and grace all at once. She would be the most fair, just, and glorious queen anyone would worship. Maas wrote this easily manipulated, weak minded girl in ACOTAR who was totally out of place being the minority around everyone and turned her into a strong-willed, fighting badass women who can conquer the world in a short amount of time. Feyre was and is still growing as we continue on in the story but I feel that she matured all she could in the last book and now this novel, we see her embrace that new found maturity and smartness with the decisions she made day to day. Without giving too much away, Feyre felt trapped and ultimately, like she wasn't being used for what she was great in, strategy. She's smart, she always had been and she new survival instincts very well, with what she had to endure as a mortal. She was the one who fended and fed her family daily, then became the lover with a great destiny to a man so powerful it hurt, THEN she managed to not only kill but release the hold of treachery and evilness that came from Amarantha's ruling and STILL managed to die and become immortally powerful. Like damn. Feyre deserves an award for the most endured yet still alive creature on this planet. She really outshone in this novel and I just can't express my love for her in words to you guys. \n \"I was not prey any longer, I decided as I eased up to that door. \n And I was not a mouse. \n I was a wolf.\" \n Rhysand and Tamlin. I have to say, Maas really did a 180 on us with Tamlin. Again, without spoiling anything, lets just say you won't be too impressed with him once you read this book. Rhys was..........almost as amazing as Feyre. Rhys in his own way really grew in the time he spent with Feyre. I mean, Rhys being the most powerful fae in history and ancient, obviously matured a very long time ago but with Feyre he grew into this character that was just astoundingly handsome, strong, caring, loving, emotional and fighting lover. Not getting into too much detail, Rhys really proved himself worthy of not only Feyre, but the whole realm and a possible King for all of the fae, in the future. I have no idea what Maas has in store for Rhys but the way in the end, with his last words in the book, was so amazing that I can't even fathom having to wait a full year before reading those thoughts and words again. But of course, where there is Rhys there is Mor, Cassian, Azrial, and Amren. We get introduced to some of the most amazing companion characters ever in the history of books I've ever read. The clear connection they all have towards and between one another is truly something special. It's so strong and I love when they take in Feyre and they not only show her what it feels like to have people have her back but how willing to lay their lives down in a fight to save one another. The theme, friendship, really shone through this book and I'm so happy Feyre is FINALLY in an environment where she can trust the people indefinitely around her and trust that they'll keep her safe and vice versa. \n \"Hello, Feyre darling,\" he purred.\" \n There are some beautiful and lovely lines in this book and I can't even begin to quote all of them right now. The amount of time I spent just rereading lines and pausing to think about how the hell Maas managed to come up with these words was a lot. LOL a whole months worth of time. \n \"I'm thinking that I was a lonely, hopeless person, and I might have fallen in love with the first thing that showed me a hint of kindness and safety. And I'm thinking maybe he knew that--maybe not actively, but maybe he wanted to be that person for someone. And maybe that worked for who I was before. Maybe it doesn't work for who--what I am now.\" \n I really wish I could go into detail and explain the sheer amount of shock and despair towards the ending I felt but unfortunately for spoiler sake, I cannot :( To say the least, the novel was absolutely amazing and worth every dime and nickel. Again, I can't wait for May 4th, 2017 to read this next book in the series currently named Untitled. Yeah, it's so early that the name hasn't even been released ... Oh God help me. But in the mean time, here are more wonderful quotes from this wonderful novel!!!!! \n \"Did you enjoy the sight of me kneeling before you?\" \n \"He braced a hand on either side of me, gripping the dresser. I refused to shrink away. \"You have one task here, Feyre. One task that no one can know about. So do anything you have to in order to accomplish it. ... And do not get caught.\" I wasn't some simpering fool. I knew the risks. And that tone, that look he always gave me ... \"Anything?\" His brows rose. I breathed, \"If I fucked him for it, what would you do?\" His pupils flared, and his gaze dropped to my mouth. The wood dresser groaned beneath his hands.\" \n \"To the stars who listen--and the dreams that are answered.\" \n \"When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back.\"", "date_added": "Fri Jun 05 17:15:27 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri May 27 01:32:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Tue May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "20821111", "review_id": "86db5607c8e625c3866bd50d5c7f1cac", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book right off the bat didn't connect with me. I was just about to put it down when Adelina really struck gold and started breaking out of her shell. Her dark, sadistic, ruthless nature really sucked me in and I loved how dark she was! Im so sick of innocent, good protagonists that this was really refreshing. There are a lot of characters and a lot of storylines. This definitely has an in-depth, dark natured, and interesting plot. Somehow, Adeline's deformity/scar made her even more beautiful in my eyes, and someone else's too ;). \n This book has a very light-practically non existent romance, which I'm more than fine with. I liked that it didn't dwell on Adelina and her love interest, but instead of the Dagger Society and their mission at hand. \n As expected Adelina is taken said society by Enzo, when he saves her from a cruel death. While other members didn't welcome her with open arms, she truly seems to fit in somewhere. You see, Adelina is not only badass but has extremely advanced and multiple powers, which the other members of the Dagger society haven't ever encountered before. Teren, the leader of the group that hunts down the Young Elites, stops at nothing to find Adelina and especially, Enzo, considering they've met before. Lu forms some sort of triangle between Adelina, Enzo, and Teren. The deceit Adelina finds makes her think twice on who's good and who's bad. Also, the fact that she doesn't know if she can fully trust Enzo and of course with that one doubt, Teren swoops in clouding her mind with even more doubt. Yikes, the stakes are high and Adelina might act a little too late. Actions are taken and consequences are happening, which lead into death. \n Lots of mystery, lots of unanswered questions and of course a cruel cliffhanger at then end. Thank you for that Marie Lu. \n IF you liked this review, check out more YA and other genre on my blog! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Thu Jun 04 19:07:48 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 19 22:40:47 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "21469090", "review_id": "a87d6674e49c1d260c615e46b9c54b3f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Damn, this was a crazy ride. I mean 4 boys, 1 girl, a cemetery and magic?? As crazy as it sounds, that's exactly how the book was. I liked this concept of the dreamworld and the dangerous and potentially harmful magic that lies within it. Being 15, Liv didn't live (lol see what I did there..) a pretty exciting life. She had just moved to London and started a new school, which is pretty frightening considering she doesn't have the best experience with making friends. After experiencing some weird dreams with 4 super cute boys she actually gets to see and encounter them at school. \n Liv's best feature was her sarcastic humour, I couldn't help but laugh at most of her lines. As for the actual plot and story... It kind of just dragged on for the whole 322 pages of the book. I LIKED IT, don't get me wrong, but if it weren't for Liv's humour and awesome character and of course, the cute boys, I don't think I would've finished it. It's a shame because Kerstin Gier is really a great author and I happen to love her other books, The Precious Stone Trilogy. \n The sweet innocent romance between Henry and Liv was nice and light, which the book needed. It was cute and fun and I liked it. Again, the whole idea about the dreamworld and the dark dangerous moments consisting in that world were fun and interesting. Definitely read this if you are interested in that. \n IF you liked this review, go check out more YA and other genre books reviews on my blog! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Thu Jun 04 09:31:36 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 19 23:00:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "8835379", "review_id": "7acfc900ca31a79b37deebb5ffc3f799", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The amount of times I have re-read this book is insane. Most of the time I have a hard time picking out new books to read because it's novels like Ruby Red that just captivate my attention over and over again. The first book is really good, it does a great job at introducing all of the characters and Gwyneth is just such a likeable person. Charlotte, her cousin, on the other hand... I mean, I do feel bad for her A LITTLE, but as for some of her actions and rude remarks towards Gwen, are just ridiculously unnecessary. The novel itself and the content is so funny. Definitely has comedic aspects in it, if not the whole thing. I will be honest, from the first time I read this till now... I never did like Gideon, 'the love interst'. Sure he's her companion and her opposite, if you will, but the guy is seriously such a git. \n As for the time-travel part of the book, it was good. I loved Gier's view and representation of time-travel and was definitely enjoyable. Gwen is part of this whole dynasty and family just filled with the unknown and while she thinks she's just on the outskirts of the big whole plan, she's really smack-dab in the centre. I liked the fact that Gwen caught on fast and was a fast learner when it came to time travel, even though Charlotte would disagree. Her family on the other hand, really irked me, down to her mother. Her aunts just never believed in Gwen and her ability to do a good job and fix the problem at hand. I hated how they would make her feel insufficient and inferior to Charlotte and Gideon. \n Having read this trilogy so many times, it's difficult to remember what happens in each individual book and not mush everything together, some of you will know what I mean, haha. This series was originally written in German, and even the movies that were made are in German. The translation was totally fine and I didn't notice anything too peculiar about word choice and such. Kerstin Gier has an amazing talent to write YA fantasy and I never once found myself bored, lulled etc. reading these novels. \n IF you liked this review, check out my blog for more YA and other book reviews! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Mon Mar 30 23:44:45 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 18 18:17:00 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "16096824", "review_id": "d103eb7a0c5b197af49f3003ade76ec7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was a mix between Throne of Glass and Game of Thrones. This book was a huge hit! I couldn't not read it, it was a really cool concept on this whole fae fantasy genre. So in this world, the humans and fae share the land, but there's a magical wall dividing them. The humans are aware of the existence of the faeries, but they're dangerous and murderous if given the chance. It was said that a long time ago, they would take humans as slaves but now there are laws against that, except for those few fae that go through the wall for any reason. Well, Feyre was out hunting, pretty close to the wall and did end up killing a fae, which is illegal and punishable by death. \n It's crazy to think of the dynamic in Feyre's home life. Feyre is the youngest sister out of 2, and they live with their crippled father. The 2 sisters were ridiculous! They were the eldest yet it was Feyre that had to do all the hunting, find the food or else they'd all starve. Also, not to mention that the dad just sits around and does nothing about the unnecessary responsibility put on Feyre. And they even have the balls to complain to Feyre about food, and living conditions... excuse me? Im going to kill these girls. So, Feyre being pretty freaked out about killing a fae, brings it home and as they're eating, which everyone isn't even that grateful for that Feyre busted her ass for it, a very angry, and seemingly powerful fae barges in. This doesn't happen. Fae do and can go outside the walls but are never seen in public. Immediately Feyre knew he was looking for her. SO... what do the sisters and father do? GIVE UP FEYRE TO SAVE THEIR OWN ASSES. Oh my god, I can not tell you guys how much hatred and anger I felt towards that whole family. \n SO finally, Tamlin, the big fae, takes Feyre away from her family, thank the Lord. Anything is better than that family. This is when Beauty and the Beast comes into play. The beast takes the beauty away to live with him and in his world. Exactly said, that is what happens. Feyre now has to adjust to court in fae land, while being the only human. Not very safe for poor, yet strong Feyre. Now, there is the romance part of the novel. Tamlin and Feyre have a pretty good relationship considering she killed one of his trusted followers. Tamlin then, as expected, starts to court her pretty formally. Excepppptt for the fact that Feyre keeps shutting him down. LOL that is where the humour comes in, she was not having any of it, she had more important things on her mind, like her safety and family. Now, onto the the other 'ship', Rhysand. There is a lot of controversy about Rhysand and Feyre. He does save Feyre and he's pretty charming but that changes quickly considering he is a fae true to the heart and he does remind me a little of Rumplestilskin. He does do nice things and he does take care of her while she's in court buuut there are circumstances that makes him nor good nor evil. I don't know who I ship Feyre more with because if she can change Rhysand's ways then that'd be a great arc for that character, yet Tamlin is just strong and dreamy and the original 'beast'. Who knows... \n This was an interesting read and I can't wait for the next book to see where Maas goes with this storyline!! \n IF you liked this review, check out more on my blog where I review YA and other genres! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Thu Feb 12 10:00:47 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 21 12:34:02 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "1656001", "review_id": "aaf309cf79a130659f3c9e5b0661dbd4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I couldn't believe how many people refused to read this book because it was written by Stephenie Meyer, you know.. author of Twilight? Like damn people, harsh much? This was actually a total surprise, it was very well-written and the plot was developed and interesting. I first heard this story when I stumbled upon the movie adaptation on Netflix. After watching it about 3 times from loving it so much, I decided to try the book. Yes, the love story can be sappy like Twilight but this book should no way be compared to Meyer's other works. \n Melanie is one hell of a tough cookie, she does not give up easily and can, at some times, be pretty mean. The one thing I didn't quite understand was that Wanda (Wanderer) was this old experienced soul that had wondered, hence the name, to different lands and planets, yet was so new and confused at some parts of life and functions in the world. Little plot hole there but other than that it was pretty smooth sailing. There of course was a love triangle or square (?). Melanie, Wanda, Jared and Ian. But this wasn't any type of love triangle/square, it was unique and complex considering Melanie and Jared were together prior to having her body taken over. Then, Wanda came along and fell in love with Ian. This complicates things considering Wanda and Melanie are in the same body... What to do with THAT complicated situation lol. Jared was a bit of a jerk towards Wanda, ok fine, a huge jerk. Kind of understandable considering they've never dealt with a nice soul before. Ian actually saw through all of the misconceived perceptions about the souls and saw Wanda as a good being looking to help the humans. For all the little sappy things wrong with the book, the ending does make up for it. It's like Meyer knew she needed some leverage to keep us hanging and wanting a sequel. \n The ending for the book and the movie, again, definitely makes us want a sequel. WHICH has been said to happen, but no current news on it considering Meyer is known to just not go through with novels announced, *cough* *cough* Edward's P.O.V book *cough* *cough* Just saying... She wrapped this up pretty nicely and made us wanting more. \n IF You wanted more, check out more on my blog where I review YA and other genre books. \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Wed Feb 11 19:15:02 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 19 21:46:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Feb 12 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "68428", "review_id": "e3ceae5f5b60377ea8bd9bb473198766", "rating": 5, "review_text": "For more reviews, check out Keep Calm and Love Books \n This was really good!!! It was super long but considering how fast-paced it was, it was almost perfect. So the world we're set in is a fantasy dystopia. The sun has turned into a red giant and instead of clear skies, ash rains down almost indefinitely. The story follows this bad-ass 16 year old girl, Vin, and 35 year old, another hugely bad-ass, Kelsier. So there are two classes basically, the Skaa and the Nobles. The Skaa, which Vin is classed in are serving people, they are the 'poor' in this world. The Nobles on the other hand sometimes have access to magic in this world known as, Allomancy. Magic in this world is fuelled by elemental and alloyed metals. This magic can enhance abilities like super strength for example and the abilities differ from different metals the nobles ingest. This whole book is basically a heist for Kelsier and Vin's thieving gang to overthrow the Lord Ruler of the land. \n It was really exciting to read and the way we got introduced to the characters was such a brutal and honest way! This whole world is just a wasteland, it's almost like this could happen to us, in real life, in about a couple billion years. We all know our sun is going to burn out sometime and become a red giant like all of the other stars have, it's just a matter of time. I really really really enjoyed this book, and I do wish I had read it sooner! During the book we obviously get a couple attempts by the gang to overthrow the Lord Ruler. Lets just say the first try did not go well. We really get to see why the Inquisitors, unbeatable and unstoppable powerful guards, are so feared of and holy crap that was intense. \n There were a lot of moments when I literally thought Sanderson was going to kill the main characters because taking on that big of a heist was bound to have many, if not, all casualties. \n WARNING: This is not a happy book. This is a sad, intense, thrilling adventure but not happy. The world Sanderson built and made is living in poverty and a literal wasteland with ash to cover their grounds, do not expect a happy ending. Kelsier was definitely one of my favourite characters, maybe tied with Vin. He was so bad-ass and a complete Dumbledore-like character that his words were so strong and wise. He really was a legend to people. \n \"That's where he got those scars, you know,\" Disten said. \"The ones on his arms. He got them at the Pits, from the rocks on a sheer wall he had to climb to escape.\" \n Harmon snorted. \"That's not how he got them. He killed an Inquisitor while escaping--that's where he got the scars.\" \n \"I heard he got them fighting one of the monsters that guard the Pits,\" Ulef said. \"He reached into its mouth and strangled it from the inside. The teeth scraped his arms.\" \n Disten frowned. \"How do you strangle someone from the inside?\" \n The only word I can think about for this novel is, intricate. It was so finely wound and woven into this thick, deep and thoughtful plot line and story in general. The whole book was so believable and possible because of the actual realness in the setting and the background behind the people and not to mention the actual world, and what happened for it to get to this point. Again, I really did like this and I'm very happy I finally read it! The characters are simply amazing and so memorable that I absolutely loved everything in this entire novel. This is such a raved about book that it deserves all of the hype it's getting!", "date_added": "Mon Feb 02 19:59:52 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 29 21:54:24 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Feb 12 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "11443325", "review_id": "86b8fc0f963f6776a2d89899fa61d55e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Ugh. I really hate reviewing the books I wasn't impressed by but I figured it must be done. I can't always be giving out 4 or 5 star ratings you know? This unfortunately did not impress me. I know the ratings for this series are impeccably good but for me, it just didn't do it. I found this version of the 'Angel genre' to be kind of cheap and way too fantasy like. Writing wise, it was great, Scott Spear did a great job writing it, grammatically, but the whole concept was just bogus. It didn't sell me, it made Angels seem cheap and almost laughed at. Sure, for a light reading this could've been alright for a stand-alone but for a series, I'm sure that Spear wants, it was just too dragged out and the fact that Angel's make you pay for their services... yikes, no thank you. I definitely did not finish this. I read up to just after half-way and couldn't find myself to care about how it ended. \n I didn't like the whole thing about how popular and celebrity-like these Angels were. They even have endorsements and I'm sure if I read on I'd probably learn that they even act or some crazy concept. I just didn't like the whole idea and the plot line, which is a shame because I'm sure I'd like Spear's other novels and I always feel mean writing a bad review but people want to know what I think so... \n That's really all I have to say, just a reminder that this is solely my opinion. You may like it, heck, you may love it and it could be your favourite book and I just insulted you. I'm sorry but these are my opinions. \n I hope Spear comes out with another novel because I would like to read what he can offer. \n IF you liked this review, check out more on my blog where I review YA and other genre books! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Fri Jan 02 15:10:28 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 22 22:21:26 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "17190995", "review_id": "f67fc890d59b0df322aa335df65cb91e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "For more reviews, check out Keep Calm and Love Books \n I first read this book in December of 2014! It was only 18 chapters long at the time and boy were they great chapters. I honestly can't believe I've waited 3 years for this book to come out. It really does feel like yesterday when I first read it and fell absolutely head over heals in love. The whole novel, from start to finish was exquisite! I know I say that about a lot of books but come on, 3 years and it finally came out and all it took were 8 hours to finish it... That's got to speak for itself. Tijan is one of those authors who you know will come out with an amazing story and make you really invested. None of her books should be read lightly, and this one is no exception. Evil was exactly like the title, evil. The word has so much meaning and different variations of it that this book is a cluster ball of it. Tijan actually gives the word a total different shade and viewpoint of what our main protagonist, Shay, and her opposite, Kellan, do. This book was really refreshing and I'm so happy I finally got to finish it! \n \"Slowly, almost gently, I slid a finger underneath one of his and yanked it backward. Kellan held his breath, but let me hold his finger at bay. He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. They seemed to sparkle in the moonlight...I smiled, and then I yanked his finger the rest of the way until the bone snapped. Kellan didn't move, not an inch. When it was done, after a moment of silence, he rasped, \"Are you going to break the rest of my fingers?\"\" \n Shay was so fully charged the whole time, we were just waiting at the edge of our seats for the explosion! It was so much fun reading about Shay and what her siblings, Kellan, Vespar and Giuseppe, would do to toy with people. Out of Kellan and Shay, my favourite character had to be Gus. She was so real and funny. She did not give a shit most of the time and I did love her bond with Vespar. I really liked how Tijan chose to focus on what other people do/think/act when the siblings are around. We really get insight on how everyone is nervous around them and the fact that a Braden was never to be crossed. The siblings could do whatever they felt like and the rest of them weren't allowed. Tijan made high school drama so cultivating and dangerous! I loved the instant rivalry between Shay and Vasper and we all knew from the beginning that he would never fully love her. \n \"Kellan interrupted. \"You could've stopped him long before I came around the corner. You knew I was coming. Why didn't you stop him?\" \"Maybe I wanted to hear his rhetoric on how hot I must be for him.\" \"Don't be funny, Shay. You're not the funny one, remember?\" I smirked. \"That's funny. I don't think that role's been taken in our family.\" Kellan's hand tightened on my arm. He pulled me closer and bent his head to my ear. \"You always wait for me. Why?\"\" \n I loved Kellan's inner struggle with himself and it really showed his deepest and emotionalist side of him whenever he would try to comfort Shay about being 'evil' yet it would stir the inner turmoil he had inside of himself. The characters in general were all so deep thought and you can see the amount of detail Tijan wrote for each of her characters. \n \"Damien grabbed an apple and paused, shooting her a look. \"Don't start, half child. I can eviscerate you with a thought.\"\" \n Whenever Tijan writes and publishes a new book, I already except it to be a masterpiece. Not one of her novels have cease to disappoint me so I knew it was a safe bet that this wouldn't be any different. I loved this book so much and I'm happy that finally after 3 years, I can now know how Shay and Kellan ended and that I will miss this book so much! The characters are very unforgettable and I am not looking forward to the book mourning period I'm going to have after I post this blogpost. \n \"\"For the record,\" Damien said two days later. \"I think this is incredibly stupid.\" Kellan stood next to me, holding my hand, and grunted. \"For the record, no one asked you.\"\"", "date_added": "Sat Dec 20 09:09:48 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun May 15 03:00:56 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Dec 21 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "18006496", "review_id": "e4691f348cb2c34c2d00376e069b3d48", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book felt so long! It was action packed and I couldn't even describe how amazing it was! SO much crap went down in this novel and it was incredible!!! Celaena is now Aelin and I love it!!! We finally get to meet Arobynn and he was very different from what I imagined. I couldn't quite tell if he loved Aelin as a brother, father or lover? I honestly couldn't say for sure because of all the mixed signals and hinted words. BASICALLY that scene was just very uncomfortable for Aelin and me included. Yikes. I can 100% say that Maas has turned us all around on the whole Aelin and Chaol ship and it has officially sunk! He has someone else and she may have someone else, it just wasn't bound to happen so SORRY Team Chaol people out there. But now we can talk about Rowan! He finally appears in the book later on -too late for my liking- and the instant connection is everything!!!! You could feel it yourself as a reader that the time spent apart between the two had changed them. You could literally feel the sexual attention and how much they missed each other and it even surprised them that they could feel this strongly when they didn't before! \n Just as I suspected, Manon and Aelin did have a face off and it. was. epic. Definitely one of the most memorable scenes in the whole series. We get a lot of reunions that are way over due, Aelin and Chaol for example... Damn, and especially reading it from Chaol's P.O.V was tough because they used to be so close but now the threat that Aelin has is she's going to have to kill Dorian, who is Chaol's best friend still. It is no secret that Chaol will die trying to stop that. Who knows if he does or doesn't, but there was definitely a shocker AGAIN that Maas threw at us. I could probably rant on and on about how petty Chaol was being towards Aelin about Rowan, her 'fae prince' as he put it. I honestly thought Aelin was either going to maim or kill him. Both would've been fine HAHA. \n Dorian is now grown up a lot and is under some trance at court with the king :( It was seriously sad that the usually strong Dorian was actually weak in this book and he didn't really get to contribute till the ending, which really made up for it because it was the battle of the century! \n There are so many things to talk about with what happened concerning Rowan, Aelin, Aedion, Arobynn especially but all I'm dying to do is rant about the big final battle! IT WAS AMAZING! I find myself even now just re-reading the end because it was so descriptive and detailed I missed a lot of stuff the first time reading just out of excitement. Lots of things happen and lots of changes are going to happen for Terrasen and the whole kingdom. A huge change happens to one of the characters and a huge sacrifice is made but I think in the next book we'll have to be on the journey to fix 'it'. I honestly can't spoil anything and therefore I can't really talk about the epicness in the final battle. EXCEPT I will say, just to read this amazing freaking book! It was amazing and you should take the time to enjoy and spend the time to actually read it and understand what is happening. When I first read it I literally couldn't put it down and I read it so fast that I then had to RE-read it just to comprehend what was happening. \n READ IT, IT WAS AMAZING AND SO WORTH IT!!! \n IF you liked this review, check out more on my blog where I review YA and other genre books! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Tue Dec 02 08:33:20 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 25 14:22:58 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "18102827", "review_id": "8129544f13454e89f9ecda13049c47cc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was actually really good! Surprisingly, I was not expecting to like this as much as I did. It had a weird type of fantasy world, which just felt too far fetched but I really liked how the words and events just flowed smoothly and how the introduction to the characters were. In the beginning we get Lily, she's supposed to be a regular, lucky enough to be mated to the King's son, shifter. But dun dun dun, instead she's really this mystical hybrid between a shifter and a vampire -gasp-. As weird as their world was and just how Dawn came up with stuff to add, I really did enjoy it and it was funny at a lot of parts! \n Again, Lily is dating the Shifter King's son and those two are inseparable. Everyone either hates Lily or wants to be her, and Lily is totally good hearted and doesn't seem to care or notice too much. Then, Lily finds herself being named the future Queen of Shifters in only a couple days. Still in shock from loads of events that came spiralling at her, she doesn't quite understand the huge responsibility. This is when we get to fully understand the characters seeing as they are all the heirs to their throne: Ezra the Vampire, Jack the Elemental, Pearl the Mage and finally Lily the Shifter. \n My favourite character out of everyone in this book had to be Ezra! Not only because he's this sexy, dark and dangerous vampire but because he actually saw sense and was the smartest one. He seemed to know what to do no matter what happened to the group and he always protected them. It was a fun book to read and really had the elements and magic involved which I liked. Instead of it being strictly one thing, Dawn put all of the fantasy, paranormal genre's together into one book. You guys should definitely read this if you want cute mate scenes, sexy vampire scenes and action induced magic scenes! \n IF you liked this, check out more reviews on my blog! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Thu Oct 23 12:11:44 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 29 12:52:56 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Dec 13 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "9378297", "review_id": "b274086756289105b1c6ad68bb1e4d1c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was right up my ally! You guys know how much I love the evil, dark, female characters in books. Cas Lowood is basically the new and improved cool ghostbuster, in modern day. At first I mean, how serious can this book be with a ghost hunter traveling across the country with his witchy mom and weird cat? Little did I know that this was going to be a gruesome, dark twisted story about Anna, whom is literally dressed in blood; the title and cover don't lie to you! Come on, the ratings and reviews can talk for themselves, this is Kendare Blake's most reviewed and rated best-seller worthy book! So if you haven't read it yet? Read it. You won't regret it. \n Cas had been killing since he was 14! 14!!! That's a crazy childhood to have and to then top it all off, his father dies. Well, Cass makes his dad proud by inheriting the hunter's mysterious and dangerous athame, and he goes to town finishing what his father had started. Until, he meets Anna. Never has he encountered nor heard of a spirit so powerful and angry. Anna was killed in 1958. While walking to prom in her beautiful white dress, her throat was slit, blood covered her body entirely, thus earning her the name, Anna Dressed in Blood. It's described in the novel as: \n \"Someone cut her throat, but that's an understatement. Someone nearly cut her head clean off. They say she was wearing a white party dress, and when they found her, the whole thing was stained red. That's why they call her Anna Dressed in Blood.\" \n Pretty gruesome and frightening stuff. I'd be pretty angry too with what Anna had to really go through that night. This was an interesting book because we didn't only get to read and learn about Cas, being our protagonist. Instead, we also got to learn a lot about Anna; her background, past, personality, why she is the way she is. It was said in the novel that she had been tied to her house and has never been able to step a foot past her front porch. Being as this is a legend and known to the townspeople, many have tried to check it out for silly pranks, and only 27 have gone in, and have never been seen alive again. I loved her character because she wasn't black and white, she was a gruesome killer yet a victim at the same time, evil yet innocent. It really put things into perspective about morality and I loved how Cas handled the situation. Also, there is a huge twist at the end about the real reason why Anna died, and it puts a whole new meaning on cruel and thriller. \n This book is actually in talks about being turned into a movie!!! And the director being the one and only.... Stephenie Meyer.... this should be interesting. Though i'm still excited! \n IF you liked this review, check out more YA and other genre books on my blog! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Wed Sep 24 12:16:13 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 20 10:20:11 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Sep 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "13246736", "review_id": "19acc7b230216fa45ca921c0e90d431c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this depiction of Greek Mythology! For those who know me personally, you'll know that I love mythology, and it's always been a tie between Norse and Greek. So you can imagine my excitement when this book came out by the same author as Anna Dressed in Blood. I'm very excited to say that this novel was amazing, Blake has a way of writing that is so descriptive. I can just remember the first couple of pages and how I knew right away that this was going to be a great book. \n This novel is about the fight that the Gods and Goddesses never thought they'd be fighting- losing their immortality. The thing is that you'll probably need some pre-knowledge for this book, I will say. For example, you should brush up on your facts about the Trojan War, Odyssey, and Troy. Those are talked about in this book, and obviously in their own fictional depiction but still Blake uses a startling amount of accuracy. There are moments in the novel where you'll have to think back to High school english or College English and remember the relations these Gods and Goddesses have, and what their most known for. For example, Athena, our main protagonist, is the 'virgin' Goddess and cherishes Owls. Just stuff like that and you should be fine with fully comprehending and understand what is happening or rather, why it's happening. Blake does do a great job at explaining past events and the characters, which I do appreciate. \n Get ready for graphic descriptions haha. I mean, Athena is pulling blood- covered feathers out of her own throat so... It is so much fun to read about the feud between Athena and Hera, her father's wife. It's pretty crazy what these Ancient Olympians will do to prolong their lives. Poseidon probably surprised me the most with his feral actions. \n Anyways, this book is pretty interesting and I definitely loved the Greek Mythology knowledge we got from it. Definitely a staple in someones reading collection that loves mythology and just learning about it. Blake did a great job with this novel and her depiction of myths and legends. \n IF you liked this review, check out more on my blog where I review YA and other genres. \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Wed Aug 20 19:51:01 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 23 16:28:36 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "12813630", "review_id": "e969a03d6b4a94739cf969cc2282014d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Guys. I own this book in 3 versions. Paperback, ibooks, and Kindle. Thats how good it is. I need it everywhere I can access it. I find myself coming back to this one a lot. I'll re read it every couple of months just because I need to remind myself of this amazing story! \n Now, you might recognize Holly Black's name from her other amazing novels, Spiderwick Chronicles, The Iron Trial, Curse Workers, etc. So you can only imagine how great this stand-alone novel could be, especially with those books under her belt. \n Just like the synopsis says, this world we're set in, has already been introduced to vampires. They're feared of but what make it different than any random vampire book, is that they actually don't run free in this world. Coldtowns. A homey, comfortable, welcoming.. cage. For vampires and vampire-lovers. LOOL. This immediately intrigued me! Its really interesting how Black described these towns made for monsters and humans that got a little too friendly with monsters. You can't ever leave once you step in, BUT there is a loophole. And it's crucial for Tana, our protagonist, in the novel to use that loophole, or so we think ;) \n This book takes a turn for the worse, for poor Tana. I do feel bad for her, she did wake up and find all of her classmates and friends dead. Yet, LUCKILY, her annoying ass ex boyfriend managed to to 'survive'. How convenient. \n In this book, you get to see how kickass Tana is, and her little group of misfits. On the romantic side, its pretty limited but our thirst's are quenched (That sounded less weirder in my head, yikes). I actually enjoyed the fact that this wasn't a star-crossed lover book, like most vampire novels are. It kept it at bay while really focusing on the action filled plot line. The ending is intense and I absolutely loved every minute I spent reading it. And reading it again, and again and so forth. \n IF you liked this review, you can see more on my blog! http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Tue Aug 19 22:18:36 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 16 21:59:00 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "12081652", "review_id": "81088e16450903018f5f1830aa4a72f6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was actually a pretty cool take on Nephilim and fallen angels. The fact that Jennifer L. Armentrout wrote this book made me so anxious to read it, because you knew it was going to be good. \n Lily Marks is a demon hunter and is basically a bad-ass fighting machine. She is well known in the demon world and has a good reputation in her Sanctuary. Everything's fine and honky dory except for the fact she has a stalker, a really hot, supposed to be evil stalker! The magnificent fallen angel, Julian, the one thing she is training to fight and kill, happens to take an interest in her. I like the dynamic relationship between Julian and Lily. You can tell he's been around a while because on the first page, she's just sort of used to him there. It also doesn't help that Julian saved her that one day by a very bad fallen angel, that now she bares a scar from. She was 17 when Julian saved her life, and she's 26 now. Right at the beginning Lily hears her call to basically kick ass and gets too slugger happy and ends up knocking out a cop, Michael. Turns out Michael isn't just an ordinary human cop either. His story is also intertwined with the Sanctuary. \n Much to Lily's luck, a traitor is discovered in the Sanctuary and it doesn't help that her one consort is a fallen angel. It also doesn't help that one of their own, Anna, was killed by a fallen angel years ago. SO yeah, you can see Lily's dilemma if anyone finds out her little relationship with Julian. With Julian's help, she tries to find out the true traitor and soon uncovers that the Sanctuary isn't all that it seems. Oh yeah, and to clear her name because she's on the top of everyones list. \n This was a really good book, it surprised me how much I enjoyed it! I really was hoping for a sequel but I'm pretty sure this is a stand-alone :( Really good guys! Read it! \n IF You liked this review, check to more on my blog! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Mon May 19 20:26:41 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 20 12:09:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed May 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon May 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "13638020", "review_id": "71c7dfd799372c79d2bcf2c08f9ada7d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The conclusion to this wonderful series was just..amazing. Honestly, Penryn & the End of Days, was the best series I had read in 2015, by far. This was such a thrilling explosion of action and romance all together and just squashed in 3 books, it was fantastic. I am so glad I read these books, I couldn't imagine not ever reading them because I find myself comparing a lot of new books to these. Susan Ee did an amazing and impeccable job writing this series and she definitely needs way more praise for it. Even though conclusions suck and are the most horrible thing in the world, it was time to say goodbye to Penryn and Raffe and that wonderful post-apocalyptic world. \n The last book was definitely literal to the title. The end of days were coming and it was coming fast to Penryn and her group. Sacrifices were made and we really divulged into the life-threatening fights. Seriously, I though a couple of the main characters were going to die at multiple points of the novel. We had a crushing, thrilling and explosive battle at the end and it was so adrenaline-rushing to read. I was feeling worried yet proud of Penryn and Paige, and what they've accomplished and how much they've both been through! \n We even get a change of setting! Penryn goes someplace where she finally gets to learn about the angels and even Raffe. It was so damn cool how smoothly the transition between the two worlds were. Ee described it beautifully and there were some pretty close calls for Penryn and Raffe's old angel friends. Yes, expect to see his old pals from long ago in this book, whether they help them or not, you'll have to read and find out ;). The romance escalated as the situations became more life-threatening and I loved every shared moment they had. I will leave you with one, very teasing quote because I just can't help it: \n \"So am I?\" I whisper. \"Your Daughter of Man?\" \n This was such an exiting and so satisfying way to closing the series and I will 100% miss the thrill I got from reading it the first time around. Rest assured I shall be re-reading these books a lot more in the future! Goodbye Penryn. Goodbye Raffe. Goodbye Paige. Goodbye Mom. Goodbye Watchers. Goodbye Pooky Bear and finally, Goodbye Penryn & the End of Days. It has been a pleasure reading Susan Ee's thrilling trilogy. \n IF you liked this review, check out more on my blog where I review YA and other genre books! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Sun May 18 13:01:26 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 22 23:54:41 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed May 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue May 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "12983100", "review_id": "a662c0ca2d06d40bc40aff89ee211db8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a perfect example of a great sequel to an amazing series. Ee did it again and made a hella great book! Penryn is so bad-ass that she can't even die! Ok, ok I know there were special circumstances and it was just luck but come on! I'm convinced Penryn will and can survive anything. After the whole dying thing, people are still pretty weary of Penryn because it's not everyday you see someone waking up from the dead, no matter the circumstances. \n We learn a lot in this book, we learn more about Raffe and his brothers and past, which is nice because he feels more trustworthy and it seems like we really know his motives concerning Penryn are true and meaningful. It's pretty clear when the last book ended, that Raffe feels something for Penryn. Of course, the most anticipated thing in this book, for me at least, was the big reveal to Raffe that Penryn is alive. Which by the way guys, did not disappoint. It was very well written and even though the little love-sick girl in me wanted the reunion faster, it did happen at the perfect time and was well-paced for the plot line to thicken. \n Now, the big question of the book is will the need for Raffe's wings overcome the love he has for Penryn? As usual, our protagonist finds herself in a tough and life threatening situation and Raffe's decision is critical. Aside from that, Penryn, as usual, was amazing and bad-ass. She kicked many butts and conquered many accomplishments. I liked her dynamic relationship with Obi. They respect each other which made me in turn respect Obi a lot more than in the first book. He ultimately wants to help his race, his people and it does shows. He trusts Penryn, which is good because he can clearly tell that if anyone can stop the apocalypse it's Penryn or at least her influence on Raffe. \n Paige, Penryn's sister, really shone in this book! She came out of her shell, even after the horrific things that had been done to her. I really liked her lines and how empowering she was to everyone, almost like a beacon of hope and light, no matter how she looks. Of course we have problems with the other people who don't agree with keeping her alive, solely because she looks like a monster. That was just so heartbreaking to read and sad to see that her confidence would deflate just a little. But rest assured Paige rises stronger than ever and she really is a huge player in the storyline. \n To end this review, I'm just going to share a quote Raffe said to Penryn after finding out his sword's name is called... Pooky Bear..., enjoy: \n \"He glares at me as if he already hates it. \"What is it?\" I consider lying but what's the point? I clear my throat. \"Pooky Bear\" \n He's silent for so long I'm beginning to think he didn't hear me when he finally says, \"Pooky. Bear.\" \"It was just a little joke. I didn't know.\" \n \"I've mentioned that names have power, right? Do you realize that when she fights battles, she's going to have to announce herself to the opposing sword? She'll be forced to say something ridiculous like, 'I am Pooky Bear, from an ancient line of archangel swords.' Or, 'Bow down to me, Pooky Bear, who has only two other equals in all the worlds.' \" He shakes his head.\" \n HAHAHAHAHAHAH GUYS, just read it, please. \n IF you guys enjoyed this review, go check out more YA and other genre books on my blog! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Sun May 18 09:22:04 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 22 23:27:33 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun May 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun May 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "11500217", "review_id": "53dad78c0b8bcc0c37c4339b2166d27f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "AHHHHH!! I love these books. Just saying, I am reviewing this series after I've already read the whole trilogy. This was the perfect introduction and first book to this very dangerous and very addicting world. This was such a cool concept and take on Angels! It's almost believable because if Angels happen to take over the world, this is probably what would happen. I know how crazy that sounds but this book does make you think in-depth. If you are looking for a quick, light read, this is not your book. Go, read a light novel then come back and get committed. You need to be dedicated and 100% sure you want to read these books because Susan Ee did a great job really going in-depth and making pasts, and storylines very real and evident. \n So, Penryn has a crazy mother, to start off with. So crazy that she (the mother) had newspaper clippings of mothers across the world who have killed their own children. Safe to say when Penryn saw this, she realized just how serious the condition her mother has, whatever it is. So in result to this, her mother sends Penryn off to all of these fighting and self-defence classes, so much that her father leaves them because of the debt they're in from the classes. Yep, pretty messed up home life. It also doesn't help that her sister was mysteriously hurt when her mother had been watching over her. So hurt that she is now crippled in a wheelchair. \n Finally, the Angels comes and attack the human race. Basically the Archangel Gabriel was pissed off that God had given life to humans and spent more of his attention on them, rather than his first children, the Angels. Gabriel lead the Angels on the 'Day of Reckoning' and practically destroyed all of earth. \n Now, I've done a lot of research myself on Angels and even am currently reading the Book of Enoch, which is the jewish work telling the story of the Fallen ones and Enoch's, the great-grandfather of Noah, journey with them. I've also read many literature pieces on Angels and can pride myself on knowing some information on them. So, when reading this book I was a little skeptical because all the fiction Angel books have their own theologies and such, from the author's viewpoint. I was very surprised to read that Ee has actually done her research and given the most accurate version of the origin of Angels and how they really act and behave. It is as accurate as the myth and legends tell us, so 10 points to Gryffindor for that! \n The romance in this book..... wait lol what romance?....... I loved the fact there was hardly anything romantic. It's pretty obvious that Ee means to pair Penryn and Raffe together but we really focus on the getting to know the characters and the world we are in. That was a pretty smart decision because it made her book different from all of the rest, whom just want paranormal, angel-human love and romance. We really get a lot of bad-assery in this book and action! Penryn can definitely kick ass and is so fierce it even impressed Raffe when he first met the human. Penryn is also very whitty and funny! Let me just show you guys: \n \"That calls for a witty comeback. \n \"Whatever,\" I say. \n Okay, so I won't be getting the Witty Woman of the Year Award. \"Do you want me to show you how to use this or not?\" I sound surly. It's the best I can do right now.\" \n Then, \n \"I'm tempted to make a quip about requiring dinner and a movie before getting so kinky, but I don't. The last thing I need is to start making sex jokes while I'm being held prisoner in a camp full of armed men in a world where there are no laws.\" \n Basically you guys can tell it definitely has some dry humour which is much needed because this world is so dark and cold, it brought light to some dangerous and pretty intense moments! \n Lets not forget Raffe and his humour. Im sorry guys with all the quotes but I can't help it: \n \"Here, I'll show you how to use it. Let me see your foot.\" [Penryn said] \n \"That's a pretty intimate demand in the angel world. It usually takes dinner, some wine, and sparkling conversation for me to give up my feet.\" \n LOL! I just can't guys. You really need to read this series! It has drama, intensity, humour, danger, fights to the death, and shocking, twisting, unexpected moments! It's literally the best depiction of fiction for Angel's out there. \n IF you liked this review, check out more on my blog where I review YA and other genre books! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Wed May 14 19:49:26 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 22 22:54:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri May 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "20613470", "review_id": "779a8a8b7e5b14abc5fdf9aa5cdc0188", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was crazy wicked!!! Magic is finally used and Chaol now knows that Celaena is not only a fae and has active magic BUT NOW is the rightful Queen Aelin, of the fae! We get introduced to so many characters!! We also get different P.O.V chapters!! We get Manon, Dorian, Chaol and of course, Celaena! If you thought that you guys knew Celaena before, well you're wrong! She did a total 180 on us, and it seems like when she finally took her rightful name, Aelin, she really showed her true ruthless ways, even more so than before...Which is saying something. \n It's clear that the other big bad-ass female in this novel is Manon. She is definitely going to meet Celaena at one point in this series and it is going to be awesome! I hope they fight it out and I hope Celaena wins just so she can grow Manon's respect because she's starting to actually grow on me now! Also, dragons are evident in this novel... um EXCUSE ME MAAS!! You brought dragons into this! This book couldn't get any better! \n Now, lets talk about Rowan. I've always said that I have no ship or team for Celaena's romance. Well that changed. I adore Rowan! I think he is amazing and yes he is a huge jackass and just makes Aelin look and feel so weak but that soon changes don't you guys worry ;). We get the two best friends of Celaena and Rowan by the end of the book and there is a huge face-off between Celaena and Rowan against Queen Maeve. It was pretty epic and some shit does go down! \n I felt like this whole book was just all the male characters getting over Celaena and finding their own path instead of following hers. Dorian comes through some huge changes now that his magic is manifesting on it's own! Chaol has to deal with his rotten father and try to get over the fact that Celaena is the Queen of fae and could potentially kill them all. Aedion Ashryver, Celaena's cousin and childhood best friend, seemed to be a huge asshole at first with all of these smirks and deadly smiles but soon we find out that's not all he really is. He plays a huge role in helping Celaena win back her crown and take over! We get a lot of flashbacks and memories and they are all so sad, I really felt bad for Celaena and what she went through with her dead parents and Arobynn taking her. \n The end was amazing! The huge battle in Celaena's chapters were huge!!!! Rowan really showed his intimacy and caring for Celaena when they are together fighting side by side with even Rowan's friends who are like 1000 years old. It was intense and it made a great segway into the next book. This book in general was probably my favourite out of all of them that are out! It was fantastic and amazing well-written! \n IF you lied this review, check out more on my blog where I review YA and other genre books! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Wed May 07 11:23:50 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 25 12:03:21 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "17167166", "review_id": "71941983fa36dcbd5090430712977102", "rating": 5, "review_text": "These covers just keep getting better and better! I love how Maas uses a sketch and drawing of this beautiful fierce girl instead of the standard dystopia YA novel models, you know? I like that when we look at this cover, we know Celaena is going to kick some ass!! Anyways, Celaena is now the royal assassin for the king. But she's been doing some naughty things on her missions that can get her very much dead. We knew from the beginning since Endovier that Celaena remembered the king from her trial when she took revenge and got caught for Sam's murder, we know that Celaena hates the king, like really really really wishes him dead. Don't quite blame her. There was a huge heartbreaking and emotional moment when I did cry. Let's just say Celaena is going to get her revenge. \n A lot of people are either Team Dorian or Team Chaol, I can proudly say I am neither. I don't want Celaena with anyone because she's too bad-ass and also she has way too much drama with her own life, let alone a relationship with someone else. We get a surprise with 2 of the main characters that now open a lot of doors for them, obviously I won't tell you guys who, but it's a huge shock and very unexpected. The book ended with yet another shock, seriously Maas stop!! It was so sad and Celaena finally shows that she may not be all that normal. Dorian seems to have a new plot that I'm pretty excited to see in the next couple of books and Chaol.... well, he's in trouble and he better run!!! Magic does appear in this novel and it was so well described it really felt like I was there and I'm so excited to see what we can do with this new found element in the series. \n This book was pretty good, I wouldn't go as far as saying that this was better than the first, Throne of Glass, but it was pretty much equal! I loved the surprises in this because they really were unexpected! Ahh, I love Celaena and we finally get to see her in pro-assassin mode and it was freaking awesome! \n IF you liked this review, check out more on my blog where I review YA and other genres \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Sun May 04 17:51:50 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 25 11:36:10 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "7896527", "review_id": "eea9cf62b8c316cd107a760e16547bad", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is such a great series, I cannot stress enough! Celaena isn't just bad-ass, she's a 18 year old assassin and kills whomever she wants. I like her. After being set up, the series-long mystery, by a mystery person, she gets caught trying to take revenge on the man who killed her love, Sam. Safe to say the government put her in jail, or in Maas's world, Endovier. After a year of being treated like a slave, Celaena gets an offer of compete in a royal competition to become the King's personal assassin. Obviously, with her background and reputation from being trained by the most deadliest assassin there is known, the King's son, Dorian, thinks Celaena is the perfect winner. He's not wrong, she'd probably be my first pick as well. At first, when I started reading this book, I automatically thought this was going to be a love-sick triangle and romance book. I mean, it is a love triangle, but romance book? Not even close. Maas pulls out all of her cards in this one and delivers an amazing story about how love, desperation and death can all coincide with each other and it was bloody fantastic! \n As cringey as love triangles are, this was done in moderation thank god. I felt like it would be an insult towards Celaena if this series turned into a 'romantic fight for love' type of book. I can fully say that it is not, having read all 4 books that are out currently. Celaena is true to her description and is indeed an assassin at heart, obviously out of practice from her year at Endovier, the captain of the guard, Chaol, helps her out and makes a connection with her. Even though she's already spending time with the infamous Prince Dorian, Chaol's bestfriend, Celaena finds herself in a pickle that doesn't concern life or death for once. She even makes a friend that was totally unexpected, Nehemia, the Eyllwe princess. They actually get on great and she even helps Celaena open up a bit about her past, which helps us as readers to connect with our main protagonist. \n Lots of teasing happens in this book where multiple times I'd wish I was Celaena. Yet other times, so much gruesome stuff happens to her and you really feel for her because yes, she may be a killer but when we find out what happens in her past.... She really doesn't deserve half the bad crap that's done to her. The ending had a huge shock, 2 actually. The first was heartbreaking and I could feel the tears coming to my eyes just reading it and the second, the final battle. No need to say that there was an epic scene and so brilliantly described, it was a pleasure to read it. \n In conclusion, the first novel in the Throne of Glass series was amazing and the perfect intro to the rest of what happens to Celaena, Chaol, Dorian and other new characters we meet on the way! \n IF you liked this review, check out more on my blog where I review YA and other genre books!! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Sun May 04 16:15:36 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 25 00:46:32 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "10836484", "review_id": "0ebfa62c5754628f6d8e934e90e54190", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was more than scary... This was definitely closer to thriller and mystery. The novel was told from a 15-year old girl's perspective, I will admit at first I was skeptical considering I didn't know if I was going to identify with her as much. Turns out Dawson's writing didn't make me feel like I was being squashed into a 15 year old's mind. This book did lag a bit towards the middle when there was a small gap between introducing us to the characters and when Lis is truly in danger. But for the sake of the ending, this novel deserves 4 stars because the ending was close to brilliant. Dawson did not hold back for these poor characters and I liked that! \n There is a part in this novel that did surprise me. When Lis and her new little group of friends do something pretty cruel to the stereotypical beautiful yet mean popular girl. I was pretty shocked that again, Dawson did not hold back on any part. Of course there is romance in this and it's pretty sweet. Either way, the book was good and perfect for a stand-alone. It ended greatly and I particularly liked how thriller and creepy it was. Truly. 4 stars for this bad boy! \n IF you liked this review, check out more on my blog where I review YA and other genres! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Thu Dec 19 04:43:58 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 23 16:54:46 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Dec 19 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "13414835", "review_id": "028d79b881bd0b18dd07f20257a90d44", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So, this book originally intrigued me because it was considered almost as good as, Susan Ee's Penryn and the End of Days trilogy, which is a huge compliment on Paula Weston. I can officially say that even though the storylines are completely different, I do agree with the comparison. This book was actually incredible! I loved how everything played out and the sequence of events were perfect. Everything happened at such a perfect time that it flowed so nicely. It was very well written and deserves a lot more hype. Weston is an Australian author and it was pretty difficult to get her books, considering I was greedy and ended up ordering them straight from Australia, so I could have them a year before they were published in Canada, where I am. LOL I know that's cheating a little but seriously, these books were so addictive and so much fun to read, I needed these books one after the other. \n The energy between Gaby and Rafa is incredible. Since the first time she, thought, she met him till the end of the book, was just consistent non-stop electricity between the two. The big drama was that Gaby seemed to have this whole life before, where she can't seem to remember a single thing about it. She learns a lot about her 'true' self and how heartless this Gabe could be. The other mystery is her brother. What exactly happened to her twin brother if she can't trust this new life's memories? Is her brother really dead? Or was that just part of this non truthful life she's been living. So we definitely get to see the journey and trip from both Gaby and Rafa to find out, considering Rafa and Jude are best friends. \n I liked how Weston played on the memory aspect in this series because it was interesting when we would hear about the two different, yet same physical person- Gaby and Gabe. I really liked that and it had a bit of a psychology theme to i, which I really enjoyed. It seemed to have brought more to the book then just an average YA angel novel. I really liked this book and I'm really excited to read what happens when Gaby gets her memories back, because it has to happen some day! \n IF you liked this review, check out more on my blog for YA and other genre books! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Tue Aug 13 15:28:19 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 27 18:26:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Mar 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Mar 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "227283", "review_id": "8d0d47f99410f4de0e4955a6298e3b7d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A lot of people seem to dislike this book, I don't understand why though. It was surprisingly a well written book. I frankly, L O V E D it!! Our main character, Miranda, started off as a spoiled little brat and I will admit that bugged me a little. But lets face it, they're 4 books in this series and I knew that Cara Lockwod would make her \"change\" into a young heroine that all main characters end up changing into. I still felt bad for her though. I felt strong hatred towards her family because they were so blind and unfair. You see, Miranda's little sister, Lindsey is your stereotypical bratty little annoying nuisance. She blames EVERYTHING on Miranda! You would think a little sister would be sad to see her big sister shipped off to a school far away, but Lindsey? Nope. All she can think of is stealing Miranda's shoes from her closet. Thats just the sister though, the mother, yes she cares, but not enough give her the #1 Mother of the Year award. Lockwood makes the mother come out as some Botox addict. Now for the father, at first I hated him more than anything. He was so unfair and no words could express how badly I felt for Miranda. He is the 100% reason she is being shipped off to Bard Academy. Not her sister, not her mother, her FATHER and Miranda thinks it's just to get rid of her. \n Now, IN Bard Academy, all the teachers go by the first initial of their last name, to keep some privacy. In this book we have the three teachers that will be important, Headmaster B, Ms. W and Coach H. Just like the summary says, the teachers are dead writers who committed suicide or at least died before they were supposed to. If you know books like Dracula, Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre then you will most likely understand the book better than most. If you don't, Lockwood takes time to explain the book and its connection to the story so don't worry. One thing in this book that I loved was the loyalty. Miranda and her friends are so loyal to each other and stick together no matter what. I will be honest with you guys, there were some parts were I found it a little boring and slow but then the action picks up again, so if you could handle one slow part then you're good :) \n This book was fantastic!!! I loved it so much! Definitely a must read!", "date_added": "Sun Aug 11 13:48:26 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 25 14:13:52 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "15757099", "review_id": "c7d71f9b907951a625d38567ad9bc05b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was actually a pleasant book to read. It was very fast paced and quick. I read it only in a couple of hours! The thing I really liked was that it was more realistic then other books. For example, I have read books where just like in Hidden Wings, the girl's family die in a horrible car crash and she's left in the hospital, but in other books, the authors describe it as no big deal and next thing you know, the girl is happy and fine with the fact she just lost everyone she loved. But in this book, no no no, she actually grieves and shows true emotion that we would show and thats how you relate to her. I think just by relating to a character makes any book 10 times more amazing! But that's just one example. If you read the book, or if you have, then you notice it happens a lot which is an awesome thing to read (in my opinion) because you know what he/she is going through exactly. \n Just like I said in the beginning, this book IS fast-paced. If you miss one page by accident you will probably miss something big. Literally. This book is A C T I O N packed! It made me want to be an angel and fight the enemy myself! The author, Cameo Renae, really made it sound so exhilarating and fun yet scary and dangerous at the same time, it was quite bizarre. But I LOVED it! Plus, not only did the main girl, Emma Wise, lose her parents, but she goes through a lot more. You find out so much stuff that you're sort of feeling \" oh crap. I feel bad for her\". I kid you guys not, I actually felt bad for her because she goes through so much. Talking about this now, even though, yes, she does go through more than a 17 year old should have to go through but she STILL comes out strong! Like, lets just all take a moment to praise Emma. Phew. She is like an avenging angel. She is so strong that you WISH you were as strong as her. And I mean, emotionally, mentally and soon physically (when she gets her full angelic power). Lets forget about how strong she is for now and talk about how she has NOT 5 but 6 angels to protect her and might I just add, who are all HOOOOOOTTTTTTT!! They are: James, Malachi, Dom, Alex, Thomas and her love interest Kade. I love Kade. Obviously haha! If you read this, you will understand why there's just no way NOT to fall in love with Kade. \n Sorry about my mini rant (I guess not THAT mini) but this book is a must-read! I think this is an interesting take on angels and it is kind of refreshing from books like Hush Hush, Fallen etc. GO OUT NOW AND BUY IT!!", "date_added": "Mon Aug 05 18:48:22 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 08 18:59:45 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "93724", "review_id": "6dca63242ee6d44ff8c9cfeaf2b1c675", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Can I just start by saying, when I saw this was the last book out I \n FREAKED OUT \n . No, like seriously, I flipped. I absolutely LOVE this series. You guys have no clue. But then, I started to look into it, and HALLELUJAH, PRAISE THE LORD!!!! There is a seventh book coming! Meg Cabot wrote in her blog basically that the book hasn't even been written yet and there's no release date, which is find by me. AS LONG AS THERE'S A NEXT BOOK! \n Anyways, while I was reading the book, I started to see things finally wrap up and stuff finally made sense, but it wasn't boring! There was still drama and action happening. Lots of it actually. This was, by far, the most action-packed book yet. Just from the summary I'm sure you can tell. Now I wish I could give it away and rave what happens, I can't :( Believe me on this, the events that take place in this book, will scare the living crap out of you -if your a passionate reader like me- I kid you not, you will be thinking, \" WHAT THE HELL IS CABOT DOING!!! IS SHE CRAZY!?!\". I know this because that's exactly what I was thinking. But I will tell you right now, dont fret, *** \n SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER \n *** It is a happy ending. \n On to another note, I'm seriously screwed up now. After I read it and was freaking because of the ending, the twist, how it's the last book etc. That's when I realized that it ISNT the last book after checking Goodreads. So word of advice? \n This is not the last book! If you think it, you will get all screwed up like me. \n I got screwed up because in my mind I made myself believe that, that was it for Suze and Jesse and Paul etc. But clearly it isn't. So now I cant even imagine what Cabot has in store for us.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 15 00:57:05 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 19 12:55:23 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "23224", "review_id": "ef3ecceeac5e41480a9b11b2195537cf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book literally kept you at the end of your seat the whole time! I'm not even kidding.. I actually thought they were going to kill Jesse a couple of times! You finally get to witness what a B**** Jesse's ex girlfriend from the 19th century, Maria de Silva. I'm pretty sure that's his cousin too. Yuck. But anyways! I hated her straight away. Well, obviously haha, I'm pretty sure anyone would hate someone who was holding a knife to their favourite character's throat! Plus, in this book you don't get our main character, Suze, in school. No No No No No! It was based in the summer and you even get to see her on her free time instead of that stupid school with all of those stupid people (You can tell I don't like her school 'friends') but you DO get to see her on her summer job! I'll tell you something, when you read up to her at her job, THAT'S when you got to pay attention and all the drama and action comes alive. If you don't pay close attention to.. *cough* new characters *cough* you might not remember who they are considering they will play a HUGE role later and in future books, just saying. \n The end, just like most of Meg Cabot's are, was very shocking because you learn some valuable information on someone that will make sense in the next book. Trust me when I say, it all wraps up in the end. But this book, even though it put through heart attacks and made me cry, was well written and great! I loved it!", "date_added": "Sun Jul 14 15:24:15 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 19 10:50:46 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "23225", "review_id": "92adaca821bc496aaa46b0851c26d4aa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ahhhhh, If you guys liked Paul from book four, Darkest Hour, then your in luck! He has been (practically) bumped up to one of the main characters now. If you didn't like him, then sorry but you're going to have to put up with him for a little while longer. A lot of stuff between Suze and Jesse happens. I mean after what happened last book with the kiss and stuff, you would think everything would be fine right? nope. Jesse is a very complex person, so of course he's not going to make it easy and juts confess his undying love for her.. That would be too easy, which kinda makes me want to punch him in the face. Im pretty sure I'm not the only reader who wanted to hurt Jesse at one point because he's just so infuriating. Talking about infuriating, Paul Slater (like I said before) does come back, and is now attending Suze's high school. I found myself very confused at some parts because, well, she has this undying love for Jesse and always confesses it in her head but then she goes off and starts to feel SOME attraction to Paul? Now usually, I would relate and be like \"oh of course! Sometimes you change the person you love blah blah blah\" but see, she's getting attracted to Paul and does something pretty stupid -in my mind- and still can say she loves Jesse and no one else. I don't know.. I just didn't process that. \n Other than that, this book was pretty much like the others. AMAZING. And of course, this book ends with a cliffhanger, so I obviously had the desire to buy the next one, which by the way, is the LAST BOOK OUT RIGHT NOW :(", "date_added": "Sun Jul 14 15:23:52 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 19 12:41:17 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "199785", "review_id": "fed5d42ff7fed0d777a05157f7f8b6cd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Where to start....hmmm... Can I firstly just say that, this was an amazing book to read.. No like seriously!! It was phenomenal. I 'm now in love with this series. I'm pretty sure on my 'Favourites List' that this would be #1! IT WAS THAT GOOD. You are, yet again, placed in the middle of Suze's school year and you meet a new character who surprises you A LOT might I just say. The end of this book has a little bit of a twist to it and you are shocked but yet happy. This book takes so many turns and you are literally shocked that Meg Cabot would even think of writing something like that. For example, she gets one character to almost kill majority of the main characters and its a close one too! I guess you're just going to have to read and find out what happens there ;) One new face I did LOVE to meet was Suze's best friend from back home, Gina! Gosh, I love her. She's that wild friend that you have that has NO fear and is BOY CRAZY yet super loyal and will never let you down. \n So much stuff happens in this book that you can't even wait for the next one! Cabot's way of writing is so fantastic that you don't even feel overwhelmed with all the drama that comes in this book and later on. I also found that Cabot made Suze so relatable to young girls and just girls in general, like myself. And that's why I loved this book.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 12 12:56:20 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 19 10:46:57 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "199786", "review_id": "1e610ded9a1f67566821955b6a71b2b0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was such an interesting book! Being the second in Meg Cabot's, The Mediatorseries, it was so funny, I found myself dying of laughter at majority of the book! The main character, Susannah, otherwise known as \"Suze\" is such a riot. You know who she reminds me of? BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and let me just tell you, I love Buffy. I'm a Buffy girl woohoo! So of course as soon as I realized Suze could be Buffy's sister, I even loved this more! \n Cabot..Cabot..Cabot.. I applaud you! Cabot's writing skill are impeccable. You follow along so nicely and smoothly.. I only read the first book of the series only because I wanted something light. Then I figured there were 6 books.. so I assumed that for the second book I would probably skim through it. Nope, didn't happen. Its safe to say that I am most likely going to absolutely love this series! Not to mention how I cant wait to ready the next book! Here I come book three!!!!", "date_added": "Thu Jul 11 23:34:00 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 12 12:53:47 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jul 12 12:53:47 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "187811", "review_id": "3f9b6ab7646bd18bbd35b433405b3625", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was such a nice, light read. I've been reading heavy-paranormal type books lately and they've always been series so when I saw this book, I decided I should give it a go. Im so glad I did because even though, yes it's about ghosts (paranormal) and yes it's a series buuuuuuttttttt it's actually so light and funny and it doesn't feel like you have to skim any parts just to get it over with. And I've done that on a lot of books, trust me, this was a relief! At first, I actually thought this was just one book and not a series. So I started reading it last night, I finished it in roughly 3 hours and when I noticed some stuff wasn't explained at the end of the book, I sort of panicked. Thats when I went on trusty Goodreads and found out there are currently 6 books! \n Now, when I usually see that I have started a series and there are many books still to go... I tend to not read it or skim over half of it.. I have no clue why... But this book was so light and the humour in this book was unbelievable.. I was up at 2am last night, not really sleepy but tired nonetheless, I was laughing my head off! The main character Susannah is HILARIOUS! And the romance between the main character (16 year old) and the man (a GHOST) in this book wasn't finished and still left you hanging at the end, so of course it makes me want to read the other books to find out what could happen. \n I say, read it, its a light fun book to read and if you think you would be interested in reading all 6 books, GO FOR IT! I am :)", "date_added": "Thu Jul 11 19:25:43 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 12 08:17:01 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jul 12 08:17:01 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "3112850", "review_id": "b68e0ffb7d5206d27680f3c9ea397104", "rating": 5, "review_text": "For some odd reason, I'v been having a sort of.. craving for Faerie-related/themed book. So I found this book on one of the threads created on Goodreads. I was immediately intrigued because of the perfect summary and not to mention the amazing cover! I don't know why, but I love this cover!! Then after I thought, wow, let me check who wrote this.. thats basically when I knew this book was probably amazing! If you don't know yet, Maggie Stiefvater is an amazing writer! Many can agree while many can disagree but to me, she most defiantly is :) You might know her from her amazing series, The Wolves of Mercy Falls, or even The Raven Cycle. ANYWAYS, this book did not disappoint me! At first, I was thinking, hmm maybe I have too much high expectations for this one, but of course, I was wrong! My ideal faerie book would be, Julie Kagawa's series, The Iron Fey. So of course, I expected this book to be just as good. Now, while Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception being a great book, it was not as god as The Iron Fey. But that was no surprise really. \n This book starts off with a 16 year old girl named Deirdre Monaghan. I actually felt so bad for her because of that name (NO OFFENCE TO SOMEONE WHO DOES!) its just a mouthful, and thats why people call her Dee. Being a musician, she is extremely talented in both the harp and vocals. You'll find out why in the book. As she's in the girls bathroom she meets a boy (referred to looking as old as a senior) named Luke Dillon, but she already knew who he was from her dreams. At first this was all weird for me to read because of the circumstances: a girl meets an older boy in the girls bathroom, holding her hair as she vomits. Then instantly knows him because he has occurred in her dreams?????? Pretty weird .. at least to me.. But once you get further into the book, it starts to finally make sense. I'v read this in a day and I cant express how much you should all read this :) If you like romantic faerie themed books, then go ahead and read this one!", "date_added": "Sun Jul 07 14:38:03 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 08 20:33:51 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "293983", "review_id": "75157380490bb9b5ec498cb2a9778f5f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "That review just gives me chills! At first I was so sure that the second book wouldn't compare to the first, but dammmmnn was I wrong! This was surprisingly just as great as the first book! I think L.J. Smith deserves a round of applause, if she hasn't already ;) I think I was really liking this for 2 reasons only. 1: Nick and Cassie's relationship and how it develops 2: Faye.. FRICKING... Chamberlain! My favorite character in this whole book, wouldn't be Cassie, wouldn't be Diana, wouldn't even be the Henderson boys for their humor.. but Smith really made me love Faye Chamberlain! But one thing really bugged me: .. the cover ... :O is like.. DEFIANTLY not my favorite cover of any book I have ever read. But that's just me being picky hehe.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 03 20:29:28 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 03 22:52:01 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "395921", "review_id": "2b561f1e4fcab477c6552fa9a0996ae8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I actually think my love for Faye is just too strong. Why I say that, you ask? Well cause of all the (excuse my language) shitty things she has done, including telling the circle about Cassie and Adam, I still love her! She is such a strong character! This, to me, was the best book out of the 'trilogy'. Nick and Cassie's relationship was just so............ REFRESHING!!! I cant help but get a little enthusiastic and excited but its true! It was better then her relationship with Adam, I can tell you that. But lets face it, we all knew that she would end up with Adam, which made me sad for Nick. Poor Nick.. :( In the end, I will admit I shed a tear when I thought how Smith wouldn't be writing for this series again.. sigh.. just like Vampire Diaries.. But all in all, this was an amazing book and a perfect ending for this trilogy (that was written by L.J. Smith).", "date_added": "Wed Jul 03 20:29:28 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 03 22:53:27 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "879215", "review_id": "456668ffe462a921ee581f1e78c594e0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The Initiation is the first book in the 'trilogy' from L.J. Smith. I say 'trilogy' because after the 3rd book, we get a ghost writer named Aubrey Clark. I say this because the books by Clark werent... as well written, shall we say? She is a good writer, just i find that Smith did an exceptional job. These first 3 books were... SIMPLY AMAZING.... L.J. Smith is such an amazing writer and even more so in this book. I must admit, I have re-read this maybe a dozen times from start to finish and still cant find any flaw in it (thats just me though). I know some readers didn't find this book particularly amazing but to me, it was <3", "date_added": "Wed Jul 03 20:29:06 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 03 21:01:46 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "1966969", "review_id": "8ade1369b3f366fa42215a57e0c778c1", "rating": 2, "review_text": "meh.. Thats all I can really say for this book. I literally skimmed through it all. I felt like I should at least try and attempt to read it considering it was the last and final book in this trilogy. I really did love the first book, it had everything a great book needed! Amazing protagonist, gruesome history, romance, climax and even great supporting characters. Maria V. Snyder really made you feel for her characters in Poison Study. Now that I think of it, after reading all three books, Snyder kind of lost the characters original.... (took me a while to find the right word haha) personas or even their original nature that they started with in the first book. This only correlates with Valek, Yelena, Irys, Ambrose etc. The only two characters that didn't really change were Janco and Ari, which I was happy about :) Thats pretty much all I have to say about this series! \n Thank you Snyder for the perfect first book, Poison Study.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 21 21:43:42 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 08 20:11:25 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "46202", "review_id": "8a0589b7be678a1dc09032306761c9f9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "After reading about less then half of this book, I was a little disappointed in it. Coming from LOVING the first, Poison Study, when it had Valek, the Commander and even Janco and Ari (who made it funny as hell) basically all that amazing stuff, was what I loved about it. But this book just didn't have them or at least hardly at all. Now, in the whole entire book I really liked one part. When SURPRISE, SURPRISE, Ixia 'representative' came to visit for some kind of meeting of sorts. I'll admit, there were some nice scenes between Yelena and Valek but I found (like some other people did as well) that Valek changed.. but anyways, not to ruin it for people who were thinking of reading it, from there on, I enjoyed it :) The book wasn't BAD, don't get me wrong. It just wasn't as great as the first one.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 20 20:27:21 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 08 19:58:05 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "60510", "review_id": "01c6335013454551a1387bac26afbac0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was a PHENOMENALbook! I mean.. wow. I was speechless at how much I LOVED this book! I read this book in about a day (which is pretty good). Just like the summary says, Yelena is in jail for a murder that she openly admits too and doesn't deny. That one line, throughout the whole book, reoccured many times and when it did, it would just remind me that Yelena is SUCH a strong character. I admire her so much to this day! Makes you want to be like her.. except the killing a man part haha. In the book, you find out that Yelena had PLENTY of reasons to kill this man, and I don't blame her one bit. What you find out is gruesome and that man deserved to die. This story, having such a dark story line also has romance as well. The romance was just.. just.. fantabulous. And I don't use that word very often.. but it was!!!! Valek.. mm I wish every women had a Valek in their life! You learn that Valek isn't innocent as well, and at first you might think he's just ruthless but noooooo oh no! He has every reason (just like Yelena) to do what he does. I admire Valek too because of his loyalty to someone he cares about.. For example, the Commander (his boss). You might be thinking: of course he'd be loyal to his boss! it's his boss! But really, his loyalty runs deeper then just boss-worker loyalty should go. And you will find that out in the book. So, please do read this one. I think everyone should at least read this, even if it isn't your genre type or you might think you won't like it, but everyone should experience this book.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 13 08:17:41 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 07 16:44:55 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "11359948", "review_id": "2d51489ddf3e0e18212195211aed6104", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I honestly don't know how many reviews I can do until I prove to everyone in the world that Tijan is an amazing author! I can go on and on about her books for a while but for the sake of this review, I'll just leave it with, read her books!!! Davy Harwood is in university just living her life, trying to live stress-free and vampire-free. Davy is an empath, so she's not new to the world of magic and such, especially vampires. You see, Davy is a bit of a known vampire killer, so to speak. She had a rough run in with a vamp once and he soon became obsessed with her... until she killed him withe her fire magic that is. Basically everyone knew not to fuck with Davy and Davy was fine with that. Until the day a girl jumps to her death off of Davy's work roof. Davy, having caught her just before she jumped, was basically all sorts of confused as to what this mystery girl was ranting on about. Leaving Davy with just a couple of words, she jumped off and ended her life. Yep, the book starts off like that. She's also been noticing a lot of weirdness about the vampires, they're always around, too much for comfort sometimes but there seems to be about 10 x the amount than normal. \n Davy then runs into Roan, the mysterious new kid, or as Davy points out right away, to his face might I add, that he is a vampire and a strong one at that. \n \"He'd been staring right at me the whole time. This was not good, not at all. He knew that I knew. I knew that he knew I knew...He'd seen. I smiled smugly and whispered, \"I know what you are.\" His face didn't move. His eyes didn't react, but I knew I'd made him angry.\" \n NICE GOING DAVY. Piss off the new and strong vampire. And from that point on Roan had shown up at every possible time in Davy's life. Literally everywhere, with her friends, in her common room and even at clubs. It was an exciting book to read because Roan was so dangerous and smart that Davy and myself were just so entranced by him. It's no secret that Davy was attracted to Roan the moment she saw him but little does she know that he felt the exact same way. In this book we have vampires, werewolf's, and magic wielding folk. It was an epic ride and I enjoyed practically all of the book except for some points when Roan was being a jack-ass as main love interests usually are. \n The ending was pretty spot on and left us wondering a lot, like what the hell was Tijan going to write in the next book! So far there are 3 books out and I don't think Tijan is writing a 4th one so stay tuned for those reviews!! \n IF you liked this review check out my blog where I do YA and other genre books! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Fri Jun 07 16:48:07 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 25 20:38:42 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "17883441", "review_id": "81c88c676a60efc0049f0efd9036a59c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So. This is it. The end of the Blood of Eden series. Wow. What an impeccable ride that was! This book was by far the best ending of any series, so much angst and struggle between all of the characters. The book picks up where Allison, Jackal and Kanin are searching for Zeke and Sarren. A huge surprise happens and hits us with a ton of bricks. Like damn, poor Allison hasn't had a single break. Allison, like in the last book, seems to be even more ruthless with killing and is even stronger. She doesn't stop to get back the boy she loves, kill Sarren and the disease once and for all. Just like the synopsis stated, the final hunt is on, and Sarren better run from Allison's wielding katana. \n Jackal still cracks me up in this book, and he never ceases to surprise me. He shows a more compassionate side in this, NOT TO GET CONFUSED: He isn't nice, he isn't caring, he IS however an asshole and he definitely doesn't care if Allison, Zeke or even Kanin dies, but he DOES try to save Allison in some parts. He does surprise us at the end as well, and it was a pleasant surprise indeed. Whenever it comes to Jackal, I feel like it is my duty to share a quote because he's just way too funny, so here it is: \n \"Oh, isn't that sweet,\" came Jackal's loud, mocking voice... \"Let's make goo-goo eyes at each other in the middle of a stinking corpse field, how very romantic.\" \n The ending was so fast coming and I was not ready for that. Something happens that I still can't comprehend why it had to happen. WHY KAGAWA WHY. I remember crying and crying through the end till the last page. Kagawa definitely knows how to write a friggan great and dramatic finale. Don't expect to be happy at the end as well, even though I don't know how anyone could be, considering this amazing world is coming to a close. \n Stakes are high, Eden is about to become infected, heartbreaking decisions are made, and sacrifices will happen to save humanity and vampires together. \n This will be missed. Goodbye Allison. Goodbye Kanin. Goodbye Jackal. Goodbye Zeke and finally, Goodbye Blood of Eden. \n IF you liked this review, check out more of the series I did on my blog, as well as other YA reviews. \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Tue May 07 20:14:32 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 19 21:07:53 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "127459", "review_id": "2e5a5be294dc52e9cc1678e2b808e2b6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I will admit, I didn't like this book as much as the other two. It was still a great way to end a fantastic trilogy thats for sure. I just found that at some parts, I would skim over it because I thought they were unnecessary information, but thats just my opinion. Being the romantic kind of person I am, I was a bit disappointed and I feel like the ending and what happens between Gemma and Kartik was a bit odd. There is really no way else to say it. It was an odd ending for him. Im glad Libba Bray didn't kill him but still..hm... I just wish it was better in a way. I know a lot of people agree with me on this one. I wont say what happens for obvious reason of course haha. This reviews going to be pretty short because again, I was a little disappointed with Bray for this book. Nonetheless, it was a fantastic trilogy and I probably will re read the first or second book again because I truly loved them :) \n Despite what I said, I think if your a person who has read the first 2 books and now are wary because of other reviews and mine (I'v read a lot and it's the same thing as my review), all I say is, please do read this one, hey maybe you'll like the ending more than us. But ultimately, i think everyone should at least finish the trilogy even if the ending sucked a little hehe.", "date_added": "Mon May 06 04:04:35 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 05 10:35:37 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "51428", "review_id": "4477ff9fcb2de820b6940bca3e565487", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Just like the first book, the second book was amazing! I really liked the plot of book and where it was going (where I thought it was going). So Gemma is in Spence Academy and she's the last to leave for Christmas break, so one night when she's alone, she wanders off and comes across her head mistress and this new teacher that she's been suspicious about for a while. When she's hiding and listening in to their conversation, she gets a 'hunch' and learns something. I think this scene is crucial knowledge to really understand what happens later. After when she's at the train station, she notices a man following her (I would have never noticed haha!) and that's literally where all the drama begins! \n I liked this book because Libba Bray had the one main plot and that was enough drama, you would think adding mini little problems would be too much right? well nope. The opposite actually! Gemma meets this man at the train station and by the way he's described, he sounds very handsome, you find out his names Lord Denby and Gemma's brother actually is acquainted wit him. Yeah.. well.. He becomes a bit of an issue for her. Not to mention, her little romance with Kartik is just adding more-- which btw, I absolutely adore Kartik for his mysterious ways ;). ANYWAYS Surprisingly, Bray did an excellent job, because of all these little dramas, they made me want to read more into the book! And I'm pretty sure thats what she intended to do. Great job, If you loved the first one ( or if you didn't even like it) COME READ THIS! pretty good :)", "date_added": "Thu Apr 25 05:53:00 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 05 09:49:24 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "3682", "review_id": "ce607db660ec5e238974bcbb6d2a6349", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the first book in Libba Bray's trilogy,Gemma Doyle. It starts off with Gemma in India where her and her mother live. Some events play out and Gemma finds herself in London with her brother on their way to a boarding school, due to her mothers sudden death. Its basically like every other school book except based in the Victorian Era. Has the mean girls, then the mean girls open their arms toward the slightly vulnerable protagonist which then creates drama. This all happens except, its slightly more paranormal. \n I actually liked this book! As soon as I was done it, I knew that I should probably go and buy the next one haha! Of course the book leaves you off wondering whats going to happen next, so thumbs up to Libba Bray, for her writing skills that made me buy the second book in this trilogy :) I would definitely suggest reading this one!", "date_added": "Tue Apr 16 19:32:41 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 05 09:08:40 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Apr 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "15851966", "review_id": "cf6891fa2a4bd6f8007be09426df1bcf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "For being a short story, this was surprisingly great! This is just Clara and Angela in Italy and we get introduced to a new character who I then realize is important in the next book- real reason I posted a review for this book. We meet Phen, (I remember him saying he was a messenger) an angel.. and at first I was all like, OH HELLO HOTTIE, but then I realized oh shit, if Clara doesn't like him than I probably shouldn't.. So you find out in the next book if Clara is right or not, but I'm sure you can guess. The thing I liked in this book especially was the alternating between Clara and Angela's POV. I liked this because you really got to see the way Angela thinks for a change, and I was right since the first book. I never liked Angela, I felt like she was too selfish and always jealous of everything if she didn't have it. She always seemed to be jealous of Clara too so that also turned me off. But in this book, you really see Angela's selfishness and such. Anyways, I think if you love this series, read this little short story. No harm in reading it, and you need to know Phen so it can fully make sense in the next book.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 27 13:56:18 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 09 21:22:20 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Thu Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "13644052", "review_id": "24039eb331c52e5498d9a451d777a885", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Not sure if I like this book cover as much as the others but it's not the ugliest I've seen. This book was pretty funny, and sassy I will admit (I know Katy has been taken and being tortured, but after the fact). Also, I loved the fact that Katy is literally in Area 51. That's so awesome, pretty cool. Blake gets his fate and Katy does something that honestly, he deserves. The big fight for Daemon is to get Katy back and sure enough he does everything in his power, kills everyone within reach, and rest assured, does get to see Katy. Also, we get introduced to Archer, the mysterious guard that makes sure Katy doesn't leave her cell. Archer turns out to be pretty important to the plot so stay tuned to that. \n We get to finally see the Origins, and how they act and what exactly they are. They are creepy and scary and Katy is scared of them, like everyone should be. I HATE how petty Dee was being, the fact she seriously didn't try to save Katy, bitch move. Katy becomes ruthless in this novel and she really comes into her skin and realizes the stakes are high and there's no more time for games anymore. From the beginning of the book to the end, it was action packed and I found this book the best in the series by far. Obsidian was great for sure, but Origin really pulled my strings with the race to survive. \n We get to go into Las Vegas, and theres a huge battle, which was really awesome because I felt so exhausted after reading that whole scene just by how action-packed it was. We actually travel a lot in this book, first Area 51, then Las Vegas, and finally Idaho where I assume will be the setting for the last and final book, Opposition. I cant wait to see what Armentrout does with the last book and how she's going to wrap it up! \n IF you liked this review, check out more YA and other genre books on my blog! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Sat Dec 08 11:37:53 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 20 11:46:11 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "15739817", "review_id": "890e31e801d3ec8abd7c3a18cbdfd0bb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is the most recent book out from the series. This is also the 14th book! like.. holy cow... 14 magnificent books! And the last one #15 is coming soon too! This, surprisingly, was outside of Morganville and it was just Claire in the beginning, trying to get used to the real world and a different University. I will admit, this was difficult to read. I think mostly because I hate changes and this was defiantly a change then normal. We got to meet new people, like Claire's old best friend that we heard so much in the first book. But as the book progresses, of course drama hits down. We see Myrnin later on, which makes me ever so happy :) Except unfortunately looks like the Shane- lovers will be loving this book because Shane and Claire do reunite in this book and poor Myrnin gets left out.. but Oliver makes an appearance, I remember being so happy, when I read the he was there!! This book was amazing, and even though it was different from most of the others in the series, it was still a great book :) CANT WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE!", "date_added": "Wed Nov 07 15:15:42 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 04 13:08:46 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "42899", "review_id": "e3c1095c5f58c20e763f72558aa78f69", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This whole series is amazing. Honestly, it was so different and very interesting to read Ward's words because they're not like the normal vampire books. The book opens up with some of the brotherhood in a club, and we're basically just seeing their P.O.V and mind set. Pretty much that's when I realized this wasn't going to be a fluffy twilight type of vampire story. There has explicit scenes, swearing and gore. This is not a book for children that is for sure. Each book in the series is following the story of a different brother's P.O.V and plot. So being the first book, it follows the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Wrath. After his most trusted friend and follower dies, he grants the one wish he had, find his half-breed daughter and protect her. This is when Beth comes in. A seemingly normal 25 year old women who works a middle class job. She automatically gets called, being the friend and reporter for the police, to the crime scene where her unknown father was murdered. This is when Wrath first sees Beth, and from there it's just hectic. \n I did not realize how much sex was going to be in this novel. Lets just say Wrath is a .... hell of a dude... Anyways, Beth and Wrath have an immediate connection and slowly she becomes apart of her father's world and starts falling for the big intimidating leader. The way the vampires work in this story is that they can eat food just like normal people, but need blood to survive and stay strong, and that blood has to be from a vampire. There are a lot of character introductions in this book and it's a bit hectic trying to remember them, I will admit. But Ward's writing style was so easy to read and follow that it definitely helped with the remembering of the names. \n If you're into vampire-erotica type of novels with lots of action, fighting and character development then this is the book and series for you! I did thoroughly enjoy this book but I wouldn't say it's my favourite in the series. Just to keep that in mind, if you do read this and want to read on there are better books in the series. J.R. Ward's book, Dark Lover, was a great introduction to the Black Dagger Brotherhood series anyways, no matter which book was better. \n IF you liked this review, check out more on my blog where I review YA and other genres! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Mon Aug 20 08:00:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 25 18:19:13 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Aug 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "13362536", "review_id": "a82d782a11e55c30e6c95ac6bf4a131f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Literally, every new instalment to this series is just getting better and better than the last! This book was sooooooo heart wrenching. After the death of a close friend, her friendship is pretty rocky with Dee, as in, Dee won't even speak and look at Katy. Poor Katy, after everything that happened in the last book, she needs a vacation. \n So, some weird stuff happens with Blake and Katy, Blake is being a sneaky little shit and it's kind of freaky when we find out what he's doing. Because of that, Katy FREAKS out and it's an amazing scene that I find myself re-reading often. She literally shows her badd-assnes and everything that has happened to her just explodes and we finally see Blake scared. The big mission in this book is to get Beth out from the DOD and the whole book was just planning and actually breaking into the DOD. More on that later though because... BREAKING NEWS BREAKING NEWS... I don't care that it is a spoiler but Katy and Daemon finally have sex!! It's a great scene and you can see the full extent of Daemon's love for Katy. \n ANYWAYS, While they are breaking into the DOD, Blake, once again, acts stupid and betrays them. Again, something happens right at the end, literally on the last page of the book and its a HUGE cliffhanger. Its crazy! I hated it yet loved it because Armentrout really is a genius. I felt like Katy has the worst luck, first with Blake, then getting hurt, and now this. Oh boy, the next book, Origin, is definitely going to be an interesting one. \n IF you liked this review, check out more on my blog for YA and other genres. \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Wed Aug 15 07:08:38 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 20 11:29:21 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Dec 10 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Dec 10 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "13414055", "review_id": "fba7b2d5b5e9e190b169ea6c882477ba", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This.was.drama.packed. like no seriously, everything in this, every page, was filled with drama! Sometimes it was WAY to much to handle! A evil somebody comes back to make everyones lives hell, and some strange events occur because of the little parasite that comes back. Im just going to tell you, Amalie's evil, bitchy, slutty sister Naomi. Long rampage short, she makes everyones lives hell in this book, including the gangs, especially Shane and Claire's relationship.. UGHHHHHHHHH, like I have said many times before, I am not a Shane/Claire lover but still gets me so mad that Rachel Caine decided to do what she did to pooooooor Claire :( WHY CAINE WHY! Why did you have to bring back Naomi.. because of her Michael and Eve are done, grrrrrrrr makes me soo angry and hatful. Just like with the Bishop thing, I wish I could go into the book and kill her once and for all. Like father like daughter I guess. Again, I don't think I have to tell you to read it because if you're this far into the series, I bet you know that the next ones probably going to be even better!", "date_added": "Fri Aug 10 21:11:42 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 04 12:55:15 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Dec 17 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Wed Oct 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "13047090", "review_id": "5c0b901a58c11fadf96074f859667a2d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have to warn you guys that Onyx is just dripping with sexual tension. The whole book is basically just hot hot hotness between Daemon and Katy. Considering Katy doesn't particularly like Daemon, she has to stay close since she's lit up like the friggan Eiffel Tower. Imagine Daemon being Daemon, having to be close and around Katy all the time; at school, at home, in-between those two etc. That's how this book was, hot and sexy with a tad bit of danger. Onto the danger part, the DOD are here and there slyly checking out Daemon and his family making sure nothings out of the ordinary, of course that's when they notice a human is suspiciously close to them. Then that brings us to the big mystery of what the hell happened to Dawson, Daemon's twin brother that went missing with his human love, Beth. It's a sad and emotional ride from there on. \n This brings us to Blake. The new kid. The HOT new kid. Oh yeah, Daemon does not like him at all, considering Blake is all over Katy. Not that Katy is minding ya know ;) Little did we know that Blake has almost all the answers about the Arum, DOD and how to control what's happening to Katy. I REPEAT, Daemon does not like that. Can we just jump subjects and also mention that Katy is book blogger! How cool is that, I loved that little tidbit and Armentrout even writes us scenes when she's making book review videos, and opening book boxes for hauls. SO COOL. Of course, Daemon being Daemon even makes an appearance in one of her videos. Everything in this book is pretty light and fluffy, which should've been a Number 1 warning. SO you can imagine when I say that I didn't expect it to get as serious as it did! \n Something happens that is just a slap to the face, and makes you want to cry and scream out in frustrating!! I was so angry that I just wanted to get in there and kill everyone myself. UGH. This series really does pull you in and make you want more and more. Go read it, then come back and we can talk about a murder plan. \n IF you liked this review, check out more YA and other genre's on my blog! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Sun Aug 05 11:24:02 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 20 11:14:04 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "12578077", "review_id": "6b305b6dabd2b26a0ce5873bdb611f8e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Aliens!!! Hot Aliens!!! My interests were pretty peaked when this came out. I definitely knew I had to read this, considering Armentrout is known to write hella great paranormal romance novels! Lets just start off by saying how funny and addictive this book was, from the start when Katy met Daemon, to Dee in the parking lot... I loved it! Daemon really is hot, sexy, and stab-worthy!! I have never been more infuriated by a character than Daemon. He is the arrogant, 'too cool for this' type of guy and just a straight out jerk when he meets Katy. Dee, being his twin sister isn't having any of this and makes him play nice. Thank you Dee!! \n This was such a thrilling ride, from hot jerks, to evil aliens trying to kill them, then lots and lots of touching... yes, definitely worth the read. Of course, having spend time with Dee and unfortunately, Daemon, Katy starts to notice off things about the pair. Also the fact theres ANOTHER twin family that's always around them. When Katy gets attacked by the Arum, a race of beings dedicated to wiping out Daemon and his kind, Daemon then reveals himself to protect her. Unfortunately that results in Katy being marked by the alien magic he used, lighting her up for all and any alien/Arum to see and track. Way to go Daemon. \n Of course, Armentrout adds in some high school drama, and Katy isn't the only female that's close to Daemon either, just so happens to be his on and off again alien girlfriend, yikes. I cringe every time Ash is in the picture, because we all know who's going to end up with Daemon so... \n This was such a quick, fun read and so worth it! I loved this book and the series, so GO CHECK IT OUT!! \n IF you liked this review, check out more YA and other genre books on my blog! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Sat Aug 04 11:18:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 20 10:45:21 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "13581990", "review_id": "40af611ca6f17144876189b7a76b51fb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book starts somewhere right after the events of the first book. Allison is persistent to find Kanin by the blood bond they share. After some while, she links up with Jackal, her blood brother and Kanin's other creation. Lets just say, they don't exactly get along. Jackal is basically your stereotypical strong, leader, asshole type vampire. He ruled Chicago, the post-apocalyptic version anyways. This book opens with Allison fierce and cold-hearted, basically just killing anything that gets in her way, and I frankly LOVE her like that. It's so refreshing from the all-too popular innocent and weak protagonists that we get in books nowadays. It's pretty cool to go back to the original setting in The Immortal Rules, FYI the first book, where we got introduced to Allison and her band of misfits. The town is exactly as she remembered except for one thing, rabids are roaming the city more than ever and somethings up with the vamps. Also the fact that Kanin is being tortured and kept in captivity by Sarren, a psychotic and crazy vampire who has the weirdest obsession with birds. Yep. Crazy. Tweet Tweet. \n Of course we meet back up with Zeke, who now fully accepts Allison for what she is, much to her relief. I LOVED THE FACT THAT THE ROMANCE WAS EVEN LESS THAN THE FIRST BOOK!! It's like Kagawa had heard my prayers. It was still evident but definitely not focused on at all! Of course with Zeke there he is re-introduced to Jackal and wants revenge for what happened to his people and most importantly, Jeb. Jackal being Jackal doesn't really give 2 shits which is pretty funny. I do love Jackal, as much as he is infuriating and an asshole, it's hard not to like him. Lets just give an example shall we: \n \"We're both still here.\" \n He drew in a slow breath. \"Allie...\" \n \"Oh, don't mind me,\" came an extremely sarcastic voice near the wall. \"You two go ahead and make out--I'll just sit here and bleed quietly.\" \n And that's just one of his lines that cracks me up. Jackal is a pretty complex character beneath all that humour. He is not good nor bad, he does wish Allison accept herself fully and believes that humanities purpose was to be ruled by them, vampires. \n Overall, this sequel was amazing and deserves all the praise it has gotten! The ending was a huge shock considering what happens and leaves us on a cliffhanger. Sarren definitely has some hell to pay and Allison is going to come collecting very soon with Kanin and Jackal by her side. Till next time, in the last and final book of the series, The Forever Song. \n IF you liked this review, go check out the others I did on my blog! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Sat Aug 04 00:37:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 19 20:40:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "13049981", "review_id": "3e61aa5bea576d48818d1862407a6579", "rating": 5, "review_text": "You guys don't even understand how much I wanted to write this review!! I cried so much! I bawled my eyes out! Like, the ending was so heartbreaking, either for good reasons or bad reasons I will not say, you will have to read and find out! I wish I could confess everything that happened in this book and rave about every last bit, but unfortunately I can't :( YOU GUYS HAVE TO READ IT And if you haven't even read the series yet and just checking out this review for some reason, READ BOOK 1 AND BOOK 2! I cannot express how much I want you guys to experience this. I have not raved about a book like this in a very long time! \n In the book, Cynthia Hand really wraps things up. But still keeps you at the edge of your seats just waiting to see what she'll throw at us! Like I remember reading the very last few pages of the book and thinking.. holy shit. She's still throwing surprises at us! Even the last page was really a shock! THE LAST PAGE! It literally made you want to turn this trilogy into a full blown series and beg her for more. I will never understand how I survived the day I finished this book after knowing it was the last for Unearthly It was too good of a series to even finish! I've read series where they are like 10 books long and with bad reviews. All I'm saying is that, I wish this were more than a trilogy. But it was a FANTASTIC friggan trilogy. Read it, like now.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 04 00:18:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 09 21:34:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jan 23 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "11563110", "review_id": "3341e097998ba5c43f2abc82a2028997", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was the best second book in any trilogy. It built up fast, and still had drama and action in EVERY SINGLE PAGE! And not to mention Tucker... I love him.. like if Clara could just.. maybe.. give him to me :) I'd die happy. You find out A LOT of stuff in this book, more so then the first. I liked this book slightly better then the first only because, again, you find out so much stuff. And that stuff is what makes you craving for the third book. Literally. Cynthia Hand did an outstanding job in this book and kept you interested from start to finish. Definitely on my \"Favourite\" list. Not much more to say in this review except that it picks up right when their senior year begins and they all see each other and new drama that involves the love triangle. I can't really explain what happens after because well DUH that just ruins everything. The summary says it all, and it's a MUST read. You will all be shocked at what you find out!", "date_added": "Sat Aug 04 00:18:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 09 21:11:08 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "7488244", "review_id": "d39e00cfbedbc52c0b8405835a0077dc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I actually already reviewed this series but decided to take it down because I don't think I really expressed how much I LOVED this book, to this day. It starts off with Clara, a (I'm pretty sure) 16-year-old girl. But not just a normal girl ohhh no! She's quarter angel. She gets this vision that all angels are supposed to have once in their life, a purpose her mother (half angel) calls it. In the vision, something happens (I'm not going to tell you) and she encounters a boy. Her mother tells Clara that she has to move to this new place and new school to find the boy that's in her vision. So here she is, in a new town, new school all for this one boy, she THINKS she needs to save. \n My thoughts at first were like.. uh.. That's a little extreme don't you think? But then I just ignored that stupid thought and kept reading. After that, it began to connect and make a whole lot of sense! She meets the mysterious boy but just like every boy that is a possible love interest, he's incredibly hot! So that leads us to her being all shy and smitten with him. Now I will say one thing, there is a love triangle in this book. But THANK THE LORD, Cynthia Hand did NOT make it as bad and annoying as other love triangles out there... Which leads me to ....... CARTER! Gahhh I was Team Carter since the fricking beginning! As soon as we get introduced to the cute farmer boy, I knew! And I hope if you \n HAVE \n read this book, you agree with me! If you haven't then please for the love of god read it :) This book keeps you interested the whole time! It's incredible!!", "date_added": "Wed Aug 01 08:01:51 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 09 13:41:20 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "6527740", "review_id": "a90e7ca2c44f367bb4c284649707371a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This has been a great ride!!! What a crazy ending to this amazing world of Vampire Academy. I couldn't tell you how much I was actually dreading reading this book, I didn't want the whole series to end! I needed more Rose and Dimitri, and also... sexy Adrian!! The conclusion to this wonderful series did not disappoint, and I was quite glad at how they left things. Of course some things were left unanswered but luckily for us Richelle Mead is an angel and has written a spin off series, but more on that later!!! \n As a theme with the series, Rose's p.o.v was hilarious, witty, sarcastic and just humorous in general. We can now say we know where she gets it from considering her father, Abe Mazur is one hell of a funny guy. I loved Lissa's journey to the crown, and through the tests she found the last one, most challenging, \n \"\"What must a queen possess in order to truly rule her people?\"... And just like that, Lissa suddenly knew the answer. \"Nothing,\" she said softly, \"A queen must possess nothing to rule because she has to give everything she has to her people. Even her life.\"\" \n DAMN, idk about you guys but when I read that, I got chills all over. It's crazy to see how grown and mature Lissa is, she truly would make a great queen. I liked how Mead incorporated a murder mystery in here, like that was pretty clever! I love that little aspect of the book, and when we got to find out who did it, dun dun dun very unexpected. We see a lot of characters in this book, too many to keep up with almost. We are reunited with the trio of sorts, Victor, Robert, and Sonya. Also Sydney! Cant forget about our favourite alchemist. Of course, Dimitri and Rose are now side by side, yet not really as they were before. Since, Dimitri is pretty ashamed with himself about how he treated Rose when he was a Strigoi, he needed space from her, and instead, turned to Lissa and her friendship. Lets just say, Rose wasn't too happy with that, and neither was I!! A real downer was Rose and Adrian, I mean poor Adrian didn't deserve half the stuff done to him and he basically got shit on when Dimitri turned back into a Dhampir. \n This book was fast-paced, the ending was great and we even got a little twist at the end at court with Rose and a certain evil someone. Now, usually I would fill this section up about how much I'm going to miss this series and world and blah blah blah. BUUTTTTTTTT like I said earlier, there is a spinoff series thank the lord. It's called Bloodlines, and it follows the young alchemist Sydney, that we happen to already know from Blood Promises. It was so interesting reading another p.o.v of this world! And yes, you do get re-connected with everyone and I mean EVERYONE!! YAY!! like multiple appearances each book :) SO that made me pretty happy haha. \n Anyways, this was a great conclusion to The Vampire Academy Series and I cant wait to re-enter the world in Bloodlines. \n IF you liked this review, check out more YA reviews and even the previous books of the Vampire Academy Series!!! http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Tue Jul 03 16:04:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 20 20:33:57 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "6479259", "review_id": "25d87d567d6e1dee5a3b1bc2bb6189de", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So basically this book is about the lamb now chasing the hunter, a.k.a Dimitri chasing Rose. It was well-paced and you couldn't NOT get bored because Mead just hit you with surprise after surprise after surprise. I like that Rose is finally back at St. Vlad's and is finally getting to graduate. Of course that all gets put on hold because Strigoi Dimitri is not giving up so easily. Ever since she failed to kill him, Dimitri has given her no more chances and is now on pursuit to turning Rose into a Strigoi, so they can be together forever. I mean, it's kind of romantic? At least he's still thinking of her, even with his dead dark heart.. Lol. \n Poor Adrian, I guess Rose did give him a shot once and for all, but we all knew who'd she end back up with. Pretty obvious. I did not like how Rose took Adrian for granted, I mean using his credit card in Vegas to then proclaim your love for Dimitri while you're legit dating the guy that's financing your trip... seriously Rose? But Adrian being Adrian, he still loves Rose even though he knows its a lost cause, deep down. He also still helps his cousin Lissa out in finding her powers and mostly, not hurting herself and others with them. \n This novel, thankfully, was definitely better than Blood Promise that's for sure. The book does end in a horrible cliffhanger, AGAIN. Seriously, Mead. Enough with the cliffhangers, our poor hearts can't handle it!!! Especially with the knowledge that the next book will be the last in the series, why!!! \n IF you liked this review, check out more YA and other genres on my blog! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Tue Jul 03 16:04:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 20 20:05:21 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "5996153", "review_id": "306acbc771d7e6bfc649d6e284f96a82", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book picks up with Rose in Moscow, trying to find and kill her Strigoi-turned lover, Dimitri. On the way, after the attack on St. Vlad's and the journey to Dimitri she becomes a killing machine, adorning the mark that signifies she's killed too many Strigoi to count. Damn Rose, who knew she'd get to this huh? \n She leaves Lissa, which we thought we'd never see her do, and Lissa was just as shocked as we were. Rose has it all planned out though, with the connection she shares with Lissa, she frequently checks up, trusting Christian to take care of her. Adrian helps her financially and she seems set. Except for the fact she's on her way to kill her lover and actually ends up at his family's home. That's tough like wow. \n I will admit, this wasn't my favourite book out of the series, it seemed dull at points and just dragged on. Obviously for plot and story sake I kept pulling through and finally finished it, but it was hard. Rose and Dimitri reconnect and lets just say Strigoi Dimitri is scary. Holy crappers. Rose has to find the power and strength in her heart to finally kill him once and for all, can she do it? Who knows, Rose is capable of anything. \n IF you liked this review, check out more on my blog! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Tue Jul 03 16:04:13 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 20 19:49:18 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "2802316", "review_id": "11589bbf2a83f2a66d424218ee2213bc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is probably my favourite book in the whole series, from the cover to the content inside the pages!!! Im super impressed by Mead that she had written such a fantastic novel. So... a lot of stuff happens. Like life changing, plot changing stuff. After losing Mason, Rose starts feeling the affects of that and the fact she had killed 2 Strigoi. She starts seeing things she thinks is in her head. All it took was a plane ride for her to mentally implode. It definitely gives us, readers, and everyone accompanying Rose on the plane, a heart attack. Especially poor, worrying Dimitri. That is probably the 2nd most memorable scene that comes to mind when I think of the series as a whole. The 1st would have to be in Frostbite when Rose kills the 2 Strigoi in rage for killing Mason. The series really takes a dramatic role now and everything is happening at lightening speed. We get more of Adrian, now that he's enrolled at St. Vlad's to... chill? He's too old for classes, being 19 or 20, so he literally just joins to chill around and because he's bored. \n It seems to be a common theme with Mead, that at every end of her books, theres a huge shocking ending and cliffhanger. AGAIN Mead pulls that crap and we are left crying and screaming, \"NOOOOO!!!!\" \n ITS NOT FAIR MEAD, this is torture you're putting us through. Anyways, go read it. Shit happens. Bad shit. On the bright side, Rose and Dimitri finally succumb to their desires and at least they have a good time for awhile.. until all hell breaks loose :( \n IF you liked this review, check out moree on my blog ! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Tue Jul 03 16:04:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 20 19:26:27 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "2282133", "review_id": "11257c31699842ef2a566fb43e022c85", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ahh, This is when shit goes down...!!! This book is jam packed and I loved every minute of it! Lots and lots of stuff happen and stakes are higher than ever for Rose. Mason is more prominent in this book, which is nice considering he's actually a pretty good fighter along with Eddie. Christian is the troubled, fire starter who actually does like Lissa, and wants to help her, unlike Aaron, her stupid ex boyfriend who's now dating Mia. Oh Mia, I grew to like her, I mean you kind of have to with what happens. Her spat with Rose just made my day, it was absolutely hilarious and Rose obviously couldn't give 2 shits, which only infuriated Mia more. \n The name, Frostbite, is basically foreshadowing since St. Vlad's is going on a field trip! Yay! At the ski lodge, Rose and us finally get to meet Adrian. My favourite character of all time! Adrian is the nephew of the Queen of the Moroi, which makes Adrian royalty. He is pretty troubled, addicted to smokes and an already alcoholic. He takes an interest in Rose, which is the beginning of everything.. -insert heart eyes- lol! But Adrian just isn't any normal Moroi royal, he happens to have some unique special powers as well, coincidently coinciding with Lissa, his cousin (?). \n The end of the book is here and Rose and Christian team up to save the 3 stupid friends of hers risking everything. Shit goes down, bad shit. Annnnnnddddd something bad happens that is just a complete shock! Mead is truly ruthless to spring this on us! While, it was sad and very heart wrenching to read for Rose's sake, it needed to be done and the series wouldn't be what it was today, without it. Dimitri is there to pick up the pieces of Rose's shattered heart along with, surprisingly, her very distant mother. \n This was probably my 2nd favourite book in the series, just because the ending was written superbly and really put into perspective the dangers Rose and Lissa are experiencing. \n IF you liked this review, check out more on my blog! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Tue Jul 03 16:03:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 20 19:14:02 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "345627", "review_id": "19a94fd4c95255be389f342b75bcac63", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Where to start with this... Vampire Academy is just a classic. Everyone knows it and mostly everyone has read it. It starts off with Lissa, a vampire princess, and her best friend Rose, a half-vamp half-human guardian in training. They are on the run from their school, St. Vladimir's Academy in Montana. They escaped because Lissa wasn't feeling safe anymore considering she is the last Dragomir alive, in her whole line. The Strigoi, the vampires who choice evil and the strongest kind, are more than ever persistent on making Lissa one of them. Lissa and Rose get caught by the oh so cute-love interest, Dimitri, who just so happens to be a guard at St. Vlad's and one of the best fighters known to man. Lets just say Rose isn't any happier than Lissa is to be dragged back, considering Rose still thinks the danger is inside the school itself. \n Mead really did a good job with her characters. They are all so well developed and fit so nicely in the plot, it's almost seamless. \n Rose is a very aggressive, free spirited and dedicated person who loves Lissa like no other. Rose has this intense dedication towards protecting Lissa, it's insane and so nice to read about. She slowly gets back into things at St. Vlad's such as training, maturity, and more focused on her studies a.k.a Strogoi killing for Dummies. \n Lissa is the dainty, sweet, charming, and smart princess. Instead of being the stereotypical 'not a care in the world' princess, she's smart and calculating. Also since she lost her parents and brother in a car crash, she's grown stronger and more independent. The big question she has to ask herself is, why wasn't she or Rose dead from the accident and her parents and brother were? \n Dimitri is the ultimate badass, perfect for Rose. He's the top guard at St. Vlad who was tasked with retrieving the girls, since for 2 years they couldn't find them. He's a Russian dhampir with a lot of experience killing Strigoi. He slowly gets to learn about Rose and her life, as he is the one who convinced the headmistress to let her stay in school, only if he'd be the one to train her. Privately ;). You can imagine the straight connection when he realizes just how smart and dedicated Rose is. \n I really liked the romance in this book, I felt like it was natural and well-paced. Considering the circumstances, with her being his student and all, it was definitely enjoyable and not in your face. The humour was also very much there, Rose is a hilarious character and isn't afraid to speak her mind, which isn't always nice haha. These books are a must read and definitely a staple in your collection! \n IF you liked this review, check out more YA and other genre reviews on my blog \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Tue Jul 03 16:03:51 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 20 18:58:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "9526658", "review_id": "aa54ee328fd1b4703b9e4d454a1bed43", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Just like the summary said, Amelie is infected and while reading this book, it didn't feel like she was going to make it or not. I suggest defiantly read this book, as it is very important in the series and is a crucial step in the series long-running story. Like the last book, this book might make you cry because of the sad parts in it. The other books in this series were of course drama- filled but they always had some light in them, you know? But I find this book filled with only black, dark events and drama and stripped of happiness for the gang and especially Claire. I think the title, Black Dawn , is amazingly appropriate and well thought for this book because its exactly that, black.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 16:36:02 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 04 12:44:32 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "10549501", "review_id": "a10470148819728da00fa5544d8e5b30", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Damn, talk about misery and loss.. this is what happens in about the middle to end part of this book :( So sad, but hey, they'll make it ..right? ---This is what iv been asking myself the whole time I was reading this book. The emotional whirlpool that Rachel Caine puts us through is cruel! I mean, the amount of drama and just crappy things happen in this book is heartbreaking. First, the title of the book, Last Breath, I can tell you now, is very accurate as to what happens in the book. Something bad does happen to someone in this book many people in this book. This book was just suspenseful and you always had that thought in your mind that everything might turn out ok, but you could never put the book down until you proved yourself right. I'll admit, I'm impressed Caine, your ability to make us feel like someone important is going die and there's no way to stop, is amazing. This was a good, sad book and of course the ending just makes you want to read the eleventh book next.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 16:35:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 04 12:38:50 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "9376345", "review_id": "109122ad6599e734b923e536b7b60556", "rating": 5, "review_text": "grrrr.... now I know for a fact, people who are Shane-lovers, will most likely dislike this book. And I don't blame them. Rachel Caine changed him in this book, I wont say to what but I'm pretty sure you can guess. Now me, I wasn't very affected. I never liked Shane and Claire's relationship.. I don't know why but Shane always .. bugged me. So the Shane-lovers are going to hate this book but...... the Myrnin-lovers.. LIKE MYSELF :D will absolutely love it :) there is one disappointing part.. like when he didn't kiss Claire, but all in good time I'm guessing >:) Those two will have to get to together and I can even bet that Caine is writing it now.. I hope.. hehe. Basically, this book is just about how there are issues with Shane and other stuff occurs, it is a little slow-paced, so please be wary of that but other than that, it's still a fantastic instalment towards the series.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 16:35:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 04 12:29:29 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "261122", "review_id": "de204f706b4652585ecde197f3ada6c7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The Dead Girl' Dance, being the second book from the series wasn't pretty bad.. The book just if full of drama!!! For example, at the party... was just spelling out D A T E R A P E ! like i knew it as soon as the 4 roommates (Claire, Michael, Eve and Shane) walked in the frat house. I liked this book because we met Sam. Sam is just an awesome character because he's so sweet and kind and still has that human aspect to him, even though he's a vampire (he just got turned a while back). They're a lot of surprises in this book, some good some bad, but I wont tell you because I want YOU to read it for yourself! Trust me, this series is amazing!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 16:35:51 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 04 09:47:34 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "7600922", "review_id": "c711dfea420b56798057afd9c8dc0a7f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Most people that have read this book probably have one thought: wow Amelie is a B E O T C H with a capital B. but personally, I like her cruelness :) why, you might ask? HELLO, being a fan of Mrynin and Claire together, what happens in this book is just a big HURRAY. Without spoiling much, Amelie basically punishes Claire, and her punishment is to work on something with Myrnin in his lab without leaving or anything until its done. Which I will admit is pretty harsh and mean but then some \"events\" wouldn't happen if she didn't muahahahaahh, now I know what your thinking, OMG DO THEY KISS? unfortunately no, I'm not that mean to make you guess but no they do not, to my dismay :( but something does happen and I'm pretty sure if Shane knew about it, he would be weeping in a corner because soon, Myrnin will sweep Claire away :) Other than that babble of none sense I was just talking about, some SERIOUS problems happens in Morganville, Claire has done something that she and someone else (but mostly herself) has to fix, and quick! If she doesn't save the town in time, she will lose everyone :(", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 16:35:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 04 12:12:37 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "3558003", "review_id": "f0848accccbf7be20236ffe9c0d0b19a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow, this book can be described in \n ONE \n word: \n INTENSE \n . This book being the fifth instalment in The Morganville Vampires series was like a god. For me, I couldn't even put this book down! I found myself reading this then doing school homework! It was just so.. so.. so.. intriguing suspenseful!!! You wouldn't know what would happen next, you would think you know what would happen but then BAM Rachel Caine surprises you with her amazing writing and makes the book 100 times more intense! Now I know a lot of people have some issues with this book, one being Myrnin and his betrayal. But me being my optimistic self, I knew that Myrnin would end up on the right side and he would have some sort of plan and reasoning for his betrayal :) AND ... **SPOILER*** SPOILER***SPOILER** I WAS RIGHT hehehe \n This book was a pretty damn good book!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 16:35:44 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 04 11:07:38 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "6289938", "review_id": "916dc58222dfd241833ae0c9075c3c89", "rating": 5, "review_text": "OH MY GOD, I honestly thought I hated Bishop, but DAMN Rachel Caine, you made me hate even more, this Kim chick. SEE I'm angry, i hate her, like haaatee her. I never will understand why Eve took such a liking to this girl, after what she does (read and find out) is just ridiculous. If I was Michael, I would knock some sense into Eve. This drama with Kim was just making me wish for her death some time in the story.. unfortunately she doesn't die but punishment is put on her, THANK GOD. Now, you know how I sorta, kinda, maybe liked Ada? well, what can I say, I hate her as well. Caine really expanded on that, once, little drama and made it pretty big because peoples lives are in danger.. NOT NAMING WHO. I don't know what Myrnin saw in her, I guess she might've been different before when she was human but, surely he noticed her jealousy and obsession towards him after.. right? oh well, Myrnin, you little crazy vampire! I think what happened between Myrnin and Claire was maybe like a bonding experience, even though it wasn't very fun but i think they really connected in this book.. YAY.. and so it begins >:)", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 16:35:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 04 11:26:14 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "7091713", "review_id": "019ec1dcc211952c219ca78ca3b2cc56", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Theres nothing much to really say about this book, The gang and Oliver go on a road trip, which leaves Amelie, Monica and even Myrnin :( in Morganville. The one that really changed in this book was Claire. You can tell she's transformed from a pushover, geeky, little girl into a strong, smart, big girl. Now onto something this book really focused on; Oliver Oliver Oliver.. man, i never liked you AS MUCH as the other characters but i still had some respect because you always had motives in protecting Amelie or yourself. There was one line in the book that really got me. Oliver said it, Oliver tells them to be ready in the morning and enjoy the rest of the night while it lasts. At the last moment, Oliver turns and quickly says, \"And I am sorry.\" ....................... like.. excuse me while my mind is whirling because that was sooooo out of character and I just got 100000000 times more respect for him. I know its so simple, but when you read all the books up this one, you think Oliver as a cunning, smart, mean kind of vampire, always business and when its fun, he is ruthless right? well that line, and the way he even apologized when he didn't have to, really makes you think twice about Oliver. SO amazing job to Rachel Caine for mind f***** me and making me realize an important lesson.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 16:35:42 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 04 11:41:16 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "5212771", "review_id": "61d368b3331070950e3d1f23b696d13f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have to say, Myrnin was most defiantly my favourite character in this book! This sixth book picked up right after the ending in fifth-- Bishops in control and Claire and Michael are basically his ** SORRY FOR LANGUAGE** bitches. Its true, and it pisses me off and want to go into the book myself and kill Bishop myself! On a lighter note, Myrnin was amazing as usual, I even liked the little drama with his old \"friend\" ;) Ada. Well, maybe not a 'little' drama, but nonetheless, it was different and refreshing then the other drama with Bishop, which just made me want to punch a wall. This book kind of made me proud of the Morganville residents, the humans and vampires, yes AND the vampires sort of .. team up? to stop Bishop. READ READ READ, if you have read all the books, just read this one because this one cannot be missed!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 16:35:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 04 11:16:44 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "544257", "review_id": "717b607260f638b1b7fe19859d10b76f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The third book was just.. amazing :) ahhh im so happy with this book :) We finally see Myrnin as Claire's teacher.. HOLY MOTHER OF GOD! I LOVE MYRNIN. I have probably raved to everyone I know about this guy.. he's such an interesting character and just develops through out the series. Later on, I can bet that you want Claire and Myrnin together-- Don't fight it! I know you will ;) Its nearly impossible not to, just wait *creepy face* But nonetheless, this book I would say is very action-packed. You have so much happening. I would say defiantly don't skip this one. ahhh Myrnin.. Excuse me while I day dream :)", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 16:35:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 04 10:05:45 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "2295829", "review_id": "e3d35e39622e75da11cdeca931b25f50", "rating": 5, "review_text": "meh, this wasn't particularly my favourite I will admit. I cried in this one too, because someone who I thought would stay till the end died... not to mention Amelie's father, Bishop is in town! UGH. And when there's Bishop, there's Francois and Ysandre. Who I absolutely hate with a passion.. no really I do. yuck. ANYWAYS, Bishop hosts this feast and then thats when the action comes. tsk tsk tsp Rachel Caine, at this scene you made me cry! This scene where the feast happens is by far the best point of the book, obviously. But where there were sad points, there were good and funny points as well! Caine, you crack me up! literlly! I found myself laughing hysterically at the babble between Myrnin and Claire. Im telling you, I adore those two! Again, this wasnt the best book but the feast and what happens is the main highlight. So if your unsure to read this, I say read it so you can go onto the next book. The books in this series can't be read in any way on their own, you need to read the books in order to really love this series.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 16:35:35 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 04 10:55:11 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "27266", "review_id": "a8190486cea0e8602f3311a519ee9951", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This would be the first book of many in Rachel Caine's, The Morganville Vampires. This was not a 5 star introduction to the series, having read up to book 15 (WOW!). But at the time, when I hadn't read the others, this was an amazing book. Claire was is such a strong character! For being a 16 year old graduate and going off to some creepy town, knowing no one, is pretty damn strong. Of course at first, she feels alone and vulnerable, and I think thats what really made me connect with her. We have all felt that at one point in our life. The way she handles it and just sucks it up and tuffs through, it really is an inspiration and I usually don't get inspired by vampire books haha! Then of course there's the romance, which is sweet and nice and of course, Shane the 19 year old, who is very reluctant to start anything with Claire because .. well... SHES ONLY 16! and so of course he tries to stay away, but when does that ever work ;) The only thing I find that wasn't \" 5 Stars\" was the fact that I sometimes skimmed over parts. Thats it though!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 16:35:32 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 04 09:21:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "5287473", "review_id": "b029613ede685f7461ee1ef1318b3382", "rating": 5, "review_text": "it was good", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 04:52:05 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 19 07:15:48 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jun 19 07:15:48 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "91eb0f8d12bcc01204862181f3e2b3b2", "book_id": "10215349", "review_id": "ab21b2b23648f1d090ab3e03654d8d4e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a post-apocalyptic vampire series. I have no idea what enticed me to read this book but damn am I glad that I did. The beginning is a little slow but that's just us getting introduced to the characters and the world that this story is set in. I mean, there are so many vampire books out there, I think the collective thought that everyone had when this came out was, \"Another one!?\" You can't really blame us though, the amount of cheesy vampire love stories there are out is ridiculous. But not this one! This was a refreshing post-apocalyptic novel about a girl trying to survive and preserve humanity against the vampires that now rule the land. Allison lives in a vampire city where she scavenges for food and survives against the vampires and the rabids, humans and creatures that have been turned and go crazy with bloodlust instead. Long story short, one night on a dangerous supply run she had to fight for her life saving her friends. After dying and accepting the choice to become the one thing she hates, she has to pass as human to survive on the outside and try to save humanity from the rabid disease that is threatening humans and vampires lives together. \n The characters in this book are just amazing! I really found myself loving the amount of detail in their personalities, it made it very believable. Kanin, even after reading all the books, is still my favourite. For his strength, willpower, wiseness, and the list can go on. Allison respected him and I found myself respecting him as well. Kanin is the perfect leader; ruthless, gruesome, hard, and tough. She definitely had to work her butt off just to keep up with him training her. Kanin is a huge character in general for this world, he also is a huge player when it comes to the pre-apocalyptic and post- apocalyptic world. Allison, being new to vampirism, needed Kanin's help to adjust but quickly showed her strength and independence on how she handled herself and the ability to make smart decisions. A theme with Kagawa's writing is that she is not afraid to be explicitly detailed about violence and death, which I thank her for. I welcomed it with open arms because it really added to the 'realness' of the story and made me believe I was there living beside Allison in this horrible world. Also, can we just talk about Allison's katana, like damn! Fierce katana wielding vampire alert! \n The romance in this novel, however, is not fierce nor alert worthy lol sorry. Kagawa KNOWS how to do romance, its pretty evident in her Iron Fey series, which were amazing btw. The romance for some people were great and yeah I guess it could be but I was so not focused on that aspect. I loved the gory, death parts and I didn't want this to be a YA paranormal love story, you know? Which btw, it wasn't! Again, there was romance but it wasn't overpowering, thank god! Zeke was the main love interest, he is, as expected, human and hates vampires. He is the only one that does accept her, even under her false pretence of being human, when everyone doesn't trust the new outsider (Allison). He really is the innocent type that had his view points about vampires turned to hatred because of his 'adopted' (?) father, Jeb. Ugh. Lets not talk about how wrong Jeb is about his perception of vampires and the world in general. Lets just say that he implements his ideas into Zeke and not in a nice way. One thing I did like about the romance aspect was that Allison wasn't whiny or consumed by her love for Zeke. Lets be honest, whiny protagonists in love are the worst! Im glad she wasn't that at all, she always had her mission at the front of her priorities, THANK YOU KAGAWA. \n This is definitely a must-read and many can attest to that! Go out and buy it, please!!! 5 Stars!!! \n IF you liked this review, go check out more YA and other genre books on my blog! \n http://keepcalmandloveboooks.blogspot.ca", "date_added": "Tue Jun 12 12:36:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 19 20:12:36 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cd95cc5df0eba267e8873a4d178d88bf", "book_id": "16106400", "review_id": "dd59243073370b55e482c6f142dc4cb5", "rating": 0, "review_text": "good", "date_added": "Wed Jul 17 20:42:37 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 20 13:56:25 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c494289215aa8edf5a781dfa08ee098c", "book_id": "18505614", "review_id": "04e1e43a5a2ae9460db6b5e480befe69", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A wild roller coaster of a book full, fantasy adventure and shows the strength of a teen for a parent. Pookee loses here father in the 911 tragedy and sets out to look for him finds herself in the city of @ many strange characters and surroundings. This isn't my usual type of read but I think for anyone who loves fantasy and rich meaning this is a must. As even I break away once in a great while from my usual reads to read an exceptional book of fantasy. There are some powerful messages here about freedom and family and I think that the teenagers, and young adults especially will fall in love with this. I would love to see this as a movie with all the \"depth\" to the story. This book has a lot to offer and I believe that it is one that will be read over and over.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 03 07:36:31 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 28 00:53:41 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "2e9042096f6a1a03d0226f74be0de728", "book_id": "11557", "review_id": "fb3b3c7765fd4727a3653648e076ebb6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n A very wild ride into the aftermath of a nuclear exchange between Russian and America. This book was written during the Cold War. In the wake of the events of a nuclear exchange, this is how I would imagine people would respond, stark raving mad. Admittedly, I haven't read many books in the post apocalyptic genre (just this, The Stand by Steven King, and I suppose Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson) but I know a nightmare when I read it. The evil in this book is on an entirely different level of darkness than anything that I have read of Stephen King's The Stand, and the good in contradistinction is portrayed as possessing a far more potent virtue. Having been reading on an off for a good many years, I suppose I should just get used to the anti Christian, anti-God messages that pervade today's (and yesterday's) fantasy, science fiction, and horror. The author had a very distinct message that he wanted to convey as the events of the novel colesced into conclusion, a message of believing in hope apart from God, and not so subtle allusions and jabs at the Biblical understanding of the world. Aside from the anti-Christian rhetoric, it was a well written ride into terror. This was my first book I have read by McCammon and the man had a way for creating modern day metaphors. I don't think it will be the last of his books I read, I really did enjoy the novel on a whole, and look forward to future reads coming from him.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 20 16:27:23 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 24 22:22:58 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2e9042096f6a1a03d0226f74be0de728", "book_id": "55401", "review_id": "9774ff693bf5569a7a6c8e31dedfbfc4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I just finished reading Deadhouse Gates in my effort to read through the entire A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen 10 book epic miltary fantasy series. I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed myself with this second book in the series. \n The tale is told around events on a continent called Seven Cities. Seven Cities is in rebellion at the moment, and High Fist Coltaine is isolated as a Malazan commander on the other side of the continent with refugees, nobles, and soldiers. He is hunted down by a renegade Fist (Malazan Commander) called Korbolo Dom, a warrior who was at once a member of the Malazan Command but is now in league with Sha'ik the leader of the prophesied Whirlwind that will sweep the continent in a maelstrom of fanaticism. Sha'ik is guided by the Whilrwind Goddess. Added to this is Imperial Historian Duiker who travels across the continent in an effort to reach Coltaine and his troupe. When the denouement occurs one can't help but feel as if the ordering of events just shouldn't be, not after all that, but that's not a fault of the author, it's actually a window into the level of human suffering and misery. \n Another focus throughout the book is the happenings around a noble who is enslaved by the culling of nobility of the Malazan Empire, Felisin. She along with Baudin and Hebroic Light Touch are in Skullcup, a mine of Ottataral, or ore that deadens sorcery. At some point Duiker wishes to free Hebroic (who is a historian) and garners the assistance of Kulp a mage. Events coalesce around these three that shock and awe one, but I really wouldn't denounce the book for this either, as Felisin and Hebroic's part in Deadhouse Gates is actually one of the books strong points. \n There's also Fiddler and Kalam Mekhar, an assasin and sapper (explosives expert) who are trying to guide Apsalar back to her home after having been controlled by the Patron god of Assasins Cotillon. They are joined by Crokus Younghand and are eventually united with Mappo Trell and Icarium, and are led into a house of Azath or Deadhouse Gates. \n That's the gist or setup of the book, and Deadhouse Gates is indeed one of my favorite fantasy novels. The way Steven Erikson weaves things like the intricacies of his magic or sorcery system, the actions of gods and mortals for or against gods, and the interweaving of the different warrens or realms beside the world proper has just catapulted him to my favorite fantasy author right now, and I'd wholly recommend pressing on and reading this book in the series if you felt that Gardens of the Moon was a little to hard to follow.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 16:17:23 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 23 09:35:20 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jun 23 09:35:20 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1db3451012fb86d830848fd3c92d7c64", "book_id": "1656001", "review_id": "d7c205f417090ed2c1f25b9e50e1ac16", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved this book and i think there is a movie coming out for it also", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 16:15:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 07 16:16:23 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6ee66de8932268e0d157e34a9d1b1e24", "book_id": "13644052", "review_id": "b28b66a6713cd7ae2c6453c6f164a2a4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Omg best book in the series! Holy cliffhanger! Chapter 23 is my fav:)", "date_added": "Mon Sep 17 15:11:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 26 19:21:34 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Aug 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1bd212b6794b1ed653bdf53669696a03", "book_id": "12812550", "review_id": "28ce00a85b452c77df9a9ab32d50cfdf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Nice sequel to the first book that kept me entertained throughout and was well paced!", "date_added": "Thu May 19 17:11:44 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu May 19 17:12:36 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu May 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1bd212b6794b1ed653bdf53669696a03", "book_id": "13206900", "review_id": "c22b21bf8d0c4ea61f8da0c1da1cee2e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "PURE AMAZING BLISS!! NEVER READ SUCH AN AMAZING BOOK CONCLUSION THE NOSTALGIA IS REALL!!!! thank the stars!", "date_added": "Fri Jul 17 21:47:53 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 01 20:07:39 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1bd212b6794b1ed653bdf53669696a03", "book_id": "16150831", "review_id": "0bf5ece345f61b173e857aaf12eae361", "rating": 5, "review_text": "LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Everything I wanted in a final book not necessarily a HEA but hope for a better future!!!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 12 15:11:03 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 08 20:55:33 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1bd212b6794b1ed653bdf53669696a03", "book_id": "8527908", "review_id": "775883c836e90d34f7ecbdc07738ec66", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The book is pretty good. The romance felt a little rushed!", "date_added": "Fri Jul 13 19:15:02 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 13 19:15:51 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "854d672036f63a07903ad0a629b03ed7", "book_id": "7108001", "review_id": "46270385407d95d7e261467f3ca35080", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Pride and Prejudice with Zombies was better, I'm afraid.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 14 15:05:05 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 18 22:15:52 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9ece969fdfbcea1d659cadfd329020a8", "book_id": "15798661", "review_id": "c20787c96dc9c9f671f3fe081a62d623", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A mystical story with beautiful illustrations. I did feel though the story had a slow start and was just getting interesting but then it ended!", "date_added": "Wed May 27 14:11:44 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed May 27 14:12:34 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9ece969fdfbcea1d659cadfd329020a8", "book_id": "17349203", "review_id": "9d3d2e5414628e9fee6345a260d892e0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This story is so original and creative! Kids will eat this one up and I think adults will be really impressed too. Neil Gaiman really does have a lock on the realistic fantasy genre.", "date_added": "Tue May 05 06:55:31 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed May 27 13:50:15 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9ece969fdfbcea1d659cadfd329020a8", "book_id": "20322287", "review_id": "094b7512b59a12f5d7c200a597594e27", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Calling all Disney fans! Have you ever wished some of your favorite rides and characters in the Magic Kingdom would come alive? Well that's exactly what happens in Disney After Dark a fun tale which has evil forces, known as the Overtakers, trying to get control of park. Those familiar with the park will especially get a kick out of all the secret trap doors, learning about the tunnels under the park, and reading about how these rides come to life. Imagine all the \"It's a small world after all\" dolls in the ride coming after you! Or Maleficent throwing fireballs and trying to freeze you out! \n A lot of people on here are complaining about the writing style - I'll admit it's not perfect. The author jumps quickly from one thing to the next and sometimes all the details get muddled. I also feel like kids who struggle with plot twists might have a tough time with this one. However there's a lot of excitement in this book and a great mix of fantasy/reality - it's practically believable! If you're a fan of Disney and its parks some of the minor issues are just not going to bother you when you read this. \n If you're not a huge fan of Disney you might want to pass on this. I could see this getting a bit tiresome to those who haven't been to the park before or just don't find the idea of the park coming to life after hours that exciting. However for those of you who love Disney and want to read a different take on how good can overcome evil, this is for you!", "date_added": "Sat Nov 08 08:20:35 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon May 11 08:34:55 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Nov 26 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9ece969fdfbcea1d659cadfd329020a8", "book_id": "499181", "review_id": "b93639bef9961321311d0ae5a6b27ba5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fans of Jerry Seinfeld will enjoy reading this one about Halloween. He really hit it right on the mark with those silly elastic bands around those masks!! We shelve this in the children's section, and rightly so, but I have a feeling adults will appreciate this book a lot more than the kids.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 22 07:07:49 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 22 07:11:06 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Oct 22 07:11:06 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9ece969fdfbcea1d659cadfd329020a8", "book_id": "12813630", "review_id": "2d8bc32173f2f913fd6b128308183985", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Don't let my three-star rating fool you, this is a good vampire story. In fact if it came out before Twilight I think it might have given the genre real credibility and no one would've paid attention to Twilight. The vampire world is fleshed out well although sometimes slightly too complicated. I liked the main character Tana as the human on the run and Gabriel as the cold and beautiful vampire is also a very interesting character. After an exciting beginning, the book did slow down for me and it took a while to start caring about these and other characters. However once they get into Coldtown I was on board I read rapidly to the end. I wonder if there will be a sequel? There might as well be I think there's more story to tell. I feel like there was quite a bit of characters which the author introduces but just didn't have enough time or the story couldn't flesh them all out well enough. \n Overall a good addition to the YA catalog, particularly for the vampire lovers.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 06 09:46:11 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri May 01 11:47:29 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9ece969fdfbcea1d659cadfd329020a8", "book_id": "13206828", "review_id": "9d6559ddb2de687dc46884b5cf2c8198", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I started off liking this series but I picked up the third book and I just don't care about the characters anymore. Maybe my interest will peak again at some point but for now I'm leaving this book and series unfinished.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 12 16:29:27 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 17 17:58:34 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Tue Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9ece969fdfbcea1d659cadfd329020a8", "book_id": "15783514", "review_id": "9307fc206c9a5a604747651ab52bbf3a", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Neil Gaiman is a wonderful writer and this book is no exception. The reason I give it one star is I just didn't like it at all. I thought the plot was silly and senseless, the pacing was odd, and there seemed to be no point. I see though this book gets high ratings so I guess it's just not my thing.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 25 13:54:51 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 04 13:57:01 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9ece969fdfbcea1d659cadfd329020a8", "book_id": "8908", "review_id": "6b10c04cf379df0740247ac1c1ff8c2d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "World War Z: War against the Zombies - what a terrifying thought! Well especially if you're a fan of The Walking Dead (which I am). The idea that zombies could literally decimate the world population is what this book is about. Is it similar in The Walking Dead? We're not sure. \n I liked this book because it made it all sound very real. This author did a lot of research and it shows. If there ever really IS a zombie attack, everyone really should read this book because it really gives detailed accounts of what it takes to fight them. My one issue is that the book jumps around with many stories from many survivors so it's hard to connect on a personal level with the story. Also, all the stories get so jumbled that when you're done reading it, it's hard to remember exactly what story jumped out at you. They all kind of melded together. I think the movie will be an interesting take since they've smartly decided to follow one character through the chaos. \n If you're a zombie fan, this would be a fun read but you might not come away completely satisfied.", "date_added": "Fri May 24 15:06:42 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 18 16:50:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jun 06 10:42:25 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri May 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9ece969fdfbcea1d659cadfd329020a8", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "bd538b297824d9d1d7de461d6f66fc48", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Cinder was a fun teen fic novel that takes the classic story of Cinderella as purely an inspiration for it's plot. Meyer puts a whole new spin by creating this futuristic world filled with cyborgs and humans living together. While yes Linh Cinder has an evil stepmother, only one of her stepsisters is evil. And while yes there is a ball Cinder ends up attending, she only goes to warn the prince of an plot made by the evil queen of the planet Lunar. Cinder is also more than she seems: she might be the key to saving the planet from a deadly disease. \n What I like about this book was how original it is. Meyer puts a lot of detail in this fictional earth world and as the story unfolds, all the pieces come together quite nicely. I also liked that the romance between Cinder and her prince was very secondary, in fact one might argue it was barely there. This story was more about Cinder realizing her importance and what she'll have to do to keep herself alive. As noted, this is only the first book in the series so the ending is unresolved. I'm ready for more!", "date_added": "Wed Nov 14 11:11:41 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon May 11 08:45:50 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9ece969fdfbcea1d659cadfd329020a8", "book_id": "10407279", "review_id": "b49994b34530f38121f44a158ecc5e2a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Well it seems just like the tv series these books inspired, the Sookie Stackhouse series is getting very tired. It showed a bit in the last two books but Deadlocked was the first one I really didn't think was as well written or as interesting. The book really only got \"good\" in the last few chapters -- where explanations were given and stories took surprising turns. The end will be enough for me to read the last novel that comes out next year (and why not I've put in this much time).", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 17:22:44 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon May 11 08:50:55 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Sep 05 10:13:08 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3f0a6e29089ad6af4c799234496244be", "book_id": "9943228", "review_id": "bfedc73e070a72422b301ad0ec54eed9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Innesperado para un YA, la verdad es que he disfrutado mucho un cambio del tipico \"correre detras del chico guapo en medio de un ambiente sobrenatural y ochenta escenas de magreos que sin embargo, no llegan a nada para no corromper la -pureza natural !!- de las adolescentes\" y such. Honestamente no esperaba un libro tan complejo de la autora de Ghostgirl. La verdad es que lo he disfrutado mucho. La influencia que causo Mexico en el libro se nota mucho (me pregunto si todo eso de la inundacion gigante no sera resultado de una experiencia con una inundacion verdadera en la ciudad, considerando que la mitad de los escenarios de inundacion, todos los que no eran \"preapocalipticos\" me resultaron conocidos, o si eso fue tan solo una feliz coincidencia) en la estetica mental que se percibe tras las palabras: Puedo verlo en todas partes. El cristo desportillado, las formas de las pulseras, el exceso de ortodoxismo, las iglesias bajo otras iglesias, los hospitales en mal estado... y bueno, los santos. TODOS LOS SANTOS. \n Como todo YA, eso de de querer conjuntar ideas mas nuevas y profundas en un YA deja una experiencia curiosa bastante cercana a la realidad, en un contraste de ideas vanales y profundas muuuuy cotidiano, experiencia que ya habia tenido con Finale. Y sin embargo, esta vez el resultado es poetico, divino y brutal. Es una suerte que la ultraderecha en este pais no lea demasiado porque ya habrian establecido mil y un campanas contra el libro por ultrablasfemo xDD. Los ultimos capitulos fueron un ponche de sorpresas continuas. No es que no tenga mis criticas, pero procuro no ponerme demasiado elevada considerando el genero. Y creo que para su genero, se supera increiblemente. La batalla filosofica de los ultimos capitulos puede haber sido escrita algo superficialmente, sin mucho conocimiento de causa, y sin embargo, esta planteando (probablemente sin querer) conceptos duros y revolucionarios, nuevos entendimientos de las mismas cosas que sin duda, le debemos al brillante y gigante choque cultural. \n La clase de YA que no recomendaria a las fanaticas del YA si no a mi circulo mas cercanito de lectores pesados xDDD. Por cierto, personaje favorito, anyone? Jesse. Definitivamente Jesse!!! xDDD \n Sin palabras ?Cuando dices que es conseguible el segundo, en espanol?", "date_added": "Wed Apr 30 08:08:54 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 30 08:43:50 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Apr 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3f0a6e29089ad6af4c799234496244be", "book_id": "17296596", "review_id": "8ecaba6b874d94ac8361e847a0930007", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Para terminar la saga de hush hush, nos enfrentamos a un final agridulce. La trama, aun impredecible, no se mueve ni tan lento como en el segundo libro ni tan rapido como en los otros dos, y, como de costumbre en los libros de esta autora, las vueltas de tuerca no dejan de abundar. Uno solo tendra una leve advertencia antes de que el escenario cambie por completo, su estilo personal a lo largo de toda la saga. No se puede decir, definitivamente, que trama le falte, con personajes que, como de costumbre, rozan una linea fina entre los canones establecidos y la insinuacion de una mucho mas profunda naturaleza. Me deja una sensacion cruzada, definitivamente, en un \"final feliz\" que a mi ver deja muchos cabos sueltos de tristeza y crueldad. \n Un final interesante para una saga interesante, que no creo que Becca Fitzpatrick haya pretendido conscientemente para reflejar algunas realidades de la sociedad, de las limitaciones que generan en nosotros ciertos juicios de lo que creemos que somos, de las tragedias derivadas de nuestra incapacidad para mejorar o ver las cosas desde otro punto de vista, de la triste mala memoria y facil olvido que tenemos al sacrificio, de como vivimos tratando de no pensar en el futuro inevitable. \n *CUIDADO, SPOILERS DELANTE* \n El matrimonio de Vee, cuando ella aun recuerda a Scott, cuando es obvio que huye de su recuerdo. La misma muerte de scott, a la que Nora a penas dedica unos minutos, y que olvida en cuanto encuentra a Patch, la muerte de Marcie, a la que no se dedica ni una escena incluso considerando los motivos que ella tuvo para obrar mal, el retrato perfecto de una vida vacia en una familia que la esperaba muerta en cualquier instante, bajo un padre que ni siquiera le daba valor, movida al rencor hacia nora por la infidelidad de su madre, enganada de nuevo por Nora, dejada sola hasta el final, ni siquiera consolada cuando, al igual que nuestra protagonista, intenta vengar la muerte de su padre. \n *FIN SPOILERS* \n Y sin embargo, esto a momentos se prueba delicioso, en la ironia de la suerte, en la forma en que los idiotas caen bajo el peso de su propia estupidez, en como la ignorancia impide ver los acontecimientos hasta el ultimo instante: Cuando ya son inevitables. En la forma en que los malvados gravitan estupidamente hacia su propia perdicion. \n *SPOILERS DE NUEVO* \n ?Quien destruyo realmente a Dante? ?La furia de Nora? ?Acaso no, al educarla, se destruyo el tontamente a si mismo? ?Al negar sus posibilidades, la suerte que le brindo elecciones favorables todo el tiempo, rechazadas por su propio ego? \n *FIN SPOILERS* \n Un final para quedarse pensando en una saga para quedarse pensando. Un reflejo involuntario de una sociedad que se comporta sin vision de futuro ni pasado, irremediablemente clavados al presente, de una sociedad que no escucha del todo a su corazon, sino que lo engana y lo manipula para hacerle creer que siente algo diferente, hasta el punto de creerselo ella misma. Un retrato de la absurdidad de una organizacion social que aun no ha desaparecido, de una logica social con huecos que aun es el medio en el que vivimos... \n Encerrada en una jodidamente buena trama. xDDD \n ;)", "date_added": "Sat Jul 20 19:45:26 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 07 13:07:29 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f2a181bab7636ca6c68ac5698d5d9d64", "book_id": "29056083", "review_id": "ad27ce5247eeedc22ecd75373e579e97", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Loved going back into the world of Harry Potter. However, this play lacked the precision and attention to detail that makes JK Rowling's Harry Potter so brilliant. Yet, a glimpse into Harry's magical world is worth the read;)", "date_added": "Sat Mar 12 20:34:36 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 03 08:46:46 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Aug 03 08:46:46 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f2a181bab7636ca6c68ac5698d5d9d64", "book_id": "8631080", "review_id": "4dd8418973bad17e6e0fe0b36430b31f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It drug on a lot but a good ending.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 15 18:15:28 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 10 20:30:19 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Nov 10 20:28:32 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f2a181bab7636ca6c68ac5698d5d9d64", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "8f72c316b62677af03aa160859c986bf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really liked this book. It kept my interest as there was never a dull moment. It reminded me a bit of Harry Potter.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 17 10:29:27 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 22 14:24:47 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sat Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f2a181bab7636ca6c68ac5698d5d9d64", "book_id": "4502877", "review_id": "9727003b5245d769a613d2cbddf7a41d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I want to read the finished version of this book more than I want to read any other book!! Love it!!", "date_added": "Fri Sep 28 12:04:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 28 12:05:13 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f2a181bab7636ca6c68ac5698d5d9d64", "book_id": "7981206", "review_id": "52644f3cafaa11832b518c036c98dd9d", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I feel like these books are at a standstill....", "date_added": "Tue Jul 31 22:57:23 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 05 20:06:44 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Sep 05 20:05:57 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f2a181bab7636ca6c68ac5698d5d9d64", "book_id": "2548866", "review_id": "1a1753e9ced35f9ba4c234e8c068b044", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was a nice little trip back into the wizarding world of Happy potter. The book was slow at times but generally a fun little read.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 30 06:21:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 13 08:20:27 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Aug 13 08:20:27 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5b53efacbab41d7b8783aff3236713db", "book_id": "10626594", "review_id": "2de4dd58224437a5a47bd4948171efe5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Puck attempt to keep her family together through her desperate entrance of the Scorpio Races. She is willing to risk her life in the small hopes of winning the prize money to keep her house. She also is unsure of where else to turn and the race gives her a purpose. She finds hope to survive through her friendship and romance with four time winner Sean. Sean wants to win in order to buy his beloved horse. They help each other reach their goal and fall in love in the process. \n Took me a while to find interest in the book. The switching off between narrators is a bit disruptive. There is something haunting about the race and transience of life on the island. The developing friendship between Sean and Puck drives the story.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 26 12:07:30 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 03 10:52:11 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a4de3b62069e5e14d8712062861993e9", "book_id": "17267", "review_id": "6e243c4404d1a26b225a51573f2fc26a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book is cut from the same cloth as Dante's Divine Comedy trilogy minus the political commentary of course. The vignettes of a person's journey between Heaven and Hell were quite poignant. One of the vignettes shocked me as several of the personifications of the ghosts really struck home for me both personally or as reminders of the actions and words of other people I know.", "date_added": "Mon May 07 18:13:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue May 29 11:53:57 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue May 29 11:53:57 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a4de3b62069e5e14d8712062861993e9", "book_id": "13809", "review_id": "14c18b701cef86b18fbefa2ff9a14b6f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "While it was an interesting read, one would think that there would be some sort of resolution in the third book of a three book trilogy. You are left just hanging. Feist is pushing his next trilogy I guess but somehow I knew it was going to do this when I got to the midpoint of the book and we didn't even know what the gist of the plot really was.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 24 19:08:16 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 24 19:13:30 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Tue Jun 24 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2930b671017714eab10078c2717e8c70", "book_id": "6644117", "review_id": "8a109ead94cc0ea02c9d2b2f4f8bd7f0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "AMAZING!! great book with a great plot. YOU MUST READ IT OR ELSE!!!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 23 12:17:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 21 14:10:08 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2930b671017714eab10078c2717e8c70", "book_id": "28187", "review_id": "9f9a7e139922eab8a48bc71d9e889dd7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "OMG read this book and loved it. I would recomend this for all ages really like it hope you will to wooohooo!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 18:31:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 07 18:32:22 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "7f53a15cd376316554f92033831bdb4b", "book_id": "18039030", "review_id": "57c360d08bed32fc4219b857e278de4f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm a huge fan of zombies and I watch The Walking Dead every Sunday night, but I must admit that this book made me have nightmares when that show did not. This book has made me terrified that one day I'll wake up and find that my world has been taken over by these undead beings and that I'll have to figure out a way to survive and to protect my loved ones. There were parts of this book that made me cry and parts that made me laugh as well. I was expecting this novel to have characters in it that were stronger than the average person, physically and could take down these Unconsecrated with no problem, but these characters are like every-day people. They could easily be me with their fears, uncertainties, sadness, and dreams. Mary is like any other girl and I can relate to her. She did say that everyone in the village were trained to fight against the Unconsecrated, but they've lived in the village for so long with the fence around them, that they really weren't as prepared as they probably should have been because the village was quickly overtaken by the Unconsecrated. \n I was in suspense in many parts of this book, almost too afraid to keep reading because I was so terrified of what would happen to these characters next. Yet, this is definitely one of those books that I just couldn't put down, at least not for very long, because I just HAD to know what would happen. I definitely can not wait to read the next books in this series... I will most definitely be checking them out from the library very soon!", "date_added": "Mon Feb 03 10:25:48 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 28 10:04:29 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "7f53a15cd376316554f92033831bdb4b", "book_id": "187811", "review_id": "9d310fc1ff335d9384fb45dc2de98f64", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was an enjoyable read. I really like the fact that Suze is a female character that can take care of herself. She doesn't have to rely on someone else to rescue her, but she can get herself into more trouble than she bargained for and may need a little help along the way. She's a very confident young woman in what she can do as a mediator. The only thing I didn't like was the fact that she is attracted to the (living) boy that is liked by most girls and he really seemed to be an air head. Sometimes, it makes sense for a character to like that kind of a person, but I didn't think it suited Suze to fall for a guy like him. It's also interesting that Suze can communicate with spirits but she still isn't so sure that God exists. Suze is really the only character that I feel like I got to know very well in this book. Jesse, the ghost who lives in Suze's bedroom, is probably a close second. I love the fact that this is a series of books, so I hope the other characters in the book will become more dynamic and seem more like actual people as the series goes on. I would recommend this book to fans of Meg Cabot and anyone who has an interest in the paranormal and people who can speak with ghosts.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 04 12:10:32 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 17 15:07:12 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Dec 04 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7f53a15cd376316554f92033831bdb4b", "book_id": "15881", "review_id": "91d7d26d4df97089a5b9eb34fcd65ae6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm a big fan of Harry Potter, but I have a confession... I haven't read all the books. So, I decided to start reading them and seeing if they change my view from the movies. The movie based on this book follows along so well with the book with just a few minor details changed around a bit and they're not even noticeable really. I enjoyed reading about Gilderoy Lockhart even though I really wouldn't like to meet him in person. He's really full of himself and thinks he knows everything there is to know about magic.... the actor in the movie portrayed Lockhart really well. You get to know more about Ron and his family. Ron's family seems to be the kind of family I would like to know and be friends with, unlike Harry's aunt, uncle, and cousin. I enjoyed every part of this book and I wouldn't mind reading this book over and over again. If you're like me and have just mainly watched the movies, then I highly suggest that you read the books as well.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 03 05:28:10 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 16 09:55:07 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Dec 14 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7f53a15cd376316554f92033831bdb4b", "book_id": "15714590", "review_id": "e6db6bb840de146ed155a5626c387f2b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was an awesome read. I will admit that I was a bit hesitant to read it at first because I heard about it being disturbing and not for the faint of heart. I read it anyway and I'm really glad that I did. It was disturbing and made me cringe in places, but I was pulled in from the very beginning and I just couldn't put the book down. This book will captivate you and keep you hanging on until the very end. It's amazing how everything falls perfectly into place and I'm excited for the rest of this series and can't wait until the next book.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 26 14:07:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 17 03:44:59 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Dec 17 03:44:59 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sat Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7f53a15cd376316554f92033831bdb4b", "book_id": "13506379", "review_id": "ad62f0e663ee880d22e64a46694356a6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book! The characters were well developed and it wasn't like other books I've read like this. I'm happy to say that I found this book to be very tasteful, original,and all around a great read.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 06 16:33:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 07 13:13:39 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Aug 07 13:13:39 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7f53a15cd376316554f92033831bdb4b", "book_id": "8908", "review_id": "3ff63930e7f77bd3d266b1cd65fbde7b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I found this book to be quite intriguing. Some of the interviews were scary, sad, and just... crazy. I enjoyed reading it and I have to say that I'm a big scaredy cat and I was terrified that zombies were going to start jumping through my windows. I can't help but to be a huge zombie fan though. This book didn't exactly have all the terrifying things you'd expect in a zombie book and it doesn't follow along any main characters or anything, but I don't think you'd be disappointed. The interviews are in chronological order, in that they all start out by stating what happened in the beginning and as the book continues, the interviews start to get deeper into what had all happened during the war with zombies. It had more of a documentary feel to it. \n There are mentions of new technology in warfare to kill zombies and how they used dogs in the war against zombies by having them sniff out the infection in humans that hadn't reanimated yet. I would hope that if there ever was a zombie outbreak that the leaders of the countries around the world would have read this book to get a good look at how to control the situation before the world would be overrun with the undead! \n I would recommend this book to anyone who's a fan of zombies and to anyone who likes documentaries.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 18:15:05 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 05 10:43:55 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "32766747", "review_id": "3316091e9ae73ca7b5d7da195036854e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This had so many good ideas but all of them were so surface level when I wanted to know so much more!", "date_added": "Thu Aug 31 08:41:37 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 04 21:20:39 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Sep 05 16:22:45 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 73, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "18001518", "review_id": "1ca18cd1ff4acd66bc1d3b6708b761b9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.75 stars! I still really enjoyed this book but I felt this could have been a 4 book series, so the last half in particular felt a bit disjointed. Review to come on my channel!", "date_added": "Fri Aug 11 11:17:19 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 17 22:03:51 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Aug 18 15:30:53 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 152, "n_comments": 7}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "24885506", "review_id": "16a38327dd48bc3af6d3df744fc16097", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 stars \n IT IS FINISHED \n well that was a rollercoaster of emotions. \n of course, a review and discussion will be on my channel :)", "date_added": "Sun Jul 23 17:18:36 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 28 00:43:20 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jul 28 16:11:20 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 227, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "24885507", "review_id": "c3a0c3244ac0ec7530185cb17cb86153", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.75 stars! \n About halfway through this book I started liking it considerably more than the first one. I'm excited for the finale and all the angst. Video to come on my channel, as always.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 09 00:11:35 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 13 21:04:00 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jul 14 16:43:49 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 125, "n_comments": 7}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "283870", "review_id": "f1e9a95c0092a1a50ee6e519a9e12411", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.75 stars", "date_added": "Thu Jul 06 18:09:49 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 06 18:10:49 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 61, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "13389182", "review_id": "a29f74a197cce27b168ddf918522e68e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 stars!", "date_added": "Tue Jul 04 17:29:28 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 08 20:37:14 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jul 04 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 177, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "29760778", "review_id": "8318e25566c31df2a998354656b93444", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 stars!", "date_added": "Fri May 19 20:52:41 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 15 21:01:55 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Sep 16 16:54:43 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 103, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "21956219", "review_id": "8290336e36059b807acf8c813e054fa3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Bullet points for this review because although Robin Hobb likes to ramble on.. I do not. \n A Summary of this book: \n -- Fitz's life sucks \n -- lots of winding and turning and taking an especially long time to get to the point \n -- lots of predictable plots but not knowing exactly how we'd get there \n While the writing is good, the story in this one is just ok. Nevertheless, I'm going to read on as planned because I'm reading this trilogy simply to get to her other trilogies. I do feel I'll get more and more attached to her characters in each book. \n I'll be doing a spoiler free review and discussion on my channel.", "date_added": "Wed May 17 22:00:55 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon May 29 22:43:49 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue May 30 16:58:17 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu May 18 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 100, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "20764879", "review_id": "b7017a1c69855e72a631cf56caba8cb3", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2.5 - Barely anything happened in this book. There didn't need to be a full book to set up the little bit that happened at the end. 2.5 stars because it's neutral. Not horrible (I liked the new characters) but it felt like a waste mostly. Video review to come.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 10 14:53:06 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 14 13:59:08 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Apr 14 16:37:45 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 108, "n_comments": 8}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "23766634", "review_id": "c6abc827dc917754283eafda3fa0a8cc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm not completely decided about this rating yet, so it may jump around a bit, but review to come on my channel! \n edit: I've officially landed on 3.5 stars.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 25 16:49:27 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed May 17 19:35:25 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue May 16 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 236, "n_comments": 11}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "28093999", "review_id": "bf42ee7d751ca2aeb5c3aea5239a2efe", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 stars! This book is so utterly delightful in every way. I can't even count how many times it made me smile or laugh, or how it tugged at my heartstrings. The bond between Laurence and Temeraire is incomparable. I cannot wait to continue on with this series!", "date_added": "Mon Feb 06 22:18:24 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Tue May 30 23:52:10 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Feb 06 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 107, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "8694389", "review_id": "61e7773cd887bb793751322bcfba6fce", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book is beautifully written but try as I might, I probably couldn't tell you what it's about. It feels like a series of stories, some eerie and some not, twisted up into Russian history where it's hard to tell what's real and what's not. The characters don't even feel like characters, just part of a set and not people that I got to know. But again, the writing is breathtaking and I feel small pieces of this story will stick with me.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 22 11:42:13 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 29 18:31:12 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 29 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 63, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "29939390", "review_id": "996c9ce8a44ac6b2e664f89a4f063e42", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved this addition to the series but it didn't quite match my obsession with Truthwitch. It felt like the forward progression of the story stalled a bit. But with that being said, I can tell a lot of new foundations were laid in this book and I CANNOT WAIT for the next book! Video review to come.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 13 22:45:33 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 22 10:58:21 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 153, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "25187640", "review_id": "2eeca2588336b6039e2c9dfcf2a54612", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Just as good, if not better, the second read through. Now on to Windwitch!", "date_added": "Sun Jan 08 03:08:26 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 13 22:41:45 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 123, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "21523103", "review_id": "01087ccdf143f1a8d1568ea1b6a4b91c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Do you know how hard it is to rate these books while trying to make sure nostalgia the dominating factor??", "date_added": "Thu Dec 29 19:46:45 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 06 02:06:43 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jan 06 15:51:38 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Thu Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 128, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "22698568", "review_id": "737aa25d95896b6c680bc109a89c7da4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I still have so many questions! I NEED to read the finale before the end of the year. Hold me to it.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 28 20:13:12 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 10 23:11:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Aug 11 16:39:07 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 157, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "23367261", "review_id": "d8a203fa8388baf11b08e98234778d7a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This still felt like a Falling Kingdoms book so fans may not be as let down as I was. But this book felt very rushed and off balance. With the amount of characters, we didn't have enough time even with the core 4 to really see development from them. We had some character back tracking that felt unnecessary. Twists had no foreshadowing so they felt misplaced. And there were some tropes pulled out that I felt were ridiculous. It doesn't feel as consistent as the previous installments, which have consistently gotten better and built upon one another. This feels separate in some way. \n I still enjoyed it! I love this world and these characters, and I'm always happy to see them. There were some developments and back stories that I loved seeing more of. But with how rushed this felt, it does make me nervous for the last book. \n Video review/discussion to come!", "date_added": "Sun Dec 11 16:36:53 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 14 20:43:49 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Dec 14 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 89, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "22295304", "review_id": "c0abc2e805331e09a0144cba3250f468", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars! \n This short book packs a punch. A unique urban fantasy that mixes Latinx folklore with the setting of Brooklyn, introducing a unique magic where ancestral spirits combine with art. \n Shadowshaper isn't only about magic. It also discusses racism, sexism, gentrification, family ties, and appropriation. Definitely check this series out if you are looking for an urban fantasy that is outside the box!", "date_added": "Mon Oct 17 21:21:39 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 21 11:24:37 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Oct 21 15:52:13 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 61, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "22299763", "review_id": "fb75032b14ff23d66bc52bce1174ebe3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Obviously. Full review and gush will be on my channel.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 27 16:03:33 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 17 11:23:53 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Sep 30 16:28:55 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 213, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "28110143", "review_id": "c3f2a029bf54e23aba66149db1f2611f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars", "date_added": "Tue Aug 16 19:57:37 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 21 21:20:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 22 14:18:25 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 69, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "13013864", "review_id": "c7451c509ab4079434f5b2691b597391", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This series can be really frustrating because it takes everything you expect and think you know and goes \"....nah.\" \n I enjoyed this book so much more than the first one. The characters, while still realistic and frustrating, grew on me a lot and I found myself really caring for them. The introduction of a \"new\" character was also a great addition as well, and I enjoyed learning about their backstory. \n I noticed a lot of connections being made between situations and characters in this book already, so I'm excited to see the conclusion and how everything is going to be wrapped up. \n Full video review to come!", "date_added": "Fri Jul 29 00:28:14 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 11 17:39:29 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 53, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "6547259", "review_id": "4bad15b1d9212f7244591c8f78ec90d1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was the most perfect series finale I can remember reading... I cannot... I just........ A review will be on my channel when I can form words.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 10 15:15:52 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 11 17:38:58 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 15 16:59:45 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 221, "n_comments": 8}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "26073150", "review_id": "038f41467e6f8d2c9f666d372059eab6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "If all of SJMs other books didn't exist and ACOTAR didn't exist, ACOMAF would be 5 stars for me. But between some obvious issues I have with SJMs writing, and the lack of transition in a lot of things between ACOTAR and ACOMAF, it's more realistically a 4 star book. But in my heart, and on its own, it is 5. \n Very detailed review and discussion to come on my channel next week! \n Edit: on re-read in 2017, I bumped it up to 5 stars. It's always been 5 stars in my heart.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 13 01:27:14 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed May 17 09:23:00 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 355, "n_comments": 8}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "29635545", "review_id": "cae64c57da2c993e9239e1a94aa74726", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars - I read this not originally knowing that it is a kind of response to Lovecraft's 'The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath'. Even without that prior knowledge, I enjoyed this but having read over the synopsis of the Lovecraft tale, I probably would have enjoyed it immensely more if I was previously familiar with that story. This would be good for fans of Lovecraft who are not fans of the blatant racism and sexism of that time.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 03 21:02:25 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 08 17:29:33 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 30, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "23367270", "review_id": "570e3894d5cb2829332aa2c43f5e80a2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really like the insights this series gives into the Falling Kingdoms backstory, but I don't really care about any of the characters. To me, they are just plot devices to tell the origin story of this world and not much else. They pale in comparison to my Falling Kingdoms babies, and this makes me way less invested in this series's story.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 03 20:55:12 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 07 17:29:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 61, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "27272506", "review_id": "5ffa306fa4711e39c4bd5d1be2eebcda", "rating": 2, "review_text": "*2.5 stars* \n I had high hopes for this book and there were some elements I really enjoyed, but mostly, this book was messy. \n Firstly, there was too much going on. This story felt like 4 different books thrown into one with parts missing. It was convoluted. That being said, the first third to half I really enjoyed. I adored the characters in this story, and they really shine in the first half. \n Secondly, the world building was weak. This is a historical fiction novel that is trying to pass as fantasy, when it should just do what it does best and stay historical fiction. There was no reason to make this a fantasy world. All the places and cultures were just substitutions for ACTUAL places and cultures. \n Thirdly, the characters, like I said, were great. I love the protagonist. She's my kind of stubborn and impulsive. I really enjoyed the side characters as well. Keep in mind (because I didn't know this going in) that this is a companion series so each book will be following a different girl from The Glittering Court. So because of that, those side characters don't get super fleshed out because they'll have their own story. Additionally, since the protagonist only has this book, her story felt a bit rushed. The villains in this story were also extremely one note and predictable. The actions of one of the villains later in the story (tw: sexual assault) caused me to lower my rating due to their actions being unnecessary and used for drama, which I'm not okay with in this case. \n Lastly, this book has a bad case of deus ex machina. Every time the characters were in a seemingly hopeless situation, they were miraculously saved from it. It happened so often that I started to see it coming from a mile away. \n You might get the impression I hated this book. I didn't. It mostly didn't leave much of an impression on me. I didn't care to pick it up when I wasn't reading it, which was why it took so long for me to read it. And I had higher hopes for it, so I was a bit disappointed. But I will continue with the next book in the series because I do enjoy these characters and I want to know more about the side characters and how all of their stories fit together. \n Am I doomed to dislike every Richelle Mead book I read? Maybe I just need to read Vampire Academy like I should have in the first place...", "date_added": "Mon Apr 04 02:13:26 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 11 01:42:38 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Apr 11 16:21:41 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 103, "n_comments": 12}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "10339954", "review_id": "eca526016fee2eb99366257e28bf4b2e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Still 5 stars the second time around.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 31 15:39:30 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 31 15:41:31 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 79, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "25984485", "review_id": "612ff24be2de7e55435a9b6eb1329035", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I loved the characterizations in this book as well as the world building, but the sheer amount of sex scenes was a detractor for me. Once I started skimming them, I enjoyed the book a lot more. I do plan to finish the duology at some point, but I'm in no hurry right now. I'll be doing a full review on my channel!", "date_added": "Fri Nov 27 15:55:14 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 18 16:22:32 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jun 18 16:59:37 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 69, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "25262067", "review_id": "f0950d4c180fdab2866b045747c738a2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "*3.5 stars*", "date_added": "Sat Oct 17 13:23:01 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun May 08 17:15:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Oct 18 16:59:25 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 26, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "9305362", "review_id": "b87ca643c77d4ced96916f745c7f4b9d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I neither loved nor hated this book and I was surprised about that since it tends to bring out very strong emotions in people. \n I'm going to be doing a full review on this book, but wanted to touch on a few things here since it is such a controversial read. \n Firstly, I've always planned on reading this entire series regardless of if I hated the first book. Especially because this series should honestly just be one book. All of the books are short enough to combine. \n Secondly, yes OBVIOUSLY trigger warnings for rape, abuse, pedophilia, etc. Most people know that going in by now. And maybe I was over prepared, but this book isn't nearly as brutal as I was prepared for it to be. If you don't have those warnings before going in, maybe it is. But not as bad as I was expecting. Yes, the world is very different than ours. All of the countries have slaves. All of the countries have pleasure slaves. Rape is a prominent thing. But there is definitely more grey area and room for discussion of consent in this world than one might think going in, and that's probably why opinions on this series are so black and white. \n Lastly, THIS BOOK IS NOT A ROMANCE. Now that all books are out, we know that's the direction it goes. But there is no romance in this book at all. I'm actually really interested to see how this series goes about its redemption arcs and how so many people come to love Laurent. Because yeah, he's an asshole. So what is done to possibly redeem him?!? I'm intrigued to see how that is attempted and if it is successful in my eyes, because I'm super skeptical. \n The writing in this is nothing to write home about. It's definitely over the top at times and stumbles into \"fanfiction AU\" territory with some of its tropes. But it is very easy to read because of that. \n That was a lot more than I planned on writing but oh well. I'm committed to the rest of this series so we'll see which side I land on in the end.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 06 17:40:59 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 08 00:57:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Sep 08 15:28:05 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 114, "n_comments": 11}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "24737347", "review_id": "41a5a3a7862ab6373e1262725e4d3a25", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I picked up an ARC of this book at BEA 2015. \n I adore Garth Nix's Abhorson trilogy, so when I saw he was coming out with a new book that was a fantasy of manners, I knew I had to have it. For those who are unfamiliar, a fantasy of manners can be best described as Regency period ideals with magic. Like fantasy+romcom+alternate history+historical fiction. The ones that I've read have been light and fluffy, and very tongue-in-cheek, so that is what I expected from Newt's Emerald and it did not disappoint. It was a funny mix of Regency romance tropes, with some magic mixed in. \n But in other ways, it did disappoint. I'm willing to forgive light and fluffy narratives if their characters shine through. While I didn't dislike any of the characters, they are all rather forgettable. The romance, while very cute and angsty at the beginning, turned into instalove quite quickly. The villain was two-dimensional. And I found the plot to be pretty predictable. \n Overall, this is a cute, quick read that fans of the fantasy of manners genre and tropes will probably enjoy, but it will not be for everyone. \n This review was originally posted on Thoughts on Tomes", "date_added": "Sun Aug 30 18:33:30 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue May 03 03:23:34 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Sep 02 23:07:40 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Aug 30 18:33:30 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 47, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "2314315", "review_id": "f676b8a3f09c898afac01dc516be5bcf", "rating": 2, "review_text": "After all the fun I had with Stray, I was expecting to love Rogue just as much. Sadly, I found it disappointing. \n First off, although this one is smaller than the first book, I found it to drag. I thought the plot was very predictable, and we were missing all of the character interactions that I loved from the first book. \n Also, Faythe's character wasn't what it was in the first book. I found her rashness to be more annoying than enjoyable. There were also times where a plot point was very obvious, and it took her some time to figure out. This is not the perceptive character I loved in the first book. \n Lastly, I found the relationship in this book to be problematic. What was an equal power dynamic in the first book switched to a relationship that read as very emotionally abusive. I expect these alpha male type characters in a book like this, and I can enjoy them. But the love interest crossed the lines in a lot of ways in this book and Faythe did not have the power that she had in the first book, which rubbed me the wrong way. \n Overall, I found this book to be a completely different experience than the first book. I do plan to continue on with the series, but I am going to take a break before continuing, as this book left me with a bad taste in my mouth. \n This review was originally posted on Thoughts on Tomes", "date_added": "Fri Jul 03 19:54:48 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun May 08 20:47:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jul 13 14:29:01 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jul 03 19:54:48 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 28, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "793399", "review_id": "92dd506b2d98192bf51beda617f38199", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I finished this book in one sitting. I could not put it down. I grew up reading urban fantasy and this felt so nostalgic to me. I loved our sassy main character and the witty banter between all of the characters. There were parts of the plot that were a little predictable, but I was okay with that and found it as more of a comfort. I adore urban fantasy and am so happy to have rediscovered the genre with this series.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 02 14:30:26 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 03 02:26:46 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jul 03 15:46:54 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 43, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "10816908", "review_id": "f36de0efbd3b1629bab4e344d932e933", "rating": 4, "review_text": "*4.5 stars*", "date_added": "Wed May 13 22:53:37 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed May 20 22:50:33 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu May 21 16:14:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 26, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "6547260", "review_id": "c17a6ed3a5b97caafeb7eb0257b0e49c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The overall book is a solid 4 stars bUT THE LAST 100 PAGES IS 5 STARS NO QUESTION OMG", "date_added": "Sat May 09 01:27:30 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 12 22:00:37 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jun 13 16:40:59 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 204, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "21414439", "review_id": "5f1451a50fd22a4d14ed9c4196e49cd4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Although the world building was a bit confusing and clunky at the beginning, Truthwitch more than made up for that with its characters, twists, and turns. Rarely do I feel so instantly attached to an entire group of characters like I did with this book. Even though I originally got this ARC at BEA, I'm glad I waited to read it because I cannot imagine having to wait over a year for the next installment. A year will be painful enough. I am already eagerly anticipating my re-read of this book so I can catch all of the things I'm sure I missed this first time and to revisit these characters.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 10 12:11:59 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 11 17:37:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jan 12 15:57:50 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 150, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "20443235", "review_id": "241403a6f13ec36d2e82e27e88d71b45", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I finished this book on one sitting. I have no regrets.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 09 22:46:33 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 02:56:01 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Mar 30 16:55:26 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Mar 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 266, "n_comments": 7}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "21396155", "review_id": "0b8e8762b168fb1151957153029e4478", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 stars!", "date_added": "Mon Mar 09 17:59:19 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 11 17:38:18 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 78, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "17404295", "review_id": "2ccbfa51c0b3ad1ac5b4c57fa2dc01da", "rating": 4, "review_text": "*3.5 stars*", "date_added": "Thu Mar 05 22:49:04 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 13 16:32:15 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Oct 13 16:59:23 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 47, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "17564519", "review_id": "cb2ac2e9cf304ae5bb1fd61e5c47f631", "rating": 4, "review_text": "*4.5 stars*", "date_added": "Fri Feb 20 14:04:21 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 16 20:51:53 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 50, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "18089961", "review_id": "f600840b5d0580935d473d62ed51b14c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Everbound is the second book in the Everneath trilogy, which was marketed as a Hades and Persephone retelling. I already have a review here of the first book, Everneath, stating how that was not the case. \n Everbound continues in the same vein as the first book. The reader gets a tad more information about the world, but not much. The writing is still very simple, and easy to read. I enjoyed this one slightly more, as the characters get to visit the Everneath, and trips to the underworld are always a good time in my opinion. But the plague of the fake love triangle continues, and it continues to be useless. As I said in my review of the first book, this isn't a real love triangle as it's not as if both love interests have an equal chance. The protagonist has made it very clear from the beginning who she wants to be with. So dangling the other love interest in front of readers as if there is a possibility she is going to choose him.....is a joke. And a waste of a subplot. \n Like I said in the first review, I will finish out this series as it is marketed as a Hades and Persephone retelling and one of my goals is to read and review all of the well known titles that are supposed to be Hades and Persephone retellings, but this is not necessarily something I would recommend.This review was originally posted on Thoughts on Tomes", "date_added": "Mon Dec 29 19:24:03 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 11 19:17:44 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Apr 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 64, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "7969594", "review_id": "f5469741c07575f012b5f35100a1c726", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is not on the same level for me as Mistborn but I do have a feeling that I'll appreciate this one even more as time goes on and I'm looking forward to discussing it more in detail during with my gush video!", "date_added": "Mon Dec 29 19:19:20 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 23 22:43:59 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Nov 24 15:27:43 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 133, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "11672159", "review_id": "691f0b37bcb3752a264a35a3a45971cb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars! \n I enjoyed this one! It's one of the more accurate retellings when it comes to Hades and Persephone's personalities, though I still don't think this Persephone had quite the fire I like to see. I prefer my Persephone a bit more fearsome. \n This book is also gayer than I thought it would be and it's awesome. Not only are the main characters gay, but most of the side characters as well. It's very female focused and I loved that. \n The pacing was what dragged this down for me personally. The beginning and the end dragged, but I enjoyed the middle. I also felt the ending wrapped up too quickly and easily, without much explanation or cause. \n This is a great retelling for those who prefer less angst and more fluff in their romance. It's a slow build to the romance but overall very happy and cute.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 28 18:00:03 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 09 16:04:21 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Oct 09 16:57:19 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Oct 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 70, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "7544603", "review_id": "0f82d497dc022f39996b1533e7d53763", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This series had a lot of potential and ended up disappointing me in the end. \n WHAT I LIKED: \n -I continued to enjoy the comedic relief that is Xemerius. \n -I still didn't see a lot of the twists coming. But.. having said that.. see below. \n WHAT I DISLIKED: \n -Although I didn't see a lot of the twists coming, I still didn't really enjoy them. Spoilers: Mr Whitman was the count? And that was revealed in the last 5 pages and then he was defeated?! What?? Also, Gideon taking the immortality elixir. Great. Yeah. You guys have known each other for a total of 2 weeks and now you are going to spend eternity together. Awesome. And the weird epilogue about Gwen's either little brother or nephew being Mr. Bernard the housekeeper?? What? Why? Why was that even a thing? How does that make sense? \n -NOTHING WAS EXPLAINED! There were prophecies throughout these books. Prophesies made by who? Never explained. How the chronograph works? Also not really explained. Why Gwen can see and talk to ghosts? Not explained. Why the count had powers? Not explained. I thought that the other time travelers would also have powers, but since they didn't I think those things should have been explained. They were just thrown in there for no reason! And then her immortality to top it all off! So many things about the story and background were not explained that I can't even name them all. \n -The romance. Complete insta-love. It made no sense and was unbelievable. They've known each other 2 weeks! And 12 of those days, Gideon was a dick to her. What? \n -The side characters were all just tropes. Evil aunt. Evil perfectionist cousin. Uptight grandma. Cool spunky best friend. They were fun in the first books but just got old at the end. \n -The way it was wrapped up was too sudden. Even though I was over the story and wanted it to be over, they defeated the count in 5 minutes and then there was no talk about what happened with the Guardians after that. I highly doubt they just go on living their lives. \n -We find out about Lucy and Paul being her parents in the first book, and it isn't resolved until the very end of this book. And even then, it's barely discussed between the characters involved and we see hardly any interactions. WHAT? \n Overall, I was expecting more from the story than what I was given. By the time I got to this book, I was really over most of the characters and the situations. It felt too drawn out. It would have been better as a duology.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 12 23:41:05 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 10 15:40:04 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Nov 24 00:48:18 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Nov 12 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "10305156", "review_id": "3302d831fadcf05e5e391492e7575f49", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 stars? 4.75 stars?! It's been a while since I've started a new series and been this head over heels. My gut says I can't quite give it 5 stars for a few verrrry minor reasons but I may change my mind the more I think (*obsess*) about this book. \n Full review and gush to come on my channel!", "date_added": "Fri Nov 07 00:09:31 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 17 11:24:04 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Oct 17 15:47:35 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Oct 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 231, "n_comments": 11}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "13188676", "review_id": "699cb4d146084584e734ddaebead7f84", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I was SO pleased with this book. I read it almost all in one sitting, and stayed up until 4am to finish it. \n WHAT I LIKED: \n -The good writing continued. \n -Juliette. FINALLY! She finally became the character that I craved for in the first book! She was mature, reliable, steady, independent, believed in herself, and embraced her powers. LOVE. \n -Warner. Everything finally comes full circle with him. I love his character. I love how he supports Juliette. He never forces her to do anything. He doesn't want to change her. Ugh. I could go on and on about this character. \n -Their romance. See above. Juliette finally realizes that what she had with Adam wasn't love, and was just the product of her never having a friend before. I LOVE that the main character actually admitted that for once! SO wonderful. And the relationship between Warner and Juliette is so beautiful. They support each other, they make sacrifices for each other, they believe in each other. So perfect. \n -Juliette and Kenji's friendship. It was so wonderful to see Juliette have a friend without any strings attached. \n -Everyone's powers. Need I say more. \n -Juliette being a boss. It needed to be said again. \n WHAT I DISLIKED: \n -I hate Adam Kent. I felt so much rage against this character that I can't even talk about it. It was like reading about a toddler having a temper tantrum. HATE. (But this didn't take away from the book because it was done well. I was meant to hate him!) \n Overall, this book was everything I wanted in a finale. The character development we got to see from all of the characters (mostly...ugh Adam) was wonderfully wrapped up in this book. It was the perfect conclusion to a series that just kept getting better with every book.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 25 13:14:47 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 31 17:03:04 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Oct 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 16, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "13104080", "review_id": "372adaca759b41760859cd9094c29548", "rating": 4, "review_text": "After being a little apprehensive after being disappointed with Shatter Me, this book really turned everything around for me. I was pleasantly surprised. \n WHAT I LIKED: \n -The writing continued to be beautiful. \n -Juliette. We get to see more of her character development. This is the book where we start to see her gain a little more independence and come out of her shell. \n -Warner. He's still wonderful. The second half of the book was my favorite part, and I'm sure it had a lot to do with the fact that he finally makes an appearance. \n -Additional characters. The side characters that I found were lacking in the first book were brought in for the second, and I could not be more thrilled. \n WHAT I DISLIKED: \n -Adam. I didn't like him in the first book and I continue to dislike him. I have no sympathy for the guy and do not care about his story. \n -The INSTALOVE continued. See above. Ugh. And I felt it was really holding back Juliette's character. \n The first half of this book was still a little slow and had me wanting to shake Juliette to please start coming out of her shell and developing more, but HOLY CRAP THE SECOND HALF. The second half was definitely 5 stars, with the first half being a solid 4. As a result, I gave this book 4.5 stars. It really made me want to read the next book.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 23 22:05:44 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 31 16:55:18 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Oct 26 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 9, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "13623150", "review_id": "2aec21ead0d463767dcbeb5e9299a5b3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ok I now understand the hype behind this series and this novella in particular. \n Warner. I understand the Warner hype. \n WHAT I LIKED: \n -I continued to enjoy the writing in this book. I was also pleasantly surprised that she was able to write in a different perspective and make it so vastly different than Juliette. It was such a treat to be in Warner's head. \n -So many things come together! My premature love for Warner was not in vain. You really get to see his side, as well as some additional world building that was much needed, and it made his character much more sympathetic. \n WHAT I DISLIKED: \n -Yes, he's a little obsessive. I'm currently cracking that up to his history, which is a shitty one. I hope that his future interactions with Juliette will stay on the side of sanity, because even I cannot handle an obsessive guy. Even if he is the bad boy with a good side that I adore. \n I am so thankful that I decided to pick up this novella before continuing on to the second book. This really gave me a new found sense of confidence in the series, and I am excited to see where everything leads in the future books.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 23 18:17:17 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 23 21:33:14 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "15783514", "review_id": "e20c502088e47137fa67e7bdde349d80", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I don't know what to think of this book yet, so I'm going to sit with it and come back to rate and review it later.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 02 23:16:01 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 30 21:27:18 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Oct 31 00:11:05 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "13206828", "review_id": "529af1fc28556bebd5f073c3a7f9e646", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another fantastic continuation in this story! These books keep getting better and better and I never expect what is coming around the next turn. I enjoy every new character that is brought in, and I cannot wait for the future books. Nothing else to say about that :)", "date_added": "Mon Sep 15 23:23:57 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 11 22:02:31 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Sep 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "15513156", "review_id": "615409e527bccfbe572a451d70b3450b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "These books are so much fun! \n WHAT I LIKED: \n -This picked up right where the last book left off and hit the ground running. \n -More mermaid lore! This took place mostly in the mermaid world, and I enjoyed meeting more characters and seeing more mermaid interactions. \n -Any miscommunication between characters was resolved fairly quickly and none of the drama felt overly drawn out. \n -On the same note, this book was short and fast paced. It didn't feel like anything was added in just to make it longer. \n -The characters we know and love from the first book are back in all their glory. They are such a funny, loveable bunch of characters and I was happy to see them again. \n WHAT I DISLIKED: \n - Yes, sometimes Galen seems a lot like Edward Cullen in his over-protectiveness. He has his reasons, and I understand them, but it still can get annoying. \n Overall, I loved this book just as much as the first one. These are great books to get anyone out of a reading slump. So fast paced and fun. I cannot wait to round out the series with Of Neptune.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 15 23:19:00 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 23 21:39:12 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "16096824", "review_id": "294b521f4d2660c08dd2509209cf5f75", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I cannot remember ever being this conflicted over a book. There are parts of A Court of Thorns and Roses I really loved, but a lot of parts I really hated. \n I went into this book fully expecting to love it. Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairy tales, and I was interested to see how SJM made the story her own. \n First off, my biggest problem with this story was Feyre as a character. I have never been so irritated. Her character development and personality, for the most part, didn't make sense to me. She was the caretaker of her entire family for years, supposedly a hunter with a strong survival instinct. And yet, she proceeded to make the stupidest decisions and put herself in danger time and time again. I didn't get the sense that she did this out of bravery, but more out of stupidity. It didn't mesh with what her character was supposed to be. Examples of these idiotic choices: \n 1. Repeatedly plotting to escape into a faerie land that she knew to be deadly, when she was asleep on the way to the manor and obviously wouldn't know her way back to the mortal lands \n 2. Running after the illusion of her CRIPPLED father at NIGHT, when she has been told and witnessed how deceptive fae can be \n 3. Trapping a Suriel with little more than a snare, in the deadly part of the forest, after she has been told, and AGAIN, SEEN how dangerous these creatures are \n 4. Going to Fire Night after being told how dangerous it is, not leaving after being almost raped by 3 faeries, and then proceeding to leave her room AGAIN afterwards \n 5. Drinking the faerie wine at the Solstice, even after Lucien of all people warned her not to \n 6. Leaving the manor when the Suriel flat out TOLD her not to and that she would be safe with Tamlin, and deciding to not mention that to ANYONE before he forced her to leave \n In addition to all of these idiotic choices, she also is incredibly inconsistent. She'll go from hating Fae to sympathizing with them to loving them back to fearing them at the drop of a hat. These inconsistencies are probably the most irritating, as there are scenes that I absolutely adore with Feyre, but then she goes back to doing the next pain in the ass thing on the next page. \n I also found her relationship with Tamlin to be problematic. Yes, I do enjoy problematic things (especially ships from time to time) but there were a lot of things I couldn't excuse with them. Again, more inconsistencies in characters' behavior. Tamlin's hot and cold behavior was eventually explained, but not until 70% of the way through the book. It was too little too late. Also, I found the Fire Night scene to be a problem for me. I do enjoy volatile relationships and bad boy characters. But only when we are told from the beginning that one of the characters is \"bad\". Tamlin we are led to believe is a saint, then he bites her and gets possessive, but all is forgiven the next morning. Because he's a \"nice guy.\" No. \n The world building I found to be lackluster in a lot of ways. While I really enjoyed the wide variety of Fae creatures we got to see, I thought that a lot of the back story was revealed in a lazy way. Instead of having Feyre figure anything out for herself, important things are told to her through long monologues from a number of characters throughout the book. This happens numerous times. \n Additionally, few side characters have any development and most felt like blank slates. With that being said, the ones that were developed I adored. Lucien and Rhys saved the book for me in a lot of ways. I found them both to be complex and interesting characters. \n The last 10-15% of the book saved it for me. I found the plot to finally be interesting, and I found Feyre's decisions in those chapters to actually make sense. A lot of things were set up for future books that have me very intrigued, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. Many things that I disliked in this book, may in fact be remedied due to some of the occurrences in this last small section of the book. \n Overall, I was disappointed by this first installment. While there were elements I really enjoyed, they didn't make up for the elements I didn't. I'm hoping future installments will prove to be better. \n I will also be doing a full video review and spoiler-filled discussion on my channel in the future if you want to know more of my thoughts.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 10 23:11:44 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 17 20:33:02 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 302, "n_comments": 21}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "22294935", "review_id": "3552186f0e62a546921cce38f42b36bd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Just as good on re-read as it was the first time!", "date_added": "Sun Aug 24 19:21:03 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 27 16:02:34 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Sep 27 16:59:06 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 115, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "13206900", "review_id": "906fa833f8c7762e90ff731593f465a2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars", "date_added": "Sun Aug 24 19:18:50 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 02 01:29:24 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Nov 24 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 125, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "9591398", "review_id": "94a25b3a28a81dad758fdde7103e6958", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a fun, fantastical Middle-grade story! \n LIKES: \n Fairyland was a stunning combination of Oz and Wonderland, with it's own bits mixed in. There was a new and interesting creature or character behind every turn. \n The main character was a spunky and stubborn young girl, who wasn't a brat! So I enjoyed her immensely. \n DISLIKES: \n While I grew to enjoy the writing, I did have some trouble getting into it. It was written in such a way that it was very over-the-top and put you into the story. But it took a lot of getting used to, and ultimately made it harder to get into. \n OVERALL, I'm interested to read the rest of this series. It is a fun, fantastical story for any fan of fairy tales!", "date_added": "Sun Aug 24 13:17:39 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 11 21:56:57 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "13206760", "review_id": "b5194fcf4d06feee9f861bef19080b38", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This series keeps getting better! \n Marissa Meyer did an excellent job of introducing the new characters and perspectives into this novel. I love the new characters that were introduced! She flawlessly interwove the story from the first book with this one, while still remaining true to the fairy tale retelling aspect of the story. I loved every minute of it and cannot wait for the coming books!", "date_added": "Sun Aug 17 22:07:44 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 30 16:33:29 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "9413044", "review_id": "b7a8bc6517987e409294fff6443e38f3", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I'm always on the search for good Hades and Persephone retellings. This summary gave me hope. It talks about a girl who survived the underworld and comes back to the surface. Even without the obvious Persephone themes, those are some of my buzzwords. The marketing and design of the cover also scream Hades and Persephone. Unfortunately... that was all a ruse. \n This is not a Hades and Persephone retelling. This is more of an Orpheus and Eurydice retelling, with a random \"love triangle\" thrown in. Except I wouldn't even consider it a love triangle, because, to me, that implies that both love interests have an equal chance. They don't. It's very obvious from the beginning who Nikki has chosen. Which is fine, except it makes the whole love triangle thing even more pointless than it usually is. \n If this was marketed like the Orpheus and Eurydice retelling that it is, I think it would be more successful and would have gotten a higher rating from me as I would have had realistic expectations. I know Hades and Persephone is pretty marketable right now, but it's not as if Orpheus and Eurydice is unpopular. In fact, there are plenty of people seeking retellings of the myth as well. \n Aside from all of that, the writing style isn't anything to write home about. Although it's a quick read, there are a few things used that I don't tend to enjoy. Most prominently, the always annoying Capitalization Of Random Words To Denote Importance In This World. For example, Everlings. Eveneath. Feed. The author then chooses to not really explain these things at all, just uses the capitalization to show they are ~important~. The reader is very much thrown into the story with no explanation. \n Overall, I considered this story a letdown. The characters weren't anything to write home about, the writing is fairly mediocre, and I don't find the romance very compelling. I have continued with the series, because it's easy and I do plan on reading anything even vaguely \"Hades and Persephone\", but it's not something I'd recommend to most people. This review was originally posted on Thoughts on Tomes", "date_added": "Thu Aug 14 22:59:01 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 04 14:24:58 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Nov 24 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 81, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "8428195", "review_id": "56b2b7aa96ee23851a8a7ea64dfef97a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "*3.5 stars* \n I read this as an audiobook, and recommend that medium if you aren't sure about reading this. \n There were some areas where this book shined and others where it faltered. \n First off, this is great for fans of family dynamics. This focuses a lot on sisterly bonds and father/daughter bonds especially. This would also be good for fans of novels of manners and/or lesser known Fairytale retellings. \n I did find that the writing was rather simple, and the book was longer than it needed to be. I find that Heather Dixon's YA leans more towards the middle grade side of the spectrum, so it and her characters tend to be a bit more immature than I like. \n Overall, an enjoyable audiobook but not something I would have picked up in physical form anytime soon.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 14 22:32:33 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 04 15:45:21 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Aug 04 16:41:36 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 21, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "13411245", "review_id": "d7921178625a6b78dd6813f2af7b584a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This story had a lot of potential, but it got lost on the way. \n LIKES: \n It had a very interesting premise. Two \"mafia\" type families. Mysterious memory loss. Star-crossed lovers. Futuristic New York City. What's not to love, right?! \n DISLIKES: \n The setting was not properly worked out. It was set sometime in the future when global warming has taken over and people with mystical powers have made themselves known. Everyone can pay for items through their fingerprints, not needing to carry money. But texting and tweeting was still referenced. What? 100-150 years in the future and we are still tweeting? I think not. \n The love story was not believable. Not to mention that the male lead had no kind of continuity. He would act and talk one way in one chapter, and completely different in the next. I could not get a beat on his personality. \n The magic system was not explained and was completely random. There was no method to the madness. \n You can see the twists coming from a mile away. The \"big twist\" is easily seen from the readers perspective in the first 10 or so chapters, and it still takes the main character until the last 50 pages to figure it out herself.... \n OVERALL, the story had a lot of potential, but didn't live up to it. I do not plan on continuing this series.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 14 14:32:18 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 12 19:48:30 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "7295501", "review_id": "670741d82a802164f6afa0efbf5f0d8c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "*4.5 stars* \n Perfect for fans of Jane Austen that want the added flair of magic. The characters fill the typical Austen tropes, with their own spin. A lovely story for any fan of the Regency period.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 14 14:25:02 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 15 14:55:35 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jun 15 16:36:21 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 30, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "18166936", "review_id": "6174fc9afca2680922edcef33b58e8c5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Reading this book felt like wrapping myself in a warm blanket on a misty, autumn day. The writing was beautiful. The characters were magical. The entire book felt like something you could sink into. This has been added to my favorites shelf, and I'm already looking forward to re-reading it in the future.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 12 13:36:42 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 25 23:23:36 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 170, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "21944884", "review_id": "3ecfe11ff81c8421c061a7d363294e4d", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Before I get into the review, let me just point out that Atlantia is horribly mis-marketed. If it had been marketed properly, I probably would not have picked it up. From the synopsis and the cover art, it is implied that this is going to be a mermaid story. It is not. It is a dystopian taking place in an city enclosed underwater. This wouldn't be a problem, except for the fact that I wasn't even able to finish Condie's other dystopian series, Matched. If I would have known I was heading into another dystopian, I probably would have passed on this one. \n As with Condie's Matched series, I found the world building in this story to be lackluster. There is a strong focus on the religious beliefs of this society, but other than that, there is no real reason given for why the rules, regulations, and rituals of the society exists. We also are not given much actual description of what is probably a very cool underwater world. \n The characters of Atlantia are also pretty flat. I found our main character to be very similar to the main character in Matched. I didn't understand many of her motives. She discusses how disconnected she felt from her twin sister, but then is spending all of her time trying to get back to her sister because she \"needs\" her. It doesn't match up. Thankfully, this story was lighter on the romance than Matched was, and that was my biggest concern. I wasn't attached to the romance in this story, but I wasn't particularly bothered with it either. The villain was also a mustache-twirling bad guy, and very one dimensional. \n Lastly, I found the plot generally enjoyable. It was a slow read at times, but there was a mystery element to it that I found engaging. Parts of that mystery element did drag, but overall, I still wanted to know how everything was going to turn out. By the end, I was left with all of my questions answered and was glad it wasn't extended out into an unnecessary trilogy. \n This review was originally posted on Thoughts on Tomes", "date_added": "Sun Aug 03 22:00:47 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun May 08 21:04:01 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jul 20 23:49:41 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jul 18 22:23:26 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 60, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "18490681", "review_id": "e3bc8d8f92d05a4ca5be935efe9b8f9a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved everything about this book. It was perfection. \n The world had its own original flavor. It didn't feel like a carbon copy of other fantasy books. I also enjoyed the different \"magic\" system. I'm very intrigued by how that will be fleshed out in future books. \n I loved all of our characters. I connected so strongly to Lia as a main character that her strength brought tears to my eyes more than once. I also loved the love interests. Rafe and Kaden are both interesting, multidimensional, morally grey characters. What's not to love. Even our side characters felt wholly realized. I'm also looking forward to seeing them again in the future. \n Everyone in this series has a secret. I could not predict anything that happened in this book, and I cannot even guess what will happen in the future. \n OVERALL, this book was everything I wanted it to be. I am very much looking forward to the rest of the series. \n *A more in depth review and discussion is on my channel*", "date_added": "Fri Aug 01 19:27:51 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 16 17:35:07 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Sep 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 22, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "20821111", "review_id": "bdbe372466b457ea274a1999ca2ca5dc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Originally read in 2014. Re-read in 2016. \n I actually enjoyed this book more on re-read. I was really disappointed the first time I read it but this time around I noticed more things and went in wth lower expectations so I liked it more. I really loved Adelina this time around and plan to continue the series for sure now. \n On first read I gave this 2-2.5 stars and this read I'd say it's a 3-3.5!", "date_added": "Sat Jul 26 18:54:35 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 06 22:48:18 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Nov 08 07:53:10 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 61, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "186074", "review_id": "06091c99d78a18d69cb83b2ca00ee24b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have so many unanswered questions and I'm not even mad about it.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 26 16:15:56 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 20 12:53:07 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Apr 20 16:51:42 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 280, "n_comments": 8}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "16793", "review_id": "be5a6569c0c9b18b0543ffa8ba65d7f7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I listened to this on audiobook, and it was my first completed audiobook as well as my first Neil Gaiman novel. But as such, I'm going to be talking a lot about how this succeeded in the audiobook medium. \n WHAT I LIKED: \n -It was a fairytale for grown ups! It was an original story that had all the fantastical elements of a children's story, while very much being for adults. \n -The narration. Neil Gaiman narrated this story, and the man has a BEAUTIFUL speaking voice. It was so interesting to hear the writer reading his story as it must have sounded in his head. He did all of the voices so wonderfully and really pulled me in to the story. \n -The timeline. The whole story takes place over many years, but we do not see every little event that takes place during that time. We feel the magnitude and scope of the story, without it being drawn out. I really enjoyed that it stuck the the important scenes instead of getting bogged down. \n -How the story interwove. There were so many elements that were mentioned throughout the story that tied up very beautifully in the end to make a complete story. It didn't feel open ended at all. \n WHAT I DISLIKED: \n I honestly cannot think of anything I didn't enjoy. \n Overall, I enjoyed this story very much. I'm not sure if I would have enjoyed it as much if I would have read it myself, but Gaiman's narration was excellent and pulled me in from the beginning. Fans of fairy tales and fantasy alike will enjoy this.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 18 14:40:50 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 26 19:03:51 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 12, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "12425532", "review_id": "8c23b60e276c7f82dedf0b504d15f5e3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book. What's so great about it is how FUN it was. I wanted a fun mermaid tale and that's exactly what I got. \n WHAT I LIKED: \n The mermaid lore. I loved the original and different spin on mermaids, and learning about their culture. \n The ensemble of characters. I fell in love with all of them. \n The romance. Yes, it was swoon-worthy. \n The twist at the end. WHAT? \n WHAT I DISLIKED: \n Although I liked the romance, parts felt a little off to me. It was a little too insta-love for my liking. And he was a little too overprotective at times, which set off some red flags. \n OVERALL, this is a very fun story and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 05 17:43:25 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 30 16:21:49 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "10576365", "review_id": "1e7f99092f5bfcdd31df5c41afe8e3a6", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I really wanted to be blown away by this The Darkest Minds, but I was left disappointed. I'm not sure what exactly I was looking for, but I just wanted more. \n There were so many aspects I feel very neutral about. The concept and back story were interesting, but it's something we have all seen before. The plot was extremely slow paced. I found the ending to be very fast, but overall pretty predictable. The characters were believable, but I didn't find myself getting attached to them until the very end. The romance elements felt a little off. Overall, this book just left me feeling \"meh.\" I have no strong feelings either way about it. \n I would categorize this book as more of a \"survivalist\" story than a dystopian. The world feels more post-apocalyptic than anything else, so fans of that kind of storyline will probably enjoy this. The characters felt very realistic as well, so if you prefer character driven stories, I would recommend this. \n I do plan on continuing with the series, but as of right now, I am in no rush to do so. I hope the next book picks up the pace a little more and is less predictable. (edit: I have since decided that I do not care enough to continue with the series)This review was originally posted on Thoughts on Tomes", "date_added": "Wed Jul 02 19:26:03 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 23 14:51:27 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 23 17:03:37 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jan 19 23:03:30 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 42, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "20821306", "review_id": "e08b8ca7ebb22361d27d81881c44c4ee", "rating": 2, "review_text": "When I heard about this book being released, I was very intrigued. I found the premise of a science fiction book based on the zodiac to be so interesting. Overall, there were a few high points in this story surrounded by low points. \n This book felt broken up into three distinct parts. The beginning was engaging, but I found myself a little lost. Rho definitely has \"special snowflake\" syndrome. There is a back story regarding her abilities later on in the story, but it still wasn't enough for me to find what occurs with her throughout the story to be believable. \n I had (and still have) a lot of hope for this world. There is a lot of world building in the book, because of all the different planets and worlds of the galaxy being so different, but at times it felt very info-dumpy. We get to see so many parts of this world, and I found myself getting confused at times, and just being given too much unneeded information. But the imagery we do get of the worlds is beautiful and very unique. I imagined this world in a beautiful CGI style. I will say that if this book included a map, that would be very helpful. \n WARNING: Love triangle. There is a love triangle in this series that I do not feel is very well done. One love interest feels very much like insta-love (they have \"known\" each other for years but have never once spoken) and the other love interest is a kind of insta-lust (which is more bearable.) But overall, the love triangle aspect felt very unnecessary. \n Given Rho's special snowflake nature that I mentioned before, I found it very hard to connect to the characters in this story. I felt that Rho made a lot of unrealistic decisions and jumped between feeling like a teenager and an old wise woman. There wasn't a ton of consistency or believability. I did very much enjoy one of the love interests, who reminds me of a Hans Solo type character (my favorite) and hope to see more of him in the future books. \n The last 50 pages or so were a whirlwind, and made up for a lot of the book. Those last 50 pages are the reason I plan to continue on with the next books in the series. Some of the events that happened made me think there is a possibility of me enjoying the future of the series. There is a 50/50 chance at this point. I'm willing to take that chance, because of the originality of the world and plot.This review was originally posted on Thoughts on Tomes", "date_added": "Sun Jun 29 18:10:37 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 23 15:20:36 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 09 16:38:05 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jan 03 22:43:26 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 18, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "10429045", "review_id": "6465b43168e26347be60702d0b759bbd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This first book in the sci fi/dystopian series was not all that I was expecting, and I left it feeling a little disappointed. \n Also, although I wasn't \"spoiled\" for anything in the book, it is a well known fact that the fandom hates Adam and loves Warner. So, this book was difficult to get through with Adam being such a main character and knowing that something is going to happen to ruin the image we get of him in this book. (Not that I liked him anyway...) \n WHAT I LIKED: \n -The writing is beautiful and didn't feel like I was reading a YA novel based on the writing. \n -Juliette. I see a lot of potential in her character and I am very interested to see where she takes us. \n -Warner. What a wonderful villain. His way of speaking and demeanor, although we saw little of it, was still such a treat. \n WHAT I DISLIKED: \n -Adam. As I said before, I already know something is going to go down with him, even though I don't know what it is, and as such, I cannot trust him. \n -The INSTALOVE. Really?! I understand the poor girl has had no one touch her, but her obsession with him was part of the story I hated the most. She was such a more complex character when her thoughts weren't revolving around him. \n -The lack of world building. It felt like a very basic dystopian premise without much explanation. \n -Lack of characters. We really only got to see Adam and Juliette, with a few other characters mixed in that weren't really developed. Even Adam and Juliette were mostly wrapped up in each other, as I said before. This lack of character development seems common in the first book in a series and may just be something I should get used to... (nope.) \n Overall, I didn't enjoy this book like I thought I would. I was more slogging through it in order to get to the rest of the books in the series, because I know so many fans of this series cannot be crazy.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 29 18:04:39 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 23 21:27:15 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 13, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "448873", "review_id": "d909a385c9400401a0801b0d3eedf45e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I found this book to be a fun and quick read. Do not mistake the 3 stars for me not liking it! This book was very much laying the foundation for the rest of the series. It introduces us to the kingdoms of this world, as well as the mythology and politics surrounding them. It also introduces us to our main character, a snarky, 'Flynn Rider' type character that is easy to love. This adventure felt middle-grade to me in a lot of ways, not because of the writing, but because of how fun and action-packed it was. I also enjoyed the lack of romance in the story, which was a refreshing break from most first books in a series that feel the need to provide instant romantic tension between characters. I'm very much looking forward to the rest of the series.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 29 18:04:05 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 27 21:05:20 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "16069030", "review_id": "9e1db6226890b3814132690a52ff047c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book took my completely by surprise and I loved every minute of it. \n WHAT I LOVED: \n -The issues of slavery and war that this book focused on. The idea that the conquered nation was \"civilized\" and the conquering nation was \"barbaric\" is not something that we see in history books (since they always skew whoever was enslaved as somehow lesser...because sometimes the people who 'create' history are assholes). It was such an interesting dynamic to see. Then, when that all gets turned around and the conquered nation rises up, it created another complexity to that dynamic (and to the romance of our main characters). \n -Kestral. She is a strong main character, but strong in ways that are very different than many YA heroines. She is very intelligent, very cunning, and uses those skills to her advantage masterfully. She is always 2 steps ahead of everyone else. \n -The romance. It had a slow burn feel to it. I enjoyed how her romantic interest could keep up with her intelligence, but not quite! She was still a step ahead of him. They compliment each other well, as well as being opposites. Everything I love in a couple. \n -The plot twists. They were done in a way that the story still flowed, and I didn't feel like any were thrown in there just as a way to surprise the audience. They made sense. \n This series is very character driven, and the characters are so complex yet people you relate to. I am so interested to see where the rest of the series goes. I have already pre-ordered the sequel :) If you would like to hear more of my thoughts, I will be posting a spoiler-free review as well as a discussion video on my channel!", "date_added": "Thu Jan 30 21:11:35 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 05 00:48:15 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Nov 30 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 28, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "6342491", "review_id": "dc7da49cb86e918839a0dc6f359cd5f9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book lays a good foundation for the rest of the series, but it definitely drags at times and the story doesn't really get started until the end. I love the protagonists. They have a ton of room for growth. My biggest complaint was the abundance of love interests, but at least it wasn't the main theme of the story. Just a pet peeve of mine. I plan to continue with the series and I'm excited to see where it goes.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 12 17:16:45 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 18 23:51:34 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Sep 19 13:39:16 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 106, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "127455", "review_id": "d8c9ed66803e4e95f1e1aa1379590c53", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Did we really expect me to rate this anything less than 5 stars? I've called head over heels in love with these characters and this world, and I cannot wait to continue on with this series.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 12 17:13:02 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 11 17:38:27 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 149, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "15839984", "review_id": "dfd1fa61df395dc5f6ec41387dce2946", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars. Everyone was telling me I would hate this book, and I did not! While it did have its faults, I enjoyed what it was trying to do and the general theme, even if the execution failed at times. It is a Beauty and the Beast/Hades & Persephone hybrid with some folklore mixed in. I cannot hate it. \n A review to come when I've fully collected my thoughts!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 20 23:01:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 11 11:00:04 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Feb 11 15:43:18 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 76, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "10194157", "review_id": "2ad1a1f1e5165847c63996da3590bacb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 stars! Review coming soon :)", "date_added": "Tue Jan 01 23:57:10 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 13 00:04:43 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jan 13 14:20:16 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 29, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "6101718", "review_id": "00152a79ee04cce1fcc4f009b06b7d98", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2.5 stars \n This isn't to say I don't think this is a good book. I think it's very clever. It messes with your expectations, about everything, and because of that there were many parts I didn't actively enjoy. (I would say that I passively enjoyed it... Is that a thing?) Because of that it gets a lower rating. I do feel that this is the kind of book that can't be rated individually and instead the series should be reviewed as a whole. I will continue with this series and I'm looking forward to it. \n I have a full review coming on Monday on my channel!", "date_added": "Tue Nov 27 18:28:24 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 30 19:31:18 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 83, "n_comments": 7}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "24885649", "review_id": "3b3aa5208bfded9b4aefabb0ce0969a0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "1. Yes, I'll be doing a review for this on my channel. \n 2. Yes, I'll be continuing the series. \n 3. No, I won't tell you who's \"team\" I'm on yet gY(tm)f", "date_added": "Mon Aug 13 17:01:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 01 22:04:57 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jul 02 16:53:29 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 238, "n_comments": 22}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "7261699", "review_id": "ecd7b4066513324ae34be17c0b0f1c38", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I was really struggling between 1 and 2 stars for this one so I'm compromising with 1.5 stars.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 13 16:56:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 04 11:05:43 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 04 15:59:35 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 77, "n_comments": 9}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "2a642720dee3ed230f5a110b85929727", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Exquisite. This book is best when you go into it with no expectations and simply enjoy the ride.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 18:11:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 31 15:36:44 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 42, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "518848", "review_id": "5e27393ff569c3f9557afa6451f92456", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was one of my first steps into fantasy/paranormal series back when I originally read it in middle school, and has stuck with me so much over the years that I recently re-read it. It is one of my absolute favorite books of all time, and the series itself is vastly under-rated, and not discussed nearly enough. \n First off, the world in this series is so fantastic. Really, it is two worlds in one. There is our world, and then there is the magical world that is separated from ours by a wall. The people in our world don't really know about magic, except for those who live near the wall. The closer to the wall you are, the more magical effects you will feel. For example, technology stops working the closer you get to it and more people are born near the wall with magical abilities. This borderland near the wall is a dangerous place to be, because its inhabitants are the first to be hit if something crosses over. \n Secondly, the magic system in this book is excellent. This book revolves around a type of necromancy, which believe me, I am tired of zombies too. But this isn't zombies. The main character is what this series calls an Abhorsen. She goes into Death (which is basically the River Styx), and makes sure the spirits there are contained. She wears a set of bells that each have a separate purpose, and require the wearer to have an expert knowledge in order to control, otherwise, they could end up traveling down the river themselves. The spirits range from the neutral, to the tricky, to the terrifying. \n Lastly, the supporting characters are excellent. Her companion is a talking cat. Need I say more? \n (Also, the villain in this novel rivals Voldemort.) \n Overall, this story is an excellent one. The heroine is strong, without being unrealistic. The world is fantastic, foreboding, and full of surprises. 5/5 stars.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 18:09:25 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 28 11:33:24 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8c6b2fa6608814033375191a10f4eb98", "book_id": "37442", "review_id": "fc992f497f68f7b83f53664ebaa91790", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Overall, I enjoyed this book, but not for the reasons I thought I would. I went into this book (after having already seen the musical) expecting something fantastical, and mostly positive. What I got was a series of mostly unhappy events for our main character, followed by an ending that left a lot of unanswered questions. But, I think that's the whole point. It's a fairy tale without the neatly wrapped package at the end. It is a discussion about education, friendships, religion, love, and politics, and it is not supposed to be pretty.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 18:08:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 28 10:40:09 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sun Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "31357264", "review_id": "840fec043a375da318045f5ceda9296e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The plot was good...but the reason for the low amount of stars...was because...you really needed to read the books before this...because the author would make Kat (the main character) reference about the past, but wouldn't give much of what happened. I have read many books that have been part of a series...and it didn't matter what book you started with...past aspects would be told about to keep you up with story...this one had too many references to the part...and not enough explanations...", "date_added": "Wed May 31 11:59:25 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 01 13:29:46 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jun 01 13:29:46 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "30095464", "review_id": "fe124a178aebbbc682b911bfca4494c6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I thought about giving this book...just 4 stars...but in my words...would have said it deserved 4.5 stars... \n But now...after finishing it...I have to give it 5...it deserves more than 4...at least 4.75...so it's closer to 5 than 4... \n It loses .25 stars...because of those blasted names...lol... \n It was a great book...from beginning to end...and it had me changing my mind as to who they\"true\" villain was...and I LOVE that in a book!!!", "date_added": "Sat Mar 18 16:10:31 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 26 14:17:45 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Mar 26 14:42:23 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Mar 18 16:10:31 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "28374007", "review_id": "e4cb8465686bd77d0ef0d65a44720ca5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ooooohhhhh Myyyyy Gossshhhhh!!! This book is amazing!!! So many twists and turns...and each one I made the book that much better!!! I still have yet to decide which queen I want to win...", "date_added": "Sat Mar 18 16:09:46 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 31 11:11:48 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jul 31 11:11:48 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jul 24 17:07:59 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "27883214", "review_id": "fc15fb7913509fde0cb4337ff5e58c66", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I sooooooo loved this book!!! I loved the intrigue...and every time I thought I had things figured out...my Sherlock abilities failed me...lol \n It is a must read!!!", "date_added": "Tue Mar 07 14:31:14 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 12 11:51:58 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Mar 12 16:06:02 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Mar 07 14:31:14 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 12, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "20983362", "review_id": "ea151110043bbe2c9aa442fe9851e283", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I liked the premise for the book...but it wasn't for me. I just could not get into the characters...and it was a slow read...I love books to be more fast paced...", "date_added": "Tue Mar 07 14:26:24 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 12 11:52:24 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Mar 07 14:30:41 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Mar 03 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "25036395", "review_id": "2b6bcb067dc842692864c550e7c308c3", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I hate doing this to books...but if in the first 3-4 chapters I can't get into anyone of the characters I have to stop... \n The plot idea is great...and it's an easy read...but I just could not put my soul into it...nothing reached out and grabbed me...", "date_added": "Wed Feb 15 05:26:05 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 15 05:29:25 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Feb 15 05:29:25 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Feb 15 05:26:06 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "18006496", "review_id": "48bbf90c12fd3b52f1c111049686cbc7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "OOOOOOOOO MMMMMMMM GGGGGGGGosh!!! I loved every minute!!! Onto the next...", "date_added": "Thu Oct 20 19:11:10 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 29 11:04:26 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Oct 29 14:40:46 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "23430471", "review_id": "95a20d1ab5bdd50a5322c68e5d28093f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "There are many elements to this story...plot...characters...and more, which I really love...but of all those elements...I love how character Gideon told the story...I truly look forward to the next in the series!!!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 06 18:20:14 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 18 15:49:46 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jul 18 15:49:46 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "29769675", "review_id": "570827aac116a8c6b1d68d8f36a7905d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'd really give this book 3.5 stars... I enjoyed the book...it is an easy read...but I am not content on having her go through 7 guys...and choosing one. I may read the other stories...but sadly for me it's not a priority read...", "date_added": "Sat Jun 04 12:20:43 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 11 12:13:39 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jun 11 12:40:45 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "12954620", "review_id": "8a7b903dc8b31e92e10553258d513caf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A truly amazing read!!!...on to the next!!!", "date_added": "Sat Jan 23 18:40:15 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 31 12:27:05 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 31 12:27:05 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jan 23 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "23174274", "review_id": "ea898bb6a88e534e2277e234a0df6278", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I very much enjoyed the first book in this series...but really had a hard time getting into this book. I just could not get into the characters this round...and it just seemed like a much harder read for me...", "date_added": "Fri Jan 01 17:09:13 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 19 12:37:34 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jun 19 15:13:03 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "14995", "review_id": "47a69105651b007bf63b8138b5382b58", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I love Dean Koontz...but could not get into the story...", "date_added": "Fri Jan 01 02:35:05 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 05 12:33:54 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Mar 05 13:05:27 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "20821111", "review_id": "613b019a99991bbb2c21e3c8bf0f668b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book!!!...it was great to have the main character with a dark-side!!!", "date_added": "Fri Jan 01 02:29:25 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 01 02:32:28 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 08:39:37 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "15724396", "review_id": "cbefe6c85fe38e05b7be74e04f5191f4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is amazing!!!", "date_added": "Sat Nov 28 13:26:34 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 21 10:46:08 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Dec 21 10:46:08 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Nov 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "20821306", "review_id": "f60acc1d457fff4990934e9c52d7ea6f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed the story...but at times I struggled with what was happening...due to understanding the\"Psy\" and how it works...I look forward to the next book!!!", "date_added": "Wed Nov 25 12:58:49 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 27 08:26:07 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Nov 27 08:26:07 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "24751478", "review_id": "f1b24e868f54c19a359ebaea704546dd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is amazing...from beginning to end!!! A world without sound...until one moment...with that I will end...the rest you must find out on your own... Take my word for it...this is a book you must read...your senses will be renewed with each word!!!", "date_added": "Sun Nov 22 10:26:11 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 25 10:09:22 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Nov 25 10:09:22 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Nov 22 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "8709527", "review_id": "fef84f26135472b2a4e355afa61c4e34", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is a well written book!!! I loved the Vampire Academy books!!! The reason I only gave this book 3 stars...is due to the fact that I could not make a connection with the main characters. The Alchemists have a great ability...but their feelings coming through this book about vampires...really dampened my ability to make a connection with Sydney. I have always had a fondness for vampires and weres...so their disgust for them made it hard to read the book. I hoped with each turned page...I would fall in love with the book...but it didn't. The plot has a lot of great twists and turns...but I'm sorry...it's not a book series for me.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 19 17:43:36 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 19 17:53:24 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "6590600", "review_id": "5c7fd266bb7c378997a03c596c82572c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "...I need to say nothing more than this...this is book 7 of the series...and I am on to the next...lol!!!", "date_added": "Sat Nov 15 19:19:00 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 26 11:25:16 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Nov 26 11:25:16 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "5974150", "review_id": "69ff38d28599dec4000c0ee8d88326b3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another book down...totally amazing!!! Onto the next...boy i love this book series!!!", "date_added": "Tue Nov 11 08:57:31 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 15 19:08:07 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "3475012", "review_id": "2bbadcdac77f16722243a887415e60d1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "...another amazing book...that had me in tears...tears if joy at the ending...oooooh how I love these books!!! Onto the next...", "date_added": "Sun Nov 02 11:07:27 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 11 08:55:54 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Nov 11 12:14:03 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Nov 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "2420112", "review_id": "090e52aab868e4cc1fb79b0f801a44c5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "...let's start by saying...that inwant to shake all of you...who gave this book anything less than 4 or 5 stars...ooooh yes I do!!! This book is amazing from start to finish... \n I can understand if your favorite of the three sisters is not Camille...but please...this book has everything a lover of Sci-Fi...Romance...etc...could ever desire!!! \n I am going to write a much better review...so that anyone reading it...will go and pick it up and read it!!! I just need to begin the fifth book in the series...I am totally into reading the entire series....ooooooooh yeah!!!", "date_added": "Sat Oct 25 15:25:54 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 02 11:04:20 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Nov 02 12:32:02 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "371998", "review_id": "cd4bc6eaeae2a4b181b4048b180d9ccc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n As I said with the first book...and I am sure that I am going to be saying this with each book in the series...this book is AMAZING!!! I loved it from the get go...and it only got better with each page turn!!! \n This series is all about three sisters...Camille, Delilah and Menolly. Each sister is half Fae and half human...each with their own special powers. Camille is a witch, Delilah is a werecat...and Menolly is a vampire. \n They are stuck on Earth...away from their family in the Otherworld (OW)...and they must watch out for the other Subs that are living amongst them. As members of the OIA (Otherworld Intelligence Agency) it is their job to make sure that the other Supes stay in line...and if they don't they need to stop them. \n Sadly though...their powers get in the way of what they are doing...and even more sadly...by the end of this book...(spoiler alert)...they get a price on their heads from the place where they grew up...Y'Elestrial. The Queen...is not happy with them or their family for not backing her cause...and war has broken out... \n BUT...the drama does not stop there...Shadow Wing...a demon...is out for blood and to take over Earth and Otherworld. He and is band of evil...are looking for the Spirit Seals...which when all nine are together...will unlock all of the portals between Earth and Otherworld...and will allow him and his army to wreak havoc on all of those that stand in his way... \n THUS...the three sisters and their family and friends...must find a way to get the seals first...they now have one...and are looking for the second...in this AMAZING story!!! \n All of the characters have touched my heart...as I am sure they will touch yours...right now I am trying to figure out whom I love the most...Who is your favorite??? \n There is action and drama with every turn of the page...and unlike the first...this book is written from the view point of Delilah...she seems very naive...but as you will soon learn once reading it...she is far from that!!! She has spunk and a great heart...while at the same time...knows how to kick some serious ass!!! \n As I have said...the book is GREAT...and I am now on to reading the next!!!", "date_added": "Sun Oct 05 18:09:04 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 11 13:58:14 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Oct 11 15:10:08 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "793298", "review_id": "0e7787edc381cedc75e5650d0f8e34b6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a great book...from beginning to end. I have to admit that I am confused when I read other reviews about this book...especially from those that give it one...two...or even three stars. I found every page and plot twist to be an absolute delight...as well as...the way she wove each of the amazing main characters into the story!!! The three sisters...though sisters by blood...are different in their own rights...one being a witch...another being a Were...and the third being a vampire. The three of them...work their powers together to fight the evil of demons who are out to destroy the Earth and OW (Otherworld)... I am going to continue reading the series...and I truly encourage others to read this book...and don't stop...until reaching the END!!!", "date_added": "Sat Oct 04 11:15:57 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 05 18:07:51 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "11918", "review_id": "95cc8f83fcc6b5478bcc32b3d55ba493", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I really enjoyed this book...and I almost gave it 5 stars...but...and yes there is a but...the book just was a bit of a hard read for me..I needed a bit more action to take place at certain times in the story... \n Well you may be saying to yourself...well she said she would give it 5 stars...so she must have liked it...and I did... \n Here is what I highly liked/ loved... \n I loved the characters...each and every one of them...Kelley Armstrong...is an excellent writer...she knows to make the words describe characters to a tee. Her words truly brought to life...Eleana...Clay...Jeremy...and so on... \n I loved Eleana...she is strong willed...and knows exactly what she wants...though her emotions...like any human...get in the way of things. \n I crushed over Clay...though I think if he had done to me what he did to Eleana...he would truly find himself without his \"pride and joy\"...lol \n The plot is amazing...I loved all of the twists and turns... \n But...and here is the but...I needed a little more action in and out of the sheets...and less story explanation... Yes, I do like to know about what is happening with each twist and turn...and I like to really get down to the background of what things are leading up to other things...but...I need more drama...and conversation...and less of the MC (main character) explaining everything down to the last moment, second, etc... \n I am definitely going to be reading the other books in the story...and will be watching to TV show... \n I bow to you...Kelley Armstrong...you are an amazing author!!!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 27 20:29:57 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 27 20:47:24 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "12425532", "review_id": "35ca94e19eec1d15fa241bebb92fa631", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n From the very beginning...I had a a hard time setting it down...but alas...I did have to get some sleep...and then have some fun on vaca away from my Kindle...LOL \n This book is amazing... \n I am a lover of super-natural beings...and love reading books about vampires, werewolves, etc. It was great to read a book about \"mere-folk\"...oops sorry...they don't like being called that...they are to be referred to as Syrena. \n Emma...is the main character...and a high school student that loses a close friend during a swim in the ocean...but not before tripping into her soon to be boyfriend...Galen (a Syrena) who has tracked her in hopes of helping the two facets of the Syrena...those of Triton...and the other of Poseidon. \n While Emma grieves...Galen stays close to her...not just for the hope of keeping his kind alive...but also because he feels drawn to this girl...who shows signs of being a Syrena herself... \n Things happen...and the two become closer...first for just the show of keeping Emma's mom happy...but then their love comes forth...and soooo many others things start to pop into place...and Galen becomes torn...between duty and love. \n I go could into more details...but I think those are enough...because it is the classic love story...and the author, Anna Banks has done an excellent job of putting each of the words together to make a story soooo worth reading over and over again...and makes you want to continue reading the series...which...of course I am!!! \n I highly recommend this cook to anyone that loves a love story...and wants to dive deep into the waters of the Syrena!!!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 20 15:17:17 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 26 16:34:59 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jun 25 09:06:14 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "15059301", "review_id": "bf807671ac9b56a20e5091662c98dfb1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Simply Amazing!!! \n I never thought that I would find another vampire romance...as innocent and alluring...as I did when reading Twilight...until now... \n Just like I entitled this review...this book is simply amazing!!! Each word sets the stage...for the horror...fear...friendship...love...and then betrayal...that takes place...between the characters...Aria and Blaith... \n Both are strong characters...each having strong beliefs in their own side of the war... She wanting the freedom for the humans...who are under the vampires rule...which, if they aren't fighting to stay alive away from them...then they are having to pray that death comes quickly, as either a blood slave or worse...being completely drained... \n He...sees that the vampires time to rule is now...and good...because for too long they have had to live in hiding...always wondering when a strong human would come...and kill them all. \n Both are fighting for freedom...and then...at the heart of it all...fighting for a love that they are both needing and wanting... \n Blaith saved her...and she in turn saved him...but both now feel betrayed by each other...and Aria now on the run...and Blaith wants nothing more than to see her caught and dead... \n I am definitely going to be reading the next book...I must know what happens!!! I can't believe in my heart that their love is over...", "date_added": "Mon Jun 02 15:09:47 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 03 07:01:56 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jun 03 10:28:51 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "19395125", "review_id": "4bd3851553e52c10018535e01da2bfd8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "...I am going to write a huge review...because this book is Amazing!!!...from start to finish!!!...and I need the sequel to come quickly!!!...*review to come soon*", "date_added": "Sun May 18 10:42:58 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue May 20 16:57:03 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue May 20 16:57:03 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun May 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "8898748", "review_id": "efd221483ce0ed6257797da53fab9862", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love it...I love this whole series...on to the next...", "date_added": "Sun May 11 13:29:32 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue May 13 19:58:18 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue May 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "11500217", "review_id": "6a680a11591298f72d651c3414f7b9b0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I really debated what score to give this book...for me it is between 3-4 stars...not quite a 4 for some aspects...and definitely lower to the 3 for other aspects... \n For me...I had a hard falling in love with either one of the main characters...I kept reading the book, because of loved the premise for the book...and the book is very well written...I just had a hard time reading a book that has a girl going through struggles in her life due a mother with psychological problems...and then on top of that...the angels of a God have been sent to end the world... \n Penryn must overcome many obstacles to save her sister, who has been taken by a group of angels... \n Penryn is a ver strong minded character...but for me I just could get attached to what she had to go through and accomplish... \n Then there is Raffe...an angel...cut and thrown out by his own kind...who finally agrees to help Penryn find her sister...he truly annoys me...though I did laugh from time to time by the remarks he made...and his actions...(hard to see angels as being sooooo smug...lol) \n All in all...I liked it...but got aggravated by my non-attachment to the characters... \n Makes you wonder if the world will end this way...hmmmm", "date_added": "Wed Apr 23 16:20:19 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 23 16:41:57 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Apr 23 16:41:57 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "20938234", "review_id": "cc594094b37bea530825dc92b98c3815", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I enjoyed the book...in many ways...first, it was a simple read...second, I like the character Cora a lot...she is strong willed knowing that she wants to live, and do everything possible to survive the illness she has...cancer...third, I loved the concept of the plot...and wondered if I would be soooo willing to say yes to a man, whose bond with me both confuses me...and causes a fire within my soul...hmmmm \n BUT, and yes there is always a but...I wanted more...I wanted to know more about Cora...more about Mr. Thorne...and maybe that will come out in the second part of the book, which I am now reading, because I want to know what happens...especially after she said \"yes\" to the treatment... \n So this is a good book, but I really wanted a bit more being the first part of the series...", "date_added": "Sat Apr 19 21:07:07 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 21 05:29:56 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Apr 21 05:29:56 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "20941219", "review_id": "79a3c57b8c74c8a21f287e2a6559c359", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I am definitely going to edit this review later...I want to take the time to explain about all of the elements I enjoyed about this story... There are a lot of great things written from the beginning to the end...it held me in my seat...and begged me to keep on reading...which of course I did!!! I recommend this book for anyone that lives a great adventure into saving the world... There are still soooo many questions left unanswered...and I must read the next!!! (More of a review to come soon!!!)", "date_added": "Thu Mar 13 16:05:38 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 15 16:32:07 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Mar 15 16:32:07 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Mar 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "13557166", "review_id": "a02ad91e076b4dabe0ed10efb3a98077", "rating": 3, "review_text": "....ok...there are many good things about this book...but there are things that I really didn't like...one being the main character...Loki. I, just for some reason could not get drawn to him...it was very hard to finish this book...because I just did not care about him. I loved the writing style...and the many characters popping up...but I just could not fall in love with Loki and his story...", "date_added": "Mon Mar 10 14:50:20 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 22 11:41:57 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Mar 22 11:41:57 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Mar 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "7747064", "review_id": "2dc84fb97e51837656c2d6b4c39da0e6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I never thought that I...the lover of horror films...sci-fi fantasy and such...would fall so heavily into a love story. Julie Kagawa...has woven an elaborate story...filled with mystery...intrigue...faeries...and sooo much more!!! Each word on the paper...draws you deeper and deeper into the Nevernever. With each sentence...each paragraph...each chapter...you become enchanted by the setting...characters...plot...and so on!!! This is the second book in the series...and I long to read the next. I can't wait to see what happens to the characters that I have come to love...Meghan...Puck...Ash...Grimlakin...and others. I think anyone reading this book would agree...that yes...the love story is amazing!!!...but it is ooooh so much more!!! I recommend this book for everyone!!! Now on to the next...", "date_added": "Sun Feb 16 14:19:05 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 19 17:42:32 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "6261522", "review_id": "35eccf847f3c1d248cebdaf15a888b94", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n OMG...this book amazing...from beginning to end!!! I loved all of the characters...and loved how the author wrote chapters...through the eyes of the serial killer. I through I had figured out what was happening...even who the killer might be...but that twist that she wrote in...totally blew my mind, and I love when books do that!!! I am definitely going to be reading the others in the series...even though I have to say...there was one point I wanted to tell Violet and Jay to \"get a room!\"...lol", "date_added": "Sat Feb 08 15:16:53 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 11 16:11:37 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "13546207", "review_id": "955bd1e62a80febe7f7f3f69f0016834", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is amazing!!! Yes...you may be saying to yourself...that it is just another zombie book...but you would be wrong!!! This is a book with zombies...but it ooohhh so much more! Every word...makes you want to read the next, especially since the main character is a girl\\woman...who survives...and though she has been able to survive on her own for 4 years...comes to find out...being with people...is at times hard...but...ooooh so much better. Kan (Kansas City Sunshine Monroe) is the main character...who trips...stumbles...fights...into a whole new world...once four people turn her solitary life upside-down. She meets new people...people she didn't think existed...and along the way finds love, friendship, deceit, secrets...and oooohhh so much more!!! Annie Walls has written a gripping tale...and each page has you guessing as to what is going to happen next...and I so look forward to the next book...and I am sure it is going to be just as amazing... WOW!!!", "date_added": "Thu Feb 06 19:07:11 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 05 21:07:29 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Mar 05 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "6644117", "review_id": "3bfc98e9ce0f8112064f71ec7d3a3873", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book from cover to cover!!!...it did have a feeling like the movie Labyrinth...but I loved this book sooooo much more!!! For a while I thought it might have turned into a love triangle...between Meagan...Puck...and Ash...characters whom I immediately fell in love with!!! But the book took a different turn...and I am definitely going to read the test of the books in the series!!! I must find out what happens next in the UnSeelie Court...let the reading begin!!!", "date_added": "Sun Dec 08 12:57:22 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 01 07:34:21 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jan 01 07:34:21 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "17255435", "review_id": "b45657765c67eaa69ce2df04cfda1676", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It is good read...but the story did not make me want to read more... :( I just did not fall in love with any of the characters...sorry", "date_added": "Sat Nov 30 14:41:53 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 02 17:52:45 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Nov 30 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "12813630", "review_id": "4ad65601e336d11de264a21584df733a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Where to start???...this book is the title for my review states...simply amazing!!! I have read many vampire books...and I hope to read many more...I just hope the others that follow are as well written as this one!!! Each and every character...each and every word...each and every page...were perfectly created. Holly Black did an amazing job telling a story about a seventeen year old girl...who lived in a world of madness, and yet, kept it together...and knew exactly what she needed to do...to keep living...to keep being human...while at the same time falling in love with a vampire. The words she used...were perfect...and with each step of the story...her words drew you on...wanting more!!! I truly recommend this book to everyone...especially those that love a good love story...but also to those who know what it means to be human...in a world full of monsters...lol", "date_added": "Mon Nov 25 16:33:12 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 30 03:26:21 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Nov 30 03:26:21 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "17225161", "review_id": "70ca81770864ee419225344d2534f196", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have to say that I loved reading these prequels...and I am now going to begin reading the first of the Grimm Diaries!!! Some people have talked about them not being that good...but I disagree!!! I found them light and very funny!!! I have loved the fairy tales...and to think of them this way...made me laugh...to even think of Snow White being a vampire...is hilarious!!!...and hilarious in a good way!!! I love to think of the fairy tale characters as being evil...and naughty...ooooh yeah!!!", "date_added": "Mon Nov 25 13:36:52 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 25 13:42:06 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Nov 25 13:42:06 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "15746882", "review_id": "9f1d7026449f7ae49372dcf6d1bab2b2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This last book...went just like the others...in a whirl of vampire against humans...humans against vampire...but then...with was is meant to be...Morganville...is back under some control...and Amelie the leader. But now...the story ends...and the best ending ever...I don't want to spoil things...but just say...tears fill my eyes...I am soooo delighted with this series...and hate to see it stop...but I am soooo very happy with the ending!!!", "date_added": "Sat Nov 23 14:06:54 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 24 15:52:22 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Nov 24 15:52:22 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Nov 23 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "9858714", "review_id": "204d213d68be521a7f7e93c1d4c78478", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow!!! This book is amazing...I am still realing from Tyne ending... This book held me in its grasp with the very first word!!! I am definitely going to be reading the next in the series!!!...I am still not sure who I trust...though I do love the character of Cameron...and would love to have her ability...especially since I am teacher...I would love to know what my students are thinking...or would I ??? On to the next book...", "date_added": "Tue Sep 17 16:20:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 02 15:46:46 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Nov 02 15:46:46 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "15739817", "review_id": "4292c3972355ed616193994f74f96311", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another amazing book!!! Rachel Caine is an amazing author...who knows how to keep you in suspense!!! I can't wait to read the next!!!", "date_added": "Sun Aug 04 09:58:05 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 14 18:46:32 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "7242100", "review_id": "d32bff8c28deea0281842465a7eb74ba", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amazing book...I loved it from beginning to end!!! I love the main character Celia...she is strong willed...and has a great eye for weapons...my kind of woman!!! I am definitely going to read the next book in the series...I need to know what happens next!!!", "date_added": "Sat Jun 01 15:56:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 03 13:01:48 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jun 03 13:01:48 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "10626594", "review_id": "0ea7316361d1051e48d854dc7f68e7f4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Have you ever heard the saying...if you catch a butterfly...set it free...if it goes and doesn't come back...it was never yours...but if it comes back...it's yours forever...well this book is about that saying...it's not just about the horses...but love between two that love the land they walk on...this is a magical story that I will definitely read again!!!", "date_added": "Fri May 24 14:48:05 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed May 29 13:46:29 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 29 13:46:29 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri May 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "13570854", "review_id": "918d99cf205cca0d1144480c0a23e67a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This story was amazing!!!...from beginning to end!!! I love the way that J.R. Ward writes...her words transform where I am...to where the story is taking place. I will say that there are times...when all of the plots going on...weigh on me...because I fall in love with two of the plots...but the third one doesn't interest me in the least...but...and I do say...but...that I continue...because I do not want to miss any word that she has written. Qhuinn and Blay has been a couple I have truly hoped would get together...and J.R. Ward has done an excellent job of writing their story!!! The struggles that those two have gone through...all of us can say we have gone through with the love of our lives...maybe not the same struggles...but struggles none the less. To finish...as I have said before...this book was and is amazing!!! Thank you J.R. Ward!!!", "date_added": "Tue Mar 26 09:10:40 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 19 18:07:27 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Dec 21 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "42898", "review_id": "786af35ac55b7853a78ea99b5f1d39b5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "...there are sooo many things I want to say about this book...and about the others that I have read in the series...they and this is incredible!!! I am onto the next...oooooh yes...", "date_added": "Wed Mar 13 11:15:56 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 28 18:52:09 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Apr 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "42900", "review_id": "130bbd5b329e22be04f8efdc23212415", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oooooooo Mmmmmmm Ggggggg...I just finished the book... \n The book is amazing...I loved every minute of it...I am on to the 4th in the series!!!", "date_added": "Wed Mar 13 11:15:52 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 23 18:01:33 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "10439221", "review_id": "a403806b2d6320a71a5e48c15e1642eb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "....this book is good....but I could not get into the characters... I did love Baird...for having to put up with Olivia...and yes it does have some steamy loveliness...but with Liz being soooo damned stubborn...it totally turned me off...it was hard to get the second half of the book read...", "date_added": "Mon Mar 04 15:20:03 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 06 17:35:21 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Mar 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "12558285", "review_id": "e81bb37f16989a8e6d787b22e8ebaac4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I liked this story...but... \n I had a hard time liking the characters...for how strong a personality Alyssa has...she is very determined...I pictured her being able to speak up with herself when it came to Jeb... \n As for Jeb...I did not connect with him...some part of his personality was missing for me... \n I love the premise of going back to Wonderland and fixing the mistakes...but I did not get drawn into the action taking place...", "date_added": "Sun Mar 03 12:55:42 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 04 11:20:28 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Mar 04 11:20:28 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Mar 03 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "3697927", "review_id": "b0c59aecafe49ff8174ae378993565c1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "If you have ever fallen in love with fairy tales...you must read this story!!! It is very well written...and each word keeps you longing for the end...and wanting to know what happens!...I heard this story when I was young...but never quite this elegantly!!!...I could and will definitely read it again!!! ...the story makes me wish to be a princess...but I wouldn't want to dance every night...lol", "date_added": "Sat Feb 16 12:49:56 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 24 16:34:13 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Feb 24 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "13414055", "review_id": "c86f577028883a3dc8709ea487885d0d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is another great book...I love each and every character...I am sooooo glad there is another book coming out soon!!!", "date_added": "Sat Jan 26 12:59:25 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 28 16:10:07 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "10549501", "review_id": "c11856978a0d1c929fb873060f136b33", "rating": 4, "review_text": "...oops...I accidentally took this off of my just finished reading shelf...I have loved every book in this series...and I am going to be going on to the next!!!", "date_added": "Wed Jan 16 09:34:21 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 16 09:35:39 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jan 16 09:35:39 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "6304335", "review_id": "04ca99ad8d915abdd5101d05f4fea39b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amazing book!!,...from the very first word...to the very last!!!...I look forward to reading the others in the series!!!!!", "date_added": "Wed Jan 02 10:37:57 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 12 22:06:30 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "13459547", "review_id": "9eea5f11f3026924e6dac8b4d4ef164e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a great book of short stories!!!...each one brings you closer to the characters in Kim Harrison's books. Reading those short stories makes we want to read more of her books!!! she is an amazing writer!!! Long live the Hallows!!!", "date_added": "Wed Dec 26 12:35:59 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 27 19:08:37 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Wed Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "7778981", "review_id": "9f9570efc103d0879c55d62edee17e24", "rating": 3, "review_text": "...this story has a lot to offer...and I loved the thought of angels coming to earth...but then I got a little bored with the story...especially when it took Bethany a hop, a skip and a jump to fall in love... \n I may read the other books in the series...I do love people falling in love...", "date_added": "Sat Dec 22 11:08:11 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 26 10:14:38 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Dec 26 10:14:38 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sat Dec 22 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "8788554", "review_id": "713b10a0564cd6722e4e9138911c3866", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is an amazing book!!! I was wrapped up in the story from beginning to end!!! Charley Davidson is a wonderful character...her humor kept me in stitches...and I truly hoped she was real...because I wanted to know her for real... \n I live in Albuquerque, NM...and love that the story takes place here!!! \n This story has mystery...humor...and hot sex...everything a reader could hope for!!! \n I am definitely going to read more of this series!!!...", "date_added": "Sat Dec 15 13:57:30 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 22 11:01:49 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Dec 22 11:01:49 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sat Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "62291", "review_id": "81da12dc456acb7119eaff604fef4f7f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It might have taken me forever to read the book...but I finally finished it!!!...and I am soooo thankful that I did!!! The story taking place is amazing!!! I could not believe the ending...I never expected it...OMG!!! George R.R. Martin is an amazing author!!! I would love to be able to get into his brain...his words...are outstanding...each step the characters take...make you beg for more!!! I am onto the next!!!", "date_added": "Sun Dec 09 14:07:08 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 10 12:30:41 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Nov 10 12:30:41 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "6339664", "review_id": "ef8fef929c4e609de0cdbecafcb9bfb1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved this book!!! I a, definitely going tombevreading the series...I love the characters...Nora...Vee...and Patch!!! I can't wait to learn what happens next...", "date_added": "Sun Nov 11 11:00:28 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 16 15:00:27 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Nov 16 15:00:27 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sun Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "5907", "review_id": "f5abdc78f436403f355e7ebb58cb6036", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Love this book...and I loved listening to it on the audiobook...though it did feel like cheating...lol", "date_added": "Sun Oct 21 12:53:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 11 10:59:28 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Nov 11 10:59:28 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sun Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "11410430", "review_id": "714e98ce1d9ef4efe642c1be7a97de65", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book...and look forward to reading others by this author...it is great to have someone there who will ALWAYS be there to watch over you...protect you..,and love you...that is what Rachel has...in her love...Logan... \n Definitely a book I will read again... \n More a review to come...just need to find the time...lol", "date_added": "Sun Oct 07 14:24:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 20 17:59:29 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "10866624", "review_id": "390f1d41645feb8e4bc93ec659e9bdd9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ooooh my gosh...I never thought the book would end the way it did...WOW!!!....I loved reading this book and will definitely read it again...WOW!!!.. \n (more of a review to come soon)", "date_added": "Fri Sep 28 13:49:51 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 07 12:54:52 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Oct 07 12:54:52 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "8705784", "review_id": "7c60028d867ca04b472b9699ed340467", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I enjoyed the story...but it didn't keep me perched on the edge of my seat wanting more...I think a lot has to do with the love triangle about to happen...I am not into love triangles... \n I may read the others in the series...but not right a way...", "date_added": "Mon Sep 10 16:41:01 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon May 09 17:14:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "9284655", "review_id": "1ad5d4afa745d3fe107570a2e5f99041", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n This book has me sooooo emotional!!!...and not in a bad way. This book is so very well written, and I am very glad at how the author has written each of the characters acting with each new piece of the puzzle... \n I have totally fallen in love with each of the characters...though I have to say that I can tell I am not going to be a big fan of Kishan...and I guess its because I love Ren so much...and I want him and Kelsey to be together forever!!! \n Kelsey is the young, vibrant young lady...that has had to put up a wall around her heart, due to the loss of her parents. Now working in a circus for some college money, she finds herself being pulled into the love of a white tiger that she is taking care of...later she finds out that fairy tales do happen...and that her white tiger is a Prince that has been cursed...and when able she sees the man...and finds out that she...she...is the special one...whom can help him to break the \"curse.\" \n She agrees to help Ren (Dihren)...and discovers with each of the adventures that takes place...that not only is she in love with the tiger...but with the man...and now not only is she scared to be with him...but is scared to be away from him...and she wonders...is she ready to let the wall down...to just have her heart broken...WOW!!!...what emotions she is going through...and so am I as I am reading... \n I am just sad at the end...but totally agree with how the author wrote the ending...Ren needs to figure out that his love for Kelsey is true...and not just part of the curse...and she needs to see what her heart tells her while she is not with him... \n I can't wait to read the next story...but I need a bit of a breather...because m heart is pounding with the love that is taking place... \n WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW!!!", "date_added": "Sat Sep 08 12:45:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 02 17:28:56 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "13581990", "review_id": "7858ba05f525951bda98bb92cd47e2e5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n So just to set the record straight...I finished this book last night, but my eyes would not let me write a review...lol \n Where should I begin...well I guess by saying that I truly loved this book!!! Just like the first book in the series...this book kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end...and sadly...I have to wait til April to read the next...I want to know now!!!! \n Allie...is truly an amazing character...and someone I wish I could be like...when it comes to having to tackle what life has thrown at her. Though she has become an immortal...or in some humans eyes...a \"monster\"...she is still someone who,has to face the big decisions...and decide from right and wrong. \n She is e everything to me a vampire should be...strong...kind...loving...caring...and most of all loyal. In this book she must go and find her \"sire\" Kanin...he is being held captive and will surely die a most gruesome way...without her. While following his call to her...she stumbles across her \"brother\"...Jackal...who is just a brother through being turned too by Kanin... \n He sees life very differently from Allie...and the two...though loathing each other...go together to save Kanin... \n Well...with each step things happen...and decisions must be made... \n I could give every detail...because every thing that happened in this story kept me intrigued to what was going to happen next...but...I will stop here...and end by saying that if you loved the first in this series...you MUST...read this book...and you will be glad you did!!! \n Hurry April...I can't wait to read more...", "date_added": "Sat Sep 01 18:01:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 08 10:38:54 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Feb 08 10:38:54 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "9565548", "review_id": "ad7e41bc0377963371fedcc3176c9498", "rating": 5, "review_text": "...my heart is all a flutter...this is such an amazing book...ooooh the love that is created within each of the chapters...and the end brings such a smile to my face!!!...more of a review to come soon...", "date_added": "Sat Sep 01 15:31:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 08 18:20:58 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "2299110", "review_id": "66f3c804dadb3aca67a2a106914b37a2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was an amazing book...for te longest time I have wanted to know about the life of Acheron...and this book has told me everything I wanted to know and more!!!", "date_added": "Sat Aug 18 14:39:23 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 28 09:39:56 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Sep 28 09:39:56 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "11808950", "review_id": "55f922005fa4687ac562a2cb1b557a1e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "...ooooh my...this book holds soooo many emotions for me....I loved every minute of this book...and really hope that some publisher publishes the sequel...I have to read Sweet Hope!!!... \n ...more of a review to come...", "date_added": "Wed Aug 08 16:29:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 01 11:50:15 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Sep 01 11:50:15 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "13514577", "review_id": "bab0cc0fc838abeaf903863953294135", "rating": 5, "review_text": "...review to come...need to get my thoughts in order...LOVE IT!!!", "date_added": "Mon Jun 18 17:45:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 08 18:05:36 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "13484401", "review_id": "28e3dec8440b6e0846b241d6546a3ba9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Each time I sit down to think of how to write a review...I wonder exactly what I should put down. I want anyone who reads my review to find it beneficial. \n This book really made my head spin...but, in a good way! The main character Jayne...totally drives the book, and keeps you...and me...the reader wanting more. I am a school teacher, and every year I get a student who is strong and very opinionated...just like Jayne. \n At times that can be a struggle to have to deal with, but in the case of this story, her strong will and constant command of herself...gets you to love her and think of her as someone you would want on your team...someone you know would have your back in tough times... \n Jayne has a mouth on her like no other character I have come across in the books that I have read, and she is not afraid to speak her mind...sometimes it does get her into trouble, but luckily Tony, a very close friend is there for her to make sure she watches her words... \n Jayne goes through a lot, and the plot that opens itself up to her...asks a lot of her, but she is able to face the challenges ahead of her...and when things get bad, you get to see her and her true feelings...she may look like a true bad-ass, but she has a heart that is caring and loving, and you see that when lives are lost...or so you think they are. \n This is a story that I am going to read over again...once I have read the others in the series...I love all of the characters, and feel sadness when Tony leaves the story at the end...I did not see that coming... \n This is an excellent story, and if you love fantasy...with witches, werewolves, faeries, etc....this is the book for you...the elements are running rampant throughout this story... \n and...in the end when the characters must decide whether to become a changeling or not...and what their special \"fae\" powers will be...it gets you to wondering!!! \n I definitely recommend this book to ALL...and hope that you find it as rewarding a read as I did!!!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 14 20:18:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 19 08:44:25 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jun 14 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "13556600", "review_id": "c5a681d03678ae5b86a65695e33e37bc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n This is such an excellent story...I am sure where to begin... \n Things i might say/write...might spoil the book...so only read my comments if you have finished the story... \n It is such an amazing love story... \n The characters...Sorcha, Paula, Ben, Luanne, John, etc...were characters that I fell in love with...and hated...lol \n The author did an amazing job of bringing those characters to life...even though the story itself is a simple read...the author made sure with the use of the write words to truly bring this story to life. \n I was hooked from beginning to end!!! \n I recommend this story to everyone!!! I am a teacher and am thinking I may read this book out loud to my students...I think they would love it! \n When it comes to my reviews I am not like many on here...not sure yet exactly what I need to write, but I just want to say that I have never seen this type of story plot done before...and that is excellent! So many times authors seem to copy each other in order to get people to read their stories. \n The plot about a split soul...being lived in both past and present...is so very interesting. I have always wondered what it would be like to live back in the seventeenth or eighteenth century...or what it would be like to have been reincarnated and to know about one's other past lives... \n This story brings a new twist to those thoughts...and held me entranced to the very last word...and even more so, because I wish there was more of the story!!! \n If anyone reads my review...all I can say is READ IT!!!!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 18:32:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 14 11:06:00 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jun 14 11:06:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "10331417", "review_id": "6749a5b66e33760bc4e3a7a1c3667674", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed reading this book...yes it's a love story...with adventure...lies...secrets...and so much more!!! Andrea Cremer did a great job...of weaving this fantastic tale...and I look forward to reading the next...and finding out what happens with Calla...Shay...Ren and the packs!!!", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 10:09:01 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 09 18:03:08 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Mar 09 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "6131164", "review_id": "2fb4890debdd0adc9a386bdb22772d00", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is amazing!!! I loved every minute of it...and evey word...every character...EVERYTHING!!!...more of a review to come soon...", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 14:57:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 11 20:23:15 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Mar 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "10025305", "review_id": "70c619e623b8cf60eea1724e011fc070", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was truly an awesome story...and happily there is another book to come!!! I can't wait to read it...every word is pure gold...and well laid out. The words roll with such grace and make such precise hits to the soul of the reader, because you never want to put it down!!! Trust me...if I did not have to get up each day and go to work...I would have kept reading it in one sitting!!! \n OMG...this book makes you become like Tessa...and fall in love with two men at the same time... \n I am definitely going to read it again!!!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 14:56:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 07 14:35:34 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Dec 07 14:35:34 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sat Nov 24 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "7171637", "review_id": "f90d489a3a71bc27e2310d2dd415a2e7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "...this book is magnificent... \n It held me tightly with each word...with each swing of a sword made by Will and Jem... \n ...I had not idea who the Magister was...and that is what is sooooo wonderful!!!.... \n Now I am on to the next in the series...", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 14:56:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 24 15:13:28 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Nov 24 15:13:28 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "9376345", "review_id": "cd1067f2294f85614fba82ed9646ae9f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "...great book...I love the series!!!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 14:52:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 04 17:37:55 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "11454587", "review_id": "087f77d50c0b288bdede3efe1be26395", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved the book!!! Rachel Hawkins is a great author!!! From the first book to this one...every scene has been perfectly done...and the way she writes...has you in love with the characters...yes...even the naughty ones...lol I will say though...that it is sad to see the story end...but I loved how things ended!!!...and I look forward to reading her other stories! So...in short...I definitely recommend that you read this three book series...I feel you will love it as much as I did!!! Hugs :)", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 14:44:02 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 15 13:53:07 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Feb 15 13:53:07 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1a38ade7d5888c6c22446ba79956dea6", "book_id": "8428064", "review_id": "483ef7f9a64316ecd0575d4ea14fbb0d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "When I first read the first story...I knew that I would have to read the next...and the next...and the next!!! I quickly fell in love with the characters...Sophia...Jenna...Archer...Cal...and quickly read it from cover to cover...this is how I feel about the second book!!! Again, I have fallen head over heals for the characters...though before I was Team Archer...now though...I am more inclined to say...I am Team Cal...lol This book from beginning to end...will have you sitting on the edge of your seat...waiting to see what is going to happen next...I am just a bit upset...because there is a cliff hanger...and now I must...MUST...read the next!!! To be honest though...I truly look forward to reading the next...so with that said...on to the next...", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 14:42:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 14 16:55:10 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Feb 14 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "25ac3067062ee9b69cd26ae8e9cbf643", "book_id": "33021969", "review_id": "493d0632f0d6666a3f1d66968c9aa2d5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another big hit from Kristen Painter \n When the Sandman goes missing it's up to Jayne Frost to figure out the clues before it's too late. It doesn't hurt that she has the help of a sexy vampire and an even sexier firefighter who happens to be an elf..", "date_added": "Thu Feb 16 16:57:38 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 16 17:11:03 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "25ac3067062ee9b69cd26ae8e9cbf643", "book_id": "25279671", "review_id": "2218f53fd08475577befe3979daa1042", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Simply wonderful! \n Loved the latest Paranormal Dating Agency book. Way to go Milly you have another hit can't wait for the next edition.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 23 20:23:58 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed May 06 17:32:20 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed May 06 17:32:20 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Apr 23 20:23:58 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "25ac3067062ee9b69cd26ae8e9cbf643", "book_id": "24949086", "review_id": "1bb845100d67188a1bcb93422c71975f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Trina does it agian! \n The 9th installment in the Alexa O'Brien Huntress series is amazing! Alexa is learning to adjust to her new life as a vampire but will these adjustments cost her the ones she loves?", "date_added": "Sat Apr 18 18:23:00 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 22 19:51:23 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Apr 22 19:51:23 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Apr 18 18:23:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "25ac3067062ee9b69cd26ae8e9cbf643", "book_id": "18247034", "review_id": "e965fe35b764efbaacec429e40444475", "rating": 4, "review_text": "loved it!", "date_added": "Thu Jan 15 15:48:56 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 19 19:09:42 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "25ac3067062ee9b69cd26ae8e9cbf643", "book_id": "20734697", "review_id": "bb887b176019930b7fa77ed4cd4d6266", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Uninspired \n This was a very boring book. I found myself skipping pages. Then it ends on a cliffhanger. Would not recommend.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 05 17:13:25 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 08 18:24:52 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Dec 08 18:24:52 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Dec 05 17:13:25 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "25ac3067062ee9b69cd26ae8e9cbf643", "book_id": "22616668", "review_id": "77acce561319baf97ff3515dc93f032b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another awesome read! \n Another awesome read! \n Simon was a wounded vet who's healed by love. A great shifter novel and I can't wait to to read the next installment.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 28 20:28:17 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 28 20:28:17 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jul 28 20:28:17 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "25ac3067062ee9b69cd26ae8e9cbf643", "book_id": "22097027", "review_id": "5148abed12c970dd0bd5c52dd4455c05", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Allah's Captive \n this is the third installment and they keep getting better. I am so hooked on these characters. As they move closer to their destination I'm cheering them on.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 13 21:07:42 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 17 18:40:36 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jul 13 21:07:42 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "25ac3067062ee9b69cd26ae8e9cbf643", "book_id": "22598261", "review_id": "fe6c954c26b2c0e78cceff35b88f7560", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another awesome book. \n Loved this one and can't wait til the next one. Recommend it to everyone who likes a good shifter book.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 13 14:51:24 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 17 17:58:39 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jul 13 14:51:24 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8190d187fdda6a08a8408e58e5deeafa", "book_id": "7135858", "review_id": "cbff85664d3b44cdeebd0cb4657d85ec", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I literally couldn't put this book down. I read it in 2 days. But the ending made me so mad. Maybe she is planning on making another book to finish it? Maybe she already did? I'll have to look into it, but if not, that is a crappy way to end a book. I almost want to make my own ending in my mind. \n Over all I really enjoyed this book. It was similar but far better then the fallen series in my opinion.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 21 13:27:50 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 07 12:39:08 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jul 07 12:39:08 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8190d187fdda6a08a8408e58e5deeafa", "book_id": "10445208", "review_id": "9afeb651454678cd3ce0e77f986bb7a0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was very excited to read this book from Maria. Her other books I was very pleased with. I love how the book started and how she met the men she would be traveling with, but it seemed the whole book they traveled. I loved the world the Author creates, as in all her other books. \n I will read the next book in the series.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 11:10:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 08 11:18:45 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8190d187fdda6a08a8408e58e5deeafa", "book_id": "3227063", "review_id": "5706f046d28a7d917566b30607640555", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was recommended to read this book from a friend. I read the back and thought it sounded interesting, so I dug in. \n I had a hard time with the first few chapters and had to stop reading for a little while, only to force myself to continue. I felt the Author jumped alot from person to person without a clear picture to who they were. Once I got comfortable with Azoth and Dollface, the book would jump to someone else and I would be lost again. \n The middle of the book got more interesting and the end I couldn't put it down. \n The world that is created in this book seems very harsh, but I am glad the author doesn't hide the reader from any of it. \n I decided to jump in and try out book two.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 10:52:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 08 10:58:41 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8190d187fdda6a08a8408e58e5deeafa", "book_id": "60510", "review_id": "a94122221ea3d5e9e0d95d771aadcc8e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I bought this book when a book store was going out of business. What brought me to buy it was the name and what I read on the back of the book. I started reading the first chapter and I couldn't put it down. I read that book in 2 days and was dying to buy the next one. \n I love the characters and what they go thought. Valek made my heart beat fast and I actually was surprised when he announced his love for Yelena. \n I'm glad the author didn't hold things back and let the picture to painted of what Yelena went through in her childhood that lead her to where the story starts.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 10:43:28 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 28 09:20:12 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "45e07a3c508918c850195ae51cf2ed1c", "book_id": "1620472", "review_id": "6a03f5291c18b85d2f366becc68dd413", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Jostein Gaarder is IMHO the most undervalued writer of the era.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 25 06:17:10 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 07 02:13:15 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "45e07a3c508918c850195ae51cf2ed1c", "book_id": "45978", "review_id": "89d95797da006a256a285639c37cd333", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Don't believe everything people write in reviews. After all, do you know those reviewers? Do you know what credentials they have? This is book is OK. Well worth spending a few evenings on in a comfy chair with a large cup of tea.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 02 01:47:17 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 02 01:48:47 -0800 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "45e07a3c508918c850195ae51cf2ed1c", "book_id": "577555", "review_id": "b48882968e2ba20bda8d6b4f29f6edd2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Unfortunately, George MacDonald is a very underrated writer. His \"fairytales\" are extraordinary and his spiritual work is baffling.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 29 03:04:14 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 12 13:42:56 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "45e07a3c508918c850195ae51cf2ed1c", "book_id": "127455", "review_id": "a43f61392328ffdf87acee72682c2300", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I didn't think much of this book when I picked it up at the library, but it became more amusing, more interesting, more exciting and more fascinating with every chapter. \n I'm not one for suspenseful books, but this was a great read. I can't wait to get my hands on the second book of the series.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 20 13:58:35 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 20 14:05:10 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b4c7d9b63c18a86ffea05e90858f15e0", "book_id": "13422433", "review_id": "d199d5a5d265f9a362b91e450c3a55fc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "So I got this book off a free offer through B&N, not knowing what to expect. The description lead me to believe that the guys were in a relationship with each other as well as with other women, so I was hoping this would be a queer, polyamourous relationship. I was disappointed. The author goes to great lengths to describe just how close these two are, but then does better gymnastics than the protagonist to 'no homo' the guys from any contact or feelings other than the \"brotherly\" type... I left feeling a bit queer-baited, but maybe that's just me. \n Other than that, the plot and writing are about what you would expect from your standard paranormal romance. It's a light read at only 165 pages and the pacing is quick. The sex scenes are steamy, even with the two guys apparently having been the only guys in history to figure out how to not touch once while having a threesome. The villain storyline seemed a little superfluous and only added for *Drama*, but that wasn't needed when there was adequate drama in the tension between the three characters. \n Overall, not a bad read. I don't regret picking it up, especially for free. Just know that it's definitely for the hetero seeking set of readers.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 04 07:33:54 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 04 08:03:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Nov 04 08:03:03 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b4c7d9b63c18a86ffea05e90858f15e0", "book_id": "558833", "review_id": "a9b7418e8cf880804ae2f5f944b657b2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is seriously fucked up, and I loved every second of it. The main character is selfish, morally bankrupt, and pretty much entirely self serving, but he's so brutally funny that you still kinda want him to come out, if not on top, at least reasonably ok. others say that he's completely unrelatable as a character, but I think that's just because we fantasy fans want to believe in the innate goodness of humanity, that we all would rise to be the hero. In Apropos, I think we have the truest representation of how a real person would react to a given set of circumstances. \n Even more, I loved that the princess, Entipy, actually had a personality. she wasn't the naive waif who waits for her hero (mostly, anyway) and drops little tidbits about love and kindness defeating evil. she's stubborn, and a smartass, a bit sadistic, and generally all \"fuck yeah I'm gonna go ride those unicorns, try and stop me.\" she's gonna make the worst Queen, it's hysterical. \n Watch out for the plot twist at the end, it's a whammy.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 25 03:09:14 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 10 18:27:50 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b4c7d9b63c18a86ffea05e90858f15e0", "book_id": "21787", "review_id": "f34b4876dbbfacbf315301e628032eae", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of the few books I've read where the movie is just as good as the Book. This is seriously a great read for everyone young and old. My mother read it and then I read it, and we both rolled with laughter spouting off quotes to each other.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 25 19:19:17 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 25 19:21:12 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b4c7d9b63c18a86ffea05e90858f15e0", "book_id": "13350", "review_id": "58a52c11e78dcb385411540f5e1ce36a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Facinating Stories. It's like a blending of the Harry Potter Series put into the Climate and Scope of Lord of the Rings. Great books for young and old. Skip the movie. It's so different it's not worth seeing.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 24 23:39:49 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 17 18:27:45 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b4c7d9b63c18a86ffea05e90858f15e0", "book_id": "18122", "review_id": "fd287c18c65d370c4d41707af54779a4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it!", "date_added": "Mon Mar 24 23:37:47 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 24 23:37:57 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b4c7d9b63c18a86ffea05e90858f15e0", "book_id": "119322", "review_id": "f28bf70f6e71221746c2974b404f3d39", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I read this in 7th or 8th grade, and I remember it being Fantastic! I loved the series, and read the enire thing in about a week, which is pretty good, because the series consists of three decent sized books. Have to say, I don't think it turned me into an Atheist. To be honest, I didn't even pick up on that in the Books, being a KID!!! But anyways, that's another fight. :sigh:", "date_added": "Mon Mar 24 23:32:23 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 24 23:35:48 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2001", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b4c7d9b63c18a86ffea05e90858f15e0", "book_id": "455933", "review_id": "fab4b124979eeed51ce502e254edefe8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A young adult book, pretty short. I read it in one night. But an interesting take on the Fantasy theme of a young girl actually belonging to a fairy world.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 24 23:30:07 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 24 23:32:09 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b4c7d9b63c18a86ffea05e90858f15e0", "book_id": "40217", "review_id": "2207ac8faf9c952d7c3c5085a2db8d4c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A great read, it kept me turning pages long after I should have put it down for the night. Sadly, I had read a blurb about it on a library catalog page with completely spoiled the main catalyst of the story, but it was still interesting reading up to the event, and then the repercussions. Great continuation of the series, can't wait to read the next one.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 02:15:01 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 03 10:57:13 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9379a05acd7b1752695fe92b3cd5da42", "book_id": "18635622", "review_id": "fe9bc720fe95db4815bb23d0a8bb817a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I read this book in the course of a day! I was so excited to be back in Westeros since Winds of Winter is still not published.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 16 20:25:37 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 17 09:12:04 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 17 09:12:04 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jan 17 09:11:57 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9379a05acd7b1752695fe92b3cd5da42", "book_id": "15783514", "review_id": "d92b903a72081610759038b460ec7d96", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"I saw the world I had walked since my birth and I understood how fragile it was, that the reality I knew was a thin layer of icing on a great dark birthday cake writhing with grubs and nightmares and hunger.\" This is my first Neil Gaiman novel and WOW! He is a great storyteller. Told through a child's perspective it made the sinister elements of the story more terrifying. However, it is also a story of friendship, overcoming evil with good, and a sense of wonder with the universe. I wish this book had been written when I was reading young adult fiction! It would have been deliciously frightening.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 26 09:18:31 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 31 13:11:08 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Dec 31 13:11:08 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "30165203", "review_id": "bf55dfa338a56b9043d11f8472c91ddd", "rating": 2, "review_text": "That was......I'm not sure what that was. Maybe it would've been different in book form instead of audiobook form, but I can't say it was enjoyable.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 03 18:33:34 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 14 17:02:10 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Oct 14 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "30653720", "review_id": "63fcb9774a781bac749ade28555086a8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This felt like a chapter, not a whole book, and certainly not the end to a series but it did wrap everything up in a nice bow.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 17 20:39:35 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 05 21:19:33 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "28449207", "review_id": "77d44ccd30bd5dc6779f65c702eff508", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved the author's other series and felt like it was one of the most inventive worlds that I had seen in a novel before. I was wrong. She has outdone herself. This is an excellent start to a series and I'm very much looking forward to seeing where it goes from here.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 05 16:39:11 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 05 16:41:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "28512486", "review_id": "b4086c62c4120307fcddcfdd75a4dacb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A solid ending to the series. Kiera's parts being in first person and Mather's being in third was still an awkward stylistic choice in my opinion. A lot happens in the book which is good, there weren't any parts where I felt like it dragged. I had close to no memory of the first two books which made getting into this one a struggle but slowly things started to come back to me.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 17 20:23:09 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 03 04:47:21 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Nov 03 04:47:21 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "30226723", "review_id": "6feb20c477fda639f6c8082b8eb1c941", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a solid third book in the series. I liked it better than the second one, for sure. I didn't like that it clearly isn't the end to the series, but I guess that just means there's more goodies to come.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 28 21:14:41 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 05 20:06:45 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Mar 05 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "25566212", "review_id": "ea336a102d9ad64c133395f79f0afb25", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I have loved all of Marissa's other retellings but struggled with this one. I didn't read the blurb on the back so I didn't know it was about the Queen of Hearts until well into the story. I enjoyed the surprise when I figured it out but had I known, I think it would have made me enjoy the story less knowing the romance and the bakery really would never come to be. I am not a huge Alice in Wonderland fan so maybe that is why I didn't enjoy it as much. I'm not sure what it was exactly that made it hit flatter for me but if you enjoyed the Lunar Chronicles, give it a go. You might enjoy it more than I did.", "date_added": "Wed May 18 19:48:05 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 20 20:01:24 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Dec 20 19:55:20 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Nov 30 11:04:13 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "29056083", "review_id": "2b28e4d68602e71b8dc8e4e8047590fa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars. It was fun being back in the world of HP and it was also neat to see the characters as older adults, dealing with the challenges of having kids that are struggling. The relationship between Albus and Scorpious was also very sweet.", "date_added": "Fri May 06 21:39:17 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 27 21:44:18 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Nov 22 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "20560137", "review_id": "0228e94f135d3e19abbb274c5371340d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 stars. If you enjoyed The Bone Season or Red Rising, chances are you will love this book as well. It switches between two perspectives, one male and one female, one from the privileged class which can compete for government roles, one from a lower class who becomes a spy in the home of the other's evil mother in an attempt to save her brother who was taken by the \"masks\". I was distracted at the beginning of the book and it took a while to figure out who was good, bad, upper class, lower class, etc. but it clicked once I was finally paying more attention. The change of perspectives and the timing of the changes was well done. The ending really sets you up for the next book.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 10 05:35:52 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 11 17:13:49 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Dec 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Dec 04 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "20958632", "review_id": "06559ed0fb0b44d98b292d8f8c75f663", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 10 05:35:21 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 28 19:05:05 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Nov 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "18602406", "review_id": "dd0408ea31f846f745e5d4ffbbcf2c84", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I didn't enjoy this book that much. I'm not sure why exactly but let's put it this way- I fell asleep listening to the audiobook and didn't feel the need or desire to go back and listen to what I missed. The whole time in Kansas was weird- the whole treating the mom like dirt to keep her at a distance was sad and not very believable, much like the now besties she has in her past enemy and her baby daddy. The new bad guy and the grandma of one of the witches just made things that much more complicated and then low and behold the yellow brick road has become a transport vessel? What?", "date_added": "Mon Nov 02 14:42:07 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 27 05:21:52 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "23012480", "review_id": "96d2daa98c65950a01471caa99219c5e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "If you've read one Janet Evanovich book, you've read them all. I'm not sure why she changed the name of the characters from Stephanie to Lizzy and Ranger to Wolf but she did and called it a new series. It's still a fumbling woman who doesn't quite have a grip on being an adult who needs the help of hot men to come in and save her. In this series, there is magic and even more ridiculous side characters but for the most part, it's the same as the Plum series.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 11 20:31:19 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 13 20:02:36 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "19549841", "review_id": "e5dc2b4f604993d6734f396877cdc69f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "There is a reason I have a Distracted at Work shelf and it is because sometimes when I listen to a book at work, I miss some of the story due to a boss that doesn't give me the time to pause the audiobook before she starts talking. So for anywhere from a few seconds to up to a minute or so, I miss what is going on in the book. (I sometimes wait and see if what she is saying is worth pausing the book for and that's why it can take as long as a minute to pause it.) When there are lots of interruptions, I can end up missing a lot and I don't enjoy a book as much as I might had I listened to it in my car or read it myself. I think this book was a victim to my work distractions. It had a very interesting premise to it and I'm definitely going to read the sequel to see where it goes but I can't tell you a lot about it since the story has so many gaps for me. The boss is out of town for a couple of days so I'll be much more focused on the goings on of book two.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 07 10:12:19 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 08 21:44:15 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "17404295", "review_id": "54570a783b947ea72aa77443604e0e24", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I just couldn't get into this one. Not a lot happens. The change from first person Mira to third person Mather was an odd choice as well.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 27 16:10:01 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 15 13:48:13 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Dec 15 13:48:13 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "21524446", "review_id": "ef4bbfd8e8a51c2a9e8a925bbfb8369e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm unfamiliar with the original story that this is a retelling of, but this story was still a strong one even without that knowledge. This story takes place in the middle east, well in the past, before technology, when people lived in tents and rode camels through the dessert. There is a kingdom with a king who is a good ruler but a very bad husband. He has married over 300 women but most die within a day. He goes from town to town and claims a new bride from each one after he has killed the previous one and the story starts when he comes to a town with a beautiful girl with a very loving sister. The sister makes herself more appealing than her sister in order to save her and gets taken as the bride. She's lucky though, she doesn't die. It appears she has some force inside of her that reacts with the force inside the king and she's protected from his magical force that was the demise of all former wives. This means that instead of a quick death, she's the queen of a kingdom and must find a way to survive in this new world that is so different from her own. \n The story is magical, told in an interesting way of only naming three or four of the characters- and each one named is male. All of the females have no names, yet they seem to hold most of the power.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 08 09:57:14 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 22 21:52:52 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Sep 22 07:10:24 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "20821111", "review_id": "e5d15f8c30b52780cbe403c7250803a3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a quick, fast, dystopian YA novel that sets you up for more books. There is a blood fever that came through the land and killed all of the adults who contracted it, but to each of the kids that contracted it, it left them with markings and special abilities. Society has attached these people with a stigma that is only getting worse, very similar to what the Jews experienced in Germany before the war. They are being blamed for all the poverty or struggle, they are being limited in social interactions, they are being threatened to be banned from the city, etc. Our main character is a girl with one eye who had the blood fever as a child. Nobody knows her skill though since she has been unable to produce it while running away to prevent being illegally bought underage to be some gross guy's mistress (and who wouldn't run away from that lovely scenario). Now that she's produced these special powers, the government wants to get rid of her but she's saved by a band of other people with special abilities and becomes a part of this group trying to bring the government down and put the rightful prince on the thrown. That's the basic premise of the novel in a nutshell. It didn't wow me but it did take me on an adventure that I want to see where it leads, so there's that. It is definitely in the same vein as An Ember in the Ashes, so if you enjoyed that book, you'll probably enjoy this one as well.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 03 21:58:45 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 28 18:59:47 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "15839984", "review_id": "285adc84420652be59ac8075458b132e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I wanted to like this more than I actually did. I just don't feel any tension with this author's love triangles. They just don't seem believable to me and lack depth. Plus, the main character was so easily flip flopping between loving and hating every other character in the story, her husband, her sister, Shade, etc.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 03 00:03:28 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 08 07:51:14 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Sep 08 07:51:14 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "18966806", "review_id": "5bdce3ded36bb808e189172b98de3af9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Such a perfect ending to the series. At one point in the story, I thought to myself, \"I don't want to say goodbye to these characters. I love them and their relationships and banter and the shades of grey they must live in.\" I love the bromance Darrow has with his stinky little friend and their fight/crying scene endeared me to them that much more. The \"Bye Felicia\" moment in the book was good for a quick laugh. I had to go listen to the book in my car during lunch on the day it was due and the throat punch came right when I had to go back to work. Talk about climax and not wanting to go back inside! \n I enjoyed the series and this book was such a fitting ending. I'm grateful that I read it, even with the violence, even when some of the twists tore my heart out, I'm going to miss these characters.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 02 23:13:14 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 13 21:23:50 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "18966819", "review_id": "574025eb8a9b47cd9e432f17abf925c1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I hardly had any memory of what happened in this book and my coworker is reading it and I felt I needed to read it again if I had any hopes of being able to discuss it with him. I'm happy I did. I love Sevro and the humor that he brings to the books. I love Darrow's kind heart and how he has to hide it in order to accomplish his mission. I love how he struggles and fumbles his way into becoming a leader that others are willing to follow. I enjoy how his relationship with Mustang is something that compliments each other. I'm super happy this series was written and am glad I'm reading through it again.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 02 23:12:47 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 28 22:15:53 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "13624688", "review_id": "d655eaf3f990700f0ffdb10285ca18e8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was a quick story but could've been even quicker and shorter. I felt like the intro was dragging in places and could've been sped up but then the book would've been even shorter and that might've taken it to novella status. I didn't love the story but thought it was interesting.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 27 21:51:32 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 29 21:05:04 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "12680907", "review_id": "9a827cba391466c260c6dfb80d79b0bb", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This was a heck of a long book (16 hours in audio form) for nothing much to have happened. For the first two books in the series to be so great, this one was certainly whomp, whomp.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 25 22:39:59 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 29 21:07:17 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Aug 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "22544764", "review_id": "8184ec34c75af25e6bfded5341d83196", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I wanted to like this more than I did. I felt like it was long with a lack of depth in the stories and characters.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 18 16:46:09 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 30 11:29:24 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Sep 30 11:29:24 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "6137154", "review_id": "3d2753ca8b0186fa2fca68bb72654d32", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked this story better than the first one and while I don't remember much about the first one, this one seems to deal with another world and the characters are new. There's Fire, a beautiful girl with the ability to read people's moods, thoughts, feelings and if people's defenses are down, can even manipulate them and control their actions. This makes her a powerful ally for a kingdom about to go to war. Add in the bachelor king, two bachelor prince brothers and a friendly princess sister and Fire is on an adventure to learn about where she came from and how she can use her powers for good, unlike her father who used the cruelly and left a reputation she's still trying to buck.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 13 21:22:15 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 18 21:56:16 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "15839976", "review_id": "62fdffadcdfa87fc2f50f42491a6aa55", "rating": 4, "review_text": "While I didn't feel like the protagonist was very relatable or even super likable, this tale of revolution is starting out on a strong note. I like that it is a male and not a sarcastic, snarky female who just so happens to have magical powers that make her super strong and she's the only one able to save the day. That has been too overdone in the YA, dystopia, sci-fi, revolutionary genre.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 13 21:08:55 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 02 23:04:31 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Sep 03 23:04:31 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "17399160", "review_id": "5b04cc040355e77bb22b94497986ea56", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Okay, so it's another series where a sarcastic, headstrong, independent lady ends up having hidden powers and taking on the evil/injustices in the world. So if you're thinking it's similar these series: Grisha, Shatter Me, Graceling, Divergent, Hunger Games, and the one by Redwine what starts with a D that I can't think of the title of this exact moment- then you are correct. Each series is pretty much the same or similar premises, but they each are just unique enough to where I'll keep reading the almost same story. If you liked any of the other series that I mentioned, then chances are you will enjoy this one as well. I'm excited to see where this one leads and how the love triangle plays out.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 01 21:37:01 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 24 20:44:18 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "7e7685ac814eb399ee2e6afdd8e9f216", "rating": 5, "review_text": "If language bothers you, stay away from this book and watch the movie instead. This book was incredibly enjoyable! The most unrealistic part of the book are the large personalities of the astronauts. They were fabulous. Shout out to Martinez's sarcasm! \"Mexican food is the best kind of food there is\" (paraphrased, not exact) is one of the best lines of the book. Everybody in book club liked the book, though some admitted to glossing over the technical parts. The movie did a pretty great job of following the book but left out the profanity.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 30 22:08:13 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 10 06:11:10 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "21570318", "review_id": "cdd62ad2060e3c47ee6c948be864acf8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I didn't like this nearly as much as j was hoping to. I didn't find the protagonist extremely likable, she was okay, nothing great or noteworthy really. I didn't feel as though the love triangle had much tension and that's what they are there for.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 28 19:17:22 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 02 22:53:41 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Sep 03 22:53:41 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "8621462", "review_id": "def51843770777be0cb8c50eb987b836", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow. Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. That was something. I wasn't sure I was going to read this book. I couldn't find it on one of the library apps and therefore had to make more of an effort to request it and pick it up at a branch. I then didn't make it to the library in the time I had to pick it up and had to request it again. Then once I did have it, I accidentally listened to the first CD on shuffle and was thoroughly confused. So all in all, it was an adventure to get into the story but once I did, I was blown away. This is a fairy tale, but not the type that leaves you with the warm fuzzies. This is one that will break you open and make you feel. The main character is a 13 year old boy trying to keep it together while his mother deteriorates from cancer, a bully picks on him daily, a grandmother constantly on his case, and a father who has clearly moved on to his new family and can't spare much thought for Conor. You can't help but feel for him and you get caught up in sympathizing and empathizing with him as he deals with the fear of losing someone he loves. \n If you're wondering who the Monster is, don't assume it's the cancer, it isn't, it's so much more. It's a tree that's also a storyteller and he agrees to tell Conor three stories in exchange for the truth, Conor's truth. Conor just needs to figure out what that truth is.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 10 23:31:35 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 24 19:10:35 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Oct 24 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Oct 24 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "23174274", "review_id": "0b731f2b60a0ada4f273462f58afdb74", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I wanted to like this book more than I did. I found her inner thoughts repetitive and didn't really drive the story along. I get that a lot of the book explained the world in which they live better and I appreciated that, I just felt that there could have been more chemistry, more romance, more something else other than angst and 'nobody understands me' gloom. I would've liked to see more development in all of the characters and I loved the additional characters brought in. \n Now the ending, I HATED the ending and found it stupid and like she was going against everything she had said throughout the book. Plus, you don't make a deal with a psychopath!! You can't trust that he will keep anybody safe or let anybody go free. Stupid, stupid, stupid of Mare to just half a page after saying she will never surrender to then bow to Mavon. \n Now the epilogue was good and I look forward to what happens and will keep up with the series, but I have a feeling that the author is going to regret leaving out romance in this book because we need that banter and wit to really stay invested. All of the repetitive head talk of Mare's did not endear her to me at all. It made me want to slap her and tell her to get out of her mind and get to living while running from dying. Seize the day, seize the Silver, seize the Cal and get on with life.", "date_added": "Sun May 31 14:46:08 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 27 05:52:23 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "18712886", "review_id": "bbf82c2575fd4d3cdbf7eb3c2c3e569b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I wanted to like this so much more than I actually did. It felt like an imitation of the Grisha series except written by a high school freshman who self published. That might be a tad harsh but there were so many conflicting descriptions of characters (were the group of men old and not attractive or young and good looking??? We'll never know...). The MC was raised in seclusion by two people, yet her world knowledge is unrealistic given her background. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone because there are just so many more well done YA fantasy series out there.", "date_added": "Mon May 18 21:41:42 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu May 21 11:07:27 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu May 21 11:07:27 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon May 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "1215032", "review_id": "ed6bb7da70dda6e25d4bf002ee5ddd1f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book takes you on an adventure. Does the adventure have a climax? No. Does the adventure answer any questions from the first book? No. Does the adventure move the story along? No, the adventure is more like tangents and we are back to the same situation we began the book with. Does the adventure entertain even though it is essentially pointless? Yes. Does the love interest continue to frustrate without any development or advancement? Yes. \n Here's the thing, the book is essentially pointless. I would be surprised if any of the tangent adventures it included actually make a difference to the overall storyline. We still don't know how he will get expelled from school, we don't know if him and Denna will ever stop flirting and actually go further. We don't know how him and Bast develop their truly unique \"friendship\". Bast might claim to kiss farmers' daughters but he's truly in love with his Reshie. It is a disturbing relationship for sure. \n The amount of sex in the book is overkill. I'm surprised the author isn't 16 years old since that seems to be the reasoning behind why the main character is so horny. You can be a 16 year old male and not have sex with over 20 people. The female characters are all so one dimensional and lack depth of any kind so I guess that's why it is so easy for the author to treat them as instruments that just need to be played. \n I give major props to Eric's review which has the most likes after the author's review (what author actually writes his own reviews on his own books!?!). Here is what he says about the tangents in the book: \n \"In a completely pointless tangent he's sent on a mission to bring bandits to justice, loses himself on a tangent from the tangent when he meets a seductress who teaches him how to please women. Then the tangent from the tangent takes another tangent to another distant land where he learns to tangent from a group of tangentary tangents, but is tangented by yet another tangent after leaving when he tangents upon some young tangents in need of being tangentially tangented away from--wait, what as I talking about again? Oh right, I'm reviewing a book. One could say that the entire last half of the book is just one gigantic tangent that has absolutely nothing to do with anything, and ultimately leads nowhere.\" \n The only thing I did enjoy about the book was the use of hand gestures in one language. As a lover of sign language, I found it intriguing that this culture was able to mix sign with spoken language and loved the description of how the signs were used to communicate on top of what was said.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 20 23:11:38 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu May 14 13:38:12 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu May 14 13:38:12 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "17878931", "review_id": "1f815c7864218d90248ab163cb7477ec", "rating": 5, "review_text": "If you enjoyed The Selection, the Grisha series, The Daughter of Smoke and Bone series, etc., then you will most likely enjoy this book. In a world with silvers and reds (two groups of people called the color of their blood) the silvers are the elite, having special abilities and supernatural powers. The reds are the lowly manual labor, the soldiers and servants. After a chance meeting between the main leading lady, a thief, and an undercover prince who isn't naive enough to be stolen from, she finds herself the beneficiary of a kind deed on his part in the form of a job at the palace. Well of course the supernatural abilities are fun. The two handsome princes make for great banter and the twists and betrayals in the story are superb. I definitely recommend this book.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 20 22:09:27 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 17 14:19:39 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Apr 17 14:19:39 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Apr 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "17901125", "review_id": "58e525726ddc8816f693c53b445fa644", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed this a lot better than The Bone Season and can now start to see how Shannon is being touted as the next JK Rowling, especially if each of the next 5 in the series are as complicated as this one. At first it was getting on my nerves having to look up all the words in the back but when I got to thinking about how deep the scope of the story was I stopped being annoyed and just appreciated the glossary was there if I needed it. Paige is one tough cookie of a main character! I like her rebellious nature and how she isn't fearful of much at all, yet she has kept from becoming hard or calloused and cruel. She isn't naive or gullible either. She truly understands what needs to be done for rebellion to happen and tries to make her moves in ways that will advance her politically. The girl gets beaten up so much through this book that you can't help but be impressed. I'm looking forward to the next one!", "date_added": "Sat Jan 31 09:34:26 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 04 11:26:20 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Feb 04 11:26:20 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "22489107", "review_id": "3c460fabbc148dcf951ac5e30817e1ff", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Have something light and fluffy to read after this one since it is just psychologically messed up and doesn't leave you with the warm fuzzies. It does provide greater insight and backstory for the evil queen/wicked stepmother (nice touch that she is both).", "date_added": "Mon Jan 19 21:38:02 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu May 21 11:11:41 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "5899779", "review_id": "1603cf076af15a7f8b7201963587f5cb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Meh. I thought it would be a bit more of a twist on the classic but it didn't really add anything. Thankfully the basic bones were there and not changed so you at least have the Austen story to appreciate.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 29 20:55:27 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 28 11:54:44 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jul 28 11:54:44 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "16096824", "review_id": "80eaf8191f2916b5e65f36bf5493459e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book can pretty much be divided up into two parts. The first part was okay. Nothing that special really goes on. You figure out it's similar to Beauty and the Beast but there are some other cool magical elements thrown in. It's rather predictable but oh well. Then you get to the second half of the book and things get interesting. This is where I enjoyed myself the most in the book and this is why I feel it has gotten good ratings. The characters are more interesting and there's a heck of a lot more action. \n Here's the thing though, the main character kinda stinks. She's a mess and intentionally puts herself in danger for stupid reasons. She would like to think she's strong but really she's passive and weak. As another reviewer said it was like Bella Swan thinking she was Catniss. \n The action and additional characters from the second half of the book redeemed it for me", "date_added": "Tue Dec 23 22:28:30 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 04 14:34:47 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "11", "review_id": "d7682e687a439ffea11ba1ff67ef190e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Let me start off by stating that I listened to the book when I was incredibly sick and may or may not have drifted off to sleep a time or two due to the illness, not the book, but didn't care enough (again due to the illness and not the book) to go back and figure out what I missed. Here's why: I think this book must be more enjoyable in print form. It gets rave ratings from all my friends except for the one friend who I know listens to books like me. She didn't like it and I thought she would. Then, as I was listening, I kept thinking how annoying it was to listen to all of the syllables in each ridiculous name and it kept distracting from the story. It was overkill. It was highly annoying and it made the story tedious. I don't think that would matter at all in print form and I think that might be where the difference in opinion lies. It made listening to it unenjoyable and I was happy when it ended but I do see why people liked it and think I would have too if I had read it which I might do in the future.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 03 04:49:01 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 31 09:19:41 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jan 31 09:19:41 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "17331518", "review_id": "3dc732a1def955fe730c48d98e1d0b42", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Adam is starting to become more of a crappy guy that Juliette is too good for.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 28 01:34:52 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 28 01:36:08 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "13623150", "review_id": "b4c89bc58df57b83f152f6681532ed35", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I love getting to see this alternate perspective of this character! He's certainly misunderstood and provides a great view into his ideas and thoughts!", "date_added": "Fri Nov 28 01:32:40 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 28 01:33:58 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "13188676", "review_id": "fc10d0969bb9cb115184bd8801a7b1a5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n In terms of character development, I love what she did with Warner! He really turned out to be a phenomenal character with lots of depth and authenticity. I liked how she ended things but felt like she could have done more with the link between Juliette and Warner in terms of him being able to magnify her powers. I felt like the whole scene with the Supreme was odd in terms of having no explanation of his blonde friend and his powers and their relationship. It seemed too easily for Juliette to just tap into her strength and defeat the bad guys. I wish she had had to depend on her link with Warner to strengthen her powers to defeat them. Other than that I liked how it all got wrapped up.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 25 09:33:28 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 28 01:24:14 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Nov 28 01:24:14 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "13104080", "review_id": "2ce823793c92b31a929337a433329a0a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really liked how the story progressed and the development of the love triangle. I'm starting to like Juliette a bit more and especially like her interactions with Warner. Adam and her relationship is so angsty and dramatic that I'm over it. Her relationship with Kinji is lots of fun and I enjoy his humor bringing comedic levity to otherwise tense scenes.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 25 09:33:25 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 28 01:18:22 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "6690798", "review_id": "235e79f6b98f61c0469f4524622481d0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This started out strong and around hours 26-33 of the audiobook, I checked out. It is just so long and I kept feeling they were killing all the characters I loved or turned them into mutes. I didn't latch on to the new characters (Peter, Michael, etc.) like I typically do in a book because maybe I felt I didn't want to get attached for them to all die again on me. So without much connection to the characters, there was certainly a long journey with them. I am tempted to go back and listen to some of the parts I zoned out during but 36 hours is already too long of a time to spend on only one book so I may just let my book club people fill me in on the fuzzy parts.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 09 14:55:32 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 18 21:50:48 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "17199504", "review_id": "5701eee432008952e1af43dd872d84f3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars. The pace at which explanations were given in the book was interesting. I wish there was more explanation up front but it might have been overwhelming and too boring if it had been done that way. As it was, I felt a bit confused at some parts but then understood more when more was eventually explained. So I think that detracted from the story at first but by the end it was fine except for the fact that a few things were left unresolved. I'm interested to see where the story goes from here. I am going to hear the author next month so I'm hoping to read the second book before hearing her talk.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 04 12:01:36 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 11 11:00:24 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jan 11 11:00:24 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jan 07 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "18705209", "review_id": "aba91fdf6df0e948f40031122514cfec", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I feel like the series went out with a sputter instead of a bang but oh well.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 01 11:11:07 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 18 19:58:49 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "10429045", "review_id": "582ea16c293bc372b8308766aa1d832c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed the book and was totally engrossed in it but struggled to actually like the main characters with any depth. Each grew up without nurturing environments or loving families so they don't really know how to have relationships but they are certainly muddling their way through it. It had elements that reminded me of many other dystopian YA books out there now. The story was interesting and unique enough to keep me engaged but I wish I liked the characters a bit more. I've already started to read the second book so I'm invested enough to want to see the story progress but as the main female character was doing something stupid, I was like, \"Stop being dumb and selfish and use your brains!\" And that's when I realized I didn't really like her.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 01 11:10:33 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 01 19:06:19 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "186074", "review_id": "2f9697d5a2b27d10bd8d2c0b91396a1c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I wanted to like this more than I did. I struggled with the writing. The odd change of perspective, a couple of phrases used way too much and descriptions like \"I then went further into the city\" when the fact that he was in a city wasn't even established drove me nuts. The main character is pompous and arrogant if there was a gold medal for bragging, well, he would have won it for every country because his skills know no bounds. He wasn't hard hearted though and his sweet friends Willom and Simmons (forgive me if I misspelled them- I listened to the audio and never saw the names in print) helped me to stick with the story. I actually gave up on it twice before somebody convinced me to stick with it. I'm not sure if I'm really happy they did since I didn't love the book but I guess there are worse story lines out there. I won't be recommending this book to others but if I find myself in a reading rut with nothing else to read, I might finish the series.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 26 16:41:11 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 30 14:23:42 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "17331289", "review_id": "a95735c4fbddb6642292e6e1af16846d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a 3.5 star book for me. The whole emotional, can't get over past events, replaying violent deaths in dreams thing is way too overdone in my opinion but then again, I'm more of a thinker and not a feeler and not very introspective so that might be why I have a low tolerance for it. I felt like we were on a merry go round in Rachel's head of all her emotional junk and then thankfully an action scene would happen and I was happy the story was progressing and then boom! we're right back on the merry go round! I wish there was more of a balance to it I guess. Other than that, I felt there was good progress made with character development and a few good twists thrown in there towards the end. I'm looking forward to the next book.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 17 23:17:24 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 02 21:59:18 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Nov 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "14061957", "review_id": "e6993e3e7b4363cee2b0a697b42834ff", "rating": 4, "review_text": "One thing that I liked about these books is that it doesn't show good vs bad in simplistic terms. It shows that people are typically a mix of both and we have a choice in which one we live by. There were several good twists in the story and it wasn't predictable so that was nice. I feel like it was YA fantasy done right!", "date_added": "Tue Jul 01 07:48:26 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 17 22:54:22 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "14061955", "review_id": "8413ad4b6ef95e8e7a4f408f26486110", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was one of the best sequels I've read. It did a great job of continuing the story and introducing new characters and challenges to propel the story and give it added depth. I loved the new characters and also enjoyed where the author took the Mal/Alina relationship.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 01 07:48:23 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 17 23:01:00 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Sep 28 23:59:52 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "12813630", "review_id": "6f52d02d6a1bb2657ab86aed970a580d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "If you like young adult books about vampires, this is for you. I'm not sure which list got me to add this to my to-read folder, but I did and that's why I read it. I guess I'm over the whole vampire thing and should have definitely read a synopsis before reading it or else I would have passed on it. I don't regret reading it, it wasn't a bad book but it was definitely all about vampires.", "date_added": "Fri May 30 14:38:29 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 11 08:09:34 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jul 11 08:09:34 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "13206828", "review_id": "1b86f8bcd32a8252130d9e54dc2501e0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm really enjoying the series and seeing how the different fairy tale stories are getting retold and weaved together. Excited to see how it all ends up!", "date_added": "Wed May 14 11:28:51 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 09 12:54:16 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu May 15 18:02:19 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "13206900", "review_id": "e5943981fc5075b1cf567b5d5dabc81b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A worthy ending to the Lunar series. I had a different ending in mind which would have stopped the Lunar gift and put Winter on the thrown but it didn't happen. I'm okay with how everything got wrapped up and how the story played out. The final battle truly was an epic one. There was an interview with the author at the end of the audiobook and she mentioned that a group of short stories is going to be published in early 2016 with an epilogue in it. It takes place two years after the end of Winter and there is a wedding but she didn't say who was getting married. It is something to look forward to though!", "date_added": "Sat Apr 26 22:41:10 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 29 09:43:09 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 29 09:43:09 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "15745886", "review_id": "de439a50dd775db0390d8b17c364d5fa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Another good take on an old classic but making it extremely futuristic. I liked that Cinder was still in the story a good bit. Am excited to see how they work Rapunzel into the story and I hope Thorn ends up with her.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 24 14:15:12 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 07 23:20:41 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Apr 29 12:40:03 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Apr 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "eec34eb68f77ef2075b51c61f2349566", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Interesting take on the fairy tale that is very futuristic.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 21 14:31:10 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 28 21:24:08 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Apr 24 14:15:03 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "13618440", "review_id": "db195aaa7ff9bff708b4eda0224169bf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I feel like this was an ending that was done well. There was resolution, there was healing, there were no loose ends, yet, it wasn't entirely predictable and it wasn't tied with a completely pretty bow. The bow is dirty, having been through quite an ordeal. The characters were great, Zuzana and Mik truly add a lighthearted component to the intensity that comes with Akiva, Karou, Liraz and Ziri. I love stories where stereotypes are overcome and prejudices put aside. I thought the Stelians and what they brought to the story was odd at first but it absolutely needed to happen or else things would have been too picture perfect at the end. I loved how the book emphasized that things aren't easy, the things that matter rarely are. That you have to fight and work hard and continuing fighting and each day do it again. The things worth fighting for are worth the sacrifices to get there. Another great takeaway from the story is that the best kind of revenge is the kind where your enemy goes a Hitler mustache every hour.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 06 22:03:23 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun May 04 21:50:54 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun May 04 21:39:29 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "12127750", "review_id": "c7cdac30ab4c6cdadfb9bc0b00ecd07c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Enjoyable book filled with lots of action and adventure. It is great how the author is able to come up with challenge after challenge for Percy and his friends to overcome. The ending was a great cliffhanger that I'm looking forward to finding out what happens.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 31 12:20:51 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 17 12:37:45 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Feb 17 12:37:45 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "7728889", "review_id": "315da19e8c630881fba8acc73e7bd914", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It was okay. I didn't love it and I didn't hate it. The overemphasis on the era has been said by many and is a valid point. I might continue with the series but probably won't be recommending this to people when there are better books out there to be read.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 14 06:34:05 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 06 04:13:23 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jul 04 15:52:12 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "10194157", "review_id": "37e19e771a268ba6457cd32badca5cb5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "If you like The Daughter of Smoke and Bone, you will probably like Shadow and Bone. They are both such creative YA novels and the worlds they are in are so phenomenal! They take fantasy to a neat level yet they both do a good job of having real, likable and realistic characters. I'm very excited to see what happens with this series. I hate that I can't find the audiobook versions at the library since the reader was great and would like to listen to the rest of the series.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 23 21:55:50 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 17 23:04:12 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jul 03 08:57:40 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jun 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3b3f26019b3a5dbecb49c5faf1abce4c", "book_id": "1", "review_id": "cf5f6953548f4a57f390cb157b69ade3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Such a good book. I never saw the twist coming and I certainly will always cry over the loss of a good friend. Harry is such a typical, yet extraordinary, teenage boy and he certainly shows what it means to be brave.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 14 06:51:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 30 02:31:00 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Mar 04 07:21:58 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5013372ce4f23f0ef1c76511700dac59", "book_id": "17372039", "review_id": "49611b61ec5e988d001dafdd86ceaf4d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Rereading the whole series was far overdue. This book is great. An easy read, but not childishly simplified like so many YA books. I do wish the publishers hadn't tried to Americanize the text so much. It's ok for British characters to use British terms.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 18:58:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 14 20:12:20 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 14 20:08:53 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Sep 06 18:48:51 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "35295602", "review_id": "efc0ff5b347b4ef7708e4978ab4e7e50", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I was stoked to read this book when I first heard about it and it didn't disappoint! a~o This Grimm retelling had twists and turns to it that made this book so enjoyable. I've always loved fairy tale style retellings and this book was perfect for that kind of book craving. I would definitely recommend this book! 5 stars!", "date_added": "Wed Sep 20 08:15:54 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 06 16:56:00 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Oct 06 16:56:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "33973968", "review_id": "68f2a63e526be09c0ed8c5b819a28de4", "rating": 1, "review_text": "DNF 45% \n *I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.* Oh my oh my. Where shall I start. I really don't like to give a bad review on ARC copies but I'm going to be honest as always. I got interested in this book because I saw quite a few people excited about getting a ARC copy of this book. My overall description of this book is a book version of a low budget movie with bad graphics. I feel bad saying/writing this but it's true. Oh and don't get me started on how people/genders are talked/described in this book. I know I know. I'm probably making a fuss but it kinda bothered me. I just felt unimpressed with this book and I wish I could say the opposite. I can say that I thought the cover art was quite interesting but that's about it... I wouldn't recommend this book. 1 star.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 16 17:17:15 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 29 16:23:29 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jun 29 16:53:30 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "32828372", "review_id": "b679972b38bbc85d9cb21d32efce3f50", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Oh. My. Word. This book was just.... *sighs* I am deeply saddened to say that I didn't like this book....at all.... I've seen a lot of good ratings on Goodreads and the cover is so pretty but I just couldn't stand this book. There was a lot of \"perfect\" aspects of some characters in this book which I'm getting tired of seeing in books. The romance in this book was just \"gag worthy\" for me and just way too much. I found that the main characters story was boring compared to other characters parts of the story. I'm just overall disappointed with this book. 1 star", "date_added": "Tue Jun 13 10:38:57 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 11 05:57:53 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "33962161", "review_id": "3c73769446b8f892e6a8ab56aa409b68", "rating": 3, "review_text": "*I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.* Yeah so I've had this book for quite a while and haven't felt intrigued to read this book till now. I enjoyed the first part of the book (25% or so) and thought that i might enjoy this book but the characters just kind of went south for me mostly. I don't like insta love usually and I thought this book wouldn't land in that category....but then it did....and it kinda ruined it for me. I storyline was interesting for the most part though. I enjoyed the culture and the aspect that this series has a lot more potential because of some aspects towards the ending. In one aspect I'm kind of interested in knowing what will happen in book two but at the same time the book didn't completely latch on to me. Although I'm being mostly negative about this book my gut is telling me that it's a 3 star book. So I guess it just wasn't my cup of tea.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 03 17:26:28 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 25 18:24:43 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "30269126", "review_id": "fc5ee0e95c3d4ff6618a312712054170", "rating": 3, "review_text": "First off I thought I was getting a retelling of the Lunar Chronicles so I was kinda stoked because I love the Lunar Chronicles. I loved the idea of this entire universe and almost a Star Wars type of vibe. The first half of the book was enjoyable and then it kinda went down hill from there for me. I felt that each beginning of each chapter seemed to have skipped over something or didn't explain something big that happened in the previous chapter. There was a insta-love in this story which was annoying for me. Honestly I feel like this book had a lot of potential but the romance just killed it for me. Overall 3 star rating.", "date_added": "Fri May 26 16:37:08 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 13 18:06:39 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue May 30 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "31147669", "review_id": "4fc84aa9b619bf9f0fecc1e019e8ab24", "rating": 1, "review_text": "DNF 52% \n Ok people. If you've followed me for a while you know it is extremely rare for me to not finish a book. I tried. I really did but this book is just not worth my time. At first I tried this book in ebook version and then switched over to audiobook because the book dragged for me too much. It actually really didn't help. This book was so boring for me and just went on and on and one. It's not that there weren't things happening it's just that the book was extremely slow for me and I just couldn't take it anymore. And also I found it really confusing and not quite sure what what even going on. This is actually the first book that I've read from this author and even though I couldn't stand this book I'll give other books by the same author a try. I would not recommend this book and don't plan on continuing the series. 1 star.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 05 16:01:18 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri May 12 17:38:28 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri May 12 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "30045288", "review_id": "bceb3298d3d039a5cf74430dbff769fd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The third and final installment to this series was not a disappointment at all. At the beginning of this series I wasn't necessarily \"hooked\" to this series. The story line was interest and seemed to have a lot of potential. Book two was a lot better in my opinion and I throughly enjoyed it (and didn't have such a distaste/wasn't as annoyed about Lila anymore). The third book didn't disappoint at all and I'm very glad that I kept to this series. I love the storyline, characters and overall idea of this series. I have to admit though that it took me quite a while to finish since I'm a slow reader but I stuck to it and was very happy that I did. I did find that the ending was quite long to \"wrap up\" but definitely gave a good conclusion to all the characters. I will for sure looking out for books by this author in the future. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 22 13:43:50 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 29 09:23:11 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "20764879", "review_id": "2133592143fb6535b47ca3c1b2cc707b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "You know...I'm actually surprised with myself. I really enjoyed this book more then I thought I would. The first book was alright for me so I decided to give the second book a try and I'm very happy that I did. Book one was good but didn't \"grab at me\" as much as this book did. Not exactly sure why since book one had plenty of things going on. It might of been the fact that Lila annoyed me somewhat in book one but I can say that I liked her character more in this book. I liked the new characters and thought it was a good addition to the book. I feel like I usually have something that bothers me in books I read but I can happily say that I didn't with this book. I'm quite excited to read the next book since this book was left on a cliffhanger. Would recommend this book! 5 stars!", "date_added": "Wed Mar 22 13:43:46 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 27 08:32:32 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jun 27 14:05:47 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "28449207", "review_id": "6798cae334c5212b60970f67ff8350d8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I feel like I can hear gasps of people reading my review as I write this...I actually wasn't a huge fan of the Daughter and Smoke series but I was actually quite excited for this book but sadly I was disappointed. So at first it took me a while to get used to the writing style and by time I got used to it I got to part two in the book which was when my interest in the book kind of went away. Lazlo was my favorite character and I enjoyed the book up until when the book switched POV. I can overall say that I enjoyed the first quarter of the book (1/4) and the last quarter (4/4). I just feel like the first 70%-75% of the book could of been condensed a lot more and at times I kind of felt like Sarai's POV was going in circles. I really enjoyed Lazlo's character and how \"not stereotypical\" he was. There were many aspects I enjoyed about this book but it wasn't entirely my cup of tea. Deep down I'm still wanting to love this book but my level of interest in this book isn't quite there. I'm not entirely sure if I will continue this series but in the back of my mind I really want to know what happens next. Overall 3 stars.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 15 08:29:06 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 06 06:30:13 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Mar 29 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 9, "n_comments": 10}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "34052566", "review_id": "c29f5d8b316218dd235a79764304f9b5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "*I received a ARC copy of this book.* First off I really liked the idea of this story and there was plenty of magical and fantasy aspects in this book. The two main characters are definitely likable but I found myself more drawn towards Tizrah. I also really liked the world that the author has built in this story. Overall I give this book 3 stars! :)", "date_added": "Sat Feb 18 17:20:37 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 11 15:56:49 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Mar 09 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "27883214", "review_id": "18168badf1ef35052927ade33aa43476", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh this book though. It's got a Alice in Wonderland vibe that I love and makes anything possible in this book. This book literally made me nervous because you feel as though you don't know which character to trust anymore or who to believe or what. And once you got to the point where you get what's going to happen then it just messes with you. I just really overall enjoy how the author includes the reader in this adventure and mystery. The main character, Scarlet, was not a character that I loved but she grew on me a bit towards the end. I love the whole idea that the author has built but I do feel like the writing needs some more something to it and I'm not quite sure what but I just felt that way throughout the book. I love the fact that this book sort of has closure but doesn't. There are some unanswered details/questions in book one that I hope are answered in book two. I would totally recommend this book to anyone! 5 stars!!", "date_added": "Wed Feb 08 08:24:29 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 02 19:06:53 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Mar 29 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Mar 25 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "35152401", "review_id": "f3d6c6dd43648afad7363fdf020551d8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "RTC https://youtu.be/w402tKQs3W8", "date_added": "Mon Jan 30 17:33:39 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 23 18:49:37 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "26114463", "review_id": "bab25b200b8ed6f1d6c2bd86713ddb12", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow man. This book though. Like it kinda slapped me in the face at first. I can't deny that at first I was a bit skeptical about reading it but after my sister mentioned that this book is kinda like Red Rising and Divergent I saw shadows at the end of the tunnel. I can't deny that it's been a while since I've read a book like this. This book was full of action and suspense that certainly stressed me out but in a good way. Although Goodreads has this book labeled as YA, it is not at all and should be labeled as Adult because of sexual content and violence. I don't want to name characters for spoiler purposes but I will mention that I really like the main character named Mia. She's definitely bad ass and has a snarky side that I found likable. I would definitely recommend this book. Overall 5 star book!", "date_added": "Thu Jan 26 16:40:29 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 13 08:48:18 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Feb 13 13:18:20 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 15, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "25056040", "review_id": "6eee4b6990d58df92ab28d27c6f1211b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Yet again I am surprised at how much I like this series.My only complaint about the book is that it's so short but I can't deny that the author used every page wisely. This book was overall enjoyable and sweet.I truly look forward to the reading the rest of the series.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 14 13:54:53 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 22 06:43:30 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "24473763", "review_id": "59078b32e54578e28dcb0b2156ffe507", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I honestly didn't think I would read this book but someone told me that it was worth reading. If you've followed my reviews for a while, you know that I typically don't go for books that scream \"romance\" on the cover. Lately I've been trying to read genres that I usually don't go for. I actually really enjoyed reading this book. It was a very light and easy read that I throughly enjoyed. I found this book to be very sweet and I loved the storyline. The only downside to this book is that it's such a short book (in my opinion). I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes romance.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 09 15:47:41 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 22 06:43:23 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "22055262", "review_id": "016827e62bbe63993b91f4db684d0ac8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Welp. This book series has basically spammed my Goodreads wall for the past couple of months so I decided to try this book out. First off I really love the whole \"one black eye\" idea and thought it wasn't so \"typical\" for this genre. To be completely honest, I didn't really get that much into the book. (It might also be because I currently was getting into another book. My bad.) I really do love the whole idea but I found that my interest in this books was in waves. Like, in my gut I feel like I like this book but I'm still not sure to what level that is. (I might also be close to getting into a reading funk..... :,( )I found the female main character to be a bit annoying at times during the first half of the book but then by the end of the book I found myself really interested in Holland. One thing that I just don't get about Kell is how he says \"good luck\"......Like does that mean that kinda stuff will lead into book two....? Anyway, I really loved the whole idea of multiple worlds and world traveling and I hope that I enjoy book more. I will definitely be continuing this series.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 03 05:44:17 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 22 13:42:54 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Mar 22 14:11:06 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Mar 12 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "7740152", "review_id": "b8f3c03afb5c841e7af1af66e7deb548", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I can defiantly say that this book was a lot more slow and not as good as book one. There was a lot more eye rolling and head shaking moments for me. I honestly feel like the main character is too much some times and needs to mature a bit in my opinion. Not a lot of questions answered in this book but with the cliff hanger at the end, it hints to the reader that the next book will be more informational. The romance in this book is kinda too much for me.This series still feels like fan fiction. Still going to continue reading this series out of curiosity but wouldn't really recommend it.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 03 08:17:26 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 28 13:54:27 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Nov 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "18039177", "review_id": "d8d47fb25d262a200f50f7dc1fbea223", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I can overall say I enjoyed this book. I did think that there were a few slow spots for me that took me a little longer to get through but overall worth it. I'm really interesting in finding out the direction the author takes with this book series and hope that I will be throughly surprised by what Stiefvater has up her sleeve. This series seems to be very popular so I'm not worried that this series will let me down. dY~%0 Overall enjoyed it! 4 stars!", "date_added": "Sat Oct 08 14:38:58 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 25 18:07:58 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "20818790", "review_id": "827a1380447795f65afd7e5263ab35f8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Love these excerpts. Would recommend them!", "date_added": "Mon Oct 03 15:38:04 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed May 17 06:22:23 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "17790188", "review_id": "bcf1c3adc734274dd313c758b7ce56d1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I absolutely loved the writing style of this short story. I would definitely recommend this short stories if anyone is looking for a quick read. I will definitely read more short stories for this series. 5 stars!", "date_added": "Mon Oct 03 15:37:48 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 30 07:33:35 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Apr 30 15:54:38 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Apr 29 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "6487308", "review_id": "c0f9c0337781afcdfcb657a575c6b05b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ok first off, I never would of thought I would of read a book like this ever again. I admit, I was one of those Twilight fans back in high school and I had a thing for this genre of books but I slowly fizzled away from it. I instantly felt nostalgia reading this book. It was a very easy, quick read for 450 pages. There were a lot of eye rolling/hand hitting the forehead moments but it was a nice change from my usual genres. I think I just needed a break. This book was more like a leisure fan fiction in my opinion. This was so similar to Twilight in so many ways that I wouldn't be surprised if someone claims this is a knock off of Twilight but with different supernatural beings. Overall it was a nice \"break\" book from my usual reads. I defiantly want to read the next when I'm in a reading slump.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 30 07:31:49 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 04 18:07:58 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Nov 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Oct 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "14061957", "review_id": "2ad0dd7ac08b95529f939c16122a4686", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I can finally say that I'm done with this series. I'm just kind of relieved that I'm done. My expectations for this series were kinda high because I've read the Six of Crows series. I was disappointed with the writing but it was the authors first series but Six of Crows is definitely a huge improvement. I hope that doesn't sound like I'm bashing the author. I'm just saying she has improved her writing. Even after finishing this series, I'm still now a huge fan of Alina and would of maybe preferred the book in the Darkling's POV. Also I still can't stand Mal. I'm sorry people...I just can't stand him and Alina. I'm on team Darkling still. I honestly feel like after reading this series it kinda has a resemblance of Beauty and the Beast. I did feel that this book was written a bit different somehow. The last chapter was a nice ending to the series. Overall this series was enjoyable. 3.5 stars", "date_added": "Fri Sep 23 18:50:48 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon May 29 15:40:49 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon May 29 15:56:54 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 9, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "14061955", "review_id": "e8470934ff936f8767064cd37c8289af", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm actually surprised to say that I was more interested in this book then book one for some reason but I don't feel that this book is a 4 star for me. I was definitely more attached to the story but I still am annoyed by Alina and Mal's relationship. In book one I kind of liked them as a couple but I just got tired of them and this book didn't make me like them better. Is it wrong for me to be rooting for the Darkling? I just find myself liking the Darkling more then Mal who just annoys me. Also i haven't been the biggest fan of Alina as well which makes it hard for me to really like this book. I mentioned in my review for book one that I wish I would of read this series before Six of Crows because of the world building but now I'm also think because I'm a bit disappointed with this series after reading Six of Crows. Im still going to continue with this series though. I know this review isn't quite \"on the bright side\" but I'm still interested in continuing this series. Overall 3 star rating.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 23 18:50:47 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 18 09:20:02 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "32802697", "review_id": "4963a4c95bc828d8c260d21022c3faa3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was actually surprised how much I enjoyed this book. I was skeptical like others and not quite sure if I would enjoy this book because my opinion of Chaol has had it's ups and downs. I think that it's important to read his book before you read the next book because there may be characters in this book that end of in the next book. This book had a different vibe compared to other books in the series and I actually really appreciated it. It's kind of gotten to the point for me that I'm just looking forward to finishing this series to be honest. Overall I'm happy that I read the book and got to learn about new characters and some jaw dropping information that ties the entire series together. I would hands down recommend this book to anyone who has gotten through the Throne of Glass series so far. \n https://youtu.be/s7RW-k_H9Bk", "date_added": "Tue Sep 13 06:22:57 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 06 16:54:29 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "27211901", "review_id": "fb2efa8a0f9d26ef773743f0f703182b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm actually happy this book is the last in this series. I wasn't overall impressed and my overall reaction to this book was \"eh\". It was interesting but I just wasn't thrilled with this book. I'm not entirely sure if I would recommend this book/book series. I did enjoy the magical elements added in the first book but the second book not as much. I almost believe that the two books in this series could of be merged into one book. Overall 3 stars.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 30 07:05:33 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 05 15:43:03 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue May 30 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "24612590", "review_id": "a527e029d2c6f3212e18ee2b147bd310", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Although this book is technically a \"textbook\", I throughly enjoyed the small comments and drawings from Harry, Ron and Hermione. The read was a bit dry but had fun reading it.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 18 13:31:12 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 21 08:32:50 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jul 21 08:32:50 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "29437887", "review_id": "c3b2be40216839d70a61c39dd5c3ff57", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I sit here scratching my head unsure of what I just read. This story had its own fairytale feel to it even though it was set around WWII. Towards the end reality for the character seemed to set in and I got kinda lost because I feel like there was suppose to be some catching paragraph or line at the end that would leave the reader in awe but I'm just kind of sitting here thinking \"That's it?\". I really love the title of this story and the cover art which is what drew me to this book. Overall, this short story was alright but I wouldn't recommend it.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 18 07:26:13 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 20 07:21:25 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jul 20 07:21:25 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "15995747", "review_id": "29a306807094b4b8cb05a00a76b540f4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "So the main reason why I picked up this book is because I see tons of people reading it throughout the years and a lot of people seem to like this book series. I actually found that I enjoyed reading this book. Although I have read paranormal books in the past I wasn't a fan of this \"style\" of paranormal. The writing was somewhat confusing at times because you weren't quite sure who said what. The book had a good pace to it and I will be continuing this series. 4 stars!", "date_added": "Mon Jun 27 10:54:10 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 12 17:00:36 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "23308087", "review_id": "eff8051a8fade0a0828ee5eee36d3146", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I feel like I hold an unpopular opinion about this book but I actually liked this book. I love Mulan so my opinion might be a bit biased on this. Now I would definitely say this was quite different from Mulan but I still enjoyed it. I enjoyed the plot but the two things that bothered me the most about this book was the main character seemed a bit back and forth with her thoughts/decision and also the romance in this book was a bit rushed. I would of loved the author to add some more \"body\"(pages) to the story to fill it out a bit more. I actually really enjoy the fact that there are some unanswered questions in this book. Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it. 4 stars!", "date_added": "Mon Jun 27 07:48:23 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 16 17:11:23 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "26156203", "review_id": "2d0a57fdfe9be9c0b736668bfddc0d0a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "First off, the setting of this book was a nice change compared to other books. I feel like there aren't that many YA books set in Russia but I could be wrong. This book was an easier read then I thought it would be. The whole aspect of this story is for each player to \"make a move\" and I had thought this book would of gone all Hunger Games on me but it didn't. About half way through there is an undeniable love triangle but it's more one sided so not as much of a triangle but I still thought it would of turned for the worst. Also, the book became so much more \"fluffier\" then I expected. I also didn't expect the book to have \"The Mummy\" (movie) aspect at all. With this aspect, I thought everything was going to go down hill from there. But it didn't. One thing led to another and towards the end I couldn't put the book down. I was satisfied with the ending especially with a slight cliffhanger at the end. I'll for sure be looking forward to reading the next book in this series.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 17 16:29:25 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 30 07:05:12 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 30 07:05:12 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "28574949", "review_id": "c40d48da6aae6f27bf14e4d539dfd9e1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A nice insert to the series. I wouldn't say it's a \"must read\" to understand parts in the series but it was a nice easy read.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 01 04:27:15 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 05 06:24:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jun 05 06:24:03 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "28574935", "review_id": "b3d5abe54d92b354d5e42c44525d4bbf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was honestly surprised how short this \"book\"(aka 9 pages) was. It was nice to get Khalid's POV before he met Shahrzad but it wasn't enough in my opinion. The \"book\" was totally worth my time and makes me remember how much I liked The Wrath and the Dawn. Can't wait till the next book!", "date_added": "Tue Mar 01 04:26:03 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 03 09:12:18 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Mar 03 09:12:18 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Mar 03 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "29056083", "review_id": "a337c63281577a757ccfc8da99188159", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I'm just going to be upfront about this right away. I wish I could use a time turner to change the fact that I read this book. I honestly felt like \"extending\" the series more just kind of ruined it. I will probably try to block out this book in my head from the series to be honest. I really wanted to like this book but sadly I didn't. 2 stars.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 31 17:41:32 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 01 14:37:09 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 18, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "25817407", "review_id": "2c12e310b206059d02b667a56d7ad6ff", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Simple, short and sweet story. I felt that the style of writing was a bit fan fictiony but it was a nice easy read. I can't deny that it was heart breaking but I feel like any book that is slightly compared to the little mermaid is somewhat sad either way. Overall, I wouldn't say it's a must read.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 06 18:58:29 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 08 17:29:16 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jun 20 09:17:52 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "12954620", "review_id": "8de8d394a39c182dd9354820462749a5", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Ok so let's start out with the good points about this book. Book cover is pretty cool and the idea of this story is promising. Here's the bad news. I was pretty disappointed with this book. The characters drove me nuts and the book seemed to be on the verge of a older young adult book but the characters are what killed that idea. The characters drove me nuts and I honestly felt like there was an invisible Cupid shooting people with his arrows throughout the book. This book was very predictable and I highly doubt I'll continue this series. I wanted to like this book and I desperately tried to like it but this book just didn't work for me. The book covers still draw me to the books but the content doesn't. This book wasn't a match for me. Overall, I would say this book is a 1 out of 5.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 06 16:52:42 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 19 14:32:45 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 20, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "819058", "review_id": "d3317180979d004efdf626bddf167c2b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was basically a replica of the movie and there was hardly any difference between the two except for you got some character's thoughts and you had a little more encounters with Darth Maul. Episode I has never been my favorite out of all of the series but the fact that the book was written well I gave it five stars. I originally was going to read all seven books but since book was basically the same thing as the movie I might not except for episode 3. Overall it was good but if you've seen the movie it's not worth reading.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 01 10:41:23 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 27 13:17:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jul 27 13:17:55 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "24485589", "review_id": "eca2fa61889af8b4f1c6c256b2396431", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Hunted was quite a different rendition of the Beauty and the Beast(compared to the typical Disney version which I'm used to). The book was quite slow for me up until about 65%. At times I did skim some parts because I felt that the main characters thoughts dragged on a bit too much. I honestly loved the rest of the book and by the time I finished it I was disappointed that it ended. I wouldn't say this was one of my favorite retellings but it was a nice change. Overall 3.75 rating.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 30 05:25:15 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 29 19:59:22 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Apr 24 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "10194157", "review_id": "e261181457fb6695a5063db310352b02", "rating": 4, "review_text": "So about 3/4 through the book I knew what I wanted to rate this book. Now I'm a bit torn. One of the main reasons why I decided to read this book is because of Bardugo's Six of Crows series which was amazing and brilliant. In the back of my mind I'm wishing I had read this series before Six of Crows but the fact that this book came out before Six of Crows I'll try not to be as harsh. I throughly enjoyed the book until 3/4ths which is when it slowed down for me a bit too much. There were points that were too predictable for me and I'm not a huge fan of Mal. At first I liked him but I feel more drawn towards the Darkling. Don't get me wrong. I did enjoy this book and I would recommend it but I would advise people to read this book series before Six of Crows. I will definitely continue this series.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 13 19:35:11 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 01 14:02:50 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "136251", "review_id": "726485b9099568e254c8cfa91f59001c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I finally done it! I've finally finished this series for the first time. I know I know. It might be a shocker to many that I haven't read this series until now. I absolutely loved this series and its entirety. The writing, characters and etc were on point. I can without a doubt say that this is definitely one of my favorite book series. This last book was not a disappointment at all and makes me sad that it's over but everything must come to an end at some point. As I've been reading this series I've been watching the movies as well and found that this book had more things/different events going on in it then the movie which is a common thing in movie adaptations I think. I just really enjoyed this book and book series and would hands down recommend this series to anyone. 5 stars!", "date_added": "Sat Dec 05 08:36:59 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 27 05:29:52 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "1", "review_id": "0d102a592005c63b295e06a7fe10232c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book didn't disappoint me at all. I absolutely love the charming aspect of this book and book series. It's sad that this book series is almost over. I can't get enough of it! 5 stars!", "date_added": "Sat Dec 05 08:36:28 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat May 27 08:07:15 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 13, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "2", "review_id": "4acce0c9b2200efc4d28d9e04c33be9c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I would overall say that this is one of my favorite books out of the series. I've said in the past that the movies matched up with the books but I would say this is the first one where I noticed quite a few things that weren't in the movie. There's not much I can say but I overall enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the next book.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 05 08:36:25 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 21 15:03:37 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Dec 21 15:25:19 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "6", "review_id": "0b885fed30e769bd1a8e8432b7549c94", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Still loving this book series! It's so magical and I can't get enough of it. I don't have a lot of say about this book other then it's totally worth it! Defiantly a 5 star book!", "date_added": "Sat Dec 05 08:36:24 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 11 16:10:32 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "22299763", "review_id": "7528587da136c2430bec1b4bf698bd43", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Why is this series over with?!?! :( This book was awesome. I enjoyed this book the entire time and I'm so sad this is the last book. Why can't this series be longer?! I can defiantly say, hands down, that this book is going on my favorites list. The whole atmosphere of the book gives off a Black Sails/ Pirates of the Caribbean/ Sherlock Holmes(Robert Downy Jr. version) vibe which is totally a positive thing. I absolutely love the unexpected twists and turns that you think you know about but you actually don't. An incident towards the end of the book was totally unexpected and I'm just wanting more from this book series. I just can't express how much I enjoyed this series. I'll defiantly look into other books from this author. Overall, amazing 5 star book!", "date_added": "Fri Dec 04 15:49:05 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 31 09:34:46 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Oct 31 09:34:46 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "23308084", "review_id": "5f901bd131d9aa712dc1a5a48483542e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Wait...that's it? It's over?? To be honest I didn't know this was the last book until I was half way through which saddens me. There was closure at the ending but still... I would have to say that I liked book one more then book two because it seemed a bit more solid. I know I said this about book one but I love the culture in this book series. I was quite sad about a certain happening (that I will not spoil) in the book though. It was predictable because I've watched/read where this happened to one of the characters and I really wish it hadn't happened. Although, there were some shocking moments in the book that I didn't see coming. In my review of book one I stated how the book seemed like a Disney fairytale and I would I agree that book two has the same vin but not as much a book one. Book one seemed a bit lusty and I was glad that it was toned down in the second book because it gets to be too much after a while. The book series in general was an overall relaxing/enjoyable experience and I'm looking forward to seeing what the author of this series comes out with next.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 06 14:44:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 30 07:13:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jun 30 07:13:17 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "23437156", "review_id": "f14db041264ac4f37203dc617bc7f3d5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was brilliant. No joke. It seems like it's harder and harder to find a really good book these days but thankfully i came across this book. Although the book is kinda slow it's totally worth reading. The multi POV's for all of the main characters was intriguing and fulfilling. The twist and turns in the plot line were great. One of the main characters, Kaz, makes you think you know what's going to happen because it's pre planned out but then you find out that you really didn't know what Kaz was planning. Kaz seems to always have some kind of unknown trick up his sleeve which I loved. In a way, Kaz almost reminds me of Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr. version). The layout of the book seemed like a script for a movie which was a plus. I admit that i was a bit skeptical because the ratings for the book were so good on here (goodreads) and the fact that it's currently a popular book(from my perspective). The book slightly reminded me of Red Rising which is a huge compliment on my part because it's one of my favorite book series. I would totally recommend this book to anyone seeking a thriller or just a really good book.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 20 17:08:02 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 10 07:02:41 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Dec 10 10:10:08 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "18798983", "review_id": "4cea01a20bc7dbca9c7d68995f60c52e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "To be completely honest, this book was a lot better than I thought it was going to be. The book seemed to pop up on goodreads a few times so I thought I should give this book a try. I usually don't like very romancy type of characters but I kind of felt like this was a breath of fresh air for me and also the setting and cultural aspects were a big plus as well. I did find certain aspects to the story alittle confusing but more specifically the ending left me even more confused. But I guess that's just part if the cliff hanger.... The best way for me to describe this book is basically a Disney princess story for older adults. Like no joke. I felt like I was mentally watching a Disney movie. It's a nice easy read and I definately look forward to reading the next book.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 03 17:52:14 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 08 21:26:45 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "22544764", "review_id": "efed23f9e86c5f834c2099a883547558", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 To be completely honest, this book was difficult to finish and I'm so happy to be done with this book. I sped through the first half of the book but the second half was really hard for me to really get into the book. Don't get me wrong, Uprooted was well written and intriguing, but the \"most adventurous\" part of the book was the slowest. I actually surprised myself that I didn't like this book more but on the plus side, I could imagine this book as a movie and I would probably enjoy it more in that form. I loved the storyline but reading it seemed almost like a task for me. My least favorite character was Kasia and the fact that she was in the storyline a lot might of played a factor in my negativity. I also thought Dragon was going to be in the book a lot more then he was which disappointed me because I felt like the reader didn't really get to know him that well other then he really doesn't have anything nice to say. There were also some parts in the book that seemed confusing or unanswered which seemed to leave you hanging. So overall good storyline but wasn't exactly my favorite cup of tea.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 26 09:14:08 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 12 17:38:34 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "25558608", "review_id": "488aaa6553a2320fa47f477042ecef66", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 Ok let me just start off with saying that I really wanted to like this book more. After reading book one of the series I was looking forward to reading book two even though book one's writing style didn't win me over. Unfortionatly I agree that this book has the same downside as book one. Writing style seems to skim the storyline and time passes by very quickly. I can't deny that there wasn't action and a lot of things going on but I just feel like I needed more in depth writing style for this story. Book one caught my attention more but there were some surprises in this book that took me by surprise. Although this book was sort of a drang for me I'll still continue the story because the ending of the book certainly caught my attention. Overall rating 3.5.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 11 07:31:28 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 07 07:36:48 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Oct 07 07:36:48 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "16069030", "review_id": "49967b0ad3ebb350347cd3d4f0fc08b6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I honestly don't have much to say about this book. The style of writing was better then I thought it would be but the writing wasn't exactly good. The second half of the book made me feel like I was reading a fan fiction because the author seemed to just write main parts and no in-between parts. The romance really tired me out and it made me want it to be over. I'm not entirely sure if I'm going to read the next book yet but if I do, I sure hope it's better.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 06 10:48:32 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 09 16:49:59 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "16075962", "review_id": "7f1e7b7cf873688e64415904defeb2b7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is one of my favorite short excerpts from this book series. I honestly really like the fact of reading Wolf's POV. It was overall a good read.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 04 21:52:03 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 14 07:06:45 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "19208103", "review_id": "92c5e085b5aabe6b867cbed472225699", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Although this story isn't apart of the series I still enjoyed it. I loved the Little Mermaid adaptation. It's not necessarily a \"need to read\" for the series but it's a nice read.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 04 21:51:52 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 09 18:05:18 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Nov 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "13254289", "review_id": "4b1c025da509fe5776504be1e74e6cc7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Very short but it was still a nice introduction to the book series. I felt that this insert should of been in the book.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 04 21:51:40 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 09 17:58:42 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Nov 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Nov 02 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "31451174", "review_id": "8de7afa4d12593c741e5cb3c77d7bbd5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "dYOEOE\"Until then, I enjoy every heartbeat of it.\" dYOEOE And that I did. Wow. It's so hard to believe that this part of the series is done but now after finishing the book I agree that it's time to move on. Before finishing this book I couldn't imagine it being done but Maas planned everything perfectly but I will say that some things ended up too perfectly for this book series (even though I don't want that to happen). I feel that there are so many moments that I want to read about that take place after ACOWAR and kind of pain me in a way that I won't be a \"viewer\" for those moments. The moment after I finished this book I definitely had a heavy heart because I have grown to adore this book series so much. Feyre has grown so much in this series and I've love that the readers were quite aware of all of this throughout it. I absolutely loved this book and was not disappointed. I am quite unsure on what the next book will entitle but there were a couple of characters \"future\" paths that weren't laid out to the reader completely. I loved the fact that Maas has filled in some gaps for the characters future so that we aren't all laying in bed at night wondering. I absolutely loved Rhys POV in this book. It also makes me realize sometimes that yes we know a lot about him but knowing his actual thoughts and being in his head are so much more heart hitting. I wish that Maas would of included more of his POV in this book. Compared to the first two books, there were so many more snarky remarks which I loved. I can truly say that Maas knows how to give her readers mini heart attacks. Deep down I feel that there is so much more to this series that Maas will unveil to us. I do feel sort of empty after reading this book I have to admit but maybe that's all part of Maas's plan? I think it might take me a few days to digest this and pick up a book again. 5 star book. Hands down.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 12 11:42:14 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu May 11 07:01:49 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu May 11 09:32:13 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "17927395", "review_id": "410b3c92150df34398ce5686a74a6d67", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow. I absolutely LOVED this book! Sarah J Maas has yet again created an amazing book! This book is way better then book one and I love the character transformations that occurred. I do admit that Feyre got on my nerves in book one and the beginning of this book but she grew a lot in this book. After reading this book I have an immense urge to read book one again (Note:I hardly ever reread books) because I feel like I was so blind and missed so many hints. I would give this book ten stars (Yes I know goodreads only has five stars. Lol). I would totally recommend this book!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 12 11:41:21 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 15 07:25:13 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 15 07:25:13 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "23174274", "review_id": "e01f60df2be8e234e5d93648c3af6b97", "rating": 2, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I am so happy to be done with this book. I had really hoped that book two would be better then book one but that wasn't the case. Although book one was basically a rip off the Red Rising, I liked it more then this book. This book just kind of seemed like the divergent series or some other series that I can't pin point at the moment. I just feel like I've read a book with the same feel. The main characters \"relationship\" with Cal really annoys me because it just seems like they are using each other as comfort more then an actual relationship. (Spoiler Alert!) The fact that Shade died made me mad.*mentally flipping tables* His character seemed the most likable out of all characters even more then Mare's. It didn't really seem like she had much of a personality until 3/4 into the book. Towards the end of the book things finally started to pick up which its about time. I'm so happy to be done with this book though. I'll probably continue reading this series in hopes that it gets better but I still don't quite understand why this series is so popular.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 03 08:26:57 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 11 07:44:19 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jul 11 07:44:19 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "18584855", "review_id": "a290ba355eab7c6b862c9a37f715346c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"Nonsense and stuff and much of a muchness and mines all over again. We are all made here, don't you know?\" -Heartless \n I can certainly say that this book has jumped onto my favorites list. Marissa Meyer has produced one of my favorite series and now has produced one of my favorite books. I love Meyer's style of writing and this book made me rerealize how much I love her books. I can't deny that I got quite stressed out because one of the characters decisions. And also I got too attached to Jest, which not only killed Cath but me as well. Guess that goes to show I got too emotionally attached to the characters in this book. Lol The characters in this book were perfect and magical in their entirety. Cath did kind of drive me nuts with her indecisiveness about 3/4 through the book but in the end it all worked out. Meyer definitely brought the idea of Alice and Wonderland to life and I applaud her on that. She also expanded the storyline which just made me wanting more. Overall a 5 star book.", "date_added": "Sun May 31 07:05:18 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 11 16:42:29 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "18190208", "review_id": "1467402fc05ea7c06c9138c3ba4014b6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "First off, when a book is suggested to be like Game of Thrones I automatically think that everyone is going to die but I don't know why they related it to Game of Thrones. Just a side note. The first third of The Witch Hunter seemed well laid out and at a steady pace but after a while of reading everything sped up, and I almost feel that there were a lot of ideas thrown in the second half of the book so in other words the second half seemed quite sped up. I can't deny that this book kept my interest and reminded me of the movie Hansel and Gretel the Witch Hunters and Throne of Glass. The writing style reminded me of high school which was a disappointment but it didn't lack action which was a plus. I honestly wish that the book was more geared and written for older young adult but that's my own opinion. Overall, the book was alright and I can't deny that I'm interested in seeing what happens in the next book.", "date_added": "Fri May 29 06:47:15 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 19 16:22:48 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Aug 19 16:26:19 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "22529162", "review_id": "197c969905829f051bbab1734bb04a26", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Before I read this book I was a little torn if I should read it or not because some people are disappointed with it and some people love it. I thought this book was decently good but I'm not exactly on the overly enthused side with this book. But I did like it enough to want to read the next book. I feel as though I've read a few books with some of the same plot points but what makes this book different is that you get to read two characters point of view which I enjoyed. Overall, it's a decently good fast read that has plenty of action in it to keep readers interested.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 16 06:22:37 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 05:58:10 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "17878931", "review_id": "e9532c113f72263e3e600ace976cf18b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I've seen this book everywhere and so decided to give this book a chance. To be honest, this book was a lot better than I expected but I was overall not impressed. In my opinion, this was basically a female version of Red Rising but lacked a lot of detail. Descriptions were very broad and the only physical features that are really described for characters are their eye color. I honestly don't really remember what the main character looks like because those aspects in the book were so brief. The second half of the book was better but the first half was a bit slow. The fact that this book is so popular right now and Red Rising isn't as popular amazes me. I feel that maybe it's more popular because it's a female character which I understand. I personally tend to read female points of view more then male. But Red Rising is totally worth reading. Anyway, Red Queen was a not my favorite book but I'll probably read the next book just to see how it turns out.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 24 12:10:55 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 31 10:46:33 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "16096824", "review_id": "77d40c4d2bee7a2101e8a8e7de80ac9d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "To be completely honest I feel like if I could have I would of read this book in a day. It was like junk food for me. I couldn't stop reading it. I loved the Beauty and the Beast adaptation and the fact that this book is geared for older young adults. In my own opinion, I thought that one character in particular wasn't as beastly as I thought they would of been. The first half of the book seems to be almost different from the second half of the book which I really liked. There didn't seem to be any slow parts that dragged on which was good. I was a little surprised how much sensuality there was. I understand that this is a fairy tale but i feel like the reason why there was so much was because its geared for older young adult genre. I feel like this book might be in the same world as Throne of Glass because there are some similarities but that's just a theory. If you love fairy tales with a twist then you'll probably like this book. I almost want to read the book again because it was a nice easy read. I'm almost mad at myself for reading the book now because now I have to wait a year for the next book. Lol", "date_added": "Thu Mar 19 18:58:48 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 15 08:52:46 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jun 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "18594430", "review_id": "ab2782ab0ce2a2107095ff2ff0296d61", "rating": 5, "review_text": "To be honest I don't read a lot of \"short story add ons \" in series but I personally thought that this book is totally worth reading. I personally wish that I had read these short stories first before I had officially read Throne of Glass because I personally didn't feel an \"attachment\" to Sam originally. But now that I've read these stories it makes me sad that Sam died and I also feel that I understand more aspects of the series. I would defiantly recommend reading these add ons to anyone that has already read Throne of Glass or anyone who is wanting to start the series.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 18 10:27:32 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 22 07:05:39 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jul 22 07:05:39 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "28260587", "review_id": "1acb7b755fc6d8c159ada4a0e7f9a773", "rating": 5, "review_text": "(Spoilers are hidden for your safety and any hints towards a spoiler. ;) ) Man. Like....man though....Did that all really happen?! I just...can't believe that all happened. Wow. Was that really 700 pages? It went by so fast. Ok so this book was good. Sarah Maas did not disappoint me with this book. I was so happy to have a lot more POV's in this book. Mannon grew on me a lot more then the other books. She honestly wasn't a character that I jumped in my seat to read about but I've got a lot more respect for her now. A lot of characters grew on me more in this book then the previous ones and I liked that Maas let us get to know the characters a lot more then the previous books. I loved the fact that I got to know Elide more and I'm still crossing my fingers for something. ;) (I'm honestly still rooting for Elide and Lorcan.) So many couples popped up in this book and it almost seemed a bit predictable . I know that some people are somewhat or very unhappy about Rowan and Aedion but I'm a total fan of them although it seemed like a lot of PDA in this book. Dorian seemed so different in this book. I'm not sure what word describes him but he's gotten more....well I don't think feisty is the right word but that's the only word that comes to mind at the moment for one reason mainly. Mainly because of Manon. Also is it just me or does Dorian seem like a different person when he's with her? There wasn't that much conversation between him and Aelin which is kind of unusual compared to the previous books.And I was surprised that characters from the Assassins Blade short stories showed up. I haven't read a lot of books where characters from excerpts show up in the main series as important characters. The last 20% was so intense and an emotional roller coaster. My jaw was dropped the majority of that time. Lol Aelin never ceases to amaze me and surprise me. Even when your in her POV you still don't quite know what she knows or is thinking. And also finding out things that happened in previous books that we weren't aware of until now. And especially when Rowan and Aelin get married two days before or that Aelin knew that Rowan was her mate for a while but didn't tell him reminds me of A Court of Mist And Fury. There are so many things I could say about this book but the only word I can say about the ending is.....well I can't say because that would ruin the book for those who haven't read the book yet. ;) All that I have to say is this book was so worth reading and people should maybe put aside their preferences in characters and give this book a chance. Just a suggestion. Five star book hands down. Can't wait until the next book!!! :D", "date_added": "Sun Mar 01 06:55:03 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 17 15:37:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Sep 17 15:37:17 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "18006496", "review_id": "faf4789f4e8138ee8943bbf2f71652dd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "And i've come to another end of a Throne of Glass book. *sigh* I really loved this book. I feel like this book series just keeps on getting more epic. The big \"happening\" in this book came earlier than what i had expected but everything happens for a reason. The ending kind of seemed like a \"happily ever after\" feeling but of course it's not done yet so i guess Maas just saved us from a cliff hanger. lol I was kind of surprised to see one of the characters from the last book show up in this book but i'm not complaining. ;) This book is definately going on my favorites list and I would totally recommend this book/series to anyone.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 01 06:54:50 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 17 07:05:10 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 17 07:05:10 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "22489107", "review_id": "2aee2fc0c27b128c2f036827ffb7405f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book didn't disappoint me at all. It was honestly really interesting to read from Levanna's point of view. Some \"in between books\" aren't necessarily \"required\" to read to understand things in the next book but this book explains and fills in parts from previous books. It also reveals some things that might happen in the next book. Marissa Meyer didn't diappoint me at all and I'll look forward to reading Winter!", "date_added": "Tue Feb 03 15:09:08 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 21 17:49:58 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Feb 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Feb 12 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "18966806", "review_id": "250382b1a57104dac55e15b220d54cd1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Well, I can't say that I liked or disliked the ending because I don't want to give anyone any spoilers but I can overall say that Pierce Brown is by far one of my favorite authors and this series is one of my favorites. This series is just...wow. I've never read a book series that makes me stressed to be honest. Lol I feel like I've said this in every review for each book of the series but I'm really surprised that this book series is really popular because it is so well written. I really love the fact that you don't fully know what's planned even though your in the main characters POV. It certainly makes reading more exciting. I overall, hands down, recommend this book to anyone.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 06 16:37:15 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 22 06:45:29 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Mar 19 15:29:48 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "18966819", "review_id": "72c5c289f9ff37e2fb1e492cfcf0d70d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Golden Son, second book in the Red Rising Trilogy, is definately worth reading.This book is honestly one of the best books I've read. I don't know why more people know about this book series. If you like sci-fi and dystopian books you'll love this book. Im usually not a big fan of reading books from a guys perspective but this book series has totally changed my opinion on that. Before I finished this book I would see people saying that they \"survived\" reading Golden Som and I totally understand what they are saying. This book will make you wanting more.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 21 08:40:30 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 19 18:41:46 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "10429045", "review_id": "781692317f9acf9eedf965e971f77d2d", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Ok so first of all I had somewhat high expectations because I've seen this book everywhere and I've heard a lot of good/bad reviews. The description of the book seemed kind of unique and intriguing so I had high hopes but I'm sad to say that this book was disappointing. I can't deny that the book made me feel sad for the character and that the oddly creative descriptions were intriguing at first but the style of writing really got tiring around 40% into the book. I understand the state of mind that the main character is in and it explains why she describes things the way she does but after a while it got to be a bit too much. I can't deny that some of the descriptions were so ridiculous that there were eye rolling/eyebrow raising/laughing moments. I just feel that the author tried way too hard to be poetic/creative when writing this book. It got tiring really quick and I honestly really wanted to like this book but I felt like I was reading fan fiction. The writing seemed choppy and the story was centered around main points and didn't really have any calm/in between moments (if that makes sense?). The story was too centered around romance which highly disappointed me. I thought the overall idea of the storyline was good but didn't live up to itself. The storyline reminded me of Divergent and Delirium quite a bit. I honestly don't know if I'll read the next book because of how annoying the book was but maybe I'll just read the next book to find out the ending. *shrugs* I wouldn't really recommend this book to someone but either people love this book or hate it so I guess if you really want to read it I can't say I didn't warn you.", "date_added": "Fri May 30 18:59:14 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 26 08:49:49 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jul 26 08:49:49 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "13496", "review_id": "8015eee574973a739144ec866bd574bb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I can now say that I have been converted over to the book version now. I admit, I'm a HUGE fan of the show and since it's going to be a while until the next season is out I've decided to start the book series. I actually learned more reading this book then in the show and I found it less confusing for me to remember character names. I really wish I would of known about this book series before the show but that's just a personal preference. Halfway through the book I switched over to audiobook because I love the readers voice over and also because I am a slow reader. There were a few characters POV that kinda dragged for me but the book definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat. This book was so good and I look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series. Overall 5 stars!", "date_added": "Thu May 22 08:58:25 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 12 06:58:22 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Mar 09 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "13206900", "review_id": "4bdca3afee879491d3aaf1d57fa00bdb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow. It's so hard to believe that this book series is over. The book in its entirety was enjoyable and overall satisfying. It's always sad to finish a book series that you've become well aquatinted with and have loved. The author did an excellent job overall with this book and book series in its entirety. The only character that got on my nerves was Winter because they kept on going on and on about her beauty but I guess that's just part of the story. I would totally and completely recommend this book. It's well worth the time. I can fully say that this is by far one of my favorite books series. :)", "date_added": "Mon Dec 16 17:41:43 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 26 14:59:16 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Dec 26 14:59:16 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 10}
{"user_id": "90c53a2210f33ada709caa5aed0993c2", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "26f554afad17a0c4c5a51622e1780946", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Cinder, by Marissa Meyer, was better then I thought it was. But I did not give it five stars simply because it doesn't exactly seem like it cried out \"five stars\" to me. But like I said before, it was a good book and I would recommend it to anyone who likes twisted Cinderella stories. Through out the book it sort of bothered me how Meyer put the perspectives of Cinder. It just threw me off a bit. I really loved the whole twist of Cinder being a cyborg and finding out more about herself at the end of the book. Overall I really liked this book and I'm definatly going to read the second book Scarlet. :)", "date_added": "Sat Jun 01 17:15:20 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 19 18:44:13 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c8f2f3eb69dce842592321d6e9a31e1a", "book_id": "25350", "review_id": "a8393a8192d9237f536c28c85f26c82f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What an underrated book! It's brilliant and I can't wait to read the other two.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 12 18:57:18 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 16 15:27:47 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Dec 16 15:27:47 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Apr 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e247f7560c973628c759e06c1f9dc702", "book_id": "16054217", "review_id": "c123dde33b96debecdcc93ed81edebce", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I listened to the whole series through audiobook and I highly recommend it. The narrator has a very engaging voice and her engaging diction and the story itself make you never want to stop listening. I think the third book, this one, wash favorite of the series.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 30 18:09:59 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 20 04:20:40 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Oct 20 04:20:40 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cdf2096ea5bc866bf29cf85570b66275", "book_id": "17244466", "review_id": "b0bbf0a27807a4afaa81438726f3537e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I couldn't put this delightful book down. This fun story of magic and love will keep my students reading about Peter, Celia and Izzy. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 14 18:58:33 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 17:29:17 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cdf2096ea5bc866bf29cf85570b66275", "book_id": "15790869", "review_id": "e462b6e4f269b97b8b5184198fe47436", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Wonderfully written story of Ben's summer adventures staying at grandpas. He meets a troublemaker named Pearl and together they try to catch a Sasquatch. My students will love this adventure series!", "date_added": "Sat Sep 06 18:27:16 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 07 17:59:51 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Sep 07 17:58:03 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cdf2096ea5bc866bf29cf85570b66275", "book_id": "15818254", "review_id": "777d17897e9fadf43b2047cbecdb2f2b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A delightful story of friendship, magic and trust! Jinx is a curious child who grows up with Simon, a wizard. Jinx learns he can listen to the trees and learns many languages. He leaves on a journey and meets Reven and Elfwyn along the way. The three friends help each other through several trials. Exciting read full of magical beings and places!", "date_added": "Wed Aug 27 09:21:39 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 06 18:24:47 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Sep 06 18:24:47 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cdf2096ea5bc866bf29cf85570b66275", "book_id": "12969596", "review_id": "9988cefc238a3151da3497c23f52922c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed this fantastical novel filled with magic and magical creatures! My students are sure to enjoy the adventures of Abby and her friends.", "date_added": "Mon May 05 11:39:06 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 12 16:18:13 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Aug 12 16:18:13 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cdf2096ea5bc866bf29cf85570b66275", "book_id": "17987501", "review_id": "38edcc4db54f440fbe85e2b09d677fce", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I absolutely fell in love with the main character Alice! She is a \"Reader\" in more ways than one. The twists and turns in the Forbidden Library are mirrored in the story line as you are taken on a great adventure. My students will love this book and the characters that live in The Forbidden Library!", "date_added": "Sat Apr 19 14:00:22 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 21 07:46:43 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Apr 21 12:36:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cdf2096ea5bc866bf29cf85570b66275", "book_id": "12317217", "review_id": "29d05e418d16ecb1f3eeddfd21aae2da", "rating": 5, "review_text": "How does Riley come up with this stuff!!! Everything I predicted was wrong in some way!! Can't wait for the third book next summer!", "date_added": "Wed Sep 26 14:33:31 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 01 05:49:04 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Oct 01 05:49:04 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cdf2096ea5bc866bf29cf85570b66275", "book_id": "7327326", "review_id": "33cd192bdb6b9507deb8b1bdacbd0675", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow! Amazing piece of writing. I was on the edge of my seat all the way to the end! A definite must read!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 20:03:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 06 19:16:31 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Sep 06 19:15:42 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "22e062dd468f4c68666781d3a5379ddd", "book_id": "1226316", "review_id": "606c0c34069faf480242b3ca0613661c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n I finally finished this book! there were definitely some cringe-worthy moments throughout the whole thing and some raise eyebrows but I made it through. Trust me when I say, no ones was as surprised as I was when I found that I actually began to enjoyed the story. Yeah, there were many elements that I Didn't enjoy, but it wasn't that bad. I really liked the Dialogue in this book, especially between the 'Brothers', it was ..interesting to say the least. The characters were fairly well developed, strange , yet developed. The description was okay.The romance was meh. I really enjoyed the many persepectives used throughout the story. \n However I didn't really appreciate reading a whole glossary of words in order to understand the story. plus I'm not the biggest fan of the whole 'bonding' ( instalove) thing happing with these ' drop dead Gorgeous vampires' - overused ... \n still many unanswered questions, but that was to be expected considering the number of books within the series... \n overall it was a decent book.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 01 19:34:20 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 01 19:43:22 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jun 02 19:43:22 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "22e062dd468f4c68666781d3a5379ddd", "book_id": "16162774", "review_id": "a39b47d0387288864b8d7cd517e5a723", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I had no idea what I was in for.... \n First impressions ( first 100 or so pages) \n - Slightly boring \n - slow moving \n - old jokes are no longer that funny \n - Jamie's narration was awkward \n - ryan's character seemed underdeveloped compared to the previous book \n - Becky ! \n and then \n ---- \n it took a turn for the better :) \n suspense \n action \n good humour \n twist and turns and ...and \n The end ... was ...devastatingly brilliant", "date_added": "Fri Apr 19 02:30:00 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 15 18:53:55 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Dec 16 18:53:55 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "22e062dd468f4c68666781d3a5379ddd", "book_id": "7238737", "review_id": "5e2296f5a7be680a268b2b4fdeea2404", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I've come to a stage where reading has become a means of procrastination from work... That's why right now , I tend to stick to Light easy reads rather than deep thought provoking ones. In accordance to this, Being Jamie Baker by Kelly Oram, couldn't have been a more perfect choice for me. Although the story does tackle some rather dark and depressing issues, the on-going humour and light-hearted atmosphere balances it out, so that the reader was not left in tears... \n Before reading this book, I have to admit I didn't read the blurb at all so I honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into . I found that the story itself was quite unpredictable and original in a sense that I truly was left wondering what would happen next multiple times and the ending did take me a lot by surprise. In the first couple of pages I was initially surprise at how casually the author brings up Jamie's ' Superpowers' ( like I said before, I didn't read the blurb) . I had no clue, and it was intertwined with the story so casually and sudden that I didn't really question the 'science' behind it all and how believable it actually was. \n Reading this book , I couldn't help but compare the story to ' Shatter Me ' . The connections were definitely there,. Girl with superpowers 'check', She can't touch people, check , dream boy who helps her through all this, check. I must say I did enjoy the characters in this book more than shatter em . Honestly I am a sucker for strong female character rather than extremely dependant ones. I found that the Jamie and Ryan had a lot more depth than ( insert lead female of shatter)And(insert lead male of shatter me ) And their relationship actually developed in front of the readers rather than the whole ' they love each other because I say so' approach. Okaaay... I don't want to turn this into a Shatter Me review or anything . In Being Jamie Baker , the readers really get a thrill in seeing the progress between Jamie and Ryan as well as them coming into terms with themselves. I really enjoy Kelly Oram's romance writings , its not cliche and definitely not romance for the sake of romance... \n Overall I enjoyed this book and will be looking for ward to the next one in the series. \n 4 stars , it was great yes, but not quite a 5 star book \n sorry for the sucky review :)", "date_added": "Mon Apr 08 00:13:33 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 19 02:18:44 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "22e062dd468f4c68666781d3a5379ddd", "book_id": "13617556", "review_id": "499aba766da9dc1965085f6de683ea4a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 \n Amazing series-", "date_added": "Sat Mar 30 04:00:17 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 21 06:03:16 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "22e062dd468f4c68666781d3a5379ddd", "book_id": "4214", "review_id": "19169abdb03ab1809c1b9b76a1345fe6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Bravo Bravo Yann Martel.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 05 01:48:22 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 23 19:33:34 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "22e062dd468f4c68666781d3a5379ddd", "book_id": "1161433", "review_id": "6f3bfe7f6fec891e5e666f056e9cc290", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I remember reading this book so very long ago. I was about 10 years old and I re-read the book over and over again because my little mind thought it was the best book in the entire world. Now at the age of 16 I rediscovered The Prophecy of the Gems by Flavia Bujor on my shelf and re-read for the first time in 5 years and even though it was as good as I remembered it to be it still was as magical and enjoyable.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 31 17:50:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 04 04:12:13 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "22e062dd468f4c68666781d3a5379ddd", "book_id": "13343752", "review_id": "d9b10be717ddcbcd5bfe39fc7be12315", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Can you imagine a book containing events and people so unimaginable, so in-depth and well-thought out that the story could not possible be fiction. A book which can't help but continually awe the reader and keep them on the edge of their seat page after page not knowing where it would lead them next. A book written so well with decription so detailed and intricate that you yourself feel as if you are there. But even though one may disagree I believe a book like this is not unimaginable , in fact it has a name and its called Oblivion. This thrilling, action packed Gem of a novel was written by the Bestselling author Anthony Horowitz and is the last instalment of the 'Gatekeepers' series or how I know it as 'The Power of Five' series which contains 5 novels in total. I may sound overly dramatic here when I say words alone cannot describe this book and mostly how it felt to read this book. I might be making a big claim when I say that Oblivion was just flawless and faultless in everyway possible. Without a Doubt Mr Horowitz really took this book to a whole new level which makes others now look somewhat inferior beside it. \n To be honest I was a little upset with Mr Horowitz and the last couple of books from his Alex Rider series and I thought he was kind-of losing his touch but after reading this book I can rest assured that Mr Horowitz still has a lot in him with Oblivion being his best book yet. \n Okay, this review so far isn't much help for people trying to find out what the book is exactly about but honestly I don't know how to explain without giving to much away (like I said the book is full of twist and turns-small to mindblowingly big) but I must say the blurb does a fantastic job of making the story sound interesting but at the same time saying nothing at all. So In a nutshell, without giving anything away , readers will be reunited with the Five gatekeepers Matt, Pedro, Scott, Jamie and Scarlett who are thrown apart to different corners of the world and must reunite to ...well as corny as it sounds To Save the World. Of coarse they are also joined with other characters from the previous book like Richard Cole and Lohan there are a bunch of new characters thrown in the mix including my favourite dear, Holly. I recommend, Very Strongly recommend those new to the series to start from the beginning and NOT to read this book first. I must also warn those who have read the series that the last book is more sinister and dark than the other so prepare yourself for some doom and gloom. \n a much deserved 5 STARS", "date_added": "Fri Aug 03 05:07:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 06 22:22:29 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Nov 06 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sat Nov 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "22e062dd468f4c68666781d3a5379ddd", "book_id": "7280026", "review_id": "d2c4d827b2e7b74ffa0dc74701d2712f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I started this book due to no other reason than for fun. The Diary of a Wimpy Vampire is a cute lighthearted read which was hard not to enjoy. \n Finally a book where vampires don't have to be extremely attractive or have superpowers, but can be kinda..well...wimpy .", "date_added": "Fri Aug 03 03:35:50 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 04 02:14:36 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Aug 04 02:14:36 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "22e062dd468f4c68666781d3a5379ddd", "book_id": "11213494", "review_id": "9e6e9efc52d9255a7854c6b2491118d9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n Hotbloods By Juliann Whicker is a YA Urban Fantasy which is the first novel of the House of Slide series. The book switches between the point of views of 17 year old Dariana, a wild/cool and Lewis a Hotblood \n I read this book after I had just finished divergent and believe me that is one act hard to follow. The story wasn't something I expected, I must say that the blurb misled me as most of it occurred in the first chapters of the novel. The book surprised me how detailed and well-thought out the world was. I loved the idea as it was both interesting and unique, why write about vampire, angels or wizards when you can make up your own new supernatural species? . However , the downside to this is that it leads to a lot of explaining thus hindering the pace of the novel at the beginning . The first couple of chapters were a bit messy for me and caused some confusion and I had to force myself to read every single word instead of skimming through. \n Even though I started this review with criticisms ,the book takes a delightful turn mid-way and from there it went all up hill, it intrigues me that I cant stop thinking about.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 25 01:33:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 20 00:47:42 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Aug 20 00:47:42 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "22e062dd468f4c68666781d3a5379ddd", "book_id": "12027429", "review_id": "75c0adb4ea5c438cdce63c4dca4f5fe1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "An easy 5 stars. Loved it!", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 00:00:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 17 19:19:46 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "22e062dd468f4c68666781d3a5379ddd", "book_id": "2800905", "review_id": "d02447fe67185fe9191d522fa66dccd1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Some books I have to force myself to read past the first 50 or so pages, no matter how good the books end up being. The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong was not one of those books . It captivated me right from the first couple of sentences , I was intrigued and curious about what would happen to this female protagonist . \n The summoning is the first book of the darkest powers series , which revolves around the life of Chloe Saunders, a teenager who holds the ability to see ghosts . This exceeded all my expectations being anything but a predictable or cliche read. Kelley Armstrong has successfully written a novel which keeps the reader wanting more . The plot and overall story was well thought out and well-paced providing a smooth and easy read. The characters within this book is what really drew me in. the characters were well-developed, they were just so much fun to read about, you couldn't help but want to know more about them and their past. The characters were realistic and down-to -earth unlike so many of those books out there were the protagonists are unnaturally gorgeous or flawless. I was more than pleased with this book and am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 22 18:35:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 24 23:43:13 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "22e062dd468f4c68666781d3a5379ddd", "book_id": "13104080", "review_id": "163224f5e80d03903cdb6ec61d7f838d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n To be Honest, Unravel Me as a Sci-fi Dystopian novel is really enjoyable.It was, although not an entirely unique idea, it was different, intense and exciting. However Unravel Me as a Young adult romance novel was dissapointing to say the least. Reading the sequel to Shatter Me, I was forced to approach it in sections- romance and action.The whole love triangle going on between Adam , Warner and Juliet was tiring and boring. This probably had something to do with the fact that all three of these characters were somewhat underdeveloped unrelateable which is a shame considering they ARE the three main characters!! Juliet played the typical beautiful female character who spends a majority of the book in self pity worrying about her problems. Not until the end did we actually see her 'Do something' and may i mention , that it was also not till the end does 'something' actually starts happenning . Adam's character was cliche underdeveloped . As a love interest he was goodlooking, somewhat protective ..thats it ... .Warner's character wasn't consistant enough, making the transition between the first and second book seem unrealistic. \n On a light note i really enjoyed myself near the end, not so much the actual ending though and i adored Kenji !! sigh if only the other character were as interesting and 'heroic' ( as in he has the charactristics of a good hero- get my gist ) than I would add this to my favourites. \n Note : i loved the prose in the previous book - delicate and unique \n however i found the style in this book to stretch out the story too much to a point that i was skipping page ...... \n ^ bad review i know :'(", "date_added": "Thu Jul 19 20:41:30 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 11 18:57:34 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun May 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "22e062dd468f4c68666781d3a5379ddd", "book_id": "12285415", "review_id": "727198fe40fcc2c6c5ae48818e883ae0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang flies again' is a sequel to the well known book by Ian Flemings. \n Why did I pick up this book? Who knows, but I do not regret it \n I love children's book , their so fun and good to read. When I opened the book the first chapter has already put a smile on my face . This book is soo adorable and cute! The characters were so fun, different and just plain lovable. No matter how old you are you would enjoy this book. It is an easy read and being a children's novel does not require much thought into what is happenning. This book is perfect as a distressful activity where you can't help but laugh out loud plus the slightly larger font is easy on your eyes. It's been so very long since I read a book with pictures and I was pleased with the pictures in this book :) \n I enjoyed Frank Cottrel Boyce's writing and the easy humour he incorporated into this book.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 13 19:31:01 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 13 21:48:17 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "22e062dd468f4c68666781d3a5379ddd", "book_id": "11262609", "review_id": "5d5f74d96587aa00a08b9e336ffb263b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Sacrifice , the last of the Legacy trilogy tells of the ongoing dispute between the two Kingdoms of Hytanica aand Cokyrian. With Narian finally by her side, Alera, newly stripped of her crown assumes her new position as Grand Provost of the Hytanican province as she attempts to maintain order amongst her people in the mist of rebellion and unfair treatment from the enemy . If you are yet to read this novel I will tell you now not to expect the same writing structure found in the preivious two novels as Cayla Kluver freshens the story up a bit more with a new point of view. Young shaselle is thrown into the mix as one of the maim characters of this novel giving a new voice of opinion into the story . Sacrifice alternates between Allera and Shashelle giving the reader two accounts of the rebellion. I praise Kluver on how she successfully intertwind the two chatacters stories to overlapp and thus giving the audience a sense of what is happening on both sides. To be honest , Sacrifice fell a little short of my expectation. The first half although interesting, was quite slow paced and the action or suspense in this book seemed somehow lacking . Things didn't really start to happen untill more than halfway through and then instead of stretching out the last battle it is left to end much quicker than it started. Honestly the plot was somewhat anticlimactic, in my opinion the lead up to the end overplayed the result. The characters talked about rebellion and what-not but when it came to it ..well lets just say I expected more . The ending was just to easy for me. In my opinion this last installment was a let down compared to Allegiance, whiched seemed much more fast paced and nail biting than this one was. All in all the book was still enjoyable and reading about the characters you love so much is good enough for me . \n Scraped 4 stars", "date_added": "Fri Jul 13 02:29:38 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 04 03:40:00 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Dec 23 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "22e062dd468f4c68666781d3a5379ddd", "book_id": "13506089", "review_id": "9831f507a0b0a6f7d17885aad2d7e77d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Legacy, the first of a trilogy, is a beautifully written novel which is cleverly plotted out and well paced. The story follows the life of Princess Alera who is faced with the pressures of being the next heir to the throne. Alera, as future queen, struggles to come into terms with what her duty to her kingdom holds. \n I adored this novel, even though it wasn't suspenseful it was addictive , I couldn't bring myself to put it down. Overall the reason why I had enjoyed this book so much was because there was frankly nothing to dislike about it. The characters, plot and overall themes were well thought-out and the story was smooth and an easy read. \n Who doesn't like a story about a Princess, a kingdom and of course a forbidden romance? \n Even though this book consisted of elements that would make you think the story would be quite predictable , I found that it was in fact the opposite. I applaud Cayla Kluver (who wrote the book at the age of sixteen) for her amazing work on creating characters which couldn't help but win me over. The ending of the book was promising and provided great expectations for when I read the sequel.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 12 02:07:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 01 01:37:36 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "22328546", "review_id": "f1bac47d73d8edc5cc01ad474031e143", "rating": 0, "review_text": "There was so much hype around this book and I'm always hesitant to read books that get so much hype. Red Queen was definitely worthy of all the attention, in my opinion. It had a Selection feel to it (which I loved) with some fantasy too. \n I found myself flipping back and forth liking Cal and Maven. It was really hard to like them both at the same time. You can kind of guess what will happen, but I found myself surprised when it did. I had a really hard time putting this book down, I just wanted to keep reading. The end of the book really gets intense and made me want to read more, so I'm really hoping this is the first book in series!", "date_added": "Sat Apr 02 12:23:15 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 02 12:23:15 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "12924326", "review_id": "ed489af07eedf2ceeb6d61c142ba772d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Tiger Lily was a very interesting story, it was adventurous and had romance in there too. I loved getting to read Tinker Bell's side of the story and what she saw. You can actually understand why she was mean to Wendy and understand why she acted the way she did. Tinker Bell was very loyal and protective of Tiger Lily and Peter Pan, Wendy just messed everything up. I found myself not liking her. Tiger Lily and Peter Pan were just adorable together and I loved the fact that Peter Pan was forbidden. It made their relationship so much more exciting. \n Neverland was definitely a magical place but it also had scary beasts, pirates, and mermaids. I was surprised to read that the mermaids were evil, even though they were beautiful. The ending was not want I expected or wanted, I think it would of been a favorite of mine if it ended the way I was hoping it would. Regardless, I recommend this for all ages, it was a great story!", "date_added": "Tue Mar 29 22:54:12 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 29 23:55:32 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "11418574", "review_id": "cfe4bfbb1ded51fa6cde5c4053193a3d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was the BEST book of the whole series. Rachel Vincent is so talented and one of the best writers that I have read in a long time. Before I Wake was just everything you want in a book, I found myself laughing, crying, in suspense, and falling in love! \n Kaylee is dead and adjusting to her new life. Avari is back with a destructive plan for Kaylee and company. Of course, they all work together to try and stop him, lots of interesting events go on. At one point, I was truly breathless with Todd and his love for Kaylee, it had to be the sweetest thing ever. I started off disliking Todd in the very first book, as time when on, I started liking him more and more each book. By the time I got to Before I Wake, I was just in love with him! \n I wan't a fan of Sabine when she first showed up in this series, but in this book, she had me laughing. I loved the attitude she gave to spoiled, mean Sophie. About time someone treated her like that, especially after all the terrible things she did and say to Kaylee. \n This was an awesome book and I'm looking forward to reading the next book, whenever that comes out!", "date_added": "Tue Mar 29 22:54:11 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 29 23:55:06 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "8755776", "review_id": "03f518918f8d1be9252d74d22879aa96", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This series has me hooked but frustrated at the same time. Jace and Claire have ANOTHER obstacle to overcome to be together, which is getting really annoying. I just want them to be together for more than 5 minutes without having some crazy demon, shadowhunter, or vampire after them. I hate that this book had me disliking Jace, even though the way he is is not his fault. I really read this one pretty fast, because I just wanted to see what will happen, a lot of action and fighting with leaving us at the end of the story still wondering about Sebastion. \n I have to say that Simon has grown into a likable character throughout this series, at first I was not a big fan. I also just LOVE Luke, I think he is just the sweetest guy and glad that Luke and Jocelyn are together, kind of figured that out a while ago. Maia and Jordan are just adorable and glad they could forget the past and move forward together. I'm looking forward to reading the next book and hoping that Jace and Claire can be happy together for more than 5 minutes without being ripped apart.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 29 22:54:10 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 29 23:51:33 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "12098371", "review_id": "aae52c047ee3b10d87662298410e32d0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was a great ending to the series! I found myself taking my time reading this so I could enjoy it thoroughly. It left me very satisfied with how everything turned out. I loved Jamie and the whole childe experience that Jane got, even though she couldn't have her own children, she was able to experience it a little. Of course, there was drama during Jane and Gabriel's wedding, I wouldn't expect anything less. \n I'm really going to miss Jane and all the characters of this book. Jane's character was pretty awesome! She had all the best qualities that you would want in being a good person. Gabriel was pretty great too! I pictured him as a sexy, strong vampire that protected Jane no matter what. Who wouldn't want that? I'm definitely going to be checking out other Molly Harper books!", "date_added": "Tue Mar 29 22:54:09 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 29 23:50:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "6752378", "review_id": "18d465c356fe92833b0984f61b08c145", "rating": 4, "review_text": "So City of Fallen Angels was pretty good, especially after the last book, I thought it would be pretty hard to compete with that. It definitely wasn't as good but still was pretty interesting. \n It focused a lot on Simon, we start off finding out that he is dating both Isabelle and Maia at the same time, which they do not know he is dating both of them. So it gets pretty interesting. He also has suspicious people after him and possibly trying to kill him. Of course, the gang is trying to protect him and find out who is after him. \n Jace and Clary's relationship gets to heat up a little, it seems like as soon as they're able to be together, something is always holding one of them back. I'm kind of getting annoyed with it, I just hate Jace's constant need to keep himself away from Clary. Even though he loves her, Clary is just hurt by it and Jace is miserable. I just think they need to be together and forget everthing and everyone else. Isn't that how is suppose to be? I hope this next book has some happy times for them, I really, really like them together and just want to see them be happy and in love. \n We definitely end things and relationships up in the air in City of Fallen Angels, looking forward to digging into City of Lost Souls:)", "date_added": "Tue Mar 29 22:54:07 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 29 23:40:45 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "8667848", "review_id": "b2331f67e629c0bd930af7300f9f10a4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "So I'm having a hard time reviewing this book, at times it was a little slow and then at times it was really good. I think the history part of it kind of bored me a bit, but not to the point to stop reading. I loved all the romance, action, and drama that goes on and found myself wanting to read more during those parts. \n The romance between Diana and Matthew is great, even though it was forbidden and had serious consequences, you just couldn't help but want them to be together. I really fell for Matthew, I mean come on, who wouldn't want a very sexy, hot vampire loving and protecting you? At least that is how I pictured him to be in my head. \n I'm definitely going to read the second book in this series to see how everything plays out!", "date_added": "Tue Mar 29 22:54:06 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 29 23:39:24 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "8487363", "review_id": "1c15ecc8e296223ee2d9d6dcc676ee7f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "My Soul to Steal was not my favorite book of the series, Kaylee and Nash are trying to work out their relationship, due to the events that took place in the last book. When Nash's ex-girlfriend, Sabine shows up and starts a whole new issue between Kaylee and Nash. However, Nash did not seem to recognize nor care what Sabine was trying to do, I found myself feeling bad for Kaylee. Nash always stuck up for Sabine, which I found very annoying. If he truly loved and cared for Kaylee, liked he claimed he did, he wouldn't have let Sabine do half the things she did to make Kaylee jealous. Todd is just awesome in this book, never would of thought that I would like him better than Nash, after this book I have to say that is true! \n As always, there is a new crisis in the Netherworld that Kaylee and company have to deal with, new mysterious deaths that have to be solved. I really don't like reading about the Netherworld, I would rather just skip over those parts. I'm hoping the next book will be better as far as Nash and Kaylee go.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 29 22:54:06 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 29 23:39:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "7476122", "review_id": "703acfd08239bcf9081ce50694fa4cb9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I would give My Soul to Keep 4.5 stars, it was really good. I would of gave it 5 stars but there was some small things that I was not happy about. This was definitely full of twists and surprises that I wasn't expecting. We get to see a very different side of Nash, which I wasn't really a fan of.Todd really is growing on me and it was nice to see him have a good side to him. \n Poor Kaylee, I just can't help but feel sorry for her. Such a crazy world she has discovered and all of the situations she gets put in. I'm glad she has Emma as a best friend, even though she does not know what is completely going on, she is always there for Kaylee. Kaylee's cousin, Sophie is just annoying, I want to just slap her. What a spoiled brat! I'm really liking this series and can't wait to see what is in store for Kaylee and company!", "date_added": "Tue Mar 29 22:54:04 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 29 23:34:18 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "6654313", "review_id": "1994e05c16611f3761e10ec0dec35a02", "rating": 3, "review_text": "So I have to say Linger was a bit of disappointment to me, all the reviews said how great it is and how it was even better than Shiver. I kinda liked Shiver better, there wasn't too much going on between Sam and Grace in the romance department. Sam got caught in Grace's room by her parents and was banned from their home and Grace was forbidden to see Sam again. \n There was a new wolf in the group, Cole. He and Isabel were somewhat of an item, even though they were trying to deny it. They would get all hot and heavy and then just stop, didn't really understand that. They honestly were pretty cute together. \n The ending was a little unexpected and kinda left them in the same situation they were in before. I guess I will read the last book in the series, because I already read the other two. I sure hope that it is good.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 29 22:54:03 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 29 23:32:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "6763961", "review_id": "096b7bc52dafe8da64dbc20d3a8c626c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a good second book in this series, I did like the first book better! We got to learn more about Kaylee and her special powers and what she can do with them. I loved Kaylee and Nash's dynamic together. They understood each other and worked together to figure out the crazy situations that they're put in. I liked seeing a caring side of Todd and I felt bad for Addison:( There are parts of the book that I did not like, but I just couldn't stop listening to it to find out what happens to Kaylee, Nash, Todd and company. This series is something that I have never read about before and it is refreshing to read something new and have to admit, at times a little crazy.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 29 22:54:03 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 29 23:31:11 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "6601471", "review_id": "7145845cd2c884534bed4786e0b6beff", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a good prequel to the series. Looking forward to reading more:)", "date_added": "Tue Mar 29 22:54:02 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 29 23:30:45 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "6329322", "review_id": "2517e4e2374b1aad3ab3398a35b46ed3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Another great book by Molly Harper, it was full of suspense and romance! I have to say I was not liking Gabriel through most of this book, his shadiness and lack of interest to restore his relationship with Jane had me frustrated. I'm glad in the end it all worked out for them and they were able to resolve their issues and be the sweet \"vampire couple\" that I love. It was cool to see Jane go to her high-school reunion as a hot, sexy vampire and get to show off her handsome boyfriend to all the people who were not so kind to her in high school, best kind of revenge in my book:) \n Ok, I really started to like Dick in the last book and I liked him even more in this one! Dick and Andrea were just adorable! I loved seeing the nice and protective side of Dick, and to see him love and protect Jane like a sister. It was good to see her real family treat her better and resolve some issues that they had. It annoys me that her mom doesn't stick up for Jane when Grandma Ruthie is completely rude and mean to her. I'm sad and excited at the same time to read the next book, I want to see what happens but don't want this series to end.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 29 22:54:01 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 29 23:26:53 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "4062214", "review_id": "fc9b298b2db17e899973f2403c23af41", "rating": 4, "review_text": "City of Ashes was a lot better than City of Bones, there was so much more going on in this book. Lots of action and we get to know the characters a little better. We get to meet some new characters as well, I really liked Maia and the Fairies were very interesting/scary. \n Oh gosh! What can I say about Claire and Jace? Finding out they're brother and sister has set a very weird vibe between the two. I can't really blame them, seeing how they had to jump from a romantic relationship to a sibling relationship so suddenly. I really hope we find out that they're really not siblings, I feel like the book is hinting that way or maybe I'm just hoping! \n The ending leaves you with wanting to know more, I can't wait to get to the next book!", "date_added": "Tue Mar 29 22:54:00 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 29 08:41:00 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "6315602", "review_id": "b4026ecec2603ea6d5b1d5005bc77bd8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was definitely a different and interesting book, I was very intrigued though. I just wanted to find out why Kaylee had this special and scary power, to find out why all these young and healthy girls were dying. A few things were predictable but most were surprises that I did not see coming. \n I'm so glad Kaylee had Nash, he was always there for her and at times the only person. Her family gave off the vibe that they thought she was weird or crazy, even though they shouldn't have. I felt bad that she couldn't talked to them about what was really going on with her. One of the discoveries was very sad to me and my heart went out to Kaylee. I'm looking forward to continuing this series and see what happens next:)", "date_added": "Tue Mar 29 22:54:00 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 29 23:25:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "5999242", "review_id": "148bf38c271faa303bf2ce85520dbe09", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm really enjoying this series:) Jane is funny, smart and I just love her personality. I really, really like Gabriel, he just seems so charming and handsome. I didn't like his disappearing acts and keeping secrets from Jane, but I assume we will find it all out in the next book. Their chemistry together as a \"vampire couple\" is awesome, and I love seeing their relationship grow into love:) \n A lot of drama is going on in this book with Jeb and Jolene's wedding, Jane seems to be the one to deal with it all. I feel so bad for Jane, her sister Jenny and Grandma Ruthie are just awful to her. I really just can't understand it. Jane was even trying to protect her Grandma Ruthie from Wilbur, when all Grandma Ruthie did was be mean to her. I was happy to see that Dick was a more likable character in this book, he seemed to really look out for Jane and tried to get along better with Gabriel. \n I purchased this book and the next one in the series online for pretty cheap, so I can't wait to continue this series:)", "date_added": "Tue Mar 29 22:53:59 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 29 23:23:24 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "3777732", "review_id": "a857d5acf94a73677bb169853448c02f", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Wow, is all I can say about this book!!!! It was SO good. It is definitely the best book in the series so far. Some things I figured out before they were revealed, but it was still so interesting to read. \n We still had that very awkward feeling between Jace and Clary. They wanted to be together so bad, but knew it was so wrong. They tried to \"move on\" by trying to be with other people. In the end, it all worked itself out between the two of them, which I was really hoping it would and kind of predicted. I was so happy for them and relieved too, the story was just really weird reading about \"siblings\" wanting to be together. Just not right. \n Simon really developed a lot in this book, which I was very happy to see. He was very annoying in the other books, always sad or mad because Clary didn't love him the way he loved her. He really became an awesome vampire and friend. I'm interested to see what girl he picks, Isabelle or Maia. I like both girls but I'm liking Isabelle more for Simon than Maia. \n On to the next book......", "date_added": "Tue Mar 29 22:53:59 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 29 23:20:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "29e5455b553f154141367ca75f648346", "rating": 3, "review_text": "City of Bones was a good book, I wasn't crazy about it like I have been with other series I have read lately. I think that it just took awhile to get everything explained and the characters developed. Once you got through all that, it was pretty good. Claire and Jace were just awesome together. I really liked Jace a lot, he had the attitude of \"I just don't care\" but then would be so protective of Claire. \n There was a pretty interesting twist in this book, that I definitely did not see coming. It really threw me and changed the whole dynamic of things. So even though this started out slow for me, by the time I finished the book, I was ready to start the second one. I have heard that this series just gets better with each book. So I'm looking forward to reading the next one!", "date_added": "Tue Mar 29 22:53:56 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 29 23:12:21 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "23174274", "review_id": "52243cbd1638ec8c55c4f0568c5faf3e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "*3.5 stars* \n I was extremely excited to get my hands on Glass Sword, I really enjoyed Red Queen so much and it really left us hanging at the end of the book. The first half of the book was slow but eventually really picked up the second half(kind of how Red Queen was.) There was a lot of action and fighting going on and events that really threw me at times, but then later explained.....thank goodness! \n I only really have one complaint and the reason I only gave it 3.5 stars, there wasn't much romance going on. Ugh....I just really wanted the good romance that was going on during Red Queen. Mare and Cal were just awkward and weird with each other, obviously they love each other but neither one of them could actually express this to each other. I found that completely annoying and really unrealistic, I mean, if you're constantly fighting and running from the king and his soldiers and you never know when the last time you will see each other, wouldn't you want the person that you love to know that? I guess that is just me. \n Obviously, Mare hated Maven and he was just an evil, awful king who wanted her in his possession and would do anything to hurt her or Cal. I really wouldn't mind having him killed in the third book (there better be a third book, this one leaves you hanging too.) \n Shade and Mare had an awesome brother sister relationship and I loved seeing that relationship grow. My heart was truly broken when things didn't go as planned during an attack. I feel like this book had a lot of sadness and just plain evil going on. I really hope the next book will have some better times for Mare and Cal.\"", "date_added": "Sat Jul 25 16:32:51 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 24 06:42:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Mar 24 06:42:43 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "20911450", "review_id": "d84fec716e50e09606b8e0aad04feff4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have heard so many mixed reviews for Seeker, I read the inside cover and it really seemed like it would be interesting. It really was, sometimes I was a bit confused about the Seeker's powers, just how it all worked and where they were actually going. I was really sucked into the characters of this book and loved that we got to read from different point of views. \n I was so happy to pick this up to read at my local library. I don't think I would ever buy this book with having mixed reviews, so I love going to the library and finding books I'm not sure about. It ended with a setup for a second book and I would read it, I'm interested to see where this is going.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 25 16:26:33 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 02 12:28:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "75a5fd16fb6c0302668b80e94e800e74", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Martian is definitely something different than what I normally would read, I heard so many great reviews and a movie coming out as well. I have to say that I was pretty intrigued with this book, there's a lot of NASA and scientist talk but you can easily skim past it. It was an adventure to go on with Mark Watney and it was incredible. He is crazy smart and his desire to survive is just amazing. I'm so glad that I picked this up at my local library and gave it a chance. I'm looking forward to seeing this movie!", "date_added": "Sat Jul 25 16:21:31 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 02 12:12:32 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "10662433", "review_id": "253c324dcfcdcfac38c01e9ea27878e8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This whole series is addictively good, I seriously flew threw all three books. It had a little bit of everything that I like to read. It really covers a lot of topics that young people have to deal with it nowadays. Everything wasn't perfect all the time and they all had to deal with some tough stuff together and separately. It made things more realistic and easy to be able to relate to the characters. \n I have to say the revenge Mary wanted for Reeve was quite intense this book. I liked Mary and felt really bad for her the first two books, but I really ended up not liking her in this one. She was just consumed with it and even though she saw how sorry Reeve was and how much he regretted it, she was just vindictive. I really grew to like Reeve and especially when he was with Lillia. \n Reeve and Lillia had such a passionate love for each other, you couldn't help it but love them together. Some of the moments they shared were just so sweet. I really don't get why all her friends and even sister got so mad at her for dating him. Rennie and Reeve were never dating and they were both grieving, so why shouldn't they be together? I know they were together before that but nobody knew, I was just so annoyed by the way everybody was acting towards Lillia and Reeve. They were adorable together and made each other better people. \n When I finished the last book, I literally threw the book on the floor. I was SO mad!!! I really hate when I love a series and the ending is just not what I want. I mean come on, it definitely could have ended better than that. I don't want to give anything away, but how could it possibly end that way. I just keep thinking about it and keep thinking why? Oh well, maybe it's more realistic this way, I have no clue. I would of gave it 5 stars if it ended the way I thought it should of.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 31 09:33:34 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 02 12:30:49 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "10586539", "review_id": "ad79db8dd57e7e24fcf2654c1b3b2324", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I purchased Wake awhile ago when the ebook was pretty cheap, I decided to finally read it. It wasn't anything great but still an ok read. I really thought Gemma and Alex's chemistry was good and Harper and Daniel were cute together too. I for some reason had a hard time getting through this book even though it was only 200 pages long. \n The ending was pretty interesting and left you wanting more. I just really hated the siren girls....Penn, Lexi and Thea. They had a very creepy way about them which we eventually find out why. I got the second book in this series for a bargain so I will be reading that soon.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 01 12:09:43 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 03 11:30:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "18525702", "review_id": "d1a70b37a7287597637751e08809c5a4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "All I have to say about Of Neptune is........Ohmysweetgoodness!!! It definitely left me satisfied and all matters resolved, which I tend to enjoy when ending a series. There seemed to be a lot more action going on this book, at least to me it did. I can't remember if the other books did this, but I enjoyed reading from both Emma and Gavin's point of view. It's nice to know what they both are thinking. \n Of course I enjoyed getting updates on some characters that I have grown to love from Of Posiedon and Of Triton, Nalia and Grom, Toraf and Rayna. I like how they all seem to come together in time of need. What a great support system to have around you.I have to say, after reading this series, I really want to be a mermaid...lol! :)", "date_added": "Mon Jun 02 20:09:39 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 03 09:42:45 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Mon Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "5618698", "review_id": "c15fb6b28073404071dda43d31c72fb8", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This was definitely a different type of book for me to read. The only vampire book or books I ever read is the Twilight series, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs:) It was fun, quirky, romantic and even had a little mystery in there too! Jane and Gabriel were so sweet and cute together. I also loved that Jane loved to read, definitely made her character even more likable to me. She was very smart and funny. Gabriel was very protective of her, but at the same time he would let Jane stand on her own. I really liked that about him, instead of coming to the rescue every time, he allowed her to kick some butt when needed! I am definitely going to continue to read this series:) This was an audiobook that I listened to and the narrator did an awesome job! She really did a good job of capturing each character's personality.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 16 08:46:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 16 08:47:02 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "6261522", "review_id": "9f14edda79059b2ce0f441ea5fa294d4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow, The Body Finder was soooooo good! It was a mystery and love story all wrapped up in one. Violet and Jay were just the best couple ever and their romance was just perfect. It left me breathless a few times:) They are best friends that fall in love and what is better than falling in love with your best friend! I read this in a day because it was that good that I could not put it down, I just had to know what happened. It was suspenseful and romantic all at the same time. I recommend this book for the old and young. I will be continuing this series and hoping that it is just as good as this one!", "date_added": "Sat Jun 16 08:37:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 16 08:37:46 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "11455096", "review_id": "795889ece3192f27c24cc2742217aebf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So I was really looking forward to reading this book. I was almost afraid to read it because I heard so many good things about it, that I didn't want to be disappointed. It definitely was not disappointing, it was really, really good:) It took a bit for it to get going in the beginning but once you got passed it, it was great! I absolutely LOVED The Time Traveler's Wife and it was really neat to read a young adult version of time traveling. Holly and Jackson had such a sweet romance and Jackson's desire to constantly protect her was just perfect. What girl wouldn't want that? It was really sad at times. Jackson and his dad really had to deal with some sad stuff. I'm really looking forward to the next book, the ending really left us hanging. Great read!", "date_added": "Sat Jun 16 08:35:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 16 08:36:00 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "929a819434fe1182015b4b95c1149346", "book_id": "1656001", "review_id": "4aee2068877dc1e0ce74a82592946f9d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ok, this is such a good book! It started off real slow but once it got good boy did it get good! It is just an incredible story and the characters are great. I didn't want the book to end. This is definitely a favorite book of mine.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 16 07:07:32 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 16 07:08:13 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "27f7a4c63cecb674b781165b6bd396b7", "book_id": "7747064", "review_id": "eba5e3a244978a78e50c054e80619472", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The book was descriptive and somewhat interesting. But it was unrealistic and dry at some parts. And ash was just pucking annoying.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 12 05:59:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 04 03:53:21 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Sep 04 03:53:21 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "27f7a4c63cecb674b781165b6bd396b7", "book_id": "8490112", "review_id": "15b3bc72861a4cf2e0c1672b03a96052", "rating": 5, "review_text": "EHWMEGAWD THIS WAS A BEAUTIFUL MASTERPIECE, officially one of my favorite books ever, dying to read second book!! EVERYONE ought to read this :)", "date_added": "Tue Jul 10 05:28:59 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 21 21:35:51 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "27f7a4c63cecb674b781165b6bd396b7", "book_id": "6131164", "review_id": "920835bbcb7fb866dddc96a47bc14909", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This made me cry. Enough said.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 19:56:38 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed May 08 10:09:07 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 08 10:09:07 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "27f7a4c63cecb674b781165b6bd396b7", "book_id": "12751687", "review_id": "0702ac47e03b32ea1b26b94b58a610a1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "YAAAAYYYY FINALLY READ THIS :)))) EXCEPTION OF SCOTT, HAPPY ENDING HITS THE SPOT :D", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 19:53:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 03 08:15:51 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Dec 03 08:15:51 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Wed Nov 28 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a2068956142d56fa511f9aa75065753", "book_id": "1857440", "review_id": "d977c3f14f5f2ae969db78403ece732f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "funny and entertaining, but about twice as long as it should have been. I enjoyed it while it lasted, but am glad it's done.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 13 19:38:24 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 21 17:28:15 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a2068956142d56fa511f9aa75065753", "book_id": "10439703", "review_id": "008ed4b7c194be41477c81ffaf8293ee", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Best one yet.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 06 14:36:02 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu May 07 15:23:21 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu May 07 15:23:21 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a2068956142d56fa511f9aa75065753", "book_id": "18775169", "review_id": "296acd10d324fa2fd095506f2fcab913", "rating": 5, "review_text": "How good is this book? \n Classified", "date_added": "Wed Mar 25 19:26:30 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 18 06:48:05 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a2068956142d56fa511f9aa75065753", "book_id": "7683254", "review_id": "ba7150b0a2fd8c2675722c3198558d2c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Non Stop action. Much better than the first, I really enjoyed this one. I like the comparison of this series to The Dresden Files, just replace the magic with guns. Z really can give Harry a run for his money when it comes to taking a beating, and handing them out.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 19 16:57:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 24 14:19:10 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Mar 24 14:19:10 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Mar 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a2068956142d56fa511f9aa75065753", "book_id": "17332218", "review_id": "791e726d151c8c175a6cce549272fc56", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Awesome book!", "date_added": "Fri Feb 27 18:09:05 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 14 11:56:24 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Mar 14 11:56:24 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a2068956142d56fa511f9aa75065753", "book_id": "15730101", "review_id": "f81b096bc3f241e253298e834f2434a9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A little over-hyped, it was good but I expected more.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 29 19:02:13 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 01 11:29:34 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Feb 01 11:29:34 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jan 29 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a2068956142d56fa511f9aa75065753", "book_id": "13452375", "review_id": "d5141ab0f4c9ba478913e3c2483785c1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love Brandon Sanderson! Everything he writes is pure GOLD. This book was great, it was a quick one day read. Short, yet still developed enough and with likable characters.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 27 16:57:52 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 27 17:00:22 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a2068956142d56fa511f9aa75065753", "book_id": "3475161", "review_id": "6dee99bd4e66763cdbcea754c082e70e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Best one yet.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 03 14:48:28 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 23 20:19:23 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jan 23 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a2068956142d56fa511f9aa75065753", "book_id": "91476", "review_id": "7e837f0806955ab819e592e8a677f5fa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I liked this book better than all the others. I'll write a better review later, busy starting the next book.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 03 14:48:14 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 16 14:51:36 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Dec 16 14:51:36 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a2068956142d56fa511f9aa75065753", "book_id": "91477", "review_id": "93374e4e9ef89a36acc3b6f19958f17c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I wish there was a 3-1/2 stars button. I think I liked the first one better, but it was still good. There was more character development for Harry, with the possibility of more avenues to be explored later with his parents. One thing is for sure about Harry, he can take a beating and keep pushing through.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 03 14:48:12 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 09 16:25:34 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Thu Dec 06 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a2068956142d56fa511f9aa75065753", "book_id": "47212", "review_id": "ab5a2ec13b31afc54573dc88f944bfc8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I didn't realize how quickly I was ripping through this book. It was so good, so easy to read, I just flew through it. I like Harry, can't wait to find out more.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 03 14:46:31 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 06 20:03:27 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Dec 06 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a2068956142d56fa511f9aa75065753", "book_id": "2315892", "review_id": "df6c484015d10711ce81c5758d12d1c4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was a good book, I really like Abercrombie's gritty, dramatic and humorous way of telling a story. It was good to visit with some old characters from the trilogy and learn a little more about them. I don't know why, but whenever I read anything Nicomo Costa says, I do it with an Antonio Banderas accent. He is the human version of Puss In Boots in my mind I guess. This book actually had a \"happier\" ending, if you can call it that, then his other books. I was always waiting the the hammer to fall in some weird and unexpected plot twist. \n Overall, very satisfied. I have not ever been disappointed reading on of Abercrombie's book.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 03 06:38:59 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 09 17:21:24 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a2068956142d56fa511f9aa75065753", "book_id": "11439413", "review_id": "a4a3cccbf8f029add530bd8176733454", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Not my favorite. I liked the idea of this book but not the content so much. I have been reading books by authors like Sanderson and Rothfuss and I guess I became spoiled. The author tried, but I just couldn't connect with his writing style. The majority of the descriptions were similes, so it was described, but not really. Two stars...", "date_added": "Mon Jul 09 21:44:13 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 16 19:20:14 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a2068956142d56fa511f9aa75065753", "book_id": "15575", "review_id": "b684a7e5f163896a2095ca608d610252", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I read this a long time ago....", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 18:05:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 13 18:08:09 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1990", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a2068956142d56fa511f9aa75065753", "book_id": "186074", "review_id": "e60b23e331cb267b06d490bc122a12e6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book. Patrick Rothfuss is my new favorite author. This is a big book, but I breezed through quickly. Patrick puts words to the page like an artist applying paint to the canvas, creating richly detailed descriptions. I was sucked in from the first few pages and struggled to put it down.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 19:49:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 01 08:55:43 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "10e3958ceaee760c61f8b075affcd913", "book_id": "352270", "review_id": "730106fcd37936be28253183ec5d6e7f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Like dragons? You a christian? \n Than these books are for you, bryan davis is an amazing christian writer who puts a twist on the stories of the bible but still keeps the main point!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 20:07:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 07 20:09:05 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc24ddb8b56246cbff7bd25ba097796d", "book_id": "163919", "review_id": "f63735516b19fbe03e0befad06fb2e49", "rating": 4, "review_text": "At first the point of the carnival was really unclear I really didn't understand why Blake his brother and his friends were going through this imaginary carnival with all these crazy rides with this woman Cassondra and all these deadly consequences if they didn't finish a ride or they didn't finish all the rides in time but slowly but surely the plot started to open up Neil Schusterman is a genius his writing style is never what it seems to be there's always an underlined plot to which you think is the plot there's always some deeper message in which you're reading this book was not about a carnival it was about the internal struggle that one of the characters was having within himself and he was able to overcome that struggle in a blaze of glory well done Mr. Shusterman he took me on another wild ride it was a page turner everyone of his books that I've read I read in one sitting you can't put them down", "date_added": "Mon Sep 01 21:36:18 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 14 17:15:28 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc24ddb8b56246cbff7bd25ba097796d", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "727949cba19d67cecff5adf014f8a48f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I know that I'm supposed to be over the moon for this book but I simply cannot. This is the fourth time I've tried to get throughout this book and I didn't \n Technically read it I listened to the unabridged version on audio which was better but it was one of the most boring books I've ever read or heard. Bella is in her head constantly it takes 40 minutes to describe the weather. In reality all the events in this whole book could have been condensed to 5 chapters for another writer. I've heard that it gets better with the other three books but quite frankly I'm not looking forward to them but since I made a pact I will listen to them cause reading them will only increase my daily sleeping regime.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 20:18:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 02 08:11:45 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Mar 02 08:11:45 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "56836cb30a84bf9596f1fb73a7b5ff56", "book_id": "6339664", "review_id": "aeabaa8d5859293fbcdbdc22d757970a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Patch", "date_added": "Sun Feb 03 17:20:20 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 04 19:05:56 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "56836cb30a84bf9596f1fb73a7b5ff56", "book_id": "6752378", "review_id": "a5e45b8a7ad77dfe0cc3677fa50f4ea8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "como siempre Cassandra matandome con sus finales.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 10 10:28:39 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 02 11:17:50 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Feb 02 11:17:50 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "56836cb30a84bf9596f1fb73a7b5ff56", "book_id": "1582996", "review_id": "e49870ff379fe8ef8315b1c8c73cdaa7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Los finales de Cassandra si que son unicos.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 10 10:28:25 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 15 10:34:55 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 15 10:34:55 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "56836cb30a84bf9596f1fb73a7b5ff56", "book_id": "1162543", "review_id": "04b80941207778cb5762ccf7e1689055", "rating": 5, "review_text": "el fin de la Saga que marco mi vida :')", "date_added": "Wed Aug 15 13:30:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 21 22:11:27 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "56836cb30a84bf9596f1fb73a7b5ff56", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "717046b1910acaeb299b507087047c07", "rating": 5, "review_text": "simplemente lo ame, con este libro me inicie en el mundo de la lectura :')", "date_added": "Tue Jul 10 00:29:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 10 00:35:52 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Apr 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "56836cb30a84bf9596f1fb73a7b5ff56", "book_id": "49041", "review_id": "459835dd43ef5b574ecac236c4e5ec60", "rating": 5, "review_text": "con este libro llore, pude sentir todo el dolor de Bella.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 26 23:57:44 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 29 22:33:41 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "927912a54c6a7c7ffa36188ae8244144", "book_id": "15819028", "review_id": "41cd6ef061bc661f52dcf0f812855fe0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Best book I've read in a long time. In line with American Gods and The Gargoyle. Loved everything about it!!", "date_added": "Thu Aug 15 11:14:43 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 08 12:02:05 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Nov 08 12:02:05 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "927912a54c6a7c7ffa36188ae8244144", "book_id": "13330943", "review_id": "b37e9edf0d07b86e140b58a37cf7c1d5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I loved the magic, the story was less fabulous. \n I enjoyed the author's detail in regard to the clock, midnight dinners, and the magic in the different tents. \n That said, the story didn't seem finished - what I mean to say is I would have expected an editor to demand a face-off, some kind of building pressure, in both the challenge and the romantic passion throughout the book. \n The climax seemed to come out of nowhere even though it was growing for twelve months (and thirty-plus years). Only in the end did I grasp the enormity of keeping the circus together. \n I would love to read the final draft!", "date_added": "Sun Nov 04 16:25:06 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 09 19:51:04 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Nov 09 19:31:14 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sun Nov 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "927912a54c6a7c7ffa36188ae8244144", "book_id": "16433", "review_id": "5603bd7d36d56c092c4d6303ae7f3590", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Although I really like the main character, it's not enough to overcome the predictability of the story. Koontz follows the same formula he used in the first book - it's only original once.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 14:04:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 08 14:11:32 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "927912a54c6a7c7ffa36188ae8244144", "book_id": "14995", "review_id": "38dafa7a88b4da11a387adaa29ab47bd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really liked this book. I liked the main character's voice as well as the premise of the story.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 13:54:35 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 08 14:04:28 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0f59288a6c38da3c36daf4d69cb41918", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "849e3be630bfc0e33187fafc55a3946a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Loved it!", "date_added": "Sat Aug 25 08:24:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 25 08:24:30 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "31050467", "review_id": "638f984fc99c5df20d272bcd51b10b59", "rating": 0, "review_text": "So this is it. This is it. The finale, the crux, the masterpiece.....I can't deal with my emotions, this has been such a journey. \n Thank you Sarah J. Maas for gracing this world with your talent. This world needs to have a writer like you even though we don't deserve it. You're like Batman - except this is just in the genre of literature. I don't expect you to go out and start fighting crime (even though you could be just as amazing at it as you are with writing.) \n Thank you for being our Batman. I sincerely look forward to how Feyre will end her last book.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 11 17:55:16 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 08 08:58:21 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "25457934", "review_id": "2cd835a2e143e31ebac5dfdfaafd3d00", "rating": 5, "review_text": "For me, this was the best installment in the Fae Tales Verse universe. From Gwyn and Augus's first meeting in Deeper into the Woods to their later altercation and slow-building romance in Game Theory up to when it all finally culminates in a very intense, very satisfying finale in The Court of Five Thrones. \n This is clearly something that should be paid for. I'm so confused as to why this is free but I've never felt more lucky than this. Seriously. The writing is of high quality. The twists come when you least expect them to - as do the betrayals. Seriously, my heart still aches for Mikken The characters are fleshed out so thoroughly that I felt myself wincing everytime something bad happen to them - as if they existed in real life. Which they could! We don't know and besides, rumours have to start somewhere . \n Again, why isn't this published?!?! I may be a broke college student but I genuinely want to throw money at this fic for being so damn amazing. It may have been like a thousand pages long but the journey was worth it. \n 5 mindblowing stars \n The link to the story can be found right here. Go check it out!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 23 07:01:18 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 23 07:18:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "25458250", "review_id": "cf28c6bbbbd91755ec962c4ed37f9e10", "rating": 2, "review_text": "After reading the delicious goodness that was Deeper into the Woods, I was left feeling disappointed at this short story. It wasn't as fleshed out as I expected it to be (then again, it is less than 5K words so for its length, it's done remarkably well in world-building). And to be honest, I could not find it in me to care about Terho or the Nightingale. I couldn't connect with those two characters so by the end of the story, I was more like, \n ehhh \n . \n However, this does not subtract from my love for the rest of the Fae Tales Verse series because Pia Foxhall is a great storyteller - it just so happened that this story...wasn't enough.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 18 21:57:53 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 18 22:06:37 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "28448877", "review_id": "74b43a30816855f7d6384575f38d0b6f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"When you live without someone for as long as I have, love becomes this abstract concept, something you attach to a memory. And when memories are that old, they feel like dreams, and you wonder if any of it was real, or if your mind created it all.\" \n Well, then. Everything has finally come full-circle. I'm not gonna lie - this book sort of felt like a regurgitation of the first two but the thing is... I didn't fucking care. I love this world - I loved reading through Serenity - not so much The King. It humanized him a little too much for me. \n But Serenity? She made it all worth it. \n 5 stars, thanks to Laura Thalassa for giving me one of my all-time favourite reads. \n P.S I find the name evolution quite ironic - Serenity Free-man to Serenity Lazuli. Actually, being Serenity Lazuli was probably the free-est she ever felt - I remember in the first book that she had no control over her life and the general said so but in come circa in the third book, she had more choices than she's ever had. \n Review for the first The Queen of All that Dies book.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 11 03:52:10 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 14 04:51:56 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "25820414", "review_id": "152c5af9f72d04700aa3ce32eb657f59", "rating": 5, "review_text": "My heart. \n Please, Laura Thalassa, give it back. \n 5 stars - definitely my favourite read of the month. It's overturned all my initial misconceptions before coming in, I'm not going to tell you which because c'mon, spoilers and I enjoyed how it was switching between Callie's past and present views. It felt purposeful in the way the author employed that. \n Seriously, trying to find something that I didn't like about the book would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. The only minor thing that I would gripe about is the villain - he was kinda set up as this powerful being but I found myself unimpressed with the magnitude of his villainy. Actually, cross that, he was plenty villain enough but for some reason I just wasn't that scared of him. \n Other than that, it was perfect. I would definitely read books from this author again.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 11 01:42:37 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 03 17:57:07 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "18500665", "review_id": "e974a1e6e05c8665351f3b2fbc5abd59", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The perfect marriage involves trust, respect and most importantly, love. \n I trusted wholeheartedly in Ms. Ee, Penryn and Raffe to end this trilogy on a high note; to continue astounding me with their determination to survive in an apocalyptic world; and have the courage to love. \n I respected Ms Ee's style of writing - fast-paced, cleverly worded and a startling ability to balance the tone of the story. Almost like we were there with Penryn and we were with her every step of the way. Not to mention the world-construction and the atmosphere-building was *clap clap* applause-worthy. \n And boy, oh boy, did I love love LOVE End Of Days. A thousand young adult books will come and go without something new to differentiate it from the others but this masterpiece of literature will stay with me til the end of times. Hopefully by then though, I'll have my own Penryn and Raffe to carry me through (most likely I'll be dead weight, but hey, fingers crossed I don't get killed within the first few chapters). But I love, love, love this book so much, I want to marry it. And have its babies and spawn off a whole new spin-off or mini-series. \n I just laid out the groundwork for a potential perfect marriage, sooooooo I'm ready for my ring now, thank you. Come and carry me over the threshold, I want to be read to like it's my last day on Earth, baby. *Beyonce's Single Ladies starts playing in the background.*", "date_added": "Wed Jul 27 05:28:18 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 14 05:30:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "23766634", "review_id": "09b6468d8424e46cf64e66f2e0917320", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Utter perfection. \n I spy an eventual series with Vassa and Jurian in the future.", "date_added": "Sat May 14 03:25:23 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue May 23 03:11:55 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue May 23 03:11:55 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "29056083", "review_id": "7038d0373b4c8c7b26beab44842f41e6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "There are two critical factors that must be considered here: \n 1.) I have my Hogwarts-coloured glasses on so I'll be inherently biased towards anything Harry Potter. \n 2.) I've always like fanfiction. ;) \n Makes sense that I'd adore Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Everything I've wanted to happen has happened in the post-Deathly Hallows years: Hermione's Minister of Magic, Albus and Scorpius are like the mini versions of Harry and Draco but this time they're friends and yada yada yada. Then everything that I didn't want to happen happened: I didn't think Draco would be that much of a \"grieving mess,\" I just wanted Harry and him to be friends. \n Is that too much to ask?!?! \n Also, I'm disappointed with how Cedric Diggory's character was presented. But even that wasn't as bad as that now infamous Trolley Witch incident (kind of like Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars franchise, right? \n I also feel like J.K. Rowling traversed the darkest depths of Tumblr, came back up with the most child-friendly ideas and pandered to the hungry Harry Potter readers. Wait, why am I complaining? Pander on, Ms Rowling, I do enjoy your work. \n Although I'd prefer if you do it in proper book format rather than a play format. That was damn hard to read.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 10 16:20:40 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 09 22:24:58 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "23351890", "review_id": "98af5dd67611d91d710cd18e7c223a60", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A tad predictable but entertaining in its entirety. It's one of those books which would keep you reading til the very end (without any breaks in between) but after finishing it, it's not something I would rave about to others. I don't know why it's like that for me because technically there was nothing outwardly wrong with it. The writing was clean and precise. The changes in perspectives were as natural as they could come. The only thing I didn't like was Leon and Honoria's brief stint in romance. \n That scene in the hospital where Leon was like moaning about how if he wasn't in a relationship, he would be with Honoria? Wow, that's a new level. I know Harley isn't likable but by all means, if you don't like her, break up with her instead of staying out of some misguided sense of honor. It might make you feel good in the short term but there's a reason love and trust are the foundations of any good relationship. \n And then Honoria was all like, How sweet and how honorable. Now I care for him even more because he's so asdfghjlkl. Cue broken heart and longing. \n Overall, it was a good read but not that memorable. \n 3.85 stars \n I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 04 17:42:16 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 04 17:54:26 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "26210501", "review_id": "4d26afbb744021d51d31b269202b9d9d", "rating": 0, "review_text": "So the previous book was rather anti-climactic. Here's hoping this one really surges up in its tension. I have a little theory that Hob is actually Math and I know they've fought against each other in the arena but I was speculating if Hob takes on the appearance of every man he's defeated. And he's kept Math as his final doppelganger/lac/djinn appearance. I mean, the mask has to be hiding something. \n I could also be totally and absolutely wrong. That sounds more likely. \n But it's coming out in June, it's coming out in Juuuune *does a little dance*", "date_added": "Wed Jan 20 04:18:01 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 20 04:27:42 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "25944712", "review_id": "dfc2cf5d30695c1662176d0cbcbd3cec", "rating": 2, "review_text": "If there was a byline for this book that I was in charge of writing, it would say: \n Boring! Predictable! The tales of one man to protect the special snowflake that has inexplicably \"enthralled\" his cock with doing nothing whatsoever! \n Because then it would have saved me some time. Maybe it was because the book was so short that there was no time for character development or world building or anything because nothing about it enticed me. \n Not the main heroine who might as well have been cut out of cupboard. \n Not even the supposedly \"mouth-wateringly gorgeous, heart-stoppingly magnificent\" love interest made me want to inch my panties down a little bit. I don't think I would have used any of my fingers for him ( ;) ) \n I didn't hate the book that much to be honest but only because I was feeling so apathetic about it. I genuinely didn't care what happened or if they got together. It was all sort of meh to me. Everything was meh. Nothing stood out. \n Two meh stars.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 02 02:28:30 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 08 01:27:12 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "13130788", "review_id": "ac1ac1b22ab634df30a974308b4022cd", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Dear Ms Carmody. \n Please understand that I respect you in the highest regard but you really need to get an editor. And if you already have one, THEN FIRE THEM. \n Four years after the previous book came out, we have finally come full circa - I was so glad, so so glad to hear that The Red Queen would be more than a thousand pages long. I love the series - I never really wanted it to end. But within the first few chapters, I felt a little piece of me die. That same relief I felt when I found out the book's length immediately churned into horror. \n I was going to have to read more than a thousand pages of crap. Now this is why I tell you to find a good editor - a good editor would have helped you clean up the clunkiness of the story, the plot was all over the place and the pacing was tediously slow. Not to mention the useless truckloads of information we were getting which should have been cut out, should have been cut out!. Nobody needed to know about the Habitat this late into the series - especially since it wasn't a very important plot point after they leave. Or if it was that significant to the story, it could have been cut down to a shorter length. \n Forget that, EVERYTHING needed to be cut down. There were too many threads to follow - it was like I got thrusted into a brand new world (even considering the fact that I'm an avid reader of the first six books). \n In summary: it was a disappointment because the twists didn't make sense, too little happened and too many new things were introduced. I was genuinely hoping for a good ending and... well, I'm going to have to make my peace with it. \n So thank you, Ms Carmody because despite giving me a book I'd like to wipe out of my mind forever, you did take me on an amazing journey. And isn't that what people say? Something along the lines of: the destination doesn't matter; what matters is the path you take to get there or yada yada yada. \n Goodbye Elspeth and Rushton, I'll miss you.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 28 03:26:38 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 07 01:22:19 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "15768409", "review_id": "6f7f756299af7bf1b6bfd20e0d973049", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Um, wow, what just happened? I feel like summarising my feelings into dot points now. \n Book 1: Leaves you confused but excited for what is coming ahead \n Book 2: Things get slightly hopeless but it's alright because there's still some light at the end of the tunnel. \n Book 3: Give up hope, all ye who enter Mara Dyer's mind. There was just this overwhelming feeling of utter hopelessness. I honestly didn't know if there was a happy ending. \n But would I read them again? \n Hell Yes. \n P.S So- ahem- I was reading to the very end, right? Until I was stopped by my own dirty mind with one of the phrases. Don't get me wrong, TROMD is was one of the most thrilling page-turners that I've come across but when 76% completed, I came across a phrase that didn't make such sense...to me. \n \"One night Ruth couldn't find you. It was after your bedtime, which you rarely obeyed. We searched everywhere and found nothing, until we reached the stable. The mare's stall door was open. You'd mounted her bareback, at nine years.\" \n After going through a line of M/M erotica romance books- one after another, I can't help where my mind goes. I think it's been conditioned to do that at this point ;) But honestly, that stumped me so much until I read further. \n I'm thinking I might need to stop reading so many smutty, smutty books? Because I'm finding innuendos in everything.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 01 02:10:59 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 03 06:24:11 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "11952086", "review_id": "4bb549f069eab5f8f2e1c16f29e23187", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Hahahahaha, wow, what the fuck? \n Boy, is this way out of my comfort zone but I was...kinda fine with that. I love BDSM stories that try to constantly push boundaries so props to the author for that. \n What I did have a problem with was the juvenile style of writing. There was no finesse to it. The whole thing also felt like a lot of smut and no substance. My personal preference insists on some sort of tangible emotional connection in slave-themed fics like these so I was left only half-satisfied towards the end. \n EDIT: People have told me that I probably should have read the The Story of Tim first which apparently built the whole setting for this fantasy world(I was a little confused with how the hierarchy worked) \n Yeah, I probably should have but I don't think I'm going to delve back into that world again.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 22 00:17:23 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 19 06:23:19 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "21422225", "review_id": "b6c5feb10f6601463be985797825d489", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"You want to see compassion? Fine.\" I take the hand pressed against my shoulders and kiss his knuckles. \"I've now kissed the hand of my mother's killer.\" \n Before he has time to react to my chaste kiss, I bring my other hand up and slap him. His head whips to the side. \n \"I'm also a vindictive bitch,\" I say. \n I never thought someone with the name of Serenity (coincidentally a name I've only run into in strip clubs) would be so wickedly entertaining and for the few chapters, I really thought she was one of those pure, never-been-touched, softhearted Mary-Sue princesses. I am so glad to be wrong. \n Serenity is a firecracker. She seems like a wimp piece of grass at first but - oh, just stick with her. She's amazing. She's a goddess. She's like one of my Top Ten Heroines Of All Time. This girl is so bad-ass that she could have me under the heel of her shoe and I'll still be begging for more. Like seriously, Serenity does not disappoint. \n The premise is rather unoriginal (though executed quite masterfully, I would say) and the world building was a bit too weak. There wasn't enough backstory for me personally - but Laura Thalasso did a nice job in leading me, the reader, to extrapolate from what is already written down. \n Extra Awesome Serenity Moment \n His eyes slink over me. \"I forgot to tell you- you look lovely.\" \n Lovely. I want to laugh at his words. \"You shouldn't have bothered with the compliment,\" I say, \"I'm many things, and the least impressive of them is lovely.\" \n .... Lovely. What a load of bullshit.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 06 08:12:09 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 14 04:51:42 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "10822857", "review_id": "287651947e9e00b788df156060bab97f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I've been wondering how the third season of American Horror Story (Coven) would have turned out if Bones was there to level the playing field. Their TV version of Madame LaLaurie would have shit herself when faced with the prospect of night hunter Bones. \n But so far, it's a good solid story. I liked it - but it didn't blow my mind or anything. It's just nice to have something to read while I wait for the next book to come out.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 18 02:55:10 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 11 20:52:16 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "5899779", "review_id": "6b9f10c9341daef5fdde7129a647a53a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "In comparison to the original - in terms of plot - the storyline is exactly the same. Ha. Except with zombies. \n That's it. That's all the change there is. \n So it's good that I'm rating this book for the entertainment it gave me and not for its substance because it would have fell dreadfully low. But goddamn, this was hilarious! Who knew that zombies would be a great comedic force? \n I'm just wondering though how all the great classics would have fared if the undead were added to the mix. I mean, think about it! \n BY Charles Dickens: \n BY George R.R. Martin: A Song of Ice and Fire ...and Zombies \n BY J.K Rowling: Harry Potter ...and the Rising of the Undead \n BY Harper Lee: To Kill A Mockingbird And To Kill A Zombie \n BY J.R.R. Tolkien: The Lord of The Rings 4: War of the Zombies \n BY William Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet : An Undeadly Romance \n BY Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games Zombie Style! \n I can actually see them happening. Is that sad? \n Anyway, 4 stars. \n EDIT: Well, there's a movie coming out. I'm wondering if they're going to do this to all the movies now. \n Hee hee hee. \n I can just imagine. \n Pulp Fiction and Zombies. 50 Shades of Undead. Crouching Zombie, Hidden Brains. \n Let the franchises begin :)", "date_added": "Tue May 19 17:11:44 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue May 19 17:37:29 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "18715206", "review_id": "782449faf8a81825ca4fbafbfffa8229", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Mulan has always been my favourite Disney movie.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 07 06:58:43 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 08 01:35:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "8709528", "review_id": "8fd20a49ad3f2360b2ddeb6e74a680bf", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Man, the book covers are really not getting any better. \n But that's not the point here. It's not very nice to judge a book by its cover. Unfortunately, I don't mean to imply that The Ruby Circle is a diamond in the rough; that its cover may say cheap and low-budget but its contents are wonderful and high quality; or that the characters I love keep increasing their awesomeness. \n In fact, the cover may be the highlight of my whole reading experience. \n I have stuck with this series and I have grown to love the characters (Eddie, Sydney, Adrian, Jill (well, not her so much) and I have suffered with them when they suffered. I loved the first five books so it would make sense that the sixth - the final - would tie the story off with a nice little bow. Albeit, it was a nice cute little bow. There were sappy moments all over between Adrian and Sydney which would ordinarily make me awwww but they all felt forced to me. Nothing about their relationship felt natural which was weird because for me Sydney and Adrian had great chemistry in the first four books. I shipped them from the start. So disappointing to find that all that chemistry fizzled out in the end. Who says married life has to be boring, guys! \n The plot wasn't that great. No, wait. Let me rephrase. It was alright*. It just was so forgettable. I couldn't pick out key moments that I loved like I did the previous ones and maybe it's unfair of me to keep comparing this book to others. \n But I can't help it. This was one of my favourite series by one of my favourite authors and I'm sorely disappointed with how unsatisfying The Ruby Circle was. Well, I guess Richelle Mead can't strike gold all the time. \n 2.5 stars", "date_added": "Sat Dec 20 18:08:13 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 22 03:38:01 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "17158532", "review_id": "01bb1c3ba8449d18bc4b53ae48409f28", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I find it a terrible offense that King's Rising is so despicably \n deplorably \n scandalously \n hellishly \n SHORT. \n I need more; an epilogue- like a little short of what Damen and Laurent's life would be like now; reading about them navigating around the intricacies of politics together would be titillating. Okay, and maybe I'm just begging for more scraps of literature but C.S Pacat, just pleeeease? \n My final thoughts are that it was the perfect tie-up for a perfect trilogy. It was a fantastical adventure in which I was rooting for the main characters. It was climactic all the way (boy, I even got a mini heart attack after the first chapter). The writing was arresting in its descriptions of battles/warfare and ultimately superior to others. The characters were fleshed-out so thoroughly and in such a manner that I felt for them and with them every step of the journey. \n Oh, and the twists? They were so good. Absolutely unpredictable and I NEVER say that. Even without an foreshadowing, they made total sense. Jeezus, the Regent is a twat. I feel like he suffered too easily. \n P.S I received this book today. Took me less than a day to finish it. My only regret is that in finishing it, I did not wait to savor each chapter and each word. Instead, I was caught up in my eagerness to complete the trilogy. Actually, why am I blaming myself? I'm so clearly a victim of the book's fast pacing. XD \n P.P.S Prince's Gambit would have to be my all-time favourite book in this series but King's Rising came close to dethroning that spot.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 16 13:35:58 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 14 04:49:20 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "13483989", "review_id": "9a92008f73270b73b9094cf148170943", "rating": 2, "review_text": "*Big Sigh* \n I wanted more amazingness from the same author who wrote \n Comfort Food \n . Something that will make me think and make me flinch and make me gasp all at the same time because that's what happened last time. So it might be partly my fault for raising my expectations too high. The Last Girl fell shortly as a result. There were just so many things wrong with this novella. \n Let's talk about the sex scenes first, shall we? It came along as porn to me rather than as erotica. I'll explain: Before starting The Last Girl, I imagined a sexy erotica romance between the two main characters. What I envisioned was this- \n But when the book drew to a close, what I really got was this- \n A creepy, not-even-romance between the two main characters who really need to get their heads checked out. It wasn't that sexy. I felt that the author just threw in the knife play, the sadism, the exhibitionism, the kidnapping and dubious consent, the fisting pretty much all of the BDSM elements into a blender and just sprinkled them all over the pages to make it \"twisted\" and \"dark\". \n The next thing I want to talk about is the development of the characters. \n My Juliette \n My Christian \n Juliette and Christian felt like cardboard cut-outs whose personalities were clear-cut for them. Christian was the dark, menacing alpha-male who is ultimately the Dominant and thrives on inflicting pain- \n Even so, your pain still gives me pleasure, more than the pain of anyone else because you are you. \n The pain flowers out like a lotus blossom and then transforms into a deep yearning. He is both the disease and the cure. \n -and Juliette is the quivering, weeping mess that he is supposed to control. I get that Submissives act in various ways but c'mon, Juliette?!??? She's pathetic. I'm sorry. \n I could go into more detail about how Juliette lost and regained her virginity every night but I can't. It's not because I was too grossed out by all of it...well, I was. It was because: \n I \n Couldn't. \n Stop. \n Laughing! \n That's what the extra star is for. I've never heard of this sort of thing before sooo...yeah. A star for originality!! \n 2 Stars \n Note: \n I've been in a bit of a bad book slump lately. I don't know what's happening- just that I've becoming increasingly disappointed with all the books that are being thrown my way. I tried to vary my books a little; the last book I read was a billionaire romance and that's why I decided to try a paranormal romance erotica just for the sake of it. It's not working. I might go re-read some of my other favourite books which I know I'll definitely love.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 08 15:47:59 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 08 20:08:30 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "13533758", "review_id": "286f64deccf7c7f70a329c6b5fe133a4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "We all wanted an epilogue to Rose and Dimitri's story. We all wanted more after the stunning conclusion that was Last Sacrifice and Richelle Mead? She bloody gave it to us like the amazing author that she is!! \n Homecoming was written in typical Richelle Mead fashion. It was: \n Snarky. \n Action-filled \n Humorous. \n And generally, FRICKING AMAZING!! \n The characters were no less wonderful. Rose remained the kick-ass, smart-mouthed heroine that she was. Dimitri kept to his mysterious, yet I-can-drop-you-on-the-ground-before-even-notice persona. The romance between Rose and Dimitri was as passionate as ever. I loved reading about the little moments they had together and the pure chemistry that they have. \n \"I haven't even really tried,\" he said, in a rare moment of arrogance. \"When I want to, I can be very persuasive.\" \n \"Yeah? Prove it.\" \n His lips moved toward mine. \"I was hoping you'd say that.\" \n Yeva was still the rude yet loveable grandmother. I have to say she was my favourite character in the story. \n I know, I know. People are sending me weird looks right now. But honestly? I may not love her more than Dimitri but there's something about that old crazy bat-lady which makes my heart grow fonder. \n If you guys want to know where you can read it other than on Richelle Mead's official website, it can be found here. I had trouble finding this short story and had to surf through my other sources to find it.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 21 00:12:12 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 29 07:21:00 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 14, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "17207178", "review_id": "cf9f489c9ca1c9031acaf5d02b79d20e", "rating": 0, "review_text": "EDIT 30/12/2015: ??????? \n I don't get it. Apparently the publish date was last year but...I would feel like there is something wrong with me but others have been confused too. Some clarification would be nice. \n OR you know. \n The actual book. \n -------- \n Okay, FINE!! \n I'll admit the real truth. The only reason I'm reading this is because it has a fantastic cover. One of the best covers I've actually seen in a while. It's perfection really. It's what drew me to this book in the first place. But I'm kinda glad of it. I'm glad that I've discovered this book. Because speaking plainly, the synopsis sounds saucy. \n After a century of reading recycled YA rubbish, I'm hoping that A Shard Of Ice will prove me wrong. Prove me wrong, pretty please.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 17 00:08:24 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 29 06:54:32 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 18, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "13644052", "review_id": "d41855ffbbb90801b2bff93f362a9b93", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Origin came as a wonderful surprise to me. It was so different from the previous three. It had a lot more action and is undoubtedly a masterpiece. It can also be stopped being classified as a paranormal romance book and can truly be called a sci-fi, romance novel. Well, it can be called paranormal but aliens just don't fit the bill. \n Before Jennifer L. Armentrout's book, Obsidian, I used to think that aliens looked like THIS: \n -and THIS: \n Now whenever I think of aliens, the word is synonymous with sexy, bad-ass boys who shoot lights out of their hands and possibly from their butts. \n Speeding on to the next best thing ever since chocolate: Daemon Black. \n Daemon Black \n /day'men 'Bel'ack/ \n Noun \n The most annoyingly fictional guy that I've had the pleasure of coming across. Why couldn't the universe just summon up a 'Daemon Black' for me instead of making me just read about him. It's torture in an unusual way. \n Synonyms \n noun. \n perfection- best-boyfriend-ever- bad-ass- book-boyfriend \n adjective. \n swoonworthy - delicious- hot-as-hell-and-sexy-as-sin-loving \n ____________________________________________ \n There is so much that a person can say about a guy willing to burn down the world for the girl he loves. \n \"Did you think you could stop me?\" Power shot from me, smacking into the door behind Dawson, blowing it off the hinges and into the house. \"I'll burn the world down to save her.\" \n To see that that type of love exists, even if it's only block letters on a page, moves me. And the weird thing is, all through out the book while I was reading, I never once thought that the love between Daemon and Katy was forced. Not once did I thought it was too cheesy because in no way in seven hells, that could happen. The love between Daemon and Katy was natural. It was pure, raw chemistry between them that was subtly enforced. And that's saying a lot since Origin is a young adult book. *cough-cough-shade thrown-cough* \n Reading a Jennifer L.Armentrout book can be aptly described as having a tan. For me anyways. At the start, it's a very nice heat that warms you up right up. It'll keep warming you right up until the you arrive at the end, and then the heat just burns you at the very end. And the burn will leave a scorch mark on you. \n That's what Origin did to me with its giant cliffhanger ending. It scorched my mind and it totally cost me hundreds of hours of sleep. I need more. I need to know more. \n Not cool, Jennifer. \n But I would never ever regret reading her books. They are awesome. They are mind-blowing. They're just fucking amazing. If you haven't started this series yet, then I strongly urge all paranormal romance/YA lovers out there to check out the first three books. \n Enjoy :)", "date_added": "Sun Aug 11 06:25:35 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 22 05:49:39 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sat Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "18247324", "review_id": "f9f5d0ca190180bca65edb9ec5100724", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Richelle Mead, I adore you. Is there a cult somewhere that I can join? Because I feel absolutely blessed for Dimitri. And Adrian. And Seth. And Roman...Carter. Dorian. Pretty much every love interest you've written. \n Oh, am I supposed to review this short with something than utter fawning? I'll tone down the adulation but overall: it's a nice, fun short. Rose is being her kick-ass self. Oh, and it's in Dimitri's perspective!! Some slaying action going on. \n P.S If anybody wants to know where I read the short story,it can be read here.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 29 23:33:33 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 22 04:58:41 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 17, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "17255435", "review_id": "aa3c782586309ed94952a8d10472586f", "rating": 1, "review_text": "1.5 stars \n A Shade of Vampire is an enjoyable, light, extremely short read. is what I would have liked to said but my fingers keep twitching towards Stay away, it's a piece of crap. \n I couldn't help but point out various grammatical mistakes and the repetition of sentences when they're everywhere. There's only so many times when a person can say, \"Welcome to the *insert-place-here*\"! It got to a point where I was begging for no more shitty dialogue. Although, this could have been easily fixed if there was an editor on hand. Or if there was, fire them. They don't know how to do their job. \n Another negative point for me, was the love-at-first-sight aspect of the book. I think this is what reminded so many people of Twilight. The vampire sees the girl, wants to feed on her blood but somehow manages to stop himself in time because of how special and unique the said girl was. \n Same old story. So, yes, I didn't like it. \n The characters themselves were flawed. \n Sofia was, might I dare say it, a 'Mary-Sue'. \n 1. She didn't think she was pretty, even though she was \"beautiful\". \n 2. She didn't have a single flaw. Not. A. Single. One. I mean, c'mon, I don't believe this...Unless you count being too perfect as a flaw? \n 3. Every single character, including Derek specially, believed her to be a paragon of virtue, strength and hope. They're all overwhelmed with admiration for her. \n Ahhh, Derek. The man I hoped to be my new YA love. And expected to be at least mildly threatening/intriguing Instead, I got a sap. \n Don't get me wrong, I love romantic guys who are sensitive and caring and devoted. But I counted the number of Derek's almost-declarations of love...and there were a lot. It was sweet at first, then it got unrealistic. \n And then there was the fact that he had apparently been asleep for five centures. Five. Centuries. That was sometime in the middle 1900s. My parents can't even keep up with the slang and the trends and they were there for most of it!!. Derek's been out of the loop for a while and he sounds just like the bratty teens. \n I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 27 14:45:19 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 29 07:10:45 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 22, "n_comments": 11}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "14060046", "review_id": "8757c8791550c043fb8736191ca2af8d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have a problem. \n I have a BIG problem. \n I started Obsession with a pre-conceived notion: Arum are bad. Bad to the bone. They're so bad that they push at the definition of bad. In caveman speak, Arum= Bad, Lux= Good. \n But then Jennifer L. Armentrout just had to go ahead and twist that world up and make them the misunderstood guys. Now I have to go and feel guilty that I cheered their deaths in the Lux series. Goddammit. (I still love you though, Jennifer, but I just need some time.) \n Book Boyfriend Time \n Oh, Hunter. \n Oooooh, Hunter. \n Can you be any more perfect? \n Like, I get that he was busy battling a huge organisation that has been manipulating both alien racesbut omg, how perfect is he?!!! I usually don't like perfection in my book boyfriends but... but....it's Hunter. Between Hunter and Serena, the chemistry was so explosive. It sizzled of the page and it wasn't just rooted in lust. There was love- organic love. And his love for Serena gave me unrealistic standards for men. \n \"It wasn't about the age-old battle of Arum versus Luxen. I wasn't fighting to feed or to work off aggression. I wasn't fighting because I was told or was obligated. \n I was fighting for Serena. \n She meant everything to me. \n Knowing that, fully understanding what that mean, I was on a motherfucking warpath.\" \n How fucking hot is that?!?! \n Oh, I forgot. There was also plot. It wasn't just all smut, no substance. I probably should have mentioned that before- omg, I love reminding myself of Hunter.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 11 07:54:11 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 14 03:27:32 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Tue Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "13362536", "review_id": "65ea972e60a41069d954ccdc29feca42", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Is it possible for Jennifer L.Armentrout's books to get more awesome? After reading Opal, well.....YES!!! How is this possible?!?! She keeps blowing my mind again and again, it just boggles my mind. Everything about this novel was perfect from the storyline to the heart-wrenching cliffhanger at the end. \n Just perfect. \n The story follows Katy as she struggles to deal with the knowledge that her actions caused Adam to die. It isn't helping that his girlfriend and her best friend, Dee Black, is holding a grudge against Katy which might last, like, forever. \n It also isn't helping that Blake, who by the way killed Adam, has to come galloping right back into her life like the bastard that he is and shove his problems right into Katy and the Luxens' face. \n The worst thing is, Katy can't even refuse. \n Why? Oh, maybe because she's being BLACKMAILED INTO DOING IT! \n Kinda puts an even more bigger damper on the relationship Katy has with Dee. \n But it's alright. Because Katy, the lucky, lucky person that she is, has DAEMON BLACK as her BOYFRIEND!!!! The unfairness of it just strikes right to my soul. \n Daemon Black and his sinfully sexy mouth, and even he agrees with me. \n \"You haven't been smiling much. I missed it, so I decided to reward you for doing it.\" \"Reward me?\" I laughed. \"God, only you would think kissing someone is a reward.\" \"You know it is. My lips change lives, baby.\" \n He's right, his lips does change lives. \n \"Slowly he looked at me, and then he bent down, planting his lips on mine. The kiss was unexpected--deep and forceful. Stunned I just stood there as he pulled back, nipping at my bottom lip. \"Tasty, Kitten.\" \n An that's not even including the even more beautiful sentiments that come right out of his mouth. \n \"I love you, Katy. Always have. Always will.- Daemon\" \n \"His eyes searched mine. \"Thank you.\" \n \"For What?\" I loved the feel of his arms around me and how I fit against him, hard against soft. He trailed his fingers over my arm, and I was amazed by how he could make me shiver. \n \"For everything,\" he said.- Daemon \n \"There's really no translation for it,\" he said, \"but the closest human words would be, you are beautiful to me.\"-Daemon. \n What did I tell you, Daemon= Utter Perfection \n SO Katy and Daemon are a team against the rest of the world, and what a wonderful team they make, minusing the arguments (however good the make-up sex is) that happen ever few minutes or so they're together. \n Katy is a wonderful heroine. Sure, she doesn't always do what she's told even if it's for her best interests, but I don't always like a submissive heroine. Not in this case. \n She's one of the strong ones and sometimes too curious for her own good. \n I love her occasional quips but I love her attitude towards Daemon even more. \n Mainly because Daemon and Katy started out as people who hate each other (but that really was sexual tension coming out to play) and they had explosive arguments with one another. \n In other novels, the heroine and the love interest usually resolve what ever's wrong between them, and life continues on happily ever after. \n In Daemon and Katy's case however, they're still like sparks and gunpowder but whatever they do, they do it together. \n That's a real relationship in my mind. Two people who occasionally fight with each other but most of the time share their hearts together. \n Sure Katy and Daemon fight like hell, but now it's targeted at the rest of the horrible people in the world. It just seems more realistic. \n So I think it's safe to say that the characters were drawn out exceptionally well to suit the storyline, which by the way is original. \n And sometimes makes a person want to curl up in a ball and cry. \n Have you read the cliffhanger? God, Katy and Daemon really don't have it easy, do they? \n If you asked me what I would change about Opal, I really wouldn't know. \n Honestly.", "date_added": "Tue May 21 07:19:33 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 01 01:03:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Tue May 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "13047090", "review_id": "93ab8b8d6d2a41f60260c125101b2909", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Things I love about Armentrout's style of writing: \n She is so subtle with how she approaches YA- to elaborate further, she takes these age-old cliches and tropes and revitalizes them. \n She is a master at creating all these points of tension which engages us readers. \n She infuses her special brand of humour into the writing and the characters making them so lovable. \n And okay, I'll admit it. I may have given Onyx five stars just for the unresolved sexual tension. It was killing me inside but at the same time, I was loving every second of Daemon and Katy. (That bit with the cookie? Wooosh, there went my panties. All monks and nuns beware.) \n \"Cookie?\" he offered, holding a cookie full of chocolate chips. \n Upset tummy or not, there was no way I could refuse that. \"Sure.\" \n His lips tipped up one side and he leaned toward me, his mouth inches from mine. \"Come and get it.\" \n Come and get...? Daemon placed half the cookie between those full, totally kissable lips. \n Oh, holy alien babies everywhere...\" \n Other woooosh moments: \n \"What was that?\" he whispered, eyes narrowed. There was no mistaking the amusement in the tilt to his lips, though. \"Very bad kitty...\" \n \"Crossing the room, he stopped infront of me. \"I'm not going to bite.\" \n \"That's good.\" \n \"Unless you want me to,\" He said with a devilish grin.\"", "date_added": "Tue May 21 06:47:36 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 14 04:57:53 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "15707656", "review_id": "af3c603822c4968f12b37eb4e628cdbd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I feel like Astolat is the father/mother of smutty Merthur fics. It's true, right?", "date_added": "Sat May 18 15:29:57 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 29 08:07:04 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "15723828", "review_id": "5b08bb2aef5f5b14dba79a56c0d6b300", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm in love with the Merlin/Arthur pairing. Arthur/Gwen is a bit outdated and so wrong and don't even get me started on the Merlin/Freya pairing. \n NOTE: This is fanfiction which is based on the popular, extremely wonderful, mindblowing, fanfriekingtastic show: Merlin. If you haven't watched it, you haven't lived yet and you would NOT be able to appreciate this story fully. Also it would be very confusing, so ending line:just watch it. \n Favorite was a lighthearted, romantically sweet read which is perfect for cheering up the saddened, unhappy reader. It has all the elements of a great story: great chemistry and sex between Merlin and Arthur, humour and great dialogue. \n People might say that the lack of a real plot just takes away from the wonder that is Merlin and Arthur but I just feel that the author meant it to be that way. astolat took a risk and it paid off. And she did it while making the characters endearingly adorable. \n Like Merlin; I just wanted to gather him up and his big ears and coddle him till the apocalypse every single part of the story. He made me laugh;he made me aww;he made me giggle for Christ's sake and this story is less than 14 000 words. I swear Merlin is the perfect best friend to have and a wonderful soulmate for Arthur to have in any life. \n And Arthur deserves Merlin as well. He's literally be a shining prince knight in armour if he didn't keep on thinking those arousingly dirty stuff about Merlin and taking advantage of his innocent bunny-like personality, no matter how hot he is \n 5 stars.", "date_added": "Sat May 18 01:42:27 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 01 01:03:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "20522640", "review_id": "2ddb43cdd6a3f202f0c7c4110297ec7a", "rating": 0, "review_text": "How the hell is there already 30 ratings?!!!!!!! The book hasn't even been written yet, not least published!! \n Crazy, I tell you, crazy. \n There's already one annoyingly-cheerful psychic in Twilight, we don't need another to foretell what Mortal Heart's going to turn out like. I'm happy in my ignorance and I'm still going to read it, because hell I love this trilogy. \n Judge it after you read it. \n In the meanwhile, I'm going to be suffering from withdrawal until 2014. I think I'll live...possibly...maybe...50/50 chance at least. \n What the hell, I'm going to keep on rereading Grave Mercy and Dark Triumph until Mortal Heart 's expected publication date. Until then- \n I SHALL WAIT!", "date_added": "Sat May 11 21:30:41 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 13 21:25:14 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 30, "n_comments": 9}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "15994892", "review_id": "53d5a180432f28333ba3939e54143eff", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm just amazed! I'm not the type to love books like these: Gadarene had lots of dark themes but that adds to its appeal. Reading fanfiction is becoming a hobby of mine and I'm pleasantly surprised that most people who write fanfiction are usually better than the authors who are published. Nobody gives them the credit they deserve. \n Gadarene is an M-M romance with King Arthur and Merlin as the main characters. Arthur is powerless, unable to change anything about anything and is basically frustrated with his helplessness. The main reason is that Arthur is known to unexpectedly slip into bouts of madness which gives him his nickname: The Mad Prince. Because of this 'condition', Camelot is currently under the regency of Agravaine, Arthur's uncle. \n Enter Merlin. Merlin, while protecting Ealdor, his village, get captured by Agravaine's lackeys and is forced into slavery. Along the way to Camelot, he is forced to endure the violation of his body. As if that wasn't enough, the raiders had his magic, which is illegal in Camelot, bound by iron manacles. \n When they meet, Arthur finds an immediate need to protect Merlin and to do that, he buys Merlin as a sex slave. And thus Merlin and Arthur grow together and learn to rely on eachother. As the dragon said, they're two sides of the same coin. \n This is a chillingly, beautiful story which I fell in love with. The characters were in depth, the storyline was original and real and the growth between Merlin and Arthur were endearingly sweet and cripplingly dark at the same time. 5 stars well deserved.", "date_added": "Mon May 06 00:31:59 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 01 01:03:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "17310157", "review_id": "accf2dcc1c2668095eb066f71995bfc6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Beautiful. Just beautiful. It's the perfect epilogue to a story like The Student Prince. This is a sweet, laugh-out-loud read. \n I hoped it would be longer so I could get to experience more of the author's amazing writing but *sigh*, I'm going to have to make do with this. I want more. \n I loved the dialogue. It's usually the sort of dialogue people hear from best friends, but that's what Merlin and Arthur are- best friends. I desire for a relationship like theirs one day.", "date_added": "Sat May 04 17:54:30 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 01 01:03:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "67513", "review_id": "0ec739784f25ad5162753bbb7993d20f", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Let's get straight to the core of this review: Touch The Dark= Pointless, dragged out and completely capable of sending someone to sleep every second paragraph. \n I think everybody who have read my reviews before know that I am not the sort of person to unleash flames on a book, both literally and metaphorically. I generally like to think that I'm a nice person. You know, the type of person to give a particularly horrendous book an extra star for \"effort\". But I won't be giving this book an extra star because I'm not even sure the author tried hard at writing. It was mediocre at best. \n I also felt that the sex scenes were just used as a filler. Cassandra Palmer, to me, felt like she was just itching to jump on any attractive guy that she saw. I mean, it's like God, would you stop being so horny?!?! Her thought processes were just so single-minded. And this is coming from a sex-obsessed teenager. \n That's why I skimmed most of the sex scenes even though I hate missing parts of a book. I just feel that if I miss one tiny sentence, it's going to come back and bite me in the back. \n But for skimming Touch The Dark? \n I don't even regret that I skimmed large parts of it. Nobody try to induce self-guilt in me: I won't feel it. \n Now if the storyline was horrible, the characters themselves were irredeemable. Positively irredeemable. In fact that might be an understatement for our main character: Cassandra Palmer. \n Cassandra Palmer is one of the weakest heroines that I have ever met. And it makes me wonder how she can label herself as a strong female- \n Not that I'd wanted to be some dippy heroine languishing in a tower, awaiting rescue. No, I'd wanted to be the knight, charging into battle against overwhelming odds. \n -when all she does is sit around waiting for something to happen. She's the dippy heroine that she said she's not. I just think Cassandra's in denial. She might have this \"supernatural\" power which ordinarily raises someone to the status of an unconditional bad-ass, but in Cassandra's case? Nuh uh, not a snowball's chance in Hell. She remains limp and in inaction. \n She's a snob. I don't like snobs. And she whines. She whines like there's no tomorrow. I hate people who whine about everything. (The irony.) \n \"Great. I'd been dumped in Hell's waiting room.\" \n Huh. She thought she was in Hell's waiting room. Well, I was already in Hell by the time I got to the last few chapters of the book. The constant boredom and the non-existent action were substantial enough to make me want to stab myself over and over again. With a machete. A large machete. \n So it's safe to say that I do not recommend this book to anyone. However, if anyone wants to take the plunge and read it, well it's their choice. Everybody has different preferences. Sadly, this one did not suit mine. Sorry.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 14 08:37:03 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 22 05:14:00 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sat Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 9, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "9284655", "review_id": "310e8f36120167115ecf20db13dd9280", "rating": 1, "review_text": "The best thing about Tiger's Curse is the cover. \n It really, really is. It's fantastic and makes me want to write a ballad about how beautiful it is!! I just have this crazy urge to rub my cheek against the book cover to see if it is real because I can't stop thinking about how pretty it is! It makes me want to \n sing! \n If you think I'm fangirling over it too much, you should have seen me in the bookstore when I first found it. I was ecstatic. \n So the best thing about Tiger's Curse might be the cover, but it's definitely the only good thing. \n I hated everything else about this novel. -_- \n The writing was juvenile at best. The characters resembled card-board cut-outs. Either that or they jumped straight out of a Bollywood-themed soap opera. So I feel out of sorts when I see how highly rated this novel is which makes me wonder, Why?!?! How is this book possibly so appealing?? \n My hypothesis is that it's popularity is due to the originality of Colleen Houck. Most young adult authors choose to (if they choose to write a Young Adult Fantasy Romance at all) regurgitate the same old ideas in different settings and different worlds. I, myself, was quite pleased when i heard about the author's choice to base the novel all around Indian-themed stuff but I couldn't be any more displeased when I read how Colleen Houck chose to portray it. \n To first start off, what's with the mutilation of Hindi??? In Colleen Houck's attempt to immerse readers in Indian stuff (I can't think of a better way to phrase it), she just completely misused some of the words in a different language. If she was getting someone to translate for her, she should fire them as soon as possible. And if she used Google Translate or something like that, I wouldn't be surprised. Here's an example below: \n \"Shhh Kelsey. I'm here. I'm not leaving you priya. Hush now. Mein aapka raksha karunga. I will watch over you priyatama.\" \n Really, who the hell says that? I don't say it. I haven't heard anyone else say it. We just don't say it. \n So overall, I'm disappointed. I find that this book was kind of over-hyped and I was kinda expecting...more, I guess. I hate feeling this way. Dammit. \n 1.35ish stars and the extra .35 is because of the cover. And I don't rate books on the cover so it's saying a lot about this particular one.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 14 05:44:27 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 11 20:01:36 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "5153799", "review_id": "2489dd939923bd770f7fc149b5afd851", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Father Mine: Zsadist and Bella's Story is so heartbreakingly beautiful. It's something I would definitely read and re-read again because that's how amazingly sweet this was. I loved reading about how Zsadist faced his own fears and gave a piece of his heart to Nalla. Zsadist truly brings a new meaning to the phrase, \"a father's love.\" \n Zsadist's love for Bella and Nalla trumps everything else and that made me cry. Cry!!! There are no words to describe how emotional this short story can make me. And in no less than a hundred pages. \n Impressive, Ms Ward. Very impressive.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 05:32:14 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 29 20:24:08 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Mon May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "5098079", "review_id": "19fdfec60a244f3fa6acb841ddb7991f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Lover Avenged was surprisingly good and likable. Since Rehvenge wasn't one of the Brotherhood, I wasn't much inclined to read it. In fact, the only reason I read it was because it had Wrath and Beth (one of my favourite copuples of all time) and John and Xhex(on their way to becoming one of my favourite couples). But once I actually started reading it, well, J.R.Ward has won me over again. \n One of my favourite quirks about the Black Dagger Brotherhood series is that J.R.Ward never finds time to be repetitious about her main characters. It's not just about vampires who fall in love with humans and vice-versa. It has everything from sympaths and vampires to the Chosen and humans. \n Rehvenge was beautiful. He had a strong personality and he would do anything for the people he cared about, even kill for them. What I loved about him was the way he was portrayed. In all the other Brotherhood novels, all the guys are described visually different but their personalities (except for Zsadist) are extremely similar. Rehvenge was unique. \n I will definitely reading the next book in the series.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 05:28:56 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 29 20:24:08 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sun Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "1240662", "review_id": "cc81ad729afc66dc8ea746f6a3a26d7a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Lover Enshrined ruined Phury for me in a way.Don't get me wrong, I'm still in love with the Black Dagger Brotherhood series but Phury was one of my favourite Brothers. I was really looking forward to reading his perspective only to discover he literally has no balls. What happened to the kind, sensitive Phury I knew in the first five books?! He totally neglects Cormia which is not cool. I felt incredibly sorry for Cormia; she was forced to move out of the only home she knew to mate with a total stranger. She might have seemed weak in the first quarter of the book, but gradually she grew stronger and stronger. I liked her a lot. \n I love how Ward always includes a second love story (or the hints of one) in the storyline. It wasn't just Cormia and Phury, there was also John and Xhex. There are chapters dedicated to Zsadist and Bella, which makes me thankful because they're one of my favourite couples. \n So Lover Enshrined might not have reached the standards of the previous five books but it was still extremely riveting. I was turning the pages like there was no end to the book.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 05:28:50 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 29 20:24:08 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sun Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "304027", "review_id": "45699914ce7d735313e84a035f33f42f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Where to begin!? Lover Unbound is amazing. It literally blew my mind. Honestly, I think it's one of the best books that J.R.Ward had written of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. It was dark, sensual, original, sweet in some sections and just bloody amazing. I would have liked more interactions between the Brotherhood like in the first novel but what the hell, I'm going to be raving about this for days. \n Vishous was wonderful. He was an amazing protagonist and Ward had portrayed his character extremely well. He was easy to connect with and generally made me ache for him in a sad, sad way. I love how the author gave everybody these distinct personalities. If I were to be quizzed upon who was whom based on personality alone, I'd get a high score. \n Jane was lovely as well. She was strong and determined and reminded me of Beth Randall from the first book in a good way. The rest of the heroines, Mary and Marissa did come off as weak-willed, so I was worried about Jane. Not that I needed to. \n And I know that one of the hallmark characteristics of J.R. Ward's books is the sex, and of course it was great in all the other novels. But in this- Vishous brought a new meaning to word \"kinky\". I've never favoured that type of kinkiness, but well when a guy says this to you: \n \"When I want you to beg, I'll tell you.\" \n An incredibly hot guy with a penchant for unexpected sweetness and a sexy body by the way. \n \"Hello, Doctor. It's your man.\" \n Well, it's kind of accepted that I'd probably roll over like a dog and go to hell with it, and strip and jump him like he's never been jumped before. \n I'm hoping that Lover Enshrined would be as good as Lover Unbound. 5 stars all the way.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 05:28:48 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 01 01:03:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Fri Apr 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "42898", "review_id": "3c3f2c56f6f878466aa6566ec2def52c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "No, no, no, don't let the steep decline of quality of the books happen. It's going so, so well. \n After reading through the previous two books, Lover Revealed is such a disappointment. It might have been my fault that the expectations that I held this book to were impassable. But after reading through the emotional, roller-coaster novels about Rhage and Zhadist made it hard for me to restrain my hope that Lover Revealed will be perfection as well. \n I also find the constant switch in perspectives extremely jarring. It's even more annoying when the characters have little to no relevance to the plot/story of Lover Revealed. Whenever a random character pops up in the middle of the story, I'm always questioning their importance. \n Now on to Marissa: \n I don't believe that Marissa is so perfect that the sun shone out of her arse. To the contrary, she's one of the weakest heroines I've come across. Granted, the society and the cultural values she was raised up with did affect how much of a backbone she possessed. But still, it took a Herculean effect not to throw the book across the room. I was just so frustrated at Marissa for not standing up; but I have to say, her family's even worse. So maybe I should congratulate Marissa for not turning out to be a basketcase. \n Although she does remind me of someone.... \n Game of Thrones, anyone? I find them so similar. \n Daenerys=Marissa \n Viserys=Most of Marissa's family. \n Hopefully Marissa will take a leaf from dear old Dany's book and grow a backbone by the time the series ends. I think she might develop one sooner at the rate she's going. I always love to see a little character development. \n 2.45ish stars", "date_added": "Tue Apr 09 05:28:46 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 12 05:13:40 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Tue Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "35729", "review_id": "f5df7cd47a8645c36960fd7ce4ccbfe8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The Uncensored Conversation Between Goodreads And Miriam: Full Transcript Uncovered \n Goodreads: What did you think? \n Miriam: About Lover Eternal? \n Goodreads:Yes, you little idiot. What else can it be? Your boyfriend?!? \n Miriam: I don't have a boyfriend.... \n Goodreads: Yeah, that's because you have impossibly high standards for any guy/girl you meet. Probably because you keep reading books like Lover Eternal. You know guys like Rhage don't actually exist out there in the real world? \n Miriam: I know...But they make me happy so I'm going to keep reading them *smiles widely* \n Goodreads: Yeah, you're definitely going to die alone with your imaginary book boyfriends and an over-used cucumber to keep you company. \n Miriam: What was that? \n Goodreads:Nothiiiing. Going back: What did you think? \n Miriam: I thought it was AMAZING! The first book in the series was just so...mediocre, I never thought that the same author could write a book like this. Definitely a big improvement. \n Goodreads: Does that mean you're going to rate it five stars, then? \n Miriam: No. \n Goodreads: But you just said you it was amazing! \n Miriam: It is amazing. I just don't like a few aspects of the book. Like how Rhage and Mary first met. They're the main characters, by the way. \n Goodreads:I know they're the main characters, I'm a fucking book site! I know everything there is to know about books and what are in them. \n Miriam: I'm sorry, my ears keep failing me at the worst times. I have bad hearing. What did you say right then? \n Goodreads: *sighs gloomily* Never mind. Continue. \n Miriam: I don't mind how Mary and Rhage first meet in the compound. It's the things that happen during the meeting (and later on in the novel) which creep me out. When Mary speaks, Rhage is, like, attracted to it. Her voice. Apparently, it's all hypnotizing and does all kinds of things to Rhage. It makes him sway, makes him calm, comforts him, \"chaining him sweetly\" and it just turns him on, okay!! That's creepy behaviour. \n Goodreads: Don't you like creepy behaviour? \n Miriam: Wait, what? No! \n Goodreads:Yes, you do. I know what's on your bookshelves. You have books like Captive in the Dark and Comfort Food on your Favorites shelf! \n Miriam: They're not creepy!! \n Goodreads:Have you even read them? Both of those books include non-consensual sexual acts, being kidnapped by your love interest and extreme humiliation of the heroines!! And you find being turned on by someone's voice creepy? \n Miriam:...You may have a point. But I think it's just all about my preferences and my turn-offs and my turns-on. Personal stuff. \n Goodreads:Whatever, girl. You need to prioritize. What bookshelves/tags are you putting Lover Eternal under? You can create as many as you like... \n Miriam: Let's see. I'm rating it four amazing stars and I'll tag it as mindfucking amazing. I'll rate Rhage as an alpha male (he is one sexy alpha male) and as one of my favourite book boyfriends. I'll be tagging Mary as a weak heroine though because she didn't impress me very much. She's too emotional for me. \n Goodreads: Are you sure you don't hate Mary because you're jealous that she gets to be with Rhage? \n Miriam: Ye-I mean, No. No, I just don't like Mary. \n Goodreads: Humph. Like I believe you. Carry on tagging. \n Miriam: I'm tagging this book as a sexy-as-sin paranormal romance. Because it was sexy as sin. God, Rhage's beast is so sexy. \n Goodreads: You find...the beast sexy? Are we talking about the same thing here? It's the curses tattoo on Rhage's back which manifests into this huge-ass dragon whenever he loses control? That thing that likes going on killing sprees and forces Rhage to fuck and fight in order to release stress and frustration? \n Miriam:Too creepy? \n Goodreads: No, not at all. Now I'm just going to move onto my next user who is hopefully sane. \n Miriam: No, don't go! I haven't finished. I also find Rhage himself sexy. He is scorching. Here, read this bit: If that didn't make your ovaries explode, then you're not human. \n Goodreads:I don't have ovaries. I'm not even human, I'm just a book site! \n Miriam:Just fucking read it. \n Goodreads: Fine. Hmm, let's see. \n \"What you just had is nothing compared to what I want to do to you. I want my head between your legs so I can lick you until you scream my name. Then I want to mount you like an animal and look into your eyes as I come inside you. And after that? I want to take you every way there is. I want to do you from behind. I want to screw you standing up, against the wall. I want you to sit on my hips and ride me until I can't breath.\" \n Am I supposed to be turned on by this? Miriam? Miriam? \n Miriam:Gahhh...need...water...that was so...fucking...hot...*collapses from heat exhaustion* \n (After an half hour break has passed, the conversation has resumed.) \n Goodreads:Now that you have sufficiently recovered *looks over at the tub filled with ice cold water and a very heated up Miriam soaking in it*, time to resume tagging. \n Miriam: Well, I'm also tagging Lover Eternal as heartwrenchingly angsty. \n Goodreads: It's a vampire erotic romance novel. How angsty can it be? Did the male character chip his fangs or something? \n Miriam: No, Rhage did not chip his fangs. And it was surprisingly angsty. I had so many feels. My chest was aching. \n Goodreads: In other words, you have a heart. Wow, who would have thought it. \n Miriam:: *glares* I've always had a heart. It's just that Lover Eternal touched it more than other novels have. Mary had leukemia and Rhage had the problem of his curse and oh!, it was just so sad. *wipes tear away* I would say more about this but I'm afraid of giving away spoilers and there's a lump in my throat growing bigger and bigger. \n Goodreads:cry, are you? I don't know what to do when that happ- shit, here comes the tearworks. Someone grab her a tissuebox! I'm going to take a fucking break. \n (After a ten minute break has passed, the conversation has resumed.) \n Goodreads: Thank god, that debacle's over. \n Miriam: I'm sorry, I'm just not usually this emotional. \n Goodreads: I know. The last time you probably cried was during Titanic. And that was like in fucking 1991. \n Miriam: It probably was. I really want to curse the author for leaving me with this many feels but I won't. And even if I do, you'll probably censor me anyway so there's no use. \n Goodreads:...No comment.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 08 15:30:15 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 14 05:27:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "42900", "review_id": "684c95115d830fc887e267b338be5457", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Lover Awakened actually made me teary-eyed at the end. I loved every single moment of it. In the first two books when the reader first meets Zsadist, I could feel there was a story behind him. A really sad one, but a story nevertheless. So I was very excited when I saw this novel was going to feature Zsadist in it. And it made me hurt for him, it really did. To suffer the things that he had to endure would be bloody painful. I was really glad for him that he had a happy ending and some good at last. Every aspect of the book is wonderful, well, maybe except for Bella. \n At the start, Bella's love for Zsadist creeped me out. It felt more like infatuation to me. It bordered on stalker-like behaviour at times. Zsadist was perfect though, in his own tortured, brutal way. I wished there would have been more interactions between the Brotherhood, but I'll take what I can get. \n The sexual tension between Bella and Zsadist was palpable. There were all these sensual scenes between them and I was about to burst from all the sexual frustration. \n \"Then he lunged at her, taking her down onto the bed. His tongue shot into her mouth and his hands tangled in her hair, pulling on her, arching her, trapping her head. The hunger in him was ferocious, a warrior's thick-blooded need for sex. He was going to take her with all the strength he had, and she was going to be sore when he was through using her. Sore and utterly blissed out. She couldn't wait.\" \n Well, neither could I, Bella. Neither could I but at least you got some measure of satisfaction. I don't have a real-life Zsadist with me in the real world.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 08 15:30:06 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 14 05:27:04 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Mon Apr 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "9943270", "review_id": "6218e22512bcb21b1ebbca67973ea04c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So when I read the blurb of the first book, Grave Mercy , I was curious to see how it would turn out. And then when I got around to reading it, well...I GOT MY MIND BLOWN AWAY!!!! Come on, Assassin nuns= Awesome. It's next best thing after Ninja Mutant Turtles. \n Then I found there was a sequel- time stopped (Hell, even the Earth stopped rotating around the sun), my heartbeat sped up and I pumped the air with my fists repeatedly. \n The story starts out with Lady Sybella, one of Death's lethal assassins and d'Albret's daughter. She was assigned to report about d'Albret and his followers' doings by the abbess. Sybella, of course, hates it. So when she was ordered to rescue a prisoner from a dungeon (oh, my lovely Beast), she had no idea that her idea of an escape and her chance at true love had arrived. Taken along with Beast and his squire, Yannic, they travel to reach the duchess, facing enemies in their way and finding new allies. \n Sybella is a kick-ass heroine. She doesn't lack in intelligence because she always makes the smart decisions. I remember Beast pointing this out to her in the novel. She kills when she needs to defend and protect the people she loves, but doesn't take her own sweet time while immersing herself in self-pity and guilt. She's wonderful. \n So when I read about all the awful things that happened to Sybella- well, I felt deeply sad and overly emotional. But it was these very own things in her past, however horrifying they were, which helped mould what she is now: a clever, wonderful woman who would do anything for the people she loved. Of course, Beast sped the process along a bit. I am so glad that Sybella found him and fell in love with him. She deserved true happiness. And so does Beast. \n I was actually quite nervous about how R.L. LaFevers was going to portray Beast as the love interest. From what I heard about what he looked like coupled with the fact that it was his very battle lust that made him such a valuable asset to the Duchess, it seemed very incredulous that he could manage to love somebody like Sybella. \n Of course, I sorely underestimated him. How adorable and big-hearted is Beast? I don't care if he's \"apparently\" ugly, but I love him the way he is now. I've read so much about heroes being cold, distant, cocky, arrogant etc (apparently guys being rude to the heroine and acting distant to \"protect\" her is a huge turn-on) that Beast came as a relief. Yes, he might have gotten angry at Sybilla one time in the book, but that was in special circumstances. If I was in his shoes, I'd be furious. So, best wishes to the couple, Sybilla and Beast, may you have a wonderful, wonderful life, because, hell, you guys deserve it. \n And then if the romance wasn't enough to turn me into a gibbering, hyperventilating idiot, there was also a plot. A real plot. A real plot with political intrigue. A real plot with political intrigue and a manic father. The storyline was great, it was carefully paced and it was original. 5 stars.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 07 16:07:09 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 14 15:20:17 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sat May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "12680993", "review_id": "7b6ad96313db49ac7e2b9990754c698c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Heartbreakingly sad and incredibly angsty, this could not have been any more different from the first two books. The storyline was more complex. It was more serious and deep and it really demonstrated how much Bryn had developed to become the person she is now. I really appreciate the author's ability to actually do that; however I did not appreciate her killing off one of my favorite characters (even though it fits and is deeply moving). That was just cruelty. Other than that, it was just amazing.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 24 18:08:18 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 30 03:44:42 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sun Mar 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "9369687", "review_id": "d910d888e77d7b4c43eb14a3501b4123", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow! Just when I didn't think the storyline couldn't possibly get better than it already was, it did. Trial by Fire is a fitting and mindblowing sequel to Raised by Wolves. I loved every single moment of it, so much that I couldn't even put it down for a single second. An amazing read.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 24 18:05:57 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 01 01:03:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "15826934", "review_id": "b69d3544b60406b1fb9ad3f33cedd224", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"When you don't have much family left, you'll do anything to protect what you have.\" \n Izzy Brannick's older sister of two years has disappeared into thin air after what was supposed to be a normal take-down of a coven formed by dark witches. Shocked and feeling woefully unbalanced, Izzy concentrates on proving herself to her mother, ignoring the tiny slivers of guilt whispering to her that it was her fault. Her fault that Finley had vanished while Izzy just waited in the shadows with a book for a sister that would never come back. \n But her life is going to take a turn for the better, when her mother gives her a new job: investigate the hauntings at Mary Evans State High. \n There should probably have been extra instructions that inform Izzy not to fall deep in a pit for a guy who strutted out flamboyantly in his own sense of regency style with an inhaler as an accessory. \n And not to befriend a strong-willed, unusually dressed fellow classmate who was the member of a club called Paranormal Management Society a.k.a PMS a.k.a the Ghostbusters. \n And not attract guys like flies on her first day of school or do the opposite, such as dislocating some jerk's arm creating a life-long phobia of Izzy in said jerk. \n I mean, getting involved with a pretty serious ghost haunting seems like enough trouble, right? \n But it was worth it for Izzy Brannick. Now hopefully all she's got to do is, keep what she's given. \n Izzy \n Isolde 'Izzy' Brannick was this funny, bad-ass heroine with a sort of adorable naivete that landed her in the most hilarious or awkward situations. \n \"Whoever used to hang out here, they must have been pretty tiny,\" I joked. \n Dex turned his flashlight on me. \"Um, Iz, pretty sure they weren't standing up,\" he said, and I blushed.\" \n She's one of those protagonists who makes you laugh or smile like a Cheshire cat, at what she does. \n \"Damn it,Izzy, I told you, keeping a low profile is an essential part of every job.\" \n \"I was trying!\" \n \"And breaking someone's arm by second period? That was your attempt at trying?\" \n And Izzy doesn't even try to make the readers (a.k.a us) like her. Being herself was enough for me. \n \"That's it. Be yourself. Be Isolde Brannick, and they will have no choice but to adore you.\" \n Dex \n \"I also like ladies. And not as in shopping buddies, but in the carnal sense.\" \n Fellow readers, meet Dex, the love interest: a cravat-wearing (purple), asthmatic, fellow PMSer who rocks a bracelet (also purple) given to him by his grandmother and somehow despite all that, manages to make me view him as someone totally hot!!! \n Honestly, Dex was a breath of fresh air. \n After reading god knows how many books which feature the love interests as having 'sex appeal in droves' , 'rock-hard pecs' and 'eyes the colour of \"insert metaphor here\"' and are over six feet tall, yada yada yada, Dex and his personality provided me with a sense of relief. \n He wasn't that guy who fell in love with at first sight. He was that guy who you became friends with and then fall in love with. \n It was quite bracing to meet some one who didn't fit the standards of perfection that a soap opera usually offers for a guy, and yet still could be perfect in his own way. \n Torin \n One of the first times in my life, where I can officially say that I like the sidekick more than the love interest. \n Don't get me wrong, Dex was charmingly perfect in his own geeky way, but Torin, wow, Torin was in a league of his own. \n For a while, at the start of the novel, I was hoping that Izzy would get together with Torin and I had my reasons. \n Torin was the guy that Izzy went to when she was troubled. Torin was the guy who supported her in that awful period of time when her sister went missing. Torin believed that Izzy Brannick was stronger than she looked and that she could do anything!!! \n Even now Torin and Izzy did everything together from watching episodes of a soap opera from Torrin taking Izzy into his dream world (which sort of reminded me of Adrian Ivashkov from Vampire Academy and Bloodlines. Also, the two characters also share the same colour eyes 0.o). \n Yes, I know Torrin's over four-hundred years old and would be forever-bound in a mirror. Although, Izzy would be the one to set him free, as Torin apparently believes. \n You are my key and my salvation.\" \n But don't worry since I have rid all my thoughts of Izzy and Torin as a couple and instead, have devoted myself to more daydreams of Izzy and Dex. \n The rest of the characters were surprisingly loveable. I don't think I hated one single person during the entire ncvel, which felt weird. I don't usually not hate a person during a book. \n But everybody was wonderful. \n Romy was delightfully entertaining, Anderson was that cute friend-zoned guy who you couldn't help but adore and Izzy's mother was awesome in her own awkward, Prodigium-hunting ways. \n I have to say, I'm impressed. I'm very impressed with Rachel Hawkins. \n She must be a great multitasker; look what's she done with this book: she's created a great setting, wonderful characters and had a good storyline (though I admit, the ending could have been improved in my opinion but it still satiated me). \n I lift my metaphorical hat off towards you, Ms Hawkins.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 17 05:18:45 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 29 20:24:32 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "6933152", "review_id": "c8bcc7dff3890e6c87cba7713482cc24", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A fact that has infuriated me in the past was that authors always seem to prefer the broody, angst-ridden guys over the funny, handsome and plainly perfect ones for the heroine. It's the same case for 'Web of Lies'. God, Donovan Caine is pathetic. In fact, he brings the word 'pathetic' to a whole new level, one that I didn't think was possible. So of course, when I read the end, I felt supremely happy. Ecstatic, even. I felt that there might be a chance for Owen Grayson (who rates much higher on my scale than Caine). He has a good character and he doesn't turn his nose away from the less reputable people. \n The storyline was good but not amazing, I felt that the Epstep could have done much more with it. So the grand total of stars this novel gets is three stars.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 16 18:40:30 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 01 16:00:36 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sat Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "6131164", "review_id": "e6e645f07d1af72d5798b12ccbc9ac87", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It was amazing and mindblowing and exquisite and a million other synonyms I can insert here. Let me just start by saying that I hate when there are two AMAZING guys and the heroine has to choose between them. It just pisses me off. So I was a bit wary when I started this book because I anticipated that either Jem or Will will sacrifice themselves for Tessa or just die or turn evil or remain friendzoned forever or things like that. That's what usually happens. \n So this is when my congratulations for Miss Clare comes in. She weaved her tale so skilfully and created a great storyline that I wasn't at all disappointed by Tessa's decisions by the time I read the epilogue (although I did feel that waiting 130 years was cruel for Jem). I love both Jem and Will; they were great characters and contrasted eachother deeply. The ending was perfect. \n Bonus point to whoever illustrated the covers for the Clockwork trilogy. It's incredibly realistic and it helps that the guys on the first two covers are really hot.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 28 18:39:17 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 01 01:03:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Wed Mar 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "13104080", "review_id": "fc27cf917b5155ac7a91034260254a2a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is one of those rare times when the sequel is better than the first book. Unravel Me had lots more action and a lot more drama which the first one barely had. It's an amazing piece of fiction. And the cover is just gorgeous. It's definitely the first thing that attracted me to it. \n The characters were just wonderful- especially Warner and Adam. They all have more depth to them. I wasn't a fan of Juliette though. Her powers were cool. And dangerous. And just bad-ass. One would think that she wouldn't let anybody mess around with her. Wrong!. It got ridiculous how many times she got captured by the enemy. And she has so many self-esteem issues . It just got to a point where I wanted to hit her over the head multiple times. The other characters were infinitely much better, thank god. Warner was just plain hot albeit a little stalkerish. And Adam was that sweet, sensitive guy you couldn't help falling in love with. I really hope Tahereh Mafi doesn't break my heart with these two boys. Kenji was an amazing character. He didn't put up with Juliette's behaviour. Instead he put her back in her place with his lovable, snarky remarks. \n The ending felt a bit sudden. And a litte dragged-out. But overall I liked Unravel Me and that's why I'm giving this novel four stars.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 04 02:45:28 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 01 16:00:36 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu May 02 14:43:48 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "10551037", "review_id": "4bd092f92eb9867a6674b3bdb0f7a3c4", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The first five chapters just horrified me. I couldn't go through a minute without thinking 'WTF Is she going to do now!?' at least once. Anneliese (Drew) is supposed to be this incredibly smart girl and apparently it only counts academically. Common sense must not be considered as that important, which I felt was sad. Drew needed it. It's commonsense not to drive off into a so-called Paradise with a stranger next to you whom you barely know. No matter how hot he is. Honestly, it made me feel like Ronan was taking her off to join a cult or be gang-raped. He was acting really shady. \n The rest of the characters were okay. I didn't feel any real connection or believe that I can try to relate to them. Most of the characters didn't have any real depth to them. Yasou was good, though. \n It got better when I reached halfway. I felt like there was a real plot there. But it was a really simple plot that could be explained in a few paragraphs which is sad because it had small potential. \n Altogether, two stars which only awarded mainly because of the fight scenes because I think that they were written very nicely and Yasou.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 16 00:39:56 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 01 16:00:36 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Thu Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "17277854", "review_id": "17efafeab40e262c038ab980ec1a1c50", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The Student Prince has got to be the best fanfic of Merlin out there. It is the best. 100+ stars all the way. My inner fangirl is jumping for joy. \n Merlin has always been one of my favourite T.V shows and I love reading fanfiction about it. Especially fanfiction with the pairing, Merlin and Arthur. I've always thought they were perfect together and it came as a real frustration not to get what I want. So when The Student Prince, which I first read on the fanfiction site, 'Archive of our Own', by Fayjay, was published as an actual novel, it was a wonderful surprise and for lots of reasons. \n It had all the perfect blend of angst, romance, magic, action and humour. The dialogue was funny and made me laugh more than several times throughout the story. The scenes, especially the one with the Raisin Weekend and meeting Morgana, were just bloody hilarious. The characters were a bonus point- I loved every single character and that's something books can rarely get out of me. \n Merlin was an adorable,cute protagonist with a secret-specifically magic. I loved his interactions with everybody. Arthur was a jerk in the beginning, but he was one of those \"nice, oblivious jerks.\" Morgana, I love her, is amazing. She doesn't share much with the character from the T.V show, but I liked it that way. The one thing I especially loved that the author accomplished, was giving each character some sort of depth even if they were minor. \n This is a must-read, a have-to-read, a just-read-it and many more. People are missing out if they haven't.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 14 05:57:51 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 14 04:51:06 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "10445208", "review_id": "0c40c1f8156ff385ae9ccbd620802dca", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow!! Oh I just love Maria V.Snyder and her amazing ability to construct masterpieces. How does she do it?! She created this whole different world in Touch of Power which was all original. I'll be singing her praises for at least another decade. \n Avry was the perfect protagonists. She was just this kick-ass heroine who's smart and she can actually control her own impulsiveness. I have had enough of people just jumping in to do stupid heroic things for the people they love (no matter how remarkable it is), before they think it through. Avry's not like that. She doesn't make stupid decisions. Another wonderful quirk about having her for a heroine is that she doesn't need people to tell her what to do. Avry analyses a situation and she just does what needs to be done. \n Kerrick was another character I loved. Sure, he did start out as a jerk such as hitting Avry, locking her in manacles and generally acting like a dickhead in the beginning , but then he showed the good qualities he does have and that just made me fall madly in love with him. Have I mentioned how happy I am that Avry and Kerrick were endgame?! I ship them mad \n Touch of Power totally deserves 5 stars.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 18 03:19:32 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 14 15:20:09 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sun Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "38564", "review_id": "02d9fe31b71d4a8e0fa2c1945f0e8b6c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was busy wavering between four stars and three stars for Boys That Bite. I ended up with three. \n Boys that Bite was funny. It was really funny and I loved the humour and optimism that the main heroine had. It was a short, fun read. But the thing is, the storyline was kind of crap and has been done before a million times. And even though most teenagers do not have a great vocabulary (I'm speaking from experience at my previous high school only), they can actually manage at least some words. The author just had to put in like, hottie, oh my god etc. a thousand times in the book to make it sound authentic. \n Still, I enjoyed it.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 12 20:09:27 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 01 16:00:36 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Tue Jan 29 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "6905534", "review_id": "b85f01caf30e39c2d9a45de3a374c763", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Jennifer Lynn Barnes is one of my favourite writers. She knows how to combine humor, action, romance and the supernatural elements all into one book. Raised by Wolves is no different. It's not a book that I would delve into again but it's good for for a summer read.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 12 20:07:23 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 11 20:24:43 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "12972685", "review_id": "51568a994120fa4f69f031c75e31b61b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "For me this was an okay book, a light (not exactly light) book to read when you lots of time on your hands. \n The main thing I liked about this book was the growth of both the main characters. It had just the right amount of humor and teen-angst and romance. On the other hand I felt it went the writing went too slow. At many points during the story I felt like giving up, and only my will-power urged me to finish it. Another thing is that the story line was too simple. It was like an idea a primary-school student would come up with. So altogether 2.5 stars.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 08 15:15:54 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 29 20:22:34 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "8534899", "review_id": "e4e083c23593ef4fadd144660c0779ac", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I am an official fangirl. This series has absolutely everything: hot guys, action, bad-ass heroines, demons and much more. Cudos for originality as well. \n Riley Blackthorne is my new rolemodel; she's not one of those people who sit on the sidelines and watch. She doesn't conform to the rest of her peers just to sound smart. She carries around tricky little demons daily. She has a claw pendant (an authentic one) from which she got a battle scar. \n This was an amazing read and I'm honestly looking forward to read the next book in the series.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 08 03:22:29 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 07 02:21:11 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "147843", "review_id": "386bb2165abc31c776fa1c4456ba3e83", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked it. It reminded me of Tamora Pierce's novels actually: the heroine is a strong female called to do some great deed, there's a sprig of romance (not a main theme but it's not minor either), has the perfect blend of fantasy and adventure and keeps its readers turning the pages. All in all, it was wonderful.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 08 03:19:40 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 01 16:00:36 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "1192363", "review_id": "269376e351192eeddc31838eb1f43870", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Poison Study is like Butterfly's Dust. You will always keep coming back to it- if only to avoid the nausea and pain of not being able to read through its pages- and you wouldn't know how to escape. The world Maria V. Snyder created is compelling in its entirety as well as the characters. And the storyline. \n Let's just say that this type of Butterfly's Dust is particularly potent. And you will find yourself poisoned by the desire to read more and more of this series. \n It's fortunate that I like this poison then.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 08 02:44:20 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 22 05:20:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "12578077", "review_id": "ebbfc7c9165a96605e9884ab9003f131", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is one of the best YA books I've read in my entire life. \n Seriously. \n It'll melt your panties off, all thanks and shivers to the cockiness that Daemon possesses, but not after throwing you into a spiral of happiness and bliss. Trust me, I'd know. I'm still on an unconditional high from Obsidian. Damn, can pure awesomeness can be too much for a person?? This is my first time reading one of Jennifer L. Armentrout's works (when I really should have started reading it a long time ago) and I only gave into this novel because all the rave reviews. Anywhere I looked, Obsidian was there. Anything I heard, it was all about Obsidian. I just couldn't stop myself from reading it. \n It all starts when the main heroine, Katy Swartz, moves to West Virginia expecting nothing less than dodgy internet access and swanky accents. She didn't expect her neighbour to melt her panties off with just one glance from his emerald-eyed gaze. Figuratively, off course. She also didn't expect him to act like a general jerk towards her. Daemon Black, because even jerks have names, is something special but Katy can't put her hand on it. Neither can she place what's special about his twin sister, Dee Black. Other than being uncommonly beautiful. Everything about the town she moved into is weird. The fact that there have been more than a few missing girls in the past decade is one thing. Finding out that Katy's neighbours are really aliens in disguise is another thing. \n And all the while, the sexual tension between Daemon and Katy is palpable, almost tangible. Everything and anything Daemon says seems to turn Katy on, other than giving her the occasional reason to inflict her inner angry girl on him. But I like Katy's inner angry girl. She's fun. \n When I said I loved everything about this novel, that included the characters, even the main ones. In other books, the protagonists always annoy me with their Holier-than-thou attitude and what not, but Katy Swartz is perfect. Literally. She has a mouth primed for witty comebacks and her thought processes are so funny. \n \"Why are you such an ass?\" The words came out before I could think twice. \n \"Everyone has to excel at something, right?\" \n \"Well, you're doing a great job.\" \n And then there's also the fact that Katy doesn't let anyone push her around. She's strong and she knows what she wants. That scene where Katy dumps her spaghetti on Daemon and Ash= Hilarious. Although I did feel sorry for Daemon. If I could, I would offer to lick it off him, the dirty minx that I am. \n \"That, and you're a human. Humans are weak. They bring us nothing but trouble.\" \n My eyes narrowed. \"We aren't weak. And you're on our planet. How about a little respect, buddy.\" \n Amusement flickered in his emerald eyes. \"Point taken.\" \n Go Katy!!! \n Daemon totally deserves her. Or maybe it should be the other way around because although Daemon does have his moments of dickishness, he really does have a sensitive side. All those rough and tough guys usually do. \n Especially ones that have a smartmouth like Daemon's, and it shows. Have you seen how cute and kissable they look?? I haven't but I'm busy creating a mental picture of Daemon's kissable mouth whispering all those sweet sentiments that I just want to pack up and treasure it in my heart. \n \"I've always found that the most beautiful people, truly beautiful inside and out, are the ones who are quietly unaware of their effect.\" His eyes searched mine intently, and for a moment we stood there toe to toe. \"The ones who throw their beauty around, waste what they have? Their beauty is only passing. It's just a shell hiding nothing but shadows and emptiness.\" \n Wow!! *shivers* Who knew aliens could be hot? I'm actually glad that Ms Armentrout stayed original like always, and instead of going for the overly used supernatural creatures- werewolves, vampires, ghosts, witches, demons, angels etc- she went for aliens. Kudos. Plenty, plenty of kudos. So other than being one of the best books on Planet Earth and stealing my heart in the first few chapters, 5 solid gold stars. \n P.S Daemon's bonus scenes: How cute were they??? I am so glad that Daemon had a reason for the spaghetti incident. I knew he would. And now he's just topped the list of my favourite-hotties and book-boyfriends.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 02 19:10:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 14 04:57:04 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Mon May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "6448470", "review_id": "58837bc12828cae4748390279c9ad2ac", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It was interesting, to say the least, that the author chose to use draki instead of the more obscenely, commonly-used mythological creatures such as vampires and werewolves and like. \n Most of the characters pissed me off though: Tamra, Jacinda's mother, hell even Jacinda herself. I have to say the characters that I felt most kindly to were Xander and Agnus. They were bad-ass. \n Other than that, it was a refreshing read with great imagery. I just love the author's play on words.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 25 16:46:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 07 02:20:19 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "15768191", "review_id": "76b8e53cc5a7e620b11108639e1fdb41", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars actually \n It was not up to the standards of Sweet Evil in my opinion. Mainly because there were huge breaks in time within the writing which made it hard for me to follow. It dragged on on for a long time and when the action came, it was unexpected. Did anybody else notice that all the action came whenever Kaidan was with Anna??? When she was alone, nothing ever happened to her. But I love Kaidan. The ending was came out of the blue. I kept on expecting more to happen. But I think this is just all a matter of preference and I wasn't suited to reading this writing style. \n The story follows Anna, who recently discovered she was the daughter of Belial (Duke/Demon) and also of a guardian angel. She's also discovered that her life is endangered if she, as a nephilim, refuses to corrupt other people through alcohol and drugs. So Anna decides to embrace her inner party girl to save her own life (You have to admit, that is a little bit fun.) \n Now if this bad luck wasn't enough for Anna, she broke up with Kaidan Rowe, her true love, her soul mate, the light of her life etc. Devastated, Anna's doing all she can to get him back even though this can possibly endanger her life. \n And then a prophecy arrives because, as everybody knows, a novel which involves the doing of heaven and hell, demons and guardian angels needs a bloody prophecy. This prophecy states that Anna is the one to take down the demon hierarchy and free all nephilim etc. Is it just me, or is this starting to sound like Harry Potter?? Maybe I should start calling her Harriet. \n So pretty much all Anna can do, is raise an BLOODY ARMY OF NEPHILIM to fulfil this prophecy, because that's easy. Everyone can do that. At the end of the novel, Anna officially has six members in her army. Six members to take down every single Duke. Who says that logic isn't faulty? \n And the worst thing I can say about this novel is that Kaidan, the hottest YA nephilim ever, isn't even around for half the novel. Half the novel He was the best thing about this trilogy. But I forgive him, because, hell, who can't forgive him when he says these adorably sweet things like- \n \"I was more myself with you during those three days than I've ever been with anyone in my life. It'd be easier if I could be fake with you, but you bring out everything in me, little Ann. All of it.\" \n \"I love you,\" I whispered. \n \"I've loved you longer,\" he said.\" \n I wish that Wendy Higgins didn't make him a drummer but a singer. Imagine that gorgeous voice just singing to you on your iPod. Yum. For all that Kaidan goes on about him not being worthy enough for Anna, it's the other way around. Kaidan is clearly too good for Anna (even though she is apparently a virginal heroine who despises swear words and never thinks a bad thing in her entire life). \n He does all this romantically wonderful stuff for her that it's impossibly hard to believe that Kaidan has been indulging in \"sin\" for all the years of his life. \n This is a good book, but I'll only be reading the next book if it has more of Kaidan in it.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 24 19:08:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 01 16:00:35 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sat May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 17}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "42899", "review_id": "57e59a695ca94d8127e082348ed9801f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Fanged novels aren't really something I liked to read. Mostly because the characters affected by vampirism in these type of novels are always \"all-powerful\", puissant and practically invincible in some cases. *cough-cough-Twilight-series-cough-cough* And it's the same with the Black Brotherhood series. All the male vampires are big, powerful, strong, bad-ass sex legends. Put simply, becoming a vampire is the best thing you can hope for! \n \"You've won the evolutionary lottery: You're a vampire. Let's go to Disneyland!\" \n I have to cut these vampires some slack though. At least they're not stone-hard and near indestructible. *cough-cough-Twilight-series-cough-cough* They can be killed and none of them are utterly perfect. Yeah, they are superior to humans in some aspects in the Black Brotherhood world but it's not ludicrously overdone. So bravo, Ms Ward. \n I also liked how the vampires in the brotherhood are not fucking pansies who abstain from giving into their nature in some attempt to cling onto their \"humanity\" embrace their true nature as well as not killing everyone they meet because of bloodlust or because they're just fucking insane being the guardians of their society. They kill and dispatch anyone who dares to hinder their path but provides help to anyone who should ask for it. \n Another thing I liked about Dark Lover were the interactions between the Brotherhood. Forget the romance between Beth and Wrath; I want a reality T.V show solely based around the Brotherhood. They're fucking awesome! \n Now onto the sex scenes: \n Dominance in sex scenes is hot but there were a few times when Wrath was toeing the line a little bit. I was surprised with how quickly a hot sex scene can turn icky. \n Classic example below. Ignore how basic my thought process is.: \n \"I can smell the sex coming off you right now.Mmmmm-yummy-can-you-smell-me-even-through-the-pages? \n I could take you down on this sidewalk and be up that skirt of yours in a heartbeat.It's-getting-hot-hot-hot! \n And you wouldn't fight me, would you?\"Wouldn't-want-to-fight-you-in-the-first-place \n Now, we can be civilized and wait until we get home.What-remarkable-restraint-you-have-there-god-you're-so-sexy \n Or we can get down to it right here. Here?-Umm-I-don't-feel-too-good-about-this-Are-you-sure-this-is-even-hygienic? \n Either way, I'm dying to come inside of you again, and you're not going to say no.\"Wait-what-the-fuck-did-he-say?-Gulp-Please-let-me-say-no-lemme-say-no \n Life Lesson No 367: Sex scenes can get icky quite quickly. \n The whole storyline seemed a little bland to me. It felt like there was more smut than substance but Dark Lover is an erotic romance. Can't complain. \n But overall: nice world-building, scorching sex scenes, then icky sex scenes, playtime with the Brotherhood yay!!, then some nice villain-alone time. Because the villains always need a whole chapter to ruminate over past evil deeds or contemplate new evil deeds. \n As a sidenote, I get that the lesser society is going to come into play at some point and Mr. X will probably be some type of game-changer. But right now? They don't seem very relevant. In fact, they're kind of a creep factor. Maybe they're meant to be like that? I don't know, I'm shutting of my brain cells. I'll think about them later in the series when they provide some actual plot to the story.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 11 14:45:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 12 01:25:51 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "6710476", "review_id": "0a463b8dea811aee930d51e4a18439b1", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Forgive my Fins is a painfully predictable novel, in which I guessed the plotline in less than 5 pages. It was an extremely fast read, in which nothing even had a bit of depth. Not even the main characters. \n It's about a half-human/half-mermaid who lives on land and accidently gets \"bonded\" to the so-called obnoxious, arrogant boy next door who, SURPRISE, turns out to be her true love. A very common romance concept often daily applied to YA books. \n Now straight onto the painfully unbearable characters: \n Lily \n Lily was an annoying heroine. She was just plain shallow and even though she's sixteen years old, still calls her father \"Daddy\", which most teenagers incidentally do not do in real life. Typically, she has a crush on a surfer boy, coincidentally the most popular boy in school, whom she has no chance of ever getting together because we're talking about high school here. Can it be more cliche? \n Quince \n Quince was frustrating as well,he never ever saw what Lily for she was for- an over-protected, bratty Daddy's princess who hurt him daily. Instead he just fell for her, goodness knows why, and daydreamed about her for THREE years. \n Some of the characters were stereotypes stripped plain from society. Courtney for example, is the typical jealous, ex-girlfriend envious of the heroine. Brody- the typical, self-centered hottie who's the most popular boy. Dosinia- the spiteful, jealous cousin who despises the heroine. Very original. \n Oh, and of course the puns. Oh my god, how many puns can you insert into a novel. It reached the point of inducing vomit-worthy feelings in me. All that fishy terminology was making my head ache. Don't mistake me, I have an obssessive love for puns, but there is a fine line between overusing the puns and rocking them. \n All in all, I think this book could have used more angst, doesn't hurt you know, and the characters should have had a bit more depth. Not act like cardboard cut-outs.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 06 04:01:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 27 04:31:46 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "78070", "review_id": "db5c70aecad3f623071a061273d487d5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I fucking love warlords. Who's up for some kinky roleplay? \n But speaking seriously, I loved it. Xylara may have been too weak for my standards but having grown up with a brother like hers, it was understandable. Also, it's not new or original by any standards but fuck it, it's loooove. Nobody expects it to be the new classic. I imagine it'll a die as a trashy romance novel but for me, a novel with its pages dog-eared and the pages worn out. \n Also, I was keenly reminded of Game of Thrones and how similar the characters were in personality. \n Keir=Khal Drogo \n Xylara= Dany \n Xymund= Viserys \n It could just be my imagination though; I was marathoning it last night.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 28 03:21:02 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 02:28:44 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "49041", "review_id": "c11c4b16ff8a6503aca83bd0f595cae0", "rating": 1, "review_text": "***Spoiler Alert*** \n I thought reading \n Twilight \n couldn't be bad enough and then \n New Moon \n arrived. I guess the beginning line of the blurb should have been my first clue. \n \"For Bella Swan, there is one thing more important than life itself: Edward Cullen.\" \n It was almost as if Stephenie Meyer purposely foreshadowed the entire plot of New Moon- which is basically Bella moping after the departure of Edward. That's it. She mopes. Nothing interesting happe- oh wait, I take that back. They go to Italy. One of the most beautiful places in the world. \n Pity Bella only came to save her undead, indestructible, overly controlling boyfriend from killing himself. It does put a downer on the sight-seeing, doesn't it. Not that any sight-seeing actually happens. \n No, wait. I also take that back. Bella must have seen one impressive disco-ball in order to throw herself into her suicidal boyfriend's arms. \n Bella Swan is also nothing without Edward Cullen, apparently. Even the other characters in New Moon accepted that. The wolves in the Quileute pack call her the 'vampire girl' because she is such a baseless character and her love for Edward the vampire is really all that defines her. \n \"Where you are is the right place for me.\" \n \"I'm no good for you, Bella.\" \n \"Don't be ridiculous.\" I wanted to sound angry, but it just sounded like I was begging. \"You're the very best part of my life.\" \n Bella's reaction to having Edward leave her is hilariously pathetic- during the break-up and afterwards. After the break-up, Bella ignores that she actually has a support system to fall back onto: she has friends, loving parents etc. Does she use that support system? \n Fuck no. \n She instead concentrates on the fact that 'Omg, Edward's leaving and I can't exist without him!'. \n Then when Bella finds out she can see flashing glimpses of Edward through near-death experiences and decides to try kill herself without actually killing herself- I literally threw the book at the wall. She's acting suicidal just to catch a few, fleeting glimpses of her imaginary, ex-boyfriend for goodness' sake. She even threw herself a bloody cliff! \n I don't even get the big deal about Edward. \n So he's an immortal vampire who looks like a Greek Adonis? Edward's still a creepy, over-controlling prick. He treats like Bella as an incompetent child. I would prefer my boyfriend/girlfriend to treat me as someone who can make their own decisions (provided they're not stupid and over-the-top) and not coddle me like some fragile piece of china. And Edward always acts like he knows best. Absolutely infuriating. Even more infuriating when it's apparently because Edward 'loves Bella too much' and 'it's for her own good.' This is NOT acceptable behavior. \n In fact, it's all because of Edward acting as if he knows best for Bella that New Moon even happened in the first place. Then when he reunites with Bella at the end, he has the nerve to place part of the blame on Bella. \n \"After all the thousand times I've told you I love you, how could you let one word break your faith in me?...I could see it in your eyes, that you honestly believed that I didn't want you anymore. The most absurd, ridiculous concept--as if there were any way that I could exist without needing you!\" \n Ummmm, Edward? You've acknowledged yourself that you can be a good liar and Bella isn't exactly the most...astute of individuals. Expecting her NOT to believe what \n you told her \n isn't very smart of you. Furthermore, I \n dislike \n how Edward played on Bella's insecurities. That's not cool, mate. \n If the mundane, run-of-the-mill storyline and non-existent character development wasn't bad enough, the writing was choppy and I was stumbling my way through the book- just tripping over words and everything. \n Overall, it's torture for the brain.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 05:44:42 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 13 00:09:11 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "6611038", "review_id": "d5154ded6fb1771f5c72d94e0896cdd6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I felt that the story dragged on, and I had to keep forcing myself to stay on track. On top of that, there was no real chemistry between the heroine and the detective- just a mild attraction which really disappointed me. It had a lot of potential. \n But there was some good stuff in there like Finnegan- I love him and his quirky behaviour. The storyline was pretty good, and creative. Epstep's choice of mythological creatures to use in the novel was original- usually it's always vampires, werewolves, demons, angels etc but she used creatures like dwarves and giants and elementals. Granted, there were some vampires in there but not much was elaborated on them. \n Overall I'm giving this novel three stars.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 20 23:07:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 01 16:00:35 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sat Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "6487308", "review_id": "64e57704012f8a1f19c70a7460a44093", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Fallen was an interesting read. It wasn't riveting but it's one of those YA books you just have to read. I liked it very much, including the cover. The cover is just gorgeous. It's amazing. I'm in love with it. It's actually the first thing that prompted me into reading it in the first place. It suits the story line as well. \n The characters were okay. I did feel Luce was just another Mary-Sue. She doesn't have any real quirks that give her some real depth. Daniel was the same. Sure, Lauren Kate has described him perfectly, looks-wise, but I know nothing of his personality other than the really obvious characteristics. I felt the minor characters were really cool though- Arriane was easy to connect with, Gabbe was not very difficult to understand and Penn is that nice friend that everybody has. Cam was lovely; I was rooting for him throughout the novel even though I was 99.9% sure Luce was going to end up with Daniel . Those Mary-Sues always do. But I love betting for the underdog. \n One thing that annoyed me was the love triangle; it was completely unnecessary. If Luce and Daniel were meant to be true loves, and meant to be like what he said when he revealed that he was an angel, what's Cam there for? To add in spice and temptation? . Love triangles are popping up in every book I read lately with an alarming rate. Some work out fine and some not so much. \n Other than that, it was all great. I'm looking forward to reading the next book.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 17 00:27:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 27 05:02:57 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "3236307", "review_id": "6131338868379d4cd3a2cd46b4ba9d6c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Po, I love you. \n For one thing, he's different to other love interests in YA fiction. He's not the usual dark, handsome, mysterious hero who turns up out of the blue. Goodness knows there's enough of those canonical heroic types featuring in the genre of fantasy and romance. \n Po is an admirable character. He's confident without crossing the line into being a jerk. He's selfless but he also knows how not to be too self-sacrificing. He's not too flowery with his language (despite being a flashy character). \n \"I know you don't want this, Katsa. But I can't help myself. The moment you came barreling into my life I was lost. I'm afraid to tell you what I wish for, for fear you'll... oh, I don't know, throw me into the fire. Or more likely, refuse me. Or worst of all, despise me,\" he said, his voice breaking and his eyes dropping from her face. His face dropping into his hands. \"I love you,\" he said. \"You're more dear to my heart than I ever knew anyone could be. And I've made you cry; and there I'll stop.\" \n Even how he was described (visually) in Graceling sent shivers skating down my spine. And for some reason, I kept on imagining Po as Orlando Bloom. No, I'm not talking about Legolas. I'm talking about how he looked in his role as Will Turner. \n Can you see it? Can you?!?! \n With Katsa though, I was more than a little disappointed. When I first read the blurb (which is flipping awesome), I wanted to know her. She sounded awesome. \n Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight - she's a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king's thug. \n When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. \n I wanted what the blurb promised me. \n I wanted a bad-ass heroine. Instead, I received a flower dressed up in armor too big for her. At the end of the book though, Katsa became more than slightly tolerable. So I suppose that will have to make up for my failed expectations. \n Her character is incredibly unrealistic as well. So incredibly disappointing. \n P.S About Po's vision, is it too sadistic of me to say that I liked that he lost it? For me, it balanced out his advantageous mental abilities. Sort of like the universe setting things right again. But when I told a fellow lover of Po about what I thought, she didn't...quite have the same feelings as I did. \n I spent the rest of that day vainly using lollies and chocolate as bargaining chips to assuage that friend's hurt feelings. I was also trying not to get killed. \n It didn't work. -_- \n But I'm still happy with how events turned out in Graceling.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 17 00:18:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 14 03:45:58 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ef5df7f9065022d65810776875a6d0c3", "book_id": "113436", "review_id": "001752fc6f47882b015eaef251b5448b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Eragon is a cross between The Lord of the Rings and Eon: Dragoneye Reborn to me which is like a geek's wet dream. And I am unashamedly a geek. It's such a brilliant book- the setting, Alagaesia, where Eragon's story is set in, is painted out into reality by Christopher Paolini. The scenery is fantastic and was reinforced into reality by the author's writing style- evocative. And maybe a little too descriptive at times. \n Christopher Paolini, I want to give you a kiss. \n Memorable Quotes \n \"Keep in mind that many people have died for their beliefs; it's actually quite common. The real courage is in living and suffering for what you believe.\" \n \"The sea is emotion incarnate. It loves, hates, and weeps. It defies all attempts to capture it with words and rejects all shackles. No matter what you say about it, there is always that which you can't.\" \n \"It's amazing that a man who is dead can talk to people through these pages. As long as this books survives, his ideas live.\" \n \"No hunter of the sky should end his days as prey. Better to die on the wing than pinned to the ground.\"", "date_added": "Tue Jul 17 00:14:22 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 14 05:22:34 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "18191814", "review_id": "2ad0e7237190eb88e65bbe4509e6c9c1", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I'm just done! I don't care, not one bit!!!", "date_added": "Thu Aug 25 05:00:35 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 04 21:07:16 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "17925397", "review_id": "21074652d6ffdd07ac832b5ad070df9e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Still reading....interesting, but can I read ALL THESE BOOKS?!!!!", "date_added": "Mon Aug 22 11:12:12 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 25 04:59:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "17733861", "review_id": "99d6dd72cd272431a025da98c06e1a6a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ok, still good but now, I just don't know. I this the story still flows, but could some of it be condensed down????? On to book three...", "date_added": "Mon Aug 22 11:10:50 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 22 11:11:53 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "17255435", "review_id": "9a837858684a10f8102df667963977f4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Not to bad...sadly I didn't realize just how many books were in this series! I'm going to continue to read, but I don't know if I can finish the whole series. Loved the characters and am curious as to see where this goes.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 19 22:09:31 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 22 11:10:34 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "24969707", "review_id": "c7fdc2dcb6170d78a6dac512499d68ea", "rating": 5, "review_text": "love, love, love...I need more of this in my life.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 26 09:23:37 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat May 07 14:21:29 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat May 07 14:21:29 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "24969678", "review_id": "6c311234913a50cb1edc4382862eab6f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "swoon and sigh... I need a Daemon", "date_added": "Tue Jan 26 09:23:33 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat May 07 14:26:37 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat May 07 14:26:37 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "25397349", "review_id": "abc5249046a631ae8231ed5762769bc6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "a perfect wedding", "date_added": "Tue Jan 26 09:23:28 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat May 07 14:47:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat May 07 14:47:44 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "25209521", "review_id": "823a0ed5d5f65f14a7028ab07437062b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Perfection. I cannot get enough of this series, ever.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 22 18:39:37 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 30 08:14:07 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Dec 23 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "23252517", "review_id": "d429fa0a20b1b897261a65f21ab41c85", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So excited to finally read this book! Amazing from start to finish. I loved the character development, especially Moses. Moses and Georgia have a wonderful and at times tragic love story. \n Overall great read :)", "date_added": "Sat Jul 18 08:55:19 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 14 21:36:34 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Aug 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "24476344", "review_id": "5d9c0f16eebdd2183e1b9f956588184f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "for someone who likes shape shifters, and PNR, you would probably like this book...and this series. I have it a try and its just not enough to hold my attention. I don't care about the characters or the story. I don't be finishing the series.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 14 06:13:46 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 14 06:16:47 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jun 14 06:16:47 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "24380890", "review_id": "46fc2fccdd30a64247f090b8b7c61306", "rating": 2, "review_text": "not my usual cuppa...easy to read and I'll try another one, but there are a lot in this series. I don't know if it will hold my attention", "date_added": "Thu Jun 11 17:23:24 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 14 06:13:08 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "3570231", "review_id": "c38262581cc6b49165247bc347ee95eb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fantastic book, my only complaint is I feel the live story took the back burner.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 09 13:58:55 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 11 22:09:56 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "2168860", "review_id": "a22fa11911766b88e78d5d75a34edc8c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "oh I am loving this series!!!!", "date_added": "Tue Jan 06 20:58:56 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 09 13:58:23 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "1421990", "review_id": "b6a0315cc4a362180bbb0e24e24a5b67", "rating": 5, "review_text": "how did I miss this book?? This is one of the best PNR I have read. I love the h, she's strong and witty and perfect. The H is everything you want him to be. I could not put this book down and can't wait until I start the next book on the series!!!", "date_added": "Tue Jan 06 20:54:33 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 06 20:56:40 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "15817326", "review_id": "543f1c33a3ef7b2d6458dc7b39f5cbb6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I am surprised at how much I loved this book. I was a bit confused on the world building, but the romance and sex was pure KA!", "date_added": "Mon Dec 29 05:23:14 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 30 20:42:26 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "13453301", "review_id": "2ddd589a8697440c361f013ac43c8e86", "rating": 4, "review_text": "As good as I thought this book was, I really wanted it to be more. So many people loved this book, I was just a bit (not a lot!) disappointed. I plan on reading the next book...and not a bad deal considering it was 99 cents!", "date_added": "Wed Dec 03 11:53:10 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 05 21:10:06 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Dec 05 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "13570854", "review_id": "2e40950ed5122c32195b5a495f57be0c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I am so disappointed in this book. I thought this was Quinn and Blay' s book....but there was hardly any story of them. Not to mention, where was Xhex? Autumn? It just seemed like a bunch of junk. And the abrupt ending???? Please. \n The only good thing was Assail, and he's badass. \n And...lastly, I go to get the next book and it $12!!!! Um...no", "date_added": "Fri Jul 11 16:19:48 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 16 05:03:11 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jul 16 05:03:11 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "10993282", "review_id": "ff22b316ad89c5ac43c7ac27f365e95f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "So, I am a big fan of Tohr, I am not a big fan of this book. I can't believe how he uses No'One/Autumn to only help him in assisting Wellsie into the Fade. And on a side note, they fall in love. I don't feel the connection and the love of the \"bonded male\" for No'One (and that makes me sad) \n I will say my favorite part of the book is Lassiter, he has been redeemed and is fabulous!!!! The fact that there wasn't a whole lot of Lessers in this book makes me happy as well. It was more \"catching up\". \n On to the next book.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 09 09:54:27 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 11 06:41:29 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jul 11 06:41:29 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "13023", "review_id": "b65fa318c1b6f6b4428d7adc631fd27d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Love this book[?] The kid and I finally finished it!!!", "date_added": "Sun Jun 15 20:45:06 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 11 17:55:04 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Aug 11 17:54:27 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "8492319", "review_id": "5aa6d44941f0ca36483a6de966a92bb9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was a bit of a disappointment for me. There was so much going on, it felt like a jumbled mess. I don't even think it's about Manny and Payne, more about V (and his parts I loved). No big climax at the end, just meh....", "date_added": "Mon May 26 19:22:16 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri May 30 05:41:01 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri May 30 05:41:01 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "7046495", "review_id": "a8f0e309e07f483e1b78db67bb27de72", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n oh this book... \n First - I love John Matthew :) I absolutely LOVED his alpha male side (in Tor's house) oh yummy! \n Second - Lash, that bastard got his, thank god. \n Third - the Paranormal Investigation part, it was just too much. I could have done with about 1/4 of it. Although, at the end of the book, I do realize that there was a \n purpose to it. \n Fourth - does ANYONE in the book realize that John Matthew is Darius??? Does John Matthew know?? Is this EVER going to be revealed? \n and lastly - I loved loved loved the intro to Payne. I hope her book is good, so fingers crossed!", "date_added": "Sat Apr 05 19:49:21 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 09 15:57:38 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Apr 09 15:57:38 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "5098079", "review_id": "6b90bbdca7b158703684e40456fa3054", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved Revhenge`s book! This is exactly what I needed after Phury`s book!!!!", "date_added": "Tue Apr 01 21:10:28 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 05 19:47:03 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "1240662", "review_id": "db86cf38cc43ceaa48ebd60386989917", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Getting through this book was like pulling teeth. No chemistry between the H and h, in fact, I almost forgot the book was about Phury and his shellan. So many things I felt wrong about this book (when did red smoke become like crack). Even Wrath felt a bit like a pansy. \n I was and still am excited about the story line with John Matthew, I can't wait for his book, but I still have to read Book 7 (and fingers crossed, it will be good). \n This book kind of felt like political filler or filler in general. Still, have to get through this to go on with the series. \n I hate being disappointed.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 03 10:40:34 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 05 09:55:26 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Mar 05 09:55:26 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Mar 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "304027", "review_id": "6db5ec2d2053a2ae3e52f4e077eb33cd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "So not my favorite, but still good. I will have to say that I was VERY UNHAPPY at the turn in the book with Jane...really???? WTH was with that?!?!! Of course I will finish out the series, as I want to see what happens with John Matthew. My only other complaint is I wish the books would focus more on the couple and not the world of all the others. The first books seem to do that.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 27 17:10:39 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 03 10:40:01 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Mar 03 10:40:01 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "42898", "review_id": "e67a74601401a130ae9cbc0050fe4a84", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh I just don't know where to start. This is my favorite BDB book by far. I love Butch, everything about him. I felt bad for V, but fell for him even more in this book as well. The world building was outstanding, these books just keep getting better and better.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 26 21:52:16 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 27 17:10:00 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "42900", "review_id": "658aa119baa5c793bc4565fd0e1fb6ca", "rating": 4, "review_text": "as much as I lived Zsadist, this is not my favorite as of yet. I thought the book had a tendency to drag out a little bit. I also didn't like that Phury had feelings for Bella as well. Still a great book, great read. Looking forward to the next book. (sorry Amy, I just couldn't wait!!)", "date_added": "Sat Feb 22 08:39:15 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 22 08:42:06 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Feb 22 08:42:06 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "35729", "review_id": "7398f577500818dd1855202da6052fd3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "good grief I was a fool to wait so long to read this series. I can't wait for the next book!!!!", "date_added": "Wed Feb 19 17:56:27 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 20 21:34:24 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Feb 21 21:34:24 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "18808219", "review_id": "7e144a860f986180f86929dee5da54a3", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Thank God I am finished with this mess...out of 14 books, I probably liked one or two. The most of them are book one of a series that I won't finish. Yes, there were alpha males, but for the most part, I didn't care!", "date_added": "Fri Nov 22 19:25:42 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 02 20:54:44 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Nov 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "15927484", "review_id": "193ea060cd3dcc1fbf1f7bd8a747568f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "WOW!!! This book has everything a romance book junkie needs...and I need me a Will :)", "date_added": "Wed May 22 18:11:59 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu May 23 18:35:01 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "13644055", "review_id": "ba5c190e2e07ebb6d7b367eced9158f0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wonderful ending to such a great series. This book is a little more action and political than the others, and I have to say Katy is the bomb!!!! The epilogue was great. So sad to see this series end!!!!", "date_added": "Wed Mar 06 20:20:48 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 06 15:55:09 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Aug 06 15:55:09 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "13644052", "review_id": "8af98006e788c8f31a1e2559701fc439", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh cliffhanger!!! This book is the best of the series by far! Action, romance and Daemon <3 \n 7/25/14. - re read getting ready for the last book!!!! Hurry up August!!", "date_added": "Wed Mar 06 20:20:39 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 28 16:34:39 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "42899", "review_id": "2d8cfb68715d66d006974ea9a6642203", "rating": 5, "review_text": "As I am not a huge fan of PNR, this book was....Oh my...swoon worthy...hot...dramatic...suspenseful...wonderful. I am diving into this series!", "date_added": "Wed Mar 06 19:58:48 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 19 15:26:47 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Feb 19 15:26:47 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c1b340f7ef431ee7a26e3cb81b716a3", "book_id": "12458287", "review_id": "cad24cfe3c13d2806d50bca646c1e08c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Why,why,why did I wait so long to read this book? I loved it, sad to see it end!", "date_added": "Wed Mar 06 19:55:37 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 09 04:43:05 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Mar 09 04:43:05 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "23518d7e8466aebc36ef6ad5116908fa", "book_id": "42899", "review_id": "1c084128b9c29a42d31eeb61dbf66092", "rating": 5, "review_text": "GREAT Book... I'm so excited to start bk 2 in the BDB series!!!", "date_added": "Mon Feb 18 11:01:14 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 22 12:12:05 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Apr 22 12:12:05 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a83e6068f2f9419c23bbb53867380fdf", "book_id": "153008", "review_id": "631da1ebb24b4f9fb4de29cce3b045a2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Whew what to say?....Damn that was a long book. lol This is far from my regular reading so it took a lot of reading and putting it down before I was intrigued to continue reading. I have to say it is very beautifully written. Carey's imagery and storytelling is truly spell bounding. I hadn't realized how invested I was until some 700 pages in when I found myself sobbing while still turning the pages. I am getting the next one because I now have to find out what happens next. \n Why it didn't get rated higher. \n 1.) It takes a lot before anything happens. Lots of back story and building I had to force myself the first hundred something pages. \n 2.) Not enough sex. There I said it. I could have done with more sex, more s&m whatever just more. Every time my interests piqued it was over and done with. \n Otherwise I would say this isn't a book for everyone but those who value good writing, lot's of detail,and a good heroin who is realistic and flawed should like this.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 20 08:46:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 17 17:58:50 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "810a4219228a30b1470542943510ea54", "book_id": "31450908", "review_id": "eb3d60d7c35ee20d9f6ab952cb2dbc89", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This was so promising! It had the narrative voice, the creepy setting, but it fell flat on actual character development and plot. Frankly, I alternated between being bored to tears and depressed by the utterly morose storyline. I finished it, in between rounds of Candy Crush (sadly, the more entertaining of the two), and heaved a great big sigh of relief that I was done.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 10 23:03:48 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 10 23:04:37 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "810a4219228a30b1470542943510ea54", "book_id": "12027429", "review_id": "6534d80d70dc82079eda5d194ded5d38", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I DNF on the table of contents. I find books that change from 3rd to 1st person and/or alternate POV to be jarring and virtually always a disappointing read. I'm intensely disappointed by the authors decision to thoroughly RUIN what had promised to be a fairly decent series.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 07 17:09:09 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 07 17:12:12 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "31020402", "review_id": "0931547ac1ab1a9fd8279939e1c2614c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Crosspost: TheReadingBelle.com \n I'd like to thank NetGalley for providing me an ARC of Blood Rose Rebellion. All opinions are my own. \n Let's talk about Blood Rose Rebellion. What a book. I literally don't have any words to describe this one. My first warning sign should have been for fans of Red Queen, but I did not want to immediately judge the book. I was in the mood for historical fiction. I saw Blood Rose Rebellion on NetGalley and it had a unique synopsis. Now, I've never read a YA fantasy/historical fiction book set during the Hungarian Revolution. It was something new. Something exciting. Something fresh. Blood Rose Rebellion was not. Well, once again I have no words to describe how I about this book. \n What I appreciate is that the author took a lot of time educating herself with Hungarian history. Kudos to her. But though her hard work was put into her book, I cannot say this book was terrific. It was very underwhelming. \n Anna Arden is manipulated easily. People tell her what to do and she does it! She does not think for herself! Throughout the whole story, she was manipulated by her peers and friends. It was frustrating reading about a character who could not make up her own mind. She was foolish when to came to deciding on who was right or wrong. She did not take time to analyze the situations presented to her. I really had a difficult time warming up to Anna because she was so reckless and destructive to everyone around her. \n Folks: EVERY DECISION ANNA MADE RESULTED IN HORRIBLE EVENTS TAKING PLACE! \n A lot of tragedy could have been avoided if the girl had used her reason. Besides having a puppet mentality, she was driven to do certain things because of boys. Not saying that being boy crazy is a bad thing, but she put any guy she liked on a pedestal over her family. In the beginning she is head over heels for a man named Freddy. Though Freddy is a jerk and an irrelevant love interest, Anna would do anything for Freddy. She even sabotaged her sister's magical debut. I found myself not liking the relationship Anna had with her sister. No sisterly love whatsoever. Instead, both sisters competed for a guy who did not chose either of them. As I mentioned Freddy is irrelevant compared to the other love interests. \n Talk about boring love interests. By the way, one of Anna's love interests is her second cousin. So yeah, there's incest in this book. I was not a fan of both love interests. The love interests were not fleshed out. It seemed like all the boys were attracted to Anna, and I was shaking my head. No, no, no, no. Another case of a special snowflake that everyone loves, but I just hated. The romance was pointless because the guy characters were as bland as toast. Neither guy was great for Anna. And she was not great for them. \n Many characters are introduced throughout the book. Luckily there was a glossary at the end of the book that served as a reference guide when I felt lost. The only likable characters from Blood Rose Rebellion were her cousin Noemi and her grandmother who were the voices of reason. Those two characters wanted to keep Anna in check from committing dumb decisions. Yeah, they tried in keeping her safe, but did not succeed. Unfortunately. \n By the way, this book starts off really slowly. Nothing was happening and then everything became extremely dark near the end. The book had great concepts such as introducing demonic monsters and incorporating true historical events into the story. The mythology was cool as well just because it was new to me. But even though all those story elements were great, it did not work with Blood Rose Rebellion. Too much information and explanations that dragged on and on. Oh my goodness, I had to put this book down several times. I felt that I was mostly skimming through some of the chapters. \n The most entertaining sections were the overly dark chapters that were added too late into the game. After reading Blood Rose Rebellion, I am not picking up the other books in the series. I can see potential of more books, but after reading this book with no plot and flat characters, and a pointless romance, I would just stop and move on with my life. I did not like it, but maybe anyone else will. \n Final Rating:[?][?]", "date_added": "Sat Mar 25 18:06:35 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 25 23:57:03 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Mar 24 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "28374007", "review_id": "96c70052f62b9b68df3bb88fabb65624", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Crosspost: TheReadingBelle.com \n I received Three Dark Crowns in my October Owlcrate box. I didn't have an opportunity to read it back then, but I finally got around to reading it and well, it was an interesting story...Most people loved it, but I felt it was okay. \n Alright, so Three Dark Crown is about three identical sisters who have been separated for years and each one has an equal claim to the throne. The catch is that only one can be queen, and the other two sisters have to be eliminated. Each sister has a unique magical gift, so the readers are led to believe. Mirabella is the strongest rival for the throne. She controls the elements, and she has a strong following of priestesses. Though she seems most likely to become queen, she cannot bring herself to depose of her sisters because she is the only one to have childhood memories of her two sisters. Then there is Katharine who is a poisoner. She can handle any poison...or so readers are led to believe. She's the most fragile compared to the other two sisters. The poisoners group wasn't well explained...but what I got is that before they (the poisoners) were healers. It makes sense. For example, removing poison from patients. Maybe I'm reading too into the book. Anyways, moving on. Lastly, there is Arsinoe who does not have a gift at all. She's supposed to be a naturalist. A naturalist is someone who controls both plants and animals. She constantly admits to other characters that she won't make it when it comes to the tournament. \n The world building was weak. I had many thoughts when reading this book since the author didn't explain much. There were references to the mainland, though the story takes place in the island of Fennbirn. All that I know is that the people of the mainland don't have magical gifts. Other than that, I want to know if the islanders of Fennbirn were exiled into the island, and what type of mythology they have to explain the gifts. There were some references to a goddess, but the author didn't elaborate on it. Yeah, I know I'm going a bit off topic, but I honestly want to know what type of world the characters are living in. \n Moving on to the three queens. I was initially drawn to Katharine because she's the most physically weak, but she's sweet. I really liked how she started becoming more confident throughout the book. As I kept reading, I ended up liking Arsinoe much more than Katharine and Mirabella. Here are the reasons why Arsinoe is the best from the three sisters. \n She is very supportive of her best friend, Jules. \n She is hardworking \n She is tough and brave \n Other than that, I wasn't a big fan of Mirabella. Now, one of the most interesting characters is Jules. She's the strongest naturalist on the island. I really love how Arsinoe respects her friend, and doesn't have jealously at all. There is something special about Arsinoe, but I'll just wait and see for the next book. \n As much as I liked the book, it did have its faults. \n - Information overload during the beginning: Since there are multiple povs in this book, it took me a while to get used to all the characters. So many characters were introduced. \n - Weak world building \n - THE WORST LOVE TRIANGLE: I'm just going to leave this gif here... \n - It was boring: I understand that this is the first book in the series, but there were several dull moments. A lot of flirting happened during most of the book. I felt the book focused a bit too much on the romance. I assumed the sisters were going to be far more scheming...but the minor characters took care of that. The book finally got exciting near the end with an awesome cliffhanger. \n Three Dark Crowns had moments of creepiness, which I highly enjoyed. If you are in the mood for a spooky book, I'd say go with this one. Have patience for Three Dark Crowns...a lot of patience till you get to the second half. That cliffhanger was really good!!! After finishing the book, I'm not sure who will become the next queen. I'm not sure how many books will be in this series, but I am looking forward to the next installment. \n Final Rating: [?][?][?]", "date_added": "Thu Dec 29 19:40:07 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 29 19:42:09 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "28684049", "review_id": "7d85a212a787fcf890bce57540ea3f80", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I received Aisuru on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. \n Crosspost: TheReadingBelle.com \n Honestly, I didn't know what to expect of Aisuru. I haven't seen many reviews on the internet, but I decided to go ahead and read it. What got me to read the book was the synopsis since it sounded like a blend of contemporary and fantasy. I was intrigued by the characters, especially Sakura. Aisuru reminded me a bit of Inuyasha and Kamisama Hajimemashita, just the whole human-yokai romantic relationship, but that's just it. \n What I was expecting was an action-paced book filled with a lot of magical scenarios and political drama. Now what I got was different than what I expected. It was good, but it wasn't bad. I was a tad disappointed that most of the book focused on Hakodate, Japan rather than the magical kingdom of Throklana. \n Alright, basic plot of the book is that Sakura is dying and has less than a year of life left. Sakura tries to be an ice queen to those around her. Most of her classmates have invented rumors about her due to her cold personality. Though Sakura puts on an act, she is actually sweet and caring. She has hidden her illness from everyone; she wants to be treated like a normal girl. She wants to do many things in her life, but knows she can't achieve those goals. When I was reading Sakura's pov, I did tear up. Sakura was very accepting of her fate in the beginning of the story. As chapters progressed, it became harder for her to accept her death. Though Sakura has little character growth in the book, she at least tried to live as a normal girl. She got to accomplish some of her goals on her bucket list. One of my favorite moments of the book was the introduction of Sakura's classmates that eventually became her friends. I have to say that this book did really great when it came to friendship. \n I was actually surprised that this book was a bit dark at some times. Sakura's past was extremely sad, especially what happened to her parents. Though she was adopted into a loving home after the traumatizing events of her childhood, she grew up mostly independent. That's one thing that I really liked about Sakura, she always did her best no matter her limitations. \n Moving on to Kazuki, I felt okay about him. Kazuki is the yokai prince who is supposed to take over the kingdom while his father is on his pilgrimage. Kazuki never wanted to be king. He is the oldest sibling, but he knows that his younger brother is far more capable of being the next crown king. The author didn't really give a great description of his features besides his long claws and white hair. So I imagined him like this that whole time: \n Though Tomoe is a far more better character than Kazuki, just saying. \n Kazuki was a good guy, but a horrible leader. Here's the thing: his kingdom is in turmoil and his brother turned against him. What does Kazuki do? Reside in the human realm and leaves his kingdom in hands of his advisors. He abandoned the throne, and though his duty is to the kingdom, he never really does anything to contribute anything. I can see why he is fascinated with the human world, but it annoyed me that it wasn't till 75% of the book that he decided to take action. As I've mentioned, he was a good guy...he did have some cute moments especially with Karasu. Now Karasu was one of my favorite characters in the story. He is a yokai as well and very devoted to his master. He initially hates Sakura and doesn't trust her whatsoever. I found Karasu to be an adorable jealous little brother. He had a sad backstory that I wish got expanded more! \n Anyways, I thought that Aisuru was going have a lot of action, but I got more of a contemporary vibe. Most of the book was spent on Kazuki and Sakura doing normal errands such as cleaning, or cooking. It seemed that this was going to be a book filled with insta-love, but I am glad that the author tried to build up the romance. There wasn't much tension between the two characters and the kiss happened out of nowhere. \n As for the whole plot, I thought it could have been great if there was no conflict in the yokai realm. Since most of the book took place in the human realm, it felt a bit too much to have two conflicts because Sakura was the main focus throughout the book. The conflict in Kazuki's realm was ignored till the end!! But, despite Aisuru's flaws, I did find myself enjoying the book. The book did have a villain! Surprise, surprise it wasn't the brother. I assumed it was another character...since the villain didn't get introduced till 50% of the book. I won't give much away, but just wow. \n What I liked: \n - Sakura's pov \n -Karasu \n - The ending was cute \n I feel that Aisuru could have made a good graphic novel since the author is inspired by Japanese culture. I was mostly thinking of anime when reading this book! \n Final Rating: [?][?][?] (3.5)", "date_added": "Fri Dec 02 08:55:55 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 29 19:16:45 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "30795613", "review_id": "88c7633c6da04fffa8216e932ee9a9e3", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my favorite Halloween and Christmas movie, and I am sure that many have seen it. I love the plot and the songs, and how dark it is. When I saw the manga on NetGalley, I had to take my chance and requested the book for myself. \n Well, the manga is far more shorter than the movie. A very condensed version if I may add. I can understand why someone would buy this manga and put it in their bookshelf, but would I buy it? No, I rather buy the movie. At the same time, I knew what I was getting myself into, but I wanted to be slightly more positive. Folks, just stick to the movie and avoid this one. I read it in under twenty minutes and the animation was okay.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 24 07:42:28 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 06 08:03:18 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Nov 24 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Nov 24 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "27969081", "review_id": "917357c5cc091424613646fad3203741", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Crosspost: TheReadingBelle.com \n I received Labyrinth Lost in exchange for an honest review on Netgalley. \n When it comes to young adult books, there is a lack of diversity when it comes to the main characters. I was so thrilled that I finally encountered a Hispanic, urban fantasy, young adult novel that not only has a diverse set of characters, but is also LGBT! Let me just say that the book community needs more diversity! I cannot stress that enough. Also, it's Hispanic Heritage Month and Labyrinth Lost was the perfect choice for me, a Latina. \n Alex is a bruja who loathes her magic, and she is one of the most powerful brujas in her family, but she hides her magical abilities from everyone. Many say that it is a blessing, but not for Alex. Alex wants to live a normal life, but she hates the complications of having to live a double life of being a bruja and a teen. An event triggers Alex to use her magic, and she can no longer hide her magic from her family. Preparations start for Alex's Deathday, which is similar to a quinceanera. Alex tries to get rid of her magic, and it all backfires on her. She instantly looses her family to another dimenison by using her magic. \n Alex grew on me. I'll admit it. I didn't like her early on, but the more I read, I noticed how much changed Alex for the better. She's responsible and studious, and only wants a normal life. She doesn't want to be seen as a freak in school and tries her best to conceal her magical ability. She learns to become powerful from the event she faces, especially when she crosses to Los Lagos. Alex does whatever it takes to save her family. She wants to redeem herself from her mistakes. On the journey she learns to accept her fate, and she becomes far more wiser because of it. \n Moving on to the love triangle. Alex is best friends with Rishi, and has romantic feelings for her. Rishi has no idea that Alex is a bruja. Rishi is makes Alex feel comfortable and safe. There is also Nova, a brujo, who has a love-hate relationship with Alex. Nova is the opposite of safe. He's somewhat of a bad boy. What I loved is how the love triangle reminded of Pearl and Greg from Steven Universe. \n I loved how Rishi and Nova didn't get along at all. They seemed to be competing over Alex which I loved. Personally, I preferred Rishi over Nova, but that's just me. \n One of the best aspects of the book is not the romance, but the love Alex has for her family. I loved how Alex's family plays a huge role in her life. They weren't just background characters. Throughout Alex's whole journey, they helped her in any way they could. I loved how all the women in Alex's family were strong. Especially the part where Alex was speaking to her dead great-grandmother. Also, may I just say that Alex's family was very accepting and forgiving. \n Reasons to read Labyrinth Lost: \n - Diversity. Diversity. Diversity. \n - LGBT \n - Brujas \n - Awesome mythology \n - Good character arcs \n - Strong female characters \n - Fantastical creatures \n As for the whole journey, I loved it. Labyrinth Lost reminded me of Alice in Wonderland and Pan's Labyrinth. A perfect spooky package. If possible, I would love this book to get adapted into a movie, preferably an animated movie. I had high expectations for Labyrinth Lost and I was so pleased that I loved the book. It has a special place in my heart, and this is the book that has helped me get out of my book slump! This book is ideal to read for Halloween and Hispanic Heritage Month! \n Final Rating:[?][?][?][?] (4.5)", "date_added": "Tue Sep 13 18:33:00 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 27 19:57:17 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Sep 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "29056083", "review_id": "1ca6d98589055f9dd585a9152a35b599", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Crosspost: TheReadingBelle.com \n Harry Potter And The Cursed Child takes places nineteen years after Deathly Hallows, and the main character is Albus Severus Potter. Going into this book, I knew that the book was not going to focus on some my beloved characters such as Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, nor the Weasley clan. I wanted at least some cameos like Teddy Lupin or Hagrid, but that's not the case with this book. Keep in mind that this book is written in a play format, and it only focuses on Albus and Harry Potter. \n This book is somewhat controversial, some fans accept Harry Potter and The Cursed Child as canon while others do not. I won't reveal the reason why it's controversial because it will literally spoil the book. The book is a lot of fun, don't get me wrong, but it did not satisfy my Harry Potter needs. This book felt like fan fiction even though J.K. Rowling collaborated on this. \n What I didn't love about the book was the characterizations of some of the characters. Harry Potter felt like a completely different person. He was a terrible father in this book, but only to one of his children. Some of his actions were very, very questionable. I would have loved the book if Harry had more interactions with James and Lily. This book mainly focuses on Harry and Albus' deteriorating relationship, and there is a lot of miscommunication between the two. I loved Ron and Hermione in this book. I was so happy that they had several scenes together. Anyways, the plot wasn't original as I had hoped it would be, but it was still fun and a bit ridiculous at the same time.When it came to the villain, I immediately knew who it was. It was obvious!!!!! \n My favorite character had to be Scorpius Malfoy. He was absolutely precious in every way. He stole my heart. Scorpius was more of a follower than a leader, he was a bookworm, and one of the kindest characters from the new generation. Draco is very protective when it comes to Scorpius. Scorpius deals with a lot of prejudice against him. I felt his storyline was amazing! It was very saddening knowing what the rumors against him were. \n As for his relationship with Albus, it had so much buildup. They are best friends, and they would do anything for each other. I would have preferred if Albus and Scorpius were a couple. Some of the scenes they had together made it seem that they had romantic feelings for each other. Would have loved if this book was LGBT. As for Rose Granger-Weasley, she was the best of both worlds. She was athletic, and studious. A perfect balance of Ron and Hermione. Sadly, she has only a couple scenes in the book. \n As for Albus, he was very angsty towards his father. He is a Slytherin, and feels he is cursed because Harry Potter is his father. He feels that he can't be his own person because he is Harry Potter's son. He is not talented in magic, not athletic. He is the black sheep of his family. The outcast. His other siblings are both in Gryffindor. I didn't like how he isolated himself from everyone else. I like how much he grows throughout his journey. \n Do I find this book canon? It was a lot a fun, and though some of what I read contradicted the Harry Potter books, I don't find this to be canon. It is what it is, a play that was cowritten with J.K. Rowling and others. \n Final Rating: [?][?][?] (3.5)", "date_added": "Fri Jul 08 15:04:25 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 29 19:57:55 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "26805518", "review_id": "21f1ab17139831dbe577759faf7a9538", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Crosspost:TheReadingBelle.com \n I don't know how to quite describe Withering Rose. Let me first start off by saying that it's the second book in the series, but you don't have to read the first book since the stories are standalone, but interconnected. \n Alright, so when I saw that Withering Rose was available on Netgalley, I wanted to read it so, so badly. The synopsis is what won me over. I've read a couple of Beauty and The Beast retellings and I was in the mood to read another one. I was hoping that Withering Rose was going to be the \"one\". Oh, I was wrong. \n I hated it. I've been going through a reading slump, and this book did not help whatsoever. I can't believe I actually managed to finish reading it, because it felt like I was reading this book for months. So, the story begins with a huge earthquake as Omorose and her father are traveling to another kingdom. They find themselves transported to another world because of the earthquake, in a world without magic. Omorose is forced to keep her powers hidden because the people of her new world exterminate magical beings. Modern earth hates anything magical. In a way, present day earth can be viewed as a dystopian society in the eyes of Omorose and her father. \n Her father has to work for the government in order for his and Omorose's survival. As years go by, Omorose feels caged because she cannot use her powers. Her father forbids her from using her magic because he wants to protect her. He doesn't want his daughter to be slaughter, but Omorose feels that by hiding her magic, she is hiding herself. Her classmates see her as the weird girl, and she hates living a second life of pretending to be someone she is not. She decides it is best to leave her father and pursue the beast. (It's not like her father has been protecting her for years from their enemies.) The beast is a magical being that lives deep in the forest. The government has been trying to capture the beast and end magic, but his whereabouts are unknown. \n The world building sucked. Completely sucked. There is no explanation on how two worlds ended up merging. It happens in the span of one chapter, the very first chapter may I add. There is no world building for Omorose's home world. As the reader, you are left wondering what kind of world did she come from. I thought of a medieval setting, but that's just me. I feel that if her world was based on the past, let's say the 5th century, and somehow it merged to modern day earth, it would have been a better explanation. Anyways, the kingdoms of Omorose's home world get transported onto modern day earth, and merge with cities. The government has been fighting off the magical users. There is no reason why there is discrimination. As you reader, you are left to assume that the present day earth is very advanced when it comes to the technology. \n As for the characters, I didn't love them. I had no attachments to the protagonist, love interest, nor secondary characters. Omorose was conflicting for me because she describes herself as strong, but honestly, she was weak for me. Her magical ability is cool. She is able to grow flowers, and every time she uses her magic, it takes a toll on her body. You would think that Omorose would be thankful for being able to survive on earth. Honestly, he father was protecting her life by forbidding her magic, but no. Unnecessary angst. Now moving on to the beast, he's a shape-shifter and is a prince. He is angry and brooding, and isn't lovable. Omorose and her relationship with the Beast happened instantly. At first, Omorose is completely terrified of the Beast, and he does nothing to prove her otherwise. And then, they instantly fall in love. I wasn't a huge fan of their romance. \n After finishing Withering Rose, I won't pick up the other books in the series. I liked the concept, but the execution wasn't the best. Personally, I wouldn't recommend this book. A frustrating Beauty and the Beast retelling is not what I needed. I can recommend picking up A Court of Thorns And Roses by Sarah J. Maas or Beastkeeper by Cat Hellisen. \n Final Rating: [?][?]", "date_added": "Thu May 19 22:58:03 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 13 20:05:30 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "17927395", "review_id": "5dbbe66114203f108b75ad42c1559c99", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Originally posted on TheReadingBelle.com \n Hey guys, it's been a while since I last reviewed a book. I finished A Court of Mist and Fury last month. Let's be honest here, I wasn't a big fan of the first book in the series. I was debating on actually reading A Court Of Mist and Fury. I'm proud that I read it. There will be minor spoilers for the first book since I'm reviewing the second book. So if you're reading this review, stop reading! You have been warned! \n If you didn't love the first book, you'll end up falling in love with the second book, I can guarantee that. Now, this book takes place months after Feyre has saved Prythian. She is a completely different person from the first and she has a complete personality change in this book. She is a faerie, but has a hard time adjusting to her new surroundings. She is broken. She suffers from post traumatic stress disorder. Who can blame the girl? She died in the first book. She is no longer the human huntress, but is now a fae with several magical abilities. She was saved all thanks to the High Lord of the Night Court. Even though she comes back to life, she suffers from constant nightmares and she is not getting the help she requires. Tamlin is utterly useless, there I said it, useless when it comes to helping Feyre cope with her trauma. It's mentioned that he too is affected by what happened under the mountain. Tamlin causes Feyre more harm than anything else, and it doesn't help that he keeps pushing her away. Their relationship physical, there is no emotional connection between the two. \n Alright, A Court of Mist and Fury is going to change the way you see the male characters. Especially Tamlin. I haven't read Sarah J. Maas' Throne of Glass series, but I know what she did to a certain character in her last book. (Unavoidable spoilers on Tumblr). I really liked Tamlin, I really did. I had to look over my ACOTAR review just to see my thoughts on him. As I've mentioned in my previous review, I didn't see Tamlin as the beast...and I was right. Though I am not a huge fan of seeing Tamlin the Tool as a villain, I wished the author could have gone for another route such as Feyre falling out of love with Tamlin. The Tamlin from the first and the second book are completely different. Tamlin is such a tool...forget Tamlin and Feyre as endgame. Don't get me started on Lucien...Lucien was my favorite character. I was looking forward to a lot more of Lucien, but I was so heartbroken. I was disappointed with the lack of Lucien and I can't completely \"hate\" Lucien for his actions. I do feel that his friendship with Tamlin is borderline abusive. You may be asking why I can't hate Lucien, well it's because he tried to help out Feyre even though his actions failed. Lucien is pressured to be in a position that is of high status, and he can't go against his Lord (even though Tamlin's actions are very questionable indeed). I hope that Lucien plays a bigger role in the last book, I want him to be a spy as well. \n As for Rhysand, I loved him. Rhysand is one of the most interesting characters in ACOTAR series. He got my attention the first time around, and I adore him. I love his backstory. Rhysand truly is the \"beast\" while Tamlin is Gaston since it was based on Disney's Beauty & The Beast. Now going back to Rhysand, everything had a purpose. His actions are explained, there was a reason why he acted that way towards Feyre in the first book. Rhysand has a persona to play, he's supposed to be \"wicked\", but he's not. I really respect Rhysand as a character because he is a feminist. But as much as I love Rhysand, I did find him to be a little too perfect...that's one of my minor issues with this book. Rhysand's inner circle is really loveable. His inner court is fantastic, and they were such a great addition to this series. My favorite had to be Amren. Why? She has no fear whatsoever and she's fiercely loyal to her group of friends. One of my favorite scenes with Amren had to be when she used her bounty as a paperweight. Hopefully her backstory gets told in the last book. The ladies of the Night Court are badasses. The guys are just as great, especially Cassian. \n I felt that ACOMAF focused a lot more on Feyre finding her own freedom and overcoming her obstacles. Feyre is in a abusive relationship. Tamlin doesn't do anything to comfort Feyre. There is hardly any communication between the two. Tamlin believes that material items will bring joy to Feyre. Instead of trying to resolve Feyre's brokenness, he rather lock her up. Feyre is miserable, and it's especially telling when Feyre constantly throws up. I really despise how he forced Feyre to adjust to her faerie life. Also, Ianthe was the worst...I did not trust her and my intuition was completely right about her. She also made Feyre suffer, for example Feyre tells Ianthe that she doesn't want any red for the wedding and what does Ianthe do? She includes red in Feyre's wedding. I have a couple theories on what might happen in the last book, but I'll save that for another time. As I've mentioned, Feyre isn't given any freedom in the Spring Court. When Feyre lives in the Night Court, everything is drastically different. Rhysand lets Ferye do what she wants. He doesn't force Feyre into situations like Tamlin. Feyre doesn't realize that was in an abusive relationship until much later in the book! I am impressed with the character development of Tamlin, Feyre, and Rhysand. \n I did feel that the book did drag on a bit. It was enjoyable, don't get me wrong, but I felt that some chapters could have been cut shorter in length. I felt that the plot was stronger in ACOMAF than ACOTAR. Also, I really didn't expect those plot twists. ACOMAF left me wanting more. I did buy my edition from Target since that edition came with a bonus story. Another minor issue I had with the book is that there were several love relationships being established. You had the main ship: Feyre and Rhysand, and others. But, I did end up liking the romantic pairs. One of my favorite secondary pairing is Cassian and Nesta, I like those two a lot. I love how Cassian,who is mostly interested in himself, finds himself captivated by a fiercely loyal human. I hope to reading more about that pairing. I'm hoping that Lucien and Elain get more scenes together in the last book since they are mates. I still don't understand why ACOTAR & ACOMAF are labeled as YA. It's not YA! Not with those sex scenes. Overall, ACOMAF was such a great read and there's one book left! I can't wait to see what happens. Especially excited since the last book is going to be a Snow White retelling, and now that I got to read! \n Final Rating: [?][?][?][?] (4.5)", "date_added": "Thu Apr 21 23:27:23 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 07 23:02:13 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "28497161", "review_id": "f2ccbca9c2d3a2c39376495e5c158e8d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Crosspost: TheReadingBelle.com \n A Stolen Kiss is available on NetGalley. This is my honest review. \n I had high expectations for this book, and the synopsis sounded amazing. I avoided reading reviews for this book. What I expected from A Stolen Kiss was an epic adventure filled with romance and action. What I got, was something else. \n A Stolen Kiss immediately starts off with instalove...there is no buildup to the relationship. Maria, the swan princess, is immediately attracted to Derric, the stableboy who happens to be the son of the \"evil\" sorcerous that cursed Maria several years ago. Maria has no idea that Derric is related to Gilda, the sorcerous. Maria is drawn to Derric, and Derric feels the same about her, but knows he can't fall in love with her because of his mother's actions. When Derric was child, he kissed Maria thinking that her curse was going to be broken. Derric doesn't see results, and believes he has failed. What Derric doesn't know is that because of his kiss, his stolen kiss that is, Maria's curse became dormant. Maria has no idea that Derric kissed her since she was sleeping when the kiss happened. At eighteen years old, Maria is forced into an arranged marriage in order to break her curse. When Prince Humphrey proposes and kisses Maria, the curse activates and Maria changes into a swan. Deteremined to break the curse, Derric, Maria, Humprehy, and Sarah take an epic journey to break the spell. \n Now, this book is labeled as young adult, but honestly this felt more like a middle grade than anything else. The characters are supposed to be eighteen years old, but honestly, they felt much more younger than that. The writing was very childish. Another problem I had with the book was how unprepared the characters were for the journey. Maria and Sarah were not fighters, they couldn't really defend themselves against creatures. Maria and Sarah were damsels in distress while Derric and Humphrey had to constantly protect the group. \n The most developed characters in this book were the males, while the female characters felt flat. I couldn't really differentiate between Maria and Sarah. I wasn't a big fan of Maria's point of view. She focused too much on Derric. She wanted him to belong to her, and her alone. Throughout the book, she wanted to remove her curse as soon as possible in order to claim Derric as her own. \n Maria in a nutshell: \n She professed her love and pined for him. For weeks she'd planned on getting the curse removed so she can claim him as her betrothed and marry him instead. \n If you're wondering if there is a love triangle, there is none. Also, there is no undeniable chemistry between Derric and Maria. Derric's pov was much more interesting since he had to fight the darkness within him and had conflicting feelings towards Maria. The book would have been stronger if Maria was better developed. Humphrey also had a much better storyline than Maria and Sarah. He is the youngest prince forced to marry even though he is in love with someone else. Humphrey was willing to sacrifice his happiness for the good of the people. My favorite character was Ellis, the shapeshifter since he was the most reasonable character in the story. Ellis is not good nor evil, and I loved how Ellis kept randomly showing up to annoy the others. \n I wasn't expecting so many creatures in this story. I was a bit overwhelmed when reading. There were too many fight scenes...I would have liked a much slower paced journey because it did feel rushed at times. My favorite part of this whole book was when the protagonists became allies with the centaurs. I was delighted that the female centaurs were the warriors and breadwinners, while the male centaurs were caregivers. The female centaurs were all about girl power. \n Example One: \n I do not understand humans. Why must you wait for a man? End your own troubles, Princess. You are the future ruler of your people - if you can't make decisions for yourself, what makes you thinks you have the right to make decisions for them? \n Example Two: \n Humans. Your females are capable of so much, and yet they try to convince you that you are nothing. Without you, the human race couldn't exist. It is about time you start realizing your own amazing talents...because no one else can give you self worth. \n The book did get more exciting near the end. There were several revelations near the second half of the book. After finishing the book, I felt I read more about Derric and his destiny about being The Great One...rather than the curse. Overall, this is a light hearted retelling of The Goose Girl. There is a lot of action, but most scenes could have been shortened down. It is the first book in a series, and I don't know how much more the author can expand on this story. I'm hoping she doesn't milk the cow with this series because this book is better as a stand alone. There is no cliff hanger in the end of the book. \n Final Rating: [?][?][?]", "date_added": "Mon Apr 18 14:21:18 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 28 09:11:00 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "25203675", "review_id": "a1fae9254ac7b671481d873802bb1333", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Crosspost:http://thereadingbelle.com \n I've been dying to read Star-Touched Queen since last year. It was on my never-ending tbr pile. Also, it was one of the debut novels that I was most excited to read. Alright, many bloggers either love it or hate it. Where do I fall in this category? I felt this was an okay book, I couldn't completely love it nor hate it. \n The Star-Touched Queen had a lot of potential. First, it is loosely based on Indian mythology. It's one of the first YA books I've encountered that has Indian mythology. Also, it incorporates Greek mythology like the story of Hades and Persephone. Secondly, this story involves a curse. Who doesn't like a good story about curses? Maya's horoscope happens to be the most deadly. She has one of the worst horoscopes possible, and it doesn't help that her family ostracizes her. And lastly, the synopsis makes this book sound amazing. \n What went wrong? One of my biggest issues was the romance. I said it. Very insta-love. I would have preferred a slow built romance, or even better executed love-hate relationship. There are no love triangles if you're wondering. Thank God. Maya is instantly drawn to Amar. Amar rescues Maya from her home. He's introduced as the mysterious stranger coming from an unknown kingdom. Maya doesn't really question his motives and marries Amar. She leaves behind her old home, and lives in a mysterious kingdom. Maya constantly gets frustrated because Amar can't reveal everything to her. Even after finding out the backstory, I was still not a fan of their romance. Sure, they had many scenes together, but I didn't feel their chemistry. If the romance were more developed, I could have rated the book higher. \n I didn't particularly like Maya. Maya is shunned from the harem of women. Everyone sees her as bad luck. There is only one family member that loves Maya and that is her half-sister Gauri. I really felt sorry for Maya. She is a princess, and is treated unkindly. She has no mother, and absolutely no one to defend her. Most of the harem women want her dead. Maya has herself to rely on. Even her father doesn't pay much attention to her. The only time he acknowledges her presence is to force her into a political marriage. Maya has no freedom in her own home. I've noticed that Maya is very trusting of people. She doesn't immediately question a person's intentions, and because of her trust, it becomes her undoing. I did like her character development towards the second half of the book. Sadly, I would have liked a bigger redemption arc for me to like Maya. As for Amar, I liked him much more than Maya, but I did find him boring. He has the best quotes in this whole book: \n \"I love you,\" he murmured into my hair. \"You are my night and stars, the fate I would fix myself to in any life.\" \n I also liked how much he was shrouded in mystery. I didn't know what to expect from Amar. \n The plot didn't really move forwards till the second half of the book. The first portion of the book did drag out a bit. This is a story about reincarnation. I felt that there wasn't enough focus on the whole reincarnation aspect. It was glossed over. It would have been cool to know about Maya's previous lives. Especially how she and a certain someone grew up together...but that doesn't happen. \n What I liked was the writing style. Absolutely beautiful. \n \"Then what do you want form me?\" \n \"I want to lie beside you and know the weight of your dreams,\" he said, brushing his lips against my knuckles. \"I want to share whole worlds with you and write your name in the stars.\" He moved closer and a chorus of songbirds twittered silver melodies. \"I want to measure eternity with your laughter.\" Now, he stood inches from me; his rough hands encircled my waist. \"Be my queen and I promise you a life where you will never be bored. I promise you more power than a hundred kings. And I promise you that we will always be equals.\" \n The world building was just as great. And my favorite characters from this book were the horse and Gauri. Even though Gauri is hardly in the book, I like her relationship with Maya. I would have liked to have read more about their relationship. \n I know this is random, but Star-Touched Queen reminded me a lot of A Court Of Thorns and Roses. Is it just me? Both books didn't pick up till the second half. A redemption arc for both female protagonists. Tamlin and Amar were boring. There's a curse. The villain has a tragic backstory. (Minus the whole faerie courts, and Rhysand) \n Do I recommend this book? Not really. There are other books out there that are much better. I did like how unique it was. Also, there's a companion novel to this book which is very unnecessary. Will I be reading it? Not sure. I felt the story ended on a good note. \n Final Rating: [?][?][?]", "date_added": "Thu Feb 25 14:00:29 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 01 10:30:36 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "22299763", "review_id": "c8da12d19560b5e1bd4ff6417dd9d570", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Crosspost: TheReadingBelle.com \n \"Why do you guys say that, anyway? No mourners, no funerals? Why not just say good luck or be safe?\" \n \"We like to keep our expectations low.\" \n Well, how do I even begin to describe Crooked Kingdom?! I loved Six of Crows, but I think my heart feel in love more with Crooked Kingdom. Now, I avoided spoilers like the plague and this will be a spoiler free review since I don't want to spoil this great book!! \n First of all, this book was far more fast paced than the first book. I devoured this book quicker than anything else. Crooked Kingdom was longer in length, but I didn't mind! I found it to be really exciting. \n If you loved the characters in the first book, you're going to love them even more in this one! First of all, Matthias Helvar is one of my favorites from the diverse cast. He reminds me so much of myself. Ahahaha. I appreciate that he is more than just a wanted criminal, he's the lovable grump that constantly puts Nina's needs above his own. He and Nina had several moments together, and I was so overjoyed by it. They have been through so much in both booksI love Nina and Matthias together, and they have been my favorite couple since book one. Nina is the perfect balance to Matthias, and I couldn't possibly imagine her with anyone else. \n \"I am grateful you're alive\", he said. \"I am grateful that you're beside me. I am grateful that you're eating.\" \n She rested her head on his shoulder. \n \"You're better that waffles, Matthias Helvar.\" \n A small smile curled the Fjerdan's lips. \n \"Let's not say things we don't mean, my love.\" \n I am a fan of all three relationships, but I felt that Kaz and Inej's relationship was made stronger in this book. \n \"Meeting you was a disaster.\" \n She raised a brow. \"Thank you.\" \n Djel, he was terrible at this. He stumbled on, trying to make her understand. \"But I am grateful for that disaster. I needed a catastrophe to shake me from the life I knew. You were an earthquake, a landslide.\" \n \"I,\" she said, planting a hand on her hip, \"am a delicate flower.\" \n \"You aren't a flower, you're every blossom in the wood blooming at once. You are a tidal wave. You're a stampede. You are overwhelming.\" \n Anyways, I am glad that more background stories were explored like Jesper and Wylan. And I am so happy that Wylan got his own pov! I found Kaz to be absolutely terrific in this book. He has a special place in my heart. I love his scheming ways, and let's talk about the character development. Man, I love how much Kaz has changed from the first book to this one. Wow, just wow.One of my favorite aspects of this duology is the friendship between all six characters. All the characters have great chemistry between each other, and you find yourself rooting for all six. Each character was going through his and her struggle, and I'm so happy that my band of misfits were able to overcome there troubles. \n \"Where do think the money went?\" he repeated. \n \"Guns?\" asked Jesper. \n \"Ships?\" queried Inej. \n \"Bombs?\" suggested Wylan. \n \"Political bribes?\" offered Nina. They all looked at Matthias. \"This is where you tell us how awful we are,\" she whispered. \n He shrugged. \"They all seem like practical choices.\" \n I loved how there were cameos of the Grisha Trilogy. My number one book boyfriend appeared in this book. Nikolai Lantsov. Goodness, and I thought the book couldn't get better. I really couldn't contain my happiness. \n What I loved: \n - the friendship \n - the romance \n - Nikolai - Who doesn't love him? \n - Genya - my favorite Grisha tailor \n - the action - can I just say, that they had more at risk than the first book and I love how everyone has a chance to fight \n - the villains - amazing \n I have nothing but positivity for Crooked Kingdom. If you thought that Six of Crows was perfect, wait till you read Crooked Kingdom. This might be my favorite book of the year, and there have been several good books this year. The ending did end on a bittersweet note for me, and I'm going to miss these characters a lot. And I wanted there to be more, but I am glad the way it ended. I laughed, and boy did I cry. I was emotionally invested, and recommend reading Crooked Kingdom. This book is worth the hype and it will not let you down!", "date_added": "Wed Feb 24 11:39:44 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 13 19:53:28 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Nov 23 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "25187640", "review_id": "98458ea285875efc2dde57301fb2f762", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Crosspost: TheReadingBelle.com \n Anyways, I'll start off with what I didn't like about Truthwitch. There will be minor spoilers in my review. First off, I did not like the world building, which plays a major role in this book. There is a lack of world building, and it was very confusing in the beginning of the story. I would have loved the book a bit more if there was a glossary at the end of the book. There was none. It would have been very helpful for readers. There were many ideas that were put into this book, but not well executed. For example the Origin Wells or the myth of Cahr Awen. Then there is also cleaving...I don't know how to quite describe it myself. It's more like overexerting your power limit and destroying yourself physically and mentally...Well, there's a lot of cleaving in this book. The cleaving reminded me a lot of Shin Sekai Yori (From The New World; an amazing anime that you should totally watch). Also, I would have loved it if there was an explanation of the different types of witches in that world. The powers did remind me of another book series: The Grisha Trilogy. \n In addition, this book was very political. If only the world building was better executed, well then I would have liked it more. The book had bits and pieces of what the world was like before the Twenty Year Truce. I would have liked if the book elaborated to what had caused the nations to go against each other, and also what caused the war. Safi plays a crucial role, since she is a Truthwitch. She is wanted by almost every country in the world because her power is very rare. There are several hints here and there about the upcoming war, and Safi will play a much larger role when it comes to the fight. Hopefully, these issues can get resolved in the sequel. \n Now, what I liked about Truthwitch was the friendship between Safi and Iseult. Safi is the loudmouth and emotional one, while Iseult is emotionless, and very tactical. Safi is usually the one to get them both into trouble. Though Safi manages to mess up a lot, Iseult never abandons her dear friend. \n \"Where's your hair?\" she shouted. \"And what happened to your arm?\" \n \"Cut my hair and got shot with an arrow!\" \n \"Gods below, Iseult! A few hours away and your whole life tumbles through the hell-gates!\" \n \"I might say the same to you,\" Iseult shouted back--though it was getting hard to scream and ride. \"Four opponents on your tail and a ruined dress!\" \n Initially, I didn't like Safi at all, but by the end of the book I ended up loving her. She has a lot of character development and learns what she has to do for the people she loves even if it means sacrificing her freedom. I also like that there different povs in this book. Iseult has her own storyline, and I would like for it to get explored more. I want to know why her race is hated so much and why the leader of her clan wants her dead. I really liked reading her perspective a lot more than Safi's. Also, I want to know how the Puppeteer is able to get in Iseult's mind, which was really creepy. \n Now as for the love interest, I really liked Prince Merik. He won my heart once I read that he was a pirate. Very swoon-worthy, but not as much as my precious Prince Nikolai Lanstov. I really liked his relationship with Safi. Lots of sexual tension between those two. One of my favorite moments had to be the dance off. I loved how cocky Merik was. Another character that I really liked was Aeduan, he's a villain that you're bound to love. \n \"Oh, the Bloodwitch named Aeduan was no longer bored. No longer bored at all. And now he had work to do.\" \n I want to know more about his family's history and how he ended up at the monastery. He is going to play a major role in the later books. He is one of the most interesting characters from this series. I also want to see how his relationship develops with Iseult as well. I didn't really think of them as a couple because I was shipping Aeduan with Prince Leopald, since I really liked their misadventures together. \n I really enjoyed reading Truthwitch, and it's a bit diffucult to get into. Don't give up on it, it's really good! It's very hyped up right now, but it wasn't one of my favorite. I will love to continue reading the series! \n Final Rating: [?][?][?][?]", "date_added": "Thu Feb 18 14:00:38 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 27 19:54:24 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "27856632", "review_id": "9cd98f2f37ed9cc4a1cd0071879c8cad", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Crosspost: TheReadingBelle.com \n What drew me to this book was the cover and the synopsis. I really wasn't expecting Faith and Moonlight to be so short! \n The writing style was not my favorite. Even though this book was less than a 100 pages, I found myself having a hard time to finish it. I also should have read the previous books, that was my fault. This book is supposed to be a prequel to the other books in the series. \n The story started immediately, and I thought the protagonists were okay. Initially, I thought they were much older, but they are fourteen years old. Roan and Kay had gone through a lot since the fire. I liked Kay a bit more than Roan, she was more developed. I did like their friendship and how both of them were willing to sacrifice their happiness. I can see Roan and Kay develop feelings for each other in the far future. Faith and Moonlight does not focus on romance, but rather friendship and hard work. \n Overall, the story didn't get really interesting near the ending! When I got to the end of the book, I felt a little cheated just because it ended once it was the story was starting to get somewhere good. The story itself felt incomplete. \n I have to wait for the sequel just to know what will happen next. And hopefully the sequel doesn't end like this one did. \n Final Rating:[?][?][?]", "date_added": "Fri Feb 05 07:02:41 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 09 00:18:20 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "26368662", "review_id": "c4958cf4410a741a3efa05e25422e44a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I received an ebook copy of this book via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. \n The Snow Queen is a classic fairy tale about friendship and love. I've read The Snow Queen before, and this is my second time re-reading it. I did enjoy it, but it was too short like most fairy tales are. Gerda goes on a journey in order to save her friend Kai from the Snow Queen. The love that she has for her friend is strong and innocent. Gerda meets help along the way, and she is able to do what her heart set out to do. Even though Kai \"changed\", Gerda never gave up on him. The cover is beautiful, and so are the illustrations. This edition is simply marvelous and I would recommend it for young children. \n Final Rating: [?][?][?]", "date_added": "Mon Feb 01 23:50:33 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 03 11:29:10 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "26698476", "review_id": "cde9faf098ee4c9c20993e87e2909513", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Crosspost: TheReadingBelle.com \n I received an ebook copy of this book via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. \n I have to say that The Night Parade has been one the most entertaining books that I have read for this month. I thought it was going to be young adult, but it is middle grade. I had so much fun reading this book!! \n This book reminded me of Spirited Away which is one of my favorite films when I was a young girl. In Spirited Away and in The Night Parade, both protagonists find themselves involved with the spirit world and with a quest to break a curse. \n Now going back to the book, I initially did not like Saki. I thought she was rude especially to her loving grandmother. As the book progressed, she grew on me since she started changing. She was a completely different person by the end of the book. I thought that she was courageous and more true to herself. I enjoyed her growth and it made this book far more enjoyable because of that. \n Overall, I loved her adventures in the spirit world! She had to endure a lot and I really liked her guides to help her on her journey. I loved the Japanese mythology in this book! One of my favorite characters from the spirit world is The Moonlight Prince, even though he is a minor character. What can I say, I happen to be a sucker for princes. \n What I really appreciated about this book is that it teaches us, the readers, that we should appreciate what's in front of us. We should try being more independent, instead of being too dependent on technology. For example, Saki was glued to her phone and hated the countryside. As the story goes on, she appreciates what she has around her. By the end, she fell in love with the countryside. Overall, this is positive book!! \n I would love for this book to be adapted into an animated film! I think if they were to adapt this book to a movie, the movie would be better. I really enjoyed reading this enchanting tale! I do recommend this book!! \n Final Rating: [?][?][?][?]", "date_added": "Tue Dec 29 10:23:59 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 27 23:28:06 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "14061957", "review_id": "80c1696a76a7847e990ad1b008c76892", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Wow, I can't believe I finished the Grisha Trilogy! Many people I follow on Goodreads did not like this book, but I really liked it! I thought it was well done, but there where some minor issues here and there. Each book was terrific! I liked the first book, loved the second book, and this last book was satisfying. There were many parts of the book that I loved! I ended up flagging most of Nikolai's parts because he has the best lines in the book, seriously. You have been warned, my review will have many spoilers! If you haven't read the last book, please don't read this review! \n Now what I loved about the book was that finally reader's got to know the Darkling's backstory. Since the first book, I wanted to know what his life was like, and what made him become that way. Though, I am not fully satisfied with his story. I also appreciated that Baghra revealed her past as well. At first, I thought that Morozova might have been the Darkling's father, but he's not. In fact, he is the Darkling's grandfather. \n I also loved the side characters especially Genya. I loved the scene where the King tries to accuse her of treason, but she stands up for herself. She is definitely one of the characters that I loved from the start. She proved that she could be a badass: \n Na razrusha'ya. I am not ruined. E'ya razrushost. I am ruination. \n I was so happy that she and David finally got together. I was rooting for her happiness the whole time. I loved that Genya had her happily ever after. \n I loved the Alina and Nikolai moments in this book. I got so excited when Nikolai showed up in the book! \n \"Being around Nikolai was always like this, watching him shift and change, revealing secrets as he went. He reminded me of the wooden nesting dolls I'd played with as a child. Except instead of getting smaller, he just kept getting grander and more mysterious.\" \n I just love the way he showed up in the book: \n \"I saw the prince when I was in Os Alta,\" said Ekaterina. \"He's not bad looking.\" \n \"Not bad looking?\" said another voice. \"He's damnably handsome.\" \n Luchenko scowled. \"Since when--\" \n \"Brave in battle, smart as a whip.\" Now the voice seemed to be coming from above us. Luchenko craned his neck, peering into the trees. \"An excellent dancer,\" said the voice. \"Oh, and an even better shot.\" \n \"Who--\" Luchenko never got to finish. A blast rang out, and a tiny black hole appeared between his eyes. \n I gasped. \"Imposs--\" \n \"Don't say it,\" muttered Mal.\" \n Overall, I just loved Nikolai in this book. Now one of my favorite moments between Alina and Nikolai was probably the meteor shower part. I really wanted Nikolai and Alina to be endgame so badly. Nikolai respected Alina, he accepted her for who she was. I wanted them to get married at the end of the book. I liked how Mal tried to be more of a friend for Alina, instead of love interest. I thought that the book was going to end with Alina and Nikolai's relationship. My heart broke when Nikolai became one of The Darkling's shadow soldiers. Nikolai went through so much. Even though he was able to return to normal, he lost a bit of himself after the battle. I was happy that he was finally able to become King. \n I did like Mal much more in this book than the two previous books. I did not like Mal in the second book. He was very insecure in the second book. This book changed my view on him. I liked how he was willing to sacrafice himself and his happiness for Alina. He put Alina first and he wanted her to marry Nikolai. Mal thought it was best that Alina if she were Queen. I like Mal as her friend rather than boyfriend. Mal is a good character, but I feel that Nikolai and The Darkling are far more interesting than him. \n I really thought that the Firebird was going to be the amplifier. I would have never imagined that Mal would be the amplifier that Alina needed. I had to put the book down when I read that part, because I was a bit shocked. I took some time to think about Mal being the amplifier and it may have been a bit obvious, but I didn't see it at first. I really liked that twist. Alina couldn't have found the other two amplifier's without Mal's help. \n Lastly, I am glad that Alina is not one of Morozova's descendants. For a second, I thought she was related to the Darkling, and thank goodness that was not the case! \n Now here's what I didn't like about the book. For the last book in the series, I was hoping for it to be longer. Like a 100 more pages would have been better. Secondly, I really wanted there to be more Darkling in this book, he appeared way less than I would have imagined. I did like his interactions with Alina, but he hardly appeared in this book! I really wanted the Darkling to redeem himself at the end, but he just proved to be evil. I didn't want him to die! I wanted Alina to save him. \n Also, I thought the battle between The Darkling and Alina was going to be a bit more epic. I felt a bit sad during his funeral. \n \"Aleksander.\" \n His eyes fluttered shut. \"Don't let me be alone,\" he murmured. And then he was gone.\" \n Where was the strong Alina from the second book? I felt that she lost her motivation to her cause. She felt much more weaker to me. Not as a strong leader I was hoping her to be. Alina could have done so much as a Queen!!! The ending was bittersweet for me. I really wanted Mal to stay dead. \n I felt that Alina could have achieved much more with Nikolai. She could have reformed her country. I just didn't like how Alina wanted to fade into the background either! Even though she lost her power, she could have at least tried to become an ambassador or worked in the court. Though she settled down with Mal, I feel that he kinda hinders her growth as a person... \n And finally, there was not enough Nikolai! I wanted him and Alina to get together so badly. I feel that Nikolai balances Alina more. I feel that as a couple, they would have been able to achieve much more reform as rulers. I do feel that they are a power couple. I am really sad that they were not endgame. \n \"You'll still make a great king.\" \n \"Of course I will,\" he scoffed. \"I'm melancholy, not daft.\" \n I could understand why many people did not like this final installment, but I enjoyed it! \n Quotes: \n \"I will strip away all that you know, all that you love, until you have no shelter but mine.\" \n \"Maybe love was superstition, a prayer we said to keep the truth of loneliness at bay. I tilted my head back. The stars looked like they were close together, when really they were millions of miles apart. In the end, maybe love just meant longing for something impossibly bright and forever out of reach.\" \n \"In the end, maybe love just meant longing for something impossibly bright and forever out of reach.\" \n \"I'm used to being the center of attention wherever I go. I've been told I could charm the shoes off a racehorse midstride, and yet you seem impervious.\" \n Final Rating: [?][?][?][?] (4.5) .. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg", "date_added": "Wed Dec 23 14:20:56 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 27 20:07:58 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Dec 23 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "23734628", "review_id": "2a70239fbc1c4ccd6b42c9bdd90ca8c1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Crosspost: TheReadingBelle.com \n .. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg When I first heard about Carry On getting published, I was a bit worried about it. I was not a big fan of the Simon chapters in Fangirl. For some reason, I thought she was going to write as Gemma T. Leslie (author of the Simon Snow series), but this book is Rainbow Rowell's take on Simon Snow. I really enjoy reading Rainbow Rowell's works, but I was hesitant to read Carry On. I waited for reviews of the book and all I can say is that this book is everywhere. Seriously. Almost everyone I follow on Booktube or Goodreads gave Carry On a five out of five. I did enjoy the book, don't get me wrong, but I felt it a bit lacking. (( *(*eN RR *eN1)* )) \n First of all, I enjoyed the romance between Baz and Simon. The romance was absolutely perfect. Simon and Baz really were equally matched. I love the build up of their relationship, but I would have liked it more if there were flashbacks of Baz falling for Simon. Initially, I thought Simon was going to be my favorite character, he is supposed to be the fictional Harry Potter. Simon Snow was extremely angsty and stubborn, he can't control his power like the others. I did not like him as much as I liked Penelope and Baz. I really loved Penelope!! I enjoyed her parts of the book. I like how supportive she was of Simon's relationship with Baz and how she didn't \"hate\" Agatha just because Simon and Agatha broke up. \n Also, I loved the friendship between Simon, Penny, and Baz. Agatha was not really included in the book. She was just there compared to the other characters. I wished she were more involved with her circle of friends, but the breakup made everything awkward for her. She wanted to live her life with nonmagical people. She was the one to get away from everything. Luckily for her, she gets a happy ending. ~(^z^)- \n The Mage was the most interesting character to me. I knew he was a shady from the moment he was introduced. There was something about him that was off. I do respect the reforms he did for the school such as allowing everyone with magical abilities to attend Watford. It used to be a school for the elite before he became headmaster. Other than that, he is a bit of a maniac. He is obsessed with the prophecy of the greatest mage. He must have been really charismatic for Lucy to stay with him. He also isolated himself and Lucy from society, if that's not a sign of a madman, then I don't know what is. He also used Lucy, he wanted their child to become The Chosen One. He also abandoned Simon, and never told him that he was his father. He also made a deal with the vampires to attack Watford. I can't forget to mention how he made his men raid other wizards. I really did not like the Mage. He did get what he deserved in the end. (jjopdegddeg) \n To be honest, I don't understand why the book was divided into four parts. I found it really unnecessary. Also, the first 180 pages were hard were dragging. I did consider dropping this book, but I didn't want to fail my November tbr. Everything becomes more exciting once you keep reading. Now, I felt as if I missed out on an experience. I would have loved to read more about Simon Snow's world. I would have loved if there were more books, and it doesn't seem that there will be a sequel. I know that there are several points of view in this book, but it will all make sense near the end of the book. The ending was satisfying for me. I really did not expect that ending. Why couldn't Simon Snow about his parents! That part made me upset. I thought he was going to find out the identity of his parents at least, but that did not happen!! (jjop tthMin tth ) \n Compared to her other works, I did not enjoy Carry On as much as I enjoyed Fangirl and Eleanor and Park. Even though this book was not for me, I will still recommend it because it had fun moments, and I did like the silly spells as well. The reason why I give this book a 3.5 is because exciting, but it was still missing a certain something. Would I reread this? I don't think so. t( i )i \n Final Rating: [?][?][?] .. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg", "date_added": "Tue Dec 01 22:13:42 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 01 22:13:50 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "24001095", "review_id": "ececf0018ae730128ceaafdbbf2f4e6a", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I had no idea there was a book 2!!!! Can't wait to read it!!!", "date_added": "Tue Oct 20 09:12:35 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 20 09:21:56 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "20560137", "review_id": "57481c8646875a0ba8be659533ea3b5f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Crosspost: mytokyoblues.wordpress.com \n .. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg An Ember In The Ashes had a lot of hype earlier this year. I was hesitant to read it just because it would not live up to the hype like Red Queen or A Court Of Thorns And Roses. After reading the book, it was certainly entertaining, but still did not live up to the hype for me. It's not my favorite book of this year, but I do love how the book is set in ancient times. The book was really boring in the beginning, I considered dropping it. Once the trials were announced, that's when everything got exciting. All those trials were extremely harsh. If I had to pick a favorite one, it would be the one where the aspirants were fighting magical creatures. [?] e=e=(ng >pu<)6 [?] \n I actually enjoy the love square in this book. I really liked Elias and Laia together, but I hope their relationship develops more in the sequel. My favorite part had to be during the Moon festival, such a cute moment between those two. But, that's not my favorite couple, I actually like Laia with Keenan more because it felt that they had more chemistry with each other. I loved the love-hate relationship they had. Though I have a feeling my pairing might not be endgame. I also liked the Helene and Elias relationship, though it was super complex. I feel Helene balances out Elias more than Laia. I feel pity for Helene because Elias is her unrequited love, and its must be really tough for her to witness Elias falling for Laia. Helene tried to look after Elias, but Elias kept misunderstanding her actions and it was a bit frustrating. I still feel he has romantic feelings for Helene, still hoping that Elias-Helene are end game. (++th++) \n Helene was amazing. She was a badass with a magical singing ability that can heal people. My goodness, she was great. My favorite character from this book, I liked her more than the two protagonists. As much as I like Helene, I did feel she was too naive. She kept putting her trust in the Empire and the Augurs, instead of her own judgement. Helene's mission during the trials was to ensure Elias wins. She was willing to be used as a pawn in order for Elias to prevent his death. As noble as Helene is, she is also too ignorant and not compassionate towards Scholars. Because of this, Elias and Helene's friendship becomes complex than it was before. Another character that I felt was a bit similar to Helene, had to be Laia because Laia put her trust in the Resistance movement to save her brother without any hesitation, even though Mazen was super shady. Laia took on the mission of becoming a spy in the most dangerous location in that world, Commandant's house. Laia was used by Mazen, he was never going to free her brother, despite her mother being the Lioness, ex-leader of resistance movement. I really liked how by the end of the novel, Laia was able to become stronger. My second favorite character had to be Izzy. She was the friend that Laia needed, and I was glad that Laia was able to secure Izzy's freedom from slavery. I hope to see more of Izzy in the sequel. Also, I wish there were more parts with Keenan. l(tthYi tthl \n I just knew that Mazen was a traitor. [[ tsu deg [?] [?]? deg ]]tsu From the moment he was introduced, there was something about him that I did not trust. My intuition was right about him. Even when Laia learned that her own brother did not trust the Resistance, that confirmed my suspicions. I find the Commandant really interesting, and I want to know why she became heartless. I want to know her backstory. I really liked her as the villain. I really did not like her, and there was only one moment in the book where I did feel slight pity for her. After finishing the book, I was amazed by how much she knew. She ends up victorious because she uses the Resistance and she has an new Emperor who she can manipulate, this really makes me excited for A Torch Against The Night. \"( o)no \n There are so many unanswered questions! ( [?][?]@ h [?][?]@ ) First of all, who is Elia's father? Was the commandant raped by him or did he betray her? Then, there's also the matter of Cook. Did she end up being the traitor in the resistance that sold out Laia's parents? What did Laia's mother do to her to make resent her so much? I have the feeling that Laia's parents did not die, but are in hiding. Lastly, who is that female augur that was helpful to Laia? I just hope some of these questions will be answered in the next installment. I really hope there are more point of views in the sequel. Hopefully Helene has her own pov since she is now the current Blood Shrike. Would I recommend this series? Yes, even though it was boring in the beginning. Trust me, it gets better as you keep reading. .. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg", "date_added": "Mon Sep 21 22:22:11 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 14 05:11:35 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "20443235", "review_id": "9e7c13eaf53d0abec39d599102885742", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Crosspost: thereadingbelle.com \n It is really hard to say goodbye to a final book in a series. Ever since the cliffhanger of The Winner's Crime, I've been anticipating the release of The Winner's Kiss. I have not encountered any spoilers on Tumblr. Thank the Lord. This review will be spoiler free. \n What I love about The Winner's Trilogy is how each book gets exciting and stressful at the same time. Stressful, say what? You read correctly. Stressful. Arin and Kestrel have a complicated relationship. First of all, she is Valorian and Arin is Herrani. Those two cultures don't mix. He was a slave, and she was a society lady. Their love was never meant to happened. As much as I love those two, Kestrel and Arin went through a lot of misunderstanding and lying. Arin and Kestrel have one of the most epic love stories in Young Adult Literature. They don't have the perfect relationship, but they balance each other out. (This a spoiler for those who have not read started this series!) \n Now, what I loved about this book is how much it focused on Arin and Kestrel's relationship. I really did not know what to expect after that cliffhanger. I had my own theories on how the book was going to end, but I was proven wrong. For those who love the dynamic of the protagonist's relationship, you will love, love, love this book. Kestrel is one of my favorite YA heroines. She's not physically strong, but always uses her intelligence to gain the upper hand. Though this book does demonstrate how much Kestrel has grown mentally and physically. As for the writing, it was phenomenal as always. I love the way Marie writes. \n This book was nearly perfect. I would have loved for more screen time for certain characters. The secondary characters were amazing in The Winner's Crime. There's a lot more of Roshar in this book than anyone else. He had many great lines throughout this book. Also, the bromance was top notch. Other than that, certain parts did feel a little dragged out, and I'm not talking about the war. Despite those flaws, the ending of this book was beautiful. \n Final Rating: [?][?][?][?]", "date_added": "Mon Sep 21 16:03:57 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu May 26 00:12:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu May 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "21469060", "review_id": "12d9b3eb978d47c45e9b28d45822adde", "rating": 4, "review_text": ".. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg Crosspost: mytokyoblues.wordpress.com \n I really enjoyed the first book so much, but I found the second book in this series to be a bit more frustrating than the first one because of all of the miscommunication!! Don't get me wrong, I don't hate the book, but it was an emotional roller coaster ride for me when I was reading. I found it stressful because so many things were happening! The Winner's Crime focuses more on politics rather than romance. ([?]<[?]) \n What I really enjoyed about this book was how the drama was built up. I didn't know what to expect from this book! Kestrel was so out of her element. She was still the intelligent, cunning strategist from the first book, but she did not have the upper hand. No matter what she was doing, it felt that the Emperor was always ahead of her. Kestrel tried to do what was best for her and Arin by distancing herself. She tried to be indifferent even though she still loved him. She believed it was best for Arin not to know that she was helping him. She didn't have allies with her, not even Verex. Kestrel suffered a lot more in this book than the first one. Jess, her best friend, did not want to associate herself with Kestrel. Jess was resentful and hateful towards Kestrel even though Kestrel saved her in the first book. Then there's the constant abuse she endures because of the Emperor. Lastly, her father turning her in to the Emperor. That part crushed me the most. Kestrel adores and loves her father, but I just knew he would pick Valoria over Kestrel even if she is his only family. Right in the feels. 0*deg(/16></16)deg*0 \n I wanted to slap Arin. I was so frustrated with him. He always kept coming at the wrong time! Why couldn't he try to meet Kestrel in secret? Why did he always have to show up in the worst place possible? So many problems could have been avoided if Kestrel and Arin communicated with each other and teamed up. Arin was focused on building alliances with the Eastern people in order to stop the tyranny of the emperor. Then that kiss scene with the queen! Nope, nope nope. I do not like that pairing at all! (+*D*) + Shan +-+ \n I thought that Prince Verex was going to become Arin's rival. I assumed a love triangle was going to be formed. That did not happened, instead Verex was more of a friend to Kestrel than anything else. Even though his role was small, I really liked Verex. He was in the same position as Kestrel was. He was forced into a marriage like Kestrel, and loves another. He is far more compassionate and kind than his father. I really hopes he inherits the kingdom and marries Risha. Hoping Princess Risha is the one to get rid of the emperor. (((7jjop *D* )7*)) ty s \n The ending broke my heart! The cliffhanger. I wasn't ready for it. It was good and I just can't believe that happened. Why didn't Tensen give Arin the letter?! ltthYi tth)l That would have cleared so many things! He would have known the truth! It just upsets me that Arin doesn't know that Kestrel is going to a labor camp. I don't think it's possible that this series will end on a happy note. Praying it's not a tragedy. I hate the emperor. I really hope he gets what he deserves in the end. I am excited to see how the upcoming war will unfold. I just want the book now! [?](-{-[?]) .. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg", "date_added": "Mon Sep 14 16:07:41 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 14 05:15:21 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "11826751", "review_id": "52f3034a7d12314a60ff51bce2b41fa9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Crosspost: mytokyoblues.wordpress.com \n .. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg A fantastic reimagining of Cinderella. Suzume has gone through many hardships at such a young age. The death of her father and cousin haunt her. She is forced to live with her stepfather, Terayama, and mother, Yukiko. In this story, there are no wicked stepsisters and the Shadow Ball is not a charming escape to a better life. This story is about revenge, love, and magic. \n Suzume, I loved her! She is content with being plain looking. She had to endure so much pain. Her mother was very submissive and loyal to Terayama. Suzume couldn't talk to anyone about her feelings and resorted to cutting herself in order to cope. She has a gift of shadow weaving, she is very talented with her gift, but she was never aware of her powers. She is very determined, angsty, and stubborn. When she makes a plan, she wants to see it happen. She doesn't believe she deserves happiness and believes that the only way to atone for her sins is to avenge her fallen family. Though Suzume has to change her identity several times, she knew how to adapt and stay strong in order to survive. >=o<= \n Otieno, is Suzume's love interest. From the moment he saw her, he knew that she was \"the one\". He is not the prince, instead, he is close allies to the Moon Prince. He is also a talented shadow weaver. He became involved in Suzume's life when Terayama almost tried to kill her in order to get Otieno and his family's attention. He is Suzume's opposite, whereas Suzume believes she does not deserve love, he does. He is optimistic about their future and may I say, he has a lot of patience with her. Though Suzume tries to avoid him, he always finds a way to be with her. Lastly, biracial couple. Yassss!!! 9(*[?]*1) \n The magical fairy of this story would be Akira. Akira was the former Shadow Bride, who meets Suzume in jail. I really loved Akira, she was my favorite character. She was sassy and lovely. She was a legend among young children since the typical Shadow Bride isn't a courtesan. I really loved her relationship with Suzume. I thought it was so cute how the two of them decided to stay sisters. \n (*d*) Lord Terayama was my least favorite character. He got what he deserved in the end. I liked how the author gave him a backstory. He wasn't just some random background character that her mother remarries. He plays a crucial role in Suzume becoming a revenge fueled girl. But Suzume's mother, I was disappointed with the most. She tells her daughter that she loves her, but would rather listen to what her new husband says. She feels threaten when the attention is not on her. There were moments that showed how motherly she was, but most of the time, she wants to move on and forget all about the past. She never protects Suzume, ever. If I could describe her in one word it would be coward. \n The Moon Prince isn't the love interest, one would think since this is a Cinderella retelling. The Shadow Ball isn't the dreamy party of the year. In fact, the Shadow Ball is an event for one girl to become the prince's Shadow Bride. The winner of the Shadow Ball is to be with the prince, but could never marry for the rest of her life. I loved the world that the author created. It would have been cool if the author went into more detail about the moon kingdom. After reading the final chapter, I wanted more. I wanted to know the fate of Suzume and Otieno. But for now, I'll just imagine that they got their happily ever after. +(*b*)w \n Shadows On the Moon did remind me of Cinder by Marissa Meyer. I would recommend this story to fans of the Lunar Chronicles and pretty much anyone who loves a good revenge story. It's a standalone book too. There are no frustrating love triangles!!! \n Final Rating: (4.25) .. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg", "date_added": "Thu Sep 10 10:28:51 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 14 13:26:29 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Sep 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "23437156", "review_id": "65eabdd9e9f33f8c46fe0470fc71cecb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Crosspost: TheReadingBelle.com \n .. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg I understand the hype for Six of Crows and this book did not disappoint! I've had some problems with overhyped books this year, what I appreciated about this book was that my expectations were met. Thank goodness. I really enjoyed Leigh Bardugo's Grisha Trilogy and I am such a fan of the world that she has created. When I heard about Six Of Crows coming out, I preordered it right away! I had a feeling that it was going to be a good book and I was right. [?][?][?](e+10+e1)[?][?][?] \n This story has six main characters, but there are only five points of view since Wylan doesn't get his own chapters. Besides that, each character I thought was amazing. They are misfits and not the typical heroes you would root for. \n \"They'd come to the Ice Court scurrying like rats. Live or die, they were going out like an army.\" \n You want them to successfully pull of the heist. They all have their own reasons for joining the crew and they aren't necessarily friends at first. They are supposed to rescue a scientist in order to get paid. Even though Kaz carefully plans out their mission, things do go wrong. It was really exciting reading all the action packed scenes. I was kept at the edge of my seat. I felt the book was at it's strongest when the crew finally managed go to their destination. \n I found this book to be much darker than the Grisha trilogy, since this book did include topics of slavery, prostitution, and annihilation of the Grisha, even though the story mainly focuses on the heist. I did like how this book included references to the Grisha trilogy such as King Nikolai. *swoons* _ \n Though there were multiple points of view, I did not confuse each of the characters because they were all unique and their backstories are great. The heroines are kickass, strong, and powerful. There are no love triangles. That's right, no love triangles! Yay! I did feel that each character had a sad backstory. \n There is Kaz, the mastermind and leader of the group. His backstory was really sad and he does grow on you. He can be at times heartless and brutal. This is the best description of Kaz: \n \"He's horrible.\" \n \"But effective. Being angry at Kaz for being ruthless is like being angry at a stove for being hot.\" \n Inej is practically a ninja and cunning. Kaz trusts her more than anyone in the crew. She is fierce and amazing. She and Nina are an amazing duo and serious friendship goals. =(**>s<)** \n \"She was not a lynx or a spider or even the Wraith. She was Inej Ghafa, and her future was waiting above.\" \n Wylan is a genius that comes from a privilege background. He really surprised me because I thought he was going to be the weakest of the group, but he proved me wrong. \n Nina is a Grisha who is loud and flirtatious. I love how snarky she can be as well, but overall she is such a great friend. She is willing to sacrifice her life for the ones she loves. She is my favorite character. \n Jesper is the comedic relief of the story. He is charming and sometimes is the voice of reason when the others fight. There is more to him than being a sharp shooter. \n Matthias is an ex-soldier who is often grumpy and hates the Grisha due to his upbringing. But despite that, he is strong and lovable. He and Nina are a perfect balance. \n The three couples were great as well, even though they don't really get together. Keep in mind that this isn't a romance driven book. My favorite pairing is Nina and Matthias. They had such romantic tension and it is also a forbidden love. Nina is a Grisha and Matthias is a soldier who kills the Grisha. I really like them together. They have gone through so much before joining the heist. I like how the two of them grow closer because of the heist. They are just cute together. 2( * )7 \n \"Oh, I see. I'm the wicked Grisha seductress. I have beguiled you with my Grisha wiles!\" \n She poked him in the chest. \n \"Stop that.\" \n \"No. I'm beguiling you.\" \n I occasionally did get bored of reading the story because it felt that not much happened during the first half. Once you get to the second half, the story becomes far more interesting. I wasn't expecting two plot twists! I can't believe that it ended on a cliffhanger, but I am really excited for the second book in the series. I really recommend this book. You don't really have to read the Grisha series to start this book, but I do recommend reading it because it is a great series as well! ((*><)( \n Quotes: \n \"Many boys will bring you flowers. But someday you'll meet a boy who will learn your favorite flower, your favorite song, your favorite sweet. And even if he is too poor to give you any of them, it won't matter because he will have taken the time to know you as no one else does. Only that boy earns you heart.\" \n \"When everyone knows you're a monster, you needn't waste time doing every monstrous thing.\" \n \"He needed to tell her...what? That she was lovely and brave and better than anything he deserved. That he was twisted, crooked, wrong, but not so broken that he couldn't pull himself together into some semblance of a man for her. That without meaning to, he'd begun to lean on her, to look for her, to need her near. He needed to thank her for his new hat.\" \n \"I can hear the change in Kaz's breathing when he looks at you.\" \n \"You... you can?\" \n \"It catches every time, like he's never seen you before.\" \n \"She had her aim now, her heart had direction, and though it hurt to know the path led away from him, she could endure it.\" \n \"I want you to stay. I want you to ... I want you.\" \"You want me.\" She turned the words over. Gently, she squeezed his hand. \"And how will you have me, Kaz?\" He looked at her then, eyes fierce, mouth set. It was the face he wore when he was fighting. \"How will you have me?\" she repeated. \"Fully clothed, gloves on, your head turned away so our lips can never touch?\"<...>\"I will have you without armour, Kaz Brekker. Or I will not have you at all.\" \n \"They fear as I once feared you,\" he said. \"As you once feared me. We are all someone's monster, Nina\" \n Final Rating:[?][?][?][?] (4.5) .. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg", "date_added": "Wed Sep 09 09:29:03 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 01 22:05:36 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Nov 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Nov 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "18584855", "review_id": "36a176ddc60af208c8719bed5d0b9119", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I need this book. I can't wait to preorder it!!", "date_added": "Tue Sep 08 00:42:35 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 28 19:18:22 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Mon Nov 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "16069030", "review_id": "c5e5920c71a0a7acf83d46acadba547c", "rating": 5, "review_text": ".. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*degCrosspost: mytokyoblues.wordpress.com .. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg \n Commentary Oh my gosh! This book was so good! There is so much I want to discuss! First of all, this book is very political and complex. The book starts off several years after the Herran War. The Valorians were the winners of the war and forced the Herrani into slavery. \n Kestrel Trajan, what a character. She isn't your typical fighter, she's a strategist. She is cunning, smart, manipulative, and caring. She is the General's daughter and is constantly pressured into joining the military for her skills. Her father sees how much good she can bring to the empire if she joins. One of my favorite scenes, had to be when Kestrel won her duel against Irex when she blackmailed him, even though he was far more superior when it came to fighting. Kestrel doesn't want to be in the military, she wants her own independence. She is far more compassionate towards the slaves compared to any other Valorians. \n Arin, is a slave and spy. He is just as intelligent as Kestrel. He works under Cheat, the leader of the Herran Revolution. He and Kestrel have a complicated relationship. They think they know what is best for each other. It did feel that both of them kept playing a game to get the upper hand in their relationship. What I really appreciate about this story is that both protagonists don't instantly fall in love with each other. Their love slowly grows and I love the theme of forbidden love so much. I loved how much he tried protecting Kestrel. He protected her from taking the poison, he protected her from Cheat's advances, and he protected her from becoming a slave. Secondly, I loved the two alternating pov. (6ggeyrroxggey )6yh \n Praise the Lord! No love triangles! Sorry Ronan! Kestrel and Arin are perfect for each other. Ronan tries really hard to gain her affections, but she always ignores him and falls for Arin instead. 1| -) - |7 \n I did not like Cheat at all. He was corrupt and creepy. I, for one, am glad that he is dead. Man, he was definitely my least like character next to Irex. \n Kestrel and Arin have conflicting ideals, and they have to overcome their issues. Arin wants his people to become a nation, while Kestrel doesn't want any more deaths for both sides. While reading, I felt sad for the people who suffered on both sides. I was rooting for the rebels to take back their lands. I was not that ending of the book! It was so good!!! I was shocked that the she was forced into a loveless marriage, just so the Arin and his people would have their independence, but at a price. I am really excited to see what's in store for the second book cause I am hooked!! +(*o*)+", "date_added": "Fri Sep 04 23:42:04 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 09 12:04:29 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "13206900", "review_id": "14c3c3d4be2d3def403a691901168a6c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Crosspost: thereadingbelle.com \n I have been looking forward to reading Winter ever since I finished Cress last year. Winter has been on my tbr list for a very long time. When I got the book, I immediately wanted it read it, but I had other books I had to read first. It has been the longest book that I have read for this year!!! [?] e=e=(ng >pu<)6 [?] \n I really found the last book to be really amazing. The series got better with each book. I liked Cinder, Scarlet was better, Cress was amazing, and Winter was epic. I really can't believe that the adventure is finally over. (*[){ [)*) \n As I mentioned, this book is massive and there are so many things that were happening in this book. Honestly, I felt that this book should have been a bit longer just because I felt some of the characters did not have enough screen time. For example, I felt that Winter did not have enough time as the other characters. She is one of the most complex heroines. She refuses to use her lunar gift, but she is mentally ill because of it. I really liked how Marissa Meyer handled her character. Winter was really precious. I loved her friendship with Scarlet, since at first Scarlet didn't trust her, but eventually their friendship grows. \n \"Winter tilted her head in Scarlet's direction. A spiral of black hair fell across her cheek, obstructing her scars. \"What did you bring me today?\" Scarlet asked. \"Delusional mutterings with a side of crazy? Or is this one of your good days?\" \n What I loved was how all the characters are based on fairy tales. I liked how Meyer gave the Snow White story a twist. Though I wish Winter and Jacin had more of a backstory. Secondly, this book had many comedic moments! +([?]+) \n Thorne scoffed. \"Careful is my middle name. Right after Suave and Daring.\" \n \"Do you even know what you're saying half the time?\" asked Cinder. \n Oh how I am going to miss Thorne so much. \n \"Thorne's voice pitched high in imitation of the queen. \"The impostor of my beloved niece is vanquished ... Let us put this messiness behind us while we go forward with the coronations ... I am a psychotic, power-hungry nut basket and my breath smells really bad under this veil.\" \n It was a good balance with the drama that was happening. I did like the bromance between Kai and Thorne. \n Other than that, Levana is still evil and just as crazy. There were moments where I was feeling pity towards her, but Levana is not redeemable at all. I won't spoil anything because you have to read this book. It's dramatic and action packed, and it made me teary eye by the end of the book. I will really miss these characters. I will miss their adventures. I will truly miss The Lunar Chronicles. At least Stars Above is coming out next year! Can't wait for the epilogue! 2( * )7 \n My favorite pairings: \n Cinder and Kai - Loved this couple from the beginning of the series. Of course, they would be my top pairing. Kai and Cinder sacrifice so much for each other, and I was glad that they have a happily ever after. \n Cress and Thorne - I would have loved it even more if they had more moments together. They have the funniest moments, and they are one of the cutest pairings. \n Scarlet and Wolf - I love this couple, they have many great moments in the last book. They have been through so much in this book. \n Winter and Jacin - They have loved each other since they were young and they are childhood friends. I would have wished for more moments between Jacin and Winter. I felt they were a bit under developed compared to the other pairings, but they did have their cute moments. \n Quotes: \n \"A kiss from the Captain would probably melt my central processor.\" \n Thorne winked at her. \"Oh trust me. It would.\" \n \"Help me. Fight for me. And I will be the first ruler in the history of Luna who will also fight for you.\" \n \"I can't believe this is happening. I can't fight like this, or start a revolution, or be a queen. I can't do anything like this. I'm broken. I'm literally broken.\" Iko settled a hand on Cinder's shoulder. \"Yeah, but broken isn't the same as unfixable.\" \n Final Rating: [?][?][?][?][?] .. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg", "date_added": "Thu Aug 27 09:35:13 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 16 08:07:46 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "23308084", "review_id": "85d0f318973a201e97a7058e75261a69", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Crosspost: TheReadingBelle.com \n The Rose & The Dagger has been very hyped up since last year, and I was one of the fans that was highly anticipating the conclusion to The Wrath & The Dawn. The hype did not kill my reading experience at all, in fact I was really excited when I was reading it. The Wrath & The Dawn duology is absolutely perfect. There were hardly any flaws in both books, and I am so glad that it was just two books. \n I've noticed that most readers complained that the beginning of the story started off slowly, but that was not the case for me. The story was good from beginning to end. This book had several things going for it. The curse, and the upcoming war played a huge part in this book. I was stressed when I was reading the book. More than usual. And the stress wasn't unnecessarily bad, it just made the reading experience much more fun. I was emotionally invested, and I love being transported into the world. \n Now, moving on to the characters. I love Shahrzad, she is terrific and just as feisty in this book. Her character was consistent throughout the book, and she did get some character development. Shahrzad may not be physically strong, but when you mess with her, she fights like a lioness. I found her interactions with Khalid to be hilarious, especially concerning her temper. As for Khalid, he was wonderful. I really can't imagine anyone else for Shahrzad, besides him. Also, how can you not like him? \n \"Two stubborn lovers, protecting each other from the very same threat.\" \n As for the supporting characters, I grew to love Irsa (Shahrzad's younger sister). I loved the sister dynamic. Shahrzad is fighter and loud, while Irsa is docile and meek. I love the way how Irsa would compare herself as a meek mouse. I can completely relate with Irsa. I was glad that she got a lot of screen time in the book, and I especially love the growth she goes through. She even stands up to Khalid, even though she is completely terrified of talking back to royalty. Irsa's story had me in tears. (That was probably the only time that I cried during reading TRATD) \n I was a bit disappointed that Despina and Jalal were not as involved with the story. I really wanted more moments between Despina and Jalal. I have to say that Despina's family history is revealed, and I was not expecting it, and what a twist. That's one of my minor complaints from the book since I loved them in the first book. Lastly, I loved how much girl power this book had. I don't really want to spoil this book, because it is one of my top books for this year. \n Renee Ahdieh has a beautiful writing style, and she's been one of my favorite authors since last year. If you find yourself having a reading slump, then I would highly suggest reading this series. Honestly, the first book was the one to save me from my reading slump and it has a special place in my heart. \n Quotes: \n \"It was because they were two parts of a whole. He did not belong to her. And she did not belong to him. It was never about belonging to someone. It was about belonging together.\" \n \"I've missed the silence of you listening to me.\" Shahrzad attempted a weak smile. \"No one listens to me as you do.\" His expression turned quizzical. \"You don't wait to speak,\" she clarified. \"You truly listen.\" \"Only to you,\" Khalid replied gently.\" \n \"For nothing, not the sun, not the rain, not even the brightest star in the darkest sky, could begin to compare to the wonder of you. Khalid\" \n Final Rating:[?][?][?][?][?]", "date_added": "Sun Jul 26 00:45:47 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 29 19:48:31 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "18798983", "review_id": "038fe25f6f89e382f37dd75b697ccc3e", "rating": 5, "review_text": ".. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg Crosspost: mytokyoblues.wordpress.com \n I've been in a reading slump for quite a while, I've been mostly playing on my 3DS since my pharmacy externship ended. I tried reading books to get rid of my slump, but most of the books I've read were amazing. I started reading The Wrath And The Dawn because I saw a read along on Tumblr and was excited to join it. Guess who doesn't have a slump anymore?! This book was amazing! I was hooked from start to finish. I was not disappointed by it at all. The main character, Shahrzad is badass, sassy, cunning, and intelligent. Because of her storytelling skills, she has been the only bride that has not been executed. She was determined to find out the truth, no matter what. I loved how she had a conflicted heart when she starting falling for Khalid since he had killed her best friend. Overall, I loved the romance aspect of this book, it was well written. I loved the dynamic in her relationship with Khalid. He kept calling her 'his queen' and didn't treat her like an object. I ship her Khalid, so badly. Forget Tariq. There were many cute moments in the book, my favorite one had to be when they went out to the town as regular citizens. Shazi and Khalid are perfect for each other. Khalid is very likable and he's such a nice guy. He's not the monster that everyone makes him out to be. You can't always judge a book by its cover especially when it comes to Khalid. It broke my heart when Shazi discovered the letters to the parents of his dead brides. Tariq is a bit foolish. He doesn't have Shazi's best interest in mind, while Khalid does. Tariq thinks he really knows Shazi and thinks that she is suffering from Stockholm syndrome since she protects Khalid. I just thought that was hilarious how he thought had to justify Shazi's change of heart. Pobrecito. I'm so glad that Shazi wasn't too conflicted about both boys, you know she loves Khalid more than Tariq. By the time I got to the end, I was a bit mad that Shazi left with Tariq. I'm Team Khalid all the way. (1*b*)w \n The secondary characters were just as great as the protagonists. I'm really hoping that Jalal and Despina get together for the second book. I just really loved how Jalal and Despina both shipped Khalid and Shazi together. They were supportive and really great friends to the main characters. Hoping they get more developed in the next book. \n 'm hoping that in the second book, The Rose And The Dagger, is more magical than this one. I really don't like Shazi's father. I feel that he is becoming greedy with his magical powers and I don't trust him at all. I feel that he will cause more harm towards the protagonists. Also, I hope that Shazi's powers get fully explained! Lastly, The Rose And The Dagger is already on my to be read list on Goodreads. Kudos for the author for including a preview for the next book and for including a glossary. (6**)6 \n I had lots of fun reading this book. I really recommend this book. It's diverse, magical, and it's a fairy tale adaptation. \n Final Rating: 5 out of 5 *.9(/thu\\*)w*. .. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg", "date_added": "Thu Jul 23 00:26:45 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 27 00:29:50 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "23667777", "review_id": "d7bd421cfa558283b574b0b4e1c757ee", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Crosspost: mytokyoblues.wordpress.com \n Commentary I was beyond excited when I read the synopsis, it was unique, it had Hispanic protagonists and dealt the Aztecs and Mayans! The cover is absolutely gorgeous! The story is told in two perspectives, Lucas (Mulac) and Zara. Like I mentioned before, I was excited to read it, until I actually started reading it. I wasn't a fan of Luca's perspective, I found him to a be a tad too possessive over Zara. He reminded me of Edward Cullen. He's immortal and about 500ish years old, and he has been waiting for Zara since the prophecy has been told. He and his family are watchers. Every 52 years, sacrifices are chosen, but once he meets Zara, he cannot let her die. Lucas vows to protect her despite going against the Gods. Honestly, I wanted to skip his parts, and move on, but I didn't...ughs. On the other hand, Zara's perspective was better than Lucas, but not by a lot. I did feel that the book was dragged out a bit too much. I didn't like the relationship between both protagonists either. Zara would get too angry at him and he would smirk a lot. Also, I didn't like how Lucas kept calling Zara weak, and instead of Zara telling him otherwise, she also kept saying that she was weak herself. Luckily there was no love triangle in this book. I looked forward mostly to the actions scenes, but they were a tad too boring. I kept wanting to drop this book. I really thought it had an interesting concept, but it was too descriptive for me. Another problem that I had is that there will be more books in this series...it would have been better as a stand alone book rather than a series to be honest. I thought she was going to become an immortal like Lucas, but that didn't happen. The ending was a disappointing. It ends with a kiss on a New Years party. In addition, the book really felt dragged out longer than it should have. Will I read the next book in the series when it comes out? No. Do I recommend this book? Not really. \n Final Rating 2.5", "date_added": "Tue Mar 24 20:00:07 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 13 21:53:20 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Mar 24 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "14061955", "review_id": "61363076e288667ed6d6caa012a188a4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it better than the first book! Thank goodness it didn't suffer from second book syndrome!", "date_added": "Thu Mar 19 13:44:02 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 25 12:38:46 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Mar 25 12:38:46 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Mar 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "16096824", "review_id": "acc9eccf058fe98376c6a30e2a13c1fa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Crosspost: thereadingbelle.com \n I really felt the book was a bit overrated, it wasn't necessarily bad nor my favorite. I kept seeing so much love for this book. I really tried to love it, but I felt it was okay. \n It's a fairy tale retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Tamlin was the hot fairy who can turn into a wolf That was my problem with the book. Sure Tamlin was cursed, but he was handsome, and not a beast. (Yi . Yi ;;) \n The book was a bit boring during the first half. It felt more like a Cinderella story because Feyre had to do everything for her family and her sisters were very ungrateful, especially Nesta. I really felt sorry for the protagonist because without her, her family would have died. I just hated how her family didn't appreciate Feyre risking her life in the woods. Anyways, she kills a wolf who happens to be a faerie and is forced to live with the fae due to the Treaty between faeries and humans. The action scenes were amazing. \n The first half of the book, I did not like and then, when I got to the second half, that's when everything became exciting. There was a reason why the Spring Court had masks on their face. There was a reason why Tamlin tried so hard to make Feyre fall in love with him. Feyre risked her life to save Tamlin and the Spring Court by going through three difficult trials and the ending didn't end in a cliffhanger. It ended on a happier note. \n I really hated Amarantha. What a villain. She seemed unstoppable too, and made life worse for Tamlin and Feyre. I loved that Feyre was ready to fight and prove her love was real. I really liked Tamlin and Lucien, they were great characters. I really like Tamlin and Feyre together, they had chemistry. Overall, those two are perfect together. There were some steamy scenes as well that made me blush. Tamlin did all he could to keep Feyre safe. I was satisfied with them, but I also feel that Rhysand and Feyre have chemistry as well. I didn't like Rhysand at first, near the end I loved him. He's sassy and manipulative, and overall awesome. I felt he was more of the beast than Tamlin. I can't wait to see what happens in the second book. Although, I would have preferred it being a stand alone, there is still much more the author can write about. Lastly, I wonder what kind of power Feyre now has since she is a faerie. (>bL< *) \n Would I recommend this book? It's hard to say. It was only entertaining near the ending. Would you continue reading the series? Yes. \n Final Rating: [?][?][?](3.5) .. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg.. .:*deg", "date_added": "Sun Mar 08 10:05:02 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 03 12:03:40 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jul 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "13643567", "review_id": "360f7568bcae30dd4cb3905619cc3f5c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Crosspost: mytokyoblues.wordpress.com \n \"Everyone is a little crazy. The only difference between us and them is that they hide it better.\" \n Hello readers, I just finished the second book to the Mara Dyer trilogy. I really had low expectations of the book, but I was wrong about this book. I am currently reading the Retribution of Mara Dyer and I will post my review of the last book once I finish reading! \n Cover: Lovely cover! \n Goodreads Synposis: \n Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past. \n She can't. \n She used to think her problems were all in her head. \n They aren't. \n She couldn't imagine that after everything she's been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets. \n She's wrong. \n In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next? \n Characters: \n Mara: I really like Mara. I felt bad for her in this book. She kept trying to get better and pass off as \"normal\", you could really tell that she loves her family. It was heartbreaking to know that she was seen as psychotic and broken, even though it's revealed to the readers that she's not. She was stronger in this book than the first book. Though Jude kept torturing her throughout the novel, she managed to overcome many obstacles. It was heartbreaking reading about her struggle to overcome her past demon. I still love Mara's family. They are really supportive of her and try to do what is best for her, even though they don't know she's different from them. I did like how the author had two Maras in the book, one being the protagonist, and the other being her grandma who happened to have the same power as her. I hope more of her grandmother's past gets revealed in the final book. \n Noah: I grew to love Noah in the second book, and he didn't come out as too over the top for me in this novel. He really loves Mara and tries to help her whatever way he can. I felt really bad for Noah whenever he blamed himself when Mara got hurt. If Noah weren't there for Mara, I don't think that she would be strong enough to overcome her guilt and remorse. I did enjoy the moments he and Mara shared; they definitely grew stronger as a couple. In the first book, he really annoyed me and I couldn't stand his character, but now, this book changed my perspective of Noah. Before reading the second book, I had low expectations for Noah and I was wrong. Lastly, Noah can't be dead. He just can't. I just have to wait for the last book to know what happens! This is my favorite Noah Shaw quote (I can't believe I actually have one): \"If I were to live a thousand years, I would belong to you for all of them. If we were to live a thousand lives, I would want to make you mine in each one.\" \n Jude: There is only way I can describe Jude, he's just insane. He was creepy throughout the novel. He kept trying to make Mara seem insane and kept haunting her. I really did not like Jude. He kept trying to avenge his sister, even though it was impossible. I had a feeling that he had a power like Noah and Mara. He was terrible, but he was a pawn and was being used. I still don't feel sorry for him, because he made Mara suffer mentally and physically. I didn't like that he lied and used Phoebe as a pawn in his revenge plan, but then again, I didn't like Phoebe. \n Dr. Kells: I knew something was off about her. I did not see that twist coming at all. I thought she was a bit creepy, but I did not expect her to know that Jude was alive nor aid him in capturing Mara. Secondly, I can't believe that she lied about the program to Mara and her parents. The twist really threw me off, but it made the second book so much better. I like her as the villain and I can't wait for the final installment. \n Why I liked it: Yes, this book was over the top, but it still had its elements of surprise and creepiness. Mara tried to be normal and things were looking up for her. Her family was starting to not worry as much for her, but the events that took place didn't allow for that. I did like that part of the book where Mara gets her fortune told and I do believe what the fortune teller told her was true: \"You will love him to ruins.\" Secondly, I loved the doll and the background story. It made this book super interesting. I wanted to know why Mara's grandma and Noah's mother had matching pendants. I hope I could get answers to how those two are connected. Then there's Abel Lukumi, how did he know what hospital Mara was at? Was he a hallucination? (I doubt it, but I hope he returns in the final book). I had a feeling Stella was going to be unique, but I was surprised when reading that Jamie also carried the same gene as the others. I want to know Jamie and Stella's power. Lastly, I can't wait to read the last book. \n My final rating is 4 stars out of 5. :)", "date_added": "Fri Nov 28 23:32:52 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 29 22:50:48 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Nov 28 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "7728889", "review_id": "ecf6b0464a09b15c329016b9f117c5ae", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Crosspost: mytokyoblues.wordpress.com \n Hello world. I recently read The Diviners by Libba Bray. I kept seeing this book on my tumblr dashboard and booktube. I had to know what the big fuss was about. I got my copy on thriftbooks and I had no idea it was an autographed copy! That's legit. \n Cover: It's beautiful. I love how it's beautifully designed to look like the sun. \n Characters: At first, I thought Evie O'Neill was really annoying in the beginning. She was a party girl, but later matures a bit and realizes she has to change her ways. As I kept reading, I grew to love her character. She is feisty and flirtatious, but overall a caring and helpful person. I loved her character development and I can't wait for the sequel. Then there's Sam, the thief, I wanted a romance to bud between him and Evie. I felt that they had cute moments and that they were more compatible than Evie and Jericho...I have nothing against Jericho, I liked him, but I would have wanted him with someone else...My favorite characters had to be Theta and Memphis. I love them together, the forbidden love. I really hope that they have a bigger part in the next book and that we learn more about their powers. John Hobbes, the villain, was scary. I did get a bit scared when I was reading about his killings. It gave me goosebumps. \n Plot: The book is set in the late 1920s before the Great Depression. It does take a while to get used to the lingo, but I love how the author described the overall setting of the story such as bootleggers and flappers. Evie moves to Manhattan after causing trouble in her hometown in Ohio. She is sent to live with her uncle Will who runs The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult. There are weird murders happening in the city, and Evie teams up with Will and Jericho (her uncle's assistant) in order to solve the brutal murders. I don't want to spoil too much because it is a great book! \n What I liked: The Cult of the Brethren! I liked the craziness of the radical religion. It was refreshing. I enjoyed John Hobbes and his sacrificial murders. I was on the edge of my seat when reading. I also enjoyed how each character was important even though they had short roles. I thought Evie, Memphis, and Theta were going to team up, but it's okay that didn't happen. The ending was a bit crazy. I had no idea that Sam was connected to Will! That second book should come out soon! \n What I disliked: The love triangle...Evie was focus on trying to solve the case and using her powers, but out of nowhere she starts developing feelings for Jericho. My heart broke a little...I was really rooting for Sam. Evie's relationship with Jericho did feel a little bit rushed. I also wanted the other characters to have a bigger role, but let's be hopeful for the next book! Lastly, I wanted answers to the next threat. It kept building up suspense for the second book! \n I had a lot of fun reading The Diviners. My final score is a 4 out of 5. :D", "date_added": "Wed Nov 12 19:17:55 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 19 07:52:07 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Nov 12 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "11408650", "review_id": "2aa4f55e6645186205bb9a7e26d0bdb2", "rating": 2, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Crosspost: mytokyoblues.wordpress.com \n My name is not Mara Dyer, but my lawyer told me I had to choose something. A pseudonym. A nom de plume, for all of us studying for the SATs. I know that having a fake name is strange, but trust me --it's the most normal thing about my life right now.\" \n I really expected this book to be thrilling, fantastic, and amazing. Many people have praised The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, but I felt it was overhyped in my opinion. I don't hate the book, but even though it is the first book, I will continue to read the series just so I can find out more about Mara's powers and if there are others like her. Hopefully the other two books are better, I'm crossing my fingers that they are. Lastly, I appreciated that there was no love triangle in this book! ^^ \n The Cover: It has to be one of my favorites. \n Goodreads synopsis: \n Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. \n It can. \n She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed. \n There is. \n She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love. \n She's wrong. \n The plot really interested me. It was very psychological. I had to reread many chapters over again because at times I couldn't tell reality from her \"hallucinations\". \n Characters: \n Noah Shaw: He was too perfect, and that's the problem I had with him. First of all he's incredibly rich, knows six languages, he's a heartthrob, and a bad boy, not to mention British...like I said earlier, too perfect. I started to like him near the ending of the book, when he finally revealed to Mara that he has powers to heal. \n Mara Dyer: I wish I knew her real name instead of the alias, but oh well. I liked her. I really felt sorry for her and the traumatic events that happened to her. Her life was turned upside down because of her power to kill people. She had no idea that she was the one to cause the accident of her friends and her ex-boyfriend. And I don't blame her for the accident either, after it was revealed that her ex-boyfriend, Jude, tried to rape her. I am excited to continue to read the series just to find out if she can control her power in the other books. Mara's family was lovable; they really tried to help her out throughout the book. It was heartbreaking to read that she tried to be \"normal\" in front of her family and peers. \n Jude: I was lost for words when Mara saw him in the police station near the end of the book...he's alive! And I'm guessing that he has powers like Mara and Noah too. \n Why I disliked it: For some reason, this book reminded me of a Spanish telenovela. There were some moments in the book that were too over the top for me. For example, Jamie explaining to Mara the reason why he dislikes Noah is because Noah slept with his sister for revenge just because Jamie was falling for Katie (Noah's sister). Then Mara asks Noah if what Jamie told her is true, which it is, and then Mara accepts Noah and moves on...ughs. I felt that Mara fell in love with Noah too quickly. I would have liked to see their relationship slowly developed, but that did not happen. I found Noah to be too aggressive and dominant over Mara. Most of the time I was shaking my head when reading this book, and other times, I would stop reading and ask myself \"What am I reading?\" It was not as fun as I thought it would be, but it's the first book in the series. It can get better! \n My rating is a 2.5 out 5 stars.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 03 20:38:07 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 24 19:45:04 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Nov 24 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "13206828", "review_id": "243bf33c45295971529ea36f499bf8b9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was the best book in the series!!! Review will come soon. :D", "date_added": "Sat Sep 27 09:09:45 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 05 12:02:04 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Oct 05 12:02:04 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "13206760", "review_id": "7cdf93f66713dcb20685a99a5a93d11a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It was amazing!!! I'll post my review soon! :D", "date_added": "Wed Aug 27 19:49:20 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 27 09:09:28 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Sep 27 09:09:28 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "3949d64a069f16d1bfcf674747541450", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Crosspost: mytokyoblues.wordpress.com \n I kept seeing this book series whenever I was looking for a new series to start. The cover looked amazing and it convinced me to start the series. I knew it was going to be a Cinderella retelling, but I had no idea what it was going to be about. I just finished the book and it was great. This review will have a bit of spoilers so be warn! \n Cover: I love the cover! \n Characters: My favorite character from the Lunar Chronicles so far is Cinder. I thought that she was amazing, the author developed her character. She was a cyborg who constantly felt like an outsider with her step family who did not love her (except for Peony, her stepsister). She was the girl with the mysterious backstory that had no recollections of her memories prior to her cyborg surgery. She's sarcastic and very tomboyish mechanic who can't blush or have tears due to her surgery. I can't wait to read about her in the next book. Prince Kai, was very charming from the beginning of the novel. I enjoyed his scenes with Cinder, from their first meeting at the marketplace to their dance at the ball. It was interesting to see how he transitioned from being a prince to an emperor. He has many problems that he wants to resolve such tensions between the Lunar Kingdom and Earth. May I say, that I loved Queen Levana as the villain. I really thought she was a Queen Bee. Although I have not read the other books in the series (I will eventually get to them), I am excited for her story! \n Plot: This was more than a Cinderella retelling. The author really took time to create this world. It's in the future and there's conflict between the Moon and Earth. It really reminded me of Sailor Moon! (for example: Cinder kept saying that lunars have magical powers). The plot, I thought was really interesting. You have Cinder as an outsider cyborg who is in fact Princess Selene (this gets revealed till the very end). The main conflict that I found in the story is that Queen Levana does not want to sign any peace treaties with Earth and wants marry Prince Kai in order to become Empress and later dominate the entire world. Cinder is the one to let Kai know of what Queen Levana is plotting thanks to a mysterious lunar girl whose guardian is Sybil Mira (thaumaturge of the Lunar Kingdom). There are two other subplots that I can think of such as Prince Kai's determination to find Princess Selene and marry her instead of Queen Levana, and secondly, Cinder being immune to lemutosis. \n Sad Moments: I was sad to see Peony die. I had hope for her to survive since Cinder was given the antidote for lemutosis. I did shed a tear when Cinder was removing her id chip. Then there's the part with Cinder discovering Iko's personality chip in her room. Lastly when Prince Kai told Cinder \"Was it all in my head? A Lunar trick...You're even more painful to look at than she is\" (Kai realizing that Cinder is both Lunar and cyborg. \n Shock Factor: I was not as shocked to learn that Cinder was Princess Selene, but I did find it shocking that Lunars were immune to lemutosis. \n Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you're a fan of the fairy tale retellings, this book is perfect for you. I am really excited to continue reading the Lunar Chronicles \n My rating is a 4 out of 5 :)", "date_added": "Wed Aug 20 19:32:46 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 19 07:43:57 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Aug 26 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "136251", "review_id": "31d4152b7f06cc345ef51b8f46e81183", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I can't believe it's over! I've cried so much with this series and I grew to love the characters. The Harry Potter series will always have a special place in my heart!", "date_added": "Sat Jul 12 20:58:28 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 07 17:40:54 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "1", "review_id": "7d71a2d23fc3e80aaa19424d9c57213e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What an emotional roller coaster. Words can't describe how I'm feeling right now.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 06 15:46:42 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 12 20:57:09 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "20312462", "review_id": "f003e32ee0e5deecb575b22b246f664f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Crosspost:mytokyoblues.wordpress.com \n \"I have a gift that is, as far as I have found, unique to me. It allows me to see truth where others see illusion - and there are many illusions, so many masks and facades. All the world's a stage, as they say, and I seem to have the only seat in the house with a view behind the curtain.\" - Jackaby \n I won an advanced reader's copy of the novel through a goodreads giveaway. For anyone interested in buying the book, it goes on sale September 16, 2014. Winning a free book did not influence my opinions. \n The Cover:Did anyone feel the cover? It's so soft and it feels very different from your typical paperback. I loved the cover of the novel, it was quite beautiful. I loved the details of the cover such as the woman in red. It is one of my favorite covers of 2014. \n The Plot:Abigail Rook is not your typical Victorian socialite, she seeks adventure and travel, and would rather get her hands dirty be seeking a husband to maintain her. She arrives to New England after having a disappointing experience excavating dinosaurs. Abigail seeks a employment right away because she is in need of money and meets Jackaby, her future employer who is a detective. The people of New Fiddleham view Mr. R.F. Jackaby as a maniac since he deals with the supernatural. Naturally, he is talented in his work, he is compassionate and kind to supernatural creatures. The duo works together in order to solve the mysterious murders in New Fiddleham with some help from the police force. \n The Characters:Abigail definitely proved that she was not your stereotypical girl, she worked hard for her job. Jackaby, I had no complaints about his character. For some reason, I kept imagining Matt Smith as Jackaby because he reminded me of the eleventh doctor. At the same time, Jackaby really reminded me of Sherlock since he sees what others can't see. Then there is Charlie Cane, who I thought was adorable, I thought he was human until the middle of the book. The side characters were great, I would have loved it if Jenny the ghost had a bigger backstory, the same going for Douglas the duck. \n The Villain: I knew it! I loved how he was a creature rather than a person! \n The Romance: Thank the heavens that there was no love triangle in this novel. It would have ruined the novel for me that is. I didn't not like how some of the characters in the novel tried to ship Jackaby and Abigail, I did roll my eyes during those parts. Jackaby and Abigail make an awesome team, I loved their friendship. The only two characters that developed some feelings for each other were Abigail and Charlie Cane. I did want to them together, but it's okay that they did not become a couple. \n I would like to see the author wrote more stories about Jackaby. The novel is relatively easy to read and it is only 299 pages long. I would recommend this novel for anyone wanting to read a short mystery book with a hint of fantasy. For a standalone novel, I thought it was really good and I would really love more of Jackaby's adventures. \n My rating is a 4 out of 5 :D", "date_added": "Wed Jul 02 21:32:34 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 19 17:43:47 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "2", "review_id": "9443d79688362986378d102bdb4005a4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really despised Umbridge more than Lord Voldermort...I would have sent her for Azkaban. I was not prepared for Sirius' death. I cried. Oh the feels. But, I got to say, that the DA was my favorite concept from the whole book. I really enjoyed seeing the character growth in everyone. On to the next book!!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 26 00:14:28 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 06 15:52:56 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jul 06 15:52:56 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "611e235e93e46c6eaad806c074b755ec", "book_id": "6", "review_id": "4abc1595d6558445719b5e480b58a572", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Three more books to go!!!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 20 02:20:20 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 26 00:13:01 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jun 26 00:13:01 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831a2727f44abd5a3452c6cbbfd6af6d", "book_id": "15708829", "review_id": "84fbe8fe1e293ca36aae907f03e188ba", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A unique journey through the dark backward from the flipside's perspective...", "date_added": "Mon Aug 20 14:15:34 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 26 18:21:21 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a12d5cd241bd9f7bf37c8bd8ab42c128", "book_id": "1128434", "review_id": "07b9f649d18410c395d06f94a9ea61d1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I started reading this book to kind of prep myself for the Witcher game due for release in Feb 2015. I started playing Witcher 1 a few years ago and was kind of intrigued by the world in which the events were set. Intended to start reading this book ages ago, but never quite managed to. Of late, I've been craving for a good fantasy fix and remembered about this book. Morally ambiguous scenarios, realistic characters, no shirking away from profanity in addition to presence of wit and sarcasm aplenty made the story pretty compelling. And I must mention the dark and twisted interpretation of popular fairy tales in some of these short stories. I felt they were brilliant! \n Although the collection of stories were related, a lot of questions do remain unanswered. I hope the mainline novels provide the answers! Also, I sincerely believe that this book deserves better visibility than what it currently has :)", "date_added": "Wed Jul 16 10:59:02 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 08 12:22:36 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a12d5cd241bd9f7bf37c8bd8ab42c128", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "ce61778958c1dd4db9d3a72cb9c20bdc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Never expected it to be this good. The protagonist is immediately likeable with his wry sense of humour. The writing is witty and well paced for the most part. And the author has taken great pains to ensure the novel is as scientifically accurate as possible without making it too complicated for the regular reader. A really good novel especially considering the fact that the protagonist is stuck all alone in Mars and most of the book is through is POV with few other characters coming in to fill the plot. A definite read!", "date_added": "Mon Mar 17 05:29:28 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 20 13:08:25 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7a5722f8f7083bbc0e5d6cd4f16c40c8", "book_id": "6339664", "review_id": "f53f19a2bc10b70d32019d4b6a21bc6a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "oh, shit.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 12:18:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue May 21 20:37:16 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue May 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu May 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7a5722f8f7083bbc0e5d6cd4f16c40c8", "book_id": "12425532", "review_id": "a7300093e703a6f05e36d1425d45b85b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I started off reading this book not thinking TOO much of it; I expected a fun read that I'd enjoy, but nothing too major. It also didn't help when I glanced over the first three reviews which at the time that I write this review foreshadowed some very poor writing or plot. \n It didn't take me very long to realize how wrong they were. I'm not sure what it is, especially with Americans, that racism and feminism seem to be huge topics among just about anything. It seems to me that America (and I'm not saying this as an outsider, I've lived here most of my life) is so obsessed with not offending anything and making everything equal that they make mountains out of molehills- the fact that Chloe was black and that Galen was attractive and protective of Emma. \n Newflash people: It's not racist, and it's not sexist. As much as one may want to deny it, black women like Chloe do exist. I'm friends with plenty. Others unlike Chloe do as well. Chloe's fate in the story was for the sake of the plot, not blatant racism. Get over yourselves. As for Galen, I imagine that a man who isn't worried and protective of a woman, isn't in love with her either. There's nothing restricting and abusive about Emma and Galen. In fact, I went through this book smiling and musing happily about how it took the few positive similarities from Twilight, and had none of the '50s housewife attitude. \n That being said, it didn't take long for me to become enthralled with the book. The writing is easy to follow and intriguing, making for a fast and enjoyable read. I loved all the characters- though Rayna's a bit much. She, however, showed some satisfying character development. \n The only real thing that bothered me was the switch between point of view. I'm not sure why we couldn't have Galen in first person, but I got over it after a few chapters. I'm the type of person who isn't bothered by much but I am able to recognize something that isn't okay- I didn't see any problems with the book. \n After being enthralled, pretty much every page made me a little more attached to the characters and the plot. Not to mention I didn't see a good amount of the events coming; the last three pages, just wow. I knew there would be something up to complicate Galen and Emma's relationship, naturally, but I didn't see that happening specifically. Maybe I should have. But it was subtle enough to demand much respect. \n I cannot wait for Of Triton to come out - I'm much looking forward for it. Kudos.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 07 23:41:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 10 12:36:41 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Oct 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7a31dd927af7d94651363aab0e044971", "book_id": "30364791", "review_id": "b6f154800171dfc75b70804b66f0a72f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars", "date_added": "Fri Aug 18 20:56:01 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 18 21:06:03 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7a31dd927af7d94651363aab0e044971", "book_id": "25263755", "review_id": "1429e09e660d0777bc1fcdeea7488302", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars", "date_added": "Sat Jul 22 12:34:39 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 08 08:06:37 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7a31dd927af7d94651363aab0e044971", "book_id": "18469782", "review_id": "8888f6288d2fd7959e28a0ec5fb0b7cb", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Dnf 60% \n I did not like the MC. She is meant to be quirky, but just seemed dumb, flakey and dishonest to me. The premise had potential, an ordinary women gaining ESP after a head wound, but this story was mostly silly.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 18 08:35:30 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 18 08:44:17 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7a31dd927af7d94651363aab0e044971", "book_id": "17277854", "review_id": "e4b3f9e71ddee01ac861fe382e214d4d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fantastic, just fantastic! A new favourite!", "date_added": "Wed May 24 12:34:20 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu May 25 11:42:25 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu May 25 11:42:26 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed May 24 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7a31dd927af7d94651363aab0e044971", "book_id": "9862488", "review_id": "0951e73ee79d30e2c9e4db84a9914f91", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A charming, funny and witty short story. \n Part of anthology 2015 Top Ten Gay Romances.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 12 13:57:05 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 19 18:04:55 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Apr 12 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7a31dd927af7d94651363aab0e044971", "book_id": "25719242", "review_id": "c404de671a864dda95dcf10d78d85de1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n I liked the world building and the reasonable explanation for mpreg. The danger of male pregnancy and hints of intrigue in the paranormal society add tension. The bf to lover story is well done. It's fun to see a man enduring all the ups and downs of pregnancy. \n Not technically a cliffhanger, but the book ends abruptly and reader will want to continue in series.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 03 10:02:06 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 03 10:22:50 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Mar 03 10:22:51 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7a31dd927af7d94651363aab0e044971", "book_id": "17158532", "review_id": "dc22540a42bd29d74e08a09da36fb19c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Terrific end to a great series.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 27 12:15:59 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 27 12:19:09 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Feb 27 12:19:09 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7a31dd927af7d94651363aab0e044971", "book_id": "33391953", "review_id": "530fe519851f4523e6a521bdf06470b7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is the first dragon shifter and mpreg book that I've read. I liked Jozsef, the grumpy, reclusive Hungarian dragon. I found the omega Eddie to be sweet but a bit dull. The world of rich, powerful dragons was cool. I would have liked more info about who the different factions were and why they hated each other. (Perhaps this was explained in book one?) The story had a lot of potential, but seemed superficial. I'd rate it as somewhere between okay and good.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 20 19:56:07 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 20 20:19:11 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7a31dd927af7d94651363aab0e044971", "book_id": "9305362", "review_id": "b8441aa7059e4e54f288c4c5999d5d47", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great book: \n - Excellent character development. Both Laurent and Damen are very complex. Laurent is not very likeable, but there are some glimmers ofsome good. \n - Very interesting world. Has a dark, medieval feel with lots of political intrigue. \n - The book is well written, but there is no romance in book one. I didn't mind, because the other aspects of the book are so good and it's set up so well for a enemies to lovers story in later books.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 31 15:57:45 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 07 09:13:14 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7a31dd927af7d94651363aab0e044971", "book_id": "8788554", "review_id": "c1719f7a705b951c6790e2e776dcd205", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars. \n I liked most of the book. It's a nice mix of fun, mystery, sadness and sexy. The secondary characters are well done and very imaginative. But Charlie's constant sarcasm got on my nerves. I didn't get the instant love with Reyes. His OTT backstory is dumped on the reader at the very end and spoiled the ending for me.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 16 08:10:27 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 06 22:13:17 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Feb 06 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7a31dd927af7d94651363aab0e044971", "book_id": "91476", "review_id": "9a21c87dc39e7a2beb23775507a7c49b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Excellent suspense. \n Narrator on this audiobook was fantastic.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 22 22:38:43 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 01 00:04:02 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Nov 01 00:04:02 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7a31dd927af7d94651363aab0e044971", "book_id": "18068649", "review_id": "8da4b06386791b4f82c9cfc331a64cfc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I wasn't satisfied with this story: \n - Lily was such an interesting character in book one. Her only purpose here was to complain. There were no clues about her change in behavior. \n - It was hard to follow. There was a lot going on and there were too many characters for the length of the book: daywalkers, shamans, werewolves, vampires, 2 kinds of trolls, witches, guardians, and a harpy. There were too many unanswered questions at the end. \n - The relationship between Rylee and O'Shea consisted mostly of misunderstandings and secrets.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 13 10:20:08 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 18 12:54:05 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Oct 18 12:54:05 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7a31dd927af7d94651363aab0e044971", "book_id": "9795166", "review_id": "20a01666f7c3928d7dbec7be46737f92", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I had a hard time getting into this book and almost dnf. But a quarter into it, it became exciting and I enjoyed it. The main characters are fun and interesting. \n I was confused about some things as they were happening. I'm not sure if it was the style of writing or some description or information was missing. I don't usually have this problem with other books and found it frustrating. I probably won't read other books in the series.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 11 14:42:16 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 26 07:05:37 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Sep 26 07:05:37 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7a31dd927af7d94651363aab0e044971", "book_id": "22267616", "review_id": "e98b734e20c12fe52d494593fefbcc22", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.5 stars.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 06 21:19:16 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 15 22:08:29 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7a31dd927af7d94651363aab0e044971", "book_id": "5260435", "review_id": "d15cd0d9c1ef63b58f4f6d15f87ebbb2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars. I didn't like this story quite as much as book one. I hope to see more of Crash - he has a lot of potential as a character.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 21 02:27:13 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 08 17:55:32 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7a31dd927af7d94651363aab0e044971", "book_id": "5603414", "review_id": "4cc23482ba3ba687520442a7deda1ce3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked the book very much. It was quite short, though and we only get brief intro to characters. We don't find out why charming, gorgeous Jacob liked insecure Victor. \n The world created has a special police unit where psychic cops are paired up with normals. There is lots of potential for future stories with the wide range of abilities in the psychics. Victor's ability to talk to dead people gives him a unique means to solve murder cases. \n A well written, fun, sexy story. Looking forward to the next book.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 14 22:39:47 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 24 12:34:00 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7a31dd927af7d94651363aab0e044971", "book_id": "178476", "review_id": "595d10af76c4ffdab06d52b637829c3c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars. \n This was a good story, but was bogged down by by a lot of technical details about the PsyNet. The author has created an interesting world and introduced several characters that will star in future books. Although the main characters left me cold, their sexy dreams were very entertaining.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 22 18:36:51 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 07 16:16:02 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Oct 07 16:16:02 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7a31dd927af7d94651363aab0e044971", "book_id": "22544764", "review_id": "18af6674b357557a489cc76553c4d968", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 stars", "date_added": "Tue Jun 21 22:21:34 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 21 22:25:48 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d9edf0db9fab3311cdd0a4a6764ff893", "book_id": "8621462", "review_id": "e2b6689916ce0696e29c22478e4a95a8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It's been a long time since I've cried so hard. This book is the best, I swear!", "date_added": "Tue Nov 06 07:08:42 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 19 07:33:18 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sun Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d9edf0db9fab3311cdd0a4a6764ff893", "book_id": "13624688", "review_id": "fa5546bfddda5cce91593bd53cbd752b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm not impressed :(", "date_added": "Tue Oct 16 08:25:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 02 05:33:28 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Dec 12 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d9edf0db9fab3311cdd0a4a6764ff893", "book_id": "8755776", "review_id": "95e6be23c8f4c6b79ac755926cec681a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The next book is on 2013? You've gotta be kidding me.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 03 08:14:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 06 06:13:29 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d9edf0db9fab3311cdd0a4a6764ff893", "book_id": "6752378", "review_id": "e92910aa554a6a857061a65dcbd767b9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Why is it the TMI series is so addictive? Ugh I can't stop.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 03 08:12:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 06 06:04:05 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Oct 02 09:40:29 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d9edf0db9fab3311cdd0a4a6764ff893", "book_id": "3777732", "review_id": "04994d1ad2314dfa3be0d80cbafb5d94", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I. JUST. CAN'T. Words are not enough. My emotions are fucked-up already.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 26 10:01:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 06 06:09:50 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d9edf0db9fab3311cdd0a4a6764ff893", "book_id": "1582996", "review_id": "219464cd66d42b9182ab1a59ddcc4ac7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Cassandra Clare always gives us this shocking and hanging ending, that reading the next sequel is already a requirement.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 23 06:49:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 06 06:07:46 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d9edf0db9fab3311cdd0a4a6764ff893", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "0b93941d64680ef0fe3b1b75bd860ebe", "rating": 5, "review_text": "ONE WORD: EPIC", "date_added": "Wed Aug 22 08:37:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 20 23:37:20 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Aug 26 09:56:57 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b081c9aa7adb9cdbb0dc676376d3c816", "book_id": "13573795", "review_id": "f35a8519c09f8730ccd972f2f7d65603", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved it!!", "date_added": "Sun Sep 16 04:56:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 23 00:08:07 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Sep 23 00:08:07 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Sep 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b081c9aa7adb9cdbb0dc676376d3c816", "book_id": "13323842", "review_id": "5d01e2d9d6bb9cf8e1433a7694746a0b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow! Another really good read! Sooo looking forward to Ceaseless! Not to sure where it's gonna go tho but im anxious to find out. Iv got a good feeling it wont be the last we see of jay either although i doubt Dank will be too happy with that! Well better start on Leif's POV...!!", "date_added": "Sat Aug 04 12:36:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 05 12:10:03 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Aug 05 12:10:03 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b081c9aa7adb9cdbb0dc676376d3c816", "book_id": "13223520", "review_id": "96b09609d19b23e91f58491936b520d6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A very good read, i could not put my kindle down untill i got to the end of this one, it was such a page turner! It was a nice change to my usual paranormal stories with vampires. The ending was really clever too with the sacrifice- no spoilers... give it a read. Its worth it. Fans of Twilight would enjoy this one, its very Edward and Bella. Iv just bought the second one so im off to read! I will be making my way trew Abbi's books now!", "date_added": "Fri Aug 03 05:33:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 04 12:34:36 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Aug 04 12:34:36 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d594a2c0d47f7eca636801b5c1349850", "book_id": "12985143", "review_id": "b87d68f8b9a47904f196b86272ad0203", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Nice story....its my favourite..", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 04:34:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 13 04:34:51 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "049eb9773dbcd526aa6218fb25bcb0d2", "book_id": "31928510", "review_id": "86f595cd9c1974cfe165a11c72104097", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Claramente la primera parte de una trilogia. Quizas no hubiese empezado a leerlo si hubiese sabido tan claramente como tengo ahora que solo era el primer acto de una trama mayor. \n Dicho esto me atrajo la idea de leerlo por un lado, el hecho de que habia ganado el premio Hugo de ciencia ficcion y habia estado nominado a los Nebula, y por otro lado que el autor era chino. \n Respecto a esto ultimo, me parece curioso que todos los libros que he leido de autores chinos, incluso este que es ciencia ficcion, dedican uno o varios capitulos a la revolucion cultural china por lo que intuyo que aquella epoca debio ser brutal marcando enormemente toda una generacion. \n El libro plantea temas interesantes como debe hacer cualquier libro de ciencia ficcion que se precie que no comentare para no desvelar la trama porque gran parte del interes del libro es el ir descubriendo dicha trama conforme se va leyendo. \n Para mi gusto le sobran las paginas relacionadas con la revolucion cultural china y todo lo relacionado con lo ecologista que parece que estan anadidos sin mucha relacion con la trama. \n Me debato entre continuar con la trilogia o darlo por suficiente.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 15 03:46:23 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 04 05:02:32 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Dec 04 05:02:32 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Nov 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "049eb9773dbcd526aa6218fb25bcb0d2", "book_id": "26013590", "review_id": "b10ba50d8d39c30fe8cf1ee2b79cc515", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Este no es el tipico libro de Zombies. En este libro los zombies son tratados como una enfermedad contagiosa de la forma mas realista posible. \n Con esta premisa vemos las reacciones de los distintos paises y organizaciones ante esta enfermedad, de forma que la enfermedad Zombie es una excusa para mostrarnos la sociedad actual y como esta podria desaparecer tal y como la conocemos ante una plaga de estas caracteristicas. \n Un libro apasionante en el primer tercio y entretenido hasta el final.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 15 03:24:51 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 12 12:15:18 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Oct 12 12:15:18 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "049eb9773dbcd526aa6218fb25bcb0d2", "book_id": "27129684", "review_id": "7243ee4ef8bda78ffb949f81eb5d95e5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Normalmente los libros de ciencia ficcion no aguanta muy bien el paso del tiempo y sin embargo este libro escrito en 1896 no pierde nada y podria haberse escrito, salvo por algunos detalles, actualmente. \n El tema principal del libro es la eterna confrontacion entre la etica o la moral y los metodos utilizados para para conseguir avances cientificos. Tambien se deja entrever una ligera critica a las religiones y como estas se usaban y usan para controlar a los pueblos menos desarrollados. \n El libro esta contado a modo de recuerdos y tiene una narrativa que te engancha, es muy agradable de leer manteniendo el suspense y la tension practicamente durante toda su lectura. \n Imprescindible para todo cientifico.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 14 12:01:58 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 07 13:43:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "049eb9773dbcd526aa6218fb25bcb0d2", "book_id": "951290", "review_id": "a676d23c6b514a858290170af6fd9591", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Este libro escrito en los anos 40s influencio a muchos de los escritores de ciencia ficcion posteriores, como reconocio por el propio Philip K. Dick en toda su obra o al propio George Lucas en Star Wars. \n Un clasico de ciencia ficcion que te mantiene en un estado de incertidumbre durante toda la lectura del libro y te enmarana de tal forma mientras lo lees que, como el personaje protagonista, no das credito a lo que estas leyendo, para acabar con un final sorprendente que da sentido a todo el libro.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 27 06:03:03 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 12 11:42:12 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Dec 12 11:42:12 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Dec 06 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "049eb9773dbcd526aa6218fb25bcb0d2", "book_id": "7430094", "review_id": "23ff0cd21e3d0c69d22b1f9d371f16a7", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Este primer volumen del ultimo libro de la saga de Geralt me ha decepcionado mucho, el libro no avanza en la historia tan apenas y hay mucho contenido de relleno que no aporta nada. \n Creo sinceramente que la mayor parte de este libro se podria haber resumido en un par de capitulos. \n Desde mi punto de vista se nota que estan estirando la saga en este ultimo libro con dos volumenes. \n Espero que el final de la saga en el segundo volumen este a la altura del resto de libros.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 05 06:47:40 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 22 07:47:23 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "049eb9773dbcd526aa6218fb25bcb0d2", "book_id": "8776687", "review_id": "8f3c21a8b0f52656d76e55b14bfdfc29", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Habia leido varias historias cortas en los libros anteriores de la saga del brujo: El ultimo deseo y La espada del destino y no me parecieron gran cosa, sin embargo este libro que es el arranque de la historia principal de \"El Brujo y de Ciri la nina sorpresa\" me ha encantado. \n Este libro tiene a mi parecer tiene todo lo que un libro de aventura epica de fantasia tiene que tener, he rememorado y me he recordado, aunque sin llegar al mismo nivel, las sensaciones que tuve al leer Trilogia El Senor de los Anillos. \n Espero y deseo que la historia que continua en Tiempo de odio mantenga el mismo nivel.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 22 05:18:27 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 28 13:12:13 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Mar 28 13:12:13 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "049eb9773dbcd526aa6218fb25bcb0d2", "book_id": "19488911", "review_id": "32be6348420c1ff863f2649415bde01c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Uno de los mas sorprendentes libros que he leido.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 05 10:09:10 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 20 11:29:02 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 08 06:59:36 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Nov 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "049eb9773dbcd526aa6218fb25bcb0d2", "book_id": "17883464", "review_id": "bae611360e2bc42ef9989d32c739a61d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Sigue la aventura. \n Me gusto menos que el anterior pero sigue estando entretenido.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 08 06:40:03 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 10 07:43:16 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Apr 10 07:43:16 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Mar 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "049eb9773dbcd526aa6218fb25bcb0d2", "book_id": "17617734", "review_id": "65dd2b0c90616a9abfe72470bab56ea2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"I love you,' Rachael said. 'If I entered a room and found a sofa covered with your hide I'd score very high on the Voigt-Kampff test.\"", "date_added": "Sun Jan 04 15:01:43 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 20 11:35:21 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jan 14 13:34:17 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "049eb9773dbcd526aa6218fb25bcb0d2", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "bc47761654ea7703b68b8f154859b5a3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "\"But really, they did it because every human being has a basic instinct to help each other out. It might not seem that way sometimes, but it's true.\"", "date_added": "Wed Jun 25 23:44:27 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 13 15:05:45 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Dec 13 15:05:45 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "18665033", "review_id": "1083ed2b4e2f6144eb2ef1d948664a9a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It's really interesting to see Loki tell his own story. We all think he's an evil god, but maybe he's not what we think. And this book just gives Loki a chance to let us know why he did the \n mischief to play other Gods, also destroy the peace of Asgard. \n This book makes lots of fun and joy for me. And it's like I met Loki in person, trying to understand who he truly is.", "date_added": "Mon May 22 08:01:44 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 25 02:58:48 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jun 25 02:58:49 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "34511974", "review_id": "79629ed9cbcc377f9b9b2e388541a60f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.25 stars for Quinsey Wolfe's Glass Vault. \n I rarely got the chance to read horror-fantasy books before, so for me, it's kind of a novelty to have an adventure of the story. Honestly, I have a great time while reading at the beginning. Because the writting is so nice, making me get into the storyline really easily. Beside, the suspenseful and thrilling elements also have been hidden between words. That's maybe the reason why I just keep thinking about what will happen next. And the twists are so so so so astonished. It really freaks me out. I could feel something wrong in that moment, but I didn't know it can end like this. \n Here's another interesting thing in the book is that it has a lot of retelling stories. No matter the stories are thriller or just a fairytale, all of them become frightful and scary. And let the book be so unique and remakable. \n * Thank Candace for sending me the ARC to exchange the honest review. *", "date_added": "Wed May 03 08:05:08 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 15 09:51:58 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "27396389", "review_id": "b410cc4283950cc471ad75b9fe90249a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It's my first time to finish an audiobook. Kind of wired. But I still enjoy it. \n Maybe I can take a try on another audiobook next time. \n Hope that I will get familiar with it.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 24 08:34:31 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 19 00:23:47 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Aug 19 00:23:47 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jul 31 20:40:59 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "30117284", "review_id": "ca3162f4327a0a3c9a8bb2ce57b92abd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I shouldn't read this book as I received it. \n Because I can't believe that I have to wait for THE WHOLE YEAR to get the sequel. \n (IT'S KIND OF TORMENT!!!! I MIGHT DIE FOR WAITING!!!) \n Okay, breathe. Need to calm down. \n Now here's my review. \n I don't know why some people don't like this book. But I have to say that Carve the Mark is my type. The story is very fantastic, formidable, and meaningful. \n Veronica has a courageous writing styles. That's the reason why I love her books. (especially after reading Allegiant) \n All the world in the story is fictional, so it means that there's a long way for us to be familiar with the brand new fresh world. At first, it might makes us feel a little bit impatient. However, while passing through it, we will find out that the story is really awesome!!! \n Characters are the most attractive element that make me keep reading on it. \n The relationship between Cyra and Akos is so remarkable. And I ship them so so so so so so much!!! \n (Still have lots of feelings to tell actually. \n Maybe I will write it down after having a sleep. LOL)", "date_added": "Mon Jan 02 06:40:06 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 22 08:55:52 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jan 21 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "29069989", "review_id": "e38a2efb64d1d3bbf1c7ed68e409efb1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the last book I read in 2016. \n And I like it much more than I think. \n Actually, I only read Harry Potter series for one time, so I don't memorize the details of the story. But I do know what the plots go, just can't remember each parts of the story. \n However, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child make me recall all feelings while watching Harry Potter movies and reading the books. The story has the magic!!!! Bring lots of joy to me, letting me wholly get indulge in it. \n So lucky to have more stories about Harry Potter . Hope that one day I will have a chance to watch this play in the future. \n It's the best reading end for 2016!!!", "date_added": "Sat Dec 31 09:13:36 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 31 09:33:11 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Dec 31 10:29:31 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "31429077", "review_id": "e976b630d3ae21ce5b13dfdc43ed6293", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3 stars \n I have a great interest while reading the introduction from the book. And I do like it with its fantastic topic and particular story line. The Blue Moon Narthex reminds me the adventures of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. (Also, it reminds me one of my favorite series, The 39 Clues. ) \n As a middle grade story, it's a very talented work. Each plots like a piece of puzzle put the truth and exciting exploration together. However, maybe it's because that there are lots of mysterious things happen so suddenly, making it need to slow down the paces to unveil all the secrets hidden from Cole's dad. That's the reason why I only give it only 3 stars. \n Nevertheless, it's still worthy to be patient as getting through the beginning of the book. After passing through those slow-pace plots, everything is being more exciting than I can imagine. \n Receive ARC from NetGalley to exchange for the honest review.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 28 22:27:16 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 01 07:49:31 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Mar 01 09:28:40 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Thu Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "20821111", "review_id": "b10c60d494d7cd286a5d70a3510ed956", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I can't... I can't even hold my breath... \n The only thing I know is..... \n I NEED THE NEXT BOOK!!!!! \n BUT I DON'T HAVE IT!!!!! \n (Open my laptop and get order to the sequels.) \n In fact, as I finished almost half of the book, I thought I might only give this book maybe 4 stars. \n However, the moment when I'd done with The Young Elites, I was totally dead! \n I can't tell how emotional I am. Just can't believe what I'd read. \n This book is really my type. And I LOVE it more than I can imagine. \n That's why there are 5 stars shining on my rating block. \n I'm going to be crazy now! \n Where's my next book????", "date_added": "Mon Sep 05 20:38:55 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 11 00:55:50 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Sep 11 16:30:29 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "30652336", "review_id": "9dd71d0c5a3be3684db1cb811e95d265", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.75 stars for The Keeper. \n I really enjoy this book as they get into the Quag at the beginning. Vega Jane's adventure is very excited, having lots of monsters and magic. That makes the story be so astonished and remarkable. \n BUT!!!! There's a problem while I continue to read The Keeper. \n I can guess almost all the twists and upcoming things from the plots, so it actually disappoints me. And their conversation is......so creepy. Yeah, they are teenagers, but sometimes they talks like kids, making me can't really go on. \n Nevertheless, I still have to say that the magic and monsters parts are fantastic. Without these, I'm might not so much passion in this book.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 06 22:06:44 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 13 04:13:16 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Aug 13 07:20:18 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "30439157", "review_id": "cdf5ec5b6195ebf71e0c7a06c30fe5f9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 stars for The Delphi Effect!!! \n I must have to say, this story is MUCH BETTER than I thought at first. \n It's filled with the elements of si-fi, mystery, a little bit action, also having some paranormal power. I really enjoy with this book. Not only it has some brand new idea about paranormal story, but also brings me lots of excitement and fun. \n Anna Morgan is a teenage girl who has paranormal power of hearing some dead people whispering in her head. Sometimes there will some spirits stuck in her mind, just like Molly who was murdered by some cruel bad guy. As Anna knows more about the murder, she finds out she is getting close to the danger. And her adventure has begun! \n [Writing] \n This is my first time to read Rysa's work. \n I'm so surprise that her writing just make the story vivid. And she will add some humorous dialogues to make the plots be not that serious. Besides, I really like the way she mentions other famous books, movies or even TV series in the talk, letting me feel that I'm also standing there beside Anna and others. Won't feel any distance between me and the story. That's maybe why it's easy to get in to the story. \n \"Girl, you look like a poster for that Carrie movie.\" \n | This is one of my favorite quote from the book. LOL \n [Characters] \n Most of them are cute. \n I won't say that I'm crush on Aaron, and he is also my type. \n Actually, there are more things I can review for The Delphi Effect. \n I just need some time to update more details on it. :P \n To sum up, I really HAVE to get the next book RIGHT NOW!!! \n ***I got the e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange the honest review. And the review is all my own opinion. :) ***", "date_added": "Mon Aug 01 16:26:12 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 10 09:29:18 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Oct 11 12:36:22 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "27883214", "review_id": "4c50ca92b4ac034ad6b27229e711ac98", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 stars for Caraval \n It's quite a long journey for me to finish this book. However, Caraval brings me lots of joys, also it's really easy to read. That's maybe why I enjoy this book so much. Though some plots are a little bit normal, it's still worthy to read. Because there are so many tricks hidden in the Caraval.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 05 07:47:12 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 29 07:05:17 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Apr 29 07:25:44 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "20727654", "review_id": "af11b4ac01dace591112cba08a20d316", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm not sure why I don't have much passion to this book. \n Maybe it's because that I highly expect the story before starting reading it. \n No matter how, I still love the type of magic. It's such a creative work.", "date_added": "Tue May 31 20:41:07 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 09 10:29:10 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jun 10 06:28:28 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "22297138", "review_id": "67d7dec2cf6b949abe1f631a99d4aecc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Well, how can it tortures me with this kind of ending??? I didn't feel that I would really like this story. But unexpectly, I think I like this book.", "date_added": "Sat May 28 05:20:12 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 01 03:25:22 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Apr 01 12:13:33 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Mar 31 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "18282060", "review_id": "959a577383a4a94e57eb47c04d1549f9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 stars \n Actually, I'm not really enjoy at first due to lots of new words in the book that will make me read slowly. \n However, when I start to be familiar with the story. All things become gorgeous. \n The adventure is really astonished. With magic and different kinds of monsters, it makes the whole imaginary world be so authentic.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 06 02:36:51 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun May 15 04:03:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun May 15 08:08:54 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "8621462", "review_id": "78d69255805bbef4aba697a77cdde779", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I almost gonna cry at the end. \n A Monster Calls is MORE THAN a book. It teaches us how to grow up, how to face with the bloody truth. And let us know sometimes being weak is not the bad thing. Because that's the only moment we can relieve ourselves, not to stuck in the pain. \n I LOVE this book so so so much. \n It really means a lot on me, also touching the heart by each words. \n Now I expect for the upcoming movie adaptation. I probably will go see it.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 04 23:00:37 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 05 22:40:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Aug 03 16:06:48 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "22819449", "review_id": "532e398d517102752cd468cb7c91c339", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Actually, the start catches my heart. I love the Grisha world. I love how the magic works. Also love the way Leigh brings the story become so vivid, making believe there's a world exists. \n I want to give this book 5 stars as I just read 2 chapters. \n However, Alina is so annoying!!! \n She destroys part of my passionate of this book. \n (Luckily, just part of it.) \n Okay, maybe she is an orphan and just a teenager. No one tells her how to be mature. \n But, excuse me, how can she often does things without thinking?!!! \n And when others try to tell her something important, she thinks that was a joke. \n USE YOUR BRAIN TO THINK, LITTLE GIRL!!!! \n (Okay, I've finished my murmur. LOL ) \n Even though it bothers me a little bit much, I still like this story. \n Still enjoy the adventure in the Grisha world so I rate this book 3.75. \n Really expect to finish this series, so that I can finally start Six of Crows. \n BTW, I'm really eager to see Nikolai in the next book!!!!!", "date_added": "Sun Feb 21 06:10:46 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 18 22:39:12 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Aug 18 22:14:07 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Aug 17 07:19:11 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "14061955", "review_id": "cd5e33071229610a183d193ceb0eced4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Maybe it's because Nikolai, I nearly can't remember the bad parts of this book. I give it 4.5 stars. All for Nikolai. haha \n I LOVE NIKOLAI!!! *fangirling*", "date_added": "Sun Feb 21 06:10:40 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 20 05:00:45 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Aug 20 05:00:45 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "27774758", "review_id": "246c43ddb4fca5627e33897feb95d6ae", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.25 stars \n Really like the way Sabaa write the story. Each plots are the twists. All twists make me have intense passion to keep reading on it. And it's kind of torture to put down the book. I can also hear the sound of being brokenhearted while letting it go. \n The reason why I didn't rate in 5 is that there are some parts annoying me a little bit much. Just don't feel right while getting into those dialogues, words, and the characters' minds. So it's not that perfect as I first to think. \n However, as a dystopian novel, An Ember in the Ashes has a very unique and powerful storyline, making lots of unanticipated turns and surprise. Also, the characters remind us to figure out who we are and what we really want to be. Teach us how to be more formidable and unbreakable.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 19 20:01:55 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 08:21:29 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Feb 24 12:08:36 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Feb 20 06:18:37 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "25558608", "review_id": "92b9de14c1894561563713d44ff6cabe", "rating": 5, "review_text": "There's nothing I can say. It had killed me once when I read An Ember in the Ashes . Now it kills me again while reading this sequel.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 07 00:53:22 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 27 04:43:11 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jun 27 06:00:02 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jun 25 03:04:40 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "20643052", "review_id": "2cfbb4f3a85a2eeca4e01ed95b6551ad", "rating": 4, "review_text": "As a book-lover, it's really a creative work. \n All magic and fantastic power are related to books. It makes me feel that maybe I'm also part of them, doing whatever we can to protect each books.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 06 22:06:07 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 27 08:44:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Sep 27 08:44:03 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Sep 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "22055262", "review_id": "7c77faee6cf34ebd947593735adde3fc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So many feelings! The ending is so brilliant! \n I finally know why people love this series. Because it is very astonished, also making magic become more glamorous. And the characters are so unique, making each of them be so remakable. Kell and Rhy, their brotherhood is one of my favorite parts in the story. So is the relationship between Lila and Kell. Their interaction is very adorable. All the time when they are together, I barely can't stop fangirling and being eager to catch more scenes from them. \n 5 bloody stars for ADSoM. And I'm ready for grab the sequel to take an adventure with Lila.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 04 08:29:55 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 12 02:09:06 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Aug 12 06:19:28 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "18071466", "review_id": "fd520ecb28ae847544d96819818bd177", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Love the fight. \n Love the twist. \n Love the reunions. \n How can Raffe still looks handsome, cute and sexy?!?! \n Really like Penryn. Like her more than after reading Angelfall. \n She is so brave, like a warrior. \n Though she is just a teenage girl, even the Daugters of Men, she knows how to fight against the enemies and always be her families' shield, using her wisedom and energy to protect her love. \n I admire her so mich. \n The reason why I only give 4 stars is that I think the story is not that exciting while explaining some details of Angels' plans or what happen to Paige. \n It's still a fantastic book, but I prefer the first book more.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 29 22:08:25 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 04 22:04:54 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Feb 05 02:53:14 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "20814993", "review_id": "53cec0f2763e3ae5446635829ef609f7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Half Bad series might not be on my favorite-series list, but Half Lost must be the best ending I've ever read. \n So so so astonished!!! \n I can't even imagine what I've just read!!!!! \n I LOVE (also HATE) what the author did to me. \n She let me love this story more, (also TORTURE me.) \n So I give this book 5/5 stars.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 20 06:08:57 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 05 22:42:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "18079804", "review_id": "de7f4eb5f357b03cf7f2458b9dd0e7ac", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The start is really impressive, and I'm almost hooked by the story. \n But the ending is not that wonderful. \n I do love the story, just hoping the sequels will not depress me.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 20 06:08:43 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 22 05:14:48 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Feb 22 07:29:06 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "22381326", "review_id": "11ecdcb2cc790f69e53adc531b86df29", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 stars for the final book. \n Though I still think Shattered Sea trilogy is kind of the epic, I can't really get through the story. \n Maybe it's because some twists are not powerful enough to touch me. \n However, I love the way that Joe show us each character's personalities, making us love or hate them so deeply. Sometimes it just makes these characters come alive from the words.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 04 03:20:22 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 30 23:56:45 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jul 31 04:20:15 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "22055283", "review_id": "ea7ca8f6c497d0b75636ee6ff119dc09", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Throne and Brand. They have the adorable relationship. Like them both.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 04 03:20:16 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 29 08:37:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 29 09:45:14 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "18666047", "review_id": "515ae64a0a14919d62fc49b22bd04dd8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Really like the story. \n Most of the scenes are spectacular, making everything be remarkable. \n And each twist appears so suddenly that surprises me all the time. \n Can't wait to read the sequels.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 04 03:20:08 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 04 03:20:41 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jan 21 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "18500665", "review_id": "97b55b5a22615a2e2c735f2800ac4bf7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Give this book 4.5 stars. \n Really extraordinary. \n Completely love the ending. \n More slays, wars, and fights make the adventure be so excited. \n No matter how hard they have to face with, they still grasp the hope to be brave, be stronger. \n The relationship between Raffe and Penryn is so adorable. \n Love them soooooo much. \n Glad to finish this series. \n If I still need to wait for another book of the series, it MUST be a TORTURE for me. \n I still can remember how painful of waiting for the sequels of this series. \n Fortunately, I just finish it.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 14 17:31:37 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 15 00:13:46 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Feb 15 07:11:50 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "16096824", "review_id": "f82d70f8718e626fc40929b466857217", "rating": 4, "review_text": "So glad that I finish it!!!!!!!! \n (As you can see, I start reading ACOTAR from the beginning of the year. It takes really long time for me to get back to end this book.) \n And I'm so so excited that I finally meet Rhysand. \n He is so so so cute, humorous, brave, and sexy. I like his violet eyes and the words that said to Feyre. As he appeared in the story, I started to put the sticky notes on the pages with Rhys. (Fangirl reaction. LOL) Yeah, really crazy I know! But I love him much more than Tamlin! Can't wait to see him in ACOMAF. \n The reason I can't give ACOTAR 5 stars is that it's a little bit too slow at the beginning. \n It's kinds of torture to get pass through those plots. But it's worthy to get patient to read till the end. The final part of the story is better than the start. So if you are struggling with the slow-pace beginning, just try not to give up on it. While Rhysand shows up, all things will be fun. XD \n 4.25 stars for my love, Rhys. a(tm)Y= \n This is my favorite quote of all time. It touches my heart so deeply. \n \"Because I didn't want you to fight alone. Or die alone.\"", "date_added": "Sat Dec 12 03:37:49 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 29 08:44:49 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jul 29 09:44:33 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "23437156", "review_id": "c176321946dfa50a692b4a0247243fdf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I think.... \n I probably need to read CK right away. It's kind of torture to stop the story at the last page of SoC. \n Maybe it has to take me really long time to finish it. I don't care. Just need to know what will happen next!!!!!!!!", "date_added": "Sat Dec 12 03:10:14 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 06 10:46:49 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 07 01:39:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "13565676", "review_id": "1cb896f2c86b0937b4ef238cbc02f995", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Totally dead for wholly broken-hearted.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 12 02:43:24 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 23 07:40:48 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 23 09:47:42 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "13546173", "review_id": "2004086d1b2b36ef8c691817e68bfffd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"Wherever you go. I go.\" \n I'M DYINNNNNNNG!", "date_added": "Sat Dec 12 02:43:23 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 22 18:18:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 23 04:00:03 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "14061957", "review_id": "7aef8521620937cfd5348e04dd4f3106", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I finish this series in three days. And I really hate myself why picking up them so late!!!! \n Even though not each parts of the story are my favorite, I love the Grishaverse and the storyline. \n And the final book astonishes me the most. \n Can't even predict most of the twists from the plots, feeling that I need a strong heart to afford what will happen at next. \n Also, I have the great passion on this trilogy and these characters. \n I laugh, enrage, and weep with them. Maybe I don't like them in the whole time, but I still remember what they have done and who they truly are. It's so hard to say goodbye to them. \n Especially my dearest Nikolai, he is the reason why I still survive through those dark and broken-hearted scenes. > < I can tell he's the most favorite character in this trilogy. \n Love him so so much!!! \n Quite a sad that I've done this series. \n However, I can FINALLY read Six of Crows duology!!!!! \n Feel so excited to keep having an adventure in the Grishaverse. Hope that I'll have a chance to see Nikolai again. (LOL) \n P.S. I think I need to print out a map of Grishaverse. I'm so bad at remember where the places located.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 22 05:33:45 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 21 08:38:12 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Aug 21 09:09:09 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "20613470", "review_id": "0b07596d6b6ac5545126be5569245667", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love this series!!!!! \n I'm so glad I have the next book right beside me, or I may die for waiting.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 21 02:14:26 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 14 03:36:53 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Aug 14 03:36:53 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "22698568", "review_id": "b22b60cb12584cbf9a6d171f157c5176", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It's so fantastic! \n Can't believe the story can be so powerful that it gives me lots of feelings while reading it. \n Better than the first book though it's a little bit mess in the middle of the story. It's still a nice story. \n Really hate that I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK. \n I want to know what happen next!!!!!!! ><", "date_added": "Sat Apr 11 07:24:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 04 08:24:30 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "18481271", "review_id": "54f4cc226e2730ced0dcf8d10f19d822", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 stars for Warner", "date_added": "Wed Jan 21 02:53:57 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 17 23:37:12 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Feb 18 00:28:12 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "17331518", "review_id": "21ed4e1c46fcc217583895980c5b6d53", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Adam can be a nice big brother, but he can't be a wonderful boyfriend. He sees everyone as his responsibilities, taking care of them like parents. \n Maybe that's why the end is not like what we see at first.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 21 02:53:49 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 17 23:34:54 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Feb 18 00:28:37 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Feb 17 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "42899", "review_id": "3fe14bc51dcf7b2eefdc3bc5c5fb16b5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Best romance that I've ever read. \n Beth & Wrath are the wonderful couple. <3", "date_added": "Fri Jan 02 23:12:13 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 05 22:32:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "17926775", "review_id": "302e1b9ff5b0788107e134e60db72630", "rating": 4, "review_text": "THIS ENDING!!! I CAN'T HANDLE IT!!! \n WHERE THE HELL IS MY NEXT BOOK???? \n Magic. Trolls. Witches. Curse. Fortune-telling. The city underground. \n When these elements collide, *BOOM* it becomes a glamorous story. \n It also breaks the stereotype of trolls, making the whole story become more fascinating and letting the plot dig out the curiosity in our minds. \n Besides, there are lots of dramatic cliffhangers hidden in the plots. That's why I do want to read it as fast as I can to know what will happen at next. \n And I fall for Tristan!!! I LOVE the way he protect Cecile. \n (I want someone can protect me like him. > < *fangirling*", "date_added": "Tue Nov 04 03:51:21 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 23 08:27:35 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Aug 23 15:06:17 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Aug 22 07:33:44 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "17347389", "review_id": "76618bf73668863a400831c2be3f6116", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It's better than the first book. All things have started being puzzled. And the storyline is so so astonished. It blows my mind up. I really like how Maggie Stiefvater makes the story be so unique and will let you be addicted on it. Though the writing style, for me, making me have a little problem to get into the plots, I still very enjoy it. And, to be honest, I really like Chainsaw. She is so adorable.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 11 01:16:32 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 28 01:00:05 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jul 28 05:35:01 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "17675462", "review_id": "77da0a91059b57fed37e20e96d59835f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Update on 2017/07/21 \n I read this book a year ago. After re-reading it, I finally remember why I like this series. \n And I'm ready to finish this series during my summer vacation. \n *************************** \n 2016/03/05 \n How can it ends like this?!!! \n Really love this mysterious story filled with lots of fantastic elements. But it's not quite exciting as I think when I start reading it. Hope the sequels will bring more surprise to me.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 11 01:16:31 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 21 04:20:48 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jul 21 04:20:48 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "10576365", "review_id": "e47bb51c238581574eba281b1bfc1579", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Amazing work! \n Can't stop reading the story.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 04 03:10:43 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 05 22:33:07 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat May 02 03:06:34 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "13623150", "review_id": "c54daa1415afe1338345fcb0bd10b815", "rating": 5, "review_text": "IT DESTROY ME!!!!!!!! \n I'm in love with Warner again. \n Love him more than I can image.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 17 05:31:47 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 17 03:38:47 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Feb 17 03:38:47 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "70fd7b91953f86c2c27a15da63efb130", "book_id": "6487308", "review_id": "324e7001e3bceb1fa847e61f18293d5f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Due to the adaption movie, I reread one of the favorite books in my junior-high life. \n I still love Fallen. Honestly speaking, I don't have the same level passion as I reread it. \n But I remember the reason why this series brings me lots of wonderful memory. :) \n Hope that they will film the sequels of Fallen movie in the future!!!!", "date_added": "Sun May 04 04:17:54 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 04 08:06:07 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Dec 04 15:19:59 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Nov 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "fdc12d21a19b9c69b479a2b62cd6fa53", "book_id": "5126859", "review_id": "99460fb94ede39e65061dadacfc4abf8", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Two words: MAGICAL REALISM. My opinion: NOT FOR ME \n I know, great reviews, etc. BFD", "date_added": "Sat Apr 24 18:30:47 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 03 09:05:38 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Apr 24 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "05181351cab98de054282c6184051b39", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "d03c21ead3d16c78bd4f46be97993ede", "rating": 5, "review_text": "most amazing series ever!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 19 12:13:20 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 26 20:25:29 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "277191", "review_id": "b4b91928be83d912a3f6d2adbec6f382", "rating": 3, "review_text": "And our last audiobook of the trip. The bug was a bit disturbed by the killing, but we talked it out and all is right with the world.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 07 18:55:06 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 07 18:56:30 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "519048", "review_id": "127874b00035f0c85e783a5b2cc7fd54", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Another car trip audiobook. The Grace children's mother seems worried, but where is she most of the time???", "date_added": "Fri Jul 07 18:53:08 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 07 18:54:00 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "444304", "review_id": "5aa5884c65ae8e3ebbb6da6e1b125023", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Listened to the audiobook on our road trip. Cute story and narrated by Luke Skywalker...So there's that!", "date_added": "Fri Jul 07 18:52:03 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 07 18:53:00 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "349347", "review_id": "e67e56548f4bf2bb14a75d2c88c3e996", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I received this book through a Goodreads Giveawqay! \n Holy moly! An epic, for sure. \n I'm not sure if my meh for this book was because I couldn't sit and devote myself to it. Was it because there were all sorts of things going on in my world that were too much that didn't let me give my intellect to it? \n I like Goodreads because I get to see what my friends thought of books. And sometimes, like this time, I just don't agree. Everyone loves this one. I was meh. \n I think I get it. The whole god thing. It just didn't resonate with me.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 28 14:09:09 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 28 14:13:13 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jun 28 14:13:13 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "6690798", "review_id": "1430245260b26e6fbf65b771287fe1e4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This took so long to read! Part of it was that I went from audio to digital. But, it just seemed to go on and on! Now, did I like it? Sure. It was good. If I didn't have a TBR list a mile long, I'd read the rest of the trilogy. Heck, maybe someday I will. \n I enjoyed the speculation of unintended consequences. And finally! Vampires that make sense!", "date_added": "Tue Apr 25 03:36:55 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 22 06:21:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jun 22 06:21:42 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "28110852", "review_id": "8ae2221eefe2d90b182af0f2b85a05f7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was so excited to read this book, that I think I built it up a bit in my mind. \n This is the story of Luna, her grandmother, Xan, her poet-loving Bog-monster, and her Simply Enormous dragon. \n Luna was one of the Star Children, a child who was taken from its father and mother in order to feed to the witch, protecting the city. \n It is the story of magic and love. \n It brings up the ideas of what is inside (a person or a city) and what is on the outside. Where is the thing you must fear, really?", "date_added": "Wed Mar 22 08:53:53 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 02 11:19:47 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Sep 02 11:19:47 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Aug 17 18:29:54 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "21996362", "review_id": "0be91e3086145ff8c32c0a2b7cd2d129", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. \n The premise of this book was solid. It seems like Downey has a whole, vivid world in her head. For me though, there was too much description. \n I never thought I'd say that. \n It seemed like the vivid descriptions of how people were dressed, or what a crowded scene looked like didn't forward the plot, and for me got in the way. \n Again, I liked the action. I liked the story. It was just too much superfluous descriptions.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 24 05:08:49 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 27 12:15:39 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Oct 27 12:15:39 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "16030663", "review_id": "60062fcb6a12d8b279aa9d0c79bb91a5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I always am a bit uneasy reviewing books that I listen to instead of physically read. It's like a part of me wonders if it was better or not as good because I consumed it in a (perhaps) unintended medium. \n I didn't like this book at first. I found the voice of Jakob hard to get into. That said, once I was about 1/3 of the way into the story, I found the characters compelling. I felt like the storyline was predictable, though I was kept wondering if it would wonder from what I felt was an inevitable way of turning out. It didn't. \n I can see why people would really have enjoyed this book. Truly.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 23 11:17:03 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 19 16:43:50 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "27840861", "review_id": "7cdaebd15a89b7160b4e45837e2fdee8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I read this over several weeks, never getting really into it. So...is the simple \"liked it\" rating indicative of my lack of time or my lack of interest? Like the Toostie Pop, the world my never know. \n Things I liked include: the relationship between Wylan and Jesper. Learning more about Kaz's background. The group mentality of the core six. \n The thing that I found irritating was that there seems like there is no way that I could have figured out the twists and turns of the plot. Even in retrospect, there aren't any clues. I don't mind being in the dark, but I like to be able to look back and see where I could have picked up on things...", "date_added": "Tue Sep 06 05:13:28 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 11 11:05:13 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 11 11:05:13 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Nov 30 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "29058155", "review_id": "43cc806d74acdb253350ae862229ee14", "rating": 4, "review_text": "People had told me this was just fan-fiction. People had told me it was meh. Well, I liked that meh. \n I understand it's probably just nostalgia, but I liked it. I was caught up with the end I. The same way I was with other Harry Potter books. \n The reason I didn't give full points is because I wasn't a fan of the play version. I enjoy getting a bit more lost in the story. I'll look forward to the film!", "date_added": "Wed Aug 31 18:23:04 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 05 16:40:19 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Sep 05 16:40:19 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "23271637", "review_id": "edd76dd8c0dccde5a7d75d53438c7890", "rating": 3, "review_text": "What a creepy little book. \n This wasn't at all what I was expecting. I thought I would be reading a nice little book. Instead I read about a boy whose dreams are infiltrating his reality. \n I especially enjoyed the part about Mr. Nobody. I never expected Nicole's participation in this alternate reality. \n What is real? And, frankly, does it matter?", "date_added": "Mon Aug 29 07:51:19 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 04 13:24:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Oct 04 13:24:30 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "26042673", "review_id": "d2557648d74a07ad7eef42cb9c7c9832", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fun! \n A retelling of the Robin Hood story, this time though with Robyn being a teenage girl whose parents have been killed-or taken-by a corrupt government where a man named Crowne is in charge. \n There is excitement and mystery. One aspect I didn't see coming was the whole moon lore. It was fun. \n Friendship and individuality are explored here. How can Robyn be loyal to her family when it might put her friends in danger, and vice versa? Is it better to be alone when danger is an option, or to trust your friends?", "date_added": "Fri Aug 26 09:04:27 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 10 10:52:39 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Sep 10 10:52:39 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Aug 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "20560137", "review_id": "c4732e67727e1f216b8ace425d06fed0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Totally reading book two. It's a bit of a cliff hanger this one... \n The back and forth between he two main characters is good, giving perspective to the story it would otherwise lack. \n The violence was too much for me at times, but never unnecessary. \n The image of the mask was a great symbol for being stuck in a situation.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 30 04:43:37 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 09 18:39:45 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "2213661", "review_id": "4678aead0873ad15bd0b7fada20be25b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I found myself confused by this novel at first, a feeling of disquietude which was only lifted here and there. Perhaps that sense of confusion was a part of the text-a convention of the author, but perhaps it was just my own summer-brain. \n Bod's character was compelling, half within this world and half with-out. While I understand the \"ghostly\" nature of the other characters, I wished I could have learned more about Silas and Liza.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 26 08:08:50 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 30 10:38:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jun 30 10:38:30 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "4f6f71b79c800024ea7d326279a98118", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I listened to this one in audio. \n At first, I wasn't sure the audio would work. The timeline jumps, and there are a great number of characters. I often need to see ten names in order to remember them. \n But...it all worked out. \n And I really liked it. \n There was mystery, things I didn't see coming. \n There was beauty, not only in the setting-which was an obvious aspect-but in the relationships of the characters and in the writing itself. Talk about some beautiful images. \n There were characters I cared about. \n And, apparently, I'm a fan of authors who aren't afraid to do the things that I don't really want them to do-like having someone die. I don't like it, but I appreciate that the author respects me enough to not protect me from the yucky things in the world. \n A wonderful, fantastic read.", "date_added": "Tue May 10 03:28:25 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 17 18:34:28 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Dec 05 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "3871a51ed1b80b031cf6b1a84a8798c8", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It was okay. \n Clary isn't who she thought she was. When she and her mother get in a huge fight and she storms out, little doe Clary realize that the next time she goes home, she still have to fight a demon and then go on to fight for her life while trying to find her mother...along side some Shadowhunters. \n I can totally see why kids like it. Maybe I'll finish the series, but who knows. Too many other good books.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 20 06:04:02 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 30 10:45:18 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Apr 30 10:45:18 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "23281919", "review_id": "e244f70a9bddc0f2686b4f86df2f247c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "So good. \n Perhaps it's that my friend Carl has been talking about the movie Big Fish, but I felt that this novel was reminiscent of it for me. \n Micah's grandfather is dying, and his great-aunt Gertrudis is unable to be sympathetic. She in fact makes Micah's life miserable while the man he lives above all else is leaving him. \n But, there's the Circus Mirandus-a magical circus. This might be just what will help his grandfather. \n The relationship with his friend Jenny is sweet-it could have gone either way. \n I thoroughly enjoyed this read.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 08 03:47:37 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu May 05 17:18:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "4556058", "review_id": "b31dc949788c2041e543ed11e6171e0d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A solid ending. I can see why kids love the series, though I still contend that it doesn't hold a candle to my dear Mr. Potter. \n The best part of the series is how I usually didn't see things coming. I guessed who the spy was-I correctly-and figured out what Rachel's fate was-probably way later than I should have. Twists and turns were enjoyed by all.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 28 15:45:06 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 03 19:18:07 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "18077836", "review_id": "d0284fa829d15d13e4cd5e35ff3043bf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "What a pleasant surprise. Then Steampunk aspect of this novel left me smiling. \n Piper's character and voice came through. Her relationship with Anna was very sweet, and the action, especially on the 401, was great.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 19 04:43:51 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 08 18:39:50 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Mar 28 08:29:20 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Mar 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "2120932", "review_id": "fa3de65ceb0ab82c0328ce2c19d82ee0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Book four of the series. I'm looking forward to reading the last! \n I really enjoyed the addition of Rachel Elizabeth Dare--and the fact that she has three names. The idea of mortals being able to see through Mist and that Percy's mom can is neat. \n My new hypothesis about why these are so popular with kids while Harry Potter has gone to the side is that they don't become more complex as the series goes on. They are (fairly) predictable, and there is no \"death of Hedwig\" event. Now, we haven't gotten to the last one, so maybe I'm in for a super Tyson death, but my guess is no. \n These books are fun and I am really enjoying reading them, but they're not challenging on any level.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 15 03:25:40 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 26 19:49:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "8126116", "review_id": "7de667b2d37eb2973fd829d83437398b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I continue to enjoy this series. Percy is a bit of a dolt though. I mean, Athena just gave him a warning, and then he does something-no spoilers-that directly falls into the warning. \n I am intrigued by Luke. What is motivating him? I think it's what we see in many people-the need to be loved by those who are most important. \n In general, the characters of the gods are weak. But, maybe their flat characatures are purposeful. I guess hats how I would have played it, too, Mr. Riordan. I just don't like it.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 06 18:45:18 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 15 03:30:29 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 15 03:30:29 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "7583324", "review_id": "809fed482afc8531c85da506f974c350", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked this one. Riordan has a great sequel on his hands, as most of you know. \n Also...you all know my Harry Potter obsession. This is not Harry Potter. I appreciate how much more Riordan doesn't take his story seriously. There's a character named Rainbow-just sayin'. \n I don't think the series will be as good as Harry Potter. \n BUT \n I can't move a Harry Potter book in the library to save my soul. But Percy Jackson? Can't keep them in. I don't understand why. Is it that the writing's easier? Is it that there was too much Harry Potter hype? I will finish the series and report back.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 01 18:05:09 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 07 03:15:21 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "13436365", "review_id": "2af95120069a96f0de6179e7cea63cbb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "So...the wee one brought this book home from the library and we have spent our break reading it together. I enjoy Geronimo's attitude and the plays on words. I also enjoy the very visual colorful pages. It keeps the wee one engaged. And while I understand this book was not written for me, I do wish it was a bit less predicable. \n Read it again! Little dude thinks this is THE boom for the two of us. Oh well! I guess it could be worse!", "date_added": "Thu Dec 31 08:02:20 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 09 17:28:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Dec 23 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "22294935", "review_id": "7cd168e1d1698f60214b9279a8b87060", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Perhaps my review will be tainted by the fact that I speed read two-thirds of this book today because I got an email that my digital loan had already expired. So, when I went to put in my renewal request and it was still there, I said to myself, \"Self. Challenge accepted.\" \n Good thing it's summer. \n I was not particularly taken with this book at first. This was probably due to the fact that my expectations were pretty high. People I respect in the book world liked his one a fear deal. Then, the heist. And it was exciting and the characters were well-drawn. Now-and again, I sped read so forgive me-I didn't really get the last chapter of the novel. Perhaps it's point was to make me want to read the next one. But it didn't. \n I wish I loved it more.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 30 04:50:04 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 24 19:30:12 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "17182126", "review_id": "ab354058f2a3767dbf4a3851588079f5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A fun book! I haven't read many action books in a while, and this one delivered. It began with a murder that set the setting, and gave our protagonist his motivation. There were twists I didn't see coming, which I always appreciate. \n I will read the sequel.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 09 16:53:22 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 13 16:53:15 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Dec 20 15:27:43 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "18401393", "review_id": "33f7ead313a0138a8e433dc72a8bde6b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Really enjoyed this one. As Neil DeGrasse Tyson said, they \"science the shit\" out of everything! \n Sorry I cursed. \n It was exciting. It didn't go how I thought it would--I love it when that happens. The protagonist was snarky--I love it when the protagonist is snarky. I wanted to sit in a chair and read the last bit, not talking to anyone. I have a son and husband, so I didn't, but I wanted to. \n Not high literature, but high fun.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 17 18:56:26 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 25 17:39:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Nov 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "25695756", "review_id": "619cf2b4aee8c3b759c63840a0af63fc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Brain candy. \n I did a bunch of research after this one was done to see when book three came out because...well, I won't spoil anything, but because there's something that needs to be settled in my mind...and I can't find any evidence of there being another in the works. \n If you know of one, let me know. \n There is one character--the guy with the crystals--who I wasn't sure I understood the point of. But--and I might be giving more credit than I should, but I don't think so--after reflecting, I think that he supposed to make us think about perspective and monsters. To the Checquy the Grafters are scary monsters. And to the Grafters the Checquy are scary monsters. And there are Odette's friends who love her, but are doing these evil things. \n So...the crystal guy is just a guy. He's a guy who doesn't understand what's happening to him, and he's scared. And he's looking for Myfanwy to help him understand himself. But they kill him because he can't control his powers. \n Deep... :)", "date_added": "Tue Nov 17 16:48:32 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri May 05 10:54:41 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri May 05 10:54:41 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Apr 08 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "10836728", "review_id": "1b6cbbfb9eccc60e4214cca071eb2a8f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I liked it. \n I started this listening to it, and in glad I did because it got me into the character more hearing the accent and how names and places were pronounced. When I switched over to a hard copy, that crossed over, though the first time I saw the name Myfanwy I was a bit shocked. \n The premise was interesting right from the beginning, and it kept me guessing until the end. Defiantly didn't see the twists that occurred. \n I like a bit of strange with my coffee, and this provided that. \n Reading #2--again, so much fun. I read this for book group. The thing I liked even more about this reading? The sequal is out this time to sink my teeth into!", "date_added": "Mon Nov 09 03:32:50 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 08 03:29:31 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Apr 08 03:29:31 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "16131089", "review_id": "dcbc7a65b97637dfdc58ff1d8b2c3651", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really enjoyed the tongue-in-check riff on an epic quest. There were some sections that I found trying in their description. The end scene--no spoilers--was a bit confused.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 23 16:47:20 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 15 19:42:40 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Nov 13 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "20307078", "review_id": "6c0f7166734e4aea4bc23a9d862d38d1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I enjoyed how fast paced this was, but the story just didn't appeal to me. I think that kids will find themselves in Gabriel, Somes, Pamela, and Abigail, and I think they'll like to see how they might persevere in a trial. That said, I found their characters stock.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 11 07:48:17 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 19 15:53:40 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Oct 19 15:53:40 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "15791085", "review_id": "9e251e4f1593f3b896ca1298f82597c5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Meh. It was a good read, fast-paced and with a protagonist that was tough despite obstacles that should have gotten in her way--like the death of her mother. That said, it isn't my favorite book I've read recently. There was one character--Gavin--who I found unneeded. He seemed like he might come in handy in future books in the series, but his placement here felt off. \n As I write, I find that this book did have things I do look for. In particular, there was a female main character who did kick butt. And who doesn't appreciate a good one of those?", "date_added": "Mon Sep 28 17:37:43 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 11 07:53:50 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Oct 11 07:53:50 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "16068956", "review_id": "89bacb5c6a6c10b708a4e662fa951438", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a fun book, set in modern-day Canada with one notable difference--dragons! It's told from the point of view of Owen's bard, Siobhan. I enjoyed her attitude toward the whole endeavor of getting in with dragon slayers. It seemed reasonable that she would take on the responsibilities she does at the end of the novel. \n Another aspect I enjoyed? Something I've waited a while for recently in literature--a female protagonist that was not motivated by love for a man. A strong, female role.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 06 03:49:14 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 17 13:44:13 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "18405537", "review_id": "9c7a8e899ac049099793b3dc5db77564", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A fantastic tale, told by a story-teller just as skilled as the ones in his book. \n I enjoyed the fast-passed nature of this story. I also was impressed with the fact that I didn't know where it was going at any one time. The plot twisted just enough. I my opinion, there were mysteries of the tree that weren't fully explained, but I'm okay with that. I don't need tight little story packages like others seem to. \n This would be a great book for all of those kids asking for scary books!", "date_added": "Sun Aug 16 04:49:10 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 09 16:57:08 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Aug 22 04:34:59 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "20708754", "review_id": "66314839c7397ff3af8a64d695eddfbd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Oh, geez this was fun. \n Now, I will first and foremost say that this book goes against the one thing I've been complaining about recently. The protagonist is a female and she is obsessed with a boy. I will reiterate that I am wanting a strong female in a role that is not motivated by the love a boy, but for now, I'm willing to get over it. \n Because this book was fun. Evil Librarian? Yes, please. How could I resist. It was funny and suspenseful and a great summer read.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 28 05:36:03 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 04 05:19:17 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jul 31 11:27:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "18131", "review_id": "4757eb1062320cb7e10785c03a8f3f47", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Categories/Genres for this class fulfilled by this book: Middle Grades \n Estimate of age level of interest: Grades 5-10 \n Estimate of reading level: Grade 5 \n Brief description: \n Meg is a bit of an outcast. Her family is odd; her little brother is a \"moron\" and her father has gone away. This is the fantastic story of how Meg, her little brother, and their friend--with the help of three eccentric \"ladies\" go out getting Meg's father back. \n Identify at least 2 characteristics of this genre and subgenre and discuss how they appear in your book: \n This novel shows the characteristics of science fiction for the middle grades. It first deals with issues (in a futuristic way) that are important to middle school children today. This book speaks directly to the idea that who people are as individuals is important. Only Meg could save Charles Wallace. With all of her \"flaws\", she was still the one he loved, and it was this love she had that could destroy IT. Middle school kids are all trying to figure out who they are, and this book tells them that any form of what they are is not only okay, but is perfect. \n This novel also helps kids to develop their imagination. They have never experienced other worlds or a tesseract, but they can read about it and imagine it to be. They can imagine what Mrs. Whatsit looks like when she is no longer a person but instead a mythical-looking animal. And Aunt Beast's tentacles are something to imagine caressing you. \n In what ways and how well does the book as a whole serve its intended audience?: \n This novel does a wonderful job bringing middle school aged kids into an alternative world. It keeps the action and emotion grounded in the now which allows kids to go beyond what they can imagine in other areas--namely the other worlds and creatures. \n Awards if any: \n Margaret A. Edwards Award 1998 \n Newbery Medal 1963 \n Links to published reviews from professional sources: \n Horn Book Guide starred Spring 2013", "date_added": "Thu Jul 09 11:46:04 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 14 11:03:07 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jul 14 11:03:07 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "17343391", "review_id": "c7892f23fef7d26f2b353fc9ae4fdb93", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Again, not the best series I've read, but YA girls will live these when I bring them to the front of the library next school year. Gwenyth is a relatable girl, though her infatuated taste in men is a bit cliche. \n While I won't put in any spoilers, my favorite part of the book was the last bit. For those who've read it, I always wondered why that guy seemed to care for Gwenyth and want to help her so much. It was a nice, feel-good tie in.", "date_added": "Thu May 14 15:21:03 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 02 01:40:26 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu May 28 16:48:36 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "17254055", "review_id": "39895b242b5817cf4527ad678daa6859", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Dang you, Gier! Now I have to invest even more time into this series! My hope was in and out. My hope was to not even read number two. But you...you...you put in these stopping points--these endings--that aren't endings, and so I have to pick up the next book. This series should have been one big book. But, it's not.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 28 03:03:31 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 31 01:25:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed May 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "8835379", "review_id": "e7725ae3f8efe6df1b392931dbb0fc09", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Categories/Genres for this class fulfilled by this book: YA \n Estimate of age level of interest: Grades 8-12 \n Estimate of reading level: Grade 8 \n Brief description: \n Gwenyth knew she was from a family of time travelers; the gene was given to her cousin Charlotte. What she didn't know is that her and her family's assumptions were wrong--the gene was given to her. Along with her new time traveling buddy, the hunky Gideon, Gwenyth must figure out this new way of life an how to travers it so that she comes out alright in the end. \n Identify at least 2 characteristics of this genre and subgenre and discuss how they appear in your book: \n Young adult literature makes its protagonist a teenager, someone the audience can relate to. Gwenyth is that character (Chance, 11). She's a modern-day teenager who is awkward and holds angsty feelings toward her grandmother. She crushes on and gets super annoyed with her new time traveling partner. All in all, she's believable in this unbelievable situation. \n The style of YA literature also includes a lot of dialogue that avoids long descriptions (Chance, 11). Gier does this in her writing. She writes from Gwenyth's point of view in a way that is down-to-earth, humorous, provides believability in her character. The movement of the book is fast-paced and driven equally by actions and relationships. \n In what ways and how well does the book as a whole serve its intended audience?: \n YA girls will relate instantly to Gwenyth's awkward nature and will be attracted to Gideon's hunkiness. They will enjoy the idea of traveling to different time periods and being dressed up with period clothing, people doting on Gwenyth and driving her around in limousines. While this is not high literature, it is very engaging literature. \n Awards if any: \n Booklist starred 04/15/11 \n Links to published reviews from professional sources: \n Horn Book Guide Fall 2011 \n Kirkus Reviews April 1, 2011 \n Library Media Connection October 2011 \n School Library Journal June 1, 2011", "date_added": "Tue Apr 21 17:51:25 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 16 11:21:25 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "20522640", "review_id": "bea928e4d2dde6b7970dfb5cb5b44c0a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Done. Didn't see where the relationship in this one was going, and that was kind of nice.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 26 11:04:08 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 27 13:02:02 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Mar 27 13:02:02 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "9943270", "review_id": "47426df57db2a62ec1b5aed56d84838c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was not enchanted by Grave Mercy--book one in the series. It was only okay. For some reason though, I picked up book two as a bit of mindless brain candy over the holiday break. I'm glad I did. \n This one had much better character development with our protagonist; she was complicated. And I liked that. \n While I will not recommend the series to anyone who is a \"serious\" (hump, hmmm...) reader, I will recommend it to anyone who is in need of a bit of trashy brain candy. For that, it's a keeper!", "date_added": "Tue Dec 23 02:54:11 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 15 05:53:55 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 15 05:53:55 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Dec 23 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "9565548", "review_id": "62a1c6dd810793e49efb4d7de9aaba72", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Assassin nuns? Women who kill men who mess with the duchess? Poison and miniature crossbows hidden under skirts? Yeah, I'm in. \n Unfortunately, I have to say that while it was a mindless, fun read, I wouldn't categorize this as particularly well-written. There were even typos in the manuscript. \n But, if you're looking to get the young people in your life to pick up a book, try it out!", "date_added": "Mon Sep 08 12:30:56 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 04 06:13:52 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Sep 30 16:47:17 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "8621462", "review_id": "ea9323c39fce398f79fa10ea60b5eb8b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I either read this at just the right or just the wrong time. I haven't figured out which yet. With two people I love dying in as many weeks, I admittedly sobbed like a baby at the end. \n I really enjoyed the story and the illustrations in the book. I don't typically read novels with pictures, so they were nice to see. \n 2017 Read--I openly wept. Ness is one of my favorite authors. He respects his reader and doesn't sugar coat anything. \n This is a beautiful modern-day fairytale.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 23 03:46:04 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 01 03:38:19 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Nov 23 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "33531", "review_id": "bc88073a3c0f88d256bed9091a8ed827", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really like this novel. It's not my typical sort of read, but I enjoy teaching it, so it makes it seem better than it otherwise no might be. Maybe that's the key. \n 2017 Reqding: in this, my 2,000,000th reading of Dracula, I can still say that I like it. Perhaps it comes from there fact that it's such a fun book to teach! I loved shocking the kids with some of the analysis. Fun, fun!", "date_added": "Tue Mar 05 03:36:48 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 08 20:55:25 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Mar 14 11:22:04 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "6425725", "review_id": "d1fc27c43a537c404302892c1c431219", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Okay, I never do this. I mean, never. But, it has taken me since, what, May to come to terms with it. I was only 180 pages into the book, and I wasn't going any faster. My friend Amanda came over, I was complaining about the book, and she said, \"Don't finish it.\" \n \"Oh, I don't do that. I always finish.\" \n \"Not this time.\" And she took it. And now I feel a little bit better.", "date_added": "Mon May 28 18:51:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 12 04:15:13 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jul 12 04:15:13 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "28187", "review_id": "5ac8cdee2eacae3d622377fbccbdbb2b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ahhhh...that was a needed read after Grapes of Wrath! It was fun and while I'll admit I wasn't putting full brain-power into it, I didn't see the end coming until the Coke cans! I think I'll read the next one as soon as I can find some time for more brain candy.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 20 17:53:03 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 01 18:06:29 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Aug 08 05:55:02 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "5899779", "review_id": "72800e476beb6a67d41f96b90d57d1d4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "As a friend who recommended it to me said, \"It's Pride and Predjudice, and the zombies are in all of the right places.\". I liked the little bits of subtle humor, especially the play on the word \"balls\". If you need some brain candy, here you go.", "date_added": "Mon May 31 18:59:59 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 14 14:50:49 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Wed Jul 14 14:50:49 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Mon May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "6541090", "review_id": "6055205f8f486f76a1c6a1bca5cf5cae", "rating": 2, "review_text": "So, I wasn't that impressed. Perhaps it's because I don't really know the story \"The Little Matchstick Girl\", but I was pretty \"eh\" about the whole thing.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 10 18:42:55 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 10 18:44:35 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Wed Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "18122", "review_id": "0934758f08bd9b4a1343c5946af5db2e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really liked the way this triology ended, and I'm hard to please with endings. The relationship between Lyra and Will was interesting to me, and there was one section between Lyra and her daemon that I (literally) cried. It was the saddest thing ever.", "date_added": "Sat May 23 18:56:00 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 21 08:03:58 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sun Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "119322", "review_id": "3ce3ba66faa117e42790912012ff55a4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I found the beginning of this book hard to get into. I almost put it down, but I'm glad I didn't because the ending was a page turner! I had heard all sorts of negative things about the book and religion, but I didn't see anything too bad.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 11 17:33:49 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 25 04:55:00 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Fri Apr 24 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "1162543", "review_id": "e44dbf6b193a530a5ed1c7ae61961da4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm glad I read this series. It was totally fun, and now I can talk to the girls at school about it! If you like light, easy-to-read stuff, then you'll like this. This book in particular surprised me a couple of times. I'm usually pretty good at predicting, but I simply stopped trying after a while here.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 25 10:12:22 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 03 09:59:57 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "428263", "review_id": "0c7368e586f72b79446941f246b74e88", "rating": 3, "review_text": "So, I've continued my Twilight saga. I have to admit that I'm enjoying reading them even more than I thought I would. The vampire/warewolf/human thing usually isn't my taste. But, I'll read the last one next...I need to find out how the realtionships turn out. I am enjoying the way the story is unfolding, but I'm worried that the ending of the series will be trite. Here's hoping...", "date_added": "Mon Jan 19 04:13:40 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 06 08:29:07 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Fri Feb 06 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "49041", "review_id": "58123f443a4e01951805a73bc4e910ae", "rating": 3, "review_text": "So, in this one Bella gets a best friend who I, frankly, like better than Edward the vampire. There's more to it than that, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone. Now I'm curious how this is going to work out...so I have to keep reading. I can totally see why my students like this series. It's easy and fun. I was telling Kevin today that while it has \"boy book\" elements, it's really not a boy book.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 01 17:32:17 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 17 08:40:19 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Fri Jan 16 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "3950967", "review_id": "0889b72ccc8815e896acc587460a767f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Dumbledore's commentary is amusing. The stories are cute. Doesn't bring any extra insight to the Harry Potter books, if that's what you're looking for.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 01 06:54:05 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 01 17:31:54 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "65641", "review_id": "612ed271b2178be59ca409621c48cfd5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "So, after trudging through The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, this book was a breath of fresh air. Peter, Susan, Edmond, and Lucy aren't in it. There is just Eustance and Jill. And they have an adventure that is easy to understand and entertaining. Dawn Treader lacked those things.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 14 19:03:21 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 06 10:01:39 -0800 2008", "read_at": "Wed Nov 05 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "5434674e68b813940d63dd0bb72ab876", "rating": 3, "review_text": "You know, I've been reading a bunch of brain-candy books lately. It's not something that I usually do during the school year. It's usually Wuthering Heights followed by The Great Gatsby, and then, for good measure, throw in a little My Antonia. But not this year. Nope. Brain-candy. Brain-candy. Brain-candy. Twilight's characters were not deep. The plot was a bit predictable. But...it was fun. And I liked it. And if you don't want to think that much and want to read something quickly that makes you want to turn pages, then read it.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 09 18:42:51 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 01 06:53:33 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Wed Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "7733", "review_id": "d32e1db72706a21a7325e6a8dfe02cc3", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I read it in high school, and now I'm teaching it. Yeah, I think it's good for kids as far as cultural literacy goes, and I think it gets to what Dennis and I are teaching right now (government types, primarilty), but it's not a book that I'm looking forward to reading every year. But, the downfall of the English teacher strikes again...", "date_added": "Tue Sep 09 18:38:13 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 01 16:37:08 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "121749", "review_id": "66eb970abdb91a0b867ec74f77f75571", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I didn't like this as much as the first three. I didn't feel there was enough about Caspian. And, I know I should compair it to the movie, but there was all sorts of tension between Caspian and Peter in the movie...not in the book. And where was the sexual tension between Susan and Caspian? Not there.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 14 14:06:54 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 31 05:37:39 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sat Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "980883", "review_id": "c9deddac292f6800b5c130c14a923ba1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I can see why this one didn't make the cut to turn into a movie. I really enjoyed it (perhaps because I didn't know what was going to happen next). Aslan was very much a Christ figure in this book, which I always find interesting.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 14 14:04:19 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 14 14:06:19 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Wed Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "100915", "review_id": "794e2b7ed67520cc8b2f480b74734b65", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm enjoying reading this series. I wish I would have read this before I saw the movie...but oh well.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 06 09:08:27 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 14 14:04:05 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Tue Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f9d166ab9038f2ea54dff7c639cc7cd2", "book_id": "65605", "review_id": "ee728f5f5ea9b80e187112ac01cdb79b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I've never read the Narnia books before, and Kevin has them and liked them. Since school is starting in two weeks (!) I figured I should get my last hurrah of summer light reading in. Little did I know that I would finish that book and be able to start the next.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 04 14:09:50 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 06 09:01:44 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Wed Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc3d1eb7c3a013750d30d548985e656d", "book_id": "5996153", "review_id": "d2a2ab0048aa005c3ffd428e4c79db4a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "COME ON. so good.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 02:02:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 08 02:07:33 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc3d1eb7c3a013750d30d548985e656d", "book_id": "2802316", "review_id": "0d8cbacb05b37b1b2f2f56bc0dd36f3f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ugh. So good.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 02:01:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 08 02:07:32 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc3d1eb7c3a013750d30d548985e656d", "book_id": "2282133", "review_id": "e2416bad13efbbea833d478351372939", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Can these books get any better?!! I think not.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 02:01:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 08 02:01:49 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jan 23 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc3d1eb7c3a013750d30d548985e656d", "book_id": "345627", "review_id": "2719e648d06ce2fcc6a9cfd87a835830", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amazing. So so so amazing.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 02:00:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 08 02:01:13 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc3d1eb7c3a013750d30d548985e656d", "book_id": "6134826", "review_id": "497fa4aada0119ec1920261588f9b124", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Really good! Probably would have been better had I read the first book...haha.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 01:59:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 08 01:59:58 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon May 12 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cc3d1eb7c3a013750d30d548985e656d", "book_id": "6068551", "review_id": "8d8e2c7aac83f5e9de75ad7dbc7e18ca", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Shiver was pretty good. Better than I thought it would be.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 01:56:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 08 01:57:48 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "49a3fd41890d8bf2b20f2ff1a2e79471", "book_id": "31304766", "review_id": "b4ad5ba3c91a5ee8d4756bf1e5e0ffcc", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It was fun to be back in the Harry Potter world for a day but this eight installment really does not add anything to the original story. It might work as a play but not as a book. The plot is a bit 'out there' and some characters like Ron and Hermione are lack depth and are only there for comic relief. Bit disappointing.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 31 21:19:08 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 11 23:41:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4c81558da52fd5a9fcad1967db610669", "book_id": "25530632", "review_id": "8f2e85c9501c4e6aee66dafee74d47df", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Neni to sice ve srovnani s jinymi dily zadna bomba a jednu hvezdicku pridavam spis z nostalgie, ale predevsim jsem rad, ze jsem si nejakou novou Zemeplochu vubec mohl jeste precist.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 21 05:19:43 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 21 05:25:57 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jan 21 05:25:57 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4c81558da52fd5a9fcad1967db610669", "book_id": "13495406", "review_id": "270e92cd91180a36cd83b54b09af1c62", "rating": 4, "review_text": "My second book from Ajvaz was even more complex than the first one. While Tyrkysovy orel (Turquoise Eagle) was \"just\" a story inside a story inside a story... on 160 pages, Prazdne ulice (Empty Streets) are incredibly many serial as well as parallel stories, this time on 530 pages. The imagination of Ajvaz is amazing and I loved to read all the stories, no matter how much they were important for the main plot. The only thing I missed was any difference in style among all the stories told by so many different characters. I admit that this my demand could be caused by my recent reading of David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas where every story is in completely different genre and style. This is however what I've lacked in Prazdne ulice and why I don't rate it better. \n PS: I put it into fantasy category but it's actually more magic realism.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 05 23:44:50 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri May 10 11:09:31 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4c81558da52fd5a9fcad1967db610669", "book_id": "67967", "review_id": "e1c91f4cabeadff8231e91a3a1f60da5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I already read the story earlier but I must say that the adaptation is very accurate and the visual side is excellent.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 18 03:40:36 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 29 11:53:49 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4c81558da52fd5a9fcad1967db610669", "book_id": "8564065", "review_id": "d256e4d2b6475ba5e358a396910445aa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Nechapu, jak je mozne, ze ten chlap jeste nepise hollywoodske scenare. Ta trilogie je vic film nez roman! :-)", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 01:13:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 26 12:30:05 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Mar 26 12:30:05 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "1113545", "review_id": "f46755f758e2b3c5369d4a578bb7b99c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not my favorite but one that I think my son would enjoy. Loved all of Fablehaven book by Mull and will continue to read his others. Fun author.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 20 22:18:08 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 20 22:19:14 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "12926132", "review_id": "29c9b6de9eb56c95c25696fc287324d1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Enjoyed it as much as book #1. Love her character. Shannon Hale can do no wrong for me.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 20 22:00:34 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 20 22:01:42 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "8331312", "review_id": "1b1d0283e89c7dea10aeb2d2d37a7093", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Easy read. Needed something that wasn't deep. Perfect.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 09 16:08:18 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 09 16:08:44 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "172734", "review_id": "7e014d3ed8c9afa5ce94ccfd41ee4766", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Not in the mood for this one. It didn't keep my interest at all. Didn't finish, which is very rare for me. The story is a fun idea. Maybe I just needed something different.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 06 12:53:32 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 26 08:40:15 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "5983694", "review_id": "4cf0c8a8531c10fd14a781b411c593cb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fun fun read to do with the kids. We all got into the small clues throughout that lead to the next.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 20 05:25:35 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 27 13:59:22 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "3607543", "review_id": "29dde9ccb8b58b64062605dffb791da4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoy Dokey's play on old tales. 3.8 on this one.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 27 17:39:37 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 03 18:31:49 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Mar 03 18:31:49 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "394726", "review_id": "a2381561529506fe7b27be5a01c90458", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Not her best. I like some of the others so much more. Too much inner duologue for my liking.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 27 17:37:01 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 30 10:49:12 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "2974811", "review_id": "8de97bfe32ed28816468301b0632fc3a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Interesting enough that I read it quickly. Too much info in the first part and not enough in the second.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 27 17:36:59 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 30 05:55:04 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Mar 21 13:23:52 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "394724", "review_id": "3274d9fc530d3587de5794c8fc170c25", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not smitten by this one. Totally different spin on the original which I like from Dokey but just not my cup of tea.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 27 17:36:57 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 10 18:40:31 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "248290", "review_id": "95ee47d63c668f55e75bf3ffbb73f607", "rating": 3, "review_text": "So much better than the last one I read of hers.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 27 17:36:54 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 05 09:13:37 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Feb 05 09:13:36 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "106489", "review_id": "5c3c38dbf5001106deb538dc0db44900", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Nice clean read. Interesting enough to get me to bed early reading it. That's usually how I can tell.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 27 17:34:43 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 27 17:39:18 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Sat Dec 10 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "367349", "review_id": "d5552e6d3ef0ad54d32da089e94b6f33", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I've been enjoying this Once Upon A Time series. Done by multiple authors. I've only read Dokey so far. I like the completely new spin on a classic.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 27 17:33:14 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 27 17:34:17 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Tue Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "7669259", "review_id": "d60a9b3f180612b991b9e1ae8162a4d5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Wanted the ending to be about 4 chapters instead of 2. I could have kept reading. Please one more in this series.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 17 11:22:24 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 17 11:22:37 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Mon Nov 14 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "6390465", "review_id": "c6e4858704710fe44649e4eca2ee4c43", "rating": 4, "review_text": "On to book 3!", "date_added": "Sun Nov 06 13:59:17 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 17 11:22:54 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "6294", "review_id": "bd5d974d1629da11c8a5621d496436d3", "rating": 2, "review_text": "For some I just didn't flow this book like I thought I would but I forced myself to finish it. about 3/4 of the way into the book I saw the movie which, although different from the book in many ways, helped but some of the random people and places of the book into a setting a could understand.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 30 09:43:50 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 12 09:17:12 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sun Oct 30 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "688191", "review_id": "452cbcc0fdbd32ba18462927a4da4412", "rating": 4, "review_text": "good stuff", "date_added": "Sun Oct 30 09:43:11 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 06 13:58:53 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sun Oct 30 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "1931915", "review_id": "8f5329d594a31a38184c1961c0e89068", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A unique tale with a how-would-you-handle-this aspect throughout.I wish they wrapped more items up at the end but still a good read.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 16 16:31:43 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 28 18:58:52 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Thu Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sun Oct 16 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "9466032", "review_id": "3ea00f690d153e1b68fd94dc4d2ac46f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Fun easy book. Nothing too notable.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 23 09:03:06 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 10 16:57:53 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Fri Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "7090447", "review_id": "9bd23b7f06996373ea4944a46fe7db12", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Entertaining enough. Definitely didn't like it as much as the other series. Maybe just b/c I'm not as familiar with Egyptians gods as I am with the Greek ones.", "date_added": "Tue May 31 19:28:46 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 21 13:28:57 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Mar 21 13:28:57 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Mar 03 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "9591398", "review_id": "ef44f1d7d7aeaa012d10274ebc0da431", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It sounded like a good story but is way too wordy for my liking. Way too many names and other proper nouns for me to remember. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for it.", "date_added": "Tue May 31 19:26:27 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 10 16:59:14 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sat Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "2120932", "review_id": "b249f9f44657e6d4c9e51713cd7e55ac", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Decided to watch the movie after I finished all these books. I'll take a break from Riordan for awhile but I'll definitely come back to his other series later.", "date_added": "Wed May 11 09:55:36 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 22 18:29:09 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sat Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Wed May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "561456", "review_id": "ef0e281bea54266d918a31de53eeee5f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "On to book 4. Is it sad that I'm entertained by Juvenile literature?", "date_added": "Wed Apr 27 06:47:15 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed May 11 09:55:11 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sat May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Wed Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "7583324", "review_id": "9fe2a7ebe7fcc7e4dc6742366b2108a2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I can tell it's a good book by how much I want to go to bed early to read. This got me to bed early most days. On to the next.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 09 13:26:12 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 27 06:46:59 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sat Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "1582996", "review_id": "a909dd312c11040af919e55a4e73785d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Entertaining enough that I'll read #3 but a little \"Twilighty\" for me.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 09 13:23:56 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 09 13:24:52 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "bda4f67afb25721dc2b3c36d93f80af8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Did this one on CD. Entertaining enough to help me get the house clean.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 04 19:26:56 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 09 13:21:54 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Mon Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "65605", "review_id": "f6ecd8fcddefe8c6a7d87e29f83ee7c9", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Didn't finish.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 01 05:58:12 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 30 16:21:54 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "28187", "review_id": "205ee7bba68f67df9e77ea4b174a9bdb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fun read for 3 days of snow.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 01 05:57:48 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 01 15:27:21 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "24337", "review_id": "05df65eda9e37999cfc6b2241f071197", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The more youth literature I read the more I think I should just stick to this genre. I'm hardly ever offended by words, deeds or situations. \n What a cute easy read. I spent the afternoon enjoying the tale of Ella and her curse. I felt for her in each of her encounters and was anxious to have her curse removed.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 13 05:06:19 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 18 15:35:00 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Mon Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "1656001", "review_id": "7fbb417aa16fc892d789b30e3cffc95c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Thought the beginning and ending were very interesting. It got a little slow in the middle with all the cave info: \"tunnel this, tunnel that\". I would definitely reread it again someday. I love a good plot where you never are quite sure who should 'win'. Good vs Good. After finishing it I reread the first couple chapters which made much more sense after I understood things better.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 17 15:50:26 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 03 12:14:53 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Wed Mar 03 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Thu Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "46202", "review_id": "a6450c2cd323fe136cd75a05a00d6dc9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Again I couldn't put it down. It's pretty harsh in parts and I'm not sure I can handle reading the last one. I wish it were a little more PG b/c I do love the writing and the storyline.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 15 08:10:42 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 15 08:12:40 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Fri Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "6407514", "review_id": "cb57e7a56307243126e729fdcf4c0e4b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book lacked the confident young lady found in the other series books. Rin spent a lot of time figuring out her talents (which I was able to discern 4 chapters in). She also spent a lot of time unsure of herself. There was less adventure then the other books but that said, I still enjoy any adventure that Shannon Hale produces.", "date_added": "Sat May 23 13:26:54 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 12 13:19:30 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Thu Nov 12 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "60510", "review_id": "08845fbfb54fd098b4a4ddee6d10c1f2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Good pick Amy.I enjoyed the concept a lot but wish it was put into a cleaner 'Goose Girl' form. Great story though. I could hardly put it down.", "date_added": "Tue May 19 10:59:55 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat May 23 13:21:44 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sat May 23 13:21:44 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "1332982", "review_id": "7f915019c82e1347138f53a2cf7295b2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I declare this the summer I reread some of my favorites. Great as always! (2011) \n Reading it again. Loved it the first time around and thought I'd refresh my memory with another read for book group. (2010)", "date_added": "Sat Aug 16 05:19:40 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 12 13:42:52 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "4214", "review_id": "0756272f8da6ce0285fb8ef775c37e28", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Everyone seemed to love this book but I'm a quarter of the way through and can't understand all the hype. I think I'll stop reading it unless someone gives me a good reason to finish. Maybe I didn't make it to the good part yet.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 12 10:51:19 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 26 06:23:11 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "248470", "review_id": "f6702fc65db52f5ab5791216ede0b8ba", "rating": 4, "review_text": "First read in 2008. Reread and enjoyed Razo humorous character.", "date_added": "Mon May 05 06:38:40 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 11 09:20:39 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "248482", "review_id": "086fc42b83d03b32af218bbc1edb7964", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I didn't enjoy it as much as Goose Girl. The burning is a lot less peaceful than the wind of Goose Girl. I still enjoy anything Shannon Hale has to write (2008).", "date_added": "Wed Apr 30 06:50:15 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 11 09:19:33 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "248484", "review_id": "b0fc0375aa72df7efa9dd841adc8197f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Rereading. Loved it in 2008 and am so excited to try it again.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 27 15:04:12 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 28 10:36:03 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Fri Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "30d3b2b83ded519143a9d63d8362d26f", "book_id": "5907", "review_id": "e19edaced07cf498ee1aad751133c9fd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Everyone should have one great adventure story that they love. This is mine.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 06:09:26 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 28 06:13:49 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "22489107", "review_id": "393f4f0cd47f2abfcfed6cd93a3d03fe", "rating": 4, "review_text": "oH DAMMIT MEYER U DID IT AGAIN U FUGGIN DID IT AGAIN", "date_added": "Sat Aug 29 18:25:32 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 29 18:43:36 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Aug 30 18:43:36 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "20813789", "review_id": "325fccdab70990409de43bdf095f9ae2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "aw no :')", "date_added": "Fri Aug 21 19:09:24 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 21 19:09:39 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Aug 22 19:09:39 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "18705209", "review_id": "998a8c8f7910fb3628b77c9af3a9719c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.9 stars \n i may've expected more (considering it's the LAST book after all) but anyways it was an enjoyable read. \n i will surely miss the gang and i just..*sigh* i'll keep the PJO and HOO series tucked safely in the depths of my heart . \n Thank you Mr. Riordan for the awesome adventure!", "date_added": "Mon Oct 27 22:20:26 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 28 02:19:44 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Oct 28 02:19:44 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "21408380", "review_id": "ddefa8d63ae0616bb2bfe785c3fb7b7d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "lol rayna", "date_added": "Tue May 27 22:39:07 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue May 27 22:39:35 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "8755785", "review_id": "3f238963781811e4a57476e4aefe2434", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.75 stars \n Aw I almost cried. I think that was a satisfying ending for this series. Ave atque vale TMI. \n P.S. Can someone tell Clare tho to pls avoid cliffhangers esp if shes going to make us wait 2 darn years for the next installment x", "date_added": "Tue May 27 21:50:55 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu May 29 04:01:56 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu May 29 04:01:56 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "18525702", "review_id": "b2c3797c579770c5e9b1e602d7091fe5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars", "date_added": "Tue May 20 05:27:20 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue May 20 21:01:25 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "15513156", "review_id": "11c04cfaae03cbfbaeb16ed7cdaa0410", "rating": 2, "review_text": "barely-2 stars \n wtf *disappointed sigh*", "date_added": "Sun May 18 01:37:46 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun May 18 01:38:37 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun May 18 01:38:37 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "12425532", "review_id": "837ebbcf37182d5fd0d865e71eda613d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n Predictable as heck. But it was easy to read and enjoyable so *shruggs*", "date_added": "Tue May 13 04:54:41 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat May 17 01:54:03 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat May 17 01:54:03 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri May 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "6261522", "review_id": "95a165e5427946c1a52a2ad0c68a744b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n it was pretty alright", "date_added": "Thu Apr 24 17:42:41 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 26 01:27:01 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Apr 26 01:27:01 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Apr 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "15792316", "review_id": "1000e9be4a648ba6b9a27b1fc22574d3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Wasn't expecting something marvelous so that's prolly why I'm satisfied. It's such an easy and enjoyable read x", "date_added": "Mon Mar 24 17:47:53 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 25 03:20:29 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Mar 25 03:20:29 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Mar 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "18844839", "review_id": "f4a6ec2df20112afac9eb690254f057a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "If you'd just go with the flow you'd probably like it too :)", "date_added": "Mon Mar 03 03:48:47 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 24 03:29:56 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Mar 24 03:29:56 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "11988046", "review_id": "6ec83168ec0841bd977e6ba0020b39ff", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.55 stars \n It wasn't as spectacular as I thought but it's an easy read and I liked it. x", "date_added": "Sat Mar 01 21:58:59 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 22 18:30:46 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "19208103", "review_id": "8a91e61b1e9e2cc67437bf13a95d96d1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Aww that was so sad.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 11 04:58:24 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 11 04:58:48 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Feb 11 04:58:48 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "13188676", "review_id": "47ae28b0af7f6c159dd7ac680506c03a", "rating": 1, "review_text": "what the fuck", "date_added": "Tue Feb 04 04:17:05 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 17 16:45:48 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Feb 11 06:19:45 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "14061957", "review_id": "f8cbc85caa0cdc6f00b5c8f0966760cf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.5 stars \n tbh i'm not quite sure how I feel towards this.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 11 16:54:31 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 14 02:16:33 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "17756559", "review_id": "b18a8602ebaa2a1a83a95907d262f1ca", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.89 stars \n Strangely I like Kestrel's character.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 29 15:14:39 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 06 03:52:43 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "18478946", "review_id": "82844d90131b3e5cee868c1c5dbabfae", "rating": 0, "review_text": "oh my gahd \n kami heard our wishes for a Ridley-link book and now it's happening omfg giMME", "date_added": "Mon Dec 23 16:29:59 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 23 16:30:46 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "18360128", "review_id": "924a1349e11bf5955565287c78d02479", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Truly amazing. Wow. I loved it. Favorite novella of mine so far. All the little details amazed me. The writing style is captivating, enchanting, just... ugh! \n Mik is adorable. Karou's adorable. Zuzana's adorable. EveryONE'S FUGGIN ADORABLE. And speaking of Zuzana. Gahd, I love her even more so now. She's a walking contradiction. Probably the cutest, most-terrifying girl ever haha. \n I love how real Z is. semi- (Like one time she was like talking about something far from eyelids and then somehow recalled a memory of her peeking beneath her closed eyelid - which was quite an amusing story. Or that one time when she's creeping on Mik and had the urge to pee. And when she thought of something with the word 'cake' on it, she mused 'Mmmm. Cake' omg. Also, the fact that she just Googled all the Latin terms. And she asked a couple to boost her up. And she even had a best friend before Karou - who is now in Poland. Her emotions just feel so real. Her enthusiasm, grief, disappointments, excitement, joy, everything! \n Laini Taylor you've impressed me once again. *clap clap*", "date_added": "Tue Dec 03 13:35:29 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 18 19:14:38 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "6357708", "review_id": "f5b126295cac0cb962c3ebdba8fcdf5a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Scarlett's the definition of a heroine.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 14 14:46:28 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 24 06:34:43 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Feb 24 06:34:43 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "16150830", "review_id": "c758b48020bb75436cdf526ecfb5f179", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2.something-something", "date_added": "Thu Nov 07 16:00:24 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 07 16:02:07 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Nov 08 16:02:07 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "17675462", "review_id": "318ba46e51e668f68955eef2ff6a69d6", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It was...strange. \n (I planned to give this 1 star but I remembered how much I adore Adam so yeah)", "date_added": "Mon Oct 21 22:12:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 21 22:13:30 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "18052136", "review_id": "ddef1f7b9e63f27a78d6d0a987b6105c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Really? Really Bracken?! Do you really have to end it like that?! Ughh.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 21 21:49:24 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 21 21:50:30 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Oct 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Oct 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "4450057", "review_id": "d2e606e4e1a9e1dc8a812c91aab555bb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I think I have a crush on Valek. haha", "date_added": "Fri Sep 20 22:10:03 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 20 22:10:22 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Sep 21 22:10:22 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "13643163", "review_id": "a59f04d4f8e7704ecb4cb37391ba1aa4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "omfg what the frick did i just read \n i think i liked this way way more than either of the main books omg", "date_added": "Sun Sep 01 19:02:32 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 01 19:34:34 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "9462812", "review_id": "3834042b0668fe077673a7fe99924606", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2.49 stars \n point 49 because i actually like Katy (or is her name Kate? Kat? something with K idk) on the beginning and thennnn", "date_added": "Mon Aug 26 19:08:55 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 05 19:57:07 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "14061955", "review_id": "debc675a79ce31b27f5c61a7f7768a7a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars", "date_added": "Mon Aug 26 16:45:44 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 07 21:21:18 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Aug 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "60510", "review_id": "a112f3f483151c9f09fdc677b635feb5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.51 stars \n Yelena is so going in my favorite-heroines list.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 25 03:59:09 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 20 21:17:04 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "15726305", "review_id": "aacea08ca937b77c0f56e2356fb2985d", "rating": 2, "review_text": "because i DONT LIKE COLE *sinister laugh*", "date_added": "Wed Aug 21 01:54:03 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 21 01:55:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "13618440", "review_id": "600876cd2c406d15a4ad911d51477c87", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Dear gods and stardust, that was beautiful (especially that ending)!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 29 19:25:57 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 12 06:59:56 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Apr 12 06:59:56 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Apr 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "12812550", "review_id": "d366a954bdd149ee9d731f369e359a50", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.45 stars \n I seriously have one word only: Fuck.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 28 01:05:16 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 29 19:24:19 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jul 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "11985913", "review_id": "6d988dc8e3e34ef31c7f77686b30a150", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Despite everything, strangely I liked it. x", "date_added": "Fri Jul 19 05:54:03 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 14 14:43:26 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "13206828", "review_id": "1ca69a806bc1b0b3229bc40a426d92fa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Meyer, you did it again. *clap clap* \n I love the crew even more now. And Cress, is the most adorable person -err, Lunar- ever.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 12 18:51:39 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 14 17:58:42 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Feb 14 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "13206760", "review_id": "c7f0a083d22d4bd97d546867f4fd8610", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is becoming one of my favorite series! (: \n Also, I just want to point out how much I love all the new characters - even Thorne! haha. I was worried for a moment that he'll be an another love interest for Cinder, thank fudge I was wrong.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 08 07:25:12 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 12 18:50:29 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "10194157", "review_id": "a391bd11aa526a8a4f8d5ca62a44f039", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.89 stars \n I've been prepared to give this 1-2 stars, but hey, it sorta picked up near the end. \n And I kinda like the Darkling dude. \n And the Ravka world. (but I dislike all the -still- confusing terms and names so much. gahh) \n Tho I would've liked the ending better if it's more cliffy but s'alright.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 07 17:30:57 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 25 16:13:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Aug 25 16:13:39 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "17334077", "review_id": "129cb25a81f83e181f0e73be5b490c52", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This one is an 'aww' kind of story. \n Edmund Herondale = aww \n Scott = aww \n Magnus and Camille = aww \n And I didn't know Edmund was Will's dad lol [facepalm]", "date_added": "Thu Jul 04 05:21:30 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 04 22:41:03 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jul 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jul 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "12983100", "review_id": "f3a3b9b957c887d37395cc979da1d615", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4. something something stars! \n oh shiz this is amazing \n and let me just say i LOVE how penryn keeps on referring to Paige as her 'baby sister' all them feels oh gah and her mom (whose name i still dont know) but goodness she's one of my faves and dee dum and raffe and penryn's banter and have i already mentioned paige??? well if not i just want to say that i love her so so much (i may or may not have highlighted every dialogue of hers...) bec tears", "date_added": "Mon Jul 01 19:36:37 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 08 23:57:12 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jan 07 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "13644052", "review_id": "d35ecf9ef60642d8f24bedfb5a3e5de3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.9 stars? \n I was so excited for this but eh, It had gotten a little too cheesy for me, I guess. And sorta boring. Kinda annoying, too. And also, I just hate the fact that Audrey and Andrew both died. Like, why oh why. Just because they're the 'unimportant' characters they've been too easy to kill. Sigh. \n Though the mention of Anna and Kaidan made me laugh out loud.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 30 21:22:42 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 21 22:06:01 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "11500217", "review_id": "31e7856d7afeda81a2594c4a2649ea6b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.25 stars and diamonds and stuffs! lol \n I love Penryn. She breaks my heart, ok? \n But I really want to know how it all started - the \"end of days\" - the whole angels-taking-over-the-Earth-thing. \n Although I liked this book a lot I can't make myself give it a higher rating. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I'm really creeped out by some of the themes. And I had to stop a lot of times because the gory stuffs are a little too disturbing for me. The scenes were so well-written that they give a clear images (that are now stamped) in my mind. Revolting. what am i saying. \n this is the most random review ever. maybe this book really did messed up my head lol", "date_added": "Tue Jun 25 18:18:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 13 18:08:15 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "13574751", "review_id": "e3e979f776acddeb496e7e74bb9a7b64", "rating": 3, "review_text": "that cover daymn", "date_added": "Tue Jun 11 23:33:37 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat May 17 03:16:25 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat May 17 03:16:25 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "15725700", "review_id": "6ed091567437142ea9c3ca3061879eaf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "\"But you're a ballerina,\" he says. \"You dance.\" \n I stare at him. \"How did you know that? Did you read my mind about that, too?\" \n He scoffs. \"No. I listened. With my ears, and stuff. You told me, last year at prom. Which I thought was strange since you kept stepping on my feet.\" \n Hello, embarrassing. \"Well, I never said I was a good dancer.\" \n omg", "date_added": "Sun Jun 02 06:18:48 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 14 01:35:58 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "10576365", "review_id": "6c37aa4992fd38dcded2a8efa231a9a1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.51 stars \n I expected so much from this book but *shruggs* \n Anyway, I made a short poem (at least, I tried lol) about the ending. The effin ending. \n 'close your eyes', she told lee \n 'im going to finish the story' \n she touched his hand ever so gently \n his mind got hazy, things got foggy \n and now he can no longer see \n that girl he loved -- Ruby \n for she just erased his memory \n are u fuggin kidding me", "date_added": "Sun Jun 02 01:52:56 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 28 17:32:42 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "14060046", "review_id": "aa7268d455f59b1975027c2863657ea5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "First of all, I just want to praise Jennifer for an another amazing work again. This is a well-done stand alone. I have to say she really has a talent for keeping things light and entertaining so that the readers wont come close to getting bored or anything. \n Secondly, I loved the fact that the Hero in this book is an Arum. At least we have more knowledge about them now. Turns out that they weren't as evil as the galactic glowworms (as Hunter calls them), err, Luxens perceived them to be. As Serena had said: \n \"...there was no such thing as white and black. There was a lot of gray in the middle.\" \n So that line pretty much sums up the whole Arum/Luxen fiasco. \n As much as I like this book, I still have some issues with it. Number one is that, I feel like Hunter and Serena are just an older and much more R-rated version of Daemon and Kat. The former's personalities don't differ much with the latter's. Which is such a shame. Also I think Serena didn't mourn over her friend's (her bestfriend since ever) death. Sure she did cry at the beginning, and sure she wants justice for Mell's death but in the middle of it all, all she can think of is Hunter's muscles and her death - but maybe it has something to do with the fact that she's being hunted down..? That must be it. And lastly, is that Serena seem to have no life before all the craziness began. Like, doesn't anyone even misses her? Even one person? Once she got sucked into all the alien mumbo jumbos, she just abandoned (unwillingly or not, it doesn't matter) her old life. It's a bit unsettling \n DAEMON WAS HERE!!! (nuff said) \n Last but not the least, I wasn't expecting all that PG-13 stuffs lol. I thought this is a YA book so when all the, uhm, heated stuffs started I was like \"whoa whoa there, youre crossing some line Jennifer. This stuff is for J. Lynn's type of books\" only halfway when I dropped by here in Goodreads, had I found out that this is a NA book. Haha. Should've know by that cover. :p \n And Luc. Hmm. Is he the Magnus Bane of the Lux Series? I'm not sure yet how I feel about him. Well, let's just hope for the better that he's not a cunning little bitch. haha.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 01 01:27:56 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 23 18:41:30 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "16007855", "review_id": "6c7e2b5f9330b4ecf66b482359ab8b10", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.5 stars \n ehh idk at least i liked that epilogue", "date_added": "Wed May 15 02:04:27 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue May 20 00:41:26 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue May 20 00:41:26 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun May 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "9833184", "review_id": "ced8480a65a9b37fa12408e0a68e1ac0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Darnn. I would've given this 2 stars but I'm so into all the characters that I feel bad doing so. \n Anyway, the ending evoked a silent 'are you kidding me' from me but tbh, I already kind of expected it. Haha.", "date_added": "Wed May 08 03:52:58 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 27 14:19:06 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Nov 27 14:19:06 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "12365189", "review_id": "cd487e80200d87a2e09b5340086894fc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "*sigh* \n He must've really loved his Aunt. 3", "date_added": "Tue May 07 00:55:37 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed May 08 03:57:28 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "8709526", "review_id": "ec393ddf63b56781426236d503233c75", "rating": 4, "review_text": "holy crap. \n hOLY CRAP. \n HOLY CRAP.", "date_added": "Tue May 07 00:44:11 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed May 08 03:31:07 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 08 03:31:07 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "8709523", "review_id": "83017fdc3c2c7e50d0715b3ee412f355", "rating": 4, "review_text": "There goes what's left of Adrian's ego.", "date_added": "Mon May 06 06:04:16 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue May 07 00:40:04 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue May 07 00:40:04 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "17334079", "review_id": "1b702b7c86ad6ba19b1bc13b9689089d", "rating": 2, "review_text": "what is this", "date_added": "Fri Apr 26 22:37:39 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed May 08 03:57:21 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "11808950", "review_id": "6ae9e2654f2a73cf872c7145069bca51", "rating": 4, "review_text": "At least he didn't insulted the models. lol \n Merged review: \n 3.5 stars \n Trust me when I say that I want to give this book a higher rating. But I just really can't. \n I like Anna. There are times wherein I just want to hug her and kiss her cheeks because she's just so darn adorable and kind-hearted and is such a beautiful human being. \n Examples of her adorableness below: my comments will be enclosed in brackets. [] \n I shied away from showing too much skin, partly because of my own modesty, and partly because I felt kind of bad for boys. [omg anna] Unlike other girls, I had to see firsthand that most boys were having a hard enough time concentrating on anything besides their overpowering hormones. \n \"Wait,\" I called out. I snapped open my wallet and pulled out my entire savings, pressing it into her palm. Her lip trembled as she pulled it to her chest. Our eyes stayed locked until the light turned green and we drove away. [this part is just so soul-touching and heartbreakingly beautiful] \n \"I miss you, too, so much. Here's a hug.\" She made a mmnnn sound, like she was squeezing, and I giggled. \"We'll talk at this same time tomorrow?\" \n I should keep kissing someone who wasn't my boyfriend. [the virtue gurl haha] \n Enough of the examples. I guess I made my point about Anna and her adorableness clear. \n Moving on. \n Patti is probably my favorite fictional \"mother\" so far. Clara Gardner's mom held that spot for quite some time and now Patti took it. I also liked her father with him calling her babygirl, gall and other silly stuffs. He's amusing and seems to love her. \n Also, can I just give a shoutout to Wendy for not making Jay secretly inlurv with Anna or something like that. Thank fudge their relationship is really platonic. Boy-girl sheer friendship (and nothing else) is really rare in books these days. \n I like how Kope is the one Wendy made to fancy Anna. Instead of another douche-baggy white boy again. \n As you might have noticed, I dodged mentioning Kaidan because I'm not really sure of him. Sure, he's cool at first, but then he's just gotten meaner and meaner as pages go by and I just get so pissed at him during some times. Yeah yeah. I know it's not his fault that it's his job and all but still. Although at some point I still like him and his \"vulnerability\". \n What my biggest disappointment with this book is the 201% instalove. What on the actual [excuse me for cursing but I have to] fuck? \n I almost didn't continue reading when Anna had this realization that she's \"inlove\" with Kaidan. All my hopes and happiness towards the book made a way downhill. Fast. Biggest facepalm moment. \n I told myself that maybe - just maybe - this instalove is just because she's part good-angel and she tends to love people a lot. So, I told myself to keep on reading. So I did. \n And dammit, when Anna started becoming a mopey heartbroken gal. I just want to scream out of frustration. But then, once again, I told myself not to stop reading. It's just a phase most heartbroken teens pass by. It's normal. She'll get over it. \n After a few months, Anna still can't get over her 4-days love affair and she's still grieving over her heart's loss. Two seconds she was all, \"Okay, I'm really moving on now.\" and then after a moment she goes like \"No. nOOO. I can't like anyone else. Because my heart still belongs to Kaidan.\" [TUGS HAIR OUT OF MY SCALP AND SCREAMS OUT OF STRONG FRUSTRATION] I want nothing more than to strangle the heck out of her during those moments. GET OVER IT GURL. MOVE THE FUCK ON. PLEASE. \n So all in all there's like 3 parts of this story. First part is where we see and like Anna and her friends and Kaidan and just..basically everyone. Second Part is where we get all these Christianity lessons and words of wisdoms (which I totally loved and appreciated. They didn't make me uncomfortable, but happy and glad instead.) And the last part consists of Anna being an annoying love-struck fool. \n I like this enough to read the next books so.. wish me luck c: x \n Oh wait. Before I forget, here are some of my favorite scenes: \n \"I could not stop thinking about Kaidan Rowe.\" [And it's because she's curious about his demonic/evil/whatever nature. And because he's like her. NOT because he's hot and all that shits. Mara Dyer should start taking notes from Anna.] \n \"My father is here!\" \n Fear paralyzed me. \n A demon. A real demon was here, right now. I hadn't factored in this possibility. I'd thought he would be in New York. I wanted to run, but Kaidan pulled me toward the couch and pushed me onto the cushions. He ripped open the front of my blouse, and I sucked in a breath to scream. \n [Plot twist at it's finest everyone. Whereas in other circumstances a guy having a girl inside his room would try to make the girl look presentable and make her put her clothes on, Kaidan did the opposite. Hahaha.] \n \"Are you sure I can't get you something to drink? We have sweet tea, and...\" She shuffled around in the fridge. \"Well, that's it besides water.\" [omg] \n I almost cried like a big... well, like you! Ha, ha. But I didn't.\" [omg again] \n She wiped her face, and the darkness of fear faded. I still hadn't moved. I was trying to wrap my mind around the fact that Patti had gone from wanting to kill him to being comforted by him. \n \"Would you like some sweet tea?\" she asked. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Patti Whitt. [best].", "date_added": "Thu Apr 25 06:09:16 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 15 19:15:38 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "9480548", "review_id": "e191d311ca56482b63c81d5ae82827b0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars. \n I .. i dont know, man. I just don't.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 22 19:05:48 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 25 17:52:11 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Apr 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "9477490", "review_id": "09ba797e753fb544867375f6eef4b613", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was shaking my head the whole time at Rose. Base from my past reviews it's obvious how much I love her, right? But sometimes, she's just too much. *sighh* \n All I want to do is go inside the darn book and just hurl Sydney to Adrian's arms. Poor bb. And since they won't be together till Bloodlines... I'll just take care of Adrian for now :p \n And yay, my OTP finally got back together. I almost cried when Liss and Christian kissed ic ANT \n I really hate that fanfic I saw. uHG why did i even went there. Now I can't help but think of Tasha as the person behind the murder. I really really hope that fanfic's summary was just an AU. gahh. It's obviously, either Victor or Tasha. Hmm.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 20 06:47:10 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 22 05:59:21 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Apr 22 05:59:21 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "7607518", "review_id": "f36bdb427dd5fb2f5f30879a17fd2190", "rating": 3, "review_text": "IDK WHAT IM FEELING RN \n IDK WHAT OR HOW TO RATE THIS BOOK EITHER \n WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME RICHELLE MEAD \n UGH \n 3.5 stars. I think. \n Originally, I thought of giving this one 3 stars. Because I find the first half of the book really boring and dull. Heck, even when Rose was held captive by Dimitri, I'm still uninterested. I was just in a 'what-the-fuck' mode. \n But then, around three-quarters of the book, the story picked up. Thank Gah. Chapter 24 to 26 (the part where Rose tried to escape) is probably the best action/adventure scene I've ever read so far. Especially Chapter 26. Wow. Just wow. I told myself that maybe I should give this book 3.5 stars. And then that spirit-users' scene happened, and I told myself, \"wow\" again. 4 stars it is. And then when Rose and Liss reunited and Rose mom and Adrian I just..can't. I cried so hard over the last few chapters. ahdjkas. The Abe thing also surprised me. Wow. Haha. \n But then the ending happened. And everything did a 180 turn. Fuck. \n On my reviews on the past books, I always mentioned how much I love Rose. But fuck. What the fuck Rose. What. The. Fuck. \n And my OTP broke up. Someone hold me sjkdJAKSLHLAKJ 3", "date_added": "Thu Apr 18 18:51:21 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 22 05:28:20 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Apr 20 06:38:53 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "7542624", "review_id": "597ca340632aaff121f677be661713a0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Favorites: \n \"You got me a present?\" I hadn't expected that. \n \"Yup. But if you keep back- talking, I might give it to someone else.\" \n \"Like Meredith?\" I teased. \n \"She isn't even in your league, and you know it.\" \n \"Even with a black eye?\" I asked with a grimace. \n \"Even with two black eyes.\" \n \"Get out!\" I screamed. He was still in the sun, still safe. But he didn't listen to me. He ran toward us, out of his protective light. \n [SCREAMS] BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU ROSE. YOU FUCKING..UGH HE CAME BACK BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU DAMN IT \n While reading the book, I made this mental leveling of my likes toward the characters. It went like, \n Note: '>' means better than/greater than. \n Christian > Dimitri \n Adrian > Christian \n MASON > Adrian \n So you can just imagine how I felt when he died. \n Dear Richelle Mead, is this your way of ending a love-triangle? If so, then it's not funny. It's cruel and it hurts so fucking much. \n Was killing Mason really necessary?! I ship him and Rose so much. He doesn't deserve that fate. Why?! I could live with him getting heartbroken and turned down bUT NOT THIS. JUST WHY PLEASE TELL ME WHY \n ---- \n Sigh. \n Mason rant over. \n I just want to talk about how I still loves Rose and Liss' friendship. They love each other so much I just can't. \n I mean: \n LISSA FOUND ME LATER IN the day. I'd fallen asleep after Mason left, too dejected to leave the bed. Her slamming of the door jolted me awake. \n I was happy to see her. I needed to spill about the fumbled thing with Mason, but before I could, I read her feelings. They were as troubled as mine. So, as always, I put her first. \n \"Everyone has light around them, except for you. You have shadows. You take them from Lissa.\" \n ---- \n I just love how Rose had matured and grew up, without losing her fun self. \n I still don't understand the whole feeder-and-Moroi thing though. I mean, are humans really that desperate to be high, to the point that they'd let Vampires suck their blood? Erm. And don't they run out of blood or something? \n And holy shit, Adrian is something else. I can't wait to read the next book! UGh \n Gah, my review really is a mess. Haha. Sorry. MY emotions are just all over and I can't process all my thoughts and feelings correctly. lol. Sorry.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 12 23:29:27 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 14 05:48:32 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Apr 14 05:48:32 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "11882171", "review_id": "62f6a6d2bd10998ea0d207106a792c7b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2. something something stars \n it was oK", "date_added": "Fri Apr 12 02:16:56 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 24 18:14:44 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Nov 24 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Nov 14 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "16225653", "review_id": "01eaf54e9a8999e000613b60968cd505", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.25 stars \n WARNING: HARDCORE CURSING AHEAD! \n WHAT THE FUCK?! WHAT THE FUCK DID JUST HAPPENED?! \n FIRST I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE Mark of Athena ENDING AND NOW THIS?! ARE YOU FUCKING SHITTING ME RN \n UGH AKSDHAS;KDJLA YOU DONT \n YOU DID NOT! THIS ISNT TRUE THIS CANT BE HAPPENING UGH FUUUUUUUUUUUUCK \n --- \n Takes a deep breath over and over for 30 minutes. I'm calm. I can do this. I'm calm. \n So, first of all, I think this is my favorite of the series. And I can say now that I love Daemon. Hah. Yeah, he's an asshole, but I love him. (See what I did there, Kat?) \n Here are some of my favorites: \n \"There you go. That ego of yours getting in the way,\" I teased. \n His lips found the underside of my jaw. \"Of what?\" \n \"The perfect package.\" He snorted. \n \"Let me tell you, I have the perfect--\" \n \"Don't be gross.\" \n My self-pity always had a time limit because I usually got annoyed with myself. (This is why I love Kat) \n Across from him, Daemon glanced down at the onyx he held and shrugged. Without preamble, he shot forward, placing the onyx against Blake's cheek. \n My jaw hit the ground. \n Matthew stepped back. \"God.\" \n Beside me, Dawson laughed under his breath. But nothing happened for several moments. \n Finally, Blake knocked the onyx away, his nostrils flaring. \"What the hell?\" \n Disappointed, Daemon tossed the rock in the pile. \"Well, apparently you have a tolerance to onyx and here I was hoping you didn't.\" \n I clamped my hand over my mouth, stifling a giggle. He was such an asshole, and I loved him. \n I was turning into such a wuss and it was all his fault. (I've never encountered any female character to ever say something like this. It's always the guys saying this sort of stuff) omg. \n \"How's Dawson?\" \n \"Calmed down. How's Kitten?\" \n \"Sleepy.\" \n \"And?\" \n Slowly, I trailed my fingers down the side of his face, along his broad cheek and down the hard line of his jaw. He turned into my palm, pressing his lips to it. \"Happy you're here.\" \n \"It makes perfect sense.\" He kissed my cheek. \"Because I'm perfect.\" \n And most of all: \n Daemon's green eyes held a glassy sheen. His arm reached out, fingers splayed. They never reached the laser or the door. \"I love you, Katy. Always have. Always will,\" he said, voice thick and hoarse with panic. \"I will come back for you. I will--\" \n YOU MOTHERTRUCKING BEAUTIFUL ASSHOLE WHY?! I WAS WAITING THE WHOLE BOOK FOR YOU TO SAY THOSE WORDS IN ENGLISH (Because he pretty much said it already in alien-ish, right?) IT'S TOO FUCKING LATE FOR THAT NOW UGH I HATE THIS. \n ---- \n Moving on. There's this one thing, I really dislike about this book. The fact that Katy and Blake keeps on bringing on and on how they would do anything - everything - for the person they love. Like seriously, we get it. Enough. \n But nonetheless, I totally loved this one and I can't wait for Origin.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 10 02:00:18 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 25 01:03:21 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Apr 11 04:33:55 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "12959086", "review_id": "d747114df1872d37ece3e4c6964755bc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Luke's diary hurts so much ugh", "date_added": "Thu Apr 04 06:34:22 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 02 18:52:01 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "12127750", "review_id": "0df1a8cdd9d2d6d6c860707b724f5082", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.25 stars. \n NO. Rick Riordan, you did not. YOU.DID.NOT. \n Please take it back. PLEASE. \n I've been yearning all my life for Percabeth and you gave us this?! You hurt me so much, sir. I'm sobbing what's-left-of-my-heart-out while typing this. \n This part: \n Annabeth's leg felt like it was pulling free of her body. Pain washed everything in red. The force of the Underworld tugged at her like dark gravity. She didn't have the strength to fight. She knew she was too far down to be saved. \n \"Percy, let me go,\" she croaked. \"You can't pull me up.\" \n His face was white with effort. She could see in his eyes that he knew it was hopeless. \"Never,\" he said. He looked up at Nico, fifteen feet above. \n \"The other side, Nico! We'll see you there. Understand?\" \n Nico's eyes widened. \"But--\" \n \"Lead them there!\" Percy shouted. \n \"Promise me!\" \n \"I--I will.\" \n Below them, the voice laughed in the darkness. Sacrifices. Beautiful sacrifices to wake the goddess. \n Percy tightened his grip on Annabeth's wrist. His face was gaunt, scraped and bloody, his hair dusted with cobwebs, but when he locked eyes with her, she thought he had never looked more handsome. \"We're staying together,\" he promised. \"You're not getting away from me. Never again.\" \n Only then did she understand what would happen. A one-way trip. A very hard fall. \n \"As long as we're together,\" she said. \n She heard Nico and Hazel still screaming for help. She saw the sunlight far, far above--maybe the last sunlight she would ever see. \n Then Percy let go of his tiny ledge, and together, holding hands, he and Annabeth fell into the endless darkness. \n You can't read that part without crying. It's not possible. \n Please, just... let me be. IDEK anymore. \n I can't think straight. I'm a mess. I can't stop crying. \n Nico, Hazel, Piper, Leo, Frank and Jason, PLEASE. Please.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 31 17:29:16 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 03 02:48:21 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Apr 03 02:48:21 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "13047090", "review_id": "d0675afc59c4f430274d82e0780d09fe", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I only found out a week ago that the author of this series and the author of Tempting The Best Man is just one person. Holy crap. That explains why she's really good at the love story. \n What I like about this book, are the characters. Especially, Kat. She's not your typical teenage, angst-ridden heroine. She's not annoying (not much. Haha) She doesn't go on and on about how ugly she is. She mocks the instalove books. And she's a book geek. \n I like Daemon. Though, I can't say that I love him. He's still a jerk. But a hot one. A real hot-jerk. I think I like him better than Jace of The Mortal Instruments. He's more..alive and mysterious. Despite his arrogance, he's still charming and sweet. Most arrogant male characters are trying too hard to be haughty that it's not funny anymore. But Daemon? He's natural. He's also a hero. Seriously. I rarely feel the 'hero-ish' vibe on a character. But every time Daemon appears Especially when Kat and Blake are fighting and Dee and Adam's with her, I just really teared up a bit that he came. I'm so relieved because I know that it's okay now. Daemon's here. Finally. it's like everything will be okay. He's really a hero. And now I'm rambling. Sorry. \n But I'm really sad that 75% of the book is..null. Shame. But at least it picked up at 25%. Daemon and Kat's conversation also ends up like Daemon hinting that Kat needs protection, then Kat saying she's not, she's strong and all that crap, and then Daemon, will say softly that he knows she isn't and he will dramatically storm off the house. (Drama queen, much?) Though that's really annoying, I still can't make myself like him any less. He's just so...ugh. I also think that the events are very predictable and non-thrilling. But. But. But I can't seem to care. IDK. \n My favorite scene: \n The video blog part. UGhHHHHH it was just too darn cute and sweet. I can so imagine it in real life. KAShdak;lsdhas. Daemon, you adorable arse! \n What is this series doing to me?!", "date_added": "Wed Mar 27 05:56:26 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 10 01:55:32 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "12588363", "review_id": "f2964ea898ce578e04266e0984852eec", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I read this one courtesy of my classmate. \n And my reaction could be summed up in three words: What. The. Fuck.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 20 02:30:40 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 20 02:34:22 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Mar 20 02:34:22 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "8621462", "review_id": "b25a532f61c082036a9da9d9a2600d25", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n The beauty of the ending just broke my heart to pieces.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 19 14:11:24 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 16 03:51:48 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Aug 16 03:51:48 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "12578077", "review_id": "4710fac9e1eabbe415dd7220bd34e12e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars. \n I want to give this 4 stars, I really want to. But I can't. I just can't. \n After reading The Mara Dyer and Shatter Me Series, I told myself I won't expect too much on books with so much hype and good reviews again. For I'll just disappoint myself. \n But boy, I sure did expect something in this book. And I think the main reason why people liked this so much is because of the Romance. \n Because I see nothing more interesting about this other than the Romance. Sure, some characters are very likeable - such as Dee. And also, I appreciate the fact that even though Daemon is very...infuriating and jerk-ish, it does not seem to be forced or trying too hard. Which is the problem on some books. Wherein the Hero acts like an ass and appears to be a real ass. In this book, Daemon, is not like that - he's reasonable (though sometimes really unbelievable) but you can't not forgive him for his douchiness. \n But it does not change the fact that this book is more of a constant-banter-slash-foreplay-between-two-angsty-teenagers-toward-their-way-to-the-bed. \n I feel like nothing much happened over the entire book. And that's just sad. \n I'll probably read the next installments though.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 16 18:11:45 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 28 02:24:26 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "13623150", "review_id": "4051b0b77a1e7776461f924bf40af3f0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "When I read Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, I got so intrigued by stargirl's personality. she's so interesting. so mysterious. so peculiar. so when i found out that the sequel (Love, Stargirl) is on her point of view, I am ecstatic. I picked it up as soon as possible because I want to know her; I want to see what's inside her mind; what makes her who she is. I finished the book anticipating for the Stargirl I know. But I didn't found her. She's different. Something's missing. The part I want to know is missing. \n And that's what this book is like. The Warner I know from Shatter Me is different from the Warner in this book. I doubt that maybe it's because he's just really that good in hiding his emotions and pretending to be a sadist asshole in the first one that Juliette didn't notice he's really a kind-hearted broken boy..? \n Warner appeared as a dangerous, psycho in Shatter Me. And in this one all of a sudden he became a sympathetic, soft, emo boy? wat It's like the author's trying so hard to salvage what was left of warner's goodness because lots of readers took interest in him. SO she tried to make him as desirable as possible. So that more people will root for him and the love-triangle will be more interesting. Yeah? \n Anyway, I can say that I liked the writing style in this one compare to the first. Thank fudge there's no more 'poetic' lines (not that much anymore - since there's still her diary entries) For I hated Juliette's mad musings. \n lol at the chapter 22 though. just when i thought that the poor boy's finally having a normal teenage guy kind of dream haha. poor warner :p \n Also one last thing. Warner always makes his father sound like the worst man ever. As if Warner's a saint. *scoff* There's this line: \n I look up, my eyes carefully devoid of emotion. I hate his face. I can't stand to look at him for too long; I don't like experiencing the full impact of how very inhuman he is. He is not tortured by what he does or how he lives. In fact, he enjoys it. He loves the rush of power; he thinks of himself as an invincible entity. \n If my memory serves me right, from what I can remember, Warner was said to be a man who loves power and control in the previous book. So what is this hypocrisy? \n I still like him as a villain though. x", "date_added": "Mon Feb 25 05:33:04 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 09 03:57:47 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jun 09 03:57:47 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "13104080", "review_id": "dbf66f54e193b16e0c760f3e04d1511c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.75 stars \n So basically, I only have two reactions while reading this: \n and \n Seriously. \n A friend of mine convinced me to give this book a chance because he said this one's much better than the first. That, I agree. No, scratch that. This one's not better , just, more... tolerable. \n Shatter Me, shattered my brain while Unravel Me shattered what's left of my brain. Ugh. \n First of all, look at the paperback cover (it's included in my eBook). Stare at it for a few seconds and try not to cringe. Feel it? Creeps. Creeps everywhere. \n So, Tahereh Mafi's back again with her cringe-worthy metaphors and way-too-trying \"poetic\" lines it makes me want to choke. Here are some of my favorite lines from this book: \n Maybe it's snowing, maybe it's raining, I don't know maybe it's freezing it's hailing it's a hurricane slip slipping into a tornado and the earth is quaking apart to make room for our mistakes. \n I catch him looking at me, looking like he might inhale the length of me in one breath. \n Heads still spin in my direction when I walk into the dining hall. (The visual that came in my head while reading that line isn't pretty. Is the word \"turn\" not enough for Mafi to used \"spin\" and head in the same sentence?) \n His breath is hot and his breathing shallow and the heat from his body is melting my blood only to splash it across my cheeks. \n Loneliness is a strange sort of thing. It creeps up on you, quiet and still, sits by your side in the dark, strokes your hair as you sleep. It wraps itself around your bones, squeezing so tight you almost can't breathe. It leaves lies in your heart, lies next to you at night, leaches the light out from every corner. It's a constant companion, clasping your hand only to yank you down when you're struggling to stand up. (I honestly didn't see any sense in this one.) \n Wind is gnawing at the windows, straining against the walls. Rain is popping against the roof like popcorn against a pane of glass. The message from the sky is clear: we are pissed. We are pissed and we will punish you and we will make you pay for the blood you spill so freely. We will not sit idly by, not anymore, not ever again. \n We will ruin you, is what the sky says to us. \n How could you do this to me? it whispers in the wind. \n I gave you everything, it says to us. \n Nothing will ever be the same again. \n I don't even want to know how on the heck did Juliette came up with that conversation. \n And my favorite. (enjoy the visuals): \n Adam's pain is like a handful of straw shoved down my throat. \n Normal Authors: \"I blush.\" \n Tahereh Mafi: \"Heat like hot oil spatters across my face.\" \n Normal Authors: \"I can't breathe.\" \n Tahereh Mafi: \"And the wind grabs me by the throat.\" \n Moving on. \n Juliette is back again as a wallowing-in-self-pity cunt. And it's so darn frustrating. So I just want to thank Kenji for what he said. \n \"Bullshit.\" He laughs a short, sharp, angry laugh. \"All you do is sit around and think about your feelings. You've got problems. Boo-freaking-hoo,\" he says. \"Your parents hate you and it's so hard but you have to wear gloves for the rest of your life because you kill people when you touch them. Who gives a shit?\" He's breathing hard enough for me to hear him. \"As far as I can tell, you've got food in your mouth and clothes on your back and a place to pee in peace whenever you feel like it. Those aren't problems. That's called living like a king. And I'd really appreciate it if you'd grow the hell up and stop walking around like the world crapped on your only roll of toilet paper. Because it's stupid,\" he says, barely reining in his temper. \"It's stupid, and it's ungrateful. You don't have a clue what everyone else in the world is going through right now. You don't have a clue, Juliette. And you don't seem to give a damn, either.\" \n You go Kenji! Four for you Kenji for that peace of mind. \n I would've given this 2.5 stars if I don't pity Adam.. \n BTW, am I the only one who see the resemblance of this series with the Mara Dyer's Trilogy? Especially the ending of Unravel Me and The Evolution of MD?", "date_added": "Sat Feb 23 15:53:14 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 26 17:38:12 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "6644117", "review_id": "e59d09bda4dd5c9d49ff41bb7faa7bef", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars", "date_added": "Mon Feb 18 02:31:40 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 23 03:25:52 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Feb 23 03:25:52 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "9413044", "review_id": "c898f52171b59ca895065a66c2763668", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Hopefully I'd have a time (and motivation) to write a rant review tomorrow. x", "date_added": "Mon Feb 04 02:47:23 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 12 05:34:56 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Aug 12 05:34:56 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "9378297", "review_id": "c908d4b4bb5a3dded9bb97ff46223415", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.75 stars. \n Believe me when I say that I tried , really tried so hard, to like this book. \n This is just like The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer; Wherein the plot is really tempting and the beginning's intriguing. But as I flip from one page to another, I started to lost more and more interest. And it's such a shame for I expected a lot from this book. *sigh*", "date_added": "Sun Feb 03 03:46:41 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 14 00:57:42 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Feb 14 00:57:42 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "13049981", "review_id": "79cdb82b058c2c99d184844b172f9a88", "rating": 5, "review_text": "You know what? I'm done. So done. This is probably my favorite of all three books. There's no words to describe how/what I'm feeling right now. \n Everything in this book's beautiful, magnificent, fantastic, astounding... unearthly. \n I'm just going to mention some of my favorite parts. \n \"You're like a Disney cartoon, Carrots,\" Tucker teased me. \"You should get them to make you a dress or something.\" \n --- \n \"Anything?\" I repeat skeptically. \n \"If you ask and you believe, yes. Anything.\" I love this one. \n --- \n \"Take me,\" Christian says then. Asael waves his hand dismissively. \n \"I don't even know who you are. Why would I want you?\" And this part, I was doing some hardcore gross sobbing when this come up and I was laughing out of the blue. \n --- \n And that part where Tucker tried so hard to convince Clara to stop fighting herself and denying the fact that she loves him too. omg \n The scene with Clara and her mom is also too beautiful for words. Also, the scene in hell where Clara's trying to convince Tucker to come with her. Man, that got me all teary and emotional. \n And that ending. That ending. I can't anymore. \n The writing style is fine and just perfect. No dull moments. And most of all not cheesy and overrated. Infact, it was fun and light and sweet. \n Anyway, I just don't understand how people could hate Christian so much? He's been nothing but kind and perfect. I'm all Tucker for Clara but that doesn't mean that I don't like Christian already. He's a good friend ffs. Ugh. \n \"Yeah,\" he says with a smirk. \"You're a little bit of a show-off. First you get us out of hell. And then you defeat like the biggest, baddest Watcher on the books, and then you go on a high-speed, very high-altitude chase, and then you resuscitate the dead. Are you done? Because seriously, I don't know if I can take any more excitement.\" \n I mean, how can you not like him?! \n Moving on. This has been a wonderful journey. I can't just grasp the fact that this is it - the end of their story. This hurts. Everything hurts. It hurts...but it's okay. \n All in all, what a wonderful job Cynthia Hand did. Praise to her and her unearthly creations <3", "date_added": "Sun Jan 20 15:18:02 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 09 04:49:39 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Feb 09 04:49:39 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "6131164", "review_id": "a7c5c05d40365c6747969d689d4ee1eb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 stars \n Me 10% of the book: \n While this is me during the other 90%: \n ----- \n I'll just leave this for now. For while I'm in this state I'm currently in rn, I doubt I'd make a decent review so I'll just probably do it tomorrow.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 20 15:17:48 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 20 06:32:03 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Mar 20 06:32:03 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Mar 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "4c7addb20ca742542c68a51bb0116ebd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "*thinks for an hour or so* \n *bites lip* \n *thinks again* \n *sighs* \n *clicks tongue* \n *sighs some more* \n 3.something-something stars \n [SCREAMS SILENTLY WHILE CRYING] i expecTED SO MUCH [sobs] \n I would've given this 2 stars but I CAN'T I JUST CANT FOR I DONT WANT TO BUT I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BUT I REALLY REALLY DONT WANT TO SO I WONT OKAY I WONT. Gahd, can't you see what this book has done to me?! I'm having inner-battles here, darn it! Darn this book. \n It has so much potential, you know? Sad sigh. \n The Night Circus had given me false promises -at least, it seems that way for me. It's like ordering a 12-layered chocolate cake, but receiving a delicious pizza instead. \n But despite all my disappointments about the book (which I'm far too lazy to list) I still liked it. And I will always be thankful on Erin for creating the Circus. It may not be as magical as I expected it to be but she still managed to create an astounding world. So thank you for the wonderful journey. x", "date_added": "Sun Jan 13 02:32:43 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 23 05:18:20 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Aug 23 05:18:20 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "8591107", "review_id": "4152bf8a3036c56b3d0e1d91ced14cdc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I could say that I'm probably in a \"love-hate\" sort of relationship with this book, for I'm not really sure how I feel about it. \n The prologue was intriguing and mysterious. And, I was really excited to find out the real story. And the more I read, the more I got desperate for the truth to unravel. \n The narrator, Mara, has this weird vibe on her (not just because she's really weird, but more weirdness.) I can't even comprehend it properly, but she gives me odd feelings. For quite some times, I felt really bad for her - for whatever she's going through - and ..just.. she makes me feel lost and weird all over. I even believed for some moments that maybe she really is going mad. \n As to the Romance, hmm. I did not quite feel anything towards Mara and Noah. They don't have that much chemistry to me. While reading scenes about them , I'm just like, really reading them. It's like, I'm not drawn to their moments or such. They're just like normal characters, doing their thing. \n What I don't like about this book, is when I read something interesting, I would be waiting for more, but then I'd pass 50 pages with nothing. It's like being at the top of a mountain for a few seconds then falling for 20 minutes. \n Also, I just dislike the fact that my questions were left unanswered at the end. I didn't get what I was looking for - the answer, as to why Mara is the way she is. But I guess, that's what the next book is. \n But there's also a handful of things why I like this book. First, is that I really like Mara's brother, Daniel. Second, it made me think a lot. It intrigues me and gives me chills. I also loved all those book-geek references. Haha. \n I was expecting the Noah-having-also-some-ability thing but the Jude thing was what floored me. I did not see that one coming. HOLY GUACAMOLE. That was one heck of a cliffhanger. \n I'm so reading the next book, because HOW CAN YOU NOT with that ending?", "date_added": "Sat Jan 05 03:37:08 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 29 17:36:02 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jan 20 05:56:45 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "1656001", "review_id": "653c95d005991760693e3fa9453f0699", "rating": 3, "review_text": "TBH, I really don't know how to rate this book. \n It's good ...but at at the same time, bad. \n It took me 7 excruciating days (7 frickin' days!) to finish this whereas it normally takes me only a day or so finishing books w/ the same length. But boy, this one's a struggle to read. \n Moving on. \n The only character I've probably liked here is Jamie. He's the only one who has a nice personality and didn't confused me. Jared and Ian are PMSing all the freakin' time. Melanie's a hot-and-cold bitch and Wanda - gah don't even get me started with Wanda. Wanda is the most selfless character I've ever read. It is a fact, that 99% of books' protagonists are selfless to the bones (Tris Prior of Divergent, is the 1%) But goodness Wanda is the toppings to the cake. She's too darn chivalrous and self-sacrificing to the extent that it's already frustrating. I understand that she's a soul, which means she's not violent and all, but gahh, she's too much! \n The endings of the chapter aren't also that...teasing. They don't excite me to read the next chapter. And the story only picked up near the end. Such a shame that the past 500 pages are just a waste. \n Now, the infamous SM love-triangles: \n Here we go again, with the Love-triangles. Ugh. It would've been better and way funnier (and effed up) if Melanie likes Ian. So it'll be like a cycle or something. Wherein Wanda likes Jared, who likes Melanie, who likes Ian, who likes Wanda. What do you think of that love-square? Haha kidding! \n Onto the good points.. Hmm.. as much as I don't like Wanda's personality, I still kind of like her. It's kind of hard to explain but w/e. And I love Jamie. I also kind of like Ian. And the fact that the ending isn't so unrealistic (like, the souls and humans made truce or something). At least Stephanie didn't end it like that. \n I'm stoked for the movie though x", "date_added": "Sat Dec 08 03:26:29 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 07 01:23:09 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Feb 07 01:23:09 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "289601", "review_id": "90c8493b5a8f9724a3c14c520ac45660", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Uhm.. sorry?", "date_added": "Mon Nov 26 15:06:59 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 21 21:35:59 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "dbffbce7f05ed41fa5e22366278a5635", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.25 stars! \n The whole-Cinderella resemblance didn't bugged me that much because Stars! this book does not disappoint. (hah! see what I did there)", "date_added": "Mon Nov 26 15:02:38 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 13 18:08:04 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "10429045", "review_id": "9bd084127acc8f25a172049872a88242", "rating": 2, "review_text": "*EDIT* \n \"Oh.\" That one word probably sums up my opinion about this book. When I finished reading it, I was like, \"So, that's it?\" I barely registered anything that was happening and then *poof* it's done. \n The fact that halfway down the book and still nothing interesting is happening, is already a cue to leave (for this wouldn't be a good read). But I still dragged myself to read more, maybe I'll find something to hold onto. But seriously? \n What a... - no, not 'mess', but nothingness . This is a book of emptiness. \n And as usual, we have the District 13/Invalids/Factionless group-thing here. CLiche 101. But nah-uh, they have a very cool name. (I'm still not sure whether to put sarcasm on that line or not) The Omega Point. *yay* (this, definitely has sarcasm* And all those X-men thinggy? \n And most of all, what's up with all those horribly-confusing-and-annoying-lines? \n \"I'd like to cry into his eyes.\" \n \"My heart fails for a moment. \n There are 400 cotton balls caught in my windpipe.\" \n \"His lips are spelling secrets and my ears are spilling ink, staining my skin with his stories.\" \n Seriously? What the heck are those lines supposed to mean?", "date_added": "Tue Oct 09 04:48:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 15 15:50:15 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "6432838", "review_id": "61aa90424e30892c0a1d6d1836a49d83", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I want to give this 3.75 stars but I just love Rose character so much. So.. 4 stars it is! :p (I think the reason why this book got a high rating and tons of five stars, is because people compare it Twilight) \n P.S. The only thing I ship more than Christian for Liss? Rose. Hah.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 02 03:06:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 12 04:48:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Apr 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "8709527", "review_id": "383aab69344273dae668b9c383a1ba7a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I want to give this 2 or 3 stars. bUT UGH. I can't. \n The main reasons for the high stars are Micah (jhaskdASA UGHGgHGHHGH YOU LEAD ME ON MEAD! I THOUGHT HE WAS MASON COMING BACK TO LIFE OR STH UGHHG IM SO DESPERATE YOU GUYS KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE MASON UFDJKFHKSJHAKJDSD) and Adrian (I can't believe that I'd be one of those girls who's swooning over the main guy. That's not really my thing. bUT UGH ADRIAN IS JUST SO... ADRIAN. \n Moving on. \n This book surpassed the definition of 'predictable'. The only thing that surprised me was the probability that Robert's the one who had turned Lee Strigoi. Seriously?! It's like, Richelle Mead's trying so hard to make connections out of everything. Darn it. Then the Angeline thing. eff. Does it really have to be her? Not that I have any dislike toward her, but still, there's too much connection between the present and past characters already! \n Oh, one more thing. There's going to be a new...specie (like Sydney and her teacher) again and IDK what to feel about that. \n When I started reading this I told myself that maybe I'd get the answers for some Alchemist-related questions I have,like, where do the Alchemist even get the budget/funds for their...thing.? Are they being funded by the Court? idek) And despite the fact that Sydney - an Alchemist - is the narrator, my questions are still left unanswered. sighhh. \n Anyway, in spite of all my issues I still enjoyed this book, very much. So yeah c:", "date_added": "Sun Sep 02 02:59:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 16 04:44:12 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "7488244", "review_id": "623fdfd342f196476573388d6bf90878", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I just have this certain question in my mind for quite some time now and it keeps on nagging me endless. I.NEED.An.Answer. Like seriously, need it. \n So I'm going to be upfront now. Why is Clara (Christian, Angela, Jeffrey and all the teen Angel-bloods) grows normally? I mean, their appearances are appropriate for their age, right? How? I thought, Angel-blood's supposed to age slower (and it depends whether they're Dimidius, Quartarius or Triplare) but why do they look normal for their age? Whereas, Clara's mom is 120 something already but looks 40-something..? \n Am I missing something here? Is there a certain age in which the angel-bloods will stop aging like normal people and start aging like the angel-blood they really are. At twenty, perhaps? I really didn't remember reading anything that explains this matter to me. And if I did so, I'm sorry for I've forgotten it already. \n So, uh, anyone wanted to enlighten me? Haha. x", "date_added": "Sun Sep 02 02:57:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 02 06:11:51 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Dec 21 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Dec 21 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "10626594", "review_id": "b30030b18011adb4d0a704fffc01a7cc", "rating": 2, "review_text": "oh gahd idgi", "date_added": "Wed Jul 25 16:36:46 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 24 06:43:11 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Apr 24 06:43:11 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ed4ecf39b59b9d04ac88cd57566c1135", "book_id": "7736182", "review_id": "855470c87af013b29d947b4531560e9a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.95 stars! \n The ending blew my mind. Blame Aeolus. (excuse the bad pun). \n Finally I got to finish it this time. Took me half a year to be into this one. \n So, I just love the fact that all the main characters have their own shares of POVs so I can really know what they're thinking thus I feel more connected to them. This switching of POV thing should have happened to some Percabeth moments back in PJO. If they rescued Percy (which I'm pretty sure will happen), I hope Rick gives Percy and/or Annabeth a POV - even a short one. I'd do anything for a Percabeth moment. 3 \n Anyway, I'm still a bit skeptical with Jason. I know it's not his fault, but I'm still reluctant to trust him wholly. Is that weird?", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 19:41:13 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 28 23:44:19 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b7244e5f3798c0d3f2d9fe242fa346ee", "book_id": "25785357", "review_id": "9c857c0313dc4f2116527c834f6b85d1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh my god this book was so amazing. I really did not think I was going to love with book as much as I did but JFC it was FANTASTIC.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 28 21:58:56 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 12 10:11:47 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Mar 12 10:11:47 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b7244e5f3798c0d3f2d9fe242fa346ee", "book_id": "26860475", "review_id": "09a367319fffc2310a9d1f984838aada", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I actually liked this retelling much more than I was expecting to, maybe more than the original", "date_added": "Sun Oct 11 08:57:19 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 07 10:26:53 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Oct 11 09:02:39 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Oct 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b7244e5f3798c0d3f2d9fe242fa346ee", "book_id": "6339989", "review_id": "3d9ae2f1e81106298ff367a763c3cc91", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have completely fallen in love with this series, with Dimitri & Rose esp. It's breaking my heart, and thats a good thing!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 04 22:41:13 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 04 22:42:34 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b7244e5f3798c0d3f2d9fe242fa346ee", "book_id": "8755785", "review_id": "1fdc6de814918f84b10f25ccbfb8c596", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm a mixture of feelings right now. \n COHF was definitely better than the previous two books, and I did rather enjoy it. I'm happy where is ended, but with all the hints that were given about who was to die and who wasn't, I must say I was a bit disappointed. Possibly even confused. \n All in all, I finished fairly quickly, and felt like I couldn't read fast enough. The development with Sebastian's character was really something I loved, and parts of his story managed to surprise me. 4/5 stars, loved it very much.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 02 03:00:32 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed May 28 05:54:26 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed May 28 05:54:26 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "7326282", "review_id": "195fe1768f70d69b8d737e82246ea48c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amazing story. I think I cried on three separate areas. Maybe more. \n A sci-fi m/m romance filled with discrimination and prejudice. Character development is grows from this setting. Long story, but it's broken into short-story-like chapters.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 24 18:14:17 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 24 18:17:30 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "13248840", "review_id": "9d20ad524fbdd4901ee40f54238f912c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I'm a little disappointed in this book. The prologue was very intense, and I was all \"Wooo, good book promise!\" and bought it immediately. But the first chapter starts with the very young and innocent boy Jesse, out clubbing (I feel so old. He's only 18! And the club scene just makes me tired). It's in said goth club that he meets our seductive sociopathic hero Lau, and of course falls head over heels in lust. I'm still not sure why, other than the fact that Lau's pretty. Lau is not a nice guy, and he prostitutes himself on the Canada's mean streets for money. I'm not finding much to respect, here. \n And now I can't stop seeing Jesse as the bitter antagonist describes him: greasy dyed hair, pale skin, an infected piercing. NOT feeling the romance.", "date_added": "Tue May 15 12:19:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue May 15 12:43:49 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "4572241", "review_id": "b79067878dd02c59150c1021bd26d931", "rating": 0, "review_text": "sad that I cannot find this book. :(", "date_added": "Fri Apr 20 11:53:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 01 18:24:36 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "10836790", "review_id": "49cc38703dfedd54fec726a4db9841a2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very good paranormal detective work. Reminiscent of Felix Castor from the Mike Carey novels, with a dark, bleak sort of world. I'm glad to see this is not a one-shot book, but the start of a series.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 28 08:21:43 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 28 08:48:53 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "11713891", "review_id": "5fa9bf0f7678bde05a8d75150ee010db", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book had a good plot (mostly) but I couldn't get through it. It suffered from two problems: firstly, that it was obviously written in modern style, but about a historical setting. Therefore, the narration was never modern or historical, but kept switching back and forth. Secondly, it was not only the narration that switched often. Maybe I'm too jaded, but it felt like the characters jumped from one thought to another to --hey, look! Squirrel! \n I liked the idea of this book. And the characters.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 28 08:21:35 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 19 06:26:01 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "9585993", "review_id": "79ff0bb2b877b1418ffe748e6684e9cd", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Not a fan. Some scenes I didn't particularly care for, didn't get to really meet the characters, don't really care about them since they're all out for the money. The ending was kinda cute, though. \n This might be one that rereads better. I don't know.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 12 06:58:12 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 13:18:06 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "6261522", "review_id": "cf5d6e1e578b1124be27e982979bad3b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "There was a quality to the writing of this book that made it hard for me to read. The narration was more verbose and precise than it should be, including during Violet's thinking. It sometimes made think like an older woman looking through a teenager's eyes. I did like the awkward budding romance between Jay and Violet, though!", "date_added": "Wed Dec 21 05:49:37 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sat May 18 19:23:56 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "7759542", "review_id": "6e76073f7b3a0ca1fcfa303278464168", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Really liked this book. Stanton took a hokey premise and made it sizzle. My only complaint was that it felt SO much like a Buffy fanfiction that I actually heard James Marsters using his \"Spike\" voice for all of Kade's scenes, in my head. And I don't think that's a bad thing, either. But call a spade a spade.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 03 09:19:00 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 03 09:25:12 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "10724628", "review_id": "e40197ccdbd75cdb8ed08c748effd56e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A not-bad continuation of the story, but not great either. Kirball bores me now that I see the similarities to Quidditch. I don't really care about the palace intrigue. I just want to watch the dynamics of the friends and their respective lives. Oh, and to know why the killers recognized Mags. But while the friends were all important, there wasn't enough of them together for me. Also, this is not the last in the series.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 31 06:33:39 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 05 17:38:38 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "7884898", "review_id": "a0b7e9d0f90eb5f2b95809562264a1b9", "rating": 2, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I find myself wavering here. If I could give 2.5 stars, I think I would. \n The beginning and middle were good. It put me in mind of Harry Potter a little bit, how he had to deal with suspicion and continue his studies as best he can while learning a new sports game. Potter was more sociable than Mags, though. And then it went off the rails when tragedy struck. \n I didn't mind the tragedy, nor the ensuing fights. They actually brought tears to my eyes, honestly. But how is everything forgiven so easily in two pages or less? Bear ripped into Mags twice, once because of his own problems and frustrations, and never even says \"Sorry.\" Instead Mags is the one apologizing. I'm still confused as to why. And Mags yelled at Lena so she obviously deserves an apology. But Bear was a d**k. \n Also, when did Lena become such a chump? She's after daddy's approval again by the end of the book. Didn't the boys have this talk with her already? Did someone cast a magical Spell of Forgetting, is it something psychological, or is hope springing eternal yet again? \n Yes, I am going to read the sequel.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 31 06:33:36 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 01 13:53:01 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Mon Oct 31 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "8843789", "review_id": "959ba4fbef42aa18e24f6d2bc4d930e6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fun and engrossing. I liked that this was a sci-fi book wrapped in paranormal covers and baked in a teen \"crazy ward\". I found it interested, especially the descriptions of her synesthesic senses!", "date_added": "Sun Oct 30 13:30:47 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 30 18:45:59 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "11795056", "review_id": "d245afdf743e580c48f25b0027bc26dc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Liked it: both interesting and hot story. But I didn't like it as much as the previous story. Could be because I understood the world Stu & Aric's story was set in. In Fighting Chance, I didn't understand the world as much.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 27 13:18:01 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 09 09:12:31 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Feb 09 09:12:31 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "9378084", "review_id": "5f2ae4edcfb62fe86a264d49f4d98641", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Because who doesn't love clown-vampires* taking over a hospital? \n *Note: these are not sparkly vampires.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 20 06:15:43 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 12 12:30:20 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "9722219", "review_id": "f30853207d406adfaf96815d31153c92", "rating": 2, "review_text": "An interesting premise: A cemetery restorer who can see ghosts (and does her best to ignore/stay away from them) meets a haunted police detective whom she must help. Romance ensues as they untangle a mystery. \n However, I could not get into this book. The plot itself seemed to unfold too slowly for my tastes. The heroine's first person point-of-view narration was very ponderous. Whole pages would float by while she's thinking... I could not move past the fourth chapter. Maybe you'll have better luck with it!", "date_added": "Sun Jun 12 05:37:17 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 12 05:49:22 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "10792089", "review_id": "462ec7efdc225cfedc92140f08b2c420", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Sweet, mostly innocent story, felt Very Regency. However, having read the author's other book, I'm confused on if it was a contemporary setting or not. Either way, just enjoy.", "date_added": "Tue May 17 10:31:06 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 23 10:54:07 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "8136796", "review_id": "5107e8613371c93865ad381784828a0d", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Started out as a scifi story, now dipping into a paranormal. The two genres do not mesh easily in my mind.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 02 12:06:00 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 09 06:32:45 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "8139413", "review_id": "a98aee6d9d26db4760e468b62eac5eb5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Bought it for the beautiful cover and very readable excerpt. The story has a lot of things going on. This could easily be a trilogy of slightly shorter books, with each event fleshed out. And to make it clear, this is not a romance with contemporary fantasy elements. This is a contemporary fantasy with some romantic elements. It's also not particularly well-written, but Bachar has a knack for the interesting, and makes it very accessible to the reader. This is definitely an author to watch.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 29 05:30:14 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 23 07:12:46 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sat Jan 29 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "10095900", "review_id": "da2f5246e2897052c4db7cc0fa581909", "rating": 0, "review_text": "zombies??", "date_added": "Tue Jan 18 14:07:14 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 18 14:07:32 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "7041456", "review_id": "68a3802f417c72e8a32fa191bdd01ec2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Quick read involving oracles, forbidden love, and a demon princess that won't settle. Cute, and even better than the previous book. In this novel, Nikki spends less time wondering at the new world she's fallen into, and more time getting things done. Mostly.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 30 06:26:14 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 30 07:36:20 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "6609758", "review_id": "a9e4bcd7e6688b4122841ecca124441d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "bleak, rather adult language. Not bad, but not particularly rewarding until the epilogue.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 18 06:54:04 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 21 14:06:39 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "155421", "review_id": "946e825322ada7551083870980f5bbf9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "First thought? Author likes to hear himself speak. But it's a special world and special dispensations apply. Nicely crafted world, with a bogeyman under every rock. The story itself was slightly meh, but the good kind of meh.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 08 09:46:54 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 08 09:48:22 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "159269", "review_id": "4672402c3c91483504d39ce1eb849625", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Didn't read the others. Never understood quite what was happening. Still, a fun ole time!", "date_added": "Sun Dec 05 10:34:33 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 05 10:34:54 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "28731", "review_id": "3ef216126d73547d828c69ccd0fff504", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The fighting was cute in the beginning, and annoying later on. The various romances were cute, as was the look at Raven's past. Wish there was more in this series, which is an offshoot of another.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 04 10:47:45 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 16:20:47 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "847786", "review_id": "0708356f5e4df8f26b640dd6493a84f3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked the look of the bards' world, without as many Bards. Introduced a few new players that you'll see later, too.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 04 10:45:37 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 16:42:56 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "511206", "review_id": "2d908d46eb4769dfeface4a93728e565", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Classic Lackey fare, though not as many descriptions and details as I like.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 04 10:44:26 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 24 06:08:24 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "13978", "review_id": "038772e58305e56c9ceee1466061cfa5", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I wasn't as interested in this one until the very end.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 04 10:44:15 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 05:13:27 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "176881", "review_id": "ac8c0fe75109fc236a0540e6a5612a41", "rating": 4, "review_text": "An old favorite, a historical retelling of \"Beauty and the Beast\" in... mid-1800's California?", "date_added": "Sat Dec 04 10:44:01 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 14:49:35 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "14009", "review_id": "7f41d217240b524cfdf9c7a36869154c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Most of the story was boring. When Darian meets the Taylendras (?), it gets more interesting. But the ending is mostly classic Lackey (full of interesting details, etc)", "date_added": "Sat Dec 04 10:43:28 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 16:49:08 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "176804", "review_id": "3241a7ba38c81fa038e7a025ff86a2a2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I love the detail. This is n old favorite with me.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 04 10:42:36 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 04:29:30 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "13982", "review_id": "818e77759586a0145a8f8d593c68a367", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked the world she created, but it didn't get interesting until halfway through, at the start of the romantic thread.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 04 10:37:42 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 21 15:19:40 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "28760", "review_id": "084043054d26c9dd5383a87bce6305ed", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Interesting when I read it, but didn't really grab me. Couldn't really relate to hero, so it was a rather forgettable book for me.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 04 10:36:58 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 14:47:29 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "544891", "review_id": "238fba8d0520e5e9911d38ba5eeb89a2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great retelling of Beauty and the Beast!", "date_added": "Thu Dec 02 08:00:12 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 29 09:42:36 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "8288919", "review_id": "52ab2e5e6a5d9dde49e2020ae28a7bf0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved it, I was on the edge of my seat! I had wondered how Green would top his last book... Fear not! John Taylor gets to play with the good guys! Mostly, anyway. \n When Exacalibur shows up on John and Shotgun Suzie's door, it can only mean destiny is at work. To which Suzie sums up with a succinct curse or two. And John gets to travel to real-world London to talk to the stuffy London Knights, among others. Don't think that just because they're playing with the \"good guys\", that John and Suzie don't get to cause great collateral damage. Because they spread much death and raise insurance rates wherever they go. \n There were a lot of action sequences, and a feeling of light-hearted humor, in spite of the serious problems. Because when doesn't Nightside have serious problems? Or is a serious problem. I am SO looking forward to the next one!", "date_added": "Thu Dec 02 06:44:46 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 16 09:59:29 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "7944201", "review_id": "839ad52e42e3a152b38059102b588111", "rating": 5, "review_text": "ARCANUM 101 - A nice prequel tale to the Diana Tregarde Investigation series. Set some 30+ years back, it tells about Diana's transition to college life, while balancing a budding romance-writing career and a gift that requires her to help others. I loved the ending! If you like paranormal investigations, this series is for you. \n DRUMS - Another paranormal investigator, Jenny Talldeer lives in Florida with her lover David Spotted Horse, and her grandfather. This story is set after \"Sacred Ground\" in 1995 but is even more interesting than the book (if possible). \n GHOST IN THE MACHINE - Set in present day, this introduces a new character: Ellen, the techno-shaman. She is hired by a MMORG company to set their game world to rights. A neat blend of cyber and magic realms, though the language was a little tricky. I don't associate the world \"faceplant\" with \"avatar death\", and I'm still not sure what \"spawning\" is, but I don't think it has to do with fish... Still, I'd love to see more in this vein!", "date_added": "Thu Dec 02 06:34:40 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 30 10:56:37 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "9301449", "review_id": "e37ffe4ee5378477e0f6db28709c44fc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked this one, but it felt short! And I enjoyed the way he was thought to be handicapped because he couldn't always control his shifting.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 01 12:09:20 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 24 06:28:11 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "7008041", "review_id": "4c9cc3ff0ae42f467c00316520b11c5c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Parts of her story was boring, his was more interesting. And when they got together, it got better. I can't wait for the next one!", "date_added": "Mon Nov 15 06:26:46 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 04:31:09 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "7001319", "review_id": "58fb5834057433b4bf3e526daadc2169", "rating": 3, "review_text": "didn't care so much about the main characters, but still not bad.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 05 08:43:53 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 05 08:44:17 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "7001296", "review_id": "feea14a541f4bb556b083e3421199d6c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "all in good fun", "date_added": "Fri Nov 05 08:43:25 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 05 08:43:42 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "6593385", "review_id": "4b21341d63bc6533605891523dc40f11", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I didn't expect to like it as much as I did!", "date_added": "Wed Sep 22 11:11:43 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 01 07:55:56 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Wed Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Tue Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "3405958", "review_id": "4de3861bb1ff2a7d256dee403416eba0", "rating": 2, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I would've rated this book higher. It was interesting premise, a quick read that twisted romance, paranormal, and book industry into one nice package. However, that package was slightly broken. It was a fight to read this when my eyes kept noticing editorial problems. How can I tell the difference between the narrator's thoughts and the dialogue if they keep dropping quotation marks and throwing them in odd places? I kept having to reread paragraphs to make sure that \"cold\" really meant \"could\". Someone was spacing out. Did it do what it intended to? Not totally, because you kept getting distracted from the story by stupid, easily fixable errors. Having said that, the epilogue was hilarious, especially when she kept describing how certain groups. \"Celebrities taste like silicone\"! Priceless, and certainly almost worth the time!", "date_added": "Sat Aug 14 19:33:06 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 14 19:38:21 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "2651713", "review_id": "c525b45f26618f07aeadd5f06b14927b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The plot was kinda interesting, but the way the story was written rubbed me the wrong way. Dialogue, wording was just this side of awkward.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 13 14:15:20 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 13 14:22:36 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "59571", "review_id": "da602aba75284f37e8460f34971df2e5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The premise is kinda interesting, but it flows too easily. Are there any challenges for our young heros?", "date_added": "Sun Jul 11 04:45:57 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 06 13:15:33 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sun Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "6763961", "review_id": "d3c01bc678db03b7782c084534dad92d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A steamier book than the first. With a few small changes, it almost could've been an adult paranormal romance.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 08 11:42:19 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 06 23:21:11 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Thu Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "7726036", "review_id": "b9f1722bba014e5370a145d46a999c74", "rating": 3, "review_text": "good, exciting, but not as much fun as the first one.", "date_added": "Thu May 20 09:52:06 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 04 07:51:19 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Sat Dec 04 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "5495243", "review_id": "8148dd4434fa5268cbd6fc297edd1bc2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "slowish start, even with the events happening. But it really gets going!", "date_added": "Thu May 20 09:52:03 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 01 10:09:30 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Thu May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "2111634", "review_id": "39a67ad650e60096d9a55d1fbcd1d205", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Premise was reminiscent of \"Conqueror Worms\": world is slowly drowning. The story follows each of four friends as they come to terms with and try to deal with this worldwide catastrophy. You get to see the world and all the new technology through their eyes. \n If you can finish the book, that is.", "date_added": "Sun May 09 10:37:06 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon May 17 11:36:37 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sat May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "3420361", "review_id": "d4b501d12ec7d913afa3951fea56a4c0", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Odd book. Like the world they set up, but very gloomy backdrop for this romance.", "date_added": "Sun May 09 10:32:59 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu May 27 07:39:29 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "7426979", "review_id": "c9a05d06db9129e2fdb9b0c54def8cff", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Good enough. LOTS of hot bedroom scenes that didn't always seem necessary to the story, but the plot itself was interesting. Short read.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 20 06:41:41 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 21 10:40:27 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "6424184", "review_id": "b93da23a7a8fc36201d85870b1669270", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Rather short and semi-interesting.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 20 06:39:58 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 29 09:50:25 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "7682468", "review_id": "a348a3e0a3debbcd137ced85f14fea89", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Twist on vampire slaying legend: vampirism is a medical condition, a curse that the infected scientist student is trying to cure. Meanwhile, hot jock is really a vampire slayer. Oh yeah, and there's love in the mix.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 02 11:36:58 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 04:51:34 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "6381205", "review_id": "75247b0827d212254abcd1259e21e5ff", "rating": 4, "review_text": "cute alternate-steampunk-London era novel. Romance, paranormal, historical, surprisingly involving, no-nonsense heroine. Keep an eye on this..", "date_added": "Sun Jan 24 18:22:08 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 16 11:49:11 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "6933876", "review_id": "a888f04bd3055a1a54d013364d291473", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Cute, even better than the original! Surprise ending, new alliances made, Carriger has such a delicious turn of phrase. Highly recommended!", "date_added": "Sun Jan 24 18:21:57 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Mon May 31 13:39:58 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "6376772", "review_id": "d1cd77130b90720c8c1dad3ff97d4635", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Built a good world. Regular teen girl is suddenly a half-demon princess? Toss in a little forbidden romance and a possible coup.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 06 09:59:12 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 29 09:57:40 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "2998814", "review_id": "a5e7b4009b4c9c646e6cd88ec770b26e", "rating": 0, "review_text": "bad reviews from Ashley. Not getting around to this anytime soon.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 30 09:57:36 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat May 18 19:52:38 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "6817642", "review_id": "3494dd89dbc7cd97357449433ea977b1", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Short and not worth it.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 30 13:09:44 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 24 06:23:33 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "5927462", "review_id": "70ca88e1de61b6faae2d71e18f8ab9d2", "rating": 2, "review_text": "meh. Read half the book. I opened it up to angst (yay!), but I never connected with the reader. There was never a reason for me to root for her. On the other hand, I DID get interested enough to read until the end. I just wasn't concerned enough to go back and see how it started.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 19 16:12:53 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 22 09:12:45 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "6225047", "review_id": "9c5df117c396ff5dfbe7c44c76bc0d0f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Less sweet than its predecesor, but still a fun read.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 16 11:45:35 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 27 15:00:49 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "6600744", "review_id": "f2e50ccc0a3ddc39e215457e291e8787", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Interesting world, wherein the most dangerous criminals are the white-collared ones! The violent ghosts were fairly vivid. I definitely liked the story.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 13 06:31:47 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 29 08:52:49 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "5900420", "review_id": "17710fd04129f11e83fefc8d16928432", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Prim and proper lady is bit by a werewolf. Oops. She is claimed as a mate by the resident vet. Luckily, she is no pushover, but gives back as good as she gets. Well-written, though I didn't care as much about the Pack protocols. The romance was more interesting.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 13 06:31:38 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 20:33:07 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "5499119", "review_id": "e7a19be86d28280d4daac059c57075de", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A nice romance involving a feline shifter and a park ranger. Characters were well-rounded!", "date_added": "Tue Oct 13 06:19:58 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 28 16:58:07 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "2315892", "review_id": "a9cce1928d4044ef50b81438d4a08bb8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I highly dig this! \n Not for the faint of heart, or the easily offended.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 09 07:15:44 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 21 07:59:38 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "5995419", "review_id": "d0c3bbded805c42d7a30f051ffff66b3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "a good story. It tells about the romance characters but also the continues to tell about the \"timecops\", who were introduced to us in previous novels!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 08 08:30:34 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 08 08:34:56 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "176846", "review_id": "da6a71944bb92492447c880b4e69840e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Counting Crows - a likeable, somewhat predictable romance by Mercedes lackey \n drusilla's dream - cute, kept me guessing which reality was handling what. a good pick for anyone who daydreams on the job. \n Moonglow - already read Charmed Sphere, by Catherine Asaro. So why bother reading this?", "date_added": "Tue Sep 22 05:10:19 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 23 05:24:44 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "297929", "review_id": "0f8c49f30b186f1be193747bc2de8c35", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm pretty sure I read and really liked this one some time back. Was going to re-read in anticipation for the latest. Then remembered how many books and how little time... \n a good, solid, paranormal book, sans romance.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 13 06:24:00 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 15 19:57:40 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "92845", "review_id": "9aa5a165668aa1b5dca001c3013d002a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "was going to re-read, but got a wikipedia summary instead. Never really re-caught my interest, anyway.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 03 06:24:19 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 15 19:42:33 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "2888317", "review_id": "7e239635166355afbcf124f8f614c716", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Nalini Singh - this story was sweet and made me want to read more of her! \n Erin McCarthy - like candy to the mind... \n Linda Winstead Jones - haven't read her in awhile. A good tale! \n Lora Leigh - I'm not much for Breed stories. There's a lot of intertangled stuff and the stories always have so much weight to them. In a good way, but still, this was a good story with an interesting hero's name. \n The title to this anthology (and cover) were kinda silly. But the theme throughout the stories was ...magical catz.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 21 11:18:22 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 21 12:03:42 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "4936618", "review_id": "683e83bfbb61e1b648fac51adee81326", "rating": 3, "review_text": "a cute and interesting story. Not what I expected, but engrossing nonetheless!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 15 09:21:40 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 28 12:21:16 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "1759941", "review_id": "84e7028c413b3b1d4ee442a213c7ce33", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I think I liked the \"other\" couple who weren't the main characters. I enjoyed their story more.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 15 09:18:48 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 15 09:19:43 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "1795542", "review_id": "b97b01a222dba98c24aed8c02ede7427", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Seems good, but I'll probably never finish it.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 16 10:32:30 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat May 18 19:53:54 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "2318136", "review_id": "a7e425c89cea60dc43de1186186714b9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Maybe I need to start from the beginning. I like some animosity between the characters, but I just couldn't get into this one. I also like the side-characters, too. Must go back to start, then give this one another whirl.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 16 10:18:25 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 16 10:31:20 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "664711", "review_id": "9f7bf4ed8710e2a5199b9b36d25fadd0", "rating": 2, "review_text": "typical ellora's cave fare: lots of sex scenes loosely attached by a plot, this one fantasy-related. Not terribly unexpected, but nonetheless...", "date_added": "Tue Jun 16 09:20:50 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 16 09:21:46 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "4769651", "review_id": "a54e3cd36d3bceefe2196aa3791ab0bf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Liked this one. Picked it up late enough to have forgotten some of what came before, but it still worked well enough. \n Also enjoyed Puck's \"growth\" through the book. The parents bored me a bit, and I did guess who the Master and spies were before the end (read too much \"Fables\"). But it was still enjoyable enough that I can't wait for the next one (if only for the Puck/Sabrina interaction!).", "date_added": "Tue Jun 09 11:36:47 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 15 09:13:54 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "6056404", "review_id": "816eede3c2ba911c2a56d6d7fa3b08d9", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I was wrong to think I could read a Beatrice Small book again. Flipped through this one enough to get what's going on, but all the characters seem superficial. They don't have enough depth to care about what's going on around and to them. Or so it seems to me, anyway.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 08 07:42:01 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 08 07:43:42 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "2337265", "review_id": "a6b93272b10895c9c658a7419318c365", "rating": 4, "review_text": "listened to half. VERY good.", "date_added": "Fri May 01 12:56:21 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 15 09:05:41 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "5899779", "review_id": "b831b279791c1598b586efc091d0ff34", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The Zombies and Ninjas are quite fun, but can't get through the rest of it. Waiting for the graphic novel and/or movie", "date_added": "Mon Apr 27 05:30:47 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu May 27 07:53:07 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "3475145", "review_id": "e707b0f93dfba95ac7bf6584710fd55e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I knew the Jim Butcher and Simon Green stories would be good. I had never read Kat Richardson before, and I had no idea I HAD read Thomas Sniegoski. I need to get more into those authors...", "date_added": "Mon Apr 13 06:41:58 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 13 05:37:15 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "2871256", "review_id": "841c8c764ce7f0390289490f3bfc4284", "rating": 4, "review_text": "didn't read everything. Liked Jeff Strand's story about the bell of hell, and the story about the \"paranormal eco-terrorists\". And Jim Butcher. His stories are always good! \n Rather lot of stories...", "date_added": "Mon Apr 13 06:41:55 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 11 06:44:37 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Fri May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "2575572", "review_id": "3b81583cfcd47a43fdecfdff5c91ea1d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Was a little wary of the story (I mean, really?) but later in discussion with a friend, realized it opened some interesting ideas for the future of the Dresden files. Liked looking at things from Thomas's point of view.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 13 06:41:52 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 16:41:38 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "2637138", "review_id": "adebf4340262a38aa1fe526071d3cc9b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Neat! I didn't expect everyone to look like that. The story was classic Harry, though I was a little concerned about trusting someone so quickly. But in his line of work (or trouble, really) you kinda have to.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 13 06:41:48 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 16:39:10 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "91479", "review_id": "3dfe8e514a85f15d42f26d513acd4061", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Love Dresden books, but not my favorite.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 13 06:40:15 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 04:34:16 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "3475161", "review_id": "d5459b3dd06d844d33d484a4b60c4298", "rating": 5, "review_text": "OMIGOSH! I thoroughly enjoyed it. I ate it up in such a short time that I think I missed many details. Must go back and re-read at a later date.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 13 06:38:53 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 13 06:40:01 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "6177424", "review_id": "7844287c92551b7892b48f76af0b43e8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A run-of-the-mill book on paranormal gangs saving the world. I was interested in finishing it, and did enjoy the story. But I wouldn't read the whole thing.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 10 09:14:41 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 18 05:22:25 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Fri Jun 18 05:22:25 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Fri Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "2770316", "review_id": "52d0d04e865f7a591efe1765f425ec7c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Started in the middle. Currently pretty interesting. Reminds me of a cross between Angela Knight and someone else (i forget who. so sue me!). \n update: i like this author and the story, but have too many to read right now. The fact that I put it down and forgot about it means she goes back in the stack! And I might be reminded of Sherrilyn Kenyon on this book. \n Re-read: Reads like the usual paranormal-gang-of-hot-guys-saving-the-world book, except marginally more interesting in that the hero falls for the girl who's from the bloodline that cursed him. Easy read.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 10 09:13:06 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 18 05:19:27 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Fri Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "762342", "review_id": "cc2d06cc252087bfa5f9ef1d474d8bcd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A hot romance... Well, several hot romances, really. Zoe and Magnus, Zoe and Alex, Alex and Bryan, Bryan and Magnus, Bryan and Zoe...and Alex? Despite how it looks like everyone has the morals of allycats, it's as far from that as possible. Everyone has morals,and everyone has feelings, and no one wants to hurt another. Generally speaking, anyways. Also look for the subplots involving fairies, ghosts, changelings, and more! I love to read this for the sheer emotions conveyed.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 07 09:19:37 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 16:57:02 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "3975774", "review_id": "1340061face485bfeec6f7bcaa83df3c", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Outsourced to teen programmee, August", "date_added": "Tue Apr 07 09:17:29 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 15 07:04:46 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "3001678", "review_id": "8942f0d204c29c35eb87c22a3da0f117", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Interesting take on the Primeval series: had some intriguing looks into the psyches of the characters, though I don't think they touched on all the characters fully. Did not mention Rex, either, but liked looking into Lester's mind. \n Set early-to-mid second season.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 24 09:10:54 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 06 06:35:55 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "161887", "review_id": "039bf3e256e3079a3665b5ba710acd7f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very interesting. Reminded me of a cross between \"Beauty and the Beast\" and \"The Snow Queen\".", "date_added": "Tue Mar 24 06:33:35 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 24 06:34:13 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "3396458", "review_id": "fb3ef74ecbbce1de81b2f29a59f30f87", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Excellent. Felt like a natural progression from the last book, but at the same time, I want a new topic. \n Liked seeing Butcher's Chicago from new eyes, too.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 02 06:06:01 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 19 05:53:28 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "3046001", "review_id": "18992e1e8d1ff595406ad1b1af494a9f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Good story, and the end of the series is coming!", "date_added": "Wed Feb 25 05:37:29 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 26 08:48:10 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "3697357", "review_id": "6ca404d980474d969e7725dfa2d2a7c1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The Walking Man's come to Nightside: \"The wrath of God among men\" \n Introduces new characters, new Authorities, new descriptions of Nightside, new threats, ...Suzie has a cameo, but John gained new partner for most of the book.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 12 06:21:13 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 16 11:26:02 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "3244140", "review_id": "8a5958a672d25d81bb07ac34e88fb834", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Cute, but changed everything! I can't wait til the next one!", "date_added": "Sun Jan 11 18:36:35 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 09 07:05:53 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "244475", "review_id": "d7abab898eb6a022ae37958d4880e1ad", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Formulaic, but good.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 11 18:30:35 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 25 05:38:41 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "1820174", "review_id": "a12682557c85d621a0b3eda5a1e46e5c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Jaz bellydances to save the world. \n First-person narrative, hilarious paranormal story with a hint of romance.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 13 07:23:56 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 11 18:37:06 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sun Jan 11 18:37:06 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "2195309", "review_id": "bf6f36de80523a8f7b095557dfe0f2b8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A good book, but different than the first. The characters are laid back, but the heroine has the normal \"it's moving so fast, etc\" feeling. There wasn't the same feeling of accomplishment that the first book ended with, but I enjoyed learning more about the future heroes of the next book.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 14 11:15:47 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 14 11:21:33 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "2679617", "review_id": "4ed5eac34e751e636c28192be80c96ce", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Vadim, a ghostlike entity, is haunting Presley right before her car accident. However, handsome doctor Daniel who's helping her recuperate is also very interested in Presley. What follows next is a madcap menage love story crossing several state borders as well as several levels of existence. \n I found this to be an interesting story. Firstly, I love the choose-your-own-adventure format, which is almost unseen in adult books, much less erotic romance. Oddly enough though, I felt the most enjoyable parts of the book dealt with the culture shock (I laughed so hard at the discussion on Prince!). The characters seemed to show more emotional attachment to each other outside of the sex scenes. Said scenes were somewhat imaginative, but otherwise boring. \n It's a good book, but don't read it soley for erotic romance.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 07 07:43:12 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 07 08:40:28 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "18893820", "review_id": "bec1be526613d2beea4e0ea9b4367904", "rating": 4, "review_text": "climax of the story arc", "date_added": "Mon Jul 21 05:52:19 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue May 05 04:47:35 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "98022", "review_id": "2bd29180c2bc6b63c4b2ee55882dcde0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "loved the art, and the story rolled along pleasantly.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 21 05:52:09 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 21 14:43:25 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "97998", "review_id": "2aac631981ed335d56bf1650816fb40a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2 stories woven side-by side. Liked the idea of both, but...", "date_added": "Mon Jul 21 05:47:47 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 21 05:48:25 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "313268", "review_id": "d1adcee32ec04f75fc5cf887fe55db2d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "not a huge feehan or shayne fan. the other stories were good.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 21 05:19:44 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 21 05:20:34 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "407234", "review_id": "8348f3ff2d9fb810a6141c40f152ccb3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have spent a great many months on this book. It's really good, but easy for me to put on hold when something else comes in. Both a good and bad problem.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 21 05:18:37 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 14 11:11:49 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Tue Oct 14 11:11:49 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "475442", "review_id": "501dd9aaa4b45211f7c519e0b867c886", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A re-reading: Jack is out of the biz, after an attempt by an otherworldly force on his loved ones. However, a job request does come through: find the detective a mom hired to investigate her daughter's suspicious boyfriend. And find him he does, along with a psychopath, questionable scientists, and a scientific reason as to why he is what he is. \n A good book. This book takes a look at what makes us bad. Is it in our genes? It also displayed both Otherness and Rasalom. The girl's predicament also made me go a little #@$!! Because, really.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 21 05:15:42 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 05 17:45:01 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Tue Aug 05 17:45:01 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "2073686", "review_id": "71b80bed4e38b3cb539ced1e8bbfa88b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Questions answered: check \n Sabrina acting like a goober: check \n Puck/Sabrina-shipping: cute!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 21 05:15:23 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 05 18:03:22 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Tue Aug 05 18:03:22 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "85855", "review_id": "c644b117c0a384a7e31bad9300bc1485", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Still haven't read it! One day...", "date_added": "Fri May 30 05:19:35 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 12 05:47:06 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "1561766", "review_id": "28305d1d752ee1cb398e92129808176a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "An excellent story, involving two friends who fall in love with each other (though they may fight it) and with a demon prince.", "date_added": "Sat May 03 06:31:48 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 04:42:56 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "2187324", "review_id": "e32dcfd4b3889c36ff9bda4c12f5e3d2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Read during the Jim Butcher Con... Very good!", "date_added": "Thu May 01 09:24:13 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu May 01 09:25:27 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "43889", "review_id": "7b64bdd722e58f413a32ab3eaff49b43", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I think I read this right before I visited Royce. \n Excellent, nay, AMAZ-ZA-ZING! Epic, very swashbuckling (without the pirates) tale!", "date_added": "Wed Apr 16 17:20:26 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 16 17:22:04 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "88504", "review_id": "40178c56e317e258f40ea35f110a5d17", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I remember liking it. Will have to re-read!", "date_added": "Wed Apr 16 17:16:45 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 16 17:17:20 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "50781", "review_id": "98aaafc73f00de23de2a2e54c0216cc1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The beginning was rather unbelievable; things happened too quickly, the heroine went along with a rather outlandish idea a wee bit too quickly. Also, the language is sometimes quite formal. Otherwise, excellent and very roast-y warm!", "date_added": "Wed Apr 16 17:14:46 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 16 17:16:20 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "47699", "review_id": "31c6dddc3d1f6bd7cab38b8dadf4a06c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very good, full of short stories. Several have been featured in other short-story collections.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 07:51:26 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 09 11:29:33 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "48416", "review_id": "8d8896d8dc5e946b30305f830673c91e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Love the premise, but I remember wanting more from this book. The following books have a little more meat...", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 07:49:50 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 17 08:39:33 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "421129", "review_id": "c8c9b576202e528f1bf0931c2a1397ec", "rating": 4, "review_text": "best of the bunch, still funny and the semiromance was interesting.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 07:44:10 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 04:01:14 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "219402", "review_id": "2b8c11c29981d0464323a2f5f380b903", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Enjoying Jack learning about his family. The subplot of his possible publicity is irksome at best, but kinda necessary; I mean, with the kinds of things he does, it's surprising that he hasn't gotten noticed sooner. \n Reminds me of Burn Notice, but with less reluctance on Jack's part... mostly.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 07:41:45 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 20 11:15:28 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "219418", "review_id": "65fd114fc32aa32f42e3df724462e104", "rating": 4, "review_text": "STill one of my favorites of the series, this one introduces jack while he gia are not together. You get to see why his job is so important to others.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 07:41:39 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 04:23:38 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "36", "review_id": "2c1501a1055c74ed97d5560a49027131", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Full of fun facts weapons, armor, and even the species of LOTR!", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 07:41:19 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 24 05:30:59 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "446698", "review_id": "531b60dc00a75c0b368028b882cf3c7b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Imagine a reverse regency, where women take charge. It was alright, but I am not a fan.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 07:40:57 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 04:40:28 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "206855", "review_id": "b2fddc84f4b3f9d3045ecb83cf0ee618", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Meh. The hero wasn't bad, but he was very take-charge and the heroine was a squeaky girl, not strong enough to give what she gets(a common problem in Joy's books, to me). There was some humorous parts (\"We are wee-chuk-chuking!\"), but not enough to make up for the heroine.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 07:40:54 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 17:01:59 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "206856", "review_id": "864784b2c2629260b005e24f50c422dc", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Regency romance with a scifi twist. Not bad. Not great.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 07:40:53 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 17:02:36 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "13986", "review_id": "2a6d66125898a24fa3dc4fcaea3067d4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I like the world she built. I like Talia and her trials. This was my favorite of the series.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 07:37:37 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 05:24:19 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "3091315", "review_id": "df4caffc5e3953b629ceb2ffbb9adfda", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Classic Merecedes Lackey. Other reviewers have said it better, but this is one of her classic Valdemar novels: rags-to-riches (or filth-to-clean-and-happy) kid who gets help from talking horses. I consider Lackey's books to be like the romance books I read: simple, easy to consume, and good fun besides.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 07:37:35 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 31 06:33:24 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "1191665", "review_id": "30bb24f79ed0e56bee1d1120a359536b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A retelling of the story of King Arthur, more or less. It wasn't bad!", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 07:36:16 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 29 09:53:24 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "85990", "review_id": "5fd86a9a0b284b88761e533343ceb8a8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Cute, quick read about peasant mountain girls who are training to be princesses.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 07:34:58 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 09 05:42:36 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "5095", "review_id": "3d6c06a8d72fb3fd845251653d93fd86", "rating": 3, "review_text": "First Stephen King book I read. First time confused me a wee bit.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 07:34:55 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 16:21:58 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "12067", "review_id": "3cd6c2d33507c62e85b6b298ed803853", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another masterful story, telling of a angel who isn't really that good, and a devil who isn't really that bad. Also involves a handful of kids, the antichrist, and the end of the world, all dealt in a singular comic fashion. Hilarity ensues.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 07:24:38 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 04:47:51 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "84156", "review_id": "b3c77ac1b5c2d10905a791d786cde03e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Only read the Jim Butcher and Rachel Caine stories. Good ones!", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 07:08:15 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 21 14:20:34 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "299081", "review_id": "c29c3c0e52d8ac7f11d949137209db5c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Omigosh. A more mature, creepier Toy Story. ARtwork is beautiful!", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 07:08:07 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 04:35:12 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "206857", "review_id": "e7639020de16f0313fdbfa397e61c7f0", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Girl was whiny, guy was semichauvenistic (which romance hero isn't, though). But the playing in the poop scene was never as funny as I think the author wanted it to be.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 07:07:55 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 05:15:09 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "62549", "review_id": "08c9c92cb3768043bfdfcd6cd33e0224", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Jack kicks major butt in this one. His family falls apart and he raises heck and high water to protect them. No one, not even his new allies, are going to stand in his way.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 07:07:05 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 23 16:34:38 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "937122", "review_id": "8f763e77098dd0e21ebd5b6e147fd6f9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Vayl and Jaz meet Jaz's ex wife (til death do you part!), make friends with Cole, Cassandra, and Bergman (who was already there), learn of the Raptor and his red-plague plans, and Jaz learns about her past.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 24 11:50:37 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 05 11:47:12 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Mon Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "313264", "review_id": "dc2409f7a5a826d1c31da850c7d39f83", "rating": 4, "review_text": "cute!", "date_added": "Mon Mar 24 11:49:54 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 24 11:50:26 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bbf2acaab43e8817ebc88b475529c902", "book_id": "501442", "review_id": "19cffec4c415ff680745dd9f64384d4d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "best story so far: christine warren!", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 09:20:18 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 20 09:22:04 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "215a24dc92f8f926dedb8a0d9b33ab3e", "book_id": "9274753", "review_id": "cd23c162efc2d194a5f19d1da7dd6fd3", "rating": 1, "review_text": "a total waste of 15 minutes!", "date_added": "Fri Oct 21 12:00:00 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 02 14:16:34 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "215a24dc92f8f926dedb8a0d9b33ab3e", "book_id": "24323918", "review_id": "f475d6c7c3deb5e2ebc127f8bad91c3a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It left me filled with multiple mixed emotions; sadness, grief, pity, hope, humor .. it left me teary as much as laughing. \n and that is the thing about paranormal novels. no matter how long your brain refuses to believe the unreasonable events, u finally let yourself be drawn to the sweetness of the tripe far away from reality.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 30 13:48:36 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 16 15:07:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Apr 16 15:07:43 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5913df24fde1cf3bbcb35955d6f1a8c5", "book_id": "8478731", "review_id": "ea6e8b7deefca853bc3a3c3272750ba1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This took a while for me to get into. I really wanted to like it - and yet for about half the book I struggled. The writing is witty and amusing, the plot cleverly constructed, but the narrator is just so *present*. I am someone who normally likes to get lost in a book. I enjoy a book if I forget I'm reading it, if the characters and the images are planted in my mind as I read with no intermediary. This was not the case with this book - the imagery is certainly vivid, the characters memorable, but the narrator makes himself heard. You can hear the author writing. You can see him doing his utmost to be witty and clever. And while his tone is certainly amusing, I personally felt it detracted from the story somewhat. \n At least, that is, until all the seemingly separate threads of the story got tangled up into impending doom for everyone, and then I got so completely sucked into the fate of the cast of characters who'd snuck into my head that I finally forgot I was reading, and the book balanced into masterful storytelling. \n The characters are brilliant and it would make an excellent film.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 26 05:25:17 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed May 03 04:46:11 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5913df24fde1cf3bbcb35955d6f1a8c5", "book_id": "23403402", "review_id": "b3169086a683b24052693982335ba7b7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I picked up this book knowing nothing about it because I liked the premise, and I liked the first page, and I liked the coat. It reminded me of the door in Howl's Moving Castle, and the cape, and was generally Diana Wynne Jonesesque. The beginning was a bit slow, and it took me a while to get into it, but while the pacing was off I liked the tone of the book. I think maybe I didn't find it as funny or amusing as other people did, and as it was trying to be, but the tone of the prose was very self-aware and tongue-in-cheek, a rare quality for fantasy books which I particularly appreciate. Again, very Diana Wynne Jones. The city descriptions were incredibly Ghibli-esque - I especially liked the very vivid yet fairy-tale-esque descriptions of markets by colour, smell, taste, etc. It reminded me a bit of Spirited Away. \n I found the plot to be rather predictable, and the section titles giving away upcoming content were infuriating, but altogether I'm intrigued enough by the world to want to revisit it, so I'll be reading the sequel.", "date_added": "Sat May 28 04:23:06 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 20 11:24:03 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat May 28 05:21:11 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5913df24fde1cf3bbcb35955d6f1a8c5", "book_id": "23380998", "review_id": "858f130beec0be0eb0341aade57565d1", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I don't know how I feel about this yet.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 17 04:13:21 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 17 04:13:50 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5913df24fde1cf3bbcb35955d6f1a8c5", "book_id": "10618137", "review_id": "2035dd7319d1e5c15d92a4b48e66e646", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The writing was absolutely abysmal. The dialogue and characterisation actually made me cringe. The plot was predictable, with no twist whatsoever. There were spelling and grammar mistakes.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 08 04:28:38 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 08 06:08:18 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5913df24fde1cf3bbcb35955d6f1a8c5", "book_id": "22428828", "review_id": "9810fe4df24f05046b473cd1172d0d37", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not much happens in this one, but it lays the grounds for what could be a good series. \n A tad too \"Harry Potter\"ish for my taste; loving Catarina Loss though.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 18 03:59:14 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 18 04:00:38 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5913df24fde1cf3bbcb35955d6f1a8c5", "book_id": "14061955", "review_id": "fa9b12a807809c42934d74ff059494c0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "So, those who have read my review will know I was less than impressed by the previous book. I found it laughable, if somewhat enjoyable. \n Now, this book... This book was a massive step up. It still suffer from an admittedly milder case of \"why? Because, plot.\", and at times I found myself desperately wanting to strangle Mal, but altogether? Much better written, did a better job at capturing an atmosphere and casting a dark light on my thoughts. I don't scare easy, but I'll admit it even made me look over my shoulder at night in a way no other book has since Chamber of Secrets. I may have had a hard time putting it down, and I'm decidedly more excited about starting book three than I was about opening this one.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 12 05:02:28 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 12 05:08:43 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5913df24fde1cf3bbcb35955d6f1a8c5", "book_id": "10194157", "review_id": "1cd58be2a19abe25549fb7093c2b3dad", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Right, so. First things first: I did enjoy this book. It made for a pleasant distraction from daily life, and the story and setting are interesting enough that I will read the next 2. \n But that's all. \n Many things really, really bug me about this book. Starting with the number one, massive red flag: WHY IS THE MAIN CHARACTER CALLED ALINA STARKOV?! This genuinely made me want to throw the book out the window every time, until about halfway through the book I developed the coping mechanism of reading it \"Starkova\" in my head. I don't care if this was a decision supposedly made \"on purpose\", the fact is that many of your prospective readers are going to be attracted to your novel by the very fact that it contains Russian elements, and said readers will immediately notice the mistake and get irrevocably annoyed, which makes it just dumb. Seriously. \n Number two - again, I know this is mentioned in passing by Baghra, but WHY IS THE DARKLING ONLY EVER REFERRED TO AS \"THE DARKLING\"?! The guy should have a name, really. If only because, how can the protagonist supposedly fall in love with some guy who she's known for months, and not even think once of asking his name?? This is like having a villain in a story and only ever referring to him as 'The Villain'. It never, ever works, unless the plot twist is that the pretty heroine will remember his name and throw him off guard by using it to remind him of his 'humanity', which would be supremely lame. I'm sorry, but it really ticks me off. \n Last but not least, and I find this may be the most disappointing in the long term, if it keeps happening throughout the series, I found this book to be a case of overuse of the \"Why? Because, plot.\" trope. \n Example [and spoiler alert]: in the end, Alina finds that she can perform the Cut... And promptly uses it to destroy the skiff, dooming everyone but the Darkling, instead of Cutting the Darkling, and saving everyone else. Why? Because plot. It may have left me screaming in frustration at how dumb she was being, but if she'd done the logical thing, there would have been no sequel. \n Unfortunately this is but the most flagrant example of this happening in the novel, and I can only hope that it won't be overused in the following two books.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 26 04:50:57 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 07 03:12:22 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Oct 07 03:12:22 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5913df24fde1cf3bbcb35955d6f1a8c5", "book_id": "16096824", "review_id": "0fe7384e72f10f87cae05271d4addd24", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I was disappointed. As a big fan of the Throne of Glass series, I expected this to be quite good, but truth be told I was bored the whole way through. The characters are boring, the plot isn't really engaging, the whole masks thing is, I think, stupid - as if the author had strained herself to think of a curse that was inconvenient enough to need lifting but not so bad as to make her character(s) unattractive. The entire length of the book, the plot felt a little shoddy and unstable, some things weren't quite right and didn't make sense - while some of it was explained in later revelations, it doesn't justify it, and more effort could have gone into tidying up the plot and its loose ends. \n Admittedly it wasn't all bad: a few things strike me as noteworthy. Lucian, for one, who, with his eye-rolling and groaning at the protagonists' gross lovey-dovey-ness, does a good job representing the reader (to paraphrase a friend). \n Nesta, fierce Nesta and her awesome character arc. That was good. I want to read a series about Nesta, not Faye. \n That scene with the dirty verses composed to teach Faye how to read. Unexpectedly fun - perhaps the only scene where I actually like Whatshisface (I'm not even joking. I don't even remember his name, that's how indifferent he left me). \n And finally, that scene where Faye traps that creature and then saves its life - not only common courtesy, strangely unusual in that genre of books, but also a welcome attempt at un-demonizing non-human creatures in YA fiction. \n That said, all in all, I spend most of the book reading on, expecting it to finally get exciting. It didn't.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 19 09:48:30 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 16 02:24:35 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5913df24fde1cf3bbcb35955d6f1a8c5", "book_id": "7896527", "review_id": "47b162a93e1ef389945bdad78a5e00db", "rating": 0, "review_text": "It has now been a month since I finished this book, I've read several other novels since, and yet the 'book hangover' hasn't faded an ounce. I can't stop thinking about it. About the world, the characters, the atmosphere. It obsesses me like a bad breakup, I can't seem to be able to shake it off. That to me is the real strength of this book. \n I'm being stubborn now and holding off the next one, because then I'll have to wait a year and I can't let that happen. It's only a matter of time until I give in, though.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 06 06:45:56 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 06 06:45:56 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5913df24fde1cf3bbcb35955d6f1a8c5", "book_id": "17334079", "review_id": "0186e7a2ea28be481f2c6b09cf15cf2b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The writing feels rushed and the end is downright infuriating (not the good kind of infuriating), but otherwise a light and pleasant read.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 11 14:36:25 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 22 18:16:31 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5913df24fde1cf3bbcb35955d6f1a8c5", "book_id": "13583766", "review_id": "5e502ae050bc13b5af3c48b038e40cda", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Sarah Rees Brennan's dialogues are pure gold. Also, that essay on tattoos.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 31 19:15:09 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 30 12:36:01 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jan 30 12:36:01 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5913df24fde1cf3bbcb35955d6f1a8c5", "book_id": "8709526", "review_id": "efaa03f4d8d25dec116f50e98034695f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I had fairly low expectations for this one. I mean, I quite enjoyed the previous two, but Sydney's bland and frustrating (especially in comparison to Rose), and from what I'd heard the series was losing speed; my friends were losing interest and I braced myself for something \"average\". \n Surprisingly enough, I found myself loving it. I was hooked. The plot was a little predictable, but the banter and the characters felt... well, real. Natural. It made me chuckle more than the previous two Bloodlines books had, and the characters weren't as frustratingly stereotypical as they'd once been. Hell, even Jill has a personality, now! (sorry.) \n Despite what I'd been told, I thought the story actually picked up the pace quite drastically, compared to the other two. Sydney is evolving and I can finally relate to her. If the other two books I was only reading for Adrian, the new Alchemist plot lines are intriguing enough that I'll be eagerly waiting for the next one in the series. \n Oh, and, last but not least? It seems the series is back on its pedestal of wonderfully-written UST. About time.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 04 05:31:05 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu May 02 04:03:16 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5913df24fde1cf3bbcb35955d6f1a8c5", "book_id": "7514925", "review_id": "e4e406d24c53f1111c8594791b6337cb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "...I'm speechless. \n I can't even tag this book, because no tag would define it. \n This is the most poetic piece of writing I have read in a long, long time. \n It's also completely not what I expected. \n Read it. \n I'll never see Peter Pan the same way again.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 29 06:49:14 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 11 10:48:34 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Dec 11 10:48:34 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Wed Dec 05 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5913df24fde1cf3bbcb35955d6f1a8c5", "book_id": "301082", "review_id": "2c9b8350d3ed22f4b10082c9e266aa01", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was a solid average. 3 stars, because I liked it, but it didn't in any way blow my mind. \n I found it in a bookshop before the whole True Blood phenomenon took over our screens. I was immediately taken in by the light, straightforward tone of the narration - think Meg Cabot for young adults. I liked its strong-headed heroine, I liked the world building and the concept of mainstreaming vampires drinking synthetic blood. However, the plot itself - and the romantic lead - were fairly unremarkable. \n Altogether a light, fun summer read, but nothing exceptional.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 29 05:50:21 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 08 09:32:22 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5913df24fde1cf3bbcb35955d6f1a8c5", "book_id": "110494", "review_id": "ba82bdb1e5b08d9f228d4597428d6e0f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "So by the time I finished the first book, the true blood phenomenon had already hit our screens, and every student household I knew and loved had been affected some way or another. Upon several friends' recommendation, I decided to give it a try and watch the first episode of the first season - I ended up marathoning through the entire season in under a week. I liked that they took the universe and story of the book and expanded on it, I liked their interpretation of it. So, out of curiosity, I thought I'd try reading the second book at the same time as watching season 2... And this was really a case of the series being better than the book. The plot was poor, the narration long and frankly rather dull, the characters less than likeable. Not all bad, but a waste of time that could've been spent reading something better.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 29 05:49:42 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 08 09:38:27 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5913df24fde1cf3bbcb35955d6f1a8c5", "book_id": "13226173", "review_id": "92995a0614fbd0c8aef7bab0dd6f0721", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I gave it a 3 stars up there, but really it should be 3.5. \n For fans of the book, this is a great bonus. You get to revisit the story without having to re-read the novel (which is great if you're pressed for time)- hell, it even helped me come up with this theory! http://wingedwalls.tumblr.com/post/37... (potential spoilers for the next book, ye have been warned). The graphics are extremely good, the boys as pretty as they get (and I'm picky). Mind you, the Victorian geek that I am feels the need to point out that period costumes in this aren't 100% accurate, but really I'm just being annoying, I doubt it'd bother anyone else. Bonus points for the SD versions of the characters, chibi banter is very cute. All in all, it is a classic manga revisiting (extremely faithfully) a great novel - not as emotionally gripping as the original medium, but very entertaining and enjoyable. \n If you haven't read the book, go buy it. Now. NOW! Only then may you read the manga.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 29 03:57:22 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 04 04:55:19 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5913df24fde1cf3bbcb35955d6f1a8c5", "book_id": "46777", "review_id": "23b159145dec152867a9269e6573c7be", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Rath Roiben Rye is such a great name.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 29 03:49:59 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 03 07:42:41 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5913df24fde1cf3bbcb35955d6f1a8c5", "book_id": "30281", "review_id": "f71801b533861976570aec417b2e60b0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Honestly? This is the most unremarkable vampire fiction book I have ever read. \n At first glance, it seemed to have everything - a cool, sassy main character, loves-me-loves-me-not vampire lovers, and a badass mystery plot to keep things fast-paced and entertaining. \n But then I opened the book and started reading. \n There is nothing inherently bad or wrong about this book, it's just completely predictable - read the first half of the book and you can already tell how the entire series is going to pan out. \n The characters have no real depth or originality to them and aren't very likeable, the plot is one that's been seen before countless times, the \"sassy\" writing seems forced and overdone. \n There were, however, some good elements to the story. Some little quirks that, if Hamilton had developed some more instead of falling into cliches, would have drastically improved the story. These include: \n - Anita Blake's cuddly penguin toys collection. What can I say, feared Vamp Hunters need love, too. \n - Were-rats. Because wolves are oh-so-mainstream. \n - Taking cheesy old-fashioned names to the next level. Because anyone with a name as ridiculous as \"Jean-Claude\" could only ever be a vampire. Or a french 70s porn-star. \n You get the idea. It's the little original ideas like these that made me bump my rating from 2 to 3 stars. \n All in all, it isn't bad, really. It's just 'ok'. Nothing to blow your mind, vaguely entertaining, probably perfect if, say, you're stuck on a 10-hour-long car ride with nothing better to do.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 29 03:48:22 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 29 05:27:28 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5913df24fde1cf3bbcb35955d6f1a8c5", "book_id": "6267237", "review_id": "b70b72dec9c0d36e509e52397c73f386", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Like the previous 3 installments, I liked it, I really did. But I felt the plot was slowly thinning out. New mysteries felt more and more forced. I felt that the strength of these books was their ability to raise new, intriguing questions with each chapter, but by the end of this book all the original mysteries have been solved, all the questions answered. This would've been a good place to end the series, but instead it is set to indefinitely drag on. \n I'm satisfied to consider this as the end to the series, and I won't be reading the rest of it.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 29 03:46:30 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 18 06:04:40 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5913df24fde1cf3bbcb35955d6f1a8c5", "book_id": "6294", "review_id": "afb312ac4e08c597de828cc2ea709e1f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a fairytale about a girl finding freedom in old age, bickering and banter with a fire demon, and not putting up with a vain and self-centered wizard's crap. It is brilliant.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 29 03:32:32 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 16 17:16:16 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5913df24fde1cf3bbcb35955d6f1a8c5", "book_id": "6339664", "review_id": "cfe7fe5fcca2fd876e8031dab40e83a4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ok, so, I'll admit it, I choose my books by their covers. Whoever claims not to is a liar, especially in this world of \"edgy\" covers with no backcover summary. \n And hey, this cover is pretty damn great - it screams \"cool fallen Angel story\". \n Well, in that sense, I wasn't disappointed. This book came out in the midst of the literary vampire overkill wave, and a book about angels back then was unusual and original. A bit less so now, but I rest my case. \n And the plot is quite strong. I'm a sucker for mysterious flashbacks into the distant centuries-old past (think Blue Bloods). It had me on edge and I enjoyed it. \n But the heroine - oh, the heroine. She REDEFINES the \"stupid and helpless\" stereotype. The main 'love interest' spends [spoiler alert] HALF THE BOOK trying to murder her, and somehow she makes it out to be oh-so-romantic. No, it's not. You're dating a lunatic. \n So, if you're the kind of person who gets annoyed by these issues (as a lot of you are by the looks of the latest reviews) then avoid. But if paranormal romance that crosses the morally appropriate line is more your thing, then go for it, you won't be disappointed.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 29 03:31:55 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 18 06:26:17 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5913df24fde1cf3bbcb35955d6f1a8c5", "book_id": "10866624", "review_id": "31cb62952fedb4a731a140b6df46d342", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Rare are the occasions where a book manages to surprise me, let alone a YA paranormal novel. \n But the originality of the premise intrigued me from the start. A girl finds out that her imaginary friend...was real all along? If you sit down and think about it for ten minutes, REALLY think about it, you realise that situation would be a bit of a mindf*ck. And this is exactly where Sarah Rees Brennan succeeded in this novel, by avoiding all the obvious cliches. Think men only liking you for your body sucks? Think again! This one only wants your mind, and it's not much fun either. \n I'll admit, I was skeptical at first. I'd read the Demon Lexicon by the same author and wasn't impressed, I thought it lacked emotion, relatability and originality. So it was a pleasant surprise when I found myself completely hooked within a couple of chapters. Sarah Rees Brennan did a great job at setting the spooky Gothic atmosphere and found the right balance between light-hearted humour, emotionally charged scenes, and a fast-paced, Meg Cabot-worthy plot. \n Also, kudos to her for coming up with the laziest characters since Holden Caulfield and managing to make them likable.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 29 03:20:40 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 10 04:31:55 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5444dc45fcae50a7fc8e32570ab3484", "book_id": "30987946", "review_id": "528ed548ceb0e8d8150ba01a3e23a531", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked this book, although I feel the change of protagonists has, again, distanced me from the universe portrayed. \n The last book changed our viewpoint from Bob (a programmer/geek/sysadmin) to his wife, a talented musician. I related to Bob, but not the missus, so I wasn't as keen on the last book. \n Our new hero is slightly more 'me' than a musician, but still left me a bit cold.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 15 02:04:02 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 21 05:50:37 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5444dc45fcae50a7fc8e32570ab3484", "book_id": "16299991", "review_id": "b944d32acef7f765aab502fdb7ad9b42", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I'm afraid that I was constantly thrown while reading this book by both the prose style, and the plot 'twists', both seemed naive, with words and concepts from a modern context. \n There was a lack of consistency in the characters' relationships. (Our hero is promoted from commoner to 'adopted son' about half way through the book, but continues to be treated as a commoner, even by the man who promoted him.) \n The training regime, (such as we see it) is odd, with random actions undertaken for too little time. Any martial school which has potentially fatal training undertaken with no preparatory training regime (\"Here, untrained youth, take this unweildy shield and protect yourself while having live weapons thrown at you, if you fail you will die. \") rapidly runs out of cadre and is left with the lucky or the sneaky. \n Still, I finished it, so it gets a 3.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 30 04:36:20 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 02 02:05:14 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jan 04 05:52:02 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5444dc45fcae50a7fc8e32570ab3484", "book_id": "18713527", "review_id": "706e020960d6ebc0f3ac8c724d8e1f4d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A nice light hearted zombie apocalypse tale", "date_added": "Mon Jul 06 13:06:17 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 06:32:58 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Aug 08 06:32:58 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5444dc45fcae50a7fc8e32570ab3484", "book_id": "18211295", "review_id": "b4895d2386e6f626fa7773ac170c8fe3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The laundry novels never fail to satisfy, and this one is right up to the mark.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 02 01:36:38 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 09:54:55 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jul 12 09:54:55 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5444dc45fcae50a7fc8e32570ab3484", "book_id": "25717369", "review_id": "e9910502cc11a163d0c7ac349453a44a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Now, here is a comment, a 5 star rating is just not detailed enough. \n This book, part of the Laundry series, is (for me) not quite as good as the others. Possibly because it features/stars Mo rather than Bob. \n Bob is a computer geek, like me, and the use of his jargon and methods in the prose are what draw me to the books. \n Mo is a musician and the shared experience just isn't there. \n Back to the headline. \n So, a 5 star rating. This book is by no means mediocre (3 star), nor (IMHO) stellar (5 star), which makes it a 4 star. Just like all the others I've read by Mr Stross. But it's not quite as good. The others are probably 4.5 to this one's 4, or this one is a 3.5 to the others' 4.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 02 01:36:36 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 15 04:42:26 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jul 15 04:42:26 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5444dc45fcae50a7fc8e32570ab3484", "book_id": "16041555", "review_id": "8db6102d050632ea83809a15b7e3bc00", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The writing style is a little disjointed and naive and the plot twists not so much telegraphed as hand delivered on gilt edged vellum. \n That said, I read it through to the end, and am sufficiently interested that I am debating fighting the writing style to see what happens in the next book.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 16 01:52:18 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 11 02:43:51 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Dec 11 02:43:51 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Dec 06 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5444dc45fcae50a7fc8e32570ab3484", "book_id": "19486421", "review_id": "2c2d468c1ef47593627a966113059902", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Dresden seldom disappoints, and this is one of the better ones. Harry forced to work FOR the Denarians? Say it isn't so.", "date_added": "Tue May 27 03:46:20 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 28 20:30:35 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed May 28 20:29:18 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5444dc45fcae50a7fc8e32570ab3484", "book_id": "18211306", "review_id": "ea8df8659b16b75a6ce38014394230d1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was going to give this a three because the large chunks of Lovecraftian text put me off but the end of the story convinced me and I've raised my score", "date_added": "Sun Nov 03 05:19:25 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 04 15:20:55 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Nov 04 15:20:55 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Nov 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5444dc45fcae50a7fc8e32570ab3484", "book_id": "74010", "review_id": "537beaef0384551fcb539b6262dcc5f7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "a return to the noir feelings of a private eye alone against an uncaring world, a good sting in the tail.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 03 14:31:09 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 05 05:14:00 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jul 05 05:14:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5444dc45fcae50a7fc8e32570ab3484", "book_id": "260985", "review_id": "99e97db43848f61c43572acb2e23fd0a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I got half way through before I was heartily tired of the massive amount of idiocy, hypocrisy and tub thumping jingoism displayed by all the characters on both sides. I made it another 33% on momentum and the fact that I normally love weber's work. But I've now given up, it's on the not finished pile and will most likely stay there.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 22 13:42:45 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 23 15:47:25 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sun Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b8ef85432bfb81b43ba0cd946104152d", "book_id": "29069989", "review_id": "2476c22e5e9efb1d1c5395848c0b815f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "SPOILER ALERT \n #Review - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. \n #Wordpress Link: http://ow.ly/7AWM303jfp5. \n #Blogger Link - http://ow.ly/or0l303jfqp.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 17 00:43:26 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 17 00:44:27 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b8ef85432bfb81b43ba0cd946104152d", "book_id": "27161189", "review_id": "0eeecbd3feb235d1895ffb1132564137", "rating": 5, "review_text": "#BookReview for #United as One \n Spoilers ** \n #WordPress Link: http://ow.ly/IlvB302qr0n. \n #Blogger Link: http://ow.ly/N4eW302qrAk", "date_added": "Fri Jul 15 01:56:30 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 20 04:55:58 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jul 20 04:55:58 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b8ef85432bfb81b43ba0cd946104152d", "book_id": "15861491", "review_id": "27624ab03abffdcab848cf650133cc76", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very good comeback :-)", "date_added": "Thu Feb 27 22:20:31 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 28 04:23:11 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Feb 28 04:23:11 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b8ef85432bfb81b43ba0cd946104152d", "book_id": "12971616", "review_id": "3c1d0e25187345717d6851a5df9ff66a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I love nine and I actually hope he and six land up together ...", "date_added": "Tue Feb 25 11:58:45 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 27 04:06:41 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Feb 27 04:06:41 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b8ef85432bfb81b43ba0cd946104152d", "book_id": "8659601", "review_id": "7b36fb7987afad112e055cdc4e3e51db", "rating": 3, "review_text": "better than the 1st", "date_added": "Mon Feb 24 22:17:53 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 25 11:57:19 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Feb 25 11:57:19 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b8ef85432bfb81b43ba0cd946104152d", "book_id": "7747374", "review_id": "42da9ea14b72cc5266c773f2386c02d2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Different from the movie :-) but okay", "date_added": "Fri Feb 21 21:42:19 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 24 22:14:32 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b8ef85432bfb81b43ba0cd946104152d", "book_id": "8755785", "review_id": "73b1fe28559a72ddb5600404689f23eb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "sob but a satisfied sob", "date_added": "Sat Nov 09 13:37:49 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri May 30 11:37:35 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri May 30 11:37:35 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b8ef85432bfb81b43ba0cd946104152d", "book_id": "8755776", "review_id": "86d09793d350c0833c510caa28faf4b1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "sigh. ..", "date_added": "Wed Nov 06 14:28:05 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 09 13:35:07 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Nov 09 13:35:07 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b8ef85432bfb81b43ba0cd946104152d", "book_id": "6752378", "review_id": "dbec408c4d227cc3661a720b70e66079", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Personally, I would have liked it more if Jace acted stronger. Clary saving him all the time is starting to annoy me. ..but its still good.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 06 14:24:44 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 08 05:53:38 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Nov 08 05:53:38 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b8ef85432bfb81b43ba0cd946104152d", "book_id": "3777732", "review_id": "c1c237ac982bc9c16e98fe428d514155", "rating": 5, "review_text": "thank goodness answers to most of my frantic questions :-) sigh", "date_added": "Tue Nov 05 05:17:59 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 06 14:22:27 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Nov 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b8ef85432bfb81b43ba0cd946104152d", "book_id": "12356958", "review_id": "2ab1b3ae8d616aaf6fafa2ee390876b8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Oblivion's forge is one of those novels that had me all confused as to whether it's categorized as fantasy or Sci Fi. \n Make no mistake. My confusion does not at all take away anything from the story, in fact I have a very high regard towards anyone that can create something from nothing which is what fantasy is all about. \n In Oblivion's Forge, Simon Williams has managed just that, to create a chain-full story revolving around the embarking of key characters journeys all of which play off in the world of Aona. The dark fantasy starts with the characters individual adventures that flow into a splendid final as the said individual's world's interlock with majestic brilliance. \n Surprisingly, the separation of reading the story from different perspective doesn't pull ones concentration away from the story at hand. Instead it creates grounds for a masterfully set adventure which is carefully crafted around their individual personas. \n The splendidly put intricate words of Simon salute the resurrection of an ancient force who returns from a void in an effort to restore the old magic within it. The war between the two fractions sets a delightful display as it embarks with no backdrop but flows in such a way that you are fed multiple points of information throughout the story-line without feeling a loss. \n Cunningly set and skilfully displayed. \n Splendid craft.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 08 07:21:53 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 22 07:14:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "b8ef85432bfb81b43ba0cd946104152d", "book_id": "13358275", "review_id": "0bde4ef1c007a254241158cec3ad23c4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "EVIEW - BLOOD AND FIRE \n COLLABORATION ON JUST MY BLOOD TYPE \n WRITTEN BY: CARRIE CLEVENGER & NERINE DORMAN \n Blood and Fire is a short story which is the second collaboration between the two authors. The story takes us on an awesome adventure into the life of Xan Marcelles a vampire who is part of a rock band called Crooked Fang. The band performs out of the Pale Rider a back country Tavern in Colorado. \n In Just my Blood Type we got to know Xan as modern day womanizer clad in leather. In this novella however, Xan's existence has caught the attention of an Egyptian cult of sorcerers which opens the door to a thrilling new adventure with new exciting characters. \n Askton Kennedy forms the second lead character in the story. He is introduced as a bit of an underdog as he is a member of a race called Inkarna which exists through aeons by stealing bodies. \n Fate creates the scene in which both characters meet whilst being pulled into traitorous waters. Together they need to battle against overwhelming odds and an implacable enemy. \n Throughout the story the question remains: Can they overcome their differences long enough to survive? \n Blood and Fire is only available via Amazon's Kindle or Kindle apps at this time. It can however be read on Apple devises, Android via the app and even on your pc. \n To purchase you can go to: http://www.amazon.com/Blood-and-Fire-... \n You can go and visit the authors site at : \n Nerine Dorman : http://ow.ly/8A4G4 \n Carrie Clevenger : http://ow.ly/8A4ML", "date_added": "Mon Aug 13 00:39:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 13 00:40:14 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b8ef85432bfb81b43ba0cd946104152d", "book_id": "1656001", "review_id": "7194537343bed992ce1d2ce535c9f4b8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I finally finished it. \n This novel was fairly good. I think it will hold much appeal to many a reader. I wasn't very fond of the plot line, purely since I felt it to be a bit \" draggy\" in some instances. The idea behind the character within another character was very well set out. I loved it. \n There was a bit of a cliche alert in Steph's writing as I felt as if she did have a love for her \"love triangles\" and overly unselfish main characters but as a whole in the end I was satisfied. \n Wasn't very fond of the body she used for her main character in the end as the character was built up to be strong - her body in the end sounded like one of those girls you get that are just pretty with no brains. \n In a nutshell - different but vibrant. \n Holding thumbs for the movie as it's going to be interesting to see how they portray it.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 23 01:28:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 10 04:36:33 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Aug 09 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "25807920", "review_id": "4beb37fb047a527a6beb78f3b4abb679", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Eve the Awakening has a little bit of everything, love, hate, blood, powers, and real emotions. I was entertained throughout and really eager to find out what was going to happen next. The twists were amazing and the writing was dynamic. I can't wait for the next one.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 24 08:55:35 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 12 20:04:53 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "16290044", "review_id": "29bb11c21d7856edefc35b32de785b1d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I listened to it on audible. I was really sucked into the story, and I thought Bea was an interesting character. It is hard to show an addict and cravings accurately. I think it was done well. I enjoyed the story and there were times I really hated Willa and felt sorry for Bea so anytime I feel emotion for the characters I feel like the author has done a great job of sucking me in. I will be picking up the second book and continuing the series.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 30 12:13:31 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 30 12:20:00 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Apr 30 12:20:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "18098934", "review_id": "05af876de7a6f852407eb51e517a24f6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "WOW! I really enjoyed this book. The imagery in the beginning was hauntingly beautiful and well done. I was invested in the characters from the very beginning wanting to know what was going to happen. There is a lot of emotion in this story and you can feel it the way the author writes. I am really looking forward to the next one!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 13 07:07:28 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 14 08:37:58 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Aug 14 08:37:58 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "17188648", "review_id": "b97dcb5588d89b5ebe36051fb632f35d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really think this is my favorite of the Forever Fae series so far. I still really love the first one, so it is a hard choice to make. There was a ton of action, I felt a ton of emotions, and it was well developed. There were twists and plenty to leave me anticipating the next one. These books make faeries cool to read about. \n I recommend it.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 29 14:06:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 29 14:09:43 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jul 29 14:09:43 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "15700479", "review_id": "592fd0cd894bbb87041c3e1bb1f4d5ee", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this story. I thought it was cleverly written, and found myself laughing several times. I like books that make me happy, and this one did. It kept my attention, and I was eager to continue reading it. I recommend it to people who love fairy tales, and like them with a twist.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 27 20:24:33 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 12 09:00:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Aug 12 09:00:39 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "13550264", "review_id": "6cc6805609170d712e2d7d6ab5c3a517", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Review to come!", "date_added": "Thu Jul 04 19:50:08 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 04 19:50:24 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "17619478", "review_id": "4f17a5a1523a91fe689aa3cb5d164ee6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "coming soon!", "date_added": "Sat Jun 08 20:27:02 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 19 12:21:49 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jun 19 12:21:49 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "17726167", "review_id": "fb42968bfd60745b2b17ba090a98fb29", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I enjoyed this book! I found it clever from the mind wandering ghoul to the eighties song chapter titles. I like when an author can write a character talking to the reader, and it actually works. I laughed, I cringed, and I was entertained. A perfect combo for a Zombie book. I will read more of this series for sure!!", "date_added": "Sat May 11 10:46:01 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat May 11 17:42:44 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "15902681", "review_id": "2b94bca67ff1218100f6bc47cf78851f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoy these types of novellas that help me see into the history of the Dark Faerie Tale Series. I love anytime I can get a little insight. This story was sad, but I enjoyed it. I think it sets things in motion which is good and makes for a tasty snack between the big meals the Ever books are!", "date_added": "Sat Apr 06 19:56:43 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 06 19:56:56 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "17379209", "review_id": "9637f3dde28feb6ec2a6fc1a08bed61a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow, did I love this book! I didn't get to devour it in one sitting, but I wanted to. Bravo, for an original story in the paranormal genre. I thought it was well written, and unique. I was angry at certain characters, and wary of others. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to be entertained, because that is what this book gives you, a lot of entertainment. Can't wait for the next one!!", "date_added": "Sat Apr 06 09:05:12 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat May 11 12:51:13 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat May 11 12:51:13 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "13271540", "review_id": "1d58d124f05a5ff54560baed01f50f07", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved Ever Winter like the rest of the series. I feel like the story is getting darker and all the characters are becoming more developed. The story moves, and keeps you turning the pages. Can't wait for the next installment. \n Highly recommend this series!", "date_added": "Sat Apr 06 03:29:36 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 09 18:27:45 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "13595069", "review_id": "5c79c96f1f25502360352085968c8227", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I found this book intriguing from the beginning. I thought that as it went on it became more intriguing and I wanted to keep reading to see what would happen with the characters. The characters are easily likable, and the story flows well. This is a book I recommend to someone who wants a great paranormal read with a bit of a unique world created for them.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 20 03:51:26 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 20 04:16:57 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Feb 20 04:16:57 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "13584409", "review_id": "0947458241c3f48270d0fa1cf7de90eb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Review coming soon!", "date_added": "Thu Jan 24 07:56:58 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 15 13:25:36 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Mar 15 13:25:36 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "15836673", "review_id": "9f941b53289c7fe0fe661f9a4b248f3c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed this introduction to the writing of Ms. Parker. I am intrigued by her characters and look forward to reading her other work! I like the different way of paranormal thinking! The words flowed easily and I found it enjoyable!", "date_added": "Thu Jan 24 07:53:54 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 24 07:55:16 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jan 23 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "12363064", "review_id": "4c6fbb41c344f618039f55aaaba62cbf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed the Vampire Hunter's Daughter part 1. I heard good things about the series so I wanted to check it out for myself. I loved it. I thought it was well written and unique. I am looking forward to the other parts of the series!", "date_added": "Tue Nov 20 12:07:12 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 26 17:59:20 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "15989448", "review_id": "bd6c568c1732aad87037c32904426aec", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So when I found out that this was another Novelette and not a full book I was sad. I couldn't wait to know what happened to Snow after and how the ball will go, but this one was my favorite. I can't wait for the next one.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 20 11:45:43 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 20 11:47:44 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "15758749", "review_id": "fa5d3fc9d426dc3240b55d6cdfe5cc55", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Snow White is getting more dangerous, and I love it. Was ready for the next installment when I finished this one!", "date_added": "Tue Nov 20 11:43:01 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 20 11:43:36 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "15733255", "review_id": "de6b5be2d17b4bfb9a5275c7ed237ac4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed finding out some back story on the hunter, and continuing Snow's adventure!", "date_added": "Tue Nov 20 11:41:47 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 20 11:42:26 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Nov 12 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "15711461", "review_id": "db49f29f3c33bb4efbfd54294dbb3cdc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "As I enjoyed the first one, I enjoyed this one. I like the concept of Snow White actually being a vampire and the way she ties it all together.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 20 04:51:03 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 20 04:52:10 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "14289337", "review_id": "2f201aac27eaa20ea6344e666e7acb09", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was excited about this novella and devoured it quickly. I liked the style of the author and the way she was able to drive the reader to keep going forward in the story.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 20 04:49:08 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 20 04:50:56 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "13504368", "review_id": "1624591d37395896e480ed83cbe0f40d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I thought Hell's Gate was imaginative and engaging. I enjoy the style of writing and the descriptive way he describes the hell his characters are going through. I found myself identifying with them which is important when you are trying to get lost in a book. \n The end left me wanting to know what is going to happen next.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 15 20:21:54 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 15 20:23:35 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "16107002", "review_id": "4de4559094bd1dee952a2093006d79e2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was an entertaining story full of twists and turns. I enjoyed the creativity of the author in taking something that existed in mythology and making it completely her own. I will read the next in like to see what happens to Scarlett Phoenix. A solid 4 stars.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 11 08:29:35 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed May 29 13:52:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 29 13:52:39 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "16065829", "review_id": "4b25e4295dcf9922cce9fca4a66e670d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "LP Dover continues to build on her fantastic world in book two of the Forever Fae series. The book allows you to escape to a different place where things are really tough, but they seem to work out. I enjoyed the way she continued to build on her characters, but Forever Fae will forever be my favorite.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 10 18:54:49 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 25 03:15:53 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "16063781", "review_id": "e4b55708c74774a10041d7bdc5f4e026", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Full of emotion, and makes me want to read Kallos.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 10 18:53:56 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 10 18:54:05 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "13622702", "review_id": "48366e97da5c263d7fb929f71dfa96c4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This being my first introduction to the writing of Cross I didn't know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised when I didn't stop reading until I finished it. The characters were engaging and interesting. I liked the strong female lead, and the ghost that followed her. I will be reading more of the Dark Gifts novels after reading this one.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 05 15:17:49 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 05 15:19:36 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "15798359", "review_id": "e59cc26878078dc30ef4502371e0a9e5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I found Seducing a Mermaid a well-written and enchanting tale. It was a great short read and I recommend it to those who are looking for something a little bit different.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 04 14:01:15 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 04 14:02:27 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Nov 04 14:02:27 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "12028090", "review_id": "1e3bb7406b36c6ac636337a51222df60", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved Ever Shade. I loved that even though you were in a different world, you had to adjust to it with Shade. Her phone didn't work, there was magic everywhere. I really enjoyed reading the novel, and am very much looking forward to reading the next one. I already have my favorite characters picked out and that says something about the writer's abilities.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 29 09:03:03 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 20 11:57:27 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Nov 20 11:57:27 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sat Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "16006132", "review_id": "8ec4af8bf31e673a54d92ebb80006592", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I don't usually read fairy stories, and I will be honest, I didn't know what to expect from this one. The writing flowed smoothly and the description of the Fae world really took you to a different place. I was feeling a mixture of emotions as I read through it {in one sitting}.. I think it had everything; humor, love, betrayal, lust, good, evil, and everything in between. I will be looking for the next book in the series to be a wonderful trip through fantasy land just like this one is. \n I enjoyed all the characters, and really cared about their paths. I love the imagination of the fairy world, and the development of the courts. I would recommend this book, and already have, to people who like a little new adult in their fantasy. This is a clever and thoroughly entertaining book!", "date_added": "Sat Sep 29 09:00:03 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 30 15:30:14 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Nov 30 15:30:14 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Nov 30 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "15979925", "review_id": "1ecda06a4f32fa281268626e9cef8af7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved Silver Mortal from the beginning. The writing style was compelling, and allowed you to get lost in the story. There were twists that I didn't see coming and enough suspense to cause me to keep turning the pages. I needed to see what was going to happen to Gracen next. I am looking forward to the next book in the series!!", "date_added": "Wed Sep 26 12:58:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 03 20:38:33 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Nov 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "13239063", "review_id": "d624b6843843e55987b4039a62c66d05", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it! I knew I would because I gush about the Forever Girl every chance I get. It put me right back in the story. A different perspective is what I needed from Hamilton, and she delivered. I loved her style and the lyrical use of words. Perfect, can't wait for the next one!!", "date_added": "Sat Sep 22 11:31:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 22 11:33:51 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "13742264", "review_id": "2fcaf70917151150ecc72a11c4eb8e3a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Whenever a book can evoke any kind of emotion I consider it a good read. I loved The Earth Painter with its beautifully painted images and its haunting sadness. I love the world that Lee created. I wanted to know what was special about Holly and I despised her mother. I connected with all the characters in the book and that is an important part of good story telling. \n The end left me wanting more, and that is another important part of good story telling. I think everyone should read this book! It is beautifully written and really makes you think.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 10 19:15:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 10 19:15:52 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "11260355", "review_id": "75be0994338fd971ff06cbc270482707", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In My Dreams was an emotional ride from the beginning. I could feel Lizzy's loss and Michael's love. You can tell Cameo really cares for her characters, and she developed them well. My attention was kept, which says a lot because I get distracted easily. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen there was another element or layer added to the story. \n Young love that is so pure is a rarity, but I feel like Cameo made it believable. I gave the book five stars because it was well thought out, and tugged at the heart strings. I especially like the way everyone made peace at the end, kind of, but you will have to read to see.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 08 07:38:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 09 09:55:12 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Sep 09 09:55:12 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "15719387", "review_id": "8711c03c4c6ba3fa29f559f5e48f9d54", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed reading Slippers of Pearl daily on my Kindle tucked into my elliptical while I sweated it out. It was full of magic, humor, mystery, and a little bit of love. It was fast paced and there was always something happening to keep the story moving. I think it is a cute more modern day fairy tale and everyone should read it if you enjoy fantasy and magic.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 06 20:42:22 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 30 15:21:28 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Sep 30 15:21:28 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "15758282", "review_id": "0f730f569b83ab402eceefb50fe8a669", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I wasn't sure what type of book to expect when I started Tyler's story, but soon I was engrossed. I thought that the characters were well developed and I loved a different take on the world of shifters. It was a sweet story with plenty of action sprinkled in to keep you reading. I enjoyed the anticipation it made me feel as I waited to see what would happen next. If you enjoy YA paranormal fiction, you will love stepping into Mireille Chester's world!", "date_added": "Tue Jul 31 08:33:46 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 29 16:02:55 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Sep 29 16:02:55 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "15356720", "review_id": "fec272194f82ded79d57ef40cee04df9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What happens when an Angel falls in love with a Vampire? I didn't know until I read UnGuarded. It had everything love, lust, death, punishment, remorse, and so much more. I love Ashley's style of writing, and how she created a world of good and evil, and then blurred the lines. The book kept me up late, and in suspense of what would happen next. There were a few moments where I thought she would go one way, but she stayed true to her characters, and their feelings. Selene wasn't willing to throw it all away for a night of passion, and that is rare. I really enjoyed Unguarded and I recommend it for an unexpected thrill ride you wouldn't expect. Well done Ashley!!", "date_added": "Fri Jul 20 15:25:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 01 04:59:13 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "13747884", "review_id": "6691c2db3ade13702ffd876bdf2658d1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"They appeared more like a bunch of teddy bears on a cheer-up mission to planet Lollipop where they would launch and attack of hugs.\" \n Quotes like this one had me chuckling all the way through this creative short story. With the obsession people have of the paranormal these days it was a nice roundup of zombies, vampires, and aliens. I recommend it for a fun read!", "date_added": "Tue Jul 17 16:34:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 17 19:37:30 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "12964559", "review_id": "b2e818098a0ce6b78368989aca9c68aa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved it! Unbound kept me away from my laptop, which is very hard to do. I found myself needing to know what was going to happen next. I love a book that has me screaming for the characters to figure something out or do something quicker. I was doing this the whole time I was reading Unbound. \n It is hard when you have so many characters to do them all justice and help the reader connect to them. Somehow Cat was able to do that, and I cared about what happened to every character. I also couldn't handle the suspense and the twists. I really enjoyed it. Can't wait for the next one!!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 11 11:55:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 13 16:59:45 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "11092657", "review_id": "65cd6c3e297f8df9fbe6978a1915b999", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The novella had everything; despair, regret, pain, love, and redemption. The stories I like the most are those that take a very human story. A story of pain and relationships and then weave the paranormal into it perfectly. What I took away from this reading is that there is a fine line between good and evil. I think the characters walked that line flawlessly. \n Heaven was able to make the story delightfully funny in an evil way and yet sadly tragic at the same time. I thought it was well done, and it makes me able to say I look forward to whatever she writes next. I recommend this as an excellent and believable escape from reality.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 08 11:06:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 08 11:07:05 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jul 08 11:07:05 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "13616184", "review_id": "63caf9afa7cd85f030a8d30613a847a9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I felt like I was easily transformed into Raine's world, or her new world as she put it. It is not easy to flawlessly move through as many characters as there are in Book of Curses, but somehow Hutchinson makes it work. \n I found myself wanting to know what would happen next. I thought that it was an easy read even with so much going on. I gave it five stars because it kept my attention and kept the action going. \n I also enjoyed that their was no main love story to surround the book on. It is a refreshing change from some of the YA novels I have read in a similar genre. \n Raine is a strong female character, a little angry at times, but she seemed real to me. I am looking forward to the next book.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 01 19:46:22 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 05 12:54:07 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "12640689", "review_id": "3fdd513854ace4c0df60463629ad1166", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed iFeel. Some parts of it were a little confusing, and I would have liked to have been able to picture what the Stalker looked like better. This being said, I gave the book five stars, because the plot was creative, and there were many times when she used her words so beautifully to describe pain that I was very impressed. I look forward to seeing what else Marissa Carmel can come up with in the rest of the trilogy. I connected with the characters which I always like to do, and the book was all about feeling as made evident from the title, and I felt that she did it justice.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 28 08:40:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 31 08:19:08 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b9a8201f3fc898388a6f21764b0050ba", "book_id": "13024137", "review_id": "5d9885294feadb28a62b5a36100a971e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I knew going into Ties to the Blood Moon that it was a YA novel. So I was prepared for the teen angst and the instant love everyone always criticizes. If you remember being seventeen though, you could fall in love in a class period. That being said I thought I had the book figured out, and I knew what was going to happen. I was totally wrong. By the time I had gotten into the meat of the story I didn't know what to expect next or who to trust. \n I enjoyed the twists that the author put into the story. There was a lot of action and some suspenseful times. I gave it five stars because it kept me interested, and it surprised me. Well done Robin!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 28 08:32:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 01 05:27:33 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "35592061", "review_id": "a99bed34226f571ad092b1cca836c4f0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Better than the last one! \n Book 6 can't come quick enough!! I've plowed through this series up until this book. Leda, Nero, and friends just sucks you in. I can't wait to read more about their adventures and what's with Jace's intentions. Ahhh! Talk about a book hang over!", "date_added": "Sat Oct 07 20:19:10 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 08 20:40:32 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Oct 08 19:44:15 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Oct 07 20:19:10 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "34760487", "review_id": "9a894233ff74f121d5cd719fc083ee2e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Highly recommended \n Umm WHAT?! That was such an awesome ending and a cliffhanger! This series has pretty much consumed my entire reading time. I said I was going to take it slowly so that I can just keep going till book 6 comes out, but from how it looks like, I will be done with the 5th book and impatiently waiting. No regrets though. I am thoroughly enjoying reading about Leeds's adventures with her friends.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 05 11:21:58 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 07 20:18:22 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Oct 07 20:13:57 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Oct 05 11:21:58 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "33805430", "review_id": "0c61ba5d934aacdfdb7a1523b1d5e601", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Action, comedy, and spice \n On the edge of my seat the entire time. Sheer exhaustion is the only reason why I didn't finish this book in one day. Love this series so far. Hilarious and explosive with a dash of romance.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 03 22:03:27 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 05 11:14:51 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Oct 05 11:14:51 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Oct 03 22:03:27 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "32602422", "review_id": "9b3d4d62709e28dfc82fa245ff1b85c5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Exciting action packed with comedic and romantic relief \n Breezes through the entire book in less than a day! Couldn't put it down! Loved every characters, specially Leda, Nero, and Harcker. I can't wait to see what happens next!!", "date_added": "Mon Oct 02 23:04:30 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 02 23:08:08 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Oct 02 23:04:30 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "6512051", "review_id": "2ab2501df6440acbe3f7ce54f2174118", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Intense \n Wow! Talk about intense and traumatic for a child. Very well written indeed. I am both sad and upset for Stefan's sake. I think if I were Mercy I would have had a special message out for Marsillia for what she's done. This series just keeps getting better and better!! Can't wait to dive in to the next one.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 20 17:41:33 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 23 12:07:36 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Sep 23 12:07:36 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Sep 20 17:41:33 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "6584407", "review_id": "bec3a9e065527585f9d2d79490557886", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Gut wrenching \n I cried!! It's so emotionally moving! I was so swept away by the events and story I actually cried and couldn't stop reading even with bleary teary eyes. Such an awesome series. Highly recommend it!", "date_added": "Sun Sep 17 06:21:51 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 20 17:40:52 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Sep 20 12:05:40 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Sep 17 06:21:51 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "6282698", "review_id": "8dd28a822c6d611d60b207d387e9a302", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Size doesn't matter \n Wow! Talk about heart wrenching! This book is definitely action packed with hints of romance all around. So hard to put down!! Goes to show you to never count the small ones out as well.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 12 19:03:17 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 17 06:19:18 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Sep 17 06:19:18 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Sep 12 19:03:17 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "6354356", "review_id": "e4bd0c319d0632c7af34647cf4514606", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Whirlwind adventure \n Never a dull moment with Mercy. This book just keeps you hooked till the very end. Love how there really is never a dull moment. From action/adventure to drama and romance. Awesome start to a series.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 10 05:20:26 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 12 18:59:58 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Sep 12 18:56:22 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Sep 10 05:20:26 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "36103279", "review_id": "d6b057b93f2da47e24fd307f8444ca78", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Action packed adventure with a hint of romance \n This series just keeps getting better and better. This next installment never disappoints. As this book builds up for the big show down, so much has been revealed. Yet so much mystery surrounds the prophecy and the vision of what Ares will lose. I do hope Ares and Nix find their happily ever after.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 02 19:46:47 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 05 20:27:33 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Sep 05 20:21:52 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Sep 02 19:46:47 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "25496012", "review_id": "fc5e72fd200922b17d0c8757925129a4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Couldn't put the book down \n Up all night reading this book. It's action packed with so much romantic suspense. What will happen now? It hardly seems fair for one party than the other. So many mysteries surrounded the group. I can't wait to read the next book!!!", "date_added": "Sat Aug 26 10:29:19 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 26 23:21:44 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Aug 26 23:19:23 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Aug 26 10:29:19 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "35739915", "review_id": "af80bfe5a5f2f70dba2937a42ffc39c1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Dystopia meets paranormal \n What an adventure!! This fast paced book will leave you sitting at the edge of your seat until the very end. I love how Max's spunk and fire never left her throughout the book. She's a force to be reckoned with for sure! Already liking the hint of romance and gotta love the tech nerd Spider! Can't wait to read what's in store for Max and friends.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 11 18:38:53 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 12 12:35:28 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Aug 12 12:35:28 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Aug 11 18:38:53 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "35785984", "review_id": "d9c656dd8470bbf70dc294d2752f5b0b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Better and better \n This series just keeps getting better and better every time. I can't wait to read the next book in this series. I want to know more about what happens between Nix and Ares.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 07 19:19:19 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 09 12:05:56 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Aug 09 12:05:56 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Aug 07 19:19:19 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "35534750", "review_id": "1c50b1bbc7a9f1f89a751fd293623cda", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fast paced adventure \n Nix and friends does not disappoint on this next installment. Clues unfold, trials overcame and a little romance on top of it all. I can't wait to read the next book.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 04 20:12:50 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 07 19:10:20 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Aug 07 19:06:48 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Aug 04 20:12:50 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "28474995", "review_id": "0185bbbdf886f37796d18ec5cd2e7a6f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Definitely a must read \n Holy guacamole WHAT A RIDE!! Definitely very well written. It took me to a roller coaster ride I didn't expect. Laughter, sadness, sass, and definitely some romance. I can't wait to read more about everyone on the next book. Team Knox or Team Merc?!", "date_added": "Sun Jul 30 04:06:11 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 02 05:20:09 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Aug 02 05:20:09 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jul 30 04:06:11 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "13263105", "review_id": "2475aeb6d05270f0b24fd73f32abc26f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Assumptive \n Assumptive...There's a lot of that going on with the main character Ruby and it got annoying really fast after it persisted through out the whole book. I almost stopped at one point, but kept going anyway. The storyline is very interesting, but the verdict is still up on Ruby.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 23 20:26:30 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 28 20:51:26 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jul 28 20:45:32 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jul 23 20:26:30 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "25905517", "review_id": "2a9463e0253b9da9c5b2eeb8a4dbd4a9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Too quick \n It felt like I just started reading and then it was done. Definitely fast paced with so many exciting twists and turns!! Declan say WHAT?! And don't forget Inarus, but would James make a comeback?", "date_added": "Mon Jul 10 21:30:26 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 11 18:52:27 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jul 11 18:47:16 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jul 10 21:30:26 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "34888677", "review_id": "d1977df4d963f0c75aa0a0e8b5ad6ed4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Next please! \n Not quite a cliffhanger, but enough for me to want the next book!! That was an exciting ride on the Aria train! And oh my!! Inarus and James. Wooowwee!! Definitely a great start to a series. Can't wait to read the next adventure!!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 10 21:19:41 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 17 05:04:01 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jul 10 21:19:41 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "34403665", "review_id": "a5492811841c42b95310881bf5a71f40", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fast paced action packed read \n This book was definitely hard to put down. The action just keeps you going and the romance keeps you grinning like a little school girl with a crush. Can't wait to read more of Kaye and Darius' adventures.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 17 00:35:02 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 18 19:52:54 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "32452908", "review_id": "bfbf52703ca601ca21be323672dcc600", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Action packed and hilarious with a touch of romance \n I was literally laughing out loud the entire book. Can't help but love all the characters and their sass and sarcasm. I breezed through the entire series in no time! Interested to see where the sequel takes Cameron and Selena to.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 31 21:31:29 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 01 05:24:22 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "30211620", "review_id": "5aa2bd49f6ab73b52f1141125503e0c6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Exciting, action packed, hilarious with a touch of romance \n Just the right combination to get you hooked and at the edge of your seat kind of read. It's dramatic at times, but with the speed of the book it hardly seems like it's all drama. It has just enough humor and action to keep the story moving and can't put the book down. On to book 2 I go!!", "date_added": "Thu Mar 23 19:00:48 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 23 19:10:35 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "29976803", "review_id": "492845b1b6b2586238268cec359c2620", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Interesting take on Alice and Wonderland \n I was skeptical at first, but intrigued at the same time. Definitely an interesting twist and take on the classic book. It had a slow start to it, but eventually started moving once some revelations have been made. Definitely hooks you and makes you want to read faster until you find out what happens next. Speaking of next, on to the next book I go! Happy reading!", "date_added": "Fri Mar 17 12:53:36 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 17 12:57:45 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "34397014", "review_id": "5af6e034c753532920de8117a8622b66", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Unexpected... \n I didn't know what to expect when I first started reading this book. Usually I'll have a broad feeling of how the story would go, but this is surprisingly unexpected in a good way. It's different than most of the paranormal/urban fantasy romance I've been reading lately. It's sweet with a touch of humor and so much hotness. Definitely recommended.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 12 05:35:16 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 15 10:04:25 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "34341759", "review_id": "683c436264dd4a975fcc9b89d419c2f9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Lethal combination of action and laughter \n If you haven't picked up this book yet, I highly suggest you do. All the other reviews do not disappoint. This book has a great balance of action and snark with a tad bit of romance to round things out.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 03 06:03:39 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 03 06:17:51 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "33897874", "review_id": "da772375cca5e9cd2b57d092781a915d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Part 3 can't come soon enough \n Wow!! Things are heating up for sure!! I can't wait till the third one comes out!! So many things are happening and the suspense is killing me! I want to know what happens in the end already. Well done and definitely a must read.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 05 09:05:11 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 27 04:48:21 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "33024905", "review_id": "2c7dc5a6fc93a7df0fdae1ad8374267f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The journey goes on \n This one is a little bit more...graphic than I would have expected. It's leaning a bit more to the paranormal horror side of things. Non the less it was a good read. There were parts that dragged but once it got going the story moved along. So many questions unanswered the more the series progresses. Can't wait for the next one to hopefully get some answers.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 05 05:00:53 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 05 05:06:49 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "22280111", "review_id": "44606500aab4c8b03e9be716c8d95bd0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "More than meets the eye \n At first I thought, so she just keeps jumping, get the rescue and that's it. Well, there's a much deeper story than what it seems at first. Definitely action packed with some comedy and romance sprinkled in there too. Makes for a light, fun, easy and fast read that leaves you wanting more. Excellent! Now on to the next book!", "date_added": "Sun Jan 29 14:11:53 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 29 14:22:08 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "32951354", "review_id": "a71ddcdb0e7fe079db2235f785346fcd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Definitely a must read \n Sophie will just suck you in her world and get lost in it. I just loved reading about her and her adventures with her growing number of friends-ish. You can't help but fall in love with all the characters the more you read about them. The snark and sarcasm keeps this light while the action definitely keeps you at the edge of your seat all the while tied up with some romance. I just LOVE IT!! Can't wait for the next book to come out already!!", "date_added": "Sat Nov 26 22:26:16 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 26 22:46:59 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "31556370", "review_id": "a9aba51035cbb9536641ebb5685e1783", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Lightly Amusing \n I loved how the book dove right in to action and the sassy heroin. She's not the strong I can do everything type, but is more relatable when she breaks down and seeks help when she needs to. \n Owen is definitely full of mysteries about himself and his past, I can't wait to read more about him. \n Phoebe is such a hoot!! As much as she's a pain, she seems like a very loyal friend as well. \n Ava...more to come on her. She's also a mystery. \n Overall, I am very pleased with this first book and will recommend it to everyone. Now off to the next book I go!!", "date_added": "Wed Nov 23 22:51:53 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 23 23:03:00 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "31678515", "review_id": "26828d94596abddb82e41e9bc4608b14", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I received this book for free in return for an honest review. \n After reading the first book I was definitely hooked. So I signed up for the mailing list to get updates on when the next book will come out. Well ... I am definitely not disappointed I did!! \n WHAT an ending??!?!?!! I seriously can't wait for the next book to come out!! This second installment is even better than the first one! It's full of action, death, snarky comments, humor, and that sexual tension between Rosalin and Caine! This book definitely pulls you in and it's so hard to put down! \n I love how Tammi is a very consistent character across the book. She's kind of like the light in Rosalin's dark tunnel. Cain, what is his deal. He seems like he's trying to distance himself from everyone and everything, but sometimes a softer side of him comes out. Is he really the monster he's thought of by everyone? Malphus has more to him than just Caine's brother. He liked Rosalin when they were younger even though she was a brat. What's that all about? Definitely peeks my interest. I don't mind a little love triangle or what ever love shape there may be. Those are always fun and comical to read about. Drew, I'm glad he's not made to be this annoying villain everyone would love to hate. We already have the head of the Brotherhood for that. There's so much more to come from this guy for sure. And Ambrose, is he a good guy or is he a bad guy? Jury is still up for him. \n I want to know what will happen between Roslin and Cain!! I'm also curious about the outcome between Rosalin and Drew, Rosalin and Malphus, and Rosalin and Ambrose. Also, I'm also interested in finding out more about the second souls within Caine, Miranda, and Rosalin. \n So much is going on in this book, but somehow it doesn't feel overwhelming. It just flows from one to the next. Definitely anticipating the release for the third book.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 25 19:03:00 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 25 19:05:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "30152785", "review_id": "b421e9fbdc37f328204dfcdc3b04b8de", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What a ride!! At first I was very annoyed with Rosalin. She had a one track hard headed stubborn mind. Then as I read along, I actually thought...wow! If this is what the author meant to do and deliver the character this way then they are doing one heck of a great job. Not every author can deliver a character so well in a book. The rest of the characters are well delivered as well. I have yet to read more about Cain to make a better judgement about his character but so far so good. Definitely am looking forward to where this story goes. Can't wait for the next book!!", "date_added": "Sun Aug 21 17:31:01 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 21 17:32:41 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "24518924", "review_id": "b26546da3bae484ab19394ddda79c20d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Werewolves, witches, and Secrets...what more can you ask for \n This book sucks you in right from the beginning. The transitions from one event to the next are flawless. Only thing I didn't like is that it felt too short. Just when things started to climax, it ends. Otherwise, the story is relatable and raw. The emotions are bared out for everyone to feel right along the characters. You get sucked right in and ride the roller coaster with them. Mason and Jess are great together. I liked how there was no prolonged BS between them when they found each other. Sure it seemed rushed, but this gives more time and attention for the characters to grow and mature as the story moves along. Not sure how much I like the turn of events at the end though. I guess we'll see how it goes on the next book.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 22 18:24:28 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 22 18:36:32 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jul 22 18:24:28 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "24365182", "review_id": "4501d5054bbfc1b58fdec09841bf97de", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Interesting take on the paranormal world \n This book was suggested to me by the lovely ladies of my book club and now I'm suggesting it to everyone else. You won't regret it. It is full of action, adventure, comedy, and romance. You'll get a little of everything and keep your butt at the edge of the seat wanting to know what happens next. This is great as well for those who aren't a big fan of cliffhangers. This ends nicely and is definitely left open for more adventures to come and leaves you wanting to see what's in store for the team on their next adventure. While the team is perceived with their strengths, they are also presented with their weaknesses to make it more relatable and likable. Also, this isn't like most books I've read where it starts out slow because the author has to give you a picture and background on the setting and characters. The background and back stories are given to you as the book progresses. You get a better understanding and grasp of each characters better as the book goes on. The characters also grows and matured much more smoothly this way than if we were given the whole background first. At least that's what I think and liked it this way a lot more. The book smoothly moved and transitioned from one to the next and it was over before I know it. I can't wait for the next book to come out.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 21 17:54:59 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 21 18:07:36 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jul 21 17:54:59 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "17344365", "review_id": "3f3f8845a8dce75ed3a206d64da43a59", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Such a heart warming, sweet, and sexy story. All the characters were lovable, except for the ones that aren't. From the beginning all the way to the end, this book is filled with so much emotions from heart break to joy. The author definitely captured the emotions perfectly. I was crying my eyes out right from the beginning of the book. It was so heart wrenching, but it definitely set the perfect base for the story. \n Siofra is your strong heroine trying to find herself after a tragedy in her life. She's kind, loving, and strong. She is not your weak, whinny, annoying heroine that gets on your nerve halfway through the book. No matter what troubles and heartaches comes her way, she still finds the light at the end of the tunnel and greet it with a smile. \n Connell and his brothers have the brotherhood that makes you envious of their relationship with each other. They are fun, quirky, absolutely adorable, and fiercely loyal to one another and their family. They are close knit and you can't help but fall for each of them. \n While I absolutely loved the characters and the storyline, there are just a couple of parts where I wish the author spent a little bit more time on. The events leading up to what I perceived as the climax of the story came too swift and too soon. I was plowing through the book and didn't realize how far along I've gotten when I looked down to see if I was almost done. Given I was two thirds of the way done, but that's just it. The events leading up to the big moment and it was over before I really got a good grip of it. I feel as though some portions were rushed and the events didn't really have time to properly develop. The last third of the book, while its sweet and a definite \"awe\" moment, feels like it was just added on. Don't get me wrong, I loved the ending, but after the \"big defeat\" of the bad guys it felt like it's added on to chase the monster under the bed type to give it that happy sweet ending. The other part is Sofria's talents. I wish there were more development to that in this first book instead of just being laid out for Connell by her brother and that was it. It lacked the reaction and emotion such news should have brought the others after finding out the way they did. Given they didn't have enough time to react with their situation, but even just a little reaction would have sufficed. \n Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. It is filled with action, adventure, and romance it'll keep you glued to it till the very end. This book is definitely a page turner and fast paced. You'll fall in love with all the characters and wish there were more to go around. \n I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 19 08:50:53 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 19 08:53:04 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Apr 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "21950952", "review_id": "5cc1e71b8fc470eb7e89768cb5596a7b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n If it was possible to hold your breath while reading this whole book, I think I might have done it. Action packed adventure as always and chaos that always seems to follow Rylee where ever she went. I get so sucked in I was on edge the entire moment I started reading the book. Starting out where the last book ended, the action just keeps going. It's as if I was part of the pack and don't know who to trust any more except the main characters (Rylee, Liam, Alex, Pam, Eve, Blaz, and Doran). I'm not even sure of the other characters any more. Rylee's been betrayed left right and center and she's still going strong. Love is definitely the greatest tool to be had when it comes to a huge battle that could wipe out everyone you love and care about. \n SPOILER ALERT!!! \n Tear jerker moment when Milly had to stay behind because Orion had bound her to him again. I'm with Rylee on this one...\"I almost wished she hadn't redeemed herself, wished she hadn't come back into my life. It was easier to hate, far easier to hate than let someone go who you loved so dearly.\" Tears streaming down by this point, then Faris showing up the way he did in the middle of the council meeting...ugh. \n Hold your breaths and brace your hearts. This book will take you to its ups and downs and its roller coaster of emotions that you'll need to hang on to your seat to stay seated. Now we wait till August 2014 for the finale. I want to know what happens, but I'm also sad to know it's going to be the last book.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 11 09:25:29 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 11 09:27:20 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "20737927", "review_id": "21a93c4d919af926ab1cffc98833f443", "rating": 5, "review_text": "WOW! This whole book is packed with ACTION!! I can't wait to read the next one already. \n When children go missing, and the Humans have no leads, I'm the one they call. I am their last hope in bringing home the lost ones. I salvage what they cannot. \n Bringing my allies together as war approaches is my number one concern. But that means I have to play nice with a vampire who is blackmailing me, even though I'd rather remove his head. \n Throw in some new weapons the FBI is developing that work around supernaturals and I have more problems than I can handle on my own. \n Good thing I have a kick ass team. \n Even if they are on the other side of the world from me. \n Rylee is at it again with her group of friends to take on the world. Of course, like all the other books before this, trouble gravitates towards her. There are so many twists and turns on this book it's hard to keep up sometimes, but it keeps you hooked from the beginning. Its as if I was with the characters feeling their emotions and actions. I felt their hope, their heart race and their sadness. I'm still pretty bummed out Liam's prophecy. I can't help but think...that can't be?! Then there's Doran's reading of Rylee too on top of that. Gives you the question of...who else will she love aside from Liam? Doran? Faris? Will? Alex maybe? Will the submissive wolf who isn't submissive anymore be able to turn back to his human form 100% and be a contender for Rylee's love like that? So many questions!! AAAHHH!! Gotta pick up the next book and read already!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 27 07:16:10 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 27 14:46:47 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jun 27 14:46:47 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "6527740", "review_id": "cdb092a2c57d2cae7fb61aa60abf820e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I really enjoyed the whole series. It was always full of action and there's never really a dull moment. Each part has it's own revelation whether it be solving the mystery or emotionally or spiritually. I loved how the characters grew as the story went, but there are a few unanswered questions in the end. What did happen to all of Rose's friends? Mia, Sydney, Eddie... Are Sonya and Mikhail back together? \n Also, after reading the last words of the book, I'm still torn between Rose having chosen Dimitri over Adrian. I understand the choice. She wanted someone to be her equal and not rely on her. But there's still a lingering feeling that I wish could have been more clarified for those readers like me that are torn between the two or are team Adrian. The way they ended was sad. I get why Adrian is pissed because of what she did, but I wish there was some sort of understanding as well. \n Jill is another thing of itself. What will happen to her now? What was Lissa not telling Rose? So many questions unanswered. \n I know this is taking it to another level, but is Dimitri ever going to contact his family is Siberia again? That was the first question that popped in my head once he was turned back from being a Strigoi.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 03 05:58:11 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 03 06:12:52 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "12479289", "review_id": "3953c21fb374a633e9a25caf406be6af", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Interesting first book. Had to skip over some parts, but it's mostly because the author is really detailed in his description of the setting, people and what's happening. Otherwise, it wasn't so bad at all. I'm off to read the short novel in between and got the third book already.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 23 12:33:12 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 23 12:35:35 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Dec 23 12:35:35 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "30259", "review_id": "0be1c7f6c72a200db0140d28d07e4b0c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "SPOILER ALERT!!! Don't read further if you don't want to know....you've been warned!!! \n First let me start by saying I LOVE IT!!! It made me laugh and cry along with so many other readers that have read this. People look at me all weird in our break room at work when I just burst out laughing or suddenly starts sniffling lol!!! Even though I knew a head of time that Kisten was going to die in this book I was still not prepared for the onslaught of emotions that hit me. I was so in to the whole book I even tuned out my hubby lol!! While it is still fresh and still sad that he's gone I'm prepared for Rachel to move on. Trent's wedding was hilarious!!! I can almost visualize everyone's faces at the wedding when she showed up LOL!!! Classic! I can't wait to jump on to the next book and ride that rollercoaster.", "date_added": "Fri May 10 19:14:14 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 29 17:25:35 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 29 17:17:01 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri May 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "16149635", "review_id": "5838cb7fc2ba80b380e7141f2fd373aa", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It has a good story line, BUT I found myself trying to fast forward so the incessant whining and being a smart mouth and all the \"snappy\" comments of the main character would stop. I've read my fair share of books with an annoying heroine but this is probably the most I annoying thus far. :( I'm really sorry to say that because its a book I'd love to continue on, but couldn't with the sheer patience it took for me to finish it because of Em.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 14 15:40:40 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 14 15:44:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "8296031", "review_id": "5e0cc056989e21023b566023dffa8492", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Hook, line, and sinker!! I can't wait to read the next installment.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 08 20:52:03 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 08 20:54:06 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "15962381", "review_id": "ea761901d3e192b5d8f664fef87de579", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I honestly don't know what to make of this first book. I loved both the Jolie Series and Dulcie Series. Both series has caught my attention right from book 1. Lilly's a little....blah. It's still a great story, but I think it went a bit overboard with the inspirational quotes. I feel as if it lacks....something I can't put my finger on that both Jolie and Dulcie series has that caught my attention right away. :) I will still read book 2 when it comes out though. Like I said I still like the story AND the characters. Bill is just hilarious. I found my self literally LOL while I was reading it.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 29 05:00:08 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 02 19:39:25 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Apr 02 19:34:13 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Mar 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "30262", "review_id": "bc5c1df6646931ba36b0fee0457dfbe7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It definitely is a whole heck of a lot better than the first one. I got through this book just fine this time compared to the first book. While I appreciate her very detailed description at times, there are times when it just dragged on for too long. Otherwise it's...okay. I'm taking a real to read other books out of the series for a bit though. See if I come back to it. :)", "date_added": "Sun Mar 24 09:45:56 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 29 04:59:18 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Mar 29 04:59:18 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Mar 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "16001736", "review_id": "c7d81c9cc6d806cf56a1d752ddba5104", "rating": 5, "review_text": "As usual I cannot wait for the next one. Team Holden or Team Desmond? Aaahhh I like them both!!", "date_added": "Sun Mar 24 06:28:15 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 24 06:29:32 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "14058817", "review_id": "5432fd285a76f96803dc0c4365117952", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It's a great romance/ adventure who-done-it type of read! I found myself trying to guess who the other culprit was...then when I found out I was like NO WAY! I was irritated/sad/confused at first thinking how could Stephanie Nelson so this, but the more I read the more clarity I got. I thought this was a stand alone book...can't wait to read the next one!!", "date_added": "Fri Jan 11 20:44:40 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 11 20:49:54 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "16054252", "review_id": "332408d214495ce9f87fdee357fb021e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow! I can't wait to read the next one...I just need to take a little break because at one point in time I got really annoyed of Emmy. She's one of those \"helpless\" heroin, but has her \"strong\" moments by being too stubborn. STILL the entire story line is addicting. I couldn't put the book down.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 09 18:32:15 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 09 18:35:42 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "12899734", "review_id": "f79e44dca4ceb9f953a67bed16cafde5", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I'm going to have to go back from the beginning...Since I put it down, I haven't been able to pick it back up again. Someday....soooooomeday.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 22 08:51:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 11 11:08:13 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sat Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "13124125", "review_id": "be6495b2b4386df562314e7146714eca", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It's a quick read. I wish it lasted a little longer. I love this series and can't wait for the next one. Why four stars you ask? I got a little annoyed in the beginning when Jolie wouldn't believe Rand at all. I was a bit irritated with her self monologue, BUT it all worked out in the end. While I don't mind Sinjin, there's some part of me that's more partial to Rand :)", "date_added": "Tue Jun 26 19:49:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 02 21:08:44 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f260ab383fd5f73620ee67c320c24d80", "book_id": "10831726", "review_id": "da883cbe47fcc45dc1b6beaf528fa7a5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Awesome read as always!!! Can't wait for the next one!!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 04:39:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 29 19:34:58 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6dab457f3dff3f339c4020d5be3482d4", "book_id": "10025007", "review_id": "26381175adc964b572a72f4fc8e7a799", "rating": 0, "review_text": "it is good. :)", "date_added": "Fri Oct 26 05:22:28 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 26 05:23:15 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6dab457f3dff3f339c4020d5be3482d4", "book_id": "12751687", "review_id": "72f0ef8262be2eaba0dcd709ef633c04", "rating": 5, "review_text": "it was good. but I think for me I want more Patch and Nora lovestory but the novel limit it so its kinda bummer.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 05:02:25 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 26 05:24:05 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "17333340", "review_id": "5fe6112c424cf58631eb9a1224e1b2e4", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I'm sure much of this volume can be written off to the culture of British gothic/Victorian school, but I'd be lying if I didn't think this volume to a turn for the homoerotically weird.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 20 11:56:00 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 20 11:57:16 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jul 20 11:57:16 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "25110933", "review_id": "12b5908e19e09592028872c1c5daa5d2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Probably my favorite DBZ volume.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 19 17:50:17 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 19 17:50:36 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "31217227", "review_id": "1c92b43095b21637228aa60d8f5931fc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Regular Hospital. Ha.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 01 11:45:18 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 01 11:45:38 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Dec 01 11:45:38 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "1277155", "review_id": "a13e61bdcb4abb29f950ecbe72dc7b6a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Was actually page turningly good for about 3/4s of the book, at which point the book suffered from an identity crisis (sci-fi v spy thriller v templer legend), and a morass of unresolved plot threads.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 21 13:30:58 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 21 15:20:05 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jul 21 15:20:05 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "17831316", "review_id": "5dc6cb3c917c6af4946dfb4cf5c84062", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Sadly disappointing.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 13 11:45:19 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 13 11:46:58 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jul 13 11:46:58 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "944334", "review_id": "4ca08c7b137a2e43ec934cff0f46ab23", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Why didn't they just make Hypno unhypnotize the Perfectionist?", "date_added": "Sun Apr 13 18:57:55 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 16 08:02:05 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "11880612", "review_id": "0076adc4cff9d04201606fa3d4325509", "rating": 4, "review_text": "If this is any indication, the prequels will be better than the movie, which after re-viewing after 30 some odd years, was best left in my childhood.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 08 07:09:36 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 08 07:10:23 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Apr 08 07:10:23 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "15823425", "review_id": "f39e5284693d36be4a8f5c7095f7d443", "rating": 3, "review_text": "For a franchise book, I thought this was really unique and refreshing. If you eliminated all the SW references, it would stand on it's own as a pretty good sci-fi page turner.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 19 11:45:44 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 19 11:46:49 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Feb 19 11:46:49 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "13570764", "review_id": "ea7febe2c4ddb28cdcb6c700f70d3b31", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm gonna take reviewer Eric's review as sarcasm ... because I too thought that was the one fault with this book ... being constantly reminded that Reaver moves 3x faster than a normal human being. \n Other than that? Great super hero fiction and I would honestly put it up there with the Wildcards series.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 14 05:26:49 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 17 06:11:40 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Feb 14 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "7286699", "review_id": "4a245cce3c536c1aef8de12c7a0de2bf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was all excited to give this to my daughter, until I read the end ... maybe in a couple years. Delightfully sinister.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 28 12:47:57 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 28 12:48:39 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Nov 28 12:48:39 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "17349203", "review_id": "72ebebf5c447869e777ff6b4ef9ba418", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Even though it's for younger kids, I feel Gaiman really strikes out with this. Check out his other kids stuff instead. I agree with other reviews in that Skottie Young's art is the definite saving grace. It's very Shel Silverstein.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 14 10:13:43 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 14 17:00:09 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Nov 14 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "111195", "review_id": "ceb142b3064bb260f2a73ac909f000dd", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I dunno, I picked this up because it was on one of the bookseller employee's best of apocalypto books ... it's really not that good, but it IS page turning. It reminded me a lot of those Evangelical books ... the Left Behind series, and This Present (Coming) Darkness. \n Ultimately, I thought it would be better than what it was. It's mediocre at best.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 23 14:50:33 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 23 14:52:45 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Sep 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "605029", "review_id": "35046ee7104f567322341f9ba759f142", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I read this trilogy of graphic novels over the holiday weekend, and although not great, Mallory at least is, at least graphically, really neat. On a whole, I think this series would make a great Pixar-ish type movie.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 03 11:55:58 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 03 11:57:06 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Sep 03 11:57:06 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "363124", "review_id": "cc16c65e4803454afa5b92eab9bc7ee5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Whimsically fun, in a dark way.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 13 07:15:14 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 13 07:15:37 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Aug 13 07:15:37 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "b5c7aa9444eed5ff583b7e837892b8d9", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Creative premise. Failed execution.", "date_added": "Tue May 28 16:37:41 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue May 28 16:38:16 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue May 28 16:38:16 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "12510849", "review_id": "1a7306f21b516994555d84866ea134bf", "rating": 1, "review_text": "The one is of all the unexplained plotlines ... I can only believe that this is going to be a series that will be further explained by forthcoming installments, but at this point, it's seriously, what the fuck, and a waste of time.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 29 13:37:31 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 29 13:39:07 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "13827", "review_id": "6dac66740a127eaf205e8589335a5ce9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Conrad Nimakos is a great antihero, and a smarmy asshole. Great stuff.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 11 11:32:17 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 12 06:21:30 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Mar 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "77721", "review_id": "906106e75e9dcadb357acba6d6baaaaa", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I totally almost missed the epilogue reading this, which would have catagorized this as a WTF book ... but having found it 5 minutes later, it finished the book nicely. I found myself liking the secondary characters much more than Chauntecleer, who I had a love/hate relationship with ... for a hero, he was kind of a dick, or cock if you will. BWAHAHAHAH. Anyways, I'm interested in reading the sequel.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 19 13:03:40 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 19 13:06:11 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Feb 19 13:06:11 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "143223", "review_id": "187e930bad53d51e04b8290a45c8cf96", "rating": 3, "review_text": "There were dangling subplots and some holes, but this actually wasn't a bad read.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 11 19:49:57 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 11 19:50:35 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "7023148", "review_id": "b8c42423d2279b5a6a7be6ca00655aea", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Interesting fairy tale ... some good one liners, but ultimately my least favorite of Gaiman's kids books.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 04 07:10:02 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 04 07:10:01 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Feb 04 07:10:01 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "708549", "review_id": "a5ab949213c5904a9dfb5dc86ffdc588", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not as strong as her other books I've read ... but not one to pass up either.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 18 10:19:18 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 18 10:19:50 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jan 18 10:19:50 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "15741256", "review_id": "4d4b52928becc99780fd0a0990996400", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It was okay ... that's about it.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 15 16:45:05 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 15 16:46:27 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "17267", "review_id": "548b6537dcdbdca8c8060d23eeefd3cc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I think this is my favorite of Lewis' fiction. I feel like he really turned it around about half way through, because it was starting to read like an overly simplistic allegory, like Narnia (which gets a pass), and like his space trilogy (which doesn't).", "date_added": "Tue Jan 15 16:14:33 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 15 16:15:54 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "7726420", "review_id": "f0228606991daffde3e281decc797fb9", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Good time travel is hard to pull off, because its such an easy literary crutch that can become a mess very quickly. So what's a bad time travel book? This one.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 10 08:59:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 10 09:01:22 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "12981174", "review_id": "4209137e2695bb86c7f02d326c67e959", "rating": 2, "review_text": "As much as I found myself wanting a sequel to the Last Werewolf ... this wasn't what I was envisioning. The story itself is okay, but I found it frustratingly cluttered sometimes.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 13 11:21:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 13 11:22:52 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Sep 13 11:22:52 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "445654", "review_id": "00980dd00eec9e63b3917709c4707225", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This could have been awesome urban fantasy, but after a while, it became plodding, with no real point other than the seemingly random misadventures of Ginny and Steve. Disappointing.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 28 13:21:03 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 28 13:22:05 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Aug 28 13:22:05 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "13515864", "review_id": "b0521b7880f471e5adcf2b935dbf3a77", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not as good as Mrs. Frisby, better than Mouseguard.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 06 10:35:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 06 10:36:14 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Aug 06 10:36:14 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "12880428", "review_id": "a814d89e25b1c5050626ef7c8c0fee87", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I actually really enjoyed this Rice outing. Pretty good werewolf story!", "date_added": "Mon Aug 06 10:34:42 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 06 10:35:21 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Aug 06 10:35:21 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "26582", "review_id": "b72451c9049d9c580e5cc859d4cdc84a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I thought this book was kinda fucked up ... then I realized I just don't understand S+M. So when I dismissed those biases, it was actually pretty entertaining, and kept me awake at work.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 04 14:02:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 07 11:48:30 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jul 04 14:15:11 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "100924", "review_id": "d61255bf154da230beffb088296bf97b", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I'm sure there's some moral imperative here that I just wasn't picking up on. Parts of this book are truly inspired, and worth mulling over ... the rest is really, REALLY, boring biblical allegory.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 04 13:59:02 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 04 13:59:58 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jul 04 13:59:58 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "676737", "review_id": "e26a385c1e1e426597f479fdb484cc18", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Pretty solid. Speculative fiction from the antagonist's point of view. Good stuff.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 19 14:35:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 19 14:35:44 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jun 19 14:35:44 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "66717", "review_id": "0adf4dd0ca84f20cbef716f6c79334ad", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I don't think this was as strong as the Last Werewolf, which I really liked. There was some pretty funny parts, but it's also a very British book ... and I had a tough time with some of the colloquialisms. Worth checking out though if you have nothing to do.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 12 14:26:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 12 14:27:52 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jun 12 14:27:52 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "52357", "review_id": "d068f6cfd76c0b78fa817b75fb60fecc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Good stuff ... I thought the end where he fought the dragon was a little confusing.", "date_added": "Fri May 25 14:58:13 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri May 25 14:59:00 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri May 25 14:59:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "14461", "review_id": "da80b000b7cb72485a3dabf057761f88", "rating": 3, "review_text": "If you have the Sookie Stackhouse books on one end (which I haven't read), and the Harry Dresden books on the other (which I have read), the Kitty books are somewhere in the middle. Not as girly as Sookie, but not as manly as Harry. Good fluff though.", "date_added": "Fri May 11 09:38:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri May 11 09:39:48 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri May 11 09:39:48 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "7516001", "review_id": "220c44ed81e78c96fc2e87aa1b3b8908", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great stuff. I think I might have a crush on Carrie Vaughn. Thoroughly impressive.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 30 17:27:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 30 17:28:12 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "8665134", "review_id": "5f6891d332172248a7b09edf415599a5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Solid effort from Vaughn. I didn't like this as much as I liked Discord's Apple, but it's refreshing to see strong female characters. Vaughn isn't scared of not having happy endings, either. Good for her.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 30 17:26:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 30 17:27:30 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "ef959fd11c146ca5d9184870a1e4a012", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Ugh. I so wanted this to be Gaiman-esque greatness, what it descended into was sappy chick lit suitable for a women's reading clatch.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 30 17:25:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 30 17:26:10 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "64251", "review_id": "db5bd599f275cfbd6edb7f449774f6f7", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I so thought this was going to be epic, because when it came out, it was a big deal. It's mediocre at best, but the art is really pretty. Go read Mrs. Frisby instead.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 10 06:10:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 10 06:11:48 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "11020173", "review_id": "16eb6f40bd6eb79085853355e59047ac", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Not really what I thought it would be, but oh well ...", "date_added": "Mon Mar 26 16:44:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 26 16:45:35 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Mar 26 16:45:35 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "1251032", "review_id": "c90666df9edfbe7a85edc9f10829551b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book started out SOOO well, and then descended into a major disappointment. I think superheroes who wind up having to face the alpha Superman type good guy because he's turned is over done, and cliche. I think Moore could have thought of a better plot line, because, even though I didn't like the end of this book, so much so that it ruined it for me, I think he's pretty gifted.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 15 06:58:35 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 15 07:00:14 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Feb 14 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "6503780", "review_id": "13c54881e495db6df0c03d9b4ad5ee40", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I'm convinced the reason this volume sucked is because of Matthew Sturges.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 10 15:06:20 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 11 13:38:01 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "8737174", "review_id": "ce4a2284885c0c15014d9f3ced02b349", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I was worried that I might have missed something in regards to the Last Four Things, but see that my feelings are basically on par with that of others who read the book. What a disappointment, as I thought the first book was pretty original, not mention neat. I loved how Hoffman took both real history and religion and spun them into his own little world. Although I really liked the intrigue, both political and emotional ... the battles are just painfully confusing and poorly written. So much so, it made 10s of pages completely unreadable, which is really sad because I love all the characters from Bosco to Cale. I think the best part of the are parts that focus on the development of Vague Henry and his relationship with Cale. Hopefully, Hoffman reigns it in for the 3rd.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 11 20:14:04 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 10 20:51:00 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "414895", "review_id": "01f9ed55ecf62f30e22c3ac18972c7c5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "If you somehow hybridize the original movie, with Tim Burton's ... you get the book that the whole thing was based on. Great stuff. Seeing as how I've just seen the movies, I found the book not to be as dark as the Heston vehicle, but still gives you plenty to the think about, especially in regards to animal experimentation, which I believe is a necessary evil, much like stem cell research ... both ends I feel justify the means.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 18 21:31:08 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 18 21:34:18 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "1137215", "review_id": "b0ac8eae146441e63b43bb3733811b62", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Thoroughly impressed. I really enjoyed the fact that Priest didn't take what would have been an obvious twist in her book. Not only that, really strong female main character, which you don't see in a lot of sci-fi books, a strong, and nonasshole-ish kid character. Priest has created a very entertaining world, and I'm looking forward to reading Dreadnaught.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 11 06:46:10 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 11 06:47:16 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "25350", "review_id": "5a2aa190f76a12f83f53bdaa77726cef", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Well, Clive Staples didn't hit you over the head with theology up until the last 40 pages, and when he does, it's with the bluntness of a sledgehammer (although not as bad as Narnia), but over all, what you have is a delightful Jesus sci-fi romp that combines a lot of HG Wells' The First Men in the Moon, and Edgar Rice Burrough's Barsoom.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 09 18:29:05 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 09 18:31:35 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "8659601", "review_id": "2b67c69f705fb07a4ae2a5cf703a0169", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Solid second outing in this series. Eagerly anticipating the Rise of Nine, which I believe the next book is called.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 01 06:04:20 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 01 06:04:51 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "7116709", "review_id": "6fde2e66eb1ebfbcb3d0283daf199f3d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Good stuff. Pretty enjoyable ... it was like Hoffman took everything that has ever interested him in his life, and rolled it into a brooding coming of age fantasy story. I also really enjoy how you can't tell if the land that Cale inhabits is different from ours, or an alternative Earth, as there's elements of both modern religion, and, ancient history.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 01 05:58:42 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 01 06:00:49 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "831186", "review_id": "40b3fc634f3206ad8688fa81731aec70", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great stuff ... if you took the Matrix, 1984, and just about every conspiracy book you've ever read and combined them, you'd get the Traveller. Totally stoked to read the other books.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 07 12:39:22 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 07 12:40:03 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "9532302", "review_id": "8e9f9294a514d808f8f62c039752f3b3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fun. I really hope there's a sequel. You can't say that about every book.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 17 07:00:59 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 17 07:01:19 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "27061", "review_id": "836c1ffa03004e8fab3e43998fd4747b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "One third of this anthology is really good, one third is okay, and the remaining third is crap. I think I was more enamored with the mystery that was James Tiptree (Alice Sheldon) than I was her stories. The writing reminded me of Ian Banks, but at some point Banks explains what he's writing, and I felt Tiptree just left you with a feeling of what the fuck.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 23 07:04:55 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 23 07:07:29 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "379202", "review_id": "0190bde5e474fa63ff7d581ca85fb9d9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was a little trippy, but by and large, I found to be excellent. Although a work of fiction it really painted what a mess Central America was during the 80s, a decade which was completely awesome, but between Iran/Contra, AIDS, and the Cold War ... a time period that I'm surprised the world really made it out of.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 10 09:49:16 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 10 09:50:39 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "608725", "review_id": "b0d5cc86064d4273ee05bb559ad5ade9", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I finally remembered what the hell this book was called ... actually, the Amazon search engine did when I typed in \"woman giving birth to a seal.\" Anyways, I remember seeing this, and much like Big Fish, thinking, aw man ... this is gonna be great. But, also like Big Fish, it really wasn't.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 31 12:42:31 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 12:43:50 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "67948", "review_id": "4c36b377d58f43ce85c738de4700af38", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not bad ... But I didn't think it was as good as Martin's contemporary's, Lewis Shiner, book, Glimpses.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 26 08:45:46 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 26 08:47:29 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "379197", "review_id": "b7fcd551b98a3b36e22dcd578efdcc20", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I dunno why every book that I've read that involves a male midlife crisis has music as it's focal point ... like Lewis Shriner's Glimpses. This book is kind of if you cross High Fidelity with Back to the Future. I found it really compelling, and a nice addition to the alternative history genre.", "date_added": "Thu May 19 05:53:49 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu May 19 05:55:44 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "7747374", "review_id": "63c534e99f2a1ad4319a5579fcecd7b6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "If it weren't for the saccharine Sweet Valley High teen romance midway through the book, I would have rated this a 4. With that aside, I thought it was solid read of the tweener/Twlight genre.", "date_added": "Mon May 16 15:32:10 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon May 16 15:36:57 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "92060", "review_id": "8ee937ef6e8c8a9b97306bb5afa1220f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A tour through a Chicago Gaimanesque weird neighborhood that doesn't exist. It's a pretty funny read in true Gaiman fashion, and since American Gods, I love how he takes the ordinary (House on the Rock) and makes it extraordinary. I dunno how much Wolfe contributed, as I've never read him before ... anyways, it's a zany romp.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 28 05:16:26 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 28 05:18:10 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "373915", "review_id": "71506e98d702aeaafdcd5f12180f307f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great stuff. Whereas his father (Stephen King) is a great story teller, Hill surpasses him as a great writer. There was only one short story that I really didn't like, and one that genuinely creeped me out. I'm eager to read his other stuff.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 05 16:15:48 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 05 16:18:20 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "474752", "review_id": "8f8430d041270816d7bd47c8a8c44826", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have, in my head, an ever growing list of books that I can't wait to introduce my child to, if I have one ... and this is one of them. Great stuff.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 28 10:58:25 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 28 10:59:03 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "474740", "review_id": "0998a23a6a7f674f03917f7876ed9332", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I think, so far, this is my least favorite Beagle book. I found it endearing, though, because it's basically about LARPers, a group of which, just happen to play swords on the UiC quad.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 20 07:17:25 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 20 07:18:24 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "7978653", "review_id": "fa4015a8c8aeda349be476884c29a806", "rating": 4, "review_text": "GREAT!", "date_added": "Fri Feb 25 10:16:34 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 25 10:16:46 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "76718", "review_id": "b8aa3b84d01d2c9cd97e34af42cdb0ca", "rating": 3, "review_text": "You can tell Gaiman read this before he wrote his Graveyard Book. It's pretty good, but I found some of the characters a little whiney. Well worth the read though.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 09 06:57:23 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 09 06:58:27 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "11938", "review_id": "9a7c75144812b926d6568f99c852b286", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great read. I found the alternating character's point of views a little jarring sometimes, but it's really one of the greatest fantasy books I've ever read. I really enjoy Beagle's work, and it's a shame that it's kind of difficult to find.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 09 06:55:13 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 09 06:56:19 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "11932", "review_id": "e300f496ba3c70f9c4b001eb1da980f1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "There are now two things that encapsulate how powerful friendships can be. One, is Star Trek II the Wrath of Khan, the other is Beagle's short story A Dance for Emelia. Very powerful, very moving ... problaby my favorite in this collection. In fact, if I would rank them, they'd be the exact reverse of the order in which they happen chronologically. I dunno how I missed Beagle growing up ... maybe if I hadn't, I wouldn't be so bitter and cynical as I am.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 30 12:07:03 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 30 12:09:35 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "29127", "review_id": "faa3e7c5c6095c7d0a9ecb935f967efe", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It's a lot darker than I thought it would be.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 29 17:36:33 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 29 17:36:49 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "943402", "review_id": "b456084c3ac888b3ea3929e90ce48a7a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sublimely epic. Poignant. Truly epic, and one of the finest vampire, if not flat out novel, I've ever read.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 29 22:04:37 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 29 22:06:19 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "5973711", "review_id": "f202e3cf6d9e949f861ba468a508317b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not bad. My chief complaint with Willingham is that he won't know when to call Fables quits (much like Robert Kirkman in everything he does). I was really worried that having the culmination of the Great War so early on would lead to mediocre stories ... not true. Willingham is seemingly readying the Fables for a world of pain, and that defeating the Adversary just opened a pandora's box.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 15 13:23:35 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 15 13:26:31 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "841973", "review_id": "600fb6a0eed50c73a3f6e30b9394c45e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Great stuff ... I love when old time sci-fi writers slip subtle commentaries in on race relations and religion. An all around great story, which totally influences everything from Flash Gordon, to Adam Strange. Not only that, it ends in a killer cliffhanger. The last one did as well, but this one is better.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 07 15:41:22 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 07 15:43:08 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "7670787", "review_id": "38c8dee8b34a0226c53559be0088ef0b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "My sci-fi/fantasy consigliare (especially of free stuff), pointed out this freebee, when I told him about Priest's new book, Dreadnaught. I know it's a short story, but, I dunno, I found it lacking in substance. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but I really hope the rest of her stuff is a little more dense (I can only assume that it is, as she's nominated for the Hugo, and what not ... and I should have started out there). \n That's the only really negative thing I have to say. \n Now, the postivie is that it's pretty f'n creepy. You know as a kid, how you would have a stuffed animal, or toy, and you would swear that it moved ... kinda like the clown in poltergeist? THAT, is what this story does well. Not only that, Priest does a really good job in building sympathetic characters ... especially in Edwin, and the mentally enfeebled doctor he cares for. \n I would hold off reading it (if you can), until later in October, especially if you're into horror, or spooky stuff.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 24 14:58:25 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 24 15:05:18 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "24779", "review_id": "2c0385db313f0ddfb42fd7c428a38ab3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I think these books are great, and they keep getting better, but I have to remind myself that they are indeed written for juveniles, which explains Taran's whiney angst, and what always seems the deus ex machina intervtion of Gwydion.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 25 13:29:42 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 25 13:30:48 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "77276", "review_id": "5501de95e77c834b8a5558693d80bc07", "rating": 3, "review_text": "They should really put a moritorium on the convention known as time travel. I think when writers use it, it's a McGuffin-esque crutch, that when wielded poorly, makes for a predictable and mediocre story. ASTP was okay, but would have greatly benefited from a family tree, as the story basically revolves around two bloodlines, with similar, if not identical names between generational characters. It became a chore to keep track of who was who, and detracted from the overall book.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 15 07:23:57 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 15 07:28:15 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "40395", "review_id": "1d36a02eac5664248cd1664da7327b64", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great stuff ... very reminiscent of Flash Gordon, or, I should say, Flash is an homage to John Carter.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 11 17:38:33 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 11 17:39:49 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "24784", "review_id": "daf03a092b591a4d0826ec3f9ab8ee96", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I think, at times, this series out does Lord of the Rings.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 29 18:58:21 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 29 18:59:19 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "29981", "review_id": "a66ef21a5b0bb0ad8138ecbfb9a88ca6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In context of the book, the movie isn't really so bad, it's good ... it's actually a fair representation given where science is at in today's world.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 23 09:15:50 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 23 09:16:29 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "24780", "review_id": "5f060a8bbff8fb3b8e1de9f50f16271d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Continuing on my sojourn of elementary fiction ... I liked this much better than Wrinkle in Time, both books, however, I don't really understand how I missed out on reading. There were some holes I wish Alexander filled, but maybe that will come with the subsequent books. The initial, however, could have been a voluminous tome, like the Potter books got ...", "date_added": "Mon Jun 21 11:47:58 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 21 11:50:25 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "18130", "review_id": "d3f28ed5a816688a8a68f5c4352ba772", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'd really give this book 3.5 stars. I thought it was better than Wrinkle, but felt it got really convoluted towards the end so much so I had a hard time remembering what was going on, and why.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 17 14:57:03 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 17 15:00:03 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "112537", "review_id": "3e8b7a0a7d34fb1b9e4168cf075138a8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Disappointing. More like 2.5 stars.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 03 13:44:31 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 03 13:47:07 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "24830", "review_id": "2b54aaf6c25ad909030c844b91781182", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Sci-Fi is a little dated, but some really classic stories ... reminded me of episodes of the Twilight Zone. It's amazing what people can say about religion, race, politics in 5 pages.", "date_added": "Sat May 29 04:53:44 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat May 29 04:54:31 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "18131", "review_id": "253540ce6722cf1be1409ea70e56f21c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Pretty entertaining for juvenile fiction but: \n 1. The end just kinda happened with no real explanations as to: \n a. How Mr. Murray can just tesser. \n b. Who the witches were. \n c. Charles-Wallace's TP, and Calvin O'Keefe's gift for languages \n Hopefully, they're explained in subsequent sequels.", "date_added": "Mon May 10 12:34:10 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon May 10 12:36:25 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "333867", "review_id": "7621c1723c4e1961b3140bb5b236e530", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Catalzyed me going back to read read sci-fi classics ... this book is timeless.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 18 07:56:04 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu May 06 16:25:29 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "6122181", "review_id": "2ac9aab9f325ee4566dcfef9f2991fae", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Read only for Butcher's Strange Brew. Not one of his better Dresden shorts.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 06 05:00:47 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 06 05:01:47 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "944073", "review_id": "77a98f0f8924929b78fc8e6c6c2aa13e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great stuff ... all of Abercrombie's characters are assholes, and yet, they're compellingly fascinating. It's not your prototypical sword and sorcery book, but it's a whole hell of a lot of fun.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 18 14:46:44 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 07 12:47:34 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "2871256", "review_id": "b86cda111b1b684fc1c46b8665ad035b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Read only for Harry's Day Off by Jim Butcher.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 18 14:37:00 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 18 14:37:48 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "3475145", "review_id": "c22bfc3ee02401b8185cb4a10699dafc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Read only for the Warrior, by Jim Butcher.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 18 14:31:51 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 18 14:32:03 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "1773616", "review_id": "c5e2158ba4a10593d9750a41419daeda", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Read only for Heorot by Jim Butcher.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 18 14:31:12 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 18 14:31:35 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "140098", "review_id": "a6e6ce0b2fd0e2658173354307ea1f24", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Read only for It's My Birthday, Too by Jim Butcher.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 18 14:30:20 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 18 14:30:44 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "84156", "review_id": "66c3804a4148adf48e3d5e8b7477c924", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Read only for Something Borrowed by Jim Butcher.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 18 14:28:33 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 18 14:30:01 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "6411440", "review_id": "e2dfacd6f2b483c7bb2890127c889e27", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not bad, but not as good as the Book of Lost Things. This book definitely geared more towards kids.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 03 05:04:57 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 03 05:05:29 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "149267", "review_id": "cfdcf5f7a24f160a9ff6cbf34c6b9501", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book would have been an opus of perfectness, if it weren't for the end.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 06 17:20:39 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 06 17:21:08 -0800 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "62032", "review_id": "d33b3b166b33c5359f3b7c24b8266e99", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It's actually pretty interesting, but too long in spots ... it definitely could have been cut down.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 06 09:01:28 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 06 09:01:55 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "304687", "review_id": "7fb3fec7f75e984482747c0bdb20b749", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Biblical sci-fi is always a hoot, and this was a pretty good alternate look at the War in Heaven after Lucifer fell.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 10:45:37 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 20 10:46:13 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "1098714", "review_id": "f08f030adaa6eea666e2752f3dfb0a2b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not bad. Read it when I was going through a classic literature phase.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 10:29:25 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 20 10:29:52 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "12067", "review_id": "59e41cfde8580a924bf3df5f76712d6d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Neil Gaiman > Terry Pratchett", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 10:08:36 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 20 10:09:13 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b5f937e40b9cb0e2eecb4ba2365e2019", "book_id": "47970", "review_id": "6c47f8369aec9447cd477908f159d805", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Pretty standard sci-fi, but I liked it. I thought Davy was a little whiney, so Hayden Christiansen portrayed him well in the movie.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 10:04:57 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 20 10:07:02 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sat Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6ab648876584b7a8c26a18f9467f2256", "book_id": "7130788", "review_id": "4b4dc335b3dc4c0c16cb6f76771629e6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Definitely a fluff read...a little unbelievable but fun all around.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 03 19:27:59 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 03 19:28:19 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9aadbd5a6cc0b41ff0f65b3d8dda3827", "book_id": "22820624", "review_id": "0c3df1c615393c61fda7520961097764", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Fantastic science, imagination, and humor throughout. The author goes from first person with the main character to other points of view as needed, which doesn't feel as tight; however, the story was fascinating and entertaining.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 01 04:01:22 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 09 14:40:57 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9aadbd5a6cc0b41ff0f65b3d8dda3827", "book_id": "288853", "review_id": "40612574cb6a995382fbe26709a54b01", "rating": 4, "review_text": "That duality of man, yo. It's something.", "date_added": "Thu May 08 09:53:04 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 15 07:20:06 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9aadbd5a6cc0b41ff0f65b3d8dda3827", "book_id": "10664113", "review_id": "01aed07823bf1aa5749f74da8a1b3562", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh, how bittersweet. No more 1000 page novels in the series remain to screw up my 50 book goal for the year, and yet, I have no way of knowing when the next book will come out. I feel like the kids who followed Harry Potter in real time, except I am an adult with more patience and more self-control over my emotions. (I think.) How did those kids do it? \n The series is really entertaining. Though Martin is not some master of poetic prose, there's nothing wrong with his writing either. It's a perfectly adequate style with intense characters and a complicated plot. His real skill is in building characters that are complex and believable. There are obviously good characters and obviously bad characters, but the majority of characters are richly complex - sometimes you hate them; sometimes you sympathize with them. \n It's not just the men that are well-developed either. Martin can write women - all kinds of women. And he understands these women, even the crazy ones. The character of Cersei Lannister is an amazing accomplishment. She is a nut job, but in a realistic way with female paranoia and preoccupations that I understand the root of though David, my husband, thought her characterization was just chalked up to Martin's writing of the most clinically cuckoo character he could think of. I had make an argument for some of Cersei's motivations that are often related to the balls out motherly instinct that is first and foremost concerned with the preservation of her children at the expense of everything else. \n I highly recommend this series. It has made me a harder reader as no character in the book can be expected to live out the series. Anything can happen to anyone. I have developed calluses on my brain and eyeballs after this series, and I think I'm better for it.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 17 13:18:01 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 16 07:46:25 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Wed Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9aadbd5a6cc0b41ff0f65b3d8dda3827", "book_id": "13497", "review_id": "90384bbd674879ef874d09945a335798", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The only problem I have with this book is that its author hoped to have the next one out in 2006...here we are in 2011 and it may be coming out soon? How much longer will we have to wait for the next one after that and the next one after that??? Will I be sixty-three before I get to finish the series? Will I have to get a life in the meantime? Oh the horror!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 15 12:51:02 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 03 07:51:59 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sun Jul 03 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Wed Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9aadbd5a6cc0b41ff0f65b3d8dda3827", "book_id": "28186", "review_id": "6cde2850c3209e02e47fbe39ffbe3d4f", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Bleh.", "date_added": "Sun May 08 18:47:02 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun May 08 18:47:36 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sat May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "9aadbd5a6cc0b41ff0f65b3d8dda3827", "book_id": "62291", "review_id": "e066990ac5c606d85df750f72a3a1f5d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Holy moly. It's so good.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 16 06:57:19 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Tue May 10 11:49:39 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue May 10 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sat Apr 16 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9aadbd5a6cc0b41ff0f65b3d8dda3827", "book_id": "10572", "review_id": "fe50573897a8578af022bb88b5c3d76b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Now that I am a hardened reader and know not to fall in love with any characters ever, this series has wrapped me in its evil clutches. It's pretty good, damn it. It's pretty good.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 07 13:45:34 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 12 06:57:58 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue Apr 12 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Thu Apr 07 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9aadbd5a6cc0b41ff0f65b3d8dda3827", "book_id": "13496", "review_id": "7b26fa18e077246945b612588e14f4ea", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I hate this book. I hate it hate it hate it hate it hate it. \n So now I must read the next one. \n Ok, so I don't actually hate it. But at one point, I wanted my review to simply be \"Spoiler Alert: EVERYONE DIES.\" \n But obviously since there is another book, and another, and another, and the fifth coming out this summer with seven projected in all, everyone does not actually die. But for all of the sentimental hearts out there, specifically me, I must warn you that if you want to read this book, be ready for an emotional roller coaster that will cause you to wake your husband at midnight more than once as you slam down the book to tell him you are refusing to read the book anymore. Generally speaking. \n But I have to admit it's a compelling read. The are in the process of making a television show about the books, and let's face it, we all love getting wrapped up into a series.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 11 12:51:56 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 24 14:00:01 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Thu Mar 24 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Fri Mar 11 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9aadbd5a6cc0b41ff0f65b3d8dda3827", "book_id": "76620", "review_id": "221d15bee914b0ded42806e658c1cc68", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Cute. Didn't love it.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 25 10:58:27 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun May 02 12:33:07 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sat Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Thu Mar 25 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9aadbd5a6cc0b41ff0f65b3d8dda3827", "book_id": "28187", "review_id": "340990411edb5be39f07580b411479c2", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Is there a half star rating? \n The only thing this book gets any credit for is introducing kids to Greek mythology. It is possibly the most contrived writing I have ever read. \n For example: \n \"Quite all right, Annabeth,\" she said. \"You have such beautiful gray eyes, child.\" Only later did I wonder how she knew Annabeth's name, even though we had never introduced ourselves. \n REALLY? Only later? Because I got it already. \n And then (Oh yeah, spoiler alert): \n \"'You shall be betrayed by one who calls you a friend.' \n This line still bothered me. Ares had pretended to be my friend, then betrayed me. That must be what the Oracle meant...\" \n OK - so obviously that's not what the Oracle meant. And since there are only 15 pages left, I bet that's what you're about to resolve. \n Gosh. I was right. I must be psychic. Or conscious.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 14 11:02:46 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 11 18:17:47 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 22, "n_comments": 7}
{"user_id": "9aadbd5a6cc0b41ff0f65b3d8dda3827", "book_id": "13", "review_id": "27940bacc88527d76dd9440b78934ce1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So I actually read this version of the series. \n By version, I mean physical option for packaging. \n Originally five books, I bought the series all in one binder and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a series that my husband really wanted me to read as he read it as a youth and loved it. \n It is quirky, hard-to-relate-to, and not extremely cohesive, but all of these qualities seem to be why it makes so much sense. It's not something I could explain nor understand without reading it myself. But I will forever understand the phrase: \"The Five Books of the Trilogy.\" And thanks to the books, I know the answer to life's greatest question... \n I may have read one physical binding, but I'm putting all of the books in my log, because I want credit for them, damn it. \n And, oh yeah, check another for the 1001 books list! Woo Hoo!", "date_added": "Wed Aug 12 17:12:04 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 13 08:50:27 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9aadbd5a6cc0b41ff0f65b3d8dda3827", "book_id": "5907", "review_id": "d3a945efb6a25d6f9af230bc777480fa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Hobbit is a book of imagination and creation. It lives up to the hype. It is a smart little treasure of fun and fantasy and valuable life lessons. \n Admittedly, I was a little impatient with the book at first, because I like learning and exploring characters - thoughts, feelings, motivations, desires. However, The Hobbit is a children's book, and I would argue one geared toward boys in general. Not that the book cannot be enjoyed by young girls or all adults, but the book is plot and action driven, not character driven. You learn about the characters through actions almost exclusively. \n But once I really got into the book (and David stopped trying to talk to me every time I tried to begin the book), I was able to become encompassed by the story and lost in its pages. It was a delight. I want to rewatch the cartoon movie that I saw so long ago and barely remember.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 21 18:12:07 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 14 08:55:14 -0800 2008", "read_at": "Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "9aadbd5a6cc0b41ff0f65b3d8dda3827", "book_id": "1162543", "review_id": "652d3d0c23be6c1068b4e111c88433f0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "My last comment on this series...Ok. \n So as not to provide any spoilers for those people who have not read the book, and the word \"yet\" would apply, I'd have to say that this book requires more suspension of belief, more patience, and more eye rolling than the rest of them combined. \n Yup. \n I can tell you, without giving much away, that the book shifts into the perspective of Jacob about a quarter of the way through. It returns to Bella, but this shift if perplexing and frustrating. \n As a writer with a degree in said field, I have to say that the shift into a different perspective smells of nothing less than the inability to tell the story correctly. It's cheating, basically. \n Stephanie Meyer couldn't figure out any other way to take you into the storyline she apparently needed to expose. I don't think that the shift was bad, per se, but it's a technique that should have been persistent all the way through the series. It feels cheap, and most of it is a bit unnecessary. It exposes Stephanie Meyer as the amateur writer she is, because better planning of the series would have eliminated this weird move in the end. \n Overall, I enjoyed the story. \"Story\" being the key word. I hated the character of Bella. She annoyed the ever-livin-bleep out of me. She was just the reincarnation of what Stephanie Meyer wishes she was. Everything seems to work out for the character...shocking. But for whatever reason, I couldn't stop reading. The plot held it together in the end.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 04 15:23:36 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 09 16:33:05 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Wed Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9aadbd5a6cc0b41ff0f65b3d8dda3827", "book_id": "601462", "review_id": "e7e96ea76c23e5950ee936233bf1e346", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A surprisingly great book. This was just a random selection from a Cracker Barrel in order to kill time on a car ride. And the book ended up being not only worth it, but entertaining, well-written, and witty. \n Though mainly a children's book, I would suggest it to adults with the preface that the book is geared toward kids but worth it nonetheless.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 21 11:48:38 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 06 17:13:12 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9aadbd5a6cc0b41ff0f65b3d8dda3827", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "e57a5785219e045355d529ee233d436c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Note: I started reading this series as I am interested in the Young Adult Lit World. \n These books are perplexing to me. I roll my eyes at the EXCESSIVE use of adverbs (I didn't know one would be bold enough to use the word \"hugely.\" Eck.) But the story keeps your attention. Perhaps it is the author's apparent knowledge about the mythology of vampires. And her spin on the mythology is interesting. \n Don't get me wrong. The book is awful in the sense that it is written very poorly. (Oh my god! The adverbs!) I find the main character, Bella, to be one of the MOST PATHETIC creatures to be recorded since the main character in The Mysteries of Udolpho (or arguably Tess of the D'Ubervilles). However, I feel dirty even comparing Bella to these classic characters. She is predictably compulsive and needy, and I have had to fight back audible laughter and retching at times while reading. \n OK, admittedly, I am \"listening\" to the series since I can rent the CDs from Cracker Barrel. David listened to most of Twilight with me, and we would have to stop it in order to discuss how AWFUL the writing was. I think the reader of the series was probably a poor choice, too. She could have made it all sound a little less pathetic. (However, the adverbs cannot be denied or ignored. They are there. Oh, are they there.) \n But the story is kind of fun. Not even in a guilty pleasure kind of way. More like a bad habit. As I said, perplexing. If I could give it 2.5 stars, I would. But in this case, I will round up.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 06 07:39:47 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 30 16:02:05 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "9aadbd5a6cc0b41ff0f65b3d8dda3827", "book_id": "49041", "review_id": "8461d6eb7f6e3ca329a863096ea39fc3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "See my review of \"Twilight.\" \n However, I do believe that this book calmed way down on the use of adverbs and was a written a bit better. The use of mythology was more creative and Bella was slightly less pathetic. Slightly.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 16 15:20:04 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 15 11:11:04 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Tue Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9aadbd5a6cc0b41ff0f65b3d8dda3827", "book_id": "119322", "review_id": "4feb029f9144d4ed87bda28b73ee58c8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Based on the atheist claims of the author, I was interested to see how the author would achieve a symbolic atheist fantasy novel. If God doesn't exist, then how can the author use God as a villian? That is what I wanted to know. \n So far, I read The Golden Compass. And though it reads easily, I find the main character Lyra somewhat annoying. I appreciate the fact that the author makes her parents completely unlikeable. Most people do not like to invest in unlikeable characters, but I don't mind that. However, my first critique of the book is that it cannot stand alone. Unlike the Harry Potter series that works as a series and can yet tell a complete and interesting story in just one book, His Dark Materials is obviously one large work that cannot be separated. I don't think that is a wise practice. Though you encourage the reader to keep investing into your work, each book can never achieve the full status of a completed work.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 08 17:30:51 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 08 17:38:24 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "29056083", "review_id": "dcdfd651f048c192e829453805688b43", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Decent fan service and heavy reliance on previous work. I think this would make a great play but does not hold up well as a book (and not because it's in the form of a play).", "date_added": "Tue Aug 23 07:26:40 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 26 10:13:25 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Aug 26 10:13:25 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "19161852", "review_id": "171abc9ead2206e35eee1940130b5c46", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Interesting book and plot with a really good audio narration. Some of the sex scenes were too graphic for my taste.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 05 08:49:21 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 25 07:52:46 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "18739426", "review_id": "736c11ae4d957c774eb349c1dba8c63e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Audiobook read by Michael Kramer. This is the third book of the second Mistborn series. Review contains some minor spoilers for earlier novels - which are all worth reading! \n Man I've been enjoying the second generation of Mistborn books. The idea of taking magic from a classic fantasy setting and bringing it to an old west / industrial revolution world is so interesting. The main characters are still just as interesting as before and some of the lesser characters get more development in this book too. I particularly like the development done with Steris in this book to make her a much more relatable/sympathetic character. \n The Bands of Mourning picks up shortly after the events of the previous book (Shadows of Self) and moves along at a pretty good pace throughout. Rumor is going around that the lord ruler's mythical \"bands of mourning\" (his eponymous bracers) that grant the wearer allomany and feruchemy have been found. It could be devastating if a mcguffin that powerful falls into the wrong hands so our heroes must try to find those bracers first! The whole distant city, searching for an ancient artifact, and rival parties strongly reminds me of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (for the better). \n For you cosmere fans, I'll also say that there is definitely a little extra stuff in here just for us to ever so slightly advance our knowledge of the cosmere. I won't say any more but will just leave it there. \n As for the audio side of things, Michael Kramer does a fantastic job as usual. Anyone who has heard an audiobook narrated by him knows what to expect but I think the second Mistborn series really lends well to audio. Wayne's practice of adopting accents and mannerisms really makes the audio version of the book worth doing if you like audio books.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 24 07:02:11 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 23 17:27:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Mar 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Feb 24 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "2890090", "review_id": "2acebd1621a4e968b503b800e3b855c3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fantastic book. I loved the mirroring stories except that as I was totally into one, the narrative would switch to the other. That's only a minor issue in an overall fantastic book. I love initial reading of the part of the chorus. So good. Michael Page does a great job narrating the audio book.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 20 06:36:38 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 26 17:52:34 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "25131600", "review_id": "69434b7d44dbdd4338cde0cb623c806a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Audiobook narrated by Marc Thompson \n Star Wars Aftermath is the first book of the newly renovated Star Wars timeline to take place after the original movies and it doesn't live up to the hype that surrounded it. We were enticed by the potential for details of what happens after Return of the Jedi but details of the main heroes are doled out sparingly while the main part of the story involves mostly new characters. This isn't quite the journey to the Force Awakens I was hoping for. \n The main plot follows those new characters, Wedge gets some screen time in there, and we get small glances of the rest of the universe through small little interlude chapters - which are the most interesting parts of the book. We get to find out some hints of interesting things going on elsewhere in the universe and it's the unclear nature of those hints that make them so interesting. \n So what about the main story? It's fairly standard pulpy Star Wars action that I honestly can't really remember a whole lot of because nothing particularly stood out. Some of the remnant of the Empire decide to hold a secret meeting somewhere they don't have firm control (or also not somewhere in deep space) so that Rebels (or New Republic people) could stumble upon them and we could have some nice \"stuck on a planet\" moments. I've seen some criticism of the writing style but I think the main problem this book has is that the plot doesn't really seem to matter in the grand scheme of things. Besides, I don't look for fine writing in a Star Wars book anyway - I look for fun and action. \n As for the audio side of things, Marc Thompson and the sound engineers did a great job as per usual. Thompson does a great range of voices and impressions even though he didn't really get to use many of those impressions in this book. His Wedge sounds a lot more like Luke but Wedge doesn't really have as much of persona from the movies anyway. The music and sound effects were great as they usually are in Star Wars productions.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 17 17:06:40 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 05 19:00:19 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "22238374", "review_id": "63b346301fc782818ce64fd7433eeb80", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Review of the audio edition narrated by Marc Thompson. \n What starts off feeling like a Disney straight-to-VHS sequel ends up becoming a fun story about Luke helping the rebel alliance. In the final book of the trilogy that isn't a trilogy, Kevin Hearne brings his writing style from Iron Druid to Star Wars. His style translates well to the galaxy far far away and his humor is a welcome addition, but some things feel a bit out of place at times. I enjoyed the story overall and thought he did a great job with the book considering the limitations of what can be done with where it is in the timeline. \n So what did I mean by Disney straight-to-VHS sequel? The earlier part of the book has Luke performing a few tasks for the rebel alliance that have an episodic feel to them, kind of similar to \"Kronk's New Groove\" or \"Atlantis: Milo's Return\". The tasks had no real rhyme or reason to them, and some had me wondering why they'd send Luke to perform them when the rebels must have someone more qualified. The story really starts to get interesting once it becomes a more continuous story further in. \n Kevin Hearne's style works well in Star Wars because of the mix of action and humor with a decent amount of lore involved. He gives a lot of personality and character to the players but maybe a bit too much in places. I really like what he does with Luke still trying to figure out the force but the awkward romantic stuff is kind of hard to picture. I also think this could be the first intentional double entendre I've seen in a Star Wars book, made all the more awkward since it's has Luke and Leia laughing . It's great that the tone of the book is a bit lighter than what's normal, but some parts where characters are just sitting around laughing feel a bit out of place. \n The time period for the book restricts what Hearne can do with the story but he does a great job writing Luke in that questioning period about the force. The Empire is still at large and gunning for the rebellion, so Luke helps out with advancing the cause. No big events can really happen during this time but we actually get to see Luke develop a bit as a character throughout. I also like Hearne's use of a Givin character to add some interesting cultural differences between the characters. I'd recommend this book to any Star Wars fan and anyone interested in trying a Star Wars book for the first time. It's an easy entry to Star Wars just like Honor Among Thieves. \n As for the audio side of things, Marc Thompson does a great job as usual. His Luke kind of strikes me as a bit whiney but overall I enjoyed the performance. The sound effects and music were all well used and there aren't any of those annoying repeated background loops from some of the previous books (Kenobi I'm looking at you). \n If you're not able to determine the math password joke while listening, here is a picture to help you. Think back to Algrebra I and the FOIL method", "date_added": "Thu Feb 12 06:43:06 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 28 00:42:32 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Feb 12 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "15704459", "review_id": "8121d0c018f8289b7bf5cafa7255d824", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Audiobook read by MacLeod Andrews \n I really liked Steelheart and this book was a good continuation of the story even though I didn't like it quite as much. A new location, different situations, new epics, and even worse similes come together for a new adventure for David and The Reckoners. If you enjoyed the first book you will almost certainly like this one too...unless you throw the book through a window due to one of David's many terrible similes. \n The story is kind of similar as Steelheart except that it takes place in the remnants of Manhatten where many strange things are happening. I had more trouble following the details of the world this time around because the descriptions of the world are a bit harder to imagine. The world as described is really interesting in concept but it's hard to follow sometimes with how things actually play out. I can picture a flooded Manhatten but I can't see how it works out with people living on rooftops and somehow getting down to the water. I guess I'm to literal in thinking that the buildings are all different heights and bridges between them aren't so feasible, but those were some of my limitations with this setting. \n Sanderson is known for magic systems and he is no slouch here. The new powers and weaknesses of epics coupled with the the heck is going on with Calamity (the light in the sky that coincided with people attaining super powers) makes for interesting developments in the overall plot. I do like how Sanderson always has a plan for developing the magic system with each book and we definitely learn more in this book. I still really love the concept of a world with super heroes that are all corrupted - it's such an interesting spin on the normal super hero story. \n On the audio side of things MacLeod Andrews does a fine job narrating the story. He does some good voices that fit the characters well and puts sufficient emotion in his delivery. I think the audio version of this book is a great way to experience it.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 19 12:49:38 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 25 18:50:40 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Mar 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Mar 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "21412673", "review_id": "1a16a813ccd66f086bb15137dd3ab9aa", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I think this is a book for people who read the previous books. I got about 30% into this book and find it so boring I can hardly follow what's happening. My wife read the previous books finds it a bit more interesting but also finds the pace incredibly slow. \n Simon Vance does a great job reading the book but his dry reading doesn't do this slow book any favors.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 02 09:37:25 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 28 15:47:27 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "18184424", "review_id": "49a4f983807567c6e41e4d0febcd385e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Audio book read by Phil Gigante \n The cases don't solve themselves so Dan 'Shamble' is back with a whole new set of cases to solve in the unnatural quarter. Many familiar faces make appearances as in previous novels but this can be read on it's own with no prior knowledge of the series. If you can't tell from the cover and premise, this is a supernatural humor novel with a diverse cast of supernatural creatures chock full of puns that could even make your crazy uncle groan. If that sounds like something fun to you or you've enjoyed previous novels in this series - you will like this novel. If that doesn't sound great to you or you're on the fence....you'll probably hate this book because it doesn't take itself seriously at all. \n You can tell Kevin J. Anderson probably had fun writing this novel. He puts a lot of tongue-in-cheek commentary about book writing, publishing, and the nature of best sellers in here (more than previous novels). He goes to great lengths to set up a scene for things happening just to slip a one liner in there (my favorite one being, \"familiarity breeds contempt\" because Thunder Dick's familiar cat Maurice hates his guts) . Like I said, many will make you groan but I have to admit that several actually did make me laugh. So one of the cases Shamble is working on is that someone's voice was stolen. He regains control of his voice but it isn't returned to his body yet so he starts yelling out some really good stuff from the mouth of the guy who still has it. \"I like to wear ladies' underwear\" \"I pick my nose...and EAT IT!\" It goes on for a while but didn't get old. \n As for the audio side of things, Phil Gigante continues to shine in this series. The cartoony nature of the characters lets him use a wide range of voices. He really handles the comedic nature of the novel well and puts a good amount of inflection in his tone.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 10 11:47:54 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 18 18:47:02 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "45108", "review_id": "4e1f8ea1f225995970965ac532a5af9f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fool's Fate \n audio book narrated by James Langton \n Disclaimer: This is a review of the third book in a trilogy and the review will likely include spoilers from preceding books. I'd strongly recommend starting with the first book in the trilogy (Fool's Errand) or better yet, Assassin's Apprentice since the Farseer trilogy is very good and all these books are related. \n Fool's Fate is the last book of the Tawny Man trilogy. The story picks up immediately where Golden Fool left off as the Farseers are preparing to travel to the island Aslevjal to kill the dragon Icefire. The Fool has also told FitzChivalry that they must save Icefire to put the world on a better path. Which will Fitz decide: his oath of loyalty and allegiance to the Farseer throne or his role as the Catalyst of the White Prophet? I've really enjoyed all of the books in this trilogy leading but this book stands out as something special. \n The whole premise of the book is based on a challenge Prince Dutiful was goaded into and that the adults don't particularly want to do. It's pretty obvious that something else is at play with the Outislanders in making this challenge and the result is a fantastic conclusion to the Farseer and Tawny Man trilogies. As already stated, FitzChivalry's struggle with his role as the Catalyst while also serving his realm have you wondering what will happen all the way up to the climax. \n As I listened to this story, I really felt like a full story was being told in which I couldn't see the seams. I normally can't help my mind picking a story apart into its elements to determine what's going to be important later in the story but things weren't so obvious here. There are so many things going on that it just feels like an active world as opposed to having just a few conveniently introduced devices to be used later (for instance, you know when Harry Potter learns a new spell that it will almost certainly be the sole thing that gets him out of trouble later. Expecto Patronum!). What will be important here? New understandings of the Wit from Webb? The newly forming Skill coterie? Chade's blasting powder? Something old Elderling tools? Hobb does a great job working everything together into a good ride. \n If there is one weakness in this book, it's that it wraps things up too well. When I say too well, I mean that the falling action and conclusion of the book feel like the resolution to both the Farseer and Tawny Man trilogy as so much of what happens even concludes questions you may not even realize you had. The falling action and conclusion also take up about 1/3 of the book which kind of threw me. I was avidly consuming the story through the climax but then felt like things dragged out a bit afterward. Don't get me wrong - I loved all of it, I just thought it was worth mentioning. \n As with the previous installments of this trilogy, James Langton does a fantastic job with his narration of this book. There were times I forgot I was even listening to an audio book because I was just so into it. If I had one gripe it would be that some voices sound quite similar but those that do rarely have scenes together (Hap, Dutiful, Swift). I would definitely look for Langton reading other books.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 10 11:45:50 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 06 17:28:12 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Nov 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "45109", "review_id": "a42e9a269abd63203a9b1a27a5d94dbd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "audiobook narrated by James Langton \n Golden Fool picks up directly where Fool's Errand leaves off. Dutiful needs someone to teach him how to use his magics and Fitz (aka Tom) gets caught up further in the intrigues of the court at Buckkeep. Dutiful's betrothal ceremony with his future bride from the OutIslands is set to go off and there are also Piebalds somewhere out in the Six Dutchies...what could possibly go wrong? Fitz needs to figure out what is going on by any means possible to prevent problems for the farseer reign. \n Golden Fool's plot didn't really feel like a normal plot to me - it feels like a middle book in a trilogy that covers the events after the initial setup but before the epic conclusion of the trilogy. That doesn't mean the book is any less enjoyable, just that it doesn't have as many peaks and valleys with tension and the climax of the book. The book ends in such a way that you have to go on to the third book afterwards. \n Hobb's ability to write compelling prose continues on in this novel and her characters are great. FitzChivalry really gets to be at odds with just about everyone in this book and there were times I felt like I was listening to a fantasy version of the Jerry Springer show. It's kind of amazing how the best of intentions and misunderstandings can extend gulfs between people and Hobb does a great job exploring there. \n Hobb also brings up questions of prejudices and how \"normal\" is defined. The main overarching prejudice is of course the hate people have for the \"Old Blood\" people who have beast magic but there are also other instances involving intellectual disabilities and sexual identity too. It's interesting to see how characters from outside those groups relate but especially interesting to see how those within the same group relate to each other and how some prejudices are overcome while other are....well you'll see. \n As for the audio side of things, James Langton continues to do a great job in Golden Fool. His voices are still great except I don't understand why it sounds like the queen (from the mountain kingdom) has what sounds like a French accent while the people from the out islands also have what sounds like a French accent. The Bingtown traders sound Italian so I'm not sure why the out islanders wouldn't have some other accent. Some word pronunciations also bother me but overall, Langton's performance drew me in so well that all of these were minor gripes by comparison.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 10 11:45:33 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 09 18:28:32 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "68488", "review_id": "06ff9dcee1aadf0b0457c69d090e1a25", "rating": 4, "review_text": "audiobook narrated by James Langton \n Fool's Errand takes place years after the events of Robin Hobb's Farseer trilogy and does not disappoint. The story is as well written as Hobb's previous works and is great from beginning to end. The story kind of fills the gap between the trilogies and explains in greater detail the events concluding the Farseer trilogy while also building into this new adventure. \n The story is kind of broken into a summation of past events and then embarking on something new. The summation works great as a device to those of us who read the Farseer trilogy to remind us where things left off and gives some greater closure to the events concluding that trilogy. The summation would also work well for those new to the Farseers to introduce the world and explain a bit of the back story that defines FitzChivalry's motives. That said, if you haven't read the Farseer trilogy and don't like spoilers, definitely read that trilogy before Tawny Man. \n Robin Hobb's writing flows so well that even seemingly mundane tasks and everyday things are a joy to experience. She really knows how to make you care about the characters and builds a plot that pushes those characters. There are some truly great and terrible moments in this book that I just can't say without ruining so much of the story. There were a few times that I didn't think things made total sense but the story is just so enjoyable it really didn't matter. \n On the audio side of things, James Langton did a great job. It was really hard going from Paul Boehmer's performance in the Farseer Trilogy to James Langton in this trilogy. I loved Boehmer's performance and his voice became the characters' voices to me. Even though it was jarring at first, Langton's voices and narration became natural to my ear after only a few hours. He does a great job doing voices that fit the different characters and his sulky/sullen cat voice has to be one of the most fitting voices I could imagine. Some of his pronunciations threw me a bit too but overall I enjoyed his performance. \n Everything together makes a story that really takes you places. By the end of this story you'll be back in the intrigue of the court at Buckkeep and want to go on to Golden Fool.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 10 11:45:19 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 09 17:59:22 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Sep 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "13417066", "review_id": "46bbd851bbc1abbe469e82320da4437a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Audio book narrated by James Marsters \n This is the third book of what we could call a steampunk vampire trilogy. I still like the first book the best but this one competes with the second as far as things go. The story once again carries a strong sense of Beauty and the Beast mixed with Romeo and Juliet with a strong steampunk flair. If you liked the first two books, you'll like this book since everything wraps up rather nicely in the end. One ding I had was that I still didn't think there was a satisfactory explanation of why Gareth is different from the other vampires. More on that... \n This book is very similar to the previous two books to the point that they kind of blur together in my mind when I think back on it. The steampunk aspect is kicked up a notch with some mech suit / tanks in this one but you'll mainly see lots of swordplay, gunfire, goggles, and airships again. These are some of the things that kind of run together on me mainly because many of the same characters are involved in similar scenes but the overall plot obviously moves forward to a satisfactory conclusion. \n Don't get me wrong - there are many good things that have carried over from the previous two books. The language and prose used in the previous books still give the feel of characters stuck in the past caused by the vampire attack. The action is crazy and fun with lots of epic battles ranging across Europe. The characters are likable for the most part, although Gareth can be a bit one-dimensional sometimes (His primary motivation seems to be his love for Adele to the discount of everything else). \n Speaking of Gareth, I still don't understand why he is different from all other vampires (I guess you could say his manservant shares his values but he also seems kind of like he's reluctantly dealing with a neurotic master). There was this whole explanation about how Gareth's father didn't like wasting things but that doesn't seem to explain how he could go from seeing people as food to loving a human to the level he does. Even his friend in Paris held similar values but not to the extremes Gareth does. I'd hoped for something like what happened with Angel on Buffy but it was kind of left out there. \n As for the audio side of things, I still enjoyed James Marsters' performance this third time around. He speaks well, uses recognizable voices, and is a pleasure to listen to. I would say that I'd go out looking for books narrated by him, but that's why I listened to this trilogy in the first place ;-).", "date_added": "Thu Jul 10 12:05:10 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 16 18:38:29 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "10790180", "review_id": "d9b8edce73381f627cfd7055996f5be2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Audiobook read by James Marsters \n This review is going to read a lot like that of the first book in the series, The Greyfriar. If you read that book and enjoyed it, you'll like this one too. Where the first book was kind of (Zorro + Beauty and the Beast + Vampires), this one kind of leans more toward Romeo and Juliet. The protagonists love each other but everyone from their respective houses pretty much hates on the other. Wrap all that up with another fantastic narration by James Marsters and this book is over before you know it. \n I still like the way these books are written. I'm no linguist, but the vocabulary and use of idioms gives the story an older feel that matches the semi-steam punk world where the story takes place. More of the less important characters even show a bit more depth in this story which was pretty nice. I like that there was clearly a bit of a plan in writing the trilogy and that some things were revealed in this book that I was wondering about since the first one. \n I had some minor plot issues with the story but overall the whole thing went by very fast. This is in the description of the book so whatever: I don't understand why the Greyfriar swoops in to the save the princess when he uncovers a plot to kill her and her betrothed....instead of trying to save them both or ration out the situation without making frenemies. I'm sure it's something like \"all he could think about was saving her\" or \"he didn't know who to trust\" but the way it was carried out didn't really work well for me. There were a few other moments like this but they're minor gripes at best. \n As for the audio side of things, James Marsters did a fantastic job. You'll once again hear many voices you recognize from Dresden but I didn't have any problem keeping things straight in my head. I started this series because it's read by him and I'm definitely not sad at the decision. \n Book 3 here I come!", "date_added": "Thu Jul 10 12:05:00 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 04 17:20:37 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "8140709", "review_id": "8a8caf95544fc8c79e6e458ea3555ed5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Audio book read by James Marsters \n The Greyfriar is a surprisingly good book. I signed up for this book mainly because I like James Marsters as a narrator and wasn't sure what to expect from the story. The authors came up with an interesting way of treating vampires that thankfully does not involve making them out to be some sex symbols as seems to be the norm these days. The story makes use of several familiar tropes but they are combined to good effect and in such a way that the story was quite good. The authors' prose and choices of wording give the book an aged tone that fits the setting of the story. \n The premise of the story is that vampires attacked in great numbers just before humans had the industrial revolution and much of the human populace has been wiped out. There are some surviving empires/governments that have lasted the 100 or so years since the attack and mankind is ready to go to war to reclaim what they've lost. The story is not urban fantasy but more like...vampire steampunk as best I can describe it. The humans aren't so advanced in technology that they completely outclass the vampires and the vampires aren't so powerful that humans can't have some successes in fighting back. \n Vampires in the Vampire Empire series are not exactly your normal vampire - and that's a good thing. Much of what you and I would think are traits of vampires turn out to be silly human superstitions cultivated over a century of fighting and/or staying isolated from them. They don't die in the sun, they have retractable claws and fangs, can change their body mass so they can fly, can heal rapidly, etc. These traits leave the authors plenty of room for aerial fights on air ships and all kinds of fun scenes. \n While I liked how the groundwork for the world was set up, the characters themselves were probably the weakest part for me. Everyone except for a few of the main characters were fairly one dimensional and caricatures of the proper English nobility, the American cowboy, etc. The main characters make up for this in how they grow through the course of the book but man. The majority of humans harbor some strange prejudices on vampires that's kind of hard to believe (the biggest for me was that they seem to think they're not much more intelligent than animals). This was a stretch just because they're clearly in contact with people who know better and have plenty of evidence to the contrary. These were minor complaints and I'm still looking forward to starting the next book (tomorrow!). \n On the audio side of things, James Marsters does not disappoint. I have enjoyed his performances in the Dresden series and you will hear many similar voices to what he uses there. His characters are easily distinguishable and his narration is clear.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 06 17:21:34 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 17 05:57:04 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "19103097", "review_id": "3103c26f2bed5554062be40a01899851", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Audio book read by Mark Bramhall \n This series gets better book by book. I liked the story of the first but didn't like any of the characters. I liked the story of the second and the characters grew on me quite a bit. This third book to the trilogy is definitely my favorite of the three. The story is interesting and has some throwbacks to the previous installments, Grossman's dry humor is completely on point, and the characters a the best of this trilogy yet. My favorite part is Grossman's use of humor throughout the book and his breadth of imagination with the use of magic throughout the book. Grossman brings the trilogy to a satisfying conclusion that you should definitely experience if you've already done the first two books of the series. \n If you're even considering reading this book, I'm sure you've already read the first two (if not, I'll wait here while you go take care of that). Quentin is left shut out from Fillory so what is he to do with himself? Surprisingly enough, he does NOT turn into the miserable wreck of a creature he became after graduating in the first book - thank goodness for that. Quentin seems to have grown quite a bit from his past adventures and finds more purpose in his life. It's really cool to see him develop that way across the books. \n Grossman adds a few other point of view characters in this novel and all were nice additions to Quentin's typical somber tone. You get to find out what other members of the old gang are getting up to as Grossman approaches the climactic conclusion of the trilogy. I particularly like Plum, a brilliant student at Brakebills that also gets involved in the adventure. Those who read Dangerous Women will recognize part of her story from Grossman's submission to the anthology. \n Grossman's writing comes off smooth and natural. His dry tone and humor stand out as in the first two books and the book was completely enjoyable. He makes references to other works of fiction and modern influences like Harry Potter without feeling forced or making the book feel like it will be dated. There are some points in the plot where things come together far too well by happenstance, but that doesn't hurt the story too much if you don't focus on it. \n As for the audio side of things, Mark Bramhall continues to perform his role as narrator superbly in this book. He handles the tone of the book so well - executing the voices of characters with all the sarcasm or droll tone you'd expect from these characters. Such simple ways of saying the lines Grossman has written actually made me laugh out loud in some places (\"Wands out Harry\"). I will definitely be looking for other books narrated by Bramhall.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 26 12:49:16 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 21 18:16:26 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "16280678", "review_id": "ae4c8ee9817416829cf748c8ca2a343a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Audio book read by Luke Daniels \n I'll start by saying that this is my first foray into the Iron Druid series so this review is from the perspective of someone who hasn't done the previous books. I would not suggest this book as a great place to start this series. I heard this was a great entry point into the series for fans of urban fantasy but so much of what's going on in the plot is lost that I missed the overarching significance of what happened in the story. Now that that's out of the way... \n Shattered is an urban fantasy story about one of the last druids in the world trying to live his life while trying to survive the crazy plots of mythical creatures and gods. Hearne's writing style flows easily and his characters are enjoyable, but I thought the story lacked focus and almost felt like two disjoint stories that didn't really relate to one another until both ended into a third thread. I liked the use of the urban setting and the creative use of different abilities/powers that characters. There are many quotes and references to geek culture in there but so much that it kept pulling me out of the story. \n The first 2/3 of the story has two different threads that are both interesting in their own right but have nothing to do with each other. One thread is about a female druid trying to stop a plague happening in India while the other follows the eponymous iron druid as he introduces someone trapped in time centuries ago to modern culture. Neither story required prior knowledge of the series but the last 1/3 of the story seemed to be a culmination of events from previous stories that was mostly lost on me. I actually thought I was almost done with the audiobook 2/3 of the way through and it felt like a bit of a false ending. \n The world and characters in this story are the best part. I liked most characters, thought they were well written, and stayed true to character. I really liked the old druid getting to know modern culture and hearing his take on how he sees things. The comedy relief and quotes/references to geek culture was a bit much at times and took me out of the story too much. \n As for the audio side of things, Luke Daniels does a fantastic job reading this book. On one side of things I can hardly believe he does all the voices I heard in the book, on the other side the two main characters sound an awful lot like each other and I would get confused at the beginning of a chapter sometimes until I identified who was speaking. Both voices were great and it didn't take away from the story, I just thought it was interesting considering how different many of the other voices are. I will definitely be looking for other audiobooks narrated by Luke Daniels.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 25 20:18:17 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 05 19:51:14 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "1268479", "review_id": "c28cf89edb888e492d64497c2a1bb48b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "You're better off reading this than doing it on audio. The story was decent but certainly not my favorite of Sanderson's. I did not like the reader for this book and definitely think it colored my opinion of the book. Half of the characters sound like air heads (Lightsong and Siri) and others aren't very distinguishable.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 03 05:26:36 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 07 04:52:42 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Apr 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "17465451", "review_id": "b19a984c5dec7b67cfc9c2aa01b69082", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This collection of stories written by Roald Dahl contains Fantastic Mr. Fox, Esio Trot, The Enormous Crocodile, and The Giraffe And The Pelly And Me with each story narrated by a different reader. The stories are all highly imaginative and definitely targeted to young children. The stories and their readings are very British, so if that turns you away this may not be the collection for you. Don't expect deep life lessons in these stories but just some silly fun. \n Fantastic Mr. Fox read by Chris O'Dowd - The headline story and my favorite of the bunch. Mr. Fox gets into trouble with 3 mean farmers and has to find some way to save his family! The reading by Chris O'Dowd has great voices and sound effects. I found one or two of the voices mildly irritating but I'm sure kids would love it. Lesson: It's ok to steal if you're stealing from mean people to help your family? \n Esio Trot read by Geoffrey Palmer - Also an interesting story about a guy who teaches his female neighbor how to speak tortoise and make her tortoise grow. Geoffrey Palmer's reading was great and he did a great job with the \"tortoise language\". If doing audio don't worry - I'm sure reading this story makes it easier to see what's going on with the tortoise language but they explain what's going on shortly after it's introduced. Lesson: It's OK to lie to people and mess with their stuff as long as you are trying to pick up a gullible lady. \n The Enormous Crocodile read by Stephen Fry - Stephen Fry does a great job with the voices in this story about an enormous crocodile who wants nothing more than to eat children. I thought the story was fun albeit a little disturbing. Lesson: Don't go around boasting about bad things you plan to do and be surprised when they do something about it. Oh and elephants are strong. \n The Giraffe And The Pelly And Me read by Hugh Laurie - This was an odd story about a very unique group of window washers. I only say odd because I didn't really know where this story was going aside from trying to be quirky; but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Hugh Laurie did some nice voices and even some singing on this one! Lesson: Be awesome at the things you like to do and helping people can lead to good things.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 30 07:49:04 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 08 12:57:32 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "17057804", "review_id": "41a389ba7edffc02fa79efcc476e324e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Audiobook narrated by Amanda C. Miller \n The Wizard of OZ: A Steampunk Adventure is a good, well rounded story that was interesting the whole way through. I wasn't sure what to expect from a steampunk take on The Wizard of Oz but Stuart manages to make clever nods toward different aspects of the classic when turning OZ into a massive steampunk prison. The steampunk aspects of the story are incorporated well and not over the top. \n Stuart does a great job of making this a steampunk adventure that isn't crazy over the top. A lot of steampunk seems to go so over the top that it's hard to follow what's going on but that isn't the case here. This is clearly a steampunk adventure that is not trying to be some kind of big budget movie. There are guns, swords, airships, combat, automatons, and borderline magical science all at work here. There is also a healthy amount of dueling, betraying, and double crossing in here too. One minor thing that I didn't like as much (and is fairly common to steampunk) is the amount of betraying - it was a little difficult to follow some characters' motivations and betrayals at times because of all the double crossing going on. \n Turning OZ into a prison worked out great. Since I know the story of OZ already, I kept linking pieces from this story to the classic and found that it actually works out well, even the lessons learned by the characters in the end. The story was interesting without dragging too much. The only parts that dragged for me were when some of the characters kept getting locked up in prison (it's like a prison of prisons at times) and they sit around and talk or figure stuff out. \n Amanda C. Miller does a great job as narrator for this novel. She does all the different voices and adds some good snark and attitude to Dorothy when she needs it. I never had trouble understanding her and could usually tell which character was speaking based on the voices she gave them.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 28 04:42:17 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 20 17:11:27 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "68427", "review_id": "f7965f395f91ff3e20b28d2c81182a8d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Takes a while to get into but a solid book in the end.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 02 11:50:55 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 10 05:03:03 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "16043804", "review_id": "4afe99da121b10a7af2e8c02f1ca561e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Audiobook read by Tim Gerard Reynolds \n The Crown Tower is the first book of the Riyria Chronicles series by Michael J. Sullivan in the same world as his Riyria Revelations series. Even though published later than Revelations, the Chronicles books are chronologically earlier and explore the adventures of the same characters before the events of Revelations. Sullivan gives a great forward to the book explaining all of this and explains that he went to great lengths to ensure that a new Riyria reader (like me) could start from either point. The Crown Tower serves as a great introduction to the world and the characters and I'm looking forward to more Riyria! \n The plot of the novel mainly follows two threads: Hadrian is a highly skilled warrior who has quit fighting in armies and killing men for no good reason. He gets roped into a high risk heist with a thief (Royce) he doesn't like or trust by an old wizard friend of the family. They need to steal something from an impregnable tower but there seems to be more going on here than it seems. Gwen is a prostitute stuck in the city of Medford waiting for a man of prophecy she isn't sure will actually come. She works for a terrible man who cares nothing for his girls and is quickly reaching the breaking point. Oh and she can tell a man's past, present, and future by reading his palm. Gwen's story was the less compelling of the two threads for me, but I'm sure parts of her story have greater significance in later portions of Riyria. \n I really like the dynamics between Hadrian and Royce just because of how different they are. Hadrian has hope in the world, faith in the goodness of people, and a desire to help others. Royce trusts nothing, no one, and is prone to killing innocents to remove the possibility of witnesses whenever needed. One is outgoing and the other is a complete mystery. Naturally, they hate each other. \n I also really like the setting of the world and the way the book is written. So many fantasy book are going the direction of \"grimdark fantasy\" where everything is gritty and terrible, fights are graphic, and sex scenes are pornographic. Sullivan does a great job of being realistic portraying people in dire circumstances (like the prostitutes) while still keeping the novel clean overall. He manages to have a brothel in this story without being pornographic! Amazing! Sullivan also doesn't dwell on gore and violence while still having compelling action scenes. He builds up some serious anticipation to see Hadrian fight and does not disappoint when it comes. \n As for the audiobook performance, Tim Gerard Reynolds does a great job with the different characters' voices in this book. Hadrian and Royce's voices match their characters really well and I had no trouble following anything going on. He did well building up the suspense during the climax of the book. I am definitely looking forward to more novels read by Reynolds.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 09 04:54:46 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 12 20:02:09 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Oct 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "4776731", "review_id": "5fa080888a0d17194184fb71cf195aa5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Audiobook read by the author. \n Space Magic is a collection of short stories by David D. Levine that are either Science Fiction, Fantasy, or some combination of those together. I have to admit that I really enjoyed this short story collection. Short stories in general sometimes feel underdeveloped or trivial, but the stories in this collection do a great job of introducing a whole new world, what's going on, and coming to a satisfying conclusion. If you like SciFi/Fantasy of any kind, this is a great collection of stories. \n Here were some of my more favorite stories: \n Nucleon - This was like Mr. Magorium's wonder imporium at a junkyard. A fun concept and likeable characters. \n Zauberschrift - Really cool story about a scribe who used to apprentice with feuding wizards needs to help a village plagued by bad magic. Really cool magic ideas and insights into mob mentality. \n Rewind - This story really reminded me of Equilibrium in how you have someone from an elite force of some totalitarian government join in with the rebellion with his super abilities/powers. So many possibilities in this story. \n Brotherhood - A great story of the labor force in their struggles with the man that will have you wondering why it's in this collection for most of the story...(in a good way) \n Tk'Tk'Tk - This story takes the problems of a salesman selling to a different culture to the extreme. What if you were an interstellar salesman coping with the cultures of another species you could barely understand? \n Charlie the Purple Giraffe Was Acting Strangely - This story is crazy. What happens to comic characters between the cells and between the comics? \n The Ecology of Faerie - This story is like Faerie horror. I don't know how Mr. Levine did it, but he made a Faerie story like Night of the Living dead and it's awesome! \n Audiobook: David D. Levine does his own reading for this book. He does a pretty decent job with the reading although not being a professional reader. You wouldn't necessarily be missing anything if you decided to read this rather than audiobooking but good luck pronouncing the stuff in Tk'Tk'Tk...", "date_added": "Mon Jul 29 09:00:36 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 29 17:28:32 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "13452375", "review_id": "e1f49e2403c5893ba928bdac91345918", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Legion \n written by Brandon Sanderson \n read by Oliver Wyman \n Legion is a short, interesting, 2-disc novella by Brandon Sanderson about a man with a unique mental disorder that allows him to do extraordinary things. Sanderson develops some fun characters, interesting abilities (of course this is typical for him), and drops them in a mysterious adventure. My only real complaint about this novella is that I wish there was more. \n Those familiar with Sanderson's style know to expect a unique magic/ability system that leads to an interesting plot. In this case, Stephen Leeds has many hallucinations that all serve as experts in some way that is useful to him such as weapons, knowledge, psychology, etc. People come to Stephen with problems and he can serve as a team of experts to solve whatever case/mystery needed. The trick is that only he can see these hallucinations (think A Beautiful Mind) which can lead to some interesting conversations. \n Oliver Wyman does a great job narrating this novella. He did a great job with all the voices and accents from the novella. He does a great vocal equivalent of a skeptical look when characters are dealing with someone talking to hallucinations. I would listen to books narrated by Oliver Wyman again.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 06 16:19:58 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 12 18:44:43 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "15817010", "review_id": "8fc3a19ccdfb011f9f0be6ae6ef2c961", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Read by Phil Gigante \n This is the third installment of Kevin J. Anderson's Zombie P.I. novels that follow zombie detective Dan Shamble. You don't miss much if you start with this book as Mr. Anderson does a great job of making sure any required back story is explained. As you'd expect from previous installments in this series, the denizens of the unnatural quarter are up to new hi-jinks with no shortage of monster related puns. The main plot of this novel involves the growing tensions between the hair balls (full time werewolves) and the monthlies (part time werewolves). Someone has been scalping hair balls and it's up to our zombie detective to find out what's going on. \n There are many different cases that come up for Dan to solve and it's a miracle that he can keep them all straight. Whether he's working to defend the rights of a zombie to see his child, helping a mad scientist get the correct body parts from a mail order catalog, or figuring out why someone's final directives weren't followed correctly, Dan shambles his way to the bottom of it all. \n If you've read the either of the preceding novels in this series, you will find no surprises with Hair Raising. For those that haven't, expect lots of strange cases, bad puns, and more supernatural stuff than you can shake a stick at. This could be the book for you if you like private detectives, monsters, and puns. \n Audiobook: Phil Gigante consistently does a great job with the narration of this series...perhaps too well. The harpie waitress Esther is supposed to have an annoying voice and man I hated every line she has in the book - so great job...I think!", "date_added": "Sat Jul 06 16:19:02 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 14 18:57:47 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "8058301", "review_id": "a38d744335a8a8e6072a6897a14f83b5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Audiobook performed by James Marsters \n I just redid this book because of the new release that was read by James Marsters. Man this book is fantastic and Marsters does a fantastic job. I originally read this book because I didn't want the jarring experience of switching narrators and am glad the publisher decided to go back and redo it. \n The book is quite different from other books in the Dresden Files series and I have some friends who aren't as big on this book. I really like it for being different and very... \"imaginative\" compared to the other books. It's hard to say much about the book because even the description is a huge spoiler for the series but I'll just say that if you like the Dresden books, this one carries the torch really well and is flanked by my favorite books in the series. \n If you haven't read the Dresden Files, I highly recommend it. Start here Storm Front and don't forget to do Side Jobs: Stories From the Dresden Files! You can safely do Side Jobs before this book.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 10 09:44:22 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 06 08:50:11 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jul 06 08:50:11 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "13771833", "review_id": "431b5f506cb1c08b597500a08e431c9a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Unnatural Acts \n by Kevin J. Anderson \n read by Phil Gigante \n This is book 2 of Kevin J. Anderson's Zombie P.I. series. If you listened to the first book, you pretty much know what to expect from the second book. If you haven't read the first book, this book is a hard-boiled detective novel with a silly, monster slant on it. The problems being investigated are unique to the \"unnaturals\" and tend to have some amount of humor involved in a Terry Pratchett/Douglas Adams kind of way. You can easily start with this book but if you care about spoilers, I would definitely recommend starting with the first book since the conclusion of that book is apparent in book 2. \n If you like awkward or silly situations dealing with the paranormal, this is your book. If you like groan-worthy puns dealing with the paranormal and sex, this is definitely your book (I'm not kidding when I say I inadvertently groaned at some of them). If those kinds of things can get on your nerves, this may not be your kind of book. That said, the book keeps up a good pace and wraps up to a good conclusion at the end. There are quite a few threads in this book but they weren't too difficult to follow (Reading the first book helped in knowing a decent number of the characters already). Most of the main characters are likable caricatures of what you'd expect in a typical hard-boiled detective story so they're easy to relate to and understand. \n The book has some themes related to current events within the past couple of years. Issues with the definition of marriage and picketing of events are portrayed in monster fashion here. If you're tired of hearing about that stuff in the news, this may not be for you although Anderson puts a lighthearted spin on those issues. \n All in all, I have to admit I liked this book better than the first one. It wasn't as predictable and I think I've had some time to get over the fact that the main character was made a zombie by being shot in the head (I thought you shot people in the head to prevent them becoming a zombie?). \n As for the audiobook performance, Phil Gigante did a fantastic job. He has several different types of voices (main character, nervous guy, werewolf, sultry female, etc) that are completely unique. I particularly like his werewolf voice! He was easy to understand and added a bit of a performance to the book. I would definitely listen to books read by him again.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 01 13:12:30 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 12 18:44:43 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "15793066", "review_id": "fbd5a537c09b3176804fd23b49a313a0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Mad Scientist's Guide to World Domination \n Edited by John Joseph Adams \n Performed by Stefan Rudnicki, Mary Robinette Kowal, and Justine Eyre \n I'm not much of a short story person because I don't really like how they end just as I might be getting interested in them. That said, I really liked this collection of stories. I don't know if it's all the comic book movies being popular these days, but I was in just the right mood for something like this. \n It wasn't all perfect. I really enjoyed the first half of the stories in the collection but thought things got less interesting/slower in the second half. It may have been that some stories shared some similarities and the repetition got tiresome, but I don't think so. I think it was actually that the second half of the stories had more of a serious tone to them that just didn't go as well with me as the more humorous first half. \n Non story stuff: I really liked Chris Claremont's introduction to the book. I thought it brought some interesting insights into why the bad guy is so important for the hero. I thought John Joseph Adams' introductions to each story were helpful although a bit confusing in the audiobook format (it took a few stories before I understood what the heck was going on with the scientific categorization). I thought they helped me get into the story faster since I kind of knew what to expect and I do think I enjoyed the short stories more as a result. Some would say they spoil the stories but I didn't think they revealed any more than the back of a novel would about its story. \n Stories: This is hard because there are 22 stories in this collection. Many are humorous and have interesting spins on the common tropes you'd expect from mad scientist or superhero stories. I generally liked all the stories but I'd say my favorites were Professor Incognito Apologizes, The Angel of Death Has a Business Plan, Captain Justice Saves the Day, and Rocks Fall. \n I didn't overly dislike any stories except for The Space Between by Diana Gabaldon. The story is by far the longest and I had trouble following the different character's stories and understanding the point of the story. It appears that story is from a series by her so it may be that I didn't like it because I haven't read her other works. \n Audiobook specific: I really like all three readers of this collection. I thought they did a fantastic job with their voice acting. I would definitely listen to books performed by these readers again. I particularly liked Mary Robinette Kowal's performances. She does a great job doing voices of people trying to be patient with the mad scientists - whether it be their therapist, assistant, or fellow evil genius. \n TOR.com has posted some of the stories online to read for free and those would be a good litmus test if this is the book for you. Professor Incognito Apologizes: an Itemized List by Austin Grossman is a great example of the more humorous offerings and The Mad Scientist's Daughter by Theodora Goss is a good example of the more serious stories.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 01 13:12:02 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 12 18:44:43 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "352262", "review_id": "e87b7a2f59f1ef4f18af6994887d80a7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was tough to rate because of the elephant in the room that is the movie. If I compared this to the movie, I'd give this a lower score just because I just liked the movie better in most aspects. I had to remember that this idea was pretty cool and original...and that it had an uphill battle at the start because it was read by Gerard Doyle (reader of the Eragon series - which had me predisposed to dislike this). I also found Toothless annoying - there I said it. \n I won't go into differences between the movie and book because they're almost completely unrelated. All I'll say is that Hiccup of the movie and the book are both rebels from the conventions of their viking societies. Where Hiccup of the movie is more of a tinkerer, Hiccup of the book is more of a naturalist/thinker. It's worth reading, but I'm not sure if I'll go onto the following books.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 07 10:10:45 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 30 05:20:47 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 29 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "547094", "review_id": "f2b79dd75fc6e75388a1a4ac56b7f68b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Three stars for the title story....the star count would go down if I include the \"other stories\"...I got tired of them after a few and had to move on...", "date_added": "Mon Dec 17 06:04:05 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 24 08:48:19 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Dec 22 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Dec 17 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "13812", "review_id": "266f9ebf66d63b80e939fba2989cc38a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I fun and light read that definitely shows its J R R Tolkien influences. Don't plan to read this without also reading Magician: Master because this book pretty much has no ending!", "date_added": "Mon Sep 17 08:30:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 19 05:51:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Sep 19 05:51:51 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "10795257", "review_id": "49fb99d4ba7d2721a72a023afcee1c14", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Empire State \n Written by Adam Christopher \n Read by Phil Gigante \n Empire State is a novel that sounds really great in concept but comes off a bit confusing in execution. This novel has it all - superheroes, detective noir, gangsters, prohibition, robots, alternate dimensions, you name it. If any or all of that sounds cool to you, this may be a book for you. \n The story generally takes the form of a detective noir once you get into it except that the story's perspective does not only stick with the detective all the time. As with detective noir stories, you don't know who is on which side all the time and things are slowly revealed as the story unfolds. Unfortunately, the story became confusing as things developed and the loyalties and motivations of characters seemed constantly in flux. The characters didn't have a whole lot of depth past being exactly what you'd expect from their role in the story (detective, gangster, old-timey adventurer, reporter, etc). \n Despite the confusion, I really liked the ideas and world that Christopher created in this novel. The world of the Empire State is a dark, foggy equivalent of New York that had me picturing scenes from Dick Tracy. I'm looking forward to seeing what else Christopher does in this world. \n Phil Gigante did a great job narrating Empire State. Voices for different characters were distinct and gave a great vocal aspect to the nature of the character being done. \n That said, I don't know if I would actually recommend this as an audio book. There were quite a few times I wanted to rewind a bit because I had no idea what just happened (I actually did rewind a few times which is rare for me). I think the ability to easily look back a page or two in a book would probably have helped with the confusion.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 06 18:38:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 12 18:44:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "831448abacf58762a058978292e11a04", "book_id": "14201", "review_id": "f984356b28f2bbf899ee569db88e972f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell \n by Susanna Clarke \n Read by Simon Prebble \n I LOVED this book. Susanna Clarke weaves together a complete world that is quirky and believable. As a result, the book can come across overly descriptive and dry so it may not be for everyone. I listened to the audio book version read by Simon Prebble and his performance really made the book for me. \n There are so many little intricacies and subtleties in this book that it can be easy to miss the significance of some things that happen. I really like this - the reader is allowed to put things together instead of having everything spelled out for them. On the other hand you could just enjoy the book without having to think about what's being said between the lines. If you care, think about what's being said about sanity and morality while reading. \n After chapter 54: What does it say about Norrell that Strange had to take on insanity in order to see the gentleman with thistledown hair? \n There are footnotes in the book. I saw some listeners found these to be jarring but I liked the extra flavor they added to the story. They ground the story in a more believable world. \n The audio book: Like I said, Prebble's performance made this book for me. When I recommend this book to people, I always recommend the audio book version. Prebble's crisp, proper British accent really added to the story and there were definite moments where I can call his work a performance and not just a reading (In particular, chapter 33, \"Place the Moon at my eye\" is fantastic ). \n I really liked this book but I should say it's not for everyone. If you can't stand lots of detail and a plot that seems a bit slower for the sake of making a fantastically believable world, this book may not be for you...but I'd still say give it a try. :-)", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 10:01:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 13 18:37:21 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd3699495d1facb96088018d0c7598a4", "book_id": "21797155", "review_id": "cc05b0e380cae0efa9f1612c59ba964d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 \"Good behavior is overrated. I'd say being bad was much more fun.\" stars \n How can I say this was the best of the best in the series and not smile so damn hard? \n Meet Dyreokulan the Hero (or so he calls himself) but everyone else in the galaxy just calls him the Dyreokulan the Menace since his unwanted heroic stunts just leaves everyone disgruntled and pissed. \n But he doesn't let their hate get to him, it is the hero's path after all. And it is a lonely one. And he must accept it with honor and humility. \n Dyre is a mighty fine Kulin warrior extraordinaire whose his race's paths often take the Mercenary career. But no, not for Dyre, his inclinations are bent towards the good kind. And so off he went to be a galactic hero even so much as to making his own \"Unofficial Guide to Heroism Book\" in contrast to the Mercenary Guide. It was quite hilarious! I freaking laughed my ass off the entirety of my reading this book. \n This hero is the brave, heroic and unintentionally cute kind. Who at first you'd think is just a bumble of naivete and foolish morals, it turns out he has quite the rare perception and intelligence not to mention his oh-so-hot physique. *drools* \n Then he meets human Earthling, Betty, former juvie and current Zonian acquisition specialist with a secret mission. \n Dyre saves her from a terrible fate in which she didn't want to be saved from. And the rest after their comical meeting, the humour follows chapter by chapter. Add in the spice of lust and romance, adventure, gory fights and gooey alien parts and BAM! you got Eve Langlais' Heroic Abduction. Reading and being to be able to watch Betty's terrible influence rub off Dyre was off-the-charts hilaarious. \n Favorite Quotes \n \"Don't think I don't dislike you.\" \n \"I shall make it my life's purpose to change your mind,\" was his reply \n \"Didn't you promise to punish me if I ever put myself in danger again?\" she murmured. \n \"Yes.\" \n She whirled in his grasp and held a knife to his throat. Her voice shook with mirth as she said, \"Oh, Dyre. I'm threatening the most dangerous alien in the universe\" \n So happy I've read this. Best sci-fi erotica read I've ever read so far.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 27 04:43:58 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 27 05:25:50 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Sep 27 05:25:50 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "dd3699495d1facb96088018d0c7598a4", "book_id": "11329789", "review_id": "842728c9e6cd985c7e699f111804671a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Not Instalove \n Witty Banter \n Sassy Dialague \n Smartass not-so-angsty heroine \n Interesting well-defined characters fuck-yeah-raise-that-to-the-heavens \n Trenkaluan \n \"I will get her back, even if my actions start a war with the entire galactic council.\" \n What a time to be alive! \n A well-structured, no-nonsense and likeable plotline that sucks you right in from the very first pages. Yay! \n As the title says, this outspoken smart-ass heroine gets abducted by a former mercenery alien. Initially thinking that this Earthling female will be another whiny little b***, oh boy, is he in for a treat, she is sooo much worse than that. \n Quotes \n \"I was trying to knock you out so I could escape this room. And it would have worked, too, if you didn't have such a bloody thick skull\" \n \"Are you mad at me?\" she asked. \"No.\" \"Are you sure? Because I\"d really hate to be poisoned because you're pissed I hurt you\" \n They're soo cute right from the start til the end. \n Grumpy Hero (I love them especially when they finally give in to the heroine's antics) \n Kidnappings \n Damsel in distress scenes \n Hot and steamy bed scenes \n A bit of angst from the heroine \n Mating \n HEA \n Funny and pleasurable sci-fi erotica I'd recommend to everyone. \n Now, I'll just be off from here to continue to the next book *internally squeals*", "date_added": "Wed Sep 24 08:57:27 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 27 05:19:09 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "dd3699495d1facb96088018d0c7598a4", "book_id": "17926775", "review_id": "9888d9794d27e7363650536c683ba721", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The following statement will not be an exaggeration \n Stolen Songbird's setting and world-building is by far the most uniquely aesthetic fairy-tale world ever \n When you think 'fairytale', lights and dancing and sunlight images comes to mind but noooooooooooooooooooooooooo \n this is so much more than that \n The creatures are TROLLS! \n And said Troll Prince *coughs* *coughs* is incredibly G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S \n They live underground. \n Their only source of light are small orbs of glowing balls and its luminosity differs from every troll's capacity of magic. INNIT GREAT?! \n It's like walking in between space - galaxy even! And the lights are only glowing dimming circles around you like being encased around by a tornado of fireflies. \n Said trolls are incredibly a hundred times creative than the average human. What? There could be something more beautiful than the Sistine Chapel?! Yes, Heck-a-doodle yeah \n Everything, every location, every event, every dialogue, every characters, every heartache and longing was so beautifully painted in words I almost cried. \n THIS IS HOW YOU WRITE YOUNG ADULT NOVELS. THIS IS HOW YOU WRITE A BOOK ABOUT TROLLS FAIRIES... I'm looking at you Melissa Marr \n Oh and the roooomance \n I love it how at the beginning of the book the couple immediately starts showing their worst sides of each other. I mean the absolute mean streak kind of worse. And. They. Were. Hilarious. \n \"Why is my closet full of dresses?\" \"Are they mine?\" I asked with interest. Silver eyes fixed on me. \"Well, they certainly are not mine. Unless you imagine that I dress up in ladies' clothing and prance about the palace when the mood strikes me?\" \n \"But I was led to believe I could pursue whatever activities I wished, so I do not see what right you have to stand in my way! \"Royal prerogative!\" I snorted. More like royal need to interfere with everyone else's business because you have nothing better to do with your time!\" \n They all say so much painful stuff to each other but so much so they do it rather well almost like a genuine married couple. But polite \n \"You are the most intolerable individual I've ever met.\" He bowed. \"Why, thank you, Cecile. Always a pleasure to have one's accomplishments recognized.\" \n \"What are you doing?\" Tristan shouted. \"What does it look like I'm doing?\" \"Ladies do not make their own beds! It shows initiative, which is broadly considered most unladylike!\" My temper rising, I whirled about. \"Dear me,\" I shouted. \"I must have forgotten that my new purpose in life is to create work!\" \n Oh but what I love most is how you can witness them turn their hate for each other gradually, little by little, turn into love. \n \"I understand my father suggested you seduce me,\" he said abruptly, the words tumbling over each other. \"Apparently he considers me susceptible to such things\" \"Or overestimates my skills,\" I said, with a nervous laugh, \"Perhaps your aunt can arrange for me to have lessons so that I can improve my chances of success\" \n Also the curse, the bond, Marc, Anais, the twins and the villains are all so wonderfully constructed this book had sucked me in the city of Trollus itself. They were that real. They were that dimensional. This book is oh-so-brilliant I want to thank the universe and every each one of the people who has had their hand in making this book possible. \n I HIGHLY recommend it to fans of Julie Kagawa, The Iron King series and Cassandra Rose Clarke's The Assassin's Curse", "date_added": "Tue Jul 22 00:23:08 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 24 09:16:31 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jul 24 09:16:31 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "dd3699495d1facb96088018d0c7598a4", "book_id": "15727959", "review_id": "5cc596e644723aa7b34b6c5a7b4df5ae", "rating": 5, "review_text": "fucking satisfying! Thank you god lord for Nalini Singh", "date_added": "Fri Jul 04 01:32:51 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 13 10:12:04 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jul 13 10:12:04 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jul 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd3699495d1facb96088018d0c7598a4", "book_id": "178476", "review_id": "f43ec4f439ebb5831807fd9fb15eba9f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Why haven't I found this amazing book sooner?! \n AND IT'S A SERIES AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH \n [image error] \n Discovering this series is like finding a box of cutie boppity boop puppies \n The Sascha/Lucas chemistry was literally off-the-charts!! \n I LOVED IT I LOVED ALL OF IT \n I love how we can observe their intense development for each other. They didn't start out liking each other at first sight. NoooOOooooOooooo \n It's just.. just .. amazing. I'm at lost at how to explain it \n This gets 1000000000000000000000000000+ diddly darn boppity boop millions of stars there is", "date_added": "Mon Jun 09 19:50:47 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 10 12:48:42 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jun 10 14:30:10 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "dd3699495d1facb96088018d0c7598a4", "book_id": "10823507", "review_id": "149429e38edcaedcdeef7982963db036", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Mystery. Romance. Thrilling. Hot. \n And need I say spectacularly stunning brilliant writing? \n *sighs* Rune Ainisessthai I gotta say.. \n The Mystery. \n Fucking brilliant \n Always got me on the edge of my seat. Seriously. \n Carling Severan and Rune Ainissesthai", "date_added": "Thu Mar 13 08:09:02 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 13 08:18:59 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd3699495d1facb96088018d0c7598a4", "book_id": "11458578", "review_id": "2f5478548ca57c7085771ae9edf3269b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "All the Awards! All the STARS ++++++++++++++++++ \n Fucking BRILLIANT. This book. \n You know what's so fucking brilliant with this book?! \n Fucking..", "date_added": "Thu Mar 13 07:58:09 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 13 08:08:33 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Mar 13 08:08:33 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd3699495d1facb96088018d0c7598a4", "book_id": "17346804", "review_id": "006cdf3da7357f4fc82370c3fa6bf87a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Me after reading the second book because hot dayum CALLUM \n Me after reading the third book teaser: \n SEEING THE NON-EXISTENT THIRD BOOK \n Looks at date. NONE. Looks at title. Well, fuck me over sideways \n **Checks the dates released from the past couple books.. \n 2012!! \n No. No it's okay I know KA is a busy girl I love her and she's amazing \n **Checks KA's blog. \n WE HAVE A DATE! *fucking fist bumps air aggressively* \n It says somewhere around 2014... \n I. MUST. WILL. WAIT. \n Every freaking second of every goddamn day. \n This is the bestest of the besta-freaking-abso-best series I've ever read. \n This would be worth the freaking wait. \n All my love, KA! \n **End of mindless childish whining** \n Thank God, I got it off my system. \n Now on to finish the Rock Chick series..", "date_added": "Mon Feb 24 02:34:45 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 30 15:08:11 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 35, "n_comments": 10}
{"user_id": "dd3699495d1facb96088018d0c7598a4", "book_id": "14061957", "review_id": "e42447f17c99f795d217b9301fa9d873", "rating": 0, "review_text": "HOLY.SMOKES. \n The cover! The cover! THE COVEEEEEER", "date_added": "Fri Feb 14 09:07:47 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 14 09:18:42 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd3699495d1facb96088018d0c7598a4", "book_id": "13206828", "review_id": "8549ce7015adb0d33aeb196a039d8e8e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not as high as the rate of the first couple books. But can you blame me? Okay. I think it's just me But the writing, storyline and flow didn't capture me as it had for Cinder and Scarlet. \n The intense thrill and utter suspense I felt as I held my breath for every second every page didn't stop my eyes from skimming on the words. It was too slow-paced. Too descriptive. Of words and description that didn't matter because that pain in my chest was too constricted to release until that one quoted sentence appeared saying that everything was all right. Desperately weaving my eyes to the fumbled sentences for what? To find that in the end, they were all right. No one died. No pain. No loss. Because after those insufferable shriek of madness I had to go through for the past couple of days having to read the last couple books of the series in one sitting, my hands never leaving the leather cover of my tab, reading it at the back corner in my economics and data structures class.. this book this series has a wild fierce-like grip on me and I'm afraid parting with it would be like slipping away from the very secrets unfolding just as I was about to grasp it in mere seconds \n Though I feel bad for ignoring some parts. I think I'd reread it all over again after I get hold of the completed series and my peace would be satisfied. \n But please don't be taken aback by that second paragraph. The series is great it is captivating and it is that one thrilling adventure you'd never want to miss. \n Highly recommended? Well.. \n Why not? If you longed for that downward spiral abyss of madness, but being happy about it. Making you feel things that 'wow this fucking romance is great I like this characters much depth much pain much love YAY'. Successfully, the words the plot with you oblivious to the clutch it holds to your emotions, after it has gained your sympathy, your love, your absolute want of a happy-ending, \n I'd suggest something hefty or a pillow perhaps in arm's length because the sudden rage and intents to run yourself into the wall would be inevitable. \n If the latter suggestion didn't suit you, might as well grab the nearest bottle of alcohol and fucking toast because this shit is officially fucking with my feels", "date_added": "Thu Feb 13 12:06:15 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 13 13:12:56 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Feb 13 13:12:56 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd3699495d1facb96088018d0c7598a4", "book_id": "13206900", "review_id": "ba3c758a6a866da7c7f6475deabd638b", "rating": 0, "review_text": "FIRST.OF.ALL. \n THE.DATE. \n Having finished the Cress Book my feelings are in an inner turmoil. Not much worse with the second book cliffhanger but just as is! Ugh. I cannot. \n Better find meself a new book to pry my focus on. Because this fucking book just shred all my emotions I didn't think I could have for a series and I want it. I want the next book so fucking bad.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 13 12:01:04 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 19 16:34:29 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Dec 20 16:34:29 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 54, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "dd3699495d1facb96088018d0c7598a4", "book_id": "183656", "review_id": "06ef03423e7329a38534caedabf5c8a5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 stars ! I think there should've been more Rhys involved but overall the adventure was lovely \n This fairytale retelling had me all smiles all day. Thank you Gail Carson Levine. Writers like you makes me believe that the world is a better place with you in it.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 08 08:02:27 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 11 03:52:10 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Feb 11 03:52:10 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd3699495d1facb96088018d0c7598a4", "book_id": "11500217", "review_id": "8d612396cec0ab09a270d3b3f5e6af33", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Listen. Can you hear it? Can you hear my heart breaking into pieces? \n +------+-+--+--+--+--+---+++++---+ \n The plot is set in a post-apocalyptic world. Even though, my mind loathes anything dystopian, futuristic, sci-fi or simply anything that takes a whole lot of lengthy world-building pages of descriptions this book's popularity and high critical acclaim can't possibly pass unnoticed. \n And let me tell you, it has change how I view apocalyptic high fiction \n novels. It was amaaaaaazing! All those survival scenes, trekking, and rummaging around abandoned houses got my nerves on set. My breath halting for several seconds and boy was it a great adventure indeed. I managed to undertake this rescue quest in one reading. That's how great it is. \n Here is a girl who puts her family than herself struggles to withhold the responsibilities of taking care of her half-lucid half-insane crazy mother and her 9-year old crippled little sister. \n What I like about Penryn: \n She knows shit. She takes it. Without complaining and weaves through all the bullshit of whatever the world has reduced to. Her top priority: food, shelter and her family. \n In a state of calamity or crisis, her mind instantly calculate the innumerable possibilities to stay alive. \n In any character or villains or sidekicks, I marvel at their quick-thinking, wit and smart-ass comebacks. Thank god she has it all. And thank god for Raffe equally matching her humor. Together they make one funny yet powerful duo which makes the adventure all the more interesting. \n AND PAAAIGE! That 9 year old pixie faced brunette little girl.. \n KIDNAPPED! BY A MEAN MONSTROUS ANGEL WHO JUST MUTILATED HIS FELLOW ANGEL'S WINGS! I MEAN WHO DOES THAT? I CANNOT HANDLE ALL THIS ANGST \n So what does the beautiful caring human being do? \n Kidnap this beaten mutilated angel. Interrogate him. Torture him. That one being of whom his species is responsible of the destruction of the modern world. Sure. Duct tape him. Chain him. That'll keep him in place. \n \"If you help me find my sister, you can have these back. I saved them for you.\" \n \"Thanks,\" he croaks, surveying the wings. \"They'll look great on my wall.\" \n And that, my friends, after all those shitty crap happening around them, he manages 'the sass'. And my dear reader, if a man could do that after all the crap, keep him. Love him. Because, you'd know that whenever dark and harsh times befall upon you he'd be able to lift that cloud upon your chest and for just a second that one second the trouble didn't matter after all. \n Besides of the story being well-writ, it's basically about these two people running around going about abandoned houses trying to survive having each other's back for a cause; hers to get her sister back and his to get his wings. And in order for them to have that, they have to stick together. Even if they're constantly at each other's throats and one can easily snap a neck in a breath of a second. \n And Raffe, I swear to God he is Dean Winchester and Castiel's lovechild. Dark hair and blue eyes and sass. Look me straight in they eyes and tell me otherwise I DARE YOU \n Castiel.. \n .. plus this hot son of a gun \n equals this one heck of an angel \n 5 stars for this book because this is absolutely the best thing ever since I've read Julie Kagawa's Iron series. The cliffhanger might've torn my heart but my body is ready to stay up all night to read this sequel! \n I'm dreading for the feels I might be having in the next sequel", "date_added": "Fri Feb 07 05:52:28 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 07 13:58:05 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Feb 07 13:58:05 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd3699495d1facb96088018d0c7598a4", "book_id": "2986865", "review_id": "3fe0f8f53e797c67b48b32ae2ff35adb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Let me tell you about this somofabitch \n There is some major heavy world building going on here \n and its going to suck you in from chapter one. \n The heroine a worthless cripple with no money to her name but a few spare kindness from her master. Bathes a couple times a year. Bread in the morning and gruel for dinner. Everyone and I mean everyone hates and are disgusted by her. By being what? A cripple. Simply because it looks bad luck to have anything to do with her. There is only one thing that keeps her from slaving away and selling her backside. Only one thing to keep her from ruin. Her potential as a dragoneye. And the odds are definitely not in her favor. \n So you could tell the book will give you mind-thrilling events action-packed with suspense and curiosity because when I tell you you thought that it was going that way it's not. \n You're not gonna want to put the book down. Well... except to gather your thoughts around the unsuspected plot twists. \n Things that I actually like: \n I love how she is strong and enduring. The people around her are clearly repulsed by her condition but she seem unperturbed wearing a mask of neutrality. \n She is a survivalist. She thinks ahead and she thinks fast. Knowing the enemy to know what to avoid and what to say to what? Survive. \n I felt automatic sympathy with her. Everyone was being harsh, deceitful and unforgiving. And all I wanted was to hug her and make all the bad things go away. Everyone else was like: \n In some instances, I found myself shouting or howling with rage moved by the events and at the same time rooting for her to have strength. \n Seriously, the duck-size egg on the emperors throat between his collarbones. Yeah, I can take that. But getting sensual pleasure just by rubbing it like \n I KEPT WAITING FOR THE GOOD THINGS TO HAPPEN. I MEAN YES. YOU HAVE SUCCEEDED TWISTING MY HEART IN ALL WAYS POSSIBLE OVER AND OVER AGAIN BUT IS IT REALLY THAT HARD TO WANT A SIMPLE GOOD THING FOR HER. Like to loosen up or where she truly smiles and her worries and insecurities goes away but nooooooooooooooooooooooooo \n Apart from this being a tragedy, heroism and self-doubts. It has been a great ride. It really is well-written. Never dull never bore. The world description are so well-made it's almost you are sucked in the place itself. A very rare occurrence.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 26 03:39:38 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 09 06:12:02 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dd3699495d1facb96088018d0c7598a4", "book_id": "8685612", "review_id": "faf43a3af561aeb82898382c3f10c65b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Okay first let me just gather myself.. \n Julie Kagawa has truly outdone herself in this third book. Usually, the third book of a series are boring and unproductive and basically not really that important to the story plot. \n BUT THIIIIISSS \n Have you ever wanted to consume.. no devour a whole book? Reread all the smart witty dialogues? Re-feel all over again the wonderful thrilling sensation you felt by reading the wonderfully written story of this magnificent mothafucka?! \n I have READ a lot of books but seriously what reader doesn't find any big or little flaws you find annoying in a main character? But this, everything is juuuuust right \n And don't even get me started on Ash ! \n Let me just say my hunger for this smooth handsome son of a bitch has been satisfied with all the swoon-worthy scenes this book has provided me and has left me wanting for more. \n He is just.. so real. And you know that charm a male exude when he is conflicted and at the same time dangerous yet utterly so beautiful \n \"..his calm, unflinching determination, his quiet self-confidence\" \n A quote from Iron Daughter. I wouldn't want to spoil anything even a line or monologue because damn this book will have you sitting on edge. It's just that good. \n I pretty much say to everyone else, you haven't lived the biggest romance faerie adventure of your life if you haven't read this magnificent masterpiece.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 05:48:28 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 04 12:34:11 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "17969479", "review_id": "5fa836cda6933b20241e296a33364f04", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Hitomi's journey continues. She has a very clear sense of right and wrong and will use whatever means she can short of murder to protect those she feels are innocent. Unfortunately that becomes her downfall. Being young and impulsive she doesn't always make the best decisions and because of that finds herself bound in a way she can't imagine. There are some twists and turns that will pull you into the web that Hitomi is trying to unravel. Some definitely good and some bad characters and some you're just not sure about. Well crafted and believable characters. An interesting read that has me looking forward to book 3. Definitely recommend this book and this series.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 02 18:36:30 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 02 18:36:50 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "27231426", "review_id": "74839acea6235b69a978feb6b49e1b18", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This story has a very real feel to it even though you are in a world of elves, gorns and other creatures. Eva was an interesting character with a lot of sass and a clear idea of right and wrong. She is determined to figure out who and why her brother was killed. It takes her on quite a journey and she discovers who people really were. Her twin sister might have looked exactly like her but was very different from the well-meaning Eva. It's a good story with some well developed characters and setting. Worth reading.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 16 19:30:46 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 16 19:31:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Mar 05 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "25763668", "review_id": "87588c09ee1d4eab400efcaf74311d47", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is an interesting read. Atheson is an interesting character because he really struggles with what's real and what's not. He's never sure if what he is seeing and hearing are fact or fiction. His medication, when he remembers to take it, seems to help him manage this. In the midst of this he finds himself on a quest that is stopped or threatened by trolls at every corner. And then he has the dark wizard and the dragon to deal with, along with his hallucinations. There is a lot of action and plenty of adventure. There are some light moments, when Atheson meets Lambrith, who is a good addition to his life, who helps a lot, but who also complicates everything. I definitely recommend reading it. It will be interesting to see where the author takes book 2.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 02 18:23:46 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 02 18:33:02 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "26712939", "review_id": "78363823ac1a95269eda99ce7735b5a2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is a good story. I really liked the premise of it - an ordinary guy, Nathan, finds himself in a position of having superhero powers. With his powers he is able to save people just in the nick of time however he is not always successful. Simple things put him in the place of not being able to use his powers to save others. He flounders as he has no rules and no direction, so he has to figure it out pretty much as he goes. It makes you wonder who you'd save if you had those superpowers? Nathan is put to the ultimate test of having to choose one thing over another (sorry no spoilers). Somewhere, however I got disconnected from the characters, especially Nathan. I'm not sure why but I think that he was somewhat detached from what he was doing, the emotional journey didn't seem to be there. This is a first in a series, so it will be interesting to see where the author takes the story.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 16 18:01:16 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 16 18:13:08 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Oct 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "22441671", "review_id": "34eedd777ea7f41fee1a2923c725a70f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is an intricately woven, detailed story that takes you right into Sage's life and journey. This story has a bit of everything - history, mystery, YA, romance, paranormal, family dynamics - something for every book lover. The history in this story is so fascinating, so detailed. This author has done her homework and knows how to weave a story. D.B. Nielsen weaves history, paranormal and present day in such a way that it is an enticing story that will keep you reading. There are definitely some interesting characters. Sage at times is a seventeen year old - an impulsive, emotional teen and at others she is a mature young adult making some critical choices. A good read that I definitely recommend. Looking forward to book 2.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 24 09:06:31 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 24 09:13:40 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "18463070", "review_id": "37df748efb6f2742ed2fe3a9e0204df5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a really good story with some interesting twists. Kai is a normal kid, well as normal as you can be when being hunted and in a world of demons and witches, who has to learn the truth about himself and about the role his parents played in the current apocalypse. He has to discover whether good or evil will right the wrong his parents did. He is a character that you connect with right away - you are running with him to escape those chasing him, feeling good about finding a group to hang out with, fear when the demons react so strongly to him, confusion about who he really is and what he is truly capable of, etc. All of the characters are well crafted, easy to get to know and believable. Some are easily confused by power and greed, even if momentarily. The story will definitely keep you reading. \n I had put this book down for a month because of a crazy busy life and when I picked it back up I easily slid back into the story and where it was going. I didn't have to reread anything. That to me is a good sign of a very good story teller. Well done. I definitely recommend this book.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 31 07:23:02 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 07:23:50 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "22424024", "review_id": "9d14a4b3e23712cbf7f55258a90c3aa7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This story had such a powerful start, I loved the first chapter and even got a ways into the story but then it kind of went sideways for me. The writing is good, there were some graphic, gruesome scenes but they held my attention and kept me wondering where the story was going - I'm always rooting for good to win over evil, and there was definitely some evil in this story. This story clearly outlined and gave a really good sense of the fanaticism and small mindedness of some. The characters were well crafted. Unfortunately I found myself about halfway through and felt disconnected from the story and from Xantara, well any of them really. I think the story idea is great but too many characters were constantly being introduced, almost right to the end. I'm a fan of thrillers and meeting lots of characters but not introduced so late. Also I lost touch with Xanatra who's story I thought this would be about as she was who it started with. There wasn't anyone who was present enough throughout to connect with. In some cases I also felt that resolving the issue was too rushed. The story which started out great seemed to become more about sharing a message then about the story. With some changes this would be a great read.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 18 19:39:06 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 09 15:23:05 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "20572512", "review_id": "725e982f0ba2ffbf933d26bb3731a92a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a very intriguing and very different premise. I enjoyed reading this rather lighthearted look at the afterlife and maybe what it really is about and what is maybe possible. \n Portia has died and is stuck in the afterlife - not in heaven and not in hell but somewhere in between and able to move around on earth. Her youth and naivety really came through and really gets her into trouble. She definitely has her eyes opened wide by those she meets, some who want to help her and some who really do want to make her life hell. The characters were real and kept it interesting and never felt like you were dealing with just ghosts but real people with real problems. \n I loved the writing, some very descriptive, vivid scenes but just enough that it wasn't overdone. The settings were great, easy to envision - the old manner, her house in London, traveling through space and time. \n It was really about the good, the bad and the ugly of what there might be in the afterlife. A very interesting take on it. I definitely recommend this story: Heaven's Waiting Room.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 18 08:43:19 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 18 09:05:20 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Oct 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "12972372", "review_id": "7d2bf5aeb9d9f01a4163dc63e7576a39", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is really an engaging story. The words truly come alive under the skillful hand of Ms. McKinstry. It is a very vivid read with some incredible imagery - \"his heart limping with futile sentiment\". \n This is a complex story where you live and breathe Lorth's journey: the hunter's rede; the wizardry; the magic; the use of the mind - to see the future, enter others' thoughts, to communicate; his assassin lifestyle; his journey to really discover not only who he is but where he belongs. Lorth is someone you can tell has lived a solitary life, he doesn't really take into account others in the things he does. He is often in trouble and being chased by someone. He's a likeable character even though at times he was a bit pigheaded and self-centered. He was definitely someone I could easily envision and actually felt like I knew him and understood him and his actions. All of the characters were really well done and believable. \n There are a lot of characters, a lot going on but it is a story that you need to keep reading. All is pulled together and you will understand who all the characters are and the roll they play. A compelling read.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 18 08:15:23 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 18 08:29:49 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Nov 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Oct 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "18462418", "review_id": "1425760259a74d90bda96f161bacee79", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a compelling story. You'll be reading along and think 'what?' Some things will not be what you're expecting but it will definitely keep you reading. The author takes you on an intriguing journey of trying to figure out where the story is going. It is a really good story of guilt, mistakes and the people it hurts and people getting lost in all of that. This is a story that has many levels to it - you will feel like you're in one realm only to morph into another with visions and nightmares coming to life. It is a difficult mirror, one that will have you think about what you truly do believe.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 18 10:02:23 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 18 10:10:09 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "18759729", "review_id": "8d070080d45bfd3f1e66b0917dc3edf9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have to say this was a really different book for me to read... but that's a good thing. I love different. There's a liveliness to this story that I found quite refreshing. I loved Fi, she was very feisty, protective, do-it-yourself (I can so relate) kind of person. I loved the chemistry and relationship between her and Flint - loved when he ribs her about her skills. There is always this feeling of threat. Fi and her brother are trying to find out what really happened to their parents - were they really killed? I have to say that Lumi's journey - whoa! She had it tough. \n It is quite an interesting read that will definitely keep your attention. There is a mystery of secrets, lies and deceit that slowly unfolds leading to the truth as to who is behind it all. I definitely recommend it. Good story that definitely leads into making me want to read book 2. Looking forward to it.", "date_added": "Wed May 14 08:59:22 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 14 09:01:18 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "20568074", "review_id": "b79b62fcee2064b75b55eb9b89860e2a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have to say I started reading book three as soon as I was done book two,that's how intrigued and captivated I was with the story. I so wanted to know what was going to happen and where it was going to go. I have to say chapter one was very attention grabbing and had me glued. The whole book is sooooo good! \n In this book the evil is building and is taking control. Those who are good are trying to fight back but are slowly being squeezed at every turn. The characters are well done. Stilghan - nasty, nasty and the Madroch - so real, they'll scare you and keep you from wanting to look anyone in the eye for a while. Meaghan has so grown through all three books and is now thrust into the role of leader. \n The suspense was so well done. Stilghan uses whatever means he needs to to bend Caide to his will. He wants to control Caide as he's a spellmaster and he wants him to do his nasty deeds. You're praying that Meaghan and her team can get to him in time but the tension is nerve-wracking and will keep you turning the pages. Honestly there are parts where you can't turn the pages fast enough with wanting to know where the story is going and other parts you'll want to read slowly and savor the heart-warming moments. \n Seriously, you'll be thinking about the characters, the setting, the storyline, when you're not reading it. Brilliantly done. Very well written and tightly woven. I am so looking forward to book 4. Hint-Hint Ms. Taber. :) I definitely recommend this book and this series. I was given a copy as part of a book tour.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 01 07:33:27 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 09 09:13:22 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue May 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "17232236", "review_id": "cfcd2670a9f50db6ece8b38289074341", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was just as good as the first book. Very good story. Meaghan and Nick who have been thrust together not only because of those who chase them and Nick becoming her guardian but there is something much stronger holding them together. In this story Meaghan and Nick are really learning to get know each other and to trust each other. Nick is trying to teach Meaghan how to use and how to control her powers. She struggles with following all of his directions though which causes her many problems. Meaghan and Nick learn a lot more about history, in particular about Meaghan's parents and how things got to where they are under so much threat. They have to figure out how to over throw the threat and take back the kingdom. I loved how Ms. Taber introduced past information, she did it in a very interesting way that just added to the story. The tension is building, the threat more imminent. I so can't wait for book 3. Very well done Ms. Taber. Loved it. It definitely kept me flipping pages. I was given a copy as part of a book tour.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 25 07:40:38 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 09 09:11:39 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "13498421", "review_id": "d49b1677c337629884fdb73da6cbf975", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Can you imagine losing your parents, being chased by something out of this world and then being yanked into a totally different world? Well this book will make you believe that is possible. Very well done story that had an incredibly grabbing opening and just kept my interest throughout. Meaghan ends up on this journey that is so outside of what she could have imagined and she keeps getting surprises as she learns about this new place Aerenden and who she really is and what her role is to be. This story introduces you to many characters but the two that you will get to know well are Meaghan and Nick. Their journey thrusts Meaghan into the limelight and into a world where there are powers - invisibility, seers, dreamers, etc. You really feel like you are there through all of it with Meaghan as she struggles to figure out who she is, how she fits into this new world and how t learn her new powers as an empath. There are evil forces wrapping their tentacles around and through every village, taking over and destroying all who get in their way. The setting was fabulous - creeping vines invisible villages that suddenly appear, water running uphill, the forest, the caves, etc. Oh my god and the characters - could easily imagine the people and the creatures. I was definitely drawn into this well-paced journey that kept me flipping the pages. There were definitely a few heart stopping moments - like when she saved the young boy - whew! I highly recommend it. 4.5/5 I was given a copy as part of a tour.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 25 07:40:34 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 09 09:14:31 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "20506382", "review_id": "6dbe9ca620968e3769037ffc59c07270", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Quite an adventure. Deston, a teenage boy, has had a rough go, his mom disappeared and he ended up in the foster system. Then he gets told he's going to France to live with a relative, where he doesn't speak the language and doesn't know anyone, not even the relative. The only thing he is sure about is that his mom is alive, even though others are telling him she's not. He soon learns though that everything he thought and all that he thinks he knows isn't true. \n Deston soon enters a world of magic but where there is magic their are sinister things happening. He's trying to find his mother but someone not only wants his parents dead but him as well. As I read there was this steady feeling of something sinister hanging over the teenager, so you know something bad is going to happen, you're just not sure when. There are some well crafted evil characters. I have to say the setting was really well done. There was one point where he's riding a bike, which he ditches and goes into the forest, he's forbidden to enter and it was so clear to me, I could see it. There were several scenes that really came alive for me - the golden bridge that only Deston could step onto, only to cross and find a large wooden door blocking his way, the pyramid scene was pretty cool - can't share too much more. It has some really sad moments, some heartwarming moments, suspense, magic, adventure, mystery... It really was an intriguing read. And of course your rooting for this young teenager to come out on top as well. I was given a copy as part of a tour. I look forward to book 2. \n Reviewed on my blog: http://wp.me/p2ydBl-10F", "date_added": "Tue Mar 25 07:40:02 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 03 08:07:13 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Mar 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "20468193", "review_id": "faeca5b4f983638bebb0002a06a9ee6d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Five Corners: The Marked Ones is a really good story. I really liked that this story had a bit of a different story line. Three girls who have grown up as sisters were all adopted as babies. The three, who have believed they were the only marked ones, soon learn that they aren't. But the other marked children are turning up dead. The three soon team up with others and go off in different directions to hopefully save their own lives and to try to figure out what's going on. \n This story is well written, it had a really good balance of action, dialogue and description. The author did a really good job of letting me see and experience the setting without giving big long descriptions, instead she wrote some and wove the rest into the dialogue and action. The characters were well done - my favorite was Kiara. She had such an attitude and always wanted to prove that she could do what any guy could do. I loved her no-crap attitude. This novel had a bit of everything - fantasy, mystery, romance, suspense - it kept my interest and need to know what was going to happen and where the story was going. I definitely recommend this book. I was given a copy as part of a book tour.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 04 12:52:04 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 01 09:22:27 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Mar 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "16182898", "review_id": "2b1b7cce46c3a5908a1136afe4589e9a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a really good story of some young boys who get pulled into an alternate universe. The start was very intriguing. The concept was something new and unique. It was like they were pulled back in time except the date was the same but the setting was like it was in a time warp from the 50's. Very likeable and engaging characters that go on an amazing journey, only they have no idea what it is. All they know is that a young girl was able to pull them through time to her world. They soon learn though that she's been kidnapped. In true boy fashion they argue about everything and what's true and what's not. An engaging, interesting story. Well written.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 06 06:39:52 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 06 06:41:33 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jan 29 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "16058971", "review_id": "c71386cfde748dde25452a7948f281aa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Gift of the Phoenix is so good, I don't know where to even start. It's excellent. It's one of those books that you read that you don't want to end because it's so good but then you can't wait to find out where it's going to go, so can't wait to finish it. This novel puts you on an intricately woven path as you meet many characters but who's good and who isn't? The story, the characters, the setting, all of it is so well written, so vivid - could see the characters, I knew the characters, I felt like I was there, walking through the forest, swimming with the dolphins, being carried by a Taluga... It has all of the elements of a great story - mystery, magic, suspense, a touch of romance, intrigue... It's well paced, had heart stopping moments, it grabbed me on page one and kept my interest all the way through. \n Well done Ms. Cook. I am so looking forward to the sequel in the Gift of Phoenix series. I absolutely loved this fantasy, to me it ranked right up there with two of my favorite series, Thomas Covenant White Gold Wielder and Lord of the Rings.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 05 13:56:48 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 26 06:37:28 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "17317370", "review_id": "c1192fb0c0705c2f5eefd3fa6a8ee708", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this story. Hitomi is such a likeable character - she's brave, she has that love of life that nothing can stop her and that she believes in good even after all that she's seen and been through was pretty cool. I was so invested in Hitomi that I felt like I was running with her when she was trying to escape the guards, when she's captured and locked in a tower and trying to figure out how to escape. I was pulled right into her adventure. She was a quick talker which often got her into trouble but at times ironically also helped her to escape. She is always about doing good, trying to defeat Blackflames control and make things better for the people, which is why many often helped her. When she finds herself locked in a tower with a breather, who likes to destroy mages (her), her quick talking and her kind heart come to her aid. I found this to be such an incredible adventure. I loved the characters, they were really well developed. The setting was very real and easy to imagine. \n Ms Khanani has definitely woven an intriguing fantasy. It's an excellent story. I highly recommend Sunbolt, a YA fantasy. I am really looking forward to book #2 in this series. I was given a copy as part of a book tour.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 14 08:45:03 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 04 12:50:54 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "18569585", "review_id": "1938e06b5acea93f8fe829ee00f28ed6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Silent Echo: A Siren's Tale is quite an interesting read. You meet a likeable character named Portia. She appears to be an ordinary teenager in that she's dealing with being shy, insecure, wanting badly to fit in and is angry at her parents. Portia though is dealing with more than most teens as she has no voice. Thankfully she has made friends but that's where it gets complicated for her, when she has a crush on a new guy, a friend decides that maybe he has feelings for her as well. So things seem like normal teenage stuff but as you read this story there is this underlying, intriguing thread of something dark lurking there. \n Right at the beginning you're introduced to some birds acting rather oddly, so it makes you wonder what's going on. Slowly things start to unfold and you get this crossover of ancient legend with current day life. Strange things start to happen and Portia's world changes drastically. Some bad things occur that Portia wants to stop only it seems that she might be the problem. She learns a truth about herself that shocks her but explains a lot about what is going on. Now she has to figure out how to take control of it or ancient forces will use her gift and her for their quest for revenge. \n I liked Portia, I wanted her to get her voice, to get the cute new boy, to keep her current friends but there are a lot of things working against her. She's a really caring, likeable person that even when she's doing some not so nice stuff, you really want her to figure a way out of it. \n It's a good read that has an interesting mix of reality, fantasy and of the past and present. I like how the author brought Greek Mythology into this and used ancient mythology to blend with today for the rebirth of new life. It's definitely worth reading. I was given a copy as part of a book tour.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 30 14:54:47 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 05 04:58:53 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Dec 17 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Dec 12 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "16161287", "review_id": "dbca80ace9546d76bd0e825bbbb0b90c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a really good story that is set in a whole new futuristic world. It's one of those books that you're not sure where it's going from the beginning, you think it's just a book about normal teenage girls going through normal teenage stuff like boy crushes. Soon though you realize that things are a whole lot more complicated. You get to meet Rena and her best friend Blaze, who know each other really well, which is a good thing because they are often breaking the rules. And there are a lot of rules to follow. Well Rena is often breaking them and Blaze just gets pulled into her antics. I loved Rena and her desire to discover what is past the sterile, walled, oppressive community she lives in. She knows there is more beyond the boundaries than the people are being told but if she gets caught snooping there she knows the consequences could be devastating. And in fact they are but not in a way she could have imagined. When her friend gets taken because of something she, Rena has done, Rena again steps beyond the rules and finds herself teaming up with the guy she has a crush on. They find themselves on quest/journey/adventure to save Blaze. \n Rena was such a real character to me, every time she got a fine for breaking a rule, I could feel her exasperation at the ridiculousness of it. Every time she spied on this teenager she had a crush on, I could feel her giddy excitement. Every time she took a chance to try something new, something almost always went wrong, I loved that she never let any of that stop her. The setting is very well done from the oppressed nature of Hollowcrest to the badlands to the ugly forest. As you read you feel like you're fenced in. This is a story about a futuristic dystopian society, friendship and young love. I truly enjoyed this novel. 4.5/5 I was given a copy as part of a book tour.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 16 18:53:33 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 25 13:18:03 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "16172609", "review_id": "29cb5ac8b1ed194e243e22297ea5845b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Kojiki is one of those novels you read that you won't soon forget. It's an intense read. You meet a lot of characters and you learn about their part in this mythical war against forces and powers beyond earth's realm. I loved that it is set in Japan. This is not a book you will read in one sitting, there is a lot going on. Its a bit of overwhelm and lots to keep track of but keep reading as the story pulls together and takes you on an incredible journey. This is a very visual book, the author did a really good job of taking you on this action-packed adventure in a vivid way. It's quite a ride. \n Keiko thinks she is fulfilling her father's dieing request to visit Japan only there is much more to it than she could ever imagine. Her life is drastically changed, she is immediately thrown into a world of mythical forces - dragons, firestorms. She thought she was normal until she discovers that her father was not who she thought he was but that he'd hidden her true memories of herself and her life from her. \n It is an intriguing read of with so many elements to it. I was given a copy as part of a book blog tour.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 05 13:05:54 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 09 16:45:24 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "13502149", "review_id": "8b7edc91b0e43464521a3aca427923df", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Urchin King is an awesome story. It's one of those stories that is a really good read for any age. Paul is the second twin and due to an ancient law, he was to have been killed at birth. To save him, he was switched with another baby. Sadly though his life didn't turn out very well, at a young age he ends up on the street, totally unaware of who his parents really were. Then through a twist of fate he switches places with his twin brother and discovers he is now in line to be king. \n Paul is such a neat character, he is so kind and giving and always looking out for others but you feel awful for what he's been dealt in life. Yet he is okay with what life has given him. I was so caught up in his story, following him along, wondering what was going to happen to him, where his life was going. It was so cool to watch him grow from the timid young lad to one who knew what had to be done and gave the orders that were to be followed. This story really came alive for me - the castle, the lands, the people, the war, the magic, the evil - I could clearly 'see' this story. Very well done. I highly recommend it. I was given a copy as part of a book tour.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 05 13:04:59 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 20 03:24:24 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Dec 12 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Dec 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "18618554", "review_id": "bb664bebfb74097c0210d32daa30ad2c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is an interesting fantasy that takes you into another world, actually it's a place where two worlds collide. Princess Arabella is a young girl who is torn between being a girl and taking on the responsibility of saving her people. She was a well developed character as one minute she was that young child-like girl and the next she was making mature, adult decisions. It is interesting to follow her journey as she struggles with how to deal with the poison that will kill her if she's not very careful. Arabella must learn to accept, learn and grow into her skills and discover her true destiny, if she is to survive. I thought the setting was easy to imagine - the traveling caravan, the woods, etc. - as are a number of normal and fantasy type characters that you will meet as you travel in this magical world full of evil that young Arabella must learn how to master. It's quite a good read. I was given a copy as part of a book tour.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 22 13:24:06 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 14 07:58:24 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Nov 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Oct 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "18260270", "review_id": "b03c538726f90fa94fd410dc060c1830", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Room of Tears is a good read. It is different then what I usually read but I enjoyed it. This is a deep story that encompasses so much. It's about the tragedy of 9/11 and it's impact on everyone but more specifically on one family. This is about a family's prediction of a son to become Pope. It isn't about religion but more about friendships and family and the choices we make and the things that are out of our control (9/11). This is a journey through Peter's life, what has happened to get him to where he is. Some of which he knows and some of which he doesn't. You learn about his journey and the miracle of how he came to be. It's truly about secrets, misunderstandings, miracles and learning the truth and what do you do with it. The story goes back and forth - from the past to about fifty years into the future, which is the present day in the book. \n I wanted to share a line that really grabbed me: \"... a corner of her mouth sagged slightly, revealing where the gravity of age tugged here...\". I found this book had a gentleness to it, in how the story was told. Well done. \n I was given a copy for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 11 07:16:54 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 11 08:15:54 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "10912679", "review_id": "9f6b2821af8e8ba619fbe5af459a8782", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Peter: A Darkened Fairytale is a fanciful adventure that will pull you in and make you feel like you're there. The descriptions are really well done. \n Peter is just an ordinary boy who finds a key to a secret room. Once he opens that door his world will never be the same. Well actually he ends up in a totally different world full of talking animals, trees and paths. There are fairies, dragons, ghosts and every other creature you can imagine. Peter finds himself on a quest, which really turns into several quests. Every door, every passage, every path he takes, whisks him away to a new and challenging adventure. \n It is a story that will highly appeal to middle grade and young adult readers. What an adventure. \n I was given a copy by the author for an honest review and this is what I honestly think.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 23 11:02:13 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 28 06:24:28 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "16124634", "review_id": "8dbf91956a8d9280fc97fe298dfd9444", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved it. It was very engrossing and pulled me in from the start. Ryann is an orphan who was sold to be a sclava (slave). Her duties are to be at the beck and call of the Lord's fourteen year old son, Bramwel. He's spoiled and mean, whipping or beating whomever of his sclava's he chooses. \n Ryann wants to buy her freedom, she only needs to save twenty silver pieces but only gets paid fifteen copper coins per week, of which it costs her five for room and board and then clothes every now and then, and if she gets any beatings she has to pay as well. It takes twenty copper coins to make a silver coin. As you can see the chances of her buying her freedom are pretty slim. But she comes up with another plan... \n The characters were well developed. I was pulled right in to Ryann's struggles and kept hoping that something would go her way. For a novella this was well crafted and held my rapt attention. I look forward to reading more by this author.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 07 07:00:40 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 12 07:07:24 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "17289823", "review_id": "0cb80553d5a94e32907adc4c25b7ab9f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Rewrite Redemption is an interesting Young Adult story which I think will appeal to a lot of people. Two teenagers, A.J. and Constantine are dealing with a lot, lousy home lives, guilt over things that have happened to others in their lives that they blame themselves for, trying to fit in at school and being a normal teen. Only neither of them is normal. Constantine knows that he is an Editor for the Guild - he can time travel, draws his energy from trees. A.J. doesn't understand how come she can jump time. She never knows when it's going to happen until the moment it does. \n Constantine makes a big mistake that only hurts his brother in ways he can't forgive himself but because he used his gift for personal reasons, he loses the ability to time travel. And then his parents uproot him and his brother, thinking a new environment will suit them all. He loses his connection to the tree that has been feeding him energy since birth. \n The characters are well developed. I have to say that my favorite was Lexi. She was very kick-ass. iPod was an interesting person as well. \n I have to say that this story went from a 5 to a 4 to a 5 to a 4, it was all really good just some parts I found more interesting. But I will say the ending definitely kicked it up to a 5. There were some twists I didn't see coming. Whoohoo. Loved it. I look forward to more from this author. \n I was given a copy of this book for a review but the opinion is all mine.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 18 09:31:53 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 18 09:33:15 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "17279168", "review_id": "0fabb5410c0d2c27598ade3762e38b48", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Winds Aria is an inspirational paranormal love story. Aria is to get up every morning, pre-dawn and sing to the Sacred Flower. This guarantees her village sunshine and spring forever in their land. Aria does this every day however one day she becomes distracted for just a second but it has a devastating effect. Her village is left with a grey, gloomy day and fear disaster. Il Bora, a magnificent winged creature, finds himself in a difficult position. His master, the Serpent, demands that he blows the despairing winds which catch lost and entrapped souls and wreaks havoc on the land but he is distracted not only by Aria's haunting voice but by her beauty. Since Il Bora decides to help her, his not-too-happy master steals Aria's voice and Il Bora receives retribution. Aria must then set out on a quest to find the Sacred Flower. \n They are two different beings that have a lot to overcome and conquer if they are ever to be together. The descriptions in this story are well done. I had a clear picture of where this story took place and of the characters. I liked the story but I would have liked the book to have been a lot longer. Some things for me happened too quickly but having said that this book is a good, quick read. It will take you on a journey through trust, good and evil and a reminder the power of love.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 07 05:56:02 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 07 05:58:15 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "17973169", "review_id": "1a2244ea7e7da6a93003c71c44597d9f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Celeste is a psychic who sees too much and what she sees, might just get her in trouble. Four women have died in the local area and Celeste has had visions of their deaths. The local sheriff believes her but John who belongs to a private investigative company who has been called in to help, does not. He wants hard evidence and facts. He refuses to believe her... at least until the evidence starts showing that there may be something to what she is seeing and saying. There is an instant attraction between John and Celeste. Celeste knows that it probably won't go anywhere as John lives a long ways away. John is not about to get involved with a witness. He is still trying to get over the last relationship he had which was with his crooked partner who died by his gun. \n But some things are meant to be overcome. The romance between John and Celeste is hot and heavy and like any new relationship there are misunderstandings. Will they be able to overcome their differences to solve the murders? Will they be able to overcome their mistrust? And will they do it in time? Note: there are some pretty graphic sex scenes. \n Shadow of Danger is a good read. If you are into romance, romantic suspense, thriller, murder, mystery stories, then this is the book for you. You get a bit of all of it here. It's an interesting novel that will keep you guessing as to who is behind the murders and will they discover the person in time.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 05 07:51:26 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 05 07:51:52 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "16047602", "review_id": "4669e5985ce8eda47c6dad2a392e0579", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this story. It was rather a unique look at the afterlife. \n This is a journey about a woman, Eleanor, who now that she is dead is trying to figure out her life. She wants to know what made her so restless? Why did she abandon her child to be raised by her parents? And now that she's been reunited with her family can she reconnect with them? Can she get them to forgive her? And will she come to understand the dreams she is having about people she has never met? Or will her being restless, unsettled, keep her from making changes and finding her answers? \n It's interesting take on the afterlife because they all live a normal life, in the same world they did when they were alive. The neat part is they can change their age and be that age if they want. They can share an actual experience with a person, so they can see it like it is just happening. They can have that person feel an experience as another person. It definitely has some interesting twists and different concepts of what death may mean. \n There is more I'd like to say but it will ruin the story for you. It's a bit confusing in the beginning mainly because I forgot they were all dead but keep reading, it all starts making sense. And there is such a cool twist in the story. I enjoyed reading it and would definitely recommend it. I look forward to reading more by this author.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 05 07:15:56 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 05 07:33:56 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jun 05 07:33:56 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "10100824", "review_id": "4223d86f529148b50bb0fddecb67dc0a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Peter: A Darkened Fairytale is a fanciful adventure that will pull you in and make you feel like you're there. The descriptions are really well done. \n Peter is just an ordinary boy who finds a key to a secret room. Once he opens that door his world will never be the same. Well actually he ends up in a totally different world full of talking animals, trees and paths. There are fairies, dragons, ghosts and every other creature you can imagine. Peter finds himself on a quest, which really turns into several quests. Every door, every passage, every path he takes, whisks him away to a new and challenging adventure. \n It is a story that will highly appeal to middle grade and young adult readers. What an adventure. \n I was given a copy by the author for an honest review and this is what I honestly think.", "date_added": "Wed May 29 10:03:01 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 24 08:09:40 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "13020731", "review_id": "e0f12f8cb6eff67dd90f0ed4991c22ab", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed this story. Tara, who is escaping a bad situation, changes her name and moves to a remote island. She gets a job at a local tavern as their cook, which she is really bad at. Sam the bar owner, does not want her there, she reminds him too much of his ex-wife. They clash several times before they realize that behind it all is an even stronger attraction. They fight to overcome their own secrets as well as that of the legend of the Selkie Woman and Tara's possible role in correcting a two hundred year old spell. But what will it cost them when modern meets history? \n The beginning of the story was very compelling and drew me into the story. I loved the mystery of the Selkie legend. This is the first in a series. I will be reading more by this author.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 23 08:27:50 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 17 16:08:14 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Apr 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "179033", "review_id": "1f986941ec50dfc5f59b679297792275", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I read this a long time ago but I loved this whole series.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 05 11:02:06 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 05 11:01:34 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "17204880", "review_id": "937c170465f5ce75ee1cc0518732fe82", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Savage Angel is an interesting paranormal love story. Sara has been harboring feelings for Gideon for a full year. They'd had a brief romantic fling and then he'd been shipped off to war. She is more than anxious to see him when he returns. But he's not the same man who left. When he pushes her away after insulting her, she loses it. She tells him to stuff his attitude and that he isn't interfering with her job, which is at this point is to keep his father safe from a possible serial killer. Since his father is adamant that Sara will be his protector, Gideon puts her to the test. When she uses her secret skill to save him, he's not sure how to react but when it almost kills her, he steps in to nurse her to health - some of which I'm sure isn't in any standard Doctor's bedside manual. They soon discover that to stop the killer they must work together. \n It has some interesting twists, some I wasn't expecting but that made it all the more compelling. I didn't read book one but found this easy to read on its own. I liked that Sara was strong, independent but still showed some vulnerability when it came to Gideon and her feelings for him. Both Gideon and Sara are hiding secrets that they soon realize could destroy them and what they have. It's a good story, well worth reading. \n I was given this book to review but the opinion is all mine.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 28 09:44:38 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 28 09:44:37 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "16192816", "review_id": "6048e6c332b5a4e8006032c4579a33c8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Seven Point Eight is an interesting read. Marie Harbon has crafted a story that not only explores the outer realms of what might be possible for human consciousness but also the complexities of human relationships. The Institute recruits people who are willing to test out of body experiences, time travel, remote viewing and projection of consciousness. The story is about the intertwined lives of the main characters Tahra, Paul, Max, Sam and Ava. Tahra and Paul are in a relationship and work together at the Institute. Tahra who has special powers has to travel to other dimensions to retrieve twelve other people who have become caught there and are unable to return without her help. It is almost too much for her. Max fearing she may turn her back on her gifts, uses his position as head of the program to manipulate her to do as he wants, to explore the possibilities of what her talents are. He blackmails her to stretch herself to see what she is capable of. This creates a lot of complications in her relationship with Paul and changes her future forever and that of Ava and Sam as well. This story takes you on a journey of many twists and turns. It poses some interesting concepts. I did not read book one but was given a summary so I'd have a better understanding of book two. I was given this book as part of Marie Harbon's Book Tour but the opinion is all mine. This author knows how to weave a good story.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 16 13:22:39 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 21 10:57:54 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jan 16 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "17161807", "review_id": "4be34202b06eee42d39b944800cc69ee", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A world apart is an excellent book. It is a story that covers four generations who grew up in Doves Meadow. The majority of the story though, is about three friends, Demetrius, Eleyna and Halcyon. As kids they form their own gang and challenge each other's skills. As teenagers Demetrius and Eleyna have discovered they love each other but cannot find the courage to tell each other. Due to miscommunication and misunderstanding, Eleyna agrees to marry Halcyon. The choices they make change the course of their lives forever. On the day of their marriage Demetrius leaves Doves Meadow to join the Order, the military government that runs Elecheron. Eleyna and Halcyon start their married life but soon find themselves in a circumstance that brands them as outlaws, murderers. They flee for their lives and end up working on a pirate ship. Due to a twist in fate, unbeknownst to Eleyna and Halcyon, they sidetrack Demetrius's career, sentencing him to the Pit, a sewer infested hole, with other thieves. This story has many twists and turns and some things you know are coming but you don't know how. This is not a quick read, but it is a very interesting one. David has created this whole other world, Elecheron and has done an excellent job of doing just that. I look forward to reading more by this author.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 02 06:28:39 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 08 14:34:04 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 08 14:34:04 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "14289474", "review_id": "9c3be91b512d631e8e88398e9a84bc7a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A world apart is an excellent book. It is a story that covers four generations, who grew up in Doves Meadow. The majority of the story though, is about three friends, Demetrius, Eleyna and Halcyon. As kids they form their own gang and challenge each other's skills. As teenagers Demetrius and Eleyna have discovered they love each other but cannot find the courage to tell each other. Due to miscommunication and misunderstanding, Eleyna agrees to marry Halcyon. The choices they made change the course of their lives forever. On the day of their marriage Demetrius leaves Dove's Meadow to join the Order, the military government that runs Elecheron. Eleyna and Halcyon find themselves in a circumstance that brands them as outlaws, murderers. They flee for their lives and end up working on a pirate ship. Due to a twist in fate, unbeknownst to Eleyna and Halcyon, they sidetrack Demetrius's career, sentencing him to the Pit, a sewer infested hole, with other thieves. This story has many twists and turns and some things you know are coming but you don't know how. This is not a quick read, but it is a very interesting one. David has created this whole other world, Elecheron and has done an excellent job of doing just that. I look forward to reading more by this author.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 29 12:12:43 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 21 10:27:13 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "16316508", "review_id": "6b3bed6662ddb9637c7e2f002bea46e9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The Hunted Fracture The Secret Enemy is an interesting story. It intertwines the real world with the paranormal in a way that is very believable. The story takes you on a hunt to rid the real world of the Couton, who have come from another world to devour this one. There are lots of elements to this adventure - romance, the complexities of combining two very different worlds and having to kill to save what you believe in. It kept my interest from the beginning and all the way through. It is part two of a series (Fracture) but can be read on its own. Well worth reading. A good paranormal romance, suspense, adventure. Congratulations and great job Virginia.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 12 08:47:48 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 04 09:02:38 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "913f28f29817e1ba763cb82739b73fd2", "book_id": "13539142", "review_id": "e8c4e824f8a961ab99dc451724cd6583", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book. It took a few pages to get into it but I was soon hooked and found it to be very gripping. A really good blend of the real world with the mythical. Really looking forward to book 2.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 12 13:25:59 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 04 09:02:30 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Sep 24 08:30:01 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bc74b7e3ca029a46a25120eee9106510", "book_id": "15746217", "review_id": "639370f8ee776097da21099f5dfba882", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A tad sad to know that this was the last book of the series, and felt sorry to see End of the genius! And somehow felt the plot to be a td below the usual high standard of the other books in the series. Almost like Eoin himself got bored with the fairy people and the criminal mastermind !", "date_added": "Tue Dec 11 19:36:50 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 18 08:47:10 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Dec 18 08:47:10 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Tue Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bc74b7e3ca029a46a25120eee9106510", "book_id": "15711307", "review_id": "b0b6d2a1d916b071a907a665f3ed5d15", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The story starts in a lovely pace, and though in between I felt like going over some rough patches that slowed it down a bit, but then I can surely tell a page turner when I have read one. Sangeeta definitely had the pulse of rich treasure of our mythology and weaved the story amazingly. Surangini surely was the most captivating part, and am surely waiting for the entire trilogy to come out soon !", "date_added": "Tue Aug 07 03:27:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 18 08:53:14 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "6917531cb01f0fdee105abf4aebc5899", "book_id": "34532", "review_id": "665822f27798120d2dda0bc525a881e3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "i loved hogfather by terry pratchett and many other terry pratchett books as they are comical in the way he portrays his characters.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 13:26:28 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 17 16:13:03 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "77d2fef968f1c76ae7a3d4daba5ed5da", "book_id": "13496", "review_id": "e8c5dfb3c3aa7130921a617844a8d344", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Slow to start, but I'm hooked.", "date_added": "Sat May 24 17:39:08 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat May 24 17:40:24 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat May 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a27b808426fe1f8b384f8123e60d95bc", "book_id": "10626594", "review_id": "27c59aaee99b84640811ee8974ab8b3a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "LOVED every second of this book! It is now one of my favorites!", "date_added": "Fri Sep 30 23:22:43 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 16 12:11:55 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jun 16 12:11:55 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a27b808426fe1f8b384f8123e60d95bc", "book_id": "7842288", "review_id": "7fbfcc5820f8c789a8346e5fda72b304", "rating": 5, "review_text": "LOVED it!!!", "date_added": "Mon Mar 14 15:04:02 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 04 15:16:46 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Mon Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Mon Mar 14 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a27b808426fe1f8b384f8123e60d95bc", "book_id": "5907", "review_id": "d64cef885bf915554bc24ff34ccd5b2e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "one of my favorite books ever i love the adventure", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 09:22:50 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 27 21:05:07 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "05d11f62ab71d66e8e9cca76b936fe4f", "book_id": "22698569", "review_id": "5d4954719a05b62f2da3d32806e85b7b", "rating": 0, "review_text": "So good. \n Normally I can see where books are going but this entire series kept me surprised. I haven't raced through a trilogy this quickly since the \"Mockingjay\" books.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 27 18:13:57 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 03 14:23:52 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Feb 03 14:23:52 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Thu Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "05d11f62ab71d66e8e9cca76b936fe4f", "book_id": "18689428", "review_id": "3994be76f9540c82117344a5a62af728", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Just finished this and immediately bought the next in the series. A heroine that is a twist on the usual YA / fantasy trope, with enough magic and intrigue to stay fully engaged.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 09 12:42:37 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 30 16:33:34 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "05d11f62ab71d66e8e9cca76b936fe4f", "book_id": "11285675", "review_id": "e5438f2aa85ed4cc1dd4cb381c64c10b", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I actually never got past the first 50 pages. \n While I am a reader of all kinds of fantasy, I found it too hard to track who's who and really get into the world building that was being done.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 28 08:48:53 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 28 08:50:08 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "561b71cdeea572a9d88c86598cb5b3ec", "book_id": "18068907", "review_id": "17233a6efcc2fb390c253e5322b33e02", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Feels like it could be a new Hunger Games for an older audience. I'm not generally a medieval fantasy reader, but found this pretty compelling. Appreciate the map; could have used a family tree. I'll read #2", "date_added": "Thu Oct 12 16:03:49 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 12 16:08:45 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "561b71cdeea572a9d88c86598cb5b3ec", "book_id": "1582996", "review_id": "7e40d6c7d312fcf1694a1c01b0aeeb11", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A bit over long, but well written. I totally get why all my kids love the series, just not quite my own, personal thing. But I'm on Team Jace.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 24 17:15:58 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 24 17:17:56 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "561b71cdeea572a9d88c86598cb5b3ec", "book_id": "5941233", "review_id": "4cade8d9e631955577c6b382c7c08bdd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I read this book with my friend Natasha, and she read it in less than one week, she thought it was so good. Her favorite part was was when she killed one of the super bad guys. She's already two-thirds of the way through book 2...in only three days!", "date_added": "Wed Aug 15 11:24:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 17 13:27:23 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7b94fa5e0e2c4503b2a723cb2efc0c58", "book_id": "24323918", "review_id": "0a47daf7df838594672156d924aa0095", "rating": 5, "review_text": "OMG! The book was so well written! My first from this author, very talented! No Cliff Hangers, but lots of twist and turns. It's a warm sexy second chance love story! You won't be able to put this book down..", "date_added": "Tue Jun 23 09:03:23 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 23 12:23:57 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jun 27 15:12:17 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "88e38cfdb1f780527beb811ab5c3d0e8", "book_id": "6609769", "review_id": "85362442a0f2d6c8638afcab95488750", "rating": 1, "review_text": "couldn't complete this book , maybe the whole book was boring or maybe the starting", "date_added": "Tue Jun 12 04:59:32 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 12 05:00:20 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "88e38cfdb1f780527beb811ab5c3d0e8", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "74deb51c1e67a83dd79098bd18c7e51e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "it's an amazing book with amazing character and can be read million times without getting bore with it", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 06:38:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 10 08:03:17 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "15823425", "review_id": "566706e978edf0cee30822ab038ab8a2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Interesting read, makes me want to learn more about the Je'daii. Not the most well-written book.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 01 12:34:17 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 28 14:36:33 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 28 14:36:33 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "22059478", "review_id": "60d51d439bd05f4536052ef7669df339", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Really underwhelmed by this book, pretty weak in almost every area. The dialogue, the plot, even some of the settings were just poorly done, very insubstantial. The running commentary from inside Luke's head sounds nothing like I would've imagined. Too many references to common, real world language and themes for my taste.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 07 06:22:18 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 27 23:48:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Dec 31 10:08:39 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "567704", "review_id": "d30c30aca3e3bad3a0304e60f7c197ef", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of the most enjoyable, fantastical reads ever. Barker is a mad genius", "date_added": "Tue Mar 24 11:29:17 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 24 11:29:45 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "7165300", "review_id": "7cc9cecd5262f08f426fe5806d79ce60", "rating": 5, "review_text": "After finishing The Night Angel Trilogy, I approached Weeks' Lightbringer series with hesitation. I didn't want to read it and be disillusioned of the author's knack for great characters and a strong story. The Black Prism is a triumphant success in both categories. Riveting action and drama between endearing characters, some for their likability, some because they're easy to hate, make this another top shelf Fantasy read.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 27 08:59:51 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 07 10:59:47 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Apr 07 10:59:47 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Mar 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "3754026", "review_id": "2f4ee9cbcccd68e028d78722833758f5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I've known these characters for such a relatively short time, it's hard to believe how heart & gut-wrenching it was to finish this trilogy and leave them behind. I don't want to give any spoilers but suffice it to say that Weeks has created a captivating world you want to stay in. It became an immediate favorite for me, ranking right up there with Return of the King as a final chapter.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 27 08:59:50 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 16 13:35:43 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Mar 16 13:35:43 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "3754016", "review_id": "c296cc2fcf66fb9e98fb294660dd67af", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another top notch effort from Weeks, though I saw more and more of the modern world invading his, not sure I liked that. Good thing I'm all about characters and he has created some of the best in Fantasy.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 27 08:59:49 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 10 14:14:50 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Mar 10 14:14:50 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Mar 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "62012", "review_id": "46c6052b5f1a102a153ef344bc49062e", "rating": 1, "review_text": "The first book in this series ended and made me want to give the next one a chance, but this one lost me very early on. Zelazny's style is simply too off-putting to continue reading what was supposedly a sci-fi \"classic\"", "date_added": "Tue Dec 16 11:34:43 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 26 06:44:33 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Dec 26 06:44:33 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "13623012", "review_id": "16863c91b94805cdb12772a94b713b3a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is one of those books you wish you could give more than 5 stars. Zafon is one of those artists who paints, with his words, in a multitude of media all at once. Diffused watercolors, bold, bright oils, soft, blended pastels and hard, cutting lines of darkest ink, all swirling and dancing across the pages, mezmerizing, yet simultaneously solid. A firmament of reason and familiarity that leaves you with a smile on your face. Comforting while at the same time able to shake you to the core, leave you grinding your teeth. \n \"Prisoner\" is the third novel of Zafon's I've read and is quite possibly the best of the three. If you've read any of his work you'll know that's a tall order. It meandered at a point, in a slightly drunken way, but sobered quickly and left me turning pages, unable to stop reading until I saw what ends his characters were moving toward. Even in its completion \"Prisoner\" leaves some questions unanswered, but not in a terribly frustrating way. You find yourself transported, standing on a wrought iron balcony looking out over a Spanish city at sunrise, the colors both muted and sharp, and smiling to yourself, knowing it could only be that way.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 27 21:20:45 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 09 07:54:41 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Oct 09 07:54:41 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "33441", "review_id": "9f024c5657e407c35b4c3efd3db9f6d8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another winner from Christopher Moore. I could read his novels all day", "date_added": "Wed Sep 17 14:02:38 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 17 14:02:58 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "9579634", "review_id": "18f2438bc2de564f2281a628448f4620", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Jorg of Ancrath is one of the most likeable, horrible characters I've had the pleasure of meeting in a long time. I'm sorry it took me so long to find this series but you can bet after finishing Book 1 I'm eager to jump into the next.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 25 14:37:03 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 27 10:55:14 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Thu Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "67016518041e2e3ac5e257f73db5a880", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I enjoyed this debut novel as much as Mars is far away from Earth. That's a lot!", "date_added": "Fri Mar 14 14:08:22 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 20 14:13:32 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Mar 20 14:13:32 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Mar 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "116254", "review_id": "d3d9d06b5f6825e9406d6aa4b2753f39", "rating": 4, "review_text": "SO much better than the first book, maybe because Butler knew the characters better? Or maybe she had more of the story already in mind? Just seemed to flow better and feel less choppy. Maybe that was an intentional part of the first book, but this one really keeps you on the edge of your seat.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 13 12:21:09 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 09 19:52:35 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jun 09 19:50:57 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu May 25 07:34:45 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "68427", "review_id": "b6f15224aef5a642338ce7b67119d80d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Starts a little slow but crescendos & climaxes in a big way. You really become attached to Sanderson's characters, one of the many reasons I'm such a fan of his work", "date_added": "Fri Nov 22 08:07:21 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 28 06:18:59 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Mar 28 06:18:59 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "627203", "review_id": "edbe18e6c6e38f543b3119a79b340eea", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fun, fast-paced, engrossing read. Impressed me for a first novel. I'm a fan of the fey in fiction and this didn't disappoint. Highly reccommend it, but beware, the follow-up book is out of print and tough to find, you may be left jonesing!", "date_added": "Tue Nov 12 14:16:38 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 13 12:15:28 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Nov 30 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "3227063", "review_id": "94a3d154f214239ded17ea91f9db343c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fabulous characters, intrigue, murder, hopeless love, magic... what more could you ask for in a Fantasy novel? Looking forward to reading Book 2", "date_added": "Mon Aug 19 12:15:49 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 27 08:59:28 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Feb 27 08:59:28 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Feb 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "1079872", "review_id": "73e4de8ea77808b44c0420a8edbf2814", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I enjoyed this book to a degree but its best feature ended up killing it for me. Crowley's writing is SO rich it envelopes you like spilled velvet, but I was drowning in it by halfway through. The characters fade a little into the background of the description and story which is the opposite of what I like in my fiction.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 12 11:43:15 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 30 10:36:01 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Nov 30 10:36:01 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Mar 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "4407", "review_id": "e06dc5ac6a172a8b3f2462ecda1db747", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Impressive, encompassing, Gaiman's characters take the story and run barreling, shouting, arm-swinging recklessly down the corridors of your imagination. One of the most enjoyable novels I've ever read.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 12 11:41:11 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 18 13:57:38 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Feb 18 13:57:38 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "333867", "review_id": "aff3ce90596f35bd19d017d28a23fbc0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A Sci-Fi classic, written in the 1950's, but with a message that stands the test of Time. We have all been Gully Foyle, and we have all held the fate of our own universe in our hands.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 12 11:40:49 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 18 14:17:32 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Feb 18 14:17:32 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "92121", "review_id": "7543880d2e53c9285ae0ff8d271c5e07", "rating": 3, "review_text": "When I first added this book to my Want To Read list, it was because it had been named as a \"sci-fi/fantasy classic,\" so I figured I'd check it out. After seeking it out I learned it was but the first of TEN \"Amber Chronicles.\" Originally published in the '70s I could only find it in an anthology which contained all ten stories. \n Not wanting to know too much in advance, I snuck a look at a few reviews and saw \"Nine Princes\" was often the least liked of them all, but I rather liked it. The language and cadence was often strange, almost foreced. The characters were SO greatly exaggerated one might believe them to have been crafted by an elementary school student. These things served to heighten my enjoyment though, not decrease it. \n I hadn't planned to, but because of the way this one ended I'm going to give #2 a try. Not going to commit to anything further than that.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 12 11:35:57 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 16 11:42:12 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Dec 16 11:42:12 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "16130312", "review_id": "a8cf4ce85e9e98df89c2c71e56b3d230", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It seemed too cold and dry to really hold my interest.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 31 14:20:48 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 04 13:23:06 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Wed Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "15783828", "review_id": "dbe09d1b3f1f857683b18ac673cdb013", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another wild ride from Kadrey and Sandman Slim, and the last currently published installment of the series. I can only hope there are more to come.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 26 09:23:59 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 20 10:37:46 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Sep 20 10:37:46 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Sep 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "5776788", "review_id": "498f4713f5544b30693941393237b5ea", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Guilty pleasure? Mindless fun? Maybe, but Kadrey has created some very fun characters here inside a mythology we all know, whether we believe in it or not.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 22 16:35:14 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 26 09:26:37 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jul 26 09:26:37 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "8294278", "review_id": "38231fb6704a8fe6eab5457f7ffa11d1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another triumph, bathed in blood. Fewer covers have been as appropriate as this one, and even fewer tales less steeped in death, mayhem and destruction, but this still shines like the diamond in the chain around the neck of the King of the North.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 19 07:49:09 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 20 11:55:20 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jun 20 11:55:20 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "2315892", "review_id": "3c76e547c34dad3844526dd821007297", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Not for the faint of heart, Abercrombie dishes out some of the most enjoyable fantasy I've ever read. His characters, love them or hate them, are memorable, sharp, and alive (except for the dead ones.) Highly recommend his works.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 19 07:48:34 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 13 09:39:52 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jun 13 09:39:52 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "12216302", "review_id": "e60796a52405dae1860be010ae581037", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Just when you think Harry Dresden can't get into more trouble than he had the last time you saw him, bam, Butcher creates the biggest, craziest, toughest battle (so far.) Another expertly written episode in the Dresden Files saga. These characters are deep, rich, and delicious.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 21 09:42:39 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 27 19:03:50 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Dec 21 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "6316821", "review_id": "77dfc243b01508c7f0d73479be8f3a71", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Only bad thing about this book is that it's the last one in the series! Hate it when I have to say goodbye to great characters. If you've made it this far in the series I don't need to say more, excellent stuff from Butcher. Wishing/hoping there might be more to come.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 21 09:42:30 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 02 07:07:00 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Oct 02 07:07:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Sep 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "133664", "review_id": "b5645ecfc4455583ef215ea5bfaa94e5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This second installment was much more enjoyable for me than the first, and I'm glad I gave the series the chance to hook me. Butcher's characters are the kind you miss when you're not reading them, and I'm eagerly about to start book 3. Academ's Fury was action and intrigue packed. This is a superb fantasy series.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 21 09:42:23 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 19 11:40:17 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3a16f3fcb7dedfef2ca21f868001019a", "book_id": "395551", "review_id": "229aef497fb05d8bf5f0e74b78c9ea3f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The Quantum Gravity has a Steampunk feel. An almost perfect combination of Fantasy & Sci-Fi, and with an arse-kicking female lead. Robson really creates memorable characters in this series and I was hooked from the get-go. It was wonderful knowing at the end that I didn't have to leave them behind because there are 4 more volumes!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 07:30:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 25 14:49:51 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0616c4086be28741b82c61b2b052eff5", "book_id": "18666047", "review_id": "b31210d94516d9da86342f83af33e409", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I wonder if the next series Mr. Abercrombie writes will have a protagonist with 3 fingers.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 24 16:04:33 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu May 28 14:24:05 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu May 28 14:24:05 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon May 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "0616c4086be28741b82c61b2b052eff5", "book_id": "15804760", "review_id": "c6174cfe546783b28ce9623270fd7812", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This whole trilogy was a great read. I'm glad Mark decided to finish it with three books, instead of spinning it into the direction of 6 or 7. While I'm sure I would have read most if not all of those, there was definitely a satisfying ending and will be gladly check out what he has next in store. \n Non-book spoilers: Hopefully you can avoid reading the word \"Brother\" in a hulk hogan voice, as it happened to me in the last 20 pages. I have no idea where it came from, but it threw me for a loop and chuckled a few times, and forced me to re-read some sections without the voice.", "date_added": "Wed May 01 07:42:33 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 22 12:33:13 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Oct 10 08:59:25 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Sep 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "0616c4086be28741b82c61b2b052eff5", "book_id": "12759057", "review_id": "7e90d8ab586cf099232e6a9162ffa3a5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Waiting a few months for trilogies to finish? That's ok. I wonder how this one will end up finishing up.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 13 17:36:57 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 11 19:15:28 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0616c4086be28741b82c61b2b052eff5", "book_id": "5096", "review_id": "2cf9ca3b98c961317fcff3e24bcdf62f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not really anything else to share on this matter. A mediocre middle book that really was more of a prequel. The story itself was fine, but the absolutely halting of the plot was unnerving.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 02 20:15:27 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 28 05:04:28 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Feb 28 05:04:28 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "0616c4086be28741b82c61b2b052eff5", "book_id": "8752885", "review_id": "51b284d1188d8fe0a583a36eeb2a3e4e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very enjoyable. An interesting twist on Epic Fantasy that reduces the focus on violence. Looking forward to the next two.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 13 10:01:19 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 13 17:35:59 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Mar 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "0616c4086be28741b82c61b2b052eff5", "book_id": "127455", "review_id": "6d9409832a8d7fe18639e29643e79de4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm a huge sucker for anti-heroes like Locke Lamora, but I had a great time with this book. The pacing and storytelling were great. I appreciated how the author interlocked the main plot with applicable character histories. \n I don't seem to remember anything negative during the whole book, and my only issue is not having another Gentleman Bastards queued up for my next read. I'll see if can fix that before my commute home.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 11 12:12:47 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 01 07:59:37 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 01 07:59:37 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0616c4086be28741b82c61b2b052eff5", "book_id": "5094", "review_id": "681e017f81fad33f6f506ffdb8b67451", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Much better than the first book, the extra characters and interactions helped make this story move along a lot better than the first book. Hopefully this upward trend continues as the Dark Tower moves on.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 07 05:41:35 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 18 13:57:42 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Dec 17 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0616c4086be28741b82c61b2b052eff5", "book_id": "7726420", "review_id": "3e3face53c21d6f1d41d278535ea52e2", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book tried to be way more meta than it needed to be, and almost felt like a ripoff of Douglas Adams. The actual story is disjointed and while I understand the need for a little bit of that because of the topic, it took away from my overall enjoyment.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 23 14:30:07 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu May 30 17:22:09 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0616c4086be28741b82c61b2b052eff5", "book_id": "7743175", "review_id": "29a171b2b66eb2238cc8c756ef31cc21", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Firstly, I'd like to thank Brandon Sanderson for taking on this project a few years back. Starting these books when I was about to finish HS, allowed me to grow up with them in more ways then one. The end was very fitting for the novels, and I was very happy to see Mat in most of the action. There was a lot of bouncing around to a lot of different scenes and battlegrounds, but I thought it worked well, and kept the pacing going. I still think Perrin is kinda whiny, but that's ok. It feels weird to be finished with a story that has encompassed the last 13 years. \n I didn't feel like any major loose ends were left dangling in a way that was poor. Obviously, there's always going to be the scenario of What happens next? But I don't really need to know. The story has closed, the books are all done, and the winds that started the books finally get to putter out. \n RIP RJ, your Epic has finally come to a close.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 20 18:58:21 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 18 20:45:50 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0616c4086be28741b82c61b2b052eff5", "book_id": "8706185", "review_id": "77a3a4e1678a93b96401bda90a85e600", "rating": 4, "review_text": "More a history of SF/F from the late 70s with a bit of an overarching fantasy element. I don't think I was quite the target audience, but I still enjoyed it.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 05 16:13:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 21 20:11:52 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Nov 21 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Thu Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0616c4086be28741b82c61b2b052eff5", "book_id": "13521459", "review_id": "0b3070907130bd2c293315447766e91e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Another fun adventure by Mr. Abercrombie. His characters continue to be vibrant and enjoyable, and I'll keep reading them as they come out.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 11 09:58:42 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 07 05:40:58 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Dec 06 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Tue Nov 20 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0616c4086be28741b82c61b2b052eff5", "book_id": "2285970", "review_id": "6d346ef6158533a9333f75851aa73cad", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Would love to play DITV, just need to find some people who were up for it.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 12 17:57:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 12 17:58:09 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0616c4086be28741b82c61b2b052eff5", "book_id": "7165300", "review_id": "e71a1d1076ff1ccf403fc26c604af3af", "rating": 5, "review_text": "lots of enjoyable twists. plus an interesting magic system. Will be looking forward to the rest of the series", "date_added": "Tue Jun 12 17:53:02 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 14 07:47:29 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jan 14 07:47:29 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Dec 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0616c4086be28741b82c61b2b052eff5", "book_id": "7235533", "review_id": "6cb9ea5689ba45de924ba867496199e7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Looking forward to the rest of the series coming out. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who was interested, although there are supposed to be a whole bunch of books, so it may be better to wait for a few are out. It's always the tough sell between showing support for a long series so they all get written, and not wanting to wait 20 years as it does. Luckily, Sanderson writes like the wind...", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 07:27:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 19 18:21:27 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Dec 19 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0616c4086be28741b82c61b2b052eff5", "book_id": "3754016", "review_id": "d020cf779648da30f8f8b3a66776a9c7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "These books are moving along pretty quickly, and remind me in a way of Mistborn.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 07:27:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 20 08:35:45 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jun 20 08:35:45 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eb2b7d5c259c7627c48164f657a07bc7", "book_id": "30171592", "review_id": "b12495f8c8755407596185748493d8cf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I normally never write a review but Wow what an awesome story! I wish the story didn't have to end! Love everything about it! Please write another about some of the other characters. Or what else happens to the Queen and King...", "date_added": "Sun May 15 21:34:20 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun May 15 21:43:28 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon May 16 21:43:28 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "eb2b7d5c259c7627c48164f657a07bc7", "book_id": "18188651", "review_id": "09f7c5fe279e48af76c2ec0a80a5b83a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "LOVED it!!!! Can't wait for more!! Love the new faces and absolutely love the old faces!!", "date_added": "Wed Jan 15 18:43:00 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 20 19:21:03 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "9714426", "review_id": "7dee48d5725d518935b0bc9b08a71300", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Without reading the synopsis of this book and just reading the title I assumed this would be a paranormal book about witches or something similar. I guess I learned don't judge a book by its cover the hard way. \n There is a supernatural element in the very beginning which sets the catalyst for the plot which in finally explained in the end. However, most of the book does not deal with paranormal concepts or entities. This left me a little disappointed, but as I already mentioned, that's my own fault. \n Once I realized I would not be reading about a coven or anyone with a magic wand I started to get into the story. It was simple, easy to read and moderately enjoyable. Some of the characters made stupid decisions, but without those stupid decisions the book would not have ended the way it did and I got the happy ending I wanted so I guess I could forgive the characters. \n As for the ending, I really enjoyed the twist. I won't say what it is, but I will say that I didn't see it coming. Maybe I should have? It's possible that I was focused too much on where all witches were to play attention.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 27 06:59:05 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 18 11:16:15 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "3397729", "review_id": "7d0419bd43c3dcb4ba9b430b60aecba3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Basically, this book is a retelling of the famous Disney's Fantasia (you know the ones with all the brooms). This story was the perfect length to read to kids, had wonderful illustrations and I really enjoyed the story. It teaches the important lesson of what can happen if you break the rules and try to cut corners. If my son grows up to be anything like my husband, then this will be an important book to read to him.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 24 09:39:50 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 24 09:48:01 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Feb 24 09:48:01 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Feb 24 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "17334065", "review_id": "82f7dc1fad02b4a85a0f6b1a27bb331f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What an awkward first date. Magnus and Alec's date is full of the standard nervousness, confusion and uncertainty that couples many first dates. However, this date has a twist. Without giving it away, it starts off in a true romantic way that is completely Magnus' style and end in a very Shadowhunter way. I enjoyed reading it as part of the Bane Chronicles collection of 10 short stories featuring the illustrious Magnus Bane.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 26 20:26:40 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 27 09:39:05 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "23567293", "review_id": "048d6a05486c7fc23e23cbae63baf180", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a hilarious series of voicemail messages featuring several of the Mortal Instrument characters. If you have read the other books and understand the context of these voicemails, I think readers will appreciate this little extra tidbit that shows up at the end of the Bane Chronicles. However, it would not work on it's own.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 26 20:25:42 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 27 09:43:41 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "17334079", "review_id": "b63af493a5f185e53ddae8948fb2a398", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I was not impressed with this story. I was excited to find out what happened to get Magnus Bane banned from Peru. The Mortal Instrument series often references Magnus' lifetime ban, but keeps the reason a mystery. In this story, Magnus goes on several adventures, but I didn't really care. None of it is related to the rest of the Shadowhunter world and it reveals nothing new to Magnus' personality or past. What the story reflects is nothing he don't really know about him. There are no epiphany's here.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 22 11:57:30 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 27 09:53:24 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jan 21 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "16303287", "review_id": "3e4eddea30bc56c28dab9f5fe541af44", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A compilation of 10 stories featuring Magnus Bane, the Bane Chronicles brings us back in time and gives us some insight into Magnus' life from the infamous Peru all the way to his relationship with Alex Lightwood. \n These books help us to understand Magnus' character a little better. We still don't find out why he was banned from Peru, but we do learn more about some of his past relationships, family and friends before he meet the Mortal Instruments gang. \n Some of the mini stories were better than others, but they all served a purpose to shed light on Magnus' past and act to supplement the Mortal Intruments and Infernal Devices series. \n If you are a fan of Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices, you will most likely enjoy at least a couple of the stories. If you haven't read either series, there really isn't any reason to pick up this book. It doesn't really work on its own.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 16 11:17:39 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 13 18:14:28 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "5598960", "review_id": "e8b2cd2c9f6af800276c3cac01e7a3af", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The only reason I finished this book was to find out if Leo was a human or merman. This question gets left unanswered. \n The story had potential, but the book drags on until he end when it rushed to finish. I didn't enjoy the pace of the story or how the plot unraveled. The plot was interesting, ,but clumsy. \n The characters were inconsistent, so I found I coldn't really relate to them. Miranda is only on Selkie Island for a week and she falls in love? She is supposed to be a science genious, but she thinks Leo might be half fish and randomly decides not to trust him when she sees the door to his house is red? \n I loved the folklore and Selkie Island tales and wished we learned more about it. Was there truth behind the tales? Maybe the idea was to keep the mystery behing it going. I can appreciate that, but I still believe more could have been done with the story.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 18 14:36:25 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 07 08:56:33 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "12365189", "review_id": "d9d874f572be7878e0d24d70375850d5", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I am not impressed with this lost chapter. I don't think it added any value to the story or to character development. It didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know. \n I think I prefer having nothing written in Adrian's POV. Part of his appeal was that he was a tortured soul that you never really understood. I think writing in his POV tells you too much about him and you lose the allure.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 13 07:28:39 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 12 18:19:28 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "248596", "review_id": "5a3111fd65ef11d36ed3e67693b2146d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ahhh evil circus of doooooom! CREEPY", "date_added": "Fri Aug 31 07:18:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 23 13:10:08 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "13206760", "review_id": "dac9514c07818099da6d1b8f53c32875", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book more than I loved the first in the series, Cinder. Marissa Meyer did a great job introducing new characters and integrating their storyline into the overall plot. I think I liked Scarlet and Wolf more then Cinder and Captain Thorne. However, the best part of the book was when Cinder found a way to bring back Iko. She is one sassy android.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 27 10:34:23 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 30 14:32:33 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Mar 14 04:11:50 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Mar 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "8709528", "review_id": "1fb04ca49c8d12134ccd72401aadb275", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm sad the series is over, but I think the ending was done well and tied up many loose ends. I honestly didn't see some of the revelations coming. I thought I had it all figured out, very sneaky Richelle Mead. \n I'm not sure how I felt about the epilogue as I'm usually not a fan of them. I like to use my imagination regarding how the characters lives play out once the novels are over. Also, with how the novel ended I didn't think the epilogue was necessary. Everything in it was what I would have assumed from the progression of the Vampire Academy and Bloodlines novels. \n Overall, Vampire Academy and Bloodlines have been my favourite YA series. I'm not sure which series I should read next.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 02 09:52:28 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 13 17:37:33 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "8709526", "review_id": "9095a4d0286fa33b0a1692434c20c235", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book made me happy. Full review to come. Now I must sleep after pulling an all nighter to read this book.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 02 09:52:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 04 13:08:14 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Feb 12 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "8709527", "review_id": "afc98b2ca9608baa3f29421da429bfcf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "After reading the Vampire Academy series I was unsure about the Bloodlines spinoff. I didn't think making Syndey the main character would be an enticing read. She is a human in a world full of vampires, one who hates everything that are. She was a close minded, religious and didn't make a big impression on me. Regardless, I decided to give Bloodlines a try and I was pleasently surprised. \n There is more to Sydney's world with the Alchemists than meets the eye. For her part in helping clear Rose's name in Last Sacrifice, Sydney is believed to have betrayed the Alchemists,loses a lot of her credibility and has to prove her loyality to her peers and superiors. She has to team up with another young Alchemist named Keith who she shares a secret past. She is sent incognito to Palm Springs to hide a vampire princess from assassins who wants to use her as a political pawn. \n Throughtout the book Syndey has to pretend to be related to the very creatures she has been taught to despise. She is responsible for taking Jill ot feedings, keeping her out of trouble and keeping her safe. Keith proves to be quite useless and she has to take on the responsiblity herself. We learn that Sydney is very intelligent, resourceful and very responsible. She is full of surprises knowing 5 languages, longs to go to college and is even good at volleyball. She appears to be good at everything. \n However, this is not how she sees herself. She is socially awkward and has issues with her weight. I thought Sydney's social inadequacies were funny and cute. She doesn't even realize when a boy tried to ask her out. Admist her procliamed social issues, she manages to find friends at school with no problems. However, her weight issues tell a different story. She is devasted to find out that she has to wear a size four instead of a size two and longs to has the physique of the Moroi girls. I think it's very touchy issue for Sydney and for many girls her age. These issues seem to stem from her father's belittling growing up and expectatiions of being perfect. I like that Mead explores this in the Bloodlines series as I believe many readers can relate with these issues. \n Adrian makes an appearance in the books and I was happy to see more of him. Things ended on a bad note for him in Last Sacrifice so I'm glad to see that he makes a reappearance. He and Sydney develop a friendship and out of everyone in the book, he understands her better than anyone else. There is a definite attraction brewing between them which will be interesting to see how it pans out. Since he is a Moroi and she is human, a relationship between them is taboo. Will Sydney put aside her beliefs and essentially betray the Alchemists by getting to close to the vampires? I love the interaction between Sydney and Adrain and I can't wait the find out what happens between them. I especially hope that Adrian is mroe lucky this time around as he seems to always get the short end of the stick. \n Mead has a talent for getting the readers immersed in her books and makes you want to become part of the story. The characters aren't perfect, but that makes me love them even more. Some of the story might be predictable, but this is a YA novel so once you know what to expect, it's fun to sit back and enjoy the ride. I loved much of the diagolue, especially Adrian's and this book sets us the reader up for the next book in the series so I can't wait to read the next installment.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 31 05:36:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 04 13:08:18 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "15760355", "review_id": "01ae453124e826f4803f7a5ce00e04a5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm not sure what the point to this novella is. Will there be more books in this series? \n A new character was introduced named Al who is the daughter of the Unseelie Queen who is basically the fairy version of an angsty teenager. She had bad news written all over her and manipulates Dana into helping her find her ex-boyfriend. Dana doesn't even like her yet still decides to risk their safety to help her. There are some twists that explain why, but it feels like a cop out and I wasn't intrigued. \n However, I did like when they inevitably get into trouble Dana steps up and is the one who comes up with a plan to save the day. \n In the end I don't see where this story fits in with the series, why it exists and some of the plot points seem off. However, it was nice to see Dana taking more of a leadership role in a dangerous situation.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 19:06:35 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 27 21:37:26 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "6762468", "review_id": "adf373c08695b70bce79e95cecedc22c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I was always a huge fan of Peter Pan growing up, so I was really excited to stumble upon this book at the local library. I figured it would be more like a modern day retelling of the Peter Pan story. I guess it had some elements of the Pan story. Peter was a teenager afraid of aging. Wendy, John, Simon, Tink and the Lost Boys all have their place. \n Peter is searching for some magical bone dust that is mentioned in the Book of Gates, which most believe is just Egyptian mythology. He follows the Book of Gates to Marlow school where Wendy's father is a professor who believes the myths are real. Peter gets a job as a resident advisor along with his closest friend Tina (Tinkerbell) and a few of his gang, the Lost Boys. The books follows Peter, Wendy and the gang searching for the bone dust in another world through mazes, fighting demons using their Egyptian knowledge before the evil Ms. Vileroy gets them and destroys the school. \n This book turns out to be more about the ancient text than about Peter Pan. In fact, it seems as thought the two concepts don't really mix. The book had an interesting story, but it could have done without the Peter Pan references. The very thing that drew me to the book ended up being insignificant and unnecessary.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 14 09:00:32 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 14 20:14:17 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "6687158", "review_id": "b22acba059560cbd820e2bb963b26557", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Starfire Angels is about a girl who fins out she isn't human, she is what humans call angels. She bears a pendant which is actually one of four crystal shards that have the power to destroy the world. Raea is the Keeper of one of the shards. \n Raea is confused at first and furious at her aunt for not telling her the truth. She must learn about her family, her past and how to protect the shard. \n Meanwhile, a new guy starts at school who is actually an agent sent by those who want to steal the shard. He starts to date Raea to get close to her so he can steal the shard. \n At the same time, a reporter comes to town looking for angels and does everything she can to exploit Raea's secret. \n Reae finds at unexpected friend in Elis a fellow student though a bit of an outcast. Turns out he is an angel too sent to Earth to teach about who she is. \n This book has an interesting concept which a lot of potential. However, I found it to be predictable. There were no twists and turns. For example, it is obvious who the antagonists are right away, even if the author was trying to conceal it. \n I enjoyed reading about Raea and Elis' developing relationship and I do plan to read the rest of the series to find out what happens between them. Their relationship starts out rocky as he is an outcast at her school and she just wants to be popular. She wants to worry about being a normal high school human girl. Slowly, she learns to accept and like who she is. \n The book was an easy read and I do plan to read the rest of the series. I hope that we get a glimpse into Raea's world and her family.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 13 08:39:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 16 13:12:13 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "13519812", "review_id": "486fdfc9af3acf1989a839a853596050", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Whenever I think about this book, all I can think about is what happened to the family dog. I won't say, but you can probably guess that it isn't good. \n As for the rest of the book, it has an interesting concept and the suspense builds throughout the story. The main character has to defeat larger and larger foes (guess how many times) until the climax at the end. It kind of reminds me of a video game where you have to defeat a boss at the end of each level and the big boss at the end. \n The author was able to create characters that you really felt something for and was able to add supernatural elements into the life of a character who had never been exposed to anything supernatural. This increased his struggle as how do you explain that cat(s) are trying to kill you? I wouldn't have believed him. This allowed me to really feel the protagonists pain as he fights these crazy felines alone while trying to keep his family safe and act normal so he doesn't get committed. \n Overall, it was a good story but stars were lost as I am more of a dog person.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 13 08:37:03 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 11 10:10:50 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Oct 03 06:45:20 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "8755776", "review_id": "1061dbe7cc17e550b4731ba1b332f83c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Here are some thoughts on what happened in City of Lost Souls: \n Jordan and Maia getting together? Good. \n Mangus and Alec breaking up? Sad. \n Alec trying to take away Magnus immorality? Immoral. \n Maureen killing Camille? Surprising. \n The bond between Jace and Sebastain? Strange. \n Jace's new condition? Disappointing. \n Simon losing the Mark of Cain? Dangerous. \n Simon and Isabelle's almost relationship? Exciting. \n Potential for Maureen madness? Suspenseful. \n Team Good? Hilarious. \n Simon and Rebecca? Relieved. \n This book made me question and want to learn more about Jocelyn. I know Sebastain is evil, but he brought up some interesting points on both Clary and Jocelyn's behavior and character. I hope the next book sheds some more light on her days married to Valentine. Did she believe in Valentine's cause at some point? When did it go wrong? \n I wished Luke could have healed from Sebastain's attack a bit faster. He was hardly in the book at all. Neither were his pack. I wish there could have been some way to incorporate that a little more. He is a great character and I missed him in this book. I kept waiting for him to recover and show up on a white stallion with his pack behind him to save the day. \n The tone of the book seemed very back and forth. It switched from Clary/Sebastain/Jace to Team Good. Barely anything seemed to happen on the outside of these two points of view aside from a little bit of foreshadowing for the next book. It's been a while since I read the other books in the series, but I feel like more happened in the other books. I'm not sure if I felt the book was moving slowly, or if I found some of the elements too unbelievable, but something seemed to be missing. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the book, but I don't think I enjoyed it as much as the others. \n Overall, the book was okay. Mostly I just liked the end that made me excited to read the next book. I can't wait to see what happens between Simon and Isabelle and for some reason I'm afraid Jordan will get killed off (I hope this doesn't happen). Jordan and Maia's relationship seems to be going so well and I don't want anything to happen to it. I wonder what's in store for Alec as he faces Maureen? What going to happen between Clary and Jace since he seems to be carrying some sort of fire from heaven? This book has definitely got me interested in reading City of Heavenly Fire.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 09 10:12:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 09 13:27:59 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "46777", "review_id": "3167cee64bccf2833f22e6c9792d2265", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What I liked about this book is the teenagers acted like regular teenages. They seemed more realistic than other YA novels I have read in the past. Some smoke, drink, swear, have attitude (or what I like to call teen angst), dress inappropriately, focus on their love lives (or lack thereof) and they don't get along with their parents. Too many times I have read YA books where the protagonist was more mature, intelligent, resourceful and generally more put together than I am in my adult years. It was almost as if they were written too perfectly in neat cookie cutter profiles. In these books, the characters make mistakes and actually spend time on self discovery which is what something I could relate to when I was the protagonist's age. \n The story itself was also very interesting. To live your first sixteen years thinking you are someone only to find out there's a whole other world out there, a secret world you are a part of is pretty cool. I really liked Kaye's spunky personality as she adjusts and grows throughout the book. She slowly learns the truths about her past and gets tangled up in fearie politics and she tries to find out where she truly belongs.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 14:39:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 24 11:40:33 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "24337", "review_id": "fa8cb8e1d04d212159acd75cf988a721", "rating": 4, "review_text": "At birth Ella was given the gift of obedience from a fairy. Now she can't disobey direct orders. \n This would suck. \n The unfortunate thing is, many people would use this gift and take advantage of Ella. However, sometimes I wish my husband had this condition so I can tell him to do the things I don't feel like doing such as cooking, cleaning and paying bills. It sets her up to be very vulnerable and it gets her stuck in many situations. \n In order to be free from the spell Ella must get creative and resourceful. She sets out on a journey to break the spell and obtain her freewill and happily ever after. \n Despite her troubles, she manages to stay positive and is shown to be a strong character. She is selfless as she make decisions to ensure her loved ones cannot be disadvantages by her curse. These are attributes that make you want to root for Ella and want her to be freed. \n Lucinda was an annoying character. She always meant well, but really messed up people's lived. Someone really needs to take away her power. However, without her there would be no story. \n Overall, this is a really great book that teaches some great lessons. Four stars.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 10:05:38 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 11 10:40:14 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "544891", "review_id": "3ec143b5cdb09c85e8f5c1557c3cc384", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Beastly is a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast which is one of my absolute favourite stories growing up. This version is told in the point of view of the beast. \n It's interesting to change the perspective to the beast to see how his attitude and actions resulted in becoming the beast. We get to see how he reacts to becoming an ugly, fury beast when he was handsome and popular prior to the transformation and how he grew into a kind and sensitive young man from a cruel bully. \n I thought the plot was a bit of a stretch. How Lindy was allowed to be traded to Kyle by her father to avoid repercussions of police intervention for his drug issues baffled me. If I put myself into the same situation, I don't think I would tolerate being sold by my father or be essentially kidnapped by the \"beast\" for a year. Wouldn't anyone notice? However, it probably isn't easy to tie in the trade in the modernized world and I couldn't think of anything better so I let it go and enjoy the rest of the story.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 09:38:59 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 10 11:44:18 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "5899779", "review_id": "66e9cb3e780a4f99bdbc2d12e91b3fcc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One word: AWESOME. \n I'm sure many people will think this book ruins Jane Austen original version of Pride and Predjudice and I don't blame them. Before I read it for myself, I thought that's how I would feel too. I wasn't sure how adding zombies would improve the story. I was wrong. I found Seth's zombie scenes and turning Elizabeth and Darcy into zombie killers was pretty kick-a**. Sure his writing quality doesn't even compare to Austen's (he essentially added zombies language into the original novel), but the content sure did make the book more exciting. \n I loved the original version and I understand that the characters are living in a time when there were gentlemen, estates, dowry's etc. However, when you turn that world into one with zombies the world becomes more vibrant and the characters more provoking in my opinion. If you are a fan of fantasy novels with vampires, witches, zombies or any other creature, than I think you will like this book. If instead of a rational, well though out but unpleasant conversation now ends with a swift kick and a man falling into a mantle, how is that not better? \n I think Elizabeth becomes more feisty, Darcy becomes more hunky, Charolette becomes more tragic and Wickham more pathetic. In fact, I think in this story Whickman and Lydia get exactly what they deserve when in the original I thought they got off easy. Making these changes it like adding a dash of spice to your usually plain meal. Some people think it's better, but some people have no tolerance for spice. For me? Bring on the Tabasco!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 09:34:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 11 21:58:33 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "7733", "review_id": "1099483471aadd01717490fe94ae4cb5", "rating": 2, "review_text": "How can you not like a book where the main character urinates into a castle and on a princess to save her from a fire? \n In this book Lemuel Gulliver enbarks on many journeys full of adventure, danger and mystery. Gulliver continually sets off on voyages to new worlds and each time ends up in strange lands, each different from the last. He spends extended time in these lands, learns their language, politics, culture and their way of life. \n In each place he goes he finds both friends and enemies, good and bad and all of this affects how he views his people back home in England. He starts off a cheery optimist and by the end of the book, can't stand humans at all. It's interesting to see how this character develops and finds a way to survive with minimal damage throughout the years. \n It is my understanding that Gulliver's Travels is meant to be a parody on human nature and tales from travellers and I think Swift does this well. He combines these themes together to teach us about society, government and religion through a bigger picture.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 08:05:27 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 26 08:19:01 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "21787", "review_id": "2de64a82084f256eefe5b62451b0435a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I felt that this novel was a book within a book. It accounts a (fake) tale from the author Goldman and his commentary over his favourite (and fictional) book. \n He talks about the significance of this book throughout his life as his father read it to him growing up. He then bought the book for his son, only to find out Goldman's father only read his son the good parts. This prompted Goldman to claim the rights to the book to rewrite it as he remembers it to preserve what made the book so great growing up. \n The book Goldman loves so much was the Princess Bride. It was full of adventure, sword fights and danger. \n I found Goldman's commentary to compliment the book and I even enjoyed his own backstory. At first I wasn't interested in Goldman's history and wants to focus on the Princess Bride, but eventually I was won over.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 08:02:46 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 12 12:49:29 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 04 10:04:30 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jun 22 06:47:17 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "723a2a35783fadad2a4f2e00c5e639d7", "book_id": "345627", "review_id": "ef65ac9fec150b264fea94e392089edf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have read this book more than once. The Vampire Academy series is one of my favourite YA series. \n I loved the main character Rose. She is confident, strong, kickas** and sassy. She is also a fiercely loyal friend with the best intentions. These qualities make her a great female protagonist that I find is often lacking in YA series. \n However, she has a tendency to get herself into a lot of trouble and does some questionable things, but she is a teenager and if she didn't get into any trouble that would be boring. Also, her immaturity allows her to develop and grow with each book. \n This vampire world is different from other because there are three types of vampires which creates a different dynamic from other books I have read. \n The plot has mystery, fighting, politics, danger, romance and of course the regular high school drama. It's a fun story which is only enhanced by the relatable characters. I wish I could go to this school. \n This world is for the most part, separate from the human world. This gives the illusion that the world can be real, which would be awesome! \n Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good paranormal YA series.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 07:50:44 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 09 14:15:23 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e07be122dcffb80df2a93dda2cae837", "book_id": "140077", "review_id": "1feca01a2cba2b6afa6225180e14201c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "my favorite one so far. thank god for these now that season 2 is over. good stuff to come!", "date_added": "Mon Jun 15 18:13:57 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 02 16:48:23 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e07be122dcffb80df2a93dda2cae837", "book_id": "136251", "review_id": "9fc4a81bb7c151fda452a0b73996dc4d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Way to go J.K. Her last and best!", "date_added": "Fri Mar 21 14:21:12 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 21 14:21:34 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8e07be122dcffb80df2a93dda2cae837", "book_id": "170453", "review_id": "b4ed0ecaae755e314d7308a5c933cff1", "rating": 2, "review_text": "couldn't finish it", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 13:57:33 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 06 06:29:03 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "fc30cbdc7b1a9c6d31c0e09dd28311b0", "book_id": "42899", "review_id": "6f892b98d2fd2d0c9c2c4a30e4e9d23a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Easy read. Ok story. Sorta annoying characters. Not really my thing but I'd read another in the series to pass the time.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 08 07:59:42 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 08 08:00:35 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fc30cbdc7b1a9c6d31c0e09dd28311b0", "book_id": "12377549", "review_id": "5faff3d6dff74a699bdc49dde6953134", "rating": 3, "review_text": "some stories were great...others not so much. Just like with any anthology.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 07 19:24:10 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 09 15:32:22 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jun 09 15:32:22 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fc30cbdc7b1a9c6d31c0e09dd28311b0", "book_id": "5907", "review_id": "936a04b34c6399b9de69da5df297ac49", "rating": 4, "review_text": "second reading. I still love it. Classic!!!", "date_added": "Fri Dec 07 18:59:27 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 10 17:59:11 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Dec 10 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "fc30cbdc7b1a9c6d31c0e09dd28311b0", "book_id": "43615", "review_id": "aa9345908967c92fe6e63058d55bce42", "rating": 5, "review_text": "AWESOME!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 08:01:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 07 18:59:02 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ccf408ad11be66b968eb38b273f88c25", "book_id": "149302", "review_id": "5ac4ab145c88614de2496b1a0d89bb81", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Lacks the charm and originality of the first book with irritating characters and a plot that rehashes fantasy stereotypes", "date_added": "Thu Dec 06 03:29:00 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 06 03:29:52 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Oct 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ccf408ad11be66b968eb38b273f88c25", "book_id": "43916", "review_id": "d16d6e131384a37481b23a36ee63f528", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Old school fantasy. Multi-cultural world was an interesting concept not used enough and the magic is the sort that resolves all conflicts without character involvement or development", "date_added": "Thu Dec 06 03:27:03 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 06 03:28:40 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ccf408ad11be66b968eb38b273f88c25", "book_id": "234225", "review_id": "77e5a08489febb80dd29fcf2c89ce197", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The world building of Dune is great and keeps you hooked but I found it difficult to relate to the characters and the focus on drawn out set-ups over a satifying climax was disappointing", "date_added": "Thu Dec 06 03:25:41 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 06 03:27:06 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Nov 13 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ccf408ad11be66b968eb38b273f88c25", "book_id": "1268479", "review_id": "ab39a6f91472d4c11e4c700bb03e1308", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Brandon's best book to date (alongside way of kings). Great plot line and twists make it a book that surprises from start to finish and truly shows how modern authors develop multi-dimensional characters rather than the heroic stereo-types of old. Dying for a sequel!", "date_added": "Thu Dec 06 03:23:07 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 06 03:24:40 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ccf408ad11be66b968eb38b273f88c25", "book_id": "9579634", "review_id": "9e0385cbb9c0c48361aa3473f5a54131", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Interesting concept but in the end the character just proved too unlikable and the thinly veiled allusions to a post-apocalyptic world felt strained and too far fetched", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 12:02:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 14 04:33:14 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jun 14 04:33:14 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ccf408ad11be66b968eb38b273f88c25", "book_id": "7235533", "review_id": "3f22dd80ab58b26a190131495b69f25a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Great book, loved the gradual build and reveal of the storyline and was shocked by some of the twists and turns which is rare in a book these days. Kaladin's back story felt strained at times but in general the 1000 pages flew by and I'm dying to read the sequel!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 08:03:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 19 05:05:18 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jun 19 05:05:18 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "ccf408ad11be66b968eb38b273f88c25", "book_id": "1215032", "review_id": "d15ad3b5d72f1347f62e34ec8b4bd5a0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Possible the best written book I've ever read. Engaging characters a great pace to the story and frequently laugh out loud funny.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 08:03:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 11 01:42:59 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dffb99ec44f82f3e2026cdfec79536c2", "book_id": "16034688", "review_id": "24799ab60888f76b2526bf7ce48b9fe2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved this prequel and am really keen on reading the rest of the series!", "date_added": "Sun Sep 04 21:25:01 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 12 21:32:09 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dffb99ec44f82f3e2026cdfec79536c2", "book_id": "8933944", "review_id": "ade18ad0b347417c87a8d356fd79d6af", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Interesting 800-word read.. Felt like a nice way to remember James & Sirius", "date_added": "Sat Aug 27 06:33:18 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 27 06:51:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Aug 27 06:51:17 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dffb99ec44f82f3e2026cdfec79536c2", "book_id": "4835", "review_id": "26a101a691530625ed758c98f71b8a18", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I had not read any of Rushdie's work before... but this book was recommended in my reading group & I thought, \"Why not?\" I was going through a reader's choice block and wasn't ready for a strong and intellectual book and I think this was a good fit. \n The book is a very 'fantastic' approach to many issues we all face. An allegory indeed - and neatly presented through the story line. I enjoyed it very much - it was, for me, a really pleasurable blend of the nostalgia of my childhood Arabian Nights memories with the deliberate pause-to-think of the present-day world. The book might have been written in the 90s, but quite pertinent today too. Through the eyes of a story-teller's young son, Haroun, the story-line easily navigates the various trials of socio-political sufferage, always under the fantasy-veil of make-believe and fiction. I'd want my children to read this!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 25 06:16:25 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 30 19:59:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dffb99ec44f82f3e2026cdfec79536c2", "book_id": "9909301", "review_id": "af2bcbfd9a1b33bdad07f982c8c5d7fa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I finished the book in 2 hours flat. \"Girl in the Mirror\" had that dark magical touch.. freaked me out a bit, but I could visualise the setting in my mind very easily... Brought to life the acuity of the blind as well as the wisdom of experiences. \n \"The Memory Maker\" was a more thoughtfully sad-ending. Again, got me thinking about how we can make and cherish special memories.. Quick read..", "date_added": "Sat Jun 08 10:30:01 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 08 10:35:02 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "28449207", "review_id": "1d778d223180e78e0a51a399804ed796", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I don't think I've ever loved a book so much. \n Full review to come", "date_added": "Sun Oct 01 05:37:30 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 01 05:37:48 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "13528340", "review_id": "e9530235b5b83330e9d5c20c78e69a6b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I can't review this because I'm a crazy fangirl and it would turn into one of those reviews. \n But still \n I heart it", "date_added": "Sat Jul 27 18:07:49 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 25 15:35:53 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "15819003", "review_id": "6ffab06023bde5be39ceb19727b987be", "rating": 4, "review_text": "O.O \n I love Nick gay \n I LOVE NICK GAY \n This is awesome \n These books are turning me into a fangirl", "date_added": "Mon Jul 22 12:35:38 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 26 07:09:17 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jul 26 07:09:17 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "12977172", "review_id": "fea4441f800a8cffbb12fe3271847ec0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Love these books, but the covers are UGLY (and the guys on them are definitely older than teenagers) \n I know without reading the rest of them that this book will be my favorite. I love Gabriel and I love fire. It's a perfect match, but stupid Layne is in the way -.- *grumble*grumble*", "date_added": "Mon Jul 22 12:35:24 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 26 06:04:13 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jul 26 06:04:13 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "17883441", "review_id": "e6178bdaa46b0f39917ba46dc81e052a", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Julie Kagawa, \n I know you're writing magic here... And writing magic certainly takes time... But is there any way you could write your magic just a leeeeetle bit faster? I kind of need to read this book. I'm a very impatient reader, as you can see, and am waiting vigilantly for your next work of art. \n Signed, \n A reader", "date_added": "Mon Jul 15 06:46:08 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 13 04:57:30 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "13420494", "review_id": "9c7a560c152346f0916fd405074f4756", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It was okay, the ending was inconclusive. It seemed kind of rushed and corny, and the protagonist was a Mary-Sue if I ever saw one, but it kept me interested the whole time, so that was good.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 13 07:07:30 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 17 12:28:47 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jun 17 12:28:47 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "16169846", "review_id": "1a4ffd753f9d4b4abf11f517a0deb627", "rating": 2, "review_text": "DISCLAIMER: I received A Clockwork Heart as a publisher ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. \n This review can also be found at The Title Page \n Rating: 2 Stars \n A Conspiracy of Alchemists was a great novel, it set the standard for the Liesel Schwarz steam-punk series. It was exciting with some strange flaws, but I opted to like it anyways. \n A Clockwork Heart sadly fell flat of my expectations. While it was more interesting to read, the story was dry and everything seemed to work out a bit too perfectly. Elle is a completely different character than she was in the first novel, she's far too dependant on Marsh and seems incapable of functioning once he disappears from the novel, about 20% in. \n The dialogue was filled with old-tymey banter, it gives you the feeling that the author was trying way too hard. There was a scene where I swore they said the term \"ever so slightly\" at least 18 times. \n The new protagonist was too good to be true. An evil (but gorgeous) witch lady who can control the weather and wants Marsh for her own? And then, of course, her death comes by far too easily. The climax battle was overly confusing. It goes from a civil conversation between enemies to a battle of air balloons in a matter of seconds. \n The ending seemed harsh to me. I got the feeling that Schwarz was just trying way too hard to have an unhappy ending. The book went on way too long as well, it should have ended chapters before it did. \n All in all, I was extremely disappointed with the novel, but because I liked the first one so much I will give Schwarz the benefit of the doubt and read the third when it comes out.", "date_added": "Tue May 28 08:36:23 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 19 05:51:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "9677397", "review_id": "c9c507f5056cdea5e4f2f6b46479df5b", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Saw this at Barnes and Noble and was really trying to decide whether or not it would ruin the first book. Read some reviews and decided it's worth a shot. \n btw, B&N carries this one, but not the first, I had to order that one. WTF, B&N?!", "date_added": "Tue May 14 12:24:23 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue May 14 12:28:32 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "9943270", "review_id": "553397bfe87bab3beb5a896095f880e4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A spectacular addition to the His Fair Assassins trilogy, I loved Dark Triumph significantly more than Grave Mercy. \n I loved Sybella's character so much more than Ismae's, she's so raw and tough, where Ismae is delicate and innocent. Sybella's trials have molded her into a seasoned killer and seductress, and it made for an adventurous, compelling story. \n The romance in the novel was unexpected but beautiful. LaFevers mirrors Beauty and the Beast in how Sybella falls in love with Beast and they both help each other heal and grow. \n I've run into many second-novels in a series that have fallen gravely short, but this is not one of them. If anything, it makes me even more anxious for the third novel, and it fills me with dread knowing that there will only be one more.", "date_added": "Tue May 14 09:34:30 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu May 23 06:34:03 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu May 23 06:34:03 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "13451210", "review_id": "1403e902cbdb3099cb8aba670098a5b6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm not gonna lie, I 100% bought this book because I never let myself leave Barnes and Noble without buying SOMETHING and they did not carry A Certain Slant of Light, which is why I went there in the first place. \n So I saw this one of the shelf and noticed that is had a nice, shiny 'autographed copy' sticker on it. \n I thought \"Hmm, wouldn't it be cool to have an autographed copy, you know, just in case this turned out to be an amazing book?\" \n And that's just what it did. \n This book completely blew me away. It's one of those books that you walk around the house reading because you don't want to put it down while you cook dinner or do the laundry. The ones that you pull out at every red light on the way home from work just to read one more paragraph. \n I haven't read one of those in a long time. \n Grave Mercy is another one of those books. A deep, complicated plot that seizes you and drags you under the covers with it. A surprisingly relatable heroin who's toils draw on the very strings of your heart. And an exciting, incognizable twist that (if not a bit predictable) sucks you deeper into the mystery presented at court. You won't want to put it down, and it will leave you desperate for more.", "date_added": "Sat May 04 17:01:52 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon May 13 09:57:04 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon May 13 09:57:04 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "6518042", "review_id": "4a8143317689c5360a0e2b767746b859", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great book, not sure if I'm going to read the sequel, as from the reviews of that one, it seems to ruin the first.", "date_added": "Thu May 02 06:23:57 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue May 07 06:34:35 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue May 07 06:34:35 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "15803761", "review_id": "870085d2c0c5e8cea963452a130c7e56", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Very good. No review. I'll be reviewing the ARC of the sequel, The Eternity Cure.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 23 09:50:22 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 02 16:32:47 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jul 15 06:45:12 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "13581990", "review_id": "9eefc5d3f7e16b51c89c2ad3dfd49cb6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "DISCLAIMER: I received The Eternity Cure as a publisher ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. \n This review can also be found at The Title Page \n Rating: 4 Stars \n $10 says Sarren turned Zeke \n Review to come", "date_added": "Tue Apr 23 09:49:50 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 19 05:41:57 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jul 18 13:59:37 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "16006117", "review_id": "c036f2c7b727b1c17eaa887adb718de2", "rating": 1, "review_text": "DISCLAIMER: I received The Weight of Souls as a publisher ARC through Strange Chemistry in exchange for my honest review. \n This book is inconsistent, predictable, and honestly, quite an unenjoyable read. \n The plot is written out in dialogue, the context is interrupted by unnecessary and random flashbacks, and the convenience of the whole thing shrouds the entire book in a giant cloak of deniability. \n I know it's fiction, but I do expect at least some level of believability in my novels, and this one is so far fetched and (dare I say it) perfectly set up that it awes me that anyone found this book enjoyable. \n More review to come. \n This review can also be found at The Title Page", "date_added": "Thu Apr 11 11:25:55 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 08 12:43:55 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jul 08 12:43:56 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "11945589", "review_id": "39b7b3f02a6b71d6f81ceaa32cfefd79", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Sounds like a weird version of Pushing Daisies. I'll read.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 05 07:14:50 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 05 07:15:38 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "12631512", "review_id": "393ed45badfa1fd8cba2b46a8cb9745e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I got about 10% into this book before I gave up. \n It just wasn't the least bit interesting. \n A real disappointment considering how much I loved the first book in the series. \n The author gave herself a 5-star review. One of my biggest pet peeves. Definitely changing my outlook on the whole series.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 28 12:24:14 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 09 06:58:54 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Mon Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "15799424", "review_id": "27d1ae1b0c3ed6e8db9952b2fc82eeca", "rating": 3, "review_text": "DISCLAIMER: I received Emilie and the Hollow World as a publisher ARC through Strange Chemistry in exchange for my honest review. \n This review can also be found at The Title Page \n My rating: 3.5 Stars \n Emilie and the Hollow World was a great read. I don't regret one second spent reading this book. It didn't take me long to read at all because it kept me interested every page. \n The book starts out with a bang, we follow Emilie as she steals aboard the Merry Bell as she is running away from her uncle and aunt. She boards the ship by mistake, originally intending to stow away on another vessel. We are quickly engulfed in magic and transported, along with the crew, to a world-within-a-world like destination. \n The novel reads as an adventure. The cast of the book is met with one challenge at a time as they stride to their eventual goal. It is a really good read that is worth the time you will put into it, but it did fall short in that I wasn't blown away by it. It wasn't a book that I just couldn't put down, but at the same time, I never didn't want to pick it up again. \n If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be relatable. This book is easy to understand with a heroine you can really imagine in yourself. Emilie is strong-willed, but not pushy. She understands the extent of her knowledge and is willing to sit back and learn rather than insert herself into an issue. \n There are deeper issues that are addressed in the book, in the Victorian world that it takes place, sexism is a common theme. The protagonists combat that in the best way possible. Two of the main characters, Emilie and Lady Marlende, are women. The way the author approaches this is very professional, the women aren't looked down upon, but are given less opportunity to advancement. While Emilie seems to have accepted her place in the world, Lady Marlende is a tough cookie who doesn't take that crap. She stands her ground and Emilie soon follows. Lady Marlende is definitely a winning character, she wins my favorite vote. \n Sadly, the world building is where the novel suffered a bit, it could have used more depth. While reading the book, I didn't feel like I was transported to another world, which is normally my favorite part of alter-reality novels. While the world was creative enough, not enough description is given about the setting. We aren't told wether a place is supposed to be dark or light, forboding or inviting, etc. Things are explained in character conversation instead of the context of the book, and in that way it took away from the magic of the novel. I felt like I was reading a diary or memoir instead of a fiction novel. \n To conclude my review, I suggest this book for the adventurous types, who don't like to waste time on romance. It is a quick, fun, read that you won't feel you've wasted time on.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 18 06:12:46 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 11 06:46:55 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "10428902", "review_id": "9555bf3bacb728d1d21287fdfecf28d3", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The pictures seemed unnecessary and led the story in unneeded directions. I would have much rather read a book that didn't go so far out of it's way to include the pictures. \n Review to come.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 13 06:09:20 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri May 15 12:19:19 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Feb 22 11:38:32 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "2321296", "review_id": "ee84591ce2a2551b097d4dc1f42e59af", "rating": 0, "review_text": "What better way to publicize your book? Have another shitty author mention it in her book! \n Despicable.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 17 08:31:34 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 17 08:32:22 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "8118141", "review_id": "e93b8dcf3cdbd28c99299fef38c94c53", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I am not writing a review for this book because the sole reason I'm reading it is to waste time and have a good laugh. \n But I wanted to point out one little thing that really bugged me... \n \"He didn't remember hardly anything...\" \n This quote was taken directly from the published (finished) work. It is very clearly a double negative. Did she mean to say he remembers everything? No. She meant he barely remembered anything (why didn't she just say that? No idea) \n This author is a CREATIVE WRITING teacher! \n I feel like ANYONE who teaches English and Literature should know to avoid double negatives! Or at least to use them properly! \n If I was her boss and read this book, I would fire her for simply being an awful teacher and leading a bad example. The language in these books is atrocious, filled with stupid mistakes no educated person should make. \n Bet the bitch is tenured. \n And don't get me started on what kind of awful publisher would publish this kind of horse shit. How about editing it a bit? How about making it READABLE. \n I am so angry that books like these get published while great novels are cast aside. Even Fifty Shades of Gray and Twilight were EDITED. \n WHAT THE FUCK.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 14 07:41:17 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 15 12:15:54 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 15 12:15:54 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "12989757", "review_id": "a724a2f8740e35600b21a52a0bfa8435", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I can't even... how do people like this crap?", "date_added": "Tue Dec 18 11:27:40 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 04 13:34:28 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "15998238", "review_id": "c1ad384c24bb87690ac6881d65ae95ce", "rating": 0, "review_text": "DISCLAIMER: I received Between Two Thorns as a publisher ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. \n This review can also be found at The Title Page \n Rating: Stars \n Review to come \n Publish: March 5th, 2013", "date_added": "Thu Dec 13 07:42:33 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed May 29 07:47:22 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Tue Jan 08 12:49:31 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "15822836", "review_id": "f4de4399b41ed5745263a1f9e3375b1a", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Interesting... think I'll give it a shot. \n But one thing. \n The description of the book is so awfully written, with major grammatical errors and spelling mistakes, that it's quite a turn off. I hope that's a reflection on the editor and not the book's author.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 11 06:50:02 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 11 06:51:53 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "15849472", "review_id": "d96d83eb59e332112391f97a5c8a77e9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "DISCLAIMER: I received A Conspiracy of Alchemists as a publisher ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. \n This review can also be found at The Title Page \n Rating: 3.5 Stars \n A Conspiracy of Alchemists follows air-pilot, Elle, and her warlock companion, Hugh on a quest to find her kidnapped father. Elle discovers that she holds powers she never even imagined in this adventure that takes place in a magical, historical, alternate universe. \n This book starts out interestingly enough, pushing us straight into this universe with no explanation. I was able to pick up enough from the setting and character description to figure out some of the mythology going on throughout the book, but it took a while for me to fully understand what was going on. I ended up googling different mythology just to get an image in my head of certain characters. \n The characters were very in-depth, I enjoyed the people I was reading about. Consistency could have been better. In the beginning of the novel, Hugh was a hardened gentleman with a snarky attitude but by the end of the book he had turned into a useless boy pining for a girl's love. \n Everything seemed to move slower in this world too. Elle is determined to find her father (who she fears may be dead), but only after she's had her breakfast. Hugh and Elle travel to Venice to speak to the only people who can help them, but the first thing they do is check into a hotel. Once Elle is kidnapped, Hugh visits a few friends and checks into a hotel for a few days before finally freeing her. They just seem really calm in the situations they're in. Panic should be their first reaction. \n And then, of course, in the end we have the inevitable 'bad guy reveals entire plan because, hey \"you're going to die anyways\"' cliche, that I did not enjoy from such an original novel. And we wouldn't miss the Prologue designed only to set up for the next novel. (which I really think it could have done without. This book would have been a great standalone novel, I fear the sequels will only bring it down.) \n I was not overly impressed with the novel, but I didn't hate it. The world building was fascinating, if not a bit overwhelming. It's a good read, but not the top of my list.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 21 12:42:44 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 05 11:16:10 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Dec 14 13:02:45 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "16140600", "review_id": "31b24593f240fbe5d84dde1ed05863f3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "DISCLAIMER: I received A Shimmer of Angels as a publisher ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. \n This review can also be found at The Title Page \n Rating: 3.5 Stars \n I wanted to review A Shimmer of Angels while it was still fresh in my mind. I finished the book yesterday and have mixed feelings about the title. \n I have to admit, I went into this book expecting it to be just another high school novel, I feared it would be on par with Marked and I would be putting it down before I let too many of my brain cells rot. \n Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised. \n Ray is a refreshing take on the teenage girl. Having lived three years of her life in a mental hospital, she isn't the standard high school teen queen. Of course, there is the typical love triangle, which seems to be standard among YA novels these days. (let me tell you now girls, you'll be lucky to ever have one perfect guy falling head over heels for you, the chances of two would be slim to none.) \n The writing leaves much to be improved on, I got the feeling that the author was trying too hard to sound like a teenage girl. The dialogue Ray used did not match her thoughts. She was emotionally more mature than a normal 16 year old would be because she had gone through so much more than most teens. It should reflect in the way she speaks along with the way she processes information. \n I love Ray's 'descent into madness' throughout the beginning of the books. I put this in quotes because it's not so much a descent into madness as an ascent from madness. The best part of the novel is the section where Ray comes to terms with the fact that she is not crazy. \n The author would use filler sentences that didn't make too much sense, which gave me the feeling that she was trying too hard. She'd use words like... \n \"Have a seat,\" the waitress invited, her voice sharp with sarcasm.\" \n or \n He might look my age, but sometimes, when he said weird things like that, I couldn't shake the feeling he was much older. \n The first qualm I had with these was trying to figure out how one would sarcastically tell someone to take a seat for a job interview. I spent a few minutes trying to figure that one out. As for the second quote, you'll probably need some context. She says this about Cam, a person she's known for approximately 2.5 minutes and said 3 words to. \n This is what I'm talking about, a good editing and this would be a really great book. \n I like the topic, fallen angels, guardian angels, angels from hell. This all interests me, but I'd have to say I haven't read many novels on the subject. This is because I'm writing my own angel-based novel and don't want to be influenced by any other work. \n I took a chance with A Shimmer of Angels and I'm glad I did. I'm not sure I'll read the following 2 novels, but that is to be discovered. \n Favorite character: Kade \n Least Favorite Character: Cam \n Recommended for: Young readers, readers interested in angel/demon work.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 21 12:36:28 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 03 07:45:38 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "16058823", "review_id": "190e8cc0aafa9d9b956585af06d9f91e", "rating": 1, "review_text": "DISCLAIMER: I received Dance of Shadows as a publisher ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. \n This review can also be found at The Title Page \n Rating: 1 Star \n I cannot say I enjoyed Dance of Shadows. \n The immature dialogue, the unimpressive world building, the annoying teenage attitude, the overbearing parental figures, and the lack of character depth added together makes me wonder how this ever got a publisher's attention. Not to mention the secret-but-not-really-a-secret we've got going on. At 1% into it, I dreaded reading the rest of this novel. \n I am completely unimpressed with this novel. \n Here is what I have put together: \n 1. The book has all of the standard crap that makes a crappy high-school novel crappy; \n -twin-like friends \n -roommate best friend \n -super obviously gay guy friend \n -super hot popular guy who's into main character \n -super evil popular bitch who is dating said popular guy \n -the black friend \n -the girly friend \n -the tomboy friend \n -the hot teacher \n 2. The book is riddled with inconsistencies. In just the first quarter of the book, I have a list of stupid little things that just didn't make sense. It makes the scenes that much harder to imagine, like the author didn't really care about what she was writing. \n Example: At 18% Steffie is said to have chain earrings. At 21% Steffie 'turned one of her hoop earrings absentmindedly'. Same setting, same scene, not time to change her earings. (Also, why is the author so obsessed with Steffie's earrings?) \n 3. The book is bogged down with useless crap that no reader cares about. I don't care if Steffie reaches up to touch her earring, I don't CARE if TJ adjusted the strap of her high heeled sandal as she climbed the stairs, I DON'T CARE IF BLAINE BUMPED INTO AN EMPTY SEAT! \n It feels like it is wasting my time. \n 4. The POV is confusing and irritating. It's hard to remember it's a 3rd person perspective when reading through it, you get confused as to who Vanessa is when you feel like it should be 1st person. \n I gave it a shot, but it just wasn't an enjoyable book to me.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 16 06:38:42 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 12 06:21:33 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Nov 29 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Thu Nov 29 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "15823337", "review_id": "4ad0d3a3f788cc6b8a295d50bcb6dbed", "rating": 5, "review_text": "DISCLAIMER: I received Pantomime as a publisher ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. \n This review can also be found at The Title Page \n Rating: 5 Stars \n When books end in a way that makes me hate myself for being alive... I normally hate them in return. I hate the writing, I hate the author, I hate the plot, the characters, the dialogue. Basically, I wish the book had never been written and in that, I had never read it. \n I simply cannot bring myself to hate this book. In fact, I can't do anything but love it. It is simply amazing, and I don't think I've ever read such an original, creative, lovely piece of work. \n Pantomime has a little bit of magic, a little bit of steampunk, a little bit of kick-ass, and a whole lot of secrets. \n The book follows both Micah Grey, a runaway in search of a new life in the circus, and Gene Laurus, a noble young girl who has yet to find her place in the world. The two come together in the most unexpected of ways, and must hide the fact that they are not what they appear. \n The novel is set in Ellada, an alternate society in which magical things can and have happened. Traces of magic are left behind in the cities in the form of Artifacts and giant domes of Penglass, a mysterious material that cannot be removed nor broken. \n The world building in this novel is, in the simplest of words, perfect. There is not an overwhelming amount of time spent on describing the setting, but not a lax enough description that we are left completely to our own imaginations. Lam has captured the world that was created in her imagination and presented it to us with such descreet detail and vigor that we do not even notice that we have been transported to another world until we are there entirely. \n Micah and Gene's story's are intertwined in a way that you would never expect. The author is brave and original in the way that secrets are revealed to us. I never would have guessed when I began reading that these plot points would unveil so seamlessly in the novel. \n Once you really become a part of the book, it is difficult to put it down. I got to the last few chapters right when I ran out of time to read, and I couldn't properly focus on anything the rest of the night and into the next morning until I was able to pick the book up once more and let it engulf me. \n The way the novel is written is completely original and invigorating. It inspires you to think outside of the box, and come up with creative new ways to tell your own stories. \n Yet, throughout the entire novel, we are nagged with reminders that all of this is part of something bigger yet to come. By the end of the book, plot lines are left open to be elaborated on in the future of the series. There is so much left open and, while you have a small inkling of where this story may be headed, there is a plethora of ways it could be taken. I eagerly await the upcoming sequels and strongly urge new readers to take on this book. You'll learn so much about yourself and open bits of your imagination that you never even knew you had. \n I applaud Laura Lam for such an amazing debut novel. \n I recommend this book for: People who enjoy any or all of the following: Steampunk, science fiction, mystery, circus's, great novels. \n Favorite character: Aenea and Micah \n Least favorite character: Bil \n P.S. The memory of the last solid copy book I purchased doesn't even grace my mind, but (even though I've read it already) I guarantee that this one will be the next.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 16 06:35:52 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 12 06:23:41 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Nov 29 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "676924", "review_id": "acce06f4348ec2155437cc3465535da2", "rating": 1, "review_text": "This book is so awful I can't even bring myself to review it. I don't want to think about it anymore, and it would basically be repeating a lot of things mentioned in my review of the first book. \n I had a nightmare the other night that I'd accidentally bought the entire series. A nightmare.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 13 13:45:30 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 24 08:42:00 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Tue Nov 13 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "30183", "review_id": "31eac73fd3732e9fda22e6a2122e160c", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Check out my other book reviews at my blog; The Title Page \n Rating: -.5 \n I start off by mentioning that I completely knew what I was getting into when I started this novel. I had read enough negative reviews and mocking blogs to be prepared for the horrors that lie between the covers of this er-novel. I read it anyways. Call it morbid curiosity, call it a death wish, whatever you want. \n As you may or may not have noticed, I did, in fact, rate this novel negatively. I have never rated a novel below 0 before (yes, even FSoG or Twilight). The reason behind my rating will (obviously) be in my review, but I wanted to point out now that this book actively offended me. Yes, she who has an immaturity level of a 12 year old and uses vulgar language without restraint is offended. Not easily, but it's possible and P.C. fucking Cast seems to have hit the mark perfectly. \n As I am so disgusted by the senseless drivel P.C. Cast has spewed from her hateful, ugly, repellant mouth, I will set this review up in a way I've done a few times before. My issues list. \n Issue #1: And probably the biggest issue I've had in this book, is the way the author treats the topic of rape. At an early point in the story, Zoey stumbles upon a student performing fellatio on another. The boy was pushing the girl away and she forced herself upon him. \n Later, when reflecting on the incident, Zoey comments to herself about how easy some girls are (not her, of course) and how guys should not use girls like that. I'm sorry... did you not hear him say no? Did he not actively attempt to push this girl away? \n Rape is not a topic I like to face too often, but it is just as much sexual assault when a girl does it to a guy than vice versa. \n Issue #2: Zoey is 100% irrevocably and completely a Mary-Sue. Which only makes it worse that she is based off of the author's daughter almost entirely. Even her career goals are the same. \n There is a point, about 65% into the book, where Zoey is completely confirmed in her Mary-Sue-ness. \n \"\"Zoey! This is amazing. I don't think there's ever been a High Priestess who felt all five of the elements.\" She nodded at my Mark. \"It's that. It means you're different, and you really are.\" \n This quote alone makes it official. No good writer should have such an obvious Mary-Sue. This is one of the reasons I am shocked and appalled that this book was published at all. For the other reasons, read Issue's 1-5. \n --- \n Not to mention, she is extremely hypocritical. She calls other girls sluts, ho's, hags (that terminology shouldn't even be used in a novel.. see Issue #5) and is in turn, much worse than said girls. I've heard this gets worse in the following novels. \n And shallow. Zoey is shallow. I want to punch her shallow self in the shallow fucking face. \n \"Okay, I admit that I hadn't liked Elliot-no one had. The kid was annoying and unattractive.\" \n Stop. Just stop. Someone being unattractive should NEVER be a reason for you not to like them. \n Issue #3: I took it upon myself at one point to make a list of things Cast has ripped off of Harry Potter. Here it is, summed up. \n 1.\tMain character is nerdy, but cute. \n 2.\tShe wears geeky glasses. \n 3.\tShe has a special mark on her forehead that no one else has ever seen before ever. \n 4.\tShe has a geeky, weird, and unstylish best friend (who happens to be the first person she met at the school) \n 5.\tShe has a smart, brainy member of the opposite sex as one of her best friends. \n 6.\tShe has two 'twin' friends who finish each other's sentences. \n 7.\tHer enemy is popular and into dark magic. \n 8.\tSaid enemy attempted to befriend main character before she became friends with her current group. \n 9.\tHas a pet that is better than everyone else's. \n 10.\tThe school is split up into 4 sections. \n 11.\tHer loyal friends show up in the end to be her sidekicks while she ultimately saves the day, and is rewarded for it as if she had done it singlehandedly. \n 12.\tThe ending is MASSIVELY CORNY. \n Those are twelve similarities between this novel and our beloved Harry Potter. Twelve. I would have more if I had stretched it a bit. But, twelve. Really? \n Issue #4: I wanted to vomit at Cast's writing. The spelling and grammar were horrendous, and her awful attempts to sound like a teenager resulted in a exaggerated prose of teenage whoredom. Not one single person in the world talks that way. Not even Paris Hilton (who you seem to hate so much). Name dropping will be brought up later. \n And now, for some amazing quotes to further accentuate how terrible this teen prose is. Some of these are taken straight out of my updates. \n \"(I wish I had great boobs.) \n \"Huh?\" I said. Speaking of boob- I was totally sounding like one. (Boob... hee hee).\" \n -- \n \"\"Stupid boys\" I echoed and smiled at her. If she thought boys were stupid, she and I would get along fine.\" \n Sorry, I forgot the protagonist was seven fucking years old. \n -- \n \"\"Oh, no...\" I whispered to myself, \"it would be just my luck to get a raging case of diarrhea\". \n NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT! NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT DIARRHEA. FUCKING GROSS. NO! \n -- \n \"a crystal goblet that was filled with something that looked suspiciously like red wine. (Huh? Wine at school? What?)\" \n Not one page ago, Zoey commented on how she expected there to be blood to drink at dinner. Is she really that slow that she can't remember her own through process? Or maybe it's just that she is so fucking stupid, she can't put two fucking things together. Vampires. Blood. Vampires. Blood. ARE YOU MAKING ANY CONNECTIONS?! \n This is a vouch for the awful writing, the goddamn author can't even keep her own thoughts straight. And no one talks like that! Even in their heads! \n -- \n \"...the typical cafeteria servers handing out food from behind buffet-style glass thingies.\" \n Thingies. You can't make this stuff up. \n -- \n \"\"I have urine that needs to come out of my urethra.\" \n If you drop the term 'urethra' in daily conversation, I am not your friend. \n -- \n \"Me gusta it de compras. (I like shopping.)* No me gusta cocinar. (I don't like to cook.)** No me gusta lavantar ell gato. (I don't like to wash the cat)***.\" \n I added the asterisks. \n * WRONG \n ** WRONG \n *** WRONG. \n -- \n \"I really hate it when girls do that. I mean, yes, she's older, but I have boobs, too.\" \n And there we have it. What every teenage girl has been wondering their entire life. To seem older and mature, all you need to have are boobs! I'm so glad the wonderful authors of this book were able to clear that up for us. \n -- \n Issue #5: Every other sentence, Zoey and her friends drop the words 'hag', 'ho', or 'slut'. Those are not okay terms to use in a novel, even if you're trying to sound like a vain, hurtful little fuck. \n And the name dropping. OH GOD, THE NAME DROPPING. Every other sentence, Michael Kors, Paris Hilton, or Ashton Kutcher was dropped! Not to mention The Amazing Race, Project Runway, and Gucci. I don't want to watch TV ads, I want to read a fucking novel. \n Those are my main issues with the novel. Of course, there are plenty more, but my review would be way too long if I included all of those. Just imagine the worst novel you've ever read, and multiply the horribleness of it by 7. Then imagine there are eleven sequels. ELEVEN! \n And of course, I will read them because I like to torture myself.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 09 09:27:32 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 12 06:28:36 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Nov 13 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "8548708", "review_id": "615d7a6b67bb63c1e359eebd00eb3fae", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was completely average in every way. \n Maybe I'll review it later on :P", "date_added": "Thu Oct 25 07:56:34 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 18 09:12:43 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Dec 18 09:12:43 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "11898247", "review_id": "6530919655331e3f9aa76239d8f5974f", "rating": 0, "review_text": "DISCLAIMER: I received Erekos as a publisher ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. \n This review can also be found at The Title Page \n Rating: Stars \n review to come", "date_added": "Wed Oct 24 08:43:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 06 06:32:09 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "3157877", "review_id": "8d18f59e566b32feb03d671dd6bc4cfc", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This review can also be found at The Title Page \n My rating: 1.5 Stars \n I really wanted to like this book, because I loved Break My Heart 1,000 Times and because so many people seemed to love it too. I just couldn't get into this book. \n I was worried that it would be Twilight-esque, but it wasn't. It wasn't a horrible book, I just really didn't enjoy it. \n I tried, I really did, but by 3/4 the way through I couldn't do it, I couldn't force myself to love something that was so undeserving. \n Lets start of with the warped romance in this book. I get it, you want the weird goth girl (let me just pause for a second... goth... smh) is in love with a dead guy. \n Okay, dead guy, zombie, whatever. Let's just think about this... I know these are teenagers and they're in high school, and they're so innocent and pure and yada yada yada. And what typically happens the first time little teeny boppers get sexual? \n But this kid is dead. DEAD. Would things even function down there? \n Nope, let's not think about it. \n Can I just start off mentioning that Phoebe (the main character; don't think I ever mentioned that) goes from knowing who this kid was and being in the same english class, to full blown, head over heels, love at first sight bullshit. Where did this come from? Did her feelings wait until the book began to show up? I don't... I just don't. \n OK, for serious though, this book dragged on. Nothing really happened until the very end. Even the beginning was slow as shit, so I should have known before I started. \n I don't HATE this book. I just hated it... for me, you know? Daniel Waters, I loved your new novel, you should have waited until you were good to debut. \n Cause...", "date_added": "Fri Oct 19 10:47:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 05 11:16:52 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "8178400", "review_id": "f2fa6c269ba82fa370dbf98cd418ef6c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Ori just felt more like a dog of Raynards to me than a human, and beastiality just does not sit well with me.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 16 12:55:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed May 01 13:13:44 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "10401084", "review_id": "6f3d7740af45f7ce7e7216ee5b351c52", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Really? Finished at 89%? Weird. Good book. No review.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 14 09:52:01 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 24 07:06:30 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 24 07:06:30 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "13021871", "review_id": "e0dbe41575c175c6b7373d17a18a479d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "DISCLAIMER: I received Break My Heart 1,000 Times as a publisher ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. \n This review can also be found at The Title Page \n Break My Heart 1,000 Times was one of the best books I've read all year. Keep in mind that I am on book 80 of 2012. \n The main character, Veronica isn't your typical Sci-fi protagonist teenager. She's pretty (and knows it), flirty (and proud of it), and extremely moody. \n In short: she's not perfect. \n Her love interest, Kirk is nerdy and cute, but nothing compared to his tall, muscular friend, James. \n Romance \n Lets start with the love triangle in this novel. Because, of course, a YA novel needs to have a love triangle. \n This love triangle is perfect and creepy. You think it's going to be between Veronica, Kirk, and James, but in reality, you'll soon find that James is not even a runner. Brian is Veronica's other love interest. And Brian is a ghost. \n Maybe I should have started by mentioning that this book has ghosts. Oh well. \n Brian is one of the super rare ghosts who is coherent. He cannot speak to Veronica, but he can look at her. He can think, and he tries his best to protect her. Veronica has never spoken to him or seen him do more than brush his hair in the mirror, but she has this pull towards him that she doesn't understand. \n Throughout the novel, I was rooting for Kirk because logically, he is the only one actually alive. Brian couldn't interact with Veronica, and we find out from delving into his mind that he is madly in love with the deceased, Mary. \n Ghosts \n Veronica's father is a ghost. He sits every morning at the kitchen table reading the paper and drinking coffee. Then he looks up, smiles, and disappears. \n I love the ghosts in this novel. They are everywhere, images of their past selves and hauntingly beautiful. The ghosts in Veronica's world have no purpose. They are what they are and no one knows why they're there. \n My favorite part of the novel, I think, was the detective work that Kirk and his professor did. They classify certain ghosts by why their images show up at a certain place or time. It's interesting to hear about the different types of this mystery. This book is a puzzle that never fully gets solved. \n Why was one ghost able to grab someone's hand? \n Why was one ghost able to point at her murderer? \n Why was one ghost able to make a phone call? \n It's all a mystery, because we don't know any more than the characters in the novel. \n Mystery \n A large focus in the novel is on Mr. Bittner, Veronica's History teacher. He is a murderer (no, this is not a spoiler). \n One of the reasons this book interested me so was because we knew the entire time who the murderer was. Because of this, we were able to understand his complete thinking. We were able to see his reasoning. \n This novel, at times, had me yelling out \"No! Don't do it! The voices aren't real!\". Everyone at the office gave me weird looks. \n The Writing \n Daniel Waters' writing in this novel is poetic and beautiful. The way he can jump from one character to another without losing their personalities was breathtaking. It is not easy to write a multi-view novel without all of the characters sort of merging into one giant protagonist, trust me, I've tried. \n The book was mysterious. We aren't just told things, we are shown them. We don't find out Veronica's father is a ghost until he just happens to disappear. We naturally assumed he was just her dad, sitting at the table before going to work. Then poof, he's gone. \n The Event \n Oh, the Event. A term used by many a novel as we are thrust into their post-apocalyptic world. \n We are told a few things about the Event, but not what actually happened. It's a mystery in itself that is never fully explained. \n Conclusion \n All in all, I rate this book 5 stars. Everything was impeccable. It has earned a place on my 'Favorites' shelf. I am completely impressed, and upset that it is not the first in a series. \n Alas, it is what it is.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 29 06:03:05 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 06 04:25:40 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Oct 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "10757830", "review_id": "e20368f7f83aa3edc64b3f7f8d8d92eb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I finished the entire book and still can't figure out why it's called The Shattering. \n 3.5 Stars", "date_added": "Tue Aug 28 10:23:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 26 13:31:00 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jun 26 13:31:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "21596924", "review_id": "94a90b433d0dd06284a619a38ba9e329", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Check out my other book reviews at my blog; The Title Page \n So, I was expecting a twist, but that was awesome! \n If you have 5 minutes to put aside in your day, read this books. \n The first bit of it dragged a little, and was a bit confusing, but the last chapter wholly made up for it, leaving you wanting more. \n I want to know more about this special bookstore, where did it come from? How does it work? \n Hobbes did a great job of placing the setting and preparing you for the twist you didn't expect. \n He covered his bases and left no room for skepticism. \n A definite read.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 05 11:55:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 02 21:29:26 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "14897141", "review_id": "ed232e4a24ea8b5777e5ed1927a90acb", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Check out my other book reviews at my blog; The Title Page \n Closed Hearts is the sequel to Open Minds, a novel set in a world where everyone normal is a mind reader. Kira, however, is not normal. She's a jacker. Jacking is a special skillset in which the Jacker can enter and ultimately control a Reader's mind. \n In this novel, Kira has exposed the jackers to the public, and is set on a mission to free the trapped jackers and protect the ones she loves. \n I found this novel to be slightly disappointing compared to it's predecessor. Kira has completely changed in terms of her attitude and determination. In Open Minds, she would stop at nothing to bring Kessler down, and in this one she gives up two separate opportunities to do just that. \n Her regard for those she loves is pushed until the end of the novel, only then does it occur to her that the best thing she could do to protect her loved ones is to leave them behind. \n Her powers which were considered so remarkable in the first book seem weak and useless in this one. At times she can defeat extremely skilled jackers and at others she can't even get in the heads of weakly protected readers. The inconsistinsies in her skill make me think the author got worried that Kira might become a Mary-Sue type character. Her attempts to correct this leave Kira a weak, unimpresive protagonist and one I'd much rather see replaced. \n Honestly, I would much rather the story continue on in Julian's perspective, he is the stronger character and while mysterious, much more developed. \n Another large red flag to me in this novel is that so many of the Mages' enemies are jackers. Being a jacker, wouldn't you want to help a group that is fighting solely for jacker rights? Or at least do not stand in their way. The anti-jacker readers would be completely powerless without their jacking body guards. This is like saying gay people would fight against gay rights. It makes absolutely no sense. \n One of the biggest disappointments I think is the scene set up. The big climax of the book takes place a good amount of time before the ending, almost at the halfway point. If I was an editor, the beginning and end of this book would not interest me enough to back it. \n All over, this book is an obvious read if you enjoyed the first book. I would suggest reading it only in hopes that the third one will be much better, and you'll need it to fill in the space between the two novels.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 02 08:53:23 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 04 01:58:44 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "11391978", "review_id": "10849ff8809f857f80bd869c2e64493f", "rating": 1, "review_text": "15% into this book and I gave up. It feels like I'm reading fanfiction, it really does. \n The protagonist has no personality, there's barely any dialogue, I feel like I'm reading a movie script, or a Wikipedia plot overview. \n And if someone rips you out of your life, only to have a military force come bursting to your rescue... why exactly would you go with the person who upended your life? And then to later shoot a random stranger with no hesitation to save this upender? \n Yeah, not buying it. \n I'm upset that I wasted money on this book (if you would call it that, I would consider it a novella) \n And I can't respect an author that has over 100 published books within a few years. How about working on fixing the massive amounts of shit books that you have, instead of publishing anything that comes out of your head? Establish a base of GOOD books, then you can publish all the crap novellas you want. Until then, no respect. Anyone can do what you do. \n Not to mention, if you check out the author's Goodreads account, she's rated almost all of her books 5 stars. I'm pretty sure I just threw up I'm so disgusted.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 19 11:17:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 16 07:29:49 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Thu Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "13637290", "review_id": "5588d78d702db75ffa686c9dba48f9b0", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Check out my other book reviews at my blog; The Title Page \n Just finished this book and... here is my review. \n Like the first one in the trilogy, there are some serious grammatical errors. I've noticed that there is a lot of useless and immature dialogue. Fitting for the characters ages, but not so much worthy of mentioning in the actual book. \n Another thing I noticed is that it will have entire chapters dedicated to every little thing that happens, and then have a paragraph explaining the next few days. It gets me thinking \"What was the point of explaining all that uneventful stuff?\" \n One thing I do like is that, while the book is full of adventure, not much that I don't like has happened (at least so far). In most other novels of this sort *SPOILER* the obvious beginning of this book would be Hayden dying. I love that he lived and I love that so far everything has worked out okay. No one ever writes a story about keeping up a quarantine compound, it's always about the protagonist finding a quarantine, and then that being overrun in a short time from then. I like how this book is more about living in a zombie apocalypse than ending one (or ending in one). \n I'm not gonna start about the giant cliffhanger endings the author loves so much, everyone else has pretty much expressed their disappointment with that enough for my taste. \n Overall... skip it. There are better zombie books out there.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 08:57:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 22 18:13:57 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Feb 22 18:11:55 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Tue Feb 14 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "22837831", "review_id": "9878a5a86411907b3cb3125228e75e47", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I've been waiting to review this book until I finished the series, but now, halfway through the second one, I realize I have so many notes on the books that I will forgot a majority of them before I even get around to writing my first review. \n The first time I read this book was almost five years ago now. It wasn't popular at all, with only a handful of bad reviews on Goodreads. I was at a point where I was reading books just for my review blog, and looking back now, I'm surprised to find that I had written a short positive review on it. That surprised me because this book sticks out in my mind as one that I noticed was very poorly written and quite disappointing. I was shocked to find that since my last reading, this book has supposedly won awards and become a best seller. I guess anyone can give awards out now. \n I decided to re-read it because I love to torture myself with bad books. At least I remembered it was bad so I wasn't disappointed this time. \n The premise of this book is excellent. A world torn apart by zombies and one girl's struggle to survive. I especially liked the idea of most of the series being written while the cast is safe in a compound. Too many zombie books these days are filled with people running for their lives and when they finally find a place to settle down, it never lasts long. Bless my heart, I just wanted one of these stories to have some positive themes. \n And that is where the good points of this book end. \n There's this cool new feature on Goodreads that lets me share the notes that I took while reading this on the kindle app. I wanted to share these to stress the sheer amount of issues this book has. 61. I took 61 notes. I decided to note every single spelling or grammar error I found, because if a book has been published this much, it should really been proofread by many, many people. I mean, look, there's over a thousand reviews on it and you STILL haven't corrected the grammatical errors. \n In addition to the horrible (or lack of) proofreading, the main character has one of the worst cases of Mary-Sue disease I've ever seen. She is one of those 'do no wrong' characters that make you want to reach through the page and strangle her. A master of martial arts (who conveniently only knows how to kick zombies in the chest), an expert at guns (who also doesn't know the name of more than two different types of weaponry... and even those are clearly shoved in there after a 2-second google search), and gorgeous to boot. And no one hesitates to stop in the middle of running from hoards of zombies to be like \"Oh, Orissa, you're so amazing and beautiful and we'd all be dead without you, xoxoxoxoxo luvluv\". In addition to this, she is also incredible selfish (i.e. leading people to their probable demise with the lie that they are going to a quarantine when really they're going to see if her one and only friend is still alive, when chances are, she is not.) \n And that bring us to THE NAMES. The horrible names! How is everyone named Orissa, and Rayna, and Padriac. Where's Henry and Mark and Julia?! \n Next I'd like to address again the clear lack of research when it comes to this book. I hate calling authors out on things, being an author myself, but if you're not going to do your damn research, then don't include a topic you know nothing about in your book. Examples: \n 1. Orissa can't drive a standard transmission (the one thing she can't do). But she has no problem reminiscing about how she used to drive the tractors around her grandfathers farm. \n 2. Orissa knows all the names of the guns and ammo she sees. Except that there must have been some point where only three types of guns were ever produced because that's all this universe seems to contain. \n 3. Orissa thinks it's a good idea to build a fire in a store room with no windows.... \n 4. Orissa thinks having a doctor take a lot of blood automatically makes her anemic. \n 5. Orissa thinks their single wire electric fence has enough juice to stop a human heart. \n The list goes on and on. \n The last thing I want to touch on is just the writing in general. The conversations are flaccid. No one talks like that in real life. The descriptions are redundant. The language is bizarre. Random 'big' words thrown in that don't fit the character. The author will drop hints about things and then never mention them again. \n Anyways, thats my review, take it as you may. I'm sensitive to this stuff, but if you can look past crappy proofreading, shitty dialogue, and an awful main character, it's a great story.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 08:56:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 09 06:57:33 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "10637748", "review_id": "d00b241b2fe3d1e96e3136b224c7c06b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was surprisingly good.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 08:43:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 05 09:39:04 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "728c88f8c032455a942a5a32bd800fd8", "book_id": "113436", "review_id": "20d0f0133e618ff64c836926b1b3ddd7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Check out my other book reviews at my blog; The Title Page \n I read Eragon when I was 15. And again when I was 17. Then again when I was 21. \n The moment I opened this book, it whisked me away. Picture Lord of the Rings, but YA. God knows, I've read Lord of the Rings enough times, but when I was younger, getting through that book was like getting through my long period American History class where I had a blind teacher. Droning, really. \n LOTR is amazing, but it's a lot to take in for a kid. Thus, my relationship with Eragon was born. \n Eragon is a poor farmer's nephew, born of unknown legacy. He finds a mystical egg that contains his new dragon and life partner, Saphira. \n Saphira is one of two that we know of living dragons in the land of Alagaesia. The other is paired with the evil king of Alagaesia. Madness ensues, and Eragon is left alone with his dragon, everyone he cares about and every worldly possession stripped from him. He sets off to fight the Empire (very Star War's, amIrite?) alongside an old storyteller from his village. \n This books tells the story of his journey, his finally joining the allied forces fighting the evil king, and his first entry into battle. \n I enjoyed the first of the quartet of books the most, as most people usually do. It was full of adventure and magic. The other three focus more on war and battles, not my cup of tea. \n I don't consider Eragon a rip off of LOTR. Yeah, it's another world with different languages used throughout the novel. And it has it's share of mythical creatures. It's got the war for control of the land, with one main protagonist holding the key for the good guy's victory. \n For as much as Paolini struggles with originality, he makes up for it with the imagination and skill with which he fleshed out this magical world. \n Everything is completely thought out. This is one series I've read where there are no loose ends. You're never left wondering. And after you're done with all four novels, you are left feeling completely satisfied. (hehe, maturity glitch) \n Eragon is also a coming of age story. I strongly related to Eragon as a teen when I first read this. Living out your normal life, waiting for something extraordinary to happen. No, I didn't grow the standard main character crush on him like I did with Fred Weasley I'm still heartbroken , I saved that for Murtagh upset about his fate as well who is a supporting character in the novel. \n Paolini does a great job world building as well as character building. I could feel the different character's personalities. I had an emotional attachment to each character through the novel. \n I recommend this book for: sci-fi fans, dragon lovers, and LOTR fans. \n Favorite character: Murtagh and Saphira \n Least favorite character: The Twins \n P.S. The author is quite an artist too. Love his work.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 08:37:35 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 06 04:25:40 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "24b1d7241bb92786f0c2c3f63ac922c5", "book_id": "258099", "review_id": "0b2a21eab03b90eb0b1c0e27e9aae690", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The premise of Ryman's novel is that Dorothy, the heroine of L. Frank Baum's Oz books, was a real person, a girl that Baum met when he was a schoolteacher in Kansas in 1882. Instead of being magically transported to Oz, the real Dorothy was an abused child who could escape from her misery only through fantasy. \n The novel begins in the present day when Jonathan, a gay Hollywood actor obsessed with Oz, is driven to find out what happened to Dorothy. Plunging between present and past (Jonathan's story, Dorothy's, and Judy Garland's too) this is an extraordinary novel about the gap between reality and fantasy, the meaning of stories, and the origins and growth of a great American myth. Ryman's writing can seem plain at first, even too plain. But he is one of those writers who can pull off narrative effects so brilliant as to leave you stunned, even shattered. In a Ryman novel, there's a moment when he suddenly takes off, and all you do is hang on for the ride. There are great moments in Was. The scene in which Dorothy reads out her childish essay in Baum's class (\"I have a little dog called Toto ...\") remains one of the most moving things I have ever read.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 08:16:34 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 08 09:44:44 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "24b1d7241bb92786f0c2c3f63ac922c5", "book_id": "43763", "review_id": "0dad0872d4948ddb1063e38074bfe46c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Mysterious, erotic, frightening and tragic, this dark, perverse account of a vampire's life is the greatest of modern gothic novels. It's not simply a ripoff of Dracula. Far from it: Rice reimagines the vampire mythology and makes it her own. Nor should Rice be tainted by the endless retreads of the vampire theme which have followed in her wake. \n Everything about this novel impresses from the first. The narrative device of the interview (so contemporary, so out of keeping, it seems, with the subject matter) is a brilliant one, and the opening page is a marvel of storytelling, gripping and holding the reader in a manner so deceptively casual, so laconic. Anne Rice is the best and rarest kind of popular novelist, one who extends, rather than confines, the imagination of her readers. Anyone interested in the art of writing will find much of interest in Michael Riley's 1996 book of interviews with Rice, published in the US as Conversations with Anne Rice and in the UK under the surely inevitable title, Interview with Anne Rice.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 08:15:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 08 09:42:44 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8244b4cd2623f6bd7973f26c87595f3a", "book_id": "27904311", "review_id": "6dfd1725617c441328f33ef0c1776255", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3,5", "date_added": "Thu Jun 16 09:52:12 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 24 10:45:49 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Mar 24 10:45:49 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Mar 24 10:45:32 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8244b4cd2623f6bd7973f26c87595f3a", "book_id": "15711341", "review_id": "4b38010e116a91a3e242c576816c157b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4,5", "date_added": "Wed Jun 15 09:22:24 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 15 09:22:39 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 15 09:22:39 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8244b4cd2623f6bd7973f26c87595f3a", "book_id": "21414439", "review_id": "b8aba060d9400443ec00a61d21536b61", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3,5", "date_added": "Sat Apr 09 07:59:14 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 09 07:59:26 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Apr 09 07:59:26 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8244b4cd2623f6bd7973f26c87595f3a", "book_id": "15773979", "review_id": "f749d9579ffcb5b1abc513d8d001b828", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4,5", "date_added": "Mon Dec 21 14:53:49 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 21 14:55:07 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Dec 21 14:55:07 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Dec 21 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8244b4cd2623f6bd7973f26c87595f3a", "book_id": "18966819", "review_id": "9690d3da6267af15b7a08690356758f7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4,5", "date_added": "Wed Oct 07 07:43:10 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 07 07:43:23 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Oct 07 07:43:23 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8244b4cd2623f6bd7973f26c87595f3a", "book_id": "23437156", "review_id": "a6a49e32ad54dc9a3b2f24d9080dbcad", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4,5", "date_added": "Sat Aug 01 05:03:37 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 22 11:18:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Apr 22 11:18:30 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Apr 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8244b4cd2623f6bd7973f26c87595f3a", "book_id": "20764879", "review_id": "bcee09236f23f1f47e3fbe02aef4c8ec", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4,5", "date_added": "Sat Jun 27 17:27:07 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 12 00:25:29 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8244b4cd2623f6bd7973f26c87595f3a", "book_id": "13012638", "review_id": "90c95b4f9ac084c84aa60e8252c15aef", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4,5", "date_added": "Mon Jun 08 12:25:04 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 08 12:26:51 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jun 08 12:26:51 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8244b4cd2623f6bd7973f26c87595f3a", "book_id": "10065348", "review_id": "41f09cb13687e2fd531a63d87bb65a57", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4,5", "date_added": "Sun Jun 07 13:21:10 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 07 13:21:41 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jun 07 13:21:41 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8244b4cd2623f6bd7973f26c87595f3a", "book_id": "17342700", "review_id": "93b70854cd05c682b7d3bee76f89a8ac", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4,5", "date_added": "Tue Jun 02 07:00:13 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 03 13:41:13 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8244b4cd2623f6bd7973f26c87595f3a", "book_id": "15839976", "review_id": "979aba5e2f23e03ba5109db754e2e22c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5", "date_added": "Thu Feb 19 08:32:58 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 02 08:01:00 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Oct 02 08:01:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8244b4cd2623f6bd7973f26c87595f3a", "book_id": "22055262", "review_id": "a65446cc725c3cd4f53b9856f76a8ff6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4,5", "date_added": "Thu Feb 05 21:08:44 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 27 07:06:38 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jun 27 07:06:38 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8244b4cd2623f6bd7973f26c87595f3a", "book_id": "13538816", "review_id": "0bf28933cb0caf3912d1e7fdfe86b2bb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4,5", "date_added": "Tue Dec 02 13:38:49 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 04 09:27:38 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Oct 04 09:27:38 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8244b4cd2623f6bd7973f26c87595f3a", "book_id": "22443261", "review_id": "f44aa2b35dd7660c5438075a2db3d356", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4,5", "date_added": "Mon Oct 06 01:35:53 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 18 04:57:52 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Oct 18 04:57:52 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8244b4cd2623f6bd7973f26c87595f3a", "book_id": "22328546", "review_id": "8dd53ee8e4c63fa89811f0544c560d0d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was so much more than I expected. \n No it wasn't perfect, it was a tad predictable and could've used some more world building, but overall I'm really impressed. \n I wouldn't give it a full 5/5 though, more of a 4,5/5", "date_added": "Sat Sep 06 08:44:59 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 11 08:01:34 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Mar 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8244b4cd2623f6bd7973f26c87595f3a", "book_id": "18324059", "review_id": "4a04a43593fa9076c161aaa100a6e958", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4,5", "date_added": "Mon Aug 04 01:10:08 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 13 16:42:34 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jul 12 16:21:51 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8244b4cd2623f6bd7973f26c87595f3a", "book_id": "18478946", "review_id": "1351aaf27ba2e57866bf3459f7e7ddba", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3,5 \n Reasons I read this: Ridley \n Reasons I liked it: Ridley", "date_added": "Sun May 04 07:07:15 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 03 14:11:35 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jul 03 14:11:35 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jul 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8244b4cd2623f6bd7973f26c87595f3a", "book_id": "17302559", "review_id": "661c8263a881c7205f6e416c8d00b38d", "rating": 1, "review_text": "More of a 1,5 really. \n The main reason I didn't like this book was the fact that it couldn't keep my attention. It took me 13 months to finish this book, because I could only read so much before having to stop. \n I feel like this book would've been much better if the story focused on only Tyen. I found Rielle's story to be mostly boring and very uninteresting. When comparing the two main characters Tyen just seems a hundred times more interesting because Rielle's story only started to pick up in the last 25 pages or so. The only reason I kept reading was to get back to Tyen's POV, which was filled more action and magic, and of course my favorite, Vella. Vella is such an interesting character and easily my favorite thing about this book. \n Honestly I just might continue on with this series if only just to see whether Tyen succeeds in returning her to human form.", "date_added": "Fri May 02 05:52:57 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 04 15:05:32 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jul 04 15:05:32 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8244b4cd2623f6bd7973f26c87595f3a", "book_id": "17255435", "review_id": "7535012bbb0647936811028206e84f7a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A Shade of Vampire \n Author: Bella Forrest \n Rating:5/5 stars \n Now let me start off by saying that I very very much enjoyed this book. Like really very much. A Shade of Vampire is told from two POVs; Sofia Claremont's and Derek Novak's. It is well written, although quite short. I started this book at 1 am which was horrible decision since I didn't get any sleep until 3:37 when I finished the book. The story was captivating, brilliant and overall just fantastic. It's a quick fun read and I would recommend it \n I instantly loved the female protagonist, Sofia. She is captured on the evening of her seventeenth birthday, and taken to an island called \"The Shade\" which is the lair of the most powerful vampire coven in the entire world. In the beginning when she moped over how her best friend Ben would never love her the way she loves him I was annoyed, because it was quite obvious the Derek was the love interest here, not Ben. I admire how when brought to 'The Shade' Sofia isn't afraid to try run away when she first gets the chance. I would like to know more about Sofia's parents since we pretty much get nothing on that. Sofia is very well written and she managed to keep her shit together even though she went through some serious crap *cough* Lucas almost raping her and killing Gwen in her bathroom *cough* which I appreciate. \n Now Derek.. Derek is the prince of the Shade with only his father superior to him. Derek's been under a sleeping curse for the last 400 years so he isn't really up to date on recent events. Unlike Sofia, I didn't instantly like Derek, he came off as a little obnoxious, but that didn't last for long. I love Derek now, he's probably my favorite character. I found his backstory , his mom dying, the hunter thing, the prophecy blah blah ,very interesting. \n Do not try to tell me that this book was insta-love, I mean I can see why you would think that but it isn't. Insta-like perhaps, but not love oh noo. The moment Sofia first meets Derek she is afraid of him, not in love with him. The moment Derek first meets Sofia he throws her into a pillar. After the pillar throwing Derek makes Sofia his \"personal slave\" (which btw she is so not) because he is intimidated by her courage, not because he is in love with her. \n Not only were the MCs great the secondary characters were even better. Lucas and Vivienne oh boy are they good characters. Lucas, just gives me the chills. Dude he was creeepy. \n And wtf was that epilogue with Vivienne? Umm.. no you can't leave me just hanging like that. \n I just really wasn't a fan of Ben. He just annoyed the crap out of me.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 23 14:24:42 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 21 08:16:33 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7764df8a2f444db1c81a59d8c0c17e9d", "book_id": "186870", "review_id": "e14d927a8836eddc01556fd0b184fe19", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A cute grouping of three short stories. I read this in an afternoon and enjoyed it immensely.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 09 09:24:03 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 09 09:25:30 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Tue Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7764df8a2f444db1c81a59d8c0c17e9d", "book_id": "4602032", "review_id": "3c4bf695919a26156b4eaf4e8ceb8799", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love this series!!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 25 13:56:47 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 29 10:13:56 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7764df8a2f444db1c81a59d8c0c17e9d", "book_id": "6", "review_id": "b2dd104debb16438b10dc38a2aa5c7ef", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I noticed a change in the reading level in this book and began to enjoy the series more. The first 3 were pretty quick reads.", "date_added": "Thu May 21 23:29:43 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu May 21 23:31:31 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Fri May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7764df8a2f444db1c81a59d8c0c17e9d", "book_id": "121121", "review_id": "84428a3d227ad5ff5ea3dd376d1f9bba", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Yes I finally read this series. I came to the fandom a bit late but have enjoyed them throughly.", "date_added": "Thu May 21 23:26:49 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon May 25 04:35:03 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7764df8a2f444db1c81a59d8c0c17e9d", "book_id": "1867035", "review_id": "bba2c9c62b4cdad13be320757f8abbc9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Angels, Demons, Missing magic artifacts and Armageddon on the Las Vegas Strip. It's Harry Potter for adults.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 25 16:27:13 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 25 16:28:58 -0800 2008", "read_at": "Tue Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cad4bea642a52820cdbff8e58fa8bc0c", "book_id": "7008041", "review_id": "b48e688a035a1f5568deac9697b83000", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Hi y'all. This is my first ever review if you could call it that, but anyway. \n I saw this book a while ago while looking for something to read. Found something else, then saw it again, found something else....BIG MISTAKE. \n This book was fun, adorable and best of all, supernatural. And did I mention I'm a sucker for a happy ending. \n This book is about.....how to describe it....real personalities. Not the ones we show to the world but what is on the inside. The stuff we don't want to show. Compassion when we have to be nasty and ...now here I'm stuck....Cruel...We live in a world where fitting 'IN' is the most important thing. \n As said in this book: we hear everyday that we should be ourselves, unique, but we still have to fit in a perfect little box created by society. And that's the truth. \n Our girl in the story, is a shallow bitch. The one in high school that makes every life of every person a living hell. Even her friends that have to claw their way to the top to be on her good side. And the ones she thinks are beneath her. She's the girl who decides who is cool and who is uncool. But even the most superficial of people have a side that no one sees, if it is because they don't want to look weak or if being popular is the most important of all. \n Then we have Will, our hero. He is the outcast. Being bullied. A freak on the outside.....and inside if you think about it. But he has a good heart and does what he has to survive. \n Twist of fate and these two very different people with different social status meet and that's where the story starts. Our characters grow throughout the story. makes us wonder what we will be remembered for when we die, and learn to deal with their secrets they keep hidden from the world. \n I have to say, I'm kind of good at predicting the ending of a story, but this one surprised me until the very end. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story changed. It kept me hooked. \n Well done Stacey Kade.", "date_added": "Mon May 11 01:31:53 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 11 23:53:44 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cad4bea642a52820cdbff8e58fa8bc0c", "book_id": "15768536", "review_id": "44cfe7efcc3f4e92ed5d123add80a0d3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What do I think.... \n I really liked this book. It was just confusing at the start. I know Grace was looking for her true love, but come on, couldn't she see that Shane was the one? I could! Looking forward to the next book. Curious to know what happens next. Usually I don't read second books in a series, but I have to know what happens next.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 23 08:38:28 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 23 08:41:47 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Mar 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cad4bea642a52820cdbff8e58fa8bc0c", "book_id": "60510", "review_id": "f871d967aba8a674becc9650f344dbae", "rating": 5, "review_text": "When I started this book, I just couldn't put it down! I have a very disgruntled family, for I have been reading nonstop. this book is very emotional without the sugarcoating that has been the norm these days. It was not as predictable as I thought and had a little something for everyone. Action,Love,pain,sorrow, loyalty and mix in a happy ending and a promise of more to come and you have a perfect story. Complements to Maria Snyder and thank you goodreads for recommending this book. Worth a read", "date_added": "Sat Sep 22 08:16:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 23 02:18:26 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Sep 23 02:18:26 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cad4bea642a52820cdbff8e58fa8bc0c", "book_id": "6871616", "review_id": "43e2c5183b9a77384772822ac97ecc70", "rating": 4, "review_text": "very very good", "date_added": "Sat Aug 11 00:15:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 11 00:50:43 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cad4bea642a52820cdbff8e58fa8bc0c", "book_id": "13273621", "review_id": "0bc81b754f610a571dcb68a64aaa56de", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow, a really good book. Loved it, couldn't put it down and read it in record time. But the ending sucked", "date_added": "Fri Jul 06 22:55:23 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 09 04:24:12 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jul 09 04:24:12 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "cad4bea642a52820cdbff8e58fa8bc0c", "book_id": "6487308", "review_id": "584e900a77121350ae1effc11254d3c8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It was gripping from the start! I want to read it again!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 28 04:30:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 28 23:21:26 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jun 29 23:21:26 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "12390650", "review_id": "2d1752b9ce36c330c6b2f529a338b88d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "5 gorgeous stars \n loved it!!! loved it!!!!! \n a wonderful parallel world, with amazing twists and turns! \n highly recommended. :)", "date_added": "Thu Aug 31 14:29:08 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 10 11:33:34 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "25359131", "review_id": "a867f1692ff5e279db8def03b57209aa", "rating": 4, "review_text": ":) loved it! \n this series is really good!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 29 02:47:10 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 29 02:51:20 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "25231148", "review_id": "c1ddda8776a882fd162e6ca7771564c9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "lovely!!!!!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 15 02:17:01 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 29 02:52:11 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jun 15 02:18:01 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jun 14 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "5499119", "review_id": "bf80a22c671e82063491fda79ea7f95d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "bem.... nao gosto muito de criticar negativamente uma estoria mas esta serie de facto nao e bem \"my cup of tea\". \n independentemente de ser basicamente um conto erotico, a estoria ou o enredo poderia ter sido desenvolvido de uma forma mais convincente. Nao senti grande empatia com os personagens e nem deu para perceber muito bem como a relacao entre o casal se desenvolveu e intensificou. \n para mim muito fraquita, a mistura de sobrenatural com erotico, neste caso nao resultou muito bem.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 28 00:13:35 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 29 14:49:57 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Apr 29 14:49:57 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "28264911", "review_id": "1e45f5fea5a301d4ff09f542037f9d40", "rating": 3, "review_text": ":) in overall I liked it. \n With a somehow low pace, this story brings us two characters that are also charming and rough, with conflictual feelings. \n Both need the other, but at the same time argue with each other, to see wich one is the \"alpha\" in charge. \n Mal and Laura, managed to be a cute couple... the bond between them are strong, the hot scenes are powerful.... but seems it missing something...", "date_added": "Sat Apr 08 11:29:03 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 23 03:09:16 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Apr 13 07:34:55 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "25191218", "review_id": "de8c27c47cb128552d626c5f40a2dda3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "true enjoyable.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 30 22:38:25 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 07 07:03:57 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Apr 01 16:34:42 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Mar 31 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "25011845", "review_id": "822f38597cc08fc9655821a9ba13b0ca", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3,5* \n indeed a short story, but a lovely one. \n I like the characters and how they resolve their own fears. \n in a quick pace the characters discover each other and falling in love (!!!) \n ok... as this a fantasy, bears included, so this is not a beliavable story but bring's us a lesson... how can you let go what is not important, value only the true feelings and above all give importance to live itself. \n Brooke and Tagan are a lovely couple.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 15 13:15:59 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 29 02:52:29 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Mar 15 13:40:31 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Mar 14 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "33657594", "review_id": "1c477db48a04988fc57b3d0e4c9c6065", "rating": 4, "review_text": ":) \n Not so good as the previous stories, but entertaining and interesting enough to keep the attention. \n Is kinda of a short story, so the pace is quickly and the characters are not so well development, but the reader are caught up with all the scenes and intrigue enough to keep reading. \n Raina and Creed are in opposite worlds, she is the daughter of the King of Vampires and he is the bastard son of Satan and an angel he once seduced. \n ...At the second he set his eyes on her, he knew she is his, she is the Chosen One for him.... \n After some dangerous encounters with his father.... Raina and Creed managed to get away from Hell and find their HEA :) \n We also have a glimpse, what is going with the vampire wolfish twins and Jeena!!!! :) cute this threesome :P .... but at this time, they don't have a story yet! \n A serie to follow for sure! :)", "date_added": "Sun Mar 05 00:26:51 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 23 07:13:08 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Aug 23 07:13:08 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Aug 12 10:54:23 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "29935846", "review_id": "9be569732fbe4e48ff2b01d99e0402c0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4 wolfy stars :) \n well, in spite the story has ended with some rush, I enjoyed it very much. \n not quite convinced how the things had been resolved (the fight between bad vamps and shifters), but it is a romance after all. \n the story has a good pace, fueled by some hot scenes ( when direwolf alfa gets his mate, the world tremble). \n for those who enjoy paranormal or fantasy with a little bit of erotic, this series is a good option.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 28 07:52:18 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat May 20 13:06:52 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Mar 10 13:16:01 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sun Mar 05 00:23:30 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "28488353", "review_id": "5951eb24c2e0a427a966995c551eec4f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "this second instalment sure grab my attention. kinda addicted to this series. \n altough I'm not a big fan of supernatural , I found me a page turner of this one. \n saying this of course I'm on may way to pick up the next book", "date_added": "Tue Feb 28 07:52:05 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat May 20 13:06:45 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Mar 05 11:03:10 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Thu Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "26799597", "review_id": "2dc189ad906f8683cb9e509a1c9d7e32", "rating": 3, "review_text": "predictable but also entertaining....", "date_added": "Tue Feb 28 07:46:52 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat May 20 13:06:36 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Mar 02 22:45:26 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Tue Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "8333690", "review_id": "fde371f8825d578ff382aeb6fd9deed5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "o segundo e aparentemente ultimo livro da serie, Ritter Werewolves.... \n Com uma trama interessante e apelativa esta historia conta como protagonistas Richard Ritter e Kate Davis. \n Apos um assalto com consequencias menos agradaveis, para nao dizer nada boas, Kate ve-se subitamente na linha da frente de um \"stalker\" e sob a protecao de Richard. \n Com a sua vida alterada de uma forma radical Kate, tem de pensar na sua seguranca e na do seu filho.... mas o coracao nao presenca de Richard nao fica nada, mesmo nada seguro.... \n Sendo uma historia com um mote sobrenatural, nao e de todo \"estranho\" ler sobre lobisomens, ate porque a autora nao torna a trama muito pesada nem densa, tratando o tema com uma certa leveza. \n Para quem gosta do tema, mesmo nao tendo uma perspetiva \"dark\" e uma serie interessante.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 30 05:23:21 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 19 14:57:18 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Oct 30 05:45:46 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "17377242", "review_id": "13180e1f58b111b63082462824cc029b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "interesting closure of this supernatural serie. nice read.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 21 11:05:18 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 24 03:20:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Apr 24 03:20:31 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "15848738", "review_id": "1c24f2b648d6f1c352c9f83d7e38cf0a", "rating": 3, "review_text": ":) another short story.... this one about Liam. \n it was Ok.... a little bit the same, but enjoyable.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 21 11:05:10 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 23 07:21:32 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Apr 23 12:25:25 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "14743337", "review_id": "30f7684dab0d3b0e2e3e03b2d278e7fd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "", "date_added": "Thu Apr 21 11:04:59 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 23 00:45:25 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Apr 23 00:45:25 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Apr 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "13628983", "review_id": "0fa5cd7d95eb218b26a4d707088a5b2f", "rating": 3, "review_text": ":) Welll.. \n em modo sobrenatural... a ver o que esta serie vai dar. \n a avaliar mais este conto, apesar de ser meio estranho, foi tambem interessante. \n Ethan e um vampiro de 400 anos que ainda nao sentiu o chamamento da sua companheira o que o deixa de alguma forma entristecido.... ate que ele ocorre e entao todo o seu mundo se altera... :)", "date_added": "Thu Apr 21 02:49:27 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 21 11:06:58 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "13629032", "review_id": "bb952f6c34eb2797e4b9f5b3250daf69", "rating": 3, "review_text": ":) not my kind of staff... supernatural.... vampires and rough sex! \n a very short story.... but this is only the begining.... let's see if it brings a little more \"something\".", "date_added": "Tue Apr 19 10:55:50 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 21 11:06:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Apr 19 11:05:25 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "13636882", "review_id": "64200acf4efee5569da8fedcda356ae3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "", "date_added": "Sun Apr 17 14:25:40 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 23 00:46:11 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Apr 22 15:25:22 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "19609174", "review_id": "9f7b75ca0f5f46b9b8ab475eb1bf13b2", "rating": 3, "review_text": ":) apesar de tudo, gostei \n o fim apesar de estranho, foi muito engracado, com alguma emocao a mistura. \n a parte sobrenatural, time travel, nao me convenceu muito... \n bem, vou dar o beneficio da duvida a autora e ler a proxima historia ;)", "date_added": "Sun May 31 02:24:05 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 05 11:13:04 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "24469717", "review_id": "d37644c3eea234f3c55df8c58d50a596", "rating": 3, "review_text": ":/ wellllll.... \n nao gostei por ai alem. \n nao consegui de facto sentir empatia pelos personagens, pelo que a historia em si nao me seduziu minimamente. \n apesar de a escrita ser fluida e os personagens bem caracterizados, o tema nao e para mim garantia de uma boa historia. \n fica com as 3* porque apesar de tudo gosto do \"Merlin\" :P", "date_added": "Mon Mar 02 02:48:55 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 16 08:27:17 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Aug 16 11:20:25 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "22306114", "review_id": "af7b9ce4b657e8f43c564431b3fe5a32", "rating": 3, "review_text": ":) welll..... pure fantasy! \n In a world of darkness, The Real One, is expected. \n Aurora is the One, the true owner of Twylia, and she and her wolf will bring hope and light to this world. \n I realy liked it, recommend to all fans who enjoyed fantasy.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 13 05:01:58 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 09 07:58:03 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Feb 09 08:12:33 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "22306008", "review_id": "8efafb690c3172b9a72f1c6ef756ea89", "rating": 3, "review_text": ":) 3.5* \n apesar de ser curtinho, gostei da historia. \n ha ja algum tempo de que nao lia a \"seccao\" de fantasia de Nora Roberts, mas este conto veio despertar sem duvida alguma nostalgia. \n Um conto que nos induz a acreditar que de facto a fantasia/magia fazem parte deste mundo... ha sempre algum \"milagre\" que nao conseguimos e todo explicar. \n O Amor verdadeiro, a entrega espontanea e colocar sempre o \"outro\" em primeiro lugar... fazem parte desse milagre. \n Flynn e um magico, preso num mundo de sonhos, Kayleen e uma organizadora compulsiva e metodica, tudo no seu lugar e tudo a tempo e horas...e de repente encontra-se no mundo de Flynn... e a atracao e instantanea como se sempre se tivessem conhecido. \n E o Amor verdadeiro, fez o seu milagre! :)", "date_added": "Sat Jun 07 15:08:43 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 01 03:48:49 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Sep 01 05:37:31 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "7244827", "review_id": "057a4c1ba277290d740a55f98a6cb861", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked it! \n a pretty short story, but in fact a good and an interesting one. \n sure is a fantasy, although it is not my cup of tea, I enjoyed it very much.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 27 07:08:56 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 19 14:57:26 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "6592298", "review_id": "b6f0d80aabfe03351e91bfe686a5d6c6", "rating": 2, "review_text": "welll... another very short story.... and a very strange one! \n somehow the characters are sobrenatural... but at the same time, they have feeling like every \"human\".", "date_added": "Sun Sep 15 04:44:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 20 07:23:30 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "9065464", "review_id": "d007b0ebca30c330459ad1070803b267", "rating": 3, "review_text": ":) \n Este foi o segundo livro que li da Marion Zimmer Bradley o que me deixa sem saber muito bem como encarar a sua ficcao. \n A historia em si tem uma trama envolvente e ao mesmo tempo muito \"estranha\". \n Tem cenas \"hot\" narradas com alguma rudeza e crueza, beira por assim dizer uma historia erotica com laivos de agressividade psicologica. \n digamos que nao e propriamente o meu genero de leitura mas serviu como experiencia sobre o tema. \n Dei 3* meramente pela obra literaria e pela autora celebre pelos seus livros de fantasia.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 15 18:21:34 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 11 07:11:29 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "11292935", "review_id": "82d41248132fc54d01fdab98f33b9240", "rating": 3, "review_text": ":) \n a segunda parte de Criaturas Maravilhosas... \n desta vez a historia nao foi empolgante, o principio um pouco lento no desenrolar da historia. \n mais para o meio esta comeca a criar algum interesse e acaba com a sugestao de uma terceira parte talvez um pouco mais apelativa.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 06 01:57:36 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 02 10:06:07 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue May 14 01:36:33 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Feb 24 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "8845893", "review_id": "8bb39eb6e30d8d49a899a9644877184c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "ha ja algum tempo que nao lia nada de sobrenatural e afins. \n nao e dos mais \"negros\" o que se tornou para mim uma leitura agradavel, estimulante e a querer verdadeiramente chegar ao fim da historia. \n por tudo isto e para os \"amantes\" desde genero e de facto um livro a ler. :) \n com uma historia bem construida, personagens crediveis apesar de toda a fantasia envolvente. \n muito bom, mesmo!", "date_added": "Tue Jan 22 01:34:46 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 02 10:06:16 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Feb 10 09:17:01 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "7316959", "review_id": "bf96b6bbe3ed1f11e4f62e23b356a51a", "rating": 3, "review_text": ":) uma versao muito propria de Marion Zimmer Bradley, sobre a tao famosa Flauta Magica de Mozart . \n ja o li ha uns bons anos atras e tenho a memoria de uma historia fantastica, onde a coragem, o amor e a perseveranca sao sentimentos presentes em cada palavra.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 13 07:42:06 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 22 08:40:52 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 1987", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "11379294", "review_id": "d54ac4a93bfac4307ffc887f9a047388", "rating": 3, "review_text": ":) \n rating 3.5* \n as primeiras impressoes surge uma duvida, afinal do que se trata.... um livro tao pequeno? \n mas positivamente avaliamos que afinal o tamanho nao tem tanta importancia assim :P \n e uma historia quase tipo conto e quase um prologo do que ira acontecer, afinal sao 7 irmas!!!! \n prepara-nos para a familia Drake com todo o seu misterio e \"poder\" .... sao \"pessoas reais\" com toda a carga emocional como qualquer outra pessoa, acabamos por nos rever em alguns aspectos nestes personagens. \n a fantasia de terem \"poderes\" magicos tras um colorido a historia.... afinal portoes que se abrem sozinhos em sinal de boas vindas tem o seu \"que\" de engracado. \n uma historia leve e que se le rapido pelo desenrolar da accao e nos abre o \"gostinho\" para a proxima historia.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 29 07:14:59 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 30 03:53:02 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jun 30 03:53:02 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "9279485", "review_id": "104c0daf3f74188958152875fb57069e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "muita fantasia, mas para onde nos transportamos de uma forma tao intensa que parece que vivemos a historia.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 29 04:01:25 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 15 16:45:20 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2002", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "12824429", "review_id": "d6fc2268090a79945d87aec37ad0f895", "rating": 3, "review_text": ":) \n gostei da continuacao da historia das irmas Drake. \n o desenrolar da accao e rapido e vai cativando a medida que a historia vai acontecendo. \n historia de trama simples, nao se nota grande desenvolvimento de relacionamentos a nao ser o dos personagens principais. \n apesar de tudo gera uma vontade de chegar ao fim para ver como tudo termina, se bem que ficou \"a saber a pouco\"... o fim quase que acontece sem darmos por isso.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 26 09:08:05 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 02 16:21:01 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 02 16:21:01 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "672c2239992e259ba21083acfe30c232", "book_id": "13578978", "review_id": "cd5495d72ee13fb4def9de5c04f01b23", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Terceiro livro da saga \"Irmas Drake\", conta a historia de Abigail Drake. \n Este foi um pouco mais aborrecido que os anteriores livros da \"saga\". A accao foi lenta no desenrolar dos acontecimentos e a historia propriamente dita segue mais uma linha \"policial\" mas nao muito marcada. \n ler opiniao completa: \n http://marysilverstone.blogspot.com/2...", "date_added": "Tue Nov 20 06:02:38 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 05 06:32:59 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2b569ab2a4ff2ad0bc384347f4610342", "book_id": "23616905", "review_id": "03274fe53a2a1f3e7fc219606f0f09fa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Such a satisfying end to a fun series! \n I loved this whole series. They mystical aspects were fascinating and the characters made me care. Highly recommend it to anyone!", "date_added": "Sun Sep 18 19:45:07 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 21 06:01:41 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Sep 20 16:35:30 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Sep 18 19:45:07 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2b569ab2a4ff2ad0bc384347f4610342", "book_id": "22665598", "review_id": "2cbf019d68f836b31f1f528ed3520ebe", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Lovely! \n Lovely story, lovely to spend time with old friends again (the Waverlys). Wonderful- and now I must try to make fig and pepper bread!", "date_added": "Fri Jan 01 10:11:09 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 31 21:51:48 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 31 21:51:47 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2b569ab2a4ff2ad0bc384347f4610342", "book_id": "262430", "review_id": "ec8ea2ba946507743ef0d5d94256459e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Love this series! Action packed and chock full of great characters.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 19 07:35:11 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 19 07:36:23 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2b569ab2a4ff2ad0bc384347f4610342", "book_id": "18660669", "review_id": "9ef0f237dea35ff770b94bfab7ef610d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Great series!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 19 07:25:17 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 19 07:25:53 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2b569ab2a4ff2ad0bc384347f4610342", "book_id": "9306975", "review_id": "fc38f36b21aa64f7b780cb6d302a9b4d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Good series of 4 books. A little fantastical but I had to finish...", "date_added": "Tue Aug 19 07:16:21 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 19 07:16:47 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2b569ab2a4ff2ad0bc384347f4610342", "book_id": "10739664", "review_id": "4de43f6249572f3e03707ae5009899c3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Great book!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 19 07:03:49 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 19 07:03:58 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2b569ab2a4ff2ad0bc384347f4610342", "book_id": "13260545", "review_id": "9f5ac9a0dacf2edd8342bf66dc693426", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Love love love! And the sequel!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 19 07:02:41 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 19 07:02:58 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2b569ab2a4ff2ad0bc384347f4610342", "book_id": "574955", "review_id": "ce593584ef657cc6d8d0234741ce68df", "rating": 4, "review_text": "My new Stephanie Plum! Not quite as funny, but same spirit.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 25 13:10:35 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 05 22:01:06 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Sep 05 22:01:06 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2b569ab2a4ff2ad0bc384347f4610342", "book_id": "11559200", "review_id": "df54d8e2633f7cc04f22a17a9141ab55", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Love, love, love!!! The characters, the amazing details about Elizabethan England and all the rest are fabulous! Can't wait for the third book!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 28 11:49:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 25 13:03:09 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2b569ab2a4ff2ad0bc384347f4610342", "book_id": "862041", "review_id": "3a075c6269407e9909be5a488a567269", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Best. Books. Ever.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 06:37:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 09 06:38:37 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b434ab47a11488fd7ab9181e7c60f8c0", "book_id": "25056252", "review_id": "fb31aca5811d079653488f326ae44c47", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 stars! I enjoyed the depth of the characters and the story. It was a great mix of history, romance, and mystery.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 08 18:56:28 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 08 19:01:03 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b434ab47a11488fd7ab9181e7c60f8c0", "book_id": "8783169", "review_id": "a6cb3c690fad93fe17af50f682f12c64", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"Cades Cove: The Curse of Allie Mae\" is a ghost story written in current times with bits of history, tradition, and ancestry thrown in. \n David and Miriam Hobbs venture to a secret place in Cades Cove that is reportedly the 1800's version of Lover's Lane. They see hearts and names carved on the old trees, and one of the names is Allie. Later they find an old treasure bag with Allie's name embroidered on it. David takes the bag home to Denver and the ghost story begins. Allie turns out to be a hateful poltergeist that terrorizes David's family. Of course you'll keep reading to find out how they get rid of her and who she is. The family connection at the end between Allie and David is intriguing. \n When the family can't take any more of Allie's deadly mischief, David takes Allie's bag back to Cades Cove and enlists the help of a Cherokee Indian guide and his shaman daughter to get rid of Allie. After intense spells and a flashback to Allie's gruesome death, the story ends, and all is well. \n At that point, I would have given the book lots of stars for the good plot, but it doesn't end there. The story apparently segues into a sequel. \n If you like ghost stories, this one is for you!", "date_added": "Fri May 29 06:41:04 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 13 20:36:35 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri May 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b434ab47a11488fd7ab9181e7c60f8c0", "book_id": "16052155", "review_id": "d126a1d6967fb565d441454db381a3cd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What a sweet story this was! The characters were rich and compelling, the setting was beautiful, and the story was magical. \n Set in the mid 1950s, Sarah lives in Kentucky, a place called Firefly Hollow. As a teenager, she trespasses onto her neighbor's property and discovers a pond where she likes to be alone and reflect. The owner of the property, Owen, admires her beauty from afar, but doesn't want her getting too close and learning his secrets. As the years pass, the two find themselves thrown together as young adults and they quickly fall in love. His secrets almost destroy them, but eventually he trusts her enough to let her in on his family heritage. There are adult situations, violence, and sex in this book. \n Filled with Appalachian folklore, Firefly Hollow is a magical romance.", "date_added": "Thu May 28 14:44:58 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu May 28 14:45:38 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b434ab47a11488fd7ab9181e7c60f8c0", "book_id": "1656001", "review_id": "441ad6032546749f19eef778646202cf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I found this one of the most inventive stories I've read in a long time. The way it was written, with dialog happening between the main character and the alien in her head was nothing short of genius. The movie did not do it justice.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 09:24:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 21 07:30:28 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8959331b6f8f309d65adccee576e59d8", "book_id": "29009786", "review_id": "052db2cd1a6109ed240e744a9ee62255", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Really short, quick read. Could use better editing. Who doesn't love a hockey romance between two hot, sexy players.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 11 14:03:15 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 11 14:05:32 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Mar 11 14:05:32 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Mar 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8959331b6f8f309d65adccee576e59d8", "book_id": "24959475", "review_id": "069cd337537ea5b476317a306e72906a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I generally do not read shifter/paranormal books, but this one was actually pretty good. I look forward to reading more by this author. Full review to come closer to release.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 04 19:34:33 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 07 00:28:06 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Mar 07 03:29:25 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8959331b6f8f309d65adccee576e59d8", "book_id": "23158258", "review_id": "8a1b06030a462dbc2402875918b4de14", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Review to come.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 05 12:01:56 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 29 20:54:31 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8959331b6f8f309d65adccee576e59d8", "book_id": "23249122", "review_id": "9b60b8dd7e943e9050ca36d37a3da9a9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Review to come closer to release date", "date_added": "Thu Sep 18 19:28:46 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 18 19:30:00 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8959331b6f8f309d65adccee576e59d8", "book_id": "22884050", "review_id": "5a047c0d798b355b6ee8c386e212bbd8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 Stars...This book was a first for me...I generally do not like books that have to do with Zombies, but Aleah has this awesome ability to write across genres and bring a story together that just draws you in.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 12 20:53:00 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 12 20:56:13 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8959331b6f8f309d65adccee576e59d8", "book_id": "18898359", "review_id": "453b902a9183908e64e120158faecb81", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.75 Imaginative stars.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 16 19:01:57 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 16 22:51:51 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8959331b6f8f309d65adccee576e59d8", "book_id": "20697905", "review_id": "bd365911fc26030e06db52e8109e387c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 stars \n Book provided by Netgalley for review and honest opinion. \n Interesting story about love that transcends time. I have never read a story like it. I have to say I enjoyed it. More of a review to come. \n The story of Megan Miller and her love of seventies music, specifically that of Davy Morgan. She has decided to do her thesis for her doctorate of the sociology of seventies music and festivals. She has traveled from Sydney, Australia to London for the Glastonbury festival, to collect data to finish her thesis. What she did not expect was to meet the hot, young, bad boy rocker, that lives in the cottage next door to her. What she cannot figure out is that he is the spitting image of her teenage crush Davy Morgan. \n When she sees David disappear into the fields behind their cottages one day, Megan goes to look for him and what she finds is nothing short of crazy. Nothing seems the same in the town she just came through. The people at the festival are very different and the way the festival is run is nothing like those of the current time. David tries everything he can to protect her from the truth, but in the end fills her in on, telling her about the ley lines in the field. After having the most amazing night of her life with David, she feels the connection that she has to him growing stronger. \n Will they be able to make a relationship work? Is the love that they have found in one another strong enough to stand the test of time? \n I found this book to be fairly well written, I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for an awesome love story. This is the first book that I have read by this author and it will not be the last. It is also the first book that I have read with this type of story line.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 08 11:03:38 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 11 07:53:43 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9ce9e7ec4190f02c1845bb8f619e3986", "book_id": "15697915", "review_id": "4e8d0dac9961366a3278fdae12e4312b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I would have given this three stars, but the last forty pages are so bad that when it came time to rate it I was still pissed off. \n Overall, this book is a mess. Some sections are really good. There's definitely some good tension and a creepy air of mystery throughout the first two-thirds. Other sections really needed some more time with the editor; there were many spots where it wasn't clear who was speaking. \n Finally, the characters I loved so much in the first book really pissed me off in this one. Decker is completely mentally abusive to Delaney throughout the entire thing, AND SHE LETS HIM. Even when she \"calls him out\", the next scene it's back to the old routine. He's a completely toxic asshole for a large part of the book, even when he's being \"nice\", and it feels like the author wasn't even aware. He slut-shames Delaney for her Halloween costume while they're broken up, and this leads directly to them getting back together (WTF). The entire book is Decker getting a pass on being a dick and running around playing detective and shaming people for not living up to his standards. It's awful. Several (all?) female characters are painted with some really ugly, tired stereotypes (slut, dumb slut, unworthy girlfriend, cute sweet girl-next-door who will forgive anything, etc). I guess one could argue that it's because this book is told from a high school senior boy's perspective, but that just adds to my argument that Decker is a fucking asshole, and it definitely makes the book less than it could have been. \n As far as the actual mystery goes, there's one part that you'll probably have figured out pages and pages before the rest of the characters, one red herring that really jars with the rest of the story and ends up being what I felt was a loose end that never got tied up, and the rest you'll never be able to figure out ahead of time because characters are behaving so non-sensically that there's no way you would guess it was them, or understand why anyone does what they do. The storytelling and logic is so flimsy in spots that it's hard to believe an editor ever even looked at this. It's extremely frustrating. \n Rating: 2.5/5, docked an extra .5 for that abysmal final act. Not a worthy sequel.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 04 00:16:47 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 30 06:09:29 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Sep 30 06:09:29 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9ce9e7ec4190f02c1845bb8f619e3986", "book_id": "22749788", "review_id": "56cd885f6b639296c2b5314d6ad63827", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The first 2/3 of this book were so good! Then the whole insta-love thing happened and the story deteriorated from there. In general, Michael Buckley is a skillful writer, but his overuse of the word \"cry\" - as in, saying something loudly or with vehemence - really, really started to wear on me after a while. There were at least two instances where he used the phrase \"I cry\" three times in one page. UGH. STOP. The villains are also incredibly one-dimensional and cartoonish; you get the feeling they should all be twirling their mustaches and wearing t-shirts that say \"Villain\" on them (actually, the main antagonist mob LITERALLY all wear the same t-shirts). \n Outside of those things, however, I found the story interesting, unique (in terms of setting and details, not formula), and certainly worth a read. Is it completely in the same vein as all the other YA fantasy/dystopia series that have been coming out for the last decade? Yes. But the writing is probably better than average for the genre, and the main female character is well-written and never a damsel in distress; in fact, most of the women in the story are interesting, dynamic, and relatively fully-fledged people. \n Am I dying waiting for the next installment? No. Will I read it? Probably. Overall, three out of five stars.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 03 00:05:25 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 01 08:28:19 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jul 03 12:06:26 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6f0da7eac3700903535fd5daae563d33", "book_id": "28117142", "review_id": "43063c20276c9c44bccc33aae620fae9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Something very special \n A fairytale tower of trash, a crippled unlikely hero, a two-headed wolf and did I mention the trash? This was such a joy to read. I hope you will give it a chance. So much more than I first expected. Truly tremendous.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 20 03:52:35 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 20 09:24:38 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Oct 20 09:24:38 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Oct 20 03:52:35 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6f0da7eac3700903535fd5daae563d33", "book_id": "25997484", "review_id": "20887f9a2af7d3b55d02445db9705b6c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A definite five stars! \n Dark, bloody, intense and engrossing. This book was impossible for me to put down. The emotional tension boiled off each page. It was disturbing at times, but I was totally invested in the characters and story. I can't wait to start book two.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 30 12:28:29 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 09 03:27:45 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Oct 09 03:27:45 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Sep 30 12:28:29 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6f0da7eac3700903535fd5daae563d33", "book_id": "34452198", "review_id": "7530502f8971e678863a2bd76d96f1f0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Epic at it's Finest \n Flawless. If I never read another epic fantasy, I will survive knowing I read one of the best I have ever read. Falco Dante's story is almost without peer. Rousing good story!!", "date_added": "Fri May 19 02:37:08 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat May 20 18:43:02 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Fri May 19 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6f0da7eac3700903535fd5daae563d33", "book_id": "18621945", "review_id": "4b89686019a04b1e3dec835b5e863481", "rating": 4, "review_text": "More Magical Frolicking Through London \n Although, this wasn't my favorite PC Grant story, it was still great fun. Get ready for a few cliffhangers this time. All the usual suspects are in attendance, so grab a pint and settle in.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 15 22:47:16 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 17 06:29:50 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6f0da7eac3700903535fd5daae563d33", "book_id": "24821510", "review_id": "3ccc24daa7fade3c6242e8e56bc95eee", "rating": 5, "review_text": "l", "date_added": "Sat Apr 15 21:01:15 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 19 17:19:33 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Sep 19 17:18:12 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Apr 16 16:00:20 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6f0da7eac3700903535fd5daae563d33", "book_id": "28486356", "review_id": "362dff8decd8ddbcbddc29af6392352b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "No Signature Necessary \n This is a wacky book. I like wacky books so that is a good thing. I didn't give it five stars because I really like Stephan Hawking and hate badminton. You will understand after you read this very funny book.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 05 09:35:35 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed May 24 20:53:47 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed May 24 20:43:38 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Apr 05 09:35:35 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6f0da7eac3700903535fd5daae563d33", "book_id": "31396313", "review_id": "3a685795c1df29e092c797388f0eb424", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Creepy Cool \n Definitely worth reading. Very creepy and a little disturbing. I love that in a book. I am hoping for a sequel.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 11 08:06:38 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 26 12:12:54 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sat Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6f0da7eac3700903535fd5daae563d33", "book_id": "27235430", "review_id": "26bab107d8a467d06eaf97c5a76bcd0c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Reconfigured fairy tale \n Old tale told with frightening horror and exhilarating pluck. A frightening mix of old tales by the bedside and a haunting mix of courage and amazing resilience and the horror that ensues.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 13 23:27:27 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 13 23:27:27 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Sep 13 23:27:27 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6f0da7eac3700903535fd5daae563d33", "book_id": "27259010", "review_id": "5d5295ba4a368401247b0d866122fab4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Entertaining \n Not sure what to tell you. This was a fun read. I was a big X Files fan and this story has that going for it. Didn't particularly like the \"heroine,\" but there is more to her than this story presented. I will probably read the next book to get my questions answered. It was funny and quirky. I like that in a book.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 07 15:33:52 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 07 15:33:52 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Sep 07 15:33:52 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6f0da7eac3700903535fd5daae563d33", "book_id": "26028067", "review_id": "7ac6ed95832faa806cb92ccc7778d4a3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Creepy good fun! \n Know what is creepier than a haunted house? A haunted light house beats one every creepy time! This one's a winner. Read it before it gets dark and the fog rolls in. Shiver me timbers!", "date_added": "Thu Sep 01 13:08:18 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 01 13:08:18 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Sep 01 13:08:18 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6f0da7eac3700903535fd5daae563d33", "book_id": "18891700", "review_id": "70fc79dd269f54da7d2bf91e53fd92ff", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I am so weird. \n I can't believe how much I liked this book. I had to go read it in the bathroom because I was laughing too loud and pissing my husband off. Granted, it was 430 in the morning. I had a perfectly normal childhood. I wish I had my own monster.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 28 02:41:08 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 28 02:43:41 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jul 28 02:43:41 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6f0da7eac3700903535fd5daae563d33", "book_id": "25879725", "review_id": "50f8e38a3ba2101c4cbe7b3ccc4e2ece", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I just drink, drank, drunk, a sugar ant. Thank you, Mr. Heuvelt. So far, despite the disgusting ant, you have kept my attention, you bastard.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 28 12:08:13 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 29 23:42:24 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 29 23:42:23 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jun 28 12:08:13 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "6f0da7eac3700903535fd5daae563d33", "book_id": "10426757", "review_id": "9196fa1b647ad97a2f9703a6fe09c555", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oi, Read This Book \n Smart, sarcastic top-drawer dialogue; outstanding characters. This is a guilty-pleasure of a book. Thank you Mr. Aaronovitch for a totally enjoyable romp through the haunts of London. I will be buying the rest of this series.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 14 01:21:46 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 26 04:21:55 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Feb 26 04:21:55 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Feb 25 13:15:55 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "6f0da7eac3700903535fd5daae563d33", "book_id": "23786218", "review_id": "6f7e0d879fa061d7a372ff2bbfd919b2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Good Story! \n I thought this story started out a little slow, but the intriguing idea of flower mages began to draw me in to the fantasy. Eric is a likable heroine and I have already downloaded her continuing story.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 12 21:30:58 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 12 21:30:59 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Mar 12 21:30:58 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "5856e676034538043704b00a810e70f5", "book_id": "28818369", "review_id": "a4e2397f3d0c35dab9cdfbbc6d6916e4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "How do I start this? I would like to say that I tried to like our main character but unfortunately, I don't. River is a girl, who very much likes to be alone, and in fact she's very lonely but that doesn't mean that nobody tried to talk to her and be her friend. She just wanted to be alone? Until she met with The Graces. She suddenly became very obsessed with The Graces and she wanted them to notice her. She wanted to be their friend, to be in their circle. She wanted to be loved by The Graces. And what's more? She wanted to be a Grace more than anything. \n Well, everybody loves The Graces. They are rich, and unsurprisingly, have strong influences in town. We are introduced to the twins; Thalia and Fenrin Grace, and their younger sister; Summer. It all started when one of The Graces noticed River and to be honest, it felt so sudden and I just don't understand how it happened. They became friends. And River literally like obsessed and attached to The Graces. And it's annoying. \n Being friends with witches might make you look cool and stuffs but it has its ups and downs. The downside of being friends with witches is inconceivable. You seriously don't want to know about it. You might end up being crazy. \n \"Friendship meant trust, didn't it?\" \n Thalia believes her family is cursed, and as much as I want to talk about it, I can't, without spoiling everything. They tried everything to get rid of it and suddenly, the story just stopped mentioning about that curse. Ok you know what? Now, I'm confused. Long story short, something bad happened and everything started to turn the other way 'round. There was a plot twist that caught me by surprise. And I did not expect that at all. And it actually does make sense to the whole story. \n Half of the story was quite dull and boring but the second half was actually ok, if not good. The pace increases as tension builds. Good thing about it, I can't stop reading it. The ending was ok but I really need to know more about our 'mysterious' main character so I hope that I'll get it in the next book which will come out in 2017. \n And let's just admire the cover...", "date_added": "Thu Jun 30 20:26:28 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 07 02:37:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Aug 07 02:37:22 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5856e676034538043704b00a810e70f5", "book_id": "31143940", "review_id": "6132a48c16791c2f7b7748b2a7535c15", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Spindle Fire is more than just a retelling of Sleeping Beauty. I was completely blown away by Lexa Hillyer's take on this fairy tale story. It's original, and it feels very fresh to me. Rather than focusing solely on Aurora, Hillyer also tells you the story of Isabelle/Isbe; Aurora's brave and loyal half-sister complete with badass faeries, corrupt world, curses and magic. \n Aurora and Isbe are truly an unforgettable duo. Both are incredible and strong characters! I simply couldn't choose which one is my favourite because honestly they are both very likable. Aurora has no sense of touch and no voice, while Isbe was blinded on the same day of Aurora's christening. So okay, I may not have a favourite, but I actually understand Isbe's feeling the most. \n The story unfolds through alternating point of views--Aurora's, Isbe's, Malfleur's, Belcoeur's, and also some other faeries (I totally forgot their names sorry). I also really enjoyed the world building. Impressively beautiful and unique! Spindle Fire is magnificent, beautifully written and Hillyer did a brilliant job exploring complex characters and sibling relationship. The story was full of surprises with an unexpected plot twist and it certainly kept me guessing and thinking about it for quite some time. I even spent around 15 minutes while I was on my way to work, thinking about what has happened in Chapter 30. Honestly though... \n And also, some chapters have super long and funny titles! Eg: \"Binks, a Male Faerie of Modest Nobility, Who May or May Not Be Important to This Tale, Except That He Happened to Be in the Right Place at the Right Time\". Looove it. \n However, Hillyer left us with too many unresolved questions and the book ends rather abruptly. But that doesn't stop me from loving this book! I honestly cannot wait for the sequel to come out and I hope all of my questions will be answered in Book 2.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 11 13:17:38 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 10 06:38:46 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Mar 28 06:50:38 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Mar 16 07:02:41 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5856e676034538043704b00a810e70f5", "book_id": "18243700", "review_id": "b6bdec6d70a28c4c340c94683cd291df", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I cried, a lot. Thank you Sarah J. Maas.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 09 05:04:48 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 15 20:47:19 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Oct 16 06:33:12 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5856e676034538043704b00a810e70f5", "book_id": "26150509", "review_id": "da41697d0f7de3f2edafa92a46f4d4ef", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"You warned us he was ugly,\" Scalene said, \"but he's even more hideous than I expected. He looks like a toad!\" Warren has a strange features. He looks like a toad, with crooked teeth. However, I was drawn to him right away after getting to know him. For a 12-year-old boy, he's surprisingly brave, smart and responsible. He tried everything he can to save his family's hotel. \n I fell in love with an ugly boy with a big heart. \n The other characters were amazing as well. Mr. Friggs and his library were admirable, Chef Bunion was really sweet and kind, and Sketchy was so cute! The questionable character of Petula and Paleface makes the story becomes more engaging. So mysterious! I just had to mention this, my favourite visitor to the hotel was definitely Captain Grayishwhitish-Beard, he was generous despite his appearance. All in all, the story and characters were full of surprises. \n Don't let me get started with Warren's uncle and aunt. I can't believe his uncle was so dumb, irresponsible, and all he cares was his wife. As for Aunt Anaconda, she was evil and selfish. She acted so sweet and innocent in front of her husband, I'm so disgusted by her. Warren's father died when he was only at the age of 7, thus explains why his uncle was the one who needed to take over the business. The laziness of his uncle has affected in no visitors and no income. \n To say that I like this book is underrated. I love this book, I adore it. I love everything about it. It was magical, wonderfully fast paced, fulls of humors and surprises. And the plot twists were incredibly good! I didn't see it coming at all! The plot moved quickly and there were so many crazy, crazy things happened in the story. \n The illustrations in this book are so beautiful. They're eye-catching, mysterious and gruesome. The colours that have been chosen were perfect in portraying the story. I need to have this book in physical copy when it comes out in November. Some illustrations are unfinished and not viewable in the eARC, thus I am so looking forward to seeing the complete one! \n This book deserves 5 stars. It's a pretty delightful middle grade book. It was amazing. I highly recommend it to everyone, this book is perfect for all ages. \n Rating: (5 out of 5 stars) \n Thank you NetGalley and Quirk Books for providing me with an eARC in return for an honest review.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 08 11:25:18 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 31 06:12:53 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5856e676034538043704b00a810e70f5", "book_id": "25603695", "review_id": "49c2884ac16d811e78db79695b19bb0b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book didn't make me love it as much as I loved the first one and I was about to give it 3 stars, until I read the last word. It was an enjoyable read.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 05 20:13:58 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 30 19:09:29 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Aug 11 07:37:21 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5856e676034538043704b00a810e70f5", "book_id": "24808775", "review_id": "0739020b4698a4ab5f8fcba11f613fa9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh my God. This book is EVERYTHING. It broke my heart over and over again. It was so beautiful and magical.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 06 18:34:09 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 26 20:18:38 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Feb 05 07:16:59 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5856e676034538043704b00a810e70f5", "book_id": "15768409", "review_id": "5bdb9b007da53815275a542dd27d52c3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ah. This book. Thank you Michelle Hodkin, thank you.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 24 05:57:07 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 26 20:18:36 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Feb 26 09:59:11 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "5856e676034538043704b00a810e70f5", "book_id": "18735912", "review_id": "aa99236c92d5f1d7c301536245c603c1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Well, excuse me while I'm having my moment. This book is so beautiful! I'm obsessed. I'm obsessed with Juliette and Warner and oh my God their relationship. It was so HOT. As hot as in Chapter 55. Uh, perfect. Everything about this book is perfect. I love Juliette so much. She is one of the most bad-ass heroines I've ever read about. I love her confidence. I love how much she has changed in this book. But honestly, I'm not fully satisfied with the ending, it seems a little bit too rushed. And I actually expected more details on war scene. BUT WHO CARES?! I FREAKING LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 10 09:10:05 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 26 20:18:34 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Apr 23 10:05:34 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5856e676034538043704b00a810e70f5", "book_id": "15782640", "review_id": "a7181b4affce275e3376182d1ead23cb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I don't know what to feel right now. This book has given me a lot of emotions and I love it. I really, really love it. I love how Tahereh Mafi managed to get me all emotional while reading this book. I got mad a lot of times. I hated how confused Juliette was. I always hated Warner but I think I'm already changed my mind about him. I can't wait for the next book. I need to know what will happen next. I love how there were so many conflicts in this book, I don't know I just love this book, I love this book more than the first one and that's the reason why I gave it 5 stars.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 17 21:12:00 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 26 20:18:30 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jun 20 01:10:54 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5856e676034538043704b00a810e70f5", "book_id": "11809168", "review_id": "6be7ef21e254a8705353405a96925eab", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A must-read book I guess and it's too hard for me to not to finish it up in two days. The only thing that lacks was that I had a hard time to figure out who was Juliette, I was wondering why she thinks she's a monster and why her touch is fatal. But living in Omega Point must be great. Now I am all ready to read the next book, Unravel Me.", "date_added": "Wed May 29 21:59:51 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 24 02:17:24 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5856e676034538043704b00a810e70f5", "book_id": "12283261", "review_id": "f41ec06902bd4fcce568b61fd9140618", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the best fairytale story I've ever read! I love everything about this book and the fact that I managed to read it in only two days, you can tell that the story was really, really good.", "date_added": "Sat May 25 04:37:20 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 26 20:18:27 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 19 06:42:18 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5856e676034538043704b00a810e70f5", "book_id": "13159888", "review_id": "0f8ade9fdf6044330352a6ec23130ff4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is spectacular. A must have, indeed. \n I seriously can't wait for the untitled sequel of this book to come out, Riggs has left me with unanswered questions, I wanted to know more. Waiting for sequels is a bit of pain but I know it will well worth it.", "date_added": "Fri May 17 06:34:51 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 26 20:18:27 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue May 21 04:53:36 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1c6a2642794c852c8df400c454b6962", "book_id": "18166936", "review_id": "f7e6b601b3a5d21a357f59de9fae48ee", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this story, part autobiography part tall tale. Whimsical with rich language, I had a hard time putting this one down.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 08 13:07:08 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 08 13:08:44 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1c6a2642794c852c8df400c454b6962", "book_id": "4502877", "review_id": "2700f558006c1157c16134cb6e037912", "rating": 3, "review_text": "hilarious story about a pedophile vampire, stalking a bland teen in a small town. A love triangle is introduced, where it is later revealed the werewolf (the other love interest of Bella, the teen girl) has only been in love with one of Bella's unfertilized eggs. Things heat up when that egg gets doused in glittery vampire sperm and a baby, with a very unfortunate name, is born. The pedophilia theme is expanded when the teen werewolf declares his unending love and devotion to the new born infant. The baby's parents are inexplicably okay with this", "date_added": "Sat Dec 08 09:37:35 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu May 11 21:26:54 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1c6a2642794c852c8df400c454b6962", "book_id": "1162543", "review_id": "073d6ad1f4be0649362804c16a515866", "rating": 3, "review_text": "hilarious story about a pedophile vampire, stalking a bland teen in a small town. A love triangle is introduced, where it is later revealed the werewolf (the other love interest of Bella, the teen girl) has only been in love with one of Bella's unfertilized eggs. Things heat up when that egg gets doused in glittery vampire sperm and a baby, with a very unfortunate name, is born. The pedophilia theme is expanded when the teen werewolf declares his unending love and devotion to the new born infant. The baby's parents are inexplicably okay with this", "date_added": "Sat Dec 08 09:37:23 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu May 11 21:30:49 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1c6a2642794c852c8df400c454b6962", "book_id": "49041", "review_id": "33f69f6a419d567c6f467282b7ec88a3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "hilarious story about a pedophile vampire, stalking a bland teen in a small town. A love triangle is introduced, where it is later revealed the werewolf (the other love interest of Bella, the teen girl) has only been in love with one of Bella's unfertilized eggs. Things heat up when that egg gets doused in glittery vampire sperm and a baby, with a very unfortunate name, is born. The pedophilia theme is expanded when the teen werewolf declares his unending love and devotion to the new born infant. The baby's parents are inexplicably okay with this", "date_added": "Sat Dec 08 09:37:12 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 08 09:37:02 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "d1c6a2642794c852c8df400c454b6962", "book_id": "428263", "review_id": "77d72fc39c6a570870b95177f9195189", "rating": 3, "review_text": "hilarious story about a pedophile vampire, stalking a bland teen in a small town. A love triangle is introduced, where it is later revealed the werewolf (the other love interest of Bella, the teen girl) has only been in love with one of Bella's unfertilized eggs. Things heat up when that egg gets doused in glittery vampire sperm and a baby, with a very unfortunate name, is born. The pedophilia theme is expanded when the teen werewolf declares his unending love and devotion to the new born infant. The baby's parents are inexplicably okay with this", "date_added": "Sat Dec 08 09:36:00 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu May 11 21:30:34 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d1c6a2642794c852c8df400c454b6962", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "c2cceac8b47cf42364ce15da3a2400d5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "hilarious story about a pedophile vampire, stalking a bland teen in a small town. A love triangle is introduced, where it is later revealed the werewolf (the other love interest of Bella, the teen girl) has only been in love with one of Bella's unfertilized eggs. Things heat up when that egg gets doused in glittery vampire sperm and a baby, with a very unfortunate name, is born. The pedophilia theme is expanded when the teen werewolf declares his unending love and devotion to the new born infant. The baby's parents are inexplicably okay with this.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 08 09:31:05 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu May 11 21:33:08 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "66ed5bc29e76f56111cd776acb47ee9c", "book_id": "1332982", "review_id": "40e81ef36f24be567e0c1cb5ec1ba030", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Such a sweet little enchanting tale. It reminds me of playing make-believe with my sister in the little \"forest\" behind our house.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 18 19:13:42 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 18 19:16:38 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Tue Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "66ed5bc29e76f56111cd776acb47ee9c", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "558c1ae19301784075ccc52141fc0a3a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I flew through this book and was immediately addicted to the whole series. The author could probably condense all four books into one or two (there's a LOT of repetition), but it's still so creative! I never thought I'd read a book about vampires, but she makes it almost believable! Such a good break from the humdrum of daily life.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 25 23:04:56 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 26 12:42:48 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "34076952", "review_id": "1d435b4426440b4519535e6732b1329a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.25/5", "date_added": "Sat Oct 21 16:10:37 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 22 15:43:51 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Oct 22 15:43:51 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Oct 21 16:10:37 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "27982115", "review_id": "c8e70b298f71e656a8c19ab2a0ccfd06", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2.5/5", "date_added": "Wed Oct 18 09:43:26 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 21 10:23:35 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Oct 21 10:23:35 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Oct 18 09:43:26 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "21825493", "review_id": "6b4930275c28f6affdf8cd5a19d876b5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a wonderfully creepy and atmospheric read. The sense of foreboding and dread were pervasive throughout and made for a truly eerie and engrossing reading experience.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 12 08:25:14 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 18 08:15:16 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Oct 18 08:15:16 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Oct 12 08:25:14 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "357727", "review_id": "9c702e76b04c6decf278e8e502507162", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Meh. DNFed after the the fifth story (there are eight in total). This wasn't bad, but it just was not for me. The almost clinical style of narration and the ambiguity of the tales left me unable to connect to them. I also feel like they were not creepy or bizarre enough. Some might find the subtle \"offness\" to be unsettling, but I did not. Also note that this book is served with a small side of misogyny and we get this gem of a quote: \n Women have no inner life that is so decisively apart. With women the inner life merges with the totality. That is why women seem to me either deceitful or elusive, or moralistic and uninteresting. Women have no problem comparable with the problem of merely being a man.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 02 07:19:37 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 03 09:56:27 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Oct 03 09:56:27 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Oct 02 07:19:38 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "25934858", "review_id": "42a634b84e7975f653c8794732cf9824", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5/5 rounded up because of nostalgia.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 16 10:00:32 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 17 10:28:36 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Sep 17 10:28:37 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "20312462", "review_id": "1388f511ed0561cc748af758959b56d1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5/5 rounded down. \n Confession: I am a mood reader and I just don't think that I was in the mood for this book. It wasn't a bad book, but it just wasn't what I wanted to read, so I had a bit of trouble getting into it. I also picked it up after a really disappointing read and I was in a bit of a slump. I do plan on continuing with the series. Now that that's out of the way, on to the review! \n The premise of this book is fantastic and the narrator, Abigail, is quite likable. I do wish that she were more involved and active in solving the mystery. Hopefully she will contribute more in the future. \n Jackaby is an amazing character - in the world, but not of it. His sarcasm and oddity leads to quite a bit of humor and I have many quotes highlighted in this book. Please be warned that he is NOT Sherlock! There are some similar personality quirks, and if you like Sherlock, you'll probably like Jackaby, but he doesn't have the same observational and deduction skills. His talent is being able to see the paranormal. \n I also really liked Ritter's writing style. It had the feel of 19th century writing but without being too fussy and was the perfect level for the YA target audience. \n My biggest complaint about the book was that I wanted more. The book is only around 250 pages (without the supplemental material) and all the action takes place over a roughly 48 hour period. Because of this we never really get to dive into the supernatural world. We barely meet a supernatural creature and then we are off to the next plot point. Additionally, we don't get to explore much of Abigail's feelings. I really wanted more mentions of how she is feeling about all the crazy paranormal things going on around her. Also, topics, such as being a female during this time period, are mentioned, but are never addressed with any depth.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 17 09:55:58 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 23 08:10:33 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Aug 23 09:40:05 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Aug 17 09:55:58 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "49011", "review_id": "c2d925aa8a68f8c8c5b4f1de17a59799", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5/5", "date_added": "Wed Aug 09 14:18:21 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 02 09:20:49 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Sep 30 19:00:53 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Sep 28 03:50:23 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "18952381", "review_id": "69c6de1edf5e57bfef4b4282d042e9ee", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5/5", "date_added": "Fri Aug 04 06:01:26 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 15 12:58:30 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Aug 15 13:54:49 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Aug 04 06:01:26 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "24485589", "review_id": "599e65ba433b6a4181ae03767afaa236", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5/5 rounded up.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 13 09:52:53 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 18 07:08:13 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jul 18 09:40:51 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jul 13 09:52:54 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "34913546", "review_id": "089105863423d576be001ba49d49c276", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5/5", "date_added": "Fri Jul 07 06:11:26 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 08 08:09:51 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Sep 08 08:09:51 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Sep 05 06:11:07 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "20764879", "review_id": "b9864b8039be4ef3af1e7900af713965", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Well this was disappointing...", "date_added": "Wed Jun 28 06:57:23 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 14 09:26:19 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jul 06 08:06:45 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jun 28 06:57:24 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "33358438", "review_id": "6f74ef93f11ab2eacd0386633b42ce10", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.25/5", "date_added": "Wed Jun 28 06:07:22 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 28 06:26:18 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jul 27 09:35:57 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jul 25 09:41:52 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "23848103", "review_id": "794d4929c82daa5bb2b2fa975847d644", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2.5/5", "date_added": "Sun Jun 11 08:44:27 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 21 15:38:12 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jun 21 15:38:12 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jun 11 08:44:28 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "12974372", "review_id": "74639f58c90b6c879e9f71b392b27b4f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5/5", "date_added": "Sat Jun 03 18:49:45 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 09 12:43:41 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jun 09 12:43:41 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jun 03 18:49:46 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "23547364", "review_id": "b80b99ed7ad3aec6c5aa45db8d0533f3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5/5", "date_added": "Fri May 19 09:20:46 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu May 25 08:22:05 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu May 25 08:22:05 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri May 19 09:20:47 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "18947303", "review_id": "7c1f67e9183d5afa1a94a1997dec86b0", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2.5/5 \n I really enjoyed 97% of this book. There were a few things that could have been improved, but overall I was really invested in this story. This definitely was a 3.5 rounded up 4 four at least if not an outright 4. And then an incident occurred which was really troubling. Because of this event and how the author handled it, I can't rate this any higher. \n Let's move on to the positives! \n The friendship and humor between Falcio, Brasti and Kest is wonderful. Absolutely enjoyed their banter and gentle teasing. \n I also thought that the world was really interesting. \n The idea of the Greatcoats, wondering Magisters whose job is to mete out justice according to the King's law, was really creative, especially since they have been disbanded. Additionally, I found it interesting that Falcio was a principled man, and yet very violent and willing to kill if the situation called for it. \n I also really loved how de Castell described the fighting scenes. They were very detailed and Falcio would take time to describe why he was or wasn't using a certain move or fighting technique. It didn't slow down the pace of the fighting, just made it seem more realistic. \n I also very much enjoyed the flashbacks to King Paelis and loved the philosophical discussions between him and Falcio. Paelis is such and optimistic and principled character that it makes what happened that much more heartbreaking. \n Let's move on to what could have been improved! \n There's magic in this book, but it's never explained. This is a personal pet peeve of mine, and it really angers me when author's can't be bothered with creating a magical system. \n I was initially confused in the beginning of the book because it was difficult for me to tell one character from another. I wish de Castell had done a better job of initially differentiating his characters. \n The word whore gets used. A lot. Almost always by men. I'm honestly confused by what the author's intent is here. I wished this world's attitude towards women was explained a little more clearly. \n I don't want to spoil anything, so I will just say that I thought the ending was a bit deus ex machina. I think a bit more setup would have helped the believe ability of this solution. \n Moving on to the event that really pissed me off. Spoilers! \n Falcio gets raped. If I were being super generous, I would call it very dubious consent. He is lying on his back in bed and verbally tells the woman no several times. She then proceeds to chain his hands to the headboard while he is still protesting. He even thinks, \"She looked at me as if she was waiting for an answer, but I couldn't speak. I felt nothing but shame at that moment, and no words would come out.\" Then she proceeds to straddle and grind him, again without any verbal consent. \"...she began moving her hips again, slowly, gently. I made no movements in return, and we stayed like that for such a long time, I believe I fell asleep for minutes at a time. But somehow I found myself inside her...\" \n I'm not opposed to rape appearing in books and this would be fine, except we're supposed to view this as a good thing. It's supped to be a cleansing healing experience. The next day Falcio even thinks, \"That morning was as unlike the days that had preceded it as anything you can imagine. I awoke again and the pain was gone from my wounds. Even more striking, the pain was gone from inside me.\" \n Nope. Sorry. This is not ok. All we needed was a simple yes, or even a thought yes (since this is first person narration). What editor read this was like, \"Yup, totally fine! Non-consensual sex is a balm for the soul!\" \n I am going to continue on with this series because I thought there was a ton of great stuff in this book, but I'm going to have to pretend the offending incident didn't occur.", "date_added": "Tue May 16 15:15:43 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri May 19 08:08:08 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu May 18 09:06:20 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue May 16 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "34533180", "review_id": "a32164fff24f61287a2e15fb246dad5e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5/4 rounded up.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 28 13:30:15 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 28 13:30:43 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Apr 28 13:30:44 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "7908762", "review_id": "88d78fa99fac6f794e25758bc8519c1f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Read up to 70% then skimmed the rest.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 26 09:33:25 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 14 09:26:08 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jul 13 16:44:13 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jul 09 17:17:28 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "22299763", "review_id": "97dc432779745c83fbe3e9662138323e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm not crying, you're crying.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 25 18:31:06 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 25 18:32:49 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "25944798", "review_id": "6a642c955edf1e4c82ca83dfd50564bb", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This is not a good book. While I was not a huge fan of the first two - I gave both of them three stars despite glaring flaws - I was looking forward to this book. I was hoping we would finally get a grand epic with huge battles, political alliances and intrigue, and magic and prophesy. \n Instead, I got this frigging book. If you really need to find out what happens, I suggest to start around page 400 because nothing happens before except for possibly one of the dumbest and most out of character arguments. I'm not kidding. Rafe and Lia, who had previously been shown to be capable of thinking logically, suddenly become irrational and stubborn and have the same argument for 200 pages because...DRAMA!!!!! I wish I were exaggerating. \n Honestly, I read the last 50 pages or so, but had skimmed the previous 100-150 pages because I just wanted to be done. \n We don't even get and epic last battle. They fight for a little bit and then Lia gives a little speech (some how magically amplified by magic? From somewhere? Because prophesy?) and the Vendans lay down their weapons. I thought that Lia was supposed to sacrifice herself not just give a little speech. Why wouldn't you just ignore previous major plot points? \n So why two and not one star? There were some good moments, like Lia confronting the council, and I usually reserve one stars for books that offend me in some way or do something completely unforgivable. It's super hard to write a book and so, unless a book manages to do one of the two things previously mentioned, a book that I didn't like will get two stars.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 15 13:01:01 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 21 09:45:37 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Apr 15 16:11:09 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "21569527", "review_id": "f8794294ea749529a557d1e17479a10c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "As with the first book in this series, I'm rating it three stars because again, despite some major problems, I enjoyed parts of it. \n The positive: \n -The Komizar. What an interesting and compelling character! The scenes between the Komizar and Lia were by far the best parts of this book. I really wish we had gotten more of him. \n -Lia and Rafe. They act like rational human beings in the book! (It's a sad commentary on YA protagonists that this is considered a positive rather than a necessity.) They know how to play the political game and they don't act rashly, emotionally, or have big misunderstandings. Lia, especially in her interactions with the Komizar, shows real cunning and an aptitude for political machinations. \n The negative: \n -The setting. This ENTIRE book takes place in Venda and mostly in the Komizar's main stronghold. That's right! The entire 400 plus page book basically takes place in one castle. After the end of the first book, I thought the world had finally been opened up and would get some epicness! Nope! How dare you want epic fantasy in your epic fantasy. \n -The plot...or lack thereof. Again. *sigh* Remember how nothing really happened in the first two thirds of the previous book? If you enjoyed that, you're in luck, because that's exactly what happens in this one! We only really get those enjoyable interactions with the Komizar and an exciting escape in the last third of the book. For some reason the Komizar leaves in the beginning and all tension is dissipated. No one is going to kill Lia or Rafe while the Komizar is not there, so this entire section is boring and feels like filler. In a perfect world, the last third of this book would the first 100 pages of a super epic sequel. \n -Kaden. Oh delusional, sad Kaden. He kidnaps Lia and delivers her into a possible deadly situation, does nothing to help her escape (and before you jump down my throat he doesn't know she is trying to escape at the end. He jumped in merely to protect her. It isn't clear until later that it's an escape. And then, yes, he goes with her, but he never actively tries to help her escape. ) and actually thinks Lia is developing feelings for him. Even knowing the fact that she chose Rafe over him before he did all those horrible things to her. \n To solidify his terribleness of character, Kaden approves the killing and placing of their heads on pikes of three fourteen year old boys for a minor infraction. Just about the only thing that would have made Kaden redeemable and a much more interesting character would have been if he were secretly working to bring down the Komizar and the current brutal regime. How cool would it have been if Kaden was sabotaging everything, all the while pretending to be a good little soldier.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 11 16:02:07 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 21 09:20:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Apr 11 16:22:20 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "17378508", "review_id": "f16b047c817ee124067be972c991ba90", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5/5", "date_added": "Wed Mar 29 09:04:31 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 29 09:09:37 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Mar 29 09:09:37 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "16429619", "review_id": "a4ef5a4902efbfcf5c31c0e552138cf1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked this a lot more than I thought I would, but it still has major issues. I decided on a generous three stars because despite technical flaws I actually kind of enjoyed it. \n The positive: \n -Lia. I thought she was going to be a bratty spoiled child that I would despise. She never shirks her duty and seems content to live a quiet village life. It never come across like she is playacting at being a commoner. While I didn't always agree with her choices, they made sense since she is a 17 year old girl. \n -Pauline and to a lesser extent Gwynth and Berdi. It's great to have strong female friendships! With no bitchy female character criticizing the heroine! \n -The romance. I'm a sucker for romance and I knew going into this that this was romance heavy so I was prepared. I liked how it unfolded, and there was no real love triangle or insta-love. Though Lia was obviously attracted to both guys, there was a clear favorite most of the time. \n The negative: \n -An assassin that doesn't assassinate. This is one of my biggest YA fantasy pet peeves! (I'm looking at you Celaena and Shazi) One of our characters is an assassin sent to kill Lia, which he doesn't because...REASONS! \n Which leads us to pet peeve number two: weak character motivation. We're given some piss poor excuse why the assassin doesn't kill Lia. Something about he had to track her down for three weeks so he wanted to make her pay. (It's been a while since I read this so it may not be 100% accurate.) But he never does. Instead, he befriends her, makes himself useful around the inn, carries things for her and falls in love with her. He knows that eventually he's going to have to kill her. Why would anyone do that to themselves especially without a good motivation? The answer is no one would because it's stupid!!! \n -The plot...or lack thereof. Seriously. What's the plot for almost the entire book? Lia serves food at the inn! Dramatic! Lia ogles Rafe and Kaden! Exciting! Pauline and Lia giggle! Intense! The last 130 pages definitely picks up, however. Why couldn't we have the romance and an engaging fantasy story that has...I don't know...some elements of fantasy? \n -Deliberately concealing who the assassin is and who the prince is. To me, this was more of a gimmick than an actual writing technique meant to increase tension and add some mystery. And honestly, I couldn't care less. Why? Because it doesn't matter. They're both in love with her and they're both pretty interchangeable characters so it really doesn't matter who turns out to be the assassin or the prince. This also does a disservice to the characters, who as I just mentioned are not well drawn. Part of this is because we can't get too into their feelings and motivations because that would ruin the who surprise identity. Oh no! Can't sacrifice a gimmick for actual character development!", "date_added": "Wed Mar 22 12:42:51 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 21 06:42:00 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Mar 22 12:43:09 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "25203675", "review_id": "c8ae4b0e6df84c57b674f974c0e94fed", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2.5/5 \n Wavered between giving this two or three stars and finally decided on rounding down to two because there was more stuff I disliked than liked. \n The writing in this drove me crazy! It felt like every sentence had to contain a simile or metaphor. Flowery language abounded! Purple prose dominated! Now don't get me wrong, I can get into beautiful descriptive writing, but here is just felt forced and overwrought. And that was a shame because there were some beautiful lines in this, but they were sadly outnumbered by others desperately trying to be profound. \n \"'I see no secrets in your gaze,' I said. I see only night and smoke, dreams and glass, embers and wings. And I would not have you any other way.\" \n What does that even mean? I asked myself that question a lot during this book. \n All this descriptive language meant that we never got clear explanations, which we definitely could have used. I really had to pay close attention to figure out what that author was trying to get across sometimes. But maybe that was just me being dumb. \n The characters were pretty flat, and I actually stared to dislike Maya based on the memories we are shone in the end of the book. \n As for the world building, it was fairly lacking. At first it seemed like we were going to be getting a wonderful and different fantasy setting. And then the explanations stopped. Why are all the countries at war with one another? How does Maya suddenly have magic? Did she have it before coming to Akaran and not know? How does it work? How did Amar become king of Akaran? How does his kingdom work? I know there's some kind of \"curse\" so they can't talk about all that stuff, but I'm going to call BS on that. \n I will defend this book against accusations of \"insta-love.\" Frankly it didn't bother me that Amar was super into Maya the moment they meet. I think that this is because it's fairly obvious that she's the reincarnation of his love. But this leads to another issue I have with the book. The major revelations about Maya and Amar are very obvious so that pesky \"curse\" is pretty useless. We can totally see where this is going. No need to withhold information.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 06 08:29:39 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 06 09:21:51 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Mar 06 09:21:51 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "15801763", "review_id": "34ef0e5c69bf6ecdaf0442d820cf0bd4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5/4 rounded up.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 03 17:11:35 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 20 09:06:00 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Mar 03 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "23308084", "review_id": "3447f383724aab68caedf952d992d99c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.25/5", "date_added": "Sat Feb 25 12:03:39 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 25 12:04:36 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Feb 25 12:04:37 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "30269126", "review_id": "73fac94aa073c31b16620b0d2f3b06b5", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Not a terrible book, but I put it down about 70 pages in and just didn't really have any desire to pick it back up. I also think I'm not really in the mood for YA or sci-fi right now. Maybe eventually I'll try it again.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 16 05:53:30 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 18 10:36:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Sep 18 10:36:42 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Sep 12 06:33:29 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "25558608", "review_id": "16505a43f988ecb7e2b8fc1c7a3a0cb4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5/4", "date_added": "Fri Jan 06 13:02:06 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 01 10:19:31 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jan 06 13:02:39 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "29868735", "review_id": "067d2c6f30007c90909afedbf96e915f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Still 5 out of 5 stars on my reread.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 22 06:39:05 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 28 07:11:32 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Aug 28 15:52:34 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "8306741", "review_id": "80912f8586a20a618dcf56df1e928327", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5/5", "date_added": "Thu Nov 17 08:28:46 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 26 09:47:46 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri May 26 18:19:14 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed May 24 14:00:56 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "73518fb380f06916d2dfbceafad49295", "book_id": "29241335", "review_id": "8632d491a198669183997c940e585f5a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.75/5", "date_added": "Tue Oct 18 07:27:45 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 09 13:52:04 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jul 09 13:52:04 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jul 01 06:29:27 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "18462643", "review_id": "9c37e315377c4e643c93927a409928fe", "rating": 2, "review_text": "****DNF at 62%**** \n I hate to abandon a book, but I just can't with this one. I had a feeling, from early on, that this book was going to be difficult. I saw so many 4 & 5 star reviews, add my love of Greek mythology, and I had so much hope. \n Well, I must be in the minority here, but the writing is terrible. Extremely juvenile and almost painful to read. I just can't. \n I think the premise is good, pretty unique even. It just sounds like a 15 year old wrote it. I hate giving negative reviews, but I needed to explain why this one was a DNF one for me.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 09 11:09:16 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 27 10:40:56 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Feb 27 10:40:56 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "13466202", "review_id": "9150cb0b161fa5cfb6482440e3645b26", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was really optimistic to read this book because of all the raving reviews and the description was intriguing. I was lucky enough to get a copy through a R2R program offered by one of my GR groups. I would like to thank the author and group for this opportunity. \n Talented is centered around people born with special talents due genetic mutations caused by nuclear contamination. Those who possess talents are tested, and if skilled enough, attend McDonough School for the Talented. Talia is a girl who possesses special powers and has made a personal vow to avenge the murder of her parents by training hard and being the best hunter she can be. \n For the most part, this book kept my attention and was a pleasurable read. There were grammatical errors and some words were missing within sentences. I enjoyed most of the characters, especially the scenes with Talia and her team. I have to admit, however, Talia had a tendency to whine.....a lot. My MC whine tolerance only goes so far. The story got bogged down with the romance at times. I understand this is a paranormal romance, but come on; I need plot & storyline to truly enjoy a book from start to finish. World building was good. We got quite a lot of explanation early on so the story could take off without having to have info dumps every third paragraph. This story contains the dreaded \"love triangle!\" (hahaha) I am not one who loathes all things triangle; as long as it is done well or has twists and/or surprises, I am totally onboard. This one? I guess my answer would be, meh?! I liked that the story didn't focus on Talia's school life, more on training and missions life. It was a nice change from all the \"Boarding School\" stories I seem to be reading lately. \n Overall, this was an easy read and with the cliffhanger ending that piqued my curiosity. Readers who enjoy dystopian stories and/or paranormal romances should definitely check this one out!", "date_added": "Wed Mar 06 08:22:34 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 21 09:11:00 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Mar 21 09:11:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "11544421", "review_id": "a8a306cbce6fafc887217f426284efde", "rating": 5, "review_text": "First off... \n I won a copy of this through a First Reads giveaway. This book was one I have been waiting for all year. I have loved every single Kate Daniels novels, and I literally did a fist pump in the air, danced a jig, or what-have-you when I received notification that I had won a copy. \n I have not been unhappy with any in this series, and Magic Rises did not disappoint, at all. \n I loved how the location changed. I love the Georgia setting, but a change of venue was welcomed and refreshing. \n I loved how there is relationship conflict between characters. I like when characters have to face trouble, internal or external. I feel it allows the series/book to progress instead of stagnate. \n I loved the snarky/smart-ass dialogue. I know Kate is famous for her zingers, but I realized I was laughing more with this one. Kate was not the only one, though. I love how authors, dealing with heavy, dark situations can insert a bit of levity now again seamlessly. It all comes together to result in one really well-rounded story. \n Pacing was great. I didn't get bored or skim, which sometimes happens...sometimes even with some of my favorites. The story started strong and continued through until the end. I wasn't shocked by how the story played out however. Saw some of it coming way before \"everyone\" else. That doesn't really bother me though because Andrews' writing really got me invested in the overall story and characters. \n Cast of characters was well-rounded but not overwhelming. Some books, specifically series, introduce so many characters that you don't really remember them and they all blur together. They are all memorable and stand-alone in their own right. \n I liked the Hugh conflict a lot. He kind of, ALMOST, got me rooting for him. He instigated a potential problem that really hasn't been addressed yet: Kate will always be separate from the pack. That with Doolittle's reaction to being healed, I think opened up a Pandora's box in Kate's mind. I am really looking forward to seeing this development play out. \n All in all, I love this series. I know that as a series' book count rises that story lines, characters, etc. sometimes start to suck. I've had a couple of series stop appealing to me because they begin to get ridiculous. I am a die-hard, loyal fan to this series and will be (not) patiently waiting for the next!!!", "date_added": "Mon Nov 19 14:40:35 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 04 19:29:37 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "13416236", "review_id": "cb417f56647a117a65cc087317e6eb60", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ahhhhh!!!!!! \n That ending..... \n Looks like I will be waiting non-patiently for the last one.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 17 06:44:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 23 06:36:43 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Oct 23 06:36:43 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "13552268", "review_id": "1c9e0832be360a42a7b13d61fc597ae6", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I received a copy of this ebook as a Read2Review, so I would like to thank the author for this opportunity as well as my GR group. \n I'm not really sure where to start with this one so I guess I'll just say that this book and I have a love/hate/wtf relationship?! \n The set-up was what really peaked my interest. I mean, come on, gargoyles that turn into men at night...that's awesome. I haven't come across anything else like it so far and I was really excited to get my hands on a copy of this. It kind of reminded me of the original Shrek movie, \"By day one way, at night another,\" a forbidden romance, and all that. A beautiful, yet spooky building as a backdrop along with a cast of characters rooted in mythology are all elements that draw me to pick up a book and start reading. Well after reading about half of the first chapter I knew this book and I were going to have some issues. \n First off, this book could have used one or two more rounds of editing. I found many grammatical errors, but they really didn't detract from the reading. These errors were more an irritation then anything. Pacing lagged a bit in places so I found myself a little bored and skimming. The POV shifting was confusing at times where there was no clear division-what I mean is that one paragraph is Melanie, the next shifts to Vaughn. Is this a huge issue, no, but it was a little annoying to me personally. Way too much inner monologue for my taste, this is where I mostly found myself skimming. The story arc was good and the plot was, for the most part, sound even though there were some holes to it. \n I liked the brotherly dynamic. It is a bit cookie-cutter: the strong, brooding leader, the carefree, easy going one, and lastly, the one who is a bit of both. Other supporting characters were just that...supporting. They weren't around enough to be developed and interesting. In all honesty, I disliked Melanie. I found her completely annoying and dumb. I just couldn't connect with her. Her decision making skills were questionable and sometimes rash. The insta-love thing gets me. This is not some short novella, its like 300+ pages. I would have like to see a prolonged build-up to them both realizing the loved one another. I would have liked to see more conflict between the main characters. A bit more action or expanding on the action scenes already written would have been nice. But overall, I would have like the characters to be more developed-to me they were really 2 dimensional. I know this is not Tolstoy but it wouldn't hurt to enrich the story with fleshed-out characters and a bit of descriptive world building. \n Overall, this wasn't absolutely horrible and I liked parts of it. The romance between Melanie and Vaughn was sweet. I liked the magical aspect of the story. The twist ending with the brothers' lineage was interesting. I really liked the story premise but, unfortunately, the execution kind of left something to be desired for me. Ultimately, the one huge problem I had with this one was: \n The whole statuary molestation thing....just ewwww. Its weird and slightly disturbing even for a paranormal themed story. I believe there is a way to write scenes where the men interact as gargoyles that would come off less gross. I know this story revolves around gargoyles and it would most definitely contain situations where the men are not in their human form, I believe that is integral to the story. I guess I was just put off by the way it was written-the first time Melanie comes in contact with Vaughn. \n Oh....and please stop using the word womb during sex scenes. It is wrong on a number of levels. It makes me think of babies and that is not something I want rattling around in my brain while I'm reading sex scenes.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 10 16:32:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 19 13:04:09 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Oct 19 13:04:09 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "12353591", "review_id": "edfb803576305271fa95c1fdbc8edc81", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I received a copy of this through a Read2Review so I would like to thank the author as well as my GR group for this opportunity. \n I really enjoyed this story, although it was a bit transparent and I figured out how it would play out, I still found myself liking the story. Personally, I gravitate toward books that have more twists, more surprises. This book really didn't have any, but I didn't struggle to finish it. The overall premise was attractive. Pacing flowed well and editing was done throughly. I felt that the characters were some-what developed and the dynamics between the characters were thought out. The writing was well crafted and descriptive enough to engage myself as the reader into the characters' storylines. \n My biggest gripe is that this story is kinda forgettable. I don't really have anything bad to say about it, but I don't really have anything that I love about it either. All the characters have very specific, sterotypical roles, not a necessarily bad thing, but none of them \"wow-ed\" me. They just really didn't get me 100% invested. I could tell that thought went into the story arc, thought meant to make the storyline appealing to readers, but it also was very, for lack of a better term, boring. I've read versions of that storyline many times. \n I just don't have anything really to say, the whole package just has a certain \"meh\" quality to it. I would have like to see some better developed conflict, character strife?! In my opinion this one just lacked something to make it unique. The romance was sweet, but predictable. The villian was kind of tame. The ending could be seen from a mile away. Even with all its faults, I still enjoyed it. I still think this one will appeal to a lot of readers out there who are fans of paranormal romance.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 10 16:31:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 21 18:19:24 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Oct 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "13612018", "review_id": "982c9948010fc6061a29c7bb810f5495", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I received this ebook as a R2R through one of my GoodReads groups, so I would like to thank my group and the author for this opportunity. \n You never know what to expect when participating in a Read2Review, Faelorehn was a pleasent surprise so I am giving it 3.5 stars. \n This book was neither bad nor great. It just....was. I guess my main problem/dislike about this one was that it was entirely predictable and many aspects were really unoriginal. \n Main character has a mysterious past and/or is an orphan: check \n Main character has an \"ugly ducking\" syndrome: check \n Main character is socially awkward: check \n Main character has a lovable group of misfit friends: check \n Main character has no idea who she really is: check \n Male love interest swoops in and saves the day: check \n Male love interest holds all the answers: check \n Male love interest is secretive, protective, skilled, & is ridiculously good-looking: check \n Main character learns that she is mega-powerful: check \n Do you see where I'm going with this.... \n I feel like this whole book just fell flat. Flat characters, flat storyline and plot, flat supporting characters. \n There was absolutely no character depth, totally 2 dimensional characters-all of them. Meghan's set up was promising, timid due to her mysterious past and people's reactions to her odd appearence. And, that is where it stopped. Johnson didn't really expand on that, she just told us Meghan's struggle with being seen different and recanted strange goings-ons through out her childhood. Cade was nothing special either. He wasn't a super-stalker type or crazy possessive, which was nice. He was just so boring. Like I said, no depth. No nothing. I really wished these characters had inner conflicts, flaws, hang-ups, etc. to really get me invested in their storys. \n The storyline was so very transparent. I pretty much figured out how the story was going to play out after the first chapter. The \"action\" scenes were anti-climatic to say the least..... \n Meghan gets chased \n Meghan gets chased again, is rescued \n Meghan gets chased, again \n Meghan gets into trouble, is rescued, again \n See?! A total let down. I get that the author is world building setting up the characters and their storylines in first books. If I wanted non-stop action I know I should look elsewhere, but come on, these situations were pretty weak. I hope that future books will contain more developed conflict/action scenes. \n So why did I give this one 3.5 stars?! Well, there was something sweet about this story, endearing even. I have read countless books that parallel this one and I don't mind that it has similarities to other YA novels. Commonalities are fine, as long as you make them your own. These characters have soooo much potential. This storyline has soooo much potential. As it is now, it just fall short. A lot, in my opinion, needs to be developed further, more facets to these characters need to be shown/explored. More twists, more \"holy shit, I didn't see that coming,\" more action. Just more. \n The foundation is there, it just needs to be expanded on and molded into a less cookie-cutter type of series.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 22 14:03:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 24 06:28:00 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "13450339", "review_id": "51ee417a90fa1505a2743b09c77150cb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book has been sitting on my TBR shelf for awhile, and now that I just finished it I am kicking myself for not reading it sooner. \n I generally do not gravitate toward dystopian/post-apocalyptic themed books. There's nothing wrong with them, I just prefer other types of themes more. Well, this book totally blew me away. I didn't have high expectations for this one, to be honest. The blurb sounding interesting so I took the chance, and I am absolutely glad I did. \n I'm not going to write an extensive review because I am sure others have done so and those will probably be helpful to anyone toying with the idea of picking this book up. \n What I will do, however, is talk about what I loved, and maybe a few things that annoyed me about this story and characters. \n Evie: Generally likeable character. Kind of sheltered, naive personality but still able to find her back bone when needed. Character growth left something to be desired for me at times, but I really can see her coming into her own and shedding the whole \"worthless, damsel in distress\" persona as the story continues. \n Jackson: Holy Hot Cajun! I must say I have always been fascinated by a man with that particular accent. That love has now been officially cemented. I love that he is an asshole. I know how that sounds, but his actions spoke louder than words to me. I could see beneath his cranky, surly attitude and tell that he generally cared about Evie's welfare. His behavior was, at times, very realistic for a Southern man who grew up in a very rural, harsh part of the world. \n Both Jackson and Evie's interactions were irritating at times, however. I know they are polar opposites due to their upbringing and social demographic, but come on, not that much gets \"lost in translation.\" \n Supporting characters contributed comic relief at times which I welcomed due to the heavy, post-apocalyptic theme. \n The plot was new for me in some respects. However: \n Did anyone else feel like this was akin to a Hunger Games with super powers? Or, was that just me? \n Overall, I really loved so many aspects of this story. The action kept me interested and reduced my time skimming. I liked watching the romance develop. The writing was well executed and world building was developed. Characters had a unique back story/background that had me invested in their plight and overall story. I liked that the story delivery was different: Recounting the story instead of living in the moment. Its not unique, but a refreshing change of pace. All in all, I truly enjoyed this book and know that I will continue this series until the end!", "date_added": "Fri Sep 21 06:47:25 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 10 07:43:38 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jan 10 07:43:38 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "13362536", "review_id": "4198f49e3e6f8374946da24790cffc19", "rating": 4, "review_text": "WHAT.THE.HELL?! \n I loved this one but that ending....grrrrrr! \n 2013 can't come soon enough", "date_added": "Fri Sep 21 06:34:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 12 08:19:42 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Dec 12 08:19:42 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Tue Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "7759629", "review_id": "825c2dda5cc03974cca859a68c453765", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Wow... \n This one won't be long but I at least wanted to write a little somethin' somethin' \n I loooved the first one so I couldn't wait to start this one. Overall the story was good, a bit boring in parts, but isn't that a common trend with second books?! The characters continue to grow and evolve. I was close to thinking that I wouldn't continue on with third book, not that this series pulled an \"Anita Blake\" but I just feared that it was just turning into a meh-series. But, then WHAM!! That ending....Holy freaking crap! \n I applaud you Carolyn Crane....you win this round.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 06 21:02:22 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 03 08:09:11 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Oct 03 08:09:11 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "11500217", "review_id": "7dc808d04b8f24fdb692d99197c6239b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this one, there wasn't a single thing I didn't like except that it had to come to an end. \n I totally agree with those out there that have said that this book has completely ruined the genre of YA. Angelfall has set the bar so high that I fear that it will be hard by others to meet/surpass. \n The story is fantastic. I was immediately drawn into the plot and didn't stop reading until the last page. It held my attention and made me trully invested in the characters' plights. Each character was well written and complimented each other and the story perfectly. The story moved at a natural pace. It didn't lag or move to fast. The progression/build-up moved in a very realistic way, it really allowed myself,as the reader, to feel the action, emotions, conflicts as if I were side-by-side with the characters. \n Penryn was amazing! She was damn near the perfect female main character, in my opinion. She is strong, resourceful, snarky, logical, etc. etc. Raffe was also a very well written \"love interest.\" It was nice to read about a male character who was not all \"I love you but we can't be together but I'm going to act like you are mine to ruin you for anyone else because I'm a selfish, controlling weirdo.\" You had hints that he cared about Penryn, but for the first time I really didn't know what course their relationship/partnership would take. \n I seriously can not wait for the next one and I recommend this to everyone out there who can read!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 21 07:19:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 30 06:42:34 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Aug 30 06:42:34 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "12791367", "review_id": "ed91fd15cb7879dd3427fbfaf7378cda", "rating": 2, "review_text": "**I received this as a Read2Review through one of my groups, so I would like to thank the author and moderators for this opportunity.** \n I have not read the first book in this series prior to this R2R even though I tried to get a hold of a copy before starting this one. Would having read book 1 change my opinion of Ever Fire? I doubt it, but I feel that I should preface this review with this bit of information. This review might contain small spoilers. \n I gave this book 2 stars, but in actuality I think it only deserves 1 1/2 stars and here's why.... \n I really struggled to get through this book. I don't particularly care for fae/fairy type books, I don't really know why they don't interest me, but I tend to gravitate toward other themes more regularly. The fae angle was not why I didn't like this book. The framework of this book seemed solid. It seemed the world created had elements interwoven into the story that would make for an entertaining, interesting read. The cast of characters appear to be unique and have stand-alone attributes. And, that right there are the only things I liked about this book. \n The one predominant thought that comes to mind when I think about this book is hot-mess. I can't help it. \n I could sit here and list out all the things that bugged me or straight pissed me off, but my number one is the way the story flowed (not sure if that is the technical term or not). It was as if this book was stuck at Warp Speed 10. Events, conversations, even relationships progressed at a staggering speed. I had to re-read a lot because I thought I had missed things. I felt like us as readers weren't given a full story, just highlights the way events were brought up and then resolved in the matter of a few sentences at times. For example, Shade finds out who her father is, what she is entitled to, and her future role in this upcoming war in the span of a few paragraphs. Ok, a little fast, but I can go with it. Another example: Shade hooks up with her Grandmother and gets the quick & dirty on her family's past along with her abilities while training to use them. This scenario is not new, many books have these \"awakening\" moments. What I didn't like is Lana agrees to teach her as well as train her, but then there are no scenes of the actual training. It skips ahead 6 weeks. I'm not OK with that. I like to see a character's evolution, especially if it pertains to a central theme of the series. Another one: Shade's rescue. The set up was good. I was really intrigued on how the outcome was going to be written. Well, I won't go and spoil it for those who haven't read this book, but boy was that anti-climatic. \n The writing was not totally horrible. I guess I just wished that Purdy would have slowed down and invested more time in the resolution and everything that led the characters to the choices they made. The story arc wasn't too bad. The chain of events weren't boring and lead the story in an interesting direction. The character's dialogue and the vocabulary, slang more precisely, annoyed the hell out of me. I found myself constantly rolling my eyes. Editing didn't seem to be an issue and there were not info dumps every other paragraph, which I hate. I believe in a \"show, don't tell\" approach. \n The characters, well, I didn't really connect with any of them. I have rarely read a book and not connected with at least one of characters, so this a first for me. \n Shade, oh my, where do I begin?! She is probably the most unlikeable female main character I have ever read. She was a complete brat, really immature, excessively whiny, irrational, and kind of slutty. What is with these writers creating these female characters that bounce around from guy to guy. What kind of message is that sending? \"I love Dylan.\" \"I love Soap.\" \"I'm hot for Ursad.\" Ahhhh...kill me now! \n Dyan was the least hated character for me, but seriously, if I have read about one more \"I love you but we can't be together, but I'm going to be a possessive, jealous jerk\" love interest one more time I am going to claw my eyes out with a spork. \n Soap....dude, you need to find and reattach your balls, asap. \n This book was a total mess for me. The characters pissed me off, repeatedly. The story's progression was not organic or natural in any way. Like I said before, the foundation was sound, but everything else just left something to be desired. I will not check out the first book or any future installments of this series.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 20 08:54:44 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 19 21:04:55 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "6890220", "review_id": "8ec63c04b5a67696718659132cc5601d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was quite the pleasant surprise for me..... \n After reading this book's description I was kind of left thinking, \"Really?! This sounds pretty ridiculous.\" And you know what, it kinda was, but in a good, refreshing way. This one sat on my TBR shelf for a long time, but I picked it up and now that I've finished it I am thinking, \"Really?! Why did I not read this sooner?!\" \n Ok, the idea behind this book, weaponizing one's own mental maladies, is pretty out there. I have to admit, I wasn't sure Crane could pull this off. I assumed this was going to be yet another unfulfilling UF that I forget the moment I finish the last chapter. That is so not the case here. This book has flaws, don't get me wrong, but in my opinion they were so minor that I just don't care. I loved this story, these characters so much that I don't care. \n Justine....an excellent female protagonist. Her voice was so real, so natural. Her actions, emotions, and thought processes had such a realism to them that I have not found in many other books. She's smart, resourceful, witty, and unannoyingly flawed. I feel that a lot of readers will be able to relate to her on some base level. \n Packard.....oh my, where to start. In a book based around people's psychological, physical, and/or emotional issues, this guy has definitely not been left out. I liked it though. I don't want to give too much away for those who haven't read it, but this character was also very authentic and another well written character. \n Probably my most loved/favorite aspect of this book was the villain. Why do I love the villain you ask....well because each and every character is the villain. Crazy huh?! I know, and I loved every minute of it. After all, we are our own worst enemy right? \n Overall, this has become a new favorite for me. It has all the elements that make me connect to a story and be invested in the character's outcomes. \n Theme: New and refreshing \n Plot: Interesting paranormal aspects, yet contains a thread of realism \n Pacing: Progressed organically, slow in some parts, but never dragged. \n Writing: Well crafted world, dialogue and descriptions kept my attention \n Characters: Developed, authentic, easy to relate to, unique voices \n I recommend everyone to check this one out!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 07 06:27:50 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 07 06:58:25 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Sep 07 06:58:25 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "8709526", "review_id": "3998dab8a8069060f3369a0744c41aa2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Is it February yet?!", "date_added": "Mon Aug 06 09:05:30 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 15 08:02:57 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 15 08:02:57 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Feb 14 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "7129598", "review_id": "1b76517d3db011c649593d57042d3593", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I really, really wanted to like this one. I got about half way and almost abandoned this crap book which I am now dubbing \"Titanic 2\" aka \"Epic Fail\". However, I kept going, holding close to that small glimmer of hope I had that this book would turn around at some point and, I don't know, stop sucking?! Alas, it did not. \n After 500+ pages I am stuck in some wtf?! coma. I don't understand how this, what seemed like, amazing story with unique premise and interesting blurb, turned into some horrible train wreck 50%-60% in. \n I liked the set up. Emo guy, cheerleader girl. Polar opposites brought together by an outside opposing force. I liked the Poe angle, I mean who doesn't like something a little dark and twisted every now and again?! \n We all know that these two were going to end up together at some point...if you didn't, you're a moron. Even knowing this, I really wanted to hear their story...I wanted to see how Creagh was going to push these characters to abandon their own social judgements and personal insecurities in order to connect. What can I say, I like that sappy stuff. \n What I hated was almost everything. Isobel...holy balls...I have never wanted to strangle/maim/smack a character more than I do her. She was vapid, lied constantly, a wildly irrational decision maker, and just pissed me off. \n The Storyline was good up until the class project was due. After that, it was a slow, painful decline to ShittyStoryVille. Was it a unique reality/story Creagh created? Yes. I'm all for originality, especially in this genre. I guess it was just so out-there for me and that's why I didn't like it. I did, however, like Varen, even though that has to be the worst possible name ever....no wonder he's Emo. And, I liked Gwen. Her dialogue was pretty hilarious. \n I just plain hated this book. It wasn't the most horrible thing I've read. It just disappointed. The pacing was slow and I think that added to my displeasure even more. I might be in the minority on this one, but I really had to push myself to even finish it. It had the potential, but just died and became ridiculous to point of just plain stupid.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 03 12:42:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 11:36:40 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "15768191", "review_id": "345ed92c5f11b190c5f5298315055fec", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Dear sweet baby Jesus.... \n Please get this book picked up, soon or now, (whatever is easiest) so we all may bask in its awesomeness. \n Amen", "date_added": "Wed Aug 01 11:55:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon May 13 12:54:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "6707693", "review_id": "c332434781cdc858894195f91fc95879", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this one...so I'm giving it 4.5 Stars. \n The double POVs were a bit difficult for me. I prefer books with only a single voice, but hearing inside both these girls' heads was not too terrible. If I had to choose, I would have wanted to stay with Lucy the entire way... \n The story was quick to start and didn't let up until the end. There wasn't much back story given, mostly just info dumps, but the story was engaging enough that I didn't mind. The plot, centered around \"born\" vampires, has been done. In some respects this plot reminded me of VA but I'm not saying this is a shoddy Xerox of that series. Harvey has made this her own by the use of interesting personalities as well as a great cast of supporting characters. \n Lucy was awesome. I loved her voice, but I think I am a bit biased. I tend to gravitate toward snarky, blunt characters. I enjoyed her relationship with Solange. Their loyal/loving friendship made for a great backbone for this story. Solange, eh....kinda bored me a little. I wished the author would have, I don't know, made her a bit more strong? Growing up with all those brothers, as well as a kick-ass mother, I just assumed her voice/personality would have been different. I guess she takes after Liam... \n The romance was nice, cute even. It wasn't overdone or completely cheesey. It was not the prevailing theme and I liked that. It was interwoven within the storyline which helped build the plot as well as compliment it. \n The dialogue was witty. The villains were not overdone. Pacing was pretty good. MCs as well as the supporting ones were written well, some of the brothers are pretty forgettable, but I guess its hard to define that many in only one book. Overall, this is a quick, easy read and I would recommend it to anyone who loves this genre.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 30 08:43:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 31 07:06:00 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "12444166", "review_id": "a42b9c6eb7000d89f4fa632b8575bd62", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Soooo good! \n It was everything I had hoped it to be, pervy-potentially pedophile stuff aside, I absolutely loved it. \n I want the next one now!!!", "date_added": "Tue Jul 17 06:59:42 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 05 07:02:28 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Nov 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "13323842", "review_id": "ad5e3b4e7ebc7583411023a0c1226a1c", "rating": 1, "review_text": "No, Just no. \n To be fair to anyone who sees this 1 star review, I didn't actually finish reading this book. Truth is, I couldn't. I tried, maybe like 4 times. I just couldn't do it, so I \"threw in the towel\" and gave up. \n After finishing the first book, I couldn't wait until the second one came out. That ending?! Anyone who read the first can agree with me on this one, that was on hell of a cliff-hanger ending. So as soon as I downloaded Predestined I was all about it. Well, I made it to, I'll say 20%, on my Kindle until I put it down. Right now its at 54% and that's where it will stay. \n I really can't pin-point the reason why I can't finish this book. I just can't get into it. I hate Pagan's voice. The plot is not bad, but the story sucks....does that make sense?! (It makes sense in my head) Now that I think back, I don't think I really liked the first one's storyline either. \n Well, bottom line, I can't get interested in this story therefore I will not be finishing. Maybe others will totally be in love with this book/series, but I am not.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 11 09:33:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 16 06:45:09 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "9306975", "review_id": "34ade97e84fcd1a78905f2e4524c09ef", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Wow, this book has to be my favorite sleeper-hit of the year so far. \n This one has been on my TBR shelf for a while now, so long in fact that I forgot that the description clearly says intended for readers 18+ (I was a little shocked by a few events until I reread the blurb) \n I started this book with the impression that it was going to read like so many other YA paranormal romances. It soooo did not! \n Just like with all my other reviews, I am not going to rehash the synopsis because I am confident that we all are members here, therefore can read. There really wasn't an aspect of this book that I didn't like. There were a few that weren't my favorite, but nothing that I wouldn't say made me regret reading this book. I can honestly say that I have not read anything that had a plot/storyline like this one, it was completely unique in terms of my reading experience. Descriptions and dialogue were good and well written. Relationships and character interactions/conflicts were amazing and well-rounded. I didn't hate reading about these people or being in their heads (POV changed throughout the book). The storyline was paced well. It progressed naturally and didn't at all drag and/or move to quickly. All in all, this book's build-up hooked me and kept my interest until the last page. I couldn't put it down and was willing my eyes to read faster! \n This story, these characters were dark. No doubt about it, but that was the main reason I loved it. There was a realism to this world. From the way the characters spoke, from the way the author described the town's physical appearance and dynamics, and from the way characters interacted with each other as well as themselves. \n Jenny was a refreshing female main character. I think I have read about to many \"woe is me, I don't know I'm beautiful, I have crazy powerful gifts, I must save the world even though I'm thoroughly annoying and have questionable decision making skills.\" Jenny was the ultimate outsider and had an appropriate emotional struggle. She did have a backbone when needed however, and I enjoyed witnessing her evolution and discovery process. Seth was OK?! He didn't seem as developed as the other girls. Don't get me wrong, I liked him, but was not totally invested in his story all that much. \n The one that absolutely \"stole the show\" so to speak was Ashleigh. Holy Balls.....this girl was the epitome of evil genius/ultimate villain. I wasn't rooting for her to win or anything, but I have to commend Bryan on writing a character so devilishly entertaining. She is my favorite anti-hero, villain, bad-girl or whatever. I love reading about characters that are always 3 steps ahead or can completely throw me, as a reader, a curve ball. \n I found this a thoroughly enjoyable read and wished I had picked it up sooner. I would recommend this to anyone who is not afraid of the darker side or this genre and who is 18+, of course.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 09 12:11:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 23 07:49:07 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Aug 23 07:49:07 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "7171637", "review_id": "998376b0663b1e3603e9bfc624a15349", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It seems to me that GoodReads members either love or hate Cassandra Clare. I read a number of reviews for this book as well as the MI series before starting and, man, people are almost fanatical about this author's work. With that being said, my curiosity got the better of me and I gave this book a shot... \n This was the first book I have read by Clare. I have not read her fan fiction either. I believe that is actually a good thing, with so many making parallels between all her works. Overall, I gave this 3 stars because I didn't love it, or hate it. When I think about this one I just kind of say, \"hmmm, well that was kind of a let down.\" \n I will not rehash the plot, I am pretty sure the blurb does a pretty good job on its own. The writing was alright. I did not find myself lost, having to backtrack and reread. Descriptions were good as well, they didn't overshadow the story, only complemented the world building. Pacing was done well, events flowed well and felt natural in their progression. I liked the plot. Just enough back stories were given to get interested in some of the characters, and the twists surprised me. \n The characters were written well in my opinion. Each one had a certain template feel, but as long as it is done well I don't mind it. Each had their own role or voice and were capable of standing on their own. Yes, there was the typical \"in the dark about her own abilities\" female main character (Tessa), the \"bad boy\" (Will), the \"good guy\" (Jem), the \"mean girl\" (Jessie), the \"loveable goof\" (Henry), etc. I didn't mind it though because each character added to the story and helped me get semi-interested the book. Tessa didn't really appeal to me, though. I didn't hate her, but she was kind of boring and didn't do much. I guess I was hoping she would evolve into this ass-kicking heroine, but, alas, she did not. Maybe in later books.... I am still unsure about Will. One minute I chuckled at his dialogue, then the next I was thinking, \"what a douche.\" \n This book was just meh? I haven't decided if I will continue with the series. I am curious about the characters, Jem particularly, so I probably will.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 09 10:48:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 16 08:34:30 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Aug 16 08:34:30 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "15723916", "review_id": "6ba1d7f65ca59e2b953e3a725ebe00b4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I would slap my mom for an ARC of this book....and I'm pretty sure she would be ok with it \n *Update: 5-28-2014* \n I didn't get an ARC, but it was well worth the wait....absolute awesomeness!", "date_added": "Fri Jul 06 12:35:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed May 28 09:16:28 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed May 28 16:56:03 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 15, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "8527908", "review_id": "2a27efa946613b9091f37cb25b6061f7", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Nope, can't do it....... \n 50% into it and I just can't keep going.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 02 09:02:25 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 12 18:54:49 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "12436013", "review_id": "bcd6298541e1392c9b6a789ec4a58cfd", "rating": 2, "review_text": "As I sit here trying to review this book, all that comes to mind is meh?! \n Was the book bad? No. Was the book good? No. It just was... \n I can honestly say I have not read a book with this same plot, so there's that. The writing was alright, choppy at times, but overall it flowed well and had enough descriptions to compliment the story. \n The main character, Jane, was your typical girl with a troubled past that adapts and overcomes. She was chock full of teenaged-angst and had a rather large vocabulary. In the ever increasing sea of female main characters that are vapid and self-serving, it was nice to read about one who strives to better her situation by hard work and dedication, not on the backs of others. Beyond that, I found Jane boring. She was even described as \"Plain Jane.\" I just couldn't relate or feel interested in her plight/story. She just fell flat. Jacob was, well, strange. I liked that he was witty and loyal. As I read the conversations between him and Jane, I kept thinking, \"this guy is bat-shit crazy, but he is kind of sweet!?\" Lucien...total douche and has a completely stupid nickname. I really liked the supporting female characters, especially Mary Violet. Her translations were really funny and about the only thing I found appealing in the entire book. \n All in all, this book was just not my cup of tea, so to speak. The mystery was not so subtlety hinted at so it kept my interest until \"the big reveal.\" After, I just lost interest completely. It was slow to start and boring until the end. Maybe it is just me. Maybe I didn't really like the book because I, personally, couldn't get engaged with the storyline or characters. Other readers might really love and/or relate to a down-and-out girl who leaves her sad, troubled life in order find true happiness through intellectual growth and a non-pimp boyfriend. \n And, wtf was \"the lady of woods\" all about?! I'm still kind of scratching my head over that one....", "date_added": "Mon Jul 02 08:48:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 27 07:40:29 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "12988478", "review_id": "511903ba18e255bb39fed6e6b49f8a60", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Well...I can't say that I am surprised by how much I loved this book. I pretty much know that every one of Molly Harper's books are going to become my new favorite. \n This novel had everything I loved about Harper's Jane Jameson series. All the previous characters were there, except many were only mentioned in others' conversations. The new characters that were introduced fit seamlessly into the world I adore and helped the story continue on for me. \n Iris and her sister GiGi....what can I say. Hilarious and remarkably real feeling. I don't have a sister, but I have enough friends who do, so I can say the way characters behave toward each other felt realistic and natural. With any of Harper's stories, witty dialogue filled the entire book. Cal was an OK love interest. I love this story, don't get me wrong, but vampire leading men are all kind of starting to look/sound/act the same all across this genre. I guess I just wanted to read about a vampire male with a little extra something that made him stand out from all the others, even some of the females are feeling a little clone-like to me....I digress \n The plot was not too, too epic. Finding out why vampires are engaging in unknown acts of violence?! \n Boring........and been done. \n It didn't bother me a whole lot however, I guess, because I just love this world so much. I don't need some wild, intricate mystery where the villain is always one step ahead, and when \"all's revealed\" you are left dumbstruck and forever changed. This is light, fluffy, paranormal chick lit and I loved it. \n Pacing was good. I didn't find myself skimming or by-passing entire paragraphs because I really was engaged with the characters story lines. Those who haven't read the Jane Jameson series might be a little lost in respects to the setting and/or supporting characters. There wasn't a whole lot of world-building, which was expected. \n Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I will always instant-a-buy Molly Harper's work. I love her writing and stories she weaves. They are light and funny and just enough to pull me out of any reading funk I sometimes find myself in. I recommend this one to anyone and everyone!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 02 08:40:34 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 01 10:46:46 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 01 10:46:46 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "13244372", "review_id": "a002421c37cea1474b977d0f86bdafaf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I am totally in love with these authors! This is hands-down my favorite book so far this year. The book had some little flaws, but it didn't take away from the story. \n Aurora was an amazing female protagonist. Funny, smart, brave, sassy, etc. Not once during reading this book didn't I hate her or the decisions she made. All the Hex Boys were great too. I love each of them in their own way, they complimented the FMC and story completely. I even loved Aurora's family. It was refreshing to read about her family actually loving her and spending time together as a family. \n The plot was good. Haven't read anything like it that I can remember. The demon/demon hunter thing has been written, but this book's spin was new. The dialogue was hilarious and it felt like the authors weren't trying hard, it just felt natural and real-ish. \n I loved this book and will re-read it again and again until the next one comes out! I totally can't wait!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 28 11:00:01 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 29 12:52:00 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "9518478", "review_id": "61601740d6e2fee2cef41e92ff69d2b5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm kind of on the fence with this one... \n I liked it, but I don't think I will be reading any further books in the series. \n This was sooo slow. It was almost torturous at times. I really hate to abandon books, and this one really tested my resolve. \n I think lovers of this genre have all read about boarding/special schools that contain kids with gifts/powers many times over. That premise doesn't put me off as long as the story develops its own uniqueness somewhere along the way. Scott kinda did that, sort of. How the \"gifted\" kids were going to school along kids that weren't was a new one for me. The categories of different powers were confusing at times and I wish there was more of an explanation. The writing was Ok. It wasn't overly done, descriptions were written well and helped world-build organically. There weren't tons of info-dumps which was nice. \n The characters....hmmmm...pretty cliche and forgettable. Dancia was the typical \"pretty but doesn't believe it\" female main character that has this extraordinary powerful gift. Can was boring as the \"good guy\" and Jack was boring as the \"bad boy\". All of the characters were really 2 dimensional and had a cut & paste-templete feel. \n This book just didn't get me invested in the series. It had potential, but just feel short in my opinion.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 22 09:24:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 12:20:06 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 15 12:20:06 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Aug 14 06:23:02 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "13507251", "review_id": "c5ade5d89316b8a48d8849d53ba476e9", "rating": 1, "review_text": "When I first started this series, I couldn't put any of them down. All the characters were on track development wise, the overall plot was intriguing, and subplots complemented the overall story well. Around book 4 I noticed a decline in all aspects of the story, but I stuck with it hoping for the best. \n Now that I have finished book 6, I am seriously considering abandoning the series. The author is a skilled writer, I never would have continued reading the series if she was horrible. My problem with Expel is that it was painfully redundant and the story isn't moving forward. When I wasn't skimming through Sklya's inner monologues, I was contemplating throwing my Kindle because I was reminded for the millionth time that \"Gage is my forever\". I get it. She loves Gage. She loves Logan. She loves Marshall. I seriously think 70% of the book is her talking about and/or kissing one of those three. I understand the love quadrangle(?) is important to the story, but come on....enough already. \n Another problem I have is that the faction war, which I was lead to believe is a pretty significant plot point, only consists of maybe 5 pages. And within those 5 pages, I was completely lost. I had absolutely no clue wtf was going on and the \"fighting\" was over before I knew it. I would think since we are into book 6 that the romance storyline would take the backseat to the faction war storyline. There was hardly any world building when the author described the actual battle scenes. It seemed that everyone but Skyla knew what was going on and she only knew how to hide behind rocks. I'm not an expert on writing, but if the author leads me to believe that the female protagonist is going to be a bad-ass and save the world I would think she would develop the character better than she has. All Skyla does is call on others for help, hide, or make excuses. \n There are many other problems I have with this book, too many unnecessary subplots, loose ends desperately needing resolution, stagnate to no character development, to name a few. Most are not even worth mentioning. I really had high hopes for this series after I finished book 1. I realize that many series are not dazzling the entire way through, but in my opinion this series should have been done by book 4 or even 6. If the author wanted the series to continue, she should have resolved the faction war storyline and picked up a new one. \n I'm still on the fence if I will read book 7, and I heard that there is possibly going to be 8 books total. I really don't think I can sit through any more of Skyla's incessant prattle of all things love, but I guess I will see!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 11:35:30 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 12:39:16 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "11808950", "review_id": "d799558757c6034f764c24615b6a33f1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have never really liked angel/demon themed books, and I have read quite a few of them with the hope that \"this one\" will change my mind. I really didn't have high expectations for Sweet Evil when I started reading, but soon found myself unable to put it down. I read this book in one sitting because it is by far one of the most engrossing paranormal/fantasy YA books I have read in some time. \n The characters were just plain awesome. The were well written and believable. Each and every one was written well-developed and interesting in their own right. There is nothing I hate more than a female protagonist that is annoying, who makes irrational snap decisions, or who relies on others' heroism. Anna is none of these things. Others have commented on how \"good\" she is, how it is unbelievable that she doesn't lie, respects Patti, ect. considering she is a teenager. I disagree with that. That is who Anna is, due to her mother's influence, and its intrinsic to the person she's become. I feel it makes her even more believable and adds to the inner struggle for the character which makes the plot that much more interesting. My first impression of Kaiden was, \"great another bad boy about to be reformed by love.\" Boy was I wrong. I loved the fact that he didn't lose himself in the feelings he developed for Anna, and how didn't turn into some simpering love-sick puppy. He retained that \"I'm a jerk, so what?\" attitude, but you could tell that he was engaging in some inner change/growth. The rest of the supporting characters complimented the story well without detracting my attention from the main plot. \n The book was not what I would call action-packed, but that's not a bad thing. The pacing was slow, but the author was world building and developing character relationships, within the book as well as with the reader. If you are one of those readers that need non-stop action cover to cover, then this might not be the book for you. I image now that the author has set the stage, future books will much more fast paced. \n I'm glad I took a chance with this one. The theme is not unique, but the author's spin on it is. The plot captured my attention and held it the entire book. I thought the characters were well written and had a certain relate-ability that was refreshing. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the genre, I believe you won't be disappointed!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 11:27:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 12:42:07 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "0dfb88ec00822bd46728cfbb46eed175", "book_id": "12383252", "review_id": "40fe124515a2cdf24a3a4ce09d7e064a", "rating": 1, "review_text": "ugh... \n Could this series get any more horrid?!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 11:26:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 01 07:30:40 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db77230519fa74ac5c4db217434a0fe9", "book_id": "17729791", "review_id": "554218fe50df10964ef955d44fd0ce28", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book, the whole scene where Sidonie was taken by Pinto was a little anti climatic but all in all it was good.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 28 17:39:08 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 05 05:33:53 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Dec 05 05:33:53 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db77230519fa74ac5c4db217434a0fe9", "book_id": "12406076", "review_id": "7c84ba450f0ca7878e4f6a99b57ea52a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was my second Fav of this series !", "date_added": "Wed May 29 18:07:37 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri May 31 17:51:18 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed May 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db77230519fa74ac5c4db217434a0fe9", "book_id": "1240662", "review_id": "a65772d0a46b9cbdef6e77de351f89c1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "My least favorite of the series so far!", "date_added": "Thu Nov 29 16:28:32 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 29 16:29:24 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Nov 29 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9e325fa532d5a32ee570109424a1d6e8", "book_id": "30145677", "review_id": "b905c2d6b99f03e08cc68613c918aaa6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'll be completely honest when I say that I might be a tad biased because I love beauty and the beast so much. This story gave the story I love a bit of a twist. Enchanted books should have definitely been apart of the original story. The message the author sends that every person should write their own story is powerful. Sometimes the grass isn't greener on the other side and that we have all that we need right where we are, we just have to take a step back to look and appreciate it. Loved this story.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 08 16:07:09 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 13 08:50:00 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Mar 13 08:50:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9e325fa532d5a32ee570109424a1d6e8", "book_id": "29056083", "review_id": "589d9400ecb78158a6c85efcc6f8f7b9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Once again, a book I chose to read because of the author. I have no regrets in choosing to read this book. The Harry Potter books are apart of who I am (yes I know a bit dramatic, but I read them fervently and my kids LOVE when I make Harry Potter references and some of them have found a love of reading because I have encouraged them to read it for school) Being back into the world of Harry Potter was a dream come true really. The story line is just as anyone expects, magical and at times intense. I would not consider this to be the 8th Harry Potter book, but JK Rowling does not disappoint. However, because it is the screenplay that does make it a little difficult to read but only because I'm not accustomed to reading screen plays once you get past that, very easy read. Worth the time to read for sure.", "date_added": "Tue May 10 21:02:34 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 11 06:37:40 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Nov 11 12:41:58 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "9e325fa532d5a32ee570109424a1d6e8", "book_id": "136251", "review_id": "7abeaffdd42272da25e4a2d5b8d487ae", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a perfect way to end a very well written and to be honest the books that will forever remain at the top of my favorite book list. I absolutely love J. K. Rowlings ability to keep you coming back for more and more in each of these books. I was rather sad to see the series end.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 11 00:08:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 07 20:57:18 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9e325fa532d5a32ee570109424a1d6e8", "book_id": "34263", "review_id": "5f4be0237ca3f0eb39eabe684a211418", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Such a cute and wonderful book. When I picked it up to read it I was really worried that it would be too much of a child's story for me to enjoy. That was not the case. It was so neat to get to see how Peter became who he is. I cant wait to finish the series and see what other mischief Peter can get in to!", "date_added": "Sun Jun 17 21:08:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 05 20:40:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jun 28 22:57:31 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5c534f4591b4e654a3c397ae5cd6c51d", "book_id": "4837553", "review_id": "bd8566e6cfc22a05d17d1a2cd63b0798", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A good take on the Triston n& Isolde myth. Women will like it more than men, however still a good read. Moves well and enough swords for the guys.", "date_added": "Fri May 29 16:55:33 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 14 16:55:49 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "33135c29690c155c1f3f64c9354eca8f", "book_id": "8709528", "review_id": "9beba174c998fe110b01ca683fd90d38", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Meh. This book took me a while to finish. I was not engaged with these characters anymore. I wanted to see how it ended...pretty good ending. There was too much focus on side characters who I didn't care about. \n This series as a whole would not be one I would read again. \"Vampire Academy\" still takes the cake for me. Each of those books got better & better. This series was best at books 3 & 4. Stretching it to 6 books was a reach for me.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 18 12:07:41 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 05 02:46:22 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "33135c29690c155c1f3f64c9354eca8f", "book_id": "9833184", "review_id": "1bbd757153e4b7116621ff47d2db0c94", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I had a hard time rating this one. Probably 3.5 in reality. I loved the Adrian & Sydney scenes but felt like there were way too many pages of filler. Not a lot of story until the end. Most of the characters didn't have much to do. It did have a good cliffhanger like usual. I will continue reading this series in hopes of a wiz-bang ending. \"Vampire Academy\" as a whole still takes the cake.", "date_added": "Thu May 23 03:15:09 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat May 30 16:31:24 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "33135c29690c155c1f3f64c9354eca8f", "book_id": "16065465", "review_id": "96ce96c534221e52666e9312cb3fdd83", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book had a good story that kept moving along. Very unique.", "date_added": "Thu May 23 03:05:19 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 15 07:11:54 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Oct 15 07:11:54 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "33135c29690c155c1f3f64c9354eca8f", "book_id": "12677913", "review_id": "6ffc122343b4024958e13cfbc245f5de", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I think 4 books was too many in this series. And Kelsey got really annoying. Why would any of these men want to be with her? She can't make up her mind! Three stars for the good ending.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 08 03:10:54 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 02 08:38:51 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jun 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "33135c29690c155c1f3f64c9354eca8f", "book_id": "7849341", "review_id": "6a6b872ad8329399711bcc3b56ec2f92", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I wholeheartedly agree with the people who couldn't stand Kelsey in this one. Just choose Ren already! The back & forth decision-making drove me nuts. I liked all the realms of the dragons, but this book should've been abridged. I will read the next one in hopes of a happy ending for our trio.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 25 03:13:11 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 31 20:54:23 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Mar 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Mar 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "33135c29690c155c1f3f64c9354eca8f", "book_id": "8709526", "review_id": "13159962ccb9e9798b13eeb84eecfd51", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Lots of Adrian + great ending= extra star.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 11 02:35:17 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 15 02:21:38 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jul 15 02:14:32 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jun 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "33135c29690c155c1f3f64c9354eca8f", "book_id": "17397374", "review_id": "aa6e5eb0595ccb771d5eb29e678d5f12", "rating": 3, "review_text": "After reading the Iron Fey series (and loving it), I had to try this one out. This had a really interesting premise that delivered until the end quite nicely. There were some slow spots but overall the story kept moving. I found myself rooting for the katana-weilding \"human-like\" protagonist. I will continue this series to see how things shake out.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 01 04:29:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 10 02:10:59 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Dec 10 02:10:59 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Nov 20 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "33135c29690c155c1f3f64c9354eca8f", "book_id": "9812654", "review_id": "418bfdb91a09e521b4f1d1ef0ac74754", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I love the religious metaphors once they meet Aslan. Very interesting observations of how God rules.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 08 09:56:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 21 17:34:05 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "33135c29690c155c1f3f64c9354eca8f", "book_id": "8709523", "review_id": "ab1e794e90c2af75804c1f793d5c35ef", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I give this one 3 stars just because the ending made the book. Adrian is awesome! The rest of this was high school dating drama. It seemed like the secondary characters didn't have much to do. I hope #3 makes up for this one. This series hasn't grabbed me yet.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 02 05:40:12 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 10 20:48:08 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "33135c29690c155c1f3f64c9354eca8f", "book_id": "9662386", "review_id": "0ef38b1f0a536607d3a3772dbd8076fa", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I started reading this one multiple times. After Ren got kidnapped, I ran out of library time. The first part with Kelsey in Oregon seemed to drag. Same with the quest with Kishan. I will keep up with this series because I want to see where it goes. I just hope the author gets to the point sooner. 400+ pages is fine as long as the story keeps moving.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 28 08:34:26 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 14 12:55:16 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Feb 14 12:55:16 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "33135c29690c155c1f3f64c9354eca8f", "book_id": "5126859", "review_id": "d0ab8423db6c5132d4f6206666ff65c7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is a prime example of how to write a story & keep it moving. There is no filler, which I appreciated a lot. It was interesting & involving the whole time. The author didn't ramble on about everything.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 09 03:33:58 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 08 05:30:58 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jul 08 05:30:58 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "33135c29690c155c1f3f64c9354eca8f", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "3317bab2d5b70f3573e58ade9a4f1cd8", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I realize this is a popular series, but nothing is happening so far. I give books 100 pages to hook me in. This isn't doing it for me. Maybe I will try again someday.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 05 04:51:50 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 20 15:37:39 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jul 20 15:37:39 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "33135c29690c155c1f3f64c9354eca8f", "book_id": "6527740", "review_id": "e7a781245dfdbd93a254669a9332cf83", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This series rocks! I enjoyed it more than \"Twilight.\" Yes, they're completely different. But the Vampire Academy was much more entertaining.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 02 05:10:13 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 08 04:52:11 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Mon Feb 14 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "33135c29690c155c1f3f64c9354eca8f", "book_id": "186103", "review_id": "ac3839e6048ed66b0cb85782cc02f925", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was expecting more from this one. Towards the end, the storyline was more involved and felt like it was going somewhere. I will read the sequel to see what happens. Not as awesome as the \"Uglies\" series.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 24 07:13:10 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 22 13:21:24 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Wed Apr 22 13:21:24 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "33135c29690c155c1f3f64c9354eca8f", "book_id": "1162543", "review_id": "99cd50a705031ef863c7edc20e655151", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I will admit that I really enjoy the \"Twilight\" series. The past three books were great! But sadly, this book didn't do it for me. This book is mostly about the baby, who wasn't that exciting to me. It would be an okay subplot, but certainly not the focus of all those pages! Yeesh! There wasn't enough going on for me to keep turning the pages. I wanted more from the ending, too. The Volturi just talk forever and then leave? What? And there wasn't enough interaction with Edward. He kind of disappeared.Edward is the best part of these books; all women out there would agree. Kind of a let down...", "date_added": "Mon Jun 23 11:39:57 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 31 11:32:09 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Fri Oct 31 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "33135c29690c155c1f3f64c9354eca8f", "book_id": "92141", "review_id": "27891bb1f4072f2bf1734203af7ea318", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Very slow and not very engaging. I did check out the soundtrack for the popular musical of the same name. That was worth it! How fun and entertaining!", "date_added": "Wed May 28 10:43:26 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 06 17:49:21 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2a73ee8e2063c7d958e6fe4b98923f50", "book_id": "28145767", "review_id": "7c080bd377427b2268f61e6c87df7e2c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is beautiful, inside and out. <3", "date_added": "Thu Dec 29 23:08:01 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 07 14:44:01 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Apr 07 14:44:01 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Mar 31 21:11:55 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2a73ee8e2063c7d958e6fe4b98923f50", "book_id": "28260587", "review_id": "496b21abafa229b5470ee362b4208078", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Needs more Chaol ;)", "date_added": "Tue Nov 15 09:11:54 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 15 09:12:27 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Nov 15 09:12:27 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2a73ee8e2063c7d958e6fe4b98923f50", "book_id": "17927395", "review_id": "4e2d055e46d1ff685338bd464699512e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Needs more Tarquin. ;)", "date_added": "Mon May 09 07:15:48 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon May 09 07:16:28 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2a73ee8e2063c7d958e6fe4b98923f50", "book_id": "13490795", "review_id": "e64fa66dd46d349581c7368bff649dad", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I received this book for free from Goodreads First Reads, and I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to read it. Jessica Shirvington is a knowledgeable author with an amazing ability to weave stories. Enticed is even better than its predecessor, which says a lot about its quality. This book is unique in that it has an artful balance of romance and action while thoroughly building the characters. They are realistic and believable which leads to excellent relationships. Interactions between characters, especially Violet and Lincoln, will have you holding your breath in anticipation. The pacing of the story is impeccable because it maintains a decent amount of suspense without drawing the events out. It is often difficult to find any truly original novels, but Enticed offers a unique and fresh story. This is an excellent read and is unrivalled by any other in its genre. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment of the series!", "date_added": "Tue Sep 25 06:53:22 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 20 09:02:53 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Nov 14 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "34775793", "review_id": "540958871f7c9ceb16447d3bc875ccd3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Astolat's usual wacky premises and brilliant resolutions!", "date_added": "Tue Apr 04 03:44:24 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 04 03:46:12 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Apr 04 03:46:13 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "34546057", "review_id": "fe2c047199c0c9500a35d66bae36d9b2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This had a few nice moments, but to be frank... it's so generic in terms of Harry/Draco fic that I had to read through the comments to remember which fic it was--this despite the fact that I have read maybe 3 HP fanfics this year so far.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 03 14:18:56 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 03 14:22:30 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "19165476", "review_id": "aa4fc986e9a4f7acfeb72b3d5ec9dbd2", "rating": 1, "review_text": "If you think this book asks all the right questions... you will be disappointed. Because it doesn't answer them. Not just that, but it meanders aimlessly (and pointlessly), switching POVs between the two love members of the couple with so little distinction in voice that at one point their thoughts are copied and pasted into the other person's FIRST PERSON POINT OF VIEW. And nop, these people are NOT telepathic, the writing is just that completely generic and unspired. \n Can't believe this got any kind of award.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 03 11:47:22 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 03 14:02:09 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Apr 03 14:02:09 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Apr 03 11:47:27 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "29502079", "review_id": "35a498ce778184a6c34a66bc5a248ef5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "So slow...", "date_added": "Sun Feb 19 10:29:08 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 30 09:36:00 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Mar 30 09:36:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "28088476", "review_id": "42bfed3649cb096897471e2e3c6a6a04", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Much slower than book 1 \n I swallowed the first book like there was no tomorrow but it's taken me like two months (and 3 other books) to finish this one. The plot, to put it simply, meanders. There's exciting moments but they are few and far between and as interested as I was to see Micah/Drystan... It just wasn't working. They are linked together by both their common ancestry and the events of book 1 but their closeness is left for the reader to infer, not really shown except for here and there when Micah remembers they are in love...", "date_added": "Sat Feb 18 17:51:09 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 30 08:56:41 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "17378527", "review_id": "99db95d57e6aa3e5b28b52de654a86a0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Just realised this book has the same title than the conclusion to The Foxhole Court trilogy. Now I need to go research to see if any other books by the title exist because GODDAMN, they are BOTH amazing. It's pretty hard to say anything about the fourth book in a series without spoiling it all, so I'm just going to tell you I read it in a day and I often felt the author was reading my mind. I liked the romances but found the adventure took too much time and tension away from the resolution of the second one. Seems to be it'd have worked better if it had been sorted earlier when does-he-like-me wouldn't have had to compete with is-it-the-end-of-the-world. But still, amazing, the writing is so smooth and the descriptions so eye-catching and poetic, I kinda want to copy the quotes again and again in hopes I'll internalise them.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 09 11:26:48 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 09 11:35:31 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Feb 09 11:35:31 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Thu Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "15707709", "review_id": "791f8557a6fe8bba927a52670742feec", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Pretty interesting, but that's about it.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 08 16:55:19 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 08 16:56:08 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "17378508", "review_id": "4d9becdc3f0daa495993d5a443f4dab8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Whoops, was that less than 24 hours? I'm SO hooked it's almost embarrassing, except for the fact the quality of both the writing voice and the story-telling is so high that is pretty much impossible for me to be anything other than overcome with joyous envy. I can't write a longer review because I've to go read book 4 but for the slashers out there, you'll like this one :p", "date_added": "Sun Feb 05 05:42:26 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 06 12:35:04 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Feb 06 12:35:04 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sun Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "17347389", "review_id": "4d133771e70963a88a1ef61f9fd30225", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Um, so I started this... and then I guess I fell into a magical temporal distortion hole because it was finished? Stiefvater is a hell of a writer and I'm a total gonner for Ronan's tortured badboy-dness.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 03 15:56:49 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 05 05:41:46 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "17675462", "review_id": "ef47217a2f945f4dc8c8e7d35fe5adab", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow. The language... Stiefvater writes prose like poetry and she stabs you with her profound understanding of her characters. I've saved so many quotes that if I didn't have to run to read book II (Ronan, yay!) I'd spend a few hours listing them and squeeing. This is urban fantasy at its best and friendship as enchanting as any romance.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 03 15:53:27 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 03 15:56:08 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Feb 03 15:56:08 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "23272410", "review_id": "15af4e6526f0b9c44b78028f3c1786b8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A heart stopping adventure, original world building and a friendship across all boundaries. \n Wow.... Just wow. This is a fantastic take on mermaids. I can't review without spoiling but if you like mermaids and girls, i dare you to stop after the preview!", "date_added": "Mon Dec 19 14:40:07 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 27 04:00:11 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Dec 27 04:00:11 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Dec 19 14:40:07 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "25760792", "review_id": "99a093c9b408f125f1c68c7ee4837014", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I consumed the first 80% of this book in a day and a half, fascinated by the world building, moved by Danny's difficulties and enchanted with his blooming romance with perhaps the most impossible of love interests. I still love all those things... But then we got to the plot and things started to get clumsy: the characters didn't seem able to act coherently with their abilities. \n The clock spirits, in particular, seemed to lack the ability to make independent decisions that qualifies someone for personhood. This kinda ruined the romance for me because it's hard to root for a couple when one of them seems to be a stand-in for everything that's beautiful and perfect and doesn't seem to do much beyond cheering the other on. Then we get to the part where Colton's innocence is so transparent that one starts to wonder if this is a case of \"he loves Danny because he has never known anyone else\" or \"the virgin and the normal guy\" plot often seen in cinema with women who look like adults but behave childishly because they lack knowledge of the world (ie. \"The Fifth Element\") so of course they think the normal guy they meet is wonderful! \n All that said, I'm planning to read book 2 when it comes out. I'm just not biting my nails like I thought I'd be when I first started reading this. Tara Sim's a talented writer, but perhaps needs more time to mature and learn to write an effective ending.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 01 07:19:11 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 13 13:25:53 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jun 13 13:25:53 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "25692886", "review_id": "156d8a2f7308a0c6508988c8a845c109", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What a pleasant surprise! A book with a mentally ill and physically disabled protagonist that deals well with sexuality, race and various isms! Plus an interesting magic system (the echoes are brilliant. Small spoiler: they're sort of fairy world soulmates to humans, and having one is sort of like having an amazing muse, and the humans in turn provide rationality to the faery counterparts) and casual bisexuality that sometimes crosses the lines of appropriateness (which is portrayed as a not exactly great effect of the excesses of Borderline, not queerness, imo).", "date_added": "Fri Sep 02 10:43:25 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 05 14:49:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Sep 05 14:49:55 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "13647", "review_id": "069c4e41f91a197b97a849cbd00e3975", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The summary sounds SO perfect for me... but it just fell flat. Can't explain it, maybe it's that Le Guin's fantasy feels somewhat simplistic and dumbed down and this, being YA, even more so --even though it's been proven AGAIN and AGAIN that young adults are perfectly capable of enjoying extremely complex books, it's something writers who write for adults tend to do when they take up the genre. \n The world-building was cool, but the characters never really crystallized as people for me.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 28 16:16:58 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 28 16:19:29 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "17556411", "review_id": "eeaaa6e5085f87cb1b68b8d808031bd3", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I really wanted to like this because it's a fantasy, with a lesbian teenager but I couldn't because is the most boring thing ever. The two main characters have so little personality that I forgot who was who, the fantasy world so unoriginal and so packed with details that were meant to be profound but ended up being preachy that it made me wish for Tolkien's trees. In summary so boring I stopped reading 80 pages from the end.", "date_added": "Sun May 22 12:57:58 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 22 05:41:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "13618440", "review_id": "a98d97823099ca7609ccdcff7e392b70", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Wow. What to say of a YA marketed as romance that is a massive epic of greatness? Funny, sweet and heartwrenching by turns, the quality of the writing lyrical without being over the top... READ THIS trilogy! I can't spoil you, but it's a genre given to gothic melodrama and this is that genre done WELL, maybe more of a feat than writing in a generally acceptable niche instead.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 29 18:56:12 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon May 16 12:24:05 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon May 16 12:24:05 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "12812550", "review_id": "2998e068da5d062f9603c9f00b368d9c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Book II is not worse than book I but it feels like a continuation too much for me to have a separate opinion. Still good, still interested in all the characters. Charmed by main character's friends, love the new angst introduced with the chimaera who Karou actually gets to know as sort of equals. Kiri! The situation with Kiri was greatness, and I really like how it's the plot and not their actions pushing Karou and Akira together and how they are both super guilt ridden... Okay, so I really liked it, despite this being angel!YA fiction and nothing I expected to like.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 29 18:54:52 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat May 07 09:38:09 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Apr 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "16128152", "review_id": "839b04519b0cddef2678455d1c573b4d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Entertaining enough, but nothing to write home about.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 28 13:16:31 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 28 13:18:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Mar 28 13:18:03 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Mar 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "29435865", "review_id": "9ede2a1616959110c5b7d72597edb0da", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Brilliant worldbuilding (and believe you me that house decoration is not my thing!) and lovely tension, almost organic between H and D.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 06 23:18:34 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 06 23:19:33 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "20521670", "review_id": "072d18c51868a779b53d9d87663d8cde", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Very funny, but the characters aren't great.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 13 12:13:40 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 17 16:01:10 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Feb 17 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "18003646", "review_id": "5f3c5cbadaf82171490cae0bededf7bf", "rating": 2, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I'm not the biggest fan of traditional romance but this, despite writing that is nothing but okay, was engaging enough to keep me reading till the end. \n Nice role reversals in the bedroom, UST wasn't resolved that smoothly but still, sweet.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 09 12:00:25 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 12 11:31:15 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Feb 12 11:31:15 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "20542660", "review_id": "e8014313b25da9237492e03e1debfff4", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Mostly (hot) porn, character motivations didn't add up to me.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 06 05:17:37 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 06 05:18:41 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "25805341", "review_id": "f195459d3ccdb4c6c3caca80e0ee492d", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I'm a 1/4 of the way in and I already have so many issues I'm stopping. \n First, the werewolves are SUPER sexist. The male main character comments on this so it might be that at some point it's 'explained', oth the werewolf alpha male who is regularly raping him seems to think it's funny that humans object to their females and males being separated (their females being considered no threat, unlike the rebels, who are all male, it's assumed by context). \n Second, since it's a dual POV, we know almost from the beginning Aaron is not responsible for the crime he's accused of, but he never SAYS anything. Supposedly it's to keep his cover with the rebels, but now again, he's in private with the most powerful man in the country/area, who wants something FROM him. Aaron isn't even really a rebel or opposed to the wolves, just to submission in general, so it wouldn't betray any of his principles (and it might actually help him find the person he's looking for) to ask for Quinn's help. But maybe it goes back to the point that the guy is happy to enslave, force body modifications and rape him before he's even healed from those. \n Third, Alpha Asshole insists he wouldn't force his slave to have sex with him. Instead he'll lick him, werewolf saliva proving an irresistible aphrodisiac (possibly just for that wolf's mate, not super clear). Now, drugging someone so they can't refuse to have sex with you IS RAPE. I do not object to noncon per se, and this fantasy so whatever, but I felt like this was somehow presented as a real moral justification and just, personally, weirded me out. Particularly because I thought the idea of two alpha guys pushing at each other was really hot, and Aaron is not an alpha guy by any standard.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 26 05:28:31 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 26 05:42:19 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Sep 26 05:42:19 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "26596223", "review_id": "646a7d1b21cc2a7a0cb80221284ae542", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is an original take on the Alpha/Omega trope. A very HOT one at that, since Omegas are males that instead of creating a pack by reproduction, instead have an emphatic ability that allows them to link its members (well, that and the group sex) and keep larger groups of Alpha wolves from fighting each other. \n Did I mention hot? I'm normally not a fan of love at first sight or even lust at first sight that's strong enough to overcome reason; but it worked here. Sam and Rusty look at each other and fireworks go off all around, innocent bystanders having to cover their eyes to avoid melting from the crazy chemistry these two have. \n Besides the plot, the writing is just captivating, I opened it to have a casual look and found myself blinking after my eyes started to hurt, I had read about half the novel! Sam and Rusty are both likeable and interesting guys, and I'm looking forward to the pack of secondary characters the series seem to be promising. \n Book II is on my to read list as soon as it's out.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 23 10:40:32 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 23 10:49:04 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Sep 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "17155947", "review_id": "d1bd7df840e67de769ecb9dcae62dd88", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Pantomime is super readable, and super politically correct in terms of diversity--but none of the main characters are foreign or disabled or anything that's not on the queer umbrella somewhere*. I enjoyed it a lot and that's why I'm giving it 4 stars but it's not a perfectly constructed narrative by far. The climax of the adventure was a scene that included four characters and for some reason none of them seemed able to move simultaneously despite it being a fight to the death. \n Complaints aside, the circus! I'd have like to see more of the trapezee act but what I did see was lovely and it really made the relationship between the two aerialists into an intimate partnership. I also really enjoyed the other love interest, which is by class and inclination a much better fit to Micah (the politics of this aren't explored in book 1). \n I think I'd give this book a star solely for its frank discussion of intersexuality and the mutilation that intersex people are still subjected to as children by parents and doctors bent on 'normalizing' them. It's definitely unique in YA as far as I know and I have barely come across it in literature at all (But check out both Middlesex'Middlesex' and Annabel\"Annabel' by K. Winters) \n *The MC is intersex, for which they are shamed pretty consistently, but which is also hinted at being characteristic of demi-gods and the source of mystical powers. I guess it's the lattest version of 'disability that gives you superpowers'. Since it's not a trope yet, I suppose we might let it pass as a coincidence...", "date_added": "Wed Aug 05 16:17:02 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 19 06:08:26 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "13424602", "review_id": "9734107b0ab519a0ed0dcfd0b8fb00a2", "rating": 1, "review_text": "After spending the last 100 pages or so bursting out with 'this is so stupid' at regular intervals I have finally decided to give up on this. I loved 'rock' by this author and I liked the quirky premise but the actual book seems to be a meandering collection of anecdotes with two MCs whose motivations barely make sense and whose voices (it's told in the first person) stop sounding anywhere near realistic once they are past their teens. \n I'm curious as to why Scott can see Rune but not curious enough to keep putting myself through this.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 13 13:59:27 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 13 15:00:15 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jun 13 15:00:15 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "9663371", "review_id": "398916a91a0a9512d5539fc54fc0afb1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I have to say I preferred the single POV of the first book. In particular I couldn't quite see where the Brokkolfr storyline was meant to go (I liked it, even, but where was the conclusion?). I also though that the relationship between Isolfr's wolfjarls was going to be explored much more in depth, instead I got a lot of plot and very little pinning. These issues would be less pressing if the next book wasn't meant to move a decade or so in the future (or so I understand). \n Still really enjoyed it.", "date_added": "Sat May 30 09:21:27 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun May 31 13:29:10 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun May 31 13:29:10 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "17256365", "review_id": "935589e337e2616d409940c6e3bc096e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was just as gripping as the first two books (although, spoiler alert, without the sexy. I think this is intentional as the POV characters are all female in a manner of speaking and that tends to make for a focus on romance, but I still missed it.) \n The ending, though... what was that ENDING? It was like the tension got to a climax, final battle about to happen and... it never happens, you jump to the epilogue.", "date_added": "Sat May 30 09:21:17 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 12 14:11:13 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "333356", "review_id": "2fede2631415c101967addc81aa2a7d0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is absolutely gorgeous and almost unbelievably hot. \n That naming practices of the world of ACtW are quite confusing to me since most names are unpronounceable but the storytelling and wolrdbuilding are too fascinating, the characters too well formed, wolf and human and even troll alike for naming to even stop me for a moment. \n Its treatment of war reminded me strongly of 'Ender's Game' and I'm looking forward to the next books immensely so I need to go get dressed and go acquire them now.", "date_added": "Sat May 30 09:02:19 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat May 30 09:06:52 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat May 30 09:06:52 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "22544764", "review_id": "b048b60a581337fe0d494fbf3a6fc092", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Original and magical. I didn't particularly like the audiobook reader but I loved the narrator wasn't a native English speaker, it really worked for a story set in ancient Poland, I thought. Will probably re-read on paper at some point because I love Novik's writing and I have a few scenes that made me want to stop and re-read, which is hard with audio.", "date_added": "Sat May 16 10:06:48 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 20 16:32:06 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jul 20 16:32:06 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "25326212", "review_id": "35e15d0404e91065b830246c22a1a00f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Lovely little romantic tale about two very different people finding each other. \n The romance genre is not one I read in, being too sweet for my tastes, but even so this captured my attention (the hot sex did not hurt!) and before I knew it... it was over, leaving me wanting more.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 20 10:03:17 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 20 10:05:55 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Apr 20 10:05:55 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "13583060", "review_id": "5a9f661f3fda557094537f076c77b2d8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What can one say of Resonant's writer? It's gorgeous, polished and entrancing. 'Transfigurations' also has original magic, a marvellous plot and a well developed cast.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 01 11:38:43 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 01 11:39:57 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Mar 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "23899848", "review_id": "7405bed616c07cd51e53adec9f8389bc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I don't know why on earth I took so long to get to this book when I liked book I quite a bit. \"Hostage\" adds depth to the relationships and characters of \"Stranger\" without skimming at all in the plot department. In fact, it's quite a page turner, the alternating POVs serving to both give a wide perspective but never give enough away that the events to come are easy to prevent. \n I decided to read this after having left it to languish for a while after a heartbreaking disappointment with the treatment of the romantic triad in another fantasy novel (It has amazing dragons and it proposes an unusual romantic configuration for the main characters... then rapidly ties it up in a paragraph instead of giving it the attention it was set up to get). \"Hostage\" is not a romance but it handles romances well, as if (gasp!) they are just another facet of human relationships and lives. I was uneasy about but ended up happy with the way the triad here girl/boy/girl (girls are best friends) did not make any effort to keep things 'equal' in both fronts. \n Other than that, there was a mention of a character needing to see another's lips, which I thought was a coded reference to someone being deaf/hard of hearing which never got followed up on. Of course, there's 2 more books to go and disability is hardly underrepresented when one of the main character has only partial use of his hand but it would have been interesting to see what adaptive techniques existed in the highly original fantasy world.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 26 12:16:32 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 28 15:28:15 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Mar 28 15:28:15 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "19549841", "review_id": "2ca16711d44d6e19d11a51d5c4445eab", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Hartman manages to somehow find the way to say some very true things in surprisingly new ways, her revelations are not altogether earthshattering but they are slightly tilted, as if seen from a different angle. This alien quality to her writing makes a story that is not, on the surface, that original, acquire an otherworld tinct that I find more than intriguing. \n Even the romance (a sideplot, really) is handled in a way that both acknowledges and defies traditional narratives. (I SO wanna know what happens next!) \n Seraphina is a flawed heroine whose flaws make sense for her history and whose qualities make others admire her but also isolate her on a pedestal from which she can be looked at suspiciously as well as admiringly. \n Fantastic worldbuilding, if that's your thing, seamelessly disguised into the plot (There's a glossary at the back, apparently, it never even occurred to me to look for it, though!). Hartman is a newish writer, the kind who is so talented that it is clear to the reader, they cannot but become greater still with some experience.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 10 12:59:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 28 16:09:09 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Mar 12 05:45:02 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Mar 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "18292515", "review_id": "ed58394ccbd38206d566f1aa27d2a98e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This starts as porn and then kind of gets more and more complex by the minute. Real page turner and the tension is well done, particularly when it comes to the mature parts.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 24 13:25:28 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 24 13:27:02 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jan 24 13:27:02 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "16081758", "review_id": "0968d57f798e6dfeb7df45af9923de95", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow. This was a wild ride. It hit all the right notes (disability, gender, bisexuality, class and race). I particularly appreciated that the f/f romance wasn't forbidden because it was f/f (it never comes up, not even from the point of view of the Earth-bound narrator) but instead because it was a cross-class situation where the love interest was a noble. \n Nolan's disability is a bit complicated, but for me it didn't matter that it was magical in origin. He's just as affected as someone with neurologically caused seizures and has dealt with what that's done to his life for all of 17 years, plus because of the magic seizures he's lost one of his feet and is therefore physically disabled. Plus, even though astrally projecting yourself into another body in another world might seem like a superpower, Nolan never experiences it as positive or benefits from it. With the right pills, he's able to control his 'ability' to an extent, but he's never anything other than plagued by it. Disability as a metaphor, or as actually!magical (Percy Jackson's dyslexia) is a dangerous trope to play wit but Duyvis has played and won as far as I'm concerned. \n The ending was a little short, all in all, but it can't detract from all that came before, and conceptually I thought the storyteller format was lovely.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 28 08:00:56 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 01 09:40:20 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Mar 01 09:40:20 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Feb 27 07:07:41 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "17621376", "review_id": "8b007bcceed2b691254d3252f3d5b0a9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "\"Blood Red\" is not exactly a writerly masterpiece. The writing is simply and often cliched, but it caters well to fantasies of domination and the sex was hot (obviously YMMV). The worldbuilding was fairly interesting but not distinctive enough to comment on, perhaps it might have benefited from being expanded. \n Still, if you get the epub instead of having to read online, it's a nice enough read.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 27 03:53:42 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 02 10:01:52 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "22728086", "review_id": "dda8fc539da6f00d77c5b66a96f5e8d6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Pretty good story. Great world building of which I would like to see more.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 18 08:33:50 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 02 09:44:11 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "18372675", "review_id": "71cc872362a5fc7c1da5ece21b7e3705", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I started this expecting a bit of a fun romantic romp, instead I got incredibly detailed world building (The ships whose wood yearns to return to the island where the trees originally grew!) and two very likeable main characters, for all they don't like each other much! The pace is good and the plot is more than believable. Just lovely, will definitely be checking out this author's other titles.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 14 09:48:56 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 02 09:44:26 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Dec 14 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "23734628", "review_id": "cdb0df4d43c79eaa7b16afa21c14e263", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Bloody BRILLIANT. I'll need to get back to this and review properly but this is even better than I thought and I was already obsessed with Simon Snow from a few fragments. \n 12.11.16 So I've finally rewarded myself with a re-read. The magic system is still delightful and Simon and Baz are still excellent together --Penelope is also great-- but the plot is a little more boring and I think I found the Lucy/Davy extra creepy this time around. I didn't remember Simon never finds out about his true parentage, either, although considering the circumstances of the Mage's death... it might be the kinder option. \n Listening to it, I found the few chapters from Simon's POV pretty boring (Baz doesn't show up till chapter 30 or something), but even tough I'm lowering the rating to 4 ****, I still love the story and I kinda want to write fanfic about the most powerful magician alive, not in terms of power but because they are truly fluent in several languages (Rowell hints at this but never explores it, when it's quite obvious that in a world where language is key, speaking several would amplify what you can do.) Of course, since it's all about remembering exact phrases that are used enough to acquire power, I'd personally suck at magic.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 12 15:31:33 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 12 13:28:07 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "16034526", "review_id": "2e74fe8653f3ea89636ce6f42ed113ca", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The first word that comes to mind when I think of \"Stranger\" is original. I know, I know, it's overused, everything is original nowadays! Even parodies and other stuff that is meant to be referencing something else. But the world-building is truly and startlingly weird in this post apocalyptic world that has somehow managed to reconstruct itself. Although the community of Las Anclas is never placed on any maps, its diverse community with families that do not simply have foreign names but foreign customs and religions sets in the ruins of a large city, probably in the States. These diversity is one of the main strengths of Las Anclas, just as it is one of the main (often wasted) strengths of modern multicultural communities. \n But in the world of \"Stranger\" the otherness that is often projected onto people of different cultures and races, is instead reserved for those Changed by the radioactivity still remaining after the apocalyptic event that ended our civilization and gave rise to theirs. These Changes are often powers to control nature (weather, telekinesis, pyrokinesis) or animal like characteristics like speed, strength or claws. The later produce particularly strong revulsion among some prejudiced 'Norms', although, a it's often the case with homophobia, in many cases it seems to stem not from fear of the known but self-hatred. \n Gay and lesbian couples show up as both main relationships and in the background with a frequency that would be unrealistic in any modern society (and no difference is acknowledged between them and heterosexual couples, although asexuality is clearly seen as strange by young people). But among the many aspects of world-building that make this world difference, it's the implicit acknowledgement of the dangers of childbirth for women. In this world, hormonal changes such as adolescence or childbirth can trigger a person's mutation, a mutation that in the case of pregnant women often kills them and the child they carry. In such a world, it seems not just a matter of freedom to love whoever one loves but possibly of ensuring one's survival to opt for a same-sex relationship (Although the technological and medical facilities at Las Anclas are decent by our standards, it is clear that it has taken generations to created such resources so that it is not outside the realm of possibility that people had no contraception available for generations after the catastrophe). The only large family is indeed the Rileys, all mutated and blessed with a genetic predisposition to survive childbirth. Most other women, whether in relationships with men or women, seem to have one or two children. \n I'm really interested in seeing more of Mia/Ross/Jenny's relationship. I love the idea of them being able to handle a poly/open relationship but Mia and Ross have never had a romantic relationship before and I think that has to trip them up somehow. \n Mutants as a metaphor for difference, be it sexual or racial, are not new but since the problem of difference has not disappeared in our world, it's still meaningful. \"Stranger\" moves a step further by including both flora and fauna that have been Changed, most of it that has in fact evolved into completely different and often dangerous lifeforms such as trees that will shoot their seeds at any living being to use them as soil/food for their seedlings. And even creating symbiotic relationships between humans and nature that both enhance and hurt the person involved. \n At the beginning, like some editors, I thought the multiple POVs and large cast would prove confusing (and the first scene at the school left me reeling), but the feeling soon passed. The characters affection for and interest in each others' lives easily guided me through the complex relationships of the town inhabitants. \n Without being a long book at all, way before the end, I was getting teary eyed for Ross, Yuki, Mia and Jenny and by the time I thought to check for the second time how far along I was, I was almost done. \n Looking forward to the sequel!", "date_added": "Thu Dec 11 11:37:33 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 02 09:49:06 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Dec 24 09:08:41 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Dec 22 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "12076991", "review_id": "3374861e41cd91e96b31e3e96ec982ba", "rating": 3, "review_text": "First, if you were put off by comments that it was the way too sweet love story of Pilar and Loup, I'm not going to lie; it does get overly sweet. But Carey knows what she's doing, there's a lot of cutesy moments but they are all short unless there's a dramatic plot reason they need to go on a bit longer and, to be honest, it's only fair a pair of girls get to be in love with each other and in your face about it for once. Everything else in the story is way more interesting, admittedly, and there is a lot of everything else to be had! Saints Astray, like Santa Olivia herself, it's a modest book that gets epic because it has a main character that has no fear to limit her and who lives through situations that would push any decent human being to do something about it if they didn't have the deterrent. Loup comes off like a bit of an actual saint, since the impulses she has no reason to curve are all good, but are they all good because someone who cannot fear cannot be traumatized? Is it truly fear keeping us trapped so that without it we would all be good people? \n The book briefly references psychopathy, a condition where dangerous situations do not affect the person in the normal way (accelerated heart-rate, etc) and which often results in amorality and crime, since (theoretically) psychopaths cannot feel what is right and what is wrong and often do not care for the rules set in place to uphold their society's morality. Of course, not all psychopaths are violent or antisocial, since they are capable of enjoying things and of understanding it's in their best interests not to get sent to prison or excluded from their social group in other ways. I would have liked a more detailed analysis of Loup's internal thought processes, how can she plan for the future if she cannot fear pain? How come lack of fear feels like an emptiness if she's never had it? (I don't think it was described that way in book 1, where her understanding of fear seemed to be completely theoretical and based on plain danger assessment, a learned behaviour, not a feeling.) I guess that, having raised the questions, I wish Carey had given us some kind of answers or theories as more than passing questions/deductions from characters who meet Loup. \n As a guy who shouldn't fall for it puts it... \n \"And the thing is,\" Miguel continued. \"That hero complex? It starts to work on you after a while. Because Loup looks at things so fucking fearlessly, you start to, too. Once you confront your fears, you start thinking maybe you're big enough to do the right thing after all. You think that crazy British pop band started out thinking they were gonna dedicate themselves to GMO rights?\" He nodded at Tom Abernathy. \"Bet you know what I mean, don't you?\" \n I liked the book, not as much as book 1 but still happy I read it. 3.5", "date_added": "Sat Nov 15 03:39:28 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 02 06:51:04 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Dec 13 06:51:54 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "150739", "review_id": "6eba0cf1728413381b6ae026888730b4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ok, subversive but not very exciting.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 01 20:13:49 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 31 03:36:22 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Mar 31 03:36:22 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Mar 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "23199431", "review_id": "cc853dc277fab388957d5e4d19016d8c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "WOW. I have been following this while it was a work in progress and sometimes I was a little sorry because SRB's mastery of tension is amazing and quite frustrating for a reader who cannot read further. \n The world building is simply fantastic, with a lot owed to the authors that inspired her to write this adventure in the first place but much that is hers alone. \n The characters are fascinatingly flawed, the dialogue witty, hilarious and heartbreaking by turns and I simply CANNOT wait to read the sequel contained in \"Monstrous Affections\" about Luke's adventures. \n Did I mention it's free online and also complete? \n Second read: 29/11/2014(Have read the sequel now, \"Wings in the Morning\", the most amazing pun in the story of elegant titles and also super satisfying as a conclusion for now of all the romances in \"Turn of the Story\".) \n Third read 21/07/2016: Read the Italian translation (and how lucky am I? I've been studying Italian for the last two years and I get my favourite story translated into it!) and fell even more in love. Then re-read \"Wings in the Morning\", which itself left me wondering how it could be read without TTotS but whatever, yummy and sweet.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 10 10:32:36 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 20 16:35:37 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "16221851", "review_id": "3003e324fb9e0c9cbb518c01510e19e7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Didn't quite reach the depths of SRB at her best but still pretty good. I'd have liked more about the magic system and just... more.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 10 09:29:50 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun May 22 12:56:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun May 22 12:56:44 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu May 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "5931169", "review_id": "50c4e65e0d824f4a8b8b81d0b18f55ae", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Let me tell you a story, years ago, I tried reading Kushiel's Dart and was irremediably bored. I have since then been wondering what the fuss is about Ms Carey, she had failed to put me to sleep in the way illustrious figures like Mr Tolkien had managed but I still hadn't been able to get through a book with a strong female character and flexible sexuality, two of my favourites. Now it seems clear to me that epic fantasy is forever lost to me, the specifics of this affliction are as of yet unclear but the point is that SANTA OLIVIA is f a n t a s t i c. \n I love how unrepentant it is about referencing other fiction while updating the tropes with such fresh variations that it only makes it more impressive. I liked pretty much all the characters who got any screen time, not because they were all likeable but because they were all shown as tridimensional human beings. (Mini spoiler: I love the way in which it's revealed that the fearless genetically modified humans show other people what they are capable of just by being unable to feel fear, as if the possibilities are hidden and their own inability to see that blockage means we can open our own eyes.) \n I accidentally spoiled myself to the ending by opening the goodread page for book 2, but since I plan to reread this, I don't think I mind so much. Although it's a highly tense and uncertain coming of age story, made even more chaotic by circumstances both geographical, political and genetic, there is a rhythm to Loup Garron's tale reminiscent of saint myths and popular heroes that makes her journey heart-wrenching but also profoundly right.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 22 19:15:35 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 16 05:19:06 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Nov 16 05:19:06 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "20922599", "review_id": "dfb88b609c4ce143122ce7348719aae4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n The mythology in this universe is really interesting but I have to admit proper romance tropes make me feel kinda weird when it's a heterosexual pairing, guess I can't get over all the associations even when the guy in question is great about it. I did like the fact that the heroine is \"curvaceaous\" (or maybe it was \"voluptuous\") and that was made OK. But, oth, it was made OK through sex and the attraction the hero felt for her, which is logical but irks me in my individualist soul that believes we each need to see ourselves as valuable on our own (I don't actually know this to be possible, but it *feels* like it should). One of the central themes of the book being how we can afford to rely on others and be \"weak\" at times, trusting them to catch us, which I agree with theoretically but I'm not altogether comfortable with emotionally, which kept me from identifying with either of them much. \n BUT didn't stop me from reading it cover to metaphorical cover in under three days, so if you ARE looking for romance but want to update from the traditional ones where the girl gets saved a lot to one where she does most of the saving (realistically for her regular person qualifications), definitely go for this. I prefer \"Prisoner\" out of the two and would REALLY like to see Danielle (AKA Five) Torres' story or possibly Nicolette's. I'm really looking forward to more DJ and Echo. \n Oh, when you get there, the pun with the title made me smile :)", "date_added": "Thu Aug 07 16:54:41 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 10 11:55:10 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Aug 10 11:55:10 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "22556276", "review_id": "8c416f2b962a3d2c1048b8aac619fbbf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Wow. I just finished reading this, I started a few hours ago on a whim and was literally unable to put it down since. The need to keep going even pushed me through the notes at the end and half of the free chapter of Laura's wolf that's included before my need to review overwhelmed me. \n This has intricate world building, not just werewolves but not white werewolves who have werewolf customs but also keep the culture they emigrated from. Not just super senses but an overdeveloped need for social touching that makes shifters uncomfortable around non shifters, which are, to my great delight given an outsider name (being that if being a werewolf is perfectly normal for you and yours, you wouldn't go around calling regular humans just \"normal\" or non werewolves.). One bodied is a great description, too, from the perspective of someone for whom shifting is a natural and everyday ability. The concept that becoming a werewolf if you weren't one would fuck you up massively is also one that I found resonated with many of my own theories and the author gives just enough information to make you want to know a little more (I'm looking forward to reading Laura's wolf and seeing how Roy handles the situation). \n Both protagonists were interesting in their own right, although DJ is a bit more tridimensional on account of not having grown up in a lab. \n *BIT OF A SPOILER* \n I enjoyed the tension between them a lot, too, although perhaps I would have argued for an unhappier ending to be more in line with Echo's personality and obvious desensitization, I can buy that everybody will eventually snap.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 05 12:26:18 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 05 15:52:28 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Aug 05 15:52:28 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "22029113", "review_id": "559fff2562d30260a0ebddf6ecfbc6bb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Tan gracioso como recordaba pero con un extra de angustia por la situacion de aislamiento en que viven Anna y Ruddiger. Por fin veo la conexion con el tema de la version cinematografica.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 04 20:17:28 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 02 09:48:00 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "17730586", "review_id": "386a4a9c7cf3cf760c7e95e0c76e485b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Very readable but ultimately not that interesting. I was also a bit disturbed by the transparency of the BDSM elements, which would suddenly show up any time it was time to get sexy. All in all, read Dresden Files fanfic.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 11 10:24:03 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 13 13:20:31 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "292545", "review_id": "a5e16fcddd896aa59c685ef96f2aab1a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is the story Pamela makes into a movie called Starsea in Grimwood's novel \"Replay\", in \"Replay\" you get a vague description of the plot and a more in-depth one of the effect the movie has, that's to say, a worldwide change in perspective for the viewers. The real story does not quite live up to what I had imagined but I liked it a lot, especially the second half, where events start succeeding one another at a crazy speed and I realised I cared what happened to the characters (human and dolphin)even though they weren't, to be honest, all that tridimensional. The descriptions of graphic violence creeped me out but I can't say they are out of place. Because of the role of imagery and images in it it's so very prominent it very likely would make a much better movie than novel, fan of words that I am, sometimes you do need a picture.", "date_added": "Fri May 16 18:04:14 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 06 12:58:53 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Apr 22 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "18164101", "review_id": "70c7bd627e9f8107c110b869307a66c9", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Pretty blah, the magic did not make any particular sense and the characters were forgettable.", "date_added": "Sat May 03 16:40:09 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 02 07:08:12 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "15834395", "review_id": "1b33221b998cdba015102add60da6469", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A surprisingly sweet story for the setting but it works.", "date_added": "Sat May 03 16:37:55 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat May 03 16:38:51 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "17827807", "review_id": "925112bfc3c1ad62879df850049fdc36", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Strangely hot for PWP.", "date_added": "Sat May 03 12:54:39 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat May 03 18:48:04 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun May 04 18:48:04 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "24777", "review_id": "29ccada5ea6b6fbb4fccd1e13c6fa4b1", "rating": 1, "review_text": "The plot makes zero sense. Not even the meta references save it.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 25 18:21:50 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 26 07:14:40 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Apr 26 07:14:40 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "30324", "review_id": "6db5341cc7d9c775403da3a3db4aac39", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It's not about vampires but about werewolves and that makes it a bit different, vampires are smooth beautiful and eternal people but werewolves, as Maya pointed out, are monsters, the kind that looks monstrous. Not to Vivian, the teenager werewolf who's just moved to town, who feels her transformations and her wolf form are the incarnation of powerful animal beauty. And not to Aiden, the sensitive (meat)boy who writes a poem about the transformation so good that it makes Viv wonder if he knows. He doesn't, actually, but this doesn't stop Vivian from believing he would find her double-nature as marvelous as she does. Meanwhile, a series of killings put the pack, Viv's family, in danger of being discovered yet again. The movie, to put it simply, totally sucks, if that wasn't enough, it sucks ripping the book apart. \n First read: 2005. \n Second read: 07.03.2011 (still quite nice!)", "date_added": "Fri Apr 25 12:23:21 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 25 12:55:59 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "100924", "review_id": "22d2360d442cf955754b7a81c12c703f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Half read, half listened. Mixed feelings about it, although it was interesting enough, pretty early sci-fi and different from I'm used to. \n God brainwashing Ransom into doing his bidding is maybe even more horrifying than the devil taking over his evil counterpart. It's hilarious that the devil takes over a physicist and a philogist is God's messenger. Your issues are not showing, not at all, Lewis! \n QUOTES + comments: \n [?] At Ransom's waking something happened to him which perhaps never happens to a man until he is out of his own world: he saw reality, and thought it was a dream. \n [?] But this now appeared to him as a principle of far wider application and deeper moment. This itch to have things over again, as if life were a film that could be unrolled twice or even made to work backwards ... was it possibly the root of all evil? No: of course the love of money was called that. But money itself - perhaps one valued it chiefly as a defence against chance, a security for being able to have things over again, a means of arresting the unrolling of the film. \n [?] 'I have been so young till this moment that all my life now seems to have been a kind of sleep. I have thought that I was being carried, and behold, I was walking.' \n Ransom asked what she meant. \n 'What you have made me see,' answered the Lady, 'is as plain as the sky, but I never saw it before. Yet it has happened every day. One goes into the forest to pick food and already the thought of one fruit rather than another has grown up in one's mind. Then, it may be, one finds a different fruit and not the fruit one thought of. One joy was expected and another is given. But this I had never noticed before that at the very moment of the finding there is in the mind a kind of thrusting back, or a setting aside. The picture of the fruit you have not found is still, for a moment, before you. And if you wished - if it were possible to wish - you could keep it there. You could send your soul after the good you had expected, instead of turning it to the good you had got. You could refuse the real good; you could make the real fruit taste insipid by thinking of the other.' \n 'I have been so young till this moment that all my life now seems to have been a kind of sleep. I have thought that I was being carried, and behold, I was walking.' \n Ransom asked what she meant. \n 'What you have made me see,' answered the Lady, 'is as plain as the sky, but I never saw it before. Yet it has happened every day. One goes into the forest to pick food and already the thought of one fruit rather than another has grown up in one's mind. Then, it may be, one finds a different fruit and not the fruit one thought of. One joy was expected and another is given. But this I had never noticed before that at the very moment of the finding there is in the mind a kind of thrusting back, or a setting aside. The picture of the fruit you have not found is still, for a moment, before you. And if you wished - if it were possible to wish - you could keep it there. You could send your soul after the good you had expected, instead of turning it to the good you had got. You could refuse the real good; you could make the real fruit taste insipid by thinking of the other.' \n Ransom interrupted. 'That is hardly the same thing as finding a stranger when you wanted your husband.' \n 'Oh, that is how I came to understand the whole thing. You and the King differ more than two kinds of fruit. The joy of finding him again and the joy of all the new knowledge I have had from you are more unlike than two tastes; and when the difference is as great as that, and each of the two things so great, then the first picture does stay in the mind quite a long time - many beats of the heart - after the other good has come. And this, O Piebald, is the glory and wonder you have made me see; that it is I, I myself, who turn from the good expected to the given good. Out of my own heart I do it. One can conceive a heart which did not: which clung to the good it had first thought of and turned the good which was given it into no good.' \n [?] 'You spoke yesterday, Lady, of clinging to the old good instead of taking the good that came.' \n 'Yes - for a few heart-beats.' \n 'There was an eldil who clung longer - who has been clinging since before the worlds were made.' \n 'But the old good would cease to be a good at all if he did that.' \n There are some very disturbing bits among this for a feminist. Because of course \"Eve\" is representing of womanhood. Later on, when the Angel and the Demon start fighting for her soul, both of them incarnated in male forms, with God being a He as well, it seems like the Lady is this child they get to manipulate. \n [?] 'That saying of yours is like a tree with no fruit. The King is always older than I, and about all things' \n Which comes down to \"Men know best.\" I also don't like how Weston uses stories of great women to convince her to renounce God. The implications of that are also terrible, and how Ransom \"almost believes it\" (ie. the superiority of the female sex), not that I think the superiority is true, but somehow the fact that those women were great and pioneers is never clarified. He dismisses their superiority but never awknowledges their greatness. Then there are moments where the message seems to be the oppossite, that women's subservience to men serves no one, less of all men. \n [?] It was not merely pity for pain that had suddenly changed the rhythm of his heart-beats. The thing was an intolerable obscenity which afflicted him with shame. It would have been better, or so he thought at that moment, for the whole universe never to have existed than for this one thing to have happened. \n [?] It looked at Ransom in silence and at last began to smile. We have all often spoken - Ransom himself had often spoken - of a devilish smile. Now he realised that he had never taken the words seriously. The smile was not bitter, nor raging, nor, in an ordinary sense, sinister; it was not even mocking. It seemed to summon Ransom, with a horrible naivete of welcome, into the world of its own pleasures, as if all men were at one in those pleasures, as if they were the most natural thing in the world and no dispute could ever have occurred about them. It was not furtive, nor ashamed, it had nothing of the conspirator in it. It did not defy goodness, it ignored it to the point of annihilation. Ransom perceived that he had never before seen anything but half-hearted and uneasy attempts at evil. This creature was whole-hearted. The extremity of its evil had passed beyond all struggle into some state which bore a horrible similarity to innocence. It was beyond vice as the Lady was beyond virtue. \n [?] 'Other things, other blessings, other glories,' he murmured. 'But never that. Never in all worlds, that. God can make good use of all that happens. But the loss is real.' \n At all events what Ransom saw at that moment was the real meaning of gender. Everyone must sometimes have wondered why in nearly all tongues certain inanimate objects are masculine and others feminine. What is masculine about a mountain or feminine about certain trees? Ransom has cured me of believing that this is a purely morphological phenomenon, depending on the form of the word. Still less is gender an imaginative extension of sex. Our ancestors did not make mountains masculine because they projected male characteristics into them. The real process is the reverse. Gender is a reality, and a more fundamental reality than sex. Sex is, in fact, merely the adaptation to organic life of a fundamental polarity which divides all created beings. Female sex is simply one of the things that have feminine gender; there are many others, and Masculine and Feminine meet us on planes of reality where male and female would be simply meaningless. Masculine is not attenuated male, nor feminine attenuated female. On the contrary the male and female of organic creatures are rather faint and blurred reflections of masculine and feminine. Their reproductive functions, their differences in strength and size, partly exhibit, but partly also confuse and misrepresent, the real polarity. All this Ransom saw, as it were, with his own eyes. The two white creatures were sexless. But he of Malacandra was masculine (not male); she of Perelandra was feminine (not female). Malacandra seemed to him to have the look of one standing armed, at the ramparts of his own remote archaic world, in ceaseless vigilance, his eyes ever roaming the earthward horizon whence his danger came long ago. 'A sailor's look,' Ransom once said to me; 'you know ... eyes that are impregnated with distance.' But the eyes of Perelandra opened, as it were, inward, as if they were the curtained gateway to a world of waves and murmurings and wandering airs, of life that rocked in winds and splashed on mossy stones and descended as the dew and arose sunward in thin-spun delicacy of mist. On Mars the very forests are of stone; in Venus the lands swim. For now he thought of them no more as Malacandra and Perelandra. He called them by their Tellurian names. With deep wonder he thought to himself, 'My eyes have seen Mars and Venus. I have seen Ares and Aphrodite.' He asked them how they were known to the old poets of Tellus. When and from whom had the children of Adam learned that Ares was a man of war and that Aphrodite rose from the sea foam? \n 'That is enough appearance for us to speak to you by. No more was needed between us: no more is needed now. It is to honour the King that we would now appear more. \n No, seriously, what the fuck? What about the Queen? Not even freaking angels can be egalitarian?", "date_added": "Sat Mar 29 03:47:00 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 29 03:49:58 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Nov 21 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "13662", "review_id": "5779ead154f0ac99cb757a16c237cd6c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I wasn't going to keep reading this series but this one is also required for class. Tenar being the protagonist made things a bit better. Still, then Ged shows up and kinda steals the show. I spent all my critical energies for this on an essay but overall, it was just ok.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 29 03:27:50 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 29 03:29:14 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Nov 28 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "18309803", "review_id": "54668985c003137540167068b6f2ec4c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "*general SPOILERS for previous books* \n The Lynburn Legacy is one of the best bondfics of all times. I particularly like its insistence on bonds being optional, even psychic magical ones! \n I'm not completely sure about the sharpness of the writing, but it did have me in tears, of despair and joy both so a 4.5 stars ratings is the least I can give it. \n The trilogy overall is great, an improvement on the already pretty neat Demon Lexicon but depsite the witty dialogue and profound connections, both familiar and romantic, one can tell SRB has some growing to do as a plotter. The ending was neatly wrapped, both emotionally and logically, but I did not appreciate the reminders to earlier plot points (as if SRB suspects the reader has forgotten or worse, not read, the previous two parts of the trilogy.) \n Lovely, I will be copying out an infinitive of quotes.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 21 16:31:26 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 26 14:25:21 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Sep 26 14:25:21 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "16047461", "review_id": "eb0ae848c0d14f890a2aeed00c643b44", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Me gusto la historia de la emperatriz, pero la mayor parte del libro va de hombres y hombres y hombres y las mujeres apenas tienen nombres. Las referencias clasicas son ocasionalmente graciosas pero me esperaba algo mas revolucionario, mas queer, mas... Ursula Le Guin, digamos.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 15 10:42:39 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 20 16:15:16 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Mar 20 16:15:16 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "244572", "review_id": "f8c9da54221592ac88d98fc188f44991", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I have heard a lot of good things about DWJ... I'm afraid I wasn't impressed. I love world building and it's certainly good word building, but I read books for the people in them. And the characters in Charmed life are quite simply flat, from Cat to Gwendollyn, two complete opposites. \n What I found the most interesting questions never quite got answered: if Janet is Gwen's other self, why is she so different? What makes Gwendollyn a psychopath and Janet a nice girl? It seems like rather extreme differences for a brother to make (even quite a unique one).", "date_added": "Sun Feb 23 03:56:36 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue May 19 14:53:27 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue May 19 14:53:27 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "6316125", "review_id": "f517f2d0281c4b4d9cdc8dad5378c81e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n If Nya is immune to flashed pain, why does she get hurt when she kicks the guard in the shin outside the Luminary's office_", "date_added": "Sat Dec 28 05:02:25 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 28 10:49:20 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Dec 28 10:49:20 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "123070", "review_id": "fc31e3882f5dea7154937cff984a6308", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I liked this one but it was not that clever, if you see what I mean. The descriptions are good but the story is fairytalishly formulaic and it does not manage to go beyond that.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 21 01:48:51 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 22 06:56:21 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Dec 22 06:56:21 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Dec 21 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "1034517", "review_id": "776d2bcb44bd3b8200a6ec529a298c90", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Cool teenage magic romance with time travel, please don't be asking for miracles and don't touch anything else by Ms Curley! \n \"Old Magic\" was for me the fanfic before the fanfic, it has two teens forced to timetravel to the past and be fake married to discover how the curse placed upon one of them came to their family. It pretty much had me at pretend to be married, so totally self-indulgent pleasure for 15 year old me, to the point I made sure to re-acquire the book when I lost the first copy.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 04 04:08:15 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 04 10:06:29 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "8884616", "review_id": "14946913734aece0d54e22d38475a31f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I started this one ages ago (last year, actually!) and got distracted, mainly because the plot of these series is so intricate I was a little lost on the details. This time I persevered and finished in a day. I still feel like i missed a few things regarding the plot that started on previous books (particularly regarding the romance) but \"Black heart\" has its own brilliantly executed plot, full of coincidences and blanks that make it REAL. Like Cassel puts it, only lies make perfect sense. Fantastic ending!", "date_added": "Sat Nov 09 04:11:04 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 31 19:59:43 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "17158532", "review_id": "ff52e4d891f4e851540bbc558dbaabed", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved this, personally, because it was everything I wanted from the end to this trilogy: unresolved romantic issues, high stake adventures and laught out loud humour in between the tragic. That said, it isn't as highly a literary book as previous adventures, going off into tangents (Laurent's POV, for one, was appreciated but not structurally justified as far as I could see). The indulging in romance in ways that are really quite new and original for a mystery/adventure genre novel can be either transformative or an indulgence, fans of Damen and Laurent will probably love it. \n Secondary characters weren't as strong as I'd hoped, on reflection, such as Jocaste and Nikandros. Most of them barely interacted with the main characters, although to be fair I'd believe that this is due to Damen's narrow POV and his increasingly obssessive interest in Laurent. Except that I found Jocaste's motivation's week and her role as a shadow of Laurent not fully explained by her own character and previous actions. \n Will definitely read again :)", "date_added": "Wed Sep 18 14:39:08 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 04 12:19:02 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "47890", "review_id": "73faf1ec4a2f0b36be7f0462f70e397d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n This is such a lovely novella. It's told from the perspective of young Barney, for whom his family is the center of his world. Barney adores his step-mother and is a bit in awe of both his older sisters, loud future novelist Tabitha and silent bookish Troy. Barney's real issue is that he is being haunted by a recently rediscovered grand-uncle, Cole but the way the haunting is dealt with is the way any problem a child of eight has is deal with, you tell your siblings and your parents and they help you. \n The good stepmother, the decisive girls and the shy sensitive boy, all make for wonderful role reversals but Mahy doesn't overdo it either. The wonderful stepmother is pregnant and a stay-at-home-parent and the father is distant in a way that is no longer acceptable but was standard at the time. The family relationships are so complex you end up feeling you've read a saga when the book does not get even close to 200 pages.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 27 19:33:59 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 30 12:53:02 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "17158513", "review_id": "706822105b7fbd71d16bc74c7aed92b8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "As it's book II, I'm not going to go into details, but I will say this: Having reread this for a second time in preparation for book 3 coming out, I'm now struggling with reading the French edition. I figure I almost have it memorized anyway and it's working out as an excellent learning experience/excuse to indulge.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 24 14:10:45 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 31 09:46:31 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "17277854", "review_id": "8ecaa9eb884fdbb2ec9bff2998457d2a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n This is about the third time around I've read this and you know what: it's SO still bloody good. \n Vague spoilers: \n I once applied to St. Andrew's because of this story, and yes, it was unrealistic for a number of reasons but damn, it was so worth it to feel a little daring, a little brave. That's the thing about princes falling in super gay outrageously forbidden modern love, the bravery. FayJay makes the point that in our times it is possibly the only way in which a prince CAN be brave at all, considering the way they're not allowed into wars anymore, it is only their words and everyday lives that can make the world better.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 24 21:03:53 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 04 16:10:12 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Apr 04 16:10:12 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "40290", "review_id": "0b44630ffb77af5367f1e57846c7f70f", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I didn't like this one, and that was before OSC broke my heart with his politics (which are naturally in his books)", "date_added": "Sun May 06 16:14:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun May 06 16:15:22 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "68021", "review_id": "933520f4a9316587c8a346a44332ceee", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"The Matter of Seggri\" and \"Solitude\" are brilliant, \"Coming of Age in Karhide\", \"Unchosen Love\", \"Mountain Ways\" and \"Paradises Lost\" are interesting, the other two aren't worth it. \n Quotes often contain spoilers. \n \"Coming of Age in Karhide\" is a story about a Gethenian who's not secretive like Estraven in \"The Left Hand of Darkness\" and tells the story of their life from childhood. They way they \"come of age\" (ie. Come into sexual maturity and start transforming into a woman or a man during the period each month). This has all the answers that keep you hanging in the novel but also, because the mystery is solved so soon, less of the depth. \n \"Unchosen Love\" is ok but I don't quite like any of the characters, the idea of a marriage of four (two men and two women of two different) is interesting. Like Le Guin, I like to think about complex social relationships which produce and frustrate highly charged emotional relationships. \n Few people from other worlds are willing to believe that our form of marriage works. They prefer to think that we endure it. They forget that human beings, while whining after the simple life, thrive on complexity. \n \"How can you be married to three people and never have sex with one of them?\" they ask. \n The question made me uncomfortable; it seems to assume that sexuality is a force so dominant that it cannot be contained or shaped by any other relationship. Most societies expect a father and daughter, or a brother and sister, to have a nonsexual family relationship, though I gather that in some the incest ban is often violated by people empowered by age and gender to ignore it. Evidently such societies see human beings as divided into two kinds, the fundamental division being power, and they grant one gender superior power. To us, the fundamental division is moiety; gender is a great but secondary difference; and in the search for power no one starts from a position of innate privilege. It certainly leads to our looking at things differently. \n \"I always thought I'd choose love,\" he said at last, her words working in his mind. \"Choose a serodotu, settle down, some day, somewhere near my farm. I never imagined anything else. And then I came out here, to the edge of the world....And I don't know what to do. I was chosen, I can't choose...\" \n \"I'm not leaving,\" Hadri said. He went and stroked Suord's hair and face and kissed him. He knew Suord could not followe him, couldn't live in Oket, inland; it wouldn't work, it wouldn't do. But that meant he must stay here with Suord. There was a numb coldness in him, under his heart. \n \"Mountain Ways\" is a bit more to my taste, still in the same planet (O) is about two women and how the fact that they need two men to marry each other is fucking everything up for them because they live in the mountains and there's only one man they can bear to marry there. So they have to find away this rules somehow (so the new-poly marriage becomes the establishment to be defied). But then it ends abruptly, leaving you with no resolution (this might be a hint of \"real life never ends\" but the main conflict, at least, should've been resolved) \n The animals are the true farmholders. Tolerant and aloof, they allow the farmers to comb out their thick fleeces, to assist them in difficult births, and to skin them when they die. The farmers are dependent on the ariu; the ariu are not dependent on the farmers. The question of ownership is moot. At Danro Farmhold they don't say, \"We have nine hundred ariu,\" they say, \"The herd has nine hundred.\" \n Akal observed him with curiosity and dispassion. She would share water with Otorra, but not guilt. As soon as she had seen Shahes, touched Shahes, all her scruples and moral anxieties had dropped away, as if they could not breathe up here in the mountains. Akal had been born for Shahes and Shahes for Akal; that was all there was to it. Whatever made it possible for them to be together was right. \n Once or twice she did ask herself, what if I'd been born into the Morning instead of the Evening moiety? -- a perverse and terrible thought. But perversity and sacrilege were not asked of her. All she had to do was change sex. And that only in appearance, in public. With Shahes she was a woman, and more truly a woman and herself than she had ever been in her life. With everybody else she was Akal, whom they took to be a man. That was no trouble at all. She was Akal; she liked being Akal. It was not like acting a part. She never had been herself with other people, had always felt a falsity in her relationships with them; she had never known who she was at all, except sometimes for a moment in meditation, when her I am became It is, and she breathed the stars. But with Shahes she was herself utterly, in time and in the body, Akal, a soul consumed in love and blessed by intimacy. \n Akal found that she was speaking the words of the ceremony for the dead, Now all that was owed is repaid and all that was owned, returned. Now all that was lost is found and all that was bound, free. Shahes stood silent, listening till the end. \n \"Solitude\" is just fascinating, there's this world where introversion and isolation are the rule. People there call the act of trying to influence others (by means of words) \"magic\" and think it's evil, the only exception being the magic between lovers but even that can turn bad. People spend their whole lives not constructing things outside themselves but inside, making their souls. The main character is taken to live there as a girl by her ethnologist mother and goes completely native. It's hard to describe, just have a look: \n Our daily life in the auntring was repetitive. On the ship, later, I learned that people who live in artificially complicated situations call such a life \"simple.\" I never knew anybody, anywhere I have been, who found life simple. I think a life or a time looks simple when you leave out the details, the way a planet looks smooth, from orbit. \n Certainly our life in the auntring was easy, in the sense that our needs came easily to hand. There was plenty of food to be gathered or grown and prepared and cooked, plenty of temas to pick and rett and spin and weave for clothes and bedding plenty of reeds to make baskets and thatch with; we children had other children to play with, mothers to look after us, and a great deal to learn. None of this is simple, though it's all easy enough, when you know how to do it, when you are aware of the details. \n And Arrem says you could be useful to the Ekumen, if you stay and finish your education on Soro. You'll be an invaluable resource.\" Borny sniggered, and after a minute I did too. \"They'll mine you like an asteroid,\" he said. Then he said, \"You know, if you stay and I go, we'll be dead.\" \n That was how the young people of the ships said it, when one was going to cross the lightyears and the other was going to stay. Goodbye, we're dead. It was the truth. \n ...thinking is one way of doing and words are one way of thinking.\" \n So do I, but not for a long time, because once you have a child you're never alone. \n And though it is of the others, of relationships, that I write, the heart of my life has been my being alone. \n I think there is no way to write about being alone. To write is to tell something to somebody, to communicate to others. CP, as Steadiness would say. Solitude is non-communication, the absence of others, the presence of a self sufficient to itself. \n When I was on the ship, Arrem told me that many languages have a single word for sexual desire and the bond between mother and child and the bond between soulmates and the feeling for one's home and worship of the sacred; they are all called love. There is no word that great in my language. Maybe my mother is right, and human greatness perished in my world with the people of the Before Time, leaving only small, poor, broken things and thoughts. In my language, love is many different words. I learned one of them with Red Stone Man. We sang it together to each other. \n If it is pleasant the pleasure will not fail so long as you are aware of it. Being aware is the hardest work the soul can do, I think. \n The Matter of Seggri is itself a collection of shorter stories, always in the first person, by women and men in the planet Seggri (natives and Ekumen people), where there are 16 adult women for every man (not because baby boys are killed like baby girls are in our world but because of a genetic dysfunction, apparently intentional on the part of some other culture). What this results in is in men becoming precious commodities that are only allowed to fight each other and compete against each other in different and often violent sports and, of course, to \"service women\" in the fuckeries, both for their pleasure and for impregnation purposes. They live in castles and are only allowed out for sports or to go to the fuckery (which is, to all intents and purposes, a bourdel). The few young boys women manage to conceive, carry to term and bring up are taken into the Castles at age 11, never to see their families of women again and to become part of the competitive microsociety of their Castle (which can send exchange them much in the manner of football players). This makes for a very painful reversal and exacerbation (or not) of something that was and still is, quite a reality for women in our world. \n Tell him what happened. Nobody really knows what happened at the Castle. You owe us the story.\" \n That was a powerful phrase, among my people. \"The untold story mothers the lie,\" was the saying. The doer of any notable act was held literally accountable for it to the community. \n And as I took courage, I made friends among the women students, finding many of them unprejudiced and companionable. In my third year, one of them and I managed, tentatively and warily, to fall in love. It did not work very well or last very long, yet it was a great liberation for both of us, our liberation from the belief that the only communication or commonality possible between us was sexual, that an adult man and woman had nothing to join them but their genitals. Emadr loathed the professionalism of the fuckery as I did, and our lovemaking was always shy and brief. Its true significance was not as a consummation of desire, but as proof that we could trust each other. Where our real passion broke loose was when we lay together talking, telling each other what our lives had been, how we felt about men and women and each other and ourselves, what our nightmares were, what our dreams were. We talked endlessly, in a communion that I will cherish and honor all my life, two young souls finding their wings, flying together, not for long, but high. The first flight is the highest. Emadr has been dead two hundred years; she stayed on Seggri, married into a motherhouse, bore two children, taught at Hagka, and died in her seventies. I went to Hain, to the Ekumenical Schools, and later to Werel and Yeowe as part of the Mobile's staff; my record is herewith enclosed. I have written this sketch of my life as part of my application to return to Seggri as a Mobile of the Ekumen. I want very much to live among my people, to learn who they are, now that I know with at least an uncertain certainty who I am. \n \"Old Music and The Slave Women\" is the story of an old Ekumenikal envoy who gets tired of being shut in his embassy and decides to do something to help the slave-revolution going on outside, from which he's cut off. It turns out to be a bad idea and I'm still not sure what the point of the story was except to showcase yet another slave-society and show how fucked up people can be. \n \"The Birthday of The World\" is about this society where God is a married couple of siblings (whose father and mother, also siblings, are the current God) and is told by the only girl-to-be-god in the family. Interesting but, again, dunno what the point was. \n \"Paradises Lost\" is a longish story, 100ish pages, more of a novelette than the others in this book. It takes place in a generational ship called \"Discovery\" sent from Earth/Dichew to investigate a possible settling planet 6 generations (2 centuries) away. The far away objective soon gets old and by the fifth generation someone's found another purpose to live for than to be of use to people they've never met. It's not great but it's interesting. \n ...They were in danger all the time, surrounded by danger. That is the essence of safety, the heart of it: that danger is outside. \n The fact was that Jael and Yao had fallen desperately in love. They were old enough to realise that love was all they had in common. \n ...to \"trash dumps\" to \"throw away.\" What does that mean? Where is \"away\"? \n \"One kind,\" he said, \"has a need, a lack, they have to have a certain vitamin. The other kind doesn't.\" \n \"Well?\" \n \"Vitamin Belief.\" \n She considered. \n \"Not genetic,\" he said. \"Cultural. Metaorganic. But as individually real and definite as a metabolic deficiency. People either need to believe or they don't.\" \n She still pondered. \n \"The ones that do don't believe that the others don't. They don't believe that there are people who don't believe.\" \n \"Hope?\" she offered, tentative. \n \"Hope isn't belief. Hope's contigent upon reality, even when it's not very realistic. Belief dismisses reality.\" \n \"The name you can say isn't the right name,\" said Hsing. \n \"The corridor you can walk isn't the right corridor,\" said Luis. \n \"What's the harm in believing?\" \n \"It's dangerous to confuse reality with unreality,\" he said promptly. \"To confuse desire with power, ego with cosmos. Extremely dangerous.\" \n \"People need God like a three-year-old needs a chaisaw.\" \n ...Freedom is what your mind does, what your soul is. It has nothing to do with all that Dichew-stuff. \n It wasn't that there were pieces missing from Hiroshi. He was complete. He was all one piece. Maybe that's what was missing - bits of all the other Hiroshis who might have read novels, or played solitaire or stayed in bed late mornings, or done anything but what he did, been anyone other than what he was. \n Hiroshi did what he did and doing it was what he was. \n ...she told herself that she didn't feel used, or tricked, because she knew now that everything was fuel to Hiroshi, including himself.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 07 11:52:57 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 14 10:10:50 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Mar 08 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7ceac7249b88317ea7403e1021170baa", "book_id": "11918", "review_id": "3f669de1b7a265a2a06095aea42b2ada", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Read this 10 years ago and loved it but since then I have read other stuff by the author (it was mostly that it was more of the same, nothing bad per se) and I'm afraid of re-reading. Still, maybe.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 30 20:26:01 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 30 20:27:41 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2001", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7dfc0f32e3ad386c7b16109b26954f39", "book_id": "2213661", "review_id": "daa1bbd17440017442065e0cfaba6bb6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have to admit....at first I was liking the book but I wasn't enjoying the book. Personally, it didn't capture me much at the beginning, but as the story progressed I got more and more into it and really started enjoying it! As a whole, I absolutely loved this book. It left me happy but also sad in a way. I enjoyed the all the characters and the adventures throughout the book! I definitely think I'm going to purchase the graphic novel form of the book! Also, I loved the illustrations in this book.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 06 12:54:28 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 23 19:47:04 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Nov 23 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7dfc0f32e3ad386c7b16109b26954f39", "book_id": "761381", "review_id": "8b3bbfd20fc93177cd9691d1cd54dc07", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Loved the book and loved the movie as well! The only bad side was that the movie did not follow the book completely but it was basically the same", "date_added": "Sun Nov 06 12:54:13 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 15 15:30:56 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 14 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7dfc0f32e3ad386c7b16109b26954f39", "book_id": "28588061", "review_id": "5456ae8b53ed9c14885bf158908ba25a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I absolutely loved this book. I definitely want to pick up the original copy with the illustrations in it. I'm also very excited to see the movie, and I hope it really follows the book. I believe that A Monster Calls may be my new favorite book. I am sure that I will be reading it again in the near future!", "date_added": "Sun Nov 06 12:53:57 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 16 20:54:52 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "75f65f2d1b828670692546c63cc5f3f4", "book_id": "43763", "review_id": "415b2f2ca8a05f07f9488035d7a34f97", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I always steered clear of vampire type novels but having watched the film and enjoyed it more than I thought I would I had to read the book (which I always prefer!) and I wasn't disappointed.. I did try and read more of Anne Rice books afterwards without much success.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 24 10:17:20 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 12 16:25:09 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3c518afc5503c65d408a782b1fd18183", "book_id": "31359893", "review_id": "64a0f1696c8d8da8fc62854d5f4d8204", "rating": 3, "review_text": "After sneaking out to to to a circus, Christopher meets Sohpia and end up in a balloon. With a talking dog, they end up in a strange world where time is broken. \n This book put me in mind of the books about Oz, with the crazy characters and setting. However, with the Oz books, there was a lesson, such as how Dorothy learned that there was no place like home. This book didn't have that. There were no consequences, and when the main characters runs away, it didn't seem like the kind of thing a child should learn. \n No a bad children's book, but it does have a few issues with grammar and missing punctuation.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 21 12:20:10 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 21 12:31:10 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jan 21 12:31:10 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jan 21 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3c518afc5503c65d408a782b1fd18183", "book_id": "29588703", "review_id": "4af99476350a40436ecd8c40af4352a5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Interpreter and former thief, Kia sets off to Salaria, takes on a Salarian identity, and trains to join the high stakes game on the planet, all to save her sister, who was paying the price for a bad decision. \n I'd forgotten just how much I adore Kia. She's a tough, stubborn character, who always seems to end up doing as those around her wish despite her best efforts not to. Agatha, too, was delightful, though not as involved directly as the previous novel. With many secondary characters, each one memorable, the entire cast is absolute fun. \n I would highly recommend this to any fans of sci-fi adventure.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 02 13:34:01 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 25 07:01:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3c518afc5503c65d408a782b1fd18183", "book_id": "29992823", "review_id": "7f33c837b3efc21d7a0553fdc39e6807", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"Earth Intelligence and Space Installation Security each think Drew Townsend is working for them. They're wrong.\" \n I will admit, I had a hard to time really getting into this book at first. I was confused, trying to keep track of just who Drew was working for. But the more I read, the more immersed in the story I became and it was just like a puzzle slowly coming together. The writing was brilliant and I highly enjoyed the characters. The details for this universe built the scenes in my mind. \n So this book has a slow beginning but an amazing adventure. \n I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 24 13:31:34 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 17 17:01:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jun 24 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3c518afc5503c65d408a782b1fd18183", "book_id": "29533033", "review_id": "c265618ae73f44823ad06d3fb6e99530", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The third daughter of Dharia has no responsibilities, she has had no training to be queen, and all she wants is to marry the man she loves. Duty to her country and a desire to promote peace moves her to accept (with no intention of following through) the marriage proposal of a barbarian prince. Then, everything changes. \n I'm actually fond of steampunk novels, when they are done right. I found this one to be extremely well done. I noticed some other reviews commented on the lack of accuracy to India culture. As I'm not well read on this, I can't comment. I found this to be well-written, full of action and adventure. \n Anyone who enjoys steampunk style novels will definitely enjoy this.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 14 07:11:26 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 18 09:23:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jun 18 09:23:43 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jun 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3c518afc5503c65d408a782b1fd18183", "book_id": "25182766", "review_id": "b2f87939a81774a5c3c8bda40f44f889", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Pippa is your typical princess who doesn't want to act like a princess. Since she has to marry whoever wins the tournament, she's going to make sure her chosen champion is the victor. Never mind that she's actually in love with someone else. \n When I first started reading this, I didn't like Pippa. AT ALL. She was annoying and had simply seemed like every other high-spirited princess, lady, etc who doesn't want to be a lady. The further I read, though, the more I began to like her. Or it could be I became fascinated with the world and was more lenient about her character. \n I would have liked to have seen more of her world, and more the fantasy elements. \n Overall, not a horrible book to pass a few hours with.", "date_added": "Sat May 07 07:18:18 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat May 07 07:42:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat May 07 07:42:22 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3c518afc5503c65d408a782b1fd18183", "book_id": "26367010", "review_id": "086bb5353390437f890c3761fbcf5f59", "rating": 3, "review_text": "When Sage wakes up in an unfamiliar place with no memory and only the words \"Run now\" written on her hand, she has to rely on her instincts to get herself to freedom. Along the way, she meets several new friends and learns just how bad the world has become. \n Each dystopian novel has a unique twist it brings. For this novel, it is mankind's search to perfect itself. The search has wrecked havoc on society, with many having different traits. Sage is an 'Original', her DNA undamaged and she believes she is nothing special because of this. \n So, the story is good but I feel like the writing could have been stronger. There is a lot of telling instead of showing. \n I was given a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review from Loving the Book and my full review can be found at More Than A Review.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 06 07:55:05 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 18 09:37:34 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Feb 18 09:37:34 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Feb 06 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3c518afc5503c65d408a782b1fd18183", "book_id": "15781952", "review_id": "f996c8e0ee1554ec81e61a8bea6951cc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "As a sequel, it was really good. I was super excited to get more insight into Althea and what was happening around her. It wasn't as good as the first book but highly enjoyable.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 13 08:42:10 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 10 06:52:53 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Dec 10 06:52:53 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Nov 13 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3c518afc5503c65d408a782b1fd18183", "book_id": "25905822", "review_id": "96c52719758961aa350df71c8cad04c2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Such A Clever Deception is a clever twist between the modern world we live in: with trucks and houses like we have; and fantasy: abilities and magic. Being set in a pre-established world, it gives a a glimpse into the rest of the series and the characters that play an important part. Not having read any of the series, I found myself intrigued by the world created by Cortney Pearson. \n Talon was a protagonist is one I really felt for and how he comes to realize the deception that has been played against him is heartrending. \n I highly recommend it to any fantasy fans out there! \n I was provided a free copy for LovingtheBook Blog Tour in exchange for a review.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 28 13:48:54 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 28 13:49:53 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Oct 28 13:49:53 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3c518afc5503c65d408a782b1fd18183", "book_id": "25329560", "review_id": "b048857ae402ed39f00607d86df2bb55", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is a novel about the choices a person makes in their life and dealing with the consequences of those choices. I've never read a book like this and I was really fascinated by it. It is set in the not too distant future where it's possible for a person to be 'regenerated', having your very cells de-aged to any age you choose. \n I really liked the main character Charlotte 'Charley' as she tries to make sense of what she wants. She thinks she's depressed but that's not the case, she's just convinced herself she could be. Her misgivings and struggles are so real. The description of the technology of 2026 was interesting and detailed in-depth. \n A thought provoking read for anyone! \n I was provided with a free copy as part of the LovingTheBook blog tour.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 17 18:04:16 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 06 08:08:39 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Nov 06 08:08:39 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3c518afc5503c65d408a782b1fd18183", "book_id": "15779366", "review_id": "a247d5fdb5cda9a5c77a9fc38c61fbd5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a fascinating read. Russ' character was interesting and developed through the story. The author left me wanting more.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 14 10:59:46 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 14 13:51:26 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Sep 14 13:51:26 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3c518afc5503c65d408a782b1fd18183", "book_id": "24829660", "review_id": "7386aa1a880d89f50b2b3272c45618bb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was a very fast paced book. So fast that it felt like it lacked in detail. Still, an enjoyable read.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 31 12:55:07 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 05 18:55:25 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3c518afc5503c65d408a782b1fd18183", "book_id": "16135254", "review_id": "74fc2e727c0a9c3dadac9eb844cecc44", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I love how this Dystopian world has an Amish raised girl as the protagonist. It makes this story stand out to me. \n The only thing I couldn't really get behind was Lydia's instant attraction to Korwin, something which has to do with their 'charges'. I just really liked Jeremiah and felt sorry for him.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 21 07:48:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 22 14:18:37 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Aug 22 14:18:37 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3c518afc5503c65d408a782b1fd18183", "book_id": "18334136", "review_id": "859511aa9da3b0da44c179fd102a3784", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was slow to catch my attention, but when it did, I couldn't put it down. It put me in mind of one of my favorite movies, Inception.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 10 19:31:37 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 15 13:26:48 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jun 15 13:26:48 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3c518afc5503c65d408a782b1fd18183", "book_id": "18866205", "review_id": "15a8dc71c8cd85fb94c8136ebbb7de23", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A fascinating dystopian novel. The only thing I didn't enjoy was the instant attraction between the two main characters.", "date_added": "Thu May 28 10:54:56 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 09 13:47:53 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Sep 09 13:47:53 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3c518afc5503c65d408a782b1fd18183", "book_id": "13486407", "review_id": "577f860545e0fabec93eaa323666d528", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not a bad read. There's plenty of action and adventure. The violence was a little much for me and the \"F\" word was dropped at one point.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 10 18:17:21 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 28 19:10:36 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3c518afc5503c65d408a782b1fd18183", "book_id": "24845491", "review_id": "4654856716fbade3ae3cea1bd0cccdc9", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This is yet another book that I did not finish. I love all things Robin Hood related but this? This was just a mess. \n Rosa was the most 'misty eyed' woman I've ever some across. Everything seems to set her off. And Robin is just...not the hero I love.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 10 12:32:20 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 16 09:59:38 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Sep 16 09:59:38 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3c518afc5503c65d408a782b1fd18183", "book_id": "15785178", "review_id": "093e40a43997cf599c5d3280a434926a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This caught me right from the start. The characters are interesting and though some of the plot points I could see coming, I loved it. I can't wait to read the second book.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 02 18:35:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 29 14:29:38 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jun 29 14:29:38 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3c518afc5503c65d408a782b1fd18183", "book_id": "11946245", "review_id": "d0e0d73c01641dbe85d381c6cbc72d97", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Oh...my... \n I can't even think of the words to say just how disappointed I was with this book. Granted, I have been disappointed with each book since number 4. But this one...oh, this one crashed and burned in a way I didn't think possible. \n I can only give thanks that this series is now out of its misery. I will now pretend that the last five books didn't happen, and I will enjoy the first three in peace.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 29 14:39:02 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 22 10:49:54 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3c518afc5503c65d408a782b1fd18183", "book_id": "33676", "review_id": "6e2539e8bd7f7dbdb9d5dc000ac0fc0b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love all of Fang and Max's one liners in this book. I was laughing out loud so many times. I think this is my favorite book of the series.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 27 19:04:30 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 22 10:54:52 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "3c518afc5503c65d408a782b1fd18183", "book_id": "13548873", "review_id": "b5b520725ce7ff2b0e0bda749c8c95d7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book. The author did an excellent job in retelling the familiar fairytale.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 18:02:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 08 18:04:34 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "98c76398ef3f6edfea1bb00b1be27189", "book_id": "62291", "review_id": "17e00f2299c0180acd9fa2fa4f6ea8da", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Love this series but this novel took me a lot longer than the previous two. It seemed almost too long... But, I still plan on reading Book 4 as well!", "date_added": "Thu Sep 06 19:22:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 11 05:11:13 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Thu Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "7753d46f91275b43074c8e805f66b66a", "book_id": "3629286", "review_id": "7de65a70ea5e5d7b772f2deff19fb14f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Riveting fantasy adventure. Right up my alley.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 05 15:35:28 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 10 16:40:24 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Aug 16 08:15:06 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Aug 05 15:35:28 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7753d46f91275b43074c8e805f66b66a", "book_id": "32890474", "review_id": "b87914541eb5726472031e38c1663258", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I finished this on my plane trip to Florida and found the ending lacking. \n It started off fairly strong, though the 'I'm not like anyone else' protagonist was tiresome, but the things she learned later on kind of made up for it, I just did not understand her 'relationship' with Ragna. \n They didn't seem to have real feelings for each other, it was more 'this is a human and she's hot and is *new* for our protagonist so of course she'll choose her' but their insta-sex (the moment the MC has legs) and physical abuse (what the fuck) completely turned me off to their relationship so that ending made absolutely no sense to me because why would I want to be with someone that I felt the need to physically hit--and who retaliated from said hit by hitting me back enough to make me bleed? \n As for the plot, it was not that interesting, though how 'Ursula' came to get her tentacles that we see in the Little Mermaid is explained in this story. That was the only thing I found fairly interesting--was that it was a retelling of an infamous Disney villain, though I don't know if it fits the character we've seen in the Disney tale? \n Maybe that's my downfall, having the Disney version in my head, but that's all I had to go off so sue me. \n I love fantasy, I kind of like Merpeople, this one just didn't do it for me. \n Her best friend turned enemy immediately losing interest in the MC and falling for the saved character at the end was weird and kind of felt like it was there so the MC wouldn't have to deal with the 'guilt' of not 'choosing' him and going off and being with a human. \n As for the infamous Loki that has everyone else in a titter--I hear the author is rewriting some things for the book, maybe this will be something that changes? All I can say about Loki is their complete assholeness--he seemed a secondary villain compared to the King, and didn't seem to be necessary to the story. \n I feel the MC could have 'learned her lessons' by standing up to the King without falling privy to peer pressure for something dangerous, and though she might not have had her human legs, she would have been all the better for remaining a Merperson and going off on her own? \n The author stresses that her and the human woman may not end up together 'forever' but she was enough for now, and I don't know if that's a good message to give the impressionable teens that will be reading this book. \n I know they're probably not thinking of being with someone for the rest of their lives (or they are, thinking their current bf/gf will be around forever), but reading that a 'strong' female character left her whole family (because she hated everyone and everything all the time), because she couldn't 'deal' with the patriarchal society it had become isn't exactly a good message. \n I'd prefer standing up for yourself and taking responsibility for what you do, yet she continuously puts the human in danger by going back to her, and she makes a deal with a trickster (knowing she shouldn't), in order to 'make things right,' aka undo the Grading that she went through when she could've just avoided it herself by speaking up TWICE. Once with her mother who advised her NOT TO do the Grading (she had A CHOICE after all), and another while DURING the ceremony when the sea witch (who oversaw the Grading) KNEW she didn't want to do it. \n If she just spoke up then and there and said 'Hey maybe I shouldn't let peer pressure from a horrible Merperson like my mortal enemy control what I do,' she wouldn't be in the situation she's in, she wouldn't have to call Loki, she would've just been a Mermaid, probably outcast or whatever or subjected to the Mer-court, which doesn't sound that bad? \n Idk, I'm just inundated with the 'I'm willful and different' heroines that we continuously get in YA Lit--especially fantasy. Be willful and different, but that doesn't ALWAYS mean you HAVE to object to the status quo. You can object to it and still get your own way without being a whiny, selfish brat which a lot of these heroines seem to be all the time and still 'get the other person' at the end of the book. For what? Being a selfish, terrible person? \n I read this for a traveling book club, and I really wished I could've liked it. \n Two stars for the writing style, short and action-filled, but two stars for the lack of description and world building (didn't really get a sense of where the story took place), and lack of well-rounded characters, ie.: the strong willful, refuse-to-bend-to-authority protagonist, the annoying love interest that becomes abusive at some point throughout the story, and the person the MC chooses, who despite their own abusive tendencies are 'different' from the MC's 'normal' and 'keeps them alive' and warrants the MC turning their back on everything they've known just to get their happily ever after. \n I would've preferred if the MC went off on her own, exploring the world as a Mermaid and perhaps finding more on her travels. \n I'm not even going to the touch the transgender Loki thing because I am not transgender and had no real comment on that character.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 14 18:39:53 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 18 18:32:47 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7753d46f91275b43074c8e805f66b66a", "book_id": "32055198", "review_id": "2e7c68a905159afe6c8c1df5aca5d1bc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Where to begin?! \n M.E. Vaughan has EXCEEDED expectations with this masterpiece of a fantasy tale! \n I can't even-- \n (breaths) \n Okay, first thing the characterization of a previous character, whom, in Book 1, I cared little for immediately became a favorite! Arlen effin Zachary is a beautifully tormented character (perhaps even more tormented than my beautiful Rufus?), who is absolutely changed by the end of the book (GODS I WISH I COULD BUT I WON'T SPOIL IT BECAUSE YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK), but the progression is gradual, his torment builds and builds, especially under the watchful eye of the absolutely terrifying Sverrin who, himself, is another tormented character. \n What I love about Vaughan's characters is that they are all well-rounded despite their roles, and even if one revolts you, something is uncovered later on that makes you look at that character with new (often sympathetic) eyes. It's a testament to her writing skill that the plot is carried out with this brilliant subtlety and you only wish for it to never end if only because you know something is coming but you do not know what. \n It is a brilliantly done second novel that sets up the third excellently as I was breathless at the end, kind of sad at the rather abrupt ending, but only certain that I needed to read Book 3 as soon as possible. \n With Fairies, Magic (a la Rufus Merle), tricks, a DRAGON (who doesn't love those?), royal politics, and beautiful friendships abound, Blood of the Delphi is a wonderful journey through Mag Mell, and I'd say my only complaint was that there was only *one* Dragon. ;) Though it's hardly a complaint.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 17 20:22:32 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 27 18:46:29 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7753d46f91275b43074c8e805f66b66a", "book_id": "22272713", "review_id": "8258b809777db108191f44a593faabbe", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What a fucking ride. \n I'm so satisfied with the end of Amaliya and group's story, and I love the little opening at the end in case there is ever a continuation. (hint hint wink wink) \n I loved Amaliya and Cian's continued love and LOVED that there was no 'confusion' plot that dragged them away from each other amidst preparing for the big battle like there often is in urban fantasy (not that I MIND those plots, I quite love them), but not one to focus on too much on the romance of the characters, Rhiannon balances the action, suspense, and bad guy undercurrents with everything else nicely. \n Although it seemed the big bad had a bit too much on their side, (I remember wondering just how the protags would come out on top in the face of all the bad guys had against them) the heroes came out victorious in the end, and in my currently dark state of mind, this is just the ending I was looking for.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 20 16:01:54 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 28 16:26:34 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Sep 28 16:26:34 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "7753d46f91275b43074c8e805f66b66a", "book_id": "28244079", "review_id": "f185b9c12081d855040bdba0a4efb19a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a very well-put together read. In hindsight, I feel like I watched an awesome, well thought-out movie. The pacing was excellent, the character was interesting, and you really feel drawn into his world. \n The character's thoughts were realistic, and what I love about Henk's work is that while set in the real world, (relatively), there are hints of mysticism and downright out-thereness that just works. \n It took me so long to read because I'm terrible with reading things lately, and busy, but it was not the fault of the book in any way, shape, or form. \n This was a riveting, sci-fi jaunt, and it makes me want to upload my consciousness into an alien body suit if only to see what the fuck would happen. (And if it's anything like what happened, here, count me the fuck in.)", "date_added": "Fri Apr 15 06:45:33 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 03 09:26:42 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun May 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7753d46f91275b43074c8e805f66b66a", "book_id": "16109210", "review_id": "d2ba78b49be5142c5e74360e0bdb5dc2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Okay now that I have some time I can finally put my thoughts on Dead Spots down. \n Rhiannon has crafted a brilliant look into the mind. \n How it can trick you, cause you fear, weaken your body, weaken your senses, play on your hopes, your fears. The mind. \n Being stuck in a world of your nightmares - tell me that doesn't sound horrible. But for some people (myself included) that's where we are. Always. Stuck in our fears (which are never-ending, mind you), trying in vain to still them, to be at peace with what those around you cannot understand. And there are those you hold close that are causing the anxiety but you are unable to realize it, trapped as you are in this never-ending cycle of dread, of overwhelming negativity. \n She's placed those with Generalized Anxiety Disorder or Depression or OCD or any mental and/or physical illness bearer into a world where their everyday plights are common, and it helps one recognize their symptoms, locate the cause, and perhaps even fight their way through, if only by seeing it on a page. The thought, \"I am not alone,\" came to mind while I read it. \n If anything else, Dead Spots merely shows that people, that women, are not any 'less' for dealing with what they do, that the horrors of the world are not our fault, that the true way to gain power is through the self, and that no one can truly help you, but you. No one can take the step for a better life, but yourself. \n But it's one hell of a ride getting to that point, just like real life. \n This was a wonderfully done novel, chilling me to the bone, causing me to maybe not sleep right away once I'd put it down for the night, and wonder just what prowled outside my window while I slept. \n She caught my interest with Pretty When She Dies, now she has me as a reader for life with Dead Spots. Rhiannon Frater is on my list as my absolute favorite author, her ability to weave a rather 'real' story placed in a nightmarish 'almost fictional' world is quite frightening in its execution. \n She's a master of character, of depth, and story, and I feel I'm beginning to notice her trademark flair for the grotesque. (It startles me when I do read a particularly gruesome scene, only for me to go 'She's a sick one.') Yet it only endears me to her work further. \n I will be looking at Mrs. Frater's backlog of work to pick up what I haven't read, and I will be eagerly devouring all her new work. \n She's sunk her claws into me and I'm afraid they won't come out.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 29 14:50:36 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 06 19:37:20 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Oct 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7753d46f91275b43074c8e805f66b66a", "book_id": "25194442", "review_id": "3526c149b7d1ec8335331d5ab0a72416", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Now that I have some time, I've decided to put my thoughts about this amazing book into words. \n M.E. Vaughan has created the start of a gorgeous fantasy series all fans of the genre should read, immediately. \n Littered with Celtic, Arthurian lore, The Sons of Thestian transports us to a place reminiscent of medieval Ireland where the forests are filled with terrifying sidhe-folk, and the castle walls are no safer. \n Our trio in this tale are the endurable Jionathan, the wonderful Rufus Merle, and Fae, the awesome Cat-Sidhe. Throughout their trials, they find themselves drawn together through their narrow-escapes, near-deaths, and general wit (which they each have plenty of), but the heart of the story is Rufus, who cannot seem to stay away from our troubled Prince, Jionathan. \n In lieu of spoiling anything, I'll only say this: \n The ending was such a beautifully-crafted writing piece of writing that I immediately desired to know what would happen next. It vexed and saddened me, and for any novel to do that immediately has a place on my list in my top favorites. \n The Sons of Thestian set up a tale that I desperately want to continue. I can't wait to get my hands on book 2 whenever it's released. \n Thank you, M.E. Vaughan, for this amazing story.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 16 06:05:17 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 05 07:31:58 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7753d46f91275b43074c8e805f66b66a", "book_id": "25254270", "review_id": "255bb7b8bb03d8362064870174651948", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Cinderella in Reverse \n Nadege's tale of blood, death, and love was craftily formed, only making me more interested in the world she's created. \n A princess who finds she is something else, I suppose you could say it's Cinderella in reverse, a lot more death and battle in this story than the other. And save a glass slipper, it's a chance meeting between our two protagonists, which leads them down this path of survival - for their love. \n Though this is just not a love story, love burns at the center of every page, and reminds me what I felt like when I had my first love, though it wasn't as fantastical, perhaps only in my head. :) \n Nadege Richards has set up a series many fans of YA and/or dystopian novels would love to read, though its reach is potentially much farther. \n I look forward to getting my hands on the next book in the series and seeing where Echo and Ayden's love takes them next.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 31 12:28:03 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 27 07:36:58 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jun 27 07:36:58 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun May 17 09:13:26 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7753d46f91275b43074c8e805f66b66a", "book_id": "22272714", "review_id": "2484870a53bca10c88944fc1e2228599", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Having just finished this book, my emotions are on high. Who doesn't love a good romance novel? Who doesn't love a good vampire novel? Who doesn't love both? \n You'll get that in Tentyrian Legacy. \n It's simply a badass story. \n Spanning the centuries, the Tentyrians (vampires), having seen all the world's wars and great moments are on a quest to stop their former Brothers at arms, now dubbed the Dark Coven. \n When Arianna is thrown into this world after graduating from Harvard, her troubling gifts (a mind that hears many voices and later the ability to read people's minds) lead her to meet the alluring and Greek-like-god-figure Maximos. \n He's a Tentyrian and is determined to get her to realize she is one too before the Dark Coven can get their hands on her. \n It's a tale stapled throughout history, filled with blood, power, and romance, that is sure to excite fans of vampire lore, historical buffs, and romance novel enthusiasts alike. \n As a fellow lover of vampires, and vampire lore, my thirst was greatly sated. Looking forward to more adventures from Maximos and Arianna and their Tentyrian Brotherhood. Definitely look forward to more from Mrs. Elise Walters. For a debut novel, this has immense bite.", "date_added": "Wed May 28 17:56:06 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 18 15:34:40 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jul 18 15:34:40 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7753d46f91275b43074c8e805f66b66a", "book_id": "21898529", "review_id": "de1b54b3870bcbb4e7fab1707632a085", "rating": 4, "review_text": "If superhero movies, with all their nitty-gritty reboots nowadays could have half the story SWoD has, they'd be a lot better off. \n It doesn't follow the formula most superhero novels/movies does, it's its own world, in that the superheroes, something I'm even hesitant to call them, operate, especially Spring-Heeled Jack, on this precarious border between what's morally sound, and what isn't. \n It did take me quite a bit of time to finish it, but it wasn't for lack of enjoyment. Life got in the way, yet I would always find my mind returning to SWoD and what would be coming next. \n Toward the end of the novel, it became apparent to me that a hero, unlike the ones we see in our media today, are not so easily defined, and I have not read a superhero novel that fully explores this, and so fully, as Sad Wings of Destiny has. \n Not to spoil the plot or anything, some choices, some events cannot be avoided, and the way things must come to an end, unfortunately, or fortunately for some, involve sacrifice. \n It takes a great person, super powered or no, to recognize this and commit to it fully, even if it means becoming the very thing they fought for years, as it often does. \n Thom Brannan has crafted a thought-provoking read, any fan of superheroes, anti-heroes, and their villains would greatly enjoy.", "date_added": "Wed May 21 08:08:47 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 21 11:52:38 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed May 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "7753d46f91275b43074c8e805f66b66a", "book_id": "22272712", "review_id": "f271fed0d6a7d0352ca0a0fcd3cdd3e8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "PWSK was a rip-roaring sequel that put a smile on my face even in the face of a terribly recent death in my life. \n My grandfather died. And Innocente dying at the end spoke volumes to me. \n The characters we all know and love return, and though at times it was a bit hard to keep track of them all when they were all together, it in no way diminished my love for them or the brilliance with which the action, wit, and (squee!) magic took place. \n I have to say I LOVE that Amaliya is a vamp that has control of the dead. Are you kidding me? That's the best of both worlds. Adds a touch to the vampire genre that is greatly needed. \n Most of the characters now are changed, if not physically, then emotionally. No one is the same as they were in the first book and that only breeds well in a series. I, personally, love characters that have emotion, deal with heavy stuff, and have if actively affect them rather than them going back to 'how they were' in book 1. We get none of that here. Rhiannon Frater pulls all the punches and then some in PWSK, and sets up a heart-pounding stage for Book 3 with higher stakes (heh), and a promise of immense destruction.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 06 16:32:40 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 20 15:40:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jul 20 15:40:35 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7753d46f91275b43074c8e805f66b66a", "book_id": "19019985", "review_id": "52fb2fb270253f3b18300b62b34cfe20", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amazing Foray Into Vampire/Necromancer Lore \n Loved, Loved, Loved! \n I wish I picked this up sooner! Rhiannon's gift for storytelling had me sucked (heh) in from page one with the spunky Amaliya. Her journey through vampiredom is as awesome as I can imagine anyone writing it. \n She has instantly become one of my favorite authors for her way with words, the way the scenes fill your mind, feel rich and alive with character themselves. And the characters - Cian and Amaliya are excellently penned, their own pasts, flaws, and inflections feeling true to life...or death in this case...carried along by a narrative that bounces from character to character, only enriching the ride taken to the end. \n I've said enough - I need more!", "date_added": "Thu Mar 06 16:32:23 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 13 07:29:08 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed May 13 07:29:08 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Apr 22 06:44:56 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7753d46f91275b43074c8e805f66b66a", "book_id": "18273738", "review_id": "d76745a026eef1d5553df57add80f5e1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Welcome to Hell. \n Yes, Breton, Virginia is Hell on Earth where all the criminals and murderers are placed to face their demise at the hands of Vampyres: the judges of morally right and wrong. \n I have to say after having just finished this novel, I found myself speeding through the rest of the pages to read the Epilogue - and I need to know what happens next. \n This was a delightful take on the Vampire genre. And as a good fan of Vampires, I have to say, Ronald Andres Moore's Vampyres are a fresh take on, what I feel, Vampires have always been at their core: Creations for a purpose beyond themselves. Whether it be to take blood for the sake of surviving, or, in this case, existing to dish out justice to those deserving of it (and sometimes not). \n Which leads me to the colorful cast of characters. Here we have a vast (and I mean vast) collection of characters that fill this claustrophobia-inducing novel with their differences. Even the town itself is a character, a low hanging cloud of amnesia hovering just above its mostly derelict buildings. \n I don't want to give too much away, so I won't, but our heroes vary greatly from an amnesiac Vampyre named Michael, to a cast of (IMO) fiery orphans who have known nothing but their existence in the stifling town, to a renowned Vampyre Hunter with numerous tricks up his sleeve, an assassin, and two English Gentlemen, not to mention the various women that take up the fight to the soul suckers. \n At its core NOCTURN is a tale. Simply put. A riveting tale of that morally gray area we humans always seem to dwell within. It asks the question, \"What would happen if we got rid of our criminals and placed them within a town away from the good?\" And it answers that question with a roaring romp through darkness, blood, and gore. Those that created this town are the wrong ones, but we can hardly spare a feeling for them because we're so swept up in the varying characters's dilemmas as they come to terms (slowly) with the fact this town that always exists in one year, is not all it appears to be. (But we feel rightly justified when everyone wakes up and takes the fight to those in charge.) \n The baddies in NOCTURN are a slew of Vampyres, many of which, I'll be honest, I can't name right now, but I do remember Isaac, Rurk, and of course, Ruthven, a brilliantly crafted Vampyre that has lived far too long - so long he's let his power corrupt him to the point he's oblivious to any notion of humility - it's not for him, you see. \n There's so much I can say about this novel, from it's origin of the Vampyres (they're Nephilim), to the different fantastic creatures that all descend from mothers of ancient (dark) lore, to the awesome characters, and the world that existed in this one town. \n Mr. Moore has created a riveting tale that I believe any fan of Vampires (they're vicious, just like I like 'em), historical fiction, claustrophobic horror, suave Van-Helsing-type Vampyre Hunters, and the little orphan inside us all will enjoy greatly. \n I greatly await the next installment in this series. Mr. Moore has crafted the Vampire story I didn't know I wanted to read. But I do now, and that's all that matters. \n Keep your bite, Mr. Moore. \n You're a blessing to the Vampire genre.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 03 06:53:44 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 16 09:38:57 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Apr 16 09:38:57 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Mar 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7753d46f91275b43074c8e805f66b66a", "book_id": "13414569", "review_id": "dbe782631d259fdc7cad10c38c5fd2bc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A fun, amazingly entertaining read that, despite it's \"over the shoulder of every character\" point of view, drew me in without reservation and made me a gleeful participant in young Bilbo Baggins's quite reluctant adventure with the 13 dwarves. \n The use of magical items, the \"just in time-ness\" of the Great Gandalf the Grey, and the constant danger that was faced made it a very compelling story, though I felt, with my version at least, that some things were omitted for sake of keeping the story short for those who would see the movie. I remember seeing The Hobbit on a shelf at a book store, it's volume daunting me from starting it. \n A compact 200 something pages, this version of The Hobbit was quick to digest, and flowed quite easily into The Fellowship of the Ring which I plan to devour as soon as free time becomes available.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 30 08:46:30 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 04 17:24:24 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Mar 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7753d46f91275b43074c8e805f66b66a", "book_id": "400924", "review_id": "66fe624dcef5098cf00c2bc3d1f47065", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Absolutely loved it after a stop and go start, but once I understood what was happening, it reeled me in like no other fantasy has done.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 15 19:12:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 15 19:14:29 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7753d46f91275b43074c8e805f66b66a", "book_id": "2365730", "review_id": "f34cbf8f0dbbdb1640f4cb7b183f8867", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Took me a while to get used to the way it was written and things were presented, but I absolutely fell in love with this book and the series, and plan to get the third one whenever I can. A very well-put together fantasy, one that I can revisit time and time again. \n The characters were incredibly interesting, the magic sublime, the plot easy to follow and I did want to follow it! Recommend to all who love \"smart\" epic fantasy novels that aren't just fantastical tales of magic and swordplay.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 04 15:06:25 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 04 15:09:24 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Nov 04 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9cc32a58e6088cbae955f058fe8f8c36", "book_id": "420496", "review_id": "8a46b1b7d1c6e53665db5353c2b581b0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fantastic book!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 28 15:16:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 28 15:17:56 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9cc32a58e6088cbae955f058fe8f8c36", "book_id": "234225", "review_id": "377216ab8cf24fe2cf620fa39ed1f34b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "My first science fiction read. Absolutley brilliant!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 28 15:09:26 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 28 15:10:17 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1984", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db93544dec0545742402f51e3e5eb725", "book_id": "8490112", "review_id": "cc5586be30ac96252563fddd170b9d5d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was amazing! The plotting was impeccable. I wasn't expecting something with so many layers. The first half of the book is so different than the second half but the author fits them perfectly together. \n Beware, there is some language and some sexual content (More implied than actual scenes). \n I wouldn't let my teenagers read it, but I would recommend it to adult friends.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 16 19:17:44 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 29 15:35:27 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db93544dec0545742402f51e3e5eb725", "book_id": "6658685", "review_id": "68030d826cb6dbc3876e439011d861b3", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I only read a couple chapters of this book. It seemed like there might be possibilities, but I was kinda bored. I could see others loving this book though. So try it and see. If I had more time to read I may have stuck it out.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 10 11:51:18 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 19 19:20:21 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db93544dec0545742402f51e3e5eb725", "book_id": "5797595", "review_id": "aa10af7d1b629268d6afaf3134c1195f", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I really thought that this book had a great sounding premise. And it does. But by page 115 I gave up. The book is written in first person by a girl named Eff. But because Eff was used by the author to look in on scenes without contributing anything to them, there was nothing for the reader to connect to. It felt as if Eff didn't even have a role in the plot. And by 115 pages, I still didn't even know what the plot was, and how Eff played a role in it. \n I also didn't care for taking U.S. history and giving it different names anf throwing dragons into the mix. It really took me out of the story each time I read something like the Mammoth River (the Mississippi) and the Seccession War (Civil War). And the U.S. became Colombia (an actual country now). It made the story feel lopsided - part fantasy and part not.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 13 14:03:51 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 15 07:49:28 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Tue Dec 14 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db93544dec0545742402f51e3e5eb725", "book_id": "5983694", "review_id": "73177e83e30cb12f9c4c84fb125bc43f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The first few chapters into this book I was tempted to put it down. It just didn't grab me and I was kinda bored. By halfway through the book I was curious as to how things were going to come together so I kept reading. When I finished the book I was so glad I had kept reading. Its such a beautiful book that has a wonderful message without, in any way, being preachy. Loved it!", "date_added": "Sun Jun 13 14:00:03 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 19 14:03:09 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db93544dec0545742402f51e3e5eb725", "book_id": "350500", "review_id": "04fc543782e47d2eff5cda04ea03c832", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I listened to this on audio and stopped after 20 minutes. It just wasn't what I was expecting and I wasn't enjoying it at all.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 02 21:27:41 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 09 13:30:00 -0700 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "db93544dec0545742402f51e3e5eb725", "book_id": "6068551", "review_id": "8b0aabe4602ca7d119a67eb1f728391b", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Beautiful writing, but so slow I couldn't get into it. Interesting, because this book came out around the same time as Twilight and its very similar. But its about a girl and a werefolf. And I consider Twilight to have horrible writing, but a interesting story. And which sold better? Twilight. I'm not saying I agree with that, because I value beautiful writing - but it does say some interesting things about our society.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 02 21:15:49 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 12 18:52:33 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db93544dec0545742402f51e3e5eb725", "book_id": "2133795", "review_id": "0f033b42bbbabf1fe41c945dc03127d7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Law's writing and voice is beautiful, but the story didn't grip me that hard. Worth a read though", "date_added": "Tue Apr 14 10:40:59 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 14 10:41:46 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db93544dec0545742402f51e3e5eb725", "book_id": "85990", "review_id": "c9017061ace5876c7984134235005594", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The first of Shannon Hale's books that I've enjoyed. I didn't love it, but I thought she did a good job.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 24 14:52:07 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 24 14:52:49 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db93544dec0545742402f51e3e5eb725", "book_id": "1162543", "review_id": "0a679039cab4f61c0e3a625e1ee57825", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book. Honestly, I thought it was the best one out of the series.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 22 15:34:51 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 22 15:35:13 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "db93544dec0545742402f51e3e5eb725", "book_id": "187812", "review_id": "aad79baa48f02d48af0cf1acc4f6d109", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really like Meg Cabot. Her princess diaries books are so fun. And I actually really liked this book (I got the book on tape). But there are two things that I didn't like. \n One, the language. Like I said, I was listening to it on my tape while I'd clean and things, so the first time I heard a swear word I thought I'd misheard it. But I didn't. The swearing is just sporadic (thanks, Clueless) enough that you think it's the last time they'd swear. I counted only four or five times the characters used a vulgar word. But it was a word that really gets under my skin. The Savior's name in vain. So that knocked it down a few stars. \n Two, I didn't love the ending. The story was so good and such a fun idea that I thought it would have a bigger ending than it did. It was kinda a boring ending. \n But it was really the swearing that did it for me. If it hadn't been for the cuss words I would have given it four stars. \n But overall, it really was a fun idea for a book.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 22 15:27:56 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 22 15:33:35 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7882af1eb95acebce28113dbeafb63d1", "book_id": "13147230", "review_id": "bb057e4fdf96b228962539e6e8f179e6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.5", "date_added": "Mon Apr 17 19:26:08 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun May 14 17:06:52 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Mon Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7882af1eb95acebce28113dbeafb63d1", "book_id": "33507", "review_id": "c13718121d46b0a298d8ca84f502bea3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It was OK, my eyes tended to glaze over at the lengthy descriptions of myriad fish.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 12 19:42:32 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 01 21:10:25 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7882af1eb95acebce28113dbeafb63d1", "book_id": "12283261", "review_id": "0ae7de52da9aae155c2f92fa595361ff", "rating": 2, "review_text": "A fun concept but really poorly executed. For one thing, the author would establish rules for how the world's would interact and then break those rules. (ex. fairy tale characters knowledge is limited by things that are in the book; so they don't know about things like showers, because there are no showers in the fairy tale. However, at one point one of them talks about ameobas. There are no ameobas in fairy tales.) Also, both the writing and character personalities were more on par with a juvie novel than YA.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 25 13:12:43 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 27 18:35:53 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7882af1eb95acebce28113dbeafb63d1", "book_id": "22613169", "review_id": "51d62245719019930aa0860d121f1980", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Predictable and very strongly anti-choice, but otherwise good.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 30 12:13:58 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 06 15:30:30 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jan 06 15:30:30 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7882af1eb95acebce28113dbeafb63d1", "book_id": "672875", "review_id": "959a69115193b3ba4b60f9b81c8c686f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It's funny to compare how they act in this book and the modern day take on chivalry. I don't think these paragons would make muster anymore.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 30 09:35:24 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 16 19:29:28 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Mar 31 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7882af1eb95acebce28113dbeafb63d1", "book_id": "15839976", "review_id": "6bbd3d6aadb6ca41808df03ce3875a04", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It's been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. Could have read it all in one sitting if work hadn't gotten in the way. :) Not sure why it's considered adult though, I would have placed it in YA and I know it's getting a lot of crossover.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 19 15:23:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri May 13 18:43:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Mar 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Mar 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7882af1eb95acebce28113dbeafb63d1", "book_id": "17449197", "review_id": "dc498736d35fbe1197869abdc87bee64", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Wasn't feeling the \"Limey Cowboy\" but otherwise deliciously dark.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 02 11:01:36 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 10 15:37:06 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Aug 10 15:37:06 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7882af1eb95acebce28113dbeafb63d1", "book_id": "7825557", "review_id": "f3850699d0d50696a8e4906448cc29f6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "That truly was the most disturbing Julie novel I''ve ever read. True to the Grimm's style.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 28 18:14:45 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 01 07:14:16 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jul 01 07:14:16 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7882af1eb95acebce28113dbeafb63d1", "book_id": "16243463", "review_id": "d59811ff5da2a6e644edcedc1615cc99", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Fun concept, but his disconnect with teens, when some of your main characters are such, really ruins it.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 22 15:46:29 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 15 06:37:50 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7882af1eb95acebce28113dbeafb63d1", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "79ff6e0131e48dfa79b0ae36d9725f12", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5", "date_added": "Sat May 17 09:37:40 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 18 06:04:25 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7882af1eb95acebce28113dbeafb63d1", "book_id": "9265891", "review_id": "8f828c6be3815c8c97d5a29dda6f7ced", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It was a four until he got to high school. When talking about researching teens he says he's been reading YA books but actually lists Juvenile titles and then when he is in school he acts like he's 12, not 16. Disappointing. However, I really enjoyed the magic and the myths.", "date_added": "Sat May 17 09:31:51 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 17 08:01:16 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7882af1eb95acebce28113dbeafb63d1", "book_id": "12950372", "review_id": "56dd17e4daafb4714a015eb04e2a3b41", "rating": 4, "review_text": "These books just get weirder and weirder. Twists galore that take you deep into WTF land.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 14 19:21:45 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 24 20:44:53 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7882af1eb95acebce28113dbeafb63d1", "book_id": "8591107", "review_id": "e56c30fd77c3898ca8dc1d09b488f086", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The writing was a little choppy but there was something about the plot that kept me turning the pages into the night. I had to know what happened next? Was Mara crazy or was something more going on?", "date_added": "Sun Dec 15 20:13:24 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 19 19:36:08 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Dec 19 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7882af1eb95acebce28113dbeafb63d1", "book_id": "12127810", "review_id": "ff004f45e0aaf672c11bf855c13397eb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "If there hadn't been a farting pole cat it would have got a five.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 29 08:34:33 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 10 06:53:48 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Nov 10 06:53:48 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7882af1eb95acebce28113dbeafb63d1", "book_id": "12127750", "review_id": "ddf3b4bbf0ff137cb86be318b4ecc4d2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I always love the action and use of mythology in these books. However, with the characters aging to 16-17 years of age, the immaturity of the characters is wearing. It was fine when we first met Percy at age 12, but now that he's 17 I want him to ACT like he's 17, not 13. I understand that these are juvie books, but your readers have aged right along with the characters, just like with the Harry Potter series, and your books need to reflect that. Otherwise, I'm a huge fan of all things Riordan.", "date_added": "Wed May 15 10:32:02 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri May 24 05:44:43 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7882af1eb95acebce28113dbeafb63d1", "book_id": "5056084", "review_id": "812fa1ca6c7affbdebdb5aca6b36ed91", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A modern day Thumbelina.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 14 10:45:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 30 14:00:37 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "18725742", "review_id": "3f0091b577e91c0193f172bfedb1e78f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sophronia is as awesome as ever. I respect the choice the author makes in relation to Team Felix or Team Soap. It seems like as great an ending as there could be to this series if it has to end at all. *pouts* \n New Year's Eve dawned damp and disgruntled- a soggy tea towel of a day.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 02 11:35:21 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 08 06:00:05 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 07 17:52:50 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Sep 02 11:35:21 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "20980648", "review_id": "4cbb833adda0bc48a0b77c488097bcad", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sophronia and the gang are at it again! This continuation of the series is just as good as the first two and the stakes are higher for our heroine as she grows older and closer to taking a side as an intelligencer. I was so proud of her as she did her best for each of her friends and learned more about herself in the process. I can't wait to see what happens next! \n I loved the running joke explaining why some people had less than stellar manners. :)They are Scottish. \n The best thing about this book for me was the Soap/ Sophronia friendship. There was a more serious tone to this book as Sophronia really came to understand that Soap's life was different from her own due to his skin color. Early in the book, Sophronia kept insisting that she wouldn't let their respective stations stand in the way of their friendship. Soap knew better, but let her think it anyway. Then she realized that she had let his station dictate her relationship with him. I thought her musing near the end of the book was so telling as she was told that they would have to learn that life wasn't fair and she realized that Soap already understood that lesson.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 21 15:10:14 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 01 18:50:50 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Sep 01 18:22:55 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Aug 21 15:10:15 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "15723286", "review_id": "7c5433c552dfc159fe7da41aca84cede", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sophronia is adorable and the finishing school is absurdly hilarious. I adore the way that the young ladies are horrified by bad manners and shrug off such things as werewolves and kidnapping attempts. The second of the series was as funny and engaging as the first. I listened to the audiobook version and the reader was great with the accents and really made the book go up a notch. \n I enjoyed the way that high society was showed to ignore certain things such as construction projects or money since they were 'embarrassing'. The school hid in plain sight in London by masquerading as a construction site since no one of quality would look in their direction. :) And Sophronia was able to pass a note with the tip since no one would be low enough to look at money. \n She claimed all manner of mistreatment at the hands of the Countess. The tea was lukewarm, the biscuits stale, the seat cushion lumpy, and a girl had been bitten to death right in front of her. \n He he he", "date_added": "Sun Aug 13 07:45:34 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 21 15:08:02 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Aug 21 15:08:02 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Aug 13 07:45:35 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "55776", "review_id": "0cf220133d0acd1f461ad46f96201bf4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I thought the story was wonderful and funny, but I would have liked the illustrations to be in color. The widow was very clever and stood up for her helpful little friend and I loved her for it, though it was a selfish act as well. The townspeople are a typical mob of scared people who hate what they don't understand and act like idiots.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 13 07:30:24 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 13 07:34:16 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "136251", "review_id": "75f541ccb63b78211367c78302ff374b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A tear-jerking ending to the series. I could do without the epilogue.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 19 09:42:18 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 19 09:43:43 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "13594837", "review_id": "9a3c3a980e9b8d1880e06e09feaf0fb1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A collection of the short Sookie stories that have been published in separate books. They offer back story and flesh out some of the side story lines.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 18 11:18:25 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 18 11:20:14 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "16098976", "review_id": "2df657585abd4ac948887c08050bd239", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoy the Odd Thomas series and this is another adventure. It is between the 4th and 5th books in the series.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 17 10:32:07 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 17 10:34:49 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "13", "review_id": "8ea0048fbd66922f5a3c48d91cd175f5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I can't convince anyone that this is the best book ever unless I type out the whole thing here. Douglas Adams has such a dry sense of humor and his subtle humor just cracks me up. Sometimes I'm reading along and then have to go back because I just figured out that there was a joke I missed. Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox, and Arthur Dent are hilarious and amongst all this humor is hidden some serious life truths. I want to quote most of the book, but I shall refrain. \n All eyes were on Ford Prefect. Some were on stalks.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 12 14:15:39 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 12 14:20:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "29934239", "review_id": "153240e9a61c8780fc71b047ed603fc9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "My husband purchased this book and since it was lying ab0ut, I picked it up and read it. It's what I do. :) I haven't played this game, but it was very video game-ish in the reading. It has quests and bosses and side-quests and side-bosses. The hero gathers treasure and saves people. Overall, I think playing the game would be more entertaining since you actually get to figure out things, but reading about it is certainly quicker. The first few pages are in color and they are beautiful, but the rest are black-and-white. The drawings are good, but I had trouble following the action as it seemed like fight scenes were just too chaotic for me. I admit I didn't spend much time trying to puzzle them out. :)", "date_added": "Sun Jun 25 15:44:37 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 25 15:49:15 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jun 25 15:49:15 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "54356", "review_id": "afb250dccbbd604c956dfa6acc05b410", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A re-telling of the Rapunzel fairy tale. Napoli adds in some heart and backstory to the characters to flesh out the original fairy tale, but it stays true to it. I found it slow at times and terribly horrid at others. Watching the descent into madness wasn't pretty.", "date_added": "Sun May 07 06:20:11 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun May 07 06:27:29 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun May 07 06:27:30 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "228391", "review_id": "771b4ea5778995f24b0a9498965b8dfe", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This collection of fantasy short stories was pretty good. I don't generally like short stories since it seems like as soon as I am getting used to the characters they are gone! I found several stories to be awesome and a few to be rather blah. The stories tend to be told from a female point-of-view and there are feminist twists to the old classics that I love. One fairy story had a girl whose aunt was so sure that the fairy in the garden didn't exist that the girl lied and said it didn't exist. She wanted to \"protect her aunt from anything as real as a fairy.\" he he he. Some adults just can't handle reality. :) \n Another mother was avoiding any mention of the father who had recently died and \"Her conversation was full of odd ellipses and gaps.\" This is a common theme in loss fiction as parents avoid mention of terrible things when they are trying to protect children, but it always turns out to be the wrong thing to do. I generally liked the way the author created her sentences and expressed herself.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 28 14:24:23 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 29 11:18:59 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Apr 29 11:19:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "111332", "review_id": "ddf7a57b8f9ddf4228ea7309a3cbe101", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Eh. This was like Harry Potter and Game of Thrones mixed together...but not in a cool way. The prophesied chosen one gets thrown into a new society with new rules and is looked down on by the purebloods there. He goes up against mighty foes and wins when he shouldn't. The clans are filled with intrigue and politics and cats vying for power and who cares who gets hurt. I wasn't into it. I found the way the cats were written was not cat-like and the society was too human. I also didn't care for the way the author made up cat language. Also, the names! Good Lord! THE NAMES! I've never had such a time remembering all the names and places.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 17 19:56:52 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 17 20:02:01 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "16043630", "review_id": "e7b4144fcb48622afe1a9f527d23b3d9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is classified as juvenile fiction and also as a mystery. It is full of Hebrew/Jewish culture and the main part of the story happens at a Jewish summer camp. There are flashbacks to an orthodox Jewish man who uncovers a secret word of power from the Torah and goes on the run to protect himself and his knowledge from a cult called the Illuminated Ones. Seventy-two years later, our Dahlia is possessed by the spirit of this man who is trying to finish up his task of saving children and destroying the maze. The main character is a math whiz and loves to perform magic tricks. Both skills help her to defeat the bad guy and solve the maze. Like most juvenile protagonists, she saves the day in a very precocious way that is not quite realistic. The book takes a while to get started and can be a little slow in places. Young readers might be a little turned off when David is first introduced since it is filled with Hebrew words and Orthodox Jewish customs that might be unfamiliar and difficult to decipher.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 18 20:00:41 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 18 20:11:54 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Mar 18 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "28285588", "review_id": "b9167e8c3c897d35d134bdb24c7564dc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A short side story available online. A fun view into Blue's life before the events of the first books.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 18 09:53:45 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 18 09:58:37 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Mar 18 09:58:37 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "28284684", "review_id": "198bb10aa706fb47ce31702be737c305", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A short story available online. It was an interesting side story that takes place before the first book.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 18 09:46:50 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 18 09:53:00 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Mar 18 09:53:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "17378527", "review_id": "7ac50ca95b501e0df045b028d1985776", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Finally, the last of the series. It was nice to have everything wrapped up. I liked the way the author used the repetition of \"depending on where you start the story, it was about...\" to tell the points-of-view of some of the minor characters. I won't say too much about the ending, but I was pretty happy with it. I don't think I can completely call it wrapped up since they are all just starting their lives and we have no idea what will happen, but this part is over.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 17 19:34:30 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon May 15 18:37:22 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "17378508", "review_id": "f1415c6d8f06fe8e5330fa7a7e1fc495", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Again I listened to the audiobook version. This series is just awesome to listen to. This one was as suspenseful or more than the first two and there was another cliffhanger. I am glad I already have the 4th book on my phone to listen to! There was some story development and this series is not making the mistake of many where everyone is safe and you know the characters won't die. I loved the friendship development between the four in many different ways. It seems like any more will just be a spoiler, but know that this 3rd book did not disappoint.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 17 19:34:29 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat May 06 18:08:48 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "17347389", "review_id": "8384611e56835e3a40bc9cf9d60ce639", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book seemed a bit slow in the first half. I didn't like it as much as the first book in the series during that time. It ended really well and I was glad I stuck with the book. I think my reluctance was that it focused on Ronin and I really didn't care for him in the first book. He became more in this book. More sympathetic, more real, more powerful, more fun to read about. It became more fantastical than the first as well.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 17 19:34:27 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 26 18:22:17 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "10874177", "review_id": "af89c584df8325fcb4265b0f5b9b01a4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I laughed out loud at so many parts of this book. I was skeptical about this one since I'm not really into steampunk as a genre, but the ridiculous premise of this book made me so curious that I had to give it a shot. I was hooked from the very first scene and through to the end. Sophronia is such a strong female character with a terrible future ahead of her as a lady in mid-nineteenth century England. She is terrible at being a debutante and was embarrassing to her family. Being sent off to a finishing school was her good fortune since it turned out to be a weird school indeed. The entrance interview includes: \n \"And have you killed anyone recently? ... a knife to the neck, or perhaps a cleverly noosed cravat?\" \n The proper courses for young ladies were present but mixed in with some very questionable courses on concealing weapons, fighting werewolves, and poisons. I loved watching Sophronia learn about a whole new aspect of the world and even though this book didn't even touch on the darker aspects of the training, I'm sure that will come up and cause her to have some ethical issues later. I will definitely be finishing this series. \n Sophronia's greatest skill (besides her observational and logical) is bringing together people of all kinds in her team. She befriends the 'sooties' who work in the boiler room and the outcasts in her class and they all will do whatever they can for her. They do so because they know she would do the same for them. That is a lovely quality. \n We simply cannot shoot first; it isn't done. Now, remember that, Miss Temminnick, do--a lady never shoots first. She asks questions, then she shoots. \n We are going to try to address first the best and most deadly application of wooden stakes, hatpins, and hair sticks. If we have time, I will move us on to how to properly judge a gentleman by the color and knot of his cravat. Believe you me, ladies, the two subjects are far more intimately entangled than you might first suppose. \n Algebra was far more interesting when it was a matter of proportioning out mutton chops so as to poison only half of one's dinner guests and then determining the relative value of purchasing a more expensive, yet more effective, antidote over a home remedy. \n ...it's no good choosing your first husband from a school for evil geniuses. Much too difficult to kill. \n While preparing for an evening at the theater: \n Much easier, he explained, to kill someone with a garrote at a seated event; only make certain you sit directly behind your quarry. \"Very inconvenient,\" he said, \"to try to kill someone when you are seated in front of him.\" \n ...he was looking quite at ease with the world, in the manner of most chronically ill-behaved children. \n Her expression was that of a woman with multiple children who was no longer surprised by anything they did...", "date_added": "Thu Mar 16 10:23:34 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 26 19:33:34 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "17675462", "review_id": "160cb90e00a1f7284da86056188e23ba", "rating": 5, "review_text": "First in a series. I loved it and am really irritated that I have so much to read for class that I can't immediately start the second book. Blue is a great character and the boys are all very different and interesting as well. There is so much tension from the beginning with the prophecy that Blue would kiss her true love and he would die. Discovering a twist about one of the boys in the middle of the book was shocking. Everyone in the whole book seemed to have secrets and they all aren't discovered yet! If you can listen to the audiobook version, you should. The reader does the Virginia accents really well and puts you in the story. :)", "date_added": "Mon Mar 13 14:31:09 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 16 19:57:17 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Mar 13 14:37:26 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "12432220", "review_id": "68175045b1f966409548f58063788e77", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I didn't go into this book with high hopes. I am trying to branch out into more varieties of books, so I thought to try this historical-style fantasy. Wow. I was not expecting the excellence I found. The main character was so funny and clever and real while the villain leaned toward a caricature but never actually made it there. The cast of characters interacted well and the hero was weak at times and needed help which kept him from being a cliche. I had a hard time reading parts of the book set in the dungeon, but it passed somewhat quickly. I was happy with the ending and looking at the descriptions of the next two books in the trilogy made me want to stop there for now. I'd rather leave the company as they are and think happy thoughts than plunge them into war. Maybe later I'll come back to them, but I've read from others that the first works well as a stand-alone and I am content to leave it at that.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 08 14:02:31 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 27 19:10:39 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Oct 27 19:03:11 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Oct 22 15:25:14 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "81130", "review_id": "eb40519ad361c961954fb6980f7ae40b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The beast was interesting in that he was an actual beast- a lion. I thought his spiritual struggle to maintain his religious beliefs and keep his human mind was way more interesting than the romance!", "date_added": "Sat Jan 14 17:16:58 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 24 19:20:35 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Nov 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "263147", "review_id": "e0096e97db068a724c08a776f0c56d36", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Of course there is a goth chick who is an outcast. \n \"The children sitting next to me inched away. I spent most of my childhood watching others inch away.\" \n She meets some vampire and love blossoms, as usual. I am sure that a young adult would have enjoyed it more. :)", "date_added": "Sat Jan 14 16:17:22 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 24 19:34:10 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "16433", "review_id": "e8ccbf4de741b7e56cc22ba960ca84ae", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"But these days I do not sleep as well as I did when I was young. I am twenty-one and much older than when I was twenty.\" Poor Odd has been through a lot in the last year, but life isn't through with him yet.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 14 14:44:56 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 16:56:50 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "12067", "review_id": "915e7aa9e343eb9b2322dccc1d0b69f2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Not as funny as the Hitchhiker's Guide, but hilarious in its own way. The main characters are an angel who \"didn't so much fall as saunter vaguely down\" from heaven and another who runs a bookstore. They enjoy Earth because heaven was boring and hell was awful. They fight to keep the fight between heaven and hell going because life without the struggle would be too boring. :) \n \"...God moves in extremely mysterious, not to say, circuitous ways. God does not play dice with the universe; He plays an ineffable game of His own devising, which might be compared, from the perspective of any of the players, to being involved in an obscure and complex version of poker in a pitch-dark room, with blank cards, for infinite stakes, with a Dealer who won't tell you the rules, and who smiles all the time.\" \n The game of Life described! Love it.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 14 13:03:44 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 12 14:31:36 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "59264", "review_id": "daf45f43a3d0a1002da8d5d3e9542a07", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Tears at the end, but really, how could it have turned out well. The ending was unsatisfactory at best. So many terrible things were left undone. The whole series was about slavery and our Nathaniel had an excuse in the first and even second books to be a terrible person since he was taught that way. But I began to hate him by the end of the second book and the society was just so unfair that it was difficult to read. This third book was a heart-wrenching tale of Bartemeus and I am left worried that someone with worse intentions will summon him in the future. Bart was funny though. I enjoyed his banter.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 14 12:52:09 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 17:05:33 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "59263", "review_id": "fedc0ff6dcb4003575535626c1f49e76", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I still hate the way Nathaniel is, but in this second book, he must learn to compromise with his slave demon to get what he wants.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 14 12:43:59 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 17:05:38 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "478600", "review_id": "b2b6f34afb5d99c737b14e858d73143e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A really good book with some distrurbing elements. The ruling class of magicians engages in casual slavery with the demons they summon. The way that the 12 year old magician's apprentice has been taught to think and act are appalling to me. I can tell the series will be good.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 14 12:39:53 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 17:05:55 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "28187", "review_id": "c9b3d73c3bc7c23341c9d40d6f86ddb3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ancient Greece meets modern day. The gods still can't keep from having kids with mortals and they have to train them up. Good book, but I did not feel compelled to run off and read the rest of the series.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 14 12:31:17 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 17:12:30 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "395875", "review_id": "c245aec6117569d4065a7a88e27333e0", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Eh. This fourth installment soured the series for me.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 14 12:12:52 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 17:07:00 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Mar 18 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "395922", "review_id": "6618f285aa78941fcf2bb3ba03c5ce9e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The series was rife with deus ex machina and dangling storylines. The requisite vampire love triangle and human girl that doesn't stay human for long are checked off.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 14 12:08:20 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 17:07:14 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "249747", "review_id": "295f16cecff4a5a181eaab01930be03c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The pre-teen villain in this one tries so hard, but can't bring himself to be as bad as he wants to be. :) The series starts slowly, but by the 4th and 5th books, it is awesome!", "date_added": "Sat Jan 14 12:02:20 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 27 19:02:00 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "350500", "review_id": "0b17d48a81f43065a5ae26619f340be5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is the story of a rogue tooth fairy who is orphaned and bounces around meeting cats, birds, and old ladies while not knowing who or what he is. It is a commentary on society as well. The orphaned tooth fairy sees the society he belongs to and questions the \"whys\" of it all and illustrates the failings in the system. A cute story, but the ending left me unsatisfied.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 14 11:48:15 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 17:09:55 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Dec 21 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "119322", "review_id": "5de178bebc71cb867063dfcbf9b943c5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a good story and the little heroine was suitably precocious and refreshingly anti-adorable with her hick accent and non-cuddly ways. I am aware that there is a controversy between this book and religious groups who say it is anti-religion. I can't really see that in this first book, but maybe it gets more specifically anti-religious later in the series.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 14 11:41:54 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 17:10:49 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "213647", "review_id": "2cd9eca87db5e7694d1a12aeeeed5205", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I enjoyed the story and the mystery was good, but I'm not tempted to pick up the sequel.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 14 11:40:27 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 17:11:04 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "24929", "review_id": "0bf542501cf8f049700d2212ca43e0b4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Another alternate POV fairy tale. This time he takes aim at Scrooge. This one is interesting and tells the story of the spirits origins. The chapters are seemingly random at first and a mysterious woman is leading the story. The name of the novel aptly describes the reader during a lot of the book. And the ending left me with more questions than answers. I couldn't choose one quote that described the book for me since Maguire's language is generally poetic and lovely. The general way mundane things are described just tickles my fancy. \"They perched on unreasonable stools.\" \"She spilled the indifferent coffee.\"", "date_added": "Sat Jan 14 11:26:34 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 17:10:44 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Dec 13 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "49041", "review_id": "13bf25aa81d4fe92564a783a4420ead8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I can see why this story is compelling to young adult audiences, but the adult in me cannot get past the whiny Bella and the brooding Edward.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 14 10:27:33 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 17:11:33 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "db93f7763372eb3bcc35c2179953ba95", "rating": 4, "review_text": "My review on thinking for a while is different from the review that I would leave right after reading the book. When I got the book, it was a quick read and I was enthralled at the angsty and stressful story. But after thinking about it awhile, the story is more creepy and whiny than good. I was entertained though!", "date_added": "Sat Jan 14 10:21:10 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 17:11:37 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "18943", "review_id": "66f7d13c39b46ea6f4fea83d14254008", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The Cinderella story told \"E True Hollywood Story\" style from the POV of the stepsister. Since this is an alternate story, it didn't surprise me to find that the ugly stepsister was actually very beautiful on the inside unlike dear Cinderella. This story speaks heavily of beauty, just like Wicked, and provoked some profound thinking. It's essentially a study of beauty- inside and out- and it's implications. \n \"In the lives of children, pumpkins can turn into coaches, mice and rats into human beings. When we grow up, we learn that it's far more common for human beings to turn into rats.\" Poor kids, the transition from ignorance to knowing that real monsters are human is a terrible one. \n \"Damn the human stomach, this fat betrayer of my ideals.\" he he he", "date_added": "Sat Jan 14 09:49:03 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 17:11:56 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "219418", "review_id": "267bcdd642f43562b049a238be9c8cde", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Repairman Jack is a fun character.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 13 20:53:54 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 13 20:55:56 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Nov 28 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "91813", "review_id": "1f87761d3d731a4ac01d72ec31369110", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A fairy tale that the author inserted realism back into by putting in the non-fairy tale parts such as peeing and sex. Good story!", "date_added": "Fri Jan 13 20:48:06 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 13 20:49:32 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Nov 22 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "5091", "review_id": "eee5feb0bd38fbb7adc43c8aff3d9080", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Long and terribly sad. I think I enjoyed the book more out of relief that it was finally over than anything!", "date_added": "Fri Jan 13 20:29:28 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 13 20:31:55 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "200733", "review_id": "8719e264f114602e3a7792d53e850d9e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A King Arthur tale set in modern times. Not the best King Arthur story I've read, but interesting and compelling with the three concurrent time periods experiencing similar situations. It can get confusing at times.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 13 19:58:22 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 13 20:00:20 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "5093", "review_id": "3e15d9db54c8ce2eeeca17f1f7b6702d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "More of a thinking and emoting sort of book and very little action. This is the least favorite of the Dark Tower series for me.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 13 19:32:44 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 13 19:37:45 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jun 24 00:00:00 -0700 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "14995", "review_id": "9d58ed3a9d55966a24389669c77ccfd6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I adore Odd. He is such a lovable character that I can't help but care about all his exploits. A typical Koontz character since he has a dry sense of humor and a quick comeback for everything. It's a good mystery with a nice twist as well.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 11 18:19:49 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 11 18:25:14 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jan 13 00:00:00 -0800 2004", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "357", "review_id": "ee9c7cbb1533d2cd867944ba817c5126", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A lot of laughs, but not as good as the first one. A few plot devices seemed awkward to me, but I always love the way Adams uses his words. :)", "date_added": "Wed Jan 11 17:28:22 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 13 20:13:14 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Oct 28 00:00:00 -0800 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "365", "review_id": "b601b8baa00ef87bd2911a97e4724c37", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Douglas Adams is funny and ridiculous. His stories are farces and his use of adjectives is interesting and inventive. Arthur from Hitchhiker's is a better protagonist.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 11 17:25:38 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 13 15:43:59 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "23617", "review_id": "2a3bc0e3b332c23bf976878a64ee5cb7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "An adorable children's book about the adventures of a puppy that crosses a wizard. Asimov made this story up to help explain the absence of his son's favorite stuffed puppy toy after it was lost. I thought it was a cute story.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 08 11:33:18 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 08 11:36:05 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "16907", "review_id": "9c7c895bfc8bf55ed9ee975aa27df9ed", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A cute children't book. There is a tiny inkling of the LOTR story in here and was fun to read aloud.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 08 11:28:35 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 08 11:29:36 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2003", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "68061357bf90cce095064d9a25871da6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really don't understand why we are supposed to believe that a bunch of old peculiar people would be happy masquerading as children (and being treated like it) and living the same day over and over. I had trouble suspending my disbelief at that. I did enjoy the mystery at the beginning that led out protagonist to the island. I am not tempted to read the rest of the series.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 18 17:02:39 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 24 19:17:06 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "37442", "review_id": "afeafd7349e607e1f6b3ece5325d506a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I do enjoy alternate point-of-view stories. This one telling the life of the Wicked Witch of the West did not disappoint. It kind of turns out to be an Oz political drama. I thought the commentary on life in general was deep and true. The prejudice against the lower class 'animals', the beauty of a person being seen as important only on the outside, the goodness of a talented character being an aberration, the decay of brilliance by disease, and the horrible crimes that humanity is capable of were all explored quite nicely. I thought Maguire wrote evocative statements that made me think. \n \"People who claim they are evil are usually no worse than the rest of us. It's people who claim that they're good, or any way better than the rest of us, that you have to be wary of.\"", "date_added": "Fri Jul 29 08:29:01 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 17 10:29:18 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "79c7b6929cf064bea03516e29481d267", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A real page-turner! I found myself in suspense for an entire year and a half with our hero. The science was realistic and creatively used. \n \"No plan survives first contact with the enemy.\" \n You have to be ready to roll with the punches and change it up! Good advice. \n \"...they did it because every human being has a basic instinct to help each other out.\" \n The reason that an entire world was willing to give up so much to save one person from Mars.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 29 08:28:17 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 15 16:53:48 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jun 24 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "13496", "review_id": "06d4c7080c2505bf6d683722352653e9", "rating": 2, "review_text": "DNF, it wasn't my thing. I saw some potential so I didn't give it one star, but I have reservations about about the non-stop drama and killing off of everyone. I am just a little squeamish.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 29 08:26:57 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 17 10:33:04 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "8908", "review_id": "1d7a9d3ed607e70e5cb56b00edf95d09", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow! I originally chose this book because I love zombies, but this book was a surprise with its realistic portrayal of how the events would unfold if this were ever to happen. It was incredibly poignant at times and made me laugh at others. A fascinating ride through a realistic look at the social, political, and economical aspects of a true zombie infestation. Each interview tells a different story and it all ties together. If I may make a suggestion: listen to the audiobook! The different voices of the characters really make it work. Another suggestion: don't watch the movie expecting it to be anything like the book. It's an okay movie, but nothing like the book. Not even in the same ballpark.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 01 18:47:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 14 13:54:15 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "69136", "review_id": "567863e45fb73601ed344f5e6932797d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I absolutely adored the beginning and ending and really liked the middle! So many good quotes for book lovers.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 11 18:49:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 18 11:16:57 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b3339e93450363e6fc61e60f5ba022bf", "book_id": "4214", "review_id": "1a5580e7f6349f1c860d5787a84977f3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I found this book fascinating. The adventure was good, but the paradigm shift at the end was both heart-breaking and amazing.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 14:28:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 14 12:00:00 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "592c88e7f27f736c7f2ec9d9d85a5461", "book_id": "30165203", "review_id": "262d389303edf7ee5d5f8a498b1172a5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I began reading this book about a year ago when I graduated from college. I brought the book with me while I travelled during the summer. I got about half way through the book (I'm a slow reader) when my one year graduate program started and I had to set the book aside. \n About two weeks ago, having basked in the freedom of being done with school [forever] long enough, I picked up the book again and started over. The past year, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I remembered from the book. Even rereading the first half was wonderful; I picked up on so many things that my mind just glazed over the first time through. \n I don't have words strong enough to describe this book, but I truly appreciate it. It's one of those books where you never know what's gonna happen. Everything is so random yet easy to follow. Nothing makes sense and yet you still understand everything completely. You never know what comes next, how things will end, what things could mean - and I think this is something that is difficult to achieve in storytelling, yet Neil does it eloquently. \n As unlikely as everything in this book is, it really gives you the sense that these things could happen, quite possibly are actually happening. \n His writing is so smooth. He gives just enough detail for each character that you really feel like you've met them before. This book is unique. And this book is a real trip. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to step outside the norms of writing and ease into the pleasantness of bewilderment and awe.", "date_added": "Fri May 20 11:00:54 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 29 00:10:37 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Aug 29 00:10:37 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "592c88e7f27f736c7f2ec9d9d85a5461", "book_id": "2744", "review_id": "d6b726e784c6ee190788a6ce528178e2", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I truly regret to say this, but I didn't enjoy this book. It didnt pick up for me till the middle of chapter 8, and then it fell short towards the end. So much happens, but it all connects in such a lazy and half-finished way, leaving me angry that anything had happened at all. \n I think the problem is that I fell in love with American Gods, and I thought this book would be similar. It wasn't. The other problem is that I absolutely love Shadow, but Fat Charlie is such a flat and boring character in comparison. In fact, the only character I actually liked was Mrs. Noah.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 04 13:57:37 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 29 17:14:37 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e6cdb76b0b7d771e5fc8cad1c0884432", "book_id": "22544764", "review_id": "b1eeb5930813f9d1e5bb02b251fcc1ca", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book proves that Naomi Novik is not a one book wonder. The characters are interesting. The plot takes many turns. The prose if beautiful. And the ending is satisfying.", "date_added": "Fri May 22 11:59:58 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri May 22 12:02:47 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu May 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e6cdb76b0b7d771e5fc8cad1c0884432", "book_id": "47989", "review_id": "e3a07b851b07ccdcf320fc86f06b87d1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of the best. Deep thinking and discussion wrapped with humor and pathos.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 22 14:42:14 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 22 14:42:43 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e6cdb76b0b7d771e5fc8cad1c0884432", "book_id": "34532", "review_id": "4b0403e6cf27ddaed303f3e5bf4f7da5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Certainly up there among the best. A little forced at times but the morales are very strong and very important.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 22 14:41:10 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 22 14:42:03 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e6cdb76b0b7d771e5fc8cad1c0884432", "book_id": "34498", "review_id": "a79e13ee4cad19a5f06b4eefa9b743b5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of the great ones. A satire of the media world. Few survive unscathed", "date_added": "Sun Mar 22 14:40:24 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 22 14:40:59 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e6cdb76b0b7d771e5fc8cad1c0884432", "book_id": "48002", "review_id": "0f8eb5af925e8ee3f651ca1ae6631b51", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of the best. Satire not of small things like civilzations but of big things like philisophical points. Time, how is history constructed, what should be the limits of human action.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 22 14:38:33 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 22 14:40:10 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "e6cdb76b0b7d771e5fc8cad1c0884432", "book_id": "34484", "review_id": "ad2ca2665cb3938fe4e03f6ba4c257b2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of his best. Strong satire of both religion and philosophy. No one is untouched. An independent but great characters", "date_added": "Sun Mar 22 14:36:46 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 22 14:37:36 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f5a8e13fed71d4cf87982f6ca62ab599", "book_id": "37442", "review_id": "79064fa45283a00296bf70c8309c6537", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It was much darker than I expected. A whole different story from the musical.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 13:06:14 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 20 13:06:43 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "728042", "review_id": "c668d053c90eb5fc0c9b5e6e73fce00c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "ugh this had so much potential what the heck????", "date_added": "Sun Jul 23 23:39:15 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 23 23:39:46 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "30182122", "review_id": "a9679f9384e111f6d60b9042778591b3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 \n Things wrapped up a little too quickly and neatly, but it's a short series so I didn't mind too much.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 22 22:54:16 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 22 22:55:51 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "32991890", "review_id": "8a3823a61a33ec42cb66e72b1dfa1c5e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I totally have a theory about her sin and I'm dying to get to the next volume but I can't find it anywhere T_T", "date_added": "Wed Jul 19 23:14:54 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 19 23:15:52 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "23492381", "review_id": "bd3d01cca4a36721317dd0f51a8920f3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5", "date_added": "Wed Jul 19 15:10:47 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 19 15:11:04 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jul 19 15:11:04 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "23437156", "review_id": "0cf4003ea02ba4d7ef24144b9683dd9a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Welp...I'm trash for this now. It's officially one of my favorite books with one of my favorite cast of characters. I love them all so much. My precious murder children. <3 \n PS: The audiobook is amazing and I honestly could not recommend it more!", "date_added": "Sat Nov 19 18:42:13 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 01 00:30:02 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Apr 01 15:28:58 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 65, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "16180175", "review_id": "20c78a41b64709cacda2689c81ccec7d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 STARS \n I loved this! It was beautifully written and so incredibly atmospheric that the circus itself felt like a character in the book. Now that I've finished, I find myself desperately wishing that Le Cirque de Reves was real. I want to be there - actually be there - and explore all the marvels in and out of those wondrous tents. \n PS: I'm so excited to reread this because I'm sure there's so much I missed and I can't wait to revisit it in the future! \n PPS: Is this being made into a movie yet? If not, someone \n please \n make this a movie!", "date_added": "Sat Sep 17 00:56:35 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 03 22:24:43 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Mar 11 21:58:04 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Thu Mar 09 22:09:40 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 66, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "17378508", "review_id": "83a7cb07190cce6b019d6debb7071785", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Favorite book of the series so far! \n I love these characters so much, and I just want them to be happy! T_T", "date_added": "Tue May 10 16:59:20 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon May 16 00:57:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon May 16 14:48:14 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue May 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 38, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "30025336", "review_id": "88a88245142b272b2d428feef5e5843d", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I was so excited about this one...", "date_added": "Sun May 01 20:13:43 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 21 14:57:15 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "26625494", "review_id": "f1255ea55fa4172dcf2c77f62f90c37f", "rating": 0, "review_text": "So there's going to be a completely new set of characters in the second book? Interesting...", "date_added": "Wed Dec 09 20:43:20 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 04 02:43:39 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 9, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "13206828", "review_id": "d2e4f75c03c493b47f68b6fe1b143a7b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "REREAD \n I LOVE THIS SERIES SO SO MUCH! \n I ship everyone! I love everyone! I just want them all to live happily ever after! T_T", "date_added": "Sun Nov 15 00:18:46 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 20 23:46:33 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 16 15:27:37 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 25, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "13206760", "review_id": "1afd0c1be32bb69e43aae334d583ec9b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "REREAD \n Love it! Love it! Love it! These characters are all my favorite. Love them all! \n OTP is still Wolf and Tomatoes", "date_added": "Thu Nov 12 20:55:37 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 14 23:57:59 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Nov 14 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Nov 12 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 27, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "2d0b9ebd579f2c11b3c5b76bcc2978e7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "REREAD \n Loved it! Yes, it's a bit predictable, but I love it nonetheless.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 09 22:19:50 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 12 11:20:20 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Nov 12 15:56:52 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 28, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "17378527", "review_id": "8318b66c619d244e47e1038aac040b58", "rating": 5, "review_text": "And that's that. T_T \n I just - I need a moment to catch my breath. There was just so much - and then - but - I can't even form coherent sentences about this now.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 23 12:38:29 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 20 23:50:29 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon May 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 56, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "23901077", "review_id": "1b3f40da9cad265848535b043728bbd9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This trilogy is officially one of my favorites! It's just so incredibly addictive! \n Penryn is a smart, badass protagonist who doesn't let romance drive her actions and I love her so much for that. Raffe is great. The twins are hilarious! And I greatly appreciate the emphasis on Penny's family as important players in the story in this book, and I really grew to like them. \n That being said, I feel a bit conflicted about the ending. I understand why what happened might have been the best viable option; however, it still felt rushed and convoluted. There are so many questions left unanswered that I just wish there would have been another book or two in order to reach a cleaner, more fleshed out resolution. \n For example, what was up with Penryn's mom? While I loved that she grew to be an important player in the war, I really thought that there would be something more to her story. Why was she so intent on collecting rotten eggs? The whole rotten egg situation just seemed far too coincidental for my taste. One of my theories originally was that she was perhaps one of the angel's Daughter of Man and through that she somehow knew about the Pit; and whether she had escaped or they'd let her go, maybe the trauma from the experience was one of the things that led to the deterioration of her mental health. I just felt like there was so much potential to her story, especially because she always seemed so in touch with the \"otherworldly\" things that were happening around them. \n Uriel's death also seemed really anticlimactic. Heck, most of the final fight scene did! And while I am happy that Raffe (and the rest of the Watchers, too since I grew to like them) decided to stay on earth, again, it just seemed far too convenient! And where were they able to even get Beliel's wings in order to attach them to Raffe? What happened to all the creatures and experiments? Paige can now so conveniently eat non-human meat now? I need explanations and answers!!! \n I still really enjoyed the trilogy, and it has become a favorite, but I still wish there would have been a bit more to the story. I would have maybe rated it a bit lower, but I had so much fun reading this and I became so attached to Penryn and Raffe that I'm willing to give this a solid 4 stars instead of maybe a 3.5. \n I still highly recommend this trilogy if you've been in a slump like I have, or if you just want to pick up an fun, addictive book to fly through!", "date_added": "Sat Sep 26 22:23:38 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 10 15:51:19 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 28, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "18071466", "review_id": "b6097e755d744205899395093e98cd91", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.25/4.5 STARS \n There's something so hypnotic about these books that appreciate and love so much. As with Angelfall , I found myself deciding to \"read a chapter or two\" of World After before bed only to look up and realize that it's 5AM and I finished the book. \n The writing is fantastic, and there's constantly so much happening that you can't help but be completely immersed as you read, and don't even get me started on the characters!! I just love Penryn and Raffe so much!! I do wish that we got a bit more interaction between them because their sassy interactions are simply the best; however, given the circumstances, I understand why that wasn't the case. \n Also, the whole Pooky Bear situation? HILARIOUS! And Raffe laughing and then crying after realizing that Penryn was alive? My poor tender heart! And just all of their interactions after that! I really missed sassy Penryn, and I just missed Raffe in general throughout the first half. They're just great together! OTP! OTP! \n Highly recommend this trilogy if you're in the mood for a really fun, fast-paced story with sarcastic, sassy characters you'll be likely to fall in love with! Seriously, it's so good! \n (Might edit this a bit later, but now I just need sleep.)", "date_added": "Thu Jun 25 21:19:05 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 26 06:15:48 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Sep 26 16:09:45 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 24, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "20454580", "review_id": "a891f0f34f8eea7f647be5150fc40427", "rating": 4, "review_text": "My poor tender little heart. I LOVED IT. \n The characters, the story, the characters, the writing -- also did I mention THE CHARACTERS! I love them all! I'm so excited to read In the Afterlight now. \n Also, I don't care if this is canon or not, I ship Vida with Chubs. That needs to happen.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 17 20:05:04 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 18 06:52:19 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jun 18 12:38:37 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 16, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "21920669", "review_id": "afaea967ef1c5d43ec8f79ad390c4a8b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Juliette's character development is officially the character development I will strive for in my personal life. She is so badass and it honestly made me feel like a proud mama to see how far she's come from the first book. \n Also, can we please just talk about Tehereh Mafi's writing? Not only is it poetic and beautiful, but it shows Juliette's growth through the writing style as well as through the actual narrative. In this last book, the writing portrays Juliette as a young woman who is sure of herself. There are no more strikethroughs, less repetition, less uncertainty -- it was just fantastic! \n AND WARNER! I JUST FUCKING LOVE WARNER! (Yup. Still cursing about this. There's no going back. It's necessary.) \n ALSO! Kenji and Juliette's friendship is now one of my favorites! \n I just loved this so much! Highly, highly recommend this series! \n (WOULD IT BE TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR AN EPILOGUE? Probably...)", "date_added": "Wed Jun 10 21:20:33 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 11 04:46:06 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jun 11 16:36:58 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 53, "n_comments": 8}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "20522862", "review_id": "dd1432d334f15e050d0648d426583c97", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So. So. Good. \n I found myself flying through the book without realizing it and I loved every minute of it. I cannot wait to see how the story progresses, and I definitely need more Rose (with and without Dimitri) in my life.", "date_added": "Mon May 18 20:37:05 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue May 19 03:34:57 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue May 19 16:46:41 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon May 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "18798983", "review_id": "5b53281bbd9fb3e8fa9115d675914380", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book has left me emotionally overwhelmed -- in the best way. \n The writing, particularly the descriptions, was beautiful and -- as others have rightfully stated -- luscious! I loved the characters, especially Shazi! That girl and kick some booty, and you all know how I feel about that! (I will forever be living my life vicariously through bada$$ female characters. It's not something I'm upset or embarrassed about anymore.) \n I really do wish that some of the side characters were a little more developed. I do understand that most of the story revolved around the couple, but the side characters were so great and I just wanted more of them! \n Regardless, I loved this and The Rose and the Dagger is officially one of my most anticipated books of 2016! \n PS: I might edit/add to this later. I still need a bit more time to process everything. AHHH THE FEELS!", "date_added": "Mon May 18 11:21:50 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 28 22:19:09 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 17 14:55:42 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jun 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 28, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "17347389", "review_id": "c352eba9d737422c11ecfadd1a381c4b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 STARS \n I just want everyone to be happy! Is that such a difficult thing to ask for?", "date_added": "Tue May 12 21:58:38 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 08 02:17:47 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat May 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 37, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "13623817", "review_id": "a607fbba1ba46a8e5f800506e82ecd16", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I am normally not the biggest fan of angel books, but I adored this! It is so innovative and dark; and the post-apocalyptic setting with a mix of sci-fi was fantastic! \n Penryn is officially one of my favorite characters. She can kick anyone's ass any time of day and I just wish I was that awesome. And Raffe, oh Raffe, I love him so much! THAT TOWEL SCENE! AND THE KISS! *fans self* I just love these two together! \n What can I say? I just loved this so much! \n I. Need. The. Next. Book. Now.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 29 16:40:23 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 14 04:58:23 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jun 14 15:41:10 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 35, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "13206900", "review_id": "7641f05e058a3a7a72f002aa1153ff1a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "LOVED IT SO MUCH! \n This was such a fantastic end to a fantastic series! It was everything I could have ever hoped for and now that it's over I'm going to miss all of these characters so much! \n Sidenote: Marissa Meyer hinted that Stars Above is going to have an epilogue with a lot of kissing and I CAN'T FREAKING WAIT!!", "date_added": "Wed Apr 15 17:42:58 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 18 02:28:05 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Nov 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 27, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "18716399", "review_id": "c1a1c09a9136de45e91e252a6635e018", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I marathoned all three books in three days, if that tells you anything. And I pulled an all-nighter to finish this one -- so it's time for me to go to bed. \n PS: I LOVED IT! \n MY LUNAR CHRONICLES DISCUSSION VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZizJB...", "date_added": "Thu Apr 09 22:11:28 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 22 21:45:13 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 44, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "18139931", "review_id": "ed0c0bf8b0920f28ac0f7bffb55f86d3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Solid sequel. Loved it! \n MY LUNAR CHRONICLES DISCUSSION VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZizJB...", "date_added": "Thu Apr 09 00:52:29 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 22 21:45:41 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 17, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "22238158", "review_id": "35993a63c7d8bb2e9916559bc5e9c773", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 STARS \n Fantastic book! The characters were dark, flawed, and twisted. The story was innovative, gripping, and addictive. And the writing -- it was amazing! I loved everything about it. \n PS: I NEED AN EPILOGUE (& a movie!)", "date_added": "Thu Mar 12 18:59:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue May 05 03:51:36 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue May 05 15:27:26 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 31, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "17399160", "review_id": "64d9f91aa0ec5603f5dd049c2957ddf1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Why did my review get erased? I love this book! Everyone read it!", "date_added": "Tue Mar 10 22:46:26 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 18 02:28:04 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "18089977", "review_id": "a7dd652e64acd57eced1df6e030115f0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Well shit...I love Warner. How the fuck did that happen? \n (Sorry about the cursing, but it's definitely necessary.)", "date_added": "Fri Feb 27 23:29:31 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 21 00:12:46 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 108, "n_comments": 8}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "13623150", "review_id": "b8c162459d5da38d15e0f7eb710d6df6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I've never felt so conflicted about a character in my life. Now that I've seen things from Warner's perspective I don't even know what to think. \n He is, I think, by far the most interesting character in the series so far. I'm still not sure if I like him because his possessive obsession with Juliette worries me, but I am so intrigued by him and I'm dying to know how his character develops and grows. \n I can't wait to get my hands on Unravel Me!", "date_added": "Fri Feb 27 19:12:03 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 27 22:19:40 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 11, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "11808950", "review_id": "98c0fb4c18abceee75439d2f67eb3901", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The beginning worried me a bit (I actually considered DNFing) because it comes off a bit juvenile and there were some aspects to the story that I found to be completely unrealistic What mother in her right mind would be 100% okay with letting her SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD daughter travel across the country with a boy she just met who also happens to be part demon...? C'mon! The instant father-daughter relationship was really unrealistic, too, although I did grow to completely love the dad. He's such a cinnamon roll who's posing as a sinammon roll and I love him for it) \n The second half took a completely different turn and I flew through it, even if there were some parts that made me roll my eyes a bit. I am also really intrigued by this world and what is really going on -- especially with that thing at the end. \n Overall, I did enjoy it, and it was really fast-paced (after getting past the cringy beginning) so I definitely plan to continue on with the series...eventually.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 19 23:48:28 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 18 02:28:04 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Dec 03 13:47:18 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 15, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "22489107", "review_id": "7a6b8af250b46eba860dac5de2578ca7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book made me love Levana -- as in \"she's a super interesting character and villain I love to hate\" kind of love -- and I really did not expect that going into the novel. I loved learning her story and what drove her to become the villain of this world. And while I definitely do not think that her actions are forgivable, it was fascinating to see her transformation and her twisted reasoning for her actions. I think she is now one of my favorite villains because there's just so much more to her than meets the eye, and I love that! \n I really enjoyed this and now I'm even more excited to get my hands on Winter! \n ALSO! Let it be officially known, that I refuse to feel sorry for this woman! I understand her tragic backstory, but it -- in my opinion -- in no way justifies all the atrocities she has committed and I am excited to see her downfall in Winter. Had to be said.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 05 23:41:36 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 18 02:28:03 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon May 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon May 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "12954620", "review_id": "06d2323860ab1f5ead1f28dfd0a3c30c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great opening to what I'm hoping will be a fantastic fantasy series! \n The characters were fantastic, flawed, and complex, the world is rich and vast, and there is just so much potential for the remaining books that it makes me so excited for what's to come! \n I did have some problems with it: The instalove was my main issue; it wasn't even so much that the relationship developed instantaneously, it was that it just wasn't developed. It felt a bit awkward and I wasn't happy with it, but it made sense in regards to the rest of the story and what happened, I guess. \n Overall, I really enjoyed this, and I'm definitely going to try to get my hands on the next book as soon as possible!", "date_added": "Wed Feb 04 22:50:56 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 25 21:18:46 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Sep 23 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 24, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "20560137", "review_id": "293895805323d344991384bdf166c0cd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "HOLY. SH!T. \n I seriously did not expect to love this as much as I did, and I may love it even more because of that. This was a wild ride from start to finish! The characters, the world, all the underlying mysteries and secrets -- oh my! I don't know who to trust anymore. I need the next book asap!", "date_added": "Thu Jan 29 20:14:35 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 28 22:18:38 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Mar 31 16:06:24 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 82, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "23411347", "review_id": "ba605bdfa933c67fb295e0ac4ee825cb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm really conflicted about this book because I want to give it a higher rating, but I just can't. There are certain aspects of this that I absolutely LOVED -- as in had me jumping up from my bed in excitement type of love -- but it wasn't enough to push it up there with my favorites. \n What I LOVED: \n The plot twists! Boy, does this book have it's plot twists! I can honestly say I did not expect the majority of those, and I enjoyed being mindblown during those instances. \n The characters were great, for the most part -- not likable per se (some not at all), but they were intriguing to read about. The villain was especially twisted and sick, I thought, and I loved to hate her. \n The writing was great. Even when I was frustrated that the story was going nowhere, I still enjoyed the reading experience (if that makes sense?). Melinda does a fantastic job with ambiance, and I thoroughly enjoyed her writing in that sense. \n What I...didn't...love: \n I mentioned it previously, but I found myself a bit frustrated with the first half of the book. I feel like not much happened in the first half. High fantasy novels obviously need to set up a whole new world, but compared to everything that happened in the second half, I don't know if there was enough of a setup in the beginning for all of the twists and turns at the end. This leads me to my next point: \n It feels like this was trying to tackle and include too many elements in such a relatively short novel. \n The fact that she's supposed to have these powers, but no, wait, she doesn't. So there's no magic in this world? No wait, yes there is! Remember that medallion mentioned really briefly 150 pages ago? Yeah, that's super important now! That fairy tale you thought was merely symbolic and random, turns out it's very literal! And the guy she (and I as a reader) fell in love with is really a total d**k, but you only find that out in the last 10pages! Ugh! \n I really, really wish that this was a longer novel. There were just too many things going on and I wish some of them were better developed. \n ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \n That being said, I think I will read the next book. I was invested enough in the story (and some of those twists) to want to know how the story continues -- especially with this new discovered threat, and I really want to see Twylla develop further. I wanted her to be a lot more badass than she was. \n I'm definitely keeping my fingers crossed for the next one!", "date_added": "Thu Jan 29 15:08:11 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 05 03:25:48 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Mar 05 09:06:35 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "22328546", "review_id": "0798dedfd9b7038f8e7905147ad960a6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "UPDATE: I've been thinking a lot about this book this week, and the more I think about it I don't think it deserves the rating I gave it. It's definitely (at most) a 3 star book for me...maybe 2.5. \n 3.5 STARS \n It was well-written, the characters, and the overall story was entertaining, but it still felt a bit underwhelming for me. I think this is a book that is perhaps better suited for people who do not read a lot of fantasy or dystopian. \n That being said, I still enjoyed it, and I will read the second installment; but it isn't something I'm dying to get my hands on.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 21 20:12:20 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 18 02:28:02 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 26, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "13528340", "review_id": "4c24afa23f215cf34f22a8ce2e005adf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Where do I even begin? \n Daughter of Smoke and Bone is such a great book. The world is so original and the characters are well thought-out. I fell in love with Karou as a character in particular. She is such an unconventional young adult female protagonist - she's essentially the typical outcast in most young adult media (books, movies, etc.) with the blue hair and tattoos, but she is strong-willed, talented, a complete badass (you know I vicariously through badass female characters) and she's likable. If you love strong female characters as much as I do, read this. Seriously. \n I will say, though: the beginning was a tad bit slow for me. I think this is partly due to the fact that a lot of this book serves as to set up this world and its characters. And as much as I loved it, there was just a little something missing - a little oomph - for me to really push it up there. Regardless, I really, really liked it and I am more than excited to continue reading the trilogy.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 08 13:07:26 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 10 13:51:04 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "13047090", "review_id": "07ff3f3666c5689b8bf34cd8c3343dd8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Another great installment to the series. The story is addictive, and I found myself flying through it. \n I'm really looking forward to continuing on with the rest of the books.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 26 00:53:39 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 17 03:01:37 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Feb 17 06:08:33 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Oct 26 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "12578077", "review_id": "d3b205ad6e96b93492007c90ba408640", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It's 2AM right now so I'll keep it short. I LOVED IT! I absolutely loved Kat's character growth, Daemon's asshole-ness and THAT ENDING? PERFECT! I'm definitely looking forward to continuing this series.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 24 11:13:52 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 20 23:48:47 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Oct 25 07:55:56 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Oct 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "16096824", "review_id": "c2bd27f1e743e964792143754b71fb0b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "AMAZING BOOK. It is definitely a new favorite. I loved the retelling aspects, the characters, the world -- even the villain was deliciously evil. I loved it! \n I HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO EVERYONE. (Well...maybe anyone ages 15&up)", "date_added": "Sat Oct 18 20:45:47 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon May 11 22:42:44 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 28, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "13547135", "review_id": "e2915b234706807bab3f246f1618f451", "rating": 5, "review_text": "WHY DID I NOT READ THIS SOONER? \n I have so many questions. SO. MANY. I flew through this book so quickly and I was so engrossed that I didn't even feel the hours fly by. I was so confused and intrigued throughout in the best way possible. The plot is not like anything I've ever read before, the characters, well, I loved them, and I want to pick up the next book as soon as possible (which may be right now even if it is currently 1AM) just to find out what happens. \n PS: Noah may be kinda sorta possibly competing with my favorite bad boy Daemon from the Lux series right now...maybe. \n PPS: I may actually film a review for this. I have so much to say I can't even -- I don't even know.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 03 12:43:08 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 28 22:19:48 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Mar 22 11:59:17 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Mar 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 23, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "7896527", "review_id": "73c955d825b7bba87a11e569fba1e256", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The YA world is in dire need of strong female protagonists -- but I am glad to say that Celaena is one of the few strong females out there who are not only badass, but also likable, flawed, funny and generally awesome. I loved her! \n This definitely feels a bit like a set-up book. You're not going to finish reading this already expecting what is going to happen in the next novels. I feel like Celaena's character is also a mystery at this point. We do hear some of her backstory through other characters and her conversations, but I feel like there is just so much more to her than what Sarah J. Maas let on in this book. I am certainly intrigued and I will definitely continue on with the series. \n P.S.: Chaol. That is all.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 22 14:47:38 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 29 17:12:53 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Sep 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "12127750", "review_id": "68438df4b715b0f12f11fa7f9d637b2e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another fantastic installment in this series. Riordan is such an amazing writer. Not only are his characters well-rounded but the plot is fantastic and enthralling and genuinely funny at times. I absolutely loved it. \n THAT ENDING THOUGH! \n Sorry if this is a little all over the place but this book has left me with a humongous hangover and I need to read the next book NOW. \n Long story short, if you haven't read this series, READ IT. Seriously. \n I'm off to read The House of Hades now.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 03 19:14:29 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 12 23:20:24 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "7736182", "review_id": "bcd5a7bf0542f724284ac15b47321589", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it! The new characters are compelling and totally badass. I am intrigued with this new conflict that has been introduced and I am dying to find out what happened to Percy. I am definitely reading book two asap.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 25 18:10:32 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 28 22:20:10 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jul 28 00:50:57 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "5169728", "review_id": "bd46f3e67c9294c68e1b75fa40772979", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it! Each book just keeps getting better and better. I am more than excited to see how the series concludes!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 07 18:01:42 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 15 00:12:32 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jul 08 00:56:43 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "13722513", "review_id": "a4b864bc0eee9c38879eb55fc7e4961b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "WHY DID I NOT READ THIS BOOK SOONER? WHY? \n I honestly did not expect to like it as much as I do, but it is now officially one of my all-time favorites. \n I'm definitely reading Scarlet right away -- as in right now. \n MY LUNAR CHRONICLES DISCUSSION VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZizJB...", "date_added": "Sun Jul 06 23:26:46 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 28 22:19:33 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 30, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "1581365", "review_id": "6d0e78127d83e8c2db2ff68aa9d09ef1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it! My favorite book in the series so far. It was hilarious and captivating and I loved it! I'm more than excited to finish reading the series.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 06 20:16:11 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 06 23:16:23 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "13455782", "review_id": "fc37f0abf88af7b068e710f6ec8a1f5a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It took me a while to get into this book, but I really ended up enjoying it. The writing is beautiful, but there are certain aspects that take some getting used to (strike-throughs, repetition...) but I liked it. The world is really interesting, and the characters have a lot of potential. I feel like this book was just scratching at the surface of a complicated and compelling world that I definitely want to know more about. \n I'm definitely continuing on with the series.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 06 13:06:47 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 27 02:20:18 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Feb 27 12:17:38 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "8835379", "review_id": "3a4b09f218845782754f3d0de3cf4b78", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Well that was a fun ride! I read this in one sitting for the #rainbowthon 2.0 and I really enjoyed it! \n I definitely feel like this was a great opening and solid setup for the rest of the trilogy; but while it was incredibly fun there was definitely no rising action or climax in the story. It was also a bit predictable (seriously, I saw that twist coming from the prologue) but I love Gwen (and her friendship with Lesley!) so much that that didn't bother me as much as it usually does. I liked figuring things out along with her. The romance (or lack thereof) was also very refreshing...although I do want to see it develop more in the next book because I want to swoon a little bit. Can you really blame me? \n I'm definitely interested in seeing where the story goes and how the time travel and stone system (?) works and the bigger role it plays in the story. Overall, I just really enjoyed this. It was a fun ride.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 05 20:28:13 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 08 03:17:02 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Feb 08 14:58:58 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 36, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "8475505", "review_id": "09a9766cbe7059ac3a339f7fce6cb76c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 STARS \n VIDEO REVIEW: http://youtu.be/9ZXw5sKZ_KQ \n This was the perfect book to read for my reading slump. Harper is such a funny character, and the writing in general was pretty hilarious. I really enjoyed the story, the characters, the character development, basically everything. This was just what I needed right now. \n I did have some small issues with it, but I'm overlooking most of them because I just really enjoyed reading it, and sometimes that's all that matters. \n (I picked it up last night planning to read about 30 pages -- it is now 5:45AM and I just finished the book so...I should probably sleep now.)", "date_added": "Fri Jul 04 11:22:05 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 17 18:00:22 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "60510", "review_id": "3d004b04edbcc7669f04607e7a9b4e3e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is just what I needed to get out of this dreadful slump! Great characters, amazing character development (Yelena is a new favorite), excellent world building, and just a generally solid high fantasy novel! I really enjoyed it! \n My one complaint is that I do wish that the novel was a tiny bit longer because it did feel a bit rushed towards the end -- especially that ending!! But I'm interested to see how the rest of the series will develop especially now that Yelena is forced to leave Ixia. \n ALSO, what the eff is up with the Commander? I can't be the only one who thinks he's a total ungrateful asshole, right? I need character development and better explanations for his actions in the next book because WHAT THE EFF WAS THAT???!!", "date_added": "Tue Jul 01 02:59:10 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 18 02:28:00 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Aug 05 15:41:06 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 25, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "13449693", "review_id": "611e346b0e2db8fab3ac37c5994fa465", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5 STARS \n Such a fantastic book with such a unique concept and great characters! Each character is so well-done and easily distinguishable from the others. You fall in love with them all and it is very easy to understand them (even if I didn't necessarily agree with them sometimes). Seriously, I highly recommend this book just for the characters alone! \n It did take a bit for me to get really into it (about 50 pages or so), but once I got into it, I just didn't want to put it down! \n This definitely feels like a set-up book -- there's so much that is hinted at in the story that doesn't get resolved and there is definitely a larger narrative arc that is established -- but the book itself still felt complete, for the most part. I do think that the ending was a bit too rushed, and the cliffhanger was perhaps a bit too abrupt, but it totally made me want to read The Dream Thieves asap, so, hey, I guess it worked!", "date_added": "Mon Jun 30 00:02:55 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 27 12:09:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 11, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "17167166", "review_id": "a426001c8d1b3d579bbe7421bb2eb142", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book toyed around with my emotions and I didn't like that one bit -- oh, who am I kidding! -- I loved it. Completely loved it. I now love Chaol more than ever and I am terrified but also so excited to pick up Heir of Fire soon.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 29 14:34:21 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 30 00:53:17 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Mar 30 14:16:10 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 14, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "9680718", "review_id": "df92a2cb5fa3f59f762393f9aff208f6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this. It was definitely the fun, fast-paced read that I needed right now. I'm definitely planning to continue on with the series eventually. \n Also, Jennifer really knows how to write some swoon-worthy characters because Aiden! Oh my! \n There were some \"slut\" shaming comments sprinkled throughout that made me roll my eyes a bit, but I have higher hopes for that to improve in the next books.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 29 14:19:50 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 27 16:57:13 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Nov 23 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 21, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "17428644", "review_id": "5cea9c08f024ef185904693f335da46d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 STARS \n THIS BOOK. WHERE DO I EVEN START WITH THIS BOOK? \n I loved it! I loved the characters, the world was interesting, the villain is a nasty little piece of s**t and I need him to suffer! A LOT!! \n The only reason I didn't give this a five star rating is because there was something that happened towards the end that I have reservations about. If you've read this book you probably know what I'm talking about. I don't know how I feel about it. I still don't know if it was really necessary, or if it was handled in the best way. My mind seems to be polarized on this issue, so I had to knock it down half a star at least because of that, and I definitely need a little time to think about it more and process it. \n That being said, this is still a definite new favorite and I really need Never Fade NOW. I need to know that these characters are going to be okay!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 25 03:55:01 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 28 22:19:19 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 10 16:35:15 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 28, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "18660669", "review_id": "4fbc2d71a9d1d8f6cc830a2bba1ed0ab", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved Rose as a character. Yes, she was a bit over-the-top at times, and the story isn't without flaws, but I just really enjoyed seeing a strong female character as the main character for once. Also, it was nice to read a story that focused more on a friendship rather than a relationship or love triangle/rectangle or some other shape (although, I admit, I personally wouldn't have minded a little more of Damitri). \n The mixed reviews on this series kept me away for years, but I am glad I decided to give it a chance. If you are looking for a fun and easy summer read, I definitely recommend at least giving this a chance. \n Looking forward to the rest of the series!", "date_added": "Tue Mar 18 23:47:23 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 18 02:28:00 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jun 18 00:58:43 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "17406279", "review_id": "9c306d95e5b3215fb3e8eeb1e91dad68", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I found it really hard to get into the story. I did like Tana as a character, but even that didn't make me want to finish this. I might pick this up again at some point, but not for now.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 07 15:55:34 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 03 12:34:09 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "2294528", "review_id": "f8daa9c818f51b4b34b7ba3f691ab0d2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.75 STARS \n This was absolutely delightful and enchanting! \n Howl's Moving Castle is one of my favorite films of all time, and for years I've put off reading this because I feared that it just wouldn't live up to my expectations. It definitely wasn't what I expected, but I loved it nonetheless. It was lovely and whimsical and felt very much like a fairytale. \n If you're a fan of the Miyazaki film and are expecting this to be like it, don't. It's really not. You can definitely see a lot of similarities, but the film definitely feels like a loose interpretation of the source material. It's still lovely though, and I seriously couldn't recommend it enough! \n (The story did feel a little slow at times and the ending felt rushed so I lowered its rating a tiny bit.)", "date_added": "Tue Apr 02 20:12:23 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 30 04:07:34 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jul 30 12:31:37 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jul 29 12:50:08 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 14, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "305234", "review_id": "cd4cf37dc952b534d7137935a54e146b", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I just couldn't get through this. I picked it up at a used book store and decided to take a chance and buy it because of the beautiful cover. However, the story disappointed me. It got to the point where I just couldn't bring myself to even try to pick this up and finish it. Beautiful cover, lackluster storyline.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 15 21:21:39 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 03 12:34:15 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "5287473", "review_id": "aa31ddef58aa1e70bc760ebf327d8c50", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was such a pleasant surprise! I'd been a bit hesitant to pick this up even though it's been sitting on my shelf for months, but boy do I wish I'd picked this up sooner! \n With this, Rachel Hawkins is becoming one of my go-to authors for fast-paced stories with likable and snarky characters. I'm looking forward to continuing this trilogy. \n ALSO, HOLY PLOT TWIST I DID NOT SEE SO MUCH OF THAT COMING!", "date_added": "Fri Feb 15 21:21:08 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 19 03:42:11 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Feb 19 10:41:32 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "17347382", "review_id": "037803c550ccf2c24804ce25c06bd0c2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I JUST LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 13:31:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 12 22:49:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Dec 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 20, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "aeefbd4660a2e270ab6ab6adc11c14a4", "book_id": "121121", "review_id": "0221f8077b492db46f10da639fc09441", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This will always be a favorite and I'll never get tired of rereading it.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 13:31:50 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 14 00:44:57 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Aug 14 14:42:07 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 43, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4111276e817af3be6d368543f9382a3f", "book_id": "223380", "review_id": "19b0325ffa7830383daf04c3b2fa2fd9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This one is a masterpiece of story telling. Most entertaining book I've read all year. \n The stories I liked were: \n - Tower of Babylon \n - Story of your life \n - Hell is the Absence of God \n - Liking What You See", "date_added": "Tue Aug 16 17:36:55 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 08 13:51:36 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Oct 08 13:51:36 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2620d12f1eea80a8a3c4a9b3341a70a5", "book_id": "18161676", "review_id": "8819d594f1e3cc22e14c07841e482459", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Best one I've written so far. :)", "date_added": "Thu Jul 04 10:09:58 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 04 10:10:12 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2620d12f1eea80a8a3c4a9b3341a70a5", "book_id": "12432220", "review_id": "d3ca666dd61182df2d5df1db4dfe066f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book is entirely too predictable. I always give a book at least 50+ pages to sort of set up the world, get some character background in, set the plot in motion, etc. and the book does that well. But I could predict every single thing that would happen after that. In fact, it was so predictable that I skipped to the last two chapters (from chapter nine, mind you) and followed the ending perfectly well. \n The writing style flows pretty easy, which is why I gave it two stars, but other than that this book isn't worth the reading time.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 14:03:44 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 17 10:30:44 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jun 17 10:30:44 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "892326", "review_id": "7b417a11808eb5647a73a99cc80aadda", "rating": 5, "review_text": "<3<3<3<3", "date_added": "Sat Aug 19 03:25:48 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 24 12:10:16 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Aug 19 03:26:24 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "12281480", "review_id": "59f2d8bea9f6bd7e3e4d1544e97e2e25", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Tres tres tres bonne romance dystopique /paranormale ! L'univers est tres interessant, tres bien pense, tres bien presente. Les personnages sont attachants, les scenes de rapprochement sont juste hot comme il faut, c'est fluide, c'est divertissant, c'est loin d'etre simpliste bref j'ai braiment beaucoup aime cette lecture !", "date_added": "Sun Jan 22 15:16:01 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 22 15:18:35 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jan 21 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "23429788", "review_id": "a0adcde6572093d9d4380415742b6d18", "rating": 1, "review_text": "l'heroine est insupportable, j'abandonne cette histoire qui ne mene a rien.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 28 14:06:08 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 28 14:41:58 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Dec 28 14:41:58 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "18801626", "review_id": "62b9ea1fd3936f3e0374e58a67c6166f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Mouais mouais j'ai mis un 3 parce que je n'ai pas deteste ma lecture, mais bon c'est une pale copie du premier tome, sans vraiment de trame de fou... les deux personnages sont attachants mais le schema et leur caractere (2 dominants) etaient le meme que pour Trey et Taryn du coup bah les memes scenes, les memes envies, les memes expressions... une deception", "date_added": "Sun Dec 25 17:49:12 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 28 14:40:05 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "10379849", "review_id": "c0a06bf485068ba590d272ddf3950a03", "rating": 3, "review_text": "interessant, trop long, ecriture somme toute banale mais personnages principaux attachants", "date_added": "Mon Sep 19 18:18:14 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 19 18:19:40 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Sep 20 18:19:40 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "16096181", "review_id": "452e63fa32edf795dc7cce82c03a9138", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.75 Je ne suis pas fan du cote \"possessivite\" etc. dans les trames romantiques qui reviennent malheureusement trop souvent, mais malgre ca c'est un roman dans le genre paranormal romance efficace, divertissant et chaud bouillant. La romance prend une grande part de l'histoire et ca va assez vite, mais ca reste tout a fait coherent et bien alimente par des personnages secondaire et une trame de fond interessants ! C'est ce que je recherchais dans ce bouquin !", "date_added": "Sun Feb 14 07:10:19 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 14 07:17:39 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Feb 14 07:17:39 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "12693744", "review_id": "175eeca8c6b693a58be6a6663796ae48", "rating": 3, "review_text": "c'etait tellement bien, certains passages etaient intenses, mais c'etait beaucoup trop long !", "date_added": "Sat Jan 30 17:28:55 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 30 17:30:17 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "8370276", "review_id": "352efede260dfe0207bacf18810f926e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Cette fin n'est pas reglo Karen....!!!!!!!!!!!!", "date_added": "Mon Jan 25 13:33:39 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 26 11:00:04 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jan 26 11:00:04 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "7947385", "review_id": "1e3ba678d7b8bfebccf67b0d2f9db684", "rating": 3, "review_text": "not the best of the saga... but still interesting", "date_added": "Tue Oct 27 18:43:45 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 27 18:44:32 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "6950175", "review_id": "5a2d0fdf875fa939d007594a71fd7538", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5", "date_added": "Wed Oct 21 17:13:45 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 21 17:14:10 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "6525824", "review_id": "6da2818eaa2deccfdabe2dbf9b1f82a7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It is a really simple, intriguing and interesting way to introduce a complexe saga !!! I really really likes this book !", "date_added": "Tue Oct 20 19:21:27 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 20 19:24:39 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "24702679", "review_id": "67127c51fead936bce0219242fb5a4dd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Deuxieme tome toujours aussi passionnant ! \n Meg & Simon sont Adorables !", "date_added": "Sun Jun 14 10:05:10 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 14 10:07:01 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jun 14 10:07:01 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "20623330", "review_id": "19cecd7707c1d1f725e69f5eacdbfb10", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Histoire super interessante, personnages tres attachants, univers extremement bien developpe ! je ne me suis pas ennuyee une seule seconde, c'est stimulant du debut a la fin ! enorme moment de lecture ! J'ai adore !", "date_added": "Fri Jun 12 06:29:05 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 12 06:37:11 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jun 12 06:37:11 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "13604139", "review_id": "1fbcf29c8ddfe9b521b5e8116443825f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "J'ai adore Charley ! Sa personnalite est geniale drole, sarcastique, feminine ! c'est un plaisir de suivre quelqu'un comme elle ! Le mystere derriere Reyes etait vraiment haletant ! Tous les personnages sont tres interessants ! Par contre il y a quelque points qui m'ont chiffoner,1. l'enquete principale ne m'a pas du tout passionnee.2. Charley nous parle d'evenements de son enfance et y revient a plusieurs reprise pour a chaque fois y ajouter des details, et disons que j'aurais prefere que ces elements la nous soient presente autrement parce que a force d'evoquer chaque fois la meme histoire ca devient redondant... Ces deux aspects m'ont fait sembler la lecture un peu trop longue ! Mais j'ai bien aime tout le reste vraiment ! les personnages sont au top ! l'histoire un peu mythologique fantastique derriere est vraiment innovante, epoustouflante ! & the sexy times gosh the sexy times !!!! c'est avec plaisir que je lirais le prochain tome !", "date_added": "Wed Nov 19 06:22:57 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 21 16:16:28 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Nov 21 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "15713838", "review_id": "cd30ec40cb986c44bbbb1521a174cfd0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars \n Bonne romance paranormale, haletante, mais meilleure au debut qu'a la fin. L'aspect romance avait de tres bon aspects mais ne m'a pas totalement convaincue... comme toujours dans ce genre de bouquin tout se passe bien trop vite... Neanmoins j'ai trouve ce livre tres divertissant et ca m'a gentille-ment reconcilier avec un genre, la bit-lit que je ne croyais pas pouvoir encore apprecier. J'ai aime le style de l'auteur.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 17 17:37:57 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 17 17:45:50 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Nov 18 17:45:50 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "3205612", "review_id": "36f631a7dd5d8613308469f0dd88d439", "rating": 3, "review_text": "entre 2.5 et 3: avant 220 pages rien de palpitant ne se passe, l'ecriture est trop simple, style trop jeunesse peut etre ? Je ne sais pas mais je n'ai pas ete emballee.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 02 17:48:31 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 13 04:59:57 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Oct 13 14:57:24 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "13206828", "review_id": "b59560d881dbc823519d803071f0fbb6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "trop de longueur malheureusement", "date_added": "Wed Aug 27 09:05:01 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 05 17:51:43 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Sep 06 17:51:43 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "15833278", "review_id": "b7d2d8f211455fcb79e2e3dcbea4360b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5", "date_added": "Sun Aug 10 19:25:50 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 15 10:00:13 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Aug 15 10:00:13 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "14756691", "review_id": "a1d5705758a1e4928de4d9292f2ee9d5", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Meghan est un des personnages de roman les plus stupide que j'ai jamais lu.... sachant que c'est l'heroine, ca ne m'a pas aide a apprecier l'histoire qui s'inspire de Songe d'une nuit d'ete de Shakespeare ainsi que d'Alice au pays des merveilles de Lewis Carol, deux classiques que je ne porte pas particulierement dans mon coeur... combo de choc ! XD \n Tres tres decue par ce roman.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 30 17:37:48 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 03 18:34:35 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "35729", "review_id": "7cd371bdd710eabb91a1588df38992a1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3,5 l'histoire de Rhage etait interessante, mais trop de sexe", "date_added": "Sun May 12 10:02:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun May 19 13:05:50 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun May 19 13:05:50 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun May 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "7896654", "review_id": "6fb3fbd1438b00da6ea48adb4e3f7725", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3,5 lecture sympathique qui me donne envie d'en decouvrir d'avantages dans les prochains tomes :)", "date_added": "Mon Apr 22 15:35:26 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri May 10 15:01:50 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri May 10 15:01:50 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri May 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "6287607", "review_id": "848f63ae2f3cb6492d5e113c7ef525dd", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Ma chronique en francais: (les fans de la saga s'abstenir, ce tome ne m'a pas plus du tout! ) mes dernieres lectures", "date_added": "Thu Feb 21 13:06:53 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 13 23:41:42 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Feb 27 08:45:55 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "15779387", "review_id": "f21f192bd81366a54444be702a3e17ca", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Nouvelle tres courte, mais qui nous fait rentrer dans l'histoire et nous donne envie d'enchainer avec le livre, le tome 1 sur le champ ! :)", "date_added": "Sun Dec 09 04:28:46 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 09 06:19:50 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Dec 09 06:19:50 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sun Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "2168860", "review_id": "58929c12339382b492d72f9697e47322", "rating": 2, "review_text": "J'ai enfin fini!!! ce livre etait bien ecrit, se lisait facilement, mais je ne suis a aucun moment rentrer dans l'histoire, ou me suis attache aux personnages ! ...Dommage", "date_added": "Sat Nov 10 17:31:16 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 17 08:14:15 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Nov 17 08:14:15 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sat Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "b782ab7a2cb37a771a68cf4f03951bad", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Il s'agit plus un 3.75 qu'un 4, mais ce fut une agreable lecture, bien que trop courte a mon gout...", "date_added": "Thu Nov 08 02:59:12 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 26 16:16:44 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Aug 26 16:16:44 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "13722208", "review_id": "09b9402f920e03297f9f9866b0f63b13", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 :) Un tres bon livre, avec beaucoup de points positifs, une tres belle ecriture, un monde tres bien developpe et imagine, mais j'ai eu du mal a m'attacher a certains personnages (Jost par exemple...), plus de description que d'action ce qui est un bon et un mauvais point en meme temps, bonne fin ,mais je n'ai pas ete transportee, j'en attendais peut etre plus, trop. J'attends la suite !", "date_added": "Wed Nov 07 11:01:54 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 26 12:03:05 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Nov 26 12:03:05 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Wed Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "32a08b012b30025eeadedafefa379150", "book_id": "15749124", "review_id": "09471d9959ba0ea6ffd2b3610b5f8283", "rating": 2, "review_text": "too quick... not that interesting...", "date_added": "Sat Nov 03 13:04:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 07 11:00:52 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Nov 07 11:00:52 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sun Nov 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c8f9b0d5d1e03d6dac9eb215163a739a", "book_id": "25785357", "review_id": "0477486c4b55dcd8c4a6eefd93ae8b12", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Rating 2.5", "date_added": "Sat Jan 16 16:18:48 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 31 10:44:42 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jan 16 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c8f9b0d5d1e03d6dac9eb215163a739a", "book_id": "22824819", "review_id": "3d0e2a1779e3403c559bdf2e6abea202", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Purchased as a e-book \n Kalli is a muse. An immortal goddess who inspires artists to reach epic creativity. While most gods and goddesses have chosen to withdraw from the mortal world, Kalli and her estranged sisters must remain in the mortal world as their only way of survival. \n After centuries and centuries of moving from one artist to another inspiring them and their work, Kalli is tired of lying and hiding who she really is and is scared how much her inspiration influences the artists she's with. \n Wilder Bell has had his whole world turned upside down in the last couple of years and while he readjusts to take care of his mum and sister he meets Kalli at a grocery store and cannot get her off his mind, like an obsession- a fate string that constantly pulls them to each other. While Wilder attempts to understand Kalli and her secrets, he makes her yearn for something she has never been able to have, someone she can spend her life with, to grow old together- a human relationship. \n To be whole, all must first be lost \n When I first saw the cover I was so intrigued, the description fascinated me even more since I love books with a mix of mythology. Told in modern Austin, into dual viewpoints of Wilder college student and Kalliope or Kalli as she prefers-immortal muse posing as a student. Lately I have really enjoyed dual viewpoints and Inspire is not different. A lot more details of the storyline are revealed when we get inside both main characters. The pacing of the story was slow which fit for this book, although there were a couple of times the pacing was really slow and too much detail was given in a scene. While the romance was somewhat quick and there were moments that seemed a little too desperate, it felt with the mythology aspect of something greater pushing them together. \n While Kalli was a deeper, more darker character with a rich history and hidden secrets, Wilder was by far my favourite character, his backstory, his commitment to his family and to Kalli were just so cute. His pursuit, and good guy nature make him such a likeable character. \n Cora's paranormal contemporary book is both light and very funny and very swoon-worthy and while the cliffhanger left me wanting book 2 right that moment- I even begged her, I really enjoyed the book and got me more into NA titles", "date_added": "Thu Jan 01 12:06:37 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 12 13:40:21 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jan 07 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c8f9b0d5d1e03d6dac9eb215163a739a", "book_id": "16067008", "review_id": "76ec43bd4ebe653dfaae9dd92d35e0d3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "review to be posted", "date_added": "Sun Nov 30 18:03:20 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 03 13:57:33 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Feb 03 13:57:33 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c8f9b0d5d1e03d6dac9eb215163a739a", "book_id": "22755233", "review_id": "0a5042fab2b88a5661ef1362d3e544ac", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I received this ebook in exchange for an honest review. \n Embers is a captivating supernatural and paranormal adventure about a seventeen year old girl Ember who is forced to live with a family friend Aunt Ila, after her parents are both killed in a fiery accident that she survives and her brother is no longer able to protect her from the aggression of her aunt and uncle. \n When Ember arrives in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, she finds out that she is a Watcher, a descendent of angels with magical abilities stemming from the elements. While learning her abilities and the new world of the battle between good and evil, she discovers that the evil may be closer than she imagined in the neighboring compound. Fighting to protect the town and her new friends, Ember discovers she will have to trust fate and stand for humankind in the coming prophesized rapture. \n I have never read Karen Ann Hopkins, although I have wanted to read her Temptation series. So when I saw this beautiful cover, I really wanted to read the book, even without reading the synopsis. \n Ember is broken into dual viewpoints of Ember to newly discovered Watcher and Sawyer resident in the neighboring compound. I think this works well for this story as you really get to see what other characters are thinking about as well as got to see a much larger picture of the events. Although the story was not fast-paced, the slower pace did justice to detail Ember's new world and the rich history of her descendants. I liked the added budding romance as it was light to not interfere too much into the main conflict or become the main point of the story, but it did have enough to create the want for more. \n Ember the protagonist, was a very likeable character and felt very true to her traits, you got the feeling when she felt out of place in a situation or naive in certain situations. It was enjoyable to see her character arc as she not only discovered and tested her new abilities but her own inner strengths and morals. Sawyer was that great element of conflict for Ember, questioning good and evil and that larger area of grey many question. We get small snippets of his deep dark history and past, although I wish there was a little more in Sawyer's story, I hope to see more in the series and what role it might play in Ember's journey and the overall story \n I think Ila was my favourite character she strong willed personality paired with her blunt, straight forward speech made her a force to be reckoned with, which she proved many times during the story. There were times while reading I would question her motives and wanted to keep reading to see where they would lead. \n Hopkins' well-paced, bible versed chapters slowly draws the reader into the history of angels and their earth descendants and the desire for more.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 29 16:36:32 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 05 12:12:20 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Nov 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c8f9b0d5d1e03d6dac9eb215163a739a", "book_id": "18966819", "review_id": "09d73dafbfdc490f2e28574f14970284", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved this book, it definitely did not fall into the dreaded second book syndrome. \n It's so difficult to put how amazing this book into words. I may attempt this again when I re-read it again.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 19 19:58:59 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 18 19:57:22 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Nov 23 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c8f9b0d5d1e03d6dac9eb215163a739a", "book_id": "15775534", "review_id": "679561094d3eed5bb2fad0d5ba363fb3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Sammy Feral thought he was a normal twelve year old boy, with a pretty ordinary family that own a zoo. \n Except one day he comes home to find his family murdered. Chronicling his crazy life using the Feral Scale of Weirdness after he learns his family has been infected with the Were virus. \n Teamed up with the dynamic duo Donny and Red \"cryptozoologist\" Sammy must race against the clock before the next full moon to find a cure for the were virus and save the zoo from the evil Professor. \n A witty, quick-paced middle grade read, Hawken's diary style writing will appeal to fans of the Wimpy Kids series. Sammy and co provide an action packed adventure any tween would be envious of. \n Read for Tween BookClub I Host and local bookstore", "date_added": "Mon Mar 17 12:13:51 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 19 19:44:28 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Mar 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c8f9b0d5d1e03d6dac9eb215163a739a", "book_id": "13515095", "review_id": "67d7e8a9c4db6ac6e964db5e8cfc0367", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I am so sad to finish this Series, but I loved this book, the background stories of the characters Hera, Aphrodite, Persephone, Hermes and Hades which connected little details from the series and gave the bigger picture. It also explained how some of them found their \"modern\" names", "date_added": "Mon Dec 30 10:45:09 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 30 10:49:12 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Dec 30 10:49:12 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Dec 30 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c8f9b0d5d1e03d6dac9eb215163a739a", "book_id": "17334538", "review_id": "4a0465a72c9cc4e95a3b73f51871b5cc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I received this as an eARC from the publisher for an honest review \n Ever wonder what may have happened if you had chosen the other option? \n Delancy is a Walker, a genetic ability everyone in her family has where they manipulate the strings of the universe to visit alternate universes of the choices we make- or Echoes. Walkers monitor the vibrations of Echoes checking for instabilities and cleaving out the loose or broken threads. \n But when novice Del begins to walk alone in the Echoes, she discovers the consort is hiding a truth; and must figure out why she constantly she's her crush Simon in these alternates. \n While it has been a little bit (6 months) since I read this book, my mind is a bit foggy on the specifics, but I do remember I was first attracted to the book based on the art on the front and the book description just sealed the deal that I needed to get my hands on this book. O'Rouke was amazing at story building and world building, so much so I really started believing in Echoes for the choices I have made- you could clearly see there was a thought of thought process and creativity in her work. Of course there were moments where I had to start writing down the concepts to fully understand it all as it became a little confusing, but do not let that dissuade as it's a very well devised, plot twisting novel. \n I didn't particularly have a favourite character, Del was definitely the rebellious teen who wanted to test her limits regardless of the consequences of which she got caught in a few. Simon wasn't anything spectacular either, in the beginning he seemed pretty boring, but was definitely the character to push Del along in the plot, and he did grow on me near the end, especially as more of him was revealed. I loved Del's grandpa, you could see where she got her rebellious behaviour from and their conversations were often easy going and funny. Just in the end, I really didn't understand his character and got frustrated with what happened to him and what he did. \n Of course we are left with a huge cliffhanger and a lot of opportunities to further develop on Del uncovering the truth the consort is hiding and Simon's part in all of this. Definitely a recommended read for those of Crewel, one of the other reasons I wanted to pick up this book. I may just have to read this again before the sequel comes out to refresh my memory.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 24 07:54:49 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 18 19:51:40 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c8f9b0d5d1e03d6dac9eb215163a739a", "book_id": "17262384", "review_id": "98441a9967dea0e33dccf23b32f700ca", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Omg so emotionally beautiful writing and so unexpected from the cover and synopsis", "date_added": "Thu Oct 24 18:49:14 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 03 19:29:26 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Oct 24 18:52:36 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Oct 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c8f9b0d5d1e03d6dac9eb215163a739a", "book_id": "13043180", "review_id": "6f379c264308be1274c4c5b875a9aea7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It was a bit of a slow start... but the end made me tear a little, oh how can the book end like that?!?!?", "date_added": "Sun Aug 19 23:52:05 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 29 19:26:08 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 29 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "31847104", "review_id": "c275aa23014ec8d04d8a55158e4c342d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It is 2017, I am 25 years old and I call myself an absolute book lover; yet I only just read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (for the first time!). I felt like I just couldn't postpone it any longer... and I'm happy I didn't. \n This book was hilarious and a lot of the times made no sense at all. A quick, fun and light read, and I absolutely loved Marvin; the Paranoid depressed Android. Written in 1979 and a true modern scifi classic nowadays, it has made its mark; and now I finally found the answer to the question of life, the universe and everything, a reference that already passed me by millions of times. \n \"This planet has - or rather had - a problem, which was this: most of the people living on it were unhappy for pretty much of the time. Many solutions were suggested for this problem, but most of these were largely concerned with the movement of small green pieces of paper, which was odd because on the whole it wasn't the small green pieces of paper that were unhappy.\"", "date_added": "Sat Sep 30 15:03:38 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 10 09:53:11 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Oct 06 11:18:59 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Oct 06 07:29:37 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "17910164", "review_id": "228d79fcb0f8a1912b8ccc390a053a82", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is written as if the first memoir from Lady Trent, a Victorian woman with the will to strive above that what is expected (and desired) of her. She has an obsession for dragons and she takes you along her first adventure and experience with the creatures. I really enjoyed this book; it was an easy read, but fun and very original. Definitely hooked on this series (since I've seen there are quite some sequels already out there). \n \"But coming to terms with one's sorrow is one thing; sharing it with strangers is quite another.\"", "date_added": "Sun Sep 03 01:49:41 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 28 09:22:57 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 28 09:22:57 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "32063288", "review_id": "7d72c18036265ae578c20bee061734d5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I loved the concept behind this story; it's a very original and relevant horror story, something you don't come across that often. The fact that it takes place in a Dutch village (I'm not sure if that's also the case for the English translations though, I read somewhere the location was changed to an American village for those? which I would find ridiculous but hey, that's me) just made it all the more relatable and realistic for me. \n The idea of a 17th century witch, still living in this day and age in a modern village, is just quite interesting. Definitely when the entire village is actually aware of the witch and just live their lives around her. To be honest, I liked this idea more than when the story actually started getting \"scary\". It just didn't scare me that much. I did really love the last chapter (which I read was added when the book got more internationally popular); it really left me with a hollow and spooky vibe.", "date_added": "Fri May 19 08:33:12 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 03 07:36:53 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri May 19 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "33290550", "review_id": "2c5e84066f39aa91ddd6b59c0d61e053", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"The Norse myths are the myths of a chilly place, with long, long winter nights and endless summer days, myths of a people who did not entirely trust or even like their gods, although they respected and feared them.\" \n I love mythology, but actually only really know the Greek myths and stories. So when I noticed Neil Gaiman (of whom I've never read anything, but only heard great things) recently wrote a book about Norse Mythology, I was quite excited. And rightfully so. \n In Norse Mythology you dive into the world of Asgard, including brace, strong and sometimes dumb Thor, cleaver and sneaky Loki and all father Odin. I really enjoyed reading these stories, learning more about the Norse Gods, and the writing style was very entertaining and easy. Great read! \n \"On the day the Gjallerhorn is blown, it will wake the gods, no matter where they are, no matter how deeply they sleep. \n Heimdall will blow Gjallerhorn only once, at the end of all things, Ragnarok.\"", "date_added": "Wed Mar 01 04:12:48 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 05 08:36:38 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Mar 05 10:12:27 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "32493793", "review_id": "5d0c600b533777ff5f2126ad4b5d7102", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children really surprised me! Very late to the party, but the synopsis of this series never interested me enough to start the books. Last week I received this book (with the movie cover; personally I would never buy a book with the movie adaptation cover, but in this case I kind of love it, the cover is great) and started it that same night. I was hooked immediately. Definitely quite young adult and the writing style wasn't particularly remarkable, but I just loved the mystery and originality. I also loved the way the pictures were intertwined in the story; sometimes it felt kind of forced, but in general I found it a great addition and expansion of the reading experience. Conclusion: surprisingly fun read and very addicting. \n \"Stars, too, were time travelers. How many of those ancient points of light were the last echoes of suns now dead? How many had been born but their light not yet come this far? If all the suns but ours collapsed tonight, how many lifetimes would it take us to realize we were alone? I had always known the sky was full of mysteries--but not until now had I realized how full of them the earth was.\"", "date_added": "Sat Nov 19 16:50:32 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 23 14:50:05 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Nov 23 15:35:51 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Nov 21 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "31538635", "review_id": "2d6e49b0f725d225580b9e67156f1ce6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Really enjoyed this! Every piece of magic created by Rowling herself in any way connected to the Harry Potter-world is a way to make me happy! Also, I rarely visited Pottermore, so most of these stories were new to me! This is the second e-book from the three Pottermore releases I've read; now only \"Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide\" is left.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 31 01:05:51 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 25 10:27:24 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Sep 12 14:18:59 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 13, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "31538614", "review_id": "fdf416965f177a61e9dd288cec4a07d5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Really enjoyed this! Every piece of magic created by Rowling herself in any way connected to the Harry Potter-world is a way to make me happy! Also, I rarely visited Pottermore, so most of these stories were new to me! Excited to read the other two ebooks!", "date_added": "Wed Aug 31 01:04:56 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 25 10:27:41 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Sep 07 12:54:30 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Sep 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "31315146", "review_id": "6b959bfc85d6f9003a5533d3d6a59c36", "rating": 3, "review_text": "When I read the synopsis for Stuck In The Game, I was immediately interested. It strongly reminded me of Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, if only because the story takes place in a Virtual Reality World, and Ready Player One happened to be one of my favorite books of 2015. So no surprise I was excited to read it. \n First of, before I start raving about this story (because yes, I loved it); this is not another Ready Player One. The story line is completely different. Seventeen-year old Noah experiences a terrifying car crash with his girlfriend and ends up in a coma. In a world where playing virtual reality games that feel very real indeed, is very popular, it is suggested his brain gets connected to the Dream Engine; a virtual reality helmet that enables his mind to enter a fantasy game. This way, via the game he can communicate with others and his mind is trained. Only one flaw; if he dies in the game, he will probably die in real life, because his mind won't be able to handle it. \n One of the things I loved about this book, was how soon I got hooked to the story. Normally I need some chapters to actually get into a book, but with Stuck In The Game I was addicted from page 1. I loved the idea of the main character continuously playing a game and the challenges, battles, skill building and exciting environments that come with it. I love playing games, so this definitely spoke to me, but I think it would be fun for most fantasy readers. I also loved how Noah meets with new and old friends in the virtual world. Finally, the plot twist came as a huge surprise. When the \"end chapters\" started I was kind of apprehensive; was this really how this book was going to end? But when it all went down it seemed logic after all. \n I really enjoyed this book. The only reason I didn't gave it four stars (although I might change my rating to four stars later after all), was because sometimes the book felt a little young for me. I received a copy of Stuck in the Game from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review, which I'm very grateful for.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 02 08:54:50 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 15 12:39:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "23766634", "review_id": "5b7e379d6280b76d1fb2a7df6fdcc5fb", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I can't believe I only gave this 2 stars... I absolutely loved the first two books in this trilogy; yes they had there flaws and were absolutely not the best pieces of literature out there, but they were se addicting! I loved them. \n This one on the other hand just couldn't grab name; most of the storyline was almost boring to me, completely not logic and my God, the sex scenes between Rhys and Feyre,,, cringe worthy (and I can enjoy a good sex scene). Nope. I might give this one a go again in the future.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 28 06:37:04 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 23 12:09:47 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Aug 23 12:09:47 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "23666139", "review_id": "3e0974f3cb067809e5f7dbb3798cc03a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Second time reading this; I wrote a review for a different edition the first time (if you're curious, you can still read that) yet I just noticed I surprisingly gave it 4 stars that time. Apparently I'm influenced by my own already existing enthusiasm right now, giving it that extra star", "date_added": "Tue Jun 07 10:21:27 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 25 10:27:20 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "29868294", "review_id": "ddcb17478d96a6f18d8f47bf2d44e900", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Somewhere between two and three stars. Not a bad story; it was really creative and original, and pretty quick paced. Yet it just wasn't for me and I had trouble keeping interest. Still, I'm quite curious how the series will continue.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 01 05:14:22 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 10 11:02:16 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jun 27 15:07:35 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "17347380", "review_id": "916d81467516c75ae81975b266b878c9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I always say Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is my favorite Harry Potter book, but in fact, the last four books are all my favorites. The red thread (is that even a saying in English, or am I just translating this Dutch phrase too literally?) of the entire series and the way Rowling thought ahead comes through greatly, the characters are developed deeply and beautifully and the entire atmosphere is just much more grim and intense; just the way I like it. \n The sixth book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, reintroduces Harry's stubbornness, in the form of his addiction to the book of the Half-Blood Prince. In addition, his obsession with his parents comes to the surface again; in book three he already thought his father conjured a Patronus to save him (which actually was his own Patronus), now he is convinced the mysterious book is written by the young James. I really liked the peek into \"the real world\"; this book starts with the prime minister of the British Muggles, being informed about the terrifying situation in the wizard world, which is now also influencing the Muggle world. You are reminded that in fact, there is no such thing as \"two worlds\"; everything that happens in either communities, also influences the others. \n Lastly, obviously, the ending was intense. But again, a great built-up to the final ending of the entire series. I always love rereading the scene on the Astronomy Tower, now knowing what \"really\" goes on there. \n \"And now, Harry, let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.\" \n ~ Albus Dumbledore", "date_added": "Fri May 27 06:12:23 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 21 02:02:49 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed May 10 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 27, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "29595531", "review_id": "80467e80d9ef781154a2cbcc72b6e658", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The synopsis of The Hunger immediately reminded me of the Mistborn-trilogy. The need of sustenance to perform magic, the diary entry's at the beginning of every chapter, the important houses/keeps around the world based on important families and the prophecy about a happier time. To compare a book to something like the Mistborn-trilogy before even reading it, is quite intense and maybe not a great way to go into a book (namely, I absolutely love the Mistborn-trilogy, so how could a book ever live up to it?). Yet, The Hunger didn't let me down. \n \"I say,\" Azil said, pointing to the fallen door. \"That door cost me a great deal in bribes to smuggle it out of Keep Azura. It is quite valuable and could conceivably be reused. If you are going to slaughter me, kindly refrain from getting blood all over the door. Couldn't we settle this in some other way?\" \n So, our main character is Azil, who goes on an adventure to steal some very well guarded gems and with those wants to try to make the world a significant better place. He is accompanied by the mysterious yet very kick-ass Evelet and a young but seemingly powerful orphan boy named Kaval. We also read about his scholar friend trying to find out more about their god Rahim, who is supposed to make the \"better times\" happen. I really enjoyed these little pieces of investigation, that were placed before every chapter and taught us about the Aspects of Rahim. \n \"Why didn't you tell us this from the beginning?\" Azil asked. \"You know that I hard no love for the clans, but if one is going to completely alter the course of the entire world, he should at least be given proper notice in advance. I would have worn an ensemble at least twice as heroic. Perhaps even a cape.\" \n The Hunger was a very enjoyable book. I loved the story, even though (or maybe because) it resembled the Mistborn-trilogy as much as it did. It is definitely not as good, but let's be honest, how many books are? Fantasy lovers will particularly enjoy this book, but I feel like most readers will. \n I received a copy of The Hunger from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 29 10:09:12 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 15 12:58:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "28260587", "review_id": "d8bcd5e05d3772fa96ffc92db600e287", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"The world will be saved and remade by the dreamers.\" \n Empire of Storms is the fifth book in the Throne of Glass-series and o. my. god. I can't believe that Sarah J. Maas just keeps being able to completely suck me into this world. The writing style is nothing special and not every story line is really up my alley, but these are some of the very few books that I just cannot put down once I start them. I remember starting Heir of Fire while studying for a test for university the next day (okay, who was I kidding starting that book at that moment; bad timing), and being sucked in so badly I literally ended up barely studying at all and finishing the book within a day (still passed the test with 65% though, thank god). \n I just love the different story lines and how these intertwine more and more, I love the intense adventure, I love the detailed world and its history but most of all I love Aelin. From day one she has been this super epic bad-ass heroine, and even though I hate arrogance, her arrogant moments are the best. Nope, this may not be the best piece of literature out there, but I cannot wait for the next book to come out (might reread all the books before starting that one though; some details from the earlier books have completely left my mind) and the excitement these books give me is amazing. Four freaking stars. \n O, and Manon and Aelin coming together? BEST IDEA EVER. Was waiting for that from the moment we met the wicked witch. \n \"A dry, hot breeze flowed through their little bubble, and sparks danced like fireflies at Aelin's fingers, her hand hanging casually at her side. The other gripped Goldryn, the ruby in its hilt bright as an ember.\"", "date_added": "Tue Apr 05 05:00:57 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 18 10:52:50 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Mar 25 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "17927395", "review_id": "df90e832f7753a200120e60f6eae8ce9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "O my god. I can't even. Last year, I wasn't even sure I wanted to start this new series (both the cover as the synopsis didn't really do it for me), yet I was convinced by the writer (love the Throne of Glass-series) and the connection to Beauty and the Beast. Now, this might be one of my favorite current ongoing series. No, it's not a quality piece of literature and it doesn't contain beautiful enchanting writing style, but the story is so addicting. I flew through this. So. Freaking. Addicting. Also, where the first book was connected to Beauty and the Beast, this book is connected to another fairy tale/myth; namely that of Hades and Persephone. Read my review on A Court of Thorns and Roses here . \n '\"I smelled jasmine first--then saw stars. A sea of stars flickering beyond glowing pillars of moonstone that framed the sweeping view of endless snowcapped mountains. \"Welcome to the Night Court,\" was all Rhys said.' \n Feyre ended up having her happy ever after, surviving Amarantha Under the Mountain and joining her beast Tamlin in the Spring Court. Yet, it doesn't really feel like a happy ever after; actually, it doesn't even come close. Feyre still suffers from nightmares and trauma after her experiences Under the Mountain and she doesn't seem able to share them with her love. They don't share anything except their bed. Even though her promise to Rhysand, to stay with him a week every month, seemed like a horrible thing at the time, it comes as a relief now. Trouble in paradise...? \n '\"I will say this once--and only once,\" Rhysand purred, stalking to the map on the wall. \"You can be a pawn, be someone's reward, and spend the rest of your immortal life bowing and scraping and pretending you're less than him, than Ianthe, than any of us. If you want to pick that road, then fine. A shame, but it's your choice.\" The shadow of wings rippled again. \"But I know you--more than you realize, I think--and I don't believe for one damn minute that you're remotely fine with being a pretty trophy for someone who sat on his ass for nearly fifty years, then sat on his ass while you were shredded apart.\"' \n While reading A Court of Thorns and Roses I loved Tamlin, but I also loved Rhys, and I knew something was happening there. Yet I dreaded a love triangle; it happened in Throne of Glass, and I'm kind of done with them. Thank god; no love triangle. Feyre makes her choice quite clearly in A Court of Mist and Fury and it is a great and logic choice. So good actually, I doubted all the feelings and thoughts I had while reading A Court of Thorns and Roses. At the time they seemed perfectly fitting, yet now I'm rethinking everything that happened and I'm even kind of resenting certain relationships and persons from that first part now. Which I think is quite awesome; well done Sarah J. Maas. \n \"'No one was my master--but I might be master of everything, if I wished. If I dared.\"' \n Again, the relationships and characters in this book were to die for. I loved the romantic parts and all the new characters were very exciting; Morrigan, Amren, Azrien and Cassian all found their way in to my heart. What I liked most about this book was the fact that after finishing A Court of Thorns and Roses I felt like the book had a closed ending; I had no clue what would happen in next parts. The story unfolding itself in A Court of Mist and Fury was a complete surprise for me, and so very intriguing. \n \"He thinks he'll be remembered as the villain in the story.\" She snorted. \"But I forgot to tell him,\" I said quietly, opening the door, \"that the villain is usually the person who locks up the maiden and throws away the key.\" \"Oh?\" I shrugged. \"He was the one who let me out.\" \n This book was amazing. Again, not a piece of fantastic literature, but who needs that all the time? This series is surprising, lovable and absolutely addicting. My 5-star rating is purely based on the excitement this book gives me while reading, but also while craving the next part. Even the very explicit sexual scenes (no idea why this book is rated young-adult) gave me the chills. So hot. LOVED THIS.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 05 05:00:44 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 10 11:02:06 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 17, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "29056083", "review_id": "253e0501a5ee9f0762ad3d9d6434f7ad", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Honestly, when I read about a new Harry Potter book coming out about a year ago, cleverly marketed as \"the eight Harry Potter story\", I wasn't that excited. For me, the Harry Potter-series ended perfectly; with a small epilogue for our curiosity, but most was left for the imagination. Also, J.K. Rowling came out right away after the last book with the opinion she was done with Harry Potter. Good for me. But obviously, when the release date came closer and closer, I couldn't help myself; I got excited. I ordered the book on the 1th of August (the day after the official release date) and dove in. \n \"Ah really, what does my opinion matter any more? I am paint and memory, Harry, paint and memory.\" - Dumbledore \n Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a script for the play; it isn't a normal novel, but just lines of dialogue and some excerpts of context. I was prepared for this; I didn't expect the magic of the original Harry Potter-series, just because for me the magic always was in the detailed way the world, characters and stories were described. You definitely shouldn't see this as \"the eight book\"; it's just something new including our old and well-beloved characters. \n That being said, I actually kind of enjoyed this book. It was fun to go on a new adventure with Harry's son, Albus, and his friend Scorpius, actually Draco Malfoy's son. It definitely didn't feel like \"going back to the Harry Potter world\", just because by reading a script, you only get an idea of the characters. I think seeing the play will be a more magical nostalgic feeling. Still, I liked going back. \n Snape: \"Sometimes costs are made to be borne (..) I didn't just quote Dumbledore, did I?\" \n Hermione: \"No, I'm pretty sure that's pure Severus Snape.\" \n Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is set nineteen years after the original series ended. You start of with the epilogue included in the last book and go from there, following mostly, as I said, Harry's son Albus. You get a glimpse in the lives of most of your favorite characters (lots of them make an appearance) and it almost feels like a moment of closure, so that's what happened to them.... So yes, I really enjoyed this book. It had its flaws, but you should not observe it in the same manner you did the original Harry Potter-books. HP and the Cursed Child is something on its own; a chance to feel some of that magic again. \n Scorpius: \"It's time that time-turning became a thing of the past.\" \n Albus: \"You're quite proud of that phrase, aren't you?\" \n Scorpius: \"Been working on it all day.\"", "date_added": "Wed Feb 10 20:04:32 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 05 14:35:20 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "ece8c752ed86d01318eb1e336eea68bd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Damn, this book. Never thought I would love it as much as I did, even though the ratings are sky high (you get it?) and the reviews raving. The Martian kind of reminded me of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, yet in a very different time. Stranded, alone, thought to be death and logging thoughts and ways of living. \n \"Ares 3. Well. That was my mission. Well, not mine per se. Commander Lewis was in charge. I was just one of her crew. Actually, I was the very lowest ranked member of the crew. I would only be \"in command\" of the mission if I were the only remaining person. What do you know? I'm in command.\" \n The Martian is addicting, gripping and full of tension, yet what caught my attention and love the most, was the humor. Main character Mark is funny as hell. When I heard the movie adaptation of The Martian was nominated for a Golden Globe in the Comedy category, I literally couldn't stop laughing. A comedy? The movie about a man surviving deserted on Mars, possibly dying or at least almost dying. Yet, after reading the book, I can get it. I need to mention, I did not see the movie (yet), so can't actually give my opinion, but obviously I do that nonetheless. \n \"In other news, today is Thanksgiving. My family wil be gathering in Chicago for the usual feast at my parent's house. My guess is it won't be much fun, what with me having died 11 days ago\" \n I read this in combination with listening to it (the Audible-audiobook), and I would definitely recommend that. The book has got a lot of scientific parts, which I would skip while actually reading it, but while listening to it they could quietly sink in. In addition, the story is just told very awesome. Talking about the scientific details; The Martian has got a lot of those. Like, a lot. Someone mentioned that to me beforehand, yet I still thought \"aah, probably won't be such a big deal\". Well, it is. A big deal. Again, try the audiobook. Skipping the scientific details may seem tempting, but it will make you end up skip the entire book (except for some funny non-scientific quotes from Mark, even though most of those connect to scientific details as well). \n \"He's stuck out there. He thinks he's totaly alone and that we al gave up on him. What kind of effect does that have on a man's psychology?\" He turned back to Venkat. \"I wonder what he's thinking right now.\" LOG ENTRY: SOL 61 How come Aquaman can control whales? They're mammals! Makes no sense.'\" \n This might be one of my shortest and most non-saying reviews ever, but I don't know what else to say. I loved it. An addicting Robinson Crusoe-like story, yet filled with scientific details, that has a very gripping ending. Mark is a man to fall in love with, strictly speaking as a reader who loves her main character ;), and some quotes will make you laugh out loud. \n Just to make my point; \n \"What the fuck is 'Project Elrond'?\" Annie asked. \"I had to make something up,\" Venkat said. \"So you came up with 'Elrond'?\" Annie pressed. \"Because it's a secret meeting?\" Mitch guessed. \"The email said I couldn't even tel my assistant.\" \"I'l explain everything once Teddy arrives.\" Venkat said. \"Why does 'Elrond' mean 'secret meeting'?\" Annie asked. \"Are we going to make a momentous decision?\" Bruge Ng asked. \"Exactly,\" Venkat said. \"How did you know that?\" Annie asked, getting annoyed. \"Elrond,\" Bruce said. \"The Council of Elrond. From Lord of the Rings. It's the meeting where they decide to destroy The One Ring.\" \"Jesus,\" Annie said. \"None of you got laid in high school, did you?\" \n \"Tomorrow night, I'll sink to an all new low! Lemme rephrase that... Tomorrow night, I'll be at rock bottom! No, that doesn't sound good either... Tomorrow night, I'll be in Giovanni Schiapareli's favorite hole! Ok, I admit I'm just fucking around now.\" \n \"Vogel's making a bomb.\" \"I knew that guy was a mad scientist!\" Watney said. \"I think we should just go with my Iron Man idea.\" \"That's too risky and you know it,\" she replied. \"Thing is,\" Watney said, \"I'm selfish. I want the memorials back home to be just for me. I don't want the rest of you losers in them. I can't let you guys blow the VAL.\" \"Oh,\" Lewis said. \"Wel if you won't let us then- wait... wait a minute... I'm looking at my shoulder patch and it turns out I'm the Commander. Sit tight. We're coming to get you.\" \"Smart-ass.\"", "date_added": "Mon Jan 18 15:36:40 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 24 15:56:23 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Feb 12 13:14:29 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 17, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "23734628", "review_id": "5c16ffe7e12aa7f06921ec9a979d6cde", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Nop, this just wasn't for me. I still love Fangirl (probably time for a reread soon...) but the excerpts of Simon's story in that book were enough for me. Although, now I think about it, I didn't even really enjoy those pieces; I would literally scan through them. I loved the idea of Cath being a writer of fanfiction, but I didn't want to read the actual fanfiction. Definitely because in my head the Simon and Baz-story was actually Harry Potter, only changed for the sake of the story, yet reading Carry On that thought only made me cringe. \n Nope. I know loads of people love this, and more power to them (obviously everybody's reading taste is different, and thank god for that), but for me this was one of my least favorite books of the year.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 29 15:49:12 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 25 05:53:00 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "4491408f7963673e9c85d7e9f0d1915e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "After reading and loving Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, the first book in the very hyped Grisha-trilogy, I felt like starting another hyped Young Adult series. Mostly because I had to wait two weeks for Siege And Storm and Ruin And Rising (the second and third book in the Grisha series) to come in, but also because I was so blown away by myself that I hadn't started this awesome series sooner. The same could be happening with other series! The Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer sounds quite awesome, the books have beautiful covers and the first book, Cinder, has an average rating of 4.13 stars. Like what the heck, I needed to get on this! \n \"Even in the Future the Story Begins with Once Upon a Time.\" \n All the books in the Lunar Chronicles series are based on fairy tales. Cinder is based on Cinderella and stars a cyborg who works as a mechanic in New Beijing. She lives with her stepmother and two stepsisters, of which two treat her very poorly. Unfortunately there is no way to leave them. New Beijing is haunted by an awful and deadly disease, with no available cure. But then Cinder meets prince Kai and everything changes. \n \"Vanity is a factor, but it is more a question of control. It is easier to trick others into perceiving you as beautiful if you can convince yourself you are beautiful. But mirrors have an uncanny way of telling the truth.\" \n If you followed my updates while reading this book, it's quite obvious what I thought of it. Although I just realized that my star-rating might give something away as well. I disliked it a lot. The story wasn't gripping, the world wasn't really built (even though the fact that it's in New Beijing has so much potential), stepmother Adri and stepsister Pearl were extremely annoying and Cinder was quite annoying as well sometimes. Especially these last two things were awful to me. I understand that Adri and Pearl were supposed to be annoying, but the scenes with them were so long and detailed, it just got to me. In addition, Cinder was so sensitive. She lived with these witches for ages, so you would think she would have toughened up a bit. Yet she let everything they said get to her. Grow some balls, jeez! And all the emotional and exaggerated thoughts Cinder had about being a cyborg. Pffew. \n Nope, this book was not for me. It might be the fact that it was \"too young\" for me, even though I normally don't have a problem with that while reading Young Adult. I might continue the series in the future; I already have Scarlet and Cress on my iPad and I'm curious how the characters will intertwine throughout the books. But I'm not sure. Right now, I don't really feel like it.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 13 06:58:41 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 23 15:54:34 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Sep 23 15:54:34 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Sep 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "899777", "review_id": "5dcdcd86d9b385f917e27a53f820617f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "\"For nothing is evil in the beginning.\" \n I absolutely loved the LOTR-movies, I read The Hobbit last year and I'm currently really into Fantasy books - so how could I not start the Lord of the Rings-trilogy by Tolkien? As you may have read in my review of The Hobbit, I felt that one was a bit too light-hearted (don't get me wrong; I loved it, but the mystery and darkness surrounding the LOTR is exactly what I love most). \n 'Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky, \n Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone, \n Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die, \n One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne \n In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie. \n One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, \n One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them \n In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.\" \n The first chapters of The Fellowship of the Ring feel very much like The Hobbit; lighthearted and very detailed. You get a lot of information about the life of hobbits, which may seem as useless information, but is very entertaining and great way to slide into the story. The hints of what is to come (Gandalf confronting Bilbo and the lines written on the One Ring) prepare you for the epic story. Same goes for this entire book actually, in comparison to The Two Towers and The Return of the King; the emphasis is mostly on the \"adventure\" of the fellowship and the beautiful places they see (Hobbiton, Rivendell, Lothlorien). There are a few dark moments, which are epic, but it is not as depressive or intense as the other two yet. Also, Tom Bombadil! What a character! I loved him. Such a shame he wasn't mentioned in the movies, although I can understand they had to cut something. \n \"I wish it need not have happened in my time,' said Frodo. 'So do I,' said Gandalf, 'and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.\" \n But the dark moments that did happen, were as I mentioned, very epic. One of the moments was the attack of the Nine, including the Pale King, on Weathertop on Frodo. Not only the attack, but the flight afterwards, in which Frodo is rescued by Glorfindel (and not Arwin, as in the movies) and the flood created by Elrond and Gandalf, was quite intriguing. \n \"Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement.\" - Gandalf \n But even more so I loved the dark moment in the Mines of Moria. In The Chamber of Records they find a book containing a record of the fortunes of Balin's folk, ending with smeared lines barely readable, suggesting their end was cruel; \"We cannot get out. We cannot get out. They have taken the Bridge and second hall. Frar and Loni and Nali fell there. The Watcher in the Water took Oin. We cannot get out. The end comes. Drums, drums in the deep. They are coming.\" Not to enjoy their pain to much, but how intense and epic is that? The tension is built so well! And then the drums began... \n \"You cannot pass,' he said. The orcs stood still, and a dead silence fell. 'I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass.\" \n There were also several references to The Hobbit (for example, the three stone Trolls in the woods), which I liked since I read The Hobbit last year. So I would definitely recommend reading that first; mostly also, because the finding of the Ring and the scene between Bilbo and Gollum is described (which by the way was a re-write from Tolkien, after finishing this trilogy; at first, Gollum actually gave Bilbo the Ring and they separated on good terms (source)). I absolutely loved this first part of the trilogy. At this point, I have already read all three the books, and I'm in great doubt which book I liked most; either The Fellowship of the Ring or The Return of the King. Nonetheless, this part was awesome and addicting. \n \"All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost.\"", "date_added": "Sun Jul 12 17:38:42 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 26 15:24:41 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Mar 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Mar 09 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 20, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "6547260", "review_id": "f26071e06021287e6c34d8cee772160c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I read The Final Empire several months ago and knew I couldn't wait too long with reading the sequel, The Well of Ascension. The world in the Mistborn-trilogy is intense, as are the characters and the magic-system. Waiting too long would mean I would forget too much. But since I absolutely loved The Final Empire, it took me no trouble picking up this one. Just as with the first book, it took me a while to read. But o man, when I finished it... \n \"Well, I think it was a creature of some sort--a dark and evil thing that nearly destroyed the world. The Lord Ruler traveled to the Well of Ascension, where he was given the power to defeat the Deepness and unite mankind. There are several statues in the city depicting the event.\" \n The Final Empire has been overthrown now the Lord Ruler is dead; killed by Mistborn Vin. Even though it's still quite unknown to her how she had the power to kill him, she is now seen as The Heir of the Survivor and her powers are well known around the world. Kelsier may be dead and missed, Vin, Elend and the crew do anything to keep Luthadel standing. Which is quite difficult. Definitely if several armies decide to camp out before the capital with the intention to take control. Even more so when one of the armies is controlled by one of the crewmember's father, namely Elend. \n \"Sometimes a bad situation is still better than the alternative\" \n The Well of Ascension was intense and awesome. I thought I was going to miss Kelsier immensely, which I did, but Vin, Elend and the entire crew made up for his loss. I loved how Vin turned out to be this super bad ass mistborn, who can kick everyone's ass if she wanted to. I also like the love between Elend and Vin, even thought the endless paragraphs about her teenage doubts annoyed me sometimes (hence the four stars instead of five). I liked the addition of OreSeur, who spend a lot of time around Vin, and the mystery with the kandra (even though I had it figured out pretty soon). \n \"It moves in larger patterns,\" Vin said quietly. \"Like rivers in the sky. It never just hangs in one place; it floats in the breeze, almost like it makes the breeze.\" \n I loved the mystery around the Lord Ruler and the Well of Ascension. The small excerpts from the books from the Lord Ruler himself and Kwaan were very interesting. Slowly but certainly you discover what happened and is happening to the world. And the ending! Just as with the Final Empire, I literally could not put it down. My heart was pounding from excitement and anticipation. The ending was super intense and I can't wait to pick up the next one, Hero of Ages. This is the conclusion of the trilogy and even though I'm super curious for the ending, I'm gonna be so sad when it's over... \n \"A small figure stood silhouetted by the sun. Black before the red light, a cloak flapped gently on her back. Sazed blinked. The bit of sparkling light he'd seen...it had been a coin. The koloss before him was dead. Vin had returned.\"", "date_added": "Fri Jul 10 16:56:17 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 14 16:07:30 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "16096824", "review_id": "c997b1f30e2633fe0e195090ea7a3c92", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Throne of Glass-series is one of my favorite series of the last couple of years so obviously, any other book written by its author catches my attention. Definitely when it's the start of new series and contains the same magical creatures the Throne of Glass-series does (namely, the Fae). Even though the synopsis and the cover of A Court of Thorns and Roses did not really impress me, I could not wait to dive into this book. And so I did. \n \"Don't feel bad for one moment about doing what brings you joy.\" \n A Court of Thorns and Roses is inspired by the Beauty and the Beast-fairy tale. Where A Throne of Glass was supposed to be inspired by Cinderella and I could not find any similarity (except for the Glass castle referencing to the Glass Slippers?), A Court of Thorns and Roses constantly reminded me of the classic Beauty and the Beast fairy tale, which happens to be my favorite Disney animation. \n The main character in this romantic fantasy story is Feyre. Seriously, can we for one second talk about this name? I could not (and might still can't) pronounce Celaena's name and a lot of other names in the Throne of Glass-series, and now the new main character is called Feyre? What am I supposed to do with that? I feel like I just make up possible pronunciations in my head while reading these books. Also, faeries? That does not add up to the way I pronounce Fae! Oh well, let's continue. \n \"I was as unburdened as a piece of dandelion fluff, and he was the wind that stirred me about the world.\" \n Like I mentioned, A Court of Thorns and Roses is a romantic fantasy story. The atmosphere resembles the one in the Throne of Glass-series, yet it's all a bit more romantic, magical and sweet. It's definitely more focused on the love story, which made me apprehensive in advance, but which I kind of liked while reading it. It's kind of nice that it differs. I liked how the relationship between Feyre and Tamlin developed. On the other hand, Feyre herself was kind of annoying at certain times. Not saying what she wanted, not doing what she was being told and looking for danger. But I could overlook that. The ending was fenomonal and completely got me hooked. I'm very curious for the next part in the series, definitely since this book closed up pretty well; with the exception of the moment with Rhysand. Speaking of Rhysand: please don't say a love triangle will develop. At one point I kind of felt like something was happening. \n \"If it grieves you,\" he said, the words caressing my bones, \"then I don't think it's absurd at all.\" \n In conclusion, I absolutely loved this book. It's definitely quite different from Throne of Glass, the vibe is completely different and the attention is more focused on the romantic part. Yet I really liked it and definitely the ending was sublime. I have no clue how Sarah J. Maas does it, writing two awesome series at the same time, but she did. \n *I realize Throne of Glass was very \"roughly\" inspired by Cinderella, since Sarah J. Maas just got the idea for the story while seeing the movie (source), yet I felt like I needed to dramatize that a bit to make my point clear ;)", "date_added": "Tue Apr 21 14:33:45 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 14 16:07:47 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 16, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "289870", "review_id": "4d93e191d3d69e7626a4c6f90fffc016", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I've loved The Lord of the Rings movie-trilogy for ages but never read the books. Same goes for the movie adaptations of The Hobbit; love them, never read the book. Since I'm currently loving fantasy books, I felt like it couldn't be better timing to read the epic books by Tolkien. Obviously starting with The Hobbit. \n \"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.\" \n Bilbo Baggins is very well-to-do hobbit who lives in a hole in the ground. A very particular hole; this hole is made just for the small size of hobbits, with great kitchens for all the lovely food and most of all, the hole is very comfortable. Becaue hobbits like to live a simple, quiet and comfortable lives. But one curious morning the well-known yet almost forgotten wizard Gandalf came by to stir up the life of this little hobbit... \n \"Very pretty!\" said Gandalf. \"But I have no time to blow smoke-rings this morning. I am looking for someone to share in an adventure I am arranging, and it's very difficult to find anyone.\" \"I should think so -in these parts! We are quit folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner!\" \n This was my first reading experience with Middle Earth and all the magic and glory surrounding it. I loved it. I loved the particular characters Tolkien built, the weird situations Bilbo and the dwarves got in and the exciting story. It was an amazing journey and I can't wait to start the LOTR trilogy. I definitely noticed that this book was more adventurous and sweet, as were the movies, apposed to the darkness of the following trilogy. Even though I loved it, I feel like I might like the intense trilogy more, since I liked those movies more as well. The part with Gollum in The Hobbit felt like a dark omen to the Lord of the Rings and I loved it. \n \"Far over the misty mountains cold; To dungeons deep and caverns old; We must away, ere break of day; To find our long-forgotten gold.\" \n Being a movie lover as well, I can't not make a comparison between the book and the movies by Peter Jackson. First of all, I love the movies. I realize that the \"one-book-into-three-movies\"-fact is completely from a financial point, yet I loved it. If you love a series, it's only more fun if there's more content to see. Yet, this also means that they strayed from the book a bit, because even though a book contains way more details and story than a movie, in this case there is definitely more screentime than readtime. For example, neither Legolas or Tauriel are even in the book. All the particular orc-characters were also made up (or as my edition says, \"goblins\"; ugh). So yes, the movies are quite different than the book. Yet, for me that was awesome. The movies were way more eventful, which is something I want in a movie. Also, almost everything that happens in the book, also happens exactly like that in the movies. Jackson just added a lot. \n \"Deep down here by the dark water lived old Gollum, a small slimy creature. I don't know where he came from, nor who or what he was. He was Gollum -as dark as darkness, except for two big round pale eyes in his thin face.\" \n I could type for hours more about this book, but I'd like to keep this review a little bit readable. Loved the adventure, loved the world and adored the characters. Definitely super excited for The Lord of the Rings-trilogy and will be picking up The Fellowship of the Ring soon. Also, I love the editions I own (yes, I own two versions of The Hobbit). Both by Harper Collins; one with the original cover drawing by Tolkien and the other in a beautiful paperback edition matching to the trilogy I own.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 10 03:11:49 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 26 15:25:41 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "11408650", "review_id": "51d3d9ae2163224e2f8760522688d6c5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Wait, what just happened? \n Review coming soon", "date_added": "Wed Nov 05 16:56:04 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 13 07:32:57 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Dec 19 12:42:26 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "15990644", "review_id": "5300e3f2eedd5c2fc22e2519cebb9e85", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Island of Doctor Moreau is the second book I've read from H.G. Wells. After The War of the Worlds, which didn't impress me that much (although I liked the deeper meaning, but read my review on that for more info), I was still quite excited for The Island of Doctor Moreau, but also a bit apprehensive. Was this going to be a disappointment as well? \n \"The ocean rose up around me, hiding that low, dark patch from my eyes. The daylight, the trailing glory of the sun, went streaming out of the sky, was drawn aside like some luminous curtain, and at last I looked into the blue gulf of immensity which the sunshine hides, and saw the floating hosts of stars. The sea was silent, the sky was silent. I was alone with the night and silence.\" \n The Island of Doctor Moreau was definitely not a disappointment. As a matter of fact, I really enjoyed it! The story is set on a remote island, full of bizarre and tortured creatures, who are supposed to be like humans, but definitely still have beasts inside them waiting to get out. The entire atmosphere was creepy and mysterious, and I loved it. I also liked the writing-style in this book more than that of The War of the Worlds. \n \"It is when suffering finds a voice and \n sets our nerves quivering that this pity comes troubling us.\" \n It seems to be typical for H.G. Wells, but this book also contained a lot of philosophical themes. First and foremost, pain and cruelty, but also human interference with nature. It definitely made clear how humans want to adjust nature so it will fit them best. But also, that this is not always the best choice. Nature is nature, animals are animals; you can't just mold them in any shape you want. Also, how much does one sacrifice for a supposedly better good? For a kind uncertain utopia. Will it turn one cruel? \n \"There is, though I do not know how there is or why there is, a sense of infinite peace and protection in the glittering hosts of heaven. There it must be, I think, in the vast and eternal laws of matter, and not in the daily cares and sins and troubles of men, that whatever is more than animal within us must find its solace and its hope.\" \n In conclusion, I really liked this book. It was interesting, creepy and mysterious. I loved the atmosphere, but also the questions it made you ask yourself. I didn't particularly enjoy The War of the Worlds, but after reading The Island of Doctor Moreau, I'm definitely excited to pick up another H.G. Wells!", "date_added": "Fri Oct 03 11:03:50 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 14 16:08:24 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "41899", "review_id": "ee5987b816d40ec70ee480de22dd6a3b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A small book full with extra fun facts about the beasts that live in the wizarding world. It describes the beasts that make an appearance in the Harry Potter-books (Phoenix, Sfinx, Dragons, Thestral, Hippogrif, Centaur, Merpeople, and so on...) but also mentions a lot of \"new\" beasts. I also liked the introduction with The Brief History of Muggle Awareness of Fantastic Beasts; that felt more like a background story. Even though I liked it and the book is extremely small, it took me almost a week to finish it. \n Nonetheless, I think it's a nice addition to the Harry Potter-series and I will definitely start reading Quidditch Trough the Ages soon (if not immediately).", "date_added": "Sat Aug 23 10:22:45 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 26 08:28:26 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "17167166", "review_id": "ec4025a098cd2400b11a67b08f841d80", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Another great book in the Throne of Glass-series. This time I actually ordered the hardcover book (instead of reading it on my iPad) and o my... so gorgeous (and large!). Definitely going to collect the entire series for my bookshelf. I will admit right away though, I didn't find this book as good as the first one. At certain points I had to force myself to read again and at other points I couldn't put the book down and would be loudly cheering for kick-ass Celaena. \n Celaena is spending her days as the Champion of the King. She gets her orders and spends the money she earns. Nothing really exciting seems to be happening. But in the back of her mind she still knows more is going on, because of Elena and Nehemia. And when she is appointed to assassinate one of her old friends, she finds out about a rebel plot. \n \"Roland studied Celaena further, a tad too intently. \"Perhaps you and I shall get to work with each other, Lillian. Your position intrigues me.\" She wouldn't mind working with him--but not in the way Roland meant. Her way would include a dagger, a shovel, and an unmarked grave.\" \n The love triangle is in the background in this book. Prince Dorian is still there, but definitely not a love interest anymore. Chaol on the other hand becomes more interesting every second. At first I thought Roland, a new character introduced quite early in the book, would become a love interest as well, but thank god that didn't happen (not every man a woman meets needs to be a love interest). \n \"An icy, endless rage swept through her, wiping away everything except the plan that she could see with brutal clarity. The killing calm, Arobynn Hamel had once called it. Even he had never realized just how calm she could get when she went over the edge. If they wanted Adarlan's Assassin, they'd get her. And Wyrd help them when she arrived.\" \n The story couldn't really grab me as the first one did. I went trough this book rather slow. Still, Calaena remains to be one kick-ass assassin. This book definitely has several awesome action scenes. Also, the ending made me want to pick up Heir of Fire right away. But I'm saving it for later ;) \n \"She tipped her head back and gave the moon a wicked smile. She'd been called Adarlan's Assassin for a reason. Dramatic entrances were practically her art form.\"", "date_added": "Fri Jul 18 12:05:00 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 29 08:29:54 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Oct 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 9, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "2933376", "review_id": "8ee77b9f02b365938bfdb4de7226b821", "rating": 5, "review_text": "While reading A Storm of Swords I wasn't planning on picking up A Feast for Crows right after finishing this one. I like to take my time devouring this series. Yet, while reading the epilogue that all changed; Lady Stoneheart was introduced. And in such an epic way, that I just had to continue. \n \"I prefer my history dead. Dead history is writ in ink, the living sort in blood.\" \n While writing A Feast for Crows, Martin soon realized the size of the book got a little bit out of hand. He decided to split the book up, not chronologically, but by characters and location. A Feast for Crows entails the stories of Queen Regent Cercei Lannister, Lady Brienne Maid of Tarth, Samwell Tarly, Arya Stark (also referred to as Cat of the Canals), Ser Jaime Lannister Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and Sansa Stark (also referred to as Alayne Stone, the daughter of Petyr she pretends to be). Some new characters get introduced as well, like Asha Greyjoy The Kraken's Daughter, sister of Theon. In total A Feast for Crows tells the stories of twelve Point Of View characters. The following book, A Dance with Dragons, entails the stories of among others Jon Snow, Daenerys, Stannis and Melissandre and takes place at the same time A Feast for Crows does. \n \"My old grandmother always used to say, Summer friends will melt away like summer snows, but winter friends are friends forever.\" \n The War of the Five Kings is slowly disappearing to the background. Tommen Baratheon, the eight-year-old brother of Joffrey, is now King of King's Landing. This means his mother, Cercei, is actually in charge, although this seems to be more difficult than she had foreseen. Tommen is to marry Margaery Tyrel, who married Joffrey seconds before he died, and although Tommen seems quite happy about this, Cercei is not. She fears the young Queen-to-be wants to take her place forcefully. Cercei played a big part in this book and I loved her tough statements. Even though I kind of like Cercei, and Margaery as well for that matters, I also loved how her story developed, even though this wasn't necessarily good for her (that I'm sugarcoating it here seems an understatement ;)). I can't wait to see what happens in A Dance with Dragons for Cercei. Her brother Jaime played a big part as well, but wasn't nearly as addicting for me as Cercei. \n \"Men had been looking at her that way since her breasts began to bud. Because I was so beautiful, they said, but Jaime was beautiful as well, and they never looked at him that way. When she was small she would sometimes don her brother's clothing as a lark. She was always startled by how differently men treated her when they thought that she was Jaime\" \n Three other story lines that became quite interesting to me, were those of Sansa, Ayra and Asha; three strong female characters. Although I always loved Sansa, in former books she could be a bit naive or annoying, even though she did everything she could to survive. In this book she continues adapting herself to the situation perfectly; she knows just what to do to remain \"comfortable\" and alive. I feel like her story line becomes more and more interesting. Same goes for Arya, who is also trying to build herself a new life, in the beautiful and mysterious city of Braavos, among the Faceless men. She is completely bad-ass, although that isn't exactly what is expected of her. Finally Asha, a new POV and an awesome one. Asha kind of reminds me of Cercei; they both aren't welcome in the world of power and adventures, which is in fact the world of men. Yet they do not take no for an answer and continue to fight for their place. \n \"We all deceive ourselves, when we want to believe. Melisandre most of all, I think. The sword is wrong, she has to know that . . . light without heat . . . an empty glamor . . . the sword is wrong, and the false light can only lead us deeper into darkness, Sam. Daenerys is our hope\" \n Even though I would love to wait a little bit longer with continuing the series, I don't think I can. I'll probably pick up A Dance with Dragons part I (I'm reading the books in Dutch and in these editions A Dance with Dragons is split up in two books) either next month or the month after that. This series is just so intense. I heard a lot of people found A Feast for Crows hard to get through or even quite boring in comparison to the others, but I loved it. Not my favorite characters, yet still super epic. And it left so many great openings for story lines in the next books. \n \"Behind it sat a woman all in grey, cloaked and hooded. In her hands was a crown, a bronze circlet ringed by iron swords. She was studying it, her fingers stroking the blades as if to test their sharpness. Her eyes glimmered under her hood. Grey was the color of the silent sisters, the handmaidens of the Stranger. Brienne felt a shiver climb her spine. Stoneheart.\"", "date_added": "Sun Jul 13 15:46:32 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 07 01:44:46 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "3046106", "review_id": "fca8a91bc298acefbabb0b4955954b1d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "After finishing A Clash Of Kings I couldn't contain myself: I had to pick up the first part in The Song of Ice and Fire-series immediately. And... I finished this bad boy in seven days. I loved A Clash Of Kings, but o my god. I can't even begin to explain how much shit goes down in this first volume of the third book (A Storm of Swords is split in two books (in most editions at least), namely: Steel and Snow and Blood and Gold). \n \"The night is dark and full of terrors, the day bright and beautiful and full of hope. One is black, the other white. There is ice and there is fire. Hate and love. Bitter and sweet. Male and female. Pain and pleasure. Winter and summer. Evil and good. Death and life.\" \n A Storm Of Swords continues right where A Clash Of Kings ended. The war between the Five Kings continues (well, at this moment four, to be honest; Robb Stark, Stannis Baratheon, Joffrey Baratheon and Balon Greyjoy; Renly sadly didn't make it through a dark night full of terrors...). Stannis tried to take King's Landing, but failed miserably. It was an intense fight and I must admit that I was kind of team-Stannis, although I would have hated it if Sansa didn't make it. Speaking of Sansa, her life is changing for the better. Although, so it seemed. The Small Council decided that an alliance with House Tyrell would be good, so King Joffrey is to be married to Margaery Tyrell, widow of Renly Baratheon. Sansa is free of the cruel boy and Margaery and her grandmother Olenna, \"The Queen of Torns\", treat her very well. Yet, her luck changes too quickly: she is to be married to Tyrion Lannister, who she sees as an ugly dwarf. \n \"Love's not always wise, I've learned. It can lead us to great folly, but we follow our hearts ... wherever they take us.\" \n I might have been team-Stannis in the fight for Kings Landing; in the ultimate war for the throne I am team-Stark. In A Storm Of Swords we read about Robb's fight through his mothers eyes. And Robb is not making the best decisions. He might be winning a lot of battles, he is not making friends: while being engaged to one of the daughters of Walder Frey, he marries another girl he fell in love with. All very sweet, but incredibly dumb. His younger sister Ayra is on an adventure of her own and becomes quite tough on the way. \n \"Old stories are like old friends. You have to visit them from time to time.\" \n The Night's Watch have a confrontation with the White Walkers on the Fist of the First Men. The person who seems most unlikely to shine on a moment like this, actually does: Sam Tarly kills a White Walker, using a blade of dragonglass. Jon Snow is on his own expedition without The Night's Watch, joining the wildings north of the Wall. He is constantly in a fight with himself; to which camp does he belong? Definitely since he seems to be falling in love with the wilding Ygritte (loved her in the tv-series, but love her even more in the book) You know nothing, Jon Snow. Jon's \"brother\" Bran is also on his way to the other side of the Wall. He is able to live through his wolves eyes and his companion Jojen can see certain aspects of the future. I am definitely very curious where this story line is heading. I can feel Bran will become extremely important in later books. \n Tyrion: \"You hide behind courtesy as if it were a castle wall.\" Sansa: \"Courtesy is a lady's armor.\" \n Finally, let's talk about Daenerys. If you've seen the tv-series, there are several epic parts you just want to read about, one being the one with the Unsullied, her dragons and Daenerys saying \"Dracarys\". All I can say is that that scene is extremely awesome. When I finished the chapter I had to reread it right away. Which was the same when I saw the episode for the first time; I just re-watched that bit over and over. Daenerys is one extremely bad-ass lady. \n Olenna: \"Margaery, you're clever, be a dear and tell your poor old half-daft grandmother the name of that queer fish from the Summer Isles that puffs up to ten times its own size when you poke it.\" Margaery: \"They call them puff fish, Grandmother.\" Olenna: \"Of course they do, Summer Islanders have no imagination.\" \n I loved this book. I think this is my favorite so far. Just so much things happen. So much even, that sometimes I returned to a character after several chapters and completely forgot about that epic cliffhanger which connected to him or her. I would like to say I will take my time again and that I will not pick up the next book too soon, but who am kidding: I don't have that kind of power over myself.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 13 15:46:06 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 14 16:07:56 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 9, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "3046107", "review_id": "9ff7667a72770a6092d7f47bbb6f847c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A Storm of Swords II: Blood and Gold continues exactly where Steel and Snow left off (obviously, since it's actually one book separated in two). I must say, some absolutely epic things happen in this one. I feel like I keep saying this as I continue on in this series, but I liked this one even better than all the others before! \n \"Woman?\" She chuckled. \"Is that meant to insult me? I would return the slap, if I took you for a man.\" Dany met his stare. \"I am Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, the Unburnt, Mother of Dragons, khaleesi to Drogo's riders, and queen of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.\" \n The book starts of with Daenerys Targaryen, my favorite character. So not much could go wrong there. Definitely considering she's very epic and bad-ass in this book, yet also heartwarming good. She wants to be a good khaleesi, a good ruler; one who rules with justice and saves the slaves from their masters. Yet on her road she finds out she needs to make hard decisions and that it isn't as black and white as it seems to decide what is just. I also love the characters surrounding her like Grey Worm, Missandei and Daario Naharis. \n \"Always keep your foes confused. If they are never certain who you are or what you want, they cannot know what you are like to do next. Sometimes the best way to baffle them is to make moves that have no purpose, or even seem to work against you. Remember that, Sansa, when you come to play the game.\" \"What . . . what game?\" \"The only game. The game of thrones.\" \n Like I mentioned, some epic scenes happen in this book. I won't say too much, but for the ones who follow the tv-series, A Storm Of Swords II contains Joffrey's intense wedding, the Red Wedding, Oberyns fight, the crucifixions, Tyrions downfall, Tywin on the toilet and a very very very epic epilogue containing... Lady Stoneheart. The epilogue alone forced me to pick up A Feast For Crows right away, even though it was not on my TBR for december. \n \"It all goes back and back, Tyrion thought, to our mothers and fathers and theirs before them. We are puppets dancing on the strings of those who came before us, and one day our own children will take up our strings and dance on in our steads.\" \n Jon Snow plays a big part in this book. He betrayed the Night Watch, even though it was on command, by joining the Wildlings and sleeping with a woman, Ygritte. Now he is back and he has some big decisions to make. Castle Black endures a great battle from the wildlings but it does not stop there. Stannis Baratheon changed scenery and is now staying at Castle Black, along with his army and his red woman. He puts Jon in some intense situations. In addition, Jon's little brother Bran, thought to be dead, is moving north. I'm so curious to see what will happen to him. I feel like his storyline will have a lot to offer in the future books. \n \"Her cloak and collar hid the gash his brother's blade had made, but her face was even worse than he remembered. The flesh had gone pudding soft in the water and turned the color of curdled milk. Half her hair was gone and the rest had turned as white and brittle as a crone's. Beneath her ravaged scalp, her face was shredded skin and black blood where she had raked herself with her nails. But her eyes were the most terrible thing. Her eyes saw him, and they hated.\" \n I didn't even mention Samwell, Sansa, Ayra, Jaime and many more because it is just too much to talk about. Just believe me when I say, this book is once again epic. Like I mentioned, I picked up the next book, A Feast For Crows, right away because I had to. I am already dreading the day that I will be done with this series...", "date_added": "Sun Jul 13 15:45:59 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 14 16:06:13 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Nov 24 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "8580318", "review_id": "a49b3a9ce430ad60ed5262178b3d8e64", "rating": 5, "review_text": "After reading A Game Of Thrones I decided to put the series down for a while, just to extend the time I would spend in this world (in stead of flying trough all the books). Five months later I literally could not contain myself anymore (definitely since the start of season five of the tv-series was coming closer as well and the excitement was getting to me) and I picked up A Clash Of Kings, part two in The Song of Ice and Fire-series by George R.R. Martin. Small spoiler regarding my opinion of this book: I picked up the first part of the third book, A Storm Of Swords, immediately after finishing A Clash Of Kings and I'm already thinking about putting the second part on my TBR for next month... \n \"People often claim to hunger for truth, but seldom like the taste when it's served up.\" \n A Game Of Thrones ended with the head of Ned Stark being chopped of, whereupon his daughter Sansa was forced to watch his head on a stick by her cruel fiance Joffrey Lannister, who's uncle (or shall I say father) Jaime Lannister was captured by Robb Stark, which caused Robb Stark to be chosen as \"The King in the North\" and most exciting of all: Daenerys Targaryn waking up naked among three newborn dragons in the fire that burned her \"sun and stars\" Khal Drogo. One thing you can't say about this series is that nothing exciting happens. \n \"Dawn came cruel, a dagger of light\" \n In A Clash Of Kings the battle for the throne begins. Stannis Baratheon, the now oldest man in line after the death of King Robert, feels he is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne and assembles an army. In the prologue of A Clash Of Kings we get introduced with The Red Woman; Melisandre of Asshai. Melisandre is a priestess of the Lord of Light and becomes a close adviser to Stannis. The Red Priestess is wicked, intense and a very entertaining addition to the story. In addition, Stannis' younger brother Renly, wants the throne, thinking he would be a very righteous king. Besides from preparing for war, Renly is to be married to the beautiful Margaery Tyrell from the powerfull House Tyrell, but he secretly loves her brother Loras. Then there is Robb Stark, the King in the North, who fights for reign of the North of Westeros. And of course, Joffrey Baratheon: the son of late King Robert and Cercei Lannister and thus rightful heir to the throne. He does not concern himself that much with battle, but more with his upcoming Kingdom, his future wife Sansa (who's life he loves making hell) and being an arrogant little demon. Lastly remains Daenerys Targaryen: Mother of Dragons, who remains on the other side of the see preparing to claim the throne and reign of Westeros, rightfully hers after the murder of her father and former king Aerys II Targaryen. \n \"The dwarf, the evil counselor, the twisted little monkey demon. I'm all that stands between them and chaos.\" \n After Joffrey's foolish decision to kill Ned Stark, the only leverage the Lannisters had to get Jaime back, Tywin Lannister, head of the family, sends the son that he hates the most to King's Landing to serve as the Hand of the King and save what is left to be saved. Luckily, Tyrion is an intelligent and well read man who knows what needs to be done and can handle Joffrey, as much as the annoying boy with the most power in Westeros can be handled. I loved that Tyrion played such a big part in A Clash Of Kings; he had several sneaky and witty plans that turned out wicked. Definitely considering the fact that Joffrey became even more evil in this book. At one point, he makes his guards strip down Sansa from her clothes and makes them beat her in front of an entire audience. Thank god for Tyrion who saves the day in this scene. Also, love Sansa, who becomes more and more powerful. Speaking of Joffrey; Theon Greyjoy found himself becoming a close second to Joffrey, being the most hated character in the book. \n \"I will hurt you for this. I don't know how yet, but give me time. A day will come when you think yourself safe and happy, and suddenly your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth, and you'll know the debt is paid.\" \n Daenerys remains my absolute favorite character. Where A Game Of Thrones was exactly like season one of the tv-series, A Clash Of Kings deviates from the tv-series (obviously it is the other way around, but you get what I mean), which was kind of fun since a lot of things were \"new\" for me. Daenerys' story line for starters is quite different. It's less dramatic, yet not less exciting. I loved how she found her way through the deserts and abandoned cities. Another character I loved, was Arya. She becomes more of an individual in this book, also meeting a new character which I absolutely loved (and plays a big role in season five of the tv-series): Jaqen H'ghar. Valar Morghulis. \n \"The Lord of Winterfell would always be a Stark. He remembered their godswood; the tall sentinels armored in their grey-green needles, the great oaks, the hawthorn and ash and soldier pines, and at the center the heart tree standing like some pale giant frozen in time. He could almost smell the place, earthy and brooding, the smell of centuries, and he remembered how dark the wood had been even by day. That wood was Winterfell. It was the north. I never felt so out of place as I did when I walked there, so much an unwelcome intruder. He wondered if the Greyjoys would feel it too. The castle might well be theirs, but never that godswood. Not in a year, or ten, or fifty.\" \n I could say so much more about this book, but I will leave it at that. I absolutely loved it and so far it is my favorite in The Song of Ice and Fire-series. The ending was absolutely intense as well (I will only say two words; White Walkers) so I couldn't resist picking up the next part right away (review hopefully coming soon). LOVE THIS WORLD.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 13 15:44:17 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 14 16:08:08 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 11, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "6547258", "review_id": "a557bb3f85ed63812d225a59da6f0420", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book caught my interest because of the beautiful cover and I'm so happy it did (so thank god they changed the covers, because before I probably would not have picked it up). This book was absolutely amazing. At some points I literary could not put it down, even when I had to get up at 6:30 a.m. the next morning (what a great morning that was...). The Final Empire is the first book in the Mistborn-trilogy. \n \"Our belief is often strongest when it should be weakest. That is the nature of hope.\" \n The Final Empire takes place in a world where everyone lives by the rules of the Lord Ruler; a man with great powers that saved the world from darkness thousands of years ago. The Dark Lord is even seen as a God by some, since nobody really knows what he is, how much powers he has and if he is even mortal. The Nobility live a rather good life in his regime, although still under pressure and with certain rules, but the Skaa live as slaves, being continuity suppressed by the Dark Lord and the Nobility. Even though this seems very unjust, most people just go along with. This is how it has been for years, this is probably how it should be now. Except for a small group of powerful rebels, lead by a man named Kelsier... \n \"Belief isn't simply a thing for fair times and bright days...What is belief - what is faith - if you don't continue in it after failure?...Anyone can believe in someone, or something that always succeeds...But failure...ah, now, that is hard to believe in, certainly and truly. Difficult enough to have value. Sometimes we just have to wait long enough...then we find out why exactly it was that we kept believing...There's always another secret.\" \n When I read the prologue I knew right away this book was going to be awesome. I loved Kelsier and I loved where the story was heading. Brandon Sanderson created an intense world that you quickly get to know. A world with magical powers in the form of Allomancy. Since one of the main charachters Vin is all new to these powers as well, you discover alongside her what Allomancy entails. I loved this book, but especially the second half got me hooked. I literally could not stop thinking about when I was not reading it and every free moment I had, I just had to return to the Final Empire. \n \"The right belief is like a good cloak, I think. If it fits you well, it keeps you warm and safe. The wrong fit however, can suffocate.\" \n On one hand, I can't wait to start the next book in the trilogy, The Well Of Ascension, but on the other hand, I want to save it. I don't want to finish this series right away, so I'm waiting just a little while before I return to this awesome world. However, I'm not waiting too long, because I'm afraid I'll forget too much details. The choices you struggle with while reading an awesome fantasy series... Life can be though.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 11 03:26:50 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 14 16:08:18 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Feb 14 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 12, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "22819449", "review_id": "5c394e8593ddfa2db1bcad40816e8296", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The hype surrounding this book-trilogy is insane, so why I only just read the first book is a mystery to me. Definitely considering the fact that the synopsis sounds right up my alley and the covers of these books are absolutely gorgeous (guilty.. I'm a sucker for packaging). A few weeks back I didn't really know what to pick up (even though I made an awesome TBR) and thought, why not pick up Shadow and Bone? \n \"Why can a Grisha possess but one amplifier? I will answer this question instead: What is infinite? The universe and the greed of men.\" \n Shadow and Bone is the story of Alina. She grows up as an orphan, spending all her time with fellow orphan Mal. Leading an ordinary life in Ravka, the unthinkable happens: it is discovered, not only by others but also by herself, that Alina holds a great power. Not only is she Grisha, but she might be Ravka's only hope to destroy the Shadow Fold: impenetrable darkness crushed up on the beautiful land, where terrible creatures live in. All of a sudden Alina seems to be of great importance for the world and even the Darkling, the most powerful Grisha, notices her. \n \"The problem with wanting, is that it makes us weak.\" \n O my god. This book was awesome, epic and completely addictive. Very young-adult, with the love triangle and all, but so gripping. The world was nicely built, not very detailed but good enough for me, and the story was interesting. Bardugo could have paid a little bit more attention to the fact that the world was supposed to be based on Russia, but the idea was nice. I loved Alina. At first she was so insecure, yet you definitely see her grow. Also, the Darkling really intrigued me. And the plot-twist in the end definitely came as a surprise to me! \n \"I'm sorry it took me so long to see you, Alina. But I see you now.\" \n A five star read for me. Purely based on my reading experience. I was completely addicted to the story and loved Alina. The writing-style wasn't extraordinary and the world wasn't intensely built, but the book gripped me nonetheless. I've already bought Siege And Storm and Ruin And Rising (gosh, love those freaking covers and spines together) and I'm definitely putting both on my October TBR.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 05 12:18:46 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 14 16:07:07 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "828364", "review_id": "db355e4ccc2fb0832feda4f9cca06f7c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I didn't think it was possible after giving The Eyre Affair five stars, but I liked the second book in this series, Lost In A Good Book, even better. Thursday remains a powerful leading lady with a good sense of humor. This time around, she is a more experienced bookdiver and reads herself into several books. \n \"How fishy is this on the fishiness scale?\" I asked him. \"Ten is a stickleback and one is a whale shark.\" \"A whale isn't a fish, Thursday.\" \"A whale shark is - sort of.\" \"Al right, it's as fishy as a crayfish.\" \"A crayfish isn't a fish,\" I told him. \"A starfish then.\" \"Still not a fish.\" \"A silverfish?\" \"Try again.\" \"This is a very odd conversation, Thursday.\" \n I love how weird these books are. Everything can happen and still it keeps amazing me. Jasper Fforde creates his stories with a whole new set of rules. Also, seeing I'm currently really into classics, I loved all the references to classic literature and characters from well known books. For example, Miss Havisham from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens makes several appearances. Every time a book is mentioned I keep thinking, \"hmm, definitely should read that one anytime soon...\" \n \"You have brought shame upon your profession, Herr H. You are under arrest!\" \"On what charge?\" replied Hopkins arrogantly. \"I'm not authorized to tell you,\" said the magistrate triumphantly. \"Proceedings have been started and you will be informed in due course. \" \"But this is preposterous!\" shouted Hopkins as he was dragged away. \"No,\" replied the magistrate, \"this is Kafka.\" \n Even though Thursday has a man in her life now, this book did not turn into a soppy romance. Although that may be because the man in her life, isn't really in her life in this book anymore... He's been eradicated from history and it's Thursdays job to get him back. Thank god her father and dodo aren't eradicated, cause that would pain me way more. Although I obviously still hope Thursday will live happily ever after, I'm not that harsh... \n Lost In A Good Book has sort of an open ending, but don't be afraid: the next book, The Well Of Lost Plots, is already out and waiting for you. Even though I loved this book, I'm in no hurry to continue this series right away. I have enough other books on my to-read list and I'd like to take my time to read this series. I feel like these are the kind of books that I could always read, even if I'm in a reading slump. So let's save it for that. \n \"Not just unpublished books. The Well of Lost Plots is where vague ideas former into sketchy plans. This is the Notion Nursery. The Word Womb.\" \n Also, these titles and covers keep amazing me. I absolutely love them.", "date_added": "Thu May 22 17:52:38 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 30 05:49:51 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "27005", "review_id": "2936246be24b06dd55cf747207df2059", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I already loved this book before I read it (which is not always a good thing, sometimes it can end up really disappointing). The premise of an another 1985 where literature is very visible and important in society and our main character (with the beautiful name Thursday Next) is a literary detective, sounds like music in the ears of a bookworm (our kind of bookworms, not the ones appearing in the book ;)). \n I didn't read a lot of mystery/detective books this year, but this one got me right in the genre again. And the beautiful part is: The Eyre Affair is way more than that. It's also science-fiction, comedy (loved the funny parts here and there), romance and perhaps even a bit of horror (werewolves and vampires, dear readers, although they are kind of in the background). \n I loved Thursday as the powerful leading lady, with her colorful sports car, her dodo as a pet (yes, the extinct bird) and her time-traveling father. The book had just a lot of funny aspects for literature fans and I definitely recommend it. I'm curious what the Next books in the series will bring us, I already have #2 and #3 waiting for me.", "date_added": "Tue May 20 00:08:33 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 01 09:53:36 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Aug 01 09:53:36 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jul 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "21956219", "review_id": "1e9df3b82c94c99f49d1e5fc511ad653", "rating": 5, "review_text": "2015 is seeming to become the year that I really start appreciating fantasy. I find myself addicted to The Song of Ice and Fire-series by George R.R. Martin (Game of Thrones), I'm counting down the days for the next Throne of Glass-book to come out, I just started the second book in the Mistborn-series by Brandon Sanderson and I'm currently just craving fantasy books. So, what better time than now to pick up Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb, the first book in the Farseer-trilogy? \n \"Is it the nature of the world that all things seek a rhythm, and in that rhythm a sort of peace? All events, no matter how earth-shaking or bizarre, are diluted within moments of their occurrence by the continuance of the necessary routines of day-to-day living.\" \n Assassin's Apprentice is the story of Fitz; bastard son of Prince Chivalry, who is to become King, and in possession of a gift called the Wit. Of the Wit he knows little, except that he can feel what animals feel and get a deep connection with them, and that his caretaker Burrich dislikes him using this \"gift\" a lot and speaks of it as something terrible. Fitz grows up in the shadows of the royal court and at a young age becomes an assassin's apprentice: in secret he is trained to be an assassin for the King. \n \"Don't do what you can't undo, until you've considered what you can't do once you've done it.\" \n I loved this story. The world building is fantastic and I loved how Hobb added small pieces of information at the beginning of every chapter (kind of reminded me of The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson) to provide certain pieces of history. I could create a beautiful and detailed image of how the world looked and how everything worked, and could completely dive away in this other world while reading the book; which is one of the reasons I read books for, so when it works out so lovely I'm very satisfied. \n \"No wise man tells all he knows. He who carries tales has little else in his head.\" \n Fitz' story is rather sad, yet I never felt sad myself. I just wanted (and still want) everything to become better for this boy. I feel like things are looking up so I'm definitely very curious for the next book, which I'll hopefully add to my collection soon. While reading Assassin's Apprentice I had no clue where it was leading up to, so the ending was quite surprising to me. Still, I have no clue how it will continue in the next two books (and those are rather large in comparison to this one). I probably shouldn't wait too long before picking up the next one...", "date_added": "Wed Apr 09 02:55:27 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 14 16:07:42 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "3041025", "review_id": "c6e30eb58d000bdfc138b8b9eed6eebd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Since the start of 2014 I've been completely addicted to the HBO-series Game of Thrones. I binge-watched the first three seasons and when the forth came out I loyally watched each week. I knew I would want to read the books (definitely cause waiting for the next season takes so long...) so I started collecting them. Standing on my shelf, they kind of frightened me: these huge books, filled with complicated names and complex story lines. It turns out, that was completely unnecessary: the first book got me hooked and I finished it in just over two weeks. If it wasn't for all the other books I want to read, I would be reading the second one already. \n \"Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.\" \n Because I've seen the tv-series, this book wasn't as complicated as I expected. Most names I recognized and the map in the front of the book definitely gives a good image of the world. I think that when you haven't seen the tv-series though, it's hard to keep up with all the different story-lines and perspectives. Also, as a person who watched the tv-series: the book is very much alike (well actually, it's the other way around, but you know what I mean). This book is 768 pages long and almost everything that happens, is put in the tv-series. This didn't make the book any less exciting for me; at some times I almost wanted to skip lines just to get trough the tension (for example with Arya, Joffrey and Sansa at the river). \n \"When you play a game of thrones you win or you die.\" \n The world created in this book is amazing. The characters are awesome. My favorites definitely are Daenerys Targaryen (I even have a Funko figurine of her), Khal Drogo, Arya and Tyrion. Daenerys is by far at the top because she is so extremely bad-ass. Even though I want to read some other books before starting the second, I can hardly contain myself. I just hear A Clash of Kings calling my name.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 24 15:51:07 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 03 07:03:31 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Oct 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 16, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "16034235", "review_id": "cbd4a9ff6e6b21eb0da710a44ff0dc5e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Meet Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan's most notorious assassin. After a year of imprisonment and slavery in the high guarded and cruel Salt Mines of Endovier, the girl with the unpronounceable name (at least, it took me a time to make something of it) gets escorted out by the Captain of the Royal Guard, Chaol Westfall. She is to meet the Crown Prince of Adarlan, Dorian, who wants to take her back to the glass castle of Rifthold where she is win a competition to become the King's Champion. \n \"And how old are you?\" \n \"Eighteen.\" But Chaol said nothing. \"I know,\" she continued. \"It is impressive that I accomplished so much at such an early age.\" \n I fell in love with Celaena from the start. Already in chapter one she was a complete bad-ass. She knew how strong and awesome she was, and had no problem expressing it. Further in the book I only started loving her more. Even though she's been trough the hardest year ever, she does not pity herself and remains to live with pride. \n \"I hate women like that. They're so desperate for the attention of men that they'd willingly betray and harm members of their own sex. And we claim men cannot think with their brains! At least men are direct about it.\" \n Even though I haven't been a fan of love triangles lately (it's getting a bit old), I liked this one. I loved both of the men Celaena started felling for and I can't say I'm really team-anybody. If it's up to me, I would happy with either of them. \n \"We all bear scars, Dorain. Mine just happen to be more visible than most.\" \n Also, at one point this book to a complete different turn than I expected. I thought it was just gonna be about the competition, but it became way more than that. And I loved it from the start. The story just became that much more exciting. \n In conclusion, I absolute adored this book. It was an easy read, but also an absolutely awesome read. I can't wait to start Crown of Midnight and Heir of Fire, and I have no doubt in my mind that I will finish this trilogy this year.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 10 16:09:02 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 02 20:17:29 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Sep 07 13:09:35 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "2", "review_id": "c4934d149276df92e6ddaef3329673ee", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was my second time reading Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix (first time in English), and I'm very surprised at how much I forgot. Not just details, but complete scenes. It's safe to say that the parts I did remember, were not coincidentally the parts that also appear in the movie. But me forgetting so much, made this book that much more fun to read. Before rereading The Order of the Phoenix, I thought The Goblet of Fire (HP #4) was my favorite Harry Potter book, but now, immediately after reading The Order of the Phoenix, I feel like it's a tie between these two. I might just need to give it some more thinking. \n This is the first book in which the story gets a lot darker. Harry is no longer the famous Boy-Who-Lived, but rather the infamous Boy-Who-Lied. After the Triwizard Tournament he confessed to the world that Lord Voldemort had returned and even though Dumbledore stands by Harry, not a lot of wizards seem to believe him. Minister of Magic Fudge seems determined in bringing discredit to both Harry as headmaster Albus Dumbledore. Fudge sends Secretary Umbridge of the Ministry of Magic to Hogwarts to make sure the School for Witchcraft and Wizardry is to his standards: the students must be indoctrinated that Voldemort has not returned. Umbridge takes her job very seriously and tries to gain more and more power over the school. \n On the other hand, a group of people have assembled in secret to prepare for the fight against Voldemort: the Order of the Phoenix. The Order contains members like Sirius Black, Mad-Eye Moody, Remus Lupin, Tonks and Mr. And Mrs. Weasley. \n What I really loved about this book were all the revenge scenes, especially regarding Umbridge and Fudge. Umbridge turns out to be an extremely malicious and annoying person and later-on in the book, she definitely needs to pay for that. The scene in which the Weasley-brothers Fred and George fly out while creating a huge swamp in the castle and setting off dragon-like firework, is genius. Even more genius, is the awesomeness of all the teachers (especially McGonagoll) while deliberately contradicting Umbridge even though she has the power. And most genius of all: Dumbledore. The coolness he has while he very obvious is more powerful than anyone, is very satisfactory. \n The end was heartbreaking, of course, yet I really loved it. It just seemed fitting. I have loads of quotes from this book in my updates regarding this book, so if your curious, definitely check them out.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 14:18:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 07 14:09:44 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Aug 07 14:09:44 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "136251", "review_id": "3caba5d549bf388535a881baf59e4dc3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "For me, this ending is absolute perfect. I laughed, I cried and I cheered. I remember when reading this book for the first time all I could think was, \"How the hell are they going to make a movie out of this?!\" So much big things happen trough out the entire book that (even though I hate it when they split the last movie of a series in two, for me it feels like they just want to make that much more money on the franchise)I completely understand the movie was made in two parts. Still hey missed a lot in the movie, but obviously you can't get everything in there (plus that leaves us bookreaders with that extra edge of \"I know more than you\"-muhaha). \n \"Tell me one last thing,\" said Harry. \"Is this real? Or has his been happening inside my head?\" \n Dumbledore beamed at him, and his voice soundend loud and strong in Harry's ears even though the bright mist was descending again, obscuring his figure. \n \"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?\" \n I felt it was necessary that some special characters died, because otherwise the ending would be too soft for me, especially since the last three books became rather dark. That didn't mean that I didn't find it heartbreaking, but it just seemed right. Also, I loved how badass some characters were. Like Molly Weasley in her fight against Bellatrix Lestrange, professor McGonagall when Harry arrived at school, Neville Lungbottom but most of all: Harry himself. Harry was completely epic in the last fight against Voldemort. One thing I hated about the movie was the fact that nobody really saw the fight between them, while in the book they have an entire audience (thank god for that, that boy earns the credit). \n \"It's not a case of what you'll permit, Minerva McGonagall. Your time's over. It's us what's in charge here now, and you'll back me up or you'll pay the price.\" \n And he spat in her face. \n Harry pulled the Cloack off himself, raised his wand, and said, \"You shouldn't have done that.\" \n As Amycus spun around, Harry shouted: \"Crucio!\" \n The Death Eater was lifted off his feet. He writhed through the air like a drowning man, trashing and howling in pain, and then, with a crunch and a shattering of glass, he smashed into the front of a bookcase and crumpled, insensible, to the floor. \n \"I see what Bellatrix meant,\" said Harry, the blood thundering through his brain, \"you really need to mean it.\" \n Although The Order of the Phoenix remains my favorite book of the series, this epic ending comes closely second and moves The Goblet of Fire to third place. \n I may have gone a little crazy while adding quotes from the book in my updates (so definitely check those out), but there are just so much fun and intense lines in this book. I would have added more if there wasn't a limit on characters per update.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 14:18:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 23 05:28:15 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "1079278", "review_id": "6c59b6b2e3ded729a057742745e24002", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved re-reading this part, it was definitely a pageturner. So far in the re-reading proces my favourite book!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 14:18:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 05 12:11:01 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jul 22 18:09:47 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "2173688", "review_id": "cacf73502219dcdd95ec983acb1e3ead", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Still love this book. I always forget the small details (like how the Shrieking Shack originated) and it's awesome to read about those again. As if I'm actually Reading new Harry Potter content!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 14:18:32 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 05 14:04:20 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jun 05 14:04:20 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "9786023", "review_id": "fcd378966ac721f2de44858149dca106", "rating": 5, "review_text": "My parents have a beautiful collection of hardcover-classics published in the '80s, standing on a bookshelf in the attic. One of those classics is Dracula by Bram Stoker and I remember that it always fascinated me, even as a young girl (not that I'm not young anymore ;)). A few weeks ago, I decided to finally pick it up. \n \"Quicker and quicker danced the dust. The moonbeams seemed to quiver as they went by me into the mass of gloom beyond. More and more they gathered till they seemed to take dim phantom shapes. And then I started, broad awake and in full possession of my senses, and ran screaming from the place.\" \n I loved this book. Can't believe I waited his long to read it. I was truly addicted to this story. I do need to admit, that I might think the first chapters to be the best. The book is completely filled with letters, diary entries and some newspaper articles. So no actual \"live\" action. The first chapters are diary entries and letters written by (and to) Jonathan Harker. He enters Transylvania on his way to the castle of Count Dracula. Within these chapters he lives in the castle and you discover along with Jonathan how something is wrong there. The count is just a bit... of. The tension is build up extremely good and for me (even though I loved this entire book) it doesn't get anymore exciting than that. \n \"I am in doubt, and so have done the best thing I know of. I have written to my old friend and master, Professor Van Helsing, of Amsterdam, who knows as much about obscure diseases as any one in the world.\" \n I liked most main characters. They all had their own connection to Dracula. Even though they don't see this themselves in the beginning, as a reader you make the connections. I also liked Mina Harker, even though I disliked her in the beginning of the book. At first she seemed rather ignorant, but later on she definitely turned into a strong woman who makes her own decisions, which is remarkable for a book written in 1897. \n \"We thought her dying whilst she slept, and sleeping when she died.\" I stood beside Van Helsing, and said, \"Ah well, poor girl, there is peace for her at last. It is the end!\" He turned to me, and said with grave solemnity, \"Not so, alas! Not so. It is only the beginning!\" \n Some parts were rather slow to read, which made me doubt if I wanted to give this book 4 or 5 stars. I feel like I could change my mind later, but for now 5 stars are definitely in place. The tension was well built in this book and I loved how mysterious Count Dracula was. Even though the first chapters were my favorite, the entire book got me hooked. I definitely consider this one of my favorite classics!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 14:17:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 30 05:51:14 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 14, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "8a25b6e2c8508471cf31eac219ddf609", "book_id": "1033918", "review_id": "1aba22e2800db83a9f17ea8dcc21d3ee", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Even now this remains one of my favorite books ever, even though I like this part the least of all in the series. The story is just so fun and full of fantasy, perfect to get lost in.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 14:07:25 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri May 22 04:32:29 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon May 19 05:18:15 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon May 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "35142111", "review_id": "12509b7c4d97e9a246444cd3f8006c4f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A sexy and emotional start to what I feel like will be a fun shifter series! \n Demesha is a writer and finds herself in Kansas for research where she meets Kane; but their meeting is part of a larger design-- call it fate. \n I loved the chemistry between the two main characters and the suspense the author creates! \n I can't wait to see what happens next!", "date_added": "Fri May 19 05:38:50 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri May 19 20:15:05 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Fri May 19 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "28930529", "review_id": "0fb2e5a7b51f1d1cd4d2168f149b1018", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A unique and exciting story! Full review on the way!", "date_added": "Fri Apr 14 05:48:00 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 17 19:12:39 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "30531543", "review_id": "0a22e49483dfe91e0b7b452dabb2c6d5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What a beautiful take on a classic tale.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 26 07:39:14 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 29 06:44:03 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Mar 29 07:51:06 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Mar 26 07:42:26 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "34034448", "review_id": "1e54a9715741dd24dff7c3eef4f4680d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another incredibly humorous romance on Hung Island! This time it's Sandy and Junior's turn for their story to be told. This paranormal-romantic-comedy has a little adrenaline punch to it, too! As always with a Robyn Peterman book, you can expect laughter, swoons, and even learn new creative alternatives to your favorite curse words!", "date_added": "Sat Feb 18 08:37:07 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 10 16:38:27 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Mar 10 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "12446825", "review_id": "6f2a3b6692aee975647b333dc7f8d1a4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "My review is on the way! \n I am going to miss Mac and Barrons SO MUCH!", "date_added": "Fri Jan 20 15:41:39 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 30 17:08:10 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "23534737", "review_id": "e33be9f47e65aa05c17015ac961bcc64", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Suspenseful and interesting read. On to book 2!", "date_added": "Sun Jan 01 10:57:22 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 30 17:09:25 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "111332", "review_id": "907e0ef129cbc9e6f65c68d50b22bb67", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Five fluffy stars! \n Have you ever wondered what your cat is up to when it leaves the house? This adorable book will give you a pretty good idea of what may be happening, lol!", "date_added": "Thu Nov 17 10:04:16 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 30 17:10:02 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Dec 30 09:11:17 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Nov 17 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "43763", "review_id": "92a1cd25afca9ce4e0293cbf88357aa8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Just as fun as the first time I read it. Always a classic.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 04 10:35:53 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 18 10:01:04 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Oct 11 06:14:01 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "20827296", "review_id": "109995087c6416b8fcedd6077b81baef", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Refreshin", "date_added": "Wed Sep 07 16:58:32 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 05 09:33:25 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Oct 05 09:33:25 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Sep 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "31821606", "review_id": "33f7ae5e42b5a469fda6e470b400af72", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This story is a PURE carnal read. HOT HOT HOT! \n Macy and Royal are best friends. Royal's family has a bit of a dark, secret life--a history of owning Bloodling slaves who they used and abused. One of them belonging to her sister many years ago is now back in town. Royal's boyfriend Maddox still holds a huge grudge against the former slave, Nathan, and refuses to take in part of his current mission to recruit for his fight club. He just doesn't trust him one bit. Macy, however, is intrigued by him the instant she see lays eyes on him. She grows more curious and more attracted to him by the day and begins to get the scoop about him from Royal. Despite what Royal and Maddox have to say about Nathan, Macy's interest only grows. \n I recommend this book to all of my naughty friends!", "date_added": "Sat Sep 03 08:53:16 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 18 10:05:42 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "33458", "review_id": "6dad877fa1551e6fc1733f573b5f6a4a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Right when I thought Moore's stories can't get anymore crazy and funny, I read this one. I needed a good laugh this week, this story did it!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 09 07:59:51 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 10 07:51:11 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "33454", "review_id": "e70145208c954598897e129225439770", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is seriously laugh-out-loud funny! A friend at work let me borrow this and I snuck some quiet time at work to read this--next thing I knew, it was already 4 PM! I recommend this to anyone who loves a good paranormal comedy and doesn't mind mildly offensive banter.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 20 08:00:49 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 10 07:54:50 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "26180927", "review_id": "dc428a9b8b4f00424090099bb761bffc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another fun paranormal series by this hilarious author! I also learned some new curse words to add to my vocabulary, so it's quite an educational read, as well . . . ;) LOL!!", "date_added": "Wed Nov 18 07:48:09 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 21 09:01:27 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jan 21 09:01:27 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "27250032", "review_id": "97e859bbb2f9996c46baeb6a01620aaa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Rosanna captures my heart again with an eerie yet spectacular paranormal romance! There were a lot of elements that made this book so alluring with every page turned. Some of those elements that made the story for me were: a love for music that reunites two lovers, a dance back and forth between time periods between modern day and a ghost's dark past. \n Our main character Renata has had it pretty hard the last few years, but what keeps her going is her love for music and her career as a soprano in a popular choir--and even that, isn't working out as well as she had hoped. \n Music doesn't seem to be the only thing keeping her company though . . . a mysterious man who visits her dreams nightly and wakes her up breathless and feverish with pleasure. She thought she was losing her mind. However, those nightly occurrences don't even measure up to the ones that begin when she moves to London to be with her best-friend. \n She was talked into moving there to audition with someone who had always been her biggest fan, her college sweetheart, Finn, the man she never stopped loving. \n This is where the thrills and suspense practically explode. Renata's ghostly lover reappears and she learns of the dangerous truth behind him and his dark past, but is she strong enough to break away from his alluring pull on her? Or will Finn step in and prove his love to protect her always?", "date_added": "Wed Oct 21 10:16:16 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 03 15:07:09 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Nov 06 07:17:07 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "18758552", "review_id": "75648682bec8c34e070ee182c614da24", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A very unique, and absolutely fun read!", "date_added": "Fri Sep 04 22:31:30 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 11 22:27:47 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "13034211", "review_id": "da06bcf094b2bb19700e4097dc9d40e7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "An A supernatural Y/A novel full of surprises, love, and adventures.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 03 23:19:41 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 04 20:55:32 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "23580496", "review_id": "3f3b2b613469ea867f0a937ac055a605", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Full of suspense and mystery. Had a lot of fun reading this one!", "date_added": "Thu Sep 03 23:19:05 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 20 16:58:29 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "16268911", "review_id": "f7aa1d62c204a1bca223b6357224c4e6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Review to come", "date_added": "Sat Aug 22 17:45:12 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 04 20:55:50 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "4447622", "review_id": "ffbf8c8392b948ca249d75840801ba06", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved this book fiercely, gah!", "date_added": "Sat Aug 01 21:05:48 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 04 20:58:36 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Aug 10 23:35:28 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "25285673", "review_id": "ae5e54a26ba8de548912e8efe2ef2fe4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was the most delectable thing I have ever eaten up with my eyes, holy crap! There is a little bit of everything for everyone in this tasty collection of erotic stories written by highly talented, seasoned authors. There are, shifters, menage, shifters and menage, contemporary naughties with silver fox doctors, and so much more. By the end of this anthology, your craving for something sweet will be fully satisfied. \n In the next few days, I will be posting a mini review for each story, they were all so great that I have to gush about each and every one of them!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 30 22:46:16 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 04 20:59:33 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "12498275", "review_id": "36cdcf1919de384dc5260fb293fafb5a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Review to come--Had so much fun reading this!", "date_added": "Sun May 03 12:41:21 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 04 21:03:08 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed May 20 11:36:45 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "15863832", "review_id": "7982a5bac404c4dc13cc776a4bed2328", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Dark, gritty, and romantic. I loved everything about this book!", "date_added": "Tue Apr 21 14:57:25 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri May 01 17:43:49 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Apr 26 15:37:01 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "16247538", "review_id": "9b90c6c1b34d1008ad426509edd46d02", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great, unique story full of suspense, heartfelt scenes, and romance. I especially love the background behind each of the different races of these supernatural beings. Definitely looking forward to reading the rest in the series.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 07 16:37:54 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 17 13:48:03 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Apr 17 13:48:03 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Apr 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "24889739", "review_id": "58455e0222bd63f4f621fc5f30b910d1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A fantastic collection of fantasy short stories. Each story is full of magical thrill and has a cast of rowdy, hilarious, or downright witty characters. I love how most of these stories are full of references and parodies of classical fantasy novels, I have to say my favorite was the Zorro themed--it was comical and the undertone was so passionate as the hero fought for what he loves and the legacy he wished to carry on. I plan on doing a snippet of reviews for each story, hope to see you all back soon!", "date_added": "Mon Mar 02 00:12:41 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 08 15:38:10 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Apr 03 15:11:27 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "23698892", "review_id": "83a873bc504848978bc6fa6784c8329c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I was ecstatic when I learned Wilson had a new series out--a steampunk adventure, at that, and upon finishing the book without being able to put the book down, my excitement was certainly not let down! \n From the lively cast of characters---who warmly invite the reader into their adventures as if we were walking and hiding right beside them with every battle and mission---to the beautiful imagery and world building, you'll be waiting, not so patiently perhaps, for the next installment to this story! \n Right away, we are introduced to a daring amulet smuggler, Jacob. He is caught and the suspense is instant. These amulets aren't just any pretty, regular pieces of jewelry, they hold a magic that is highly banned in the world as it is in that day. By a trick of fate, he is thrown in a cell with a young boy who will save him in many more ways than one. When the young boys crew comes to break him out of the jail cell, they reluctantly \n bring Jacob along and things just get so much better, so much scarier, and extremely adventurous--and maybe a even a little romantic. ;) \n All in all, a fabulous start to a new series that I cannot wait to gear up and tag-along in!", "date_added": "Fri Feb 13 15:40:22 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed May 06 13:58:59 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Mar 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "18455548", "review_id": "34dd886af5a14ee459eb64f9273c3c86", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Gritty, hysterical, and damn HOT! I had way too much fun reading this and falling in love with these wild characters! \n I have a lot more to gush about this book, will have a review up this weekend!", "date_added": "Thu Jan 01 18:14:55 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 10 12:50:04 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "23609712", "review_id": "5ce81b9fefd64b673c5dcf1769d6ca22", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Paranormally great!!! \n This book is full of laughs, steam, and stories to pluck at your heartstrings! I had way too much fun reading this collection of stories written by these incredible authors <3 <3 \n Stayed up late because I couldn't put it down! \n *Edit: Review from my blog* \n Story #1: Red Dawn, by Ann Gimpel \n What's in this story? Multi-Partner, shifter, dark fairy tales!! \n Blurb:Llyr is a whale shifter with a big problem. The seas are dying, poisoned by heavy metal contamination and barrels of trash. In a bold and desperate move, he and his mate Galatea, the Sea Witch, hatch up magic to allow him to spend as long as he needs to on Earth. \n Masquerading as a marine biologist, Llyr signs on with a firm whose mission is to save the oceans. When his boss turns out to have malevolent underpinnings, Llyr returns to the sea for answers. With death lurking behind every corner, he and Galatea find themselves boxed into an impossible situation. \n Sky's Thoughts: \n I love a great steamy book with plenty of action and suspense, and this book fulfilled my fix for a thrilling, sexy story, plus some! It had a completely unique world that had me enthralled from the very first paragraph to the very last sentence. Whale shifters! I've never read anything like it and I am craving more from this world, can't wait to see if this fun story will continue. Ann has an astounding imagination and I was thankful to experience it through this story and can't wait to pick up more of her books--she's made a fan outta me! \n Story #2: The Reluctant Gift, by Sotia Lazu \n What's inside this story? A Shifter, vampire, anal sex, and biting! \n Blurb: Salina has earned her one-year vacation on Earth, damn it! She's been an exemplary sentinel for her pack, and saved all the universes. \n Too bad she hasn't been very effective at kicking Aherin to the curb. She had one little lapse in judgement--sleeping with the annoyingly persistent vampire--and now he just won't leave. \n As if that wasn't enough, her holiday plans are spoiled, her world is turned upside down, and she's going to miss out on a yummy family dinner, all because she's kidnapped on Christmas Eve. \n By Santa. \n Sky's Thoughts: \n Oh my gawd, this story made my belly hurt, I laughed so much! Santa plays a dirty little cupid in this story! This book is full of characters that are filled with life and witty remarks. The story is intriguing right from the start, Salina is blinded and kidnapped and we're left wondering, \"Gah, what's happening!\" When the abductor reveals himself, it was NOT what I was expecting--but gawd, did I giggle!! \n Not only is this a fun read, it's freaking HOT! When Salina and her annoying yet smexy vampire foe finally drop all pretenses of their hatred for one another, It was absolutely explosive. The sex scenes were so full of spice and heat that I was seriously beginning to wonder if I had fallen into the fireplace beside my sofa--I was flushed! \n Sotia, you are brilliant! This is my second read by Sotia Lazu and I may be an ever bigger fan after this! \n Story #3: For Heaven's Cakes, by Diane Saxon \n What's inside this story? A wolf shifter! \n Blurb: Twelve years of living in Ireland smoothed Beau's rough edges, and hard work as a construction worker made him a wealthy man. The call of his pack is stronger than he can resist though, and he isn't averse to returning to show his small home town in America what he's made of himself. \n What he doesn't anticipate is meeting the local pharmacist's daughter - in his wolf form. By day, he renovates the pharmacy, and tries to cajole the lush assistant into having dinner with him. By night he watches Catherine bake her fantastic creations and blossom through her art. \n Sleeping on her bed each night in his wolf form isn't exactly ideal, but how does he tell her the wolf she's come to love, is the man she lusts over? \n Sky's Thoughts: \n What a pleasant read! There is definitely a taste of romance suspense in this story--the anticipation of them falling in love completely gave me butterflies. Also, building up to seeing Beau finally admitting to Catharine that little \"dog\" she grew to love after taking in was him all along, had me on the edge of my seat! She surprises me when the truth reveals, and he is not the one that breaks it to her. This was also my first read by Diane Saxon and I am so ready to take on more of her thrilling and sexy books! \n Story #4: Pursuing Grace, by Anita Cox \n What's inside this story? Werewolves! \n Blurb: Though Grace McGovern just graduated college, she's restless, has no idea what to do with her life and to top it off, she finds herself single and unsatisfied with relationships in general. \n Roman intends to claim Grace and make her his mate and part of his pack. He's searched for her for five years and now she's within his longing grasp, apart from one minor problem. She has no idea she's a wolf. \n As Grace tries to identify and cope with her inner wolf, she also needs to figure out the unprecedented and undeniable pull Roman has on her. Could he finally offer her the fulfilling relationship for which she's been yearning? \n Sky's Thoughts: \n The plot here kept me interested through and through--I'd love more from this world! Not only is Grace in the dark of her own plans after college, but there's something much bigger she's unknowing of--life is about to get much more complicated than she had originally thought. Roman is effing hot, and I am so damn jealous he's not preying on me for his lucky mate LOL! A heart-filled story here, and the suspense built more and more intense each chapter as I was hoping she'd make the decision to stay with the pack. I was not let down! Anita Cox has a brand new fan outta me! \n Story #4: Dreaming of a Wolf, by Sofia Grey \n What's inside this story? An amazing Sofia Grey wolf shifter and dream-sequences! \n Blurb: Alun was Olivia's first, and he was supposed to be her forever. After a tragic accident steals him away, Olivia wonders how she can ever be whole again. \n When he starts talking to her in her dreams, she has to ask herself: is she going mad with grief, or is there still a chance for their forever? \n Sky's Thoughts: \n Sofia's writing is as beautiful as ever! Olivia is on a quest to find Alun, who she feels is still alive after a sequence of dreams where he came to visit her. She's pretty much acting on a whim because for all she knows, they were only silly dreams; but she felt as though their conversations together felt way too tangible and heart-filled for them to be simply dreams. If anything, going to his favorite places was a way of coping with his sudden loss of life. Olivia may gets way more information than she originally sought out for on her hunt, though. \n Story #5: Courting Mortality, by Loralie Hall \n What's inside this story? Gods! \n Blurb: Eli's spent eternity thwarting the same family curse that granted his brother, Loki, ever-lasting fame. Eli kind of got screwed in that one. His plan to stay single and detached has worked for several millennia. And then he meets Marley. She's making him abandon all his resolutions, except the one that never lets him forget the curse. Falling for her means her death, and he won't let that happen. \n Sky's Thoughts \n Such a sweet story, and most definitely spicy! Loki is at again with his diabolical ways, yet we still love him! Eli is the hero here though, and I think he's won my heart over more than Loki ever could! He struggles so hard to not fall in love with Marley, for her own safety from the curse and that forsaken Loki. But love really does trump all, and he proves if your heart needs someone so badly, you can make anything work. Poor Marley had no idea what she was getting herself into and though it took her a while to come to terms with just who Eli is, she finds that it is all worth it in the end. I loved this story! I am a new, big fan of Loralie Hall! \n Story #6: Uncaged, by Christy Gissendaner \n What's inside this story? Vampires and other creatures! \n Blurb: Mixed breed vampire shifter, Gabe Moncrief, has made a name for himself in the Cage, an arena where only the strong survive. He's training for the fight of his life--and vengeance--when Rain Pettis appears. As an Elemental - a supernatural being descended from Zeus himself - she holds the key to his future in the Cage. \n As much as she loves her brothers, Rain needs to break away from their overwhelming influence to become her own person. Gabe is the only shifter capable of standing up to them. But when Rain learns a secret that tests her loyalty to her family, she has a decision to make. Does she risk it all for love? And can she bear watching Gabe endanger his life within the Cage? \n Sky's Thoughts: \n This was a beautifully drawn world, and I absolutely love how everyone's name derives from different elements. This story contains a brilliant, and very independent female heroine who can be easily loved by readers. Her strife for freedom is relentless and I absolutely fell in love with Gabe, the sexy vampire who wins her heart despite her reasons to stay away from him. Another story I wish could go on forever!! This was my first Christy Gissendaner story and will most certainly not be my last--big fan now!", "date_added": "Mon Dec 08 14:56:42 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 19 19:23:12 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 8}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "23472947", "review_id": "84ef10034ec10aeb0df4be791144b477", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This anthology was certainly a smexy holiday treat! \n I discovered a lot of new-to-me authors who I made sure to follow so I don't miss any other work by them! \n The antholgoy is packed with alluring , thrilling, and comical sitautions tied into contemporary and paranomal stories; so if you are looking for smutty-goodness reads to heat you up during this cold holiday season, there is a bit of each genre for you to enjoy and to keep you turning those pages in one sitting. \n Overall, this anthology had me feeling pretty good by the end of it, these are very talented authors who know how to elicit sighs and laughter outta readers and I can't wait to read more from them! \n I have a full review coming up soon where I want to write a little about each story, looking forward to sharing my thoughts on them with you all!", "date_added": "Wed Nov 26 16:17:04 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 08 15:23:00 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Nov 26 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "23350148", "review_id": "02baadead4409a00620f4929fc7b5b53", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Rachel Raithby does it again! A brilliant shifter adventure! \n Winter Wolf kicks off Raithby's new shifter series, A New Dawn, with an action packed new world and yet another strong, intelligent female lead. \n On her eighteenth birthday, Katalina's world is literally turned upside down when tragedy strikes while out with her parents. Things only get worse when she wakes up in an unfamiliar place--long hidden secrets are revealed and to make the situation even more bizarre, the people explaining her new life to her are total strangers. \n I could not put this book down! There is just enough mystery and suspense to keep you turning the page. The characters are full of life and at times hilarious; the way Katalina adapts to her new world and special abilities are as realistic as you would believe someone to be after being told, \"Oh, you're actually a wolf. Try it!\" I had many laughs and many heart-wrenching moments during this read and thought it to be absolutely perfect for anyone looking for a great Young Adult read for themselves or anyone they know. There is one *almost* steamy scene but it's nothing to worry about with your older teens reading; it's a really cute, and heart-melting scene! \n I was lucky enough as to be chosen as a beta-reader for this story, and I will most definitely be reading it again as I wait for the second book to be released!", "date_added": "Tue Nov 25 15:43:59 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 10 14:05:07 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "17413115", "review_id": "621205c0f68eddbe12dbe583b30a3224", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A really fun twist on a beloved fairy tale. While there are mentions of other favorite characters from other treasured fairy tales, this one mainly focuses on Alice and Hatter from the classic story Alice in Wonderland tale--only, spicier than you have ever heard before. This is book number one of a series that takes you on a whole new, sexy twist of a ride on more of your favorite fairy tales. \n The book begins with a crude and snarky fairy named Danika who is in charge of the Big Bad Five--a group of every Disney male you may have had a crush on growing up *snickers. \n Danika's main and urgent task at hand is to find Alice, the right Alice that is. Time and time again, Alice's have come in and out of Hatter's life, but none of which have brought him true love. It is very vital that he finds the right Alice, so it is Danika's mission to find and bring her to Wonderland before Hatter loses his mind for good and Wonderland disappears--which is slowly dissipating right before them. Wonderland relies on Hatter's imagination; it's his world, after all. \n Hilarity ensures when Danika practically kidnaps Alice Hu, but this is where drama also occurs. She may be the right Alice, but she is a descendant of another Alice who may have broken Hatter's heart for good. Alice is still unsure of her situation, but one this is for sure, she may have grown a soft spot for this mad, mad man--but has he done the same for her? \n Will the two of them work it out? Or will Wonderland explode into oblivion and be no more?", "date_added": "Wed Oct 29 21:10:21 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 08 15:23:49 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Nov 12 14:24:26 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "18804025", "review_id": "106fc91b5596c0c1c49ba357b17d391f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Cyril is one hell of an alpha male in this story; heroic, sexy, but oh so sentimental--it just melts my heart. Cyril is a man of many talents--some supernatural--and was created in the eyes of his goddess for sexual perfection; and if I say so myself, I would have to say she did a job well done. \n While on a long journey one day, Cyril and his men stumbled upon a child who needed rescue. On returning the boy to his father to their popular tavern, Cyril was offered a night of passion with his daughter in exchange for his heroic deed. However, no matter how much his body craves the attention from a beautiful woman, there's just one issue that may hinder his ability to take on this delicious offer. \n For the last three-hundred years--the last time he had been reincarnated-- Cyril has feared losing the image of a woman he believes is the love of his existence. Her face haunts his dreams, she's in everything he sees, every woman he meets and he is positive they will once again be reunited. Until then, he cannot love anyone else, he won't allow it. \n When Cyril is finally introduced to the daughter, Celestine, he makes a decision that had my heart falling right into his lap. This is where I will leave you, the reader, to see what happens next--it is so much more heart-filling when reading. Will his weakness deepen their heartaches, or will their hearts come together to give each other strength in a time of mourning?", "date_added": "Wed Oct 22 17:15:38 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 08 15:23:56 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Oct 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "22637901", "review_id": "7b883c0d36914d89105239862c3298ac", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Just in time for Halloween, we have a perfect dose of adventure, romance and a supernatural adventure to indulge on. So hide your candy and turn off the porch-light to detour the trick-or-treaters and grab this book and be prepared to laugh and swoon! \n Oh, where to begin? Not sure where to start on why I loved this book so much, but what I can easily divulge is that this was a non-stop, hilarious and adventurous read! \n Every character has their own lovable quirks and just about jump right off the page with such brilliant personalities. The author has a wonderful sense of humor and it shines throughout the plot. Lauren is our main character and she lives a happily, normal life until one day her hilarious, dirty-mouthed, four-hundred year old grandmother in the form of a spirit, Agnes, comes out of nowhere to be the bearer of horrifying news . . . Lauren is a witch and her help is very much needed as the families curse needs to be ended. I'll let Agnes tell you all the trouble she's in, worth the reading and laughs! \n Now that Lauren is learning to cope with her roots and the practice that goes along with it, her life has completely changed in the blink of an eye. She has; a tiny, cursing familiar; a swoon-worthy, long-legged guardian named Daniel; and a best friend who happily sticks with her through the thick of this interesting turn in her life. On top of all the laughs I had, there were many a times when Daniel had me wishing I were the one in the page getting his attention. Him and Lauren together once she got over the awkwardness of the situation, definitely was spicy! Days after reading this, it has still stuck with me and I am definitely telling all my friends about this! I hope to see more of these characters again one day, and especially more Agnes--that old spirit never gives a dull moment!!", "date_added": "Tue Sep 23 14:47:28 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 18 13:48:37 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Oct 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Sep 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "22819265", "review_id": "7231b01a9700ffd557a858ae87b2498a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I read a lot of Sofia Grey books, and I cannot believe I missed this short and sexy one. She set a sexy scene, a heart-breaking prose, and enough steam to melt your own panties off. Enjoyed this very much!", "date_added": "Wed Sep 17 23:53:12 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 12 10:35:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Aug 12 10:35:31 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "21120500", "review_id": "ad8cb7699a24c1d719082af0516f0cd6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great coming-of-age, fantasy read. This being a prequel to a full series, I felt it was written well and introduced the main character greatly. I admire the main character for maturing and learning to cope with her new life under rough circumstances. Full review to come soon.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 09 00:41:48 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 08 20:00:21 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "20528571", "review_id": "4347edcb487579699c50ce81cbdef696", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fun supernatural thriller to begin the early spirit of Halloween! Had a lot of fun reading as the main character discovered his identity and link together the strange things that begin to happen around him.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 01 19:29:26 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 09 14:22:36 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Sep 08 03:52:18 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "22043009", "review_id": "c4d00944a6c9884168701038003a7f51", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved this story! \n It had everything from; suspense, thrill, a great MC, and one hell of an alpha male. \n Quite the page turner. Looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series!", "date_added": "Sat Aug 23 19:24:42 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 10 17:21:00 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Aug 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "19307732", "review_id": "13517a959418964a80087305be317908", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Review to come soon!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 05 01:25:27 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 08 15:24:11 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "22836078", "review_id": "5b0cb1c1160bdfdb2f0e6c7d8e81187e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A terrifying yet electrifying ride through a dark, paranormal world! \n Before I begin my review, what I LOVED about this book: \n This is a young adult paranormal ADVENTURE, action packed and just a perfect dash of romance. \n I also absolutely loved the heroine! She's well-rounded, intelligent and tough-as-nails. I admire how she does not sway easily toward peer-pressure, and does what she feels needs to be done and how she wants to do it. Actually, all the characters were easy to become attached to as the reader! They were fun/funny, true and helpful- besides the one who was not so keen about the new girl LOL, but you'll see her intentions later once you read! \n I was thinking how cool it would be to possibly see future installments in some of their POV's, their own side of the story as they deal with all the danger that has been thrown their way. \n Now, not only were the characters such a win, but oh-my-gawd, the plot. This book is full of unique lore! You could tell the author has a passion and knows it well. It was so well thought out and the world-building was designed so flawlessly that I felt as if I were standing right beside them when things began to get wild. I was completely enveloped within this world! \n The story is told in the perspective of a young lady named Ashlyn, and she has not a thing on her mind save for passing the latest exams and getting accepted into her dream university -- even as the whole town is up in arms with paranoia about the world coming to an end. Well, funnily enough, the world survived yet another paranoid doomsday prediction, but her sanity most definitely did not! Coincidentally, shortly after the town's ludicrous fear dark voids began to appear; and it seemed as if she were the only person who could see them. \n She was so frazzled over her exams and worries of college acceptances, that she had started to believe these voids and the amethyst eyes which peered at her from within them, were all figments of her sleep-deprived imagination, causing her to make a complete fool of herself in public. \n To her dismay --which she will realize later-- she would be proven wrong. Her imagination was the least of her worries when a peculiar University sent her an acceptance letter, one that she didn't quite remember applying to. \n Seeing as her Oxford dreams were shattered in the shape of an envelope, and a tour to this bizarre and mysterious college called Blackstone University -- set in the town of which the Uni is named after-- she decided to go with it. \n Upon arrival, she found that she was not alone when it came to her strange run-ins with the voids and the demons that lurked in between her world and theirs. Needless to say, her calling to this college was undeniably destined. \n She finds herself housed with many other young men and women who have a lot more in common with her than she could ever imagine. Oh, can't forget about the resident-nut, Terence (lol!) He was one of my favorites; always screaming, making loud noises and making weird appearances in the kitchen and making a mess. He played an interesting part in the book. *bites lip* I'll say no more! \n Then you had Claudia who is a badass chick in heels and little black dresses!! The other flat-mates were just as awesome. \n Claudia is the one who breaks the news to her: no matter how normal Ash strives to be in her attempts to start a new life in this college, one that doesn't involve demon hallucinations, is a failed attempt. She's one of them whether she likes it or not and this madness was most definitely real. \n Shortly after meeting Claudia, she is introduced to the circle, a group of other Blackstone students who found themselves meant to be together, in unison of their abilities and family-ties. \n With the help of her new friends, Ashlyn is set out to find her place in this mad, magical world and just how deep her roots are set into this chaos, something her parents never clued her in on. Through these trials, one particular moment where Ash is fighting for her life, her powers appear unexpectedly and might I just say without an attempt to spoil, it's totally cool and chilling muahha! \n You know when my review is long that I immensely enjoyed myself as I was reading, sometimes I just can't shut up, and that's a bad thing when you don't want to spoil any of the good stuff, which is basically the entire book . . . yep, I did not find a single thing that I didn't like about this read other than the fact I got to the last page and realized I was back in reality!! I have a new favorite author and paranormal top-pick! :D I can't wait to discover what's next in this series", "date_added": "Mon Aug 04 03:35:10 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 09 14:25:54 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "21796783", "review_id": "81a60b89aafc71f68d3a6381f73190a2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Master of the Island is a prequel to the series \"Invitation to Eden\" --- a series that I am genuinely disappointed at myself for not finding sooner! The series consists of a different installment each written by another author, a brilliant and creative concept! \n This particular \"prequel\" was short in length - four chapters - but definitely was enough to get my curiosity piqued about this mysterious and broken Greek man with a marred face named Theodosius Vardalos. \n Mr. V-- as dubbed by a young lady named Joely who seriously reminds me of Kaylee Frye from the show \"Firefly\" -- purchases an island six months prior to the rest of the story. Joley comes into the picture when Theo is bantering back and forth with the charter employee at the private hanger after finding out his scheduled pilot called out sick and there's no one else available to fly him to his new getaway, the getaway he'd been vying for for months to seek refuge from gawking eyes and his broken past. \n Joely offers to fly him out there herself. He was skeptical at first, but desperate enough to take her on the offer. Upon arrival to the island, things get a little interesting to say the least. \n That's where I should leave it since it is a short snippet. But ah-my-gosh, lemme tell ya, it's h-a-w-t! \n I can easily admit that the ending left me wanting more; more about this lively, jubilant yet enigmatic Joely, more about the mysterious incident in the thicket of the forests when Mr. V awoke the next morning, and even more so, wanting to get to dig into his past to discover what in the hell happened to him?! \n Luckily, there is an entire series out there finished and ready to be in my hands and read! \n If you haven't read the series before the release of this prequel, this was a little something delicious to begin with. And hey, maybe we can read the series together, yeah? Let's go!", "date_added": "Tue May 13 14:32:15 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 08 15:24:41 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue May 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "15819010", "review_id": "c68a69940130b26417323e345f5a7b66", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Review to come -- loved it!", "date_added": "Wed Apr 16 14:11:56 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 24 16:13:15 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Apr 24 16:13:15 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Apr 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "12185933", "review_id": "7f33a63809f34d972cace027825042d8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It really didn't even feel short at all, I was very impressed. Settled in Europe many decades ago, this story is loaded with everything a fan of fantasy and paranormal desires to read. Jack, an American Solider after the war on his travels, finds himself hanging around a camp of Gypsy's one night playing cards. \n To his dismay, his luck turns out not so great after all when he wins bet after bet against Lucien, a gypsy who was then foolish enough to use his woman, Miranda, as his last betting piece. \n Once the cards fold, and the new lovers run off, jealousy and a gypsy curse spoken by Lucien sets the pace for the rest of the story. Miranda and Jack are off into the night, stuck in time around midnight, battling creature after creature on their way to execute the curse from their names. \n It was all just too much fun to read; steamy, HOT, frightening at times, everything that provokes a reader into an array of emotions, even laughter! I am most definitely a fan of Amelia James and I cannot wait to read more of Jack and Miranda's travels!", "date_added": "Wed Apr 09 20:23:58 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 08 15:24:50 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Apr 10 15:48:34 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "17731788", "review_id": "18ef76e50cf7c3146816363eaae2afc6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Sweet YA Paranormal story. Ever Harding is going through the motions of high school, when another hardship arises. Strange things begin to happen around her, strange people come out of the woodworks, and her body is undergoing something beyond her control. Ever finds she is of a long lineage of Mer People. I would love to know what comes next in her new exciting life!", "date_added": "Wed Apr 09 15:36:03 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 09 20:27:37 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "20889498", "review_id": "b39a1bc72041131d4cc825f7c0a45c6c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loooooved this! Review to come", "date_added": "Sat Mar 01 12:46:11 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 08 15:25:20 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "1169808", "review_id": "2b2a4d4ab61613d797379802b3754d3b", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Starting my re-read of the VD series shortly! weee!", "date_added": "Wed Feb 05 14:47:02 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 05 14:47:42 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "8205669", "review_id": "e0f084374b23fe41dd3e9f0251bad74a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I can always count on Janet Evanovich to give me a good laugh. I actually read the 2nd book to this series first by accident, but it's great to know that I didn't miss or spoil anything too significant! \n I love Glo and Lizzie, and of course Cat#7143! Though, I am finding it that every time I read a Evanovich book, I find myself craving a box of cupcakes x_x", "date_added": "Wed Jan 08 13:05:14 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 12 21:02:26 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "18187192", "review_id": "2334a2084954a62827e54b5ffc0549b0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Will add a review soon =)", "date_added": "Sun Jan 05 03:20:08 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 14 18:21:05 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "12308723", "review_id": "52b432b7f8b001dfae309dba159c6f08", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Another YA paranormal I'd be glad to recommend to others. Review to come.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 18 11:26:44 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 09 02:58:38 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Dec 09 02:58:38 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "18275922", "review_id": "26cc42f1bd5280e101a71f2c6608765e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Review to come", "date_added": "Fri Nov 15 23:27:38 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 09 16:19:43 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "2590477", "review_id": "e400f7b1ab004bea6d6442ff66e5a103", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Updated Review, as seen on my blog, The Booknatics. \n http://thebooknatics.blogspot.com/201... \n This was my first read by David Wellington, and I can certainly call myself a fan now and will indeed purchase more of his stories! This was an exciting, dark thrill that had me on the edge of my seat, white-knuckled just anticipating the worse that could possibly happen. But Tim...man this guy landed a rank in my book-boyfriends list, let's just say. \n He's nerdy and quite intelligent and his personality in the book is rather believable though he didn't have much to say as he finally made new acquaintances, but he was always thinking and plotting how to worm his way out of difficult occurrences and stay focused on his mission of revenge. \n Now, remember, while I am a girl, it's only natural that I make a comment like the one following this statement! I love action-packed Zombie novels just as much as any other person, but here's a little slip of the girl talk; he strikes me as a cool, collected man and while he may be calm in nature, he is the fierce protector, a loyal family man that any woman would be lucky enough to have; and he proves that by the measures he takes to accomplish his revenge on his dead family... \n But before I spoil anything past this little quip...here is my review. \n After accomplishing a full day at the annual American Library Association conference in Chicago Tim--our hero in this thrilling-ride of a book-- returns to his hotel room and flips on the television and is in disbelief when breaking news reports that a horrendous, flesh-eating plague has broken out in his home town of Seattle. \n Upon closer examination of the streams of live video feed, a tricky play of fate bestows him a brutal scene of his neighbor tearing out Tim's wife from the their car as their son fights for his life in the back seat. Tim's typical calm and reserved demeanor melts away and there's only one thing left on his mind. \n Revenge. \n He went in with the one thought on his mind, that he has absolutely nothing left to lose by doing this. I figured it's because he rather wipe-out the sucker who killed his family with the risk of dying in the process than not live in this new world without them. \n The military, acting fast, has evacuated and closed off sections all over the nation, dubbing infected areas as Plague-Zones, (which you will see abbreviated throughout the story as PZ's) and under tight orders to not let a single unaffected person through and nothing must leave. \n However, Tim's taste for revenge will not deter him from venturing into the plague-teeming enclosure. At this point, he's absolutely merciless and begins his venture home by foot as the break-out has ranged suddenly all over the country. It's a risky task, but, oh, this is just the beginning. \n Tim stumbles upon a whirl of misfortunes on his adventure back home, from being captured and contained by the military, escaping from the camp and even face to face encounters with the \"droolers\" themselves. \n Each of the acquaintances Tim meets on the way, all obtain traits that make for interesting, and attachable characters. I loved them all! My favorite was the bad-ass chick who took no crap and could handle a gun or two at a time with no hesitance at all LOL. \n There were several times I had to put my head back to laugh, because our quiet hero, when he did speak it was mostly during the most awkward of times. \n By the time Tim finally reached Seattle, I had to read standing up, because he was SO close to death, so close to his target and my heart was racing, praying that he was going to find that sucker and put him down. \n By the time I finally managed to sit back down, I shot right back up once I got to the last couple chapters. NO SPOILERS I proooomissee, but it was a tear jerker. \n I am so going to be recommending this to all of my zombie-loving friends.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 20 15:05:57 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 26 22:05:03 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "17860385", "review_id": "9f93d50554f9d2a831c1cc193e836074", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Interesting! I plan on reading the next couple prequels and then the actual story.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 22 16:37:06 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 22 17:28:24 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "17288193", "review_id": "797bd434a5bd13ea69f967cba09ce6d3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I absolutely cannot give away what the paranormality of this story is based on, it would SO give away the fun of the endless guessing, \"Just who the hell is JULIAN?! THIS BLUE EYED freakin' beauty who has the touch of magic and hot greatness?!\" --as said by me, countless times T_T *fans self* \n A hint for some of you who know me, it's my favorite genre, just put it that way, LOL. \n As you can see, I was totally gripped by this story. I was on the edge of my seat with suspense, turning page after page, laughing, snorting even face palming at certain points. Not a slow moment goes by and this story is so strongly written, that there really is nothing for me to complain about--AT ALL-- \n I have a soft spot for orphaned heroines, always will. Though not completely orphaned, rather, put in a foster home at a young age by her own mother who chose an abusive boyfriend over her own daughter is, Jona; who to me, was the perfect heroine. \n Jona is not full of herself, she knows where she came from. She gets into a LOT of trouble, and she's got quite the snarky mouth and is always finding herself in the local police department, so much that they know her by NAME! (LOL!) I totally get it though; I don't blame her for her attitude. She tries so hard to be tough on the exterior, but inside, she's just as broken as the next abused/neglected child, but she won't for one second let that softness show. Much respect. \n Funnily enough, she's made friends with one of the officers. He's got a good head on his shoulders and tries so hard to keep Jona grounded-- he's so protective of her, it makes me so happy that I can't help but smile. I love it, because, after all the bad stuff she goes through as a child, there's one person in the world she can fully trust. It's a completely platonic thing between them, which is nice because ultimately, there is no real love triangle going on, which betters focuses on the story that's to come later. \n Well, the story begins with the one last troubled incident that Jona got herself into and is the last straw for her, no more free out of trouble cards-- The county judge has put his foot down and has demanded that she put in some time for community service...but in a totally different country... with her mother... in France. *shifty eyes* \n Turning to face the crowd in the courtroom, she sees her mother , back in town and is severely ill with not much time left... And a seriously gorgeous, young, blue eyed boy who... ew... cannot stop touching her mother! \n As you read on, you'll begin to question as well, just who is Julian...There's definitely something strange in the way his touch on your skin melts you into a state of peace and tranquility. \n Anyhoo, --trying so hard not to spoil anything, I am already raving enough, this may be the longest review I've done LOL-- \n Jona begins to see that the relationship between her mother and him, is stranger than she could think. What is this old hag doing with someone close to her age?!?! \n I love how Julian is just as snarky, he's sexy in an enigmatic, sleek way that you may be finding yourself even dreaming of him at night. \n The romance that builds from here takes time, just like love you would find outside of the fictional world. Jona begins to see that it's okay to soften, that it's okay to forgive her mother and let people in. She's fallen in adoration for the house maids and everyone else, that she even begins to let Julian in... A beautiful friendship is bonded, and then so much more to come between them. \n But, my dear friends, this story will explode the closer you get to the ending, SO much more exciting! There was NO way I was going to put this book down!! \n I am such a huge fan of this author now, that I will have to buy every book of hers now, just to be wrapped up in her style of writing for days to come; to be lost in fictional world that feels so real, is truly a pleasure.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 29 19:23:08 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 19 00:14:40 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "17612202", "review_id": "e02a2b7274612e3e2c30a55f3fc4a051", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loooove looveee this. Review coming soon!", "date_added": "Sun Aug 18 12:29:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 08 22:15:37 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Sep 09 22:15:37 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "18042455", "review_id": "8552ca0cb6bacb1b377cf7346869668f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I absolutely love this story! HOT HOT HOT! We are provided with an exhilarating story chock-full of action, lust, and mystery as we follow heroine Lexia on her journey as she makes a new discovery in a moment of desperate survival. She has no idea what's happening to her or what she's becoming, but she feels the certain darkness that begins to overwhelm her soul. \n I am always a sucker for panther -- or any feline for that matter-- shape shifter. So I was incredibly happy with a new dangerous hero to be added on to the very prestigious list of book boyfriends we adore! He's protective, handsome, and sure knows how to make a girl sweat. \n There are many hardships Lexia is forced to overcome as soon she learns more about her history, her mother, what she is. You have to feel sorry for her, everything around her is just crumbling with this new found darkness that she just cannot control. What she would give to just go back to living a normal life, giggling over mundane and other girly things with her best friend Alice, and go back to living her quiet life with her single father. \n After certain events, the darkness pulls her in, and this is where I am excited to see what happens next! We will be anxiously waiting over at the Booknatics, just LOVED this story! \n Rachel has a VERY promising career ahead of her as an author, and I am excited to see where this series takes us, the reader, as well! \n She know's what really captures a girls heart when it comes to a book, and she writes it WELL!", "date_added": "Sat Aug 17 23:06:40 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 22 03:18:09 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 22 03:18:09 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "15734163", "review_id": "693c9f6872711516b9dfe1b739b29c70", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh. My. Gawd. \n This book had me laughing, panting and white knuckled throughout the entire read. \n The characters are lovable, hilarious and snarky, adventurous, and despite this being Urban Fantasy, REAL! \n It was easy to forget my surroundings while reading this, was totally involved with this from start to end. \n Eden has been suffering sleepwalking since she was younger and is aware of her \"other personality\" and is desperate to regain control of her life. She's even more desperate once she realizes she may be responsible -- rather, her other half is -- for the death of someone. She seeks help from a life coach named Mitch who wants nothing to do with her crazy ass, claiming that is far beyond his area of expertise and just wants her out of his air. Mitch has his own problems, and the incident of his sisters death being brought up constantly by detectives, he has other more important things to worry about. \n After weeks of Eden's alter ego stalking him, following him to his house, Mitch realizes this won't be easy. He decides to work with her, and quickly falls under her spell when after meeting her fiery second personality. But even more unexpectedly, finds that Eden, herself unknowingly, has gotten through to him, pricks right through the tough front he's played for so long. \n As the story goes on, more deaths occur, more tears escape as Eden believes she is a monster and behind these murders she hears around town. Mitch refuses to believe it but begins to notice a pattern in her alterations. \n As total opposites they are from each other, he begins to see that she may not be much more different than him. . . he, too, fights a beast inside. The chemistry between them is EXPLOSIVE. They grow closer and closer as the days go by as they try to unravel what's behind the mystery surrounding her condition, behind the deaths in town. \n Despite how much of a sarcastic asshole Mitch comes off as, we as the reader, discover he just wants to do what's right, protect others from the evil in him that he doesn't quite understand. I found myself admired by him quite quickly. He's amazing through and through, sweet, passionate, and protective. DEFINITELY a high mark on my list of Book Boyfriends! \n \"Mitch could feel Hyde's eagerness, his anticipation of freedom. It hit him in the gut, right below where Eden had rested her head in the shower. Where her tears had fallen. He was getting close to her, wanting to be more than he could be. For her . . .\" \n The evil masterminds behind the suspicious events, slowly begin to reveal themselves . . . The Clinic. This is when things get more wild by the second, and we have to begin worrying what is to come of their fate? \n This is one of those reviews where I back-pedaling in my typing, deleting like mad and shouting at myself to shut up and not spoil anything LOL! I HIGHLY recommend this, dark and exciting novel to anyone who loves a great Urban fantasy and refreshing twists on classics. Believe me, you haven't read a re-telling like this one.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 16 15:47:26 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 08 15:26:21 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Nov 26 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "15985610", "review_id": "755e5b816032b3c4a9dfb346ea4f6fd4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A sweet paranormal short. You will be making guesses all through out the book trying to figure out why this boy is the only one who can see her, this girl, a ghost. All I can say is, \"fate\". There really is someone for everyone. ;)", "date_added": "Thu Aug 15 03:18:37 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 29 19:25:38 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "17734856", "review_id": "fc7f62c88e440154ba1d75d9b46a7a6f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Firstly, thank you, Jennifer, for a copy of your book to review! \n Where to start? \n I was an instant fan of Ms. Sage from the moment I finished the first few chapters. \n The first installment in the \"Guardian Archives\" gave me a sense of familiarity of worlds I have fallen in love with in the past. However, it certainly holds up its own brand of uniqueness. The world-building is so incredible that I fell instantly drawn in. In fact, I didn't even realize how absorbed into the story I was until my dog started howling at the neighbors. I jolted out of the scene, finding that I was several chapters in, just absolutely startled. THAT my lovelies, means triumph to the author who can cause any sort of reaction like that out of me. \n I have also got to say, I am a huge fan of \"Brotherhood\" like novels; for the amount of time that my friends and I spend battling over book boyfriends, there's one for each of us to fall in love with and claim! And that certainly does not exclude this brotherhood of Guardians-- which by the way, everyone already knows I am quite obsessed with anything Angel/Guardian related. So this series is a huge bonus for me! We had a mixture of our deep fantasies of flawed and dangerous heroes, and relatable characters we can nod our head in agreement to many things they mention or find bothersome/enjoyable. The author says so in her biography, that she loves to add a bit of herself into each of her stories. I agree that it's vital in the making of a world that is still so far out there, but doesn't distract the reader from stopping a moment realizing, there's no traces of any soul in any characters! \n Oh believe me, Ms. Sage aced that! Her characters are nothing short of vibrancy and life. \n The few characters we were introduced to from the beginning were completely fascinating from the get-go. First, we are taken through a moment in Keltor's head and experience the pain he suffered from losing his wife and children. Then, he is paid a visit by his \"Brother\", Lucio, and is given a task to \"babysit\" a unsuspecting Keeper, because she lives a mere mortal life and has no idea who she is-- it's time for her to be trained and learn exactly who she is. Keltor is trusted for this task over any of the other Brothers, simply because of his pained past; they know he cannot afford, nor has the ability to fall in love and mess things up. \n Later, we were introduced to more characters who all have their own roles in the main characters lives and the ones trying to screw everything up. \n There were quite a few plot twists and surprising incidents, and things just kept getting more and more intense. I had my hypothesis all planned out for the ending, but was delighted to see things were unpredictable. I am definitely going on to the next book as soon as it's available! \n Some of the extra perks I found to be brilliant in this story was the witty dialogue, there were quite a few comical situations and arguments. Ms. Sage's ability to create such raw emotions through words, is truly enveloping. \n I wanted to reach through the pages so many times to give each of the characters the biggest of hugs. Oh, not to mention... the SEXUAL TENSION?! I live for it, HAHA! It was at times so frustrating that I had to throw my head back and mumble a few expletives, but in all honesty, I have such a guilty pleasure of teases such as those scenes. Well done, Ms. Sage, well done. ;) \n However batty the frustration drove us, it was totally worth it later on. Freakin'. HOT. Just explosive. You'll see. \n I will definitely be recommending this to any of my friends who appreciate superb PNR .", "date_added": "Mon Aug 12 20:45:59 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 09 00:48:28 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "18004404", "review_id": "45462c800eaad795db3fea8d6c70cd4e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "((review soon)", "date_added": "Sun Aug 11 23:40:39 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 29 15:51:35 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 29 15:51:35 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "18006501", "review_id": "970ef71c5326f6386caa04e9d8efe605", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Krystle and I will be doing a combined review for this story shortly! Be sure to stop by our facebook page and blog to see what we gush about! \n Here are some personal thoughts \n This is a sweet tale of a girl who has lost everything and the only comfort she has to get through the day is knowing that when she sleeps for the night, her dream man will make his return as he does every night. Her days consist of therapy sessions and mopping around keeping to herself as she lives frugally off her parents life insurance. \n She just does not have the will to get better. And though she can feel her dream man during the day, she believes it just comes with the craziness that consumes her after the loss of her parents. Little does she know, this man in her dreams is a special sort of Angel, there to help her overcome the stages of grief. \n To become a Guardian Angel, he must prove himself by his tasks. It doesn't help that he does the one thing that goes against everything the code stands for. He falls in love with this broken hearted beauty. \n After a series of events and Casey being approached by the Higher being, they conclude they must do what is best for each other, using their love as a sacrifice to ensure they live the best they can without any more heartbreak. Read to find out what concludes of their love. Exciting stuff!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 31 22:23:06 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 06 17:20:19 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "18273979", "review_id": "315e8fbbb385c5ef9fce05b98cd2752f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "These were all very fun to read!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 31 20:58:48 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 08 15:26:42 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Aug 02 14:57:55 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "9285458", "review_id": "b9a65ad92e02920d513a90289edaab76", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Sexy and entertaining! Full review to come", "date_added": "Mon Jul 29 23:38:32 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 29 19:24:47 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "16150956", "review_id": "da705a12b30c4e108e3e0e6a6e89c4c9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Awesome! This book feels like a twist to Disney's Little Mermaid, the curious and brave Ariel most of us grew up idolizing, set in a dystopian world. I have not read anything like this before and I am glad to say this is good for most younger/teen readers. I'll be working on a review for this soon!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 29 23:24:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 06 20:24:43 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jul 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "18051912", "review_id": "f38dc4345030211b2368399607f5000c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Was given a copy of this for a review. Will post it shortly!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 22 22:04:48 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 24 14:34:59 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 24 14:34:59 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "18219006", "review_id": "9b25f7355de1258e7faa1abf7a0e7182", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another spectacular story by Tina Pollick. Thank you for an early read! \n This page turner is all sexy, thrilling and frightening. A perfect mix for a gripping read! \n Three years prior, two jaded adults -- one who lives in our realm, and the other is a soul broker \"owned\" by an evil woman named Olesha in the depths of hell-- had a bump-in(literally) as strangers, and realizing the chemistry between them, they figure it's time to give love another chance. Drew is a complete flirt, and Mackenzie has this shy charm about her, which makes the agreement to have a dinner date the next night even the sweeter. Especially when things took a naughty turn at the end of the night, ;) \n Only, when Mackenzie wakes up the next morning and he's no where to be found, she's furious. She has no earthly idea what he is, a mere \"soul broker trophy\" who was summoned back \"home\" that night, and spends the next three years chained in the throne room for his earthly encounter with the human girl. \n Things quickly become frightening when Olesha comes to Drew with a new task. He must return to earth, revisit Mackenzie, and bring back what she feels, as his master, belongs to her. His three year old daughter Sophie. \n He agrees to it, then us as a reader, we wonder if he will fight for love, or do as his master says. \n Tina has quite a talent at keeping things suspenseful, magical, and goodness must I add, sexy. She completely proves not everything from hell is completely evil! Drew has made it to my Dreamy Book Boyfriend list, he's amazing! Not only is he steaming hot, but he has this emotional depth to him that just makes a girl want to cry. I really, really don't want to spoil my reasoning's for this statement. Go, go, get your copy now! \n 5 stars for this paranormal romance thriller!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 22 22:03:11 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 08 15:27:14 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "6304335", "review_id": "b55548c9a8cc8ff7372d693c2320ccba", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Finally got around to watching the film adaptation of this book and decided to re-read this novel to set me up to start the next in the series. I think I enjoyed it more the second time around. I feel this is so much more than your average YA romance. I feel this is also a lot more about controlling your own destiny and the sacrifices you make to save the ones you love and stand for what you believe in no matter what anyone tries to tell you who are meant to be. With a complex history to set the plot for the two main characters, a strong heroine, and a handsome, southern gentleman to be there at her side through thick and thin, it's a story that will stick with you for ages--or it will for me at least. I can't wait to finally read the following installments!", "date_added": "Sat Jul 20 19:37:57 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 22 09:30:48 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon May 25 00:41:27 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "9380186", "review_id": "1bbd49d5c21bc706809ca0d8b6d85d06", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sexy, adventurous, and a little bit scary. LOVED IT even more the second time around!! Time to catch up with the rest of the series now.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 18 13:40:43 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri May 20 07:01:12 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jul 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "17901131", "review_id": "6f7dd99a8ab5a118d55962f64409395d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Cyril and Linden are the perfect match for each other. I have laughed my butt off, I have melted into a big puddle on the floor, and I have most definitely swooned until near fainting while reading this book LOL! \n What I love the most about this book, is that Renea has created a refreshing, paranormal world unlike any I have ever read. Our alpha-hero in this story is one big, bad, mysterious, God-like man with an assortment of abilities and a paranormal-race unlike anything you may have witnessed. I think you may wish to read the book yourself to discover just exactly who he is rather than hearing my spill the beans--oh trust me, the sex appeal of this man is worth it! \n Our hero comes to a symphony where he meets our heroine, Linden, who is raising money--and this is where the suspense starts to take a hold on you! Linden is positive she knows this man. How could she not remember a face like that, his voice, everything about him that she fell in love with years ago; but he claims to have no recollection of their past though it feels familiar--and he absolutely has his suspicions in what role she plays in his life. He is eager to unravel the mystery and will do whatever it takes to find her place in his heart. \n After a series of twists and turns and eluding many moments of danger, everything falls into place and it will be a beautiful, yet, bitter-sweet experience. Linden and Cyril's relationship together, is a certain and entertaining symphony, indeed. \n I would love to tell you ladies to back off and leave Cyril for me, and me only LOL but this is seriously a book that I feel the need to share and recommend. HIGLY recommend for all you paranormal lovers out there. I wanna hear what you guys think about Cyril when you find out just who and what he is! I love it!! I'll be putting this up on the blog shortly!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 17 18:47:54 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 11 19:22:28 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "17186778", "review_id": "7e227f1a1ef37eac2113d849631d6608", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The author did an astounding job on historical-accuracy when it comes to wardrobe and dialogue. \n This is a historical-fantasy. Quick paced with heart-fluttering romance, lovable characters, and great world-building. A magical tale I'd love to live! \n This was a truly adorable story with a magical twist on Arthur, Guinevere, and the rest of the popular King Arthur legends we have grown up loving. Guinevere discovers she inherits her mother's Druid powers. She's brave, independent, stubborn but all around lovable. \n This is a true Romantic Adventure, and I cannot wait to read what's left in the series!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 28 16:57:42 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 24 16:09:45 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "17936638", "review_id": "4f506d6686ff2c3a5b33eb423a57c863", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It was the cover that first captivated me. I felt a pull, a need to discover the story withheld in the loving, embracing expressions. The title just makes it even more intriguing. Though later as you read on, you realize the characters aren't portrayed as described. It doesn't affect the story line, though. \n The synopsis grabbed me as well, my love for theater is a great one, vampires and theater! Different, yet curious! \n This is one of those fantastical stories where two complete opposites collide and love blossoms right before them. Beautiful Monster makes a completely unique dive into the paranormal world, as this whole story takes place at a popular performing academy. It's one of the biggest performing schools in the nation, and a complete dream school for Amy. Only thing holding her back, her father and her impending doom of HIV. \n Amy has been sneaking into the academy pretty much half of her life, when her father leaves for work, who works there as a chef. This very school is what developed her passions for performing and spent all her free time home schooled hours studying different techniques and making friends around the world who share the same ambition. \n Amy suffers from a terrible disease and lives a sheltered and poor life but life takes a wild turn when she finds herself backstage during a scholarship program. \n Then there's Liam, who is the hot, young, Hollywood grandson of retired school headmaster, and holds a dark, deep, and dangerous secret. Taking place of his grandfather, Liam is responsible for leading the previous stated scholarship program. He is taken aback by a certain participant, absolutely captivated by a graceful performer and decides to cast her as the leading part, Belle. \n Who would ever suspect a shy, outsider girl would captivate the heart of Hollywood's most talented heart throb--even one who has the darkest secret of all. \n I rated this book 4 1/2 stars. \n Beautiful story, with lovable, real characters, and a unique setting. Forrest tells an enchanting story in such a creative, almost poetic manner.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 26 03:50:42 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed May 03 09:30:44 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 8}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "18105681", "review_id": "bbed6fafac34194d4e5539b25e18ebee", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Please visit http://thebooknatics.blogspot.com/ tomorrow for a spotlight on the authors and a combined review from Krystle and I! We had so much fun reading this book! Combined review and Spotlight will be up somewhere around noon. Thank you so much, Tina and Elizabeth for your time and all the great things you do for us fans! \n Nerdvana. Where happy readers go to ponder their thoughts after reading a brilliant book. I'm stuck there at the moment. My heart is a happy one after reading this! My obsessions for the Celtic world, Mythology, Adventure and fantasy has been concocted into one epic story. Some friends on Goodreads and I have a list what we call, The Book Boyfriend list, and a couple of our lead characters have landed their names on this list, let's just say. \n Elizabeth and Tina have created a spectacular and original story that begins with a mysterious woman who arouses your curiosity as she speaks to her chosen men in hoods about holding the vessel of \n Humanity's hope. Her men are chosen as the perfect guard and to prepare for a time when humanity will be threatened. She knows it's coming, but not so sure when that time will come. \n Every character plays such a vital part in this story. I really appreciate that, and there are no loose ends! Each character has a significance to thicken the plot and raise the thrill. You get a slap in the face, jaw dropping moment when a handsome warrior is approached by a mysterious man, and he's utterly pissed off by the one they call \"Mother.\" The woman in the beginning of the story has what he wants. The vessel which was claimed to hold the, \"hope of humanity\" and will do anything it takes to get his hands on it. He is after all...Aries. The God of War. \n The handsome warrior, Lucian, is persuaded into a lifelong servitude to Aries, only to turn on his own men, his brothers. \n Man oh man, I sympathized for him the entire time. He dreamt of the \"What if's\" always stuck in enslavement for a malevolent man, to never be treated with respect, always feeling undeserving. \n Then we are introduced a Templar, named Evan, who has been assigned to watch a Wiccan girl who unknowingly holds the key to gateway to \"humanity's last hope\". Danger is near and he is sent to warn her and protect her. Yeah, imagine how that conversation went down as he had to break it to her he's been creepin' up on her and she had noooo idea he even existed. \n Okay, you see that I am getting excited talking about this! But all in all, there are many heart wrenching, edge-of-your-seat gasping, and excitement. Thank you Tina and Elizabeth for allowing Krystle and I to have an early read!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 20 23:22:48 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 08 15:32:34 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "12363064", "review_id": "1d4a6b4338b17be48e1b0bbebeb7c383", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Super short, but still manages to pull off what I believe to be a great beginning to a fun series. I'm a little sad the mother had to die in the beginning so graphically. Chloe is abducted from her home to be taken to her father, a vampire. The goons which had killed her mother (a vampire hunter) were blindsided by a group of her mothers clan and Chloe is taken as a rescue to a striving village full of other vampire hunters. Trained by her grandfather.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 20 08:57:50 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 24 02:23:18 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jun 24 02:23:18 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jun 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "16288155", "review_id": "d7df433ce4e0b4a05d7dccac36e5caa6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it, review soon. :))", "date_added": "Wed Jun 19 14:01:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 23 21:12:43 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "12312972", "review_id": "8e491bb267dc5bb313b74fb2e6f6b37a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3 1/2 stars. A quick and fun read! Love overcomes hate for 2 very alpha characters. Looking to do a review for this series soon", "date_added": "Wed Jun 19 11:08:28 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 21 01:20:55 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jun 21 01:20:55 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "7862725", "review_id": "6ee570a7d21f0b7d1241d6ba8580519e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Review soon!!", "date_added": "Sat Jun 15 00:21:02 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 26 20:22:29 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "17880998", "review_id": "921ede91d4a95904f4bf357330a60900", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Excited for the next story to come out! :)", "date_added": "Fri Jun 14 14:59:45 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 08 15:27:38 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jun 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jun 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "17886001", "review_id": "1ff9f3ae79b87dff58c98c6b2468d2bd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I enjoyed it. A fun and quick read. Will post a review later =)", "date_added": "Tue Jun 11 15:54:55 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 14 15:05:19 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "12980966", "review_id": "8b332fe3041fdf2af94d3786558ecd7a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "For the full review, please visit our blog! \n Please subscribe for fun discussions, events, and more. =) \n http://thebooknatics.blogspot.com/ \n I have to start off by mentioning this stunning cover. I was flipping around in the free Kindle section per usual, and as much as I hate to admit it, the cover drew me in like a fish on a hook. The picture alone conveys a story, leaving you with curiosity and a wish to discover the story her expression withholds. Besides my poetic love for art, the colors make the cover even more enchanting! So, down to the synopsis I go. Here, I see key words such as, \"Elementals\", \"The Dreaming\", and \"Biologist\", a story that is paranormal AND revolves around animals/aquatic life? I knew I was in for a special adventure. \n Secondly, this book is not intended for anyone under 18+ to read! Naughty scenes ahead! \n What I really liked about this story is the world building and likable, real and flawed characters. Although, as a lot of people have stated that the start of the book is slow and takes time to grasp and get in the groove of as there is a full glossary to learn to fully understand the story as you go, it has at least earned the acknowledgment of being a completely refreshing paranormal premise with a unique race and an exceptional adventure. Two lovers who meet in a dream, one of which is fully aware of the reality of the dream, the other is blinded by the ignorance of fantasy. \n The two main characters, Gavin and Zoe, are complete strangers on two entirely different sides of the planet and both are entirely different in personalities. Both hold a cold, rough past that has shaped them to be who they are today, yet were destined to be together. \n Gavin is a all-out rock star and in a popular Australian rock band which he also writes for, and Zoe's a brave, sincere, dedicated and geeky, yet tough-as-nails woman. \n Whereas Zoe strives and betters herself by following her heart and commits all her time and love into her career as a Marine Biologist, tagging and rescuing whales off the Hervey Bay, Gavin is completely out of control, pained from losing the love of his life, the one girl he was assigned to protect in The Dreaming. Who doesn't love a passionate, strong and talented musical hotty? \n All in all, it's in their duty to protect the dreaming from the imbalance of Fyre and Water. And, though fate has brought them love, can it just as easily be taken away? \n Other thoughts: \n *Gavin and Zoe are the dynamic-duo, beating baddies together \n *When is Zoe ever going to find out this is all real?? That her Mr. Perfect is real, he's not JUST a dream! AH! \n *I seriously want to smack Scarlett so hard. Back off, betch! \n *Can I have Gavin as my own book boyfriend?! \n *I love how Zoe ends up finding excuses to take a nap to recreate and continue where Perfect (as she's named him) and her left off. Steamy sex on the beach, and other exciting places. She can't believe how real it feels when she wakes up. Kinky huh? \n *The ancient Aboriginal Yileen was the perfect mediator in the story. Old friend to Gavin, and is in the know about Scarlett and her malevolent intentions and hints to Gavin and Zoe about grave danger \n This thrilling, very original series will leave you breathless from one steamy scene to another, and thrilling rides with each page turned.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 11 15:36:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 13 18:27:37 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "17282542", "review_id": "5c90043c4748366443ee38d36b5fe132", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it! Review for it soon", "date_added": "Sun Jun 02 13:41:03 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 08 15:32:41 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jun 04 15:20:59 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "6468718", "review_id": "f7c14ad345dc67e4d6e1be85038be3e4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Review for this soon!!!", "date_added": "Fri May 10 19:59:35 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue May 14 13:38:45 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue May 14 13:38:45 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri May 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "17261634", "review_id": "25e7b5c73c5ccdfd579716fe36bcde95", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Review for this soon =D", "date_added": "Sat May 04 14:37:59 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 08 15:32:48 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed May 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "17451218", "review_id": "f71046aa15636a1b3ba526988563e8e5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Review for this soon ;)", "date_added": "Fri May 03 16:29:27 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue May 14 13:39:04 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue May 14 13:39:04 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "13628203", "review_id": "6e126adb333e9630d2429bee334df3ef", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Also on our blog:http://thebooknatics.blogspot.com/ \n Check it out? :) \n I have always been fascinated with the studies of mythology, Greek being the top of my favorites! I get so giddy when I get my hands on reads such as this! It has to be the thrill of living fictionally and vicariously in the eyes of a modern day girl who has the opportunity to experience every geek-girls mythical God dream! \n I have to start off by saying, Rosanna Leo certainly is charming, and it shines through her writing radiantly! Her characters are full of SO much life, and the dialogue between characters will have you in giggling fits. And I know I am not the first to say, but I undoubtedly identified with Maia, (our lead character) and that bond/connection is one of the best affairs for a reader to experience. She's pretty awkward, but she's deeply passionate about the things and people she keeps close, has her own sense of style of clothing choice and not a care what people think of it, and just so much more, I adore her! \n Maia works as a conservator and expert in the Ancient Greek department of a Museum she grew up in as her father had worked there. Ever since she was five years old, she had a strange infatuation for a particular statue, her favorite piece which began her peculiar crush on the mythical Greek God of love, Eryx. She even swore it would wink at her at times and found herself speaking to the statue as if it were an actual person. Maia grows up to be an intelligent and devoted woman, a true expert on everything Greek. The story takes an interesting turn for Maia when the new Museum director, Lord Eric, arrives and has a striking semblance to the man of her dreams. (Literally) \n She thinks she must be going crazy, it couldn't possibly be him. He's only myth...right? As soon as he arrives, the department is being turned upside down, and layoffs are happening left and right. Maia fears she may be next, but Lord Eric begins to act strange around her. Almost as if this insanely gorgeous man... was attracted to her? Maia feels like she really must be going insane. She's so clouded by her insecurities she can't comprehend the fantasy becoming reality, and as we find out Lord Eric can't even explain why he's so drawn to her. He proves to her his identity and romance buds right before our eyes, but when we the reader least expect it, the plot really thickens. \n A sick and deranged Goddess has it out for Eryx, beholding an ancient grudge. She will do whatever it takes to separate the lovers to leave Eryx's heart in shambles forever. The thrill is edge-of-your-seat intense, leaving you rooting and praying for everything to turn out alright between the star-crossed lovers. \n As a lover of mythology and romantic affairs, Leo did not disappoint. It's everything I imagined for a modern day woman who lives with her head in the clouds, who ever had a wish for something she so desired to come true. Oh, if only we could all have our own Greek God. \n I really rather not spoil the greatness of this book, so the cryptic last paragraph will just have to do for you till you read it! Believe me when I tell you, fellow mythology nerds, if you love romance with spice and lore, this charismatic book is something you do NOT want to miss. What are you waiting for, go get it! \n http://www.amazon.com/For-Love-God-eb...", "date_added": "Fri Apr 26 23:34:09 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 17 12:59:19 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 7}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "17739980", "review_id": "fa6c5ce09804e44944c78066eca265fa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Review also on: http://thebooknatic.wordpress.com/ \n Some of you by now know that I am completely obsessed with Ancient Egypt mythology. I was ecstatic when a copy of this story was offered to me. Of all the day dreams I've ever fantasized of the Ancient Egyptian times with all its art, artifacts, Gods, and architecture, I never once imagined such an exotic and risque passion of the Gods of those times. Which made this read all the more pleasurable for me. \n This is a short story set in Modern day Egypt, Michelle Beaumont works as a curator and has an undying love for Ancient Egypt, and it's no coincidence. After a thrilling chain of events, she learns that she is not exactly who she thought to be. She is one part of a God's soul (ka). The one and only, leopard skin bearing, Ra. \n The Egyptian Son God is resurrected as Michelle and her team finishes repairs on an ancient and damaged Obelisk. Michelle feels the undeniable and magnetic pull instantly. This is the man of her dreams...literally. More importantly, Michelle learns this encounter with Ra isn't the first time they've been united. \n *Cue's suspenseful music* Read to find out! \n (Oh, now come on guys. You know I don't like spoiling! And this is definitely worth every page to find out for yourself!) \n But just as quick as Ra appears below the newly repaired Obelisk, danger is in their sights and to Michelle's disbelief, the person who is destined to jeopardize Ra's and Michelle's relationship, was under her nose all for the last two decades. Will they ever escape the vicious cycle of their perpetual curse? \n There is one naughty scene, where the awakening of Michelle's long lost powers return to her, and man, it was sun-sizzling hot and naughty! \n Sophia Jones is absolutely brilliant! The story was riveting, witty and surprisingly hilarious but most notably, a profound sentimental value of undying love. The awesome thing about this book, it has all the key elements to keep the reader on the edge of their seat; mystery, thrill, romance, comical dialogue, and exotic location! My geeky heart is a happy one today.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 26 18:58:43 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 08 15:31:44 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "44170", "review_id": "8cf0a4f858790ead5c2d17f07ae7c88d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3 1/2. Review for this soon", "date_added": "Fri Apr 19 19:34:40 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 08 14:31:09 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jun 08 14:31:08 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "12135215", "review_id": "971d7f54a0ddf1ce0919c550d4a3f466", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Review for this soon", "date_added": "Mon Apr 08 15:52:56 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 16 01:03:44 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Apr 16 01:03:44 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Apr 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "17444496", "review_id": "e0998f2d54b74e4163234100a52ac6a0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Sometimes when I have the time to sit back and relax, I love to explore Amazon for Kindle freebies, and most often cases run into little gems like this. I was amazed to see there were not many reviews for this fascinating bewitched tale. I think what caught my attention at first was the cover. My first though when looking at it, I thought, \"Man, she looks a lot like Elena from Vampire Diaries.\" Also how lovely yet simple the cover is, perfectly depicts the title. \n So getting into the first chapter of the book, you learn that our Heroine is indeed named Elena. She's a well put together, young and intelligent private investigator and works with missing person cases. She's approached by a mother and is set on an investigation to find her missing teenage daughter. Little did Elena know, just what she was getting herself into. Solving many cases of ordinary missing person cases, Elena finds herself in a world of magic, darkness and danger when she's undercover investigating a Goth club downtown where the missing girl was known to visit. Here she meets the enigmatic Vittorio, club owner and drop-dead handsome man. \n Indescribable passion strikes them when they are near each other, and never able to control how they feel for one another. The two characters finally discover what great things they can bring to the world by being together, magic awakens in Elena. Then, things suddenly take a turn in the investigation, leaving me on the edge of my seat. These two characters together make for some steamy, fervent scenes. And per usual, I hope this vague opinion of mine will spike a bit of interest for you to get on Amazon and get this book, I hate to spoil anything drastic, and like so many other books I love, I try to be careful, because the magic this book contains is best when experiencing it on your own! \n All in all, the mystery, the paranormal, and the romance, all together make for an enthralling story. I believe if you like books such as Night Huntress, Vampires in America, and Sentinel Wars, this book will blow you away. I cannot wait to see what happens next. Thank goodness for Kindle apps, I would have never found this piece of treasure.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 23 18:47:46 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 17 16:31:00 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Apr 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "15869682", "review_id": "db309a9b9ca4203df8789e4d68580ca1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Review coming soon! Got my copy at Booksneeze.com for a read to review. Enjoyed it very much!", "date_added": "Sun Mar 17 16:00:49 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 23 16:42:17 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Mar 23 16:42:17 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "17399863", "review_id": "aba423ebf57979af1177bcf8708cde7c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have not read a great epic fantasy in such a long time, this was honestly very refreshing. Thank you for a copy of this story for a review, Dean! \n The tone of this novel was exceptionally well written. It's a poetic, dark, and adventurous tale told in the eyes of a man named Ifferon who is the last of his bloodline of the God, Telm. Telm had banished a beast name Agon to the underworld and on Telm's death-bed, he requested that Ifferon carries the duty to ensure the imprisonment of Agon. But this task and its journey which leads to the outer world will be far from simple. \n Here we see a tremendous transformation of Ifferon, brilliant character development. In the beginning, he was weak, but through his endeavors, he meets great friends, enemies, and becomes the stuff made of heroes. \n Like all epic adventures, there are many places, many characters of different races and abilities. We are by far not left short on a true mythical expedition. \n Wilson obtains an outstanding talent to keep the reader captivated by painting with the power of words a world entirely unique, dark, dangerous and all so exciting. There were moments I felt as if I were there in on his journey, had to blink a few times and think to myself, \"Wow, where did time go?\" \n I hear this is just the first book in a series? I cannot wait to see what happens next on this exhilarating adventure! \n (Did I mention this was his debut novel? Seriously, it's written as if by a man of decades of experience. Pure genius, and that my friends, is not exaggerated. This guy knows what he loves!)", "date_added": "Sat Mar 16 20:54:31 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 22 23:21:52 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "12444297", "review_id": "bb1f565cdb1d763441eec399ab4cf385", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I tried so hard to take my time with this book so that I don't have to leave the Fever world for too long, but just like every other installment in this series, it keeps you sucked in! Surprises on every page and steam-packed scenes that will have you dry-mouthed and lightheaded. \n As always, I was absolutely hooked, addicted, and rabid while reading this--was not to be disturbed! \n Without giving away spoilers, Dani ran away from Mac and into a Silver and for months could not be found. As Mac and the rest of the gang are figuring out how to rescue Christian, Dani returns and is no longer the little gamine girl everyone remembers and has a new crew of her own who have taken over the Abbey. \n After some serious bickering and battles, they all finally team up and focus on what's important---rescuing Christian from the Crimson Hag who has him hung on a mountain side while she harvests his innards each time he re-heals. My poor Highlander =( \n I have to say, I think I grew to fall in love with Ryodan this book. I had a feeling he would get to me sooner or later, but I have a whole new respect earned for him now. \n Mac, she will always be my favorite heroine. Dani . . . I miss that foul mouthed little girl lol, but I adore the new her and am excited to see what's to come in new installments. \n KMM, I LOVE YOU! lol! Thank you for yet another AMAZING, emotional-rollercoaster ride in the Fever world!", "date_added": "Sun Mar 10 17:07:57 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue May 05 13:33:31 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue May 05 13:33:31 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "12304615", "review_id": "07467c06dd2565bd46fbaf8898e81e3a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "(Also on http://thebooknatic.wordpress.com/201...) \n Phew, where do I begin? Let me start off by saying, I give this a full 5 star rating. This book had literally everything I love in a book. A thrilling mystery with suspense, vampires, other paranormal characteristics, witty dialogue, and hot, hot, HOT romance. \n The story is narrated in first person by a super awesome chick named Brianna Reece. She's definitely up there with my favorite fearless heroines. \n I was immediately hooked as we are thrown into a scene with Brianna undercover at a club, gathering intel on a missing girl case which she feels is strongly connected to another murder case they have been working on, every victim has been drained of their blood. \n Brianna has a supernatural ability she was never really able to explain, but other than being a empath. She can detect other people's emotions, making her a fantastic lie-detector. Right away, I knew we were in for a fun mystery. Little did I know, just how many surprises we would encounter. \n I refuse to spoil one major thing about one of her suspects, Nathan, who has his own private security company and also working on the case. \n As the story goes on with the murder case, she feels an emotional pull to one of her lead suspects, Nathan. Who just so happens to know why the cases are oddly connected to her and knows more about her family tree than she does. Nathan informs her that she is connected with a long line of powerful witches and has a strong tie to Nathans family, which explains the pull she felt toward him. He trains her to use her abilities to better protect herself, as they find out the killer is indeed on a trail of her bloodline. And she may be the next target. \n The whole time I was asking myself, \"Do I realllllly want them to be together, because I am not sure I can trust him!\" But the plot thickens and curves are thrown and I was mind-blown. I really want to read the following books! P.A. Lupton has completely captivated me, and I want to thank her for writing such a bewitching tale with everything I have always wanted in a book! Keep up the amazing work and I really hope to read more in this series!", "date_added": "Tue Mar 05 16:58:35 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 05 17:24:30 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "17304342", "review_id": "39f8f94e631cd4247dd165854b9083b2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh man, I think I chewed a hole through my lip. This. Book. Was. HOT! I am just sorry that I didn't read this sooner. Nulli Para Ora has delivered an exceptional and unique paranormal romance that will grip the reader in from start to finish. Nulli also has a an excellent talent for stringing together a charming narration and dialogue amongst the characters; capturing a readers heart. \n The characters and their development and the relationships that form between each other are certainly remarkable. \n Ashland for example is the brilliant and feisty female protagonist that I am always wishing to find in a good read. She's the black sheep in her village of Minra, a place where people practically throw themselves at the opportunity to be an initiate--royal companions who feed their energy to their cursed King-- I admire her for her compassion and capacity to stand up and fight for what she believes in. \n Ashland is in for a surprise once she gets to know the king and everything behind the truth of his curse and the reasoning's on the technique to sustain himself to rule their land Not only that, but his motives to better their land. She learns to respect the king. But what will become of this trust? We come to a shocking end, but a satisfied one at that. \n Then we have sexy Cirian, who is the mysterious Ritual Master -basically the kings second hand man--who is the one to have chosen Ashland as one of the initiates. After being loyal to the king for so many years, his heart is finally at risk for falling for the brave Ashland. And he wants her as his own. Will he be willing to risk his high rank in the Kings order for the claim of this woman? \n Though, Cirian and Ashland did not get along with each other at all in the beginning. I absolutely love a relationship that starts off in rough patch, and at the risk of sounding like the hopeless romantic most of you know I can be.........such hardships show that love can concur all! I love watching characters grow and learning to fall into the arms of the one they are destined to be with. \n I also appreciated the beautifully written naughty scenes. They were not vulgar in any form. The sexy scenes, I felt, were poetic while still managing that steamy angst we all desire between two appealing characters. \n The author captures everything a story needs and more in such a tight capacity in the form of a novella. I was astonished! There are no loose ends, so this book will not leave you questioning anything other than, \"Oh my Gods, can we please have more Cirian?\"", "date_added": "Fri Feb 08 18:56:29 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 06 13:21:25 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jul 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "139417", "review_id": "60504c21ac683e95d284f59e91502f4e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sexy and thrilling! Love living in Fae worlds through books, this one didn't disappoint!", "date_added": "Sun Feb 03 13:53:21 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 26 09:44:28 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Mar 26 09:44:28 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Feb 12 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "17225161", "review_id": "a9ece84de0a35f30c3abed235655da62", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'd love to do a review for this, but will have to be some other time. I really did enjoy this prequal, as I love a good twist with fairy tales. All your favorite characters come to life in our modern day world, some still in coma in the Dreamworld, some running amok. I can't wait to get started on the actual series.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 12 16:25:00 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 20 19:22:22 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jan 13 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "9858714", "review_id": "c0d76d5d8a93e2a658e117462497ef02", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Facebook.com/TheBooknatics \n The Mind Readers is the first book in an Indie series, narrated in first person, and great for all YA readers of all ages. Cameron Winters is perfect heroine, who has the ability to read minds. In avoidance to expose Cameron's abilities and to not attract attention from a private investigation that's been hunting her kind for years, her grandmother moves them around constantly, causing Cam to never really have any friends. She was doing well in a small quiet town, till strange things began happening...A handsome boy just like her shows up in town and persuades her to come with him to a training facility for children owned by a wealthy man who instructs people just like them, to use their powers for good and protection. \n This novel flows at a mysterious, quick and thrilling pace, leaving the reader to believe one thing but then given a turn when least expected. This author is a brilliant! \n I would have loved to have built a relationship with certain few other characters that are mentioned and have important parts in the first novel; because I feel they are very promising in the rest of the series. And the ending was just astounding. I was predicting a cliffhanger in some way, but the cliffhanger we get, I am almost positive you won't see it coming either! \n My feelings on The Mind Readers: This book was cute and pleasing at the start. As the book went on, I became curious, the author tries to throw off the reader and make us reconsider who we're rooting for the entire book. Last two chapters...BOOM! *jaw drop* A bitter-sweet cliffhanger. \n Definitely not a cliche YA reader, what I appreciate about this novel too, is that it isn't just about the romance , barely at all. It focuses on a strong heroine who fights for good, and nothing else.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 08 01:49:41 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 22 16:43:56 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jan 21 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "12999306", "review_id": "e11b8e600dee16df114f6fdf79ec71d5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "1-25-2013: Hmm, I am 5% into the book, and I already know I will love this series! The very first chapter blasts off with an action-packed opening scene with a boy named Pollux who is rescuing his brother Castor from the prison of The Underworld, ruled over by Hades himself. The boys were chased by the three-headed dog Cerberus, and with a sliver of luck they barely made it out with minor scratches. For those who know me, know that Greek mythology is what flips my nerd-switch. This is awesome!", "date_added": "Mon Jan 07 16:40:37 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 29 02:01:07 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 29 02:01:07 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "15714721", "review_id": "39855d9c7aeec764b189ab3839e632cc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Finished this last night, and STILL thinking about. Elle Casey does it again for me! YAY!! Writing up a review for it soon for http://thebooknatics.blogspot.com/", "date_added": "Sat Jan 05 19:36:39 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 14 16:00:37 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jun 14 16:00:37 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "9475805", "review_id": "120287d79405a20279d1a4d5107cbb6e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Review for this later", "date_added": "Sat Dec 29 17:03:24 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri May 03 15:37:27 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri May 03 15:37:27 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "9306975", "review_id": "51079f6dfbf8c2744980c416679b1cf2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Review for this coming up soon. Second book this month I read, and I have to say, I wish I read this much sooner!", "date_added": "Wed Dec 26 17:55:15 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 20 19:25:22 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "13484401", "review_id": "64ccc7207aa994439580bca53a66601b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "*revised* \n Thebooknatics.blogspot.com \n I almost don't even know where to begin with this review...Wow. This book was beyond awesome, it absolutely blew me away. And for being a YA Novel, this story exceeds my standards for all YA Paranormal, which definitely raised the bar. This story is far from your cliche paranormal YA. There is a certain scene you'll come to, though, which has a sliver of similarity and most likely inspired from Hunger Games, but with a twist. But all in all, Elle Casey certainly has a charming way with storytelling, giving us a full action-packed scenes, and vivid, dynamic characters. I am totally in love! Each character introduced to us has superb depth which gives readers a chance to relate and attach. \n Though classified as a YA novel, Casey has a way of creatively adding swear words in a not-so-obnoxious way of over-using, but in such hilarious, comical ways. \n And though I wouldn't call this a Paranormal Romance, there is a hint of potential first-love bonding, so beautifully written, where our heroine struggles to admit she has \"sappy\" feelings. \n This book starts off as two normal highs-schoolers in central Florida, Jayne, a crass, potty mouthed teenager and her dorky friend Tony she picked on for years, but secretly cares for him more than she does for anyone else in the world. When both start having trouble at home, Tony takes everyone by surprise causes a scene to rescue Jane from family drama and run away together. They soon find themselves amongst other teenage runaways led by an older teen, named Jared. One day, Jared returns to their hideout with an ad for a \"Fitness Interview\" each person selected will receive $500 at the end of the job. Must be 18 years or older to participate. Well, obviously they lie, but what's to lose at this point? The strange interview is completed and all but one runaway are selected to go. The adventure begins when the kids are on the plane to their destination for the 'job' and are offered a drink. Jayne who was suspicious ever since the interview, (she's the hard-@ss of all the kids) watched her friends plop down in their seats next to her. Needless to say, she did not go down without a fight, she kicked and swung punches till she was hit with a tranquilizer, and even as she went down, she still told them where to shove it. Comical. \n When the children awake, they are no longer in a plane, but in a cottage... and standing there greeting them is... a Dwarf in combat. Jayne began to believe she was seriously drugged or she was finally losing her mind. They find themselves in the middle of a Fae War...and they are the contestants... Each child learns they obtain a personal ability. Jayne is the most hilarious upon finding hers. If you want an idea of this enchanted forest puts obstacles in their way, I can tell you it's like a mystical, fae-like Hunger Games, just more deadly, mysterious and scary. \n I could go on forever about this book, but then what would be the point in reading if I were to do that? This is a must read! I can't emphasize it enough, I can almost guarantee if you love hilarious, Fantasy/Paranormal novels with a smart and feisty heroine who has a strong head on her shoulders, with Elle Casey is a YA/Paranormal GENIUS! I want to get my hands on some hard copies of this series for my collection. They will be going straight to my top shelf at home!", "date_added": "Sun Dec 09 14:13:42 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu May 16 20:18:12 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "18625865", "review_id": "fbb9ee50246afa013febb226ecb20487", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Yikes! I have been behind on my reviews this past year. \n I actually loved this story very much. The plot had intrigued me very much so. Blossom McDougall is a tough-as-nails MC, and I found myself very fond of Ian, a mysterious man, but still ever the gentleman who stands by her side to unravel a mystery of a missing person, all the while she's fighting for life from a curse she believes her grandmother had put on her, which would ultimately kill her by her 30th birthday, that being said, she has eight days to cure the curse until she is damned to death. \n I had read this book in one sitting simply because I couldn't put it down, my brain was so stuck on trying to beat Blossom and Ian to finding out who the bad guy was behind the missing grandson and to see if she would survive her thirtieth birthday. \n The ending was fantastic and while I had my suspicions, the person behind the crime was not who I suspected for sure! \n I had recommended this book to quite a few friends already, I am definitely a fan for good. \n Also, I had no idea I had pushed the wrong rating when I was on my mobile app, so fixed that as well, the writing and Bliss' style is fabulous.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 03 18:14:26 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 12 21:00:37 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "178476", "review_id": "f0983552864222874c3389d5fe55ecff", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I am officially a new and huge fan of Nalini Singh! Now all I have to do is buy and read every single book of hers, must cure this story-hangover before it kills me lol!", "date_added": "Mon Dec 03 15:18:10 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat May 16 14:54:50 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat May 16 14:54:50 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "110494", "review_id": "08eed39514d715018730b533482c5c0f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was so much fun to relive! Chock-full of action and suspense, reminding me why we love Sookie so much regardless of her faults and more so for her gift and courage. \n Second time reading book 2 and I laughed and worried just as much as the first time! Not to mention, this was the installment where we got to see more of Eric, in more ways than one-- sexy, hilarious and bold. \n Funny thing is, I've even rehashed the eternal question, \"Should I be rooting for Bill... Or Eric?\" The little voice in my head is still shouting, \"Eric, duh!\" Oh, definitely, and what a sight he is in those Lycra leggings and pink tank top LOL! \n I've got to add all my favorite lines to this review when I'm not so tired, I've stayed up way too late unable to put this damned book down!", "date_added": "Mon Dec 03 13:45:28 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 26 13:31:28 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Mar 26 13:31:28 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "13622918", "review_id": "af7c71389f72b972a3d078bc9ef0376f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "One more Vampire novel to add to my favorites. Love Vlad!", "date_added": "Thu Nov 29 11:32:01 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 15 21:01:41 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "5153799", "review_id": "5671dd6f278eb09e5b5ae28638c72cba", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Anyone know where I can get this? I can't find it anywhere =((", "date_added": "Thu Oct 25 12:22:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 25 16:05:30 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "42900", "review_id": "1a643ad15b6533ea56bb8cc8cf266301", "rating": 5, "review_text": "http://thebooknatic.wordpress.com/201... \n My review can also be found up there ^ \n It's official. This is my favorite BDB installment, and most definitely my favorite Brother, no doubt about it. I am on book 6 at the moment, fifth is great too! But, we will get to that some other time! \n This book focuses on Zsadist, known as the most feared Warrior of the Brotherhood. We have been introduced to him fleetingly among the previous books, but here we learn more about his excruciating, heartbreaking, dark past. He's illiterate, addicted to pain, vicious in the manner he treats people, even his own Brothers, he refuses to have sex, but only if the girl has her hands on the wall and doesn't touch him, but one thing that captured me the most, he's also an artist.(Even if it was just a subtle scene! I am a sucker for a tall, handsome talented fictional man, what can I say! Oh, and whom also sings like an angel) \n I have always been intrigued by this character. His frightening personality is highly contrasted by the emotion that shocked everyone at the wedding ceremony in the first book, by just how much soul he put into the old traditional song of their long lost language. That's when I knew, this man was going to break my heart. \n With the previous affection attempts by a curious female vampire, Bella-friend of the Brotherhood and sister to a symphath, who runs the club the Brotherhood hangs out at- made towards Z, he began to crack a little, helplessly start to wonder what it would be like to be with a female that strangely enough cares about him. His past refused to let him experiment, so he kept pushing her away, but she'd keep pushing right back. \n But, the third book- and if you haven't begun this series yet, then I will be careful as not to make any major spoilers- But Bella was put into danger when the ever creepy Mr. O, the lesser with some major personal issues that not even the Omega can cure *rolls eyes* , gets his nasty paste-white hands on her and kidnaps her and keeps her as pet. This dude cages her up, feeds her, calls her wife, but reminds him of his sister who was killed.O_0 Mr. O has made his way up to the top of my most-disliked villains of all time, by the way. But anyhow, Z realized too late just how much he cares for her, and spends all his time locating her for a rescue mission. \n Zsadist unleashes the hero buried deep within him, frantically searching for Bella, not believing she could be as dead the Brothers and civilian vampires claim her to be. He truly feels in his heart it isn't so. For a female to be so interested in him, is brave all in itself, she most likely is just as brave when it comes enough to protecting her will to live. \n Events transpire to the finding of Bella, and the romance and heart break begins. He wants to unfold and be the man Bella knows is inside of him, but every time his body reacts to her subtle seductions, he punishes himself; locks himself up and Bella could even swear she heard the sounds of sobbing. This poor, damaged man..pire... It's obvious he covers his weakness with rebelling and rage because as a Warrior, he can't afford to let his dark and abusive past get in the way of his duties, but when it comes to affection and adoration, he recoils, afraid to do the wrong thing, and afraid of consequences. But, under all that animalistic rage tendency, he's soft, protective, and to me, is just a big ol' teddy bear. \n We are presented with a sequence of flashbacks between Phury Z's twin,and Z himself, of the rescue mission he set out to find his long lost brother. (Z was taken from home as an infant to use as a slave for a rich glymera female vampire, and used for his large warrior... uh... *cough* \"dagger\" and blood.) Another problems arise Phury battles the vow of celibacy he has taken his whole life when his feelings for Bella ensues. After all the years of protecting Z and standing by his side when no one else would, he struggles to overcome his feelings for her, battling the happiness he feels for his brothers own. \n The story as a whole though, I'll admit how frustrating the story lines *can* be in this series. While I understand that some of the side stories tied into each book, gives a perspective of another brother and leads up to the next book, and gives us a full insight the daily lives of the Brothers interactions with each other, and at times that's just fine, but it gets super frustrating when it gets dragged on endlessly, distracting the reader from the stuff that's really going on. Some of the extra insights were very vital for the next book, we have John who showed up to the brotherhood, a young vampire nearing his transition, but no one can solve his background though they believe he is the son of Darius, the vampire who died in the first book, the Queens father, and then Tohr and Wellsies drama. I always had my suspicions of what were to come of Wellsie and her \"situation\", but this kinda took me for a loop. (no spoilers) And the endless creepiness that is the Omega and lesser alike. \n All I cared about was Z and Bella, and their creepy lesser Stalker, Mr.O. I also may also be the first one to admit, while most J.R. Ward BDB sex scenes are super cheesy, this one, however, did not fail to impress me. But, in total of this series, we undergo a series of guessing what's going to happen next, mystery, thrills, romance, heart break, laughter, I honestly shed a few tears for this poor vampire. His story was written so well, I was totally consumed by it and wanted nothing more than to reach out and hug him! Oh, and back off, because he is my Bookboyfriend! *nods* \n If you find yourself beginning this series soon, just be prepared for a lot of information. These are long novels and though each book is based off one Warrior from the Brotherhood, you will be introduced to many characters, and forced to focus on many other point of views, including moments in the head of the lesser that overtakes the Forelesser position (lead lesser)who are on the hunt for warriors, for their own motives. \n ***Terms you need to know of the BDB series mentioned in this review*** \n - Glymera-Social core of the aristocracy \n - Lesser- De-souled human who hunts vampires and works for the Omega \n - Omega- Malevolent, mystical figure who seeks to extinct the vampire race out of hatred for The Scribe Virgin \n - Scribe Virgin- Mystical force who is counselor to the king and keeper of vampire archives \n Interesting Facts: \n ** Vampires are in fact, the good race in this series, and the Brotherhood protects their race and the humans. In fact, some of them even pray. \n ** There is a lot...a lot of hardcore sex in these books. Some more disturbing and or cheesy than others.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 25 12:22:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 22 19:10:36 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 7}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "6289920", "review_id": "c38fd85603195686d22237605e26f88e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Review for this later. \n I lost this book somewhere, hopefully I find it again soon, but it was a re-read anyways. Only problem is, there's going to be a lonely gap on my shelf now =( \n But I got my refresher I was looking for, enough to get the review done. Keep an eye out for this review and much more by my friend Krystle and I on our blog, http://thebooknatics.blogspot.com/ \n Follow us for bookly discussions you can join in on too, we are all Booknatics!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 25 12:22:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu May 16 15:15:49 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu May 16 15:15:49 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Apr 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "9542259", "review_id": "86ab0986f8a541f561bfc593c6aef085", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I didn't get to read Rapture yet, so I am thinking of doing a re-read for a refresh! I heard there are more books coming out?! Please tell me this is true. *leaps around gleefully*", "date_added": "Thu Oct 25 12:22:02 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 28 13:25:20 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "7237556", "review_id": "60d3899e2a76d807e61fd8772729e170", "rating": 5, "review_text": "https://www.facebook.com/Thebooknatics \n It's for sure. I am in love with this series! The character development in this series is seamless. The transition we experience with Mac, is beautiful. We witness Mac as a careless, boy-crazy, materialistic girl and then suddenly thrown into a world she'd never thought to exist after going to Ireland to find answers about her sisters death. After meeting an enigmatic man named Jericho Barrons, she learns more about who she is and what exactly her sister was looking for, and then is off to hunt a dark and evil book to help restore the walls between our world and the Fae's coming down. She learns she is the most powerful Sidhe-Seer, and it is up to her to sense the where-abouts of this book and get to it before the evil Lord Master. \n It was tough for her to accept her new world at first, everything she never believed in, was actually so very real. Everything pink and girly about Mac, melted away and a new and very dark Mac emerged. She witnessed death, stolen beauty, learned what vengeance feels like, saw the most evil occurrences that proved to her, that she needs to be a fighter, the world is in trouble, and she plays the biggest part and must do what she must to save the human life. She finds her self in so much trouble on this adventure, so many thrills, and now a cliff hanger! This is the best I can do without spoiling anything! I wish everybody would read this series!", "date_added": "Sun Oct 21 13:18:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 08 13:06:00 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Oct 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "12444166", "review_id": "00e760b6b61599e76b29deba1a967bdf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "https://www.facebook.com/Thebooknatics \n By request of KMM to her readers, she asked that we spread the word of this novel NOT being YOUNG ADULT! Many fans expressed a concern of Dani being underage and disliked the possibility of her being involved doing the \"dirty\". Yes, Dani is still underage, and there are certain passionate scenes with other characters, but Dani herself does not participate in any acts of sex. \n This story is narrated by Dani \"Mega\" O'Malley, the gamine, spirited young girl a lot of us know and love already. You also come to short chapters that are narrated by Christian the Highlander (swooooon), and Kat, who has taken on a new, trying role. \n I adore Dani and her spirited attitude. \n She is still just as stubborn and pouty as ever, but with KMM's awe-inspiring skill at character development, Dani shows signs of becoming a great leader and an amazing young lady. \n There are mysterious events taking place in Dublin. Scenes show that ice sculptures are sprouting up and all around Dublin--and later to be found out, around the world--little by little. Ryodan's sub clubs and warehouses are no exception to the ice, which have also been iced quite a few times. Fed up, he is on the hunt to search for a certain someone who is arguably just as fast as he is to flash through the icy, dangerous terrains and the creatures that hide in them to search for clues to solve who or what is creating this mess, and how it can be stopped. \n Dani is his answer. \n After some time of hunting her down, and finally catching her, she is tricked into signing a contract to be his \"employee\". \n I don't want to give out too much about how things come together, but do expect love triangles, super-strengthen-teenage hormones from hell, and comically wonderful character relationships. We are finally introduced to the elusive Dancer. Ryodan and Dani are a perfect match for partners in crime, and their love-hate relationship is almost a reminder of Barrons and Mac, but with extra spice and rivalry. (My personal opinion, I don't think they will be romantic later, I sort of feel that Ryo has taken on Fatherly feelings for this poor gamine knucklehead... or at least that is what I am rooting for, Dani needs a family again!!!) \n Christian is still in transition of becoming an Unseelie prince and fighting battles within while still maintaining a watch over a certain character, fighting temptations, trying to hold on to the Highlander he used to be. Kat struggles with her new power at the Abbey. All in all, we are witnessing the makings of true Superheroes from the wonderful world of Karen Marie Moning. There is so much depth to each of these characters and signs of growth. I think with time, this series is very promising. Again, there is a lot you will learn in this book, but I am not going to be the one who spills the beans. Have fun reading =) \n I am at work right now, but couldn't wait to type up a review! So expect for some things to be added/changed later!", "date_added": "Fri Oct 19 13:19:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 06:51:20 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Wed Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "13700671", "review_id": "564268db8a0d734928847cd031e537d3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "-Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/TheBooknatics \n --Advanced copy-- \n Smoothed the review out a bit! \n This was a well written, fantastic Biblical adventurous tale of a girl who encounters a very special situation. Unlike many paranormal books of Angels out right now, this is very unique as far as the Angels being portrayed goes. This focuses more on the actuality of God's Heaven sent creatures who do good for the world. This was very refreshing. \n This is a wonderful tale for all ages of the religious belief of God. \n Prissie is a young girl in a small town brought up in a religious family. Taken aback when her innocent older crush reveals who he is, Prissie struggles to find the truth about what is really happening in this town of hers. He' an Angel sent from Heaven. \n This is about a girl discovering who she is, and learns just how much the Bible is true and affects the world, and how much goodness can be done by just believing in yourself. I recommend this to all parents who have been searching for a good read that would motivate, inspire and set a good example for their children.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 10 21:04:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 05 00:02:10 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Oct 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "13458947", "review_id": "c9fdec46bcf3cf36fd982f9229f2a907", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Beautifully written! Going to write a review for this soon. Going to put it on my blog as well! http://thebooknatic.wordpress.com/ \n Facebook.com/TheBooknatics and Youtube.com/TheBooknatics Join us for more book fun =))", "date_added": "Sat Sep 22 18:53:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 10 19:40:42 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "11410430", "review_id": "3fdbf4c4b2fc26f787699ff325acfd4f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A fantastic YA dystopian. It kept me fascinated from start to finish!", "date_added": "Sat Sep 22 18:44:59 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 22 06:52:07 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 22 06:52:07 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "345627", "review_id": "3d84bd40020f58134e47bc1243522f9f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "**My friend and I run a blog together, check it out? ;) \n http://thebooknatics.blogspot.com/ \n I am so incredibly late starting this series, and believe me when I say I regret it! \n It was just that I am such a huge fan of vampire novels, and it seemed like everyone started jumping on the YA Vampire Bandwagon after Twilight, and the mythical race was slowly being ruined for me after every book I gave a chance to. Well, I am catching up fast now! There is a lot of high school-ish drama in this book but it does not over-shadow the fantastic power of this story! \n This is probably one of my most favorite vampire worlds to this day. So totally different, so creative and original. This is a Y-A book that reads like an adult book at times, told in the first perspective of Rose Hathaway, a strong-willed, unruly, sarcastic yet very intelligent and badass heroine! (can you tell I love this character?) \n Richelle's vampires are divided upon the Royal Vampires, Moroi-Mortal vampires who are amongst families who are in line for the crown by rankings. Then we have, Dhampir's. Half human, half Moroi vampires who are raised to be guardians of the Moroi, assigned to their subject in their younger years at the Academy. They are to learn to protect their assigned Moroi from the Strigoi's...The bad, immortal vampires who were once Moroi, but betrayed their bloodlines for power and immortality and seek to destroy the Moroi's. \n Rose is best friend and assigned to Lisa, a royal Moroi who has powers not many other vampires contain. A few years before the story takes place, Rose and Lisa were in a car wreck that killed Lisa's family and Rose severely injured... Lisa's mysterious power when she cried for her friend, resurrected Rose and a bond was formed. Rose can now feel and enter Lisa's mind/emotions. When Rose suspects someone is after Lisa shortly after, she made the rash decision of taking Lisa and running away. They lived amongst humans at a college campus for two years before being caught by the enigmatic, powerful and quiet, (and hot) Russian Guardian trainer, Dimitri. \n When they are brought back to the Vampire Academy, life changes drastically for both Lisa and Rose. Something is not right in the air, and it seems everyone is after them, especially Lisa. But why? Rose is assigned to afterschool training sessions with Dimitri to catch up on her missed years of guardian training, leaving Lisa alone after hours, trouble finding her every time they turn their heads. \n The tension between Rose and Dimitri is electric! \n The series of events and conclusion left my jaw hanging wide open. Unexpected turns and reveals left and right before we are taken to the next book in the series. \n I found this first book entirely captivating hanging on to every word to guess what's going on, who is after Lisa and Rose, and keeping my fingers crossed for Rose to get to Dimitri's heart wholly when she becomes legal, that is!! X_X \n Richelle Mead has me spellbound, I now must own every book of hers in my collection, and read them over and over! Thank you, THANK YOU for making such a strong and willed successful heroine! Rose is amazing through and through!", "date_added": "Sat Sep 22 14:10:08 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat May 25 13:44:38 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Mar 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "a959ac57e1c2c8879806133b910c4299", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Facebook.com/TheBooknatics \n My Book Blog: http://thebooknatic.wordpress.com/ \n --There are so many negative remarks about this novel not having a plot, that I feel I should add this to my review incase people are overlooking this book because of such reviews... But, please remember, this is only an opinion.... \n I can see how some may say they don't see the plot here, but I beg to differ. I feel this book contained more than just a magical world, something much deeper than your average plot of a book; it shined to life a magical depth of the meaning of love, in all forms. The tone was very enchanting, poetic, and colorful even despite the black and white theme. It takes a very devoted reader who is passionate of literature to understand the depth of layers of this story and has a capable mind to dissect between the lines. In my humble opinion, I believe Morgenstern broke out of the cliche style of writing, and gave us something so brilliant and excellent enough to be an instant classic read. It makes me so sad to see how many negative things are being said about this novel! But in the end, I know we all have our own opinions, and I haven't seen too many positive remarks on this, so I felt the need to express my two cents. This book will remain a favorite on my top shelf at home for ages to come. \n ------------- \n This novel is set in the late 1800's to early 1900's in a classical yet dark and enigmatic tone. Erin Morgenstern feeds your imagination with vivid pictures with words that cast you into an unknown and exciting world. \n The gist of this story is that two young illusionists were trained by rivaled senior Illusionists -to \"compete\" in a \"game\"- since childhood. The two children were never told who their competitor was, nor did they know when the \"game\" would start, or which venue, but were only told, \"You will know when the time comes, and you will compete till there is only one left...\" Never did they imagine would they fall in love in the midst of a mysterious circus... \n Though the reading did give me some Tim Burton vibes and reminds me slightly of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, it's a completely original story and unlike anything I have ever read. \n I feel this book contained more than just a magical world, something much deeper than your average plot of a book; it shined to life a magical depth of the meaning of love, in all forms. The tone was very enchanting, poetic, and colorful even despite the black and white theme. I believe Morgenstern broke out of the cliche style of writing, and gave us something so brilliant and excellent enough to be an instant classic read. I am in love with this book, and dare I say I'd love to see this as a series.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 09 18:13:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 22 20:09:44 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Dec 14 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sun Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "15748050", "review_id": "b89039dd53bad25d6542bfed3ed714ed", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Facebook.com/TheBooknatics \n http://thebooknatic.wordpress.com/ \n ^my blogs \n --Advanced Copy-- \n Take a dash of Shakespeare, pour in a teaspoon of fantasy, and add a gallon of comedy, put it on the fryer and there you have it, a sizzling and joyous novel of adventure and fantasy! \n This was one of those books I couldn't put down once, the constant bickering between the trolls, the ludicrous battle plans, and one very confused elf. I got wrapped up in the outrageous troll scenes, twisted plots, running my imagination wild! All your favorite Shakespeare characters are portrayed as Dwarves, Elves, Trolls, in this witty, comical, and adventurous tale of a whole other world called Gundarland. I think this could well be another great Shakespeare-tragedy spoof. \n I love how the author takes famous quotes and turn them slightly to another meaning, for example, Hamlet and the, \"To bee, or not to bee,\" in regards of his beekeeping business that he is trying to pursue and establish, even though in spite of his mothers and the new king's wishes. Hamlet is to revenge his father's death while Othello has been set up by the grand Godmother. This is one you will have to read for yourself with no spoils! \n I will most definitely be recommending this book to everyone I know, and especially the people I game with online who are very much into Lord of the Rings, Everquest 2, and World of Warcraft. Mostly because this is how I envisioned the book. It made the book an even more fun read imagining that the characters were people I have gamed with over the years who played as these certain races.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 13 15:00:01 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 05 00:13:47 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "2261214", "review_id": "3ae3a1b9d31db3472a7153e47f4e04b9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Alright, I am going to be honest. While this is one of my favorite genres to read, I found myself having difficulty to keep focused on the story and put the book down more than a few times. There were many times where the chapters dragged on a little more than it should have, so my mind would go off in la-la land and I'd wonder what I need at the grocery store... \n I do adore the characters, I really do. But what I find disturbing is that, SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER-------yeah ok, the crush between Clary and Jace was adorable, until you find out they are actually brother and sister! What makes that worse? Is that even after all that drama, she was still fighting feelings for him! Whhhhhhy oh whhhhyyy? Seriously, I hope we later find out they are in fact, NOT related. Why get us attached to a relationship and then kill the mojo like that? \n \"I AM...Your brother...\" \n Yeah, I haven't read the 2nd book yet, I will, once the vile settles in my stomach. That is my only complaint about this book. The story line itself is great. Much potential for an epic adventure. I cannot wait to finish reading the series and pray that there will not be another awkward encounter. \n To put it simply, Clary finds out that her mother has been keeping a very big secret from her, her whole life just to keep Clary safe. After a series of events, from meeting Shadowhunters (Nephilim's. Human-angel hybrids, who hunt and kill to protect the humans from demons that flood in from other dimensions) at a club only she could see, to her mom disappearing that very same night, she is taken in by the Shadowhunter's in a hidden building in Manhattan and is introduced to a whole new world, a world that her and her mother may have come from, and later discovers who she really is, a Shadowhunter. ( I don't want to make too many spoilers, so I will leave it that) \n At first, though, it was a struggle for Clary to be able to accept that the imaginary world of demons, vampires and fairy's she always thought to be silly, was actually so very real and learns she actually plays a very big role in it all when she finds out what exactly her mother was being held captive for. The Mortal Cup. A cup that can breed Shadowhunter's by drinking the blood of an Angel or a powerful Shadowhunter, but can also turn Shadowhunter's evil by drinking from it. Someone out there wants to build an army of Shadowhunter's. Without making any spoilers, Clary and her new friends set off to race in the search for the cup and to rescue her mother from the man searching for the Cup. The end of this book is a whole new type of end-of-story-twist. Craziness after craziness is discovered at the end. I finished the book with whiplash and a wild case of reading-hangover. I do recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA Paranormal. The characters do have a lot of depth to them, and Clary honestly does have a great style of writing. I enjoyed it very much and will be looking forward to going on with the series. Thank you to those who recommended this book to me, I am now passing the torch. \n (I've now read the 2nd book, but working my way to the 3rd one, slowly)", "date_added": "Sat Aug 11 01:24:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 22 04:15:45 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Sep 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "1451694", "review_id": "e38551058658dd8477d7da7bf4930a5b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "**revised! Added to our blog: \n http://thebooknatics.blogspot.com/ \n This is the book that practically started the Booknatics. Krystle and I would gush for hours on end about the characters and the stories behind them. The last book I had ever obsessed over was Harry Potter. And though I've read many, many, books over the years since then, it always stuck close to my heart! I don't think my love for that series could ever be replaced, but... I'm all grown up now and sometimes, we fall just a little harder for certain things. ;) There is a whole new place in my heart designated only for this series. I'm crazy about it! I feel like I talk about the characters everyday now, as if they were real people LOL. Karen Moning is simply amazing, just beyond talented in the way she molds a kick-ass world for us to live in away from the crappy non-fictional planet we seem to be stuck on *rolls eyes* \n Here's my first review I've done for this series. At the end, I combined my 2nd review for another part of the series. One of these days, I am going to have to re-write it all when I have a clear head, the rush I get thinking about this series is deep LOL! \n If you haven't read this series now, and are a paranormal romance fan, this is a must read, oh trust me, please! What's written on the pages is so hot it sizzles! \n The raw review straight after reading the book: \n How do I put this... o.m.g... Wanna talk about fever? I now feel Feverfever when I am under withdrawals of Monings fabulous and sexy world of...Fever... 0_0 \n An awesome friend of mine advised I read this series. I am so glad I did! I have found this series to be overwhelmingly addictive. It contains a little bit of every genre, which makes it for an exciting read. It's naughty, mysterious, magical and edge of your seat thrilling. Karen Marie Moning's style of writing warps you into her magical world and wraps you up so tightly, that you may forget your surroundings till the very last page. When even then you're left to wanting to quickly get on with the next book. This is a novel written in first person by a girl named Mackayla Lane. Mac, for short, goes to seek revenge and get the straight facts about the murder of her sister, Alina, in Dublin Ireland. Only, when she gets there, questions aren't being answered, instead, Mac is overwhelmed stumbling upon confusing clues and people. Afraid, she almost gives up, until, she met the oh so enigmatic, tall dark and handsome man who will leave you asking yourself, \"Edward Cullen who?\" \"Twilight what?\" \"Oh, this is definitely not Young Adult...Is it hot in here?\" \n This mysterious man \"rescues\" Mac from the soon to be named Dark Zones -as dubbed by Mac- (Forgotten areas of Dublin of which the shadow creatures who dwell in the darkness, have taken over, and will devour anything that comes across those streets, humans, rolling leaves, worms, anything) and as soon as he realizes and explains to her, her abilities as a Sidhe-Seer, ( a person who can see the Fae, but also a Null, who can touch Faes to freeze them and able to kill them) he offers-forces really- her to live in his books and bauble shop, in exchange of Mac becoming his divining rod so to speak, to find a mysterious evil book and relics. \n This is another one of my favorite, favorite books for the amazing thrill it takes us on. Thank you, so much Moning for such an amazing series!!! \n I do not want to add too much more to this review. There are so many funny and witty lines, and over the top sexy moments, that it is just best left unsaid to discover on your own. Have fun! \n ***I do not advise anyone under the age of 18 to read this series... For it does get a little heated, in some really abnormal like ways... *** \n The character development in this series is seamless. The transition we experience with Mac, is beautiful. We witness Mac as a careless, boy-crazy, materialistic girl and then suddenly thrown into a world she'd never thought to exist after going to Ireland to find answers about her sisters death. After meeting an enigmatic man named Jericho Barrons, she learns more about who she is and what exactly her sister was looking for, and then is off to hunt a dark and evil book to help restore the walls between our world and the Fae's coming down. She learns she is the most powerful Sidhe-Seer, and it is up to her to sense the where-abouts of this book and get to it before the evil Lord Master. \n It was tough for her to accept her new world at first, everything she never believed in, was actually so very real. Everything pink and girly about Mac, melted away and a new and very dark Mac emerged. She witnessed death, stolen beauty, learned what vengeance feels like, saw the most evil occurrences that proved to her, that she needs to be a fighter, the world is in trouble, and she plays the biggest part and must do what she must to save the human life. She finds her self in so much trouble on this adventure, so many thrills, and now a cliff hanger! This is the best I can do without spoiling anything! I wish everybody would read this series", "date_added": "Thu Aug 09 08:30:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 08 13:20:01 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Aug 09 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "2702704", "review_id": "470bd47a05aa8159e9b5cae63ba3a3ea", "rating": 5, "review_text": "10--19-2012--I am not finished reading this yet, as I have been busy lately, but I just got to a point in the book that I had to stop and replay over in my head because it was just so funny. Mac invents a new way to keep the Shadows at bay by super gluing brackets that stuck out several inches wide and held little spelunker lights, and Click-It lights, all over a hot pink helmet, and ankle and wrist straps with more flashlights. She turns on every light on her helmet, wrists and ankles, and then reluctantly turns off all thmae lights in the book store to give it a test in pitch darkness. Seeing that the light completely engulfs her, she was ecstatic, calling it the MacHalo. Before she knew it, she turned on her iPod and began to run around dancing in the dark, jumping up and down furniture, stabbing fake Shadows and singing along to the music, really making a complete fool of herself. Then, she rolls around to a tall shadow and trails off mid-song looking up to see it was Barrons, who had watched the entire peculiar dance around the book store with this ridiculous contraption on her head, and this is the first time we ever get to see Barrons laugh, and not just laugh, but explode hysterically. I love it! I just LOVE IT!----- \n -------- \n 10-21-2012-Writing a review later! Going straight to the next book, right now! What an ending!", "date_added": "Sun Jul 29 19:05:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 03 00:28:09 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Oct 14 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "2679633", "review_id": "291d4172da47636f459bcd35f15ff537", "rating": 5, "review_text": "1-29-13 \n This is my first Larissa Ione book, recommended to me by a few people. I am not finished reading it yet, but I wanted to add some thoughts in any time I get a chance to read. So far, I love how many different type of paranormal creatures we get to meet right in the start of the book. Something tells me this is going to be an exciting story. \n 2-02-2013 \n I normally read a book in a day or two, given my schedule, but I have been overly distracted the last week. I regret it strongly... but...let's put it this way, I am very close to being finished, but I already want to give it 5 stars!! A review to come soon. I am in love with the variety of paranormal and romance Ione has to offer in this series! \n Will be adding a review shortly!", "date_added": "Fri Jul 27 14:05:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 03 16:17:14 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "6339664", "review_id": "3bef43ff64c7ee5198a7c397891b910f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have a day off tomorrow, so I am going to get caught up on some book reviews. But, this book knocks all the others YA books in this genre, out of the water. Becca is very clever in her style of writing, and I especially love the conversations between the characters, when there is humor and sarcasm between the characters, it is just brilliantly written! \n I don't think I will ever bore with Y/A books. Though, it is hard to relate with younger characters as an older reader, but a small reminder of the emotions that come with high school and the early years after, can never hurt. I will most definitely go on with this saga. \n I still have not yet put together a review for this book.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 27 14:04:08 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 03 00:20:01 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "3819326", "review_id": "afac66fd0d3d84becb8cf286cb3fb8f5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I cannot wait to read the rest of this series--OMG! I found my new favorite angel. *sighs*", "date_added": "Thu Jul 26 17:14:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 22 09:28:27 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Mar 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "42899", "review_id": "d46a275e043e83267b808d3f6246b026", "rating": 5, "review_text": "*Review updated: 5-15-13* \n I am sorry this is so long... But a lot of you know by now, I really love my old classic-like vampire novels haha. J.R. Ward does it again for me! \n Review also on \n http://thebooknatics.blogspot.com/ \n J.R. Ward is no noob when it comes to characters and romance. I know I am severely late on beginning this series, but this Black Dagger Brotherhood series just knocked out all my other Vampire novels back a few notches on my shelf. I was half expecting this as her other books have captivated with me a thrill of heart flutters and sighs and cheers! \n I absolutely love her version of Vampires. You have to have been born a vampire. As simple as that. Maybe a human woman fell in love with a male vampire, and they got the dirty down, and conceived, or maybe the mother was bitten while pregnant and the blood circulates to the womb, though, not all females survive pregnancy/birth. But under no circumstances, can a human be turned into a vampire. The half-breeds, however, will not transition into becoming a vampire until they are in their mid-twenties, but when they transition begins, their survival during the change is not guaranteed. They must drink the blood of the pure vampire to have a better chance at survival through the change. Not all civilian vampires are lucky enough to have that leisure, though. Wards vampires also live off the blood of other vampires, not humans, and do not kill humans under any circumstances. Sometimes, humans whore themselves out to vampires to be sucked off of, the saliva gives them a high equivalent to any other drug, but the blood of a human is not strong enough for a vampire to survive off of. Blood drinking is also common during naughty times, ;) The one common vampire trait you will find in Ward's world is that they are indeed sensitive to light and will incinerate if caught in the sun. \n This first instalment, we learn: There is only one pure blooded vampire left to this day, and his name is Wrath. The king who refuses to take \"throne\" but leads his warriors, The Black Dagger Brotherhood, warriors who protect the race from hunters called the Lessening Society. These lessers have sold their soul to the Omega, to live long and fight, causing a multiple century war amongst each other. \n So, with this little background and history lesson for ya, I bring to you the butterfly's in your tummy and those lungful sighs by speaking of the dirty and romaaannnce. \n I am absolutely captivated by this series, which is a given since I am a total fan-girl for J.R.Wards style of writing. J.R. Ward does an outstanding job of providing us stories of love-at-first site, though, there was one scene I could only think of that infamous quote with Will Ferrell's head shot, \"Well, that escalated quickly.\" Nonetheless, I am still head over heels for our main protagonists Beth and Wrath. \n Beth is a half breed vampire who doesn't even have a clue that she's anything other than human and has grown up in foster homes her entire life. She robotically lives her busy and boring life day to day when all of a sudden, it seems like everyone out in the world is out to get her. Her father whom she believed to be dead just as her mother is, is alive and part of the Brotherhood. He has watched over Beth covertly, and realizes that she is nearing her transition. He's begged Wrath to get to his daughter and feed her his blood to help her survive; Darius is afraid of being alone and is ready to approach Beth, to have her in his life. Wrath declines but alters his decision after a turn of tragic events. He decides to honor his brother, and grant his last wish. He will help Beth transition. Though, the man who has never loved is at a loss of words when he sees this dark haired beauty. He struggles with his emotions. After some hilarious and thrilling encounters of Wrath trying to approach Beth to explain what she is, she finally accepts the truth, (and not easily) and agrees to live with him and the other Brothers. \n Wrath struggles with his feelings for her. He is afraid to love, yet, afraid to hurt her. Watching him gather his emotions, deciding whether he wants to stick around or not after she's done with him as he offers his blood to help her survive the transition, is a beautiful story in itself. This powerful monster melts with every touch and embrace from this beautiful girl. \n The plot turns other occurrences blow up, leaving the Brothers on guard and ready to battle. The mysteries given in this book will have you thinking one thing, but out of the blue you'll be slammed with a revelation far beyond your guesses. Ward does a fantastic job letting the reader attach to each and every one of her characters. \n There are SO many characters in this first installment, but there was not a single character left without a perfect back story to help the reader identify and understand, love or hate each of them. Perfectly done! I will probably rewrite this review as I read further into the series. \n --Update: 5-16-2013: I am on book 7, and will be adding more and more reviews as the day goes. I still plan on re-writing this eventually. There is so much going on, and things that make more sense as you read further into the story.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 26 17:13:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu May 16 15:49:45 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "75a37a0b046275562b2c380fca2aa2b6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A re-read to prepare for the movie! I will forever love this creepy, magical read.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 17:47:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 26 08:16:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "10194157", "review_id": "b60f66a96e5b8bd885ac2deddef8a187", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I've been waiting a long time to read this book, and it's as awesome and unique as I hoped it'd be! \n Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 15:24:42 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 21 16:03:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jul 21 16:03:17 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "377661", "review_id": "f478711e2b1710e07f680519f20c3ee0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have an original copy of this book, though I am afriad to open it up and ruin what's left of the binding, I have read a revised copy of it. I love it to pieces!", "date_added": "Tue Jul 03 08:38:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 03 00:19:10 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "12629670", "review_id": "37eda1eacb77ce38df912b719a17f218", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fallen in Love, by Lauren Kate, is a an extra book added to the series that gives the fans a look into the different characters lives in a time that occurs shortly and few thousand years after their fall from Heaven. \n Each chapter provides a short story from the point of view of each of our favorite angel's we have grown to love in the Fallen series. We get to witness on a first-hand experience the important and significant events that transpire the personalities of each angel after their fall from Heaven. This was a wonderful addition to the series to be able to build an even tighter connection with our favorite characters. Each story is about the first time each of them fell in love for the first time after their 'fall'. A truly romantic insight, Lauren Kate's true colors shine through her series, each page is filled with depth, thought, and love. \n I have always been a fan of this genre, and Lauren Kate paints a beautiful and lyrical picture for the readers minds-eye, and orchestrates a wondrous adventure in the times of love.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 30 14:55:51 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 18 13:36:34 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "507984aed8c94e98186b6ef21a5abe53", "book_id": "1656001", "review_id": "599b6a2685af24a2ab3e7117eb4b53c4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Also on http://thebooknatic.wordpress.com/ \n So, this is going to be my attempt at hiding the overwhelming details of my excitement of what I thought about the book movie adaptation, The Host. I am also going to do a slight book review to add to this, even though I read it years ago. I went to see this movie shortly after release but am just now having the time to actually sit down and really write my thoughts on it, calmly too might I add!... \n AHH!!!!!! -#%(*)UTJHyy- Okay. Done with the last of my happy-bursts. ((Sorry this review is long)) \n I took my mom out to see this movie, and I have to say, it was beyond outstanding! As I've said before, generally upon book-to-movie adaptations being released, I try my best to not set myself up for disappointment and walk into the show with low expectations, because I am just nerdy enough to get heartbroken over a lousy attempt at my favorite books being brought to life. The awesome thing about going in with low hopes is that feeling when that guard you spent so much time putting up prepping yourself for disappointment is shattered by the mind-blowing actuality of a splendid well put together outcome. \n I was so crazy about this book I read it more than once, and pretty much remembered line for line, and my favorite quotes, it was exhilarating to experience a successful adaptation such as this, my favorite scenes and quotes saved from the producing-butcher! \n For those of you who haven't read the book, it's set in a Dystopian age where an alien race has taken over Planet Earth and invades the human species. They are generally a kind, gentle species and create a new world without money, government, and wars. Though the actual act of invasion seems barbaric, the alien race really only acted with great intentions, not realizing what they are doing is actually wrong and forceful. Their sole purpose was to bond with a foreign species to bring harmony to a world of need. Humans in their eyes needed help, for we are the lesser, barbaric, and hateful race. Stephanie Meyer really hits it on the spot how messed up our society is with this novel. \n The souls are inserted into the human brain, and are then used to sift through the human's memories to gather any information on the last of the non-assimilated humans. Though, in some cases such as one of our Heroine's, Melanie, are stronger than our extraterrestrial invader expects and the human mind revolts and battles its trespasser to regain control over their body once again, though such incidents are rare. \n In this case, here we meet Wanderer. Gentle soul who later earns the nick name, Wanda, and has lived for millennia and has bonded with many hosts from many planets. Wanda is assigned to our strong protagonists, Melanie and when she feels the power and strength of Melanie's love as she sifts through her memories, she slowly begins to conform to the human emotion, overwhelmed with the power of love and understands enough to feel driven to help Melanie be reunited with her little brother and the man she loves. Wanda stops cooperating with the lead Seeker, and Melanie and Wanda embark on the electrifying journey, but a dangerous one at that, as The Seeker begins the hunt to destroy both Wanda and Melanie both. \n Again, you won't be getting any spoilers from me, but if you can enjoy a good Sci-Fi, though this could be classified as Young Adult, I feel this could be enjoyed by all ages. A little bit of romance, thriller, mystery, and a whole lot of Sci-Fi will be experienced! \n This movie, I can't stress enough, for those who have read the book but not yet watched the movie, please do yourself a favor, and see this one! It's rare I enthusiastically propose readers to experience a book adaptation for themselves, it was that perfect! The scenes from the book which made me cry, laugh and leave me on the edge of my seat, effectively had me doing so as the movie went on, right on que.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 11 11:24:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 25 15:55:17 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "631853097d378547c63cc2c72be75cd3", "book_id": "29358487", "review_id": "fc69aecaba4d7dbe8d0b616e20b3b1ec", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Nice book to read while on a plane: easy to follow, stories are not connected and pretty short. \n However, being a fan of the original Miss Peregrine books I can't say this impressed me. Most of the stories have a darker tone and are reminiscent of original fairy tales which were not the happy Disney version we know today. Peculiar folklore is pretty twisted. \n What I would've really liked is stories of the different loops and the peculiars living there. \n Ok for a short read with medium expectations.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 02 11:29:53 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 05 12:15:15 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Apr 05 12:15:15 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Apr 02 11:29:54 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "631853097d378547c63cc2c72be75cd3", "book_id": "589897", "review_id": "22a26ae6998fd1a7242c372240a6c451", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Now I remember why I never finished this book as a kid. The language is a bit heavy for the average 11 year old. However, in honor of the new Tarzan movie which actually looks pretty good, I said I'll try and re-start reading it now, more than 10 years after my first attempt. \n Did I like it? Well, I didn't dislike it... much. \n Aside from the language and the description passages which tend to be a bit on the boring side, the action was ok, alas predictable. The most irksome part was the stereotypical generalization of certain classes of people: black people are uncultured weak minded savages, women are weak and sensible, Arabs are tricky and care little for foreigners unless they gain something, Englishmen are noble and distracted, the villain has no redeeming qualities and always fails in his endeavors and the hero is the perfect male with no flaws who always saves the day and manages to keep his inner demons at bay through sheer power of will because he's civilized after all, no? \n Also, the action is not credible: \n 1. Tarzan had no idea that close to the place he lived for 20 years was a black settlement and farther was the city made by rocks? Really? \n 2. What were the odds the group ends up on the same shore Tarzan's hut was-Did the author even look upon Africa's map to see how big it actually is? \n 3. Clayton just happens to die at the end for the sake of the plot and to tie lose ends. \n 4. Tarzan shows clear signs of avarice and he only returns to the civilized world for a girl. I mean, all things shallow, really? \n In conclusion, I wish the book was more realistic. Will I read the rest of the books? God no. The first 2 were enough. The stereotypes are killing me.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 17 07:27:52 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 17 11:17:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jul 17 11:17:54 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "631853097d378547c63cc2c72be75cd3", "book_id": "785947", "review_id": "d0c8265568dda451470a0e3b8340d721", "rating": 5, "review_text": "*review coming soon*", "date_added": "Fri Apr 29 04:53:05 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 02 11:25:13 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Mar 19 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "631853097d378547c63cc2c72be75cd3", "book_id": "24120519", "review_id": "1576919eeae917ae21990ba81685e71a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It's more like a 3.5. \n While I really liked the 1st two books, this one seemed rushed, especially towards the ending. So many questions were left unanswered like: \n 1. How on the bloody Earth can you simulate pupils with contacts? I mean, I'm no expert, but contacts are fixed, they don't move around like pupils do, do they? \n 2. Physically speaking, wights should be blind. No pupils= no eyesight. \n 3. If they age forward when they go forward in time because time catches up with them, what happens when they go way back in time? \n 4. A loop needs a ymbryne to rewind it, no? That's what they said in the 1st book. Then Devil's Acre also needed an ymbryne. Doesn't matter if it's a secret loop or punishment loop. \n 5. Was Fiona really dead? Did they even go and put her body to rest? \n 6. Did they find Sergei's wife and child? Is he really dead? What did he mean by the see you on the other side line? \n 7. What happened to the 2 hollows- Jacob's Rogue Hollow and the one under the bridge? What happened to the sleeping hollow Jacob drugged with Mother Dust's powder? \n 8. What happened to Caul- I mean they said he'd come back as a hollow, no? \n 9. Where is Nim? \n 10. Are Melina and the Brothers ok? Did the ymbrynes manage to find a way to help the children whose souls the wights partially extracted? Did they find a way to help the ones whose entire souls were extracted? \n 11. What were the voices, noises, feelings of being watched and creepiness to the Library of Souls? Was it only background noise to add the atmosphere of the book with no explanation? \n 12. Is Sam dead? Did she somehow die in the war? I am curious what happened to her. \n Also, the ending is unrealistic. Some books are just better without the sugar coated, unrealistic happy ending. I mean, they somehow realized their ages were reset? What? And then they go and live in Jacob's house completely out in the open, forcing themselves on Jacob's parents and manipulating and controlling them? the And they all live happily ever after? Fudge", "date_added": "Thu Apr 21 04:10:57 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 22 05:56:58 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Apr 22 05:56:58 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "631853097d378547c63cc2c72be75cd3", "book_id": "23164983", "review_id": "73d0270bce8ba207ec00026fb73bfb7e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Even better than the first one. \n I was surprised, as the book was very action packed, with unexpected turns and kept me on my toes. \n The love story is still annoying and unrealistic though, as Emma seems like an uni-dimensional character and lacks a serious character development. She's quite a Mary-Sue-ish portrayal of the pretty love interest with no flaws and with a hint of inner turmoil caused by the protagonist. It sure took them an awful short time to fall in love with each other. \n Totally love Brenwyn and Addison though.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 20 05:17:09 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 21 04:08:57 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Apr 21 04:08:57 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "631853097d378547c63cc2c72be75cd3", "book_id": "12578077", "review_id": "89241d66c4b9ca556b378eb30cc7dc9c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It' soooo similar to Twilight, but still I somehow couldn't stop from reading it. \n What I do hope is that in the next books Katy doesn't turn up to be Mary Sue...", "date_added": "Sun Dec 01 08:55:22 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 21 06:07:55 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Dec 21 06:07:55 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "631853097d378547c63cc2c72be75cd3", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "f2ac9d6322e9fe826f57b793c14a5852", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Really refreshing read. It's been a while since a book made me stay up reading until 3AM during the week when I had work the next day. \n I appreciate the unpredictability of the plot and the fact that the world created seemed real. \n The love plot lacked credibility though, I wish that part was better written and I have questions regarding the time and how they could change the course of history every day and the impact it could've had on the future (butterfly effect anyone?), but all in all a nice easy and captivating read.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 03:45:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 20 05:16:28 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Apr 20 05:16:28 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f730316b0edb977caa6746a93d346e0a", "book_id": "5996777", "review_id": "77e1b0a44972997386527dbceba061da", "rating": 5, "review_text": "tny tjrb@ m` njyb mHfwZ.wHqyqy 'n mftwn@ b'lslwb", "date_added": "Fri May 10 09:50:38 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu May 16 12:08:48 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu May 16 12:08:48 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri May 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "a2bf5b236075e7c5862fbf29614f4cc3", "book_id": "9785225", "review_id": "423413d097f3f3373e51f4430323086d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "My favourite in the series so far. 4.5*", "date_added": "Tue Mar 19 10:16:41 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 23 14:33:24 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Mar 23 14:33:24 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Mar 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a2bf5b236075e7c5862fbf29614f4cc3", "book_id": "12316827", "review_id": "aa202f1b71d529e92c80563b4d2d4900", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Good start but poor ending.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 03 15:35:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 10 09:09:40 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Aug 10 09:09:40 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a2bf5b236075e7c5862fbf29614f4cc3", "book_id": "8732067", "review_id": "8033492c75b898da1bc560cd4508ccce", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Found that a lot of characters were from the first book (which I haven't read yet) & they were introduced into this story with very little background information. \n The story references back to the first in the series for no particular reason - doesn't seem connected with the plot. \n Think I would have enjoyed it much more if I'd read them in order. As it is, I'm not tempted to read the first book now as this one was a major spoiler.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 22 01:12:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 27 09:28:48 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jun 27 09:28:48 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "12558285", "review_id": "4c0e44978d340bda5167e7af36e42399", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Rilettura \n Sin da bambina una delle mie fiabe preferite e sempre stata Alice nel paese delle meraviglie. Carroll ha saputo creare un mondo pieno di magia, sospeso tra sogno, un pizzico di follia e realta per dare vita ad luogo incantevole. \n Negli anni questa fiaba e stata oggetto di svariate rivisitazioni, tra gli ultimi la versione cinematografica proposta da Tim Burton, e quella in salsa zombie dark raccontata dalla superba Gena Showalter. \n Pensavo quindi di aver letto la storia di Alice da diversi punti di vista, e che poco altro poteva essere aggiunto ad una trama cosi ricca e piena di sfaccettature. Errore! \n La Howard costruisce un mondo completamente diverso da quello vissuto da Alice, questo e a meta tra il sogno e l'incubo, sospeso tra luci e ombre in un luogo dove l'orrore si fonde alla meraviglia. \n Una fiaba gotica raccontata usando ambientazioni che sono un continuo divenire: magiche, surreali, vivide, oscure e incantevoli. Il filo conduttore dell'intera trama sembra essere la follia, un gene tramandato come una maledizione a tutte le donne della famiglia Liddell. Potrebbe essere cosi, oppure e tutto frutto di un sotterfugio?! \n Nulla e dato per certo, l'inganno e il vero protagonista della trama, che si cela abilmente fra sentimenti, amicizia, affetto e amore. La fiducia diventa una chimera, che va conquistata a caro prezzo, perche nel paese delle meraviglie non ci si puo assolutamente fidare di nessuno. \n Alyssa deve affrontare una battaglia incessante con se stessa: oscurita e magia repressa, oppure semplicemente una ragazza che brama la normalita e la stabilita che ha conosciuto di rado? \n La Howard e una straordinaria narratrice, perche e riuscita a ricreare lo stile fiabesco usato da Carroll e lo ha reso oscuro, crudo, macabro creando un incantevole incubo ad occhi aperti. \n Splintered e il primo volume di una trilogia che di diritto e gia entrata a far parte della mia personale top ten libresca! \n MERAVIGLIOSO [?]", "date_added": "Thu Feb 16 16:22:00 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 18:05:35 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Feb 24 18:05:35 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Feb 24 18:05:29 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "9761771", "review_id": "2112567a02c64c02f98926c1a9521ea2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Amo Seth, sul serio, mi piace e trovo i suoi atteggiamenti verso Alex cosi protettivi e dolci ma Aiden e stato capace di farmi vacillare... \n Ardua e la scelta ed e una strada tutta in salita per Alex, che adesso dovra svestirsi dei panni da teenager per vestire quelli piu maturi di Apollyon:) \n Continuo a tentennare, non riesco ad essere solo team Aiden o team Seth. \n Vorrei fare un panino Puru/Mezzosangue- Apollyon", "date_added": "Tue Jan 10 15:36:14 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 12 06:55:08 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "18360128", "review_id": "b13e88b73a563b6f69afddd7a273da6f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Dopo aver terminato questa novella ho reinventato la mia idea di romanticismo. \n Di storie di sesso o sentimenti portati all'estremo n'e piena la narrativa contemporanea, ma di certo poche sono le storie che riescono ad entrare sotto pelle come questa. Un piccolo cupcake, una delizia di purezza e tenerezza che da al sentimento dell'amore un sapore autentico e speciale. \n Zuze e Mik sono due puntini nell'universo degli innamorati, ma brillano intensamente e appassionatamente di luce propria! \n Adesso voglio tanto love per i miei KarAkiva [?]______[?]", "date_added": "Sun Oct 09 16:03:01 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 11 10:03:28 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Oct 11 14:41:38 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Oct 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "28676576", "review_id": "751de95fa9e2935f62d5b027673811c4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Spesso quando si rileggo un libro, a distanza di anni, non riesco a provare le stesse emozioni. Anzi, capita che il mio giudizio cambi completamente per via dei gusti piu \"difficili\" che anni di letture hanno alimentato. \n Ma non questa volta. No. \n La chimera di Praga e stata una delle riletture piu belle e intense di quest'anno, vuoi perche la storia d'amore tra Karou e Akiva ha sempre un so che di magico, o per lo stile assolutamente delizioso della Laini, resta il fatto che ho adorato ancora di piu questo primo capitolo. \n Adesso che i giochi abbiano inizio e spero di non dover penare troppo per questi due amoretti [?][?]", "date_added": "Fri Sep 16 02:39:46 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed May 10 07:44:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Sep 28 02:17:18 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "28165896", "review_id": "73e563beeda9a04b23e47b99ce3d8f76", "rating": 3, "review_text": "~Alec, il cuore e solo un pugno che batte sulla porta dell'anima per ricordarle di aprirsi.~ \n {[?][?][?] e mezza} \n Questa e una delle frasi che, in questo libro, ho riletto piu e piu volte. Il significato implicito in essa richiama alla mente tutte le volte in cui leggendo, ho capito che l'amore o la sua assenza e il catalizzatore di ogni azione umana. \n Devo ammettere di aver snobbato a priori questo libro, forse un po' per via della cover che non riusciva a trasmettermi nulla, ma evidentemente devo fare ammenda perche si e rivelata una piacevole sorpresa. \n Miriam rivista e trasforma una delle piu belle fiabe della mia infanzia in chiave distopica, aggiungendo diverse sfumature che arricchiscono e impreziosiscono la trama. La fiaba percio diventa l'incubo a causa di una societa messa in ginocchio dall'assenza si elettricita. Un futuro che paradossalmente riporta l'umanita in un passato in cui ogni conquista fatta dall'uomo e scomparsa, per la maggioranza della popolazione mondiale. \n Una societa che ha dei contorni netti e precisi: l'estrema poverta che si contrappone al lusso di una ristretta cerchia d'elite. \n Una narrazione che scorre serrata, ricca di descrizioni dettagliate e affascinanti, fluida e corposa, originale e con quel tocco di romanticismo che ad una lettrice come me non dispiace affatto! \n Lo stile di Miriam e molto particolare, aldila della trama e dei protagonisti che mi sono senza dubbio piaciuti, trovo che rappresenti il suo vero punto di forza. \n Oltre a farle i complimenti e ringraziarla per avermi fatto leggere la sua opera, fidandosi del mio onesto parere, vorrei caldamente consigliarle di dare un lieto fine alla mia ship del cuore (BellAlec) *_* \n Brava Miriam, un altro talento Made in Italy!", "date_added": "Wed Mar 23 12:15:53 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 06 00:25:28 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Apr 07 17:15:33 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "24805673", "review_id": "da79c747a9e79c35b9f246c249ce21f5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Dopo aver sfogliato l'ultima pagina, circa 7 ore fa, ho chiuso il libro ed ho pensato: ma come accidentaccio potro mai recensirlo degnamente?! \n Ecco. Non posso assolutamente farlo. \n Quindi prendete questa recensione per quello che e \"Un mix di Fangirl e Lettrice con hearthbreker\", perche la cara Cassie questa volta per la sottoscritta ha fatto il botto. \n In questo periodo della mia vita cerco evasione, voglio respirare aria non contaminata dalla realta, esigo di volare letteralmente in un altro posto... \n Con The dark Artifice Cassie ha portato una ventata d'aria fresca nel mondo del fantasy, riuscendo a sorprendermi ancora una volta. \n Questa Clare scrive in un modo piu maturo, nitido, originale e riesce a creare un nuovo universo shadowhunters dove i personaggi hanno una perfetta collocazione, e un evoluzione caratteriale molto credibile. \n La citta degli angeli fa da sfondo ad un mondo di magia nera, riti sacrificali e indizi forvianti architettati da una mente ingegnosa tanto quanto ingannevole... \n Proprio un indizio inneschera una serie di eventi che porteranno alla scoperta di una verita crudele, ingiusta e ingiustificabile. \n Aldila della trama, che ho trovato costruita veramente ad arte attorno ai personaggi, quello che mi ha conquistata subito e stata l'impeccabile caratterizzazione dei protagonisti ed il modo di concatenare gli eventi. \n La Clare continua a raccontare dell'universo dei nephilin ma questa volta riesce a stupirmi e incantarmi con una narrazione ancora piu interessante ed originale, serrata e crudele, sensuale e dolorosa. \n Emma che respira, brama e si nutre di vendetta come fosse l'ossigeno che la tiene in vita... \n Stupenda, coraggiosa, appassionata e indomita. \n E difficile adorare un personaggio cosi complesso ma lei non ti lascia altra scelta. \n Emma e l'eroina per eccellenza: forte e fragile ed ingenuamente sensuale, per tutto questo l'empatia nei suoi confronti e stata immediata. \n Il mio incantevole Julian, lui che riesce ad essere un po' Jace e Will, un po' Gabriel e Alec... \n Lui e una mina nel mio cuore di Fangirl! \n #JulianSeiIlMioMashmellow \n Il personaggio di Julian ha in se una maturita ed un altruismo che sconfina nel sacrificio piu profondo. L'amore incondizionato che nutre per i suoi fratelli e per la sua parabatai trasmette una tale dolcezza che scioglie il cuore. \n Il modo in cui descrive il suo amore per lei, attraverso i colori e le pennellate sulle sue tele, mi ha stregata completamente; oltre al modo in cui si ostina,senza risultati, a negare i suoi sentimenti me lo hanno fatto amare catastroficamente! \n Questa e una di quelle ship che ti fanno perdere 10 anni di vita ad ogni paragrafo! \n Poi ci sono Mark, Kieran, Diego, Ty... \n Devo fermarmi qui per evitare spoiler ma posso assicurarvi che Cassie in questa nuova saga e riuscita a superare se stessa. \n Ho amato The mortal istrument e The Infernal device ma con The dark artifice siamo entrati veramente in un nuovo e piu esaltante universo di shadowhunters!!! \n Milioni di stelle per la Clare [?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?]", "date_added": "Tue Mar 22 15:11:51 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 01 12:51:50 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Apr 01 12:51:50 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 28, "n_comments": 7}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "26458741", "review_id": "ac289d3116aa666d9336c62cbb3210a8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Una bellissima conclusione per una saga che mi ha conquistata sin dalle prime battute. Una trilogia che ha riscattato ai miei occhi la Armentrout :) \n Zayne, Layla ed il meraviglioso Roth rimarranno sempre nel mio [?]", "date_added": "Tue Mar 15 17:15:33 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 21 16:50:07 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 22 10:15:40 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "9680718", "review_id": "048a8e22a9221ffc1a5e02a7bb5c71ca", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Non so come tu abbia fatto ma sei, temporaneamente, rientrata nelle mie grazie cara Jen. \n #TeamAider \n Or \n #TeamSeth \n Vedremo...", "date_added": "Sun Mar 13 14:38:08 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 11 00:49:40 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 11 10:28:51 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 12, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "25980459", "review_id": "eec5752863f0f545c7c2ab1afb106b60", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4,5 stelle Rothose \n No seriamente, mi interrogo sul perche io abbia aspettato tutto questo tempo per leggere questa saga. \n Altro che libro di mezzo, questo seguito e una bomba. Una miscela esplosiva di tutte le emozioni che il primo capitolo mi aveva lasciato presagire... \n Santa pace che cosa non e quel pezzo di Zayne @____@ \n Ma quando entra in scena The Prince non c'e ne per nessuno XD XD XD \n [?]______[?] \n Rothuccio di Alex!!! \n La cara Jennyfer con questa saga si sta riscattando ai miei occhi, adesso mi auguro che concludera con il botto ^_^", "date_added": "Sun Mar 13 09:14:41 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 15 17:14:10 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "24544486", "review_id": "bb034931852a42155e3f07ad8d1d0cc5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Avevo un po' \"snobbato\" questa saga, e adesso non mi ricordo il perche. \n La curiosita per questo famigerato Roth e per Zayne mi ha spinto ad iniziare questa trilogia, e adesso mi pento di non averla letta moooolto prima! \n Roth e mmmhhh Rothoso come direbbero quelli dell'Accademia della crusca... Particolarmente e fuori dagli schemi, ma dannatamente favoloso! \n Anche Zayne ha saputo trovare una piccola nicchia, ma i suoi tentennamenti lo hanno fatto scendere di parecchi gradini. \n Lei Layla e la classica protagonista che deve scoprire i suoi talenti attraverso dolore, perdita e assenza dell'amore, ma sono riuscita ugualmente ad entrare subito in sintonia con il suo modo di essere e agire. \n Che dire vado a fiondarmi tra le pagine del seguito, fortunatamente l'intera saga e gia stata pubblicata ^___^", "date_added": "Wed Mar 09 15:11:43 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 13 09:17:13 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Mar 13 10:21:02 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Mar 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "34753754", "review_id": "90c0c457bd8be55a44aa2f1c24245928", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Quando, piA1 di un anno fa, lessi La moglie del califfo fu amore al primo rigo e le emozioni che seppe suscitare in me sono state amplificate anche durante la rilettura. Le aspettative per questo capitolo conclusivo erano molte e speravo di non rimanere delusa... \n Non A\" successo nulla di tutto questo, anzi l'autrice A\" riuscita a dare piA1 spessore ai personaggi e a portare la trama ad un livello superiore, piA1 maturo e consapevole. \n Shazi, che ha sempre avuto le palle, adesso pur di salvare chi ama A\" disposta a tutto persino mettere in pericolo la propria incolumitA . A^ il centro di tutto, il fulcro emozionale e decisionale dell'intera trama, colei che con una tenacia straordinaria riesce a \"volare\" da un capo all'altro del deserto per amore del suo \"mostro adorato\".", "date_added": "Mon Feb 08 17:36:06 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 28 09:00:53 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jun 28 10:29:20 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 12, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "25541572", "review_id": "b3517270092b262054f4891a66749e32", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Non so da dove iniziare. \n Non riesco a raccogliere idee, pensieri, sensazioni ed emozioni per trasformarle in parole. Parole e frasi che dovrebbero essere in grado di esprimere l'amore che nutro per questo libro. \n Provero a dire a caldo cosa mi ha suscitato questa incantevole lettura, alla Alex insomma ;) \n L'ambientazione da mille e una notte, scenari da favola avvolti nell'orrore di una terribile maledizione. Una trama che sposa magia, orrore, crudelta, lealta, amicizia e AMORE. Si quell'amore che nasce da una manciata di cenere e odio, da un soffio di vendetta che alimenta un'anima distrutta. \n Un fuoco che divampa potente e costante...che travolge e avvolge il cuore! \n Shazi e una dei personaggi femminili che ha saputo conquistare lo status di \"badass whit marzapane hearth\", perche riesce ad apparire dura come l'acciaio e fragile e delicata come un nastro di seta. \n Khalid e qualcosa di fantasmagorico sotto ogni punto di vista: enigmatico, sensuale, autoritario e infinitamente dolce. \n My sugar califfo [?] \n Potrei dirvi molto altro, perche questo libro e veramente qualcosa di meraviglioso, ma vi lascio nel dubbio... \n Spero che la Newton pubblichi prestissimo seguito e novelle, mantenendo le cover originali che adoro. Ma sopratutto in tempi molto ma molto brevi! \n Consigliato con il [?]", "date_added": "Mon Feb 01 15:04:32 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 25 17:43:49 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jun 25 17:43:49 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 24, "n_comments": 7}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "17399160", "review_id": "e101b4f0eefcd4cf3654d419edc95d7b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Meira e una di quelle eroine che ti prende per mano obligandoti a entrare dentro la storia: vivere e respirare in prima persona le sue avventure, emozioni e sensazioni. \n L'empatia quindi e immediata e cresce ad ogni sua folle e altruistica decisione. \n Orfana, soldato e profuga alla ricerca di un luogo da poter chiamare casa, ed allo stesso tempo depositaria di ricordi non suoi di un regno distrutto. \n Di queste donne mi piace leggere e attraverso loro riesco a vivere avventure che altrimenti potrei solo sognare. \n I miei feel sono tutti per Theron", "date_added": "Sat Dec 19 14:10:25 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 20 03:39:44 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Mar 20 10:34:58 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "32053339", "review_id": "f5895599fece15ec46c013b914a9c4c5", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Sarebbe 1 stella... mi sento buona 2 /_/ ancora non riesco a capire dove stia la connessione con Cappuccetto rosso!", "date_added": "Sat Nov 07 09:22:11 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 29 06:40:48 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Dec 29 08:05:44 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "26834719", "review_id": "cdabbbf50e87af3b10a4d9604e8259bd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Rendiamoci conto che quando un libro e bello, originale e scritto come si deve spesso il numero delle pagine e misero. \n Ma e possibile concludere un libro cosi?!?! \n C'e io voglio molto piu Amani e Jim. I need more Jim. \n Voglio continuare a sognare fra le dune e questi scenari da mille e una notte. \n Perdermi tra mito e magia, insieme a protagonisti che non posso fare altro che amare e shippare... Tipo che voglio sapere con chi shippare il re ribelle eh! \n Non posso immaginare in quale secolo verra rilasciato il seguito, se dovro leggerlo nella mia bella stanzetta della casa di riposo per Fangirl... \n Oppure se qualche c'e in contatto con l'aldila potra farmela inviare da amazon heaven Y=_Y= \n Cmq un esordio stratosferico per una saga che promette meraviglie ad ogni capitolo! \n Jin ti amo [?]", "date_added": "Wed Oct 07 06:29:48 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 16 13:57:07 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Nov 16 15:50:37 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Nov 14 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "26799781", "review_id": "bec454e4793dc0a791ea08a8e9ed9706", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Finalmente ho finito sta cosa!!!! \n Orribile. \n Ridicolo. \n Noioso. \n Infantile. \n Una totale perdita del mio tempo!", "date_added": "Thu Sep 24 00:29:22 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 27 06:13:43 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Sep 27 06:24:24 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Sep 24 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 10}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "20560137", "review_id": "af5e602f36315db28e39216623108799", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sabaa nutro tanto amore per la tua persona, sappilo! \n Bada, non quell'amore effimero che molte fangirl decantano per i loro autori preferiti, no, io voglio scriverti sonetti e ballate... voglio farti capire che sei diventata una delle mie personali dee della narrativa! \n Nonostante il mio amore sconfinato, pero, non sapro rendere giustizia a questo libro con la mia pidocciosa recensione \"Sorry Sabaa\" Y=_Y=\" \n Avevo sentito meraviglie su questo libro, da chi lo avevo letto in lingua, e ho sperato in un'illuminazione delle nostre CE, evidentemente il dio delle pubblicazioni miracolose era in ascolto!!! \n Eccolo qui magnifico nella sua cover originale e con un titolo che non forvia del tutto il messaggio della trama, un libro che ho amato pagina dopo pagina sempre di piu. \n La prosa e superba, curata e misurata in tutte le descrizioni; l'ambientazione e qualcosa di magico e suggestivo allo stesso tempo, lo stile e l'arma attraverso la quale Sabaa rende schiavo il lettore: crudo e crudele, ricco di particolari, misurato eppur dilagante di emozioni forti ed intense. Corposo e avvolgente, chiaro seppur velato di mistero. \n Una narrazione che incanta e spaventa, che riempie la mente di sensazioni forti e contrastanti. \n Odio, crudelta, dolore e quel micidiale desiderio di vendetta che anima il cuore dei protagonisti e fargli desiderare la liberta di corpo e anima piu di ogni altra cosa. \n Lealta e amicizia messe in discussione... \n Alleanze che tramano nell'ombra... \n Destino e profezie. \n Sangue e onore. \n Una partita giocata fino all'ultima mossa, per cercare di evadere da un destino gia segnato. \n Ho adorato ogni personaggio perche l'autrice riesce a tratteggiarne ogni sfumatura caratteriale, creando un empatia immediata nel lettore. \n Helene, Izzy, Cuoca, il Rosso, Caino e tutta la marmaglia...gia sento la vostra mancanza. \n Comandante spero caldamente che tu possa crepare male, con lentezza e infinito/immenso dolore! \n Laia sei imperfetta, coraggiosa e con un gran cuore. \n Elias potresti essere persino fratello di Chaol Westfall. \n Sappilo che ti amo alla stessa maniera!!!! \n Coraggio, valoroso, bellissimo e gnocco da paiura _ \n Sei proprio tanto eh. \n Mezen crepa male pure tu. \n Adesso lancio un appello disperato/accorato alla Nord : \n Non facciamo scherzi ragazzi si?! \n Il seguito DEVE essere pubblicato e non oltre i primi mesi del 2016. \n Chiaro?!?! \n #Nonfacciamoscherzi \n #Fangirlinsurrect \n #Caput", "date_added": "Fri Jul 17 13:02:07 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 05 23:53:59 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Nov 07 15:46:32 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Oct 31 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 30, "n_comments": 27}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "15839984", "review_id": "0db9870aeaaaaf1c8cc6f58ad59f8717", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Non so veramente da dove iniziare! \n Questo libro si e rivelato qualcosa di unico, sconvolgente e originale tanto da sorprendermi e incantarmi completamente. Una storia che rievoca e traduce in chiave moderna il classico senza tempo de \"La bella e la bestia\", ma non aspettatevi una copia sbiadita e noiosa... assolutamente no. \n Rosamund Hodge rivisita il classico Disney e lo racconta mescolando un po' di steampunk, ambientazioni oniriche e descrizioni degne della mente geniale di Carroll in Alice in wonderland. \n Reale o onirico? \n Crudele o giusto? \n Incanto o incubo? \n Amore, odio, tradimenti e redenzione. \n Questa storia ha un pizzico di tutto cio, e un mondo in continuo divenire in cui la realta spesso si confonde con l'illusione o l'incubo peggiore. \n La Hodge racchiude tra le pagine di questa storia l'incanto di un sogno e l'efferatezza di un patto che distrugge ogni cosa. Crudelta, bellezza, e un mistero che avvolge un intero stato come una maledizione. \n Lo stile e squisitamente elegante, ricco di mistero e riferimenti onirici. La mitologia greca usata come filo conduttore per legare il passato al presente e svelarne i misteri. Una lettura che ti avvolge e intrappola, un vaso di Pandora che non ti permette di pensare ad altro, se non il volere sapere cosa succedera nel capitolo successivo. Un castello che contiene al suo interno un intero mondo... \n Chiavi che aprono porte che un istante dopo non ci sono piu... \n Riavvolgere il tempo e sacrificare l'amore? \n Oppure ascoltare la voce dell'egoismo? \n Incantevole!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 15 16:20:32 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 12 23:44:28 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Oct 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Oct 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "24818936", "review_id": "54fd821e383baf43752f0febc043f36e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Una vita per finirlo!!!! \n Ma mi facci il piacere #_____#", "date_added": "Mon Apr 27 14:14:37 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat May 02 18:46:31 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun May 03 09:34:48 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "25320996", "review_id": "df928caaa3c5bbed458aea23387c14f0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Questo libro si e rivelato una gran bella sorpresa: intrigante, originale, coinvolgente e con un finale che lascia una smania di sapere di piu. \n Una storia che ha due scenari alternativi, entrambi possibili e quasi... reali. Una protagonista giovane e determinata, caparbia e coraggiosa, che quasi per gioco interroga il suo futuro. Un futuro che le rivelera verita molto scomode che sconvolgeranno il suo presente. \n Due ragazzi molto diversi che entreranno a far parte della sua vita, due storie che la protagonista vive quasi in parallelo per poter scegliere quale sia il destino migliore per lei. \n Uno Ya tutto da scoprire dai risvolti sci-fi molto interessanti! \n Normale o paranormale?! \n Autenticita o manipolazione?! \n Amore o... Illusione?! \n Addison a te il compito di \"scegliere\". \n Team Trevor always [?]", "date_added": "Fri Apr 17 06:45:14 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 17 07:44:03 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Apr 21 14:52:03 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 19}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "25105196", "review_id": "ebeeb42353d5fa1ff4a5cef398d0b03f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Datemi un altro libro su Morpheus, di lui che respira, che parla o fa il folle. \n Le ultime 80 pagine le piu belle ed intense. Jebbediota chi?!", "date_added": "Fri Mar 20 16:09:38 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 18:04:59 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Feb 24 18:04:59 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Feb 24 18:04:46 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "22447220", "review_id": "ba387ca3c53df90717136790a56620f8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Io sono per il \"o tutto o niente\" \"il bianco o il nero\" \n Non sono tipo da contentini o vie di mezzo. \n Non conosco le zone grigie. \n No. \n La Howard ha creato da una semplice favola per bambini qualcosa di unico, magico, macabro e fatato; poi non ha saputo tirar fuori le palle ed ha optato per la neutralita. \n La vita e fatta di scelte coraggiose e drastiche, di consapevolezza e carattere, di amore totalizzante e unico. \n Ci si spacca in due quando si ama piu se stessi che gli altri. \n Non e una scelta d'amore... solo una scelta egoistica! \n Non ditemi che sto giudicando un intero libro solo dal suo epilogo, no. Mi sto semplicemente arrabbiando perche l'autrice non ha mostrato tutta la sua verve narrativa proprio dove era piu necessaria. Mi sarei aspettata molto di piu da un'autrice del suo calibro e invece... \n Alyssa novella Tessa Grey Y=___Y=", "date_added": "Fri Mar 20 16:09:11 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 24 18:04:52 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Feb 24 18:04:52 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Feb 24 18:04:38 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 14, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "17449197", "review_id": "9bba18212dbb454be0f33184420c3d7e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Non e facile parlare di questo libro, non e facile esprimere a parole la meravigliosa sensazione di trovarsi nel paese delle meraviglie \n Posso soltanto dire che amo lo stile della Howard e il suo talento nel creare meraviglia e orrore, l'incanto e l'orrore che esistono e coesistono tra le pagine di questo seguito cattura e ammalia il lettore. \n La forza di Ally, il coraggio di Jeb sono degni di nota, ma io HO OCCHI SOLO PER IL MIO MORPHEUS. \n Amo questo personaggio cosi pieno di sfaccettature e ombre, di bugie e dolci verita. \n Lo amo e spero che venga ricompensato per tutto quello che ha sofferto. \n #MorpheusILoveYou", "date_added": "Fri Mar 20 16:08:56 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 20 00:58:03 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Feb 20 03:19:57 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Feb 17 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "12685077", "review_id": "f847379673ebb4156676824e7b613d46", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Un bell'esordio *.*", "date_added": "Tue Mar 17 06:27:04 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 01 03:10:00 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Apr 01 03:10:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "24781175", "review_id": "85c4ad4fa4e19ab61b59f34ad7a7d1dc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Tre e mezzo \n Jeaniene Frost e un'autrice apprezzata e seguita da moltissimi lettori, infatti la sua enorme fama da sempre la precede. Forse sono rimasta una delle poche a non aver letto nulla di suo, ma con Mondo di cenere sto rimediando a tale mancanza; ringrazio per questa opportunita la Harlequin che ha inviato una copia del libro al nostro blog. \n La Frost si e rivelata una gran bella scoperta, perche ha creato un bel mix di new adult, fantasy e paranormal a tinte dark. Lo stile dell'autrice riesce ad essere dinamico e giovane, pur descrivendo nel dettaglio sia le ambientazioni che lo sviluppo emotivo dei personaggi. \n Grande spazio quindi alle emozioni, ma anche allo sviluppo della trama che e molto curata ed arricchita con diversi flashback, per poter inquadrare meglio i protagonisti. \n Una storia ricca di mistero, suspense e con quella sfumatura romance che non guasta, ma ne ammorbidisce i toni. Anche umorismo fa da padrone all'interno della trama, inserito indubbiamente per smorzare alcune situazioni. \n Una storia che si lascia leggere con rapidita e curiosita, la lotta tra il bene ed il male che inevitabilmente travolgere i nostri protagonisti in un \"gioco\" molto piu grande di loro. \n Bugie,tradimenti, senso di colpa... e l'assoluta certezza che nessun destino e gia stato scritto, se ad entrare in gioco c'e la nostra volonta! \n Una lettura piacevole che consiglio [?][?][?][?][?]", "date_added": "Fri Mar 06 00:01:40 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 10 10:34:15 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Mar 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 14}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "12425532", "review_id": "9f7c199b1c15270e0892169d398b8228", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Ho capito che dopo Ariel, la mia sirenetta del cuore, non ci sara spazio per altri esseri con la pinna! \n Ho cercato di affezionarmi alla protagonista, invano, perche a parte il suo humour... non ha saputo trasmettermi molto altro. \n Di contro, neanche la parte maschile ha riscosso grandi consensi e persino le battutine e gli screzi alla fine mi hanno annoiata. \n Un discreto potenziale la trama poteva averlo, anche se molte scene rasentavano la demenza, ma a guastare questa flebile speranza e stata la \"PESSIMA E DEL TUTTO SGRAMMATICATA TRADUZIONE\". \n Frasi tradotte in una lingua che non assomiglia al nostro italiano, verbi coniugati da un bimbo di 1 elementare, e similitudini da pelle d'oca. In piu vorrei chiedere all'autrice il perche di questo pov ambiguo: la protagonista racconta la storia in prima persona, invece il Syrena alla terza. \n Avevo riposto una grande fiducia nel raiting molto alto di goodreads, ma evidentemente io e i lettori d'oltreoceano non abbiamo gli stessi gusto in fatto di libri!!! \n Cuora Adorata sorry but I you", "date_added": "Fri Feb 27 01:19:02 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 12 05:13:10 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jun 12 12:49:52 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "17878931", "review_id": "702cb8b76494dc0d728a031b9708bb1c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Quando un libro non mi piace non perdo tempo a recensirlo, a meno che il suddetto non mi abbia fatto imbestialire. \n Ecco, in questo caso due paroline le spendo volentieri. \n 1) world building inesistente o pervenuto a sprazzi. \n 2) collocazione storica/ area geografica interessata imprecisata. \n 3) spiegazioni plausibili del come/perche sia in atto una guerra cruenta, non e dato saperlo. \n 4) due linee di sangue: rosso (noi eh per intenderci i normalotti) e argentei ( Dei? Angeli? Xman? Avengers? Non e stato ben chiarito). \n 5) una protagonista scema, inetta, inconcludente, superficiale, egoista, mentecatta pero ha tre cani da riporto che le scodinzolano intorno. Uno la desidera ma fa il duro... L'altro flirta e la pija per il ciap... L'ultimo morirebbe per lei ma non schiatta mai. \n 6) abiti scintillanti e belletto tipo opera con contorno di balli e cene di gala inutili. \n 7) dialoghi che portano a stati ora di stress da insulsaggini, adesso da torpore post coma tanto sono intriganti. \n 8) uno stupefacente plot-twist che era gia prevedibile nelle prime cento pagine. \n 9) personaggi maschili.... Ehm.... Uhm uno piu invertebrato dell'altro. (Cal tu eri caruccio pero non hai dato due sgarrassoni a Mare eh...) \n 10) un finale cliffangher che nemmeno Shonda Rhimes avrebbe potuto regalarci!!!! \n Il mio urto sta nel fatto che la trama poteva rivelarsi abbastanza originale e credibile. Ma l'errata e frivola caratterizzazione dei personaggi ha azzerato il potenziale di questa storia, rendendola prevedibile e per quanto mi riguarda sciocca! \n P.s Mare sei una Locca fatta e finita. Chissa quali altri casini combinerai nei seguiti, ma per quanto mi riguarda e finita qui!", "date_added": "Tue Dec 30 17:16:55 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 07 23:52:43 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jun 09 11:09:03 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 23, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "23208019", "review_id": "3cfdeab613db41d0b85bce8627c6c41f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stelline \n Un prequel assolutamente \"necessario\" per comprendere meglio il background dei protagonisti. Per conoscere un po' del passato che ognuno di loro nasconde... I segreti del cuore e le aspettative da matricole riposte nel Caldon college! \n Ho adorato Alyssa *.*", "date_added": "Sun Dec 28 05:31:02 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 04 07:30:00 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jan 04 07:30:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "23562492", "review_id": "b7468a95c2a6579a5bf54dc7dd662560", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Quale modo migliore di iniziare il nuovo anno, se non quello di imbattermi in una bravissima autrice Made in Italy?! \n Ebbene si, Samantha M. Swatt e stata una gran bella scoperta. Questo talento nostrano ha uno stile originale, accattivante e intrigante. Racconta, con sorprendente abilita e capacita narrative, una storia che e come una ventata d'aria fresca in questo affollato universo di cliche, che e diventato ultimamente il genere fantasy. \n Una struttura narrativa che ammalia il lettore, supportata in maniera egregia da un'ottima proprieta di linguaggio; estrema cura nella caratterizzazione dei personaggi e nello sviluppo della trama. Una storia che prende vita mentre l'autrice stessa la racconta, parole che diventano immagini ed emozioni. \n Un fantasy intrigante e originale con una delicata nota romance che, a mio avviso, lo rende imperdibile! \n Adesso cara Samantha caccia fuori il finale! \n N.b: io adoro Brian, non fare scherzi ;)", "date_added": "Sun Dec 28 05:30:46 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 07 03:32:09 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jan 07 14:24:21 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 17}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "22444248", "review_id": "e3d9940122634091258d7fce2983877a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stelline \n Notai questo libro per puro caso e subito la trama mi incuriosi, quindi eccomi qui ad inaugurare il mio 2015 libresco con questa piccola chicca made in Italy. \n Letto tutto d'un fiato, grazie allo stile scorrevole, alla storia alquanto originale e per certi versi un tantino bizzarra. \n Trama ben articolata, ricca di suspance rivelazioni piazzate ad hoc, personaggi delineati con estrema attenzione, presenza massiccia di esemplare maschili molto interessanti. \n Mwahahah sorry ma vedere concentrati in un piccolo collegio dimenticato dal resto del mondo, una discreta quantita di manzi... mi fa ripensare alla carenza di tali soggetti nel mio vecchio liceo. Ok diciamo assoluta mancanza! \n Uhm dicevamo, sono proprio tutti questi soggetti, diversi per aspetto e carattere a rendere la storia misteriosa e intrigante. Inseriamo pure una discreta dose di incognite, e bizzarrie varie, ed voila Undrworld e servito! \n Ammetto di aver avuto qualche ritrosia nei confronti della protagonista femminile, Holly, per via delle sue chilometriche descrizioni di questo o quel personaggio maschile. Il suo continuo paragonare occhi, capelli, labbra etc a quel mare, quel cielo, quellochetepare, mi ha un po' scocciata. Ma a parte questo la storia si lascia leggere che e una meraviglia, trascinando il lettore dentro le vicende dei protagonisti e cercando con loro, la risoluzione dei vari misteri. Mi sa che ne leggeremo delle belle! \n Adesso con il prequel conosceremo meglio tutti i personaggi, gnocchi del Caldon college ecchimiiiii!! \n Leggetelo!", "date_added": "Sat Dec 27 08:27:32 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 02 09:36:39 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jan 02 11:51:09 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "5287473", "review_id": "e7ea7d5de91d7e4d79dbbfd305c94f72", "rating": 3, "review_text": "L'inizio non e stato un granche spero che il seguito migliori xd! \n Spero. \n Credo. \n Boh!", "date_added": "Tue Nov 18 02:56:43 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 17 06:48:45 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 9, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "23527284", "review_id": "60c2d5d1bc0267c63bba4700a687be57", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Sapete cos'e un angelo? \n Partiamo dalla definizione classica: \n Essere puramente spirituale ed intellettuale, di natura superiore all'umana, rappresentato dall'arte in forma corporea, di giovanile bellezza, con ali. Angelo custode, protettore divino assegnato a ogni singola persona. \n In effetti, nell'immaginario collettivo si tratta di un essere spirituale al servizio dell'uomo. Il salvatore per antonomasia. Colui che ispira sempre: Protezione, Sicurezza, Fiducia cieca. Bene, ve lo state immaginando quindi? Questo essere strafigo che scende sulla Terra solo per voi, per salvarvi. Per proteggervi da, che ne so, un mattone che sta per cadervi in testa, o una macchina che sta per investirvi. Lo state visualizzando, vero? Il vostro eroe. Eccolo li. E' perfetto. \n Bene, ora prendete tutto quello a cui state pensando e buttatelo fuori dalla finestra, perche Acsei e l'Angelo che non vi aspettate. Un angelo che combina un casino dopo l'altro. Buono e armato di ottime intenzione lo e, si, ma tra il dire ed il fare... c'e di mezzo la povera Vera! \n Saro molto sincera, normalmente mi tengo alla larga da queste storie proprio per cercare di evitare il piu possibile certi cliche. E' anche vero che ultimamente e molto difficile leggere qualcosa che sia davvero originale. Ormai sono stati scritti talmente tanti libri che spaziano in tutte le possibili tematiche esistenti al mondo, che risulta assai complicato \"uscire dal gregge\". \n E allora cos'e che distingue un libro a cui daremmo una stella da uno a cui ne daremmo 3 o 4? Beh, e molto semplice. Il modo in cui e scritto. Conosco Alaisse da un bel po' di tempo, e non ero affatto stupita quando ho saputo che avrebbe pubblicato un romanzo. Perche e cosi evidente quanto sia portata a scrivere. E' brava nel farlo e sicuramente lo fa con passione. \n Che dire di \"Io sono Vera\"? \n Innanzitutto, immaginavo un altro tipo di storia, conoscendo la sua incredibile ironia. Quindi mi ha spiazzato, ma positivamente. Perche, nonostante il romanzo in se sia scontato per la maggior parte della vicenda, e incredibile come Alaisse sia riuscita a coinvolgermi. L'idea di suddividere la narrazione in capitoli in terza ed in prima persona e davvero geniale. La trama segue l'immaginario comune delle \"dinamiche\"angeliche: salvataggi rocamboleschi, lotte tra bene e male e amore eterno/impossibile. \n Ma a rendere tutto nuovo, originale, interessante e brioso e lo stile impeccabile di Alaisse. Lei sa scrivere molto bene, e riesce a coinvolgere il lettore con ironia, dolcezza e poesia. Similitudini che evocano poesie fiabesche; frasi scelte con estrema cura, per sottolineare un momento speciale come quando in un film parte quella musica stupenda a fare da sottofondo... Questo libro e uno scrigno di emozioni che Alaisse evoca con sapienza, armata non di un flauto incantatore, ma del suo stile originale. Personaggi ben caratterizzati che hanno saputo dare varie sfumature alla trama, antagonisti credibili e storyline ben sviluppata. Vera e perfetta, come Din e il maestro Ammaniel, Camael e gli altri protagonisti. Tutti descritti in maniera impeccabile e delineati minuziosamente. \n Unico e minuscolo appunto che ci permettiamo di fare, riguarda Acsei. E' molto probabile che chi ha letto il libro, all'inizio avrebbero voluto ammazzarlo. Ma sicuramente era questa l'intenzione della scrittrice: farci provare gli stessi sentimenti di Vera. E farli mutare nel corso della narrazione, proprio come i suoi. La cosa che invece non ci e piaciuta molto e l'eccessivo ridicolizzare i suoi \"errori\". Non sono riuscita ad innamorarmi completamente di lui proprio perche lo vedevo troppo buffo e poco sensuale. La dolcezza e la sua bellezza non sono in discussione, ma avrei preferito attorno al suo personaggio un'aurea di mistero, una leggera nota di bastardaggine, quel qualcosa che ci porta ad essere attratte dal pericolo. Invece spesso ho avuto l'impressione di osservare le comiche di Pierino combina guai... ed e un peccato. In effetti e solo verso la fine che Acsei prende la forma che avrei voluto. Ma probabilmente anche questo e stato un modo per la scrittrice di \"discostarsi\" dai canoni della perfezione e della banalita. In effetti, un angelo del genere e davvero raro. Penso che nessuno di noi lo vorrebbe come angelo custode, non e vero?! \n In conclusione \"Io sono Vera\" e davvero un buon esordio per questa talentuosa autrice nostrana. Bella prova Alaisse, continua cosi! Aspetto con ansia altre meraviglie! \n 3.5 stelle goodreads", "date_added": "Sat Nov 15 15:38:48 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 19 13:50:33 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Nov 19 13:50:33 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "20578940", "review_id": "aea2e46cb3ccd3d3cd0fa0faa01a5a81", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Commento a caldo: \n Un discreto potenziale non utilizzato nella maniera migliore. \n Quello che voleva essere un omaggio al genio creativo della Rowling, si e dimostrato una soporifera scopiazzatura di trama/protagonisti/scenari; per non parlare del colpo di scena finale:<<mamifaccinoilpiacere!>> \n Due nomi altisonanti non sono sempre garanzia di successo!", "date_added": "Mon Nov 03 22:48:20 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 16 01:31:05 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Nov 16 06:47:59 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Nov 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "23344670", "review_id": "f5c204ac8b7ab9566bb80019836b5d31", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Onirico, malinconico e poetico. \n Scrivo questa recensione non essendo del tutto convinta del fatto, che questo libro mi sia piaciuto oppure no. \n Per raccontarlo con una similitudine, potrei chiamarlo matrioska. Ebbene si, una storia dentro un'altra, la vita di tre generazioni di donne raccontate dalla voce di Ava. \n Un racconto crudo, intenso e impregnato di magia, di superstizione e dal profumo di pane, dolci e... rimpianti. \n Questo e uno di quei libri di cui, o ti innamori oppure non vedi l'ora di voltare l'ultima pagina... \n Io mi piazzo in centro. \n Non sono stata folgorata da questa storia, ma per certi versi molte frasi e situazioni rimarranno impresse per molto tempo nella mia mente! \n Una storia dolceamara che ha una personale chiave di lettura, che per me e stata la malinconia. \n 3.5 stelle goodreads", "date_added": "Thu Oct 30 02:05:26 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 01 16:39:51 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Nov 01 16:39:51 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Oct 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "23301951", "review_id": "4650653e1239d35aeae07fe6a1e94539", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Benvenuti al consueto spazio delle recensioni della \"pecora nera Alex\". \n Anche questa volta il mio parere e diametralmente opposto al pensiero comune, dato che questo libro mi e sembrato insignificante e scontato. \n Die for me di Amy Plum e un libro che miracolosamente ha mantenuto la sua stupenda cover originale, strano ma vero.... E su cui avevo sentito meraviglie. \n Andiamo con ordine: \n 1) La fama dell'autrice. \n 2) La cover originale. \n 3) La trama interessante. \n 4) Uno YA a tinte romance che mai dispiace. \n Allora spiegatemi perche la Plum mi racconta una storiella ridicola con bambinetti che sembrano aver superato, appena, la fase dello svezzamento?! \n Ecco a parte la mia brutalita nell'esternare il mio pensiero, vorrei sinceramente capire perche la Plum, pur avendo sotto le mani tutto questo materiale, abbia ritenuto opportuno fare sembrare i suoi personaggi balbettanti mocciosi, tutti baci, smancerie e insulsaggini varie... \n La nostra protagonista, tale Kate (il nome mi richiama alla mente un'altra deficente...) e orfana di entrambi i genitori morti in un incidente... Quindi con la sorella da Brooklyn si trasferisce a Parigi dai nonni. La povera ragazza l'e depressa, giustamente, per la sua grave perdita... Ma a risvegliare il suo interesse, facendo breccia nella cortina di solitudine e tristezza, ta ta tammmm ecco che arriva il \"solito/scontato/prevedibile\" tocco de gnocco, che con il suo fasciiiiino irresistibile e il suo essere mooooto secccccsii.... Mi fa sbarellare la porella della Kate! \n Oh perbacco che colpo di scena, applausi fuori campo. \n Lui, il Vincent, se vi dico che gia e innamorato pazzamente, follemente, incondizionatamente e irrimediabilmente di Kate mi credereste?!?!? \n Of corse!!! \n Lei flirta e cerca di tenerlo lontano perche crede sia pericoloso, ma ha accumulato gia ettolitri di bava... \n Lui la snobba ma gia immagina di spalmarla sul primo muro che trova... \n Ma colpo di scena number 2: lui e un revenant, non ditemi di spiegarvi tutto il discorso che io mi ci raccapezzo appena eh! \n Accontentatevi di sapere per sommi capi, che lui e una specie di angelo custode o roba simile, morto per altruismo e percio \"ritornato\" da immortale per continuare a salvare vite. \n Gia a questo punto avevo un cerchio alla testa si?! \n Insomma per farla breve, na banda de zombie buoni che ha una faida con la banda degli zombie cattivi... Tutti questi qui non dormano mai, eh ma non brillano al sole ok?! \n Comunque dormono per tre giorni con l'anima che fluttua tipo camper, ma piu tendente allo stalker-guardone... \n Kate e Vincent fanno tira e molla: amore ti lascio ma mi struggo per te, ti limono ma non possiamo stare insieme... \n Perdinci fateci un favore: strombacchiate!!!! \n Santa pazienza sti due hanno una frustrazione sessuale che fa paura xd! \n Il finale con rocamboleschi colpi \"scontati\" di scena mi ha fatto emozionare come una pila di roba da stirare, tanto era al cardiopalma! \n Cioe sono stata un po' bastarda, ma il libro e stato una totale delusione, sia dal punto di vista della trama che dell'evoluzione dei personaggi. Lo stile della Plum pur essendo scorrevole e fin troppo young anche nei contenuti, e i personaggi sono privi del benche minimo spessore. Oltre a risultare troppo infantili e per nulla interessanti. \n Pathos : 0 \n Sensualita : non pervenuta. \n Azione : vi faremo sapere. \n Romanticissimo : na botta de carie! \n A parte la cover non mi e piaciuto nulla", "date_added": "Sun Oct 19 02:22:34 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 22 02:41:11 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Oct 22 09:38:56 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Oct 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "16047148", "review_id": "839aede89ba8368575432fe8958d479b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Non ho parole, forse un solo aggettivo: MAGICO! \n E una cosa alquanto paradossale, il fatto di non riuscire ad esprimere a parole, tutto quello che una magnifica lettura abbia lasciato in noi. \n Ho letto l'ultima pagina de \"La corsa delle onde ieri\" notte, ed e tutto il giorno che tento di trovare le parole per mettere su una recensione decente. Tutto mi sembra riduttivo, scialbo, e inadeguato. \n Questo libro e uno scrigno di immagini, suoni, emozioni, magia e sogni. \n E crudelta. \n E amicizia. \n E tenacia ed orgoglio. \n E un sogno ad occhi aperti. \n La trama mi ha attirata come l'oceano suole fare con i capaill uisce, ma ad incantarmi e stata la penna di Maggie che e in grado di plasmare una storia unica, con personaggi capaci di ritagliarsi un pezzettino del mio cuore. \n In questo modo mentre leggo di Puck e Dove, di Sean e Corr sono con la mente ed il cuore al loro fianco. Sono parte della storia, dei loro sentimenti e di ognuna delle emozioni che la Stiefvater e capace di scatenare in me. \n E senza dubbio un libro molto particolare e originale, e una di quelle storie che sono in grado di entrarti sotto pelle, e di farsi ricordare per sempre. \n Lo stile e uno degli aspetti del libro che mi ha affascinata di piu : delicato ma potente, crudele eppur dolcissimo, magico e reale allo stesso tempo. \n Una creatura magica e mostruosa che si rivelera capace di sentimenti autentici... \n Contrapposta alla malvagita e crudelta piu orribile da parte di alcuni esseri umani. \n Amicizia e complicita. \n Coraggio e determinazione. \n Sogni condivisi. \n Corr e Sean... \n Puck e Dove... \n Una corsa che sancira l'inizio di una nuova vita! \n Amore assoluto per questo libro, per Sean e Corr e Puck. \n Maggie sei un fottuto geniaccio *.*", "date_added": "Sat Oct 11 16:29:45 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 18 09:29:30 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jan 16 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 11, "n_comments": 9}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "23263904", "review_id": "71490fb625e2ac8c86cad990942b7b30", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Voglio ringraziare Raffaella per aver inviato al nostro blog le copie del suo libro, e per essere stata molto disponibile e gentile. Da lettrice scrupolosa e onesta quale sono, voglio darle il mio sincero e personale parere. \n Recensire questo libro sara tosto, perche nonostante lo abbia apprezzato, alcuni aspetti non hanno saputo convincermi del tutto. Inizio dicendo che la trama e la stupenda cover mi avevano stregata sin dal primo momento, dato che ultimamente l'originalita e qualcosa di \"poco visto-letto\". Quindi avevo molte aspettative che per certi versi hanno trovato conferma tra le pagine di Gala Cox, ma a non convincermi e stato lo stile della Fenoglio. Uno stile poco fluido che non mi ha fatto apprezzare come avrei voluto questa lettura. Troppe se non eccessive descrizioni di luoghi e personaggi hanno reso la storia a tratti lenta. L'uso in maniera eccessiva del punto, preferito alle virgole, ha dato vita ad una serie di frasi spezzate che hanno reso i paragrafi poco scorrevoli. Non sono riuscita inoltre ad entrare in sintonia con alcuni protagonisti, Gala in primis, perche i suoi continui flashback durante una conversazione al presente, distoglievano ulteriormente l'attenzione del lettore. Persa sempre tra ricordi e ipotetiche genialate non ha saputo creare quell'empatia che pretendevo. Anche io il suo amico Dennis... Per carita carino e amichevole ok, ma tutto quel trascinare le \"vocaaali\" ha reso a mio avviso il suo atteggiamento troppo \"bambinesco\". \n La storia in se ha quell'originalita e quel pizzico di mistero che incuriosisce e intriga, ma queste piccole pecche lo hanno penalizzato. Una sforbiciatina qua e la avrebbe di certo giovato alla trama, ai fini della scorrevolezza. \n Per quanto riguarda l'evoluzione della storia e la caratterizzazione dei personaggi, posso dire che Raffaella ha saputo creare quel mix di mistero e colpi di scena molto interessanti. \n Sono certa che la Fenoglio sapra stupirmi nel seguito, dato che nelle ultime pagine ha sganciato la bomba! \n Una lettura gradevole che pero non mi ha convinta del tutto ~.~", "date_added": "Fri Sep 26 15:06:48 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 06 02:46:51 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "20527160", "review_id": "9728903976b3d3c3d4ba7e6c5f4ca47c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ebbo mi sarei aspettata molto di piu dalla Stiefvater, sta di fatto che sia lo stile che la prosa sono come sempre sublimi: Maggie e una di quelle autrici che ami o odi, non ci sono mezze misure con lei. \n Questa volta non ho trovato \"corposa\" la storia, non sono riuscita ad apprezzare pienamente lo svolgimento della trama. Entrare nella psiche di Cole e stato difficile, perche il ragazzo ha un bel casino in testa diciamolo eh, ma anche Isabel non e stata da meno! \n Poca sostanza e molta retorica, i continui voli pindarici del cervello iperattivo di Cole mi hanno annoiata. La poesia, la sagacia e la malinconia alla lunga stancano se non inserite in un contesto piu consistente. \n Di contro Isabel e instabile e lunatica... \n I personaggi secondari per una volta hanno saputo creare un diversivo piacevole, permettendomi di staccare dalla serie interminabile di riflessioni di Cole. \n Do tre stelle perche Maggie scrive da dio anche le cose che non mi piacciono, ma per il resto sarebbero due stelle appena. \n Cole sarai gnocco ma la psicanalisi ti aspetta a braccia spalancate, Isabel come sopra, stessa terapia!", "date_added": "Fri Sep 26 15:04:09 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 03 02:09:55 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Dec 03 06:28:11 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Nov 29 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "23159927", "review_id": "52d68cb05e85494b456c2ac9b82679ff", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Questa recensione non e Jessa, e non potrebbe mai esserlo dato che la sottoscritta ha amato SOLO Will Herondale! \n Dunque questa pseudo luna di miele/sveltina/porno Tessa, non solo mi ha annoiata, ma se fosse possibile mi ha fatto detestare Tessa ancora di piu! \n Non ho mai capito questo fantomatico amore a tre, o uno o non ami nessuno... \n Will e l'apoteosi del tutto, non sto qui ad elencare le sue innumerevoli qualita, ma e palese che pur essendo dolce, gentile e affidabile, Jem non sia mai stato all'altezza del suo parabatai. \n Tessa e piu cretina che mai, sembra solo una vecchietta arrapata, come quelle che cercano il nonnino giapponese in Uomini e donne. \n Jem e il solito Jem, questa volta novello Anastacia Steel ex fratello silente, tra le mani di Tessa Christian Gray!!! \n Aiutatemi perche li detesto entrambi, e quando hanno tirato in ballo la buonanima di Will, non chi visto piu. \n Zero feeling tra i due. \n Zero trasporto emotivo. \n Scarsa passione condivisa. \n Penso soltanto che la Clare avrebbe dovuto lasciar perdere questo triangolo gia dal Principe, invece ha puntato solo su questo rovinando l'ultimo libro. \n Ribadisco che il \"vero amore\" deve rinunciare alla sua immortalita, invecchiare con il marito (Will) e morire prima dei figli. \n Tutto il resto e una grande finzione!!! \n Tessa sei affanculandia town!", "date_added": "Fri Sep 05 10:52:19 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 12 16:12:51 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Sep 12 16:12:50 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Sep 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 30}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "13455782", "review_id": "5f2bd374ca5e01d882c8bfe4221f882c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Mi chiamo Juliette ho 17 anni. \n Io ho una maledizione. \n Io ho ho un dono! \n \"Schegge di me\" mi ha assolutamente travolta, mille schegge di emozioni conficcate nel cuore,ognuna fatta di un emozione diversa: rabbia,dolore,isolamento,tristezza,pazzia ed ancora amicizia,amore,passione e speranza. \n Quello che affronta juliette e assurdo quanto tragico, ma rende l'idea di questa ragazza sin da dubito. \n Lei riesce a metabolizzare il dolore e lo trasforma come catalizzatore per fare del bene, insomma e splendida!Poi c'e lui Adam Kent dal momento in cui entra nella sua cella {fatto che mi ha cominciato a mandare in corto},cambia tutto in juliette e da li sciogliera il cuore di lei e mio. \n In piu riesce a toccarla... \n Ed arriva Warmer assolutamente diverso da Adam, ma non di meno affascinante e bastardo che la ama nel modo piu pericoloso e possessivo. Juliette sperimenta tutto di se, e adesso puo scegliere un futuro diverso rispetto all'isolamento in cui ha vissuto in 17 anni. \n Spero di leggere il seguito presto, perche dentro questo libro la Mafi ha messo un mix perfetto di fantasy,romance e un tocco alla xman che adoro [?]", "date_added": "Sun Aug 24 17:34:36 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 14 08:05:14 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Sep 14 08:05:14 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Sep 12 16:39:13 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "17331518", "review_id": "08c59af63b91eadf9be40d441db135cf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "L'amore che Adam prova per Juliette e inconsistente: un fuoco di paglia che e bruciato tanto velocemente cosi come si e dissolto. Adam e innamorato \"solo\" dell'idea di amarla, di proteggerla e averla per se. Ed e tanto ottuso da non vedere quello che sta nascendo sotto i suoi occhi: il sentimento puro, totale e unico che Aaron prova per Juliette, ed il fatto che lei stia imparando a scoprirlo ed amarlo. \n I pensieri di Adam sono focalizzati quasi interamente su James, il suo fratellino. Niente da ridire eh... Ma la cosa assurda e che Kenji deve ricordargli che la sua ragazza potrebbe essere in serio pericolo. Che potrebbero dividersi e fare entrambe le cose: salvare James e trovare Juliette.Logico no?! \n Naaaa per nulla, Adam il cavaliere dall'armatura scintillante, molla l'amata nelle grinfie del pazzo che odia (Warner) perche tanto lui non le farebbe mai del male!!!!! \n *facepalm* \n Sei un soldato pappamolla si?! \n Logica. Sangue freddo. Tattica. Non pervenute per Adam. \n *poker face* \n Non nutrivo molta stima per Adam, ma adesso trovo che sia un codardo, insicuro e bugiardo. \n Dulcis in fundo e sempre Kenji a volerla cercare, pensando che Adam voglia fare lo stesso.( ma quando mai!) \n Vedere Kenji distrutto dal senso di colpa per non aver cercato subito Juliette, dopo aver appreso della sua morte... E il massimo xd!!! \n (Adam penso solo che lei lo ha mollato...) \n Addie il tardone si riprende per dire: Juliette e una mia responsabilita ed e colpa mia see stata uccisa!!!!!! \n Applausi per Kent!!!!! \n MA VA A MORI AMMAZZATO VAIIIII Y=___Y= \n Mafi ti adoro perche, pur odiando Adam, hai reso piu chiaro il quadro generale. \n Kenji sei veramente un personaggio strepitoso. \n WARNER AMORE MIO SEI SEMPRE IL MIGLIORE!", "date_added": "Sun Aug 24 17:32:51 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 19 15:28:14 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Sep 19 15:28:14 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Sep 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 10}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "13623150", "review_id": "bf983774de53ec9b94c75fc401b66ca0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In appena un centinaio di pagine la Mafi ha capovolto il mio cuore di fangirl. \n Anzi, oserei dire che lo ha messo sulle montagne russe! \n Io amavo Adam kent. \n Io odiavo Aaron Warner. \n But... \n Adesso non so chi sia questo Kent, o per quale morivo respiri in questo libro, e so per certo che Warner possiede il mio cervello drogato di Book boy, interamente! \n La Mafi non scrive una novella, bensi mi \"illumina\" sulla verita che disconoscevo, infatti l'apparente follia e la crudelta del mio Aaron, altri non sono che coperture per il suo vero io... Un io dolce come un mashmellow affogato dentro la nutella. \n Il suo passato, il rapporto conflittuale con quel bastardo del padre, e la carica che ricopre all'interno della Resistenza, hanno reso Warner una persona cinica, inflessibile e sola. Apparentemente... \n Non ero sicura di potermi innamorare del suo personaggio, ma Aaron sin dalle prime battute mi ha affascinata, conquistata e stregata. La Mafi riesce a farmi percepire la sua solitudine, la sofferenza repressa sotto l'apparente cinismo, il suo bisogno di vivere il sentimento di cui ha scoperto l'esistenza da poco: l'amore. \n Aime non per la sottoscritta! \n Quel finale li, cara Tahereh, non melo dovevi fare... Adesso vedro l'alba per sapere cosa succedera al mio maschmellow adorato. \n Capitolo inquisito: \n \"Non ci sono abbastanza parole al mondo per descrivere quello che sto provando. \n Sento le sue mani muoversi giu per il mio petto, sullo stomaco; fa scorrere le dita lungo il bordo della mia biancheria intima. I capelli le ricadono in avanti, sfiorandomi la pelle, e devo stringere i pugni per impedirmi di inchiodarla al letto. \n Ogni mia singola terminazione nervosa e sveglia. Non mi sono mai sentito cosi vivo e disperato in vita mia, e sono sicuro che se potesse sentire quello a cui sto pensando in questo istante, correrebbe via dalla porta e non tornerebbe mai piu. \n Perche la voglio. \n Adesso. \n Qui. \n Dovunque. \n Voglio che non ci sia nulla a separarci. \n La voglio senza vestiti, voglio le luci accese e voglio studiarla\" \n {Ergo io lo amo}", "date_added": "Sun Aug 24 17:32:37 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 15 01:02:35 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Sep 15 11:56:47 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 8}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "13188676", "review_id": "7bed5d867c94c92bdf9cf9d740f6f890", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Leggere la parola fine sull'ultima pagina di questa saga ha un sapore dolce amaro perche, pur concludendosi come auspicavo, il pensare di non dover aspettare altri libri mi rattrista. \n Tra le pagine di questa serie ho lasciato tanti minuscoli pezzetti del mio cuore di Fangirl, tante emozioni, imprecazioni, talvolta lacrime e molto spesso sensazioni intense e bellissime... Ho imparato che spesso bisogna \"guardare\" aldila delle apparenze, che le persone indossano armature per ostentare una forza che non hanno, per nascondere un animo ferito che non ha conosciuto altro che violenza, mortificazione e solitudine. \n Aaron Warner Anderson. \n Questo personaggio complesso, oscuro, affascinante, inteso, enigmatico e incredibilmente fragile e solo, mi e entrato dentro il cuore in tutti i modi possibili. \n Fraintendere Warner e semplice, logico e automatico. \n Sbagliato! \n La Mafi ha il dono di pilotare il mio giudizio di lettrice, piegando e rimodellando il mio cuore al suo volere. All'inizio ho detestato Warner, ho amato molto Adam. (Orrore) \n Ho SBAGLIATO assolutamente. \n Warner e il classico uomo granata, quello che ti manda il cuore in milioni di frammenti, quello che nasconde sotto strati e strati di maschere, colui che possiede una dolcezza sconfinata e cosi intensa da rendersi indimenticabile. \n Quando poco alla volta inizia a svelare il vero se stesso non posso fare altro che amarlo incondizionatamente, perdonargli i suoi errori e il suo mostrarsi un pazzo, cinico e senza anima. Oh perche lui un'anima ce l'ha eccome. Ma erroneamente non pensa di meritare altro che odio, disprezzo e isolamento. \n Inutile puntualizzare il fatto che io sia totalmente, incondizionatamente e irreversibilmente innamorata di lui. \n Questo uomo e troppo tanto eh, intenso e arguto, fragile e coraggioso, orgoglioso e bellissimo. Lui mi fa desiderare di poter trasformare un soggetto di carta e inchiostro in carne e maschiosita... Per dargli una dimostrazione della passssione di Alex ^_^. \n La Mafi in questo terzo capitolo si dedica interamente allo sviluppo del suo personaggio, mostrando ogni sfaccettatura del carattere, ogni sua emozione che viene amplificata dall'amore che Warner nutre per Juliette (bastarda fortunata...). \n Non si puo non amarlo. E impossibile! \n L'azione, la battaglia e l'evolversi della guerra vengono concentrati nella parte finale, per focalizzare l'attenzione sul triangolo che riempie gran parte del libro. \n Per inciso io non ho visto nessun triangolo, perche Adam e affascinante e interessante come una scatola di tonno... Ma ok se dobbiamo giocarcela utilizziamo quello che offre la casa. \n Juliette a volte si ed a volte sempre si sarebbe meritata una ciabbattata sulla faccia, ma alla fine rinsavisce e cede in maniera totale all'uomo GIUSTO. \n Merito e plauso al personaggio di Kenji l'unico portatore di sana intelligenza, sagacia e \"palle\" del libro. (Dopo Warner, ovvio) \n Questa saga sara una di quelle che rileggero all'infinito, perche la storia e soprattutto i suoi personaggi mi sono rimasti nel cuore. \n Concludo dicendo a Taereh Mafi che dovrebbe reputarmi una lettrice degna del suo rispetto perche ho saputo, con estrema sofferenza e masochismo, leggere questo libro in due giorni. Due lunghissimi giorni fatti di 24 lentissime ore. \n Invece che scrofanarmi l'intero libro in 12 ore come mio solito. \n Quindi Tahereh Mafi dovresti come minimo scrivere un spin off intitolato: \n \"Le limonate di Warner e Alex alla faccia di Juliette\" \n E con questo mi ritiro nella mia stanza imbottita di crazy Fangirl *_____* \n N.b come caxxo si fa a leggere altro e a non pensare a LUI ?!?!?", "date_added": "Sun Aug 24 17:32:07 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 05 01:23:20 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "8755776", "review_id": "f7e472c87f2247f44fa83a0da54058bc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Nessun uomo sceglie il male perche e male, scambia solo per la felicita, per il bene che cerca. \n Amo rileggere i libri che hanno saputo coinvolgermi in maniera particolare, ma se l'autrice di qui sto per parlarvi porta il nome di cassandra Clare, allora non ho bisogno di aggiungere altro. \n Questo fa la Clare: uccide, inganna e non ti da scampo, intrappolata nella magia dei suoi libri. \n Nell'epilogo di \"Citta degli angeli caduti\" l'ennesimo colpo di scena della Clare, ci aveva lasciato con il fiato sospeso e il crudele dubbio sulla fuga di Sebastian con Jace.In questo quinto capitolo gli shadowhunters sono disposti a tutto pur di ritrovare Jace, e porre fine alla malvagita di Sebastian prima fra tutta sua sorella Clary.Passano le settimane e il Conclave non trova nessuna traccia dei due fuggitivi, nessuno riesce a localizzarli sono letteralmente scomparsi nel nulla! \n Le ricerche si smorzano poiche le difese ai confini sono state danneggiate... ritrovare Jace al momento non rientra fra le priorita del conclave.Ma Clary, Izy, Simon, Alec e Magnus e i due licantropi Maya e Jordan, segretamente cercano di raccoglie indizi, persino interpellando e scendendo a patti con la regina della corte Selie. \n Perche non appena Jace torna da Clary, dato che non riesce a starle lontano, lei si accorge subito che non si tratta del suo Jace! \n Devono trovare il modo di liberare Jace dall'influenza demoniaca che Sebastian esercita su d lui, perche la sua anima e intrappolata in un corpo assolutamente ai suoi comandi!! \n \"Faresti qualsiasi cosa per salvarlo. A ogni costo, non importa quanto tu debba pagare all'inferno o al paradiso\". \n Questo sentimento tenace e bellissimo che Clary e Jace condividono sara l'unica certezza nelle mani di Clary. L'unica luce che puo rischiarare le tenebre che avvolgono l'anima di Jace. \n Mai come in questo capitolo tutti i personaggi, e fra tutti Simon il vampiro diurno che possiede il marchio di Caino, ricoprono un ruolo fondamentale e determinante nella storia; proprio Simon per la grande amicizia verso Clary e la gratitudine per Jace, compie un gesto di assoluto altruismo per trovare l'oggetto che liberera Jace. \n Sebastian, degno figlio di Valentine e di Lilith, e molto abile a tenere le fila degli eventi e a celare la sua natura mostrando un lato di se nuovo: vero o presunto tale che sia! \n Non mi addentrero oltre nella trama perche ogni capitolo ha una svolta ma porta in se anche altri interrogativi. \n Il finale e come consuetudine della Clare mozzafiato, dove tutto viene mescolato sapientemente in una miscela di azione, adrenalina e sentimenti potenti quanto vari.Non si ha mai la certezza di dove voglia andare a parare... \n Non si puo prevedere quale sia l'esito o la conseguenza di un'avvenimento. \n Ogni personaggio e un universo a se dentro la storia: unico e fondamentale. \n Clary, eroina della serie e degna di essere tale: ragazzina all'oscuro del mondo al quale appartiene dalla nascita, che disconosce i suoi poteri ma che imparera a lottare caparbiamente contro l'oscurita per chi ama e cio in cui crede. In questo 5deg capitolo e ancora messa alla prova perche si trova sola ad affrontare tutto, e deve nascondere il suo dolore e deve cercare di strappare il suo Jace al fratello che lo usa come un sicario marionetta. \n Jace: sempre splendidamente sarcastico e sexy, questa volta si sdoppia letteralmente riuscendo a mantenere in entrambi i casi a mantenere vivo l'interesse verso il suo personaggio. Poiche l'amore che prova per Clary e un perno attorno al quale ruotano tutta la sua vita e le sue certezze! \n Simon: definire questo personaggio magnifico e a mio avviso riduttivo, perche ha avuto uno sviluppo emotivo e caratteriale costante in tutti i capitoli, da nerd antipatico a vampiro caparbio, altruista e affascinante! \n Alec: anche lui questa volta, lontano dal suo parabatai, tira fuori un lato piu caparbio di se, meno disposto a seguire le regole pur di salvare Jace ma compie passi falsi di cui si pentira terribilmente. \n Izzy: intensa e fragile, una ragazza che si mostra con una corazza ma che nasconde un'estrema vulnerabilita. \n Magnus: questa volta lo stregone e uno tra i protagonisti che piu ha catturato la mia attenzione, l'amore cambia irrimediabilmente le persone, le spinge a lottare e mettersi al centro di una battaglia che non gli appartiene pur di salvare la persona che ama! \n Maya e Jordan: i due licantropi sono stati una gran bella scoperta, sensuale direi! \n E dulcis o amaris in fundo... Sebastian: questo personaggio e in assoluto il vero protagonista di citta delle anime perdute, controverso e difficile da decifrare. Tenebroso, spietato eppur fragile nel suo singolare bisogno di essere amato/approvato. L'amore o la sua mancanza, sicuramente possono influire nella mente di un individuo trasformandolo in un essere senza cuore! \n La trama e orchestrata alla perfezione dall'autrice, che convoglia con la sua geniale scrittura ogni emozione e azione in maniera impeccabile. Lo stile e fluido e allo stesso tempo ricco di dettagli e rimandi ai libri precedenti, nonche ai prequel stessi (l'Angelo e il Principe). \n Ogni libro della serie The Mortal Instruments sembra avere in se un fulcro diverso ma che li lega tutti indissolubilmente; solitamente il quinto libro di una serie gia dovrebbe denotare segni di stasi, invece succede proprio l'opposto, l'interesse cresce ogni volta! \n Non mi riferisco solo alla trama che gia di per se e ricca e molto interessante, o ai personaggi ognuno dei quali possiede uno sviluppo caratteriale ed emotivo notevole, ma credo che la Clare sappia rendere possibile un mondo che non esiste e descrivere qualcosa di immaginario come reale! \n Cara Cassandra ti meriti un bel full di stelle goodread!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 07 13:26:45 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 07 17:13:07 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Aug 07 17:13:06 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "16135109", "review_id": "4ca94d00c5cdbe0f05da8eb29b69c112", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Che dire, questo libro mi e piaciuto molto sia per la trama che per la caratterizzazione dei personaggi. \n Azione, suspense e una lieve nota di romance per narrare una storia abbastanza originale e ben strutturata. Un mix tra Xman e le atmosfere di gossip girl rendono la trama gradevole e scorrevole dal punto di vista narrativo. \n Ho apprezzato molto l'evoluzione dei personaggi che riescono a dare all'intera trama un senso si imprevedibilita. \n Cattivi credibili e finale che, pur lasciando in sospeso, non ti lascia con un cliffangher orrendo. \n Adesso c'e da augurarsi che non diventi una delle tante serie interrotte W.W sperem!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 07 08:03:30 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 21 01:58:30 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Nov 20 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "22435501", "review_id": "1c8c8f5ae84eb25d34e5497cab0b9dca", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Quando la sinossi fa promesse da politico! \n Ecco il punto: il libro scorre abbastanza velocemente, lo stile e povero di descrizioni, e i protagonisti sembrano tutti sotto l'effetto di uno slow- motion. Anche se la trama non e malaccio, a mio avviso, poteva essere sviluppata meglio. \n Lo stile di Theo Lawrence e un po' troppo \"fanciullesco o Young\" chiamiamolo come vogliamo, ma e proprio questo il mio problema! \n Avrei voluto una maggiore dinamicita per raccontare i fatti salienti, piu dettagli per descrivere luoghi, e l'introspezione psicologica dei personaggi curata in maniera migliore. \n Invece fatti e situazioni vengono narrati a singhiozzo, alternando ricordi sbiaditi alla vita reale; con una sequenza che spesso crea confusione durante la lettura. \n Protagonisti e antagonisti uniti sotto un comune denominatore: le bugie. Tutti nascondono qualcosa o qualcuno. Questo potrebbe sembrare affascinante, non lo nascondo, ma il modo di svelare il tutto lascia alquanto a desiderare. \n Un libro di per se carino e leggero ma ha diverse pecche. Non sono rimasta \"folgorata\" dalla storia, ma non nascondo una certa curiosita per il seguito. \n Stupiscimi Theo... O almeno provaci!", "date_added": "Mon Jun 09 12:28:47 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 05 01:42:18 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jul 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 26}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "18688421", "review_id": "81fc4348276de20e53f08a7c42e8a3a1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 stelle \n Un inizio in sordina per un libro intrigante, originale e ben scritto. Esatto in sordina, perche la parte iniziale della storia fatica un po' a catturare la mia attenzione. Forse perche la Kagawa si dilunga un po' troppo in descrizioni, tanto da obbligarmi a rileggere alcuni passaggi per ricordare e collegare i fatti. Ma superata la parte iniziale, lo stile diventa piu fluido e la storia scorre velocemente.A fare da sfondo a questa storia e una Chicago dilaniata da un virus letale, che combinato ad alcuni esperimenti umani ha distrutto le vite di milioni di essere umani; trasformando la restante parte in mostri o emarginati. \n La trama e un susseguirsi di rivelazioni, colpi di scena che si intersecano alla perfezione alla parte romance. Immortal rules e riuscito nell'intento di far riaccendere il mio interesse per i vampiri, (affievolitosi un po' dopo il boom twilight), grazie ad una storia originale e anche stupenda caratterizzazione di tutti i personaggi. \n Allison e una protagonista strepitosa, coraggiosa e caparbia. Tosta e indipendente, dolce e vulnerabile davanti al suo amore per Zeke. \n Questo ragazzo cosi genuino e puro di cuore, permettera ad Allie di mantenere salda la sua parte umana, accettando e amando anche il suo essere un \"mostro\". \n Antagonisti e personaggi secondari ben caratterizzati ed inseriti nella trama, assolutamente credibili. \n Un libro che ha saputo farmi cambiare idea mentre lo leggevo, a testimonianza del fatto che non lascio nulla in asso. Con i libri, come con le persone, ci vuole pazienza e costanza, ma mentre i primi difficilmente riescono a deludermi... I secondi riescono a farlo sempre! \n Leggete e amate la Kagawa che e fantastica!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 03 02:34:54 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 10 03:07:17 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jun 10 03:07:17 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "12930909", "review_id": "4481d2aa3b4bc62bba9d1b0db25741cf", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Ebbene ci sono cascata in pieno, fregata da una sinossi e da un prologo molto promettenti. \n Ho chiuso l'ultima pagina di questo libro ieri notte, e ancora adesso non riesco a capacitarmi, dell'enorme fregatura che ho preso. \n Andiamo per ordine: \n 1)La trama: atmosfere cupe, inquietanti, misteriose ed enigmatiche... ( ho pensato perfetto alla \"Mara Dyer\"). Ma quando mai!!!! \n Sin dalle prime pagine ho capito, che questo libro non sarebbe stato nulla di tutto questo. \n L'autrice presenta una serie di avvenimenti, e non riesce bene a dare, ne un senso logico, ne una consecutio temporum decente. Violet ed il gemello Luke sono stati \"parcheggiati\" dai genitori artisti/svitati/bohemien, in un villone mezzo diroccato in cima ad una scogliera. \n Senza soldi ed in balia di se stessi, i due ragazzi sono costretti ad affittare la dependance, ad un perfetto estraneo... \n Eh fortuna sfacciata, non si presenta il figone/riccone/sexy/stronzo/inquietante???? \n Che fa Violet? Accoglie River a braccia aperte... Ovvio no! \n Attenzione: dopo appena un paio d'ore limona il tizio di brutto, sbava e gli scodinzola sempre intono... Anche se il tipo e piu inquietante dello Zio Fester della famiglia Adams! \n Lui e un bugiardo/assassino/svalvolato/ambiguo. \n Lei e senza un briciolo di cervello, non possiede un minimo istinto di conservazione, ha spesso uscite da sbroccata, ed indossa i vestiti della nonna morta= Svitata completa! \n Luke, il fratello, e una via di mezzo tra l'asociale e l'adolescente sempre ingrifato. \n Sushine la vicina e sempre a caccia della palpeggiata, inoltre riesce a essere un mix di antipatia e idiozia. \n La nonnina Freddie era una vera bomba: anticonformista, spregiudicata, dedita alla bella vita e ai suoi diversi amanti. La stimo. Ma e morta ahime! \n Non parlero degli altri personaggi per non spoilerare la storia, ma sappiate che soltanto l'ultimo in ordine di apparizione riuscira a resuscitare un tantino la trama. \n 2)Lo stile: confusionario, ambiguo, carico di similitudini e metafore che spesso risultavano snervanti, ripetitive e senza alcun senso logico. Per non parlare dei soliti 3 termini ripetuti come una cantilena: diavolo, maledizione e maledetto. \n L'autrice non ha saputo dare incisivita ai personaggi, sopratutto alla protagonista che sembra soltanto una squilibrata! \n Luoghi e situazioni descritti in maniera vaga, che non rimangono impressi nella mente. \n La cosa che ho detestato in assoluto di piu, e stata la totale devozione di Violet per River, messa in dubbio al massimo per un nano secondo.( non giustificabile con il bagliore!) \n Omicidi di massa, torture, roghi, e cattiveria gratuita, tutto reso \"plausibile\" da uno pseudo senso di giustizia privata?!?!?!? \n Ok sei un diavolo, ma dato che hai degli incubi terribili, possiamo dormire abbracciati e baciarci come se non ci fosse un domani! \n L'incoerenza e il perno attorno al quale ruota l'intero libro, oltre che alla svalvolataggine di Violet. \n Delusa dall'ennesimo libro, che non ha saputo rivelarsi interessante come la sua sinossi.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 25 18:53:36 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 28 08:26:02 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Apr 28 09:58:27 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 40}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "21942464", "review_id": "bfa87767a2a6ef56719ae400a3f54d98", "rating": 1, "review_text": "La mia esperienza con le storie di fate non e esaltante. \n Dopo la serie Wings della Pike, che mi ha tramortita con una dolcezza stucchevole e situazioni assurde... Avevo temporaneamente accotonato ali brillanti and co. \n Elizabeth May con La cacciatrice di fate, mi sorprese in maniera positiva, permettendomi di rivalutare la categoria \"fate\". \n Poi Alina cara, con il suo Outcast mi ha riportata brutalmente indietro, per intenderci, alla fase \"Punto di non ritorno\". \n Questo libro, cover interessante, e trama in apparenza originale, aveva delle discrete potenzialita. \n 1) La trama e basata sul nulla, l'autrice adora girare intorno al \"quesito fata\", perdendosi in inutili capitoli e ridicole descrizioni, che non rendono le sue spiegazioni esaustive ed interessanti. \n 2) Stile scialbo che risulta noioso e poco scorrevole, capitoli brevi che dicono poco o nulla. \n 3) Protagonista priva di carattere, spessore e tendente allo stalkeraggio estremo. \n 4) Personaggi secondari che danno l'idea di essere comparse, buttate li a fare da contorno al polpettone insipido della Bronsky. \n 5) Colpi di scena, cliffangher, o altro: non pervenuti, vi faremo sapere! \n Di positivo (quanto sono buona a trovarne un po...), c'e che ho finito questo libro ridicolo in un giorno.(Avevo fretta di togliermelo dai piedi) \n Bugie, e situazioni assurde che sono prive sia di un senso logico, che di un senso in generale... \n Fantasia che rasenta la comicita... \n Presunte verita che sono chiare solo all'autrice stessa, o forse nemmeno a lei... \n In tutta franchezza: \n MACHIMELOAFATTOFARE?!?!?!?!?!?", "date_added": "Thu Apr 24 03:06:43 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon May 12 11:36:09 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Apr 25 06:59:23 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Apr 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 9}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "13362536", "review_id": "9dd0cd6910e0d7555b5215a01f51a8b2", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2.5 stelle goodreads \n Ho appena finito Opal ed il mio commento a caldo e: Aridaje Armentrout! \n Per quanto mi riguarda la serie Lux e stata un escalation in negativo, dato che soltanto il primo capitolo (Obsidian) mi era piaciuto. Con Onyx avevo avuto qualche problemino... \n Piu che altro per colpa del personaggio di Kat: insignificante ed irritante sotto tutti i punti di vista. Infatti ho chiuso un occhio sulle sfacciate similitudini con la saga della Meyer, non ho prestato attenzione al modo dell'autrice di spiegare, in maniera poco chiara, alcuni passaggi... ed ho glissato sulla mancanza di incisivita degli antagonisti; soltanto perche non mi piace lasciare una saga in asso. \n Armata di una esigua dose di aspettative e speranzosa che la Armentrout potesse stupirmi in bene, ho intrapreso la lettura di Opal. \n Aspettative deluse e trama ancora piu sconclusionata della precedente! \n Le \"prime\" 150 pagine hanno come tema predominante i litigi, le smancerie, gli sbaciucchiamenti ed i tira e molla tra Daemon e Katy; resi ancora piu snervanti dalla presenza dei due clockblocker Andrew e Dee. \n Una serie di insignificanti paturnie di Katy, compensate un po' dalla dolce gelosia di Daemon, che pero hanno reso noiosa e lentissima piu della meta del libro. \n L'azione e convogliata nelle ultime 80 pagine, nelle quali i nostri protagonisti si lanciano in un'impresa, palesemente suicida e che puzza di trappola. \n Trama scontata, personaggi poco credibili e resi talvolta ridicoli da situazioni assurde, stile scialbo e lento... Un cliffangher talmente prevedibile che non ha suscitato in me alcuna reazione. \n Daemon e veramente dolcissimo, il suo personaggio ha subito una serie di radicali cambiamenti, che lo hanno reso piu \"umano\" e adorabile! \n Concludendo Opal non e riuscito ad intrigarmi, anzi mi ha decisamente annoiata!", "date_added": "Sat Apr 12 04:26:25 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 18 05:53:24 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Apr 18 06:02:24 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Apr 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "12983100", "review_id": "90a6d09ccd9232506966e4d0906f73ea", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Macabro. \n Inquietante. \n Sorprendente. \n Questi tre aggettivi racchiudono in se tutto quello che penso di World After. \n Susan Ee e eccezionale, perche ha saputo narrare questa storia come fosse un film horror. \n Un gran bel film horror eh! \n Atmosfere cupe, istantanee da brivido, il tutto vissuto attraverso gli occhi e le gesta di Penryn: una vera eroina in azione! \n Come fosse dietro una macchina da presa la Ee, riesce a mostrarmi la scena con una nitidezza assoluta. La narrazione e serrata e priva di punti morti, si e costantemente in balia delle informazioni e dinamiche ricevute e vissute da Penryn. \n Ogni capitolo diventa essenziale, ogni informazione necessaria ai fini dell'intricata rete che l'autrice tesse attorno ai protagonisti. \n Magnifica Penryn con il suo coraggio e la sua determinazione. \n Piu fuori di un balcone la madre... Cioe questa donna e esilarante e folle oltre ogni possibile immaginazione! \n Dolce ma spaventosa Paige che, nonostante la tenera eta, riesce a incutere terrore anche solo restando ferma. \n Meraviglioso Raffe, ho patito la sua assenza per piu di tre quarti del libro, anche se attraverso i ricordi della sua spada un po' si e intravisto... Per il resto lui e praticamente assente. \n Angeli e scorpioni, figli dell'uomo e mostri fatti in laboratorio, in un seguito che mi ha tenuta incollata alle sue pagine. \n Non vedo l'ora di leggere il prossimo libro, perche sono curiosa dei risvolti che l'apocalisse imminente potra riservarci, e inoltre voglio vedere capitolare Raffe ( che e cotto come una pera di Penryn), e lei d'altro canto e strafatta del suo bell'arcangelo caduto!", "date_added": "Mon Mar 17 15:51:52 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 07 15:48:43 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Sep 07 15:48:43 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 16}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "20820833", "review_id": "964e60ab8884df4aa5561f6b142c19da", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Nell'Edimburgo steampunk di Elisabeth May, Aileana Kameron e una ragazza di buona famiglia, la cui vita ruota tra feste, balli e carnee da riempire. L'unica cosa che le si chiede e di trovare un buon partito da sposare, e di sfornare figli. \n Tutto questo fino a quando assiste all'omicidio della madre, ad opera di una fata. \n Ebbene si, toglietevi dalla testa quelle dolci creature delle favole, che di solito esaudiscono tutti i desideri... perche queste fate sono tutt'altro che amorevoli! \n Creature mostruose, che bramano potere, sangue e vendetta, costrette da un sigillo a vivere prigioniere sottoterra. \n Purtroppo molte di loro sono sfuggite a questa maledizione, ed oggi infestano le strade di Edimburgo, per sottrarre il sangue e l'anima alle loro vittime. \n La vita della nostra protagonista, adesso ha solo uno scopo: la vendetta, vendetta per la madre uccisa in maniera brutale, vendetta per mettere a tacere il suo dolore. \n Aileana e l'ultima Falconiera della sua generazione, l'unica che puo riattivare il sigillo che dopo decenni sta per cedere, l'ultima speranza per non dover soccombere alla ferocia delle fate. Istruita ed addestrata per diventare una spietata cacciatrice dal bellissimo, misterioso e dal cuore di ghiaccio Kiaran Macfay. Una fata molto potente, che la notte dell'omicidio della madre, salvo la stessa Aileana da morte certa. Aileana ha la capacita di riconoscere le fate, identificandole con un sapore o un odore diverso a seconda del potere che esse possiedono, ed un'innata predisposizione alla meccanica. Lei, moderna Archimede, oltre a stanare ed eliminare le fate, inventa e realizza rivoluzionarie macchine volanti, cannoni che lanciano bombe ad ultrasuoni, e ingegnose armi. \n Carattere, determinazione, ed una sfrenata voglia di placare la sua sete di vendetta, ma anche la solitudine ed il bisogno di essere amata e protetta; tutto questo per descrivere Aileana, una straordinaria ed impavida eroina steampunk! \n Partendo un po' in sordina, questo libro e riuscito durante la lettura, ad intrappolarmi nelle dinamiche della storia, con uno stile unico, che diventa un crescendo di emozioni intense ed uniche. \n Il finale, fa aggiungere il nome della May fra le autrici che ODIO... e come sempre un po' in sospeso e fa desiderare di avere il seguito tra le mani! \n Kiaran, nonostante tutto, sei l'ennesimo book boy di cui mi sono innamorata!", "date_added": "Sun Feb 23 05:59:06 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 22 14:33:12 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Feb 27 14:27:39 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Feb 24 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "20319898", "review_id": "a2741c7f2d70e9d40455a00b2b36a2fa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "La Gier c'entra il bersaglio anche questa volta! \n Dopo la trilogia delle gemme, una delle saghe che ho apprezzato di piu (a parte il finale affrettato di Green..), ero molto curiosa di leggere altro di questa autrice. \n Silver e il primo libro di una trilogia sui sogni, un tema assolutamente affascinante a mio avviso. \n La trama invoglia subito alla lettura, grazie ad uno stile accattivante, giovane, impreziosito da una brillante vena ironia e reso intrigante da una nota alla Gossip girl! \n Una ragazza Liv, con il pallino dei misteri irrisolti alla Sherlock Holmes, ed un quartetto di ragazzi belli, affascinanti e molto intraprendenti; unite il tutto ad un misterioso libro che sembra sbucato fuori \"per caso\", ad una serie di sogni che i cinque ragazzi, inspiegabilmente condividono...ed avrete tra le mani Silver. \n \"i sogni erano il prodotto spontaneo e imparziale del nostro animo inconscio, sottratti all'arbitrio della coscienza.\" \n Un libro sull affascinate ed inesplorato mondo dei sogni, dove il reale e sapientemente unito all'onirico, per creare una dimensione alternativa dove rifugiarsi, flirtare, tramare e correre innumerevoli rischi! \n Impossibile parlare liberamente della trama, senza incappare in spoiler. Un libro che riesce ad essere leggero, divertente e giovane... E anche misterioso, oscuro e da non sottovalutare, come un terribile incubo dal quale non possiamo svegliarci! \n Allo stato attuale dei fatti ho solo due opzioni davanti a me: \n 1) fangirlare piu che posso per Henry (mio tesoriiiiino) e per Grayson (pucciosino) \n 2) imparare il tedesco da Lottie \n 3) carpire info piccanti alla perfida/o Secrecy \n Oppure \n 4) sperare di leggere entro il 2014 il seguito di Silver con la banda di Crazy fangirl di mia conoscenza! \n Non ci resta che attendere...", "date_added": "Fri Feb 14 17:39:03 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 05 08:26:01 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Feb 18 08:38:10 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 16, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "20732979", "review_id": "7b11bdd84853354bf846965c0de59018", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ebbene si, anche io ho ceduto al fascino della splendida cover di questo libro! Sicuramente la Mondadori ha fatto una scelta azzeccata, mantenendo la copertina originale pur cambiando Incarnate in Chrysalis. \n Chrysalis ha tutti i requisiti per diventare una saga di tutto rispetto, un mix di generi: fantasy, utopia, romance, ed una buona dose di mistero ad invogliare il lettore... ma, e dico ma, perche tutto questo a me non e bastato? Devo dire che temevo la fregatura, tutto era sin dall'inizio troppo perfetto, e non trovando su Goodreads lettori entusiasti, premeditavo un mezzo disastro! \n La storia inizia con il viaggio della nostra protagonista Ana (non quella Ana famosa...), ha 18 anni ed e un'anima nuova. Nata, forse per un errore, in mezzo ad una popolazione di persone che si reincarnano da secoli, in un corpo diverso pur conservando la propria anima. Il tutto e allo stesso tempo affascinante e spaventoso, se ci si trova a crescere fra persone che si conoscono da intere vite, che per altro ti guardano con assoluta indifferenza e timore. Timore che il ciclo di reincarnazione sia stato compromesso dalla nascita di Ana, perche proprio lei nascendo ha decretato la morte dell'anima di Ciana, che avrebbe dovuto reincarnarsi nel suo corpo. Ok lo so, siete gia nel limbo della confusione, tranquilli sono con voi!!! Odiata e discriminata persino dalla madre, Ana parte alla volta di Cardio, capitale di Gamma, per trovare tutte le risposte ai suoi perche. Fin qui, anche se arrancando, sono riuscita ad apprezzare lo stile accattivante della Meadows, che descrive in maniera precisa ed interessante questo mondo utopico; dove l'anima e uno scrigno di emozioni, ricordi, ed esperienze, che ad ogni rinascita si arricchisce ulteriormente. Anche l'amore, in questo contesto, assume un aspetto diverso, perche diventa un sentimento che prescinde persino la morte: le anime continuano a riconoscersi anche dopo aver assunto un aspetto completamente diverso dal precedente. \n Ecco che arrivano i ma... \n Se la prima parte si e rivelata originale anche se un tantino enigmatica, la seconda parte e stata una sequela di descrizioni ripetitive, per nulla utili ai fini della trama. La nostra Ana e la classica protagonista, che si sente perennemente una completa nullita, sempre a piangersi addosso e a non agire se non prima di aver rimuginato per un paio di capitoli. Ma credo che il motivo principale della mia perplessita sia dovuto al fatto che, sin dalle prime pagine, il libro abbia assunto SOLO la connotazione di romance. L'arrivo di Sam: cavalier servente, amico, anima gemella, bla bla... ha reso la storia dolce e romantica, tralasciando pero tutto il resto. Se non fosse stato per i mostri e compagnia bella, che i due protagonisti hanno incontrato durante il loro viaggio, e qualche accenno ad un futuro imprecisato, non potrei catalogare questa lettura come fantasy/utopica. \n Ho la netta sensazione di leggere un romance travestito da distopico, come se la storia di Ana e Sam sia stata piazzata li, per fare felici noi lettrici romantiche... ma che in seguito l'autrice stessa, abbia messo come unico fulcro del libro. \n Odio l'insta-love, il fatto di incontrarsi \"per caso\" ed innamorarsi perdutamente dopo poche pagine, non sopporto la forzatura dei personaggi ed il loro agire in maniera ovvia, senza un briciolo di carattere a giustificare le loro scelte. \n Credo che nonostante lo stile scorrevole e la trama potenzialmente originale, la Meadows non abbia \n sviluppato appieno il potenziale di questa storia. Spero, inoltre, che nei due seguiti l'autrice riesca a rendere la trama piu interessante, sviluppando in maniera piu approfondita l'aspetto utopico/fantasy della storia. \n Non riesco ad essere completamente negativa, ne per altro, posso affermare che questa sia stata una delle migliori letture, quindi il mio giudizio e tre stelline Goodreads. Nonostante i molti difetti, Chrysalis si e rivelata una lettura scorrevole, romantica e nell'insieme originale. Adesso cara Meadows mi aspetto un tuo completo riscatto in Asunder!", "date_added": "Wed Feb 05 05:55:40 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 17 06:17:43 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Feb 12 08:51:18 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "13047090", "review_id": "e47809146cb5cffc91e3fc249a44bcb3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Em... Da dove iniziare... \n Ah si, dal fatto che ho detestato per tutta la durata di Onyx, Kitty kat! \n Una vera e propria calamita di disgrazie!!! \n Volutamente ed esasperatamente causate da lei stessa, capace per altro di risultare al contempo noiosa ed irritante :/ \n Per piu di 3/4 del libro non sono riuscita a vedere un solo spiraglio, un minuscolo input, che potesse farmi apprezzare questa ragazza. \n Inutile dire che Daemon e perfetto un ogni sua piu piccola sfaccettatura caratteriale (i love E.T). \n Con la sua gelosia, il senso di protezione, la sua per certi versi irritante presenza, e l'innegabile fascino... ha saputo colmare \"il vuoto caratteriale\" di Kat. \n La trama riprende gli eventi che la Armentrout aveva lasciato in sospeso in Obsidian. \n Ma sin dai primi capitoli e alquanto palese il cambio di toni: Daemon, adesso vuole di piu da Kat... lei e cretinamente ostinata a resistergli, per una serie di futili ed alquanto improbabili motivi. \n Il tutto si trascina con mio sommo gaudio (ovvero sbadigli continui), per molti capitoli. \n Credo che la parte romance, non sia stata sviluppata con lo stesso impeto di Obsidian (alcuni attribuiscono cio alla pessima traduzione, o all'uso improprio di verbi o sinonimi), per cui il tutto risulta quasi forzato. \n Per quanto riguarda la parte fantasy non ho nulla da obbiettare, anzi proprio nelle ultime 100 pagine, finalmente, la Armentrout ha accantonato il romance per dedicarsi alla trama. \n Colpi di scena e rivelazioni inaspettate hanno rinvigorito la storia, che sembrava \"agonizzare\"a causa dell'indecisa Kat e delle sue menate mentali! \n Pur trattandosi di uno YA stavolta il tutto e risultato un po' troppo Young, forse a causa del carattere infantile e irritante di Kat, probabilmente anche perche non c'e stato un equo bilanciamento tra romance e fantasy. \n Non sto a dire quanto Blake sia PALESEMENTE falso e doppiogiochista, nooooo potrei sconvolgere la nostra tonta Kat, per carita! \n Anche gli altri personaggi appaiono un po' sotto tono e poco incisivi. \n Concluso dicendo che in Onyx, la Armentrout non mi ha entusiasmato molto, mi sarei aspettata scintille in questo seguito, che invece ho visto fare solo a Kat... Purtroppo non prendendo fuoco completamente come avrei voluto io!!! \n Adesso aspettero Opal, sperando per buona pace dei miei poveri nervi, che Kat rinsavisca dalla demenza, e finalmente diventi una protagonista degna di nota! \n P.s: Daemon so much love *.*", "date_added": "Wed Jan 29 16:42:05 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 03 00:10:32 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 11}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "13104080", "review_id": "95da3e1d17fd2ebfb6580732a55b22a6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Questa volta scrivere una recensione sensata, imparziale e non estreme fangirl, sara veramente dura. \n La Mafi si impossessa letteralmente del mio volere, non ho bisogno di nutrirmi, idratarmi e riposare. No. Solo leggere e leggere... \n Sono un robot fangirl che legge. Impreca. Sospira. Ama Aaron e manda affanculo Juliette. \n Questo libro si e rivelato una vera droga, una di quelle che da assuefazione e manda in astinenza, se non si riesce a prenderne una massiccia dose. La Mafi ha uno stile ammaliante, coinvolgente e intrigante, e la capacita di farti sentire al centro della scena. Di vivere le emozione che racconta come fossero le proprie, e desiderarne sempre di piu... \n I personaggi che la Mafi ha creato sono tutti splendidi: Kenji che ho particolarmente adorato perche spiritoso, saggio e coraggioso. James il fratello di Kent, le gemelle guaritrici, e perfino Anderson ha saputo dimostrarsi un cattivo convincete. Poi c'e Adam, Adam Kent ricordate quello che amavo?! \n No? Beh nemmeno io so chi sia... \n Tranne per il fatto che e piu fastidioso di una zanzara, e piu inutile di un cappotto al mare. Ma a fargli compagnia, in quanto a stupidaggine e inettitudine,c'e la nostra Frigna Wonder woman, ops Juliette. Lei che e piu indecisa dell'estate appena trascorsa, piu sfiancante di mia suocera, e ha avuto la fortuna di essere amata dal mio Aaron. Creperai presto Juliette?! Si?!Grazie! \n Aaron Warner Anderson, ovvero l'amore della mia vita. Cucciolo you are my Sugar lovely man. (Ignite me tutta) \n Non ho mai letto di un personaggio tanto controverso, affascinante, enigmatico e MERAVIGLIOSO! \n *sospira estasiata e innamorata* \n Quando inizia a svelarsi, quando mostra la sua incantevole vulnerabilita, quando permette a Juliette di entrare nella sua vita e nel suo cuore, questo ragazzo riesce a mandarmi in delirio. La fragilita e il bisogno di essere amati per cio che si e, di Warner, mi hanno stregata. Io amo questo ragazzo fatto di carta e inchiostro. \n Adesso leggero fracture me, sperando di non detestare Adam ancora di piu, ipotesi molto probabile. \n P.s: Aaron i love you so much", "date_added": "Tue Jan 28 13:56:42 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 19 03:56:07 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Sep 19 03:56:07 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 10}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "18670045", "review_id": "0723ee2ec30ad6da7ad0666ffc0ef622", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ho terminato questo libro da diverse ore, e sono ancora indecisa sul numero di stelline da attribuirgli. \n Se da un lato ho apprezzato l'ambientazione e l'originalita della trama, ed il fatto che la Bardugo abbia creato un mondo pieno di mistero e magia... In contrapposizione a tutto cio, ho avuto la netta sensazione che la storia non sia stata sviluppata al massimo delle sue potenzialita. \n Due orfani di guerra, Alina e Mal, due bambini cresciuti insieme all'ombra di un duca benefattore in attesa di sapere se faranno parte della prestigiosa famiglia dei Grisha. \n Cartografa lei, cercatore di piste lui, entrambi alla loro prima missione nelle file del primo esercito del re. \n Sono l'uno l'unica famiglia dell'altro, amicizia e fiducia ad unirli, ed un dolcissimo sentimento che alberga nel cuore di entrambi sara il catalizzatore delle loro scelte future. \n Tutto cambia dopo che Alina, per salvare Mal da morte certa, scopre quello per cui e nata: lei e una potentissima Grisha il suo dono e quello di Convocare la luce. \n Fino a questo punto ho amato sia lo stile della Bardugo, che il ritmo con il quale procedeva nella narrazione, ma capitolo dopo capitolo, la storia ha cominciato a stagnare nel mare delle descrizioni continue e ripetitive di caftani con risvolti d'oro e bordati da pregiate pellicce, e su di futili stati d'animo di questo o quell'altro Grisha. \n Persino la descrizione dell'ambiente e risultata eccessiva e superflua ai fini della trama: mi trovavo a saltare con gli occhi interi paragrafi, in attesa che l'autrice riprendesse il filo logico dei fatti, invece di divagare di continuo. \n Affascinante ed enigmatico il personaggio dell'Oscuro, capace per altro di riportare la trama un po' di vivacita, e stato uno dei \"cattivi\" per i quali ho perso la testa. \n Alina, per una volta non e la classica eroina bella che si sente inguardabile, anzi la sua trasformazione da brutto anatroccolo a \"cigno\" cioe Grisha, ha reso il suo personaggio alquanto interessante riuscendo a farmi \"tifare\" per lei sin da subito. \n Mal... Oh Mal tu sei la dulcezz che piu dulcezz non se po! \n Non ho dubitato nemmeno per un secondo del suo attaccamento per Alina, sapevo che avrebbe avrebbe protetto lei ad ogni costo e con un coraggio senza pari... Per una volta questo che sto leggendo e un triangolo ben descritto ed avvincente! \n Ma a parte il triangolo, i personaggi ben caratterizzati e l'ambientazione magica e ricca di descrizioni oniriche... \n La Bardugo, a mio modestissimo avviso, non ha saputo dare alla storia quel plus ultra che avrebbe reso il tutto piu interessante e particolare. \n Mi spiego, non sono riuscita a trovare, ne un minimo appiglio storico, n'e tanto meno una spiegazione ai tanti perche della trama, solo una sequela di risposte frammentarie e poco chiarificatrici. \n L'esistenza della guerra in se, sembra un capriccio del re o un esercizio tattico dell'Oscuro. \n Il primo esercito, il secondo esercito sembrano combattere non solo su due fronti diversi, ma addirittura due guerre distinte e separate. \n Il re mi e sembrato piu un fantoccio nelle mani dell'Oscuro, e quest'ultimo da temibile e spietato, viene bacchettato di continuo da una Grisha megera, che poi si rivelera a lui imparentata... Boh nesso logico dice sei? \n Tutti ma proprio tutti, non si rendono conto che l'oscuro sta per fregarli alla grande? \n Uno che si fa chiamare oscuro ha come fine la pace ed il trionfo del bene sull'oscurita? \n Chiedo scusa per la mia \"tardaggine\" ma tutto era alquanto palese! \n Avevo enormi aspettative su questa serie, anche per via dell'altro raiting su goodreads, ma al momento ho letto solo un bel triangolo, un cattivo sexy, un coraggioso innamorato e mi sono fatta una cultura sul guardaroba dei Grisha! \n Bardugo impegnati di piu nel seguito... Voglio piu action e meno haute couture!!!", "date_added": "Thu Jan 23 14:32:51 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 28 04:46:04 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jan 28 05:25:57 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jan 23 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "20446040", "review_id": "c002e1058a092b5234b5a8221a0d1f98", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Virginia de Winter, riesce sempre nel suo intento: stregare, ammaliare, affascinare, disintegrare e colmare d'amore il mio cuore! \n Con il suo stile inconfondibile, crea una deliziosa novella, dove l'amore tra Gabriel e Sophia fa da padrone. \n Attraverso le sue descrizioni, i riferimenti ai libri della saga, ricrea la stessa identica magia che mi conquisto in Penna. \n Pochissime e preziose pagine, intrise di quel sentimento potente e delizioso qual'e l'amore di Gabriel per la sua principessa trovatella: il piccolo demone, che ha fatto capitolare completamente ed irreversibilmente il primo cavaliere dell'ordine della croce. Sophia cosi appassionata, innocente, e totalmente devota all'uomo, che aveva promesso di annientarla! \n Poche frasi, appena qualche dialogo, per dare un degno proseguo ad un amore che scalda il cuore di una lettrice innamorata di questa \"incantevole saga\". \n Rapita come sempre da un'autrice capace di rendere poco piu di 50 pagine meritevoli di 5 stelle! \n Virginia, spero continui a regalarci queste novelle, perche per me e impossibile abituarmi alla parola fine! \n P.s: Bryce sei insuperabile come sempre! \n N.b: Alex ti adoro!", "date_added": "Sun Jan 05 14:02:58 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 01 05:33:43 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jan 21 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "17167166", "review_id": "d9b595226143302e71394532655ce2e9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "In un mare di trame scontate, ogni tanto qualcuno emerge con la sua originalita! \n Superbo. \n Magico. \n Avvincente. \n Doloroso e struggente! \n La Maas con questo seguito ha superato se stessa. E riuscita a farsi perdonare l'inizio sottotono del primo libro, rispetto alle novelle. \n Una caratterizzazione di ogni personaggio curata alla perfezione, cosi ricca di sfumature caratteriali ed emozioni. \n La trama e un susseguirsi di rivelazioni inaspettate e colpi di scena piazzati ad ok. I continui dejavu che richiamano fatti del primo capitolo, hanno saputo tenermi con il fiato sospeso, sperando di non dover provare nuovamente lo stesso \"dolore\". \n Lo stile e scorrevole, ricco di suspance: un vero e proprio caleidoscopio di emozioni. \n Ma allo stesso tempo la scrittura della Maas esige un lettura attenta e non frettolosa, perche ogni dettaglio deve collegarsi per andare a formare il puzzle intricato e complesso che e la sua storia. \n Quello che ha tralasciato ne Il trono di ghiaccio, la Maas, lo ha ampiamente sviluppato in questo libro in maniera brillante e superando se stessa. \n Infatti \"La corona di mezzanotte\" non e un seguito, ma e l'epicentro dell'intera storia. \n Caleana ha smesso i panni della ragazza viziata e frivola per tornare a vestire quelli dell'assassina per antonomasia. Crudele, spietata, forte ed inarrestabile... Ma anche dolce, fragile e vulnerabile! \n Chaol il mio adorato capitano della guardia reale e riuscito a far trapelare un lato di se che cercava di tenere nascosto: forte, protettivo, appassionato e irrimediabilmente innamorato di Caleana. \n Ho amato ogni singola scena che hanno condiviso, ogni emozione che entrambi cercavano di reprimere. Ho assaporato il loro reciproco capitolare difronte al sentimento unico e potente, che entrambi provano l'uno per l'altra! \n La Maas rende omaggio anche allo splendido e mai dimenticato Sam Cortland, riesce a farlo nel modo piu giusto e significativo. Sam sara sempre nel cuore di Caleana, ma adesso ho l'impressione che una parte di lui riviva nell'amore che Chaol prova per lei. \n Poesia e magia, orrore e superstizione, riti antichi ed enigmi da decifrare usati per creare il male al servizio di un regno corrotto. \n Il principe Dorian finalmente diventa un uomo coraggioso, e consapevole delle proprie responsabilita, e riesce a dare una nuova luce al suo personaggio. \n Stupendo il suo modo di tenere una parte di Caleana legata a lui. \n Nehmeria e gli altri personaggi tutti assolutamente credibili, e inseriti in maniera perfetta, per orchestrare una trama fitta e mai tediosa. \n Un libro che mi ha tenuta incollata ad ogni singola pagina, ora a sospirare per i miei due coccolini, adesso per la suspance che la Maas e riuscita a creare. Per poi fare a pezzettini minuscoli i miei feels, con le scelte di Chaol e le rivelazioni di Caleana... Il porto mi ha affondata completamente! \n Adesso vorrei gentilmente e senza pressioni, chiedere alla Mondadori di DARCI ORA, ADESSO E SUBITO, l'ultimo capitolo di questa saga spettacolare! \n Abbiate pieta di noi :(", "date_added": "Sat Dec 14 03:52:10 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 16 06:35:46 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jun 16 06:52:13 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 45}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "7896527", "review_id": "4623e629446615f791e2629622ddce06", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Divorare un libro in un paio d'ore... \n Sospirare per Dorian e Chaol, nonostante Sam occupi sempre i miei pensieri... \n Chiedersi quanto tempo fara trascorrere la CE, prima di farci leggere il seguito. \n Nonostante abbia apprezzato molto il libro, le novelle avevano quel qualcosa in piu che le ha rese piu interessanti! \n Forse perche Celaena era un po' piu spregiudicata e pericolosa, forse perche con Sam erano l'amore... \n Spero che la Maas sappia dare maggiore risalto al personaggio di Celaena, vorrei che i sentimenti di lei, fossero piu nitidi e che fosse, finalmente la vera artefice del suo destino! \n P.s: Team Chaol, anche solo per quel \"alzati celaena\"... \n E per un solo abbraccio che e valso mille baci! \n Recensione a breve :)", "date_added": "Tue Dec 10 15:21:07 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 14 05:23:40 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Dec 14 05:23:40 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 13, "n_comments": 8}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "13565676", "review_id": "f428d624ec3f4f7ab769a2129039c077", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Soltanto due parole: tristezza e rabbia!", "date_added": "Mon Dec 09 15:57:28 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 23 06:22:04 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Dec 10 15:30:48 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Dec 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "13546173", "review_id": "ed94122cdd7b7d5b0207539ae10a289b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fino ad ora il mio racconto preferito. \n Sam che si dichiara con rabbia ed amore... E la dolcezza in persona! \n Celaena in questo racconto e perfetta: determinata, spietata, fragile e intensa. \n Arobynn sei un bastardo della peggior specie ~.~ \n La Maas scrive divinamente ;)", "date_added": "Mon Dec 09 09:49:22 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 10 00:25:56 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Dec 09 15:56:51 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "17614871", "review_id": "6d7dc9006ea67fcdc505b53a3d3d6b94", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Dove sei finiti Sam? \n Palesati please ~.~", "date_added": "Sun Dec 08 15:26:53 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 09 10:28:26 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Dec 09 10:28:26 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "13415554", "review_id": "08d14c2ab0c163feb508aaa6bbf1cbe7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3,5 stelline: un buon inizio. \n Dalle primissime pagine, miss Sardothien e stata assolutamente splendida... \n La sua irruenza, il suo modo sconsiderato di agire e la sua indubbia bellezza, costituiranno certamente i suoi punti di forza. \n Non vedo l'ora di conoscerla meglio ;)", "date_added": "Mon Dec 02 06:53:01 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 08 22:00:46 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Dec 08 15:27:29 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "13183957", "review_id": "5e1f91a33dee561f44fa2eea9c0ad790", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3,5 stelline! \n Chi lo avrebbe mai detto che avrei trovato dolci e sexy gli alieni? \n Da sempre la parola \"alieno\" mi rimanda a creature poco carine e decisamente non sensuali... Ovviamente prima di imbattermi nei fratelli Black", "date_added": "Sat Nov 16 01:34:20 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 27 02:57:22 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Nov 27 02:57:22 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Nov 16 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "18777031", "review_id": "8d55b27c8dbf1fffcf85667d0d4b9ed3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Premessa: \n 1) Maggie sei un maledetto genio. \n 2) Raven si e incollato al mio cervello. \n 3) Blue sei un nanerottola fortunata. \n 4) Gansey, Adam e Noah io vi adoro. \n 5) Ronan sono tua, sappilo svalvolato amore mio! \n Detto cio, credo che entro una decina d'anni saro in grado, spero, di scrivere due righe sensate su questo libro. \n Attualmente riesco solo a farneticare... vagare su tumbrl alla ricerca di foto/spoiler, di tutto quello che e inerente ai miei \"corvetti adorati\". \n Tormentare con commenti e foto i miei amici su fb, che lo stanno leggendo... (Bastard inside me)rischiando di farmi bannare (insieme a Lara, Bianca, Pat, Angela e Liz) :) \n Concludo dicendo: Lynch sei perfetto per me! \n P.s: impeccabile lavoro di traduzione (evviva!) \n Cover fantasmagorica (urra) \n Stop :)", "date_added": "Sun Nov 10 18:20:35 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 07 03:57:49 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Dec 02 12:06:51 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Nov 21 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 21, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "18649170", "review_id": "1750bb9db64b4352b64091ed461d2aa4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4,5 stelle... \n Ultimamente, con mia grande gioia, sto riscoprendo il talento Made in italy. \n Ho conosciuto Angela grazie al mio folle fangirl, lei insieme alla sua bravissima socia Pat, sono state due splendide sorprese. \n Dato che qualche settimana fa lessi e apprezzai \"I protettori dell'oracolo, buio\"; per parcon dicio e per dirla tutta, anche perche la trama del libro di Angy mi incuriosiva parecchio... Ho iniziato Hunted. \n Una lettura talmente scorrevole, ben scritta e interessante, che mi sono trovata di colpo al 97% dell'epub senza rendermene conto! \n Letto in un tempo brevissimo (una maratona notturna), merito della bravura di Angy nel trascinare il lettore dentro la sua storia. Perche, di fatto, si e catapultati dentro la vita di Abby, una ragazza tutt'altro che ordinaria, logorroica, dolce e assolutamente straordinaria! \n Lo stile della Ryan e frizzante, descrittivo quel tanto che serve per entrare appieno nella storia, e farti desiderare di sapere di piu. \n I suoi personaggi sono affascinanti e misteriosi, giovani e al contempo gia duramente segnati da gravi perdite. \n Kevan, Dakota, Jay, Lexon, Sam, alieni, e ibridi creano una perfetta corolla attorno alla nostra atipica eroina, Abby. \n Ognuno di loro riesce, attraverso il racconto del proprio passato, ad ampliare i contorni della trama renderla credibile e ben articolata. Un crescendo di azioni, emozioni e nuove prospettive, che riescono a intrigare il lettore rendendo la trama sempre viva ed interessante. Ho apprezzato molti aspetti della trama, in primis la minuziosa caratterizzazione dei protagonisti, il loro background raccontato in modo tale da svelare alcuni misteri, e allo stesso tempo approfondire il personaggio stesso. Inoltre la componente romance non e introdotta dal famigerato \"istant love\" al contrario, i sentimenti e le emozioni dei protagonisti sono stati un continuo divenire. \n Infine, l'estrema cura con la quale Angela riesce a descrivere le varie ambientazioni, rendendo vivido ed estremamente realistico ogni luogo. \n Ora sono tra due bei fuochi: kevan da una parte e l'uomo sexy torcia dall'altra... Perche Jay, diciamocelo e tanta roba! \n Cara Angela rivoglio indietro quel 3% di ringraziamenti etc, che hai ingiustamente sottratto alla sottoscritta! \n Diamoci una mossa a pubblicare il seguito, perche qui c'e gente, che in quanto a pazienza sta messa male! \n Un'altra bravissima esponente del Made in italy: Angela C. Ryan! \n Xoxo", "date_added": "Mon Nov 04 05:57:25 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 27 23:08:26 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Dec 27 14:19:23 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Dec 17 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 10}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "18483148", "review_id": "7cd71ab325c3ac4accf3c38989f7a7f3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "In una Londra di meta ottocento, popolata da creature mostruose e difesa da una discendenza di abili cacciatori, Patrisha Mar crea una storia, che ha in se la bellezza del romanzo storico, unito al mistero dell'urban fantasy ed avvolge il tutto con una splendida nota di romanticismo. In un periodo nel quale la nostra editoria \"sforna\" pessime traduzioni e cover \"mostruose\", la nostra Patrisha mi fa beare di poter leggere un testo scritto in maniera curata, precisa e con quel mistero che contraddistingue ogni capitolo. \n La storia ci porta in una nebbiosa e oscura Londra, dove una stirpe di cacciatori protegge, avvolta dall'anonimato, l'intera popolazione da creature mostruose assetate di sangue. Benjamin e Bernadette due gemelli orfani, sotto la guida del famigerato e un po' inquietante \"The Phoenix\" e con l'aiuto di altri cacciatori, sono protettori di un segreto, gelosamente custodito tra le pagine dell'Oracolo, un libro tramandato da generazioni. \n La narrazione e fluida, scorrevole e sin dalle prime pagine la storia coinvolge, in un crescendo di emozioni e sensazioni, per culminare nella dolcezza di momenti unici. Lo stile usato riesce ad essere sia abbastanza descrittivo e allo stesso tempo non prolisso e ridondante; Patrisha accompagna il lettore in un mondo fantasy, dove pero la componente romance fa da padrone. Ogni personaggio viene descritto in ogni sua peculiarita, sia fisica che caratteriale, in modo tale da fare provare un empatia immediata verso i protagonisti. \n Ben e Cassandra, Joseph e Bernie e il misterioso The Phoenix, riescono a vivere tra le pagine e nella mia immaginazione sin dal primo capitolo, grazie alla penna di Patrisha, che con estrema cura delinea ogni aspetto e racconta ogni emozione. \n Non sono una fan \"dell'istant-love\", ma Patrisha ha saputo rendere questo aspetto un punto di forza del romanzo, perche raffigura l'amore come il fulcro della trama, e di conseguenza mi fa capitolare in maniera totale! \n In tempi nei quali l'originalita e l'ingegno narrativo stanno diventando quasi una chimera, la Mar riesce a ritagliarsi un posticino nel mio cuore di lettrice, merito di uno stile accattivante e dei suo splendidi Book boys! \n Ora, non mi resta che attendere il degno finale, per questa duologia tutta Made in Italy! \n Patrisha si e rivelata una piacevolissima scoperta :) \n Assolutamente consigliato!", "date_added": "Mon Oct 21 00:27:59 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 09 06:30:42 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Nov 09 06:30:42 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Oct 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "17621856", "review_id": "aacfd610ff37bf9ace9a4422343fde20", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Conoscere virtualmente l'autrice del libro che si sta leggendo e tormentarla con i propri commenti e stimolante ed esaltante! Albion mi guardava dalla mensola della mia libreria da diverse settimane. Stava li in attesa che io mi decidessi a leggerlo, quando finalmente e arrivato il suo momento, dopo pochi capitoli ho pensato: ma per quale oscuro motivo non ho letto questo libro prima? Molti pareri positivi non costituiscono la certezza che il libro possa piacermi,anzi io sono una \"tipa\" decisamente controcorrente, ma... Bianca scrive con eleganza e in un italiano perfetto, una storia che sa trasportarmi fuori dal tempo, in un epoca dove l'onore, l'amicizia e l'amore hanno un significato profondo. Uno stile descrittivo e ricco di riferimenti ai miti del passato, rivisitati in chiave moderna e proposti in maniera tale da farmi desiderare la rilettura di un libro letto molti anni fa. \n La scelta singolare e coraggiosa di mettere al centro di tutto un arrogante rampollo figlio dell'alta borghesia, pieno di spocchia e tutt'altro che simpatico.Seguire l'evoluzione del personaggio e i suoi lenti e irrevocabili cambiamenti, il corso degli eventi che mostreranno la vera indole di Marco. L'amicizia, l'onore, la lealta e l'amore faranno crollare una dopo l'altra, le certezze di Marco e sveleranno a lui e ai suoi amici, una verita tanto assurda quanto magica! \n Marco, Lance, Deacon, Erek ed Helena protagonisti di una storia che cattura sin dalle primissime pagine, merito di una narrazione fluida e scorrevole, resa interessante dai frequenti rimandi storici. Nulla viene trascurato, ogni fatto viene spiegato in maniera tale da collegarsi alle vicende del passato e risultare credibile ai fini della storia. Cavalieri di un'epoca lontana,rievocati nelle gesta di un gruppo di ragazzi con capacita straordinarie. Un college prestigioso fondato per un onorare un patto, segreti tramandati per generazioni, uniti a misteri che attendono di essere svelati. Re Artu e i cavalieri della tavola rotonda rivivono nelle pagine di Albion dove il passato si lega al presente per far rivivere un mito divenuto leggenda. \n Bianca Marconero e entrata di diritto nel ristretto gruppo di autrici italiane che seguo con molto interesse... ma attenzione Biancaneve,la matrigna non ama attendere oltremodo i seguiti,predilige che essi continuino ad affascinarla con altrettanta originalita! \n Altrimenti...", "date_added": "Tue Oct 15 09:33:34 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 26 06:25:21 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Oct 26 06:25:21 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "17189391", "review_id": "08c834ac7e5ed628c3405c59f079dea8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Gena Showalter io ti adoro. Sappilo! \n Zacharel sei tanta di quella roba che sudo al sol pensarti O.o\" \n *sviene* \n Amen!", "date_added": "Tue Sep 24 01:14:52 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 03 15:51:01 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Apr 03 15:51:01 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Mar 31 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 18}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "17880230", "review_id": "3b25b246dcfc298c2d0c5fd8cfe96d1a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Tre stelle non piene... \n Nonostante abbia apprezzato Wolf e l'indubbia intraprendenza di Scarlet,questo libro non mi ha entusiasmato come fece Cinder. La storia sembra sempre sul punto di sfociare in qualcosa di interessante,invece rimane sul vago,come se l'autrice pur avendo la conclusione a portata di mano,puntualmente rimandi al prox libro l'agognato finale. \n Cinder adesso mostra un tantino di iniziativa,forse spronata dal cadetto/capitano Thorne...o forse perche era ora di darsi una mossa! \n Kai per favore...imperatore gne gne e il campione incontrastato del rimugino e dell'indecisione cronica! \n Santa pazienza ragazzone,sei pur sempre un imperatore \"datte na mossa\" figlio mio!, \n La nomina,come da copione,ci rimette sempre la pelle...ma sembra l'unica vera eroina della favola. \n Antagonisti poco convincenti e la perfida Levana,che sinceramente immagino come Cher la cantante,pronta sempre a far guerra mentre si controlla la rughetta sulla fronte... \n Insomma direi che Cappuccetto Rosso poteva essere reso piu dark e ricco di magia...invece sembra una rivisitazione sbiadita di una favola che adoro!", "date_added": "Tue Sep 17 23:09:39 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 24 01:17:32 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Sep 24 01:17:32 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "18400321", "review_id": "10780efc1df765c36513b1731c5a5d25", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Temevo la Hodkin,temevo che questo libro fosse qualcosa di transitorio ed inevitabilmente non all'altezza del primo,ma la cara Michelle,non solo ha saputo stupirmi e stata strabiliante! \n La storia di Mara riprende esattamente dal punto in cui si interruppe nel primo libro,ogni aspetto,ogni comportamento viene amplificato e reso reale da una narrazione impeccabile sempre al cardiopalma...niente punti morti o momenti di stasi,ma una vero e proprio bombardamento psicologico di azione,follia e sensualita! \n La Hodkin intrappola la mia mente e la incanala in una sola direzione \"la follia\" quella di Mara,di Jude,di Noah e non mi lascia scampo,se non la sola voglia di sapere o cercare di prevedere le mosse dei suoi protagonisti. \n Mara e tra le protagoniste che meglio incarna il mio ideale di eroina,un po' pazza,ma incredibilmente caparbia ed appassionata.Noah e il motivo per cui avevo costantemente bisogno di darmi una regolata e ricordare a me stessa che \"e solo un personaggio inventato\" sensuale,protettivo,intelligente e sfrontato,un mix micidiale se descritto bene come ha saputo fare la Hodkin! \n Tutta la storia merita un plauso perche e originale ed estremamente interessante,personaggi creati per incuriosire,una trama oscura e misteriosa,la follia tratteggiata in ogni capitolo o immagine che le descrizioni evocano in maniera reale e tangibile.Sono involontariamente spettatrice e parte integrante delle azioni,pensieri,incubi e follia del mondo di Mara.Un caleidoscopio di emozioni forti e contrastanti: essere e non mostrare,mentire ma non darlo a vedere...pagina dopo pagina Mara e Noah sono al centro di una situazione,che evolve,peggiora e svolta all'ultimo momento verso una direzione che non avevo previsto! \n Scene sensuali e talmente agognate dalla sottoscritta,che mi trovavo a rileggere e sospirare alcuni paragrafi. \n Un finale che e degno dell'intero libro,non delude e fa desiderare oltremisura il capitolo conclusivo di questa splendida saga! \n Aspettare l'epilogo sara agonia pura -.-'\" \n Ti adoro e ti odio cara Michelle!", "date_added": "Thu Sep 12 03:37:41 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 17 11:29:38 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Sep 17 11:29:38 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "9692830", "review_id": "5929707f2f8369918013493d9ecee509", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Rileggere un libro che si ama e come tornare a casa dopo un lungo viaggio! \n Ripercorrere con la mente ed il cuore le emozioni,rivivere l'intensita di momenti salienti,tutto cio e come crogiolarsi dentro qualcosa di accogliente e sicuro...come casa propria! \n La familiarita con i personaggi della Clare mi porta a sentire loro come amici,come persone con cui gioirete e soffrire... \n Credo che in Citta di Vetro la Clare abbia dato il meglio di se,unendo l'azione al pathos di rivelazioni sorprendenti,approfondendo gli aspetti di ogni personaggio e collegando il passato degli Shadowhunters al presente. \n Provare un immediata empatia per Jace e Clary e naturale,il passato doloroso di lui e l'amore appassionato che li unisce e un qualcosa di splendido! \n I Lightwood,il branco di Luke,fate,vampiri e sexy stregoni,sono tutti personaggi creati ad arte ed inseriti,con precisione e maestria,in un contesto che risulta credibile e quasi possibile ai nostri occhi! \n La Clare ha un dono:quello di creare un mondo popolato di creature immaginarie e come per il potere di una runa,esse riescono a prendere vita nella nostra immaginazione,trasportandoci in questo MONDO nascosto nel nostro! \n Adesso provero ad interrompere la rilettura dei successivi libri,promettendo alla lettrice innamorata dei Nephilim,di rileggere citta degli angeli caduti e delle Anime perdute dopo l'uscita di COFH! \n Credo che rivedro per la 4 volta COB \"streaming amore mio arrivo \"", "date_added": "Fri Sep 06 14:30:50 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 12 03:32:23 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Sep 12 03:32:23 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "10512887", "review_id": "da6fbb496555d4dcf57014df04950202", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2.5 stelline! \n Questo e uno dei rari casi, in cui la sinossi e molto piu interessante dell'intero libro. \n \"Non lasciarmi mai\"era nella mia WL da diversi mesi, perche aveva potenzialmente tutti i requisisti giusti per diventare uno dei miei libri preferiti. \n Trama misteriosa, storia d'amore impossibile, ed infine un pov maschile che mi incuriosiva parecchio. Invece l'intero libro e di una lentezza assurda, interi capitoli che ruotano attorno al nulla, il tutto unito ad uno stile scialbo e ridondante. \n L'aspetto che mi ha particolarmente infastidito e senza dubbio la \"confusione generale\". Tutta la vicenda ruota intorno ad un incidente, dove nel primo caso perde la vita la ragazza del protagonista VIv (che etichettare come egoista ed antipatica e alquanto riduttivo...). Ma a creare maggiore confusione e l'altro presente alternativo: una sorta di pseudo universo parallelo, in cui a perdere la vita e il nostro protagonista Camden. \n Una luce che permette a tutti i protagonisti, a turno, di entrare ed uscire da questa o quella realta, a loro piacimento... Intanto Cam soffre per la mancanza di VIv, rimugina per interi capitoli, e vive insieme alla madre in un porcile di appartamento, e mangia appena. \n Nina, che per inciso capisco poco, ma perlomeno mi sta simpatica e la migliore amica di Cam. Colei che involontariamente gli fa conoscere questa realta parallela, dando a Cam la speranza di riabbracciare la sua VIv! (Ma anche no, dico io). \n Man mano che il libro procede, sempre a passo di lumaca drogata e stra fatta di sonniferi, la storia porta il protagonista a capire, che la sua defunta e da poco ritrovata VIv, non e altro che una folle senza un briciolo di ragione! \n Che meraviglia, facciamolo a pezzi sto povero ragazzo vah! \n In pratica, per come la vedo io, l'autrice scredita l'amore reciproco dei protagonisti, in maniera tale da fare superare a Cam il suo dolore... Intanto piazza in mezzo la dolce ed innocente Nina, che si rivelera pure stracotta del nostro bel Cam!!! \n Wowwwwww \"Non lasciarmi mai\" diventa \"Per favore potresti toglierti dalle scatole pazza?\" \n Il finale e boh? Quello che l'autrice racconta in mezzo paragrafo e un finale? \n Ancora non so dirvi se si o no... Ma di certo questa lettura si e rivelata tutto, fuorche quello che mi sarei aspettata! \n Un vero peccato dato che le premesse per un buon libro c'erano tutte!", "date_added": "Mon Sep 02 14:38:59 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 11 01:28:53 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Mar 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "12813630", "review_id": "a43fe80030e1cb78a18011e3bfd8abb5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3,5 stelline in realta! \n Questo libro e indubbiamente uno dei piu difficili da catalogare, dato che non riesco a dare ad esso un giudizio negativo, ne d'altro canto, uno completamente positivo. \n Oggettivamente Holly Black scrive davvero in maniera impeccabile, la storia e molto originale, i suoi vampiri sono spaventosi, imprevedibili, e allo stesso tempo molto glamour... Fuori dagli stereotipi dei \"classico vampiro\", questi fanno davvero paura e riescono ad essere, allo stesso tempo, vittime e carnefici all'interno della trama. Lo stile e decisamente dark, il tutto viene avvolto da una forte componente horror, senza dimenticare un po' di sano humor e l'immancabile spruzzata di romance... \n Indubbiamente perfetto starete pensando... Invece con mio grande stupore, il tutto e stato noioso e tremendamente poco interessante per piu della meta del libro! Colpa,a mio avviso, dei repentini e continui salti temporali che hanno rallentato la trama; apportando, si, qualche sporadico accenno al passato dei protagonisti, ma creando di fatto un po' di confusione ai fini dello scorrere della storia. Per quasi l'intero libro si e sbalzati avanti e indietro, un fastidioso salto tra passato e presente, che ha reso oltremodo snervante la lettura. I salti temporali e la lentezza della trama, per buona meta del libro, non mi avevano lasciato intendere, che nelle ultime 150 pagine mi sarei trovata nel bel mezzo di un fuoco incrociato! Proprio quando stavo per mollare Coltdown e gli svalvolati che in essa si aggiravano... Sbam! La Black, tira fuori il meglio di tutta la storia. Tana di colpo si trasforma da anonima, in un eroina degna di un fantasy che si rispetti, e la storia prende vita proprio grazie al cambio repentino fatto dalla protagonista, diventando un crescendo di azione, colpi di scena e rivelazioni assolutamente sorprendenti. Gavriel, l'unico degno di nota, si e rivelato un protagonista dalle mille sfaccettature, mostrando talvolta un lato oscuro e spaventoso, e in altri casi una tenerezza inaspettata. Anche gli altri personaggi sono stati ampiamente delineati dalla Black, rendendo ognuno di loro tasselli importanti ai fini della storia. \n Ultima nota dolente e rappresentata da un finale troppo aperto, per un libro presentato come auto conclusivo... Spero che la Black inserisca qualche novella postuma, per dare un degno finale ad una storia che sembra lasciata troppo in sospeso e per giunta sul piu bello... Arg!!! \n Per la prima volta, non riesco a far pendere l'ago della mia bilancia in un solo verso. \n Perche questo libro, rimarra in una posizione di perfetto equilibrio tra positivo e negativo... \n Perche se dovessi dare un voto alla prima meta del libro direi sconsigliato, ma se dovessi invece riferirmi solo alle ultime 150 pagine, direi a tutti voi di leggerlo assolutamente! \n Con i miei gusti \"particolari\" in fatto di libri, oramai avrete imparato a conoscermi un po'...", "date_added": "Mon Sep 02 07:20:32 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 27 02:56:01 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Nov 27 02:56:01 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Nov 06 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "9692832", "review_id": "2602353a07531c715f3a7e0a1025a890", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A volte un libro non e solo fatto di carta ed inchiostro,talvolta un libro contiene al suo interno un'intero mondo... \n Un mondo che diventa tridimensionale e ti avvolge con le sue emozioni,con i suoi protagonisti e le avventure che essi vivono. \n Shadowhunters e questo,un mondo nuovo nascosto fra le pagine di un libro! \n Avevo intenzione di rileggere \"solo\"Citta di ossa prima di andare al cinema,ma chiunque conosca la Clare,sa che e impossibile decidere di lasciarla! \n Citta di cenere e un libro intenso,forse piu Ossa,per via delle emozioni che i protagonisti vivono...conosciamo meglio il passato di Jace e Clary,del perche sua madre le ha nascosto la verita... \n Ogni libro di questa saga ha qualcosa che lo rende speciale ai miei occhi,piccole parti di un perfetto puzzle che si modellano per creare UNA DROGA...perche metafore a parte,trattasi di qualcosa che crea dipendenza! \n Come una droga,i libri della Clare,entrano in circolo e smettere di leggerli diventa impossibile... \n Sadica,geniale ed imprendibile Cassy! \n tutto cio mi portera alla rilettura di Citta di vetro,in barba alla marea di libri ed ebook che attendono di essere letti ;) \n P.s. JAMIE is Jace...absolute fabulose *.*", "date_added": "Sun Sep 01 10:00:35 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 07 00:48:01 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "13344493", "review_id": "a4af30d404aad7c9955bc9cd0919a824", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Il circo della notte di Erin morgestern e un sogno da leggere. \n Una competizione che in maniera inconsapevole lega per la vita due persone, Celia e Marco, che contrastandosi, sfidandosi e amandosi... si completeranno a vicenda. \n Leggere questo libro e stato per me come inciampare dentro un sogno... \n Uno di quelli in cui sei pienamente consapevole che ogni aspetto sia irreale, ma al tempo stesso l'autrice crea un incastro tanto perfetto da risultare possibile. \n Ogni dettaglio, situazione e luogo sono narrati come avvolti da una fitta nebbia che cela la verita, per serbarne il dovuto mistero. Spesso durante la lettura dei primi capitoli, se non oltre, ho dovuto fermarmi per \"riordinare\" i fatti con l'intenzione di cogliere qualche dettaglio in piu. Affascinante ed enigmatico. \n Poetico e surreale. \n Magico e possibile. \n Inoltrarsi fra le pagine di questo libro e stata una sfida e quasi un privilegio, perche Erin Morgesteirn come un burattinaio con le sue marionette, tira le fila in modo tale da stregare, intrigante e affascinare i suoi lettori. Catapultati in un mondo onirico e meraviglioso, competitivo e crudele... reale eppur assolutamente impalpabile. \n Sei dentro un sogno o nelle sue vicinanze, perche ogni cosa che leggi e impossibile, ma l'autrice racconta tutto con estrema dovizia di particolari, tanto da ingabbiarti dentro questa realta fuori dalle leggi della fisica... una realta in cui, a volte, ognuno di noi vorrebbe smarrirsi! \n La chiave di lettura di questo libro e senza dubbio la suggestione. Lasciarsi suggestione da ogni storia e non cercarne subito il perche, permettere alle parole di cullarci in questo oblio di magia e vita! \n L'autrice crea una gabbia di parole che diventano poesia, e le trasforma in luoghi incantati e fuori dal tempo. \n Sono volutamente criptica e leggendo \"Il circo della notte\" ne capirete il perche, c'e poco da dire che non risulti spoiler. \n Lo stile della Morgenstern e profondamente enigmatico, misterioso, onirico e poetico. \n Visivamente potente e d'effetto. \n Concludo dicendo che questo libro e uno di quelli che \"deve\" essere riletto, forse per comprenderne meglio le sfumature, e di certo per avere una visione completa della storia. \n Molte sono le frasi che ho letto e riletto, ma questa rimane la mia preferita in assoluto: \n \"Quasi che amore e perdita vivessero nello stesso istante, insieme, in una specie di stupendo dolore. \n Inscindibili e inseparabili. \n Uno stupendo dolore! \n Un libro imperdibile [?]", "date_added": "Tue Aug 27 15:23:27 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 25 06:12:59 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 11, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "9692831", "review_id": "957a4a0ddc46eb4691c18e031da97155", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ho scoperto la Clare da qualche anno ,le orride cover che la Mondadori ci propina,di certo non sono state la causa della mia immediata attenzione ;) Ma invogliata dall'alto raiting e dalla fama della Clare iniziai COB. \n Non sono riuscita a fermarmi...capitolo dopo capitolo rimasi estremamente affascinata da luoghi,situazioni,personaggi e dalla storia cosi ben articolata e sviluppata! \n Cieca come la piu inesperta delle \"Mondane\" entrai in questo vortice di avventure di nephilim e nascosti...in una sola parola \"affascinata\" . \n Non vi confessero assolutamente che riflessi la saga svariate volte,no no...nemmeno di essere diventata la piu sfegatata fangirl... \n Vi diro che lo stile della Clare riesce a coinvolgere completamente,narrato in terza persona e fitto di descrizioni di luoghi sia reali che immaginari,che piu che narrare riescono a trasportare il lettore dentro la storia come se essa fosse reale. \n Ogni personaggio della saga riesce a spiccare perche descritto e sviluppato con cura ed attenzione. \n In una marea di saghe copia e incolla,dove l'originalita oramai sembra una chimera,la Clare riesce a mio avviso a spiccare,piacendo o meno,ma rimanendo sempre e comunque capace di incollare alle pagine dei suoi libri i lettori di tutto il mondo! \n Dulcis in fundo questa sera sono andata a vedere COB,che finalmente dopo un intero anno di clip e stil varie e arrivato al cinema. \n La paura era tanta,la scelta del cast che non mi aveva convinta del tutto,aveva generato in me quasi un rifiuto per lo stesso film. \n Mai come in questo caso sono stata cosi felice di sbagliarmi! \n Allora andiamo per gradi. \n -La trama/Sceneggiatura:il regista ha fatto un'ottimo lavoro cercando di incastrare parti fondamentali della storia,dialoghi o semplici battute,alle esigenze cinematografiche.La storia non rispetta l'ordine cronologico del libro,gli eventi sono spostati o anticipati,ma riescono ad introdurre lo spettatore all'interno delle dinamiche dell'istituto ed a spiegare la storia dei Nephilim e delle loro origini. \n Alcune scene non esistono nel libro,ma non per questo stonano con l'insieme,il finale e diverso dal libro,ma ricordiamoci che non si tratta di una trasposizione,ma di un film tratto da una serie di libri! \n -I Personaggi: Lily ha reso Clary nel modo in cui mi sarei aspettata,dato che sin da subito apprezzai la sua presenza all'interno del cast. \n Jamie mi ha veramente \"stregata\" il suo perfetto modo di calarsi nei panni del sarcastico Jace e allo stesso tempo la dolcezza,gelosia e il senso di protezione che manifesta verso Clary,mi hanno fatto ricordare veramente il personaggio del libro! \n Non volevo Jamie per Jace,ma lui ha zittito anche me...il che e tutto dire! \n Simon anche lui interpretato molto bene da Robert e stato capace di creare una perfetta alchimia con Jamie,battute e dialoghi tra i due sono esilaranti ed imperdibili. \n Jemmina e stata strepitosa,Izzy era badass e sexy come avevo sperato,sara interessante vedere i cambiamenti di Isabel nel corso dei film ;) \n Magnus e la magnificenza in mutande! \n Miseriaccia un personaggio quasi strappato dalle pagine del libro,anche se la sua presenza e stata molto carente nel film,il poco ma ottimo e il suo caso. \n Luke e Jocelyne nella media,non spiccano o si lasciano ricordare in maniera eclatante,magari sapranno mettersi in mostra piu avanti. \n Unica nota negativa,per quanto mi riguarda e Alec/Kevin nano tamarro Lightwood! \n Scusatemi lui dovrebbe ricordare a Magnus Will Herondale? \n WTF????? \n Seriusly??? \n Se c'e un personaggio che proprio non c'entra nulla con il film questo e Kevin,troppo maturo per impersonare un adolescente,che per altro doveva essere alto,androgeno e molto bello...nemmeno in quanto a recitazione Kevin ha saputo mostrarsi all'altezza,delusissima da lui :( \n Detto questo ho amato COB,difettucci a parte e stato come lo avrei voluto,intenso,adrenalinico e romantico quanto basta,spero che per COA riescano a mantenere tutto il positivo di COB e sistemare le incongruenze nella trama! \n Libro e film assolutamente da amare!", "date_added": "Wed Aug 21 03:09:07 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 29 16:52:37 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 29 16:52:37 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 19}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "18211690", "review_id": "14403970860e458e8a0e6591786fe65d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Esilarante ;)", "date_added": "Sat Jul 27 03:14:23 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 28 17:24:46 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jul 28 17:24:15 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "17874649", "review_id": "61a445f8c37311d973b799c792b8f58d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I \"finali\" di saga molto spesso mi fanno paura,ebbene si,a volte quando si aspetta un intero anno per ritrovare personaggi a noi tanto cari,le autrici giocano brutti tiri mancini...lasciandoci con finali agrodolci e per nulla soddisfacenti!(frecciatina versus Cassy Clare) \n Ma non e il caso di Virginia De Winter,che si e rivelata per l'ennesima volta una splendida conferma! \n Lessi questa saga quasi per caso,mi innamorai all'istante del suo stile,diverso ed originale,che contraddistingueva ogni libro,dei personaggi,delle atmosfere gothiche,misteriose e pervase di magia oscura. \n La potenza descrittiva dell'Ordine della Spada,le sensuali favole dell'orrore in Chiave e la forza di un sortilegio d'amore in Penna,per concludere con l'apoteosi della perfezione narrativa e stilistica di Croce,dove la De Winter,come fili di una ragnatela,intesse una trama avvincente,sensuale e adrenalinica al tempo stesso,non tralasciando la vena ironica e sagace di alcuni ben noti protagonisti...Bryce! \n Uno scrigno di incognite e segreti da risolvere e svelare...l'azione di battaglie cruente si mescola alla sensualita di scene,che rimangono scolpite nei miei pensieri,nitide e reali come fossero proiettate in una sala cinematografica.La maestria con la quale risolve i misteri piu fitti,procedendo per gradi,senza forzature,dimostra l'abilita di Virginia nel raccontare e trattare il lettore con profondo rispetto,quasi volesse fosse lui stesso ad arrivare,per vie traverse,alla sua stessa conclusione! \n Nulla appare scontato o forzato da una soluzione improvvisata,ma ogni tassello del puzzle si incastra alla perfezione e con precisione,all'interno di un quadro ben descritto ed affascinate. \n Axel con il suo coraggio che rasenta la follia,il suo amore sconfinato per la sua Eloise,incarna l'eroe cavalleresco per eccellenza...il suo personaggio riesce ad assumere una sfumatura diversa in ogni volume,non mostrandosi mai banale,bensi affascinante ed enigmatico. \n Eloise e veramente la mia eroina preferita,non la donzella tutta trine e lacrime,ma la fragilita divenuta forza e coraggio...l'amore ed il rancore racchiuso in una scorza di seta di infinita dolcezza! \n Asthon,(che propongo di clonare in serie) e il \"vero vampiro\" per antonomasia: non brilla,non e vegetariano,ma pur nutrendosi alla vecchia maniera,riesce a trasmettere un'umanita e una lealta infinite. \n Gabriel e Sophia sono l'amore,quello che sconfina nel miele piu dolce,quello che nasce dall'antipatia e dalla convinzione che l'altro sia l'ostacolo. \n L'amore che mette un'anima ed un cuore ai piedi del nostro acerrimo nemico! \n Bryce,non ci sono aggettivi per descrivere questo superbo esemplare di ipocondriaco,maniaco dello charme ed elegante smandrappato! \n Lui,insieme ai suoi amici mascherati sono l'anima della storia,con ironia,sarcasmo e coraggio riescono a svelare misteri ed a districarsi da situazione pericolose...mi mancheranno le loro continue schermaglie! \n Potrei parlare ancora ed ancora di tutti loro,che mi hanno tenuta sveglia la notte,incollata alle pagine di questi deliziosi \"mattoni\"...sorrisi,lacrime e rompicapi da risolvere,il tutto descritto con una poesia e una minuzia di particolari egregi. \n Questa saga non assomiglia a niente che io abbia gia letto,le emozioni che regala sono dettate dall'originalita di personaggi e situazioni,dallo stile ricco e sofisticato intriso di poesia e metafore,dagli scenari resi vividi e reali alla mente da minuziose descrizioni. \n Nonostante questa saga si sia conclusa ho la netta sensazione,che le sue parole mi terranno compagnia per molti giorni,affiorando tra i miei pensieri in maniera casuale,facendomi sorridere e sospirare su quanto io abbia letto...la potenza di un buon libro e questa:lasciare un ricordo indelebile nella mente del lettore! \n Spero che Virginia continui a scrivere,magari regalando a noi affezionati lettori qualche spin off di saga! \n Per il resto cari americani,voi avrete pure la bravissima Cassandra Clare...ma noi vantiamo i natali della nostra Virginia De Winter e scusate se e poco!!!!!!!! \n A Virginia con immensa ammirazione Alex *.~", "date_added": "Sat Jul 06 17:21:13 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 22 02:11:18 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "11500217", "review_id": "fbc4f4ca64c2645987ccddbcd5c4c55f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Premessa: \n - traduzione: pessima, in apparenza fatta da un principiante o google traslate. \n -tempi verbali messi a casaccio, scoordinati e senza logica apparente. \n -pronomi personali fantasma, che variano di genere e talvolta si avvicendano con particelle pronominali vagabonde. \n -cover riciclata da un'altra saga, e con l'aggiunta di una Trilly per rendere il tutto piu ridicolo. \n -revisione del libro: non pervenuta. \n Mah e dico mah... \"NONMENEFREGAUNABEATACIPPA!\". \n Questo libro era piombato parecchi piani giu, nella mia wish list, proprio per i suddetti motivi. \n Scoraggiata e demotivata ero del tutto certa che non avrei mai letto Angelfall. \n Ma, ieri notte, in un lampo di apparente masochismo letterario, ho iniziato a sfogliare questo libro... Non sono riuscita a metterlo giu! \n In un mondo post apocalittico invaso da angeli vendicatori, scosso da violenti terremoti, da tsunami, e sotto un cielo denso di fumo a causa della costante pioggia di meteoriti, vive la nostra Penryn. Quel che resta dopo l'invasione degli angeli e un mondo al collasso, dove non esiste piu nessuna forma di societa, dove imperversa il caos totale. \n Penryn inoltre, deve prendersi cura della sorellina disabile e della madre affetta da schizofrenia paranoica, dopo che il padre le ha abbandonate. \n Lei non e la classica protagonista sprovveduta, indifesa e bisognosa di protezione, anzi e l'esatto opposto : coraggiosa, determinata, altruista e addestrata in maniera impeccabile. \n In un mondo dove gli angeli sono creature spietate e senza scrupoli, Penryn dovra accettare erroneamente, proprio di allearsi con uno di loro: Raffe (non Raf il cantante grrr). \n Raffe e un angelo caduto, al quale sono state strappare le ali, ed e vivo solo grazie all'intervento fortuito di Penryn. \n Lei ha bisogno del suo aiuto per trovare la madre, e sopratutto la sorellina che e stata rapita, proprio dai suoi simili. \n A Raffe occorre una guida per orientarsi, e trovare la Roccaforte dove si trovano i suoi simili, verso i quali ha un grosso conto in sospeso. \n Un'alleanza forzata, un percorso pieno di insidie, nemici e pericoli... \n Lo stile di Susan Ee e talmente fluido, scorrevole ed avvincente, che ho la netta sensazione di trovarmi al centro della scena narrata. Un susseguirsi di immagini nitide ed inquietanti, che si dipanano nella mia mente con strema chiarezza. \n Una narrazione che riesce a mantenere il mio interesse sempre costante, grazie alla capacita della Ee di variare i toni. \n Angelfall e Macabro, inquietante, imprevedibile e con un bel pizzico di romance, che grazie al cielo non prende vita da un istant love! \n Una lettura che fortunatamente non mi sono preclusa, nonostante la nostra editoria abbia fatto di tutto per \"distruggere\" il potenziale di questa saga, perche credo che Susan Ee sia un autrice degna di nota! \n P.s Raffe io ti amo. Sappilo!", "date_added": "Sat Jun 29 07:04:03 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 18 00:58:05 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "18075363", "review_id": "bdf4b37f7895fc9b41977c003af40c29", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Finalmente pagina 180!", "date_added": "Sat Jun 15 19:17:38 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 18 16:48:16 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jun 18 16:48:16 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 11}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "17996725", "review_id": "b315f427803e6a6fb7a623c2cdefb745", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Katy sei la regina delle cretine! \n Daemon @_@", "date_added": "Sat Jun 15 15:19:16 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 30 12:51:06 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 8}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "17973779", "review_id": "c53324fe7121a2783123d3e52a20b1d1", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2,5 stelle \n Questo e stato uno di quei libri che ho terminato con maggiore fatica, per via dello stile non proprio scorrevole e alquanto ridondante. La trama sin dall'inizio mi aveva colpito, vuoi per la mia passione per le eroine caparbie e intraprendenti, nonche per la nota di romance, ma sopratutto perche avevo adocchiato pareri entusiastici su goodreads. \n La storia racconta il percorso tormentato e difficile di una ragazza che deve lottare per sopravvivere in un mondo dove le donne sono viste come merce di scambio, oggetti che non devono pensare, ma agire solo in funzione di un padre o di un marito. Ma la nostra eroina riesce a fuggire e viene addestrata per diventare una letale assassina. Interessante, direte voi, questo fino a quando l'autrice non inizia a dilungarsi in descrizioni interminabili e ripetitive di luoghi, fatti e persone, che hanno soltanto reso la trama piena di punti morti. In alcuni capitoli saltavo i righi, per evitare di perdere il filo logico dei fatti. La protagonista, verso la quale sin da subito ho nutrito una profonda empatia, per via del suo coraggio e della sua determinazione con la quale affrontava e teneva testa ad uomini e situazioni pericolose. Ad un certo punto della storia, pero, ho iniziato a detestarla perche indecisa e scostante nei sentimenti e ceca difronte a situazioni che le si palesavano dinnanzi. \n Capitoli su capitoli riempiti di nulla, perche di fatto oltre che a perdersi in inutili descrizioni la Lafevers non racconta molto. Ad un certo punto mi sarei aspettata un bel colpo di scena, che rendesse la trama piu movimentata e scorrevole... invece \"nada\". Persino la labile nota romance trasmette poco o niente, il tutto risulta tiepido e per nulla coinvolgente. \n Delusa ed annoiata, questo e lo stato d'animo nel quale mi sono trovata a lettura terminata. Un vero peccato date le buone potenzialita della storia.", "date_added": "Fri May 24 09:56:20 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 26 06:28:12 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "17833028", "review_id": "fae58644412eec3729db9b1e371bb8f3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Una storia nuova ed avvincente,personaggi ben strutturati,una trama originale e accattivante...una protagonista assolutamente perfetta! \n Lo stile della Cole e sensuale, spesso macabro, sono stata letteralmente trascinata dentro un episodio di Gossipi Girl, per trovarmi, subito dopo, dentro un thriller a tinte horror. \n Evie, la protagonista, racconta la sua storia come vittima inconsapevole dell'immenso potere che scorre dentro il suo sangue... vittima e carnefice allo stesso tempo! Ma e il prologo a rendere il tutto esaltante sin dalle prime righe... Arthur, il carnefice, che tira le fila dei suoi burattini, Evangeline, la povera ragazza inerme che racconta la sua vita ad un estraneo... l'eco assordante della follia di Evie e la passione che unisce due opposti, in una storia che coinvolge personaggi nuovi ed affascinanti, in ogni capitolo. \n Adoro questo di un libro: il fatto di esserne in balia, di non sapere cosa mi riservera la pagina o il capitolo seguente... persino l'evoluzione dei personaggi non segue una logica prevedibile! \n La Cole mi ha stregata con una storia originale e con un mix impeccabile di personaggi! \n Non indugiate oltre... \"La principessa del veleno\" vi attende!", "date_added": "Sun Apr 21 23:46:07 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 07 15:06:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 7}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "17726084", "review_id": "1b644fd843bbdcff77d8985b8f6b8d83", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Garden ha tutte le premesse per essere un gran bel distopico,ma a parte l'inizio, non brilla in quanto a trama e originalita. \n Le similitudini con alcuni famosi distopici salta subito all'occhio e nonostante la Romero abbia un'ottima idea di fondo, la storia sembra sempre troppo surreale per essere credibile. Ho costantemente l'impressione di avere \"gia letto\" questo o quel fatto... e la protagonista sistematicamente si contraddice con le sue scelte: ora coraggiosa e pronta a sfidare il mondo... adesso indecisa e sempre in paranoia! \n Deciditi figlia mia che le lancette corrono -.-'' I personaggi secondari fanno da tappezzeria per movimentare la situazione; i protagonisti maschili sono usati per dare un tocco romantico/colpo di scena alla trama. \n L'ambientazione che doveva permettere alla storia di diversificarsi dagli altri libri e pressoche inesistente. L'Italia, Roma o il Kazakistan non farebbe differenza... solo un breve accenno ai colli in qualche occasione, poi nulla che dia l'idea di dove la storia si svolga! \n La trama, a mio avviso, manca di descrizioni e fatti che avrebbero reso il tutto piu chiaro e articolato. Molte incognite (come il perche le arti vengano proibite) non trovano risposta. Situazioni complicate e pericolose che puff! si risolvono con una semplicita assurda. \n Garden, ovvero il giardino di pace e liberta alla fine e una totale delusione... un finale troppo aperto e presentato in maniera frettolosa per un libro che e stato presentato come auto-conclusivo. \n Non riesco a sconsigliarvi tale lettura, perche lo stile e gradevole, ciononostante questo a me non e bastato! \n Questo libro non e stato cio che avevo sperato, non ha saputo coinvolgermi nella sua lettura. \n Pur trattandosi di un romanzo d formazione, l'autrice avrebbe dovuto dare alla trama maggiore intensita e originalita, caratterizzando in modo piu incisivo persone e ambientazione. Non mi sento di bocciarlo in toto, perche lo stile della Romero e senza dubbio buono, adesso non mi resta che aspettare un nuovo libro!", "date_added": "Tue Apr 02 15:50:24 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 07 05:49:23 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Apr 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 24}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "12445768", "review_id": "e1b8afff060ca926731572e5e51e1923", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sono i libri a sceglierci e non viceversa... \n Nonostante abbia una marea di libri che aspettano di essere letti,mi permetto sempre di sbirciare le letture altrui qui su goodreads! \n Cosi mi sono imbattuta in \"Riflessi di un pomeriggio d'inverno\" . \n Una trama semplice ,due protagonisti apparentemente comuni e una storia che scorre dentro la mente e il cuore fluida e delicata come una melodia. \n Helen vaga da oltre un secolo sulla terra sottoforma di Luce/spirito,legandosi a diversi 'ospiti',cioe umani con i quali trascorre ogni momento,senza pero che essi possano vederla e sentirla. \n Fino a quando si imbatte in Billy,un ragazzo che frequenta la classe del suo ospite,ovvero il professor Brown. \n Nessuno puo vederla,ma Billy la segue ovunque con lo sguardo e quando lei lo affronta,riesce persino ad udire il suo della sua voce! \n Billy,non e altro che il corpo (senza anima) che James prende in prestito,anche lui e uno spirito. \n Helen dopo oltre 130 anni ritorna a sentirsi \"viva\" come non mai! \n La consapevolezza di trovare qualcuno come noi e la dolcezza senza pari di James,trasportano Helen in una nuova realta.Fatta di ricordi e sogni di un futuro da condividere in due. \n L'amicizia e l'intesa con James cresce ogni giorno e diventa un sentimento talmente intenso che travolge entrambi. \n Questo libro e poesia e passione... \n Ma e sopratutto un viaggio verso la redenzione di due anime che si incontrano e si intrecciano come sottili fili d'erba. \n Lo stile che la Whitcomb usa e assolutamente incantevole :fluido,delicato e descrittivo ma al contempo ricco di poesia e riferimenti a Jane Eyre e Shakespeare. \n Il tatto e l'olfatto usati per descrivere ogni emozione e sensazione,la dolcezza e la passione,per raccontare un sentimento che scorre come un fiume senza argini! \n Un libro che rimane nella mente,perche semplice ma di grande impatto emotivo! \n Le anime affini si trovano sempre,ovunque esse siano... \n Voto: 5 stelle", "date_added": "Sun Mar 17 08:42:32 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 20 10:38:07 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Mar 20 10:38:07 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Mar 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 9}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "17336887", "review_id": "e79f512c4dd2ac43f45aac5c0880e698", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2,5 stelline \n Dopo aver letto l'ultima pagina mi vien da dire: allora? Tutto questo marasma per cosa? 300 e passa pag. per comunicarmi solo questo? Mah! \n Ricordo ancora,piuttosto bene,cosa mi trasmise il primo capitolo di questa trilogia: una dolcezza sconfinata,racchiusa in frasi,che sembravano piccoli versi di poesie...uno stile delicato,scorrevole quindi perfetto nella sua semplicita. \n Credo che questo secondo capitolo,sia caduto nella trappola del \"libro di mezzo\" o \"maledizione del 2 libro\",chiamiamo la come vogliamo,ma la Hudson non solo ha proseguito in maniera poco chiara la storia,ma ha di fatto creato come si suol dire \"tanto rumore per nulla\". \n La trama viene ripetutamente stravolta dalle continue allucinazioni,smaterializzazioni ed incubi di Amelia,che mi spiace dirlo e confusa ed indecisa per tutto il libro.Joshua,che avevo adorato nel primo capitolo,adesso sembra un burattino,incapace di agire o reagire in qualsivoglia situazione. \n I presunti antagonisti o pseudo nemici...insomma i \"cattivoni\" convincono poco e appena Amelia si surriscalda,assomigliando ad una supernova che non a Casper,loro corrono via...ma un po' di spina dorsale no? \n Creature oscure e provenienti da chissa quale universo oscuro??? \n Ma per favore... \n Fino alla meta del libro ho sperato,che la Hudson tirasse fuori \"il colpaccio di scena\" o qualsiasi altra cosa,che potesse rendere la trama piu interessante e non scontata e tremendamente prevedibile,come di fatto si e rivelata. \n Continui salti temporali e/o spaziali,che non solo riuscivano a creare confusione,ma non chiarivano le questioni in sospeso.All'ultima pagina mi sono trovata a pensare,che se non avessi letto questo secondo capitolo,riuscirei ugualmente a collegare i fatti del primo al terzo libro,magari con un prologo di poche pagine,che giustifichi il nuovo status di Amelia. \n Anche se scritto abbastanza bene,in questo capitolo la Hudson riesce a comunicare ben poco,perdendo di fatto quello stile semplice,delicato e poetico,che aveva contraddistinto il primo volume! \n Peccato avevo sperato in qualcosa di decisamente diverso... \n Ora su Elegy ricadranno tutte le mie speranze,magari la Hudson sapra riscattarsi e ci regalera un finale degno del primo volume!", "date_added": "Thu Mar 07 23:35:27 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 09 15:48:34 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Oct 09 15:48:34 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Mar 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "17184349", "review_id": "9fc49478228b80208645fae4f96b0cdd", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2,5 in realta \n ll destino della sirena e il secondo capitolo della trilogia Fins,serie YA nata dalla penna di Tera Lynn Childs, ambientata nel mondo delle sirene. \n Attendevo da tempo questo sequel, perche avevo apprezzato il primo capitolo Il bacio della sirena, nel quale ero stata piacevolmente trasportata in un mondo sommerso, fatto di baci, legami e amori inaspettati! \n Ringrazio la Tre60 per l'ebook che gentilmente mi ha inviato, perche ero curiosissima di conoscere come sarebbero proseguite le avventure di Lily e del suo Quince, nonche degli abitanti del regno di Thalassinia. \n Se i desideri fossero pesci,saremo tutti li a gettare la rete! \n Una semplicissima frase, che racchiude in se il senso dell'intero libro... \n Seguire i propri sogni e restare al fianco di chi abbiamo scoperto di amare inaspettatamente o... rinunciare a questo per la ragion di stato e gli obblighi che da essa ne derivano? \n Amore o dovere? \n Se solo si potesse trovare un modo per conciliarli! \n Lily ha un bel dilemma da affrontare adesso che ha preso la sua decisione: rinunciare ad essere una principessa del regno di Thalassinia, per vivere sulla terraferma da umana per amore di Quince! \n Tra qualche settimana, al compimento del suo 18degcompleanno, rinuncera formalmente alla corona di futura regina, una decisione difficile ma inevitabile che Lily ha preso per amore di Quince un ragazzo umano che, fino a qualche mese fa, detestava con tutta se stessa... l'ironia dell'amore! \n Un nuovo futuro si prospetta per la nostra sirena, frequentare la facolta di biologia marina, in modo tale da poter fare qualcosa di utile per la salvaguardia degli oceani, stando sulla terraferma. \n Vivere una vita da umana, rinunciando al suo mondo e al suo essere una principessa sirena. \n I programmi di Lily stanno per essere stravolti in maniera repentina da Dosinia, cugina di Lily, una sirena impertinente che detesta letteralmente umani e terraferma. \n Doe e affidata alla custodia di Lily, perche e stata esiliata dal re, suo padre, per una gravissima colpa! \n D'ora in poi tutto cio che Doe combinera sulla terraferma sara responsabilita di Lily, questo e l'ultimo compito da principessa che suo padre le ha affidato, lei e fermamente decisa ad assolverlo al meglio! \n Inutile dire che la cugina ne combinera di tutti i colori, coinvolgendo in primis Brody, il ragazzo che Lily per tre anni ha creduto di amare! \n Inoltre Doe stilla il sentimento della gelosia in Lily e la distoglie di continuo dai suoi impegni scolastici, per via delle continue bravate che architetta! \n Una sirena con un compito difficile se non impossibile, dimostrare alla cugina che gli umani non sono le creature orribili e crudeli che lei crede! \n Un vecchio amico d'infanzia torna dal passato con una proposta allettante e irrealizzabile per Lily, che vorrebbe poter conciliare i suoi sogni con il suo dovere... complotti e amicizie inaspettate... l'amore scende a compromessi per un fine maggiore! \n Trama e personaggi \n Lo stile giovane e ironico della Child, dal quale ero stata conquistata nel primo capitolo, stavolta non ha sortito lo stesso effetto! Nonostante, nella trama, siano stati inseriti nuovi personaggi e situazioni apparentemente diverse, durante la lettura ho faticato a mantenere il mio interesse su cio che stavo leggendo. \n Colpa del ripetersi di situazioni identiche al primo libro (il bacio legame), stavolta non per colpa di Lily, ma sembra ugualmente un fastidioso dejavu! \n La trama segue un percorso lento e alquanto banale e per nulla originale, sfogliavo pagina dopo pagina alla ricerca di una svolta o semplicemente di qualcosa che non fosse la povera Lily alle prese con il dover fare da baby sitter alla cugina irritante e dispettosa! Persino la dolcissima e a tratti comica storia d'amore tra Lily e Quince sembra sfumata dalle marachelle della cugina, quasi eclissata dalla nuova new entry e dal legame che, per dispetto o per finta casualita, viene creato da Doe! \n Le ironiche imprecazioni pescose di Lily porca patella, testa di calamaro, ecc..) adesso risultano scontate e in certi momenti fuori luogo. E mi permetto di inserire una vena di ironia, dicendo che la povera zia Rachele, in questo sequel, si trova a gestire non piu una casa e un'adolescente sirena, bensi un B&B di sirene e tritoni adolescenti, rumorosi e in preda a continui bagni salati! \n I personaggi perdono quasi tutti quella verve ironica eoriginale che avevano avuto nel primo capitolo... \n Lily assolutamente noiosa e terribilmente indecisa su tutto, sembra solo intenta a riportare la cugina nella retta via, perdendo di vista le sue priorita! \n Quince che avevo veramente apprezzato, adesso sembra solo subire le decisioni prese da Lily e degli altri, unico raptus decisionale arrivera nel finale... assurdo e quasi immotivato!!! \n Dosinia odiosa, dispettosa, antipatica per tre quarti del libro, inaspettatamente con un'illuminazione improvvisa, cambia registro per diventare l'altruismo in persona... assurdo all'inverosimile! \n Brody, che dire? Un manichino del centro commerciale ha piu personalita... Un innamorato adulante al servizio della cugina viziata! \n Unica voce narrante della storia e Lily che parla direttamente al lettore e nel frattempo riflette sulle decisioni che prende, interessante l'interazione che crea con il lettore, ma a tratti confusionaria e ripetitiva. \n Vorrei poter essere piu indulgente nel recensire questo libro, ma non ho trovato sia nella trama che nei personaggi, elementi degni di note positive. Avrei preferito una concretizzazione maggiore del rapporto fra Lily e Quince, invece che l'introduzione dell'ennesima love story \"bacio legame\" o l'inserimento di un vero antagonista, degno del suo ruolo! \n Credo che i \"cattivi\", in alcuni casi, siano fondamentali per dare uno scossone alla storia e permetterle di decollare! \n Inutile dire che il finale e assolutamente assurdo e improponibile, per via della nuova piega che ha assunto la storia... la mia avversione profonda per i triangoli qui ha il suo culmine! \n \"Un triangolo approvato e certificato dai protagonisti\" \n Una lettura che non mi ha entusiasmata... peccato! \n Voto: 2/5", "date_added": "Wed Jan 30 07:37:28 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 05 04:23:16 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Feb 05 04:23:16 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "13226173", "review_id": "b6e4a2c41a86b84ca7842108f64c0975", "rating": 5, "review_text": "La saga che portero sempre nel cuore,unita a disegni splendidi!", "date_added": "Sun Jan 27 17:09:51 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 09 06:35:32 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "17225592", "review_id": "88a4ec562dedc081e3885283f2bd24e6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sono letteralmente entrata nella tana del Bianconiglio... \n Alice in wonderland e stata una delle poche letture che hanno avuto il potere di stupirmi! \n Ebbene,mi aspettavo una sorta di favoletta dark/splatter e invece mi ritrovo a leggere una storia completamente diversa! \n Una trama ricca di azione,passione,umorismo e tanti disgustosi zombi (scusa R tu sei sexy!). \n Alice,e l'unica sopravvissuta al tragico incidente d'auto,nel quale ha perso entrambi i genitori e la sorellina Emma. \n Il dolore e l'unica costante delle sue giornate,ricominciare da zero e difficile e persino nominare il nome della sorella le e impossibile! \n Come la sua omonima,Ali non sa quello che la sta aspettando dietro l'angolo...quando il suo sguardo incrocera quelli di un paio di \"meravigliosi\" occhi viola! \n *parte ululato con dolby surround incorporato* \n Cole Holland e il peggio che la sua nuova scuola puo offrirle,capo indiscusso di una banda di \"bestie feroci\",tatuati,borchiati e molto temuti! \n Ali ne e attratta in un modo che la confonde e spiazza...ma la tana del Bianconiglio e molto piu profonda e spaventosa di quanto lei stessa immagini! \n Se le follie in cui credeva il padre fossero vere? \n Se quel mondo fatto di zombie e paura fossero una realta che lei riesce a vedere nitida e spaventosamente vera? \n Un viaggio,per nulla incantato,dentro un mondo che pochi riescono a vedere e percepire,Ali vedra questo e in tutto questo orrore trovera uno scopo per continuare a vivere. \n Adoro Ali,lei e stata una delle protagoniste piu interessanti di cui abbia letto,Ironica e caparbia,appassionata e indifesa. \n Che dire,ho accompagnato Alice sul treno espresso per ColeHollandville! \n Voto: 5 stelle assolutamente!", "date_added": "Thu Jan 24 14:59:22 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 18 17:56:16 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Mar 18 17:00:35 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 9, "n_comments": 19}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "17611349", "review_id": "4bc4cd70ca5f285fa12d81a6e28b8dd4", "rating": 2, "review_text": "L'ultimo capitolo di una saga che abbiamo amato ha sempre in se un sapore dolce amaro. \n Esso scrivera la parola fine ad una storia che ha alimentato le nostre fantasie, con personaggi che sono rimasti nel nostro cuore! \n L'ultimo angelo e il capitolo conclusivo di una saga apprezzata da molti fan, nata dalla penna di Becca Fitzpatrick,narra la storia di un amore impossibile tra una nephilm e un angelo caduto e dell'eterna guerra che si combatte tra le due fazioni rivali. \n L'ultimo angelo riprende gli eventi lasciati in sospeso e subito si intuisce che, per la protagonista, la strada sara tutta in salita. \n Infatti, Nora deve affermare la sua posizione di leader all'interno dell'esercito dei nephilim, perche molti di loro mettono in dubbio le sue capacita. Per tanto, accetta, con molte riserve, l'aiuto del braccio destro di Hank Miller, ovvero Dante Materazzi, che sottopone Nora ad un massacrate training di allenamenti per permetterle di difendere se stessa dagli angeli caduti, ed inoltre tenere fede alla promessa strappatale dal padre: guidare l'esercito nephilim verso la liberta! \n Cheshvan e vicina e gli angeli caduti ben presto verranno a strappare con la forza un giuramento da un vassallo nephilim per impossessarsi del loro corpo e usarlo a proprio piacimento! La guerra tra angeli caduti e nephilim non e stata mai cosi imminente e lo scontro sembra inevitabile. \n Patch e Nora uniti dall'amore ma divisi inevitabilmente dalla loro diversa natura, saranno costretti a fronteggiare nemici e difficili prove, bugie e trappole ideate per allontanarli e renderli piu vulnerabili. \n Nora, che all'inizio odiava il padre per averla obbligata con la forza a giurare fedelta nei confronti dei nephilim, adesso vuole difendere la sua liberta e quella dei suoi simili ad ogni costo, anche per questo ricorre all'arte diabolica, una potentissima droga realizzata per conferire una forza immane che le permette di acquisire capacita straordinarie ma, allo stesso tempo, la rende preda di incubi e malesseri sempre crescenti. \n Se all'inizio Nora era una ragazza diffidente e restia a lasciarsi andare alle emozioni, ad ogni capitolo cambia e diventa piu forte e consapevole, in questo ultimo libro e la protagonista indiscussa e caparbia di ogni scena... una ragazza che lotta per cio che ama con tutte le sue forze! \n Ma c'e sempre un ma... Nora non si rende conto che intorno a se sta per chiudersi una trappola, qualcuno nell'ombra sta cercando di ucciderla, nessuno potra aiutarla, nemmeno Patch... Nora deve decidere da quale parte stare e lottare fino in fondo per la sua liberta! \n Il finale movimentato di una saga, che si conclude ed una lettera cosparsa di piume nere, le piume di Patch! \n La trama e protagonisti: \n Da grande perfezionista quale sono, ho riletto i tre volumi precedenti per dare un senso di continuita all'intera storia e, inoltre, perche a suo tempo divorai in soli 3 giorni i libri precedenti! \n Ho nutrito grandi aspettative per questo ultimo capitolo. Indubbiamente la Fitzpatrick ha saputo orchestrare una trama fitta di eventi e colpi di scena, ma a mio avviso la storia parte un po' sotto tono. All'inizio stentavo persino a riconoscere i protagonisti, primo fra tutti Patch, che a volte mi e quasi parso uno stalker ossessionato e troppo sdolcinato, lo preferivo misterioso e pericoloso... ma come dico sempre \"de gustibus\"! \n La prosa e scorrevole ma lenta, alcune situazioni sono ridondanti e superflue, gli allenamenti di Nora ad esempio, troppo presenti in molti capitoli. \n Ho apprezzato molto la presenza dei personaggi secondari, come Scott, l'amico nephilim di Nora, e Vee la sua migliore amica, entrambi ben inseriti nella trama e fondamentali per chiarire molte situazioni del passato. \n Non posso parlare degli antagonisti, che rappresentano alcuni dei colpi di scena del libro, ma ai miei occhi uno di essi era troppo scontato sin dall'inizio.... mi sarei stupita del contrario!!! \n Ma lo scettro della piu antipatica va indubbiamente a Marcie, mi sarei aspettata un'evoluzione di questo personaggio, oltremodo piatto e non di spiccata personalita, ne troppo cattiva ne buona......una via di mezzo inutile! \n Dulcis in fundo, i protagonisti Nora e Patch, confermo che, all'inizio del libro, faticavo a inquadrare entrambi, forse perche nei precedenti capitoli avevano agito in modi differenti, ma soprattutto perche il loro carattere e mutato notevolmente (troppo). La Fitzpatrick ha cometamente snaturato i protagonisti. \n Nora abbandona i panni della ragazza introversa e indifesa per diventare un'eroina, indiscussa protagonista dell'intero libro, ma sembra che fatichi a prendere una decisione. E' troppo indecisa... cambi repentini di direzione, fragilita e super poteri stentano a coesistere nella sua persona. La preferivo nel terzo libro, un mix perfetto di inconsapevole forza e coraggio! \n Patch... meravigliosamente Patch... misterioso, pericoloso, affascinante e letale, tutto questo fino al terzo capitolo. Adesso, nell'Ultimo Angelo, non riesco a riconoscerlo, non ha quasi mai in mano la situazione, anzi sembra che non riesca a far altro che seguire Nora e propinarle frasi dolci... Ok, adoro il romanticismo, ma Patch tu eri tutt'altro che un sugar guy!!. Solo nella seconda parte e ritornato se stesso e ho adorato la sua lettera e il finale degno di questa saga! \n Delusa e a dirla tutta un tantino arrabbiata, dato che non riesco a capire il motivo di una quadrilogia. Dal momento che con il terzo volume la saga poteva benissimo avere la parola FINE! \n Forse data la grande aspettativa che nutrivo, avrei voluto un libro diverso, una sorta di mix dei primi tre, la cui lettura mi aveva appassionato tanto. Altri dissentiranno dal mio punto di vista, ritenendo questo libro bellissimo proprio perche diverso dai precedenti... ma come dico sempre \"il gusto letterario e qualcosa di estremamente soggettivo e personale\". Detto cio, lascio a voi il giudizio e le relative considerazioni. \n Un finale e scontato ed affrettato, quasi la Fitzpatrick avesse fretta di concludere! \n In generale una noia continua... \n Voto :2 stelle goodreads", "date_added": "Sun Jan 13 08:31:13 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 02 02:49:14 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jan 13 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 11}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "7326833", "review_id": "f55f72797a425d382bdddb237b5874e4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ogni rapporto si complica....e amplifica! \n Legami che vengono spezzati e nuove alleanze..... \n Un amore fraterno e ambiguo..... \n O Un sentimento nato giorno dopo giorno,che ha curato e condiviso ferite dell'anima... \n VK mi sorprende con una trama che si arricchisce di fatti e sentimenti nuovi e da decifrare ma che mi intrigano sempre piu ;)", "date_added": "Wed Jan 09 03:13:18 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 09 16:37:29 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jan 10 16:37:29 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 11}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "6801652", "review_id": "7f2ef263e2545cc9a6c31c4bf1f83fb9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Per fortuna non dovro aspettare il vol.10 \n Con un finale cosi..... :)", "date_added": "Tue Jan 08 15:31:59 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 04 01:10:00 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jan 09 03:12:01 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "6597080", "review_id": "fd65f448a094f4a17abe476accb4b1b4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Miseriaccia...... More informations.... \n Forse il volume piu complesso,intenso e straordinariamente bello fin ad ora!! \n Ogni personaggio mostra le proprie sfaccettature con un intensita tale da far vibrare il mio cuore.... \n La storia invece di stagnare,si reinventa con diversi colpi di scena,che danno nuove prospettive alla trama.......luce e oscurita calano sui nostri protagonisti! \n Il tratto infinitamente elegante e sensuale del l'autrice rapisce il mio sguardo...immagini,volti e occhi in chiaro scuro che parlano piu di mille parole!", "date_added": "Tue Jan 08 02:57:52 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 08 15:30:10 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "4504345", "review_id": "d9f3bd9ba969b450d7b283d73ca867ea", "rating": 5, "review_text": "VK dipendente", "date_added": "Mon Jan 07 16:34:49 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 07 16:36:39 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "6150473", "review_id": "f85e9f2e06ac7d82efff71f01e255b3e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oooooo Yuki!!!", "date_added": "Mon Jan 07 16:33:34 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 08 02:56:11 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 08 02:56:11 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "2324902", "review_id": "1a423e39d39e3b4a9f164ece36635834", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fabulose *.*", "date_added": "Sun Jan 06 14:59:00 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 07 10:23:46 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jan 07 10:23:46 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "1898916", "review_id": "7480250f56adec38516c35f65b6ecd17", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sono un inguaribile mangia manga *** \n Non pentita!!!!", "date_added": "Sun Jan 06 10:04:01 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 06 14:55:25 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jan 06 14:55:25 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "784222", "review_id": "329fa3ff670d4fc54ad5ba32e193d7e4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Disegni delicati ma sensuali uniti ad un tocco di humour e una storia che si sposta di continuo tra passato e presente,rendono ogni volume di Vampire Knight intenso e coinvolgente! \n La tensione del triangolo e un elastico di emozioni che tira ora dalla parte di Zero...ora da Kaname! \n Leggere un manga al giorno il mio attuale mantra!!! \n .", "date_added": "Fri Jan 04 15:34:58 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 06 10:02:50 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jan 06 10:02:50 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "263173", "review_id": "4e061b5daf93e19d2d0f2a5a8ac6cfdc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Se mi fosse rimasto un misero dubbio sulla mia totale devozione verso questo manga.... Il secondo volume ha spazzato via esso totalmente! \n Letto e finito in un paio d'ore,sono entrata dentro i segreti celati nell'accademia Cross e stregata dal fascino di Kaname,dalla dolce innocenza di Yuki e infine dallo splendido,sarcastico e inconsapevole Zero \n Vecchi amici rivelano segreti e fatti del passato e nuovi patti da tenere segreti,vengono meravigliosamente disegnati dalla mano di Matsuri Hino che mi rapisce con sequenze che regalano alla mia immaginazione un volto perfetto in una scena splendida !!! \n Sensazioni che solo un manga di questo livello puo regalare .... Sono sicura che piu volumi leggero e piu saro conquistata da Vampire Knight \n P.s: Zero team now!!!!", "date_added": "Thu Jan 03 17:40:53 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 04 15:33:41 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jan 04 15:33:41 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jan 04 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "9914560", "review_id": "b13ffe2117e1cbd0e284576fe7afcf22", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sono cresciuta a pane e Lady Oscar,ergo il mio viscerale amore per le anime e palese *.* \n Ma,non mi sarei mai aspettata di immergermi totale in un manga! \n Vampire Knight e un mix perfetto di humour,horror e passion magnificamente rappresentati da Matsuri Hino con una grafica incantevole ed estremamente d'impatto! \n Un manga che coinvolge e appassiona con una storia densa di sentimenti e colpi di scena e.......due degni protagonisti maschili ***come Kaname e Zero! \n Un consiglio di una cara amica Lucia che conoscendo i miei gusti,mi ha spinta ad iniziare questo bellix manga!!!!", "date_added": "Wed Dec 26 16:01:32 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 04 16:03:49 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jan 05 16:03:49 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "3282248", "review_id": "ed85df879b8e51057fb301dc5e8f6c13", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Tre stelle - - (dato che siamo in periodo di pagelle scolastiche!). \n Ho iniziato questa saga, credo, con troppe aspettative, ragion per cui sono rimasta tremendamente delusa. \n A parte l'ambientazione, una Londra ottocentesca, resa frivola da sontuosi balli,e tetra e pericolosa da vampiri nascosti nell'ombra... \n Non ho trovato tra le pagine di questo urban fantasy, quello che mi sarei aspettata. \n Come da copione, la nostra eroina accetta il suo destino, un po' per provare il brivido del pericolo e in gran parte per incoscienza. \n Quindi, tra scorribande notturne, salvataggi rocamboleschi, trine, pizzi e paletti abilmente nascosti dentro elaborate acconciature... \n Ecco qui che la nostra Victoria Gardella deve sapersi destreggiare tra un nobile, bamboccione, innamorato bla bla bla (che io ho chiamato Ferrero Rockley), un locandiere con le manine da piovra ( aka Sebastian Vioget), e quel gran pezzo di Cacciatore del Maximilian Pesaro. \n Concedo alla Gleason l'unica attenuante possibile, ovvero trattandosi del primo capitolo di una saga composta da 5 volumi, la storia si mantiene moooolto sul vago. \n Lo stile e abbondantemente ricco di descrizioni, di abiti, carrozze, tendaggi ed acconciature... Tutto questo unito al fatto, che spesso l'azione e fastidiosamente interrotta da una serie di balli, prime a teatro e pettegolezzi all'ora del the... \n Ha fatto crollare, in questo modo, il mio gia scarso interesse verso l'intera storia :/ \n Soltanto le ultime 30 pagine, hanno saputo \"rianimare\" la trama, riesumando la mia curiosita di sapere cosa combineranno questi tre nei capitoli seguenti! \n Max, posso farti da Candy Candy? \n :D", "date_added": "Sun Dec 02 09:06:25 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 24 00:00:34 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Feb 24 03:26:37 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 20}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "16161338", "review_id": "4763e0ae429efc2e649f73ed6fe6cd72", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ebbene appena comprato, letto e recensito per il blog: \n Si tratta di 30 pagine appena, 5 capitoli brevi ma posso assicurarvi che meritano la vostra lettura assolutamente! \n I pov del mio amato Jace ovvero il famoso bacio con Clary nella serra... (Citta di Ossa); \n forse quello che ho amato di piu perche: \n Quando un personaggio,apparentemente duro e impenetrabile,come Jace Lightwood mostra la sua fragilita,disarma letteralmente .... i suoi sentimenti li sento scorrere nella mia mente dritto al cuore sotto forma di un calore meraviglioso! \n Inotre sono sorpresa del fatto che gia la amasse tanto....sin da questo momento e ne fosse appena consapevole,ennesima conferma di quanto mister Lightwood sappia ben celare le sue emozioni! \n Il pov di Stephan Herondale padre di Jace che in poche righe rende l'idea di tutto il suo amore per un ragazzo che non ha cresciuto ma che spera non commetta i suoi errori... \n Ama chi vuoi amare...credi come vuoi credere. Scegli la liberta come un diritto. \n Il pov di Jace la famosa scena del vicolo (Citta degli angeli caduti): non posso commentare oltre dico solo fuoco liquido nelle vene... quella passione mista al rimpianto e alla disperazione che solo un amore,tormentato dagli eventi,puo avere in se! \n Il pov di Camille (Citta delle anime perdute): l'ossessione di Alec,nel conoscere i segreti di Magnus e i patti che stringe con la vampira centenaria... la gelosia che infetta un amore e lo divora... \n Il pov di Jonathan Morgenstern (Citta di vetro): quando,con un abile sotterfugio,uccide Sebastian Verlac e ne prende le sembianze... questo personaggio e affascinante e diabolico in maniera perfetta... \n Non mi resta che augurarvi buona lettura... o buona tortura ;) \n VOTO: 5 stelle Goodreads! non potrebbe essere altrimenti <3", "date_added": "Tue Nov 20 07:47:25 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 26 12:22:17 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "15983622", "review_id": "e1335e00ddbee7c0387556f261f0ce9b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Nel vasto panorama distopico l'opera prima di Alessia Esse \"PERFETTO\",merita senza alcun dubbio un posto tra le piu originali che io abbia letto in questo 2012! \n Perche anche se con questo libro non si e trattato di amore a prima vista,sicuramente e stato un vero corteggiamento letterario....capitolo dopo capitolo mi ha affascinata e incuriosita sempre di piu! \n In una societa costituita,governata e abitata solo da donne tutto sembra ordinato e perfetto. \n Il mondo e popolato da un miliardo di donne che generano figli dal proprio midollo osseo,perche il genere maschile e definitivamente scomparso! \n Una guerra...il mondo al collasso e la \"sindrome\" ovvero la scomparsa progressiva di tutti gli uomini..ha portato il mondo al \"periodo buioi\" nel quale le donne si toglievano la vita dopo aver perso il fratello,il padre ,il marito o il proprio FIGLIO.Tutto sembra perduto...fin a quando Vega G. ha creato l'USP e ha preso in mano il governo delle donne sopravvissute,ogni riferimento al genere maschile e proibito..libri,canzoni,film e tutto cio che puo esser stato fatto da un uomo e severamente proibito dalla legge,perche la follia e i relativi suicidi d massa,dovuti alla morte di 3 miliardi e mezzo di uomini devono essere scongiurati! \n Lilac Zinna la nostra protagonista appena 18 vive a Malorai una cittadina della Francia,con la nonna materna proprio in questa societa....prossima al diploma trascorre le sue giornate con la sua migliore amica Margot che si fa chiamare Baguette. \n Energia solare,una pilolla che sostituisce il cibo,l'acqua e l'igiene personale costituiscono la nuova base di questa societa del futuro dove piante artificiali sostituiscono quelle vere e non esistono forme di vita animale d alcun tipo! \n Ho faticato a immaginare questo mondo interamente fatto da persone con il cromosoma xx perche pur essendo ordinato e apparentemente perfetto non aveva calore,caos e sfumature...insomma vita! \n Ma sono proprio le persone che Lilac crede di conoscere a dare una svolta alla sua vita stravolgendo tutto cio in cui crede fermamente da sempre! \n Un tunnel segreto...una sorpresa inattesa e la vita che prende colore....l'azzurro piu intenso! \n Capitolo dopo capitolo le vicende dei protagonisti cominciano a farsi largo nella mia mente,curiosita e aspettativa spazzano la mia reticenza iniziale,per far largo all'assoluta ammirazione per Alessia che con una trama nuova ed originale,una scrittura fluida e semplice riesce a spiegare dinnanzi ai miei occhi un mondo perfetto ma orribile.....un castello di bugie che crolla per fare spazio alla cruda verita! \n Non proseguo oltre perche lascio il piacere della scoperta a chi leggera PERFETTO....ma spero che Alessia pubblichi alla svelta il seguito perche il finale mi ha fatto urlare: ARGGGGGGGGGG non e possibile !!!", "date_added": "Thu Nov 08 12:09:08 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 27 01:39:56 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Nov 26 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Thu Nov 22 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 7}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "16110103", "review_id": "bf37cba27d28eb7f8a6bd2d5c11d122c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Tu chi sceglieresti tra chi ti ha dato la vita e chi potrebbe togliertela? La risposta potrebbe non essere cosi ovvia\". \n Una frase misteriosa e una bella cover mi hanno fatto decidere di acquistare questo romanzo paranormal fantasy con risvolti thriller pubblicato in formato ebook. Mi sono immersa in questa lettura con una trama abbastanza originale che prometteva azione, passione e personaggi con un passato misterioso, che dire un mix perfetto! \n Ma purtroppo non ho trovato esattamente tutto questo... \n La splendida citta di Firenze fa da sfondo alla storia, Katherine Evans una studentessa al secondo anno alla facolta di Lettere e Filosofia, e una ragazza bella e intelligente, piuttosto matura per i suoi 19 anni; trasferitasi da 5 anni con i suoi genitori da New York in seguito alla tragica morte del fratello Thomas a causa di un incidente... proprio per questo il trasferimento rappresenta per Kate la svolta alla sua vita, ma lei non sa che da li a poco si sarebbe scatenato l'inferno... le sue certezze, le persone che ama e il corso degli eventi verranno stravolti per sempre! \n Tutto inizia una mattina come tante, al corso di Storia dell'Arte che ha scelto di integrare ai suoi piani d studio, incontra Armand Castelli assistente ed esperto d'arte nonche bellissimo ed enigmatico... l'uomo che cambiera per sempre la sua vita! \n Tra i due e subito attrazione al primo sguardo, emozioni forti e sconosciute per Kate che tenta invano di reprimere e lo stesso vale per Armand che inspiegabilmente non riesce a resistere al richiamo di questa studentessa. \n Un omicidio avvenuto in circostanze misteriose da il via alla catena di eventi che sta per travolgere tutti; Sebastian Della Rocca padre di Alessio, il fidanzato di Kate, viene assassinato insieme alla sua equipe di collaboratori e vengono ritrovati completamente dissanguati... tutto si complica! \n In realta, Armand fa parte dell'Antica Stirpe dei kurann una discendenza reale e antichissima di guerrieri che da sempre proteggono la razza umana, infatti lui e un kurann centenario e possiede il dono della krotomateria, ovvero la capacita di far dissolvere la materia nel nulla! \n Armand ha ricevuto l'ordine dal consiglio dei Grandi Yterion di eliminare proprio Robert Evan stimato neo chirurgo di fama internazionale, il padre di Kate. \n Infatti, il dottor Robert Evans usa il suo lavoro come una copertura, perche il suo obbiettivo e un progetto top secret, il TRW KILLER, l'arma di distruzione di massa che tramite l'alternanza di infrasuoni e ultrasuoni inibisce le funzioni celebrali, portando alla paralisi e alla morte... un progetto abominevole che porterebbe allo sterminio di massa coinvolgendo un'altissima percentuale della popolazione mondiale, se propagata attraverso dispositivi radiofonici o informatici. \n Una clinica in Belgio creata grazie ai finanziamenti del fratellastro governatore, era la base di questo progetto, dove cavie umane venivano sottoposte a torture indicibili per testare la tossina. Il padre di Kate, un uomo senza scrupoli e vile, passa su tutto e tutti pur di arrivare ai suoi scopi. \n D'altro canto proprio Kate porta con se un potere a lei sconosciuto che il padre cerca di tenere a bada a sua insaputa, somministrandole delle pillole altamente pericolose per la sua stessa salute. Kate ha la capacita di far \"implodere\"gli oggetti letteralmente. Questo meccanismo e innescato dalle sue emozioni violente. \n Un'antica stirpe di kurann millenari tenta con ogni mezzo di porre fine al piano di un uomo senza scrupoli che ha le mani in pasta in ogni genere di nefandezza. Al centro di tutto cio Armand e Kate si innamorano... contro ogni pronostico riescono a stare insieme, ma Kate, poco alla volta, verra a conoscenza di tutte le bugie che le ruotano intorno; il padre e Armand stesso hanno dei segreti e lei stessa ne possiede uno... \n Un susseguirsi di scene d'azione e costanti richiami al passato si mescolano ad una passionale e intensa storia d'amore... un finale con qualche colpo di scena e tante altre domande alle quali ancora bisogna dare una risposta! \n Ora penserete: bhe Alex cosa altro potresti desiderare? \n Indubbiamente la trama ha tanti punti interessanti,la storia d'amore esiste e si sviluppa, i colpi di scena non mancano, il mistero permea molti capitoli... me allora com'e che non sono stata rapita da tutto cio? \n Semplicissimo il problema fondamentale e rappresentato dai personaggi che trovo piatti e senza sfumature caratteriali, non evolvono all'interno della storia, tutti piuttosto statici procedono verso la loro meta senza scossoni, in una sola parola: sono assolutamente PREVEDIBILI! \n Questo e il vero problema in una trama abbastanza articolata, ma resa da questi ultimi tremendamente lenta, persino i colpi di scena vengono smorzati da avvenimenti ripetitivi. \n Per una volta ho trovato i molteplici pov dei personaggi una boccata d'ossigeno perche, mentre i due protagonisti si struggevano di passione, grazie proprio ai pov degli altri protagonisti, il lettore viene a conoscenza dei fatti salienti della storia! \n I flashback del passato di Armand sono importanti per conoscere meglio il suo personaggio e fare chiarezza sul suo mondo ovvero i Kurann. \n Un'altro punto a sfavore ai miei occhi e rappresentato dalla storia d'amore che non si e integrata bene nella trama, fondamentalmente perche si innamorano solo dopo un paio di capitoli, non c'e un crescendo, il classico amore a prima vista... \n I loro tira e molla continui hanno una connotazione adolescenziale e fanno perdere credibilita e coerenza ai loro rispettivi personaggi. \n Kate se in un primo momento aveva suscitato un mite interesse in me, durante la storia ho solo pensato di lei che fosse arsa dall'eterno fuoco della passione... e se tutto il mondo intorno a lei era stato solo un castello di bugie, poco male se Armand le dava brividi in tutto il corpo! \n Armand, che era per me la personificazione dell'uomo perfetto, un artista colto e affascinante con un passato tormentato, alla fine si e rivelato un kurann che non rispetta gli ordini che gli vengono impartiti pur di non ferire la sua donna. \n L'unico degno di nota e proprio l'uomo senza scrupoli per eccellenza, donnaiolo, spregevole e dannatamente coerente con se stesso: il padre di Kate. \n Sugli altri personaggi non vi svelero nulla un po perche rappresentano i colpi di scena e un po perche alcuni di essi mi hanno fatto solo sbadigliare. \n Infine, credevo che almeno il fastidioso triangolo amoroso mi fosse stato risparmiato... invece per la serie \"non ci facciamo mancare nulla\", eccolo arrivare in prossimita degli ultimi capitoli, anche se al momento non e concretamente un vero triangolo, il dato certo che ci sara un seguito di Implosion non escludera un'evoluzione di esso. \n Il connubio stirpe regale del 700 e minaccia batteriologia con armi di distruzione di massa era interessante... \n Peccato perche secondo il mio modesto parere di lettrice, l'idea iniziale aveva molte potenzialita che pero non ha avuto sviluppi convincenti. La grande mole di eventi non e stata sufficientemente supportata dai protagonisti, che mancando di spessore hanno sminuito il tutto... \n VOTO: 2/5 stelle Goodreads", "date_added": "Fri Oct 26 11:40:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 17 09:34:19 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Nov 15 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sun Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "9692825", "review_id": "a0cd9aa63b8b99391ea7121d164238e5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"Amo il mio opposto... \n Il mio negativo, \n il mio veleno e il migliore dei miei antidoti \n E' sbagliato... impossibile \n ma e vero e reale... come il nostro Amore\" \n A Viterbo una piccola citta nascosta tra i monti, vive una popolazione che custodisce un segreto da millenni; una comunita di angeli che hanno potuto insediarsi e vivere in questo luogo in maniera pacifica mescolandosi con gli abitanti. Proprio in questo luogo ricco di storia e lastricato di mistero vive Vittoria con la sua famiglia, lei una ragazza di 16 anni e un'angelo \"anomalo\" perche non ha le ali ed e l'unica della sua famiglia ad essere mora con gli occhi verdi in una famiglia di angeli perfetti! \n L'essere cosi diversa dai suoi familiare crea in Vicky un senso di inadeguatezza continua, una sorta di malessere interiore che non la abbandonera mai! \n L'ultimo giorno delle vacanze estive giunge al termine e Vicky insieme al suo migliore amico Lorenzo, angelo anche lui, e Ginevra, amica del cuore, si appresta a iniziare un nuovo hanno scolastico... tutto normale e tranquillo, tutto si svolge secondo la loro routine! \n Perche la vita non scorre sempre semplice e tranquilla? \n Perche si deve ingarbugliare? \n Una svista e Vicky si trova, suo malgrado, quasi ad investire con il suo motorino lui... Guglielmo un turista di passaggio o forse un nuovo arrivato in citta? \n Inchiodata dal suo sguardo di brace e istintivamente spaventata da lui, scappa immediatamente lontana dal pericolo che avverte. \n Si puo scappare dal nostro destino? \n Un desiderio espresso con l'ultimo raggio di sole estivo : \n ~Desidero innamorarmi, non un'infatuazione o una cotta.... ti chiedo l'amore quello vero! \n Che ti rende schiavo e felice... voglio il riflesso di un angelo senza ali. \n Forte da sopportarmi e paziente da comprendermi!~ \n Al suo primo giorno di scuola Vicky incontra il ragazzo che ha quasi investito... il nuovo arrivato e bello e misterioso, ma lei avverte un senso di pericolo anche se e terribilmente attratta da lui. Guglielmo e un demone... il suo opposto, il suo nemico, il suo potenziale assassino! \n Quando Vicky accompagna la madre in una faccenda di lavoro, si trova a casa di Guglielmo e da li i due iniziano ad avere un rapporto fatto da altalenanti tira e molla... si attraggono e respingono come due calamite! \n Curiosita e attrazione e, di contro, istinto e pericolo, porteranno entrambi lontani e vicino l'un l'altro... fino a quando Paride, un ragazzo respinto da Vittoria, tenta di farle del male ad una festa... e Guglielmo la salva! \n Una dopo l'altra cadono le barriere di entrambi, i dubbi lasciano spazio alla fiducia, le riserve si trasformano in speranze e la reticenza si abbandona all'amore.Nonostante siano l'uno il potenziale assassino dell'altro, veleno e morte... l'amore li sorprende e li coglie alla sprovvista! \n Il finale mi ha convinta per diverso tempo che questo libro fosse auto conclusivo... ma per fortuna mi sono sbagliata, con Devilsh, Angel avra il suo seguito! \n ~Il bene non abbraccia il male, \n non stringe le sue braccia intorno a lui.Il male non accarezza la schiena del bene con le sue ali nere. \n Siamo luce e buio \n bianco e nero... \n Tu credi di poter distinguere il paradiso dall'inferno?~ \n Lo stile narrativo della De Spirito e fresco e romantico estremamente poetico, dolce e cosparso di riferimenti filosofici, che aumentano tale poesia. Platone e il suo simposio sono costantemente citati, un protagonista inconsapevole e assoluto di questa storia d'amore... ed e proprio questo che rende il romanzo speciale ai miei occhi. \n I personaggi hanno tutti una sfumatura caratteriale che li distingue. \n Vicky insicura e testarda che non filtra i suoi pensieri, essi sono il flusso costante di emozioni e stati d'animo in perenne conflitto con la sua voglia di appartenere alla \"normalita\"... il desiderio di non essere uno scherzo della natura. \n Guglielmo, misterioso e distaccato, e un demone dall'aspetto affascinante e angelico... un ragazzo con un passato tragico e doloroso. \n Lorenzo e un angelo altruista, un vero amico al quale Vittoria fa sempre riferimento sopratutto quando e in difficolta. E Ginevra, la sua migliore amica umana, una personalita frizzante e allegra che rappresenta per Vittoria la ragione ma allo stesso tempo la spinge verso cio che la rende felice. \n La trama non e cosparsa da fatti eclatanti e invece il lento e inesorabile processo verso la consapevolezza di tutti i personaggi, quello che sono e quello che decidono di essere... i rischi che vogliono correre. \n \"Una storia d'amore semplice e delicata,raccontata senza inutili orpelli ma con infinita poesia\". \n Questo romanzo, letto in un solo pomeriggio piu di un anno fa, riletto per il blog, ad alcuni potra apparire come l'ennesima storia d'amore impossibile, di quelle che per ora affollano il panorama fantasy... ma se a scriverlo e una talentuosa sedicenne italiana penso proprio che si meriti tutto il successo che ha gia avuto e non vedo l'ora di leggere e recensire per voi Devilsh il seguito! \n voto: 4 stelle", "date_added": "Mon Oct 08 08:50:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 10 07:55:29 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Oct 10 07:55:29 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "16003505", "review_id": "378d72d9f169cced97785b3fabc16d9d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ho aspettato con ansia e trepidazione il corriere e ringrazio la Mondadori per avermi inviato una copia di Devilish. \n Appena terminato la lettura vi lascio la mia personale impressione a riguardo! \n Angel aveva sicuramente fatto breccia nel mio cuore e su Devilish avevo riposto grandi aspettative che devo dire sono state a grandi linee mantenute. \n Desidero che questo momento duri per sempre. \n Che nulla cambi mai. \n Per sempre ora. \n Per sempre adesso. \n E per sempre noi! \n Vichi e Guglielmo hanno trascorso segretamente insieme la loro prima estate a Viterbo attenti anche solo a sfiorarsi in pubblico ma liberi di amarsi come solo un demone e un angelo a meta possono fare.Lorenzo e sempre piu in sintonia con Paride che da acerrimo nemico di Vittoria ora e in effetti un'altra persona disponibile e affidabile. \n Ginevra continua a studiare a Londra cercando di nascondere persino a Vittoria il suo disagio e la sua solitudine anche nella caotica City... \n Un nuovo anno scolastico e alle porte e tutto sempre essere sereno e immutato... tutto in sospeso e la minaccia di Eva sempre in agguato riportare con se nell'Averno Guglielmo per sempre! \n Per questo motivo i quattro ragazzi cercano di mettere a punto un piano per non farsi cogliere di sorpresa ed essere pronti a fronteggiare sullo stesso piano Eva. \n Ma conoscono ben poco del mondo degli angeli e ancora meno di quello dei demoni, con le poche informazioni in possesso di Guglielmo scoprono l'esistenza di un volume segreto che parla di angeli e demoni e delle creature che risiedono di mezzo... ma ogni copia di questo libro e stata accuratamente manomessa, privata delle informazioni che necessitano loro per conoscere la verita, solo un indizio su ogni libro, la \"stamperia inesistente\". \n Intanto Vittoria inizia ad avvertire un malessere sempre piu diffuso sia nel corpo che nella mente.. dolori lancinanti quanto improvvisi, visioni inquietanti, incubi premonitori, allucinazioni, ombre oscure e fantasmi rendono Vichi irrequieta e distante persino da Guglielmo. \n Dopo svariate ricerche scoprono una data, il 1deg di novembre, ovvero Samhain, l'unico giorno nel quale le ombre oscure, i demoni, possono uscire dal confine dell'Averno, il Bulicame. Bloccare questo passaggio e fondamentale per salvare Viterbo e il futuro dei suoi abitanti. \n Una vera e propria lotta contro il tempo e mille avversita che si presenteranno ad ogni angolo.... il tempo scorre veloce e inesorabile ad ogni battito, e gli indizi sembrano portare sempre ad un vicolo ceco... Fontane che esplodono acido nero e il cielo che si tinge di color piombo in piena mattina, tutti segnali che lasciano presagire il temuto conto alla rovescia... ma una rivelazione portera con se la soluzione di tutto! \n Il malessere di Vittoria peggiora velocemente proprio il suo cambiamento dara la svolta a tutto il libro, dandole una nuova consapevolezza di se stessa e delle sue potenzialita. Non piu un angelo a meta ma qualcosa di infinitamente sorprendente! \n Promettimi una cosa.. \n Che cosa? \n Mi devi promettere che non cambiera niente,che non importa quello che potrei diventare...... \n Mi devi promettere di restare al mio fianco! \n La fragile,insicura e vulnerabile Vittoria pur di salvare il suo amore e le persone che ama scendera nell'Averno, affrontando l'oscurita in persona, sola in un'impresa ardua quanto impossibile... \n Una Viterbo oscura e misteriosa teatro di una cruenta battaglia finale tra angeli e demoni... \n L'amore come unica arma potente contro un tocco che brucia e uccide... \n Un fragile angelo che nasconde una forza e un coraggio senza eguali... \n In Devilish azione e dinamicita sicuramente sono le parole chiave, in questo ultimo capitolo la De Spirito convoglia scene adrenaliniche, suspance e sentimenti in una trama scorrevole e interessante. Abbandonati i toni poetici e misteriosi di Angel, in Devilish la protagonista impara a prendere coscienza di se stessa e del suo potenziale, ogni personaggio assume una nuova valenza all'interno del racconto.Il passato ritorna per fare luce sugli eventi oscuri che si scatenano man mano nella storia. \n Da inguaribile romantica forse avrei voluto dei risvolti emotivi piu intensi, ma la storia di certo non manca di spiragli amorosi e poetici. \n Lo stile della De Spirito in questo ultimo capitolo ha assunto sfumature piu dark, l'intera trama e enigmatica e conduce il lettore insieme ai protagonisti alla ricerca della soluzione delle incognite. \n Ogni personaggio risulta interessante ma fra tutti sicuramente Vittoria e il fulcro dell'intera storia. Da angelo a meta diventa una vera e propria eroina che abbraccia la sua causa e si spinge ben oltre le sue paure per riscattare il suo amore. Combattiva, fragile e determinata ma tremendamente in difficolta quando deve esternare i suoi sentimenti a Guglielmo. \n Il misterioso e affascinante demone Guglielmo in Devilish mi e apparso un po in ombra, indubbiamente avrei preferito maggiore intensita e dinamicita nel suo personaggio. \n Una bella scoperta e stato Paride che avevo detestato ma che adesso ho trovato un vero e sincero amico, pari a Lore. \n Le new-entry, il professore ed il figlio, sono stati personaggi interessanti e importanti ai fini degli sviluppi della storia. Eva che era stata una figura perfida e pericolosa adesso sembra fin troppo docile e prevedibile. Lo stesso \"Signore delle ombre\", che rappresenta l'oscurita, sarebbe dovuto essere un tantino meno accondiscendente con i protagonisti... un demone troppo bonaccione direi ;) E finalmente la zia Nora esce dall'anonimato svelando il suo passato doloroso che diventa un importante tassello dell'enigma stesso. \n Alcuni libri creano delle nicchie nella nostra mente e pochissimi nel nostro cuore...Questo e stato per me Angel una dolcissima poesia misteriosa sull'amore impossibile e Devilish ha sviluppato le dinamiche impossibili di questo amore,rincorrendo la redenzione di un'anima dannata! \n L'amore non e solo un demone. \n L'amore e un demone quando fa urlare e soffrire. \n E' un angelo quando ti aiuta e ti prende per mano. \n E' una piccola luce che ti salva dal buio. \n Che non sconfigge il buio,non annulla la paura o le tenebre. \n Ma ti permette di entrarci e uscirne viva. \n L'amore e una persona! \n Ho apprezzato il cambio di toni e la trama ricca di azione in Devilish, la maturita dei personaggi, Viterbo bella e allo stesso tempo inquietante, ma non sono stata ammaliata da questo libro come dal precedente pur consigliandovene la lettura ;) \n Voto: 3 stelle Goodreads", "date_added": "Mon Oct 08 05:43:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 05 05:27:02 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Nov 05 05:27:02 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Sun Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "16046420", "review_id": "183538fbe2492d80ea78f5d46a23e1fd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3 stelle \n La stella nera di New York e stata una lettura che mi ha subito incuriosita, \n la bellissima cover,la trama accattivante e gli sfavillanti anni 20 periodo storico controverso e intrinso di proibizionismo! \n Un mix perfetto e molto promettente....ed inoltre avevo sentito parlare un gran bene della Bray per il suo unico e affascinante modo di scrivere. \n Sin dai primi capitoli la Bray,con la sua descrizione vivida e accurata immerge completamente negli anni venti, \n Manhattan la citta che non dorme mai con le sue maschiette che ballano al ritmo del charleston nei night club,l'epoca del proibizionismo dove d contro il Gin scorre a fiumi sottobanco nei locali, e le retate sono all'ordine del giorno.Il lusso sfrenato delle feste e la poverta estrema dei sobborghi si mescolano a credenze popolari,occulto e misticismo....un mix di horror e mistero che rapisce capitolo dopo capitolo! \n Evangeline O'Neill una maschietta di 17 anni e vive con la sua famiglia in una cittadina dell' Ohio,ma il suo temperamento stravagante e sopra le righe sembra risultare \"troppo\" per il posto nel quale vive.In realta Evie nasconde un segreto,lei riesce a vedere i segreti piu intimi della gente semplicemente stringendo tra le mani un oggetto che gli appartiene....per questo Zenith le sta stretta,lei vuole avere i riflettori sempre puntati addosso e ambiziosa e spregiudicata...lei e disposta a tutto pur di emergere dalla massa distinguersi e brillare! \n Dopo l'ennesimo fattaccio Evie e costretta ad andare a New YORK,ospite dello zio Will che gestisce un museo dell'occulto.Proprio nella citta che non dorme mai imparera a sperimentare ogni genere di pericolo e capriccio, e suo malgrado avra a che fare con misteriosi e macabri delitti....piste da seguire,indizi da decifrare e strani sogni premonitori in cui il passato ed il futuro si mescolano. \n Se in primis le feste e i bagordi sono il suo unico obbiettivo...le sbronze e i postumi dell'alcol riempiono le sue giornate,,,,Evie grazie al suo dono si trova coinvolta nella ricerca del colpevole di questi efferati delitti,insieme allo zio Will collabora con la polizia per smascherare questa figura inquietante che sta mettendo in atto un diabolico rituale oscuro.....una cometa che dara il via all'apocalisse! \n Una vera e propria corsa contro il tempo ....omicidi,profezie,morti che ritornano e il male che si reincarna n un'epoca dove le superstizioni si mescolano al sacro e profano,una frivola arrampicatrice sociale che ha il dono della \" divinazione\" ovvero la chiave per fermare tutto! \n Un finale mozzafiato e avvincente.....che apre le porte a questa saga che promette altre scintille nei capitoli seguenti. \n Trama fluida e scorrevole, di certo la Bray sa il fatto suo....scrive in maniera tanto vivida e realistica che pur non avendo vissuto in questo periodo storico,sono assolutamente trascinata dentro la storia e vivo in prima persona la scena che mi si dispiega dinnanzi con un realismo assoluto,,,persino il vento e usato come un potenziale protagonista nella storia e le canzoni che accompagnano qua e la talvolta le emozioni dei personaggi sono veramente perfette. \n I personaggi tutti molto complicati e sicuramente con tanti aspetti ancora da chiarire,hanno una storia travagliata alle loro spalle,drammi,solitudine,segreti da proteggere, rendono la trama variegata e ricca di sfumature. \n Adoro in maniera assoluta Tetha per la quale ho provato piu empatia e ammirazione! \n John IL MALVAGIO meravigliosamente diabolico e stato un personaggio assolutamente ben caratterizzato e molto credibile ( la sua canzoncina....non mi ha fatto dormire) ha tenuto le fila di ogni delitto in modo lento e crudele. \n Le due uniche note dolenti che mi hanno fatto decidere le 3 stelle e mazzo sono queste: \n 1) La lentezza della storia,una serie interminabile di capitoli superflui...avrei senza alcun dubbio snellito il racconto rendendo le scene piu adrenaliniche e vivacizzando il tutto. \n 2) Vogliamo parlare dei 16 pov???? \n Non riuscivo a stare dietro a tutti questi differenti punti di vista,un mal di testa perpetuo...alcuni piazzati nella stessa pagina,piu volte mi trovavo a dover rileggere il paragrafo! \n La classica voce narrante avrebbe potuto sostituire qualche personaggio....capisco che questo modo di narrare abbia dato piu sfumature al racconto ma i ho trovati decisamente troppi xd!!!!! \n Ho trovato questo libro affascinante....il mix di horror e humor mi ha catturata.... \n La penna geniale di Libba Bray ammalia e rapisce chi legge senza alcuna possibilita di scampo ;) \n Come dice Evie : as-so-lu-tis-si-ma.men-te!!!!!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 04 06:10:03 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 11 09:11:03 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 14}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "16047599", "review_id": "e88088a8daaefbce87c3f795c91f90c4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A volte solo la morte puo ridare la vita... e salvare un amore che sembrava impossibile. \n Prima di leggere Lost Grace mi sono concessa il piacere di rileggere il primo capitolo di questa saga, ovvero Dark Divine. \n Un po perche oramai era trascorso un anno intero dalla mia ultima lettura e anche perche adoro dare un senso di continuita a cio che ho amato leggere! \n Le 4 stelle che diedi al primo vi possono lasciar intendere quanto abbia atteso questo secondo capitolo della trilogia di Bree Despain... ma a quanto pare la maledizione del lupo o del sequel non hanno risparmiato questa saga! \n Ritroviamo Grace e Daniel 10 mesi dopo ill fatidico giorno nel quale lei salvo il suo fidanzato dalla maledizione del lupo, poco prima di essere morsa e infettata a sua volta dal fratello Jude. \n Nell'estate che sta volgendo al termine Grace viene addestrata da Daniel per riuscire a sviluppare e controllare i suoi nuovi poteri, cercando di perfezionare una sorta di equilibrio interiore che le permettera di tenere a bada il lupo che reclama di prendere il sopravvento della sua mente! \n L'anima di Daniel e salva e per Grace non c'e nulla di piu importante ma adesso e la sua a essere tentata! \n Jude abbandona la sua famiglia a causa del grande senso di colpa nei confronti della sorella e questo avvenimento distrugge la serenita della famiglia Divine. La madre di Grace alterna fasi da maniaca del controllo ad uno stato quasi catatonico nel quale ascolta di continuo i notiziari in cerca del volto del figlio scomparso. Il reverendo Divine oramai trascorre la maggior parte del suo tempo fuori casa nella continua ricerca del figlio e Grace riesce a stento a mantenere la sua media scolastica e a seguire gli allenamenti con Daniel, che vorrebbe cercare una cura per lei... e sogna il Trenton college per entrambi. \n Il tutto viene peggiorato da una serie di crimini, atti vandalici e rapine che si susseguono a ritmo sempre piu frequente nella tranquilla cittadina di Rose Crest. \n Da questo momento in poi Grace, poco alla volta, vede vacillare tutte le sue certezze: la sua famiglia sgretolata dal dolore, Daniel diventa sempre piu freddo e distante nei suoi confronti, April la sua migliore amica la evita da quando ha scoperto il suo segreto. Jude il fratello che non vede da mesi, si fa vivo con una telefonata nella quale la avverte di non fidarsi di nessuno e che qualcuno sta arrivando in citta a prenderla! \n Grace e sempre piu sola, sembra che proprio le persone che hanno promesso di amarla e proteggerla adesso abbiano creato un muro intorno a lei fatto di bugie, silenzi e liti. \n Ecco che proprio nel momento di maggiore vulnerabilita di Grace arriva il famigerato \"buon samaritano\" un ragazzo di nome Talbot che con la sua aria da ragazzo di campagna sostiene, incoraggia e copre Grace di tante attenzioni, la fa sentire utile e importante! \n Ma Grace cedera alle sue lusinghe? \n Daniel continua ad amarla nonostante lei adesso sia un'altra Grace? \n Le bugie creano una voragine sempre piu profonda e allontanano Grace dalla verita... ad un passo dal perdere se stessa e le persone che ama per sempre! \n L'azione dell'intero libro risiede proprio negli ultimi capitoli che svelano parte dei segreti e fanno chiarezza sui dubbi che ancora non avevano avuto una risposta... ma adesso altre incognite attendono l'ultimo capitolo di questa saga! \n Solo un sacrificio fatto per amore puo modificare il corso degli eventi! \n I personaggi \n Grace cambia radialmente il suo carattere sia per via del lupo che porta in se, che la tenta con pensieri volenti e la sprona a metterli in atto contro la sua volonta. Ma anche perche Daniel e i suoi genitori cambiano drasticamente il loro atteggiamento lasciandola sola con la maledizione che porta in se! \n Daniel che avevo amato per il fascino del suo carattere misterioso e per i suoi trascorsi da bad boy, adesso mi fa provare solo una tremenda antipatia per lui... e assurdo il modo nel quale intende proteggere Grace ricoprendo la di bugie e mezze verita! \n I genitori di Grace poco coerenti, impongono coprifuochi assurdi alla figlia e poi la madre vegeta davanti alla tv e il padre scompare per settimane?????? \n Su Talbot manterro un po di riserbo... a parte che detesto le camicie di flanella a scacchi, aldila di cio credo che per lui ci saranno dei risvolti interessati nel terzo capitolo! \n Mi risulta alquanto impossibile non fare dei parallelismi con il primo libro, in Dark Divine il mistero e il fascino dell'amore impossibile hanno catalizzato immediatamente la mia attenzione gia dai primissimi capitoli... ma in questo sequel sembra che la trama gia da subito segua un percorso prestabilito e inevitabile. Ho la certezza di sapere dove la Despain voglia andare a parare quando, capitolo dopo capitolo, i protagonisti hanno un cambio repentino di personalita. \n Grace vede andare in pezzi la sua famiglia \"perfetta\", il suo amore per Daniel si veste di bugie e segreti e ogni giorno che passa e sempre piu sola... esatto, sembra fatto apposta, quando lei ha bisogno di sostegno e chiarezza, tutti diventano di colpo misteriosi ed enigmatici... le persone che ama si allontanano di colpo.. \n Insomma non le resta che perdersi e sbagliare... inevitabilmente! \n Ed eccolo li a far capolino il tanto atteso terzo incomodo o triangolo o buon samaritano, qualsiasi appellativo vogliate dare alla new entry di fatto e questo il suo obbiettivo: creare un presunto diversivo alla trama, che aimhe stava cadendo nell'ovvio piu totale! \n Al nostro Talbot ragazzotto aitante di campagna viene affidata la veste di cavalier servente e per la nostra Gracie diventa la via d'uscita e il sostegno in questo periodo difficile della sua vita! \n Sorvolero sul fatto che in Lost Grace l'azione non faccia tanto capolino nella trama, se non fosse per qualche (tafferuglio) vero o presunto tale... il ritmo dell'intero libro sembra un tantino lento... solo negli ultimi tre capitoli ho la sensazione che alla trama sia stata iniettata una dose di adrenalina che ha reso il ritmo piu veloce e interessate! \n Ho apprezzato lo stile narrativo del primo libro,c osa che non posso affermare anche di questo sequel. \n Il mio punto di vista e che il secondo capitolo di una trilogia deve consacrare il successo di una saga, deve sviluppare la trama e catturare il lettore con novita e nuove incognite... non dare qualche briciola di emozioni per poi scemare nello scontato con il solito triangolino! \n Dopo aver terminato questo libro ho solo una flebile curiosita per l'ultimo capitolo ,spero proprio che l'autrice riesca a dare un bel finale a questa storia che mi era rimasta nella mente per diversi giorni! \n Pretendevo di piu da questo sequel... o forse sto diventando meno intransigente in fatto di trame, dalle quali pretendo originalita a tutti i costi ;) \n VOTO: 3 stelle Goodreads", "date_added": "Thu Sep 27 14:35:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 06 08:04:47 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Dec 04 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Nov 26 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "9692992", "review_id": "d1e12e0379f4ebfc6b7cfea7d026232d", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I diari delle streghe di Lisa J. Smith e stata una lettura che ha messo a dura prova la mia pazienza. \n Non avevo mai letto nulla della Smith, ma da grande fan della serie TVD, iniziai con grande entusiasmo I diari delle streghe (non l'avessi mai fatto!) \n La serie composta da 4 libri, all'inizio si rivelo interessante e ricca di suspense... ma - e dico ma - tutto ando scemando dal secondo libro in poi! Credetemi assurdita su assurdita, la protagonista una martire inetta e inebetita dal figo non disponibile (che prima flirta e poi la ignora spudoratamente). \n La trama, che all'inizio era ricca di misteri da svelare, diventa capitolo dopo capitolo, sempre piu confusa e sconclusionata! Un'escalation di disgrazie e malefici, che fanno presagire un finale tragico... \n E poi, con un colpo di bacchetta magica (che nemmeno Harry Potter), tataaaaa, tutto risolto in un bluff!!! \n WTF?????? \n La protagonista sfigata e inetta diventa l'eroina amata e acclamata. \n Ok, si tratta pur sempre di un fantasy, con streghe e magie varie, ma un minimo di continuita nella trama e realismo nello svolgimento dei fatti? \n Non sempre i lieto fine sono un buon modo di concludere una saga, sopratutto se di mezzo ci sono malefici e catastrofi naturali! \n Sconsigliato perche: pur avendo un discreto potenziale, la Smith non lo sfrutta al massimo, risolvendo in extremis situazioni impossibili, il tutto unito a personaggi scialbi e poco interessanti.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 10 19:41:32 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 22 06:48:50 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "13104154", "review_id": "9c52a09bc77036d5aa819744421532f8", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Baci immortali e il romanzo auto conclusivo della talentuosa Taylor Laini,sul quale avevo riposto grandi aspettative...di fatto puntualmente deluse! \n La trama mi ha incuriosita e della Laini avevo gia letto \"La chimera di Praga\",romanzo che ho semplicemente adorato,ma in Baci Immortali nonostante lo stile inconfondibile dell'autrice e il mix di fantasy e storie maledette,ho faticato e non poco a terminare questa lettura! \n Complice a mio avviso e stata la suddivisione in tre storie del romanzo,tre storie diverse con protagonisti che hanno in comune solo il fatto di essere vittime di una tremenda maledizione. \n * La prima storia e un breve racconto,la protagonista e Kitty una liceale che sogna di essere piu carina e disinibita proprio come le sue coetanee,detesta il suo aspetto fisico e trova imbarazzante le stranezze della propria famiglia.Infatti chiamare stramba la famiglia di Kizzy e dir poco...oscure maledizioni,credenze popolari di oltre un secolo fa,uniti a riti e superstizioni rendono Kizzy tutto fuorche una normale adolescente!Kizzy sogna continuamente di cambiare e desidera l'amore,quel tipo di amore che riesca strapparla dalle sue origini.Proprio di questi sogni si nutrono i Goblin,creature spaventose che rubano le anime con un solo bacio e sono attratte proprio dalle ragazze come Kizzy! \n * La seconda storia,la mia preferita,narra di Anamique vittima di una maledizione dalla nascita,chiunque ascolti la sua voce perde la vita all'istante.La storia di Anamique e un mix di coincidenze e magia,una vita scandita dal silenzio e dalla moltitudine di suoni e parole chiusi nella sua mente.Una voce sublime tenuta in gabbia e un soldato sopravvissuto alla grande guerra,si incontreranno grazie ad un diario dimenticato sui vagoni di un treno...coincidenze o fato? Una protagonista maledetta da un incantesimo e la forza di un sentimento che la portera fin all'inferno per riuscire a riscattare un destino avverso! \n * La terza ed ultima storia e quella che mi ha coinvolta meno,per via del background troppo astruso dei protagonisti che non riescono a far decollare la storia. Mab ed Esme sono madre e figlia in fuga dai Druj,demoni senza anima malvagi e in cerca di corpi e anime da possedere.La storia ha continui cambi di pov,e rimandi al passato che spesso fanno perdere il filo del racconto,ma la cosa che piu mi ha infastidita e il non riuscire a capire il corso degli eventi e le pseudo spiegazioni fornite dai protagonisti a riguardo! Spesso saltavo con gli occhi le ripetitive descrizioni di fatti o persone nei quali puntualmente l'autrice si dilungava,rendendo la lettura noiosa e facendo scemare il mio scarso interesse! Non approfondiro ulteriormente la descrizione dei fatti per non spoilerare,ma proprio quest'ultimo ha fatto si che togliessi una stellina al voto finale. \n Le atmosfere che la Laini descrive non riescono a convincermi del tutto,la maledizione che accomuna le tre protagoniste pur essendo diversa ad ogni racconto,non riesce a costituire un elemento interessante.Il primo racconto e breve e per nulla interessante ed il finale sembra troppo affrettato,perche non riesce a dare una degna conclusione alla storia.Ho l'impressione che l'autrice abbia avuto fretta o si sia stancata di andare oltre! \n Il secondo e il mio preferito fra i tre:una trama interessante e non scontata che mi ha coinvolto fino alla fine. \n Il terzo e secondo me l'apoteosi della prolissita,troppe descrizioni e rimandi al passato poco chiarificatori ai fini della storia,che mi ha annoiata molto! \n In Baci immortali la Laini non si e smentita in quanto a stile narrativo,perche riesce sempre ad essere molto nitida nel descrivere e far immaginare le ambientazioni che racconta.Ma,a mio avviso,pecca in argomentazioni trattate,forse dipende dal fatto di aver suddiviso la storia in tre racconti o di aver incentrato tutti e tre sul tema della \"maledizione\",resta il fatto che non sono riuscita a provare empatia con i personaggi delle storie. \n Non riesco a dare a questa letture piu di 2 stelline,nonostante abbia apprezzato lo stile dell'autrice,le storie e i protagonisti non hanno saputo catturare la mia attenzione come avevo sperato! \n Voto:2 stelle", "date_added": "Mon Sep 10 16:59:42 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 09 04:06:44 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "15990698", "review_id": "6bd97acc8308b25b425eaef595ce346f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "\"Ti sento\", romanzo d'esordio di Cassidy McCormack. Si tratta di uno YA che ha per protagonisti gli angeli, per la precisione angeli della morte. \n Lui, Alessandro, ultimo erede della stirpe semi-immortale degli Angeli della Morte. Lei, Denise, figlia di un membro del Clan del suo piu acerrimo nemico.Il destino beffardo li mettera sulla stessa strada, risvegliando ricordi amari assopiti da tempo, che daranno il via al piu sanguinoso dei conflitti. \n Alessandro studente di medicina 23 anni, bello e arrogante ma fragile, ha alle spalle un'infanzia traumatica e dolorosa. Perche lui non e un ragazzo normale, fa parte degli Ancharos, gli Angeli della Morte, e un Nocchiere, colui che accompagna le anime dei morti nell'Hahicos, in attesa del giorno del giudizio. \n Gli Ancharos sono in costante guerra con i nemici giurati di sempre, gli agenti del clan. Ma e proprio per difendere Denise, figlia del capo del clan, che arriva a mettersi contro la sua stessa famiglia. \n Tutto il romanzo e narrato al presente dal protagonista ma con continui scorci del passato. La storia in certi punti sembra veramente solo il flusso dei pensieri di Alex, in questi momenti non si puo che condividere i suoi stati d'animo ed entrare in sintonia con lui! Anche se a volte proprio i suoi ragionamenti contorti mi hanno spesso fatto perdere il filo del discorso (Alex a volte pensa in maniera snervante!) \n Trovo che l'autrice sia stata brava nel creare questa alternanza di presente e passato mantenendo una certa suspance nel lettore e a svelare man mano i fatti salienti. \n Nell'ultima parte del libro l'intreccio tra passato e presente termina... unendosi al primo capitolo del libro e da li in poi rimane sempre al presente. \n I personaggi della storia hanno tutti un carattere ben delineato ma tra tutti Alex spicca, non solo perche e il protagonista, ma per il suo carattere fragile e dolce nascosto accuratamente dietro una maschera di arroganza e irruenza. Tutto in lui e il risultato di un'infanzia segnata da traumi, violenze e abusi, quelli che e stato costretto a subire all'accademia, e dai rapporti conflittuali con un padre distante ed un nonno autoritario. Infatti e costantemente combattuto tra quello che e in realta e quello che deve mostrare di essere a tutti. \n L'amicizia con Denise, fragile compagna di universita vittima dei soprusi del branco nonche figlia del capo del clan rivale, il modo nel quale tenta di salvarla, anche mettendosi contro la sua famiglia, dimostrano il suo animo buono e il grande spirito di protezione che lo anima! \n La bellissima, intensa e passionale storia d'amore con la sua Celine, con lei Alex apre il suo cuore e la sua anima, condividendo tutto il dolore, l'angoscia e le sue debolezze, ma anche l'amore piu dolce e travolgente che\" sentono\" entrambe poiche condividono una parte di anima. Quando Alex parla di lei lo fa con un tale amore che mi fa sciogliere \n Suspense, colpi di scena, lotte rocambolesche ma anche amicizia e passione rendono questo romanzo ben articolato... ammetto di essere stata scettica per parecchi capitoli all'inizio, ma capitolo dopo capitolo mi sono trovata ad apprezzarlo sempre di piu!! \n Lettura piacevole", "date_added": "Wed Sep 05 02:17:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 11 07:22:30 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Sep 09 18:00:09 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Sep 05 02:17:21 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "9666812", "review_id": "bde8d1a98c92b05514583702a8f070ff", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Beth ha sfidato le regole del cielo per amare Xavier ma proprio il loro amore ha contribuito a rilegare le forze oscure all'inferno! \n In questo secondo capitolo della trilogia di Alexandra Adornetto, troviamo i nostri protagonisti esattamente dove li avevamo lasciati alla fine di Rebel: Beth e Xavier, con gli studenti studenti della Bryce Hamilton, partecipano al party di Halloween in una casa disabitata nei pressi di Venus Cove. E Beth, suo malgrado, e coinvolta dalle sue amiche Molly, Abby e Savannah in una seduta spiritica. Purtroppo, inavvertitamente, si apre un varco che permette alle creature oscure di farsi largo nuovamente sulla Terra. Infatti dall'Ade torna proprio Jake Thorn, che con un'abile messa in scena riesce a rapire Beth e la trascina, attraverso il portale, all'Inferno. \n Beth non sa nemmeno quello che la aspetta... l'Ade e un luogo terrificante e buio, l'odore acre dello zolfo riempie l'aria, il sole non esiste e l'orizzonte e un groviglio di nebbia fitta e grigiastra. E circondata da anime dannate che sono vittime di un'agonia indicibile, torturate in un ciclo perpetuo che sana temporaneamente le loro ferite per permettere ai torturatori di infliggerne delle nuove ogni giorno! \n Orribile e lacerante per lei, un angelo che sa alleviare il dolore con il solo tocco delle mani... \n Non solo, ma in questo luogo, dove la speranza non esiste, vivono demoni che si dilettano in ogni genere di peccato capitale. E' un susseguirsi di azioni violente e abbiette che mirano solo ad arrecare piacere a soddisfazioni a Lucifero o come lo chiamano i suoi figli \"Papa Luci (assurdo aggiungo!) \n Ed e proprio per il dover obbedire al volere dello stesso Lucifero che Jake porta Beth all'Inferno... vuole che diventi la principessa del terzo cerchio del regno dell'Ade. \n In realta, Lucifero ha intenzione di scatenare l'Apocalisse e usa il rapimento di Beth come una sfida al Regno dei Cieli... un angelo relegato all'Inferno rendera le anime dannate piu motivate alla guerra. \n Beth, separata da Xavier, e sempre piu debole fisicamente ed emotivamente, angosciata dall'orrore che la circonda. Sola e senza la possibilita di fuggire, vive le sue giornate chiusa in una suite d'albergo, sorvegliata dalle guardie di Jake. Ma, inaspettatamente, Beth instaura un legame di fiducia e affetto con Hanna, la giovane cameriera che si occupa di lei. Anche il suo sorvegliante personale, Tucker, si rivelera una persona fidata, perche aiutera Beth a far visita ai suoi cari con il suo spirito, ogni volta che lei lo desidera. \n Proprio questo salto che Beth fa con l'anima sulla Terra, permette di conoscere i movimenti e i progressi che Gabe, Ivy e Xavier fanno nella sua ricerca. \n Fughe repentine, oscure possessioni ed angeli supremi che entrano in gioco quando oramai tutto e quasi risolto, rendono il finale di Sacrifice interessante ma alquanto prevedibile! \n In questo secondo capitolo la Adornetto cambia il suo stile narrativo. Abbandonati i toni leggeri e romantici di Rebel, adesso la narrazione si fa piu cupa e cruda proprio come il regno che descrive, l'Inferno. \n Ebbene si, con una mossa a sorpresa dell'antagonista, l'autrice riesce a catapultarci dritti nelle viscere della Terra, un luogo oscuro e opprimente pervaso da orrore e peccato, uno scenario ben diverso da quello presentato nel primo libro. Ma, secondo il mio avviso, anche questa volta non sfrutta a pieno le potenzialita della trama. Le sue descrizioni, all'inizio interessanti, man mano si dilungano capitolo dopo capitolo, non accade niente di eclatante alla protagonista, dopo il colpo di scena iniziale. Un aspetto interessante introdotto dall'autrice e il trasmigrare dell'anima di Beth, ottimo appiglio, secondo me, per conoscere i fatti che coinvolgono i suoi fratelli e Xavier rimasti sulla Terra. Anche se questo continuo cambio di scena non da alla trama novita molto rilevanti, anzi il tanto atteso aiuto ai protagonisti arriva quasi alla fine e fa apparire il finale molto prevedibile. \n Beth, l'angelo dolce e innamorato in Rebel, non riesce ad essere una protagonista di rilievo all'interno del libro e persino i suoi fratelli sembrano brancolare letteralmente nel buio mentre cercano un modo per salvarla (tutto questo potere a mio avviso inutilizzato!). Invece proprio Xavier questa volta mi ha sorpresa piacevolmente.... deciso, caparbio e coraggioso, questo ragazzo fronteggia persino il male in persona per difendere la sua Beth! \n E che dire dello splendido antagonista Jake, il principe dell'Ade! Usato dall'autrice solo come mezzo di trasporto per condurre Beth e il lettore in un altro scenario, per poi diventare una figura ovvia, senza sfumature, un'anima che ha solo bisogno di essere amata dall'angelo che ha rapito -.- (scontato come la domenica dopo il sabato!) \n I personaggi di Hanna e di Tucker sono invece ben caratterizzati e inseriti nella storia. Nonostante il loro passato doloroso, riescono a trasmettere fiducia e coraggio alla protagonista. Lo scettro del peggiore va indubbiamente a Lucifero. Come puo incutere timore e rispetto un demone che si fa chiamare dai suoi figli Papa Luci? Il male in persona, il mandante di tutto, appare come un uomo di mezza eta che cerca di scacciare la noia progettando l'Apocalisse senza troppa convinzione! \n Uno scenario nuovo, demoni e anime dannate e il piu splendente fra gli gli arcangeli sarebbero stati sufficienti a rendere Sacrifice un bel libro... ma se a tutto cio non si uniscono una trama vivace e la coerenza dei personaggi, il tutto risulta appena passabile e poco entusiasmante. \n Se proprio siete ostinati ad intraprendere questa lettura aspettate almeno l'edizione economica...", "date_added": "Tue Sep 04 15:02:27 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 03 05:59:55 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Oct 03 05:59:55 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "15731347", "review_id": "6bbb5600905063aca5ed992a4f71aaeb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Una storia semplice,delicata che si legge velocemente,,,,(be' detto da me che divoro i libri non fa testo!). \n Una ragazza che esce illesa,dopo un incidente d'auto con i genitori,una vita fatta di ripicche e ricatti da parte della sorella odiosa! \n Poi arriva Eric l'incarnazione stessa dell'eroe dall'armatura scintillante,ma al contempo taciturno e misterioso,,,,direi un mix perfetto <3 \n e la vita di Sara inizia a diventare estremamente interessante e ricca di oscuri segreti,che spesso la metteranno in serio pericolo di vita.Coraggiosa e incosciente ma anche dolce e insicura,,,,,,cerchera fino in fondo la sua favola romantica.. \n OK spesso il romanzo cade nei soliti cliche alla fallen,twilight e hush hush,,,,ma la trama e ricca di colpi di scena ben introdotti e la presenza di alcuni personaggi secondari degni di nota, rendono Alis grave nil un romanzo intenso e romantico,,,insomma una lettura piacevole senza troppe pretese <3", "date_added": "Sun Sep 02 19:47:02 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 06 14:41:06 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "15702634", "review_id": "665980c89d28b41e62a8bc967ac34716", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Ho iniziato Harmattan per caso,dopo aver conosciuto l'autrice in un gruppo, incuriosita dalla trama mi sono immersa subito nella lettura.Un mappamondo che gira fermato ad occhi chiusi dal l'indice di Mia,una ragazza che vuole vivere un'esperienza nuova prima di decidere, cosa vorrebbe fare nel suo futuro! Mali, un viaggio alla ricerca di se stessi e un incontro fortuito oppure no? \n Il destino e qualcosa d inevitabile e potente. Devo dire che non ho provato subito una grande empatia con Mia,forse per via dei suoi costanti parallelismi o dai flash in cui ricordava l'infanzia,in momenti in cui magari si trovava nel bel mezzo di una scena tenera,distogliendomi dai fatti narrati! \n Inoltre la confusione di Mia e i suoi sentimenti, di tanto in tanto mi hanno spiazzata; \n da l'idea di possedere un cuore troppo volubile e scostante! \n Tutta il romanzo e narrato in prima persona dalla protagonista e devo dire che avrei preferito sapere anche il punto d vista di Diego o di Essien ,,,,, anche per vivacizzare il ritmo! \n Amore,amicizia ed un'antica profezia che ha origini centenarie, si uniscono a scenari suggestivi e lotte cruente! \n Il ritmo e a tratti lento e descrittivo,per poi assumere maggiore scorrevolezza,quando la storia entra nel vivo,,,, \n Il romanzo e abbastanza originale, anche se di tratti mi ricorda uno dei tanti harmony storici, di cui ero una grande fan ai tempi del liceo. \n Indubbiamente Liliana puo migliorarsi, perche pur non conoscendo la personalmente, credo sia una donna che non si arrende e accetta critiche e lusinghe!!!", "date_added": "Thu Aug 30 03:00:03 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 01 01:41:15 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Aug 31 18:33:24 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Aug 30 03:00:03 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "10722297", "review_id": "1a04dda87ca133e10c2cf0e0a6aa31df", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Quasi 4 stelle. \n Potrei scrivere una recensione normale. Potrei. \n Vorrei essere seria e non Fangirl. Vorrei. \n Invece, vorrei soltanto poter avere indietro le mie ovaie. \n *si getta secchiata di ghiaccio sulla testa* \n Mmmmh dicevo, bene si il libro che ho appena terminato in una sola parola e \"Raphael I need tromb you\". \n Ecco. Ma I need tromb Dmitri, Illium and un altro po' de angeli della combriccola. \n Ragazze mie, Nailini ha raggruppato in circa 400 pagine, il no plus ultra dei manzi... Implacabili, crudeli, orgogliosi e so much secsiiiiiii!!!! \n Ovaie che fanno la ola una pagina si e l'altra pure. \n Beh la trama, lo stile, e l'ambientazione non sono sviluppati in maniera perfetta, qualche pecca c'e. Lo stile a volte e un po' troppo descrittivo, e a spesso ci si deve soffermare per seguire meglio il background dei personaggi, ma tutto sommato non dispiacciono le altre \"lunghe\"descrizioni. @_@ \n La trama scorre senza troppi colpi di scena, ma Nailini riesce a inserire molte scene forti che riescono a movimentare l'insieme. L'ambientazione poteva essere sviluppata con maggiore attenzione, a volte nonostante le numerose descrizioni, non sono riuscita a visualizzare i luoghi come avrei voluto. \n Ma credo che la punta di diamante di questa trilogia siano i personaggi: spietati angeli, crudeli vampiri, e umani che vogliono intrattenere a qualsiasi costo, un rapporto di sensuale perversione con queste specie. \n Una stupenda e coraggiosa cacciatrice a completare il tutto. \n I need Raphael. \n I need more Dmitri. \n I need Illium. \n I need more ovaries...", "date_added": "Thu Aug 16 09:43:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 28 07:00:46 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Mar 24 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "12812550", "review_id": "b4ad9e75329c34438a29fafdd5c17b16", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ho impiegato piu del dovuto per terminare questa lettura ma, a mia discolpa, dico che purtroppo erano tutti validi motivi. \n Questo libro risente un po' della \"maledizione\" del libro di mezzo, badate mi e piaciuto ma allo stesso tempo mi e sembrato troppo prolisso e volutamente lento. \n La Laini sa il fatto suo perche e molto abile nel mescolare sapientemente magia, orrore, amore e odio... \n Ma e quando si dilunga troppo in descrizioni di luoghi e fatti che mi fa ronfare un pochetto =_= \n Le ambientazioni sono veramente magiche e narrate con una tale bravura da proiettare il lettore al centro della storia: si ha la sensazione di percepire i suoni descritti e di sentire gli odori, per non parlare dell'impatto emotivo che alcuni paragrafi riescono a trasmettere. \n I personaggi ed il modo con il quale l'autrice riesce a farli maturare sotto i nostri occhi e stato forse l'aspetto che ho apprezzato di piu. \n Karou adesso e super cazzuta, Akiva amore mio paladino del MaiNaGioia, e in ultimo il mio adorato Ziri ovvero ho piu palle io do tutti voi! \n Vado a leggere l'ultimo ^_^", "date_added": "Fri Aug 03 05:03:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 09 16:00:53 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Oct 10 18:19:46 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "9720878", "review_id": "b759c93dabc7ecedf1efde5cf99888ee", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Virginia de Winter non scrive,,,,semplicemente rapisce,con le sue parole,le metafore e le sue descrizioni minuziose, \n tutte le avventure dei suoi magnifici personaggi,,, in un caleidoscopio di colori,odori e immagini che nulla tolgono ai cinque sensi! Mi trovo in prima persona quindi a vedere,con gli occhi di Eloise, un mondo medioevale fatto di intrighi,patti suggellati dall onore e da amori snocciolati all'ombra di fugaci occhiate e sussurri di cuore. \n La prosa e il ritmo di tutto il romanzo non fa che alimentare un interesse constante in me,,,ad attrarmi tra le braccia di marmo del magnifico redivivo Ashton Blackmore ,dandomi persino l'idea di guardarono dritto nelle tenui ametiste dei suoi occhi. Poi in un altro palpito di cuore sono intenta al duellare con lo sguardo e il cuore con l'arrogante e bellissimo principe dell'ordine della chiave Axel Vandenberg,senza dimenticare il brillante e quasi sempre morente Bryce e il resto del gruppo delle V lune ,,, persino i cattivi hanno un fascino diabolico e perfetto,,e le battutine,le schermaglie, i lampi di passione teneri come la piu struggente delle poesie, tutto mi incanta e mi fa respirare questo periodo storico! \n Il finale,che getta le basi al seguito,mi rende felice e l'eterno Salvatore della ragazzina umana ruba l'ultima lacrima di gioia hai miei occhi sorridenti,adoro questo libro in maniera assoluta!!! \n Consigliatissimo", "date_added": "Sat Jul 28 17:24:42 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 09 00:15:04 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jul 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "13508601", "review_id": "e19369fed5a5906067c0e5f99001875b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Cinder una splendida Cenerentola,meccanico e cyborg del futuro!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 23 09:00:44 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 28 19:19:16 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jul 25 17:09:54 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jul 23 09:00:44 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "15723274", "review_id": "3adab70988f7ea1f51ce04dd31840d5e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Quale sarebbe il modo migliore per vendicarsi di qualcuno che ti odia? Semplice....fare in modo che si innamori di te... sempre che il legamento funzioni........ \n L'amore e un sentimento forte ma quando scaturisce dall'odio? \n Diventa una miscela esplosiva se combinata da entrambe. \n Un Sortileggio,un dispetto,rivalsa o un gioco,,,,,e di mezzo la ragion di stato,nulla pero potrebbe scalfire questo sentimento fragile e letale, nato inaspettatamente e in maniera tanto dolce e appassionato da essere unico,, come l'ultima erede dei Blackmore! \n Non solo amore ma umorismo cameratesco che mi fa letteralmente sbellicare dalle risate,perche le vicende del famigerato gruppo delle v lune sono piu che esilaranti e rocambolesche! Bryce adorato e ostinato ipocondriaco, divertente e brillante tanto da attirare occhiate strane, da chi mi sta intorno,mentre leggo le sue gesta ,,,,suor Brayssa \n Poi l'eterna e mai banale storia tra Axel ed Eloise che anche solo fatta di sguardi fendono l'aria e la saturano d passione ,,,ad un passo dall'altare ma non ancora avendo riposto le armi,, il loro legame ha radici profonde cio nonostante giocano le loro mosse su una scacchiera,attenti re e regina, a misurare azioni e sentimenti uccidendosi quasi pur d salvarsi a vicenda!! \n L'amicizia fatta di fiducia tra il \n Meraviglioso Ashton e lady Eloise un legame intenso,prottettivo che mi fa sospirare di tenerezza e sorridere per il loro buffo modo di punzecchiarsi reciproco. \n Poi fantasmi che ritornano,nebbie che imperversano e segreti centenari da svelare,,,, sullo sfondo d luoghi che,tramite la fervida immaginazione di Virginia,posso credere siamo reali! \n Il mistero e la maturita di penna sono diversi dai precedenti capitoli, ma non per questo meno travolgenti . \n Virginia benda gli occhi di chi legge e narra, con la su scrittura curata, dettagliata e intrigante, il perche delle azioni di questi personaggi attraverso il suo punto di vista; come in un film a 360* \n Percepisco tutto anche il semplice frusciare del vento sulla pelle o il palpito di un emozione ed e magnifico! \n Rimarro per molti,moltissimi giorni cristallizzata tra le pagine di Black Friars perche anche questa volta sono stata felicemente smentita, \n Devo ammettere che non pensavo di leggere penna e ritenerlo ancora piu bello dei primi due...ma Virginia ogni volta supera se stessa!", "date_added": "Thu Jul 19 06:36:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 11 17:32:21 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "11100186", "review_id": "50972488dc52b5cf346c1fc44218f7b5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Poetico,,,,inquetante come una favola dell'orrore e sensuale come il peccato, questo e per me l'ordine della chiave.Una rosa recisa da due lame affilate la crudelta e l'invidia!Un sentimento fresco,naturale come l'aria che si respira all'alba ,,,,soffocato da chi a vissuto troppe vite per ritenere quella altrui preziosa e unica,,,,,, malefica Belladore! \n Finalmente in questo prequel si fa chiarezza sulle domande cui mi ero posta nell'ordine della spada : la natura dell'amore spezzato tra Eloise e Axel,il crearsi del famigerato gruppo delle v lune e i vari personaggi maschili che danno vita ad un amicizia e ad un sodalizio unico! Bryce che avevo adorato, adesso con le sue ossessioni gentili e la malcelata preoccupazione per il fratello lo hanno reso hai miei occhi meraviglioso Il candore sensuole ed appassionato di Eloise, il trasporto e la fiducia con cui sa di appartenere da sempre ad Axel mi colmano di gioia e malinconia,per quello a cui,dopo sara costretta a rinunciare! \n Ed Axel che avevo visto vestite i panni gelidi e gelosi verso l'unico oggetto del suo amore, qui esplode vivamente ed interamente per lei, in questo nuovo capitolo,il suo personaggio ha innumerevoli sfaccettature che mostrano un lato diverso del futuro duca dell'ordine della chiave . Sempre scritto con un estrema padronanza della lingua italiana e una prosa ricercata ed elegante, al contempo ricco di poesia dark e gotica. \n Virginia rende possibile e reale la cosa che adoro di piu, sentire e vivere i sentimenti dei personaggi che sono dentro il racconto,soffrire con loro e per il fato avverso che li travolge! \n Adorato fin all'ultima parola \n Nota: Asthon Blackmore mi sei mancato", "date_added": "Wed Jul 18 14:50:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 11 17:29:35 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 09 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "13478136", "review_id": "8b21966ca0784bcb124745d0fe4bfdd3", "rating": 1, "review_text": "IMMORTAL \n Per terminare la lettura di questo libro e fare la recensione ho dovuto chiamare a raccolta tutta la mia pazienza e il mio amore per la lettura.Catturata da subito da una bella cover e da una trama intrigante e misteriosa mi sono immersa nella lettura di questo paranormal fantasy storico che prometteva scintille! \n Ben presto ho dovuto fare i conti con un romanzo lontanissimo da cio che amo leggere,per contenuti e personaggi. Guardavo di continuo quanti capitoli mi separavano dalla parola fine.....ma quello della reviewer e un duro lavoro quindi eccovi il mio personale pov ;) \n Il romanzo comincia ai giorni nostri Luke medico di una piccola cittadina del Maine,frustrato dalla monotonia e dalla solitudine della sua vita e sempre piu deciso a lasciarsi tutto alle spalle,sopratutto dopo il divorzio e la morte dei genitori. Forse proprio per questo senza pensarci due volte aiuta Lenny,una ragazza colpevole di omicidio che viene portata in stato di arresto al pronto soccorso. Lenny racconta la sua assurda storia a Luke e insieme partono alla volta del confine canadese. Da qui in poi Lenny raccontera a Luke tutta la sua storia a partire dal 1800 secolo in cui e nata,ebbene si Lenny e una creatura immortale,,,,, gli parla del suo amore per un ragazzo del suo villaggio Jonathan,delle sue colpe e dell'incontro che ha segnato la sua vita irrimediabilmente ovvero quello con Adair il suo creatore! Ora l'intera storia si svolgere contemporaneamente tra presente e passato,,,,Lenny non e minimamente ricambiata da Jonathan e dopo aver sopportato per anni le sua scappatelle,incinta di suo figlio viene allontanata dal villaggio,mandata un un convento,dove non arrivera mai. Infatti a proprio a Boston Lenny incontrera Adair e la sua corte di succubi,,,la sua vita non sara piu la stessa. Orrore,abusi,torture,lussuria sfrenata,odio e una perversione che nulla ha a che vedere con l'amore saranno le costanti nelle sua vita! \n Nel romanzo si alternano tre punti di vista,quello di Lenny,che racconta del suo passato nel 1801 ,quello di Luke nel presente dopo l'incontro con la stessa Lenny e infine quello di Adair che racconto di come nel lontano 1349 sia diventato immortale.Cio permette al lettore di vivere in parallelo il presente e il passato della storia,creando un intreccio interessante e sviluppando l'intera storia in maniera completa. \n I personaggi tutti ben descritti dall'autrice con novizia di particolari ,non riescono a catturare la mia attenzione,perche le loro caratteristiche peculiari sono: l'egoismo,la crudelta,la lussuria e sopratutto un innata cattiveria che anima il loro cuore! \n Parliamo di Lenny: Una ragazza semplice,insicura e fortemente ossessionata da Jonathan suo coetaneo nonche erede della piu facoltosa famiglia del suo villaggio..Ma che non corrisponde -{minimamente} i suoi sentimenti. Inizialmente ho ammirato la costanza e la perseveranza di Lenny,convinta che dall'amicizia sarebbe potuto sbocciare l'amore,,,ma nulla di nulla!!!Per quanto riguarda l'amore... nessuno piu di me e incline al romanticismo! \n Ma quando il desiderio supera l'amore rendendolo un'ossessione, quando il volere del proprio amato diventa talmente forte che la parola amore si trasforma in possessione,come puo crescere un rapporto sano e di complicita su queste basi? \n Una donna innamorata consapevole di non essere ricambiata, fin dove puo spingersi per ottenere cio che desidera? Ceca fino all'inverosimile Lenny non batte ciglio davanti alle innumerevoli relazioni clandestine del suo Jonathan, che corre da lei solo per raccontarle i guai nei quali si caccia e per avere da lei la soluzione ad essi....insensibile,immaturo,egoista e donnaiolo!!!! \n Parliamo di Adair:Venduto dal padre,su due piedi,ad un anziano medico,che trattandolo come servo nonche aiutante,lo brutalizzera con violenze e sevizie.Il senso di solitudine che prova Adair e palese e inneschera la sua ossessione portandolo,nei secoli a venire a circondarsi di amici-prigionieri,incatenati a lui. Amici... si possono davvero definire tali? Ne dubito... {senza svelare il finale,ho capito subito il bluff,} Forse tra tutti i personaggi solo con lui riesco a provare una sorta di temporanea empatia,,,perche subisce cose indicibili e trova ogni volta la forza di alzarsi ed andare avanti,,,,,se ce qualcuno in diritto di mostrarsi egoista e crudele e Adair di certo. \n Infine Luke:Un medico di una cittadina sperduta che non vede l'ora di lasciarsi alle spalle il suo divorzio e la morte dei genitori,,,,si lascia convincere di punto in bianco,da una perfetta conosciuta e rea confessa di un omicidio,ad aiutarla nella sua evasione. \n Scusatemi ma la sopportazione ha un limite!!!! \n Capitolo dopo capitolo si susseguono scene di violenza gratuita,volgari accoppiamenti e una sconfinata solitudine come una nebbia fitta avvolge tutti i personaggi.Non c'e amore,gioia,amicizia,lealta sembra che tutti i sentimenti negativi siano convogliati in queste pagine,ho la sensazione di vivere con essi un eterno calvario alla ricerca di una redenzione che non esiste! \n Non sono riuscita a trovare nessuna di quelle sensazioni che una lettrice cerca in un libro ho solo l'amaro in bocca,,,,,,mi tocchera ora cercare di leggere qualcosa di zuccherosamente dolce tanto da provocarmi la carie ai denti,devo risollevare il mio animo romantico dalle ceneri di Immortal ;) \n Il mio modesto e soggettivo parere vi sconsiglia di accostarvi a questo obbrobrio,,,,,preferendovi una lettura migliore! \n >Baci Alex Voto 1 stella", "date_added": "Wed Jul 18 14:44:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 17 07:02:06 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Sep 16 11:36:16 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 17}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "11730408", "review_id": "16d38fd4814c68b8b456eb7f1f777021", "rating": 3, "review_text": ">Primo capitolo di una trilogia paranormal thriller , ma auto conclusivo \"La collezionista di voci\" e stata una piacevole compagnia,in questa uggiosa domenica di settembre. \n Violet percepisce gli echi, ovvero il richiamo di gente morta in circostanza non naturali e inoltre avverte anche l'impronta cioe il marchio che porta in se il predatore ovvero l'assassino. \n Questo dono tenuto segreto a tutti,tranne che alla familia e a suo (amico) Jay,la tormenta da quando ad 8 anni scopre il cadavere di una ragazza scomparsa,,,,,da li tutto si placa; \n Violet riesce solo a percepire echi d animali uccisi da predatori della loro stessa specie,fin a quando nella sua citta una serie di rapimenti e omicidi brutali,iniziano a susseguirsi sempre piu spesso. \n Violet protagonista involontaria di ritrovamenti macabri e situazioni pericolose,cerchera di stanare gli omicidi rischiano fino alla fine la sua vita! \n Un thriller ben articolato e una tenera amicizia che cedera il passo all'amore, creano un mix adrenalinico e coinvolgente! \n Con uno stile semplice ma non banale, la Derting riesce a creare una suspance costante nel lettore,mischiando il tutto con il romanticismo di una storia d'amore dolce e intensa!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 18 14:28:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 03 06:44:14 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "12267565", "review_id": "c802a65023ef6ff881415cc16cd7de24", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Tre angeli piovuti dal cielo, come lampi di luce... Gabriel l'arcangelo guerriero fiero,taciturno; Ivy un'angelo guaritrice gentile e sempre pronta ad aiutare il prossimo; e Bethany un angelo alla sua prima esperienza sulla Terra, ingenua, fiduciosa e appassionata. \n Sono stati mandati sulla terra come agenti della luce perche una serie di tragedie si e abbattuta su Venus Cove una pacifica cittadina in riva al mare. Gli angeli sospettano che la causa di questi eventi sfortunati, apparentemente casuali, possano essere opera degli agenti delle tenebre, emissari di Lucifero. \n Per questo motivo entrano a far parte di questa comunita, prendendo le sembianze di comuni cittadini... per poter indagare a riguardo e intervenire qualora si presentasse un pericolo imminente. \n Bethany assume le sembianze di un'adolescente e frequenta il liceo Bryce Hamilton, Gabriel e il professore di musica e Ivy volontaria presso le associazioni di Venus Cove... tutti e tre i fratelli vivono insieme in una villa poco distante dal liceo. \n Sin da subito per Bethany calarsi nelle sembianze umane risulta difficile, diventare umana la sconvolge intensamente; si sente in preda ad una vertigine di sensazioni sconosciute che si sovrappongono e mutano di continuo, confondendola tanto da non riuscire a dominare le sue emozioni. Vive tutto cio che la circonda con estrema curiosita e il suo primo segno di debolezza e proprio quello di lasciarsi trascinare dalla curiosita umana! \n A differenza dei suoi fratelli che piu volte hanno intrapreso missioni pacifiche sulla terra, Beth e alla sua prima esperienza ma, inaspettatamente, questo angelo riesce a essere umana veramente, e incuriosita dai sentimenti che le persone provano con tanta intensita ogni giorno... primo fra tutti l'amore, sentimento che agli angeli e precluso! \n Ed e proprio mentre Beth passeggia con i fratelli in riva alla spiaggia che si imbattono in Xavier... solo un sorriso e uno scambio breve di battute ma per Beth sara l'inizio di qualcosa di speciale. \n Quanto puo essere intenso un sentimento sconosciuto? \n A cosa andra in contro Beth pur di vivere l'amore che prova per Xavier? \n Innegabile l'alchimia immediata tra i due, Beth e Xavier sfideranno le regole del cielo per stare insieme. \n Beth si rende conto che non puo fare a meno di lui, e come l'aria che respira... ogni minuto lontano da lui la fa star male! \n Xavier non e da meno ama ogni cosa di lei e la reputa una ragazza meravigliosa. Quando Beth gli rivela il suo segreto entrambi sentono che tutto cio li rendera piu uniti. \n Ma in tutto questo idillio arriva l'affascinante antagonista delle tenebre Jake Thorn, emissario di Lucifero che dara del filo da torcere ai nostri angeli.... e portera Beth a prendere consapevolezza dei suoi poteri! \n Lo stile della Adornetto e giovane e fresco. Nei primi capitoli questo romanzo mi ha appassionata, descrive ogni emozione in maniera semplice ma intensa, riesce a farmi vedere attraverso gli occhi di Beth il suo cambiamento da angelo a umana innamorata! \n Ma mentre scorrono i capitoli alcuni riferimenti alla sfera celeste iniziano a ripetersi in un susseguirsi di spiegazioni superflue che mi danno l'impressione di avere tra le mani un libro di catechismo invece di un fantasy! \n Non e una battuta per strappare un sorriso e la mia opinione. Mi aspettavo che questa storia, all'inizio tormentata e (subito) dopo approvata, avesse un'evoluzione invece rimane piatta, senza picchi o bruschi passi indietro (sospesa). \n Persino la missione di pace passa in secondo piano per lasciare spazio alle vicissitudini di adolescente di Beth: ballo, vestiti, tormenti e insicurezze amorose. \n Nel rapporto tra Beth e Xavier non c'e passione o slancio... calma piatta! \n Una perenne quiete senza il barlume di una tempesta a ravvivare la trama e il sexy cattivone demonietto non diventa il terzo incomodo ma un piacevole diversivo alla noia! \n Lui che non rappresenta il triangolo ma soltanto, secondo me, il motivo per poter dare seguito alla trilogia, che altrimenti si sarebbe esaurita molti capitoli prima della fine. \n Il romanzo ha delle potenzialita ma che non vengono sfruttate. Potrebbe tranquillamente essere un telefilm americano su un liceo con gli angeli per protagonisti. \n Aimhe devo leggere il seguito Hades, spero di trovare la verve che cerco in un libro, perche in caso contrario la trilogia diventera per quanto mi riguarda una duologia ;) \n Voto: 2/5 stelline Goodreads.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 15 18:07:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 02 03:09:17 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Sep 30 17:29:42 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Sep 28 17:12:50 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "12628058", "review_id": "c31f149f41366e7723dc854a7ddafce1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Due anime nate insieme che respirano e vivono in simbiosi, ma non fatte della stessa materia! \n Voglio crederci, posso crederci che sin da quando nasciamo non siamo soli e qualcuno,come lucian con becks,c cammini accanto e sogni con noi. \n L intensita d questa storia mi ha rapita,tutta la trama e ben mescolata con vari elementi,il mistero,la mancanza e la ricerca di quella parte d se,che la protagonista c fa vivere come un ossessione! \n Splendidi i riferimenti filosofici e alla letteratura inglese che personalmente adoro! \n Il finale e come dovrebbe essere triste, doloroso e giusto!", "date_added": "Sun Jul 15 18:03:25 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 29 01:58:10 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jul 28 09:13:35 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jul 25 17:33:04 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "6752378", "review_id": "15ccd82c88e25b2b3e34e36b4f7ad0eb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Voglio COLS now", "date_added": "Sat Jul 07 16:58:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 07 16:59:16 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "3777732", "review_id": "0548e3cd6313268b70e0d86a47d37b34", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love Cassy", "date_added": "Sat Jul 07 16:58:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 07 16:58:23 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "1582996", "review_id": "e01ea97eb86fa6c1403f69277339ede0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Puo rivelarsi un fantasy cosi superlativo???? \n certamente se a scriverlo e una donna che rende quasi reale un mondo completamente immaginario!", "date_added": "Sat Jul 07 16:55:26 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 07 16:57:51 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "f9e224d875458fef15248c59cc3fb60e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "La mia saga preferita insieme ad infernal device", "date_added": "Sat Jul 07 16:54:46 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 07 16:55:15 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "14860083", "review_id": "1fcf0b513d2b2f936135beae435a36fb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n CHI E MARA DYER? \n Un incubo,un allucinazione,una visone, la pazzia e la confusione d Mara sono le mie,,,la certezza di causare del male con il pensiero m tolgono il respiro e m fanno annaspare alla ricerca della verita che non vuole arrivare. \n Poi ce lui Noah bastardo,trasandato,intelligente e saccente ma sexy da far perdere il senno. Tutto d questo libro mi affascina e mi trascina giu sempre piu giu in una spirale d oblio della mente e dei ricordi di Mara descritta alla perfezione da questa esordiente che scrive con una tensione e passione avvincente.il finale e come la nebbia piu fitta dopo una rivelazione ma almeno con il secondo sapro chi e Mara DYER?", "date_added": "Sat Jul 07 15:44:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 06 06:17:11 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "13450054", "review_id": "91b11e0d9e759fe45573cafee535d588", "rating": 3, "review_text": "L'amore e un sentimento insidioso...a volte nasce inaspettatamente dall'odio per il nostro peggiore nemico!\" \n Il bacio della sirena e il primo capitolo della trilogia nata dalla penna di Tera Lynn Childs,ambientata nell'affascinante mondo delle sirene. \n Lily Sanderson e una giovane sirena di 17 anni con un carattere ironico,ostinato e romantico.Vive da tre anni con la zia Rachel a Seawiev per frequentare il liceo della citta. \n Ma Lily non e una comune sirena,lei e l'erede al trono del regno di Thalassinia,un posto magico che si trova nel fondo del mare celato da km di barriera corallina! \n In realta lei e per meta umana e per meglio entrare in sintonia con il mondo al quale apparteneva la madre,decide di vivere temporaneamente sulla terra,attenta a non svelare il suo segreto.Ma proprio durante il suo primo giorno di scuola la nostra protagonista si imbatte in Brody Bennet capitano della squadra di nuoto,un ragazzo bello e intelligente che la fa innamorare immediatamente.Nonostante lei provi a dichiarargli il suo amore,puntualmente Lily e ostacolata dal suo incubo peggiore Quince Fletcher suo vicino di casa che dal primo giorno la punzecchia con dispetti,battutine e telefonate irriverenti.Ma Lily e quanto mai sicura di quello che vuole(piu o meno) tra poche settimane sara il suo 18deg compleanno e dovra scegliere il compagno che sara al suo fianco quando diventera regina del suo regno.Un piano perfettamente organizzato....a pochi giorni dal ballo scolastico,Lily supportata dalla sua migliore amica Shannen,dichiarera il suo amore a Brody svelando gli il suo segreto...(facile piu a dirsi che a farsi!) ma quando Quince le ruba un bacio tutto cambia e il destino prende il sopravvento! \n \"Il mio corpo ed il mio cuore sanno cose che il mio cervello non necessariamente capisce\". \n Lo stile della Childs e giovane,fresco e ironico,cosparso da divertentissimi nomignoli sui pesci che rendono il romanzo brioso e leggero (il termine porcatrota,usato puntualmente da Lily mi fa sorridere sempre!). \n La trama e non e banale anzi l'ho trovata estrosa e originale,se da piccoli avete amato il cartone animato della Disney non vi lascera delusi;anche il finale non e prevedibile perche l'autrice riesce a catturare l'attenzione con grande fantasia. \n I personaggi principali sono ben descritti e caratterizzati,anche se ho trovato quanto mai fastidioso il continuo elencare,da parte di Lily,i particolari fisici di Brody... \n Lily e un'adolescente molto ostinata e romantica che persevera nell'amare non tanto Brody ma l'idea dell'amore stesso,invece che aprire mente e cuore! \n Brody il comune adolescente,intento a primeggiare nelle discipline sportive e nei cuori delle sue coetanee da subito non ha catturato la mia attenzione,perche sembra il solito cliche del bello e vuoto...Quince invece immediatamente mi ha colpita,i suoi dispetti,la sua ossessione nel tormentare LIly e la sua apparente sfacciataggine nascondono un ragazzo protettivo,premuroso e tenace,,,si proprio la tenacia sara la caratteristica che rendera Quince tanto adorabile ai miei occhi! Shannen e Peri le due migliori amiche,la prima terrestre e l'altra marina,sono a mio avviso quasi la stessa persona,per il modo pressoche identico nel quale aiutano Lily a far chiarezza nei suoi sentimenti con pazienza e affetto.Infine il Re un padre paziente e affettuoso che costringe quasi la figlia a ponderare sulla sua scelta......perche a differenza di lei non ha le conchiglie sugli occhi! \n Unica voce narrante del romanzo e la nostra sirena,che attraverso i suoi occhi descrive le differenze tra il nostro mondo e il suo amato regno di Thalassinia; trovo affascinante il modo in cui l'autrice ci permette di creare una visione personale di questo luogo immaginario dove e nata Lily,cosi pieno di colori vivaci di pace e di liberta.Persino la velata critica rivolta a gli umani sul loro approfittare e non rispettare delle meraviglie offerte dal mare,trovo si stata giusta e dovuta! \n La storia e incantevole e romantica....spesso l'ostinazione della protagonista mi fa innervosire,il suo continuo negare cio che e palese a tutti,il rifiuto di amare chi ricambia il suo amore solo perche non e in grado di vedere aldila della superficie...il credere che i sentimenti siano causati da un presunto legame.....invece che dalla magia piu forte cioe ~ l'amore~ mi fanno esclamare piu volte buon Poseidone questa ragazza e una testa di cefalo ;) ,,,,, \n Come dice Quince: \n ~L'amore non ha nulla a che fare con l'ossessione.....l'amore e un legame...e magia~ \n Ho trovato questo libro una piacevole lettura per la vivacita e la dolcezza del messaggio che porta sull'amore e pur trattandosi di una trilogia non lascia sospesi e trepidanti in attesa del seguito.....se v asterrete dal leggere le brevi frasi dell'epilogo potreste persino considerarlo auto conclusivo ;) \n Voto 3/5 stelline goodreads", "date_added": "Sat Jul 07 15:42:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 05 07:43:59 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Oct 05 07:43:59 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Oct 03 04:43:50 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "15714032", "review_id": "dcba498f4c553f41a329b6b46cf6e056", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Anna vestita di sangue e cio che m aspettavo sin dalle prime pagine,,,,ovvero un susseguirsi di scene ipnotiche dark,terrificanti e a tratti splatter, che mi hanno incollata letteralmente capitolo dopo capitolo,,finendo questo libro in un solo giorno. Merito del cacciatore di spiriti Cas coraggioso,auto ironico e maledettamente adorabile per il modo nel quale si arrende a lei, dea della morte vestita d gocce d sangue su d un corpo pallido ,con neri lucidi capelli fluttuanti nelle tenebre. Lei assassina spietata e spirito smarrito,lo risparmia e da li in poi,in un crescendo di emozioni difficili da gestire,fiorisce la piu tenera storia d'amore,che portera Anna,vittima di un'atroce morte a spezzare la maledizione che la obbligava a seminare orrore e morte. La morte che si impiglia tra le fila dell'amore, che si sacrifica per esso, verso la redenzione dell'anima ,,,, appena finito e desiderosa di vedere Cas e Anna vivere il meglio dell'amore che hanno appena imparato a condividere", "date_added": "Sat Jul 07 15:33:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 16 15:22:04 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "11020220", "review_id": "384c89cfb9f11113df8d3b2aa8f3cc5c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Ennesimo errore ahime... le belle cover stanno diventando uno specchietto per le allodole! \n La copertina di questo libro mi ha fatto l'occhiolino, ed io ho iniziato la lettura di questo young-adult sul paranormale, che pur avendo una trama interessante e originale si e rivelato un po' troppo young per me! \n Oramai ho sviluppato la capacita di intuire, gia dai primissimi capitoli, se un libro e in grado di rapirmi... temo che attualmente il genere fantasy stia diventando un susseguirsi ridondante di trame scopiazzate, con l'odioso e onnipresente triangolo amoroso! \n La nostra protagonista si chiama Evelyn un adolescente orfana che vive e lavora presso l'agenzia internazionale per il controllo del paranormale. Evie e un agente che armata del suo taser rosa riesce a neutralizzare le creature soprannaturali, perche e in grado di vedere al di la dell'aspetto comune delle persone. \n Infatti i un affascinante vampiro ai suoi occhi non e altro che carne morta e putrefatta (addio Edward Cullen!). I licantropi apparentemente violenti in realta nascondono un'indole fragile e tenera... fate tutt'altro che dolci a lei appaiono bisbetiche e inaffidabili, come il suo ex fidanzato Reth! \n Evie una ragazza (normale) e interamente circondata dal paranormale. Persino la sua amica del cuore Lish e un'adorabile sirena verde che comunica con lei attraverso un monitor. E Raquel, la sua educatrice/quasi mamma che si e presa cura di lei quando era poco piu che una bimba. \n La vita di Evie scorre cosi tra una missione e una puntata del suo adorato telefilm, \n fino a quando nel centro, dopo un intrusione, lei cattura un mutaforma Preston (neanche a farlo apposta bellissimo!) tutto perfetto penserete... ma quando mai! Evie subisce le insistenti e soffocanti attenzioni del suo ex Reth che le tende di continuo trappole amorose. Eccolo il tanto odiato triangolino amoroso di ormoni adolescenziali! Evie sin da subito si prende una cotta per Prestom ... (anche io). \n Da li il via alla vera azione, fughe, segreti, profezie sotto forma di versi renderanno la seconda parte piu viva e intensa. Evie si trovera a vivere il suo sogno integrarsi con i suoi coetanei, normali liceali che studiano, fanno shopping e si preparano per andare al ballo della scuola. \n La scoperta della sua vera natura la rendera insicura e timorosa... sempre tentata da cio che vorrebbe e da cio che e giusto per lei. \n La storia e frizzante e allegra, in certi punti esilarante e in altri romantica ma... non mi ha catturata tanto. Forse e decisamente troppo young per me, mi aspettavo un risvolto piu interessante invece spesso e lenta sopratutto la prima parte! \n Dolce, impavida, brillante e con un grande bisogno di protezione, Evie e una deliziosa protagonista... sempre vestita di rosa. \n Preston affascinante e premuroso conquisterebbe ogni ragazza, anche per il fatto che puo mutare il suo aspetto con tutti i fighi dei telefilm. \n Reth una fata ragazzo pericoloso e irresistibile, apparentemente innamorato di Evie nasconde piu segreti che buone intenzioni. \n Mi auguro che il secondo capitolo della trilogia abbandoni questi toni troppo adolescenziali e la storia diventi piu paranormale. \n Una lettura leggera e semplice, adatta ad un pubblico giovane o a chi non pretende tanto da un fantasy. \n Voto: 2,5 stelline", "date_added": "Sat Jul 07 15:32:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 20 05:10:18 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Sep 19 14:04:59 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Sep 16 03:01:06 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "9256414", "review_id": "014e90076aa10d2af90f09a33271de68", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Una trama semplice e delicata, una grande forza di volonta che riesce a salvare un ragazzo...salva lui ma inconsapevolmente salva se stessa! \n Spezza un circolo vizioso di incubi,morte e solitudine assoluta cioe il mondo nel quale Amelia vive da troppo tempo. \n Da questo atto di puro altruismo i sentimenti,i ricordi e le sensazioni di una vita si risvegliano prepotentemente in Amelia, che sperimenta la cosa piu dolce che l'anima riesce a ricordare,ovvero l'amore. Joshua vede Amelia e tutto cambia, le carezze,il contatto ,dapprima impossibile per entrambi,man mano forzano le barriere dei due mondi..lei terrorizzata e sempre pronta all'eventualita che lui scappi a gambe levate e lui che la conquista amando il suo spirito come fosse fatto di carne,sangue e ossa. \n Mi trovo,da inguaribile romantica,ad essere pervasa da questo sentimento che capitolo dopo capitolo commuove ,per le insicurezze di lei e fa sorridere per il modo in cui lui riesce a crederle sempre e con un affetto spiazzante e tenero all'inverosimile \n Penso e spero che questa trilogia sia destinata ad incantarmi anche nei capitoli futuri", "date_added": "Fri Jul 06 18:23:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 29 15:57:42 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "11387392", "review_id": "b4514a32387bcfbbc3e3d326bf686444", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Negazione, \n Rabbia, \n Patteggiamento, \n Tristezza, \n Accettazione \n Ogni fase,un passo avanti,un sorriso,una lacrima,,,un ricordo. \n Patrick meraviglioso angelo custode,paziente,spiritoso,,,brillante e e Brie con tutti i suoi nomignoli formaggiosi e divertenti...sperimenta il dolore,la rabbia e la vendetta per poi capitolare a tutti i suoi ricordi,che prepotentemente riaffioreranno in lei. \n Questo libro fa male ma apre gli occhi e il cuore sull inevitabilita degli eventi,che c travolgono e cambiano tutto! \n Ti aspettero sempre e per sempre patrick a brie", "date_added": "Tue Jul 03 03:47:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 23 08:43:15 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jul 23 08:43:15 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jul 20 17:41:23 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "6131164", "review_id": "a73766970198ff216dcda11715248f35", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Non 5...non 10 o 100... \n Ma mille stelle goodreads per questo libro! \n Ho trovato,tra le sue pagine,ogni cosa che il mio cuore aveva sperato e desiderato leggere. \n Non un semplice finale di saga,bensi un inno all'amicizia e all'amore piu puro e veritiero,un alchimia perfetta di elementi ed emozioni,orchestrati in maniera eccelsa da una donna,la Clare,capace di trasformare in parole e poesia le vere emozioni del cuore! \n Questa non e una recensione,bensi un commento a caldo...credo che appena il mio cuore smettera di frullare come un mulinello impazzito,forse saro in grado di esprimere quello che questo libro \"adorato\" ha lasciato nei miei pensieri e nel mio cuore! \n Perfetto oltre ogni possibile immaginazione ;)", "date_added": "Mon Jun 25 13:16:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 26 16:30:46 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jul 26 16:30:46 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "8490112", "review_id": "48bba4d3833417808baea4ad466aaef0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Karou e Akiva ,,,una volta un angelo si innamoro di un demone,,,,,non fini bene \n Fantasmagorico,sorprendente con una protagonista indipendente,curiosa e con il dono del'arte nelle vene! \n Sotto il cielo di Praga e tra i vicoli di Marrakesh si rivela la storia di un grande antico amore,,,,,,che sopravvive con la magia", "date_added": "Sun Jun 24 15:33:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 27 15:23:11 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 7}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "6068551", "review_id": "022828b969e0d2fce5939719339cc127", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Poesia infinitamente dolce e romantica. Adoro Sam perche e capace di amare Grace anche da lupo e in una maniera talmente intesa che commuove", "date_added": "Sun Jun 24 12:40:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 12 14:45:26 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "10637766", "review_id": "ea3b3b915cbb7c100c6f0cf62fdfd282", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Finalmente vengono svelate molte dinamiche e si lotta e ama a carte scoperte ! Voglio finale", "date_added": "Sun Jun 24 12:30:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 18 02:21:29 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "7791997", "review_id": "9eb1bb2305a2f93a62a05867f8ae2be3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ancora piu interessante del primo,,,, letto in un solo giorno ;)", "date_added": "Sun Jun 24 12:28:21 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 19 03:16:39 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "6339664", "review_id": "e837338767a113489872463cdf39a3e3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3 e mezzo!", "date_added": "Sun Jun 24 12:26:02 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 19 03:17:48 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "12588363", "review_id": "193cc596514a2ae4d3236b26a3933491", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Una piccola chicca romantica sull'amore,in tutte le sue forme,,,,,,", "date_added": "Thu Jun 21 17:00:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 19 15:15:29 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jun 26 08:46:18 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jun 21 17:00:48 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "12716010", "review_id": "a4dd8692be89c89a289d4f504e29df23", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Attesi la pubblicazione di Rapture con molto impazienza, non perche avessi amato particolarmente questa saga, ma perche speravo che la Kate potesse stupirmi e farmi ricredere... Tutto cio non e successo! \n Sono una donna molto moderna e romantica, persino in un libro sugli zombie cerco la love story, ma qui la Kate ha interamente cosparso un libro di melassa :( \n Luce ha perso ogni mistero, la maledizione oramai sembra una favoletta della buonanotte, tutta la guerra in corso e le morti che essa ha causato fumo negli occhi... \n Daniel oh Daniel, sei diventato solo un mezzo di trasporto con le ali????? \n Inutile e mai presente quando la sua presenza era richiesta... \n Cam, il mio adorato e splendido Cam, totalmente in ombra, anzi quasi mai presente. \n Lucifero, proprio lui, il male in persona, la somma di tute le sofferenze... stregato dall'amore... \n Seriuosly??? \n Il finale sembra Armageddon in salsa rosa, la verita su ogni cosa e quasi un bluff privo di intensita e pathos! \n 4 libri ed uno spin off, o San-Valentino-battelapesca dei protagonisti, (Inutili) anzi costosamente inutili! \n Molti di voi non saranno d'accordo con me, posso capirlo, ma cio non toglie che la storia con un paio di libri in meno sarebbe potuta essere, mooooolto piu intensa e credibile! \n Sconsigliato assolutamente, saro pur romantica, ma non da unicorni che saltano su arcobaleni ;)", "date_added": "Tue Jun 19 18:37:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 07 05:47:04 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "6918909", "review_id": "ab97c3abf1b5a0b0c078627be96ed2f9", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Ho atteso molto il seguito di Spells, perche la storia pur trattando di fate ed avendo una connotazione molto Young, aveva un non so che di dolce e poetico. \n In Wings, abbiamo conosciuto la dolce Laurel, una sedicenne che si scopre Fata e la dolce storia che sboccia tra lei e David... In Spells, la Pike introduce il mio ADORATO triangolo... oramai non si puo farne a meno! Ma nonostante cio, Tamani diventa il mio personaggio preferito, pur essendo una Fata uomo (!?!?!?) \n Ma Illusion no, no, no e ancora no! \n I personaggi, Laurel in primis, diventano di un odioso da ulcera! \n David sembra una nuvola nera che si aggira nella storia, Lauren tiene male il piedi in due scarpe e Tamani gia a fare il dolce viscido... La storia dei Troll, ecc va a farsi friggere... Avalon appena nominata, ma il SIPARIETTO-TRIANGOLO permane e diviene l'unica cosa che riempie le sonnolente pagine! \n Una storia soporifera ed estremamente noiosa, un pessimo terzo libro, per una saga che aveva buone basi, ma che per via di u triangolo onnipresente, ha sciupato la sua chance! \n Ho intenzione di leggere Destined, magari in questo finale di saga la Pike si riscattera, ma Illusion mi ha delusa parecchio e percio... sconsigliato assolutamente.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 19 08:58:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 07 15:08:25 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "13608426", "review_id": "2e7ade0e6a4eb11094ed1e759cdc2acf", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Cercasi angelo oscuro...almeno tu sei stato sempre coerente!", "date_added": "Sat Jun 16 17:18:08 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 19 01:49:22 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "13630823", "review_id": "96ed0cc7769550e6baed024822136cf9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Mi chiamo Juliette ho 17 anni,,ho una maledizione,io ho un dono! \"Schegge di me\" mi ha assolutamente travolta, mille schegge di emozioni conficcate nel cuore,ognuna fatta di un emozione diversa,rabbia,dolore,isolamento,tristezza,pazzia,,,,poi amicizia,amore,passione e speranza.Quello che affronta juliette e assurdo quanto tragico ma rende l'idea di questa ragazza sin da dubito,lei riesce a metabolizzare il dolore e lo trasforma come monito per far dl bene,,,e splendida Poi c'e lui Adam Kent dal momento in cui entra nella sua cella {fatto che mi ha cominciato a mandare in corto} Trasforma tutto in juliette ,,,, e da li sciogliera il cuore di lei e mio ;)in piu riesce a toccarla anima e sopratutto corpo!!!! Poi arriva Warmer assolutamente diverso da Adam ma non di meno affascinante,bastardo e la ama nel modo piu pericoloso e possessivi dl termine. Juliette sperimenta tutto di se ,,,adesso vede un varco,una scelta,un futuro diverso dall isolamento che ha vissuto in 17 anni. Spero di leggere il seguito presto perche dentro questo libro la Mafi ha messo un mix perfetto di fantasy,romance e un tocco alla xman che adoro leggetelo perche risveglia ogni terminazione nervosa nel corpo", "date_added": "Fri Jun 15 15:43:51 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 08 15:49:04 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jul 20 17:31:05 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jul 17 15:57:37 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "13416555", "review_id": "e284bc19e7ac89f498909f3f29b1793e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Avrei senza ombra di dubbio preferito un altro finale,,,,,,fa troppo pearl harbor film! \n Peggio di Beautiful...una telenovela fantasy -.-\"", "date_added": "Fri Jun 15 05:36:24 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 02 03:08:11 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "14897101", "review_id": "fd508a3b1c44194a52782d7862cd386d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Intenso,imprevedibile,audace,pericolo e sul filo del pessimo tempismo. \n Tutto cio che accade in clockwork Prince ti rapisce e fa inchiodare chi lo legge ai capitoli che si susseguono senza lasciare il tempo di prendere fiato e riordinate gli eventi. I protagonisti se pur giovanissimi,sono estremamente caparbi e per nulla frivoli,ognuno con il proprio segno distintivo uno la dolcezza,l'altro la passione e lei Tessa, suo malgrado bilancia di tutti i sentimenti che ruotano intorno.Ancora piu travolgente e ricco di eventi del primo libro,il principe chiarisce e delinea le caratteristiche,le emozioni e le esperienze del passato dei nostri protagonisti ,,,,,,,con colpi di scena astuti e struggenti.Ora mi trovo a desiderare di avere gia tra le mani clockwork princess perche la virtu che meno mi appartiene e proprio la pazienza ;) assolutamente da leggere", "date_added": "Thu Jun 14 14:55:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 23 18:31:09 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jun 23 18:31:09 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jun 18 18:39:54 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "15286633", "review_id": "6e1b0ee7f2a7787385a8e9e2a2ef003d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Leggendo dreamless. il significato geometrico di triangolo equilatero si fa largo nella mia mente,perche non potrei immaginare una situazione piu esatta. L'amore nasce,si insinua e sconvolge la vita di Helen senza che lei ne sia consapevole,in un crescendo di situazioni pericolose,terrificanti e squisitamente dolci. Lucas ed Orion sono l'anima gemella scissa in due corpi di semidei,che per Helen si trovano a spalleggiarsi pur di proteggerla,,,,,,lei ignara e bellissima eroina di una guerra che per lei e iniziata ma grazie a lei avra finalmente un agoniato epilogo nell'attesissimo (per quanto mi riguarda) finale ovvero Goddess", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 16:34:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 06 17:32:16 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jul 06 17:17:56 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jul 04 09:20:04 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "9462795", "review_id": "46275b1bea756ffca56937ed315684de", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Starcroassed cattura chi lo legge,perche come inizio lancia una bomba, due ragazzi che come calamite si attirano e respingono mentre tentano invano di ucciderai a vicenda! \n Gia questo innesca una voglia d capire e sapere poi mentre entrambi stanno per annientarsi l'amore irrompe e i giochi cambiano !intenso,pericoloso e infinitamente dolce come solo un amore contrastato dal fato puo essere,,,Lucas e Helen protagonisti di una tragedia greca che ha origini antiche come l'amore che condividono", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 15:28:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 04 09:19:30 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jul 04 09:19:30 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jul 02 09:44:29 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "8715032", "review_id": "7aafe7574cc8c1e34f3dff9f1605e9ef", "rating": 4, "review_text": "attualmente,,,,trovo che sia delizioso e misterioso da leggere", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 15:15:02 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 07 03:05:08 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jun 15 05:35:14 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9f30590bdd5c8860cb36c8d02ab30fac", "book_id": "11648636", "review_id": "28162d018dbebdb79b419c1702d1a553", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Iniziato per rispondere ad una provocazione e capitolo dopo capitolo, mordi e fuggi, lite e attimo di dolcezza fugace,mi sento stregata dalla loro storia travagliata e travolgente. Filo conduttore la tenacia cocciuta e ingenua di Giulia che contro ogni pronostico fa sperimentare questo sentimento nuovo e sconosciuto al saccente Max che si trova davanti un mondo che non ha mai sperimentato quello dei sentimenti umani! \n Finale che mi spiazza ma sicuramente non banale ;) lettura intensa e scorrevole consigliato di \n nota personale,,,leggete questo libro ascoltando \" londra brucia\"dei negroamaro perche sembra scritta per questo libro ;)", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 14:58:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 09 03:36:48 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4339bffa6eb6752f9f0e4c89b06bcef9", "book_id": "25867895", "review_id": "7be32928141d79363da1f174f0ef93b8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book feels like a new classic, authentic, original, and technically accomplished. Not to be missed.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 25 08:05:06 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 25 08:07:40 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4339bffa6eb6752f9f0e4c89b06bcef9", "book_id": "29633821", "review_id": "b649232b4aa1b9233cc89e3175c3a844", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Stueart's writing takes risks, plays with ideas, surprises and delights.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 29 09:33:44 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 29 09:35:28 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4339bffa6eb6752f9f0e4c89b06bcef9", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "56f89ec13a0720d39e573a6d24592074", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved this book and found the structure inspiring. The carnavalesque, the permission that is circus, the elaborately created magic creations... I loved everything about it including the love story.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 09 18:53:36 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 05 17:06:47 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4339bffa6eb6752f9f0e4c89b06bcef9", "book_id": "17847279", "review_id": "3ed12dd8414843782d755a251cdf5b3b", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I can't review this book because I have a poem in it! \"Fallow God.\"", "date_added": "Sat Jun 01 04:59:00 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 29 06:50:49 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7673e2cf787978e68883d0584a4e2797", "book_id": "2", "review_id": "3a4cd08f9e5a35593d55f42da9997696", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Even though this is the longest book in the series and somehow didn't take me as long to read as goblet of fire took me, this one (so far) is my favourite that I've read in the series!! GAAAHH! So good! I can only hope that there are just as many Fred and George shenanigans in book 6.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 18 20:47:27 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 21 07:32:36 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Sep 18 14:08:23 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7673e2cf787978e68883d0584a4e2797", "book_id": "561456", "review_id": "68158bdb7e29e4a164f14cb309e42d27", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Strong 4.5! Liked it better than the sea of monsters, pretty much on the same level as the lightning thief, and that DAM joke had me ROFL!dY$?PS", "date_added": "Wed May 03 07:15:18 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu May 11 06:21:05 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu May 11 06:21:05 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7673e2cf787978e68883d0584a4e2797", "book_id": "464164", "review_id": "439b021d9e2ed83b09d9f412c236bcc5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "These books always end in the best ways! This answered alot of questions I had from seeing the movie first that the movie never answered for me and always left me confused. Good job [?][?][?][?][?]", "date_added": "Wed Apr 27 13:44:48 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 11 22:32:54 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jan 12 22:32:54 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jan 07 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7673e2cf787978e68883d0584a4e2797", "book_id": "72193", "review_id": "42c6eba23c26a0d8de4d4dfe207e078a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ive said this in some of my updates but I'm very pleased with how close the book and movie are to each other. Sometimes when a book is made into a movie I'm worried that they're going to be so drastically different. This is my first time reading the book after seeing the movie countless times since 2001 and..just..[?][?][?][?][?] all the way around.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 12 16:35:06 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 01 10:43:29 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat May 28 13:51:07 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7673e2cf787978e68883d0584a4e2797", "book_id": "6261522", "review_id": "83c037ac282097cf3a72e5c1fe4bb1d7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I WISH I COULD GIVE THIS MORE THAN 5 STARS!! I would give it infinite stars if I could! This is now one of my new favourite books, and 1 of 3 best books I've read so far this year! My full review/gush will be up on my YouTube channel really soon; YouTube.com/c/kayychristina", "date_added": "Mon Sep 28 00:21:57 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 04 21:28:01 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Oct 06 09:50:34 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7673e2cf787978e68883d0584a4e2797", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "aa423209d221d14bc026994fe71994d6", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I didn't understand, really at all any of the jargon in this book that he talks about. And even though there were some funny bits.. I'm still dnfing.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 15 06:34:21 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 01 21:05:10 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed May 03 06:57:37 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7673e2cf787978e68883d0584a4e2797", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "50881fc1b53d5a85dbb07c7ee19ce017", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really wanted to like this more than I did. Because of the pictures it made me think that the story would give me more than I thought it did. The story was just okay for me.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 18 07:37:12 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 23 22:19:10 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Aug 24 22:19:10 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7673e2cf787978e68883d0584a4e2797", "book_id": "103386", "review_id": "b6cd5eea5fef445f75d79403fd7bc30e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5[?][?][?][?] I wish I could've updated when I finished a certain chapter or book in this bind up but since it's a bind up it didn't come with normal page numbers. Nonetheless I thoroughly enjoyed this. I loved the movie when it came out and I'm glad that seeing the movie first before reading (or hearing about) the book series didn't ruin it for me. I tried to read one book a day, but life happened and it kinda slowed me down. But I still think I got through it in good time. The writing was great, I loved how things were described and even though I felt lost at some points when either of the grace kids were in a fight scene or describing the layout of the house or the woods, I got the gist of it enough that I still knew what was basically going on. The illustrations were great, character development was good.. I was perfectly ok with some parts being predictable. I'm going to go find the box set of this series so I can have the books individually.", "date_added": "Sun May 10 08:29:49 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed May 25 19:56:21 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed May 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5b703f47ba48f4227e044958ab17d99", "book_id": "17675462", "review_id": "95a0d9fe14211ce260adba14bc762c72", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Amazon! Love the characters and the great story!", "date_added": "Sat Sep 09 15:45:20 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 13 06:26:37 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Sep 13 06:26:37 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5b703f47ba48f4227e044958ab17d99", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "ba9f92ce624611eb0873c4ecca9d1a81", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Such an incredible and unique story! I really want to know what is coming next!", "date_added": "Wed Oct 19 20:57:24 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 22 12:47:24 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Oct 22 12:47:24 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5b703f47ba48f4227e044958ab17d99", "book_id": "21400509", "review_id": "e308bcebf15a61249455c2290729f7ae", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2.5 \n Creo que se ha mantenido en la linea de los anteriores. El final ha sido muy predecible, con solo un problema clave que se resolvio de un forma muy sencilla. \n Pocos personajes \"evolucionan\", las relaciones se mantienen igual y aunque la narracion es fluida, hay errores, especialmente al comienzo. \n Tiffany podria haber hecho un mejor trabajo pues tenia ideas, pero se quedo floja al desarrollarlas. \n Lo recomiendo a aquellos que quieran pasar un rato entretenido, con magia, peleas, amores pastelosos y sentimientos descontrolados.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 14 12:18:50 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 16 13:29:29 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jan 16 13:29:29 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5b703f47ba48f4227e044958ab17d99", "book_id": "17825661", "review_id": "7a8199b081561e312c5026ae608d75f8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "La segunda parte de la trilogia nos adentra aun mas en el universo de Lesath y a pesar de que tiene algunos fallos, mejora en cuanto al primero. \n Los personajes siguen siendo muy inmaduros y las relaciones son abruptas, pero comenzamos a ver mejor sus caracteres y como piensan. \n Hay varios plot-twist que le dan mayor interes a la historia y el ritmo es mas constante. Ademas ya no contamos con los errores gramaticales de la edicion anterior. \n Creo que Tiffany ha mejorado, pero hay momentos en los que todo se vuelve confuso por la manera en que se narra o por la falta de coherencia. \n Aun asi es un avance y espero que el tercero pueda al menos mantenerse.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 12 15:03:18 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 14 12:12:35 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jan 14 12:12:35 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5b703f47ba48f4227e044958ab17d99", "book_id": "16103347", "review_id": "f3289faaf252b1ccdc0c9a7faada11c0", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2.5 \n Cuando comence su lectura, pense en abandonarlo, pero decidi darle una oportunidad y espero que el segundo sea mejor. \n El mayor problema son los personajes y las relaciones amorosas, no son creibles y no parecen actuar como jovenes de 19, 20 anos. Junto a esto, hay escenas que no se comprenden muy bien y las peleas son algo absurdas. \n La forma en que estan organizados los hechos es rara y los capitulos son muy largos a mi gusto. Ademas, hay ciertos errores de redaccion que pueden ser debido a la edicion. \n Sin embargo, la lectura es ligera, facil de seguir y la trama es interesante. Los complots politicos y el desarrollo del mundo son buenos, por lo que te atrae a seguir leyendo. \n Lo recomiendo para aquellos que buscan nuevos mundos, rebeliones y no les molesten los personajes un poco indecisos.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 11 18:29:44 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 12 15:02:42 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jan 12 15:02:42 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5b703f47ba48f4227e044958ab17d99", "book_id": "16049484", "review_id": "f8b25110a709e40bbabc35ac26b585eb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Un gran final de trilogia, que nos deja satisfechos y contentos por los protagonistas. \n Se nota como todos han crecido a lo largo de la historia, madurando y mejorando como magos. \n Se resuelven los principales conflictos y nos dejan pequenos indicios sobre las aventuras que viviran en adelante, en las novelas cortas que ha escrito Riordan. \n Sera una de mis trilogias mas recordadas, llena de momentos epicos, graciosos, adorables y magicos. \n Recomendada a todos los que querais pasar un rato magico y divertido, lleno de aventuras sin igual.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 29 20:58:21 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 09 10:37:27 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5b703f47ba48f4227e044958ab17d99", "book_id": "420091", "review_id": "e61554231323ccaf93054e973df4b3d4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Un libro lleno de magia y valores que te transportara a tu infancia y a los clasicos cuentos infantiles. \n La pluma de Elizabeth es tan poetica, dulce, melodica. La historia fluye tan naturalmente, sin prisa pero sin pausa, llena de aventura y descripciones tan deliciosas que querremos visitar el Valle de Moonacre. \n Los personajes son tan reales, con sus fallos, su caracter, su egoismo u orgullo, que podrias cruzarlos todos los dias. Lo mejor de todo es como estos defectos van mejorando a traves del relato y como nos damos cuenta de que todos han crecido. \n En conclusion, una historia maravillosa, magica y de crecimiento que nunca te arrepentiras de leer.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 17 11:13:59 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 27 20:40:33 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5b703f47ba48f4227e044958ab17d99", "book_id": "11374911", "review_id": "e2029dcdf2ad5cd83f50d75868b29f9f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Un libro juvenil, con algunos topicos, pero que se lee rapidamente y tiene puntos originales que posicionan bien a la historia dentro de las sagas juveniles. \n Frannie es una protagonista bastante buena, con un pasado complejo y la suficiente personalidad como para agradarnos. \n Luc, nuestro segundo punto de vista, me ha encantado como personajes, pues evoluciona, tiene las cosas realmente claras y su personalidad esta bien definida. \n A pesar del topico principio, la historia se va desarrollando a mejor, con buenos giros de la trama y sorpresas tan inesperadas como originales. \n Si les gustan los angeles y demonios, buscan una lectura amena y que tenga algo de originalidad, es muy probable que les guste.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 01 11:36:29 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 01 11:43:19 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5b703f47ba48f4227e044958ab17d99", "book_id": "17347389", "review_id": "b4718fbb7351485d5989cdbf25ef997a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The story gets bigger and more complex! Love the characters and their development!", "date_added": "Fri Apr 04 20:10:13 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 17 19:03:54 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Sep 13 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a5b703f47ba48f4227e044958ab17d99", "book_id": "7823592", "review_id": "b90280e02d6634fcaf95263d7f7bd48c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "http://historias-por-descubrir.blogsp...", "date_added": "Fri Dec 27 19:39:37 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 27 19:40:49 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "735465a24a7f45b9ff9a024732675686", "book_id": "15062217", "review_id": "43399a8b6d2c9eb35acade86cf7dab51", "rating": 4, "review_text": "fun, interesting read", "date_added": "Fri Jul 21 18:59:49 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 03 21:12:56 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "735465a24a7f45b9ff9a024732675686", "book_id": "417656", "review_id": "8ddc8ae735a22facf6452b8d22546b2b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Written as to make you believe it was an early or even pre-20th century story. Good twist on the horrors of vampires and supernatural.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 30 20:11:41 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 30 20:13:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "735465a24a7f45b9ff9a024732675686", "book_id": "142296", "review_id": "d856c9a1f73948791d9b68cafad4c469", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Interesting plot - loved the time travel, magic and mystery! Very fun and entertaining. Spooky, witty and had a lot of fun twists. Good read.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 27 12:35:37 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 27 12:36:56 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "735465a24a7f45b9ff9a024732675686", "book_id": "15729539", "review_id": "2001346ff45af87b9babe04833a3d502", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What an adventure. What's reality? Is my reality the same as yours? How do you know what's real? These characters have inner mind scapes, & special abilities. And some are good and some are bad. I like the main characters, they're relatable. Living life while these alternate universes effect them. There's definitely some surprisingly disgusting and perverse characters, but that's the way bad people work. I enjoyed the story, it certainly took many twists, kept me engrossed. and best time to read it? why Christmas time of course.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 09 16:07:06 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 22 10:45:33 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Dec 22 10:45:33 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "735465a24a7f45b9ff9a024732675686", "book_id": "2767793", "review_id": "8a1adc5d10b00d266d5b0b3708845dd3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The imagination of Brandon Sanderson has blown my mind. He did an excellent job of creating a planet, religion, characters, magic, races and creatures that are so entertaining. I never got bored with the layers of plots and there were pieces of the puzzles put together slowly through out the book so that it never got dull. Best of all the trilogy ends surprisingly but in a positive way, not a stupid \"they all lived happily ever after\" in the last paragraph. Really fun read.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 11 15:47:37 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 12 12:15:39 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Nov 12 12:15:39 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "735465a24a7f45b9ff9a024732675686", "book_id": "13638125", "review_id": "e3d61e77d69b50a16cbbb2425f36a701", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n This book moved along at a good pace and never slowed down. The characters were developed well and plot twisted them together seamlessly. I really enjoyed the story. I had a good idea where the story was going, but there was enough surprises to keep it interesting. The idea that a brush with death can turn an average person into an EO and that the circumstances around that moment shaped their powers was fun, always interested to hear what characters powers were and how they came to be. Good read. I hope the next book comes soon.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 04 18:38:14 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 18 16:52:38 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Nov 04 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "735465a24a7f45b9ff9a024732675686", "book_id": "1201724", "review_id": "98fd8e80260410dad1ab61a4e659c991", "rating": 3, "review_text": "An Amish mystery... I am not sure there's much more to say. Not a fast paced thrill ride. OK, a few unexpected surprises, but a predictable end.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 17 11:26:30 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 07 16:16:26 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "735465a24a7f45b9ff9a024732675686", "book_id": "23474214", "review_id": "9a335aed4584e5f8933ad961e8efd4bb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Cute little story of fairies and magic. Not as spell binding for me personally as some of his other books, but still an enjoyable read.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 29 21:57:55 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 28 17:41:49 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "735465a24a7f45b9ff9a024732675686", "book_id": "17977053", "review_id": "04e7eb612b86484484fe3e8fdfce18f4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Quirky, fun & imaginative.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 29 21:48:33 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 29 21:49:21 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "735465a24a7f45b9ff9a024732675686", "book_id": "13281368", "review_id": "eefaf3d23978cb4530903fba44ba9df7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I like the first book. It was action packed. \n I liked when I started this book it didn't relive the first book for hours and hours. If you want to read this second book, you better had read the first - it goes unsaid. \n But I am not into this book like the first. It may be just me, I can't seem to appreciate the dark weariness of this post apocalypse world and the seemingly stupid and death-prone characters stumbling around inside it. \n I am still waiting for something really interesting to happen, otherwise it's all death and dismay to the human kind. \n Maybe the last half will bring me something - I'm waiting. \n Well I never reached a level of anticipation like with the first book and I found the story line was pretty predictable. It's entertaining if you can revel in the dark dreariness but that was feeling drawn out for me.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 21 14:05:15 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 15 18:10:29 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jan 21 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "735465a24a7f45b9ff9a024732675686", "book_id": "23340", "review_id": "f2c1a623efeed6012ed35dff8e7c0600", "rating": 3, "review_text": "fun journey through the magical world of cats, i enjoyed it!", "date_added": "Sat Aug 17 21:11:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 19 16:56:50 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "735465a24a7f45b9ff9a024732675686", "book_id": "1335019", "review_id": "057d4a504f2851c68cbc60ddedd6c68c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I had some pretty crazy dreams reading before bed... very chilly stories indeed!", "date_added": "Thu Jul 11 15:02:59 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 11 15:03:28 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "735465a24a7f45b9ff9a024732675686", "book_id": "6479259", "review_id": "9c64dafcafa59e87528798d729e19954", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Well to summarize - I scanned over the pages and got all I needed to know... slow moving and not very action packed...", "date_added": "Thu Jul 11 14:58:20 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 11 14:58:55 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "735465a24a7f45b9ff9a024732675686", "book_id": "233649", "review_id": "7015aa34e49c86e8b6d850403611fa0f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Awesome - loved it. I am hooked.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 17 09:56:23 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue May 07 13:06:08 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue May 07 13:06:08 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "735465a24a7f45b9ff9a024732675686", "book_id": "228665", "review_id": "ca8667d2a1b4a1a56ed1809bc8fe5753", "rating": 4, "review_text": "pretty slow moving, but new concepts were great, not about vampires :) i think its worth the investment, into second book and enjoying it!!", "date_added": "Thu Jan 17 21:37:21 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 17 09:56:25 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "735465a24a7f45b9ff9a024732675686", "book_id": "8667848", "review_id": "9d06ec8f09d1d365cdeda4da48e00264", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Enjoyed the first book, interesting main character.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 17 21:27:08 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 17 21:27:54 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "735465a24a7f45b9ff9a024732675686", "book_id": "16054217", "review_id": "6af5e8d5d17ac6dfb5d99b55567f3538", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I listened to the unabridged audio version and over all I enjoyed it. The book dragged a bit and spent a lot of time describing in detail the characters surroundings - and when it comes to house furnishings I get very bored, quickly... In the end all was wrapped up neatly and yes, anticlimactically in the last hour of the reading. Good wins, evil dies and they lived happily ever after.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 17 21:25:53 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 26 12:23:43 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Sep 26 12:23:43 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Sep 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "735465a24a7f45b9ff9a024732675686", "book_id": "12820074", "review_id": "ba9ef5c814ba84d8781d3dcf10109b2a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Good story! Teenaged main character, adventure, magic and mystery. Fun!", "date_added": "Thu Jan 17 21:10:49 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 17 21:12:39 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "735465a24a7f45b9ff9a024732675686", "book_id": "15763503", "review_id": "214287b9c225156953f81ff5f44369dc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Action packed and no loose ends, plus a feel good ending, i liked it!", "date_added": "Sun Dec 16 21:05:35 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 16 21:06:41 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "735465a24a7f45b9ff9a024732675686", "book_id": "1582996", "review_id": "1179cbd4bb5ae8df7d116e267a394ecf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Spoiler - I heard on blogs that Jace and Clary aren't related in the end, otherwise I wouldn't have kept reading. It's an OK story, but the writer uses a lot of the same wording like \"tasted blood in their mouth\" after you hear it on every other page you just imagine them walking around with blood pouring from their lips.... Anyways - it's alright, it's no epic romance, but it's fun.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 19 22:02:43 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 21 10:35:04 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Nov 21 10:35:04 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Nov 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "735465a24a7f45b9ff9a024732675686", "book_id": "12106940", "review_id": "fb2141b2c71e69cabccd6b962f6ebd32", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The final book really leaves you hanging!", "date_added": "Fri Oct 19 21:53:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 16 21:03:45 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "735465a24a7f45b9ff9a024732675686", "book_id": "13624688", "review_id": "8e0ffa412a9b313ceb7724327b446fd8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Enjoyed the short story. Inspirational quotes about enjoying life more and worrying less. \n Always nice to have reflective moments brought on by a book and feel uplifted when done reading it.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 09 17:07:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 04 11:00:57 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "735465a24a7f45b9ff9a024732675686", "book_id": "13336896", "review_id": "43690f0d3c47a4241c73fb84839cc24e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Slow start with a bit more review of the previous books than I liked, but the book got moving and it was fun.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 17 12:29:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 09 15:35:57 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Fri Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "735465a24a7f45b9ff9a024732675686", "book_id": "11559200", "review_id": "518199c98b532b203888ad9faf2b8f75", "rating": 3, "review_text": "First half of the book was slow, but towards the end it picked up in action. Left you waiting for the next book, lots of cliff hangers!", "date_added": "Thu Jul 19 13:18:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 30 19:52:30 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "27596466", "review_id": "9b8284fbf2e46c4c33a4d0db5974870d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "An excellent new dragon story! \n I really enjoyed the world Ava Richardson built, it was well formed and felt lived in. The characters were likeable and easy to cheer for when they came on adversity. I liked the new twist on dragon riding, making it vital to have a pair of riders makes for some really interesting plot lines. Speaking of plots this story had a good one,kept you turning pages and a little sad when there weren't any left to turn. I will definitely be looking into the next book in this series!", "date_added": "Mon Oct 02 10:03:07 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 09 17:03:09 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Oct 09 17:03:09 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Oct 02 10:03:07 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "23481324", "review_id": "86adb901a321023a796a02bcf7e98c06", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Pretty good read, interesting characters and a decent story line. Because it is the first of a series the author did a pretty good job with the world building. It felt comfortable enough to put yourself in and they developed the characters well enough to make you curious about them and intrigued to read more about them. Started reading this one during Hurricane Irma and with power issues and clean-ups it took me a week to read it.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 22 17:10:13 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 17 13:28:47 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Sep 17 13:28:48 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "25479220", "review_id": "5099eda1dc215611f8077d7e8a3725b0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Different sort of book and one that sent me to the dictionary on a few occasions. I like the Dark Hunters and LOVE the League but I'm uncertain about the Deadmen. It is a typical Kenyon book; solid story line, well written and interesting characters and a plot twist at the end that makes you look for the next book. I gave this one 4 stars because I had to break from the story on occasion to look word pronunciation, and look up definitions, others might not share in that issue. Still an excellent read", "date_added": "Sat Jul 22 16:13:47 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 22 16:23:45 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "8337108", "review_id": "a344a0ee5a4d5e9251e915acc51f0eaa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another excellent book from the mind of Kenyon /MacGregor \n I really enjoyed the twist that this book gave to the Arthur legend! I can hardly wait to read what's going to happen next in this series", "date_added": "Mon Feb 27 18:02:04 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 25 17:33:50 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Mar 25 17:28:52 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Feb 27 18:02:04 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "31305079", "review_id": "9e781bffd7d5ad465dcdae613d2d8a77", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is my favorite of The Author Goddesses series. Yes I started reading her Dark Hunter line and I still enjoy them but there is something about the League. At first I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't more in this story, but then as I thought about it I realized that this was one of those wrap up type stories. Jullien's book was epic and there was a lot of action but in Bastien's story we tied up his story AND were introduced to some new players. Because I understand Sherri's writing I can see that this was a needed bridge story to keep the League series going, it's this reason and the fact I really did enjoy Bas's story even with the parts I had read from other's in the series. He needed his 'happy ending' and I'm glad he got it. I hate the fact I have to wait till next year to go back into that world.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 07 19:01:49 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 11 14:15:05 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Tue Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "33227483", "review_id": "e3637be45cb6137f8b7392d5519c2676", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The much awaited romance of The First Dragon! \n Another of Katie Mac's Dragon books; this one about the very first dragon, the father of them all and like the others this one doesn't disappoint. Long time Katie fans had been waiting for the First Dragon's romance and I have to admit I was a little disappointed that this book would be \"only a novella\" but somehow Katie managed to pack it full even in this short form. \n I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the musings of the first dragon as he tried to assimilate into the modern world, running into a beautiful Siren and discovering that he missed the company of a female. I don't want to add to much more as this is a novella and it is to charming to post spoilers. \n This is a great addition to the Dragon Series and if you have enjoyed the others you will love this one.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 18 15:13:25 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 18 15:14:38 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "30366298", "review_id": "e59aabded52765cdec53d965fe82be2c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was really excited about reading what to me was a new Katie Mac book, and Ghost of a Chance was a good story; well-developed characters, twisty plot line that kept me guessing 'whodunit' and just enough familiar elements to make me comfortable. If I had any complaint it would be that the humor that I am used to seeing in the Dragon and Dark Ones series wasn't as prevalent in this series, still the book was good and I would check out the next in the series.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 14 12:32:39 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 21 06:25:42 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jul 17 11:43:14 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "27209430", "review_id": "c20d5f09203bb3746464bd3364ac535b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I have loved Christine Feehan's Dark books, her shifters are outstanding so when I saw a new series starting I had to get it.This was a VERY different story than those others. Yes some of her Carpathians had been 'dark' and very strongly written males but this family is even darker than the darkest of them. I liked the idea of the riders, very different, unique in the paranormals but the BDSM story line made me very uncomfortable. I likely will not read any more in the series because of it and that makes me very sad.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 18 15:23:08 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 09 13:20:42 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "21479514", "review_id": "32058110965856cb7944099ce793ac4c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "nice paranormal book, interesting characters and some good plot lines. it is a stand alone book but reaching the end makes you want more", "date_added": "Tue Apr 19 08:31:59 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 19 08:35:46 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "23524116", "review_id": "f52954b7ed4ce50653b5f4fb908d6fb1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Cute little story, who can resist a Were with a gay vamp best friend? It struck just the right amount of fun and intrigue with some romance between the leading man and leading lady to add spice. Loved the story and will look for more in the series.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 10 08:09:40 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 10 08:16:28 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "25610486", "review_id": "9fb75a0c7e55e34355b4823c74931f0a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What a charming book series I have found! Great storyline dashing leading man and a leading lady with plenty of sass. I was so fortunate to have found this series after reading a truly distasteful book before it. Kristen Painter does a great job of building characters you like and giving you just enough romance to make you like them more without becoming uncomfortable, again after the book before this was even more enjoyable! I can hardly wait to dive into the next books and I'm excied that I have some vacation upcoming that I can do just that", "date_added": "Sun Apr 10 08:03:24 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 11 08:23:40 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Apr 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "16207811", "review_id": "837b4e654dc0af893d724738749a78cd", "rating": 1, "review_text": "This book and the others in this series will have the distinction of being the only books I have deleted from my collection. I like a good paranormal romance, this one wasn't. It didn't develop the characters at all before they were having sex, rough raw sex more suited for a Playboy type magazine article. I truly wish I had read the reviews BEFORE I read the book. My apologies the author but this wan't my cup of tea.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 03 13:51:40 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 10 08:02:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "285205", "review_id": "f5c13feaddf0e7f97291d2f3d284dc7f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I am really enjoying the series, I like the way Patricia is setting the 'rules' of Mercy's world and I am really liking the way she is blending the paranormals with the humans and how she is keeping the subtle tension going through the stories.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 19 07:41:03 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 19 07:43:20 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "6184297", "review_id": "ff0fbf728771a5dc066ce6637728beef", "rating": 5, "review_text": "You know the Dragon is going to win, you just know it but 'seeing' it happen was,well magical!Finished this series earlier in the year but forgot to record it Doesn't change anything about my feelings on it though.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 16 08:53:03 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 16 08:54:51 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Aug 16 08:54:51 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "3073173", "review_id": "878c559fd5444456606a0c3c69e74c77", "rating": 5, "review_text": "What's not to love, a sneak thief and a silver eyed dragon. Another favorite from Katie Mac.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 16 08:50:52 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 16 08:52:56 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Aug 16 08:52:56 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "2319370", "review_id": "0a345e91bff05ce4a7a0f9f607179e7a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Finished this earlier this year, just another in my discovery of Katie's Dragons. As usualy great reading, loaded with wit and humor and hot dragons.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 16 08:48:30 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 16 08:52:38 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Aug 16 08:52:38 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "25768440", "review_id": "98f64c917888d8ebe7ebe7c1fdc30231", "rating": 5, "review_text": "There is absolutely nothing like a Katie MacAlister Dragon Book, unless it's a Dark One book or one of her contemporary tales or, well, you begin to understand I am a huge fan and simply love the Dragon Books. Her characters are always fresh and somewhat off-the-norm for heroes and heroines and her supporting characters are always entertaining. Who would have guessed that a bawdy senior citizen would have provided so many laughs? I love that Katie brings back characters to interact with new members to the family, it keeps them from fading in your memory, as if that could happen, and makes each book seem like you are included in their lives. Katie's previous books were filled with passion and humor and interesting twists and turns that keep you turning the page and makes you just a little sad when you reach the end; Dragon Soul is no different. Except that the story revolves around two humans, at least they are human for most of the story. What a great addition to any Katie Mac fan's book shelves. I whole heartedly recommend this for anyone looking for a different sort of paranormal read.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 16 08:47:24 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon May 02 10:07:36 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Mar 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "25066999", "review_id": "afbd5b7eb6eff6ec92ee2151e60686dc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Everyone always says that Katie's books make them laugh. They will, but while there are situations that you will embarrass yourself in a public with shouts of laughter there is an excellent plot that makes you want to stay up reading 'just one more page' until you've finished. There are many paranormal romance writers who treat the subject with some somber, dark emotions. Don't get me wrong I've read those too but there is just something about a 'leading man' with a blow-up sheep. Ramona wasn't the only thing that had tears of laughter rolling down my cheeks, add to her and her stockings Twatter, ladyplant, talking heads in gerbil balls, Bowling with Gary, and sex toys shaped like a U, and I was pretty much gasping for air during many chapters. All of that though only enhanced the storyline, gave Bee and Constantine some personality; Connie needed something to keep him from seeming to be smug and unapproachable and the outstanding secondary characters Katie wove into the tale were able to show Constantine's kind but stubborn Wyvern's heart. I even found myself accepting and even liking Bee from Dragon Fall once I had the chance to really 'get to know her'. The story twisted and turned in ways I never expected. Bee and Constantine worked through every amusing and adventurous situation they found themselves in proving a positive outlook can in fact win the day. A wonderful story with a couple that were truly fated to be together and I love every minute of it!", "date_added": "Sun Aug 16 08:47:12 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 07 17:24:20 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "23507711", "review_id": "ff9dfb2a8ff6d0078e5c7a1ca2fe34a9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "There might be spoilers here. Perhaps it is because I have just discovered Katie's dragon books and so all of the characters are very real in my mind, this was exactly the way I expected Kosta to behave when he finally discovered his mate. The dragon men have more pride than they need and it's delightful when the run head long into their mates who have a unique way of balancing them out. Kosta was \"broken\" in a way even before Aoife finds him; his pride was at least. He feels the need to constantly remind Aoife that he doesn't have a mate but then his actions tell a different story. I can hardly wait for the next installment to see how the relationship spins and twists. Speaking of twists only Katie could reinvent a beloved character and still make him one you love instantly. Jim is the very best of demons and I'm certain I'm not the only one who would love to have a demon dog just like him. Who wouldn't appreciate it when out on walkies your dog saying \"Hey, that spot over there smells pretty good. This area has been peed on a lot.\" Instead of just pulling you willy nilly. My favorite laugh out loud quote in this one was this: \n \"He held up a hand as we rounded a corner onto a busy street. \"Red dragons?\" I whispered. \"No. Mimes.\" \n 323 pages of interesting plots and delightful characters once again I loved every word and hated to turn the last page!", "date_added": "Sun Aug 16 07:41:52 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 16 07:43:29 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "50750", "review_id": "59f5f672e4d1738c53cbf94d44538a02", "rating": 5, "review_text": "First discovered Katie's work with her Dark Series, but her dragons are stealing my heart! Love the wit and humor as well as the delightful quirks in plot", "date_added": "Sun Aug 16 07:22:56 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 19 07:54:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "22719550", "review_id": "12c67ff5d7890b13229125b3d4410703", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another excellent read from the Author Goddess! \n I love how Sherri weaves her stories together allowing you to 'see' The action from different view points . Sherri has beautifully brought back some of the characters I've loved from other books and includes them into this tale giving the DH world depth . I can hardly wait for the next book !", "date_added": "Sun Aug 16 07:19:46 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 23 12:19:47 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "6944032", "review_id": "b6906a7e1b581b5aff175e5d91b76aee", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I go back and reread the DH series often, it's like visiting old friendss.", "date_added": "Mon May 11 15:37:25 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 16 08:59:39 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "17673256", "review_id": "cb7f2a261a3a79264ca4d81a2bc7fbe4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "absolutely charming short little book. No heavy breathing, just a sweet little story line with 2 delightful characters that prove that it truly is what's on the inside of a person that counts", "date_added": "Mon Jan 20 18:06:19 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 22 18:33:45 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "12242419", "review_id": "937b128d27b0cd3fc96aae61d7a841d3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Really nice little mystery. I was certain I had every thing figured out and was surprised by a twist in the final chapters that I didn't see coming. I enjoyed spending time with Jade and her friends The story draws you in and keeps you wanting to come back for more. I'll be looking into more by this author", "date_added": "Sun Dec 29 17:41:46 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 20 18:15:53 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "13432524", "review_id": "9941bbd964ab8667b94008a47e9887aa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this story. It had an interesting set of characters and threw you into the action very quickly. I gave it 4 stars simply because it ended so quickly. I understated the idea of leaving a reader wanting more but it seemed to me that this first version ended in the middle of a conversation. I do want to read the other stories in this series because I must know if Anders ever got control of his magic.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 29 17:10:07 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 29 17:15:29 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "50788", "review_id": "aed6391a14a0d8482f7e326f755da33f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "such a good read! Great storyline, intriquing writing style and loads of well written humor. Love it!", "date_added": "Sun Nov 10 13:24:35 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 09 13:27:47 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jul 09 13:27:47 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c6719cab354a6e647a0134dc7695d0d3", "book_id": "71811", "review_id": "2ba1cb61fb6b9d951116e122f96c9d5e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Excellent reading, new twists and turns in a paranormal \"romance\"", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 15:15:02 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 19 07:39:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "35bf7d3f838a556f638494dbd5336ab8", "book_id": "48318", "review_id": "85958b14bd8b7defddf01b9a584778de", "rating": 3, "review_text": "***3h David Stuart & others ***", "date_added": "Sun Apr 20 19:08:35 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue May 05 13:01:27 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8399acec7ae20faf75622019cd0747f", "book_id": "22698569", "review_id": "c9d21c3f82711640f24c7a3dc1695c12", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Excellent \n An excellent conclusion with twists and turn that you don't see coming!! Highly recommend reading the first books and finishing here!", "date_added": "Sun Apr 17 07:32:04 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 21 18:38:05 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Mar 21 08:25:59 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Mar 12 16:52:26 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8399acec7ae20faf75622019cd0747f", "book_id": "12152218", "review_id": "5dfdced41185f865920c1f3b2880a7fd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "These are such fun books and really easy to read!", "date_added": "Thu Sep 20 15:31:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 21 19:10:06 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Sep 21 19:09:34 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d8399acec7ae20faf75622019cd0747f", "book_id": "11559200", "review_id": "b3f91504f1d873a7b5baa147a3070a55", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fun, interesting, and easy to read! Drew me in!", "date_added": "Sat Jul 07 08:05:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 01 11:01:52 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "99bbe2c6658779304412685672934ec2", "book_id": "26074185", "review_id": "9ef8b3199346225e1545f34adf8efd64", "rating": 2, "review_text": "To be honest this novel was at times hard to follow and slow paced at other times. I'm still confused about certain aspects which may be answered in following novels, but for the first one it seemed almost incomplete. It wasn't too bad, but I would be okay not reading it. I won't be continuing in the series.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 07 17:32:45 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 22 18:43:19 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jul 22 18:40:54 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jul 07 17:32:46 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "99bbe2c6658779304412685672934ec2", "book_id": "24120519", "review_id": "3ce8d45c1b188fa93a7dde668e614945", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I honestly wanted to give it a 3.5, but the ending was just too satisfying not to give it a 4.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 22 09:14:31 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 31 08:12:23 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jul 31 08:12:23 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "99bbe2c6658779304412685672934ec2", "book_id": "23164983", "review_id": "bcac7e51227be53cb2250a00722e285f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was much easier to get into over the first, and I appreciate that! It took over 100+ pages to get the concept of the novel in the first one, but the development in this one was something to enjoy. A faster paced novel with another cliff hanger ending, makes me cringe that I only have one book left!", "date_added": "Thu Jul 07 14:28:05 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 21 19:00:02 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "99bbe2c6658779304412685672934ec2", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "be8767e8331bfd82ccab562746bbfe9c", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Really a 3.5 stars \n To be honest, I wanted to hate this book from the start. I can't stand following the crowd with books. Another thing that threw me off was my younger sister read it first, and I hate that she knows what happens before me. \n Anyway, despite those qualms, it did take me quite a bit to actually get into enjoying the novel. The first half was too slow paced for my taste, but the description was lovely. After reaching a little over half of the book I couldn't put it down, and was stunned by the sudden increase in pace as well as the additions to plot. \n The twists in this book left me stunned. I saw one coming, but out of the multitude of them all, that was nothing. Those twists left me with a book hangover, that I'm now experiencing, and can't believe that's what took place. If you love dramatic changes in events throughout a book, and I'm guessing series, this is a romance you'd want to follow.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 08 08:09:20 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 22 18:57:50 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "99bbe2c6658779304412685672934ec2", "book_id": "345627", "review_id": "bceac10ec9ffca6acad33629f257cd6f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The only reason I'm lowering my rating is because the movie really ruined it for me. Unfortunately after watching the movie I can't really get my own ideas for the character and it made it come across as a parody.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 02 14:14:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 19 13:17:45 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jun 19 13:17:45 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jun 10 10:26:08 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "46724b0693b5c2772443c102fe688c69", "book_id": "291872", "review_id": "e6550d9846db2ab785f5aad1905f2a32", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I found this to be a waste of a brilliant imagination.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 03 00:33:37 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 19 06:22:12 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sat Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "46724b0693b5c2772443c102fe688c69", "book_id": "286041", "review_id": "b6c2199344e1a513f8b0900616617a3b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Mildly amusing but not engaging.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 16 15:48:41 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 02 22:22:51 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jul 26 06:58:31 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "46724b0693b5c2772443c102fe688c69", "book_id": "15819028", "review_id": "2fcdf6d03a261f883062bbce88c75a49", "rating": 1, "review_text": "A most tedious book, contrary to the promise of it's title. In this case, sadly, the cliche has become the truth: do not judge a book by its cover.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 26 03:01:53 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 29 06:19:41 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Dec 29 06:19:41 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "46724b0693b5c2772443c102fe688c69", "book_id": "8490112", "review_id": "88d911fa2bad29fa06707df5da37b2dd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Sounds like a cliched plot line at first glance but the lyrical prose is surprisingly and touchingly beautiful. If you are waiting for the next Song of Ice and Fire installment, this series will help you more than pass the time.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 25 00:49:59 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 29 15:35:55 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 29 15:35:55 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "46724b0693b5c2772443c102fe688c69", "book_id": "104089", "review_id": "d49f62726d45cb88f472479f6389c51c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very entertaining epic story about how a revolution comes about and the price that has to be paid for it. Beautifully written, it starts a little slowly at first but you begin to be addicted and enthralled once you truly sink your teeth in this giant of a novel.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 02 06:38:28 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 10 01:22:52 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Aug 10 01:22:52 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "774f7e74297b2a022ff4ee2dfb0ee523", "book_id": "29496208", "review_id": "116a38c9478234591613ebb75805eb54", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Love this series, now that she is adding new trainees it is getting a new dimension! Makes me want to go back and start the whole series over again, since it has been awhile since I read the beginning!", "date_added": "Wed Jan 25 13:20:50 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 27 09:39:46 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jan 27 09:39:46 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "774f7e74297b2a022ff4ee2dfb0ee523", "book_id": "25695756", "review_id": "8ccaf3a55d9c344fca566d8b88e570f2", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Very good! I'm glad I found this author! Now we just need MORE of this series!!!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 06 08:49:39 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 06 08:50:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Oct 06 08:50:30 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "774f7e74297b2a022ff4ee2dfb0ee523", "book_id": "10836728", "review_id": "3e5101761af435b3b6e590f983fe47f0", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This is an awesome book! I have never read anything by this author and after The Rook I promptly ordered the second book Stiletto from Amazon!", "date_added": "Fri Sep 16 18:07:16 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 06 08:49:10 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "774f7e74297b2a022ff4ee2dfb0ee523", "book_id": "25250449", "review_id": "991c9b45eab460fc832d014f68ac85b8", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Loved it! Can't wait for more in this series!!", "date_added": "Mon May 09 07:47:23 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 08 17:51:13 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue May 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "774f7e74297b2a022ff4ee2dfb0ee523", "book_id": "15724396", "review_id": "2a06209b34889b0d54b86d6ecdb07aa0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved this first book in the new series!", "date_added": "Sun Oct 25 16:41:42 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 25 16:45:53 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Oct 25 16:45:53 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "774f7e74297b2a022ff4ee2dfb0ee523", "book_id": "22719550", "review_id": "744169288b5eac7944f87f2de76ba526", "rating": 4, "review_text": "At first I thought it was slow, I have read all of her Dark-Hunter books and thought when will this get moving......it did and moved along quickly. Can't wait for the next installment!", "date_added": "Sun Aug 16 18:44:01 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 16 18:49:09 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "774f7e74297b2a022ff4ee2dfb0ee523", "book_id": "22922356", "review_id": "289f3e6718385c0578ff16a8103425d4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Love this Series!! The only bad thing is now I have to wait for the 9th book......grrrrr!", "date_added": "Tue Apr 14 18:33:01 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 02 18:53:00 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "774f7e74297b2a022ff4ee2dfb0ee523", "book_id": "28187", "review_id": "de3f39dae2cbdcea398f709d76ecdc46", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Good read, even for adults! Read this book because my daughter said I would love it. Well, she was right. Off to the library to get #2.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 14 18:24:29 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 16 14:19:57 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Apr 16 14:19:57 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "774f7e74297b2a022ff4ee2dfb0ee523", "book_id": "18693992", "review_id": "4dd085bf37cbd71cbd223afa5286d2f3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Oops! I wrote the Son of No One review on here.....", "date_added": "Mon Sep 01 14:53:18 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 05 12:41:09 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Sep 04 08:15:56 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "774f7e74297b2a022ff4ee2dfb0ee523", "book_id": "18159196", "review_id": "3413276339f0d0889e6cef22db6dcf30", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I read this, no devoured this book in one....yes ONE day. I enjoyed the banter between Cadegan and Jo, loved that her \"crazy\" family was involved and his as well. As I was reading this I got a taste of Medieval, which was different but good. Very descriptive! Love how the characters come together. Seems we are getting ready to have a come to Jesus meeting with Bad vs. Good. Love it!", "date_added": "Mon Aug 11 20:06:29 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 04 08:20:06 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Sep 04 08:20:06 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "774f7e74297b2a022ff4ee2dfb0ee523", "book_id": "20359361", "review_id": "9b6f9d923ae1abd653d8cc0dc84e68b9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed this book. Looking forward to the next in the series.", "date_added": "Fri May 02 17:33:04 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 20 16:48:54 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "774f7e74297b2a022ff4ee2dfb0ee523", "book_id": "16101090", "review_id": "207e85f6257c7888af4d70ea087a0985", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Started good, but I must have lost interest, I will definitely pick this one up again.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 06 17:04:10 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 13 16:41:37 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Nov 06 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "774f7e74297b2a022ff4ee2dfb0ee523", "book_id": "3819326", "review_id": "8702c3019f04ce8c83da7bd6e97bc84e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Didn't finish.....not because it wasn't good, to many irons in the fire!", "date_added": "Sun Feb 17 12:41:05 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 17 14:49:46 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Feb 17 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Feb 17 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "774f7e74297b2a022ff4ee2dfb0ee523", "book_id": "11114576", "review_id": "8c29b056b0af56a02f4b152853ee4606", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It was a good book, but I lost interest. REALLY wanted to like it, as I did the first book.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 07 17:00:26 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 10 07:47:04 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jan 07 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "774f7e74297b2a022ff4ee2dfb0ee523", "book_id": "5586134", "review_id": "3231ec28f0b934a562c44d23ad38e63b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really liked this author, so I just ordered the 2nd book in the series. Eternal Hearts.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 05 20:01:59 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 07 16:59:19 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jan 07 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "774f7e74297b2a022ff4ee2dfb0ee523", "book_id": "15721120", "review_id": "9a2f994485ea1d5d089b5a33f8fa96ab", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really like the different story. Just read this in a day!!", "date_added": "Mon Nov 05 18:38:28 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 05 18:39:59 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Oct 31 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "774f7e74297b2a022ff4ee2dfb0ee523", "book_id": "11559200", "review_id": "8731ea5eb45b30f327d0deca1b697b47", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I needed to go back and read the first one....again. Lost the story..... but liked what I had read so far!!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 18 18:08:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 25 16:32:13 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Oct 25 16:32:13 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "774f7e74297b2a022ff4ee2dfb0ee523", "book_id": "16005449", "review_id": "17f7aaf831b24970716c62d0044334ad", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Loved it!", "date_added": "Sat Oct 13 04:22:44 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 06 18:18:24 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Oct 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "774f7e74297b2a022ff4ee2dfb0ee523", "book_id": "13641721", "review_id": "ea4817bd9c2729b84177b3ccb26a1d33", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved this book, and so glad I started this series! Took my time reading the last in this series, and enjoyed it, kinda skimmed over the sex...cause these to vampires liked to have sex ALOT! But that doesn't deter from the story. Can't wait until Carwyn's story comes out!", "date_added": "Mon Jul 16 16:35:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 22 15:24:47 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jul 22 15:24:47 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "774f7e74297b2a022ff4ee2dfb0ee523", "book_id": "13414389", "review_id": "a0253c9a024666ce32657e331fdb7407", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it! I have read this book twice now, and I know I will re-read it. Love the characters and plot.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 16 16:34:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 09 17:50:37 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19955ae74e9a4051ac05bebae1b1cfba", "book_id": "5899779", "review_id": "291888ef5c2b9ac3bcc03cb6f2d6e306", "rating": 4, "review_text": "How can you NOT chuckle! Clever, charming, and a great tribute to Austen. Treat yourself.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 26 15:12:12 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 13 06:36:25 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jan 31 20:16:34 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Mon Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19955ae74e9a4051ac05bebae1b1cfba", "book_id": "537070", "review_id": "7e709bc499fbc2fd9e03b0df66491660", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It's not often that I think the last book of a series is the best one. But I think it is, in this case. Not sure why--all the adventures were good ones, but I think the last one just has the right combination of a good message, suspense, humor, and a nice twist or two. And it really tied together nicely all the four previous ones.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 29 20:30:33 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon May 12 14:08:01 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Thu May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19955ae74e9a4051ac05bebae1b1cfba", "book_id": "319644", "review_id": "b8b6540b2d842d161b08cddb2ee91bd1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "the last three of the series really seem to run altogether, so I can't say that one is better than the other. Regardless of my affinity for the name Gregor, these are page-turners, and hold up well for the fantasy reader in you.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 14:28:34 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 18 09:53:30 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Wed Jun 18 09:53:30 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19955ae74e9a4051ac05bebae1b1cfba", "book_id": "385742", "review_id": "9c0c3d7d6c8fd34ca037da31a3801926", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Collins continues to do well with this series. I'd read that she imagined what it would be like reading Alice in Wonderland to inner-city kids, and thought a world that they could relate to more would be cool for a series. I must admit that giant cockroaches and rats certainly make _me_ cringe! Enough said!", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 14:17:47 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 20 14:20:23 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19955ae74e9a4051ac05bebae1b1cfba", "book_id": "385706", "review_id": "90859db651855252e604c5f067197f5f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Haven't read it yet, but it's on my list, of course", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 14:17:07 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 31 20:17:58 -0800 2011", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "19955ae74e9a4051ac05bebae1b1cfba", "book_id": "262430", "review_id": "55e3824e938fd1a9355de0e1d9fa026b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "If you like Harry Potter, you'll like this series. Of course, I'm kinda partial to it.....", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 14:15:30 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 20 14:16:48 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f6fcb7dc6c34b8b098cee78305d3b527", "book_id": "15829749", "review_id": "d73b92cc3a96f33705b948a587808dfe", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I am the author.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 15 07:07:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 07:07:55 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "c001efe2d798df0bbac0ba51dbed1f9b", "book_id": "63339", "review_id": "bc6500d1544126f37aad23232787b74b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was long! It was delightfully scrambled with long diverted interludes. Some parts made my kids laugh. I liked all the characters, liked the way we could crawl into it and relax with the characters at their donut shop. There was nothing about it though, that made me turn the pages with anticipation. It set out to be light in terms of tension and drama and it was. Not scary enough, I guess is what I'm saying.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 30 10:35:25 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 30 07:06:09 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Oct 30 07:06:09 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c001efe2d798df0bbac0ba51dbed1f9b", "book_id": "1215032", "review_id": "b15c42cc9620328046344cffa4c4ee53", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I don't know! I read it when I was supposed to be doing other things and enjoyed it. Had the feel of the middle book of a trilogy where lots of time was spent \"Leveling up\" (with the sex goddess, with the buddhist/spartan warriors, in the court of his Maer, leading a team of mercenaries, etc.) but I never got tired because Rothfuss created a world I could escape into. However, the story feels like it is getting unwieldy and saggy and one worries that this inexperienced author created a character he can't control and a story he can't wrap up. We'll see!", "date_added": "Sat Aug 10 11:03:20 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 10 13:41:52 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c001efe2d798df0bbac0ba51dbed1f9b", "book_id": "186074", "review_id": "3bd44af5d5608c4a6769d3c053c7658b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was an excellent escape. Has some of the same elements of Harry Potter: Orphan, a special school, magic and more magic. Not quite as immersive as Harry Potter's world, but I was every bit as intrigued and supportive of this student as he makes his way through a large institution of learning called \"The University\" Set in a medieval fantasy world and narrated by a character who maybe isn't completely trustworthy. Rothfuss is a good storyteller and if you liked Harry Potter, Lord of The Rings, and Game of thrones, you will enjoy this.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 31 09:30:53 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 31 09:36:28 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "c001efe2d798df0bbac0ba51dbed1f9b", "book_id": "209691", "review_id": "9b504dc14114732491d8c59c6ef0ec57", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I can't recommend this one unless you are on a mission to read every Tim Powers book. It is an interesting story and as usual, Powers comes up with clever supernatural elements woven into the regular world of L.A. with its endless series motels, strip malls, and homeless people. This will entertain you, to be sure, but it didn't satisfy me. I kept asking, \"why? Why all the twists? Why am I reading this?\" It could be that this genre of \"Urban Fantasy\" just isn't for me, though I keep trying.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 07 08:24:45 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 07 08:34:16 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c001efe2d798df0bbac0ba51dbed1f9b", "book_id": "13497", "review_id": "791cb55a5980b51d3e1970b4a4804694", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was the best of the series so far. Characters are maturing, the kingdom is going hilariously insane and all the dumb characters (i.e. the Starks of Winterfell) are either dead or reprogrammed.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 03 15:44:34 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 03 15:47:32 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c001efe2d798df0bbac0ba51dbed1f9b", "book_id": "6690798", "review_id": "425e8dc1702b81dedd864d9c5967e576", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Left me kind of flat. Flat enough that a book about the supreme court distracted me from it. I'm glad I stuck it out because the ending was cool and the writing was a level above other sci-fi fantasy tales. A level, that is, One. \n I think I'm kind of... done with sci-fi/fantasy", "date_added": "Wed Jun 09 09:50:23 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 26 19:18:38 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Mar 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "c001efe2d798df0bbac0ba51dbed1f9b", "book_id": "209690", "review_id": "c31d468a171ada6c9477e86d93e9e0aa", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm going to say it: If you read one Tim Powers book, you've read them all. \n This one was zany and had some cool ideas and intricate plot twists, but nothing transcendent that makes it a must-read over his other books. \n This is just as zany and convoluted as the other Tim Powers books I have read. It is depressing but effective to have the characters act out their compulsions for food, alcohol, gambling and murder. Like in his other books, Powers can make me laugh: \n Every time he tried to initiate a dialogue, sincerely and with no judgmental attitude, they rapped him on the head and called him 'fucko'. It was a worse thing to be called than being called 'fucker'. At least 'fucker' implied that you had had sex. Fucko sounded like the name of a clown.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 17 10:09:49 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 17 10:41:54 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c001efe2d798df0bbac0ba51dbed1f9b", "book_id": "1669906", "review_id": "496610f411f58c4bdc95920c98c04349", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I found this book in the library and my first thought was, \"I can't read a book about unicorns! I'm an adult! Then I resolved to go against that instinct. \n but wow. All I want to do is hide somewhere and read this. \n Later: In spite of the interesting beginning, this turned out to be an adolescent sex fantasy and kind of a snooze.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 23 13:15:05 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 01 07:59:15 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c001efe2d798df0bbac0ba51dbed1f9b", "book_id": "9534", "review_id": "a68aacfde9ab6ceec1db55f9466e8135", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is a fun book if you can ignore the author's political partisanship. The writing is a bit ham-handed, but the plot is very fun. It continues the story of Bean and actually succeeds in making him an interesting, if too \"Saintly\" character. \n The one thing he gets wrong is that in his universe, reasoned, useful debate takes place on the internet.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 13 12:59:43 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 13 13:05:18 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c001efe2d798df0bbac0ba51dbed1f9b", "book_id": "18423", "review_id": "6387e2cfa0d7c1e0c629d1ab5fdd2433", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I read this book because it is listed in all the \"must read\" lists of science fiction. I expected it to feel old with the controversial themes all worn out. Instead, I found a really interesting story and created world that I am excited to get back to.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 08 08:50:42 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 10 09:49:36 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Thu Sep 10 09:49:36 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "c001efe2d798df0bbac0ba51dbed1f9b", "book_id": "8908", "review_id": "efaae1775b7f8b89261b28a2c4e7436c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "click here to see my review", "date_added": "Mon Sep 22 15:34:51 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 16 16:24:55 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "c001efe2d798df0bbac0ba51dbed1f9b", "book_id": "968848", "review_id": "3996ecf066e5cd2510ca465409c8a705", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is one of the best Science Fiction books, in my opinion. Doro and Anyanwu are some of the most vivid Sci-fi characters ever and the plot - the gradual uncovering of the crazy-ass network of superhumans that Doro has accumulated is some of the coolest reading there is. There are very few sci-fi books that deal with relationships as well as this one. This is one my wife, who is against sci-fi on principle, really liked. \n I read it because it was mentioned in Orson Scott Card's How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 30 15:10:22 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 30 16:46:02 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c001efe2d798df0bbac0ba51dbed1f9b", "book_id": "209688", "review_id": "df44f83bfdf5d11340dfe92de72b3e06", "rating": 2, "review_text": "My Review", "date_added": "Mon May 05 05:28:18 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon May 05 05:31:45 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sat Mar 08 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c001efe2d798df0bbac0ba51dbed1f9b", "book_id": "48433", "review_id": "3784eab55e449f12317af36cacc081e4", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Effective Horror story. Good villain. Interesting time travel mechanics in which future self gets new memories \"on the fly\" as he shares a time line with past self. As past self chases murderer they are able to coordinate their actions via these new memories. The writing is uninspired but not terrible. Did get \"chills\" as main character felt the effects of some malignant force changing the past.", "date_added": "Mon May 05 05:17:01 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon May 05 05:27:27 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Thu Apr 24 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c001efe2d798df0bbac0ba51dbed1f9b", "book_id": "37442", "review_id": "860dc634cf240715e2e7c415a8efa603", "rating": 4, "review_text": "You have got to read this! The writing is excellent, the plot is persuasive and the characters are wonderful. I hope they turn it into a movie some day. This is the best of Maguire's work. Fairly easy read", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 14:17:20 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed May 07 16:18:43 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Tue Mar 03 00:00:00 -0800 1998", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c001efe2d798df0bbac0ba51dbed1f9b", "book_id": "136251", "review_id": "fe9eda86e4cd034d1612e9dc76f4f288", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I loved this series. I think it is genius. I've read it 3 times. I hate that I gave it 3 stars. So why did I only rate it 3 stars? \n 1. zap. zap zap. The duels and battles may as well have been fought with laser guns or six-shooters. It is about aim and muzzle velocity. A magical world should have far more imaginative battles. \n 2. I don't have a separate rating system for \"young adult\". So, Harry Potter must stand against books like American Pastoral and The Deptford Trilogy. The language and dialog employed doesn't compare.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 20 14:15:13 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 07 09:04:09 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "11408650", "review_id": "d961b8530b8034df88c626557f7bf6ea", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Okay, I know that ending was shocking... and maybe it's because i have the second in the series a click away... But I did not think that ending was the most important thing ever. \n And just because I am a hopeless romantic: you, if you are reading this, am going to hear my intake of the star relationship. \n I really liked the... how should i put this- 'reality' side of it. yes, I like that. \n It was real, dysfunctional, and somewhere, deep inside of me it sparks hope. \n It sparks hope because books like these prove that even if your insane, quiet, standoffish, you can still find someone, somewhere. \n At least I hope. \n Moving on. \n this book was more... creepy... than I'm used to, but it was good kind of creepy! So don't get put off by everyone saying 'it was scary, creepy, terrifying ect' because it is worth it. \n Well this was a shit review.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 11 22:28:39 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 17 18:11:35 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "10626594", "review_id": "823cfd05a4e4001c55f07b2b01adfd01", "rating": 5, "review_text": "IS THERE ANOTHER ONE?! I NEEEEEEEEEEEEED IT", "date_added": "Tue Aug 20 03:08:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 22 02:34:06 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 22 02:34:06 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Aug 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "7653352", "review_id": "e115d136a31b05bd8d4de1860a2bfec7", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book, thats all I have to say", "date_added": "Fri Apr 05 17:12:58 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 05 17:13:23 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "15801173", "review_id": "32ea795db959e65d5cb3b40f7e87b818", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Exactly the same for the kindle version", "date_added": "Wed Mar 20 00:21:19 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 11 05:08:54 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Apr 11 05:08:54 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "2548866", "review_id": "31931f862ec92406765028451ce38ff8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Disappointment.....", "date_added": "Thu Jan 17 23:08:57 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 01 15:36:19 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Mar 01 15:36:19 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "13049897", "review_id": "647fa7747c080130d12cd97d345a44f6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "SOME BONDS ARE STRONGER THAN LOVE. THAT IS ALL I HEAR \n LIKE WTF??????!!!!!!!!!! THATS LIKE SAYING 'OH NO, MY FIGHT FOR LOVE IS NOTHING. SORRY TO WASTE YOUR TIME' REALLY??!!", "date_added": "Mon Dec 10 18:03:56 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 17 18:27:54 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "10465086", "review_id": "2282b8feb1f64e8dee498ac75d1c6d1e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "NOOOOOOOO He DID NOT JUST DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! \n but L was pretty hot, so..... I can't think of adequate words to describe the shock I'm in", "date_added": "Wed Oct 31 01:30:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 10 23:40:34 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Wed Oct 31 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "12614410", "review_id": "d6a45d9d9995e9ab73695bef1d0229cc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh My God!!!!!!! I'm sooooo giddy right now! I love you ash!!!!!!!!!", "date_added": "Sat Sep 29 01:24:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 11 22:01:40 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Oct 27 22:59:31 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Oct 25 01:36:28 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "13584400", "review_id": "8c62b80956cf0a2401e531aefc65c7db", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Mmm Isaac... Yummy, just Yummy", "date_added": "Sat Sep 29 01:17:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 29 01:18:21 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "13432620", "review_id": "2a7343de298496c37139a86f1091fb86", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book reminded me of twilight sooo much!! Exept Edward is hotter, Bella is more interesting and there's no Vampires in sight, don't get me wrong, I LOVE Twilight... but at the same time, I like this in such a different way...", "date_added": "Sat Sep 29 01:12:46 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 29 01:16:25 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "8685612", "review_id": "29568fa3c9e5c09489bada9ef19069bb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The ending left me in tears!!!!", "date_added": "Wed Sep 12 04:34:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 12 04:35:22 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "9659607", "review_id": "b7abb943296bd107357a4babc98fe030", "rating": 5, "review_text": "As I've been saying in all of the Iron Fey books, I LOVE YOU ASH and damn you Areillla, I was growing at you throughout the book", "date_added": "Wed Sep 12 04:31:45 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 12 04:33:31 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "6644117", "review_id": "2baee89f1178e553f18011ae3c03beff", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I LOVE YOU ASH!!!!!!!! This is a GREAT book, complete with fantasy, romance and adventure in a perfect mix!!", "date_added": "Wed Aug 15 00:31:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 12 04:30:32 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "4070493", "review_id": "dd08dcb3b4f3e715bd4d26eeb40e4009", "rating": 5, "review_text": "it was great!", "date_added": "Sat Aug 04 18:42:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 14 23:46:40 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "13183957", "review_id": "37411624fd2b1e9b7b98e5c4b7046122", "rating": 5, "review_text": "OMG OMG Daemon I Looooove you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this book was such a great insight to Dawson and Bethany story! I almost cried at the end:( Jennifer L Armentrout had done it again", "date_added": "Sun Jul 22 02:04:38 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 23 00:58:26 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "9553503", "review_id": "1ede773080a40e28273839584a677b99", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It was ok............. I just think that there is too many love triangles nowadays...", "date_added": "Wed Jul 18 02:21:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 23 21:49:17 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jul 24 21:49:17 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "13573795", "review_id": "0058f4257476d9f4eef9456fc61024fb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ooh it was so good", "date_added": "Thu Jul 12 22:16:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 29 01:11:30 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Sep 29 01:11:30 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "16050829", "review_id": "88b7779a1a16c7fa89a23d1fcdfadb15", "rating": 5, "review_text": "good, although, sincw I hadn't read the series in awhile. I was looking at it through fresh eyes..... that led me to Christian, so I was confused", "date_added": "Tue Jul 03 03:18:46 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 18 02:14:43 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "12908877", "review_id": "71023fbeaa9e28a18adbfd09dab04aaf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "LOVE this book.... if you REALLY want my opinion (which I'm sure you DON'T) you can see in the discussion of the 3rd book", "date_added": "Mon Jul 02 17:43:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 03 17:29:50 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jul 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "9462812", "review_id": "8fabba335e17cb09f6aab892554bd8bb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was refreshing! I love the way Plum shapes her words.... Probably one of my favourites for 2012 ;)", "date_added": "Mon Jul 02 00:32:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 02 17:21:40 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "9307674", "review_id": "c266caa7d3f691b2101b677c3cd74ce9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Artemis Fowl is one of the best series I have ever read", "date_added": "Fri Jun 29 02:41:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 10 15:11:26 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Dec 10 15:11:26 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Wed Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "8755785", "review_id": "b81804eef2dd0814b36eeed403f9118d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n just.... \n SIMON. MY GOD", "date_added": "Fri Jun 29 02:40:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 04 00:13:44 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "10799881", "review_id": "88bbf66f00e7af3f822ec59bb00db39e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Hmmmm it was great!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 29 02:39:08 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 26 22:09:41 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "3934321", "review_id": "6f5a823d15144800dd6999202b05ad68", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I LOVE THE VAMPIRE DIARIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 27 05:15:23 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 15 17:55:41 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "5056084", "review_id": "b0a651c00e4f688771f525bbbf75b915", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I Loved this book", "date_added": "Wed Jun 27 05:13:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 27 05:13:35 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "5287473", "review_id": "8aa68bab410de7c9ad69d1bdcf0668f5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It looks good so far!", "date_added": "Sat Jun 16 17:52:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 27 05:12:50 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jun 27 05:12:50 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "11051889", "review_id": "4da3ae383e0aa93eb52e85e8ad02b2cc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I absolutely LOVED this series!!!!!!!!!! Alex & Gemma <3 <3", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 17:36:34 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 16 02:47:33 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "9666812", "review_id": "f36f40196854c98d2c312af232718f95", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It was good... looking forward to HEVEAN", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 19:27:13 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 09 19:27:56 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "6918909", "review_id": "67472e1dddaa1cb1d73a3e2e1f1d1e59", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This Book was ok i supossed. i loved all the others and is yet to read #4", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 19:25:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 27 05:13:48 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "10025305", "review_id": "79fc89342f48ac81d84a5b235fe980ac", "rating": 4, "review_text": "TEAM WILL TEAM WILLTEAM WILLTEAM WILL TEAM WILL TEAM WILL TEAM WILL TEAM WILL \n I swear i will strangle you Tessa DO NOT GET ENGAGED WITH JEM AAAGGGHHHHH", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 19:09:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 16 14:42:56 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "12127750", "review_id": "a93bf286e5d77c7988b5679eab6fb31a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love you Percy!!!!!!! \n Oh, why Rick Roidan? Why did you did this to me?!?!!!?", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 19:03:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 11 00:32:24 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "8709523", "review_id": "e5d616c0fcc3c424a079a8b946bf65c1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It was a VERY good book... Looking out for 3rd", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 17:44:48 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 28 04:04:08 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jun 28 04:04:08 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "15719896", "review_id": "85bfabf1c80740faa6a400fab2f0b1f2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really wish I hadn't read the epilogue. I was in a ball crying. Very loudly. Oh. I miss you. Why was everyone who matted immortal?! It should have bees the other way around. Cassandra Clare hurts. But both team Jem and team Will will be satisfied. I will Miss Will so much", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 17:44:44 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 23 18:33:33 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Mar 23 18:28:44 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Mar 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "8755776", "review_id": "460fe5cebce9c517fd0741a9c38a6400", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really liked this book, it was ok \n My friend has a very twisted opinion to me- at first she liked Valentine but (after she read Sebastian kissing Clary) Sebastian is now her favourite character. she is WERID.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 17:44:19 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 09 18:54:10 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60cef0563be2901bf419c35a54a602e6", "book_id": "13047090", "review_id": "0d20982040b2932371e25d4b98b0f239", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Oh My God! I'm totally with Charlotte on this one!!! Heart-breaking!!! I am currently balling my eyes out!!!! It was a cliffhanger, and a big one, too. Well, I was satisfied with the big confession, and, well, DAEMON!!!!!", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 17:42:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 26 20:42:56 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Aug 26 20:38:40 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Aug 26 02:39:23 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7eb46bfc5635a4b1049a56885d8b6135", "book_id": "2337147", "review_id": "1db51ff87719e59e442a1f1d09f2e1b1", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Wasn't really my cup of tea.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 10:46:06 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 28 10:46:19 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "533cbfa6c73c2662c0c80e594c48d66e", "book_id": "9918133", "review_id": "777e5ff0a93fc325a3107a059e9fc5d0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really liked this book and can't wait to finish the series. The only thing I really didn't care for was the use of the \"f\" word. It wasn't needed and inappropriate for a YA novel.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 01 11:32:56 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 01 11:35:10 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "533cbfa6c73c2662c0c80e594c48d66e", "book_id": "20814989", "review_id": "87ebf695837358cad97bef3507367f6c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Half Bad was awesome! Great pace, lots of action, and I really enjoyed it. I was expecting more of the same with Half Wild and was disappointed when it wasn't. It felt like it took me forever too get into the meat of the book. Once I did though it was good. Don't give up on it! It gets better!", "date_added": "Fri Apr 17 11:40:19 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 17 11:43:57 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "533cbfa6c73c2662c0c80e594c48d66e", "book_id": "8835379", "review_id": "72afc8e59699a1d3dd125284d1fe508c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "this book was so good! loved it, and super glad I have the second ( and third) do I don't have to wait!", "date_added": "Sat Jan 18 17:28:43 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 18 17:30:31 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "533cbfa6c73c2662c0c80e594c48d66e", "book_id": "12180248", "review_id": "b9b89ca690e4628da2e2b00c34e8c8d3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book. The weaving of the myriad of fairy tales was skillful, and I think it resulted in a truly delightful book.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 13 10:07:33 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 13 10:08:53 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c84807d576e92c3746180ec064fbd440", "book_id": "26159425", "review_id": "582f5935bbfa0b62b751b4db1830c259", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2.5", "date_added": "Fri Aug 28 09:47:44 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 17 03:40:41 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Aug 28 11:45:46 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c84807d576e92c3746180ec064fbd440", "book_id": "25390016", "review_id": "f91d1817215af60acb21a79f8919747a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 nice introduction to the spin off series.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 19 10:02:57 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 10 10:04:42 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Oct 10 10:04:42 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c84807d576e92c3746180ec064fbd440", "book_id": "25601790", "review_id": "7dc18bfbf16f10ec72cfd9d9d6b99657", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5", "date_added": "Mon Jul 13 16:55:07 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 16 12:58:19 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c84807d576e92c3746180ec064fbd440", "book_id": "23687344", "review_id": "032ba7b48fbcb8d2967d8b9a171deef3", "rating": 2, "review_text": "2.5 not a solid read for me, I defintely enjoyed the 1st book better. A little to much angst for me.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 12 13:37:53 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 12 15:41:53 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jun 12 15:41:53 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c84807d576e92c3746180ec064fbd440", "book_id": "23532819", "review_id": "219af27e635161d0923618c6e41f0681", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5", "date_added": "Fri Jun 12 11:36:27 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 12 13:36:51 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jun 12 13:36:51 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jun 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c84807d576e92c3746180ec064fbd440", "book_id": "25418287", "review_id": "4e34e22ce9211190823193923fb98e19", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.5", "date_added": "Tue May 12 11:13:55 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue May 12 11:14:11 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c84807d576e92c3746180ec064fbd440", "book_id": "23235530", "review_id": "187c74c995441625eb3192a672b3d693", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.5", "date_added": "Fri Mar 20 11:56:49 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 20 11:56:49 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Mar 20 11:56:49 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Mar 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c84807d576e92c3746180ec064fbd440", "book_id": "6972157", "review_id": "141f4c6f6df94736613f5717335ced8a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5", "date_added": "Mon Mar 02 08:31:12 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 04 04:53:16 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Mar 03 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Mar 03 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c84807d576e92c3746180ec064fbd440", "book_id": "12794147", "review_id": "ceba61f3a1dab35ea136e85bb1b5af6d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5", "date_added": "Mon Feb 02 04:44:24 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 02 04:44:24 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Feb 02 04:44:24 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c84807d576e92c3746180ec064fbd440", "book_id": "8983831", "review_id": "1d9624a0ccbf11cde99095bebc73ba91", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.5", "date_added": "Sat Aug 16 21:31:14 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 16 21:31:31 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c84807d576e92c3746180ec064fbd440", "book_id": "16099246", "review_id": "1baf320dcdc9686e737c08d9090bba4f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Had this in my to read que for quite some time, holding off on the review until I read ALL of this story...", "date_added": "Sat Jun 28 19:03:27 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 28 19:03:27 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c84807d576e92c3746180ec064fbd440", "book_id": "6463808", "review_id": "2205b79acd1816ad29662d8916315da5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A humorous short read, and nice addition to this series.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 11 11:33:44 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 11 12:45:10 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c84807d576e92c3746180ec064fbd440", "book_id": "6924292", "review_id": "a2a0e8b765cbe151a8094ee167be9bf0", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This was a short read. I had previously read Pack Alpha and thought I would continue with this series. While not a bad title, I just didn't really connect with the characters, and the story felt a bit rushed to me.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 11 11:26:23 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 11 11:32:10 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c84807d576e92c3746180ec064fbd440", "book_id": "17853851", "review_id": "83c175b6faf1ffc0b8d0dac0d7d4f3d9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was really looking forward to Nick and Shaya's story. I enjoyed it but I did find it lacking in some ways. It wasn't what I expected of these characters, as their story has been built up from the two previous books. It didn't feel like a Phoenix Pack story to me, not bad just not what I expected.", "date_added": "Wed May 29 10:28:27 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 13 12:10:54 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Feb 13 12:10:54 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c84807d576e92c3746180ec064fbd440", "book_id": "10430209", "review_id": "3781291fddc4a7f3d7c076aea4d230ca", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I just didn't connect with the story or any of the characters not my cup of tea!", "date_added": "Tue Feb 19 11:19:25 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 09 13:49:50 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Oct 09 13:49:50 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c84807d576e92c3746180ec064fbd440", "book_id": "15817351", "review_id": "fb43df60eca21c18220d0d2764b95f3e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I wasn't quite sure what to expect on the return to Fantasyland, but I will admit I was a bit nervous. The conclusion was a bit \"neat\" for me, as there will be another book in this series I'm intrigued on how KA will dish out Noc's story. BUT I'm looking forward to that book. I did enjoy the relationship aspect of this story. The friendships were well developed and I thought that Apollo and Maddie's development went well (I had concerns). It seemed like vintage KA to me!!!", "date_added": "Thu Nov 22 11:13:33 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 02 06:16:25 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c84807d576e92c3746180ec064fbd440", "book_id": "15817326", "review_id": "a3e8e00d0dcc075451a740aa232a67ed", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Great addition to the series. Truly looking forward to the final installment. I'm not big on paranormal, but the author doesn't let it detract from the story. As always KA does NOT disappoint!", "date_added": "Thu Nov 22 11:13:33 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 24 20:10:31 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Nov 24 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8fbe172e23ae719052672f434cba7b11", "book_id": "4407", "review_id": "800fb01781f0b85c641ba5dddf5fc0a1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved loved loved this book. The first book I read by Mr. Gaimen and I've been hooked ever since.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 21 04:20:33 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 21 04:21:11 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8fbe172e23ae719052672f434cba7b11", "book_id": "311502", "review_id": "e6def899969989bd754182c190d34fba", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fantastic book, you must NEVER EVER EVER see the movie.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 21 04:13:28 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 21 04:14:05 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8fbe172e23ae719052672f434cba7b11", "book_id": "11286", "review_id": "e82c3e1f1292d323ced8b8955cdf02e1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was one of the few books I was unable to put down once I started reading it. An amazing twist to the vampire novel. Highly recommend to anyone who is into horror.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 21 04:06:05 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 21 04:07:25 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8fbe172e23ae719052672f434cba7b11", "book_id": "11557", "review_id": "d5916b4b3998012b21e5069efef5759f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "My favorite book by McCammon. Many compare it to Th Stand which is not a bad thing what so ever. Well worth the read.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 21 04:04:36 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 21 04:12:41 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8fbe172e23ae719052672f434cba7b11", "book_id": "476009", "review_id": "2b97d77b339f0cda58791578480641d0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Huge book with many characters, but you never get confused and the story just sucks you in from page 1. One of Barkers best books.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 21 03:42:27 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 21 04:11:12 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8fbe172e23ae719052672f434cba7b11", "book_id": "248596", "review_id": "58c39b5822bf3bd116128441b530dc27", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book still holds up since I read it in my childhood.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 21 03:36:28 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 21 03:36:56 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8fbe172e23ae719052672f434cba7b11", "book_id": "12067", "review_id": "70892737fb78a7da13525e6ef8e916aa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of the funniest books I have ever read. Few books make me laugh out loud, this one definately did just that.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 21 03:29:54 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 21 03:30:37 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "30166675", "review_id": "773406ccbaf6aca79633fe68c824f5df", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I could probably do a REALLY in depth review of this book, and very well may some day. But I just finished this and there is still so much to process. \n Basically... \n This may be the best work of modern fantasy. This may be the great American novel. \n And this may be my favorite book of all time right now. \n I may be exaggerating. I also might not be.", "date_added": "Tue May 02 16:12:59 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu May 18 19:18:21 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu May 18 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "31451174", "review_id": "2be37cce3001d53a344b9e62d1580435", "rating": 1, "review_text": "1.5 \n I could rant and spew spoilers as a result, but I will keep it short and sweet. \n ACOTAR and ACOMAF were always going to be tough to wrap up. There is one really good entry, one exceptional entry, and anything less feels all the more disappointing. However, this reaches a new level. \n \"A Court of Wings and Ruin\" suffers from so much. Bland, tired plotting. Repetitive, awkward writing. Uneven and random pacing. But I think ultimately, the problem comes down to focus. The first two books worked so well because amidst the fantastical world, long history, and brewing political tensions, there was a clear focus on character. Feyre, Rhysand, and Tamlin have been the heart and soul of this series. They are tricky, evolving characters that make every conflict feel tremendously personal. \n This book, however, completely neglects them. We spend so much time building to the climax, that they take the backseat to the larger military conflict. And as a result, there is really little reason to care. We get nothing from them. \n There was SOME emotional pay off, but mostly because of all the work the previous two books had done, so I cannot really reward this book for that. Sarah J. Maas has proven herself to be a terrific writer. I just hope that in her forthcoming work, she remembers why we fell in love with this series to begin with.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 14 10:40:05 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed May 10 20:01:44 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed May 10 19:52:32 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed May 03 16:36:01 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "27840861", "review_id": "fc7344ac12108e69abeb4d106fac6344", "rating": 5, "review_text": "4.5. \n I would do 4 stars, but that feels like it would shortchange everything Bardugo accomplishes in this series. \n I'll start with my disappointment (singular). The climax. It was exciting but without the flash and operatic scope of that of Six of Crows. Can't help but wish for something a bit grander. \n Besides that? Perfection. The writing. The world building. The character work. The conclusion. The notes of pathos. Bardugo orchestrated them perfectly over the course of this duology. This is not a sequel but rather the second half of the story, which is everything you could hope for in a second entry. Bardugo managed to nearly surpass herself in every way. She gives you the exact moments you need, resisting the tempting urge to indulge beyond what is necessary to tell this story. \n I could have read it forever, but I am so happy with how it all tied up. In an age of endless sequels and spin-offs, this novel demonstrates just how important it is to know when to wrap it all up.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 29 12:51:48 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 10 22:02:43 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Dec 11 12:48:02 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "29056083", "review_id": "d2accd95be76e62c874e76cb4d731b7f", "rating": 1, "review_text": "1.5 \n It is plain and simple: this is not \"Harry Potter.\" \n The Eighth Story. Nineteen Years Later. Everything has heralded this as the return to the Harry Potter saga. You want it back. The characters. The story. The magic. But it is just not there. \n This review will naturally be spoiler free. So forgive me for being vague. \n It starts off well enough. We begin right where we left off. It's exciting. Through the opening conflicts, I was excited to see what this new generation had in store. It wasn't as great as the books. You don't have Rowling's effortless writing or the wealth of following the exact same characters, but this is the wizarding world. In a 5.5 hour play, there are so many possibilities ahead. \n Then it quickly nosedives into a tired and ridiculous plot. The Harry Potter series is full of enchanting and original adventure. Everything here, though, is too...easy. We retread familiar plots (both Potter and other). The scenes and character dynamics are predictable. There was no ingenuity or imagination here. I never felt joy. That was heartbreaking. \n But there are some diamonds in the rough here. For example, Scorpius Malfoy is an original, complex, and utterly \"Rowling-esque\" character. He fits right in to the world she has created over seven books. And towards the end, despite the play's steady decline into absurdity, there are some genuine and unexpected moments of pathos. I teared up a bit. \n But why? Was it because this play created an emotional build? Did I become attached to these characters? No. It was nostalgia. Nothing else. \n And that is the ultimate fault of this play. It never aims to work on its own. Each of Rowling's books have been able to stand on their own. They are each satisfying. They continue a larger narrative without sacrificing telling one, good story at a time. And this play has no interest in independence. It hopes to capture all the magic, emotion, and themes of Rowling's original work. But it just doesn't know how. \n So, this is an unfortunate disappointment. This is not \"the eighth story,\" and honestly, we never needed one. Some things are just more magical when left to the imagination. \n Update: \n I read this very quickly, so I did not get to digest the story while reading. I still stand by all the comments I made, but at the same time, I think I am going to reread it at some point this year to see if anything changes for me down the line.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 18 09:38:59 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 01 11:23:51 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 49, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "26073150", "review_id": "8b842d4688a30e761e3bdd9575578f1f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "ACOMAF is a bit of a miracle. \n I really really liked ACOTAR. While there were certainly a couple of elements that were a bit rushed and sloppy, it's ingenuity and slow burn won me over \n But ACOMAF is a leap above the first. There is more, better crafted action. The plot is much more well rounded. And the characters, new and old, are so immediately distinct and developed. \n The biggest improvement, by far, is Feyre. In the first book, she came across as a bit of a ripoff of Katniss at times. But she grounds every scene, whether they are action packed or emotional, steamy or sobering. Every scene works as a progression of her character. Not a page here is wasted (and there are 620 of them). \n Oh and as for the retelling aspect of this. This book is loosely based on the myth of Hades and Persephone, but after 100 pages or so, Maas says screw it, and the rest is her own, original plot. \n I thought about this book every time I put it down. And I will be for some time now. ACOMAF is perhaps the best sequel I have ever read, and easily one of the most compelling and well-crafted works of fantasy and young adult literature I have had the pleasure of experiencing.", "date_added": "Mon May 09 15:46:09 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 14 11:20:17 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Aug 13 07:02:58 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "23437156", "review_id": "a6014425a2d6a9b43dc82e4222394df9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Six of Crows, much like the heist it depicts, is something of a high-wire act. It has only 400+ pages to develop its SIX protagonists, develop a world in an entirely new way, and create a gripping and entertaining narrative. There were thousands of ways it could go wrong. \n But Bardugo hits it out of the park on each count. It's downright maddening. Everything in this novel (character, plot, world building, etc.) is in absolute perfect balance. She makes it look effortless. \n For me, this very much read like a young adult Game of Thrones. You have so many characters developed in one novel. The world is vast, diverse, and realistic. Fantasy novels about one kingdom with a singular culture can get so taxing. But here, not only do we have different countries to explore, but also different religions, politics, economic systems, and social classes. It as a fantastical world with all the complexity of ours. \n And on top of it all, this has to be one of the best page turners of my recent memory. There is never a dull moment. It's always in motion without losing gravity. \n Of course I am going to read the sequel in this duology as soon as it comes out. But now Bardugo is on an even higher wire: how can it possibly get better than this?", "date_added": "Sat Jan 30 16:11:32 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 07 17:29:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "17347389", "review_id": "e0ac6c4ad1f0c949dc882e2e690feda6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "In every sense for what it is, this book is absolutely perfect. \n I liked the first novel of the Raven Cycle. It had a great sense of character and an atmosphere and style that I immediately fell in love with. But it also was inconclusive, even for a first book. It started a whole lot without finishing anything. It felt incomplete, even as a first entry. \n The Dream Thieves improves upon almost every aspect of this. \n As a continuation, a part of a series, it is great. There is a continuation of the questions of the first entry. We see an intentional but organic growth of these characters. We get some answers, but not too many. \n As its own novel, it is impressive as all hell. I may be slightly biased because this novel centers on my favorite (and who I believe to be the most compelling) character. But everything here feels so perfectly crafted. The scenes are fun and perfectly paced. It just sweeps by, but without feeling empty or insubstantial. Maggie's writing is wonderfully visual and original. It is true to the characters while at once having a life of its own. It fits perfectly well with the commendable originality of Maggie's brand of fantasy. \n I am just so happy that Maggie found an exciting, fun, and memorable story that she can do service to in a single book. She has crafted one of the best single volumes of a series that I have read. I can't wait to see what else she has in store.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 09 07:15:34 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 07 17:29:21 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jun 24 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 15, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "23734628", "review_id": "18e2562afb2bb581c8699cbadf500029", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Carry On is not original. It's not game-changing. It's not terribly literary. \n But by God this was one of the most entertaining and fun books I have read in a while. \n I have read a lot of complaints that this is basically just a lesser \"Harry Potter.\" And it is, kind of. This is Rainbow Rowell's take on Harry Potter. You will find so many similarities in her world and characters with that of Rowling. But at the same time, it is Rowell's take on \"the chosen one\" story, on typical YA romance, on YA tropes in general. There are a many great satirical moments in this, poking fun at everything from Harry Potter and Twilight to John Green, if you look hard enough. \n But Rowell does not get bogged down by satirizing these stories. She has fun with these tropes, and as the novel progresses, she really makes these elements her own and above all weaves them together to create an exciting story for the reader. \n Yes, there is a wizarding school. There is a chosen one. There is a nemesis. There is a mentor. There are vampires. There is romance. There's a lot of of stuff. But as you keep reading, you notice that Rowell gradually starts casting them aside. She is more interested in telling her own story and really working to create her own characters. \n This had everything that worked with Eleanor and Park and nothing that didn't. She has a terrific romance here and expertly executes the multiple POVs. But in addition to that, she creates in incredibly tight and interconnected plot that really works at building mystery, suspense, and intrigue. \n To put it simply, this is an engaging and entertaining story that Rowell tells with absolute expertise. It didn't change my life, but it made the past 5 days absolute fly by like a book has not done in a while. And that deserves 5 stars in my mind.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 03 16:05:23 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 04 13:16:01 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "17675462", "review_id": "03c3d7522d92eaaca2cdddcff85206f0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This started off really well. The premise and mythology is very original, the characters are all memorable, and Maggie Stiefvater nails the multiple perspectives. The characters actually feel like teenagers, something a surprising number of YA novels fail to accomplish. Plus, there are more than a few moments where she really sings as a writer. \n My biggest problem is the whole second half. Sure it is pretty exciting and has some great scenes. However, there is no resolution to almost anything. This is my biggest problem with series. They are so focused with future installments that they forget to make a solid, satisfying first book. Harry Potter is a good example of a book that doesn't have this problem. Each novel works independently, introducing and concluding their individual stories while continuing the overall narrative. This novel's climax solves nothing from what was introduced in the beginning. It's just lazy storytelling. \n I am going to give this series another go and read the next book. Hopefully it will pick up the slack of this one while keeping everything that works.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 05 18:38:37 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 07 17:29:19 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "8621462", "review_id": "de9c2e4d03a24fbe9a6a8f478a1004c9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A transcendent work of fantasy. A profound work of literature. A heartbreaking, transformative feat of storytelling. All fiction should aspire to be as affective as this simple but powerful novel. A new favorite.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 29 19:32:41 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 19 14:10:23 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "24499258", "review_id": "2275918f7368a270f7fea4f9721af04f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It's a perfectly acceptable David Mitchell book. It has the typical jumps in time, connections to other books (Particularly The Bone Clocks), and a nice progression. \n However, it gets too repetitive. It's basically the same story over and over again, each one giving you more information about what is going on. But for me, the climax fell flat, and the work overall did not feel nearly as memorable or fulfilled as it could have been. \n It's still fun. A nice haunted house story as only David Mitchell could write. But in a few years, I believe this novel will be long forgotten in light of Mitchell's other masterpieces.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 23 09:46:00 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 05 10:02:12 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "27774758", "review_id": "d486b566ff48786c21b8410a130c331f", "rating": 1, "review_text": "DNF at around 50%. \n I just knew from the beginning that I was not connecting with this book in the least. So much of the action, characters, and writing just rung false or unbearably melodramatic. Spoiled myself for the end and was not looking forward to trudging through the rest of what was in store. \n -\\_(tsu)_/-", "date_added": "Mon May 18 17:56:49 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 25 09:08:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Sep 25 10:01:52 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "26073151", "review_id": "6bd8096e8035b6d2fde360197c41ee86", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I am very surprised with how much I ended up enjoying this. \n ACOTAR is a loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and it is in my opinion one of the best \"retellings\" I have come across. Maas takes the most iconic elements of the story and completely twists them. It's absolutely brilliant. You will have a well known element from BATB that means little to ACOTAR, and then a moment will come up in ACOTAR that harkened back to the fairy tale while managing to feel original and organic to her world. \n Some have complained about the book's pacing. I do find that time advances oddly where Maas makes seemingly random and quick jumps forward in time. However, the first 2/3 of this novel were an absolute treat of character development. It is a slow burn romance. When the pay off comes, it never feels cheap or undeserved. It takes a lot of meandering and can feel plotless, but I am a sucker for that stuff. \n My biggest complaint has to be the last third, which feels like a tired climax at best and a cheap rip-off at worst. Not to say it was ever boring though. However, it did feel like a complete shift from everything before it. But luckily, Maas grounds it through one of my favorite characters of the book (those who have read it know exactly who I am talking about). I can't wait to see more of them in ACOMAF. \n I am a little disappointed that it ran out of steam at the end, but the creativity and development elevate this above other retellings (cough, Cinder, cough). This was such an unexpected treat and I can't wait to see what Maas has in store next.", "date_added": "Sat May 09 08:46:30 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 14 11:20:16 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Aug 03 07:52:25 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "16034235", "review_id": "627fd425f48d13baae30944015aea6a6", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I am both thankful and regretful that I started my journey into Sarah J. Maas work with the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. Those books (especially ACOMAF) are epic yet intricate, complex yet elegant. They are some of the most fun, exciting, and developed Young Adult Fantasy novels out there. They had me hooked, turning me into an instant fan of Maas. Unfortunately, going back to her early work is a somewhat painful, sluggish devolution. \n Throne of Glass has a lot of fantasy tropes and storylines to play with: assassins, princes, soldiers, a deadly competition, a hint of mystery. This all sounds generic because it is. We have all seen these elements again and again in countless stories. It's up to the writer to make them interesting. At this point, I don't think Maas got to flex her writing muscles enough. \n You have all of the hallmarks of her work here. We have some expressive, romantic, visual writing that weaves into the scenes and narration very well. Celeana is another great heroine, and I was very pleased to see she contrasted greatly from ACOTAR's Feyre. She's fierce and incredibly strong without having to sacrifice any of her femininity. From the first fifty pages, these elements sung, and made me excited for the rest. \n However, what you get are generic supporting characters, a generic mystery that does not feel organic to this plot or world, and worst of all little to no resolution. Sure, there's a climax, but Throne of Glass suffers from an unfortunate frequent shortcoming of first novels. The main plot closes up, but almost every other thread is left scattered. It's hard to find any clear character or thematic arcs. \n I am going to continue in this series because I know what Maas is capable of and have heard good things about later entries. I am hopeful that by moving on from the fairly flat set up of Throne of Glass, Maas will venture to more creative and intriguing horizons.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 27 06:56:09 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 05 19:11:48 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Sep 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "164695", "review_id": "d7d736832b150dc9e2c7cee815e41704", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I'll admit that I have not read Afanasyev's collection in its entirety, but more than enough to get the gist of the work. It's a collection. Some stories will be good. Other's will be bad. Some of my favorites were ones that echoed traditional western fairy tales like Cinderella and Snow White as well as ones that were distinctly Russian. It's not something I would ever read for enjoyment. Most of these stories feel quick, bland, and unmemorable. It is a great document as a representation of Russian culture. But besides academic interests, it's not really worth the time to go through the entire thing. I believe there to be far more interesting and memorable collections out there.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 15 12:13:55 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 14 09:32:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jan 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "4020390", "review_id": "5b47c194c70cebfacf28c4ed82a03b56", "rating": 4, "review_text": "While it may fall to some fairytale tropes, this is still J. K. Rowling writing about the wizarding world. And Dumbledore's delightfully charming commentary! How can you not enjoy this?", "date_added": "Tue Dec 23 19:09:53 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 21 16:52:36 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Dec 24 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Dec 23 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "17934530", "review_id": "fa8efe196e30ae058e3c8f96256e657c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A terrific, terrifying, and extremely compelling work of science fiction. Very reminiscent of the film Alien in my opinion. \n This book is mostly excellent. It has a well executed plot, terrific suspense, and an overarching sense of dread and terror I have never experienced in a book previously. It's a book that captures your imagination just to turn it upside down and show you how terrifying it can be. \n Be warned, this book can get very very weird, and I totally rolled with it. But I found there to be a few too many loose ends for my tastes. A few too many teases that never reach fruition. Granted, this is the first part of a trilogy, and there is still a lot of ground to cover. \n Regardless, this is a fiercely original and absolutely compelling read that I wish more people knew about.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 07 15:45:24 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 05 10:02:11 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "20829029", "review_id": "a5c15709521cf238645388d8686e6a42", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ah such a fun read. I bought this on impulse, read it on impulse, and devoured it. This novel could be extremely boring, but Andy Weir infuses it with terrific humor, suspense, and variety that it keeps the repetitiveness at bay. It could just be \"here's a challenge, it's overcome, here's another challenge, it's overcome.\" But that stakes keep raising as the accidents escalate. Personally, I feel like it might be a bit more dull on a reread (maybe warranting a 4.5 star rating instead). It does fall victim to some survival narrative tropes and is not as concerned with the themes below the surface (see Life of Pi), but this novel is surprisingly profound. Amidst all the excitement and danger, moments of loneliness, bravery, and supportiveness shine through. It can be pretty emotional for a story whose chief concern is suspense. It just makes the journey all the more worthwhile.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 03 20:09:01 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 28 11:29:26 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Nov 14 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "11703437", "review_id": "b12ae1a24ec29bbe0e5cbf073ebbc521", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fullmetal Alchemist is a thoroughly entertaining, original, and satisfying story. At a hefty 27 volumes, it can seem intimidating. But this series is full of humor, heartbreak, and relentless action. The main story really begins to beef up at around volume 15, and from then on it is a nonstop ride. It echoes several themes present in many popular series, including Harry Potter and the Hunger Games. Thankfully, this series also has perhaps the most action-packed and emotionally satisfying climax of any series I have read thus far. It doesn't quite reach the level of being an absolute masterpiece, but certainly deserves all the attention it can get.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 28 16:36:25 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 14 09:32:13 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed May 27 14:40:29 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed May 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "14786924", "review_id": "10308660545aba5cf3a5cfef89c8b12f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This novel is very good despite all its attempts to subvert itself. It seems Maguire forgets basic concepts of storytelling, such as cause and effect and motif, making the novel's events seem random. There's no real joy here, and sometimes the writing can be subpar (don't get me started on the dialogue). I really disliked it when I started. Then about halfway through, something changed. Things began to come together to a thrilling conclusion. \n It's easy to like prequels. You see a nod to the original, and you are all \"OMG I KNOW WHAT THAT IS!\" \"Wicked\" isn't above this, especially in the last chapter which basically covers the events from \"The Wizard of Oz.\" However, Maguire uses these nods minimally, instead crafting a dark, adult, and complicated version of the Land of Oz. Basically, this novel is a work of dystopian literature, using a familiar and fantastic setting rather than a \"not too distant future\" cliche. And it's great. It may be off-putting for some, but I was completely enraptured in his world. The supporting characters are memorable, and although it takes a while, Maguire slowly hones in on Elphaba, the titular witch. She's an outsider for most of the novel's first half, but as it progresses, we get closer and closer, and her transformation is intriguing to witness. \n It's not fully satisfying, however. We all know how it ends, and you can't help but feeling like there should have been more, that things were cut off short. It's an original prequel, a literary work of fan-fiction, a grim but good read. I just want to know what happens to this world after. \n Well, I guess that's what the sequel is for...", "date_added": "Mon Oct 27 19:17:05 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 14 11:21:33 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Sep 09 16:11:52 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "bc11ce051905128c6791a78bf7a823d1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2.5 \n Not what I was expecting, which is both good and bad. \n This novel had some great plotting. Meyer's book really works when it is working on its own, original material. Plus, we have some really great characters on top of that. \n However, it felt half-baked. This is not a Cinderella retelling, as I thought. It has less than a handful of elements, and quite frankly, most do not come into play until the last 100 pages. This is such an interesting concept, and some may prefer it to not follow the Cinderella plot as closely. I am of the other opinion. Cinderella is such a strong and mythic story, I could not wait to see how certain elements from it would come into play. However, most of them didn't, which just made me think, \"Why bother?\" On top of that, the writing is basic and an intriguing but not particularly satisfying conclusion. \n I have heard that other books in the series are much better, so I am going to continue this. It has so much potential, I just hope it exercises it.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 16 19:41:56 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 14 11:20:16 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Mar 03 14:41:22 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "2424001", "review_id": "7add7908b493510c28cc1ca5d250e952", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It's a perfectly nice little children's fable from a great writer.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 10 08:21:52 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 21 16:56:23 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "1582996", "review_id": "cbba288a8fa84a92eb3a7495e4bd5351", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A significant improvement over the first book. In general, it is a much more entertaining novel. The suspense, pacing, and plot are all masterfully pulled off this time. Also, there is less overwhelming world building and more character development, turning the fish out of water story of the first installment into a compelling ensemble piece. Just so much more exciting and enjoyable this time around.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 05 19:33:59 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 07 17:29:10 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat May 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "444304", "review_id": "3f2ba93fbbde96c6676b6268ebf688cc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Series Review: \n This is a short and sweet series. Each volume is barely 100 pages, with huge font and spacing. It has a solid sense of adventure and fantastic whimsy, with some beautiful illustrations. It's no exceptional fantasy, but still good.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 02 12:49:23 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 21 16:57:53 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "11914313", "review_id": "e49abec4affd6ce3dbd2d6638cced337", "rating": 4, "review_text": "MacHale knocks it out of the park again. Instead of retreading the first book, he explores an entirely new and unique world. Also, there are some pretty solid twists in this volume that I was NOT expecting. Highly underrated.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 31 14:38:26 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 21 16:57:51 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "28868", "review_id": "3732ded30d0667bc1f159987e78f913e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The sub-par return to Narnia for me. It was great seeing the Pevensie children again, but this installment loses more than a bit of the magic that made Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe great.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 31 14:34:09 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 21 16:59:18 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "15748868", "review_id": "8be68ea9cdd77fdc8cd4380d898f1faf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Basic high fantasy the works just enough to warrant a reading.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 31 14:26:41 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 21 16:59:18 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "16101115", "review_id": "ecf5e458c07f90e246b711bd8578820a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the Great Gatsby of children's literature. J. M. Barrie has done for childhood what F. Scott Fitzgerald did for the American Dream. It really is a perfect storm: it captures the whimsy and magic of childhood, it's prose is so beautiful it's basically poetry, and the story and themes have the richness and depth of classic literature. It is a tremendously fun, witty, and exciting novel that could also be studied endlessly. And Barrie's charismatic and charming narration just makes it all the better. I will say though, that the prose is so decorated that the novel can feel a bit dense (especially for a children's novel) and the pacing suffers a bit. You can see the tremendous influence this story has had on both fantasy and children's literature. I have more to read in classic children's lit, but it will be extremely difficult to find a suitable rival for this imaginative masterpiece.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 31 14:25:40 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 21 16:59:18 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Dec 13 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Tue Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "20819685", "review_id": "ce15f74a8e772ae23f6990257ac2a12f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is Mitchell's spiritual sequel to \"Cloud Atlas,\" and while I really liked that book, this improves on it in so many ways. While I concede that \"Cloud Atlas\" is a more complex reading experience with clearer and more universal artistic aims, \"The Bone Clocks\" tells a better story. The six segments tell one story, connecting not just characters, but themes and plot points. By focusing on one story, Mitchell is able to create an absolutely thrilling climax and heartbreaking conclusion. And of course some beautiful wriitng and compelling characters. \n I'll admit that it is not perfect. Some segments work better than others, and I wish this work was a bit more unified. \n Most impressive though is that this novel manages to tie together Mitchell's entire library of work. Not only does it tie together several characters, but also manages to create a subtle explanation some mysteries in \"Cloud Atlas.\" \n David Mitchell has created his own literary universe. I can't wait to see where else he ventures. It's ambitious, original, poignant, and messy. In other words, a typical David Mitchell novel, and I'm a sucker for that.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 31 08:28:12 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 08 09:38:29 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 9, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "15783514", "review_id": "5897bc057a03b0157f1722dd8c79734e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This little novel is always fascinating, even though it isn't totally compelling. \n Much of the novel's success rests on its ambiguity. Is this book for children, or adults? Is what is happening real or just a child's imagination? How can memory change the truth. It's utterly thought provoking in its sense of allegory and mysticism. \n My big problem with it are the fantasy elements themselves. They serve a necessary function to the story, but feel completely random. They are not organic to the narrative, but rather weird elements that don't make sense. They feel generally unmotivated, which made me care less about the magical world Gaiman tried to build. \n This is a well developed novel for all ages, just not a memorable work of fantasy.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 26 12:13:41 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 05 10:02:10 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Sep 23 08:24:01 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "92143", "review_id": "66324d087fc90fbab1839144475664b9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is one of the best reading experiences I could have ever asked for. It's hilarious, heartfelt, and epic. Yes, this graphic novel is 1,300 pages, but it goes by so quickly. Very Tolkien-esque. If you love Lord of the Rings, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, or absolutely lovable heroes, do yourself a favor and pick up this book now.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 15 16:13:38 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 21 13:24:26 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "5d893d059fed003ce9437cfefae1ce3b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It starts with a bang, but ends with a whimper. \n Much of the novel pulls off the supernatural vibe very well. Personally, I would have liked this to have more aspects of horror, as the opening seems to promise. But it maintains a steady atmosphere of eeriness and whimsy. And when it comes into some lighter moments, it still remains compelling and mysterious. \n The first 2/3 of the book works this way. It's great, entertaining, 4 star material. The last third, however, is not nearly as fun or satisfying. It is just generic, offering little resolution, spitting in the face of a novel that is experimental in its format and storytelling. \n I feel like there should have been another 100 pages after the end, which would have made this into a solid stand alone story. Instead, we get a lazy first entry that procrastinates the narrative work and development for later entries. \n Will I continue the series? Absolutely. It's a wonderful world with memorable characters that I want to continue to explore. Despite my disappointment, it still was a fun novel. I just hope that later entries pick up the slack.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 02 20:09:32 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 07 17:29:09 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jun 09 15:59:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "6386a24560953f7916c49f1a648bec3f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It's a basic paranormal YA work. Not much more. But what manages to save this from being totally ordinary are the fun characters, thrilling conclusion, and killer twist. I can't exactly say I recommend it, but if you want to read it, go ahead, it's a fun time.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 05 15:15:28 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 28 11:29:18 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "10572", "review_id": "04e48b3c4ece5d25c25bcdebb670fce7", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This was fine. \n I was a HUGE fan of Martin's first novel in this series. Its sense of character, plot, and realism was unlike anything I encountered in epic fantasy. It is a huge story, but was built so delicately and masterfully, that I forgot that I already knew everything that was going to happen. \n This novel, however, is just very messy. There is not much of a plot here. Most of these characters are in a stasis. It makes sense knowing that this is build up for what is to come, but Martin does not make it work that well here. There is a large, generally fun climax, but it comes after a hundreds of pretty boring and sloppy pages. \n Most of this I could live with, if it were not for the way Martin goes about his characters in this volume. Most of their scenes and dialogue felt tired, easy, and not overly compelling. In the last book, we got such sharp characterization, that its absence here feels all the more disappointing. \n That being said, Martin is still a pretty solid writer. We do get some standout moments with characters. (Personally, I think nothing comes close to the emotional complexity of Catelyn Stark in this entry.) I know that the best is ahead. I knew going into this that it would probably be my least favorite, so I cannot say I was that disappointed. It's fine. Most people like this one. But when I have seen Martin at his best, it has difficult to accept less.", "date_added": "Wed May 28 08:25:40 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 24 13:32:30 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jun 24 13:32:30 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "49041", "review_id": "cab862c0431879ba8d8a628b08064cf9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I like how this goes in a different direction from the first book. Some say it's overly moody and grim, but I loved this darker exploration of Bella. And it has the best climax of any of the books.", "date_added": "Mon May 12 17:04:11 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 04 13:23:37 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "985873", "review_id": "0fe5e89f167dd51ca1f0133ec6ebee69", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Damn, so good. \n I am a huge fan of the TV show, so naturally I was excited but also cautious about diving in to the books. The show is so amazing, and I honestly didn't think that the novel could live up to the incredible visuals, acting, and pacing of the show. But believe me, the book exceeded it on every level. \n Martin's novel goes so much faster than the series. It is easier to see the connection between events and the overarching narrative in the novel. I also found my feelings towards these characters to be amplified. I liked Daenerys in the show, but I LOVED her in the novel, for example. \n Additionally, Martin is a great storyteller and writer. Each chapter feels like a great individual short story with its own narrative arc. And his language is pitch perfect. Unique, foreign, and beautiful. The novel gives you the full scope of this fantastic world. It feels even more developed and natural. And he creates some truly incredible scenes that take your breath away. \n So happy this turned out so well. I absolutely plan on continuing the series (but probably with a few breaks. My mind can only handle so many 700+ page novels in a row).", "date_added": "Sat Apr 05 16:39:22 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 30 11:10:45 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "1162543", "review_id": "8e7c27acfae78e177036dea7d107a62e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I loved this series, but at this point its ridiculousness began to catch up to it. It just feels so overdone and overly dramatic. It has some interesting character exploration in the first half. But then it builds up to what should be a great climax into...nothing. So disappointing. But it's still Twilight, so I still kind of liked it despite its flaws.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 20 08:57:32 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 04 13:23:36 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "284440", "review_id": "44ed4dccfd54347ae42cb59657eb67b0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "He's a talking, wise-cracking, sassy skeleton. He's reason enough to pick up this work of urban fantasy.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 17 17:28:13 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 16 17:46:06 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "581275", "review_id": "f533ec8f25adefd7a6445fa3f5dff9b6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It's very basic, overdone high fantasy. I am sure this won't hold up on a reread. That being said, it's a fun world to explore, and Saphira is such a great and lovable character. I might be overly sentimental, but it's a middle grade book, so it's easy to forgive.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 17 17:27:54 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 28 11:29:13 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "28187", "review_id": "02e60c83ce071dab6c9207468b449c47", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This ranked up with Harry Potter for me when I was in middle school. \n Is it a bit derivative? Yeah, sure. But Riordan's implementation of Greek Mythology into the contemporary world is obscenely fun and inventive. It has a ton of well executed action and excitement. Now I haven't read the rest of the series, and while it has been over a decade since I picked this up, I am more than excited to continue.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 04 08:41:19 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 07 17:29:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "428263", "review_id": "cb8db8cd353d678945f386a10f797609", "rating": 4, "review_text": "My absolute favorite book in the series. It really ties things up from the two previous books while amping up the romance and action. I like to think of this as the unofficial conclusion to the series in light of the disappointment that is Breaking Dawn.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 26 15:11:07 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 04 13:23:36 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "41865", "review_id": "c2f5b3154388cf42b5bdb412cd1e4454", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Yeah, I was one of those people who loved this book. In my maturation as a reader, I have come to see how problematic it is, and generally shallow. \n But still, this was my post-Potter reading pick-up. It felt so exciting and romantic while not thinking about it too much. Sure, Bella is annoying, and Edward is a creep. But this series will always have a special place in my heart.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 26 15:11:01 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 04 13:23:35 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "833710", "review_id": "4861bc9eed6d2fd0f2b0df7a71dda5b2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Part of this is probably nostalgia, but this series is so action packed and inventive it's hard to resist. A nice, refreshing, original work of children's fantasy in a world full of copycats.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 01 11:05:55 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 21 17:07:41 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "164719", "review_id": "2e9bc55cacc609cb482ca7381488012b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It's an extremely dark and grim work of young adult fantasy. I mean it's about terrifying demons, has horrifically violent imagery, and has an absolutely creepy cover. It comes to a great ending, but unfortunately, it's nothing overly special.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 09 13:18:34 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 04 19:34:56 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2006", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "481509", "review_id": "9bf415fb3e8d2a3559cb5bee95dbe461", "rating": 3, "review_text": "2016 Reread: \n So in my original review, I talked about forgiving the subtle-as-a-hammer use of allegory, and how I could easily forgive it. Well, rereading it now, I find that to be a bit more difficult. Lewis jams as many biblical narratives into one 180-page children's fantasy book that I am baffled, impressed, and annoyed all at once. But when he does it, he ingrains it in a fantasy world that feels both familiar and completely organic. Narnia is a rich world that Lewis fills with a childhood sense of wonder and majesty that many other works of children's fantasy fail to nail. \n Then again, the age shows. Children's literature has come a far way in the last several decades. Here, the plotting is rather simple and the characters are so unbelievably flat and empty I wonder how I ever latched on to any of them as a kid. This is a rare case where I can honestly say that the movie is a clear improvement on the book: more subtlety, better characters, and a richer, more developed story. This is a classic that I respect, and in my memory it will always have a special place in my heart. But unfortunately, it just did not hold up for me. \n Original Review: \n As a grown up, the allegory seems so heavy handed and manipulative I would easily dismiss it if I came across it now. \n But as a child, it all went over my head. This was the closest book I had read that captured the magic and whimsy of Harry Potter, as well as being one of the first books I remember crying at. I have such fond memories of reading this, I can't punish it for its overwrought Christian themes.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 29 18:25:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 06 09:08:40 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2005", "started_at": "Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2005", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "170453", "review_id": "b94776991511e5742b0445003c536634", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This books was a downright spiritual experience for me. It can get slow here and there, but this story of a boy and a tiger trying to survive is one of the most profound and insightful novels of the 21st century.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 12 15:38:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 08 09:38:25 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "2", "review_id": "55b207e86c2e929ec0766cc4f1d403e0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is probably the most divisive book in the Harry Potter series. People who dislike it cite it's length, lack of action, and the infamous angsty Harry. \n This is the first book where Harry feels like a real teenager. It dives deeper into the themes presented in book 3, showing Harry's anger and isolation, which makes him a much more compelling character than he is in previous books. And more often than not, I was just as angry as Harry was at certain events in this book. Plus, it has a villain far more entertaining than Voldemort (possibly more evil), and the first major loss Harry experiences. Yeah, it's like 900 pages, but Harry finally comes alive.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 08:32:05 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 30 17:17:57 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "15881", "review_id": "ee5dc76507408dee3c631c13bcce90b5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Everyone's least favorite Harry Potter book, including mine. It just doesn't manage to improve much in a series that generally gets better and better. \n That being said, it's still Harry Potter, it's still fun, and it still gets 4 stars.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 08:31:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 16 12:27:59 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "49852", "review_id": "8816d35ebe3e5a72a27169683ecfbac8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is Potter's penultimate book, and it really works at setting up the stakes. It's one last normal Potter book before the explosive finale. The exploration into Voldemort's backstory is fascinating, and the characters feel better than ever. A middle chapter that is far better than most.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 08:31:42 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 08 09:38:23 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2005", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "49130", "review_id": "970bfc547dbc63bc51c6214e2f2bdbaa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was my favorite Harry Potter book for the longest time. It has the most action of any in the series and the greatest reveal (except maybe for Deathly Hallows). This is probably the most important book in the series. Not only is it literally the middle of the series, but Harry before this book is so different from Harry after. J.K. Rowling pretty much can't go wrong.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 08:31:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 16 12:33:07 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "136251", "review_id": "bdc89ff962e2193256b475c5be327591", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So many series have trouble with their final volume. They are usually anticlimactic, disappointing, or overtly bad. The hype for this book was unprecedented. By all estimates, it shouldn't have succeeded as well as it did. But damn it, J. K. Rowling not only wrote the best Harry Potter book, but also one of the best works of fantasy, children's literature, and fiction in general. \n With each installment, Rowling has built this story up. The characters are better, the plot better spun, the action more exciting, the emotions truer. They get to a point of brilliance in this book that it almost makes me mad. This is the best conclusion we could have hoped for. It is satisfying, heartbreaking, and suitably, magical. \n P.S. \n The epilogue is brilliant. Everyone who says otherwise is wrong.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 08:31:23 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 08 09:38:23 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "3", "review_id": "f3c6bba5dd2cb32a7fd7fcf309840bb2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of the best and most magical children's books of all time. \n It's Harry Potter. You know the deal.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 08:31:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 16 12:32:41 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "554286", "review_id": "e999687df7294d5eeb666328ba35c4ae", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I read this after seeing the LOTR movies but before reading LOTR and thank god before the horrid movie adaptation. This is basically Tolkien for kids. It lacks the depth and complexity of \"The Lord of the Rings,\" but is just as fun, whimsical, and exiting, possibly even more so.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 10 08:29:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 21 17:03:20 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "3291205", "review_id": "7817f41e94f95de80c43879c3a5cac6f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "One of the earliest remaining works of English literature. Luckily, it's freaking great.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 18:03:38 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 14 09:32:11 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "340381", "review_id": "b243271ac031a652afd0653290a06d3e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The reputation is that this is THE greatest work of fantasy of all time. \n And it's completely true. \n A masterpiece of fiction, adventure, and fantasy. One of the most exciting, rewarding, and satisfying books you could ever read.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 18:02:04 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 30 11:14:04 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2d43e0a1f7e9c0946fdf7f71fddbf7a8", "book_id": "676737", "review_id": "56cb087f33e787ae9b0e5e362b1cbdc7", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It's fanfiction. Props for trying to make an revisionist, existentialist riff, but...it's fanfiction....", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 17:53:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 14 11:23:57 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "23263232", "review_id": "e217dba547fdceaa8a08c0e4879b3647", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book as the next addition in the series of the Mist-Torn witch series. I love the characters and their varying adventures. Can't wait for book 4 to be released.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 12 12:43:40 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 28 04:16:15 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Apr 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "18110063", "review_id": "3a22efab07936138ee31cbc0c9a0f30b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another fantastic addition to the series. I bought the next book before the last page had finished turning. It was a fun journey and will be a book I return to again. Likeable characters. Interesting premise. All around fabulous book.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 10 04:25:49 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 12 12:38:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "15808272", "review_id": "5c476b1d0123425b385493c5f9dac521", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Absolutely loved this book and quickly moved onto the second one in the series. I love a good mystery and fantasy has been a staple in my reading carousel since I was a girl. The Mist-Torn Witches delivered in both respects. I loved the fact that the plot wasn't overly predictable or so deeply twisted that I found myself annoyed at the end when the \"bad guy\" was revealed. Barb did a fabulous job and gave me a break in my mind and heart from the real world, which was exactly what I needed. To forget my worries and find new friends in the pages of a book is a gift!", "date_added": "Sat Apr 02 05:41:02 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 07 04:07:47 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "25816841", "review_id": "22c9338cb8d5708d55d1f67be1584756", "rating": 5, "review_text": "So enjoy the final chapter in the Luck Ugly trilogy. I don't want to spoil anything for this who have not read it yet but I really enjoyed the final adventure.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 02 14:34:01 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed May 11 19:52:59 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "21936988", "review_id": "aea99717d90224cea0b4fa44772705a4", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Review to come", "date_added": "Sat Jan 02 04:34:24 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 02 04:34:59 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "22544764", "review_id": "6ff04bc739b5272c94f70a33b303a8c9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Absolutely loved this book! This was the grown up version of Thickety and every bit as riveting in its own way. I loved the opening paragraph of the story. It grabbed me immediately. This was a book that never let me go from the first page to the last. I almost hate books like this because I know the next book I read is going to be a disappointment in comparison just simply because this one was such a joy. The characters were ones you love. The mystery was one you had to unravel. I will most certainly entertain myself within the pages of this book again.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 20 14:22:02 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 01 10:23:32 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Dec 01 15:06:54 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Nov 23 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "25742644", "review_id": "5060f61d6fa51ab34d5ddf9cc85a16f5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Absolutely loved the third book in this series and hope I don't ruin things by saying I cannot wait for the next book to come out. Part of me was afraid this was going to be the last book but when I reached the end and realized there was more than room for another book, I felt a bit giddy. All I have to say is GET WRITING. Seriously love this author. Was thrilled with every page.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 30 13:18:58 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 01 13:06:24 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Feb 29 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Feb 24 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "22583008", "review_id": "58f0f74dfa00f53350f94302dcd7d3e9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was a stellar continuation of the Thickety series and an altogether enjoyable read. I loved the overall adventure, the twists and turns and the unexpected surprises that came up along the way. I am chomping at the bit for the third book and conclusion to the trilogy though I have grown to love the characters and will hate to see the final ending of such a charming and at times delightfully creepy read. I would have loved these books as a kid, and I am completely enthralled as an adult.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 30 13:18:22 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 06 04:55:51 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Nov 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Oct 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "298567", "review_id": "487300c059b9c249e6a1e42fb97b59ee", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Really enjoyed this book. I found myself from the first living the characters, feeling for Tom, yearning for things to be better for him, for Alice. I am really glad there are so many books in the series. So many adventures left to explore. They did the book a disservice by making the character so much older and the spook a drunk. The charm was lost but not in the book. Loved it.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 30 13:16:42 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 02 14:29:44 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Mar 02 14:29:44 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "18651970", "review_id": "f3094842cbaf1e6bf1af158ebc88f819", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was such a fantastic read for me. Though originally targeted for younger readers, it has themes and battles adults can relate to. Trust me, I think I saw a few monsters I have dealt with recently wrapped up in the pages of this well-written adventure. Point being, I wasn't thinking \"this is a well-written kids book\" as I was reading. I was trying to figure out how I was going to squeeze out a few more pages in between my regular work. Now that is a great story. Already digging into book two.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 27 04:35:38 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 30 13:14:56 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "23846037", "review_id": "58fa4614c5259be16c64f22814b54e10", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I absolutely loved this book! It was very different from what I was expecting and yet I was delighted by the surprises I found within each page. It is creepy in a subtle way but is not horror, which I liked. There were dark and horrible aspects so don't think this book is entirely tame. It is everything I could have hoped it to be.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 01 13:29:38 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 06 04:35:50 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "13612962", "review_id": "e008af6b3286ff78c779179b1e5ee6cd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Thoroughly enjoyed the second book in the series and was thrilled with the ending. I found myself (as a writer) trying to figure out how they were going to tie up the ending and still leave room for book 3. As a reader, I was enjoying the ride and trying to figure out the riddle behind the clues that were sprinkled throughout the pages. Both sides of me were completely delighted with the outcome. My only gripe about any of it is the fact that I will have to wait like everyone else to find out what happens next.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 22 09:26:04 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 22 09:29:14 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "20578940", "review_id": "9c9e4714de3196cf8f15adfc78100801", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Thoroughly enjoyed the book and was not fully expecting the ending. I love being surprised. Found myself reading until late in the evening with this one.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 11 12:47:30 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 11 12:48:43 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Sep 11 12:56:22 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "18172465", "review_id": "d4d9da176e4205a28cb812b81b76d32b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Definitely one of the more interesting books I have ever read. The land of Fairytales are once again turned on their ears in this follow up to the first book. I am still digesting some of the themes that ran rampant throughout this volume in the series. Not exactly sure how I feel about them all. I am interested to see how Chainani works out the cliffhanger he left the reader with at the end of this book. Would give this a 3.5 if I could so I am rounding up.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 01 07:01:40 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 01 10:46:46 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Sep 01 10:46:46 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "23507745", "review_id": "ce075dc8e0925c39d2830c87abe16a55", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a delightful read that kept me reading late into night. I loved the mix of history and magic and the suspension of disbelief that made it somehow more than a bit believable. The characters were endearing and I loved the ending. I was glad to see that Mr Beatty was planning to write more about Serafina and Braeden.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 14 14:26:10 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 17 14:51:30 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Aug 17 14:51:30 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "25742824", "review_id": "8fd79ca6de76bf672fe413be04be2f57", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Steve certainly has stepped outside of the realm of children's fiction with the introduction of his adult book Graynelore. It is reminiscent of the Icelandic sagas in the gritty descriptions of battles waged and the cold manner in which reivers approach their life and calling to war with their neighbors at the behest of their lord. There is a dreamlike quality to the telling of the tale and I was reminded in parts of the ancient ballads of England. The ballad of Tristan and Isolde in fact came to mind in one part as I read. Ill-fated lovers who were never meant to be because of the wish and whim of a lusty lord. This book is not for the weak minded because it makes you think. It keeps you on your toes to follow what is happening in the thoughts and remembrances of Rodrig. It is very much like a dream. Wistful and drifting. This is his memoir of sorts so the organization fits what one might expect from a man looking back over his life. This book is not for the weak stomached for there are parts that drip with gory detail of a warrior that might sour a lunch or two. The kicking around of a severed head at one point was one of the more unsettling parts. The language is at times riddled with colorful metaphors but given the atmosphere of the story, it seems to fit the prose. Over all, this book left me speechless.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 09 13:35:43 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 30 13:23:08 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Oct 26 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Sep 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "25174874", "review_id": "47c7f0ad9920fc7937b4014b15f2a01d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I hated to see the ending of this book knowing it was the last in the series. It was a fun read and had enough twists and turns to keep me wondering what would happen at the end. Then again, I really don't try to figure things out. I just enjoy. And this was a fun one. Highly recommend this series.", "date_added": "Fri May 01 07:37:17 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat May 21 15:11:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon May 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "21480854", "review_id": "e193322afe7ed391865f3381a1a8de3d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Highly enjoyable read and every bit as good as the first. Better even in that book 2 takes you on a whirlwind adventure and then leaves you on the edge of the cliff waiting for the third installment. I cannot wait for the third book to arrive. I was not disappointed with Kelley's storytelling or her characters in this book. She added new depths and new delights with every page. Certainly a page turner that will cause you to loose more than a few fingernails in nailbiting suspense. Well worth the read.", "date_added": "Fri May 01 07:37:15 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 01 15:30:11 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "17236366", "review_id": "b22d554e8834426930586f6443b8ff93", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was an amazing book that kept me reading from the first page to the last. I was very glad to already have the second book in my library though because the ending leaves hanging by your nails over the edge of a cliff. This book takes me back to the sci/fi fantasy books of my youth....the books that made me fall in love with reading and made me want to be a storyteller. Kelley did a great job in building a world that was believable and visual, filled with characters you could either like or hate. A fantastic read.", "date_added": "Fri May 01 07:36:00 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 07 04:29:40 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jun 07 04:29:40 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "1007458", "review_id": "1f6f71cba345ace9e29402d668654e00", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another great addition to the Ingo series. There were parts of this book that made me smile, parts that made me tear up, and parts that had me looking forward to book 4. I must admit that the only drawback to the story was the short encounter with the Krakken. It lost a bit of the elegance that the rest of the talecarried with it. It was however not a detractor to the overall story and did not cancel out the lead up or the follow through to the end. I love the Ingo stories. My greatest regret is that I will have to wait for snailmail shipping to get my copy of the next book. It is not available in immediate digital format as the others were. So much for instant gratification.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 28 13:39:04 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 28 13:45:41 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Apr 28 13:45:41 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "352262", "review_id": "aa6453fa13269e0e41bb4416a9ea5551", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a fun, silly read, and one that would be highly entertaining for children. This is nothing like the movie except for a vague similarity in name reference and the sort. I found myself chuckling through the book. This was actually a brain relaxing read. I was in need of something that was purely entertaining, and How to train your dragon fit the bill.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 16 11:43:51 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue May 19 11:06:02 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue May 19 11:06:02 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Apr 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "7507920", "review_id": "239f19e60efb02694bd604c2fb50c272", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Absolutely delightful book. I found myself reading into the wee hours night after night with this one, enjoying page after page of this unique story. I was halfway through the book and already buying the second in the series. This story speaks to the adventurous child in all of us and taps into the secret recesses where our fears dwell, daring us to be courageous. This an absolute keeper and one that is going in my permanent library to enjoy again and again. Though I purchased a digital copy, I will be buying a print version as well. Love it!", "date_added": "Tue Apr 14 07:23:57 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 15 12:55:16 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Apr 15 12:55:16 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "16248223", "review_id": "23f459e26b8af71b6dead863522e9e57", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This most certainly was not your run of the mill, everyday tale, but from the very beginning, I was intrigued, and that sense of curiosity kept me going page after page, even when I reached those segments that were a little off the reservation in weirdness. This book is wrapped in the oddities of the Chinese afterlife, painted in vivid and sometimes disturbing color. I loved the main character Li Lan and as the story is told through her eyes, I could not put the book down until the last page. It is well worth the read and is a book I will most certainly read again. Sometimes the oddities are the most fun.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 10 03:47:25 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 10 08:15:56 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Apr 10 11:54:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "1026540", "review_id": "f7c1d67fcbdc9a7280134c78c1c00fd6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a very interesting read and I have to admit, the cover drew me into the story idea more than the description. I was more a fan of the Witch World series than any of the others but I gave this book a chance because it just seemed interesting. I enjoyed it.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 27 10:29:43 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 27 10:31:16 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "462448", "review_id": "d1db62dfef8c3e5816b95000be31d33c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Witch World series was one of my favorites early on and I read everyone in the series I could get my hands on. Though the later ones were more fun, I still enjoyed the earlier volumes that set the stage for some of the big, recurring characters in the series.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 27 10:25:09 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 27 10:27:14 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "7082", "review_id": "1fdb848ad4bce2378a4869cd8ecdfdb2", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It is very seldom that I give a low review like this but I cannot help it with this book. To finish it was an act of pure determination. I wanted to like this book. I really did, but it was odd and in many ways, pointless. I read it the way some people used to stare at the test patterns on the old TVs - with a dull numbness that left me wondering why everyone cheers about this book. It was different, weird, but not entertaining. The characters were flat, the plot truly non-existent. A bit like a day in the life of a schizophrenic without his medication. At least I can say I finished the book, but I cannot say I enjoyed it.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 18 11:23:14 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 26 06:38:30 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Mar 26 06:38:30 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Mar 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "24744604", "review_id": "b2f4dd43bf47e3fb317aebae27e8e929", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Luck Uglies 2 - The Fork-Tongue Charmers is a delightful follow up to the first book in the series. These books take me back to that sense of excitement and wonder I first felt when I fell in love with reading. Filled with adventure, courage, friendship, and charm, this book is a delight for all ages. Prepare to be transported to the world of Drowning and brace yourself to plunge into the hearts of Rye and her friends. I simply could not put this book down, nor did I want to. When you find yourself reading at inappropriate times, you know a book is truly great.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 13 07:47:25 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun May 17 04:27:12 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Apr 01 07:42:17 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Mar 31 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "18635085", "review_id": "1ad10cb66d42be3c12f36b0dd21460ae", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is by far one of the most delightful books I have ever read. The characters are charming, the story draws you in. The plot is well thought out and delivered in a manner that keeps the pages turning. I found myself reading into the wee hours of the night just to see what happens next. In the simplest terms, I loved this book. Yes, the main character is an eleven year old child but that does not limit this book to the realm of children's reading any more than Oliver Twist is limited to children because of the age of its hero. I cannot wait for the second book to be released. I have already pre-ordered my copy.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 25 06:37:47 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 13 04:43:34 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Mar 13 04:43:34 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Mar 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "16248113", "review_id": "4f25144079a60112c7199d6f8055e6fb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was admittedly a riveting read, but there were aspects near the end of the book that made it much darker than I would have expected. I actually had to stop reading it for a time. It was obvious that the author really admired the evil main character which caused a bit of imbalance at the end. He made the good characters impotent and actually went against one of the main premises in the book that he reiterated over and over. All in all though, it was a good book. I will give the second book a try.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 05 09:00:36 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 02 05:09:38 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "8706185", "review_id": "69455f89cc1ed9d95d12183728ebcca7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I honestly have mixed feelings about this book. There is still a part of me that isn't entirely certain what it is about, but it was certainly a journey in reading and different from anything I have read in a long time.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 07 12:06:05 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 07 12:08:23 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jan 07 12:08:23 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "229132", "review_id": "57181d5524a7fd39bf680481c25a0619", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed the book. It is what I would call a lighthearted read...one that is fun, a bit campy at times and easy to fall into. There are others who criticized the repetition of certain mannerisms of the characters (hands on the hips, etc.) but don't characters reflect real people and don't real people tend to have mannerisms that they repeat? At any rate, the book held my attention and was charming enough that I would like to read the next book. Perfect read for a snowy afternoon.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 05 12:04:01 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 05 12:15:17 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jan 05 12:15:17 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "16137678", "review_id": "5c07c814cbd2e055329a4f8177e6accf", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I wish that all of the book had actually been dedicated to the short story. Since I was hungry for more after reading 'Haunting Violet', I was very glad to find this little gem. As charming and engaging as the novel. I certainly hope there will be more in this series.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 04 11:04:03 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 07 12:12:18 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "8685644", "review_id": "7ee32874eaed7b0ddf52b4ce98c41e9c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It kept my interest and enticed me back page after page. The characters were charming and effectively flawed so that I liked them or hated them immediately. It was everything a fun read should be. Whether a stand alone book or the start of a potential new series, I think it is worth the time to explore.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 27 04:53:29 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 30 09:53:09 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Tue Dec 30 09:53:09 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "186399", "review_id": "afbe48f31997e187c5c639ebbf9e0d67", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I cannot tell you how many times I read this books over the years. I really loved fantasy art and dabbled a bit myself though not enough to share with the world. There was alot of good information in this book for the classic artist. It predates all of the electronic media we are so accustomed to and therefore is of greater value in my mind. It reflects the artwork I grew up with. (Am I showing my age here?) At any rate, I still love the book and I still have the original copy my parents bought me back in the day. Worth every penny.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 13 09:28:49 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 13 09:31:57 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "43889", "review_id": "389562548c196b33073a9e4c00ce5f48", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Really enjoyed this book. You have to love an author with a gift for world building.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 28 07:31:05 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 28 07:31:45 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "12396528", "review_id": "cbf82d3337f6c175094322eb3d0a82e9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I thoroughly enjoyed the first book so when I turned around and bought this one without hesitation, I knew it was going to be a great read. I was not disappointed. From the first page, I was enchanted. There is a charm to these stories that kept me coming back to the pages to read more. I love every page and I cannot wait for the next Peregrine novel to come out. Being a writer myself, I know how tedious that process can be so I understand it may be some time before that happens. I will wait patiently but rest assured, I will be buying book 3.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 20 06:41:25 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat May 30 04:53:40 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Dec 19 11:20:16 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Nov 26 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "bc16d5d8987f1ea2b36ea853c6d5a067", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I can honestly say that it had a new approach to storytelling with the photo incorporation that I found charming. I have always been fascinated by old pictures and the way the author used the old photos as \"proof\" in the book was delightful. It was a great read. I have already started on book two. My one complaint......late night reading makes me so tired the next morning. I could not put this one down once I got to around page 264. :o)", "date_added": "Mon Oct 20 06:41:19 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 26 05:20:57 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Nov 26 05:20:57 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "469954", "review_id": "2e5efa49b02e03cb644b427b4b161cc0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another delightful read. I have to say it was better than the first and I seriously enjoyed the first. I had a hard time putting the book down when I needed to go to bed. That is the sign of a great read. Full of adventure and the maturing of the characters as one might expect as they age from book to book. I thoroughly enjoyed Tide Knot.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 29 12:21:57 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 03 13:36:01 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Oct 03 13:36:01 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "1022657", "review_id": "c4c109e27bbf7cbf64fb39c9f02e65a5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Honestly, it has been a while since a book has kept me up until the wee hours of the morning, causing my eyes to turn bloodshot and my head to pound from lack of sleep. I didn't think it would happen with this book even though it started out great, but it did. It had all of the elements that make a great sea/mermaid story worthy of reading. I would have eaten it up as a kid. As it was, I ate it up as an adult. Okay....there....I said it. I found myself back in my childhood fantasy of underwater worlds. I have already sent for book 2. Yes I getting this one in hardcover. If I can find the first one in hardcover, I will buy it as well. It was that good. I already have the eBook, but this one is a keeper.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 22 12:40:57 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 28 12:43:48 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Sep 28 12:43:48 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Sep 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "65605", "review_id": "65989726d934dd317488810c7a151b03", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This story broke my heart and filled it with such hope all at the same time. Could not put it down", "date_added": "Thu Sep 04 09:28:51 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 04 09:29:24 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "84119", "review_id": "471b2147a5cca9123c299855dbf11415", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A definitely worthwhile read in this series", "date_added": "Thu Sep 04 09:28:21 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 04 09:28:44 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "65641", "review_id": "c1c6cf058da022ece58ab9d20ae33f52", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another grand addition to the Narnia collection", "date_added": "Thu Sep 04 09:27:52 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 04 09:28:16 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "121749", "review_id": "da94e0f7d56dfebfd7a4105c1c8e1219", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Though the movies are stunning, the books transported me as a child and still hold the capacity to carry me away.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 04 09:26:56 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 04 09:27:38 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "100915", "review_id": "170e398feba1d26ee8ec78e74774d2ba", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have read this book so many times, I have lost count. Every closet and wardrobe since has held such promise and such disappointment thanks to this book.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 04 09:24:33 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 04 09:25:36 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "8648702", "review_id": "e84434b22e2eabc58c6d6fa3b227e7a8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a fun read that helped me take my mind off my mind-numbing days at work. Great for kids, especially kids that love animals. Reminds me of Underdog in some respects with its own imaginative edge. No flying here. Just a super smart dog and likable characters.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 25 13:38:36 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 21 06:47:40 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "170293", "review_id": "ea49c762d39755e940193ee60b9f93b1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "There were elements of this book I really enjoyed when I read and other features that turned me off, hence the three stars. The overall concept of the story was great and I would love to give it a greater rating there were just concepts that were unnecessary to the tale. I am not one to give away spoilers so i leave it to other readers to determine whether they feel brave enough to pick up a book in spite of a review. I will just say that a witch getting jiggy with her magic broom handle isn't my cup of tea, and didn't add one bit to the overall magic of this tale. If you are a fast reader, you can skip by those awkward moments.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 14 14:00:59 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 14 14:06:56 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "9628111", "review_id": "f0dc910c134af633a446f4ff5bdc3f76", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It was a easy read that I was able to squeeze in throughout a busy schedule. It was intriguing enough to keep me reading to the end though I wish more had been done to develop some of the characters in the book like Leo. He was just the hunky boyfriend, but I think there might have been more to it than that. At least I would hope there was. There were elements that were thrown in a bit haphazard that didn't really move the story along and made me wonder why they were there. They were bumps in the road however and did not prevent me from moving forward with the story. More question marks than anything else. I liked the eccentricities of the families and the mystery surrounding Stacy's past. Over all, I enjoyed the read. I enjoyed it enough that I will be getting the second book to see if any more of Stacy's past is revealed.", "date_added": "Mon May 26 13:17:03 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 23 07:59:05 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jun 23 07:59:05 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "2057423", "review_id": "6a73c6c08fdef472cb6dfc2b4690736e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Hated that this was the last book in the series. I so loved reading about the people of Ar. Wished there had been more.", "date_added": "Wed May 07 13:24:55 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 07 13:25:44 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "2452845", "review_id": "4d8249d8f844e8b8bbb1f4991439a4b2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Very unique world building. Loved this series immensely as a girl. Recommend it for any age.", "date_added": "Wed May 07 13:24:08 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 07 13:24:46 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "2193571", "review_id": "489e9cd30edeef88ca6a050ac4e27ff3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this series and read every single book. I was enthralled from the first page to the last. Read it when I was a girl and am glad I can finally share my love of these books.", "date_added": "Wed May 07 13:22:50 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 07 13:24:01 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "2157878", "review_id": "47dfc9c14240e6f9d0654322f18358fd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this series and read every single book. It was the most unique series I touched when I was a girl. Still have all four books and enjoy them thoroughly.", "date_added": "Wed May 07 13:21:28 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 07 13:22:37 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "209424", "review_id": "fc42ffba37d7f3f0522753b740575f84", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Fascinating book. I loved the link between this world and that of Danu's. I still have the same copy I read years ago.", "date_added": "Wed May 07 13:17:22 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 07 13:18:45 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "1937866", "review_id": "e4b2b509cbb0a7197183efd282dfe901", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Had a few good references but not quite what I was hoping it would be. Might be more useful for the casual reader. I was looking for research material and more historical references.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 17 10:16:27 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 17 10:17:33 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "1120867", "review_id": "4c915be814299a450865f52e601c55de", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book when I was a kid. Read it for the first time in 5th grade. Still love it to this day. \n ------- \n I had to write a bit more in defense of this book after reading some of the harsher critiques written by others. First of all, this was a children's book and yes, perhaps it it is not politically correct for today where feminism is concerned, it does create a world that did not exist before its inception. That is the beauty of fiction. This book was one of my first plunges into the genre and I was hooked BECAUSE of this book; not in spite of it. I was lost in a world of dragons and the boy who had the daring to dream beyond his limited life. There was magic to the pages of this book, and I for one have not forgotten the touch of that magic....not in all these years. So though it may not be the most sophisticated writing that ever graced the page, it is a beloved book that graces a place of honor on my bookshelf and always will.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 17 10:12:25 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 13 10:57:42 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "2011848", "review_id": "b4cf27955dc55f62562599e4ad1ec3f1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Interesting and a good reference for any who wishes to have a complete library on the faerie lore.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 17 10:09:28 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 17 10:10:22 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "257055", "review_id": "c0bd50fbffdc1529b8d2b70651ab505d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is by no means a lighthearted read. It is full of the savagery of a savage time, and Haggard's detail is beyond what some might be willing to stomach in a \"pleasure\" read. Having said that, I enjoyed this book, though I will advise you not to read it while recouping in the hospital after surgery. My big mistake. It is steeped in history as are all of Haggard's works. It is one of the many things I love about his books. He is a storyteller extraordinaire.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 15 13:08:32 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 15 13:11:45 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "127645", "review_id": "dbd10a33270af1af2f81b9edd442fffa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Thoroughly enjoyed this book and the series it was a part of. It sparked my imagination when I was a girl.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 10 09:29:43 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 10 09:30:27 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "513260", "review_id": "48d72b3175c1a550408c1f3d1437aa9a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Thoroughly enjoyed this book years ago when I read it. Imaginative and fun.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 10 09:28:33 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 10 09:29:23 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "47212", "review_id": "40ea0d5bf42367bb7f00868502a20ec4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "One of the most unusual and highly entertaining books I have read in a while. Not your average gum shoe, but delightfully so. Though I don't get much time to read, Jim's stories make me want to make time for it.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 10 11:01:38 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 10 11:03:00 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "765301", "review_id": "881b388e46f1b8fd81972e4763059d47", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Read the entire series as a child and loved the books. We won't say how many years that has been.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 08 12:11:58 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 08 12:12:05 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "135288", "review_id": "b932db73cc4eaae3527009b0d1e5fc24", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Read the entire series as a child and loved the books. We won't say how many years that has been.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 08 12:11:46 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 08 12:11:53 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "533690", "review_id": "abf76abd071a2de3e38117ee5533d3af", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Read the entire series as a child and loved the books. We won't say how many years that has been.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 08 12:11:33 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 08 12:11:39 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "60179", "review_id": "2c57e3b88e2df7bda06ecd72cdb90d9d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Read the entire series as a child and loved the books. We won't say how many years that has been.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 08 12:11:22 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 08 12:11:27 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "765300", "review_id": "4bf63ef8c92bcc6fd63ace850cfcda2c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Read the entire series as a child and loved the books. We won't say how many years that has been.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 08 12:10:24 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 08 12:10:34 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "548260", "review_id": "f9fc35d6261a20cb7e14a8bde18baa77", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Read the entire series as a child and loved the books. We won't say how many years that has been.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 08 12:10:07 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 08 12:10:19 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "179668", "review_id": "80c90fe75829aeaa552307ded29b2d16", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Read the entire series as a child and loved the books. We won't say how many years that has been.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 08 12:09:55 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 08 12:10:02 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "560637", "review_id": "ff38d6bea83f650df8664f78ee3aac95", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Read the entire series as a child and loved the books. We won't say how many years that has been.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 08 12:09:40 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 08 12:09:47 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "179639", "review_id": "99b0a3282c7ae0a6670d0e8e3d735af5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Read the entire series as a child and loved the books. We won't say how many years that has been.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 08 12:09:10 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 08 12:09:18 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "179565", "review_id": "d756637316d1829c377bc38ea779683b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Read the entire series as a child and loved the books. We won't say how many years that has been.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 08 12:08:34 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 08 12:08:59 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "60177", "review_id": "66956d35468445ed7a7680b6a76ef61e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Read the entire series as a child and loved the books.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 08 12:08:21 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 08 12:08:28 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "92719", "review_id": "79abc229e1302430b75e1b1fc2acb51c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I cannot give the final book in the series the 5 stars its deserves for the fantastic adventure it was until the end. I waited 6 years for this books release and knew my heart would finally be put to rest with the final pages. It was not. I will not spoil the ending, but I was so disappointed with how the author chose to leave things. It was better when there was some anticipation of hope for my beloved characters.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 25 14:11:30 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 25 14:13:58 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "92718", "review_id": "c539eca8e3c61ef854312c6c55261848", "rating": 5, "review_text": "From the time I read the first novel in this series to the time I read this one, I waited years for its release. I was not disappointed.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 25 14:10:35 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 25 14:11:21 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "92717", "review_id": "476717748147f697a9ad49532a7c7fc9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have read this book over a dozen times and have loved with each read. I never grow tired of it. I read it for the first time in 6th grade if you can believe that, and it captivated me.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 25 14:09:21 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 25 14:08:56 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "2", "review_id": "582ca25f364dad33592685a0bafb194b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It felt as though Ms Rowling really got lost in making up things for the world of wizarding and lost the momentum very early in the book. Harry was so angry so much of the time, I lost the joy in reading the story and gave up on it. I never give up on a book. I finished the Grapes of Wrath. On purpose. This book received no such attention. Perhaps some blustery winter when the power is out and there is nothing left for me to do but hack away at this book, I will try again, but for now, I don't have much more to say about it.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 18 13:51:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 18 13:55:35 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "6", "review_id": "80942d5f062481e76ba61b992eacbd2b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book and the plot behind it. I started to see the 'angry Harry' more in this book than the earlier ones, which is why I did not give it a 5 star rating. There was always a sense of hope in the earlier Harry Potter books that I adored. He faced the most impossible odds. There was unfairness, but his spirit was never dampened by his adversity. Good always prevailed. Perhaps it was the melancholy of teenage years, but Harry began to lose his hopefulness. I saw the decline begin with this book. I still loved it and would read it again, but I could not give it the 5 stars I gave the earlier books.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 18 13:39:22 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 18 13:48:22 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "5899779", "review_id": "5173e592785d980c7aa7effeb1207d0b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "A part of me really wanted to like this book. The idea of my favorite Bennett sisters kicking zombie read end just appealed to the darker side of me. I loved the book preview and hoped the book would live up to the expectation. I was very disappointed. I tried. Believe me I tried, but I could not find the witty entertainment I expected to find. The gore was there. I expected it, but that was as far as the book came to the title. Perhaps I shall give it a second turn in a few years. Who knows. For now, it will remain hidden on the back part of my bookshelf.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 11 09:09:22 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 11 09:16:46 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b76b7dba9f8282895078255d61b0d66c", "book_id": "672875", "review_id": "4d8af4eee2bdd1e11c7716ec5587042e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The first time I attempted to read these tales, I was in 4th grade. I found a hardcover set in the library with the most incredible covers. I had to try them. I was enchanted from page one. It wasn't until I was older that I realized what I had gotten myself into at such a young age. For anyone who adores the age of chivalry, this is a must read. It is one of the earliest accounts of the King Arthur legends. I still loves these tales to this day.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 01 06:46:35 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 01 06:49:50 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b8010f7cd41a57a0cbf691aa24fb4346", "book_id": "31427193", "review_id": "e42ed12652447f9ec71725501b070f37", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Good cozy mystery \n I enjoyed this book. It was a light, easy read that was entertaining. I look forward to reading more in the series.", "date_added": "Sun May 21 18:18:40 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 16 09:32:40 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jun 16 09:32:40 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun May 21 18:18:40 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b8010f7cd41a57a0cbf691aa24fb4346", "book_id": "25521906", "review_id": "3aef229970d4d0c4187199f4c40dc45e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved this one! I am so excited for the final installment!!", "date_added": "Mon Dec 07 06:43:44 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 14 19:49:59 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Feb 14 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b8010f7cd41a57a0cbf691aa24fb4346", "book_id": "12680907", "review_id": "577e309e0340c4cdf752df8bae71b897", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I LOVED this book! It was wonderful!", "date_added": "Mon Jun 18 07:20:50 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 15 18:12:20 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "b8010f7cd41a57a0cbf691aa24fb4346", "book_id": "793298", "review_id": "3f04753339999d659c1d04c3519d4466", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Just as good this time as it was the first time!", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 18:22:26 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 22 13:23:44 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jul 22 13:23:44 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b8010f7cd41a57a0cbf691aa24fb4346", "book_id": "8709527", "review_id": "569fc442b76d46a2289a8bd25c8e7ba9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "While this book was good, I found it to be predictable. I liked it for the most part and will read the next book in the series. I didn't like it as much as the Vampire Academy series.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 18:14:50 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 27 20:36:33 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d9ebeabca4551266567e061294d6dd5e", "book_id": "886446", "review_id": "3c318c141c916b38d43686da5c03c20f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Rarely, extremely rarely, do I say this, but I liked the movie better... probably because of Cher.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 11 14:27:22 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 11 14:27:46 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "d9ebeabca4551266567e061294d6dd5e", "book_id": "16705", "review_id": "8fbb2120a52517ff7fe9bebff0021620", "rating": 1, "review_text": "chabon should stick to writing for grown up hipsters, not little ones.", "date_added": "Mon May 28 18:14:10 -0700 2007", "date_updated": "Mon May 28 18:14:49 -0700 2007", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d9ebeabca4551266567e061294d6dd5e", "book_id": "2744", "review_id": "e581b70594fb921fc28b6ad07335641e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "so not as good as american gods, but well worth the $2.50 i paid for it and the five hours it took to get through it.", "date_added": "Mon May 28 17:09:30 -0700 2007", "date_updated": "Mon May 28 17:10:40 -0700 2007", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b7e4f4af1ec370ba619e2b6a0ae02ad3", "book_id": "32802697", "review_id": "f45423be6b5379042729e3ec6961b5ce", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Awesome adventure \n What a great side story and adventure! Can't wait for the next to save Aelin & have all our forces joined!", "date_added": "Tue Jan 03 10:06:21 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 22 18:07:45 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 07 05:59:14 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Sep 05 00:01:04 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b7e4f4af1ec370ba619e2b6a0ae02ad3", "book_id": "32870736", "review_id": "f0a68abf8f1f70e6abe8ee7cc9884317", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Griffen is an new and interesting concept. The whole Universe of the story is very complex and multi-layered that I feel the story could have been much longer to fully explain everything. Griffen is a very straight-forward character with little surprise. The story moves very fast without much explanation or details specifically with regard to Griffen's training (advances from a newborn to a skilled vardger in several pages) and her relationships (gets attached to two characters from first sight). \n Overall, it was very enjoyable and I would be interested to read more in the Universe of Mirror Souls. \n ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 07 08:23:11 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 07 08:28:13 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Dec 06 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8718dfe1bb77c64b1657d6de00a1c419", "book_id": "47956", "review_id": "392956c178fa540aaf48762241e24416", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The first book in Bishop's Black Jewels Trilogy is powerfully mesmerizing with strong characters and bracing situations. In this world where the most dangerous women are have all the power and the rest serve, Jaenelle is the \"dream made Flesh.\" A potential queen who if brought to power can bring down the current corrupt system for all the enslaved warlords and the powerless populace.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 17 21:09:33 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 17 21:47:45 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "1334b3d018ca4532028707dadfd362eb", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "f61a93d939401c736206cbc2da52b37b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It was exciting and made you not want to stop until the very end. Loving Jace all the way!", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 12:48:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 17 21:17:33 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d6e3461a1dd077966faf7145d52dcc6a", "book_id": "29056083", "review_id": "1316e047fa3d142254d94adc2610567a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I don't know how I feel. This doesn't remotely seem like JKR is associated with it. At the same time, I enjoyed it towards the end when I could identify bits and parts from the earlier books. Definitely not a good try. There have been much better fan fictions.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 09 21:50:42 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 09 21:55:52 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Aug 09 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "54deb37fdd1e77b07471c5d8ab0f558e", "book_id": "31867358", "review_id": "ac57b16120c8828307cd25444a4ebbaf", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I feel as if the world building have come around a full circle and its not going anywhere. I lost the excitement I usually feel when reading Sing's Psy-Changeling series. It truly ended for me with Kiss of Snow.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 13 20:22:27 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 13 20:26:05 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "54deb37fdd1e77b07471c5d8ab0f558e", "book_id": "34352617", "review_id": "077eca12708e5afaa1596b270508913d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A romance that is not rushed is something new and nice.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 06 00:03:26 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 28 23:39:57 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "54deb37fdd1e77b07471c5d8ab0f558e", "book_id": "29483403", "review_id": "762de5bec8d82a4b9d9f9312993444b2", "rating": 2, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Trashy novel with cliche magic system so far and can't stand that female protagonist. \n Spoiler Alert! That bond is similar to mating bonds of many vampire / werewolves supernatural world. Every time she says \"My prince..\" I feel like vomiting. What the hell is wrong with that girl? This book might have worked if the romance was slow to build with better understanding of each other's nature. Even love at first sight, I could understand but this illogical romance is ridiculous! The way every character seem to fall in to the plot, especially her friends - is like Elise Kove is trying not to have similarities between her story and that of Maria V Snyder's series, poison study or Healer series but terribly failing at it. \n I'm not even sure whether I want to read book 5 now. Wasted my time and $$$.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 04 23:28:49 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 28 23:43:04 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5da7f0c9d042ac1bd51a7f1e08bbf6a3", "book_id": "27003", "review_id": "95e08d286a57b7b8f01c63fb9d5fa98e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Eyre Affair, #1 in the Thursday Next mystery series, introduces Thursday Next, a member of Special Operations. Set in an alternation 1985 Great Britain, literature is as big as sports and people can drop in and out of books. It's also a love story, Jane Eyre's and Thursday Next's. Interesting characters, fast plot, funny plot twists and names, A good read.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 01 10:31:37 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 01 10:38:26 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5da7f0c9d042ac1bd51a7f1e08bbf6a3", "book_id": "6628", "review_id": "8a109203355ac1555e30adc41b48553b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Jasper Fforde's Nursery Crime series was recommended by a fellow member of my mystery book club series. Detective Inspector Jack Spratt, head of the Nursery Crime Division, investigates the demise of nursery celebrity Humpty Dumpty in The Big Over Easy, the first in the series. It's clever and entertaining and has the whimsical element totally lacking in most mysteries. I laughed throughout the entire final chapter. The book has a strong plot, quirky characters and wonderful references to traditional sleuths throughout time. I enjoyed it and will read the rest of the series.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 19 22:02:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 20 06:24:55 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Sep 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "33198185", "review_id": "07370033d9745deb93de27145140aaa8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Cute. Not overly complicated and just right for the age group", "date_added": "Tue Oct 10 03:09:46 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 10 03:10:16 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Oct 10 03:10:17 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Oct 10 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "618938", "review_id": "cf9a60c7894211f92fa3d5de6d4ff057", "rating": 4, "review_text": "My favorite book of the series. I still found some characters frustrating and self centered, but I still enjoyed it.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 01 02:15:29 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 11 01:38:18 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Sep 11 03:18:25 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Sep 01 02:15:30 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "24980243", "review_id": "d03edaa8d94ef6c10576a39867376784", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Really slow but it ended on a high note. Just wish there was a little less wandering around", "date_added": "Thu Aug 17 22:41:45 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 01 02:12:36 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Sep 01 02:12:36 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Aug 17 22:41:45 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "355916", "review_id": "d3c5d869a32588507853d183b3f203ff", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not my favorite. Some of it was a bit confusing and unlike the other books where everything wrapped up. This did not. There was too much focus on new characters who didn't really fit with the story.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 11 01:18:38 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 14 23:50:43 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jul 14 23:49:41 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jul 11 01:18:38 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "25300956", "review_id": "168f8e032d8d15a44e699311bc85cfc0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Hobb starts a book off slow by building characters. Before you know it your sucked into the book and can't put it down, then it is over and you are sad because you have to wait for the library to get the next book. :(", "date_added": "Sat Jun 10 23:24:07 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 18 03:07:23 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "27969099", "review_id": "5bc2e037510b2e3e3038660e37919eca", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A little predictable but still a fun solid novel. Could be a stand alone but there is a possibility for more", "date_added": "Wed May 10 09:13:27 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri May 12 02:19:28 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri May 12 04:39:05 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed May 10 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "891775", "review_id": "e61538a703a6df1a81c253c4b868d341", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I read this over 12 years ago. I enjoyed it and forgot some parts. Only reason it isn't a 5 star is because of the massive paragraphs and run ons. Drove me nuts when a whole page would be a single paragraph.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 16 03:07:08 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 23 14:18:21 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Apr 23 15:43:35 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Apr 16 03:07:08 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "30842347", "review_id": "810c8fd7ec9957185b65598608698569", "rating": 2, "review_text": "A very confusing and anticlimactic finish to the series. A lot of hype and a bunch of scenes were the characters spend the majority of the time going \"oh my I am talking to the real characters\". I expected more. A bigger fight, more character involvement.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 10 13:12:36 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 06 23:51:58 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jul 06 23:50:16 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jul 02 02:44:20 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "450225", "review_id": "77d0e47909249782e3d760bff1c2832e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Loved it. I think I liked it better this time around", "date_added": "Tue Mar 28 01:01:55 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 08 03:45:30 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Apr 08 03:45:30 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "776314", "review_id": "5371153f0c8146027af9b51e794a86ad", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A bit disappointing. I expected more for the final battle. It just sort of ended in a very anyiclomatic way", "date_added": "Tue Mar 28 00:59:45 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 28 01:00:59 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Mar 28 01:01:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 9, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "886829", "review_id": "2f24375c1639306cd3f017637bf2cbc5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Nothing overly spectacular to make this stand out. It is just ok.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 22 17:58:34 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 23 01:10:55 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Mar 23 03:03:56 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Mar 22 17:58:35 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "1814843", "review_id": "f0309ae8ea479b174964cbbbd60294f8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Just wonderful. And a great way to end this sort arc", "date_added": "Sat Mar 18 23:23:53 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 21 03:17:36 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Mar 21 08:58:49 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Mar 18 23:23:53 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "983231", "review_id": "fa8283d416b11b2449645b865caeb609", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was a bit slower/less awesome than the first book. It seemed like the entire book was just made up of people not believing anything Sep said, which was frustrating. At some point, someone somewhere has to believe you. I just didn't understand the blindness everyone turned to everything Sep said. \n It was nice seeing Sep visit his brothers and see the return of a few of the characters from book 1. Overall, I enjoyed it.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 11 03:46:19 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 14 18:48:33 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Mar 14 18:46:50 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Mar 11 03:46:20 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "25314447", "review_id": "39c3a026a37f963eafa28567fc6d94bc", "rating": 2, "review_text": "When reading the summary for Given to the Sea, it is clear that this novel has a lot of potential. On the surface, it has all the elements people look for in a good, solid YA fantasy - an evil lurking around, a few people who are the last of an ancient civilization, and a royal who isn't super thrilled to be inheriting the throne. Unfortunately, Given to the Sea is one of those novels where looks (and summary) can be deceiving. \n First and foremost, Given to the Sea is essentially a novel about a young girl who has been raised from birth to be a sacrifice to the sea. Before she can be sacrificed to the sea - the novel calls it 'dancing' but it is essentially an unwilling human sacrifice that uses a brainwashed child - she has to give birth to a baby girl so THAT baby girl can be sacrificed when she is older. It doesn't matter who fathers this baby girl, it doesn't matter if she is raped/forced/enslaved/held at knife point or if she does so willingly. Why is this important? I will explain. \n The entire novel, and I mean the entire novel, focuses on this individuals need to breed. Entire conversations surround whether or not the girl has had sex, why she won't breed, who she could possibly breed with, and how time is running out and she should either breed now or be forced (yes raped) so she can do her duty to the country. \n People are so focused on this girl's need to breed and lack of breeding skills that even people who shouldn't be worried about her not having a child are worried and obsessively thinking about it. For example, if the girl is walking around and a stranger came up to her, the first thing they would say would be \"Are you pregnant?\". \n I understand this is far from the first book to have a plot element where women are objects used for breeding purposes. However, most books have a plot element surrounding it that makes this understandable. Given to the Sea came across as having a huge obsession with this breeding concept and pushed any chance of a real, solid plot to the background. \n When the novel wasn't focused on Khosa's need to breed, it talked a lot about sex. There were comments thrown in about sexual encounters, how big some of the male genitalia was (or in some cases magical), how fertile some men were and getting girls pregnant right and left, and how women were pregnant and/or 'going their' job. \n Every time there was some remote chance the book might be on track to create a plot or start to pick up to the point it might be good, the writing would draw back to sex, breeding, pregnant women, and other topics of that matter. It was a bit frustrating. \n I do think it needs to be pointed out that a good portion of this novel tried to justify rape. There is a point in the novel where the girl didn't want to 'have relations' with anyone. The king puts out a bounty on her head and offers to reward whatever man gets her pregnant 'by any means'. In fact, he even tells them to rape her. If that wasn't enough, he then encourages his son to do so or to allow someone else to do it. \n Apart from the main focus on breeding and sex, there were other elements that contributed to this novel's disappointing outcome. First, was the very confusing nature of the narrative. The novel is written using 4 different POV. Two of the POVs are told in first person and two are told in third person. There isn't really an explanation for this and it made for a clunky, unsmooth read as things jumped rapidly from person to person. \n Four POVs are hard to develop and really maintain. The chapters were extremely short which prevented readers from connecting with the characters and it just felt like the novel jumped around too much to really gain momentum and become a good novel. \n I will say that one of the POVs, Witt, seemed completely unnecessary. Witt's chapters are put into the novel to show an oncoming battle/takeover from another country. However, the novel focused mostly on breeding/sea sacrifices so these marching army scenes seemed rather random. I would have preferred these chapters taken out and more focus given to developing other characters. \n In addition to the four POV, there was this huge romantic mishmash going on. It wasn't a love triangle, it was more of a love blob of sorts. I have put up a semi-drawn (poorly drawn) chart to show some of the romances going on and how it just kept growing and growing and growing. \n A brief look at the chart includes the following: \n *\tKhosa had some feeling for an old friend from her hometown, but she quickly started to fall in love with Vincent but she also felt strongly for Donil \n *\tDonil has feelings for Khosa but doesn't know if its ok to express it. So he spends his time bedding a random maid (and other girls) and flirting with any girl he can see. \n *\tDara is Donil's sister. She has feelings for Vincent, but she thinks Vincent doesn't like her. She won't act on them in case there is 1 remaining male (besides her brother) from her race. She is also upset that Donil might have feelings for Khosa \n *\tVincent has feelings for both Khosa and Dara, but he is afraid that won't be good enough. So he takes his sexual urges out on a random girl in the village who he likes a lot. But that girl goes off and marries someone else. \n From the chart, you can see it was just a mess. If someone developed feelings for someone else, they also developed them for another characters and then another one on top of that. It was so messy and lacked a clear direction. \n Other aspects of the novel that seemed off included the world building, the background of the country, and the writing. The writing came off as very clunky and just unorganized. A particular quote that stuck out to me (and I feel represents the overall tone of the novel) is as follows - \n \"I smack the table, tears rising to my ears\" p. 206 (A scene where the character is extremely upset and frustrated) \n I have tried many times to justify this line. Maybe the character threw her head down and was crying? But then how did the tears move up instead of down? The only thing I could eventually come up with is she had weeping ears. \n Upon completing Given to the Sea, it is clear that this book could have been great. It had a different concept to it in some aspects and it had so much potential. Unfortunately, due to clunky world building, a confusing narrative, a focus on anything but the plot, and the love hexagon/square/whatever shape thingy made this book a huge disappointment. \n ************************************************************************ \n I gave this 2 stars because it had so much potential. It COULD have been a wonderful book, but it wasn't. \n The world building felt clunky. There was a whole love hexagon/octogon going on that was just mind boggling. \n There was so much talk about sex and impregnating not only the \"Given\" but other women. There was threats of rape, people condoning rape, talk about rape, talk about sex, talk about penis size.... \n Every time the story would start to pick up, the characters would divert it back to sex, pregnant women, and sex. \n The story is told from 4 different POV. Two of them are in first person, two are in third person. This made it read clunky. One of the POV (Witt) seemed pointless and not really needed in the story. \n Some people may like this book, but most won't. Again, so much potential. \n Lastly I still can't get over the weeping ears. Ears do not weep tears. That is all.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 21 08:13:13 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Tue May 09 20:03:32 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "30312617", "review_id": "3f270bc919ee28ddc9e70bf90d079fde", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Another disappointing read. Longer review later", "date_added": "Sat Feb 11 02:03:07 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 07 07:36:18 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "30212121", "review_id": "5f3cddd15b223daff7913a0c9a5f5830", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Middle grade, or children's, fantasy is one of my favorite genres. Unfortunately, it is a genre that runs hot and cold. There are really bad books out there that belittle readers, follow a format/template, or just are not that great. For every bad book out there, there is that one gem that is amazing. I read numerous children's fantasy books a year looking for that one gem. Sometimes I find them, sometimes I don't. This year, I found one early on - The Crooked Sixpence by Jennifer Bell. \n Jennifer Bell worked in a children's bookstore. She spent years listening to children (and adults) about what they liked and didn't like about books. After a while, she decided to write her own novel and thus The Crooked Sixpence was born. \n The Crooked Sixpence is a debut novel that doesn't feel like a writer's first novel at all. It is magical, has amazing world building, and characters that you just immediately want to follow through their adventures. Within the first few chapters, I had a very \"Harry Potter\" feeling about the book. No, it wasn't because it was a knockoff of Harry Potter, but I felt that magical feeling that I had (and still have) when reading Harry Potter. \n One of the things that Jennifer Bell has said she tried to do is take elements that were a favorite of readers and put them into her novel. She achieved that with The Crooked Sixpence. Readers will be able to notice the influence that other children's novels had on this book, but there is a certain unique feel to the book. \n For example, there is a very magical world that is hidden from non-magic people. The magical world relies upon objects that are typically thought of as normal, but some of them are special and have magical powers. A milk jug, for example, could be normal or if it is special in the magical world it is used as a lamp. Other examples include the magic folk have unique terms and sayings, the 'weird' clothing, and special shops and districts where the magic folk go to shop for their goods. \n Crooked Sixpence is filled with action and adventure, but it doesn't overshadow the world building or even the plot. There is a very real and dangerous threat that is present, but it isn't too scary or too dark for younger readers. Older readers will even find the threat dangerous to the magical world. \n I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. I expected to like it, I didn't know I would walk out with a book that I loved. It is one of those books I can certainly see myself reading over and over again with each reread I am sure I will grow to love it even more. Jennifer Bell certainly came onto the children's literature scene with a bang and I look forward to seeing what she brings in the future. It is still relatively early, but I can see this being one of the top books for 2017. \n If you liked Harry Potter and are looking for a new novel that has the magic and charm of Harry Potter, The Crooked Sixpence is the place to look. It properly captures the magic without making it feel like a failed knockoff. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed!", "date_added": "Sun Feb 05 12:06:19 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 04 19:49:49 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Mar 14 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "29939208", "review_id": "ca6d07a86cc10c1aa2862e828e9868d3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved the humor. Awesome story as always. Can't wait for book 3.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 29 02:51:18 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 28 09:26:38 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "886828", "review_id": "3bc5cfabdbdf1b702c96692fb9eb031a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I hate when books end in cliffhangers when it didn't need to end that way. \n Just an alright book. Nothing major to set it apart.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 22 12:29:13 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 06 01:56:40 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Mar 05 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "317449", "review_id": "6777cc9eeb1291cc68ba8b916e765b4b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I avoided this book and series in the past because a friend told me I would hate it and not to waste my time. Just goes to show you can't trust your friends. \n This book is slow, almost painfully slow at first. There are a lot of characters and back story and events that mean nothing at first but turn out to be important later. \n Once you get past the slow part, the book is pretty good. Detailed, amazing world and I really felt drawn in with the charcters. \n I eagerly await my read of the next book", "date_added": "Wed Jan 11 00:54:09 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 25 01:39:23 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "30145677", "review_id": "36848fe4f3b8c7253536a43266c04d27", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I have mentioned multiple times that I absolutely adore Beauty and the Beast. It is my favorite Disney movie. A beautiful dance scene, a strong female lead who loves to read, and quirky characters were everything I could ask for and much more. For the past several months, I have been eagerly awaiting the release of the upcoming Beauty and the Beast live action movie. In anticipation of the upcoming movie, Disney has released an original story that involves all our favorite Disney characters. \n Lost in a Book has all the favorite characters from the animated film and even introduces some of the other background characters that are playing a bigger role in the live action film. The story takes place shortly after Belle walked through the West Wing and ran out of the castle only to be almost attacked by wolves and the Beast saves her. Belle is extremely lonely and desperate to connect with the Beast, but is unable to do so because he is so standoffish. \n The Beast in a desperate attempt to win Belle's heart - or just be nice - shows her the library and the original tale begins. Belle discovers a mysterious book which allows her to go to a world known as Nevermore. In Nevermore, Belle befriends a countess who promises to give Belle the world and fix everything that is wrong while giving her the life she has always dreamed of. \n I am torn on how to react to this novel. On one level, a very small, nostalgic part of me loved the book. Another part of me was a bit aggravated with some of the changes that were teased for the upcoming movie. And another part of me just felt that there were a lot of overused YA tropes used throughout the novel. \n Lost in a Book involves jumping through a book and living in a book world. In the past year or so, this has been a theme used in many books. The books that I have read that used this type of storyline were a lot stronger and better than this novel. That isn't to say this is a bad novel or poorly written, the theme is just overused and other books did it better. \n In addition to the whole traveling through a book theme, there is the whole Death vs. Love as characters theme going on. Again, this just seemed like an overused theme. It was done alright, but I would have liked to see more of an original story in the Beauty and the Beast world than a story that was a hodge podge of themes from other novels. \n There are several aspects of the book that really didn't vibe with me. Belle came across as a very unreliable character. She would easily get mad at the Beast for not opening up, not being kind. Even after she knew his secrets and why he was so standoffish she still kept harping on him and wouldn't budge. However, the minute she goes into Nevermore she becomes BFFs with people she has known for a nanosecond and they barely told her stuff either. It just seemed a bit of a double standard. \n Another aspect that I struggle with is who the novel is geared towards. It has some pretty dark elements to it that make it not really a younger children's book, but the writing was very juvenile at times. An example of this is the fact that for humor or comedic relief a scene almost always included someone slipping/tripping/falling and getting mud/water/bubbles on them. It just came across as humor that would be more appealing to younger children. \n I did like exploring the library that Belle loved so much. That was a fun aspect of the book. The library has always intrigued me. It was also fun to visit some of the characters again and see them in a new setting, new storyline - even if it was flawed. \n I also really enjoyed that it was a quick, fun read. I read the entire book in 1 day. The chapters were short and sweet. Jennifer Donnelly is a very strong writer who is amazingly talented. \n Overall, I think Lost in a Book relies on people's love of all things Disney or Beauty and the Beast. It isn't an overly complex novel. It is short, sweet and fun, but it has its flaws. I wish I has loved it. I really do, but I just liked it. I highly recommend it for any fan of Disney movies or anyone who loves Beauty and the Beast, but anyone who wants a truly original story will have to look elsewhere.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 01 02:41:13 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 20 22:37:02 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "29102939", "review_id": "e97772759d6a1c4bba7bbe01ba864bf7", "rating": 2, "review_text": "That book went quickly from a solid 4 to a solid 2. Longer review to come later this week", "date_added": "Sun Jan 01 02:34:02 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 31 03:10:21 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "22504700", "review_id": "f5d95150432f7d2557e0172f5c145ca3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amazing way to end 2016 reading. Love this book and series", "date_added": "Wed Dec 28 02:07:31 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 31 01:22:11 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Dec 31 05:47:20 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "30227922", "review_id": "b145e52ecf09f581df10cea4c7cecbfc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Some major plotholes. And not as fun as I thought it would be but it would be cute for young kids", "date_added": "Mon Dec 26 17:26:06 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 15 03:19:39 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Feb 15 03:19:40 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sun Feb 12 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "28450966", "review_id": "35beedf1a9ff1b90134278d58ad6163f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Definitely a spin on beauty and the beast. It was extremely depressing and I wasn't a fan of the ending. It felt incomplete.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 17 09:35:37 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 22 08:55:50 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Dec 22 08:55:50 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Dec 17 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "24755514", "review_id": "11049b9a3ee7e2922cf6d1562943ccb4", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The characters didn't talk like kids. They were preachy and extremely mature sounding. \n The book pushed the whole \"we all have regrets\" thing a bit too much \n I would have loved to see more of the mummy", "date_added": "Mon Dec 12 08:29:44 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 13 12:49:26 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Dec 13 12:49:26 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Dec 12 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "32600602", "review_id": "f535575712e01ec2452157b758eebcf6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved, loved, loved it. The new characters were perfect, the little kids made me laugh. I loved this more than book 1.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 19 00:22:15 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 27 02:01:31 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "29069989", "review_id": "94fbb40ec94b492b4ccc1f383abb03ee", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Longer review later when I collect my thoughts", "date_added": "Thu Sep 29 02:58:51 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 01 03:39:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Oct 01 03:39:14 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "30256103", "review_id": "b7ed285a321dd30abbc4697cc3dcd001", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Wish Granter comes hot off the heels of C.J. Redwine's first Ravenspire novel, The Shadow Queen. This time instead of retelling a fairytale that is super familiar to everyone, Redwine takes on the challenge of giving a lesser-known fairytale a new twist - Rumpelstiltskin. Of course, Rumpelstiltskin isn't unknown, but it isn't as commonly told in fairytale retellings as Snow White, Cinderella or Beauty and the Beast. \n Looking back on The Shadow Queen, one of my biggest issues was the simple fact that while it had some plot twists, it just didn't feel like it had that 'it' factor to make it stand out from the other Snow White fairytale retelling. The Shadow Queen wasn't bad enough to make me stop reading the Ravenspire series, but it definitely lowered my expectations for future books which is why I was so surprised at The Wish Granter. It was a lot better than I expected. \n It should be noted that while all the books in the Ravenspire series take part in the same world, they are standalone novels. It isn't necessary to read them all and you don't have to read them in order. There was a brief mention in The Wish Granter of the main character from The Shadow Queen, but it wasn't enough that it ruined anything or even confused the reader. I think the standalone factor really helped as it made it easier to judge each book individually. \n The Wish Granter follows the story of Ari, who is a newly crowned princess. Her twin brother was just named king even though he wasn't the next in line to the throne, but he didn't get the title in the traditional way. He did so by making a deal with The Wish Granter, an old fae who holds the ability to help give people their hearts desire but at a huge cost. Ari sets out to find a way to break the deal between her brother and The Wish Granter. With the help of a very broken young weapons master named Sebastian, Ari will stop at nothing to discover The Wish Granter's secrets and find a way to beat him at his own game before he destroys the whole kingdom. \n What really stands out in The Wish Granter is the character development. Ari, Sebastian, and even Alistair Teague (The Wish Granter) were all extremely detailed. Ari was a head-strong character. She was confident, knew where she stood in life, and when she made her mind up on something there was no stopping her. She wasn't your average tiny little princess. She loved to eat (sometimes a little too much) and she spent most of her time in the kitchen with the servants she grew up with as opposed to the royal elite. \n Sebastian was a broken individual who came from a very dark background filled with neglect, abuse, and poverty. He wasn't handed anything in life and he worked his hardest to remain under the radar of Alistair Teague. His abusive background has made him stone-cold to emotion and reluctant to trust anyone. He doesn't want friends, he just wants to work and earn enough money to eventually gain his freedom. That is until he meets Ari who doesn't take no for an answer and wants to build a friendship. \n Alistair Teague is an old fae who is manipulative, evil and just horrible. He preys on the weak and uses their desperation to his advantage. He is a bit of a fantasy drug lord. He manufacturers and distributes a heavy drug that many of the poorer people in the village have become addicted to. \n While reading the story, you definitely grew to like Ari and Sebastian. You felt their emotions, their trials and tribulations, and really went on the journey with them. Alistair Teague, on the other hand, you learned to despise because he was evil, manipulative, and just out for only himself. Pretty much everything you come to expect in a villain. \n I spend a lot of time talking about the characters in the story because The Wish Granter is very character center. The plot, action, and everything centers around the characters building relationships, changing, and fighting for the good of the kingdom. If the characters hadn't been as detailed or as captivating, I don't think the story would have been as good as it turned out to be. \n There is some romance in this novel, but it develops in a way that is realistic. It also isn't 'forever and ever' love and more of what I would call a puppy love romance. Given the age of the characters, I think it is believable and helps add some depth to the novel. \n C.J. Redwine does a really good job of taking the story of Rumpelstiltskin and giving it a new take. There were familiar elements, but for the most part this is an original retelling. I would definitely tell people who like fairytale retellings but didn't like The Shadow Queen to give The Wish Granter a try. \n Overall, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed The Wish Granter. I really liked the characters and was immediately captivated by the story.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 22 02:41:34 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 16 19:17:19 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Mar 08 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sun Mar 05 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "1937398", "review_id": "87449b5eb4b00749bd2e6425497a70f6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "One of the better books of the series. Great character development but some of the characters irk me", "date_added": "Tue Sep 06 02:13:07 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 21 04:43:18 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Sep 21 04:43:18 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "30653902", "review_id": "5ca4eb38d5cb322226fcb06637a7b376", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was missing something. I can't put my finger on it, but it didn't seem to have that extra oomph that I need for books. \n I wasn't a huge fan of the way girls were treated in the book. I also got aggrivated that the adults were so stupid. \n It wasn't a bad book just an alright book. I did love the dragon tho.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 20 02:14:50 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 27 01:47:02 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "30956356", "review_id": "447a46aca76178aaa3bdf7ee902597e5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I hate cliffhangers. But I enjoyed this book. Longer review to come", "date_added": "Wed Jul 13 01:44:12 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 28 09:30:09 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jul 28 10:29:31 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Jul 27 02:02:07 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "27405702", "review_id": "f4d526f848f72d04114b2dbde784eb63", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I hate when books are nothing like they say they would be. This turned into some psycho babble that helped people cope with death and dying. Pissed me off when the book is advertised as wizard of oz.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 30 17:56:52 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 25 01:24:46 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Aug 25 01:24:46 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "31450908", "review_id": "0141b1ccf26a4872abd127b2c4ea133f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I didn't enjoy this as much as the first. Longer review later", "date_added": "Tue Jun 14 00:39:09 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 08 17:48:21 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "27414432", "review_id": "1df4c62cbe788132b1a486e642ddc9e5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Creative idea but the book lacked depth. The characters were stuff and felt like they didn't have personalities", "date_added": "Mon Jun 13 03:19:57 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 12 03:10:25 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Dec 12 03:10:25 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Nov 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "23288266", "review_id": "a7101a8b3c92b07698238cb7071a543d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "So good. Neff is amazingly talented and an author who grows with each book. Longer review to come.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 11 04:10:46 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 10 23:55:51 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "29939390", "review_id": "fc4a4851fea2d6022ed0952ae4693e64", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This was a stuggle. All the stuff I liked from book 1 is missing. And it had that feel of nothing happening until the last 3 chapters and then it ends. Longer review later", "date_added": "Fri May 20 03:21:43 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 09 04:16:20 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Thu Feb 09 04:16:20 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sun Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "28595041", "review_id": "5a0f06e1aca64a44a29755c6f8ac0ba8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Really loved this. Longer review later. Great world building, fast pacced, detail characters....I did struggle a bit because I am so used to tree worlds that involve fairy or small creatures and this was normal human size people living in a giant forest", "date_added": "Wed Apr 20 08:41:57 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 19 00:21:36 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Oct 19 00:21:36 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Oct 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "25526296", "review_id": "3138a7fe08e136d9315a1d128ebd9c6a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Some books have that unique ability to capture your attention instantly. Every Heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire was one of those book. I was barely three pages into the book and I was already immersed in the world and forming an emotional bond with our first main character - Nancy. \n Every Heart A Doorway tells the captivating tale about a boarding school for young adults between the ages of 12 and 18, but unlike regular boarding schools this one is designed as a rehabilitation center of sorts. All of the young adults who are present at the school have at one point in time journeyed to alternate fantasy worlds. These worlds include everything from lands with fairies and unicorns and rainbows or Wonderland weird worlds, to just plain scary/horror universes or the land of the dead. \n All of the children at the school are struggling with one major problem - they want to go back to their fantasy world, but they have been cast out from it and it might not happen. This has caused all the children to experience what can only be described as PTSD-like symptoms. Of course, the children also have to deal with other \"real life\" issues, such as forming relationships, dealing with parents, navigating the scary world of high school, and overcoming bullying. \n Nancy, our main character of the story, is a new student at the boarding school. Unfortunately, right as she arrives at the school murders start happening. Every Heart A Doorway follows Nancy and her new friends as they work to find themselves, solve a mystery, and work to potentially find their hidden doorway that will lead them back to their fantasy world. \n Every Heart A Doorway may seem - from its description - to be a light, fluffy fantasy novel, but it emotional and dark. Many of the characters are struggling with extreme emotional issues and various problems, which leads to a disturbing/creepy feel to the novel. \n One of the amazing things about Every Heart A Doorway was how detailed almost all the characters were. This is only a 170 page novella, but every character from Nancy to the secondary characters of Jack and Jill, was fleshed out and felt real. A pretty amazing feat when you consider the novel also had to create a world/backstory and progress the current plot all in 170 pages. \n Characters weren't the only extremely well-thought out or creative element. I was intrigued with the whole hidden door/alternative universe concept, which was extremely detailed and fascinating to me. I probably could have read an entire 400 page novel on just this concept alone, but it was extremely well-done given the short page count. \n While I did enjoy the novel, I have to admit the murder mystery part of it fell flat for me. The mystery element comes in about a quarter of the way through the novel and it never really felt well developed. It had a very rushed feel to it, especially when things were solved and everything was 'wrapped up'. \n Despite the clunky or rushed feeling at the end of the novel, I was impressed with Every Heart a Doorway. It certainly isn't your light, fluffy Narnia/Wonderland novel, even though it seems like it might be from the overview. It is a novel that is emotionally engaging, unique, and creepy/weird. \n While it may not be my top read for the year, it certainly is up there. I would recommend Every Heart a Doorway to fantasy lovers who are looking for something unique or for those that have ever wondered how characters reacted when they left their fantasy world and returned to their real lives.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 07 02:13:30 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 14 16:29:42 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jun 14 16:29:42 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Jun 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "395727", "review_id": "4f89985eaedd08ddf23d7e3ddbecc975", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A bit too wordy with the descriptions which bogs the story down, but overall a solid start. Karan irked me in the book and drove me nuts. \n I will defiantly follow up with the other books in the series", "date_added": "Wed Apr 06 03:52:32 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 07 00:15:45 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jun 07 00:57:10 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun May 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "22718687", "review_id": "8791e52317d5d7b8dc3a38442f6fac6f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "When it comes to writing - and publishing - there is a desire to stick with what works. Authors and publishers alike are often afraid to step too far out of the literary world's comfort zone in a fear that something won't work. This leads to a slew of novels that are good, but relatively lacking in originality. So, imagine my surprise when I encountered the children's novel, Secrets of the Dragon Tomb, which definitely doesn't conform to the norm. \n Secrets of the Dragon Tomb is a children's novel that mixes so much into a small novel. It has sci-fi elements, steampunk, English history, a little romance, adventure, and a touch of humor. This might seem like a hodgepodge of elements that when combined wouldn't work out, but Secrets of the Dragon Tomb makes it work. \n Readers are taken back in time to 1816, but it isn't like anything you would expect. In this alternative world, Britain has successfully colonized Mars. Travel to and from, and even around, Mars is made possible by dragon pathways. Everything from the way people talk and act to the style of the homes and even the society hierarchy is similar to what would happen in 1816 Britain; the only difference is that people live on Mars. Living on Mars has its challenges, there are unique creatures that may or may not be friendly, native Martians, dinosaurs, and lots of undiscovered areas that could hold untold riches. \n In this first novel of the series, we are introduced to Edward, a young 12-year old boy, who lives on British Mars. Edward longs to have exciting adventures that are similar to what he reads about in the books he loves, but he hasn't had the opportunity to experience these types of adventures. Edward's adventure begins when his father's steampunk-style invention known as the water abacus attracts the attention of some bad guys, the family goes missing, and somehow this all seems linked to the rumor that there is an undiscovered dragon tomb somewhere on Mars. \n I absolutely loved Secrets of the Dragon Tomb, more than I thought I would like it. I was unsure how all the elements of sci-fi, space, steampunk, adventure, and history would mix together, but it was extremely well-done. \n The first thing that jumps out at you Secrets of the Dragon Tomb is the world building. It is done in a way that makes it easily to understand what is going on. It isn't 'dumbed down' for children, but it is done in a way that makes it easy for younger readers to get an understanding of the historical and unique aspects. Even though it is geared towards the younger reader, older readers will be able to enjoy the world building as it doesn't feel as if it is solely geared to the youngest reader. In fact, I think older readers will be able to appreciate how much work went into creating such a detailed world. \n The characters in Secrets of the Dragon Tomb didn't really grab my attention at first. Most of my focus was on the world building and action, but slowly the characters started to grow on me. By the end of the book, I had grown super attached to them and was ready for the next adventure. \n I will say at times the humor isn't laugh out loud funny. It is more light hearted and will certainly put a smile on your face. Many times the definition of humor in children's books is farting, burping, and other juvenile elements. That isn't the case with Secrets of the Dragon Tomb. The humor is age appropriate for children, but it will still appeal to adults, too. \n Overall, I loved Secrets of the Dragon Tomb. I wasn't 100% certain what I would get when I started reading it, but it was amazingly well done. I was surprised to see how well the historical, sci-fi, steampunk, adventure, dinosaur elements blended together. It was also refreshing to see an author willing to take a risk with his novel and have it work out. \n I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for something different, but who doesn't want to spend a lot of time reading a doorstopper novel. It is also great for children who are tired of seeing the same old, same old or for those who aren't committed to reading traditional fantasy novels. The adventure, mystery, and fast pace of this novel is enough to capture the attention of readers young and old.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 08 04:31:02 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 26 20:37:44 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Oct 07 01:52:16 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2643286", "review_id": "febe38f5fefb995b6a9504a068319c4f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Loved it. A bit predictable but overall pretty good.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 01 04:53:42 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 07 03:01:48 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Mar 07 03:01:48 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "9917879", "review_id": "2346ad39c8452dc4c0da15c34d664237", "rating": 4, "review_text": "In order to truly rate this book, you need to separate yourself and put yourself into the shoes of the target audience. An adult looking at this novel will probably think it is just a Harry Potter knock-off with a bit of Hunger Games thrown in. And in many ways that is true, but it is much more than that. \n I see the Unwanteds as a a stepping stone for children readers into more complex worlds and other genres. It has a dystopian theme that isn't found in Harry Potter, but it has a flow to it that makes it a quick read and one that is easily understandable. \n There are (from an adult standpoint) a few plot points that seem to be unexplained or overlooked for their extreme nature, but overall this is a really good book. The characters are a bit three dimensional, the magic system is fun, and there are complex-ish 'bad guys'. There is also a whole grey area on right/wrong and good/bad. \n Some of the things that knocked this down from a 5 star to a 4 star are: \n Time movement - the book spans an entire year in 390 pages. It just seemed like it moved so fast and things could have slowed down just a little bit. I didn't even realize it had been a whole year until characters would say stuff like \"You have been here a year. Do you feel different\". \n The Mage - I got a bit frustrated with his hands-off approach when he knew that people's lives were at stake. He wanted to save people, but a character's free-will and ability to make mistakes was more important than saving other people's lives and preventing a huge disaster. \n Romance - Alex is starting to develop feelings for a character in the story. It happened suddenly and out of nowhere. I would have liked to see more character building and save the romance for later books. \n Even with this issues. I enjoyed the book. It isn't something I would read right after Harry Potter, as to me HP is extremely good. But if you let some time pass and are willing to go in with an open mind, it is a really good book.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 14 05:37:31 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 01 17:54:53 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Mar 01 17:47:21 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Mon Feb 27 15:06:25 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "21518344", "review_id": "1b7cdd3b495fe04131d53fd4321c4921", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Fairytale retellings can be tricky to tackle. Authors need to retain just enough of the original story to make readers feel comfortable and familiar with the story, but they need to add enough spin to their version to make it their own. After all, it is supposed to be a retelling, not a rehash of the 'same old, same old'. Lisa Maxwell's Unhooked, a retelling of Peter Pan of sorts, does a great job with finding this very delicate balance between the two must-have elements in a fairytale retelling. \n Unhooked grabs readers and takes them away to a very dark, gritty Neverland. Here you find magic, adventure, and the ability to fly around, but there is an undertone of darkness. And of course, living on the island comes with a cost - you start to lose yourself, your past memories, and pretty much you have to sacrifice everything from your former life. \n Upon starting Unhooked, there is a slight feeling of confusion. Maxwell doesn't necessarily throw readers into the action, but there are a lot of secrets and untold stories. This gives readers the sense that they are missing something or something was left out. It wasn't left out, as all things slowly start to come together, but it can be very confusing especially if you are expecting a complete Peter Pan knockoff. \n Maxwell adds several different twists to the story to make it her own. There are dark faeries, a battle for the island, Pan is not at all like the Disney version (even though he tries to act that way at first), and Hook has a very interesting backstory that forces readers to look at him in a completely different light. \n I really enjoyed the twist Maxwell added to the Peter Pan story. After the initial slow/confusing start, the story really took on a life of its own. It was fun to see how Maxwell took some of the original fairytale/Disney version and twisted it to give it a unique angle. \n However, despite this novel being what I would consider a fairytale retelling done right, it is not without its flaws. Gwen, our main heroine and who is responsible for telling us the story, is a bit frustrating as a character. There were times when she would act incredibly strong and independent, but then just as quickly she'd be a wishy-washy character who couldn't make up her mind. It almost seemed like if she was supposed to think for her own, she wouldn't and times where she didn't need to think for herself she'd start exerting some level of control over the situation. \n I personally would have liked to see Gwen grow a bit more as a character. Unfortunately, she seemed to just glide through the story and let other people/situations tell her what to do. \n Another slight flaw was the world-building. Neverland was this mysterious dark world and while readers are given a glimpse into that world, it never really felt like it was enough. I would have loved the romance aspect toned down and more focus on Neverland. \n That leads me to the romance. Unhooked had unexpected romance thrown into it. While I understand the importance of romance, it seemed forced and almost overtook the story. There is a budding romance between Gwen and Hook, it almost bordered on the insta-love. Then there was this odd romance between Pan and Olivia (Gwen's best friend who got taken to Neverland). Olivia would get jealous of Gwen whenever Pan looked/talked to Gwen. \n The romance does play a role in the plot and adds an element to the story, but I would have liked to see more time devoted to character development (either Gwen or Pan) or developing the world of Neverland. \n Even though it is not a perfect book, it is a satisfying read. Upon completion of Unhooked, I felt like I read a solid, complete standalone novel. There were certainly enough twists and turns to keep me entertained and reading, and the ending wasn't fully what I thought would happen, but I wasn't disappointed in it. \n I would recommend Unhooked to those who enjoyed Peter Pan and are looking for a new spin on the old classic story. Those who are looking for a quick fantasy read will also enjoy it too, as will anyone who likes fairytale retellings.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 06 06:05:22 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 31 17:19:13 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "25776221", "review_id": "ac4185a4bf0386bc53dfa587afca6b05", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A much longer review to come, but I really enjoyed this book. It isn't perfect, but I think it was a bit refreshing to see a YA author take a chance with something that is a bit 'unique'. There is certainly room for it to be controversial given the Middle East culture/setting, but in a genre that is overrun with carbon copy books of each other this was refreshing. \n There were some parts that were predictable - it wasn't outright surprising that certain things happened, but it was just unique enough to keep me reading and not want to stop.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 03 20:03:12 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 19 16:58:07 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Apr 19 16:58:07 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "25241450", "review_id": "c0b0874ac86089f2eb132b06a2e20249", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book was just alright. It strayed a lot and overused lists but it wasn't bad. I will probably quickly forget it as nothing stood out. Lots of potential, but didn't live up to it.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 02 04:22:24 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 03 00:36:34 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Feb 03 00:36:34 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "25861903", "review_id": "6a196822242ad099053fffc108ff6dfe", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This series just needs to end.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 02 01:19:11 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue May 17 01:35:18 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue May 17 01:35:18 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "25879858", "review_id": "1005617914925df1148fdb17d8e47dac", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Flunked, the first book of the Fairy Tale Reform School series, was a fast, fun children's novel. It followed the life of a young thief (Gilly Cobbler) who was caught and sent away to Fairy Tale Reform School. Fairy Tale Reform School is designed to help fairy tale character right their wrongs and learn how to become productive members of their respective fairy tales. After all, not everyone can be the hero, villain, or princess; some people do have to be the baker, cobbler, or famer. \n Now, Charmed is the second book of the series and picks up shortly where Flunked left off. Alva (our big bad for the series and is a version of the evil fairy queen from Sleeping Beauty) has been locked up. Meanwhile Gilly Cobbler, who was once an overlooked young thief who is trying to reform herself, is now considered a hero for what she did in Flunked, but all is not well. \n It appears as if Alva may have a mole inside Fairy Tale Reform and it is now up to Gilly and her friends to find them, but that may prove difficult. Gilly and her friends will be put to the test they face new situations and outside influences that will push their friendship and loyalty, as well as potentially jeopardize their quest to bring peace to the land. \n Essentially, Charmed is a fun, not overly complex children's novel that is perfect for anyone looking for a quick, occasionally funny novel. The characters are surprisingly detailed for such a short novel and while the story does follow the whole twist on fairy tale characters, it does have a slightly unique touch to it that makes it its own story. \n While I found Charmed enjoyable, I have to admit I didn't like it as much as Flunked. Gilly, our main character, was loveable and a delight to follow in Flunked, but that changed in Charmed. Gilly was horrible in this novel. She was egotistical, self-centered, and extremely mean to her friends. The worst part of it all was she didn't see herself acting that way and couldn't understand why her friends were so upset. \n Overall, Charmed was fun and fast paced. I loved the way the world is shaping up and the friendships that are forming between the characters. The adventures they have are fun to follow, while not being overly complex. It is a great book for the age it is intended for, but adults looking for something fun to read or those who enjoy a quick fairy tale retelling will enjoy it too. \n ********************************************* \n Not as good as the first. But it was alright", "date_added": "Tue Feb 02 01:18:38 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 08 22:10:39 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "25817407", "review_id": "5499d089aaf2b5e55d536e4b178c21aa", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The Siren is one of those books that I feel conflicted about when it comes time to review. There were good things about the book - fast pace, an interesting concept, and a fairly interesting character (The Ocean) - but there were so many things that just didn't work for me - insta-love, lack of character development, mopey teenagers - that I walked away feeling disappointed. This book could have been so much more than what it was. \n In the acknowledgements of the book, Kiera Cass makes a pretty bold statement that 90% of her readership is teenage females. It is very clear that The Siren was written to cater in every way, shape and form to this audience. The characters for the most part are surprisingly one dimensional, the plot is pushed to the back in place of longing/pining for a man the girl hardly met/interacted with, and there feels as if there isn't really any substance to the book. \n That is with the exception of The Ocean (a character in the book with feelings and a personality). The Ocean was the best part of the novel by far. \n The way it is written isn't a bad thing, if that is the type of book you are looking for, but I feel as if the majority of the readers - even those that are within the 90% teenage female group - will want a little bit more. \n I will start with the insta-love. The novel is a standalone that comes in at 327 pages. So, I understand that readers aren't going to have a whole lot of time to see the romance blossom and bloom, but that doesn't mean a romance has to instantly happen and the characters become soulmates forever. \n Kahlen meets Akinli in a school library. They have a very brief interaction that totals maybe 5 minutes. This is followed by another short encounter in the school quad a few days later and a date that lasted maximum of an hour. After all this, Kahlen is madly in love with Akinli. This might work if the two characters interacted more with each other afterwards, but they don't for almost the entire half of the book. \n After their first date, Kahlen runs away from Akinli and moves to another part of the country because their romance cannot happen. The chapters after this are filled with Kahlen wondering 'what if', 'why this', and creating this entire fantasy in her head until she is convinced she would have married Akinli and rode off into the sunset. It just wasn't believable, especially when Kahlen is an 18-year old siren who has lived for 80 years. \n The instant attraction between the two mixed with their lack of any interactions - there is another date later in the book before the ending made it extremely difficult for me to buy into this romance. I can suspend reality a little bit, but this just seemed too unbelievable for me. Unfortunately, as a result the novel felt flat and the plot/romance felt forced. I felt no emotions for the couple which made the ending difficult to believe. \n Another aspect of the novel which didn't really work for me was the character development. All of the characters, which the exception of The Ocean, felt one dimensional. Kahlen was this sulky, sullen character who didn't like to hang out, didn't like to do anything. Pretty much, she sat around moping about her situation in life and then playing a fantasy in her head about a guy. \n And her friends were no better. Her friends lacked empathy for anyone but themselves. Forced people to engage in activities they were uncomfortable with and looked down on anyone who was different or didn't do things (casual one night stands, underage drinking) that they would consider normal. \n There is one thing that nagged at the back of my mind while reading the book. Where did the girls get the money they used to move around? They moved around and lived in vacation homes on the beach (with convenient beach access). One of the characters sold paintings, but that didn't account for how they could just toss cash around and move to Italy, Miami, and other beachfront areas. \n There is one redeeming quality to the book - The Ocean. I loved this aspect of the novel. The Ocean at first was a little confusing. I wasn't sure what to make of her, as she had her own thoughts and feelings and personality. As the story unfolded, I really came to like The Ocean even though she wasn't a very likeable character. She was possessive and mean at times. If it hadn't been for The Ocean, I would have abandoned the book. It really gives it a nice twist and makes the story somewhat bearable. \n Do you walk away feeling satisfied at the end of the novel? Yes and no. Everything is wrapped up nicely and complete, but there is an overwhelming sense of emptiness and disappointment. It is almost like you wanted more, but didn't get it. \n I, personally, feel The Siren felt like it had potential, but the need to make it standalone was its downfall. There were so many things that could have happened or aspects that could have developed, but weren't. \n The Siren is a mix of The Little Mermaid and some mega teen drama complete with insta-love galore and major pouting/sulking. For the right reader - one who can overlook major plot issues and who doesn't really want a whole lot of depth to their story - this is a good book. Unfortunately, for the average reader this may leave them feeling a bit disappointed. \n ************************************** \n Disappointing. Longer review later. It gets 2 stars only because of the last 50 pages.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 27 02:18:38 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 08 17:32:36 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Mar 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Mar 09 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "24331115", "review_id": "d98707834a1ac9f34dfe3563d0938d1f", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Not really what it was described in the summary. DNF", "date_added": "Wed Jan 27 01:55:44 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 27 01:56:02 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "21416690", "review_id": "14e818abbec4a3585a861a32a1584d42", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Librarians. Secret societies. Books. Spies. Adventure. Alternate universes. Vampires and werewolves. Victorian London. Dragons. Time Traveling. \n All of these things separately are things I love and the thought of combining them is a bit nerve-racking. After all, there are so many elements and none of them really related that something, somewhere will get lost, but that doesn't happen with the Invisible Library. The Invisible Library tackles the tough task of combining these elements into a book that is not only a delightful read, but probably one of my favorites for the year. \n The Invisible Library tells the story of a secret society of librarians that have committed themselves to 'The Library'. Upon becoming an agent of The Library, or essentially a Librarian, these individuals vow to work on missions that involve heading to alternate realities (some of which are considered 'chaos filled' which means that magic and reality combine to create a chaotic situation) and retrieving rare/unique copies of books. Unfortunately, retrieving these rare books isn't always an easy task. \n The Invisible Library follows the story of Irene, a young professional spy/agent for The Library. She - along with a novice by the name of Kai - are given the task of retrieving a rare book from an alternate London that has vampires, werewolves, Fae, and advanced steampunk like inventions. The task seems easy enough, until they get to the new universe and discover that they are not the only people looking for the book and one of those people is a man that was thought to be an urban legend amongst The Librarians. \n Kai and Irene spend most of the book looking for clues and trying to sort out who has the book, who is an ally, who is an enemy, and what is going on political wise with The Library. They also trying to solve a mystery, find the book, beat a \"bad guy\", and learn more about each other. \n I absolutely loved The Invisible Library. It is pretty much everything I look for in a book. It has action, adventure, mystery, and books - lots and lots of books. Even though The Invisible Library is a favorite of mine and I enjoyed it, it is far from a perfect book. I'll highlight some of my favorite aspects of the book and talk about some of the aspects that didn't really work for me. \n A huge highlight of The Invisible Library is the way Genevieve Cogman weaves so many seemingly unique concepts into one coherent story. There are a lot of elements that could come across as disjointed or random, but it all comes together nicely. \n Another aspect I found enjoyable was the way Genevieve Cogman was able to take a familiar world and give it a unique twist. Everyone knows what Victorian London is/was like, but the Victorian London we were introduced to in the book was new and unique. It felt different, which is what added to the excitement of the book. \n One of the things I found a bit frustrating about The Invisible Library was some of the seemed felt awkward or a bit out of character. The scene that comes to mind is within the first 25% of the book when Kai and Irene are forced to spend a night together in a hotel that resides in their alternate London. Kai mysterious, and what feels a bit out of character, starts throwing himself at Irene. He asks if she wants to sleep with him and feels hurt when she rejects it. \n Previously, there had been no indication that Kai had any romantic feelings for Irene. The two had just met a few short hours before. It just seemed out of place. \n Another aspect of The Invisible Library that felt awkward was the way the world was introduced. Instead of going for a complete info dump that involved explaining how The Library worked, how alternate universes worked, the role of the Librarians and supernatural creatures, and who the bad guys were, Genevieve Cogman goes for a more 'learn while you read approach'. \n The learn while you read approach is great, as it speeds up the book. You aren't bogged down by lengthy descriptive paragraphs, but it sometimes makes you feel like you missed something. There were times when I was like 'who is this' or 'what is this', only to discover that we hadn't learned about it yet and would learn the answer to that question several chapters later. \n I will admit that The Invisible Library isn't overly complex. It isn't overly simple either, but if you are looking for something extremely detailed, it probably wouldn't be this book. The main focus of the book isn't in creating overly detailed characters, but in the world building and adventure. The characters develop throughout the book, but it is clear that isn't the main focus of the book. \n Even though The Invisible Library isn't a perfect book, it is an enjoyable one. Immediately upon finishing it I had two things in mind. First, I wanted to become a Librarian. I mean who wouldn't want to be a time traveling spy who is on a mission to save rare books. Second, I couldn't wait for the second book. \n Overall, The Invisible Library is a fun easy read. While the main plot might - to some - seem predicable, the unique world building and action more than make up for it. This is a definite must read for any book lover.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 13 21:59:54 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 21 17:51:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "25890355", "review_id": "11f70491c85d44633c924c4f6928b93c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Rachel Caine's book Ink and Bone was another huge favorite of mine. It was a novel that had a very Harry Potter-ish feel to it, but it still had a unique feel. Everything from the concept and loveable character, to the world building was captivating. I was so in love with the book that I honestly could not wait for the second book, Paper and Fire to come out. \n Considering how high my expectations were, the immediate question you should ask yourself is \"Does Paper and Fire live up to the hype and expectations placed on it from the first book?\". My answer would be \"Sort of\". \n Paper and Fire is the ultimate definition of a middle book. The first novel, Ink and Bone, was so unique and surprising that it was a pure delight to read. It made readers want to love it. Paper and Fire, while a wonderful novel, doesn't have that sparkle and shine that comes with a first book in a series. \n The biggest issue with Paper and Fire is its plot progression and speed. There is a lot of action going on during Paper and Fire. The characters are arranging rescue missions, running from enemies, and trying to stay ahead of The Library. Unfortunately, there is this feel of too much action. \n The characters are always running around doing something or exploring a new place or looking for some clue. While this might seem like plot progression, there is very stagnant feel to the book. It is almost like all the characters did was run around and not a whole lot was accomplished. In fact, I ended the book and my first thought was 'We didn't really get much done'. \n The entire second book is basically one giant rescue mission. There are some tidbits here and there that further a character's development or progress the plot a little, but not enough. It really had a feel of a lot of running around and not a lot of progression. \n I will say the last few chapters opened up a whole new possibility for the next book and a lot happened in the end, but there were still a lot of missed opportunities throughout the book. Let's just say that there is a cliffhanger at the end and it will definitely leave fans of the series waiting in anticipation for book three. \n Even though it was a rushed book and basically one giant rescue mission, it doesn't mean the book was bad. It just didn't have the appeal the first book did. There are still a lot of things I loved about the book - the idea of who controls what when it comes to knowledge and books, the whole portrayal that reading physical books is better than a screen on a tablet, and the whole idea that using technology to store information could result in some very important information being wiped away if the higher ups don't agree with it. \n Overall, Paper and Fire was a fun read. It didn't have the wowing power the first book did in the series, but it wasn't bad. There is a lot to look forward to with this series and I honestly cannot wait until book three.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 10 23:00:02 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 15 20:59:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "23658272", "review_id": "c9f7dfdd44972d90941838b9b0a40db4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Yeah this is just like the movie, but there was so much more added to it. It was nice to see Hans' point of view and get a little back story on it.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 03 04:02:15 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 06 23:16:51 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "17571275", "review_id": "7d3c4d82a0bfc66d34b0be4d1aa0c721", "rating": 1, "review_text": "At the end of the book, Brandon Mull mentions that he has been overworked and was on a deadline for this book (as well as his other series). It is clear that being overworked lead to him producing what is probably the weakest book he has ever written. This entire book was dry, dull, and boring. \n One of the things I liked about the Five Kingdom series is the characters tended to grow and develop over the books. This had none of it. Readers were instead treated to lengthy sections where only Cole is traveling around the Echolands. This would be great, but Cole doesn't grow or change as a person. He just moves from point to point. There are literally dozens of other characters that we have hardly seen or interacted with. We're coming up on the fifth book soon and we have had a handful of interactions with the princesses and Hunter (Cole's brother). \n A frustrating aspect of this book is literally the writing/plot flow. This entire book can be summed up as - \n Talk to person who points them to point A \n Travel to point A to find out they missed X individual but they speak to person who tells them to go to point B \n Go to Point B just missed the person, find someone who tells them to go to point C \n Go to point C just missed the person, find someone who tells them to go to point D \n You get the point. \n It was literally just walking around going from point to point with no point (sorry for the pun) to it. \n The pointless plot was made even more frustrating by the pages and pages and pages of question and answers. 75% of Cole's conversations involved him asking questions. A typical convo was something kind of like this - \n Cole: Can you help me: \n Person: No I cannot help you. But Sam can. \n Cole: Who is Sam? \n Person: Sam is a shaper who lives in the echolands. \n Cole: What are the Echolands? \n Person: Explains Echolands \n Cole: Why do the Echolannds exist? \n Person: Explains \n Cole: How do I get to the Echolands? \n One or two convos like this would have been fine, but it was the entire book. \n Oh and there is a whole cross reference to Mull's other series, which might be nice for those who liked that series, but it really just feels forced. \n I wish Mull had talked to his publishers and respectfully asked for deadline extensions if he felt overworked/tired. This is not up to par with the rest of the series.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 03 03:15:51 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat May 14 23:24:29 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun May 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "23208665", "review_id": "5c02515bf197e8e35b2366da8338e8ff", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Pretty good but really dragged in the middle. Should have been like 50 to 75 pages shorter", "date_added": "Sun Jan 03 03:15:25 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 28 03:29:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jun 28 03:29:17 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "1155227", "review_id": "cbf64d5bbfb556d7b742bf52fb0d4f19", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Beautiful story. Love it.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 03 01:43:27 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat May 14 23:30:01 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 03 01:44:19 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "763714", "review_id": "b7dcffa2e64085ee6a3406dc293a69a3", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book tried way too hard to be philosophical. There were huge lectures and info dumping about things that were vague and meant to make you think about time, death, and life. \n The characters were boring. The youngest child is awol 90% of the book and things were thrown in to make it quickly and Narnia like but it failed.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 01 20:26:29 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 14 23:18:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Apr 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "22464760", "review_id": "d036caea60c7ef2ba39e0b43ed150cee", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Written in a style that is very similar to Lemony Snicket, The Goblin's Puzzle tells the tale of a slave with no name who has been inadvertently finds himself in a bit of a mess. The young slave has always been a good slave, but now he is faced with the difficult task of having to decide what to do after the son of his master is brutally murdered - a murder which could be pinned on the young slave. \n While deciding what to do with his life, the young slave meets a tricky goblin. The goblin may hold the answers to who the young slave boy is and he even hints that the young slave may have a destiny far greater than he could ever imagine. \n In addition to the tale of the young slave boy and the goblin, The Goblin's Puzzle also follows the story of a young village girl who is faced with a case of mistaken identity and Princess Alice who is the target of a potential kidnapping plot. Somehow the two girls' story intertwines with the young slave boy's story and it makes for an adventurous fantasy novel. \n The Goblin's Puzzle: Being the Adventures of a Boy with No Name and Two Girls Called Alice is a fun, witty children's adventure fantasy novel that will certainly appeal to the older, more mature audience (the adults who have a heart of a child). It isn't laugh out loud funny, but there is a slight humor to the novel that makes it exciting and something that adults will certainly enjoy. \n While the story has a fairly run-of-the-mill fantasy plot, it is the way it is told that makes it fun and exciting. Each and every character is developed, which is amazing because the novel isn't really that long. Readers are given a sense that they have known the characters for a while and are extremely familiar to them. \n There are some twists and turns and puzzle-like themes throughout the novel, but all play a role in the plot. They aren't thrown out there to make the book more confusing or 'fun'. It fits in nicely with the flow of the novel. \n That being said there are some aspects of Goblin's Puzzle that should be noted. First, the murder of the master's son. It was a bit graphic, which could be difficult for younger readers who may be sensitive to such things. The book is middle grade and while death/murder isn't anything new, the description of the murder was fairly detailed which might be unexpected to some readers. \n The second aspect that should be noted is the focus on politics and religion. These aspects don't play a huge role in the story, but the book spends a lot of time on them. A younger reader or someone looking for action and adventure will find this information tedious and boring. On the other hand, the older reader will certainly appreciate the hat tip and some of the side remarks about religion and politics. \n The focus on politics and religion isn't bad, but it does slow the story down a bit. It is information that the adult audience would like, but that I'm not 100% certain the younger target audience would really even care about. \n Overall, Goblin's Puzzle was a fun, quick middle grade novel that has solid writing and is stand alone! There are some aspects that should be considered if you are considering it for a younger middle grade audience, but I think older MG audiences and adults will certainly like the story, especially if you are craving something that is a little more than your average 'fluff' fantasy quest novel.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 19 18:43:17 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 13 20:54:33 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jun 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "25938448", "review_id": "70e18f68b060f9d0c2f22cd8d1178ee1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was insanely good. The only thing I didn't like was the title. I felt it was a bit misleading as the palace of glass was only like a chapter or two. But still insanely good", "date_added": "Sat Dec 19 18:43:07 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 27 08:56:54 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Mar 27 11:54:24 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Mar 25 04:11:59 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "25688980", "review_id": "c47d65e576b853db32ea95f2aac9dc1d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Loved it. Longer review later. One of the better retellings. Unique and great for young readers at about middle grade level", "date_added": "Sat Dec 19 18:42:17 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 16 00:45:10 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Dec 16 00:45:10 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Dec 13 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "28588345", "review_id": "c05d31286b343675a0cf9f69a636e02f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I expected more. Pretty disappointed and just feeling ehh about the whole thing", "date_added": "Sat Dec 19 18:10:26 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 01 01:53:34 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Nov 01 01:53:34 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "17831753", "review_id": "8cbc60125e156709e40cbdbcbfb5b9de", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I haven't seen a book written so poorly, yet it was so f'd up I kept reading. More later.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 01 18:12:14 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 29 17:18:11 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Dec 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "18658149", "review_id": "9c17454192c9b3b69e66065432dfa776", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I enjoy a book that sends a good message, don't get me wrong, but when an author pushes character development and plot aside to send a message, it ruins the book. This is essentially what happened with this novel. 85% of the novel revolves around a group of teenagers (one being a changeling/faerie) who are fighting for the rights of same-sex couples to go to prom and of course not be bullied. \n There were lengthy powerful speeches, a bunch of 'lets rise up against the bullies and administration', and other scenes. It is a good message, but it was literally pounded into the reader to the point it was overkill. \n While there was a good message, I felt the way the whole same-sex couple problem was resolved (can't say it or it will be spoiled) was a bit disappointing. \n Now onto the fantasy/faerie element. Due to the fact that so much revolves around the same-sex couple ban at prom, there is very little in the way of fantasy. Most of what readers learn about the fantasy world or even the conflict there is told as a bedtime story to the teenage boy (our second main character). \n Other issues I had with the book - \n The characters were a bit flat. There wasn't much emphasis on making readers like or relate to any of them. \n There is a character in the book who is in a wheelchair, but there were multiple scenes where they were doing stuff that seemed difficult/impossible with a wheelchair. Plus the wheelchair would magically appear when stuff happened sort of as a way to remind you there was a disabled character. \n Lots of emphasis on identity, sexuality, and equal rights. LOTS. To the point it overshadowed the plot. This wouldn't have been bad, but the book talked about a faerie war and readers got like 3% of that. \n Taylor (main male character) was a bit inconsistent. He claimed he had difficulty hugging and touching people, but was all over Lora (main female character) trying to get into her pants. Then when she wouldn't sleep with him or make out, he got 'red flag' jealous and upset. \n Insta-friendships. I can't stand when people were ignored and then they become insta-friends to the point they are like 'I love you.... '. Not relationships. Friendships. \n The ending with two naked bodies just seemed out of place and a bit out there.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 28 23:46:05 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 17 17:14:32 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "23848113", "review_id": "2657a9e75c6485d5c62ce8dae2e66eeb", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Ehh... This book was just alright. I really loved it when it started out, but it just turned into a soupy mess of whining teens and stubborn individuals. \n I could also never place when this book was taking place. It had modern medicine and other things, but the people acted like they were pre-technology thinking. It just didn't mesh for me.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 26 03:23:33 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 01 15:49:00 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Dec 01 15:49:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Nov 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "20560137", "review_id": "15a0fc560a68b458a7a34c6b3e4b9495", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Well, I finished it but I feel dirty. I feel like I just condoned a culture that rapes and beats women just because. \n There really is no explanationgiven as to why people have such hatred or why the culture is the way it is.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 19 14:02:32 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 24 03:39:04 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Nov 24 03:39:04 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "15993203", "review_id": "85acc9d4228b29983c0c1528b71358bb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Alison Goodman is best known for her YA fantasy duology Eon and Eona. It has been some time since that series was completed and readers have been anxiously awaiting her new series - Lady Helen. \n The Lady Helen series takes place in 1812 London and stars 18-year old Lady Helen Wrexhall. As with any historical fantasy novel that takes place in this time period, it is filled with parties, balls, and a huge desire to make sure every rule is followed to a T. Unfortunately, Lady Helen is a bit restless and isn't sure she wants to do. She is headstrong and not all that interested in immediately settling down with the first man to ask for her hand in marriage - but that looks like the way things will go until the unexpected happens. \n One of Lady Helen's housemaids disappears. Lady Helen takes it upon herself to investigate the mysterious disappearance, which leads her to uncover a truth about her destiny that is unexpected. A truth that includes evil demon-like creatures that are intent on causing destruction, but it is up to a secret society of individuals to stop them and Lady Helen is connected to them somehow. \n I have mixed feelings about The Dark Days Club - the first novel in the Lady Helen series. There isn't anything specific wrong with it. Alison Goodman is an amazing wordsmith and creates a detailed world, but it toes the line on too detailed to the point it slows down the pacing. \n Alison Goodman did a lot of research about this time period and it shows in the writing. Unfortunately, there are huge chunks of this book which is just filled with bogging the reader down with relatively unrelated and somewhat boring information. Readers are treated to party scenes with intricate details about proper etiquette, how dances are performed, how people interact. All of which is great, but in small doses. This was not in small doses and it eventually dragged the pacing of the book down. \n For example, the beginning scenes talk about Lady Helen as she is preparing for her presentation to the Queen. There are details included, such as how she needed to practice because she will need to pee in a small porcelain tray while standing up at the presentation. While this information is great for history buffs, it didn't add to anything in the story and really slowed it down. \n The pacing of the novel does pick up, but it isn't until well past the 75% mark. Once the pacing does pick up, the novel moved quickly and turned out to be fairly enjoyable. There was demon fighting, drama, and mystery, all of which was lacking in the first part of the book. \n The pacing and over-indulgence of information wasn't the only issue I had. I found it extremely difficult to relate and/or like the heroine of the novel - Lady Helen. London 1812 didn't leave a lot of room for women to do anything. They had to be constantly watched, were under the control of men until they were married (and even if they weren't), they weren't encouraged to read or know anything about the world. All of this showed in the character development of Lady Helen. \n Lady Helen was supposed to be this strong, independent woman - or at least that was what readers are supposed to think of her. But she came across as very shallow, one-sided, and just plain boring. There were brief moments where some sense of humor showed through, but those moments were few and far between. She did start to shape up in the last 15 pages or so, which is enough to keep me reading until the next series, but I wish I had seen more of Lady Helen's unique characteristics earlier in the novel. \n In my opinion, Lord Carlston was the best character. Unfortunately, he is mysterious in this novel and isn't featured a lot. It will be interesting to see his character grow and develop too. \n There is one part of the novel I would like to point out and one I found extremely disappointing. I have read and reread this part of the book, so maybe I missed it. Readers are shown that Lady Helen is a Reclaimer - fighter of these evil demon creatures that look human, but aren't. All of a sudden, in the next chapter her handmaid knows all about this and is asking if creatures are around them. This was a perfect opportunity to develop the friendship between Lady Helen and her handmaid, but it wasn't there. It happened off book. \n I would have really liked to have seen Lady Helen explain the demons, her role in the society, and everything to her handmaid. I would have liked to see the handmaid's reaction. I think this would have really allowed readers to connect and understand the relationship. \n While it may seem like I didn't like the novel, it really did pick up at the end and turn out to be a semi-decent read. It appears to be one of those series that might be better read as a whole, as this seemed like a setup to better things to come. \n This is definitely not a novel for those looking for fast-paced action or who really want to jump immediately into a story. But I do think there is an audience for the book - especially since there is very little romance (at least in this novel). \n Overall, I think the Lady Helen series shows promise. I am hoping that since we have the historical setting and info-dumping out of the way, it will give the series room to let other more interesting aspects shine. It certainly was well-written and shows amazing promise. I will certainly tune in for book 2, but I hope there are some improvements.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 17 14:27:53 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 17 20:50:13 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Feb 17 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "24737104", "review_id": "e3eabaed282352e41283349c89c278e0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Captivating and fast, but too science in parts. I don't mind it but it seemed to be over the top. The characters are a bit flat too but it was a decent book.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 10 13:15:33 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 01 04:36:30 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 01 06:47:48 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "25187640", "review_id": "7a7bfca0c65c1f2f3f80b4991a54b221", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Truthwitch was a highly hyped, almost to the point of being classified as overhyped, YA fantasy novel that was to be released right as the new year rolled in. It was being compared by promoters and individuals to the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas - who just so happens to be a good friend of the author of Truthwitch. \n Being a fan of Throne of Glass, I was curious to see how Truthwitch turned out. Does it live up to the hype or will it turn out to be another overly hyped up novel that falls flat? After completing Truthwitch, I can say that in some aspects - yes it does live up to the hype. However, there are certain areas within the book that could be worked on and improved. \n Truthwitch for fans of Throne of Glass will be an absolute amazing hit. It is adventurous, has extremely strong - and sometimes aggravating - main heroines, and the magic system (which sort of reminded me of something similar to The Last Airbender) is absolutely amazing. That doesn't mean it isn't without its flaws. \n Truthwitch started out relatively slow. There was an annoying habit of talking about places, people, and even parts of the magic system, as if we the readers should know what was going on. Upon the start of the novel, I had to look up whether this was in fact a first novel in a series because I felt confused and a bit lost. Eventually, I decided to just continue to read and see how it turned out. When I did this, I realized that things slowly start to unravel and make sense. \n Unfortunately, the confused and rather dropped in feeling readers may have at the beginning of the book might be enough to turn people away. While it is great to unravel and reveal things throughout a story, if readers are unable to connect and understand what is going on, it might cause people to stop reading. Things do work out in the end, but this was one of the problems with Truthwitch. \n Another problem with Truthwitch was the plot. Ultimately, the entire novel chronicles the adventurous journey of Safi and Iseult as they are running away. Yes, there are other elements thrown in - warring territories, evil kings/emperors, romance, and a bloodwitch - thrown in, but those elements aren't really fleshed out. If you are looking for a fleshed out three-dimensional story, Truthwitch is probably not going to be for you. \n For example, there is a long standing truce that has been struck between the many different territories. This truce prohibits people from harming and hurting each other and brought peace to the world during a time of war. That truce is now almost up and war is on the horizon. That is really all that is given. If you are wondering why the truce might not be resigned or what this big war is on the horizon, you aren't going to find out - at least not in this book maybe it'll be explored in the other novels. \n Of course because this big war is coming up or possibly coming up, it means that people are in need of a rare truthwitch - which is what Safi is and happens to be the only one in the territory. Unfortunately, because there was no real explanation for why the war was coming up or what was going on, it made it hard to understand why all the nations were fighting to get their hands on a truthwitch. It sort of makes sense at the end of the book, but even then if you try to dive deep into it there aren't really answers to some of the questions that many people might have. \n I found myself constantly asking multiple questions in an effort to understand some of the reasons why certain things or events were happening in the novel. Unfortunately, I never got answers. I don't expect all my questions to be answered in a single novel, but it was a bit frustrating to walk away with thousands more questions than answers. \n Even though there were some definite drawbacks to Truthwitch, it doesn't mean it was a horrible book. There are plenty of elements that made it a pleasant novel and will make it a top 2016 novel for some people. \n One of the strongest parts of Truthwitch was the amazing bond between the two main characters. Safi and Iseult are best friends forever, which in the Witchlands is considered Threadsisters. They would do anything for each other and each one watches the other's back. They are polar opposites to each other, but somehow they complement each other and make their characters almost lift off the page. \n I found it refreshing to see such a strong bond between two female lead characters. All too often it is easy to make females fight amongst each other, and yes our characters do squabble and argue occasionally, but it was amazing to see their relationship portrayed so well. It was their friendship that really made me continue to read the novel until the end. \n Overall, I will say that Truthwitch is a great start to what will be a promising series. It certain had a few hiccups along the way, but nothing that can't be worked out or eventually overcome as more novels are released. \n If you weren't a fan of Throne of Glass - the sappy romance, following a sometimes frustrating and naive main character, and the obvious YA tropes thrown in - then Truthwitch is certainly not the book for you. Those who loved Throne of Glass will love Truthwitch and be relieved to have another amazing series to follow. \n I personally will still follow this series. While it might not be one of my top novels for 2016 - it is still too early to tell - it had enough going for it that I would love to return to the world and characters.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 07 23:17:50 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 11 21:18:45 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "26073150", "review_id": "a2b9dc8cdfe4d3c5ac9329f260394d1f", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Well that wasn't ya at all. Definitely NA aND the plot and characters were just boring. More later", "date_added": "Sat Nov 07 23:17:34 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri May 27 04:29:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri May 27 04:29:08 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "25776235", "review_id": "8dc47986dda0163bf019d10aab8d8c6f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Vernon's books are hit or miss. Some are really, really good and some are just 'meh'. This was one of her better ones. The jokes were cute and the book flowed. There was some silly stuff, but not so much that it overpowered the book.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 15 00:31:49 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 07 22:39:02 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Apr 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Apr 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "23846071", "review_id": "b0e02e740ccf4a514d59b34dfc5fb938", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Unique retelling of the nutcracker loved it. Longer review later", "date_added": "Mon Oct 12 01:53:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 18 02:13:04 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Apr 18 02:13:04 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "22291630", "review_id": "6637ff919e7bb07cf89c39e37ed7988c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Cute book but I feel a bit mislead. The flap mentions that it is filled with laughs, but I didn't really feel it was all that funny. Sure, there were occasional fart jokes here and there, but overall the book was pretty heavy for a kids book.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 25 13:47:50 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 26 02:40:59 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Aug 26 02:40:59 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Tue Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "15839984", "review_id": "33737da7066900b220f029ef4d2b962a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "There are books out there that I immediately know I'm not going to love, but something about the novel makes me want to read. Think of it like those people who pass car accidents and rubber neck - they want to look away but can't. That is me with some books and Cruel Beauty was one of those. \n I would like to note that this is a Beauty and the Beast retelling with a side of 'guess my name' thrown in. It is like a hodgepodge of fairy tales thrown in with some mythology to create a very confusing book. \n The minute our main character, Nyx, is saying and performing wedding vows to a statue, I knew I was in for treat. I'll just kind of give a rundown on my favorite parts of this novel - \n The wedding ceremony between Nyx and the statue - the ceremony wasn't bad and really it wasn't until halfway through the book that I had an issue with it. My issue was Nyx and everyone else took it so seriously. Every time she'd mention she was married (and seriously thought she was), I wanted to scream BUT YOU MARRIED A STATUE. \n The plot - This story can ultimately be summary that looks like this. \n Nyx marries statue. Nyx taken to Gentle Lord's castle. Nothing happens. Nyx is mean. Nyx wanders around castle. Nyx falls in love with shadow. Nyx wanders around castle. Nyx falls into love with Lord. Nyx wanders around the castle. Nyx falls out of love. Nyx wanders around the castle. \n There is so much wandering around the castle with so little plot progression. Combine that with the wish-washy nature of Nyx and the book just seemed so overfilled with unnecessary stuff. \n The mythology - Lots and lots of mythology information dumping. Some of it was needed to understand the story, some of it wasn't. It felt like the mythology was being thrown in to make things complicated and confusing. \n Characters - Nyx was extremely frustrating. Her moods changed to fit the plot and she was a mean, selfish witch the entire book. Not to mention she couldn't make a decision to save her life. Her sister and her family was just as bad. \n The predictable nature of the book - I predicted what would happen. There was a slight twist but 90% of the book I saw coming within the first 40 pages or so. \n I will say the writing was smooth, it was the plot that was confusing. The author is clearly talented, but this was an example of a good idea gone bad.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 06 21:57:34 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 10 16:29:53 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Aug 10 16:29:53 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "22926566", "review_id": "898b61c74d0f030ddb51210e1add7942", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Cute for Frozen fans, but really simplistic and a bit over the top for any other type of reader.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 29 01:45:39 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 29 01:46:27 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "66692", "review_id": "ed34fd883956fe5a79a6031d6ab5446a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I gotta admit I love the dwarf in this book. While not as bad as everyone kept making it out, I don't think it's one of the better books. It's a second book of a series so of course there is action but it leads into the third book (what series doesn't do that now a days). I did think that there was a lot of fake deaths in this book, almost too many. It got to the point where someone would die and I'd be like How long before he got up. \n But keep in mind this was one of R.A. Salvatore's first books so of course every writer grows with years of writing experience.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 24 18:40:39 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 18:41:04 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "24380140", "review_id": "1b6c0e0fe270d46779f8861817632d66", "rating": 3, "review_text": "All too often when we see the worlds 'fairy tale retelling' it is simply an author taking the same old story - say Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty - and tweaking it just a little bit. Essentially, these authors are adding a tiny twist to make it their own, but the story is the same. \n Spelled by Betsy Schow is a fairy tale retelling that breaks that trend. But whether or not that is a good thing will depend on what type of reader you are and what styles of writing you enjoy. \n Before I even begin to analyze Spelled, I want to note that this is not a book that is for everyone. Spelled is like a YA version of Ever After High. It has cute little nicknames for things that represent the fairy tale world's version of things, such as a band that is very similar to One Direction or a cellphone that looks and acts just like an iPhone. \n In addition to the cute little nicknames, the characters also constantly curse, but they do so in fairy tale style. For example, the characters will constantly say \"Well pix me\" or \"Mother of Grimm\". These sayings are cute the first few times they are done, but they are overdone. The overuse of these cute phrases/cursing may be just enough to turn off most readers. \n If the fairy tale cursing and cutesy nicknames didn't turn you away from the novel, there is the writing style. Spelled is written in a sassy, extremely causal style that includes a lot of cliches, side comments, and attitude. Readers expecting a straightforward, no-nonsense novel probably won't make it through the first few chapters. \n That being said, if you can make it through the sass, the nicknames, and the fairy tale cussing, there is an interesting novel awaiting you. Betsy Schow has taken a little bit of everything from all the Wizard of Oz novels and sort of thrown them together to form a hodgepodge of a story. Longtime fans of Wizard of Oz will certainly see the similarities between some characters and their original counterparts, but for the most part Spelled is its own novel in both character development and plot elements. Think of Wizard of Oz and other fairy tales as more of a guidebook for the story. \n I will admit, I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this mishmash of characters and stories. I appreciate what Schow was trying to achieve and I think it is absolutely wonderful that she went outside of the box, but I don't feel there was enough here to judge. Here's the problem, I found the first half of the book a bit annoying and very, very slow. Just when I went to set it down, it picked up and I really enjoyed the last half of the book. The enjoyment could be because the best character - Hydra - was introduced and she really made the novel. \n I feel as if Schow started to find her footing and pacing in the last half of the novel. This redeemed Spelled for me and makes me actually consider reading the second novel. Unfortunately, it might be too little, too late. Most readers are either going to have abandoned the novel before it got good. This is unfortunate as it started to turn into a halfway decent novel. \n Overall, I really feel Spelled is a book you have to try for yourself. Either you are going to like it or you aren't. There really isn't going to be an in between. I think those going into the novel thinking it is a 100% retelling of the Wizard of Oz will be disappointed, but those that know it isn't like that may be able to have the open minded thinking that could make this an enjoyable book.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 21 01:27:25 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 02 21:00:06 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "23299513", "review_id": "85899e0c58a154708680b6398b1c7111", "rating": 3, "review_text": "There is something about the Snow White fairytale that makes people want to retell it using their own twists and turns. Even with the growing popularity of fairytale retellings, the Snow White fairytale seems to be one of the top 'go to' stories to retell. The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine jumps on the bandwagon with a new version of Snow White. \n In many ways, The Shadow Queen is your typical Snow White story. There is the young, extremely pretty princess who is on the run from her evil stepmother - who just so happened to overthrow the princess and claim the throne and is now ruling with an iron fist. While on the run, this young princess is trying effortlessly to gather followers who will be willing to fight for her and help her claim the throne. Of course, there is some magic thrown in here and there. \n While, for the most part, The Shadow Queen is the same-old-same old Snow White retelling, it does have a few twists and turns that make it unique. In this case, readers are introduced to Prince Kol from the neighboring kingdom which happens to be at war with a band of ogres. Kol, and his entire kingdom, are some type of hybrid creature that can shape-shift into dragon form at will. Even though they are powerful dragons, their country is losing the war, which forces Kol to go on the offensive and travel to the evil queen's kingdom to seek help. Unfortunately, things don't go as expected. \n The Shadow Queen has some twists and turns, but is it enough to make it stand out from the crowd. Sadly, I'm not entirely sure it does. The entire story followed a little too closely to Snow White and even ABC's Once Upon a Time for my liking. This left me with a feeling of been there, done that, even with the strange - almost randomly forced into the novel - dragon/human twist. \n Add in the rather slow pacing that occurred within The Shadow Queen, and there were times where I was just plain bored. There were brief moments of excitement and action, but those were few and far between. For the most part readers were given lengthy descriptions and chapters upon chapters of the princess wandering around, looking for help, and grumbling that she has powers but doesn't know how to use them and she's afraid she won't be able to defeat the evil queen. \n The random ogre/dragon war didn't help the pacing of the novel. It seemed to be more distracting and it didn't really serve much of a purpose to the storyline other than to bring the prince into the novel and get him into the kingdom. There was a lot of time spent on this part of the novel and I just feel that time could have either been cut out or used to create more action/adventure within the novel. \n There were some parts of The Shadow Queen that I enjoyed. I found it portrayed the evil queen's dark magic in a way that can only be described as pure evil. I really enjoyed the scenes where we saw the extent of the dark magic and what the evil queen could do. \n Another element I really enjoyed was the way apples were incorporated into the story at least when it came to how the evil queen used them as punishment. It was creepy and evil, and probably the best part of the book. \n The Shadow Queen does have some romance involved, but it wasn't insta-love. This made it easier to accept, but the sluggish pacing just really made me want to skip over the romance and try to find something of action or substance. \n Overall, The Shadow Queen really doesn't stand out in regards to fairytale retellings. It wasn't horrible, it just didn't have that 'it' factor people look for when it comes to fairytale retellings or even YA fantasy novels for that matter. \n If you are a fan of Snow White or love fairytale retellings, this will probably be a satisfying read. If you want the familiar feel of Snow White, yet with a unique twist, you will probably be disappointed.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 17 18:50:14 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 07 19:14:41 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Mar 14 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Mar 10 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "23398607", "review_id": "7f237acbb4cc71614b28d6bd334401ec", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it. Review to comeIt is only the first month in 2016 and I may have just found one of my top books for the year. Ink and Bone, while it was published in 2015, is one of the best books I've read in a while. It is a mix of adventure, a battle for power and knowledge, Harry Potter-like school setup, historical fantasy, and a Hunger Games like feeling. It might sound like it is a lot for one little book, but it isn't. Everything is well-written and works out. \n And the best part of it all? Ink and Bone deals with an issue that any booklover knows all too well - the thought of beloved books and novels becoming banned because the knowledge they contain is just too powerful. Toss in the issue of not being able to actually touch or feel books because everything is electronic based (the popular theory that eReaders will replace printed books someday) and you have a story that hits home to any bookworm. \n Ink and Bone takes readers to a futuristic world where the Great Library in Alexandria has survived. The survival of that one huge library has led to multiple Great Libraries popping up in multiple major cities all across the world. With the libraries' growth came power. The libraries are now responsible for controlling the knowledge and contents of books that people are allowed to access. \n People in this new, futuristic world get all their information on these electronic devices. The electronic devices are powered by alchemy. Original paperbacks and hardcovers are considered 'rare' and forbidden, which makes them like gold. This leads to an underground operation where book smuggling is popular, yet the higher ups do not like it and work day and night to put a stop to it. \n Of course, this library setup has started an almost all-out war. People either fall in line and follow what the library tells them, or they believe that all knowledge should be accessible regardless of who you are or what your status is. The second group is considered outcasts and rebels, and the library actively works to stop them at all costs. \n Ink and Bone follows the story of Jess Brightwell. His family is responsible for one of the biggest book smuggling operation. His family has decided to send him off to become a librarian and begin his training at the Library, but it is under one condition - he must spy for them. \n Jess works tirelessly to pass the tests that are being administered by The Library. After all, only a handful are going to granted the ability to become a true librarian. While he is training, he soon begins to realize that things aren't what they appear with The Great Library and those in power might not being doing what is truly best for the rest of the world. \n I will say that Ink and Bone started out a bit sluggish. The first 30 to 40 pages had a lot of details about the history, the setting, and the Great Library. While it was interesting to read, it didn't present an opportunity to really connect with any characters and since I didn't have enough background, I couldn't really understand what was going on and relate it to anything. I almost developed a 'who cares' attitude, but stuck with it. \n At the page 50 mark, things just took off. The book was fast paced, detailed, and unique. The training the librarians-in-training go through as well as where they stayed reminded me of Hogwarts. It was like an adult version of it. I think it was this familiar feeling that made me really connect with the book. It was no Harry Potter knockoff, but it had that feeling to it that made me really want to just keep reading. \n Ultimately, what I think made me love Ink and Bone was how true it rings to real life. There is a push to have books replaced with our eReaders, but no matter how hard people push for that there are booklovers (like me) who just love cracking open a printed book. The thought that not only could that be taken away, but that some mysterious 'higher up' would tell me what I could and couldn't read (and what those books contained) was fascinating to me. \n When I completed Ink and Bone, I wish I could jump right back into the world. I even admit, a small part of me wished I could test to become a librarian. I was that attached to it. Truly, I think Ink and Bone shows just how much the YA world is changing. It shows that YA books don't just appeal to the teen audience and are truly for everyone - regardless of age. \n I eagerly look forward to the second book in this series - scheduled to be released summer of 2016. I can't recommend this book enough. It really is amazing. It is magical, unique and fast paced. Give it a try and see for yourself!", "date_added": "Fri Jul 03 01:41:13 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 07 19:31:49 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sat Jan 02 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "13455099", "review_id": "f70ba880533951699dfc297bd12245e1", "rating": 1, "review_text": "This book just was not for me. It was slow paced, boring and bogged down with petty/silly stuff. I just couldn't bare it. It would have also helped if there was some twist or something on the Cinderella story. Instead it was like Cinderella with steampunk and a really slow story. \n If you are the right reader for this, you will love it. Let me just say, if by page 50 or so you are bored or tired. It won't get better.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 03 01:36:21 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 26 00:30:23 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Sep 26 00:30:23 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "22929540", "review_id": "41895b2f0d07209a9b735bf0eba68334", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I am a huge fan of Jessica Day George's fairy tale retellings. She has the ability to take a familiar fairy tale, give it a twist, and still make it good. When I heard about a new potential series by her, I had to jump at the opportunity. After all, she's written over a half dozen different books that have all been amazing, so why would this new series be any different? Unfortunately, it was. \n Silver in the Blood is one of those novels that doesn't just have one major thing wrong with it. Instead, it has a lot of little things that, when combined, make for a truly poor novel. \n First, Silver in the Blood is an extremely slow novel. It was almost unbearably slow. For the first 200 pages or so, readers are given slight hints into what the 'big' secret may be for the family. The characters threw out a lot of side comments, such as 'wait until three days' time, you will understand all' or 'Yes, you will fly, as soon as you learn what it is like to be The Claw'. \n Now, I understand the use of foreshadowing, but unfortunately this was taken to the extreme. I found it extremely difficult to understand how a family that had kept a secret for nearly 17 years would just all of a sudden start dropping these major bombshell comments. It just seemed overdone to the point that eventually I just wanted to scream \"Tell me what this all means!\". \n When there weren't not-so-subtle hints to the family's big secret being dropped, there was non-stop talk about dresses and fashion. The two main characters, 17-year old cousins Dacia and Lou, were extremely obsessed with fashion and dresses, and we - the readers - had to be just as obsessed with it. There were lengthy paragraphs about dress shopping and details about what clothing was worn and why it was worn. \n I completely understand, and appreciate, details about the clothing characters wear. Unfortunately, these characters went a bit overboard. There would be major events going on throughout the book and instead of being upset that there was a kidnapping going on, they would be worried that they hadn't dressed appropriately or that someone saw them in their undergarments. \n I get that at the time, around the 1890s, that women were not as independent or free as they are today. But I would think that if - say a guy was stalking your cousin and creeping her out - you would be more concerned with her safety than what she was wearing or why you haven't received the latest dress from Paris. \n Another aspect that really interrupted the flow of the novel was the random letters or diary entries between chapters. They didn't fit. Sometimes a scene would be interrupted in the middle to show a letter. The reader would read the letter, which didn't have anything to do with the scene, and then the scene would pick up right where it left off in the next chapter. \n For the most part, I was willing to go along with the novel and chalk it up to a light, fluffy middle school/YA read, until 'the scene' happened. I call it the scene because it will be a deciding factor in how you feel about the novel. In order to understand the scene properly, I need to give a little back story. \n Prince Mihai believes that he should be the rightful king of Romania. Dacia and Lou's family have sworn to help him, and his family, place him on the throne as the rightful king. A few things happen, but ultimately things do not go as smoothly as he wants them to and in an effort to get his way, the evil/bad Prince Mihai has one of the cousins kidnapped. It is while she is kidnapped that the dreadful 'scene' happens. \n Before the scene, Prince Mihai is portrayed as a bit mean, a little evil, and ultra-handsome. Readers aren't sure if he's just a goofy, misunderstood villain or a super bad guy. And then this happens. Dacia is kidnapped and out of nowhere Prince Mihai utters this little monologue: \n \"If she (Dacia) refuses, I will simply force myself on her, and ruin her more effectively than simply being abducted in her underthings has already done. And if she still refuses I will tie her to this chair and force her to watch while I have my way with you (Lou).\" \n I am not sure what the exact purpose of this scene was or why it was necessary. Mind you, before these scene things were all fashion, cute boys, and life is easy. All of a sudden the major villain is threatening to rape one cousin and if he doesn't get his way he will continue to rape the other while the other one watches. Now, remember this is ultimately a middle grade/YA novel, so there is some room to debate how appropriate it is for this type of character development. \n I don't think this scene would have been as upsetting, if it had served some purpose. It felt hastily thrown in there and out of place for the character. Not to mention, it never came up again. It was added purely to create drama and make it known to readers that Prince Mihai is evil. It was also done as a way to make women look and feel helpless and without power. It was the jarring effect the scene had that really just confirmed that it wasn't a book I was going to love. \n I will admit that if you stick it out, the book does pick up a little - very little. Approximately around page 225 or 250, things really pick up and there are some action scenes, the characters tend to do more than talk about boys, and the pacing really speeds up. Unfortunately, by that point I think readers are already going to have given up and stopped reading, or they will just be plodding along and not really feeling the story. \n If there is one thing that I did like about the novel, and probably the only reason I kept reading, was the Romanian setting. I found the culture and buildings and time period fascinating. It wasn't enough to offset the other aspects of the novel, but it kept my interest. \n Jessica Day George is an extremely talented author. Silver in the Blood was one of those novels that really just didn't have the 'it' factor to be wonderful. I think die-hard fans of George's other books may find this book interesting and probably enjoy it, but it certainly is not her strongest novel. Minus the rape scene, I could definitely see the middle school audience enjoying the novel, but I think for an older audience it just doesn't have what it takes to captivate people's attention.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 29 21:59:59 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 21 21:03:47 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "23846013", "review_id": "4275486f9135e57819d55586cacebd1e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A lot better than the first book. Longer review to come.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 27 16:32:36 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 16 15:24:00 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Nov 16 15:24:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "25321022", "review_id": "ba40bd2e87cc4a7c96ef096df8278499", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I really wanted to like Miss Mabel's School for Girls. It had everything I could ask for in a YA book - boarding schools, witches, evil a foot, but this book just did not do it for me. This book as a specific audience and it just is not me. \n First impressions are everything when it comes to your book. So I have to wonder what possessed the author to make the first introduction to Bianca so boring. It is literally an interview scene with Bianca going through the motions of hosting a tea party. I knew everything about hosting the tea party and very little about anything else - the school, the interview, what was going on. \n Unfortunately, the rest of the book panned out in similar ways. There wasn't much that happened that was unexpected, which made it disappointing. Everything panned out exactly as how you should have guessed. And the characters were one-dimensional and predictable. \n I will say I wish this book had a good editor. I struggled with the word choices and editing. Sentences were confusing and sometimes I'd have to read things two, three, or four times to understand what they were talking about. Sometimes it was because of the poor word choice, sometimes it was because there was a tense change and it confused me. \n I do think this novel deserves a shot because there is an audience for this book, it just isn't me.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 02 23:44:36 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 06 23:51:05 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Aug 07 23:51:05 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7970273", "review_id": "8d93d38ba84e66f1510898b7c35f35bb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved, loved, loved. All my favorite characters were in here. I do have to admit, I wasn't thrilled with the ending, but it was surprising.", "date_added": "Fri May 29 01:12:01 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 03 02:55:05 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri May 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "23281770", "review_id": "348d99c8a56e081af2b8e747e45def93", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Cute book, but it just didn't have the 'it' factor. I felt like the characters were going through the motions and the author was trying too hard to make it like other fantasy novels, which didn't give it much room to be its own novel. \n It was just an alright read.", "date_added": "Sun May 24 19:21:51 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 02 03:12:30 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Aug 02 03:12:30 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "45343", "review_id": "52535a61ba5728dd250719e3e046bd35", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm making an effort to finish series I started long ago. Same old, same old. Not a bad book, but still not thrilled about the constant cliffhangers.", "date_added": "Sat May 23 23:13:15 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 07 17:37:16 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "20958632", "review_id": "83f80bba4d4a39467b6e298b44010aa2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Fairy tales and fairy tale retellings seem to be the current 'in' thing within the children's/YA genre. There is a desperate need to take the familiar, retell the tale, and add a slight twist. But leave it to Holly Black to bring the genre a much needed unique fairy tale that breaks this cycle by bringing readers a new, contemporary fairy tale that is creepy, scary, and action packed. \n The Darkest Part of the Forest begins with the tale of a glass coffin that lies in the center of the woods. Inside lies a beautiful, almost handsome young boy who has pointed ears and horns on his head. No one really knows why or how the coffin got there, but each generation has its own tales, myths, and stories surrounding it. No matter what stories or myths were told about it one thing remains clear - no one takes the glass coffin or the boy inside serious and no one believes he will awaken. Unfortunately, that is far from the truth. \n The boy in the coffin awakens. And his awakening appears to be happening just around the time that the nearby town seems to be experiencing an increase in paranormal problems. \n Readers are treated to a tale about Hazel and her brother, Ben, as they try to unravel the mystery of the boy in the coffin. After he unexpectedly awakens - after sleeping for generations - the two work to uncover exactly what is going on in their town and if the glass coffin and newest member of the town has something to do with it. While uncovering this mystery, they will face numerous magical creatures and battle an enemy that isn't your average 'bad guy'. \n One of the unique things about Holly Black is she has the ability to write in so many different styles and each one she excels at writing. There is the Spiderwick Chronicles, for younger children looking for fantasy/spook stories, there is the Modern Fairie Tales series that is a little more contemporary fantasy, and Magisterium (with Cassandra Clare). Each series is unique and wonderfully written, but not at all the same exact style of writing. \n Fans of Holly Black's previous work, especially Modern Fairie Tales, will certainly not be disappointed with The Darkest Part of the Forest. It has a very similar style of writing. Unfortunately, those not familiar with this style of writing may find it difficult and even a bit sluggish. \n I'll admit, even though I am familiar with her numerous styles of writing, I struggled to get into the book. It wasn't that the story was bad, it was just a style of writing I am not 100% used to reading and it took me some time to get into the flow of the writing/pacing. \n Overall, there are parts of Darkest Part of the Forest that I loved and enjoyed, and there were parts that I was not a huge fan of at all. This made for a love/hate relationship. I appreciate that it is a good story and I want to love it, but some of the quirks of the book have me reluctant to love it. \n What I did love about this novel is that the characters aren't your average gender specific carbon copy characters. Hazel, our main female character, wants to be the hero of things, run off and be the knight in shining armor. Ben, on the other hand, is the hopeless romantic. He wants to be the one to wake up a prince with a single kiss and ride off into the sunset for his 'happily ever after'. \n It was nice and refreshing to see an author not only willing to take the challenge of trying new things with characters, but succeeding with it. Hazel and Ben were fairly detailed and their characterization fit with the story. It didn't feel forced or clunky. It worked. \n Another aspect of Darkest Part of the Forest I enjoyed was it was a stand-alone novel. There was no need to read previous books to understand the plot and everything was self-contained inside it. Good stand-alone novels are becoming a rarity lately. \n Now for the part of the book that I felt really didn't resonate with me. My biggest complaint is the portrayal of the parents. Hazel and Ben's parents are your typical (and almost required) negligent parents. They barely fed their kids growing up, let them wander around and do whatever, and didn't really care to be parents. \n Flash forward to the current story and they have supposedly changed, but they were absent for much of the story and really didn't seem very caring. Of course, we - the readers - are told they changed, but it didn't come across that way at all. No matter how hard I tried, I kept thinking back to just how bad the parents were at parenting and couldn't get over it. \n Overall, Darkest Part of the Forest is a solid, modern urban fantasy/fairy tale. Holly Black does a wonderful job with the character development and story line - and even successfully threw in a few twists and turns at the end. I did enjoy reading this story and highly recommend it to anyone looking for something a little out of the ordinary.", "date_added": "Sat May 23 03:15:40 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 18 21:54:03 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon May 18 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "18712886", "review_id": "7b12ce9bc72f42df4f9cb338fc4d407d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I will admit I wasn't exactly sure what I was walking into when I decided to read The Queen of the Tearling. Was I reading an epic adult fantasy? Was it YA novel? Add into the fact that this novel (by the time I read it) already had tons of 'haters' and bad reviews, and I was certain I was walking into a world of hurt. Surprisingly, that isn't what happened. \n I'm just going to come out and say this. I enjoyed The Queen of the Tearling. Sure, it didn't blow me away and I would hardly label it 'best fantasy novel ever', but I enjoyed it. The plot was engaging, the world building was alright, and there was enough action, adventure, political intrigue, and mystery to keep me reading. Of course, it isn't a perfect book either and it does have some problems. \n Before I go any further, I do think the issue of it being compared to The Hunger Games needs to be addressed. I saw multiple references to The Hunger Games and even on the flap of the book it says it is 'like' The Hunger Games. There is nothing Hunger Games about this book. If you are going in expecting to walk out with the same feeling you did with Hunger Games or even read a book that is remotely similar, you're asking for trouble. \n There is a constant need to compare books to each other and try to find a similarity between them. The Hunger Games is still what is considered hot and popular, so every book tries to ride that excitement. Unfortunately, it sets a lot of people up for disappointment. This is just one of the many examples of 'Hunger Game' hype disappointment. \n I do understand the need to compare books to each other to give readers some idea of what to expect, but in this situation The Hunger Games is so off from this book that it creates problems. My recommendation is to read it and give it a try before you make a decision. Just don't expect the Hunger Games. \n Now, what did I like about Queen of Tearling? There was a lot that I enjoyed. I found the main character, once I got to know and understand her, intriguing and captivating. I found her supporting cast diverse. \n One of the elements that I really enjoyed was although the supporting cast was theoretically many, many years older than our main heroine of the story, they all gelled together nicely. It was like one big, oddly unique family. \n Another element I really enjoyed was the library element. Seriously, any book that incorporates secret libraries or encouraging society to read, I love. I did find the way the author paid tribute to some of the modern day authors/books fun. It may have only been a sentence or two here or there, but I felt it was a nice touch and a great way to honor authors/books that inspired people's love of fantasy. \n There were some flaws with The Queen of the Tearling. One of the biggest issues I had was it appeared that the book at times was unnecessarily mean/evil/gritty. I've read gritty books and there is a right way to do it and a wrong way to do it. The grittier scenes just seemed forced and really unnecessary. For example, there were several references to rape and detailed sex/killing scenes that just seemed, there to be there. \n Another issue I ran into was the author's rather obvious attempts at world building. I wouldn't go as far as to call them info-dumps, but they were pretty close to it. There were many times where there'd be a break in the action or adventure to tell lengthy history stories, explain the layout of the land, talk about the society's government, or other issues. It really disrupted the flow of the story. \n When I first found myself reading The Queen of the Tearling, I wasn't sure I would enjoy it. I found as the rather fast-paced book moved on, I was really sucked into the book and just could not stop reading. By the end, I was a fan and honestly could not wait until the next installment. I'll be anxiously awaiting book two to see what happens and what is in store for us.", "date_added": "Thu May 21 20:26:25 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu May 21 20:26:51 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "13206900", "review_id": "9df0fc0d756f7ff84beb25d0dd610bf2", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Winter is an extremely anticipated conclusion to the Lunar Chronicles. I have avidly followed the series since its first book, Cinder, was published and even though Cinder wasn't my favorite book, the books that did follow redeemed the series. Considering this is the last novel, I will do my best to not include spoilers and I will evaluate first Winer, and then the entire series. \n Upon completing Winter, the first word that comes to mind is 'overambitious'. There is just way too much going on. There are four characters - Winter, Cress, Cinder, and Scarlet - who all have significant others they are fawning over and who all have some type of massive mission or quest they need to complete. That would be enough to fill an entire book on its own, but then you throw in the Levana storyline and her effort to overtake the world and it is just too much. \n So that is 9, yes 9, main characters that are all fighting for page time. Many of the characters - Winter and to some extent Levana - have just recently been introduced to the series, which means they haven't had time to grow and develop, and given the hectic nature of this novel it didn't happen. \n Unfortunately, because there is so much going on, certain characters and plots aren't given the attention they deserve. It almost felt like every character was literally fighting with each other to get their allotted 'page time'. If done properly, it might not have come across this way, but things bounced around so much that it felt not one character was given the time or attention they deserved, which meant as a result everyone came across as weak, underdeveloped and just disappointing. \n Maybe the overambitious nature of Winter wouldn't have been so troubling, if the plot had been well-executed. Readers can forgive a bit of a hectic nature to a book if the plot is good, but Winter isn't very strong in that aspect either. Several elements made the plot-aspect of Winter weak; I'll explore some of them here. \n The first plot issue I had was there was a huge reliance upon 'fake death'. What is 'fake death'? It is when a character is 'killed' by someone, that individual believes they are dead, and several pages/chapters later that character mysterious survived and they are back for vengeance. \n Fake deaths certainly aren't anything that is new to fantasy novels - or many novels - but Winter just had this happen way too many times. It seemed as if every character was captured multiple times, someone would be just about to shoot/kill them, and then miraculously they would find some way to escape. \n This didn't happen once, twice, or even three times. It happened over and over and over again. There just comes a point that, as a reader, you have to say \"okay, enough\", which leads me to my next issue - repetition. \n Winter is extremely repetitive and not just when it comes to fake deaths. It just came across that the same things kept happening to the characters over and over and over again. At one point all the characters scatter and separate. Unfortunately, they all seem to be experiencing the same thing - go out on a mission, get captured, almost die, and escape. If there wasn't a capture followed by fake death, it was Levana using her powers to be 'evil' and trying to get the other main characters to kill each other even though they didn't want to do it. \n The repetition could be caused because of the overambitious nature of the book. There is also the issue that there are huge sections devoted to providing the details and information that was found in Fairest (Lunar Chronicles 3.5). Maybe if Fairest hadn't been published, it would have helped with the repetitive nature. \n Another issue that arose with Winter was our supposed star of the book - Princess Winter. Every book so far has introduced a new main character and Princess Winter and her lover Jacin were the newbies for this book. The thing is they were hardly in the book. If I had to estimate, I would say maybe 5% of this book focused on Winter and/or Jacin. \n Winter is used almost as a background character. When she was brought up, it had the feeling that it was 'oh yeah Winter is here'. It was a shame because out of all the characters, Winter seemed the most intriguing and fascinating. \n The last issue I want to address is the ending. It is difficult without giving away spoilers but the way the novel ended was unsatisfying and the tactics used to defeat the 'big bad' were questionable and a bit infuriating. I really wish I could give specifics, but I don't want to ruin the book for anyone. \n I will admit I was disappointed in Winter. It was a sluggish, 800+ monster of a book that is honestly the weakest book in the series. It was literally 200 pages into the book before something happened, as readers were told all about how the main characters were fawning all over each other and developing their romance. When action did happen, it quickly ended and was back to the sluggish pace. \n This book could have worked had it been approached in a different way (less repetition and fake deaths) or the main character count had been lessened, it would have been a wonderful book. \n Even though Winter is the weakest book - in my opinion - I think, as a whole, the series works. I wouldn't say my Winter ruined the series for me, but it certainly left me with mixed feelings on the entire series as a whole. Marissa Meyer is still extremely talented and I would readily read any book she wrote, but Winter just didn't do it for me. \n If you are a die-hard fan of the Lunar Chronicles, you will certainly love this entire series. I just wish for such an epic YA series, it would have ended differently and the final book had given me the experience I really wanted.", "date_added": "Thu May 07 22:21:58 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 03 19:48:21 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "22540276", "review_id": "bde3d0d851f9872f2290aa51cd46ca53", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Wow. A more in depth review to follow but all I can say is guess they saved on an editor/proofreader. I swear every page had at least 5 (okay some had 1 or 2) typos on it to the point it was bad. I have never had to fight such an urge to take a pencil and edit a book, but I was close!", "date_added": "Fri May 01 18:19:29 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun May 03 15:40:15 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun May 03 15:40:15 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "22544764", "review_id": "3b4e7177c3ce8fcb788bd7304ed575e5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Considering I am an avid fan of all things Beauty and the Beast, it could only be expected that a new fantasy novel that is toted at a retelling of this beloved fairy tale would be right up my alley. Throw in having it written by the highly talented Naomi Novik and I knew I had to read Uprooted. Unfortunately, a slow start almost had me missing out on one of the best novels of 2015. \n When I started reading Uprooted, I'll admit I didn't feel a connection with anything in the novel. I didn't really feel anything for the main character, Agnieszka. It wasn't that I disliked her; I just found there was a connection lacking. As the story progressed and more characters were thrown in, I still struggled to find a connection with anyone - The Dragon, Kasia, anyone in the book. It just wasn't happening for me. That is until the halfway point. \n Suddenly, at around page 150 or so, something clicked and I found myself invested in the story. I found I was connecting and bonding with Agnieszka. I was into the story and I wanted to find out what happened. \n Several factors I believe contributed to my struggle with the beginning of the novel. The first factor was the constant comparisons to Beauty and the Beast. There is a very faint connection between Uprooted and Beauty and the Beast, but really the stories are so different. Uprooted is an entirely new fairy tale. Yes, it has some Grimm-like elements, but it is its own unique story. \n I feel the comparisons threw me off. I was expecting one thing and it was really another thing. Sure, there is the young woman torn abruptly from her family and whisked away to a castle with a pouting and unpleasant beast-like character. But the similarities end there. If I hadn't heard about this aspect of the novel, I think things would have been different. \n Another aspect that contributed to the slow start is everything about Uprooted is completely reimagined. Readers are started from scratch and have to get accustomed to the world, the characters, and the new magic system. In all good fantasy books, this takes time to develop. Naomi Novik takes her time and carefully develops everything, especially the magic system. While at the moment it was a bit frustrating to have to relearn everything and get acquainted with a new world, in the end it was well worth it. By the time I completed the novel, I actually appreciated the amount of time and effort Novik took to develop all the intricacies. \n Once I got past the slow start, things just feel into place. I was hooked. I wanted to see what happened, wanted to unravel the mystery, and just experience what the characters were feeling. By the end of the book, I barely even remembered that I almost put it down when I first started. \n Uprooted, with the exception of my personal slow start with the book, doesn't have a lot of problems. The plot is strong, the characters eventually grow on you, there is adventure, mystery and just the right touch of fantasy/folk lore, the magic system is believable, yet thought out and slightly unique, and it really is a dark, unique novel. There is one thing I absolutely loved about this novel - its 'love' story. \n Most fantasy books are focused on creating this ultimate love story and having the main characters fall in love with the evil, bad guy or the hard to get character. Uprooted has a love story, but it isn't what you would think. It ultimately tells the tale of what a best friend from childhood would do to save her friend. I loved the fact that romance wasn't the main focal point of the novel and just made this novel even more special to me. \n There is one slight issue I came across while reading - the mind reading. The entire novel is written in first person narrative style from the point of view of Agnieszka. Almost like a story teller were telling you the story. Unfortunately, there would be times when Agnieszka would be narrating something or telling you she was thinking about something, and suddenly a character would answer her or start a conversation about it. This first started when Agnieszka was taken by The Dragon. I thought it was some weird mental magic he was doing on her, but this continued throughout the book with multiple people ranging from her best friend to the prince and even random townspeople. \n I realize that there were probably 'off page' conversations going on, which explained this mind reading power, but it did make for some awkward parts of the novel and had me re-reading a paragraph or two to see if I missed something. \n Uprooted is a standalone novel. There are no current plans to return to the world that is created, but I would gladly welcome any future books if they should come along. \n Uprooted is one of the most talked about (and praised) fantasy novels for the year and it rightfully deserves its praise. It is well written and unique. And it has enough of a plot that by the time you finish you feel as if you read three entire books in the span of 400+ words. \n It is hard to believe that I almost missed out on this because of its slow start. It easily became one of my top novels for 2015.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 29 14:57:46 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 24 00:03:35 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Wed Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "23507745", "review_id": "27181f4475c612b5d70e8cf630fd120f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Sometimes in children's literature, especially the fantasy genre, authors try to overcomplicate books. It seems as if there is this fear that simple doesn't work or that readers will only read a book if it is overcomplicated, which isn't true. When done correctly, simplicity works and it is shown in Serafina and the Black Cloak. \n Serafina and the Black Cloak is an adorable children's novel with a fairly straight forward plot. Yes, there are twists and turns along the way, but there isn't anything overly complex. Even though the novel's main plotline is simple - and I hate calling it simple because it makes it seem like the book wasn't good - it was captivating because of its characters. \n I knew within the first few pages that this was going to be an enchanting novel. Serafina, our main heroine of the novel, is a young girl who has been hidden from the world and living in the basement of the Biltmore estate with no one the wiser to her existence. Serafina has this aura about her that makes her a bit loveable, yet mysterious. \n Combine Serafina's mysterious storyline with her character development and you have a winning combination. It allows Robert Beatty to create a story that I would certainly read over and over again. \n Serafina wasn't the only character to really pop out of the book and captivate my attention. Other characters, including the Young Master of the Biltmore Estate and Serafina's dad, were each captivating and unique in their own right. Considering the relative short nature of the book, it was amazing just how developed and unique every character became. \n Another aspect of Serafina and the Black Cloak that I enjoyed was the mysterious or eerie plot. The entire plot revolves around not only discovering who this mysterious Black Cloak is and why he/she is stealing children, but it involves a haunted off-limit wooded area. It wasn't overly scary and really helped downplay what could have been a sugary sweet children's read. \n In addition to the characters and eerie nature of the plot, the choice of having it set at the Biltmore Estate just felt right. I loved the way that Beatty really used the Biltmore Estate to his advantage when writing and created this whole mysterious maze-like world that kept me wanting to read. \n I will admit that around the half-way mark, it was fairly obvious to me where the author was going with some of the plot elements. I wouldn't say the entire book was predictable, but some parts were - for adult readers. I do think younger readers, who are the main target audience, will not find it as easily predictable. \n Overall, I will admit I enjoyed reading Serafina and the Black Cloak. It certainly wasn't overly complicated, yet the captivating characters and eerie plot/atmosphere created by the author made it an enjoyable read. It really shows that not every children's fantasy book has to have an overly complex plot to be good.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 23 18:05:11 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 26 20:11:15 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "17878931", "review_id": "697a466afca2dfd7932068b6553f4d63", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Imagine a mixing bowl in which you throw in X-Men mutants, a Game of Thrones cut-throat political scene, and a Hunger Games dystopian setting. What would you get? The answer to that would be the fast paced, addictive YA novel, Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. \n Red Queen tells the tale of a Mare, a 17-year-old Red girl who lives in the poor section of the country. She has resigned herself to the fact that her future isn't that bright and in just a few months she will be shipped off to serve her required time in the army. After all, she is just a red and not a silver - which is an elite warrior with god-like powers. All was going as planned, until a chance encounter with an individual winds up changing her life. \n One morning, she is unexpectedly summoned to start a new job in the Silver Palace where she serves the elite members of society - and those individuals whom she has hated her entire life. It is while working in the Silver Palace that she discovers a secret that may change everything. She appears to have the powers of a silver, but still bleeds like a red. This could be what is needed to change society, but the silvers will do everything in their power to keep this secret hidden. \n If you are thinking to yourself, 'wow all of this sounds familiar', that is because in many ways it has been done. And this pains me to say - but Red Queen is just one of the many novels of this genre. \n Red Queen is pretty much your run-of-the-mill YA supernatural/dystopian romance fantasy. It has the oppressive society, the downtrodden young woman who finds herself a pivotal member of society, and of course romance - lots and lots of romance. It is well-written, fast paced, but sadly it is predictable in many aspects. It just didn't have a lot to set it apart from the dozens of other books in the genre. \n I do want to note that if you are looking for a lot of magic/supernatural aspect to the novel, it really is more of an undertone and foreshadowing for future books. This first novel is mainly focused on Mare working her way through the political courts, discovering what she can do, and establishing the world/situation. \n There is also a lot of time spent on the romance - love triangle of sorts. While it is necessary, it can give some readers a sense of false hope as it feels like a romance novel disguised as a supernatural/fantasy book. \n I'm conflicted because it is very clear Victoria Aveyard is a strong, passionate writer with major talent, but the cardboard cutout feel of the book just made it difficult to really love, love the book. It is the first book of a trilogy, so there is plenty of room left for Aveyard to spread her wings show her talent and really shine. \n Now, if you are a fan of this genre (liked books like The Selection and Throne of Glass), I think you will ultimately love this novel. If this is your first introduction to this genre, you'll love it. However, if you are looking for something new and different, this first book just doesn't have that. \n Overall, Red Queen was a well-written, fast paced novel, but it just didn't have enough of a twist to set it apart from the other novels of this genre. I will certainly be reading the second book of the series to see where it goes. I, ultimately, hope some of the predictable nature disappears and the series turns out to be amazing.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 11 21:09:50 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 08 19:30:28 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "23597998", "review_id": "9cc7aa89af28668c2a8d9d1e9d1eaca6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What if you added a steampunk/gothic flair to Harry Potter and threw in some magical creatures like from Beauty and Beast? What would you get? I would say you get the Odditorium series. Now, before you rush off and chalk this up as just another Harry Potter/children's fantasy knockoff book, let me tell you it is anything but that. \n The minute I started reading Alistair Grim's Odditorium, I knew I was in for a treat. There is just something magical about the writing style, the characters, and the pace of the book. It practically pulls you in and before you know it the book is over and you have to wait until the next one is released. \n One of my biggest concerns with Alistair Grim's Odditorium was that it would become a pure mess. The overview promised a lot. There was a promise of dragons, mythology, magical creatures like banshees, a powerful magical force, wizards, witches, and a steampunk-like house. That is certainly a lot of elements that can turn into a mess when not handled properly, but luckily it was handled with care. \n It is surprising with all the elements that are actually present within the novel that there was such a simple feel to the book. Even though Gregory Funaro introduces a lot of things it is done at a pace that - for the reader - is easy to keep up with and maintain. Characters were slowly introduced and developed, which kept them memorable. \n There also was a 'main cast' that stayed consistent throughout the book. Some secondary characters were introduced, but for the most part the main cast was involved in all, or most of, the activities. This made it really easy to remember who people were, what their background story was, and really relate to them. \n Another element of Alistair Grim's Odditorium that really helped was the pacing of the novel. The novel was fast paced with a lot of action, but there were detailed elements thrown in. There was a whole backstory that was revealed, the characters' stories were told, and everyone developed a personality. Considering how fast and action-packed the novel was it was surprising so much could be jammed into the book and not turn into something that was confusing or just plain junk. \n Overall, I loved Alistair Grim's Odditorium. I loved the magical watch character, found Grubb likeable and someone I really wanted to learn more about, and really was just invested in the entire story. I can't wait to see where the series goes. There was a lot thrown in at the end that left me waiting anxiously for the next novel. The author is extremely talented and I just cannot wait to see what happens. \n If you are looking for a good read that isn't overly complex, give Alistair Grim's Odditorium a try. It is sure to be a delight for anyone who likes children's fantasy books and is looking for something that is a little out of the norm.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 04 22:28:22 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 30 21:13:28 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "22856146", "review_id": "6b86723f3757dfbeb06cc965cf87b69f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ask any avid reader if they have ever gotten so engrossed in a book that they felt like they were actually a part of story and chances are you will hear them say 'yes'. It has happened to all readers at some point in time. \n Now, what if there was a way we could take the worlds are characters created by our favorite authors and somehow bring those to life. We would be able to interact with the characters, play out scenes from the books, and occasionally add our own plot twists or start our own adventure. That is the concept that is explored in The Island of Dr. Libris. \n The Island of Dr. Libris may be a children's book, but it is much more than that. It really explores the concept of the power of imagination. It truly makes us think about just how powerful the written word is in terms of developing our imagination and influencing the future. \n I will admit that The Island of Dr. Libris will be enjoyable if you don't take it too seriously. The tone is lighthearted and fun while the entire book is fast paced. But, I'll admit there are certainly holes in the plot and the subplot (the main character's parents are getting divorced) is resolved in a manner that is a bit unbelievable. Readers will encounter things that can certainly be picked apart and debated that it isn't 'logical', but at the core of it - this is a children's book and it isn't really meant to be detailed to the point that everything is explained in a logical way. \n In many ways, The Island of Dr. Libris has two distinct audiences. The experience you get out of it will depend upon which group you fall into. The first group, elementary aged children, will like the silly dialogue and fast pace. Those that fall into this first category will certain be introduced to a tone of characters and authors that seem to be pushed to the wayside by the younger audience in favor of newer, hipper authors. \n The other audience, the one I fall into, is the adult audience who will appreciate the way the author brought to life - and meshed - favorite literary novels. There is Robin Hood, Hercules, and The Three Musketeers, and my favorite - Pollyanna. \n Unfortunately, if you fall into the last category there are drawbacks to the novel and you will probably notice. For example, the entire book revolves around the idea of Dr. Libris running an experiment, but Dr. Libris only appears for like 2 seconds and that is it. If you want to see what happens, I guess you will have to use your imagination and create an ending! \n Overall, I enjoyed The Island of Dr. Libris. The story wasn't intense, but it wasn't bad. There were certain plot holes that were noticeable, but it didn't really impact my overall experience with the book. If you are looking for a fast, fun book that will certainly stay with you for a while - this is the place to look.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 04 02:12:30 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 08 18:59:31 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "22504710", "review_id": "1a7c621a839ccd5afcb822daef586e50", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ursula Vernon is one of my favorite modern children's authors. Her series, Dragonbreath, is absolutely brilliant from the well-thought out characters to the fun drawings, and not to mention the funny dialogue between the characters. When I saw Castle Hangnail was coming out, I knew I had to give it a try. \n Castle Hangnail is a bit different from Vernon's Dragonbreath series. It has interesting characters and beautiful drawings, but it strays from the all-to-familiar format of the loveable Dragonbreath series. \n One of the first noticeable differences is the format of the book. Dragonbreath isn't really an early reader/chapter book, but it is definitely designed for the younger audience. Dragonbreath comes in a half graphic novel, half novel format. The font is large and bold, and the entire book wraps up in 200 pages give or take. Castle Hangnail is a bit different. \n Castle Hangnail has illustrations, but they supplement the story instead of help tell the story. There are numerous chapters that have no illustrations at all. The font is still easy to read and the story flows nicely, making it ideal for younger readers, but not to the point where it feels as if it is a childish book. \n Unfortunately, this difference is where one of my \"issues\" - if you could call it that - comes in. I'm not 100% certain who the ultimate audience is for this novel. It is written for a younger audience, but the nearly 400 page novel might seem a bit overwhelming to those that would be its target audience. \n Is the storyline okay for older readers? Yes, but I could easily see a few of the older readers finding the story childish or silly. When I refer to 'older' readers, I'm talking about older middle grade readers. The difficulty in identifying a target audience may result in this loveable novel being overlooked or passed up by readers who would otherwise love it. \n What I do love about Castle Hangnail is that it does provide a bit of fresh air to the children's fantasy genre. There seems to be an all-to-common need to make children's books darker, scarier, or more violent. Castle Hangnail has its conflicts as it isn't all rainbows and butterflies, but it does so in a way that isn't violent or ultra-extreme. \n This stray from violence or darkness makes it a great book for those readers both young and old who are just looking for a fun read. After all, it has a solid plot that works for even those that are young at heart, the characters are detailed and loveable, and the pace is just right. \n I will say I loved the characters in this book. They weren't funny, but they pulled at my heart strings and I just formed instant connections with them. I truly wanted to be Molly's friend by the end of the book. I even wanted to have my own set of minions - even a goldfish! Vernon really fleshed out all the characters without overcomplicating them, which made them even more loveable (or unlovable in the case of the bad guys). \n If I had to pick a favorite part of the book, it would definitely be the mish-mash collection of characters. They just worked for me and really made this book a fun, fun read. \n Overall, I loved Castle Hangnail. I felt it was a solid novel with a solid ending. Of course, there could be other novels, which I would love to see, but for the most part it is a solid standalone novel. It isn't the same as Dragonbreath, but it certainly will leave you with a feel good feeling at the end of reading it.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 31 18:28:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 06 20:37:39 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "20652088", "review_id": "8be177f51215d7bdc13c9ddb1c0fd46c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I am a huge fan of Sarah Prineas' other works, but this is by far not her strongest work. Longer review to come later. Let's just say it didn't get better as I read.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 28 20:02:02 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 22 20:10:30 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Oct 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "16096824", "review_id": "ecf67113a8294284ba7d8f6926a69b5b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "My love for Beauty and the Beast got the better of me again. When I saw that A Court of Thorns and Roses was marketed as a retelling of Beauty and the Beast but with a faerie lore twist, I knew I had to give it a try. \n A Court of Thorns and Roses is very much a romance novel. Sure, there is action and faerie court politics, but the main bulk of the novel centers around the budding romance between Feyre and Tamlin. The heavy focus on romance is enough to turn a lot of readers away, but if you are in the mood for a well-written YA/NA novel, this is definitely for you. \n Think of this more of a supernatural romance with slight fantasy elements mixed in. Keeping this in mind, you won't be disappointed. However, if you are looking for a fantasy novel with slight romance, this won't be for you. \n The comparison to Beauty and the Beast is a bit over exaggerated. Tamlin (the beast) is anything but a beast. He's an eye-catching pretty faerie. Sure, he kidnaps a young girl and keeps her prisoner, but he spoils her till no end and they fall in love. The times when Tamlin was 'mean' weren't overly beastly. His meanness was more because our main character, Feyre felt he was doing her an injustice and not because he was truly mean. Take it as a very loose retelling of the story and you'll be fine. \n Sarah J. Maas has crafted a faerie world that is dark, and interesting. While it is not super original, she gives it enough of a twist that it will keep readers interested. Even though I found some of the creatures and elements throughout the novel to be familiar to me, I wasn't bored. Between the fast paced nature of the writing (the beginning is a bit slow, but at about the 50% mark things pick up) and Maas' ability to add a bit of flair to the story, I was drawn in. \n Now, when it comes to the characters in the story, I had a harder time with this aspect. I found that while I enjoyed the world building and setting in A Court of Thorns and Roses, I struggled to really form a connection with the characters. All of the characters seemed one-sided or just dull. \n There is one character who was interesting - Lucien - but he is more of a background figure and side character. I found myself disappointed when he wasn't involved with scenes in the book, but frustrated when Tamlin would be the main focus. I just found Tamlin so plain and flat. Yes, he was good looking, but he came across as very robotic and stiff. \n While I enjoyed reading the novel, there is one aspect that kept nagging at the back of my mind - the 'instalove' between Feyre and Tamlin. I couldn't push away the feeling that Feyre felt that since Tamlin was a High Lord, she had to love him and had to fall in love with him. There just seemed to be no chemistry or real connection between them. This is just my opinion, but it felt very forced. \n There was a certain point in the book where Feyre starts referring to Tamlin as 'my lord' and 'my High Lord'. When I read this, I was curious as to when Feyre became so passionate about Tamlin because she could have cared less just a few chapters before. I understand that romance can subtly blossom, but this just seemed random and forced. In fact, there was more chemistry and interaction between Feyre and Lucien than there was with the romance we were given. \n There is a teaser for a possible new romance, which seems more interesting than what was going on with Tamlin. I am pretty excited to see where this leads, as I wasn't really feeling the whole Feyre and Tamlin romance. \n Overall, A Court of Thorns and Roses is a thrilling, well-written book for the right reader. Once you get past the sluggish start and instalove between the characters, there are parts that are really, really well written. Maas is talented and there are times in this novel where she really shines (fight scenes for example), but unfortunately the heavy focus on romance overshadows the good parts. This is the first novel in a series, so it will be interesting to see where Maas takes the series.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 23 18:53:48 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri May 20 08:28:53 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "22489107", "review_id": "ca91896864684c1d7f6e2ae43e1adc0a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have been following the Lunar Chronicles since Marissa Meyer wrote her first book, Cinder. I wasn't a huge fan of Cinder, I felt it had a lot of flaws, didn't really make a lot of sense, and just didn't jive with me. For some reason, I kept with the series and each book gets better and better. That leads us up to the latest release - Fairest. \n Fairest provides readers with the opportunity to learn the story behind Queen Levana. Up until this point, Queen Levana has been a big of a mystery. Readers have been treated to bits and pieces of her story, but we were never told how she ended up as evil or powerful as she is today. This is Queen Levana's opportunity to truly shine and get her story out there. \n The backstory behind Queen Levana is dark, probably the darkest, most emotional story of the entire Lunar Chronicles. It involves a young, emotionally/physically abused and scarred individual who grows up with every intention of turning the world around, but things go bad. There are several twists, turns, and betrayals that slowly turn a once caring individual (Levana) into the scary, evil villain that everyone fears. \n The goal of Fairest is to provide readers with the opportunity to bridge in the gaps of the Lunar Chronicles. One of my biggest questions was 'why'. Why was Levana bad? Why was she doing all of this? This explains it all and even sets up readers for what is to come in the next book - Winter. \n I admit there were times in Fairest where I was truly rooting for Levana. Even though I know what the end result was, I still had some shred of hope left that maybe, just maybe she'd be good. Then there was the betrayal and the need for power, and it just got worse and worse. I was crushed. I knew at that point Marissa Meyer successfully pulled me into the novel and made me a part of it. I was emotionally involved in this evil villain's quest. \n When I ended the book, I could honestly say I did not like Levana, even more than before, and I want to see her taken down in the upcoming book in the Lunar Chronicles. I also understood exactly what made her so crazy. \n Fairest is not a light fluffy read by any stretch of the imagination. There are some scenes that are difficult to read, not because they are poorly written. They were hard to read because they were so uncomfortable and dark. The last quarter of the book, Levana had gone so crazy that you felt bad for every other character that had to deal with her. \n It is a little odd that this prequel of sorts was published in the middle of the series, but I think it fits. It added to the mystery of Levana, but didn't ruin the series. Ideally, if you are just starting the series you could read it at any point in time, but I recommend following the publication order, especially if you are looking for a bit of mystery. \n Fairest is by far the best book written by Marissa Meyer to date. It is fast paced, detailed, emotional, and truly connects with the readers from the first few pages. It is amazing to think when I started reading Cinder, I had no intention of following this series at all. Meyer has come a long, long way. \n I can say I'm honestly looking forward to Winter's release and can't wait to see what happens with this series.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 01 15:41:56 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 08 21:11:05 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "22546613", "review_id": "92b19804c5481cd2df2968d413bded98", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Mouseheart was a delightful random read that I came across last year. It wasn't perfect, but it reminded me of my days reading Redwall and had a solid, well-written plot. I really enjoyed reading it and looked forward to other book in the series. Hopper's Destiny is the recently released sequel to Mouseheart. \n Hopper's Destiny picks up almost where Mouseheart left off. Hopper, our hero, is struggling to figure out how he is going to help the citizens of Atlantia. The battle that occurred in the first book may be over, but peace may not last forever and the citizens of the city are not prepared to fight. Hopper believes that the only way to succeed is to work with the outcast Mus encampment that is currently being run by his sister, Pinkie. Unfortunately, things do not go as planned. \n Somehow, upon returning from his meeting with Pinkie, Hopper is transported to the Upland, where he meets new friends who will prove helpful in the upcoming final battle against Queen Felina. \n Overall, I felt Hopper's Destiny was just as strong as Mouseheart. It had solid writing, it was fast paced, and the characters were evolving from the first book. The battle scenes were detailed and didn't border on the grotesque. I really enjoyed seeing how the characters drew out some of the battle strategies and planned for certain events. \n I was really glad to see that the author took the time to make sure that not all cats were portrayed in a mean or evil way. As the story progressed, there were cats that were good, cats that were indifferent. It was a little disheartening to see that every cat in the first book was mean. \n Most of the loose ends from the first book are tied up nicely in Hopper's Destiny. The whole La Rocha aspect of the series is explored and explained (fairly) satisfactory. There are some aspects of Hopper's Destiny that are left unresolved and we have to wait for the next installment, but the ending was satisfactory. It felt complete and not a huge cliffhanger. \n Even though Hopper's Destiny was a strong book, it wasn't without its flaws. One of the biggest issues I had, which was similar to Mouseheart, was the way the mice/characters would do certain things. It didn't make sense to me, unless they were mutant mice. \n For example, Hopper is a mouse. He isn't a giant rat; he is a normal, regular mouse. There is a scene in which he flings an extension cord up and over his head. The cord flies through a mail slot and he uses it to climb up and out of the mail slot. I struggle to see how a mouse could pick up an extension cord (used by humans) and toss it unless it was a mutant. \n The scene above is in direct contrast to the other references to the animals/characters size. There is a beautifully drawn photo of a mouse in a small bed and behind it are human earrings used as wall hangings. It seemed the sizes were disproportionate to what was going on. If earrings were used as wall hangings, how was an extension cord so easily used? \n I don't think the size issue is something children would notice, but I think older readers would definitely question it. Sure, we are talking about talking animals and animals with human-like behaviors, but I just think the portrayal could have been a little more realistic. \n Another issue I ran into, and this is purely personal preference, was Pup (the younger brother of Pinkie and Hopper). He was so mean and damaged throughout the novel, but I didn't understand his anger. It seemed a bit of a forced element to the book, as he just seemed angry or damaged for the sake of plot progression. \n Essentially Hopper's Destiny is a solid second book in a series. Younger readers, who may not be as critical of the character portrayal or somewhat predictable nature of some of the plot elements, will certainly enjoy it. Older readers, especially those that loved Redwall and Warriors, will still continue to enjoy the series. \n Personally, I am still enjoying the Mouseheart series. This is certainly a second book in a series. It didn't wow me, but it was solid and moved certain plot elements along. I'm certainly on board for book three.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 24 20:32:42 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 19:29:06 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "20307078", "review_id": "43b928471c5eb6c8c5b702170925db10", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The real kicker this weekend was Gabriel Finley and the Raven's Riddle. I'm just going to let loose and rant using a numbered list to keep this organized! \n 1. The ability to 'talk to ravens'. This is supposed to be extremely rare, yet the random birds/ravens/whatever seriously just jump out and start talking to everyone. It left me wondering why the heck others didn't hear the bird talking and EVERYONE seemed to have this unique ability to 'talk to the ravens'. \n 2. Gabriel for someone who is so smart with riddles is stupid. Not innocent stupid, frustratingly stupid. I wanted to shake him and scream at him, but I'm not sure I could stop yelling if I did start screaming. He asks obvious questions and just appears to be an idiot. \n 3. The bully of the book Soam (whatever his name is). He beats Gabriel up, threatens him, and is just evil. All it takes is one pair of reading glasses and his whole word is turned around and OVERNIGHT he becomes this best friend of Gabriel and the gang. It was like he did a 180, for no reason what-so-ever. \n I'm sorry but if someone who beat me up was like 'hey can I join you on this super secret quest'. I'd be like 'no'. Moral of the story - if you have a bully, ask them if they need an eye exam. That is obviously the only reason why they are so horrible (not the fact that the dad beat the kid). \n 4. Gabriel let in this unknown stranger into his house, on the pretense the guy was his 'dad's best friend'. After the scary, creepy guy is really weird and mean in the house, Gabriel tells his aunt about the guy. The aunt's response to Gabriel? 'Oh I wouldn't trust that guy'. \n My kid tells me they let in a scary stranger into the house that isn't really my response. I'd have been like 'Why did you let some stranger in the house in the first place?'. Just blew off the whole letting strangers in the house. \n 5. The magic desk. How did anyone not notice this huge desk just moving casually around the house? \n 6. The riddles. I'm all for riddles, but every single riddle had the same theory/concept - similar letters. It got old really, really, really fast. \n 7. Gabriel and his group of friends that go on the quest. I am curious as to why he didn't just put a blinking sign say 'what to go on an import quest with me?'. These random people who really didn't mean anything to him just HAD to go with him and he let them. \n Now mind you, the quest is secret. So why they knew about it is tackled in number 8. \n 8. Gabriel and his bird think the other side is listening in. So they are supposed to be keeping things secret. Gabriel is like blurting out all this information everywhere - mind you the birds can listen through windows it appears. \n 9. Part of the plot involves some random friend of Gabriel's aunt moving in because of a house fire. This individual took over the entire household. She starts ordering Gabriel around, telling him what he can/can't do, making him eat specific things. Talk about a pushy house guest. \n I think that is it. I confess I have 40 pages to go. This is like a car crash, its bad but I can't look away!", "date_added": "Thu Jan 22 01:25:12 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 22 01:29:33 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "20980648", "review_id": "bdcaa846e61319281a8e7cd97840baf1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Just like the other three books. More action, but nothing new to write about.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 22 01:09:59 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 22 01:10:38 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Dec 12 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "18668056", "review_id": "9ef37912949bf1c57fbf43fe2a0619b9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The Glass Sentence is a YA fantasy that has a little bit of everything thrown into it. There is some mention about magic, a huge emphasis on science and scientific facts, a quest, and some alternative history thrown into it. \n The novel, which is the first book of a series, is very reminiscent of His Dark Materials. That isn't to say it's a carbon copy of it or the ideas are the same, but there is a distinct similarity in writing style, plotline, and even characters. Fans of this series will be sure to enjoy The Glass Sentence, as well as any following novels. \n The entire novel revolves around the concept that at one point the world was as we knew it and then suddenly this huge disruption happened. Think, apocalypse, but not really. This disruption caused the entire globe to slip into different time periods. Some areas went back in time, some went forward, but they all co-exist at once. \n The Glass Sentence by no means would be classified as a 'fast read'. It starts off with a very slow, almost sluggish start. This is because there is a lot of background information, scientific facts, and world building that needs to happen in order for readers to understand the series. Unfortunately, this takes time and results in a sluggish, slow-moving feel. \n If you can make it through the sluggish/slowness in the beginning of the novel, there is a decent, well-rounded novel. Sadly, most readers will probably give up on the novel, which leads people to miss out on a unique story. \n I would estimate that a good one-third, to one-half of the novel is sluggish world building. There is a lot of time spent explaining the rather complex 'new world' that people are living in. There is time spent explaining how maps are made, the different types of maps, and even the extensive history/culture/customs of the different eras. \n In addition to the sluggish nature of the book, I (personally) found it difficult to suspend disbelief on the whole concept of different eras/time periods/time co-existing in a world. I am not totally sure if it was too scientific for my brain to process or if I just couldn't let go of the world that I know, but I just couldn't envision it happening. \n While I was able to get through The Glass Sentence and found the story/plot alright, I believe my inability to suspend disbelief for the story hindered/hurt my experience with this book. I can see how much potential this series has and I realize that for the right reader this is 'the book' to read, I just found it difficult. It wasn't until the very end that things started to 'click' for me and I really started enjoying the book. \n Would I recommend The Glass Sentence to everyone? Probably not. There is a certain audience that will really enjoy/love this book. Fans of His Dark Materials, those looking for a unique novel that is not the normal 'YA' read, and those that like complex world building. If you are going to read this book, make sure to give it time as it really does take a while to build up - and of course - be prepared for a huge cliffhanger!", "date_added": "Tue Jan 13 23:59:22 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 27 20:37:02 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jan 13 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Tue Jan 13 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "22698568", "review_id": "4587600291b9e38992c71093618870ae", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It is a rare book that makes me feel so many conflicting emotions. Upon completion of Invasion of the Tearling, my emotions were all over the place. I was angry, upset, confused, yet I struggled with happy emotions too, as I realized I read a well-thought out, imaginative second novel in a series that was, in some parts, enjoyable and a quick read. \n Queen of the Tearling, the first novel in the series, was dark. It certainly wasn't a light, fluffy read, but there wasn't a whole lot of graphic detail of the darkness that was going on. It was mostly 'there were rapes and killings in the town over there' type descriptions. Invasion of Tearling unexpectedly upped the ante in regards to darkness and grittiness. \n Invasion of the Tearling goes into fairly graphic detail on some pretty heavy subjects. Everything from self-mutilation/cutting and genital mutilation of homosexuals to spousal rape and the views of women as property/breeding grounds, was thrown into this novel. While I am not opposed to grittiness and darkness in novels, it almost felt as if everything was being thrown in to make the book more dramatic, more adult and not really done with a reason. There were many people who kept comparing the first book to YA books, so I almost feel as if this was added to make it distinctively 'adult'. \n A huge example of this is the introduction of Lily's husband. Lily's husband is evil. He is bad, rotten to the core. In order to portray just how bad he is, readers are given a graphic and a bit uncomfortable rape scene of his wife. This was in addition to the multiple lengthy descriptions of his previous spousal abuse/rapes. \n Again, my issue was not with the subject content as I realize every individual will have his or her own opinion on whether or not the use of rape/spousal abuse was necessary to make Lily's husband bad. My issue was with the fact that literally no warning was given at all that the book would have this type of turn. It was a complete turn from the first book in which things were dark, yet not graphic. \n Another issue I had was with the sudden and unexpected introduction of Lily's scenes. One moment readers are in the Tearling, the next and with no warning we are transported to Manhattan. Who is Lily? What is her role in it? It was very jarring and very unexpected. Lily's scenes eventually even out and sort-of mesh with the story, but it was a struggle there for a while when it first was introduced. For a while, it really felt like I was reading some sort of weird mix up of two books because they were that disconnected. \n Despite my rather dislike for some parts of the book, I will say I didn't hate The Invasion of the Tearling. There were obvious parts that disappointed me and made me a bit sad that the series would take a turn like this, but I did enjoy the fantasy aspect of the Tearling thus the conflicting emotions that I felt when I completed the book. There were parts I enjoyed, but the parts I didn't enjoy I really, really did not enjoy them. \n I struggle with what to expect in the third book. I am not looking forward to it as much as I was this second book. However, I do think I would continue with the series only to see where the series is taken.This is a novel that people will love or they will hate, I am not sure there is much room for a middle ground here.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 09 00:41:01 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 06 23:29:42 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "18222556", "review_id": "748e5bacaadec0f822303e454d78cdd6", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I am not sure what I just read, but I am pretty sure it was just one of the many children's books being written for adults. Before people jump all over me, let me explain. \n There seems to be a growing trend of writing a children's book that is something that adults would love/like. Unfortunately, in an effort to cater to adults I think the younger audience is being put on the back burner. This is probably the third or fourth book I've read this year that has this vibe. \n I can see how an adult would love this story. It has a quirky weird child, a wandering parent, and everything is wrapped up in a 'feel good' moment at the end. I don't see how the target audience could enjoy this. The book is sluggish to the point of boredom. There is a huge focus on the telling stories from the olden days and a lot of back stories for the characters, but there isn't a lot of here and now happening. \n The entire focus of the book is about developing the characters and town, but they don't do anything of importance. It just seemed like these detailed characters were floating around, doing nothing. \n In addition to the lack of anything happening, there were other very irk-some points. Those include \n - the main character's ability to use the spindiddly word every other sentence (okay it wasn't that bad, but it was said to the point that I hated the word) \n - the neglectful parent who puts their own needs ahead of their children. I mean really a parent who spends 2-4 weeks in a town and moves on. This uproots the children and makes them go to a completely new school. \n - the random do-gooder Beedle who is so wonderful even the preacher includes him in his lectures \n - the quirky aunt who wears a bathroom (yes bathroom) to a school event. I mean, she couldn't put on say, a regular, coat? She only has a bathroom. How nice. \n I know I am in the minority, but I just couldn't stand this book I am sure there is a target audience out there for it. It just wasn't me.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 04 15:46:53 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 11 21:52:39 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Dec 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "20821011", "review_id": "1a5ddcc9a1f167a91227553407fc95b0", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Pennyroyal Academy. I haven't read a book that made me go from 100 (love) to 0 (hate/dislike) in a long time. Usually by the halfway point, I can figure a book out and know that I will either 1) love it 2) hate it or 3) have a love/hate relationship that makes me want to read the book so I can mock. \n So, here are some of my random thoughts and musing throughout the book. \n Basil - This young boy is forced into an all-girl princess group because his mother wanted a princess and didn't have a girl. Now, I'm not upset at this entire thing, but it was so glossed over and used for comedic effect that it bothered me. And to be honest I couldn't see much difference between the princess/knight that he needed to be in the princess group (and why the whole staff allowed it is beyond me). \n The entire training - It appeared the author wanted to make these like warrior princesses that are big, strong, and brave. So, what I got out of this whole book is the girls had to fight off witches (who are invading the whole land), look pretty while doing it, and still do all the feminine stuff that is stereotypical of females princesses (make dresses, learn to sew, etc.) \n The author - This author had a bad habit of revealing something huge and pretending it had been brought up earlier in the book. This made me so confused like I missed something. For example, Evie thinks that King Callhoun or whatever is her stepfather. I reread the scene and even went back to the family reveal and nowhere did it say he wasn't her 'father of blood' or he was her stepfather. So obviously, this happened in a scene that I was not allowed to read or was not a part of my book. \n The Grand Ball - Pointless. Made to fill up space in my book. And I didn't understand while all this huge stuff and witch war is going on that they took the time to host such a trivial ball in the first place. \n The entire book - what started out at point A, turned out and ended somewhere over by point C/D. I am sure this is a first book of a series, but I was extremely disappointed in the book. \n Other points that irked me - how does a girl really think she's a dragon? I can't grasp it. \n The knight guy with his random turning into a frog (can we say random) \n That is all. Well, I have more, but I don't want to ruin it for people.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 30 23:52:59 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 30 23:53:18 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Nov 30 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "13644324", "review_id": "764d0156fdf5cef3f8f143d2418e8ccc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Percy Jackson, you have been warned. A new competitor has just entered the teen lit arena and he is sure to win over the hearts of teens and adults alike. Tut is sure to be a hit. \n Tut: The Story of My Immortal Life follows the journey of King Tut. Readers are first introduced to him in Ancient Egypt. Tut's life is in jeopardy. He is running from his uncle, who is responsible for the murder of Tut's family and is now out to get Tut. \n In his run in with his uncle, Tut is stabbed and about to die. In a last ditch attempt to live, he casts a spell that leads him to immortality. Unfortunately, it came with a price. Tut is doomed to spend the rest of his life as a 14 year old who must keep attending eighth grade over and over and over again. \n The novel continues with Tut in present-day Washington D.C. where Tut is attending eighth grade all over again and living with his brother-like guardian Gil and Horus. Tut discovers that his uncle may not be dead (as he has found immortality too) and he is ready to get his revenge. This sparks a search for a knife that will help Tut kill his uncle. \n Tut: The Story of My Immortal Life is everything that makes a great novel. It is fast paced, action packed, and is rather unique in its concept. Sure, Percy Jackson brought the well-known Gods to life, but this brings the often overlooked Egyptian gods to life. \n Hoover does an amazing job of not info dumping, but incorporating the god's backstory into the novel. It might not be the most in-depth look at the Egyptian gods, but it is enough to spark people's interest which I hope will encourage them to read on their own. \n One of the things I really liked was the way Hoover incorporated a parental figure into the story. When I read the blurb for this novel, I couldn't figure out how a 14 year old could just wander through life with no one questioning it. It appears it can be done when an older individual takes that 14 year old under their wing and acts like a parental figure. \n Gil, the parental/brother-like figure, in the story wasn't just placed there as a wall decoration. He was developed, had emotions, and really played a role in the novel. Many times YA/children's novels tend to have adult/parental figures take a back seat, but not in this one. \n Gil isn't the only character that is extremely developed. Hoover does an amazing job of quickly developing characters and making them relatable for the readers. The mortal characters were average, every day children that almost any reader could relate to instantly. Tut was likeable and funny. He was mature at times due to being alive so long, but there were times when he acted just like he was supposed to - a 14 year old boy. \n A favorite part of mine was the shabtis that follow Tut around. They were responsible for helping keep the house clean, but also helped Tut out a lot with homework and other day-to-day chores. I just loved the interactions Tut had with them. It added a nice, humorous touch to the story without ruining to the tone of the book. \n Overall, Hoover did an amazing job. Tut: The Story of My Immortal Life is an amazing start to a promising series. Hoover shows that it is possible to create a detailed, likeable story in approximately 300 pages. It will be interesting to see where this series is taken, what happens with the characters, and what is in store for Tut. I know I'll be waiting.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 01 19:31:24 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 06 23:21:53 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Nov 06 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "17675138", "review_id": "eb01182bc35b132ce689e04d4c257c00", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I tried to like this book, but I finally had to give up at the halfway point (at about page 150). The writing is extremely simplistic, the plot - confusing and not fleshed out, and the characters one dimentional. \n There were so many questions I had within the first few pages. The children - who are orphans of sorts - are being bullied. The whole school including all the staff know about it, yet encourage it to happen. \n After school the kids learn of this tournament for a video game. Their aunt tells them they can't go, so they sneak out while she is sleeping. Okay what children's tournament is held at night, while all the parents are sleeping? Jump forward and the kid wins the tournament and is wisked away to some mystery house. Yet no one goes 'ummm maybe we should tell our aunt where we are going?'. Nope, they just ignore it. \n The kids play this virtual avatar game, but the author tends to blur when its is real and when it isn't. Sometimes the kids are playing it, but all of a sudden they are in the game. So, is this virtual reality or magic or what? It was very confusing. \n This combined with the seemingly pointless comparisons (my mind is racing like a billion browser windows open) or the not-so-funny fart jokes made me have to stop reading. I just couldn't take it any longer.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 01 19:20:51 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 01 19:25:29 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "10893214", "review_id": "c585375e873fcf3acf794df65bb90f87", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved this book", "date_added": "Fri Oct 03 20:55:44 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 01 03:12:20 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "18079712", "review_id": "24b4c18b802bf78a4f2db406baf60cb2", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This has to be one of the most depressing stories I have ever read. I was warned that it was sad, but I seriously thought there'd be an uplifting element to the story or some good about it. Unfortunately, there wasn't. \n The book doesn't go into great detail about the horrors that happened - the young girl's death, the abuse at the foster family's home, or what the old man did to the poor girl, but any adult can read between the lines. It is just so sad. \n I have never been so upset or frustrated with a book in my entire life. There were just so many things that bothered me - a 12 year old cutting down a massive tree on his own, his family insisting that he 'be a man', just to name a few. \n I do have to say that the writing in this story is amazing. Nikki Loftin has some amazing talent and really knows how to bring a story to life, I just wish the story hadn't been so dang blasted depressing.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 21 23:37:00 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 21 23:44:01 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "21839074", "review_id": "a4fd5a98460e76e19e839eca935b23d6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "When I first saw Ninja Librarians in the library, I was a bit unsure how this book would be received. It seemed to take a whole bunch of random stuff and pack it into one book. It claimed to have adventure, mystery, time-traveling, ninjas/fighting, libraries, and lots and lots of books. There was a lot that could go wrong with this book, so I approached it cautiously. \n After reading it, all I can say is - I was wrong. Ninja Librarians is a fun, adventurous children's novel that is unique, fast-paced and designed for readers of all ages. At just under 400 pages, this novel creates a truly unique world, takes readers on an adventure, and leaves the door open for more adventure and fun! \n The basics of the plot for this first book of the series is that two youngsters - Dorrie and Marcus - fall through a portal of sorts. The portal, which is located in the closest of their local library, takes them to a mysterious labyrinth that is made up of dozens of different libraries. Only these libraries are connected to different parts of the word and different times. \n The labyrinth, which is known as Petrarch's Library, is actually a secret headquarters of sorts for librarians who are fighting to protect the rights of others who have gotten in trouble for what they wrote/penned. Librarians aren't the people that you see behind the desk. These librarians are trained fighters who are quick on their feet and ready to fight. \n The Accidental Keyhand follows Dorrie and Marcus as they learn more about Petrarch's Library and fight to earn a place in the highly secretive society. Unfortunately, there is an evil counter organization out there that would like nothing more than to see Petrarch's Library and all those associated with it taken down. Dorrie and Marcus must work to clear their name and prove they are not a part of this society before it is too late. \n There is so much to like about The Accidental Keyhand - the strong, fast-paced nature of the writing, the unique world that is created, and the likeable characters. It is almost impossible to know where to start. \n Jen Swann Downey does an amazing job of crafting a story that moves at an extremely fast-pace, but that doesn't seem to brush over tiny details. While reading, I was able to acquaint myself with the world, learn about the characters, and get a whole backstory to the main story, without feeling like I was being bogged down with endless details or unimportant information. In fact, the whole story seemed to just fly right by and before I knew it - the book was over. \n The world of Petrarch's Library did take some time to get used to. I was afraid it wouldn't work, but something 'clicked' halfway through and I found it intriguing. I've seen some people compare the world to Harry Potter and that feeling they got when reading that series. I'm not sure I'd go that far, but there is a certain magical, unique feel to Petrarch's Library that makes the entire novel feel special. \n One of the amazing things about The Accidental Keyhand is that I really feel it appeals to both children and adults. Yes, for all intense and purposes it is a children's fantasy novel, but it really has a gripping, page-turning quality to it that will make adults like it. Adults will certainly like the way favorite books/literary characters are weaved into the novel without seeming forced. \n Overall, The Accidental Keyhand is a truly amazing, fun read. In fact, I almost wish I could become a Ninja Librarian - but I won't be asked! I anxiously await the next book in this series and until then, you'll be able to find me looking for an entrance to Petrarch's Library!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 26 12:50:51 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 10 21:12:16 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Aug 26 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "18599852", "review_id": "6cb9e6b0317fa5b415be4deb32c352fd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It seems like there has been a shift lately when it comes to anthologies. It used to be you could walk up to the bookshelf and it would be filled with children's short story anthology, but over the years that has changed and it became difficult to find anthologies for children. When there was an anthology, it wasn't very good. The Cabinet of Curiosities changes all of that and brings the trend back. \n The Cabinet of Curiosities is a packed with 36 amazing and very creepy children's short stories. The basic theme of the anthology is several 'curators' of a museum have gathered together to share the stories behind specific artifacts that have been discovered. Each artifact can be tied to a theme (love, music, food), which is how it is stored and classified in the 'museum'. \n I will admit that I found the theme of this anthology a bit confusing. Each of the sections was introduced with a letter from one of the curators. It was difficult to understand what they were talking about or referencing. While the theme seems like it would be a good idea on the outside, it just wasn't executed as well as it should have or could have been. \n I think the anthology would have worked just fine without the goofy letters and silly introductions. I think it didn't work because it wasn't until literally the end of the book that it all came together - at least for me. It was like an 'ah ha' moment when it clicked, but it shouldn't take until the end of an anthology for me to understand the theme. \n There is an epilogue to the anthology which gives readers a brief 'what happened to..... ' look at some of the characters. I really enjoyed this and really felt it was a unique, extra touch that made the anthology special. \n The slight issue with the theme of the anthology aside, I found that the vast majority of these stories were really well written. When reading them, I couldn't help get the feeling that these would make great read-aloud stories for parents of children. Sure, some of the stories were really creepy, while others were just slightly scary, but the vast majority were really, really good. \n It should be noted that this anthology - for some adults - could quickly become dull/predictable. If you were to read all the stories in one go, it would feel as if there were a lot of very similar stories. Some of the stories are similar in nature, but I think there is enough diversity that it keeps children interested. \n The following are some of my favorites from this anthology. \n Generously Donated By by Emma Trevayne \n Remember all those field trips you used to go on as a child and were incredibly bored? This short story tells the tale of one child who is bored on a field trip to a museum, but what happens to him on this particular trip will make sure he never takes another field trip for granted again. \n The Sandman Cometh by Claire Legrand \n A retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's folk tale of Ole Lukoje, this short story will not disappoint. It has just the right creep factor to it without going overboard, and it stayed true to the original fairy tale. \n The Book of Bones by Emma Trevayne \n I'm not sure exactly why I loved this short story, but I did. I felt it was original and really stood out from the other stories. It wasn't one that was forced into a category or theme, so that might explain why it was so appealing. It tells the tale of a wizard who is mysteriously digging up body parts and using them for parts of books. There is a unique little twist and a creep-tastic ending that I don't want to spoil. \n The Cake Made Out of Teeth by Claire Legrand \n A bratty child who gets whatever he wants is finally taught a lesson in this sinister short story. A young, spoiled child finds a bakery and demands that he get a cake from there - that looks just like himself. What happens to him will have you thinking twice about ever ordering a cake that looks like yourself (if you were planning on doing that!). \n Overall, I felt the majority of the stories were well written. Some of the stories were just run-of-the-mill scary stories, but there were enough really good ones to make this a good read. \n The Cabinet of Curiosities is perfect for reading aloud or for children who want to read independently. It is certainly ideal for the child who wants to stray away from the 'bubble gum and gumdrops' children's stories and venture into the horror genre.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 03 01:05:17 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 26 15:28:04 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "18668473", "review_id": "a7edcd140ade069e9faa058ca66d9a45", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have always had a love for the Redwall series. When I read that Mouseheart was a combination of Warriors and Redwall, I knew I had to give it a try. What I ended up reading was a book that in many ways is better than the Redwall series. \n Mouseheart tells the tale of Hopper, a city mouse who finds himself - and his siblings - unexpectedly thrown into a dark, harsh underground world. The world happens to be below the streets of Brooklyn and is filled with storm drains, subway trains, and passengers, but also evil cats and a ragtag bunch of rebel mice. \n Hopper gets separated from his siblings while underground and he meets Zucker - prince of the mice. And things just seem to spiral into a world of chaos filled with fighting, betrayal, and lots of mouse kingdom politics. \n Mouseheart on a whole is a very solid, detailed middle grade novel. The writing and character development is strong. Things are not overly complex, but they certainly aren't 'dumbed' down. Many times children's books go with one extreme or another. They are so detailed that even adults have problems following it, or they are so simple that children get bored. \n While I enjoyed the character development, I did get confused with the main character - Hopper. There seemed to be times when he didn't understand/get things because he was a pet store mouse, but then he'd come out with these detailed strategies or say something that was completely not in line with that character. \n I would sometimes thing 'hey, how does this sheltered mouse - who didn't even know what a subway train was - come up with that'. Maybe I was being a little too critical of Hopper, but that was honestly the only character flaw I had with the book. \n Mouseheart is filled with several battle/fight scenes, some of which are extremely detailed. This makes it difficult for me to place a target age for this book. One of the fight scenes involves a cat who pounces, misses the mouse, and gets a railing 'gouged' in the eye. The battle scene at the end is fairly detailed/graphic, too. \n I really believe younger children may find it difficult or uncomfortable reading about this type of violence, especially happening to animals. The detailed and graphic descriptions of injuries and fighting just didn't mesh with the simplistic children's nature of the book. \n There are obviously more books planned for this series, but one of the great things about this novel is that it doesn't end with a cliffhanger. It is obvious that there is more to come, but it doesn't end in a way that is disappointing or unfair to readers. \n Mouseheart is a strong, well-written children's fantasy/adventure novel. It is sure to be a favorite of those that love the Warrior series or Redwall series. This is certainly a new spin on the Redwall series. I truly enjoyed reading this novel. It was fast paced, well written, and had many elements that adult readers will love.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 01 19:51:10 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 24 22:53:28 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "18152865", "review_id": "fd86bd9584ac25fba2f78e7f435cce4a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What do you get when you take hoodies, angels, unicorns, and humans and combine it with gumdrops, lollipops and candy? Well, you get the world that was created for Death's Academy by Michael Bast. \n I came across Death's Academy by accident while browsing my library's website. The synopsis appeared to be a combination of a Harry Potter meets Percy Jackson concept mixed with the humor that is found in Diary of a Wimpy Kid. So, I figured I'd give it a shot and I am glad I took a chance, as this novel is one of the best middle school novels I've read in a while. \n What makes Death's Academy so good? It is the voice that Michael Bast brings to the novel. He has a way of telling the story in a fun, humorous style that doesn't seem to get old. There are running jokes throughout the book, but Bast knows how to toe the line between keeping the jokes alive and making sure they don't get old. \n Bast knows how to bring humor to the story. There were several parts that I found funny, and most certainly if I were a child in middle school there would have been other parts that were just as hilarious. Death's Academy certainly has enough to keep the average adult reader entertained, but it is a book that is targeted to middle school, so there are plenty of fart references and other middle school humor elements thrown in. \n In addition to the smooth, humorous voice, Death's Academy is unique, funny and a little bit 'out there'. Taking a look at all the elements of the book separately - guardian angels, grim reapers, unicorns, candy villages, and humans - it would seem like someone just took whatever thought came into their head and threw it down on paper. Even if this is what Bast did, he did it successfully. \n Everything in Death's Academy seems to connect to each other and make the plot flow. There is just enough backstory provided that readers aren't lost, but readers aren't bogged down with lengthy explanations. The backstory that is provided is enough to make the characters stand on their own, but allows the readers to grow and learn with the characters. \n What is nice about Death's Academy is the readers aren't rooting for the typical 'good' guy. Night, the main character, is ultimately a bad guy, but he isn't. He looks out for his friends, has difficulty killing things, and really wants to do what is best for everyone. Sure, he's a little mouthy and strong willed, but he works for the story and is relatable to almost everyone who reads this book. \n If you are looking for detailed, in-depth plot elements, you probably aren't going to find it with Death's Academy. There is enough to keep the story going, but adult readers will certain find holes in the story - and if you are looking to nitpick, I'm sure there is something there to find. \n While I enjoyed Death's Academy, there is something that I would - if I had the power - change. I believe the title of the book is a bit misleading. It is more of a prequel to Death's Academy. The main character - Night - spends his time worrying about getting into the academy and really doesn't spend one moment at the academy. \n The lack of Death's Academy doesn't take away from the novel, and once other novels are added to what one can assume will be a series it will make sense. However, it is a good setup to what will be a very promising series. \n Overall, Death's Academy was a major surprise for me. I loved the main character and found him believable. In fact, I was rooting for him and felt a little bad for him at times. I really think Death's Academy is a great read for almost everyone. It is a great 'read aloud' book for families, while older more independent readers will find it a fun read. Adults will certainly appreciate the humor and creativity that is obvious with this novel. \n I look forward to reading more from Michael Bast and hope the Death's Academy series will continue. I know I'll be waiting for more.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 30 16:12:39 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 02 17:30:03 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "22753118", "review_id": "bbcdd50643e2c254440814fdd6a17141", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Reading a debut author in the fantasy genre, or any genre, is always a hit-or-miss experience. There are authors who hit the ground running with a hit, there are authors with talent that just needs a little 'fine tuning', and there are authors who seem to struggle. \n David Craddock, while not completely new to the fantasy world, has released the first book in his YA fantasy series, and he falls within the first category of authors. Heritage is a page-turning, captivating, well-written YA novel that really leaves you wanting more - in a good way. \n One of the first things that is obvious right off the bat is that Craddock knows how to build an entire fantasy world without engaging in tedious info dropping. Many times authors will overload readers with lengthy explanations and backstories to help aid in the world building, while others have a 'fly by the seat of your pants' approach where readers learn as they read. \n Craddock knows how to create a world that readers can relate to, understand, and feel a part of, without having to boggle down readers or waste time with lengthy explanations. This is vital to the next part -pacing. \n Sometimes while reading, I notice that novels are either paced too fast or too slow. I found Heritage to be paced at a just right speed. It had me turning pages and wanting to read further ahead, but I didn't feel rushed. \n Last, but not least, is character development. The norm nowadays seems to be that you can't write a good fantasy novel with great world building and character development, and keep it under 400 pages. Craddock shows that this is not the case. \n I really felt connected to the characters. It did take a little time to warm up to them, get to know them a little, but by the end I wanted more. I wanted to see what happens next, go through more adventures with them. \n Heritage is definitely a wonderful start for not only the series, but Craddock's future at a fantasy writer. The quality of writing and pure talent that is evident will only improve as time goes on. Readers will notice that the influences authors like Terry Brooks, R.A. Salvatore, Robert Jordon, and David Eddings had on Craddock. \n I really look forward to seeing Craddock grow as a writer and hopefully leave a lasting impact on the fantasy genre. Fans of Brooks, Salvatore, Jordon, and pretty much any other fantasy author will be sure to enjoy this novel. Anyone who is thinking of venturing into fantasy will also enjoy it, as it serves as a great intro to fantasy.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 29 21:16:27 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 29 21:16:53 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "18478208", "review_id": "a19f8624367277201b1650c25c91e447", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Storybook of Legends was a pleasant little surprise. It was fun, imaginative, and a bit quirky. I wasn't a huge fan of the whole doll/merchandise tie-in, but putting that aside, I realized it was a fun, light children's novel. So, I had high hopes for the second book when it was released. Luckily, I wasn't disappointed. \n The Unfairest of Them All picks up right where Happily Ever After left off. All the students are in an uproar because Raven didn't sign the Storybook of Legends. This has caused the school to split into two groups - the Royals and the Rebels. Neither group wants to get along and refuses to back down - that is until a mutual friend is accused of committing a crime she didn't commit. \n Madeline Hatter - daughter of the famous Mad Hatter from Wonderland - finds herself accused of committing a crime that could lead her to be exiled and expelled from Ever After High. It is up to Apple and Raven to work together and go through a series of tasks to uncover the truth and save Madeline from exile. \n I absolutely loved and adored The Unfairest of Them All. It really took the characters that were introduced in Ever After High and developed them beyond imagination. Readers are shown that there is more to Apple - who appears shallow and superficial. Apple slowly starts to come around to the idea that change can - and sometimes is - a good thing. She still isn't ready to accept that Raven wants a different future, but she is slowly coming around to that idea. \n In addition to Apple's character development, Raven develops further. Readers get to see a closer look into Raven's relationship with her mother, and even get a sneak peek into life in the mysterious jail cell that The Evil Queen has been living in. \n One of the things that make this series so amazing is that every character, from the main characters of Apple and Raven to the smaller, secondary characters, has a unique personality that shines through the pages. Each character is distinctly their own person with unique likes/dislikes and interests, and Hale does an amazing job of developing them without drowning readers in boring blocks of text. \n Another aspect that really makes this series stand out is that there isn't a huge focus on love triangles/dating. It is mentioned throughout the book, but the main focus is on the characters, main plot, and just having a fun book to read. All too often 'tween' books tend to stray into the relationship zone and that is all it focuses upon. Luckily, that has not happened to this series. \n I did appriciate that Hale seemed to cut back on the cutesy language in this book. There was less 'Storybook-isms' in this novel, which made it a lot easier to read. It was one of my quirks in the first book, but it obviously has been toned down in this novel. \n I will admit I am looking forward to the next book in the series. It promises to take readers into Wonderland and out of all the characters and storylines in Ever After High - Madeline is my favorite. I really cannot wait to see where Hale takes this series. \n The truth is this - The Unfairest of Them All is not an epic fantasy. It isn't even a super involved children's novel. But, it is fun, light and has a solid enough plot that it will captivate most readers. It certainly is not a book for everyone. Many people will find it shallow, child-ish, and stereotypical, but if you love fairy tales or just want a fun, light read this is the book for you.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 19 23:00:05 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 01 00:08:25 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "23507810", "review_id": "1a3fd65b9032f614c17092406de6aedf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is more like a 4.5, very close to a 5 star book. It had a few predictable parts, but it was super good and I enjoyed it.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 15 19:53:44 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 07 07:34:54 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Aug 07 07:34:54 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Aug 03 09:30:17 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "17910570", "review_id": "a052f0cf37401a5ec49baf3a9071e8e3", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy is a partial re-telling of Anderson's \"The Snow Queen\", and with the success of Disney's Frozen, I thought it would be an amazing children's novel. Unfortunately, this novel just didn't click with me, but that isn't to say it won't click with its general audience. \n There is really very little to set this novel apart from the dozens of other children's novels that have similar storylines. There is the girl who doesn't believe in magic, the mysterious boy from another magical land, and the fate of the world rests on making said girl believe. If she doesn't, the world will end. Change a few names, add a few quirky characteristics and you have Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy. \n One of the major things that make a novel strong is the author's character building. While I understand a 230 page novel can't have extensive background on the characters, this novel just didn't feel like it promoted the characters. They came across as very one-dimensional and really they were just vessels to move the storyline along. \n Karen Foxless tries really hard to make the characters - or at least the main character - have all these little quirks that make her stand out and seem not so normal. For example, Ophelia is asthmatic. She takes 'squirts of her puffer' to calm herself down, when she's scared, when she's running - pretty much any time. Unfortunately, the phrase 'squirts her puffer' is used repetitively throughout the novel, to the point it lost its quirkiness and just became frustrating. \n Another thing that really took away from the novel was the sections 'the marvelous boy' used to tell his story. When I first read his little story from his POV, it seemed fun, exciting and adventurous. After the second or third time, it seemed as if his stories became less a story and more information dumping sections so the reader could understand things. \n The change in 'the marvelous boy's' story telling was a bit of a disappointment. I feel it was a missed opportunity to really change the story and make it shine and/or develop one of the main characters in the novel. Unfortunately, it did neither. \n While there was a lot that didn't live up to expectations, there is one unique and 'fun' thing about Ophelia and The Marvelous Boy. It was the way it ended. I'm not really sure how I feel about the ending of the book, but it did make me really think - was what we read real or did we just take a trip through a young girl's imagination. It is this unique aspect of the book that I think will attract older readers to it. \n Further exploring the ending of the book, it could be said on a deep philosophical level that the entire book was a metaphor for the grieving process that children go through. Sure, you can read this book as a fun, whimsical children's book, but there are certain elements that occur at the halfway point in this book that will turn it into a potential 'thought-provoking' novel. \n Overall, I think Ophelia and The Marvelous Boy will appeal to its age range of 8 to 12. I don't think most readers in that age group will notice the major gaps in the storyline, the repetitive nature of some of the actions, or the lack of character development. To those readers, it will just be another novel to read. In fact, I don't think many of the readers in this age group will even get the whole metaphoric ending. \n Adult readers on the other hand may struggle with some of the elements in this book. It may feel like just another children's novel filled with quirky characters and a fast-moving plot. I truly feel the ending is the best part of this book. I really liked the way it made me think - at least for a few minutes - about what I just read and I loved the exploration of the museum, but overall I don't think it is a book that will stay with me for years to come.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 10 22:47:51 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 20 21:46:01 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "18635085", "review_id": "411dfba94f2c21e0ca9d2cec16cabf9b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "There are so many middle grade/YA novels being published that it is so hard to find the 'good ones' out there. That isn't to say that all books are bad, just some are more special than others. The Luck Uglies by Paul Durham is one of those special books - unique, fast-paced, and filled with fantasy-adventure. \n It seems like everything in this book from the characters to the world building and pacing is just right. Durham knows how to really draw and develop a unique world for this story. It might appear to be just another 'ho hum' dreary depressing town, but Durham adds a few elements that makes it his own. \n In addition to the small, unique twists in world building, Durham is successful in bringing the world to life. I could almost picture myself in the world and every time I picked the book up, I was magically transported back to this rather unique world created by Durham. It is the ability to transport readers to new worlds that truly makes a great book, and Luck Uglies has that element. \n Another captivating feature of The Luck Uglies was the character development. Readers follow a young 11-year old girl named Rye throughout most of the story. Rye is full of personality and always has a surprise for the reader. I found Rye, her entire family, and friends enjoyable and extremely detailed. Each had their own unique personality and didn't come across as 'cookie cutter'. \n The good guys weren't the only ones to be extremely detailed. There were several 'bad guys' including Bog Noblins, evil soldiers, and a selfish ruling Lord. Each of the bad guys were so developed that I have to admit I was rooting for them to lose. It will be interesting to see where the other novels go with some of these exact characters. \n While The Luck Uglies is a wonderful novel and I loved every minute of it, it has a lot of parts that could be considered slower. There are a lot of things that need to be developed - the characters, the world, and the history between everyone. This could be considered a drawback, but I view it more as a great setup for the next two novels. \n It should be noted that there is a lot going on in this little 400 page 'tween' novel. There are several storylines and characters that are all being developed at one point. I think the sheer amount of stuff going on could be overwhelming to some, but it really is a great way to introduce readers to the format used by so many fantasy-adventure novels. \n Overall, I loved The Luck Uglies. I found myself wanting to read more as I got further and further into the story. I can't wait to see where the series goes and how the author takes this series. Truly a must read for anyone who loves quick, fun fantasy-adventure novels or who are looking for a good read that isn't super complex.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 28 00:23:52 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 11 19:03:13 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "12969560", "review_id": "4d9f375ba4d8670983c293cd32de5168", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I have heard such great things about this series. My impressions? It was an over bloated book that was about 200 pages too long. The characters are very one-dimensional and the plot was pretty predictable. Not sure if I'll continue to read the series.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 28 00:21:24 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 22 01:06:09 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "17987501", "review_id": "d72db22b479b5bba4f9ee0ae186e794c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Love love love love it", "date_added": "Sat Jun 28 00:18:56 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 05 01:45:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jul 05 05:40:56 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "25785366", "review_id": "69cf34d2a5c9df6077233b55a35dd5df", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Last year, Maria V. Snyder continued to tell the story of Yelena and Valek. While readers got brief glimpses of these two characters in her Glass Series, this new series focused mainly on their trials and tribulations. Unfortunately, returning to this world wasn't everything I expected it to be. \n Shadow Study was by far not the strongest book from Snyder that I read. The pacing felt off, the story felt overused, and the introduction of varying POV just made the entire novel feel 'off'. It wasn't bad, but to me the other books felt smoother, faster paced, and overall more enjoyable. However, I didn't want to give up on the series and so I continued to read the second novel - Night Study. \n Snyder appears to have learned from some of the mistakes that occurred in Shadow Study. First, the main POVs are between Yelena and Valek. There is an occasional chapter told by Leif and two chapters from Janco, but there weren't as many side missions/quests and varying stories from other characters. This gives the book a smoother, more polished feel to it that the first book was lacking. \n It wasn't that I didn't like Janco from Shadow Study. I found him overly played out. He used cutesy nicknames and it got a bit old after a while. Leif, when he did tell his story, was more mature and likeable. Of course, this is all a personal preference. Some will love the new focus; others will wish Janco was back. \n Unfortunately, even the shift of focus on POVs couldn't fix a pacing problem. The first 50% of the novel was extremely slow. There was a lot of back and forth between a personal issue Yelena was going through (I don't want to say what it is because it'd spoil the first book). This dragged down the pacing of the novel. I found I just didn't care about it one way or another so having so much focus on it made the book go by slower. \n Another issue I had with the first part of Night Study was for a good 25% of the novel there is this huge sense of urgency to find these hidden greenhouses. All of a sudden, this issue was wrapped up in a quick page or two and then the focus is shifted elsewhere. So much time was spent building up this plot element and it didn't really go anywhere. \n I will say the second half of the book was amazing. Snyder takes readers deeper into Valek's past, which is something I have always wondered about and wanted to know more. There were hints given throughout the previous novels, but it was nice to really see it all laid out. This part of the novel was so enjoyable and it seemed to have gone by so fast. In fact, it is this little twist and part of the novel that actually will keep me reading the series - for now. \n There is one point I would like to bring up - the relationship with Valek and Yelena. Things seem to be moving way too fast. I really would have liked to see things slow down a little and really show readers their interactions. It seems to be a growing trend to break the two up and split them up - which is fine, but it leaves me with a rushed relationship feeling to it. \n Overall, Night Study was about what I expected. My expectations weren't too high based on my mixed feelings from Shadow Study, but I found a few unexpected plot twists entertaining. For myself, it doesn't capture the inspiring 'love it' feeling I had with the Study Series or the Glass Series, but that is okay. I think fans of Snyder will enjoy it and love it, which is ultimately all that really matters.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 18 23:35:48 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 26 22:21:29 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Feb 17 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "16130758", "review_id": "3447acb66ca2e1d1fd34dce499b60021", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The minute I read Maria V. Snyder's first series of books - The Study Series - I was obsessed. I loved not only the characters, but the world building. The series was quick, satisfying, and fun to read. After finishing that series, I quickly read all of her other books and enjoyed them just as much. \n So, imagine my surprise when I discovered that Snyder was taking readers back to the characters that started it all - Yelena and Valek. I was thrilled. Unfortunately, that thrill did not carry over to the series. \n Reviewing Shadow Study, for me, is going to be difficult. I wanted to love it. All of Snyder's other books - The Study Series, The Glass Series, and The Healer Series - I loved. Sadly, I do not feel that the first book in the Soulfinders Series is Snyder's strongest book. I didn't dislike the series and I feel it is great for fans of the series, but I am left with mixed emotions. \n Fans of Snyder's original series will certain enjoy reading Shadow Study. Everyone's favorite characters are back and facing situations that seem all too similar. It was this part of the book that I did enjoy. I liked revisiting some of my favorite characters, seeing what they are up to, and how they have grown and changed. There were even a few new characters that helped keep things slightly new. \n Now comes the part that has caused me mixed emotions. Snyder is trying something new with this book. She allows readers to follow three different characters - Yelena, Valek, and Janco. This is where I think the momentum from previous series was lost. Two of the POVs - Janco and Valek - are written in third person, while Yelena's is written in first person. \n This constant jump between writing styles caused the book to have a fractured feeling to its flow. A reader just gets used to a certain POV and they are quickly jumped to another POV with a new style of writing. There was also something that felt off with Janco's sections. He felt sort of thrown in there just to be thrown in there. His sections were pretty short, but every time I came to them, I dreaded reading them which was sad, because he had some pretty good conversations and one-liners in the past (and even occasionally in Shadow Study). \n It wasn't just the style of writing either that made things feel fractured. There was the jump in times. Valek's sections take readers back in time to his training as an assassin. While this story was interesting and something I have personally wondered about, it felt misplaced. It came across like another book was being shoved into this one. \n I think, if each of these sections had been published separately, it would have made for a better experience. Instead, it felt like three separate books shoved into one edition. If it was needed to put them all into one book, I think it would have helped to maybe have two POVs and keep them in the same tense. It would have been less disruptive to the flow. \n Now, on to the other aspect that was a bit disappointing. Shadow Study leads readers on Yelena's journey to discover why her magic is blocked. She is left defenseless and unable to access her magic. Sound familiar? Yes. This is so similar to the last book in the Glass Series, that it was distracting. I am sure the reason for her blocked magic will be revealed and it will be different than the Glass Series, but the similarities between the two books came across as 'same story, different characters' vibe. \n Overall, I don't want to say Shadow Study was a bad book. It wasn't bad. It just didn't come across as Snyder's best work. Fans of her previous series will certainly love it and in the end, that is all that matters. In regards to my feelings, I was disappointed and hoped to see the momentum carry over from the other series. It isn't enough to make me stop reading the series, but I do hope to see the rest of the Soulfinders Series improve. Consider it more of a rocky start. Snyder can - and probably will - recover from it.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 18 23:35:46 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 29 21:06:16 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jun 14 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "17465233", "review_id": "7d96c757a77fc3242c129b576ee71571", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Steampunk, alternative history, and demon hunting are all combined in a fast-paced YA novel. \n Walking into Demon Gate, I was unsure of exactly what type of experience I would have. Steampunk can be difficult for even the best authors to accomplish, so a relatively unknown author creating a YA book that was no more than 250 pages had me leery. But after reading Demon Gate, I am hooked and can't wait for the next installment. \n Demon Gate is the first novel of a proposed series. It takes place in an alternative New York City sometime in the 1880s. In this reality, there are portals that connect to other universes and different species are trying to immigrate to New York City. \n Enrich, our main character who will at some point turn into the future illusionist Harry Houdini, witnessed his brother getting transported through a portal and followed him through. In an effort to survive, Enrich becomes a demon hunter who tracks down dangerous demons who enter the universe illegally. While working as a demon hunter, Enrich tries to uncover the secrets as to why his brother was taken. \n Demon Gate follows the events after an encounter with a dangerous demon that sheds some light on the secrets to what happened to Enrich's brother - Dash. That adventure includes a lot of fighting, adventure seeking, mystery, and a little help from Nicola Tesla. \n Demon Gate is an extremely satisfying read. The 240 page appearance is a bit deceiving, since readers are being conditioned to believe bigger is better when it comes to literature, but in this case it isn't. There is a lot packed into this little book. The characters are developed, the plot is solid, and it is pretty easy to understand. \n Many times during steampunk novels authors get so wrapped up in the science and 'unique' aspect of world building that they take things to an extreme and make it difficult for readers to follow. Everything in Demon Gate, from the world and demons to the science used, is easy to understand, but not 'dumbed down'. \n While I loved the novel, there is one slight issue I had. The first chapter of the book happens several years before chapter two. Unfortunately, it is not labeled or identified as such. So, readers are left reading the first chapter and then abruptly thrown into a completely different world, scene, and characters. It was a bit confusing, but nothing that can't be overcome! \n Overall, I loved Demon Gate and I'm eagerly awaiting book 2. It is refreshing to see a strong, solid YA book that incorporates steampunk successfully and that is not a doorstop. I really believe anyone who likes steampunk, demon hunting, and/or alternative history will enjoy this novel. It is especially geared towards boys ages 12 and up, as it has a lot of action, fighting, and adventure.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 18 23:30:09 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 18 02:16:18 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "13206828", "review_id": "f701480c0ae9b69877f21f57ff881438", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I admit it. When I read Cinder - Book 1 of the Lunar Chronicles - I wasn't impressed. There was an idea there and I felt the need to add all these new technologies and illnesses overshadowed from how great the book could be. \n I still kept up with the series and Scarlet was a little bit better and showed just enough improvement that I continued on to Cress. All I can say is I am glad that I kept up with the series, because Cress was the book that did 'it' for me and now has me hooked. \n Looking back, I think the Lunar Chronicles is a series that gets better as you read it. Cinder is filled with so many new and interesting things that it is almost overwhelming. Scarlet, keeps those new things, yet focuses more on developing all of the characters. Cress sort of ties up a lot of loose ends and questions that I had and really pushes the main plot - the war - forward. \n Cress introduces a handful of new characters to the mix, which takes some time getting used to while reading. Meyer doesn't just throw a character out there and hope readers 'click' with them. She takes a character and really spends time developing them, building up a background/story for them, and really just lets the character grow/change before the reader's eyes. \n Just because there are new characters doesn't mean the old ones have gone stale or stalled in terms of development. All of the characters, even loveable Iko, still continue to grow. Cinder still struggles with her new found powers/background, Throne is faced with new challenges, and Kai is slowly coming to terms with the arrangements that he has made and what his future holds. \n One of the biggest highlights of Cress - and this entire series - is that Meyer has taken well-loved and very familiar fairy tales and made them her own. While reading these books, you get a familiar sense that you know the story, but it isn't the same old, same old. There is something new and unique added to each and every character. This could be a different background and new personality trait, no matter what it is different. \n Another highlight is that Meyer takes readers to new, exciting areas within the same 'universe'. Cress is mostly held within a remote African village. This keeps the series 'fresh' and exciting. \n Does Cress have some flaws? Of course. Throne, one of my favorite characters, seems to do a 180 in personality. I found him lacking some of his former 'spark', which was a little disappointing. \n I also found that Cress is a typical 'mid'-series book. It is designed to move into the big war between Earth/Lunar, but it doesn't start the war. This means there is a lot of plotting, scheming, and mindless wandering. That isn't to say it isn't good, but it is clear this book is meant to leave readers wanting more. \n A few chapters to the end, Cress introduces Winter to readers. Winter is mad as a hatter and probably one of the characters I am most excited to explore in the next novel. She's crazy - or so you might think. Giving readers just a small taste of this character was brilliant. It made you want more of her, yet you'll have to wait till the next book for more. \n Overall, Cress was a good read. In fact, better than I expected. The quirks and questions that I - and many others - raised throughout the series are slowly starting to get answered. Meyer continues to grow as a writer, while keeping her ability to bring new takes on old classics. \n If you love this series, Cress certainly won't disappoint. If you haven't tried this series and love fairytale retellings or are just looking for something new, I recommend you try this. If you were like me and found Cinder lacking, I'd say to give it a try again because this series certain gets better as it goes along.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 02 17:05:07 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 02 17:06:35 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "15723286", "review_id": "e6bcb181aaee4c1be23642bdcd36d0cf", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Curtsies & Conspiracies is the second book in the Finishing School series. It is a YA steampunk novel that has elements of romance, mystery, adventure, and humor. It stands at 310 pages and was published November 2013 by Hachette Little, Brown & Co. \n ANALYSIS: I have been following Gail Carriger's writing since her Parasol Protectorate series. Last year, when I came across her newest series Finishing School, I was delighted to see a 'spin off' of sorts. \n The first novel in the Finishing School series had many of the same elements that Parasol Protectorate had. It had the bold, sarcastic main female character, the 'airy/spacy' sidekick, lots of humor, and the steampunk/vampire/werewolf mix. The only true difference was the target age group. Where Parasol Protectorate was more for a 'mature' audience, Finishing School was for a younger YA crowd. \n Now, Gail Carriger has delighted readers with the second installment in the Finishing School series. While I enjoyed reading it and found it humorous, I struggled with pacing of the novel and the seemingly lack of a main plot. \n I am sure that Curtsies & Conspiracies had a main plot. In fact, I remember bits and pieces of it, but sadly it was overshadowed by an overwhelming number of minor secondary plots and tid-bits. \n For example, there was a love triangle between Sophronia, Soap, and Lord Mercer, there was a ball to debut one of the other sub-characters, and there was a 'test' of sorts where everyone ignored Sophronia. What I do not recall is the main 'mystery' adventure plot and even upon reading the description of the book, I still do not recall it. Obviously, it wasn't able to shine. \n Curtsies & Conspiracies does have all the same humor and wit that Gail Carriger brought to previous books, including the first of the series. However, this is certainly not her strongest nor her best novel. It dragged, it seemed skittish in plot flow, and really just seemed a bit out there with no real point to why it was written or a part of the series. \n Gail Carriger did something similar with her first adult steampunk series too. The middle books didn't really seem to propel or move the plot of the series along and just seemed thrown out there like a silly after thought. They were fun to read - in the moment - but they didn't stick. \n Overall, Curtsies & Conspiracies is a fast paced read that is delightful for the moment, but it didn't really leave a lasting impression on me due to the overwhelming secondary plots and lack of a main plot. Fans of Gail Carriger will certainly love this book, but it really does not represent her best work.", "date_added": "Sat Jan 18 22:59:54 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 04 16:48:28 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon May 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "15790869", "review_id": "099df373880d4b30d37f7a6c17d88c92", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was surprised I enjoyed this book so much. It isn't anything 'wowing' or new, but it was fast paced, age-appropriate and a fun read. I will keep with the series!", "date_added": "Tue Dec 10 20:04:27 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 14 20:56:21 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Feb 14 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Feb 14 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "17428653", "review_id": "86fab9d22d4e7016c6db9e98c31da8f9", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Jonathan Stroud's novel Heroes of the Valley was one of the first few novels I read and reviewed for Fantasy Book Critic. It was not a favorite novel of mine and I was very critical of it. The premise for the Lockwood & Co. series seemed interesting, so I figured I'd give it a try. After all, all authors are allowed to have one bad novel - in this case Heroes of the Valley. \n Let me just say that I loved Lockwood & Co. The entire book was interesting, captivating, and just all out amazing. \n Lockwood & Co. is essentially a modern-day version of the Ghostbusters. The only difference is the ghosts have completely overtaken the world and are causing multiple problems for people throughout England and the 'Ghostbusters' in this case are young teenagers. \n Young teens and young adults are the only ones to handle the issue, as they are the only ones who can 'see' the ghosts. And we all know you can't fight what you can't see. This leaves a bunch of teenagers working for various firms throughout England that cater to the elimination of ghosts and other spooky objects. \n Lockwood & Co. is a small, private firm. It does not have the manpower or access to resources/money that other, larger firms may have, yet they are one of the best firms and given a very prolific case - after a string of some other odd misfortunes. \n The entire novel is extremely fast paced and well-written. The main characters are extremely detailed with backstories and unique personalities. Lockwood, the owner of the firm, is mysterious and a bit quirky at times, while Lucy is a bit timid, facing tough times and plagued by a past that won't seem to leave her alone. \n One of the main things that really made this book shine is its spooky, eerie feel to it. It wasn't scary, as in 'horror' scary. It was scary in a sense of ghost stories around the campfire scary. The ghosts that are faced in this novel are dangerous, have a past they keep reliving, and are not afraid to attack anyone who might try to eliminate or compromise their ghostly bodies. \n There are several quirky/humorous elements to the novel that help relieve some of the spook/eerie factor. For example, one of the characters tests a ghostly object by bathing with it. There are also several humorous asides thrown in there that really made the book shine. \n It should be noted that while this may sound like just any other middle school/YA ghost novel. It isn't. There is mystery, adventure, and spooky factors that really make this novel stand apart from the what seems like dozens of ghost novels published for this audience. \n Everything about this book just screams (no pun intended) excellence. If you are familiar with Stroud's previous work in the Barimaeus series, you will find this fairly similar in writing style. \n Overall, this is another amazing read for 2014. Even though it is a YA novel, it is written in a style that makes it ideal for audiences both young and old - NOTE: some of the backstories for the ghosts are a bit graphic and scary, so I wouldn't say to go too young. \n One of the best and most captivating novels I've read in a long time.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 22 01:43:34 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 01 16:38:22 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "15766776", "review_id": "24fafbd4c25592fadfb5da234a45a78a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The fairy tales we grew up with as children never really had detailed characters. The characters, at best, were one-dimensional and a bit predictable. There were the ones that were inherently good, the ones that were super-evil, and those that were bad but didn't really want to be and would someday change. But did you ever wonder what the story was behind those characters? \n Liesl Shurtliff's tale Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin takes us on that journey. A behind the scenes look at the enigmatic, mysterious fairy tale creature who could spin straw into gold and who seemed a tad bit obsessed with people guessing his name. \n Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin tells the story of a 12-year old Rump. Rump's mother passed away during childbirth, but right before she died she left him with a parting gift - his name. Unfortunately, the only part of the name people understood was 'Rump'. Even though everyone believed that was his name, Rump knew in his heart that there was more to his name and made it his quest to someday find his real name. \n That quest to find his real name begins when Rump discovers an old spinning wheel in his backyard, which once belonged to his mother. After dragging it into the home he shares with his grandma, he discovers something amazing. The spinning wheel is magical and can spin straw into gold, but all magic comes at a price. \n Ignoring the warning of his good friend, Red (yes the Little Red Riding Hood), Rump continues to use the magical spinning wheel. This lands him into trouble that is all but impossible to fix. \n Liesl Shurtliff does an amazing job making readers root for a character that has a literary stigma of being 'not so nice'. I'm pretty certain most people wouldn't say they cared for Rumpelstiltskin based off of his one-sided fairy tale, but this retelling really made you stop, think, and develop an emotional attachment to Rump. I found myself feeling bad for him and by the end of the story; I was rooting for him to come out as a winner. \n Considering this is a fairly short middle grade story, I found the world building and character development amazing. There are a few nods to other fairy tales, but the entire focus wasn't to make a cutesy spinoff of a fairy tale, but really focus on telling Rump's story. Many times authors go overboard on the 'cute factor', but Shurtliff knows just how to toe the line. \n Overall, I absolutely loved Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin. I could hardly put it down. Considering it was Shurtliff's debut novel, I am impressed. There is a whole lot of talent here and I look forward to seeing where she takes other fairy tales as there are plans to tell the tales of Red and Jack (from Jack and the Beanstalk). \n This is a true 'must read' for anyone who loves fairy tales or anyone looking for a good fast read. Shurtliff won't disappoint.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 04 00:48:21 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 14 19:52:33 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Mon Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "15944406", "review_id": "52ae312a63aac5f0a1cd337026f37a25", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Doll Bones is a children's novel that mixes paranormal stories with adventure and 'coming of age' tales. It stands at 250 pages and was published May 7, 2013 by Margaret K. McElderry Books. \n ANALYSIS: Holly Black is an amazing, best-selling author of children's, YA, and adult fantasy/fiction. Her latest novel Doll Bones is a paranormal horror/adventure novel for children that will even have adults looking over their shoulders - and second guessing the dolls/toys in their home. \n Doll Bones tells the story of Zach, Poppy, and Alice who have been friends for what seems like forever. They enjoy playing with toys/action figures and creating detailed stories and adventures. Unfortunately, Zach is at the age where he is 'too old' for this type of play and vows to stop playing with Alice and Poppy. Alice and Poppy struggle with this sudden severing of their friendship. \n That is until one evening when Poppy starts experiencing strange/mysterious occurrences with a china doll that was used during their adventures. Poppy convinces Alice the doll is haunting her and is 'speaking to her' from beyond. Alice and Poppy rush to tell Zach and beg him to help them discover why the doll is talking to them and solve a murder mystery. \n The only questions is - is this real or is Poppy making it up as a last ditch attempt to keep the friendship between the three of them alive? \n Doll Bones was amazing in a creepy paranormal kind of way. It contains all the elements that a children's paranormal/horror novel should - a creepy story, relatable elements, and characters that instantly bond with readers. The elements in the story are a little heavy for some of the younger readers - a terrible death, betrayal, etc. - but I think it is perfect for children ages 8/9 on up. \n One of the amazing things about this novel is that it works for adults too. Adults can relate to the feeling of being 'too old' to play with toys and the sense that friendships are moving on - even though no one really wants them to end. \n Adults will also find some of the creepy/paranormal aspects of the novel captivating. Holly Black uses her storytelling skills and really pulls you into the story. Her storytelling skills allowed me to feel connected to the characters, feel as if I was a part of the story, and really bring a chilling, haunting quality to the novel. \n Overall, I really enjoyed the novel. There were parts that were certainly creepy and had me thinking twice about any toys/stuffed animals in my house. And there were parts and characters that I really could relate to, which made the story seem to just fly by. \n I think it is one of those books that will work for anyone -regardless of age. It works perfect for children looking to get into scary horror stories, but who might not be ready for a bunch of blood, guts and gore. It works great for those that love adventure stores and it works great for adults who are looking for a fun, solid read that is definitely a page turner.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 04 00:47:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 04 18:52:56 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "15757971", "review_id": "e23569ed881a53fae55eb80e2ae537f2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Every so often a fantasy/sci-fi book comes along that just sweeps you off your feet and you honestly don't know why. Obsidian Mirror is one of those books, at least for me, for the year. And it should come as no surprise considering who the author of this book is - Catherine Fisher. \n Catherine Fisher has made a name for herself throughout the fantasy/sci-fi community for creating detailed, highly original novels and Obsidian Mirror is no exception. \n Obsidian Mirror has a little bit of everything. There are the fey creatures, wonderful historic London, time traveling, love, greed, mystery, action, and adventure. Think of it almost as a combination of a time traveling novel/sci-fi/fantasy novel, but its set in the modern world. \n I was unsure how I liked this combination of genres and elements. I was undecided at first, but by the end of the novel I was loving it. It really just came together and worked. I think for some authors this combination of elements and genres could have been disastrous and appeared forced, but Fisher has made it work and turned out an amazing novel which will hopefully be the start of a great YA series. \n Readers just venturing into Obsidian Mirror might get slightly confused at first. In classic Fisher style there is a lot going on, but readers are not given any real backstory or explanation of what is going on. Readers are forced to go with the flow and learn as they read. Everything is nicely put together and explained eventually, but it can be a tiny bit confusing at first. \n Very similar to other novels that Fisher has penned, the characters in Obsidian Mirror are a bit of a mystery to readers. They are extremely detailed and react honestly to situations with intense emotions, but they this mysterious vibe to them. Readers throughout the novel will slowly start to get to know the characters, what makes them tick, what their motives are, and what role they may or may not play in this entire novel. \n The mysterious element, just like the slow unraveling of the plot/back story, can be slightly frustrating, but Fisher works her magic and really pulls it all together. The pacing of the novel, eloquent writing style, and unique feel of the novel really makes this novel stand out from the rest. \n This novel is a part of a trilogy and does end with a cliffhanger. The main plot elements are temporarily resolved, but there are dozens of unresolved plot elements that leaves readers wanting and craving more. Unfortunately, they have to wait for the next installment. \n Overall, Obsidian Mirror is another wonderful addition to the YA sci-fi/fantasy world. It is definitely a top novel for 2013 and I have high hopes for the series. I hope Fisher has learned from the Incarceron series, where it started out with a bang and fizzled out to a disappointing end. \n If you are looking for something new, unique and fun, yet not too overly complicated, a fan of Fisher's previous workers, or like adventure, sci-fi, and time travel, this is definitely a novel for you to try. The pacing is quick, the characters detailed, and the plot is one is not filled with the same old, same old.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 04 16:58:32 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 14 23:03:59 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "12951328", "review_id": "81b55f4fd1d6515a830e2bf5540c21a9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Vengeance, the first book in the Tainted Realm trilogy, was my first chance to experience Ian Irvine's writing. I have seen the author's works on the shelf before, but never had the urge or time to pursue any of the other fantasy series. \n Vengeance had all the elements I was looking for at the time in a book -- fantasy, mystery, adventure, and a newly created world to jump right into. Add that to the mysterious, yet not unique plot and I thought I'd give this novel a try. \n I enjoyed my journey into Ian Irvine's writing. I found that the world was surprisingly unique, yet not so complicated that I felt weighted down with lengthy descriptions or tons of information. Irvine seemed to know just how to set up the world so that readers could understand and picture it in their minds without the need of 20-30 pages of lengthy descriptions. \n That is not to say that the world is not complicated or simple. Irvine adds a lot of history, depth, and magic to the world without making it feel like you have picked up a history book and started reading. \n In addition to the world building, I loved the action and adventure. Things seemed to move at a fairly consistent pace that never really allowed the book to slow down, yet wasn't so fast that I felt lost or as if I was missing something due to the need for action. \n While I enjoyed the world building and fast paced nature of the story, there were several potential problems that I ran into with the novel. The first problem was a slight confusion that I felt during the first one-third to half of the book. \n There were numerous names, background stories, and other things that just seemed thrown out there. It almost felt like I was picking up on a middle book in the series, but I was not. This is the first book of a series. Things are eventually cleared up and by the end of the book, I was no longer confused and everything fell into place, but it was a little aggravating. \n Another problem I encountered was the lack of an emotional attachment to any character. Typically, in a novel I feel attached to someone. Sometimes it is the good guy, sometimes it is the bad guy, sometimes it is the random side kick. This book I felt nothing for any of the characters. Maybe this was due to the action and world building, maybe it was just a 'first book getting to know characters' problem, I am not really sure. \n I did find Tobey, a side kick to the main character Rix, mysterious and fascinating. However, it was not until the end of the book that I really started to connect with him and by then the book was over. \n Overall, I enjoyed Vengeance. There were slight issues that arose, but I don't think it hurt my reading experience. I do wish that I had connected more with some of the characters, but maybe that will happen in the second book. I plan on reading the second book in this series to see how things turn out and may even explore other works by Irvine.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 31 18:24:37 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 31 19:13:26 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu May 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7842288", "review_id": "169e00746dd720e5d4b4c1c4e0fb5640", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I figured the first book made me laugh, so why not continue the series. I am glad my entertainment did not let me down! \n This book is even funnier than the first. You have the main character running around messing everything and anything up. He runs around chasing a girl who obviously does not want him around for pages and pages and pages. He might want to see a psychologist for this obvious co-dependency issue. \n You have Lena (who is a spoiled, ungrateful brat) who is throwing the world's worst temper tantrum, so bad that I wanted to take her over my knee and teach her a lesson. And then you have the vagueness.. \n Yes the never ending, let us not ask questions or answer anyone's questions. So we run around looking stupid and making this book 100 times longer than it needs to be. \n And let us not forget the never ending tunnels. It was like a cartoon with the background that just keeps looping over ever 3 seconds. Yup, it was rather funny. \n My favorite part? The end. You have a choice of Light or Dark.... what does Lena do? She says some idiotic phrase that will carry this prolonged saga on. Thank you Lena, I needed the entertainment.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 30 23:52:17 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 19 00:36:47 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7332664", "review_id": "0fdfd2d9f10d3078ab30daab3d8a08ae", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The minute a book is labeled 'urban fantasy' and the main character is a woman, people automatically assume they are going to get this smart-ass, sassy heroine who can do anything and everything under the sun. Mix in a few werewolves/vampires or a handsome guy who works for the FBI/law enforcement and you have the whole book wrapped up in a nutshell - but Black Swan Rising is not like that. \n Black Swan Rising shows that urban fantasy - good urban fantasy - doesn't have to follow the cookie cutter layout that has become so popular. It has an interesting plot, mixture of everyone's favorite vampires, fairies, demons, and the like, the use of history/art and modern-day NYC, and characters that are written in a way that readers almost instantly fall in love with them. \n The first thing that attracted my attention upon reading Black Swan Rising was the characters. There was just something about Garet James - our leading lady - and her friends and family members that just clicked. I found them likeable and easy to relate to, which lead to the easy ability to connect with this book. \n Garet James is strong, but not in the sense that she would win a fist fight or be the class bully. She's strong and independent in other ways. I think this is where Black Swan Rising veers from other urban fantasy books, as it has a relatively normal, yet strong woman in the lead. The novel was able to stand on its own without having this major, super-strong, sassy woman at the wheel of the ship and it did just fine. \n Another intriguing aspect of Black Swan Rising was the setting of the novel. It takes place in NYC. There are lots of major landmarks and attractions used in various scenes throughout the novel, which really added character to the whole book. It was nice to see a novel that focused on the historical aspect, without drowning readers in boring, dull facts. \n There were a handful of times where I did feel a little like an outsider with the whole NYC setting. I have never visited there and have no ability to reference some of the locations mentioned, but I was able to breeze through those sections and not feel totally lost. \n While Black Swan Rising is an amazing novel, it is not without its faults. Some of the novel revolves around Garet discovering all these magical elemental skills. I have to admit, this part wasn't as captivating as I would have imagined. Maybe it is because some of the stuff was so technical and out there that it was hard as a reader to follow along or maybe I just couldn't seem to follow it. Either way, it wasn't - in my opinion - one of the stronger parts of the book. \n Another weakness of the book was its habit to throw multiple fantasy creatures at the reader. There are vampires, fairies, and demons. While all play a part in the plot, they do seem a little 'thrown out there'. I would have liked to see them a little more integrated into the book and not so random. \n Overall, Black Swan Rising was a surprising novel. I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected and found the artistic elements, underground fantasy world, and loveable characters captivating until the last page. This is definitely a gentler/slower urban fantasy, but do not let that prevent you from reading it.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 24 23:21:14 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 21 21:23:00 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jan 13 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "17745703", "review_id": "804943bd3ee2e823bb787b5818d68637", "rating": 2, "review_text": "On paper - or the flap of a book cover - Doon sounds like an amazing and slightly unique book that was just perfect for me. It promised to be 'loosely based' off of musical Brigadoon and it takes place in Scotland. Unfortunately, what was promised didn't really meet up to what was delivered. \n The entire idea behind the story was fairly original and had so much potential, but extremely predictable, almost boring main characters, a slow moving plot, and irritating conversations and 'cutesy catch phrases' really just ruined the whole book. \n I'll start with the main characters. The novel switches between the POV of Veronica and Mackenna. These characters were extremely irritating to the point it ruined the whole book. \n Veronica is this 'gorgeous' beauty who doesn't know how beautiful she is, but that isn't the worst. She spends the entire novel swooning over this mysterious guy and whining/crying about how broken she is as a person all because her daddy left her and her boyfriend dumped her. While I understand the need for this back story, we - as readers - are reminded of Veronica's daddy issues and boyfriend woes every 5 seconds. \n Mackenna is the opposite of Veronica, except she too doesn't realize she's beautiful. She is supposed to be fun-loving, but comes across as snarky, mean, and extremely jaded. Now, here is the kicker. She loves Broadway and musicals. So, every few moments she is comparing life to some favorite musical or saying these really cheesy phrases like 'Holy Hammerstein!' and ' Sweet Baby Sondheim'. \n Maybe things have changed since I was a teen, but I can almost guarantee that teenage girls would not repeatedly make these phrases an everyday occurrence, multiple times throughout the day. It just seemed unrealistic and very tiring. \n If the bad characterization of the two main characters wasn't bad enough, we are given the secondary character of James MacCrae and Duncan MacCrae. These are extremely handsome guys who come equipped with eight-pack abs, because six-pack abs just aren't sexy/hot enough. Unfortunately, these characters lack personality and are only developed from afar because we are given a look into life from Veronica/Mackenna. \n Another huge issue with the book was the writing. The team of authors seemed set out to make a point that Veronica/Mackenna are BFFs. To make their point, they tell the readers that these two 'share a brain' at least a dozen times. I get that it is a cute phrase and all, but it really was overused. \n In addition to the issue of the overuse of cute phrases, the use of a rather frustrating Scottish dialect made this novel a difficult read. Every individual who is from Scotland speaks with an abundance of dinnas, kennas, tas, fers, and other random words. Every single time someone opened their mouth they had this come out of their mouths. \n Overall, the entire book - which should have been great - was executed in an extremely juvenile way. This would have been great had two 13 year olds written this, but it wasn't. I understand it is a YA novel, but I really don't see this appealing to its main audience. And it certainly is not appealing to anyone outside of the main audience. \n Sadly, what could have been a wonderful novel with a few slightly typical YA quirks turned into something completely different. I kept reading hoping it would get better, but it didn't. I would not advice people to not read this book, I would just say to approach it with caution and a very, very open mind.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 01 23:24:40 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 01 16:37:28 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "16030663", "review_id": "240a2ebd2290a23f93238c83cfde4b59", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the strange and fateful tale of a boy, a girl and a ghost. \n From the moment I read these opening words, I was captivated and drawn into this novel. Far Far Away is a truly unique, beautifully written YA fairy tale, though not your average 'once upon a time, there lived a princess/fair maiden/etc.' This is a modern day, suspense-filled novel that will captivate the attention of not only teens, but adult readers as well. \n The narrator of this novel is Jacob Grimm, yes of the famous 'Brothers Grimm'. He is a ghost who has been given the mission of watching over a rather young boy, Jeremy Johnson Johnson, whom readers meet when he is approximately 14/15. Jacob Grimm tells of his observations, encounters, and activities, while providing the reader with a full understanding of everything that is going on. \n In many ways, Far Far Away is like a story that would be told around the campfire. It has a narrative quality to it, without making it appear stale, boring, or stiff. Tom McNeal does a wonderful job of practically grabbing the reader's attention from the first few pages and never letting go until the long after the last words of the novel have been read. \n The characters in the novel are relatively 'fleshed' out. There are some obvious holes in character development or times when I was wondering 'but what about .....', but as with any fairy tale readers are not privy to every tiny detail of information. \n An example of this was the whole situation with the young girl and her grandfather. I wanted to know why he didn't like her, what their relationship was like, etc. This was never explored, but there were enough details provided that I was able to use my imagination. Maybe not everything needs to be spelled out for readers. \n I really enjoyed the tip of the hat to previous fairy tales. Not the Disney versions, but the real versions. It wasn't so obvious that it took away from the story, but there was just enough references and little hints here and there of the Grimm stories that I found it tasteful and enjoyable. \n It should be warned that this novel is not one that starts off with a 'bang' and drags you on an adventure. Readers will be taken on an adventure, but at a slower, more leisurely pace. There was never a moment that I started to get bored with the book, so the pacing is spot on, but people expecting action and adventure at every turn will be disappointed. \n There is an entire feeling of mystery and intrigue throughout the novel. I won't say that it was confusing or so mysterious that readers won't know what is going on, but there was a feeling that I HAD to read on to know more. I was simply swept up in the novel. In fact, there was a few times where I was biting my nails because I was nervous or anxious about what was going on in the novel. I was that into the novel. \n Overall, this novel took me by surprise. It isn't your typical supernatural novel/fantasy/horror novel, but a unique blend of all types of genres wrapped into one. The timeless quality of this novel means that you could read it today, tomorrow, or in 10 years, and still get the same results. It truly is one of my top novels for 2013 and something any fairy tale lover, Grimm Brothers fanatic, or just people who enjoy a good story should read.", "date_added": "Fri May 10 16:37:36 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 29 02:06:58 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Sep 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "12005076", "review_id": "ee93a692f74781dc66b54d6d095ca18e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Typical middle book, only with more action/adventure. I struggled to remember the storyline from the first book, but there was enough hints and other things to help me along the way.", "date_added": "Sun May 05 19:18:57 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 19 00:42:31 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "10836736", "review_id": "9656ea481e2e250f2eff33dd776ab94b", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I picked up Seven Princes with rather high hopes. Words such as 'wonderful epic fantasy', 'gripping', and other nouns were used to describe the book, and when it comes to a new epic fantasy I couldn't pass it up. Unfortunately, the experience I had with this novel didn't live up to anything I had heard about the book. \n Entering Seven Princes, I thought that the concept for the book was rather captivating. It wasn't unique by any means, but it had the potential to create a good epic fantasy. Unfortunately, I think the execution of the book took what could have been a decent fantasy novel and turned it into something less than stellar. \n Seven Princes is almost told in narrative style writing. It feels as if the writer is hearing about the story long after it has happened and just looking in from the outside. This combined with the extremely stilted conversations between characters makes it hard for readers to really connect with anything that happens with the novel. \n There were major scenes, such as the massive massacre, where I just felt devoid of any emotion. I am not entirely sure if this is because it felt like I was reading a news story and being told just the facts, because I couldn't connect with anyone, or the author just failed in his attempt to make one strong character that any reader would bond with or care about. \n In addition to the rather mundane character development and narrative style writing, there were pacing issues. The pacing of the novel is slow, extremely slow. This, unfortunately, made most of what happened in the book seem predictable. The events and scenes just seemed to drag on and on, so much so that I could see what was happening pages or even chapters before it happened. \n The novel really starts to slow down in the middle. It was approximately 200 pages to the end and I struggled. It was at that point that I felt conversations between characters were just thrown around, the predictable nature of the book had hit an all-time high, and I struggled. I eventually finished it, but it took me longer than I had expected. \n It should be noted that this is John R. Fultz's debut novel. I think Fultz has talent and a very creative mind, I just think I few things need to be ironed out to make future books a success. Items such as pacing, character development, and leaving a bit to the reader's imagination in terms of plot are all things that could have helped to make this novel a success. \n Overall, I found Seven Princes a huge disappointment. There was so much promise with this novel, but unfortunately I don't think kept up that promise and fell flat.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 28 12:30:17 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 04 16:55:56 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Mar 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "13160434", "review_id": "ae39c61e7612e3311a9d6f49ba96dc9d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Incarnation weaves a unique combination of steampunk, adventure, mystery, and vampires into an elegantly written standout novel. Literally from the first chapter readers are thrust into a steampunk Victorian London world where vampires secretly run amuck, but the public is none the wiser. \n This may sound like the setup for just any old vampire novel, but it isn't. The first chapter of Incarnation starts off with a rather detailed description of what it would feel like to mysteriously wake up as a vampire. Readers are introduced to Lucy Weston as she awakens buried deep underground with a wooden stake driven through her chest. She has no idea how she got there, why she is like this, and immediately starts digging herself out of her own grave. \n After Lucy Weston valiantly digs herself out of her grave, she works to piece together the memories she has of her former life. She discovers that a newly published novel, Dracula, contains what appears to be a rather accurate, yet slightly fictionalized version of her death and she vows to get to the bottom of the story. This quest to find out what happened to her, why she appears as a main character in a novel, and why she has a sudden craving for blood pushes her deeper into the underground world of the supernatural. \n Incarnation is an absolute amazing novel. It was fast paced, yet didn't let things, such as character development or plots falter in favor of a faster pace. All of the characters readers encounter in Incarnation are extremely fleshed out, especially Lucy. It is as if readers almost become Lucy as they read the novel. \n The style of writing in the novel is slightly different than most vampire/supernatural novels. Incarnation takes on a slightly dark, poetic style of writing compared to a sassy, in your face style. This style might not work for everyone, but it really helps set the tone and pace of the novel. \n I have to admit this novel had me sitting on the edge of my seat. Every scene just seemed to get better and better, and I kept wanting and craving to read more. I really think this had to do with the fact that this novel details a young woman's adventure in finding herself and discovering who she really is. However, unlike most of us, this young woman happens to be a vampire and discovers herself with the help of several members of the supernatural community. \n While Incarnation is filled with the typical vampires, there isn't one thing 'typical' about the plot. There are fresh, unique twists and turns at every corner. This novel is filled with adventure, mystery, and romance. Yes, there is a little romance, but it doesn't overpower or overshadow the plot. \n The one slight issue I do have with Incarnation is the way that it ended. I don't believe the ending could be considered a cliffhanger, but the door is definitely open for more novels in the future. \n In the end, Incarnation was a wonderful, amazing read. While it wasn't totally what I expected (a typical vampire/romance novel), it turned out to be so much more and an absolute delight to read.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 02 22:47:23 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon May 06 02:31:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jan 13 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "91477", "review_id": "e2371946565b8848421088394a7191d7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Just the same as the previous book. It was alright, but I liked the first one better.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 02 22:47:05 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 19 00:40:41 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2802316", "review_id": "d10a372659c0b0c3ed6d6ba4cf7d7e87", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoy this series. I'm not sure what it is that attracts me to it, but it really has me hooked. \n I really feel as if every book in this series just grows and feeds off of the previous one. One of the things I can't stand in novels is when the characters just sort of develop to a point, but never change. That does not happen in this series. \n I feel as if all the characters are constantly growing and changing with the times. Of course, I still get a little frustrated with some of the elements of the book (oh we're in love, but we can't be near each other, etc.), but I still love this book. \n I do think that anyone who has read a substantial amount of books would know what was coming in this book. But that doesn't mean it's super predictable. I feel it was handled in a manner that allowed people to be 'shocked', but not super surprised (I know it hardly makes sense). \n I honestly cannot wait to continue this series!", "date_added": "Tue Dec 11 00:50:07 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 08 18:11:48 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Tue Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "9565548", "review_id": "83e437e46a1915aebd9968c29bd01847", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Well this was a bit k8sleading. Here I thought I would get a kick as assassin novel and it turned into some sappy romance that was rather boring and forced.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 09 01:40:49 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 22 13:30:48 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Apr 22 13:30:48 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "12799420", "review_id": "1d5d41d8d09018bf29320460cf331d9c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Gail Carriger is one of those authors that you either love her writing style or you hate it. It is a little bit steampunk, little bit supernatural, and a whole lot of out-right silliness. It certainly isn't for everyone. \n I started reading Carriger's novels in 2010 when the Parasol Protectorate series was brand new. I admit it took a little getting used to, as the books weren't like anything I had read before. The conversations between characters was flowery, the situations ridiculous (in a silly/fun way), and there was an effort to keep things time period specific. I grew to enjoy Carriger's novels and have since read the entire Parasol Protectorate series and all three books - so far - of the Finishing School series. \n Given how much I enjoyed the Parasol Protectorate series, I was excited when I heard that Carriger was doing a spin-off of sorts with The Custard Protocol. The Custard Protocol follows Prudence - Lord and Lady Maccon's daughter - as she makes her way through society and learns to accept her role as a metanatural. Unfortunately, my excitement did not last through this book. \n First, it should be known that if you enjoyed the Parasol Protectorate series, you will probably enjoy The Custard Protocol. The writing style is the same, the characters are the same; everything is pretty much in line with the first series. And that is where the problem begins. \n Ultimately, I felt as though The Custard Protocol was a mere redo of the Parasol Protectorate. Substitute Alexia with Prudence, Ivy with her daughter, and a few other characters, and you ultimately have the entire first series. I was really looking forward to seeing Prudence as a new person and new character, but that didn't happen. \n In fact, if you closed your eyes there really was no difference between Alexia in book 1 of the Parasol Protectorate and Prudence in book one of The Custard Protocol. The powers were a little different and Prudence was more aware of the supernatural aspect of the world, but attitude, personality, quirks, and speaking style was exactly the same. The only exception is..... Prudence is boring. She only knows clothing and fashion. So imagine a boring Alexia and you get Prudence. \n Prudence wasn't the only one without a new personality. Prim Tunstall is attached at Prudence's hip and appears non-stop throughout the book. The problem with this is Prim - while claiming to not be like her mother - is exactly like Ivy Hisselpenny (Alexia's best friend from The Parasol Protectorate series). \n I really would have liked to see the characters be themselves instead of feeling as if Carriger was trying to re-capture the feelings from the first series. Yes, it could be argued that people inherit their parent's traits, but every character was almost a cookie cutter knockoff of their parent from the first series. It was a bit disappointing. \n In addition to the lack of new character development, there is the lack of a plot. The ultimate plot of the book is that Prudence is sent to India to discover some odd, but tasty tea plant. I wish I could tell you there was more to the plot, but there isn't a whole lot more to the plot. There is a subplot that gets revealed in the last part of the book about two groups of warring supernatural creatures, but it is largely overshadowed and downplayed. \n For much of the book readers are overburdened with nonsense. There are huge sections of silly talk about what the proper dress is for an occasion or what hat should go with what. There is a lot of description and time spent talking about a ladybug painted dirigible that farts - yes it farts and that is world-ending horrible. And let us not forget the debates about what is or is not proper for society. I know society gossip/reputation was important in that time period, but this just seemed to be placed there in the absence of a plot. \n Don't get me wrong. I understand the series is supposed to be silly and humorous, but for the most part Carriger knows how to bring in humor while keeping a plot going. That did not happen here. We were left with a good 25-50% of nonsense, a little plot development, and a little look back and hints of favorite characters from previous books. \n I wish I could say I enjoyed Prudence. Carriger is a wonderful, amazing and very talented author. Unfortunately, this book was not one of her strongest. I believe fans of her other series may enjoy it, but it does not have the potential to capture the attention of a new audience.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 09 01:40:07 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 12 20:00:17 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "4499214", "review_id": "3530d4a1a01a5b1573ef9acc40e48673", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It's taken me a while to really grasp my feelings on this book. When I finished Incarceron, I was floored. I enjoyed the book a lot more than I thought I would and I just couldn't wait to read the sequel, Sapphique. Unfortunately, I'm not sure the momentum and excitement that I had for Incarceron carried over to Sapphique. \n When Incarceron ended there were literally hundreds of unanswered questions that I had. There were characters I was waiting to see develop and grow, there were plots and twists I wanted to see resolved, and just hundreds of questions about the 'prison' and world. Unfortunately, I didn't see many of these things come to light in Sapphique as I would have liked. \n The characters didn't seem to grow, change or develop from the first book. Everyone acted in a very stilted, wooded style - almost as if they were pre-programmed to fit a mold and that was how they were going to act. When the book finished, I could honestly say I felt as if the characters were the same as when I first started the book. \n Catherine Fisher is a great story teller that focuses a lot on adventure, action, excitement. All of that is in this book, but I really feel more time could have been spent on developing the characters, showing more interactions between them, and really having them develop and become more than one dimensional characters. \n One of the many reasons I feel as if the characters didn't grow or develop during the course of the book is the way the story is told. Catherine Fisher has a habit of telling the readers how the characters think, feel and act. She doesn't take the time to show it. For example, readers are told that Claudia is angry, upset or mad. But the question that kept coming up was 'why?' or 'how come?' and I never really got any answers to that. \n Another issue that I'd like to bring up was the ending of the book. I walk away from this two book series feeling nothing. I don't feel a real sense of closure. I felt as if Catherine Fisher woke up and was like 'oh I need to end this book? Okay here's the end.\" Considering the rather intense, emotional situation she developed through the entire two books in the series, I really feel that the ending was thrown out there and really anti-climactic. \n I know it sounds like I didn't like the book, and that isn't entirely true. I will still read other books by Catherine Fisher. I just thought Sapphique was just alright. Maybe it was a case of an author who had so much going on in their head that it became difficult to wrap the story up. \n I appreciate the creative, wonderful world that was developed in this series. I loved the whole idea of the people living in the future, but embracing the past, but I just have this incomplete feeling after reading the series. And because of that feeling, I just give it an 'okay' rating not a 'wow I'm amazed' rating.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 26 17:35:41 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 08 18:17:47 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "15793094", "review_id": "d4aa9fd950837fb86c3a13d9a5545f17", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Take a little fantasy and magic, mix it with the Wild West and add in some mythology, an apocalyptic prophecy and a dozen innocent characters, and you get Six-Gun Tarot. This rather random combination of elements brought this book to my attention, and without it I would have probably passed on the book altogether. \n The entire plot of Six-Gun Tarot revolves around a small mining town in Nevada, known as Golgotha. This mining town was once a main hub of operations, but in the past several years it has slowly started to decline. That decline has caused the town to have a lot of secrets, and the entire novel revolves around shedding light on most, not all, of those secrets. \n The first thing that really strikes a reader about Six-Gun Tarot is the rather large cast of characters. Readers are introduced to over a dozen different characters, and given insight into each and every one of them. \n While this rather large cast of characters allowed readers to really embrace and understand the eclectic town, it at times could be rather distracting. I spent a fair amount of time in the first half of the novel wondering just how all these characters were related and why we were being introduced to the 'mad scientist' or the 'random scene in a parlor'. \n These random characters and scenes in the novel may appear at first glance to be just thrown out there, but they really do start to come together and really weave a truly amazing story. One of the scenes in particular that struck me as randomly thrown in was the part about the angel Biqa. There is an entire chapter devoted to the angel and then not much else mentioned until the end of the novel. I read that chapter and noticed it seemed so 'off' from the rest of the book. But it really does work out in the end and everything is explained. \n Even with all the sub-plots, plots and characters, one might think that there wouldn't be a lot of world building or any real substance to this book, but there is. The entire 'world' is nicely etched out for readers, with backgrounds and history and other elements that make for great world building. It was nice to see that the desire to have dozens of main characters didn't overshadow the need for a richly developed world. \n One of the parts that I really loved about this book its ability to take basic mythology and add a rather unique spin on it. Nothing 'new' is being introduced, but it has a new voice, and I loved it. \n There is one slight weakness of the book and I would have to say that would be the pacing of the book. It really felt sort of sluggish in the beginning. This was while things were still being pieced together, readers were discovering who was connected to whom and how they were connected, but it really drew away from the book. I think many readers might just set the book aside and really miss out on an amazing novel. \n It should be said that Six-Gun Tarot isn't going to be for everyone. There isn't a set magic system and this novel certainly doesn't have all the elements of your typical SF/fantasy novel, but it is totally amazing. \n Overall, this was an amazing novel. I think people who loved Buffy, Supernatural, etc.... will love it as will people who are looking for a new, refreshing voice/story. This novel is either going to run hot or cold. I honestly, don't see there being a middle ground. People will love it or they'll not be into it at all. Luckily, I fall into the first category and would love to see more from this great aspiring author.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 26 17:17:51 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 25 15:06:41 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Mon Nov 26 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "9409362", "review_id": "ea7e4418f1c926406ef5f32735b16bea", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ever since the popularity of books like the Hunger Games, dystopia YA books have become all the rage. Every writer and publisher seems to be jumping on the bandwagon in hopes of making the next big dystopia novel. \n Unfortunately, I don't see Elemental having the major appeal that Hunger Games had, but I do see it having a slight following mainly due to its rather unique-ish plot element that involves pirates and elemental magic and tons of adventure. \n Elemental's major strength is the constant non-stop action and adventure. There was constant non-stop action literally from about the second or third chapter until the end of the book. The characters were taken on a lengthy boat ride across the bay, there were storms, pirates invading, people dying, and all sorts of things going on. \n One of the benefits of having this non-stop action is that the book constantly moves. There is no real lull in the plot, no part of the book where the plot seems to drag. Instead, readers are quickly moved from one problem to the next without really dwelling on things. I honestly feel that this fast pace for the book works as a major advantage as it's hard to get bored with a book that moves this fast. \n I believe the non-stop action would definitely appeal to anyone who is looking for a fast paced book or anyone looking for lots of action. However, the non-stop action comes at a price - character development. \n I really didn't feel anything for any of the characters. Readers follow the main character, Thomas, throughout the whole book. However, despite Thomas being a constant the whole book I felt nothing for him. This inability to connect with the characters also sort of ruined the romance part of the book. There was romance developing and due to the fact that I didn't seem to know or care about the characters, I didn't care what happened romance wise. \n Another major strength of Elemental that I really feel kept me hooked on the book is the use of pirates. No, these aren't your Jack Sparrow pirates. These are true pirates; Ones that go around scaring people, using intimidation to get their way, and just plain bullies of the sea. I don't know why pirates aren't used more in books, but I think it was a refreshing element that really set Elemental apart from the rest of the books. \n A warning should be given as this entire book is a setup for book 2. In fact, it sort of ends in a cliff-hanger that will leave you waiting for the next book. I \n Overall, Elemental was a delight to read. It was fast paced, filled with action, and had a unique 'elemental magic' twist that really kept me reading until the end. I am hoping the lack of character development is resolved in future books, as I really see potential with the series.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 21 16:43:28 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 30 20:40:05 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Nov 26 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Wed Nov 21 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "12844699", "review_id": "a43c2dcc2c714da8b57418150236f3d6", "rating": 5, "review_text": "It is my belief that there are two types of readers in the world; those that sit down and just read the words of a book and those that live the book. Those that are classified in the second category live, breathe, and become all consumed with the characters, plots, and events of a book. Sometimes this happens with one book, sometimes it happens with every book that they read, but it happens. \n If you have ever had an experience like the above mentioned situation then Libriomancer is a book for you. Jim C. Hines has created a magic system that exists in the modern world that I only wish really existed and I'm sure that other book lovers wished existed too. \n Libriomancer revolves around the idea that there is a secret group of sorcerers, known as Libriomancers. These people have the ability to open a book, reach into it, and take out anything was created in that book. This even includes people, but they would of course be copies of the individual not the actual individual. \n Of course, there are limitations like the item has to fit through the size of the book and only items that were written into books that were widely distributed could be materialized. And with all magic systems, there are problems and consequences such as hearing voices, the book may drag you too far into it, and the books get charred or burned look if used too many times. \n I found this entire magical system extremely captivating and intriguing. Just the simple thought that the books that are sitting on my shelf could essentially be used as weapons or that I could grab a copy of Harry Potter and pull out a wand to try and use it really fascinated me. \n Hine's spent a lot of time developing this magic system and put a lot of thought into it. There would be occasional times throughout the book that I would wonder about a certain problem or loophole I discovered, only to find that that same exact question is addressed later on. \n For example, I was struggling with the idea that if people could do anything with books (pull people out, use items, etc.) what would happen if something that was extremely powerful or influential was used, say The Bible. Hine addresses this exact question by having a group of Libriomancers who read all books and determine if they are a risk. If they are the book has a magical lock placed on it and people can read it, but not use it for magical purpose. \n That isn't all that kept me reading this book. Jim C. Hine has a way of writing that just pulls you into the book. His writing is smooth, yet filled with humor that doesn't appear forced or awkward. The humor also does not appear at inappropriate times. If a huge fight scene is going on, Hines isn't going to have his characters rattling off one-liners in the hopes to get you laugh. You'll be sitting there in the midst of a battle or fight. Hines even intertwines several literary references to popular books and authors into the novel without making it feel forced or awkward. \n Fans of Hine's Jig the Goblin series will like the little surprise that Hine's has weaved into the novel. Jig the Goblin is one of my favorite fantasy books and I loved the way Hine's tipped his hat to that series. \n The pace of the novel is just right. It takes time to fully explain everything, including history of the Libriomancers and the magic system, without bogging the book down with lengthy explanations. \n Libriomancer is an urban fantasy. Unfortunately, I believe too many people will read magic, vampires, supernatural, and chalk this series up as just another one of 'those flashy urban fantasy books'. Let me tell you, it is far from it. Yes, it has the same plot elements, but it really is a unique take on the urban fantasy. \n Overall, I loved this book. I think Hine's has some Libriomancer magic going on because this book just pulled me in and kept me reading. If you are a fan of urban fantasy or liked Hine's other series, you will definitely enjoy this novel. Grab a copy and see for yourself, who knows there just might be a little Libriomancer inside you that is waiting to come out.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 19 20:58:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun May 19 21:54:03 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "17162156", "review_id": "37ef9f713be7b0ea33c2963c2907935f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I don't get the hype. I just don't get it.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 18 01:09:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 09 21:49:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "9685579", "review_id": "099ce75907a885c7b12bad1b3b7a5734", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Wow. This is a definate game changer in the series. I honestly wish the whole series had stayed on this level of writing, because if it did the series would have been more popular than it is. \n It's hard to explain what happens in this book, but it's awe-inspiring and mind blowing. I was reluctant to read this book as the second book put me off of the series, but I am glad I did. \n Pearl North pulls some amazing plot twists into this third and final installment and I feel any lover of books will definately love it. It will really make you think twice about books, plots and reading.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 11 23:28:13 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 26 17:32:14 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Nov 05 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "24854871", "review_id": "75274a5fdf1dbebee0884268926e4992", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I think I loved this book more than the first series. It only took me so long because of real life :(. I want the next book now!", "date_added": "Mon Aug 27 02:44:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 10 03:11:10 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Oct 10 03:11:10 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Sep 23 23:30:22 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "10445208", "review_id": "417bc4d14095c907a89bcce16661e72f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "If you liked Snyder's previous series, you will love this book. It has a similar pace and style to the other books, but it offers the reader some unique twists and turns. \n I found this to be an extremely fast read, but a good one. I was captivated from page 1 and just flew through the book. Can't wait to see what happens. \n Wonderful job!", "date_added": "Mon Aug 27 02:43:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 17 02:12:48 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jan 13 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jan 13 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "645022", "review_id": "8b930cfacdbb88b772ca07f98ce79aa1", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Ehhhh. I am underwhelmed by this ending.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 27 02:26:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 15 03:57:59 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Aug 15 04:06:29 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Aug 10 00:42:24 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "44688", "review_id": "bc924b1211770155b0548f0e8cfe5a71", "rating": 5, "review_text": "While I wasn't thrilled that this book started out revolving around the spoiled brat that is the Princess, I think this turned out to be one of my favorite Belgariad books so far. \n This book seemed to move faster than the others and the dialogue between characters had me actually laughing aloud sometimes. It's still the typical fantasy but I love it all the same.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 27 02:26:38 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 02 23:02:09 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Aug 27 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "92855", "review_id": "53a07d2adb2e9ad7cf974784995d896d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is my second go around reading this novel. I read it 7 years ago and it was one of my first fantasy novels. I revisted it again this summer and it still shows me that I love me some Terry Brooks fantasy. \n I wouldn't say this is his strongest or best book, but it fits with the series and fills in some gaps. I love it, but not my favorite Shannara novel.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 13 16:09:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 27 00:59:45 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7719355", "review_id": "0538f5daeeb9ad286b37c7a01e79bde0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "After the iffy, bridge story of the second book in this series I was unsure of exactly what I'd be walking into. I didn't know if this would be a smash hit like the first book or if it'd be an 'ok' book like the second. What I experienced was a little of both. \n The snippy, sassy Alexia is back in this book, which is something readers didn't really see a lot of in the second book. \n The plot moved extremely fast and there were a few exciting moments involved (flying ladybugs anyone?). \n I did speed through this book. I read it in about 2 days and quickly wanted to know what would happen next. There were a few unexpected plot twists, which helped keep my attention. \n I did find the Templars to be a bit frustrating, and a large majority of the book is spent talking about how a child could be possible (which honestly should have been obvious to everyone).", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 21:06:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 19 20:52:36 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6933876", "review_id": "d83104d1858d3823f4b8788b915ff383", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I loved the first book so much that going into this second book I had such high high hopes. Well, as fate may have it high hopes only lead to disappointment. That's not to say this book wasn't good because it was good, it just wasn't AS GOOD as the first book. \n Here's why - \n I felt the conversations between characters were 10 times more witty and funny in the first book than in this book. There just seemed to be something missing, in particular between the two main characters. \n The entire plot line was sorta of a vessel to move readers between book 1 and 3. While there was a plot element that drew the story together, I just felt it was a bit lacking. I can't really describe why but it just felt so..... there for the sake of being there. \n The last part, which I shouldn't spoil it for anyone. I did not like the ending. I'm not sure why every single character in this case is acting so dumb. They are so dumb it's almost out of character and frustrating.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 24 21:05:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 04 20:28:17 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "12246388", "review_id": "412df77acae4f7480070315d63af401d", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I really thought this series had promise, but yet every time I read one of these books I walk away feeling unsatisfied. When will I learn? \n My major complaint of a lack of mermaids I both the first and second book is addressed, and we as readers are FINALLY getting the whole picture of what these daughters of the sea are and how they got there, but this series is so painstakingly slow moving. It's like you have to read 300 pages to move a small inch. \n Without spoiling anything this book is the same as the others. Annoying adults, clueless girl, and a *shock* cliffhanger. \n I was NOT pleased when a major storyline was introduced to readers with only 20 pages to go. I knew where this was leading, and knew there wasn't time to flesh it out. So that means book 4 (yes you read that right) will start with 100 pages of fleshing out the plot element introduced in the last 20 pages of this book. A never-ending cycle. \n So sad to see such a promising series take this path.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 15 02:50:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 13 16:06:39 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "11250671", "review_id": "b1cd8131a9853461e1e4c95c95070726", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I really wish this book had panned out. I read over 100 pages. Had no idea what was going on, struggled to keep reading and just gave up. \n The characters weren't as developed as I would like, the writing was confusing, the setting confusing everything was confusing. \n That being said I could tell Leah Bobet has extreme talent, and a gifted ability to bring a story to life. I just don't think this book worked for me.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 15 02:40:32 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 15 02:42:13 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "11761452", "review_id": "a963eb6b991b7f6859d33ec5fe3b6384", "rating": 2, "review_text": "My goal this year is to not force myself to read books I am not enjoying. Burn Mark has a unique setting, unique premise and a poorly executed storyline. \n There was just something that made this entire book fall flat. I read over 150 pages and found myself saying \"So what\" or \"Who Cares\". \n The interesting and exciting part of the book was the alternate England part. I love England and books about it, but unfortunately the plot wasn't enough to keep me reading. I really think in this case the author just tried to accomplish too much in such a short book that it eventually lost the reader all together.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 11 21:19:23 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 15 02:48:10 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "231989", "review_id": "4d39582710cdeed8b68fdf2a946572c6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I am a sucker for corny epic fantasy books. Thus this book was right up my alley. \n This book is filled with big muscly guys running around fighting, an innocent girl trapped in the middle of a war, and a mysterious prophecy. \n Sure some of the parts had me laughing literally out loud, but hey everyone needs a good laugh or two. I wouldn't say it was so bad that I'd never read the rest of the series, but it definately was a fantasy book designed for people who just want an enjoyable, fast-paced read. That is typical of fantasy books.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 05 04:16:38 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 23 19:08:36 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7263429", "review_id": "9778cac4e77dcaabff241d340324076b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "When a book has numerous typos in the first few pages you know it'll be bad because it was a rush job. So yes..... that was what this was. \n I don't know if words can properly describe what I feel about this book. Anger and rage are some of the first things that come to me. \n First off this book should be titled Wolfsbane - where everyone becomes dumb..... This book was an entire book dedicated to info dumping. Up and coming authors if you want an example of how NOT to info dump read this. \n If one more character in this god aweful book asked a question I was going to scream. \"Why this...\" \"What does this mean....\" \"wait what!\". It made me scream. \n And can we talk about the lack of character depth? The new characters introduced in this book I can neither describe nor tell you who they are. I spent hours with them and I know nothing. Why? because we were too busy talking about the possibility of losing our virginity to Shay who pushed and pushed to \"do it\".... I mean after all every girl just wants to do it because they are pushed to it. \n This whole book was a disappointment. I remember loving Nightshade and then this came along and I\"m like why did I even bother!", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 14:20:40 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 12 00:29:18 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6528805", "review_id": "ebe75bda8d7340853c24f655f38de9d8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sometimes we encounter a book that for some unexplainable reason we fall in love with. For me, Indigo Springs was that book. \n I read this novel in May of 2012 and I just keep thinking about it over and over again. In fact, I've read it two more times. I am not 100% certain I can fully explain why I love it, but I just do. \n The core plot of Indigo Springs revolves around the main character, Astrid, being given the responsibility to guard an extremely powerful magic. This magic allows Astrid to enchant everyday objects and give them magical powers that can 'help' people. Astrid is required to guard this powerful magic and keep it a secret from everyone in her life. \n Unfortunately, Astrid makes a terrible mistake and trusts her best friend and crush, Sahara with the secret. \n Sahara decides that the magic is too good to be kept a secret and starts using it a little here and there. Slowly, that magic begins to overtake them and bad things start to happen. \n One of Indigo Springs' strengths is the unique way the story is told. \n Readers are introduced to the main character, Astrid, who has been taken hostage in a police standoff. It is obvious to readers that something has gone horribly wrong, but nothing is really explained until the end. Readers know that Astrid is involved in something that appears to have caused mass chaos or the 'end of the world', but will learn through the rest of the book how involved she is. \n The story is then told through a series of flashbacks. Astrid is being interviewed by a police interrogator and she slowly starts to reveal what happened, what is going on, and how she got to that point. \n The use of flashbacks can sometimes be a little confusing and at first readers might be a little confused with what is going on, but it all works out in the end. All the loose threads and questions readers have are eventually answered. \n The novel at times can appear to be moving slow, but it isn't. Before you know it, you'll be almost done with the book and you'll wonder where the time went. I think the slower pace really allows readers to fully understand what is going on and really get into the book. However, I feel that some readers are going to feel that the novel moves too slow and put it down. \n Another real strength of Indigo Springs' is its character building. I really felt connected and close to all the characters in the book. That doesn't mean that I liked all the characters, it's just that I felt really connected to them. I felt like I was along for the journey with them as they explored the unique magic and had it slowly consume them. \n The characters are also well defined. Astrid has many different sides to her, and doesn't appear to just be this one-sided character. She faces multiple internal conflicts and often struggles between pleasing others and doing what she wants for herself. Sahara is an amazingly unique character who just sweeps you off your feet and just has this powerful personality. \n There is just a really special, unique aspect to Indigo Springs. It really gave me insight into what would draw someone into using magic for evil. I really feel as if the author allowed readers to climb inside the minds' of the characters and experience everything with them. \n Overall, I loved Indigo Springs. I really think it should have gotten more coverage than it has because it really is simply amazing. It's unique, gripping and beautifully written. I highly recommend this book.", "date_added": "Thu May 31 20:30:44 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 29 19:26:02 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "345627", "review_id": "3de159ab35adfdb8586ea9c8af8868e9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I went into this expecting some sort of romance filled with vampires and sparkly things. So to clarify my expectations weren't high, but what I got out of this book was unexpected. \n I thought the plot was fairly detailed, the characters fleshed out, and the pace of the book was just right. Considering I'm far from what I would call a vampire lover, I really think this novel was a nice change of pace. Sure there was the traditional YA paranormal stuff (romance, love triangles, high school) but it wasn't what the whole book was about and that's what I liked.", "date_added": "Mon May 28 01:47:42 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 13 16:01:39 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "10836728", "review_id": "c05ef912c5d95349616658a5512ea9ff", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book started out strong and as far as debut novels goes this is a good one, but sadly at least for me it didn't end with the bang I was hoping for. \n I really expected a lot more 'ghostbusters'/action and a little less, whiny poor pitty me character development. \n The book wasn't bad and for me it was a page turner, but I just finished the book feeling empty. I didn't feel closure, didn't feel like I left with a cliffhanger, I just felt nothing. I'm almost certain the author didn't go into it with the idea that readers should feel 'nothing' at the end of the book, so I must have lost something in translation.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 23 11:37:55 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 04 21:02:26 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat May 05 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "4932435", "review_id": "5bc05b66840bcad5bd0b10b5baaefbb2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I remember picking this book up a year ago and thinking it was one of the dullest books ever. I put it aside figuring I'd never get into it. I don't know what possessed me to try again, but I did. Wow, I could have really missed out. \n Finnikin of the Rock is a book that takes some time getting used to. There is no wham bam action on the first pages, but you know what? That's what makes this story great. The author takes the time to flesh out the characters, really make the read relate and then starts drawing in some action. \n I did find some of the characters a bit, irksome. Not because of how they were just because they bothered me.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 06 01:16:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 09 14:15:11 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Apr 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Fri Apr 06 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "47212", "review_id": "807a0cea47c194f3f3f73dfbd4f70642", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I never got a chance to read Jim Butcher's Dresden File series. I'm not exactly sure what I was waiting for or why it took me so long. \n I won't bog people down with details, but I'll glance over what I liked. The plot was fast moving, lots of 'action' mixed with mystery and suspense. There was just enough humor and magic to make it a worthwhile read. \n There is just something about the main character that draws people in. I'm not sure what it is, maybe I'll figure it out in later books.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 18 01:40:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 26 17:27:46 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Mar 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "12846479", "review_id": "940344c7def2f2d5e50b8d02e1ff4516", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This last installment of the Wings series I really could have taken honestly cared less about. I really expected more of a 'bang' when the series ended and what I got was more of a 'sizzle and fade'. \n This last book was all about non-stop action. No development of characters or anything and to top it off all the deaths are superficial characters that I met for maybe 4 pages. And I could go on and on for days about the ending. That is was a cop-out, a lame ending, I dunno. I just felt empty, void inside and wish it had ended better than it did.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 11 00:46:10 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 27 00:50:10 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "585265", "review_id": "b183bd7963058ee6b6168bac304df9f7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Where has this book been my whole life? I LOVED the Borribles, and to be honest with you I'm not sure why. \n I don't know if it's the adventure, the unique world, or strange characters that just... kept me reading, but I loved it. \n ******************************** \n It is time to jump in the way back machine and take a look at another 'oldie but goodie' book. This time I am featuring The Borribles, which is the first book in The Borrible Trilogy. The Borrible Trilogy is a gritty children's/YA urban fantasy series. \n I am surprised at the amount of people who have not heard about The Borribles. When I first read the book in 2012, I was over the moon about it. It was unlike anything I had read at the time and that was almost 36 years after it was first published. Immediately upon finishing it, I started talking about it to others and it was surprising the amount of people who answered with \"What are Borribles?\" or \"I have never even heard of this book\". \n To answer the question - a Borrible is a runaway child. They look just like regular children, but they have tiny pointed ears (which are easily covered by knitted hats). Once their ears are pointed, they stay a child forever unless their ears are clipped. Borribles are smart, witty, and capable of surviving in the world without the assistance of adults. Their biggest fear is being captured by adults and having their ears clipped, which will turn them into boring, dull individuals. \n Borribles form their own groups, which are like tiny little clans. These groups protect each other at all costs and even have their own claimed territory. \n The first novel, Borribles, starts off with the Borribles of Battersea encountering a giant rat-like creature. These rat-like creatures is typically only found in enemy territory, so the fact that it ventured into the Borribles of Battersea land is frightening and could be an indication that an invasion is near. In an effort to prevent an invasion, several brave Borribles volunteer to go on an epic journey. The Borribles tells the tale of this epic adventure. \n One of the first things that stands out about The Borribles is it is an extremely violent, gritty novel. I was surprised when I learned that many people classified it as a children's book. It definitely has a lot of violent, bloody scenes and the life the Borribles live is not all rainbows and butterflies. This book would probably be classified as a YA book by today's standards. \n What is there to like about The Borribles? It has a detailed, solid plot that moves at warp speed. It was amazing just how fast I was getting through the novel and before I knew it, it was over. The adventure scenes are detailed, but not to the point that they are over-fluffed up. Readers are given a sense of adventuring alongside The Borribles, but they aren't experiencing every, single mind-numbing part of the adventure. \n When the novel ends, there is a desire to pick up the second book right away. And I highly recommend doing that, as one novel completes and blends right into the second novel. It also helps to relieve some of the nagging questions some readers may have about the Borribles and their world. \n In addition to the detailed plot and fast paced action, the characters are surprisingly fleshed out. Considering the length of the book and the sheer number of characters (there are a lot more than 6 or 7), one would assume that the characters would be just one-dimensional individuals, but they really weren't. I honestly formed true bonds with the characters and by the end of the book, I have to admit there was a small part of me that wished I could become a Borrible. \n There is another aspect of The Borribles that I really enjoyed. It was the social commentary within the book. I read the novel as an adult, so I was able to appreciate the subtle hints and examples of social inequalities, pure greed, and other social problems. Many times authors try to beat the reader over the head with their point-of-view and opinions, but I didn't really get that with The Borribles. It was enough to make you think about things, but it didn't interfere with the plot or go overboard. \n Now, there is probably a concern that a book written in 1976 might not be relevant in today's world, especially an urban fantasy. The Borribles really fits in with today's world. Sure, some of the social commentary might be a bit dated, but for the most part, The Borribles is just as good when read today as it was back in 1976. This is probably because the world in the novel is unique. People will be able to relate it to London, but there are aspects that make it unique and fun to read. \n Overall, I was surprised at just how much I enjoyed The Borribles. It wouldn't have been a book I would have thought I'd have enjoyed as much as I did. I wish more people knew about it and gave it a try, but I really think in terms of urban fantasy it is a classic. So hope in your time machine and give it a try, you won't regret it!", "date_added": "Tue Feb 21 01:38:00 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 09 00:06:15 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Mar 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "eb47d3a1c44b9443692658caf4f25672", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Please hold your brick throwing, booing and hissing for after this review please. \n I know I'm in the minority when I say, I didn't really care for this book. No, I didn't hate the book - I just didn't like it. This whole idea of a fairy tale set in steampunk universe is AMAZING, but in this case it was so wrongly executed. \n First, let me start off with the perdictibilty of the plot. From about page 70 I saw where this book was headed, which made reading the rest of the book a tad bit boring. I mean who wants to read something when the ending is already known? \n Another thing that was extremely confusing to me was this who alternative universe with different countries, cultures and such. I just didn't think it was as developed as I would have liked and it at times got a bit confusing. \n The last part was the obvious focus on this plague. About 75% of this book was about the plague, which is all fine and dandy, but when you sacrifice character development to fill a book with seemingly technical details regarding cyborgs and plagues it just loses the reader. \n That being said, it is the authors first book. So I shall be fair and probably read the second book in this serious (Yes I like torture, but really I don't know how many times I've trashed book 1 of a series only to love book 2). So book 2.... here we come!", "date_added": "Wed Feb 15 01:09:41 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 04 20:57:20 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "10149874", "review_id": "ed81988381a52d19c5d25eaebd0e1986", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I thought this was a great concept for a book, until I read the first 20 pages. I'm sadly disappointed by the overall result of this book. Here's why. \n 1. I can't figure out if these are little one inch people living in a tree, or a HUGE giant tree grew and humans lived there. I'm assuming the first, but there are references that confuse me so I am not really sure. \n 2. This book would have been better if the author had spent some time on character and plot development instead of trying to force witty jokes about poop, going to the bathroom and sewer systems. This I'm afraid is why the book failed. \n 3. The ending. After 300 pages of the book with no real end in sight, a mysterious solution appears. A quick battle ensues (now mind you this was supposed to be WORLD ENDING), and the book ends. \n Overall, this book was boring, dull, and I really wish it had turned out better because it was agony reading the book.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 01 18:37:46 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 22 10:25:14 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6838961", "review_id": "83ed38e4a31e801b22334b90df545bd7", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book frustrated me. I loved Laskey's past series on owls so it could only be assumed that this book would be similar but with wolves. However, it wasn't. \n A few of my problems included - \n -This book was a lot of \"tell\" not show. There were pages of descriptions, describing wolf packs, habits, personality, behaviors. There isn't a lot of character interaction, and it almost feels like I'm reading a textbook. The author picks up conversations in the last 30 pages or so but by then it lost me. \n -The owls. I understand that the Beyond is close to the previous series of books with the owls, but it seemed the reader was contantly being drilled that the owls were close and that YES this author was the author of the Owl series. It's like this series couldn't stand alone without the random owl comparison, or sentence. \n -The main character is dull. Not because there isn't a personality but because one isn't developed. This has to go with the whole \"telling\" not showing. So by the time the main character developed I knew nothing about them.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 27 16:43:19 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 27 16:49:52 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Mon Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 6}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6304335", "review_id": "0694616379134ce0a26a1277b2cd6f22", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I have a confession. I kind of sort of enjoyed this book. It was a guilty pleasure of mine that I devoured in minutes. Okay, not minutes but it was quick. \n I found the setting different, the characters intriguing (note: intriguing not great), and just the idea of the plot interesting. \n However, as with all teen romance/urban fantasies this book made me laugh out loud till I cried. Maybe one of the reasons I loved it so much. Here is just an overview of some of the highlights: \n 1. A guy's point of view in a book is great, it is unique, it is different. But it is obvious that this 'boy/teen' is written by 2 women. Why? I do not know what 16 year old boy likes lounging around with his 100 year old aunts/grandma. Yes, the main character chooses to hang with the old ladies on an almost daily basis. \n 2. There is the obvious forbidden love. You know where everyone runs around giving vague answers to why they cannot be together \"we just can't okay?\". \n Overall I am not sure I liked this book because it was 'alright' or because it was so dang blasted funny. I'll probably read the rest of the series just to have a good laugh.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 06 23:21:26 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 19 00:28:37 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7664041", "review_id": "97aa3ebb34272a2ae2f72be0fe56c3bf", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Let this be a lesson to me, if my gut tells me a book is bad don't continue to read a series in the hopes that it'll get better because your gut is probably always right. \n I don't know where to start with Inheritance, the book was that big of a mess. So I'll just randomly jump in with my review - \n This whole book revolves around an epic war that is being fought between two sides. Most epic wars have epic battles or so you'd think, but not this one. Paolini tries to add blood, guts and gore to the story but the attempts are almost laughable. \n And can we take a moment to talk about the final battle? The BIG fight between Eragon and evil king? What the heck? Can you say, the readers got taken for a ride. This whole series was a bit build-up to nothing. \n Don't even get me started on the belief that Eragon and the Varden are really the bad guys. Someone explain to me how the \"bad guy\" was really bad? Yes he stole the eggs, but why was he bad? My question was never really answered, and the ending of the book only made me even more confused as the Varden started acting just like the \"bad guy\". I will forever believe the Varden were the bullies in this book, and we the readers were following evil people, who kill for their own good. Maybe I would have known why the bad guy was bad had he - ya know - actually SHOWN UP in the books before this volumn. \n Inheritance has the main characters that were the same from previous books. In fact, not one new character is really brought into the book. Sure there are a few tossed into there loosely at the end but really it's the same people. So why, I ask, are we loaded and bogged down with pages and pages of descriptions of the same people that we knew from books past? \n I really think, on a basic children's book scale, this whole series has a good idea... yes an idea. But the way the author goes about it is totally wrong. This book just confirmed my belief that no one edited this book. Yes soemone read it over for grammar mistakes and spelling but no one said \"Hey Christopher... do we really need 50 pages describing a person walking.\" or \"Do you really think we need to read about a man's fingernails in depth\". \n Let's talk about side trips for a moment. Side trips, when done properly, can be great plot/character builders. When done wrong, they are just lengthy pages added to a book. The side trips in this book are just elements that could be cut out of the book. Take for example, them flying to an island. It could be quickly covered in a few paragraphs. But no, our fearless characters have to encounter a storm, in which they see many great creatures. Okay, so maybe it sounds interesting but it's just lengthy and adds nothing to an already long and boring book. Added to the fact that the creatures never come back into the story and the reader if left thinking \"What did I just read and why\". \n To add to the lengthy side trips there's the birth indicent in the first few chapters of the book. A villager is giving birth to a baby girl, but the girl has a cleft pallet. The readers are then overwhelmed with several lengthy chapters on the chelft pallet, why it's bad, how it'll hurt the girl. We then have Eragon come and heal the cleft pallet, while others watch. And then..... nothing. The girl isn't a major character, the magic didn't do anything, NOTHING CAME FROM THIS. So why, were we burdened with this? Why not just let the lady give birth? Why add more than was necessary? \n The ending of the book was almost predictible, and the final war ends and we the readers STILL have to read another 300 pages of months of \"rebuilding\" for nothing. \n So after four books, nearly a billion pages, and a very lengthy journey do I feel complete? No, not by any stretch of the imagination. The book ends with this..... the possibility of more books. Every single thing is left open for MORE FRICKEN BOOKS. All I can say is \"good luck\" with the next series because it'll take a lot of work, and maybe MAYBe with a good editor or some beta readers who actually tell you the truth you might have a good series. But really I feel taken and incomplete by this series and that makes me sad. However, I am happy it's done and over for now.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 01 17:05:01 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 27 16:38:44 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Tue Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7602235", "review_id": "448744e259631064da30064ed3c9c61f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Darkfall is the final book in the Healing Wars Trilogy. \n When I first started this series I was a little uncertain about how it would pan out. The first book was a little confusing and it was hard to understand how the pain was used and what was really going on. But like all good writers Hardy learned from her mistakes and the last two books were smooth sailing. \n I still stand by the concept of this book is rather unique. The ability to take pain and use it as a weapon or for good just hasn't been brought out to the YA world (as far as I know). \n While I did feel as if this book was a great ending to the series I think there was a part lacking. The romance. Either take it out or leave it in and develop it but it just seemed so forced that it lacked any emotion or feelings from the reading. \n I do think there is another series that could come out of this but if it didn't pan out I'd be okay with that too. I feel the book ended on a good note and it COULD be continued but if not readers won't be disappointed.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 13 00:07:08 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 18 23:39:17 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Fri Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Sun Nov 13 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "35807", "review_id": "03c93b6a263ede73cd35263cbca997aa", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The Guardians of Ga'Hoole series really takes off with book 3. There's action, adventure and character development all rolled into one. And can I just say, it's got Snowy Owls! I heart snowy owls. \n Now onto my major problem and why this warrents a three star rating and not a four or five. Repetition. Lasky tends to over describe things to the point that I thought I was going crazy because I swear I just read a description that was worded exactly the same way four pages ago. \n While I understand that yes this book is intened for younger audiences there is no need to describe in detail the same exact thing time and time again. \n So you want examples? Here goes. The chaws, a reader is told at least eight time throughout the book the exact definition of a chaw, who is in what chaw, and what they did. Readers need only one reminding. I mean after all this is a 200 page book! \n Another example, the flecks and Soren's past. These are all constantly repeated to the point of boredom. \n Yes there needs to be a little trip down memory lane especially in children's books but if you start repeating information IN THE SAME BOOK you gotta stop and ask yourself if there's a problem. \n Besides this little end rant, I liked the book just found this little part annoying.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 12 23:49:52 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 12 23:56:27 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Sat Nov 12 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "9347801", "review_id": "337daa6c9111abe4cad112127d2bf5d8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Cold Fire like Cold Magic had a bit of a rocky start. For the first 100 or so pages things were tough to follow. Conversations, events, and text just seemed to be thrown out there with no real rhyme or reason. \n After that rocky start I was worried how the rest of the book would come about but it came out perfectly. Elliott gets her footing at about 150 pages and it's a rip, roaring ride from there till the last page. \n There are a few things that I didn't like - \n 1. The whole making islanders talk oddly. I understand the reason for it but it just seemed hard to read and pointless to make the islanders say \"ye\" \"yo\" and such. \n 2. Cat is this fairly strong main character. What I don't understand is the whole \"do it or you'll be made into a salter\". Okay, so she does it once, I get that but to continue to do it. I thought she was much stronger than that. It seemed this whole book was a rush to shed hers and Bea's virginity and it just didn't fit with Cat. Again, this is totally personal but I just didn't see it and it seemed out of character. \n While these things I didn't like, I did love the book. I stayed up late to finish it and just fell in love with Cat all over again. I hope the third book starts off a little easier than the first two did as that is really my only complaint.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 03 23:35:11 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 12 23:47:46 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Tue Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Thu Nov 03 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7236997", "review_id": "f1605ddda713b51293986233850122e1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is one of those books that if you judged by the description you would probably miss out on a really good book. Going into the book it sounds like it's this massive love story with a \"little\" magic. Well it's about 10% romance, and 90% action, adventure and mystery. \n Elements I loved - \n The alternative history theme. These are real life places, with a steampunkish flare to the story. \n The magical elements are very detailed. \n Characters are real. \n I just LOVED this book. In fact I read it till 3/4 am just to finish it because I literally couldn't put it down!", "date_added": "Tue Oct 18 15:41:34 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 24 19:48:13 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sun Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Tue Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "35806", "review_id": "d2aac94fb409b2ceaf5cc3f0309eb6d6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Story picks up where it left off but there's enough of a \"backshadowing\" type thing that the readers aren't confused. \n I found this book interesting but it seemed to lag a little in the middle. There wasn't a lot of action and there seemed to be a lot of \"telling\" instead of showing the readers what happened. I still lvoe the series but it probably won't be my fav book.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 17 19:06:56 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 24 19:52:17 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "10173501", "review_id": "47fdb72b4dd7e8f150a259aaacacf17d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I expected more from this book I really did. I thought the idea of having magic and magical inquisitors who go around enforcing magic use was going to be exciting, but sadly something got lost in this book. \n I felt the majority of this book focused on teaching the readers about the Jewish culture and history of NY, and really forget about doing one important thing - developing characters and plot. There was so much background and history and by the end of the book I felt as if I didn't know one character from another and wasn't totally sure what was going on with the plot.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 15 19:09:37 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 27 02:37:25 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "10626639", "review_id": "90f0dc5034f11072872e6c42972e07a4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It's amazing exactly what books will attract your attention and pull you in from the start. For one reason or another Icefall really grabbed my attention and had me staying up to the wee hours of the morning trying to finish this book. \n Expectations going into Icefall weren't really high. I had read Matthew J. Kirby's debut novel The Clockwork Three and was utterly disappointed. It wasn't so much the writing style or even the plot, but there is a continuing habit to market Kirby's books as fantasy when in reality they are more about the characters, character interactions and emotions of the surrounding society. This was my biggest disappointment about The Clockwork Three, so I didn't know what to expect when I picked up Icefall. \n Icefall is very similar to The Clockwork Three in that the plot element surrounds character development and focuses on the emotions of the characters. While there isn't any magic, the sheer fact that Kirby created this Viking society is enough to classify it as a \"fantasy\". Readers going into the novel who know not to expect a rip-roaring adventure or tons of magic won't be disappointed. \n Kirby is an excellent master at creating a main character that is three dimensional and a supporting cast that is fleshed out and detailed. From the first couple of pages there was just something about Solveig that attracted me to her. Solveig is the second daughter to the king. She isn't extremely beautiful, and since she won't inherit the throne her father tends to overlook her. Throughout Icefall, Solveig learns who she really is and changes from a self-conscious, quiet daughter to a confident, young woman full of self-esteem. \n Fans of Norse folklore will really enjoy the various mythology and cultural elements that Kirby weaved into the story. While the country and characters are made up they very well could have been any person or culture from the Viking era. \n One of the most amazing things for myself was how Kirby took an essentially small area and made it really come to life. The whole novel takes place in this secluded area that is cut off for the winter. One would think that this could lead to a boring novel as there isn't really a change in environment or world, but Kirby really brings it to life and knows just when to unveil a new plot element so the small setting doesn't go stale. \n There is only one element of Icefall that I would change. I really wish that the ending had been more developed. I am assuming this is a stand-alone novel and the ending was wide open and left a lot to the reader's imagination. I would have loved to see what really happened to the characters in the novel as I had formed such close bonds with all of them. \n Icefall is truly a whirlwind novel about survival that is filled with heartwarming characters, mystery and intrigue. Readers both young and old will find themselves attracted to Solveig and working alongside her to uncover who the traitor is and work to get her and her family back home safely.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 13 14:01:26 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 14 15:47:57 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Thu Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Thu Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "9261978", "review_id": "cfb3045cd4e40b7fd2785674ca6c998a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "With Morton still a painting and Olive's unique inquisitive nature readers venture into the world of Elsewhere in this second installment of the series. \n All the elements that I loved about the first book - the talking cats, the real nature of Olive (Hey it's a character who makes mistakes and does things on her own and isn't perfect all the time), as well as the magic and mystery of Elsewhere are all in this second installment. \n West introduces some new elements such as a new character and readers are taken beyond the walls of Olive's old house. \n I found this book a page turner, and West seems to know just when to unveil a mystery and keep readers in suspence that they aren't getting bored. For some older readers you may be able to pick out the twists and turns, but for the middle grade audience they'll be pleasently surprised with what happens throughout the book. \n This book was every bit as enjoyable as the first one, but I do have to warn ya there is a bit of a cliffhanger that will leave you on the edge of your seat yearning for more.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 25 23:20:36 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 18:20:42 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sun Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "10678311", "review_id": "d40b232b2796d548029c80e46340ae4a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A cute and \"scary\" retelling of Alice in Wonderland. Die hard Alice fans might not like what was done to the original but those with a sense of humor and a little imagination will enjoy this book.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 10 23:53:13 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 25 23:30:27 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Thu Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sat Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "8782399", "review_id": "7db3a41cb3a59035aef2328c5dd816b5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "When I read Daughters of the Sea 1 I was very disappointed. I expected the focus of the book to be on mermaids and it was about a girl who shuffles around and turns at the end. Needless to say I guess I should have held on to my britches as Lasky fulfills this craving in this book. \n May starts off with a new character and a completely different point of view, but this time there is a huge focus on the mermaid aspect and a few \"hints\" about what is to come in the series. \n Some of this book backtracks a little and crosses over with Hannah but not enough that you wouldn't know what you were reading if you jumped in with this book. \n Many of the questions I had from the first book are answered in this novel. Of course there is still a looming mystery that can only be uncovered in the third book but that's to be expected. \n The only complaint I had about this novel was I really could not stand May's mom. I found her annoying, whiny and stiffling (which is exactly how Lasky wants her to be) but I had problems with that part of the novel. \n Overall, I really think Lasky turned this series around and made it a definate read for mermaid lovers and YA readers alike. I can't picture boys really getting into this story as the characters are all female and there's a love interest floating around but girl readers will love this series.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 05 15:58:57 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 18:29:04 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sat Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6918909", "review_id": "aa4f1e545119e99002e83db3cb031c0f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Every time I finish an Aplylynne Pike book I ask myself one question, \"Why?\". Why do I put myself through this, why do I read it? And I have finally come up with the answer, because this book is just so bad that it's good. \n So this latest installment of the Wings (series) has Tam going into high school with Laurel. So if you can't see what's coming you are either insanely blinded, reading this book as your first ever book or just seriously in denial. \n Some of my problems with book 1 and 2 are cured and solved. Mysterious black clad woman from the second book is sorta developed but not really. She's still a mystery. \n There is still the illusive references to Laurel and David making whoopie, and then you randomly toss Tam in the picture and it just turns into one big ball of hormones and badly developed romance. \n Without ruining too much of this book for people who want to read it, all I can say is predicable, predicable and well.. predictable. Every single part of this book was predicable. \n On the plus side, it was a quick read, gave me a good laugh and I'll be waiting for the fourth book.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 16 21:29:05 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 03 01:50:18 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sat Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Thu Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7935639", "review_id": "7fee4c282686f6e5f4c58385c228caec", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I wish I could say that I enjoyed this book, but I'm not really sure what to say about it. I finished it and I just know very little of events and stuff that lead up to the plot..... I really feel the characters are run of the mill (almost unforgettable), the plot is a bit out there, and we have a lot of people who want to get laid. \n Basically, this whole book revolves around a boy who wants to get laid, but can't because the girls don't like him. Said boy is socially awkward, an outcast, etc..... His whole goal in life is to get laid.... \n Oh, yeah there are some other plot elements like famine, bad guys and stuff, but really all I remember is the 100 or so pages dedicated to said boy wanting to get laid and having issues with it. \n I plan on reading the third book, because I feel like I need to know what happens (not with the boy who wants to get laid with the other stuff), but I'm not sure I'd really recommend this book to anyone.", "date_added": "Mon May 30 01:14:33 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 19 20:58:09 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Sep 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "10393851", "review_id": "60302aac0ecc6a0e1972b55cd320301f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Review to come", "date_added": "Wed May 25 19:09:48 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 03 01:44:06 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Thu Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Wed May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "9219387", "review_id": "8e8513f5bdfffd72f6d252037d569fae", "rating": 4, "review_text": "When I first read Julie Berry's first book I liked it. I didn't love, I wasn't screaming from the rooftops to read it, I enjoyed it and moved on. Now her second book Secondhand Charm, really has me looking forward to anything Julie Berry writes. \n This book is everything that a new, modern fairy tale should have. There's mystical elements, castles, romance and a detailed plot that just really leaves you in awe. Sure there are some predictable parts of the book, but think of it this way, almost all fairy tales are predictible to some extent. \n I gave Berry some grief in the first book because there wasn't enough build up to a romance and it just seemed so unbelievable. She certainly changed that with this novel and really built up the romance, and even added some twists and turns to the story that kept me reading. \n Julie Berry really is a modern day fairy tale writer and I'll gladly read anything else she writes in the future!", "date_added": "Wed May 25 19:08:59 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 03 01:43:14 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue May 24 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "8137232", "review_id": "0e6c1db933d5614931f7ec6511ecc3aa", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I really think this book was mismarketed. It was presented as a \"teen\" book and really it was written and read like a book that would be ideal for readers of 8-10. That being said I shall continue on. \n I really enjoyed the idea of a story being told from a toads POV. After all, everyone always wondered what the toad who was being put into the witch's brew is thinking (admit it you have thought about it). However, this book is sadly lacking. Here's why. \n First, the book seemed to throw mysterious, dangerous creatures at the main character for no apperent reason. Instead of developing any sense of character the book focused on \"Wow look at this dangerous animal....\" and \"Run we're being attacked by ______\". That worked a few times but after a while it was predictable and boring meeting new mysterious creatures. \n It almost feels as if the author went \"What quirky situation can I toss a character in and just went ahead and mysteriously had them thrown into that type of situation. \n Second, the constant throwing of new creatures prevented any plot from forming. I was more than half way through the book and I was still going \"And the plot is....... \". There wasn't any. \n Third, the witches are randomly thrown in and even after reading I was still left wondering about them. They would mysteriously appear in the book but they were grossly underdeveloped both character and plot wise. \n I do have to say the drawings in this book are WONDERFUL. Probably the best part of the book and had I been an 8/9 year old I probably would have loved this book, it just didn't work out for myself and it was rather disappointing.", "date_added": "Wed May 18 22:15:05 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed May 25 19:08:45 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Fri May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Wed May 18 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "9464732", "review_id": "ade6637c3eb22f42e6aa9bd4d8568d29", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a book that is actually a collaboration between Garth Nix and Sean Williams, and boy can I tell you this series has so much potential. Besides, any book that talks about the game Park and Shop deserves to be placed proudly on my shelf! \n When I first started with the Troubletwisters I was expecting an average, run of the mill fantasy but it turned into something completely different. \n This novel is a little slow to get started and I absolutely cannot stand books that put kids in danger but \"don't tell them to keep them safe\" because by now every fantasy adult should know the kid will purposely do what they aren't supposed to and get in trouble or be in harms way. \n Beyond the whole not telling kids thing it really turned into a fairly quick page tuner that kept me at the edge of my seat. I want to compare this series to a modern \"The Dark is Rising\" series by Susan Cooper. \n I hope to see this series take off because it's really a great series. \n I look forward to what this series has to over and really can't wait for the next book!", "date_added": "Mon May 02 01:04:45 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed May 18 22:14:43 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Tue May 03 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Mon May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "4887301", "review_id": "27fb0c7ec2cf69abc5d7fbcf6560ce63", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I had really high hopes for this book. I mean what's not to love about dragons? I am a huge dragon lover and any book I will read eagerly. That said, this book was a huge disappointment for myself. \n Here's why: \n From page one I felt as if I was thrown into a book/series that I had obviously failed to catch up on. It felt like there was a huge backstory that I wasn't a part of. Think of it as if you were reading Harry Potter but started on book 5, you'd be lost. Sure, the author reveals bits and pieces but that lost feeling never truly went away. \n To add to the lost feeling, I almost felt as if the characters were tossed at me and not really developed. I never got to bond with them. Again, I was left feeling as if I had missed out on something by not reading something before hand. \n Sadly, the lost feeling that I had during the whole book overtook any plot that might have been with the book so I can't tell you much about that. I just couldn't shake the lost feeling enough to enjoy teh rest of the book. \n There were also a few sections that were very oddly worded or developed. To the point that I had to reread them to understand them. I don't know if it was the lost feeling that contributed to this or if it was just oddly worded. \n I really wish I could have had a better experience. Maybe it was my expectations, maybe it just wasn't the book for me, I'm not sure. I didn't give the book a one because, well I didn't HATE it I just was sadly disappointed by the whole experience.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 29 15:59:18 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon May 02 01:34:22 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sun May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Fri Apr 29 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "8547566", "review_id": "6b8d3e5b9e2126c7e5e88ca15b1c3500", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was a bit unsure about this series after the first book was so slow it almost put me to sleep, yet here I am book 2 and still reading. Overall, I think this series is very slowly inching to become a better series but it's not quite there yet. \n Pros of this book: \n -It moves a lot faster than the first book. There are huge sections of dialogue and it just seemed parts of the book moved faster. \n -There is less traveling and more plot movement which moves the series forward. \n -New situations and less mental debte made this a better read than the first book. \n Cons of this book: \n -While it moved faster than the first book it still is so very slow. Three chapters outline a meal between main character and subcharcter. \n -The main chacter is still frustratingly wishy-washy. He wants to be this wonderful middle man that is SO smart, yet acts before he thinks and then complains that no one will follow. \n Overall, I enjoyed this book but the main character still annoys me beyond belief. He is supposed to be SO smart yet is probably the stupidest person in this book. He does things and then goes \"oh... yeah I didn't think of that\" or... \"Oh.. I didn't know what I wanted\". Which makes me the reader wonder if you were so smart, why didn't you think beyond your initial thought? \n So even though I complained I thought it was an okay book and would probably read the third just because it wasn't a terrible experience.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 15 01:34:41 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 29 15:30:35 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Apr 27 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Fri Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7114825", "review_id": "367227cbeb455affe2db74e1bbc6daf3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book is really hard for me to review. The first half of the book I couldn't stand. Not that I didn't like it but it was one of those love/hate relationships with a book. \n However, at the second half of the book things really picked up and I really enjoyed it. Maybe this was because there was more dialogue, I got to know the characters better and there was action. In fact, I read it so much I stayed up WAY past my bedtime to finish it (so that ought to tell you something). \n I was a bit disappointed that so much of the book focused on romance. this of course is not Kate Elliott's fault in the least it's my own. I just do not understand why, when you get a main character that is a girl/woman/female, there has to be a focus on romance. \n I do believe that the second book will be a wonderful read and it's almost surely an ASAP read for myself, which surprised me because I couldn't stand the first half ;). \n Here are my confessions of likes/dislikes on the book: \n -I couldn't stand Bea. I felt she was self absorbed and guy crazy. I'd go more into this but it might spoil the book. \n -The whole spiritworld thing at first was a little confusing but it all came together in the end, which was nice.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 02 19:25:32 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 10 18:15:40 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sat Apr 09 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sat Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "8288279", "review_id": "27c4d5eec0269088fbd51904e3756625", "rating": 3, "review_text": "While this book is ever so much an urban fantasy of sorts it really is a unique vampire novel. The whole focus of the book is on the several vampire houses and the politics that come with being a vampire in they year 2000 or so. \n All vampires in this novel are three dimentional, have drama in their lives, love, fight and seek to be the top of the world. \n However, this novel should come with an extreme warning. Here are the warnings. \n 1. It is very very slow to start. So painstakingly slow that I am sure many readers would toss it to the side. However, that slowness builds character so don't be too quick to leave it. \n 2. The book just ends. I am not sure if there is a sequel, or what but it ends. And the reader will have 10000000000 questions that will sadly not be answered. See here's the problem, this whole book is based on a pending war and politcs of the family. Yes the WHOLE book. So.... the book ends right when the \"war\" might start. \n That being said. I enjoyed this book but found the ending blunted my LOVE for the book and will have to see if there are more books in a pending series before I can judge this book.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 01 23:33:48 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 13 19:53:18 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Fri Mar 11 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "9675020", "review_id": "d8505c9714aecef91b06a1b8d63295a2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Hourglass Door Trilogy has slowly become one of those series I couldn't wait to read the next book in. When I read the first novel, The Hourglass Door, I was a little taken aback. I loved the characters and the plot but there were some elements, mainly the time traveling and river, that left me a little confused. \n Jump ahead to the second book, The Golden Spiral, and things really picked up. There was action, adventure, and the characters continued to grow and develop right before my eyes. The one downside? It ended in a cliffhanger and like every fantasy reader cliffhangers just make me want to read the next book immediately. \n So now, we've come to the end of the Hourglass Door Trilogy and I have to say that The Forgotten Locket is the perfect ending to a wonderful and amazing series. \n Lisa Mangum absolutely knows how to take a story, develop it right before your eyes and wrap it up with no loose ends. Everything that I loved about the previous two books, mainly the characterizations and plot line, continued throughout The Forgotten Locket. Abby, Dante, Zo and Valerie continued to become fleshed out characters that are multi-dimensional. So many authors get wrapped up in ending the series that they forget to let the characters continue to grow. Luckily for readers, Lisa Mangum seized the opportunity to let her characters grow while finishing the series. \n The Forgotten Locket is just as much a page turner as the previous books in the series. However, I did start to feel the novel drag a little towards the end but this could be because things were wrapping up and the plot was starting to come full circle. \n One of the elements that I was still a little confused about, the river of time, really did come together in the end. After reading all three books it makes sense. It still might be a little confusing if you just take it at face value in the first or second book, but when you put all three together it just fits. \n While I really enjoyed the characters and plot development, what I absolutely loved about The Forgotten Locket was the way that Lisa Mangum tied everything together. Little clues that were dropped in previous novels are brought back and explained in further detail. I thought this was a nice touch and a great way to acknowledge the previous novels without rehashing everything for the readers. \n Overall, I thought this was a perfect way to end the series. In fact, I couldn't think of a better way to end it if I had written it. There was just the right blend of sweet romance between Abby and Dante, and heart pounding action between Dante, Zo and Abby. \n I really believe that because this series bares the stigma of \"YA romance/fantasy\" it is overlooked by many people who would enjoy it. Lisa Mangum is an amazingly gifted author who really hit the fantasy scene with an outstanding debut. While the door for this series comes to a close, I really can't wait to see what new door opens for Lisa Mangum as I am almost certain that this will not be the last we hear from her.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 26 16:07:17 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 23 00:51:45 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Thu Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sun Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6553137", "review_id": "64a3b08e0891901231a194277d1591a3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Rise of the Darklings is probably one of my favorite reads so far for 2011. The combination of quick paced adventures, folklore and fairy creatures, and unique in detail characters make this a thrilling read. \n The whole story was incredibly fast-paced which made it hard to put the book down. This could've been due to the short chapters but a part of it could've been due to the quick plot movement that the author us uses. There is never too much time spent on one idea. But don't be fooled because each plot element is detailed enough that you have a rounded idea of what is happening and a detailed character. \n There are parts of the book that really had me feeling for all the characters involved. Some of the characters that I really enjoyed included Emily who is detailed and three-dimensional as well as Spring heeled Jack and the little pixie who added a little bit of humor to the story. \n The book was also incredibly detailed for Victorian era London and really allowed both young readers and older readers to get the feeling of what it would've been like living in this Victorian era London. \n It should be warned that this book does and the cliffhanger and going into the second book. I personally can't wait for the second book to come out.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 25 23:10:55 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 01 23:44:45 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Mon Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Fri Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "147844", "review_id": "52f4186cd75877bf5e0f21597bd98a90", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Slow start but it built up. Pretty good", "date_added": "Mon Jan 31 23:28:30 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Thu May 11 02:05:08 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed May 10 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "147843", "review_id": "736404c6166117a289b1885596a7b09f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I tried to read this book many many years ago, and gave up on it. Something about it called to me again, so I thought I'd give it a try. \n I am so glad I did. The first time I tried to read this I was obviously not in a mindset for fantasy, but this second time around. I LOVED IT. Sure there were some predictable elements, but I found this book to be captivating, fun, and exciting. \n In fact, it's one of the few books that I honestly could not put down.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 31 23:01:52 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 08 18:13:52 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7507951", "review_id": "1feefbfb1d069ec407f7269c06b695b0", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I'm not one to complain about novels (okay I am but I thought I'd start out nice) but this novel was horrible in all sense of the word. \n First off there was the never ending sentences. If a sentence takes up 7 lines in a book you HAVE to add a period somewhere. The constant run on sentences and long sentences made me feel slightly overwhelmed. Not to mention the fact that I felt like I was sorta reading one of those novels a novice writer sends me. \n The second horrible thing about this was the plot. I say that loosely because I think there was a plot but it got overshadowed by the overly long sentences. \n I had such high hopes for this novel and yet they were destroyed.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 31 22:54:22 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 31 22:59:24 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Mon Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "8391189", "review_id": "0d0eaa878061c647da320969e94b9858", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I've had to take a few days to really process this book and get my assessment in order. This will be a tough review to write. \n Let me first start off with I loved, loved, loved the first book. I told anyone who would listen about it and brought copies for friends. I'm not sure what happened with this series but had I read this book first I wouldn't have gushed about it. WAIT! That doesn't mean that I didn't like this book. I liked it, I didn't LOVE it. Here's why. \n There didn't seem to be as much adventure in this book. Part of what I enjoyed was the edge of the seat adventure and thrills. Which just weren't present in this book. \n This whole book focused on a mystery and Will Swyft uncovering that mystery. There was a little bit of an adventure/fight at the end but not what drew me into the first book. \n Also I felt a lot of this stuff was sorta thrown out there and never fully developed. The whole \"weapon\" for Scar-Crow Men to be exact. \n Scar-Crow Men is still filled with all the history and real life people that I liked in the first book. And in fact, there's a secret society. \n But here is my main problem with this novel. I finished the book (which ends on a b it of a cliffhanger note) and I feel as if the novel moved an inch. The plot line from the first book is no more advanced than when I left the first book. \n That being said. The third book? I really have HIGH expectations for because I view this second book as a sorta setup for that third book. I guess only time will tell :)", "date_added": "Mon Jan 31 18:48:54 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 25 23:10:35 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Mon Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Mon Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7739887", "review_id": "81b98804c7481b7aea1595528a4b6340", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I wasn't instantly in love with this book. I wish there had been more action and a little less side trips where the author talked to the reader. That being said, there was a tone to the book that made it cute and the story went by fairly quickly. \n I really believe without the hundreds of side comments to the writer it would have been okay. I don't know how many times I read \"Now Dear Reader\" but it was enough to make me scream when I saw it. \n Other than that small problem it was a nice plot, good characters and cute jokes. I guess we can't get everything we want in books.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 31 18:46:53 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 03 01:15:00 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Tue Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Mon Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6762468", "review_id": "afc1cba1518cf84f05db3b6e1c68b7cb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "As a note I did not read Another #1. I have to say that I really really enjoyed this book. Even though I hadn't read the first book in the series I found it easy to catch onto. \n What I really enjoyed was the way that Nayeris made the story of Peter Pan their own. There were subtle hints about the original Peter Pan without it being a blatant rip off or doing it an \"injustice\". \n I found the integration of Egypt folk lore and mythology with modern day children and teens to be the most amazing part. There was plenty of action, adventure and stories to keep any reader reading this novel. \n Another great part of this book was the development of characters. I really felt as if I knew Wendy, John and Peter. While it took a little time it really felt nice to have such developed characters within a novel that weren't shallow and superficial. \n Really creative and great novel.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 28 17:24:28 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 31 22:52:38 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Sun Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Fri Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7403981", "review_id": "7fecb0f1c4246ecdf48f59fa01dd91a6", "rating": 2, "review_text": "What could have been a sweet, innocent story turned into a rather long drawn out novel. It seemed as if a vast majority of the book spent developing characters and not plot. The writing while almost interesting came off as if it was someone trying to be cool with a younger crowd but not quite achieving it. \n Also as far as mystery and fantasy goes. The first 100 pages only briefly mention it. Which would lose about any child's interest. It certainly lost mine and I've read some of the worst books. \n I had such high expectations for this novel and it didn't live up to it. It's a shame.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 27 22:39:16 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 27 22:45:12 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Fri Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "8585830", "review_id": "c95496d0f5446e14bef422e151b0ee9c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I am by far not a fan of sci-fi. But something drew me to this book. I am so glad I read it. While it has a sci-fi element it also have a bit of a government/adventure plot to it that makes it fun. \n This does set up for a series of books. There isn't too much aliens/sci-fi and it really is only gleamed over. But I cannot WAIT to read more aliens in the next few books. \n Another element that I liked was the bit of history/take on history that was given. I think it fit nicely in the book and really added a nice element to it. \n If I could change anything I guess I would have put a few more aliens in the book. This first book was very heavy on the corporate conspiracy and light on the aliens but do not fear there WILL be aliens in other books. \n So if you are looking for shape-shifting, cool teenagers and a corporation that is trying to brainwash people this is the book for you!", "date_added": "Tue Jan 25 03:01:08 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 01 16:37:28 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 16 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7739901", "review_id": "b9ab046f1c761ba39db96c91d670767a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This series is really starting to grow on me. There is just something about it that really makes me like it. The only complaint I have is that this book is a bit of a transition book. So not much really happens but it still was a fun read!", "date_added": "Tue Jan 25 02:56:06 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 25 03:00:13 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Mon Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7723486", "review_id": "4628c6fce0f808183731bb90d8d44034", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Had I just read the first 60 pages of this book I would have loved it. I thought the idea was new and refreshing for the age group it was targeted to. Then the last half of the book happened. Pages 61-200 were just alright and the last part was terrible. The author tries so hard to create these amazing eye-popping situations for the characters that it doesn't make any sense. Every situation is one step \"Crazier\" than the next with no real development. In fact some of the situations just came out of no where and didn't even really fit. \n The part that I really disliked was the whole situation of the author quickly glossing over everything at the end. After so much build up I felt it sold the readers short on the ending. \n Another thing I did not like was that some of the situations spent so much time being explained and then just disappeared. \n Overall, I would have loved to like this but it just.. fizzled out at the end and that made me sad.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 11 02:25:06 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 20 01:28:17 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Thu Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Sat Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "185253", "review_id": "001278775e851a85a1448870084dcd6d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really loved this book. I wasn't so sure about the tone and pacing of the book but it was about halfway to three fourths of the way into the book that I realized \"I love this book\". It was one of those ones that I really feel the short, slowish start did it justice. \n The characters were realistic, I loved the fact that readers grew with the characters and nothing was pointed point blank to them. And other items. \n I cannot wait to continue this series. Really one of my favorite fantasy series :)", "date_added": "Sat Dec 11 02:06:11 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 04 18:28:27 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Thu Dec 23 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Sat Dec 11 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7965123", "review_id": "3eedeb4cedcb0aa8eb0bd66a29612c64", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Ever have one of those books where you wonder why you didn't really care for the first? This is one of those. I LOVED this sequel. I almost feel if this depth had been applied to the first book I would have raved about the series a lot more then I did. \n I really felt that Hardy brought a depth and level to this series that was lacking from the first book. This book really connected with me. Allowed me to see the characters, experience their feelings and understand what was going on in terms of the magic, the world and events. \n I also love that this book has a very unique concept with the whole Taking and Healing and all that. I feel like it hasn't been done before and really brings a fresh voice to fantasy.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 27 02:10:34 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 10 22:24:18 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Thu Dec 02 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Sat Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6940291", "review_id": "6d10c306a4408d7c0408d6bbee9c8db5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I have a massive confession. I feel if this is the end of the series utterly cheated. I have no closure, I felt it was a bit of a weak ending and I just... feel like the whole series was wrapped up way to quickly. \n I am glad that there was more of Conn and the wizard in this book. I felt it was missing from the second one and it made me sad. But I am still a bit disappointed in the ending. \n That said, there were a few sections that weren't explained very well and I felt I missed out on something. But other then that if this was just another book in a series I'd love it. \n EDIT: A new book has been released. I shall see if I can amend my opinion.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 25 01:29:28 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 14 15:47:36 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Thu Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "8160897", "review_id": "d227006710ffc1bb324214759ab873e8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Fear is a YA anthology filled with 13 stories of suspense and horror. Each of the 13 short stories were contributed by some of the top names in the YA/adult literature. There are stories written by James Rollins, R.L. Stine, Meg Cabot and other big names in literature. \n Here is a detailed overview of all 13 stories contained in the anthology. \n Welcome to the Club by R.L. Stine \n This is a typical R.L. Stine story. A bit of suspense with a twist at the end. For long time readers of R.L. Stine the story will probably be a bit pradictable but overall it really set the mood for the anthology and gives it a nice kickoff. \n She's Different Tonight by Heather Graham \n She's Different Tonight was by far not one of my favorite stories within this anthology. It is told from a werewolf POV and there's a bit of twist. I just couldn't get into the tone, story line and felt it was very rushed (for a short story). \n Suckers by Suzanne Weyn \n If I had to pick a favorite story in this anthology it would be Suckers. It's unique, fun and has a bit of a \"scary\" undertone to it. A famous family moves to a new planet looking for a new life but they find out that something odd has happened on this planet. What is odd about the planet is so unexpected and just a really fun story. \n The Perfects by Jennifer Allison \n What would happen if you moved next door to the perfects. That's what this is about. A babysitter volunteers to watch the next door neighbor's children but something just isn't right about the children. They watch surgery channels and eat raw meat. This was a pretty \"creepy\" story in terms of creepiness of the stories. I really thought it had a perfect ending and I could easily reread it. \n Shadow Children by Heather Brewer \n This is the first heartpounding, action filled story. It tells a tale of what happens after the lights go out in a little boys room. What is REALLY lurking in the shadows. It was chilling and left off with my all time favorite cliffhanger endings that are so famous in scary stories. \n Poison Ring by Peg Kehret \n This was the first suspense story in the anthology. Maybe I was just in the mood for creepy, horror stories but I wasn't feeling this story. It tells of an older lady who comes into an antique store and sells goods to the family. These goods lead to a whole lot of trouble and then the story ends. \n Dragonfly Eyes by Alane Ferguson \n Another one of my favorite stories in this book. A shoot comes into a classroom and picks 2 girls to hold as hostages. This story is told from the point of view of one of the girls that got shot. Only she's a ghost. It's one of those make you think stories and for teens (which is who this book is marketed too) serves as a compelling life lesson type story but it's done in the right way. \n Jeepers Peepers by Ryan Brown \n From the title I really thought this was going to be a run of the mill story with a same old same old style but Ryan Brown really impressed me with it. Another babysitter story, only this time the child she babysits has to be left in the dark and ends up causing a lot of trouble. It was a bit heartpounding and scary but it had the greatest unexpected twist at the end. I loved it! \n Piney Power by F. Paul Wilson \n A story about rough justice taken by fellow people who live on the outskirts of society. I don't have any feelings for this story one way or the other. It didn't wow me and it didn't make me dislike it. I sorta felt it was out of place in this anthology though. \n Night Hunter by Meg Cabot \n Meg Cabot is a huge name in YA lit. Sadly, this short story took a bit of a predictable twist. It had a bit of suspense but there was a girl pining away for a guy and it just didn't work in this story. Between that and the predictable twist it didn't reach my top list of stories in this anthology. \n Tuition by Walter Sorrells \n Another suspense/action story about a boy who breaks into safes. Only today is his birthday and he is trying to get out of the business so he can go to school. Nice slow pace story that had an interesting (but foreseeable) ending. \n Tagger by James Rollins \n James Rollins writing style is so completely different from every other writer in this anthology. He brings a bit of an action/suspense short story that really winds up the whole anthology. It was my first taste of his writing style and I enjoyed it a lot. \n Ray Gun by Tim Maleeny \n This short story took a twist to a sci-fiy type story. It was so far off what I normally read that I couldn't honestly review it. I got through it but I wouldn't have anything to compare it to to make the review fair. \n OVERALL: Overall I found Fear an interesting anthology. There were definate hits for me with the stories that they included and there were massive misses. The misses usually included extremely predictable plot lines or just oddball stories that didn't seem to fit.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 07 04:26:41 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 01 16:37:27 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Sun Nov 07 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "5801741", "review_id": "6912fb22cf032a1146cea17478390186", "rating": 3, "review_text": "One of the major plot elements that I loved about this series was the relationship between Conn and the older wizard. This book took a different approach and really didn't focus on that as much. Because of that I didn't like it as well as I would have hoped. \n It's still a cute series and fast paced but it ends with a cliff hanger and I'm not a huge fan of cliff hangers. Still wish there was more Conn and Nevery.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 05 23:45:58 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 07 01:16:08 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Sun Nov 07 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Fri Nov 05 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6990121", "review_id": "fa0f386cdd642566390b9c485d5c76c5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book. I thought the writing was a bit simple for YA but it was quick and fast paced that made me feel like I didn't want to put the book down. The mix of vampires and the literature was amazing and really pulled me in. \n Think Buffy for Teens nowadays. \n I loved the characters and story line and can't wait to see what happens in the second book.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 03 00:50:05 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 04 04:51:21 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue Nov 02 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6917434", "review_id": "179043b48cd499318959026c584d42bd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book. It kept me captivated even as an adult which is good. I loved the fact that the characters grew as the story went along and there was just the right amount of action, character growth and world building to make it a wonderful story! \n I hope there are a few more books in this series. It would really make my day!", "date_added": "Wed Nov 03 00:48:11 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 03 00:49:23 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6658685", "review_id": "b26cd9bc0e119711000a2e332175ac98", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy this book at all. But I ended up loving it. I think for a kid they might not get as much out of it as an adult reading it, but I loved it. I could relate to the girl in the story and just found the little parts where the narrator \"interrupted\" a cute little twist on the story. \n A very cute, quick read for anyone that loves Alice in Wonderland and a bit of an adventure story.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 28 23:25:30 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 03 00:42:38 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Thu Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Thu Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6636890", "review_id": "1158ee24249c1d51eab2e912f5731448", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I rarely rate a one star. \n Everything felt so rushed, forced and pushed in this novel. I knew what was going to happen before that, and there was very little time spent allowing the reader to get to know Shadow. It was like BOOM get to know her and like her. \n If you read the flap of the book you already know what's going to happen in the first half of the book. Which flaps are good to read but really don't spoil the vast majority of the book. \n I found the characters, stiff, stilted, boring and just plain dull. The internal dialog as Shadow didn't do anything for me, it didn't make me like her or intensely dislike her. I can honestly say I felt NOTHING for the characters. \n The action jumped around. There were times where I'd read something and wonder where it was going and then we were taken another direction. Meanwhile I'm sitting there going \"But what about.....\". Very jumpy and not in a good way. \n I forced myself to read the whole book just to prove that I was right on this book and that it really was as bad as I thought it would be.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 06 21:16:33 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 01 16:37:26 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7249522", "review_id": "0b8805cbffdb5db84f885530cb1e0b8f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I would like to put a disclaimer on this. My copy had about 20 pages of another story in it. And it seemed as if every time the book got good it'd jump to this other story and then when I got back to the Elsewhere part I had missed this whole section! So that sorta ruined it for me. To the editors, please make sure that there isn't another story (it was a completely different story with characters named Emma and stuff) in the book. \n With that said. I enjoyed the book found it quirky, fun and mysterious all in one. I loved the main character and although this book is very similar to another book (Mirrorscape) I loved it more then Mirrorscape!). \n I look forward to reading the next book in the series, minus the mixed up parts.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 03 21:53:50 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 06 21:23:51 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Mon Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sun Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6383769", "review_id": "9f353601562ca76b303d88ed62eefe35", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Cute story. The whole thing felt a little sluggish, but I loved the illustrations. The second half of the book was worth the read. A very cute story for young readers and I love the introduction to the creatures int he book!", "date_added": "Sun Oct 03 01:43:07 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:44:14 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7091314", "review_id": "149fb7bead44e625b0057cc351a4fe0f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really liked this book a lot better then that first book. I think it moved faster and was more detailed then I had expected. \n I love LOVE love the drawings in this book. I'll definately keep reading this series. A very cute series for young readers, and adult readers will enjoy reading along with the younger ones.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 03 01:42:46 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 03 21:55:49 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sun Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sun Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6923325", "review_id": "6c2da29aac6e2c4e4fa1d2fdfd2b1b7d", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This is a very easy, quick read. It essentially tells of a mute young boy who is sold to a fake dragon hunter. The dragon hunter isn't a real one because everyone knows that there is \"no such thing as dragons\". \n As the story goes on people really see that maybe there are dragons. And... that's pretty much the story in a nutshell. \n I think for a basic reader this would be a good book. I'm talking a very easy read. Anything over the 12-13 level might be a little too old for this book. \n That said there were a few things that were a draw back from this book. \n There is a lot of emphasis on religion, Christian religion in the book. While it didn't offend me it could easily be offensive to a parent, especially the young age that the writing is meant for. \n There are several parts of this book that have major jumping around. In three pages we jumped from the mute boy, to the dragon hunter to the little girl. It was hard to tell who the main character was. \n The last \"Drawback\" of the book was that some of the parts just weren't interesting. The whole book is basically told to you, there is nothing that happens. In that there is very little dialogue or events that happen in real time. I felt as if the story was told to me rather then me experiencing it with the characters. \n A good book for an easy reader or a quick book for dragon lovers but nothing really special about it.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 02 01:17:33 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 03 01:41:57 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sat Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sat Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "249747", "review_id": "0fa992b1fc55d4f02d3a9bdd6267f81f", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Not a fan of this book. Seemed like a brainwashing technique to get kids to jump on the eco-friendly bandwagon. Only instead of stating facts or making it fun, the author totally degrades humans.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 21 01:27:42 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 04 17:27:28 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6870698", "review_id": "16a6d812f50334604d5c6ab4f0d1bd23", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I enjoyed this book. It was definately a middle grade story in that it wasn't very fleshed out and that the story went quickly. There was a lot of build up and descriptions which slowed the story a bit but at the half way mark it really picked up. \n The best part of this book was the combo of fey and the whole Christian theme. The Angels and abbey. That was probably the BEST part of the book and makes up for the slow plot and one sided characters :)", "date_added": "Sun Sep 12 21:03:45 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 19 01:58:10 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sun Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "9409458", "review_id": "6989cd3967932bd37caf8fd4aa2bc561", "rating": 1, "review_text": "After spending the past three years following this series, I can only express my pure disappointment in this train wreck fo a series ender. \n The first novel in the series, while I had a few problems with some of the plot elements (The whole girl wants to sleep with wolves being one of them), I got through it and really felt there was something there. \n Second novel was an improvement, with fresh voices and plot development. And then the third novel came along. I have so much to say and I'll try my best to sum it up. \n Maggie Stiefvater is a very very talented writer. She writes beautifully and uses very rich, lyrical descriptions that make me really see the emotions and actions of the book. But she doesn't close the deal on this series, and before anyone jumps on me as per the end of the book this IS the end of the series. \n So here's my problem. This book focused so much on Cole/Isabelle but I didn't care for them. There was so much focus on these two that the real love of Sam/Grace got lost in translation. \n After the whole lost love of Sam/Grace, you come up with the hundreds of questions that are left unsolved by this novel. Nothing is answered, in fact, more questions come up from this novel than anything else. For example, what is this cure? What happens to it? What happens with Grace and her parents or does she just leave them? What about school? NONE of this is described. \n There is so much time focused on the science part in the first book, and yet nothing is answered. Why are the wolves transforming in MN? Is MN the only place that has this problem? If not why are the other areas not dealing with deaths, etc? How do others handle it? \n Overall, I feel as if I wasted time and energy on a series that fell flat. As a reader I feel cheated, and am sadden that such a talented author had to leave the book as such.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 07 00:36:12 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 10 23:52:11 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Fri Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7235533", "review_id": "46f3d8b099dc1f3532382522013ee122", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I have finally finished the Way(toolong) of Kings. Please take what I say with a grain of salt you have been warned. \n This book is entirely too long. By about 200-300 pages. There is really no need to describe every single solitary item, place and feeling in the whole book. For example a passage about the intricate design of a door comes to mind. Why was it 5 paragraphs long? The other major complaint is the lengthy conversations about nothing. I know it was all in the good of \"world building\" but really it could have been cut back. \n The speed of this book varied. There were times when I was rolling right along, page after page. Then BOOM I hit a wall and the book dragged slower then reading the dictionary. It was this massive problem that left me with conflicting emotions. Did I like the book? Did I not like the book? I have to say it was iffy. \n With all that said, this book did have many many elements of predictability to it. I saw about 90% of what was coming before it happened. \n I'll probably read the next book because \"The Almighty\" knows I like to torture myself. The second book could blow my socks off you never know! \n So over all, I enjoyed parts of this book. But really think it could have been trimmed down a bit and I would have LOVED the book. There is a lot of potential there for a great series but don't expect to be completely wow'd in this book.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 17 22:16:01 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 12 21:02:33 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Tue Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6461779", "review_id": "e92a75ac141c696bb387f0d03ee964b2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book. But by the end I LOVED it and want more. \n This book was a fast paced romance with just a touch of fantasy/magic. I really felt pulled into the book, loved the characters and thought it was just the perfect read. \n If you haven't looked into it read it now!", "date_added": "Wed Aug 11 15:11:14 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 17 22:10:31 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7130788", "review_id": "de16c86161f44f1ddc44da11be091de3", "rating": 1, "review_text": "So much potential so little follow through. The story was so slow and boring I kept wandering and the characters were flat and boring. \n I couldn't figure out why the gay friend (yes you're reading this right) accepted that this girl was reincarnated so easily. I'm sorry if my best friend said that I wouldn't just be like \"Okay lets help\" I'd think they were nuts. \n I can't tell about the writing of this author because the plot was so dull that it didn't show me what she could do. \n So Sad to see this story be so bad.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 07 00:22:13 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 29 02:06:31 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sat Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7327916", "review_id": "03a53e8b68208258d352cf87db094329", "rating": 3, "review_text": "As an adult reader this book was a bit hard to get into. Great starter book for children though. \n The story wasn't too memorable but I really believe that a reader of 10 would love to read it.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 04 14:30:15 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 07 00:59:24 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Fri Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Wed Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7038489", "review_id": "f72bd601ae7a2e874fb3bed0f159ed82", "rating": 3, "review_text": "As a fantasy reader who has a slight obsession with dragons it could only be expected that I have tried Naomi Novik's novels involving dragons being used during the Napoleon era. I have only in the past read the first 2 or 3 novels. It wasn't for lack of trying, the other novels didn't fit into my reading schedule. When Tongues of Serpents arrived at my door the call of the dragon was just to strong and I thought I'd fit some time into my schedule to try it out. \n Having read His Majesty's Dragon at least 3 years ago it was a bit challenging picking up where I had left off. Tongues of Serpents picks up right where the 5th book left off and there isn't much time spent on who characters are or background history on the characters. This could make it tough for those who need a bit of a refresher. There is no time wasted on filler information. \n As with the first novel that I read of Novik's I did have a slight problem getting into her writing style. There were times that some of the descriptions or conversations didn't flow as well as I am used to. However, after a few chapters I became used to it and by the end of the novel I had no problems. It should be noted that I also had this similar problem with the first novel, her writing isn't what I'm used to and it took some time to get into a groove with the reading. \n Although this novel is very well written there are elements that only allow Tongues of Serpent to be described as a filler book. It connects events from the 5th book to events that'll occur in the 7th book. There is a lot of time spent on political conversations and traveling in this novel. This is by no means the best novel of the series. While I haven't read all the novels, as a connector novel it just doesn't live up to the wow factor of the first novel. Too much time is spent describing the land and uncharted area and not enough focus on the dragons, political events and other action elements. In fact it's well over 3/4th of the way into the novel before anything happens that wasn't in the book description. This was a bit disappointing as I didn't remember the first two novels being of this fashion. \n This novel is either going to be a love it or hate it novel for Temeraire fans. They will enjoy the fact that there are introduction to new dragons and a set up for another novel but overall the wow factor isn't there for this book. It's slow and really not much happens. While this novel renewed my love of dragons and made me inspired to go back and read the other novels I have missed in the series, it won't be my favorite novel. While it wasn't a bad read at all, I can only hope that the next novel produces a more substantial plot element and brings back these novels to what I remember enjoying the first time.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 01 15:06:16 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 07 18:29:26 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Wed Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "29396", "review_id": "3ad048ed137478fcbb2ab38852618715", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This might be one of those top fantasy series that I love such as Terry Brooks and other such books. \n While it is a tad bit confusing and slow in the beginning, the book has a bit of a captivating factor to it. The characters at the moment aren't anything that other fantasy series don't have but it's just such a great series. \n The magic system is a bit unique and probably what adds to the unique factor of the series and what makes it so fun. \n The chapters switch off between people and it really makes the book flow rather quickly. I can't wait to read the second book!", "date_added": "Sat Jul 03 23:29:48 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 11 02:00:34 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sun Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sat Jul 03 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7660688", "review_id": "6f5f4174c91637b626c70e65cce1df54", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a very interesting fantasy. It can only be described as a fantasy with magic soap opera. It's a very long book so it almost needs to be read like a soap opera (1 or 2 chapters at a time). I really enjoyed following the drama and action but wish that the land and magic had been explained a tiny bit better it seemed glossed over in favor of drama. Some parts were a little predictable but over all I enjoyed it and look forward to book 2.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 03 03:10:37 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 23 02:13:28 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sat Jul 03 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6679044", "review_id": "ecc2d65b43c1ce5cc43a04d1642b12b6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "After having such a great debut novel it can be hard to top it. Sadly Thief Eyes doesn't really have the innocence, wow factor, or plot element that Simner's first novel did. \n For those that don't know Icelandic lore (and I'm guessing that the MAJORITY of the US Teens don't). This book is going to be confusing and a bit hard to understand. I had some knowledge of lores but not enough that it was an easy read. \n With that said, it was a unique choice Icelandic lore and that made it intriguing. Maybe more people will look into it after reading this (so they can understand what they read). \n simner's writing is very descriptive, lyrical and flowy. A lot of descriptions of emotions, and lands which could turn readers off. \n The romance that was in this novel just didn't work for me. Too fast, not developed enough and extremely forced. I could see it coming from the first time they met. \n Another thing I don't like is the whole bad father's thing. I don't get why this is a trend. \n Plot wise this book moved very slowly and didn't have much to it until the end. If the ending was like the rest of the book I would have loved it. The events that happened and the whole magic thing was a tiny bit confusing and hard to follow. I had a hard time understanding what had happened, or was happening. \n So while it wasn't a bad book it just wasn't as good as her debut and I really feel it could have been a bit better.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 01 16:58:15 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 03 23:29:20 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sat Jul 03 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6641635", "review_id": "1a742fa8c90b04797ccec56ff19e62d8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Still great characters. Mangum's writing has really grown in this book and it was just as great as the first book. I really liked the scenes with Valerie I thought they were very amazing and I could feel the emotion and just truely gifted writing. However, there were parts that seemed to drag. It was a quick read but it just has so much longing and teenage love/angst that it started to drag. I found that it went fast then slowed really slow then picked up speed the last 100 pages. If that's my only complaint we're still doing good. \n Though I loved it and can't wait till the next book!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 24 19:24:55 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 01 16:37:26 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Thu Jun 24 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6470948", "review_id": "38624c9229773407e381808d57fcec5c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I found Blood of Ambrose a bit of a tough read. It was quick but it didn't seem to read very quick (if that makes sense). The language was hard to follow. \n This Crooked Way is a lot easier to read. The writing flows a lot better. With that said this book is filled with little episodes that sorta connect together but don't really. I personally enjoyed the parts that were just Morlock a lot better before he hooked up with that family. I found the parts where the family told stories a bit dull and I didn't really care for those. \n Since this book is filled with little episodes it doesn't flow as smoothly as book should. In fact it felt a bit off as if someone is telling me stories and they should go together and I know they should but I can't figure out why they don't. \n I enjoyed it and just wish there was more of just Morlock. Overall a better smoother read however the stories don't line up as well as I would have liked.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 08 00:08:23 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 18 23:56:33 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sat Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Tue Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7069161", "review_id": "fa1f2dd0b310dca5ee4f50ca2219dcdc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was one of those books that I was looking forward to reading in 2010. \n I don't know if this is a first or second book but the author is fairly new to writing. While I enjoyed the book and plot, there were huge areas of information dumping. Either when described the land, or characters or background. I noticed that I'd skip huge paragraphs, this did get toned down a lot after midway but it'll be hard for people to get past it. Especially since some of the information isn't really an essential part to the plot. \n The characters were wonderful especially the 2 griffins, the mage, and Kes. All of the characters were emotional, passionate and drawn out very well. \n The plot line was really interesting, and the magic portrayed was really intricate and just what Earth/fire magic should be. \n I did have a hard time understanding the countries and mountains and picturing it. The descriptions didn't describe it as small but troops marched many many miles and the desert area was hard to pictures such a vast area with such a small world that was developed. That and the info dumping were my major complaints. \n The book does pick up and I did enjoy the whole book. I'll be seeing how Neumeier grows with the second book because there was a lot of potential there.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 04 17:37:54 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 08 00:07:16 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Mon Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7199667", "review_id": "d4ff45842e021ab8bf45ef4b54f8f366", "rating": 3, "review_text": "George does a great job making a whole medieval style world. As with all fairy tales the characters are all a bit one sided and predictable. The reason I didn't enjoy this more is that the novel seemed longer then it should be. The \"evil witch\" didn't really have a good reason for doing what she did (In my opinion). However it is a fairy tale and those are things that come with it. \n George's retelling of a Cinderella style story was really unique and that's what really made this book fly by for myself.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 01 00:20:26 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 22 16:54:55 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Thu Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Wed Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7549828", "review_id": "1899ab7a7ea5b42d64e3f39253cc1f32", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was better then the first book. Erica Kirov really grows as a writer with this novel. It was a bit less draggy and the characters acted a bit more mature. Still a novel for children but a lot more enjoyable then the first :)", "date_added": "Mon May 31 02:46:56 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 01 00:10:32 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Mon May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Mon May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7838941", "review_id": "04ca14ba98a04e652ed15c3a7f8ecb17", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ninth Avatar is one of those books that the cover purely attracted my attention. The story that it contained was a well thought out, epic battle story that will attract many readers. \n Ninth Avatar is Todd Newton's debut epic fantasy and it's a gallant effort. \n The most outstanding thing about this novel are very detailed and descriptive. There is nothing left to the imagination as far as what is going on. The novel starts out with a Prologue that contains a very detailed attack on some of the cities. While the other elements of the novel are appealing to readers, the bulk of the novel's strength really lies in these types of scenes and the way that they are described. \n While the storyline of Ninth Avatar fits the typical fantasy model, however the detailed scenes throughout the novel do make it stand out from the rest of the run of the mill fantasys. The story was fairly easy to follow, and very faced paced. However the pace of the novel doesn't serve it justice as it feels as if there should be more explained and at times certain areas seemed to be explained in a rush to keep the pacing quickly. \n The characters involved are pretty detailed and three dimensional. There are plenty of every type of personality to go around, and no one character really stands out as being one sided or too flat. Every character from Starka, to DaVille, and Cairos felt as if they were their own character and not placed in the novel to serve a designated role in the story. \n Although at first I was afraid of the incest plot element clouding my judgment, I don't believe it really effected my reading. Though I believe this element of the story might push some readers away, it could easily have been left out of the novel as much as it was in. \n Overall, I enjoyed Ninth Avatar as a sword and sorcery novel. The pace of the novel really kept the scenes flowing and never let me get to a point where I was bored with the novel. Todd Newton has some amazing talent that I'm sure readers of fantasy will be coming across in the future. It'll be amazing to see what becomes of this talent and to see it channeled into future novels.", "date_added": "Sun May 30 02:24:19 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 04 02:32:40 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sun May 30 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "561456", "review_id": "add907254d620f9d0674c53496a684e2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really enjoy the use of Greek mythology in the book. I really believe it could spark children's interest in it and really what better time to learn about this stuff. \n That said, there is something about this series that I just can't get into. I have no connection to Percy or any of the other characters. It's book 3 I should be feeling SOMETHING for them, hatred love adoration. But yet I feel nothing. \n Maybe it's the nonstop action that make it a little hard to swollow. It's like this book is all about Percy running around a brief battle and then a small meeting of the gods. \n This is one of those books that I really feel if I was 10-12 I'd love but I just can't get into them as an adult. Though I do think that the series is \"Spicing\" up so it might be a bit better in book 4 or 5. I'll have to wait and see.", "date_added": "Mon May 24 18:55:47 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed May 26 22:53:32 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Mon May 24 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7389798", "review_id": "1b98dd491ec2cd8c5e4c8ace8d6a2702", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is very much a children's book and as much as I'd like to say that adults would like it, I don't see those that don't enjoy easy to read children's stories being able to make it to the end. \n With that said, on the children's side this was a great start to getting those children 8-12 involved with reading and enjoying it. There are plenty of monsters, and action involved that will keep the kids wanting more. There isn't much character development and really a kid isn't going to notice that :) \n There is an interesting twist in this novel that I didn't see coming and I've read 100s of fantasy books. So I think children, and parents reading it will enjoy it. \n Anything that gets kids, especially boys excited about reading I'm for. This book will definitely do that :)", "date_added": "Tue May 11 02:10:44 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon May 17 20:38:34 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Fri May 14 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Tue May 11 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "977841", "review_id": "8671155ae47e124c9b3392c81b8f3ca4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was an alright YA book. There was a bit too much action to really develop a storyline or any characters. It was pretty much \"How much action can be put into all these pages\". That's not to say it wasn't good it just wasn't a great book. I'm hoping that the rest of the series will pick up. \n I wish there was a bit more flamel and a little less of the twins but we can't always get what we want :)", "date_added": "Fri May 07 20:24:09 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon May 24 18:52:16 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Thu May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Mon May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7402393", "review_id": "e037f82e7c9cf79f456b5a00d0261e87", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I practically devoured this book. I don't know what it was about this book, but I just plowed right through it. \n This had all the typical sterotypes of a teen UF novel. Young love, wolves, love triangles, yadda yadda, but there was just that slight unique twist that kept me reading. Why? I still couldn't tell you, but I did.", "date_added": "Thu May 06 19:24:31 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 15 02:39:12 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Apr 22 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7128341", "review_id": "7f8d22e6ba2ce34d0fc767037fdd3723", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book takes a bit of getting into as it's fairly slow to start but it's well worth it because it ends with a bang! \n There isn't so much a creepy scary part to it as the build up leaves a lot of suspense and it's very much a YA book. \n Those that are looking for the poetic writing of Zafon won't find it in this book. It's more straight forward with a bit of descriptions. Nothing like the other books. \n The characters were well drawn out and the whole story is well rounded and developed. Though I didn't understand what happened to the main character's little sister I don't understand WHY it happened was it just because Cain was coming? That was a little unclear for myself but I loved this book, the setting and the characters. \n Very realistic story with a touch of magic and suspense.", "date_added": "Thu May 06 19:21:40 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue May 11 02:13:52 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Mon May 10 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Thu May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7139892", "review_id": "3f3ab2d0bc8e34d5b8148ffc99abbb0e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was my first Guy Gavriel Kay book that I have shown any interest in. And it was quite an experience for myself. \n GG Kay's books require a bit of time and thought behind them to fully understand and appreciate them. That's not to say that they can't be read in one sitting I just believe for those that haven't learned to read his style of writing it could take a bit of time to get used to. \n Those that are looking for a plot that is straight-forward and upfront probably wouldn't enjoy this novel. While the storyline and characters are captivating, GG Kay takes readers on a round about journey to learn what is going on. There are side stories and side character interactions that take place, that divert from the storyline. \n Another aspect that was a bit dizzying to the reader is the repetition of information that was told just pages before. I understand the need to make sure certain points are portrayed but there was no need to repeat them in such a short time span. \n On the other hand there is so much detail that made this book amazing. The amount of depth into this whole Asain culture is absolutely mind blowing and really captivating. I couldn't draw myself away from it and really found it convincing. \n The plot line while it does take a bit to get into is a bit captivating. There was something that kept me wondering about what would happen with the horses and the whole assassins. It was this ability to leave a reader wanting more that kept me reading. \n Overall, it took a bit of time to get used to the writing and long descriptions but it was a great read. The characters and background stories were amazing, and the mystery involved with the main plot was captivating. There is plenty of research and background that went into it and for those that enjoy Asian flared stories this is the book for you.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 26 20:26:11 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu May 06 19:19:36 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Mon Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6976966", "review_id": "c9abb2cf2ba88e303d30fc7230e9e7f0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I know what everyone is thinking, \"Oh no not another teen vampire book\". This is far from the typical teen vampire book that seems to be hitting the shelf recently. This book is filled with humor, great characters, and a fast moving plot that doesn't revolve around teens falling in love and having forbidden love. \n The thing that stands out about Still Sucks To Be Me is the humor. Kimberly Pauley knows how to balance the jokes and side comments with the plot. It's not overly filled with forced humor, instead it comes across as natural. There were plenty of times that I found myself laughing. This is a really light hearted vampire novel. \n The characters are great. Mina is the main character and the story is told from the first person point of view. She acts like a typical 17 year old with humor, concerns about friends, and school but not over reacting and believing that the world is coming to an end. There is just something about Mina that really attracts the reader to her and will cause for a great read. The supporting characters are all very strongly portrayed throughout the novel and really realist in their conversations, expressions, and actions. \n The fact that it contains vampires in a non-sparkly, non-violent way is really something that is rather unique to YA books lately. There is teen romance but nothing that resembles Twilight or other vampire books. This book is really about the humor and just having a fun, great read. \n Still Sucks To Be Me is a sequel and while the first book would make sense to read before this one, it isn't necessary. I didn't read the first book and had no problems with understanding previous plots and characters. Though there is a referral to the character Raven that would be best understood if the first book was read. \n The only weakness of the book for myself was the small sections of text messages or emails. This makes up less then 2% of the book but I detest reading online chat conversations that have \"whre r u\". As a YA book this can be expected and I'm glad that it wasn't overdone, but I still cringed a little when it did come up. \n In the end, I loved Still Sucks To Be Me, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. It was a real surprise for myself. Every page was a delight to read and I'd really recommend giving this a try to any lover of YA novels that enjoys a bit of humor and a decent plot.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 26 15:45:25 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed May 05 00:59:56 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue May 04 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Mon Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "1169354", "review_id": "54949aa8c57efd2fd291d6eb6bd237e8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the first type of horror/psychological thriller that I've read for review. Normally I wouldn't go near a book like this but I thought I'd take a step out of my comfort zone and give it a try. \n This book was amazing! Something I really enjoyed. The characters, Beau and Sumter were very detailed. And I have to admit I was mildly creeped out by Sumter from page one. \n The book isn't slow but it takes its time to draw up to the suspense. There is a lot of build up and little things that happened and then BOOM everything starts to fall apart. \n I have to admit I was a little creeped by the ending of this book. But in a way this book can be read so many different ways. It makes one think about children who are evil, are they that way because of genes or because of outside factors? What makes a child go evil? Lots of things to think about.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 19 22:22:34 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 23 19:46:03 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Wed Apr 21 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Mon Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6357708", "review_id": "eff5f12461ec1cf2ed403f0baef10bc6", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I sorta enjoyed this book. I think if it wasn't so dark and depressing I'd have liked it more. It felt like I was around a bunch of emo kids who can't see ANYTHING good in anything. \n I think the easiest way and least offensive way to do this review is just to list likes and then dislikes. \n Likes: \n I liked the cover. \n I liked that the book was based off of (very loosely) Little Red Riding Hood. \n Pearce really knows how to draw up misery, depression and just plain darkness. \n This book has an underlying sense of darkness and depression not recommended if you don't want to feel this way. \n Dislikes: \n Every so many pages readers were forced to reread another graphic description of Scarlett's scars. \n The book had a cynical look at anything that was normal. It was like it had to force the reader to be depressed. \n I couldn't really place myself in the girls' shoes. It was hard to be sympathetic of them when I just couldn't see how their lives were so miserable. I understood Scarlett but I couldn't get over the modern setting and then these girls living out in the country faking the modern world into believing they were ok. I just couldn't suspend reality or belief from this. \n I didn't really understand the point of the book. There are the werewolf like things and the girls go and hunt. But then at times the girls were like I HAVE to do this. But I didn't understand WHY they HAD to do it. \n Silias was as boring as a door nob. I knew from page one what was going to happen because it was very well lined out that that was what was going to happen.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 12 17:53:14 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 24 19:24:12 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Wed Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7779048", "review_id": "7b8fa53baf11d18f782485df0c286ff8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "E.J. Stevens is an amazing poet. I was intrigued by the dark poetry and I have to say that it really comes through in this book. The darkness was captured very nicely and there really is some amazing talent here. Anyone who is a fan of vampires, poetry, dark things should pick this up. I was impressed.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 11 16:00:37 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 11 16:02:42 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sat Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6951425", "review_id": "c4cc77b18161866b427ca47f4901da7c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Shadow's Son is attention grabbing, fast paced, and an overall stand out fantasy novel. \n From the moment I picked up the book it was virtually impossible to put down. The writing and set up of the novel/chapters really played major factors in keeping this a fast paced novel. \n The novel is set up at just about 300 pages and it's a perfect novel to keep any readers attention. Jon Sprunk knows just how to describe a scene, character interaction, or important plot element without dragging it out. There is certainly no fluff element in this novel. There is enough description to give a reader an idea of what the world and characters are but there is no time wasted with detailing every single element in this novel. \n Another benefit of the set up of the novel is the set up of the chapters. Each chapter is a reasonable length, while ending on a note that made me want to read more. I found myself engrossed enough that before I knew it I had read 4-5 chapters, it really was impossible to put down. \n All characters involved with Shadow's Son are amazingly detailed and enjoyable. They really strike a cord with a reader and Sprunk's writing causes readers to want to enjoy and know what is happening to the readers. For myself, while I enjoyed both Caim and Josephine, the character that I really loved was Kit, and would love to see more of her in future novels. \n The fight scenes that are present within Shadow's Son are detailed and action packed without being too detailed or overly long. They appeared at just the right time to amp up my enthusiasm in the book and weren't overly done for effect. \n Shadow's Son takes fantasy to it's original roots with a great storyline, quick paced plot flow, some really great fight scenes and enjoyable characters. While there isn't anything overly complex, as in readers aren't going to find overly detailed magic, intricate political systems, and a million different cities to understand, there is an element that this is an amazing fantasy novel with. \n Jon Sprunk shows that not all fantasy novels need to be doorstoppers to be good. Shadow's Son is easily one of my favorite books of 2010 and I look forward to seeing what Sprunk can add to this trilogy.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 01 18:56:00 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 04 02:33:34 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Fri May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Mon May 24 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6457334", "review_id": "0a107762b2389dbce67c7e52ddd75efa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have waited a year and half for this book. When I read Cabinet of Wonders I NEEDED this book. I have to admit now I need the next book. \n This book took readers to England and used many historical characters while having the main focus be on the \"fictional\" characters. There is every bit of fantasy and humor in this book that makes it a great read. The chapters are on the short side so before one knows it the book is over with. \n The action jumps from event to event without dragging on and on and making it seem like it will be forever before something happens. \n The characters are all very three dimensional. \n Many people say it isn't important to read Cabinet of Wonders but I disagree you have to in order to understand what is going on. There are a lot of things that happen in this book that are a result of the first and it just wouldn't make sense if you didn't read the first one. \n I LOVE the spider his brute honesty and humor is what makes me love the book even more. \n There was a bit of an odd start as the author tried to bring readers up on what happened in COW but didn't do it as smoothly as some other authors. But after the first page or so it was smooth sailings :) \n I can't wait to see what element of history and fiction Rutkoski brings to the next novel but I\"m sure it'll be great.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 27 21:58:08 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 19 22:27:07 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sun Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Fri Apr 16 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "70582", "review_id": "d39dc7f0901eb021208172213110ee4a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was surprised about how quickly I read this book. I don't normally go for things that are titled \"UF\" but this was true UF not paranormal romance and I really really liked it. \n Granted I could have done without the long descriptions of clothing and music playing but besides that I thought it was pretty good. Characters were fun especially the convos between Eddi and some of the great characters. There were some really good convos going on in this book. \n This was a bit dated and I don't think this type of story would work in 2010 but I think it's one of those \"trip to the old days\" type book.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 21 20:12:11 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 11 01:05:51 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sun Oct 10 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Wed Oct 06 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "5937607", "review_id": "dc0656163ce4d9320cc4ba63b87533cf", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book suffers from a major middle book issue. Although there is action there are parts where this book just drags till no end. It felt like there was an overwhelming amount of description of camp life and added romance fluff to make this book longer. \n With that said, I really enjoyed the setting and the magic starting to grow a bit. I know this book is essential to tying the first and third book together but I feel as though I could have done with a whole book on the ghosts of the camp and the Bootzaman thing. I'm not anticipating a huge battle or a fight there was no build up to the third book so I was a bit disappointed in that. \n I did like the historic cameos and the ghost plot. And I loved the part about Washington and the flag, but really I think this book could have been a bit shorter and I would have enjoyed it a lot more.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 21 03:08:33 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 23 16:37:17 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sun Mar 21 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sun Mar 21 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6730372", "review_id": "9cbebce1296e8dd393d49a9e37469a4b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A cute, fast paced children's fantasy. The characters were all very detailed for such a small book and some of the plot elements were pretty detailed. Makes me want to give the other series by Stevermer a try as I gave up on it. If it's anything like this I will love it.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 19 19:08:26 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 07 01:10:52 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Sat Nov 06 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Thu Nov 04 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6396977", "review_id": "7917dc76c9ff0a68fd9b7eb1af4d3f8c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. Many people try to write a novel like Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and really they don't succeed. While I know that wasn't the inspiration from it there is the same feeling to this book. \n Appleton has a lot of talent. He writes so elegantly that it really surprised me how much I was into the story. \n While this is considered \"religious fantasy\" I really think with the exception of a few areas that it really doesn't have that feeling. It's not pushing the whole religion on you. As I said it reminds me of how some people assume the LLW is religious fantasy. \n There are some areas that seemed a little wordy and draggy but overall I enjoyed the characters they weren't too developed but I think it was the whole developing a great story that made you feel good and think. \n It was a nice change of pace from the heavy fantasy that I read and there were a few surprises and good feelings. \n I'd read more of Appleton given the chance. Swords of Six is a great start to what might be a wonderful series.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 16 19:40:59 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 20 00:54:27 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Fri Mar 19 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Tue Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6505358", "review_id": "7df6fb76218c8a0b0aa6a0b142042570", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A great paranormal romance. I loved the Autralian mythology being woven into the story. I know it wasn't fully the myths but it was something new to read about compared to the overused vamprs, and fairies that are popping up all the time. \n That said, it takes Healey a good 3/4ths of the novel to get into any type of action and that might be the downfall to this book. The main character is the typical sassy, smart alicky type girl but the first part contains very little as far as trying to keep a person's interest. When the myths come in I can see a teen especially an American one getting bored with it. That type of stuff isn't known to the average person and so much of the plot revolves around it that it can get confusing if you aren't focusing on the myths and stories around it. \n There isn't much action, it's more of a romance then any action it's kinda skimmed over and I felt a little set up as it was this huge war and it didn't feel like that was a part of this book. It happened in the background and the reader misses it all. \n With that said the writing was good, the character as great without being over the top and there were some \"hip\" language that would attract a teen reader. It's a nice change of pace, and will likely with the right reader be a great book.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 07 03:31:49 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 28 22:38:53 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sun Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Tue Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6581334", "review_id": "d373bac9d69a560f93f2331e20e22546", "rating": 3, "review_text": "After the slowish start to this book the book did start to pick up. It was about more then half way through and the book finally got good. I loved that the book was darkish and I think this is a great way to introduce young readers to the \"darker\" side of fantasy. I didn't really care for the main character Tayna I thought she was a bit slow to get things and purposely dragged events out so the book was longer. \n The events were a bit choppy at times in that they didn't flow. This was a main problem in that it was a debut and some of these things takes time to get through but it will be ironed out with time. \n I can't wait for the sequel! Harrison has a lot of talent and the world that she created was really gritty and dark for a child's book.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 07 03:24:31 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 15 00:47:28 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Wed Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sun Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6381205", "review_id": "c4c858f4822a32dfca9eee4155b644e3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Like many book enthusiasts I have a massive pile of books that I always vow to read, but never get around to it. I made it a goal to at least try a few of these mysterious books and that is how Soulless came across my path. \n Soulless is a mix of urban fantasy, mystery, adventure, and Victorian England. Just the setting of England would have caught my interest, but there was just something about this series that kept calling me and I'm extremely glad I tried it out because I enjoyed every minute of it. \n Pretty much from the get-go Soulless is filled with action and adventure. The main character, Alexia Tarabotti is attacked by a vampire at a social gathering. This vampire doesn't seem to understand the complicated code of etiquette that is set forth. Alexia accidently kills the vampire before she can understand why she was attacked, or what/who is leading these rouge vampires. \n The whole novel is extremely fast paced. I'm not sure if it was the fairly unique plot (note I said fairly unique, not extremely unique), or the witty dialogue, but whatever it was I was glued to the book and kept wanting to read it. \n The general in-a-nutshell plot element is that Alexia is a rare 'supernatural' individual who can actually neutralize the effects of the supernatural. She can turn a vampire human enough to go out during the day, and calm down a werewolf. While this isn't overly unique, it was spun in a way that made it interesting to read while not feeling as if I had read this type of book 100 times before. \n The dialogue was fresh and funny. There were certainly comments that had me chuckling a little when I read them. I also believe that Alexia as a main character was thrilling. She was strong and independent, with a humorous streak to her. The characters combined with entertaining dialogue really was what kept me reading page after page. \n While Soulless was an entertaining read there were a few quirks that keep nagging at the back of my head. The first is the rather inconsistent character building of the main character. Alexia is a spinster in the English upper society, she will never marry and no one really wants to associate with her. This causes her to have an extremely low opinion of herself, in which she constantly puts herself down. However, if she was so plain and spinster quality she certainly knew how to work her assets to her advantage, which seemed out of character for the way she was developed throughout the book. \n An example that comes to mind is when she was talking to another character in the book and she keeps batting eyelashes or positioning herself in a way to make her bust look bigger. For a girl that has low self-esteem batting eyelashes and bosom pushing is usually not the first things they do when talking to guys. \n Another quirk of mine during this book was the random sex acts between Alexia and Lord Maccon (a handsome werewolf). These two just randomly seemed to start going at it at the most inappropriate times. They almost did it in the parlor, the middle of a road, and such. The worst was as they are captured and facing near death their sex drive kicks into gear and they are almost about to go all out till they are interrupted. I just don't really see how it furthered the plot, and just seemed sort of random and unnecessary. \n While these quirks were a bit quirky, they weren't enough to derail from the entire reading experience. I loved reading Soulless and thought it was just a joy. I might be a bit behind on the times, but Soulless really was worth it - I just wish I hadn't waited so long to read it.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 03 20:01:13 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu May 31 20:29:56 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Apr 07 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Apr 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6839020", "review_id": "0bcd946c901e77db50daceb3c20a5f3a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I have been having trouble finding books that really make me care about the characters. Fever Crumb gave me that character to love. There was just something about Fever that made me want to love her. I don't know if it was the lack of childhood or independence or what but it was there. \n Another favorite thing of my was the whole England setting. England/London is my weakness and this had it in full glory! \n I also love love love the sayings like \"I don't give a blog\" and stuff just very unique and fun. And don't forget the whole Harry Potter reference totally brilliant. \n I would love to see more of Fever not sure that will happen but I would love to see more books.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 02 16:48:53 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 25 02:55:20 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Wed Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7564251", "review_id": "2f058180f40ddd4efaa47d8081fd6e09", "rating": 5, "review_text": "When I first started reading Secrets of the Sands I wasn't sure what to think. There was something around page 80 or so that snapped my attention and I literally could not put this book down (I read it while I played computer games, walked and talked it was that bad). \n The characters were interesting, and the world that Wisoker creates is very detailed and enjoyable to read about.The world is a bit dark at times with drugs, sex and violence but it's the way the world it brought to the reader that really makes it pop throughout the plot. \n I don't want to spoil anything but I loved how she eventually brought both character POV's to one. The amount of political intrigue really kept me reading. \n There is a bit of humor at times in this book, but not so much that it's overdone or stale. There were parts where I found myself chucking or laughing. \n I found myself growing to love and truly care about every single character in this book. It was as if the reader saw the characters grow, and change right before their eyes and that was really fun and amazing. I am proud to say that I will gladly be reading the second book, I wish it were out right now I'd jump right into it.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 24 19:59:49 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 16 00:02:58 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Mon Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sun Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6764803", "review_id": "9343f89340c0598cfdce31beca126c2a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved Farwalker's Quest so my expectations for this book were really really high. I am very proud to say that this book is just as good if not better then FQ. There are new characters that are introduced which allow for a fresh voice to the story, yet the older characters are still there and growing which is great. \n Another great thing about this book is that all the questions that came up in FQ are answered. The people's callings are explored further and readers get to learn more about what being a Farwalker means which is great. \n There is also a bit more about the whole concept of things going missing. Which was really enjoyable. I liked the new city they visit. \n There is a little romance for Ariel which was fun but just what you would expect a 13 year old to experience. \n There is plenty of room for more Farwalking and I hope to read more about Ariel and her friends!", "date_added": "Sun Feb 21 23:08:47 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 07 03:19:10 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Mon Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Sun Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6695504", "review_id": "706fa84df4971f5bb4b9ae56bf1f73b9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was not a fan of the first book. I thought it was really just plunked down and thrown together. But wow did the Salvatores get it together with this book. \n This book is still very much a YA book. It's written in first person, the young main character, the themes are all elementry YA and not too in depth. But Geno seems to have grown leaps and bounds in this book. \n There was just so much more structure to this book and there was a flow of moments of no action to action instead of a long period of no action then bam bam bam action. \n Still not a fan of cliffhanger endings. This has one but I will NEVER like cliffhanger endings like this. If you want a cliffhanger ending have some form of ending not just look the bad guys are coming and THE END. :)", "date_added": "Thu Feb 18 19:22:12 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 22 14:13:59 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Sat Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Thu Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6659537", "review_id": "48eb614b80979a0992f8c5b5a1334747", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What girl doesn't like a book involving fairies! Only this little fairy is anything but the fluff and stuff that people think. She's tough and carries a dagger! \n Very nice story and the pictures add to the reading experience. \n The only thing I didn't like was that the little fairy was a tiny bit violent. She seemed a rely on her dagger a lot, I wasn't expecting that in this book. Also the one scene describing the bug that could eat her was a bit descriptive. I think if I was a kid I\"d be afraid of the bug eating my head off :(. Other then this it was a great magical book!", "date_added": "Tue Feb 16 17:30:28 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 18 19:21:34 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Thu Feb 18 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Tue Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6845909", "review_id": "1892daec3ad128cf7ff0a61814323a25", "rating": 3, "review_text": "While the concept of a book made up of letters is certainly nothing new I thought in a way Wolfe made it unique. There was a bit of thinking required of the reader and a lot of it is left up to the reader to guess what happened and i think THAT is what I loved the most about it. It wasn't an overly complex book but it gave you room to think and be creative. I think what I got out of the book someone else might not. \n That said, the book is a bit slow. Even half way through I was like so...... what happens. But the ending really picks up and it really is worth a read. \n This book isn't for everyone and I highly recommend trying it out but if it's not for you then that's ok!", "date_added": "Tue Feb 16 01:44:03 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 04 14:29:25 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Wed Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Fri Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "3423170", "review_id": "1884065275375d5801b1391a696fd25a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A better book then the first book in the series. I think this has to do with the fact that there are events and stuff happening instead of being described everything. \n I do not like any of the cousin girls in this story. I think they are frustrating, rude and a little annoying but that could be a good thing if I feel that strongly about them. \n I love the imagination that goes into this novel. It's very complex but not so complex you can't understand what is going on. I still love the whole cupboard concept! \n Sometimes the writing in this novel is a little odd. Some of the sentences seems to wander in that it isn't straight to the point. Instead readers are taken the long way to a point. The really really long way. \n I can't wait to read the third book as I've had a mixed experience with book one then book two was good so I can't wait to see what my experience with book 3 is.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 11 16:09:01 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 15 16:08:28 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Feb 14 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Thu Feb 11 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6450020", "review_id": "b46c727b62e1369a06560ba6c3d515b2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Mirrorscape is a novel that is purely developed with a lot of thought and creativity going into the plotline. \n I really loved the idea of jumping into paintings and having a whole world beyond the real world where the artists creativity really rules. \n But there was something off about this novel. There were huge sections were tons of information was thrown at me and I felt almost overwhelmed. \n Another issue I had is that while I understand it's an imaginary world, everything just seemed so easy. The kids are in a problem BOOM this mystery person pops up and helps, they run out of stuff, BOOM a bad is found. It just seemed.... unrealistic and just way to darn easy. \n Don't get me wrong I loved the novel, but everything just seemed too smooth and easy for these children. I'll gladly read the second novel but really the easy problem I hope should be solved.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 04 23:10:00 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 08 17:27:21 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Sun Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Thu Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6916069", "review_id": "0ef44484d566a29b27a78a657ca75f68", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have waited a year for this book! And it met my expectations and so much more. The upcoming battle that was so much anticipated was amazing and I have stayed up way past my bed time reading this book because I couldn't put it down. \n Coe does a wonderful job of tying up every single thread that was started in The Blood of the Southlands Trilogy. I have to say I was impressed. There wasn't one part that left me wonder well what happened here... or what happened there. It was always artfully mastered how all the threads came together in the epic battle. \n There was something about the characters in this book that made me feel so close and connected to them. I don't remember feeling that in the other books. \n Coe does cut down on the amount of backtracking in this book but give enough information to keep those that have trouble remembering what happened up to date :) \n I'd love to see more books in this but if not I'd be happy with the way things left off. \n If you are looking for epic fantasy like it should be written give Coe a try.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 01 15:52:09 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 11 15:52:19 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sun Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6442513", "review_id": "8f8880261cccc8d866920f842856b756", "rating": 3, "review_text": "When I first started this book I was joking that it was a Young Man without much action. I'm really glad that the book changed because I don't like thinking bad about books :( \n The book starts off slow, almost boringly slow. Watt-Evans seems to ramble and go off topic a lot. \n About halfway into the book, things picked up. Although there isn't a major event things build up slowly and then just stops. I have a confession about the main character, I thought he was a bit of a know it all and stuck up. If his nose could go any further in the air I think he'd be flying by it. He just seemed to think he knew EVERYTHING. And he'd be a person in real life I'd avoid like the plague. \n It's a middle of the road book that I enjoyed reading and I'd look in others in the series. However I think Evans other series were better :)", "date_added": "Thu Jan 28 16:42:51 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 01 15:21:57 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Sat Jan 30 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Thu Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "28186", "review_id": "2531a282c42b2ea3dae7239f8edc79e7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The Percy Jackson series for myself is just alright. I don't get the \"and the Olympians\" part when it's just Percy going around trying to show the gods and they never play a big part in it. They are just this mysterious element. \n For a story it's alright, maybe the other books will be better. Every series has to have a book you don't like :)", "date_added": "Mon Jan 25 01:06:12 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 28 16:45:16 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Wed Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Mon Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7095563", "review_id": "a0ec4916c6c213ff1345b2b0a5395e07", "rating": 1, "review_text": "This book was a bit depressing. A children's early reader book is not the place to try and tackle mental health issues. This book starts off light and fluffy and in the last 20 pages the mother up and leaves her 10 year old daughter with no warning, nothing. \n why does she leave her? She is bipolar. Apparently she neglected her daughter for 10 years and would leave her crying and with no food. \n Given thereally was no warning about this and the topic is just half thrown out there I felt it was horrible.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 17 03:19:18 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 26 01:14:19 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Aug 26 01:19:09 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "4070493", "review_id": "1c839884079990c453fc77a3f9865a5e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book was just ok. Nothing special to wow me, nothing that made me want to sing its praises. \n The idea seems a little thrown together and a lot of things when thinking about it just don't make sense. How did her friends know it was the Pixie King, and did her \"friends\" lie to her saying they looked online to find it out or did they really somehow know a search engine would come up with who the stalker was? \n Also why is it that EVERY book like this the girl doesn't listen. There's major trouble outside and the girl just has to go out and check it out. I'm sorry but if there's howling dogs outside and some creepy guy outside I am not going out. This isn't just this book, it's all of the books in this supernatural/romance YA catagory. Another thing about these types of books is that no one tells the poor girl anything. It's like a requirement that the girl be left in the dark for her \"own good\". \n The only thing I didn't like about the writing was that once we find out what the guy is, the author keeps comparing the poor boy to a dog. \n Overall, it wasn't a bad book it wasn't a great book. It's just middle of the road. \n (A note my ratings are based off what the stars say. 2 stars is \"it was ok\")", "date_added": "Sun Jan 17 03:08:33 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 29 19:23:11 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Sun Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "4491658", "review_id": "54f17d7c36ba2064063e5d5c0dc24857", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The first chapter was really sorta freaky. For a ya book this was really \"out\" there as far as the creep factor. There is no way as a child I would have read this, and a part of me was a little creeped out about what happened in the book the more I think about it. Okay being honest I'm really creeped out by it but I try not to think of it. \n I would have loved to see more about the toys and have that a little more expanded upon. Which it's sort of a mystery. \n There is a lot of violence and really bad things that happen to the kids which makes it not that suitable for the younger readers. The ending is unexpected and just not what I was expecting or rooting for. \n The style of the story is a little different. Instead of the storyplaying out for you instead the author is more likely telling you the story as a story teller would. There's very little dialogue instead you're told what happened instead of it being set in front of you. \n Oh and if you ever encounter a doll with sharp teeth make sure you tell the truth :)", "date_added": "Tue Jan 12 20:02:32 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 17 03:08:09 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Sun Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6905569", "review_id": "dab1c73a0006e05f93d2142fff485b3e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved this fairy tale like story. I honestly couldn't put it down. I read it late into the night and I just loved it. \n There was a bit of mystery with just the perfect fairy tale elements developed. It was a cross between Cinderella and Little Mermaid. The best part it was a book about MERMAIDS that had the actual mermaids in it. Not mermaids from afar. I loved it! \n The reason I gave it 4 stars. I really got frustrated with the main character and her \"Oh I'm not pretty I'm so ugly\". I understood why she thought that but it got a little too much and I wasn't buying it. Maybe it was a bit overdone. \n The second reason was the ending. It ends with a rather open ended idea and a lot of stuff is left unresolved. I had tons of questions at the end and was a bit disappointed it ended. \n Overall I loved this book and would read it again any day!", "date_added": "Wed Jan 06 23:02:25 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 17 22:15:47 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Fri Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6780702", "review_id": "d47b64460e88dfd14b20d78482444cca", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It wasn't that this book was bad, so much as this book just wasn't for me. The plot and idea was there but the whole story dragged. The main character was overly sarcastic and rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe this shows my age or something but I just couldn't get into it. I mean a book about a superhero town I just wanted to jump in and love it. Sadly it didn't work out for me.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 06 22:59:35 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 01 16:37:25 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6727322", "review_id": "cc059c49b9d1df128fb4bf40e9006be7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A complex story but worth it. Nothing is really given straight to the readers so it requires a bit of assuming and drawing conclusions. \n There are some areas of this novel that were a little bit predictable, or I saw coming from a while. But the plot is more about the mysteries of the prison and seeing it grow and what happens with it. \n The characters were alright, Finn and Claudia started to grow on me. As did her father. The other characters weren't really that in depth for me but it was worth the read and I Can't wait to read the next one. \n Very unique story with romance, a bit of action and mystery.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 06 22:57:08 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 25 00:26:23 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Mon Jan 25 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Mon Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6801582", "review_id": "27e7bfe327b4e33b5be7b34bc153b041", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I have a confession. I am one of those people that rubber necks while driving. Why am I telling you this? Because the first book \"Wings\" I could not stand, yet I picked up this book to see what happens. I mean really, the girl thinks she has cancer and yet is all \"Oh it's okay it's just a bump\". Really? \n But lets forget Wings and move to Spells.... while I won't say I was as annoyed with Spells as I was with Wings I will say there were still some parts that had me hitting the roof with anger. \n Let's begin. \n This book focuses a lot on the faery world so there was no cancerous lumps and stuff. However, there was the tiny little part of casually mentioning that one of the most important women in religion was a faery. Yes, Eve is a faery. How or why I cannot tell you because that part was convinently left out of the plot but... she was a faery. \n Now let me go on my rant about boyfriend and such. David is an idiot. I'm sorry their romance is neither cute, sweet or romantic. It's pathetic. He's a whiney, stuck up snob who whines about being inferior and not macho because lets face it HE IS! And if a gun is the only way to make him feel all macho then so be it but really she should think of dumping his behind because he's about as useless as a wet rag. And if I had to have one more makeout/sex reference in this book I was gonna scream. However, at least they aren't doing it like bunnies like some YA books have the couples doing! \n Another major part to annoy me was the random black-clad figher chick. What the heck was that about? Severly underdeveloped and random beyond all belief. \n While I wouldn't say this was as bad as Wings, I will say that this trainwreck of a series certainly follows suits. There was really no developed plot, the characters were shallow and there was no \"bad\" guy interaction until it was randomly tossed in within the last 50 pages of the book. With a little development and thought this series MIGHT have been good but I can't forsee everything being wrapped up in the last book and it being satisfying.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 06 22:54:53 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 05 19:06:05 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Thu Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Tue May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7286699", "review_id": "17450075fc3d941e28397ed8681c4c9b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Don't let the cover fool you. This is NOT a children's picture book. While the size and drawings may make you believe that that is what you are getting yourself into. It isn't at all. \n The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle tell a tale of a little princess who lives alone in a castle made of marzipan. Her best friend is her stuffed teddy bear, Mr. Whiffle. These two do everything together and readers get a glimpse of that within the first part of the story. \n The unique aspect of this book is that it \"ends\" three different times. The first section of the book will leave readers with a sugary sweet ending, the middle one is a little sad and the last ending is the one that makes it clear that this book was NOT a children's book. Where you leave the story off is up to you. Readers can read one, read two or all three and get a complete story each time that they read the story. \n As an avid fan of teddy bears, children's stories and anything out of the ordinary. After I had been shown the preview pictures that were released last year I felt this book could have been written for myself. I was eager to see what The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle held. \n The book is a very quick read with only a dozen or so words per page at the most. It stands at 72 pages and most are full page pictures that spread over a single page or both pages. \n While this story is definitely not one I'd read to the normal picture book audience, I believe that it would be fine for an \"older\" child who is okay with a bit of a sinister dark side to stories. For the adults, this book takes us back to our childhood a little but this time it shows a sinister side that picture books didn't have. There are essentially two readers that will enjoy this book. Adults and older children. I think some teens might not understand the big deal behind the book and younger children will be a bit scared, too little to understand it. \n Personally I enjoyed the story. As stated it holds all the elements that I hold near and dear to my heart. With that aside, I think a lot of readers might be very very disappointed in the book. Why? There was so much hype to this book and I just don't believe that it really lives up to that hype. There are very very few words to the book, the story is over before it began. Those that have children might enjoy reading this out loud and seeing their expression as you read the book outloud but for some adults it might be a bit disappointing. \n While the story is quick and a bit short the real gem within this book are the pictures by Nate Taylor. I've read this book a half dozen times and each time I find myself looking over the pictures and just loving them. There are tiny little details that I didn't see the first or second time I read it. These pictures are what saves this book. \n Overall, this picture book for adults/older readers will be a hit or miss book. It'll depend on what your expectations are going into the book. If you're looking for an adult story with pictures and details, you won't find it here. If you're looking for a quick fun read that you can occasionally pull out on rainy days, then you'll enjoy this book.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 06 22:49:55 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 05 22:43:57 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Thu Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6401209", "review_id": "3c6b431fa84a3cca188f51ca2cfc3b2c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book! \n Mark Chadbourn does a wonderful job of portraying England as it probably was. The dirty crime and grim filled streets, the bad guys lurking in corners of the \"bad\" areas. \n There was a slight problem with the first 80 or so pages as it was a little hard to know who the enemy was and who The Enemy was. It wasn't fully explained and it almost made me feel as though there was a story I hadn't read. But it came full circle and those willing to understand that the explaination comes slowly will get a lot out of this. \n Another slight problem was almost the same as above, the main character Swyft almost felt as though we should know him already but he does grow on you. \n Over all an author who can write a historical fantasy with the facts and funness that Mark does is wonderful. Never once did I think I was reading history instead it was a fantasy with a few historical people. \n A few moments of great action, a carriage ride that is so intense it makes you feel as though you are in the carriage and the fighting on the ships makes me want to see the Spanish armada in action. \n Can't wait for more of this series!", "date_added": "Fri Jan 01 22:23:07 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Tue Jan 12 20:02:15 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Tue Jan 12 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "5983694", "review_id": "ada4966a84c668bed14f050fb3da5447", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book so much. There were so many good things about it. It was an enjoyable read that I didn't want to put down at all. It taught friendship, loyalty and just plain creativity in kids. \n The combination of small short stories and making it one big long story was really good. The pictures were excellent. \n It's like a Wizard of Oz but not really. That's the best way I could describe it. I will be reading this over and over again.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 21 23:44:26 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:54:10 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Dec 21 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6062032", "review_id": "a40e6a001eae00f353839af11c3b230b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I have mixed feelings about this book. I don't know if it was that my expectations were higher then what the book delivered or if it just was that this wasn't what I was expecting. \n The story and plot line is great for people who love books and it's fairly easy to follow. However I thought there were a few issues that really prevented me from enjoying it. First, the little nod thing was a little ..... odd. Another odd and completely out there item was the massage segements those were just too long and a little out there, not really conductive to the plot and a downfall in my opinion. Second, while the use of quotes was nice it started to get over used in the end. The quoting of the books seemed to disrupte the flow of the book. The last thing that was odd was the timing of the plot, it seemed that the amount of time wasn't relative to what really happened. So when I found out that it was a month, it really felt like a week. That just made it feel off. \n I will probably check out the second book when it's published because it wasn't totally bad it just seemed off in some parts. But I wouldn't readily recommend the book to someone.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 20 20:50:16 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:55:05 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2108198", "review_id": "80c52c8d024e06c676a1c6a41eba4b6c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Wow I really wanted to like this book. I even read it twice to see what I was missing, but sadly I didn't like it.is the writing good .... yes. Is the story good?.... This is where I run into a problem. The story was a nice little fairy tale type vibe to it. But the whole book seemed forced as if it needed to be done in 3 weeks or something. Odd was a character that had no personality and was just a vessel like character to move the story along. \n Everything moved too quick to enjoy anything in this story. In the about the author it says there are more tales for Odd, I really hope that those tales take the time to develop the characters into something readers can enjoy. \n Maybe I missed something on this book, but sometimes people can be blinded by the author's name alone. \n I bet I won't even remember this book in 2 months.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 20 03:21:51 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:53:37 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6381980", "review_id": "f78156e610854f09d17deda7955618c5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book. I didn't think I was going to like it but after the first 10 pages or so it changed and really grabbed my attention. \n It wasn't overly cutsey but there was enough of a plot and fun unique stuff that it kept my interest and I'd read it again.", "date_added": "Sun Dec 20 01:22:34 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:52:03 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6261394", "review_id": "039aee219a6a079846e2b8628967ed21", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book would have been a lot better if it allowed the reader to take a breath and breathe. Sadly there was so much frantic movement and moments of crisis that it overshadowed the characters and storyline. I'm hoping the second one will be better then this, but was a little disappointed in this. \n I also found that there were a lot of questions about why the bad guys were after the poor kid that didn't really get answered.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 11 23:42:39 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:51:47 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Dec 13 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6185409", "review_id": "ffc42977e772e21a56badab6bda08f77", "rating": 4, "review_text": "After two books of hit or misses, Neff really steps up to the plate with The Fiend and the Forge. At the end of the second book, I had made the comment that it was a shame so many people were comparing this to a knock-off of Harry Potter because Neff had talent but couldn't live up to the Harry Potter fame. Let me just say The Fiend and the Forge takes all the comparisons to Harry Potter and puts them to shame. \n Neff really upps the ante in this book and takes the whole series in a new direction. Sure there are similarities to Harry Potter but that happens in ALL fantasy books. I could make comparisions to Lord of the Rings or other high name books. But the thing that stands out is that Neff matures his main characters, and brings a darker side to the novels. He really takes things into his own hands and really improves the story. \n Over the course of three books Neff has not only matured his story and plot but he also has matured as a writer. There is a slight maturity as a writer that made me proud to say that I followed Neff when. Some fo the things that popped into my mind was the diversity in words and descriptions. In the first book I could swear everything was \"Pudgy\" \"doughy\" etc. Neff got away from this habit and was able to describe things without having to use comparisions to every day objects or over describe. \n While I did enjoy this novel there is still the habit of tossing in the completely unbelievable and totally unnessary parts of the plot. The biggest one that stuck out was the whole making Max a part of the staff. It served nothing to the plot, took away from the dark side of the book and just seemed out of place. However, these out of character plot elements were fewer and far between than previous books (think the whole element of allowing Max's dad to stay at shchool).", "date_added": "Tue Dec 08 00:36:39 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 28 09:29:48 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "7365164", "review_id": "bfe537a34243c78bbb6c136cbf2c1c45", "rating": 3, "review_text": "For those that are readers of books and need the book to have some root in reality, I can safely say this book will not sit well with you. \n For readers who don't enjoy witty first person boy loving main characters, this book isn't for you. \n That said. This book has such a wonderful plot line that I really do think it's amazingly amazing. The pace is very fast paced and there isn't much time to dwell on things. I enjoyed the setting and the use of some of the 2010 theory to make a novel. \n With that there are things that made me question this book and really left me with a bit of a hard time figuring out if I enjoyed it or didn't. Without spoiling it, the ending and the major event at the end comes about WAY to fast. As I said if you can't suspend reality this is why. The ending is just not doable in the time frame or in real life. When you read it you'll understand. All I have to say if you have read it, is email, travel, and world wide meetings. \n There was the whole crush and throwing in a little romance which seemed forced in this novel. Maybe if it had been held off until another book it would have fit. \n The 2010 theory, there are just so many technical stuff thrown at readers. The calander, the time keeping, the symbols that everything starts to get lost. And really this novel isn't a place to try and explain some of these things. \n With that said for the right reader this is really a good book. It should be a hit with the YA population but I think adults and some older YA readers will have a hard time with some of the plot parts. The author has some great talent and really has an idea here it'll just take some taming and this series would be great.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 05 18:10:51 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 01 16:37:25 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6404356", "review_id": "bd5cbf5280132f9fd9999dabd3753b77", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I had high hopes for this book. It involves a pooka and other mythical paranormal creatures and I was just so excited for it. Sadly the characters were irritating, depressing and just plain dull. I mean this character didn't think and seemed to have an attitude about everything.I really felt nothing for her. \n I thought the main character was more interested in losing her virginity then whether she was an \"Other\". Half the book revolved around her debating if it was ok to sleep with a guy. When she wasn't thinking of the guy she was hating the world because she was an Other. \n I know the world that was developed was one which knows about paranormal creatures but it wasn't explained and was a bit awkwardly developed. It had such promise but didn't live up to it. \n The last half did pick up but was rather predictable. I saw what was coming in the first few chapters. Sadly I was disappointed. There is definitely a YA audience for this book but it just was another YA paranormal/romance/teenage angst book to me. Might pick up the second book in the series might not.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 05 18:10:24 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 17 22:08:59 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6600137", "review_id": "182e60df39919d68c370c606be9ac7e8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book got a bit better at the end. If you can get past the almost nausiatingly cute sweet teen romance where all the two characters want to do is kiss and such then you'll be okay. Oh and if you can ignore the Miss Amnesty Internation stuff which is toned down in this book (the first book it was a little too much). The first half of the book is slow in there is a lot of the too cuteness but after it it gets better. \n The characters haven't grown but they are starting to grow in this book. And there is an introduction to new characters that will no doubt come up in later books. \n The big battle is coming in this book and everything is preparing for it. The action starts to heat up a little which is a nice change of pace. \n There were two things that got me: \n So the girl is turning blue (Yes blue as in smurf blue) and she's in a public place. So her sidekick friend takes out face paint and paints her and her friends faces? I mean I wasn't a mean kid in high school but I'd have laughed at them. It just wouldn't have happened and it was a bit unrealistic but it wasn't so out there. \n Why is it that they know the woods are bad yet every time something goes wrong the girl runs into the woods? That's just asking for trouble there. \n Overall this was a decent book, there were typical roll your eyes teen stuff but it had a little substance and I'm looking forward to the third book and seeing what happens.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 05 18:08:11 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 31 14:04:18 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Tue Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Sun Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6654313", "review_id": "340ce1a5beea82701bb0fe0032a88896", "rating": 3, "review_text": "If you read Shiver and didn't enjoy it, this is most certainly is not going to change your opinion on the the writing or plot line. If you enjoyed Shiver this will just make you fall in love with the characters and become more involved with the story then the first novel. If paranormal YA romance novels are not your thing then Linger won't change your mind on reading them. \n The problems that I encountered in Shiver are addressed here. Grace's parents seem to be a bit more aware of situations going on in their house. This was a MAJOR problem for me as I couldn't understand why the parents were so out there and not knowing what was going on. I can't give away too much without the bulk of the story being ruined but this is definitely addressed in this novel. The timing issue was also addressed and elements seemed to flow a lot smoother then they did in Shiver. \n Linger like Shiver is 80% teenage love/angst and 20% actual plot and story line. Readers should be prepared for a bunch of lovey dovey kissing, cooing and teenage romance. Besides that Linger is very much a middle novel, it contains just enough information to resolve some of the questions from the first book but really sets up for a third book. Be prepared to be left with a massive cliffhanger which won't be addressed until the third book hits shelves. \n Putting aside the teenage love, the actual plot element of Linger was a bit predictable. When Grace started to show symptoms I knew instantly where the story was going to go. As I had guessed all of my predictions did come true. I don't know if this is from reading so many books or if it was really that transparent. This problem led me to enjoy the book a little less then I did with Shiver. \n All the characters that were present in Shiver are still present in Linger, except there is an introduction of a new character, Cole. This new character was my favorite part of the novel. Cole was new, fresh and added a new plot thread. Everything else in the novel tended to come across to me as if I had read it somewhere or was just like Shiver. \n Overall, I enjoyed Linger not as much as I enjoyed Shiver but it was a decent read.I await to see what happens in the 3rd novel. In the end, Maggie Stiefvater's writing is just as beautiful and lyrical as her previous novels and she really knows how to draw a teenage romance that'll make readers wish that they were a part of.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 05 18:08:00 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 29 19:23:04 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Fri Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "4147055", "review_id": "26ce3c4f34e34d09178457161ee40fc4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really wanted to love LOVE this book but alas I only enjoyed it. I found the Japanese setting unique and fun but I almost felt that the author overlooked the plot in order to \"teach\" us about Japan. It was quite confusing the whole mystery and sadly by the end of the book I found myself bored with the book.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 05 18:05:12 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:49:48 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6393179", "review_id": "7843435fb0bd0d65ed893510d1af0e5f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Cute book about a dragon and a princess and all those typical fantasy book themes. However this was a fairly slow moving book for my taste, maybe if I was younger I'd have jumped right in but it just moved slowly. \n It's fun but not a book I'd recommend reading in one sitting. \n There was humor and fun dialogue which I loved, and you can tell Coombs had fun writing it. So in the end it wasn't a bad book just not what I was looking for.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 05 15:40:35 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 05 18:04:58 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Sat Dec 05 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "1661390", "review_id": "d628052f95abebccd5216a3de8bedfea", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I can't believe I made it all the way through to the end of this book. Maybe because I just kept waiting for something to happen and really it didn't. I have to give the author credit anyone that can literally write over 50 pages describing cupboards and one main setting of maybe a room. This book started out great but really I felt like I was in sand and going no where fast, and it just kept feeling to the end. \n I think it was the writing style, the style was more of telling the reader then actually bringing it to life and having it happen for me. There wasn't much dialogue so it was all told. Very time consuming. \n Great idea but not such great delievery of the story idea.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 28 23:57:47 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:46:56 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 29 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 7}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6556422", "review_id": "96542bc4931672ef485ba0f67121bed4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This story started out great but halfway through got the acid nightmare feeling to it. It just got odder and odder as the book went on. I did love the friendship between the two girls it was very adorable. \n It's a cute story and great ideas I just didn't like how oddly it turned :(", "date_added": "Sat Nov 28 18:06:09 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:45:04 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Nov 28 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "4769651", "review_id": "b98a1e173318e56619bb7d205e579aeb", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This is not a series you can just jump into and that is a little sad because at the time I don't have the time to read 6 other books. On that note, this just seemed to be super dragged out. And that Puck character is annoying, gross and unneeded. Maybe if I read the other books I\"d have more of an attachment to these people.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 24 17:37:48 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 24 17:39:11 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Mon Nov 23 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6124802", "review_id": "41899955aa6591b33bda027cbf5a278a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I really wish Valentino had given the Queen a name it would have added a closeness to the character that I was missing. \n I also felt that some of the stories were just too long. But I enjoyed this prequal like story and it was a fun read. I'm not sure I'd ever read it again though.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 22 20:42:06 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 22 20:43:08 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Thu Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "3774674", "review_id": "eafb8c47537d2853e2f95df7bcfbd836", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I really wanted to like the book as it started out really strong for myself but it didn't keep the pace. I found the parents to be a little out there and some of the stuff they did like never listening to the kids and such a little out of character. \n The two kids didn't seem to gel to me, not because I'm an adult they just rubbed me the wrong way. And the fact that every twist and turn in this book got the plot more and more complicated didn't help. \n When they added the time travel element I knew that was it for me just one too many elements that made the book seem a little disjointed to myself.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 22 20:38:31 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 22 20:40:50 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Thu Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6376522", "review_id": "e7ee1d76c822c4f100408d2cec05200a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I was really feeling this until about half way through the book. I didn't buy the whole mother thing because it didn't really make sense. I thought the worm man was completely thrown out there and unneeded. \n I did not like the ending at all and felt that it was rushed and just thrown out there so the book would end at around 200 pages. If this book were longer and some of the things taken out it might have been a little better.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 16 16:53:27 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:42:46 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Nov 17 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6234429", "review_id": "32df4d4ae799b84caaccbd74de96d3c5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked this book there was a charm about it that reminded me of 11 Birthdays almost. I wish there would have been a little more exploring of the hotel as it's the main thing in the title of the book. This book could have easily been 20 pages longer and it would have been GREAT! First book I actually wish was longer and not shorter. \n I recommend this book to adults and kids because it's just so much fun. Baker does a great job of writing so that you actually can see the place in your head and not have to fill in the gaps! It's a quick read for older readers.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 07 20:10:24 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:46:43 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Oct 31 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6944428", "review_id": "b64a5132581427c73740671b57f80378", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is sort of a typical second book. Not much action because it's building up to a certain point for the 3rd book. Although Barclay does a wonderful job of continuing to build up characters and drawing a world that anyone would want to be a part of. Another timeless classic and this time there's dragons!", "date_added": "Mon Nov 02 16:15:17 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 24 17:25:48 -0800 2009", "read_at": "Mon Nov 23 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "8962", "review_id": "2f14f358a9751d41d04006e0eaaef66e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book is perfect for teens, and some adults :). I know I wasn't the target audience and therefor didn't go into it reading it for myself. But the ending wow, I think Shan only gets better as the book goes on. \n I will definately be trying out the next books in the series because I can see how the author is improving as time goes on.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 28 15:05:31 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:40:24 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "5978834", "review_id": "4b8c22f85bf1f9207c0ce5e75b79c3e6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really started out liking this book and high hopes for it. Sadly the ending didn't live up to my expectations. The fighting scenes were too long and the ending seemed to be in a perpetual loop :(. \n The ending bothered me a lot but I dont' want to spoil it.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 24 22:19:07 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:39:46 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "3196330", "review_id": "6387d56e0e8369b6319f5c4ed00c0791", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I hated this book. Timothy was a terrible child that no one could like. His attitude was beyond bad, it was out of character. \n The fact that the author threw in characters from a previous book just to make a sequel didn't help. \n Oh and don't forget that the adults acted like they were braindead uncaring people. \n Sometimes it felt like the author tried to make her writing whitty or smart alicky to get the kids to like it but it turned readers off because it felt like a back talking teenager.", "date_added": "Sat Oct 24 22:15:09 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 24 22:17:53 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sat Oct 24 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6822697", "review_id": "ea5db39912ad61e6fb4e36eaed5caf83", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm not as into Werewolves so it wasn't as facingating as the Vampire book but it was still really good knowledge and if I had like werewolves more it'd be even better :)", "date_added": "Tue Oct 20 22:25:12 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 20 22:25:52 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Thu Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6898537", "review_id": "6846f3c54ad93c59b0a635ad47aae861", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great book for vampire lovers. There's so much information in here beyond what is known. It goes into the actual history of vamps and some of the reasons why people could believe they really existed. Very interesting.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 20 22:24:07 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 20 22:24:53 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Thu Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "5933646", "review_id": "442002c6f60afc27288150a43948ea0d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I love dragons as much as the next person. Okay I'm obsessed but there was something about Jessica Day George's writing this time around that didn't get me. Maybe it's because sometimes with a series of books you need to know when to walk away and leave it. The plot line seemed a little forced and it just didn't have that spark the first book had.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 20 22:17:07 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 20 22:21:21 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Tue Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2208744", "review_id": "5c8ef0ec5a4ff98a96865cefba3ebad9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very nice sequal to the Dragon Slippers story everything came together and it was nice to visit these characters again. I always feel bad for the dragons somehow :(", "date_added": "Sat Oct 17 18:43:54 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 20 22:22:33 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6795701", "review_id": "c6aa0477c9bb8f0b6c23f71036625125", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was an okay book. It was the typical quest fantasy book. I felt the beginning was a little slow but the last half really picked up. \n My biggest problem was the characters. I didn't bond with any, and I think the problem with this is there were just too many characters Stephen tried to portray therefore no one got any depth. It wasn't that bad but every character acted the same all the way through the book one one had any layers :( \n I would read the second book to see where Stephens takes this in a heartbeat because it had something that kept me reading so I will look into it :)", "date_added": "Wed Oct 14 16:45:22 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:39:14 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Oct 24 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6364017", "review_id": "c27aeca5808ee67ab553e80f5509f995", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I thought this idea was really good! Wooding does a great job of building up the plotline so that it does get a little creepy. It was definately a teen read. I wouldn't really say part graphic novel as it had very little graphic novel and I would have liked to see it incorperated a little bit better with the novel but I will be looking for the second book.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 11 20:29:38 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 14 16:47:04 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "3933510", "review_id": "f7798a36dd84d3d92edef6f1131cf4e7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was a little depressing at times but I loved it. Selfors does a great job of building a world in which children and adults alike have to think and imagine it in their head. Everything is so vivid I was forming pictures of everything. \n Although I wasn't a fan of most of the characters, I think the language is what pulled me into this book and kept me reading. Good writing can sometimes trump characters that I don't like so much :)", "date_added": "Sun Oct 11 20:27:26 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:38:49 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6322865", "review_id": "ad3350818332ac7fb2ba89214c155706", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I wasn't a big fan of this book. It was really quick in that it was almost too quick for my liking. There were major gaps and nothing was built up. It was just bam he moves here bam he does this. The kid was just going through the motions and it was a little annoying.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 07 22:16:41 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:37:47 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6377125", "review_id": "5dbf8b32c2641c1bf1c8904ab1e8d63c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book! I have to say when I read the first book I had some problems following the plot line based on the way it was written and I was a little disappointed in the story because of this. But boy did Laini change my mind and make me a fan. \n This book had adventure, mystery and a bunch of cute fighting faeries! The writing was great, very smooth and natural which made reading the book a breeze! \n There is more to this series and I will gladly be reading it!", "date_added": "Sat Oct 03 00:23:48 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:35:26 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6178354", "review_id": "c7cf8b71ddaa2eec618bd7afc96d4542", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I didn't really enjoy the second installment, I felt it was a little dry and had too much military gun descriptions. But boy is this last installment more then I bargained for. It was great! \n Everything is wrapped up and that's what makes it a great trilogy. Nothing is left over for possible sequals. \n The characters are still nice but a little one sided but the story and depth of the story are what makes this story great. There is a lot of imagination and intertwining of Earth and Wonderland that makes this great. \n I would put this up with the first book and I really liked that book!", "date_added": "Sun Sep 27 19:04:11 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:32:44 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6261182", "review_id": "4bfa0107f3e0673b621b979e31106049", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Maybe it was the translation as this was originally written in Italian but something was missing from this book. \n It seemed like I knew what was going on but the author HAD to have a mysterious feel to it so there was information not told to the readers that would have made it easier to understand. \n I don't think a kid would honestly know what was going on or even really care as there is mystery but no big \"evil\" pending. There is an evil but readers aren't allowed to know about it because it's so mysterious. \n I really wanted to like this book, but it just seemed stilted to me.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 26 21:58:32 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:48:16 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Dec 04 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6567484", "review_id": "b6097d6ff74a49ac9c99d051669bfd5e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I thought this was an alright start to a series. It appeared at times that Brown was a little over eager as a writer and made the story almost too complex for the casual reader to enjoy. \n I had a lot of trouble following the story after I would put the book down because it was just too complex. I didn't understand the magic or what was going on. \n Sometimes the writing did seem a bit choppy and short but other then those two problems it was a good first book. \n But I did enjoy some of the characters and would read the second book to see where the series goes because authors can grow as they write and I hope to see Brown do that!", "date_added": "Mon Sep 21 22:26:52 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:32:24 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "3148116", "review_id": "35b609d73b93f0a661f5f7847ec03a22", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The writing in this is very beautiful and you can tell Barron has a talent for writing. However I don't think this is the best story that he's written. It's very very slow moving and not a lot of variety to the writing. Overall I've read better Barron books, but this series might go somewhere so I'll still read the second.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 17 19:38:55 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:32:09 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6316125", "review_id": "be5ed42ba23ffc8ab22300dedf651df3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Very interesting idea of using healing as a form of a weapon and such. \n I really have to admit I didn't really fell for the character, maybe because it didn't seem like I had time to get to know her before all this stuff started happening. And instead learned as events happened, so I thought why care about this girl. \n The form of magic is a bit complex and not really explained very well. I got the basic idea but sometimes the author would throw stuff out and I'd be like what is that? As for the goverment and the wars and such, I couldn't properly get an idea of the past of the city or who people were. I got confused very easily. \n I also thought that the characters were a bit cut and dry. I could predict how they would act and what they'd do. \n Overall it wasn't a bad book, and I really think the second book will be a make or break book. A lot of potential.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 05 22:22:01 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 04 16:14:15 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Thu Feb 04 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6468333", "review_id": "34e3cd8f79011f65713293a3206262ea", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was a \"hidden\" gem as I didn't hear about it until I got it for the blog tour. I really really enjoyed it and found it great for kids and adults alike! \n The characters were detailed and realistic, the kids asked questions and weren't treated stupid for asking. They also were explained things when they needed to have things explained. \n The action moved along but not so fast that you were lost or didn't get where you were going. Although bad things do happen to the main character, there is always something good to be had and sometimes even a little light at the end of the tunnel. \n I can't wait till the next book!", "date_added": "Sat Sep 05 15:58:57 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:29:38 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "3908591", "review_id": "fe5fe7d52c7ed6b222303bf76645519b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very cute little kids book. I like the introduction to dragons and having this cute imaginary world between mother and daughter. \n Of course it wasn't something that older people will find really appealing but for kids very nice way to solve problems. \n Can't wait to see the other books.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 05 15:51:04 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:27:09 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6321718", "review_id": "700c500a0b2f1654f3f26f26799082f3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "There were pros and cons with the book. Preble's debute novel is a great start for a first book. I loved the fact that the story was based on Anastasia (a fav of mine) and a Russian folk tale. Everything seemed to be explained about the folk tale, There were a few confusing parts about what was going on with the magic and such and I never fully understood why the brotherhood had magic but beyond that it was a great page turning novel. \n I have to say having a romance novel where the people aren't trying to jump in bed from first sight was nice and I LOVED the ending. Great book.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 02 16:55:35 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:31:15 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Sep 13 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6382661", "review_id": "27b7b2c55dca5e29549e84fab4455398", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really got into this book. But as with all books there are pros and cons. This book was 2/3rds about servent life in the turn of the century with a very tiny part spent on the actual mermaid part. As a fan of mermaids I would have loved to see more then 5 pages dedicated to it, but alas it wouldn't be a series if we jumped to the good parts. \n There's romance, drama, and a couple of boring interactions or details that could have been left out but over all it's a good book \n I will pick up the series later but I really hope that as the series mentions 3 sisters, that the second book doesn't focus on some other aspect of life and only have a tiny part of the mermaid in it. \n Also this book left off just when it got good, which was disappointing. 300 pages and I still don't know what happens. I felt incomplete and that's not always good. \n Great story for preteens maybe even teens, and I can see some adults getting into it :)", "date_added": "Tue Aug 25 20:46:14 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:25:05 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Aug 26 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6202754", "review_id": "65236e99948e178f3f832345a21fac07", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This series had so much potential and the author is a great writer it's just the plot never followed up. There were a lot of confusing things in the novel that I honestly think would be above the age that this book is meant for. \n The follow through and conclusion to the relationships were just left out of there. Also I really felt the talking animals in this story were just thrown out there. \n I really wanted to like this book as it's looked like a great series for girls to get interested in fantasy books. I just don't feel that this book will bring that interest.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 17 16:02:32 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:23:07 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6351939", "review_id": "8c8006545fb791144e36f70a60602516", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another amazing chapter in the Glass Saga. Snyder is amazing and very talented. Cannot wait to continue reading this series.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 17 15:59:52 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 19 00:42:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Apr 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "1966969", "review_id": "5e5f4bb01cd5b3dfe5a79aa89b6651a0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Amazing end to an amazing series. \n I cannot express my love for this series enough. I just am in awe over it. It was a fast read, but it was a good read. (Yes, there is a difference). \n I loved that there is plenty of room for future books, and I really hope to see some in the future.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 17 15:59:40 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 17 02:09:44 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6441374", "review_id": "e992f3edd5e5113fc28083094d9579e9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book. The world at times felt a little off but not in a bad way just not what the first book was like. I really get into this story I feel the characters are realistic and I'm just transported to the world that Snyder has made. I wanted to read it all in one sitting because it was that good.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 17 15:59:20 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 03 00:23:20 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Fri Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6101718", "review_id": "67f8d03f195bb3750d3b4e43db60882e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Okay I am in the minority I didn't really like this book. I didn't think it was going to be a Harry Potter, as a matter of fact I knew it wouldn't be even though it was compared to HP.... the author even compared it to HP which its not. \n I can enjoy that this is a \"tribute\" to fantasy..... but that's about it. It was a depressing poorly written book. Details seemed to be lacking and the only details we'd get is a knock off version of another fantasy book. The characters were one sided and had no personality, they were just a name in a book really. \n There was occasional swearing to make this book more adult but really it was unnecessary. Also there was a lot of breast looking and sex which didn't really add to the plot line. \n The writing was very poor, there was a lot of repetition to the words. Almost every sentence started with Quenten...... Quenten..... \n This was a very big disappointment for me because I would have thought the idea was a great one. The poor writing, and badly executed plot made it a disappointment. \n I think this is another case of highly publicized book that is only hype.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 15 01:26:11 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:22:28 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 127, "n_comments": 21}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "3817859", "review_id": "ed30ed3bedb34f78ef7466c79659ff64", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The blurbs on this book do not do this book justice. I LOVED this book. It was one of those books that I didn't want to put down but I wanted it to last forever because it was that good. I loved the characters the dialogue was really realistic. \n It's simple in that there's nothing overly complicated about the plot line but the plot line is unique and fresh. \n I'd love to see more of these characters as there is so much room for more story lines, and if LIsa keeps up what she's doing they'll all be hits. I hope this book goes far and I'll be recommending it to anyone that asks me for a book to read!", "date_added": "Mon Aug 10 21:25:58 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 04 01:51:37 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6068551", "review_id": "6a20764c4f216297d9aeb20543edc441", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book started out so strong and I was thinking that I'd love it. But it sludges on and on about the romance to Grace and Sam, which is fine and would have been nice if it hadn't been so long. I actually got bored or it and it did come across a little awkward. \n The ending was fairly good but I did sorta see some of it coming from the beginning. \n There's a lot of vaguenes about the pack and wolves but this could be because another book is coming out, it just felt like such a huge part that should get more time. \n Some things that annoyed me: \n -the dad almost kills the girl and she is alright with that. \n -Grace has no problem talking back to her parents and making them out to be terrible but she freeloads on them as she has no job or way to get money. Heck they even gave her a car! I guess life could have been worse for her \n -the whole connection to a wolf didn't really feel right, she was a bit disturbingly connected to the wolf, and this wolf loving her it seemed a little odd. \n -a boy lives in the family house for weeks and the parents don't know it just seemed a little unbelieveable. \n Overall it would have been better if it had been shorter, fans of Twilight will love it I'm sure. The writing style is great it's just the romance part that isn't!", "date_added": "Sun Aug 02 00:19:34 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 04 01:47:46 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2457253", "review_id": "51b77d72389eec6c855a43b7573a7442", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was a quick read, and really a nice book. There are some confusing parts and the author doesn't really explain a bunch of things but it comes together later in the \n There are a lot of characters that come and go but I liked the ones that were the \"main\" ones. The whole elves with guns thing was pretty cool not something i normally go for but overall it worked out.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 31 16:44:24 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 04 01:47:04 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jul 29 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "5937597", "review_id": "83fbedbebd652a53707fa5de76fdadbe", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was really good a lot better then I expected. It was a fast paced, fun quick read that wasn't complicated at all. \n A lot of historical fic can be flat or really cheesy and this was really believeable. I liked that I could actually imagine the characters in real life Revolutionary War period. \n The magic that the people had fit, and it didn't seem out of place. The characters are a little flat except for the main character, readers really get to know the main character. \n The only thing I'd change was the amount of time it takes Brown to learn about his witchcraft and how to use it. I would also add a little bit more on how he learned that he could use it as that was sorta missing from the book.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 31 16:40:16 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 04 01:46:50 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2426371", "review_id": "5dba1d3fd1b26f5a4249fec7a81ab324", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really wish this series had gone somewhere because it had so much potential for a children's story. But I find that nothing happens, and so much it taken up on nothing. The idea is there but it doesn't deliever. \n This girl has powers but it's not explained or developed, so we're essentially reading about..... a plain girl. The other stuff is all shadowed in mystery like that'll keep us reading instead of making it interesting. \n This book is a little better then the rest but the main action part is again a paragraph and some of the stuff doesn't make a whole lot of sense.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 31 16:35:04 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 04 01:47:25 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6277227", "review_id": "8d9174192e9d97d4fac1be6599048a9e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I got to page 75/80 before I had to put this down. You really have to be in the right mind set for this book or you aren't going to get anywhere with it. I liked the idea but the whole trying to be mysterious when there wasn't a need didn't help me any. Maybe I'll try this again at another time.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 23 00:33:44 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 23 00:34:53 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sun Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "1003034", "review_id": "138d566b2efac7ad1365a6e5d8921e6a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "OK I really love this book on the rrread. But I am a huge Disney fan so that would be why \n *** \n Still a cute idea for girls and it it for younger kids so over all it's an alright anime but huge anime fans won't like it. More for Disney fans.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 18 14:31:38 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 25 00:18:44 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sat Feb 25 00:52:44 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sat Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2116832", "review_id": "58cc06d72bca0b83a64f0fec30196706", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Typical Anime to a T again. I liked the characters but it was almost too short like it's trying to milk money out of you. Cute for maybe for little ones or disney fans like me. I liked that she went to the story of Snow White :)", "date_added": "Sat Jul 18 14:29:48 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 09 00:06:27 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Feb 24 01:04:30 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Thu Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "1268916", "review_id": "eef59a399290c12aca1f95d37ed6b050", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The characters are predictable to a T, and I found some of the topics in the book written for younger readers but over their head to a point. \n I was more then halfway through the book when I realized the book wasn't going to go anywhere and I'd have to read the second one. I didn't like that if left off in such an obvious cliffhanger. \n A lot of potential maybe the author grows. But I don't think this book has the crossover appeal to adults like it's looking for.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 18 14:18:39 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 04 01:05:09 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "208", "review_id": "9f638daefaf40ee2addf5986cb2954cb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I almost put this book down because I didn't understand a thing that was going on in the first half. But as it did pick up after page 100 I was glad I stuck it out. This isn't a wonderful series but it's a middle of the road series. Would I recommend it to people? Maybe. \n I was a little disturbed about keeping people as slaves and the whole aborition/killing baby thing but that was about it. \n I did like the Eastern flair to the book!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 15 17:04:40 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 04 01:05:55 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "113112", "review_id": "82436c53203f308f7dc233dd574822dd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A typical second book, a lot of traveling and lots of fighting. Again there is another cliffhanger so you are forced to pick up book 3 and really no questions are answered like I enjoy in most books. Still a quick read and it was nice to see orcs.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 26 13:03:18 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:22:39 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "1280947", "review_id": "6d191179df6680d18e0491474813309b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book although it was confusing at times due to nothing being explained up front. \n The book however does just abruptly end forcing you to read the next book in the series. Which I'm not a HUGE fan of but it was a great book. You don't read many books about Orcs being the main characters and actually having feelings and thoughts so it's original in that aspect. \n Typical quest/fighting fantasy.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 23 15:18:40 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 04 00:49:45 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "352701", "review_id": "2ba74d7ed479a43c348d387f12be60eb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was rather slow moving and I was a little disappointed in it. I loved the Edge Chronicles but everything happened in the last 30 pages. What happened in the last pages was exciting but the first part was really boring.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 22 15:28:53 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 04 00:48:24 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2219694", "review_id": "dd98c293b7c8487c27fbe88a543604b9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I am completely amazed by this book. I don't know what I expected but whatever I expected was magnified by 100. The characters were amazing, the plot was believable and just amazing. \n I loved that the parents acted like parents, showed they cared, went to great lengths to help/protect their child. \n Another amazing element is the humor. Some children/YA authors believe they need to force humor into their books. This forced humor only makes the reader feel talked down to and stupid. Dashner really does a great job using humor that doesn't talk down to readers, but keeps them laughing. \n I cannot speak enough of this book. I LOVED IT!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 18 02:10:20 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 04 01:49:43 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6006616", "review_id": "798928f6097af30d0ec3285c5e2f8f34", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this again. As Maxey's Bitterwood is really what opened my eyes to the what could be out there in fantasy/sci-fi. At first I wasn't a huge fan of the whole sciency/Atlantis aspect of the series but it was well done and grew on me. \n There are the old characters and a few new ones in here. I wonder if this is the last of the series of if there will be more. There is room for more books, and in a way it seems a little out there. But if it's the end of a series it serves well too.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 16 00:00:11 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 04 00:45:29 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2929794", "review_id": "d9cd8bd2ac50d18bfffc9064bd2ee1b5", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The illustrations are really good and dark. \n However I think people have to put good drawing aside and think about plot for a second. It was disjointed and didn't make a lot of sense. The bulk of the book was confusion and hard to understand, and just like a typical \"book for reluctant readers\" aka... short books to make money off of. The book ends and you have to buy another 18 dollar book. \n I'm sad to notice a trend of things like this. Claiming it'll make kids want to read and then charging a lot of $$ for another book in the series. \n For example this book had a great idea but it spent time jumping around the first 50 pages are describing a teen that you will never understand. Like other readers I kept flipping back to see what i missed. Hopefully the other books will be a little less like this, after all it is the first one.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 07 17:35:30 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 04 00:42:47 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "1436397", "review_id": "2c999d2d6526fe239f2bedf41f82e7dc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I know I loved the first book and I thought it was one of the best books of 09 I'd read (US release). This book is even better then the first. Its got a lot less traveling so the plot is more focused. Also Chadbourn seems to explain things a little easier in this book then the first. At times I'd get lost in the first book but this was just wonderful. \n There are still landmarks in the book but they aren't as prodominant instead it's more about the characters and seeing them grow in their magic.", "date_added": "Mon May 18 16:48:39 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 04 00:50:26 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6014190", "review_id": "63f38b9912d0e2bbacb0f0bf6870f637", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Great debut into fantasy. While there are very little \"unknown\" creatures this book is great. I was captivated by every character and really wanted to know what was happening. There's just enough ups and downs in the book that it kept you guessing and reading. \n As it is a trilogy it ended with more for the second book, I want to know what happens to so many of the plot lines that are left out there! But I think the book left off at just a great point. \n Although it's about political/religious problems these problems never really overshadow the storyline. And the religion isn't overly complex. If you get confused with the characters like I did in the beginning there is a glossary to help you through it. :)", "date_added": "Sat May 09 16:02:43 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 00:55:54 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed May 13 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6432636", "review_id": "1d453696c457fdd1affc065fa2e900e8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I'm sorta torn on this book. I liked reading it but I didn't LOVE reading it. There were pros and cons. \n I didn't really feel close to any of the characters and as a matter of fact I felt nothing for them (Is that bad?). I think the main reason for this was that it's written in first person and really that means you have one character to like and that's it. I really believe it if hadn't been in first person I would really love this. \n This book was middle of the road, there were parts that I loved and kept me reading, but sometimes the book seemed to drag on and on and become slow. There seemed to be a lot focusing on the kidnapping, almost too much of the book, maybe that's why I liked the last 75 pages the most? \n I would like to see where this series goes, and will try out the second book as I think Taber has talent just it needs to be fined tuned a little.", "date_added": "Mon May 04 00:32:15 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:23:23 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6217361", "review_id": "8f09a09c2848761ec2574067245fad35", "rating": 3, "review_text": "There are major pros and cons of this book and it's just easier for me to list them then write out a review: \n Pros: \n -The characters were realistic in that their relationships were real. Abby's relationship with Jason was real feeling and described really well. There were parents, rules and curfews. No one was running around at 5 am with the parents allowing guys to hop into girls beds at night. (I know the guy might be a wolf/vamp whatever but really what parent goes \"Oh it's ok I'll let my 15 year old cuddle with the new guy at night\") \n -The writing was captivating I was drawn in and spent hours reading this straight through because after the build up the story was just gripping and had me. \n -unique YA romance idea. I thought it was going to be the same old same old and it wasn't, which was nice :) \n Cons: \n -Time traveling is in this book. And really I understand what is going on with the Master of Time but I don't get the whole premise I can't say too much without spoiling this so I'll just leave it that I was a little confused with the door and some of the elements around it. \n -Lots of teen kissing. Sometimes I think teens in teen books only kiss and then have battles to fight but I could be wrong. Maybe I just lived in a dull area. \n -The cover says \"The HourGlass Door: A Novel\" that implies ONE book. There is no mention of a series or anything. This book has so many lose ends for a series that the whole \"A Novel\" shouldn't be on there but that's just a quirk of mine. \n Overall this was a clean, fun, great read with just a few flaws But I can't wait for the second book.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 19 03:30:45 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 28 00:37:19 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Mon Apr 26 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Fri Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "5056084", "review_id": "56fe51d08206925c24a29d03ef83fbc0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "So the beginning for me was a little \"ehhh\" I was thinking to myself \"What have I gotten myself into\". By the end I couldn't put it down, and that's saying something! Fantasy/Romance isn't really my thing but I LOVED this book. Pike has a great future. \n While the book is 250 pages I thought that was the perfect size for the summer read, which I hope this will become!", "date_added": "Sun Apr 19 03:24:25 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 29 19:21:56 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "231915", "review_id": "1cd631b59ee77ace46f3730cada02d86", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Cute book. I like the expansion from the game. I would have liked color but who is complaining. I love Peter Pan can't wait to see the other books.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 19 03:22:17 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat May 14 23:26:02 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "3381197", "review_id": "306a40cf39d91a3c77f4529bdf667c94", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Cute ideas in the book. But like other reviews I feel the whole mouse thing was a little overboard. I wasn't expecting this to be a series so when it ended with a possible next book I was a little sad. \n The writing is great for the age group it's intended for, and I think it makes for a great read even if you aren't a kid. \n Just wish the book was a little shorter.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 17 23:29:55 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 00:52:11 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2042968", "review_id": "519afa45aedbb1170482f0e685f28bad", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is one of those kids books that adults probably like and understand better then the kids will. I found it a cute original read and it did end very happily. I know there are other books in this series but it could very well stand on its own.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 17 23:28:51 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 01:08:13 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2295534", "review_id": "c4fde24aa9d7fac454fd4223003a50bc", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This was better then the first book, I'm going with Pearson's writing is improving and he's not set on making teens or YA readers out to be dummies like the first book he wrote. \n The book is still very unbelievable as far as how the kids act, I know of no 14 year old that acts like these kids do. That aside it was an alright book, I won't be waiting with baited breath for the next one. \n OH! and the ending, if the only way to get readers to read your next book is just to END with no conclusion? You need to improve your writing.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 14 15:48:32 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 00:43:26 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "1611657", "review_id": "25858d023d7b0503d35c44990ecca2b1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book (so much I'm going to do a spotlight on it for my blog). There wasn't one thing that I didn't enjoy. The pace was great and I loved that the chapters were small so I always had a stop point. I really cannot wait to see what happens in this series. \n It's a typical quest/fantasy book but it never once felt that way. Really is a great story.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 11 15:22:49 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 00:47:53 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "5863651", "review_id": "5e95366b32388ebbf0916f7281221a54", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book started off a little choppy a lot of the background isn't presented up front instead you have to read between the lines on a lot of things. As for the writing it's hard to get into but once you pick up on it it's a really good book. \n The magic and magical background was a little confusing and hard to follow based on how it's written but overall it wasn't a drawback and it was an interesting read. I probably would not read it again though.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 09 01:36:50 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 04 00:50:10 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "1436393", "review_id": "a886487d8a8edca5b62fcd7512e0d5a8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really loved this book and got into it. Partly because I am a huge England fan (sometimes I think I was born there). I loved the way that Chadbourn mixed Arthurian myths with modern day, it's a hard mix to pull off but he did is successfully and it didn't really feel forced. \n For a first book in a series I felt that the book left off in just the right spot so that you want to read the second but feel good about the first. \n The only problem I saw with this book, is if you aren't familiar with British terms and roads it may be a tiny bit confusing. \n On a personal note: I didn't really care for the character Laura, I felt she was too sarcastic all the time. That changed at the end but that was a little quirk about the book.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 09 01:33:06 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 29 19:21:43 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "210250", "review_id": "173795cd71a69bd3009e28fa081381fc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I wanted to give this 3.5 stars. I think this series has a lot of potential but book 1 is just slow. It's about setting up this great unique world and therefore I couldn't get a taste for characters, plot or events. The ending had a little bit of these elements and what I caught was really good. Book 2 will be able to tell me more about if this is a series that has the Wow potential to it. \n The only con I had was the \"story\" is 300 pages. Why is the glossary 150 pages? That was a little surprising. Though the glossary was needed as there are a lot of terms that I kept forgetting.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 09 01:24:00 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 02 01:16:25 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Thu Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Tue Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6091120", "review_id": "7b5a599fb0e362ee265bc542d7e48032", "rating": 2, "review_text": "The conversations between characters was choppy and seem uncomfortable. While I did enjoy the mixture of characters from faeries to dragons and all sorts. There were major gaps in the plot. It seemed as though the whole book was based on \"Don't ask. Don't tell\" and not answering any questions which made it very boring. A lot of stuff is skimmed over so that you don't really experience reading it you are told about it after. \n Also I totally did not get the whole Skylords thing. Even at the end of the book I was still asking myself WHAT they were. (As a footnote this book is first of the series, this was not told me to when I read it the first time).", "date_added": "Tue Apr 07 21:51:46 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 00:46:40 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Apr 07 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "5266279", "review_id": "8f67b8efd34d21cdc1a01b42b8aaa2d3", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I could not stand this book. First off it was completely misleading in the advertising and reading the back of the book. \n Who has very sexual fairies in a book anyways? This was like a romance novel mixed with a really bad idea for a kids book. \n While this book was depressing just continuing to read it made me want to jump off a cliff to end my misery.", "date_added": "Tue Apr 07 21:50:17 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 07 21:51:23 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sat Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "953260", "review_id": "00660bf0c4246cededc53c34ffca3048", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Like others that I saw when I read the flap of this book I thought this was the coolest idea for a book. But like all good books it's how the idea is taken and written and then transformed. I don't know if its the author just isn't a good YA author that this is just not his style. Either way the writing is the worst, and I've read some pretty bad stuff. \n I hated that we had to mention the virtual magic kingdom, the characters were so one dimensional that I could see through them. And at times I thought this kids were in 4th grade only to find out they are wandering around Orlando by themselves. They also are pretty stupid kids. Also why is that every book that the kids have the parents are three steps from being brain dead? EVERY adult was a moron. \n There's more that I could go on and on about but really I wanted to like this book but just couldn't.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 22 03:23:46 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 00:44:07 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Mar 23 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 9, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "40081", "review_id": "2f15663d064c3abb85a1fc449c42ae52", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved this book but I still liked the first one better. This one seemed a little rushed and sometimes stuff seemed a little out there. But it was still cute and adorable. A great book for kids and adults that love fiction. As said before don't read this unless you read the first book \"Doll People\".", "date_added": "Sun Mar 22 03:21:05 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 00:42:44 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "64251", "review_id": "9e478a1b63f1baba6974013644bb8201", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Really pretty and nice drawings. It has a nice fantasy flare to it but also has adventure. I love that it has creatures that are predators after the mice. \n The drawings and colors are great! Can't wait to read more of the other books. The mice are really cute and the book is fast moving.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 09 16:56:59 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 00:09:51 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Mar 09 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "428042", "review_id": "e91dcd3f047ecde46ae2333dd737f7b0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A book about airships! I really was looking forward to liking this book as it's not the typical magic fantasy and really isn't even fantasy per say. It was a very slow moving book at first but at times I really got into it. It's a great adventure book with a bit of a mystery. \n I really don't care for first person books, because it gets really old after a while. I found that Matt (the main character and narrator) was annoying, obnoxious and thought he was better then everyone else. He came across as really arrogant. \n I believe had this book been told in another way it wouldn't have been so repetative. And sometimes it felt like the book was going on forever before we moved to a different part of the story. \n A few things that bothered me about this was that the kid was 15 and he thought he should be captaining the ship because he was there for 2 years (slight exaggeration) but he thought he was owed so much. I also didn't like that he acted like he knew EVERYTHING there was to know. He didn't know a lot he knew everything out there about airships. \n Second thing was that he kept going on and on about how at home he felt, it was like \"okay I got it the first 500 times you told me\". \n Overall fun read but sometimes frustrating and annoying. Great YA book that doesn't have magic in it! I did love the adventure part and it would be great for a boy!", "date_added": "Fri Mar 06 18:58:36 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 00:09:17 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "3379051", "review_id": "f7510c9ee760b71727cd5875c9d5b71d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was a really quick read. While I enjoyed the mystery of the mother, I felt that Simner is more comfortable with short stories and therefore didn't get into as much detail as I would expect about the magic and the war. It was a little confusing about how someone who knew nothing about magic could use it so well later on in the book. \n On the other hand, it's great to see a YA book that isn't the typical YA book. And the story was very captivating and original.", "date_added": "Sun Feb 08 22:37:40 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 30 23:52:58 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "3961451", "review_id": "a4849d87b957f6985c68903896baec29", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I have mixed emotions about this book. I really loved the characters because Miller does such a great job building them up to the readers. However the ending, just left me not feeling very complete. I feel as though there is a fourth book or something. I didn't hate the ending and such but I just didn't feel fullfilled (And after reading over 1500 pages for this trilogy I kinda wanna feel that.) Another thing I didn't like is there are a lot of questions raised about plot in this book, There's a lot of stuff that happens that doesn't get pursued further in the book. \n It was an alright read. Miller's writing makes it for a quick read to get through (800 pages in a few days) and there is the factor that I couldn't put it down.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 27 15:27:45 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 30 23:50:02 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "1120984", "review_id": "03dfa47054fa468e6cfaec94b90f4163", "rating": 4, "review_text": "After reading all the people on goodreads say they didn't like I was worried that it wouldn't be good. That was nothing like the case. I have to say Coe kinda reminds me a little of Terry Brooks, maybe not the writing style but I really enjoyed this book just like the Shannara series. \n It is a continuation of the Forelands books but I found it really easy to follow along even though I hadn't read any of those books (I will when I get the time). \n Really good book and can't wait to see what happens further.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 25 22:11:31 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 30 23:48:19 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Feb 05 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "268917", "review_id": "9dba9490babbff92fac3b8b520bc0264", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Really cute book that is quick moving and fun to read. It's even a good read for adults. I loved that there was so much action and such for adults but for kids has a really good message. Nice feel good read! I loved the way that it had Barbies and such in the book! Very creative!", "date_added": "Wed Jan 21 23:18:23 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 00:09:34 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Mar 09 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2253471", "review_id": "ab1ef4146735c9334ac1c79b452a53e6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A lot goes on in this book, and at first I thought it was a very confusing book. However after much time and pushing through the first part it became a little less confusing. \n I like how richly the world is developed and the magic and fights are described really well. \n The parts that I didn't like are that the conversations are really bad. There is no character after the first book that I liked or really cared for. As a matter of fact I couldn't understand why anyone like anyone else in the book, the main characters Tay and Rod were boring and lifeless. If it wasn't for the fights I wouldn't have kept reading. \n As I said there are 100s of characters and names introduced so it does get a little confusing, but it was an alright read.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 21 12:10:45 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 19:10:32 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jan 24 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2439888", "review_id": "a65b0555f7585d70dc8dd4cb5cb0b471", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I couldn't put this book down! This book was way better then Empress was. Not that I didn't like Hekat but I feel in love with everyone in this book. \n I really love the way that Karen Miller has a grasp of how to develope characters in a setting without making them appear to be boring, one sided and dull. \n Every chapter left me on my seat wanting more. I can't wait to read Hammer of God! \n The downside of the book, would have to be it did feel a little too long. Maybe a few pages shorter (50 pages or so) and it would be the perfect lenght.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 19 16:21:29 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 19:10:05 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "284440", "review_id": "e0fc1343c01e89b5fed98d56c3d2d122", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Really good book. You can tell it's based for younger readers because the characters aren't TOO developed but they are developed enough that you can sorta enjoy them. The conversations at times seemed a little stilted but for the most part it was a good book with witty conversations and interesting characters at every turn!", "date_added": "Thu Dec 25 01:49:49 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 00:51:49 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Apr 29 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2015492", "review_id": "c74d93e9ea68c984e7564c7136f11b4f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "After reading other people's reaction to this book I was walking in prepared to hate this book with a passion. While I didn't love the book it was really entertaining. \n Hekat is a very very scary woman, one that borders on the psycho side. Miller does a great job in bringing her character alive. While many people can't relate to her, you understood why she was the way she was. However I was glad that she couldn't jump out of the pages at me because if she did I would probably have died of fright. \n I did feel the book was a bit depressing (and really I could have done with the swearing and cussing cut in half). But overall it was a book that I was glad that I read and I can't wait to start in on the other books. \n The book did slow down at the end, and I did find it a little boring at times but over all it was a great read and really something to look into.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 25 01:43:34 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 19:09:37 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "3675851", "review_id": "00748de49fc692909362f6cfe074d39f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the second book in what will be a trilogy and it reads like a second book. One of those that bridges the first book to the third. It shows what leads up to the beginning of the next Blood Wars in the Southlands. \n As much as I love the way Coe tells stories, I find that the constant switching and so many characters makes it hard to really like any character specificlly. The characters from the first series are probably the most developed ones in the series. \n This doesn't come across as a book all about characterization, and readers really start to like characters in the next book as opposed to the book that they are reading currently. \n My main complaint is that the book is slow moving and a little repetative at times. Putting that aside it's a really good book and i can't wait to see what happens!", "date_added": "Sat Dec 20 01:29:58 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:46:30 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2399403", "review_id": "5c6924835ee27a0c3cf61c61c4ecf072", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is a typical first book of a series. There is a lot of time spent on building the world and cultures of the Vindras. Weis and Hickman do that we great style as they always do. \n I was a little disappointed in the characters, it felt as though all the characters were very flat, hopefully as the series grows so will the characters. I do have to say I hated Skylan, he was annoying and really not likeable as a main character. \n The book really does pick up after a while, the last one forth of it had me reading and reading. It was a struggle in the beginning but I did get pulled in and can't wait to see where the series does go from here. \n If you're looking for a whole brand new world, I was a little disappointed that this is a warrior/savage based camp. There wasn't much new as far as ideas goes, so I'm hoping that'll be something else that the authors expand on in the future.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 20 01:29:21 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 19:08:52 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jan 09 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6293900", "review_id": "b97f09f5e8a0fde8c1695f262d69ecc9", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book had so much potential. I'm not saying Hardinge is a bad writer because she isn't the writing was great, but the book was just way too long and way to complicated for a child to understand. I barely understood what was going on until halfway through the book. \n I think if this was a book for YA/or adults it would have been better. But a 10 year old would not have gotten the intricate writing and complex world. \n That said, if the book had been 200 pages less, it would have been great. The complex conspiracy was great and I enjoyed the main character. It's great to see a girl who is strong and such a leader in a book like this. \n However this book left me emotionally tired from reading it.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 20 01:28:36 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:52:16 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2192340", "review_id": "3f0e2840674179a5c6ffb797a2ba0170", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very cute children's book about a Shrew that always wanted to go out on an adventure but was always too afraid to. He's guided by his grandma's journal which is a cute way of helping him. \n The story was a little slow, but it's still cute. Sometimes it got a little repetative, and I did find the vocabulary to be rather advanced for the age that it was being marketed for. Otherwise a cute read when you don't want to get into a huge long book.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 19 23:07:46 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 00:00:25 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "3945300", "review_id": "7425861cfdfd4561a39a3a5a3b28ac77", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book (long review to be posted on Fantasybookcritic). it was a great take on the quest/fantasy type of books. I thought the character Ariel was a great character for a YA book, very well developed. All cast members that were supporting were great too. \n The only complaint that I had with this book was it felt as though everything was wrapped up really quickly. We were introduced to the major \"bad\" guy and boom it's over. \n Really great read and kept me entertained and reading! \n EDITED: I found out that there will be a sequel something that was not known when I read this so I changed the stars and removed what I didn't like :)", "date_added": "Mon Dec 15 16:12:15 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 00:08:48 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "3843654", "review_id": "101224208be15888411f6a3294fe3c5f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Julie Berry has a LOT of talent. And I assume this is her first book so I hope to see that talent grow and change. \n That said, this book is a fairy tale so there isn't much detail and a lot of aspects are sketchy to say the least. \n I don't get how the girl fell in love so quickly and she seemed to be quickly attaching herself to men. I swear at one point she was in love with Peter. \n I'm not a big fan of how quickly this book wrapped up. I won't go into details but it had a lot of potential and the ending made this a mehhh book for myself. It just seemed as if everything was thrown together with very little answers and a lot of things are just left out there hanging. Very unsatisfied with the ending. \n On the other hand, just looking at this as a fairy tale without going too indepth as an adult I would say it's a wonderful story with an author that has great talent.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 15 16:12:01 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 18 02:14:25 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Mon Feb 08 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "3453791", "review_id": "f6d6f31c042a7c96ed61920456f98184", "rating": 2, "review_text": "What a disappointment this book turned out to be. After reading 500 pages and wondering when something will happen, when something does happen it doesn't make any sense. The ending is just out there, not in crazy wow didn't expect it out there, out there as in where the heck did this come from it makes NO sense to the book out there. Sadly I wanted to like this and couldn't. The characters are one dimension, the book is slow and boring to the point of I had to force myself to read it. \n And yes, without spoiling the ending was such a let down that it made me not like the book even more. :(", "date_added": "Mon Dec 15 16:11:28 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 00:10:08 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2986865", "review_id": "020790c163a0e6ddeda0a84247059d9b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was one of those books that I can't figure out what it is that kept me reading it. the majority of this book was predictiable, and I could figure out what was going to happen before it did, but yet I still kept reading it. \n First thing was that this book is written in first person, while 90% of books written like this don't work out, this is on the far end. Parts worked out but it did get a little boring reading it written like this. \n Second, I would have loved a lot more sword action, I wanted more girl kick butt action. I'm hoping that in the second book there will be more of this but who knows. \n Third, I was a little disturbed by how the book spent a lot of time on the whole girl being a boy and what went into it. The subject matter was a little mature and I'm not sure if parents in 7th and 8th grade would want their kids to be reading this. \n Overall I wasn't as in love with this book as most people are, but I will definately read the second book. It was a good read but I don't know if I would recommend it to teens, maybe to people over 17 or so.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 05 00:03:33 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 19:02:39 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Dec 09 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2248573", "review_id": "699b0fa9b80869aedfb4abab3a39eaa3", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Wow. Before anyone comments, I was a HUGE fan of the first book. Second book I thought was alright. This book sucked so bad. Between the terrible writing and the grammar and the fact that it was 800 pages of how long Paolini can babble about nothing and still keep an following. \n The reason for the 4th book was this was for character development? What character development, the characters are more one sided then ever. You can almost predict what they will do before they do it because they are just that lame. \n As for plot, it was just a bunch of go here go here. And then Eragon babbling in his mind about what will happen, could happen, might have, must happen. \n I really wanted this to go somewhere, sadly it didn't. A waste of time, energy and really money. \n I have to say this, Eragon is the poorest choice for a dragon rider. He can't make a choice for himself and he has no spine to stand up to anyone, so he just does what everyone wants him to. \n It's a shame that the king who might be a good character is only refered to throughout the book. Maybe he can be the redeeming character in the 4th book. \n There are so many sentances that start with \"And\" \"Then\" and \"But\" that they appear on every page in the book. That's just poor writing. It felt like a 3 year old telling me a story that they are excited about. Was there even an editor on this book? Or were they afraid that his teen ego would be hurt by the fact that obviously he never took English lessons in middle school or high school. That's the only thing I can think of, is that someone teaching him forgot to teach him grammar! \n Lastly, remember you can write a 3000 page book and it could suck or you can write a 150 page book people liked. Maybe Paolini should remember that because these marathon books he isn't very good at and is definately not learning any respect from me.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 24 14:35:56 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 18:46:07 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 30 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 12, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "1524173", "review_id": "0faf192f5d40c19f0e7abf5c59a3ec82", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is by far not the strongest book of the series. I think it has to do with the time lapse. Readers left Will and he was like 15/16, now we are thrown into a world where Will is like 20. It just seemed a bit jarring and I felt like I hardly got to know Will in his teens. \n Another thing that made this so rocky was Will's stupidity. There is no other way to put it. It seems that the older he gets, the dumber he gets. Rangers don't know everything, but he just did some pretty dumb things.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 14 01:02:32 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 15 16:50:11 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Sep 15 16:50:11 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "127823", "review_id": "b00ebb908fe67975a667c8b4776d481b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the best book of the series so far. I could not put this book down. I think each book is getting better and better. I did find that the story telling was amazing. There was just enough action that it didn't get boring, and just enough details to keep you entertained. I can't wait to read the rest of the series. \n REREAD: May 2015", "date_added": "Fri Nov 14 01:02:23 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 00:48:31 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "144349", "review_id": "bb6f671653f488742314576aaded4854", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a continuation of the first book, and leaves the reader so that you HAVE to read the next book. Not really a big fan of that but I guess it works. \n Overall I love this series and find it really fun to read. It's easy to love the characters and the flow of the book is really great. Can't wait to read the others. \n The only thing I didn't like is they never mentioned the other girl that started as apprentices (Jenny I think)> \n REREAD 2015 - Still love this series. Probably more than I did before.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 14 01:02:18 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 30 23:50:47 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Feb 09 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2855034", "review_id": "8a6f029f4745d289662456d6e8cb0582", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I didn't really care for the book when I first started and it was a real hard book for me to get into, but now that I'm done with it I think it was a good read. It's not Pratchett's typical book that he usually writes so it's a little odd reading it but it was something that I was glad to have experienced!", "date_added": "Sun Nov 02 01:33:34 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 18:44:51 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "4345290", "review_id": "9c87a8ab335a5ae51b82a7439d8d3e40", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Thrilling, Captivating, Amazing are some of the first words that came to mind when I finished this book last night. I stayed up late into the night to finish this book, so that is a sign that I loved it. One of the better sword and sorcery books that I have come across in a while. \n This book was a take back to the fantasy books that have quests, magic, and great characters and plots. At first I wasn't sure if I was really going to bond with any of the characters, but to my delight I found myself loving Royce and Hadrian. There was a touch of humor that didn't come across as forced, a lot of books try to force the reader to laugh and I found myself chuckling at a couple of the jokes between the two. \n There is a tiny bit of magic and of course a wizard, which isn't too complicated. I think this is great for anyone that is a fantasy lover or for teens who are starting out in the fantasy section of their library. I get frustrated when the magic in books is so complicated I feel I have to take notes, this wasn't the case at all. \n The plot was swift but not swift enough that I found myself lost or parts over looked.Sullivan had a real skill in keeping the plot going and knowing just when to throw that curve ball in the plot or at what time it was perfect to reveal a certain crucial part of the plot to the readers! I was never left waiting too long to find out when something was going to happen but I was still sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the next part of the book. \n I loved that it was a stand alone novel of a series. The plot was wrapped up but there were parts of the book that were left open for the next book and the series beyond. A lot of series force the reader to wait till the next book to learn more, Sullivan can keep a reader and continue a series without leaving major cliff hanger and helps with the frustration of having to wait years for a book! \n It's hard to find something to complain about in this book. Like any first time writers I look forward to seeing Sullivan grow as an author and I hope that in future books we get to know some more characters. \n I highly recommend reading this book, whether your a fantasy lover or just looking to start out in it. I personally have recommended it to my family and anyone that will listen to read. It was good to see a lovely written fantasy/adventure novel. This book has found a place on my reading shelves next to my Terry Brooks books and of course Harry Potter. I really can't wait till the next book in the series!", "date_added": "Thu Oct 30 20:15:33 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 19:05:48 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "68428", "review_id": "c754e04bf56d26c88966b5b2339ddbbe", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It's taken me a while to read Mistborn, and I'm not sure why. This has everything that a fantasy should have and I really enjoyed reading it. So why teh 3 stars you ask? \n The insanely long descriptions, and useless information. This book could have been great had it not been for the drival which boarders on semi-pointless. \n I did find the characters really developed and fleshed out, which sometimes can be lacking. Though, I have to admit there were times I was extremely frustrated with them as a whole. \n Best part of the book? The magic system. I thought it was fairly unique and developed.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 29 20:23:08 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 07 18:20:59 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Mar 20 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sun Mar 11 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "210329", "review_id": "4c73eb2808341c1a36075d18e257514e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I strugged witht he first book in this series, but heard that it got better - let me tell you it does. \n It took me a little while to get used to the way the book was written but once that happened I loved it. The pace is a little slow and some of the parts aren't as fleshed as I would like but the book was wonderful!", "date_added": "Wed Oct 29 18:56:41 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 23 19:06:08 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "60510", "review_id": "91cd185262168d545ee971dc28984a30", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm not a fan of romance novels or of first person writing in novels but Snyder made me change my mind. The magic isn't too complex but Snyder does a great job of telling a story, you can have the best idea but if the author can't tell the story in a captivating way then there's no reason to read it. \n I read this book in 2 days flat I was that into it. There were a little parts that I could see coming but overall I was surprised and would recommend this book to others!", "date_added": "Wed Oct 29 00:20:29 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 04 01:53:41 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "104571", "review_id": "ce54b7cb232de5c9375a5a2d0626962f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I am very conflicted on giving this book 2 or 3 stars. I felt that Curely's writing grew with this book. However as this is the ending of a series I felt there were few characters that got the ending they needed. As a matter of fact the ending was lame. As a matter of fact if I knew this was the ending I would not have read the book.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 28 19:56:12 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 01:06:28 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun May 24 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "565593", "review_id": "6103612370f6ac8cb0c0b1cf2fd72ddd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Okay so I reread this thinking it was a YA book and it really is a good idea. Still wouldn't give it 5 stars but it's an alright book. Wish it didn't keep repeating itself but it's alright.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 28 19:56:03 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 19:06:39 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Dec 19 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "17061", "review_id": "1446a37dc07cd21376a95abca61c21df", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was one of those \"kids\" books that isn't really a kids book. It was an intriguing read and I can't wait till the movie comes out which might make it a little less confusing. However, I didn't see how it was so scary or anything like Narnia. It kept me reading and was a really quick read, but it was a little creepy but good creepy.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 26 00:42:41 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 19:07:20 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Dec 19 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "141745", "review_id": "52ae8ee5d977a1e156d64aa068b85479", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really liked this book. It was cute and the pictures were adorable. It follows not only Tink but other fairies too.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 24 00:45:48 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 24 00:45:48 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "13496", "review_id": "89b373a40ff4d46e178a46053166c91a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I read this after watching the HBO series, so I knew what to expect. I have to admit considering that the book and series are related there were lots of surprises in the book that kept me reading. \n The book was long, but not so long that I felt it was written just to write pages into a novel. Overall, I enjoyed it and can't say too much one way or the other about it.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 24 00:29:25 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 27 02:32:55 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Fri Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "651240", "review_id": "f2d29a1a95f3a25b18ee8a3775e56af4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very nice fantasy. There's no huge plot lines and complex magic but the world is set up very nicely and the book moves very quickly. The prologue almost turned me off from the book but without it it was a great read and I look forward to reading more of this series.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 24 00:23:40 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 18 17:59:46 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2106193", "review_id": "601e2d3111260cfd6b225319087b9f92", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I gave this book 3 stars because it's not a bad book for what it is. It's just not my type of book at all. It was sad and one of those ones I picture people reading and deep thinking. I know it's for young adults and I think that it's mismarketed. I found it very boring and dreamy type. \n The writing if you take the fact that I didn't like it. It is very descritive and in a poetic way.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 21 15:07:42 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 18:43:54 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2213661", "review_id": "0a36e90f3a3933382f5682ca20be5d4e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Link to my full review on Fantasy book Critic \n I love this book. It's not scary, even though the title would suggest this. It has an over all good feeling to it. I can't stop raving about how cute and creative it is.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 14 16:48:14 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 16 16:48:07 -0800 2008", "read_at": "Tue Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "78876", "review_id": "930781fd236c0c888e121e9276632879", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book. I haven't read any of the discworld novels so it took some getting used to the writing style and such but after I did I enjoyed it. I found parts of it to be funny, and I might try reading the earlier discworld books before reading the others. I look forward to reading more.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 07 14:17:48 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 18:39:45 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "1809175", "review_id": "73cf1435f0a970dc19274d3e47a5a889", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Really great book which is a slighly bit slow to develop but really good in the end. I loved the relationship of Conn and the wizard. Very quick moving book. Everything was simple but not overly simple. \n The only problem I had with this book was how the wizard didn't believe Conn whenever he said anything. It seemed a little out of character for him. The wizard was so trusting but yet let this boy that he hardly know live in his house, and then he was so quick to judge him and undermine him when Conn would bring anything up. That was the ONLY problem I found.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 01 17:54:13 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:55:59 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "3101640", "review_id": "ec5e3fe4fba2e85aa3535a1ffe34409d", "rating": 2, "review_text": "First off the fact that this was written in first person, ruined it for me. Very few first person books come across great. This came across as boring. \n Second, I felt the fact that they used Drizzet as a pull in to get others to read it. He's in it for maybe 5 paragraphs. What a poor gimick to get people to read it. I mean he's on the fricken cover but not a main character. Very disappointing. \n Third, the plot was very slow. For a 300 page book NOTHING happened. I was waiting and waiting and nothing. \n Fourth, this is not written by R.a. Salvatore while his name is on it. It's written by his son, and while new writers do need improvement this has a long way to go. \n And lastly, I felt that this book from the font to the writing style wasn't for young adult but for kids ages 10-12. Which was very sad, because the theme wasn't really that age. If it was a young adult book it has a long way to go.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 29 16:15:44 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 18:44:21 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "3223890", "review_id": "d41928530de14008d27c081c433f8bea", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book floored me and in a good way. I thought the characters were great, and the concept was original. I loved the fantasy/sci-fi flare to the book and that it was complex but explained so that everyone could understand. \n I totally recommend this book to anyone that loves a fantasy quest and such.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 29 16:14:30 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 00:55:14 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "298567", "review_id": "a678c2ee1fdd40900f8eb5af75b5b882", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I reread this and found it a lot better on my reread!", "date_added": "Wed Sep 24 14:05:25 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 29 14:00:23 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "60400", "review_id": "080cc0d2e4dc3815ad17fb4a9e05a7af", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved this book. I hope the series keeps up with it. Maybe because there are so few bow and arrow series for teens but this definately caught my attention. The whole world is really developed and I liked that while there are lots of characters it really revolves around Will and the Rangers. \n Not much happens as far as the \"War\" so maybe there will be more to that. Same audience that liked Harry Potter will enjoy this book hopefully and it'll get the following it deserves.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 24 14:01:30 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 19:01:26 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Dec 04 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "4286100", "review_id": "8fc7cac6fc9aba763cd7c7c13e4225b8", "rating": 1, "review_text": "The writing in this book was terrible and jumped all over the place. Although it says it's meant for age 14 and up it's more like 13-14 year olds. I hated that the girl called her mom by her first name all the time.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 23 16:01:51 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 29 19:22:01 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "469208", "review_id": "1f5dee7d87867a9fd4420527d42a03f7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was torn between wanting to give this book 3 stars and 5 stars. I loved the series and it was really something that I haven't encountered in a while. I love the whole adventure/action fantasy series. The characters were loveable and I loved the fact that they weren't perfect, as in they made mistakes in how they fought and they got hurt. All too often characters are invincible and it makes it hard to believe. There are character diaologe that is believe and makes it easy to understand what is going on. \n However there were two things that made it a 4 star instead of a 5 and almost a 3 star. First off, there is a very graphic sex scene. Which there was a part to it but it didn't need to be so graphic, I was a little annoyed at such graphic nature of it. Second, at times some of the fighting got a little confusing. \n There is the last thing, sometimes as far as dialouge there are lots of questions asked. It helps clarify what is going on but it does get a little annoying. \n Over all I loved the book and will continue to read the series!", "date_added": "Fri Sep 19 19:52:37 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 18:45:41 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 23 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "632579", "review_id": "716e8e213bd704339989f04ac2b06dbd", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I read this book about one third of the way through. It was rather boring and I kept waiting for the dragon to do something that would be considered exciting. Nothing happened and I quickly returned it to the library.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 04 16:07:27 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 04 16:07:31 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sat Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2475768", "review_id": "4ea39de18b573d49b98c795a0547447e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was so disappointed in the first book, it didn't live up to anything that I thought it would be. But boy did Neff change as a writer from book 1 to 2. There is so much more depth to this book then the 1st, first off he learns to write better, so it isn't always \"____ said\" \"_____ asked\" which is a step up. There is also more action in this book, which flows nicer together then the first one. I do love the action, which is described nicely. \n A few things I didn't like, if the writing grew he still at times tends to over use words. Doughy to describe any skin really irked me. And the dad, I would love this book if Max's dad could take it from a 25 and tone it down to maybe a 7. \n Other then that I fell that if the first book hadn't been so blatently a rip off of Harry Potter, that this book would do better. Because the series definately does not turn out like harry potter. \n I do like that the hero is the one being protected and the main person is not the real \"hero\" hero.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 31 20:59:10 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 18:38:09 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Sep 28 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "603515", "review_id": "fb23e091c15c08b07966b5980e153038", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Just goes to show you that when you read a book almost 10 years later your opinion can change. I completely believe this book is better than my original review. Not a 5 star but it is better. \n ******************************************************************** \n (old review from 2008) \n I really tried to not compare this book to Harry Potter and I went in with an open mind. But the truth is this is a Harry Potter knock off. That wasn't my main problem with the book though. \n The problem with the book I had is not one character did I feel close to. The chapters and activities jumped with no connection to each other. In almost every good book you get close to a character and feel bad/sorry for them whatever. This book there was no emotional connection to any of them. In fact at the end of the book I was wondering why I even bothered to read this, the boy was crying and I'm like.... I should care because. \n I know its fantasy and all, but I can't get over the unbelieveablity of this book. Kids have schedaels from 6 am till 6 pm. They get these animals that play no part of the book. This book might have been great had it been about 200 pages less and less trying to throw things out there. \n Lastly, the whole concept of the book was confusing. I know it's good vs. Evil but what was evil and why was really hard for me at 24 years old to understand there is no way a child would understand it.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 31 20:59:01 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 29 03:38:24 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "3236307", "review_id": "d226eb50b89f80806052aba300ac230f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I would have loved to see more action in this. I was very surprised that the majority of this book was a romance novel more then a fantasy wham bam book. Not that I wanted her killing everyone she see but I would have loved a little less googly eyes for the guy and more, fighting or action or something. \n The characters of Kasta and Po are very developed. I did feel that a better job could have been done about Bitterblue and the king. I was a little annoyed that in 2 sentences the whole thing of the kidnapping is solved as it's supposedly the whole reason for the book. \n There is a lot of descriptions, which was good to allow me to see the area around the book and form a world. However it started to get old and slow the book down, which made it feel as though the descriptions were in there to make this book longer. \n And of course like all books, this ends with a way to have a second and third books.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 31 20:58:51 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 18:37:41 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "258666", "review_id": "b5d427ac04ed1ea002d7c74307889946", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Maybe some day I'll come back to this book, but I just don't think I can read this book. I find myself wondering if I'm not following something of if this book is just beyond my reading. The writing is in a way that makes it seems like, wow we want the read to think this author is just so descriptive and great. Only it becomes confusing and bored. If you aren't familiar with the story of Guinevere then there is no point in reading it because nothing is explained and you are just sitting there wondering what the heck is going on.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 27 16:52:04 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 04 23:43:55 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sat Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "51105", "review_id": "d622ecf03bf73f331de0f16c28873db8", "rating": 1, "review_text": "This is quite possibly the worst book I've read recently. I read 100 pages and I was so confused. Kids pretending to be others but thinking back to a script that they made and there were people who were playing on person but not someone in this part of the story. I gave up. \n As the one reviewer said, it was a like a private joke that we weren't in on. As far as it being Narnia it's far from it, the whole idea would have been great but it's not anything like a Narnia. Great writer you aren't.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 23 00:12:19 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 29 18:39:00 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Wed Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "1075673", "review_id": "d0f2ec4fa11e84c4dab776e3656570c7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book. I know it had the whole boy finds he's royalty theme to it but it seemed to be very creative. The writing wasn't the world's greatest but it wasn't sucky. I did love the fact that it wasn't the sterotypical fantasy book and some of the themes you could tell took time to think out. I can't wait to read more of this series.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 23 00:11:57 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 18:37:01 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "317100", "review_id": "a2cd8894118843d5d7cd47a11d57006c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book although it's the second book in the Rover series is more about Juhg then Wick. I loved Wick, although he got on my nerves sometimes a part of me loved him. Juhg was the most annoying thing ever and I had NO connection to him. First off the writing in this book wasn't as good. I felt deja vu every time I read a page because Odom repeated things over and over. Yes I know Juhg was a slave and even mentioning it sometimes was okay but 3 times a page and going into detail about the same stuff I read 3 pages ago was a little boring. The other complaint I have about this is it's 380 pages, the book is slow nothing happens until page 210 or so. \n Which brings me back to juhg. This guy was the least grateful, bitter person in the world. I almost wished a monster would eat him and I'd be rid of him. \n Also as this is the second book it's really Book 2 part 1 because it ends and of course it goes on to book 3. There is no ending that leaves you satisfied. \n Lastly, the thing that annoyed me the most. Was the reference to stuff that was not in Rover and acting like we knew what was going on. This drove me crazy. \n I was very disappointed in this book, and I was really excited about the first one.", "date_added": "Thu Aug 21 20:50:12 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 18:33:13 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Aug 28 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "24780", "review_id": "ffbaf37a24fb3aa8acd09686cbaec340", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I might catch a lot of heat for my comments on this because everyone seems to love this series. I tried to read this, and got to chapter 6 or 7. But I couldn't take it anymore, the \"hero\" or what not the pig farmer is always being put down or made to feel stupid and worthless. I also hated the fact that in the beginning of the book the author preceeds to explain this is fiction and only fiction and is not a tour guide to Wales. Well as it's a kids FICTION book I didn't really plan on using this as a map to the Wales world and see the sights but thanks for the warning ahead of time. \n I just felt as though this was used as a sharp lesson, oh you must listen you must do this. And it got really old really quickly. I have no intention to try and read this book further.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 11 14:36:06 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 05 21:37:32 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sun Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "769483", "review_id": "0fbe4872212ed71ef117c477c860ed21", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this book and would have LOVED it had it been about 200 pages less. There were so many side stories that it got my mind wandering and not caring about the book. So many characters had to tell their side and we'd follow them. And every so often some overly cute thing would happen or a new object would jump out. I enjoyed it but felt it dragged and could see kids getting bored easily.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 05 17:49:34 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 08 22:40:43 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Oct 30 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "607458", "review_id": "7bf8bc30dfb2de402d5ec03d2afda21d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I love this series (yes I know it's mainly for boys) but I just find this so creative and unique! I did find the ship flying a little dull but it always turned into something big and eventful. I can't wait to see how the rest of the series goes. \n I really think this series deserves more credit then it's given!", "date_added": "Mon Aug 04 14:56:37 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 00:47:19 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Apr 12 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "11312", "review_id": "99339625bfe31bcbf8e97e2c3f155b86", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I wasn't impressed by this book like I thought I would. I found that the book went round and round as far as adventure. I'd read and read and nothing would happen. Again remembering that it was written in 1965 or so helped me in understanding that it was a little stale in 2008 now. I'm hoping the rest of the series is better then this.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 02 00:22:21 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 18:36:23 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2850734", "review_id": "d0a1f160a40c11f7d37383b33d44f2df", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really liked this book. While it's a book for those in 5th to 8th grade it was really a nice delight to read a fantasy book that was so nicely written for this age group. \n I found the little spider really enjoyable. And the fact that the storyline was taken from a real fairy tale was really a delightful element. \n Sometimes you did get a little frustrated with the character and wonder why she didn't think before she did stuff but again she was 12 and most 12 year olds probably think like she did. \n Over all I can't wait to read the next book in the series and I Hope that it is as nicely done as this one was.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 02 00:19:24 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 19:03:07 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Dec 12 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "277191", "review_id": "246803d13bc76e1d083c3c710c150d30", "rating": 2, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I was a little upset about the whole glass coffin stuff. This whole book was pointless, it had like why am I reading this book. I know it's for young kids and they wouldn't get the whole glass coffin thing, but it was a little out there for me. \n Another thing that I didn't like was that no matter what Jarad does his mother NEVER believes him. Like she goes out of her way to listen to everyone but him. \n This seems like a forced story. As in just to make the series longer. It was like a map was drawn and we had to go to every to every part of the map just to make sure that everything was there.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 30 17:14:28 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 18:30:55 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "277190", "review_id": "6ddf4bfedb2f03e6c71bca3cae81da3a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n This had to be the junkiest ending in children's books. The bad guy gets eaten? Come on! With so much creativity in the first book or so I was waiting for more to come out of this book. \n They never really explained much to the mother. I also hated that they let the uncle die. For a kids book where everything should be sugary that was a terrible ending. Even I was upset and I'm a good 18 years older then the average reader of this. \n I hated that they had the bad guy pretend to be the dad then try and kill the brother and sister. That would be scary for a 5/6 year old. \n I also found the elves pointless. They did nothing in the book, except say \"Give us the book\" then \"Now you brought it keep it we lied the whole time to you we didn't want it\". It was like every fictional creature from dwarved, brownies, elves, sprites HAD to be in the book. I think it would have just been okay if it wasn't so forced to find a way for dragons and such to be in this book. \n I think this book would have been better if I hadn't had to pick up 5 different books and read it. I felt it was the biggest scam in kids books. \n I also hate that you needed an eye glass to see the creatures yet they capture the mom and all of a sudden she believes. Can she see them? did they spit in her eyes? This is never explained. \n I would not be recommending this book to kids, because I felt it was too scary and the ending was cheap and not a great way for fantasy to be introduced to kids.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 30 17:14:26 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 18:31:34 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "519048", "review_id": "ea5ba14aae6f789bfd25c25ac51c775e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is really a cute series. However I still am disappointed in the length of the book. I feel as though I read 100 pages of really nothing but the same stuff over and over. I would have liked a little more of the characters in the story. \n Sometimes things happen in the book that make me need to reread the past pages because something doesn't quite add up. Maybe I'm reading too into a \"kids\" book. But really I believe this is too scary for kids that the size and page length is meant for. \n The characters are a little scary looking. I know goblins aren't very handsome or anything but these were a little scary to look at. Also the events that happen to the kids, like what happens while they are asleep and such would probably scare me as a child. \n One thing that bothered me about this book was the lack of the mother. I know it's a single family but these children are just wandering all around and the mom is mentioned in passing half the time.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 30 17:14:14 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 18:30:18 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "1034516", "review_id": "e730679c7edde4df9028cc89d3ff4657", "rating": 3, "review_text": "While not as good as I thought it would be, it was an okay book. The writing style was really annoying. It was written in first person that switched between the two characters. I hated that it was such a good idea but almost \"dummy\" downed for teens with phrases like \"Ethan is soooooo full of surprises\" it was a book not a diary. \n There is a sense that the reason there is mystery is because the author wrote it so she didn't tell you things. It took almost 100 pages to get to something that was worth reading. There was also a sense that there should be more of an explaination of things. \n I hated that things went so fast and it was like glanced over. \n Very quick read though and it was an alright book.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 28 15:07:04 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 29 19:23:15 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Oct 20 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "28187", "review_id": "8eecf3819bb6b19574a6cd40c719ac42", "rating": 5, "review_text": "After my second read through years later I find it a 5 star bumping up the rating from 4 to 5 \n *** \n I enjoyed this book. I thought it was written very well and in a way that almost any person would be sucked right in to reading. \n There were times that I thought this book was a little predictable (Then again I've read 100s of books by now) but not so predictable that I was rolling my eyes, more I kept reading to see if I was right. Sometimes I was sometimes I wasn't :) \n I look forward to reading more of this series.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 25 20:49:45 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon May 29 01:59:27 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon May 29 11:37:27 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "105659", "review_id": "82d2afd364ca39944963f873bffe6fa1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I love this series! I love that there are so many different ideas being brought into a YA/children's series. This series introduces a young girl. Although people have said she's annoying or whiny. I didn't get that sense from her. Every book has that annoying whiny girl. There were times she annoyed me and there were times that others in the book annoyed me. \n I definately cannot wait to see what happens in these books. \n This book didn't have as disturbing things happen to the characters. Which was good but it's very action packed and very well written. \n Another thing that I love about it, is the way the illustrations go along with the story. It's not telling the story and it's not like the pictures aren't necessary. They will show a picture of an unknown creature so you get a little better idea of what it's supposed to look like. \n This really is one of the better fantasy series out there.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 25 20:39:50 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 18:29:36 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "385742", "review_id": "39f189cc52c89479e137d6d9e41ea983", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love this series. I just think it's so creative and emotional. I love the fact that it's simple yet very in depth. You feel almost as if you are on the journey with them. I would really recommend anyone to read this series. It's a quick read for any adult but it's great for kids. \n I have to admit that there were a few things that had me a little shocked in this book because it wasn't kids only. But it was a great. If I had to change anything I would probably change the way it leads into the 3rd book. That's it.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 25 20:34:34 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 18:32:44 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "61975", "review_id": "783518f795e0f3d63c7ee7d9eea91f28", "rating": 1, "review_text": "There was way to much sex and I hated the way the women were treated in this book. So much rape, and kicking of women with a brain and such. I know it's fiction and I'm by no means a woman's right ad, but come on this had potential but alas doesn't live up to my standards.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 16 17:03:51 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 15 16:27:10 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sun Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "262430", "review_id": "9babbe28371943b54222c58c21ce82fd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Gregor falls down a laundry vent and ends up in the Underland. This book reminded me a little tiny bit of Alice in Wonderland but a little different. There was some fighting and \"battles\" it's more of a fantasy with good and evil. \n One thing I loved about this book is although Gregor is missing his dad. There is a family enviorment. No orphans or whatnot. It was a jump beyond the typical lost boy or girl and finding powers. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that loves fantasy or children's book. \n This book have rats and cockroaches which seems an odd but they turn out to be really good characters. \n Another thing I loved is every character in this book was developed. You get kind of attached to everyone. Not so much the \"bad\" guys but the good guys you do which makes this book even better. \n I could hardly put this book down!", "date_added": "Sat Jul 12 18:16:48 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 18:28:37 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "105657", "review_id": "021ce139c2b51952ce7d1f5df113eb0b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was really surprised about this book. Not because of the fact that it was bad. It was actually better then I thought it would be. The thing that surprised me is that this is considered a children's series and the rather disturbing stuff that goes on in here. I did love the fact that there was so many different creatures and adventures going on. Not one problem lasted so long. \n I do agree with the person that said they were surprised that the story got wrapped up so neatly with so much random stuff going on. \n This is definately not a book for those that want cutesy creatures. But if your looking for something that is a little odd, and a little different this is the book. \n The personal journey in this book at first started off like everyone else, the boy who doesn't belong is looking to belong. But so much more happened in this. Definately a good read.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 12 17:56:55 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 18:27:36 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 21, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "444304", "review_id": "eb862f29f04e0b697054ff7bf1a317e0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked this book. I didn't fall in love with it. Partly because it is so short. I read this really quickly and yes I'm an adult, but it just seemed another way to milk money out of kids. Why did it start when it gets good? At 10 dollars a pop for a book 50 dollars for this wouldn't be bad. I really hated that it's barely a story in this book. \n The things that I did like is the imagination involved. The pictures in the book went beautifully in with the story. It does help to have some pictures especially since it is for children. Over all so far it's a great book and a great way to get kids excited about the whole fantasy aspect of the books.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 12 17:52:35 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 18:23:07 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "291733", "review_id": "27e8aec66a332b23f862b0b1f05aa8b9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "My fiance got this book because of the R. A. Salvatore novelette. I thought it would be a great way for me to kind of get a feel for the other worlds. \n All the stories have to do with dragons in a setting that is familiar to the author (Forgotten Realms, Magic, or Dragonlance). Of course I sped through some stories faster then others. And more stories caught my eye but overall I was pleased with the book. \n Every story was different, and brought a different element of dragons. I won't go into too much detail so I don't spoil the book but it wasn't just the dragon comes and breaths fire. \n The only thing I wish there were was more pictures. From the cover of the book I thought there would be some pictures and such but there was a huge picture before the story and then little tiny pictures every 5-8 pages.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 12 15:22:21 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 15 16:47:21 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sun Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "6294", "review_id": "b41b2daa6d6c62c9512f543a51def090", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book just didn't do it for me like everyone was raving about. I found the character Sophie annoying, boring and I sorta had a wish that she would stay old because I wanted to see her suffer because I disliked her that much. \n Like the movie 90% of the book, I was lost with. I had to reread sections because I wasn't sure if I misunderstood, didn't read something right or was really just lost in the story. \n I hated that there was this whole \"unspoken\" ish about stuff that happened, like we were supposed to guess what had happened. \n The author wasn't as great as I had hoped. The writing was nothing special, if anything it appeared almost forced. Like she wanted so much odd stuff going on, that she tried to tack it all together on a fine string that just did not work.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 10 00:39:09 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 00:50:44 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "66693", "review_id": "188905d5a8e5fb6f2a90aa62213e4a9b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book really should be read before the Dark Elf Trilogy. \n Since this was his first novel it wasn't written as well as the others. There were parts of the book that almost made me feel like I missed something. I would have liked a little more Drizzt as the book would jump around a lot. \n For Drizzt fans he is in it, but I would say the book focuses more on the barbarian and the Dwarf then any of the other characters. \n The one thing that bothered me more then anything was that it seemed like the conflict was resolved almost too quickly. There's this huge character and it gets resolved in 20 pages. \n Overall I loved the book, but really should be read before the Dark Elf one.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 09 20:48:13 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 18:29:58 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "66695", "review_id": "0c9ba0090a57947be1b9bbb4d3f853cf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book wasn't as fast moving as the others but I did love that it was a change of pace from the underworld. I loved the way the \"human\" world was combined with Drizzet and how it was all convayed. \n Great Read!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 24 15:41:21 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 03:16:04 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "77563", "review_id": "1374b4f8fad3a1c3a51bf74eaa8ddea3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I got this out to read Terry Brooks \"Indomitable\". Which was a great short story. It's a nice book to read through because of the big names in fantasy writting that wrote short stories. There are some series that I'd love to look into. Can't wait to try some of them out!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 24 15:39:48 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 29 18:57:03 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Fri Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "1501665", "review_id": "4b2b2b57af0e87e502a03a69eb3e01b0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I was very excited for this book to come out. I have to say for a graphic novel it was wonderful. The pictures were excellent and the story line Terry Brooks did wonderful on. I would have liked the pictures to be in color but it was great the way it was. \n The thing that I loved about this was that the story took place in between books that were already written so that you didn't need to reread a story you knew. It also explained a lot of stuff without seeming repetative making it a great book for those that didn't even know or read any of the Shannara books. \n Great read can't wait for more!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 10 20:32:07 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 03:15:38 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "3379316", "review_id": "bb93e429b8c3f45bba837656dc49ad21", "rating": 4, "review_text": "What I like about James Maxey is that he grows as a writer. Not many people can admit that something is wrong with the book and change it like he did. I was a little unprepared for the whole sci-fi world jumping that was brought into this series but then again that just made it even better. \n I do have to admit it got a little crazy but in the end it made a lot of sense. I was a little confused about the whole prophets thing and sorta wished there was a middle ground were people did believe in god but weren't crazy. Maybe that'll happen in the third book.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 01 20:50:53 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 31 01:09:50 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jun 07 17:39:45 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2678758", "review_id": "20cf0d3f4a3c198fbb79d61d13e696f4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I was surprised by how much I liked this book. The first 20 or so pages I was little hesitant to keep reading the book. But after that it picked up and I couldn't put it down. I kept wondering what was going to happen or what adventure was going to happen. \n We all know that \"the boy\" is Peter Pan. But he isn't the main main character which was great. I loved that there were old characters and new ones mixed in it. \n The way the story is told, as if it's a story teller telling you the story was a great way to tell the story. Sometimes at times it got really wordy, but overall I felt it was a new and interesting way to tell the story. It was change from all the other ways that fantasy stories are told. \n I did like the change in fantasy. As most books now are Harry Potterish, it was a relief to see someone trying something new in the terms of books. \n The one slight problem I had with this book was the naming of the Indians. I felt it was a little, off. I know it was for humor but I just felt that names such as \"Dog Licking Self\" was a little offensive. And the name kept coming up. That was my only real problem with the book. Oh and the fact that NONE of the Indians knew how to speak proper English, then again this is the Boy's world so maybe that's how he wanted it.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 01 20:49:23 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 18:31:56 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "66678", "review_id": "bce5dea363a8a90f26912d32987eb267", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another quick read. I love that this book moves quickly and that you hardly have time to think that you are reading. The fights are clearly described so that there is no guessing as to what is going on.", "date_added": "Fri May 23 15:46:43 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 03:15:15 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jun 24 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "50027", "review_id": "b14e95596e0ec52f0b0d766c28c7d06d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "My fiance recommended this book series to me and I've been meaning to pick it up for a while. I was not let down by it. Although there is the overwhelming dominant female characters the book kept me reading. I hardly wanted to put it down. There was a lot of action and just the right amount of dialoge. The thing that I loved about it was that although it's a series the book could stand alone. I can't wait to read the rest of the books!", "date_added": "Thu May 15 16:18:53 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 03:14:40 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun May 18 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "137627", "review_id": "138585fcba9fcdb591704ac45e505278", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Sometimes we get so caught up in reading and reviewing newly released books that some oldie but goodies get overlooked. These classic fantasy novels tend to be pushed to the back burner because everyone thinks that they should have already read them and know about them. \n Every year I try to make an effort to read some of the \"older\" fantasy and sci-fi novels. I have been reluctant to review them based off of their publication dates, but I want to share my love and enthusiasm for some of these novels. As long as the book is available in some format for purchase, I will highlight it. \n I am featuring David B. Coe's Rules of Ascension novel as the first novel in this featurette. Rules of Ascension is the first novel in the epic fantasy series Winds of the Forelands. This first novel starts the series off with a bang. There is pretty much everything in here that you could imagine - political intrigue, who-done-it murder mystery, conspiracies, warring kingdoms, evil villains, magic, and detailed, relatable characters. There is even a small smidgen of battles and fight scenes thrown in, but not too much. \n Rules of Ascension, for me, started off slowly. It wasn't a painfully slow pace, but Coe definitely takes his time developing not only the world in which we are a part of, but the characters that are involved with the story. I never got to a point where I wanted to give up on the novel, but if you are looking for a series that immediately starts off running; this is probably not the novel for you. \n It wasn't until maybe the 25% mark that things really started picking up. Once I was comfortable with the world, understood a bit about the magic, and there was a solid plot established, the novel just seemed to fly right on by. I was easily able to read 100 to 120 pages in one sitting and when I had to stop, I just wanted to jump back into the novel and see what was happening. \n There are two major things that made Rules of Ascension stand out to me. First, was the complex nature of the characters. Every character was extremely detailed. They have their own quirks, their own powers, and their own agenda regarding certain things. Of course, the bad guys appear evil, but there are layers to them and they aren't just doing things because they are bad. \n The detailed nature of the characters really helped to draw readers into the story. No one was back or white, good or bad. There were shades of gray. I enjoyed this aspect because it made it more lifelike. I was able to feel like I knew these characters their entire life and wasn't just being thrown an abridged version of who they are and how they react to certain things. \n Another aspect that I enjoyed was the amount of detail Coe goes into regarding the history of the land and even the people who live in that land. Things weren't just dumped on readers with a 'here accept it' mentality. We were guided through important aspects of history and explained how and why things were happened. \n That being said, the history parts didn't seem like they were info dumps. Yes, there is a lot to learn about everything, but it wasn't presented in long, drawn out ways that would bore you. It was more of a fun, learn while action is going on type format. In my experience, that made it a win-win. \n Even though I absolutely adored Rules of Ascension, there were a few things that could make it a confusing read for some readers. The major problem would be with the amount of characters involved. There are dozens of different characters throughout the novel that we - the readers - encounter. This could easily become overwhelming for some individuals because you aren't just following Character A or Character B, but you are following a ton of other people who all play major and minor roles in the plot. \n It becomes easier to follow who characters are and what they are doing as the novel goes on, and you become more familiar with the characters. But it could be a bit disorienting at first. If you can hold on, you are in for a definite treat. And it does get easier. Ideally, an index or something would be helpful to help readers, but I understand why that is not possible. \n Overall, I loved Rules of Ascension, even more than I really thought I would. Once I hit a groove with the novel, it was smooth sailing and I hated having to put the book down for any reason. I really feel this is an overlooked series - at least from the first book. If the other books are anywhere near as good as this one, it will quickly become one of my top favorite series in fantasy.", "date_added": "Thu May 01 20:04:29 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 24 20:13:30 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "13895", "review_id": "edcf46f802a3d2e6f06cf4312e82c826", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved this book. I have to say for some reason this book moved faster then the other books. I was just about to give up the series when this book came along. Now I find myself waiting to see what else happens. \n The battles were really good, and the action in the book moved faster.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 27 15:46:58 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 03:14:52 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "596963", "review_id": "bfaf767e00c8f27e8571e02456ed30c8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I was a little disappointed in this book. I was all excited for a fairy book that had some great action and it wasn't like I didn't get that. I thought that the world was really well thought out, but at times it seemed almost to complicated for a YA book geared for 5th graders. It was just so hard for me to keep track of names of places and the history. \n What I didn't like about this book was that at times it would talk about something and you would begin to wonder if you missed something, when in fact you didn't and it would be explained 100 pages later. It got to the point where I couldn't figure out if I missed something or if it wasn't explained yet to me. \n I did like that this book revolves around fairies. There are very few books that use those as the main characters and when they are used they are Tinkerbell like. These are fighting ones with different types and personalities. \n Over all I thought it was an intresting read and I might read the second oen that is coming out, however I thought the writing style was a little above a 5th grade and takes a certain type of reader to really understand it and like it.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 21 19:15:21 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 24 19:07:50 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Dec 25 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "34897", "review_id": "08b34c8cf20108be8cac3ff0345a395b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book seemed to be kind of longer then it needed to be. However it was still eventful and I will keep reading the series.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 11 15:04:15 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 02:57:10 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "44170", "review_id": "54986b29c8aad715faebe84fb58cf84c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I really wanted to like this book because Alice in Wonderland is one of my favorite classic stories. There is just so much out there stuff. Such as descriptions and new names of fighters in the War that it gets confusing. I found the end of this book really confusing for me.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 09 18:42:29 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 02:50:26 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "92143", "review_id": "60cbe960d08183057a9c39acda374f88", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Bone is a very cute graphic novel. There were parts that I laughed out loud at and giggled with which makes it a really good read. The drawings were excellent. Makes me even more excited to see the colored version. It was really nice to have all the book in one sitting so I didn't have to wait to see what happened!", "date_added": "Wed Apr 09 17:02:26 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 09 17:02:30 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Thu Apr 24 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "382870", "review_id": "2b48d960f7d2ea349269d41befdd3329", "rating": 3, "review_text": "EDITED REVIEW: \n I read this novel while I was doing my 'patriotic duty' and serving on a jury. I have to admit the language is sort of vague and flowy, but the book is alright. It isn't anything I'd write home about, but it is light, quick moving and just alright. I am glad I gave it a second shot \n PREVIOUS REVIEW FROM 11/2/2008 \n I started reading this book and got all the way to page 150 or so. The fact that the author acts like you know what is going on and have an idea of what is going on in this book made it very hard for me to read. I kept thinking \"Did I miss something.\" There was really no explaination of some of the family history, or the school so it's just one big cloud. Maybe some day I'll try to finish it. But for now I won't.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 03 15:32:48 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 19 00:30:48 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "703870", "review_id": "402b633d3b51c1890531ceb6a554d158", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book is the second in the adventures of Jig the runty Goblin! If at all possible this book was better then the first! I loved the first book and couldn't put it down. But this book had me captivated. The story line moves quickly so you aren't stuck in a rut at all. There were cute and funny parts which is what I think makes this book such a good book. Even though the book ends with you waiting for the 3rd book. It is a great stand alone book!", "date_added": "Thu Apr 03 15:30:55 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 03:01:02 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "47918", "review_id": "dc5deb9d0b3b9a91dda584d9247dca13", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I was expecting a cute little kids book that kids could understand. Instead it dealt with death, destruction and a lot of heavy topics for kids. Definately read the book before handing it to kids.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 03 15:27:24 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 02:59:14 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "801998", "review_id": "eb0a32868fa5f011f0980ff260b950c0", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Maybe I wasn't used to the author's writing or something but I found this book a disappointment. I love bears and was looking for a contemporary novel that had a bear come to life as I love my bear! Only it was more of a look back at the author's family and that was really boring!", "date_added": "Thu Apr 03 15:25:34 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 02:59:31 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Mar 17 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "299084", "review_id": "2ca77b52741a75a4eccf2c19fe59c075", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved this book and can't wait to read the rest in the series. It was a quick read and there were parts that I found myself giggling at. Definately a light fantasY!", "date_added": "Thu Apr 03 15:23:09 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 02:58:29 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "144127", "review_id": "38866394b59c4c7a19afcb11ce0c2606", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I'm not a real fan of this series so far. But I might give the second book a shot. I was looking for more of a fantasy, Robert Jordan, Terry brooks type book. \n I was a little disturbed by the whole taking of powers and killing in this book. I know it's an aspect but I just didn't expect it in a book like this. The battle sequences were good but then again there was more draining of one persons powers and branding of another. \n I really hated what happened to the king. I won't go into further details as it might be a spoiler but it really bothered me. Enough to make me put the second book on hold for a while and hope that it's not as bad as this one.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 03 15:21:08 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 02:56:57 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "18122", "review_id": "e79b9f9e92103c90817549626f4ee791", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This was a disappointing way to end the series that had a lot of potental. I felt as though my questions that I had from the first couple of books weren't really answered in this book. There were times when I felt that there were chapters that were in there just to make the book longer. I at time even found myself forced to read this book because I wanted to see what happens and just to get it over with.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 03 15:16:34 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 02:55:32 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Mar 13 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "119322", "review_id": "89263032af96dbd5a9d9f13cc10599a1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I read this book because the movie was coming out and I wanted to see what all the fuss was. I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if there hadn't been such deep topics like the particles and such. I never understood it and it wasn't very well explained. The whole theory of Dust in the book kinda left me hanging. With that aside I enjoyed it but would not be rereading it.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 03 15:16:22 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 02:55:05 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "233649", "review_id": "0f15c48062e07839007236c9815fb7d8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the second book in the series. It still continues with the characters that were in the first book but developes the story line further. I loved the way Jordan refers to past events so you don't have to keep looking up in the first book, but doesn't rehash it so that you are board.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 03 15:15:05 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 02:54:50 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "228665", "review_id": "724564b1e2bc7068479abfff5e4fd222", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was way longer then I thought it would be. \n The first 100 pages or more are really slow. Slow enough that I was debating about putting it down and not reading it again. But after a lot of thought I carried on through it and I was really surprised. \n The fact that it took that long to get the book started turned out to be a good thing. The characters were developed further and I felt like I knew every single one very closely. \n I do love the fact that it's not a magic magic series and that it's more old fashioned fantasy. With horses and traveling and such. But there is a modern fantasy aspect later on.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 03 15:14:45 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 02:54:36 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Nov 13 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "49605", "review_id": "830bbda2d1bfc72c05881cd501f6fa9a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not as funny as the first book. At times it felt like the jokes were just being run over and over and over again. Like beating a dead horse. I started to glaze over at the ending, and can honestly say I flipped through a couple chapters just to get it over.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 03 15:13:19 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 02:54:01 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 18 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "49603", "review_id": "ca32db2296d6a5a564230b111dc6ee4f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The talking Teddy bear had me for this book. I found this book funny at times. However some jokes were a little over used and got old fast. The whole end of the book I kept flipping pages with.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 03 15:12:59 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 02:53:51 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Oct 27 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "289695", "review_id": "16aadd44271c9a4ef1df64fe1be60dec", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I found this book really hard to read. Not that it was complex more so that I was getting bored with it. There was little to no action in the book and it was saddly disappointing. But yet I'm oddly waiting to see what happens.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 03 15:06:35 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 02:57:38 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "1062113", "review_id": "e5b816936e1d9aef8f5909653b9428d8", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was definately darker then what I would normally read. I loved the fact that dragons were given human like characteristics because it was something that I hadn't come across. I would love to see more Bitterwood character development as he was kinda mysterious.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 03 15:04:01 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 02:44:17 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "47881", "review_id": "eca376d080098dae4cfb7e2faa5bf74c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "A little bit better then the other books. The plot seems to be moving a little better. Still spending a lot of time on previous subjects. It almost feels as if these books are being written so that everything is drawn out.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 03 15:00:52 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 02:52:15 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "106131", "review_id": "74eed7cbe3186fc3c809acd8fa0f712e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Again spends a lot of time going over stuff that we already know from previous books. Not much added in the way of plots.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 03 15:00:45 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 02:47:45 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Sep 23 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "227778", "review_id": "ddca90cd407a2718337ccb89451a634c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Cute story. Didn't see the ending coming.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 03 15:00:35 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 02:42:13 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "106129", "review_id": "50bfe3b28d88417bcf2a5a7bed28ffd2", "rating": 2, "review_text": "There's a lot of repeating in this book. Nimmo spends a lot of time going over stuff that was already in the other books. I noticed that this is a trend in the books. Such as huge chapters are devoted to describing why Charlie bone goes to the school he does.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 03 15:00:16 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 02:45:28 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sun Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "124119", "review_id": "f0c930fc9107a700fed92759d320fa25", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Rover was one of those rare finds at a library. I was browsing the bookshelf and came upon it. I was not let down by it. \n I loved that Wick is so curious and into everything. There's a lot of action in the book, and story lines aren't drawn out. It seems something new is being thrown at you every time. Everything was tied up nicely till the end. Where it left you going into the second book. \n I was unaware that this was a trilogy so that had me a little disappointed that it wasn't a stand alone book. But I loved it and will continue to read the series.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 16:53:49 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 03:00:13 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "160201", "review_id": "294496f20afba15d1ef758cc73be297c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "For a first time writer this was a great book. It was a little hard to follow some of the events that were happening and I found myself thinking that this was just a typical fantasy book with nothing newer but in the end I enjoyed reading it.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 16:52:22 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 12 02:52:28 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2007", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "784916", "review_id": "eaa1403b5da0e47f806fdbc3c7c2b557", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book has to be one of the slowest books I have ever read. First off it was dubbed as a \"teen\" book. I'm not sure any kid over the age of 10 would find this book intresting. 100 pages into the book I was finding myself hoping that the children would be harmed just so that something would happen. \n The idea of the book was great but the writing just plain sucked. Every sentence started with \"Kendra .....\" \"Seth....\" \"He.....\" \"She.....\". When some action did come into the book it was over in two pages. \n The ending was the worst, with 60 pages to go I just had to groan. The ideas would stray so that you almost forgot what was going on. \n The characters in this book were all one sided. Girl who doesn't break rules, boy who does. Grandpa and Grandma kept saying, well we'll explain later. It felt as though it was written just to cash in on more books. Harry Potter I think not", "date_added": "Fri Mar 28 16:41:10 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 13 15:22:34 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "8bf745a1e2b3ec721ad079990111f114", "book_id": "2856620", "review_id": "7ef57d75e5ad661a1012280b982eeef2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really do like this series. The ending did however seem to drag on and on. But over all it still has my attention and I'm going to keep reading because I'm really into this book.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 24 18:18:41 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 16 13:17:16 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Wed Apr 16 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "33394837", "review_id": "9247a782870a24b13b80e5856fa6f8ce", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Lots and lots of filler. I was skimming towards the ends. Not a bad story, just took FOREVER to get there. And I would have smacked Camilla. Chick needed to get with the program.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 01 19:26:11 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 25 20:44:45 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "16096824", "review_id": "985e3c6714872504c1addbbc05cf9040", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I just couldn't invest in the characters. And good grief it was LONG! Too much for the first book in a series.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 21 07:46:19 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 09 12:36:30 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jul 09 12:36:30 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "24764571", "review_id": "9672baac8c37b49333b598378c180625", "rating": 4, "review_text": "At the beginning I thought the internal wolf talk was a little silly, but I got used to it. I'm really surprised I enjoyed this book. I have downloaded the next book. Gotta find out what happens. Nice mindless read.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 17 10:19:31 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun May 28 15:39:47 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun May 28 15:39:47 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "27997472", "review_id": "431f9631124920bfcd5372f87668772b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Good. Lots of follow up from book one. I enjoyed it. 3.75 stars", "date_added": "Mon Apr 17 10:14:03 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 17 10:14:54 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "26402927", "review_id": "c30ece54fc1618b9697f573c7bb36909", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not bad. I didn't know about the mix of a mystery with magic but it worked. One thing bugs me. The way Harmony dresses. It just doesn't fit her personality in my mind.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 03 16:55:24 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 17 10:13:11 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Apr 17 10:13:11 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "33792520", "review_id": "1bec0925a766774f642ea8ac76263baf", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Not great but not terrible. More info on the Set Mutation would have helped. Saw the big reveal coming a mile away. More world building was definitely needed.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 27 11:22:57 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 02 14:04:32 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Apr 02 14:04:32 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Mar 27 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "33905666", "review_id": "a77e993c6692e45bd208b6d4f279d39f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I can't believe it, but it was good. I had to see how it ended.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 20 18:43:03 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 21 15:16:04 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Mar 21 15:16:04 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Mar 20 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "33763808", "review_id": "a0b978e86191bb2cbcc810c3bf9d1a8a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I almost quit after the first chapter but glad I stuck with it. Surprisingly good!! I was impressed and went right on to the next book.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 20 18:42:51 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 21 15:17:40 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "33989538", "review_id": "d7abc23ae285aa60718fd27c529502b7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "And already preordered the 3rd! How many books are in the series. \n 4.5 stars bc the unavoidable, forbidden love/lust is annoying but thats just me, I think some people like it. I enjoyed the additional characters very much. They were very valuable to the story. I suspected what was going to happen at the end, but was still surprised. It's hard to surprise me and AM seems to pull it off every time. \n I hope that more info about the rifts is coming and more world building and explanations. The new title of the series is great. I also LOVE the name Sloane!! Lol \n Great Job!", "date_added": "Wed Feb 01 06:48:31 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Sun May 07 09:46:19 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun May 07 09:46:19 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "31557296", "review_id": "2294cdbfa411f3206683b483817f53b2", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Good start. A little slow and repetitive in the beginning but to be expected from first in a series. Title is a little weird, I don't see how it ties in. Overall good start and anxiously awaiting the second installment.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 17 15:21:07 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 01 06:48:15 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "27405351", "review_id": "5be4817a92ff9d9047d96b4e9937b831", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It was ok.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 10 13:10:43 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 23 23:50:26 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "31187735", "review_id": "19d865a157966c8c9f8711244ddde1cc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very good start to the series. Lots of Hunger Games similarities but I didn't really notice until almost the end of the book. The world building is very good and the main character is very likable. The love triangle is not off putting....yet anyway. I'm intrigued and will continue the series. Saw the big reveal at the end of the book coming a mile away, but that didn't bother me either.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 21 17:39:08 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 21 17:42:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "28599336", "review_id": "c778687a182239d1317a28fec83b8330", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Good. I'm enjoying the series.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 19 18:27:42 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 26 18:15:58 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "28053896", "review_id": "0b532f6d37f65328ce69fbaa86ef1032", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Dystopian, vampires, zombies without being cheesy I'm on board! Too short, needs more explanation of things but a pleasant start.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 12 10:04:38 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 19 18:25:39 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Sep 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Sep 12 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "31284240", "review_id": "2cfa51971c3ba5459917476b110dac5c", "rating": 1, "review_text": "NOT a stand alone book. Had to fight to finish it.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 22 04:46:54 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 03 15:27:04 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Sep 03 15:27:04 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Aug 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "20804158", "review_id": "bbf85a33d92350054b119e534a2ea53c", "rating": 2, "review_text": "It was ok. Extremely predictable.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 31 19:09:23 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 16 14:18:14 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Aug 16 14:18:14 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "15773488", "review_id": "1d18935caf271b4e2b36f5432a94550c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Another OK book. Middle book syndrome. The good vs evil inner dialogue (there is a TON of it) is a bit tedious. Saw the big reveal coming a mile away. Again....it was ok. I've started the last book and I think I already know the ending. We shall see if I am right. \n Thus book reminded me of the Fated series.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 31 19:08:59 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 11 18:22:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "13560376", "review_id": "1d43e862f4341f21b7f4474679f9172b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It's ok. Nothing extremely fabulous but nothing extraordinarily bad either. I need to learn more about angel mythology.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 31 19:04:30 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 11 18:19:23 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "27190038", "review_id": "7f0f6510d9734ec56300483c44ae9b26", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Stupid. Done with this series.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 24 08:14:29 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 20 11:38:25 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "28442667", "review_id": "078041e23fae303db27239418c0b25d9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Good easy read.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 24 08:13:51 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 29 10:35:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 29 10:35:03 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "28442611", "review_id": "cc187c0ee493b8fb74825e2997947ea4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Good, short, mindless read. Interesting world, interesting characters.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 24 08:12:34 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 24 08:13:34 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "13453029", "review_id": "64b475b2294aece253db55029d87a956", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Long. The dystopian world was very well written. The plot and characters were interesting and well thought out. The descriptions were so good you felt you were there...but damn they were long!! \n Author is quite long winded, there is nothing happy about this book, the tittle is awful, and it gave me nightmares. I started the next in the series but abandoned it. To freaky and creepy for me.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 13 17:31:51 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 21 17:34:42 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jul 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "27982115", "review_id": "f357dffba5eda37c9404fa1dabbed27c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Very good right up to the end. Kind of reminded me of the Twin Peaks TV show. Good balanced characters. I really liked it!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 28 13:45:43 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 28 13:47:16 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "18500665", "review_id": "ab2076c473ee180f16ebee00a41ae4ae", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ehhh. Not happy but not entirely unhappy. More later \n Had a few days to reflect. I LOVE the mother character. That is superb writing and just a fantastic character. I think she was my favorite of the entire book. Pooky Bear was a close second. I agree that this could have been 4 books. I wanted more after the HEA. I wanted more on the watchers...their children...everything. Beilbeil was also Ver good and tragic. Overall happy that I found the series.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 04 17:11:05 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 07 17:47:56 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sun Jun 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "17849112", "review_id": "5ab8f4d0bf3c469471b92353122510d0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "No middle book syndrome which is good. The parts I loved the most where the sword stories. What a great creative way to tell back story. I'm in love with Pooky Bear! I liked the movement of the story forward and some insight into the crazy mother! She is the most interesting sub character I have ever read. Love it! And the twins! Very good series. On to the final book.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 04 17:10:17 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 05 14:48:46 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sat Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "13226194", "review_id": "3ebc97b3556087b88ecc919a338a6c83", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 stars. I watched the Angels as bad guys TV series Dominion and didn't realized how much I missed it until I found this book. I am a fan of angel mythology and this book had just enough of that without being annoying. Penryn is a fantastic lead and there is nothing superficial or nauseating about her. She was very refreshing and tough as nails. Raffe was also great. You could just feel the tension in their relationship oozing off the pages. He is wanting to be the badass so bad but just can't deny his feeling for Pen. \n The mother and sister were also very good characters. The mothers just being at the right place at the wrong time was so interesting to read. It's like....yeah of course she is there! Lol \n Would have gotten 5 stars but I want to know WHY the Angels decided to freak out on us. I also wanted more info on the aerie and more insight into Raffe. Hoping that will come in the following books. \n Highly recommend. Very good book!!!", "date_added": "Sat Jun 04 16:57:06 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 04 17:04:13 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "29222485", "review_id": "23e8a61f96567fc0b2df5ba2f62e62e7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The book was ok. I was expecting better bc of the great reviews and the previous series. The plot was good, the action moved, the story was ok. What annoyed me the entire book was Nukas attitude about her adopted family and her birth mother. It was a constant thorn in my side the entire time. I don't know if I will continue with this series.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 20 16:28:55 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri May 06 16:04:21 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "24358098", "review_id": "016774bf892d66414c39dd15bc5393b7", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Best of the 3. I'm a little annoyed that I had to read 3 books to get the answers!", "date_added": "Mon Mar 28 15:57:49 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 27 16:51:39 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "22728764", "review_id": "77a6e4c28fb25d022cd5fc3ed6d16200", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Slow...started skimming", "date_added": "Mon Mar 28 15:56:05 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 27 16:49:56 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "23790992", "review_id": "4951de3349f50d9778276ec8376973df", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I still don't understand why they had to turn back into vampires", "date_added": "Thu Mar 24 07:26:10 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 24 07:26:45 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "24089731", "review_id": "fe512797e8814362421863793ef9236e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Grrr......so now I have to read Kiev's story to figure out WTH happened in THIS BOOK?? Ok that's just not right. Think I need another break from the Shade.", "date_added": "Thu Mar 24 06:50:02 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 28 15:53:50 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Thu Mar 24 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "21466236", "review_id": "d0cb99a55e0179b3e119d5e851295323", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ok talk about trying to throw everything and the kitchen sink into this book. I liked and would recommend this first \"chapter\" of the books but holy moly there was a lot going on in this book. I think the whole realms thing could have been spaced out into several book leading up to this one. And I wanted to know more about the Hawks and their realm. It was just a cacophony of trying to tie up the plots of 6 books plus all the stuff started in this one. This book could have been better. The series as a whole was good entertainment", "date_added": "Tue Mar 22 18:07:16 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 22 18:11:24 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "18967087", "review_id": "9dfce58f4c19c0f1023a92d9f5873dc0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Can they not catch a break?? Gee wiz!", "date_added": "Tue Mar 22 18:06:16 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 22 18:06:45 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "18191814", "review_id": "675e3567158fb03d2b51a393a4a059c9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a good one. Lots of backstory of some of the characters and good plot and movement of the story forward. I gotta get out of the shade for a while. Going to read a few of my other to read books and go back for the last 2 in Derrik and Sophia's story later", "date_added": "Sun Mar 06 18:10:12 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 06 18:13:15 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "17925397", "review_id": "d46ec208b220e988bab865b5da25d994", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Ok....they are starting to drag and I'm starting to get antsy. New characters, new settings, all fine...but just get on with it already", "date_added": "Wed Mar 02 16:06:24 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 05 09:36:17 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Mar 05 09:36:17 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "17733861", "review_id": "b8044ec413834f28540a581127f06018", "rating": 4, "review_text": "These are more like novellas than novels. Short easy reads. Certainly not Hamlet but I am enjoying the series. A few surprises I didn't see coming and a few I did. I am continuing. Onto the next one!", "date_added": "Wed Mar 02 16:04:14 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 04 12:53:07 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Wed Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "17255435", "review_id": "13a2b8aca0d9dce735758331cd56d79a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "No wonder there are so many books....they are so short!! I'm digging it....nice mindless read. Haven't read a vampire book in a while. Characters are a little superficial at the moment but I'm going to continue reading.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 02 16:01:54 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 02 16:03:55 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "24882036", "review_id": "d6e83dbcc384c3e519c1af4a17835b6f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I found this the longest and most annoying of the books. Again the good don't get enough praise and thanks and the bad don't get any justice. That REALLY annoys me in a book. And the way Juliana's story wrapped up was just plain MEAN to her and the reader!!!! I mean really!!! Could not ONE PERSON have thanked her?? JUST ONE!!! That was infuriating!!!!! And Ruth better show up in the final book!! She has got to have it out with the zealot priest!", "date_added": "Fri Feb 19 11:09:12 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 19 11:13:48 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "24867021", "review_id": "823bdc872eaf065734b89ebcf357b507", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Thank goodness it's over. If I had it to do over again I can't decide if I would read this series again. I didn't like the set up of the books.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 13 16:45:41 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 09 18:33:28 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "23622993", "review_id": "ac295454205f9a56aa9ea5a0918d4a8c", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Ughh....this book was terrible. I suffered through bc of middle book syndrome but it looks like I'm not going to like the third either.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 13 16:45:17 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 01 15:24:14 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "18518923", "review_id": "8d65d93149c6e28d298709dc3e411b98", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I give 4.5 stars for the entire series. Holy Moly how much torment can the author put these two characters through!!! It was pure torture at one point and I was very put off by it, and then it turned around. Lots of twists and turns, NO predictability that I am pretty good at after reading so much YADF. I enjoyed the series and am happy to have found this new author. I would recommend to fans of YAD.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 13 16:44:53 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 09 18:32:55 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "17667916", "review_id": "17e88b910c1eb4ad8b4d6ac310245ea0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.75 stars. Middle book syndrome. I really do love the characters and this book brought some great new ones. Slow in parts but very good twists and a very surprising ending. Lots of foreshadowing of the 3rd books location. I liked the different setting of this one and the new what world to expect in the next. A good read", "date_added": "Wed Jan 13 16:44:30 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 05 09:37:30 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Mar 05 09:37:30 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jan 18 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "21805566", "review_id": "61365a7cb7651de178ddb07f06ac7d47", "rating": 4, "review_text": "4.5 Very good. I'm in love with this new author I have found. Very interesting worlds she has created. The attraction between the two main characters was a bit much for my taste. And HELLO thought this was young adult till the 50 shades sex scene came out!!", "date_added": "Wed Jan 13 16:43:59 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 29 18:02:27 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "13482750", "review_id": "e2d6757e3e7293a2912473204dbb3e2f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. Pretty predictable but a good, easy, entertaining read. The descriptions of Hell were very disturbing and seeing them through Lela's eyes was a very interesting concept. The end was all over the place. That's the reason for the 4 stars. I was confused (but o think that was the point) but it wasn't clearly thought out and could have been better. On to the next one!!", "date_added": "Wed Jan 13 16:43:42 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 09 18:33:07 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "16150830", "review_id": "053d890e09cba7dfd29aaa2c3e9c716f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Not as good as the first but still very good. Lots of new characters introduced. Very good character description and character interactions. I think Vida has got to me my absolute favorite character in this book. I literally lol'd several times.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 29 15:51:43 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 29 15:54:04 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "958e7dec67566c7c83ffb5aa818cb979", "book_id": "6945530", "review_id": "0d6ebd0b6da41485c23e6d4af8d6865b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A long way to go to get to it. Lots of extra filler that could have been avoided.", "date_added": "Sat Jul 18 14:55:21 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 18 14:56:10 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "758971b548c0d29187e2e61022a40797", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "6f736df8cd37fa26c10adbe9c6bb4555", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Really enjoyed this one!", "date_added": "Sun May 06 12:01:27 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun May 06 12:01:52 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "758971b548c0d29187e2e61022a40797", "book_id": "6101718", "review_id": "c1900ed0ca57aa1408c20e16c29b017c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is one odd book... it takes some really strange turns towards the middle. The ending left much to be desired.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 01 20:35:56 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 01 20:36:46 -0800 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "758971b548c0d29187e2e61022a40797", "book_id": "4835", "review_id": "6479aaa0de00e4f8c44fe3bf9301af88", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Fun in places, I was hoping for more meaning I suppose. This book was kind of shallow.", "date_added": "Fri Sep 19 19:59:07 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 19 19:59:58 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5f0fd85c99bf4b6012fd7f67da1bebfd", "book_id": "14429639", "review_id": "dfbd7b436b9f9ce49b5ccc6b43062729", "rating": 4, "review_text": "At first glance , this novel seems similar to \" Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief\"' Yes there are Gods, half-bloods, and the general end game of the evil doers is the same. However this book is exciting ! The actions sequences are top notch from the very first page of the book. I also enjoyed the male /male romance . You really get a good sense of love lost and love found in new beginnings. One of my favorite parts throughout the whole novel was the different kinds of creation myths that link the different gods to their modern day paranormal counterparts. One of the coolest I thought was Fenrir and his descendants . I found myself excited to see how different ancients would match up in our world today. \n I would recommend this book to fans of paranormal and myth, you can't go wrong for 99 cents . I would buy the next book as well and look forward to more from this author.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 17 20:23:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun May 19 12:57:16 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun May 19 12:57:16 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "5f0fd85c99bf4b6012fd7f67da1bebfd", "book_id": "7186426", "review_id": "ecb364e024ed16ee35a023b61a22873a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I'm going to be honest. I really wanted to like this . Seems like it had all the right ingredients. Magic, check. Hot bishis, check . Romance, check. Somehow with all of this it seemed like nothing really ever happened. It took me a really long time to read. Usually I devour books. I stay up all night. Not for this. I only read it on my break at work.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 25 21:38:17 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 12 21:09:02 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Apr 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "03d495afdd762074ec57cd356c974bdd", "book_id": "13496", "review_id": "34465d407dd676dc664052eb7951d4b1", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Grim and dull. I could not finish it.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 31 19:16:44 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 20 20:13:35 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Feb 20 20:13:35 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jan 31 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f2c1c02e40968b78302601bab12b5124", "book_id": "21464378", "review_id": "27a2acd91ff56c8b40b5c2d7ef231e02", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I should give your publisher my credit card details, so I can automatically purchase anything you write. Loved this so much and can't wait to read more of the new characters, in their own storyline.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 24 19:09:09 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 24 19:10:48 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f2c1c02e40968b78302601bab12b5124", "book_id": "12027429", "review_id": "e971d38236c0aca02acd8690c0664410", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved this book so much and I can't wait for the 3rd and final book to come out, though I am a little sad it will be then end of this story line.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 04 17:17:42 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 25 20:29:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sun Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f2c1c02e40968b78302601bab12b5124", "book_id": "11022222", "review_id": "20c69c6115fb5dfa26916d4a6d4b37f3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I started reading before lunch and didn't stop till I finished the last word. I absolutely loved it, the tension between Gwen and logan is great. This serious has gotten me interested in greek mythology big time!! Can't wait for the next installment and to see Loki get his butt kicked", "date_added": "Sat Jun 16 20:18:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 17 00:56:55 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jun 17 00:56:55 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Jun 16 20:18:52 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f2c1c02e40968b78302601bab12b5124", "book_id": "12680907", "review_id": "2c22109c7a52e68bfd4cfe8465383627", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I found this book very entertaining and the further I read the more I got involved and cared for bitterblue. It had the right mix of romance, violence and adult themes. Though that being said I wish more was written about characters using their graceling skills to make it more \"magical\". I hope their is another book in this series and maybe it could be from sapphires point of view :)", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 20:20:37 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 16 20:17:43 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f2c1c02e40968b78302601bab12b5124", "book_id": "11694653", "review_id": "5ccf6b4a417be7669f24050190840a1b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The whole series kept me on the edge of my seat and i loved it", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 20:09:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 08 20:09:41 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "277576c2db84a3669dd0eb5059f6c1ef", "book_id": "1295450", "review_id": "cd2348d47ad5debb337a061bcbf401da", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Really good romantic read - enjoyed !", "date_added": "Fri Aug 05 18:50:17 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 10 04:09:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Aug 10 04:09:08 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Aug 05 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b0579d39685bf9ea52d519ba28b6a1d2", "book_id": "10215349", "review_id": "ef47766fcc40f95306dcfe598019c537", "rating": 4, "review_text": "If I could add another half star to make this 4 1/2 stars, I would! And even then... I wonder if I'm cheating it by not just giving it the 5 star rating. But I am pretty picky about those so let's just go with a 4 1/2! BUT WOW YOU GUYS! I really liked this book. Julie Kagawa, this is the first book I've read by you and I'm a big fan! When I was towards the end of this book, I went and picked up The Eternity Cure because I knew that I didn't want to stop there. I genuinely enjoyed the characters, the development, the world, the plot twists, and everything in between. I'd have to guess that this book is going in my pile of favorites for this year! If you'd like a more detailed review, go check out my youtube channel: youtube.com/abookaffair (I should have the review up in the next couple days!) But seriously guys, great read! If you've been thinking that you're sick of vampire stories and they all are the same, THINK AGAIN! :D", "date_added": "Wed Jul 10 11:55:12 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 05 16:04:59 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jul 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b0579d39685bf9ea52d519ba28b6a1d2", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "30ccbceabea925039e6a31ec398dadf2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book!! THIS BOOOOKKKK!!!! IT'S BEAUTIFUL! In fact, it has just become one of my new favorites. IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THIS BOOK THEN GO GET IT AND CANCEL ALL YOUR PLANS FOR THE DAY! \n If you want a synopsis, you can easily find one! I guess the most important thing you need to know is that it's easily a 5/5 star book & you're truly missing out if you don't have this one on your shelf!", "date_added": "Wed Apr 03 22:56:11 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 29 01:21:01 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 16, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b0579d39685bf9ea52d519ba28b6a1d2", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "cb963f69a15b712e2725f1a2c5a0469b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I recently did a video review for this right after I finished the book - BAD IDEA! I was soo upset about the ending of this book that I ended up just bashing the entire thing. In truth, I loved the entire thing... Up to about the last 50 pages (where I was extremely disappointed). \n This book does a great job creating a world that we all want to be a part of. Cassandra Clare sure does have one hell of an imagination and it really does show in her writing. Speaking of the writing, it's good writing. Not amazing writing that just leaves me in awe by its poetic nature, but still very good and very appropriate for this particular book. \n The character's are entertaining as hell! Definitely drive the book a ton. Although I didn't like some characteristics of each character, they all worked really well together and they all were so different that it added quite a bit of depth to the novel. \n I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who wants a fun, entertaining read! I really did enjoy this book overall and give it 4/5 stars (when comparing it to other YA fiction that I've read). It IS a good read and I will absolutely continue the series. \n NOW... What I was disappointed in and the reason I was so angry! (This part will have spoilers so if you don't want none of dat shtuffff... bye!:)) \n The ending did not do the rest of the book justice. It was honestly pretty unbelievable and it made me so resentful towards Ms. Clare by the time I closed the book. It was not nearly as imaginative as the rest of the book, and it seemed like she just wanted to add in a spice of unrealistic drama so that in the next book or two, Clary could hook up with Simon (instead of Jace) and then later when we all find out what we ALREADY KNOW (that Jace & Clary are NOT related), Clary can break Simon's heart (again) and go back to Jace's golden locks and rock hard exterior. The ending was just a huge thumbs down for me personally because I went into it expecting a big fight, and when the plot twist happens... It's actually a pretty shitty plot twist. Not sure if it was just me, but it was incredibly obvious that Clary & Jace are not siblings. The entire last scene with Valentine felt drawn out and made me really frustrated when reading it. And in the last chapter with the motorcycle and whatnot... Clary and Jace are still flirting! Even though they \"think\" they're brother and sister. I'm just not happy with the ending at all. Big let down compared to the rest of the book! But overall? Good read! And I really hope the rest of the books make me forget about this one's ending!", "date_added": "Thu Jul 12 19:53:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 08 10:12:51 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b0579d39685bf9ea52d519ba28b6a1d2", "book_id": "6261522", "review_id": "9a700970a883c3ba7f0c71b394dd4260", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I gave this book 4 stars because I liked it. I really did like it. However, I did not love it. \n I am going to continue to finish the trilogy because it is captivating enough that I'm curious, but I might do it at a slower pace and read some other books inbetween to be honest. \n So basically this book is about a girl named Violet who can sense the bodies of those that have died untimely (aka murdered) and also, their killers. There is an imprint or \"echo\" as she calls it that is attached to the victims, as well as an identical imprint attached to the killers. She found the body of a dead girl when she was 8 by sensing the echoes and that's when it all began. \n This book in particular starts out her junior year of high school. She hasn't found a human dead body since she was 8. Her main problem at the beginning of the book is her frustration with her bestfriend, Jay, who she has developed feelings for. But under certain events and circumstances, other problems become more important (or at least in my opinon, they should be...). There are multiple murders of teenage girls around her area and eventually, she becomes very close to the killer. \n It's pretty suspensful for those reasons alone and it's a fun read. \n Likes: the general plot. Kimberly Derting had a good imagination with this one! The overall idea is interesting and compelling. \n Dislikes: Her choice in the development of her characters. Violet is bland. Although there are many believable aspects of her that I enjoy, it seems that a huge chunk of the book she's complaining about her feelings for Jay when THERE ARE MURDERS IN HER FREAKING NEIGHBORHOOD. Some of the reactions throughout the town that Derting picked weren't believable, either. A girl would disappear and everyone would freak out for one day and then the next it seemed everyone went back to normal. Okay...So I live in a fairly small town and there's no way in hell that anyone would go back to normal after merely 24 hours. The difficult part about these characters is that they all seemed to be in their own little worlds (and I don't like ignorant characters). \n Overall, I gave the book a 4 because I did enjoy the read. It was pretty quick and it did have a few good hooks. I do recommend reading it because it's only a trilogy so it's not super extensive and it really does leave you hanging.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 12 15:14:32 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 17 15:32:15 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "16fae98d9135e937ef38654bc56436d4", "book_id": "28220826", "review_id": "bdbe16f5c318b754d84b0d481df37005", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is a really beautiful read and I loved the themes in it, but the magical realism just wasn't for me.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 20 06:14:10 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 27 20:30:26 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jun 25 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "16fae98d9135e937ef38654bc56436d4", "book_id": "9460487", "review_id": "c4edb30be0f1ae4015d1e254be3b7e1c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "At polk", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 20:42:00 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 27 11:31:24 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Sep 27 11:31:24 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Sep 20 09:08:13 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "16fae98d9135e937ef38654bc56436d4", "book_id": "10407279", "review_id": "fc4de60d3cded72fed6d75440a56a80b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Overall this was a typical addition to the Sookie Stackhouse collection. I was a little bored with it, the whole book is wrapped around a murder mystery and I just wasn't that invested in it. These books are getting to have too many characters and too much going on. The ending however wrapped everything up nicely, too bad it took so long to get there.", "date_added": "Fri Jun 08 20:21:28 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 24 15:16:53 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Jun 24 15:16:53 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "df889690c61e3d0ced39614a3b4a07c1", "book_id": "22108738", "review_id": "3d53230277ccf2ea103dd37833ff1eb1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Good young-adult story. The world building is both familiar and mysterious. You get to know and like the characters. The ending elevates a decent book to a higher level.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 23 09:52:07 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 16 09:34:28 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Sep 16 09:34:28 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Aug 24 15:36:41 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "df889690c61e3d0ced39614a3b4a07c1", "book_id": "10039968", "review_id": "9b2209ed1494c90742231a7b3627f062", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I read this book (and many, many Dragonlance books) as a teenager, and this was fun to revisit. It is more focused on action and plot than character development, and it's impossible not to see every other fantasy series and character type represented in it. But this was my first fantasy series, and I was surprised by how much of it I remembered. \n This is aimed at an adolescent reading level, so it flowed like water. Not a single chapter was a slog, unlike other books I have read recently. It was good, quick fun, and I'm looking forward to reading the next one.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 03 13:12:37 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 06 16:33:17 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Oct 06 16:33:17 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "df889690c61e3d0ced39614a3b4a07c1", "book_id": "18245960", "review_id": "198f663bbbb2926f8ad723796eef23ed", "rating": 0, "review_text": "If you like Contact, you'll love this \n This book unfolds like a mystery, across generations and back and forth through time, covers science and psychology and culture. Read it!", "date_added": "Tue May 24 13:54:43 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue May 24 13:54:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "df889690c61e3d0ced39614a3b4a07c1", "book_id": "11113320", "review_id": "ad1c3566ac2121d1b5fc7d550419091e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I loved this book as a kid and just finished reading it aloud to my kids. The book is a wonderland mixed with a tongue twister. If you like Alice in Wonderland, you'll love this.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 11 11:12:57 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun May 29 10:30:00 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat May 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "df889690c61e3d0ced39614a3b4a07c1", "book_id": "20518872", "review_id": "6baec9cccd3d143b633cbcd4cc9e2925", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book unfolds like a mystery, travels across generations and back and forth through time, and covers science, psychology, technology, and culture. It's also the first book I've read by a Chinese author and the different cultural background is an exotic change from traditional American and English authors I've traditionally read.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 06 22:07:32 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue May 24 13:54:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue May 24 13:54:44 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Apr 06 22:07:33 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "df889690c61e3d0ced39614a3b4a07c1", "book_id": "2248573", "review_id": "f9a1f0ab0900d5a91271298499b5212e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Lots of great world building and smaller-stakes scenarios, as opposed to the grander journeys and campaigns of the first two books. The stakes felt a little lower, and the action is front-loaded. But it's a good setup for Inheritance, which I look forward to reading soon!", "date_added": "Thu Nov 19 14:15:32 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 27 14:55:44 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Fri Nov 27 14:55:44 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Nov 19 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "df889690c61e3d0ced39614a3b4a07c1", "book_id": "45978", "review_id": "44a7508bb5fe025fdd9863a618ea1c03", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n As with Eragon, this is a by the numbers Hero's Journey (specifically Star Wars) that is so faithful and predictable that it feels like a different type of story. This is Empire Strikes Back, but with dragons and sailing ships. But the author takes that skeleton and creates an interesting, consistent, and enjoyable world on top of it. \n One thing I enjoyed about this book, that's not usually in other fantasy books, is the inclusion of modern topics. The Varden's financial problems and solution provide some economic realism not usually in this sort of book. Also, King Orrin as gentleman chemist makes perfect sense, given how Alagaesia is similar to the early Industrialization era, but with magic in place of technology. \n I enjoy reading these books and what they lack in story structure originality, they make up for in descriptive writing and world building.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 08 14:03:04 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 19 14:14:35 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Nov 19 14:14:35 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "df889690c61e3d0ced39614a3b4a07c1", "book_id": "113436", "review_id": "7db2036153043a3a73814f932534caf4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book reminds me of so many others - Lord of the Rings (of course), but also the Magician series by Terry Brooks, Star Wars, and more. But rather than feeling derivative, it is a fresh, new execution on familiar stories and elements. \n It's a classic Hero's Journey, in the best way. I look forward to reading the rest of the series!", "date_added": "Fri Oct 09 13:12:15 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 16 20:03:50 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Oct 16 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "df889690c61e3d0ced39614a3b4a07c1", "book_id": "25175643", "review_id": "11c828520b6684d721d2f6d4c21791a5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "So weird, but fascinating. \n I've read Austin Grossman's other books - Soon I Will Be Invincible is probably my favorite fiction ever, and I also enjoyed You. I didn't enjoy this as much as either of those, but I don't get the feeling this book was written to be enjoyable. Nixon is a tragic figure in every way - in his life, his marriage, his friendships, his political career, and his supernatural spy career. It's kind of a bummer to read, but it creates an atmosphere that fits the story. \n But oh, the atmosphere! So often, he describes something in a genuine, real way that makes you feel like you're part of an eerie, occult event, like live news reporting as opposed to historical hindsight. There are bits and flashes of some of the creepiest stuff I've read. Grossman has pattern I noticed several times - he says something that is supposed to create a feeling, then he explains the feeling you're supposed to feel. It seems like that would take you out of the moment, but I found the opposite - the two sides reinforced each other and made the feeling stronger. \n Grossman can come up with a list of things, each of which sounds like a fascinating topic for a chapter or it's own entire book, and then he never explains them or mentions his again. He seems like a fountain of fantastical ideas and imagery, and you as a reader are stuck with colander to catch them. \n Ultimately, the slow, tense build of this story never picks up, and it whimpered to the end. I feel like I watched the first 3/4 of a suspenseful thriller, with no payoff or resolution.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 02 14:25:24 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 06 11:25:07 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Aug 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "df889690c61e3d0ced39614a3b4a07c1", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "70fbd1a76f1dc65f249585e7a46e9291", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Captivating page turner, but the structure of the conflicts becomes a little repetitive. Great way to learn some basic space science through Mark's experiences.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 17 07:26:51 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 17 07:28:55 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60e7eb202461d5cb1764a275860739fa", "book_id": "16248223", "review_id": "199f91552926c432849672715add0d7d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved this book! After a long long time, read a book that I enjoyed so much. Romance, fantasy, the supernatural, humor....this book has it all. I didn't look for any deeper meaning and didn't have to dissect it to understand it. Plus the descriptions of the country, the customs, food and living style were so well written that it brought everything to life.", "date_added": "Tue May 19 05:44:26 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 24 09:07:09 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60e7eb202461d5cb1764a275860739fa", "book_id": "579563", "review_id": "9f9a12595757ae0d1716246e8511a9d5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm reading this book for the second and I still love it as much as I loved it the first time. I don't know why it didn't become as famous as the Harry Potter series but I can bet it will be made into a movie soon. And if it does I would be there to watch it first day first show. It is a warm and moving story about a young boy who goes in search of his parents who have been kidnapped. Such a beautiful description of the journey of this brave young lad who is helped by and helps a pride of lions get from London to Africa! I love the book!", "date_added": "Tue Nov 11 19:17:04 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 11 19:27:08 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60e7eb202461d5cb1764a275860739fa", "book_id": "17612697", "review_id": "bdc5397038b0370b0988499211718647", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Didn't realize it was the fourth book in the series and got confused by the blurb which made it sound like something surrealistic. It actually turned out to be a zombiefest. Would be fun for zombie-lovers, I ended up skipping a lot of the action scenes as they were rather repetitious - cracking skulls, exploding brains, scrunching bones....", "date_added": "Fri Jun 13 19:16:34 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 13 19:21:41 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "60e7eb202461d5cb1764a275860739fa", "book_id": "4407", "review_id": "c51c235c94c6f7e258c6a5fdbb47a26c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "One of the best written books I've read in a long long time. Gaiman makes the impossible and absurd sound not only possible but logical and natural.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 25 09:28:44 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 02 10:36:17 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "15e34740c835a0f8e822d18baff93a7d", "book_id": "6479879", "review_id": "d7b635c7e6885376ae5f3e9d285c37a9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "liked. v. descriptive", "date_added": "Thu Mar 09 17:47:36 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 22 10:06:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jun 21 10:37:17 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Mar 09 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "15e34740c835a0f8e822d18baff93a7d", "book_id": "19103097", "review_id": "5ecbba632d1e1f57a6a096049a818d82", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Great book! \n Very interesting plot. Love the characters. Like Narnia and Harry Potter for adults. Great imagined world. Perfect ending adventure to the trilogy.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 28 16:55:47 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 28 16:55:48 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jun 28 16:55:48 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "21787", "review_id": "e38b42fbd82d07f7982f38a67d2cc5fb", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I read the 30th anniversary edition. This is a beautiful (lovely but simple cover) and impressive and heavy book--partly because of the two forewords by William Goldman who edited and abridged it. One foreword is for the 25th anniversary edition; the second is for the 30th anniversary edition (the latest and current one). There's also an afterword and the first chapter of Buttercup's Baby. (You can find the second chapter online and more information about why it hasn't been finished yet.) \n You will learn in the forewords--and later--about the whole process and why it took so long... I enjoyed the story; I saw the movie first, and it's pretty close to the book, which I always appreciate. However, I really appreciated his editing job and explanations. You learn why it was necessary to cut out so many passages--he tells you what they were about and how long they were! It was interesting to learn that his father had abridged it when he read it to him. And you'll learn about his family... \n I loved recognizing the dialogue and the story; many readers and viewers will remember these two famous quotes: Inigo's (My name is Inigo Montoya...) and Vizzini's about a classic blunder (\"Never get involved in a land war in Asia, ...,\") There are a number of illustrations, and the endpapers are a map, which is interesting and fun to follow.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 15 20:37:08 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 18 19:12:51 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Oct 18 18:51:47 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Oct 15 20:37:09 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "34348312", "review_id": "6a827230127a9237fc0c03913bc75403", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I enjoyed seeing Pip and Flinx back in action. Of course, in the last book, he was already bored and ready for an excuse to venture forth from his cocoon and help the universe again--or at least a planet. The other characters are interesting also, including Preedir, the kidnapped and feisty daughter of a clan head; his guide who's uneasy about helping his employer; the creatures of the planet, which includes the their mounts, the brunds; Vashon, the heartless villain who kidnapped the daughter; and their mysterious pursuer... Clarity didn't have much of a role, besides not wanting him to leave her. I enjoyed also meeting a Thranx again. The reunion between Flinx and Teacher was fun. \n There is danger and suspense, not only because of the villain, but because of all those carnivores along the way. However, one of the challenges of Flinx's quest is the need to singspeak, which is a requirement for communicating with the natives in this culture. (Btw, I admire Foster's ability to make this realistic and fun. I am so impressed! It makes these aliens truly unique.) But there are further complications because Flinx can't always feel what the natives are feeling; his talent is restricted here, as is Pip's in some cases. \n This was an enjoyable read--more so than I expected because it wasn't just an adventure. The complications of the culture and his experiences along the way were unexpected and interesting--and Preedir was a lively character. A most welcome return.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 17 05:33:15 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 20 16:10:19 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Wed Sep 20 16:10:19 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Sep 17 05:33:15 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "32714413", "review_id": "921eaba0fc39770862e89e982ffbde6b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "These nine stories have assorted characters narrating. I liked the Atticus and Oberon (his Irish wolfhound) stories the most. And one character's story contains adult content. (Cuddle Dungeon) The stories vary in location and time periods, with a variety of supernatural beings, including werewolves and other shape changers, vampires, ghouls, demons, witches, gods and more with lots of magic, adventure, danger, and mayhem (blood and guts, etc.). \n Atticus O'Sullivan is a Druid from Ireland; he's been around for 2,000 years so he's had time to visit other places and times; there are apprentice Druids also, and their training is interesting, especially when they learn to communicate with animals. Atticus tells some of the stories from his past to his apprentice, Granuaile. I liked their relationship and repartee. Oberon's point of view is fun, but only Atticus can hear his remarks. There is interesting background info too, which I always enjoy. As I said, I liked the Atticus stories the best; there are references to him in other stories. So there's lots of choices, and I think the reader will enjoy most of them. I haven't read any of the novels, but I see the series is coming to an end with Scourged (2018).", "date_added": "Sat May 20 15:53:51 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue May 23 21:13:16 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat May 20 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "25489134", "review_id": "35915499bed481be7b415e50c6817036", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Russian weather and medieval culture is interwoven with the story, an old fairy tale. Vasilisa and her family become familiar, though you'll have to remember all the diminutives. Theirs is a happy family with a strong and caring father, Pyotr, and a loving mother, Marina. But then Marina dies when Vasilisa is born, and later Pyotr goes--with two of his sons--to the court at Moscow, where he finds a wife, who is actually forced on him; his daughter Olga is given a husband by the prince's decree also. \n Life is not so happy at home now. Pyotr's wife was unwilling and is miserable. The spirits of hearth, stable, and woods are soon unhappy too as the villagers turn away from the old beliefs, and the new priest from Moscow sets out to herd his new flock in the way he believes is right. Vasilisa, almost a feral child and with gifts not understood by those around her or herself, survives and learns despite her stepmother--often taking refuge in the woods or stable. As the protections of the spirits wither away as they do, life becomes harsher and colder, crops fail, and death stalks the people and their animals. Can Vasilisa save her people? Well, she'll certainly try, despite her enemies... \n Note; There's a Russian glossary in the back of the book which is interesting and helpful although I think most readers will often get the meaning from the context. The author's note is also interesting re: the background and translations.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 07 14:10:01 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 10 06:37:16 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Sep 10 06:37:16 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Sep 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "22608767", "review_id": "dbd691c261678afd304cc7d07c6558fc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a fun children's book--full of magic and mysteries. Little Darling Dimple (not her given name) rises from the under-cellar where she's been scrubbing pots and pans and becomes the Under-Presser. Wow, that's a lot of sheets! But she does meet Princess Mariposa, whom she's dreamed of meeting--and also of becoming her friend instead of a servant girl with only an artichoke crate to call her own. However, instead, she's bullied by the other servants, especially Francesca, and is miserable--until she finds the magic closet, the magic dresses, and Iago, who lives under her bed. There's also a magic canary and a plot against the princess, and Darling struggles through assorted challenges and mistakes, but perseveres. And it's rather fun having a dress choose you--but you must take care of it....", "date_added": "Sat Aug 06 20:31:49 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 08 20:02:48 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sat Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "18890360", "review_id": "677b6956cae61d890a14cc7f9331b73d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is an especially interesting book for Doc Savage fans. He's telling his team about his early days--about his father, grandfather, finding Skull Island, his adventures on the island, and how he met King Kong. This flashback is because King Kong was just killed--and the ending was interesting because I wondered how they'd take care of the cleanup...", "date_added": "Sun Jul 10 16:28:43 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 26 09:55:12 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "25213788", "review_id": "32648c17fcad3110394df3fdc4bf64aa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Intriguing premise and characters, including Lilith, the cat. Esmeralda--Ralda--has come to Atonement because she bought a house--cheap--there. She meets and makes friends with some women; she also meets two mysterious men that make her uneasy--or something. Strange things happen, some of them involving a bed and a mirror; then there's a murder under puzzling circumstances. And what is happening in the cemetery--and on her roof. Oh, and those flowers sure are lush... The descriptions are well done, and I enjoyed the story, but the ending was disappointing. Possibly there's going to be a sequel?", "date_added": "Fri Jul 08 08:13:11 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 07 06:20:04 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Nov 07 06:20:04 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Sun Nov 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "a974954bb3e8d1ce0e5bf4d321b06691", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The book is very good; I like the scientific background, the problem solving, the suspense, the characters, the dialogue, and the remarks about the music and TV shows Mark entertained himself with. (He scavenged them from the other crewmembers belongings.) That was really fun! \n I saw the movie first and enjoyed it and decided to read the book because it was so good; I enjoy comparing books and their movies, which are often disappointing. However, I enjoyed both. The book is close to the movie, which I always appreciate.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 13 18:32:03 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 19 19:07:40 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "18244432", "review_id": "542c6fb448ed0bcb3f640c556588119f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Gini Koch is good at bringing us up to speed--not an easy task with all the accumulating characters, and it slows it down a bit at the beginning. 'Course we've lost characters too; I miss the Uncles! And I've lost track of all the Operations (previous books)... She did a good job of filling Cabinet posts, etc. and then moving on. But then, as usual, the story kicks into high gear and we're off. I love the characters, although I'd like to see more of the Poofs, but I'm happy to see more of Algar. There's fun and excitement and real danger and suspense and repartee. And frankly, I'm impressed by the songs and bands she inserts along the way, even though I'm pretty ignorant in that field. And I was angry along with Kitty Katt later... (No spoilers or I'd mention more of all the characters and scenes I loved.) \n Note: I was happy to see Over and Out used correctly. Begging the question--not so much. (I'm even losing track of what it really means!) And I think it's about time there was a companion--with a glossary--for the books. Not happy with foxcats and pigdogs for names.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 09 20:09:55 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 13 20:38:38 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "23492550", "review_id": "23a6d8e877a555bfe58a579768edaca0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love the Liaden universe, their culture, and all those characters in all those books so I was happy to read another collection and add it to my bookshelves. All the stories are new except for King of the Cats, but I enjoyed rereading it. There are early and later stories focusing on various characters, and I enjoyed the updates and the new backgrounds. My favorites include Code of Honor (seeing Miri and Beautiful is always a treat), Guaranteed Delivery (fun), and Intelligent Design (I loved it! Great background!! A definite favorite), and... Wait. I think I loved them all. Oh, I guess I'll have to reread them to be sure...", "date_added": "Tue Jan 12 09:03:31 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 20 20:10:03 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "23719231", "review_id": "84f84ba5eb022f11c5cccdfb0ade138c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I believe this is the first book I've read in the Young Wizards series, though I'm aware of Diane Duane, and I've read some of her other books--but not in this series, which I'm only now aware of. Games Wizards Play caught my attention because I like the idea of the mentors and their mentees and their puzzling backgrounds. The premise is intriguing, and I enjoyed the book. The characters are interesting and fun and sometimes annoying (Grow up, Penn!), and the author filled in the background well. (I'm sorry I never got to know Ponch, and like the characters in the book, I wondered what happened to Roshaun.) I like Spot and Bobo and the Planetaries (cool idea!) So many imaginative characters and interesting premises. Great family and friends relationships--and believable. (I always appreciate that.) This story kept me reading. I don't want to spoil the rescues, especially at the end, or the new characters. I really like this book and plan to reread it. Recommended.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 26 15:19:50 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 31 11:57:56 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "18244428", "review_id": "f18c30314b9326bb5e80b5ea56052ef4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed Alien in Chief, though I admit that it's getting harder to remember all the characters--and who is now good --or not, though the author is good at filling in the background. Even so, .... More mayhem--and suspense--and I always hate losing my favorite characters--and having villains escape again. Though what really bothered me was the unlikelihood of having an alien become president even though he was in the United States presidential line of succession (see below). But it's still a good read, and I enjoyed meeting old friends--and the poofs, though I'd have liked to see more of them and other characters, but the stage is getting crowded. \n Note: Current list: \n Vice President, Speaker of the House, President pro tempore of the Senate, Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Defense, Attorney General, Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of lLabor, ... (I was curious.)", "date_added": "Fri Dec 18 07:48:48 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 26 15:23:51 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Fri Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "25757538", "review_id": "0d73ff944780965fb0ed2b02bea9e015", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I wasn't a Timothy Zahn fan, though I recognized his name, but the book blurb intrigued me; the story descriptions sounded like ones I'd enjoy, even though I know that anthologies and author collections are a gamble 'cause sometimes only one or two stories are really good. However, I enjoyed all these stories; and although not every character is happy at the end because they don't--and can't--know what happened next, the endings are satisfying, and some are fun! The stories are all worth reading, but my favorites include Trollbridge, Chem Lab 301, and Pawn's Gambit. They're imaginative and well-written; I was impressed by the way some of them played out. And there are some interesting afterwords. Highly recommended.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 25 12:48:38 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 05 15:48:14 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sun Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "22886868", "review_id": "aec080b254b2f92df937546529b23992", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoy the Tiffany Aching stories, but this one (the last) is darker... I loved meeting the Feegles, the Kelda, the other witches, and even more characters again. Oh, there are new characters too: Mephistopheles; Geoffrey, who wants to be a witch; and some nasty elves. (Remember how mean they can be.) Oh, and a touch of Thunder and Lightning. (I have always loved them.) There is suspense, danger, and swarf! The ending is satisfying.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 01 07:55:15 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 08 11:08:51 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Thu Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "23943137", "review_id": "1f6f28ea66f35f5b00f6ff7a4cbcdc90", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Being a sorcerer isn't easy, especially when the magic seems to be draining from the kingdom, but Zacharias is black and an orphan and suffers from a strange illness; and after his mentor, the Sorcerer Royal, dies, he is surrounded by enemies who want his staff and are determined to get it. And then there are the women who want to be sorcerers. Well, their magic is tolerated as long as they use it for everyday household chores; there are even schools that teach women how not to use their powers; however, there are two powerful female sorcerers... This is a complicated plot, and eventually all will be revealed. \n The story is written in the style of early Regency romances, a la Georgette Heyer, and if you're familiar with her works, you'll understand the speech and the settings better. It's an interesting combination. Oh, there are fairies too--and familiars and a ghost. This book covers a lot of territory.", "date_added": "Wed Aug 12 21:41:06 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 24 10:42:44 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "34515", "review_id": "ae7f6cf10931e7a3004fcc7ca056fa68", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The wizards of the Unseen University are trying to save history on the Roundworld (our Earth), and that story is interwoven with a scientific background--in depth! Ridcully, Rincewind, the other wizards, the Librarian, Hex, and The Luggage are working hard against a determined invisible adversary. The premise is based on Darwin and his book(s): Which one will be written? Bringing in all the circumstances--in alternate universes--that might have prevented him from writing Origin of Species, introduces us to his background--based on actual incidents. I learned a lot! And the background branches out into scientific theories, other scientists, the steam engine--and so much more. It's a good thing there's an index! I confess that sometimes I got bogged down in all that exposition, but it is incredibly educational and could even be assigned as required reading in some courses. Recommended to anyone who'd like to learn more about science and history--and those who want to just mostly read the story, which I enjoyed as I worked my way through the digressions....", "date_added": "Mon Jun 29 20:22:36 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 04 13:09:49 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "16041572", "review_id": "9591e1dac89b2f2f38cd66322b78c068", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Kitty Katt and some of her family and friends hardly have time to catch their breath after returning from that fascinating alternate universe in the last book when they're zapped away into the Alpha Centauri system. Beta Eight is a strange planet; its territories are colorful and spread out in a spiral shape. (I really needed a map and color chart.) And then there are new aliens and critters--oh, and more clones--and I found it harder to keep track of them all in this book. I may have to read it again! And changing characters--are they good or bad now?--also complicate matters, but pay attention and you'll enjoy the adventure. And I so love Gini Koch's twists on cliches and her word play and Kitty Katt's enthusiasm for dealing with villains and naming her new discoveries... \n Note: I'd love to see Koch's notes and records! And I think that a Kitty Katt panel at a science fiction con would be fun.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 30 11:33:58 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Thu May 21 09:06:14 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "175935", "review_id": "7d1f425b0b51ba9715dc9d51cc33a7b0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The leader of the pack is defending his territory and his pack when he's attacked by a werewolf, though he has no idea what it was then. This is a fantastic twist. A human would have a better handle on this--if he's ever read any paranormal fiction, but an innocent wolf is clueless when he turns into a man under a full moon. Eventually, among other things, he learns the value of an opposable thumb, but a naked, ignorant man has a long way to go. He's tracked by hunters horrified by the kills scattered around the countryside. But he's rescued--sort of--and tossed into a zoo and confuses the pack there, meets an animal rights protestor, is tracked down by the werewolf--and a vampire. Oh, the fun just never stops. I love this book. And the writing and insights are well done. Highly recommended. \n Btw, Terry Pratchett did a werewolf twist in Witches Abroad.", "date_added": "Sat Mar 07 13:01:11 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 10 21:46:59 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Mar 10 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sat Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "47989", "review_id": "e4829734fed156cc2ed6ef4dd8267edc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is one of my favorite Night Watch--Commander Vimes, Carrot, et al--books. Vimes is thrown back into his past while chasing a really, really evil villain, and in another personna tries to upgrade the Night Watch and mentor his young self, try to stop a revolution--from on top of the barricades--and deal with his past. But what about his future?", "date_added": "Wed Feb 25 07:35:51 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 25 07:43:56 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "24747263", "review_id": "5a3c7aff4687e0faf3b895b0b861ce0b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a fascinating story of two girls facing challenges in their own times. Gwen is in high school, and her life got complicated when she decided to write her midterm paper on The Heroine's Journey because what she was studying in school was all about heroes. Guin is in the Middle Ages surrounded by \"heroes.\" The history seems well-researched; but, more importantly, the background is an integral part of the story. It makes the harsh conditions back then real to the reader. Guin is the protected daughter in her parents' castle, but she is subject to the rules of the times. She tried to escape her fate, but she learned she couldn't trust anyone, but she didn't give up, and the two young women encouraged and helped each other even on the battlefields of war--and high school. \n Life in school wasn't easy for Gwen. 'Course it didn't help that people, including her mother, began to think she was crazy because she spent part of her time in the past--not just on research. \n The meeting and melding of minds is believable. I liked Gwen and Guin and couldn't wait to see if they would win through to their goals. And would there be heroes on their journeys?", "date_added": "Wed Feb 25 06:53:13 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 25 07:10:38 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "463126", "review_id": "486eb2c456efd10d9506e160b2a6a4ac", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a good addition to the Godmother series, which I've enjoyed. This adventure includes the history of the Hopi and the Navajo nations and life in the Southwest... It's part fantasy with the real and sad background, but the ending is good, though I worried about how some of the characters were going to resolve their problems and deal with the evil running rampant. Lots to learn about life in this sequel.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 08 13:15:48 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 25 12:19:52 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Mon Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "21912247", "review_id": "548f02c26d83ef2e83ea04d923673d89", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wow! I surely admire Gini Kock for her ability to juggle all those characters in two separate worlds!! Two Kitty Kats with different husbands, families, and friends... I confess that sometimes I had to stop and try to remember who was dead where... I loved all the characters I remembered and missed some 'cause they weren't in one world. What a great premise, including the changes and little Jamie. I was so happy to see the poofs and the other critters and pets. And sorry for the tragic losses... The villains are as evil as ever. Interesting twist with the pets--or lack thereof, so I was happy about Gershom... (I don't think that's a spoiler.)", "date_added": "Thu Nov 27 09:43:20 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 05 17:24:29 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Mar 05 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "17836100", "review_id": "98a1be2b45bf7bd930ff5a7a9e678088", "rating": 5, "review_text": "While marketed for young readers, anyone can appreciate this book. Pratchett writes with wit and wisdom, though The Carpet People is not as funny as his Discworld books. It's more of a thriller, full of almost non-stop danger and tension... \n \"They called themselves the Munrungs. It meant The People, or The True Human Beings. \n \"It's what most people call themselves, to begin with. And then one day the tribe meets some other people, and gives them a name like The Other People, or, if it's not been a good day, The Enemy. If only they'd think up a name like Some More True Human Beings, it'd save a lot of trouble later on.\" \n I love the characters; my favorites include Snilbril, Bane, Pismire, Glurk, the wights, and Roland, the horse. Btw, Glurk grows as the story proceeds so don't mistake him for merely a brawny sidekick. \n Highly recommended. Btw, the mood reminds me of Nation.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 22 06:36:34 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 22 06:48:43 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "23246246", "review_id": "03606507423c912f713ae8fdfee0fa39", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love a good theme anthology, and this one is excellent. There is an exciting variety of stories--there are fourteen, btw--and there are so many good ones that I can't list all my favorites. Okaaay, maybe a few later. \n This is one of those antholgoies where all the stories are good--though, as I mentioned, I do have a few favorites (upcoming)--starting with \"The Dragon's Keeper\" (I especially liked the premise); and the dragons come in different shapes and sizes and colors, and they can pop up almost anywhere! Oh, yes, the sky is a favorite place--or maybe a space ship. And, yes, there are sacrificial maidens. \n Now for my favorites: \"Changeling\" (nice combination...), \"Dot's Lunch\" (didn't see that coming), \"Mr. Long's School for Girls,\" and \"Bessie Returns.\"", "date_added": "Thu Oct 09 19:24:48 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 10 15:53:05 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Thu Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "20643039", "review_id": "3fa56fbb71130854845dafd4d160dd06", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed this tale of magical relics and their guardians set in Ireland--and the Rucksack Universe. It's an intriguing premise, and I liked Aisling, the Awen of Ireland--and Jake, another guardian, and The Management; and the changing sign was fun. Oh, and maybe the angry mountain. What is its problem?! I'm still a little confused about that, but not as confused as Aisling was about it--and the two travelers. She was attracted to both, though she decided to drive one away... The story slowed down a bit as she vacillated. She could have used a few clues because the relics she was suppposed to be guarding kept disappearing. The ending is suspenseful and a bit of a cliffhanger, but not as annoying as some I've fallen over. I am curious as to what happens next. And I miss the angry mountain. I hope it turns up again.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 24 07:47:50 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 29 12:05:10 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Sep 26 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Sep 24 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "535349", "review_id": "5c8f8be5a80c11ef7fafd937f6b34d37", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Liz Williams has created a unique world: Hell, Heaven, Singapore Three, ..., but there are also a multitude of levels, and you never can tell who will pop up from where 'cause these worlds are populated with demons, celestial beings--with attitude, ghosts, dragons, and there are characters sort of hanging in limbo. I like the imaginative characters, especially Inspector Chen; his demon colleague, Zhu Irzh; Inari, Chen's wife and her companion/familiar, Badger; Jhai; the new characters, Miss Qi and Precious Dragon; and so many more! \n The chapters focus on a variety of characters, and sometimes it takes a few seconds to remember who Pin is and Mrs. Pa and .... \n I am impressed by the characters and settings and descriptions. And since I read this book out of sequence, I need to read the sequel, The Shadow Pavilion, again.", "date_added": "Fri Aug 29 06:16:02 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 30 21:39:44 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Aug 30 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "2708855", "review_id": "cdc4483996ce86afcd331420b86e6dd1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I enjoyed The Shadow Pavilion (fourth story in the series) even more than Snake Agent. Exciting and suspenseful with multiple story lines involving an assassin; the new emperor of heaven--and his mother; a Bollywood actress with a temper--and claws; the badger and Inspector Chen's demon partner, who've been kidnapped; Inari, Chen's wife; more demons; No Ro Shi, the demon hunter; and new characters to add spice to this boiling pot of danger, which covers a lot of territory!", "date_added": "Tue Aug 12 20:22:23 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 14 16:00:58 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Tue Aug 12 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "429890", "review_id": "cca7d068a7abf2fa08574ac66bd3fc7e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I enjoyed the characters,including the demon hunter, No Ro Shi, and the badger; the Chinese background; the premise; the complicated levels of heaven and hell and elsewhere...; and the suspense. I would like more background on how Inspector Chen and Inari met. \n Note: There are three sequels.", "date_added": "Sun Aug 10 16:19:19 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 12 20:18:05 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sun Aug 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "18949956", "review_id": "cb19ddd9723b9d6ed6bbf4ab5919f7e8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I haven't read the preceding books, but the author did a good job of bringing me up to speed--not easy because of the big cast of characters. However, I got to know them pretty well--good characterization. I like Kaylin; Teela (her friend); small and squawky, who's like an albino but with even less color; her other friends, including the dragons; and especially the buildings. I loved that concept! And the the meaning of the eye colors. And the house-hunting sub-plot is fun. Can she find a landlord who wouldn't worry about a dragon roommate--and her other friends? I enjoyed the repartee, and it helps with filling in the background. The villain is scary; the story suspenseful, and the conflict among some of the characters with their varying agendas is well done. (I'll have to track down the other books in the series. I want to learn more about the Hawks and the Barrani and fiefs, etc..)", "date_added": "Wed Aug 06 14:22:18 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 10 16:31:39 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Wed Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "34534", "review_id": "1b23fd4092814cdcdac145349b0657f0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was a fun read--and a stand-alone story. I loved the characters and the story.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 28 08:50:53 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 28 08:52:33 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "96458", "review_id": "d19c74cdd7beed3bab923c44af3da677", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I read this years ago and enjoyed it. I remember that it was supposed to be titled Get of the Unicorn, but there was a typo.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 13 13:08:37 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 13 13:10:49 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "19153880", "review_id": "53a19bee99e99b29e27dc5ee5d147d79", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Stacy Justice is a reporter, a witch, and a Seeker of Justice appointed by the Council, so she must cope with her job, her boyfriend, her family, a demon, the co-worker from hell (Can't stand her and can't kill her, but tranquilizing her works.), etc. There's suspense--don't you just hate those shape-shifting demons--and coping with more than her share of problems. The demon has an army?! I enjoyed the premise, though the story and Stacy seems a little slow sometimes, but it's also fun. My favorite characters are Pickles, Thor, and Cinnamon's unborn baby.", "date_added": "Thu Jul 03 11:10:52 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 10 22:02:46 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Thu Jul 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "22387443", "review_id": "1f5a97f9ee1983d5af3f09439914ed5c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I enjoyed Strings; it was quite an adventure for Robert and his friends as he tried to find his way home safely. Where has our house gone this time? And the school? Is this our bus? Where are my parents? Who are you and what do you want?! This isn't my dimension! What are strings? Can a string help me? Lots of questions and mysteries. The universe--whichever one we're in--is a complex mystery, and the author is certainly good at \"exploring other realms.\"", "date_added": "Sun Jun 29 16:55:36 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 06 11:20:12 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sat Oct 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "736080", "review_id": "7af4046355d00a758533185242a32583", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I love a good theme anthology, and this one has some classics, including Who's There and Ordeal in Space, old favorites, along with the Chanur and Man-Kzin series and McCaffrey's ship story, though it focuses on an alien cat with her own agenda. New ones--to me--which I also enjoyed, include Well Worth the Money, The Pride, and Bullhead. This is divided into domestic--more or less--and alien-type cats. Recommended.", "date_added": "Fri May 09 17:58:30 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri May 09 18:07:57 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "11275323", "review_id": "ec91171a62eee269cd6e02bec9f5d865", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another funny and intelligent Terry Pratchett story with Moist von Lipwig who's been recruited by the Patrician again to keep the lid from blowing off the invention of steam power and wreaking havoc. However, the inventor is intelligent and careful; but the grags are already wreaking havoc. Moist; the inventor, Dick Simnel; Harry King; and other great and familiar characters, along with some new ones who've popped up, must work hard to keep things on track... \n One of my favorite new characters is Iron Girder, the locomotive. And the golem horse gets a name and frolics in green pastures, faithfully following Moist's orders to do so. This is another fun story that also looks at the ways that the ripples caused by new inventions and new ways spread. Highly recommended.", "date_added": "Fri May 02 18:33:05 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri May 09 17:40:51 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri May 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri May 02 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "17148630", "review_id": "5001b8ef946daa651b90fe90f24bd29a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Alien Collective is #9, and Gini Koch is still keeping up the headlong pace with new characters and threats; I'm impressed at how Koch helps us keep track of all the characters who've accumulated, including new enemies, aliens, and androids. \n It's fortunate that Kitty has family, friends, colleagues, and the critters to help her--I especially love the Poofs and Prince. It was even fun having Bellie, the parrot, stop in. The danger is practically non-stop and includes aliens with their own agenda, javelinas, toxic gas, quicksand, water, and bombs. \n Kitty's uncles are back, among others, and the action is all over the map so that no place is safe, and they can never relax. And now there's a blender thrown into the mix... The gang's all here--except for those no longer with us...; the dialogue often makes me smile, and I love the characters--except for the nasties--and sometimes it's hard to identify them. \n As always, Kitty and Jeff do make time for themselves, though that's not easy. Geez, how does that work at hyperspeed? So, remember, adult content too.", "date_added": "Fri May 02 06:10:17 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue May 20 18:55:25 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Mon May 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "10772954", "review_id": "bec7df622e146208d96a12662506de60", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I've enjoyed all of Gini Koch's Alien series--and there's more danger, suspense, and nasty villains in this episode--and all while Kitty Katt has a baby shower and a baby and copes with being a mother. And she is a mother; she has to feed and take care of the baby. And the action is non-stop! \n I love the dialogue, the characters, and the poofs. Oh, and Ace--and I've probably missed some. I enjoy Jeff's roar ratings; he goes from \"rabid dog\" past \"enraged bear\" and on to \"lion takes over the veldt.\" I am so happy with the way the quality continues in each book. These are always fun and exciting reads. Mature content, btw.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 28 18:00:24 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 28 18:19:05 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "11995902", "review_id": "005862eb4ac283256c50fc6f0e3e3d8a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another fun entry in the Alien series. Kitty Katt has to deal with being a mommy, being a diplomat, and attending the Washington Wives class, which is scarier than some of the creatures she's dealt with. I love all the Poofs--and I love the way Koch keeps the dogs and cats in the mix too so they're not just props, which tends to annoy me--and the new character, Olga, the Ambassadress of Romania. There are other new characters too--some not so nice, of course. And then there's the fiasco, uh, party. Something is always happening. So many characters and complications and non-stop suspense 'cause you can never be sure to trust. Recommended, as usual.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 20 15:37:05 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 21 07:20:54 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "17148003", "review_id": "744f42b4baf4c8e9b679dfbe6128eae2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Kitty Katt continues her adventures with musical acompaniment by her favorite groups. \n It's hard to convey the suspense, humor, and danger lurking everywhere, along with non-stop complications and vicious enemies who live--again--to bully and kill.... There's also prejudice to contend with; it's hard to know who can be trusted. And I enjoyed meeting the poofs and peregrines who are back to serve and protect and other characters, including those who were missing--or invisible. The author comes up with fun and fantastic, and, of course, nasty, characters. And self-sacrifice... As usual, recommended, but for adults only.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 20 15:34:45 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 25 16:26:34 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "15824169", "review_id": "5ae48996fd0450ecf4c10d5577a0f4fd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another fun and exciting entry in the Alien series. Btw, I enjoy the introductions: \"...What can I say? I get around.\" \n Characters continue to come and go--sometimes for good. And Kitty Katt is fantastic--well, except for when she declared war on the United States. (It was a mistake.) And people are still changing jobs and titles. And little Jamie shows off a new talent. It's hard keeping track amid the danger and suspicions, and as Jeff said, \"Can it get any worse?\" \n Of course. 'Cause there are more villains and conspiracies, and Kitty Katt comes up with the Sith Lord theory as gleaned from the Star Wars movies. [You've got to pay attention!] There's a lot going on, and I enjoyed this new adventure. Recommended; and don't forget, there's adult content. \n Note: Why did they change the cover on this one. I liked the theme of the others, and this one confused me because I wondered what happened. And it doesn't fit with the other covers.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 19 21:45:44 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 23 11:57:08 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Apr 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "13096596", "review_id": "a299af8d2f22b831708a6a4c1174eec3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "More new characters and critters and lots more danger and suspense. Kitty has to deal with an evil android (I liked the way she did that!) and assorted villains, Jeff's new object of affection, blackmail, packages at the doors that have even the poofs upset, more androids, an outer space armada, and little Jamie's talents. Yes, it's non-stop action and vicious adversaries, along with fun relationships and dialogue. Highly recommended, but for adults only.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 04 16:01:50 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 10 21:34:36 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sat Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Apr 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "7283762", "review_id": "300b27abe76d4cb211da6c4b20ffd909", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed Alien in the Family (#3), which I started the series with 'cause the premise sounded promising--the continuing adventure mixed with wedding plans and family relationships. So, since I enjoyed my first Alien book, aka #3, I started at the beginning. The characters are great; the dialogue and asides are fantastic. And the villains are scary. \n It's fun and filled with non-stop excitement and suspense, also non-stop orgasms, so it's definitely Adults only. Their stamina is impressive... And while I accept most of the happenings--this is a mixture of SF and fantasy--I was puzzled at the very beginning of this book when Kitty Kat (love the name; it's a wonderful change from the cliched Kat)was able to see the creature's eyes whil stabbing it in the back... \n In a review of Touched by an Alien that I read a while back, a reviewer mentioned info dumps, which can be tedious, so I kept my eyes open for them; however, the only time I came across what might have been considered an info dump, it was interwoven skilfully with dialogue, so I don't know if that's what the reviewere was referring to or not... Highly recommended, in my opinion.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 26 20:55:01 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 01 17:39:07 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "7948544", "review_id": "5508cfc27142980d140e2c5c3c270d05", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I read Alien Tango (#2 in the series) after reading Alien in the Family (#3) so now I know where that new character in #3 came from, and here I first meet Chuckie, another great character. More adventure, wonderful characters and dialogue, and I've mentioned her fun asides before. More problems with family and nasty, nasty villains; and the alligators, Alliflash and Gigantagator, were imaginative and thrilling additions. \n Highly recommended--again--and I've already ordered #4. And again--adults only.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 26 20:54:56 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 01 16:45:08 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Fri Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "c15adf7528769f8282114c0f0b69e684", "book_id": "8714075", "review_id": "5cebbc0d83cb839b7e637a6212a7767a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "There are a lot of aliens of various sorts in this story, including some really cool ones that I love! The characters are interesting, and the writing has great dialogue and lines I loved. There is some steamy sex, and sometimes it's practically non-stop. Hey, save some of that energy for fighting the baddies that are sneaking up on you. I started with #3 because the premise sounded like fun. Wedding and family problems and hostile aliens would make for a interesting mix, I thought, and it did. Another reviewer mentioned that everyone loved Kitty Katt too much. I saw what she meant, but it was well done, and I didn't find it irritating. (Sort of like fantasy now and then.) \n There are so many characters (good and bad) that sometimes it's hard keeping track; if I'd started with volumes 1 and 2, it would probably have been easier, but I knew I was taking that chance. I've bought them now because I enjoyed the characters and the writing--and further along in the series, that is pretty good. I'm looking forward to reading the first two. Highly recommended. Adults only.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 13 21:23:55 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 16 19:45:26 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Thu Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "47fcba030529df4483f59bb439517497", "book_id": "15783514", "review_id": "1310f0967761fab45246df89a69419ef", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Everyone raves about this book, however it was completely different than I had anticipated. The summary barely grazes the storyline. I had read so many reviews on it and yet, went into it still not being quite sure what to expect...but I feel like this wasn't it. I would give the story itself the rating of a two, however Gaiman's ability to write bumps it up to a three for me. There were some quotes that resonated with me but on the whole, the mysterious \"supernatural\" characters/storyline of the book didn't stick with me. In fact, the book felt unfinished. Though it IS a book that I would discuss, it isn't a book that I'd add to my list of recommendations to a friend.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 21 16:07:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 02 04:51:39 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Oct 02 04:51:39 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "77008aaf6eb579f3c87a62fd59f936fd", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "ba48b5a5200cb0fb3560d4da828776b9", "rating": 3, "review_text": "For the most part I really liked this book. It's unique and interesting and the detail put into describing the circus is enchanting. However, it takes a long time for things to make sense. When we finally get some answers about what the challenge is and its purpose, I found myself thinking \"that's it?\". I don't know what I was expecting but at that point I started to lose interest. The fact that Prospero and Alexander force their students into competing with no choice in the matter, and with no knowledge of what they are doing or that one of them has to die for the challenge to end really bothered me. It's selfish and risking someone's life just to determine which form of magic/manipulation is \"better\" is not worth it . I did enjoy how Celia and Marco collaborated even though they knew they were competitors. It was interesting to read about their additions to the circus and the reasons for building those additions . \n I also have an issue with Marco. I initially liked him but after the way he treats Isobel I found him unlikable and a little creepy. His love for Celia seemed more like an obsession and by the end of the book I didn't care for him.", "date_added": "Sun May 10 23:26:05 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 24 18:23:33 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jan 23 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "32764660", "review_id": "06680eb2d56fd99f8a37cc7f3194ad28", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another Chilling Story \n Kalayna Price's stories from the grave just keep getting better and better. This time Alex Craft pours all her magical skills into a battle against the evils of necromancy, The plot leans more towards suspense than romance for this book although she makes a decision that changes the future of one of her significant relationships. A great read.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 08 20:16:12 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 08 20:27:08 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Oct 08 20:16:12 -0700 2017", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "29895106", "review_id": "b50f0a2758bdfbe6738b4c9831516624", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Breath of Fire begins where A Promise of Fire left off, and with a lot of angst. You certainly don't like the hero much in the opening scene and the heroine is so weak it's hard to reconcile her with the powerful warrior she is supposed to be. But you just can't knock Bouchet's mastery over fantasy world-building and storytelling. My favorite part was the Agon Games, which was Gladiator on steroids. I particularly enjoyed learning more of the backstories for the Beta Team members. While the plethora of sex scenes slows the pacing throughout this book, the action sequences are fabulous and keep you reading right up to the end. Bouchet is a talented and imaginative author who will keep getting better with every book she writes. I have the release date for Book 3 marked in my calendar.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 18 16:56:51 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 18 17:01:57 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Thu Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "27015399", "review_id": "91672c5557af9131f51917956492d9f1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This story is what would happen if you gave Janet Evanovich's character, Stephanie Plum, a superpower and then cast her in Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. For someone trying to stay under the radar, Cat has a real knack for causing scenes, either by losing her formidable temper, not thinking before bolting into action, or just bumbling into trouble. And her inner dialogue had me in stitches. The alpha hero, Griffin, has his own code of honor even if it has some grey around the edges. The secondary characters were imaginative and well-constructed. I've always been a sucker for Greek Mythology, so this book had me there too. Admittedly, I'm not a fan of the Kidnap-to-Lover trope but this one is handled well and, if you are familiar with medieval history, well....Bouchet was downright pc by comparison. This was an entertaining read, and I went looking for Book 2 as soon as I finished it.", "date_added": "Mon Sep 18 15:43:25 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 18 15:51:36 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sat Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "32585682", "review_id": "5d2760a32c6825072591163569bb7bb2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Vampires vs Ghosts \n This story is short but great. All the usual crew are on deck when an evil ghost follows Merritt and Ethan home from their wedding shower. It doesn't matter how tough or strong a vampire you are when your katana goes right through your attacker. You'll have to read it to find out how the good guys and gals get out of this one.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 01 19:27:29 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 01 21:34:48 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Aug 01 21:25:56 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Tue Aug 01 19:27:29 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "32875195", "review_id": "1892a9d4f37d8d2afe619fa5b9ab8e76", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Is this the end? \n A tense climax to this urban fantasy series but there is still one loophole that could allow for a Book 4. This last story brings in all the disparate Houses to fight along side House Rogan and the emerging House Baylor for the survival of the City of Houston. Are Rogan and Nevada strong enough to outwit a villain who is willing to kill children for personal power? You have to read the book the find out. It's well worth it!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 26 16:23:04 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Jul 27 17:30:05 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Thu Jul 27 17:24:37 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jul 26 16:23:04 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "26101818", "review_id": "a7ec39099d76fb460ebcfe73e1dc91fb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Warring Angels & Demons with a human caught in the middle \n This story has a bit of a Dan Brown flavor to it, with two supernatural races fighting it out, and a young woman on a quest for three hallowed weapons that could save humanity. The author puts the hero and heroine in direct conflict for all the right reasons so while the plot is solved for each novel, the romanic arc is still at risk presumably until the last story in the trilogy.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 12 19:03:16 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 14 20:45:31 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Fri Jul 14 20:35:54 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jul 12 19:03:16 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "17972522", "review_id": "5b3ca2eab83c4641a46cd9dae88f0ead", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A new twist on paranormal mystery \n This is a great debut for a new series. The heroine is a happy baker until she suddenly finds herself caught up in supernatural murder spree. While the who-done-it was not a total surprise, the suspense came from wondering if the heroine would figure it out in time to save her companions and what everyone else had to do with it. The characters are all well developed and I can't wait to spend time with them again in the next book in the series. If you like Juliet Blackwell's books you'll enjoy this series.", "date_added": "Sun May 21 20:36:01 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue May 23 19:27:44 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon May 22 23:29:39 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun May 21 20:36:01 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "1405310", "review_id": "fdc8eac86363c5162e7be52f4d10a8a4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed the first two books in this series - unfortunately it was difficult with the hard copies, and no web access at the time, to figure out which was book 1 so I read The Smoke Thief first :-(. The series relies heavily on the romance component to drive the plot but the author does create an imaginative medieval-like world with a dragon race on the brink of extinction. The magic is interesting while easy to understand with the dragons being able to shapeshift and having various unique Gifts. I was confused about the dream aspect of the plot and what it meant, which was likely intended by the author but not essential to the plot...or may have been a result of reading the first two books out of order. \n I really liked the community of characters I met in both books and the world this author created so I want to pursue the rest of this series, in proper order this time, and see how things work out for everyone.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 23 19:20:09 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 23 19:35:45 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Apr 16 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Apr 16 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "28429", "review_id": "22902dbf921af887244db0dcfcd960df", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Abe creates an imaginative world where dragons have been nearly been destroyed by humans and must now hide, disguised as the very race they must fear. They hold their kind close and under strict control to ensure they aren't discovered. But that just makes Freedom more appealing to some, which is the basis for this series. One of their own is becoming a high profile jewel thief and risking them all if not captured and severely punished. But what if that thief has a Gift that is essential to the future of the entire tribe? I really enjoyed this series but think it is important to let fantasy readers know that the author uses a strong romantic thread to drive her plot while still developing her fantasy world and populating it with a well rounded race of dragon characters.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 23 19:00:46 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 24 15:59:06 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Mon Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Mon Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "25564545", "review_id": "e260e58a0baaa0e25e876ccf5ab16a76", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Cute and Cozy! \n This is definitely a cozy mystery with the beginnings of a romance woven through-as the author notes in her foreword, the magic elements will develop in later books. \n The main characters are likeable although the heroine's snark gets a little irritating in places. The small town and its community of quirky neighbors and friends make the interactions with all the characters fun. I'm all set to read the next story in this series...just for the fun of it.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 19 18:03:37 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 19 18:09:04 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "17726877", "review_id": "028d479fbb6ee5dd23e61469803667cf", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Fast but intense read \n This was my first taste of Cynthia Eden but I'm ready to go for a full course. This story is short at only 11,000 words but it has a dark tone with a strong alpha werewolf and an equally tough alpha heroine. Together they fight to find a serial killer of supernaturals and humans, who is going after them next.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 18 19:28:09 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 18 20:19:33 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Jan 18 20:13:08 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Wed Jan 18 19:28:09 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "15808272", "review_id": "2220f6264b36c065314d0b51893bab66", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I picked this book up on spec at the bookstore, not being at all familiar with the author. It was a lucky choice. I think I found it in the Fantasy section, but I'd categorize it as New Adult Fantasy Mystery. It's got that Middle-ages fantasy feel that allows the characters to be young in years but more mature in roles/behaviours than you might write into a contemporary story, and, of course, there is the magic. But there is also a strong Who-Done-It mystery (locked room, at one point!) serial killer plot that keeps you guessing until the very end. The characters are well-rounded , and the world is fully imagined and integrated into the story. I'm hooked on this series and will go find Book 2.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 09 12:29:11 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 09 12:45:16 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Wed Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "5292853", "review_id": "33555ce241563a326ef7e8e96af5985a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I'm a big fan of this author's Mercy Thompson series so picking up this spin off was a no-brainer for me. Patricia Briggs does not disappoint. In this one, Book 2, hero Charles, the alpha werewolf son of the leader of the North American packs takes his mate, Anna, an Omega, to a meeting of all the alpha leaders of the European packs to discuss the coming out of their race to humanity. Someone doesn't want that transition to go smoothly and is ready to kill to disrupt it. Anna is only one of the targets. This is an urban fantasy so things get a bit gory and are not for readers with queasy stomachs but for fans of this genre, Charles and Anna are a wonderful team, the villian and secondary characters are well developed, the plot is intriguing and the political intrigue slithers through at a brisk pace as the reader is pulled deeply into this magical world of supernatural creatures. I'm definitely picking up Book 3 to see what their next adventure will be.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 09 11:47:27 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 09 12:04:58 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sun Jan 08 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "12492131", "review_id": "2429f2524102a47121817ccc66739443", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Angels with a difference \n This is the start of a series that I am definitely going to follow. While the author has created alternate races of angels, demons and fae, she has given them all their own unique flavour-for example angels can shift into a dragon-like form. Our heroine is an emerging STALKER who is learning on the job what she is capable of, while crossing the apparent boundaries that are expected between the three other races as she builds her team of cohorts. And did I mention she sees dead people? If you like Nalini Singh's Archangel series, you'll find this one just as enjoyable.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 17 21:28:58 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 17 21:53:28 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "28504579", "review_id": "b129397e8a2d800dade21521f3321859", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This series gets better with each new story. For Book 7 Darcy is a full fledged investigator and she has a murder to solve unless she wants her beloved aunt V to take the fall. The characters that we've come to know and love are all on deck with some surprises from their pasts. The plot is a true who-dun-it for mystery fans and the magic is again subtle and fun. I love Heather Blake as an author and look forward to her next book.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 12 18:51:42 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 24 15:54:23 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "32145024", "review_id": "ff4800695088af0aaff241cb9db1d233", "rating": 4, "review_text": "More magic and murder in a small town \n Witch Holly Boldt doesn't know how to keep a low profile in the mortal world despite the danger if supernaturals are discovered. When a young woman stumbles onto the beach frightened and alone, the fact the victim is a ghost doesn't stop Holly from getting involved. This is book 2 in the series so the community of quirky supernatural, and human, characters around the main character are starting to gain strength and depth. The author does a wonderful job of weaving the magical elements into the mortal clues of the murder investigation so that they form a solid and unique case. If you enjoy a little sweet romance with your cozy paranormal mystery, this is a series you will enjoy.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 12 17:50:04 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 16 19:24:10 -0800 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Wed Oct 12 17:50:05 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "31343879", "review_id": "b6006bcd12fef7d25afec8225a61eab4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the first book in a cozy paranormal mystery series and the author has done everything right! The lead character is appealing with a secret past, the manor house has a quirky ghost for a landlady and the shifter and vampire roomies provide comic relief. The small town setting is filled well described with interesting secondary characters. And then the murder happens and the pace picks up while you and the amateur sleuth-who also happens to be a witch- try to figure out whodunit and why. This is an enjoyable read with magic nicely woven around the mystery's twists and turns. The author kindly provides a free prequel with the heroine's backstory on her website, which I found equally satisfying so I just bought Book 2 and can't wait to read it!", "date_added": "Mon Oct 10 15:57:21 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 12 17:45:21 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Tue Oct 11 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "18693920", "review_id": "7bad55b0e3f95c80d3c7336784dd1b95", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I missed this one as I worked my way through A Psychic Eye Mystery series so it was a pleasant surprise to stumble across it at the bookstore. I have to say it was the best of them all IMHO-and I liked the whole seies enough to read every one! The plot and pacing keep the characters hopping as Abby's BFF and business partner, Candice, gets into a whole lot of trouble with the Vegas underworld. But it was the emotional tugs with both Abby and Bryce that really pulled me into the story more than ever before. I won't give away any spoilers but at one point I sobbed along with the characters. \n This a great story from Victoria Laurie that old and new fans alike are sure to enjoy.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 02 13:57:21 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 02 14:15:11 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "3754016", "review_id": "b8c2c690b27dda603305b20ea0af89e4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This second book in the trilogy definitely lost the momentum from the first one. The author seemed to flounder for most of the first half of the book with too much repetition of gory details for the sake of them rather than moving the story forward. A tighter edit could have focused on the more interesting story threads and built up some excitement for the final battle scene. The final third of the story did leave me intrigued enough however to move on to Book three.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 24 19:00:04 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 24 19:09:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jul 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "3754026", "review_id": "65d022fceb0867ca7b371cd0f0aff6bb", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This is the first in a new series by Delia James about a young artist who is drawn back to her roots in the town of Portsmouth New Hampshire where she is quickly drawn into a friendly group of women with some uncanny skills and the mysterious death of an elderly woman. This is a charming story that combines cozy mystery with light paranormal. While the cat does play a key role in the story, as the title would suggest, it is nicely balanced with other characters--and happily does not carry on actual dialogue with its new owner. The whodunit element of the plot is strong and well developed throughout. The town and the characters are appealing and will provide a solid foundation for future stories. I will be looking for the next in this series.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 24 18:59:08 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 12 18:04:01 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Oct 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Oct 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "3227063", "review_id": "28154948a0989dd09c1302a514a30f41", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The Night Angel Trilogy can best be described as Oliver Twist meets The Game Of Thrones. This first book gets the series off to a strong start, introducing the main character as an eleven year old and his two childhood friends, growing up in the slums and surviving as part of a criminal gang. This is not a YA book in my opinion given the very gritty narrative that stems from that storyline. But it is also a gripping and emotional story that pulls you in from the very beginning. As long as you aren't too prone to nightmares after reading some painfully raw descriptions involving abuse of children, this is an amazing story of resilience and loyalty in the face of terrible adversity. I feel compelled to read the next book to follow the rest of the reluctant hero's journey.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 24 18:25:46 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 24 18:56:28 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "6468812", "review_id": "6f3a48d006519b4120f7098efd4f5110", "rating": 4, "review_text": "If you are looking for a traditional cozy mystery, this isn't it. But it is a great read. The premise caught my attention at first- I love the combination of mystery and paranormal-but the reviews seemed split. I decided to make my own decision. I'm so glad I did. \n The main character is a loser detective who wakes up to discover he's dead. Despite being a poor excuse for a husband, father and cop, he wasn't sent right to hell, and he definitely didn't get a ticket to the Pearly Gates. He's trapped in no man's land condemned to watch his life go on without him, alone, as a ghost. This would make anyone start reassessing how they lived and what they'd lost. I suspect this is what is throwing some readers off this book; the author uses very deep point of view in first person and I really felt he nailed it. This is a story about a dead cop being given a sort-of chance to right the screw ups of his career. When a ghost from his past finally shows up, he grabs onto the hope he has a shot at redemption, or at least escape from the monotony of his new existence. And that's where the intriguing mystery comes in. By the end, he fixes one of his past mistakes, and finds out how his own death occurred. \n No promises but you get the feeling he might yet earn that ticket to Heaven ... eventually. This was the first book in the Dead Detective series. I'm dying to read the next one.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 20 21:57:58 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 09 13:22:49 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Mon Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "12040895", "review_id": "78f823509be195aa1ede25248ec6f1b3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed the first two books in this series and am looking forward to the next.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 20 21:15:21 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 20 21:16:02 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "22056827", "review_id": "497f65376b069e5982ea6364c9068095", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A novella for Halloween or Any Other Time \n Sometimes you need a light paranormal fix but you don't have a whole lot of reading time available. A Haunting is Brewing gives a two for one hit from 2 great series from Juliet Blackwell. In a fresh, tightly written novella packed full of suspects, suspence ghosts and spells, this was a fun read from a fabulous author.", "date_added": "Fri May 27 05:36:21 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 06 21:53:10 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Jun 06 21:53:08 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri May 27 05:36:21 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "28935897", "review_id": "73a2c0b4371c1850e0026ec7ee0756a1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A New Magical Lawyer Debuts \n Murder Casts Its Spell is a debut novel for author Margaret Morse and I sure hope she's hard at work on the next one - and let's hope we're talking series here! Petra Rakowitz is a lawyer who finds herself caught up in a murder trial that pits the magical population against those mortals who fear them. I'll tread carefully here to avoid spoilers but there are twists of the traditional cozy mystery kind as well as surprises that pop out of the wonderful magical world that the author has created. You'll meet a strong cast of characters including a couple of potential romantic interests. I read this book in one sitting and enjoyed every exciting moment of it. I recommend it for both cozy mystery readers as well as anyone who enjoys light paranormals. This one has the best of both genres all rolled up into one great story.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 28 19:36:26 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Apr 28 20:03:10 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Apr 28 19:36:26 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "25355103", "review_id": "0b83cf0b63bb222dcc1a33f99b5a3b3d", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another great paranormal mystery \n This time round Stacy has her hands full with her cousin's baby shower, on top of the usual mishaps and mayhem of her Seeker of Justice duties. Stacy's on her own though when her Aunts lose their magic just as a shifter shows up in town threatening loved ones. The pace is fast, the tension is high and the plot twists unexpected. I didn't have it figured out right until the very end. A great read with a wonderfully satisfying conclusion. Now for Book #7.....", "date_added": "Sun Apr 17 20:43:25 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Wed Apr 20 18:44:49 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Apr 17 20:43:25 -0700 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "26068064", "review_id": "97f9e3675980c13dfe805b341e52c985", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the 6th in this series (and, yes, I have read the first 5) and if you like a cozy mystery mixed with light paranormal this is for you. Our heroine, Darcy Merriweather, is a 'late blooming' witch with the magical gift to grant wishes under strict rules. She also has an insatiable curiousity which gets her involved, this time, in a pet contest that leads to murder and petnappings. The author has created a lovely tourist destination village as a cover for a community of witches hiding in plain sight. The heroine is likeable and the hero is loveable. Animals abound, not only in this story, if that's your thing, and there's a heartwarming family thread through it all. This particular plot was a little 'cutsy' for my taste- moreso than the previous 5 - but still an enjoyable read with a satisfying ending. I'm ready and waiting for #7! And for those who are following the series the author definitely reveals the identity of The Elder in this one...my lips are sealed.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 14 16:48:59 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 03 19:16:33 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Jun 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "18187569", "review_id": "c0c2ce31b7bca902ba8a01d99e3fd51c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another great story \n This time Stacy and her weird relatives head to my favorite setting-Ireland, where magic, mayhem and maybe murder ensue. There are so many unexpected twists and turns in this story, with interesting insights into Birdie's past as a novice witch, that you'll have to keep reading until you get to The End no matter what the hour.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 01 22:06:23 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 01 22:06:26 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 01 22:06:23 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "16089436", "review_id": "7d8a788e4f7c88da68d2881c6b05f9db", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Another strong story in the series \n Book 3 might be the strongest plot yet in this great paranormal mystery series. The heroine is just committing to her destiny as a witch and her eccentric family and hot boyfriend are all lined up to see where The Fates take her.", "date_added": "Fri Feb 26 20:15:39 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 28 19:41:49 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Feb 26 20:15:39 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "25987394", "review_id": "83fb5c73881e2d4b631b4c10ac5321a1", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A Great New Light Paranormal Mystery Series \n The uptight, inflexible heroine sees herself as a hard boiled, tough talking female investigator like her late father. But when she takes on a serial murder case just as she finds out she's a witch might be more than she can handle. This is a great PI story with the paranormal component nicely woven in as part of the main character development and the community that surrounds the heroine. Any one who loves Sue Grafton will love this series. And anyone looking for light paranormal cozies will enjoy the world that Ms Abbott introduces in this debut book.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 17 20:07:11 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 18 21:52:49 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Feb 18 21:37:49 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Wed Feb 17 20:07:11 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "15815762", "review_id": "597ccbb68f8a51195c91910ec77c228b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I've been meaning to read this author for a while but finally got the chance during a holiday. Before I knew it, I was through the first five books and wondering how soon I could get my hands on the new release - within a week. The author created a complete and believable magical world, centered around the heroine's San Francisco clothing store, and introduces a full cast of intriguing, fun and conflicted characters. I ran out of holiday before I got to Book 6: 'A Vision in Velvet' but I have it on my Must-Read-Soon list. This is a series for readers who enjoy cozy-style mystery series with a great supernatural twist. The insights into vintage clothing from all eras are just an added bonus.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 18 22:45:24 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 27 17:38:08 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "20814307", "review_id": "ee2f0bdf8d60e39a3b2bc9c885d12efe", "rating": 5, "review_text": "My favorite stories, whether they are told through movies or books, are most often inspired by Arthurian legends. Meredith Bond has skillfully woven those threads into a new series about the descendants of those well-loved characters from Camelot, and called it, Children of Avalon. \n Book One is \n Air: Merlin's Chalice \n . Set in medieval times, a magical race of people is threatened by witch hunts, and a 200-year-old prophecy that foretells of a threat to all humanity and, specifically, to the Children of Avalon. A young woman, who was left on the doorstep of a church as a baby, is driven from the only home she has ever known for being a witch. She begins a quest to find her true identity, only to discover she is one of the trio mentioned in Merlin's prophecy. On her journey, she encounters risks to her life and her heart, knights in shining armor, and a powerful mortal enemy who will stop at nothing to kill her. Fortunately, she also finds several allies, two of whom are the other Children of Avalon. \n Romance, intrigue, magic-what's not to love about this book! It's wonderful and I'm definitely going to pick up the next book in the series.", "date_added": "Sun Apr 13 18:30:10 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed May 27 17:38:08 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Apr 16 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "6611038", "review_id": "9ec3e5cc6d959be34d968261e7af640b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I picked this paperback up at a conference and WOW! Here's a twist for you on a strong protagonist - an unrepentant female assassin! For the antagonist, why not introduce the only ethical detective left on a morally corrupt police force - and suggest that he might be a truly conflicted love interest, and the assassin killed his partner. Enough tension for you yet? It sure was for me. Throw in the gritty dystopian setting, compelling secondary characters, and intriguing plot and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Then, I got to the end of this first book in the Elemental Assassin series. While satisfied with the story conclusion, I'm hooked. I immediately jumped back online looking for Book 2. If you love dystopian paranormal suspense with romantic elements, that are likely to build in the upcoming books, this series is for you.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 25 23:02:57 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 18 09:40:42 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sun Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "5989616", "review_id": "deb11e88c95e16c8cde08426712fa0a3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Street Magic has a bleak, gothic atmosphere, and features a heroine addicted wizard as the hero and a troubled detective as the heroine. The author does a good job of creating an alternate reality for the magical realm and the fey creatures who inhabit that world. However, I found the London dialect and punk slang hard (and sometimes impossible) to understand, and the author didn't drop in enough information at the right points for me to fully follow what was going on. I was interested enough in the characters to finish reading the story to find out what happened to them, but I don't feel compelled to pick up the next book in the series.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 07 22:55:49 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed May 27 17:38:07 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Sep 30 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "7790460", "review_id": "26084c78ecf232216cd63f7ccb8599fe", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This one is a quick read from JF. Despite its compact length, the author manages to create a fully realized alternate world, Nocturna, and believable, sympathetic characters: Mara a young half demon/half human (aka 'Partials')woman determined to avenge the death of her cousin to a demon, and Raphael, the dark and dangerous sheriff of Nocturna, who may be a hero, or in cahoots with the demons killing Partials. \n It's a good thing, I stumbled on JF's series late, because I don't know how she's going to keep up with my appetite for her awesome stories. This one didn't quite grab me to the extent Cat and Bones have but, I still read in one sitting...and immediately went looking for her next book.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 07 22:01:19 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 09 09:54:54 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "10740056", "review_id": "b8c862a2ebe0aa46ca5508f5d59134dc", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I read the first three of this series all in a row and am now impatiently waiting for the fourth one to come out. Unfortunately, authors can't possibly write as fast as I can read! But that little problem shouldn't stop anyone who enjoys light paranormal mysteries from picking up the first three and diving in. The writing is solid, the heroine is likeable although a bit stubborn in her disbelief of voodoo with an abrupt turnaound nntowards the end in Book 1-Who Do VooDoo? But overall this is a great new series with stories you'll enjoy and characters you'll look forward to visiting as each new book comes out.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 05 21:01:49 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 09 13:21:19 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Jun 21 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Wed May 18 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "7885220", "review_id": "369fce726aff81dc2f15e3ff0ac52eef", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really enjoyed this author's other series but I just finished this first book of a new series and I think I'm going to love it even more! The heroine is old enough to be interesting, is an empowered woman in a non traditional job, and is surrounded by a community of weird and wonderful characters both grounded and supernatural. I'm actively looking for the next book in the series.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 05 20:58:52 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed May 27 17:38:05 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "9660102", "review_id": "07aa3520ca87634b96e718b0efd039e4", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was a lesson in reading series books in order. I had read this one as a stand-alone in March 2013, and thought it was okay. But when I started with Book 1 and read through the whole series in order during a holiday, the characters came alive and I was committed. Before I knew it, I was through the first five books and wondering how soon I could get my hands on the new release - within a week. The author created a complete and believable magical world, centered around the heroine's San Francisco clothing store, and introduces a full cast of intriguing, fun and conflicted characters. I ran out of holiday before I got to Book 6: 'A Vision in Velvet' but I have it on my Must-Read-Soon list. This is a series for readers who enjoy cozy-style mystery series with a great supernatural twist. The insights into vintage clothing from all eras are just an added bonus.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 05 20:56:33 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed May 27 17:38:04 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Sat Mar 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "7114817", "review_id": "ba291e818a35a373713633986f96dd55", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I've been meaning to read this author for a while but finally got the chance during a holiday. Before I knew it, I was through the first five books and wondering how soon I could get my hands on the new release - within a week. The author created a complete and believable magical world, centered around the heroine's San Francisco clothing store, and introduces a full cast of intriguing, fun and conflicted characters. I ran out of holiday before I got to Book 6: 'A Vision in Velvet' but I have it on my Must-Read-Soon list. This is a series for readers who enjoy cozy-style mystery series with a great supernatural twist. The insights into vintage clothing from all eras are just an added bonus.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 05 20:55:47 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed May 27 17:38:04 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "345963", "review_id": "c34235d91188fd1a94eca94d9a0f9286", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is one of my favorite trilogies of all time and it ignited a life long interest in Arthurian and medieval fiction.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 05 17:03:38 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed May 27 17:38:01 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "6456016", "review_id": "0c14ff167299679380de24679009dbe3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I've been meaning to read this author for a while but finally got the chance during a holiday. Before I knew it, I was through the first five books and wondering how soon I could get my hands on the new release - within a week. The author created a complete and believable magical world, centered around the heroine's San Francisco clothing store, and introduces a full cast of intriguing, fun and conflicted characters. I ran out of holiday before I got to Book 6: 'A Vision in Velvet' but I have it on my Must-Read-Soon list. This is a series for readers who enjoy cozy-style mystery series with a great supernatural twist. The insights into vintage clothing from all eras are just an added bonus.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 07 20:56:06 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed May 27 17:38:01 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Sep 18 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Aug 08 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "7823038", "review_id": "3b964affefb615f58d0d4335ed35361b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "If book 1 - Grave Witch-is any indictation, this is going to be one of those series I have to read one after the other, non-stop! The heroine, the titular grave witch is something like a necromancer who can raise 'shades', not a ghost but the final memories of the dead. There's a little more to Alexis Craft's magic than that but I don't want to spoil it for other readers. This book successfully straddles that tricky line between creating a believable alternate world and an information dump. Her characters are all sharply drawn, including a heroine you will love. The hero is a bit of a grump but not in a way that isn't realistically motivated-she's interfering in his politically, high profile case and causing other trouble for him without giving him the explanation. We, the readers, know why she can't. The pace keeps the story moving along, with a couple of spicy sex scenes-just so you know. \n I really enjoyed this book and already have the 2nd book queued up on my IPad ready to dive in. Anyone who loves Ilona Andrew, Nalini Singh, Darynda Jones will enjoy this series as well.", "date_added": "Fri Dec 07 20:14:44 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 17 12:34:15 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Sat Jun 17 12:34:15 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "10941634", "review_id": "4cb1cd5f04fe0a4d6a80d034f1e4bd2a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I stumbled on Debora's To Love A Witch late one night when I couldn't sleep and gave it a try - for 99 cents it wasn't a big investment. And it was just what I wanted. A cute, short and easy read that sent me off into dreamland with appropriate thoughts of a hot,gallant hero I could love and a heroine I could identify with. It's hard to find sweet romances that also embrace the paranormal element for some reason but I love them. I'd much rather my uber-alpha hero had magical powers rather than one who has to suck my blood. I've since picked up the first of her `A Modern Witch Series' and she again delivered a wonderful story. These aren't for readers who are looking for a Laurel K Hamilton or JR Ward type paranormal read, but if you are looking for something light and entertaining, I would suggest you take a chance on Debora's books.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 23 08:36:17 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed May 27 17:37:56 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Apr 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "12152218", "review_id": "8a40123476af1c5fe5c3c1f55219bd1a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "In a \"A Hidden Witch\", Debora Geary reintroduced me to her wonderful cast of characters from Book One, and then moved them to beautiful Nova Scotia, so I was hooked from the start. She drew me into the atmosphere of a small outport in that maritime province by playing on all five senses with her descriptions of the sea breezes, smooth beach rocks, and rough seas. I loved the way she integrated the magical with the real, such as having the witches help the local fisherfolk in dealing with algae bloom. I particularly enjoy Geary's talent for making me 'feel' the energy and emotions as her witches cast their spells although in this story, the meshing of technology with the magic was a bit laborious in places (It was still an intriguing and inventive concept). I'll look forward to reading the next in this series.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 23 08:33:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 23 08:35:22 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "13600864", "review_id": "56442525641e25bafea038ba73c32fa3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The gods must be crazy and they are really fun when they show up in Bandit Creek to play match maker. Eros, better known in the mortal world as Cupid, shoots his twin brother Anteros, the god of unrequited love, and strands him in Bandit Creek without his powers-all to save him from a terrible fate of languishing in a padded cell in Hades for eternity. His rescuer is Callie, who has problems of her own with a family curse. Ms Morgan is a fabulous new voice in the romantic comedy genre with snappy, funny dialogue , well developed characters in a unique story, If you are a fan of romantic comedy, with the imaginative use of Greek mythology woven in, you'll love SHAFTED.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 23 08:13:49 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 23 08:56:45 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "348add4d8ad886ed0c3462e4a9340e33", "book_id": "10778550", "review_id": "eb89ed4f885be17ec071eafa4a65e9ce", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a debut novel, but you wouldn't know it. The author has a solid handle on writing craft and a natural talent for storytelling. I loved it! The heroine, Lani, reminds me of a smart Stephanie Plum. In Illegal Magic, Lani has grown up in magical family but didn't inherit the magic gene herself. She's well adjusted, sort of, and has decided to join the mortal world and become a lawyer. Her magical friends and family aren't ready to leave her without support as she starts her new life so adapting to this strange new world isn't quite as easy as Lani thought. Ms Blakely is a funny and fresh new voice in the sweet urban fantasy genre. Hopefully, Illegal Magic is book 1 of a series and the next book will be out soon - she's on my watch list for sure. If you like Victoria Laurie or Gerry Bartlett, you'll love this one. Illegal Magic", "date_added": "Thu Jul 26 14:51:39 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed May 27 17:37:54 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "4e9865acc1001cecf64e642fb0be4d0e", "book_id": "68497", "review_id": "f33441e2a56c3b85ab1f864ad1adf08b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Slightly less amazing than Perdito St, for reasons that I have trouble articulating. Which is somewhat like saying that something is slightly less damp than the Pacific Ocean.", "date_added": "Fri Mar 07 01:47:23 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Mar 07 01:53:27 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4e9865acc1001cecf64e642fb0be4d0e", "book_id": "3754016", "review_id": "613f612ea0b496ae06d69b42e1977ed8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "\"Oh! Woe! My girlfriend can never know that I am a badass assassin!\" \n \"Dude, you need to kill these guys.\" \n \"Ok but OH WOE THE MORALITY!\" \n \"Can we... Get the plot moving?\" \n \"Just as soon as I complain about my FEEELINGS OH WOE\" \n In short, if you ever wanted to read a series wherein a badass assassin becomes magically transformed into Morrissey, this is for you. I'm giving it 3 stars because the style is tight, and given how much fun the first book was, I suspect it will pick up again, but I haven't touched it in months and am giving up.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 20 14:02:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 06 17:55:52 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Thu Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "4e9865acc1001cecf64e642fb0be4d0e", "book_id": "3227063", "review_id": "a456d11c9c8615c541476de697d16e20", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A solid read. Effective escapism, with good intrigue, and excellent descriptions of assassins doing their assassing. My only real issue with this book is the predictability of the characters, they all seem to get wound up and set on an ethical path, and you are just waiting for the inevitable moral block to be placed in front of them so they will spin off the direction you know they must. By about a third of the way through the book I was dreading bad things happening to the main character because I knew it would lead to another breathless Morrissey-esque How Could This Be fest on his part. That said, he is in that period a young adult coming to terms with his life, and I'm sure I was at least as whiny, and I wasn't raised as a guild rat in a horrible slum with an assassin as my only father figure, so I give some leeway. \n The best summary of my feelings on this book is that I picked it up on a whim based largely on the cover art, I got about what I anticipated, and I went back and am reading book 2 in the series now.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 20 13:46:37 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 20 14:01:46 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4e9865acc1001cecf64e642fb0be4d0e", "book_id": "7163862", "review_id": "95d3a7b20af1fbaad1f14f6c47671c6d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A fascinating experiment in urban fantasy, Zoo City is a filthily realistic portrayal of near future South Africa with elements of magic. Unlike many \"magic returns to the world\" books, this book never falls prey to the idea that society would stand by in shell-shocked awe and let magic do its thing. There are still carjackings, there are still popstars. I don't have the knowledge to speak to the authenticity of the spiritual traditions here, but they _feel_ right to me, and it seems a respectful treatment of what would happen, told from someone in the thick of it.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 06 15:23:09 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 06 15:31:45 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Nov 12 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4e9865acc1001cecf64e642fb0be4d0e", "book_id": "325398", "review_id": "9aca99777f68aee58f18fd5b22a683a3", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I am a huge Glen Cook fan. My love for the Black Company series is far beyond irrational, I recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy with an enthusiasm that borders on fanatical. But, as much as I am loathe to admit it, I really just did not like this book. \n Firstly, one of the very compelling parts of the Black Company is that it is written largely from the perspective of the soldiers on the ground. The Company, if you haven't read the books, is a mercenary band, and they really don't care much for the politics involved in why they are fighting most of the time. By contrast, in this book you are treated to often lengthy genealogies of power that don't really seem to matter. It takes place in the context of a world that strongly resembles a crusades-era catholic church, and the vast plethora of heresies, not to mention the political infighting, create a tapestry of power struggles that, frankly, I had trouble caring about much less keeping track of. \n Secondly, Cook seems to be attempting an experiment in authorial voice in which every sentence is brief and clipped, and paragraphs are often one or two sentences. It gives the whole thing a fragmented feel that I found off-putting in the extreme. If I hadn't read so much of his previous stuff and known that he is, actually, a good writer, I would have given up on this book three chapters in. As it was, I kept slogging through it out of a sense of faithfulness. I finally did finish it, and the payoff was good, but stylistically the whole thing left me so alienated that I just really couldn't care. \n If you are already a Cook fan, this is probably worth picking up used just so you can help me figure out what the hell he was thinking. If you're not, skip this and read Black Company instead. I consider Tyranny of the Night to be a failed experiment, and I can only hope it was helpful to him, because it sure wasn't much for me.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 18 04:59:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 13 23:16:51 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jul 05 13:21:48 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jun 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "f566aed5dfd2a256cc08f497ba9ceb6d", "book_id": "23660326", "review_id": "7a0c33ff85b9045affe6e537d277c763", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I quite liked this one, and I'm excited to see where the author takes the characters in the following books. I have a feeling each book is just going to get better.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 03 00:26:08 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 11 21:09:19 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Jan 11 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Wed Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f566aed5dfd2a256cc08f497ba9ceb6d", "book_id": "11235712", "review_id": "114cc5c4befd34d2b114b62a06f9c0f8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it. Can't wait to read the next one.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 12 18:52:43 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 18 21:39:52 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f566aed5dfd2a256cc08f497ba9ceb6d", "book_id": "44170", "review_id": "1cccc579008191dc5b58f466b74c49b8", "rating": 1, "review_text": "I could not get into this book, and finally after several weeks of trying, gave up. Love the idea, maybe another day it will appeal to me more and I can actually finish it.", "date_added": "Wed May 16 19:50:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 12 02:45:22 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Mar 12 02:45:22 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f566aed5dfd2a256cc08f497ba9ceb6d", "book_id": "6690798", "review_id": "96a6caa847e16a4a37df3f3e8087c253", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book is long, and is pretty much in two parts, the first 1/3 of the book being a sort of back story with the 2nd 2/3's set in the future about a 100 years. The beginning was good, but switched around so much that I had to concentrate to keep the story straight. But that might just be me. Once I got into it, I was hooked and couldn't put it down for three days until I had it read. Very interesting, and I really enjoyed the writing style. Pretty clean language wise for the majority of the book, but there are a few graphic bloody scenes that made me glad I was reading and not listening to sound effects. One of those books where the story just stays with you after you read.", "date_added": "Sat Apr 02 19:25:04 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 23 11:27:58 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jun 23 11:27:58 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f566aed5dfd2a256cc08f497ba9ceb6d", "book_id": "301082", "review_id": "25ba3490be8a3b0599933900d981071e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book is the one that the HBO series \"True Blood\" is based on. SO, if you wouldn't watch the series on HBO, I would not suggest you read the book. However, if that kind of stuff doesn't bother you (blood, intimate scenes) then you'll pry enjoy it. Think of it as vampires meet Harlequin romance.", "date_added": "Sun Mar 13 13:55:15 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 24 23:11:59 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Thu Mar 24 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Wed Mar 16 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f566aed5dfd2a256cc08f497ba9ceb6d", "book_id": "116473", "review_id": "ea48f3d8584528a2d1885204c49b1c99", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very easy read, good beginner children's fantasy. Something I could easily let my 9 year old (and possibly my 7 year old as well) read.", "date_added": "Tue May 11 18:52:13 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 05 08:20:38 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Mon Jul 05 08:20:38 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Tue Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f566aed5dfd2a256cc08f497ba9ceb6d", "book_id": "6339664", "review_id": "1c9a0c43343768ca0c1c44e9b1901353", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I am completely conflicted about this book. On one hand, I liked it because I am an easily entertained reader and it kept my interest(even though it seems a rather obvious rip-off of Twilight) On the other hand, I am kind of appalled by the main character. Nora, the main gal, is obsessed with Patch (in a Bella/Edward/love/hate/dangerous kind of way) and even though he TELLS HER in no uncertain terms his intentions she just goes about, willy-nilly, against all instincts, like those annoying bimbos in scary movies where you are standing up and yelling at the screen to not go up those stairs! \n Ahem. \n Obviously, this book causes all sorts of dramatic emotion in the readers, which is a good thing about the book, but she may drive you insane and cause you to scream madly at life in general. You have been warned, read with caution.", "date_added": "Wed Mar 10 18:12:27 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Tue May 11 18:49:29 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Wed May 12 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f566aed5dfd2a256cc08f497ba9ceb6d", "book_id": "3777732", "review_id": "b0b8eed190318aed3571ac1d9bab5230", "rating": 4, "review_text": "So ridiculously hooked on these books!", "date_added": "Wed Mar 03 21:12:39 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 18 15:58:33 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f566aed5dfd2a256cc08f497ba9ceb6d", "book_id": "6068551", "review_id": "a71eccc0c64f1f3fea3c78ffdeb852b1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Loved it. Easy read, kind of a Twilight feel to it. I know some people that did NOT care for this book though, so seems like a love it or hate it kind of book. I love most everything readable, thus, for me, this was right up my alley. :)", "date_added": "Tue Feb 02 23:35:42 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Wed May 19 00:16:13 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f566aed5dfd2a256cc08f497ba9ceb6d", "book_id": "262430", "review_id": "23fbc3db1544af3c70dd95be0048876e", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is written by the same woman who wrote The Hunger Games--love her style of writing, so easy to read and completely compelling. These seem to be for a slightly younger reader than the Hunger Games audience, pre-teen probably, but still just as intriguing. Will definitely finish the other 4 books in the series.", "date_added": "Mon Jan 25 08:26:38 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Mon May 31 22:21:48 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Mon May 31 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Mon May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f566aed5dfd2a256cc08f497ba9ceb6d", "book_id": "1395209", "review_id": "187153f8e1d709bc70e5e6dd89ac45ed", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I am completely addicted to these slightly creepy YA books. Not creepy enough I can't sleep, just creepy enough to keep them interesting. :)", "date_added": "Thu Jan 14 14:16:26 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Thu Mar 18 21:21:13 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Thu Mar 18 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Wed Mar 10 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f566aed5dfd2a256cc08f497ba9ceb6d", "book_id": "5899779", "review_id": "f6b884070bf2457e46463e81445ee727", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I laughed until I cried. \n The book is Jane Austin's \"Pride & Prejudice\" with some...additions. Zombies, in fact. And what made me laugh? Well, pretty much the fact that it didn't seem unusual that the zombies were there--the author did a smash-up job of incorporating zombies that the book just flowed along fabulously. I love that Elizabeth and Jane have been trained in the Orient and are a couple of the town's best zombie killers. Still slowish moving, cuz it is the Pride and Prejudice we know and love, but much more humorous. I love the original, but this just tickled my fancy.", "date_added": "Thu Dec 03 13:15:28 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 10 17:54:48 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Sun Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "Mon Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f566aed5dfd2a256cc08f497ba9ceb6d", "book_id": "186103", "review_id": "7d1355272a26644acd0ac6937a510490", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Another vampire book with a twist. \"Vampirism\" is basically an STD, and the carriers (people who are infected with the disease but don't have all the symptoms) are trying to find all their partners who have been infected. Very weird. There are a lot of mini-chapters about parasites, which made this a very difficult book to read while eating lunch. (Might be a good way to start a diet though cuz it will turn you off food.) All in all, an ok book, but not one of my favs. I may read the second one to see if it gets any better, but we'll see.", "date_added": "Tue Nov 03 22:03:25 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 13 11:27:14 -0800 2010", "read_at": "Wed Jan 13 00:00:00 -0800 2010", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f566aed5dfd2a256cc08f497ba9ceb6d", "book_id": "674749", "review_id": "88e751d6e1d2e0541069c9c6ed292688", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Quick, sweet read, particularly for those young girls who don't want to be \"ordinary\".", "date_added": "Wed Jun 10 19:11:07 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Jul 14 09:37:46 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Tue Jul 14 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f566aed5dfd2a256cc08f497ba9ceb6d", "book_id": "5217282", "review_id": "fd7830a8df1e2f4f6f628ae43cc3312c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is probably my favorite one out of the whole series. LOVED IT. Can't wait for the 5th one to round off the series!", "date_added": "Mon Apr 06 11:55:06 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 24 13:16:40 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Wed Jun 24 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f566aed5dfd2a256cc08f497ba9ceb6d", "book_id": "2402971", "review_id": "3320ba28fa2f0b3d2101f2964e877317", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is the 2nd book of the series and I'm just getting more hooked. I may have to buy these to read them again.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 18 17:39:38 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 19 20:45:32 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Wed Aug 19 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f566aed5dfd2a256cc08f497ba9ceb6d", "book_id": "977841", "review_id": "ed3c1a60aff0a485473e49d27323c905", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really liked this book! For some reason I didn't realize it was set in modern times, I was thinking it would be a more historical setting or something and was very obviously wrong in about the first two pages. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am excited to get to the next one. A lot of myths and factual people are in this one and it's just fun for me to see how they all come together.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 18 17:39:32 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 04 21:56:50 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Sat Jul 04 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f566aed5dfd2a256cc08f497ba9ceb6d", "book_id": "15858", "review_id": "114bc960a092baaba70e6ab1f9d5b8c7", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I couldn't quite decide on whether to rate this a two or a three star and decided to round down since I can't imagine reading this again. \"Mirror Mirror\" is a retelling of Snow White that is just a little bit strange (like all of his books). There are several sly sexual innuendos in this book, not as blatantly obvious as in \"Wicked\" but still enough to make me vaguely uncomfortable as they always seem a bit sinister. Interesting enough idea, especially using actual historical figures, but definitely not a favorite for me.", "date_added": "Sat Dec 06 09:00:38 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 04 11:14:33 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Fri Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f566aed5dfd2a256cc08f497ba9ceb6d", "book_id": "2248573", "review_id": "570631e3843f4143a06ba13eadf8860a", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm taking forever to read this book...it's not that I don't like it, I've just not been in a fantasy mode lately. I keep putting it down to read other things. Sigh.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 06 12:42:36 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 12 02:46:57 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f566aed5dfd2a256cc08f497ba9ceb6d", "book_id": "959433", "review_id": "7dd511f45d39f4a351be335f9e9a43ae", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Very cute fairy tale that my kids found hilarious. Quick and easy read, even my son who's 8 thought it was funny. A good one to read with your kids.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 30 18:51:16 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 24 09:21:37 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon Aug 24 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f566aed5dfd2a256cc08f497ba9ceb6d", "book_id": "18943", "review_id": "884b91d303c67572fb86830091f584d4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked this book SO much better than Wicked. Much less creepiness going on, but still an interesting writing style. This is much more like something you would read by the original Grimm brothers, a little more dark but still a fairytale.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 25 22:42:32 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 02 14:33:43 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Tue Jun 02 14:33:43 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f566aed5dfd2a256cc08f497ba9ceb6d", "book_id": "37442", "review_id": "1dd075e66e6e95e9e61d3b508f077eb1", "rating": 2, "review_text": "This book was not at all what I was expecting...a lot more dark and a lot less fairytale-ish. It was interesting, and had some truly great parts, but a lot of the middle for me was just not that great. I was a bit disappointed and wished it could have met my expectations.", "date_added": "Sat May 24 08:33:08 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 28 22:32:11 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Mon Jul 28 22:32:11 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "f566aed5dfd2a256cc08f497ba9ceb6d", "book_id": "24780", "review_id": "85b518ed54fd63d240e0fcfcc7ee04af", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I completely missed out on the fact that this is the first book in the series that contains \"The Black Cauldron\" which I read as a kid. Surprise! Now I'll have to read them all.", "date_added": "Wed Apr 23 13:50:45 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Sep 04 11:07:58 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Fri Sep 04 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d4cb39beef4b10952486f29798255417", "book_id": "18423", "review_id": "e9fc0f4842f028707a358966694cba98", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I think I'm just not a science fiction person. Dystopia, apocalypse I'm right there. But speculation about other civilizations that might exist a life span of light years away I just don't have any frame of reference for that. And a whole \"other\" vocabulary to wrestle with. Or maybe I just don't have the imagination. It takes massive imagination to construct worlds and civilizations out of whole cloth as it were. The author is hugely respected as a science fiction icon. This book won both the Hugo and Nebula awards. And she won the double again later with another work. I think nobody else has ever done that. But I had a real struggle engaging with this one. I nearly gave it up. Only stubbornness got me through to the end. So with apologies to science fiction fans everywhere I give The Left Hand of Darkness a mediocre three stars.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 10 13:59:16 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Apr 05 18:25:43 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d4cb39beef4b10952486f29798255417", "book_id": "7082", "review_id": "b0efc445336926bff443f372aa9f9cfd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This is a book I probably could have read in one sitting. It is not overly long. It is not especially difficult. On the one hand the story is moving swiftly along but on the other I'm slowing myself down to savor every word. It contains the elements of mystery, science fiction, philosophy, metaphysics and who knows what else. A seemingly simple straightforward tale that upon reflection is a lot more than that. It can be looked at from many different angles. The novel was published in 1968. The story takes place in 2021. There has been a nuclear war. Most of the world's survivors have been relocated to Mars and other planets. The action takes place on earth and features those remaining there for whatever reason. Their existence is tenuous at best. Read when published it would have seemed pretty far out. Today maybe not so much. The movie Bladerunner was adapted from the novel. It uses some elements and discards other. They are really two separate entities and should be approached as such. In my opinion both are masterpieces. And Philip K. Dick is unquestionably a story teller of depth and insight. I really enjoyed reading this and look forward to reading more of Dick's work in the future. He was not a one hit wonder. He left behind an extensive body of work for us to enjoy and ponder over.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 07 16:07:26 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 31 16:38:31 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jan 28 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d4cb39beef4b10952486f29798255417", "book_id": "13623012", "review_id": "14171dd70d37be7b3a25b489137b8d2e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I really like this series. I'm assuming it to be a series. This is the third installment of The Cemetary of Forgotten Books collection. I read the second book, Angel's Game, first. I picked it up out of the library of a cruise ship about two years ago. It was just such a good story. It's has the literary element. It is set in Barcelona (one of my favorite cities.) A dark, gothic Barcelona. It's a love story. It's a mystery. Many mysteries. And so on. Fun stuff. So then I read the first book of the series, Shadow of the Wind, which is actually a prequel to the second. If that makes any sense. And The Prisoner of Heaven is the third. But hopefully not the final. There is still a lot more story to be told I think. I will be waiting eagerly for the next installment. Carlos Ruiz Zafon is a master story teller. Well done.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 12 12:14:24 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 31 18:49:10 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d4cb39beef4b10952486f29798255417", "book_id": "20819685", "review_id": "5f3a3bc57a098a0eb506ef359959fe46", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A great read. David Mitchell is fast becoming one of my favorites. A happy day for me when he releases a new novel. This one has the usual elements: Compelling story, great writing. Characters and events from his previous novels. Flashes of supernatural just to keep things interesting. Story begins in 1984 (hmm...) and stops in 2043. It captures the spirit of the 80's, 90's and 2000's with keen observation and attention to detail and also offers a vision of (what else?) an apocalyptic future. Told in six chapters with five different narrators shifting the point of view to add further interest. Each chapter could stand alone as a novella. Eventually the connection between the characters becomes clear and the six novellas fuse into one thrilling, magical novel. Very witty. A work of great imagination.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 19 20:15:44 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 05 15:07:32 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Wed Jun 24 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "d4cb39beef4b10952486f29798255417", "book_id": "15783514", "review_id": "03f8ceea25e71703615b3548446476a5", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Master story teller with a fascinating imagination.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 26 21:02:29 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 30 15:40:23 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b560c29cd5fb99a546eaaaf938796120", "book_id": "7797384", "review_id": "2d1ece3e5901e9a0a15356dca6322f23", "rating": 1, "review_text": "What in the actual hell is this book? SPOILERS as I try to process what happened in here. \n I don't know what the main plot point was supposed to be. All the Anita books so far have been jumbly, but this was baaaad. So bad. \n Plot 1: So, some vegetarian vampire seeks Anita's help to heal him because he's literally rotting away. Why was Anita the one he wanted to do this? Like, there was no reason that it just had to be her. And did I miss the part where he explains why he just absolutely couldn't just suck it up and go back to drinking blood? I know it was mentioned that he did it for some chick, but like, eff her. Would any human literally starve themselves to death if they had a fridge and pantry full of food just because someone wanted them to? And in the end they wanted to kill the three lovebirds to suck their power or something...idk, don't get this entire storyline at all. \n Plot 2: So, Richard wants to be alpha werewolf but to do so he has to kill Marcus. Too bad Richard is the world's biggest werewolf pacifist because he doesn't believe in killing. So there's all this drama and back and forth with Anita saying, \"Omg, just kill him, you have to,\" and Richard saying \"Waaahhh, I'm not like you I can't be a murderer Marcus will come around eventually and accept me as alpha,\" and Anita saying \"Nooo, just kill him.\" It got really repetitive. Then when he does shift and kill Marcus and eat him as werewolves do, Anita turns into a whiny bitch and runs away crying and \"can't handle it.\" Huh?!?! She KNOWS what it's like when they shift and when a pack member dies but seeing him to it is too much?? This from the supposed toughest chick in the world who can handle anything? Okay. \n Plot 3: Someone has been hired to assassinate Anita. Unfortunately, they failed. Turns out it was Marcus trying to upset Richard. This whole plot point was stupid and pointless. Only good that came out of it was some Edward scenes. \n Plot 4: A dead body is found and Anita has to go investigate with the cops and there is some new witch detective who has like 5 lines. Again, stupid and pointless and I don't know why it was necessary (just like this whole book). \n Plot 5: Marcus' angry girlfriend kidnaps Anita and tries to get her killed in a porno snuff film. The whole way she got out of it was the most unrealistic thing I ever read. \"Oh, you'd like it if I stabbed you and stuff while we were doing it, it would make it so much hotter.\" And the costar agrees?!? OBVIOUSLY she's gonna kill you and anyone else she can get her hands on. Again, not necessary and STUPID. \n Plot 6: The main plot -- the world's most horrible love triangle. The whole book was Anita being indecisive and a pissing match between JC and Richard. I'm still too irritated to even get into it. Both of them are manipulative assholes, and Richard cries wayyyy too much. Both of them could have any girl in the city, but they just haaaaave to have Anita, the irritable makeup-less, messy haired, polo and jeans wearing idiot. The JC sex scene was cringey, her reasons for doing it made no sense, and there was no mention in this book about her strict Christian morals or her ex-fiance who used her for sex. Can we have some consistency here please? \n Plot 7: Related to #6 - I didn't understand the magic sharing crap at all. Far too many pages of this book were just filled with magic throwing and \"riding the waves of power\" and flinging magic back and forth. And I'm getting tired of Anita finding out she has more and more powers every book because she's soooo special. At this rate, by the end of the next few books she'll be a goddess who can just control the entire universe. \n TL;DR too much crap going on, nothing made sense, most horrendous love triangle I've ever read about, but I still have this sick fascination to see how much worse this can get.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 26 13:03:34 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 24 01:59:39 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sat Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jun 26 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "b560c29cd5fb99a546eaaaf938796120", "book_id": "7797382", "review_id": "7e2b551f41b117922bd792d9eb135791", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book started off terribly for me. Probably because I'm a mood reader, and I guess I just wasn't at all in the mood for the raging bitchy rudeness that is Anita Blake. She honestly has no redeeming qualities. I LIKE unlikable characters and villains. But Anita is just a straight-up nasty person. She does nothing but storm around, treating everyone like shit when they have done nothing to deserve that treatment, demands that she be treated with the utmost respect (God help you if you call her Miss), and even struts around a high school, smugly thinking to herself how much hotter she is than these HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS. Who does that?! \n Anyway, the book did pick up for me once the story got moving. I was glad to have a change of scenery, even though the plot remained terribly formulaic. But, the werewolf-vampire love triangle took a backseat, which I was very happy about. Larry was the best character in this book -- he seems like a genuine guy, he can be kick-ass when he tries, and he's willing to learn. I just sincerely hope Anita doesn't ruin him and turn Larry into a mini-me. \n I need to mention the writing. It's pretty atrocious. The book is so filled with action sequences, but Hamilton does not write these scenes well. I find that very few authors can write long fight scenes where you can easily picture what is going on. In nearly every action scene in this book, I couldn't keep up with who got hurt/killed and by whom, who was wielding what weapon, etc. It's always just a jumbled mess to me. On a totally opposite note, I felt like in this book Hamilton was trying to write...better? There were sentences that seemed like they were meant to be poetic or something, but that just made no sense in reality and I was left rereading these parts several times before I understood what she was trying to say. \n In conclusion, the best part of this book was when Anita licked Jean Claude's nipple. Lollollollollol.", "date_added": "Mon May 23 15:57:48 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue May 31 09:25:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun May 29 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "b560c29cd5fb99a546eaaaf938796120", "book_id": "7797366", "review_id": "2ab8a2b3257ce3be471ec904349460fd", "rating": 2, "review_text": "WHYYYY are these books so bad? They have potential. A lot of potential. But instead of focusing on what is absolutely necessary in a 25+ book series, namely, character development and world-building, Hamilton focuses on action scenes and a whole bunch of stupid, pointless plot that keeps the story moving but gives us nothing. \n I finished this book less than 48 hours ago and I can hardly remember anything that happened. There were a bunch of shapeshifter action scenes, lots of Anita just being a straight up bitch, and what is potentially the dumbest love triangle I have ever read. Dude, the love triangle in Twilight made more sense than this one. Anita claims she loves the vampire...Um, HOW? You literally hate everything about him, everything he does, everything he says. Thinking he's hot does not make you love him. And the whole agreeing-to-date-vampire-while-werewolf-stands-by-before-she-makes-a-decision thing is insane. Do grown people do this? Wtf???? And accepting a proposal while you're half naked getting hot and heavy? Again, wtfffffff. \n This series can be redeemed. I want backstory -- why is Anita so rude and condescending? What made her this way? Why is Richard such a sap? Why is Edward obsessed with killing like, everything? I understand Jean-Claude. I don't get anyone else. None of their actions make sense to me. \n Also, let me understand the world! Every book there is quick mention of new creatures, new groups and beliefs and laws, but nothing is expanded upon. This world is seriously intriguing (no sarcasm). So give me more world-building and less descriptions of Anita's hideous outfits for crying out loud! \n In conclusion, here are some things Anita needs to STFU about: \n The color of the swish on her Nikes. NO ONE CARES. \n Descriptions of her ~ironic~ Christmas sweaters. You're not cute. \n Her pretentious coffee. Especially when she made a cup that she claimed would \"grow hair on someone's chest\" and it was VANILLA FLAVORED. Hahahaha seriously? I've been taking it black since I was 16. Your vanilla coffee ain't shit. \n Her stupid penguin collection. \n Guns and holsters and knives. Obviously.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 25 08:05:22 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 29 13:27:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b560c29cd5fb99a546eaaaf938796120", "book_id": "7797359", "review_id": "3df747bd02afcdd83d24a566c2b0a946", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Substantially better than the first book, but still not perfect. \n I'm mostly just happy that we got a lot more world-building and got to see so much more of the paranormal things that go on -- raising corpses, mutant zombies, killer zombies, voodoo witchcraft, etc. There was a lot going on, but it was much easier to follow than the first book. I really liked our main voodoo priestess villain...the other main villain in this story was a little ho-hum. I still don't like Anita whatsoever, and I really don't like the vampire/hinted love interest. I see literally nothing to swoon over with him. \n So pretty good plot, decent pacing, iffy characters. The only other thing I need to mention is OMG CAN SHE NOT TALK ABOUT HER GUN EVERY PAGE?! I could open to any page in this book and I can guarantee Anita is talking about a gun, shooting something, or how to hide her gun under her clothes even though it's sooo hot outside. Also, she talks about her Nikes way too damn much. \n I still think this series has some promise, but I'm still not entirely seeing the 25+ book appeal.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 16 13:27:59 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 21 15:13:28 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sat Feb 20 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 5}
{"user_id": "b560c29cd5fb99a546eaaaf938796120", "book_id": "20495362", "review_id": "032c51b8a6c3117fb74fb7cc217f1080", "rating": 2, "review_text": "1.5 stars. \n This was pretty bad. \n I don't read a lot of short stories, but I love horror and I love all things creepy carnival themed, so I thought this might be pretty good. Nope. I only found about three of the stories actually scary; some of the stories just downright made no sense. Too many of the stories centered around the same plot -- hamburgers/hot dogs made of human meat, the devil works at the carnival and wants your soul. Maybe it's just me, but if I'm reading a collection of short stories, I want them all to be different and give me something new. Some of the stories that were similar even came one after the other, so I found myself skimming the second story because I felt like I had just read it. \n But the worst part about this was the editing. I think every single story in here had at least a few errors. Names were misspelled, punctuation was missing or used incorrectly, there were random line breaks in the middle of sentences that I don't think were put for any kind of artistic purpose...Seriously, some of the stories were hard to read because there were just so many errors. \n This was cheap, but I'd pass on it.", "date_added": "Wed Jan 07 06:31:48 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 07 06:43:29 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b560c29cd5fb99a546eaaaf938796120", "book_id": "23766507", "review_id": "de10d67bdd92500c1193a0c78d690489", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Hahaha oh man, the last line had me cracking up. \n I don't read a lot of short stories, but this one managed to be creepy, cute, and satisfying all at once.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 30 06:29:26 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 30 06:31:27 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Dec 29 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c0c7f59e2937d8d19b7524db6073823", "book_id": "6547259", "review_id": "50d51619bf6f1a65c0714798642063ed", "rating": 5, "review_text": "*Squeals incoherently*", "date_added": "Sun Sep 17 18:31:15 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 03 22:05:28 -0700 2017", "read_at": "Tue Oct 03 22:04:58 -0700 2017", "started_at": "Sun Sep 17 18:31:16 -0700 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c0c7f59e2937d8d19b7524db6073823", "book_id": "30196348", "review_id": "ee2623cb73cf710562be39212dc00f86", "rating": 5, "review_text": "... I may have cried a little at the end. So good!", "date_added": "Tue Nov 22 00:11:34 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 27 01:59:10 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Nov 27 01:59:10 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Nov 22 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9c0c7f59e2937d8d19b7524db6073823", "book_id": "13501210", "review_id": "c02b2668507002b3512358a3ba55079a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Such an incredible and beautiful short story.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 16 17:56:26 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 19 04:35:57 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "6690798", "review_id": "2512691cabdefc7ce3c40b8aa73be502", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Joe says: \n \"Justin Cronin's \"The Passage\" is going to be the book of the summer. A story about the end of the world as we know it and the dawn of a world born on our refuse. Cronin does amazing things in this book...he juggles dozens of characters, and although you don't get close to all of them, I cared deeply for many of them. (Especially Alicia, who reminded me a lot of Starbuck (Cara Thrace) in the new Battlestar Gallactica...) Across this sprawling story, he manages to tie things up well in what was, for me, a very satisfying ending. (Although there will be a sequel, I did think it stood on its own.) \n This is going to be a great book for the long days of summer. And don't let its size daunt you: the first 150 pages raced by and I read the last 500 pages in two days... I didn't want it to end, but couldn't slow myself down at all.\" \n Jackie says: \n \"This book is a modern day Frankenstein tale--literary science fiction on an epic scale. You may have heard that it is a vampire book, which is only vaguely true. This is more of an outbreak book, that involves a virus that can mutate people into a sort of vampire like creature, most often called \"Virals\" or \"Smokes\". It began as a very convert government project using death row prisoners, high up in the Colorado mountains. Except the monsters they created were far, far smarter than their inventors could ever have dreamed of. While the Virals are the constant threat, the real story lies in how the humans try to adapt to a rapidly changing world where they are an isolated minority and prey to the creations of \"science\". This book is reminiscent of Stephen King's \"The Stand\" in it's scope, diversity of slowly intertwining story lines, and bold look at humans in crisis, as well as an overlying mystical quality to it that waxes and wanes throughout the hundreds of pages of the book. This tale grips you hard and won't let you go. I was literally exhausted when I finished reading it because I lived every moment with those people--Cronin's story telling ability is mesmerizing.\"", "date_added": "Sun Jun 13 17:10:52 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 13 17:11:25 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "6559316", "review_id": "5803d646b3c82614652b5240cd82c866", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Jackie says: \n Forget Stephanie Meyer, THESE are the vampires you want to hang out with because they will make you laugh constantly. This is a fang-filled, free-for-all festival of sex, vampire cats, fringe science and teenage minion angst. It picks up where \"You Suck\" left off without missing a beat and it is of course full of Moore's stylistic raunchy humor that has made him a superstar to the slightly twisted reader like myself. FANGtastic read with a surprise ending--don't miss it!", "date_added": "Sat Feb 27 18:57:14 -0800 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 31 19:04:33 -0700 2010", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 11, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "6541090", "review_id": "0673eebe7634442675b64ba1dd4cf0bf", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Jackie says: \n This book was originally commissioned by and performed on NPR by the author himself on Christmas Day, 2008. It is what Maguire calls a 'reillumination' of the famous, though not oft heard anymore, Hans Christian Anderson tale 'The Little Match Girl'. Accompanied by his own line drawings, this story is told in a way that only Maguire could. His fans will love it. \n **Please look for this great book at an independent bookstore near you. There is a store finder at www.indiebound.org**", "date_added": "Sun Nov 01 12:15:45 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 04 12:15:16 -0800 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "6202342", "review_id": "8233184c1e203e1d5bca0890f725ef6e", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Jackie says: \n The long awaited new novel from the author of The Time Travelers Wife is a doozy. It's the story of twins--one set the mother of another (that sentence will make more sense when you read the book). There are strained family relations and secrets, death and illness, an historic English cemetery, ghosts aplenty and strange but well intentioned neighbors/lovers/former lovers. The story gets progressively weirder and more involving, and the ending...well, let's just say that it left me with a \"hmmmmmm\" feeling. \n Cathy L says: \n The author of the phenomenally successful novel \"The Time Traveler's Wife\" returns with a spectacularly compelling and haunting second book set in and around Highgate Cemetery in London. \n ***Please look for this great book at an independent bookstore near you. There is a store finder at www.indiebound.org***", "date_added": "Sun Oct 11 09:10:47 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 11 10:04:09 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "5083281", "review_id": "e58c66373582ff6a1172f599fd8070c9", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Jackie says: \n Kim Harrison is the author of the very popular adult paranormal fiction series known as \"The Hollows\" (it starts with \"Dead Witch Walking\" and the most recent addition is \"The Outlaw Demon Wails\") She's trying her funny charm and fiendish imagination on the teenage crowd now, still dealing with what I at least would call paranormal beings--angels. It's a very complex world full of Time Keepers (humans who can bend time and control angels), Dark Reapers (angels who scythe humans when fate says it's their time) and Light Reapers (angels who try to prevent that fate from happening), Guardian Angels of various aptitudes, and more. Madison has learned all of this since she was scythed on the night of the junior prom, but there were some complications with all of that. The Dark Reaper went rogue and stole her body, but she managed to steal his amulet (a kind of power source) which has left her soul on Earth and given her the illusion of a body so that no one but the angels actually know she's dead. The whole book is a cat and mouse game of them trying to find each other and take back what was stolen from them. While I don't like it as much as all the vampires, witches and pixies that inhabit The Hollows, I think this is a fine start to a new", "date_added": "Sat Aug 15 09:51:32 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 15 09:52:47 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "6068551", "review_id": "d054a81d6ec4cc929c41c8ae649002dd", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Jackie says: \n Technically, this is teen fiction, but I think everyone who loves a great love story and wants to believe that there is magic in the world should read this book. Magical is exactly what this book is. Not just because it's about a girl and her werewolf. Because it's told with depth and beauty, creating a world you want to loose yourself in. It made me cry more than once and yet has filled me with an emotion I cannot quite name--a sort of wistful joy and glowing hope is the best way I can come up with to describe it. I will not tell you more about this story--I want you to come to it on your own and fall under it's spell without anything to spoil it. Give yourself the treat of reading this book. \n ***Unchain yourself! Please look for this great book at your local independent book store. You can find a store locater at indiebound.org***", "date_added": "Tue Aug 11 13:10:02 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 07 13:10:11 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "6559051", "review_id": "c52167aad6d666eda0052eaf751497a6", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Jackie says: \n Fans of Laurel K. Hamilton,Charlaine Harris and Buffy the Vampire Slayer have a brand new series to sink their teeth into, and it's good to the last drop. \n Author Jennifer Rardin introduces CIA \"assistant assassin\"(though don't call her that to her face) Jaz Parks and her 250 year old boss (and kinda, maybe, love interest) Vayl--in the first book of the series Once Bitten Twice Shy. In this first installment, Jaz and Vayl are just supposed to assassinate one vampire--all in a days work for them. But they learn that he's involved in a plot to unleash a horrible virus on the world, and the case gets more complicated. Especially since he and his co-conspirators are using an ancient demonic being to help them. Oh, and Vayl's sort of ex-wife is in on it too. And did I mention all the cool James Bondish toys Jaz's paranoid friend Bergman creates for her? \n These are complicated, engaging, hilarious characters that will win the reader over immediately and leave them panting for the next installment. Rardin has a way of turning a phrase that will make your ribs hurt from laughing.", "date_added": "Tue Aug 04 14:48:32 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 04 14:51:09 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "6240758", "review_id": "d68ac1c2cf68224bfa238df6934cbb4d", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Jackie says: \n This is a fairy tale, most certainly. There are mystical happenings and ghosts, mists that carry people away and bees that drive others insane. And there are women, multiple generations of two different families, whose loves and losses, woes and joys are recorded within the pages as well. If you suspend your disbelief and just allow the story to flow over you, you will fall under it's charm. This is an amazing debut novel, strange and beautiful, grim and shining, a morality tale with more than a few lessons to teach.", "date_added": "Mon Aug 03 18:22:41 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 03 18:25:14 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "6065215", "review_id": "d2b2b55a40a71411926463960185bd44", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Jackie says: \n Sit up and take notice vampire fans, there is a new dynamic duo writing a spine tingling, fast paced and very smart trilogy that's going to hit the genre like a storm. \"The Strain\" is the first book and sets up the concept of what amounts to a biological attack by a rogue master vampire on the human race, starting in NYC. The main humans that are fighting against it are two doctors from the CDC, an old holocaust survivor who has been tracking this particular vampire all of his life, and an exterminator who specializes in rats. It's an interesting collection that works very, very well. The momentum of this book is relentless--by the second night of the infection, you won't be able to put it down. It's going to be a frustrating wait until this time next year for the second book to come out.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 27 18:06:18 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 27 18:06:18 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "13657", "review_id": "5da08e0cd1b51797534f1f67973b25da", "rating": 0, "review_text": "If you read Le Guin and like her work, I would recommend 'Changing Planes'. This book is about people being able to move between planes of exsistence, and is basically a compilation of what she does best. A bunch of worlds that tell us something about ourselves, instead of telling us something about them. \n Chuck", "date_added": "Mon Mar 09 07:41:02 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 09 07:42:21 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "18423", "review_id": "39b6c5b1cc2d5019ea1b75e4d3c3a4da", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Ursula K Le Guin is probably the author I have to push the least. She has been writing for a long time and her work has better exposure than most sci-fi authors. For me, that makes her a good gateway into the world of speculative fiction. What makes Le Guin so good is that she has wonderful character development and is amazing at creating worlds and universes. With many sci-fi authors the worlds they create are just a back drop to the story they want to tell. For Le Guin they are an integral part of the story, it's what makes her novels so engrossing. She's not creating worlds for the fun of it, but as a way to see our world better. \n Le Guin has three novels in what some call the Hainish Cycle that are wonderfully readable, 'The Left Hand of Darkness', 'The Dispossessed', and 'The Telling'. In 'The Left Hand of Darkness' there is a world of single gender people not so she can explore the idea of mono-gender, but is really a way for her to discuss our own gender issues. In the 'Dispossessed' Le Guin shows us a world of anarchists in conflict with a entirely incorporated society in order to explore our conflicts with corporate culture. 'The Telling' examines the destruction of histories and mythologies in the name of progress and \"truth\", which means ignoring the deeper truths of these mythologies. \n I would recommend all these books to book clubs. They cover so many ideas in a thoughtful way that discussion topics are easy to come by. \n Chuck", "date_added": "Mon Mar 09 07:33:14 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 09 07:36:53 -0700 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "2457867", "review_id": "e4e96006d4cff1e8fa72e651b5414d34", "rating": 0, "review_text": "The premise of this one really grabs me--SLJ says \"when three children take coins from a wishing well, the old hag that lives in it forces them to fulfill all of the wishes made on them--no matter how evil or hateful.\" That's got my imagination running in overdrive! \n Jackie", "date_added": "Wed Jan 07 18:05:01 -0800 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 07 18:08:57 -0800 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "4835", "review_id": "d78353a3d661a924e5ddfd30e3033610", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This is such an amazing fantasy adventure story, one you can really lose yourself in. \n Becca", "date_added": "Tue Dec 09 04:26:05 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 09 04:27:14 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "4902793", "review_id": "e2f165acf0a1655517b1f362a456b967", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This series is on my 5 Star list--it's funny, it's southern, it's sexy without being sleazy, and most importantly, it's vampires! Anyone who loved the HBO series True Blood will go crazy opening this on Christmas day (though you may not see them again until sometime in January because these books are addictive and to have all of them on your shelf just waiting for you...the temptation will be too much for some!). \n Jackie", "date_added": "Sun Dec 07 09:28:57 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 07 09:33:52 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "20343", "review_id": "4cf6f772f361622299b52b35e2bc7623", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Midge thought she would spend a long boring summer on her uncle's farm. The third day she was there she rescued a tiny winged horse and the adventure began. \n Sarah", "date_added": "Fri Dec 05 09:30:40 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Dec 05 09:32:20 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "162898", "review_id": "bba5194d33b8a8b3ff4216471740b9dd", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Quoting Dennis: \"The best and funniest book I read in 1962!\" \n A timeless book making people laugh and think for over 100 years!", "date_added": "Thu Dec 04 06:01:07 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 04 06:02:52 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "151723", "review_id": "e406ccd8d9e1d257cb59c0a48ddca4a2", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Mark L says: \n Excellent Arthurian storytelling and recreation.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 28 05:43:16 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 28 05:44:23 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "478628", "review_id": "8c8c39aa7fe208202ebeed819a51d4d5", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This is the first book in a kick-butt sci-fi/mystery series. I picked it up years ago as an advanced readers copy and nearly went nuts when I found out that the next book wasn't coming out for another six months. Good, good stuff!!! \n Jackie", "date_added": "Tue Nov 25 05:41:53 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Nov 25 05:44:22 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "12967", "review_id": "4472f9994a803977a3c5e556d6810b38", "rating": 0, "review_text": "A truly fabulous read. Gorgeously written, fantastical tale of love and loss set in mythical turn of the century \n New York City. One of my top ten favorite books of all time. \n Jeannie", "date_added": "Tue Nov 25 05:37:35 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 02 20:40:33 -0800 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "676924", "review_id": "442ace715cf9323664cfe1252311805e", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I liked the Twilight Saga, but I'm CRAZY about The House of Night series. It's also about teenage vampires, but these teenagers are smart and funny and serious for the most part, yet still very believable as teenagers (I didn't really feel that way about Meyer's characters). I'm sure that's helped by the fact this is a mother and young adult daughter writing team who are absolutely fearless about what happens to their characters. Plus it's a new and interesting twist on vampirism, which I always appreciate! I cannot recommend this series highly enough--it is addictive!!! The books in the series are: \n #1 Marked \n #2 Betrayed \n #3 Chosen \n #4 Untamed \n #5 (coming out in March) Hunted. \n Jackie", "date_added": "Wed Nov 19 05:30:16 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 05 14:50:20 -0800 2009", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 23, "n_comments": 7}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "323152", "review_id": "57fa5d85c9c1eacd225a205761ad047c", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Jocelyn says: \n The Hermux Tantamoq series is just perfect for those good readers who want adventure, villians, courage and realize the importance of friends (and doughnuts). I could rave on and on!", "date_added": "Sun Nov 16 09:58:41 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 16 10:00:42 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "440415", "review_id": "b70f4c2fa568b7672b0534521310efd7", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Steve says: \n This is an exciting tale about runaway orphans making their way through the treacherous streets of Venice.", "date_added": "Sun Nov 16 09:53:28 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 16 09:54:40 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "483721", "review_id": "20b64c5313431608b3fc5bdfa6e1ab53", "rating": 0, "review_text": "So amazing. So clever. I LOVE the tornado page especially. \n Jackie", "date_added": "Fri Nov 07 19:07:30 -0800 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 13 06:52:40 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "30183", "review_id": "36b9a77b76fa06a236fd7472d123270b", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Teen fiction is SO much better than it used to be (way back in the day when I was walking to school barefoot and uphill both ways). And this series, written by a mother and daughter team, is exceptional. It's a new twist on vampirism, with a high school/finishing school for teenagers going through \"the change\". Typical teenagers in many ways, they are portrayed as smart, active, interested in school and in the future, which is a lovely counterpoint to much of what is said about teenagers today. The story moves and grows at such a fast pace it is very difficult to put the book down--and not to jump immediately in to the next book in the series. Stephanie Meyer fans will LOVE this series as well.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 29 19:06:44 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 19 05:37:21 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "1182350", "review_id": "9a282710001eacdd4241be48d6fddfc4", "rating": 0, "review_text": "It details the travails of two humans conscripted into the post of Shinigami (literally translated the term means \"death god\". Basically these guys are Reapers, but with personal issues and sometimes cool Samurai swords) after their troubling deaths. They work for a vast and dysfunctional afterlife beaurocracy. Apparently there are things you can't escape even after death, government being one of them. They spend their time leading lost souls to their just reward. As with a lot of Manga it features a high \n level character angst and \"bromance\". Google the term and you'll find the wiki and \"urban dictionary\" definitions. \n Andrea P", "date_added": "Wed Oct 29 18:28:12 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 29 18:35:20 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "2880", "review_id": "c03a45a38f185c8dd1ae7aa4ca18da23", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This is the one with the samurai swords, and basically has the same set up as the Descendant's story line; a group of once human protagonists who deal with the problems that arise when the dead hang around too long postponing their final trip out. \n Andrea P", "date_added": "Wed Oct 29 17:37:52 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 29 17:39:25 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "1776675", "review_id": "14b174fc9bc8dbb301790499a3afab5f", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Beth W says: \n Really it's a pretty amazing book. A pharmacist and his comatose son move to a new town with a supposedly top notch facility for coma patients. The town is more than a bit peculiar and unwelcoming. The pharmacist takes a job at the clinic where his son resides to keep a close careful watch over him, and always reads to him his favorite comic book, LIMBO. LIMBO is based on a rejected \"family\" of circus freaks, who are on the run and looking for a new home that will accept them. LIMBO stories show up between every couple of chapters. What is most difficult to explain is that the \"real world\" and \"limbo\" start to overlap in bizarre ways and the result is both touching and pretty eerie. \n This was a entertaining read. And I think it gave me some pretty strange dreams. It's all about family, freaks, forgiveness, and hope. I liked it!", "date_added": "Fri Oct 24 15:05:31 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 24 15:08:13 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "37442", "review_id": "472361502b7c400991ea723b8e08fca4", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Becca k says: \n The concept of Wicked is so cool. Ethnic wars? The wizard as dictator? A seriously good read.", "date_added": "Fri Oct 24 04:41:13 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Oct 24 04:43:01 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "171125", "review_id": "6618b0e8280839a72aa84d49434b9827", "rating": 0, "review_text": "A smart tale of a society where tradition governs all, even to the detriment of its own citizens. Each chapter is its own story with its own protagonists, but all are woven together like so many strands of hair to create an engaging tapestry of fiction. \n Nate R", "date_added": "Wed Oct 15 06:11:46 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 15 06:14:09 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "77566", "review_id": "47464802f461a7a16575cb5fa1dba870", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Hank says: \n Great storytelling: science fiction meets The Canterbury Tales!", "date_added": "Tue Oct 14 05:06:23 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 14 05:07:40 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "153008", "review_id": "565f4fda810d9043b4ff3b70b7549481", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Beautifully written, wonderfully realized, compulsively readable! A brilliant mix of fantasy, Renaissance European history and theology. I can't recommend it enough. \n Nate R", "date_added": "Sun Oct 12 06:49:49 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 12 06:51:57 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "365", "review_id": "5a8c323c2fcd23c8692a6387cd1f4ac2", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Douglas Adams, master of sharp, dry British humor, at his sharpest and driest. Riotously funny but subtly so. The most sensible nonsense I've ever read. \n Nate R", "date_added": "Mon Oct 06 04:52:24 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 06 04:54:27 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "68427", "review_id": "01851d7de7c36426548ef2016c70851f", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Ky says: \n Sanderson was chosen to finish out Jordan's Wheel of Time Series. Elantris was his first book about the City of Gods coming back alive after a decade. Great story, great characters, great fun.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 05 04:11:09 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 05 04:13:07 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "34497", "review_id": "f7a4ab3fa9bc5c846f6bbdc683ca60d8", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Need a little time away from Earth? Why not go to Discworld where things are less complicated and much funnier. \n Bonnie S", "date_added": "Sun Oct 05 03:36:03 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 05 03:37:39 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "2133795", "review_id": "23e04b39e0c62b284cb1c937730813c8", "rating": 0, "review_text": "K. Isberg says: \n I couldn't put it down--what a road trip! \"Savvy\" fantastic reality with everyday characters being wacky and magical.", "date_added": "Thu Oct 02 17:09:10 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 14 03:56:14 -0800 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "2477117", "review_id": "f9b71b15bb84ccce30cccbbd7641dfa9", "rating": 0, "review_text": "(FOR THE SHORT REVIEW SKIP TO THE BOTTOM) \n Not since \"Catcher in the Rye\" have I felt that a book was written specifically for me. Not that much is really shared between them, except they are those rare books that brim with complete and utter awesomeness. They were also that exact book I needed to read at that exact point in life. \n Upon reading the cover flap I thought I was in store for something a bit pulpy and moderately derivative. This is something I usually don't mind since I am very fond of genre fiction. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that while getting the gist of the story absolutely right the flap-writers also got it wrong. Rarely have I been happier. \n Why read this book? \n Why not? \n The writing style is fun, yet serious. The characters are multi-dimensional and well utilized. The plotting perfectly navigates that dangerous ground between the fields of literary and (believable? understandable?) science fiction. Unfortunately, this may be a flaw, as unimaginative readers of both stripes may just give this one a skip. \n What else, Ryan? Tell us. \n Sure thing, no problem. \n Perfectly placed comedic gems are liberally scattered through the book, even as horrific events unfold. There is love and war and kung fu scenes never before found between such day-glo covers. More importantly there is terrible sadness and friendship and that wonderful all-that-matters-at-the-end-of-the-day trait called loyalty. \n Now, I don't like to beg (not true), but I implore you to give this one a chance. Step out of your comfort zone, grab this pink, fuzzy book and hold on for dear life. When you are finished reading you will approach me. I will nod calmly and knowingly as you offer your neverending thanks for making you read \"The Gone Away World\". \n SHORT REVIEW: \n If you didn't have a pulse this book would give you one.", "date_added": "Sun Sep 28 09:47:44 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 29 07:58:54 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 31, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "378", "review_id": "fcc00f442c200d289c7e30133dc62694", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Greatest. Book. Ever.", "date_added": "Wed Sep 24 10:28:53 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 24 10:28:53 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "379260", "review_id": "616064466a6e47376af3b232bf1a5033", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Bookseller and barista Rob says: \n \"Bewitching. Alarming. This amazing book puts me in the mind of 'The Wizard of Oz' (Note: This book is not for youngsters or my parents.). As in every good fairy tale, the innocent are beautiful (in their way) and the villains are heinous (lewd, unredemptive, awful, if not laughably absurd). I can't say enough about this book...oh, wait...yeah, I'm done.\"", "date_added": "Sat Sep 20 21:06:52 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 30 05:31:51 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "186074", "review_id": "4b302b405870cd1b99297ab2c02887b3", "rating": 0, "review_text": "My absolute favorite recent fantasy novel. A refreshingly original voice and a truly worthy contribution to the genre. \n Chris C", "date_added": "Sat Sep 20 20:57:55 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 14 05:10:24 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "334123", "review_id": "c7c28ae38d411820201206f037e142a5", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This book is on the bibliography of books challenged, restricted, removed or banned in 2007-2008 put out by Robert P. Doyle and the American Library Association. More info at http://www.ila.org/pdf/2008banned.pdf", "date_added": "Mon Sep 08 18:48:49 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 08 18:48:59 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "59264", "review_id": "2e69559f8e785f629aee01b02718bde9", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This book is on the bibliography of books challenged, restricted, removed or banned in 2007-2008 put out by Robert P. Doyle and the American Library Association. More info at http://www.ila.org/pdf/2008banned.pdf", "date_added": "Mon Sep 08 18:48:07 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 08 18:48:19 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "59263", "review_id": "e55d24a1927b21d21dc3ae422858b920", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This book is on the bibliography of books challenged, restricted, removed or banned in 2007-2008 put out by Robert P. Doyle and the American Library Association. More info at http://www.ila.org/pdf/2008banned.pdf", "date_added": "Mon Sep 08 18:47:32 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 08 18:47:42 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "1067692", "review_id": "a96709837957d2ccb61fe759edc455c4", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This book is on the bibliography of books challenged, restricted, removed or banned in 2007-2008 put out by Robert P. Doyle and the American Library Association. More info at http://www.ila.org/pdf/2008banned.pdf", "date_added": "Mon Sep 08 18:45:39 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 08 18:45:52 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "862272", "review_id": "17a50bfa0a5533439a3a5c8915cf7211", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This book is on the bibliography of books challenged, restricted, removed or banned in 2007-2008 put out by Robert P. Doyle and the American Library Association. More info at http://www.ila.org/pdf/2008banned.pdf", "date_added": "Mon Sep 08 18:37:32 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 08 18:37:49 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "15881", "review_id": "4211b214695ec06a2c1d8cfbad1d4561", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This book is on the bibliography of books challenged, restricted, removed or banned in 2007-2008 put out by Robert P. Doyle and the American Library Association. More info at http://www.ila.org/pdf/2008banned.pdf", "date_added": "Mon Sep 08 18:36:50 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 08 18:37:02 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "1", "review_id": "8c79dd37c6a74e061c5e51da17729eff", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This book is on the bibliography of books challenged, restricted, removed or banned in 2007-2008 put out by Robert P. Doyle and the American Library Association. More info at http://www.ila.org/pdf/2008banned.pdf", "date_added": "Mon Sep 08 18:35:41 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 28 05:09:41 -0700 2014", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "6", "review_id": "a9a604234f4f48dd7334499588685433", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This book is on the bibliography of books challenged, restricted, removed or banned in 2007-2008 put out by Robert P. Doyle and the American Library Association. More info at http://www.ila.org/pdf/2008banned.pdf", "date_added": "Mon Sep 08 18:35:05 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 08 18:35:25 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "119322", "review_id": "b19b4e614790caf44a7831e4f4b7ad4a", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This book is on the bibliography of books challenged, restricted, removed or banned in 2007-2008 put out by Robert P. Doyle and the American Library Association. More info at http://www.ila.org/pdf/2008banned.pdf", "date_added": "Mon Sep 08 18:32:49 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 08 18:33:02 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "45432", "review_id": "07e4daa2619edd0f373dc0c8bddefcff", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This book is on the bibliography of books challenged, restricted, removed or banned in 2007-2008 put out by Robert P. Doyle and the American Library Association. More info at http://www.ila.org/pdf/2008banned.pdf", "date_added": "Mon Sep 08 17:18:07 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 08 17:18:18 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "104902", "review_id": "1f3526164404569627fccdd5a43c6ca5", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This book is on the bibliography of books challenged, restricted, removed or banned in 2007-2008 put out by Robert P. Doyle and the American Library Association. More info at http://www.ila.org/pdf/2008banned.pdf", "date_added": "Mon Sep 08 17:02:39 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 08 17:02:56 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "2653911", "review_id": "217c6d33156a8a45cf693fa5d68c44ac", "rating": 0, "review_text": "signing at the store 9-18-08", "date_added": "Sun Aug 31 10:24:06 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 31 10:24:24 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "2580524", "review_id": "f3761781f8467da7498c04c029285306", "rating": 0, "review_text": "signing at the store 9-11-08", "date_added": "Sun Aug 31 10:18:11 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 31 10:18:32 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "3071808", "review_id": "f709d8b891306a87260bd5684df9244b", "rating": 0, "review_text": "signing at the store 9-10-08", "date_added": "Sun Aug 31 10:15:40 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 31 10:16:07 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "1656001", "review_id": "f45060b251ae7d5c555c0c8e31da95a5", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Book Sense Picks are books independent booksellers across the U.S. recommend this month.", "date_added": "Fri May 09 14:51:39 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 14 11:26:35 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Thu May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "1316617", "review_id": "6243c5f050f5503ee732cdbac088fd3e", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This is a great book for Laurel Hamilton, Kim Harrison, Charlaine Harris and Janet Evanovich fans--it's got camp, it's got some steamy sex, it's got quirky characters and it's got a bit of a mystery to it. Honestly, how can you NOT love a succubus who is a millenia old and the assistant manager of a bookstore? There's rock and roll, there's drugs, there's people trying to return books without receipts. There's vampires, there's (jaded) angels--need I say more? \n -Jackie B", "date_added": "Thu Mar 27 13:04:49 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 16 14:03:12 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b62e7452ce0cebbd1cfed2fe5b6852a5", "book_id": "1048623", "review_id": "645d24ebc2bf05c531484d1b85468ad8", "rating": 0, "review_text": "This is considered a \"teen historical fantasy\" novel, the first in a new series called Hallowmere. I have to say it hooked me pretty hard. Set in recent post civil war times, it concerns orphan Corrine who is sent to live at a rather strange girls reform school by a seemingly uncaring and harsh uncle. The school is as grim as you might imagine, with a cold headmistress and an extremely unusual population with a whole lot of secrets. Like girls that have gone missing (who may have been sacrifices of some sort), strange, nearly vampiric Fey living in the bushes just outside the gates, voodoo dolls and strange rites in the middle of the night. It's creepy, engrossing, and very well written. The second book in the series, By Venom's Sweet Sting, comes out in December. Book 3, Between Golden Jaws, is scheduled for April of 2008. \n -Jackie B", "date_added": "Thu Mar 27 12:33:34 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 16 13:59:57 -0700 2008", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28349ad3bad2b9dec8135fdbcc5832bc", "book_id": "93101", "review_id": "df183af865a0d894c5b273444b1f0458", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Who wouldn't have read this ?!!", "date_added": "Mon Dec 17 23:52:04 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 17 23:52:29 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28349ad3bad2b9dec8135fdbcc5832bc", "book_id": "7913305", "review_id": "90a742d616d192c75bc8c4be14d2bb14", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Nice read. The reson I bought this book was the cover. Really. But all credits to the author. Very well written.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 17 22:27:40 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 17 22:28:36 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28349ad3bad2b9dec8135fdbcc5832bc", "book_id": "11827808", "review_id": "4805dcfc4a74ef4fedb95e99b66db5ab", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Not upto the first book. Still not bad at all.", "date_added": "Mon Dec 17 22:27:29 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 17 22:29:00 -0800 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "efd9811a13379faf1cbfe9e8e27bc73b", "book_id": "10016013", "review_id": "4aa83c9744ec81c992697bd4c637663f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "It is a good story, but it is not a <> one in any way. It is quite clear that there's no a pourpouse or objective, which is quite cool for a short thing, but not for this MASSIVE thing. \n Anyway, it is funny.", "date_added": "Thu Apr 25 06:35:09 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon May 06 07:48:44 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Mon May 06 07:48:44 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Apr 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "efd9811a13379faf1cbfe9e8e27bc73b", "book_id": "7082", "review_id": "199adb0c6373606568b37c47075be627", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Dicen que la buena literatura se distingue porque nos permite formularnos preguntas acerca del mundo y cambia nuestro entiendimiento de este. En gran medida la genialidad de \"Do Androids dream of electric sheep?\" radica en que nos pone de frente a una pregunta primordial: ?Que significa ser humano? Luego las respuestas que ofrece el texto pueden gustar mas o menos, naturalmente. Sin embargo, a mi parecer, el valor del texto no se encuentra ahi.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 04 08:58:35 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 14 14:36:57 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sat Nov 14 14:36:57 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Nov 12 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "efd9811a13379faf1cbfe9e8e27bc73b", "book_id": "341735", "review_id": "d7776529c15361e4b78ec360c44fb6e4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Lleno de lugares comunes, casi cliche, pero entretenido. La vision del mundo tan egocentrica, tan norteamericana, que sorprende.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 01:14:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 31 05:53:46 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Oct 31 05:53:46 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Tue Oct 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bf4aa5a27a757c7c96b3a5083e9ba68b", "book_id": "23014001", "review_id": "bca9582aa76b3a131eb53f3aebba82b1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book was not as terrible as the cover made it sound. It was actually somewhat enjoyable at first, but the ending was so vomit-worthy that I can't give it more than three stars.", "date_added": "Sat Sep 19 21:42:46 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 19 21:44:10 -0700 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bf4aa5a27a757c7c96b3a5083e9ba68b", "book_id": "18367581", "review_id": "bf2a9c46f7469045a38ce1e6ce16dfed", "rating": 4, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n I was really, really excited to find a book by one of my favorite authors that featured a queer person of color as a lead character! I enjoyed most of this book, except I really felt that the ending should have been a little less happy, especially after all of the talking about happy endings.", "date_added": "Sun May 17 17:38:31 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 05 09:26:37 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Sun May 17 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bf4aa5a27a757c7c96b3a5083e9ba68b", "book_id": "11556960", "review_id": "aa157f43b551960c6e5600d42963e916", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book had a really great plot. The idea of the Spinsters is very creative, and I liked that. However, although that bit was original, the format of the story is pretty generic of books of this genre (girl is special in a dystopian future where girls are repressed, girl is separated from her family and some of them are killed, girl falls for boy she shouldn't fall for, chaos ensues). \n Nevertheless, I'd like to read the next one in the series to see what happens, since the end of the book is quite a cliffhanger!", "date_added": "Wed Jul 09 22:58:13 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 11 17:42:56 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jul 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bf4aa5a27a757c7c96b3a5083e9ba68b", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "0bbd042e64dbad485670f4bef3fa693a", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book was AMAZING! AMAZING!!! Normally, when I'm excited about a book, I read it until my eyeballs are about to fall out, but with this one, it was so full of beauty and wonder that I had to keep putting it down to ponder what had just happened and picture everything going on in my mind. The writing style is superb and as I read it, I truly felt like I was at the circus. It's like a very long fairy tale turned into a novel, and I just can't say enough good things about this. Everyone should read this book.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 06 22:56:00 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 14 22:12:50 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jan 14 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Jan 06 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bf4aa5a27a757c7c96b3a5083e9ba68b", "book_id": "11500217", "review_id": "0282d955536d105e171bb6cd8ee6b18f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm too tired to post a full review right now. I'll come back and finish this later. The abridged version: I couldn't decide if I liked it for awhile, but then I decided I did, even though it wasn't particularly original. I watch a lot of Supernatural and it definitely had some similar elements in terms of how they portrayed the role of angels and god. The romance line was cheesy and predictable. However, I still got sucked into the story and I want to read the rest of the series!", "date_added": "Fri Nov 30 16:45:41 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu May 16 00:59:15 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu May 16 00:59:15 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bf4aa5a27a757c7c96b3a5083e9ba68b", "book_id": "7365164", "review_id": "866ac0b07910fcd7f76b2a3cf369e3af", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This book and the sequel are A-MA-ZING!!! \n I grabbed this book at the library thinking it would be cute at best, and I was so blown away, I even contacted the author to tell her how great it was. The plot is meticulously researched and very believable for a fantasy (aside from the obvious magical aspects and a little bit of ridiculousness), and although I read it a year ago, I think I'll be reading it again soon as December 21 approaches. \n Although I'm not a teen girl, I still feel like this book was written just for someone like me - into conspiracy theories, secret societies, and ancient knowledge. Also, after reading this series, a bunch of weird coincidental things happened to me that related to themes from the book...totally cool! \n In lak'ech.", "date_added": "Wed Nov 28 16:29:11 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 29 00:54:33 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "bf4aa5a27a757c7c96b3a5083e9ba68b", "book_id": "8467464", "review_id": "b4b27b2eb964a5fce3cd6f9ecf46b913", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Roses and Bones: Myths, Tales, and Secrets is a compendium of three of Block's books. I had not read any of these previously, but I had read several other of her books years ago when I was in college, like the Weetzie Bat series. I remembered liking them at the time, and enjoying her writing style, so I picked this up at the library a few weeks ago. I can see why I enjoyed her then, but I did not enjoy this as much now, as an adult. \n The thing with Block's writing is that it is very intoxicating, on the surface, because she is very gifted at writing dreamy, magical prose that pulls you in to a beautiful yet tragic place. She is excellent at describing scenery, people, clothing, food, and so forth, as well as portraying emotions like longing, puppy love, and emptiness. However, deep down, it's all quite depressing. Her version of love, as another reviewer commented, isn't true love, it's misguided lust, codependency, and one-sided obsessions. Or is that \"true\" love - that is, is that reality? I like to think not... \n Her writing used to suck me in, because I so wanted to be one of the characters in her books: gritty and beautiful and adored by at least one person who could see past my imperfections and love me with every ounce of their being. It would be us against the world, holding hands and forging our way through endless bright lights and dim rooms and drinks and parties and people and we would be fabulous amazing sparkly rock stars whether anyone else realized it or not...and so forth. That is no longer a goal of mine. I would like a real relationship, where we have independence, and aren't dead inside when the other is away for five seconds, thank you... \n But I digress... \n This book in particular is essentially three stories of all of that - central female characters that party and sleep around and are all quite unremarkable and fairly damaged, but her writing makes them seem like they are something to aspire to be. \n Psyche in a Dress, the first book, is written in a poetry-esque style. I am not familiar with the original myths that it's based on, and although I was going to look them up as I was reading this book, I got lazy and didn't. I was fairly confused throughout the story because of my lack of knowledge of the original stories as well as the cryptic writing. It was so-so. \n The second book, Echo, was easier to understand, although she jumps around characters quite a bit and it gets hard to follow. Each chapter is narrated through a different point of view from the one before, and some of the characters have more than one name. Nevertheless, it isn't too difficult to piece together, although I wished I had a flow chart at one point to track all the people everyone was sleeping with. Echo, the lead character, really bothered me though. She had a psychic power which allowed her to see into someone's past if she did an erotic striptease for them. Seriously, what the hell? The way Block writes it makes it seem like this is some magical, mystical, amazing thing where she sees into boys' souls and then heals them by having sex with them, but to me it was just some patriarchal BS. She always is left empty inside because they never stick around, so it's just another example of a woman serving men in a non-equal situation. Screw that. \n The third section was a bit different. It's a collection of very short stories that are all variations on fairy tales. Some of the originals I was not familiar with or I couldn't quite correlate with the original version, but others translated fairly well. A couple were cute, especially Tiny, a variant of Thumbelina. My favorite, and probably the only thing I truly liked in the entire book, was the Snow White adaptation. I won't spoil the ending, but it's how I've always wished the story ended up.", "date_added": "Fri Nov 23 20:50:35 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 31 11:57:07 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Dec 31 11:57:07 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Nov 23 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28e3dbee0f3a9525d4eff26a92e820fe", "book_id": "71811", "review_id": "9e17a4ace4b8f412bc5151583dd478a1", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I actually liked this book. I wasn't sure that I would have going into it, and the pacing is a little slow at first, but it was a fun read all in all.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 23 11:04:24 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 24 06:51:46 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sun Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sun Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28e3dbee0f3a9525d4eff26a92e820fe", "book_id": "68428", "review_id": "7b77d9a3c55714eab5c39079ad2b92b2", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Loved it!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 09 19:35:03 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon Jun 20 14:03:27 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Sun Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Thu Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28e3dbee0f3a9525d4eff26a92e820fe", "book_id": "219205", "review_id": "a68bd229ac151b05ebcbfcbd3700d96a", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I just don't like this... it reminds me too much of the beginning of the Amber series I suppose. It is somewhat slow, I just didn't care for it... Tony, you were more right than I will admit...", "date_added": "Sun May 22 11:22:51 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed May 25 14:50:34 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sun May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "28e3dbee0f3a9525d4eff26a92e820fe", "book_id": "1215032", "review_id": "a8326909d714e367fea5fb16376b12ed", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was an amazing read. I can't wait until the third and final book in the series is published. The book is a continuation of the adventures of main character Kvothe at the University, in far off Severen, with the Adem mercenaries, and in his constant search for the Chandrian. \n The book is very well written, and Mr. Rothfuss is on of those special types of people who can not only write, but can weave a fantastic story worthy of any genre and reader. This series so far has been wonderful, and you are emotionally tied to Kvothe throughout the entire span. \n Did I mention that I got to see Mr. Rothfuss this past Sunday, March 5th in Houston? Amazing guy. \n Simply put read the book, it is worth it.", "date_added": "Mon Mar 07 06:25:38 -0800 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 09 07:08:24 -0800 2011", "read_at": "Tue Mar 08 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "started_at": "Mon Mar 07 00:00:00 -0800 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28e3dbee0f3a9525d4eff26a92e820fe", "book_id": "13497", "review_id": "89771bd00f68a0ad7e684bc44cd2ac1f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book in the series was not really what I expected nor wanted... I'm disappointed that after the pure genius of the first three novels that the fourth was so anti-climatic. Of course, I have to admit that this is most probably due to the fact that I read the entire series in one fell swoop. Had I been forced to wait for several years for A feast of Crows to come about I would have been ready, willing, and excited to read anything to do with this series. \n Saying all of that, however, I am still waiting on pins and needles for the next book to arrive!", "date_added": "Mon Oct 25 06:14:23 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Thu May 19 21:00:21 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Fri Nov 05 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Mon Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28e3dbee0f3a9525d4eff26a92e820fe", "book_id": "6307964", "review_id": "6c521637e890e9833214c51d3675397f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Absolutely amazing... Martin has secured himself as the complete and utter King of Fantasy with this series. Hand down.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 18 07:45:13 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Oct 25 06:12:21 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sun Oct 24 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Mon Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28e3dbee0f3a9525d4eff26a92e820fe", "book_id": "7719355", "review_id": "37fc6f4ad749e9a828379397ec13edad", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Very enjoyable read. Ms. Carriger has again done us a great disservice in making us wait another year for the next installment. @gailcarriger", "date_added": "Thu Sep 16 10:35:50 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 29 14:20:45 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Wed Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Mon Sep 27 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28e3dbee0f3a9525d4eff26a92e820fe", "book_id": "7165300", "review_id": "6152a75348865bab16ad1a29d59df0da", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was a great book! What more can I say? Read the fuckin' thing!", "date_added": "Thu Sep 16 10:34:23 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Sat Sep 25 21:11:10 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sat Sep 25 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Mon Sep 20 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28e3dbee0f3a9525d4eff26a92e820fe", "book_id": "7149287", "review_id": "6447ddbf2bc12786528857191455cac8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Wonderful read! I can't wait for another in the series!", "date_added": "Thu Jul 08 09:05:49 -0700 2010", "date_updated": "Mon Sep 20 06:53:45 -0700 2010", "read_at": "Sun Sep 19 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "started_at": "Thu Sep 16 00:00:00 -0700 2010", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28e3dbee0f3a9525d4eff26a92e820fe", "book_id": "4702664", "review_id": "2f84a5d8ceed893eda8184c569f9e806", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was an interesting twist on the common urban fantasy story. I will be looking forward to further books in this series! I really liked the Norse connection here, being a big fan of Norse mythology and Rune lore in general this was a very enjoyable romp through a modern re-visioning of of Norse gods and monsters.", "date_added": "Wed Jul 01 11:12:59 -0700 2009", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 08 10:19:21 -0700 2009", "read_at": "Mon Jul 06 00:00:00 -0700 2009", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "28e3dbee0f3a9525d4eff26a92e820fe", "book_id": "310516", "review_id": "6c3642e4df4fde1f4d540be965ba5af4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book has one of the best starting chapters I have read. It opens into the Iraqi war, and you can tell that the author, Mario Acevedo really did serve in the war. But once the war sequence is over and the story shifts back to sate-side, the story becomes contrived, as the author attempts to push himself into a vampire novel. \n Many people really enjoyed this novel, and it is an entertaining read, but I think that the author has soo much more potential. I might pick up the second book in the series just to see if he gets better.", "date_added": "Thu Jun 19 18:40:41 -0700 2008", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 19 18:46:22 -0700 2008", "read_at": "Sat Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2008", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "657b4977f74b90d58088e6a296ef070b", "book_id": "6760780", "review_id": "ad5b83faa7848b51882de9c2f9983938", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Interesting mystery, kind of Harry Potter-like. Quick read and easy to get into.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 30 18:47:50 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 01 19:15:58 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "657b4977f74b90d58088e6a296ef070b", "book_id": "1829709", "review_id": "abd0f692cf78d5971462969f724d5d6f", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Before sending teacher's free books, the publisher really should warn you that the book is #4 in the series. Oh well...Interesting story, but no where near as captivating as my students assured me it would be. Onto \"grown up\" books again.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 19 16:38:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 19 16:40:01 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jun 19 16:40:01 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a6195f3a2003ef17050ae1f8656573a9", "book_id": "15767586", "review_id": "c7abeebe4f2cd499269690852e8992da", "rating": 4, "review_text": "best book in the series", "date_added": "Mon Oct 14 13:51:54 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Oct 24 11:37:07 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Oct 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a6195f3a2003ef17050ae1f8656573a9", "book_id": "11512718", "review_id": "5e0464836732da04069bc777ebbc2fb3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Didn't reach my expectations", "date_added": "Tue Jul 02 11:17:53 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 25 08:56:25 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Dec 23 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Wed Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "a6195f3a2003ef17050ae1f8656573a9", "book_id": "13505141", "review_id": "aca810552ae70435f3b80bf035dfae1c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Nat sure is kool... but M is a bitch", "date_added": "Sat Jun 15 11:55:05 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 15 11:56:58 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jun 15 11:56:58 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a6195f3a2003ef17050ae1f8656573a9", "book_id": "5287473", "review_id": "48a4183a3a3efae503e390b49e0e2034", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Expect the unexpected....", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 01:07:15 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 16 05:31:42 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a74453c572cab07e2e28303ec1eda06a", "book_id": "29056083", "review_id": "f0f15169982483656884e6bdccdf62ba", "rating": 1, "review_text": "** spoiler alert ** \n Now, sorry about the arrogant voice, but I am really annoyed by this book and sad, that they didn't let Harry die in that happy golden glory we saw him in at the end of Deathly Hallows. \n Its bad. I mean really really awful, bad. Full of cliches, \"funny\" jokes, and just... I think there were 10 different spots during what I had to hold my hear and scream quietly, because it, just, was that bad. So why? Let me tell you why. *spoilers start here, but just continue reading, because... well, spoilers* \n Totally in random order, here goes: \n !1. Who the hell made the pumpkin pie lady on Hogwarts express a serial killer? Who? and more importantly why? It didn't play any role in there, it was just... silly! Turning her hands into metal spikes.... \n 2. Albus Potter didn't know his dads parents had a statue? And the other bloke... what was he.., yeah, Scorpius did. OK, I get that Albus wasn't the most fond of his dad, but man! How? \n 3. Who changed the speeches of Ludo Bagman? If they went back in time, he really should've said things he did say. I don't have a copy of Goblet of Fire here ATM, but I can most certainly not recall him rising Diggory as the one who \"makes us all go weaky at the kneesy, he's Cedric Delicious Diggory. \n \" yuck \n 4. Couldn't they at leats try to make the exciting bits dramatic? Or did they? I mean the Avada Kedavra bit was kind of meh and not really important... Ant \n And then theres the Harry, Ron and Hermione, who ... well acted as more adults in the 7th book than in this one. Make ron melt with Fred and George, reducing his mental capabilities to 0.., have harry not cast any kind of spell to the evil Delphi, when he knew his masquerade is failing, have hermione mainly give press conferences and remind Harry about his low carb diedt. \n Yeah, I didn't like the book. And I am afraid I don't like the play either. Harry Potter is and will be in 7 books.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 31 06:07:42 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 01 13:45:35 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Sun Jul 31 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a74453c572cab07e2e28303ec1eda06a", "book_id": "12451932", "review_id": "e9b9809415d24994cd575d8e44260b9f", "rating": 5, "review_text": "He managed to make the narrator cry a little :) But the book was worth it, truly a masterpiece", "date_added": "Tue Sep 08 09:49:14 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 13 22:41:41 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Dec 14 22:41:41 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a74453c572cab07e2e28303ec1eda06a", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "6b7a5d04618787d251bf0695279a69d8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Awesome book. Very realistic. \n If only human race would be as helpful and kind to each other as they are in this book. \n in fact, I believe every school kid, who yells at their mommy about useless maths should read that book.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 03 14:46:08 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 22 10:19:32 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sat Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "a74453c572cab07e2e28303ec1eda06a", "book_id": "7700659", "review_id": "edbb0d51f356aace9d4be227154e6ce8", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Tegemist on raamatuga, mida voib lugeda kordi ja kordi. \n Seda teost voib klassifitseerida nii ulmeromaani, kui ka kelmi, voi kriminulli alla. No jah, voibolla see viimane ei olnud koige parem pakkumine. \n Triloogia kolmest raamatust on ta minu lemmik. Voib-olla ehk selleparast, et vahemere maade loodus on aaretult ponev ja sealne tegevus samuti. Samuti ei olnud selles osas uleliia tahtsustatud maagiat, vaid enamus juttu kais ju situatsioonide umber, mis oleks voidud luua ka ilma maagiata.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 01:41:05 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Aug 07 03:56:29 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "30167733", "review_id": "04af2235155ac31b431fc85a2ec1ed03", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I loved the way the story was a contemporary story but hinted at paranormal elements. The historical components were also fascinating, weaved through the story as Rhys finds about the area he has moved in to. So as you read the book you learn about Rhys and his relationship with his brother and about him forging new friendships as he moves back to town after a two year absence. Alongside this is the story of the family who used to live in the Hall, a grand house nearby. \n As the author points out, this is a taboo story, so won't be for everyone. I'm okay with reading stories between brothers, and this was no different. It was about a connection between the two men that went beyond the physical. I did find some aspects of the story a little to easily resolved everyone was very accepting of the relationship between the brothers - the neighbours, the boss, the father, and I think it would have been more realistic for the acceptance to have needed to be more easily won, especially with the father, plus I didn't understand the apparent lack of concern about legalities of the relationship - yes, they worried about what people would think, but not so much whether they would be arrested. , but overall I enjoyed Rhys and Jake's journey. \n Note: I read a proof copy of this story before publication", "date_added": "Mon May 30 17:40:41 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon May 30 17:46:26 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Mon May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "28487054", "review_id": "198d55c8d9b4b8805db5ab3ed39500a0", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This was a great edition to the series, I think my favourite book yet. There is really strong world building, the author weaving a tale that had me totally engrossed. There are a lot of characters, but they each have a clear voice. And Marcus, the human? A perfect hero. Highly recommended.", "date_added": "Tue Jan 12 17:18:01 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 15 14:10:27 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Fri Jan 15 15:52:55 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Jan 15 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "25758816", "review_id": "5be9190999480ce9c1279c223a7ef846", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Really liked the world building. It seemed quite unique to me (although I don't read a lot of paranormal). Lots of action, great characters, nice sexy times. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series. 4.5 stars.", "date_added": "Wed Dec 16 19:39:21 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 27 14:33:20 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Dec 27 15:39:19 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "26234687", "review_id": "e00606d83c5eafe835fb7d8b8197aacc", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I'll rate later when I can work out how I feel about this book. I had to read it in little chunks, much like how I watch a horror movie through the gaps in my fingers.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 02 02:38:14 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 08 15:25:13 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Nov 09 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "25557065", "review_id": "b2d39e1ddc1eaa910d610449c965c16b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I quite enjoyed this because I liked the main character and the touches of humour. Shame it's a cliffhanger that just stops. Free from Amazon.", "date_added": "Sat May 23 06:44:25 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sat May 23 06:46:17 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "25348993", "review_id": "5085f111073f106dc860601b458f1d1b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "How can you go wrong when buying this book supports such a good cause?", "date_added": "Sun Apr 12 18:09:29 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun May 03 18:01:52 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Thu Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Thu Apr 30 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "23109581", "review_id": "107e3654aef42b7cf4fd1e8eb358aad5", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars", "date_added": "Sun Mar 15 00:28:49 -0700 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Jul 26 00:47:14 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Fri Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "started_at": "Fri Jul 24 00:00:00 -0700 2015", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "24832706", "review_id": "b041be149547abcf9fdff37630e84bc2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm really enjoying the Men of London series. The first book grabbed me due to the original characters. I loved the bad tempered and slightly aggravating, Gideon, in particular. The second book, Sight and Sinners, had a unique feel all of its own. I was drawn to the complex and heartbreaking situation Draven found himself in. \n Taylor and Draven are a compelling couple, each being a strong character in their own right. Taylor's special gift is handled in a way that is very realistic. I could feel his pain as he coped with the visions that come to him. \n The relationship between the two men progresses at a good pace, in parallel with the mystery that needs to be solved, with a nice dash of sex thrown in. It was also great to see glimpses of Eddie and Gideon from book one, Love You Senseless. \n So check out the blurb below to find out more about Sight and Sinners. I highly recommend this book (and the series) so give it a go! Don't forget to enter the giveaway to win books from another one of Susan's great series.", "date_added": "Wed Feb 25 13:12:41 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 25 13:13:30 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Thu Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Thu Feb 26 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "24924521", "review_id": "69164b15529d03d5ba9cdd689900cffd", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This story concluded the series. I really enjoyed the series. Each book is relatively short, like an episode of a crime show on tv. We get to solve the mystery and catch the bad guy, all while watching the heroes fall in love and get their happy ending.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 16 15:51:01 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 16 04:12:05 -0700 2015", "read_at": "Mon Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "24924459", "review_id": "d5c178de28986149635344a9e9e2fd79", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm really enjoying this series, so much so that I wish the books were longer. I do think they would make great full length books. \n This story felt like an episode of a TV series with Dix heading off on a mission where things don't go according to plan. There's some action and heroics and the development of the relationship with Kristof. Now I'm eagerly waiting the next installment so I see if Kristof finally gives up his Lone Wolf ways. And just what is that secret he is hiding? \n Highly recommended for a quick read.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 16 15:45:34 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 16 15:52:25 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Mon Feb 16 15:52:25 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Mon Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "24797283", "review_id": "8b7249730dcc0070db20fc4eb4352af0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I read much fewer shifter stories than I do contemporary romance but every now and then I enjoy escaping into the world of werewolves. In perfect honesty, I came across this story because it was free on Amazon. I then read it because I was in the car and needed something to read and it was at the top of the list (being a recent purchase). And I'm glad I read it. \n The story is relatively short and read in under an hour. But it was hugely enjoyable. In fact, I would have enjoyed reading more of it - luckily it's the first in a series so I'll get to see more of these men. \n There was enough world building to give a sense of the world these men inhabited without leaving the reader feeling lost. Too much and it would have swamped the short story. The focus was on the two men, their reaction to one another and the beginning of a relationship. \n These were military men and I liked this background. There is a little mystery and some action. The MCs start as enemies and I do like an enemy-to-lover theme. I'm looking forward to seeing how the relationship develops.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 10 22:43:01 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 15 02:22:34 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Feb 15 10:43:12 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sun Feb 15 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "23309025", "review_id": "4aec3b01fc0166c5d545e66549426be3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Such a lovely story as the love of Michael, helps to heal Josh. \n Josh had a breakdown after the death of his father and his life was turned upside down. He lost his partner, his home, his job and his mental health deteriorated. He is struggling to get back on his feet but has a mother who loves him dearly and nudges him in the right direction. \n I loved seeing Josh establish a bond with Michael, having to trust his own judgment, even when he has been hearing voices. Josh learns to trust his heart and be open to accepting Michael's love. \n Maybe Josh accepted Michael with too little question, maybe Michael fell hard for Josh without much reason provided but surely it was destiny and obviously a love that was meant to be. \n I enjoyed the hope, the love, the belief and the happy ending. 3.5-4 stars", "date_added": "Mon Dec 08 15:56:58 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 18 14:27:06 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Dec 17 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Dec 17 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "22610391", "review_id": "5dbd818f280737b95f752dcae4c26757", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is a shifter story and had some of the elements I've come to expect in such a tale, such as the mate bond. The mates in this case are Joe (the human) and Cal (the werewolf). But this story had something a little different. The werewolves of the world are gradually being wiped out by a group of hunters. These hunters have killed most of Cal's family and he's on the run. There's plenty of change for Joe to play hero and luckily he has connections - men he can ask to come and help in the fight to protect his mate. Finally there is a link to politics. So while some parts of the story are expected, there are some nice bits of originality! The characters drew me in and the pace saw me get to the end in no time. Now I just need book 2 because this one leads directly into the next story where we find out (hopefully) what happened to Cal's family.", "date_added": "Thu Sep 04 00:39:30 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jan 18 15:25:24 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Tue Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Sep 09 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "22267616", "review_id": "6558ca655e26d60778bdbe7252d43318", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This ticked all the right boxes - 4.5 stars \n Loved the world created. It felt original and somehow plausible \n Really enjoyed the blend of mystery and police procedural with the relationship development \n The unresolved sexual tension was good \n Nice dash of humour, heroics and sex \n I am definitely looking forward to the next book!", "date_added": "Wed Jun 18 00:14:51 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Aug 04 23:26:15 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "22409739", "review_id": "24ac61368380f115350ee8ba645f8936", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed this story with the cops/shifters and actually liked both characters, including Dimitri with is appalling behaviour in the beginning of the story. I think the 'romance' element reached a natural conclusion but I found it slightly annoying to reach a 'to be continued', not something I usually expect in one of these DRITC books. However, I liked this story enough that I will happily read a sequel. \n 3.5 stars", "date_added": "Thu Jun 12 06:02:53 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 08 23:44:01 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "22404441", "review_id": "e9e7809a87c8be30b9245c11f998fc50", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is definitely one for lovers of sweet shifter stories. It has the added spice of a menage. \n Danny is looking after Scotty after they've had to leave their pack. He's doing the best he can but sacrificing himself to keep Scotty safe and give him a home. They are a very sweet couple and very much in love (although at times I found Scotty seemed quite simple and childish). In comes Mick who is looking for a pack of his own and falls for these two wolves. \n This is a light story - insta-love, sweet characters, protection and rescuing with some menage sex thrown in! \n So three and a half stars - one for each sexy wolf plus a half for the sweetness and the sex! \n This book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of providing an honest review for Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 05 18:00:18 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 29 02:52:54 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jun 20 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "22387803", "review_id": "401d645ee0f3e0621bee5e4f4cbfc3c9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is the third story in the DSP Daily Dose Mended anthology. It was short but surprisingly enjoyable. I say 'surprisingly' because I'm not usually a big fan of fantasy/historical worlds but this one really worked for me. \n The story takes place over one night as Corin needs to brand his servant/lover. I could feel Corin's pain at having to perform the task and admired Bran's courage due to his love for the other man. I also liked Finnick, the guard, who was so understanding of their situation and amusing. \n 4 stars \n For m/m romance reviews and more check out Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Sun Jun 01 21:33:48 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 04 06:57:00 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "22233023", "review_id": "7478cce7a8925c50889f2bf4d015aae9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This shifter story was a little bit of fun! The shifter plus the rock star element was an interesting combination especially when Tabby/Levi's secret is added into the mix. Levi is desperate to join the band, Lion's Pride, that his childhood friend Xan is a member of, so desperate that he has gone to extreme lengths to do so. \n The story follows the growing relationship between Levi and Xan and the struggles Levi faces as he battles the physical effects resulting from his actions and the mental anguish of deceiving his lover. \n This is more a typical romance where not a lot of shifting actually happens although the fact these guys are shifters is key to the story. For that reason, this book might make a good 'starter' story for for someone who is new to the genre and wants to check it out. \n It was entertaining and had a cute twist at the end. 3.5 stars \n A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in return for an honest review. \n For m/m romance reviews and more check out Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Wed May 28 16:29:12 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Jun 06 06:17:12 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jun 04 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "20964543", "review_id": "3c9e00dfba3e0e8f7f7520bb35d57dd4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "As expected with an anthology, this book is a bit of a mixed bag. It's mixed in terms of the genres but with a strong focus on fantasy. There's a bit of sci-fi and some magic thrown in. \n Heart's Tournament by Mell Eight \n Fantasy isn't really my thing so this was an average read for me. The story was interesting but not really a romance. There's twincest without the sex. 3 stars \n Champions by Andrea Speed \n Enjoyable story but a little too short to really get into. This is one for the sci-fi fans. 3 stars \n Canis Project by Kish Swanson \n One of the stronger stories in the collection. This was really unusual and I've not read anything like it before. I was at first surprised by the twincest (the second one in the anthology) then surprised by the turn the story took. It isn't really a romance but definitely a love story. It's sci-fi and mystery and very enjoyable. 4 stars \n Experiment Number Six by Mina MacLeod \n The first person present tense took me a moment or two to settle into. The romance wasn't the focus, it was more the mystery and wondering what had happened to Jason while he was captured. Quite an interesting military sci-fi. 3.5 stars \n Knight & Novice by Cassandra Pierce \n Historical fantasy with a mythical creature. An interesting world. 3 stars \n Fight to the Finish by Diana Sheridan \n I'm not a huge fan of fighting to the death scenes and that, combined with the lack of romance meant this story didn't really resonate with me. \n Rule Breaker by Archer Kay Leah \n It took me a little while to get into this story but then I really enjoyed it. I liked the relation ship between the characters and the heroic's demonstrated in saving Tracel. 3.5 stars \n A Little Magic by Annabelle Kitch \n This is a fantasy story set among men kept as fighting slaves. Magic shrinks Thrimm and Arn becomes his protector. Their love grows as they take care of each other in the violent and bloody environment. Very much like fairytale. 3-3.5 stars. \n A Good Man by Caitlin Ricci \n I Iiked the combination of stripper and ex-boxer and always enjoy a story with long-term lovers. Told from Emery's POV when getting fired leads him to reassess some things in his life. 3.5 stars \n Gladiatrix by S.S. Skye \n This story was f/f and unfortunately I didn't really warm to the characters and feel their relationship. \n Feint of Heart by Freddie Milano \n This was a likable story although I wasn't totally sold on the relationship between the main characters - Cal and Taren. A little bit too much reliance on eavesdropping to progress the story and the love angle wrapped up a bit too easily but it was an interesting world. 3 stars \n Chasing Coyote by August Aimes \n This started really strongly but I found the magic a bit hard to get into and I didn't understand some of the complexities. I also think some on-page sex would have improved my enjoyment. 3 stars \n A copy of this book was received from the publisher - via Netgalley - in return for my honest review.", "date_added": "Thu May 15 23:36:53 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 28 07:14:30 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon May 19 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "21532990", "review_id": "297840341738d306783a4263fb954751", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This was the ultimate fantasy tale combining vampires, faeries and shifters, as Inigo and Micah race to save the faerie kingdom from the threat of the new king. \n This was an unexpected journey that starts with Inigo, a vampire and renowned tattoo artist, being forced to accompany some fae to the palace of Oberon the King of the faeries. Oberon needs a tattoo placed on his back as part of the ceremony to become king. However he harbours a secret which prevents Inigo from completing his work. \n Oberon is also under threat from Micah, a faerie who knows too much, his family having been banished from the kingdom. When Micah returns to faerieland, he is captured by Oberon and placed under a magic spell. \n This is the journey of Inigo and Micah as they band together to defeat the evil Oberon. There is action and adventure. There is abuse by the evil Oberon. There are complicated back stories and a cast of characters that I sometime struggled a little to keep up with. This is fast moving and packs a lot in. \n I'm not a huge connoisseur of paranormal and fantasy, however I found this story to be imaginative and engaging. But what I most liked was the writing style - it was such an interesting blend of world building, dark moments and humour. I loved the dialogue, accompanied by the internal thoughts of the characters. \n A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in return for my honest review.", "date_added": "Fri Apr 11 23:50:21 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Apr 12 00:29:16 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Apr 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "18311546", "review_id": "1b08eb3c86948fc28efe7466c8a94047", "rating": 0, "review_text": "FREE for the next hourfrom Less Than Three Press \n http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/boo...", "date_added": "Tue Apr 08 06:07:01 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 04:50:20 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "20943652", "review_id": "7856acb89029ba806c21a279018ddf06", "rating": 4, "review_text": "As with the first book in the series The Good Wolf, this werewolf/shifter world is a completely different take on the worlds I have come across before. \n This is a lot of focus on the negative aspects of being a wolf - the pain, sadness and desire to avoid the pull of the full moon. There is fear and loathing of the gruesome horrors that these wolves might find themselves involved in. \n This story follows Evan, who was introduced in book 1. He is injured and stumbles across Mason and Niall (the couple from The Good Wolf), who he hasn't seen for years. Evan is a changed man but Mason and Niall don't know that and there is a lot of distrust. \n Evan's love interest is Michael, a young man with his own troubles, who was born wolf. They share a special bond and their relationship strengthens throughout the book but once again, this story wasn't a typical romance as in the story is not purely focused around the couple and their feelings for each other. \n This is a story of healing, mending bridges, learning to trust and fighting the enemy. \n 3.5 stars. \n A copy of this book was provided in return for my honest review. \n Visit my blog if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place! Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Fri Apr 04 05:50:52 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Apr 04 06:03:35 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Apr 03 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "18336441", "review_id": "890140b93206faaf5621cfe6ac31c309", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Good Wolf was surprisingly unique. Definitely not the standard shifter story. I don't read a huge amount of paranormal stories, so maybe there are more out there, but I haven't read a story that provides such a brutal look at the world of werewolves. \n This story isn't about gorgeous alphas with their band of devoted followers. It isn't about insta-love and werewolf bonding. It shows the horror and violence of the wolf. \n Mason hates every moment of being a werewolf and has spent years trying to find a 'cure'. He is alone, living in isolation, hiding from the man who created him and despising what he has become. \n I didn't feel this was a romance in the traditional sense but Niall and Mason develop a relationship as they deal with the horrific three days each month when the wolf takes over. \n I am now looking forward to reading about the Bad Wolf. \n 3.5 stars \n Visit my blog if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place! Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Sat Mar 01 14:48:05 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 29 19:46:30 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Mar 30 19:51:57 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sat Mar 29 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "20663610", "review_id": "09e277d52395cf80a15df783e741f51c", "rating": 5, "review_text": "You know when you sometimes come across a book where you think something along the lines of \"not really sure it's my cup of tea but I'll give it a go anyway?\" Well this was one of those examples for me. Given the choice I usually go for lots of angst and drama and don't mind shedding a tear or two over a story. Humour is therefore not usually at the top of my list. However I am so glad I read this book - it was fabulous! \n Cal is an actor who suddenly inherits the estate of an ex-lover he hasn't seen in years. The call from Mac's attorney came out of the blue but is opportune for Cal who could do with a financial boost. Dewey is the country lawyer who is also involved with the Barnyard Players, a theatre group that was supported by his now dead client, Mac. When Cal arrives in town, so begins an amusing story as he begins to fall for Dewey while the ghost of Mac is determined to win Cal back. \n I loved the characters and loved the whole premise of the book. It's chock full of the most amusing lines as no-one can see Mac and they start to think Cal is not quite right. \n Cal suddenly squeaked and said, \"Goddammit.\" For the first time, it crossed my mind that he might have a case of Tourette's. It would explain a few things. \n And the conversation between Cal and Mac is hilarious.. \n \"I can probably go anywhere I want to. I think I'm haunting you, not the house.\" \n \"New York? You can go to New York City?\" \n \"If you go to New York, I can go to New York. Are you suggesting a romantic getaway?\" \n \"Don't be ridiculous. I'm hoping that when I got to New York you won't be able to follow me.\" \n I am definitely going to check out more books from this author and I have definitely learned my lesson and think I might just check out some other humourous stories too! \n 4.5 stars \n The author provided a copy of this book in return for my honest review. \n For m/m romance reviews and more check out Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Fri Feb 14 20:04:02 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 28 06:16:28 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Apr 17 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Sun Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "14288619", "review_id": "f03c6b7afb380a5845566f17555b19fc", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Short and kind of sweet for tentacle sex! I liked it! But I don't think I have too much to add here. Check out SheReadsALots review - perfectly summed up and with a cute gif! \n SheReadsALot's review", "date_added": "Sat Feb 08 22:26:36 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Fri Feb 14 20:09:23 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Feb 12 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "20662895", "review_id": "d84126be9fd483f859e0c85be0adda2c", "rating": 0, "review_text": "The answer is yes.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 01 14:48:00 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 23 05:31:53 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Feb 02 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 10}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "20571417", "review_id": "85597a27d423d5e7d93391269205ea48", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I don't read a lot of shifter books, especially shifters of the non-wolf kind, but every now and then I like to dip my toe in and check one out. This series hit the spot. I enjoyed reading about the broken characters, getting their second chance at happiness and finding love. 3.5-4 stars", "date_added": "Fri Jan 31 15:15:45 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 01 15:59:45 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Wed Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "18219491", "review_id": "0e1c4af0fe64e25af2c5f01addc1fd40", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I don't read a lot of shifter books, especially shifters of the non-wolf kind, but every now and then I like to dip my toe in and check one out. This series hit the spot. I enjoyed reading about the broken characters, getting their second chance at happiness and finding love. 3.5-4 stars", "date_added": "Fri Jan 31 15:15:35 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 01 15:58:40 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Tue Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Tue Feb 23 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "18753627", "review_id": "59c6d4921eaf46df893d699a0751c78a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book followed in the footsteps of it's predecessors - insta-love with the mating bond, the usual shifter things including mental telepathy and hot alpha males, the closeness of the pack - but this one had something additional thrown in with the inclusion of a child. \n For me, it's very much a light read without much thinking involved - a little bit of escapism into a fantasy world. The strength of the story was in the handling of Hayley and not glossing over her presence and what that meant for her father - the child really did come first.", "date_added": "Sun Jan 26 04:42:45 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 07 08:05:03 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Sun Jan 26 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "20632218", "review_id": "71a8387c6659f2b52f99443bf44bba4b", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Free from ARe and Smashwords", "date_added": "Sat Jan 25 14:30:40 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 04:49:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "8489445", "review_id": "cf4b051f338fccc816916a650bf5817a", "rating": 0, "review_text": "FREE from ARe", "date_added": "Thu Jan 23 17:01:57 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 04:49:31 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "20601722", "review_id": "0100c27e83305e738784c64a6fff5423", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Free from Smashwords", "date_added": "Tue Jan 21 03:28:22 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 04:49:29 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "20257657", "review_id": "8329bc2241c8efa5e7a07e2e0e871fff", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Just a bit too weird for me. \n \"You're a fucking monster!\" Cyrus laughed, and Will felt the vibration run through his stinging skin. \"Why, yes I am Will. You've only just noticed?\"", "date_added": "Mon Dec 23 13:27:48 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 11 22:36:07 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "18665089", "review_id": "c68291c2c7cf125f903482d5470f5ff8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.5 stars", "date_added": "Wed Nov 13 01:34:26 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 28 01:24:15 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Thu Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Oct 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "18720502", "review_id": "260ec7fc7490a615e4f37ce56cf67c24", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This story continues with the same feel as the previous book only upping the emotions quite a bit. \n In Unexpected Mate, Brian had fled to the town and found his mate Marcus, after been banished for being gay. In this story, Jason is running to his friend Brian, after being abused. There is lots of emotional conflict as Jason tries to reconcile his 'bonded' feelings for Alex with his distrust of men. \n Alex is the Alpha - big and strong - who has to go against all his instincts to give Jason the space he needs to heal. \n As with the first book, this series is light reading, perfect for when you want a quick read and don't want to think too much. Shifters, mating links, communicating mentally and healing through love. \n I publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Tue Nov 12 00:21:32 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 26 21:04:20 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Nov 13 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Nov 12 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "18527193", "review_id": "71496c0a900d2e6df5cee34285a840b8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I quite enjoyed this short story, mainly for it's uniqueness. It was a sweet story with a happy ending that tried to cram in quite a lot of content. \n Reading a book with a time travel component was a bit of a first for me. It was an interesting concept and an interesting combination/contrast of the historical and the modern. I liked the view of homosexuality in Roman times and how that coloured the main characters views on their feelings for each other, or rather if they would act on their feelings. \n The story focused on the situation the men found themselves in, cursed for eternity, or so it would seem, but lacked some depth into the whole situation. I think a longer story was warranted, something that would answer all the questions - exactly how did they end up 'stoned'?, why did the curse break specifically?, more details on how they kept abreast of the times..... \n There are lots of things happening in this story - the action in ancient times, the curse, the relationship between the men, the event that breaks the curse, Tarquin's encounter with the neighbour's daughter, the men's separation and reconciliation. \n However I felt the end was too abrupt. I think I would have enjoyed to see more of Marc and Tarquin once they had established a life together. \n All-in-all I liked the story, read it in one sitting, and was interested enough to want to check out other work by this author. \n I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. \n I publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Sat Oct 19 04:45:46 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Nov 08 23:50:42 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Nov 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "18214658", "review_id": "407335a4985f9d75e526171b4c56b7ea", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm not usually a huge fan of shifter books but for some reason I've had a desire to read some this week. With a title like this one, I didn't know what I was in for but it was a pleasant surprise. \n I enjoyed this story of an special type of werewolf breed, living in a world where they are hunted by 'standard' werewolf. The alpha male Luna Werewolf meets his already pregnant mate who is being held captive, when he himself is caught. \n Sex helps the werewolves recover when they are injured or exhausted and with all running and fighting, this means the book has lots of sex. :) \n It finishes on a lead in to the next book. I'm definitely tempted to check it out. \n 3.5 stars", "date_added": "Sun Oct 13 03:55:57 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 23 06:10:47 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jul 23 06:15:19 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Wed Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "19258383", "review_id": "2d57e5b7d991c6a519af3c6dbd4955a1", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was pure escapism! I don't read a lot of shifter romance but was really looking forward to this series. I wanted nice, easy reading and that was exactly what I got. \n Marcus is one of the Holland brothers. Of the four, there are three gay brothers (what are the chances?) and Marcus who is the odd one out. That is until he meets Brian, his mate. \n \"Why couldn't this man belong to one of his gay brothers? Hell, why couldn't this man be a women?\" \n What follows is a cute story as Marcus turns away from Brian and then needs to try to win him back. Throw in a bit of drama with a bitchy ex-girlfriend and a nice accepting family - a fun, light read with a happy ending! \n On a side note, the only thing I struggle with in this type of story are the weirder elements of sex - a knot at the end of someone's dick taking hold of his partner's prostate just seems freaky to me. I need to stop putting too much thought into just how that would work! \n I publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Fri Oct 11 05:16:12 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 26 20:11:17 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Oct 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "18523217", "review_id": "c545a37c40d906dd1cb7ea610aa1bde3", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Definitely a bit different! I'm always a bit partial to a story set in the porn industry - usually guarantees a bit of hotness! - and throw in the paranormal elements and it sure makes for an interesting combination. \n Mikey, a nice boy who makes tea for his mum...... \n \"The kettle started to boil and I hurried to put tea leaves into the pot and dump two handfuls of biccies on a plate, refusing to think about what exactly my mother and the man I'd gangbanged just a few days earlier had to say to each other.\"There's nothing like taking your porn star lover home to meet mum! \n Hot sex! \n And romance....... \n \"I've been missing you today and the worst about what you just told me wasn't hearing that you are some kind of paranormal demon.\" I took a breath. \"It was thinking that I'd lose you.\" ...so sweet! \n I publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Sat Sep 21 00:48:52 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Dec 25 19:55:47 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Dec 08 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "18403216", "review_id": "f93c905ba9759118a1b46342955005fb", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This short book was a nice blend of romance with a ghostly element. It was a nice way to spend an hour tonight when I knew I didn't have time to do a lot of reading. \n For it's length the story packs in quite a bit. It's a story about art forgeries, about lost love, second chances and about ghosts. \n The tales starts with Luke on the trail of an art forger who turns out to be the man he loved and left many years ago. Of course Luke still has feelings for Stefan which Stefan returns. \n I liked the style of the storytelling and how Luke and Stefan respond to one another, their history colouring their reactions. There was a bit of mystery and some drama. I must admit that I do not usually read too many stories about ghosts but I like the way this one was done. I think the ghostly elements blended really nicely with the focus on Luke and Stefan's rekindled love - a good balance which suited me fine. \n The only downfall for this story was the length. There was so much packed into it, that it just skimmed on the surface of many things. There was opportunity to provide so much more background into Luke and Stefan's past together but also their lives apart - the tragedy that befell Stefan and the accident that maimed Luke. I would have even enjoyed seeing more about the relationship between Edward and Arcoletti. \n All-in-all, a nice way to spend an hour. \n Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy of this book in return for my honest review. \n I now publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Thu Sep 12 05:02:28 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 05 22:34:59 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Sep 19 05:23:19 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Sep 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "18398247", "review_id": "f640654ce78fbcaf681c2eb7e5e1730d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This is such a hard story to review. It's a story that has a very emotional feel but those emotions aren't necessarily pleasant. There are so many sad elements to this story - illness, neglect, rejection, suicide and self harm - that I found myself feeling quite down. And with all this sadness, it was almost uncomfortable to see the sexual elements play out. \n I think the author did a wonderful job in creating a story that conveys sorrow and pain. However, although the ending touches on Lucas being in a better place, about to start his 'true life', I still felt quite unsettled at the ending - there's a sense that happiness will come but it didn't translate to the story ending on a positive note in terms of my own emotions. But sometimes that can be a good thing and it certainly had me pondering a number of issues. \n So my advise for readers...it's only a short story but be prepared for some serious issues to be raised. This is not your traditional romance so don't expect hearts and flowers. \n I now publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Fri Aug 30 22:21:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Sep 12 04:55:04 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Sep 12 04:55:04 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "11281950", "review_id": "a27b3568a90b49d4065b3d9bf0092405", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Free on Amazon 5th Feb only!", "date_added": "Fri Aug 30 03:21:52 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 04:47:49 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "18216592", "review_id": "fda7e2caa55ba9e410cd3582a7d916a9", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars", "date_added": "Fri Aug 23 15:27:43 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 10 15:01:45 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "18273345", "review_id": "6bf995c24bc87529b05c49c8cb1e10a6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Firstly, this book deserves multiple stars for the cover alone! It's covers like this that make me really sorry that I read from a Kindle and don't have the opportunity to admire hard copy! It may not necessarily evoke the darkness of the story but it sure is drool-worthy! \n This is not your usual run of the mill paranormal romance. This is intriguing and captivating. The characters are fascinating and the plot unusual. \n From the early chapters, the characters of Nicholas and Bancroft were totally engaging and their situation definitely interesting. The story also includes wonderful secondary characters, particularly Martha and Nicholas' grandmother. \n Nicholas may have a position of status but a dreadful accident has left him physically incapacitated and living the sad life of someone believing they are destined to be alone and not enjoy the love of another and joy of physical intimacy. But for all his position and reclusiveness, Nicholas is a caring man, taking the servant girl Martha under his wing. He tutors her and more importantly protects her, putting her life before everything he owns and everything he is. \n Bancroft is a murdering Vampire under the control of Sebastian who tortures him. Through flashbacks we learn of his human life, his loves and losses and the events that lead to his life with Sebastian. Ban is definitely a character who develops over the duration of the story, or at least my perception of him changed as I learnt more. \n This is a historical tale with a real sense of the time and place, the formality of the language well in tune with the period. But it's essence is a horror story. There are evil characters (Sebastian is totally cringe worthy) with violence and torture and rape. Some of these aspects aren't for the faint-hearted. But there is also love - love that transcends time. \n The story is a complex one with surprises and revelations with twists and the unexpected. Very unique! \n I publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Wed Aug 14 06:37:43 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Oct 26 03:52:03 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Oct 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Oct 21 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "10015191", "review_id": "15445c7e035ca81f665945a764ddbdf4", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Free on Amazon today (thanks Tammy!)", "date_added": "Mon Aug 05 14:58:28 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 04:47:23 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "6308040", "review_id": "13a116d2f76b437b17feffd7dd80c243", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The third book in the series, this is quite an entertaining story - quick moving and lots of humour. \n Thomas sees Micah, knows he's destined to be his mate but has to save him from the bullies first. He steps up in protective mode, placing himself between the smaller, delicate Micah and the men who are taunting him. He doesn't hold back in proclaiming his attraction to Micah and demanding respect at which point the bullies are surprised to learn he is gay. \n \"You're a fag?\" \n \"Oh please, you need to be more politically correct when insulting someone. Don't you ever read the papers? We're progressive. We prefer the term pussy challenged. Now, get with the program, boys. My lunch date is waiting.\" \n Thomas uses his wit and humour to defuse the situation only to find that Micah has left but not before leaving him a pink rose and a note. (Luckily Micah had a rose handy!) \n As per the other books, sizzling hot sex without much buildup - cause when you know the guy is your mate you just go for it - instinct just demands sex and claiming! \n There is another incident where Thomas need to protect Micah. This time he needs to use his special skills so makes Micah close his eyes while he deals with the bad guys. Finally he resorts to calling in the pack's \"clean up\" crew to help him and Micah get away. Unfortunately Micah overhears some of his conversation - he must have had good hearing to overhear both sides of the conversation. \"What did Jake mean by shifting? Into what? A werewolf? Really?\" It's quite funny to watch he reaction to finding out this pretty momentous news but just seems to accept it, more annoyed about the lying rather than the actual werewolf thing. \"Okay, it is a little weird, I think I already said that, but we all have our idiosyncrasies. Yours just seem to be a little stranger than most. So what? It still doesn't change the fact that you lied to me.\" \n The local pack is dispatched to the scene to help out and the Alpha just happens to be Micah's other mate and claims him before Thomas becomes aware. This leads into the bulk of the story - the challenges of being a threesome, the tri-omega complexities & secrets from Micah's past. \n I did find Caleb not very appealing when he first joins the story and at times Micah was a little annoying (referred to a spunkiness in the book). Thomas is just supportive and nice and all too kind. \n There were a few things that I didn't quite grasp or thought weren't well explained - Micah just leaving his old life behind, Micah's parent's behaviour, some lack of observation about Micah's physical appearance How did Thomas and Caleb not notice his scars given they were all so physical? - but I just accepted the story for what was presented. \n Overall, perfect book if you like a cute story filled with lots of humour and lots of very well written sex scenes! \n Favourite quotes: \n \"It wasn't easy being werewolf and gay. Everyone wanted you to have cubs. The more cubs you had, the more pack members. The more pack members there were, the stronger the pack - yada, yada, yada.\" \n \"We never had a first date, or a second one. We've never even had a date. We just went from hello to bed. And now I find out you're a werewolf?\" \n \"Yes, I'm housebroken.\" \n \"Don't you Micah me, fur ball.\" \n \"I'm not real sure how this whole greeting thing works, but if you're going to try to sniff my ass I expect dinner first.\" \n 3.5 stars \n I now publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Thu Aug 01 23:24:35 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 04 18:01:50 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "6003577", "review_id": "182a4fe81b87f56e5f242fa75cd845b0", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This second book in the series was just as good as the first, with great characters and interesting story. \n This book cleverly overlaps in time with the first book, Secret Desires, showing the same scenes but with a different perspective. This is the story of Gregory and Ryland who have known they are destined to be mates and have known since they first met years ago. Gregory has been waiting for Ryland to 'grow up' and now that he is over eighteen, Ryland can't understand why Gregory won't claim him. \n When they finally get together after some initial misunderstandings, it is hot and sizzling. The relationship starts with a bang and from that time forward the two men are all over each. Ryland is totally inexperienced and has been pining over Gregory and Gregory hasn't had sex for 6 years so they are very passionate! \n Once again not fully understanding the implications of the tri-omega causes problems and suddenly Ryland's life is at risk. Luckily the third mate for the relationship is discovered. Viktor immediately recognises Ryland as he mate but Gregory's prior claiming causes a few concerns but nothing Viktor and Gregory's attraction to each other can't resolve. And luckily Leyland, Lucas and Jake are able to share some more insight into the whole tri-omega workings. \"You know, it would have been really nice if someone had explained all of this to us in the very beginning. Maybe you should think about publishing a fucking how-to manual,\" Gregory yelled before slamming the phone down. \n Once again, this is a fun book with great characters and lots of humour. There are some minor editing problems including the odd changing of a minor characters name, noticed but easily overlooked. \n I now publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Thu Aug 01 23:23:08 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 03 21:26:28 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "5184187", "review_id": "e45129b8342b1bb17c0f98b954d5f10c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I really liked it! I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book! \n I think the appeal lay in a combination of the characters and dialogue, with the characters being so engaging and with so much humour and cute flirting. \n \"...When I see something I want, what's the point in pretending I don't? And I want you, baby?\" \n \"Baby?\" \n \"Well, sex on a stick just seemed too long to pronounce, so, yeah, baby.\" \n The attraction is instant when Leyland and Jake meet - it's that werewolf mating thing, when you find your mate you just know it! - and they pretty much get it on straight away. The sex scenes are sizzling and I don't think I have ever read a sex scene on horseback before - very unique! \n With mating and claiming comes instant love and the conversation reflects this. There are some lines that should sound corny but are just adorably cute. It's so sweet to see Jake's alpha instincts kick in and him to go all protective over Leyland. \n The complication lies in Leyland being a tri-omega. He needs two mates and regular claiming, just to stay alive. The third in this relationship happens to be just the guy I was hoping it would turn out to be and the three together are brilliant, with the relationship being well balanced. \n It is so amusing the watch Jake, the Alpha, in action with his mates. \"I don't understand this. I'm supposed to be the alpha here. I'm the man in charge, the ruler. How is it that neither of my mates gives me any respect? Where did I go wrong?\" Jake said to no one in particular. \n There's a nice theme in this series about acceptance and understanding. The Tri-omega is unique and there is some question about the rest of the small pack accepting Leyland's place with their Alpha. \"Gregory, I didn't ask to be born this way any more than you asked to be born below an alpha ranking.We are born to be who we are, and nothing can change that. Our only choice is how we use what we have been given.\" \n The only part of the story I really didn't enjoy was the punishment dished out to Leyland by his mates, albeit at the advise of his fathers. It was essential to the story line but I still didn't really like it as it seemed too much that they were treating him as a child. \n This is a story that does contain some world building, particularly in explaining the role of the tri-omega to the pack but really this is limited. The story is more focused on the relationship building. \n Note: There were quite a few editing errors including spelling mistakes and strange symbols in my Kindle version but they weren't too distracting for me. So just a warning in case this type of thing puts you off. The errors were less in the subsequent books I have read so far. \n I now publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Thu Aug 01 23:22:15 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 03 21:26:13 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Aug 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Aug 02 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "18218677", "review_id": "055e5d74c1ed9d0f926c599f503f0489", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I read this story with some nervous anticipation, a little worried that I would find it all too freaky. But no, I should have had more confidence in my own kinky side! \n This story surprisingly sucked me right in - weird but totally intriguing. But as much as I tried, my imagination just failed me when I tried to visualise Inna and all those tentacles! \n \"I don't see what the problem is with different,\" he murmured, catching a handful of hair. He shrugged a shoulder at him. \"I kind of like it.\"....so very true! \n The downside? It was over too soon! \n I publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Tue Jul 30 15:11:39 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 08 18:47:20 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Dec 07 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "17191333", "review_id": "b4e0148a3dda4b181f0ce9d68605d8e3", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I don't read a lot of shifter books, especially shifters of the non-wolf kind, but every now and then I like to dip my toe in and check one out. This series hit the spot. I enjoyed reading about the broken characters, getting their second chance at happiness and finding love. 3.5-4 stars", "date_added": "Sun Jul 21 16:59:45 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 01 15:53:48 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Sun Feb 21 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Fri Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "16300606", "review_id": "a6dd5b6cad175ed66e1ed6ec220e24de", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This story intrigued me for the simple reason that it combined a werewolf and a horse shifter. Such an unlikely combination that I found a little bit hard to accept... it just seemed odd. But then again, if I thought a wolf shifter was okay, why not a horse? \n Anyway, parking the fact I couldn't get over the horse thing, the story was quite enjoyable. Young man (the horse) comes to the older man (the wolf) for help but gets rejected resulting in him experiencing a year of pain. But Cole has a chance to redeem himself when he rescues Jonah and brings him to the ranch. \n Together they face their demons - Cole faces his own fears about his wolf taking over and Jonah faces his homophobic, shifter-phobic brother. Throw in a bit of sex and it wasn't a bad way to spend some time this afternoon.", "date_added": "Sun Jul 21 16:59:25 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 10 03:04:30 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Tue Jun 10 11:18:57 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue Jun 10 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "17706080", "review_id": "2264e63744a9adb5a9e0d89dbd471afe", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Free at Amazon 10 July 2013", "date_added": "Wed Jul 10 00:24:52 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 04:46:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "18166385", "review_id": "32061f7da5d8f5c3676f30aaa389babe", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I think I liked this book. I say 'think' because at times I wasn't really too sure. I spent most of it thinking things like 'what's going on?', 'what does that mean?', 'how does that fit in?'. I kept trying to work out what was going on and pre-empt the paranormal twists, instead of just relaxing into the story. That being said, sometimes it's good to read something that keeps you on your toes! \n The story jumps between POVs, sometimes for only a very short period of time and sometimes longer. There are little hints and clues of the bigger picture but never enough for me to fully understand how everything fit together. And the ending - what just happened? \n It's an interesting story with hints and glimpses of strange things without fully providing the back ground. It is quite unique in what is shown but perhaps not the book for someone who likes a full world building with a clear cut happy ending. \n I now publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Sun Jul 07 04:07:14 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jan 06 23:51:11 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Thu Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Aug 14 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "18158834", "review_id": "1e5c6a5c71ca093b45306b8b7915f8a2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This may be menage but it's all about love (with some steamy sex thrown in!). \n Jeff and Patrick have been together for a couple of years but don't feel complete. They feel that they are missing the person they need for the perfect relationship. \n They have been searching for that elusive special someone but only meet guys after one-night stands and kinky sex. \n Taylor is different. They feel drawn to him and him to them. There's just one or two minor problems. Firstly convincing Taylor that he is wanted and secondly Jeff and Patrick accepting Taylor for who he really is.\"Why would they want him? He was nothing special and there was that whole shifter thing.\" \n This short story really isn't about world building, more focused on the relationship with a strong them of acceptance. I really liked the message about not judging people for things that are part of them, things they cannot change. \n 3.5 stars for this cute short story \n I now publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Sun Jul 07 04:04:36 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 01 00:31:48 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Aug 01 00:31:48 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "17875386", "review_id": "a1f6f5a5d8aa568bb28c9610efec4d12", "rating": 4, "review_text": "It is 2020 and Alcatraz has been rebuilt as a prison to house criminals convicted of cyber crime. The World Police Unit control the prison and Jensen Black is the Warden. A series of murders in the prison are causing grave concern as a number of prisoners die mysterious and gruesome deaths.... \n The story is a paranormal mystery and the concept is interesting. We are taken into a world where there is a global focus on cyber crime and the prison is constructed of transparent material. The ghosts of prisoners past, are haunting the new prison that has been built on the site of the original prison. They are taking revenge for events in the past. \n Dr Brian Phipps, parapsychologist (thank goodness for spell check as I can never spell that correctly!) is brought in to deal with the situation. Ghostly happenings, spiritual possessions, mystery, physical attacks....it is pretty much non-stop action as Brian uses all his knowledge and experience to fight the evil spirits. However, just why he brought along that big trunk with the handy journal of Gramp's is still a mystery to me. \n Luckily, he has to play pretend lover of Jensen, the Warden, to justify his presence on the island and to allow him to stay close to Jensen and under his watchful eye. Not that they stay 'pretend' for long! \n There is a romance component to this story as Jensen and Brian fall for each other pretty quickly. It is here that the story wavered a bit for me. I just didn't buy the insta-love between these two men with the associated claims of love, fantasies about futures and sacrifices for each other. Maybe the situation they were in (fighting the evil spirits and fighting for their lives) heightened the feelings but it still wasn't very believable. That also probably sounds like a strange thing so say, given this was a story about ghosts! \n However, in the overall scheme of things, if you park any disbelief about the pace of the relationship - meet, kiss, have sex, fall in love - in a matter of a day or so - then it is an entertaining story. At about 100 pages, it was an pleasant and interesting way to spend an hour or two. \n 3.5 stars \n This book was kindly provided by the publisher in return for an honest review. \n I now publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Sun Jun 30 19:59:16 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jul 19 06:27:03 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jul 19 06:27:03 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "18113173", "review_id": "f9c5a9328247ef29a74be25b556c7e1c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Two vampires lose Regina, the vampire who had sired them. One of them, Liam, is lost in his grief and his actions are putting his own life at risk. Jack is also hurting, not only for the loss of Regina but for the loss of Liam. \n \"Now, I know you boys are messed up with her gone. But he's out of control, Jack. You need to get a handle on him before someone else does. I don't know much about your...situation, but I do know from what Regina told me that you aren't supposed to be waving your freak flag like he is.\" \n I found this a really interesting paranormal story to read - a bit of world building and even a bit of werewolf confrontation but mainly a story about grief and feelings and love. \n I did find myself at the end wishing to see a little more physical action between Jack and Liam so maybe a follow up story is needed. Oh, and I would love to see a story written about the two men once they had taken werewolf blood! supposedly an aphrodisiac resulting in tremendous lust for a vampire and all they can focus on is achieving the next orgasm!", "date_added": "Thu Jun 27 20:26:38 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 05 08:37:39 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "15989080", "review_id": "8eea9d7b60c9928178823ed3e2b75954", "rating": 0, "review_text": "From the author: To celebrate the great news for marriage equality today, I'm offering Hainted for FREE on Smashwords for the next few days with coupon code CK46P.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 26 15:46:49 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 04:46:16 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "18077557", "review_id": "6fa95251c5d04294a03c5b0aa964cabc", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"As I was saying,\" Simon said, his voice soft in the near darkness, \"I want control.\" \n Max gulped, watching him in the moonlight streaming in from his open curtains. \"Of what?\" \n His mouth turned up into a smile and Max froze, both dreading and needing the answer all at once. \"Why, Max, that's simple.\" He took a breath. \"I want to control.....you.\" \n Okay, I had some questions. Why was the head of surgery needing a roommate? Why did the roommate need to be there? But really, none of this mattered too much as the story just focused on the here and now as Simon helps Max deal with his stress levels using his unique methods. \n The two men share quite an interesting dynamic and it is fascinating to watch Max respond to Simon, his physical response versus his thought process. Yes, there is some light bondage and sex but the focus is on Max trusting Simon and the emotional side of giving up control NOT on whips and pain. \n Just when things were starting to heat up there's a bit of twist near the end of this story. I don't want to say what it is but if you peak at my bookshelves it will give you a clue! :) \n I felt Max's reaction to the revelations and easy acceptance was a bit unrealistic particularly given his medical background and felt the ending was somewhat rushed. I was left wondering - what does this mean?, what happens next? Tell me more..... \n This is the first book in a series so I guess I will need to read the next one to find out more (although I'm not 100% sure what the next one is about!) \n Overall, I was drawn into this story but felt a little let down at the end as things wrapped up too quickly, hopefully something that the second book will remedy. :) \n 3.5 stars \n I received a copy of this book from the author. Thank you Caitlin for the opportunity to read and provide my honest review.", "date_added": "Mon Jun 24 04:42:17 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Aug 17 21:16:18 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Aug 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "17976016", "review_id": "081456607e4234b8ea73f054f227a3aa", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I don't read a lot of shifter books, especially shifters of the non-wolf kind, but every now and then I like to dip my toe in and check one out. This series hit the spot. I enjoyed reading about the broken characters, getting their second chance at happiness and finding love. 3.5-4 stars", "date_added": "Tue Jun 18 23:59:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Mar 01 15:55:18 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Mon Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Mon Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "17182020", "review_id": "09006117907e260acb7c8f634975119d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "3.5 stars", "date_added": "Fri Jun 14 05:17:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Aug 26 04:22:46 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Wed May 07 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Tue May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "17258293", "review_id": "6af27f098aad678d7e2391413a6dc5b4", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I read this in January and made a few notes but didn't really write a full review. The key standouts that I noted at the time were: \n - the military theme was realistic and the story could have stood as a military themed story without the paranormal elements. This made it a very strong shifter story for me \n - The shift world was unique (at least from the reading I have done) with elements I haven't seen done before. I loved the full moon run and the pack excitement afterwards plus the inclusion of the alpha having a dominant \n - Liked that Lucas was concerned with doing the right thing and not taking advantage of his position \n - Enjoyed the way this book provides a lead in to the following books in the series by creating great secondary characters", "date_added": "Fri Jun 07 04:24:40 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 07 06:10:29 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Fri Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "16128152", "review_id": "19d9d07f6e2570aef44d51c3c4c32648", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This is another book that I listened to via the Audible version. I have not read this book previously so the narration was my first experience of the story. \n I'm going to make a claim without really being able to back this up - the audio version was brilliant and really enhanced my enjoyment of this story! Okay, I don't really know if I would have enjoyed it any less if I had read it but I totally adored the narration of this book. \n The characters were totally wonderful and I fell in love with both Whyborne and Griffin. Outwardly Whyborne was so unsure of himself, shy and unassertive, totally lacking self confidence but in reality he was a wonderfully strong man - standing on his own, following his own path in life and supporting himself rather than relying on his well-to-do father. Griffin appears strong and confident but has his own demons and inner torment. Together they are fabulous. \n I am not a huge fan of historical romances and only read a smattering in the paranormal genre so was surprised by how much I liked this book. The style of writing, the speech and the behaviour of all the characters seemed to capture the era perfectly. I particularly liked the formality of interactions between work colleagues and the totally fabulous Christine! \n The story was full of mystery, intrigue and horror as Whyborne and Griffin team up to stop the resurrection of wonderfully descriptive evil monsters. They follow clues, deal with Whyborne's colleagues at the museum, fight off half-human-half-animal creatures, all while their attraction for each other grows. \n Julian G Simmons captured the essence of Whyborne perfectly. The soft spoken quality of his voice, his tone and inflections matched the character of Whyborne and was totally in keeping with the period of the story. \n I can highly recommended the audio version! \n I publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Tue Jun 04 21:40:35 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 03 01:41:44 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Oct 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Oct 17 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "18003888", "review_id": "f93ab1e3bad5cfa0d5f57540e989d164", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Not for me I'm afraid. It's not badly written, I just don't get into the whole world of role play gamers. I almost didn't continue after the first 10% which was part of the fantasy game with medieval characters traipsing through the forest. \n The story relates a few sections of the fantasy game being played but most focues on geeky Gavin who is heading off to a gaming convention. \n What was really missing for me was the romance. The story ends with someone letting Gavin know that they are interested in him but I am not sure that those feelings were returned by Gavin and there was really not much time spent with the characters at all. \n I think this is a story that someone who likes the world of gaming would really enjoy.", "date_added": "Tue Jun 04 04:31:01 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 23 05:43:32 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Sun Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jun 06 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "17996839", "review_id": "6d6f4a29d94cda91ec0abc184ba7fd04", "rating": 4, "review_text": "First let me start by saying that I did enjoy reading this book - great characters, interesting plot and a bit of twist. However it is one of those books where I loved part of it but didn't enjoy other parts of the story quite so much. \n The book tells the story of Jason who is desperate to escape from someone who is out to kill him. He is tired of running and approaches Quinn, a PI, for help. Quinn has personal reasons for wanting to protect Jason from the bad guy, reasons involving the death of his lover. \n The story is told in first person, with the telling of the tale alternating between the main characters, Quinn and Jason. It is interesting to gain insight into each characters thoughts and to understand their feelings. In this case, equal time is spent with each character's POV, with minimal overlap of events. \n However I did feel that there was a little too much back and forth and would have preferred more time with each character before switching. At times I also felt that I was being told what was happening in the story, a pure account, rather than losing myself in the book/experiencing it. \n I think this book had one of the most unique introductions to one of the main characters I have seen in a while, with Jason's first impression of Quinn - asleep with drool down his chin, uncombed and unwashed hair, unkempt beard and stained clothes! \".....he looked like life had been beating him up for a while.\" Over the course of the book, we see changes in Quinn from having little interest in life to returning to his old self, assisted by his feelings for Jason. We also see Jason start to think of a future, rather than running. \n Things are complicated with Quinn having to come to terms with his feelings for a man other than his lost lover and he has to reassure Jason that he sees him for who he is. He needs Jason to trust him. Similarly Jason needs to learn to trust Quinn after years on the run and trusting no one. \n I loved the characters and their backgrounds. I was hoping they would get together and overcome the bad guys. I enjoyed the first 50% immensely. But here's where my opinion of the book gets slightly divided. \n **Warning the below might be considered slightly spoilerish but probably not once bookshelves and more reviews are added** \n Things started to get a little strange (the blurb doesn't give any hint , I didn't look closely enough at the sub-genres and the Goodreads bookshelves had no reference) as the story starts to become about the supernatural - monsters, evil fairies, superpowers and the like. The change was reminiscent of the movie From Dusk Till Dawn. At this point I went from loving the book to liking the book. \n There are a couple of potential reasons for this. It could be because it was unexpected. It could be that as a rule I usually prefer contemporary romance. It could be because the supernatural change didn't happen until halfway through the book so when it occurred it seemed a bit more unbelievable than if the situation had been set up from the beginning. \n My rating for this book is therefore 3.5 stars although I believe that people looking to read a paranormal/fantasy may rate this higher. \n This book was supplied by the publisher, Wilde City Press, in return for an honest review.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 01 18:28:19 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 04 22:04:09 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jun 05 22:04:09 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jun 03 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "17933568", "review_id": "11fc11b2482f5ad3a6f39814ed6f0c45", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This story was a pleasant way to spend an hour or two. Relatively short, there wasn't a lot of time to get fully immersed in the world of feline shifters. \n Hart is a liger (part lion, part tiger) and is huge. His size was a threat to his alpha so he was banished from the pride. He has always known that Dayton was his mate and when Dayton comes to visit, he finally decides the time has come to make him his. Dayton is human but is best friends with Hart's sister and part of the pride. \n I liked Hart's deep longing for Dayton but somehow missed what Dayton saw in Hart. When he first visits Hart's apartment, I could see Hart's desire for Dayton (\"Oh shit. You are in heat. Fuck my life.\") but couldn't feel any great desire reciprocated. Regardless, Hart wins Dayton in the end. \n There is confrontation with the alpha and a strange attack by Hart's sister's boyfriend, resulting in Hart and Dayton being separated again - why don't they just talk to each other?! \n There is a secondary story line involving Hart's job as an entertainment lawyer. Dayton is a teacher so gets involved in tutoring a rising young band that Hart does the contracts for. This might have given a little more insight into the character of Dayton but I really didn't understand the overall significance of these sections of the story or the additional characters introduced. \n A quick read and nice romance as Hart fights for his man. Not much in the way of creating the world of feline shifters but a bit of action and some hot sex.", "date_added": "Fri May 31 00:30:00 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 19 23:01:48 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jun 20 23:01:48 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Wed Jun 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 10, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "16066089", "review_id": "57569c6f3c8b1d129a8151a1b550666b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I don't read a lot of paranormal/shifter romances but felt like a change so picked The Atherton Pack series. My choice was also impacted by my interest in the Australian setting. \n I enjoyed the story which was about Declan running from trouble after witnessing a murder. Declan is running for his life but also fearful as he has left his younger brother behind and is afraid of repercussions. \n As fate would have it, Declan turns up on the doorstep of his mate. He is destined to be with Liam, beta in another pack. \n Interestingly, I didn't pay much attention to the Australian setting. Apart from recognising names such as Cairns and the Atherton tablelands, and thinking that wolves didn't fit into that environment (which the author acknowledged at one point), the setting was largely irrelevant to the story. \n The story is slightly predictable but enjoyable, the characters are great and this book provides a nice lead in to the next book.....", "date_added": "Mon May 27 19:51:19 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu May 30 19:29:35 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "17657108", "review_id": "9871fd8aaaa0e8cb42e3158e3608e4b8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This story picks up where Liam left off. Tommy had been badly beaten by his Alpha but rescued by his brother Declan, Declan's mate Liam and Ben, the Alpha of the Atherton Pack. Ben had been working to remove the rogue Alpha but it was a little too late for Tommy. \n When Ben and Tommy meet for the first time, while Tommy is unconscious from his injuries, it is clear that the two are fated to be mates. However Ben needs to fight his instant urge to look after Tommy and allow him to go home into the care of his brother. \n The story shows how their romance develops slowly while Tommy recovers from the physical and emotional impacts of his assault. \n I quite enjoyed this shifter story and liked the fact that most time is spent in human form. The only part I find a bit strange is the male pregnancy part. Whenever I read of this, I find it hard to just accept it as part of the story - I know I should be suspending reality given it is a book about shifters but mpreg always seems so odd to me.", "date_added": "Mon May 27 19:45:22 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu May 30 19:48:42 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun May 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "17311411", "review_id": "3cb8bbf9678d3c983c7de066d0403b39", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Great collection of authors!", "date_added": "Thu May 16 16:33:22 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 13 18:22:14 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Sun May 19 06:40:30 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "17400925", "review_id": "db7fade5315a9affd4d2d9ea529b8407", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I found this story unique and engaging. It tells the tale of David who has been searching for his brother for 50 years. As his desperation increases he turns to a church and prays for help. Help arrives in the form of angel Jophiel. \n David has led a vampire's life but he is not like the other vampire's who roam the earth and live in the sewers, avoiding the Brotherhood, an organisation who hunt down and kill vampires. David's mission to find his brother Danny means he risks his life as he searches. \n Jophiel is tasked with helping David and is convinces he does have a soul. He joins David on his journey and finds himself tempted in ways he never expected. \n Be prepared for some angel sex which is pretty spectacular! \"He let his soul seek out David's as he rose up, let his heart sing, and chronicled every second, every unnecessary breath and gasp and sigh and squeak between them.\" \n Vampires, angels, the mystery of Danny, attacks by the Brotherhood and temptations of the flesh - there's a lot going on and it makes for an interesting and engaging story. Things get even more interesting when David and Jophiel meet Arthur which adds a whole other layer of complexity. \n The downside to this book? Yes, there's a pretty big one - the story just ended! I was left thinking what happened? it can't just end there! I understand there might be a sequel but when? It would be a real shame for the story not to continue so fingers crossed that a sequel is published! \n This is a 4 star read! \n I publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Sat May 04 18:21:36 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Oct 30 04:51:12 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Oct 19 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Oct 18 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "17703371", "review_id": "49b4dad316b347c1b9ae6d3206681180", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Free on Amazon", "date_added": "Sun Apr 14 07:09:47 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 04:44:43 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "10372490", "review_id": "0d3e868e1e0a046fe3eb684c6f5854b6", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I am really struggling to articulate or even understand my feelings for this book. When it comes down to it, I think the best way to express how I feel is to say I appreciated the story rather than loved it. \n I found it difficult to feel fully engaged in Joe's story. To be perfectly honest, I think the fantasy element dampened my enthusiasm. I don't read a lot of this genre, and Joe's journey, filled with mythical creatures and other wonders, just didn't do it for me. To the extent that I actually struggled to read the first half of the book. \n The concept of the afterlife was fascinating and I appreciated the journey, the descriptions, the imagination. \n What was interesting was my surprise to find myself a bit teary near the end of the story. Somehow, along the journey, I had found myself emotionally invested in the outcome. \n This is the type of book that is thought provoking and definitely very unique. While I struggle to say I loved it, and in all honesty found the first half hard going, it was a book I am glad I completed. Would I recommend it? According to other people's reviews and it's overall rating, yes, but from a personal perspective, maybe not. The best option would be to suggest readers check out other reviews or maybe even read the book themselves to make up their own mind. \n I now publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Thu Apr 04 16:27:50 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Dec 14 14:57:07 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jul 23 00:53:53 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jul 12 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 11}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "17703290", "review_id": "9519ff631fdbd8ac27dcc0b1a2264c41", "rating": 0, "review_text": "I hate the way this has 2 ratings already, and those ratings average to 3 stars - seems harsh and unfair to judge a book a year before it's even released! \n Dear Goodreads, please do something to introduce an 'anticipation' rating or some way of rating how excited you are about a book's release. A way to prioritise the TBR list would be good too! Thanks.", "date_added": "Mon Apr 01 01:05:00 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Apr 01 01:10:13 -0700 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "15719103", "review_id": "f872ae65c0627effbe7f6d90f831d582", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Warning - this is anthology where each story deals with incest. \n The stories themselves were good. Personally I found it relatively easy to overlook the incest bit. I guess I'm not totally icked out by the whole thing as it is between 2 men, although I couldn't read anything like this between a brother/sister, child/parent etc.", "date_added": "Tue Mar 26 03:09:51 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 27 05:04:49 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "15734823", "review_id": "52c0d700dc812270903747ea2bb347ea", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Free today from Dreamspinner Press for St Pat's Day", "date_added": "Sat Mar 16 22:24:00 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 04:44:09 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "16283339", "review_id": "712c51fa9f654af08de494d819521787", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Free today from Dreamspinner Press for St Pat's Day", "date_added": "Sat Mar 16 22:17:19 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 04:44:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "16217510", "review_id": "89b03b184343e7f51d73bf96f3f772b6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book was so not what I was expecting! I was expecting the vampires and the witches and a bit of mystery as Sam takes over the detective agency. What I didn't expect was the wonderful humour which was in bucketfuls! \n Poor Sam, surrounded by talking gargoyles and mind-reading vampires, placed under love spells, taking jobs from werewolves and propositioned by other paranormals - things just weren't working out the way he intented them. \n I adored Bob, the vampire (with a name like Bob, how could you not?) and his interactions with Sam were hysterical, especially when he read Sam's mind... \n \"Tall,skinny and blond, he ticked the boxes for Sam. Well, the old boxes. the one's he had before he'd met Bob... \n Damn, Did I think that? \n He chanced a glance at Bob, who nodded back at him. Yep. Clearly he had thought that very thing.\" \n I was really surprised at the ending which seemed rather abrupt, probably compounded by the fact the ebook ended at 85%, but with so much unresolved it really encourages the reading of book 2. \n 3.5 stars \n I publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Wed Mar 13 23:30:03 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Nov 28 22:59:07 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Nov 29 22:59:07 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "12796339", "review_id": "1f42d9246d0af3cd596623e85c060b1e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked the idea for this story - two men destined to be together but having to overcome the odds to do so. I liked that they had to not only overcome external trouble, but to deal with conflict between them too. This wasn't a simple case of 'you're destined to be my mate so we must be together', rather both men are not initially attracted to each other. \n It is a story of wolf shifters so there is some background to learn about the pack, or in this case, packs. Kasey, the alpha-male sheriff, is Cheyenne. He is son of the alpha and part of a larger pack. Seth is white and comes to town as the vet. He is running from his past and has no one apart from his good friend Nick. \n The story starts as we learn of Seth's special healing qualities. I did have a flashback to The Green Mile and then later a bit of a Twilight Eclipse flash when a broken leg was healing. Seth and Kasey get off on the wrong foot with prejudices keeping them apart. Kasey makes some incorrect assumptions and Seth has been hurt in the past so is not prepared to trust Kasey. The story balances some action with Kasey and Seth learning about each other and coming to terms with their destiny. \n There is a lot of sentimentality and I felt a slight repetitiveness plus at some points the story felt a little forced, not flowing naturally. Acknowledging that Seth had a traumatic past, I still found him too weak and needy at times and his reactions were all over the place. \n Probably being a bit picky here but I also disliked all the changing of terms the two men used to address each other. Seth was referred to a Seth, the vet, his mate, pup....and Kasey was the big man, sheriff, the Cheyenne, his mate.... \n I acknowledge that I am much more a fan of contemporary romance and don't read a lot of paranormal romance. It is a genre I throw in every now and then for variety. Therefore, my personal taste may naturally rate these books a little lower, purely due to subject matter. \n So overall I enjoyed this story, I just found a few things that niggled at me. A true fan of paranormal romance may find these easier to overlook and enjoy this book more than I did. \n Note: there are a couple of scenes that I did not like involving mutilation of pet dogs. I understood where this fit with the plot but didn't like the gruesome descriptions. So be warned if you are sensitive to this type of thing. \n I now publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Sun Mar 10 19:39:31 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 10 00:17:13 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed Jul 10 00:17:13 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Jul 08 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 8, "n_comments": 2}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "6971098", "review_id": "e414284505bc0b0535cf16b64e3de1fd", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A nice little glimpse of Victor and Jacob.", "date_added": "Tue Feb 19 13:59:09 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu May 02 03:46:26 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu May 02 03:46:26 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sat Apr 13 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "16169533", "review_id": "5222857bb3cb921e58c29ae71bd02cba", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This was quite a complex story involving Travis, a wolf shifter who lives in the enchanted town of Arcada, and Dylan who is Fae. Dylan has sworn an oath which keeps him slave to the evil Ulric and must enter Arcada to complete his last mission or forever remain enslaved. \n I found the first 30% or so of the book a little confusing as I struggled to understand the different types of folk living in Arcada and understand the complex dream world that Dylan was able to enter. This was probably just a personal thing for me as I enjoy the occasional PNR but am not a huge fan of fantasy worlds so probably don't have the patience to immerse myself in the world created. \n The plot is not a simple one, also focusing on internal pack politics and an attack by a rogue wolf pack, their evil Alpha trying to gain control of the town. \n With so much going on, I found myself just wishing for a simple focus on the romance between the two men. I enjoyed the elements of dominance/submission which occurred early in Dylan and Travis' relationship and the theme of not trying to define people in categories of black and white. \n I think lovers of PNR will really enjoy this story because the main characters are very likable and the world well crafted.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 18 18:33:35 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat May 11 04:04:02 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat May 11 04:04:02 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri May 10 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "10100927", "review_id": "e9f19829e32fc8ce6a302a492493d928", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I haven't read many paranormal romances, particularly those between different types of paranormals and was pleasantly surprised to find I liked this story. \n The author provides enough background information to give the characters and story depth. The information provided about the werewolf world and its traditions highlighted the sacrifices that Blacque was making for his pack. The story of how Bleu was turned was heartbreaking. The main characteres definitely had a spark, both physically and emotionally. \n The plot was interesting with a good blend of romance and action. Plus I always love an ending that includes public declarations of love! \n I wasn't too keen on the inclusion of information about the other types of paranormals who inhabited the town (which reminded me of Storybrooke from the TV Once Upon a Time as it was difficult to leave) as I didn't feel this added any real value to the story. \n Favourite line....\"He lay gazing at the other man's knees, wondering how God had managed to make such a mundane body part so completely beautiful on this man.\" \n All in all, an enjoyable read.", "date_added": "Mon Feb 18 18:33:15 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 02 16:56:56 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "13009690", "review_id": "03b3d5a543f583bde85b310f5167dec2", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A nice fairytale where Liam's kiss awakens Marcus from his coma. I loved the premise that Liam had been visiting Marcus for 6 months and sharing his deepest thoughts and secrets with him. I loved the idea that a vampire could fall in love because of this, something that would not usually happen. I loved how Marcus and his actions where portrayed versus how the abusive Ralph behaved. \"Seeing Ralph and Marcus standing side by side, the differences between the two men were obvious - and they had nothing to do with the ability to drink blood.\" \n 3.5 stars", "date_added": "Sat Jan 26 22:17:18 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 04 09:53:17 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Apr 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Tue Apr 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "8178400", "review_id": "a3e6d99c9b75986750063fa86181fd37", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Based on the title alone, or even the blurb, I would not have chosen to read this book but I am glad that I ignored my initial thoughts and paid more attention to the glowing reviews instead. I bought this book months and months ago and it has been sitting on the Kindle unread (as has the second book in the series Magpie). I kept seeing it cropping up all over the place so finally decided to read it. \n This book appears on over a dozen Goodreads lists with a lot of votes in each category (placement current as the time I write this review). For example: Best Gay Slave - 1st, Best Gay Shifter - 4th, Best Gay Book Based on Fairytales - 2nd, Best Gay BDSM - 7th, Best Gay Romance Published in 2010 - 7th, so it was definitely time for me to give it a try! \n For a fairytale-based book about avian shifters (which sounded really strange to me!), I really enjoyed this book, much more than I thought I would. The characters were really well developed. The avian shifter element was relevant in terms of where each species fit in the avian ranks and therefore what behaviour was expected but it was largely irrelevant to Ori and Raynard - the development of the relationship between them seemed so effortless, built on their natural instincts and desires. \n I enjoyed the way the master/submissive relationship was presented and the deep emotional tie each man felt towards the other and the turning point that came with the 'blood in the dining room' incident. \n \"The most valuable possession my master owns is his submissive. I will take great care that no harm comes to my master's submissive whenever he is not there to watch over me himself.\" \n It was fascinating to see the turn of events once Ori had experienced his first full shift and his true species was identified and I loved the eventual outcome. I didn't even mind the couple of times in the book when the characters shifted as it really fitted with the flow of the story (I was sort of expecting to be put off by the change from human form to a bird!). \n So all-in-all, I am really pleased I tried something a different! 3.5 stars \n I now publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to visit all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Sat Jan 26 00:34:49 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 29 21:46:22 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jun 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jun 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 9}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "13626258", "review_id": "7d984dbbec765b7ac62889214a665fea", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Love is Always Write - Volume 5", "date_added": "Tue Dec 25 18:48:53 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 04:42:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "13701787", "review_id": "bf6b9fe03ba1f00879f21222f8f57b49", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Love is Always Write - Volume 5", "date_added": "Tue Dec 25 18:42:31 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 04:42:55 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "13705418", "review_id": "b55728f7b58aba7ce750bb4602f4015f", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Love is Always Write - Volume 5", "date_added": "Tue Dec 25 18:29:13 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 04:42:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "13699802", "review_id": "a35641f55fab58594c47d71f7a22af5d", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Love is Always Write - Volume 5", "date_added": "Tue Dec 25 18:25:57 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 04:42:54 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "13699693", "review_id": "e000b6dbc2207711a28a0875957f4601", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Love is Always Write - Volume 4", "date_added": "Tue Dec 25 18:19:01 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Aug 25 04:03:01 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "13711369", "review_id": "8afb26e68ab9f17ee0f98bdd99cfa012", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Love is Always Write - Volume 4", "date_added": "Tue Dec 25 18:06:55 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 04:42:50 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "15762933", "review_id": "3478e5e82005afb33504afe04fed874d", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Love is Always Write - Volume 3", "date_added": "Tue Dec 25 17:58:48 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 04:42:50 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "15703692", "review_id": "7a73b08ce1f38a7293336af1f4abc2df", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Love is Always Write - Volume 3", "date_added": "Tue Dec 25 17:42:12 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 04:42:47 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "13709760", "review_id": "275d1c6266bf4a65bdd9aa968bedd1af", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Love is Always Write - Volume 2", "date_added": "Tue Dec 25 17:26:50 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 04:42:45 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "13700982", "review_id": "023dff042b8326cf771fea21578962d5", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Love is Always Write - Volume 2", "date_added": "Tue Dec 25 17:25:57 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 04:42:45 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "15704836", "review_id": "d59bb193ecabc6ee11fb5a857749703c", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Love is Always Write - Volume 2", "date_added": "Tue Dec 25 17:04:03 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 04:42:42 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "15749664", "review_id": "c80a0ba0a319125400467c648eb4cee5", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Love is Always Write - Volume 1 \n Cute and free short story featuring a merman and a curse. This is not my usual choice of reading and I don't think I would find a full size book interesting but this short story was quite entertaining.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 25 17:01:02 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 21 05:31:38 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Feb 22 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "13712420", "review_id": "ba275e76c1d0c2cec9c2113e1c6a846c", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Part of Love is Always Write - Volume 1 \n Nor really a story I could get into but I imagine it would be appreciated by fans of mythology. It all seemed superficial, touching on too much for a short story. The journey to rid the curse took up most of the story with little romance although there is a menage sex scene at the end. \n 2.5 stars", "date_added": "Tue Dec 25 16:58:21 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 21 04:19:14 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Feb 21 04:19:14 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "13710039", "review_id": "d8442a803551ba79bfffc6603a9fed6e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Part of Love is Always Write - Volume 1 \n I don't usually read shifter stories so was surprised to find I quite liked this story. In some respects the shifter element was not important, it was just a story about a man making choices based on what was expected of him - mate with someone approved by his family and have children, don't be gay or choose outside of race. It also tells the story of living with a broken heart but eventually following your heart to find happiness. \n For a short story it packs a lot in - meet, hot sex, heartbreak, lonely years, follow the heart, more hot sex, fall in love, family backlash, rescue, happy ending.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 25 16:53:01 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Feb 12 14:34:28 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Feb 13 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "13707630", "review_id": "455ed9d94bfc6da42659eb71b1d0208b", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Part of Love is Always Write - Volume 1 \n This was a really sweet story about a guardian angel falling in love with his charge. The descriptions of Raziel(the angel)and Cole making love were beautiful. I have not read an mm angel story before so was very interested to see how this plot would be handled and was not disappointed. 3.5 stars.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 25 16:48:20 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 10 04:36:26 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jan 10 04:36:26 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jan 10 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "13704772", "review_id": "639372e39d6f55637bd31b0ac256c00f", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Part of Love is Always Write - Volume 1 \n Read the story without reading the blurb. Started as a good cop story then had me bamboozled with the vampire murders and the strange ending! It all makes sense now as I found out this short story is a cliffhanger lead into a paranormal series.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 25 16:43:04 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Dec 27 19:15:31 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Fri Dec 28 19:15:31 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Thu Dec 27 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "15792130", "review_id": "f3f84ca6fbb1cc2de9a7bb13249299e8", "rating": 3, "review_text": "A very quick freebie. No real story line, just one long sex scene (which was well written).", "date_added": "Sun Dec 16 15:27:10 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 17 19:27:57 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Tue Dec 18 19:27:57 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "10449432", "review_id": "4aaf61ccce98b1cc463205d62ffed0b7", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Subject matter not really my cup of tea. Read as part of the Stuff My Stocking collection of short stories.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 19 14:03:01 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 04:42:34 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Nov 20 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "15287261", "review_id": "97ad072e42009fc6dad41b1fe1f26064", "rating": 5, "review_text": "There are nearly 1,000 reviews on GR for Lover At Last so I'm not going to say too much. \n \"You always have. You've always had me....and my heart. My soul. Everything. I just wish it hadn't taken this long for me to man up.\" and thank goodness Qhuinn did man up! It may have taken right until the very last chapters but Qhuinn and Blaylock got their happy ending and it was so worth it. Yes, I hated that they were apart for most of the book, my heart broke for both of them due to the pain they were feeling, and I would have loved to see more of them together, but it was still was wonderful. \n For me this book was all about Qhuinn and Blay. Previous books had provided so much build up to their relationship, I started this book with a huge sense of anticipation and eagerness to see them both happy. The result was that most of the other characters and side stories were almost like filler and took a definite backseat to the parts I really wanted to read. Now I have had my heart satisfied and know Qhuinn and Blay will live happily ever after, I will definitely have to go back and re-read.", "date_added": "Sat Nov 17 23:41:31 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 30 04:28:24 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Fri Mar 29 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Mar 28 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "13101894", "review_id": "5cd939f5def013faa41b97857b4fee26", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another fabulous installment of the BDB series! \n J.R. Ward manages to keep me gripped for the duration of all her books with her unique style (always guaranteed to read one of these books in only one or two sittings). She beautifully balances romance and hot sex with lots of action and humour, continually moving from scene to scene, keeping the story moving along at a fast pace. \n I really enjoyed Tohr's story particularly following his terrible emotional struggle after losing Wellsie. He deserved so much happiness. It was wonderfully heart-stopping as J.R. Ward threw in some twists and turns at the end! \n Of course, I mainly read these books now to follow Qhuinn and Blaylock. So I put off reading Lover Reborn to this month so that I could read just before the release of Lover At Last. So well worth it for the teaser provided at the end! Luckily I now only have to wait a couple of weeks!", "date_added": "Sat Nov 17 23:41:12 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 10 03:04:25 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sat Mar 09 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Mar 03 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 3}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "17415002", "review_id": "340777a6fc32c0cc61e93030c91911cb", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ghosts aren't normally my thing but I really enjoyed this story. \n Matt is a detective, still mourning the loss of his partner, who falls for Kiernan, a medium. They meet after Matthew sees a ghost (that of a murdered little girl) and therefore attends one of Kiernan's seminars. The two men work to solve the murder mystery, while Matt's job is on the line and someone is trying to kill them. \n A bit of mystery, a bit of drama, a bit of humour, a bit of romance, a bit of sex....... \n I even found the ghost quite believable up until the last scenes where Abby (the ghost) starts as a glowing ball and hovers in front of the bad guy before taking another form and traumatising him . What I did like was that Kiernan didn't have any visions of Matt's ex-partner which could have been the expected thing", "date_added": "Tue Nov 13 20:26:33 -0800 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 27 04:58:34 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Mar 26 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Sun Mar 24 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 7, "n_comments": 4}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "10853750", "review_id": "999e2fe05db480cd2d16e8fd96da3e4e", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Still really loving this series and enjoyed the story of Payne and Manny. I love how Manny was able to hold his own against the brothers. \n The writing style continues to impress with humour, romance, action, drama and a fast pace. \n However I find myself now reading this series mainly to see what happens with Qhuinn and Blaylock, desperate for them to have their happy ever after! Like many people I am eagerly awaiting the release of Lover at Last on 26 March 2013 (I think this is the most expensive kindle book I have ever pre-ordered but it will be so worth it!)", "date_added": "Tue Oct 30 19:46:11 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Feb 24 18:10:55 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Mon Feb 25 18:10:55 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sun Feb 24 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "7046495", "review_id": "306dfbaff595541fbe5d71a355331bc3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Another awesome installment of this fabulous series! \n Having a weakness for John Matthew, I was so happy to see him find his soul mate! Initially, based on perception from earlier books, I was not sympathetic to Xhex but so much of her past is explained in this book that it is easy to see why she and John Matthew make such as good couple. \n This book also provides teasers into the relationship between Qhuinn and Blaylock, such that I can't wait to read Lover At Last!", "date_added": "Tue Oct 30 19:46:03 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 19 19:50:10 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jan 20 19:50:10 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "7161496", "review_id": "f60490340f9d1cf06193876513bbbe71", "rating": 4, "review_text": "This book continues in the style of the previous books with the story moving between different characters, continuing some story lines and introducing others, keeping a fast pace. \n My favourite characters continue to be John Matthew, Qhuinn and Blaylock so I enjoyed the amount of time given over to them in Lover Enshrined. \n It was great to see Phury get his HEA but something was lacking in his relationship with Cormia - the strength and passion did not meet expectations (based on the relationships of the other brothers). \n I cannot adequately review/rate this book as I read it out of order - very silly but they were all on the kindle and I managed to skip this one and read 7 & 8 first before coming back - duh! This meant that while reading this one, I knew some of what was going to happen based on the later books. I will be checking more carefully in future!", "date_added": "Tue Oct 30 19:45:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Feb 20 13:39:13 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Wed Feb 20 13:39:13 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Tue Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "6520994", "review_id": "846dd138dd3265e0bca48c49b27473dd", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Lover Avenged is action packed and moves quickly between a number of intertwined stories. Lots of hot vampires with drama, action and sizzling romance. \n The prime focus is on Rehvenge and his relationship with Ehlena. It continues to amaze me how J.R. Ward can develop characters, who you think you should really dislike based on their actions, but you can't help but feel differently. Rehvenge is one of these. Although he is a drug dealer with dark past, it was heart-breaking when he felt he didn't deserve Ehlena. \n My other favourite from the series, John Matthew, features in this story which transitions nicely into the next book.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 30 19:45:27 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 10 03:47:25 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Jan 10 03:47:25 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "304027", "review_id": "e663fc14584f6629692145ea00736d51", "rating": 5, "review_text": "This series continues to impress. Loved V's story! Fast-paced, engrossing, page-turner.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 30 19:45:12 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Dec 30 03:46:59 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Dec 30 03:46:59 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Fri Dec 28 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "6520995", "review_id": "8fd5a6a283331b7bb513a6524d49ca95", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I'm enjoying all the books in this series - I like the writing style, the characters and the plots. I didn't find the relationship between Butch and Marissa as hot as those in the earlier books but I was glad to see Butch get his HEA and finally really belong among the Brothers.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 30 19:44:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 18 20:11:13 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Wed Dec 19 20:11:13 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Thu Nov 29 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "5598223", "review_id": "ae6e9b7f8175c98f422baaf42766f625", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Really loved this book. The best one of the series so far!", "date_added": "Tue Oct 30 19:42:18 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Nov 17 23:33:48 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Nov 18 23:33:48 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "12157093", "review_id": "c75c7a362092a4ae560a507e3ec4ba1a", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I have not read a story about shifters before. Quite entertaining for a freebie short story.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 30 02:50:36 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 18 16:11:43 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Mon Nov 19 16:11:43 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "12090304", "review_id": "709f27b377a1072817acfa008d7e9ba4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This wasn't exactly what I was expecting, which was a typical vampire romance as the vampire was the bad guy in this story. The story focused more on the development of the relationship between the 2 lead characters and the vampire part was almost incidental. It was a good quick read.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 30 02:48:09 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Nov 21 22:10:41 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Thu Nov 22 22:10:41 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Wed Nov 21 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "12484121", "review_id": "437746a5565380e8a0db2c5ba3870139", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Not really for me. This was very short and obviously mean't to tempt into reading the next installment in the series as it doesn't provide a conclusion ie. not a complete story on its own. As I am not hugely into shift stories I won't be completing the series.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 30 02:42:56 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 04:42:19 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Dec 26 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "5603414", "review_id": "cc1505c50b943eb02cb365b089a77558", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I enjoyed this blend of police and paranormal. I found the concept of a physic police force with different talents quite unique. The characters were quirky and fun and the murder case interesting. Victor and Jacob were very appealing and not your typical cop characters. \n I have seen many excellent reviews for this series and many five star ratings given. I am perhaps going against the trend, only rating 3.5 stars, but am looking forward to reading the rest of the series and seeing if it grows on me more.", "date_added": "Sun Oct 28 15:00:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 03 05:18:21 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sun Apr 14 23:37:20 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Thu Apr 11 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 6, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "6287109", "review_id": "8e7bf73fbd43df6a2037efaffadc0993", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked this story more than the first book. I enjoyed seeing Brian find his special man and both Brian and Rush were likable characters with honest fears about their future together. The special ability of Rush seemed almost irrelevant to the story rather than a feature.", "date_added": "Tue Oct 16 02:29:53 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jan 05 00:07:45 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Sat Jan 05 00:07:45 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "3539085", "review_id": "7675256a2b270d6273a058fd4636d485", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Mixed feelings on this one. Some elements of the story were sweet such as Sammi really wanting to better himself and how both Mitchell and Sammi care so much about each other. But the plot was a bit odd at times with sex slavery, telepathic love and Mitchell, corporate executive behaving in a very non-corporate way jacking off in an office cubicle \n Some of the writing describing orgasms was also over the top but quite funny \"They rode the rising crest of a mutual orgasm that promised to open a new world for both of them. With a final surge, the tidal wave broke over them and they shattered on the rocks.\"and \"Together, they gathered the ecstasy building in each of them and blended it into an incredible ball of power, only to pass it back and forth between them.\" \n 2.5 stars", "date_added": "Tue Oct 16 02:29:29 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 03 22:45:23 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Fri Jan 04 22:45:23 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Thu Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "12872285", "review_id": "980861af5f6f9cd2a8246bfe331bc141", "rating": 4, "review_text": "A near death experience changes Dane's life - he gets a new outlook and decides to go after what he wants and what he wants is Court. \"Well, I'm not gonna sit around and wait for that second to come around and get me. I want to live now. Might have just got lucky that day, I don't know, but I'm not gonna push it. I want all my seconds right down to the very last one. I'm greedy.\" \n Court is the man who saved him, using his ability as 'a fixer' so pull Dane back from the brink of death. Court is facing his own demons, running from his past and the people who want him for his special skills. \n The book starts in a rush of drama as Dane is caught by a tornado. What follows is mystery, with a story that keeps you guessing. There is a relatively complex back story involving Court and lots of characters. It is filled with action and drama - bad guys, kidnappings, shootings, foot chases, supernatural abilities...at times I did find it a little too much and wanted the drama resolved so the story could focus more on Dane and Court. \n Dane persistently chases Court, determined to get his man, while Court tries to push him away, his internal voice whispering \"Let him go...you don't deserve him...he's not for an unnatural thing like you. Let him go!\". The men have strong bond and emotional tie and there is some sizzling sex. \n And finally there is a happy ending. Court may be the one who is able to 'fix' people physically but Dane has his own 'fixing' ability. He is able to 'fix' Court, providing him with family, love and a way forward. \n This had the potential to be a really fabulous book but somehow it just didn't come together fully for me. Don't get me wrong, I definitely enjoyed it, but considering the ingredients of the story, I would have expected to absolutely adore it. 3.5 stars. \n I now publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!", "date_added": "Wed Oct 10 03:19:14 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jul 06 23:24:55 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Sun Jul 07 23:24:55 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Fri Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b78a9143ca2f0c4c7361694dc6cb0500", "book_id": "6370210", "review_id": "8277ee0e47ee97459805044b43bbc72f", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Not for me.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 25 03:15:58 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Mar 30 04:42:00 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "535c9969205c97914714ae1cd9ad3c5d", "book_id": "18932", "review_id": "ec3f8d888d6f09dc0d78d26f7e6cffd3", "rating": 5, "review_text": "If you are a dog lover, then this is a book not to be missed.", "date_added": "Fri Jan 30 23:39:43 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Fri Jan 30 23:40:23 -0800 2015", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dcd1ea64ff1341f053cc15397f1954fc", "book_id": "113436", "review_id": "ae3c2d1c759cd57f61b9d0864e90a6a9", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Not worth it!", "date_added": "Thu Aug 23 23:44:52 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Sep 19 04:32:22 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Wed Sep 19 04:32:22 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "dcd1ea64ff1341f053cc15397f1954fc", "book_id": "9361589", "review_id": "ffab1b4a48868927d3e26a74dedb1810", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Truly captivating...full of descriptive imagery and a verbose prose which for some might make dreary reading but worked for me!...the story though could have been better executed.", "date_added": "Sat Aug 18 04:06:10 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Aug 23 03:42:32 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Aug 21 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Aug 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "b7bd2bfa9936a1479a5a769e0ab00c69", "book_id": "11952322", "review_id": "34332b732b62ec1ceb89ab77af5c549d", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Lo so che la mia voce e quella fuori dal coro, ma... posso dire che non mi ha convinta? \n Non l'ho letto da bambina, ma da adulta, e posso dire che la storia e sicuramente godibile da un pubblico di giovanissimi. Purtroppo pero, credo sia troppo infantile per chi, come me, ha ormai varcato la soglia dell'eta adulta. \n La trama e scontata, carino il condimento (i nomi, le ambientazioni...) ma tutto il resto e e resta banale a mio parere. Non l'ho letto con piacere, sono sincera. Almeno in questo primo volume, non ci ritrovo il capolavoro acclamato da molti, non lo trovo originale, ne tantomeno profondo. Si dice che i libri per bambini non siano veramente belli se non trasmettono qualcosa anche agli adulti, se non sono godibili anche per loro e se non toccano il loro cuore. Ebbene, il primo libro di questa trilogia non mi ha emozionata, mi ha lasciata indifferente, come se mi fosse scivolato sulla pelle. Ho letto libri per bambini di gran lunga piu meritevoli di questo... Per ora gli assegno un voto intermedio, aspetto di leggere i seguiti per decidere se bocciare definitivamente la serie o se ricredermi e tornare sui miei passi.", "date_added": "Tue May 31 04:51:46 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue May 31 04:55:44 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 22 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Fri Mar 11 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b7bd2bfa9936a1479a5a769e0ab00c69", "book_id": "29104027", "review_id": "915e113abef555457a04616d0dcb120f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Al termine del primo volume della saga, avevamo lasciato Agatha e Sophie l'una nelle braccia dell'altra, di ritorno a casa con il loro lieto fine in tasca. All'inizio di questo capitolo, dunque, e cosi che le ritroviamo, tuttavia la loro felicita e destinata a incrinarsi ben presto... \n Bastano due semplici desideri, espressi in silenzio ma nati nel profondo del cuore, per stravolgere gli equilibri che sembravano essersi creati dal ritorno delle due protagoniste a Gavaldon. Si, perche a volte cio che si desidera puo diventare estremamente pericoloso. \n Se in un primo momento Agatha e Sophie sembravano felici del loro ritorno nella citta natale, presto si troveranno a fare i conti con una realta diversa dalle loro aspettative, che le spingera a desiderare di piu, a volere un finale diverso per la loro storia. E allora ecco che tutto ricomincia, con il solito ritmo incalzante tipico dell'autore e con i suoi giochi psicologici volti a confondere personaggi e lettori, coinvolgendo chi legge in una danza sfrenata che avra il suo culmine nel grande, inaspettato e terribile finale. \n Soman Chainani non si smentisce, la sua bravura e destrezza nel controllare situazioni, personaggi, vicende e filone narrativo non si esauriscono e ci regala ancora una volta mille emozioni e avventure degne della piu bella e paurosa delle fiabe. \n L'autore ci offre la possibilita di varcare di nuovo i cancelli dell'Accademia del Bene e del Male. Questa volta, tuttavia, la divisione non e piu tra le forze benigne e maligne, ma tra sesso femminile e maschile. Dopo il finale che Agatha e Sophie hanno scelto per la loro storia, infatti, gli equilibri nel mondo delle fiabe si sono spezzati; ne risulta, quindi, come al solito, una grande confusione. Ritroviamo caratteristiche tipicamente maschili nella scuola delle Ragazze e propensioni femminili in quella dei Ragazzi, perche, come Chainani ormai ci ha fatto comprendere, non solo non esiste il bianco senza il nero, ma il bianco ha in se del nero e il nero ha in se del bianco. Le nette distinzioni non sono contemplate da questo talentuoso autore, che porta all'esasperazione i suoi personaggi, confondendo anche il lettore con i suoi colpi di penna all'ultimo inchiostro. Chainani gioca con i propri personaggi come fossero marionette guidate dai fili che lui stesso si diverte a muovere e ingarbugliare. La bravura dell'autore sta proprio in questo: tramite le avventure e le vicende che fa vivere alle sue creature di carta e inchiostro, indaga l'animo umano nel profondo, tirando fuori da quegli abissi tutte le passioni che muovono le azioni delle persone, le motivazioni dietro a taluni comportamenti e scene di vita quotidiana... il tutto trasposto in un libro fantasy per ragazzi. O almeno, quello che a una prima lettura sembrerebbe tale. \n L'Accademia del Bene e del Male e una saga che non manca di sorprendere, non si ripete, ma si rinnova sui propri stessi cliche, elevandosi a ogni capitolo sempre di piu. \n Cattiveria, dolcezza, vendetta, amore, potere, amicizia, malvagita, perdono, diffidenza... tutto si intreccia in una trama perfetta, ricca di colpi di scena e colorata con le tinte del fantasy, del giallo e, a tratti, persino dell'horror. \n \"Lasciate ogne speranza voi ch'intrate\"(cit. Dante): questo e lo spirito giusto per affrontare i libri di Soman Chainani, perche puntualmente sapra stravolgere ogni vostra convinzione, portandovi e riflettere su voi stessi e su quello che avete dentro. Il vostro cuore e puro come quello di una principessa? O e forse macchiato di odio e risentimento come quello della peggiore strega? Per scoprirlo, leggete fino in fondo la storia di Agatha e Sophie, la risposta non tardera ad arrivare.", "date_added": "Sat May 21 03:38:17 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sat May 21 05:27:52 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b7bd2bfa9936a1479a5a769e0ab00c69", "book_id": "25231444", "review_id": "4322709623772d9bdaf342c86b1cbd8d", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Mi credereste se vi dicessi che anche i draghi amano l'ora del te , che quando piangono producono perle al posto di lacrime e che possono avere un tablet e uno smartphone? No? Be', allora leggete \"Storia di un Drago e della Bambina che gli cambio la vita\" e vi accorgerete che non sto affatto mentendo. \n Questo piccolo libriccino, infatti, ci parla dei draghi sotto una nuova luce. La storia e raccontata in prima persona, dal punto di vista di uno di loro, o meglio, una. A raccontarci gli eventi narrati e le coloratissime avventure che si susseguiranno per tutta la durata del libro e Miss Drake (o almeno questo e il nome con cui si fa chiamare), una femmina di drago che conosce la magia cosi bene da essere considerata tra le piu abili nel mondo magico. Nel mondo creato dai due autori, i draghi possono tenere anche animaletti da compagnia, vale a dire esseri umani, che loro allevano e addestrano con amore, saggezza e dedizione, proprio come faremmo noi con un cagnolino o un micio. Il precedente animaletto domestico di Miss Drake, tuttavia, e morto forse di vecchiaia, lasciando un vuoto incolmabile nel cuore ricoperto di scaglie del drago. Non avrebbe piu voluto animaletti per un po', desiderava crogiolarsi nel dolore, metabolizzare la perdita e allontanarsi da amici e vita mondana. Peccato che tutto questo non le sia stato permesso. Proprio mentre stava per piangere perle scintillanti dagli occhi da rettile, ecco bussare alla porta del suo appartamento una bambina. Winnie, testarda e determinata, non si lascia intimorire dal carattere burbero di Miss Drake, che tenta in tutti i modi di allontanarla. Sapra far breccia nel suo cuore, perche in fondo Winnie ha bisogno di Miss Drake, ma anche Miss Drake ha bisogno di Winnie. \n Tra magici negozi sulle nuvole, momenti di shopping sfrenato, animali dai mille colori e duelli di magia, le due protagoniste ne vedranno delle belle e, con loro, anche il lettore. \n La fantasia dei due autori si dimostra notevole, e un vero peccato non poter vedere tutte le creature da loro inventate. Che aspetto hanno i topi carosello? E le chiocciole d'aria, le falene generatrici di sogni e le lucertole neon? Non lo sapremo mai, ma possiamo provare a immaginarceli attraverso gli occhi di Winnie e le parole di Miss Drake. \n Il libro e scritto in modo scorrevole, con un linguaggio semplice ma non banale. Ho apprezzato molto i riferimenti colti seminati nel romanzo, importantissimi nei libri dedicati ai piu piccoli. \n I capitoli iniziano tutti con una frase, una citazione che sembra tratta da un manuale per addestratori di animaletti domestici: \n \"Ci sono animaletti domestici intelligenti e animaletti domestici altruisti: tieniti stretto l'animaletto che e entrambe le cose.\" \n Infine, oltre a essere una divertente e spensierata avventura, questa storia reca con se anche una morale, con un finale che emoziona e intenerisce. Miss Drake e Winnie, da vere amiche, sapranno fare molto l'una per l'altra. Sono contenta di non essermi lasciata sfuggire questa simpatica favola, ha deliziato le mie serate. La consiglio sicuramente ai giovani lettori in cerca di uno svago, di divertimento e di una storia ambientata nel mondo reale ma che ha in se tutta la magia del mondo della fantasia. \n \"Ogni drago e unico. Decidiamo noi di essere quello che siamo, e io ho scelto di essere il drago migliore.\" Poi mi corressi: \"Il drago migliore che potessi essere\".", "date_added": "Thu Mar 31 15:23:21 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Apr 12 14:58:33 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Wed Mar 30 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Mar 24 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b7bd2bfa9936a1479a5a769e0ab00c69", "book_id": "11038633", "review_id": "ccdf8b35e8feb5a57129d05a787b7af6", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"Il regno dei gufi\" e il primo volume di una saga, una trilogia per essere precisi, che purtroppo non e piu in commercio. Dico \"purtroppo\" perche quello che mi sono ritrovata tra le mani e un vero e proprio gioiello, un libro nel quale mi sono imbattuta per pura fortuna e che credo mi rimarra sempre nel cuore. \n Questo romanzo narra una storia complessa e articolata in due parti, che potrebbero ricondursi rispettivamente ai periodi della giovinezza e della maturita del protagonista, il giovane Gufo dei Granai, Hunter. Egli riceve una precisa ed accorata istruzione dai suoi genitori, i quali gli insegnano a vivere nel mondo della campagna, trasmettendogli i valori derivanti dalla religione e dalla societa dei Gufi dei Granai. L'autore rende i Gufi molto simili a noi esseri umani: essi hanno una struttura sociale ben definita, hanno un Credo ben preciso e delle regole da rispettare per poter far parte della comunita, ma non solo: i piccoli Gufi dei Granai ricevono un'istruzione di base - che li portera ad apprendere lezioni importanti quali il volo, la caccia, la paura e l'importanza della famiglia - e un'istruzione superiore. Durante quest'ultima fase, i giovani Gufi vengono presi sotto l'ala di un insegnante esperto, che li istruira sulla materia per la quale si sentono piu portati, come per esempio la Storia, la Geografia, l'Ecologia, la Gufologia, la Religione, la Poesia, la Guerra, le Lingue, le Scienze Umane... \n Il lettore viene da subito catapultato nel mondo dei rapaci notturni, e imparera insieme ad Hunter i valori e le regole della comunita dei Gufi dei Granai. Egli cresce nel granaio dei suoi genitori, e fin dai primi mesi di vita dimostra un vivo interesse per la conoscenza. Quando arriva il suo momento di imparare la lezione piu dura, e cioe l'indipendenza e l'allontanamento dal nido familiare, Hunter si ritrova da solo a vagare per i cieli notturni illuminati dalla pallida luna, alla ricerca della sua nuova dimora e del Gufo che potra impartirgli un'istruzione superiore. Le cose purtroppo non vanno esattamente come egli aveva previsto, e si ritrova cosi a dover sopravvivere da solo senza ricevere alcun insegnamento da nessuno, se non dagli animali che popolano il territorio in cui si e stanziato. Inizialmente diffidente e schivo, Hunter impara ben presto il valore della tolleranza e dell'uguaglianza fra le specie. La sua curiosita, sensibilita e sete di conoscenza, lo spingeranno cosi a voler creare un'unione tra le tre razze di Gufi esistenti, e cioe quelli dei Granai, quelli delle Foreste e gli immigranti. Riuscira nel suo intento quando un Gufo Reale minaccera la sopravvivenza dei Gufi, ma scomparsa la sua minaccia ne arrivera un'altra, piu pericolosa e incombente di prima: l'uomo, e insieme ad esso l'inquinamento proveniente dalle citta, nonche la comparsa di un nuovo Gufo dei Granai che intende sovvertire l'intero ordine sociale della comunita che Hunter conosceva fin da pulcino. \n Un libro intriso di significati, ricco di avvenimenti e pervaso da un incessante senso di malinconia e nostalgia, che avviluppera il lettore come una nebbiolina leggera, accompagnandolo durante tutta la lettura. \n Il linguaggio usato da Martin Hocke e spesso ricercato, con termini tratti dalla filosofia e dalla religione, e a tratti si fa piu poetico e solenne. Lo stile dell'autore e particolare, nostalgico e malinconico. La narrazione procede piuttosto velocemente, complice il fatto che la trama sia fitta di avvenimenti anche molto ravvicinati tra loro. Sebbene il romanzo ci metta un po' ad ingranare, riesce a spiccare il volo e a tenere il lettore col fiato sospeso. \n \"Il regno dei gufi\" appartiena al genere fantasy, ma si tratta di un fantasy atipico, poiche qui non sono presenti elementi soprannaturali ne creature magiche. Il libro e ambientato ai giorni nostri, in un luogo imprecisato del mondo reale. \n Per quanto riguarda le descrizioni, sono dettagliate quelle delle battaglie e dei sentimenti che animano i Gufi, un po' meno curate quelle riguardanti l'aspetto dei personaggi e dei luoghi. \n Nonostante i personaggi della storia non siano pochi, l'autore riesce a dare ad ognuno di loro un carattere diverso, seppure il loro background ci risulti quasi del tutto sconosciuto. Ogni personaggio ha un ruolo ben preciso all'interno della storia, nessuno e superfluo o fine a se stesso. Ho amato molto Hunter, il protagonista di questo libro, sincero e coraggioso, mosso da ideali puri, impulsivo, testardo e curioso. Attraverso i suoi occhi il lettore imparera a vedere le cose da un punto di vista diverso da quello a cui e abituato, vivra le sue paure, condividera i suoi dolori e i suoi successi con grande coinvolgimento emotivo. Mi e piaciuta anche l'evoluzione che ha subito il protagonista durante lo svolgersi della storia, evoluzione che permette al libro di essere considerato a tutti gli effetti un romanzo di formazione. \n Sebbene \"Il regno dei gufi\" rientri nella categoria dei fantasy per ragazzi, per via dei temi in esso trattati potrebbe benissimo essere annoverato tra i migliori romanzi per adulti. Questo libro infatti offre spunti di riflessione non indifferenti; lo scrittore ha disseminato tra le sue pagine temi quali l'uguglianza e il razzismo, l'ambientalismo e l'ecologia, l'odio e l'amore, la scienza e la spiritualita, la conoscenza, il rispetto, il fanatismo, l'amicizia, la sessualita, la responsabilita, il sacrificio, la lealta, la memoria, la speranza... tutte tematiche importanti, che vengono analizzate profondamente dall'autore, con evidente intento didascalico. \n La trama si presenta ben intessuta e ben studiata da Hocke. Gli avvenimenti che in essa si svolgono sono volti a lanciare un messaggio al lettore; la storia di Hunter vuole insegnarci a riconoscere le cose che davvero hanno importanza nella nostra vita di esseri umani, facendoci notare la caducita dei beni terreni e l'essenza effimera delle cose che noi spesso riteniamo importanti. \"Il regno dei gufi\" altro non e una metafora della vita e della storia dell'uomo e facilmente il lettore ne ravvisera le innumerevoli similitudini. \n Nell'ultima edizione, al romanzo e stato scelto di cambiare il titolo, che originariamente era \"L'antico Regno del Silenzio\". Anche la traduzione del testo e cambiata, e in questa versione i Barbagianni, chiamati anche Gufi Bianchi nelle prime edizioni, sono divenuti i Gufi dei Granai. Gli Allocchi, chiamati anche Gufi Bruni, sono diventati semplicemente Gufi delle Foreste, e infine le Civette sono divenute Gufi Piccoli o Immigranti. Inutile dire che preferisco di gran lunga la traduzione precedente, a mio parere piu immediata e genuina. \n Mi sento di consigliare questo libro a tutti, nessuno escluso. Certo e che \"Il regno dei gufi\" si rivolge ad un pubblico maturo, sia per i termini utilizzati che per le tematiche affrontate, profonde ed importanti. Consiglio in particolar modo questo libro a chi ama la Natura, alle persone sensibili e a chi desidera una lettura che lascera il segno. In questo romanzo si trovano tutti gli ingredienti di una bella storia: avventura, amore, eroismo... quindi, perche non leggerlo? ;)", "date_added": "Mon Mar 28 09:40:05 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 28 09:42:03 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Oct 25 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b7bd2bfa9936a1479a5a769e0ab00c69", "book_id": "11325485", "review_id": "215d847e98956332565ef44261bae01e", "rating": 3, "review_text": "\"Meterra - Il destino in una biglia\" e un romanzo fantasy la cui ambientazione gravita tra Genova, un luogo indefinito della Francia e il mondo fantastico di Meterra. Trovo la copertina del libro bellissima, ben fatta e perfetta per la storia narrata tra le sue pagine. \n L'autore usa un vasto repertorio di vocaboli, riconducibili sia a dialetti locali che a termini ricercati, di rado utilizzati nel parlato. Ciononostante, la lettura resta scorrevole, l'ampio vocabolario di Cisi finisce per creare uno stile di scrittura particolare ed insolito, che definirei quasi \"onirico\". Interessante e la scelta di narrare la storia da diversi punti di vista, sebbene essa finisca per confondere inesorabilmente il lettore. Cisi, infatti, cerca di dare voce ai pensieri di molti dei suoi personaggi, narrandoci le loro storie su una linea temporale parallela. Cosi, mentre l'autore ci parla delle avventure di Mimi su Meterra, la sua penna ci trasporta a Genova, tra i vicoli della citta vecchia dove le dispute si combattono a colpi di biglie. Al contempo ci vengono narrate le vicende dei segugi di Vox, gli antagonisti della storia, che finiscono per avere la loro voce all'interno del romanzo. Molte volte mi sono quasi trovata a fare il tifo per gli antagonisti, sintomo che l'autore e riuscito nell'intento di far immedesimare il lettore nei diversi personaggi. Ho apprezzato molto questa scelta, e a Cisi va il merito particolare di essere riuscito a tenere le redini delle diverse storie e ad intrecciarle in modo perfetto ed ammirevole, compito che si prospettava arduo e pericoloso. Una pecca di questa scelta narrativa pero c'e, e non posso fare a meno di sottolinearla: cambiando continuamente punto di vista (spesso all'interno della stessa pagina), lo scrittore finisce per disarmare il lettore, che non riesce ad immergersi completamente nella lettura e immagazzinare le informazioni necessarie per proseguire e capire cosi l'insieme della storia. Le situazioni create sono tantissime, cosi come i personaggi che le vivono, e spesso mi sono ritrovata a dover rileggere parti che mi ero lasciata alle spalle perche non ne ricordavo piu gli importanti dettagli. \n Le descrizioni si presentano molto dettagliate agli occhi del lettore; Cisi descrive con dovizia di particolari le battaglie a biglie dei monelli del Borgo degli Scontri, cosi come le altre innumerevoli situazioni che si creano all'interno del romanzo. Forse sono un po' prolisse pero, l'autore avrebbe potuto evitare di dilungarsi tanto su alcune scene e dare invece importanza a cose piu rilevanti all'interno della storia. Infatti, del tutto insufficienti sono le descrizioni che l'autore fornisce delle creature magiche di Meterra; ho apprezzato molto l'originalita di Cisi nell'inventare nuovi mondi e nuove creature, purtroppo pero il lettore resta insoddisfatto, poiche l'autore non fornisce descrizioni adeguate delle novita fantasiose che introduce, rendendo cosi un po' sterile l'immaginazione di chi legge. Il lettore, avido di risposte, non sapra mai chi sono realmente i simpatici bleur, non conoscera la loro storia ne i loro costumi. Nulla viene approfondito sulla societa che abita Meterra, non una parola viene spesa per descrivere la cultura, la religione... Insomma, il mondo creato da Cisi resta un po' abbandonato a se stesso, sospeso in una nebbiolina offuscata. \n I personaggi presentati da Cisi sono molti, purtroppo pero l'autore non riesce a caratterizzarli in modo soddisfacente, soprattutto se si considera la mole del romanzo. La stessa protagonista risulta poco profonda, quasi come fosse appena abbozzata. Sembra che l'autore abbia creato quasi delle \"macchiette\", dei personaggi con personalita piuttosto fisse che li caratterizzano solo superficialmente. Mimi Maresco, la protagonista, appare fin da subito come una tipetta tosta, coraggiosa e irriverente; al termine della storia la troviamo cresciuta, anche se resta pur sempre una bambina. Tra gli altri personaggi troviamo Virna e Marcello, gli amici di Mimi; beneducata lei, quasi zoticone lui, resteranno per tutta la durata del romanzo piuttosto fissi. I due personaggi che forse mi hanno incuriosita di piu sono i reietti Egulash e Ballisto Bal, che Mimi incontra su Meterra e che l'accompagneranno nelle sue avventure. Anche in questo caso l'autore delinea due personalita piuttosto statiche, che portera avanti per tutta la durata del suo libro. Egulash, scontroso e brontolone, cerca sempre di fare il duro della situazione mascherando i sentimenti sotto una coltre di muscoli ed indifferenza. Bal invece e piu accomodante dell'amico, quasi paterno con Mimi, e rappresenta l'antitesi di Egulash. I due finiscono dunque per battibeccarsi a vicenda, dando animo alla narrazione. interessanti, ma sempre poco approfonditi, i profili psicologici dei segugi del nemico, gli allievi del cosiddetto Formicaio, un'accademia per assassini. \n Per quanto io mi sia sforzata di trovare tra le pagine di \"Meterra\" delle tematiche, non sono del tutto riuscita nel mio intento. Sicuramente vuole essere un romanzo di formazione; Mimi all'inizio della storia ha dei comportamenti infantili, mentre nelle ultimissime pagine si fa piu matura, responsabile e consapevole. Cisi dunque trasmette al lettore il dovere, la responsabilita e le rinunce che comportano l'entrata nell'eta adulta. Mi e sembrato quasi che l'autore abbia voluto trasmettere anche un messaggio ambientalista tra le pagine del suo romanzo, ma in modo blando e quasi impercepibile. \n La storia di per se non si discosta molto dal fantasy tradizionale: una ragazzina prescelta il cui destino sembra inesorabilmente segnato; un mondo magico in cui la protagonista viene catapultata, strappata dai suoi affetti; una profezia antica nascosta nelle viscere della terra; antagonisti che cercano di ostacolare la missione della prescelta, senza un vero motivo o un movente valido ed originale... insomma, tutto appare piuttosto tradizionale, ma l'originalita della storia e data dalle ambientazioni, a meta tra fantasia e realta, dal linguaggio narrativo, dalle creature magiche che l'autore ha inventato per la sua storia. Meterra e un mondo da scoprire, Cisi ce lo svela, e purtroppo in parte ce lo nasconde. \n Purtroppo la storia non ha un vero e proprio finale, sembrerebbe piuttosto un inizio. \"Meterra\" ha infatti tutte le carte in regola per essere il primo capitolo di una saga fantasy; molti quesiti vengono lasciati in sospeso, ma non si sa se l'autore abbia intenzione di pubblicare un seguito. \n In definitiva, seppur con i suoi non trascurabili difetti, \"Meterra\" mi e piaciuto, anche se non ha saputo emozionarmi come speravo. E' un romanzo che ha in se tutti i presupposti e le promesse di una storia unica e fantasiosa, purtroppo pero non decolla e lascia un po' il lettore a bocca asciutta. \n Lo consiglio agli amanti del fantasy, a chi desidera una storia scritta con uno stile particolare e a chi vuole immergersi in un mondo ricco di ricordi d'infanzia.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 25 05:44:45 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 14 11:49:33 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Feb 14 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b7bd2bfa9936a1479a5a769e0ab00c69", "book_id": "9133893", "review_id": "9f2b83956e7cacb3749712e73d081e2f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"L'acchiapparatti di Tilos\" e sicuramente un libro particolare, che non potra restare indifferente ai lettori. Francesco Barbi infatti, ha saputo portare una ventata d'aria fresca nel panorama fantasy italiano. Il suo romanzo si discosta dai canoni del fantasy tradizionale e Barbi ci presenta personaggi insoliti, scarti della societa, persone prive di scrupoli e, talvolta, anche di senno. Ho trovato notevole questo libro, che ha costituito il suo esordio letterario. \n Il linguaggio utilizzato dall'autore e piuttosto semplice, anche se il vocabolario di Barbi e comunque molto ricco; il tutto resta comunque molto scorrevole. \n Lo stile e particolare; per via delle vicende narrate, la storia assume spesso delle tinte fosche, l'atmosfera creata da Barbi e quindi misteriosa, quasi gotica. \n Il ritmo del romanzo e incalzante, il libro si lascia leggere velocemente, soprattutto superata la prima meta, quando i nodi cominciano a venire al pettine e il lettore inizia a comprende di piu i dettagli della storia. \n Le descrizioni sono esaustive e dettagliate al punto giusto, senza mai risultare pesanti ne troppo lunghe. \n Come gia accennato poco sopra, i personaggi sono il vero punto forte dell'intero romanzo. Barbi sceglie per la sua storia personaggi del tutto insoliti, difficilmente presi in considerazione dalla letteratura; sono per lo piu scarti della societa, privi di scrupoli e di un qualsiasi principio morale. \n I protagonisti di questa storia sono un becchino storpio e opportunista, che farebbe qualunque cosa pur di raggiungere i suoi scopi; il matto del villaggio al quale sembra proprio mancare qualche rotella, che per non essere tagliato fuori dalla societa si inventa un mestiere tutto suo diventando acchiapparatti; una prostituta golosa di cibo, un gigante che parla solo tramite proverbi e un misterioso cacciatore di taglie sfigurato. Tutti, dal primo all'ultimo, hanno caratteri ben delineati dall'autore, e ognuno svolge il suo importante ruolo. Ho apprezzato molto la scelta di Barbi di prendere in considerazione personaggi sconsiderati, rendendo cosi il suo romanzo originale. Il mio preferito in assoluto rimane Zaccaria Narrish, l'acchiapparatti, che finisce per sorprendere il lettore piu di una volta. I suoi modi di fare e il suo battibeccarsi con Ghescik (il becchino storpio) mi hanno fatto piu volte sorridere durante la lettura, accrescendo il mio sentimento di simpatia nei suoi confronti. Molte sono le scene esilaranti in questo low fantasy, ho apprezzato molto lo humor dell'autore, che contrasta molto con le scene cupe e orrorifiche dedicate al mietitore di Giloc. L'autore ha scelto dunque una buona alternanza tra allegria e serieta, coinvolgendo positivamente il lettore in ogni fase della storia e sciogliendo un po' la tensione con le scene d'ilarita. \n All'interno di questo romanzo sono ravvisabili diversi significati, piu o meno nascosti. La morale de \"L'acchiapparatti di Tilos\" puo essere riassunta nel seguente proverbio: chi e causa del suo mal, pianga se stesso. L'autore denuncia qui il desiderio di immortalita che corrompe l'animo umano, tema che mi ha riportato alla mente per certi versi \"Il ritratto di Dorian Gray\" di Oscar Wilde. Lo stregone Ar-Gular, pur di ottenere la vita eterna e di non vedere il suo corpo macchiarsi con i segni della vecchiaia e la sua anima imputridirsi per via delle scelleratezze compiute, plasma un essere mostruoso, che rispecchia il male insito nell'essere umano. Ed ecco quindi introdursi un nuovo tema: spesso l'uomo utilizza la sua intelligenza per raggiungere scopi mostruosi e compiendo azioni orribili. \n La trama si presenta piuttosto lineare, tuttavia non e priva di colpi di scena. La storia culmina poi in un finale dolce e amaro al tempo stesso, che mi ha fatto rimpiangere il fatto di non poter far comparire altre pagine. Questo romanzo e seguito da \"Il burattinaio\", che non ho ancora avuto il piacere di leggere, purtroppo pero e fuori catalogo a causa del fallimento della casa editrice. \n \"L'acchiapparatti di Tilos\" si rivolge a un pubblico di adulti e ragazzi; lo consiglio a chi ama il genere fantasy, a chi ha voglia di leggere un libro italiano ben scritto ed originale e a chi desidera tuffarsi in una storia che sappia strappare qualche risata, seppure le atmosfere del romanzo restino piuttosto cupe.", "date_added": "Fri Jul 25 05:44:37 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Tue Jun 14 11:57:52 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Mar 25 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Thu Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b7bd2bfa9936a1479a5a769e0ab00c69", "book_id": "11777329", "review_id": "b469e718a4d066d8576459907a395219", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ho acquistato questo libro qualche anno fa, fresco di stampa. Leggendo la trama ero rimasta piacevolmente colpita dalla storia e avevo della aspettative piuttosto alte riguardo al romanzo, aspettative che sono state in parte tradite. Ma andiamo con ordine. \n Jasmine e una giovane donna indiana in carriera, bella, intelligente e indipendente. C'e solo una pecca nella sua vita: il marito l'ha tradita e l'ha lasciata per un'altra donna. Tutte le sue certezze si sgretolano cosi in un attimo, e tutto quello in cui aveva creduto prima non esiste piu, trascinato via da una raffica di vento. Disillusa e amareggiata, Jasmine non crede piu nell'amore, ne tantomeno negli uomini. Quando la zia materna la chiama e le chiede di gestire per un mese la sua polverosa libreria di Shelter Island, Jasmine non se lo fa ripetere due volte: accetta l'incarico e parte, prendendosi una pausa dal suo amato lavoro e dai problemi legali con il suo ex marito. Giunta alla libreria di zia Ruma pero, Jasmine dovra fare i conti con una nuova realta, si trovera faccia a faccia con se stessa, le sue paure e le sue indecisioni, oltre che con gli esigenti clienti del negozio. Ad aiutarla in ogni circostanza ci sara Tony, libraio esuberante, che diventera un ottimo compagno di avventure per Jasmine. Dopo un ostinato rifiuto iniziale verso i clienti e la libreria fuori dal comune, Jasmine imparera a combattere con i fantasmi del proprio passato e a convivere con gli spiriti che infestano gli scaffali e che spesso le vengono in aiuto. \n \"La libreria dei nuovi inizi\" e un romanzo che secondo me si presterebbe molto bene a divenire un film. Rientra nel genere rosa, sebbene il romanticismo non costituisca la parte principale del libro. \n Il linguaggio utilizzato dall'autrice e semplice e scorrevole, ricco di profumi, suoni e sensazioni che permettono al lettore di viaggiare con la fantasia in luoghi esotici e lontani. Il ritmo della narrazione e veloce, il libro si legge tutto d'un fiato, sebbene la storia in esso narrata sia leggera, spensierata e quasi del tutto priva di colpi di scena. \n Le descrizioni tuttavia sono poco esaurienti, soprattutto quelle dei personaggi. Questi ultimi sono ben caratterizzati e piuttosto realistici. Ho un po' faticato a sopportare la protagonista, che nella prima meta del libro e talmente cinica ed acida che avrei voluto risponderle per le rime. Il suo comportamento e comprensibile vista la sua situazione, ma non giustificabile. Jasmine subisce poi un'evoluzione, forse un po' repentina, ma ho apprezzato comunque il suo cambiamento. \n Mi e piaciuto anche Tony, il simpatico collega di Jasmine, cosi come anche la carismatica, pimpante ed arzilla zia Ruma. \n La trama e semplice, lineare e a tratti scontata. Dalle righe scritte nella quarta di copertina mi sarei immaginata qualcosa di molto diverso, anche se la storia resta piacevole e perfettamente godibile. La presenza degli spiriti degli scrittori e molto meno incisiva di quanto credessi; Jasmine parla solo con Jane Austen all'interno del romanzo, gli altri scrittori le lanciano invece dei messaggi e interagiscono con lei tramite sensazioni e suggerimenti, piuttosto che con veri e propri dialoghi. \n \"La libreria dei nuovi inizi\" e un libro che riesce a trasmetterci la magia delle parole scritte, della carta e delle librerie polverose come quelle di zia Ruma. La dedica che l'autrice pone all'inizio del libro ci svela il suo vero intento: \n Ai librai e alle libraie, ovunque, che non si stancano mai di vendere sogni. \n Siamo davanti a un testo che celebra non solo l'amore per la lettura, ma anche la passione di tutti quei librai che con pazienza e dedizione imparano a leggere negli occhi e nel cuore dei propri clienti per soddisfare le loro esigenze. \n Questo romanzo, senza troppe pretese, ci ricorda di come un libro possa realmente cambiarci la vita, segnare per noi un nuovo inizio, aiutandoci a superare momenti difficili. I libri sono sogni, sono compagni, confidenti, e spesso sanno guardare nel profondo della nostra anima per permetterci di tirar fuori il meglio di noi. \n In questo romanzo l'autrice pone l'accento sugli spiriti degli scrittori, che si manifestano alla protagonista in modi piu o meno espliciti per aiutarla nella sua vita privata e nella sua professione di libraia: anche se qui l'idea e un po' portata agli estremi per motivi di narrazione, e vero che i libri possiedono un'anima, e sanno parlare e sussurrare messaggi a chi ha orecchie per ascoltarli. \n In definitiva, il libro mi e piaciuto per i temi che l'autrice ha voluto trasmettere, per l'idea iniziale e per la magia che vi si respira, accentuata dall'atmosfera indiana che mi ha fatto venire voglia di prendere un aereo e partire per assaporarla da vicino. Non sono rimasta del tutto soddisfatta dalla storia pero, a tratti poco credibile e un po \"sempliciotta\", cosi come il finale, inverosimile e un po' forzato. L'idea sviluppata nella trama era interessante, ma a parer mio poteva essere sviluppata meglio. \n E' un romanzo che si rivolge sicuramente ad un pubblico femminile; lo consiglio a tutti i bibliofili, ai librai vecchio stile e a tutti coloro che desiderano una storia leggera e spensierata, senza grandi aspettative.", "date_added": "Thu May 16 10:01:04 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Thu May 16 10:02:09 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b7bd2bfa9936a1479a5a769e0ab00c69", "book_id": "9782905", "review_id": "5e85b6624c413a68bb93af670fe91792", "rating": 4, "review_text": "\"Il Mulino dei Dodici Corvi\" e un romanzo di genere dark fantasy, una fiaba a tinte fosche che ricorda nelle atmosfere e nella composizione le classiche fiabe dei fratelli Grimm. Puo considerarsi un vero e proprio romanzo di formazione, poiche il protagonista, Krabat, affrontera diverse prove che lo porteranno ad un'evoluzione all'interno della storia, iniziandolo all'eta adulta. \n Orfano, povero e senza una meta, il giovane Krabat finisce nella misteriosa palude di Kosel, dove sorge un mulino alquanto singolare. Krabat vi giunge in seguito a un sogno ricorrente, in cui veniva chiamato a presentarsi al mulino. Viene subito accolto dal mugnaio, che si fa chiamare maestro, e dagli undici garzoni che lavorano sodo per mandare avanti il mulino. Fin da subito, Krabat comprende che qualcosa di strano si nasconde fra le sue mura e ben presto scopre che il mulino non e altro che una scuola di magia nera. Come e accaduto a tutti gli altri garzoni prima di lui, Krabat viene iniziato all'arte dal maestro; ogni venerdi sera lui e gli atri lavoranti si trasformano in corvi per seguire le lezioni del mugnaio, che legge loro dei passi del Koraktor, il libro nero degli incantesimi. Sebbene Krabat si mostri entusiasta di imparare incantesimi e formule magiche, i suoi interrogativi rimangono molti e nessuno dei lavoranti sembra disposto a rivelargli i segreti che il mulino nasconde. Le domande di Krabat rimarranno senza risposta per tutta la durata del romanzo e accompagneranno anche il lettore, accomunandolo con il protagonista. Ma ecco che dopo tre anni dal suo arrivo alla palude di Kosel, Krabat finalmente comprende l'oscurita che avvolge il mulino e i suoi abitanti: per liberarsene dovra mettersi alla prova e rischiare di perdere quello che ha di piu caro al mondo. \n Vorrei fare un appunto al titolo del romanzo: per una volta devo dire di preferire di gran lunga quello della versione italiana anziche l'originale, cioe \"Krabat\". Seppure quest'ultimo esprima la centralita del protagonista, che ha un ruolo fondamentale per lo sviluppo della storia, il titolo piu incisivo, evocativo e rappresentativo e \"Il mulino dei dodici corvi\", che lascia trapelare l'atmosfera di mistero e le tinte fosche contenute all'interno del romanzo. \n La storia e ambientata in Sassonia, nella Palude di Kosel vicino a Schwarzkollm. \n La trama e ben congegnata, non priva di colpi di scena che sanno tenere il lettore incollato alle pagine, tormentato dalla curiosita e sconcertato dagli inquietanti avvenimenti che si succedono al mulino. Il lessico e semplice e diretto, il ritmo scorrevole e incalzante, reso veloce anche dai capitoli brevi, caratteristica che permette al lettore di leggere piu velocemente e di non stancarsi mai. \n Le descrizioni non sono lunghe ed elaborate, ma lasciano ampia immaginazione al lettore. E' vero pero che trascurare le descrizioni ha permesso all'autore di aumentare il mistero che circonda il mulino e i suoi abitanti. \n Sebbene le personalita presenti in questo romanzo siano tante (i dodici garzoni, il maestro, la Kantorka), l'autore non si cura di indagare la psicologia di ognuna di esse, tant'e che a volte si tendere a confondere i diversi garzoni gli uni con gli altri. I personaggi che l'autore ci fa conoscere un po' meglio si contano sulle dita di una mano, ma non e una scelta che riesco a criticare, perche alla finalita della storia non serve al lettore sapere di piu sui personaggi presenti nel libro. Questo dimostra ancora una volta come una storia di per se semplice e quasi abbozzata, ma ben pensata, possa essere ben piu efficace rispetto a storie ricche di condimento ma povere di sostanza. \n I temi trattati nel romanzo sono tanti, e tutti importanti: la vita e la morte, l'amore e l'odio, il bene e il male, ma anche valori come l'amicizia, la solidarieta, la fratellanza e la condivisione. \n Il libro e tempestato di simboli nascosti, che difficilmente passeranno inosservati al lettore, e mi hanno fatto credere che l'autore volesse rappresentare in questo romanzo una sorta di Cristianesimo al contrario, speculare, ma rivisto dalla parte del Male. C'e un maestro e ci sono dodici garzoni che imparano la magia nera, cosi come c'era Gesu con i dodici apostoli; le tappe fondamentali del romanzo sono contrassegnate dalle festivita cristiane, in un continuo rincorrersi di sacro e profano, di bene e male; piu volte ricorrono all'interno del romanzo i numeri 3 e 12, cosi come anche simboli come il pentacolo, la croce e il cerchio. Il numero 12 nella simbologia indica la conclusione di un ciclo compiuto, e simbolo della prova di iniziazione che consente di passare da un piano ordinario ad un piano superiore. E' un numero associato alle prove fisiche e mistiche che deve compiere l'iniziato, superate le quali, porta ad una trasformazione, poiche l'evoluzione si compie su prove difficili, le uniche che portano ad una vera crescita. Il numero 12 finisce dunque per spiegare la vera essenza della trama del libro, non sara certo un caso se l'autore lo ha scelto per la sua storia! \n Nonostante l'atmosfera cupa e un po' noir che contraddistingue il romanzo, non mancano intermezzi allegri e spensierati, che alleggeriscono i toni della narrazione. \n Ho trovato questa storia molto originale e interessante, sia per la trama sia per i temi in essa affrontati, importanti si, ma trattati in modo leggero e fiabesco, caratteristiche che pero non ne sminuiscono l'importanza, anzi! \n L'unica critica che mi sento di fare a questo libro, e che ho trovato il finale un po' precipitoso, tuttavia e ugualmente soddisfacente. \n Dal romanzo di Preussler e stato tratto un film, uscito nella sale cinematografiche nel 2008, intitolato \"Krabat\", che non e del tutto fedele al libro e che purtroppo lascia molti interrogativi in sospeso. \n \"Il mulino dei dodici corvi\" e rivolto a un pubblico giovane, ma sinceramente lo trovo molto adatto anche ai lettori piu grandi. Lo consiglio a tutti coloro che desiderano una lettura originale e diversa, anche ai non amanti del fantasy, poiche il libro rientra in questo genere in modo un po' anomalo. Consigliato a chi desidera immergersi in un'atmosfera cupa ed inquietante, ma mai veramente paurosa. Adatto insomma ai fifoni come me, che vogliono buttarsi in qualcosa di piu accattivante senza soffrire di incubi notturni =)", "date_added": "Wed May 15 13:18:16 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Wed May 15 13:18:43 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b7bd2bfa9936a1479a5a769e0ab00c69", "book_id": "17339059", "review_id": "289e098b8a5f2611bbe09406f9760377", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Giace bella su petali di rosa, \n chi la disprezza e chi la cerca senza posa, \n del passato un uomo, dai Sette Peccati, \n che attendono solo di esser mondati. \n Cosi si apre \"Il Sogno della Bella Addormentata\", un libro che a suo modo ha saputo sorprendermi e stupirmi come non credevo avrebbe saputo fare. \n Il romanzo, uno Steampunk con elementi storici a farne da cornice e un pizzico di mistero che non guasta mai, narra la storia di Talia, ragazza giovane e attraente, intelligente e determinata, rimasta orfana dei genitori sin dalla tenera eta. Non ha mai conosciuto la madre e del padre ricorda poco, tuttavia rammenta la missione che quest'ultimo stava cercando disperatamente di compiere: recuperare i Sette Peccati da lui stesso creati, finiti fra le mani di chissa chi. Il padre di Talia, alla sua morte, era riuscito a recuperarne solo tre, e lei cerchera in tutti i modi di onorare la memoria di suo padre e continuare quello che lui aveva cominciato, pur non sapendo quale sia il motivo che lo spinse a recuperare tali manufatti. La determinazione e la testardaggine di Talia la condurrano fino a Londra, dove avverra una svolta definitiva per lei e per il suo destino. Cosa sono in realta i Sette Peccati? E cosa sono quei sogni che di tanto in tanto la catturano, trasmettendole ricordi sbiaditi e dai contorni sfocati che lei non e sicura di aver vissuto? Tra strani marchingegni, sogni ad occhi aperti, furti e colpi di scena, il lettore si trovera del tutto coinvolto nelle vicende che condurranno Talia ad una terribile e scottante verita. \n Il romanzo e ambientato nell'Inghilterra dell'Ottocento, con uno sguardo particolare a Londra. Le descrizioni sanno essere esaustive, seppur non tanto approfondite, ma permettono comunque al lettore di calarsi nelle scene narrate. \n I personaggi sono ben caratterizzati, anche se non tutti sono riusciti a sorpendermi. \n La protagonista, Talia, forte e determinata, testarda e fuori dagli schemi, appare un po' prevedibile, sebbene sia un personaggio ben studiato nella sua semplicita. \n Tra i personaggi secondari troviamo Madame Vivienne, governante di Talia che ella considera alla stregua di una madre, apprensiva come solo una madre saprebbe essere, e complice delle scelte di Talia anche se non sempre si trova d'accordo con lei. Sa essere simpatica ed esuberante al punto giusto, ma anche fiera e coraggiosa quando serve. A dare del filo da torcere alla governante chiacchierona sara Archie, il cocchiere, simpatico e gentiluomo. \n Ben congegnati sono anche tutti gli altri personaggi che, seppur appaiano di rado, sono funzionali allo svolgimento della trama. L'unico che mi ha convinta poco, forse perche un po' stereotipato, e stato Nicholas Gray, che conoscera Talia in circostanze piu o meno fortuite e che finira per aggiungersi ai personaggi secondari. \n Il registro linguistico non e ricercato, appare semplice ma efficace, al pari degli espedienti narrativi utilizzati ai fini dello svolgimento della trama. A proposito di quest'ultima, devo dire di aver cambiato idea man mano che procedevo con la lettura. La prima meta del libro scorre veloce e in modo davvero piacevole, perfettamente godibile, incuriosice il lettore, anche se c'era qualcosa che non mi convinceva sino in fondo. Superata la prima meta del romanzo, il ritmo della narrazione diviene sempre piu incalzante, un crescendo di emozioni, pensieri e supposizioni che culmineranno poi con il tramonto del libro. E' in questa parte che la trama prende realmente forma, mostrando tutta la sua originalita sia nello svolgimento che nelle idee portate avanti dallo scrittore. In definitiva, si puo dire che la trama, una volta concluso il libro, risulti semplice ma ben studiata, non priva di colpi di scena mozzafiato che, tuttavia, sono riuscita in parte a prevedere. \n Ho apprezzato molto la rivisitazione della favola della Bella Addormentata, del tutto innovativa ed interessante. Il libro di Luca Centi sapra senza ombra di dubbio sorprendervi e ammaliarvi con i suoi toni misteriosi ed i suoi lati oscuri, ma soprattutto con il suo inaspettato e folgorante finale, che rende ancora piu originale la storia da lui creata. \n Se paragonassi il romanzo ad un fiore, esso sarebbe una rosa: tremendamente bella, profumata e affascinante, ma pur sempre con le spine. \n Consigliato a tutti coloro che desiderano una lettura fuori dagli schemi, ma leggera, seppure emozionante. \n http://miopaesedellemeraviglie.blogsp...", "date_added": "Sat Mar 02 04:46:06 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Sat Mar 02 04:47:20 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b7bd2bfa9936a1479a5a769e0ab00c69", "book_id": "13601660", "review_id": "02b1ad2bfb10376a37d3c5f358912aca", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Anche se la storia complessiva e piuttosto tradizionale, poiche presenta tutti gli elementi tipici della fiaba, le autrici sono riuscite a spezzare quegli stessi schemi creando una trama originale raccontata in modo alquanto peculiare. Ogni capitolo infatti e scritto dal punto di vista di un personaggio diverso, a volte dalle protagoniste, altre dai malvagi della Corte delle Tenebre, raramente dalla Regina, una volta interviene persino il fruttivendolo. I capitoli sono scritti tutti in prima persona, tranne quelli riguardanti la Regina e altri pochi personaggi. Questa tecnica narrativa e originale, ma ammetto di aver fatto un po' di fatica ad entrare nelle pagine del libro e ad immedesimarmi nei diversi personaggi. Una volta preso il via il romanzo, mi e risultato piu facile comprendere i diversi ragionamenti, ma nonostante tutto ho faticato parecchio a inquadrare bene i personaggi di Serana e Meteora, che per tutta la durata del libro il lettore tende a scambiare dimenticando chi e l'una e chi l'altra. Questo secondo me perche le autrici avrebbero dovuto caratterizzarle di piu, dando sfumature del carattere diverse alle due protagoniste. \n Per quanto riguarda la storia in se, sinceramente non mi ha appassionata, se non nelle ultime cento pagine, ed e un vero peccato perche questo libro aveva tutte le potenzialita per essere un buon libro, ma purtroppo la lentezza della narrazione mi ha fatto perdere un po' fra le pagine. \n Ho trovato molto belli ed interessanti gli spunti di riflessione che sono stati offerti dalle autrici: l'indifferenza nei confronti della donna anziana, la conoscenza delle erbe e dei rimedi naturali per curare l'anima e il fisico, l'aggressivita linguistica con cui ci esprimiamo noi esseri umani, la redenzione, la fiducia... sono temi che vengono affrontati in tutto il romanzo con semplicita, ma che danno modo al lettore di fare ragionamenti piu profondi di quelli che ci sono alla superficie. \n E' una lettura leggera, insomma, adatta a chi desidera abbandonarsi tra le pagine di un libro non impegnativo e a chi vuole leggere una fiaba letta in chiave moderna.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 03:09:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 28 09:04:09 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Feb 03 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b7bd2bfa9936a1479a5a769e0ab00c69", "book_id": "9406732", "review_id": "a61772f4960c9f6b0fc5c5491fd5a688", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Questo e uno dei tanti libri che ho letto quando ero piu piccola e che mi e ricapitato per mano di recente. Ho deciso di rileggerlo perche non ricordavo assolutamente niente di quelle 156 pagine. E' stata una lettura piacevole, il linguaggio e scorrevole e i cinque racconti scivolano via abbastanza velocemente. \n La prima storia e quella di una giovane guaritrice nata priva della voce; crescendo sviluppera un linguaggio tutto suo, comprensibile solo a chi le sta piu accanto e ai suoi amati uccellini. E' il racconto che piu ho amato di questo libricino, perche con la sua dolce sensibilita riscalda il cuore del lettore, facendolo sorridere soddisfatto per il suo lieto fine. \n La seconda storia narra di una principessa orfana spodestata ingiustamente dallo zio, che voleva sacrificarla alla belva che seminava terrore nel Reame. Questa e forse la storia che ho gradito di meno, forse perche non ne ho del tutto compreso il finale, o forse semplicemente perche ho trovato la protagonista debole e troppo arrendevole. \n Il terzo racconto prende il via con la descrizione del giardino incantato di una strega... il che e tutto dire! La fiaba si apre in modo abbastanza classico, dunque, tuttavia prende una piega inaspettata. Alla strega viene affidata una bambina, che diventera sua allieva e che una volta cresciuta dovra decidere quale strada intraprendere nella sua vita. Vagando nei boschi, attraversando villaggi, reami e giungendo infine al palazzo reale finira per scavare nel suo giovane cuore alla scoperta dell'amore, un sentimento inaspettato, delicato e sincero. Anche questo racconto l'ho trovato particolarmente piacevole e fiabesco. \n La penultima fiaba abbandona un po' l'atmosfera stregata delle precedenti per tuffarsi in un mondo piu fatato. Si tratta della storia di un fattore, della sua giovane moglie e della loro fattoria, che grazie ad un antico ed inspiegabile mistero finira per divenire un luogo carico di magia. \n L'ultimo racconto si svolge ai giorni nostri e racconta di una ragazza diciassettenne alle prese con il trasferimento in una nuova citta. Avvilita da questo cambiamento che la vede sempre piu sola e triste, non si sarebbe mai aspettata di trovare nella sua nuova casa una stanza segreta e misteriosa in cui e rimasta nascosta una scatola magica capace di esaudire inconsapevolmente i suoi desideri piu nascosti. \n Il libro e davvero piacevole da leggere e ogni racconto ha a suo modo una morale. L'unica critica che mi sento di dover dare e al titolo: trovo molto poco appropriato il nome \"Streghe\", visto che di streghe vere se ne vedono ben poche tra le pagine. Le protagoniste del libro spesso e volentieri non sono streghe, ma donne comuni dalla sensibilita diversa, o semplicemente vittime di incantesimi \"fatati\" che non sono certo dovute ai loro poteri nascosti. \n Consiglio questo testo a tutti coloro che vogliono una lettura facile, disimpegnata e fiabesca, magari da leggere la sera prima di andare a dormire riscaldati da una coperta.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 03:09:03 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Mon Mar 28 09:38:08 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Tue Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jan 16 00:00:00 -0800 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "7d22f434701d62a020240abb93b68ae7", "book_id": "395922", "review_id": "5ff78be23ebf1663a712ac6b17080450", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Not really my thing. \n It seems as the exact same story as Twilight, and even though this book is 15 years older than Twilight, I must say I quite like Twilight better - and I do not like Twilight! \n The first 170 pages or so, of the book was rather boring and uneventfull, and then all of the sudden a lot of things happen, but the reader is still kept in the dark of what is going on untill book two. I would not have kept reading if I had not had the two first books in one volume.", "date_added": "Sun Jun 17 11:05:16 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 17 11:13:05 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Jun 16 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9d63a32a6b6cf72e57a679d465351a2c", "book_id": "6966881", "review_id": "043ba6036a1e621e52d234b9d9806310", "rating": 2, "review_text": "Book was enjoyable, you can obviously tell that the author is a Sam fan.", "date_added": "Mon Oct 29 11:26:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 11 14:58:29 -0800 2012", "read_at": "Sun Nov 11 14:58:29 -0800 2012", "started_at": "Mon Oct 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9d63a32a6b6cf72e57a679d465351a2c", "book_id": "9409458", "review_id": "4a55348cd9273836859810c112715f75", "rating": 2, "review_text": "I feel like this book is unfinished, that there are pages missing. \n So many questions left unanswered I just really feel disappointed with this book", "date_added": "Tue Oct 16 06:41:41 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 16 06:44:25 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9d63a32a6b6cf72e57a679d465351a2c", "book_id": "6068551", "review_id": "173b59da5df8dd76c6fc248dba7d1b5c", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I liked this book. I don't really like reading books about werewolves and vampires, but this one's different. It's got a romance, which I'm a sucker for. Unlike the twilight series (which I hated), this one is good. On to the second book in the series", "date_added": "Fri Oct 12 16:12:57 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Oct 14 08:44:09 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Oct 14 08:44:09 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Sat Oct 13 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "9d63a32a6b6cf72e57a679d465351a2c", "book_id": "7747374", "review_id": "31e2766676a616b0019d0981a8a90590", "rating": 3, "review_text": "The storyline isn't amazing, but it was an enjoyable book to pass the time. I went through it very quickly.", "date_added": "Wed Jun 13 16:05:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Thu Jun 14 16:34:10 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Thu Jun 14 16:34:10 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Thu Jun 14 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90327470229dae06a16ce3180479af8b", "book_id": "9681214", "review_id": "b887a94b6c4534c2887fb85c0e7a6297", "rating": 4, "review_text": "An interesting story based on Greek myths. An enjoyable read and I'll liely be reading others in the series.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 09 04:10:20 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed Jul 18 23:28:00 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "90327470229dae06a16ce3180479af8b", "book_id": "6421982", "review_id": "5868384b822d3b3eaa52470104c7d8ef", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Having seen the odd episode of the TV production I thought it an idea to read the original. And I'm glad I did. The developing and ever expanding storyline was still manageable and although it is seen from different viewpoints it never lost its thread. Even the sometimes despicable characters could be made engaging at times. So, will I read the other four? Definitely. Will I watch the rest of the TV? Maybe, but they would have to go some to beat the books", "date_added": "Fri Jun 15 08:10:32 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 19 00:56:12 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Aug 19 00:56:12 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Wed Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 1}
{"user_id": "485959c9edbdd4af58fe01d508dc48a0", "book_id": "18007564", "review_id": "541e2464a7f9a12fa00dbbb866f26c14", "rating": 5, "review_text": "Excellent!", "date_added": "Sat Sep 13 12:09:18 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Dec 01 14:02:30 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Dec 01 14:02:30 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Nov 28 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "485959c9edbdd4af58fe01d508dc48a0", "book_id": "17671497", "review_id": "849568ca8fbb4eef26fa8fd12193a83f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "Ve sluzbach klanu je navrat ke korenum, do Vegase a do podzemi. Pokud by kniha koncila po prvni casti, byl bych zcela spokojeny, protoze zbytek uz byl prilis primocary a jednoduchy. Neprinesl ani nejakou poklonu nebo vysvetleni pozadi jineho pribehu, ktere by ho ospravedlnilo. \n K prvni, hornicke, casti mam jednu vytku, ktera v ostatnich recenzich uz zaznela, ale me zvlast na prvnich padesati stranach velmi rusila. Cely pribeh je az na par stranek vypraven v prvni osobe. Vypravec se sam chova jako ne prilis inteligentni jedinec, ale jeho vypraveni je sofistikovane. Mezi vypravenim a jednanim je tak citit velky rozpor, jehoz resenim by snad byla treti osoba. Presto se pribeh pak rozbehne a je krasne ctivy.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 02 12:40:30 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Sat Feb 01 08:48:26 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Sat Feb 01 08:48:26 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Mon Jan 27 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "485959c9edbdd4af58fe01d508dc48a0", "book_id": "17887032", "review_id": "e16d9bfd43fc2983b73b68732309181f", "rating": 4, "review_text": "V kazdem pripade povedenejsi nez dil 29. Postup deje pouze do rohu. Iritujici cedule s chybnym znakem na obalce. Plusove body za Halo, halo.", "date_added": "Thu Jan 02 12:38:07 -0800 2014", "date_updated": "Wed Jan 08 08:12:10 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Wed Jan 08 08:12:10 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Fri Jan 03 00:00:00 -0800 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "485959c9edbdd4af58fe01d508dc48a0", "book_id": "9769032", "review_id": "29aa8480e77668dadc8b0a886954abd3", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Des a bida se slabou zapletkou, podivnym jednanim postav a hrozivym slohem - nebo alespon prekladem.", "date_added": "Mon Nov 25 13:00:01 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Jul 21 13:46:44 -0700 2014", "read_at": "Mon Jul 21 13:46:44 -0700 2014", "started_at": "Mon Nov 25 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "485959c9edbdd4af58fe01d508dc48a0", "book_id": "17973699", "review_id": "4f373b0f152850e56693dd8ff0e3965b", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Bohuzel je to nejslabsi kniha od MZ, kterou jsem zatim cetl. Zpoved valecnika je klasika, kterou jsem cetl uz snad ve tretim vydani, dobre zabavi a nabudi. Druhe dve povidky maji stejneho hrdinu protagonistu, ale navazuji jen volne. \n Co mi nejvic chybelo byl smysluplny dej. Ramcove pribehy sice davaji smysl, ale motivace postav zcela chybi, kontext je pouze misty doplnovan expozici vyuzivajici nevhodne moderni slova v prime reci. Dulezitou charakteristikou je premira magie, hlavne v druhych dvou pribezich.", "date_added": "Fri May 24 02:53:57 -0700 2013", "date_updated": "Fri May 24 03:06:25 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Thu May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2013", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "485959c9edbdd4af58fe01d508dc48a0", "book_id": "9300768", "review_id": "a33ad7391a47d102e990e4587b28b206", "rating": 4, "review_text": "The Heroes were a pleasant summer read worth 3,5 stars. For me it was tipped to four stars by humorous passages of Corporal Tunny. There are many tie ins with the trilogy, but not necessary to understand the story. \n By nature, The Heroes are more hack'n'slash read, full of fighting - it's depicted quite well so I don't dare to call it a weakness. However I didn't like the last, after battle part, which was too much explanatory for my taste. Abercrombie's first-time reader won't probably appreciate the status of Bayaz anyway and those who know don't need to spell it out. Moreover the character of the witch has no ending and serves as a cheap way to get Bayaz involved and let Black Dow know more than he should know. \n In the end, it's still a good, well-written book.", "date_added": "Mon Jul 02 01:47:06 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 19 06:07:04 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sun Aug 19 06:07:04 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab6c74b9a42d2d4e557e2e6305c81f2", "book_id": "1724365", "review_id": "21c9baa449eb8e47426b419774d7c7af", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I couldn't really sink my teeth into this book, but I did finish it and got into parts of it. It was an interesting concept. However, I found it a bit confusing keeping the characters straight - werewolves and humans. However, I am not a fan of this type of fiction, but it seems to be well-liked by readers who like this genre.", "date_added": "Wed Oct 22 10:01:36 -0700 2014", "date_updated": "Mon Nov 17 07:26:22 -0800 2014", "read_at": "Mon Nov 17 07:26:22 -0800 2014", "started_at": "Wed Oct 22 00:00:00 -0700 2014", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab6c74b9a42d2d4e557e2e6305c81f2", "book_id": "52357", "review_id": "b4edf04b558d152a8db65262651a8ee7", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I discuss this book in my review of \"Grendel.\"", "date_added": "Tue Jul 10 14:59:07 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 05 10:06:41 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Mon Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab6c74b9a42d2d4e557e2e6305c81f2", "book_id": "676737", "review_id": "3233bcfe4306afd370675a26379c077b", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I have been wanting to read Grendel for years and to re-familiarize myself with the Beowulf legend. \"Grendel,\" however, by John Garner, first published in 1971, turned out to be one of the strangest books I have every read. It is the Beowulf story told from the point of view of Grendel, a seeming invincible monster and probably one of the first serial killers in English literature.(The tone of this novel reminded me of Joyce Carol Oates' novel Zombie, about a teenage serial killer.) Before reading this novel, I read Seamus Heaney 2000 translation of \"Beowulf\" : an epic poem which was originally written in Angelo-Saxon between the 8th and 11th centuries. I found it to be mostly readable and beautifully written. In brief, Beowulf, a Scandinavia superhero (he can swim for six or seven days and in the process kills water monsters) goes to Demark to help the king whose \"mean hall,\" or feasting hall, has been terrorized for years by the monster Grendel, who has been killing his subjects by biting off their heads and eating them. Beowulf ultimately kills Grendel. Then he kills Grendel's mother who is out for her son's revenge, and then in old age Beowulf slays a dragon. This epic poem, an adventure story with loads of vivid action, is exciting to read. It pretty much focuses on Beowulf. Not too much is learned about Grendel. We learn, however, that he, his mother and other creatures were created by God after Cain killed Able. \n \"Grendel\" is told from the first-person point of view of the monster himself. He is an articulate creature. \"Talking, talking, spinning a spell, pale skin of words that closes me in like a coffin.\" How he learned to speak so well - and become so educated - is never explained. In fact, Grendel himself glosses over those points. He can even speak to the Danes that he is killing and terrorizing. Grendel lives with his mother in a cave. She does not have any language; she grunts and groans, but she is a mother who loves her son. Also, dwelling in the cave are shadows , the creatures created after Cane slew Able. The novel humanizes (dehumanizes?) Grendel, shows how he became a killer, a mass murderer. He does have a soft side. He falls for the queen, whom he cannot kill. The novel also paints a not-too-rosy picture of the Danes: they are greedy, immoral, duplicitous war-mongers. In a way, Grendel kills because of his treatment by the Danes (they treat him like a monster!) and also because that is what he is expected to do. The most awesome character in the book is the Dragon. He is erudite and philosophical. \"The laws of nature are large average effects which reign impersonally. But there is nothing average about expression: it is essentially individual.\" He lives in a cave and is surround by his pilfered gold, which is what he lives for. He says to Grendel, \"My advice to you, my violent friend, is to seek out gold and sit on it.\" He also tells Grendel that killing is Grendel's purpose in life : \"You improve them, (the Danes) my boy? Can't you see that yourself? You stimulate them! You make them think and scheme. You drive them to poetry, science, religion, all that makes them what they are for as long as they last. You are, so to speak, the brute existent by which they learn to define themselves.\" In the end, Grendel is killed by Beowulf, who is a shadowy figure in the novel and mentioned by name maybe only once. \n I recommend both \"Grendel\" and Seamus Heaney's translation of \"Beowulf.\" Both books are beautifully written, have depth, stay with you, but are not always easy to read. Yet they are well worth the patience and time spent on them.", "date_added": "Tue Jul 10 14:58:54 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Aug 05 09:55:19 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Sat Aug 04 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "Mon Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab6c74b9a42d2d4e557e2e6305c81f2", "book_id": "176711", "review_id": "73c5ab40f7aecf89b0958ca889c62fa0", "rating": 3, "review_text": "OK. Interesting. First book of its kind that I have read. I read the first in the series. Do not know if I will read the other two books. Maybe I will have the desire to come back to them.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 11 10:49:01 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Wed Jun 22 14:03:32 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Wed Jun 22 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Sat Jun 11 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "2ab6c74b9a42d2d4e557e2e6305c81f2", "book_id": "1251032", "review_id": "deb1516636a459889793c9fbeddbf0ac", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I have mixed feelings about this novel. As an adult I found it hard to get into and accept, yet I finished it. I kept wishing that a book like this existed when I was a teenage boy. Nothing like it did. I am happy that now a book about a gay superhero does exists - a superhero who has coming-of-age experiences that most gay teenager can identify with (except for the superhero part). I would give the novel five stars if I were still a teenage boy.", "date_added": "Mon May 23 08:43:32 -0700 2011", "date_updated": "Mon May 30 12:48:21 -0700 2011", "read_at": "Mon May 30 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "started_at": "Mon May 23 00:00:00 -0700 2011", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4ee532027397d054b73ebb1beeb2d139", "book_id": "17403321", "review_id": "2621cd041e789323d9f80146fe291efa", "rating": 5, "review_text": "A friend gifted this story to my kindle. I explained to her that I didn't have the time to read it. She assured me that it was only 30 pages, was a fast read, and I'd thank her for reading it. \n She was right. I found it to be funny at points and sad at others. All said though it was a very moving story that I am happy to have read.", "date_added": "Thu Feb 21 04:04:37 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 21 04:07:32 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4ee532027397d054b73ebb1beeb2d139", "book_id": "14497", "review_id": "c1e18efc709c4f7fcdbc633881b03d55", "rating": 5, "review_text": "I picked this book on a road trip years ago. I've never been more happy with a roadside book purchase. This book and American Gods are likely the two best books of fiction published in the last 25 years. (I can't believe it took me so long to add them to my goodreads \"read\" list. haha)", "date_added": "Mon Feb 18 15:36:25 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Mon Feb 18 15:38:29 -0800 2013", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4ee532027397d054b73ebb1beeb2d139", "book_id": "13496", "review_id": "978e6b96174624208366923ec729b106", "rating": 3, "review_text": "I liked this book a lot, and I will most certainly continue to follow the series. I didn't think it lived up to the hype that I have be deluged in within popular culture.", "date_added": "Sat Feb 16 08:45:21 -0800 2013", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 21 04:04:19 -0800 2013", "read_at": "Thu Feb 21 04:04:19 -0800 2013", "started_at": "Sat Feb 16 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4ee532027397d054b73ebb1beeb2d139", "book_id": "139417", "review_id": "8a6062b8439e186e72394ffedb5df787", "rating": 3, "review_text": "Sadly disappointed. Not nearly as good as the Anita Blake books. It was good, but not great.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 18:03:47 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sat Jun 09 18:06:21 -0700 2012", "read_at": "Tue May 29 00:00:00 -0700 2012", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4ee532027397d054b73ebb1beeb2d139", "book_id": "12293345", "review_id": "c7cf7b5eddcc235ca71f27be5e7c1272", "rating": 5, "review_text": "The only complaint I had about this collection was that I wasn't done with it when I was out of pages. I didn't want it to be over.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 05:56:08 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Sun Jun 10 04:47:36 -0700 2012", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 2, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "4ee532027397d054b73ebb1beeb2d139", "book_id": "256683", "review_id": "e5febcc3b0b8ea898b171be4e160e2af", "rating": 1, "review_text": "Hard to follow and felt like it was written by more than one author. \n As hard as I tried I just couldn't get myself to care about the characters.", "date_added": "Sat Jun 09 05:54:02 -0700 2012", "date_updated": "Wed May 15 10:02:09 -0700 2013", "read_at": "Wed May 15 10:02:09 -0700 2013", "started_at": "Mon Mar 04 00:00:00 -0800 2013", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b4226eb970603b17a0d5233b582b5a32", "book_id": "36307634", "review_id": "b66d43756b2b5dc4372e2693425e6ef9", "rating": 0, "review_text": "THIS IS A THING! AND I WANT IT BAD.", "date_added": "Tue Sep 26 11:19:55 -0700 2017", "date_updated": "Tue Sep 26 11:23:51 -0700 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b4226eb970603b17a0d5233b582b5a32", "book_id": "30983420", "review_id": "bc2698e65958afdc362c846bcd08a7e4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "3.4 \n RTC", "date_added": "Fri Feb 10 03:24:44 -0800 2017", "date_updated": "Thu Feb 16 04:34:39 -0800 2017", "read_at": "", "started_at": "Fri Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b4226eb970603b17a0d5233b582b5a32", "book_id": "31429077", "review_id": "f5b57274b61c8e60dfe00da243499bd4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "*I got this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review \n Cole is a 13 year-old boy who misses his father, a mysterious figure throughout the book. The story starts with Cole waiting for his dad at the train station, eager to spend the summer days with him. A tragedy occurs when the train doesn't stop and crashes instead. Soon after the tragedy, a whole different side of Cole's late father is unveiled, leading to Cole finding out his father was, in fact, part of an association which fights the evil in the world. \n I was quite intrigued by the synopsis, the promise of a new exciting world brought me back memories of Harry Potter, which I'm positive was a very big influence on the author to write this story. The trio in The Blue Moon Narthex resembles the Harry Potter trio a lot. Cole is basically the chosen one, special, like his dad, and he is greatly skilled in sliding even though he had never done it before or had any training. Sophie loves books and seeks knowledge, but unlike Hermione, she's not adamant on following rules. Britten is not very bright, loves trouble and adventure. Britten might be the most different one from its counterpart as Ron is not adventurous, although neither has much interest in reading. \n These clear similarities to Harry Potter, although they did bother me a little, they didn't stop me from enjoying the book. I particularly liked the world building, as the characters are not witches but something else entirely. Coreseum reminded me of Idris in the Shadowhunter world, which I quite liked. The idea of a parallel society existing without our knowledge always intrigued me. \n However, some things didn't work in my opinion. The trio acted older than 13 year olds would and certainly thought older as well. The three main characters also very one dimensional so it's hard to relate to them on a deeper level. There's still a lot we don't know about the KSL which I think should have been explained in the first installment, such as the true extent of their powers. We know they fight the evil, they slide but what then? Neve once was mentioned any special gear created to fight, only to help them slide and prevent falls. Too many names are mentioned in the first instalment, I couldn't keep up. I only the remember a few which had a bigger impact on Cole's life, I found myself not knowing who half of those characters were and what they did. \n I think young teenagers would enjoy this more than I did, I couldn't stop myself from comparing it to Harry Potter. I do believe it has a lot of potential, there is room for the development of both the characters and the world. \n Blog . Instagram . Twitter .", "date_added": "Thu Dec 15 11:10:16 -0800 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 26 08:53:48 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Fri Dec 23 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "started_at": "Thu Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2016", "n_votes": 5, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b4226eb970603b17a0d5233b582b5a32", "book_id": "8779896", "review_id": "0dbcd1db3daab8a55f10041fc7a327ed", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I had this feeling I had read this story before, the magical monkey's paw was somehow familiar, yet the characters in the story were anything but. The atmosphere and superstition created in the story really worked for me, the fear of the unknown was very present as well as trepidation. In my opinion, the horror in this piece is more in the way Herbert died, it was so brutal and all because he was greedy and a fool for almost forcing his father to make a wish. \n A very good classic horror story with superstition in the mix.", "date_added": "Thu Nov 03 10:27:27 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Nov 06 15:43:34 -0800 2016", "read_at": "Thu Nov 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Nov 03 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b4226eb970603b17a0d5233b582b5a32", "book_id": "26168646", "review_id": "1093f75741f78f2234645b581a28cc89", "rating": 4, "review_text": "*I got this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review \n \"There's no magic more powerful than the human spirit\" \n Set in an alternate modern world, some people possess powers, Skill, and some don't. Whereas in most parts of the world that doesn't matter, in the United Kingdom those who have power rule, those who don't have to give ten years of their lives to slavery. Common folk are given the option of either applying to work those ten years in slavetowns or at Equal's, those with Skill, estates. \n Abi tried to get her whole family to work at an estate instead of a slavetown, as the rumours said those in such towns lead ten brutal years void of joy. Although Abi managed to get most of the family accepted at the Jardine's, the founding family of the system in UK, estate, her brother was placed in Millmoor, a slavetown near Manchester, where the family was from. But a revolution was brewing long before Luke's arrival at Millmoor. With his family way, Luke feels lonely and his hope to rejoin his family ebbs away with time, so when he gets a proposition to join a rebellious group in Millmoor, Luke accepts. At the Jardine's estate, Abi finds herself falling in love for one of the sons of the most powerful Equal in UK while she slowly uncovers some of the family's secrets, which changes her perception of the Equals. \n Although set in modern England, it didn't feel like it until very far into the book. There was never any mention of phones, computers, internet, or any other technology which define our generation and time. The only mentions that could tell you it is set in modern England is the existence of cars, television and technology to read chips and ID electronic cards. \n However, the two things that bothered me the most were the ridiculous amount of characters that the reader had to remember right in the first book and the ridiculous names of the Equals. Instead of overwhelming the readers with so many characters it would have made more sense to make us care more about the two main characters, which I don't think it was well achieved. And if the idea to give the Equals names which sounded posh or rare, stick to the ones given to royalty nowadays, like Charles and Henry, they already carry a certain connotation which would get your idea across without resorting to names like Silyen and Meilyr. Most names sounded out of a high fantasy book set in a whole different world, which is not a good thing in my opinion. \n The idea is definitely great and it does have a lot of potential to have a great sequel. The first book had a lot of political intrigue and, although most of the plot twists were quite predictable (I had figured them all out long before they had happened), there are some very complex handful of characters which I thought was refreshing. I particularly liked Silyen, Meilyr and Luke. I liked Bouda but only because she struck me as a very strong female character that knows what she wants. \n Although it can be improved, I think Gilded Cage is a great start for an intriguing story with a lot of political conflict and revolutions. I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel. \n Blog . Instagram . Twitter .", "date_added": "Wed Sep 14 13:16:05 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Thu Jan 26 08:48:05 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Sun Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Fri Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 9, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b4226eb970603b17a0d5233b582b5a32", "book_id": "6426708", "review_id": "6f4e8c5ca5a92d24cb9e6c2dd3af263b", "rating": 4, "review_text": "I quite enjoyed Carmilla. Obviously, there was no wow factor, not like there would be if I had read it when it came out. However, I loved how beautifully written this book is, the femininity of the language and the sexual undertones. Their relationship is sensual and yet innocent. It's so unlike what we expect of vampires, in the way that they are associated with masculinity. Carmilla is even more feminine than our main character, Laura. \n Overall it was a pleasant and quick read. I'd definitely recommend it. \n You can find more reviews on my blog. \n Blog . Instagram . Twitter . Tumblr .", "date_added": "Mon Sep 12 13:03:13 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Tue Oct 25 11:44:22 -0700 2016", "read_at": "Fri Oct 07 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "started_at": "Thu Oct 06 00:00:00 -0700 2016", "n_votes": 4, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b4226eb970603b17a0d5233b582b5a32", "book_id": "30809786", "review_id": "a6b2ba3c957d14db7aaafe4f2109bba4", "rating": 0, "review_text": "Hmm... You can't be serious... 2018????? This is freaking torture!!! \n Two years is so loooong!", "date_added": "Sun Sep 11 07:22:09 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Sep 11 08:28:23 -0700 2016", "read_at": "", "started_at": "", "n_votes": 0, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b4226eb970603b17a0d5233b582b5a32", "book_id": "22296822", "review_id": "4b129b64401dba771c2f284e1ef66e8e", "rating": 2, "review_text": "RTC", "date_added": "Mon Aug 29 17:00:10 -0700 2016", "date_updated": "Sun Mar 05 03:46:03 -0800 2017", "read_at": "Tue Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "started_at": "Sun Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2017", "n_votes": 1, "n_comments": 0}
{"user_id": "b4226eb970603b17a0d5233b582b5a32", "book_id": "25892051", "review_id": "c40fb95493661727d5301a8e6bb7bef4", "rating": 3, "review_text": "This book needs a lot of editing. Word repetition, misspells and sentences that were too long, which ended up being quite hard and confusing to read. Cara Coe needs to find a good editor because this story has potential. \n The characters are complex with heavy backgrounds that makes them guarded and somehow bitter towards life, namely Amelie who doesn't trust men and has to deal with them, a job requirement in her case. \n There is a darkness to this story that I don't think would be suitable to a young audience, or younger than fifteen at least. \n The cliffhanger certainly leaves the reader curious to know how the kingdoms will deal with Amelie's absence. \n I really enjoyed Coe's world and I'd love to read more about the rest of the kingdoms and their reaction to the alliance. I will buy the second installment as soon as I'm back in the UK.", "date_added": "Tue Dec 01 11:03:48 -0800 2015", "date_updated": "Tue Dec 22 13:22:48 -0800 2015", "read_at": "Sun Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "started_at": "Sat Dec 12 00:00:00 -0800 2015", "n_votes": 3, "n_comments": 0}